Crazy Bird

Good morning all.

Parcels all arrived safe and sound yesterday so I'm off down home today to deliver presents and meet up with my brother and nephew for lunch. 

Had to whip up an extra card at the weekend...I still had some leftovers and have some made for next year but they weren't suitable. So it was out with the crazy birds and gelli prints again.

Mat dies are from Wplus9 and Spellbinders. All other dies and stamps are from the Tim Holz Crazy Bird sets. Stickles and googly eyes from my stash.

Challenges entered:

613 Avenue Create - anything goes

Amusing - anything goes

Come and Get it - anything Christmas

Fashionable Stamping - make your own background

The Glory of Christmas - anything goes

CHNC - anything Christmas

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas

Sweet Stampin' - Merry Christmas

Simon Says Stamp - die crazy

Holly Jolly - anything Christmas

Eclectic Ellapu "For a Cause"

Good morning all.

Last day in Venice today as we fly home tomorrow.

A new month again so time for a new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu. Becca has given the Pink Team the topic "For a Cause". She is hosting a special blog hop "The Hop to Stop".

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and this hop is designed to raise awareness about domestic violence, an issue that impacts 1 in 4 women, and the resources that are available to assist victims of domestic violence.

Any type of papercraft/mixed media art project is welcome, as long as it *features* the color purple (domestic violence awareness color).

There are lots of prizes to be won from some fabulous sponsors, so pop over and have a look.

I decided to join in the blog hop and have made something purple. Thankfully I have no first hand experience of domestic violence but am happy to support and raise awareness of the cause.

Using one of the Crazy Birds from Tim Holz stamped and die cut from gelli plate waste. Backing paper from my stash. Happy die from Whimsy Stamps...die cut three times and stacked. Mat dies from Wplus9. Googly eyes and sequins from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog and see what my team mates have made. It would be lovely to see you joining in too or alternatively you may like to join the Purple Team with their Halloween/Horror/Dark challenge.

Challenges entered:

The Hop to Stop

Lucky

Good morning all.

Doctors appointment this morning which will probably incur blood tests and an MRI scan this afternoon which involves being pumped with dye...I just hope they can find some veins or I'll end up looking like a pin cushion!

Today's share is a small canvas. I bought a set of Gelatos quite some time ago and haven't really spent any time playing with them. I made amends yesterday and here is the result:

Using yellow, orange and red I scribbled over the canvas which I'd primed with gesso. I used a baby wipe to blend the colours. Then I decided to have a play with some Tim Holz goodies! Texture paste was applied through the sunburst stencil and left to dry. I stamped and die cut a Crazy bird from some waste gelli print card cutting the smaller pieces from contrasting card and glueing them in place. Sentiment was stamped on tissue with black archival. I used black soot DI to ink around the canvas then used gel medium to attach the sentiment and bird. Canvas was finished with some texty words.

Challenges entered:

A Vintage Journey - things with wings

Love to Create Challenge - anything mixed media/creative/inky goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Artistic Stampers - anything goes

Country View Crafts - summertime
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything goes

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - get texty

Happy Birthday to you

Good morning all.

Well yesterday was a bit of a washout and today isn't looking much better! I'm off to the hairdresser's later, then getting my nails done. Hope it fairs up so I can walk there and back....I need the exercise!

Sharing another birthday card today.

The lovely Becca is hosting a Birthday Bash Link-up to which everyone is invited, here is the mood board to get your creative juices going. She has some fabulous prizes on offer!

I was inspired by the bird and the colours to create my card.

This is a real snippet buster....all the card was in the bit box! Die is my favourite from Wplus9, the sun also comes from the same set. Embossing folder is from Crafter's Companion which I sprayed with distress spray...this was a piece made for another project which didn't work. The Tim Holz Crazy Bird from Stampendous and Clearly Besotted sentiment are stamped onto some of the leftover bits from my very first gelli plate play.

Challenges entered:

Becca's Birthday Bash - mood board

Bloggers - the letter B (bird, blue, birthday)

Fussy and Fancy - things with wings

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

Creative Artiste - anything mixed media with texture and spray mists

plus colour palette

Seize the Birthday - anything goes

Southern Girls - get messy with ink and paint
Dream Valley - embossing wet/dry
Not Just Card - anything goes
One Crazy Stamper - anything goes

12 Tags of 2015 - March

Good morning all and a warm welcome to my recent new followers, I hope you enjoy your visits here.

The forecast today is wet followed by windy...a good day to craft me thinks!

Finally got my tag made for March, this is version two. I don't have many distress paints so I had added some inks to the picket fence one to go with the two colours I had,  then yesterday I got happy mail with the my March new releases so decided to start again using the three new colours I now have.

I need some practise at this smooshing  ink/paint business...I never like my results! Tissue tape from my stash; three new colours distress paint; Scribbly Birds stamp; sunray stencil; texture paste; gold EP; various ideology pieces; charm and ribbon from my stash.

Challenges entered:

12 Tags of 2015 - March

Artful Times - all things Tim

A Vintage Journey - anything Tim

The Mirror Crack'd - wings

Mixed Media Monthly - birds of a feather

Mixed Media World - anything goes

12 Tags of 2015 "February"

Good morning all.

Domestic Goddess duties all fulfilled...today I can play!

I eventually managed to set some time aside at the end of last week to make my February tag.

As in January I've had to do some improvisation...and of course after finishing I found loads of things I could have added! Ephemera is from Melissa Frances. Nos 1 & 4 are burlap stickers which I've swished with barn door DI. Words, arrow and heart charm are from TH. Frame is cut from a Spellbinders die as are the two felt hearts and the ampersand (not sure which way up it's supposed to go lol). Lace, ribbon and photo corner are from my stash.

Challenges entered:

12 Tags of 2015 -  February

A Vintage Journey - special numbers ( 1 is my birthday and 4 encompasses hubby and 3 kids)

Bloggers - use metal

Fun with Shapes - shabby chic

Fussy and Fancy - tic tac toe (charm, die, lace)

The Vintage Challenge - love is in the air

Unruly Paper Arts - heartfelt

12 Tags of 2015

Good morning all.

Looks like we've missed the snow again, we had a couple of flurries yesterday but not enough to lie...would love to see a nice covering in the garden for the dog to play in!

Decided I would try and join in with the Tim Holz 12 tags of 2015 this year so scraping in at the last minute with one for January.

I didn't have everything needed to make the tag so there is a fair bit of improvisation here. I stamped some plain tissue with some new TH stamps to make the background, then used a bit of acrylic paint which was left over on my craft mat from yesterday's ATC. I used a new vintage photo spray stain once dry. Numbers are foam ones from my scrapbook drawer. I typed up my own words...this was the point I realized the printer wasn't working but finally managed to print with blue ink. Once the words were in place I distressed them with black soot then gave the tag a spray with picket fence spray stain. Numbers were glued in place along with a few bits found the bits boxes, gave it a spray with gold Cosmic Shimmer and added the ribbon.

I think the school report would read could do better...hopefully by December I'll improve.

Challenges entered:

12 tags of 2015 - January

All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Crafty Ribbons - anything but a card

Mixed Media Mojo - New twist 15

Night Rose

A second post from me today, please scroll down to see my DT project for Crafting for all Seasons.

We seem to be missing most of the bad weather here at the moment, it's been very wet at night and first thing then it's cleared out to sunny days, hope it lasts!

I made this last night using a decoupage from Crafty Purple Frog called Night Rose. Unfortunately the current challenge at Crafty Purple Frog will be the last for the time being but as I had this image printed I didn't want her to go to waste. I love the vintage feel to the image.

Backing paper was from a candy win and I've coloured some of the petals with watercolour pencils to bring out the lilac in the decoupage image. I've used textured white card for the base layer and decoupage mat both of  which I've distressed with black soot DI. Fan punch is from Martha Stewart. Ribbon, lace, button and pearls are from my stash. Rosette die is from Memory Box - wish I'd used something smaller now but it's firmly stuck so will have to stay there!

Challenges entered:

Crafts and Me - vintage

Fab n Funky - lace and pearls

Inky Impressions - birthday creations

Moving along with the Times - vintage or shabby chic

Rainbow Lady - vintage

Allsorts - buttons and threads

Really Reasonable Ribbons - black and white + one

Crazy 4 Challenges - buttons

Paper Sundaes - anything goes

Victorine Originals - anything goes

Carol x

Christmas Card Club - more than one fold

Crikey another two weeks have passed and it's time again for us Christmas Clubbers to show our wares. Lizzie picked the theme this time and she wants to see more than one fold, this is my creation.

The base card is an A5 trifold card. The pre-coloured digital image and backing papers are from Joanna Sheen's Daisy and friends CD and the image has been layered up four times. Dies are from Spellbinders. Border punch from Martha Stewart. Bows are made with the mini bowdabra using ribbons from my stash. Red lace is from Costco. White stickles finishes off the fur trim and the snowflakes.

If you'd like to join our little club get in touch with one of us (list in sidebar), it's a lot of fun and gets those Christmas cards made ahead of schedule.

Challenges entered:

Whoopsi Daisy - 3d project or card

Corrosive Challenges - another dimension

Crafty Sentiments - only 2 DPs

Digital Tuesday - make it sparkle

Crafty Creations - fancy folds

Moving along with the times - lots of layers

Winter Wonderland - glitter and bling

CHNC - ribbon and/or charm

Pile it on - fun folds

Carol x

PS Don't forget I have blog candy up for grabs!

Bauble Scene

The Lady Divas at Less is More have asked us to use punches and dies this week - easy enough, I've got loads of both!! I set off at lunch time on Saturday to make a card, don't know what happened but I got waylaid and only finished this tonight!

Using my Spellbinders nestie baubles, the larger one has been embossed with a Cuttlebug snowflake folder, sanded and  dusted with shimmery chalk. The smaller one was cut from pearlescent card and whilst still in the die I've stamped using a Creative Expression Stamp and DI. As the stamp was too big to fit the area I masked off the sentiment before stamping. I've used DI to create a background and used stickles on the foreground. Card is finished with a tartan bow and a rather small sentiment!

Challenges entered:

Less is More - dies and/or punches

CHNC - create a scene

Stamp with Fun - shapes

The Crazy Challenge - use a die/punch

and since all the card came from my bit box I'm popping in the playground at

 Pixie Crafty Snippets challenge #8

Carol x

PS Don't forget I have blog candy up for grabs!

LIM Sketch take 2

How come one layer cards are so much easier to do when they're not actually required!!

A year ago I would never have dreamed of making a card like this, I couldn't even stamp straight! Only trouble is my bank balance keeps dipping as I now need so many new stamps and ink pads.

DL card, masked with post its and inked with bundled sage and shabby shutters DI. Image stamp from Inkylicious, sentiment from Daisy and Dandelion. I've highlighted the flower heads with a gelly roll pen.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - sketch

Totally Gorjuss - kiss

My Mum's Craft Shop - flowers

Carol x

Colourful Beauty

I was lucky enough to win some images from Dezinaworld recently and have used this gorgeous one from the Colourful Beauties sheet to make this card.

I've printed the image onto parchment card and cut out leaving a border then matted onto pearlised brown paper which has been punched at the top and bottom. Backing is more parchment card which I've distressed with spun sugar, shabby shutters and walnut stain DI then matted onto the brown. I've done lots of distressing with my new distress tool but it doesn't show too well in the photo - perhaps I need to be more aggressive lol. The flourishes and corner are all Marianne Design dies. Border punch from Martha Stewart. Lace, feather, pins, pearls and ribbon rose are all from my stash. Ribbon is white seam binding which I dyed using shabby shutters DI.

Inside is decorated to match.

I love how this has turned out, just hope the recipient likes it as much!

Challenges entered:

Craft Your Days Away - distressed

Crafty Bloggers - distressing

The Crazy Challenge - vintage

Victorine Originals - anything goes

Crafty Sentiments - lace and pins

Paper Shelter Challenge - pearls and swirls

4 Crafty Chicks - pins

DYSU - ribbons

Totally Papercrafts - pearls and lace

Winter Wonderland - swirls and pearls

Carol x

California Dreaming

Good morning all, I hope you are well. I managed this two page layout last night:

My eldest went to California with the school when he was 17 (he's almost 22 now!) and I've just got around to scrapbooking the pictures!  Dunbar in Scotland where we live is twinned with Martinez in California due to the links with John Muir the conservationist. They spent several days in Martinez with an exchange family then travelled to Yosemite for a two night hike, then went on to San Fransisco for some fun.

I've used a scrap mat from Scrapology as the inspiration for the layout. All the papers are from my bit box and added elements are leftovers from a kit I used ages ago. I've added some stamping using a La Blanche stamp and iced spruce DI.

Challenges entered:

Scrapology - scraplift

Crafty Boots - inspired by a song

Simon says Stamp and Show - song title

Carol x

Cheers

Good morning all, hope you're well. I've been keeping to my resolutions and made a start on some paper scrap booking. I've got a cupboard full of scrap book kits which need to be filled and boxes of photos which need to be emptied! So here is my first layout.

I've used the scrap mat at Creative Craft World as a base for my LO. All the papers, card, the frame, the ribbon and the journalling mat are from Anna Griffin and I've had them for several years! So also using up some stash in my endeavours. Cheers has been cut with my Cricut. The flowers are from Papermania, punch from Martha Stewart, borders are edgeabilities from Spellbinders, the hanging notice and the flourishes are Marianne Design dies. I've done lots of distressing with faded blue jeans and my new distress tool. Stamps are from Inkylicious and La Blanche and have been stamped in faded blue DI.

I did a digi version first in My Memories Suite just to get a feel for the scrap mat.

A very different look!

Challenges entered:

Crafty Bloggers - monochrome

Simon says Stamp and Show - anything but a card

The Cheerful Stamp Pad - birds of a feather

Crafts 4 Eternity - colour recipe

Crazy 4 Challenges - mono in blue

One Stop Craft - on the spot plus ribbon

Secret Crafter - anything goes and blue

Creative Craft World - scrap mat

Scrap our Stash - new
Paper Minutes - anything goes
Creative Craft Challenge - blue
Celebrate the Occasion - polka dots
Crafty Sentiments - anything goes

Carol x

Birds

Chrissie and Mandi over at Less is More are looking for birds this week on our one layer cards. I've pondered this one all weekend - couldn't find my bird on branch stamp anywhere and wasn't inspired to make a Christmas card. 

Whilst looking through a box of bits on my desk I found this card which was already stamped with the La Blanche wildflower design ( one of my failed attempts at green lol) and decided to see if I could add some birds to it. I found the bird stamp in an Inkylicious set. I've used DI for stamping. As always happens on a OLC the final image smudged!!

Challenges entered:

Less is More - birds one layer

Party Time Tuesdays - feathered friend

Paper Pretties - get well

Desert Island Crafters - itinerary (monochromatic, no DP, sentiment)
Craft Room Challenge - CAS

Carol x

Crafting When We Can #9 Resolutions

Today sees the first challenge of 2012 at CWWC and the theme is New Year's Resolutions. My resolutions for this year include finishing my cards with an insert when I make them, sorting out my old photos and doing some scrap booking. In order to get all this done I will have to have some "me time" so I've made this calendar for my craft room. We're being sponsored by The Stamping Boutique and Crafty Ribbons.

• Image: Stamping Boutique
• Medium: promarkers and DI
• Papers: Costco (from the bit box) and Anna Griffin (one of my first crafting purchases)
• Dies: Spellbinders
• Fourish: Marianne Designs
• Ribbon, gems, button and flowers from my stash.
• Sentiment is computer generated.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the creations of my team mates.

Challenges entered:
Daisy Doodles Creative - new beginnings
Simon says Stamp and Show - something old, something new (old papers, new digi stamp and new year)
Anything Goes - blue plus one
Craft Room Challenge - anything goes
Ribbon Carousel - anything goes
The Stamping Boutique - use 12
Inky Impressions - anything goes
Paper Shelter - anything goes
Craft us Crazy - anything new (year)
Crafty Ribbons - new beginnings
Paper Cutz - new year
Poodles Parlour - button up
Simply Create Too - more than 2 layers
Catch the Bug - anything goes
Challenge up your Life - bingo (flowers, ribbons and swirls)
Crafty Emma's - anything goes
One Stop Craft - bingo (gems, dies and buttons)
Our Creative Corner - show us your shapes
Sweet Stampin - spots and dots
That Craft Place - buttons and bows
Crafty Calendar - new news (opt buttons and bows)
Creative Inspirations Paint - something old (BP)
Dream Valley Challenges - anything goes
Di's Digi Designs - all things new
Just Some Lines - New Year
Addicted to Stamps - January blues
Pixie Crafty Snippets - backing card and mats all came from the bit box

Carol x

Crafting for all Seasons #17 Fairies

Can't quite believe that's Christmas all over for another year, hope everyone had a good one. It's time for a new challenge at CFAS and the theme this week is Fairies. We're being sponsored by Whoopsi Daisy and The Stamping Boutique and the DT were given images to work with, I've used a Whoopsi Daisy image from sheet #264.

A very CAS card, the image is coloured with promarkers and highlighted with stickles then cut out with a nestie beaded oval die. Ribbon is tied around base card into a bow with a button added (both from stash). Sentiment is computer generated.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from my team mates.

Challenges entered:

Daisy Doodles Creative - birthday, buttons and bows

Kaboodle Doodles - angels/fairies

Less is More - just one word

Shopping our Stash - use ribbon. twine or rik rack

I Love Promarkers - anything goes

Carol x

Let it Snow

What a week, I seem to have spent my time chasing my tail and never actually catching it! The kitchen saga is still rumbling on although I'm now down to just two missing doors both of which have been wrongly delivered twice so far!! Today I was going to work wonders and woke to a power cut (or should I say yesterday as it's now Sunday morning!). My mojo went completely awol last week and I have a veritable pile of green things lying on my desk none if which would make themselves into a card!! I have managed a quick one for this weeks challenge.

Taking inspiration from Chrissy, stamp is from Personal Impressions, stamped in versamark and heat embossed with detail white EP, masked with post its and inked with various blue DIs. Sentiment is from the same stamp set and is stamped in blue jeans DI. Snowflake has been stamped in versamark and embossed with vanilla ice sprinkle and sparkle EP. Finished with some gems.

Challenges entered:

Less is More - let it snow

Totally Gorjuss - let it snow

Phindy's Place - clean and simple

Simply Create Too - embossing

Allsorts - it takes two (colours)

Apologies for neglecting everyone last week, hopefully I'll get caught up with everyone soon.

Carol x

Christmas Tag

Background made using the new Winter DI, following instructions from Tim Holz on Day 7 2007. Image from Polka Doodles coloured with promarkers and mounted onto a bauble die and gold glittered snowflake. Finished with tinsel, ribbon bow and a sentiment tag.

Challenges entered:

Sweet Stamps - tags

Paper Pretties - tags, tags, tags

Paper Shelter - Christmas sparkle, red, green and gold

Penny's Paper Crafty - tie one on (sentiment)

Simon says Stamp - tag it

Delightful Challenges - red and green

Shelly's Images - red and green

OSAAT - seeing red

Stamp Man - Tim's Tags

My Partner in Crafting Crime - Christmas tag

Carol x

Crafting When We Can #7 sketch

Gosh the weeks are flying by and we're onto our seventh challenge here at CWWC and this time we'd like you to choose any current sketch available from another challenge. We're being sponsored by Tiddly Inks and the DT got to choose images to work with. I've chosen Something Warm with Let it Snow and I'm using the sketch at Crafty Ann's.

I've chosen to recycle a gift bag. The backing papers are from Crafty Ann's Cobweb collection and have been mounted onto grey textured mirri card. The icicle die is from Marianne Design, snowflakes from a Fiskars punch. Finished with ribbon (north - south behind snowman) and stickles. Image is coloured with promarkers. The image is a little large for the backing but unfortunately I didn't have time to redo it. Here is the sketch:

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration of my team mates, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Creative Inspirations - winter colours

Charisma Cardz - snowflakes

Crafty Catz - snowmen

Fussy and Fancy - anything but a card

CBGM - recycling

Hiding in my Craftroom - holiday

Designed 2 Delight - snowmen

Creative Inspirations Paint - anything but a card

Stamptacular Sunday - anything Christmas

Paper Sundaes - winter wonderland

Carol x