Turquoise and gold ...

Good evening ... no words of wisdom from me this evening, just a card:

This card is a little unusual for me as I have used coloured card - normally I use white/cream as the background colour.  This afternoon I had this idea to use the card for colour and to just stamp and heat emboss the image ... and now I can't decide if it was a good idea or not but I thought I would share it anyway!

I used:
UNIKO Originally Organic Clear Stamps
Versamark
WOW Gold Embossing Powder

I am entering the following challenges:

UNIKO Challenge #39


Penny Black and More January Challenge - Anything Goes

Enjoy!

Exciting News ...

Sometimes life can be very exciting and rewarding ... and the end of 2016 proved to be just that!  You see it went like this ... Addicted to Stamps and More had a call for new design team members ... so I thought I would give it a go and put myself forward for consideration ... guess what happened next ... they invited me to join the team!!   To say that I'm delighted and excited is somewhat of an understatement ... so you join me today for my first official post as a member of the design team hopefully to inspire you all to join in with the challenge.

The new challenge today is:

This is my card to inspire you:

I began by stamping and heat embossing the crocus before water colouring with distress inks.  I then die cut the images and adhered them onto the card base - one straight onto the card and the other two with foam tape to add dimension.  I then stamped the sentiment and considered the card finished!  A simple card created using few techniques.

I used:

Create A Smile - Crokisses stamp set

Distress Inks - Picked Raspberry and Twisted Citron

Simon Says Stamp - Handwritten Borders

Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle dies

Versamark ink

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

WOW Gold Embossing Powder

I hope that you will pop along to Addicted to Stamps and More and join in with the challenge.

Enjoy!

New beginnings ...

... this is the theme of this week's "Less is More" challenge.  This is my contribution:

... you don't get much newer than a new baby!

Enjoy!

Crafty Kraft ...

Time flies when you are busy ... doesn't it!  We are already in the middle of January and I don't feel as if I am getting as much crafty time as I would like ... and when I have the time my inspiration seems to be on a go slow!!  I started this card yesterday and all I managed to do was to stamp, heat emboss and colour the flowers onto a piece of card ... then inspiration decided to have a rest!  But I came home from work determined to finish it ... an idea popped into my tiny brain on the walk home from work (at least one of my New Year resolutions - to walk to work - is still happening!).  This is what I came up with:

As you can see I have popped the kraft panel onto card that I have stamped and heat embossed with leaves on the opposite corners.  Sorry the photographs are not brilliant - I haven't got around to the New Year resolution to improve my photography!! 

The inspiration for this card is the wonderful Darnell - if you don't know Darnell then please take this opportunity to pop along and see her blog.  She creates inspiring cards and her blog posts will brighten your day!  This month she is running a number of NBUS (never-been-used-stuff) challenges and the first one has the optional twist of using colouring pencils on Kraft card - that is exactly what I have done along with using a new stamp set.  So when I've finished here I will be popping along to enter.

I used:

Hunkdory For the Love of Stamps - Floribunda
Clearly Besotted - Many Messages
Spectrum Noir - Essentials Pencil collection
WOW White Embossing Powder
Versamark INk

Before I sign off for the evening I need to share some exciting news - one of my cards has been SHOWcased by the wonderful designers at "Less is More".  Thank you, it gave me the boost that I needed.  This is the card they liked:




Enjoy!

Ombre Good Wishes ...

A quick post this evening to share a card for this week's challenge at "Less is More".   I've been visiting my parents this weekend so have had little time for crafting so I needed to do something creative when I got back this afternoon.

I began by inking up an acrylic block with distress inks which I then spritzed with water containing perfect pearls before placing it on to some water colour card.  After the panel was dry I added the sentiment and flowers.  The panel is adhered to the card base with some fun foam to add dimension.

I used:
Distress Inks - Squeezed lemonade, Mustard seed, Spiced marmalade and Carved Pumpkin
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Mini Bouquet
Clearly Besotted Many Messages
Versafine Onyx Black

I'm going to enter the following challenges:

"Less is More" #310  Ombre

Penny Black and More - January - Anything Goes

Enjoy!

More Yellow and Orange Flowers ...

It would seem that I am starting the New Year with a yellow and orange theme ... I guess it makes a change from the red of Christmas!  I associate these colours with the start of the new day and Spring - at least they make me smile!

Today I've created a card for a special person ... one of my Aunts celebrates her 80th birthday this month ... so a special card was required.

I began by stamping and heat embossing the flowers and then ink blended shades of yellow and orange across the panel.  I then die cut the square with stitched square dies, creating a frame for the panel.  I also die cut the numbers both from the panel and from some black card.  The central panel is mounted onto some fun foam to add dimension and interest. I stacked the numbers before adhering them to the card.

I used:
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Mini Bouquet Stamp Set
Dienamics Stitched Square Dies
Distress Inks - Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Ripe Persimmon and Spiced Marmalade.

I am entering the following challenges:

"Less is More" #309 Dimension

Penny Black and More January Challenge - Anything Goes

Enjoy!

Happy New Year ...

I'm not sure where the last two weeks of 2016 disappeared to but it seems a long time ago ... Happy New Year to you all ... I hope 2017 brings you much joy and happiness.

Now the holiday is coming to a close life is quickly returning to normal ... washing and ironing, cooking and cleaning, need I go on?!  Most important of all back to time for crafting. I'm determined to find 'me time' this year to do the things I love ... this is just one of my many New Year resolutions ... I'll let you know as the year progresses whether I manage to keep any of them!

So to start the year here is my first card:

I used:
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Collection - Mini Bouquet
Distress Inks - Mustard Seed and Carved Pumpkin
Versafine Onyx Black

I'm entering the following challenges:

"Less is More" #309 - to add Dimension
Penny Black and More - January Challenge, Anything Goes

Enjoy!