Fantastic Blog Candy up for grabs

Over on Karen's blog Crafty Going's on she is giving away this fantastic candy, it is really easy to enter so get on over and have a look.

CD Sunday Challenge No. 3 - Baby Talk

Well it's back to Sunday so this can only mean one thing and that is CD Sunday, this week we have got a lovely easy one for you and it's Baby Talk.

I have used an image from the Joanna Sheen cd Baby Love, I decided not to use the backing paper that comes with the image on the outer of the card so used it as an insert, it is pale enough to put the verse over and still be able to read it clearly. I have used one of the Martha Stewart border punches and embellished with ribbon and a small rhinestone buckle.

Pop over to the blog and have a look at what the other team members have done, some great stuff there and hopefuly it will inspire you to have a go and join in with us again this week.

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #16 Snowflakes and ABC I is for ice

Over on Bah! Humbug! this week it's snowflakes so a bit of an easier challenge this time. Any kind of snowflake will do so I have used a background with some on and the ribbon has silver ones printed on and finally I coloured some white ones with a silver pen to tie everything together.

I printed the image out using MCS and also matched up the oval to put the topper onto, I cut both of these out with a craft knife after the first lot looked like a dogs hind leg by the time I'd finished with the scissors, I edged the oval with the same silver pen I used on the small snowflakes, the smaller square is matted onto glitter card and what a nightmare that is to get anything to stick down. I decided that the only thing that would stick was pinflair gel and the only thing that did was to lift all the glitter off the base card, I wasn't going to be beaten so scrapped all the glitter and glue of the back of the top mat and started again with the pinflair and this time it worked.

Oh I forgot to say that I sprayed the topper with the spray and sparkle in silver because it looked a little dull. Seems like a lot of effort for a five inch square, this time I've made this a tent fold. I am also entering this card into the ABC Christmas Challenge which this week is I for ice.

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #15 Pretty in Pink 2nd card

2nd attempt at the Bah! Humbug! challenge pretty in pink, this time the whole card is stamped with versamark and dusted with the perfect pearls. It seemed like a good idea while I had them out. I tried to take a picture instead of scanning but the reflection against the flash just meant you couldn't see the image properly, so it was back to the scanner and that is why there is a bit of shadow.

The stamp is a papermania one that people seemed to go mad for last year and it was selling for stupid money on ebay, I paid the princeley sum of £6.99 but I did hear of someone who managed to pick one up for 99p so if you like the stamp don't pay silly money for it. The stamp around the outside is one that I got from Clarity as the monthly stamp for March, I think it compliments the main image quite well. This card is an A5 landscape and just to finish it off I popped on some pearls that I bought from Hobby House while I was at the NEC in March.

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #15 Pretty in Pink

This weeks challenge over on Bah! Humbug! is pretty in pink, so I have used quite a few different things on this card although it does look a bit flat on the scan. For the background I stippled tattered rose distress ink using a large stencil brush, then I stamped the snowflakes with versamark and dusted them with berry twist perfect pearls. The stamped image is coloured with promarkers and the spellbinders snowflake die is also covered with versamark and dusted with the perfect pearls. As I cannot find any of my christmas greeting stamps I have had to resort once again to a peel off.

CD Sunday Challenge No2 - Artfully Asian

Over on the CD Sunday this week we are challenging you do do something under the heading of Artfully Asian, this is my take on this theme and to be honest although I love this style of cards I really struggle to make something I'm happy with. This week I have used another Joanna Sheen cd, Oriental Dreams. I have used a bamboo stamp to do the edges and then matted the backing paper on to gold mirri card, the ribbon is velvet and the tiny buckle I bought when Joanna had them on special offer.

I wanted to bring the colour of the bird out so used a bright blue card to mat the topper onto and again used gold mirri, the lantern and vase stickers were given to me a long time ago so can't tell you who makes them or where to find them.

I do hope you will join us again this week and look forward to seeing your creations.

Glenda's giveaway

Glenda is giving away some fabulous stamps over on her blog and some of them will be a real must have rather than a want. I have chosen to show you the Royal Fleur de Lys but there are a few others that will inspire you and one sheet that will be invaluable and that is the sympathy sheet. The crosses and words are just beautiful and so very useable, so go on over and take a look.

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #14

Over on Bah! Humbug! this week is Santa Paws, the ladies have requested we use something cute with paws.

I have used a stamp that isn't really a christmas stamp but have made it into one by the colouring and adding the words. It is a bit plain but when I tried to add a few other bits it just looked wrong so this is how it is staying, I've used a spellbinders die and mounted that onto foam pads and then put the stamped image on with pinflair glue added a sticker greeting and it's finished. A quick one this week as time seems to be running away with me.

Sheena Douglass Workshop #2

This is the second card I'm showing you today from my day yesterday, this is done with cosmic shimmer paints directly onto the stamp and then once on the card misted to blur the image, the same image was then stamped onto the card and embossed and painted with the same colours. Do you see a theme with the flowers, there were other stamps available but I just loved the lupins! Sorry I can't remember which set of paints they are but are quite a prety range.

CD Sunday Challenge No1 - Wings and Things

Good morning all, today is the launch of the new challenge blog CD Sunday, the theme this week is Wings and Things so this has loads of scope to ease you in gently, what do you think you will do? Well I've chosen a fairy but it could easily be birds, butterflies, or even aircraft if you have to make a man card.

I chose this image because it is the first image I printed from the Victorian Companian cd from Joanna Sheen, the backing paper is from a bundle I got quite a while ago at Costco and was such a bargain, approx 200 double sided sheets for about £20 so if you have a card I know they still have them. I punched a strip with a Martha Stewart punch which seem to be everywhere at the moment but they are such good quality it's not surprising and coloured a ribbon with promarkers to tie it in with the colour, finally I used some Flora Doodle flowers which I have been keeping for the right thing and what better event than the launch of a new challenge!

I do hope you can support Wendy and dust off those cd's which tend to sit on the shelf half forgotten and if you need insiration have a look at what the rest of the design team have done, it will have you reaching for your cd's we hope.

Sheena Douglass Workshop

Yesterday I went to a workshop run by the very talented Sheena Douglass, what a blast and oh my gosh how I wish I was even halfway there.

This is one of the cards we made and I know it looks a bit flat because it is scanned but it is really quite a pretty card even though it looks very brown, the day was centred around alcohol inks and was great to play.
This card has a background stamped and then coated with mica powders, but because the ones we got were from the antique collection the colours show in the light, once we had put the powders on we spritzed with water and left it until we got the look we wanted then dried it with a heat gun. The topper was made using a die cut for the topper and this was coloured with the alcohol inks, we then stamped a small flower onto the smallest piece of card which was already cut for us by Sheena's wonderful hubby Russ and just used an almost dry paintbrush to pull the paint out a bit to give it some shadow. This was layered onto the gold layer which we had sanded to give it a distressed look.

I'll be showing you some more things over the next few days but if you haven't been to one of her workshops I suggest you go on one if you can, mind you there will be a queue as most people there will be wanting to go again very soon.

Leaving us to have a baby

One of the girls in work is leaving us to have her baby and as usual I have left it to the last minute to get a card done, this is an 8x8 card to allow everyone to sign it. I've cut out the shapes on the Cricut, the letters on the Cuttlebug and the flourishes are using the bazzill templates. I have stressed quite a lot about this card but hopefully it will be ok, the flowers have been coloured with promarkers as they were white to begin with.

DESIGN TEAM MEMBER FOR CD SUNDAY CHALLENGE

I have been invited to join some other great card makers for the new challenge blog
CD SUNDAY which will open it's doors for business on Sunday 18th April.

We are hoping that you will be coming over to join in and use some of those cd's that are not only favourites but those that are sitting hardly used at the back of the cupboard or shelf. Work is already going on behind the scenes and I think you will like what the team have been doing for the first weeks challenge. There won't be too many rules and as long as you use something from a cd you can join in, even if it's only a piece of backing paper so that gives you lots of scope.

See you there on Sunday!

Rainbow Lady's Challenge- Red, Black and Gold with a bit of Oriental

Cynthia over on Rainbow Lady's challenge blog has set us the task of using red, gold and black with a bit of oriental. Couldn't decide what to do then remembered this stamp that I have had for a long time and vary rarely used. I stamped with Versamark and embossed with black powder, I then picked out some elements with gold mica powder, it doesn't look very bright here but it is in reality.

I used the same red card to cut the border and used the happiness chop which was on a sheet from Kanban, finally I stuck the coins on using Zig two way glue which I find amazing if it is used correctly.

Bah! Humbug Challenge no13 - Tags and labels

The ladies over on the Bah! Humbug! challenge blog are really making me work again, I always feel that tags look good when other people use them but not when I do so I can't say I'm over the moon with this card but I have had a go.

The little angel is a Sarah Kay stamp that I bought at a sale price last week from here, the service has been super quick and reasonable postage too.

You may notice that the backing papers have been seen before well I am determined that the pad I bought will be used so I will be doing quite a few pink and purple cards this year.

Bah! Humbug Challenge no12 - Embossing

This is my second card for the Bah! Humbug! challenge this week, I have used my cuttlebug wreath cut and emboss folder and die and coloured it in with promarkers. I've also used the swiss dots folder but instead of leaving it plain white I have brayered inside the folder with chatreuse Impress ink.

I have layered that onto some red backing paper and then put it onto a backing paper from the Seaons Greetings cd from Artylicious, finished it all off with a dreaded peel off, couldn't stamp onto the raised bobbles on the background.

Having a bit of a play

I'm all on my own this afternoon as OH is out at rugby, so I have been having a play. I bought a brayer and a few stamps from Lavinia amongst other things when I was at the NEC so thought I'd have a play and see what I could come up with, there are several stamps used on this and although you can't tell it is done on glossy card and I've highlighted the stars with just a touch of glitter. This isn't really for anything in particular but I guess one day it will be there for someones birthday, especially if they are into fairies.

Bah! Humbug Challenge no12 - Embossing

Over on Bah! Humbug! this week the challenge is embossing so as I love a bit of bling and mirri card for Christmas I've used both on this card. I've used the cuttlebug tree and present folders, I wish the tree had a die to cut it out like the presents do it would look fab!

Once again the backing paper is from the pad I bought a few weeks ago, this one is just great all you need to do is stick it on and put your topper on and it's done greeting already in place.

While I was at the NEC I bought quite a few packs of stones and pearls from Hobby House so have been making use of them on most things I've been making, I have used them on the ribbon of the front pressie as the debossed bits were calling for them.

Bah! Humbug Challenge no11 - Peel Offs

Those lovely ladies over on the Bah! Humbug! challenge blog have really given me a challenge this week, peel offs. I used them as an easy route to a card when I first started out but very rarely use them these days apart from the odd sentiment when I'm being lazy and some times use borders to hide a wonky edge.

I have boxes of them and although I could just have used some borders I felt that it would be cheating a little so I hunted around and found some holographic sheets with small shapes on, I found the egg shaped ones were perfect for using as the lights that Mudzie is holding, he is a digi image and comes from Squigglefly, I coloured them with promarkers so they still have that sparkly look, I have used some borders too,even though I haven't got wonky edges this time!

Rainbow Lady's Challenge #96

Cynthia's challenge over on Rainbow Lady's challenge blog is "In my garden I see" well a bit of poetic licence here as we don't have a cat but there are plenty about. I have used a distress ink pad to tone down the backing paperand have used some of my new stamps bought yesterday at the NEC, the flowers were white but are coloured with promarkers.