Monochrome Bracelet

I can hardly believe it is Friday already - where does the time go?  I have managed to finish the monochrome bracelet and I quite like the effect - I know many people seem to wear black.  It is quite interesting to see how the different finishes on the beads as well as the colours affect the finished result and I always like to use a mix of matte and shiny as well as varying the colours.

Caterpillar Bracelet

I've made another loopy (AKA caterpillar) bracelet in a different colour combination.  I like to do beadwork in good daylight which seems difficult to come by this time of year so I had to resort to using my trusty daylight lamp which is a good substitute.  I'm teaching a class later this year and thought it would be nice to have a couple of different colour samples to show so my next plan is to go for a monochrome effect so watch this space.

Birthdays are Good for You

The stamp used on this card is one of a set from Elusive Images and one of my favourites - when people say to me that they don't like getting old I always say that I reckon it is preferable to the alternative!!  Background paper is from  Artylicious Echoes of Italy and I made a frame using Nestabilities and simply added ribbon, a couple of swirls and a few flowers which I think have produced a cheerful effect to counteract the dull dark days although the sun did actually make a brief appearance yesterday and the sky this morning looks promising too.

Bah Humbug Challenge 1

Well the good people at Bah Humbug are back again for another year of Christmas challenges and week one theme is fairies and/or holly so plenty of scope. I've incorporated both into this card by using a stamp set from Polkadoodles for the fairy, coloured with pencils; the wings were stamped onto vellum and embossed in white; background paper from my stash; holly leaves were printed and cut out (they were lying on my desk from last year but from memory were from a Polkadoodles CD).  The message was done on the computer and punched with SU punches.  I so enjoyed these challenges last year and ended the year with such a good pile of hand crafted cards that I just have to do it all again this year - thanks ladies. There is an added bonus this week with a lovely prize on offer so good luck everyone.

A Spot of Recycling

Anyone who watched Sue on C & C this morning will realise that this card is not entirely my own idea!  I've simply 'cased' her work using stamps and dies which I have.  The background is cut from an old cardboard box and distressed, striped paper is from my stash (which seems to be growing instead of reducing) and the tortoise stamp is from Stampin Up.  The ticket is a stamp from Pink gem Designs. The weather seems to be getting colder again so I do hope we aren't due any more snow.

Pansies

I just couldn't leave my second botanical stamp unused so here are some pansies coloured with pencils.  Background paper is from Papermania with a computer greeting using SU punches and finished off with a die cut swirl. It is great to be back playing with ink, stamps and paper again after the break

Fuchsias

My friend Anne (Stamps and Paper) recently used a PSX botanical stamp on a card which reminded me that I have a couple of these which I've had for years and neither have seen the light of day for absolutely ages. I coloured the flowers with pencils and simply mounted  onto toning card, background paper is Artylicious and I used some Stampin Up ribbon, a SU punch and some card candy to complete this simple any occasion card.