Mojo Surfing!

When I came across another challenge site which is new to me - This Thursday It's All About - I was intrigued to see their latest challenge was Mojo surfing. That mystified me initially but I read the explanation and clicked on one of the blog links on the challenge site 'Altered Art & Stuff' and followed 5 further blog links, ending up at Dutch Stamptramp's blog. Nellie has some wonderful colourful work on her blog covering a wide variety of styles so I thought I would take my inspiration from her and try to create something using various techniques.

My main image of the vintage lady with Christmas presents is from Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique CD. I mounted the image onto a handcut tag made from green cardstock spritzed with Black Cherry Glimmer Mist over a Glimmer Screen. I also added some purple paper embossed with the Cuttlebug Script folder to my tag after inking it with Versafine Purple ink. I used my Cropadile to punch and set the eyelet and threaded through some burgundy ribbon.

I then inked a rectangular piece of cardstock with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tattered Rose and Versafine Purple, rounded the corners and stuck on a piece of patterned paper I made by spritzing it with Green Glimmer Mist. I distressed this paper with the Tattered Rose inkpad and randomly stamped snowflakes with Versafine Purple ink. I mounted my tag onto the 2 colour mat using foam pads and attached it to my deep purple base card with foam tape.

I stamped the sentiment onto a leftover piece of card I had used for the tag using Versamark heat embossed in Copper to finish off my card.

That Natural Feeling

Here is a birthday card I made for the latest House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge, which was to create a project with a natural theme, either by using neutral colours and/or adding a natural embellishment. I used 2 neutral shades of cardstock from the wonderful Coredinations range and HOTP paper on my natural card blank, the image being stamped in Stampin Up brown ink on the paler of the 2 coredination products. The sentiment stamp is by Anita's and the sunflower is from Cuddly Buddly.

The letters spelling out my friend's name are by Crafty Secrets and the 2 natural elements are the string behind these letters and the raffia bow.

Magic & Mystery

I have finally finished the card I have been struggling with for Rainbow Lady's Magic & Mystery challenge. This has been a saga as I have found the stamped image difficult to colour in!!! Finally managed it with a mixture of Lyra watercolour crayons and H2O paints. The backing paper was a lot easier as I used blue and green Glimmer mists which are a joy to use and create lovely shimmery effects. The butterfly was made with a 2 part Cuttlebug die and I just added peeloff borders, blue and green gems and a length of green sequin ribbon. Hopefully the photo isn't too blurred!!!!

Sympathy Card

I don't think anyone likes making sympathy cards and I always struggle, though I do seem to be struggling to create anything I like at the moment! I tried using my one and only cala lily stamp at first but hated the results so I decided to go for simple and cut a cross from cardstock, twisted some lilies around it and mounted it onto a card covered with punched Laura Ashley paper.

I think I need a nice new lily stamp though, might sell the one I am bored with on Ebay!

Large Card - Joanna Sheen Fashion Boutique

Here is a card I made this weekend at the request of a friend who wanted a card for a 50th birthday. The lovely art nouveau image is from Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique CD. I chose the backing paper (Artylicious) as the colours matched those in the main image. I embossed the silver mirricard with a Cuttlebug swirls folder and added a matching organza ribbon and bow.

Initial Reaction

Here is a card I made for the latest Caarvarks challenge which was to make a monogram themed card. My base card has been embossed with Cuttlebug leaves and branches folders. The leaves are also cut and embossed with the Cuttlebug. The main images are stamped with birds from Elusive Images and a tree stamp I cannot remember the name of. I used various Ranger, Stampin Up and Sticky Fingers spray inks on both the cardstock and the chipboard letter B. I matted the birds onto a piece of turquoise mirricard and mounted it to the base card with foam pads after glueing on a strip of torn inked and stamped cardstock. Finally I threaded natural raffia through the We R Memory Keepers eyelets then added 2 large eyelets and one bradlet to the bottom of my card.

JS No Patterned Papers Challenge Card

This week's Joanna Sheen Forum challenge was to make a card without using any patterned papers, which was fine by me as stamping is fun!!!! I randomly stamped the yellow card with little bloom stamp by Sassafras Lass using Black Versafine ink. The scalloped mat has been stamped with a Wordsworth paisley stamp. The little birds are from Papermania's Sweet nothing set and the yellow grosgrain ribbon was stamped with a background stamp from their Secret Garden collection. The birds are coloured with Sakura glaze pens and the buttons are from Poppicrafts.

Rainbow Lady's Ribbon Challenge

Here is my simple card for Rainbow Lady's challenge this week 'Ribbons.' The cute teddy image is from Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew Collection, attached to a white square card with gold eyelets and spotty ribbon in red and green. The greeting was made with the Cuttlebug and it is gold mirri card, hard to tell from my scan I know!

Acetate/Pink Challenge

Here is a card I made today for the latest Dottie's World challenge (to use acetate and pink). It is probably hard to tell from this photo but the card blank is entirely acetate...the back is acetate embossed with Cuttlebug swiss dots and the front is plain acetate. I punched holes down the right hand side and threaded various ribbons through. Dottie is coloured with Sakura pens, matted onto white embossed cardstock (swiss dots again) and I fastened that to the front of the card with a couple of large pink eyelets from We R Memory Keepers.

Get Doodling!

I haven't kept up with challenges as much as I would have liked but here is a card I have just made for My Time To Craft Challenge 33: Get Doodling! I decided to really challenge myself by drawing the main image instead of stamping and here's scruffy hiding....not sure anyone will understand my sense of humour though! I have used various pens to watercolour the image and the scallop mats were made with Nestabilities in the Cuttlebug. The words and corners are hand written. The blue backing paper is by Papermania and the flower stickers were a freebie on a craft mag.

Blog Candy - Edna's Place

To celebrate her first blogging anniversary Edna is offering some wonderful blog candy.....the chance to win a £20 Joanna Sheen voucher in return for leaving a comment and a link on your blog so what are you waiting for!!!!!!

House Mouse Halloween

Here is a card I have just made for House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge. The theme was Halloween and as I don't have a House Mouse Halloween stamp I used this cute cologne stamp, though I have changed the label to read 'eau de pumpkin.' Not sure which mouse this actually is, Mudpie????

My mouse is coloured with marker and stardust pens. After colouring the bottle orange to resemble a pumpkin I used crystal glaze to make it more dimensional and shiny. The Halloween cat and pumpkin lantern papers are from Joanna Sheen's Cardmakers Year CD. The black background was embossed using a Cuttlebug folder and to finish off my card I added punched cats and 2 large staples coloured with an orange marker.

Card for Dottie's World 'Love Is' Challenge

Today's card was made for the latest Dottie's World challenge (love theme with a message or journalling on the front of the card). Probably because I love chocolate I chose this fun image of Dottie caught in the act with some empty chocolate wrappers! I coloured Dottie with Lyra crayons and used wool for her hair. I used diamond glaze over the chocolate bar wrappers then added some kitchen foil and a hand written message/saying. I made the backing paper by tiling a picture of a box of choccies.

Belated Birthday Card

I made this card last night after realising I was about to miss someone's birthday, in that it's today, so a bit late as it has to be posted....ooops! I love this little mouse stamp, just coloured him with markers and stardust pens, not that you can tell from the scan. I am having trouble getting photos which aren't blurred at the moment, not sure if it is me or the camera, hence the scan!

Victorian Collection

Here are 4 simple cards I made using the same image from Joanna Sheen's Victorian Romance CD as I thought I would have a change from stamping. It's depressingly cold here, not to mention pouring with rain....hard to believe it was lovely and sunny only a week ago. I think winter has well and truly arrived!

Crafting Up A Storm - Blog Candy!

Isn't it exciting when you discover a new blog full of beautiful inspiring creations!!!!! Alison is offering blog candy to celebrate 10,000 hits on her blog 'Crafting Up A Storm'

Please check out the wonderful designs on Alison's blog.

Sparkly Fairy

I have made around 8 cards this weekend but most are for friends' birthdays (friends who might just read this) so I am just showing one which I made with a challenge in mind. It seems like ages since I joined in a craft challenge!!!! This is for Cute Card Thursday's 'lots of sparkle' challenge No. 29.

The gorgeous fairy stamp is from Kerry Jo's lovely set of characters which I bought from Debbie Moore. Kerry's blog Curly Girly Me has some lovely creations on show so do have a look.

I watercoloured my fairy image then added sparkle with glitter glue and stardust pens and finished the card with some tiny gems. There is also a bit of sparkle on the rose backing paper (DCWV) but it is difficult to see in the photo.

I haven't been feeling very well (cough/cold/sore throat) and today I am croaking like a frog! I keep losing my voice so I bet OH is a happy chappy then!

Art Nouveau

Today I used some lovely Art Nouveau style images from Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique CD set to make this card and matching bookmark and notebook. I used my Cuttlebug to emboss a piece of white card and matted the main image onto that on the front of my card and threaded some pink organza ribbon through punched holes. I used a rose corner punch on the card base and added the smallest toppers to the bottom right of the card front and also to the back of the card. I laminated some of the remaining images to make the bookmark and notebook covers.

ARTY GIRLZ BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE

Here is my latest card which fits in with the latest Arty Girlz challenge # 52. As their blog is 1 year old the challenge was to make an item for a birthday. They are offering a prize for one lucky participant.

I have only just discovered the fabulous Coredinations cardstock and bought 4 sheets yesterday from Paddy's Stamping Place where I saw some beautiful examples of cards and boxes made using this cardstock in conjunction with the Cuttlebug embossing folders. I embossed a piece of the teal card with the leaves folder and lightly sanded the surface to reveal the inner core colour of the cardstock, adding highlights. I coloured 4 small squares of Stampbord with various shades of blue ink and stamped the bird and branches over them with Black Versafine ink. The stamp is part of the beautiful Elusive Images bird set and is entitled 'Dawn Chorus.' I used a water brush over the finished image to add a bit of sparkle with Sakura Stardust but it doesn't show up in the photo.

Thank You & 60th Birthday Cards

I made these two cards last night. The Audrey H one is for a 60th birthday and the image is from Joanna Sheen's Hollywood CD Rom. The papers are from DCWV, the dotty flower is a Flora Doodle from Joanna Sheen's store. I can't remember the name of the rhinestone strip along the bottom of the card but seem to recall I bought them at a craft show! I fastened the image to the backing card with my mini Fastenater and dotty staples.

The thank you card was made with a Stampin Up sentiment stamp, heat embossed in red and the teddy stamp is by Santa Rosa. The red flowers are Prima, fastened with a HOTP button brad. The teddy is one of my favourite stamps as it always gives a clear impression, a very good quality stamp.

Good Luck Owl

This is my latest, very simple card, using an owl stamp from Papermania's 'Secret Garden' clear stamp set. The owl has been coloured with Sakura pens and mounted onto a Nestabilities scalloped circle brown card mat. The dotty paper is Sweet Nothings, again by Papermania. I added a simple sentiment and brown ribbon to finish off the card. I made the card last night but have only just found time to post on my blog as I have spent most of the day drafting up a new CV ready to send off with job applications tomorrow.

Wonderful Wales!

Yesterday was my last day at work and it still seems unreal as the Friday before we were enjoying the last day of our lovely holiday in North Wales. I haven't made a single card since I heard about my redundancy but hopefully I can get back into it soon! Although it was a shock at least I wasn't untreated unfairly and informed by text message as sometimes happens these days. I have missed posting on my blog so I thought I would share a couple of holiday photos. We stayed in a beautiful pine lodge near Pwllheli on the Lleyn Peninsula which has stunning scenery and remains unspoiled. I have always wanted to visit Portmeirion so that was on our list of things to see. I was very impressed and would go again as we didn't spend much time in the gardens due to the heavy rain. I did manage to get a few photos before the heavens opened but unfortunately the rain was so heavy that many of the pictures were completely blurred. In spite of the unpredictable weather it was a nice relaxing holiday.

Carry on Crafting!

It seems like ages since I posted any cards due to being offline for a week during our lovely holiday. Yesterday I returned to work and the shock news that I have been selected for redundancy. I have just been preparing for my meeting with management tomorrow, making notes of questions I have etc. but am tired of mulling it all over so I thought I would post pics of my latest two cards.

The top card was made for the lovely Beverley several weeks ago to celebrate the second anniversary of Chop-O-Holics card club but I can only show it now it has been delivered. Most of the items used are from Joanna Sheen's online shop...the tapestry cardstock, the pink Flora Doodle wild roses, the wild rose stamp, the acrylic piece, Sparkle n Sprinkle embossing powder, Sakura Glaze pens and ribbon....in fact that only leaves the sentiment stamps which are Stampin Up and the gems...no idea where those are from!!!!!

The second card was made on Sunday to say thanks to my cousin and her hubby who made our holiday possible by generously allowing us the use of their lovely pine lodge in Wales. I must post some pics and a little bit about our holiday when I have sorted them out....the photos are still on the memory card in the camera! I used my new doggy stamp from Little Claire Designs which I am very pleased with, it is a clear unmounted stamp and excellent quality. I cut out the doggy images and mounted them onto a square of silver mirri, then matted that onto squares of blue and red cardstock. The ribbon, flowers and brad are all from Poppicrafts. I think everyone will be getting doggy cards from me now whether they like dogs or not because I love this set of little Westies!!!!!

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.