Strawberry Thank You

I made this for the copycatcards challenge this week, which was to use a photo provided as inspiration. Mine is the first entry - I think everyone is busy with Christmas bits and pieces!

I took the colours, the fruit and the stripes for my inspiration. I drew the strawberry with a black Zig writer, and coloured it with watercolour pencils and a water brush pen. I then put a coat of Dimensional Magic over the berry so it is nice and shiny. Also, I put three drops of dimensional magic on the top left of the card.

It was good making a card, as a break from making Christmas presents. It freed up the creative juices!

Tagged!

I have been tagged by the lovely and talented Suzitee! The Rules are:

1. Add a link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. List 6 random things about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog

Here are some random things about me:

1. I think lizards are some of the most beautiful creatures on this Earth.
2. I love eating popcorn with white chocolate - the mix of sweet and salty is delicious!
3. I am a Taurus.
4. I love to read, most particularly fantasy novels.
5. I enjoy drawing.
6. I am moving soon! Yay!

I can't think of 6 people to tag, so I think I will break that rule. :)

I really should be making Christmas presents right now. So much to do and so little time left! So I am off to do just that. Bye bye x

Something Sweet

I couldn't resist another card for the Whiff of Joy Guest Designer challenge. (See my post below or here for details).

For this card I stamped my background with one of the stamps from Prima's Build a Frame set in Sage ink. The patterned paper was a gift, so I don't know who it is by, and the red strip across the bottom is actually two strips of red polka-dot ribbon, with a sheer white ribbon over it to soften the colour.

I stitched around the edges of the card with my sewing machine, but no thread, to create the pierced border.

Whiff of Joy Guest Designer Call

Whiff of Joy, a company that sells the most adorable stamps, is having a guest designer call. I love these stamps, though the budget has only allowed for one so far, so I am entering!

To enter, we need to create a card or layout based on a sketch. I had great fun with mine. This stamp is so wonderful to colour! I have used watercolour pencils and a water brush. The paper is all from the Sultry collection by Basic Grey. The pale blue rhinestones are from Kaiser.

Here is a closeup of the stamped image:


You can click on any of the pictures for a larger view.

For more information on the Guest Designer call, click here.

Bird of Life

Another copycatcards challenge, this time with a card by Kim Archer as inspiration. I had some trouble with this, but got there in the end, and am quite pleased with the result. The paper is all Two Scoops by Basic Grey. I drew the Chinese symbol on some shrink plastic and shrunk it. According to my Chinese calligraphy book, it is the symbol for life. The bird is from Inkadinkado, and the felt butterfly & flower ribbon from BluEye Dezines.

I wrote 'life' down the bottom and decorated liberally with Kaiser Rhinestones.

Snowflakes

I did this card for the Cute Card Thursday challenge, Snow & Snowflakes. I got the snowflakes with a Christmas card last year. The Merry Christmas stamp is from Stamp-It and is stamped in blue and embossed with Hologram Sparkle embossing powder, from Stamp-It also.

I realised after making it that it's not exactly 'Cute', but I hope it is still alright for the challenge.

Timeless Butterflies

Here I have used more cereal box cardboard! I ran it through the Cuttlebug textile embossing folder, then rubbed it with a crayon, painted it white, and rubbed the paint off roughly. I then sprayed it with iridescent gold Glimmer Mist, though it is hard to tell in the photo.

The stamps I used are all from Prima's Build a Frame sets, except the 'timeless' which is from MFT's Boho Blossoms. I went over parts of the butterflies and the word with Kindy Glitz glitter glue. It's easier to see if you click the photo for a larger view.

I made this card for a sketch challenge on the Stamp Something weekly challenge blog.

C'est la Vie

I had a lot of fun making this card. I wrapped a couple of pieces of cereal box in foil then ran it through the cuttlebug in the textile embossing folder. Then I painted them with Jo Sonja aqua paint, let dry slightly, and rubbed the paint off roughly. The strip in the middle is stamped with Prima stamps, and lightly wiped over with my white versamagic ink pad. The banner is coloured with turquoise ink and a water brush. I then coated the banner part in dimensional magic.


This was for this week's copycatcards challenge, to use aqua, brown and a metal embellishment.

Black Butterfly

Another great challenge at copycatcards this week, to use the very striking combination of black, red and white, and a ribbon.


I love the patterned paper on this. The red is flocked, so feels nice and velvety, and the background is shimmery. It is by Cristina Re. I stamped the butterly with my home made stamp, and then embossed several times in black and stamped the heart from Boho Blossoms by MFT on it while still molten. I love the effect.

Cookies

I made this card using my new stamp from Whiff of Joy. I coloured her with watercolour pencils and a water brush. I love this image.

The card is made for the Stamp Something challenge, which is to make a card using only one layer of cardstock.

Spots and Stripes

Copycatcards challenge time again. This week the challenge is to use spots, stripes and pink. I used the eraser on the end of a pencil to stamp the spots on the ribbon, and around the bird. The bird is from Inkadinkado, stamped in black and coloured over with a pen that has 3 colours of ink in. I wrote best wishes in black and coloured it with my green Sakura Souffle pen, so it is slightly raised. Some folded corners, white doodling, kindyglitz dots in the centre of the spots, and some kaiser rhinestones finish it.

"Is it very far from hence?" asked the wolf.

Yet another Warwick Goble image from Dover, this one of Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. I printed text from the fairytale for the background, sponged it with some beige ink, then sprayed it with iridescent gold Glimmer Mist.

The leaves are coloured with inks and then sprayed with the Glimmer Mist too. Here is a closeup to show the glimmer. It's easier to see if you click it for the larger image.

The lace is dyed with tea. It started out pale blue.

I love Goble's artwork. It is beautiful.

We are all Wanderers

This card took me a little while - I couldn't get the embossing to work on the vellum, until it dawned on me to use my detail embossing powder. I printed the quote onto the vellum, then heat embossed it in Queen's Gold. The image is a clipart sample from Dover and the papers are Bohemian Threads by Kaiser. The oval behind the woman is calico, frayed a little.

I made this for a competition, the theme of which was Vintage. That is why I have distressed the edges of the paper. Normally I find damaging the paper in this way quite "distressing", but I am getting used to it, slowly. I usually like my edges to be nice and crisp. :-)

Shroom

This card I made yesterday afternoon for the Stamp Something Challenge this week which is a sketch challenge. I had coloured the mushroom with watercolours a while ago, so it was pretty quick to put together. The stamp is Mushroom Lane Library, by Cornish Heritage Farms. I stamped and embossed it in silver. It looks quite different at different angles, which I like.

A Few Cards

Well, it's been a rough couple of weeks since I posted anything, but here are a few cards I've made. First up, my card for this week's copycatcards challenge, which is to use beads. I have done two rows of beads on my card. They are blue and purple. It's easier to see if you click to the bigger photo. The image is an illustration by Warwick Goble of a fairytale called The Six Swans. It is a clipart sample from Dover. The writing in the background is a passage from the tale, which I printed onto some textured paper.


This second card I made for last week's copycatcards challenge, which I set. It was to make a round card. I'd never done one before, so it was a challenge for me too. The background is embossed with the floral fantasy cuttlebug folder. The stamp is from Inkadinkadoo. The flower was white, but I sprayed it with toffee apple Glimmer Mist. It has a lovely gold sheen to it. The hearts were punched from the "overspray" on the white card I put under the flower when spraying.


And finally, this card was made for the copycatcards challenge the week before (I do like these challenges) to make a Christmas card featuring the colour blue.

For Mum

Hello Mum, Happy Birthday! Here is your card. I don't think the photos really do it justice, but you will see the original soon I hope.


The card is actually a card and present in one. As you can see from the photos it has a removable tag which you can use as a bookmark if you like.

I hope you like it.

Love you x

Lavender & Lace

I had a nice time playing on the weekend making this card for the copycatcards challenge this week, Lavender & Lace, to use the colour purple and some lace in your card.

I had only blue lace, which I didn't want to use as it was, so I dyed it with some tea. The resulting colour made me think 'vintage' so I used this image by Warwick Goble again, which was a clipart sample from Dover.

It isn't visible in the photo, but all the fairy wings are outlined in sparkly pen, as is the 'Believe'. Lots of pearls from Kaiser on this card. Love the pearls for cards like this.

Two Today

Two cards that is. This first one is what I made for Dad for Fathers Day. It uses one of my tiger drawings printed on photo paper, and a background done with crayons and paint.


This next card I made for the copycatcards challenge this week, which was to use an arrow. I found it quite difficult to come up with something I liked, but am really pleased with the end result.


The heart stamp and 'love ya' stamp are both Lizzy Anne Designs and clear embossed. The arrow is outlined in silver glitter pen, very sparkly. Background is done with the Cuttlebug Divine Swirl embossing folder.

Pretty Pink Sparkles

I was in the mood for sparkles and prettiness when I made this card. The hearts are Boho Blossoms by My Favourite Things, stamped in orchid ink and embossed with Hologram Sparkle embossing powder. It is really, really sparkly in real life. The smaller photo shows a bit of that sparkle.

The strip of butterfly paper is by BluEye Dezines. The background is done with my Cuttlebug Divine Swirl embossing folder.

It's not that clear in the small photo, but the rhinestones in the top corners are pink, and on the butterfly strip are close to the colour of the background. It's easier to see if you click on the photo for the larger view.

Hoot!

This is not at all what I had in mind when I started making this card. It was going to have a flower on it, not an owl, and it was to be more square, but I often change my mind as I go along.

The owl is from the Birds Galore set by Inkadinkado, embossed with clear embossing powder. The patterned paper is Pretty Petals by SEI. I used WordArt to make the 'Hoot!', printed it on plain paper, traced onto orange card and cut it out. I used a Souffle pen that perfectly matched the colour behind the owl on the greeting too. It also has a coat of Dimensional Magic so it's shiny.

The circle the owl is on and the greeting are both stuck on with foam dots for dimension.

Tiger Staring

I quite like this card. I made it yesterday for the latest copycatcards challenge (it's back!) which is to make a card with white, orange and black. I immediately thought of tigers, so I printed out a few tiger pictures I'd drawn and picked this one to use on a card. I drew it back in 2004, so long ago!

I made the background paper with crayons, paint and an iron. So much fun! I made a few different colours, and will be making another tiger card with one of them a little later.

There is a bit of reflection off the tiger part, because it's printed on glossy photo paper. I had to take it under a light though because it's so rainy and dim today.

Two Scoops of Cake

Yay! Another card! The paper on this one is Basic Grey Two Scoops, and the cake and present stamps are from the Meet Me at the Cafe set by My Favourite Things. I coloured them in with Sakura Souffle pens, and cut them out and stuck them on the scalloped circles. The top and bottom circles are attached with foam dots, so are raised. The swirls on the edges of the circles are done with another stamp from the MFT set.

Bohemian Owl

This card is soon to be on its way to Scotland. I used the owl from Inkadinkado's Birds Galore set, and the paper is Kaiser's Bohemian Threads. The photo doesn't really show the colours properly, but I couldn't get it any better. The owl is embossed with clear embossing powder. I like the way the paper's circles mimic his eyes - circles within circles.

Birthday Dragons

Here is the card I made for Martin's birthday. I finally had some sunlight to take the photo in this morning. I drew the dragons, but the quote was printed from the computer. The inside says "that's why you close your eyes when you kiss, cry or dream."

It's kind of hard to tell in the photo, but they are purple rhinestones on the left and red ones on the right. I also outlined the flames in a sparkly pen (hard to catch in a photo) and also went over the dragons' horns and spikes and the spot things on the sides of their faces with the sparkly pen.

Gypsy Proverb

Here is another card using the Bohemian Threads papers and another "vintage" image from Dover. She reminded me of a gypsy fortune teller (or what I imagine one might have been like) so I chose a gypsy proverb for the card.

I outlined the woman and some of the words with glitter pen, and went over the 'highlighted' words too. It doesn't show in the photo, but in real life it is a nice effect.

This is a very different style for me but I think I like it.

Vintage

I made this piece for the Arty Girlz Challenge #46 - Vintage. I'm not really sure what defines a vintage card, but I have used an old image, and paper that reminded me of something you might find on the inside cover of an old book. The image is an illustration by Warwick Goble and was a free clipart sample from Dover. I printed it on watercolour paper for texture. The patterned paper is Bohemian Threads by KaiserCraft. I LOVE the paper. The pearls are from Kaiser too.

The little dog is actually serving to hold the piece upright. I haven't made it a card yet - not sure if I will, or use it for something else - and it didn't want to stay up just leaning against something.

Puzzled Bird

I used my Cuttlebug puzzle cutting die for this card, and one of the birds from the Inkadinkado Birds Galore set. I sponged each puzzle piece then put the puzzle together and stamped on the bird and the leaves.

I also outlined the bird with glitter pen, but it doesn't show up in this photo.

Christmas Stamps

These two cards were both made with old Christmas postage stamps I had been hoarding - one from 2000 and one from 2005. The background of the Santa one is sprayed with Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist, and the black border in the other card with Silver Glimmer Mist. I also used a glitter pen to outline the oval and on the "Season's Greetings", though you can't tell in the photo.

Create Bliss

I made this card for Laura's Sketch 5 on 2 Sketches 4 You. I followed the sketch pretty exactly really. The papers are all Basic Grey Sultry. The little square brad is actually a Kaiser one, but I thought it matched nicely. This paper is so nice, and the sketch is great for making the paper the focus.

I hadn't realised how long it was since I'd made a card. No wonder I was feeling a bit down - no creating for a long time. :-) (Apart from a couple of Christmas cards, which I will probably put on here too some time).

For You

I made this card for the Papertake Weekly Challenge which was to use HOT colours! Think reds, oranges, yellows, hot pinks etc!!

I used hot pink rhinestones and ribbon, and some pink glitter pen around the edge of the oval. The bird stamp is from Inkadinkado, stamped in black and clear embossed.

The black strip is actually felt ribbon. The background is done with the paisley embossing folder in the Cuttlebug. The actual folded card background is white, but I sponged the edge with yellow around the very edge, and then pink.

Owl Love

I was watching a documentary on China tonight and there were some really cute owls on it, which made me want to use the owl stamp from the Birds Galore set. So, here is the card I made. I did it following the sketch for this week's Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #19.


The background uses the Cuttlebug tiny bubbles embossing folder which was a birthday present from Mum and Dad. The heart and the word 'love' are from the Boho Blossoms set by MFT. I stuck the owl on with foam dots so it stands out.

I wish I'd lined the hearts up a bit better... :-(

For Ray

I made this card with one of the Inkadinkado Birds Galore stamps inked with two colours, and Two Scoops paper. I embossed the bird with clear embossing powder.

I wrote 'Dad' in a dark green pen and highlighted it while it was still damp with white pen, which went light green. It will be off to England tomorrow. :-)

Covered Tin

I have had this lavosh tin for months, and have been using it to store my scraps of paper and card. Today I finally got around to prettifying it. :-)

I used SEI Paisley and Polka Dot paper, which I absolutely love. I wish I'd bought more of it. I have given it a couple of coats of satin varnish to protect it. The ribbon around the lid I coloured with an ink pad, and the ribbon on the top of the lid was wrapped around some towels we bought ages ago.

I am really pleased with the final result. It's much better than having a lavosh tin on my desk, making me want to snack all the time (not that I need any incentive to snack).

It also matches a little baking powder container I covered in the same paper to put my USB key in.

The best thing about this, I think, is that it is for me, unlike most other things I make.

Butterfly Kisses

I love these bright colours! I made this card today for the copycatcards challenge this week which is White & Bright. We were to use bright colours on a white base.

The butterfly stamp is one I made last weekend. I really like it. The card itself was inspired by my ironing board cover of all things, which has different coloured & shaped butterflies in rows.

I think the ribbon on the 'Kisses' heart thingy looks a little like wings.

Love Ya

I made this one with one of the Lizzie Anne Designs stamps I won for the flutter and flourish copycatcards challenge. It is for this week's challenge which was to use hand stitching and red.

I am contemplating snipping a bit off the ribbon at the bottom. Don't know.

Birds and Swirls

I made this card with the Birds and Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder that Mum and Dad got me for my birthday. It was for last week's copycatcards challenge, Flutter and Flourish. It won! 2 Lizzie Anne stamps - they're yet to come but I'm looking forward to getting them and having a play :-)

The bird is another one from the Inkadinkado set Birds Galore.

Pink, Purple and Silver

These cards were done for the copycatcards challenge this week, to use pink, purple and silver. I decided to make birthday cards for Anna and Sophie (Martin's nieces) because I thought they would be colours little girls like.

I've made these months ahead of time (over 5 months early), but I had the idea and wanted to do them now so I did. :-)

I used my new Spellbinder Nestabilities to cut the scalloped circles out of the foil from a butter container. They're great to use, and don't make the horrible cracking noise the Cuttlebug cutting dies make.

The bird is from Inkadinkado's Birds Galore. I really love those birds.

Happy Mothers Day

Here is the card I made for Mum. It uses Two Scoops paper by Basic Grey and a chipboard heart. The paisley stamped in the background is the one I made from an eraser.

A Card At Last

This is the first card I've made in a while. Working too long in a job I don't like seems to dull my creativity or something. Never mind, only 3 weeks to go.

I used a chipboard flower shape covered it with patterned paper, then stamped one of the birds from Inkadinkado's Birds Galore set and clear embossed it. I added some white highlights with a white pen. The 'B' of the best wishes is printed from the computer and coated in Dimensional Magic.

The rhinestones I added were inspired by this week's Cute Card Thursday challenge, Gems and Jewels.