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27 December, 2015

Celebrate 2016

This is for a January cardswap which had to use a watercolour resist technique.  I stamped (a great stamp I have had for ages) and embossed the watercolour paper with gold then coloured over.  I tried it first with clear embossing but it didn't show up very well against the colours. I love these watercolour paints (inexpensive kids solid cake set from a Dollar Shop - at least 10 years old) which have lots of mica in them, so the colours are very pearly.  Balloons cut with a new die from gold metallic paper, strings drawn on with gold pen. Gold stripe on clear tape.


Diecut: Poppy Stamps
Stamps: Kaisercraft
Paper: Artist's Watercolour Paper


Shared on challenges:

http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/happy-new-year-challenge.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/ag-no-65.html
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.de/2015/12/challenge-82-something-old-something-new.html
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/103-anything-goes_22.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/challenge-341-anything-goes-option-of.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/happy-new-year-challenge.html


20 December, 2015

winged things


This card started with the fabulous Hearts Ease (Couture Creations) paper in the background.  It determined the theme and the colour palette.

I added textured card in cream and brown with a banner-cut bottom and a grape-purple ribbon.  The diecut dragonfly has  a purple bottom layer and silver top layer.

Die: Couture Creations









Shared on challenges:
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/120-winged-wonders-sweet-n-sassy.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2015/12/welcome-to-pennys-last-challenge-of.html
http://polkadoodle.blogspot.ca/2015/12/week-51-polkadoodles-crafting-challenge.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/ag-no-64.html

18 December, 2015

Celebrate Graduation


I was asked to make a graduation card for a friend's daughter's friend for her university graduation last week.  The brown is her degree hood colour, and because it is for a female, I glammed it up a bit with various tones of cream and brown sequins.  The stamp inside says "I hope your day is as special as you are".


Shared on challenges:
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2015/12/welcome-to-pennys-last-challenge-of.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/challenge-23.html
http://thecraftyaddicts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/challenge-5_2.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/ag-no-64.html

13 December, 2015

Summer Christmas

Photo inspiration
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/141581982013018562/

Summer Christmasses are more concerned with keeping cool and having fun outdoors.  I love this stamp because it says what it's all about for us here in NZ.  Swimming, sandals, sunhat, sunscreen ... you know - "slip slop slap"

I used cool colours, a reverse tree and background to make it feel cooler and put a subtle sentiment peeping out via an embossing folder swiped with ink.  The image is embossed, coloured with Reno pens and some bits have Wink of Stella to give a bit of twinkle.

Stamp: Stamp-It
Sentiment EF: Craft Concepts
Tub EF: Craft Concepts
Lacy triangle Die: Spellbinders


Shared on challenges
http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.ca/2015/12/pinspirational-challenge-155.html
http://withoutwordschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/december-feeling-festive-final-challenge.html
http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/december-challenge-anything-goes-with.html
http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/are-you-warm-and-cozy.html

Seasons






I have had this stamp set for years and never used them together.  Separately, yes.

When I saw this sketch I saw the opportunity for a four seasons card, so have stamped it in colours of the seasons and deliberately kept it as simple as possible.  I stamped the charcoal-winter first to balance the washi tape darkness.  The three layer sentiment is stacked with 3D foam.

Stamps: Hero Arts
Diecut doily: Nellie


Shared on challenges:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/mojo-monday-427-contest.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2015/12/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-257.html
http://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/challenge-5-anything-goes.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/challenge-23.html

Starbright

















Inspiration from the sketch and the photo.

I like the simplicity of this card, both in design and in colour choice limitations. 
Blue card is stamped in three areas with stars, silver embossed, corners rounded.  Circle stamped in navy ink, edges versamark and silver embossed.  Washi tape music.

Wreath stamp: Kaisercraft
Stars stamp: Hobbycraft
   
Shared on challenges:
http://www.happylittlestampers.com/2015/12/hls-december-sketch-challenge.html
http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.fi/2015/12/challenge-46.html
http://withoutwordschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/december-feeling-festive-final-challenge.html
http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/december-challenge-anything-goes-with.html

12 December, 2015

Leafy goodness



Techniques I particularly like are smooshing, stamping and heat embossing, but I LOVE smooshing.  I smoosh on smooth paper, I smoosh on rough paper, I get inky and messy and it makes me feel happy and is very satisfying.  I wonder if it's because you have very  little control and often have a nice surprise once it's dried.  And there is almost no failure!  They can be vibrant and energetic, or calm like this one.

Here I smooshed some distress inks on watercolour paper (allowed them to meet and mingle), stamped a leaf and heat embossed it in gold.  The sentiment is stamped with Hero Arts ombre ink.


Leaf & sentiment stamp:  Kaisercraft




Shared on Challenge:

http://www.happylittlestampers.com/2015/12/hls-december-cas-challenge.html
http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/a-bit-of-what-you-fancy.html

Jingle

'T was the night ...

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"


There are lots of santa and reindeer dies, but this is a particularly nice one.  I combined it with a city skyline one.  I notice the lights are still on in some of the buildings so I guess the cleaning elves are busy.  I added some sequin stars for navigation, and also some glittery magic dust to help them fly.  The legend is written in the sky!

Skyline die: Memory Box
Sleigh die: Cut given to me by a friend, Impression Obsession

Shared on Challenge:
http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.co.nz/2015/11/153-twas-night-before-christmas.html
http://withoutwordschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/december-feeling-festive-final-challenge.html
http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/challenge-29-holidays-winners-of-ch-28.html
http://www.wheretheheartischallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/challenge-4.html

Cookie & Cocoa


Christmas Chaos Day7




I chose snowflake, embossing and pink & teal to make my card.
I like this combination because it is non-traditional and modern looking.
Embossed card which has had white chalk ink swiped over, matted onto striped BP.  A metal brad snowflake,  diecut flourish, organza ribbon and tulle with pearl to complete.  The image was coloured with Reno pens, with a Wink of Stella on the foam and marshmallows.   Warm and cosy with cookie and cocoa, YUM.

Image: Bugaboo
EmbossingFolder: Couture Creations
Flourish die: Dienamics

Shared on challenges:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.ca/2015/12/christmas-chaos-last-day.html
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/304-happy-holiday.html
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/102-holiday-season.html
http://die-cut-divas.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/are-you-warm-and-cozy.html

Frosted



I thought I'd try this snowman 'in the raw' without colouring, and I like it more than the coloured one I did.  I left him with just a little 'atmosphere' behind him and it fits with the minimalist design.

I wanted a simple, modern look but still looking festive, so I gave him some Christmas lights, some shine and some sparkle, and a little texture in the linen dark blue card.

I think he's looking pretty pleased with himself.

Image: A Day for Daisies
Diecut frame: Spellbinders
Label diecut: Provocraft
Sentiment stamp: Alys Paterson



Shared on challenges:
http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/introducing-december-2015-club-kit.html
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/304-happy-holiday.html

Bird call

I love these smoky colours together and the misty effect they give. I added the stripe to give a subtle pop of colour and a bit of movement along with the mix of textures.


Stamp: HeroArts
Dies: Spellbinders

Shared on challenge:

http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/week-390-with-day-for-daisies.html
http://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/challenge-5-anything-goes.html

11 December, 2015

Christmas post

I love getting stuff in the mail, especially at Christmas time.  I think it's sad that people email greetings now instead of taking the care to send something special to light up someone's day.  And these little friends are so cute...
I used an embossed background postcard pattern, spritzed with gold spray and swished with gold ink and sprinkled with some gold embossing powder.  The image is coloured with Reno pens, teddy's hat has Wink of Stella on the fur.  The image has a gold border made with a pen, then a cut stamp style edge cut with decorative scissors.  Sentiment is gold embossed.



Image: From the Heart Stamps
EF: Couture Creations
Sentiment stamp: Alys Paterson
Postmark stamps: Hampton Arts & Paper Xtra
Stamp stamp: Lucy Cromwell

Shared on Challenge:
http://fromtheheartstamps.com/community/2015/12/03/free-stamp-of-the-month-december-2015/
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/challenge-339-all-wrapped-up.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/christmas-card-challenge.html
http://www.wheretheheartischallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/challenge-4.html
http://polkadoodle.blogspot.ca/2015/12/week-49-polkadoodles-crafting-challenge.html

Santa gift pillow box

Christmas Chaos Day6

Pouch made with stiff patterned d/s paper, formed using a WeRMemory Keepers Pillow Box punch board.  Image coloured with Reno pens, cut off the rest of santa image and just used his head, Kindyglitzed the fur on his hat.  Wrapped pouch with see through gold trim ribbon and tails.  Just nice to put a little something in, like chocolate raisins or choc. cherries maybe ...
or even instead of a card ...

Image: Bugaboo


Shared on challenge:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.ca/2015/12/christmas-chaos-day-6.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/challenge-339-all-wrapped-up.html
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/102-holiday-season.html

Merci Monsieur


Monsieur, he has just been to get his daily baguette, and he looks very French in his paper pieced beret and scarf.  Image cut into banner with edges inked; stamped circles border with gems.  Image is coloured with sponged distress inks.

Sketch130

Image: From The Heart Stamps
Circles border Stamp: Hero Arts


Shared on Challenges:
http://fromtheheartstamps.com/community/2015/12/07/i-heart-card-sketches-w-a-twist-130/

Blue Tiles


You know the saying: Blue and green, not fit to be seen?  Well I reckon they are great mates!   And with this sketch:













For this card I embossed four separate motifs from a small EF, then lightly swished white chalk ink over.  I could've sanded them but I think this is a softer finish.  Diecut zig zag and stamped label, tied with a bow and gemmed. I like the tiles not being too dominant or competing with the border and label which I wanted to be the focus for the card.  The sentiment is stamped first with a scribble block stamp in green, then overstamped with the sentiment.


EF: cuttlebug
Zig die: Couture Creations
Label die: SPellbinders
Stamp: Hero Arts

 Shared on challenge:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/mojo-monday-427-contest.html
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/week-253-colour.html

Peacock





A challenge for green and blue, my favourite colours (plus red).


I used the wax paper embossing folder technique on glassy photographic paper for this card (Splitcoast Stampers) along with 3 blues and 3 greens of Distress inks.  The peacock is stamped on with Stazon ink, pearls added for peacockness.


EF: Cuttlebug
Stamp: Fiskars






Shared on challenge:
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/week-253-colour.html
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.se/2015/12/week-340-clean-and-simple.html
http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/challenge-174-cas.html
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/ag-no-63.html
http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/december-challenge-anything-goes-with.html




10 December, 2015

Eggnog anyone?

Day5 Christmas chaos; Anything goes; funfunfun

I chose "Eggnog" from the selection, which is: a border punch, glitter, polka dots, funny.

Image: Bugaboo
Dotty Paper: Francheville
Border punch: Martha Stewart
Glitter card: punched into dots.

The captions says: "Eggnog at every house adds up after a while..."

I purposely put everything whoops-a-daisy to reflect the effects of the eggnog.  Remember, reindeer drink from buckets, not glasses!

I hope your Christmas is all you would wish.

Shared on challenge:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.ca/2015/12/christmas-chaos-day-5.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/challenge-23.html
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/fun-fun-fun.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/christmas-card-challenge.html


Angelstars


Starting with a recipe :
an image, one word, two different embellishments, three layers of paper.



Image: Bugaboo (coloured with Reno pens.
word: Joy
embellishments: star and gold cord tied through punched hole
Papers: dotty BP, music paper (edges inked), mulberry paper
I also put white Wink of Stella on her dress and clear Wink of Stella on her wings.




Shared on challenge:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/christmas-chaos-day-4.html
http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/12/merry-christmas.html
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/christmas-card-challenge.html
http://www.happylittlestampers.com/2015/12/hls-december-christmas-challenge.html

09 December, 2015

Make up your mind

Well, which is it?  Naughty or nice?

This started with a colour challenge on Catch the Bug.



I took the photo in daylight and I know it has a blue cast,  but it has the two shades of red, white and two grey shades.  There is washi tape 'ribbon' for tying the parcel, and the red mat for the image (coloured with Reno pens), a diecut snowflake in light silver grey, put onto a sentiment-stamped mid grey mat then onto a white base card.
I like the decisionmaking look on this angel-bears face... so tricky this question.

Image: bugaboo
snowflake diecut: Couture Creations
Oval diecuts: Spellbinders

Shared on challenge:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/christmas-chaos-day-3.html
http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/12/merry-christmas.html
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/102-holiday-season.html
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.de/2015/11/challenge-81-merry-christmas.html
http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/challenge-339-all-wrapped-up.html
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.se/2015/12/week-340-clean-and-simple.html

07 December, 2015

Hangover pocket

Wine bottle Pocket

This is to give with a gift bottle - has two special coffee sachets and a packet of paracetamol - to allow for hangovers!  Great gift for a man.

I made it in card that has a leather texture - very manly - and added papers that don't stand out too much.  I got the idea off the internet.

Diecut circles & reinforce ring: Spellbinders
Diecut holly: Couture Creations
Message  on the back

Shared on Challenges:

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=3299
http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/12/merry-christmas.html
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/anything-goes.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2015/12/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-256.html
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/challenge-23.html





SantaSocks

Here comes Santa! 

"Where am I going to hang them?" I can sympathise - this is what I look like for the first two days of December!

Seems like I've gone for negatives this time: I diecut a label from the green card and put santa behind the hole it left, so he looks like he will hang them in the gap.  Negative 'cheers' diecut in red, punched stars and some glittery clear tape to keep it simple.  The image is coloured with Reno pens, Wink of Stella

Image: Bugaboo
Diecut label: Spellbinders
Sentiment: Paper Smooches








Shared on Challenges:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.ca/2015/12/kickin-it-bugaboo-style.html
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/challenge-20.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/challenge-402-festive-colours.html


South Seas Christmas



This is a what our Christmasses look like! 

I had a couple of Christmasses  in the northern hemisphere and loved the snow and darkness and lights, and really enjoyed the sparkle and excitement.

But as penguins come from the southern hemisphere it only seemed fair to give him his own habitat... and a celebratory drink!

I used a sketch from Catch the Bug Challenge which is a great sketch and will be useful for other projects too.





Shared on challenges:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.ca/2015/12/christmas-chaos-day-2.html
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/challenge-20.html



06 December, 2015

Snowflake butterflies



I know it probably makes those of you in the northern hemisphere feel colder to have these snow themed cards around, but here we are in the 20's and it is lovely and cooling if somewhat irrelevant!

A simple card, but I like it.  And in these festive colours - every year I have a different colour theme - this year my colours are purple and pink (with a wee touch of turquoise), and the tree really looks gorgeous!

I positioned the snowflake stamps so it looks like the deer is looking at them and waiting for them to land on his nose.  Heat embossed in white, snowflakes with gems added. 



Shared on challenges:


http://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/challenge-45.html
http://creativeknockouts.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/118-tis-season-stamping-boutique.html
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/challenge-402-festive-colours.html
http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/snow-time.html
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/challenge-20.html
http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/cfc146.html



04 December, 2015

A little bit fruity



Pears are one of my favourite fruits to eat, but I also love their voluptuous shape.  I made this using those bits that fall out of a diecut.  I cut out a pear shape, then placed the bits on it.  When finished I glazed it with Reeves Iridescent Medium which gives the paper a fabulous depth of colour and accentuates the bits.

Punched border: Fiskars
Sentiment stamp: Penny Black
Punched tag: No brand evident








Shared on challenge: http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/week-252-recipe.html
http://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/challenge-5-anything-goes.html
http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/its-our-3rd-birthday-challenge-77.html

03 December, 2015

Puppyzzz

They look so cute together, and how relaxed is that?  The digi image is coloured with Reno pens, and the tag edges inked.

Image: Bugaboo
Die tag: Kaisercraft
Die circles: Memory Box
Tab die: spellbinders
Stamp: Dienamics

Shared on challenges
http://vlvsketches.blogspot.co.nz/p/link-list.html
http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/11/anything-goes-with-sentiment.html
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/anything-goes.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2015/12/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-256.html

02 December, 2015

oohlala




My French teacher has a birthday this week so I just had to use my French stamps!  The bpaper is the reverse side of a Christmas paper but is tres elegant, and sits nicely in the background, while the lacy border looks a bit like pavement.  One for the girls.

Joyeux Anniversaire =Happy Birthday 

Image: Bugaboo, coloured with Reno pens
Diecut Eiffel: dienamics
Stamp sentiment: Paper Xtra
rectangle deckle diecut: Spellbinders




Shared on challenges:
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2015/11/challenge-303-paris.html
http://craftyfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/challenge-19-one-for-girls.html
http://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.ca/2015/11/challenge-88.html

Angels

I belong to a crafters group who meet weekly at the local Library and we wanted card to say thanks to our librarians.  I love this pic and it seemed a nice way to say it.  I printed the star sentiments on the computer then die cut them, sticking them together with fine twine between (it says " to the ... library ... angels").  I coloured the image with Reno pens and inked the edge.  I got the idea for the stars from the many stamps around that have decorations and stars dangling, so I decided to make real ones that dangle.

Image: Bugaboo
Doiley die cut: Marianne
Thank you die: Spellbinders


Shared on challenge:
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/11/challenge-401-fairies-and-angels.html
http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/11/anything-goes-with-sentiment.html





Little friends

Pinspiration

The inspiration photo is just perfect for these little elvin folk.  They are tiny, standing about 60mm.
I saw a pic on pintrest so my dear husband turned the wooden bodies on his lathe and I knitted their hats and scarves.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/141581982012940884/











Shared on challenge: http://www.pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2015/11/pinspirational-challenge-154.html
 
 

30 November, 2015

Quilt Venice


Last weekend I did a 2-day 'Light up your Landscape' class with Australian Gloria Loughman, an internationally acclaimed award winning quilter .  We had to take along photos of landscapes we could turn into a quilt...plus our fabric stash of suitable colours!

We had spent Christmas of 2007 in Italy and - of course - had some great pics to choose from.  This is a bit different to having photos in an album, this memory you hang on a wall.

We used freezer paper to make a pattern then steam-a-seam lite to raw edge applique.  During the class Gloria included mini-tutorials on things like colour theory (in a user friendly way), design and patternmaking, threads and needles combinations for machine, painting fabric for special effects,  choosing and using decorative threads,  finishing, etc.
Usually Gloria puts facings on her quilts, but she suggested mine would be better with a border, then a facing.  I included a tiny inner border as well.

We had two days of fun and amazing teaching with Gloria, and she also had a trunk show presentation  on the Tuesday night.  What an incredible range of work and what a fabulous lady.  Google Gloria Loughman to see her work!














Here are some of the photos I used to design my quilt.





















I used a mixture of batiks and hand dyed  fabrics, and stitched it with variegated thread.







Rose Doily

NovemberSketch; AGoes w Sentiment; Birthday; Stash

I started with the rose brad for this card, and it all came together once I found the brown stripe.  The background paper is stamped with a flourish in gold ink, and the edges of the tag and doily are inked. 

All of the items were from my stash!  And no, your eyes aren't playing tricks, the paper is shaded like ombre.  I've had this gorgeous metal rose for ages and never really found a card that 'deserved' it.



Diecut doilys: Spellbinders
Border punch: Fiskars
Sentiment stamp: HastingsRubberStamps
Flourish stamp: Hero Arts
Brad: Rosie's Studio

Shared on challenges:
http://creationsnz.blogspot.co.nz/2015/11/rose-doily.html
http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/11/anything-goes-with-sentiment.html
http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/challenge-28-birthday-winners-of-ch-27.html
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.be/2015/11/welcome-to-pennys-challenge-255.html