Inspired by Nature

The challenge this week for Make My Monday is to use nature as inspiration and I've chosen butterflies for my card.  There are some lovely ideas on their blog and also a very pretty card for mid week motivation so do take a look by following the link. Backing paper is from My Mind's Eye and the stamp is from Penny Black with the flower heads stamped twice and cut out for dimension.  The butterflies were also stamped and cut out.

Addicted to Stamps Challenge

The challenge on Addicted to Stamps this week is to follow a sketch which they have provided -  following a sketch is an excellent way to lay out a card if you are ever stuck for ideas and this one was quite straightforward.  Background paper is from My Minds Eye; I embossed a piece of Core-dinations card with dots for one of the layers; the image is a stamp from Stampin' Up Faith in Nature set; the swirly frame was cut with a Lea'bility die and that's it really - a simple card for a simple layout.  I hope you all have a good weekend - feeling quite autumnal (ie chilly) this morning but the sun is trying to break through.

Dark, Wet and Windy Sunday

I hear from the forecast that this wet and windy weather is pretty widespread today so I guess there will be lots of people spending time in their craft rooms today - I know that's where I'm headed anyway to work on something bright and cheerful.

The backing paper on this card is from My Mind's Eye, the greeting is from a Stampin' Up birthday set using a Nestability scalloped circle and the swirly circle frame and flowers were cut using a Lea'bilities die set. The corners are also a Lea'bility die. Once the die-cutting and embossing was completed this was a quick and easy card to assemble.

Bird of Paradise

I'm afraid I was tempted by this bird of paradise die by Marianne and the birdcage sort of fell into my basket at the same time - how does this happen?? Background papers are from My Minds Eye with an embossed panel using a Tim Holtz embossing folder. Now I've seen the photo on the screen I'm regretting adding the photo corners so I might just have to disguise them with a flower.  I felt something was needed there but I think I made a wrong decision.

 Edited - I have now added a small punched flower and it looks so much better - at least I think so.

Cheery Sunflowers

I came across these die cut sunflowers by Papermania when I was searching for something else in my stash and thought they would make a nice cheerful card for these dark days although actually today the sun is shining in a pale blue sky - still quite chilly though. Background paper is My Minds Eye and flowers were layered up using Pinflair glue gel.  Punched corners using SU and EK success punches and a Spellbinders border strip.

Embossed Tree

Another brownish card today - well it is a tree!!  The tree was embossed using a Crafts Too embossing folder, butterflies were die cut from gold card using Joy Craft dies, background paper is by My Minds Eye.  A few pearls were added along with a greeting on stampin Up punched shapes.  The tree was embossed onto Core-dinations  card and then sanded to show the lighter inner core of this particular cardstock.  Unfortunately my local shop doesn't seem to be stocking it now which is a pain as it gives great effects used in this way and came in a good range of colours. I am aiming to get away from the brown phase so a Christmas card might well be the next thing - have to do something cheerful today as it is dark, very wet and very windy.

Woodland Friends

There is a give away on the latest Docraft Creativity magazine of a small set of stamps from the Woodland friends range.  This badger looks cute and friendly - more than can be said for the ones which excavate my front lawn on a regular basis so they aren't my favourite animals.  Background paper is from My Minds Eye and the leaf was made using a Spellbinders die

Die Cut Owl

This owl was cut and layered up using a new die from the Papermania Woodland Folk range - so far I've only succumbed to buying the die but there are some  great  stamps, papers and other animals in the range so I could be tempted!!  Background papers are from My Minds Eye and I've just added a flower and a computer greeting.

Stickers

My friend Anne has been using some Penny Black stickers on her cards recently and this reminded me that I had a sheet of them lurking somewhere in my stash. The background paper is from My Minds eye with oddments from my box, I added some gems and punched butterflies which were glittered with Glamour dust.

Woman

I came across this image while I was tidying my workspace (yet again) - it is a rub down image from Papermania Born To Shop range.  Background papers are from My Minds Eye and the little tags on the flower were made using a tiny tags punch and stamps from stampin Up fastened with a matching brad.

Pollycraft Freebies Challenge

What's this you say - two posts in one day and includes stamping this time (at least digi stamping) which I've coloured using pencils. The folks over at Pollycraft are asking us to 'flash our freebies' that is use one of their many free digi images to make something and they will send entrants another freebie in return which we have to keep secret awaiting further instructions.  If you pop over to have a look you can read the full instructions.
Background  papers are from My Minds Eye in a pad which came free with Cardmaking and papercraft magazine this month - a  very nice free gift I thought. Daisies were punched using two sizes of punch and the leaves are made using an X-cut embossing leaf punch; I added some lace and gems together with a computer sentiment popped onto  Stampin Up punched ovals.

Another Pepper Card

This is another of the cute stamps from Pepper and Friends coloured with pencils. Background papers are from My Minds Eye and I used Nellies dies, Stampin Up punch and Quickcuts dies.

Toadstool

I'm late posting today as I had to pop into town and try to sort out a few issues with my mobile phone but better late than never! Don't panic Anne - I'm here with today's card which uses a digi image which was a free download, coloured with Copic pens. Background paper is from My Minds Eye and the butterfly is an X cut die, I also used a cuttlebug daisies embossing folder.

I had a lovely day out yesterday but my goodness the sunshine does seem to bring out a few sights and I'm not talking scenery here!! There must be a lot of people with sore backs (and the rest) today!!

Pollycraft Challenge 41

The Monday challenge at Pollycraft this week was to use some hand made flowers so I made this card using a Pollycraft image coloured with Copics and added some hand made roses. The larger flowers are a combination of a stamped flower (My Minds Eye) cut out and with a smaller hand made rose in the centre - the small roses were made using shapes cut with a seven-eights inch 6-petalled punch. Background paper from papermania was overstamped using the same flower stamp. The leaves were punched with the new Stampin Up bird and branch punch.

Handmade Flowers

My friend Anne tells me she has managed to do a scheduled post so I'm about to try to see if I can have any success this time. If this publishes today I might just have to make something else to publish tomorrow!!!

Background paper here is by Papermania from ages ago with the addition of a Whimsical Words stamp by stampin Up. The flowers were hand made combining a stamped image from My Mind's Eye with the centre 'roses' being made from punched shapes - again small and fiddly. The background paper was overstamped with the same flower.

Flower Birthday

Browsing round a craft shop recently I was tempted by some MME papers and a decoupage flower pad in Wild Asparagus design - I just added some ribbon and a greeting to complete this quick card.

Three, Two One

The Allsorts challenge number 12 is to follow a 'recipe' of three flowers, two papers and one ribbon. I have used three Prima flowers, two papers from the Bloom and Grow set by MME and a toning ribbon. Stamped image is from Stampin Up.