A Christmas table decoration

Evening all,

Today we've spent the afternoon at our friends home and enjoyed a lovely roast! The plan was that my crafty friend Sue and I would raid her lovely garden for holly and other lovely greenery and then make a table decoration each....we got slightly sidetracked by X-factor and so I ended up bringing home a bag full of greenery to make mine at home. Little people and other half all went off to sleep as soon as we got home so I sat in the kitchen and put my table decoration together. I'm no florist but I think it looks ok!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon x

A simple Noel!

Evening all,

I've finally got around to playing with my 'Noel' and Christmas Minature stamps from Claritystamp which I bought at the NEC recently.......I was watching the fab Barbara Gray yesterday and thought I'd better get my stamps out, I wimped out of using the brayer but think I've managed to get a vaguely similar effect using my usual cut n dry foam!! So here it is.........

I've used Spellbinders labels 17 largest die to cut the silver mount and the next size down to cut the white linen card. I've stamped 'Noel' onto the white die cut using Versamark and detail silver embossing powder and heat embossed. Next I've made a mask for this and cut out the inside of the 'O'. I've added a small circle mask which will become the moon and then through the mask I've smudged denim Adirondack ink across the top half of the 'O'. I've then stamped the fir tree from the minatures into the 'O' using first and second generation stamping to build up a forest and add some depth. Next I removed all the masks and stamped the Reindeer and Santa sleigh minature in black Archival ink. The edges of the white die cut were smudged very lightly with the denim Adirondack and then mounted onto the silver panel. A simple background of white linen embossed with a snowflake embossing folder and silver ribbon and charm completes the simple look.

Thanks for stopping by.......x

A sparkly scene card

Hi, I'm back again!

Here's my next card, I've used my new Crafts Too embossing folder and highlighted the embossed areas with stickles to highlight. I made the background paper using a Butterfly Kisses snowflake stamp stamped randomly on white card in cool aqua and teal colours. I've cut an aperture using a nestie and inked all the edges with the aqua ink. The embossed image was then stuck to the reverse of the aperture. I made the sentiment tag using the Butterfly Kisses sentiment stamped in Teal stazon onto white shrink plastic. The tag was shrunk and then glazed with gloss medium and tied to card with a silver ribbon. A snowflake cut from sparkly card with a gem added completes the sparkle!

I'm entering this card into the following challenge

Totally Gorjuss Sparkle

Back again soon.........

A pink angel!

Hi

I've been very busy over last week making cards and have finally found some time to upload them here!!

Here's a pink version of the card made in my last post.....I've used the same Lili of the Valley image coloured with ProMarkers and made the background again using an embossing folder and distress ink. Again, I've used the lovely Marianne snowflake doiley and icicle dies. I've also die cut a snowflake from sparkly card and layered it up with a gem. The greeting is made using a Wild Rose Studio greeting cut out and inked up with distress ink and then a shaper tool is used on the reverse until it becomes a dome shape, this is then stuck to the card using silicone to keep the domed shape and painted with a gloss medium to make it shine. A sparkly ribbon and charm completes the card.

I'me entering this card into the following challenges

The Cutie Pie Challenge Pastel Christmas
ABC Challenge E for embossing

Thanks for looking.......more cards to follow shortly :0)

A Christmas card......

Hi

Just a very quick post to show one of the cards I have made over the past week....

I've used the lovely Pickle the Penguin stamp from Wild Rose Studio coloured with my ProMarkers, free papers from Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine and lovely rich red glitter paper which I have cut with a Marianne snowflake die.

I'm submitting this card to the magazine as a 'First Past the Post Entry'......hope it gets printed.....

That's all for now, bed is calling!    xx

Icy Angel

Hi, I've finally found some time to use some of my crafty bits bought at the NEC last week!!

This card uses the gorgeous Lili of the Valley Icy Angel image which I've coloured with Promarkers and highlighted with stickles and a glaze pen. The image was cut out using a nestie die and faux stitching added around the edge along with some ink. The background paper was made using a snowflake embossing folder, inked over with one of my new adirondack ink pads and more faux stitching added around the edge. The large snowflake was cut from some silver glitter card using my fab new Marianne die. The icicle trim is also a Marianne die to which I've added a strip of the silver glitter card together with the winter wishes sentiment which comes with the main image, I've stamped this onto shrink plastic and used an old cuttlebug slider die to cut out. The snowflake was also cut from shrink plastic with a cuttlebug die and then a gem added.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafters Companion Monthly challenge Let it snow
A Gem of A Challenge A sketch

Thanks for looking x

A new baby card

Here's another card I've just made and would like to share with you.
I've used a lovely image from Pink Gem Designs, coloured with Promarkers and highlighted with stickles and a glaze pen. I've cut out the image and sentiment with a nestie and backed with a doily cut from linen card using a Marianne die. I've added a bow and silver bottle charm and made a couple of flowers using my new Spellbinders rose creation die and some lovely sparkly brads.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Whimsy Stamps Challenge - Button it
A Gem of a Challenge - Challenge 32, A sketch


That's it for tonight, bye for now x

A Christmas canvas

Evening all, inspired by the workshop last Monday and also the amazing Tim Holtz's christmas tags from last year, I decided to make a Christmas canvas in my favourite colourscheme of teal and brown which will fit in beautifully with my decor come Christmas-time!!
So here it is.....................................

I painted a crackle effect onto the bare canvas, next I stamped the background stamp and some swirls with stazon onto white tissue paper, this was then adhered to the canvas using Ranger's Studio Multi Medium. When dry the tissue paper is transparent so the lovely crackle paint effect shows through. I edged the canvas with a bronze embossing powder and added some distress stickles. I cut the baubles and branches from grungepaper using Marianne dies and coloured the branches brown and the baubles a lovely teal colour. I backed the baubles with some card and added more stickles to the recessed areas. I used a lovely ticket stamp from Pink Gem on some kraft paper and scrunched it up before distressing with inks and distress stickles. The baubles, branches and ticket were stuck to the canvas using silicon. I coloured some vintage seam binding with the distress inks before making bows to add to the baubles. Voila!!

I'm entering this into the Bearly Mine Challenge - Anything but a card

A blue Christmas

Evening all, I'm back again with another card to share........
My cuttlebug has been working overtime to create this card! I've used my lovely new Crafts Too embossing folder to create the base, I've distressed the edges with chipped sapphire distress ink and managed to ink up all the snowflakes which shows off the lovely embossing to full effect. Next I've cut a piece of navy card to fit the central recess of the base and embossed this with the Cuttlebug snow folder before glazing with a clear gloss. I've then cut the snow village scene from white linen card using a Marianne die and then added stickles highlights to look like snow. A strip of silver card through the centre and a pretty bow and silver snowflake charm complete this simple card.

I'm entering this card into the Die Cut Dreams Challenge - So Charming


That's all for now, thanks for looking, Sharon x

A fab crafty day!

Evening all, just a quick post tonight to share what I've been up to today!! It was the '12th Special Edition Day' run by our local craft shop (Japonica) here in Exmouth. It's a whole day of crafting with 4 workshops and a lovely lunch included. Workshops were run by Janet Caudrelier (Japonica), Vera Moore, Jane Gill and Francoise Read. It's held twice a year and myself, fellow crafting mate Sue and my future mum-in-law Susan always make sure we get a place!

Here's my efforts from all four workshops today.....

.....and in more detail.....

The first workshop with Vera Moore had us all making this lovely stepper card with acetate and a cute Wild Rose Studio image.

The next workshop was run by Jan Caudrelier and we made this fab 'Christmas Rose Blockart' using lovely papers and stamped background to cover a wooden block, the lovely Christmas Rose is made using modelling film. The piece was highlighted with touches of embossing powder and embellished with lovely gems. (My fave make of the day!!) This will look lovely on the fireplace in our dining room at Christmas!

After lunch it was Jane Gill's workshop where we made this lovely poppy card. Not one of my favourites to make as far too much phaffing around with tiddly bits of paper for my liking but well worth the hard work for the lovely end result!

My final workshop of the day was with Francoise Read and we made this lovely 'Dove of Peace' card. It was made using paper-piecing and the final results were lovely. So many finishing details added to this card and is my second fave make of the day! Very unusual colours but stunning finish!

Well that's it for now.....have a million and one ideas for crafty projects now.......

'til next time, Sharon xx

A fairy card

Evening, here's my latest card to share with you all. I've used a Lili of the Valley image coloured with ProMarkers and cut out with a nestie die, a Papermania backing paper and ribbon. I've made my own 'number 8' charm by die-cutting the number from grungepaper, inking it up with versamark ink, covering with Cosmic shimmer silver sparkle embossing powder and then heating with my heat gun.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

An Oldie but a Goodie  - Wings
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Bingo board
Cuddly Buddly - Check it out

Thanks for looking, hugs Sharon x

A simple wedding card

Morning all, inspired by a simple card I saw on Pink Gem's blog using a gorgeous rose made using the Spellbinders Donna Salazar rose die set, I bought the die set from them and studied the tutorial link mentioned in the blog post and then decided to have a go myself! I had to make a wedding card so thought I would use it for that.
Here's my version of the card....

I used linen card and a Go Kreate die to cut the card base and mat, a Nellie Snellen die for the heart which I embossed, and a Papermania embossing folder for the sentiment. I added a touch of tattered rose distress ink to the rose layers, the edges of the heart and mat. I also inked some seam binding with the same distress ink and tied a bow to complete the card.

'til next time x

A sparkly creation!

Hi, I've been playing around with my new stamp and papers and made this lovely Christmas card in contemporary colours. The image, sentiment and papers are from Pink Gem Designs, I've coloured the image with ProMarkers and Copics and I've made some tiny poinsettias using the smallest of my Marianne dies and coloured these also with the ProMarkers to match the image colours. I've used a very sparkly ribbon and added a heart charm and touches of Stickles glitter to the image to finish.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Sparkles Forum - Something that sparkles
Pink Gem Challenge - With love at Christmas
Crafters Companion Monthly Challenge - Pink and green
Totally Gorjuss - A sketch
Allsorts Challenge - 5 flowers


Back soon xx

One for a boy!

Hi all,
Today's card is for a boy, I find it more difficult making male cards as I have to restrain myself from making a flower, adding glitter or adding a bow!!! So, here's last evening's efforts........

I've used 3 of my new backing papers from Bearly Mine and inked up the edges with distress ink. The image is another of my favourites from Lili of the Valley coloured with ProMarkers, cut with a nestie die and inked with distress ink. I've added some twine and tied a knot to add interest. A simple sentiment completes the card.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Bearly Mine Challenges - 3 backing papers
Oldie But A Goodie - One for the boys
ABC Challenge - Anything goes


'Til next time xx

I've been painting again!

Morning! Here's my latest creation that I'd like to share...........it's a picture frame I've painted for a friends birthday. It started out looking like this.......

Here's how I made it:
I painted the crackle effect on the frame by first using a pale pink acrylic, followed by a good layer of PVA glue and then a final layer of cream acrylic over the top. I heated with my heat gun and watched those cracks appear! Next I die cut swirls and flower shapes (Marianne Creatables dies) from grunge paper. I painted the flowers using the double loaded brush folk art paint method as used by Sheena Douglass in her Paint Fusion technique (although sadly this is barely noticeable now the petals are layered up into the rose....will do better next time!!) The swirls were covered in versamark and gold embossing powder and heated until sparkling!
Finally, I layered up the petals curling them to make the rose and stuck everything onto the frame before sealing it all with a layer of gel medium.
Thanks for looking, back again soon x

Birthday cakes!

Another day, another card!!
I have lots of family and friends birthdays over the next few months so have quite a few cards to make and will be adding them all to my blog as I go!! Here's one I've made for a friends birthday.
I cut the base from kraft card using my new X-Cut scalloped rectangles die and also a nestie scallop and plain ovel die for the image. I've used a lovely image from Lili of the Valley coloured with ProMarkers and distress ink on watercolour paper......I've read lots of comments saying never to use watercolour paper with ProMarkers/Copics but I have found it the best so far :0). The background paper is from Wild Rose Studio and I've used lace, a hatpin and ribbon from my stash and made the lovely swirls and roses using my favourite Marianne dies.
Also, check out my fancy new watermark!!.........I bought it from Sentiments 4 you.


I'm entering this card into Die Cut Dreams challenge - A recipe

That's all for now.......really must go do some housework :(  x

My first Christmas card!!

Well here is my first Christmas card...I've designed this one as my simple 'quick to make' design for this year (!) which I shall make several of quickly and then take my time making the more special cards for close friends and family. I went to the Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts show yesterday and stocked up on new cutting dies amongst other things and so had to have a play last evening.......and here's the result! I've used a Go Kreate die to make the card blank, a Craft Concepts Merry Christmas embossing folder to make the background and highlighted with distress ink. The pine branch is a Marianne die cut from green card and the bauble (also a Marianne die) is cut from gold mirror card with red glitter card behind. A red bow completes the bauble. I've adhered the background and branch flat to the card and raised the bauble up with silicon to add a bit of dimension. Now to make a few more in varying colours...........

I'm entering this one in the Allsorts challenge - Keep it simple.

Thanks for looking......back soon x

A birthday card

Well I'm back again with another card!! This one I've made for my mum's birthday next week. We're on holiday in Cornwall at the moment, in a lovely lodge at Gwel An Mor, Portreath and once the little people have gone off to sleep I've managed to get out my craft stash and make a card!! This one uses backing papers that were free with my magazine, the lovely Wild Rose Studio image coloured with ProMarkers and inked around the edges with distress inks, I've used a Marianne die for the lovely corner and to make my handmade roses. The ticket stamp and die are from Whimsy.

I'm entering this card into A Gem of A Challenge Challenge #30 A sketch

A retirement card

Evening all, well it's been a little hectic around here of late but here I am back again with another card. I've made this one for a lady at work who is retiring. I've used a lovely image from Wild Rose Studio coloured with ProMarkers, a ticket stamp and die from Whimsy (to which I've added my own sentiment!), a swirly die from Marianne creatables, ribbon and designer paper from my stash.

  

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

A Gem of A Challenge  Colour Inspiration Challenge

Allsorts Challenge Blog  Flowers and Swirls

A wedding card

Hi all, another week, another card! This time for a friends wedding in a few weeks time.
I have used a lovely image from Lili of the Valley coloured with ProMarkers and distress inks. I've used embossing folders for the background and greeting and made my own roses using a Marianne Creatables die. I've added glitter and a charm.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges....


A Gem of a Challenge - white on white

Lili of the Valley - roses

Sheena Douglass blog candy!

Evening all, I've just found out the Paint Fusion legend that is Sheena Douglass is giving away Christmas Paint Fusion candy on her blog, take a look! Sheena.tv......oh and good luck! xx

A few of my handmade cards made over the last few years......