CPS #41

I thought i would take a little break from Christmas cards, so for this weeks sketch over at CPS i made this Birthday card. A lovely lady called Sue who attends my card making club that i host once a fortnight had asked me to design a card as she has someone with a Birthday in January.
I took this card with me last night along with a print out of the sketch, so that they could see how i interpreted it! Those that want to will make a similar card at our next session on December 11th, which is our last meet this year :)

The card is 5 x 7 which i covered with some paper from K & Co classic McKenna. I attatched the ends of the grosgrain before gluing to the card front, and the other two ends were passed up through the buckle slide and tied in a knot. The stamped flower is 'Watercolour Rose' from Paper Inspirations which i inked up with Adirondacks in Lettuce and Pesto for the stem and leaves, and for the flower head i used Cranberry and Sea Brights 'Bikini Pink' I used a HOTP acrylic stamp for the sentiment inked up with Colorbox 'Olive Pastel'

other supplies :- Nunn Design buckle slide, Basic Grey paper,(matting below the image)
American Crafts grosgrain, Laxmi design texture stamp, K&Co chipboard(below the sentiment)

SNOWFLAKES ARE FALLING...

Snowflakes are falling onto my card! This is my design based on the Di Hickman sketch 21/11/07. Great sketch to work with, i really enjoyed making this card :)

This is a 122mm square card(quite small for me!) and for the bottom section i dragged my ink pad across the card to get the colour, i used Versamagic 'sea breeze' onto which i stamped the sentiment using a Colorbox cats eye in 'prussian blue'. I punched some circles from BG 'figgy pudding' with a 1" punch and used the same colour to edge these. The other papers are also from the 'figgy pudding' 6 x 6 pad. I tied some ribbon around the top section, onto which i threaded a Heidi Swapp ghost snowflake inked with Stazon 'cotton white' A little bit of sparkle added to finish!

other supplies :- DecoArt glamour dust, Quickie glue pen, HOTP acrylic stamp, ribbon from stash!

WEEKEND CARD SKETCH

I have another card to share with you today which was based on the weekend sketch over at Scrap Dribbles. I'm really getting into all these sketches now, they save so much time and it's great to see what everyone comes up with!!

This liitle guy is a Great Impressions stamp, which i have to confess i've only used this stamp once before even though i purchased it about three years ago! He's so cute, and now i think i should use some of my older stuff instead of keep buying more new bits!! :)
I stamped using Adirondack 'Hazelnut' onto plain white cardstock and then watercoloured using my Lyra crayons and a water brush(Kuretake) some more 'figgy' & 'fruitcake' papers for matting and layering.
I added some brads and twill from HOTP and a Colorbox cats eye in 'Cheshnut Roan' to colour the edges. The card is a 5 x 7.

other supplies :- corner punch(not sure what it's called!)

NOEL.... CHALLENGE #10

Another challenge to share with you, this time it's from Arty Girlz. They have asked you to use ribbon and/or fibres on your project this week. I actually made this card a while ago, but decided it would be ok for this challenge, as it has some ribbon on it!! :)

This card is a 5 x 7 covered with paper from HOTP (reel back in surprise! what no Basic Grey!!) i have hoards of patterned paper from all different companies, and i must try to use the others more often :) The main image is from PSX which i stamped onto glossy white card with Versamark, i used my heat gun to set this and allowed to cool down before adding the ink. Take a cotton wool ball and ink directly from the pad and rub with pressure to transfer the ink to the card, then using the clean side of the cotton ball 'polish' the entire piece. I took my heat gun to the ribbon bow to 'crinkle' it slightly before adding a HOTP button brad to the centre!

This particular 'resist' technique is really quick to do, but gives a very satisfactory result. I used Tim Holtz Distress ink but it also works with Adirondack.... why not give it a try!

other supplies :- Colorbox cats eye Charcoal

BAUBLES!!

Indeed!!... Santa's Little Extra Helper is Baubles, Bells & Bows this week over at DCM and here are my Baubles :)
As you are probably aware by now, I absolutely adore Basic Grey products, Especially the paper collections. I have used a little from 'Blitzen' and almost a whole sheet of 'Figgy Pudding' 6 x 6 to cover the front of my 148mm square card.
The bauble is a DeNami 2004 Commemorative Stamp which was presented in an Organza bag with a small Merry Christmas sentiment and an ideas sheet. I inked it up with Ranger archival Jet Black and stamped directly onto the 'Blitzen' paper, cut them out and matted them onto some plain BG paper. I used a Colorbox cats eye in Charcoal to edge the card once finished.

I have the day off work tomorrow( yay!!) and i am going to the Scrapbook House in Chipping Norton to stock up on some bits and bobs! Credit Card beware for meltdown!!! :)

other supplies :- Offray dotty organza ribbon, HOTP jumbo brad and rub-on

SKETCH THIS CARDS :33

Here is the card i've made for this weeks sketch challenge on Janelle Richmond's very inspiring site Sketch This Cards, a great place to browse some very beautiful work.

I started with a plain white 5 x 7 card, some small pieces of Basic Grey (this sketch is great for using up smallish pieces!) to which i added some Colorbox fluid chalk ink 'Dark Brown' to define all the edges. I have a large bag of buff chipboard flowers from Craftwork Cards, and covered one with a small piece of Rhonna Farrer paper. I used a HOTP acrylic stamp for the sentiment and Colorbox ink in Dark Peony and Aquamarine with some Prima flowers and a bling brad to finish!!

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY CHALLENGE

O' Christmas Tree! is the Papertake challenge this week, so i thought i would like to give it a try and this is the card i made!

This particular stamp is quite a favourite of mine because of it's simplicity, It's sometimes good to know that you can pick out a stamp and be able to have a very nice card made within a few minutes.
I used a 148mm square card which i covered with a sheet of 6 x 6 Basic Grey 'Stella Ruby'. Onto plain white card, cut slightly smaller I stippled some ink using a Dove brush and Adirondack pads in Lettuce and Pesto. The tree was stamped with Tim Holtz Distress ink 'Peeled Paint' and also the same for the pine boughs around the edge. The 'berries' were created using a Laxmi designs stamp and Adirondack ink in Cranberry. And........a gold star brad to top the tree!!

Other supplies:- JudiKins cube stamp 'Winter Botanical' (for the pine boughs)

CPS#40

Here is my card for the latest sketch over at CPS. I made this one without any stamping, which is quite unusual for me as most of my cards include rubber stamping in some form.

I was having a 'rummage' through some of my older stash earlier this evening, and happened to find a box containing Christmas novelty buttons! I think i purchased them about 4 or 5 years ago in what was called a grab bag!!!

So, along with one of my most recent purchases, being the Queen & Co felt and some gorgeous papers from Basic Grey 'Blitzen', left over from last Christmas this is what emerged!

other supplies :- 148mm square card, Colorbox fluid chalk ink 'Warm Red'

HINTS OF GOLD

I think i may have started things off with my post yesterday about snowflakes, we have had real ones here in Bedford today!!! It's most unusual for us to have snow before Christmas in this part of the world! :)
Just a quickie tonight, Darren,Justine and Danielle have been here today as usual on a Sunday, and also Alan, Chloe's boyfriend was here for dinner as well, so full house, full table and tired me!!The dare this week at DCM is to use some gold on your card. I created this card with some hints of gold using different things.

148mm card which i have covered with one sheet from the 'Figgy Pudding' 6 x 6 pad. I also used a brown paper for the matting and layering. The image is stamped with Ranger Sepia archival onto white card which i stippled, also with Sepia using a Dove brush. I then added some gold accents to the background using Tsukineko Brilliance in 'Galaxy Gold' and two texture stamps from Laxmi designs. I edged this with a Gold Krylon pen. The berries on the holly are Swarovski crystals and i also added some platinum Stickles to the leaves and bauble. Finally some small gold brads to finish.
The stamp is from Penny Black called 'Brush Ornament' I hope you like it!

WEEKEND SKETCH CHALLENGE #28 SKETCH THIS CARDS 32

I was so busy blog hopping last night, that i left it too late to share these two cards with you!!!

This first one is for Beate Johns weekend sketch callenge #28. I really enjoy trying my hand at these challenges and also looking at all the other cards made by all you talented girls out there! :) I have been reading some of my favourite blogs, only to discover that a few of you have had snow already and are out having fun!!

I was inspired to create a 'snowy' card and this is what i came up with!

The card is a 5 x7 covered with Basic Grey 'Blitzen' papers. The circular focal was made with Donna Downey chipboard from a QVC kit, i painted the outside circle with white acrylic paint and then sprinkled with glitter. The inner circle was covered with more BG paper to which i added a ghost snowflake from Heidi Swapp, also painted with white acrylic and then a snowflake brad to finish. The sentiment is a HOTP acrylic, stamped with Versamark and embossed with white PSX powder.
other supplies used :- DecoArt glamour dust, Ranger paint, ribbon and mini brads from stash.



This card is for the current challenge over at Sketch This Cards. I felt that i wanted to make a masculine card with this sketch, i can't think why really as men are notoriously difficult to make a card for!! but my son Darren has a Birthday early January, so i decided to go with this idea.

For this one i used a 148mm square card covered with papers from the American Crafts Elegant collection.The chipboard flourish is Maya Road and i used some paper from Craftwork Cards to cover it (this was an absolute b.... to cover but worth it all the same!!) I sanded all the edges with my Basic Grey precision file set. The chipboard letter D was inked with Stazon( it was originally green!)

other supplies used :- American Crafts ribbon, Stamps Away and HOTP acrylic for the sentiment and journaling block, chipboard D and yellow card from stash.

DI HICKMAN SKETCH

Firstly, i would like to say 'Thank You' to everyone that has left a comment on my creations so far, i really appreciate the feedback! I didn't realise this blogging thing would be quite so addictive!! :)

This card is my take on the Di Hickman sketch. I like the sketch a lot, but i'm not so sure about my card......it seems like it's missing something! The main image is a much used stamp called Purple Toadflax from Hobby Art and i've inked it up with Adirondack pads, Lettuce, Eggplant & Denim, a quick spritz with water before stamping onto white card. The oval was cut with my Cricut machine with the slots to thread the ribbon through.

I also used HOTP vintage papers and acrylic stamp for the 'stitching' and the funky little stamp sets from Studio G for the sentiment. Ribbon is from the Singer shop here in Bedford.


Lastly i apologise for being missing yesterday, I was so tired after hosting my card club on Tuesday that i had an early night!!! Working nine to five really gets in the way of my cardmaking you know ;)

CHLOE'S MEMORY BOX

My eldest daughter Chloe celebrated her 21st Birthday on September 22nd. Amongst the many gifts she received from her boyfriend Alan, was a rather large box of Thorntons chocolates! It took her a few days to get through the chocolates and one evening she brought the box downstairs and said 'You and Dad can eat these i've eaten all the ones i like' !!!!!

I happened to say that the box was 'too good' to throw away, and that it would make a lovely keepsake box for all her little bits and bobs. Remembering back to when Andy and i were going out together and all the funny little things you tend to keep from the special times you spent together. Well.... this is the result of my suggestion, and she now has a lovely box where she can keep all her special things. :)



supplies used :- Basic Grey Scarlets's Letter 12 x 12, Cosmo Cricket chipboard(painted with white acrylic paint) and then coloured with Colorbox fluid chalk Dark Moss, Copper Hydrangeas from Sarah's Cards, small svarowski crystals Craftwork Cards,and little buttons from Dovecraft.

CPS #39

Here is the card i made for CPS#39. I am having fun trying out the sketches and challenges on all the different sites over the last few days and this one was no exception!! I do sometimes take a very long time deciding what papers to use, and then i have to fiddle about trying to assemble my card in a way that i am happy with, so to have a sketch to work with makes things so much easier!! :)

I have many Christmas stamps from many different companies, but this particular one from Hero Arts has to be my all time favourite. It is a very simple image with a very poignant message, and wherever you are in this big wide world, i wish you Peace on Earth........

For the larger image i took some plain white cardstock and added my colour with a small piece of cotton wool dabbed onto the ink pad then smudged onto the card. Because most of the image is 'silhouette' you don't need to be too precise with the colour :) The smaller image is stamped onto translucent shrink plastic(unsanded! i never bother to sand mine!!) with the colour added in the same manner. The paper is Basic Grey 'Figgy Pudding' 6 x 6, HOTP acrylic swirl all stamped with Stazon jet black, Colorbox fluid chalk Azurite and Yellow Cadmium, wooden star button and fine leather twine.

SCRUMMY CHALLENGE!!

I think i caught a bug a couple of days ago,the challenge/sketch bug!!! I've done Beate's and also SCS , so i thought i would have a go at this one from the Scrummy Stash Cafe! blog.

This one made me jump so far out of my box, but i guess that's the idea :) You are asked to make a card using some velvet or felt and it must also incorporate some hand stitching(omg!!)
I bought these felt snowmen made by Queen & Co recently and i knew i wanted to use these on my card. As for the stitching well.... initially i thought snowflakes, but as i have not done any decorative sewing for ages and ages!! i decided to try something simpler like lettering! ha who was i trying to kid, i couldn't even manage to get that level!!!!

I used a 148mm square card, Basic Grey 'Figgy Pudding' paper plus a small piece of turquoise from scraps, which i scalloped with a corner rounder punch with the little 'wings' taken out. The wording is stitched with white 3mm satin ribbon.

TWO CHALLENGES !!

I thought i would like to try a few more of the challenges that are shown, so this morning i made these two cards!!

The first is from Beate Johns, whose blog i visit on a daily basis, and the name Fresh and Fun is perfect because that's exactly what it is!!
I used a 148mm square card as the base for my design, which i covered with 'Figgy Pudding' by Basic Grey. The circle was cut with my Cricut machine from plain white cardstock and i added some colour with a Dove brush, taken straight from an Adirondack 'Raisin' inkpad. The Holly sprig is a DeNami stamp. I drew around a two pence piece to get the circle in the centre and then i stamped five times to form the garland. Coloured in with Crystal Lacquer for the leaves and an Adirondack pen for the berries, i stamped a small HOTP geeting with Raisin to go in the centre, finished off with some Colorbox liquid chalk in Dark Brown around the edge of the circle!!

The second card is from SCS 149

This one is a C6 covered again with the gorgeous 'Figgy Pudding'. The santa and baby is a Paper Inspirations stamp which i inked up with Stazon Olive Green. The two smaller sentiments are from HOTP acrylic range. I added a small piece of Papermania organza ribbon across the centre panel before placing the focals on with some foam tape to add dimension!




I have enjoyed doing these challenges today, and not really having to think too much about how i was going to assemble my cards because the hard work is done for you by the sketch designers!!

ALTERED LETTER

I have had no time for cardmaking over the last couple of days, due to other commitments, so i thought i would share this with you today!
This was completed a couple of months ago for Danielle of course, and it stands on top of the wardrobe in her bedroom.

The letter stands 10" tall and is 1.5" deep (it was quite difficult to cover this, but with a bit of perseverance and a little brute force :) i got there in the end!! )
Manufactured by EK Success from their Art Blanche range, which is very comprehensive by the way! If you enjoy altering stuff then you may want to check it out!

I hope to be back soon with some cards to show you, as i have more samples to make for the card club that i host once a fortnight! ***Have a great weekend***


supplies used :-
colorbok paper,chipboard letters Brenda Pinnick, chipboard flowers Craftwork Cards, HOTP button brads, ribbons ,fibres and buttons from stash!

YOU!

I wanted to share with you today my second 12 x 12 scrapbook page that i have recently completed. It is another from the ones taken at a studio September 2006 of my gorgeous Granddaughter Danielle. As you can see the picture itself is quite large(8 x 10 i think!) so not much space left to embellish, but as i am very new to scrapbooking i thought it would be good for me to start in this way!!

I have loads of smaller pictures and i think when i make another page for my album i will try it with some of those and see how i get on!! :) I really need to get on with my scrapbooking as she is two years old now, and it seems that i will be chasing my tail otherwise. Although i realise that there is no time limit for this, i am also trying to complete an 8 x8 album for her parents as well!! in between all the other 'crafty' things that i want to do! What i really want is for someone to devise a way for me to have a 48 hour day and then i just might have time for everything!!!!

I hope you like it!

supplies used were Basic Grey12 x 12, Craftwork Cards Naked Plasma Alphas, Bazill Bitty Blossoms, Sarahs 3" fat daisy, other silk flowers are Papermania and little clear gems from a tattoo sheet inside a kids chewing gum pack!!!!

CPS #38

Hello Everyone, My lovely hubby managed to get some better pictures for me today!! so here is my attempt at sketch #38 over at CPS.
My camera is just a little 'point & shoot' digital, and i'm no good at taking pictures :) My husband has a much better camera, but he can't find the lead thingy that connects it to the computer :( but hopefully he will find it soon!!

This card is a C6, which is smaller than i normally go for. I have used 'Figgy Pudding' papers to cover my card front(my 6 x 6 pad is getting used up rather quickly, but i have another on order :o) The tree image is from 'Paper Inspirations' stamped with Ranger Adirondack 'Stream' onto plain white card. I used a Dove stippling brush and 'Stream' around the edge of the card to 'soften' slightly. I added a small star clip from Making Memories and a weeny little crystal star to the top of the tree! The sentiment is HOTP from one of their acrylic sets. Hope you like it!

STAMP COMPANY

Silly me! I posted a couple of cards yesterday, and spent time gushing about how cute they were that i forgot to mention the name of the stamp company that produces them!!!
The 'Moose' and the 'Reindeer' are both from 'The Artful Stamper' which is a Canadian company.

Unfortunately i am unable to post my attempt at CPS#38 tonight, because the pictures i took of it were not good enough! I am hoping to get some better ones tomorrow so that i can show it :)

AND .... ALSO SOME REINDEER!

This is the other stamp that also jumped into my basket on Saturday! I just love the way their legs dangle! I have seen lots of cute creatures on other blog sites, but when i order from the States i get charged some sort of tax thing ? at this end before i can collect from the Post Office.

This time i stamped directly onto Basic Grey paper using Tim Holtz Distress Ink Brushed Cordury(I think i prefer Stazon Timber Brown, but mine seems to have gone a really yucky colour!! and it's not brown anymore :( coloured in again using Lyra's and water brush. Candy Cane brad is Accent Depot and ribbon is Bobbin. The card is 148mm square and i originally intended it to be a gatefold....but then i changed my mind at the last minute and glued down the right hand side(hope you can see from the photo) yummy 'Figgy Pudding' again :)

MOOSE IN THE HOOSE!!!

And here he is...How adorable is this little guy!!! This is one of the two new stamps that i just had to have when i visited my local scrapbook store on Saturday. How could you resist that cute face :)
I stamped him onto some watercolour card using Ranger archival jet black ink. I coloured in using my Lyra wax crayons and a water brush. You can stamp onto normal cardstock and use the crayons, but a much better finish is achieved if you use specific card or paper for watercolouring. I use Cotman 90lb water colour paper, which is cold pressed and comes in a 8 x 5 inch pad of 20 sheets.

The card is 5 x 7 covered with the gorgeous 'Figgy Pudding' papers by Basic Grey. Rub on HOTP, wooden star button and fine leather twine from stash.

FIRST 12 X 12 SCRAPBOOK PAGE!!!

As promised yesterday here is my first 12 x 12 page! It seems a very large piece of paper to decorate when you are used to much smaller things like cardmaking! :)
This picture is one of my favourites of my Granddaughter Danielle, she looks so cheeky and beautiful all at the same time. The picture is from a set that were taken at a studio in September of 2006!! Her Mum and Dad decided they would like some of her only wearing her nappy(not sure why!) but, they are a fab set of pictures. I have another one that i will post on here soon!! hopefully :)

I used papers from Basic Grey 12 x 12 'Infuse' collection, chipboard is also Basic Grey. The rub-ons are from different manufacturers Creative Imaginations, Making Memories etc. I would really love your comments on this page as it is my first! good or bad as i have oodles of pictures to scrapbook!!! and any pointers would be appreciated :)
Must go and play now...... i bought two new Christmas stamps again today......

CHRISTMAS CUTIES

Oooh, cute little guys!!! I absolutely adore this Penny Black stamp, it's from The new 2007 Christmas range. The faces on these creatures as they look into the crib are just too cute!!! Stamped with Ranger Jet Black archival onto plain white cardstock. I wanted to use papers that were not from a Christmas range and these are from Basic Grey 'Infuse'(can you tell i'm hooked yet!!) Brad and rub-on HOTP, organza ribbon unknown. Coloured in again using the fab Lyra crayons and ever faithful water brush!I love Hedgehogs :) This stamp is also Penny Black, and although new to me it's not new to their range. It's from the Margaret Sherry collection 2002! ( i can't think why i have taken this long to aquire it!!) Plain white card 148mm square with paper from 'Scarlets Letter' 6 x 6 by Basic Grey. Ranger ink again onto white card, coloured with Lyra's and waterbrush. I added some
Rhinestone stickles to the stars and moon. Sentiment is also Penny Black. Red card from scraps!Dotty organza is Offray.

Please check back tomorrow as i am hoping to upload my first ever12 x 12 Scrapbook page!!!!

NEW STAMPS!!!

This card was made using one of my newest stamps. It's called 'Ruffled Bloom' by Stampendous. I need more time to play with this stamp, as i think the ways to use it could be almost endless!, but i wanted to get going with it and this was my first idea for it!
The papers are from Brenda Walton for K&Co and the dark brown is HOTP. I added some Platinum Stickles to the centre of the flowers,the organza ribbon bow and a Dovecraft brad. The sentiment is Hero Arts.Here is my other new floral stamp, also by Stampendous called 'Agapanthus Cluster'. I think this is quite different because part of the stamp is kind of silhouette and the other half of the flower cluster is open to allow for some colour. I stamped the image onto some Basic Grey(not sure which collection!!!) with Ranger archival Jet Black. I coloured in using Lyra crayons and a water brush. Other papers, brads and rub-on are HOTP. Ribbon is American Crafts.

CPS #37

Here is my version of the great sketch over at CPS
I have used a 5 x 7 card as my base and covered it with papers from the 'Fruitcake' collection pack by Basic Grey. The 'holly bough' image is from a Judikins cube stamped onto watercolour card and coloured using my Lyra wax crayons and a water brush.
I usually just 'go with the flow' when i make a card, but the sketches are invaluable when your creativity is asleep!!! I cut my scallops by taking the 'wings' out of my corner rounder punch!! It's a bit fiddly but it works quite well really! :)