Tuesday 27 August 2013

Scramble #67

Wow... over at the Hero Arts Flickr group Kim from Canada hosted the 67th scramble over the weekend.  It was at 7.00am Sunday morning at my place and as I was awake after a restless night, coughing and generally not sleeping well, I got up and in my dressing gown, played along.

Kim's scramble theme was a masculine card using the colours of your favourite sports team.  My first thought was to use the Blue and Yellow of the Otago rugby team, but after 10 mins thinking I gave up and went for the Black and Silver of the All Blacks rugby team (who had a great win against Australia the evening before!)

Inspired by the All Blacks

Very clean and simple ~  Used HA Three Ferns embossed in silver and a sentiment.  

And because it was so quick and simple, I did have some time to try the blue and yellow colour scheme.

Scramble #67 Take Two

I used a technique I saw on Jennifer McGuire's blog  I laid stripes of yellow and blue card onto some white card and die cut the YOU.  I stamped the HA Postcard and matted it with some yellow card and then added the birthday sentiment and the die cut.  Added some yellow ribbon and added to the blue card base. 

No too bad to get two cards made in 90 mins.  And when I was finished and dressed, we all went out to have breakfast at a cafe.  Great way to start a Sunday morning.  

Today I'm at home as I woke with the cough and a headache and a throat that feels like it's full of glass shards.  Hopefully the day at home will make me better.




Monday 26 August 2013

A bit of Grey and Red

Over at Hero Arts Flickr group, Barb set a little challenge... to use Grey and one other colour and only Hero Arts stamp/s.

I chose to use Hero Arts Poppy ink with Wet Cement ink to make my card.  The Wet Cement is not quite as grey as I thought, but together they do look good.

Barb's Grey and one colour challenge

I used stamps from My Favorites and Brush Strokes sets to make my splatters.  And the pen, ink splatter and ink pot were added.  I used the ink to water colour the pen and ink pot.  The circles are the top of stamp cleaner bottle stamped with the two inks.  

As I used some Stamp Your Story stamps I've added this to Hero Arts latest challenge as well. 

Today I was telling the girls at work about the Explosion Box I'm working on and next thing, I've got an order to make one for an Anniversary at the end of the month.   

Enjoy your week... the last week of August.  This year is simply flying by.  

Sunday 25 August 2013

"We Bought a Zoo" @ Red Carpet Studio

Today is my last challenge as a DT member for Red Carpet Studio... the past year has simply flown by... thank you Ashely for including me in this wonderful challenge blog....

This week's challenge is inspired by the film "We Bought a Zoo"

 
 

I went with the Zoo theme (well sort of) with my card

Lion Birthday

This card was also made for Die Cut Divas as well...It uses an image from QKR Stampede  and using Paula sketch (here)

I coloured the image with Copics using the colourless blender to make some texture on the mane. The edging is a Fiskars punch and the sentiment is one of my favourites from Montarga 

I've had a fun crafty weekend ~ got up at 7.00am this morning to scramble with the Hero Arts girls... and did some DT work for Die Cut Divas and Chalk'n'stock.  And even had time to cook a roast lamb for dinner last night for my son and his partner who came over to watch the rugby and take them out for breakfast this morning...


Friday 23 August 2013

Pretty girl for Mo's challenge

Over at Mo's Digital challenge, there is a call for a Guest DT member.  The challenge is Happy Birthday.  I have a number of Mo's images as I just adore her delightful drawings.


This little one is "Bubble Girl"  I had her coloured up for quite a while, and finally got around to making her into a card.  I used a Spellbinders die to cut it out and layered onto some PP from a Docraft's pack.   The sentiment is from a Penny Black set. 

Not a lot of cards made this week as I've been working on an Explosion Box for a friend who is turning   next month.  This is the first time I've ever made one of these... time consuming to say the least.  Lots of cutting of card and papers.  And finding the right sentiment stamps and embellishments.  Hoping to get some cards done this weekend... and maybe even rising early Sunday to take part in Hero Arts Scramble.  



Monday 19 August 2013

The Positive and the Negative

Did that catch your attention!  Today I am sharing two cards.... using die cuts... the positive and the negative.

First up using the positive. 

Christmas Candle

The words are Memory Box dies.  They are a bit bigger than I was really looking for, but by adding them to a long thin card, I made the most of them. I used some American Crafts Foil card.  The dies are extremely fine and as hard as hell to get onto the card.  I used my mini Xyron to adhere them.  It was hard to ensure you don't stretch the letters.  Still with the help of my T-ruler I manage to get them reasonably straight.  I added the candle which I had coloured with Pearlescent paints and fussy cut.  This candle is a Kaisercraft stamp. I added strips of the foil card top and bottom of my panel.  

Now onto the negative.

A negative Christmas

I had kept the negative from cutting out my words and put the little bitty bits back and added them to some white card.  I trimmed them up to be the same size and added them to a white card base.  The Holly was stamped and coloured with Copics and fussy cuts.  This is another Kaisercraft mini stamp. I added Glossy Accents to the berries.  The foil is awesome to work with.  The pack I got is 12x12 ~ 30 sheets of red, green, silver and gold.  

These made a good start to my Christmas cards.  

I'm entering this into the CAS challenge at Whimsy Stamps 
and Christmas cards at Moxie Fab World

Sunday 18 August 2013

One card ~ FOUR challenges.

I was tidying up the desk this morning and found some bits and pieces and thought I'd better use them up.... a bit of lace, some left over vellum and a piece of blue card I die cut but decided not to use.... so here's what came about

IMG_7289

The vellum was the end of the piece I used the other day.  This adhesive vellum comes in 12" x 3" strips.  I embossed the little bit I had left to see what it would look like.  Worked well.  The blue card was cut for a card yesterday, but I decided to use some other PP instead.  Once I added the lace I found the flower which had been made quite a while ago using some hand coloured card and a Spellbinders die. The sentiment is a Simon Says Stamp one, the set still waiting to be put away. And the base card was the other half of a piece Neenah card I cut yesterday.

I used the Sketch from Fusion card challenge #15

 
I'm also entering this into the following challenges
City Crafter Challenge ~ Count your Blessings
A Blog Named Hero ~ Victorious Vellum

I like that this card came together so quickly and now there are less scraps on the desk.

It's been a good crafty weekend for me.  Always makes me feel happy when I get some cards made. And today's weather has been much better.  Look what's in my garden at the moment.






Saturday 17 August 2013

Fusion Card Challenge #15



Thought I'd try a Fusion card today... something a little different for Christmas

IMG_7283

I started with a scrap of black card and embossed the sentiment from a new Kaisercraft set (full of Christmas quotes) and then over stamped with white ink which I then smudged over the card.  I trimmed it then added some sketchy lines and a doodle in the corner.  I mounted on some brown card that had been coloured to imitate wood with two distress inks. I cut my PP with one of the curved dies from Spellbinders and added to a Neenah Desert Storm cut to a base.  This is a big wider and shorter than I usually use as it's a US size pad.  Instead of a banner, I used some chiffon ribbon and tied a bow.  I finished with a resin rose that I had made.   As I've got a bow on this, I'm also entering this into the challenge over at Creative Craft Cottage (this is a New Zealand based challenge blog ~ got to support the local gals)
Also entered into Word Art Wednesday challenge and over at Moxie Fab World

It was a cold, wet and windy afternoon, so I made a visit to Scotties to pick up some American Crafts foil card stock that was on special for $10 for a 12x12 pack of 30 sheets.  Half price, so pleased to pick this up.  Also got the Kaisercraft set.   Back home, I settled into the craft room for the afternoon.  Got this card done, and another Christmas card that I'll share later in the week. 

Hope the weather is better at your place.  Have a super crafty weekend.

Thursday 15 August 2013

With Sympathy and a Vintage Christmas card.

Yes two cards to share tonight.  First up a sympathy card I made yesterday.   I got a new set of Spellbinders dies.... A2 curved borders and just had to try them out.

With Sympathy

I put two of the dies together ~ one edge cuts and one cuts and embosses.  I cut some PP to go underneath.  I masked off the die cut piece and added some flowers from a Unity Itty Bitty stamp.  I did a 2nd generation stamping to give a bit of dimension.  The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp set.  

My second card, I made in the weekend.  I was tidying up my scrap pile and found the printed vintage Santa.

Vintage Christmas

 I don't remember where I got the image...but had printed it out a few times onto some card.  I trimmed the image and added a little bit of embossed card (also from the scrap pile)  I then layered over red card.    The PP is from a  pack of vintage Christmas paper which has lost it's cover... it is so pretty though.  I made the little roses with some creamy yellow painted watercolour paper and a punch.  The leaves are a MFT die, that I added Vintage Photo ink around the edge.   The ribbon is pre-printed with the words and worked beautifully on the card.  I've adding this to the Holiday Card Challenge at Moxie Fab World.  

Thanks for stopping by today.  I really appreciated all of your visits.  


Monday 12 August 2013

Friends Forever

The latest challenge is up at Little Blue Button Stamps... Add Bling to your card... 


I used LBBS's July freebie (here)  I printed it and coloured with Copics.  My Copics bled a little so I used a tip from my teamie, Amelia, by using Kindyglitz around the edge.  I fussy cut the friends and layered them on to an oval doily die by My Favorite Things.  My PP is from a My Minds Eye pack, edged at the top with a Fiskars punch and the bottom is a piece of die cut edging left over from another project that I distressed with Vintage photo ink.  The edge of the PP is also distressed with the ink.  The sentiment is from a Hero Arts sparkle clear set.  My bling is part of a $2shop bling flourish.  Plus I added some pearls to the girls ~ as a necklace and on the waist and head band.  The flowers are hand made by me with some Easycast resin.  Leaves are a die cut from a MFT die and edged with the distress ink.

We would love to have you join our challenge... there's a chance to win $10 worth of stamps from LBBS store.


Sunday 11 August 2013

"School of Rock" @ Red Carpet Studio



Our challenge this week is inspired by Jack Black and his movie "School of Rock"  ~ to make a Back to School card.  I have to say I almost forgot to make my card for the challenge... in fact last night I suddenly realised I should have had done by Thursday last week.... Panic stations!!!!

But good old Bugaboo to the rescue.  Off I went to the website and purchased this image... They have heaps of images suitable for Back to School cards.

Here's what I did

The background is from MyGrafico (Lindsay's Stamp Stuff)  I distressed round the edge and added some black ink and smudged some black ink over it.  I printed out Deacon and coloured with Copics.  I coloured the blackboard with a black Copic and then using a white gel pen I wrote the alphabet.  I finished by fussy cutting Deacon and adding some glossy accents to the apples.


Be sure to hop over to the blog and see what the others created and join us with your Back to School cards.

ETA:  Added to the Linky party over at Craftin Desert Diva's (Thanks for the heads up Tara)
and Back to school over at The Paper Nest Dolls challenge.

 

Friday 9 August 2013

CAS(e) This Sketch #40

I like to join this challenge when I can..  Last week I made a card at my Saturday group for challenge #39 but between Lei's place and home I misplaced it, so this week I got onto it quicker...


  

I did a quite literal take on the sketch for my card. 

CAS(e) this sketch #40

I started by smooching Distress inks onto a narrow acrylic block and spritzing with water and stamping onto my card.  I then used a Hero Arts silhouette stamp in black ink and added a Hero Arts sentiment.  Then I used my scoreboard to make the frame around it.  

Feeling much better today, but only did a 3/4 day, leaving early which gave me the time to have a little play this afternoon.  Got this card made and one other.  

 

Thursday 8 August 2013

Runway Inspired Challenge #41

 

Isn't this just the most incredible dress and very inspiring it was.

IMG_7254

My inspiration was all the pretty pink flowers on the dark background.  Not sure if it's black or deep purple so went for black.  Used a technique called "Joseph's Coat"  (Tutorial from Splitcoaststampers HERE) The background was made by sponging Distress inks onto white card and then cutting out the Memory Box butterfly.  I stamped a small flower from a studio g set in Versamark and clear embossed.  Then sponged Black Soot distress ink over.  I dry embossed my white panel and then layered it onto pink card before adding to the black card base.  The sentiment (Kaisercraft) was stamped onto white card and cut in a banner shaped, edged in black and added to the card.  Finished the butterfly with some black gems.

Also entered into the following challenge
Flutterby Wednesday ~ Anything with Wings

Hope your week is going well.  I've been home for most of the day with a dreadful cough.  Went to work, but ended up coming home and having a nap.  Coughing quite a bit and that's quite draining.  


Wednesday 7 August 2013

Stamp Your Story ~ inspired by Jennifer.

I was totally inspired by Jennifer's card on Monday's blog post at Hero Arts.  I don't have any Hero Arts Ink Daubers but do have Distress stain daubers... so thought I'd see what they look like done, using the technique

IMG_7251

Yep they worked!!!!  I did get a bit carried away using a variety of distress stain colours.  I then used one of the lids and some Walnut stain distress ink to make some circles which I filled with a stamp from "Brush Strokes" as well as stamping the word Graffiti.  I added the sentiment from "It's your day" set and used some orange distress ink to colour the words. 

This was quite a fun card to make and really quick too.  Love using my new Hero Arts stamps.  


Tuesday 6 August 2013

A little bit of Steampunk

Steampunk (sub-genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery,) isn't something I have done a lot of.  But this month, Olga at Little Blue Button Stamps  has designed a very cute image called "Steampunk Jessica"

So of course, I had to make a Steampunk background for her.
  

I started by added some tinfoil to card stock.  I then put this through a Spellbinders M-bossabilties folder.  I then used a variety of mediums to colour it up.  Distress stains, Alcohol inks and finally some acrylic paint in black .  For my flower piece I cut a small doily die from Couture Creations, trimmed to fit. I added some netting and then some paper flowers.  Jessica was coloured and fussy cut and layered onto the background.  I haven't added a sentiment yet but will do so before I use the card.  I am happy with the results. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Wishing you a good week.
 

Sunday 4 August 2013

More Penny Black "Beat the Heat"

I'm really enjoying using my Penny Black stamps at the moment.  And entering into their latest challenge


Pretty Girl

This is another one of the T-Time Girls.  This one I have coloured with Copics and cut with a Spellbinders die. I layered onto cream die cut and then a Fancy label.   The sentiment is by Simon Says Stamp as is the matching die cut and the butterfly die.  

I have also entered this one into the challenge over at Moxie Fab World

Had a really nice day today visiting our son and his girlfriend at the house they were housesitting.  It was out in the country and was a delightful old farmhouse.  Mel got to take her horses with her.  The owners have 4 horses so Mel and Kieran were feeding them as well. 

Hope your weekend has been a good as mine


Saturday 3 August 2013

What a fun day I had.....

Today my group of friends meet to spend some time stamping together.  We haven't been together since mid May so was great to catch up with Helen, Lei, Sandie and Janet.   I managed a few cards.  Finishing off some cards where I had coloured images and a couple of others.  I took some of my new dies which the ladies loved.  It's quite amazing how different each one made a card using the same die.

I also took along my Penny Black stamps and had fun making this card


I stamped and paper pieced the Penny Black girl and then fussy cut and stuck to the base.  The PP is from Docrafts.  Sentiment from Simon Says stamp as are the tiny hearts (from the Falling Hearts die) Entering this into the "Beat the Heat" Challenge over at Penny Black

Also entered into Penny Black Saturday Challenge ~ Bright and Sunny


Here a some photos of the day

 Sandie and Janet
 Helen
 Lei
Table full of supplies

I had a great day and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with like minded card makers.

Thanks for visiting today.