Autumn Brown Butterfly

Hi, this is another one of the butterflies I coloured today.

The embossed background is a new toy, fall leaf background by Darice.

The leaves are left over from another project and are cut from glossy cardstock coloured with alcohol inks.

Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge has an autumn colour theme.

I'm linking up again to the anything goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday.

At Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge the theme is to stamp a finishing touch.

The addition of a stamped, fussy cut butterfly was the finishing touch on this card.

Supplies:

Darice embossing folder; Hero Arts antique engravings butterfly stamp; inktense pencils; Spellbinders oval and floral oval dies; distress inks; Memory Box marvellous maple leaf die; glossy card and alcohol inks; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Butterfly Filmstrip

Hi, I've spent the day colouring butterflies with Inktense pencils, and even better, I've managed to finish a few cards with them.

I was inspired by the sketch challenge at Just Add Ink.

I thought I'd use a filmstrip die instead of a banner shape and tried to make the middle butterfly look like it was closing it's wings.

I'm also linking to these challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More where the theme is CAS.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday  where the theme is anything goes.

I used snippets of black and white to cut the filmstrip and popped the white pieces back in for the butterflies to sit on. Snippets means I can visit the playground again at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Supplies:

PTI woodgrain impression plate; very old butterfly stamp; Memory Box bijou film strip die; inktense pencils; sentiment sticker & bling.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Birthday stars

Hi again, I've been doing bits of everything today. Made a really yummy date loaf with weet bix as 1 of the ingredients, it sounded a bit odd but tastes delicious!

 I wanted to add some balloons to this tag but my efforts at drawing or tracing things weren't much chop! Luckily I had this star die to use instead.

This card feels much busier than my usual CAS cards but I do like the stripey dp.

I'm linking up to the anything goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday.

At Seize the Birthday it's an anything goes birthday theme with the option of a banner or pennants topping.

I used snippets of cardstock for my stars and die cut sentiment so I'm visiting the playground at

Pixie's Crafty Workshop. (The sparkly stars were "collected" from a dinner we went to and they had decorated the table with them.)

Supplies:

Papertrey Ink star die; Fiskars label punch; Penny Black Hooray die; versamark ink and silver ep for the tag edges; tiny sentiment sticker; glossy accents; silver cord and dp from stash.

Thanks for visiting,

 Cathy x

Yellow butterfly

Hi, I was inspired to make this card by the colour challenge at

The Card Concept. 

Love these colours, and since it's Spring over here I thought I'd try something other than an autumn card. My card is in the clean and simple category.

The butterfly is painted with twinkling H2Os, so it's quite shimmery IRL. The die cut leaves are coloured with distress inks.

I'm also linking up to the CAS challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More,

and to the anything goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday.

At CASology the theme is flutter.

Supplies:

PTI impression plate; Hero Arts antique engravings butterfly stamp; Memory Box Lorelai Leaf die; punch bunch flower punch; twinkling H2Os; distress inks; sentiment sticker.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,

Thanks for visiting,

 Cathy x

Butterfly on a border

Hi again,

I'm using up a few butterflies that are left over from other projects.

This border looks blue in the photo but it's greener IRL!

 I rescued the popped out pieces from the paper bin and glued them in to create a different look. 

I'm linking up to the challenge at The Butterfly Challenge 

where Mrs A has a theme of the ugly bug ball!

I'm also linking up to Stamping Sensations where the theme is things with wings.

You need to use stamping in your project.

I stamped the butterfly, coloured it with tombow markers, fussy cut it and

 popped it up on some foam dots for dimension.

The theme at AAA Cards is fussy cutting.

Supplies:

Stamp: Memory Box Cocoa Bean butterfly.

Die: Memory Box Tessatina Border.

Other: Tombow markers; sentiment sticker; bling and foam dots.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Pink & Orange Birthday

Hi, it's day 2 of the school holidays here and I'm enjoying avoiding my list of jobs!!

I will get to it, maybe tomorrow!

 I was inspired to make this card by the challenge at 

Just Add Ink where they have this gorgeous pic as the theme.

I stamped and embossed 2 flowers on watercolor paper and coloured them with tombows

and an aqua pen. I fussy cut them, shaped them with a stylus and layered them together for dimension.

The challenge at AAA Cards is to use fussy cutting.

The leaves and border and Memory Box dies, I coloured these with distress inks.

The challenge at Cuttlebug Mania is anything diecut,

and to use a manual machine like a Big Shot, or Cuttlebug.

Supplies:

Dies: Memory Box Lorelai Leaf and Tessatina Border.

Stamp: Designs by Ryn African Daisy

Other: orchid ink & clear embossing powder; tombows; distress ink; watercolor paper; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Holiday baubles

Hi, I've been playing with alcohol inks again today.

I diecut  an ornament base out of metal sheet and ran it through my cuttlebug with an embossing folder. I love the texture. I've used the same folder on the base card.

Instead of pouncing the ink on with a blending tool, I poured it on and moved the base around.

I painted the top with a layer of glossy accents so the ink doesn't scratch off.

 I diecut another base from snippets of black card and glued it onto the back so that when you hang these on the tree you won't see the messy back. I've secured the ornaments to the card with foam dots and double sided tape which should be easy enough for the recipient to remove.

Here's another pic, it's tricky getting the light right!

I'm linking up to the holiday challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More.

Snippets means I can visit the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

At Cuttlebug Mania the theme is anything diecut with a manual machine like a big shot or a cuttlebug.

Edited to add: I'm also linking up to the challenge at Keep it Simple where the theme is no stamps.

Supplies:

Memory Box Brittany ornament die and Sizzix swirls & waves embossing folder;

Alcohol ink; glossy accents: silver cord; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Masculine sympathy card

Hi, I needed a masculine sympathy card and thought this simple image and sentiment

  would fit the bill nicely.

I'm linking up to the challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday

 where the theme is to rock the technique. I used the resist technique of stamping and embossing then sponging ink over the top.

I wanted the edge to stand out without having to add too many layers so I swiped it with versamark ink, dipped it into gold embossing powder and set it with a heat tool. It was my first time trying this technique and I'm happy with the result.

I'm also linking up to the challenge at CASology where the theme is grass.

Supplies:

Ink: Versafine onyx black; antique linen distress; versamark.

Stamps: Papertrey Ink sympathy.

Other: embossing powder-clear and gold.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Blue butterflies with yellow & black

Hi, these are some of the butterflies I painted with twinkling H2O's on the weekend.

I'm linking up to the challenge at Just Add Ink where they have a colour challenge.

I don't have a lot of Stampin Up inks so I hope these colours are close enough.

I used a new die that I got a few months ago, just had to have it but hadn't even tried it out yet!

It's Lucienne Tile from Memory Box. 

Darnell over at djkardcreations is celebrating her 600+ followers with an NBUS challenge.

To use some of your stash of never before used schtuff! So I'm linking up there too and will probably stay for a while as Darnell's blog is full of witty stories and lots of inspiring cards and techniques.

I'm also linking up to the challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More where the theme is to make your mark, using pencils, markers, chalks or paints on your project. I pained my butterflies with a few pots of twinkling H2O paint.

Materials used: 

Memory Box cocoa bean stamp and lucienne tile die; twinkling H2Os; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy, x

Autumn Blooms

Hi, I'm finishing off a couple of cards tonight that I started on the weekend.

I coloured these 3 chloe stems with walnut stain distress ink. Then I went over one with mustard yellow, and another with fired brick. I love the subtle colour change.

I'm linking up to the challenge at CASology where the cue card is 3.

I'm also linking up to the challenge at Scrapbook Boutique where they have this 

cute inspiration pic.

I was inspired by the dots and circles and the luscious brown of the cupcake.

This challenge is open to those who live in Australia and closes at the end of this month.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Autumn thinking of you

I was inspired by a few challenges to make this card,

 although the project started out very differently !

I was keen to try a new technique that Loll from Stamping with Loll shared recently.

It's called Faux Mother of Pearl and she's done a fabulous video to show how it's done.

I thought I'd do a tag and smooshed some white paint mixed with pearlizing medium onto it using cling wrap. When it was dry I blended a few autumn coloured distress ink onto it. I loved the look of the tag but I didn't know what to do with it!

I decided it would make a great background for a butterfly and some leaves, I stamped a couple of Hero Arts butterflies, clear embossed and fussy cut them. The leaves are diecut from bits and pieces that were left. I managed to get enough from the tag to do 2 projects.

I should've taken a pic before I cut it up but you can see the white shimmer from the paint.

I'm linking up to the challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday where the theme is to make your own background. I hope making it then repurposing it is ok. I've used an embossing folder to create a background for the tag.

At Tag You're It challenge there is this gorgeous inspiration pic.

I've followed the layout and autumn colours of the butterfly.

Since I was using up snippets left over from cutting up the butterflies, 

I'm visiting the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Materials used:

Hero Arts antique engravings butterfly; versafine ink & clear ep; Memory Box cherry blossom die; Elizabeth Crafy Designs curvy leaves die; Entangled embossing folder; distress inks; white acrylic paint; pearlizing medium; 

sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Metal Autumn leaves

Hi, I've been playing with twinkling H2O's today. 

I painted a few butterflies but decided to go with a flower again for this card.

(I apologize for the shine in the photo, I just can't get the angle right when photographing metal!)

I was inspired by the theme at The Mixed Media Card Challenge, to use autumn colours with an optional twist of metal or leaves.

I coloured the diecut leaves with  alcohol inks in rust, cranberry, meadow and butterscotch.

The flower is vellum stamped and embossed in gold, and coloured with twinkling H20s.

 I fussy cut 2 of them and layered on foam dots to add dimension. I also scored along the edge of the centre panel to finish it off.

I'm also linking up to the challenge at  Fantasy Stampers. Here is the gorgeous inspiration pic.

This is a new challenge for me, you must use at least 1 stamp in your project (not a digi).

The challenge at Seize the Birthday has an optional toppings of sweet treats.

I'm just playing along with anything goes.

Materials used:

Stampin Up Flower Shop stamp; Elizabeth Craft Designs curvy leaves die; metal sheet; vellum; alcohol inks; twinkling H2O's; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

enjoy the rest of your weekend,

Cathy x

Japanese rice paper & butterfly

Hi, I was inspired by a few challenges to create this card.

At Addicted to CAS, the theme is oriental.

I bought this Japanese rice paper sheet at a craft show in Brisbane a couple of years ago with my sister. We bought a couple of different patterns and shared half each as they were quite large.

I might have to buy the other half back from her as I love these colours!

Since I think this paper counts as NBUS, I'm popping another entry into Darnell's challenge to celebrate her 600th follower. She has an awesome blog that always inspires. To join in you just need to use some of your stash of Never Before Used Schtuff! I'm choosing option 4 again, none of the above, in the optional themes.

Inkspirational has this gorgeous inspiration pic as a theme.

I've gone with the peacock green, gold and blue colours. 

At Virginia's View Challenge, the theme is to use patterned or designer paper.

At Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge they are celebrating Stamptember. You need to create a project using a rubber stamp and join a blog hop to check out the DT's fabulous inspiration.

I stamped my butterfly onto white card, fussy cut it and coloured it with tombow markers.

Materials used:

Memory Box cocoa bean butterfly stamp, versafine ink and clear embossing powder; tombow markers; Japanese rice paper; sentiment sticker and bling.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Autumn Leaves

Hi, I was inspired by a few challenges tonight to make this card.

At CASology the cue card is under.

I layered these leaves under each other, and placed the sentiment under the layout.

At Cuttlebug Mania the team is back from their summer break and the theme is to use embossing and a manual machine like a cuttlebug, or a big shot. I used Cuttlebug distressed stripes embossing folder.

Addicted to Stamps & More has an anything goes challenge.

Over at Darnell's blog she is celebrating having 600 followers!! Not surprising as a visit there is not only inspiring but usually leaves you in such a good mood due to her wicked sense of humour!

The challenge is to use some of your NBUS, never before used schtuff!
 There are a few options listed for your project, I'm choosing option 4. (none of the above!)

I've used a die I bought a while ago, Memory Box marvellous maple leaves.

I cut them from glossy card and pounced them with alcohol inks. They were too light so I added some fired brick and vintage photo distress inks.

Materials used:

Memory Box marvellous maple leaves die; distressed stripes embossing folder; glossy cardstock; alcohol inks; distress inks; foam dots and a sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Distressed Wood grain with flowers

Hi, I was inspired to make this card by the challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More

 where they have this gorgeous pic for inspiration. I layered one of the vellum flowers onto white card so that it stood out like the dress.

It closes in 6 hours so I'm cutting it fine!

I used snippets of vellum to die cut my leaves so I'm visiting the playground at

Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

I'm also linking up to the anything goes challenge at

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday .

Materials used:

Darkroom Door woodgrain stamp, versafine ink and clear ep; distress inks; Stampin Up Flower Shop stamp; vellum; white ink and white ep; Elizabeth Craft Designs leaf die; bling and sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x