Hatter Rose Candy Bag

Today's project is a little gift bag of candy with a pretty tag.

I stamped the lovely Hatter Rose designed by Che Gilson for Queen Kat Designs using Versamark ink, then added some WOW! Ruby Romance embossing glitter before heat setting it. The finish is really glittery IRL, but this doesn't show up too well in the pic sadly.

Hatter Rose is a perfect size to create a pretty gift tag and after embossing I cut the image out using a Marianne's die before attaching the tag to the bag of candy using a length of sparkly red ribbon.

Quick, simple and yet it makes a pretty gift, ideal for many occasions.

Thanks for dropping by to check out today's project, hope to see you again soon when I'll have another to share with you.

Fairy 'Nuff !!

When I went to ArtStamps at Newbury with my crafty pals on 3 July, I was drawn like 'a moth to a flame' by the Lavinia Stamps stand.  I could quite easily have done a full sweep of the stand and picked up one of each of these delightful stamps.  In fact I think I may have had almost all of them in my basket at one point as I worked my way around the stand.  Of course, common sense kicked in before I got to the till, but I did spend rather a lot of money even so - oopsie !!  So far I have resisted adding any more to my collection from their website, but I don't know how long my resistance will last !!!

I've been playing with some of my new stamps and today's project is my first effort.  I can see how I could have done it all so much better, but I am reasonably happy with the finished result, what do you think?  Practice, practice, practice is called for I feel. 

I started with a piece of cream cardstock the same size as my square base card, used Antique Linen Distress Ink all over then used it to stamp some of the lovely lantern flowers (that's what I call them anyway, I don't know what the actual name is !) to create a pale background design.  I then used Memento Rich Cocoa ink to stamp the fairy image, the stars scattered around the background and the tiny toadstools and grasses at the bottom.  I also used the RC ink to distress the edges.  There is clear Spica Glitter Pen on the flower head on her staff and her wings, but Spica never shows up well on photographs - IRL they are quite sparkly.

I hope to have more Lavinia projects to share with you at a later date.

Thanks for stopping by today.

I decided to try something different for today's project using the lovely Nefertari stamp designed by Myka Jelina for Queen Kat Designs.

I stamped the image with Versamark on to some SU! Night of Navy cardstock then used WOW! Embossing Glitter to heat emboss it. IRL the embossing is really glittery, sadly it just isn't showing up in the pic. The image is cut out using a narrow oval nestie and attached over a C6 Kraft base card. The small circular embellies were punched from scraps of the SU! cardstock.

I added Golden Rod Stickles around the edge of the image layer and around the small circles at the bottom.

This is a simple, but in my view, elegant layout - Nefertari is such a lovely image and is perfect for heat embossing.

Thanks for dropping by to check out today's project, hope to see you again soon when I'll have another project to share with you.

Going Round in Circles.....

Challenge  #173 on Cute Card Thursday this week is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp and our theme is 'Going Round in Circles' - we want to see at least one circle or circular embellie on your project.

The stamp set I pulled out for my DT card is called 'Make a Wish' from Debbie Moore Designs and I coloured the images with Copics.  There's Diamond Stickles added to the dandelion heads and around the edges for lots of subtle sparkle, although it isn't showing up well on the piccie sadly.

The bp is from the Pink Petticoat Vintage Rose Collection and I used a plain circle and petite scalloped circle nestie dies, SU! Night of Navy and Garden Green cardstock for layering.  I then edged a piece of pink cardstoc,k which matches the tiny roses on the bp, with a Martha Stewart border punch.  My final circular elements are the gems added to the bottom left. 

Add a link to your project over on the CCT blog for a chance to win this week's prize. 

Thanks for dropping by today, hope you've enjoyed your visit.

Princess Jasmine Honey

We've got a new challenge starting today over on I ♥ Promarkers and our prize sponsor this week is Sassy Studio Designs.  For Challenge #74 we have a recipe to work with.  To enter the challenge, create your project including the recipe elements and don't forget to colour with Promarkers.

1 ribbon

2 brads/buttons/gems

2 background papers

I used the lovely Princess Jasmine Honey digi from SSD for my DT project, coloured her with Promarkers and cut her out with a nestie die.  My two background papers, on the base card and the layer behind the image were scraps I found in my stash and I cut a layer with the same die set from SU! Early Espresso cardstock then embossed it with a tiny hearts embossing folder to add under the patterned layer.

I tied my length of gold seam binding ribbon around the shaped layers and tied a bow at the right before adding the image layer and the two flower gems were in my tub of miscellaneous gems.  I added some Glossy Accents to the gem in her headband, earrings and necklace as a finishing touch.

I'm looking forward to seeing your entries for this week's challenge, leave a direct link to your project on the ILPM blog to be in with a chance to win this week's prize.

Hatter Rose with Bunting

Happy Tuesday Peeps ! I've got another new release stamp from Queen Kat Designs to share with you today - she's called 'Hatter Rose' and was designed by the very talented Che Gilson.

I coloured Rose with Copics before cutting her out using a set of nesties and adding over a slightly larger circular layer. The lacey layer was cut with a Marianne's die.

I stamped and cut out a single rose image from one of the Myka Jelina monthly kits from QKD and added Glossy Accents over this and the roses in the main image. There's purple Stickles added around the edge of the image layer.

I created the bunting by cutting out small triangular pieces from some paper scraps in my stash, attached them to a length of crafters twine and added more of the purple Stickles along the top. The bunting is secured using a couple of the yummy purple staples I found recently for a bargain price.

Rather than using background paper for my card, I created a patterned background using a scrap of sequin waste and some Distress Inks. I added another couple of scraps of the sequin waste under the image - it's lovely shiny purple - perfect !

That's it from me for today thanks for taking the time to pop in to see today's project - have a great day whatever you have planned.

I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside.......

I've been out at a crop most of the day, so missed the launch of this week's Less is More Challenge this morning - #23 One Layer Card with the theme of 'Something with Legs'.   As soon as I got home, I just had to sit down and create an entry.

I used a set of stamps from Crafty Individuals, created an oval mask using a nestie then Distress Inks to make a one layer background .  I didn't want to achieve a smooth blend of colours, but more the effect of a patchy sky and sea, with just a hint of foreground sand, so used  Broken China and Faded Jeans, with Scattered Straw for the sand.

The Bathing Belle (with legs), sentiment and seagulls (with legs) were stamped with Memento Paris Dusk ink.

Thanks for popping by to check out my card, it's great to see you !

Just Tagging Along.....

No card today, I've got a tag to share with you instead. 

I started my tag during the fabby crafting weekend with my pals recently.  I had taken with me a pack of mountboard tags I'd bought at the Art Shop in Kelly Bray recently and thought it would be fun for each of us to start with a blank tag and compare how they all turned out. 

That was a good plan, but I took a little too long with another project so didn't actually finish it during the weekend !  Since getting home I have finished it off, so it will be the first time my crafting pals Kathy and Lauren have seen the finished article.  Hope they like it !

I added Distress Inks over the whole base tag, then used a few stamps from my recently acquired set of stamps by Nit Wit.  I love the homespun style of these images and can see that I'll use them a lot.  I doodled around the edge with an orange Spica Glitter Pen and finished off the edges with my Krylon gold pen.

I coloured the images with Copics and added lots of Glossy Accents and Stickles.  The larger butterfly was stamped on cardstock, coloured with Copics, cut out and attached to the tag with some Pinflair Glue under the wings to give them dimension.  The pretty ribbon/thread was in my stash and I thought the colours in it were ideal to match the colours I'd used on the design.

Normally on a saturday I have a Less is More submission to share with you, today I am off to spend the day at a local crop run by my lovely pal Linda, who is also a Stamping Up! demonstrator and has some new SU! goodies for me to collect.  So, my LIM project will have to be delayed until later in the day.  I haven't even had chance to check out what this week's theme is yet, so that will be something to look forward to when I get home later.  

How does your garden Bloom & Grow

During my lovely crafting weekend with my pals Kathy and Lauren I came across a couple of sets of Cling Stamps designed by Helz Cuppleditch, I just had to have them of course !   I got 'Bloom & Grow' and 'Fairy Cakes'.

I used the Bloom & Grow set for today's card, isn't she a cutie and she comes with lovely accessories like the flowerpot, seed packets, a watering can and a pair of gardening gloves - great for building a scene.

The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured with Copics.  I stamped two sets of sunflowers and decoupaged them, although it doesn't seem to show in the piccie.  The sentiment is by LOTV, background paper by Papermania and I added the image layer over some SU! Not Quite Navy cardstock.

I've entered my card for the Craftbubble Craft Mad and Loving It sketchie challenge this week.  I selected the colours dark blue and rich yellow from the inspirational pictures for the design.

 

Racey Lacey !

Happy Thursday dear blogging friends, hope you're having a great one.

Today we have a new challenge starting on Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #172 with the theme  'Racey Lace'.  We want to see lace on your creations and our prize sponsor for this week is The Stamp Shoppe.  Hop over to the blog to check out all the fabulous creations from the DT for inspiration.

For my DT card I decided to focus on the 'Racey' part of the theme with just a touch of  added lace !! 

This Kenny K image 'Bodacious Bev' was a free digi image on the CD included with Complete Cardmaking magazine.  I have this card in mind for someone who has a 'special' birthday coming up real soon !

I coloured Bev with Copics, cut her out with a plain oval Nestie, then added this over a scalloped oval cut from shiny black cardstock.  I used a Martha Stewart border punch to add a lacey edging to the pink strip she is sitting on before adding a length of pretty black lace over the top. 

She has Glossy Accents on her boots, but this isn't showing up too well on the main pic, so I've included a close up shot which shows the glossy effect a little more clearly.

The sentiment is from Crafty Individuals and cut out with a heart die from a Nellie's Choice set.  The lacey pink heart was cut using a large die from the same set.  Background paper was from my stash and I added pink Stickles around the edges of the image layer and heart shaped sentiment.

I'm looking forward to seeing your creations for this challenge, hop over to the CCT blog and add a direct link to your card to be in with a chance of winning this week's prize.  Let's see what you make of this theme!

Flowers Intoxicate Me....

I was sorting out some of my stamps today, I'm trying to catalogue them all but it's proving a marathon task !  I came across this gorgeous Penny Black 'Blush' stamp and as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to create another entry for this week's Less is More Challenge - Shades of Blue - using it. 

I stamped the image on to a C6 deckle edge base card using Memento Bahama Blue ink, then added the sentiment from Queen Kat Designs stamped with Memento Paris Dusk ink.

A very Clean and Simple card, but I like the freshness of it and it will go into my box of  'any occasion' cards awaiting an appropriate insert/stamped greeting.

I rarely post more than once a day, but wanted to make sure I entered this for the challenge.  I'll be back tomorrow with my DT card for the latest Cute Card Thursday challenge - hope you'll drop by again.

Clean & Simple

We've  got a Clean & Simple (CAS) Challenge on I ♥ Promarkers  for #73 this week and our prize is sponsored by Joanna Sheen.

I struggled with CAS cards in the past, but recently I've become more comfortable with them.  It is so hard to resist the temptation to add just a little more to a design !   Careful placement of the elements is the secret to achieving balance and simplicity in your CAS design.

When we talk about 'white space' on CAS cards it doesn't necessarily have to be white, just clean open spaces.   For my DT card I opted to use a kraft base card on which I stamped the coffee/tea stain image, from Queen Kat Designs, using Memento Rich Cocoa ink - I suspect that most of us have images just like this one on our crafting table !!  The Relax sentiment is from Lili of the Valley and the teacup image is a freebie stamp from Craft Stamper Magazine.

I don't often use the masking technique but I knew that I wanted the three teacup images to look as though they were really stacked on top of each other - I hope I achieved this, what do you think?

The image was cut out with a plain rectangle nestie and distressed around the edges with Old Paper and Frayed Burlap Distress Ink.  The image was, of course, coloured with Promarkers.

That's it from me today, it's over to you now, let us see your CAS creations.  Add a link to your card on the ILPM blog and we'll drop over to check it out, plus you will be entered into the draw for this week's prize of £10 to spend in the Joanna Sheen Store.

Nefertari

Welcome to Tuesday, the first one in a new month. I've got a new release stamp to share with you today, the lovely Nefertari designed by Myka Jelina is now available from the Queen Kat Designs  Store.

To my mind, this image is so lovely and detailed that I didn't want to detract from it in any way. I've kept my card design very simple, coloured the image with Copics and added it over a couple of layers of plain cardstock to reflect the colours used in the image.

The colours purple and gold always say Egypt to me and so I just added a length of gold coloured leather trim and some gold half beads on the coloured layers. There are also touches of gold Spica Glitter Pen on parts of the image.

I hope you've enjoyed today's project, leave a comment if you care to and do drop by again, it's lovely to see you.

Happy Crafting !

Shades of Blue - LIM #22

I'm late getting my Less is More submission in for this week's challenge - I have been away since friday morning on a faberooney crafting weekend with two pals and two more joined in the fun on sunday - Yay !!

Thanks so much Kathy for being 'the Hostess with the Mostest' (and her lovely hubby Steve - I just don't know how he coped with three crazy crafters for the whole weekend !)  and to Lauren for allowing me to 'make you' acquire things you never knew you needed !!!   It was so great that both Cherry and Debs could join us on sunday too.  I just had a ball the whole weekend and although I'm totally worn out today, it was Soooo.... worth it !

We managed to fit in a little craft stash acquisition foray on friday afternoon and a couple of sets of stamps by NitWit just happened to jump into my bag - oops! - and the fish pedicure was an amazing experience!  To finish off a brilliant day we met up with another pal for a yummy meal in the evening - great to meet you at last Rosie. 

On saturday we got down to the serious business of actually crafting and this is when I created my LIM entry.  I had taken minimum (!!) stash with me as I had to haul everything on and off trains, but did have some appropriate bits and bobs with me thankfully.

The image is Star Girl from Queen Kat Design Stamps and the sentiment is from Dark Room Door.  I felt the two just worked well together.  The patterned bp in shades of blue is from a set of doublesided papers from Costco. 

After stamping on white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, I coloured Star Girl with  Copics and added some Spica Glitter Pen to the stars to give them a little twinkle.

That's it from me today, I've got two of my local crafting pals coming round this afternoon for a session and my lovely Dad - who is also a crafter - is still staying with me, so should be a nice creative afternoon.  I've still to unpack my craft tote from the weekend and find homes for the few items I couldn't resist buying at the ArtStamps show at Newbury Racecourse yesterday, so I'd better get a wiggle on ! 

Hope you are having a great day and thanks for dropping by.

I should be the Artstamps Show at Newbury Racecourse when you read this, meeting up with lots of lovely crafting pals.  So this posting is prescheduled to go live while I'm away - fingers crossed it appears OK. 

This card was specially commissioned by a pal who wanted a Silver Jubilee card for her local Priest who celebrated 25 years in the Priesthood this week. 

I decided that the CAS style would be perfect and used an Elusive Images stamp for the design.  This lovely cross is actually part of a Christmas image which I stamped and heat embossed with silver embossing powder before cutting out.  The congratulations sentiment is from a set by Dark Room Door and again embossed in silver.  The finishing touch was the addition of some clear gems to the design at the four points of the cross and in the centre.  I created a personalised message for the inside and my pal was really pleased with the finished card.

I'll be back home tomorrow and hopefully will have another project to share with you then.

Tissue Box Cover

I've got another non-card project to share with you today.

Way back in February this year a group of my crafting pals and I travelled to Accrington and did a workshop at Topaz Crafts with Rachael of Dark Room Door Stamps.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable workshop and during a bit of retail therapy in Topaz's store, I picked up a pack of supplies to make tissue box covers.  I decided it was about time I had a go at one and today's project is my first attempt.



I used Distress Inks in Bundled Sage, Pumice
Stone and Walnut Stain to decorate the white base card and some sets of DRD stamps.

Here's a closer view of one of the sides of the cover, I wanted to create the effect of the cabin nestling in the countryside.

This is a view of one of the shorter ends of the cover, I added a different sentiment to the other side.

It was fun playing with the Distress Inks and getting messy and the various DRD foliage stamps were ideal for building up a scene.

Hope you like it, I shall be trying another one of these covers real soon, maybe using some different colours.

I'm away for a crafty play weekend with pals, so have pre-scheduled this to post on Saturday morning, hope it works OK !!!  Tomorrow (Sunday) we are planning to go to Artstamps at Newbury Racecourse and fingers crossed we'll be meeting a few more crafty pals there - it promises to be a FUN day !! 

Thanks for dropping by, I may have piccies to share of our weekend's frolics later !