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.

Simply Stampin' Challenge 69

There is a theme challenge at Simply Stampin' this week and one of my favourites - VINTAGE.  After giving it some thought I decided to go along with the obvious choice of using SU Vintage Vogue stamp set which I've combined with other suitable items.  Background paper was from Tim Holtz Shabby Vintage pad. The details are:-

Vintage Vogue - flowers stamped and cut out, also sentiment cut with SU label punch
Vintage wheel - stamped across background to form a border
Notably Ornate - label stamped and cut out
Framelits die cut run through a Textured Impressions embossing folder
Quickcitz dies - cameo and oval
SU ink pad - Simply Suede
Tim Holtz - Distress ink pad Tea Dye
SU card - crumb cake and simply suede

Less is More week 8

The challenge this week over at Less is More is to follow a sketch which is a great way of composing a card and it is surprising how many different interpretations there can be from the same starting point.  I took a cream DL card and added a punched strip using a Martha Stewart punch - this had a darker strip of card behind to show through the design.  A cameo was cut using Quickcutz dies and this in turn was mounted onto a shape cut with a Marianne die.  The addition of a simple stamped greeting completes this clean and simple card and it was interesting to use a tall card as somehow the 'white space' seems more with these proportions.

Cameo

This cameo  - a Quickcutz diecut - has been sitting in one of my many bits boxes for absolutely ages so I decided it was about time I used up some of these bits and pieces.  It has been mounted onto a Marianne doily diecut and the background papers are from the Hampstead range by Papermania.  The flowers are also Marianne dies and the sentiment is a computer one using SU punches.

Looking at this and yesterday's post it appears I am in a brown mode!

Bah Humbug Challenge 30

Well at last my decorating work is finished and all that remains is for me to put back all the books and other things onto my shelves and into cupboards.  I'm going to try my best to de clutter a bit and get rid of items which I've not actually looked at in ages but who knows how successful I will be?? Things  are looking quite minimalist at the moment which isn't really me!

I've taken time out to make a card for the Bah Humbug challenge this week which is is 'Through the Window' using an image and background paper from Joanna Sheen's Enchanted Christmas CD set which can always be relied upon to come up with wonderful pictures for seasonal cards. A Fiskars border punch and Quickcutz corner dies have been used as well. As we are at week 30 this must mean I have at least 30 cards ready for December - this was such a brilliant idea - thanks BH team!!

Male card

A quick card today using a digital image (ready coloured this time) from Charmed Cards and Crafts - background paper from Papermania, borders were left over from some papers printed from Polkadoodles CD and corners were from Quickcutz dies

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.

Cameo

During one of my many efforts to get my crafting things into some semblance of order I came across a box of die cuts which I'd done ages ago when I had the bright idea of cutting shapes from some of my small scraps of left over card instead of just keeping them as scraps. All I seem to have done is keep them as die cuts so now I'm trying to use some of them up. Most of the time when I intend to use these sort of things they just don't match what I'm making currently or I don't have any more card of that particularl colour - I'm sure you've all done the same sort of thing or is it just me that can't bear to throw away small bits and pieces.

however I did incorporate this cameo (Quickcutz dies) into a card with a new die cut shape using a Nellies die which is mirri card sanded and sponged with distress ink to tone it down and give a different look. Background paper is from Papermania Hampstead pack and the strip across the centre is made using Stampin Up vintage stamp wheel. I made a large flower using bits and pieces and the leaves, also in sanded mirri card are punched using a Papermania leaf punch.

Lovebirds

Today's card is an anniversary one made for friends of mine - I know they have received it so it is safe to post. I used background paper from a pad which has lost its cover so not sure where it came from (I'm always doing this!!); the new bird and leaf punch from stampin Up was used with SU card - chocolate chip, blush blossom and close to cocoa which luckily went well with the background. The flower has been spritzed with Glimmer Mist, the heart was a Sizzix die, photo corners were Quickcutz. Matching ribbon and a Spellbinders tab complete this card.

Follow your Heart

This card uses stamps from Whimsical Words and Happy Moments by Stampin Up, Nellies dies together with ribbon and papers from my stash. At last it is a bright sunny morning and looks as if Spring can't be far away - hooray!

Birthday Celebrations

The Penny Black Challenge team are celebrating their first birthday this week and the challenge was to make a celebration card of some kind. I love these frog (toad actually) stamps and thought they looked in celebratory mood. There are lots of goodies on offer too so do have a look.

One Card for Two challenges

I've managed to make a card to cover two challenges. Cute Card Thursday is 'Bling' and Just Magnolia challenge 7 is 'Animals and Insects'.

A variety of stamps used with masks to make a scene. The tree is by Ollyphant, grass and leaves are See Dees and the remainder are Magnolia stamps. Flowers were made using Quickcutz dies and Xcut punches. Gems were added for a bit of 'Bling'.

Miaow

A change from flowers today. This cat image has been highlighted by stamping twice, then removing one eye with a circle punch and colouring green, layered over the top of the image. No cats were harmed in the making of this card!!!