Sunny and Bright

Good Afternoon all you crafty Peeps.

The weather here today is absolutely glorious again, the overnight minus four frost and fog gave way to beautiful sunshine and I have had the french windows of my office open since lunchtime. The dogs are laid about everywhere as thought they had a hard morning..............I must have missed something because as far as I know the most energetic thing they've done is eat breakfast.

I thought I would share a couple of the cards I made for Ruth using her new Fritillary image which you will find at A Passion for Stamps here. The card at the top was made using the scrunched tissue technique, rather than go into it again you will find what I did here. I used some scraps of DP for the background and alternated them with some embossed squares. The roses were cut with a Memory Box die from plain copy paper, then lightly coloured with distress inks, the swirls are the same make of die and the leaves Spellbinders.

The second card is paper pieced with Bo Bunny DP. The harlequin background was created by inking a stencil with versamark, placing on a piece of white cardstock, running through the Big Shot Express then brushing Mica Powder after removing the stencil. I did exactly the same with the shaped mat, but kept the Nestie frame in place until I has added the mica. The little picket fence is a new Memory Box die, I am amazed with how very fine and detailed it is yet how perfectly it cuts.

Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for visiting.

All rather floral

 

Good Morning, I hope everyone is OK.

I had a bit of a crafty play at the weekend as lucky me had some of Ruth's latest artwork to play with which you will find at A Passion for Stamps as well as some still un-inked Penny Black stamps.

To create the top card I masked the edges of a piece of Fabriano watercolour card and gently inked with TH broken china, I then tore a piece of copy paper to mask the top right section of the piece and stamped the the section with Hero Arts S5264 Antique Flower Background using TH tea dye. Next I sponged both colours of ink randomly over the stamping and finally stamped Penny Black 4237K Awakening using TH stormy sky and Aquamarkers and spritzed with water before stamping................every time there's a new release of stamps you tend to have a favourite and this one is definitely one of those. After removing the masking I mounted the piece onto coordinating cardstock and added a button.

My second card using Ruth's Fratillary image which I printed onto Fabriano watercolour card and did my usual mad rush to get some clear embossing powder on as it came through the printer, then coloured with Derwent watercolur pencils. The sentiment is Penny Black 4261L Time. The background was created using a Touch of Mica mask which I inked with versamark, rand through the Big Shot then dusted a lilac cosmic shimmer powder over the inked sections...................I am quite pleased with the effect and especially how well the colours match which was more buy luck than judgement as I only have a few mica powders.

Thanks for popping in, catch you later in the week.

Anything but a card

Good morning one and all, it's time for a new challenge at Allsorts and this week Debs would like us to create 'Anything but a card', but before my DT work a few bits and pieces of news.

First off, a huge thank you to everyone who has joined in at Stampalot Challenge this month despite the little 'problem' earlier this week. And a little heads up that that there is a very special weekend coming up at Stampalot shortly, more details further down this post.

And lots of you have been so kind and asked about the post holiday saga so just to update you, no joy with my jewellery I'm sad to say. The concierge from the ship got back to me to say they had done a thorough search of our cabin just to make sure the box hadn't got pushed under the bed or something like that, but nothing turned up. Our cabin steward was a lovely lad from Mauritius and was so thrilled to have just been promoted to being a suit steward and their jobs are so precious to them that honesty is second nature and I have no doubt if found he would have handed it in. So I can only conclude it was stolen from my case in Paris at some point.

Fridges and freezers still empty but sparkling clean...........at least it forced a well needed job to be done............. as I've just not had time to shop since we got back as work and files up to the ceiling sort of took over, but it's high on my agenda for the weekend. And after all the indulgence on holiday a lean diet won't hurt us for a few days.

On to my DT piece for this week and I have come up with a Christmas tag book which I cut on the Big Shot Pro (thanks for the loan Stampalot), distressed each page with TH fired brick and sage, then spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl. I stamped round the edges of the pages with Inkadinkado 98396 and the birds on two of the page are from the same Christmas set. The sentiment on the middle page is Art Impression J1674.

Finally, I added red Stickles, some punched poinsettias and tied the spine with ribbons.

I am off to Stampalot tomorrow, new Hero Arts and Le Blanch stamps beckon, so all going to plan I should have a few shares shortly as I need to get cracking with samples for the big Christmas launch weekend starting on Saturday 27th August. Some of the goodies are already available and can be found here.

Thanks for visiting and hope you have a good weekend.

More new Hero

There's a new challenge today at Stamptacular Sunday and the theme is 'Anything but Square'.

So the perfect opportunity to use one of the cards I created with a set of the new Grand Nesties and new Hero Arts stamp releases. The card itself was made by running the nesties through the Big Shot, then layered with bazzil. The image is stamped with Hero Arts CL477 and G4917 using Tim Holtz chipped sapphire, spun sugar and olive. Plus some ribbon and a sentiment to finish.

Colour Create - Pink, blue, white
Stamping for the Weekend - New and blue (nesties and stamps)

CES - No designer papers

One more quick share with brayering using Big and Juicy Soothing Sunset and Magenta CS053 Botanical....this really is such a great set if you like your florals and butterflies. Not a lot more I can add really other than a nice messy session was had ! This is for the following challenges:

Fairytale - Flowers
Lots to Do - Brayering
Two Sisters - Flowers

Finally I want to show you the beautiful embellishments I received from Geraldine of Little Snippets......isn't her work beautiful.......even the hearts have little butterflies in the centre. This was a prize I won at By the Cute and Girly and could not have been a more apt prize for me with my addiction to wings and fantasy. Do go and check out the lovely work Geraldine has for sale at her store.

I will share some made up projects using these embellishments just as soon as my shoulder is sorted and normal service resumes in my craft room.

Fresh new challenges

Good Morning peeps, the first of the month means new challenges and I decided we all need a change from what seems like months of Christmas cards so something a bit different on both counts.

Can I first apologise I have not visited you much the last few days, I've got Optic Neuritis again which is a real pain in the rear, not to say inconvenient. But it means I have to restrict computer use to short bursts and hours of blogging is just not on if I want to shift it quickly. I've found I can craft for a bit longer if I lower my daylight lamp and work above it away from the light itself it that makes sense, so not all is bad news.

A little reminder about this coming weekend at Sir Stampalot........it's the third Ultimate Rubber Stampaing Demo Day........seven very different styles of stamping demos running simultaneously from 10am through 4pm, free refreshments and prize draws and of course a shop brimming full of crafting essentials. The last two years it's been a fabulous day so if you can get there do come along and don't forget to say hello......I'll be the one with messy fingers......and maybe dark glasses if the eyes don't pick up.

At Stampalot Challenge we have 'Travel the World' and 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' at Penny Black at Allsorts. Last month saw bumper entries at both challenges and I really do hope you will all be joining in again this month.

Here are my DT pieces. The one above is my travelling ladies.....check out their ticket, reduced in size but it's authentic and they are fresh off the Orient Express. I used a whole collection of Art Impression stamps......thanks for the loan from the classroom Stampalot....... The ladies ware stamped first and masked, then the various buildings stamped from their travels.......Tour Eiffel, Big Ben, Il Colosseo, La Torre di Pisa and of course the sky scape's of the Big Apple. A little big of background scenery and sky added and mounted over a world map. This is also for the following challenge:

Simon Says - Sketch (it's a bit reversed but hope it's acceptable)

There's Magic in the Air - Anyting goes

Totally Stampilicious - Anything goes

Tip Top Tuesday - Anything goes

Cute Daisy May - Lets get girly

My Penny Black piece encapsulates what beauty means to me, which is basically everything Nature has to offer. My tag book is cut on the Big Shot pro........again thanks to Sir Stampy for the borrow.......looks like I don't own anything crafty reading this post......... I coloured all pieces with stencils and various Tim Holtz distress inks and Glimmer Mists then overstamped with a collection of Penny Black stamps........oh yeah, these are definitely all mine......... I couldn't resist using my favourite sentiment stamp inside and drew a freehand border round the edge.

I won't list all the stamps, but if anyone wants any specific codes please drop me a mail. The flowers are made from punches, meant to be carnations and are made up of as many layers you can get onto your brad really.......think I used about ten punched flowers........then made in the usual way.........shaded round the edges, spritzed with water to make the colours bleed and crumpled, then sprayed again with Glimmer Mist and they dry nice and rigid. This also fits the following challenges:

One Stitch at a Time = Bling it up (glimmers mists and crystals)

Pollycraft - Chipboard (the tabs and swirls)

Papercutz - Anything goes

Cute and elegant

Good morning everyone, hope you all had a good weekend.A quick couple of shares today, just to prove I am still doing a bit of crafting.

Both are using the stamps from the new Penny Black Christmas 2010 releases.......the whole range is on the Penny Black website and also under the whats new section at Sir Stampalot......I am told they have now shipped from the States and should be arriving at 'Stampalot Central' any day now.

This one is Penny Black 40-027 Warmest Wishes which I have stamped three times with versafine sepia and embossed with detail clear, coloured with Copics and decoupaged, then added some snow using JudiKins snow white glitter. The DP is Nitwits and I added some borders punched with Fiskars threading water with lace overlaid. The large flowers is punched from the same DP, scrunched up and spritzed with Glimmer Mist dazzling diamonds, a couple of pre made flowers and swirls cut with a Sizzix die through the Big Shot, buttons, cord and pins to embellish.

This card is for the following challenges:

Penny Black Saturday - Sketch
Lets Ink it Up - Use yellow somewhere

My second card used Penny Black 4112K To follow the star........I absolutely adore this one and have already used it ore that any of the other newbies and I think the trend will continue as it is so versatile.

I created a background using Big and Juicy hydrangea by placing the ink pad onto a craft mat, spritzing liberally with water then squidging a piece of cardstock into it. When dry I stamped the image with versafine back and embossed with detail clear, 'roughed up' the edges with scissors and embossed with detail gold. I also added a touch of gold embossing to the Kings using the same powder and an ink pen.

The edge of the card is stamped with Penny Black 3857H Footnote and again embossed with detail gold. Cord is tied across the card and a small disk made using several layers of UTEE and stamping into it with the script part of the main image stamp. Finally I laid a piece of beaded cord across the top of the image.

This card is for the following challenges:

Stamptacular Sunday - Two's better than one
Daring Cardmakers - Material Girl....take inspiration from a piece of clothing - the little cocktail number below courtesy of Monsoon - awful picture but it really is purple with gold and the jacket is gold as well beleive it or not, you would never know from the picture.

Molly Ballerina and Polkadoodle flowers

Good Morning everyone from a rather wet East Anglia........where is Summer ? It's absolutely freezing.

Things are setting down in puppy land and we even got some sleep last night, so keeping everything crossed that I might get to do some crafting today.

A coupe of things I need to tell you about:

Penny Black at Allsorts are looking for new Design Team members, so if you love you PB's and would like to be considered for the team pop over to the challenge blog now.

And if you love your colouring and want to win a fantastic set of the new AquaMarkers from Letraset worth £79.99, then check it out over at the Polkadoodles challenge blog where you can find out how to enter. Closing date for entries is 31st August 2010.

It's the lovely Kirsten's turn to host the new theme at Allsorts this week and she would like to see paper Piercing or Paper Piecing on our work.

My card uses Ballerina Molly from the new Molly Blooms stamps by Clare available exclusively from Sir Stampalot.

I used Copics on her face, arms and legs and for her clothes some DP from my stash which I also used to create the back panel using Martha Stewart around the page 3 dot scallop. The three roses are made from the same DP, punched leaves and butterfly, a beaded pin and the letters are cut on the Big Shot with a Sizzix die.

I am also entering this card for:

Cooking up with Katie - Flowery pink square, use flowers, pink and a square

Creative Card Crew - Cute and Girly

And my second card it my DT project for this weeks new challenge at Polkadoodles where it's Stacey's turn to host the challenge and she wants us to print onto acetate or vellum.

I used the Paper Boutique CD, re-sized the flowers and printed onto acetate, which I them matted onto white cardstock and fixed with brads. I printed more of the same flowers onto white cardstock, cute out and glittered the edges. The swirly leaf is cut from a Sizzix die and the card edging Martha Stewart embossed scallop. The sentiment is from the unmounted stamp set.

I thought I would also enter this card into this weeks Creative Cottage challenge as they would also like to see acetate used on projects.

Summer Days and Puppy Update

Before I tell you about our new challenge at Allsorts this week which is being hosted by Debs, a reminder about our new challenge Penny Black at Allsorts where there are three prizes on offer this month. If you have not already been over to the challenge blog please pop over and check out this months theme. And as well as the prizes on offer, one lucky person will be selected to join us as a Guest Designer for September.

This week Debs would like to see "Summer Days" depicted on your projects. So many options here, flowers, bright sunny days, the seaside, show us what it means to you.

An easel card from me, still a firm favourite. My main image is the super sweet Penny Black 4076K Gift of Flowers which I have coloured with Copics and decoupaged with three layers. The DP is Magnolia and the border punched from bazzil cardstock using Martha Steward garden trellis. The leaves in the corner are a sizzix die run through the Big Shot and some flower added. A couple of tags with Rubber Tapestry sentiments stamped on them, some cord and Magnolia gem leaves on the bottom.

This card is also for the following challenges:

Charisma - Pink

Project Tuesday - Easel card

Karens Doodles UK - Shaped card

For Fun Challenge - Favourite colouring technique

Stampman - Anything goes

Crafty Calendar - Summer

By the Cute and Girly - Warm summer days

And at Polkadoodles there is some exciting news that we will be announcing on Friday 23rd July about our totally fantastic competition we are hosting...we have some fantastic prizes in conjunction with a leading UK manufacturer, so make sure you check it out, you really will not want to miss out.

And this weeks theme has been set by Lou who wants us to use the Fairy Flutterby stamps to create our whole project, not even and papers. This is the sort of card I love making and started by creating a resist background with butterfly and flower stamps from Meechele Fairy Flutterby set using distress inks. The main image is Fairy Flutterby Gracie, coloured with Copics and decoupaged, Martha Stewart border and corner, flowers and pearls to embellish.

This is also my entry for the following challenges:

Flutterby Wednesday - three layers (fairy has three and butterflies on background)

C.R.A.F.T - Children

STampavie - Anything goes

Creatalicious - 3D (fairy)

And finally another peek at our new babies, Lily using Daisy as a pillow. Almost four weeks old in this picture and we collect them on 14th August after our holiday when they will be eight weeks old.

Birthday Lillies and cards

Good morning folks, sorry no post for a day or so, been back having another op on my mouth. I really thought all that was over last year, but the problem spread so there was no option. Still rather sore with the stitches so not a lot of talking from my end.......what a relief for my whole household I hear them say.

So a bit of a catch up on what I should have posted yesterday along with today's postings so this might be a bit of a long one. First up is this weeks new Polkadoodle's challenge where it's my turn to host the theme and I am going with "Something for a Boy" as it's Birthday time in our house this weekend, today it's my hubby's, myself and Grandson's tomorrow and Monday one of our granddaughters, nothing like cramming them all in together is there.

I have crated a card for my daughter to give to our grandson using the Paper Boutique CD. The template is all designed for you and even coloured, all you have to do is print it off, cut it out and layer it up, easy peasy. I printed a few extra stars, added some eyelets and fibres to the spine and stickles to the stars.

Next a reminder about our new Penny Black at Allsorts challenge which kicks off on Thursday. If you have not already been over and added your name to make sure you don't miss anything what are you waiting for, there will be super prizes from Penny Black themselves and one or two other exciting things lined up as well........I will be doing a post on the challenge blog in the next day or so to tell you a bit more about that.

And finally our brand new weekly challenge at Allsorts where it's the lovely Kirsten's turn to host the theme where she would like us to use "Embossing" on our projects.

I have used Hero Arts K5393 Lily Silhouette as my main image which I stamped with versamark and embossed with detail clear onto a piece of red cardstock which I had stamped with Hero H2364 Old French Writing using Tim Holtz distress ink soot black, then bleached out the image.

The spotty DP is from Cosmo Cricket and the cream panel was run through the Big Shot using a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The swirls are from a Sizzix die and the flower made with punches and the beady leaves are from Magnolia. Finally ribbon threaded down one side........don't ask me why, but whenever I use ribbon like this I think of French Follies.......I think it must be the basque image.

Quilled Flowers

Hope everyone is OK..........sorry I've been a bit quiet, still playing catch up at work after a week away for the wedding and craft has had to take a bit of a back seat.

But I have managed to create one card using the brand new Cuttlebug Quilled Daisy Kit newly arrived at Sir Stampalot. The first delivery sold out double quick but more are on their way. I have always fancied having a go at quilling, but never quite got round to buying all the bits and pieces you need, so when I saw this set had to give it a go and so pleased I did because it is super easy. The set contains all the dies to cut the petal, stamens, central spin and leaves, plus has a quilling took and some wire stems.

I randomly stamped a card with Hero Arts F5942 leaf swirl and K5058 friendship writing using Tim Holtz bundled sage and Victorian Velvet. The Crate Paper DP down the side is punched with Martha Steward embossed butterflies and I used the little cut outs to decorate the finished card. I made two flowers with the quilling set using the same DP and created swirly stems with Sizzix dies run through the Big Shot. The little sentiment cut on Nesties is an unmounted one of which I have no idea of the make and I coloured some core with Copics to match.

This card is my entry for this weeks Tuesday Taggers who have the theme "all that Blooms", Everybody Art Challenges who want to see "Things with Wings" and A Spoonful of Sugar whose new theme is "Floral Delights".

Going retro

Morning peeps, Friday means a new challenge at Polkadoodes and Lou is our host again, this week with the theme of "Modern/Retro with some stamping".

Retro is one that always throws me a bit as peoples ideas of it seem to vary, but I have come up with what it means to me. The background pink and black roses paper is from Love and Romance CD and the flowers from All Around CD, simply cut our, distressed round the edges with Tim Holtz black soot and mounted onto a Nestie circle which I ran through the Big Shot using the Cuttlebug roses folder. The spotty label is also from the All Around CD and the stamped sentiment Penny Black 3851E.

Wedding Day

No my card has nothing to do with weddings, but when this pops up courtesy of Mr Blogger, we should be readying ourselves on the west coast of France for this afternoons wedding of our second eldest son.

It's likely to be a long day as they do weddings a bit different in France. First the Town Hall for the formalities, then the Church for the wedding ceremony - which is apparently about an hour long service, then a cocktail party and at 7pm the wedding breakfast. And that's not the end of it because after a night of music and entertainment, Sunday lunchtime everyone reconvenes for a brunch party.

The day has seemed forever coming, hours of making wedding stationery, dress fittings and all nature of arrangements then suddenly here we are. Hopefully the weather will be lovely and the happy couple will have a wonderful day.

Now I had better just tell you about the new challenge at Allsorts where the lovely Debs has set us the theme of Black and White plus one.

An old favourite style and sentiment which is Penny Black 2695K Dance very simply stamped with versafine black and embossed with detail clear onto a background distressed with Tim Holtz Victorian Velvet. The mat was cut with a Nestie though the Big Shot and the edges stamped with flowers from Magenta CS043 and embossed with detail clear before distressing with the TH ink.

The writing down the side is another well used favourite Hero Arts H2354 and the corner flourish Penny Black 3857H Footnote. A border punched with Martha Stewart doily lace from Fancy Pants DP which I also used to make the roses, a stick pin, bead and cord to finish.

Bird in a circle and messy Muts

Good morning all, this one is scheduled so everything crossed it will pop up on time whilst I am at hospital having the dreaded camera tests.

One card, three challenges, the first Everybody Art challenges who have a sketch this week.......I was going to pass as it's circles and we know about my crafty phobia of them, but decided a challenge is a challenge. So one in the bin, the second completed, although not convinced I like the end product. I hope the flowers fit in with A Spoonful of Sugar challenge who are going Cute and Girly and finally Papertake Weekly who want to see "Shiny Sparkly and Special" and there's a good bit of sparkle to be had on this one.

The image Hero Arts CG181 Bird in a Circle dropped through my letterbox this morning from Sir Stamaplot, it's a cling stamp from the new releases but didn't not come in with the first deliveries so I have been patiently waiting for it to arrive. I think it is so cute.

The image is actually a square one, but I cut it into a circle with a Nestie through the Big Shot and layered it several times. I stamped the image three times and decoupaged after colouring the flowers and bird with Marvy pens and spritzing with Glimmer Mist pearl. The little birdie in the corner is punched with my new Martha Stewart woodland branch and flower patch set.

The sentiment is Hero Arts CL278, manipulated a bit to achieve more of a circle shape. The large flower is another of the beautiful Magnolia ones with some glitter added to the edges and I did the same with the smaller ones which are from my stash. The swirls are cut from glitter card with a Sizzix die. The final bit of bling is the gemstone brad.

Just had to share this one of Bernie and George

Wedding bells

Enfys would like to see dimension and texture on our work this week at Polkadoodles, so a perfect opportunity to have a go at this fab wedding cake on the Paper Boutique CD.

I was amazed how quick and easy it was to cut out and assemble and here I have gone with a real whopper A4 card. Six layers in total, liberal helpings of glitter which I added to the scrolls and patterns on the design using a quickie glue pen, glitter card plus some butterflies and the sentiment cut with a sizzix die through the Big Shot.

Golden roses

Hope everyone is having a good Sunday, here in the Fens the rain has stopped at last and the suns making a reasonable effort, but judging by the clouds it won't be around too long.

And it's the last day of the Premiership, I'll miss my footie like crazy, but we do have the world cup coming up.......not sure if that is good or not, but we can but hope for positive things. An yesterdays 20/20 match was exciting so more of that to come this week.

A card to share for this weeks Penny Black challenge where they have a sketch......and a perfect chance to use some of the new goodies from Sir Sampalot on one of my sample cards. As usual when I saw the circles I freaked, I always struggle with them, heavens knows why. Also a couple of new ones for me, well at least it's a long while since I entered so thought it was time. They are Flutterby Wednesday, plus two both celebrating their Birthday and have that the, Stamp Something and Simon Says.

I drew my colour inspiration from this pretty Cosmo Cricket DP and coloured my main image Penny Black PB40-021 For Goodness Sake with Copics. I stamped the image three times and decoupages and masked the base image to stamp the fence which is from Magnolia Tilda collection. The cobbles, flowers and grasses and Art Impressions. The large rose is one of the scummy new ones from Magnolia........have you seen the colours, how to choose.......well you can't really, so it's probably no surprise I have a bag of them sitting in my craft room along with the lovely matching beady leaves.

The sentiment is Hobby Art GR435. I cut the second circle on the sketch from a doily with a Nestie, the middle panel was run through the Big Shot with a Cuttlebug folder and the border are Martha Stewart doily lace. Some lace, ribbon, gems and pounced butterflies to finish.

Floral Frenzy

Good Morning peeps, Friday again. Not been too much creativity or posting from me this week as it's been a bit of a funny few days due to a rather horrid event crafty wise.

Something I though none of us could or would stoop to, became reality when we discovered this week that somebody had photographed a display card and passed it off publicly as their own DT work. The true artiste of that work is naturally devastated and I am sure the rest of blogland join me in sending you huge, huge hugs. As I said to you yesterday, the plagiariser recognised excellent work, but small consolation I know to be treated so dreadfully.

Addendum to original post of this morning: Louise has just contacted me again and asked that I reveal that it was her card here (second on post) that was used. As a friend I am happy to do this for her and as you can see it was published on her blog last September, also here at about the same time and has been on display on the Tilda stand since that time.

Now today's new Polkadoodle challenge and this weeks it's my turn to host the challenge and surprise surprise there are flowers involved.......the theme is.........Summer Blossoms.

I'm still so enjoying playing with the new All Around and Everywhere CD and have used the blossom tree from the Floral Frenzy section, enlarging it slightly before printing off and cutting with a Nestie, then painting with Crackle Glaze. I made roses with paper from the Floral Fantasy section of the same CD and cut some swirls with a Sizzix die through the Big Shot.

Blossoms and Blooms

Hello all, hope you are all having a good Tuesday.

My latest crafty exploits have been my attempts to prefect the tunnel card, well at least my version. A long way to go still but they say practice makes perfect so two for the price of one her. At least it's given me the opportunity to get some of the long overdue samples done for Sir Stampalot in the process and the second on also fits this weeks new ABC challenge with theme theme T is for.

The first one uses an unmounted Magenta set CS-043 which has some really lovely corner elements as well as flowers and fauna. I cut an aperture in the front of the card with Nesties through the Big Shot. I used the same piece for the dangling element but cut it a size smaller then stamped with versamark black and embossed with detail clear and coloured with a mixture of Copics and Marvy pens, stamped the flowers a second time coloured and spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl and decoupages. I fixed the main image in place with an eyelet and jump rings. The DP is Kaiser and that's about the card really, oh and some dots of liquid pearls, but actually quite quick to make.

My second card.........sorry the piccies a bit dark despite sunshine and taken in the garden on the gazebo steps.........was created in exactly the same way, but this time I fixed the main image to the rear section of the card. The image is Hero Arts S5362 Dogwood which I absolutely fell in love with when I saw Lynda using it on some of her wonderful artwork........I'm sure they kept this stamp hidden from me at Stampaot because I really had not seen it before, but Janice soon put things right, hence the samples.

The flowers are decoupaged after stamping onto some Kaiser DP, which I also used to cut the corners with a Sizzix die and the spotty revers on the back of the card. The thank you sentiment is Art Impression G463 which I fixed onto one of the inside folds.

Sunflowers

Before I launch into the card I have to share with you today, a quick reminder that you still have until noon Wednesday if you have not already entered our Stampalot challenge where this months prize is a Cricut Create machine.

So a card for two challenges, Penny Black have a recipe: three flowers, two buttons and a bow. I did have a bit of a senior moment after it was all put together because theoretically there are more than three flowers, but checking the DT samples it looks as though the three flowers are embellies rather than those of the image, so hopefully it's OK. And you PB girls might need your specs for the buttons, but they are there as part of the foliage growing up the trellis........artistic licence OK ?

And the second challenge is this weeks Cupcake challenge whose them is "Don't be Square" no square cards allowed. So I should be OK here, the base cards is a 5x7 with a shaped top section which I created on the Cricut welding a square and oval together on the DS using Plantin Schoolbook.

My DP is Kaiser, the punch Martha Stewart garden trellis and the image Penny Black 3874K Hello Sunflowers stamped twice and decoupaged onto a background stamped with Penny Black 2410K Penmanship. The image is coloured with Marvy pens and spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl to make the flower heads pliable. My Hubby commented "Sunflowers are yellow".......my answer - "more artistic licence" and anyhow, I had to try and make them match the three ready made ones.

The swirl is a Sizzix die, the mats Nesties all cut through the Big Shot and the three sunflowers were lurking in a box from I don't know where or when.......just proves, never throw anything away.

Circle of Butterflies

Saturday morning again and that means we have a new challenge for you at Allsorts. And this week Emma is our host who has provided a picture of a rather nice bracelet for her theme Photo Inspiration.

And I was so pleased to be able to take the picture of my card in the garden amidst one of the Spirea bushes that is full of beautiful heady blossoms. the pictures a bit lopsided, but you can't reason with nature and the way the branches lay. But what beautiful weather we have had this week and apart from the Camellias which are suffering from the nightly frosts, everything else is bursting into leaf and blossom. This really is my favourite time of year and I can't wait for the lilacs to come into flower filling the air with their perfume.

So the challenge.........I admit I got a bit confused with this one at first.....I know, par for the course and spent a morning making a lovely project based on a photograph. Silly me, I had not seen Emma's bracelet picture. No problem though as you get to see that one next Saturday as it fits that theme nicely........of course I can't say what it is yet, you have to wait and see.

It's no secret that I love playing with anything remotely connected to butterflies so it was no hassle making a card with them and I literally followed the circle of butterflies on Emma's bracelet. I created a background by inking a silicone sheet with Brilliance thyme, orchid and silver, spritzing with water and squishing a piece of carstock around in it. I them stamped Hero Arts H2356 Old French Writing using black stayzone, but used the third stamping to achieve a subtle image. I inked Penny Black 4040K Sparklers with Tim Holtz distress inks peeled paint and Victorian velvet, added some yellow Marvy pen to the centre of the flower heads and spritzed with water before stamping to achieve a watercolour effect.

I placed punched fern leaves around the edges of the Nestie circles, then some pounced butterflies. The background DP is Crate Paper, the corners are made using Martha Stewart around the page eyelet lace and finally pearls and gems added to embellish.

A box of Spring flowers and butterflies

This week at Allsorts it is the turn of our new teamie Fleur to host her first theme which is "In Stitches". The DT have all been given images from this weeks sponsor Fred she Said, there were some lovely images and as I could not make up my mind used all four of the spring flower, one on each side of the box I made from bazzil cardstock.

I repeat stamped inside and out of the box with one of the floral images from Penny Black 30-048 using Memento lettuce. I printed off two of each of the images, coloured with Copics and decoupaged, adding glitter to the snowdrops. I was a bit stumped where the stitching would fit at first, but decided to chain stitch down some of the flower stems which adds definition.

Each image has been matted onto a coordinating piece of Bazzil cut with a Nestie through the Big Shot. I stamped three butterflies from the same Penny Black set, coloured them with Marvy pens, and spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl and stuck them to some acetate strips so they bob when the lid is removed. Finally, added some punched flowers over the base.