Well Hello……

Hello once again. I have another card to share today, using a new stamp bought at the Doncaster craft show last week:

I just fell in love with this stamp set – cute and quirky. I chose this stamp as I thought just laying there, finger swirling in the puddle – cute. There are some great sentiments on there too – I am sure you will be seeing them in the future…

The image was stamped with Gina K Amalgam ink and coloured – very basically – with Copics, to match the colour challenge. To follow the sketch challenge, the two outer bands were pieces of card coloured with the same light blue copic, and die cut with Lawn Fawn ‘Stitched Simple Wavy Borders‘.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CAS Colours and Sketchespowder pink, pool party, so saffron

Freshly Made Sketchessketch

Clean and Simple on FridayCAS birds

Altenew June Inspiration Challenge photo Inspiration

Glittery Pink Fox

Hi there. There is a new challenge beginning at Cardz 4 Galz and the theme this time is ‘Fox – foxy ladies, or foxes – your choice‘. I took the opportunity to go all out and pink and glittery. Who wants to see a pink fox? Here we are:

So – a lot of products were used in this card, from lots of different companies…..so I’ll begin….

Crafters Companion sentiment. I masked each part of the sentiment to stamp – instead of cutting the stamp apart, with the word ‘fabulous’ embossed with glitter pink embossing powder from WOW!; Pink glimmer card from Stampin Up; Altenew Cozy Flannel Cover Die; Waffle Flower ‘Be Her’ stamp and die set, Copic colouring.

Phew – I don’t I missed anything out…….let me know if you think I have!

Anyhoo – I am sure we don’t Prosecco to get fabulous – but it certainly helps increase our fabulous-ness………..(a new word!)……and this little fox looks like she is quite stern and precise…….

So – an awesome theme for the challenge and so many ways to take the word ‘fox’ and ‘foxy’. I look forward to seeing what you create and dropping you a comment – or two!

:) :)

Let’s Shellabrate

Hello yet again – As you can tell – I’ve been busy in my craft room. I’ve spent some time relaxing in the sun, reading, and thinking about challenges and colours for my next card. I was so inspired, that I couldn’t wait to make it:

You’ll have to forgive the couple of rain drops – I didn’t realise it was raining until I got out there, by which time the drops had hit!

For this card I used Heffy Doodle ‘Let’s Shellabrate‘ stamp and die set – I think they were actually a freebie with one of their orders. Once stamped, I used the colours for the current Color Throwdown challenge to colour this little blighter in, added some white gel pen for accent, added his little hat, then followed the current sketch at Fusion Challenge.

The theme using the turtle, is taken from the current challenge at Die Cuttin’ Divas, and using their inspiration photo.

Have a good day, and I’ll see you again soon. :) :)

Color Throwdowncoral, aqua, navy

Die Cuttin’ Divasinspiration photo

Fusion Card Challengesketch and/or photo

Indoor Garden

Hello everyone. I have a clean and simple card to share today using the Altenew ‘Indoor Garden‘ stamp and die set, so I could create a card for the current challenge at The Paper Players:

I took another picture in the sunlight:

I don’t like either photo, as I think the lighting isn’t great on either one of them – but you get the impression of the card, I think.

I took some elements from the stamp set, stamped the outlines, then took certain liberties with Copic Markers for the colours. I tried to match my colours with the current challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches – pumpkin pie, coastal cabana, daffodil delight – as I don’t have those Stampin’ Up colours – and coloured what I felt needed colouring, really.

I dry embossed a rectangle onto the card base, leaving a wider border at the top and bottom – I just liked the effect – and as I placed the die cut plants onto the card, they kinda fell as you see them…..and I liked it….so I left them in that position, sticking them down with 3D foam pads.

It’s the beginning of another Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK, so I am planning some ‘down time’. I hope you get to do the same. :)

Happy Robin Christmas

Hello there. I hope you are all well. This card is for the new challenge at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge, which begins today:

A close-up picture:

The theme for this challenge – and all the challenges actually – are anything goes, as long as it a Christmas. Come along and join us to get your stash ready for the end of the year………..the Design Team have some amazing inspiration………..

I had a recent delivery of the Clearly Besotted April release, and as I was shopping, I took a look around at their sale pages. This ‘Rockin’ Robin‘ stamp set, matching dies, and add-on stamp set were all in the sale. Well – it would be rude not to buy them, wouldn’t it?

I used the Lawn Fawn ‘Hillside backdrop‘, and after I cut it out – wondering what to do about the background part of it. My eyes fell on my recent purchase (I know, another one) from Catherine Pooler, and the background ‘wild thing‘ stamp, which I thought would look like falling snow – especially when I embossed it with Wow! sparkly powder.

I stamped the images in Gina K amalgam ink, then coloured with Copics. I did stamp the belly’s of the birds with the add-on dotty stamp, but then went over the whole with a red Copic – I wanted a full red belly.

Whilst I was colouring and putting a card together, I made another similar:

This is better for the shimmer

I hope to see your creations on our challenge site – bye for now. :) Lynda

Have a Magical Day…

Hello again. I have a card to share today based in the colours from Color Throwdown:

When I saw the challenge colours come up last week, my page loaded very slowly – so I saw the purple first, then was hoping for a yellow or green as I had these little dragons in mind……….and got both yellow and green! With some grey thrown in, too!

I generally get inspiration the first time I see a challenge – the colours or the sketch – but it takes me a few days to organise myself – which is why I generally post to the challenge in the last days – if not the last hours!

I bought these little ‘Dragon Plushies‘ from the newest release from Clearly Besotted, and stamp, coloured and die cut them. I used 2 or 3 three Copic colours for the dragons, the yellow’s and purples, then added some green anyway, because I didn’t quite know how I was going to put these onto a card.

Then I realised that part of that same release had a stamp and die set ‘Scene It More’ which I thought would be ideal. I stamped the hills and trees, then stamped again the hills. Stuck together, and coloured with a few YG Copics.

I did use some grey on the trees – but kept that quite light so the dragons and hills drew the eyes. I mounted the coloured piece onto some Lawn Fawn grey card stock anyway, to give two border edges.

I was tempted to ‘ground’ the dragons with some shadow beneath them – but I was too scared to add that to the mostly completed card….. – I do have some fear! I also thought the right side dragon looks almost as though it’s in flight……maybe…..kinda……and stuck down with foam pads – maybe hovering?

Whilst I was planning my colours and colouring, I had a look on the Clearly Besotted web-site – blinking heck that’s some amazing colouring! I am no-where near that standard of colouring, but this time I had fun with the colouring – usually it’s a chore to me. (I also had to Google what a plushie was!)

The sentiment is from that same dragon stamp set, and I think is quite universal and for any occasion. I mentioned yesterday about whether or not to put a sentiment on a card – sometimes I don’t – unless made with a specific person and occasion in mind.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdownyellow, purple, green, grey

FabnFunky challengesjust add ink – messy or colouring

Inkspirational pop it up – use foam tape etc for dimension

QKR Stampede anything goes

Happy Cottontail Cutie

Hi there everyone. I have a card to share to day which is just bursting with colour:

I am trying to make more scenic cards – well, some elements of a scene anyway. This card had some grass – that’s part of a scene, right? I really struggle with the other elements – but I’ll keep trying.

I am also trying to do cards with die-cutting, to see if I can keep the die-cuts clean and smudge-free……..and this card fitted the bill just right.

I took the MFT ‘Cottontail Cutie‘ die set and cut it out of white card. I then took some of the elements and coloured with Copics. I then die cut the MFT ‘Stitched Blooms‘ out of white card, and coloured with Copics, too.

The grass is made out of Lawn Fawn ‘simple grassy hillsides‘ – and this is where I struggle to layer – I think I cut the hills out of the same piece and don’t leave enough border at the bottom. I think I should leave a wider bottom (where have I heard that phrase before?) and then cut it off when I have decided on the layers………..maybe I’ll learn that lesson someday!

The grassy hills are coloured with Copics, too, and stuck down as you see, with the flowers inserted – and I also used some of the leaves to the grass.

I then thought the background was a little too plain, so I used a We R Memory Keepers embossing folder, just for a little added interest.

I put the card together, adding a little flower to the cottontail’s hand, because – well – I could….I realised when taking the photograph, that the cottontail is kinda floating there, somewhat above the grass…..do you see?

So – I think she is just so bursting with joy among the grass and flowers that she is almost flying – almost like that popular drink – giving her wings…..or maybe she is jumping for joy? I still love it, though. :)

I caught some daylight to take the photo, but it has been dull all day here in Chesterfield UK, a little cool and windy too.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Watercooler Challengesanything feminine goes

MFT Colour ChallengeRazzleberry, Cotton Candy, Lemon Chiffon, Limelight (Copic colouring to try and match)

Cardz4Galz – Flora or fauna or both (obviously gone with both)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday ChallengeAnimal Antics

Holiday Cheer

Hi again. I hope you are doing well. I have a Christmas card for you today for the new challenge at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge. This challenge is always ‘anything goes’, and I hope you join us to have that stash ready for later in the year.

Here is my card:

I used a stamp set from Gerda Steiner designs I received when Justin Hovey was doing her de-stash sale. After stamping with Gina K amalgam ink, I coloured with Copics – very simple colouring, no shading, as this card stock isn’t suitable for blending, and I didn’t want white – but a cream/off white card for this.

I added the two little birdies and kept them in the same colours as already used. I think they look a little upset about being sat on the reindeer’s antlers….don’t you?

The frames are from Reverse Confetti. I did think about raising one of the frames, but kept it quite simple in the end, letting the images speak for themselves.

The Design Team have some amazing projects for you to help inspire you, and I hope you are able to join us for the next couple of weeks. I look forward to seeing your creations.

:) :)

A Big Birthday Wish

Hello there. I have a busy day ahead – crafting and house stuff. I’ve already been out for my third mini-bike ride…….I’ve just started to cycle, and currently only going out for 15-20 minutes. The second time I went out I fell off – that seat was just too high and I couldn’t put my feet down when I stopped……gravel rash in hand and knee – but now all good.

So, now I feel all proud that I’ve already done some exercise – I feel craftiness coming on. I have to make a card for the next Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge – due to start on the 26th March; it is Mother’s Day here in the UK next Sunday – 31st March; it is my mum’s birthday on Thursday 28th March………..and on the 3rd of April the next ABC Christmas Challenge begins………I’d better get to it, hadn’t I?

The card for posting this morning was a little fiddly, but I enjoyed creating it:

I stamped the Mama Elephant ‘Little Cat Agenda‘ and coloured with Copics. All the same colour, and only used red and yellow for the items the cats were holding, as I knew I was going to do a vibrant and colourful background.

I then used Distress Oxides in rainbow colours to create the background, and cut it out with my newly purchased MFT ‘Puzzle Cover-Up Die-Dynamic’. I toyed with the idea of putting the puzzle pieces back together correctly, then thought about them all back crooked, but went with this way – some gaps between each piece.

It also took me a bit of time arranging these little puddy tats – I didn’t want yellow additions on the yellow piece, and wanted to ensure some contrast between the cats and the background.

The sentiment is also from MFT – a freebie from Seven Hills Crafts ages ago, but a great range of birthday sentiments in different fonts – I usually go to that stamp set time and again.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Always Fun Challengesdogs or cats

Freshly Made Sketchessketch

Seize the BirthdayBirthday with option dots and stripes (not used)

MFT Birthday Projectbirthday and rainbow colours

Flowers are always a good idea

Hi again. I managed to get some crafting time after work today, and used my new Concord and 9th ‘Fine Line Florals‘ die set, and the Lawn Fawn ‘Fancy Lattice Backdrop‘ die:

I used the colours from the current Color Throwdown Challengered, yellow, soft green, and white – and I am sure I did the most complicated method of creating this card that you can probably think of……….

I started with some red card, backed with double sided sticky paper, and die cut the large flower. I then die cut the flower and leaves in white card, and coloured them with Copics.

I then placed the red flower outline over the yellow flower, and added the black centre part.

All the pieces are pieced back into the outline – because the Gemini Junior cut them out so well – they all fell out…………..now where did I put my reading glasses???? I certainly needed them for that job!

Here is a little close-up:

The sentiment is also from the Concord and 9th matching stamp set – I think I may have to use that sentiment again – love it!

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdownred, yellow, soft green, white

The Flower Challengeflowers anything goes

Aud Sentiments – any sentiment except Happy Birthday