Sunday 30 September 2018

Two-fer Christmas

It struck me today that Eeek, it's the end of September already and I'm way behind with my Christmas card stash.
So Chriss's card over at Muse Christmas Visions #109 was the perfect inspiration.  I used her bear theme, snowy sky and snip of holly  My bear is an oldie from Stamplorations (I think - 'Vanity Fair' is on telly at the minute otherwise I'd get up and check!)

For my sky I used a stencil from Simon Says Stamp and just coloured through with a white pen.

And while I was on a roll I made another with silver sparkly card instead.   That's 2 off the list now :)

I think I prefer the one with the coloured sentiment.


Visiting Librarian at the Library Challenge.

I'm delighted to be the 'Visiting Librarian' for the new challenge over at The Library Challenge - one of my favourite challenges ... books and stamping, what's not to like!

Anyway I was the lucky one who got to choose this week's book and I've gone for The Woman in the Window.  Have you read it?  It would be great if you played along in the challenge - you can be inspired by the cover or the story or the title, whatever takes your fancy!
As you can see I took my inspiration from the lit window and the bricks on the cover.  I've stenciled up a brick background and then used my cute kitties from Eat Cake Graphics.  I used sparkly card for my sentiment and then finished with some gold star sequins.

Saturday 29 September 2018

Playing with new goodies

I had a wee shopping spree recently at Swedish House Crafts who had a fab sale on, so I've been busting to have a play with my new goodies :)  I've a stinker of a cold, but I'll be back tomorrow too with a special Guest Designer post.

So this heart die was one of my purchases, isn't it so pretty.  I've used a couple of the cut outs as extra embellishments, along with a few pink stars and sequins.  Layering dies like this isn't my usual style but I do like how it turned out!


I've used an oldie Lili of the Valley stamp for this one, along with my new hanging hearts die.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss to highlight a few elements.

Thursday 27 September 2018

Stars and flowers

Ack I've no mojo :(  Just life and work getting in the way I reckon and when I'm tired I've zero creativity.  Ah well at least it's nearly the weekend and I've a couple of days booked off work next week - I'm planning on doing a bit of painting round the house but we'll see how that goes!

This first card is super CAS ... though I'll not confess how many stars I cut out before I ended up with these so it definitely wasn't a quickie!   I stencilled in the background, popped the little stars up on foam pads and added a few blue star sequins to finish.

I'd coloured this image back in the heatwave which already seems such a long time ago.  You definitely wouldn't be colouring outside this evening.  Apart from the fact that it's dark hahaha ;)

Coloured with watercolour pencils, sparkle added to the flowers and clear gloss to the little ribbon on the box.
  • I thought this worked well with Michelle's lovely card inspiration over at the Muse challenge #284
  • Simon Says Stamp Monday - monochrome
  • Time Out #119 - friendship / one layer
  • Less is More #380 - one layer floral (I know I used a white base but my card isn't the best quality so have to add a top white layer)

Saturday 22 September 2018

Ryan's Birthday Card

Ahh I struggle with boys cards, this one's for my soon-to-be-15 nephew.  Seems like no time at all since he was a wee nipper!  Do you think it's grown up enough for him, I'm just not sure!  I guess he'll be more interested in the £££ inside the card anyway ;)

I've used my Jane's Doodles stamps - seagull, boat and fish all popped up on foam pads.  My Taylored Expressons ric rac die is a real oldie - I think it was one of the first dies I ever bought and then had no clue what to do with them!  Anyway I've used them here as waves - the dark strip is a dark blue colour.

Sunday 16 September 2018

Birthday critters

LOL I seem to be stuck in a pink mode this past while!  So here's 2 more ;)

My birdie card uses 2 of my favourite techniques ... fussy cutting and a bit of splattering !  I've used my new Jane's doodles stamps, coloured with watercolour pencils; sparkle added to her jumper and clear gloss/glitter to the collar.  Pink heart sequins from stash.  Bird and frame both popped up on foam pads.

This doggy is another one that I'd coloured back in the summer.  Those long hot days of sunshine already seem like such a long time ago!
Image coloured with watercolour pencils; sparkle added to the ribbon and clear gloss to his nose.   MFT stitched frame die; Paper Smooches heart die popped up on foam pads.

Saturday 15 September 2018

Snowy and rainbow candles

There's a change in the weather this past week and the leaves are on the change, autumn is here!  So it's time to get a hoof on with my Christmas cards, I'm absolutely determined this year to not have the usual last minute rush that takes all the fun out of it!

I'd coloured Snowy back during our heatwave and rediscovered him this morning.  I've used him with my MFT town die and my Paper Smooches hills die.
Snowy coloured with watercolour pencils, sparkle added to his scarf and hat and then popped up on foam pads.  Silver stars from stash.

These candles came from a Stampin Up set that I won and didn't quite know what to do with it!  It's a Christmas set but I figured the candles would do just as well for a birthday.
Coloured with watercolour pencils, sparkle added to a few candles and a few others popped up on foam pads.  Clear gloss added to the flames.  Stars coloured to match.

Monday 10 September 2018

Sunglasses on!

It's been a dark, damp old day today but you definitely need your sunglasses on for this card!

This card was inspired by this week's featured stamper over at Splitcoast - here's JoAnne's original.  I found this snazzy DP in my stash and kinda got a bit carried away with myself ;)  I've used my new Jane's Doodles critters - coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss added to their eyes and teeth.  Did my usual trick of stamping a background and then covering it up!

This one is for a friend in work who's leaving for a new job.
She has lovely white hair, don't think I quite nailed it.  She also loves her allotment and growing her veggies, so that's why I've used this oldie Kraftin Kimmie Stamp.  Bit of sparkle added to the pots and her bow.  
Lawn Fawn cloud die; Gummiapan flower die.

Saturday 8 September 2018

Pinks and purples

Sorry, another quickie post.  No beers tonight ;) but Strictly is on the telly and I LOVE it!   It would be fab to be able to dance 'properly'!

This first card uses a real oldie from Penny Black.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and gloss/sparkle added to the butterflies.  My Martha Stewart butterfly punch is on it's way out, it's a bit of a faff getting these butterflies cut.


And this one uses one of my oldest and most inked stamps ever .. not sure of the make, possibly from Cornish Heritage Farm.   
My colour theme was defined by this strip of dotty DP that's been knocking round my desk for a while.  Flowers popped up on foam pads.   Sparkle added to the petals and gloss to the flower centre. Gold strip and purple bling to finish.  

Friday 7 September 2018

Twofer sympathy cards

Just a quickie post tonight ... the beers are chillin in the fridge and I can hear them calling to me ;)
Sorry for the dark pics, the evenings are drawing in so quickly now, I need to sort out my phtography skills!

I've no sympathy cards in my stash so here's a couple using my Prima flower stamp.  Both coloured with watercolour pencils.

And here's another, this time I heat embossed my image and sentiment.

Monday 3 September 2018

Monday Sillies

Here's some daft stamps from my new Jane's Doodles set, just perfect for a Monday ;)

For this get well card I added some glitter to the green bits of the snake and some googly eyes.  Reckon it would give you a giggle if you were feeling down.  Green stars from stash to finish.


And here's Mum's calendar page for this month.  Bit of a rush job, so there's nothing very fancy about it! 
  • As you like it - favourite non card project - I make a calendar page for my Mum every month.  The first time I made these was for a Christmas giftie a few years ago, but ever since she's been getting them on a monthly basis ;) 

Saturday 1 September 2018

More new goodies

Ooops I've been shopping again, my excuse was that these were in Jane's Doodles sale!

My stamps came wrapped and sealed with this little crochet heart so I thought it was a shame not to use it. I keep meaning to buy a bookmark die, but for the time being I just use a tag die and partially cut it and then shimmy it down and cut again.  (Don't know if that makes any sense or not!)
Coloured with watercolour pencils.  I added sparkle to the bird's wings on the card, but didn't add any to the bookmark in case it would come off on a book's pages.

I'd some pink watercolour left on a bit of acetate, so I added some water and squished my card base into it to make my background.  A few extra pink and blue splatters to finish.

My little girl and dog are popped up on foam pads.

Gummiapan flower die; Lawn Fawn clouds and can't remember fence maker.