Miscanthus Crafts

CCAYR February Challenge

2012-02-01T07:00:00.005Z

This month over the Christmas Cards All Year Round we have a 'heart' theme to inspire our Christmas cards. I decided to go CAS for mine by making my own little heart stencil and inked through it, then stamped some little snowflakes. I decided to make my own coordinating background papers using the same ink and stamp. I found a little sentiment which says 'with love at Christmas' which I thought matched the theme perfectly too! I am going to enter my cards into the following challenges:
CraftyHazelnuts Christmas: Just make it square
Allsorts: One or more hearts

Project 52: Tulips

2012-01-31T07:00:00.000Z

These tulips looked so lovely in the vase and when the sun was shining they seemed to glow! Used my macro mode for this shot.

A Banner Holiday!

2012-01-28T16:00:00.000Z

Well I'm back with a second card for Saturday! First, I created the border using low tack masking tape. Then stamped the snowflake using Brilliance Dewdrop inks: Rocket Red, Pearlescent Orchid and Pearlescent Sky Pearl. The sentiment is from a new set I bought designed by Lindsay Mason for Personal Impressions.
I have made this clean and simple Christmas card for the following challenges:
Less is More: Sketch
Jingle Belles: A Banner Holiday (used colour scheme and snowflakes from your blog header)
52 Christmas Card Throwdown: Rhinestones
Cute Card Thursday: Gems

The Willow Lady

2012-01-28T14:50:00.000Z

Over at the Craft Bubble forum Rosie set us our 'just for fun' sketch which I used for my card layout. The backgrounds were all created using Inktense Blocks. I painted on the background and then used a stencil to add some detail. The image is my favourite Clarity stamp called 'The Willow Lady' and I created the reflection by using my brayer, a trick I have seen Barbara Gray use many a time. I decided to keep to the rustic distressed look by mounting it onto a corrigated kraft cardblank and some twine. I have designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
The PlayDate Cafe: Plum, Pear and Mouldy Cheese
Craft Your Days Away: Distressing
The Stampman Challenge: Embellish it!
Simon Says: Anything Goes!

Glorious Greens

2012-01-26T13:47:00.000Z

I had been blog hopping and thought I'd make a card for a few of the challenges out there. But in the end when I stamped up the image, decided that all these fussy sketches and loads of embellishments just weren't right for this image. So in the end, kept it really simple by stamping with Bundled Sage Distress Ink. The main image I blended the inks with a waterbrush and also added a touch of Promarkers on the leaves. Then I created a pretty background paper with the same image. This lovely Lily of the Valley image was from January's Clarity stamp club. I am going to enter this card into the latest Gingersnap Creations challenge which is Glorious Greens!

Project 52: A Pretty Sight

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000Z

There is nothing nicer than lining up your new craft stash, all shiny in it's packaging. So here is this weeks Project 52 photo! These Jenni Bowlin paint dabbers were in the sale too....

A Triple Moo!

2012-01-23T06:39:00.001Z

I made this card with the left over backgrounds from another project. I cut it down into 3 Moo's! Then stamped over to create a little scene. Went with some corrigated kraft cardstock and stamped over the background with the Inktense block technique and distressed the edges with some black ink. The raffia was also tinted and distressed using Olive and Black Staz on. The buttons were black and white but added some Olive ink to tone this in with my design. This card was designed with the following challenges in mind:
Addicted to Stamping: Summer in Winter
Craft your Days Away: Distressing
Papertake Weekly: Buttons, Bows, Bling and Blooms
Take a Word: Moo

Wheely Love Doodles!

2012-01-22T15:37:00.000Z

Over at the Craft Bubble forum Kathy set us our Sunday themed challenge of 'wheels'. So all day I have been creating layers for an Art Journal page. When I saw the challenge I thought of the quote 'Life is the Journey not the Destination' so used that as my inspired went with lots of circles and spots to create my page. I am going to enter this page into the following challenges:
CES: Anything but a Card
Stamptacular Sunday: Seeing Spots

Here is how my page was created with several different layers.

1. Spritz made using Brusho Powders and masked with found circular objects.

2. Jennu Bowlin paint dabbers. Created some wheel stencils using my Cricut Create.

3. Stamped using a range of circle and spot stamps using black Staz on.

4. Doodled using white paint pen, red Sharpie pen and Opal Liquid Pearls.

5. Add journalling printed off computer.

Playing with New Stash!

2012-01-21T15:52:00.001Z

Over at the Craft Bubble forum this week Kathy set our 'just for fun' challenge and it was a sketch. I have lots of new stash and so decided to have a play. The background was created using my new Inktense Blocks and I worked on some newly acquired watercolour paper. I lightly spritzed with some gold shimmer. The flower and butterfly images were a new set by Sheena Douglass called Silhouette Wildflowers. These were stamped firstly with the Inktense blocks by scribbling onto the stamp and then spritzing with a little bit of water. To create more depth to the scene I then overstamped when dry with some black Staz on ink. I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:
Gingersnap Creations: Use a set of stamps
Let's Ink it Up!: Anything Goes!
Corrosive Challenge: Ring in the New Year (New stamp set, new inktense blocks)

Simply Playing!

2012-01-20T16:05:00.000Z

I've been playing with a technique using plastic wrapping. Scrumple it up and dip into Distress Inks. I then stamped onto paper, for an even softer look I blotted onto scrap first. The first card is designed with the Less is More challenge in mind and the second card was designed with the Colour Create challenge in mind as I used Tattered Rose and Bundled Sage.

Pair of Swallows by Clarity Stamp

Silhouette Wild Flower stamp set by Sheena Douglass

More Doodling

2012-01-20T13:57:00.000Z

As my regular followers will know I signed up for the free Strathmore Workshops. This week sees the workshop focus on creating your own background using found objects and acrylic paints. Here is what I used for my background:

Spotted this tape while looking for double sided tape and thought I might find something to do with it!!

Large Bubble wrap saved from my latest delivery of craft stash!

And a toilet roll!!

You will see I used some newly acquired Jenni Bowlin paint dabbers for my page.

The Artist Traci Bautista did some stamping with a homemade stamp but as I have a mountain of stamps thought the Tim Holtz ones would fit in with the theme.

The circles were stamped with Staz on Black and the star was stamped with Jenni Bowlin 'chicken feed' dye based inks.

Part Two comes next week to create a stylized face into this background. I am going to enter my page into the latest Raise the Bar challenge which has the theme 'Ring in the New Year' so lots of rings and circles.

Black and White

2012-01-19T15:31:00.001Z

For this card I decided to whip out one of my favourite stamps. This House Mouse stamp is so useful where for boy or girl...young or old. I often team it up with a great little SU sentiment stamps I won ages ago! This sentiment particulary fits with the 65th birthday theme too! I have designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
Willow Sketchie: Sketch
House Mouse: Its all black and white
Pile in on!: Fuzzy Friends
The ABC Challenge: Happy Birthday
C.R.A.F.T: Use Numbers

Project 52: To a Snowdrop

2012-01-16T12:00:00.001Z

Lone flower, hemmed in with snows and white as they

But hardier far, once more I see thee bend

Thy forehead, as if fearful to offend,

Like an unbidden guest. Though day by day,

Storms, sallying from the mountain-tops, waylay

The rising sun, and on the plains descend;

Yet art thou welcome, welcome as a friend

Whose zeal outruns his promise! Blue-eyed May

Shall soon behold this border thickly set

With bright jonquils, their odours lavishing

On the soft west-wind and his frolic peers;

Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,

Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbinger of Spring,

And pensive monitor of fleeting years!

William Wordsworth 1819

A Splash of Red

2012-01-15T12:48:00.000Z

Over at the Craft Bubble forum Karen set us a challenge of making a Christmas present card. So here is my CAS style card. I also designed it with the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown which had the theme 'black, white and a splash of red' and I'm going to enter it into the latest ABC Christmas challenge with their 'Anything Goes!' theme.

Blue and Mocha

2012-01-15T12:08:00.000Z

I have the task of making a couple of cards for my Uncle who will be 65 at the end of the month and cards for men aren't always the easiest! Here is the first card. The circle and 65 were cut using my Cricut. I didn't have any matching buttons....isn't it always the way, you have simply piles of buttons but never any to go with your project! I made my own using a little circle die and then made some holes using my Crop-o-Dile! I have designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
Willow Sketchie: Sketch
Simon Says: Spots
Saturday Challenge: Anything goes with blue
Addicted to Stamping: Blue
Lothian Crafts: Die cuts

Very Pink!

2012-01-14T16:04:00.000Z

A very pink, girly and cute Christmas I made this afternoon. I have designed it with the following challenges in mind:
Jingle Belles: Sketch
DYSU: Pink
Cooking it up with Katie: Pink, Pearls and Flowers
I love Promarkers: Cute and Cuddly
Passion for Promarkers: Song Inspired 'We WISH you a Merry Christmas!'
Sir Stampalot: Monochromatic

Watercolour Doodling

2012-01-12T15:49:00.000Z

It is week 2 over at the Strathmore art workshop. Everything had to be waterbased and so I rummaged out watercolours, watercoloured pencils and Twinkling H20's. Here is another page in my art journal. Not thrilled with the flowers but enjoyed getting messy all the same! I have also doodled with the latest Take a Word challenge in mind which is 'Nature'.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Not 365!

2012-01-09T11:00:00.001Z

The Project 365 always sounds fabulous but I just know I'd never stick to it or have the time. Of course you could cheat and do Project 52. One photograph each week! Still not sure I could stick to that either. But anyway, here are a couple of photographs I took on Sunday. It is unseasonally mild here in the UK, so much so that plants in my garden seem to be waking up or should I say never really went to sleep! Still time for winter to come I know. But here is a camelia bush in bloom in January.

Finished Doodling!

2012-01-08T12:37:00.001Z

Got around to finishing my doodling page as part of the FREE Strathmore Workshops. The correcting fluid was a great medium to work with, though the window had to be open as it is rather heady stuff! I have to say I really enjoyed the workshop and the group gallery has all sorts of fabulous doodling pages.

So I now have a second page in my Art Journal! Part 2 of the Workshop is launched tomorow but as I at work until Thursday will look forward to catching up then.

Playing with New Stash!!

2012-01-08T10:34:00.000Z

Enjoyed getting some brand new stash out for these stamps. The beautiful papers were a present from a crafty pal and they are just gorgeous (thanks Louise!) The stamps were from a Paper Artsy set I bought in the sale at Sir Stamplot! I have designed card number 1 with the following challenges in mind:
52 Christmas Card Throwdown: Sketch
Colour Create: Red, Cream and Sage Green
Cute Card Thursday: What's New! (new stamp and new papers)

The second card I used the left over bits and bobs so I am going to enter it the Aud Sentiment challenge with is:
Aud Sentiments: Use scraps (made using leftover papers from card 1)

Something New

2012-01-07T15:49:00.000Z

While doing to some major blog hopping over Christmas I found this blog. Each month they have a challenge and a free set of collage images which must be used in the project you make. Well, I thought this was different and so decided to give it a try. The blog is called Green Paper and you can find out more if you hop on over! I feel I need to do a bit more practise with this vintage style to get it just right. I made a lovely background which I found in a Craft Stamper magazine, a good way to recycle old plastic packaging of craft stash!! Scrunch up the packaging and the ink/stamp to create a background but I think I should have made more of a feature of this in my card and not covered it up....well we are our own worst critics aren't we?

Some close up shots of the detail on my card:

I am going to enter this card into the following other challenges:

One Stop Craft: Bingo (flowers, lace, distressing)

CES: Anything Goes!

Fab n Funky: Something New! (new technique)

Doodling Day

2012-01-02T18:56:00.002Z

I've been trying to make the most of my last day of the Christmas holiday's though I only have a 2 day working week which is will be lovely. Cherry gave the CMLI group on the Craft Bubble forum some information about a free online doodling course. Well, when I heard the word 'free' just had to sign up for it and here is the link to Strathmore Art if you are interested. We all were worried that we didn't have the right stash, but of course when I rummaged through my vast array of craft stuff I soon found things to fit the bill! Take a look at Cherry and Kathy they are both doing the workshop too!

Here is where I started:

Then I spritzed using Brusho watercolours:

Adding shapes using Acrylic paints:

Beginning to add doodling using oil pastels and more paint:

I've got another layer or 2 of doodling to do to finish it off! Roll on Thursday!!

January 2012 CCAYR Challenge

2012-01-01T07:00:00.004Z

Happy New Year Everyone! Well, it is never too soon to start making your Christmas cards and as I have a target of 100 in 2012 my DT place at Christmas Cards All Year Around is perfect to help me achieve my goal.

This month our challenge is in 2 parts:
1. Make a card using NON-TRADITIONAL colours
2. Use some embossing (dry or heat)

I went for some really zingy and vibrant colours and used a little embossing border on my cards. That is 2 down only another 98 to go!!! I am going to enter my card into the following challenges:
ABC Christmas: Z is for Zingy colours
DYSU: A Rainbow of Colours

My Favourite Project of 2011

2011-12-31T20:32:00.000Z

The Stamp Man Challenge Blog are holding their annual awards. What a great chance to reflect on your crafting year. I've looked back through my blog and thought what a lot of different styles/types of projects I had created. I made a TOP 3 before finally deciding that this card was my favourite of 2011. I love the simplicity of the design and the freshness of the sunshine yellow! Why not join in this challenge there is a great prize up for grabs!

My First Art Journal Page

2011-12-30T19:58:00.001Z

I'm still not sure where this came from!! My creative juices were certainly flowing and craft stash is still spread around the room. I could look at some bits of it with a critical eye and if I had been making a card then probably would have thrown it away and started again. What a liberating thing as with an art journal it doesn't matter and the page just seemed to develop. I used all my regular cardmaking materials including Promarkers, Memento ink pad and an array of stamps! I have wanted to try Art journalling and when I saw The Craft Barn were starting journalling challenges I thought I give it a try. I am also going to enter my page into the following other challenges:
I love Promarkers: Anything Goes!
Take a Word: Print
Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes!

Looking to the New Year

2011-12-26T07:37:00.002Z

Yes, I know it is only Boxing Day here in the UK but on Christmas Eve I made this New Year card to send to a friend using a digital vintage image, to make it more aged I over stamped with a crackle stamp using Antique Linen Distress Ink. I have designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
The PlayDate Cafe: Colour challenge
Simon Says: Bingo (ribbon, punches, multifold)
Willow Sketchie: sketch and red/green
DYSU: Stripes
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge: Anything Goes!
Aud Sentiments: Anything Goes!
Addicted to Stamping: New Year (used crackle background stamp)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2011-12-25T07:00:00.000Z

Hope everyone has a lovely day!
Eat, Drink and be Merry...hic!!

Thank You Tilda!

2011-12-24T11:58:00.002Z

I'm enjoying a quiet Christmas Eve at my craft table and so I've had plenty of time to look through the latest batch of blog challenges. The 3 papers layered are up on this card are from a much loved pad by K and Company. I have designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
Winter Wonderland: Thank you with a recipe (3 papers, 3 flowers, 1 ribbon and 1 image)
Cute Card Thursday: Sketch
Totally Tilda: Thank you
Stampin' for the Weekend: Anything Goes!
I love Promarkers: Anything Goes!

Happy Holidays to all my blogging pals!

Warm and Fuzzy

2011-12-19T15:10:00.000Z

Hoping I might need to send a few 'thank you' cards after Christmas so here is the first one. As I'm on holiday had more time to look through all the challenges out there and so this card is designed with the following challenges in mind:
Sir Stampalot: Bingo (punch, flowers, pearls)
House Mouse: Warm and fuzzy creations
Lothian Crafts: Pink and Brown
One Stitch At A Time: Anything Goes!
Totally Gorjuss: For Someone Special

Thinking of You

2011-12-18T11:59:00.000Z

After watching a recent show on Create and Craft where Sheena Douglass was using Twinkling H20's, I decided to buy some and try out some new techniques. So here is my first card using them, subtle twinkle I grant you so I think I need to let myself go and splodge on some more colours next time! The background was created by stamping using the H20's which I sprintzed with water. Then once dried inked over with Antique Linen and Brush Cord Distress Inks. The main image was stamped and embossed using a Cosmic shimmer embossing powder. The image was then painted with Twinkling H20's. I am going to enter this card into the following challenge:
The Crafty Pad: Anything but Christmas (what a relief!)
The Stampman Challenge: Use technique you haven't used before

Taking the Rough with the Smooth!

2011-12-11T11:48:00.000Z

I set a little challenge over at the Craft Bubble forum with the theme 'Taking the Rough with the Smooth!'. I needed to make a little gift box and found a plain blue one I had been hoarding for ages and decided to alter it. I smoothed on some papers using gloss gel medium and then chose some rough textured card to add an embellishment. The flower was punched out 5 times and layered to create a 3D flower.
DYSU: Something Old (altered the old box I had been hoarding for ages)
Paper Take Weekly: Anything Goes!

Be Inspired!

2011-12-04T11:32:00.000Z

Having had an afternoon sat quietly with the latest copy of the Craft Stamper magazine I decided to have a go at one of the cards I saw. So I thought some of the other Craft Mad group might want to join me in a 'Be Inspired' just for fun challenge. My card is inspired by Louise Molesworth card project called Patch it up! I am going to enter it into the following challenges:
Craft your days away; Buttons or Bows
Cooking up with Katie: Anything Goes!
Fab n Funky: Anything Goes!
Simon Says: Anything Goes!

CCAYR December Challenge

2011-12-01T07:00:00.001Z

So December is here and the Christmas card panic is upon us. This month over at Christmas Cards All Year Round has the theme 'Anything Goes!' so I'm expecting a mass of entries this month! I'm also pleased to announce that I will be continuing on the Design Team next year too..WOO HOO! This month, I have dusted off my Circuit Create and die cut some baubles. I kept the colour scheme simple with just white and that vibrant turquoise blue. Looking forward to seeing your creations this month. I am also going to enter these cards into the following challenges:
Craft Your Days Away: Buttons or Bows (used some matching turquoise blue bows to embellish the baubles)
Aud Sentiments: Any Winter Holiday Sentiment

Less is More

2011-11-27T10:30:00.000Z

This week over at the Less is More challenge blog it is all about BLING! So I have simply stamped a Clarity stamp snowflake image and a greeting. These were embossed with Arctic Lake Cosmic shimmer embossing powder and added a few gems to finish it off! I am also going to enter my card into this months Lothian Crafts challenge with a Christmas theme.

Happy Birthday

2011-11-24T15:49:00.000Z

Needed a Birthday card and was trying to make a 'white on white' card for Karen's challenge over at the Craft Bubble forum. Unfortunately, I just had to colour this image so that was the end of that!! I used the sketch over at Willow Sketchie Challenge and I am also going to enter my card into this weeks following challenges:
I Love Promarkers: Anything Goes
Fab n Funky: Happy Birthday

A Distressing Christmas

2011-11-13T10:44:00.000Z

I've been playing with a few (new to me) Tim Holtz techniques, I'm not a grunge person on the whole but thought I'd try it out to make a card for a man. For these cards and tags I used 2 sets of newly acquired stamps.

I designed this card with the following challenges in mind:

Christmas Stampin all Year Long: Never seen ink

Cards for Men: It is Nearly Christmas

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas: Whatever Lights your candle (decided to try a new technique)

If the Shoe Fits: Try something new!

Being Bold

2011-11-12T11:59:00.000Z

Over at the Craft Bubble forum Kathy set us this weeks challenge with a sketch and the twist was 'with a flourish'. I rummaged out some rather bold Graphicus papers and I also choose the colour scheme with the new Allsorts challenge in mind which has the theme 'black, white and one'.

An Autumn Day

2011-11-06T12:06:00.001Z

What a lovely day here! Beautiful sunshine and some time to craft....heaven! Made the scene using some Clarity stamps and a spice ink pad for the leaves. Then added my background with a make up sponge. I finished off my little scene with an owl snoozing in the tree. I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:
Cards for Men: Animals
Craft Your Days Away: Autumn

SHE Dreamed a Dream!

2011-11-05T16:11:00.001Z

It has taken a couple of weeks but I've finally finished my third SHE ART project and this time it had to be very much inspired by yourself! So after some thought decided to do an outdoor scene and here is what I can up with. It is now hanging up on my bedroom wall only thing I bought was a large 80cm x 35cm canvas from Dunelm at the bargain price of £5.00 ish! I've used loads of papers from my craft stash, all sorts of stamps, paints, oil pastels, sharpie pens, gems and made my own masks using hole punched card and also doilies! True mixed media and I can't wait for SHEart 2 to start on the 14th Nov! I am going to enter my canvas into the following challenges:
The Stampman: Collage/Collage Background
Allsorts: Anything but Square
CES: Song/Film (I dreamed a dream of times gone by)
Cook it up with Katie: Anything but a Card!

CCAYR November Challenge

2011-11-01T07:00:00.000Z

This month over at Christmas Cards All Year Round we have a sketch for you to follow. Don't forget if you enter 5 cards into the challenge you go into our monthly draw prize! Here are my cards and the sketch:

Think Pink, Follow and Pass it on!

2011-10-31T09:21:00.000Z

I've designed this blog badge using my Serif Digital Scrapbooking software. October is Breast Cancer Awareness. Don't Forget Think Pink, become a follower, post it with a link back to me and then Pass It On! I'd love to know if you stuck it on you blog, leave me a comment and I'll hop over to your blog! This post will remain at the top of my blog throughout this special month, so don't forget to check out my latest crafty creations below!

Christmas Story

2011-10-29T12:40:00.000+01:00

Over at the Craft Bubble forum Louise set us a Christmas challenge with a list of ingredients that we could you 2 or more of. I used Kraft, Christmas story stamp and star. I also wanted to make my card more vintage style, so once I had coloured my image with Promarkers went over the whole image with Antique Linen Distress ink and overstamped in the same colour using a background crackle stamp. I mounted the card onto some old handmade papers. I also designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas: For Someone Special
ABChristmas: Vintage

Clean and Simple

2011-10-29T11:57:00.000+01:00

I have a few cards to make so keeping very much CAS for the first card using the sketch from the current Clean and Simple Stamping challenge. I inked up a couple of my oldest stamps to make the flower embellishment as over at the Craft Bubble forum Rosie set us a little challenge to make a card using one of our oldest stamps!

Fundraising and Stash!

2011-10-25T19:45:00.000+01:00

Deb's is doing some fundraising and if you donate £2.00 for her chosen charity you will be entered into a prize draw, with the chance to win some fabulous new crafty stash! What a great idea!

She made a Scene!

2011-10-24T16:00:00.000+01:00

I've put the finishing touches to make second SHEart creation. I had 2 small canvas' in my stash and used them side by side to create a scene. I then nipped down to B&Q bought some tiny little hinges and nailed them together to make this little fold out scene. Again, there are just so many techniques and materials used in this project truely 'mixed media'!

Dotty about Christmas!

2011-10-23T11:02:00.000+01:00

I've made this Christmas card using a tiny oddment of spotty blue card, that I couldn't part with! The little strip of dot stamps is from a set that only cost 99p! I've overstamped with an elegant Clarity snowflake stamp. I designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
Less is More: Polka Dots
Bah! Humbug!: With men in mind
Sparkles Christmas: Christmas songs (Let it Snow!)

She Art: My First Attempt

2011-10-21T14:35:00.000+01:00

Well, I've just put the finishing touches to my first 'SHE Art' project. I'm really happy with it too! I rummaged out all sorts of old art goodies and managed to use a wide array of different techniques including stamping, stencilling, painting, drawing, collage. I didn't have to buy a thing found it all in various cupboards and boxes. I'm off to start week two now, it is great to sit and watch the tutorials, so cup of tea and chocolate bar with my feet up.....what more could I ask for? I am going to enter this canvas into the following challenges:
Fab n Funky: Distressed and Torn
Stamptacular Sunday: You choose!

Halloween Tilda

2011-10-15T08:00:00.001+01:00

I felt my crafting mojo has slipped slightly as I've been feeling under the weather but I'm really pleased with this halloween inspired card I made! It is such a mixture of techniques and a diverse mix of stamps too! The background was created using a brayer, a couple of masks and Black Soot Distress ink. Working on coated cardstock, I then spritzed the sky with a little water to create the starry sky. I used Clarity 'split tree' stamps to create those spooky bare branches and then simply stamped Tilda, coloured with Promarkers and cut out to add to my ghostly night scene! I matted the card simply using some torn white card and also some diamond sparkly black glitter card. I have designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
Totally Tilda: Halloween
Just Magnolia: Distressing
Paper Cutz: Halloween project using stars (starry effect onto background), circle (the moon) and diamonds (diamond sparkle glitter card)
Simon Says: Halloween/Goth
Crafty Calendar: Spooky
Stamptacular Sunday: So Distressing

She Art Workshops

2011-10-14T20:38:00.000+01:00

All I'm going to say is 'Jacky made me do it!'....LOL!!! Just couldn't resist signing up for the SHE ART workshop and as I missed the first one thought I'd better sign up for both!! What fun and with half term looming might have some time to get on with the first one! SHE ART 2 starts on 14th November.

Heart Shaped Gingerbread

2011-10-14T16:43:00.001+01:00

This afternoon I have made a Less is More card using one of my favourite Christmas stamps by High Hopes. The super cute gingerbread family are just delicious! I have designed this card for the following challenges:
Less is More: Hearts
Bah! Humbug!: Good to eat
Sir Stampalot: Food Glorious food!

Country Thoughts

2011-10-13T18:31:00.000+01:00

Spent this afternoon making a card for man which is always a difficult task so tried to go for a classic look with a masculine edge. The scene was created using Hobby Art Scene-it 'In the Country' stamps. I have designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
Cute Card Thursday: Treemendous
Stampin B: With a bird on
The Crafty Pad: Vintage

Pink and Girly Christmas

2011-10-07T16:05:00.000+01:00

This card is made especially for the new Jingle Belles challenge which has the theme 'Dreaming of a Pink Christmas and A Cure!'. Take a look over at their blog to find out what Lauren and Stephanie have pledged to do! Wonderful ideas ladies.

Birch Trees

2011-10-06T18:48:00.000+01:00

I've finally had some crafty time today and inked up a new set of Clarity stamps I bought. I roughly embossed the tree trunks with some seafoam white embossing powder to create that textured bark that silver birch trees often have. The scene was brayered and stamped with a mix of Cool Peri Adironack ink and some Black Soot Distress ink. I wanted to create a moody scene using lilac, grey and white for the current Colour Create challenge. I decided to mount it simply onto coordinating cardstock and went with a plain white cardblank. This month Lothian Crafts and The ABC challenge have an 'Anything Goes' theme.

CCAYR October Challenge

2011-10-01T07:00:00.000+01:00

Yes, it is October already and this month our challenge over at Christmas Cards All Year Round also pays homage to another holiday Halloween. We would like you to use halloween colours in your Christmas cards (orange, purple, green or black) and also use a punch or die cut in your design. Look forward to seeing what your creative minds magic out of this month's theme!

I found this black and green swirly paper which seemed to be perfect for the theme. I've gone very much for clean and simple using a corner punch to shape my cards. The white swirls I added glitter to by drawing over them with a Quickie glue pen.

Two Christmas Trees

2011-09-25T11:12:00.000+01:00

Over at the Craft Bubble forum karen set us our 'just for fun' challenge and this week the theme was Christmas Trees. My first card was made using a homemade stencil which I then brayered through using a multicoloured ink pad. I then over stamped with some Clarity snowflake stamps.

My second card was simply stamped and layered up. The image was coloured with Promarkers.

I am going to enter these cards into this weeks Allsorts challenge which is 'Keep it Simple' and this weeks Christmas Stampin all year Long challenge which is clean and simple. I am also going to enter the second card into this weeks The Crafty Pad challenge which is 'stitching', the woodware stamp I used has lots of stitching detail on it!

Sapphire Blue

2011-09-19T13:33:00.000+01:00

I needed to make a birthday card but didn't want anything cute and too girly. So when I saw the sapphire blue challenge over at the Shoe it gave me an idea and I used my last 3 sheets of blue Stampin Up papers that I had won ages ago! The wording sentiment is one I received in a swap and decided to use it as part of my card design because this weeks Stamptacular Sunday challenge was all about using words and sentiments as the focal point of a card. So I designed this card for the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday: Just Saying
If the Shoe fits: Bejewelled Blue

Birthday House Mouse

2011-09-19T07:41:00.000+01:00

I had an order for a card for a man and made this card with the following challenges in mind:
House Mouse: Birthday
Cards for men: Anything but a Square!
Crafting for All Seasons: Birthdays

One Layer Colour it!

2011-09-18T13:49:00.000+01:00

I am trying to keep up with my Christmas Card stash and so made a very clean and simple one layered card by inking up this Stamp Happens Inc wooden mounted stamp. The image was then coloured with Promarkers. I am going to enter it into the following challenges:
Less is More: Anything Goes CAS
Saturday Challenge: One Layered Card
OLW64: Colour it

Three of a Kind!

2011-09-18T12:14:00.000+01:00

It was my turn to set the themed challenge over at CMLI group on the Craft Bubble forum and I decided 'Three of a Kind!' would give people lots of scope! I know I'm not the only one who decided it was a good idea to get on this the Christmas cards and so here are a set of 3 House Mouse cards. I also designed them with the following challenges in mind:
ABChristmas: Shaped cards with swirls or stripes
Christmas stampin all year long: Inspiration photo
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas; Glitter (I added some glitter to the Santa hat)

New Pink Wheels?

2011-09-17T12:46:00.000+01:00

This week I'm guest designer over at the Craft Bubble forum and here is the sketch I have set the crafty folks in the Craft Mad and Loving it group!

I made this card for a special craft pal who passed her driving test on Thursday. I wonder what the chances are that she will have a pink car to drive about in?

I have designed this card with the following other challenges in mind:
I love Promarkers: Travel/Transport
Passion for Promarkers: Beary Special
Stampin for the Weekend: Tickled Pink

A Christmas Flourish!

2011-09-16T20:09:00.000+01:00

This Christmas card uses 2 stamps. The verse is by Clarity Stamps and the flourish is made by American Crafts. The black and white spotty papers were from a crafty pal. The card is simply finished with some card candy. I have designed the card for this week's Bah! Humbug! Flourishes and Swirls challenge.

Birthday Baking!

2011-09-15T15:26:00.000+01:00

I rummaged out an old QKD stamp for this card and used some lovely Dovecraft papers to layer up this birthday card. It is coloured using Promarkers.
Willow Sketchie: Sketch
The Play Date Cafe: Colour Combo
Pile it On: Layer it

Mid Month Reminder

2011-09-15T06:00:00.001+01:00

Don't forget Christmas Cards All Year Around monthly challenge. We are already half way through September have you made any Christmas cards yet? This month's challenge is perfect, go and rummage out all of last years Christmas cardmaking stash and make a batch of at least 5 cards to be entered into our monthly draw!! My card uses not only an old technique which I don't use very often heat embossing, I found some lovely copper/bronze embossing powder which I thought would work perfectly with the Kraft cardstock and I used my ever faith embossing folder 'Swiss Dots'. The stamp is from a set made by Hobby Craft, which I bought last year too.

Teachers Pet!!

2011-09-11T10:52:00.000+01:00

This card was stamped with a Adirondack Light Cool Peri and the background was created using a few different light inks! I over stamped the image with a thin layer of gesso and sprinkled on some glitter while it was still wet.

I was so pleased to get a mention on Create and Craft last week with my Berry Corners homework, she thought the colours I used were gorgeous! Then lo and behold I made the hall of fame with another of my cards! So gold stars all around which makes me smile! My homework features over at the Clarity Stamp website HERE and you can see me in the hall of fame HERE.

It's Behind YOU!!

2011-09-10T09:14:00.000+01:00

On our recently girly holiday my Niece and Sister were in a VERY cold pool and posing for a photo! What they didn't see was that Nannie was behind them, in fact I'm not sure they knew what she was up to until they see this layout that Nannie was up to mischief....HEE HEE!!!

To echo the mosiac tiles in the pool I found a couple of little stamps to create a square pattern and stuck with a blue/white colour palette. I am going to enter this LO into the following challenges:

Fab n Funky: It's so funny!
The Stampman Challenge: Monochrome (white and blue)

Back to Scrap!!

2011-09-09T09:00:00.000+01:00

I really needed to get back to some scrapbooking and thought some holiday snaps might kick start it again! I decided not to get pattern papers out though and bought a big stack of white 12"x 12" cardstock to work on. For this page I used a lovely Ivy leaf stamp by Toodles and Blink which was free on the front of last month's Craft Stamper magazine. I created a frame by using masking tape and then inked using Shabby Shutters Distress Ink. After removing the tape I overstamped with the leaves, all the journalling is hand stamped too! I am going to enter this page into the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamping: Anything but a Card!
Stamptacular Sunday: The sky's the limit

The Three C's!

2011-09-08T14:49:00.000+01:00

Over at the Christmas Card Challenge blog this weeks challenge is Cream, Chocolate and Cranberry. I managed to make these 3 cards out of 3 cream card blanks and 1 sheet of A4 chocolate card stock. For the cranberry I used a Promarker to colour in the Magnolia poinsettia stamp and I also used this stamp because Fab's Big Christmas challenge is to make a card using poinsettia. I am also going to enter these cards into this week Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge with the theme no sentiments.

A Bear Santa!

2011-09-04T15:41:00.001+01:00

I was sorting out my paper stash this week and found a small red dotty card blank from Kanban that I knew I would just have to use and when I saw the current Colour Create combo challenge then I knew the poor little card just wouldn't last!! So I chopped it up making some little mats and border strips for this card. Don't I sound evil..... LOL!

I designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas: No Sentiment
Sparkles Forum Xmas challenge: Santa
Colour Create: Red, Kraft, Cream or White

Rocky Road Cupcakes

2011-09-03T18:30:00.000+01:00

My last baking session of the summer holidays! Rocky Road Cupcakes made using a basic chocolate sponge recipe. For the topping I made some dark chocolate ganache using 150g cream and 150g dark chocolate. This was put on a low heat until the chocolate melted and then given a good whisk. I left it to cool and thicken for an hour or so. The ganache was then spread onto the tops of the cakes and I decorated them with some mini marshmallows and some chocolate crispy sprinkles.

CCAYR September Challenge

2011-09-01T06:00:00.002+01:00

This months challenge over at Christmas Cards All Year Round is just perfect to kick start your Christmas card stash if you haven't already!! You can used any stash you like as long as it is at least 12 months old, so go on rummage out all that left over stash from last years cardmaking and make some cards. Remember 5 or more cards means you are entered into our monthly prize draw! I can't wait to see what you all come up with and you really need to be getting on with those Christmas cards NOW!!!!

I am also going to enter these cards into this weeks

Christmas Stamping All Year Long which has the theme monochrome.

The Dovecraft Cardstock was left over from last year and as it was very neutral I didn't use it. So not to be defeated I used 2 sheets to make these cards. The ribbon was even older than that and the beige tones fit in perfectly. I used Antique linen Distress ink for stamping/inking edges and some cream card stock. To finish off I added some little pearl gems again which were much more than 12 months old!! I'll be back again with another card for the mid-month reminder, now what are you waiting for go and have a rummage....LOL!!!

Lemon and Almond Cake

2011-08-30T11:58:00.000+01:00

Baking day here at Miscanthuscrafts and this is the second time I've made this cake over the Summer holidays . It went down a treat so wondering how long it will last this week!! Here is the recipe:

1. Beat 100g marg and 100g of sugar together, with a teaspoon of finely grated lemon rind.
2. Gradually beat in 100g of sifted self raising flour along with 2 eggs.
3. Stir in 50g of chopped almonds.
I've got a fancy ring tin but any tin will do, just keep an eye on the cooking time!!
4. Bake in oven for 30 to 40 mins (Gas mark 4, 160c Fan Oven)
5. When cooled add some lemon glace icing. I made mine using 225g of icing sugar, finely grated rind of 1 lemon and then some warmed lemon juice (about 2 tablespoons).
6. Decorate if you like, toasted almonds or lemon/orange slices look nice.

Back to School

2011-08-29T11:27:00.000+01:00

I don't really want to think about going back to school the summer holiday's have just flown by! But I do need a card for someone special who is moving to a new school. I have designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
Allsorts: Back to School
PfP: No Designer papers
Stamp Something: Back to School
Totally Tilda: Back to School

Charity ATC Swap

2011-08-16T18:28:00.000+01:00

Debs over at Ribbon Dreams is organising a charity ATC swap for a cause very close to her heart and so I've made these ATC's to help support my Craft Bubble pal, if you like crafting then why not hop over and join in HERE! I am going to enter these ATC's into the following challenges:
Fun with ATC's: Mother Nature
Allsorts: Anything but a card

Mid Month Reminder: Christmas is Coming!!

2011-08-15T08:00:00.000+01:00

I am back again with a reminder of this months Christmas Cards All Year Round challenge for August. You have an Acrostic Recipe (you must use at least 4 ingredients):

C: Chipboard
H: hand stitching
R: Ribbon
I: Inking
S: Stamping
T: Textured paper (embossed paper is allowed)
M: metal embellishments
A: Alphabet stickers or rub-ons sentiments
S: Stripes

For my festive card I used Chipboard, Stamping, Textured paper and Striped papers. You still have plenty of time to enter this month's challenge and remember the more you enter the better your chance of winning!

Cherry Blossom Boughs

2011-08-14T12:55:00.000+01:00

I've been busy experimenting with my new Clarity split tree stamps and this time the trees became boughs or branches. The green hill scape was creating using Shabby Shutters distress ink and a make up sponge. The sky I used a new acquired Adironack ink pad called Cloudy blue and this time I used the brayer to at the sky. I overstamped using the little cherry blossom spring and lightly coloured it pink using a Copic pen. I am entering this card into this months Stampalot challenge which is Whatever you Fancy!

Split Tree Stamps

2011-08-13T16:23:00.000+01:00

Barbara Gray over at Clarity Stamp now how a monthly on screen workshop and September's kit has a split tree image and a selection of foliage to add. After ordering mine last Saturday I was really pleased that it arrived on Wednesday which is very fast (Create and Craft's delivery can be extremely slow at times!), so I've been able to have a play!! I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:
Stampin' B's: Clouds
Cute Card Thursday: Clean and Simple

MORE is More!!

2011-08-08T07:34:00.000+01:00

I was thinking about making a card for this week's challenge over at Less is More but in the end got carried away with stamping all these flower. So definately not a LIM! I am going to enter it into the following challenges though:
Addicted to Stamps: Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday: No Designer Papers
Sir Stampalot: Whatever you Fancy!

Winter White

2011-08-07T15:39:00.000+01:00

When I see white on white challenges I always need a bit of time to think about what I'm going to do! The key I feel is texture and I always find getting out all my white stash helps and then you can build it into a card design. So today I went with a slim card blank and then embossed a few of spotty boards and then decided to layer them up using tissue, as I don't have vellum which would have been ideal but tissue has given me the soft textured effect I was looking for. Then finished off the design with a few white gems. For the focal point I used this lovely italic sentiment which seemed to work well with the simple design. I have designed this card for the following challenges:
Bah! Humbug!: White on White
Winter Wonderland: White on White
One Stop Craft Challenge: Sentimental
Raise the Bar: Anything Goes

Winter Pine Birds

2011-08-07T08:09:00.000+01:00

I've had this bird image for ages and finally found the perfect challenge to use it. So here is another Christmas card using no designer papers, just simply black and silver card. To finish off I added some black and clear gems and stamped a traditional sentiment to complement the image.
Christmas Stamping All Year Long: Use a Bird
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas: Black, White and One (I used silver)
Cute Card Thursday: No Designer Papers
Simon Says:Christmas In August

Cuddles

2011-08-06T16:03:00.000+01:00

Over at the Craft Bubble forum we have our weekly 'just for fun' challenge and today Rosie asked us for a 'cuddle'....TEE HEE. I found a few images that I thought would fit the twist but in the end went for this old stamp. I have also designed this card with the following other challenges in mind:
Passion for Promarkers: Hugs and Kisses
Cooking it up with Katie: Old (stamp), New (papers), Favourite Things (dogs/promarkers/inking edges)
Stamping for the Weekend: Spots and Dots
The ABC challenge: Auburn hair or fur

Christmas Cards All Year Round

2011-08-01T12:09:00.002+01:00

It is the first of the month and also my first challenge as part of the Design Team over at CCAYR. Each theme lasts for a month and the more times you enter the more chances you have to be a winner! For August's challenge you have an Acrostic Recipe (you must use at least 4 ingredients):

C: Chipboard
H: hand stitching
R: Ribbon
I: Inking
S: Stamping
T: Textured paper (embossed paper is allowed)
M: metal embellishments
A: Alphabet stickers or rub-ons sentiments
S: Stripes

For my festive card I used Chipboard, Ribbon, Textured paper and Striped papers.
There is plenty of scope for the imagination with this month's theme so hope to see some of your lovely creations over at Christmas Cards All Year Round very soon. It isn't long until Christmas now so time to get cracking with those cards!! I shall be back with a mid-month reminder and some more inspiration.

A WinTREE Card!

2011-07-30T19:57:00.000+01:00

Over at the Craft Bubble forum Karen set us our weekly challenge and this week the twist was trees. Now I have lots of tree stamps but decided to get out a stamp I had years ago when I was a member of the Graphicus Guild. They still sell this stamp but of course now the company is known as Chocolate Baroque. The tree silhouette was stamped with a Versafine ink pad, stuck down a little moon mask and then I added some Denim colour to the image using my brayer. Decided to go very much less is more and simple framed the image with this linear stamp and sentiment. I'm really pleased with how this card turned out and I'm going to enter it into the following challenges:
ABC Christmas: Old image
Fab's Big Christmas: Trees
Jingle Belles: Blue Christmas
CES: Feeling the blues

Papers Uncovered!

2011-07-29T15:33:00.002+01:00

I was busy making a card for this weeks Cute Card Thursday challenge, I'd stamped up the image but when I started layering everything up I realised that the paper was too pretty to be covered over. So here is the finished product using papers from K and Company. I have just given it a bit more of an aged effect by adding a touch of Antique Linen Distress Ink around the edges. I am also going to enter it into this weeks Allsorts challenge this the theme 'Free and Easy!'

Hole-y Night!

2011-07-25T09:04:00.001+01:00

I just love the title of this weeks theme over at the Jingle Belles challenge and so thought I'd give it a go! I used the last piece of one of my favourite papers, I love the pink and aqua combo and used it in honour of this week Christmas Stamping All Year Long which has the theme all about you! I am also going to enter it into this weeks I love Promarkers challenge.

Denim Reindeers

2011-07-24T20:57:00.001+01:00

Having treated myself to some new Christmas papers and this denim blue reindeer one was just perfect for this weeks challenge over at Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas blog. The little snowflake border is 1 of 4 in a set of stamps I had for the bargain price of 99p. I am also going to enter my card into the current Die Cut Dreams challenge and Fab n Funky challenge which both have an animal theme.

Not quite a Festival!!

2011-07-23T17:13:00.000+01:00

Well over at the Craft Bubble forum Debs set us our weekly sketch challenge and this week the twist was balloons. There have been all sorts of creations, I used a Magnolia balloon stamp and I have learned a new collective noun too; that a group of balloons is called a festival! (thanks to Sir Andy). I've gone very CAS with my balloon creation because I want to enter it into this weeks Less is More challenge which has a recipe 'button or bow'. The colour palette is taken from this weeks The Play Date Cafe which is black and white with just a splash of colour. This week Paper Cutz also has an Anything Goes! challenge.

Fun with Folds

2011-07-18T16:45:00.000+01:00

Over at the Craft Bubble forum Rosie asked us to have 'fun with folds'. After having a bit a hop around the latest challenges I decided the make this little Tilda Christmas decoration by folding some 2" squares of paper to make this star. I designed it with the following challenges in mind:
Totally Tilda: Christmas Decoration
Just Magnolia: Pink, Purple and Pearls
The Crafty Pad: Christmas in July
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas: Seeing Stars

Up Pops a Reindeer!

2011-07-17T15:15:00.000+01:00

Had fun with lots of folds to create this pop up card using some old Kanban cardstock. Stamped simply with this cute reindeer stamp, added a ribbon and a few brads to frame the design. Another card done!
Bah! Humbug!: Shaped Cards
CYDA: Fancy Folds
Jingle Belles: Reindeer Games
CES: Christmas

Craft Mad Birthday!

2011-07-16T16:22:00.000+01:00

Over at the Craft Bubble forum we are celebrating the first birthday of our Craft Mad and Loving it group. This week we had to make a birthday card and this card is dedicated to all the lovely folks I've met in the group! This stamp we just crying out to be inked up and is perfect for a craft mad pal! The image was stamped up onto some cream textured cardstock and then lightly coloured using promarkers. To create even more texture I used a corrigated kraft cardblank, embossed kraft card, grossgrain ribbon and some buttons with an etched pattern. I have designed this card with the following challenges in mind:
Willow Sketchie: Sketch
I love Promarkers: Recipe 1 ribbon, 2 papers, 2 embellishments
PFP: Gingham
The Crafty Pad: Lots of Texture

Embossed Earrings

2011-07-15T19:28:00.001+01:00

Over at the Craft Bubble forum Lauren set us a challenge which was to make a gift. So today I've been playing with grungeboard and here are the earrings I have made.

First, I die cut these little flowers from a Tim Holtz die and then painted on a couple of coats of gesso. There was a liberal application of purple ink and a thin coat of Rock Candy Crackle paint again by Sir Tim! I then used anAmerican Crafts stamp inked up with Versamark and embossed using a gorgeous Cosmic Shimmer embossing powder called Blue Raspberry Aurora. Finally I roughly inked and embossed around the edges. Then added a Sterling silver shepherd's crook earring findings by punching a small hole using my Crop-o-dile.
I am going to enter them into the following challenges:

The Stampman: Anything by Tim (grungeboard, rock candy crackle paint and flower from alterations die)
Simon says: Anything Goes!

Union

2011-07-10T08:13:00.000+01:00

Here is my attempted at a one layer card. Stamped simple using very patriotic colours. Blue Brilliance ink and then a touch of red Sakura glaze pen to finish off. This card was designed for this weeks 'Less is More' which is one layer and something with legs!!

Shabby Chic Tossa

2011-07-09T15:03:00.000+01:00

When I saw the twist over at our weekly sketchie challenge on the Craft Bubble forum, I just knew which image to use as this little Bildmarlarna stamp called Tossa has a very shabby chic look! I used some newly purchased double sided papers by K&Co and also some Shabby Shutters Distress ink. The paper got ripped/rumpled and inked. I kept the embellishments very simple using just a couple of eyelets and some twine to finish off. This was all layered up onto a corrigated card blank. I am going to enter this card into the Allsorts 'Free and Easy' challenge.

Watercolour Mice

2011-07-09T06:53:00.000+01:00

This clean and simple card uses a gorgeous House Mouse stamp. It was inked up with an ocean Kaleidoscope ink pad and then spritzed with a little water. When stamped onto cardstock it bleeds slighty and creates a watercolour effect. The card blank was embossed using the ever faithful Swiss Dots embossing folder and I also used a little Christmas embossing border too!! I matted the image simply onto some coordinating card and added some little brads to frame the picture.

I designed this card with the following challenges in mind:

Bah! Humbug!: Mice

Winter Wonderland: Red and Green must not be seen

ABC Christmas: No nonsense

Sending Hugs

2011-07-08T18:58:00.001+01:00

I made this clean and simple card for a relative, who unfortunately is in hospital at the moment. Didn't want to make it fussy and thought the sentiment was just the thing, as I can't get to visit them in person. I used a simple masking technique and used a blending tool to add the Chicken Feed ink by Jenni Bowlin in a band across the card. The little florish stamp is by American Crafts.

Christmas Cards All Year Round

2011-07-03T11:48:00.000+01:00

I'm so pleased to announce that I am one of the new Design Team members over at Christmas Cards All Year Round. For those of you that don't know, this is a monthly challenge and the more cards you make the more chance you have at winning a prize! So what a great way with keeping up with my 10 xmas cards a month challenge I set myself. Look forward to seeing your fabulous creations very soon. My first challenge is on August the First and I'm already planning out my creation!

Fairy Sparkle

2011-07-03T11:39:00.000+01:00

I've never used this colour combo before but when I saw it as a challenge over at Simon Says this week, I just thought mmmm why not! The image is by Pergamano and I have added so fairy sparkles onto the wings. The shabby chic flowers also have a touch of glitter too. My card layout is using this weeks sketch at Paper Take Weekly. I am also going to enter it into the follwoing challenges:

By Cute and By Girly: Things with Wings

Pear Tree Designs: Stamping

I love Promarkers: Plus Flowers

Starry Skies

2011-07-02T13:46:00.000+01:00

I have kept the card design very clean and simple as the landscape I have created is the focal point. My christmas tree scene was created using 2 masks (one for the moon and one for the snowy mountains) and I then sprinkle on some UTEE so when you brayer over the top is creates this starry northern lights sky. I used the Clarity Christmas tree stamp to make the forest, remembering to ink, blot and plot in places to create depth. Of course, the finishing touch just had to be Santa and his reindeer crossing the moon light sky. I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Less is More: Shades of Blue

ABC Christmas: Monochrome

Jingle Belles: Stars or stripes

Fab's Big Christmas: Trees or Dark colours

Spotty Pink Mouse

2011-06-29T18:31:00.002+01:00

Don't normally get any crafting time on a Wednesday but managed to squeeze another Christmas card in this afternoon. I am going to enter it into the following challenges:
ABChristmas: Monochrome
Winter Wonderland: Pretty in Pink
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas: Anything Goes!
CCAYR: Anything Goes!

Clean and Simple Christmas

2011-06-26T15:59:00.000+01:00

Well, I think I'm up to date with my Christmas card tally as July will soon be here!! I used the sketch from the current Clean and Simple challenge. I am also going to enter my card into the following challenges:
Christmas Card Challenge: Use Die cuts
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas: Anything goes
Christmas Cards All Year Round: Anything goes

Simply Krafted

2011-06-26T11:02:00.000+01:00

After all yesterday's over the topness in the way of embellishment thought I'd keep it clean and simple today. I have used the sketch from the Less is More challenge and die cut out some cute but subtle penguins from some Christmas papers for this weeks 'Bah! Humbug' challenge. I also made a tag for the Jingle Belles 'Lonely this Christmas' and of course not forgeting the 2 'Anything Goes' challenges at CCAYL and Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas challenge.