Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Clean and Simple


Whoops running late this morning, typically it would be the morning of a new challenge over on Everybody Art Challenge. This week is for a Clean and Simple card which is what I'm doing a lot off at the moment.
I've tried and  possible failed at cutting a little border round my image which I've seen loads of people do but it looks like I'll just do it my way and not bother.
My image is Big Guy Golfing by Mo Manning and it was only right to put him on a golf course. Made with Memory Box landscape die using different coloured greens. My flag is made with the mast of the MFT boat but I can't remember now how I made the actually flag.
I'm pretty sure the papers are Echo Park but don't hold me to that I made this card nearly a fortnight ago and I've been on my hols since then.
To finish off some clouds and the Birthday Sentiment that lives on my desk that I have no idea who it belongs too.
Do pop over and check out the team, hope you can join us this week.

Monday, June 29, 2015

Clean and Simple


Phew it been a busy time luckily I made some CAS before I left for Spain. The first one was inspired by a card on Pinterest, originally I was going to used the Kites from the Simon Says Stamps Soaring for You but decided to use the plane from the same set. The clouds were stamped from the set too. I decided to used the beautiful sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Flowers on my Mind because I thought this card would make a sympathy card for a male friend or relation.


This time I used the Medium Dots Stencil for my multi coloured dots, then I cut it out the Stitched Bundle of Shapes and Stitched Rectangles both from Simon say Stamp.
I thought I would used the Artful Flowers stamps and used the white dot stamp using white pigment ink and  WOW bright white embossing powder, not to one self don't stamp too hard or they blob together.
The leaves are Leaf Column Outline die again from Simon Says Stamp. Must also remember to place the sentiment before putting the card together but the Its your Birthday sentiment works a treat with this card.
Hopefully I will make a card today if I can stay awake long enough.


Sunday, June 28, 2015

Christmas Photo Shoot


If by now you haven't realised I've been away to Spain and returned on Friday then I must have done my job well and Mr Blogger has behaved. I'm still scheduling what with a family party yesterday my body is going to go into overload and probably decided its had enough, so I will be on the heavy duty pain pills.
So here's two Christmas layouts very much based on ones I found on Pinterest, sorry about my Holly in the first one seems I got the light wrong and have an awful shadow something else I will sort out once I feel better.


The papers are Simple Stories do love them for Scrapbooking may have to source some more for crops and retreats. Has you can see I like to use all the dies I use for card making that way I can justified more!!!
Of course if you have a sweetheart like my nephew all the paper in the world takes a back seat.
I may be out of action for a few days but I have a few cards for the next few days but I have to make one DT card for the mess I made of my list before I went away. Guess it will be Clean and Simple again.

 

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Celebrate You


There wasn't a planned card for today but I made a bit of mess of the to do list for one of my DT cards and  forgot they changed it and it just so happened that it was a Penny Black.
Actual fact I'm rather pleased how it turned out especially when I cut the image mat diagonal and thought I mad a bit mistake but not it looks fine.
The patterned paper is Doodlebug and I used the Simon says Stamp Stitched Rectangles for my framed sentiment which again is Simon Says Stamp Big Birthday stamps. I also used the stitch line from the Bundle of shapes from Simon Says Stamp.
The tricky part was stamping the number plate without the original words, then finding one small enough to fit, it is a bit far up but it will have to do.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Purple Valerie


Still Clean and Simple and another one for my Christmas pile. I layered my snowflakes but I thinking I need some white foam which will save me from layering. Whoops I didn't add a bit of white to her buttons its surprising such a little things as a affected will do that before putting in the box.
My snowflakes are from Simon Says Stamps, my icicles are a punch from Martha Stewart and those fabulous papers are Doodlbug, must see if they are still around and buy some more.
Of course my adorable image is of course from Mo Manning, she is called Valerie in Winter, you actually get three images and they are ideal for CAS cards which we all need for the making Christmas card.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow we are having a family get together, I hope this is something we can do every year so that our little family has it becomes more and more extended can keep in touch now that we've lost the lynch pin that held us together.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Doggy


The pattern for this little chap was on the front of the Love Crochet, I had to buy a back order of it so I could have the pattern. I was really pleased with the finish result although the felt toes and pads were a b****g to stick will have find something thats less messy and actually sticks straight away.


Here you can see more clearly his feet and his two tone ears. I packed him in a jiffy bag and I sent him as a present to some one who is always supportive and lovely also I keep forgetting her Birthday. Not sure a hand made gift will make up for it but it might help.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Anything Goes

wed-newchallenge-header

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Favourite Technique/Product Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.
We will be back soon with the name of the lucky winner of the $50 Voucher
This week the challenge is

ANYTHING GOES 

It's time to let your imagination run wild and create whatever takes your fancy !
We are showcasing our very own SIMON SAYS STAMP EXCLUSIVE Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would love to see them used
As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store
50dollar_voucher_600px


I'm still in my Clean and Simple phase and I wanted to used the new Simon Says Stamp My Sunshine stamps and die.
Now when I saw sneak peeks of the new release I'm sure I saw a sun with what I thought holes cut out but that wasn't what I received then I noticed the dotty stamps in the stamp set, that would be why. So I stamped my sun and with the Simon Says Stamp White Pigment ink I stamped the dots in each ray. Then I used WOW white embossing powder and yes that was the sun I saw and now I'm happy.
My little girl is of course Pure Innocence which is perfect for paper piecing which helps to bring the papers together which are Echo Park.
Love the sentiments with the My Sunshine stamp and I was determined to use one of them and I thought this one was perfect. To finish my card I added some clouds using the cloud dies from Simon Says Stamp Lets Fly a Kite.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting
Instagram
Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge 

There are fabulous Give Aways and inspiration from fabulous designers on a daily basis over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog , if you haven't subscribed by email you may want to so you don't miss out


Simon Says Stamp 

You have until Wed  8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in
No backlinking allowed, Only 5 new creations will be eligible in the prize draw

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Trio of Fairies


First of all this post is very photo heavy but I try and not waffle to make it even longer. This post is for the new Everybody Art Challenge for a Multi Folds Card, well you can't more multi than a Tri Shutter Card.
I haven't made one of ages and I had to track down a tutorial to get the measurements. So I started with a 6inch by 12 inch card.
 I used the 3 Baby Fairies from Mo Manning and I made them smaller than usual but still didn't fit in my nestabilities, I had to make my red border by hand. It was as I was cutting I wondered how small the fairies were on the Penny Black clear stamps and how it would have made life easier to make this project.
Anyway I used Elizabeth Designs ladybug die, Kars Butterfly punch, EK Success flower punch with Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch along with the Lavish Branch from Memory box.
Finished off with Simon Says Stamps Sending and Happy Birthday dies, along with their Birthday Messages stamps to give the wishes word. Phew almost finished the corners are from La La Land.
 More detail of the inside of the card.

Close up of one Fairy

Another close up of Fairy 2

Finally the 3rd Fairy

Picture of it all together.

The mess I made making this card and this was after I had put all the dies away.
So how about giving a go this week on Everybody Art Challenge and don't forget to check out the team.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Parcel Elf


Yes those Christmas Scrapbooking I did a couple of weeks ago are still have a knock on effect with my card making. Also my Clean and Simple phase still continues.
My fabulous North Pole Employee is of course from Mo, who else draws such wonderful characters and you get a bargain with this chap cos you get two the other hold ornaments.
The papers are LOTV and the Ivy is from Creative Expression Sue Wilson die, the holly is a Martha Stewart punch with some red pearls.
The sentiment is from Penny Black I used it lot last year rarely used the rest of the stamps just the sentiment since it fits inside the Stampin Up punches.
Some nice people and I'm saying that sarcastically have been putting up how many weeks it is to Christmas so I thought it was time to start getting some done before it creeps up on me.

  

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Grandad


I've been saving this layout for today, knowing it was Father's Day and I'm so thankful for Facebook too. Family photos shared with the rest of the family means I get to use this lovely photo of my Dad with two of his many Gt Grandchildren. He loved having family round him even though he didn't like being centre of stage, he was a quiet soul.
Happy Father's Day, Dad.

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Eat Cake


I blame my Clean and Simple phase but I couldn't think of a way to add embellishments and not hide my balloon paper, which by the way is from Doodlebug.
The fishtail banners were made with scraps left over when cut the card papers luckily the papers are double sided so that gave me contrasting colours.
I've been well impressed I've managed to make a few cards this week especially has its been a bit emotional with my Dad's birthday on Wednesday but this year it wasn't has hard as last year.


Friday, June 19, 2015

Walkies


I brought a couple of Tiddly Inks images to try and help Mr Mojo and looking through my old cards I used to add like a spray of flowers and leaves on my cards.
So I thought I would add some to a card using the new image, the papers are Penny Black ones. The image I brought because I didn't need to colour the dogs that much well I could because you can get a black westie but that what happen till I can colour in black!
My favourite die from MFT called Crochet Border for round my card mat and I used the Tender leaves and Fern from Memory Box not even sure they still make them now but are firm favourites in my stash.
My sentiment is an old Woodware one and it is straight, obviously the angle I took the photo is causing it, honestly I've checked.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Blog Hop


My lovely team mate Alice has chosen this months' Theme of Summer Fun or Summer Colours.


Bit of cheating going on here, my image which I love is made up with two of Mo's images Summer Girl and Summer Boy that I actually merged ages again. My fingers are itching to do merge some more of Mo's images instead of using the ones I've already done.
My card is fairly Clean and Simple but the papers are busy enough to reason for that and they're from LOTV.
You can see I used Glossy Accents on the lollies and the girls glasses but I have to wait for the silicone glue to dry before added or they curl up which is not the effect I'm looking for.
Now since today is the Dream Team Blog Hop Day you should of Hopped Skipped and Jumped from Julies Blog and now you have to do the same over to Heidy.
Also don't forget there are two $5 vouchers to be randomly chosen from the teams comments so make sure to comment along the way.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Blending

wed-newchallenge-header

Hi all and welcome to another week on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Thank you for joining us for the Friends/Superhero Challenge and we hope you will all join us again this week too.
We will be back soon with the name of the lucky winner of the $50 Voucher
This week the challenge is

USE YOUR FAVORITE TECHNIQUE and/or PRODUCT

What is YOUR favorite technique ? Do you like to stencil, paper piece, splatter,watercolor and what is your favorite product ? Do you like sequins, twine, ribbons, charms, die cuts ? We would love to know a few of your favorite things !
We are showcasing RANGER Products this week. You don't have to use them to join in but if you have some we would love to see them used
As always Simon Says Stamp will be giving away $50 voucher to shop at the fabulous Simon Says Stamp Store
50dollar_voucher_600px


For this weeks challenge I've decided to showcase my favourite technique of Blending using ranger products although its not one I excel at but I give a good try.
I do like stamping and embossing in white embossing powder now that I've discovered Bright White from WOW which does a proper white.
So I stamped and embossed the Fir branch from Simon Says Stamp Holly Berries and then used the Ranger Mini Round Ink Blending Tool. I brought this one to see if it was easier than the rectangle one. For me not really but I didn't get as many random marks I was making with the rectangle so I do prefer it.
What I like about this technique it reminds me of the colouring books that you used water and painbrush on and magically a picture appeared.
When I was happy with my blending trying not to be to heavy handed, then I stuck it onto the navy card. Now I wanted something to sit on my branches so I grabbed the Bird I cut off his curl on the previous Crazy Birds card. But I didn't colour him in conventional way, I used the blending tools but I did stamp two birds so I cut out the eyes and beak to add to the blended body.
Using Stazon I stamped the bird on my background so it would work on the embossed white and this also meant I cut the body of the bird and layered it on top of the stamped one. I think this bird could be heavily involved in my Christmas card making this year.


I thought I'll make another card I'll try not to waffle on, this time I blended round the edges of my card and then stamped the holly from the same stamp set as above. I needed some decent size Holly to cut out so I found some on the Penny Black Forest Friend just the right size but I was all blended out and used some Copic Pens to colour the leaves and some large red pearls out of my stash.
To finish I used the Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings die which I'm not sure I've actually used yet and I cut it twice and layered it so it really stands out.

So now it's YOUR turn.  Happy Crafting
Instagram
Do you use Instagram ?  If so please add  #ssswchallenge 

There are fabulous Give Aways and inspiration from fabulous designers on a daily basis over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog , if you haven't subscribed by email you may want to so you don't miss out


Simon Says Stamp 

You have until Wed  8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in
No backlinking allowed, Only 5 new creations will be eligible in the prize draw

Make Your Own Pocket Page Card


I mentioned when I was lucky to received My Sunshine stamps with Sunshine die and from the new release The Color of Fun from Simon Say Stamp that the set was ideal for making pocket pages. Here's a few that I made, you've already seem Dreamers gotta Dream which I used on a card but two of these cards show the other sentiments, I especially love the Bright Sun Shiny day.
The little die comes with the larger sun, all I've added was some Echo Park patterned paper and the Falling Rain background stamps from Simon Says Stamp and also the Lets Fly a Kit stamp and die set for my clouds and kite. I've used the washi tape from last months Card Kit.





Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Snowflakes In Summer


Making this card for Everybody Art Challenge was a bit easier since I was in Christmas mode after creating a few Christmas layout. No cheating here my snowflakes have been glitterized and I used glossy accents and glamour dust for my icicles on my snowflake strip which by the way was made with Martha Stewart Icicle punch.
Snowflakes again using Martha Stewart punches after I made them I realised why I like dies so much less pain in the shoulders.
So my adorable image is of course Mo Manning image called Taste of Winter and once my silicone glue has dried I used flower soft and fun flock on the cuffs and collar. The papers are a Nitwit download but not sure what its called.
Do hope you can join us this week and don't forget to pop over to the challenge to check out the team.


Monday, June 15, 2015

Sailor


I made quite a few cards recently mainly for DT's but some are just because I can, but I seemed to be going down the Clean and Simple way or less cluttered.
This goes for this sweet little Sailor Boy from Maurie Manning, once I layered the papers all my embellishments are the MFT boat using dies and cutting out the MFT wave die for a border.
The reef knot are an afterthought even now not sure they work, but they have to stay since I stuck them down.
The sentiment is LOTV, they have had a sale of some of their stamps so not sure they still have them.
I can't help like my almost uncluttered card and if the card makes me happy then job done.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Christmas Spirit


One of my layouts I made last week at the all day crop, it was a great day even if my sister and friend weren't able to make it. I did plan what I was doing even down to the point to the Pinterest layout I wanted to use.
I used the layout or sketches to help me make a start but general things go its own way depending on the size of my photos. The large Poinsettia is actually the Penny Black Slapstick stamp I'd recently used for a card, I quickly stamped it and threw in red and green copic pens while packing my bags, glad I did. The holly flourish is also Penny Black, if my brain was in gear I could have blogged this on my Penny Black Saturday.
The papers are Simple Stories and the letters are from various companies.
I feeling a bit smug at the moment I've had a DT card making day and even though they are a bit clean and simple I've got myself well in advance just have to finish the hardest one which of course I left till last and the next few weeks I shall be able to do as I like.
Yes Mr Postman did come yesterday too late for me to used the new goodies but maybe I'll get a chance today.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Sailing


I've was stalking the postman yesterday because I was hoping for the dies I ordered would arrive one of which was a Penny Black one as you can see they didn't arrive, fingers crossed they arrive today.
I've been trying to think of a card for the Freshly Made sketch #190 for this week and this is what I ended up with.
I love this boat from Stampin Up, I think its retired now. I first stamped the image then using a nestabilities I made a mask to lay over the image and lightly blended. I may have lightly blended not enough because those sails were cut out of white and layered on top so why it doesn't show up I don't know.
Then I grabbed some cloud patterned paper that I hadn't put away yet from LOTV added a scallop edge. That was pretty much it did add the Birthday sentiment from the one that sits permanently on my desk which is straight its just the angle of the card and the fact I had to straighten it using photo editing.
Sorry its not a Penny Black card I will try my best for one for next week.