CCM #106 - Winter Fun (NOT Christmas or New Year)

Hello - this will be quite a quick post today as I am busy, busy, busy!! This will be our last challenge until after Christmas and Marie would like to see a Winter Fun themed card. Please DO NOT submit Christmas or New Year cards. 

Our sponsors are The Paper Shelter with a $20 gift certificate. And Sir Stampalot - pop over to CCM blog to see the gorgeous Magnolia stamp on offer from them! 

I have used a digi stamp from our sponsors - The Paper Shelter - called 'Ice Skating Friends'. I loved the palette of their coloured version - so tried to replicate this with my Promarkers.  

The boy: China Blue, Cobalt Blue, Frozen Lake; Grass, Apple, Fresh Meadow.

The girl: Plum, Amethyst, Lavender; Pink Lobster, Rose Pink, Pink Carnation.

Skin: Dusky Pink, Almond, Ivory. 

After cutting out the image with a Spellbinders rectangle die, I inked the edges with the same four main colours using DI's (Dusty Concord, Bundled Sage, Faded Jeans and Picked Raspberry). I then used Kanban card to matt and layer, and again, echo the four colours - each of these were edged with the corresponding DI. I finished off with matching pearls in the four corners.

Pop over to Crafty Cardmakers to see what the rest of the DT have been up to.

Cxx

CCM #104 - Paper Piecing

This week's challenge is from Viv, who want us to use Paper Piecing on our projects. We are sponsored this time by Saturated Canary who are offering 2 of their fabulous digi stamps. And also be Woodware. Pop over to the CCM blog to see a picture of their prize.

For my project, I chose to use 'Ruffles the Clown' from Saturated Canary.

I began by choosing the papers - all from my scraps box. I have had the Brenda Pinnick papers for years - part of a huge scrapboooking kit I bought. And I used a couple of old Papermania papers too.

Next, I printed the image onto Joanna Sheen Elegance card, and also onto each of the papers. 

It was then a case of choosing which papers to use where. I'm not the world's best fussy cutter - but most of it wasn't too fiddly. Before sticking the paper pieces onto the card, I coloured the skin with Ivory, Almond and Blush Promarkers - with Pastel Pink for the lips. The hair was a combination of Tawny Owl, Cocoa, Henna and Walnut. I put the pieces through my Xyron sticker maker and fixed them to the image.

I decided to keep the rest of the card very simple - and just used more of the papers to matt and layer the image onto a Craftwork Cards scalloped white base.

Pop on over to the Crafty Cardmakers Blog to check out all the other DT inspiration. We look forward to seeing your creations.

Cxxx

CCM #103 - Monochromatic Purple

Our theme this fortnight is Purple. Fiona would like to see projects that are all (or nearly all) purple - skin and hair colours are also allowed.  Our sponsors are Di's Digistamps who are offering a $10 gift voucher, and Hobby Art who are offering some gorgeous stamps. Pop over to the Crafty Cardmakers blog to check them out!

For this challenge I have made a card that was commissioned by a friend for her partner's Mum. I was asked for something floral and purple - so it seemed a perfect card for this challenge.

My base card is an 8" square white card. You can't see it as I totally covered it. The dark purple shimmery card is from a local market - it's really beautiful. I embossed this with Crafter's Companion Embossalicious 8x8 Chantilly Corner folder. I then used it to cover the base card completely.   

The scalloped square is cut from the C&C pastel textured effect card pad, which I then embossed with the Embossalicious 6x6 Swirl Corner folder. From the dark purple, I cut a mat using the largest of the Spellbinders Lace Doily Motif dies. The smaller, lighter mat is also from that set of dies.

I cut the letters for 'MUM' using my XCut Rome Alphabet die, while the numbers came from a very old Brenda Pinnick scrapbooking kit I bought from QVC eons ago. They were both coloured with my Lilac Promarker. 

The large, fabric flowers are something else that has been in my stash for a long time. They might have come from WHSmith, but I wouldn't swear to it. The smaller roses were a bargain from The Range. To finish it off I have used 3 Creative Expressions pearl hat pins, and the tiny pearls are Kanban.

Hopefully they will be happy with the card - I think it turned out quite well.

See you soon!

Cxxx

CCM #102 - Shabby Chic!

Time for another challenge from Crafty Cardmakers. This time, Betty has chosen 'Shabby Chic' for her theme. She would like to see any project - scrapbook page, altered art, card - that is 'shabby chic'! Ours sponsors this time are Milk Coffee who are offering a prize of 5 digis from their store. And also Sir Stampalot.

I have chosen an image from Milk Coffee to use this week. I'm still getting used to my Promarkers, so have taken to doing little colour swatches before I start colouring in an image - just so I can check that they work together.

Hopefully you can read my writing and see which colours I ended up using. I cut her out using Spellbinders Marvellous squares. I have to say, this has not been one of my most favourite purchases because I felt you lost the detail on the outside of the largest die as it cut inside it. So, this time, after cutting the image out, and inking with Victorian Velvet DI, I then drew around the edge of the die, cut the decorative edging out, and re-attached it to the image.

I decided to create my own background. I started with a piece of thick card (it came as part of some packaging), and painted it with Eco Green Mulch paint. I covered this over with Orchid - using a very dry brush, which allowed the brown to still show through at the edges.

Using a spatula, I scraped white paint over the top of this making sure the pink showed through.

I then took a craft knife to the edges to distress them a bit, and remove a bit of the white around the edges.

I wrapped wide lace around the side, then added pink satin ribbon, and a thin decorative white one over the top. This was stuck onto a Craftwork Cards base card.  

The finishing touches include a large bow using the same lace, two Creative Expressions hat pins, a pearl and crystal embellishment from my local craft shop, and some pearls from my stash.

Make sure you pop on over to the Crafty Cardmakers blog to check out what they have been up to! Then get busy and post your creations!

I would like to enter this into:
A Creative Romance - Pink

CMC Copic Challenge Group - Anything Goes
Inkspirational - Anything Goes

Cxxx

CCM Challenge #101 - Cute and Furry!

Our challenge this fortnight is 'Cute and Furry' - chosen by the lovely Jackie! You can use stamps, digi stamps, photographic images etc - but the focal image of your project must be cute and must be furry!!


Sponsoring us this time are Di's Digi Stamps with a gift voucher of $10, and The Stampman is offering a £10 voucher which can be used on-line or in-store. Make sure you check out all the DT inspiration at Crafty Cardmakers.

I have used a digi stamp called 'Parker the Puppy' from Scrapping Memories, for my card. The first thing I did was to colour him in. That then helped me choose the colours for the rest of the card - which turned out very autumnal! So I coloured him in using a combination of: Saffron, Apricot, Ginger and Spice for the lighter, more orangey areas. And the darker areas are made up of Cocoa, Teracotta, Henna and Walnut.  For the bone I used Ivory and Eggnogg. 

I cut the image out with a Spellbinders circle and inked with Tea Dye DI whilst still in the die. I also edged it with the same ink once I had taken it out.

Because the overall effect was an orangey brown colour, I decided to go with an orange base card (A4 folded in half - from my stash). The scalloped circle was cut from C&C Textured cardstock (from the pastel set) - whilst I used the largest Spellbinder Splendid Circle die with a piece of paper from my scrap box (don't know where it was from). I cut this in half and attached it to the back of the scalloped circle.

The autumn leaf card is also from my scrap box - I know that this was leftover from a Hunkydory kit. The colours really complement the orangey, brown autumnal feel the card has. A piece of white card was edged with Triple Scallop Edgeability, and embossed with That Special Touch Large Polka Dot mask. I inked the edges with Tea Dye DI. The ribbon, glittery flowers and fabric flowers are all from my stash. As a finishing touch, I added Glossy Accents to the nose! 

I would like to enter my card into the following:

CMC Copic Challenge Group - Fall Colours

Di's Digi Designs Challenge Blog - Show Off Your Colouring Skills

Graph'It Markers - Autumn Colours

See you soon,

Cxx

CCM #100 - Winged Things

Welcome to our latest challenge - Winged Things. Your 'winged thing' needs to be the main focus of the project - NOT a little butterfly charm, or bee in the corner of an image. Our sponsors are Crafts and Me with the choice of three digis, and Woodware who offer £12.00 to spend on-line or in-store at one of their stockists.

So, for my card I chose 'Whooo Loves Ya Baby' digi stamp from Scrapping Memories. Having printed the image on Elegance card,  I coloured it using Promarkers:

Bird house/Letters/Hearts - Frosted Jade, Island Lagoon, Marine, Solstice Blue

Owl - Grey Squirrel, Fired Wood, Umber, Eggnog. Daffodil Bloom

Ground - Grey Squirrel, Frosted Leaves

The image was cut with a Spellbinders scalloped rectangle die, embossed and inked with Pumice Stone and Peacock Feathers DI's.

For the mats and layers I have used pale blue Bazzill, and DCWV self-adhesive brown and grey card. The teal blue and cream are from Papermill. I added a strip of Washi tape (from The Range) and flat-backed pearls to finish it off.

Please make sure that your winged thing is the focal image of your project - pop over to Crafty Cardmakers for more inspiration.

I would like to enter this into:

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Anything Goes

4 Krafty Girlz - Anything Goes

Craftin' Boutique Challenges - Anything with an Owl

See you soon

Cxx

How cute!!

This card is my eldest step-daughter's birthday card!! This year I have used a digi image from DigiStamp Boutique called 'Barney and Flower' - chosen by her Dad. 

The brown base card is from my stash, and is embossed with Spellbinders Garden Lattice grand MBossability folder. I inked over this with Gathered Twigs DI to highlight the pattern. The green strip is edged with Classic Triple Scallop Edgeability, and I rounded the corners of the pink flowered card (DCWV Sweet mat stack) with my small X-Cut corner rounder!!  The reddish brown card is also DCWV (self adhesive) and was embossed in the same way as the base card.  I then cut a Splendid Circle from pink paper, cut it in half and arranged it slightly off-centre, behind the image.

The image was printed onto Joanna Sheen Elegance card and coloured with Promarkers:

Dog - Morning Mist, March Hare, Tawny Owl, Terracotta, Walnut

Grass/Leaves - Fresh Meadow, Apple, Forest Green

Flower - Pink Mittens, Pink Carnation, Pink Lobster, Wild Cranberry

I cut the image with a Spellbinders Labels 3 die, and I inked it whilst still in the die, with Picked Raspberry DI. All the elements were edges with Gathered Twigs DI, and the lettering was cut using my X-Cut Rome Alphabet Die. I finished it off with some pink pearls and green gingham ribbon from my stash.

Cxx

Becoming a teenager!!

Well, it's been a while since I blogged due to holidays and other commitments, but now school has started again, and I am back doing supply work, I should have the time to get back into it. I am starting with a card for my eldest niece who is soon to become a teenager! She loves cooking and baking - taking after both of her parents! But she is also at that stage of still growing into her body - all arms and legs and clumsiness. She is already taller than I am - although that isn't particularly difficult.

So, I thought that The Paper Shelter's "Patissier in Distress" would be totally appropriate! The digi stamp comes with a backing paper, so I attempted to match the general colour scheme of the digi with the paper.

I printed the image onto Joanna Sheen's 300gsm Elegance card, and coloured with my Promarkers. I am still new to using pens, but I am making progress - more work still needed on hair I think!

Anyway, the colours I have used are:

Dress/Shoes/Tablecloth = Pink Mittens, Pale Pink, Budding Rose

Cake Icing = Blossom, Pink Carnation, Rose

Skin = Ivory, Blush, Almond

Apron/Hat = Blush, Saffron, Apricot

Hair = Tawny Owl, Cocoa, Walnut

Trolley = Cool Greys 1, 2, 4  and Black

Candles = Cool Aqua

The image was cut and embossed using a Spellbinder Scalloped Rectangle, and inked with Vintage Photo and Victorian Velvet DI's.

I used an A4 sheet of brown card folded into a easel shape. I used another sheet of the same card for matting and layering. The blue is from a DCWV self-adhesive stack and the patterned card is Kanban. I printed 3 copies of the digi backing paper, using one as a whole, and cutting two further copies down to give height and dimension to the curtains and pelmet. The scrap from this was used to create the stopper for the easel, and to cut out the letters and numbers from my X Cut dies. The pearl embellishments are all from my stash. 

I then added some finishing touches - Cosmic Shimmer Aqua Twinkles for the pelmet, Glossy Accents on the cake icing and lettering, and Sepia Accents on the hair.

The Paper Shelter are having a DT call. Looking at the standard of work over there I don't think I stand a chance - but nothing ventured, nothing gained, so they say, so I am at least going to put my name forward! 

So, I would like to enter into:

The Paper Shelter - DT Call

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Child's Play

TTCRD - Anything Goes

There She Goes - Cakes, Cupcakes and Birthday Treats

See you soon.

Cxx

CCM #98 - Fun In The Sun!

So, summer is supposed to be here - although it really seemed to come and go during the school summer term - I remember sweltering in my classroom with 32 hot and tired 8-year olds, and finding little respite outside under the trees in the grounds!! But, in the true British spirit, we never give up, and hope that another hot spell is just around the corner! And this time at Crafty Cardmakers we are hoping to encourage the sun out again with our 'Fun in the Sun' challenge!! 

Lin would like to see something related to summer fun - maybe holidays, or in the garden - basically something that you would do outdoors when the sun is shining that is fun, clean and legal!! 

Our sponsors this week are Saturated Canary who are offering two of their gorgeous digi stamps, and also Sir Stampalot!! 

I love camping - my family were never into it, but I first encountered it through Brownies, and finally caught the bug when I did my first DofE expedition. When I was single, I would head off on my own during my holidays, and my love of the outdoors grew. Now I am married, I have a husband who also likes the outdoors and camping, so we still tend to go most years - initially with my step-children when they were smaller - and now on our own. I have to admit that it has evolved from the days where I was happy to plonk my small tent in a field with little or no amenities. Now we have all the mod cons that electrical hook-up can provide. And a tent that does not require getting on hands and knees to enter!! 

I remember from my Brownie days, the whole toasting of marshmallows over the open fire - and later using the flam from my little gas burner!! I still love the charred outside with the really gooey centre!! So, when I saw the "Camping" digi from our sponsors, I just had to choose that for this challenge. I also relate to the longer socks and slip-ons thing she has going on - as that is generally what I end up pottering round a campsite in!!

So here's the card! I have used a piece of brown card stock from my stash, embossed with Spellbinders Dainty Dots grand MBossabilities folder, and folded into an A5 card. The rest of the card is from my scraps box. The orange and green patterned card is Kanban, whilst the lighter brown is Bazzill. I cannot remember where the distressed brown card came from. The sentiment is from a really old, cheapie set of sentiment stamps that I bought years ago, and the butterfly decoration was cut using Spellbinders Decorative Inserts 6. All elements were edged with Gathered Twigs DI.

The image was printed onto Joanna Sheen Elegance card (300gsm) and then coloured with Promarkers:

Logs/stick - Walnut, Cocoa, Henna, Terracotta, Tawny Owl

Fire - Pastel Yellow, Apricot, Ginger, Spice, Red

T-Shirt/Grass - Fresh Meadow, Apple, Grass, Forest Green

Skin - Almond, Ivory, Dusky Pink

Hair - Tawny Owl, Henna, Walnut

Socks/Shorts - Tawny Owl, Cocoa

Slippers - Soft Peach, Tequila Sunrise, Orange

I used Wild Honey DI to ink whilst the image was still in the Spellbinders Rectangle die, and then Cosmic Shimmer Aqua Twinkles on the flames, Sepia Accents on her hair, and Glossy Accents on the butterflies. Some little golden Kanban pearls finish it off!

So now it's your turn! Make sure you visit the Crafty Cardmakers blog to check out all the other DT inspiration. 

See you soon!! 

Cxx

Anyone for cricket?

Just a quick post. This card was a commission. It's a 6" square boxed card. The base card and box were made from a large sheet of Centura Pearl Bronze card. 

For the cricket theme, I used two of the large toppers from the Kanban Afternoon Cricket topper sheet. 

The mats are cut from Bazzill card and more of the Bronze Centura pearl, using Spellbinders Lacey, Scalloped and Classic squares. I added a few buttons from my stash for embellishment! The lettering was cut with my X-Cut alphabet dies.

For the inside of the box, I used the smaller toppers from the sheet.

Cxx

CCM #97 - 1, 2, 3 Challenge!!

How quickly has the last two weeks gone!! The end of term is always frenetic!! But, it's all over now and the holiday stretches wonderfully in front of me!!

So, on to this fortnight's challenge - which will actually run for 3 weeks - so plenty of time to get your entries in!  Our challenge is 1, 2, 3:

1 image

2 patterned papers

3 embellishments

We are sponsored this time by The Paper Shelter who have a $20 gift certificate on offer, and also by Woodware with £12 to spend on-line or in-store!

I have chosen to use an image from our sponsors, The Paper Shelter, called 'Yummy'! 

I coloured the image using Promarkers:

Ice cream - Blush, Apricot; Tawny Owl; Wild Cranberry, Rose Pink

Cream topping - Almond, Morning Mist, Cocoa

Cherry - Wild Cranberry, Rose Pink

Wafers - Tequila Sunrise, Blush, Ginger; Blush, Cocoa

Sundae glass - Morning Mist

The image was cut out with Spellbinders long scalloped rectangle, and I used Picked Raspberry DI to ink whilst still in the die. I added some Cosmic Shimmer Aqua Twinkles to the cherry and top layer of pink ice-cream.

The coffee-coloured swirl card is Kanban, edged using Spellbinders triple scallop and matching insert. The cream paper is Papermania Ivory Creative Tones. 

For my 3 embellishments, I have used ribbon, a button and pearls from my stash - all in pinky/purplish tones to complement the image.

Pop on over to Crafty Cardmakers to see all the wonderful inspiration from the Design Team - then start crafting!!

I would like to enter this into the following:
Dream Valley Challenges - Summer Days
Hobbycutz - Summer

Cxxx

CCM #96 - Birthday!!!

Woohoo! Crafty Cardmakers is 4 years old, and I have been lucky enough to be part of the team for over a year and a half.  So, it's only fitting that this challenge is all about Birthdays!! Our esteemed leader, Lin, is hosting, and she would like to see your birthday creations to help us celebrate!

We are sponsored this time be Di's Digistamps who are offering a $10 gift voucher.
 
And by Hobby Art, who are offering a gorgeous set of stamps. 

So, here is my offering for the challenge. I started with a Craftwork Cards 148mm square base card.

I embossed a piece of white card with an Embossalicious 6x6 Floralbunda folder. I used an old Colorbox Petal Point silver pad to ink around the edges of the embossed card, the Craftwork Cards Warren Rabbit topper and sentiment. The paper I have used is Papermania Ivory/Black Creative Tones. The topper and sentiment are mounted on Spellbinders Splendid Circles. The grey and white grosgrain ribbon is from my stash, as are the black gems and white pearls. The hat pins are from Creative Expressions.

Make sure you pop over to the Crafty Cardmakers blog to check out the rest of the design team inpiration. 

I would like to enter this into the following:

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes with Birthday twist

My Creative Moments - Word Play Saturday - Birthday

Be back soon.
Cxxx

Catching up!

It has been a while since I have blogged anything other than a CCM Challenge Card. As we are heading towards the summer holidays and school is starting to wind down, I am at last finding time to catch up with all sorts of things. The garden is finally tidy, and all my veggies and salad stuffs are growing - way behind where I would normally be - but at least it its all in motion now.

The sun has been shining today, and I have sat in garden for a while too - just relaxing. I am looking forward to completing my year of teaching, and returning to supply teaching in September. I have missed being able to craft and create in my own time - everything this past year has been very pressured and constrained by time. That said, I'll probably be worrying by October that I don't have enough work to pay the bills!

So, I have decided to start blogging some of the cards I have created for family and friends over the past few months, and hopefully this will get me back into blogging more regularly!

I'm starting with a card from April. This was my niece's birthday card back in April. 

At the time, she was a blue belt (hence the colour scheme) but this past week has gained her purple belt! 

I used Promarkers to colour in the Karate Girl image from Mo's Digital Pencil. It's so long ago, that I can't actually remember which pens I used. I know I used Joanna Sheen's Elegance card to print the image on.

The blue card is from my local market, and the patterned card from DCWV Spring Glitter Stack. I used Spellbinder Classic Triple Scallop Edgeability, and an insert from the Classic Postage set to create the decorative edge. The fancy mat is Spellbinder Decorative Labels  27 (cut in half). The lettering is cut using X-Cut dies, and I added a piece of pink ribbon, and blue and pink pearls from my stash.

I would like to enter this into:

Send a Smile for Kids - For the Girls

Hopefully be back with another post soon!! 

Cxx

CCM #94 - Steampunk!

This week's challenge is hosted by Doreen, who has chosen 'Steampunk' as her theme. We are sponsored by Di's DigiStamps with a $10 gift certificate, and by The Stampman with a £10 gift voucher.

Now I like the idea of Steampunk, but it's not really something I choose to use much in my cards. I did however, buy the Kanban Steampunk toppers when they first came out. Now, I know a lot of the true 'Steampunk'ers out there may consider this not to be a true representation, but I really like it - so have chosen to use 'Harrison' as the focal image for my card.

The cream base card is from Craftwork Cards, and I have used Kraft card by Papermania. I started by stamping the Papermania Beautiful Timepieces Urban stamp, and the largest of the Boofles Urban stamp Patchwork set onto the Kraft Card using Frayed Burlap DI. As I tried to make this into a kind of patchwork effect, there were gaps where it wasn't lined up correctly, so I used one of the cogs from the Chronology set of stamps that came free with DoCrafts Creativity magazine a while ago to fill in the gaps. I then embossed this with That Special Touch Cogs masked and used the Frayed Burlap direct to paper to bring some of this to the forefront. I ran a pair of scissors along the edge, before inking them.

On another piece of Kraft card, I stamped the armillary from the freebie stamp set. It's wierd, but I've always wanted one of the those for my garden. I cut this to size and then stamped another of the cogs around the edges, before distressing and inking them. 

The 3 embellishments are bottle caps.I stamped 3 cogs and roughly cut them out, before sticking them into the caps. I then stuck in some Cousin's charms - they look a little like pocket watches even though they aren't! I also added some Mother of Pearl mica flakes into the bottom before pouring on clear UTEE from my Melt Pot.  Am quite pleased with how they turned out - but it did come at a price. I tend to pour any left over UTEE into little silicone moulds so that I have solid lumps rather than lots of fragments. I had quite a bit left so needed more than one mould. Totally forgetting what I was dealing with, I managed to put my thumb into the the first one whilst trying to move it out of the way for the second. The high pitched yelp brought my OH running very quickly to see what had happened. Let's just say, it took a while under the cold tap before I managed to break off all the (now set) UTEE. I do seem to have come off lightly - no blister or scarring - only very sore skin! 

I also stamped the pocket watch from the Chronology set onto Shrink Plastic (one with a grid pattern on it) using Timber Brown Stazon. I cut this out before shrinking with my heat gun.

I inked the edges of the topper to dull it down a bit, then finished off with some twine and a matching sentiment. 

Pop on over to the Crafty Cardmakers blog to see how the other DT members have interpreted this challenge.

Cxxx