Bird Amongst the Flowers

I challenged myself yesterday to use a 'chicken wire' die cut which my friend Anne kindly gave me a while ago and after some thought I came up with the idea of making it the backdrop for some flowers.  I started by cutting a frame using Stampin' Up die (Framelits Labels) which I then embossed using a folder from Couture Creations; another shape was cut and embossed for the backing before I sandwiched the 'chicken wire' between the two layers.  Backing paper was a leftover piece from a Prima pad and a border strip was punched (EK Success).  When I was at the Extravaganza Day we used the SU bird punch which made me realise I'd not used mine for such a long time, so inspired by that I've used a punched bird to sit in the flowers which were stamped with Petite Petals set which we also received on the day.  There is a punch to match these flower stamps but unfortunately I don't have it yet so they were cut out wish scissors - leaves were cut with a Tattered Lace Die.  This all took quite a time to assemble but I'm pleased to have made use of the gift die cut.  I'm wondering now if I should have used brown for the bird, but I didn't really want to introduce another colour but I think he might have shown up more if I had.

More...

I'm so enjoying working through some of the techniques in the Creative Chemistry from Tim Holtz and this card incorporates effects like shattered glass, tarnished silver, faux rust etc - obviously I can't go into to details but I know lots of my 'viewers' have been following along as well so they might recognise the various elements. Can't stop to write more at the moment as I'm off to patchwork group, somewhat reluctantly I must say - I need to 'play' some more!!

Silhouette

The idea this week on Make My Monday is to use a silhouette on the project so I've used one of my favourite silhouette stamps - the agapanthus from Stampendous which is a versatile image.  This time it was stamped once then repeated without reinking which gives some perspective.  Distress inks were dusted across the cut out shape (Stampin' Up label from Sizzix), then I simply added a sentiment and a couple of  stamped and punched butterflies (SU).  Background paper is from Prima, overstamped with the agapanthus.

Occupational Therapy

I can definitely recommend spending time immersed in crafts of some kind as an excellent way of keeping the mind off any aches and pains and of course it beats just sitting quietly and resting because there is an end result.  I made several cards and also printed some decoupage sheets so that I could sit in the warm yesterday cutting them out (it was really cold here).  Today is a beautiful sunny day and thanks to a kind friend who volunteered to drive me I've been to my patchwork group meeting where of course I received lots of advice such as 'taking more water with it' and so on!!

The card I'm sharing today was made using one of the flowers from Chocolate Baroque Punky Flowers set although this is more a fantasy flower than steampunk style (I'm not sure Steampunk style would fit for a sympathy card).  Image was coloured with Polychromos pencils on watercolour paper and has been cut out using a Sizzix (Stampin'Up) die.Backing paper is by Prima the the smaller piece is from the scrap box.

Another Literary Challenge

The challenge at Make My Monday this week is another literary one, this time the book is Jane Eyre.  Luckily we have been given a book cover as well as a brief outline of the story for inspiration and as you know I don't 'do' worthy literature so I've taken the book cover as my theme.  I realised when I was checking my box of cards that I was very short of Sympathy cards and I do like to keep a few to hand, hoping they won't be needed too often, so it is a case of 'two birds with one stone' today.  Backing paper is from Prima Script pad, the embossed panel is heavy watercolour paper embossed using a Cuttlebug folder which had been inked with Distress ink.  The cameo is a very old die from Quickcutz and is mounted onto a piece of black card embossed using a Sizzix oval tag folder (Stampin' Up).  Words produced on the computer and layered onto punched ovals (also SU).

I'm still nursing my injuries but as long as I'm careful not to make any sudden movements or bend down too often the aches and pains are bearable.  I'm still sporting a purple chin though and I guess that will turn all shades before it fades away.  Thanks for the good wishes and advice given in varous comments - much appreciated.I think another day of occupational therapy in the craft room might be advisable today.

Diamonds and Flowers

I've just made the first of my Quintiles for the Chocolate Baroque swap where the theme for May is 'Chelsea Flower Show' and as it happens I've included a trellis die cut which with a bit of lateral thinking makes this suitable for the Sunday Stamper Challenge today with the theme of diamonds or pearls.  The background here is some Prima paper purchased from CB and I've used their stamp set called Sunny Sunflowers although I've chosen to colour mine differently.  They were stamped onto watercolour paper and coloured using Inktense pencils, cut out carefully and layered up for some dimension - the leaves are from the same set of stamps. The trellis die is by Spellbinders and the embossing folder is by Sizzix.  On now to the second Quintile - a lovely theme this month because I actually have quite a few (aka lots!!) of CB floral stamps to choose from so watch this space.

One for the Boys

Well this is the theme this week for the Make My Monday challenge and often making a card suitable for a man is a challenge in itself anyway.  I've used  Tim Holtz Stampers' anonymous stamps with kraft card using both white and black inks for variety. Background paper is from the wonderful scripts pad by Prima and various bits and pieces have been used as embellishments, details below - goody, more scraps of card used!! Even the piece of black raffia was tied around a packet of home made cakes from the local farm shop - I told you I can't bear to throw anything away!!

Postage stamp punch and stamp - Stampin' Up
Tattered banner - Tim Holtz die (Sizzix)
Large oval punch - stampin' Up
Oval embossing on tag - Sizzix for SU
Cog - X-cut die with screw head brad in centre
Stampers' Anonymous stamps
Prima script pad

Free Stamp from Craft Stamper

I've used the free stamp which appeared on the current issue of Craft Stamper - this wasn't an impulse buy though because I actually have this magazine on subscription.  The image was stamped twice and the moth, or is it a buterfly?? was coloured, glittered and cut out so that I could add some dimension. Background paper is from a Prima scripts pad and all the other elements were made using bits and pieces from my scraps.   A clock die cut using a Marianne die; small 'postage stamp' using a Stampin' Up stamp and matching punch; square behind image was embossed using a script embossing folder, layered onto a Spellbinders large 'postage stamp' style die cut; thank you message stamped onto a Tim Holtz ticket with a bit of splodgy overstamping.

More Snow Today!

Well I guessed last week's snow was hanging around for more and it started again late yesterday - still coming down in big flakes this morning so I'm not going anywhere.  I did manage to get out for a walk on Sunday while the roads were OK and called into my local craft shop for some envelopes and a pretty border die from Joy sort of leapt into my basket!!  I've used it on this card with some embossed card, an image stamped onto patterned Prima paper and cut out with a Spellbinders label die.  The stamp is by Stampin' Up and the main backing paper is also from Prima, overstamped with a similar image by Chocolate Baroque.

Get Well Card

I wanted to make a get well card and as I was clearing a space on my desk in which to work I came across this frame which I'd cut especially to go on another card and then somehow it didn't work.  Rather than consign it to the bits box I thought I'd make myself use it straight away.  Luckily this silhouette stamp from Stampin' Up was of a suitable size so I stamped it onto a scrap of white card, brushed lightly with blue ink and mounted it behind the frame.  Backing paper is from Prima  and the oddment of whitewash core-d'inations card was put through the Big Shot with a Cuttlebug folder then sanded and inked.  A computer greeting punched with SU punches and there it is a fairly quick and easy card suitable for male or female.

Make My Monday

This is the final challenge for this year at Make My Monday because they are having a couple of weeks off - well deserved because they have worked hard to bring us some very interesting challenges.  This time they've given us a bingo card choice and I went with the diagonal line of  PATTERNED PAPER, FLOWERS AND WORDS.

The background paper is from a Prima script pad and the die cut piece of patterned paper is a scrap using the Top Note die from Stampin' Up.  The main image is a stampe I've had for a long time but which remains a firm favourite - from Elusive Images (now of course Chocolate Baroque).  It was stamped twice and the daisies were cut out and layered for dimension, colouring done with Distress Inks and Coloursoft pencils.  It is nice to be making something non seasonal for a change and once past the longest day on Friday, hopefully we can start to look forward to the Spring.

Make My Monday Autumn

The Autumn theme continues at Make My Monday and this week they want us to use some vellum.  I came across this image on Joanna Sheen's Royal Horticultural Society collections CD.  It was printed onto both card and vellum and I've also used a strip of the matching backing paper on top of the main background of Prima paper.  The vellum was torn across and then layered onto the topper.  Edges of the papers were sponged with Cranberry Adirondack ink and the ribbon was also dyed using a pool of the ink spritzed on a glass cutting mat - fingers now an interesting shade so I really should remember not to get dye inks all over them!!  A simple stamped greeting finishes off this card.

I'm hoping the relentless rain eases off later because I  have to venture out to post off a birthday card today if it is to reach its destination on the correct day so it will be a case of donning waterproof footwear!!

Floral Theme

The theme this week on Addicted to Stamps and More challenge is FLOWERS  so not too difficult to find a floral stamp in my collection.  This stamp comes from Crafty Individuals and is a favourite of mine because it lends itself to all kinds of techniques.  This time I've chosen to go back to a technique I've not used for ages using alcohol inks with acetate and tissue paper.  Originally this involved using a particular liquid floor polish which if I recall was often difficult to come by and the whole technique was a bit messy and took ages to dry.  This time I used Glossy Accents which dried a lot more speedily.  The finished panel was trimmed and mounted onto  black card; backing paper is from Prima and has been overstamped with a flourish stamp (Chocolate Baroque) in green;   black card was embossed using a Cuttlebug folder, then spritzed with Green Glimmer Mist; the butterflies were stamped onto some of the green background scraps using a free stamp from Craft Stamper, cut out then sprayed with Goosebumps.  A greeting and a few pearls and that's it - a floral card.

Acomplete change in the weather - after yesterday's beautiful sunshine it is very dark and lashing with rain!!

A Bingo Card

I think I might just be catching up a bit although there is still some of the dreaded housework staring me in the face this morning.  The people at Addicted to Stamps and More have given us a bingo challenge this week, where we can chose three items from a line to make a project.

I selected DIES, BIRTHDAY AND FREE (embossing) to make this card.  Background paper is from Prima, the main image is a digital stamp from Just Inklined, punched out with a Stampin' Up punch and popped onto an embossed frame by Sizzix (SU), I die cut a Top Note shape,  embossed, sanded and inked to show up the detail.  The swirl was a Marianne die cut from a scrap of spritzed card (forgotten what it was spritzed with now as it was from the bits box), as was theSizzix dragonfly.  I used a few odd bits for the flower embellishment and to die cut for the sentiment.

Now I really must step away from the computer and press on with the h****work - excuse the rude word!!

For a Friend

Have you ever spotted a 'must-have' die or stamp on a blog, purchased said item, only to find that it is much larger or smaller than it appeared??  Well that was the case with this lovely Marianne die set - much larger than I thought but at least it didn't need the addition of too much to turn in into a special card with a simple stamped sentiment from Stampin' Up. If you are wondering, this is a six inch card.  I made the roses using a Creative Expressions embossing folder and cutting out the individual flowers to manipulate and layer - a bit fiddly but something which can be done easily while watching TV. The leaves were made using a Crealies die and of course cut from some of my scraps.  Backing paper is from a Prima pad - love their designs.  Not the best photo but the light isn't brilliant at the moment and the flowers are too deep for a good result using the scanner.

Make My Monday Challenge

This month on Make My Monday the theme is to be FRENCH and for this first week it is PARIS.  I decided to go for an autumnal look and yes I know that traditionally it is 'springtime in Paris' - I'm thinking outside the box here!!  Backing paper is from Prima and has been overstamped with some images from Chocolate Baroque Paris plate; the postcard was made from a scrap of kraft card and the Notre Dame image (both CB also) stamped on a scrap of watercolour paper which had been used to 'mop up' some Distress stains from a glass mat. Leaves and corn etc were cut from another piece of inky watercolour paper using a Tim Holtz Sizzix die and the sentiment was cut out using a neat die from Crealy.  There are some great French themed cards from the Design Team so well worth a look.

Vintage Travel

The theme this week on Make My Monday is VINTAGE TRAVEL and I've managed to keep up this week and actually complete a card before the time ran out.  Apologies for missing the last two weeks of this challenge but time has been flying for me.  Backing paper here is from a wonderful script pad by Prima (almost too nice to cut into) and I've overstamped with stamps from Creative Expressions; the tickets and embellishment are also CE stamps.   The main image is from a set of vintage transport stamps by Tanda - a bit of Cuttlebug embossing and some tied twine and that's it - vintage travel which could be an 'any occasion' card suitable for a man.  I almost forgot to say that apart from the piece of Prima paper everything else on the card was made using scraps from my bits boxes.

Haberdashery

Today's card is a result of a bit of a play with some haberdashery elements from various sources.  The dress form is a stamp from Chocolate Baroque and it has been stamped and paper pieced using a scrap of Tim Holtz shabby vintage paper; the backing paper is from Prima Nature Garden collection (no connection with haberdashery but I thought the design was just right); the strip of lace is another CB stamp from a lovely set with lots of lace; the tape measure, cotton reels and saying are from a Creative Expressions vintage sewing collection; the scissors cut with a Marianne die and finally the buttons were made using a Sizzix embosslits die from Stampin' Up. Apart from the background paper,  everything on this card  was made with odd pieces from my scrap boxes.

I hope everyone had a good Bank Holiday weekend despite the horrible weather (a good enough reason to stay in playing with ink and stamps) - of course the sun is shining from a blue sky this morning!!

Addicted to Stamps Challenge Week 2

For this second challenge the team on Addicted to Stamps have given us a bingo card as an aid to making a project - the idea being to choose any three items in a line and you will see they've been kind and given us a 'free' choice in the middle.

 I opted for the flowers, free (I used scoring) and stamps line and have 'CASED' a card from Jenny's blog and also made a matching gift box for a birthday which is next month although not sure at the moment what the gift will be but will need to fit into the box!! I chose a different colour combination for my items (Perfect Plum, Pale Plum and Cream) and changed the design of the card somewhat using Nature Garden paper from Prima overstamped to add interest and this paper was also used on the box.   The stamps are from Stampin' Up Everything Eleanor set and there was quite a bit of cutting out of shapes and flowers, the sentiment was produced on the computer and punched using SU punches. Matching paper was added to the box and the rosette was made using their new Scoring Board with the diagonal board being used to add scored lines to the cream layer. This board is brilliant, especially with the diagonal insert and the lines are in 1/8th inch incremennts which are so useful.  Since taking the photograph of the box  I've added pearls to the centre of the flowers (the card was scanned which has made the colours look different but the two items do match).

Do check out the two links to see which bingo lines the DT chose for their cards and to see lots of great Stampin' Up ideas and classes on Jenny's blog.

Make My Monday week 52

The main topic this month at Make My Monday is EVENTS associated with JUNE and as the birth stone for the month is PEARL they are asking for a birthday card with pearls.  I'm afraid I just had to break into a new sheet of paper for the background on this one but the rest of it all came from my scrap boxes.  The flower is a stamp from Imagination Crafts and has been coloured using Coloursoft pencils, background paper is from Prima  with added strips of card embossed or punched.  The border strip was punched with a Martha Stewart punch and Stampin' Up punches were used for the sentiment and the piece with pearls at the top. If you follow the link you will see  some great ideas from the Design Team.