MFT A la Mode Birthday Girl

Hi Again! I'm trying to keep my blog active these past few days, as it seems to be a bit quiet in blog-ville at the moment, perhaps due to summer in the northern hemisphere? I crafter last night, and was really happy with the out come. Here it is -

I started by colouring this image, from My Favourite Things, using my Spectrum Noir markers, I thought she'd be tough to colour with her skinny arms and legs, but she came out well. I then layered her on some Pretty in Pink card and onto some patterned paper which I think might be Pink Paislee Snow Day. I made up some Mini Rolled Roses using some felt and made some leaves using this die. I also die cut some mini pennants in matching colours. The sentiment has been stamped using Staz On directly on to the Dresden Blue Seam Binding Ribbon and the mini pennants have been strung up using some Ivory Twine. 

I am entering this into the Ribbon Carousel Sketch challenge. 

Thanks for popping by!

Tickled Pink Stamps for Shabby Chic Card

Hi! I had a quick play in the craft area before work this morning, and really went outside my comfort zone.... (okay, so it's not purple.... so not completely outside my comfort zone) come see -

I started out colouring my image, which is from Tickled Pink designs. I found her 'trench coat' really hard to colour, so decided to paper piece it instead. I have used my Stampin' Write Markers and some retired Stampin' Up! DSP for the coat. I cut her out and then built my card. The base is So Saffron, layered with Crumbcake which I ran through the Big Shot with a circles embossing folder. I sponged the edges, and then sewed around it (messily.) The centre panel is a piece of Pretty in Pink layered up with some patterned paper from Echo Park (I think) and some lace which I have stitched in place. I pierced two holes in the top of the centre panel and threaded some twine through and tied a bow. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up and is called Friendly Messages and has been stamped on to a Spellbinders Label. I added 4 little pearls to finish off this card. 

I am entering this into two challenges, the first is the Tuesday Morning Sketches sketch and next up is The Corrosive Challenge 'shabby chic' challenge  

Feeling Sketchy Week 4 - Kindness Matters with Paper Piecing

Another Monday has arrived, which means it's time for the newest sketch at Feeling Sketchy! The sketch is one I thought I would struggle with, but as I sat down to create, I was pleasantly surprised!

I set myself a challenge for this card, it was to use only scraps (except the base card.) I trawled through my box of half cut papers, and came across this black spotty paper and some dictionary print (from Kaisercraft) The pink chevron paper is from My Minds Eye. I started with the polka dot paper, and carefully stamped and embossed a lace border (MME) in white. The butterflies (from PTI) are stamped on patterned paper, and carefully cut out and popped on to white die cut butterflies (die cut from PTI too) they were then layered onto black circles and attached to the dictionary print. I tied a Pretty in Pink bow (scrap piece of ribbon) and attached it to the card. This card was finished off with a Kindness Matters sentiment, from the Stampin' Up! set of the same name. 

Check out this weeks sketch - 

I'm also linking this up to the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World....  I was inspired by the colours (not so much the black) and the butterflies :)

Don't forget to pop over to the blog and play, or share some love with my fellow sketchettes :)

Stampin' Up! Look Who's Turning paired with Fox and Friends for Kids Birthday!

I have made another card, after struggling with it most afternoon... I have had a tough time of card making recently, I know I am overthinking it, but I am bored with all my stamps and inks, and everything in my craft room is annoying me a bit... so, to produce anything that I'm slightly happy with to post here is a milestone!

The funny thing about this card... I don't even know any soon to be 4 year old girls.... I started out stamping the owl, giraffe (I <3 Giraffes) and turtle from Fox and Friends in Regal Rose, Rose Red and Pretty in Pink. I then mounted it on a slightly bigger piece of Rose Red. I stamped the Regal Red card with the number strip from Look Who's Turning in VersaMark and clear embossed it. I set that aside, remembered I had Pretty in Pink Grosgrain ribbon and a button, so pulled them out, wrapped it around the Rose Red and attached a tag from Tiny Tags, the four is from the 4 You sentiment, but I have only coloured the number in using my Stampin' Write Markers. I attached it using some Red and White Bakers twine, and stamped the Look Who's Turning sentiment in Black Staz On. 

I am entering this into the Paper Players colour challenge, which I have been fiddling around with all evening....

Thanks for dropping in!

Stampin' Up! Easter Blooms and Just Believe paired to make a For You card

Hi again! It's my second week of being on the Just Add Ink design team, being a guest designer. This week it is a sketch challenge, and this one had me hugely inspired!

 

Ok, so this card is a Basic Grey card base that has been cut down on one side, and layered with Whisper White. I have stamped the Cherry Blossom image from Easter Blooms in Basic Grey, and then I coloured the flowers in with Pink Pirouette and Pretty in Pink and the leaves with Certainly Celery. I have pierced the card base and sewn on a retired Basic Grey Corduroy button with some bakers twine. Then on the other piece, while I was sewing on the button, I left a tail, so that it can be wrapped around the other button. Sorry, that's a really bad description, but I hope the pictures help!

Here is the Just Add Ink sketch... Don't forget to check out what the other designers have created, and I hope this inspires you to create something too!

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Up! Thanks for Caring and Beautiful Wings Embossolit make Get Well Cards easy!

I have been sitting in my craft room today, avoiding doing work for university, I succeeded in doing any study, and used a set that I haven't used as much as I wanted to when it first came out.

There is a couple of things on this card that will be retiring on the 31st of July, the first is the sentiment which is from Thanks for Caring and the script background which is from my favourite stamp set from the Autumn/Winter Mini catalogue, French Foliage. This card started off as a plain Whisper White card base, I have then used some Designer Series Paper from Elegant Soiree (these papers will leave us on the 31st of August.) I have used some Perfect Plum card and the Eyelet Border Punch which I have tied some Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon around. The sentiment is coloured using my Stampin' Write Markers in Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink and Baja Breeze. The Decorative Label Punch has been used on some Perfect plum card which has been stamped with the script stamp from French Foliage. I have cut out some butterflies using my Bigshot and the Beautiful Wings embossolit in Pretty in Pink and sprayed them with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and Shimmer Paint in White, to give them a little glitter. I think the sentiment works really well for a card for someone who is feeling a little under the weather.

I am entering this into three challenges, the first is the Stamping 411 Sketch which I actually struggled a little bit with this week, the next challenge is the SUO Challenge blogs Get Well Theme and finally, my colour inspiration came from Moxie Fab's Tuesday Trigger.

Anywho... Thanks for dropping in!

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Up! Water Colour Paper makes the difference in Water Colouring!

I have recently discovered how big a difference colouring with your Stampin' Write Markers is when colouring on Stampin' Up!'s Water Colour Paper. To be honest, I was hesitant in spending the extra money on the paper, but I got it as part of the hostess benefits from Stamp Club last month... I can't believe how simple it makes colouring, how effortless it is to get the colours blending and looking like other high end markers... So, I've been on a bit of a colouring kick... Here is my card for today...

Once again, I have used an image from The Greeting Farm, which has been embossed using black embossing powder and coloured using my Stampin' Write Markers and a Blender Pen. Her hair is Soft Suede and Early Espresso, her skin is Blush Blossom with touches of Pretty in Pink, her shirt is Certainly Celery and her pants are Crumbcake. The card base is Confetti White with a piece of patterned paper which was a bit too bright, so I have layered some Vellum over the top. A piece of Pretty in Pink cut into a flag shape and run through the Big Shot with the Polka Dots embossing folder and a piece of Crumbcake which has been punched using the eyelet border punch. I have used the Tag Punch and the Tiny Tags stamp set to finish off this card with a sentiment and three little pinkish pearls. 

I am entering this into two challenges... The first is The Lollipop Ladies challenge, which is the Princess cake inspiration (below) and the twist which is to use pearls, the second challenge is The Sweetest Thing Sunday Sketch. (below)

Anyway, Mark is in the craft room, fixing the broken window for me, so I can go back into the warmth and create some more, 

Until next time...

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Up! Elements of Style makes elegant Birthday Cards

I told you I'd be back! I got a Stampin' Up! order in the mail this morning, and in it was a stamp set I have had on my wish list for a while, but seriously had to get after my Upline held a class using it! I bought Elements of Style, and this is the first card I inked it up for....

This is a 5" square Whisper White card, which is layered with an embossed piece of Whisper White, using the Big Shot, and the Vintage Wallpaper Impressions Folder, I have lightly sprayed it with some Glimmer Mist, but I don't think it is visible in this picture. I have stamped the flowers in Staz On Black and coloured with my Stampin' Write Markers, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Wild Wasabi. I have then sponged the square with Bashful Blue, and Baja Breeze. The sentiment is from Upsy Daisy, and fits well in the corner. 

I am entering this into the Less is More Sketch Challenge, while the proportions are off, I think it still fits in with the sketch. I am also entering this into The Paper Players Anything Goes challenge. 

I have another card to show you, using this same set, but a completely different outcome! So, come back in a few hours, to see it 

Until then....

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Up! Morning Cup and I create a cute spinner card!

I made this card last night, before bed, but due to giving it to someone who reads this blog, I couldn't show it until I knew she had it in her hands! 

I have used the Stampin' Up! Morning Cup Stamp set, and masking to have one cup 'sit behind' the other. I have coloured these using my Stampin' Write Markers, and stuck two identical circles together with a piece of twine between them. This gives you my spinner. I have then stamped tone on tone a coffee bean onto some Blushing Bride and stamped the "Perk Up!" sentiment in Staz On. I then punched a scallop circle out of the Blushing Bride and Whisper White Card and layered the Blushing Bride onto the card base with the string from the spinner underneath. 

I have given this card to a good friend who has been a bit down lately, and hopefully it has brightened her day considerably! 

I am entering this into two new challenges (for me anyway). The first is the Dream Valley Challenge- Stamp Something, and the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - CAS. 

I'll be back in a little while to show you the two cards I created today :-)

Stampin' Up! Upsy Daisy and I create Congratulations Cards

Yesterday, after coming home from work, I crashed hard from the caffeine high, and then got NOTHING done... so, today after work, I had to get back into the craft room, the ideas were rolling around my head, and I had to do something about a few of them... I wanted to use my neglected Upsy Daisy set, which was one of the first sets I bought when I joined Stampin' Up! I wanted to show just how versatile this set was without too much work, just a change of colours really!

This one I wanted to create a shadow effect on the flowers, although I don't think it worked particularly well, ah well, next time... I have used Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Soft Suede, Crumbcake and of course Whisper White. The Congrats I have used on both cards is from Basic Phrases, another super underused stamp set. I have paired all of this with some retired Stampin' Up! Buttons and some neutral twine (which is actually crochet thread in Vanilla)  I am entering this one into the Hand Stamped Sentiments Colour Challenge, and the Simply Less is More weekly challenge.  

This second card I like a lot more... I guess I'm just not a pastels kinda girl.... This uses all the same stamps, but instead of shadowing, I have stamped the flowers in VersaMark and embossed them in white. The colours used are Basic Black, Whisper White and Crumbcake, once again, the sentiment is from Basic Phrases. I am entering this one into the Simply Less is More challenge as well, as a Congratulations card. 

If you want to see more projects using the Upsy Daisy stamp set, click on the link below to see all projects using this super versatile stamp set :-)

Stampin' Up! Strength & Hope creates beautiful Get Well Soon Cards

I have had a quiet-ish day at home today, which included some gardening (very weird for me), and some card making, I considered making cookies, but that seemed a little too domesticated, so I made another card....

This uses one of new favourite stamp sets from the Stampin' Up! Autumn/Winter mini catalogue out now! This stamp set is called Strength & Hope ($35.95 Wood, $28.95 Clear) and what I think is most awesome is, that $2 from the sale off each of these stamp sets is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. With this card, I have used Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink. I have used inspiration from the Less is More challenge blog, which this week is to make a card with the elements being off-centre. I will probably end up making at least one more card for the challenge, so head on over, and check out the other entrants submissions!

Until next time, 

Happy Stamping!

Stampin' Up Scallop Punch Art Roses - Tutorial

I have been in the craft room again this afternoon... Creating something that isn't so clean and simple!
Are you surprised?

I created this for the CR84FN Colour Challenge, which was to use Pale Pink, Medium Violet and Gray. 

I have also put together a tutorial for you, on how to make the very cute little roses....These are easy to make, but are a little fiddly...

1. Supplies- Scrap Card stock 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Scissors, pencil, strong tape or glue, and a bone folder.
2. Punch out a scallop circle, drag it across the bone folder a few times to make it easier to roll.
3. Draw a swirl on the scallop circle.
4. Cut on the line of your swirl.
5. Starting in the middle, start rolling the cut piece in on itself. 
6. Once you have gotten to the end, let it spring open a little. You can leave it fairly tight, or loose, which ever look you prefer
7. Put a small amount of tape or glue on the loose tail, hold in place.
8. I have pushed the outer petals out a little to give a little more definition, then you're done!

I hope this tutorial has helped, and was easy to follow, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to post a comment, or email me

Happy Stamping!

Welcome Baby!

Hi all!
I woke up feel good this morning, and after a quick browse on the internets, I decided I would make a card!

This card fulfils two challenges (gotta catch up somehow!) The first being the colourQ challenge, which for once was a major struggle, which is weird.... coz its pink..... 

I usually struggle a lot to use pink, but this card came together fairly easily.... maybe it was the sketch I used from Clean and Simple Sketches? 

I'm not sure what it is, but if it means I produce a card I'm really happy with, then I don't want to question it....

Thanks for checking in....

Have fun and happy stamping...

Pink and Purple are "In" right now

I have noticed on a few challenges that pink and purple, with red/burgundy are "In" right now!

This one is for a few challenges, and I really struggled... I'm not a girly girl at all, so pinks and purples aren't very me.... The first challenge I'm entering this into is the Clean and Simple Sketch, I don't have any oval nesties yet, so I used a circle.... The second challenge is a colour challenge - Curtain Call Act 66,  

The other challenge I'm entering this into is the Simon Says Stamp Bingo Challenge, where I used these squares - Punch/Diecut (the butterfly), Flowers (in the background of the circle) and Gems (the body of the butterfly.)

I might go make something a little more masculine shortly.... I'm a little over pink... *blergh*

Silhouette Sentiments Card

Hi all!.
Last night after the disaster of a card, I tried to sleep, but couldn't so, I got back up and had another play with my craft stuff. By this stage, the newest ColourQ Challenge had gone up....

What a doozy.... I cringed when I saw more melon mambo with tangerine tango.... my dislike of pink and orange is quite strong! Anyway, I've been looking at different ways to use the hostess set, Silhouette Sentiments, as I feel it doesn't get used enough.... So, I went to SplitCoastStampers and had a look around. I found this card by Laurie, which just has an absolute Wow! factor to it.... 

So, I cased it.... fairly blatantly too.... 

Here is my CASE of Laurie's card - 

I love how this card turned out! I also have another card to show you, which I was asked to make by a friend. She needed a baby girl card, that included butterflies.... So, I Cased one of my cards from earlier, and remade it in pinks and purples. 

Anyway, that is all I have to show you on the card front. 

I want to leave this link here for you guys in case you were wondering what you can do to help the victims of the QLD flooding. I have donated a small amount, but every little bit counts I guess. So, head on over to the QLD government website, and donate as much as you can, to help the people of Queensland out.... 

Crafty Challenges

Hey all, a few cards for you, for a bunch of different challenges. First up is this card

This is for the Curtain Call colour challenge, which was another difficult one... It is also for the Stamping 411 Saturday sketch. 

The next card is: 

This one is for a few challenges as well... A new one that I've found is CR84FN which was to use light pink, peach and yellow. This also falls into the Just Add Ink Summer challenge. The truth is, I'm not entirely happy with either of these, but I think I'm just being unreasonably harsh... 

On a personal note, today I got all my hair cut off! It was down to my bra strap before getting it cut.... so.... here is the new cut....