Flowers and Fairies!

Hello, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas - now we are heading for New Year!

Quite a clean and simple card from me today.  The main image is from a fantastic clear stamp set from Penny Black called Botanical Garden - I actually bought it with a gift token I won from a previous Penny Black challenge, thank you Penny Black!  The fairies are from Inkylicious and the sentiment is from a clear set called Hope Blooms from Stamplorations.  All the stamping is done in black Versafine and I embossed just the flowers with detail clear powder.  The flowers are coloured with a couple of different purple Promarkers then I used Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen on them and the fairy wings.  The little stones are from my stash.

This is a quick post as I am a bit near the finish line for one of the challenges I want to enter!

I would like to enter the following:

Butterfly Challenges - all kinds of Fairies, Gnomes, Elves and Pixies.   I only just made it in time!
Penny Black and More - Black and White Plus One.
Stamping Sensations - Floral Fancies.

These are all awesome challenges - you need to have a look!

Thank you so much for visiting me!  Take care and have a wonderful week. Christine xxx

A Very Special Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas to all my lovely, lovely visitors!  I am saying it with a very special card which was made by my Daughter Sarah and my two Granddaughters - Freya aged three and Millie aged one.

I just love it!  Freya and Millie's cute footprints with the googly eyes and pom pom red noses - such a fabulous idea and a wonderful keepsake!  The best Rudolphs ever!

Here are my gorgeous granddaughters putting out food for Santa and the reindeer ready for their arrival.

Ooh I love them to bits!  They look so cute in their Christmas jumpers!

Have an absolutely wonderful Christmas Day!  Lots of yummy food, drink and fun!
Take care. Lots of festive love! Christine xxx

Snow, Snow, Snow!

I was very lucky recently to have won a challenge at IndigoBlu and as well as winning some awesome stamps, I was asked to be Guest Designer.  What an honour! Thank you very much IndigoBlu! Very daunting though to have my card shown amongst such a talented design team, scary indeed!  Here is my effort.

The main image is the absolutely beautiful Bare Forest 1, which is one of the fabulous stamps I won. Firstly, I made the inky background using Sheena's stamping card.  I put Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet and Shaded Lilac Distress inks on my craft mat.  Spritzed with water then pressed the card in it and wriggled it around a bit.  I dabbed it with kitchen roll then dried with my heat gun then dropped some droplets of water over it, let work for a second, then dabbed with kitchen roll and dried with my heat gun.  Then a quick spritz with Abominable Snowman Glimmer Mist for shimmer and another dry with my heat gun and it was done.  I swiped over with an anti-static bag before stamping the image in Versamark and embossing with white detail powder then trimmed to the size I wanted.  I added dries white glue along the bottom and glue pen on the trees then poured Glamour Dust over the glue for sparkle then set aside to dry.  I also dotted dries white glue over my purple card base and added Glamour Dust to that too and left to dry.  Using the same inked card, I cut the snowflakes using Tim Holtz Mini Paper Snowflakes dies and the sentiment which is from Stamplorations - I used my Big shot.  I also cut the sentiment in a white card to layer just behind to look like snow. Glamour Dust was added to all the die cuts too.  When everything was good and dry, I popped the main image up on foam tape for dimension and then glued the snowflakes and sentiment on flat adding pearls for a bit of bling.

I was pleased how this turned out and I have two Christmas cards ready for next year!  Yay!

Thank you again to IndigoBlu  - this is a fabulous challenge, so please join in!  Its fun and you might win some awesome stamps like I did and be Guest Designer!

I would like to enter the following Challenges:

A Vintage Journey - Winter Magic.
Cuttlebug Mania - A Christmas Card in any colour except red or green.
Bizzy Becs - Anything Goes

These are all  fabulous challenges!

Thank you for visiting me, I hope you are ready for Christmas!  Its nearly here!
Take care! Christine xxx

Miss You!

My husband was very recently in hospital in London having some treatment for five days and because of the distance, I couldn't visit!  I missed him so much so made him a card to tell him so. Unfortunately, it disappeared somewhere on route and never arrived! So all he got was a photo!

The background is from my snippets box and is a brayered piece that I did on gloss card a few years ago.  I used a multi coloured die ink.  I can't remember what it was called.  The tree is Memory Box Twiggy Tree and the stars are from a Mama Elephant die.  The sentiment is from a Stamplorations clear stamp set called Frames and Flowers and I added the little white heart stone from my stash.  I matted it on black to bring out the colours and used the green card base.  It didn't match but I thought it went with all the colours nicely.  I was gutted Darren didn't received it, never mind, the thought was there!  I was very glad when I went up to London to travel back with him and he was home again!  He was very glad too!  Unfortunately the treatment didn't help the pain he is in anyway!  Back to see the consultant in London tomorrow to see what's next!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Pixies Snippets Playground - use Snippets - everything apart from the card base is a snippet!
Bizzy Becs - Anything Goes

Thank you so much for visiting.  I appreciate it so very much!  Take care. Christine xxx

My Husbands Christmas Card!

The quickest post ever today as I am just about to miss the deadline for Pixie's Snippets Playground and I didn't manage to join in last week so I don't want to miss this week!

Here is the Christmas card I made my husband - its very similar to one I blogged a couple of weeks ago but he really liked that one so I went with the same basic design with a few tweaks!

My hand cut Christmas Trees are from snippets of, very old, leftover Christmas paper.  The snow hill is torn from a scrap of white card and edged with dries white glue and glitter.  The heart is a wooden one from my stash and I painted it green to match the trees then added Stickles for sparkle and the little gem.  The starry banners are Tinsel Ropes by Memory Box and are cut from scraps.  The sentiment is from a lovely clear set from Casual Fridays called Must Love Snowflakes and I added lots of stones and snow with a white gel pen.

I am entering this into Pixies Snippets Playground - use snippets.
I am also entering into Creative Carte Blance - Song Lyrics - I just got an 'ear worm' of Maria Carey singing her Christmas song "All I want for Christmas is You" and realised it fits the challenge! Now I don't like Maria Carey songs much but I do like Christmas songs so that's ok!

Thank you so much for visiting.  I really appreciate it.
Have a lovely weekend. Take care Christine xxx

Emboss Resist Christmas Card

Hello, its the weekend again and December already! -  the time goes so quickly.  A Christmas card today.

This is a bit smaller than A6 as the main image is small.  I started out with a small piece of leftover gloss card that I had embossed with Versamark ink and clear powder.  The stamp I had used was Cover A Card, Tree Line, and I had not embossed it properly when I did it a while ago.  So, I had cut away the outside pieces that went wrong and popped this in my bits box.  I pulled it out, inked it with Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet and Chipped Sapphire Distress inks then wiped the excess off the embossing.  I love the more delicate and smooth effect it has on gloss card!  I wasn't sure what to do with it then I remembered my fabulous, unused, Crafts Too Embossing Folder - perfect!  I embossed it through my Big Shot then glued it onto a purple card base I made.  I carefully used a one inch punch to make the squares which I kept in line to give the effect I wanted.  I glued three squares in a line in the central panel of the embossed piece.  I added Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Sprinkles with a Quickie Glue Pen for lots of sparkle.  The original piece that I had was big enough to give me six squares so I have two cards, Yay!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Less is More - Emboss Resist Technique
Pixies Snippets Playground - use snippets - my stamped images were snippets and the pieces of card I used for the embossing were leftovers too!

Thank you so much for visiting me - its really appreciated!  Have a fabulous weekend.
Take care. Christine xxx

Christmas Tree Tag!

A second post from me today!  They are like a bus, nothing for ages then they all come at once! A Christmas tag.

The tags are cut with a fabulous Sizzix die, The first thing I did was put Cosmic Shimmer White embossing paste through the awesome Stamplorations stencil then sprinkled with glitter.  The sentiment is a clear stamp that I have had for ages, I can't remember the make.  Its stamped in Satin Red Versafine and inked with Peeled Paint Distress Ink the same as the white tag.  I edged everything with glitter, added the wooden snowflakes, red stones to the star and the snowflakes, ribbon and sparkly fibres and white gel pen for snow.  I layered the white tag behind to add a bit of interest.

Sorry, very quick post, hope it makes sense!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Stamplorations - Make a holiday tag.

ScrappyMo's Rudolph Days Challenge - Anything Christmas
Bizzy Becs - Anything goes

Thank you so much for visiting me, I really appreciate it so very much!  I will pop to see you all in the next couple of days - I am behind as usual! Sorry!

Have a fabulous weekend.  Take care. Christine xxx

Vintage (I think!) Thinking of You Card

The theme at Less is More this week is 'Vintage'.  I didn't have a lot of time and I really wanted to join in so I made this quick card.  I think it will be accepted as vintage - the image has a vintage vibe as does the colour choice so I hope it fits!

The image is Lakeside Shore by Sheena Douglass and I stamped it in Versafine Vintage Sepia on cream card.  The sentiment was free with a magazine.  I glued it onto a Kraft card background - a definite CAS card.

I would like to enter it into the following challenges:

Less is More - Vintage
Bizzy Becs - Anything Goes

I am doing well this last couple of days, I blogged yesterday and might even manage another post later today!  Clean and simple help with that!

Thank you for visiting me!  I really appreciate it!  Take care. Christine xxx

Do Foolish Things!

Hello!  Thank you so much for being here!  Happy Thanksgiving to all my lovely friends in the USA. I hope you are having an awesome day and are having much too much fun to be reading my blog today!

This card started out with the fabulous Paperartsy Jofy 09 flowers.  They are so quirky, I love them! I have had some square pieces of acetate type material that is thinner and a bit milky looking and actually were separating slices of smoked cheese!  I knew they would come in useful so I washed them up and added them to my crafty stash.  At last I have used a couple of them!  I pounced them with Alcohol Inks - Oregano, Steam and Purple Twilight.  Then I stamped the flowers with black Archival Ink on the reverse, and when dry, I fussy cut the flower heads out.  The background is inked with Seedless Preserves, Mermaid Lagoon and Peeled Paint then spritzed with Glimmer Mist.  The flowers were stamped with black Versafine then I glued the Alcohol Inked flower heads on with Matt Medium.  The words are from a fab set by Woodware clear set number BD23 2DE.  I have not used it  before - I love the sentiment!  I stamped and embossed in black, cut out and inked with the same Distress Inks then edged with a black Promarker. I also edged the main piece and the purple mat with the black Promarker too.  The little flowers are made from a Memory Box Die called Star Flowers.  The teeny tiny fairies are by Cardio stamps.  For bling and sparkle I added stones to the large flowers and Stickles to the die cut flowers, the fairy wings and the background.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

PaperArtsy - Alcohol Inks/Pens. - I was inspired by the original challenge post - the colours and versatility of alcohol inks.  My effort is quite simple but I am inspired to be more adventurous in the future!
Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets (I used Snippets of card for my sentiment and flowers).
Craft Barn - Bling it up and use Purple, Turquoise and Green.

Fabulous challenge blogs - worth a visit for sure!

Thank you so much for visiting me, I really appreciate it!  Take care. Christine xxx

Monochrome Christmas

Hello again!  My last Christmas card post earlier today was really bright so with this one I have gone the opposite and its monochrome.  I do love creating in different styles.

This card was so quick and simple but I love it!  Mind you, I absolutely adore this image however I use it!  Its by IndigoBlu and is called Stag Cliffhanger.  All the stamping is done in black Versafine. The edging is also done with the same stamp just using the tree with first, second and third generation stamping.  I added dries white glue and glitter for sparkly snow and glued the panel to a black card base - job done!  This is one of my favourite Christmas stamps ever!

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

IndigoBlu - Monochrome
Penny Black and More - Anything Christmas
Stamping Sensations - Christmas Greetings
Allsorts Challenge - Feature a Creature

Truly Fabulous Challenges with loads of inspiration!

Thank you for visiting me.  Take care.  Christine xxx

Bright Christmas Card!

Hi there!  How fab to see you today, I have a Christmas card for you and its a bright one at that!  The weather is really dull and rainy today so bright is good!

I really enjoyed making this, it came from just playing about with scraps.  I pulled out a pile of left over bits of Christmas paper.  Some are years old!  I had made card templates of the size of simple Christmas trees I wanted then drew round them on the reverse of the scraps and cut them out.  I added some plain red card onto my white card base then glued the trees where I wanted them.  The snow bank is made from another scrap of  white card and I ripped the edge to look like a bank then glued that over the base of the trees.  I needed something to put along the top edge and I had two of the Memory Box Tinsel Ropes left over from a previous card I made and they were perfect!  The sentiment is stamped in red Versafine and came with a stamp set free with a magazine.  I used a white gel pen for the snow then added glitter to the snow bank and some gems for added bling.  The little wooden angel is from my stash.  I have a pack of them that I bought from a little gift shop ages ago along with some wooden snowflakes.  The angels are so cute!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Pixies Snippets Playground - use Snippets - my trees, tinsel ropes and snow bank are all from snippets.
That's Crafty - There must be an angel.
Bizzy Becs - Anything goes.

These are fabulous challenges, Definitely worth a peek!
Thank you so much for visiting me, I really appreciate it!  Take care. Christine xxx

CAS Giving Thanks with The Colour Purple

Hello!  I hope you are having a lovely day!  I have a clean and simple card today which I am entering into three fabulous challenges and I have managed to get all the challenge themes in the title, Yay!

All the stamps for this are from an awesome set by Stamplorations - Dee's Artsy Impressions, Frames and Flowers.  Its worth visiting their shop at the moment as there is a fabulous sale and free shipping over $25 worldwide! I had a $20 gift certificate I won in a recent blog hop so I have just spent it (and a little more) and taken advantage of the sale!  Thank you so much Shery. Stamplorations stamps, dies and stencils are all brilliant quality too!  I used my Misti to get everything lined up correctly.  The frame and sentiment were inked with black Versafine with the flowers and butterfly using a variety of purple inks.  For sparkle, I added lavender Stickles.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Less is More - One Layer - Books/literature - Mine isn't immediately obvious - its a book, The Color Purple by Alice Walker.  If you haven't heard of it, its an amazing book set in the harsh, segregated world of the Deep South. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 1983.

 

Stamplorations Giving Thanks - There is a fab blog hop along with this too!

Stamplorations CAS Challenge - with the option of the colour purple.

These are all awesome challenges!

Thank you so much for visiting me, I am so grateful to you!  I will be popping to see you in the next day or two!  Take care.  Christine xxx

Gold and Purple Thank You Card

A very quick post with a very quickly made card.  I haven't been up to much crafting this week but really wanted to join in with a couple of challenges.

I have to be honest and say that I wasn't going to blog this card cause I am not very happy with it. I started by embossing the smaller piece of purple card with a Sizzix embossing folder.  The 'Thank You' die, which was free with a magazine, was cut with gold card as were the little flowers which were also free with a magazine.  I glued them to the purple card then layered onto a mat of gold card then on to the purple card base.  Then I decided to add some gold gilding wax to the embossed areas to give a sheen and that is what I really don't like!  I usually like gilding wax but not on this card!  So annoying.  If I had done it before I had started sticking everything down, I could have just embossed another panel - that will teach me!  I noticed when I look at the photo, the gold card is so shiny you can see my fingers reflected in it where I am holding the camera!  Sorry about that!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Less is More - Purple and Gold
Pixie's Snippets Playground - Use Snippets - Mine are the gold card for the all the die cuts and the piece of purple card for the embossing.  All from my bits box.

Two fabulous challenges with loads of inspiration!

Thank you so much for visiting me!  I will post a card I like more next time!  I really appreciate your visit! Have a lovely weekend.  Take care.  Christine xxx

Fireworks Cityscape!

Over at Less is More it is the 300th week of their fabulous challenge! Congratulations!  That really calls for a celebration!  I don't join in as much as I would like but had to join in this week.

This really was a quick card to make - I actually made two cause they will be suitable for many occasions.  I cut the fabulous Clearly Besotted Cityscape die out of a scrap of black card, glued it to the A6 card base then dotted a yellow Promarker through the windows for light.  I forgot this would show on the reverse of the card but will cover with an insert so no problem!  The stamp is by Crealies and is Bits and Pieces No. 29 and I think it looked just liked fireworks.  I stamped using a very old set of waterbased markers so I could get separate colours on each part.  The sentiment is from an awesome clear stamp set called Party Time by Stamplorations.  Stickles were added to the fireworks and to the card base for sparkle.  See, very simple!

I would like to enter the following Challenges:

Less is More - Celebrations and Festivals
Craft Barn - Fireworks
Stamplorations CAS Challenge - Anything CAS with optional twist of Purple - My largest firework is purple! Yay!

All these are fabulous challenges.  I love challenges cause they are so inspiring!  They certainly help crafters block!  Thank you to all you wonderful Challenge blogs out there, we really appreciate you!

Thank you so much for visiting me - I love it when you do and love your comments too!

Take care. Christine xxx

Freya's Third Birthday Card

It was my eldest Granddaughter's 3rd birthday last week and here is the card I made for her.  She is a huge Frozen fan and luckily I had found, on line, a card making Frozen set half price which I actually have bought for her so she can craft with her Mum.  I borrowed the stamp set included for the main image, I don't think she will mind!  Apparently she loved the card which I was very pleased about!

I stamped Elsa in black Versafine and embossed with clear powder and then stamped the image again on a sheet of copier paper and cut out the image which I then removed.  I placed the apperture I had cut over the image and stamped the snowflakes on the dress.  I cannot remember what ink I used, sorry.  The image was then coloured with Promarkers and I cut it out using the gorgeous Marianne die No. LR0112 using my Grand Calibur die cutting machine, then inked through the die with a matching Distress Ink.  The floral backing papers I used are from Wild Orchid Crafts but I don't know the name of the set and I covered the card base with the blue sheet and then used the pink sheet for the next layer.  I glued the main image down and added the '3' which I die cut with a Cuttlebug (I don't know the name of the set) die (using my Cuttlebug) from the same paper as the backing paper along with three sequins and the three birds. The birds are cut using Frantic Stamper die set, Small Birds, I drew little branches for the bottom two birds to sit on just to ground them.  The sentiment is from a Lili of the Valley clear fairy sentiment set and I inked it and cut it out.  Elsa's dress is Wink of Stella'd as is the sentiment.  I also added silver sparkle pen to the centres of the snowflakes on her dress.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Pixie's Snippets Playground - use Snippets - the sentiment, birds and main die cut were all left over snippets of card.
Cuttlebug Mania - Tic Tac Toe  - I have used the line Floral (the papers are tiny florals), Die-cuts and Number.  I have not entered this challenge before and I think I will be entering it a lot more!  I always use a manual die cutting machine which is what the challenge is all about!

Thank you so much for visiting me, I really appreciate it!  Take care.  Christine xxx

Fireworks Grid!

Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  Sorry I haven't been around for a couple of weeks, Today's card is bright and colourful which is more than can be said for today's weather which was very dull indeed!

I started off with a piece of watercolour card cut to be a little bit larger that the Cover a Card stamp, Fireworks, by Impression Obsession. I used an anti static bag over the piece of card then stamped with black Versafine using my Misti so it could be stamped a couple of times to get a clear image on the textured watercolour paper.  I then heat embossed with clear powder.  The whole image was spritzed liberally with water and also Abominable Snowman Glimmer Mist then I dropped in Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean and Mowed Lawn Distress re-inker ink using each colour for a different firework. I used Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink to fill in the gaps.  When dry, I cut the piece into equal sized squares, edged each one with a black Promarker, and then decided to mix them up before adding them to my 7 inch square card base.  I preferred the more random look of the mixed up picture for this particular card.  I added some tiny die cut stars (Mama Elephant) where the centres of the fireworks show then left it at that.  I was going to add a sentiment but decided against it as I like the colours too much to cover them up!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

PaperArtsy - Squares and Grids  (I was inspired by many of the fab samples).
Craft Barn - Fireworks
Bizzy Becs - Anything Goes

All of these are fabulous blogs and I get so much inspiration from them!

Thank you so much for visiting me, I am so grateful!  I will be round to visit you in the next few days. Take care and have a lovely weekend. Christine xxx

Autumn Wildlife

Hello again!  I have posted three times this week, more than normal, I am quite pleased with myself! I wonder if I can keep it up?  This is the birthday card I made for my wonderful sister, Lilian.

I started by stamping the mushrooms and squirrel from IndigoBlu stamp set Nature 2 in black Versafine embossed with clear powder then I painted with Pebeo masking fluid and left to dry. While it was drying, I inked a piece of card with Distress Inks to match my leaves which were left over from these cards. Then I stencilled the words with Black Soot Distress Ink through part of a stencil from Splodgeaway. I cut the sentiment up and edged with a black Promarker.

Once the masking fluid was dry, I watercoloured the background with Peacock Feathers and Peeled Paint Distress Inks.  I dabbed the blue with kitchen roll to give the appearance of subtle clouds.  I then removed the masking fluid with my finger (making sure my finger was free of any ink first).  Distress Inks were again used to paint the mushrooms and squirrel but I forgot to note down the colours I used, I am so sorry!  I attached the panel to a brown card base to go with the autumnal theme then glued the leaves around panel.  I love how different they look to the previous cards I made with them (see the link above).  I drew some white spots on the mushrooms with a white pen then added glossy accents to them and the squirrel's eye.  Popped the sentiment in the sky and it was done!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

IndigoBlu - Autumn Wildlife
PaperArtsy - Use Die Cuts - The lovely leaf jar inspired me!
Penny Black and More - Autumn
Stamping Sensations - Autumn

These are all absolutely awesome blog challenges, I love them!

Thank you so much for visiting me, I appreciate it so much! Take care. Christine xxx

More Butterflies!

More butterflies, Yay!  I love butterflies and have started joining in with Mrs A's Butterfly Challenge again and last time I entered, I won!  My prize was a wonderful selection of butterfly themed gorgeousness - thank you so much Mrs A!

Here is the card for this challenge.  I made this especially for my fabulous sister-in-law, Margery, for her very special birthday!

The checkered background is embossed using a Sue Wilson embossing folder - its the first time I have used it and I have had it for a long time!  The three large butterflies are cut with the butterfly die Rhone Butterfly Wings by Memory Box with the small ones cut using a Spellbinders die.  The label is punched with a Stamping Up punch and the numbers with a Cuttlebug die.  I added the ribbon and bow to the cyan background before I glued it to the white card base.  The label is popped up on double sided foam for extra dimension and for sparkle, the butterflies are all painted with clear Wink of Stella. This is a card with no stamping which is very rare for me!  I was pleased with how it turned out, especially the bow as I am not very good at them!
I would like to enter the following challenges:

Butterfly Challenge - Checkered and/or Cyan  (I managed both!)
Pixie's Snippets Playground - use snippets - Butterflies, Tag and numbers are all from snippets of leftover card.
Bizzy Bec's - Anything goes.

Brilliant challenges!  Pixies Snippets has hit 250 this time, how cool is that!

Thank you sooooo much for visiting me!  I am so happy that you did!
Take care, Christine xxx

Fairy Sparkles

Hello all!  I have a fairy card today - I love fairies and haven't made anything with them for a while so decided it was time!

I used one of my absolute favourite techniques for the background.  I applied Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concord, Peacock Feathers and Mermaid Lagoon Distess Inks lightly to an acrylic block.  Spritzed with a little bit of water then pressed the block onto a piece of watercolour card, gently rocked it a bit, then removed block and dried with a heat gun. The gorgeous fairy stamp, which was free with a magazine, was stamped in black Versafine using my Misti as it needed repeated stamping to get a perfect impression as its watercolour card which is textured.  The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley and I chose it because it had a similar swirl to the main image.  The turquoise mat is a piece of fabulous glitter paper then I popped it onto base card and added some star sequins for even more sparkle!

Here is another card I made which is virtually the same.  Its the same colours but I added more water so it gives a rougher edge where the ink bled more and the colours were used the other way up.  Also the main panel is smaller so the glitter mat is a little wider.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

That's Crafty - All of a Sparkle
Bizzy Becs - Anything Goes


These are fabulous blogs!  Thank you so much for visiting me, I really appreciate it!  Take care. Christine xxx

Autumn Leaves

I have an autumnal card for you today and it certainly is beginning to feel like autumn here in Bournemouth!  There is definitely a chill in the air now.  I love the colours that emerge this time of year as the leaves change and that is what I tried to achieve with my card.

I used the inlaid die cut technique.  I started with a couple of  pieces of card from my leftover stash that were already inked.  The colours were very autumnal.  I die cut the leaves using an awesome die set by Impression Obsession that Darnell kindly sent me as a pressi!  Thank you so much Darnell! Once cut, I then added some extra Distress Inks to bring out the colour that was already there.  I was going to just stick the leaves onto the black panel but then decided to inlay them instead so I diecut the leaf shapes into the panel then glued it to the card base and inlaid the inked leaves into the panel.  I love the look this gives.  The leaves are such gorgeous shapes!  I chose not to add a sentiment as I didn't want to cover up any of the leaves and the bonus is, I can use the card for any occasion!

I was left with some black leaves so I made this card too!

I quickly inked a background, its not my best job!  Die cut the leaves and inlaid the black leaves this time.  As its not so vibrant as the first card, I sprayed the whole thing with glimmer mist to add a little 'something'.  I prefer the first one but I quite like the second one too.  I also now have more coloured leaves left to use on another project!  I am sure I will be making some more autumnal cards!

I would like to enter the following the challenges:

PaperArtsy - Die Cuts - One of the fab DT posts is a jar where a leaf mask has been stencilled around to create a wonderful decorative piece - when I saw that, I just had to use leaves on my project!
Pixie's Snippets Playground - use snippets - my leaves were from snippets of card.

Both are awesome challenges - definitely worth a peek!

Thank you so much for visiting me!  I appreciate it more than you know!  Take care.  Christine xxx

White on White Birthday Card

Hello!  Here is a card I made for my fabulous Mum-in-Law's birthday which was on Saturday.

I used the fabulous embossing folder that everyone loves which was originally free with a magazine ages ago but, luckily for those of us that did not get it at the time, you can now buy, yay!  I popped it through my Cuttlebug and glued it to a matching card base.  The little pearls were added with Cosmic Shimmer dries clear PVA - its really strong so I know the pearls won't come off!  The gorgeous large butterfly is die cut using a die from a Spellbinders die set called Flutter Love.  I chopped off the antenna and replaced them with wire which I glittered using Cosmic Shimmer glue and fine glitter then added the pearls.  I also painted the butterfly with clear Wink of Stella.  The tag was cut using a die that came free with a magazine and the little butterflies were from the same die set as the large butterfly.  I cannot remember the make of the sentiment, sorry.  Sparkled wire was used in the top of the tag instead of ribbon and it was attached to the embossed panel with foam tape for dimension. The embossing folder is so ornate, not much decoration is needed.  I used snippets of white card for everything except the card base.

I thought I would just say how I store my white card.  I have lots of different types of white card which I store in A4 slim filing draws - a separate drawer for each type of card.  When I have left over pieces, I pop them in the drawer on top of the white card that they come from so it is easy to match them up with the base card, mat or whatever.  Every type of white card look slightly different and before I stored them this way, I had trouble matching the whites up.  Sounds simple but it took me a while to think of it!  I used to just put all my white snippets in together until I had a lightbulb moment to make my life simpler!  Sorry if I am stating the obvious!  It wasn't obvious to me for quite a while!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Butterfly Challenge - W is for Wire and/or White on White (I have done both)
Pixie's Snippets Playground - use Snippets
Bizzy Becs - Anything Goes

These are all fabulous blogs - its the first time for ages I have joined in the Butterfly Challenge - I am so glad I did!


Thank you so much for visiting me!  Have a fabulous week.  Take care. Christine xxx

CAS - Diamonds

Two posts in quick succession again!  Goodness me, I am surprising myself!

This is a mega Clean and Simple card.  It took no time at all and can be used for all different occasions by adding a sentiment inside.

I took a white piece of card and trimmed it to be just a bit narrower than my card blank then partially stencilled Shaded Lilac and Twisted Citron Distess Inks through a Crafters Workshop diamond stencil.  The stencil itself is a distressed design and I didn't put it on straight or ink the whole piece of card.  The sentiment is cut from a snippet of black card using one of the awesome Stamploration Cutploration dies.  They are such fab quality and I love the font.  I added some Wink of Stella to the 'hugs' then glued the panel to the card base.

Here is an alternate version using Shaded Lilac and Twisted Citron inks and the word 'smile'.  The Twisted Citron doesn't come out too well in the photo but looks cool in real life!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Less is More - Diamonds
Stamplorations - Feature a Die Cut

Pixie's Snippet Playground - Use Snippets
Bizzy Becs -  Anything Goes

I am really enjoying making different styles of cards.  That is why I like following challenges so much cause they help me to think outside my comfort zone and give me lots of inspiration, not to mention oodles of fun!  So thank you to all of you lovely challenge bloggers out there, you are wonderful!  So are all my followers - thank you so very much! Take care. Christine xxx

Bright and Beautiful!

One of the challenges I am entering this card in stipulates 'bright and beautiful' which is exactly what some of Tim Holtz Distress Ink colours are!

The colours actually look less vibrant in the photo but they are truly 'bright and beautiful' in real life! The background is done by smooshing Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves and Twisted Citron Distress Inks on my craft sheet, spritzing with water then laying a piece of gloss card in it and wiggling it about a bit.  Then while still wet, I laid a piece of cling film over the top and scrunched it up then left it to dry then removed the cling film.  I love the effect this gives on the gloss card so I kept my stamping really simple as I didn't want to cover too much of it up.  The stamping is done with black Archival ink and the stamps are from a set called Nature 1 by IndigoBlu.  I attached the panel to a black DL card base then added the black pearls and some gold and stardust Stickles for sparkle. I think anything sparkly is 'bright and beautiful!  I decided not to add a sentiment then the card can be used for any occasion.

I would like to enter the following the challenges:

IndigoBlu - All Things Bright and Beautiful
Bizzy Becs - Anything Goes
The Craft Barn - All Around the House - I used clingfilm for my background which is found in the
house.

All such cool blog challenges!

Thank you so much for visiting me, I am managing to post more at the moment and am trying to be better at commenting too!  Everything takes me a while!  Sorry!  Take care. Christine xxx

Paula and Chris's Wedding Card

A second post from me today. that doesn't happen often!
My friends Paula and Chris got married last Saturday.  Paula and I have been friends for years so it was a very special day seeing her so happy!  Here is their card - I chose this design because Paula loves tattoos and among hers, she has a couple of blue roses.

The main image and the sentiment are from a Joanna Sheen wedding stamp set stamped with black Versafine embossed with detail clear powder then coloured with Promarkers.  I cut the main image out with a Spellbinders die then inked that and the sentiment panel with a blue ink.  After attaching to the blue mat, I added Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents to the stamped roses and also the little punched hearts to the background.  The paper roses are from my stash and the tips are dabbed with stickles for some extra sparkle.  I absolutely adore this rose\heart image.  I have used it before and coloured it in the more traditional red, but I am really loving the look of the blue.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Anniversaries and Special Occasions
Penny Black and More - Add a Sentiment
Bizzy Becs - Anything Goes
Stamplorations/Cutplorations Linky Party - use a die

All these blogs are fabulous!  You need to have a look!

Thank you for visiting me, it really means so much!  Take care! Christine xxx

Millie's 1st Birthday Card!

Its my youngest Granddaughter, Millie's, 1st Birthday on Monday so here is the card I have made her.  I am posting on the blog early as it fits a couple of challenges I want to enter.  My daughter, Sarah, knows not too look at my blog till after Monday so she doesn't get a sneak peak!

The stamp set I used for the cute bunny, the flowers and the patchwork squares were all free with a magazine ages ago!  There are other animals and an owl too included in the stamp set and they are all so cute!  Its the first time I have used it and I think I will be using it again soon.  The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley.  I stamped everything with black Versafine and embossed with detail clear powder.  The colouring was done with various makes of alcohol marker then I fussy cut the flowers and squares out.  I cut three mats of coordinating design paper from a Lili of the Valley paper pad and adhered them to my pink card base.  The main image is edged with a pink alcohol marker and I glued on the die cut number one. After the main image, flowers and squares were glued to the card I just had to add some Clear Wink of Stella for sparkle and glossy accents to the rabbit's nose and the flower centres.  I love the patchwork stamp set - its just so cute and cool!  It makes it easy to come up with a super cute card!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

That's Crafty - All square
Pixie's Snippet's Playground - The flowers, squares and main image are all stamped on snippets of white card.
Penny Black and More - Add a Sentiment.
Bizzy Becs - Anything Goes

All these are awesome blogs, hop over and have a look!

Thank you so much for visiting me, I appreciate all your support so much! Take care. Christine  xxx

Crackle Butterflies

Hello, I hope you are having a fabulous day!

The background for this card is a piece of watercolour card dipped into Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry and Twisted Citron Distress inks which I smooshed on my craft sheet and sprayed with water and Glimmer Mist.  I dried with a heat gun then stamped the gorgeous Clarity stamp, Butterfly Montage (I have had this stamp for years and never used it before!) with Imperial Purple Versafine.  Then I stamped the main butterfly from the Montage stamp again three times on odd bits of card from my scraps box, in black Versafine and embossed with clear powder.  I water coloured them with the same inks then I fussy cut them out.  You can buy the large butterfly separate but I don't have it.  I then painted each butterfly with Ranger Rock Candy Crackle Paint and left them to dry naturally - the crackle effects looks gorgeous but I am not sure how well you can see it in the photo.  The sentiment is also Clarity, stamped in Imperial Purple and embossed with clear powder then cut out. I glued the three butterflies and the sentiment to my card. The mesh behind the two butterflies on the right is on a roll from a DIY store.  It comes white and I coloured it purple with a Promarker.  A few sequins for added bling and a purple card base then its all done!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Pixie;'s Snippets Playground - Use Snippets
That's Crafty - Get Cracking
Clarity Stamp - Fussy Cutting
Darnell's NBUS Challenge - Never before used Schtuff!

All these are wonderful challenges, please pop over and have a look!

Thank you so much for visiting me!  I am sooooo grateful!

Take care.  Christine xxx

So Sorry!

Before I post my card I just want to say that I am so very sorry I have been away from Blogland for so long, both posting and, more importantly, commenting on your wonderful blogs.  I am very intermittent anyway due to mine and my husbands ill health, but recently, a very good friend took a sharp decline with her cancer and died very much earlier than was expected and it really hit us all hard. I am going to try and get back to the crafting world and just wanted to let you know I am still here and that I appreciate your patience and support so very much, thank you!

My card is one I made for my brother's birthday last month but haven't put on the blog so thought I would do that today.

I used the resist technique for the background.  I inked the large (very old) wooden rubber stamp with Versamark ink then embossed with white detail powder.  I first used an anti static pad and took the card to the stamp as it is such a large stamp.  I then inked over the whole piece with various blue Distress Inks then wiped over the top with a baby wipe to remove any ink from the embossing.  The stars were die cut, the first three are from a free die set that came with a magazine and the two tiny ones are punched.  The sentiment is from a little clear set, not sure what make, and again embossed with white detail powder.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Craft Barn - Blue or Blues
Pixie's Snippets Playgrouned - use snippets (my stars and sentiments are all from card in my bits box)
bizzy Becs - Anything Goes

These are all fab blogs, worth a visit for sure!

Thank you for popping by - I appreciate it so much!  Take care. Christine xxx

You're a Star!

My card today is a CAS design which I think could be used for male or female cards.  I think I will make another one with 'thank you' instead of the birthday sentiment - I think that would work really well.

The star is made of Kraft card which I first ribbled (if that's the correct work) through a ribble gadget I have had for years.  I then punched it out using a Fiskars 'thick' punch.  It punched through the Kraft card like butter - a truly awesome piece of kit!  The tail of the star is some twine taped to the reverse of the star then I adhered the star to the cream panel with double sided foam tape.  The button and the little die cut stars (Mama Elephant die) were added with Cosmic Shimmer PVA, the sentiments stamped with vintage sepia Versafine ink then the panel glued to a Kraft card base.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Pixie's Snippets Playground - use snippets - mine are snippets of Kraft card for the large star and the little stars too.
Less is More - Clean and Simple and use something tactile - the ribbled star is tactile.
Craft Barn - Clean and Simple
Bizzy Becs - Anything goes

Thank you so very much for visiting me.  As usual, I am apologising for my infrequent visits to your blogs and the lack of posts here too!  I really appreciate you sticking with me!
Take care.  Christine xxx

Darnell's Visit!

You will probably know that the awesome Darnell is currently undertaking a grand tour and meeting lots of us blogging friends.  Tuesday was the first stop which was in Southampton.  I was so pleased cause I was able to attend, Yay!  It was so cool to meet Darnell and all the other lovely ladies!

This is our happy Southampton group - I had to 'steal' the photo from Darnell's blog (I hope you don't mind Darnell) my group shot went horribly wrong!

Darnell had booked us a room all to ourselves for lunch - it was probably just as well, our laughing and screeching would have upset other diners I am sure!  We had such a fun time.  So did Hammy! Well Darnell couldn't leave him behind could she?

I had to sneak this piccie in didn't I?

Anyway, I hope Darnell has a most awesome time for the rest of her trip - I am sure there will be laughter and mayhem all across the country!!!  Along with lots of hugs and kisses too!

Thank you for visiting today.  Take care.  Christine xxx

Belated Happy Birthday to Darnell

Happy Birthday to Darnell for yesterday!  Lots of you will have the awesome pleasure of visiting Darnell's fabulous Blog - she is such a lovely lady and friend!  Here is the card I sent which hopefully made it across to Darnell in time for her birthday!

I masked the panel off with tape then applied Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet Distess Inks then spritzed with pearl Glimmer Mist.  I then used black Versafine to stamp these fab little images from Dee's Flowers and Frames by Stamplorations. After I removed the masking tape, I stamped the sentiment (I can't remember the make) then added splatters of the watered down Distress Inks and mounted the panel on a purple base card.  I really hope Darnell likes it!  She makes the most awesome cards!

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Penny Black and More Challenge - Anything Goes with a Stamp
Stamplorations Third Birthday - Party/Celebration/Birthday inspired by mood board (mine is birthday and I think my flowers and leaves could be sprinkles on the top of the cakes in the picture. - in my head anyway!!! There are splatters in the mood board too!)
Stamplorations Never Ending Challenge - Anything Goes







This is a bit of a short blog post.  I will try and do another in the next few days.  Sorry I haven't been around much.  In July I have a few things going on, including meeting Darnell on her visit to the UK - that is the absolute highlight for me!  But it all means I have to take things very easy to manage everything so I apologise for my very infrequent visits and posts.  I will do my best though.  I went to the Newbury craft show yesterday with my friend Julie and had a fab time.  I am pretty shattered today so apologise for any mistakes in this post or if it doesn't make sense.  Sorry Darnell it is late!

I am off to bed know so goodnight and take care and thank you for your visit and continued, very valued, support! xxx

Belated Happy Birthday to Darnell

Happy Birthday to Darnell for yesterday!  Lots of you will have the awesome pleasure of visiting Darnell's fabulous Blog - she is such a lovely lady and friend!  Here is the card I sent which hopefully made it across to Darnell in time for her birthday!

I masked the panel off with tape then applied Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet Distess Inks then spritzed with pearl Glimmer Mist.  I then used black Versafine to stamp these fab little images from Dee's Flowers and Frames by Stamplorations. After I removed the masking tape, I stamped the sentiment (I can't remember the make) then added splatters of the watered down Distress Inks and mounted the panel on a purple base card.  I really hope Darnell likes it!  She makes the most awesome cards!

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Penny Black and More Challenge - Anything Goes with a Stamp
Stamplorations Third Birthday - Party/Celebration/Birthday inspired by mood board (mine is birthday and I think my flowers and leaves could be sprinkles on the top of the cakes in the picture. - in my head anyway!!! There are splatters in the mood board too!)
Stamplorations Never Ending Challenge - Anything Goes







This is a bit of a short blog post.  I will try and do another in the next few days.  Sorry I haven't been around much.  In July I have a few things going on, including meeting Darnell on her visit to the UK - that is the absolute highlight for me!  But it all means I have to take things very easy to manage everything so I apologise for my very infrequent visits and posts.  I will do my best though.  I went to the Newbury craft show yesterday with my friend Julie and had a fab time.  I am pretty shattered today so apologise for any mistakes in this post or if it doesn't make sense.  Sorry Darnell it is late!

I am off to bed know so goodnight and take care and thank you for your visit and continued, very valued, support! xxx