Recycled too ...

We are now half way though the year!  It's hard to believe that tomorrow we start the seventh month of 2014 - where has the year disappeared to?  I've even started thinking about Christmas cards.  I know that many create Christmas cards all year round but I find it difficult to be inspired when the sun is shining and the doors are open.  However, I have been trying out an idea that I might use this year - when I'm happy with it I'll share it and see what you all think.

Less chat, more action!  Here is the card I would like to share tonight:

This week's challenge at "Less is More" is to 'Use a recycled item!' - this card combines a recycled design (not sure this is what the Less is More Designers intended!!) along with a piece of a coca cola can!  I heat embossed the sentiment onto a piece of the can - I wasn't totally convinced the technique would work but it has although there is some embossing powder where it shouldn't be.  I then used an embossing folder to add texture to the metal.  I had to stick the metal onto a piece of black card stock to stop it from curling!

I used:
Kaisercraft Clear Stamps - Way of Life
Versafine Onyx Black Ink
Stampin Up - Off the Grid and Gorgeous Grunge

Enjoy!

Geometric birthday ...

A quick post this evening to showcase a card I made for my son's birthday.

The background for the letters was created by inking a stencil with distress inks, spritzing with water and then laying onto watercolour card - I love this technique as it extends the use of stencils.

I'm entering these challenges:

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Enjoy!

New home ..

I think this is one of the quickest cards that I have ever made - unless you count the thinking time!

I've created it using an old cork coaster.  I bought an old wooden box at a car boot sale recently which was full of 'useful stuff' - there was half a dozen old cork coasters and quite a few old wooden cotton reels.  I very nearly threw the coasters away but I'm really pleased I kept them.  I think the design of this card is simplicity itself 

I used the Tim Holtz Alteration Die - On the edge.

I'm going to enter these challenges:

"Less is More" - it's a recipe this week, the challenge is to 'use a recycled item'
Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes

Enjoy!

Happiness ...

Bright and colourful card to celebrate the sunshine!

It is a simple take on the TIME Out challenge where we are asked to CASE a beautiful card created by Donna Mikasa. This is my one layer take on the design:

I used:

Distress Inks - Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed
Versafine Onyx Black
Dutch Doobadoo - Dutch Mask Art A5 Fabric
Kaisercraft Clear Stamps - Way of Life

This is the TIMEOUT Challenge inspiration


I'm also going to enter the challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More where Anything Goes!

Enjoy!

Pretty in pink ...

Another sunny day, another gerbera card - I promise this is the last one ... for this week!!!

Again I'm going to enter the challenge at "Less is More" as I have watercoloured the image using Inktense pencils.

Enjoy!

Return of the Gerbera ...

It's difficult for me to stay away from my Gerbera stamp for too long and here it is back again!

Before I begin I need to say a big 'Thank You' to the designers over at "Less is More" as they have selected me as the monthly winner for May.  I love this challenge blog and try to enter a card every week - they are so supportive of all the people that enter the challenges. I'm honoured, thank you!

It seems fitting that tonight's post is a card created for this week's challenge at "Less is More" where the challenge is to use Watercolour.  

I first masked a square in the top half of the card, stamped the gerbera and drew in the square with a fine liner.  I watercoloured the image and then cut away the square.  Less talk, more action - here is the card:

You can see garden through the aperture!

I used:
Uniko Studio stamp set - Pure Florals: Gerbera
Windsor and Newton Watercolour paints

Enjoy!

Rainbow borders ...

Happy sunny Saturday! Smiles all round, it's amazing what a bit of sun and warmth will do.

I made this card when I should have been making one for my son - it's his birthday tomorrow.  I have difficulty designing for men and those that I've made my son as already seen as he is my number one critic (in a positive way!).

I started the day with my usual problem with deciding which colours to use but was helped by the challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More this is the inspiration:


The inspiration for me was the rainbow of colours so that was my starting point along with the stamp set Grunge Floral Strips from STAMPlorations.

I used:
Distress Inks - Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves
STAMPlorations Stamp Sets - Vignette: Grunge Floral Strips and Subway Builders: DARE

As well as Addicted to Stamps I am going to enter the monthly challenge at STAMPlorations where the theme is Stamps and Borders.

Enjoy!