Sunday 31 January 2010

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #54

What a sweet Sunday!

Today I decided to chill and spend some time in the studio making cards! That always makes a Sunday the best along with dinner with Karl's family and movies tonight!

As it's Sunday I thought I start my card making with Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch! You can see what Karen & her design team have created HERE.

For some reason I didn't want to make a square card so I made the sketch fit a normal sized card! I think it still works!

The card is really simple and the only stamping is the sentiment! That is quite strange for me not to do so little stamping!

A lovely Prima flower with an Aqua mist vintage button and a few gems finish the card off just nicely! A nice clean & simple card that I kinda like!

{Ingredients}
CS: PTI Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides, Raspberry Fizz, SU! Whisper White
Ink: PTI Ocean Tides
Stamps: Hero Arts Small Greetings LL662
Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Prima Flower, PTI Aqua Mist Vintage Button, Linen Thread, Foam Pads, Clear Gems, Scallop Circle 2" Punch, SU! 1 3/4" Circle Punch.

I'm glad you found time to stop by today! I hope you like what I have created and find some inspiration to create today! I am off to get ready for Sunday Dinner - YUM! Have a HAPPY day!

Saturday 30 January 2010

BLOG CANDY & CARDS card share!

HAPPY Saturday!

I was all set to have this post scheduled to post while I was at work today but because of waking up to more SNOW I had to leave for work early! Better late than never I am sharing some BLOG CANDY for reaching a small mile stone on the blog of 10,000 hits!! Whoo Hooo!

I will leave this candy open until I have been for my Jolly Girls Trip across the UK to 2 craft shops on the 13th Feb as I'm sure I'll have a few more things to add to it by then!! Anyone is welcome to participate, just leave me a comment about anything! Basically I can't think of a subject I'm too tired after a 12 hour shift! LOL!


I thought I'd share a card I made for the CARDS Blog challenge of 'Squares'. I am so HAPPY because I made it onto the showcase again! You can see it on their post HERE.

I used Hero Arts Patterned Hearts for this card and was inspired by the Bo Bunny DP colours.


{Ingredients}
CS: SU! Whisper White, PTI Aqua Mist & Pure Poppy
Stamps: Hero Arts Pattern Hearts & Sparkle Clear Messages CL181
Ink: Memento Black, SU! Real Red
Accessories: SU! Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Clear Gems, Heart Button, Linen Thread & Foam Pads!

I do hope you like the card I have shared today and join in the Candy Comments! Hope to stop by tomorrow with more card goodness to share! TTFN!

Friday 29 January 2010

Just for you...

Happy Friday!

Today I am sharing a second card for the Passion for Papertrey Blog's latest challenge 'Nature'. I was inspired to give 'Kissing' a try! No.. not kissing my stamps LOL! but a technique I have seen a lot recently and whilst looking at Lisa Johnson's Blog I saw a card she had done using the technique HERE.

I'm LOVING my 'Turning a New Leaf' set and I tried the 'Kissing' technique with the leaf image stamped in chocolate chip! I used the Background Basics Diamonds for this technique and I think it turned out OK.

As the stamping on the card is quite busy I tried to keep the other elements of the card to a minimum! I added some butterflies and ribbon with a simple sentiment!

{Ingredients}
CS: SU! Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla & Whisper White, PTI Ripe Avocado
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, PTI Ripe Avocado
Stamps: PTI Turning a New Leaf, background Basics Diamonds, Hero Arts All Occasion CL272
Accessories: SU! Label Punch, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, PTI Bitty Dot Basics DP and Ripe Avocado Satin Ribbon, Pearls, Foam pads

I'm kinda busy in the studio today catching up on degree work, I had planned to do some yesterday but was too tired after a busy night shift and spent the day chilling in bed! I have something to look forward to this afternoon though - a hot choc and a chat at Starbucks with my friend Kerry! Yay!

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for a lil blog candy giveaway my lil celebration for reaching 10,000 hits on my blog! Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday 28 January 2010

Mmmmm...... Cake!

Happy Thursday!

Today I thought I would share a yummy cake card! I was so inspired by Lucy's card HERE that I had to get out my Hero Arts Cupcake stamps and make a card! I have made this card for Lucy's challenge, you can read about it HERE.

I had this Bo Bunny paper out on my desk from another project and thought I'd use it for my colour base! I thought that Hibiscus Burst from PTI looked great with it so out came the ribbon and buttons to go with!

I tied some linen thread to the buttons and adhered them to the ribbon! The cupcake is coloured using Copic markers and underneath the glittery frosting I used the Hibiscus Burst Copic colours. The Diamond Glaze and Glitter mute the colours a lot!

The cherry is coloured with Copics also and I also added Diamond Glaze for an extra shine! The cupcake and cherry are both adhered to the card using foam pads.

{Ingredients}
CS: PTI Hibiscus Burst
Ink: Memento Black
Stamps: Hero Arts Cupcakes CL158, PTI Cupcake Collection
Accessories: SU! Stampin' Glitter, PTI Hibiscus Burst Vintage Buttons and Topnotch Twill, Copics, Diamond Glaze, Linen Thread & Foam Pads!

Thanks for stopping by today! I am having a quiet day in bed after nights! May do some work in the studio later!

Wednesday 27 January 2010

Be Mine

Hey! Well, we are half way through the week, only the other half of it to survive! I was a little naughty yesterday and only did a couple of hours of degree work, I got totally distracted by loads of challenges and made a few cards! I will share them throughout the rest of the week.

The card I am sharing today was made for the current Hero Arts Challenge "Friendship & Valentines'. The challenge ends tomorrow so be sure to enter quick! This card also fits nicely into the current Caardvarks Challenge also 'Red Hearts'.

I tried to keep the card simple but striking! I think that I achieved this. I broke out some old favourite Hero Arts stamps for this card!

The 3 stamped patterned hearts are mounted on foam pads for dimension. The 'Be Mine' sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip and the heart coloured with red pen. I added a few heart brads and some Swarovski crystals for some added bling!

{Ingredients}
CS: SU! Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip
Stamps: Hero Arts Patterned Hearts LP124, Be Mine B3879, Designer Sketches LL202
Accessories: Heart Brads from stash, Swarovski Crystals from stash, red pen, foam pads

I have to make up a little lost time and do a couple more hours of degree work before I go off to work tonight! Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Friends...'til the end

Happy Tuesday!

This morning whilst carrying out my daily blog checks whilst eating breakfast, I came across Passion For Papertrey's new challenge, Nature. So, I had to have a lil play and make a card! I should be doing my degree work and I will probably regret not spending my time time doing it later but 'Oh well' I made a card instead!

I was inspired by Aimes card using the Friends 'til the end set and also by Nichols article in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of PaperCrafts on page 87.

I'm not usually a yellow or orange kinda girl but I decided to step out of my comfort zone and use Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart and Orange Zest! I started off by colouring the smaller flower image out of the set using Copics. The centre of the flower uses the Orange Zest colours and the petals Summer Sunrise.

I decided to use the masking technique as Aimes had as I haven't done this for a while and though it was time consuming cutting the flower out I really enjoyed doing the technique again!

A little bit of faux stitching round the edges and a simple button with linen thread I felt was enough fuss! I did add a little bit of distress stickles to the flower centre and also adhered the flower using foam pads.

{Ingredients}
CS: PTI Lemon Tart. SU! Whisper White
Ink: Memento Black, PTI Summer Sunrise, SU! Really Rust
Stamps: PTI Friends 'til the end
Accessories: PTI Bitty Box DP, Ranger Distress Stickles Rock Candy, PTI Summer Sunrise Vintage Button, Foam Pads, SU! Really Rust Marker, Linen Thread

I had better be off and do some work instead of playing! Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday 23 January 2010

Love You.....

Hey!

Just thought I'd stop by tonight with a card share! I made this card a couple of nights ago before I went off to work. I'm enjoying making cards to express Love! I especially like these two sweet lil owls from Hero Arts! I am so glad I added them to my basket!

I searched through my stash and found this long stem blossom stamp that was right at the bottom and sadly had never been inked. I decided it would work perfectly for the card LO I had in mind!

I stamped the blossom in chocolate chip and I coloured the flowers using my Spica pens - Oh so glittery in real life! The hearts above the owls are also coloured using these pens.

For the owls I did a little bit of paper piecing, I stamped them onto kraft CS and cut out the body's of the owls only. I added a flower gem to the girl owl and coloured the beaks in orange Spica pen!.

The sentiment is from SU! Short & Sweet and I think it's just perfect for the card. The gingham ribbon adds a little touch and the panel with the owls is raised on foam pads for dimension & to life it off the ribbon.

{Ingredients}
CS: PTI Sweet Blush & Pure Poppy, SU! Very Vanilla
Stamps: SU! Short & Sweet, Hero Arts Long Stem Blossom F5030, Heart Owls D5302
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip & Real Red
Accessories: Gingham Ribbon, Spica Pens Set A, Flower Gem, Corner Chomper

It's been a quiet Saturday here and I have mostly been catching up on housework! Therefore I can spend tomorrow in the studio working on designs for college and also a lil bit of crafting! Hope your all having a FUN weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday 21 January 2010

Love Always.......

Hello there! As promised here is the card I made yesterday for the current Hero Arts Challenge 'Friendship & Valentines'! It's also fits nicely into the current challenge of 'Red Hearts' over on Caardvarks!

I love the contrast of the pink and red on this card and tried to put as many red hearts on as possible without going over the top! Lol! I bought the Martha Stewart punch recently and it was the perfect card and challenges to use it!

All of the stamps used are from Hero Arts. I have had the Heart Flourish for a while but have hardly used it! Again perfect for the card! Some gingham ribbon and some sparkly gems finish the card!
{Ingredients}
CS: PTI Pure Poppy, Sweet Blush. SU! Very Vanilla
Ink: SU! Real Red. PTI Sweet Blush. Memento Black
Stamps: Hero Arts Heart Flourish K5153, Hugs & Kisses Heart C3931, Antique Flower Background S5264, All Occasion CL272
Accessories: Clear Gems, Red Gingham Ribbon, Foam Pads, Martha Stewart Punch.

One night down and tonight to go then off till next Wednesday night! Which gives me time to work and play a lil bit! Hope your day has been or is going well.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Embellish it with stripes!

Happy Wednesday! Half way through the week already! Today I thought I would share a card I have made for the current challenge over on Embellish Magazine Blog.

I'm in such need of 'Thank you' cards at the moment so that was my starting theme. I really like the Horizontal Lines Cling stamp from Hero Arts so I had to use that again and so I over stamped the leaf pattern like I did in the card HERE. Really like the effect!

The only thing that bothers me about the card is the sentiment is a little wonky! I didn't realise this until I had put the card together! Oh well!

I added some purple gems for a little bling to the over stamped leaf and to the centre of the paper flowers.

{Ingredients}
CS: PTI Kraft, SU! Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, PTI Vintage Cream
Stamps: Hero Arts Horizontal Lines CG143, PTI Turning a New Leaf & Signature Greetings
Accessories: Purple Gems, PTI Plum Pudding Topnotch Twill, Prima Got Flowers, foam pads.

Well, I am back to work tonight :( after my 12 days off. Plus I am going to be busy this weekend doing degree work! Oh so much to do but so little time! I found time today to squeeze in a card for the current Hero Arts Challenge and it also fits in with the New Challenge over on CAARDVARKS! I'll share the card tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday 15 January 2010

CARDS Blog Challenge!

Good Evening Blog Hoppers! I am way excited and this is my secong post for the day so be sure to scroll down for the card I shared earlier! The other night I had a spare few minutes in my studio to relax from college design work and I stumbled across CARDS BLOGs last challenge. I thought I'd give it a go!

The challenge was to create a card inspired by the card below. This card was SO inspiring, the mix of colours and polka dots & scallops a few of my favourite things at the mo!

With it being Valentines Day soon I decided I should create a LOVE themed card and I will at least have a card to give Karl if I have no more time to make anymore! Lol!

I stamped the polka dots in vintage cream ink onto kraft CS. I then used a leaf from Turning a New Leaf from PTI and stamped this onto very vanilla CS. The sentiment is from PTIs Handwritten Notes. I layered up scalloped CS in aqua and chocolate and tied linen thread around them. A heart, a flower and a couple of gems added the finishing touches.

{Ingredients}
CS: PTI Kraft, Aqua Mist, Raspberry Fizz and Dark Chocolate. SU! Very Vanilla
Stamps: PTI Turning a New Leaf, Handwritten Notes & Polka Dot Basics. Hero Arts Cupcakes CL168
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Friskars Apron LAce Punch, Linen Thread, SU! Flower Accent, Crystal Gems, Foam Pads.

I am super super excited that my card is featured over on the CARDS BLOG HERE! I'm looking forward to participating in their next challenge - hopefully I will find a few minutes to make a card this weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emboss it! Passion for Papertrey Challenge

Happy Friday!

Today I am sharing a card I have made for the current challenge over on A Passion for Papertrey Blog. The challenge is to emboss. This is a technique that I enjoy incorporating into my cards.

For this card I decided I wanted to use my Turning a New Leaf set. I used the larger of the leaves & embossed it with white EP onto Spring Rain CS. I love how crisp it turned out! I then used the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder to emboss the white matt layer, the most used embossing folder in my collection! As Karl put it "Oh you do use your Cuttlebug then!"

I then decided to use the larger of the flowers from Beautiful Blooms. I stamped the first layer of the flower onto Sweet Blush CS using Sweet Blush Ink. I then used the second layer of the stamp & stamped over the top using Berry Sorbet Ink. I overlapped the petals slightly.

A Berry Sorbet button and some Berry Sorbet swiss dots satin ribbon added the extra colour I wanted. The sentiment is from Cupcake Collection and also stamped in Berry Sorbet Ink. A few pearl gems added the finishing touch!

{Ingredients}
CS: SU! Whisper White. PTI Kraft, Spring Rain & Sweet Blush
Ink: PTI Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet. Ranger Distress Embossing Ink.
Stamps: PTI Turning a New Leaf, Beautiful Blooms, Cupcake Collection
Accessories: PTI Berry Sorbet Button, Berry Sorbet Swiss Dots Satin Ribbon, Word Window Punch. Corner Chomper, Pearl Gems, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Foam Pads.

Lots to do today so better get going! Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Raspberry Suite Color Inspiration Challenge #21

Hello!
Even though it's been a while since my last post this is just a quick one before I head to bed! It was card club tonight and I was kind of organised and took supplies to make a card for Dawn's latest colour challenge! I just forgot a few things like paper punches so finished it off when I got in!
I'm not usually one for using yellow in my cards but PTI's Lemon Tart is a lovely shade and these colours together work really nicely! Once I had an idea the card came together quite nicely!

I used a new set I bought a while back from Hobby Craft a American Crafts set called Sentiments.

{Ingredients}
CS: PTI Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist & Dark Chocolate. SU! Very Vanilla
Stamps: American Crafts Sentiments
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Friskars Apron Lace Punch, Linen Thread, PTI Aqua Mist Button, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Paper Piercer, PTI Bitty Box Basics DP, Aqua Gems from stash!

Well, I've been on holiday from work this week but busy, busy, busy in the studio doing my degree work! Only 6 weeks left before I hand in and I'm still designing! No where near putting my final designs together! Things are going OK at the mo so not at panic stations yet! Lol! I do hope to do a few more cards this week though in between!

Thanks for stopping by!
Catch ya later!