Monday 11 November 2013

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #104 Paper piecing


Happy Monday everyone,

Welcome to our latest challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers, hosted by Viv, who has chosen the theme 'Paper Piecing'

Viv would like to see something paper pieced on your project. You could, for example, paper piece a flower, part of your image such as a character's clothing, you could even paper piece an animal image for a funky look.. I am sure you can think of other ideas! 

Please ensure that your creation has paper piecing on it in order to qualify for the winner or top 5 slot. 



PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE REMOVED 


We are sponsored by 

with two of their fabulous digis
and also by
WOODWARE


So, here is my Design Team inspiration for the challenge:



I have paper-pieced a hedgehog using the Docrafts Woodland Friends die, cutting the parts out from different coloured paper and then layering them up to make the cute little creature. I have had this die for years and this is the first time I have used it!
The background was made by running a Darice embossing folder through my Big Shot and then inking over with Walnut Stain distress ink. 

That's all for now,please pop over to the challenge blog and take a peek at the fab work my my fellow teamies. 

Back again soon x

Monday 28 October 2013

Challenge 103 at Crafty Cardmakers - Monochromatic Purple

Happy Monday everyone, hope you all survived the storm last night with no major damage. We were all prepared here after all the warnings but thankfully not even a fence panel down.....will take a stroll down to the beach later and see how the sea is looking today.

Anyway, down to business...

Welcome to our latest challenge, hosted by Fiona, who has chosen the theme of Purple. 


As purple is Fiona's favourite colour, she would like to see cards/projects that are all or mostly purple. Hair/skin colours are also allowed.



Please ensure that your creation is only in shades of purple plus hair and skin colours in order to qualify for the winner or top 5 slot. 



PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE REMOVED 



We are sponsored by

DI'S DIGISTAMPS
with a $10 GIFT VOUCHER


and 

HOBBY ART
with this fabulous prize:-

A beautiful sheet of clear stamps


and a gorgeous wood mounted stamp



Here's my creation:

I've used a Marianne to cut the fan from deep purple card and a pale lilac pearlescent paper. The tassle and flower were coloured purple using alcohol ink. Purple gems add a hint of sparkle. This is not my usual type of creation so it made a change to do this - the die was bought completely on impulse and now I have to come up with other ways of using it to justify my moment of madness!!! It looks pretty sitting on the shelf in my craft room though....

Now,why not head over to the Challenge blog and admire the fab work of my teamies....and of course please play along yourself! The challenge runs for the next 2 weeks.

Thanks for looking everyone, hopefully back soon - my broadband has been misbehaving over several weeks now but seems to have sorted itself so hopefully normal service can resume! 

Sharon xx

Monday 14 October 2013

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #102 Shabby Chic


Hi everyone

Welcome to our latest challenge, hosted by BettyC, who has chosen the theme 'Shabby Chic'


BettyC would like to see any creation, scrapbook page, altered art, card that is 'shabby chic'



PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE REMOVED 



We are sponsored by

 MILK COFFEE DIGITAL STAMPS
WITH A PRIZE OF 5 DIGIS FROM THEIR STORE
And also by
with this fabulous prize:-

Here is my take on the challenge:


I have used Marianne dies to cut the birdcage, bird and the pretty corner in the background paper. The card base and birdcage were cut from kraft card then smooshed over with Picket Fence Distress Stains. The bird is cut from a scrap of canvas and painted cream. A pretty muted background paper, bow, pearls, flowers and a key charm painted over with the Distress Stains completes the vintage shabby chic look. The lovely sentiment makes this a perfect New Home card for my good friend Sue.

Now please head on over to the challenge blog and admire the fab work of my teamies. The challenge runs for the next 2 weeks so why not take part?

That's all for now

Thanks for looking

Sharon xx



Monday 16 September 2013

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #100 - Winged things


Happy Monday everyone,

Welcome to our latest challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers.

We would like to see Winged Things. Something with wings as a major focal point. Not a tiny butterly charm, or a small bee in the corner of an image, the wings need to be obviously part of the focal point. Fairies, angels, LARGE butterflies, birds etc. would qualify. Please check out the team for inspiration.

PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE REMOVED


We are sponsored by 
CRAFTS AND ME
with three digis of the winner's choice from their great range


AND ALSO BY
With a prize of £12.00 to spend at your favourite Woodware Stockist, either in store or on line.
 
www.woodware.co.uk.



Here's my inspiration:



I've die-cut my base card using a Go Create die, used a Crafts Too butterfly embossing folder and inked over with Distress Ink. I've used stickles glitter to highlight the embossed design. A die-cut sentiment and butterflies cut using Marianne dies in teal card completes this simple card.

Please head on over to the challenge now to see the work of my fabulous team-mates.

Thanks for looking, back soon.

Sharon x

Friday 13 September 2013

Butterfly greetings

Hi all

Today I'd like to share a couple of cards I have made recently:



The first card is made with a kraft base die cut using a Go Kreate die. The background was embossed with a folder and highlighted with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink. The butterfly was cut using the lovely Cheery Lyn die.




The next card was a slight variation using the same dies as above plus the lovely doily border die. I coloured the ribbon to match using the distress ink.

As I mentioned in a previous post, August and September are very busy birthday months in my family and so there will be more posts to follow shortly....!

Thanks for looking, happy crafting! xx

Thursday 12 September 2013

Lily's 5th birthday card

Evening all

Just a quick post tonight to show the card I made for my eldest daughter's 5th birthday a few weeks ago.



The lovely image is another from Wee Stamps - I just love these cute designs and they are perfect for my little girls cards. This image came free with a magazine along with the sentiment. I coloured the fairy with ProMarkers - she had to be a blondie just like my Lily - and added stickles to her wings. I painted a chipboard '5' white and covered this with stickles also. Flowers, pearls and a bow complete the pretty girlie look.

Lily loved her card and as she opened it she said 'You made my card Mummy didn't you? It's beautiful!'.... I so love that she appreciates my creativity and am so happy that both my girls love crafting too....chips off the old block!!

Thanks for looking, back soon

Sharon xx

Monday 19 August 2013

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #98 Fun in the Sun

Happy Monday everyone!

Phew not sure where the last 3 weeks have gone - I am lucky enough to work termtime only which means I get the lovely long break to spend all summer with my little ones, it's going far too quickly though......

So, welcome to our latest challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers, hosted by Lin, who has chosen the theme Fun in The Sun


In the hopes of encouraging the sun to shine for longer than 5 minutes, Lin would like to see something relating to the summer fun, so that might be holiday related, or something in the garden, basically something you might do outdoors when the sun is shining that's fun, clean and legal!!


 
Please ensure your card meets the required element to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot. 



PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE REMOVED 


We are sponsored by 

with
2 of their gorgeous digis
  

and
SIR STAMPALOT
 with this fabulous prize:-




Here's my DT card for the challenge:


I have used the 'Winnie Goes Camping' image from our fab sponsor Saturated Canary, (love, love, love the fab work of Krista Smith!!) coloured with ProMarkers and edges distressed with Pumice Stone and Iced Spruce Distress Inks. The backing paper is from MME's Quite Contrary paper pad. I gathered some cotton lace to make the flower, added a brad, stamped 'sweet' and die cut the '16'. A perfect card for my niece - their family caravan is kept at a campsite in a nearby village and they quite often stay there at weekends during the summer season for fun in the sun (or rain!!) so that was my inspiration for this card!

Now, pop along to the challenge to see the creations of my fab team mates and why not take part yourself?

Happy crafting everyone........I have lots of cards to make for birthdays over the coming months including a very special little girl of mine who will be 5 a week today so I'd better go tidy my craft room!

Back again soon

Sharon xx

Monday 29 July 2013

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #97 - 1 2 3


Happy Monday everyone!


Welcome to our latest challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers, hosted by Elaine who has chosen the theme '1,2,3'



Elaine would like to see projects along the theme of 1,2,3 - 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 embellishments

Please ensure your project has the required elements in the required quantities to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot. 



PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE REMOVED 


We are sponsored by 
with a $20 gift certificate for their fabulous store

and 

WOODWARE CRAFT COLLECTION 
With a prize of £12.00 to spend at your favourite Woodware Stockist, either in store or on line.


So, onto my interpretation of the challenge:


I have used a gorgeous Wee Stamps image coloured with Promarkers and 2 background papers from the MME Quite Contrary set. The stamp came free with a recent copy of Papercraft Essentials magazine and the papers were another fab freebie from Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine. I just love Wee Stamp images so couldn't wait to colour this one up to match the lovely background papers. My 3 embellishments are: pearls, flowers and a bow. I used an X-cut punch to cut the scallop edge along the border to match the spellbinders scallop circle. The flowers were die cut using a Marianne die and given some shape and dimension using a shaping tool. A kraft card base set the colours off beautifully.

Now head on over to the challenge to see the fabulous work of my teamies and please join in yourselves!

Thanks for looking!

Back soon

Sharon x

Monday 15 July 2013

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #96 - Birthday

Hiya everyone,

Welcome to our latest challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers, hosted by Lin, who has chosen the theme of 'Birthday'.

As it's our birthday, 4 years since our very first article was published and Crafty Cardmakers was born, Lin would like to see your birthday creations to celebrate our birthday. 



Please ensure your project meets the birthday challenge theme in order to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot.




PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE REMOVED


We are sponsored by 
DI'S DIGISTAMPS

with a $10 GIFT VOUCHER

and also by
HOBBY ART

with this fabulous prize:-

 


Here's my inspiration for the challenge:



I've used the lovely Orchid Decoupage Stamp set from Imagination Crafts. I've coloured with ProMarkers and decoupaged the 3 orchid flowers and leaves using silicone glue. The background is inked over with Distress Inks and a Sakura sparkly glaze pen used to highlight the background. The swirly leaves stamp that comes with the set was stamped around the edge of the Kraft card base using Versamark ink to give a watermark effect. 

Please head over to the challenge to see what my lovely team mates have created and why not have a go yourself?

Thanks for looking, back soon.

Sharon x

Monday 17 June 2013

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #94 - Steampunk

Hi everyone,

Welcome to our latest challenge, hosted by Julie who has chosen the theme 'Steampunk'

If you need an idea of what Steampunk is we have a definition here


PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE REMOVED 



We are sponsored by

 with a
$10 GIFT VOUCHER



and

We are kindly sponsored for this challenge by The Stampman (and Lady of course!) who are ofering the winner a £10 voucher for their store, you can spend this online, or if you're lucky enough to see them at a show!  They have a ton of items in store, enough to tickle any crafty taste bud.


So, onto my interpretation of the theme:


I have to confess I struggled with this theme, the whole Steampunk imagery is not my thing and so I decided to take one of the elements of Steampunk - the cog/gear and put a girlie pink twist on it! I took inspiration from a sketch at CAS Colours and Sketches, masked a cross shape on the base card and stamped a cog in first, second and third generation stamping to cover the unmasked area. I die cut a butterfly and embossed using a cog embossing folder, this was inked over in the same pink as the stamped background. A simple sentiment and metal cogs completed this clean and simple card.....another challenge for me!!

Please take a look at the Challenge blog and admire the work of my fellow team-mates.

That's all for now, I'll be back soon x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenge:
CAS Colours and Sketches - Challenge #29


Monday 3 June 2013

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 93 - Father's Day

Hi everyone,

Welcome to our latest challenge, hosted by Feebsy, who has chosen the theme of a  'Father's Day'

As it's Father's Day here in the UK on 16th of June Feebsy would  like to see anything you've created for or have been inspired to make by an important male figure in your life. It could be anything from a card, a scrapbook page, a knitted scarf or a piece of altered art. It does not have to be specifically for Father's Day ( I don't want you spoiling a surprise for anyone) but let us know the inspiration behind your work. 

Please ensure you let us know the inspiration behind your work to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot.

  PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE REMOVED


We are sponsored by 

THE PAPER SHELTER

with a $20 gift certificate for their fabulous store


And also by

Woodware Craft Collection
with a £12 voucher to be spent at one of their Retailers.




So, onto my creation:

This was quite a bittersweet challenge for me. My parents divorced when I was very young and so I have grown up without knowing my father. My Grandad was the main ‘father figure’ in my life until he sadly passed away 20 years ago. He was a real character and we spent every weekend with him and my Granny out and about in his old Morris Minor car! Happy memories inspired me to print a lovely old photo of myself (aged 2) and my Grandad onto some canvas and make into a wallhanging. I distressed the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink and added a wooden tag sentiment and bow. 

Now, head on over to the challenge and take a look at the fab inspiration of my fellow team-mates.

That's all for today, back again soon

Sharon x

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #92 - Tri-shutter card with a stamped image

Hi everyone

Sorry this post is a little late but Blogger seems to have been misbehaving over last day or so and wouldn't let me upload the photos for this post!

Anyway, better late than never....

Welcome to our latest challenge, hosted by Annette, who has chosen the theme of a  'Tri-shutter Card' 



Annette would like to see a tri-shutter card with a stamped image, either digital or rubber, with an added twist of using the colours Blue, Yellow and Green.




Please ensure your card includes a stamped image, digi or rubber to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot, whether you add the twist or not is up to you. 




PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE DELETED




We are sponsored by  




with a $10 gift voucher



And also by
with this fabulous prize:-

Anna's Collection Oriental and a Colorbox Chalk Queue.

So, onto my card for the challenge:




Making the card base was a challenge for me alone....I had to search the internet to find out what a Tri-shutter card was!!! I made it using yellow pearlescent card and matted blue linen card with a green patterned paper from my stash on the segments. The stamped image is the lovely Hydrangea clear stamp from Inkyliscious stamped in Agean blue and Tea Leaves ink pads - I brushed over the image with a dampbrush to pull some colour into the image and lose the stark white. A few gems and a ribbon complete my card.

Don't forget to pop along to the Challenge and see the fab inspiration from my fellow team-mates. Whilst you're there, why not have a go yourself - this challenge runs for 1 week instead of the usual 2.

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


Craft-Dee BowZ - Anything goes - with a handmade bow

Make it Monday - Anything goes

That's all for now, back again soon

Sharon x

Monday 13 May 2013

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 91


Happy Monday everyone!

Welcome to our latest challenge, I am hosting this challenge and have chosen the theme 'Pick Three Different Techniques' 



I've taken inspiration from my youngest daughter's recent 3rd birthday and therefore would like to see 3 different techniques on your card or project. Take your pick of 3 from the following list and be sure to state which 3 you've used:
  • Embossing (wet or dry)
  • Distressing
  • Masking
  • Making your own flowers
  • Paper piecing/patchwork
  • Shrink plastic 


    Please ensure your creation has three techniques from the list and that you tell us which three you have used to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot. 



    PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE REMOVED 



    We are sponsored by





    WITH A PRIZE OF 5 DIGIS FROM THEIR STORE
Milk Coffee Stamps is a digital image shop specialising in cute and girly images. We provide high quality digital images with high resolution so you could resize at a big enough size for your project. We have many different image styles; sophisticated lady, cute girl, whimsical image, cute stuff, fairytale creature, and many other varied themes so they can fit many different crafting styles.



And also by
with this fabulous prize:-

Sir Stampalot is a retail shop and online website that specialises in stamps, die cutting and paper-crafting goodies.  We try to offer exceptional delivery times on your orders as well as keeping our stock fresh, new and exciting!  Our dedicated team of card makers means we have a wonderful, inspirational online card gallery with many more cards still to upload!  Sir Stampalot ships internationally as well as domestic so why not check us out if you haven’t already – www.sirstampalot.co.uk.
 Happy Crafting!

So onto my card:



I made this for Maya's 3rd birthday and used the following 3 techniques:
  • Distressing (ink-distressed the image edge and scuffed up the background paper edge with my distress tool)
  • Masking (I made the background paper using a mask and Picket Fence Distress Stain)
  • Shrink plastic (look closely...it's small!! the Happy Birthday sentiment was cut from shrink plastic using a Marianne die, shrunk in the oven and then coloured with a ProMarker
The image is from Wee Stamps and is coloured with ProMarkers. The leaves, circles, oval, swirls and no 3 were all die cut using Marianne, Cuttlebug and Spellbinder dies.

Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the ribbon is from my stash.

I love the cute mermaid image and as Maya seems to love swimming, I coloured her hair blonde to look like my own little mermaid!!


Monday 29 April 2013

Challenge 90 at Crafty Cardmakers - April Showers bring May Flowers


Hi everyone, it's challenge time again over at Crafty Cardmakers. Our latest challenge host, Tracey, has chosen the theme 'April Showers bring May Flowers'


Tracey said 'Hello friends. When I think of April, I am always reminded of the saying "April showers bring May flowers". For this challenge, I would like to see cards that include an image of something rain related and are embellished with at least2 flowers. Your image could be a child splashing in puddles, a person walking in the rain, ducks waddling through puddles, an umbrella, etc.'



Please ensure your creation has both something rain related, and a minimum of two flowers to qualify for a winner or Top 5 slot. 



PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE CRITERIA AS LAID OUT ABOVE - ANY ENTRY NOT COMPLYING WILL UNFORTUNATELY BE REMOVED 



We are sponsored by 


DI'S DIGI DOWNLOADS with a $10 GIFT VOUCHER and THE STAMPMAN who are offering the winner a £10 voucher for their store, you can spend this online, in the shop or if you're lucky enough to see them at a show!  They have a ton of items in store, enough to tickle any crafty taste bud.

Here is my interpretation of the challenge, it is a card I made for my nieces birthday:



I have used a clear stamp from Pink Gem Designs, coloured with ProMarkers. The image was cut out and raised up using silicone glue to add dimension. I've added Stickles to the raindrops to make them sparkle. I made the background paper using a mask and Bundled Sage Distress Ink. The doily and flowers are cut using Marianne dies and the ovals with Spellbinders. A pretty ribbon, bow and soft pink pearls complete this girlie card.

Here is a close up of that lovely image:


Thanks for looking, now please go visit the challenge and see what my fabulous team mates have created. Why not give the challenge a go yourself?

I'll be back again soon, Sharon x