A Little Weekend Fun!

Hi friends, I'm just nipping in with 2 cards that I've created this morning with no real purpose or direction .... just to have some fun!

First up I received this stunning butterfly stamp and cutting die combo set, by Crafters Companion from my good friend Sarah of Funky Fossil Designs - unfortunately for Sarah, she received it as a freebie but already owned the set but I was more than happy to take it off her hands and I have been desperately waiting for a moment to ink it up and create ... so this morning that moment came. I've used Promarkers to colour it and a sentiment from Uniko Organics Additions.

This one is to add to the Muse Card Challenge this week - be it a little late in the day to enter but another of my super duper Craft Buddies, Anita, is the Muse this week so I simply had to join in. I also caught a You Tube video by Ardyth HERE which inspired me without actually realising she'd created her card for Muse too. 

The card uses an inlaid die by Paper Smooches, coloured with Promarkers, an inky background using Distress Oxides in Blueprint Sketch and Mermaid Lagoon then smothered in a mix of perfect pearls and water, then an 'One the Line' happy birthday word sentiment from Impression Obsessions. 

Here's Anita's CASE card - I think I'm a little more 'heavy handed' with my blending! 

Thanks for calling by today and I hope you're having a little crafty fun too. 

Crazy for MORE Stencils

Hi Friends, I'm zipping in with another 'just for the fun of it post' featuring a bunch of stencil inspired cards. If you visited my blog a few days ago HERE you'll see I was showcasing stencils by fellow blogger and friend Sarah G of Funky Fossil Designs and I've still got more of those to share once they are made up into cards BUT I was loving the colour combo I used on the previous post and decided to root out some older stencils in my stash and bring them back to life ... here goes:

This one uses a 'handmade' stencil - I die-cut several circles in some acetate then randomly inked through the shapes in my favoured colour combo using Distress Oxides (Mermaid Lagoon, Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron and Blueprint Sketch). The die-cut 'happy' is by CUT-plorations and it's mounted on a stitched circle die by Simon Says Stamp with a 'birthday' sentiment from Uniko.

Next up using a trio of Bokeh stencils by Simon Says Stamp and using the same colour combo, I rotated each stencil 4 times to achieve the clusters in each corner. The Sentiment is heat embossed with clear embossing powder and is by Mama Elephant, mounted on a stitched square by MFT Die-namics

I think this has to be my all-time favourite stencil and one I frequently go back to. It's the Concentric Circles by My Favorite Things, with a sentiment strip featuring 'Fabulous' by Uniko: Explosion Additions and 'Friend' die-cut by Paper Smooches

If you follow the Uniko blog HERE you'll have seen a balloon stencil released with the last bundle of new goodies. I didn't buy it because I new I had this similar one from Neat & Tangled but I was inspired by the stencilled balloon creations from the DT and decided to give it a whirl with this one. The 'Happy Birthday' sentiment is by Impression Obsessions.

Thanks for calling by today and I hope you're having some crafty fun!

Less is More #369

Hello my crafty friends, it's time to announce our latest challenge at Less is More and we're stepping back in time with what's required for this one! All the details are on the main challenge blog HERE and here's our cue card.


You might decide to use a technique or stamp set that's not seen the light of day in a while or an additional element/embellishment that's perhaps no longer deemed 'fashionable' in crafting circles at the moment. 
Unbelievably I've 3 cards to share with you today ... having had a 2 week Easter break I had a little extra time to craft. These first 2 use handmade paper / mulberry paper I think it was called although this one is a thicker variety than others. 
For the first card I used a Columbus scalloped circle die from Mama Elephant to create a frame for the handmade paper. I stamped the sentiment from WPlus9 around the circle and mounted the 'wonderful' die-cut sentiment on foam to hide the balloon string. The balloon is from the Happy Little Stampers set 'Simply Said' and it's coloured using Promarkers.

This one uses a glittery embossed handmade / mulberry paper which I've adhered to some teal cardstock then used a die-cut 'Happy Birthday' sentiment from Impression Obsessions

Last but not least I have to admit that I own hundreds of these papery flowers in my stash; all different shapes, sizes and colours and I simply couldn't resist using them along with 2 mini sparkly brads in the centre (another of those no-longer-fashionable craft items).
I used some of the foliage stamps from Altenew Vintage Flowers to create a backdrop for the paper blooms but I'm not sure it's working for me! The sentiment is by Happy Little Stampers, our sponsor this month at Less is More.

As always there's loads of fabulous designs from my fellow teamies  over on the Less is More blog HERE and as I mentioned earlier, our sponsor for this challenge is Happy Little Stampers so do play along for a chance of a prize, which we'll announce at the start of next month. 

I hope you'll feel inspired to play along with and have some crafty fun along the way.
Thanks for calling by today!

Less is More #334

Hi there, can you believe another week has just zipped by and it's time to announce our latest weekly challenge at Less is More - these weeks need to slow down as I can't keep up!!!
So on to the challenge and it's time for a sketch this week, I've got a few examples for you and I've got to admit I was pretty pleased with myself having made a Christmas card during the hottest week so far this year! I was desperate to use the CBS landscape die but having photographed my card and popped it on the Less is More blog I'm not sure it adheres to our sketch quite as much as it should so here's a few more examples .... but first up the sketch!

Using Distress inks in Blueprint Sketch, Mermaid Lagoon and Faded Jeans I've created a loose watercolour effect in the shape of the sketch - a little tricky when the ink wants to run beyond the 'lines'! Once dry I splattered some water on top for extra interest then stamped the magnolia blooms by Altenew, added a die-cut sentiment from Impression Obsessions. 
I was inspired by the photo challenge over at Inkspirational this week so I'd like to pop this card in there as well as Addicted to Stamps and More, where they're celebrating a massive 5 years worth of challenges with a 'Make Your Mark' challenge and lastly, another entry to this month's Flower Challenge where it's 'Anything Goes'





Next up and using some striking and vibrant design papers from Doodlebug plus their sprinkles too I've created 2 cards, as close as possible to the sketch, but flipped on the second one. 

This one uses another 'on the line' die-cut sentiment from Impression Obsessions and I'd like to pop this one in at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where it's 'Use Design Paper' and they are featuring products by Doodlebug! Pretty fortunate seen as I love their papers and accessories. 

Another set of papers from Doodlebug and this time accessorised with a die-cut sentiment by Waffle Flower and the 'your birthday' from Uniko: Simply Said

... and last but not least my 'dubious' make from the Less is More blog with a distress inky blended skyline, white gel pen snow drops plus some added glitter sparkles to the sky too and to finish a festive sentiment from Uniko: Most Wonderful.

As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I hope you feel inspired to join in with our sketch challenge this week. There's loads of fab makes from by fellow teamies at Less is More so don't forget to pay them a visit and the links to their blogs can be found HERE

AAA CAS Cards Challenge #86

Hello there friends, it's time for another challenge over at 
AAA CAS Cards
The theme for this one is Die-Cuts so minimal stamping and if possible ALL die-cuts. Here's my card, in fact I've gone a little mad here as this design ended up being great for  a couple of two-fers using the positive and negative portions of the die-cut sentiment  from Impression Obsession. The first card below also uses a Next Level EF from WeR  Memory Keepers and the others use an inside out diagonal stitched rectangle die from MFT.  All the panels are mounted on 3d foam with a few sprinkles and gems for added interest. 

Here's our little photo inspiration plus  there's plenty more super CAS creations

 by my fellow teamies, with links to their blogs on the AAA Cards blog HERE

Our Guest Designer for this challenge is Judy of Judy's Card Corner. 

She has a wonderful CAS style and  I do hope you'll pop along and visit her blog.

I'm sure she'll appreciate it.

Our sponsor for this challenge is STAMPlorations with our lucky winner

receiving a product specified by Shery to the value of $15

As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I hope 

you feel inspired and will play along with us!

AAA CAS Cards Challenge #83

Hello there friends, it's time for another challenge over at 
AAA CAS Cards
The theme for this one is ' Shape Your Love' so it's a card featuring LOVE with the  optional twist to shape your card in some way! Here's my card, which didn't exactly turn  out how I'd planned but when time is precious you have to go with what you've got!

I've used the 'Love' word die from Impression Obsession but the negative portion, then I fuzzy cut around it, die-cut a stitched border along the base before popping onto a red card panel. To finish a little strip of red under the word to balance with the base of the card and some silver pearls for added interest.
Here's our photo inspiration for you and as always there's plenty more super CAS  creations by my fellow teamies, with links to their blogs on the AAA Cards blog HERE

We are also joined by Kylie, our sponsor for this one along with one of my super 

talented friends and teamies from Less is More; Sharon of From my Craft Desk

Sharon is a whizz on techniques and always comes up with clever CAS designs.

I'm sure she'd love a visit, Kylie too, so don't forget to head along to their

blogs for inspiration and to leave some friendly encouragement.

As mentioned above our sponsor for this challenge is Happy Little Stampers 

and our lucky winner will receive a $15 gift certificate.

As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I hope 

you feel inspired and will play along with us!

More Ink & Some Grunge

Hi friends I've 2 cards to share with you today  and first up I couldn't resist entering a second card over at Inkspirational - what a fantastic idea to combine Pia's wedding cards with a stunning colour scheme too.
Another reason ... I watched a tutorial by the AMAZING Jennifer McGuire HERE yesterday! Well I don't tend to miss any but some a more inspirational than others and some have me  searching online to purchase her latest goodies!!! Anyway I hope she doesn't mind me 'case-ing' her card and technique.

Card Recipe:

Impression Obsession: Heart of Hearts die (de-bossed with purple ink)

Lawn Fawn: Love word die - coated in glossy accents

Purple pearlised card base, gems and sequins from my stash to finish.

My second card is to enter the current challenge at

Time Out Challenges - theme: Grunge

Now it's taken me almost 2 weeks to pluck up the courage

to make and post this card! I'm not sure grunge is my thing 

and the DT will possibly boot me out of the gallery with this one

as I'm not sure my distressed / spritzed BG is allowed as grunge.

But I'm giving it a go ... and I've used lots of embossing too.

The flower and the gold strips above and below the floral panel

Card Recipe:

Uniko Studio: Pure Florals - Gerbera & sentiment from A Gift For You

WOW: Metallic Brass sparkle EP

Distress Ink: Barn Door and Festive Berries

Ok that's all from me today but I hope to be back

later in the week when I've had a little more time to craft.

See you then and thanks for calling by.

Less is More #217

Hi there, I'm guessing you've stopped by to check out  this week's challenge at Less is More 
BUT
before I give you the details I have to thank everyone who  entered last week's CASE a DT challenge!
WOW! You all did brilliantly and I hope you had lots of fun while Anne, Chrissie and I had our fun meet up and shop at the NEC.
So onto this week's challenge and it's recipe week ... We'd like you to Combine any 3 previous challenges There's 216 to go at so hopefully there's something for everyone!
I've got 2 cards and they are both on a similar line  as it's almost Easter bunny time!
So I've gone with chicks on the first one!

I'm combining challenges: #3 Spring (way back)

#66 Yellow and #143 Stringing Along (string or twine)

Card Recipe:

Paper Smooches: Chubby Chumbs coloured with Promarkers

WPlus9: Conversation Bubble dies

MFT Die-namics: Pierced Rectangle Stax dies

Uniko Studia: Flower Power #4 sentiment

Doodlebug: sprinkles and twine

I'd also like to enter this card at Timeout where it's 

Clean & Simple with the optional twist of 'black, white & a splash of 1 colour'

Edit: Thanks to Leslee who suggested I link this card up at the Fusion Challenge - I'm heading there!

Also Addicted to CAS has a 'cute' theme so couldn't resist popping these chicks in there too.

  

Ok it's bunnies this time!

So I'm going with the Spring Challenge again #3

#55 Punches or Dies & #185 Animal

Card Recipe:

Impression Obsession: Bunny Rabbit dies

These are partially cut so they remain adhered to the white card front

MFT Die-Namics: Snowdrift die

Uniko Studio: Flower Power #4 sentiment

Gems and DP from my stash

I'd like to enter this card over at Simon Says Stamp

as it's an Anything Goes week

That's my lot for today but I'll be back tomorrow with  a new challenge at AAA Cards so hope you'll join me then. In the meantime have some good old crafty fun.

A Sunday Trio

Happy Sunday, I've a trio of cards to share today which I made on Friday but ran out of time to post and I need to enter them in  a few challenges so here goes. 
First up is for the Muse Card Club using inspiration from a super talented crafter, Marion Vagg - here's my take

Card Recipe:

Clearly Besotted: Love Birds & Paired Up dies

and sentiment from Happy Birthday set

MFT Die-Namics: Fishtail Flags & Pierced Rectangles

Tonic: Flower punch (not used in years - glad I didn't bin it!)

This card is to enter at 

Addicted to CAS #59 - Green

Freshly Made Sketches #178

NBUS #4 - Darnell's superb challenge to encourage us to use

our New But UNUSED Schtuff!

Timeout Challenges #27 - CAS, black & white with a SPLASH of a colour

Card Recipe:

Lawn Fawn: Monster Mash (NBUS)

Sizzix: Circle framelits

MFT Die-Namics: Sentiment strips

Derwent Inktense pencils for colouring images and creating

the green borders (thanks to a video tip from Jennifer McGuire)

 

   

... and last but least for today is my entry to this week's 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

using the springtime mood board.

Card Recipe

MFT: Sunburst stencil sponged with distress inks in wild honey & scattered straw

Cheery Lynn: Picket fence die

Impression Obsessions: Bunny dies - coloured with Promarkers

Clearly Besotted: Hoppy Easter egg dies - watercoloured with Inktense Pencils

and sentiment from CBS: Sweet Little Sentiments

Doodlebug Design Paper

Hope you are still with me after reading this bumper post.

Lots of comments to catch up on now then back to the craft pod

as I was in mid-clean up and abandoned it. 

Looks like a bomb has dropped on it!

Thanks as always for stopping by and catch you again soon.