creativity outlet

New Home

2011-08-21T23:54:00.002+01:00

I was asked to make a new home card for a friend. This is the first of several that I intend to make for her to choose from.

The inspiration for this card came from a metal tag that I used as a template. (I hope that this is legal!)

I Set My Own Challenge

2011-08-20T23:50:00.004+01:00

CAS-ual Fridays challenge week is to:

Create a Clean And Simple project that features embossing--

dry embossing, embossing folders, or heat set embossing.

I decided to add my own challenge in making my card. I wanted only to use dry embossing - no stamping! I have a number of embossing folders that I haven't used and this was a great opportunity to give three of them their first airing.

Unusually for me, I chose a white DL card for the base. I rarely use this size but I am now warming to it. The silver card used for the embossing came from a DCWV Metallic Stack that I bought cheaply at Hobbycraft. It has a linen texture which, unfortunately, doesn't show in the pic.

Resources:

Craft Concepts- Dandelion Whisper

Happy Birthday - Papermania

Stampin' Up/ Sizzix Embossing Folder

silver ribbon

A New Technique

2011-08-18T14:36:00.003+01:00

The challenge this week over at Less is More is to USE INK. I have chosen to try a new technique.

The are a huge number of amazing cards submitted this week and am going to have my work cut out looking at them all. I have already seen some techniques that I would like to try.

The inspiration for the card came from one that I saw made by Joanne Wardle in June's Craft Stamper. She was demonstrating the technique of masking and had used a Paper Artsy stamp that looked like ink splodges. I love masking and use it often in my card making but I liked the splodgy effect so decided to improvise.

My version
I placed a Post it Note at the bottom of a cream card base before inking so that it would produce a clean line. The stamped butterflies were masked before inking a piece of Cut and Dry foam an applying it to the card to give a gradient effect. I then dropped clean water on to the inked surface. I finished by embossing a line below the image and adding the sentiment.

A Double Challenge

2011-08-15T16:09:00.001+01:00

Clean and Simple and CAS-ual Fridays have joined forces to give us a combined Challenge. This week it is this sketch:

I have responded by making two cards.

I have used resist technique for the teasel stamp with VersaMark and then applied Walnut Stain Distress Ink before stamping with a Crafty Individuals script. The band of Chipped Sapphire DI was created by masking. I was a little stumped when it came to the sentiment as I don't have a stamp small enough to fit into the allotted space..........so I'm afraid that I had to resort to.........a peel off!

This second card is a CASE of the first. This time I used Old Paper Distress Ink. The "string" is just slivers that were the result of trimming the card slightly. I have always thought of making use of these.....and now I have.

A potted plant

2011-08-11T23:53:00.001+01:00

Orchids have been my favourite potted plants for some time now. They are such givers. I purchased one in Ikea in February of this year and it lost its last flower at the beginning of this month. I like to rescue the sorrier specimens from the bargain shelves in the supermarket or garden centre. I get such a kick when I see the new shoot appearing that I know will produce another spectacular display. I am not alone in this practice - There was the other lady in the supermarket who shared her load of bedraggled "past their sell by dates" with me when I looked longingly into her trolley......or more recently, the discovery that a friend's house was beginning to be a hospital for sick orchids.

So, when I saw the Hero Arts Potted Plant stamp on that auction site, I wanted it.
Here is my first card using this stamp.

It was a bit tricky to ink it as I had to apply the different colours without contamination. The patterned background paper is from K & Company. I layered pink card with a torn edge on to this before adhering the stamped, torn and inked edged topper. Of course, I couldn't leave this alone...........I double stamped flowers and pot and then decoupaged them. Subtle but I like...........

Scotland the Brave

2011-08-07T21:05:00.001+01:00

As the challenge this week at Less is More is:

COLOURS

YOUR NATION'S FLAG!

I had no more ado than to get out my faithful thistle stamp.

I decided to incorporate the Scottish Flag into my design. This was done by masking strips of paper and applying ink using an Ink Duster. On my first attempt I used Broken China Distress Ink but my husband said that it was the wrong colour. This time I used Impress Lavender which is actually blue. I hope he approves!

Something different....

2011-08-05T23:40:00.001+01:00

I thought that I should use some of the jewellery making supplies that I have accumulated over recent months (nae years). I have made various items as gifts in the past but would really like to take it on board as one of my main crafts. I have a real desire to use silver clay. This reminds me that I told this to a real jewellery designer last week, and, by an amazing coincidence, she was intending to make her very first piece in this medium that very day! For those of you that know Aberdeen, she sells lovely jewellery from her home in North Square in Fittie.

Anyway, I bought this linked stretch bracelet ( Doncaster - I'm beginning to think that I spent more than I had thought!) and added pink freshwater pearls and flat, circular shell beads. The bracelet comes with links already in place to attach the head pins with the beads on. Of course, not entirely happy with it ........ I should buy my own tools and not borrow them from my husband's toolbox..... that might make a difference.

It's great to take another direction once in a while.

Sweet Friendship

2011-08-04T23:20:00.005+01:00

I needed a card for a friend. Not for any special occasion .... just to say hello after not seeing her for a while.

I used the sketch from Clean and Simple Challenge blog.

I have begun to save some of the sketches for later use....for when the mojo has left the building!

Here is the card that I made. I love this gingham ribbon. I don't let it go unless it is for something special. I have kept to one of my favourite colour schemes - white, black and red. A little bling doesn't go amiss for a friend either!

Resources:

Sentiment - Hero Arts

Red acrylic gems

Gingham ribbon

6" by 6" card blank

Border punch

Red and white cardstock

Less is More Challenge

2011-08-02T23:51:00.001+01:00

Week 26 of the Less is More challenge is entitled FEELING FRUITY. As I am not in lateral thinking mode, I searched my stamp collection for fruit of any description. And all I have is the set of Stampin' Up Tart and Tangy stamps.

I chose to make this one very simple......only including one stamp and a sentiment. Additional interest is achieved by matting and layering (Why do I now hate that phrase???) I use a large paper cutter to cut paper and card and it was quite a job to get the measurements correct. I did it " by eye" (Oh no! yet another of those phrases.)

Feeling that the end result was a bit flat, I stamped the apple again, cut it out and used 3D foam pads to give it "dimension". ( Another word that I cringe when using!)

I've Been Thinking......

2011-08-01T23:41:00.001+01:00

Yes, I've been thinking about the Cas-ual Fridays challenge and have decided to try again. This is such an unusual size of card for me so it was very much a challenge.

I wanted to create a more CAS card at my second attempt and here it is.....one layer.

Mind you, I don't think that I can truthfully describe it as one layer because I stamped the baubles on to patterned paper before cutting them out and gluing them to the card.

A few gems and my trusty Stickles completed my effort. The stamp is another Doncaster purchase... to add to my earlier confessions!

PS: I don't usually make Christmas cards this early. More last minute is my style.

CAS-ual Fridays 13

2011-07-31T20:31:00.001+01:00

This weeks challenge at CAS-ual Fridays involves the use of a 4" by 9" base card. Funnily enough I have promised myself to try differing my card shapes. I have been hooked into 6" by 6" cards for some time now.

Seeing as I still had the Trendy Trees roller out on the desk from my last post, I decided to use it again.

I cut a tree shape from ribbed card to create an embellishment and two stamped trees before mounting them on to Nestabiliites die cuts. The background is kraft that I rescued from an old manilla folder. I really must source some of the proper stuff!

I'm a bit worried that the result is a bit fussy for a CAS card. I have another in mind so I may add it to this post when I am done.

Trendy Trees - First Airing

2011-07-28T23:51:00.000+01:00

I have made several purchases lately - mostly Hero Arts stamps. I feel a little guilty that I have still a number of items that I've had for some time that have not seen the light of day since I bought them. The Stampin' Up Trendy Trees wheel is one such item. So I inked it up and away I went.

I began by just running the stamp across some white card. I then, inadvertently, turned the roller round and ended up with an upside down row. So this card was born!

I used a layer of Kraft paper, finishing off the bottom edge with a border punch. Some of the trees from my other practice runs were cut out and attached to the base card with 3D foam squares.

Okay this has assuaged my guilt ......but only a little!

New stamps

2011-07-25T23:54:00.002+01:00

This is the first card that I have made from one of my Doncaster purchases.

The clear stamp set is by Inkadinkado and is called Meadow and I know that I will find many uses for it.

I chose this A6 landscape with a side fold for this card. I get into a rut with a particular style of base card so I thought that I would give this one a go. I used a brayer on photocopying paper fro the background. I am still a little unsure of myself with using the brayer directly on to the card as I have made many mistakes with this process. I find, for the moment, that it is easier to cut my selection and then fix it to the card. I still had to mask this in order not to overlap the foreground stamp. I stamped the single foliage before using Stickles to add a little sparkle. The sentiment is from Hero Arts ( of course).l

Ribbon and Button challenge

2011-07-24T20:41:00.004+01:00

The Less is More challenge this week tasks us to include ribbons or buttons. I have chosen to use both..... if a button brad is allowed.

This is a variation on the card from my previous post..........approximately the same layout but using different materials. I took the inspiration for the colours from the ribbon that I chose to use. The base card is navy blue and I used a polka dot cuttlebug folder to emboss the lime green card. The sentiment is one of a set of long lost stickers. The "button" is a brad from my collection.

Cas-ual Fridays 12 Challenge

2011-07-23T00:06:00.003+01:00

The challenge this week was to include stickers or rub ons on the card. I used to use sentiment rub ons quite a bit before I switched to computer generated text. I love the process of transferring them - it's a little magical.

I did wonder if peel offs could be classed as stickers. I am embarassed by the number of these that I have. I have thought recently that I should either put them in the bin, or find inventive ways of using them up.

I included a sticker on my submission.

This came as leftovers from a card kit that I purchased some years ago and I'm so glad that I've found a reason to use it. The ribbon came from the same kit and was part of a similar card to this if I remember correctly. So I should probably say that this is a CASE of that original even if it is stored in my convoluted brain. The colours of the ribbon dictated the colours of card that I chose.

I cut a rectangle to house the sticker, rounded the corners and cut a slit for the ribbon to go through. I sacrificed one of my button brads.......I hate parting with them..... to secure the ribbon. 3D foam pads were my method of fixing the tag to the card base.

Fly Away

2011-07-21T23:49:00.000+01:00

Took a break from cardmaking (only for today!) and made this small 11 1/2 cm framed butterfly collage. I purchased the frame cheaply, knowing that I would eventually find a use for it. "Eventually" was only three weeks so I am rather pleased that I have saved it from its rather boring original content in record time.

I used a mixture of Martha Stewart and other punches, cutting them from hot pink glitter card. I debated long and hard about the backing but finally decided to keep to the sparkly theme with white glitter card.

Love it and may keep it.

A Trio of Cupcakes

2011-07-20T23:24:00.003+01:00

I am so far behind this week! I have spent today tidying..........actually I misplaced a sentiment that I wanted to use and I am unable to search without tidying. I didn't find it but things are now more organised.The problem with buying things that I need, is that I have to find somewhere to ~~hide~~ put them.

Everything is in its place so here is my late submission to the Cas-ual Fridays 11 Challenge. This week it's Sweets and Treats.
The Task : Create a Clean And Simple project using a sweet or a treat.

Now the sentiment that I was looking for was "Have a Sweet Birthday" Never mind, it'll turn up."

I kept it clean and simple. The squares were cut with a punch and then stamped with the cupcakes and coloured them with Promarkers. I embossed lines to create a channel for them to sit in. I used 1mm 3D foam squares to adhere them to the base card before applying stickles to the icing on the cakes. Had to make do with the Happy Birthday sentiment.

Top Gear

2011-07-19T21:58:00.000+01:00

Just getting back into gear after my trip away. Talking of gear(s), I bought a set of Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets dies at Doncaster that inspired me to make this card for this week's Less is More Challenge. The theme is CIRCLES and I thought that these dies would do the job.

I used copper coloured mirri card and a computer generated font.

Gone to the Races

2011-07-16T21:17:00.000+01:00

Our second day over at the Summer Craft Event at Doncaster Race Course. Susy and I spent yesterday at a marathon Workshop lead by Stephanie Weightman and Nancy Watt.

It was extremely warm outside so many took their breaks outside overlooking the racecourse. A local lady gave me a potted history of the racecourse as we stood on the grandstand enjoyying the cooler air.

220 crafters sat at 22 tables to make 4 projects An extremely enjoyable event full of fun and friendship but we were left with a problem at the end. All equipment and materials that we had used were ours to keep and take home. What is the problem here? Well one item was a stack of 360 papers from K & Company which weighed rather a lot.

Panic..... Would we be able to purchase anything over the next two days that would fit into our cases? Where there is a will, there is a way!

Just a Note to Say...........

2011-07-13T23:11:00.001+01:00

I was blog hopping aimlessly the other day when I came across the Little Musings blog. I knew the name as I had seen some stamps that had been produced with the same title. It turns out that this is the blog of the designer - SJ. So from here I went to her digital stamp shop. I purchased a typewriter digi stamp set. Now, I had the Hero Arts typewriter stamp on my "list" but a digi gives you so much flexibility.... £1.50 for 11 files ..........who could resist?
Here is a set of note cards that I made.

I typed the sentiment myself, although there is a selection of texts provided within the files. The sleeve is made from black card and I reduced the size of the digi to use as an embellishment with the help of Nestabilities dies. Word wouldn't let me insert small enough text though.

I have a feeling that I will be back to SJ's shop again.

On another note, I'm off to Doncaster tomorrow with my friend, Susy, so I will not be able to join my usual challenges....or to blog. It is the Summer Crafting Event, much larger that the one that we go to in Glasgow twice a year. I know quite a few of the exhibitors from the SECC but there are lots of others that I haven't seen before. It will be an adventure if nothing else! My main aim, as usual, will to prevent Susy from spending too much. She has everything already. Having said this, as I am so occupied with the afore mentioned task, I don't keep a check of my own spending!

CAS-ual Fridays 10

2011-07-12T08:22:00.004+01:00

This week's challenge is shaped cards.
It has taken me a few days to think this one through. In the end I got out my Silhouette and downloaded a shaped card from the site.

I decided on a male theme so I chose this starry paper to cover it. Having said that, it is equally suitable for a female. Once this was done, I used diecut stars and 3D foam pads to decorate. The Silhouette did the hard work for me!

I haven't used my Sillouette much since I received it as a birthday gift. I need to spend some time playing with it.

Hoppy Together

2011-07-10T18:43:00.005+01:00

This was the sentiment that took me ages to decide on when making my card for the Less is More Challenge 23. The brief: A ONE LAYER CARD including SOMETHING WITH LEGS.

What's more, I decided on it after I had stamped the Penny Black toads. From there ensued a lot of head scratchimg and pondering about how to get the card through the printer with the sentiment in the correct position. My laser printer refused to accept it and spat it out. However, the inkjet was kinder and the result is as shown. I used MS Publisher to place the text. Because the card is landscape, I was able to rotate the text so it had the correct orientation.

I will now keep this file so that I can print two cards with sentiments....before stamping.

As I am sure that you will realise, the stamping was the easy part. I used watercolour pencils to colour the toads then masked them before applying blue ink with Cut and Dry foam to create a watery background. I added a clear glaze to the the frogs but it does not show very well. I think that I'll try Crystal Lacquer as it has a thicker consistency. Never happy!!!!!

It's early yet, I might just go and make a couple more of these.

Update

I had this card set aside, just stamped without colour or sentiment. It fits the LIM criteria for this week so I have completed it. It is too dark outside to take a photo in natural light so it is rather dull.

I'm not sure when I got the stamp but it must be a long time ago. There is no maker's name on it either.

I coloured with watercolour pencils and added Stickles to give little dimension.

Simple, but I have a few thank you notes to send so I can make more quickly.

Nothing but Blue Skies

2011-07-09T17:43:00.006+01:00

Now you may think that I am talking about the weather outside but I'm afraid that the sky here has been filled with rain clouds on and off for the past few days, so no inspirartion there.

No the blue skies are the ones that I have been trying to incorporate into a card for the OLW 61 challenge hosted by Jennifer Styles. The theme is Clouds this week. I don't have a suitable stamp so off I went to Youtube to find out how to paint clouds.

Well two days later, and several discarded attempts at watercolouring with pencils and paints, I went back to have a look at how the other entrants had fared. KathyB had used a template provided by Bev Rochester. Eureka! So thank you to Kathy for giving the means to complete this card and for emptying the space in my brain that it has been occupying.

Back to my favourite masking technique. It wasn't allowed in last week's challenge and I was having withdrawal symptoms. I have a WRMK magnetic cutting mat which comes in handy when I need to keep things in situ like this. It came with small magnets that I placed on the mask and card. I wouldn't be without them. It saves using tape.

So I cut out Bev's template and sponged/blended, with Rubber Stampede Ocean Blue ink and Cut and Dry foam . More sponging/blending with Versamark Fresh Green .....again masking with torn paper for the hills. The stamps are from Lavinia Stamps- Poppies set , I think. I used Distress Inks - Stormy Sky ( appropriate!) here and Versafine for the Hero Arts sentiment.

Upcycling?

2011-07-08T00:21:00.000+01:00

Now , I have had the recycling bug for many years. I taught children the importance of looking after our environment and felt that I had to practice what I preached. In the early days I am sure that I spent more money on petrol than I did on saving with my recycling. I approached my local councillor back then to complain about the lack of recyclying points locally only to be told that he agreed with me but that there was no plan to increase the service. Things have changed! How does this rambling relate to craft..............well I recently discovered the term "upcycling". Good old Google ...........upcycling maintains or improves the quality of the materials. So I think that this note holder fits into this category. I purchased the original from a pound shop and covered it with K and Co papers. I added the 3D flower and a sizzix die cut as embellishment.

Never too late

2011-07-06T23:52:00.004+01:00

I have just got round to making a card for CAS-ual Fridays' challenge, today. We had to "create a Clean And Simple masculine project using kraft."

Now, you can't get more masculine than this scene. Having said this, I have been a McEwan's Heavy drinker since my student days.

Now, that's not "heavy drinker"............McEwan's Heavy is the beer.

Not that I have had much chance to sample it in recent years.

I used the E K Success binder punch. I coveted this for ages before I finally bought it. The image is mounted on to dark brown card and the sentiment has been stamped with S U Chocolate Chip.

The stamp is by Personal Impressions and I coloured it with watercolour
pencils. To give the pint mug the look of glass, I applied glossy accents to it.

I have a recipient in mind so this is another card that I will have to remember where it is located when the time comes!

Shades of Blue

2011-07-05T15:23:00.007+01:00

SHADES of BLUE is the title for this week's Less is More challenge .

The brief:

"You can use a white card base, but we do want to see more than one colour of blue, not just one!"

This is my submission

I bought several Crafter's Workshop 6x6 templates a while ago but these, until now, had not seen the light of day! I attached the butterfly one to a 15cm square card with a little Blu Tack ( I love Blu Tack - it has got me out of a number of tight spots - not all crafty!!) This then acted as a mask when I applied a mixture of Stormy Sky Distress Ink and Impress Lavender.

I stencilled the dragonfly and two of the butterflies on white card and cut them out. This time I used Broken China Distress Ink and Adirondack Denim.

Now my weapon of choice to apply the ink was........a shaving brush. It was a new one that my dad hadn't got round to using. I am going to Doncaster next week and , at the top of my shopping list are those Ink Duster Blending brushes. However, the shaving brush will stay in my toolbox. I'm sure that I will find another use for it.

Finally,I though that a little bling was in order, so............. out came the Stickles.

The sentiment is from a set by Personal Impressions which I attached with 3D foam pads.

You can see that I shaped the wings before gluing to the base.

Butterfly Collage

2011-07-04T23:34:00.002+01:00

I made a card the other day for my friend's daughter and son-in-law on the birth of their baby girl. It was this card but in pink.

Recently, to celebrate the birth of a colleague's baby daughter, I gave a gift of an elephant punch collage and I enjoyed making it so much that I decided that I would work on similar lines for this new arrival.

The papers used are just scraps that I have kept in a folder and often wondered why they don't just go in the bin.

It's so satisfying to know that I have used every available centimetre of a sheet of paper!!!

I printed the text on the computer in MSWord and then used a nestabilities circle die as a guide to place the butterflies. I was originally going to cut a circle with the die for this purpose then thought ...duuhh.. why?

Initially, I though that I would only have to place the outer ring of butterflies but I decided to add the smaller ones to give definition to the text.

OLW 60 - Quick Layers of Ink

2011-07-03T20:05:00.003+01:00

I've had a busy week, culminating in my participation in the Aberdeen Race for Life today.

So it was great that Susan decided that this week's challenge over at the Simplicity blog had to contain only quick stamping...........no masking or sponging.

I used stamps from a set by Close to my Heart (Find Your Style)

The inks are Impress, Cerulean Blue and Adirondack, Slate.

3 Down, 1 to Go.

2011-07-01T23:55:00.001+01:00

Today I retired from my job as an ICT Development Officer in Education. Not quite sunk in; not sure why I'm going; not sure what I will do with my time.

I have worked in Education for thirty seven and a half years. I, like many of the young teachers today did not give up my post when I had children, so I will finally have to let go of a working life.

Back then, there were none of the benefits, or even acceptance of a full time working mother. I knew of no other teacher in my position in those early days. In fact, I was told by officials that my husband was expected to support me financially.

My friends and I went out for a meal to celebrate another member of "the coven" passing over to the other side. The last of us has a while to go before it is her turn ,so the final photograph will look very different to this! It may include zimmers!!

I do have a craft project to include in this post. I made this album for my colleague Andy, who also retired today.

A Baby Elephant Parade

2011-06-27T18:48:00.005+01:00

I have already submitted a card for this week's CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - Getting Edgy. But when I looked at the brief again,

This week we are Getting Edgy! Use your border punches, rip some cardstock, whatever your pleasure to add a fun edge to your Clean And Simple project!

I realised that I could make another card and concentrate more on creating a "fun edge"

I have a friend whose daughter is expecting a baby so I though a new baby card would be an appropriate choice.

I have used the Martha Stewart elephant punch several times before( here, here and here ) I love to line them up like this so that they look as if they are holding the tails of the one in front of them. It just makes me smile. So I hope that this meets the criteria of a "fun edge"

I made another one with a white base but the large elephant looked lost. This card is slightly textured and a pale blue/grey. I purchased the template for it from Craftwork Cards at the SECC Craft fair. £1 well spent.

Finally, I used a silver Congratulations rub on to complete.

Update
Friend's daughter has had her baby.............It's a girl. Off to make a pink version!

I Belong to Glasgow

2011-06-26T14:45:00.008+01:00

Actually, I don't belong to Glasgow but my son lives there and I love to spend time in the "Dear Green Place". He went to Glasgow University and probably chose it because we had visited so often when he was younger.

It was on a visit to Glasgow that I purchased this stamp at Damselfly Crafts. I knew that my use of it would be limited but I went for it anyway. The landmarks will be easily recognised by anyone who knows Glasgow reasonably well.

I had been looking for a different way of using it when I came up with the idea of stamping sections of the image. This, coupled with this week's challenge over at Less is More, helped me to produce this card.

The circles are what was left over after cutting a mask for a previous card. I stamped parts of the image and then mounted them on black paper with 1mm square pads. The border above and below this strip was achieved by stamping a Celtic stamp several times. I used a stamp positioner to do this after much scratching of head. The logic of this tool escapes me and I have to re-educate myself before I can get going with it every time! I cut the resulting border in half lengthways before gluing it in place.

Unless he sees this post ,(highly unlikely) this is my son's next birthday card. Now all I need to do is to remember where I put it.

The Happy Birthday font is Rennie Mackintosh. I don't know if is readily available for free now as I purchased it several years ago.

PS. "I Belong to Glasgow" is a song and,on the off chance that you may be interested, here are the words.

Getting Edgy

2011-06-25T17:38:00.000+01:00

This is my first entry for CAS-ual Fridays Challenge. Just wandering around blogland when I stumbled across it. The brief was to..... "Use your border punches, rip some cardstock, whatever your pleasure to add a fun edge to your Clean And Simple project!!"

I had just the card in mind.

I used red for the base card and a large Martha Stewart punch for the border. The patterned paper is from a K & Company stack that goes on and on forever. The sentiment is one of the Stampin' Up Wonderful Words. I wish that I had chosen a bolder sentiment because this one cannot compete with the deep red coloured card. Never mind .....next time!

Which way is Up?

2011-06-24T21:30:00.008+01:00

This is what I debated before I added the sentiment. The original plan was to have it standing up portrait syle but it just didn't look right so I turned it on its side before finally deciding about the sentiment. The inspiration for this card came from Simplicity's OLW59 challenge where we were to use this photo as a starting point.

I used my Big Shot and a Nestabilities circle die to cut 3 circles to act as a mask. I stamped flowers on to a post-it note, cut them out and used them to cover the stamped flowers. This enabled a light backround to be created with a sponge dauber and green ink. While these were still in place, I stamped the leaves and the dragonfly. I removed the masks and, because I felt that they needed sometning more, I gave the flowers centres with a Sakura gel pen. Then came the decision about the orientation of the card.

Now, I have a confession - my yellow inkpad was completely dry so, after some thought, I used a Promarker - applying it to the stamp before stamping. I was a little worried about the effect that it would have, so I immediately cleaned the stamp. A couple of hours later and it looks as if it is still intact. Phew!

Note to self: Buy a yellow inkpad tomorrow and use it some more.

Saturday: I just couldn't move on until I made the vertical card that I had orginally thought of.......... so here it is.

I made another mask and positioned the circles closer together. Pleased with this so now I can move on!

It couldn't be more CAS than this.

2011-06-22T23:23:00.003+01:00

It had to be a quick post as I have been out tonight. This could actually have been more CAS if I had not stamped the babygro again and mounted it on foam pads but I couldn't resist the urge.

I had previously printed the sentiment on to card, so it was ready to add an embellishment.
The stamp is from a set by Hero Arts.

Tonight I took part in a Teachmeet that I helped to organise. This is a gathering of teachers and others that are interested in ICT in education, who come together to share resources that they use in the classroom. One of the presentations, interestingly enough, was about blogging........and I thought......crafters could teach them a thing or two!!
My colleague and I retire at the end of this session so it was also an opportunity for us to say goodbye. Sad.... but uplifting to know that there is amazing work happening throughout our city schools. Teachers often get bad press but it was evident tonight that there is an army out there that go the extra mile to use ICT innovatively in their teaching on a daily basis. Special thanks to my crafty friend Susy who used a visualiser to demonstrate teabag folding to the audience. They had to participate, of course and , as well as enjoying the activity, recognised the power of using the visulaiser in the classroom. Job done!

Saved From the Bin

2011-06-21T22:39:00.001+01:00

Look at this. Do you have one of these? It is a plastic tub where I put all of my aborted attempts; whether it be because of an ink smudge, (usually the case) badly positioned matt, oozing glue or just because , after hours of work, I simply don't like it. I live in hope that each and every one of these poor things will be resurrected and live on in another guise - complete and pleasing to the eye without a hint of what lies beneath the background paper or embellishment!

And here is such a card.

Admittedly it was just two little ink marks that spoilt it. Those gems have hidden them to perfection! This card was made a Stampin' Up party and with the help of Elaine Brainwood (Local Stampin' Up demonstrator)

Such pretty paper and stamp. We used an embossing folder - Square Lattice. It gives such a lovely textute to the paper making it look a bit like wallpaper. Of course, I had to have it.

Anyway, I have yet again justified to myself, the need to keep the plastic box of "disasters"

One-Layer Wednesday 58

2011-06-20T15:49:00.009+01:00

This is my first entry to one of Susan's challenges for a while. I'm "back in the groove" at the moment so here we go! However, today is Monday so I am a bit late getting round to it.

This week's One-Layer Wednesday is to use yellow, orange, and aqua on a card. So out came one of my very first stamps. It's wood mounted so it must be old. I masked out the bottom of the stamp - it had Happy Birthday about 5cm below the image that you see here.

I used Promarkers to colour the balloons so it didn't take long to complete. I resisted the urge to glaze the balloons with Crystal lacquer because I'd probably end up with a splodge and spoil the card. Will make another one and try this though.

PS. I would like to say thank you to Susan for favouriting my dandelion card over at SplitcoastStampers this week. It gave me such a warm feeling when I saw it. What would we crafters do without the internet giving us the ability to share our work across the world.

Less is More Challenge 20

2011-06-19T16:31:00.008+01:00

Monogram -is the title of this weeks challenge at Less is More. The inspiration for my card came from a card that I made at friend, Susy's class.

I used my Silhouette to cut the letter, then embossed it with the Swiss dots Cuttlebug Folder and the Big Shot before applying Memento Tuxedo Black with a sponge.

The oval was cut from a piece of copier paper to act as a mask and I used Spun Sugar Distress Ink to create the background. I used the same ink for stamping The stamps are Stampin' Up Pocket Silhouettes and the sentiment is Hero Arts.

I wish that I has a slightly darker colour of ink for the foreground stamp. I just used glitter to visually separate it from the other image.

I am going to make a few more like this with different stamps and colours.

Father's Day

2011-06-18T23:49:00.001+01:00

This post is really just for me. As tomorrow is Father's Day, I have put together a quick card to just to mark the occasion. My dad is no longer here but his creative flair lives on in me. It looks a bit scruffy in the photograph but I know that he would have appreciated it anyway.

Pink Elephants

2011-06-17T23:48:00.001+01:00

It's a while since I have made one of these punched collages. I don't know why make them more often. They are a lovely gift. This has been given to a colleague on the arrival of a precious baby daughter.

I bought the frame from Tesco and gave it a wash with watered down white acrylic paint.This enables the grain of the wood to show through. It can't be any frame - there has to be a gap between the glass and the base for the punched pieces to sit without being squashed flat.

I keep a ridiculous amount of paper offcuts in the hope that I will find a use for them. All of these elephants have been cut from my stash. I (strangely) enjoy all of the measuring, positioning and repositioning that has to happen to produce the finished result.

Resources:

Punch - Martha Stewart

Acrylic Paint

Picture frame

Stamped Tartan

2011-06-16T00:00:00.002+01:00

Now, I can reassure you that this is the final card with my brayered copier paper backgrounds described in previous posts. I'm not saying that I have stopped exploring this technique, only that I am not publishing the cards here. ( for the moment that is.)

When I looked at this particular background, I was immediately reminded of the Harris tweed that reflects the landscape of Scotland. So I overstamped with a checked background stamp that was a free gift from a magazine to give the impression of tartan and then stamped the thistle to finish.

I then mounted it onto back card and used 1mm foam pads to give "dimension". I may add a sentiment later to suit a particular occasion.

On another note, just to not let it go by without me recording it, today I taught my last ICT lesson with a class of 7 and 8yr olds in one of our schools. I will retire in 2 wks as an ICT Development Officer. I am constantly astounded by the way in which children approach technology. It is far easier to work with pupils than it is to train their teachers!

Butterfly Wishes

2011-06-14T23:12:00.006+01:00

Here comes another one of the backgrounds that I created on copier paper with my brayer( see previous post for details) I stamped the butterfly first. This came as part of a set by Close to my Heart that was given to me as a present from my crafting buddy, Susy. The other stamps are as delicious as this one. It doesn't show up on the photograph but the butterfly image contains words such as Fly Free, Believe, dream and Learn.

I looked around for a challenge that I could enter it and came across the Crafts and Me Challenges blog. The theme is Stamp Something (so free reign here) and I reckon this card fits the bill. The only problem is the the challenge finishes in 8 hrs 30mins. There have been 269 submissions so I have made a note to return. Not sure that my card sits comfortably with the other entries though - as I'm in my CAS mode!

Alls Well That Ends Well

2011-06-13T23:38:00.000+01:00

I know that this will be a familiar story for most (all) of you. but I had just finished making my card when I decided to add a final touch. I drew a black line frame around the image and ...yes.... I smudged it. Rather than assign it to the basket of other disasters waiting to be resurrected, I created another stamped image and mounted it on to white card big enough to cover the smudge. This was then glued to the card. No one will know what lies beneath! I refrained from drawing the frame this time though.

The background on this card came from a sheet of cheap copier paper that I was practising with my brayer on. Because it is not "quality", it produced a texture that I loved and decided to use for cards such as these. Just looking at the results inspired me and I made 5 cards in one session, chopping up the best bits into squares and rectangles.

I used:
Brayer , Big and Juicy Inkpad - Mountain Meadow, Sentiment- Hero Arts, scroll stamp-Crafters Companion

On another note.... My niece, Hollie, stayed for part of the weekend and wanted to make a card for her dad. He has a motorbike and I happened to have a stamp from Personal Impressions that fitted the bill.

Here is she and it.

Embossed Frame

2011-06-12T20:54:00.003+01:00

My favourite, favourite stamps have found their way into use again for this CAS card. This is a bit of a departure from my recent makes. I have been using CDs for several weeks now and wanted to get back to my first love - stamping.

The dandelions were stamped over a rectangular mask that I cut from thin card. I then turned the card over and used my light box to emboss the frame.

I felt that the result was a bit flat. I could have heat embossed it if I had used the correct ink but I decided to give it a bit of a sparkle by applying glue by means of Quickie Glue Pen (don'tyou just love these) and adding diamond sparkle glitter. Stamps are from Lavinia Stamps and the ink is Adirondack Currant.

I will enter this into the Less is More challenge which requires a frame to be included in the submission. I am completely in awe of the other entries!

Mo's Challenge 86 - Friendship

2011-06-11T19:24:00.007+01:00

I love Mo Manning's illustrations. I seem to be able to recognise the characters of people that I know. They are cute, without being too cute .........if that makes sense to you!

I visited my collection of Mo's digis to find an image for my Polka Doodles Challenge card and determined to use them some more.

Mo's Design team set a challenge this week based on the following poem:

"A Recipe for Friendship"

Take two people with common interests,

Mix together with love and understanding,

Stir in a sense of humor and a lot of compassion,

Bake for a lifetime...

and enjoy the fruits of your labor knowing that you both have made a remarkable concoction that will last forever!

We were invited to chose one element from the poem and the choice was obvious to me.

The background papers and and flowers are again from the Sugar Birdies CD and the digi stamp was coloured with Promarkers, of course.

For a boy

2011-06-09T23:26:00.001+01:00

I put this card together quite quickly using some co-ordinating papers that came from a 6" x 6" stack.

Yes., those are peel-offs. I need to use them up somehow. These colours make it suitable for boys of all ages.

Polka Doodles Challenge

2011-06-08T23:06:00.003+01:00

I popped over to the Polka Doodles Blog yesterday and decided to take part in their latest challenge. This week the challenge is to make something with a secret - either a hidden message or image.

I had some of the backing papers that I had printed off from the Sugar Birdies CD Rom left over from my previous card so, rather than put them away, I used them as the base for this card.

The digi stamp is one of Mo Mannings - The Tooth Fairy. I used Promarkers to colour and Stickles glitter glue to cover the wings.

The sentiment implies that that the tooth fairy has left something - Is it the card itself? No, when you look inside you see that there is a verse with a message from her and a little envelope which will contain the 5 pence ( who am I kidding) that she has left.

Now, I have a couple of pieces of backing paper left over. What could I do with these?

Polka Doodle ....dandy

2011-06-06T22:45:00.004+01:00

I decided that my first card made from the Polka Doodles Sugar Birdies CD , had to include the flowers that had been cut from my Silhouette.

I particulary like the colour tones on all of the Polka Doodles CDs. Even when they are bright, they have a subtlety to them.

The little girl is a digi stamp incuded on the cd and I used Promarkers, choosing colours that matched the papers.

The other materials used were:

jute string , pink button and 2 Nestabilities dies

There's Been a Murder!

2011-06-05T22:50:00.006+01:00

We went to a Murder, Mystery Evening last night at a friends' house. We were all given characters beforehand and had to be suitably dressed for the occasion.

My husband was to be a suave and dashing French count and had to wear an evening suit. Now, he though that someone was having a laugh because he has none of these characteristics! He wanted to return the joke by wearing one of those tee shirts with a dinner jacket printed on to it. Too late to get from the internet and none available in town, so I said that I would make one myself.

A black teeshirt was found and I drew the shape of the collar and front with tailor's chalk then used a close zig zag stitch on my machine to follow the lines. I sewed on 4 buttons to give a double breated look and a hint of a silver waistcoat ,a bowtie and a silk flower completed the look. Here he is trying, (unsuccessfully) to be suave and dashing

A pillowcase became a maid's apron and hat for my part.

It turned out to be the best fun that I have had in ages and the murderer turned out to be me!

Today's Post, Today

2011-06-04T18:15:00.011+01:00

This is the second post of today..........but the first one was yesterday's.....

My husband bought me a Silhouette for my birthday in February. I had been debating with myself for years about the decision to buy a digital die cutter.

There was the Cricut.... then the Cricut Expression...........then the Pazzles and of course the Craft Robo. I really wanted the option of creating my own designs but the Cricut was so tempting.

In the end, the decision was taken out of my hands and I was pleased about that because I would have still been "haavering" still.

I have not had a lot of time to get to know what this machine can do. Friend, Susy has a Craft Robo and gave me and introductory lesson. My husband is intrigued by it and has had several goes.

Today they were demonstrating the Silhouette on Create and Craft and I learned that you could take the graphic from a CD Rom into the software where you could print and cut.

As I was watching the show, I was cutting out flowers from Polka Doodles Sugar Birdies CD Rom---with scissors.

This is when my husband got involved and worked out how to cut them out digitally. Here are the results of scissor cutting - time taken - approx 20min

Now, here are the flowers that were cut by the Silhouette. Time taken - approx 1min.

Yesterday's Post

2011-06-04T00:12:00.006+01:00

I didn't make it home in time to write yesterday's post so here it is.

I have been to a Stampin' Up Party with talented demonstrator Elaine Brainwood. Great night, great food, great company and great crafting. I have overspent this week on things that I need(?) but it is so difficult to resist when you see such great products. Thank you to Linda Brechin for hosting.

The card that I have chosen to post today is one that was inspired by my eldest son's pet beagle Toby...... I know.........this isn't a beagle but a bassett hound. It was the closest that I could get when I trawled the internet for beagle crafting products. The dog with balloons is a free digi stamp from where I can't remember at the moment but will post later.

I printed the sentiment and the numeral 1 on the computer. I create Word templates for different sizes of cards and these are saved to make it quicker.

I used Promarkers to colour and Glossy Accents on the blue ballooon.

A simple card but I like it.

60 is the new 40

2011-06-02T23:28:00.012+01:00

Another friend celebrated her 60th birthday recently. She is my oldest friend and still as "daft" as she was at 16. Many an adventure we had! When she passed her driving test she took me for a "run" in her father's Zodiak. We did "the ton" on the Fraserburgh road. If my mother only knew.........and her's!!!!!

I took great pleasure in making this gift for her. My only disappointment was that I couldn't find the photograph of her throwing a snowball at me during a school trip to Norway in 1967. Although she would not agree, she shows the same enthusiasim now as she did when she took up her first post in Lochgelly in Fife, 39yrs ago. On an historical note, this is where the belt/strap was made that was used for corporal punishment in schools in Scotland. I shudder at the thought of it now but I had one in my desk when I first started teaching. (Never used it)

Craft Class

2011-06-01T23:41:00.008+01:00

Went to the monthly craft class at friend, Susy's, tonight. Lots of conversation as well as crafting! Most of us are employed in education and as I work with schools in the area of ICT, I was told of a number of problems that they are presently experiencing with computers in their schools. I was happy to take notes (in between glueing, sticking and colouring) so that I could try and get their issues resolved. I really don't mind working after hours!! No... honestly I don't. It reminded me that those working in education eat, sleep and craft their job!

Anyway, here are two of the three cards that we made. I usually photograph in daylight but, as it was dark when I got home, I used my craft light to take the pictures.

I just love the masking technique.

The second card used a stamp from Sheila Douglass. I almost squealed when I saw it as I have been coveting it for ages.

I used Promarkers to colour. There was a third rhinestone but it fell off on the journey home. It might be in the car.

A little rusty

2011-05-30T23:39:00.010+01:00

I haven't produced many cards of late - only the odd one when I have been asked to. This is very unusual for me as I have been making cards several evenings a week for many years. My two previous posts show that I have not been entirely idle though. These projects that I tag as "more than a card" do take quite a time for me to complete. There are a couple more of such makes that I will post in the near future.

Anyway, in order to regain my mojo, I looked to my collection of card samples that I have completed at various classes. This card is based on a card that I made at a Stampin Up workshop at the SECC in Glasgow.

I could only replicate it because my friend Susy loaned me the medallion stamp (note to self - give it back!)

Another Exploding Box

2011-05-29T23:16:00.014+01:00

I was asked by a colleague to make an exploding box for her father's retirement/65th birthday after she had seen one that I had made on my blog. Luckily I had enough materials left from the previous project to carry out her request.

I scanned some photographs that she gave me to include in the finished product. She was delighted with the result- I hope her father is too.

Flower Fairies

2011-05-29T00:08:00.019+01:00

Another of my friends has reached the age of 60. I think back to my youth and remember that I thought that 60 was very, very old. Now I am there I know that it is a very different world today and that I now consider 80 to be old. If I ever reach that age I might then think that 90 was "old"

I used backing papers and a topper from the Enchanted CD Rom of Linda Ravenscroft's illustrations for the easel card. The theme is Gemini which is my friend's star sign.

After I took this photo, I decided to personalise the card by adding her name. I used my Sillouette (the new Craft Robo) to cut a welded name and also the 60 that you see here. I made the paper flower myself using a Sizziz Bigz die - a really handy purchase, especially when you need a particular colour of flower. The flourish is cut from a small die and I added an acetate dragonfly. I applied Stickles to the wings to give them a glittered effect which, unfortunately has not shown up on the photo.

OLW 39 Challenge

2011-02-06T18:46:00.004Z

I struggled a bit with this week's One Layer Wednesday Challenge. The requirements are to use a border stamp, an image, some bling and no sentiment.

I chose the the monkey image first then couldn't find a border stamp to match. My solution was to create one myself with a single leaf and using masking to give a continuous line.

I coloured using Promarkers but had a wobble when I couldn't see where to fit the "bling" ( an unusual problem for me!!) I added the butterfly purely so that I could use some acrylic gems for the body.

Resources:
Stamps- Stampabilities, lil' Monkey ; butterfly - Dawn Bibby Designs.
Promarkers

Something borrowed

2011-02-04T23:17:00.008Z

I have loved the Stampin' Up medallion stamp since using it in a craft class. I borrowed it from my friend Susy and I am now convinced that I have to own it!
It lended itself perfectly to the creation of this valentine card but I will explore its use for other ocassions before I return it to its rightful owner. Thanks Susy.

OLW 38 Challenge

2011-01-30T23:07:00.010Z

This week's One Layer Wednesday Challenge was a sketch. I haven't entered many sketch challenges because although at first I usually think that they are quite easy, I seem to find that I spend ages looking through my stamps to find something appropriate.

However, I have succeeded this time and this is the result.

resources:

Ink: Distress Ink Dried Marigold, Mimento Tuxedo Black

Stamps : Poppy -Lavinia Stamps, Sentiment -Hero Arts, Butterfly - unknown

Men are so difficult

2011-01-27T23:10:00.005Z

It took me a while to think of the title of this post (not!).

However, I do find that I don't often come up with ideas that would be suitable for a male recipient. I purchased a set of stamps from Personal Impressions last year to try to redress the balance.

I produced this simple card for a male birthday. I used the inside of an envelope to stamp on for the base of the shirt then stamped again on white paper for the cuff, collar and tie. These were decoupaged with 1mm foam pads.

The circles were cut using nestibilities dies.

Another find from last year

2011-01-24T23:32:00.005Z

This is another of the cards that I created after Valentine's Day last year. It is so easy to forget past creations and I was really happy to see this again. The flourish stamp is, I think, one from HOTP. I can't believe how detailed it is.The sentiment I have had for many years and cost me a huge amount at the time. (wood mounted of course)There are some acrylic gems (red and clear) strategically placed across the scroll border but they have not, unfortunately, shown up on the photo.

I have a large collection of cards that I have made over recent years and it is very satisfying to look at them and access how far I have come in my cardmaking journey. I must find the time to re-label them for sale in our local Shelter Shop.

One I made earlier..

2011-01-23T20:47:00.009Z

I located the Valentine cards that I made after the 14th of February last year - very logically placed in a box marked Valentine Cards. This is one of them. I still like it so I will make some more the same or similar in the coming days.

I stamped the cut out heart with a large Rubber Stampede background stamp that I have had for ages and really love. It always inspires me when I bring it out of my stamp drawer. It's so detailed and the results look just like an etching.

The heart shape just required a little inking around the edges to finish it off and give definition. I mounted it on 3D foam and resisted the urge to do anything else to it apart from the sentiment and 3 acrylic gems.

OLW 37 Challenge

2011-01-21T22:50:00.014Z

It has been some time since my last entry to the Simplicity One Layer Wednesday Challenge. I knew what I wanted to do as soon as I saw what it was.The challenge was to use only sentiments in the design.

As I am in Valentine Card mode anyway and had already gathered together sentiments that were suitable for this topic, it seemed an obvious choice. When I revisited Susan's blog today I saw that others had had a similar idea. Is there such a thing as original thought?

I resisted the urge to embellish it in any way - not even a little "bling" but I know that I will produce other variations on this theme.

Speaking of variations on a theme - I produced a couple of other attempts with the addition of ink smudges. We don't not make mistakes in cardmaking - we only create opportunities to expand the boundaries of creativity??!!! Here is the result of one of mine.

Guess where the smudge was.

Taking Notes

2011-01-19T23:27:00.003Z

I really enjoy making gifts for friends and family. One of my favourite makes is notebooks. I do own a Bind it All machine that allows me to create books from scratch but I often buy ready made notebooks that I cover with patterned papers and then embellish. This is one that I have just completed. I purchased this from Tesco when it was on special offer. There are often good deals to be had in Supermarkets and I always have a stock of these at hand.

This is not an easy option as I have to dismantle the notebook in order to decorate the covers and I always have more than one attempt at putting it back together with the covers and pages in the correct order.

resources:

K&Co papers, Nestabilities label die, Martha Stewart butterfly punch. Sizzix flourish die, various ribbons.

Another CASE study

2011-01-18T23:50:00.004Z

I recently posted that I attended a class once a month organised by Susy. This is another card that I made similar to one that was prepared for the class. It was another opportunity to use the Stampin' Up set - Pocket Silhouettes. (I must have made my money back on this versatile set by now!) I just need to change the sentiment to make it suitable for many different occasions.

Valentine heart

2011-01-17T23:18:00.007Z

The next date on the cardmaker's calendar is Valentine's Day. (If you don't count Burns' Night - shame on me!) I made some cards after the event last year so I had better try to locate them. I am, at the moment, fighting the urge to make some Christmas cards for this year. So I must have felt the same after the 14th of Feb last year.

This is the first of this year's efforts. Clean and simple.
I used an embossing board that came free with a magazine for the text and the square frame for the heart.

The heart itself is 3 dimensional. I glued patterned paper to card and then punched out 3 heart shapes. These were glued together and I then applied gold Stickles to follow the pattern of the paper.

The following photo gives a better idea of how it was constructed.

My new year resolution - Use what I have got!

2011-01-16T23:19:00.007Z

It is so easy to fall into the "I must have" frame of mind when looking at craft products either online, in magazines or at shows. The one good thing about my recent and preceding reorganising sessions is that I can see what I have and the many items that had previously fallen into this category. I have determined that, this year, I will try to make use of all of the stamps that I have purchased over a period of several years.

Here goes!!!

The stamp used on this card was bought at the September Craft Show at the SECC in Glasgow. I previously uploaded a card that I made from the other "must have" purchase. See here.

resources: stamp-Lili of the Valley, background paper, Stampin Up border punch, Nestibilities circles dies, Promarkers, Sentiment stamp (which I have used loads!)

Getting back into the groove

2011-01-15T23:16:00.008Z

I attend a craft class once a month organised by my friend Susy. The bad weather prior and during the Christmas period prevented me from making the journey across the city to her house so I did not have the opportunity to make the Christmas themed cards that she had prepared for us.

This photo was taken during that time from the upstairs hall window in my house. This was the first time in 26 years that we have lived here that this has happened. I am sure that I could use this photo as inspiration for my next year's Christmas cards!

Anyway, the point of this is that one of the cards that I eventually made post-Christmas on a visit to Susy got my creative juices flowing again.

She had used one of the stamps from the Stampin Up, Pocket Silhouettes set to create a wreath and then added tiny red flowers with bling at their centres and are gingham ribbon bow. I have this set of stamps and, although I have made made many cards with them, (some posted here) I would never have though of using them in this way. It only goes to show how differently we all interpret how a particular resource can be used. Here are my first CASED cards.

The image was stamped on card before inking the sides and then mounting on 3D foam pads

I used a flower stamp from my Lavinia Stamps collection and embellished with acrylic gems and a Martha Stewart Monarch butterfly punch.

I chose a birthday sentiment but I am sure that I could adapt this design for other occasions.

Here is a variation on the theme.

New Arrival

2011-01-15T00:05:00.004Z

During one of my obsessive stash reorginisation sessions I came across my favourite Quickutz die - the stork. It took me some time to acquire this as it had gone out of production and was attaining vastly inflated bids on Ebay - £30.00 at one time as I remember. I finally managed to purchase it from an American website when it came back into production for a limited time. I have made good use of it since and this simple card , I think, shows it off to perfection.

Enchanted

2010-11-21T23:55:00.007Z

I recently purchased a CD which contains the illustrations by Linda Ravenscroft. I am fascinated by her detailed artwork although the subject matter is not one that I have used in my cardmaking before.

Here is one of my first cards made using this CD.

Batch make

2010-11-20T23:39:00.006Z

I, like many others, support Shelter Scotland throughout the year both with donations (from profits selling cards) and also by making cards to be sold in the local Shelter shop. I have had a particular interest in this charity after watching a Channel 4 documentary many years ago which was part of a season on homelessness. Seeing the plight of children in particular in this situation reduced me to tears during several programmes. What is still so disturbing is that there are still children today suffering the uncertainty of a permanent, safe and secure home.

All proceeds from the Christmas cards that I make either to sell or to send myself, go to Shelter too. In order to produce as many cards as I can, I purchased a kit from Craftwork Cards this year at the Hobbycrafts Fair at the SECC. This included several elements that included cards and envelopes that I could quickly "assemble" for sale. The following are some of the cards that I have made from this kit. I'm not a fan of kits but the end, in this case, has justified the means.

A crafty weekend

2010-10-31T22:39:00.003Z

I have spent a lovely weekend in Glasgow ( my favourite city) attending the Hobbycrafts Show. A group of us take time out twice yearly to escape the pressures of our jobs in education. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have a laugh with a wonderful gaggle of girls. Susy and I are the serious crafters ( I know that the others won't mind my saying this!) and spend two days at the SECC trailing round the stalls several times over on both Saturday and Sunday.

I didn't go with any particular purchase in mind but, now that I am back home, am experiencing some guilt about the amount that I have spent!!! Anyway......we both succumbed to the allure of some of the Lili of the Valley rubber stamps. To assuage part of my guilt I have used one of my purchases to make the card below. I had been asked for a birthday card for a 1 yr old girl and had to have it ready for tomorrow ( no pressure!)

I stamped the dress and a shoe twice and coloured these before cutting them out and decoupaging.

other items used :

Promarkers , Fiskars border punch, Nestibility dies, gingham ribbon, background paper.

Latest Distress Inks purchases

2010-10-24T00:56:00.006+01:00

I love Tim Holtz Distress Inks and am slowly building up my collection. My most recent purchases are Shabby Shutters and Worn Lipstick. Had to use them as soon as they arrived (courtesy of Joanna Sheen) Another recent purchase were some scroll stamps by La Blanche. These are the results.

Both the butterflies and the ovals are cut from Spellbinders dies. I love the distress look of the scroll stamp and know that it will become a firm favourite in the future.

I'm back

2010-09-29T23:42:00.005+01:00

I've taken some time out from blogging of late. Too many other things to do. I have ventured away from card making into candle decoration for the moment. I have always wanted to try this so searched Youtube for videos that would teach me how to do it. These are my first attempts and I am delighted at how they turned out. Once "craftily"wrapped they will make great Christmas presents. ( Always a bonus) It is another way to make use of some of my collection of stamps.

What a difference a day makes

2010-09-14T22:40:00.011+01:00

I really wasn't fully happy with the card that I posted yesterday. The colouring wasn't to my satisfaction so I had to make another just to get it out of my system! This time I did use Promarkers and I feel that I have achieved "closure". It looks more " Christmassy" now. ( is that a word?) I can move on now.

A variation on a theme

2010-09-12T19:47:00.004+01:00

Here I have adapted the design for the card that I made yesterday for the OLW Challenge. I stamped the letters again, coloured them with watercolour pencils and then attached them to the base card using 3D foam pads.

Raising the letters slightly gives more definition and removes the need for further embellishment in my opinion. I think that I Will make another one like this but this time I will use Promarkers to produce a stronger contrast of colour.

OLW19

2010-09-11T23:12:00.010+01:00

I thought that I would have to give the One Layer Wednesday Challenge a miss this week as I have been so busy and as a result, have been struggling for inspiration. I have been watching the other entries as they are uploaded and part of me thinks that I shouldn't do this until I have a clear idea of my own design.

It never ceases to amaze me how many talented cardmakers are out there and it seems that Susan attracts a good proportion of them to her challenges! Anyway here is my black and white design with a spot of colour.

I used Alphabet Stamps and mounted them together on an acrylic block. I did try and stamp them individually but couldn't get then lined up properly. I then stamped the holly and coloured it lightly with Promarkers before applying Stickles to give it ever such a tiny bit of "bling".

Oh well, at least that's another Christmas card made. I'm ahead of myself this year!!!

Magnolia revisited

2010-09-07T23:43:00.004+01:00

I am struggling with the CAS 83 challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers at the moment so I took some time out to revisit one of my favourite Magnolia stamps. I needed to make a birthday card for a colleague so I have chosen something a little less challenging in the meantime.

I used watercolour pencils instead of Promarkers this time. I think that my first love will always be the pencils - I suppose that this is because , for a long time, this was the only way that I could achieve subtlety of colour. I also love stamping on patterned paper as I have done here for the dungarees. I have used 3D foam pads to "lift" her and the sentiment from the base card.

OLW18 -Trees

2010-09-04T14:10:00.008+01:00

This week requires the use of a tree stamp but Susan has allowed for those of us who don't own one by saying that a branch or leaves would do.

So.... I have used my Winter Pine Border peg stamps to create the branch effect. The conifer branch is tiny and I had to "build" the branch by repeated stamping. It seemed only natural to make this into a Christmas card. I folded the card to make it landscape A6 with a vertical fold. It's nice to try a different orientation every so often and I feel that, in this case, the card complements the design. However I think that I will try other folds and shapes to see how these will influence the design of the stamped image.

One of the best results of following Susan Raihala's blog is that she forces you to think carefully about the basic design of cardmaking. I am much more aware now about the relationship between different elements on a card. Choosing the right colours have also become important to me. One of my reject cards was discarded because I felt that the green ink that I had used just didn't work. This was odd because it was much closer to the colour of the real thing.

Using the Rollagraph - My Way

2010-08-30T23:56:00.007+01:00

I have had comments both here and on my Splitcoasters gallery about the difficulty people have with using the roller type stamping systems. I have had major problems in the past with producing straight lines and I would now like to share my solution with you. I hope that this one photo will be illustration enough.

My essential equipment and materials are a magnetic mat and steel ruler, and copier paper. Using the lines on the mat, it is easy to position the copier paper and the card blank so that I am ready to position the design where I want it. I place the rollagraph on the copier paper, next to the ruler. By starting on the paper I find that I get a more even distribution of ink on the card. The magnetic ruler sticks the card firmly to the mat and leaves me with two hands to get the desired effect.

Monkey business

2010-08-29T23:12:00.011+01:00

This card is not my usual style but I'm sure you'll agree that it is good to change direction once in a while. I bought the stamps from Ebay for very little money so I thought that there would be no guilt attached if I didn't get round to using them. However, I was asked for children's cards recently and realised that I had very few in reserve so I have taken this opportunity to at least have one more. I have Sizzix dies with numbers which is all that I would need to complete the card to make it more personal.

On second thoughts, I can think of one or two adults who would be appropriate recipients for this card!!

OLW17

2010-08-28T14:50:00.013+01:00

It has taken me a few days to get round to making a card for this week's challenge at Simplicity. Work gets in the way!

This week we had to create a one layer card with a border stamp. I decided to use a rollagraph wheel that I have had for some time and have not really used much at all. I saw it demonstrated at a craft fair and, as usual, the demonstrator made it look very easy. However, I still need a lot of practice to get the pressure even. It is particularly difficult when applied to a one layer card as I find that it is almost impossible to get the design symetrical. You can imagine what this pile of spoilt cards looks like, I'm sure! I did trim a little strip from this card to make it look OK.

As a Scot, I am understandably attracted to Celtic designs. Much of the Celtic Art that we see nowadays is inspired by the Book of Kells which I would love to see in real life. Youtube will have to suffice in the meantime!

I have decided to attach a ribbon to this card although it is not now a one layer card without embellishment. I have spent today with a desire to add another element so I gave in. I am still happy with the original card but again I am surprised at the difference in the two cards. That's why I craft!!!.

resources:
Rollergraph -Celtic Border
Sentiment - HOTP, ink - memento tuxedo black
Scoreboard

To reply to questions about my method of using the Rollagraph system, I have added a post with information here.

Rejects revived

2010-08-24T22:50:00.006+01:00

When making cards for challenges I seldom am happy with my first attempt. Often it is a stamped image or sentiment in the wrong place but even more often it is a smudge of paint, pen or ink that relegates the otherwise perfect card, to the pile that can will eventually be re-used with background paper to obliterate my mistakes.

However, sometimes if I go back to one of these rejects, I can see a way of adding elements that will hide my previous mistakes. Here is one such card:

This began life as one of my OLW16 Challenge cards for Susan Raihala's Simplicty blog. The card that I eventually entered and another can be seen here. By adding another layer I have rescued a card that I was quite happy with before disaster befell. The ribbon at the top and the ribbon and button hide black ink smudges ( very small but noticeable). Sometimes, I think that I get more satisfaction from saving a card from the reject pile than I do from a card that is created without problems.

Baby Card

2010-08-22T20:25:00.003+01:00

I just love the MS elephant punch that I have used on this card. So simple to make too. I know that I can now make another card the same but by changing the colours, make it suitable for a baby boy. No thought process involved!! I like that............especially since it is Sunday I have started to think about what awaits me at work tomorrow.

Butterfly Collage

2010-08-21T23:08:00.008+01:00

We recently had our bathroom upgraded .. .............not before time!!! The suite was ( I am so glad to be able to say was and not is) pale golden - "Sun King" if my memory serves me right. Anyway, it is all in the past thank goodness. I looked around the shops for items that would match the green towels and I was not inspired. The solution was to make something myself. I had always wanted to make a butterfly collage since seeing examples in various places on the internet....so that's what I did and here it is.

The deep frame was originally unvarnished wood so I used acrylic paint to make it white. I rubbed some of the paint off to give a textured, distressed look. The butterfly punch is one that I have had for ages and the papers are all K & Co from my wonderful, huge stack that I got from QVC. The butterflies are attached with 3D foam to add even more dimension. Love it!!!

OLW16 - Stamp a Scene

2010-08-21T12:09:00.010+01:00

The weekend is here and its a beautiful day (for now) so I must get out to the garden for some tidying up. I have just time to upload my entry for this week's One-layer Wednesday Challenge at Simplicity. The subject is Stamp a Scene so I have gone for masking a rectangle shape then sponging a background again using masking but this time with torn paper and a punched circle. The poppy stamp completes the scene.

Of course, as usual, I have several attempts and I have decided to upload this one too - same techniques - different colour palette.

The sentiment is slightly wonky so I almost discarded it.

I have added a post that details one of my rejects from the challenge
here.

Resources:
inks - 1)Memento Tuxedo black, Rubber Stampede - Ocean Blue, Impress - Cerulean Blue 2) T H Distress - Pumice Stone, Old Paper
Stamps - Poppies - Lavinia Stamps, Sentiments 1) Hero Arts, 2) HOTP

Back to work

2010-08-18T22:40:00.003+01:00

My almost daily posts have come to an abrupt end with my return to work. However, I have managed to make a card for Splitcoast Stampers CAS80 challenge. Just another excuse to use the Martha Stewart loop border punch and the 3D elephant punch. No stamping here......for a change. Even the sentiment was created from a rub on.

OLW15

2010-08-15T00:20:00.003+01:00

This week's challenge over at Simplicity was "challenging" to say the least. We had to use "unexpected colour schemes" to produce a card. I chose my favourite Lavinia dandelion stamps and selected colours that I wouldn't normally use...although the foliage is the usual green.

Clean and Simple Challenge FLT102

2010-08-11T22:58:00.011+01:00

The layout this week over at Clean and Simple Challenge blog appealed to me straight away. It took me a little while to look through my collection of stamps to find one that I was happy with. In the meantime I kept a watching brief on the other submissions and I must say that I am blown away by the variety that has been achieved from a very simple design.

I chose a sunburst stamp that I haven't used before (guilt, guilt). The butterflies were punched from cardstock which had been coloured using the "direct to paper" technique as I wanted the colours to match exactly. I felt that I needed the embossed lines to contain the design and separate it from the sentiment.

Tooth fairy

2010-08-09T23:37:00.012+01:00

I couldn't resist this new digi stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil. Mo Manning created it at the request of one of her customers. How's that for service. I have entered this card in the DP2 Challenge where the criteria is "Things with Wings".

After printing the image onto card, I ran the square base card through the printer to place the sentiment on the front and also the message on the inside. Had to think this process out carefully so that everything came out in the right place. I googled to find the appropriate message for the inside of the card.
I had to think how this could be used by a parent so I decided to make a little envelope that could hold the tooth and be placed under the pillow. The money that the tooth fairy would leave could then " magically" replace the tooth and put back under the pillow.
I recently came across a collection of teeth belonging to my three sons. It was an oddly macabre find! However, it it nice to know that some traditions still continue through the generations.........even though the tooth fairy has to part with a much larger sum of money than she did in my boys' days.
I purchased the tooth punch ages ago and this is the first time that I have used it. I knew that it was an odd thing to buy at the time but it only cost me £1.00.

Resources:
Image - Mo's Digital Pencil - Tooth Fairy
Computer and printer
Promarkers
Tooth punch , Stickles

Button and Bow

2010-08-07T23:28:00.009+01:00

Another challenge for me to try. Am I becoming addicted? This is over at the Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge blog. You are required to create a card with buttons and bows. My submission has only one of each.

I have a huge collection of buttons amassed over many years but I am always reluctant t o part with them......hence only one here!! I think that I will devote a blog entry to my button stash in the near future.
I adore this digi-stamp from Mo Manning. It is such a great image for a card to give to a teenage girl.

Resources;
Digital Stamp - Mo Manning
Paper - K & Co
Tag stamp - SU
Martha Stewart punch
Nestablities - scalloped circle

Another felt flower inspired card

2010-08-06T22:23:00.010+01:00

I have been itching to do some more felting since I got my Janome Embellisher machine out of the cupboard last week........Sooooo.............The CAS-tastic challenge this week allows us to CASE one of the design teams cards.

I have chosen Deb Neerman's lovely bold flower. It is made out of material so this is where I got the idea ( excuse) to use felt. I have decided to stick with kraft as the base card (improvising here - It was a folder in a previous life)
Each petal was felted individually and then handsewn together to create the flower. Finished it of with a button from my precious button tin and a heart pin that I bought from the last SECC craft fair and have been waiting to find a use for.

I considered using one of my MS punches but found some cotton broderie anglaise border which fitted in with the material theme. As you can see, I got the sewing machine out too.

Button Easel Card - a new on on me

2010-08-05T23:25:00.011+01:00

One of the cards that we made at the Craft day in Ellon on Sunday was a Button Easel Card. I haven't seen one of these before so I decided to recreate it with my own resources.

I can't take any credit for the design as it is almost identical to the one that we made. I have photographed it from the side to give an idea of its construction. The "button" is the scalloped oval that is fixed to the base card with an eyelet which prevents the card from collapsing. Obviously, a real button would have been the original intention.

The paper flowers were made from the same paper as the background. I tore a strip, inked the edge with a brown Promarker, rolled it loosely and fixed to the card with Crystal Lacquer. Not sure about these as they will prevent the card from fitting into the standard envelope. I will have to make a box for it which is a lot more work. Never mind, you have to keep trying out new things in this game!!

Resources

Card - cream (textured), dark brown

Image - Sugar Nellie

Papers; K & Co

Nesties - scalloped circle and oval, leaf punch

Promarkers, Stickles, flat backed pearls, Crystal Lacquer Glaze

An Apple a day

2010-08-04T12:09:00.009+01:00

I have been looking for an opportunity to use the new stamps that I purchased a little while ago from Stampin Up and the Clean and Simple FTL 101 challenge sketch has given me just that. I always feel guilty if I have purchased something that I don't use staight away. I have to ask myself " Did I really need it?"

resources:
image - Stampin Up - Tart and Tangy
Ink -SU -Real Red, Versa Color - 23green
Red card an gingham from stash

All crafted out

2010-08-02T23:40:00.004+01:00

Spent yesterday at a craft event in Ellon with Crafty Susy. It was organised by the Papercrafts Boutique Team up in Elgin......this is the home of Sugar Nellie Stamps. Here is a photo of our makes ( all but one which I have not completed yet) As you can see from the number of items that we got through, it was a "full on" day and I was extremely tired when I got home. I really enjoyed the opportunity to be with fellow crafters and I did learn a couple of new styles of cards.

We were all sent home with a lovely Sugar Nellie stamp which I will reveal in the not too distant future on a card.!!

Scrapbook page

2010-07-31T23:26:00.005+01:00

I don't scrapbook as often as I would like as it takes me ages to be happy with a layout. I have 3 sons who have been the subjects of hundreds of photos over the years ( the oldest is 32). I have organised these into 3 lots that will eventually be included in albums that I can give to them in the future. I love this page as it gives an insight into the character of my youngest son - always the devil - daring and full of fun. I hope that he will always see me as his"net" until I need him to be mine.

Same difference

2010-07-30T23:25:00.017+01:00

Wasn't 100% satisfied with the first card that I made with the paint sample and I knew that I would have to give it another go before moving on. ( Am I sad or what?) I am much happier with these. The only difference between the two cards is the placement of the sentiment. How odd that such a little adjustment can make a difference...... (See my last post - it's all in the positioning!) I have entered the first card in this week's CAS-tastic Challenge (CWC014) as it requires us to "BLING it Up"". Not a lot of bling here but enough, I think.

I have also reversed the order in which the coloured butterflies are placed. This time I have chosen to put the lightest tone at the top. As I have added dark ribbon to the bottom of the topper, it seemed right to have the darkest shade next to it.

It still tickles me that the butterflies were punched from a paint sample card - the same paint sample card for all three !!! I am going to have to resist the urge to go to B& Q pretending that I am redecorating the whole house and in urgent need of a large amount of these samples.

One-layer Wednesday 14

2010-07-29T16:43:00.008+01:00

This is my second post today. I completed my entry for Susan's OLW challenge 14 last night so I thought that I may as well submit it. The requirements this week are for a square card and an outline stamp.

I have had this stamp for ages and I really like it but I am always reluctant to use it as I find it difficult to get a clear image. This time I placed a mouse mat underneath the card and it has worked better. The centre was just crying out for a bit if "bling", so I obliged.

In her post, Vicki Dutcher noted the importance of placement on CAS cards and I agree with everything that she says. I am pleased with the positioning of the stamps. but , as usual, I want to experiment and find other versions that work. I have taken to cutting copier paper the same size as the card and using this to play around with my designs. It saves having a pile of cards that I have to find another use for because my results just don't seem right.

Resources:
Stamp - Sugarloaf Inc, Scribble flower
Sentiment - Hero Arts
Ink - Distress Ink- Chipped Sapphire, Impress - Cherry Pink
Pink acrylic gem

Update:

I really liked Bonnie's entry to the challenge, in particular, the framing with a fine line so I decided to have a go with the card that I have already submitted. I have seen Susan do this before and I can see that it prevents the eye from straying "off the page". Will use this again.

Butterfly wishes

2010-07-29T11:25:00.005+01:00

I am always on the look out for materials that I can use in my crafting that have no cost attached to them. I have several previous posts that have detailed various items that I have recycled. So I was happy to join in with the Cornwall Crafty Stamper Challenge. The theme is Recycling and this is my card.

I used a paint shade card that I had kept from deciding the colour for my bathroom walls and cut butterflies using my MS punch. There is no need to search around for different papers or card that tone with each other. Dulux did it for me! I attached them to a white strip of left over card and then mounted this, using 3D foam pads to a mottled grey piece of card. This had begun life as the backing card from a packet of embellishments - I knew that it would come in handy. The stamp is one that a kind Ebay seller sent me for free when I purchased some stamps from her. I finished it off with a little "bling" in the form of flat backed jewels - I did purchase these . So ...... all in all.......... a very low cost project.

As Crafty Susy has a butterfly themed challenge , I will pop this over on her site too.

Sugarbowl challenge 39

2010-07-28T11:45:00.006+01:00

I have made changes to yesterday's card and I am much happier with it now. I toyed with the idea of adding a flower or two or a sentiment but didn't want to lose the symmetry of the background. I will submit it to the Sugarbowl Challenge 39.

Sugar Nellie first impression

2010-07-27T21:13:00.015+01:00

I purchased a" lucky bag" from Sugar Nellie a couple of months ago and here I am finally getting round to using one of the stamps. At least it is better than the years that the stamp that I used in the previous post has been waiting for its first impression to be made.

I am struggling at the moment with the fashion in cardmaking that requires the inclusion of a variety of different materials on a card. I am sure that this is because I have been concentrating on the Clean and Simple (CAS) style of late. Anyway, I hope to enter the Sugarbowl Challenge 39 which I will have to use a Sugar Nellie stamp and a blue colour theme. This is the card so far. I am not ready to submit it yet but will have a think, make any alterations/ additions and enter it tomorrow.

As I am on the subject of CAS, I was delighted to see that my Christmas card that I had entered into the Simplicity Challenge this week had been identified as a CAS Favourite of the week by three Splitcoast Stamper members. I was truly delighted. I am a member myself and regularly add my cards to my gallery on the website and this is where they had viewed it. SCS is an amazing place and I have not explored a tenth of what it has to offer. So thank you to k.dunbrook, Hobbywoman and JenMarie for your kind words.

Now.................back to that card................??????