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.

Z is for ZIA

For anyone who doesn't know, ZIA is Zentangle Inspired Art - Zentangle is a registered name reserved for the genuine article.  My final tag for the alphatag swap just had to be this because I so enjoy drawing tangles and anyway I was at a loss to think of anything else for which I had something to use which came from Chocolate Baroque.  If you are interested in the  Art of  Zentangle there are several books and also suitable pens available on their website.  I simply stamped the words (Choco Baroque stamp) and then drew some tangles around them before sponging the edges of the tag and adding a ribbon.

Make My Monday

Having completely missed the deadline for the Make My Monday challenge last week I was determined to get my card made in time for this WHITE ON WHITE Christmas card theme.  I used a piece of seasonal music backing paper - Papermania I think from a few years back and then embossed a tree using a cuttlebug embossing folder.  A piece of ribbon and a simple sentiment from chocolate Baroque stamped in grey and there it is - the adornments on the tree are in reality clear irridescent but they look pink on the scan, however we did have the option of adding one colour so maybe this will be OK. Do follow the link and take a look at the lovely cards from their design team.

Noel

How often is it that a card I'm in the middle of working on actually fits a challenge by chance - not often I can assure you but today seems to be my lucky day because this one fits not one but two challenges. I thought it was time I started on a few special Christmas cards (late I know) and when I looked at Hels Sheridan's blog this morning NOEL is the theme of her stamping challenge this week so that one fits and also this week the Make My Monday challenge is to use a favourite flower.  I'm using a bit of licence here because I wouldn't say the poinsettia is my all time favourite but it certainly is my favourite for this time of the year; throw in a bit of steampunk and there's another favourite.  I just hope I'm in time posting for last Monday's challenge.

I started off by colouring some white card using Distress stains (Aged Mahogany and Antique Bronze) and I also did another piece of card using Victorian Velvet and Aged Mahogany to use for the background and sentiment.  The stamps used are from Chocolate Baroque Steampunk Christmas set which I just love and the flowers were stamped onto the card with metallic stain included, embossed with gold powder and cut out.  The NOEL was stamped onto the plainer card and I overstamped the background with poinsettias and snowflakes. All that remains now is to make a nice insert and that is one of my special cards ready to send off - a few more to go so will have to get a move on!!

Would you believe I missed the post for Make My Monday - will definitely have to do better this week

I'm Still Here!

I've been very bad about posting on my blog recently and I really will try harder but sometimes 'things' just get in the way.  I've managed to complete my last two tags for the alphatag swap which has been going on all year and much as I've enjoyed taking part, I am really glad to be down to the final two letters of the alphabet - they were becoming more difficult towards the end.  This one is Y for Yuletide and I've used a lovely tree stamp from Fat Robin set by Chocolate Baroque, stamped onto the background and also stamped onto coloured card, cut out and layered for dimension.  The background of the tag was achieved using Pine Needles Distress ink and Pewter Distressed stain on a glass cutting mat, lightly spritzed with water and then 'mopped up' (technical term!!) with the tag - some stamped snowflakes were added using the same colour ink..  I also did the same with some spare pieces of card and stamped the trees onto that and embossed with silver powder.  Despite searching through my vast collection of stamps I was unable to find one which had the correct word on it so resorted to using Frosty font on the computer.  A piece of matching dyed ribbon was added and that's the 'Y' tag ready.

Huge Blog Candy

There is a huge offer of blog candy from Crafty Individuals - a cool £150 worth no less.  Just check out the picture to see it all and then follow the link to visit their blog and read all about it. I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed!!

Make My Monday

At last I've actually managed to make a card this week - is it really Thursday already?? This week is the final one on Make My Monday with an autumn theme and we have been asked to use supplies - RIBBON AND BUTTONS.  Backing paper is an odd piece which I thought was just right, sorry I can't remember where it came from as it was in the oddments box along with the scraps of card used to complete the rest of the design.  Stamp used was a freebie from Craft Stamper ages ago, coloured with Copics; ribbon was a matching scrap and the flowers and buttons were Papermania ones, also bought ages ago. I won't get much done at home tomorrow either because it is our craft group meeting and then we are going out for a pre Christmas lunch - this just happens to be a restaurant within the local craft shop so maybe some retail therapy will be on the cards too.