Papertake Weekly Challenge Easy as 1 2 3 ~ Pink Elephant - Easter ~ Penny Black - Spring

My friend the duck has come out again for this combined challenge card.

Papertake required 1 Circle, 2 ribbons and 3 stamps/images. Penny Black called for a Spring card and Pink Elephant's theme this week is Easter.

It has Spring colours and a Spring flower, so I think that's OK. It says Happy Easter, so I think that's fine too, and I appear to have 1 circle 2 ribbons and 3 stamps/images, so that appears to be it! It's redolent of a card I made not too long ago, but I don't suppose that matters.

Penny Black sentiment and Duck. I'm not sure what make the tulip is, as it's an unmounted stamp. The embossing is Cuttlebug leaves and birds.

Sketch Saturday #44

I love the range of colours from Pink Petticoat in their Sweet Flourishes design. The paper itself is so pretty and I thought it approriate for the circular nature of this sketch. This shade is duck-egg.

Martha Stewart border and X Cut flowers. The flower stamp was from Hobby Craft I think, and the sentiment is Stampin Up.

Sketch and Stash #7 & Cuttlebug Spot #24 Emboss it twice

I have been having fun with Core'dinations papers recently and I thought it was ideal for the challenge from the Cuttlebug Spot. There are several ways of embossing twice, and there is a card here on my blog where I have embossed twice in a different way.

For this card I used 2 different folders, sanding the relief of the first embossing and highlighting the second with gold chalk ink. Having taken great trouble to extend both folders to fit the page, I then decided that I would cut it up smaller anyway for the Sketch and Stash sketch this week. Never mind!

However, when it was done, I liked the effect so much that I rather wanted it to show, so I mounted the watering can onto acetate so that the background could show through.

The chipboard watering can is the new thing from my stash. I haven't used chipboard shapes before and I wasn't really sure what to do with it, so I triple embossed it with verdigris embossing powder and stamped an ivy leaf into it. If anyone could give me suggestions as to how I can use the rest of the box of shapes, I would be glad to hear from them. They are vaguely gardeny things, boots, trowel etc.

I would be very pleased to read your comments.

Pay it forward!

This is a little Blog lottery, which has come my way from Susa in Finland.

I promise to send a little crafty surprise sometime before the end of 2009, to the first 3 people who leave a comment on this post. They in turn will email me at christinestokes75@hotmail.com to let me know their address, but... they must continue the chain and offer to send a little something to the first 3 people who make a comment on a similar post on their blogs.

It should be a fun way to get to know new crafting buddies.

Who will it be?

Chrissie

Pink Elephant Challenge #7 ~ Secret Crafter #25 - Stitching ~ Daring Cardmakers Bunnies & Chicks

This card measures 5 and three quarter ins. square. This then poses a problem if you want to have an all-over embossed background using Cuttlebug folders as they will only cover an A6 card. (I think that's the right size description). Some folders like Swiss dots can easily be extended as they are of uniform design. With a little jiggery pokery, as seen in a previous post, I have used the Stylised Flower folder and extended that to fit the space. Take a look here to see the earlier post where I used this technique.

The smaller piece was edged with Martha Stewart's doily lace border punch and the square was embossed from the Paisley folder using the technique which can be found at ikki's cuttlebug cupboard. This is where one of the B plates is replaced by a specific sized wad of taped cardstock, to allow just part of a folder to be embossed. It's really cool!

The sketch is from The Pink Elephant. My card, which won the Pink Elephant's Blog first challenge, was received with delight by daughter-in-law, whose birthday was this week. She recognised the ribbon as being from my gift from them at their wedding last year!

The element of stitching qualifies it for the Secret Crafter's challenge this week. I'll be posting details of my Secret Crafter's win soon, when the item I chose arrives in stock. Needless to say it's a very popular item with the initials M.S. Any ideas? Wait and see!

The cutie chick is for Daring Cardmakers. I had to make him raise a wing in greeting, as the cardstock I used for him is double sided so I couldn't reverse one wing to make a pair. I thought if he was waving, you might not notice that he has 2 left wings or 2 right wings as the case may be!

ABC Challenge G - Glitter & Forever Friends - Mother's Day

I don't have many Forever Friends stamps, but I think this little cupcake is really cute.

I did a fancy thing with my Swiss Dots folder, embossing just a narrow strip in the centre of the band across the card. For the technique for this kind of embossing take a look at the tutorials on ikki's cuttlebug cupboard. The possibilities of the Cuttlebug appear endless!

The border is Martha Stewart's Lace doily, and the image is mounted on Nestabilities. The flowers are X Cut punches, lightly glittered with Glamour Dust.
Although entitled 'Mother's Day' it was not obligatory to make a card for Mum, so I've made a vaguely girly Thank You card.

Colour Create Turquoise, Navy & Lime & Truly Scrumptious Challenge 3

I didn't know whether to upload this card or not. I'm really not that pleased with it; I started fiddling around with it earlier in the week when I wasn't feeling all that well, and I think the card reflects that. The words disjointed and unco-ordinated come to mind, but not to worry.

The reason that I eventually decided to post it was to let you know that the cute little sentiment Hugs & Kisses was sent to me FREE from stampingallday.co.uk following a browse through their website.

They have loads of fabulous sentiment stamps available, so do check them out!

Colour Create stipulated no designer paper if possible, as well as the colours Navy, Lime and Turquoise. In reality the colours of the ribbon and the ink are much closer than it appears on the picture.

Friday Sketchers #45 ~ Penny Black - Doodles ~ Cute Card Thursday - Family Affair ~ Copics - Colouring

I've really had a struggle this week to get anything done, but although I still have a cough and cold and feel tired, I actually feel better in myself which makes a huge difference. Thank you everyone for your get well wishes.
This card is a multi-challenge effort. I had hoped to get a bit of glitter in for the ABC challenge, but glitter doesn't really go with a chaps card does it!
The image is Penny Black coloured with Whispers Pens and a water brush.
The papers are Anita's and Papermania, I think.
There is Blog candy which is the stuff of crafters' dreams over at Crafty Goings On ! 72, yes 72 Copic Markers will be won by some lucky crafter! I'm drooling at the thought!

Have a good weekend!

Mojo Monday #79

I've been in need of a little mojo revving up recently as I have been feeling distinctly under the weather. Tight chest, cough, aching joints and not wanting to do anything really. I think I'll post this and then get off to my bed.

No fancy bits on this one, just 2 colours and fairly close to the sketch. I do love blue and brown together and whenever I use them I'm often pleased with the result. I think it's the delicate

shade of blue that does it.

Wish me well!

Chrissie

An Award from the very talented Sandra.

It's always nice to receive awards, but when they come from someone whose work is so inspirational, then it is truly special.

This came from Sandra over at Sandra Dry designs. Thank you Sandra! Do check out her blog... you'll be glad you did.

In turn I would like to pass it on to all my followers with grateful thanks for all your visits and generous comments. It means a lot to me, so thank you ladies.

Chrissie

Friday Sketchers Challenge #44 & Secret Crafter - Favourite Colour Scheme

I love the soft blues of these Pink Petticoat papers. Hence my card choice for the Secret Crafter Challenge. As soon as I had the email from Pink Petticoat about their new Sweet Flourishes, I was on to their site and downloading them. The range of colours is superb and this design is wonderful!

The stamp arrived yesterday and is from Inkadinkado. The flowers and leaves are from Cuttlebug, X Cut and L-Em.com. I also love this label shape from Nestabilities. To make the sentiment tag, I cut the ends to right angles at 45 degrees to the original corner and then used an X Cut corner punch to shape the ends.

It took me a while to decide on a sentiment, but I thought that this one fitted with the general style and theme of the card.

TFL

Penny Black Challenge Week 40

Yet another card today!

This is for the Penny Black Sketch week 40.

I love the teddy image, which I have coloured with Whisper and Docraft pens and a water brush. The papers are free downloads, and I've toned one down by overlaying a little vellum.

I have had several anxious phone calls today from my daughter who has been waiting for a parcel containing a stroller carry-bag for their holiday, which they are commencing in the morning. It should have been delivered about three weeks ago, when the stroller arrived, but was assured that it would be here by yesterday at the latest. Still no bag! If it had arrived I was all set to drive to Bath so that they would have it for tomorrow. Let's hope the stroller doesn't get damaged in flight!

Hey ho!

Secret Crafter - Have your cake and eat it ~ One Stop Craft Challenge #20 ~ Papertake Weekly Challenge - Something to eat.

I have combined three challenges with this card.

The sketch is from One Stop Crafts, and Papertake and the Secret Crafter both have themes very close to my heart...something to eat and cake. Either is fine with me!

The papers are Papermania, with Cuttlebug embossing. The sentiment is the whole of the stamp from my previous listing, again I'm afraid I don't know what make it is.

The cupcake is a clear stamp from a set, whose wrapper has been lost so I I don't know what make that is either. Not very organised am I!

The small cupcakes are made with the same stamp as the main image, but stamped onto Shrink plastic and shrunk!

Caardvarks Sketch & Our Creative Corner - Limited Supply Challenge ~ ABC Challenge - F Flowers

My daughter and granddaughter have left for a week's holiday, so I can get down to a little crafting.

This is the sketch for Caardvarks Challenge. I have used paper piecing to make the flower and both that and the script overstamping are from Hero Arts.

For OCC Challenge I have 3 layers and 1 embellishment!

ABC's Challenge this week is F for Flowers. Although I have only one flower stamped, there are more on the ribbon, so hopefully that counts.

The papers are Papermania Exquisite and I'm afraid I don't know what the sentiment stamp is, as it is unmounted, and was bought from a fabulous seller on eBay. In fact it's just part of the stamp which reads 'thanks so much'

I quite like the way it turned out!

Colour Create - Red & Green & Sketch & Stash #6

I have been having quite play around with my Core dinations papers. This time I have double embossed it following the tutorial on the Cuttlebug Challenges Blog.

I embossed the card using the method of extending the folder as per my last post, and then sanded the 'de-bossed' side, put the card through the bug again, the other side up this time and rotated through 90 degrees. I then highlighted the embossed image with a little Cats Eye Chalking ink. I really quite like the effect, so I wanted some of this backing paper to show!

I used the sketch from the Sketch and Stash Challenge Blog, and the colour scheme came from the Colour Create Blog, which this week is Red and Green with the additional element of wings.

I bought this little cardinal stamp on a nostalgic whim. The cardinal is the state bird of Virginia, which was my home from 1976 to 1979. We used to have cardinals in the yard and this little stamp reminds me of the fabulous time we spent living there.

ABC Challenge E - Easter ~ Caardvarks - Critters ~ Friday Sketchers #43

I am still finding it extremely hard to get any crafting done with my granddaughter staying. However, I have managed to do this card combining 3 challenges.

It's the first time that I have used Core dinations backing paper. I embossed it with the Cuttlebug flowers folder, and then sanded it.
In fact, the folder is not quite wide enough to cover the whole sheet, but I have discovered that if I begin by embossing the paper from the extreme left edge, then taking it out of the folder and putting it in again from the other side with the paper swivelled top to bottom, and the embossing part meeting edge to edge, the pattern can be almost matched, some of the stems appearing to make a circle. When you emboss the second part it's most important to make sure that the folder doesn't go through the bug completely, otherwise some of the previous embossing will become flattened. So I go through gently so far, and then reverse. Very difficult to explain, but if you have a go you may see what I mean!
My daughter's loft conversion has several weeks to go before completion, so there will be distractions here for some time to come, however, they are going skiing from next weekend for a week, so I may get a bit of time to myself.

Truly Scrumptious Sketch & Our Creative Corner Add a Doodle

It really is very difficult to get anything done with my dear little granddaughter around. What a time-waster! I could just sit and watch her all day!

Anyway, I had to do a couple of Mothering Sunday cards. I had made several Mother's Day cards, but several people from my choir specifically requested 'Mothering Sunday' cards. I couldn't find a stamp and so I did various computer generated sentiments. The sketch is from Truly Scrumptious and the doodles from Our Creative Corner.

I love the soft colours of the papers from Paper Cellar Ltd.

Chrissie

PS Sorry about the picture, but I couldn't see the image in my camera as the sun was so bright!

Stamp Something - Favourite Something & One Stop Craft Challenge - Sorry

I think that of all my Cuttlebug folders, this one (Swiss Dots) is my very favourite. It's so versatile. It can be extended in both dimensions to fit lots of different sized cards and the uncluttered design co-ordinates with so many styles. Fab!
A simple sentiment for a simple card!

The reason for my lack of posts this week!

I just thought that you might like to see why I haven't been too active in the card-making department this week. I seem to have been otherwise occupied!

My daughter and granddaughter are staying with us whilst they have a loft conversion at their house in Bath.

Here she is... Daisy!

$50 Rak from Sonia!

Poor Sonia, pressed the wrong button and deleted her Blog COMPLETELY! She lost nearly all her postings, all her followers etc etc etc! To try to get back on track, she is offering $50 worth of RAK some some lucky Blogger!
DO visit her Blog, her work is stunning! Let's get Sonia back up there!
Chrissie

Pink Elephant #4 Diecuts & Ribbon ~ Penny Black - Something to eat ~ Sketch & Stash #5

I'm still struggling with a sore back and tomorrow my granddaughter is coming to stay for a few weeks with my daughter, whilst they have a loft conversion done at their house in Bath. I'll have to be careful when I try to pick her up (my granddaughter you understand, not my daughter!)
Anyway, this card is for three challenges. It may be stretching it a little for the Penny Black 'Something to eat', but cows do eat daisies don't they?
The sketch is from Sketch and Stash and for Pink Elephant we have the ingredients, die cuts and ribbon.
I think the papers are Papermania, but the outside wrapper has disappeared, so I can't be sure.

PS I'm sorry this picture looks so drab. The colours are quite vibrant in fact. The light today wasn't too good!

Colour Create #5 Blue & Brown & Our Creative Corner Sketch Challenge

It's amazing how things seem to go in cycles. Here is yet another card in Blue and Brown. I seem to have had quite a run on this colour combo lately. This time it's for the Colour Create Challenge. I took inspiration from the sketch at Our Creative Corner, although it is jiggled around a little.
I often wonder how other people go about attempting a card either for a challenge or just for a new card.
I tend to think about colour... if it's prescribed, then I assemble all the papers I think might be useful. Then I look for an image that will co-ordinate with the papers. It's no use having a traditional image with trendy papers or vice versa. If I have a given sketch, I fiddle around with the papers until I'm happy with which one should be used where. I then fiddle around a whole lot more until the finished card emerges. Are other people more organised than me?
I never stick anything together until I think I've got it sussed, even then quite a few bits and bobs end up in the bin.
I'd love to hear how others arrive at their finished work!