Happy Birthday

 Today has been a bit of a mixed bag weather wise.  We started off with rain and then it was overcast for some time.  The sun came out so I decided to put some washing out.  The sun disappeared but it then got quite breezy so the washing is almost dry anyway.  In the meantime, I have finished off a few cards today.

I would like to enter:

The Crafter's Cafe - Fantasy
https://crafterscafeblogchallenge.blogspot.com/2021/08/272-15-august-fantasy.html

Passion For Markers - Fantasy
https://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.com/2021/08/week-606fantasymagical.html

A Bit More Time To Craft - Anything Goes
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com/2021/08/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge.html

A Bit More Time To Craft Extra - August Challenge
https://abitmoretimetocraftextra.blogspot.com/2021/08/abmttc-extra-august-challenge-anything.html

I have used a digital paper from Lozzy.  The image is from Broken Box Stock and the sentiment is typed on the computer.  Colouring is with copic markers.  I also added some Nuvo Drops.

Librarian

Here is my librarian in funky colours:

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Robyn's Fetish - People At Their Jobs
http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/challenge-177-people-at-their-jobs.html
Incy Wincy Designs - Colour Inspiration
http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/colour-challenge.html

I have used a paper pad from DCWV called Animal Crackers. The image is from Broken Box Stock and is coloured in copic markers - most of which I forgot to write down.  I know that I used BV17 and C1 on her hair.  I cut a pennant from metallic paper and then embellished it with some lavender coloured pearls.

I have based my layout for the card on the current sketch at Fetch A Sketch.

Back to School Toodle

There are a lot of challenges around at the moment for Back To School.  Here in New Zealand, we are starting to wind down to the end of our school year.  Our school year starts in February so making the cards now I'm well ahead of the game!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch 222
http://sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/sweet-sketch-wednesday-sketch-222.html
Outlawz Thursday Challenge - Back To School
http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/prismaandothermediums/forum/topics/twisted-thursday-challenge-for-september-5th-september-11th-the
Kaboodle Doodles - Back To School
http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/challenge-188-back-to-school.html
Crafting For All Seasons - Back To School
http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/challenge-60-back-to-schoolfor-child.html

I have used papers from Create with TLC for this card.  The image is from Broken Box Stock and coloured with copic markers.  I added a peel craft sticker to divide the two papers.  The matting is silver pearlised cardstock.  I have used some satin ribbon from American Crafts and a button from my Mum's button box that matched the colour scheme really well. 

Here is the sketch that the card is inspired by:

Holiday Shopper

For some reason, I couldn't get the actual blogpost link so here is a link to the Sweet Sketch Wednesday blog:
http://sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.co.nz/
The other challenge that I will be entering the card into is:
http://brokenboxstock.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/challenge-15-happy-holidays.html

Here is the sketch:

And here is the card that I created from this sketch:




I have used background papers from a paper pack.  I have added some glitter tape and a bell on a ribbon.  I was actually searching for a tree embellishment and came across this one and decided it was better.

The image is from Broken Box Stock and is called Holiday Shopper Toodle.

Sparrow, Duct Tape & Bath

What do these three words have in common?  They are the random words chosen for the challenge at Tuesday Alchemy!
http://tuesdayalchemy.blogspot.gr/2012/10/challenge-37-random-word-inspiration.html

I had fun with this challenge.  I'm hoping that my birds in the bird bath are actually sparrows - not good on my bird species but they sort of look like sparrows to me!  The duct tape was an interesting addition but I used that as part of the background and it turned out quite interesting I think!

The background is strips of duct tape on a diagonal across a white card blank.  The image is bird bath from Broken Box Stock.  I stamped an acrylic stamp sentiment underneath the bird bath and then die-cut using a Spellbinders scallop oval die.  The matting is burgundy cardstock.  I die-cut four buttons using a Memory Box die that I purchased at the weekend when I attended a card workshop and sale day.  For some contrast, I have added some ribbon roses around the largest button.

Fairy Card

The challenge at CRAFT Challenge this week is all about fairies:
http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/craft-challenge-169-fairies.html

And this is my card:

I used a lovely paper from Trimgym.  It comes from a set called A Scottish Loch and this particular paper is called Spirelli.  I love how it looks like fairy wings.  The image I used is called Wine Fairy and comes from Broken Box Stock.  I coloured her with my copics and then die-cut using a Spellbinders Oval Die.  I edged the die with Crystallina Kindy Glitz.

I've left quite a bit of "white" space in the background as I wanted the paper to feature and not be overcrowded.

Frustrating Card

Okay... the card itself is not frustrating, but...I have taken about 20 or so photos this morning of this card and they are nearly all blurry.  None of the photos are of the quality they normally are, despite trying some different settings.  This is the best of the lot and I'm not really happy with this one:

If I can take a better photo I'll update the blog post image.  Need to work out why my camera is suddenly doing this!

I cleaned the lens - no better.  Changed the SD card - no better.  Put in a different lens and it worked!  May be something wrong with the other lens although it takes outside photos fine as I tested that too!
Anyway, here is a better image of the card:

But, as one of the challenge closes very shortly, I have had to use this photo.  The challenges can be found here:
Broken Box Stock - Anything goes with one of their images
http://brokenboxstock.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/challenge-6-free-for-all.html
Play Date Cafe - Pink Carnation, Orange Sorbet and Lemonade
http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/the-play-date-cafe-welcomes-jen.html



I used three different papers from three different paper stacks:
Kate Knight Totally Tropical Summer Papers - background
Raspberry Road Designs Summer Goodness - Punched border strip
Pink Paislee Spring Jubilee - Matt for image

I have also used:
Broken Box Stock image - Chelsea Mario Storytime
Copic Markers
Ribbon flower (white but coloured with copics)
Three clear rhinestones (also coloured with copics)
Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace Border Punch

I also added some yellow and orange to the Kate Knight paper to dull down the purple and blue colours to keep within the Play Date Cafe colour scheme.

After receiving a comment that invited me to link to another challenge, I decided that I would:
http://www.oldbackporch.com/2012/08/52-card-pickup-week-32.html
so this card is also being used in the 52 Card Pick up challenge.

A recycled card

The current challenge at Broken Box Stock was to use something recycled
http://brokenboxstock.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/challenge-5-recycled-materials.html

I thought this one would be really easy as I am such a hoarder that I have heaps of "recycled materials".  I'm the one who saves the ribbons off packaging, bubble wrap around parcels, wrapping paper, etc.  However, I struggled to decide what to use and the deadline for the challenge was looming!

In the end, I decided to work with the ring pull from a soft drink can:

So, I have used some background paper from my stash, an image from Broken Box Stock that has been die-cut using a Spellbinders oval die.  I coloured the image with copics and the die-cut with Rnagers Distress Ink (scattered straw).   I added some Glossy Accents to the centre of the flower and sun.

The ringpull has been coloured using Opals UTEE and then has some grosgrain ribbon threaded through it.

Red, white and blue

These colours seem to be a favourite on the challenges at the moment:
http://brokenboxstock.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/challenge-4-red-white-blue.html

However, when you live in New Zealand, you don't tend to take the American patriotic line with the cards.  I chose to do a more summery type card:

I have used an image from Broken Box Stock called Little Eli.  I love her attitude!

The paper is some from Free Vintage Digital.  I have used a Nellies Multi Frame Die to cut out the image and then matted that on red cardstock which I have die-cut using a Spellbinders oval die-cut.  I have added two colours of grosgrain ribbon and finished off with some red rhinestones.

Lovely patchwork baby card

This is the second card that I have made for this challenge:
http://brokenboxstock.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/stitches-challenge.html

I had already submitted one card for the Broken Box Stock challenge and found the perfect paper and another image I'd missed on the Broken Box Stock blog.  So... since we are allowed up to three entries, I thought I'd do another one.

I have used a backing paper from Bearly Mine Designs.  The image is one called free carriage from Broken Box Stock.  I have coloured the image and the flower using copics and the image has been matted using cream cardstock.  The image and matt have been die-cut using Spellbinders Large rectangle and Large scallop rectangle.    The stitches on the background paper are part of the pattern but I have also drawn on some stitches around the image using a gel pen (haven't had the gel pens out for ages!).

Broken Box Stock - stitches

This challenge asked us to use stitches - real or drawn - in our creation:

http://brokenboxstock.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/stitches-challenge.html

I have had this rubber stamp with zig-zag stitches on it for ages and under-used it.  Now was the chance to get it out and give it some use!

I used:

White card blank
Scrapbook papers from my stash
Rubbadubbadoo - zig-zag stitch - E393Z
http://www.rubbadubbadoo.com/pages/shop.php
Broken Box Stock - dog
Spellbinders Nestabilities die - at least I think it is Spellbinders but can't be 100 per cent sure
(I've had this set for a while and lost the original packaging)
Copic markers

Broken Box Stock - Polka Dots

This challenge has been updated:

http://brokenboxstock.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/polka-dot-challenge.html

As we are now allowed to do up to 3 entries per person and the deadline had been extended, I have decided to do another card.  Working with dots is not something I do alot (but maybe should).  I tend to patterns and stripes more - not sure why.

This is the second card that I created for this challenge:

I used the Broken Box Stock freebie image called LOL.  I tried some paper piecing - a skill I have avoided but found with this image that it is quite easy!

The background papers are from a blog called Bearly Mine Designs.  The link is http://bmd-creations.blogspot.co.nz/2010/07/julys-freebies-part-i.html. 

I coloured the face on the LOL digi stamp using copic marker Y00 and outlined the whole digi stamp using copic marker 100 (black) so that it popped a little more.

The flower pieces are from my stash and coloured using copic markers Y00 and V17.  I set a rhinestone into the centre.

I am really pleased with how this card turned out and think that maybe I should try new things more often!

Broken Box Stock - polka dots

This week we have moved on from stripes to polka dots:

http://brokenboxstock.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/polka-dot-challenge.html

I found this really cute Broken Box stock image called Val who just seemed to fit with the polka dots.  Here is what I created with her:

I have used a couple of polka dot papers that were freebies from Vintage Digital.  The circle has been cut from the same cardstock as the card blank.  The matt is from a piece of blue cardstock.  I have coloured Val using copic markers E000 (skin) RV10 (cheeks) BG05 (pants and heart) RV02 (t-shirt) and E43 (hair and shoes).  To finish this card, I added a piece of grosgrain ribbon (American crafts) and constructed a flower from pieces in a Glam Creations tub. 

I bought this tub of flower pieces at a craft expo a couple of years ago and thought they might come in handy some time.  I hadn't used many of them but since I discovered that I could colour them with copics they are getting much more use!  These particular ones started off life as cream with red tip (now BG05) and white with red centre (RV02).  I have added a blue rhinestone to the centre of the smaller flower.

Broken Box Stock - stripes

You can read all about this challenge here:

http://brokenboxstock.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/stripes-challenge.html

This is my card:

I have used a recent freebie image "Write a letter" from Broken Box stock.  I'm really bad about keeping in touch with people at times and need cards that just say "Hi".   

Other materials I have used included striped and floral scrapbook paper, gold cardstock, ribbon (American crafts), Spellbinders nestabilities oval and scallop oval dies and of course my ever faithful Copic markers.