Birthday Owls

This card is for a seventeen year old and I hope she likes my choice of these great owls and background papers from Polkadoodles Back to Nature collection.

Birthday Roses

First of all I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year - thank you for watching my blog and for the lovely comments during the year.

The roads outside my house are like a skating rink so I thought my best course today would be to stay in and make some cards. Luckily my goodies arrived from Stampin Up earlier in the week so have managed to have a play with the Rose is a Rose stamp set with Pale Plum and Perfect Plum ink pads for this birthday card - certainly makes a change from Christmas cards!! Background papers are from Artylicious and the stamps used for the greeting panel are by Elusive Images. Matching SU card was embossed with a cuttlebug folder and a ribbon and some gems finish off the card.

One I did earlier

This is a case of one I did earlier - it is a card made for a swap on the Graphicus Guild Yahoo group and now that it has safely reached its destination I can safely post it here. The background is Glimmer Mist with snowflakes over-stamped in Brilliance white. The trees and reindeer are Tim Holtz stamps.

Apologies

I must start with apologies for not posting for a couple of weeks - I am having work done in the house and haven't been able to make any cards. For one week I couldn't really get into the kitchen much either which didn't bother me unduly but I get real withdrawal symptoms if I can't get at all my crafting bits and pieces!! As workmen don't come on a Sunday I was able to get in there but had to start by putting away the Christmas 'bits' and tidy up a bit before I could start and have just about managed to make a simple card to post so that folks won't think that I've disappeared off the face of the earth. Image and background paper are from Joanna Sheen's Royal Horticultural Society CD set, mounted onto silver mirri card.

21st Birthday Card

I was asked to make a 21st birthday card this week so tried to think what sort of thing a young person might like and came up with this one using an image and background papers from Candy doodles by Polkadoodles with the addition of some Prima flowers. I just hope it will be suitable!!

A Recipe challenge

Polkadoodles challenge 28 gives us a recipe to follow - to use 3 different papers and 1 stamp. Here is my take on this using papers and a stamp from Jingle Jangle Christmas.

Christmas Trees

Another card to add to my Christmas pile - this time using some Polka Doodles background papers left from another project and trees from a Stampin Up set.

A Rose is a Rose

My friend Anne kindly let me use some of her stamps when we shared a crafty day this week and I came home and made this card from the flowers stamped using a two part stamping set from Stampin Up - A Rose is a Rose. This set is now definitely on my wish list as I can see lots of possibilities with them. Background paper is from SU and the flowers are on a nestabilities label. The greeting is computer generated and punched using a SU punch - I added some card candy from Craftwork cards - these coloured dots are so useful and come in a huge range of colours,

Gift Bag

I spent a great crafty day with my friend Anne on Monday and besides stamping lots of images and generally swapping ideas, we made some gift bags. Here is one of mine using SU card, paper from Artylicious, a Graphicus Guild stamp and some ribbon. My long-awaited Martha Stewart heart border punch arrived in the post today so I just had to use it of course. The image is mounted using nestabilities ovals and some blue jewels have been added for a bit of bling.

Greenhouse Garden

I've been playing with my Stampin Up Greenhouse Garden stamps again - well it is raining far too hard to go into the real garden!! These are two-part stamps where one layer is over stamped onto another. The background panel was done using Distress Ink pads and the top layer stamp of one of the flowers. Smaller flowers were stamped , cut out and layered up with leaves (cut out from a larger stamp of a horse chestnut leaf by Personal Impressions). Paper, ribbon and card are from SU - plum, celery and a light blue.

Double Slider Card

I found instructions for a double slider card on Split Coast Stampers and have had a go using my new set of Greeenhouse Garden stamps from Stampin Up, the leaves were stamped from the Touch of Nature set. The two sliders disappear into the card leaving the main image with a tab to pull for the surprise.

Christmas Challenge

Challenge 21 on Moving along with the Times is to follow a sketch by Clare W and make a card. I decided to go for a Christmas theme with a stamp from the Stamp Man, Papermania background papers and some cuttlebug embossing.

Owl Calendar

Here is another easel card calendar - this time using the free owl stamp which was given away with Craft Stamper a while ago. The owls which were coloured with Copic pens and cut out, are sitting on a branch from the Stampin Up touch of nature set. Background paper is from Artylicious and the decorative border punched with a Martha Stewart punch.

Josephs Coat

Another go at the Josephs Coat technique using background paper by K and Co and stamps by My Minds Eye Wild Asparagus. The butterfly was die cut using a Spellbinders die - a Martha Stewart border punch made the decorative mat for the flower.

Forever Friends

The current issue of Docraft Creativity magazine has this Forever Friends stamp as the free cover gift - I have used it to make a Christmas card. Background paper by Artylicious and image is coloured using Copic pens.

Calendar Card

This is an easel style of card which can be on display all year because it incorporates a calendar. The stamp used is from a clear Poppy set by papermania and the background paper is from Artylicious. This will fold flat for posting and fits into a C6 envelope.

Beaded Beads - Again

Well I did say 'watch this space' and here is the strung necklace which I made incorporating the three beaded beads which I made earlier this week. I might just have to make a couple more for a pair of ear rings.

Tree

I was trawling around yesterday seeking inspiration and spotted some tutorials by Michelle Zindorf. This card is based on one of them but instead of using a brayer as she does I sponged the various colours on using post-it notes as masking. The stamps used are by Elusive Images and Adirondack dye inks were used for the background effect.

Joseph's Coat

I was reminded recently of the Joseph's Coat stamping technique - funny how all these ideas and techniques are in your head and they pop out now and again!! This time it has been done onto a patterned background paper which is a change and perhaps a bit different. The stamp used is from My Minds Eye (Wild Asparagus).

Beaded Beads

I am going to a jewellery making workshop at the weekend (stringing beads mainly) and I thought it would be an idea to make three beaded beads to use as a feature on a necklace. These were made using needle and thread with size 8 and 11 seed beads and some magatama drops. I must go through my stash to see if I have any larger beads to go with these but the tutor always brings a wonderfel selection of very tempting beads so I should be able to make something with them. Watch this space after the weekend!!

A Christmas Step Card

I've made a DL side step card for Christmas using papers and clear stamps from the Smirk Range by Trimcraft. The main image was mounted on oval Nestabilities and the message was punched using Stampin Up oval punches. Cutting and scoring was done using a Fiskars cutter.

Desk Calendar

This handy little desk calendar incorporates a drawer for keeping scraps of paper for notes or paper clips and so on and has an easel type card on top. this card will fold flat for packing if you wanted to give this as a gift. The stamp used is from one of Joanna sheen's new owl sets and they are all so cute. It has been coloured using watercolour pencils and there is a Papermania make-it-yourself brad on the front of the drawer. Card is from the earth colours set by Stampin Up.

Double Spiral

I've made lots of spiral rope projects and recently came across instructions for a double spiral. At first I couldn't see how it worked and then suddenly the penny dropped and I had cracked it. Here is a bracelet made using this interesting technique where the spirals intertwine as you work - this one uses size 11 and size 8 beads and I will have to try with other beads now for some, hopefully, interesting variations.

Natures Nest

I've been having another play with my Stampin Up Natures Nest stamp set and this time decided to have a go at a 'wiper' card (so called because the little pop-up comes up a bit like a windscreen wiper when the card is pulled gently from each end). I'm not a particular fan of three dimensional cards but I do like to try different things from time to time, although I find that people are often reluctant to buy these cards because they cost more to post and also there is often no insert on which to write a message.

Window Card

I have used some stamps from a new set from Stampin Up called Natures Nest to make this card and also used a fern stamp from the Touch of Nature set. The image is set into a recessed window which makes the card quite deep so I had to work out some measurements to make a box envelope to fit as I only have the old stype of enveloper board without the extra ridge for making boxy ones. Something else to go on my wish list!

Bubble in Monochrome

Bubble (partner of Squeak) is one of the characters in the Daisy and Dandelion series by Papermania and has been stamped using mushroom Adirondack dye ink, brushed out with a water brush. The flowers are cut out from the same stamp and the leaves are from a SU Touch of Nature stamp. Message is mounted on my favourite SU oval punch set.

I've decided to try and use up some of my mountain of left over bits of paper and card - the background was left from my previous owl card and the flowers and message were stamped onto small scraps of card which I can never bear to throw away if they are bigger than a postage stamp!!

Cute Owls

I just couldn't resist some new owl stamps by Joanna sheen and I particularly like this quirky one and can't help speculating just why one of them cannot stay on his perch - over indulgence of the liquid kind perhaps LOL!!! or perhaps he is just a baby and cannot stand on his own two feet.

Image was stamped with Versafine on watercolour paper and coloured using watercolour pencils.

Nuno Felt

I attended a nuno felt workshop today with Brenda Dunford. We each made a scarf combining silk georgette with merino wool tops and here is mine although I do intend to add some beads on the flowers when I have some time to spare. It was quite hard work but terrific fun.

Christmas Step Card

Another card to add to my Christmas pile - a straightforward step card this time. Background was made by stippling blue Brilliance ink then stamping snowflakes (stamps by craftwork cards), some trees (stamp by Art Impressions) and reindeer from a clear set by Papermania. The snowman is a stamp by Personal Impressions coloured using Sakura pens, wavy greeting and small trees in front were printed from Jingle Jangle Christmas by Polkadoodles and the message was created on the computer and punched out using SU oval punches. A bit of Art Institute glitter was added here and there.

Digi Colouring

Challenge 19 at Polkadoodles is to colour a digi stamp image and I have chosen Polly and some printed flowers from Sugar Birdies to make this side step card (I think that is what these are called). Polly was coloured using Copic markers.

A Shutter Card

Shutter cards seem to be popular at the moment and here is my variation of one seen on Jenny's blog - Stamping Moments. I used card from my stash and some stampin Up papers and stamps from the Touch of Nature set. I quite enjoyed making this although it does involve quite a bit of measuring and cutting.

Catch Up Time

Time seems to have been running away from me just lately and I'm struggling to keep up!! My aplhabet ATC swap was one of the casualties but today I've at last managed not only to catch up with my swap partner but have gone one ahead too so feeling quite pleased with myself. These are G for golf and giraffe; H for houses and heart; I for icing and India. All are stamped using a variety of stamps including Papermania, Hero Arts, Tanda, Judikins, Stamp Bug ansd free stamps from Craft Stamper.

DIY Flowers

Challenge 18 on Polkadoodles is DIY flowers. I used double sided paper printed from Candy Doodles to make this flower, cutting out and folding using a scalloped circle nestabilities die. A small punched flower and gem were added in the centre. The edges of the 'petals' were sponged with Brilliance ink and the embossed panel was a piece of watercolour paper which had been sprayed with Glimmer Mists. Background paper is also from Candy Doodles.

In The Wild

In the Wild is the theme for the Tanda Teaser this week - use either a wild animal or wild flower.

I have used the wild cransebill stamp from Tanda's Mack set 2 designed by Sue Law. Background paper is from Artylicious, greeting mounted on Cuttlebug die cuts and the image coloured with Copic pens is mounted on nestabilities .

Anything but a Card

Challenge 17 at Polkadoodles is to make anything but a card so I have made a gift basket. This time I started with an eight inch square of printed pearlised card and some reindeer medallions which have been mounted onto Nestabilities scalloped circles. Of course this gift could contain other items but chocolates are always popular and they go with the colour scheme I have chosen!!

Christmas Shaker

A Christmas shaker card using one of the stamps which I spotted being given away free on the front of a magazine this week - I never can resist a bargain! The frame was cut using nestabilities. Poinsettia sticker is a 3-D one from Papermania last Christmas.

Build A Poppy

This is my first card using the new Build A Poppy stamp set from Papermania. The elements of the main flower have been stamped in black Versafine and clear embossed, coloured with watercolour pencils and a water brush. Background was stippled and stamped using Brilliance ink. I am aiming to try different ways of colouring and using what I am sure will turn out to be a versatile set of stamps. Apparently more flowers are to follow in the near future. The poppy has been launched to coincide with the Poppy Appeal and £1 from each sale of stamp sets will be sent to the Appeal.

Baby Girl

I am now a great aunt and here is the card I made to send to my niece and her husband. Background papers are by Pink Petticoat, the image is an oval from Craftwork cards coloured with Copics and the flowers were made using Xcut punches.

Three Jolly Snowmen

Actually it is only one jolly snowman stamped three times using a post-it note mask!! Coloured with Sakura Stardust pens, a bit of fine glitter added and the sky was stippled with Brilliance ink, which was also used to stamp the random snowflakes. Snowman is from Funstamps (I've had him for several years and he is so useful), snowflakes are from a clear set by Craftwork Cards and the printed ribbon strip is by Polkadoodles, background paper is some left over from last year's Christmas purchases. The greeting is computer generated and popped onto an ever popular Stampin Up ovals punch piece.

Joyeux Noel

Another Christmas card using the Habico santa stamp, this time stamped onto acetate using Brilliance ink, foiled using gilding flakes. The greeting is from a Papermania clear christmas set of stamps, background paper is from papermania Home for christmas papers, snowflake is an Xcut punch.

Special Friend

I was asked to make a 'special friend' card for a lady in her eighties who likes to watch birds in her garden, enjoys flowers but hates pink!! I hope this will fit the bill - image printed from Joanna sheen CD (Jane Netley Mayhew) onto pearlised card , background paper from the same CD. Message computer generated mounted on nestabilities. A personalised birthday message is included on the insert.

A Penguin for Christmas

I made this card for the current challenge at Polkadoodles using the sketch supplied for inspiration. Penguin is mounted on various nestabilities and the glittery snowflakes are cut from glittery hand-made paper using Cuttlebug dies.

Tiger

I'm having a break from Christmas cards today using this tiger which is a digi stamp from Little Friends downloaded from Pink Petticoat. He has been coloured with copics, mounted on nestabilities with some spirelli technique added (not done any of that for ages!). Oh and I couldn't resist adding a flower.

Reindeer

Another Christmas card - stamps from a clear set by papermania, background paper from Artylicious with some hand made glitter paper for snow. The trees were stamped and gold embossed on some green paper with white snow spots but I'm not entirely convinced it has worked - I think maybe a plain paper would have been better.

Snowman Again

Are you bored with this cute snowman yet? I've found yet another solution to the problem of the solid black hat and scarf on this clear stamp. I stamped once with black Versafine, then the hat and scarf with Cranberry Adirondack dye ink and the robin with sepia Versafine. The small elements were cut out and layered on top of the original image which is on a nestabilities shape mounted onto some wide Christmas ribbon which came from a shop where everything is the same economical price!! The greeting was printed on the computer and punched with Stampin Up oval punches. I had to add a bit of gold glitter too.

A Cat Card

I was asked to make a personal card for someone who likes cats - I used a lovely image from Joanna sheen's CD (Jane Netley Mayhew) with background paper both printed onto pearlised card/paper. Personal greeting was computer made and mounted onto Stampin Up punched ovals; double sided ribbon was added with a punched lace border (Martha Stewart) and a hand made punched flower using background paper and pearl card stamped with fluid chalk inks.

A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear

The theme for the Tanda Teaser this week was to make a gatefold card which is something I rarely actually do. Here is what I've come up with but apologies for the photograph - I normally scan my cards which is much easier than taking photographs but gatefolds don't scan particularly well. Background paper is from Artylicious Seasons Greetings CD, stamps are all by Tanda.

Santa with Toys

Another of my Habico Christmas stamp set and another card, image coloured with pencils and Copic markers is mounted on nestabilities. Snowflake is cut from glitter hand made paper using Cuttlebug dies although it is more of a flower than a snowflake as the paper wouldn't punch using an ordinary punch and I don't have a snowflake die.

Vintage Santa

Another card to add to my Christmas collection using Habico clear stamp sets, some music background paper a scrap of cuttlebug embossing and a computer generated greeting punched with Stampin Up ovals.

Blue Snowman

I've had another try with my clear snowman stamp with the 'solid' areas using Versafine blue ink and highlighting with blue Stickles and I think has worked OK. Craftymamma kindly suggested that I might try inking the stamp with markers but unfortunately that didn't work because being a clear polymer stamp the markers just 'beaded' on those solid areas and it didn't stamp well but thanks anyway! Another Christmas card ready in good time.