52 CCT Colour Challenge

Over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown this week, our hostess Louise has a great colour challenge for you.

 

I loved using these colours! I made the stars by first creating a background using Gelatos and water (Iced Chai, Cinnamon and Iced Coffee). I then stamped this with Deep Red's Doodle Borders and cut out stars with my Framelits. I used the same stamp on a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock which I adhered to a piece of Baked Brown Sugar dsp. The sentiment is a magazine digi that I have sponged with Sahara Sand ink.

I do hope that you will visit us and be inspired by the design team's cards. We can't wait to see your coffee and cream festive creations! April x

52 CCT Technique Challenge

Silver hoof prints in the snow...two lady reindeer look adoringly at a photo of the handsome charmer, Rudolph. A similar scenario takes place when my friends and I watch Poldark on a Sunday evening...

This week at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown we have a technique challenge for you.

  

Now when I look at the punch art people manage to think of, I am always amazed. Sadly I can never work out by looking at my collection of punches which bits will make the perfect budgie wing or a chameleon's big toe! So I am returning to my 'Punch art go-to'. When in doubt, cut an owl with the SU Owl Builder punch and remove its feet. Cut two branches using the Bird Builder punch and add as reindeer antlers. Brilliant! I have used scraps of dsp and card to make my trio of reindeer. The silver 'hoof prints' are one of the stamps from Best Day Ever and the photo was made using the On Film Framelits. 

I do hope that you will join us over at 52CCT and show us your Christmas punch art! April x

I am also entering Rudolph and his girls in CHNC 222.

Another Christmas Card

This one is for Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge No. 220 which asks you to use some black, and Crafty Hazelnut's Challenge Extra for March. I had a nice relaxing time colouring this bauble digi from Karen Middleton with Pro-Markers. I also added some sparkle, which you can't really see! April x

52 CCT Sketch Challenge

Over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown we have a sketch challenge for you.

  

You can use any label or embellishment you like and we can't wait to see your festive creations! Please have a look at the fantastic cards made by the rest of the design team. 

My card uses a tree die-cut that came with a magazine and has been hanging around for a while in my stash. I used the retired SU Lacy Brocade embossing folder to make the background, applying white ink to the folder before I embossed the card. I added some Crumb Cake ribbon and buttons as my embellishment. This is such a versatile sketch that I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's amazing cards! April x

Bunny Rabbits

This card is a 'portrait' of two real bunnies that belong to our friends. They are very sweet and are called Felix and Cinnamon. It is coming up to their human mum's 11th birthday and I thought that this cute digi  from A Day for Daisies perfectly fits the bill. The striped paper came with a magazine and I have added some Glimmer Paper stars to up the bling factor. The cardstock is one of my favourite retired SU colours, Primrose Petals. I hope you like it! April x

I would like to enter these bunnies in the following challenges:

Clear It Out Challenge - animals and striped paper
Robyn's Fetish Challenge  - use a digi
One Stitch at a Time - anything goes with birthdays
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge
Sentimental Sundays - anything goes with a sentiment

Gelli Stars

Hello! My latest craft addiction is my Gelli plate - how did I last so long without one? The stars were cut from prints that had been made using three colours of acrylic paint. I then did some faux stitching around the larger stars using a Tim Holtz distress marker (Weathered Wood). The kraft card is stamped in silver ink with SU's Gorgeous Grunge and I've added some sequins and Glimmer Paper stars for extra bling. Hope you like it! April x

I'd like to enter my card in the Merry Monday Christmas Challenge.

Mother's Day Card

Although I make lots of cards for workshops, challenges and design team stuff, I never seem to have the right card for real life occasions! I have been more organised this year and I definitely thought I would get (slightly) ahead of myself and make a Mother's Day card for my Mum.

I'm entering this in the Colour Me challenge because I felt inspired by the colour combo of Pool Party, So Saffron and Real Red.

 

What a great choice of colours! I have used drops of Pool Party re-inker on a chevron embossing folder. It was spritzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (Pearl) and watercolour paper placed on top. I have stamped the blossoms in So Saffron and Real Red using SU's Flower Patch. Finally, I added the sentiment and a few pearls. I really like the subtle colour scheme combined with the touches of Real Red. April x

Party Animal

Here is a last gasp entry for The Friday Mashup. Who can resist farmyard animals with party bling? Well I can't, that's for sure! Here is a calf resplendent in her pink tutu (edged in pink sequins, darling!) and striped legwarmers. She is definitely all ready to party.

The cute digi stamp is from A Day for Daisies and I do think she is one adorable party animal! April x

 



52 C.C.T. Colour Challenge

This week's challenge for 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is to make a card using shades of blue. I hope this little penguin isn't feeling too blue. I think he is looking a bit pensive though. Lots of shades of blue here - Soft Sky, Midnight Muse, Night of Navy and some Island Indigo Baker's Twine. The background is stamped with snowflakes from Gossamer Blue's Get Happy set and the cute penguin is from Avery Elle's More Stories. The sentiment is Stampin' Up's White Christmas.

Mr Penguin is stamped in Midnight Muse and then clear embossed. His beak and feet have been given a touch of sparkle with a Sakura Gelly Roll pen and I have added a couple of snowflakes from Stampin' Up's Frosted Sequins. I chose the SU Sweet Taffy DSP because it reminded me of an ice floe!

Hope to see you over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown! April x

A Sketch Challenge

Here is my entry for this week's challenge at Mojo Monday 358. I couldn't wait to use the Festival of Trees stamps, combined with some Nordic Noel dsp. The frame is made using brushed gold card and the On Film Framelits. I've used some In-Colour sequins and silver glimmer paper to add a touch of Christmassy bling. Such a great sketch - I will be using this again!

Life's Adventure

 

Here is a card that I made for a friend who is going off on an amazing holiday. I have used the Life's Adventure hostess stamps, with Lost Lagoon and Hello Honey cardstock. The On Film Framelits provide a great frame and there are some pieces of Moonlight dsp thrown in too! Hope you like it. April x

Colouring Techniques Workshop

 

Join us for a relaxing evening on Thursday, 28th August at 7pm, in Bebington. We will be making four beautiful cards and learning a range of colouring techniques. You will have the opportunity to try Stampin' Up's new Blendabilities Markers - alcohol blenders specifically designed for blending and shading. We will also be using Blender Pens, Stampin' Spritzers and the lovely Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.

You really don't need to be Vincent van Gogh to achieve amazing effects. The fabulous Stampin' Up products will do all the hard work! This workshop is suitable for both beginners and more experienced crafters.

The workshop costs £12 and includes all materials except adhesive. You will also take home a dual-tipped Blender Pen (worth £2.98). During the evening, you will be able to see products from the new Christmas catalogue and I will be launching my seasonal workshops. All bookings are non-refundable. In the event of being unable to attend the workshop, you will receive the materials and instructions required to create all the items that we make during the evening.

 

Please bring your own adhesive. You will need a strong glue and dimensionals. Please let me know when you book your place on the workshop if you would like to pre-order adhesive. Multi-purpose liquid glue is £3.25. Stampin' Dimensionals (300) also cost £3.25. 

 

Please contact me for any further information and for venue directions. Hope you can join us!

More MDS

 

My second foray today into the new and exciting world of MDS. This hybrid creation is for NAC#90, a colour challenge using Crisp Canteloupe, Summer Starfruit and Night of Navy. I am well known for completely getting the names of SU colours wrong. Baked Brown Sugar was Burnt for a very long time. Only today have I realised it is Crisp Canteloupe. I have been calling it Crushed Canteloupe. My daughter calls it Crushed Antelope... 

Rainy Day MDS Project

Such a rainy, grey day with a murky photo to match! Inspired by having coffee with my up-line, Fanny (and meeting a lovely Leopard gecko) I finally took the plunge and installed My Digital Studio. I had a go a while back with the thirty day free trial and decided that this was the perfect dark and dismal day to have a proper go with it. Betsy's Blooms is such a gorgeous stamp set and it is great to be able to try lots of different colour combinations instantly. Another plus is that I am not covered in ink! Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend - April x

Life in the Forest

 

I have rustled up this card for the Handstamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge#184. I wanted to use some Watercolour Wonder dsp with the Life in the Forest stamp set. I have also used the Postage Stamp punch which I love. It wasn't easy doing the colouring in, as Spot Cat kept walking on it, but I did enjoy making this quick card. Happy Bank Holiday Monday! April x

Zoo Review

 

We have had rather a busy weekend as it was my daughter's birthday yesterday. I'm glad I have found the time to make this fellow though. It is my entry for NAC#87 which is a sketch challenge this week. Using the lion stamp from Zoo Review, my card combines Cajun Craze and Always Artichoke cardstock with banners in Crushed Curry and Eastern Elegance dsp. I have also used a Label Framelit and the Chevron embossing folder. I hope you like him! April x

By the Tide

A little herd of seahorses! I had to google the collective noun. I have used a Crushed Curry card base with some Eastern Elegance dsp. You can't really see them, but there are lots of silvery 'bubbles' made with Dazzling Details. I think these little fellows look as though they know where they are going! I have sponged the background and used resist embossing. No sentiment, because I thought it clashed with the script, so I have stuck that inside. Hope you have had a lovely weekend, April x

Tape It

 

Here is a very simple card using the fantastic Tape It set of stamps. I was lucky enough to receive this set as a birthday present, along with some pewter embossing powder that gives a gorgeous and subtle silvery sheen. I have used Real Red and Black StazOn inks and Basic Grey cardstock as the base. It is my entry for a very interesting Nacho Average sketch challenge, NAC#85. I love it - it's very different from my usual style of cards, but I think that is why challenges are such a good idea, as they get you out of your usual creative comfort zone.

On another black, white and red theme, here is another card that we will be making at Thursday's workshop, combining Petite Petals with Everything Eleanor.

Hope you have a lovely Easter, April x

Modern Medley

 

Hi all! Just a quick reminder that there is a workshop next Thursday using Modern Medley Designer Series Paper. Everything will be black and white, with some touches of red! All the details are a few posts back. As this is a product-based workshop, you get to take lots of Stampin' Up goodies home to make even more cards! Please don't miss out, as there is only one space remaining.

Modern Medley Workshop

Join us for a relaxing card-making workshop on Thursday, 24th April at 7pm. Ideal for both beginners and experienced crafters, we will be making two greetings cards and a gift voucher holder from the striking Modern Medley Designer Series Paper.

This workshop costs £12 including over £10 of products to take home with you. Your kit will include six pieces of Designer Series Paper, a sheet of gorgeous Red Glimmer Paper, 1m of Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Real Red and a Stampin' Write marker in Basic Black. You will also receive cardstock and envelopes to make your cards. 

Please note that all bookings are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend the workshop, you will of course receive your kit.

Please bring your own adhesive. You will need a strong glue and may wish to use dimensionals. Please let me know when you book your place on the workshop if you would like to pre-order adhesive. Multi-purpose liquid glue is £3.25. Stampin' Dimensionals (300) also cost £3.25. Snail Adhesive is also available at a cost of £5.50 (refills are £3.75).

Please contact me for any further information and for venue directions. Hope you can join us!