Crafty Catz Challenge Card

I've never made a card using just two colours, and as I'm having a week of firsts, thought I'd have a go. This is what I came up with:

Materials:
Cardbase made from A4 cardstock
Background paper - K & Co Dorset Blocks
Embossing - Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers Embossing Folder, which was then dusted with green chalk
Scalloped Circle cut using Sizzix Bigz Scalloped Circle
Scalloped edges created by using X-cut Scalloped Border Punch
Butterflys - punched using X-cut Dimensional Butterfly Punch, then glazed with Glitz 3D Glitter Glue
Sentiment Tag - punched using Fiskars Tag Punch, sentiments printed from computer onto Safmat by Letraset
Diamontes - from stash
Card Candy - Craftwork Cards

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Catz
Creative Cottage
Flutter By Wednesday's
Quixotic Challenges
Pollycraft Monday Challenge

The Cheats Diamond Spring Card

I'm really enjoying making different card shapes and styles. I watched Create & Craft the other day and saw some fab card bases but nearly  fainted at the price! So I decided that Google would be my friend for the day and that I'd see if I could find an idiots how to guide! Well as you can see I was sucessful and found this fab tutorial. I initially made the card using basic A4 cardstock, but then decided that the card wasn't quite big enough for my purpose, and as I didn't want to use my lovely 12 x 12 card to make a 6" square card that I'd either have to go shopping or come up with an alternative plan.

After thinking about it and studying the card, I thought that maybe I could use a 6" x 6" premade card base. Guess what? It worked! So I have one fab card base made in less than 2 minutes - result!

As usual I spent ages faffing around trying to decide on my layout. Finally I decided that I'd try and follow this sketch:

As you can hopefully see, I have rotated and shrunk the image. The card looks a bit wonky in picture, it's not, it's just my bad photgraphy! Also, I'm still struggling to find the best way to use flowers on my cards, but I hope this works. Any hints or tips will be gratefully received.

Anyway, far too much waffling from me, so here it is, my cheats Diamond Spring Card:

Materials:

Image  - Simply Cards & Papercraft freebie, coloured using Promakers

Frame - White cardstock coloured with Promarkers, die cut with Nellie Snellen MFD003

Papers - MME freebie

Flowers - from stash

Ribbon - from stash coloured with Promarkers

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Inspirational Card Sketches

Passion for Promarkers

Crafty Cardmakers

Cute Card Thursday

Creative Card World

Oyster Stamps, Chatham and My New Stash

Didn't get to go to the NEC, but DH had booked a day off of work and arranged for the kids to be taken care of by my Mum. Why? Because he's been working away so much recently he figured that it would be nice to take me out and treat me to a day of my choice (Birmingham was still a no go though! Boo hiss!!).

I didn't have a clue where I wanted to go or what I wanted do (other than visit the Papermill), so he suggested that I looked to see where abouts other than Ashford we could go. The store locator showed there was one in Chatham. As we hadn't ever been to Chatham, we decided that we'd head for there and if it wasn't very good that we'd either go to Lakeside or Ashford. I then remembered that Oyster Stamps was also in Kent and after a quick address check we discovered that it was very close to Chatham. So I ended up visiting Oyster Stamps, Chatham Dockside Outlet and then Ashford's McArthur Glenn Designer Outlet. Spent heaps more than I intended, but now have some lovely stash and won't have to trawl the internet for freebie papers. This may or may not speed up my card making - I think that I'm not naturally one of the most talented card makers there are ;0)

I also got a big pile of gorgeous papers which I haven't pictured and I've also included my Basic Grey Archiac Stamps that I received this morningfrom the Craft Superstore:

Passion for Promarkers Sketch Challenge

I really enjoyed following the sketch that was set on MSE, so decided to give the sketch on PFP a go. I really liked this sketch as it has infinate possibilites. I flipped it upside down, but really liked it on its' side too. This is the sketch I followed:

 

and this is the card I made:

Ingredients:

Card base from stash

Papers - All papers from Raspberry Road Designs

Decorative Borders - X-Cut Scallop Punch and Woodware Movie Strip Punch

Image - free from Simply Cards & Papercraft Magazine, coloured with Promarkers (colours used: Ivory, Cool Grey 4, Bright Green, Lime Green, Canary Yellow, Rose Pink & Bright Orange)

Chiffon Ribbon - Tesco

White Ribbon - from stash

Pink Ribbon - as above but coloured with Rose Pink Promarker

Card Candy - from Craftwork Cards, then coloured with Promarkers (Rose Pink)

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Passion for Promarkers
Crafty Cardmakers

An Easter Card for Lyndach's MSE Challenge

Well this is the first time I have followed a sketch and I think I liked it! However, I'm not sure I can say the same for the actual card :0(

This is for my friends little boy who is almost three.

Here's the sketch I followed:

and here's my card:

I turned the sketch sideways and used the following to make the card:

Card blank from stash

Papers - freebies from a magazine

Sentiment - Die cut from Sizzix Slobbery Kiss, colured with Sky Blue Promarker

Image - from here, water coloured using Whispers Watercolour Pens and a Water Barrel Brush, mounted on card from stock which has been coloured with Sky Blue Promarker

Embellishments - Card Candy from Craftwork Cards coloured with Sky Blue Promarker, Buttons tied with white ribbon from stash

I'd like to enter this card into  the following challenges:
MSE Lyndach's Sketch Challenge
Paper Cutz

Bangle and Pizza Box - A Little Something for Mum

I hope you've all had a fab Mother's Day. I have been totally spoilt and feel a tad guilty that DH, is as we speak washing up and making a coffee - well ok not that guilty ;0)

This is the last of my Mother's makes (have to confess I almost forgot to blog these!).

Emerald Green Wire & Bead Bangle

Mini Pizza Box - I lined it with purple tissue paper prior to placing the bangle in the box

Well this morning was interesting as we had a slight breakdown in communication in the household! DH had assumed that I was making his Mum's card, but I'd assumed that he was buying one. The reason I hadn't made her card was simply that she isn't into homemade items and I wasn't sure that a card made by little ol' me would be too well received. 

Anyway, to cut a long story short I made one and she was thrilled!

Here it is:

To make the card I used:
MME Papers
Scalloped Circle - Sizzix Die
Image - from here, coloured with Promarkers, decoupaged and then frosted with Stickles
Sentiments - printed from PC then frosted with Stickles
Ribbon - from stash coloured with Promarkers

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Gingersnap Creations
Secret Crafter
Paper Cutz
Ooh-la-la-Creations
Cute Daisy May
Lily-Boo Too

Decoupage - Mother's Day Card

As usual I've left things to the last minute and have spent the last couple of days in frenzied crafting mode! I made this card for my Gran (I know she's not my Mum, but we are very close and as she's pretty much housebound these days, so it's nice to have an extra excuse to see her and take a little something with me).

Here's the card I made for her:

I used the following to make this card:

MME papers
Scalloped circles - Sizzix 
Sentiment - computer generated, cut with a deckle edged blade and then edged with a gold gel pen
Image - free from here, coloured with Promarkers and then decoupaged.
Ribbon - white from stash, coloured with Promarkers

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenge:


Creative Craft World

Karate Kid!

It was a very important day in our household today, DS aged 8 went for his first grading at Karate. Whilst his Dad took him, I stayed at home and quickly made a card. DD thought this was "a way bad idea - as it'll jinx him!!" Fortunately, he passed with flying colours and is now the very proud holder of a red belt.

I'm quiet pleased with the way this card turned out. However, I must buy some more Promarkers, as DS is a blondie and when I tried to do the hair blonde it went daffodil yellow - lol, so, I've blended it with cinnamon and he's kind of gone a strawberry blonde colour! I also need to practice getting the tones right on the hair!

Materials used:
Card Blank from The Works
Script Backing Paper - freebie from the internet
Red Paper - from my stash
Karate Figure - Sizzix die cut, coloured and shaded using Promarkers

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:
allsorts challenge blog

Mother's Day Card

Writing up dates in my diary, it suddenly dawned on me that Mother's Day is in the not too distant future - yikes! So I've spent part of the weekend making a card and gift for her.

My Mum loves green, doesn't matter what shade as long as it's green! So of course that had to be the basis of her card and gift (more of the gift later!). I wanted to make an easel card using another rich colour scheme and the gorgeous butterfly stamps I bought the other week, so, this is what I came up with:

 

Front View

 

Side View

Materials used:
Base card - Green shimmer card by Inspirations
Flowers - Purple shimmer card by Inspirations, Sizzix Daisies Die, Army & Navys Card Candy by Craftwork Cards
MUM - stamped using SeeD's Alphabet Stamps, then embossed using Gold Heat It Up
Butterflies - stamped using the Butterfly & Sentiments Set from EJ Designs, then embossed as above.
Butterfly trail - Versamark Embossing Pen and Heat It Up Gold Embossing Powder 
Ribbon - purple ribbon from stash
Scalloped Panels - X-Cut Edging Punch
Embellishments - Army & Navys Card Candy by Craftwork Cards

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge
Prairie Fairy Fridays
Cute Card Thursday
Craft Challenge
Lili of the Valley Thursday Challenge
Pixie Dust Studio Pixie Challenge
Lexi's Creations
Crafty Cardmakers

Butterfly Thank You Card

It seems like ages since I last blogged. I have been busy crafting, but just not producing anything! I've decided to try some new techniques and products. I've had loads fun and made lots of mess! Oh and I've aquired very inky fingers!

Anyway, I have managed one make this week - a thank you card for a very lovely lady from MSE (I haven't been able to post it before now as I didn't want to ruin the surprise for her).

I warn you now, I've been to the premiere of Alice in Wonderland and it has inspired me to use rich and vibrant colours. So sunglasses on, and here it is:



I made the card using:
Poppy Red Silk Weave Card by Inspire Me

Purple Card from a pack of off-cuts

The Butterflies & Sentiments were stamped and heat embossed in gold (stamps by EJ Designs and Heat It Up Embossing Powder). I then coloured the butterflies using Ruby (R455) and Amethyst (V626) ProMarkers

Card Candy which I drew some swirls on and then heat embossed

I'd like to enter the card into the following challenges:
Crafty Cardmakers (tri-colour scheme, analogous)
Passion for ProMarkers (Back to Nature)