Lady Beetle Polka Dots

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

Inkspirational has a cute photo of lady beetles to use as inspiration.

At CAS-ual Fridays, the theme is Polka Dots.

At Simon Says Stamp & Show, the theme is a little stamping. 

There's a tiny lady beetle stamp in the Hero Arts Antique Engravings set. I think I've only used it once before!

I used snippets of white card for stamping and die cutting, so I'm also visiting the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Materials used: Hero Arts stamp; Spellbinders circle die; distress inks; tombow marker; bling, ribbon and sentiment sticker from stash.

Thanks for visiting :)

Pink Lavalier Flower

Hi, I'm squeezing in another card today as I'll be heading to my sister's place in Brissie tomorrow. I doubt we'll get any cards made LOL!!

Last time I was there I did a few die cuts and did some stamping from her stash.

The challenge at Cuttlebug Mania is to make your own flowers for your project, by hand or using a manual die cutting machine. I thought I'd drag out these die cuts as I think  they look like a flower. 

 I sponged them  with memento and distress ink. (There are 2 glued together). I glued some shimmer bazzil to the flower and fussy cut it. If I had the die I would've re-inserted the cut outs! 

It was quite a job. I remember watching a British vintage type renovation show on TV not long ago. The renovators were having a sewing lesson, and while she was stitching the instructor commented that she had a lovely sewing face!! I think my eyes were screwed up and my tongue was hanging out, not a pretty fussy cutting face LOL! 

The die is Memory Box Lavalier circle, and  the embossing folder is Couture Creations Hyper Magical. The sentiment is from Penny Black Social Butterfly set, stamped in Versafine and clear embossed. I shaped some 1/8 punched circles to put around the bling centre.

I was also inspired by 2 other challenges. At Addicted to Stamps & More, there's a colour challenge.'

I followed the sketch at  Freshly Made Sketches.

Thanks for visiting :)

Chalk & Versamark

Hi, I was inspired to make this card by a technique that Donna did on the Annabelle Stamps blog last week. It's a new technique for me, stamping an image in Versamark ink, then sponging or daubing chalk over it. I love the soft colours it gives!

I stamped a couple of the grass images from the All Things Grow set from Annabelles. I fussy cut the taller ones and glued them on to be a feature. The butterfly is an old stamp from my sister's collection and I coloured it with chalk using a cotton bud. The clouds are Memory Box dies that I borrowed.

The sentiment is from Annabelle's Standing Tall set. I've been using it a lot lately! Stamped in Versafine and clear embossed.

I'm entering the challenge  at Annabelle Stamps. Here's the sketch.

I used white ribbon as the vertical stripes on my card. They're a bit hard to see in the photo.

I'm also entering the challenge at Make It Monday, where the theme is anything goes, and to share creativity. Since my dark green layer is a snippet (there's a die been cut out of the middle of it!), I can also visit the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Thanks for visiting :)

Christmas cottage

Hi, I put this card together from bits and pieces of cardstock and designer paper in my snippets box. It was fiddly but fun to do. I'm still on holidays though so my time is mine, so to speak!

There are a few Christmas challenges at the moment. Merry Monday at Always Playing with paper, has a month long anything goes as long as it's Christmassy theme.

The Paper Players have a Christmas in July theme.

At Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge, theres a tic tac toe challenge.

My ribbon has glitter edges and I used pearls in my flowers.

Materials used: Memory Box & Poppy stamps dies -window, fence, grass, flower stems, scallop and label; Martha Stewart branch punch; a flower punch; Sizzix Tim Holtz embossing folder; ribbon, bling & sentiment sticker from stash.

Thanks for visiting :)

Shades of Grey

Hi, I made this card for the challenge at Less is More, where the theme is to create a CAS project using at least 2 shades of grey. There are lots of fabulous creations so far.

 I could only think of clouds (it's very overcast here today!) I was also inspired by the Cloud Candy I received from Loll at Stamping with Loll. Here's a pic.

There's a gorgeous cloud sponged background behind these lovely diecuts too. I'm still treasuring them and will use them one day!

 I drew a couple of cloud templates and cut them out of a cereal box. Then I sponged with Memento London fog and a little bit of an old ink, Artnic Chateau Gray.

I messed up stamping my sentiment straight on the card so stuck one over the top! It's from Hero Arts Find Joy. I stamped this in Versafine Smokey Grey and clear embossed it.

I'm also entering the challenge at Make It Monday where the theme is anything goes, to share creativity.

And the challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show, where the theme is to use a little stamping on your project. I stamped my sentiment.

Thanks for visiting :)

Purple Butterfly

Hi, I'm getting my fix of purple today!

I was inspired to make this card by a few challenges. Freshly Made Sketches has this sketch.

I used a circle instead of a square as it framed my butterfly better.

The inspiration for the colours came from Inkspirational. I hope mine are close enough.

I'm also entering the Playing Favourites challenge at A Blog Named Hero

One of my favourite Hero Arts stamps is this Antique Engravings one. I'm leaving it without a sentiment for now to have in my stash.

Other materials use: Entangled embossing folder; Prismacolor pencils; Spellbinder circle & scallop dies; Martha Stewart frond punch; Stickles.

Celebration Banners

Hi, I was inspired to make this card by the patriotic challenge at Simon Says Stamp. It also fits the challenge at Color Throwdown.

I stamped my  banners onto the strips of card I trimmed from my recent fireworks card, so I'm also entering the snippets playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

Materials used: Maya Road banner stamps; Distressed stripes embossing folder; Memento Lady Bug and Bahama Blue ink, Versafine Majestic Blue ink; Hologram Sparkle embossing powder; twine, brads and sentiment sticker from stash.

Thanks for visiting :)

Christmas decorations

Hi, I thought I'd join the card makers who are starting on Christmas cards!

I had to think of something to make that started with C, since my name is Cathy, for the What's in a Name  challenge at Cuttlebug Mania. So I thought I'd do christmas decorations.

I cut the bauble base from watercolor paper and  coloured it with a sea blueTombow marker. I coloured the edge and then wet the paper inside with my aqua painter to drag the colour to the centre. I then sprayed it with some home made gold Perfect Pearl mist.

 Since I used my markers I'm entering the Make Your Mark Challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More.

Here's a pic without the top. I love the marbled effect.

I'm also entering the challenge at Crafty Hazlenuts Christmas Challenge Extra, it's an anything goes challenge so long as it's christmassy.

At Allsorts Challenge, the theme is to use your favourite things. Die cuts are one of my favourite things and I love Memory Box dies.

Edited to add: Bonnie has suggested that I also link up to the Anything Goes Christmas challenge at Merry Monday Always playing with Paper. Thanks Bonnie.

Materials used: Memory Box classic and snowflake ornaments, crisp bows and branch dies; Stately embossing folder; sentiment sticker from stash.

Thanks for visiting :)

Fireworks Fun

Hi, I had so much fun making this card! I used the masking technique and had a beautiful distressed blue panel. Then I stamped my design using masks. Then I scored along what I thought was the edge of my panel only to realize it wasn't!! I cut the panel out and mounted it on a white card border to rescue it LOL!

This stamp is one I bought ages ago because it cost $3. (My sister probably talked me into buying it at the scrapbooking store near her place!!) I think it looks like fireworks. I stamped in Versamark and used mica powder and Perfect Pearls to bring out the image. I've taken a great many photos to come up with this one! In real life it looks so much better!

I'm entering the challenge at CASology where the cue card is Fireworks.

I'm also entering the challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show where the theme is Anything Goes.

Materials used: Summer Soul Fancy Pants Design stamp; Distress inks; Mica powders and Perfect Pearl powders; sentiment sticker from stash.

Thanks for visiting :)

Get well yellow flower

Hi, I needed to make a quick card  to send to a friend who's a bit under the weather at the moment.

Yellow is such a bright and cheery colour so I hope it lifts her spirits.

I'm going to enter the challenge at The Paper Players. It's a tic tac toe challenge

I've chosen Get well, bling and yellow.

I'm also entering the challenge at Make It Monday, where the theme is Anything Goes to share creativity.

Materials used: Sizzix embossing folder; Memory Box label die; Shop bought paper fllowers;  ribbon, bling and sentiment sticker from stash.

Thanks for visiting :)

Gecko Birthday

Hi, I've been playing with embossing and texture paste over the last couple of days! I bought some smooth white embossing paste and this Dreamweaver gecko stencil at the craft show I went to in June.

I also bought some structure paste which is gritty and this The Crafters Workshop brick wall stencil.

I learned a few lessons with my experimenting. The smooth paste leaks out really easily so I need to work more quickly with it. Also, it's better to colour the paste before I use it as it took ages to get the colours I wanted when the pastes were dry. 

I fussy cut the gecko as the paste leaked underneath him. The paste was expensive so I didn't want to waste him! Also I fussy cut all of the bricks!! Lucky I'm on holidays LOL. I didn't like how the colour came out on the card I'd stencilled the bricks onto. Thus the lesson to colour the paste first!

I distressed grey cardstock with pumicestone ink. I coloured my bricks with fired brick, rusty hinge and tea dye distress inks. The lizard was coloured with a green colour box ink.

I die cut  a Memory Box Madeira Vine out of a green snippet and cut it up to place on the wall. The tiny flowers are snippets of cream card cut with memory Box Floral Delights. The MFT wavy pennant was also cut from a cream snippet and I lengthened it to fit my sentiment sticker.

I'm going to enter a couple of challenges. The snippets mean I can head over to the playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

At Simon Says Stamp & Show the theme is Anything Goes.

I was really inspired by Florence's amazing card here as she used embossing paste for her sun flower. I'll try and use pencils or markers on my next card so that I can enter the Make Your Mark Challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More.

Thanks for visiting :)

Arrow Flight

Hi, I was inspired to make this card by the Hunger Games challenge, to use an arrow at CAS-ual Fridays.

I don't have any arrow stamps so I thought I'd convert this image from the Breath set by CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. I hope I'm not stretching the imagination too far! The arrow tips are made with Memory Box Parker number dies, number 7 chopped off and thinned down.  

I'm also entering the challenge at Addicted to CAS, where the code word is Take Flight. I think the sentiment is an inspiration to take flight too.

I used Versacolor and Versafine ink and clear embossed for some shine.

Thanks for visiting :)

Sand & Seashells

Hi, I've used some new things and some old things to create this card.

 I coveted the Impression Obsession Gradation stamp from the moment I saw it, and recently acquired it. I love the butterflies in the Hero Arts Antique Engravings set which I've had for ages. I've never inked up the seashells though!

I'm entering the challenge at Less is More. Hannelie is the guest designer and as her blog name is Desert Diva,  the theme is sand. (Hope there is enough white space here to meet the challenge rules!)

I stamped the sand with Memento desert sand. The seashells are stamped with chalk inks and embossed for some shine. 

I added some seaweed using the Memory Box Twigs & Berries die. I cut it from a few olive card scraps and tucked them behind the shells, so I can also enter the snippets playground at Pixie's Crafty Workshop. 

 The Kaisercraft sentiment is embossed with bronze powder, and sponged with Versacolor sand beige ink.

I'm also entering the Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Addicted to Stamps & More.

Thanks for visiting :)

Bloglovin

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5666265/?claim=5snuamyhdqj">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

I'm following the instructions for bloglovin here! I don't think Google Reader stopping will affect me, but I'm following the instructions anyway! Reminds me a bit of the end of 1999 when there was a commotion about our computers clicking over to 2000...Hmmm. LOL. Better to be safe than sorry anyway :)

Red flowers & tag

Hi, my hubby is knocking down our broken timber cattle yards over this weekend. I went up to help and could hardly lift one of the timber gates that we want to keep! I escaped to make  yummy sausage rolls for lunch instead and am now hiding in my craft room!! Ssshhh...

This card is for a couple of challenges. A Blog Named Hero has a tag challenge that is drawing to a close. I think I've probably only ever measured up and made a tag for a card once. I thought I kept a chipboard copy for measuring again but it's gone! Then I remembered I had this Fiskars squeeze punch that I got on sale at Spotlight! I think that's where the ribbon came from too.

I punched the tag from a scrap of white card, the flowers are stamped onto scraps too using Versafine and irridescent sparkle embossing powder. So I'm off to play on the swings at Pixie's Crafty Workshop.

The stamp is an old Lucys one that I've had for years, and I coloured it with some pigment ink using a paint brush. Added some stickles to the centre for bling. The base is embossed with Divine Swirls. The brad and sentiment sticker are from my stash.

Thanks for visiting :)

Black Red & White

Scrapbook Boutique has a challenge to use red, black and white and this delicious cupcake photo as inspiration.

It closes soon, so if you live in Australia, join in before the end of June 30.

Materials used: Darkroom Door flourish stamp; Versafine ink and clear embossing powder; EK Success small flower punch; Martha Stewart frond punch; Store bought large flower; Memory Box label die; bling and sentiment sticker from stash.

Thanks for visiting :)

Mosaic with Butterfly

Hi, I made this card to enter the mosaic challenge over at Cuttlebug Mania. When I think of mosaics I tend to picture designs on beautiful Moroccan pottery or tiles. The shape of these off cuts also reminds me of these tiles.

 A while back I made a card with  9  punched squares with small embellishments on top of them. I wanted to try something different this time so I used the off cuts from my Papertrey Ink Quatrefoil die. I ran them through my cuttlebug with a couple of embossing folders for some texture,  Swiss Dots and Entangled. Then 

I had fun daubing the edges with some distress inks.

The butterfly stamp is my sister's and I coloured it with Prismacolor pencils. The base card is embossed with one of the folders from the Cuttlebug Asian set . (Wish I owned that too!!) Pretty quick and easy to make.

 I'm also going to enter the Anything Goes challenges at Addicted to Stamps & More and Simon Says Stamp. At CASology the cue card is Free. Since I'm thinking of mosaics and all the beautiful art works  that we can enjoy for free, I hope that fits the challenge.

Thanks for visiting :)

Fabric Flower

 

Hi, I've made another card using a scrap of calico, my tattered flower die, distress inks and perfect pearl mist.

 

I'm entering the challenge al Less is More, where the theme is to make a birthday card for Jen. I'm cutting it close as the deadline is in a few hours!!

 

I'm also entering the Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp. At Addicted to Stamps & More, the theme is also Anything Goes.

 

Materials used: Sizzix embossing folder; Tim Holtz Tattered Flower die; Stampin Up Build a Bird leaf  punch; distress inks; perfect pearl mist; MFT label die; sentiment sticker and bling from stash.

 

Thanks for visiting :)



Pink Butterflies

 

 

Hi, I think I'm stuck on butterflies again! There's only 2 days before school holidays so maybe I'll get inspired to create something else again!

 

I stamped the Hero Arts engraved butterfly with Versafine and embossed with clear embossing powder. Coloured with Prismacolor pencils and I added stickles on the wings for some bling. I got a bit carried away with the pearl bling too!

 

The embossing folder is from Stampin Up, and the sentiment is from a Penny Black stamp set.

 

I'm going to enter the Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp.

 

I'm also putting another entry into the Make It Monday Challenge where the theme is always anything goes and to share creativity.

 

 

Thanks for visiting :)

Meadow Butterflies

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

I created my sky and meadow using distress inks, then stamped one of the grass stamps from Annabelle's All Things Grow set, with distress ink.  I coloured my butterflies with Prismacolor pencils

The sentiment is from Annabelle Stamps Standing Tall set.

I'm also going to enter the Anything Goes challenge at Make It Monday.

Materials used: Annabelle Stamps as above; Technique Tuesday butterfly stamp and an old butterfly stamp that I borrowed yet again from my sister!; distress inks; Prismacolor pencils; Versafine ink.

Thanks for visiting :)