Saturday 28 September 2013

I Believe in Santa Paws

Ta Da!   My first Christmas card of the year.
I don't want to cause panic, 
but you do know there are only 87 days to go, don't you?


My Christmas mojo needed a jump start, so to make it easy I used one of my cute, 
LOTV die-cut images from last year.
I also stuck with my favourite DP. 
The grey isn't your usual Christmas colour, but I like it with the red. 
What do you think?



 I used liquid pearls and stickles glitter on the image, for some added sparkle.
The star charm was tied on with some gorgeous, whispy red twine,
and I found some sequins at the bottom of my 'bits & pieces' box.


Challenges.
Papercraft Star - Inspiration Photo. (I opted for adding a metal charm)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Creative Knockouts - Your favourite things. (My favs. are the grey chevron DP - I use it  a LOT!! and of course glitter!
4 Krafty Girlz - Anything Goes

LOTV pre-coloured die cut.     Liquid Pearls and Stickles Glitter
Digi DP - Digital Design Essentials 'Digitally Smitten'
Red Twine and Sequins

Saturday 21 September 2013

Born to Ride

Morning crafters.
It's a chilly day here and I am fighting the urge to put the heating on!
Instead, I am going to fire up the oven 
and cook a big batch of curry and some apple dumplings :-)

Here's a quick card I made for my BIL.
He regularly takes a trip around Europe, 
with my SIL on the back of the bike -
so I thought this snoopy image would be perfect.



I followed the great sketch over at Seize the Sketch (just flipped it).
Snoopy is coloured with Copics and (although you can't really see in the photos) 
he is popped up on thin, foam pads.
I really wanted to stamp the sentiment right on the paper, 
but my card was almost finished by that stage and I was too chicken. 
So I added it on a little scrap of paper instead ;-)


Challenges
Seize the Sketch
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes (topping option is Monochromatic)
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Marker POP - Anything Goes

Stampabilities Snoopy and his Sidekick, coloured with Copics.
Sentiment Stamp, Penny Black Critter Party Set
DP - My Mind's Eye, Mabel
Star Punch.    Black Gems.    Striped Ribbon.

Monday 16 September 2013

Squeezable Cheeks

September seems to be filled with birthday boys, for me - 
so I have been scouring the digi stamp stores for some cute fellas.
I came across 'Noah' at Sassy Cheryl's.
Isn't he adorable - look at those squeezable cheeks!


I didn't think my colouring skills were up to the pumpkin, 
so I flood filled it with a digi paper before printing it out. 
(Those eagle eyed amongst you will spot that my printer had a hissy fit mid print, 
and the right side came out a bit faded).
Noah is coloured with Copics and the leaves are scattered with Diamond Dust.

 Mistake no. 2 - after I had stuck down the little sentiment banner, 
I decided to use my orange Copic to draw some vertical lines on the far left. 
Urghhhh.... what a mess I made!  
Luckily, I found a little scrap of orange, stripey paper to cover it all up ;-)
  

Challenges
Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursdays - I challenge you to say that fast, over and over. 
I can't do it and I'm sober- honest! ;-)
CMC Copic Challenge - Anything Goes
Totally Papercrafts - Birthday Boys
ABC Challenge - V for Very Cute
Paper Players - CAS for Kids
Lexi'c Creations - Autumn Colours

Sassy Cheyl's Digi Stamp, 'Pumpkin Noah'      Copics and Diamon Dust.
DP's Pink Petticoat 'Stripes' and 'Chevrons'     Ribbon, Card Candi, Crystals
'Birthday Boy' Sentiment from Woodware Playtime Set, stamped in Memento Tangelo Ink

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Less Work, More Football

Morning campers.... it's decidedly chilly here today.
In the space of a week, I have gone from summer dresses and sandals
 to leggings, jumpers and boots.
I have had to issue strict instructions to hubby, NOT to put the heating on.. 
I don't want him getting used to the warmth!!! lol**

Anyhoo... here's today's card, for a friend's little boy
I'm not sure how old he is, but when I find out, I will add a die cut number to the little tag.


My footballer is coloured with Copics, with some glossy accents on the football.
His jersey is paper pieced.
The grass is a bit of a mess - it's the first time I've tried it. 
I don't think my colours are right at all, but once I'd started it there was no going back!!


Challenges.
My Mum' Craft Shop - Boys Only
Papertake - Child's Play
Top Tip Tuesday - Paper Piecing
Cards For Men - Tag It

LOTV Stamp 'Football Crazy'. Copics.  Glossy Accents.
Sorry, not sure what make the DP is.   Spellbinders Edgabilities 'Classic Brackets'.
Mini Tag.  Grosgrain 'Happy Birthday' Ribbon


Sunday 8 September 2013

The pink stars are falling

Can you guess what one of my fav TV shows is right now -
it's 'Under the Dome'.
That's where the inspiration for my card came from.
I followed Jen's sketch at Seize the Sketch,
replacing the hexagons with pink falling stars.


I never have just the right shade of card to match my coloured image, so I used a tip I picked up ages ago. I drew a wide line down a piece of white card, with the same Copic I used to colour Bella's dress.  Perfect colour match :-)

I also want to say a big thanks to everyone who left a tip re: my inking problem.
I tried rubbing my stamp with an eraser before inking it up, and it's definitely better. 
I used it on this little, star stamp.


Challenges.
Seize the Sketch - Jen's Sketch
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon
A Creative Romance - CAS Style
Totally Gorjuss  - Anything Goes

Stamp - Stamping Bella, Ava Loves To Celebrate coloured with Copics and Glamour Dust.
Stars Stamp from Fizzy Moon, Wish Upon A Star,  using Memento Ink (Angel Pink)
Fizzy Moon Happy Birthday Ribbon
Bakers Twine   Crystal Gems

Wednesday 4 September 2013

I found my family in a book

1, 2, 3, and I'm back in the room...
Despite my mojo struggling to get out, I have finally made a simple card.
To make it easy for myself, I stuck with my favourite paper and colours
(hmmm... will grey and orange work for Christmas cards?)  ;-)

This is for my friend, Debs. 
She reads anything and everything, so I thought this little Gorjuss girl,
"I found my family in a book"  would be perfect.
I used  grey ink for my sentiment, to make it look more washed out and the little heart embellie is
actually a house die from Clearly Besotted. 
I just coloured the heart orange and popped it back in the die cut.

 Challenges.
Sentimental Sundays - Happy Birthday
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
Papertake - Anything Goes (with Optional Christmas Theme)
ABC - U for Unlimited (Anything Goes)
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Love Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes

DP - DDE Digitally Smitten.   Stamp - Simply Gorjuss 'I found my family in a book'.   Copics.
Whimsy Stamps, Circle Postmarks.   Memento Gray Flannel Ink.   Striped Ribbon.
Clearly Besotted 'Home Sweet Home' Die.   Crystal Gems.


Sunday 1 September 2013

Goodbye Summer (and inky help needed)

Is it over?
Can I get out my woolly jumpers, my winter coat and my fleece pj's?  
I am excited.      I LOVE winter clothes :-)

It has been a lovely summer, and my crafting has taken a back seat as we've explored our new surroundings. 
Now I am ready to get back into it -  BUT, I need a little help.

First off... it was time for a change.
Do you like my new look blog?
I chose a colour scheme from Design Seeds and made a very simple header and a few buttons.


Now, for your help.
Part of the reason my craft room door has remained closed is the trouble I have had stamping.
I was excited to get some new stamps from Clearly Besotted and I bought a range of Memento Dew Drop inks to use with them.
Some stamps work beautifully, but others are just awful.
The ink bobbles up and looks a real mess when stamped.
Can you help?
I have tried cleaning the stamps, 'priming' them with versafine or stazon ink, changing the card I stamp on... but nothing helps.
I really can't afford to buy more inks. 
It's so frustrating. Has anyone else had this problem? 

For now, I have put them to one side, before I am tempted to throw the whole lot out the window!!   :-)