BLOOMING FLOWERS....

A second post from me today!!! That must be a first, lol.  But, it's Wednesday again and that means time for another I ♥ PROMARKERS challenge.  This week is #187 and the theme is to Make Your Own Flowers. Our sponsor is PINK GEM DESIGNS and my card features the delightful 'Denny with Watering Can'.  Isn't he just the cutest draggie you've ever seen?

My gorgeous papers (well, I think they are) are from Prima's Sun Kiss collection.  I layered the paper and image onto my fave shade of green cardstock.  Denny was coloured, of course, with Promarkers and the sky was done with a blue pans pastel. I made my flowers using one of the amazing Sizzix die sets.  This one is Mini Daisy by Susan Tierney Cockburn.  I cut them with white card stock and shaped them using Susan's tool set, then I coloured the centres of them with yellow pan pastels.  When they were stuck together and dry, I popped a bit of flower soft in the centre of each.  It's the first time I've used that stuff as I bought it especially to use with my flower dies.  I have to say, I'm quite impressed with how it looks.

The fence die is Cheery Lynn and my fave leaf die of all time I think is also Cheery Lynn.  My sentiment was die cut using the Sizzix thinlets Tags & Sentiments and then I stamped the greeting with a stamp from my Personal Impressions mixed sentiments set.  I really like how this card finished up so am well chuffed, 'cause you know we never like our own stuff, ha ha.

Entering into:
CHEERY LYNN DESIGNS #99 - Die cut flowers.
PARADE YOUR CRAFTS #4 - Birthdays.
CRAFTY CARDMAKERS #100 - Winged things.
LEJ DESIGNS #72 - Lots of layers
613 AVENUE CREATE #38 - Anything goes.
BEARLY MINE #105 - Anything goes..
PARTY TIME TUESDAYS #139 - Anything goes.
ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS #60 - Anything goes/Bright colours.
DIGI MAKEOVER (Paper Makeup) #107 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #159 - Anything goes.

ALL STITCHED UP!

Good morning peeps.  I hope you're all well out there in blogland.  Today sees my first creation as a new member of the design team for THE PAPER SHELTER.  I wasn't supposed to officially start until 9th October, but all us newbies were told we could join in now if we wanted to...so I did, lol.  I made a tag using the image called Cute Dressmaker.

  This image was perfect as this weeks theme (#130)  is to use stitching on your project.  It can be real or faux, but stitching's the thing.  You've a chance of a very generous prize too.

I coloured the image using a mixture of Tria's, Promarkers and Copics. The close up shot is to show that I added some real thread to her needle. The leaf die cuts are Cheery Lynn, Memory Box corner and everything else was from my stash.  The sentiment is computer generated and I stitched my layers of paper on my machine.  The papers are from Kaisercraft 'Secret Admirer'.

Entering into:
LEJ DESIGNS #72 - Lots of layers
613 AVENUE CREATE #38 - Anything goes. HONOURABLE MENTION
BEARLY MINE #105 - Anything goes..
PARTY TIME TUESDAYS #139 - Anything goes.
ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS #60 - Anything goes/Bright colours.
DIGI MAKEOVER (Paper Makeup) #107 - Anything goes.

AHOY MATEY!!

On my recent trip to Cyprus, we went out on a Pirate Ship.  It was great fun and this is my grandson Aidan.  He had a ball as there was entertainment and all sorts going on.

The papers are from Best Creations.  I fussy cut the beach at the bottom from one sheet and 3D attached it to my base paper. The flag, title, ships wheel and skull & crossbones were cut on my Cameo.  I bought a pack of pirate charms and added 3 of them to this layout.  I'm trying to figure out how to do a girls pirate page now for my granddaughter's album.  You can just see her with a drink in her hand in one of these pics.

Arghhhh!!!

Good morning peeps, and a happy Wednesday to you all.  Time for another challenge over at I ♥ PROMARKERS.  It's week #186 and the theme is the ever popular Anything Goes.  The sponsor this week is INKY IMPRESSIONS but as I didn't have to use a sponsor image this time and I wanted something away from cute, I went with this amazing image from Rick St. Dennis.  And, I'll tell you that when I made this, it was exactly the mood I was in, lol.   Mind you, I've no clue who I could possibly send this to, (except maybe the person who'd upset me in the first place!) Tee hee!!!

My papers are all from My Mind's Eye (Blush pad I think).  I added a bit of mesh across the centre, the border is punched with an EK success punch and I computer generated my sentiment.  Anyway, I hope you like her and she doesn't give you nightmares, ha ha ha.

Entering into:
DIVA'S BY DESIGN - Anything goes.
HAUNTED DESIGN HOUSE #176 - Who are you?  I'M A BANSHEE!!!! GRUESOME TWOSOME
TAMMY'S SCRAPPIN' CORNER #80 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #158 - Anything goes.
OLDIE BUT A GOODIE - Dies and punches (papers and punch are old).
TTCRD 17th - 23rd - Anything goes.
ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS #59 - Anything goes or Frame it.
CREATED WITH LOVE #58 - Anything goes.
MY CRAFT CREATIONS - Anything goes with stamp or digi.

INSPIRED BY....and a WHOOP!!!!!

Before I tell you what or who I've been inspired by, what am I Whooping about?  Well, I've got a place on THE PAPER SHELTER design team! Whoop double whoop.  I can't tell you how chuffed I am to be one of the chosen ones out of so many fabulous entries.  I'm really looking forward to getting started with their fabulous images.

So, what's inspired me?  Well it's a lady called FINNABAIR.  One of my crafty buddies, Cynthia, sent me a link to this amazing mixed media artist and all I can say is Wow!  You should take a look.  Anyway, I watched her making some tags and using glimmer mists and such and I really wanted to try and do what she did.  Tags, I don't have a problem with but those inks...well, that's summat else.  I've had bottles of the stuff for a few years now and never used them.  I just couldn't get on with them at all.  Anyway, here's my first effort.

All the papers I used were from a Melissa Frances paper pad C'est la Vie.  Flowers all from my stash.  On this tag I used a recent discovery, Prima Resistant Canvas shapes.  Love 'em.  I also used a script stencil by Crafters Workshop and Liquitex modelling paste.  Some inking with Brushed Corduroy and a bit of tissue tape finished it off.  I quite like this.  Then came the spray inks!!!!!  Ooooeerrrrr!  Not successful.  I've muddied the colours.  Not sure if it's my colours, my technique or both, lol.  Both probably.

So, not happy with attempt No. 1 I had another go.  I used the same papers and resistant canvas shapes, but this time I used some die cuts too.  Cheery Lynn fence, butterfly and leaves and Memory Box swirl. The cameo is from Hobby House and I stitched the paper layers on my machine this time too.

At the moment I love this.  Then came the inks again.  Oh dear, I don't love it so much now.  It's not as bad as my first attempt, but it's still not right.  Or at least, it's not how I want it to look.  Maybe I need some different colour sprays.  Dunno.  Or may, I just expect too much ha, ha.

Anyhow, I'll not give up until I've mastered this spraying jobby.  Oh no!  Might try it on a card and a scrapbook layout too.

TIM HOLTZ TAGS 2013 - SEPTEMBER

This month's tag is all about layering.  I used Liquitex modelling paste, stencils by various manufacturers and the butterfly stamp is from the wonderful Kaisercraft again.  I didn't have any white distress paint so I used Americana acrylic paint and it worked an absolute treat.  Pop over to Tim's blog to see all the techniques. Loved it this month as it's right up my street, I love blending colours and using texture but still having a bit of grunge in there.  I think stencils and modelling paste are my new fave craft tools, lol.

Entering into:
Tim Holtz Tags of 2013 - September.
CRAFTS TOO #3 - Texture.

SHAPING UP!

It's week #185 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS and this week's challenge is to use 3 different shapes on your project. There are 2 fabulous sponsors this week:  VISIBLE IMAGE and THE PAPER SHELTER.
I have used this gorgeous image from The Paper Shelter called Arabian Spell and one of my favourite colour combinations of green and pink.  I especially love this particular shade of green and use it loads.

I have used 3 papers from the Prima pad 'Fairy Flora'.  I started by making my background with the papers cut into 2 triangles.  Then I layered some rectangles up for the centre and goodness knows what the shape of the nestie is called lol, but anyway, I've definitely got my 3 shapes.  Spellbinders borderabilities (at least, I think that's what they're called) is what I used for the border shapes.  I didn't want a large greeting on this, so I cut a tiny tag and coloured it pink and then used a peel off greeting no less!!!  I've had these for about 6 years or maybe even longer and they're so off trend now, but hey! I thought the little letters were perfect for this. I popped a doily and some pearls on to finish it off.

Entering into:
ADDICTED TO STAMPS #62 - Make your mark.
CARD MANIA #29 - Fave colour combo.
PAPER PLAYTIME #18 - 3 different papers.
CRAFTY SENTIMENTS - Anything goes.
TUESDAY THROWDOWN #164 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #157 - Anything goes.
PARADE YOUR CRAFTS #3 - Anything goes.

MORE THAN ONE...

Oh boy!  September already.  Wherever does the time go?  I'm getting older much too quickly for my liking, lol.  Anyway, it's week #184 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS and the sponsor is LOTV.  The theme this week is to use more than one image.

This stumped me at first as I didn't think there was enough room to add two images, but then...well, I figured it out.  I got out one of my Kanban stamp sets and stamped a couple of butterflies. Ta Dah!  2 different images - the boy/girl is one image and of course is from LOTV.   My papers are Basic Grey's 'Plumeria' with a square doily on the top.  The centre has some lilac mesh, white lace and purple dotty ribbon across it.

Entering into:

CREATIVE MOMENTS #25 - Birthday/Anything goes

FLUTTERBY WEDNESDAY #251 - Open (with butterfly or fairy).

ADDICTED TO STAMPS & MORE - #61? - Anything goes.

ANYTHING GOES #100 - In the garden & add a butterfly.

CARDS AND MORE #89 - Anything goes.

CREATIVE CARD CREW #44 - Things with wings.

EVERYBODY ART CHALLENGE #243 - Birthday.

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - Anything goes.

SPLASHIN' GOOD FUN

This is my Granddaughter Mia playing in the pool in their back yard in Cyprus.  She absolutely loves it and plays for hours with her brother Aidan.  I spent quite a lot of time in there with them myself, lol.  It was the only way to cool down from the unrelenting heat out there!

Papers and embellies are all from the Echo Park collection 'Summer Days'.

Entering into:

613 AVENUE CREATE #35 - Anything goes (optional twist I haven't used). TOP 3

CHALLENGES 4 EVERYBODY #28 - Anything goes.

RED CARPET STUDIO #52 - Anything goes.

LIMITED EDITIONS PROMARKER CHART.

I've done a Promarker colour chart for all those limited edition pens us Promarker lovers have collected  as there's no room on the original Promarker chart.  This one has 48 named colours and plenty of space to add more as they come out.

If you'd like a copy, you're welcome to download one from HERE and if you want to type your own colours onto it, you need Arial font, point size 7.

KETCHUP!

My 3½  year old grandson, Aidan.  Like many kids, addicted to ketchup ha ha.  Personally, I don't know what the fuss is all about.  Mayonnaise I can understand, I'm a bit partial to that myself, lol.

The papers are Echo Park 'Little Boy'.  The title is a Woodware Chippie alphabet:  gessoed, painted with True Red Americana paint and then covered with Glossy Accents.  I used a one of those tag things from the Smash range and some Candy things to finish it off. Oh, and a bit of machine stitching too.

Entering into:
ABOUT A BOY - Anything goes.

TIM HOLTZ TAGS - AUGUST 2013

Cor!  Only just made the deadline with this one, but hey ho!  It's done.  Tim used one of my fave techniques this month - masking, so pop over to his BLOG for all the details.  I used one of my favourite stamp sets for this, which I've had a couple of years now:  Casablanca from Oxford Impressions.

Entering into:
Tim Holtz Tags of 2013 August.
HAPPY CAMPERS #21 - Use a stamp.
PAPERCRAFTING JOURNEY - Anything goes.
CRAFTING FOR ALL SEASONS #59 - Tag it.

IT'S JUST A NUMBER!

Another Wednesday and time for another  I ♥ PROMARKERS  challenge.  This week it's #183 and the  challenge is to use a number. We have two great sponsors and they are STITCHY BEAR DIGITAL STAMPS and HOBBYCUTZ.  The DT have used Stitchy images and I chose to use this lovely lad, 'Blockhead'.  Don't you just love that name, lol.

My papers are from the Crate Paper 'Toybox' pad.   I used my new Winter collection of Promarkers to colour this in, I love that 'Red Sweater' colour.  The corner die is a Joanna Sheen Britannia die, the punched border is EK Success and I stamped the greeting.  I hadn't originally planned on cutting the boy out, but I tried one of those dotty backgrounds and cocked it up, lol.  He was cut out above his trousers and then mounted onto paper to look like wallpaper.

Entering into:
OSAAT #178 - Anything goes with a Stitchy Digi. WINNER
CRAFTY CREATIONS #237 - Use a number.
BEARLY MINE #101 - Use a digi image and/or papers.
POLLYCRAFT #6 - For the kids.
DIGISTAMPS 4 JOY #74 - Anything goes.
LADY ANNE'S #11 - Anything goes.
PARTY TIME TUESDAYS #135 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #155 - Anything goes. POTW - Sandy

CATCHING UP!

Well, I'm back from a fantastic holiday in Cyprus with my daughter and grandchildren.  It was brilliant and I had so much fun.  The heat and humidity was a bummer, but I coped lol.  I came back so exhausted it literally took me 5 days to recover!!!  Anyway, I made these cards for the PM challenge, but they never made it onto my blog as I had a complete break from everything.  Hoping to get back to normal now though, although I'm struggling a bit as I miss my family, but they'll be back in the UK for good next July so I'm looking forward to that.  I'll try and get round all your blogs too in the next few days.

The first card is using a Sheri Baldy digi image and the second one is stamped with Elizabeth Bennett from Indigo Blu.

Paper Shelter DT call.  YAY!  I got a place.

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK.....

First off...welcome to my newest follower Tincan Crafter.  Good to have you here hun.

Time again already for a new challenge over at I ♥ PROMARKERS.  This week it's #179 and the theme is Steampunk and/or Mechanical.  So, if you haven't got any steampunk stuff, you can use cars, sewing machines....etc. There are two sponsors this week:  MARIANNE DESIGN and VISIBLE IMAGE, both with great prizes.

I stamped my background using my Andy Skinner set of stamps and the clock dies are Marianne D's.  Clock lady and sentiment are from my new Paper Artsy set of stamps and I added some real watch parts to finish it off.  Simples. :o)

Entering into:
RHEDD & ROSIE'S #12 - Time.

ADDICTED TO STAMPS AND MORE #56 - Anything goes.

CRAFTING BY DESIGN #Jul 31 - Anything goes.

DIE CUTTING DIVA'S #126 - Anything goes.

MAKE IT MONDAY #151 - Anything goes.

TIM HOLTZ TAGS ~ JULY 2013

I didn't get on very well with this, it's taken days.  Mind you, I think that's the pressure I was under to make a C* card arrrgggghhhhh!!! (loathe making them), but my lovely P.M. boss, Karen, has let me off this week, lol so I got my tag done this morning.  I adapted Tim's technique only slightly, in that I used picket fence crackle instead of rock glaze..I couldn't get that to work properly at all.  To see how the background was done (easy peasy) pop over to Tim's Blog.  The colours of distress ink and stains I used were Peacock Blue and Ripe Persimmon, then it was inked over with brushed corduroy.  My sentiment is from RiverCity Rubberworks.

Entering into:
TIM HOLTZ TAGS OF 2013 - July.
CRAFTS 4 ETERNITY #133 - Inky fingers.
INSPIRE ME FRIDAYS #112 - Anything goes.
SIMPLY CREATE TOO #42 - Anything but a card.

OH LA LA!

Hiya peeps.  Another hot Wednesday here and time for another I ♥ PROMARKER challenge.  #177 this week and it's again everybody's fave - Anything Goes.   The sponsor is The Stamp Fairy with a $10 spend for our winner.  I'm trying to use more of my proper stamps instead of digi-images all the time, so I got them out again this week.

This gorgeous lady is from a Kanban stamp set called 'Moulin Divas' and my papers are MME 'Madison Avenue'.  I used a Joycrafts die on the left (didn't need it all, so sliced it) and a nestie for the sentiment shape then I finished the card off with a strip of lace and a few pearls.

I had a bit of trouble figuring out how to colour this image as I wanted a naked back.  The lace up panel is flesh coloured but the more I looked at her back and shoulders, I couldn't work out how it could possibly not be fabric.  Those dang straps confuddled me, lol.  Anyway, I decided to give it a sort of sheer fabric look, so I hope that's worked.  I have to say though, I'm proper envious of her waistline, ha ha.
 (editing:  Have just discovered on Emma's Cards how to get a naked back, lol.  One of the DT has used this stamp).

Entering into:
EMMA'S CARDS #18 - Lace and Pearls.
613 AVENUE CREATE #28 - Anything goes.
CRAFTERS CAFE #20 - Anything goes.
CRAFTY SENTIMENTS - Female Birthday.
CRAFTING BY DESIGN - Anything goes.
LADY ANNE'S STAMP CHALLENGE #10 - Anything goes.
RHEDD & ROSIES #11 - Anything goes.
LEJ DESIGNS #62 - Anything goes.
TUESDAY THROWDOWN #156 - Anything goes.

SECRETS OF THE DEEP

I recently bought three mermaid theme stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque - I don't know why, as I don't really 'do' mermaids lol, but there was something about these and I had to have them.   I've always enjoyed masking too and  these stamps work so well together that they seemed perfect for it, so I've been playing.  This isn't a card...it's currently standing on the shelf in my craftroom.  I doubt I'll part with it, lol.

This is one of the large easels from Pinflair, but instead of using the 'canvas' that comes with them, I cut my own sized backing from mountboard and then my fave card that I use when I colour with Promarkers.
I started by stamping and masking my design (obviously, lol).  The group of images on the left is a combination of 3 images from each of the stamp sets.

Cutting the masks was a bit of a nightmare as there's some really fiddly bits, but once I'd finished checking my stamping, I reapplied the masks and started to colour my background using distress ink pads.  The sand is Wild Honey and I used Peacock Blue and Shabby Shutters for the sea.

When the background was finished I set to with my Promarkers to colour the rest in.  I really enjoyed colouring these images, they have such clean lines and stamp beautifully.  When I'd finished my colouring, I added a bit of texture.  To the two pots I applied a one step crackle and some red liquid pearls on the sea urchin.  I added a pile of glossy accents along the base then applied clear micro beads and I have to say, I love how it turned out.

The treasure didn't quite look 'rich' enough, so a bit of glitter was added to the gold coins.

Something else was needed, although I wasn't sure what but then I got out my Twinkling H2O's.  I haven't used these for a couple of years and it was nice to play again.  On some of the plants, I painted over with a green H20, but the main thing was the mermaids tail.  I used ummmm, wonderful white is it? something like that, lol.  This gives her tail a lovely sheen and a different look depending on what angle you're looking at it from.

I added some more micro beads to the tops of her rocks and used opal liquid pearls for the bubbles.  The sentiment is from Sheena Douglass'  stamp set 'A Little Bit Sketchy'. Finally, the whole lot was brushed over with Liquitex Gloss Medium/Varnish which really lifted the colours.

The last step was to colour the easel, apply crackle finish to it and stamp, colour and cut a couple of elements to stick on it.
I totally loved creating this and I will definitely be using these stamps a lot more.

Entering into:
INKY CHICKS #8 - Masking.
LADY ANNE'S STAMP CHALLENGE #10 - Use a stamp.
SPARKLE & SPRINKLE July - Anything but a card.
WORD ART WEDNESDAY #88 - Anything goes with a sentiment.
PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - Old, new, borrowed or blue. (new stamps).
HOUSE OF GILLI #53 - Bright colours and anything goes.
LEXI'S CREATIONS #94 - For a friend.
LOVE TO SCRAP #9 - Anything goes.
MY CRAFT CREATIONS 8/7 - Anything goes.
CRAFTS AND ME #138 - Anything goes.

BIRTHDAY GIRL.

Time for challenge #176 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS and this week's challenge is to follow a sketch.

The sponsor this week is INKY IMPRESSIONS with a prize of  a $10 voucher.  I used an Inky image called 'Birthday Girl', but I sat her on 'Whimsical Log' from Make it Crafty.  My papers are Basic Grey 'Konnichiwa' - something else that's been in my stash for god knows how long so time it was used,  the ribbon is seam binding and a few pearls in the corner finished it off.

Entering into:

CAN YOU DIGI IT #39 - Summer smiles.

LADYBUG CRAFTS (until 5th Aug) - Birthdays.

OLDIE BUT A GOODIE - In the garden.

USE IT TUESDAY #59 - Birthday.

KAISERCRAFT RECIPE BOX

Not that I'll be using it for recipes though.  I've not labeled the partitions yet until I decide what to put in it.
I just love all things Kaisercraft so couldn't resist this.  Paper is from a K & Co pad 'Life's Journey'.  Bazzill cardstock, Cheery Lynn and Spellbinders dies.
I covered the whole lot with gesso first and then painted it with Americana Honey Brown paint.

The photo's are of my son, daughter and gorgeous grandchildren and I made my own sentiment for the front panel.  The cardstock looks a tad bright on the pics, but it's not in real life.  It's a much better match for the paper which was inked with brushed corduroy distress ink to tone it down a bit.  I also stamped on all the cardstock inside using a flower stamp that was a magazine freebie eons ago.

Entering into:
CRAFT MY LIFE - Anything goes but NO cards.
ANYTHING BUT A CARD - Getting messy.
INKY CHICKS #7 - Anything goes.

SUNFLOWERS AND BUTTERFLIES

OMG!  What has happened to the British Climate?  I know everybody's probably sick of talking about it, but it's beyond a joke now.  We had 2 hours sunshine on Sunday, so I got my lawn mowed and did some deadheading and that's been it for over a month.  It's so overcast, cold and windy, I actually resorted to putting the heating on for a bit yesterday.

Anyway, onwards and upwards!  This week is challenge #175 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS and our theme is a photo inspiration..blues, yellows and butterflies.  The sponsor is POLKA DOODLES and there's a terrific CD as the prize.  I chose to use one of my new paper pads from Prima, the Sun Kiss collection.

My stamp (rubber) is Sugar Nellie's 'Country Garden'. I've had it for around 4 years so thought it was about time she got an airing.  She is backed onto a Spellbinders die cut, the border and butterflies are Cheery Lynn dies and the leaf flourish is a Marianne.   Oh yeah, the die I was looking for last week....is now sitting in my ever growing die collection. *big grin*

Entering into:
CREATED WITH LOVE #48 - For the girls.
OLDIE BUT A GOODIE - Butterflies.
C IS FOR CHALLENGE #1 - Flowers.
BEARLY MINE #93 - Anything goes.
CRAFTY CATZ #189 - Say it with flowers.
613 AVENUE CREATE #26 - Anything goes.
CRAFTING FOR ALL SEASONS #55 - Make it girly. TOP 3
OSAAT #170 - Anything goes.
LOVES RUBBER STAMPS #59 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #147 - Anything goes.