A Cupcake

I thought it was about time I used the cupcake stamp set and punch which tempted me last month at a  Stampin Up Extravaganza Day - not been taken from the packaging until now!!  I've popped the cake onto a doily which was cut using a Marianne die. Background paper is from my stash and the sentiment is part of the stamp set.  This might just about qualify for Judith's Forgotten Friday challenge even though it's not been neglected for that long.

Simply Stampin Challenge 48

There is a fairly straightforward challenge at Simply Stampin this week - they just want to see some lace and I've gone for some die-cut lace on this card.  Background papers are from SU everyday enchantment set and the stamp is from their Nature Walk set.  Nestabilities dies were used for the layers with some embossing and the flowers and swirls are made from Marianne dies which I've not taken out of the box for a very long time so this card also qualifies for Judith's Forgotten Friday challenge and I've just about made it in time this week..  It goes to show that it pays to have a sort out and tidy up now and again even if it is just to remind myself just what lovely goodies are lurking unused in various storage boxes!!

Make My Monday Challenge 38

It seems an absolute age since I actually made a card I've almost forgotten how and last week disappeared so quickly - I don't think I even managed any challenges - apologies are due I'm sure.  I can hardly believe it is Wednesday already this week but at least I've managed to make something for the Make My Monday ROMANCE challenge which this week is to use diamonds and flourishes. The background paper is Vintage Shabby by Tim Holtz and I chose a piece with swirls - the heart from Chocolate Baroque was stamped and embossed onto another piece of the same paper with diamonds. Gilding flakes were used with flitter glue onto some black card using a stamp from Indigo Blu and I added some die cut 'lace' (Tim Holtz die), A swirl (Sizzix die) cut from a piece of sprayed card from my 'bit box' and a computer sentiment cut out using Stampin Up punches.  All being well I'm aiming to spend some time in the craft room today because I'm not sure I will have much time tomorrow or Friday. Now it is almost March there will be a new challenge theme to look forward to next Monday so watch out for that.

Bracelet - As Promised

As promised in my last post here is the photograph of the bracelet now it has a clasp.  It is made using Delica cylinder beads and reminds me of the Celtic knot type of designs.  The instructions took a bit of fathoming out and I didn't count the hours spent on completing it - lots I know!!  I really like it now it is finished but won't be making another one any time soon although they say 'practice makes perfect'. so maybe I should!!

Flower Necklace

I realise that it is a week since my last post which is unusual but I have been trying to play catch up with some beading which doesn't produce such speedy results as making cards.  I spotted this necklace in an issue of Bead magazine before Christmas and decided I really had to make it. It was certainly very labour intensive and I still have a beaded clasp to make but thought I'd better post a picture of something before anyone thought I'd left the planet!!  As well as getting on with this I've produced an intricate bracelet from a somewhat complicated pattern which I was given by a friend - this is also awaiting a fastening and I will take a photograph of that when it is completed.

Make My Monday challenge 36

We are still on a general theme of romance for February on Make My Monday but this week the 'added extra' is die cut hearts/flowers.  I'm a bit disappointed with the scan of this card because for some reason (and it often happens) the toning green card I used for some of the components has come out looking very pale turquoise blue - grrr!  Background paper was printed from Chocolate Baroque Essence of Nature CD and the main image is from Fragrant Honeysuckle which one of their new stamp sets - image was coloured using Coloursoft Pencils. The Top Note die was cut from pearlescent GREEN card and embossed with flowers.  The GOLD hearts were cut using Marianne dies and the sentiment was produced on the computer, punched out and layerd up on matching punched shapes.  The little butterflies were cut  from the left over scraps using a Sizzix embosslits die from Stampin Up.

Simply Stampin Challenge 46

The people over on the Simply Stampin challenge blog have given us a sketch to follow this week - I do like a nice sketch and here it is

 For my card I decided to have a floral theme and started with the main image by stamping a background using the large En Francais text stamp onto some white card followed by flowers and leaves from Greenhouse Garden and A Rose is a Rose which are both two-step stamp sets..  This was then embossed with Swiss Dots embossing folder, trimmed to size and sponged around the edge.  The papers and card are all from Stampin Up and some of their punches were used for the border, sentiment etc.  The two flowers on the bottom corner were from Vintage Vogue with touches of  Fresh Vintage and some pearls. Ink colours used were Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery and Wild Wasabi.