Crayon Shaker

This card was inspired by Nichol Magouirk, she makes the most amazing shaker cards and I get inspired eveytime she makes one. She made a card (non-shaker) with this lawn fawn set and she used the faces from the "sweet smiles" and as soon as I saw it I knew that I had to make something similar and for my good friend Kay. Kay is celebrating her birthday today so please go on over to her blog and leave her some birthday love, Happy Birthday Kay x.

Ingredients
Image: "colour my world" and "sweet smiles" both Lawn Fawn
Card: Michaels 110lb white and Tim Holtz water-colour
Dies: Blueprints 2 and cross stitch rectangle both MFT
Sequins: doodlebug multipack
Distress ink: twisted citroen, cracked pistachio and squeezed lemonade
Sentiment: "Color and sunshine" Simon Says Stamp

Copics
Red - R89, 39, 37, 35, 32
Orange - YR09, 07, 04, 02
Yellow - Y17, 15, 13, 11
Green - YG17, 00, 21, 23
Aqua - BG18, 15, 13, 11, 10
Blue - B39, 37, 26, 24, 23
Purple - V17, 15, 12, 01

Not a Card - Something Different

I have been looking for a square shadow frame for quite some time so imagine my surprise when I spotted one and very reasonably priced too. I bought the 8 x 8 size and I also have a 6 x 6 that I have plans for too.

I made this card for my Aunt way back in 2012 and my mum liked it a lot and asked for a picture as it also contains her favourite poem, I have been wanting to surprise her with this for a while and now that christmas is over I can show you on here.

Ingredients
Image: Just Inklined Next Big Thing CD
Frame: The Range

Copics
Daffodils - Y11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 38, 35YR27, 23, 16, 15, YG67, 17, 23, 21
Water - BG00, 0000
Glass - W1, 0
Shadow - C5, 3, 1

Christmas Cheer

This stamp was released in about 2009 and I have wanted it ever since, until I got it in my hands though I never realised how big it was. My normal a2 cards were swamped by it and it was a bit too small for an a5 so I had to order a set of 7x5 cards for it.

It was during the making of these cards that I discovered I don't have any gold embossing powder so I think I need to remedy that post haste lol.

For the glitter background I have used three different things and none of them meant for crafting, The silver glitter ribbon is from Wilko's christmas wrapping range, the gold glitter tape is from Marks and Spencer's Christmas wrapping range and finally the silver less glittery paper is actually wall paper from B and M Bargains.

Glitter Tape

Wallpaper

Ribbon

Ingredients
Image: "christmas cheer" Papermania
Embossing Powder: "liquid platinum"  and "silver detail' both from Ranger
Gems: Adhesive dome stickers from the Classic Decadence Forever Friends Papermania Range

Quilted Square

I needed to make a quick birthday card as I was in full christmas mode it needed to be simple. I saw this card on Jodi's blog and I knew exactly what I was going to make. I was looking for some bright papers and these ones from Michelle were perfect. I like this type of die as its a bit like a jigsaw puzzle when you are putting it together.

Ingredients
Dies: square crealies and "quilt square cover-up", "flags tax" and "vintage buttons" all by mft
Papers : "quite contrary" MME from Michelle
Card: "whip cream"  and "pink lemonade" by MFT and "crumb cake" from Stampin Up
Sentiment: "keep it simple: happy birthday" from Papertrey ink with "kraft" ink also from Papertrey ink

Ugly Sweater

This was going to be my play day Christmas card this year but as the group has grown to almost forty members the card involved too much colouring and after making six I decided that I needed to find an alternative lol.

Ingredients
Images: "ugly sweater" simon says stamp
Card : "sour apple" mft
Background: "stitched" from mft stamped in "sour apple" mft dye ink
Dies: blueprints 13

Copics
Red - R89, 39, 37, 35
Green - YG17, 25, 23, 21, 03, 01
Blues - B39, 37, 26, 24, 23
Reindeer - E34, 31, 30
Gingerbread - E34, 31

From Our House to Yours

This is the card I made for my neighbours this year, I had an idea in my mind and it almost looks exactly like it lol.

Ingredients
Images: "holiday home" Stampin Up
Dies: Blueprints 13 and road both MFT
Sentiment: "our home" Clearly Besotted
Card: "smokey shadow" Papertrey Ink

Copics
Grey Houses - N0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9

Merry Christmas

Just a very quick post as I'm currently enjoying  breakfast before the full on christmas dinner preparation starts to wish all my blogging friends

"Very Merry Christmas"

Hope you got all the presents you wanted and that you are getting to spend time with your loved ones.

Hugs

Amanda

Playday Christmas Cards 2015

This is going to be a very picture heavy post so please feel free to give it a miss if like me you are trying to finish your last bits before the guy in the red suit arrives tomorrow.

I've gone with tiny 3x3 cards this year as there were so many to make, I used the tiny stamps from clearly besotted and on my first attempt I stamped them direct onto the square but it looked too plain, so out came the blueprints with a perfect sized circle and it looks so much better now.

Ingredients
Images: "little elves" and "Santa baby" both clearly besotted
Sentiment: as above
Papers: "Crimson" and "old olive" candy stripes from pink petticoat
Dies: square staxs from mft, scalloped squares from craft stash.co.uk and blueprints 13 from mft

Copics
Santa suit - N7, 5, R39, 46, 24
Elf Green - YG67, 17, 25
Elf Red - R89, 39, 37, 46, 24
Skin - E000, 00, 11, R20
Ground - W3, 1, 0
Sky - BG11, 10

Clean and Simple Christmas Cards

So I am officially running out of time to make cards for Christmas which is in 2 days, oh my goodness.

In light of the time issue I made these very simple cards for friends, the idea actually came from my hubbie. He is very creative and normally not allowed in my room but he suggested a very quick and easily mass produced card, he looked through my dies and even suggested the inlaid die cutting. Maybe I should have gotten him to make them as well lol, oh well there is always next year lol.

Ingredients
Dies: "merry" from MFT, "christmas" wet paint from Papertrey Ink
Paper: "crimson" candy stripes from Pink Petticoat
Card: "real red" stampin up

Ingredients
Dies: "merry" from MFT, "christmas" wet paint from Papertrey Ink
Paper: "olive" candy stripes from Pink Petticoat
Card: "jellybean green" mft

1st Birthday Boy

Last year was a little sparse on the new baby front amongst my family and friends, which after the year before was probably understandable lol. In fact the only baby born that year was a little boy and I can't believe he is one already. Of course I had to make him a card and I hope he has a wonderful 1st birthday.

Ingredients

Image: "baby boy" LOTV

Number: "robotz" cartridge cut on cricut

Paper: "party animals" Nit Wit

Card: "orange Zest" Papertrey ink and "pacific blue" Stampin Up

Dies: Zig zag square stax, square stax, retro square die all MFT and Crealies XXL stitched square

Sketch: Jules Sketch Two

Copics

Skin - E000, 00, 21, 11, R20

Dog - E47, 44, 43, 42, 41

Shorts - B06, 05, 04

Top - B02, 01, YR07, 04

Socks - YG17, 23, 21

Hair - E34

Ground - W3, 1, 0, 00

Sky - B000, 0000

Ornamental Pine Version 2

Yesterday I showed a cleaner version of this card, when I watched the video the demonstrator had inked the edges with ink and I thought I wouldn't like that so I left that part out, well today I decided to try it and I must admit I prefer this version. I also left out the scalloped mat and I like that more, card making is an evolving process.

Well so far I have managed to keep up with my daily posting for December, but like everything I am running out of ideas and steam and there seems to be so much left to do and no time to do it...arrgghh I need more hours in the day.

Ingredients
Image: "ornamental pine" Stampin up
Inks: "jellybean green" MFT, "dark chocolate" Papertrey ink, "natural" mft
Dies: Blueprints 13 and 20
Embossing powder: "iridescent ice" Stampin Up

Ornamental Pine

The idea for this card came from this great card video by Dawn a Stampin Up demonstrator, now I bought this stamp set last year and as soon as it arrived I had no idea what to do with it, everything I tried I didn't like. Part of that was the ink I was using and part was how dark the cards looked so when I saw this video I had a brainwave and thought I'm going to make that card but without the dark sponging. Now that I've used the ice embossing powder I can see it being used on all sorts of Christmas cards.

Ingredients
Image: "ornamental pine" Stampin up
Inks: "jellybean green" MFT, "dark chocolate" Papertrey ink
Card: "jellybean green" MFT
Dies: Blueprints 13 and 20
Embossing powder: "iridescent ice" Stampin Up

Big Birthday Wishes

I can barely believe that my cousin is about to turn 21, it only feels like yesterday I was making her 18th card. I wanted to make a card with the number on it as you only turn 21 once, or maybe like me you are on the 24th anniversary of my 21st lol.

Ingredients
Image: "I got ur back" a la mode by mft
Numbers: "big birthday numbers" by mft
Paper: "dolled up" MME ( from Michelle)
Dies: Cross Stitch rectangle stax, rectangle stax, bracket die all MFT, Crealies XXL stitched Square
Card: "Berry Sorbet" Papertrey Ink

Copics
Skin - E000, 00, 11
Hair - E23, 27, 29
Jeans - B97, 95, 93
Top - R24, 22, 21, 20

Last of the Magazine Freebies - I Promise

This is my last magazine freebie post, well with the paper craft essentials freebies anyway lol. I was about to put the stamp set away after making the christmas tree set of cards when I spotted a stamp I hadn't used and it looked interesting, its a tree comprised of sentiments and I thought it would make a perfect card for my more modern family. I only made two as that was all the time I had but this is definitely a design I will use again.

Ingredients
Image: "freebie" papercraft essentials
Card: "cherry cobbler" stampin up and "jellybean green" MFT
Dies: Blueprints 20
Embossing powder: "liquid platinum" and " silver" both Ranger

Oh Christmas Tree - Yet more magazine freebies

I thought yesterday's post would be the last of this card style but it appears once you pop you can't stop and here I am with another four.

Pewter

Liquid Platinum

Silver

Brass

Ingredients
Image: "freebie" Papercraft Essentials
Card: "cherry cobbler" stampin up and "jellybean green" MFT
Dies: Blueprints 20 and 13
Sentiment: "grand holiday greetings" mft
Embossing powder: "liquid platinum" and "silver" from Ranger, "pewter" from stampin up and "metallic brass" from WOW.

Christmas Wreath - More Magazine Freebies

Well I've been heat embossing the freebie stamps again, this time though I've used the wreath from the set. Once I'd heat embossed it I thought it needed a pop of colour so out came the Copics.

Brass

Silver

Platinum

Pewter

Ingredients
Image: "freebie" papercraft essentials
Card: "jellybean green" MFT and "cherry cobbler" from stampin up
Dies: Blueprints 20 and 13
Embossing powder: "liquid platinum" and "silver" from Ranger, "pewter" from stampin up and "metallic brass" from WOW.
Sentiment: "grand holiday greetings" MFT

Oh Deer - Magazine Freebie

In the UK we have some very good magazine freebies and this set is one of them. I knew as soon as I saw it sitting in the supermarket shelf that I would be making some of my Christmas cards with it.

The images lend themselves to heat embossing so that is exactly what I have done, I've deliberately left them a bit plain as I thought too many embellishments would distract from the design.  I've also used different embossing powders on them, the first one I tried "brass" from WOW, and the second is using "pewter" from stampin up then I tried liquid platinum and silver from ranger, not sure which one I prefer.

Brass

Pewter

Liquid Platinum

Silver

Ingredients
Image: "freebie" from papercraft essentials magazine
Sentiment: "grand holiday greetings" MFT
Dies: Blueprints 20 and 13
Card: "real red" stampin up and "jellybean green" MFT
Embossing powder: "pewter" stampin up and "metallic brass" WOW

Penguin Garland

When I printed the 1st christmas babies last week I decided I may as well fill the entire sheet and this was one of the images I decided to include. Yet again its the first time I have printed and coloured this image and next year I am going to do all coloured images on my cards....ok wishful thinking lol.

Ingredients
Image: "Jolly Garlands" from Digistamp Boutique
Embossing folder - Snowflake from sizzix
paper: candy stripes from pink petticoat
Card: anna marie and "real red" from stampin up
Dies: Barrel nesting set from sizzix

Copics
Leaves - YG67, 17, 25, 03
Berries - R39, 37
Baubles - B26, 23, Y35, 32
Penguin - W9, 7, 5, YR68, Y38, Y15

Underneath the Mistletoe

I was looking through my old christmas cards for inspiration and I found this image and I knew straight away who I was going to use this for. The last few christmases I haven't been colouring images as much and I kind of miss it so this gave me the opportunity to do that again, I still think the majority of my cards won't be colouring but one now and again is fun to do.

Ingredients
Image: Digistamp Boutique
Paper: "candy stripes from Pink Petticoat
Embossing: from sizzix
Card: Anna Marie and "jellybean green" from MFT
Sentiment: "merry" from "merry christmas by Clearly besotted
Dies: Circle staxs from mft and scalloped circle from spellbinders, "wet paint:christmas" from paper trey Ink

Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000
Boy Hair - E79, 59, 57
Girl Hair - E34, 31, 30
Green - YG67, 17, 25, 03
Red - R89, 39, 37
Grey - N9, 7, 5, 4, 3
Sky - BG11, 10

Two Little Robins

I have been meaning to try the free magazine stamps from last year for a while, I have the original rubber version of this but it is considerably larger and I wanted a smaller focal point to fit with the sketch.

It was lovely to colour and I think I might need to use the others that were free now too lol.

Ingredients
Image: Mulberry Wood free magazine set from 2014
Sentiment: "keep it simple: merry christmas" Papertrey Ink
Dies: blueprints 2, 13 and 15, circle staxs all MFT and crealies XXL stitched circles
Papers: "winter Wishes" Echo Park from Michelle
Card: "plum pudding" Papertrey Ink

Copics
Robins - E37, 35, 33, E09, R08, 14, YR16, Y35
Hat  - V17, 15, 12
Present - V17, 15, 12, B24, 21
Mistletoe - E53, 50, YG67, 63, 17
Holly - YG67, 17, 25, R39, 37
Background - BG11, 10
Branch - E77

Hood

This is the last of the age two cards for this year, so its only fitting that I used the last of the fairytale images for this one. I was a bit nervous to colour the red but it was a lot easier than I imagined, Ive been trying different red combos and I'm liking the results. 

I suppose I had better start looking at next years 3rd birthday cards, but I think I just want to chill a bit first lol.

Ingredients

Image: "hood" The greeting farn

Paper: "from the heart" Nit wit

Card: "real red" stamping up

Dies: blueprnts 12 and 14 and number die all MFT

Sentiment: "party animal' Avery Elle

copics

Skin - E000, 00, 21, 11, R02

Hair - E40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 47

Dress - E40, 41, YG93, 91

Cloak - R89, 39, 37, 35

Basket - E31, 34

Socks - N2, 1, 0

Shoes - T7, 5

Happy Birthday Mum

Today is my mums birthday, I'm not going to tell you how old she is though lol, but I did want to wish her a very happy birthday xxx

My mum likes large cards, this normally fills me with dread but not this year, I found this stamp in my stash I remembered why I bought it. My mum has always wanted an old English sheepdog, as a child I would watch the Dulux adverts with her and she would say how much she liked them. Now my mum does have a dog and she is a sheepdog cross but not an old english one and to be honest she is more sheep then dog but a gentler and more loveable dog you would struggle to find. She literally lights up when she sees you and her tail almost knocks you over.

Anyway enough about dogs onto the card, I have made an 8x8 easel card and I think this image would have overpowered any other size.

Please excuse my very poor photography skills this was a very difficult to photograph card.

Ingredients
Image: "annabel" Kanban
Paper: "coffee time" Nit Wit
Card: "kraft" recollections
Dies: "barrel" nested from sizzix
Ribbon: "kraft" from MFT
Punches: "eyelet" patp from Martha Stewart
Sentiment: "happy birthday" clearly besotted, "pool party" embossing powder from Stampin Up


Copics
Skin - E11, 000, 00
Hair - E34, 31, 30
Dress - BG15, 13, 11, E44, 43, 42, 40
Ground - W3, 1, 00
Cuddly dog - E47, 44, 43, 42, 40
Dog - R20, SK09, N2, 1, 0, blender

Floridian Flamingo Christmas Cards

I have made some fantastic friends over the years of going to Florida and most of these I have met at MFT (my favourite things) classes, I wasn't organised enough last year to send them cards but as soon as I saw this image I knew I would make them first this year.

There are four different flamingo's so I have included one of each of these in the examples below.

Ingredients
Image: "" Pink Petticoat
Papers: "cherry blossom" Candy stripes from Pink Petticoat
Card: "smoky slate" Stampin Up
Dies: stitched circle, blueprints 1 and 2 all mft and scalloped circles from spellbinders
Sentiment: "snow globe sentiments" paper trey ink, embossed with "blushing bride" from Stampin Up

Copics
Flamingo - R37, 35, 22, 21, 20, SK09
Accessories - N4, 3, 2, 1,

Poker Party

I haven't been colouring as much as normal and I think its because I don't use my digi stamps as much, I would always print an entire sheet and think about which ones I would need next etc, now I tend to grab a stamp or die and i'm done. Well I had to print the new job image recently so I decided to do an entire sheet and see what I had for upcoming birthdays, my I have a lot of digi stamps and I had no problem finding ones I wanted to use, of course if I had printed them all I would be sitting under a paper mountain lol.

I coloured the image and I like that it kind of matches the background although that wasn't my intention. I have also used the left over piece I made for the beer card, it was sitting on my desk and it seemed wrong to not just use it. I did turn the grid background so it somewhat mimics the card background and I must remember that my background stamps are far more versatile than I realise.

Ingredients
Image: "card sharks" Bird Brain at From the Heart Stamps
Sentiment: "year two" Lawn fawn and smoky slate embossing powder
Paper: Leftover from "who let the beer out card"
Card:"enchanted evening" Papertrey ink
Dies: Blueprints 15 and cross stitch rectangles all MFT
Background: "grid" mft

Copics
Birds - Y17, 15, 13, YR27, 24, 04
Grass - YG17, 23, 21
Sky - BG10, blender
Cards - B39, 37, 26, 24, R89, 39, 37, W5, 3, Y15, E00, T4, YR23

1st Christmas

I really enjoy making first christmas cards and this image is just perfect especially for little boys. Like all my christmas cards the design is rather simple and didn't take long to make. I am still way behind where I needed to be with my christmas card makes but I'm sure I will get there (hopefully, she says crossing everything lol).

Ingredients
Image : "1st Christmas" digistamp boutique
Paper: "stocking fillers" First edition
Card : "real red" stampin up
Dies: Zig zag square and square staxs, blueprints 3 and 14 all mft
Font: "freehand 591" generated on my mac

Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000, R20
Hat - E09, R08, 05
Romper - YG17, 25, 03, 21
Sky - BG10, blender
Bear - E44, 43, 42

Scrapberry Smile

After using the Basik stamp recently I decided I needed to use my other scrap berry stamps, I was always worried about getting a good impression but I need not have worried as this one stamped perfectly first time.

When I first saw this stamp it reminded me of my good friend and her little Chihuahua so I knew I had to get it. I was worried about making the dog look like hers and hopefully I have managed it.

I was struggling to put this card together when I had a brainwave, why not look at a sketch site and see if anything sparks my mojo. First site I went to was Mojo Monday and sketch 409 was the perfect one for me. I had so much fun recreating this sketch I think I might try it again with a different one.

Ingredients
Image: "smile' Scrapberry
Paper: "Market" MME
Card: "Melon Berry" Papertrey Ink
Dies: Blueprints 1 , 2 and 13, cross stitch rectangle and rectangle stax all mft
Sentiment: "for you" Clearly Besotted stamped with "melon berry" paper trey ink and "spearmint" mft

Copics
Skin - E000, 00, 11, R20
Hair - E34, 31, 30
Dress - R11, 12, 14
Cardi and Boots - YG41, G00, 000
Dog - E35, 34, W7, 5,

Mojo Monday sketch 409

Altenew Vintage Pink Roses

This card was inspired by this card by Kristina Werner, when the video was made I hadn't even bought the stamp set but I knew I wanted it. I decided on the Vintage roses rather than flowers as the roses had more sizes and layers in this set.

I decided to change her colour scheme though as I don't have any of the inks she used, I had recently watched a laura bassen video and she used her pti inks to stamp an altenew lily and I thought I wonder if I could achieve the same with mine and the roses.

There is a ton of masking on this simple card but it was worth it to see the end result, I have kept the masks so you never know I might even recreate it.

Ingredients
Images: "vintage roses" altenew
Sentiment: "happy birthday" Simon Says Stamp
Background: "wood plank" mft stamps
Sequins: "marshmallow", "sparkling clear" and "pink mix" all Pretty Pink Posh

Inks
Roses - "sweet blush", "hibiscus burst", "raspberry fizz" and "scarlet jewel" all Papertrey ink
Leaves - "limeade ice", "simply chartreuse" and "ripe avocado" all Papertrey ink
Background - "grout gray" from MFT

A Rare Find

After I used the sketch from Kay and the "oh snap" set from lawn fawn I kept thinking of other ways to use the sketch and all the sets I own with small images so I have used the same layout just different colours and images and I think this might be my go to card layout for this christmas.

Ingredients
Image and sentiment: "yeti its cold outside" Lawn Fawn
Dies: Peek a boo trio, blueprints 1, 2 and 13 all mft and stitched hillside borders from lawn fawn
Distress inks: faded jeans and chipped sapphire
Card: "enchanted evening" paper trey ink
Paper: "winter wishes" echo park from Michelle

Copics
Trees - G99, 94
Yeti - E44, 43, 42, 41, R39, 37, W7

Train Postcard

This stamp has been in my stash for a few years as I was never quite sure how to use it. I found a card on pinterest where they had coloured the background (wish I had saved it so I could give credit) I didn't follow their colouring though and it looked a bit of a mess until I added the iridescent ice embossing powder. Now that I have made one I might make more but not this christmas lol.

Ingredients
Image: "train postcard" Stampendous
Dies: Blueprints 20 and 1 both MFT
Card: "cherry cobbler" Stampin up
Embossing powder: "iridescent Ice" Stampin up
Inks: "tip top taupe" stampin up and "natural" MFT

Copics
Train - N4, 2, 0
Water - B24, 23, 21
Sky - BG10
Trees - E77, YG97, 95, 93, 17
Tracks - E77, 74, 71
Holly - YG67, 63, R39, 37

Controller Swoosh

I'm not sure what I was going for here and it ended up far different than my intention but at least its made lol. I wanted the controller to look more rounded and think next time I will cut in white and copic colour rather than just shade a light black card.

I wanted the swoosh to kind of look like an atari swoosh but not, again in my head it looked a lot better than it translated into a card, still its for a guy who likes games machines and playing games and I doubt he will even notice lol.

Ingredients
Image: "level up" mft stamps
Sentiment: "level up" mft stamps, using black liquorice mft dye ink and "new leaf" paper trey ink
Dies: Swoosh from paper trey ink in "new leaf"

Copics
Red - R24, 29
Green - YG17, 23
Blue - B24, 26
Yellow - Y15, 17
Controller - W7, 9, black

Cute Elf on a Shelf

This year I have been a lot better at posting on my blog and I have enjoyed it too. So in honour of my better blogging year I thought I would try and post everyday in December, this may be a bad idea but I fancy giving it a try. Hopefully you will check back and see if I achieved it.

I saw this card on Stephanie's blog and I knew this set had to be mine lol. As soon as it arrived I made these cards, I decided to mask the elf so that it looks like its sitting on the shelf and I can't believe it looks like it is one stamp not two. I love it when a plan comes together and it looks better than I was hoping. I enjoyed making these cards so much I might make a few more.

Ingredients
Image and sentiment: "little elves" Clearly Besotted
Dies: Blueprints 20 from MFT
Paper: "candy stripes" pink petticoat in "crimson and pistachio"

Copics
Skin - E000, 00, 11, R20
Hair - E34, 31, 30
Outfit - W7, Y35, R89, 39, 37, YG17, 03
Books - B37, 26, 24, YG17, 25, 03, R89, 39, 37
Shelf - E44, 43, 42
Tree - YG17, 25, 03, R35, Y35, E37, 34