My Family

Another page from yesterday while the football was on! A mix of mini photos with my lovely family. All memories from last Christmas to this spring.

I brushed gesso over the main area then added the photos, a fabric frame, a piece of dotty netting, chevron ribbon anchors all that! Then I added various strips of washi tape from my collection. A couple of buttons and words plus a sprinkling of silver sequin stars.

Stamps & Fun = Creativity

My first challenge as part of Stamps & Fun = Creativity design team. This week the theme is "Flowers & Pearls". We must use a stamp at all cost!

When I first saw the theme I immediately thought vintage but I realised I have a new stamp set which I bought a few months ago (shame on me for not using it already) Simon Says Stamp Whimsical Flowers, a very modern contemporary design.

I decided my colour scheme would be grey, orange/yellow with a hint of blue so I've used Stampin Up's Smoky Slate as my card stock base with the new colours: Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, Tangled Twist & Mossy Meadow.

I added a large pearl for the centre and used a Viva Perlen-pen in cream to add pearls on the flower petals. 

Scraps for Scrapbook Page

I'm up early today and everyones asleep so thought I'd scrap these old photos of hubs and I on the beach. 

All the papers are scraps from other layouts. A real mix of patterns and manufacturers but all have "Ice-Cream" colours.

I cut various scraps into strips not paying too much attention to the width or length then arranged them on the card stock base. I also added a few strips of washi tape for added texture. Tucked behind the photo is a doily. I die cut the butterfly and scallop circle from felt and added buttons/brads to make my own embellishments. A few mini flowers  dotted here & there, arrow clip, speech bubble and words finish it off. The journalling is tucked behind a photo.

June Scrapbook Club

Great kit this month.....I love the music paper and the bottle of Matte Medium plus gorgeous flowers and patterned paper.

Here is my page followed by step by step instructions on how I did it!

1. Tear a section of the music sheet paper to the size you want.
2. Brush on some matte medium and adhere the music paper, creasing the paper to add texture
3. Brush over more matte medium to ensure its stuck down. You now have a lovely surface for ink, paint....
4. Rip up various patterned papers, position and mark on the page where you want them to go. Put to one side
5. Sponge on some blue and green paint (bottom left and top right). Leave to dry
6. Now for some more texture over the painted areas, stencil, palette knife and white texture paste. Leave to dry.
7. I then carefully puddled some Crystal Effects keeping to the diagonal design and added some micro beads for even more texture!
8. Using your fingers rub on some Treasure Gold. I used blues and green to co-ordinate with the paint
9. I used a Bo Bunny background stamp and stamped in black ink on the opposite corners. You can use a cup or glass to do this just make sure you wash it up properly afterwards!
10. Next, adhere the papers, then a glassine bag to hold the journalling and top with the photo raised on foam pads  
11. Embellish with flowers, brads and a few sticker words. The title is from an old alpha which didn't have many letter left so for FUN I've used a C and a Z and turned them round for a U and N. Clever eh?

I'm also entering this for the CSI challenge this week as by adding a splash here and there of orange and yellow it fitted there theme perfectly!

Colour scheme: Yes.All five colours
Evidence: Yes. Polka Dots, flowers & leaves
Testimony: Yes. H=Journalling spot with decorative edge (Tucked in pocket though!) and a celebration

Hope you like it, thanks for looking x

52CCT June Stash Challenge

This week on 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is to make a Christmas card which includes a charm. I don't really use charms although I do have a few lurking in my stash! But are any appropriate?

Here's my card. I stamped the panel using stamp sets from Simon Says Stamp: Holiday Hellos and Clearly Besotted: Framed Sentiments. A bit of a faff to get the spacing even by I think I managed it! Simply matted onto red card stock before adding to the pre-bought dotty embossed card base which I found in my stash too. A double bow and the tag charm added as an embellishment.

Stippled Blossoms

At a recent class my ladies used Stampin Up's Stippled Blossoms stamp set. I love this set. The "two-step" stamped flowers are beautiful. Cards can be made to look vintage or modern depending on your mood!.

Masculine Cards

My ladies came today to make a couple of masculine cards...boo! (Yeah I know but every now and again we have to make them don't we!)

A quick couple of cards then onto a nice summer lunch.....

First up a centre step card

Then a waistcoat and bow tie!

June Theme Challenge 52CCT

I was chosen as last weeks winner over at 52CCT for this card here. Thank you so much 52CCT!

Onto this weeks challenge at 52CCT is to make a card with Rudolph as the theme!

I had to dig deep into my pile of stamps for a reindeer stamp and discovered I only had this stamp which came in a set from a magazine. The stamps are really poor quality which is highlighted even more when stamping a solid image. It was better after I sanded it a bit but still, not perfect. A lesson learnt...you get what you pay for!!

Simple layering of card stock and patterned paper with the stamped Rudolph hand cut and mounted on the front. I sprayed him with some shimmer spray but it doesn't show in the photo. I was going to give him an eye but wherever I placed the pearl he looked really odd so he has a bow instead!

Stamps & Fun = Creativity Design Team

I'm thrilled to have been asked to join the SFC Design Team. A weekly challenge for any craft which includes stamping: Cards, Scrapbooking, Altered Art, Tags etc. You know how much I love stamps so really looking forward to joining the girls. Watch this space for my first challenge next Monday!

Check out the challenegs each Monday Stamps & Fun = Creativity

Card for Kirsty

Kirsty's birthday card. Clearly Besotted You're a Hoot stamp set made with SU cardstock, Coastal Cabana & Pumpkin Pie colours.

I cut the branch from cork, stamped and die cut the owl and the Birthday. stamped and punched the bunting.

Hope she likes it!

52CCT June Colour Challenge

I was thrilled to be chosen joint winner for this card here. Thank you 52CCT x

This weeks challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is a colour one and traditional Christmas colours!

Two shades of green, red PLUS the addition of either something metallic (gold, silver, antique, copper or shiny)

Desperate to use my new stamp set from Technique Tuesday "Be Jolly" I stamped the Christmas tree in the dark green. Lots of circles to fill in with other small stamped images and some punched red glitter paper. Instead of stamping the tree trunk I decided to cut it from red glitter paper. Tree complete now to add it to a card! I chose red card stock for my base, patterned paper with edges distressed plus a white embossed banner to go beneath the tree. Then added the sentiment. I was pleased with the result and then realised that I had forgotten to add the metallic element! So luckily I hadn't totally stuck down the paper so I tore the top edge and tucked a scallop punched edge of gold card behind. Then I punched another piece and used it to edge the bottom of the tree. A metallic gold bow completes. Phew!

2nd Page for Junes Kit

Back with my second page. 

No orange this time! Just the papers and flowers from the kit.  Very simple. three "strips" of patterned paper, each with a photo. The music paper flower is cut using Tattered Florals die, scrunched and stickled with glitter. "Love This" title has been stenciled using chalks and the chalk "set" by brushing over the Matte Medium that comes with the kit. Finished off with a few of my own buttons, paper clip, stamps and weeny words.

See you all next week!

June Sketch Challenge - 52CCT

This weeks challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is a sketch. I've not been well this weekend but I do like to make my card before the start of my hectic week!

I don't know why I struggled with this sketch. I had a couple of ideas in my mind. One was to reduce the size of the green strips to make it more of a cross, include a bird and the sentiment "Peace" to commemorate D-Day but whatever I did it looked rubbish! Plan B was this card here. I thought ribbon tying a present hence the bow being the same patterned  paper although perhaps the bow would of been better being red? Plus the oval mat seems to big? I don't know...not sure but at this stage I'd had enough!  Just hasn't been my weekend! But I do like the flocked window sheet I've used!

Spots?

Haven't been to Lets Craft and Create for a while so popped over there today to see the latest challenge! 

Create a card with spots or stripes. So I decided to use a spotty stamp and stamp a few rows onto SU Baja Breeze cardstock. Then I cut a piece of scrap SU patterned paper, colour is Daffodil Delight and both pieces to a Baja Breeze card stock base. Die cut the Happy Birthday using a Die-Versions die in Daffodil Delight and stuck that on. Finished off with a paper bow die cut again from the same range of SU paper and using a Simon Says Stamp Bow die...not forgetting a diddy orange button!

House of Card Blog Hop & Challenge

I spent a very happy few hours hopping around various blogs looking at all the fabulous cards for the House of Cards end of term celebration. If you'd like to gaze at eye candy then here's the link  to join in the fun. If you create your own card and upload it to their blog you are with a chance to become part of the Design Team! Plus if you comment, a chance to win great prizes from various sponsors! 

The challenge is to make a card with this picture as your inspiration:

I couldn't decide what to do...head full of ideas so in the end I made three cards....I could have made more! Whats your fave? 

First up one using Stampin Up's Hardwood stamp set to tie in with the wooden chair, a branch die cut from cork, white prima flowers and colours matching the theme and of course a pretty bow!

My second card uses a blue card stock for the card base. There's a hint of blue paint in the inspiration photo. I die cut the white daisy panel on my Cameo. The cork flower pot is a cupcake case punch from Stampin Up (so versatile!) and die cut flowers fill it. Matted & layered, ribbon and a banner sentiment and some glitter.

Last but not least is a one layer card. I rarely do one layer cards. I just find it difficult to be so restricting! Anyway.....an odd shape card left over from a pack so thought Id use it up. Background stamping using Stampin Up's Summer Silhouette stamp set top and bottom then over stamped with a "brick wall" stamp I've had for years (handy to tie in with the wire basket?!) and one of the flower stamps from Stampin Up's Peaceful Petals stamp set. Coloured in with marker pens and a clear Wink of Stella glitter pen although that doesnt show up in the photo. A bow & glitter to finish it off. I just had to add something, I cant help it!

52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge

This weeks challenge on 52 CCT is pick a previous sketch. I've chosen this sketch from March 2012. I've not seen a design like this before so a good challenge and immediately thought of making "flaps" for the front of the card...the sketch reminded me of those old fashioned flip style address/phone pads. (Yes I'm that old) So off I went and it wasn't long before I wished I'd thought of something easy like rows of patterned paper or ribbon!

Oh and thank you 52CCT for the honorable mention for this card here!!