Still Around!!!!

Just a quick post to say I am still around but too busy to do any actual crafting.....busy at work...busy at home! We are going on our hols tomorrow for a week to sunny (hopefully!) Wales. With a bit of luck I will return refreshed and ready to craft....if I can sneak any craft stuff into the suitcase I will but guess it would have to be something like parchement or some stamped images to colour.

ARTYLICIOUS STAMPBORD CHALLENGE

Glenda (Artylicious) has challenged crafters to make a handcrafted item using Stampbord and Elusive Images stamps on her blog...HERE IS THE LINK. She has kindly offered a prize in return.....a set of her fabulous new bird stamps!!! I just had to have a go and here is my ATC/tag. This is not what I had in mind at all when I was planning what I wanted to make but the fact I could only find ATC sized Stampbord did have an influence, since, as far as I know, it is not possible to cut Stampbord. Luckily it is possible to punch Stampbord using a Cropadile!


I coloured the blank clay canvas with pale blue Versacolour ink, and then used the largest stamp from Elusive Images Damask Squares stamp set inked up with Ranger Perfect Medium, then swirled Perfect Pearl powders over the image in Patina, gold and blue to add a touch of radiance. I then stamped over that with the large Damask floral stamp and swirly butterfly using various shades of Ranger and Versacolour blue and green inks.


The next stage was to stamp the main image, a lovely peacock stamp from Glenda's Graphicus Guild, in Black Versafine ink. I coloured the peacock with Supapoint pens and Sakura's Gold Shadow pen in green. When everything was dry I used a Pergamano needle tool (probably very blunt now!) to scratch into the Stampbord to add texture and highlights (mainly the peacock's body). I ran a gold PenTouch pen along the stampbord edges and sprayed the project with clear varnish.


I used the Cropadile Big Bite to punch a hole in the top of the Stampbord and set a large We R Memory Keepers gold eyelet, threaded a green sparkly organza ribbon through, followed by lots of strands of embroidery thread in gold/green/blue. I then twisted some of the strands to add texture and stuck 3 tiny gems below the eyelet (blue, green and gold to tone in with everything else).


I threaded turquoise, gold and green beads and a feather onto a headpin wire and attached it to the embroidery thread as a finishing touch.

I really enjoyed trying something new as I tend to stick to card making, though I really should try photography next as I must have taken 100 shots of this project and just can't get it right!!!!!!

Joanna Sheen Challenge - Song Titles

Tonight I made 2 cards for this week's Joanna Sheen Forum Challenge which was 'song titles'. The bottom card is 'Bright Eyes' and the beautiful rabbit images and paper are from Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew Collection CD set which contains fabulous nature images and the first card featuring party Edwin depicts the song 'Celebration' by Kool & The Gang. I am not fond of either of these songs I'm afraid but they did fit in with the challenge! Edwin is coloured with brush markers and Stickles and the sentiment stamp is from Stamin Up, oh and the dotty paper is by DCWV. I think the striped brad on the rabbit card is from Poppicrafts and the little pink bows are from Madaboutcards.

Caardvarks From Your Closet Challenge

Tonight I intended making 2 cards, one for a competition and one for a challenge. I really struggled as things kept going wrong but I battled on and the competition card is drying out ready for the next stage and here is my card for Caardvarks From Your Closet Challenge. The lace stamps are by Kodomo and the parasol is unmarked so no idea on that one! I have used black Versafine over a Ranger Tattered Rose distress ink background and added a bow and some gems. Never has a simple card taken so long!!!!!! My waste paper bin is full of ripped up inky card and paper in various colours. I probably should have called it a night but I hate to give up!

Cazz's Blog Candy

Just a quick post to let you know that Cazz is giving away 3 of her lovely ATCs this week so please visit her blog to leave a comment and have a look at her gorgeous creations.

Sugar Nellie Recycle Challenge Card

My last card for today is for A Spoonfull of Sugar's latest challenge - # 11 Recycle. I used blue and green cardstock by Stampin Up...the green was embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots. My Sugar Nellie stamped image is the lovely Sweet Art Ebony Flowers, coloured with brush markers, Stickles, Sakura Stardust and Liquid Pearls. The sunflowers and little green Prima daisy are from Cuddly Buddly and the spotty bow and little blue brad are again from Poppicrafts. I think the green eyelets came with my Cropadile and the two recycled items are the green tape down the left hand side, which is actually a paper carrier bag handle and the crystal flower on Honey's hat is a stud earring which has been at the bottom of my jewellery box for years, waiting in vain for me to find its partner!

Two Challenges In One

As soon as I read the brief for Rainbow Lady's challenge No. 25 (use spots, stripes and the word 'smile' and/or 'be happy' ) I knew I wanted to use my Doodlebug 'abc' embellishments which have been sitting around unopened for a few weeks.

I then noticed the Multi Challenge - Challenge over at Dottie's World (to combine the use of one of their downloads with at least one other current craft challenge) so this card was born. The cardstock is Stampin Up, the cute Dottie in the bath is a download from Charmed Cards & Crafts coloured with brush markers and Stickles. The stripey and dotty papers are both DCWV and the pretty dotty ribbon and blue brad slider are from Poppicrafts. Last but not least I used my Doodlebug letters to make the word 'smile.'

Card For Arty Girlz Vintage Challenge

As the weather has been awful here today (torrential rain!) it was a good opportunity to get on with some crafting. Here is the first of 3 cards I made today, all for challenges. This first card is for Arty Girlz Challenge 46 which was to create something with a vintage theme. The background paper is by Laura Ashley and the lovely stamp showing birds feeding their young in the nest was won on Ebay and as it has no markings on the wood mount I do not know who manufactured it. I used smokey grey Versafine and Stampin Up teal coloured inks to tone in with the base card and LA paper. The friends sentiment is by HOTP and like the bird image is matted onto silver mirri card. To finish off the card I added an organzi ribbon in ivory from Joanna Sheen down the side and 2 matching feathers behind the sentiment.

Joanna Sheen Challenge - Recycled Card

This week's challenge on Joanna Sheen's forum was to make a card entirely from recycled items. I decided not to rush into it (probably because nothing immediately sprang to mind!) and have been keeping an eye out for anything suitable that might be included on a card. Today at work I was asked to scan an old report to someone and then bin it. As I was dismantling the binder to get the papers out I thought the off white textured card which formed the back of the folder was far too nice to throw away (the front was acetate) so I brought it home to use as a card blank and after trimming off the ragged corners it was fine.

The picture is from a 2007 Christmas card catalogue and it is beautiful! The gold cord threaded through the holes at the bottom was I think from a box of chocolates but the velvet bow and fluff is a bit of a mystery as I found it in mum's old sewing box which I kept even though I don't sew. I have no idea what it was from. It was originally all joined together but the velcro fastening gave way whilst I was examining it so I twisted the ribbon and stuck it down the side of my card and put the bow on. I punched the little gold butterflies from the front cover of an old magazine.

Dottie's World Challenge # 13

Here is my latest card....the first time I have used Dottie & George images which are available as a download from Charmed Cards & Crafts. I really enjoyed making a card for this Dottie's World challenge and chose the Love & Marriage images as I wanted to make an anniversary card for friends.

I don't think it was a great idea shrinking the image down as it was so difficult to colour in. I used brush marker & Sakura pens, Doodlebug flock and Stickles glitter glue. The blue and green cardstock (inside the circle aperture) is by Stampin Up. The blue card was embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots.

The blue and pink ribbon, flowers, brad and flower eyelet are from Poppicrafts and the pink padded heart in the aperture and bow with irridescent hearts are both from Wilkinsons. They were attached to pony tail bands for little girls but when I saw them in the store I thought they could be undone/cut and used on cards, quite pleased with them, I do like a bargain! I am not too sure about the swirly doodles on the top of the card but the rule was to add a doodle somewhere. Well that's it, hope my friends like their card.

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 24 - Swirls & Flourishes

Here is my card for Cynthia's latest challenge which is to use swirls or flourishes. I stamped the large flourish stamp (Stampin Up) onto white card with black Versafine and used Glossy Accents on the birds. The lady was also stamped in black and clear embossed (Art Kure stamp). I used clear and black glitter glue to add a little colour. I stamped the black lace along the bottom edge in black using a Kodomo stamp and added 2 tiny black and one gold crystal gems.

Joanna Sheen Forum Challenge - Indian Summer

I enjoyed making this card for this week's Joanna Sheen Forum challenge as the theme 'Indian Summer' really appealed to me.

The orange cardstock has been embossed with the Cuttlebug branches folder and the bright pink paper with the paisley folder.

The lovely patterened papers are by Glenda and came in my Graphicus Guild pack....so hard to tear them up!!!! I stamped the peacock (Tanda) in Versamark onto a piece of the same patterned paper and embossed it in gold, then mounted it onto some matching corrugated card to make a frame. I finished it off with a purple organza bow and a lovely bright pink mulberry paper rose from Joanna's online shop.