Sunday 31 August 2014

Hot Summer Nights

Today is the final day to join us at Die Cut Divas for our Hot August Nights challenge.

My card uses my good old nesties... and some patterned paper from Fabscraps.


Once again, I've gone for the Rock and Roll theme.  A very CAS quick card making the most of the beautiful patterned paper.  The sentiment is a die cut from Simon Says Stamp, just not using the "Oh" from the die.  The card is 4 inches wide by 6 3/4 inches tall, so have made a custom envelope.

I've had a great weekend... got a couple of cards made... as well as this one.  They are a commission for one of my work colleagues - for Father's Day with photos of the two children on them.  Plus helped my friend add ribbon to her invites to their 40th wedding anniversary.  We used satin ribbon and used a faux bow technique I found on You Tube (Here)

Hoping you have a great week. 

Friday 29 August 2014

Inky Fingers.

Hi.  Well I can't believe the week has gone by... Time is going so fast this year.  I've been busy at work.  I've been put into a new team so have to get my work on hand finished... plus a couple of commissions to do, a couple of DT cards to make.    So today I've got a card to share from last week.

I took a photo of my fingers after making my card







The background started as white card with embossing paste and a stencil.  I've had it sitting on my desk for quite some time so decided that I need to do something with it.  I had some ink on my craft sheet so the piece got smooshed through it,( you can just see the blues that were there) then added the Festive Berries distress ink.   Next was a bit of gold Shimmer Spritz and a tiny bit of Fireworks spray in a purple.  The sentiment is from Winnie & Walter.

Here's a close up of the shimmery shine on the card.

I am entering this into the Mixed Media Challenge (here) for August.  - to use a stencil and paste.

Edited:  Entered also into the stencil challenge at AAA Cards - hope it's CAS enough!

Hoping to get some time this weekend to have a play.  There are just so many inspiring blogs out there to visit and get lots of ideas from.  Still got some new goodies to play with. 

Sunday 24 August 2014

With Hope

I recently joined a Facebook challenge on the Saturated Canary page.  The challenge was to make an ATC.


I used a freebie from 2012 and coloured with some new Spectrum Noir pens, some Copics and Kaiser Markers.   I finished with a hand crocheted flower.  I added a large gem in the centre.  I must make some more of these flowers. The sentiment was a limited edition from Hero Arts.

We have been away for the weekend at Mangawhai Heads with our friends.  The weather was perfect and we had a very relaxing weekend.

20140823_092649

The backyard.

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Enjoying his morning coffee

Panorama at Ruakaka

Ruakaka Beach.

We drove north a bit to visit Ruakaka.  Our friends are building a new house in Managawhai and visited with building company while we went for a drive around Ruakaka and Marsden Cove.   I love that we can be there within an hour and a quarter and it really is restful.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Doodle flowers

During my online class one of our techniques is doodling particularly on flowers.  I've tried it on a couple of different Penny Black stamps


I used an older Penny Black stamp which I stamped three times inked up with Distress inks onto some textured card.  I then used a fine black pen and doodled around them.  The sentiment is also a Penny Black one.  


This second one, is also a Penny Black stamp, this time using Gelatos and water spritzed onto it.  Again, I doodled with a fine black pen.  I used some blue gelato watered down around the stamping.   Finished with a Winnie & Walters sentiment white embossed onto black card.

I was a bit hesitant to try this technique but overall am happy with the results.  There are still so many ideas and techniques from the class that I haven't tried yet.  I have printed all the PDFs and am going to bind them into a book so when my mojo is on a break, I can pull it out for some inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by.  Your visits are much appreciated.

Sunday 17 August 2014

More homework from Stretch Your Stamps 2

The classes have nearly finished... last day done, just a week to do your homework ( but the classes are available to on line forever once you've signed up) I've been very busy but found some time to try a few more samples.

Days 5/6 ~ outline flowers.

Paper pieced roses.

For this one I used paper piecing with a Kaisercraft stamp.  The roses were then fussy cut and added to the embossed card.  The sentiment was computer generated

Days 7/8 ~ Graphic Stamps

I had fun doing a few cards with a Winnie & Walter set

SYS2 Days 7/8 Graphic Stamps

SYS2 - Day 7/8 Graphic stamps

SYS2 - Days 7/8 Graphic stamps

I used a variety of inks - Brilliance, Memento, Distress inks to stamp various stamps from the sets;  Scenery: It's a Wonderful Pennant,  V for CheVron and Big Bang Bling. Sentiments from The Big, The Bold and The Happy.  

I've been enjoying the class, got lots of great ideas to use in the future.  I've printed out the class PDF's and will be binding them together for a quick reference.   And I've got an amazing Pinterest board with examples from the participants.  




Friday 15 August 2014

Charms and Pins


New Challenge up at Creative Craft Cottage Digi Creations today.  Our theme this fortnight is Charms/Pins.  Our fabulous sponsor this time is


The team got to work with some lovely images and I chose Fairy Fae


I printed out the image and then had an awesome time colouring her in.  I made my own pins with some white headed sewing pins and some beads.  My sentiment is from Hero Arts. 



Thursday 14 August 2014

It's all about the Texture

Today is the start of a new Challenge over at Southern Girls Challenge and as it's Louise's team to share with you... that means it's my turn.  Our challenge to you is to use TEXTURE... whatever that means to you... fabrics, ribbons, texture paste, embosing.... the options are limitless.

We have three lovely sponsors this month...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GxwK1ZWqVi8/UOfLfcdTDaI/AAAAAAAAGmY/89RNTcqozYI/s320/Website-Banner.jpg 

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. 


My card on the blog uses a Dilly Beans Digi Stamp called Ginger

My texture is the embossing folders I used.. a background one and the edging stripe as well.  

I also used two images from our other sponsor ~ All Dressed Up.  There are some freebies on the blog site (HERE)so I had some fun doing some cards with texture paste and stencils

 For this one I used some embossing paste with a stencil and added some holographic embossing powder over it.  I set heat it once the paste had dried.  Use a Spellbinders die for the card base and some Prima flowers in the corner


Have to say was extremely pleased with my textured background here.  Used a brick stencil and the embossing paste.  Once it dried I sponged with Hero Arts Wet Cement ink.  My little dog is coloured with Copics and cut with a Spellbinders circle.  Added a flourish and some punched flowers.  The centre of the flowers are a stamp from a Winnie & Walter set.  

We would love to have you join us at Southern Girls for the challenge.

Wednesday 13 August 2014

Strawberries in August....

Over at Die Cut Divas Arlene has a theme of Hot August Nights...  It's summer time in the Northern Hemisphere and summer time means Strawberries to me... so today I am sharing a shaped card I made


I hand cut the strawberry from a template I found in a Papercrafts Inspirations magazine.  I embossed it with Swiss Dots folder and then added some Versamark and clear embossed it.  I used a Swirls folder on the dark green for the top of the strawberry.  I die cut a Holly Flourish and a small Tattered floral flower.  Added the double bow and some string.  I coloured my pearl with a Copic as I'd run out of big yellow ones.    My sentiment was computer generated and then die cut with a Spellbinders tag

As Virginia's View challenge this month is shaped cards, I've entered this one.

Been busy with commissions this week... One lady wanted three similar cards for Brother's Day, an Indian celebration... I did them but forgot to take a photo.  She also wanted a birthday card for a friend and I used a paper piecing technique that I saw on the OCC this week..


Using some PP to piece the Kaisercraft roses before fussy cut them out.    

Way behind in my homework for the class, but have been pinning like mad, some of the stunning gallery cards for inspiration.   Hoping to catch up later this week and over the weekend. 

Thanks for stopping by today.


Sunday 10 August 2014

Stretch your stamps 2... Homework

Note  - long post....
I'm taking part in the Online Card Class - Stretch your stamps 2.  Heaps and heaps of ideas and inspiration.. but not a lot of time to do homework.  The other night I spend the whole evening making different backgrounds... Days 1 and  2 were using background and reverse background stamps and trying different techniques.

Stretch Your Stamps 2 ~ Day 1

I white embossed a Hero Arts background and then used water colour paints to do a wash.  I then took some chipboard letters and coloured with black copics and then covered with Glossy Accents and finished with a little sentiment from Winnie & Walter.

Using the left over bits from the background I made a second card.

Stretch Your Stamps ~ Day 1  #2

I then took a Rubbadubbado reverse stamp and some distress inks to make a background that I cut up into one inch squares. 

Stretch your Stamps 2

This is a 4"x4" square card.  The sentiment is from one of the newer Winnie & Walter sets. 

Day 3 and 4 was all about sentiments and alpha stamps.  I've only managed one card from these two days...

Stretch Your Stamps Day 3/4

Can't say this was one of my favourite cards... my letters ended up all wonky and then when I finished the pinky letters didn't stand out, hence the highlighting with the black pen.  And then I went a bit overboard on the sequins... oh well can't win them all!

Day 5 and  6 used Line Art stamps to try different ideas.  I have to say this card is a favourite - 

Stretch Your Stamps Day 5/6

Using an all time favourite Hero Arts Poppy stamp, I used Laura Bassen's idea of "cropping" your stamps.    I coloured the stamp with Distress Markers and Marvy Markers.  I then overstamped the Kaisercraft sentiment and embossed it.  Took a little stripe of PP and added it down the side. 

Thanks for sticking with me to the end.  I'm enjoying this class and can't wait for next week's class.  

Thursday 7 August 2014

Tiddly Inks Design Team call

Hi All.... I'm throwing my hat into the ring over at Tiddly Inks for their design call.  I LOVE Tiddly Inks designs - their images are just the cutest ever.

For my sample today I used Fairy Sunny Day available HERE  She is really adorable.  I wanted to try out a watercolouring technique with Distress inks and the Tiddly Inks digital images are perfect for colouring.

Fairy Birthday

I printed little Ms Fairy onto some Strathmore water colour paper and used a variety of distress inks to colour the her.  I cut her with a Spellbinders Label and while the die was still in place, I added the blue background wash. I added some black Wink of Stella to the daisies and some clear Wink of Stella for her wings.  I cut a second label and cut it in half and added to each end of the die cut to make the frame. I layered some PP onto my card base and added the ribbon.  Once I had added the focal die cut, I added some daisies and a spray.  The little circle sentiment is from Lili of the Valley.  It fitted perfectly into a Spellbinders circle die which I sponged with the blue ink.

Here is also another Tiddly Inks card I made earlier this year

Blessings

This one, I used Copics to colour up Wryn Somebunny Loves You found HERE,
then fussy cut and layered onto a Spellbinders circle.  Background PP from a Rosie's Studio Japanica pack, die cut with a Lil Inker's die.  Sentiment by Simon Says Stamp was white embossed onto black card.



Hope the team like my work.... You can see more of my Tiddly Inks cards HERE


and if you are interested in having a try out too  see here

http://tiddlyinks.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/design-team-call.html 


Tuesday 5 August 2014

Tea Party.

I wanted to try something different for the latest challenge at Virginia's View... her challenge is to make a shaped card.  I decided that I wanted a Teapot card, so did some internet searching and found a template.


I printed the teapot twice, once flipped so that they matched. I then fussy cut and stuck the two together.  I coloured the flowers with Copics and then watercoloured the rest of teapot.  The card bobbled with the water but loved the texture it gave the teapot.  I stamped, coloured and fussy cut the little Penny Black girl.  The sentiment is from the same set.




Monday 4 August 2014

Best Friends.

Today I'm sharing a card I made for the Anything Goes challenge over at Chalk'n'stock.  Our sponsor is Bugaboo - always a favourite for me.

Best Friends

I printed the image and coloured with Copics.  I then used my chalk pastel and coloured the background with yellow.  Added some pp and a bit of ribbon.  A great quick card to pull together. 

Our son had his engagement party on Saturday.   Here is a photo of him and his fiancée



and here is a picture of her Mad Hatter's Tea Party table setting.  Melissa set this up for the cupcakes she had instead of a cake.
 

Isn't that a gorgeous photo of them.  It was taken in March when they were at a friend's wedding.  Their friends got it blown up and put onto a canvas. 

thanks for stopping by.  Hope your weekend was a awesome as mine was with this wonderful celebration for our family


Sunday 3 August 2014

July CCC reveal.

Hi there... over at Deborah's CCC post she has reveal all the cards that were made and sent for her monthly Card Chain Challenge.  I had the pleasure of sending my card to Cat in Maryland USA.  I chose to use embossing paste on my card and the theme of Friends

July CCC

I started by using a stencil and some embossing paste to make my background.  I then used distress inks to colour the background and wiped the paste while the ink was still wet to keep it white.  The sentiment is from a Kaisercraft set and stamped onto the white Spellbinders die cut.  Finished with a die cut butterfly.  I also sent Cat the little Kaisercraft set that I used to stamp the sentiment.  I had picked up a number of the word sets from Kaisercraft and got a second set of the Friends one.  Just love finding reasonably priced sentiments.   Always good for RAK for someone.  

And I got an awesome card from Gail in Norway

http://dominodebi.typepad.com/.a/6a00e550066280883301a511edbf55970c-pi

If you want to join the monthly CCC and receive a great card you sign up on Deborah's blog HERE.


Friday 1 August 2014

Hot August Night

Second post of the day.... my Creative Craft Cottage post is here

Today is the start of a new challenge at Die Cut Divas... Arlene has chosen a awesome theme... Hot August Nights.... Hop over to the blog to see what she has in mind... I did struggle a bit as August is winter time for me... but after reading Arlene's brief... she talks about nights of rock and roll in Reno... I finally came up with an idea.....

Hot August Nights

As is my way, the card is CAS... I started by masking off the centre and painting it with some Koh-i-noor water colour paints.  I stamped the rockabilly girl from The Greeting Farm onto some scrap white card and coloured her with Copics.  I fussy cut her and layered her onto a little die cut doily from a Die-namics die.  It is a super cute little size.  The You is a Simon Says Stamp die cut with a matching sentiment.  I drew around the masked area with a Copic multiliner pen. 

We would love to have you join us over at Die Cut Divas with you ideas for a Hot August Night


My first Christmas card for 2014

Finally got started on Christmas cards... perfect as one of the images I got to work with for Creative Craft Cottage Challenge, is from Hobbybook and is a Christmas one.... This month's challenge is either based on a colour palette or a sketch.... I certainly chose the sketch

                                  

Very Merry

I  printed out the digi stamp and coloured with Copics and layered with some PP in reds and whites and added to the red Bazzil card base.  The little sentiment is from Stampin' Up! and is stamped with a red ink.

Over the next few days I have some more cards to share... the start of the month is very busy with several DT having the start of their challenges.  So do come back and visit me.