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.

Pretty Flowers

The stamp used here is one of a set of freebies given away with a recent magazine and I do try hard to resist buying these but every now and then the stamps look so useful that I succumb.This card was made up using bits and pieces of paper and card mainly from the scraps boxes; sentiment was a wood mounted stamp from ages ago and the butterflies were stamped and punched using a set from Stampin' Up which came my way at a wonderful Extravaganza day. Border strip is an EK Success punch.  These designs are so easy to colour (I used alcohol pens) so good for quick and easy cards.

I'm planning a quiet day in the craft room today - nothing too strenuous as I'm all aches and pains after having had a little mishap yesterday when I tripped on an uneven pavement and landed flat on my face - my chin seems to have come off worst.  Believe me purple Desperate Dan is not a good look and also my ribs are feeling very sore on one side - probably landed on my handbag which I carry over that shoulder!!  Fortunately there was no one around to witness my stupidity so I picked myself up and carried on.

Home to Nest

I have to confess to being tempted to buy this set of tiny birdhouse stamps from the new Papermania Home to Nest range and they really are quite tiny especially the birds which are smaller than my small fingernail so I will have to be careful that I don't drop any of them into my waste bin - don't ask.  It happens!!  The colouring was done with Promarkers and Copics; background paper was from my stash overstamped with Tall Trees from Chocolate Baroque; Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder was used (inked with Distress Ink) for one of the layers and I punched a strip of daisies and the other bits and pieces from scrap pieces of matching card.  The daisy border is a punch from EK Success.

Art Deco Style

I was asked to come up with a card in this style for a special birthday and I always worry a bit with these special requests and just hope that the person will like what I've made. This is an 8" card, larger than my usual ones and I've used a Diane Kay image with matching backing paper from a CD by Card Creations Plus.  Some gold glamour dust was added to the model's jewellery and some toning bling on the corners of the card.  Numbers were cut using X-cut dies and the sentiment printed on the computer.

Flower Show

I've made my second quintile for the Chocolate Baroque swap on the theme of Chelsea Flower Show.  This time the background was made during my first foray into the realms of using the gelli plate with some acrylic paints which have been lying around the house for ages so the colour choice was somewhat limited and is a bit darker than I thought it would be. However I thought the greenish result would make a good background for the poppy image  which has been a favourite of mine for a long time probably because it makes me think of Art Nouveau designs from way back. It was stamped onto watercolour paper and coloured with Inktense pencils.

Things That Fly

The challenge this week on Make My Monday has been set by Suzi B and there is a prize as well for one lucky entrant so worth taking a look to see what the design team have made for inspiration. The theme is 'anything that flies' and I dug out some wood mounted stamps which I've had for many, many years and there is no information on the blocks as to who made them but I thought they would fit this challenge nicely as a change from the usual butterflies or birds which immediately came to mind.  The background was made using Distress Inks with a touch of Glimmer Mist, overstamped with some swirls and of course the sentiment (Creative Expressions).  The insects were cut out using a Sizzix die (Stampin' Up).

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.