Mothers' Day Box

An exploding box of flowers, all different kinds is going to be my little gift this coming Mothers' day.
This is going to be quite a long post, so if you're not up for sitting down for a while...
Anyway
Lots of pics as there is quite a bit in it. All the CS for the box is pearlised, for that extra bit of sparkle.
The image round the outside is from Delicious Doodles. Coloured with promarkers. I reversed one set of images and stuck another layer on to make the bunch look bigger. Surrounding is self adhesive ribbon from stash that has been sitting there for ages.

The top has more ribbon round the edges and some hand made roses stuck on. Made from pearlised deep bronze and an apricot papers.
A few punched leaves added from green paper.

The inside of the lid has another image from Delicious Doodles - the "mothers' day corner", coloured with pencils.



Inside, yet more flowers. I took a seperate pic of these before sticking in knowing that, once in, a pic would be extremely awkward. Made from white organza ribbon with seed beads sewn on,

The whole inside looks like this. As you can see, every side has been decorated in some way.

Some panels have been covered with heat embossed roses, some with dry embossed flowers in a shimmer paper with white paperpieced detail (crafty companions board) some with flowery paper. some with flowery ribbon. You can just see the organza flowers in there as well. The centre flower is made from "origami curls" curled together. This was dusted with fine white glitter.


Clicking on any of the pics will enable a bigger piccy

I am entering this into the challenges at
Delicious Doodles - Floral Fantasy
Creative Inspirations - Mothers' Day / Mum
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Homemade Flowers
Partytime Tuesdays - Anything goes with homemade flowers
Tuesday Throwdown - floral theme
Dreamvalley Challenges - Mothers' Day
Quirky Crafts Challenges - Twisted Easel and/or Mothers' Day Gift - gift option chosen
Pink Gem Challenge - Anything but Square
Easy Craft Projects - Mothers' Day
Mark's Finest Papers - Dry and heat embossing with the main image popped out

Bon Voyage

Another of my teamies at work leaving!! No we didn't do anything to upset them. This time I followed the sketch over at My Time Made Easy.

A nice cheery card with just a touch of sparkle.

The image is one of Mo Mannings. It was coloured with watercolour pencils, blended, with just a dash of sparkly gel pen on the nightie lace. For the lappy I used metallic pencil.

The papers I have had since I first started making cards last year. The panel to the side being the same design as the vellum panel above. All edged with stitching. The ribbon has a pleated bow attached. A few dots of holographic glitter to add that bit of sparkle.

I am entering this into the challenge over at My Time Made Easy blog as it's their sketch.

baby boy on his way

Friends of ours are due to take delivery of a baby next week and we already know it's a boy. This means I can have a card ready for them, personalised inside.

The sketch followed was over at Inspirational Card Sketches.

I used three stamps on the block at once to stamp all over the backing with stormy sky DI.

The image was coloured using promarkers. I heat embossed the outline and smudged blue metalic pencil round as the border. This was layered with pads onto white card with a little verse from verses4u. this was in turn layered onto some CS I had punched out when at a friend's house. This was rubbed over with gold metalic rub-on.
The ribbon is blue organza with yellow ric-rac on top.
Another couple of stamps used. The baby blocks stamped with stormy sky onto blue velum and stuck to a yellow gingham punched circle and baby boy stamped onto another piece of that yellow gingham.
All this was mounted onto a yellow base card with gold peel-off to tie in with the image layer.

I am entering this into the challenges over at
Inspirational Card Sketches - Their Sketch
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #95- New Baby
KB Cute Monday - Babies

Texture

A new challenge over at Tellen's Place. This week it's TEXTURE we want to see on your new projects. This can take many forms of course and the other Divas have been busy creating for your inspiration. Please go look at their blogs and leave some love.
My project is a card I made for our very own Marcus' birthday. He shares this with me so I could hardly forget him.

The main texture here is supplied by the "paper" I made. As you can, hopefully, see it's all lumps and bumps. It was made using gesso, foil, kitchen roll and paint with some rub-on metallic paste to highlight further. The process was shown in the Smeared and Smudged forum a couple of months ago and I had a lot of fun with it. The panels cut as seen and mounted onto a bright blue, twisted easel base. gold peel offs to neaten.
The image is of course from Tellen's Place and was coloured using a mixture of paints. The shape being a LOTV template with some more of the metallic rub on smudged round the outside and an offset frame cut from matt gold card using the same templete. This was attached to the base using some little square brads. The "stay" being buttons attached with embroidery silk.

I am entering this into the challenge
Digital Tuesday - Button Up
Crafty Card Makers Spotlight - Make your own DP
Creative Inspirations - Easel cards
Totally Gorguss - Button It

Teamies leaving card

Rush job last night was to make a card for one of my work colleagues. He's leaving to move onto another team so was not a final farewell. We will still see him from time to time. Any excuse for a party though, right?
I followed the sketch over at Cards For Men, and used one of the "Occasions L'il Grumpies" from Smeared Ink. These stamps are so versatile.

The base card is dark green with white and pale green flecks running through it. Onto this is layered a lighter green and some hammered orange. The come the fun part.
Cut squares from pale green and a cork effect papers, and cut in half diagonally, layered these up in the corners.
Even more fun was the image. Coloured using promarkers. The bubbles were treated to so glossy accents. The eyes to some crackle glaze. I rubbed some barn door DI over these when dry to give the blood shot eye look.
The edges were first punched with a scalloped edge punch with "bubbles" then cut off the scallops leaving the "bubbles". This was then layered onto more of the green used in the matting layers. Some card candy that was also coloured with PMs to match and a computer generated sentiment layered with orange and green card to finish.
The inside contained a funny verse printed onto one side of orange paper leaving plenty of space for everyone in the team to autograph it for him.

I am entering this into the challenge over at Cards For Men as it is their sketch I followed.
Other challenges
Sisterhood of Crafters - Let's hear It For The Boys
2Sisters Challenges - Furry Friends

Beauty and the Beast

That's what I have named the image, but I thought of others.
The image is from the pen of Phee McFaddell. The paper from Crafty Chaos. The colour choices were from the palette over at Colour Q

The sketch is from Midnight Madness MMSC#96.
















The image is coloured with watered DI with some added watered down shimmer paints on the fairy and flowers. I used a LOTV template for the shape. No nesties live here :( You can hopefully see the shimmer here on the dress.


A lot of use from an MS corner punch to add interest to the corners etc. and a couple of butterflies lightly dusted with shimmer powder and stickles down the body.

The green CS is pearlised so the light reflects and the true colour is difficult to capture. This was layered with white on top of a jade green with the main panel layered onto baby blue. The same as the card base.
The added detail is a thin ribbon of lace with a pleated teal satin ribbon and sewn on pearls. A couple of hand made flowers using some of the left over purple chiffon from my wedding dress with a little pearl sewn on. LOTV sentiment to finish off.

I am entering this into the challenges over at
Midnight Madness # 96 - their sketch
Colour Q - for their choice of colours
Outlawz tuesday colour - blue green and purple
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes
Flutter By Wednesday - Anything goes (with butterfly, fairy etc)
Lexi's Creations - Ribbon with no knots or bows
Meljens DT and challenges - use your punches
Gingerloft Challenge - Use punches and diecuts

More Green

With St Patrick's day behind us now, this might well be the last green card for a while. The image is another from the pen of Ching-Chou Kuik in the form of a rubber stamp from Sweet Pea Stamps. Following the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches.

It was coloured entirely with pencils, blended. This was then framed with an offcut from a previously used diecut oval. I inked with bundled sage DI and spritzed with copper glimmer mist.

The backing card is pearlised green that was embossed with butterflies and the corners trimmed with a MS punch. Layered onto light green CS after attaching 4 different ribbons in shades of green. Some tiny flower buttons were added as they mirror those on the image and some green stickles added to match further. I made a butterfly using glitter cordage.
This has been entered into the challenges at
The Outlawz - POM challenge
Tuesday Morning Sketches - Their Sketch
AiFactory Challenge - Things with Wings
Crafty Purple Frog - Green
The Rubber Cafe Design Team - Monochrome
Creative Craft Crew - Show some Green

Skullz, and more Skullz

It's Friday and it's my day to play. Today was a chance to push down the girly side that I have had to let loose lately and let the dark reign.
The main skull is one I had left over from last October and Halloween that I hadn't got round to doing anything with. I sealed with PVA and painted black then with an irridescent paint.
To this I stuck on tiny red gems in swirly patterns, painting red luminous dots between the gems and in other areas. Stuck some digi sugar skull pics with mod podge round the base and added a skull, stamped onto tissue paper, image (Lost Coast) to the top. Finished off with a skull ring, again from last Halloween. The eye sockets were painted in the same red luminous paint.

The ring itself flips open to reveal some red lip gloss (at the moment).












Now I needed something to put it in. I altered a box that was sitting waiting for a make over and, as luck would have it, just the right size.
I started by covering with cheap paper to cover the writing already on it. The material I wanted to use is very sheer.
Some more skully images to go round the sides. These are all from Delicious Doodles.

The skeletal candle holder is on the two sides










Loves faded memory on the front



Rose corner on the top

All images were coloured with pencils to give that lovely old and faded look and both the rose corner and loves faded memory images were ink distressed with aged linen and tattered rose DI. I couldn't find a piece of lace I liked in my stash so plumped for the black organza ribbon with a little rose and added a few little creamy pearls to the rose image.
A long post I'm afraid but there was quite a bit to it.

I am entering this into a couple of challenges
Delicious Doodles - 3-D project
Haunted Design House #80- Alas Poor Yorick
Digi Doodles Shop's Best #51 - Anything Goes
Meljens Designs - Use dots
Crafty Cardmakers - Use Fabric - the box is covered with it

Sports Day

We've all been there I think. Whether as a child or cheering your own little darlings on. Sports Day.
This is the challenge over at Tellen's Place this week. Anything sporty to be depicted on your projects.
I must admit, I was stumped for a while. Then fellow Diva, Susan threw some ideas which got my head thinking sideways again. :D

Some different sports from the norm I admit. But then the dark images that I favour from Tellen's Designs wouldn't be up for the sports of today's modern world. Would they?
I used a 12x12 sheet that Terry sent last year in a RAK. Green with "sports" embossed all over.
Then set about colouring in some images for the two sports I decided on.
A strength contest in the form of Sarcophogus pulling and a throwing contest - skulls.

The images used were Knurgorr for strength, Sheskuller for the ladies throwing and an image that has yet to find it's way into the store for the male entrant.
All images were coloured with PMs. The sarcophogi were lifted from google images. Added bits - string for the tug rope and a little skull from stash.
The titles are computer generated. Those sharp eyed of you to notice the olympic rings are shown upside down - this was meant as it is the Alternative Olympics here after all.

Now go look at the other projects made by my fellow Divas for more inspiration and then let's see what you can make. Terry has even provided a freebie again to get you started. Winner gets to choose 3 images from the store. Exciting or what!!

A challenge or 2 that I am entering this into
Delightful Challenges - Show Green

fairy in green and orange

More birthday cards to make for the girls. This one is using a stamp I recieved as part of a blog candy win. The stamp itself is part of the SweetPea range. I had not got round to inking this one up until this week. The challenge over at Pile It On challenges was for green and orange. This colour combo can look so fresh and spring like and dark and mysterious depending on the tones used. I went with the spring look. The weather here is so dreary, I needed something to lighten my mood and the intended recipient prefers the lighter side as well anyway. Anyway....
A fancy fold card using spring green CS as a base

The side portion has been diamond folded to add that bit more of an interest. The spine decorated with Irish green CS and orange dotty ribbon.



The image was coloured using promarkers with some stickles and glossy accents in a few places to highlight. The edges lightly treated to some rusty hinge DI. Backed with some orange textured CS that was donated by a friend last year when I started making cards. A little bow using the same ribbon as on the spine and one of three punched butterflies. All three were from pale orange CS and lightly ink distressed with rusty hinge DI before a body of green stickles added.
The main section is made up of some Irish green CS covered with orange paper that was spritzed with copper mica spray and scrunched up then flattened again. A MS border punched piece of CS with orange/green/gold striped ribbon added to the side. The flower was made from 3 prima type flowers with an old brad to secure and the remaining butterflies.
Sentiment from LOTV added to more of the textured orange CS and stuck on in the corner.

The sketch that was loosley followed here is from Sketch N Stash challenges. The old stash being brad and orange CS. New being the image. I am entering this into their challenge this week.
I don't know how other people keep track of challenges they enter.
I tend to just do a few per card - easier on the DT visiting as well.

Other challenges entered are
Delightful Challenges - Butterflies
CropStop Challenge #10 - Spring is in the Air
Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes
Alphabet Challenge Blog - Stripes. The ribbon and the stripey "spine"
Pile It On - #11 Orange and Green
Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenges - Make your own BP - The orange
Papertake Weekly - Triple tastic - three of something - 3 butterflies, 3 seperate flowers make one, 3 lengths of ribbon

Toe Tags (and body bags)

I went for the toe tag for Macabre Mondays challenge over at Haunted Design House.
The images are from Make It Crafty, layered up and printed. Coloured with promarkers. with just a dash of DIs.

The cobwebby ribbon attached then backed onto black CS.

The skull and crossbones are from a halloween necklace threaded onto black waxed cotton cord.


The back was painted in white and painted over with glow in the dark paint. Unfortunately, pics showing the glow don't come out very well. You'll just have to take my word. A little skully charm and a piece of coiled copper wire, again on that waxed thread to complete.


I am entering this into the challenge over at Haunted Design House - challenge #79, Toe Tags and Body Bags

Bugs Alive

I make no real excuses about using this image twice in one week. It was the ideal choice when the girls over at CMLI on the craft Bubble forum laid down the sketch with a bugs twist.

The image is from the Sweet Pea range. Coloured with promarkers with touches of glossy accents and stickles. The leaves were added to by layering the image onto an extra set stamped.
The background was created using my new tool - a brayer with some foliage stamping on. The scalloped edging is an edge punch "bent round" because I don't own any "nestie" type cutters with an added pearl detail.
The BP was in a RAK and I don't know the origin. This was layered onto a wavy cut plain paper before attaching to the card base.
The lace at the top was an old length in stash that I coloured dark green with alcohol ink. The added pink being the offcuts from punching the image's backing. Again adding some pearl detail. The bugs at the bottom are die cuts from holographic card and those at the top are brads.

Challenges that I am entering this into are
In A SweetPea Dream - Pink
SweetPea Stampers - Scallops
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Pearls
Totally Gorguss - Lace and pearls

It's Nearly Easter

Well, just over a month to go. Nana Vic was giving this image as a freebie over at CDAC for her embellishment challenge. Easter is not one of the festivals that many celebrate here in Scotland, but I have a few friends that would appreciate something like this.
It's a gatefold card. The BP is papermania's lemon sorbet, lightly ink distressed with "tattered rose".
I loosely followed the sketch over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday.
The image is decoupaged and coloured with promarkers with the surrounding panel dry embossed and ink distressed with tattered rose and just a touch of barn door DIs.




The flowers used are lilies and roses from Crafty Feelings with some yellow satin ribbon as well as some cream cotton.
I added a "thorny" copper peeloff all round to represent the crown of thorns as in the image.
A few little buttons to finish. Hopefully, it can be seen that both inside and out were treated to some decoration here.

I am entering this Easter card into a couple of challenges.
Crafter's Companion challenge #10 - Easter
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Their Sketch

St Patrick

For those of us that have Irish in the blood or have friends that do, Tellen's Place is helping you to celebrate Ireland's Patron. This week it's Shamrock or Leprechaun Green we want to see in your projects.
For my part I made this page for my art journal.
A right mixture of techniques. The cross is made from T-bag folded squares with a celtic knot design on them. Interlocked and stuck to an embossed and sanded piece of core-dinations card. The shamrock is made from a flower that I cut up and coloured with promarker. The image is, of course, from Tellen's Place. Coloured with promarkers and chalked around.
The base card is made from glossy card stock that I smeared with different DI's then sprinkled water onto to give a mottled effect.
Now it's your turn. If you need more inspiration, head on over to the other Diva's blogs and look at their fabulous creations. Terry is being very kind and giving you all a head start by providing a freebie as well.
We're all looking forward to seeing everyones green projects and there's 3 images from the shop for the winner. So get crafting.

The challenges that I am entering this into are
Delicious Doodles - Use Green for St Patrick's Day
Sew Many Cards - St Patrick's Day
The Corrosive Challenge Blog - Going Green
Stampin with the Dragon - St Patrick's Day

Flying into Spring

This week has been a bit frantic. Lots of things going on here at home. My crafty room did not even see me for a few days and I had no PC. I did get this little SweetPea image coloured though and made into a card. Too late for a couple of the challenges I had in mind - but that's the way life goes sometimes.
The card itself is a twisted easel card. I did loosely follow the sketchy over on Friday Sketchers

The BP is from DCWV citrus range. Mounted onto gold mirri. There are 2 panels. One a square of pale green core-dinations and the other a circle that I ink distressed with rusty hinge and barn door DIs. Both embossed with butterflies and then the raised bits rubbed over with gold metallic paste. The LOTV sentiment stamped onto punched card.
The SweetPea image was coloured using promarkers with added stickles and glossy accents. This was mounted onto panels punched with MS PRTP.


The main card was finished with a few added butterflies that were also ink distressed with the same DIs and a few flowers and ribbons.

The base was another MS border punch and some more of the same ribbon to neaten.
Buttons and gems were used as the "stopper" and a couple more butterflies to finish off.


I am entering this into the challenges over at
Friday Sketchers as it was inspired by the current sketch
The image is one of my favs from SweetPea stamps so I am entering it into the challenge over at Sweet Pea Stampers - Favourite Stamp
The challenge over at Crafty Purple Frog calls for "Things with Wings" and this has a few.
Flutterby Wednesdays - their inspirational pic is of daisies - well there's loads of flowers on here. I hope that counts
Craft your Passion have an "Anything Goes" challenge so am entering this into that as well.
Paper Crafting Journey have a "with wings" challenge also.

An Altered Bag

This week is extra special - not only have we got a new Diva joining the team, non other than Sarah T, but an embellishment challenge as well over on Tellen's Place. Hop on over and have a peek. But before you go I'd like to share my little project.
The challenge itself is to create something with at least 2 embellishments. My chosen ones were ribbons and buttons.
I was raking round the attic for something else when I come across a very plain bag. The ideal object to try a new technique on. I got the idea from over on CDAC. Printing onto fabric. (See also my previous post, although posted first, was done after this project.)
I used two of the "Dark Images" from Tellen's Place, Creepish
and Colbra.

Printed onto starched fabric and coloured with fabric paints before machine stitching onto the bag. Adding ribbon and buttons to make my "tree".


I am entering my bag into the following challenge
Stamp Something - Digi week

My Beloved Monster

Barb over at Haunted Design House has yet another great challenge for Macabre Mondays. This week the challenge is to show our favorite monsters. My favorites are nearly all to be found over at Tellen's Place Designs. OK, I'm biased but Marcus, the artist has produced some beauties. Skullflame is probably the one I have used most. So am choosing him for this project.
an altered T-shirt

Isn't he just gorgeous? Printed onto fabric coloured with fabric paint backed with iron on "vilene" and machine stitched onto a T-shirt.


Not really a lot more to add except this will be worn with pride when I go to the SECC craft fair this weekend for a look round what's going on in the crafty world











I am entering this into the challenge over at Haunted Design House #78- Beloved Monsters
Also at There She Goes Clear stamps - Stamp on any thing other than cardstock