Sunday fun ...

Good evening!! Another weekend done and dusted ... I wish they lasted a little longer!  Luckily I've had time for crafting today - I decided the ironing could wait!! 

I started with paper crafting and then moved on to textiles!

The first a card:

I need to get on with my Christmas cards ... I need to up the production otherwise Christmas will be here and the cards wont be!!  This is a simple card totally made with die cuts and coloured card plus a little Wink of Stella for added sparkle.

I was inspired by the design and layout of the card to be CASEd for the new challenge at "Less is More"

I used:

STAMPlorations - CUTplorations 'Let it Snow'

Tonic - Snowflake dies

Enjoy!

Black, white and teal ...

I'm back to work later this week ... I'm not sure where the last six weeks have gone but they have whizzed by!  I've done so much but at the same time seem to have done very little ... I've spent a lot of time travelling around the UK leaving me very little time for crafting and my blog.  My blog seems to be very quiet ... very few visitors and very few comments but I guess if I'm not blogging regularly there is no new reason to visit!  I'm hoping to rectify this by finding time to blog more often!

So here we go ... my second post for September and a new card to share:

I created the background using multiple background and sentiment stamps.  Stamped and die cut the bird before adhering it to the card using foam tape for added dimension.  I added the sentiment in black to make it pop from the background.

I used:
STAMPlorations: For the Birds Stamp and matching die set
                            Trendy Birds
Simon Says Stamp: Happy 3x4 stamp set
Versfine Onyx Black
Distress Ink: Peacock Feathers

I'm entering the following challenges:

"Less is More" #379


Stamping Sensations September Challenge
"I spy with my little eye something beginning with B ..."

Enjoy!

AAA Cards ... Use a stencil ...

Sunday morning and time for a new challenge at AAA Cards and we would like you to use a stencil to create a card.

My original plan was to create a one layer card but, you know how it is, there was a spot of paint in the wrong place ...

I used some vibrant magenta acrylic paint to stencil the two flowers and then added a sketchy outline using a black marker.  I die cut a small label and stamped the sentiment and adhered it with foam adhesive.  Finally I added the panel to the card base.

I used:

STAMPlorations - Happy Flowers Large ARTplorations stencil

DecoArts Fluid Acrylic - Quinacridone Magenta

Simon Says Stamp - Happy stamp set

Clearly Besotted Journal It Die

Pitt Black Artist Pen

Fancy joining in with the challenge but need more inspiration?  Then check out the other designers over at AAA Cards.  I look forward to seeing all of your beautiful creations.

Enjoy!

More flowers ...

Another sunny day, another card to share:

I'm entering the following challenges:

Inkspirational #165


CAS Colours & Sketches #280


Enjoy!

AAA Cards Christmas in July ...

Yes, that's right ... 'Christmas in July' is the theme for the new challenge at AAA Cards ... our aim is to help and encourage you to get creating those all important Christmas cards.  Every year I promise myself that I will not leave my Christmas cards until the last minute and every year I seem to forget.  

So this year ... I've started with three cards!!  Same design just different colourways ... a simple and super CAS one layer card ... easily replicated with any Christmas image and small sentiment:

Apologies for the shadow ... I either have not enough light or too much!!

The third card is hiding!

I used:

STAMPlorations:  Yuletide Deer

UNIKO:  Simply Said

WOW:  White, gold and silver embossing powder

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

I hope I've inspired you to get out the Christmas stamps and start creating ... come December you'll be thanking AAA Cards for bringing you Christmas in July!!

Enjoy!

Birthday surprise ...

The design team at STAMPlorations have organised a very special surprise blog hop!  If you are a fan of STAMPlorations or visit my blog regularly you will know that for the whole of June we have been celebrating the company's birthday ... well today is extra special because we are celebrating Shery's birthday.  I'm delighted to be part of the surprise blog hop and have a card to share with you:

What better way is there to celebrate but to showcase one of the amazing stamps and dies from STAMPlorations.

I used:
STAMPlorations:  Dee's Artsy Impressions Bloom Sprays #1
                             Crazy Double Running Stitch Nesting Rectangles.

Check out STAMPlorations blog to see the other amazing designs from the rest of the team ... I just know you will not be disappointed!

Enjoy!

AAA Cards ... Use a Frame ...

Good Morning ... it is time for a new challenge at AAA Cards ... I hope you are all set to get involved.  This time we would like you to use a frame:

I've used two frames to 'spotlight' part of the image:

I stamped and heat embossed the flowers before water colouring with distress inks.  I then used some rectangle dies to create the frames which I adhered to the card using foam tape to add dimension.  I also stamped and heat embossed the sentiment.

I used:
STAMPlorations - dee's artsy impressions, Blossom Sprays #2
Distress Inks
Lawn Cuts - Stitched Rectangles

I hope that you will take the time to join in with the challenge ... if you need more inspiration then pop over to the blog and check out the amazing designs from the rest of the design team.

Enjoy!

STAMPlorations Birthday Celebrations ...

It is an exciting time this month at STAMPlorations as we are all celebrating their 5th Birthday and what a party we are having!  A chance for all to win some amazing prizes and to join in with the fun ... full details are available here. 

Every day the spotlight is on a member of the design team sharing some of their favourite projects alongside a new project ... and you are invited to choose a design and CASE it (Copy and Share Everything).   

Today it is my turn ... so here goes!!

First up is my newest creation:

I used:

STAMPlorations - French Marigold - Large
CUTplorations - Bloom Happy Coordinating Dies

Three of my favourites:

Originally featured on 7th March 2018

Originally featured on 4th November 2016

Originally featured on 30th August 2017

I would be flattered if you decided to CASE one of my cards ... to think that I have inspired you to get out your supplies and create would be amazing!!  

Remember to check out the full post over at STAMPlorations.

Enjoy!

AAA Cards ... 4th Birthday Bash ...

This is the start of any amazing challenge we are celebrating at AAA Cards!!  It's the challenges 4th Birthday - we have some fabulous sponsors joining in with the celebration by providing lots of amazing prizes.  To win all you need to do is join in with the fun and get creative - full details on how to participate are at the end of this post.

As always the first way to join in is to create a clean and simple card and link up to the challenge:

... and it will be no surprise that the theme is 'Happy Birthday'.  Need inspiring? How about this:

I used:

STAMPlorations - Bloomtangled ATC #1

Distress Inks - Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Candied Apple, Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch, Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet.

WOW Platinum Embossing Powder

UNIKO Simply Said

If this isn't enough inspiration then visit the blog and take a peak at the amazing projects from the rest of the team.

Remember I said we had lots of sponsors, well check this out:

... and here's how to join in:

Are you going to join in with the treasure hunt ... if you are then this list will help you:

Åsa
Bharati

Ceal
Cheryl
Elaine - you are here!
Jane

Ksenija
Lucie
Maaike
Melissa

Tracie

I hope you will join in with the bash ... the more you play the greater the chance that you will win!!

Enjoy!

STAMPlorations ... Things with Wings Reminder

I'm back to remind you about this month's STAMPlorations Blog Hop and Linky Parties ... have you joined in yet? Not to worry you still have time so hop on over to the blog and check it out.

I've really enjoyed making tags instead of cards recently as there are only so many cards that I need in my stash!  

The tag is die cut from a gelli print and machine stitched onto a piece of card.  I added washi tape and a strip of hessian to add more interest.  The birds were die cut four times and then adhered into a stack all to add dimension.  The sentiment was stamped and some lace added and the job was done!

I used:

STAMPlorations - For the Birds Stamp set

CUTplorations - For the Birds dies, Manilla Tags Nesting Dies

I love the "For the Birds" stamp set and the matching dies so much that I thought I would give you a bonus - just for visiting my blog!  This time I used the above supplies to create a card - clean and simple!

I hope you are inspired to join in ... remember there are prizes to be won!

Elaine

Butterflies ...

Back again for my second post of the day ... this time to share two cards for one challenge ... Twofer Card Challenge #5 ... as the name implies this challenge is all about creating two cards for different events and different designs using the same die or stamps.

If you follow my blog you will know of my obsession with gelli plate printing ... both of my cards use a gelli print and two coordinating butterfly dies.

Apologies for the fly in the top right corner ... it is not part of the design!!

For this card I die cut the solid butterfly out of the card and then inlaid a butterfly cut from a gelli print into the opening.  Finally I die cut the coordinating intricate butterfly and attached it by the body leaving the wings free to add dimension.

The fly was camera shy by the time I took this photograph!

For this card I cut a section out of the card before die-cutting three solid butterflies.  I used three butterflies cut from a gelli print to attach the two pieces back together to form the front of the card - kind of floating inlaid die cuts.   I added three intricate butterflies cut from vellum attached by the body leaving the wings free.  This was a fiddly card to create ... I'm not sure I will be repeating it!

I used:
STAMPlorations - CUTplorations Flutter Zen 1
Simon Says Stamp - Handwritten Borders
UNIKO - Simply Said

Challenge details:

Enjoy!

STAMPlorations ... Things with Wings

A new month and time for a new challenge at STAMPlorations ... this month we have a Blog Hop and Linky Parties across all the challenges and it's all about "Things with Wings" as always there are prizes to be won so it really is worth getting out the supplies and joining in.

As part of the CUTplorations team I've used dies for my project ...

I cut two tags one from plain white card and the second one from a gelli print.  I then die cut the diamonds out of the white card and adhered the two tags together to add colour and interest.  The dragonfly was cut from a scrap of the gelli print as well as some vellum.  I adhered the dragon fly on top of some thread and a circle of vellum ... I only put adhesive on the body so the wings unattached and provided dimension.  I added the sentiment, a scribble border and some lace.

I used:

CUTplorations - Dragonfly Layering Dies, Manilla Tags Nesting Dies.

STAMPlorations - Trendy Butterflies

It is going to be another busy month at STAMPlorations with all of the design teams working hard to inspire you to create "Things with Wings" ... it really is worth popping over to the blog to check out the amazing designs.  I hope you are inspired to join in ... you never know you might just win!

Enjoy!

Springtime ...

I hope the sun has been shining for you ... it remains dull, wet and overcast in Oxfordshire ... making for a dull and overcast mood!!

I've been creating my own kind of sunshine water colouring and creating ...

... my aim was to reflect Springtime on a card ... no grey insight!

I used:
STAMPlorations - Dee's Artsy Blossom Sprays #1
Distress Inks - Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Lucky Clover, Abandoned Coral, Twisted Citron

I'm entering the following challenges:

TIME OUT #107


Stamping Sensations April Challenge "One for the Girls"

Seize the Birthday Anything Goes with optional Vibrant Colours

Craft Stamper Magazine April Challenge "Anything Goes"

Enjoy!