Krafty Christmas!

Well, I managed to make a few Christmas cards at last! At Stamp Magic in October, I loved the cards being demonstrated by Deby from Inkylicious, using kraft card and white pigment ink to create a faux parchment effect. Naturally I had to buy the necessary supplies to have a go at making my own!

I won't go into details of how they are done, as Deby has a brilliant tutorial on her blog, which you will find here. These are the cards I've made so far.

1. Stencils and all stamps: Inkylicious. Border punch: Martha Stewart. DP: Be Creative

2. Stencils and Winter Cabin stamp: Inkylicious. Sentiment: Stamps by Chloe. Corner punch: Fiskars

3. Stencils, Trees & deer stamps: Inkylicious. Sentiment: Stamps By Chloe. Corner stamp: Magazine Freeie (Simply Cards & Papercraft). Border punch: X-Cut. DP: Grafix

4, Winter Cabin stamp: Inkylicious. Tiny snowflake (part of larger stamp) & sentiment: Stamps By Chloe. Corner punch: Dovecraft. Mountain & valley stencil: Inkylicious. Oval stencil cut with Spellbinders die.

5. Winter Cabin stamp, branch stamp & mountain & valley stencil: Inkylicious. Sentiment Stamps by Chloe. DP: Grafix. Circle stencil cut with Spellbinders die.

6. Winter Cabin & branch stamps: Inkylicious. Sentiment: Stamps by Chloe. Oval stencil cut with Spellbinders die.

7, Winter Cabin stamp, branch stamp, bauble stencil & mountain & valley stencil: Inkylicious. Sentiment: Stamps by Chloe. Deer & trees diecuts (cut from a larger die): Frantic Stamper. DP: Be Creative.

For all cards I used ColorBox Frost White pigment ink, Memento die ink and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen.

Until I saw Deby's cards, I wasn't really a fan of kraft card, but I really like the effect with this technique. It's also easy to do. I'm definitely a fan of that! Thanks for looking!

May Challenge at Stamping Sensations

Wow, what a lot of fantastic entries we had for last month's challenge at Stamping Sensations I guessed it would be a popular theme, and I think the same will apply this month, because for May:

*****  ANYTHING GOES  *****

Your project must include some stamping, as we are of course a stamping challenge, but other than that it can be anything you like, on any theme. You can enter up to three times, and combine your entry with any other challenges.

For my card I've used some Crafty Individuals stamps which I bought ages ago but have never inked up until now. I don't know why, as they are really very pretty. Probably just didn't have a suitable occasion to use them. The patterned backing paper is from a recently released Papermania pad called Bellissima, again very pretty in lovely soft shades.

I stamped the main image twice so that I could cut out and decoupage the two hearts. Then I stamped the perfume bottles on a Spellbinders Lacy Circles diecut, having sponged some colour around the inside edge of the diecut with pigment ink.

I added a few glittery highlights here and there with a clear Wink of Stella pen, and some liquid pearls on the "jewels" and in the corners. Other supplies used were a Martha Stewart punch-around-the-page set, a Dovecraft tiny butterfly punch and Promarkers to colour the images.

We're going to keep you guessing for a while as to this month's prize! Rest assured, however, that it will be fabulous as always, and all will be revealed later in the month!

In the meantime, don't forget to check out my lovely teamies' gorgeous samples on the Challenge blog, and we look forward to seeing your entries. Thanks for looking.

Stamping Sensations August Challenge

It's August, so time for another challenge at Stamping Sensations. This month our theme is right up my street! It's

*** WINGS AND THINGS AND A TOUCH OF VINTAGE ***

Another chance to get out the butterfly stamps, and I couldn't resist this gorgeous new one from Inkylicious. It's called "Vintage Butterfly" - what could be more perfect for the theme!

I stamped the image with Versamark ink on to patterned paper (Webster's Pages) and embossed it with clear ink to act as a resist. Then I painted over the whole thing with gesso, wiping it off where it was covering the embossing.

Next I cut a small panel of the patterned paper, matted it with a thin gold border and placed it alongside the image. Having slightly distressed the edges of the paper, I then matted the whole picture on to some Bazzil Basics card, the border being cut with a Martha Stewart punch. To embellish the card, I made some paper beads, using the same papers.

The card was completed with some ribbon (two separate pieces, one on top of the other). The yellow ribbon is quite old, being inherited from my mother, although I don't think it's actually vintage! Apart from the butterfly stamp, all the materials used are old stash. I'm trying very hard not to buy new stuff and to get some of the old used up (though some, like the butterfly, are simply NOT to be resisted!) and so far I'm not doing too badly!

Of course, you want to know about this month's prize, and it's a cracker! Our lovely sponsor is Crafty Devils, and they have generously donated a £35 voucher!  They are one of the UK's leading papercraft specialists, supplying over 10,000 products for card making, stamping, scrapbooking, die cutting and more, so the lucky winner will definitely be spoilt for choice when it comes to spending their voucher.

Please do pop over to the Challenge Blog to see what my talented teamies have made to inspire you this month. I think this is going to be a very popular theme, and I can't wait to see all your lovely entries. Don't forget, it doesn't have to be a card, it can be any type of project as long as it follows the month's theme, and you can enter up to three times, so more chances of winning that great prize or being in our top three!

New Year and New Challenge

Hope it's not too late to say Happy New Year everyone, and to wish you everything you wish yourself for 2013.

Being the first Sunday of the month, we have a new challenge for you at Stamping Sensations, and what better theme to begin the new year with than

** FRIENDSHIP ** 

I think that speaks for itself, and we would love to see your interpretation of what Friendship means to you.

We have a fabulous sponsor for you this month - STIX2! They have given us a wonderful prize. A huge selection of essential items, well worth an entry!

Now, my usual new year's resolution is not to make any! However, if I were to make any crafty ones for this year, it might be along the lines of thinking outside the box, or at least getting out of my comfort zone and challenging myself to do something different. So here's my card for "Friendship".

What's different about that then, I hear you ask! Flowers and butterflies are never far from my cards. Well, yes, but - they're red! Red is not my first colour of choice for a card. I don't like colours that shout at me, I much prefer cool, soothing ones - blues, purples, and greens. But having said that,  I do love poppies, and poppies are red, so....

It might also have something to do with the fact that Brenda sent me a package of gorgeous goodies for Christmas, which included some delightful dotty red ribbon which I couldn't wait until next Christmas to use!

I decided that it would go beautifully with some Chocolate Baroque poppies, which I stamped on to red spotty paper and on to plain white and then I paper pieced just the flowers. 

 I cut out the image and the red spotty frame with Spellbinders dies, and then added just a touch of colouring to the butterfly and bud with a red Promarker. I tried paper piecing the leaves too in green, but felt that introducing a second colour lessened the impact, so I left them plain. 

I didn't have any suitable background paper, so I made some with some more Chocolate Baroque stamps. A lovely friendship sentiment (also by Choc B) and a few punched  butterflies (Martha Stewart) completed the card.

So that's my celebration of friendship. My lovely teamies have made some gorgeous samples to show you, so do go and have a look at them on the Challenge Blog. I look forward to seeing yours!

Sir Stampalot October Challenge

Last month's inspiration photo obviously proved a bit daunting, but this month at Stampalot Challenge we have an easier task for you. We want you to

PUNCH AWAY!

Simply include one or more elements using punches on your project! (But please note that dies do not count as punches! It's fine to use dies as well, but your entry must use at least one element made with a punch, otherwise it will not be considered for the prize or top 3. Also, please remember that if you enter your project in more than five other challenges, it will not be eligible for ours. See the Challenge Guidelines at the top of the challenge blog for full details. )

On my card I've used a border punch and butterfly punch ( both by Martha Stewart) and a punch (make unknown) with a corner design incorporating 3 different sizes of flowers which I punched lots of to make the lilac flowers. The lilac stamp (Toomuchfun Rubber Stamps) is one I bought in the USA about 17 years ago. I coloured it with Promarkers before adding the punched flowers. The tiny flowers each have a dot of glitter glue in the centre. The background paper is an old one by K&Company (now sadly discontinued) and the ribbon came from a grab bag bought at a show.

My talented teamies have come up with some absolutely gorgeous designs, so do pop over to the Challenge Blog and have a look at them.

Due to pressure of work at Stampalot Towers, the photo of this month's prize was not available as we went to press, but rest assured that it will be as fantastic as always!

Still flying!

We have lots of gorgeous entries coming in for this month's Stampalot Challenge, which is "Take Flight". I thought I'd show you a few more of my butterfly cards, all using the beautiful butterfly stamps by Prickley Pear.

BP: Wild Rose Studio "Butterfly Garden" (freebie with Quick Cards Made Easy mag).

Stamps: Butterfly and sentiment by Prickley Pear. Circle design on doily by Waltzing Mouse.

Dies: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, butterfly circle by Spellbinders.

Lace from my stash. Button from Fun 2 Do, Carlisle.

Crafts shops are a bit thin on the ground up here in Dumfriesshire. One of the few things I miss about Nottingham is that there are several good shops within reasonable travelling distance of where I used to live. However,  I found the beautiful floral button (on the card above) in a lovely shop called Fun 2 Do in Carlisle. They have the most gorgeous selection of buttons, ribbons, fabrics and general crafty bits and pieces, and I've just found out they have a website and do mail order! Driving back out of Carlisle I also noticed that there is a brand new Hobbycraft store being built there, due to open very soon! Oases in the craft desert! I'm happy now!

More cards:

BP: Book 7 "Shades of Summer" by Crafty Individuals.

Stamps: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, sentiment by The Craft's Meow.

Dies: Butterfly by Prickley pear, poppy by Memory Box.

BP: Patterned paper ("Neighbourwood") by Trimcraft, plain pearlised from my stash.

Stamps: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, sentiment by Stampingallday.

Die: Butterfly by Prickley Pear.

Punch: Hearts border by Martha Stewart. 

I love this butterfly with the leaves and grasses design. Just beautiful!

BP: Patterned paper ("Neighbourwood") by Trimcraft.

Stamps: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, sentiment by Chocolate Baroque.
Dies: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, Nestabilities label by Spellbinders.
Antennae and stick-on pearls from my stash.

There's still plenty of time to enter the Stampalot Challenge, and the flight theme doesn't just mean butterflies! Interpret it however you like. There's lots of lovely inspiration from my talented teamies on the Challenge Blog, so do flutter over and take a look!

Flower Pounding

There are many examples of flower pounding about on the 'net, and they're all beautiful! I've been meaning to have a go at it for ages and never got round to it, but when I found out it could be done with the Cuttlebug, I was determined to try it! I won't go into all the details as there are lots of tutorials available, including a good one here (google Cuttlebug & flower pounding for more), but I found I got the best results using a good quality watercolour paper. Thinner papers didn't work so well.

One of the great things about the technique is that it is so quick and easy! Since moving to our new house, we haven't had chance to do much with the garden yet, but there are plenty of wild flowers growing in it! I wouldn't dream of picking wild flowers in the wild, as it were, but I think it's ok if they're from your own garden. Most people would call them weeds there, I guess! Anyway, before I picked them, I photographed them, so that I could use the photos on my cards along with the pounded papers. Here are the results.

Ivy Leaved Toadflax

Red Campion

Cow Parsley

Common Wood Sorrel

Buttercups

(This pic was of a nearby field, though the flowers I used were from the garden. We haven't got that many!)

And my favourite, Germander Speedwell

Supplies used on the cards: The pounded papers for backgrounds, Nestabilities frames and labels, Fiskars border punch, small butterfly punch by Martha Stewart, medium butterfly punch unknown, large butterfly Memory Box dies (two dies), bee stamp by Hobby Art, sentiments by Hobby Art, Paula Pascual, Paper Artsy, and Inkylicious (part of stamp), Prima flowers, ribbons and rainbow paper from my stash.

Can't wait to do some more, but after weeks of gorgeous weather, it's now windy, grey, cold and very wet, so I'll have to wait until the flowers dry up a bit!  We've had some lovely evening walks while the weather's been good. About a week ago we went across the fields opposite our house, and came across these characters, sitting outside the entrance to their den.

There were five altogether, some obviously young ones, and three disappeared down the hole as we approached, but these two seemed unconcerned and stayed there for a while, watching us watching them, until they too went down into the den. We used to get urban foxes in our garden at the old house, but I've never seen more than one at a time before. It was amazing to see a whole family of them together like this! The wonders of living in the countryside. We're loving it more and more. However, there are downsides. A few minutes ago the power suddenly went off. We get occasional power cuts for no apparent reason. Oh no, I thought, I'll have lost all that post I've just spent ages typing in! Fortunately Mr. Blogger had kindly saved it for me, so here it is!

Vintage with a heart

That's the title of the June Challenge at Crafty Individuals Blog, and what a great theme! I've used their gorgeous ladies in hats for my card, and kept the embellishments simple so as not to detract from the lovely image.

I stamped it on to Papermania printed paper (having slightly distressed the edges of the paper) and coloured it with Promarkers, which I also used to colour the Martha Stewart punched border, the sheer ribbon (just visible under the strip of lace), and the paper which I matted the image with. I love how you can use Promarkers to co-ordinate everything! And that's about it.

Now off to see what the Less is More ladies have got for us this week!

More Wow!

The white-on-white challenge this week at Less is More has really appealed to me, so I've made two more cards! For the first one I've made an arrangement of punched flowers and leaves on a Nestie lace circle, with a punched butterfly and white pearls for the flower centres. Recently I was given a complete set of alphabet punches, so I used those to make the word "Spring".

I was quite pleased with it, but then I wondered whether it might be a bit too fancy for Less is More, so I made another which is much more clean and simple.

This has a Marianne die-cut flourish with a Martha Stewart punched butterfly, and the same punched letters as the previous card. I think I actually prefer this one.

I've really enjoyed making all these white-on-white cards, but I'm feeling the need for a bit of colour now, so that will probably be the last one for the time being!

A bit more ...... but not much!

Well, I sat down to make a Less is NOT More card (see previous post!), but when it came to it, I didn't put very much more on it! I think I must have become too used to the minimal style! Need more practice!

I made this card for my niece's birthday. She's not an overly fussy person, so it's probably best I didn't go overboard with it. I was lucky enough to be given a box full of bits and pieces recently. The after-school club at the school where I work had had several boxes full of cardmaking stash donated to them, but some of it wasn't really suitable for them to use. The teacher who runs the club asked me if I would like some! I didn't hesitate for long!

It was mostly paper and card, and embellishments such as the dress on this card. Not something I would have bought for myself, but seeing as I'd got it, I thought I would try and use it. It had a bit of rather naff string tied in a bow around the waist, so I took that off and added the pearls instead. I've just bought a couple of Darkroom Door background stamps, Floral, and Flourish. They're huge (cover the whole of an A6 card), and I've used the Floral one here, stamped in a pale pink Versamagic ink on a cream card.  Unfortunately it doesn't show up very well in the photo. You can see it a little better in the close up.

My camera doesn't seem to pick up creams and pale yellows very well. They come out a mucky looking grey! The spotty paper is by Papermania, with a Martha Stewart border punch and Nestabilities ovals. The sentiment is a very old one by Stamps Unlimited, who I don't think are around now.

It will be back to Less is More tomorrow, but after that.... I've just got some of the gorgeous new printed tags from Crafty Individuals, and they're definitely not clean and simple....