Spoonful of Sugar challenge 27

Fab sketch on Spoon Full of Sugar this week which gave me the excuse to ditch the housework and use a Lili Of the Valley stamp I bought a couple of months ago. Now it's made I wish I'd either mounted it all on a mat gold card or stamped a faint pattern over the base card. Oh well, what's done is done, not many more xmas cards to make :o)

Imaginisce & DCWV paper, cuttlebug diecut snoflakes from cream glitter card, oval nesties, lots of gems, stickles and glamour dust.

very quick cards

These are all using buttefly kisses stamps. With either judikins black or silver ep or versacolor violet ink withblade rubbers hologram ep. I dont normally do quick cards so this made quite a change. Cant wait to finish Chrimbo cards now and get back to having fun with some stencils.

sketch saturday

This is for the sketch saturday challenge. I've used imaginisce paper with Sugar Nellies christmas honey stamp. It's hard to see on the photo but there's 2 holly sprigs and 3 red pearls at the top. A very quick and simple card but with there only being a week or 2 before I have to start sending out xmas cards I havent got as much time as I'd like.

On a roll

It's been lovely having the time to play again this week. This is one of the xmas Tildas. I've used last weeks sketch saturday sketch as it's one of my favourites. Paper is a Pebbles one which I bought months ago from Glitterpot. The pale aqua paper is from a flourish stamp I bought at the NEC.

This is another purchase from the NEC, the stamps are from Butterfly Kisses and perfect for making dangly cards. Again DCWV papers and that flourish stamp around the border of the frame. This is repeated inside but thought it looked better to photo it this way.

While I had the embossing powder & DCWV papers out I made this one. I feel as tho it's missing something but cant think what.

I'm useless at remembering the names of sets of stamps but this one is part of a clear set that comes with several snowflakes. If anyone recognises it please let me know so I can credit it.

Magnolia vs stampavie challenge

I seem to be in a purple mood at the mo and this is one made with a sketch on the magnolia v stampavie challenge blog. Paper is from DCWV stack, scallop cut on the cricut and I've stamped around Tilda with an unknown flourish stamp bought at the NEC.

Black ribbon is from Ribbon Box.

sketch saturday

My winter club kit from Magnolia arrived a few days ago and this has to be my favourite of the stamps included.

I've used this weeks sketch from Sketch Saturday with dcwv papers, brads from Trimcraft, cuttlebug folder and my favourite f&c pencils. Tildas coat ultramarine, leggings violet, legwarmers carmine rose and skates are light magenta. Edwins coat is mauve, trousers, hat & gloves indianthrene blue and skates are warm grey with a touch of ultramarine. With silver sakura for the blades and stickles for the fur trim.

friday sketchers

Nearly late for the friday sketchers challenge with this one thanks to youngest daughter borrowing my camera.

One of the new Tilda xmas stamps coloured with f&c watercolour pencils, deep red & warm grey with some glistening show writer for the fur on his clothes. DCWV papers, snowflake cut with SCAL and some green mirri.

sketch saturday

This is my attempt for this weeks Sketch Saturday Challenge

Fab layout although I feel I havent done it justice. Magnolia Mary Christmas stamp, coloured with cream & deep red f&c watercolour pencils. Greeting is an inkwell stamp stamped onto shrink plastic that's covered with still wet gold brilliance ink.

Papremania, DCWV & imaginise paper, lil bit of ribbon and a pinky red pearl from papermania.

Secret crafter challenge

I took liberties with the sketch this week at secret crafter challenge

Magnolia father xmas & bauble stamp coloured wtih leaf green & deep red f&c watercolour pencils. DCWV papers & prima flowers. The star greeting is an Inkwell stamp stamped in red stayzon on shrink plastic with ribbon slots cut freehand before being shrunk.

friday sketchers

I've been a bad blogger this week. Havent a clue where the time has got to other than middle daughter has moved out & I've been clearing the devastation she left.

I had a lil delivery of new Tildas yesterday, woohoo. The first is using the sketch on Friday Sketchers. The striped paper is DCWV and the paper underneath is just white pearl stamped with red stayzon and a clear inkadinkado stamp. Cuttlebug snowflake folder and nesties. The snowflake in the corner was cut with SCAL & my cricut using iceflake font that I'd fiddled with a bit in PSP.

This is a 5*7 card. As you can see the tree is a bit bigger than you might expect from Magnolia. I stamped tilda first then masked her before stamping over with green versafine. Lavinia holly stamp in green versafine cutout and mounted in the corner and ribbon from the Ribbon Box. Very simple as I think this stamp could make cards look too busy if I'm not careful.

3 more with stencils

Stencils really are my most favourite tool and give me great satisfaction.

This one is the Anja Window that I used for the pink & silver xmas ornament last week. This time I've backed it with some Basicgrey paper and a 3d from Marianne Design. Mounted over some sparkly white card which has been embossed using a cuttlebug folder.





This is one that I really struggled with. The stencil is a normal size but when used as a diamond it needs a big card. This is a4 folded to make 8*8 with a flap. I've used DCWV papers and embossed the candle design before cutting areas away and backing with red, green & gold mirri. Some embroidery in the corners and a few gems.

This has to be one of my favourites, it's using the same stencil as the xstitch one. I've embroidered with gutterman threads in pink and a very dark purple. Tiny 3d from Marianne and my normal gems and organza ribbon bow with some fused pearls threaded through. Corners were rounded with a Carl punch, I've had it a long long time and it still cuts perfectly every time.

Everything I've used on these 3 came from Art Of Craft. Shh, dont tell hubby but I'm sneaking off to the craft show at Cardiff tomorrow and I know they'll be there just waiting to twist my arm into buying more yummy things.

Back to my stencils

Sorry for poor photos. I cant find any batteries for my lil cheapie fuji camera and had to use hubbies all singing all dancing Canon. It's got more buttons and settings than the dvd recorder and I havent a clue how to use either ;o) I'm def a point & click girl, cant be doing with all these gizmos.

This one is a bit of a memory flash back.. cross stitch but it's done using a Mariane Stencil on to card. It should really have a kitten in the middle but I'm still in a xmassy mood. I did enjoy making it but it reminded me why I dont cross stitch any more... I keep miscounting lol. 3d is from a Mirielle book. Both were bought from Art Of Craft. Purple backing paper is from DCWV.

This is one of my favourite new stencils, it's an Anja window from Marianne Designs. Embossed onto cream pearl card, cut away then I've backed the flourish with gold card and turned the window into a shaker with some acetate & sticky pads. The 3d is also from Marianne Design. Paper is a dark blue in real life and from papermania.

Friday sketchers challenge

I finally put down my new stencils to play with one of my new Whiff Of Joy stamps.

Sketch is from Friday Sketchers and I used my f&c watercolour pencils. Paper is an old freebie from a mag and a paper doily bought at the local cheapie warehouse type shop. Couple of primas with flower buttons and a few paper roses with a small bow. Very quick & simple but I had a lot of fun with this one.

Couple more

A couple more stencil cards.

This is a Joy Crafts stencil from Art Of Craft. All I've done is embroidered with gutterman gold and placed it over some mat gold pearl that's been run through a cuttlebug folder. A mirielle 3d decoupage, few gems and a bow. The papers are from the 6*6 papermania pad and layered with some cheap gold card.

This is from the same stencil that the blue card is made from. I found the packaging and it's from the Star Range by Marianne Design. I cant find it on their website but they had a few in the shop.

This time I've just used 1 corner of the stencil and rotated it to make a square. I also used the snowflake that came with it. My favourite gold & white sparkly card, with some peel off waste, a few gems and a bow. Deceptively simple this one took a while to make.

On a roll

Another stencil from Art Of Craft (hope hubby isnt reading this lol) This is from the Suzy range by Marianne Design. I've cut & embroidered the base card with pink gutterman thread then used Forever Friends 6*6 paper and decoupaged it. I'm not 100% happy with it but the ladies at DC assure me it's fine.

This is a bit of an unusual technique for me, it's a stencil from Joy crafts which I've embossed on sparkly white card then cutaway. The candles & trunk are gold card and I've stuck organza ribbon at the back using a sort of fancy/iris fold. Instead of embroidering the candle flames I dotted the pattern with a gold sakura pen and used some glamour dust in the middle. All of this is then mounted over some red sparkly card which is then on a dcwv paper & some more of my favourite white card run through a cuttlebug folder. Bit of ribbon to hide the join and a gold star made using the jumbo star & ribbon clip punches. Seems a large ingredient list for such a simple and relatively quick card.

Another stencil

This is another Marianne Design stencil bought at Art Of Craft last weekend. I cant dap my hands on the packaging to tell you which range but it comes with a really delicate snowflake stencils. Jane & her staff are brilliant that if you want the stencil ring them at the shop or email them and they'll sort you out.

The decoupage is from the same Mirielle book that I used on one of the Anja window cards and I used a blue backing paper from Papermania/Docrafts. Silver gutterman thread for the embroidery and my usual organza ribbon & gems.

Playing with stencils

Hubby had a party he wanted us to go to towards Esher last weekend so I said only if you work in the Farnborough area and drop me off at Art Of Craft. Now he either loves me loads or he really really wanted to go to the party as normally the words Craft & Shop bring terror to his face. Coupled with the fact that he knows the one in Farnborough is my absolute favourite I'm amazed he didnt keel over!! Art Of Craft is packed to the rafters with goodies and they stock my favourite stencils, Marianne Design & Joy Crafts. I'm not going to admit to what I came away with but I'm sure over the next week or so I'll be posting finished cards.

All 3 of these are Anja Window Stencils from Marianne.

This one uses a Marianne 123 decoupage paper and the backing paper is from a Papercraft 4 you 6*6 pad with a few gems. I've kept it really simple to show off just how elegant the stencil is.

This one is actually upside down and I've cut away the window crossbar. There was just something about it that screamed xmas bauble so I teamed it with DCWV rose tinted xmas papers and a small 3d from a Mirielle decoupage book. Some lilac organza ribbon and a mat pearl silver card.

This one uses paper from a DCWV pad, Marianne Poppy 3d decoupage and a gold ribbon. Because I'm so enamoured with the stencils I havent done any challenge cards this week so based it loosely on a sketch from Friday Sketchers.

Docrafts tilda challenge

The theme this week at Docrafts Tilda challenge was Winter Wonderland.

I'd been looking for an excuse to use Tildas fireplace so decided to mount it under a window made using an old Anja stencil. I did cheat though and converted the image on the pc then cut it on the cricut and embossed in the wizard. I use this stencil an awful lot so it's going to make it really quick now I no longer need to cut by hand.

I then used the swiss dot embossing folder for the sky and some glitter card for the snow. Tilda & the fire are coloured with my f&c watercolour pencils.

Tilda meets shrink plastic

My youngest daughter has been nagging me to make her a phone charm and this weeks theme for the Tilda Challenge is metal so it seemed like a good time to have a go. I used my polychromos without blending, a few split rings, beads & a couple of charms.

Sarah Kay Challenge

I'm getting a bit fed up with making christmas cards so was pleased to take part in this weeks Sarah Kay challenge

The paper is a really old K&Co one that I found lurking in the bottom of a box. Prima flowers, pink gems, cuttlebug embossing border and a scalloped base that I designed in PSP and cut on the cricut.

Less is more

Or to be truthful, one of those days when no matter how big your stash is you just cant find that perfect something that you couldnt even describe if your life depended on it!!

I made this for the Spoon Full of Sugar challenge, pink & green and based it very loosely on a sketch from Poetic Artistry. The sugar nellie stamp has such a genteel feel to her I wanted to use more of a vintage look so went with K&Co paper, rose carmine & chromium green opaque f&c watercolur pencils. All was going well until I started to look for those elusive embellies to finish it off and nothing is working. So time to put her in the box with the other cards that are waiting for me to find that perfect embellie or 2.

Cupcake craft challenge

There's a beautiful new sketch today at cupcake craft challenge

I've used a papermania snowman stamp, coloured with my f&c watercolour pencils, rose carmine, a tiny bit of cobalt green over his body, cadmium orange and indianthrene blue for his buttons.

Papers from the rose tinted xmas stack from DCW, mauve bazzill, silver pearl cut with oval nesties. Cuttlebug snowflakes are stuck to some metallic mizhuki cord with a penny black greeting stamped with purple stayzon. I'm not happy with the greeting, ideally it would be in the shape of a star so if anyone knows of a star xmas greetings stamp I'd love to hear about it.

New Challenge Blog

Well the timing couldnt have been better seeing as it's World Cardmaking Day for there to be a new challenge blog, the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

For their first challenge there's a fab sketch.

I've used an old rubber stampede Bunny Wreath stamp, I'm ashamed to admit I've had it 8 years and never used it. Colours are deep red, juniper green, leaf green, warm grey and rose carmine. 2 dcwv papers, a Lavinia holly stamp and a papermania sentiment. I've only just noticed that I've forgotten to add my favourite tiny red gems to the wreath, oops. Oh well we've still got 2 months til it's needed.

sketch saturday

Another lovely sketch this week from Sketch Saturday although I've taken a few liberties.

Sugar Nellie santa again, with Christmas Treasures Holly paper from The Paper Company. The photo doesnt do the paper justice as it's a really gorgeous pearly paper with metalic red berries, seemed a shame to cover so much of it but at least I have a few more sheets I can play with. Present papers are DCWV, ribbon from Ribbon Box, prima flower with holly punch. Sentiment from Lili of the Valley.

Friday sketchers challenge

Thought I'd do something a bit different for the friday sketchers challenge this week. Instead of using papers I used my inksadinkado holly flourish stamp with some adirondack meadow ink. Dont know that I'm that keen on this ink with stamps, no matter what sort of stamp or surface I'm using it seems to bleed slightly. Time I went on the hunt for some green versafine I think. I've then used 2 cuttlebug folders to create the paper ribbons. The tree is a Lasting Impressions stencil dry embossed before being chalked, glitter, gems & a peel off star added.

Blog candy alert

The very talented Marlene is celebrating her soon to be big birthday with some seriously nice blog candy. Pop on over to wish her a happy birthday.

Whilst bloghopping earlier I came across a new to me blog, Dolliedewdrop not only has she got some candy on offer she's also got some lovely eyecandy to get even the most reluctant mojo back.

papermania reindeer

Lili of the Valley blog has a lovely sketch this week and the theme on Cute Card Thursday is Christmas Animals.

I decided to use a reindeer stamp from Papermania, not my favourite stamp.. seems to be a design flaw in the ribbon as you can see the body of the reindeer. My normal f&c pencils, with glossy accent on his nose and glitter over the ribbons. Paper is a DCWV, with the red card stamped with a hero arts border and an inkadinkado snowflake. I used a Noel stamp from Lili of the Valley, which is sadly from the only set I own.

Dutch Dare Challenge

This weeks challenge on Dutch Dare is to make a card for a boy/man. Not something I have to do often thankfully as I really struggle for ideas. For some reason this one came together quite quickly even though I'd coloured & cut the Sugar Nellie pirate before thinking what to do. Papers are from a Trimcraft kids theme pack, I bought it a year or so ago as I needed a road image and hadnt thought I'd ever use it again.

Xmas pressies

Thinking ahead to xmas I decided to make accordian boxes and fill them with cards for some of my female relatives.

This box is for my mother in law and uses K & Co papers and chipboard embellies from a Brenda Pinnick TWV from last summer. Not really to my taste but she'll love the papers.

This card is using a sketch from Papertake Weekly and I'll be adding it to the box I'm making for one of my sister in laws. Paper is from K & Co again and I've used a small piece of lace trim from the Ribbon Box. I cant think who I bought the stamp from but I've seen her in several sizes under different brand names. The scalloped circle is another of my scal creations and I used my CM cutter to cut the plain circles. Unfortunately I sneezed as I pressed down with the layer so it's a bit squewed, oops.

Spoonful of Sugar challenge 19

A spoon full of sugar has a gorgeous sketch from Camilla this week.

I love this Sugar Nellie snowman, he's such a cheery chap. I've used my f&c watercolour pencils in the same shades as last time although I've used less of the orange shade on the fur trim. With snowflake trim from Ribbon Box, DCWV papers, a PB greetings stamp and 2 weeny holographic snowflake peeloffs.

Cupcake craft challenge

The challenge this week at Cupcake Craft is Christmas. Instead of a card I've made an advent calender.

I've used my butterfly kisses stamp again but have turned him into decoupage back & front. 10 layers in total!! Poor thing has a kebab stick running through his middle to support him. The base pattern is from a clear holly flourish stamp using Adirondack Meadow ink. The tags are using my own design on PSP printed then cut on the cricut with the help of SCAL.

sketch saturday

The sketch saturday this week really gave me a few issues as I just dont have any landscape shaped stamps. This is one of my new stamps from Butterfly Kisses. She's coloured with burnt & rose carmine with violet and cobalt green on her wings before I masked her and over stamped with versamark & blue perfect pearls. K&Co background paper with primas, ribbon & gems.