You are Special

Spring
I was inspired by the Clearly Besotted Challenge #10 Spring and recently got my purchased stash, which are so pretty so thought I would enter their challenge.

I have used the Pretty Petals Plus dies and stamps to make the card.

I also like the look when you use the negative space of a die 

so I thought I would try it with the stamps.

I used Kraft card and hand embellished a stitch line with a white ink pen

and raised it up on foam to add dimension to the card.

The bright colours of the flowers represent Spring!

I enjoyed joining in your challenge and I am loving your Stamps and Dies x

Crafty Hugs  x

A Little Note

XO
I was inspired by the CASology challenge #91 this week
with the cue card of Note.

Update ... I got a CAS'ology Honourable Mention for this card

and I am so pleased x

I loved the sentiment from Clearly Besotted of 'a little note' and 

decided to do a' little' envelope with a 'little' message in it.

I die cut the envelope out of linen card to give a contrast against 

the main white smooth card 

and also lined it with red tissue paper to suggest love/romance.

I stamped the mini card with XO but left it so that you could pull it out 

and write something personal on it as well.

I also popped on three dots to add balance and further interest.

I embossed around the card as not to add any layers to the card.

I think the card is really sweet and enjoyed joining in the challenge x.

Crafty Hugs x

Spring Blossom's

Glorious Poppies
Happy Easter...
All flowers say Spring to me but I do love these Poppies from IndigoBlu.
They come in a stamp set called 'Poppy Meadow' and stamp beautifully.
I was inspired by IndigoBlu's  Challenge Number 14-Spring Blossom's
and made this card for the challenge.

I stamped the poppy with archival ink onto my card. 

I then stamped the image out again onto masking paper to use as the mask.

I masked off the vertical centre and brayered it with distress inks and over the poppy mask.

I also used the IndigoBlu Crackle stamp with versamark and white embossing powder over to the right of the card.

I die cut the small butterfly and coloured it with distress inks and some glitter.

I stamped the small closed poppy on the right after the colouring as I felt it didn't need masking and that seemed to work.

I so enjoyed water colouring the Poppy with distress inks and just followed the dark bits etc on the stamp. Very relaxing!

I hand drew black lines down both sides of the vertical colouring...always very worrying for me!!!

Lastly I stamped the beautiful sentiment in 'Grey' Archival but on hind site I shouldn't have stamped the poppy's stem quite as long behind it....of course I tried to mend it but only had a Black ink pen!!!

Next time I'll know better...

I then took inspiration from my garden (and the sentiment was still on my mind!).

I took this photo of my first anenome's and just loved the colours so tried again!

Just loving the colours but maybe try and get a more blue purple in as well next time.

The sentiment looks better as I did wipe off some ink from the bottom of the stem before I stamped it this time! I used Plum archival which worked really well.

I've also added a couple of dots from the butterfly in flight.

Anyway I just loved doing the cards and know I will be doing more in other colours.

I did so enjoy joining in the challenge.

Crafty Hugs x

Hey There!

Chevrons and Woodgrain
I was inspired by the Retro Sketch this week Challenge #110
for the theme of the card and cascolours and sketches Challenge #70
for the colour theme of Black and Grey's

When I looked at the sketch my eye went from the bottom left up to the top so I had the idea to use chevrons and as a result of this and the challenge colours I made a Masculine card.

I used different colours of grey inks and a woodgrain stamp from Waltzingmouse to add interest and texture to the card.

I stamped and die cut the sentiment, both from Clearly Besotted Stamps.

I popped on foam pads to the woodgrain stamping as I felt the chevrons worked better on another lower layer behind.

I popped on some black and grey dots and black/white twine to finish off the card.

I loved the way the chevrons took your eye from the bottom all the way up and then the sentiment of Hey There! was waiting for you at the top.

Crafty Hugs x

Hello-Round and Round

Hello-Round and Round

Today's Card has been inspired by the Lucky Dip Challenge at
 Less is more with the theme of Round and Round.
So I have made this card for their challenge.

I started by measuring and cutting out the round circles using a Spellbinders die out of white card.
I cut the word 'Hello' with a MFT Die-namics die set on black card.
I stamped the black distress splat and coffee stain using flourishes stamps and archival black ink.
The vintage cycle is a Clarity stamp.
I wanted more movement in the card so I hand embellished the black lines, representing the cycle moving.
The white card has been layered with foam onto the Kraft card.
I have tried to do a Clean and Simple card for this challenge.
I very much enjoyed doing the card and entering into the challenge.
Crafty Hugs x

Special Day

Celebrate your Special Day
I was inspired by the JustRite Friday Challenge
to make a card from a sketch using JustRite Stamps.
You didn't have to use the colours or identical shapes 
of the sketch they provided just an overall layout.
Here is the card that I made for the Challenge

The background Rectangle is cut out of Kraft card, using Spellbinders Grand Large Labels.
I lightly dry embossed it with a stencil as I wanted a subtle background.
I kept the stencil on, masked the area off that I wanted and using VersaMark and white embossing powder, heat set it to achieve the horizontal shape in the provided sketch.

I cut the next rectangle using Spellbinders Lattice Rectangle Die, which was stamped with JustRite Diamond Filigree Background Stamp and heat embossed it in white.
I love these background stamps.

The next two rectangles were die cut using Spellbinders Small and Large Label Dies.
For the sentiment I used JustRite Vintage Labels Four Die and their Birthday Vintage Labels Four Clear Stamps and heat embossed in white.
I popped the Frame One D-Lite die cut behind the main sentiment.

The flowers have been made out of glassine paper and white heat embossed. The colour and texture of the glassine paper was exactly what I was looking for.

After layering up the card I popped on some pearls, twine and white hand embellished dots using a white ink pen. I thought the introduction of the pretty pink colour just complemented the card.

I have uploaded another photo of the card to perhaps see more detail.....

I really enjoyed doing this card.
It took me ages and I have tried new techniques, learning all the time x

Crafty Hugs x

Sorry...

Pink Rose
I was inspired by The Charitystamp Challenge Blog
for their monthly theme of 'Flower Power'.

To make my card I used masking and blending techniques with
Distress, Archival and Adirondack inks and the Rose Clarity Stamp.
I used the Clarity Sorry sentiment as I thought it went with my overall colours and theme.

After putting the card together I popped on some subtle glitter, using a pen, onto the rose and the sentiment.












I also embellished the card with white Glitter Stickles to represent
rain falling from the rose (and tears).

The pink and grey twine added balance to the card and the small shrink plastic rose was a nod to Barbara and her very funny blog video with her and Dean.
I hadn't tried this technique before and it is fun!

Loved doing the card
Crafty Hugs x

Grand Flower-Birthday Wishes

Negative Space
Update....I got a Retro Sketches Shout Out for Challenge 107 for this card...Ye Ha!!!!
I was inspired by the Retro Sketches challenge this week and thought I would make this card.

The challenge was to use the negative space of a die cut.
I began by cutting out my Grand Flower with my die out of kraft card.
I then stamped a large flower with Versa Mark and heat embossed
with gold embossing powder onto white smooth card.
I layered the negative space kraft card onto foam and popped bakers twine around it to balance the card.
I stamped the sentiment with archival sepia ink and hand applied white dots around the negative die cut to add a little more interest.
I loved the clean finish of the card and it made me think about
the possibilities of using negative space after die cutting.

Crafty Hugs x

Remember When.....

By the Sea.....
Don't you just love being by the sea?
I was inspired by the Sketch from My Favourite Things - Get Sketchy Weekly Challenge so I made this card, which I am entering into their challenge this week..
For the circle I used the MFT Die-Namics Circle Stax set 1 and 2 to cut out the Kraft ribbed card to edge the mini round scene that I had done.
I wanted all the elements to have different edges to them so that they would have their own 'personality'.
Lastly, I popped on the Remember when...sentiment, which I thought worked really well with my theme and layered the front of the card onto Kraft card.

I used brushes, masking and blending to create my mini scene backgrounds and stamps for the focal elements.
I really enjoyed doing the challenge and when I finally worked out how the shapes worked together I really loved how it all came together.

Crafty Hugs x

Supplies
I used The Premium Dye Ink Pads from MFT-Kraft, Hot Fudge, Natural, Berrylicious and Blu Raspberry
For the circle I used the MFT Die-Namics Circle Stax set 1 and 2 
Stamps-Inkylicious Seascapes and Essential Grasses

Hydrangea-Thinking of You

Spring is in the Air
What a glorious flower the Hydrangea is...comes in so many beautiful colours.
I began with distressing and blending three mini white card squares with various distress inks.
I then stamped parts of the Hydrangea stamp onto the three mini squares using Memento Ink and to finish I layered them onto my card.
I loved the colours of the card and the gorgeous Hydrangea stamp.

I was inspired by the following challenges and will be entering my card into them:
Always playing with Paper and Less is More-Three

Crafty Hugs x

Thinking of You

Vibrant Orange Daisies and Stitched Ribbon
Hoping Spring is just around the corner......
I made this colourful and vibrant card in the hope that it is!
I used a spellbinders daisy die, micro beads for texture and the pretty stitched grosgrain ribbon and bow to make this card.
I layered it onto vibrant orange card, added the sentiment and the ivory disks and an orange crystal.

I loved the vibrant colour and the stitched ribbon on this card and was inspired by the Crafty Ribbon Challenge -  Anything goes with Ribbon and will be entering the card into the challenge.

Crafty Hugs  xx

Peacock Feathers

Masking and Stamping
I initially masked off the top and bottom of the card by tearing a piece of paper randomly.
I used various colours of distress inks and blended them into the diagonal strip.
I stamped the peacock feather using the Big and Juicy Dye pad called waterfall and then the sentiment in Archival Cobalt Blue.
I mounted the card onto the turquoise card and then onto smooth white card.
I did numerous versions before settling on this one...hope you like it?

I enjoyed doing the masking and blending techniques and  was inspired by the following challenges and will be entering the card into them: 
MFT-My Favourite Things-Get Sketchy - 
http://www.mftstamps.com/blog/stamp-and-win-with-this-weeks-card-sketch-167/
and Simply Less is More - Mask or Stenciling
 http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/week-163-theme.html

Crafty Hugs xx

Roses and Hearts

Special Lady
Special Card for a Special Lady.
I used a Spellbinders heart shaped die to cut out the heart shapes, after carefully measuring to get them exactly how I wanted them and then added some clear micro beads all over the white card to give a little texture.
I attached the pretty pink roses with wet glue.
I then cut out the outer and inner shapes of the sentiment with a Spellbinders die. I stamped the sentiment with a pink dye ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder and attached the single rose.
I matted the front of the card onto pink pearlescent card, added the ribbon and then popped it onto smooth white card.

I loved how this card turned out for a very Special Lady in the Family xx

I was inspired by the following challenges and will be entering the card into them:
The Allsorts Challenge - Pretty in Pink
The Simon Says - Mother's Day/Special Girl 
                         
Crafty Hugs  xx

Celebrate in Style

Pretty in Pink - Ribbons N Bows
Just my sort of colours.....
I was inspired by the challenges mentioned at the end of my blog to do this card.
I made lots of attempts at the background using Distress inks, stains and paints in various shades of Pinks.
I am quite new to this technique but love how they all turn out so differently.
Once I was happy with my background I stamped white flourishes and Pink Butterflies and there's a Pink 21 in there too, but it is difficult to see on the photo.
I stamped the Lady and The sentiment in Black Archival Ink.
I masked the lady's dress and sprayed a gold mica mist over the dress area, just to make it stand out a Little more and to add some sparkle.
I popped on a pretty black die along the edge of the card, a pretty Black Bow and a few Pink round sparkly embellishments.
Lastly, I made a sparkly heart and a distressed looking key out of UTEE and molds and attached them to the card.
I mounted the card onto a Black mount to frame the card and and then onto Smooth White card.
I loved doing the card and was really happy how it turned out, hope you like it too?

I now have lots of backgrounds to use on another day.
I love Pink and girly things and was pleased to see these challenges, which I knew I would really enjoy doing xx
I was inspired by the Allsorts Challenge - Pretty in Pink
and the Stamping Sensations Monthly Challange - Pretty in Pink

and the Crafty Ribbons Challange - Ribbons N Bows and have entered my card into the three challenges

Supplies
Rangers Distress inks, stains and paints in various shades of pink
Snow Cap white Pigment Adirondack ink
Rangers Black Archival Ink
Spellbinders die
Indigo Blu and Creative Expressions stamps
UTEE and molds that I made
Gold mica and water for the misting

Carfty Hugs xx

Distress Chrysanthemum Card

Welcome to My First Blog Post and to 

         My First Design Challenge

I was inspired by Uniko Studio Challenge for a distress or vintage card with a suggested colour theme.

I tried for the first time using alcohol inks and blending them and now have a lot of various colours and backgrounds to use another time, likewise with the distress paints, stains and inks.

After experimenting for some time I finally decided to actually make the card!

I used Uniko stamps, Uniko Background Builders, Round in Circles and Uniko Pure Florals Chrysanthemum

Rangers Adirondack and Archival ink pads, Rangers Distress ink pads, Stains, Paints and Alcohol Inks in various colours, Kraft Card and Smooth White Card.

The outer layer has been stamped with the Uniko Chrysanthemum Stamp using Archival Sepia onto Kraft Card.

The next layer I have used various colours of Alcohol Inks and blended them onto White Smooth Card.

On the top layer I have blended Distress Inks and Paints, stamped the Chrysanthemums and Circles using the Uniko background builders. 

I distressed the edges with a scissors and blended distress ink around the edges. 

I stamped the Celebrate sentiment (from my stash) as I thought this looked like a vintage typewriter font.

Lastly, I mounted the card and then flicked a small amount of water to the top and side of the card to get a slightly more vintage feel to the card.  

Was this a Challenge?...Yes it Was for a Newbie like me...
Both from a creative point of view and from a computer point of view!

Did I love doing it...Yes I did!!!

Going to lie down in a dark room now!

Crafty Hugs  xx