Thursday, December 31, 2015

Seize The Birthday - Anything Goes


It's our final Seize The Birthday of 2015, and this time it's Anything Goes.

I went all monochrome with a birthday card for my cat-loving brother-in-law using the cat and sentiment from The Bee's Knees Pets stamp set, adding a touch of colour with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.  The bar code and chevrons come from the STAMPlorations Mixed Media Grunge set.

Pop on over to the Seize The Birthday blog for more fabulous inspiration from the design team, and add your birthday creation to the gallery.

Happy New year to you, and I hope 2016 brings you everything you wish for :)

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Dashing Thru The Snow


Two more sleeps till this fella sets off.  Here's a quick one-layer card for you.  I stamped the image (Penny Black Waving Santa - discontinued) and sloshed a bit of colour on it.  The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted.

I'm entering this into CASology - Merry


and Simon Says Monday Challenge - Winter Wonderland.


I'm off for a quick dash round bogland :)

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Guest Designer at Inkspirational


Morning!  I'm thrilled to be guest designing at Inkspirational today, where the theme is Bah Humbug! (anything but Christmas).


I'm certainly not done with Christmas yet - still way behind on my Christmas cards, shopping, wrapping - everything!  But I'm happy to take a break and make a birthday card with an oldie but a goodie, Man At Piano by Stamps Happen.  Apparently it's a collectable on eBay.  Seems like I have lots of collectables ;)

I inked the image in Versafine Onyx Black, sloshed some Distress Inks over it, matted it onto a black panel then added the sentiment.

Pop on over to the Inkspirational blog to see what the Design Team have created for the Bah Humbug! theme, get out your non-Christmas supplies and join in.

Thanks for having me, girls!

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Seize The Birthday - Red and White


Hi there, and welcome to another Seize The Birthday challenge!  This time, our toppings are red and white. (It's so hard not to think Christmas card when you're dealing with red and white!)



For my card, I used my newly acquired Stampendous Ranunculus Field stamp, and just sloshed some red Distress Inks on, and Pumice Stone for the background.

If you don't want to play with the red and white, you can create anything you want, as long as it's a birthday theme.  Click over to the Seize The Birthday blog to see some fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team, and join in with us!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

STAMPlorations Inspiration #53 - Yuletide Magic


Back again with more STAMPlorations inspiration with a similar card to yesterday's.  My starting point again was the piece of ribbon I used to hang the stocking.  I pierced a hole at the top of the stocking and pushed the ribbon through, then looped the other end over the top of the panel.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for more inspiration from the Design Team, and join in with our challenges :)

Monday, December 14, 2015

STAMPlorations Inspiration #52 - Special Delivery


Still busy making Christmas cards?  Me too.  Here's some more STAMPlorations inspiration for you. My own inspiration came from this post which I tracked down from a Pinterest pin.  I liked the overall look of the pieces, so I had a go at my own version.

The Christmas stamp and sentiment are from Joyful and the background elements are from Mixed Media Elements.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for more inspiration from the Design Team, and while you're there, check out how you can win prizes by entering our lovely challenges :)

Saturday, December 12, 2015

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - Day 5


It's the final day of the ARTplorations Stencil Blog hop at STAMPlorations - but it's not the end.  We've still got the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party open until tomorrow, and you've still got time to comment on all the stops on the hop.

Here's my card for today.  I've been neglecting CityGirl, so I thought I'd give her an outing today.  I have used a stencil, honest!  See the green triangular pattern?  That's the Tribal Triangles stencil.  I started off by brayering lemon, lime and orange acrylic paints onto my panel, added green through the stencil, did some partial background stamping, stamped CityGirl and the sentiment, then drew a partial border before mounting onto card.


So here's how to play along.  Comment on this and every other stop on the hop each day, and enter the flash linky party (details below) for maximum chances to win.  You can see all today's stops here on the STAMPlorations blog.

Prizes:
  • FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
  • ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.
Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13: 
  • TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
  • ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.
Thanks for hopping along!

Friday, December 11, 2015

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - Day 4


Welcome back for Day 4 of the ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop at STAMPlorations!  Today I've used a small portion of the Holly Background stencil to create a focal image.  I drew around the images with black fineliner then mixed some Distress Inks to get the colour I wanted for the leaves and berries.  The sentiment is from Joyful.


So here's how to play along.  Comment on this and every other stop on the hop each day, and enter the flash linky party (details below) for maximum chances to win.  You can see all today's stops here on the STAMPlorations blog.

Prizes:
  • FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
  • ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.
Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13: 
  • TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
  • ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

STAMPlorations Inspiration #51 - It's Beginning To Feel A Bit Like Christmas!


A bit of STAMPlorations inspiration for you.

I've been doodling again, giving The Bee's Knees SmallBirds some festive headgear.  I stamped the puffin and the little bird onto my card and, after practising on spare paper, drew some festive antlers on them, and a festive jumper on the little guy.  Cute, eh??  The sentiment is from Joyful.

I'm entering this into the One Layer Christmas Card Challenge, without the snowman twist


and Christmas Cards All Year Round where the theme is Keep It Simple.


Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for more inspiration from the team, and for details of all the lovely challenges you can enter ;)  I'll be back in an hour with my final card for the ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop.

Craft Stamper Reminder - Share Your Season


Welcome back to Craft Stamper Take It, Make It.  Our theme this month is Share Your Season.  Cold and frosty? Hot and sunny? Whatever your season, we want you to share it with us.  And it's also the Christmas season, so we're more than happy to see your Christmas creations.  As long as it incorporates stamping, you're in.


As well as the dull, dark and very wet UK season, I've also got a claim on the season Down Under, as both our boys are living there, and we have many friends there from when we lived there years ago, so it's nice to be able to send kookaburra cards.  I doodled a festive Christmas hat on this image (which also doubles as a kingfisher) from The Bee's Knees Small Birds, and added a sentiment before mounting it onto my base card.  This one is now winging its way Down Under.

So, what can you win by playing along?  One lucky random winner will get a £25 voucher to Polkadoodles online store.


The winner chosen by the Design Team will have their winning project published in Craft Stamper Magazine (with a 2-page spread of their very own), a GDT slot for an upcoming challenge, and will also get their very own Winner's Profile blog post.

Pop on over to the Craft Stamper blog for more inspiration from the Design Team, then add your creation to the gallery here.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - Day 3


It's Day 3 of the ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop at STAMPlorations.  While I had the Cosmic Shimmer Gold Pearl texture paste out for Tuesday's card, I made this card.  I sponged the edges with Antique Linen, then stamped and gold-embossed a poinsettia and added a little shading with Antique Linen.


So here's how to play along.  Comment on this and every other stop on the hop each day, and enter the flash linky party (details below) for maximum chances to win.  You can see all today's stops here on the STAMPlorations blog.

Prizes:
  • FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
  • ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.
Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13: 
  • TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
  • ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Wednesday, December 09, 2015

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - Day 2


Welcome back to Day 2 of the ARTplorations stencil blog hop at STAMPlorations!  Today I've got a sympathy card using the masks from Bloom Silhouettes.  I sponged Distress Inks over the masks, then scribbled the outlines with a fineliner.  A few blobs of Fossilised Amber for the flower centres, a sentiment (from Blossom Overture) and a scribbled corner and some splatters ;) and it's done.


So here's how to play along.  Comment on this and every other stop on the hop each day, and enter the flash linky party (details below) for maximum chances to win.  You can see all today's stops here on the STAMPlorations blog.

Prizes:
  • FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
  • ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.
Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13: 
  • TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
  • ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - Day 1


It's party time at STAMPlorations, and you're invited!  We're having a stencil blog hop using ARTplorations stencils, and you can win prizes by commenting on the participating blog posts.

Here's my card for the first day of the hop.  Gold pearl Cosmic Shimmer texture paste through the Holly Background stencil, some festive baker's twine, mounted onto champagne card, and I didn't feel a sentiment would enhance it, so I didn't add one.  Pretty obvious that it's a Christmas card anyway.


So here's how to play along.  Comment on this and every other stop on the hop each day, and enter the flash linky party (details below) for maximum chances to win.  You can see all today's stops here on the STAMPlorations blog.

Prizes:
  • FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
  • ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.
Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13: 
  • TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
  • ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Monday, December 07, 2015

Merry Monday Guest Designer



Merry Monday to you!  I'm thrilled to be Guest Designer today over at Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge.  The theme this week is to make a Christmas card with Candy Cane(s) on it.


I have to confess, I had a little panic when I saw this, because I didn't think I had any candy cane stamps.  Fortunately, after scouring my index catalogue and then rummaging in my many boxes of Christmas cards, I found this old PSX stamp among my stash.   Don't you just love the look on his face?  I think he's pretty happy that he's got the only candy cane in the house ;)

I sloshed some Distress Inks on the background for the sky, and splattered some water for snow, then coloured his scarf and the candy cane.  A little slosh of grey and a sentiment to ground him (even though he's got wings), and some stitching at the top, and mounted him onto red card.

Pop on over to the Merry Monday blog to see what the Design Team have created, play along, and you'll have added to your Christmas card stash - never a bad thing!

Thanks for having me, girls!

Friday, December 04, 2015

Craft Stamper - Sharing The Season


Welcome to another Craft Stamper Take It, Make It Challenge!  This month we want you to share the season where you live.  Cold and snowy?  Hot and sunny?  Whatever your season is, we want to see it!  And don't forget about the Christmas season (how could we, Christmas has been in some shops since September!).

I've had this holly sprite stamp for years and years (Stamps Happen, almost certainly discontinued).  After stamping it onto white card,  I sprinkled Brusho powders over it and spritzed, then moved some of the colour around the image with a paintbrush.

This month's challenge is sponsored by Polka Doodles and one lucky randomly drawn winner will get a £25 voucher to spend in their online store!


The winner selected by the Design Team will get their project published in Craft Stamper magazine (so hold on to it), a winner's profile in the magazine, and a guest designer spot in a future challenge.

Pop on over to the Craft Stamper blog for lots of lovely inspiration from the Design Team.  We can't wait to see what you will create!

Thursday, December 03, 2015

Seize The Birthday using Holiday stamps


Welcome to another Seize The Birthday!  Your challenge today is to use Holiday stamps for a birthday card.  I used two images from the Tim Holtz set Halftone Christmas.  The halftone tree became a pennant shape, and the snowflake became a starburst.  I stamped the pennants using Distress Inks and because the alignment wasn't perfect, I drew a scribbly string - scribbles hide a multitude of sins!  Added a die-cut 'happy' from Winnie & Walter, and 'birthday' from STAMPlorations Sentiment Builders: Happy.

Our Surprise Party Guest for the next two months is the very talented Tanja from Little Art Cottage.  Pop on over to the Seize The Birthday blog for Tanja's card, and the Design Team's cards.

Fancy being creative with your Holiday stamps?  Come and join us - and if you don't want to follow the theme, you can join in anyway as long as it's a birthday project.




Wednesday, December 02, 2015

An Un-traditional Christmas Tree


I'm over at STAMPlorations today with a Christmas tree card made with non-Christmas stamps.  All the details of which stamps I used are on the blog.

I'm entering this into The Challenge - Make a Non-Traditional Christmas Card


Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes


and AAA Cards - Anything Goes


I'm off to see what other non-Christmas stamps I can use...

Tuesday, December 01, 2015

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Celebrate with Vellum


It's a new month, and a new challenge at The Mixed Media Card Challenge.  Our theme for December is celebrate, and the optional element is vellum.


I made a similar card recently using the same image here, but I liked it so much I wanted to make another one in a slightly different colour scheme.

I stamped the image on Mixed Media paper, coloured it with Distress Inks, and distressed the edges.   I added wedding ribbon to the car with brads. On the designer paper I brushed some Antique Linen Distress Paint then applied a painted stencil to the top left corner.

The die-cut leaf sprig was sponged with Walnut Stain, and the little flower arrangement is made up of a fabric flower, some scrunched up fabric, some stamens and - did you spot them? - two vellum leaves.  Once everything was fixed in place I went round the borders of the designer paper with a Stardust Gelli Roll pen.

Pop on over to the Mixed Media Card Challenge blog for more lovely inspiration from the Design Team, and add your creation to the gallery.

CASEplorations with Amy Tsuruta


We're back with another CASEplorations, this month with the very talented and coffee-loving Amy Tsuruta of Tsuruta Designs.  Here's Amy's card that we're CASEing:

Amy Tsuruta
What are the elements to CASE?  Colour scheme, white embossing, hot drinks theme, grid layout, popped-up panel, sentiment banner....

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I do love my tea.  And at this time of year, I love a warming drop of Glühwein!  So, I've gone for the hot drinks theme, a nice ruby colour for the Glühwein, some icy blue sky and snowflakes as a nod to the blue in Amy's colour scheme, and a sentiment.  Because I wanted to alter the sentiment, I didn't put it on a banner.  I scribbled a border and added a slosh of colour to ground the cup.  It's not spilled Glühwein - I never spill it ;)


How will you interpret Amy's card?   Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for more CASE-ing of Amy's card, and add your creation to the CASE playground for a chance to win prizes.

Monday, November 30, 2015

STAMPlorations Inspiration #50 - Fa-La-La-La-La


Time for more STAMPlorations inspiration.  How about a girly Christmassy card?  I've used the wedding dress from The Bee's Knees Newlyweds, sloshed some red Distress Inks over it, and embossed parts of it with Frantage embossing powder.  I stamped the fa-a-la-la-las (from Joyful) onto spare card, sloshed them, then cut them into pennant shapes.  Strung a length of red waxed cotton across the card, stuck the pennants on with red liner tape and popped a foam dot behind each one.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for more inspiration from the Design Team, and if you've not spent all your Black Friday money, there's still time for a little spree at STAMPlorations:



Friday, November 27, 2015

STAMPlorations Inspiration #49 - Ho Ho Ho


Time for some STAMPlorations inspiration.  I thought I'd have some fun with the little birdie from my stamp set, The Bee's Knees SmallBirds.  Today's he's a robin with his little Santa hat.  I stamped the image on white card, then drew a Santa hat on him, then sloshed some red and brown Distress Inks and fussy cut him.

The background is an inked embossing folder image, and I've added a sentiment from Joyful, then a little line of Star Dust Stickles to ground the robin.


Hmm - I wonder how the kookaburra and puffin would look with a Santa hat?  Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for more inspiration from the rest of the design team.

I'm entering this into Simon Says Wednesday Challenge, Anything Goes,

and City Crafter Challenge, The Snow Queen.