A Taste of India

I think you will be able to tell what colour my fingers are after creating this card which was inspired when I spotted a magazine (yes again!!) giving away freebies.  This time there were some stamps and a small embossing folder from the Indian range by Sheena Douglass.  I happened to have the large embossing folder which forms the main image but hadn't yet used it - shame.  I searched through my stock of Artilicious papers (now Chocolate Baroque) and found this one which I thought would be just right - I added border stamping top and bottom using one of the free stamps.  I used the free folder to emboss an odd piece of black card and used Treasure Gold wax to bring out the pattern.  Incidentally the embossing isn't as deep with the free folder - Sheena is known for the lovely depth of her folders giving pronounced embossing.  Now onto the main image and my fingers - people not knowing me would think I'm a heavy smoker!!  After embossing I highlighted the lines using a Stazon ink pad before blending four colours of Distress ink for the architecture - some areas were bleached out with water.  I have to confess that I was a bit heavy handed with the black ink pad and managed to get a smudge in the small window near bottom right so had to cut that out and add a layer behind using card sponged with matching DI over stamped using one design from an Indian themed cube stamp which I've had for years - how lucky was that.

Background - paper from Chocolate Baroque (Artilicious)
Main image - embossing folder from India range Sheena Douglass
Black panel - free embossing folder from India range
Stamps - free from magazine, including borders and sentiment

Snippets Playground 134

This card for the Pixie Snippets challenge started out with a good sized snippet of Stampin' Up designer paper from their latest 'In Colours' - a friend kindly gave me a few pieces so that I could see for myself how lovely they are and I do love the combination of blackberry and honey.  These new colours are on my wish list but for the time being I rooted through my bits boxes and came up with some pieces which I could use and found that Rich Razzleberry and More Mustard tone in so I used some of these 'snippets' to die cut the banners.  The dictionary stamp was used on an odd piece of white paper, sponged and over stamped with some splodges.  Flowers were stamped with the same colours - luckily I have the matching ink pads.

Background - Stampin' Up designer paper and Dictionary stamp, splodges from French Foliage set
Banners - Sizzix banners dies (SU)
Sentiment - from Wetlands stamp set (SU) oval punch
Flowers - Beautiful Bunch stamp set with matching punch
Leaves - Marianne die

Son's Birthday Card

There is a story to this card which I made especially in time for my son's birthday which was on Thursday.  Card was duly put into the post early on Tuesday morning with a first class large stamp ~ it only had to travel a few miles within the county.  I was annoyed and disappointed that it hadn't arrived on the correct day and in fact he only received it this morning (Saturday) - four days to travel a short distance from one town to the next!!  It appears that postage charges keep rising and service diminishes - sorry rant over but it does make me cross.  I was beginning to think I'd have to text him a photo of it instead.

Anyway to the card - image came from a Just Inklined CD - you might guess he is a keen photographer.  Other details are below.

Background - paper from a Papermania pad from a few years back
Embossed panel - Tim Holtz folder on scrap of card
Sentiment - from computer on stamped and punched label (Stampin' Up)
Image- Just Inklined cut out with Spellbinders die

Pastel

I seem to have made quite a few cards recently using pastel colour ways and this is one of them.  Again I  have used mainly bits and pieces from my oddments boxes and sometimes it is a real challenge finding matching or toning pieces.  Details are underneath the image.  At the moment it isn't as sunny as it has been but maybe it will brighten up later on, at least it is dry after a short spell of gentle rain yesterday morning.

Background - remnant from a 12" sheet of paper (Stampin' Up I think)
Shaped layers - Sizzix Thinlits dies  for SU, one embossed using X-cut folder
Flower - D-lights Dandylion (their spelling) from Spellbinders
Sentiment - computer generated on Cuttlebug die cut shapes

Something New - to Me Anyway

In a recent post Di was wondering if she needed to get out more - read all about it HERE.  I had heard about these bracelets made from rubber bands using a fancy sort of loom but wasn't sure if I should start yet another craft. However curiosity got the better of me so I had a look around Tesco while topping up with a few food items and spotted packets of the bands but no kits or looms.  I bought a couple of colours thinking that maybe I could look online and find out how to do this and happily there are designs which can be done without using a loom.  The fishtail pattern I've done here can be worked on the fingers but apparently one drawback to that is being unable to put it down until it is finished so I resorted to using two pencils instead.  My little bracelet was finished so quickly and I can quite see that this is something else which could become addictive so maybe, like Di, I also need to get out more!!  I'm sure the bands are available in more subtle colours but all Tesco had to offer were mainly fluorescent ones.  I have a more serious beaded necklace to finish off so should really apply myself to getting that done before I get sidetracked into any more odd pursuits.

Pixie Snippets Take Two

In an effort to use up a few odd bits and pieces I decided to make my second card for the Pixie Snippets challenge (three in two weeks for a chance to win a pretty butterfly stamp).  Again the only item which wasn't lying around on my desk is the embossed background - a piece of Centura Pearl embossed and sponged with ink.  The corners were ones which I'd die cut  specifically for a card recently and then realised that my topper had been stamped onto cream card and of course the corners are white pearl - senior moment I reckon! The swirl, flowers and their background were all cut from scraps.  Well that's  two posts in one day but now I must get on with something else so no more from me today.

Background - Centura Pearl card embossed with Crafter's Companion Rose Vine folder
Corners - Marianne die, also Centura Pearl card
Mat - die cut using Stampin' Up Apothecary Accents die, embossed with Swiss Dots
Flowers - Marianne die and Stampin' Up punches
Swirl - Sue Wilson Grand Vinery die set

Pixie Snippets Week 133

I've used up a few more of my snippets of card by stamping and punching some flowers, a bow and other bits to make this card for the Pixie Snippets challenge this week. Everything on this card was made from various snippets of card apart from the pale plum background piece   There is the chance of an extra prize as well this time around for entering three cards within two weeks, worth I try I think.

Edges of dark panel - cut using Spellbinders border die
Square shapes - cut using Spellbinders Decorative Labels 22
Sentiment - computer generated on stamped Label Love with matching punch (Stampin' Up)
Bow - Die-namics die cut, embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss dots folder
Flowers - Stampin' Up stamps with matching punches