Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Kay

Today is my good friend Kay's birthday and as she loves spiders I had an idea of the card I wanted to make. I watched an Amy Rysavy video where she used Studio Katia products to create a web shaker card and I knew straight away what I wanted to create, however there are no studio katia suppliers in the UK and the postage and customs would be astronomical so I thought how can I recreate without those specific items. This was how back at the start of my card making journey I would make stuff, I never had the correct/exact item so I would improvise and I enjoyed it so I thought revisit that period and see what happens.

Of course I had no spider web dies but I knew someone who did and I asked if I could cut it, I used black glitter card for the web and normal black card for the background and my initial idea was to use the one as a stencil but that went out of the window when I saw how thin the lines were.

It doesn't look anything like Amy's but I think it works and I am oddly pleased with it.

Last things to do is wish Kay a very happy birthday x

Ingredients
Image: "creepy Crawlies" Robertos Rascals from CC designs
Dies: Sizzix Spider Web
Card: "glitter pad" from the Works and "cranberry" from Michaels
Sequins: "sparkling clear" and "charcoal" from pretty pink posh, 'red" dollar tree and "silver stars" Studio Katia

Merry Christmas Everyone

I just wanted to wish all my blog readers a 

Very Merry Christmas

I haven't posted as much this year but I do hope you have enjoyed reading the posts.

Now its time to get back to the Turkey and presents

Thank you xx

Lili of the Valley Number Bears Version 5

This is the last of these Number 5 bears, I have to say I am sad that they are all finished now as I enjoyed making them and hopefully they enjoyed receiving them. Not long until the 6 turn 6 so I had better get my thinking cap on. I do hope that I make them all in a batch next year as it made the process so much more enjoyable that way.

Ingredients
Image: "number bear" Lili of the Valley Digistamp
Dies: XXL stitched square from Crealies
Card: "amethyst allure" from Papertrey ink

Copics
Bear - E47, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40
Ground - W4, 2
Number - V17, 15

AI Crafting=Happiness

Yet another of the Hobby Lobby wood mounted AI stamps has been inked up. Every year when I visit Florida I look out for these, normally I don't find them straight away but this year I did.

Its a big stamp and complicated to colour but I hope the recipient likes it. I followed the coloured image on the stamp block and although I changed the colours I used the shadows and even though all the colours are just two markers each it seems to work ok. Next time I might try using a grey or a BV as the shadow for all the colours, baby steps though lol.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment: "craftiness" Art Impressions (AI)
Dies: Blueprints 31 from mft
Card: "hibiscus burst" from Papertrey Ink

Copics
Skin - E11, 00, R20
Table - E34, 31, N3, 1
Blue - B26, 23
Green - YG17, 25
Pink - RV14, 13
Purple - V17, 15
Black - N7, 5
Grey - N3, 1
Ground - E44, 43, 42
Hair - E30, 31, 34, 35, 57, 59, 49, T5, 3, 1

Lili of the Valley Number Bears Version 4

Almost the last one and I think probably my favourite colour scheme too. I have been adding them to my blog just after each of their birthdays as I don't want the mums to see them beforehand. 

I made all of them in March though, in one day and it was a blast. I am hoping that I get to do that again next year and not spend the whole year trying to remember how I made the last one lol.

The numbers don't look well blended and I am not sure if they aren't or the sparkle pen is amplifying that. 

Ingredients
Image: "number bear" Lili of the Valley Digistamp
Dies: XXL stitched square from Crealies
Card: "costal cabana" from Stampin Up (retired)

Copics
Bear - E47, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40
Ground - W4, 2
Number - BG15, 13, 11, 23, 34

Margarita Time

I basically copied the card I made at the MFT retreat but went cleaner as there is minimal ink blending on the background.

Next time though I would blend the background as that makes the glass pop rather than blend into the background, I would also stamp the birds on my copy colouring card and not a random piece that was sitting on my desk lol.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment: "Toucan do it" from MFT
Dies: blueprints 31 and margarita shaker all from MFT
Distress Oxides: "cracked pistachio" Tumbled glass"
Sequins - Green and aqua from dollar tree, Ice cubes from MFT and Pinks from Pretty Pink Posh

Copics
Beaks - Y17, 15, 13
Green - G02, 00
Pink - RV14, 13, 11
Aqua - BG15, 13, 11

Rockabilly Girls Version 2

When I coloured the previous versions of the rockabilly girls I also coloured this one. My original idea as to make all four cards the same but I dropped my black ink pad on the fourth background and when I went to make it again I had a brainwave to use this stencil and softer colours. I'm pleased I did as this works better than the wall with this particular image.

Ingredients
Image: "rockabilly girls" Roberto's Rascals at CC Designs
Sentiment: Creative Stamping
Dies:  "a2 stitched rectangle" from MFT
Stencil: "Prismacope" from TCW, The Crafters Workshop
Ink: "worn lipstick" and "spun sugar"" Distress Oxides
Card: "dark charcoal" from recollections at Michaels and "hibiscus burst" from Papertry Ink

Copics
Skin - E04, 11, 00, 000, 93
Shoes - N9, 7, 5
Pink - RV17, 14, 13, 11
Brunette - E79, 77, 74, 49

Creative Stamping Again

When this magazine first arrived I made ten cards with the images, probably the most cards Ive ever made with one set of stamps. Every year I try and finish all my birthday cards until the end of the year before I start my christmas cards, this year I am running behind so I decided to revisit a design and make two cards. I enjoyed making these and you never know I might use the set again soon.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment : Creative Stamping (feb/march)
Dies: "mod rectangles" mft
Background: "cranberry" card from Recollections at Michaels and "marble" background stamp from MFT

Coloured Stencils part deux

After the last set of cards where I used my Prisma colour pencils with a morocco stencil I thought maybe I should try my cheaper crayola, they are harder than the Prismas and not as creamy but the effect is just as good to my eye. In fact I would say it was easier as I didn't have to sharpen them at all and I like the fact you can see that they are coloured pencil. I have so many stencils that I think I might need to do this more often, it was so enjoyable to just sit and colour without having to worry about light source and blending lol.

I used several shades of each colour and tried my hardest to not get them next to each other, I was pretty close on a few but you have to really stare to see that hopefully.

I kind of wish I had put a white inlaid die cut rather then the eclipse as they are quite difficult to see even with four layers, bit of a busy pattern lol.

Ingredients
Stencil: "abstract" from MFT
Sentiment: "clearly thanks" retired MFT set
Die: A2 stitched rectangle and large thanks both MFT
Card: "natural" from MFT
Pencils: "crayola"

Coloured Stencils a la Jennifer McGuire

I have been looking for an idea to make some thank you cards for my Floridian friends, every time I visit they go out of their way to include me and take me to the most fab places.

I watched a video from Jennifer McGuire and thought I have everything to make that so I sat and had a go, i had to sharpen my pencils multiple times but I really like the effect. Next time I might use my crayolas and see what difference these make.

Ingredients
Image: "moroccan mosca" stencil from MFT
Sentiment: "written in watercolour" from MFT
Card: "natural" from MFT
Dies: A2 stitched rectangle stax from MFT

Making Cards Magazine Roses

When my friend Jane received the making cards magazine a few issues ago she made 17 cards with the free papers< i was very impressed and tried to remember ever using the free papers. I remember using the foxes and bunnies once to make about ten cards but that was my maximum. I am not going to be making 17 cards with this set but I did make two, there is lots left over so I might make a few more but at least I have used them this time.

Famous last words but each month I am going to make at least a few cards with the stamps and papers so that I feel the magazine is worth the subscription. It does feel every time I think I should cancel they bring out a super cute set lol.

I used one of the designs in the magazine as a starting point for the cards and they kind of developed on their own. Even though I only cu out and stuck together I don't think it was any quicker than my coloured cards, probably cos they are clean and simple.

Ingredients
Image: "making cards magazine" issue
Sentiment: "a little bit sentimental" Clearly Besotted
Card: "kraft" from the Range
Paper: "making cards magazine" issue

Spotlight Technique

I was trying to make life easier and make two cards with one pass but life never quite works out that way. I have used the spotlight technique before but only normally with one area either coloured or greyscale. On a recent visit to Snazzy's I saw that she had taken a single image and stamped it twice, coloured one version and left the other as line art then cut the same areas out of each and transposed them. It was so effective I wondered why I had never tried it so I decided I would as soon as I got home.

She used a large floral from Penny Black but I don't have that so I thought I have loads of floral images from Just Inklined so why not use one of those. I was originally going to just print it twice and colour one when I saw I also had the pre-coloured version. I thought oh I can make this so much quicker now, famous last words lol. Of course the images are almost identical in size maybe a few mm off but enough to make this a much more difficult job than just colouring it myself would have been, but lesson learned lol.

I popped the circles on one and inset them on the other, not sure which I prefer but I would definitely try this again but I would colour the image myself lol.

 


Ingredients
Images: "crocus jug" Just Inklined and coloured version from La Pashe CD
Sentiment: "" Clearly Besotted
Dies: "a2 stitched rectangle" MFT
Card: "dark charcoal" recollections at Michaels

Heart and Sole 2

At the start of the year I was trying to increase my chances of getting all the cards I needed made so I was making two cards at each sitting. Now I wrote this blogpost back in April and I am hoping I managed to stick to this as it was definitely reducing my stress levels and making card making more enjoyable. Not that I am saying it isn't enjoyable more that I put myself under pressure by always leaving things to the last minute and then not being happy with the result, so I made the decision if I had an idea for a particular card for a particular person I was just going to get on with it and make it lol, so here we are with a card made in April not needed until October lol.

Now I could have shown this when it was made as the person doesn't follow my blog, however his mum does and I knew she would guess it was for him (is the 40 a give away Jane lol).

There is only one difference from the original (apart from the fact that card was pink and purple) and that is that this one is on an action wobble lol.

My original idea was to make the splatters brown like mud but that really didn't work as they looked like something else lol so I thought its a card it doesn't have to reflect life so blue splatters it is.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment: "heart and sole" Papertrey ink
Inks: "twisted citroen" and "broken chinat" both Distress Oxides
Stencil: "splatters" Tim Holtz
Dies: "a2 stitched stax 2 and a2 stax 1" both MFT

Flipping Golfer

My good friend Kay recently brought some older stamps to playday and asked if anyone wanted them. These are not my normal style but I appreciate that the people I send to might like something different so I brought this one and a fishing one home. They come with a front and back image but I only used the front today. I ought to try a flip card with both but not this time.

I did draw in the background to look like a bunker and hopefully it works.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment: "golfer" Flipping Stamps from La Pashe
Dies: A2 stitched rectangle from MFT
Card: "elegant evening" Papertrey Ink

Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000
Club - B99, 95, N5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Shirt - N2, 1, 0
Beer - YR27, 24, 23
Cap and Trousers - B99, 95, E79, 74
Socks and Sweater - YG99, 95, 93, 91
Sand - E35, 34, 31
Grass - G46, 24, 43
Sky - BG11, 10

Drinks Trolley Beer Glasses

Third and final for now card in the Drinks Trolley Collection from Craftstash. I enjoyed making these and like the shoes and lady ones I made earlier this year they have helped immensely with the stress and made card making fun again.

I speak to lots of people who make cards and never send them but everyone of my cards is made for someone, I make roughly 300 a year between birthday, christmas and new home, new baby, congratulations. I think next year I am going to try the multiple method often as it certainly helps as I get more time to play.

Ingredients
Image "time for a beer" Apple Blossom
Sentiment: "" Simon Says Stamp. memento bermuda bay ink

Copics
Glasses - E53, 51, 50, YR23, 24, 27
Background - B14, 12

Drinks Trolley Beer Bottle

This is the second of a set of three cards all made with the drinks trolley sets from Craftstash. I wanted to make more with the other images but ran out of time. I used a real bottle for the colour inspiration of course that meant I had to drink the contents lol.

I kind of wish I had stamped the same label as the mini version but thats next time lol.

Ingredients
Image: "time for a beer" apple blossom and magazine free set
Sentiment: "" Simon Says Stamp

Copics
Bottle - E29, 37, 35
Background - G02, 00

Drinks Trolley Pop Can

I have been looking at the apple blossom drinks trolley collection available at Craftstash for a while but had no idea if I would use them so I resisted, however in June one of the UK magazines had a miniature version with dies as the free gift. I thought this would alleviate my desire to own the originals but instead it made me buy them lol.

I stamped the mini version of the can and coloured the same as the large version and before I knew it the card was finished. I liked it so much I made two more versions with different images and that doesn't happen often I can tell you lol.

Ingredients
Images : pop, fizz. party from apple blossom
Sentiment : drinks trolley magazine freebie

Copics
Can - R39, 37, 35, N2, blender, N5, 4
Background - N8, 6

Swiss Army Knife

I am not normally pleased with the cards I make, I kind of like them and I don't hate them but pleased is just a little too far lol, this card is the exception to the rule. It turned out better....yes I said better...than I hoped it would. It didn't go to plan and I had to adapt along the way but that just means it's different to how I envisaged it and in this case that's a good thing lol.

I was experimenting with the die set and cut it from white card to see how it all went together, I thought I would use my wink of Luna and colour the tools and my copics to colour the body. This was my first attempt and I ended up liking it a lot so I scrapped my idea to use metallic cardstock and went with what I had.

Of course once assembled it was too big for a standard A2 card so my handy trusty 6x6 cards came out to play. My original idea was a pocket from an old MFT set but it was too small, then I had the brainwave of making it like a front pocket, I used the jeans I was wearing to get the correct look and a circle die to draw around and bish bash bosh it was done. This makes it sound like it was quick, it wasn't lol.

I have left the knife loose inside the pocket so it can be removed, this card was a lot of work and I hope the recipient likes it too.

If you are still here, well done on sticking with my ramblings lol.

The Pocket Knife

Ingredients
Card: "enchanted evening" papertrey ink
Stamp: "denim" background from MFT
Dies : "utility die set - his" from Art Impressions

Lili of the Valley Number Bears Version 3

This one looks so much nicer in real life than in the photos, the pink which is favourite colour combo is very pale and more rose than the picture shows. 

I am so glad I bought these bears and already they have made quite a difference to the cards I need to make. Of course I had to buy the letters as well and you might have already seen a few cards with those on.

Ingredients
Image: "number bear" Lili of the Valley Digistamp
Dies: XXL stitched square from Crealies
Card: "lovely lady" from Papertrey ink

Copics
Bear - E47, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40
Ground - W4, 2
Number - R85, 83, 81

Mini Re-mix Happy

I have always been a fan of the greeting farm, the hair was my first real practice of copic colouring but I did find them a little large for my taste. Which is why I have bought the mini remix sets and have been using them a bit too, ok for most people that would mean never but in Amanda speak I have made practically every card with them lol.

I went with a simple design and more of those free papers, I am so glad one of the playday ladies brought an almost full set to playday and she gave them away too. 

Ingredients
Image: "mini remix happy" from the Greeting Farm
Sentiment: "keep it simple - birthday 2" from Papertrey Ink
Paper: "isabella" from Bo Bunny
Dies: Blueprints 13 and 2, slatted sentiment strips all mft
Card: "charcoal" from Michaels

Gill Friends

I have been wanting to make this card since I first got this stamp set but its taken me a while lol, I also got a bit carried away and coloured all the fish but only three fitted in the tank I had created. maybe I will make another one......oh my I laughed out loud at that one....

Not much to say, it went together easily, the dies and pouches from MFT make easy work of shaker cards and are definitely my preferred method of making a shaker. I have quite a few varieties in my arsenal now so maybe I will make more, you never know.

Ingredients
Image and sentiment: "gill friends" from MFT
Dies: "aquarium shaker set" and A2 stitched rectangle set 2
Sequins and Shakers bits: blue from dollar tree and bubbles from Studio Katia
Paper: "basics" Paper Studio from Hobby Lobby

Copics
Puffer Fish - E99, 97, 95
Angel Fish - Y17, 15, 13, B26, 24, 23
Clown Fish - N2, 1, 0, YR09, 04
Sand - E31, 34, 35, 59
Water - B12, 41

Penny Black Birthday Bears Again

I used this design and even this paper pack last year to make some 40th birthday cards and I thought why am I trying to reinvent the wheel for a 30th card when I already have something that works, looks nice and the recipient hasn't seen before so here we go.

Not much else to say except after the fairy garden card I am loving making grass strokes lol.

Ingredients
Image: "birthday bears" from Penny black
Dies:"circle shaker frame" and "happy birthday frame" both MFT
Sequins: sparking clear from pretty pink posh, aqua from dollar tree
Paper: "Party patterns" from MFT

Copics
Bear - E44, 43, 42
Signs - BG57, 53
Ground - YG01, 03, 25, 17
Sky - BG11, 10

Fairy Garden

Amy Young was the major inspiration for this card design, when I first started my copic journey I used to visit her blog for her Greeting Farm Anya hair colouring cards, she always included the colours and that was how I built my collection. I still enjoy seeing her cards and her colouring is absolutely mind blowing.

I was very nervous about colouring the grass after I had coloured everything else but I must say it worked and I should just trust myself a bit more...I spell disaster in my future after making such a bold statement....can't you tell I am not an optimist lol...I am not a pessimist more a realist lol.

Ingredients
Images and Sentiment : "fairy garden" and "fairy magic" both The Greeting Farm
Dies : "wonky stitched rectangles" from MFT
Card: "grape jelly" from MFT

Copics
Ground - E59, 57, 35, 34, 31, YR24
Grass - YG17, 25, 03, 01
Fairies - E15, 13, 11, 04, 01, 00, 000, R20, RV09, 06, V17, 15, Y17, 15, 13, YR09, 04, B26, 23, R39, 37, E49, 47, 44, YR27, 09, 24, 23, 20, E30, 31, 34, E59, 57, 35, YR16, E09
Garden - T6, 4, E93, 95, 07, 99, E35, 34, 31, YR67, 17, 25, 03, 01,
House - R85, 83, 81, E59, 57, 35, B26, 24, 23, E09, R08, Y15, 11, YG67, 17

Shine On

During my last Florida trip my friend Jane wanted to order this stamp set, now I love me some free shipping so we ordered enough to qualify, the service was quick and we even got a "free bee" love puny stuff even more than free stuff....well maybe not but almost equally lol.

I watched a Kelly Latevola video and she coloured the bottles in rainbow order so of course that was the first thing I thought of, I can see this being a pretty versatile set for the ladies in my life, I kind of wish I had made two now lol.

My friend Kay used the blueprint 31 largest die recently on a card and I liked the effect so I had to use it myself this time.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment : "shine on" Honey Bee Stamps
Dies: blueprints 31 from MFT

Copics
Tops - T6, 5, 4, 3
Ground - E59, 57, 35
Sky - BG13, 11
Red - R39, 37, 35
Orange - YR09, 07, 04
Yellow - Y17, 15, 13
Green - YG17, 25, 03
Blue - B28, 26, 24
Purple - V09, 17, 15
Pink - RV09, 06, 04

Daydream Believer

You can tell how long I have had this stamp set, it has been retired and rereleased by Kraft Kimmie and I was still too scared to colour it, so I put on my big girl panties and just did it, the card kind of evolved on its own and I like the result. Sometimes organic card making is the way to go lol.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment : "girls just want to have fun " kraftin Kimmie
Dies : cloud stax (retired) from MFT
Paper : "isabellina" bobunny free set

Copics
Skin - E000, 00, 11, 93
Hair - YR15, 18, E09
Pjs - C4, 3, 2, 1, 0, R85, 83, 81, blender

Creative Stamping Car

After making the camper van card I decided to use the car from the same set before I put it away. I'm not overly happy with the finished result but I thought I would show it anyway.

I think the bit I'm least happy with is the map section, I wasn't sure what to do and I think it shows lol. Also I used the wrong cardstock so the colouring isn't as blended as I'd like lol. Gosh I sound like a right grump, I have been enjoying making cards again and I guess not everyone can be as I like it and I shouldn't loose heart just because it didn't go as I wanted. Basically I'm saying put your big girl panties on Amanda and just get on with it lol.

Ingredients
Image and sentiment : creative stamping 54
Dies : a2 rectangles and square stax both from MFT

Copics
Car - B06, 04, 02, N4, 2, Y15,
Ground T5, 4, 3
Sky - BG11, 10
Map -YG25, 03

Creative Stamping Camper Van

My friend Kay recently showed a card on instagram using a Mama Elephant polaroid die and it gave me an idea, what if I made the van image into a photo, now my polaroid die is too small so I made my own using a large rectangle and large square, even if I say so myself it looks just like one lol.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment : "creative stamping 54"
Dies: square stax and A2 rectangles both from MFT


Copics
Van - R89, 39, 37, N3, 1, 0, blender, B0000, 000
Sky - B0000, 000, 00
Sand - E37, 35, 34, 31
Sea - B39, 37, 34, 12

Absolutely Brilliant

I bought this stamp way back when, in fact I think it was when it first came out and I bought it to make a card for this person too lol. I have finally coloured it up, it was a labour of love as it took a while and I had to redo it once too. I have been overstamping with versa fine clair and it really makes the image pop but when I re-stamped this image the first time it wasn't quite in the right place and it left a shadow so this time I decided I wouldn't do that and risk ruining it a second time lol.

The sentiments are from Whimsy Stamps, I visited their retreat in Orlando in June. I didn't attend the retreat but Faye was teaching so as I was in the area I popped in to see her and of course buy some stuff too lol. I bought a set of sentiments called"cheeky" and they suit the british sense of humour so well, of course I didn't know that they weren't being released until August as several friends wanted to buy them lol.

Not much else to say except I hope she liked the card and had a lovely birthday.

Ingredients
Image: "Best friends" Robertos rascals for CC designs
Sentiment : "cheeky" from Whimsy Stamps
Paper : "black and white basics" from MFT

Copics
Grey Lady - E000, 00, 11, 93, T6, 4, 3, 2, BG18, 15, B99, 97, N2, 0, 8, 6, blender
Red Lady - E13, 11, 00, 93, 15, 08, 09, RV02, 04, 06, 09, 69, N8, 6, 5
Ground - W4, 2

No Prob-llama

One of our very good, ok best friends have three Alpacas and as soon as I saw this set from Creative Stamping I knew I was going to make his card using it. I have tried to make the colours match each of the Alpaca's and even made one slightly smaller than the others, of course this meant I had to cut off the bottom of the card lol.

The stitched mod rectangles have had another outing, I was addicted to these dies earlier this year and that may start again now lol.

Ingredients
Images and Sentiment: Creative Stamping
Stencils: "mini clouds" MFT
Inks: "tumbled glass" Distress ink
Dies: " stitched mod rectangles" from MFT
Card: "dark indigo" from Papertrey Ink

Copics
Duke - E59, 57, 35
Barney - E30, 31, 34, 35
Tarquin - E47, 44, 43, 42

Arteza Water Pens

So I finally bought the Arteza Real brush pens, my good friend Kathy spotted them as a lightning Amazon deal so I had to buy them didn't I lol.

This is my first time using them and they look ok, not my best colouring but it could have been worse, I haven't even swatched them yet so choosing the colours was an experience although the boxes they arrive in help immensely with that.

Images : "Merci beaucoup" from Clearly Besotted
Sentiment : " say it in style" retired Clearly besotted
Dies : Blueprints 29 and set 2 stitched a2 rectangles from MFT
Card : " hibiscus burst" papertrey ink

Stamping Bella Nancy

I saw a card made with this stamp and probably even these colours on my trawls through Blogland, I am sorry I can't remember who made it and gave the inspiration, if you know who please let me know as I like to give credit for my inspiration.

This stamp was a joy to colour and once I had made the card I couldn't seem to stop making this design, I like the clean and simple style, of course that means that any mistakes are amplified lol.

Ingredients
Image: " Nancy" from Stamping Bella
Sentiment: "sentiment staples - birthday mini" from Papertrey Ink
Paper: "newspapers"
Card: Recollections from Michaels 110lb white yardstick
Dies: Blueprints 15 from MFT and Crealies XXL inside out circles

Copics
Skin - E000, 00, 11
Hair - E59, 57, 35
Trousers - N8, 6, 5
Cup - R59, 56
Chair - E44, 43, 42, 59, 57, 35
Newspaper - N4, 3, 2, 1, blender

Wheelie Like You

Friends of ours recently got a rescue hamster called "Roo" he is completely adored by the whole family. He is also an escape artist and should really be called "Houdini" lol.

My friend asked me to make her hubby a birthday card from the hamster and this was it lol.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment: "wheelie like you" Lawn Fawn
Dies: A2 Stitched Rectangles from MFT
Stencil: Dutch Doobadoo
Inks: Twisted Citroen and Broken China Distress Oxides

Copics
Wheel - C2
Hamster - E34, 31, N6

Magic Slider Card - Lawn Fawn

I recently made the lawn fawn reveal wheel card using the dies I bought in Florida, during the making of that card I was discussing how I had bought the magic slider dies last year in florida and had never used them. Of course that got the wheels turning and I decided that I needed to make something.

This wasn't my original idea but one that took shape and evolved as it went along. Of course it took three attempts to get it to work but that was all human error and not watching the videos before starting lol. I did discover that a double height set of the "u" shaped spacer made the card slide easier but you do have to take that extra depth into account when placing the acetate....ask me how I know (attempt 2 lol)

I also discovered that after trying to blend the sky with B21 that it needs refilling so I had to try other colours until it blended, hence the really long list for just sky lol.

Anyway it's a fun card and hopefully now I know what I am doing one I will create again.

Ingredients
Image : "Colour Chameleon " Clearly Besotted
Sentiment: "geometric shapes" Clearly Besotted
Card: "blueberry sky" Papertrey Ink
Paper: "Dots and Stripes - Bright " MFT
Dies: blueprints 23 and 1 both MFT and lawn fawn magic slider die set

Copics
Ground - E59, 37, 35, 34, 31
Sky - B21, 23, 00, 12, 14
Branch - E59, 35, G46, 24
Chameleon - YG01, 03, 25, 17

MMMM Coffee

I need to apologise for the fact that I can't remember which magazine this free gift came with, I do remember it had stamps, dies and a stencil though. I have also had the image coloured for about three months but in order to kick start my mojo I am trying to use previously coloured images and make them into cards.

Of course this process may take some time and I am peppering that with new colouring and cards I need lol.

Ingredients
Image : "freebie"
Sentiment: "birthday balloon" Avery Elle
Card:"cocoa bean" from Papertrey Ink
Dies: Blueprints 23 and 1, slanted sentiment strip all MFT
Stencil: "freebie" and cocoa bean ink from Papertrey Ink

Diggers

Its not often I make a card without any colouring but today I did. I needed a boys card quick and I thought lets try printing one using a Nit Wit set, back in the day I did this a lot and I had forgotten how effective it can be. I had to add a bit of dimension and there was some cutting but it was really quick and simple.

I'm still stuck in a creative rut so the layout is simple/basic but I know the 3 year old isn't going to mind.

Ingredients
Image and Paper: " Diggers and Dozers" Nit Wit Collections
Dies: Blueprints 13 and 2, notched border all MFT
Card: "sour apple" from MFT

Lili of the Valley Number Bears Again with a Twist

When I made the first one of these bears I used letter dies to create an eclipse, now I couldn't do that for the others as their names were too long, however a friend said I have smaller letters so I tried it and I am pleased with the result. I kind of wish I had done this for the other ones but its a bit late now.

Ingredients
Image: "number bear" Lili of the Valley Digistamp
Dies: XXL stitched square from Crealies, friends letter dies
Card: "pacific blue" from Stampin up

Copics
Bear - E47, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40
Ground - W4, 2
Number - B06, 05, 04, 02

I'm Back and a Card

Thank you so much for the lovely comments on my previous post, I was really touched by them and sometimes when you just feel like you are talking to yourself you realise that you aren't and that is a wonderful feeling.

I have been trying to get back into the swing of card making but its so difficult with the warm weather, it probably doesn't help that my craft room is like an oven, oh for air conditioning or even a fan. Hubby tried to put a fan in the doorway but it was a disaster, either it was blowing hot air at me, blowing my papers around or I was falling over the lead, it was just not meant to be lol.

So anyway enough of my waffling, I made a basic card for a three year old. Not sure they really care about cards but I made one for his mum anywho lol. I used a tried and tested image and papers and didn't really do anything different with the layout but I was pleased with it and thats a first lately for me.

Ingredients
Image: "happy days" The Greeting Farm
Paper: "dino friends" Echo Park
Card: "pacific point" Stampin Up
Dies: Blueprints 13 and 1 from MFT, postage stamp (no idea - I haven't labelled), numbers from paper trey ink

Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000
Hair - E35. 57, 59
Clothes - B06, 05, 04, 02, E08, R08, 05
Dinosaurs - YG17, 25, 03, Y17, 15, 13, YR09, 07, 04

Fabulous Pink Shoes

The final instalment of the shoe cards, although I might have made more by now as they were so enjoyable.

Not much else to say except I am happy to have made them and hope they were well received.

Ingredients
Image and sentiment: Creative Stamping issue 53
Dies: "mod stitched rectangle stax" from MFT
Paper: "charcoal" from michaels
Stamp: "diagonal stripes" MFT

Moody Unicorn

Gerdes Steiner manages to create images that just make you smile and this is no exception, of course it had to be coloured in rainbow and all the card had to match.

I am obsessed with rainbows and it would appear unicorns as well, just as well everyone feels the same as I do lol.

I made this at the same time as the "platypus unicorn" card and I learnt from my mistakes, I didn't blend the inks then add more ink with the stencil I just used the stencil. I did move the stencil slightly so the glitter paste didn't completely cover the rays but you really can't tell lol.

Ingredients
Image: "Moody Unicorns" Gerda Steiner
Sentiment: "unicorn" Woodware
Inks: candied apple, festive berries, carved pumpkin,  fossilised amber, squeezed lemonade, twisted citroen, mowed lawn, peacock feathers, salty ocean, wilted violet, seedless preserves, picked raspberry all Distress inks
Background: "radiating rays" stencil from MFT
Dies: A2 stitched rectangle stax and wonky stitched circle all from MFT
Shimmer: "Sugar" Bo Bunny Glitter Paste

Copics
Body - T3, 2, 1, 0, blender
Hooves - T8, 6
Mane - R24, 29, YR04, 09, Y15, 13, 35, YG17, 25, B24, 26, V15, 17, RV06, 09

Sorry its been a while

Well my posting every three days took a bit of a nose dive didn't it (pun intended) lol. I think I might need to explain why, its not a long post but I understand if you want to avoid it.

I have been scheduling my posts in advance for a while now, I pepper this with newer stuff as well but a lot of my stuff is made a few months in advance and I don't want the recipient seeing it so I try to wait until after their birthday. This also helps if there are any emergencies and I need to be out of the crafty loop for a while and one such emergency happened recently.

Long time readers to my blog will remember that about six years ago I had a bad fall and broke a few things including my nose, well guess who did it again....six years to the day in fact and at the same location. You just can't make this stuff up. It was very painful and as I couldn't wear my glasses it made crafting a bit difficult. I am all mended now but I am on catch up with my makes and consequently my blog schedule.

Of course there has to be a silver lining, when I broke my nose last time it wasn't straight afterwards and sort of veered to the right a little, this time i hit it in the opposite direction and now have a perfectly straight nose with a little bump where its still a bit swollen.

When I was explaining it was broken my friends were saying but its straight and I replied well it wasn't before lol.

So I am hoping this will be my last blip for a while.....maybe even six years.

If you read all this, wow you deserve a medal and thank you xx

Murphy

Sometimes an images can just speak for itself and carry a card without any bells and whistles and this image does just that. I have found myself entering the digistamp boutique facebook monthly competition and not just wanting to either but really wanting to. I can't remember the last time I was so enthusiastic about a challenge. It is making me look more at my digistamp collections as well as its a waste to only print one image on an A4 sheet.

I am hoping this is an ongoing challenge for me as I am enjoying myself immensely, I just need to get back in the snippet habit and I will be all sorted lol.

Ingredients
Image: "murphy" Digistamp Boutique
Sentiment: "big birthday wishes" MFT stamped in Cornflower MFT ink
Dies: A2 stitched rectangles from MFT
Cardstock: "pacifoc point" Stampin Up

Copics
Dog - E70, 71, 74, 77, 79
Newspaper - W2, 1, 0
Ground - W4, 2, 0

Art Impressions Entertained

Now this image was coloured especially for this card but the background was stamped at the same time the shoe cards were made. So another item used from the enormous pile lol.

I was desperate to buy this stamp during my florida trip last year, it was a "hobby lobby" wood stamp exclusive and it took two stores before I found it. Of course I was so desperate as I was going to use it straight away and here we are a year later and its finally coloured in

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment : "entertained" Wood Art Impressions (ai)
Dies: Mod stitched rectangles from MFT
Card: "charcoal" Recollections at Michaels, Diagonal Stripe background stamp from MFT


Copics
Grey Lady - N5, 4, 3, 1, YR23, N8, 6, 4, V17, 15, E11, 50
Blond Lady - N8, 5, V17, BG49, 45, E11, 00, E34, 31, 30
Brunette Lady - E04, 13, 11, E49, 79, 74, RV17, 14, 13, N8, 6, 5,

Hipster Cat

I am currently sticking to my plan to use the massive amount of coloured images I have in a box in my craft room. I'm not sure I will ever get to the bottom of the box but at least I'm trying lol.

The major issue is that I have no idea of the colours I used when I coloured this cat not that I will ever probably colour it again lol.

I just added the tabs and for such a simple card thats a large list lol.

Ingredients
Image: "hipsters" Tim holtz
Sentiment: " mixed media 8" stamper anonymous
Background : "plaid" concord and 9th
Card : "spring rain" from papertrey ink and "steel grey" from MFT
Ink : versamark, hero arts grey ombré and "steel grey" from MFT
Embossing Powder : stampedous silver fine
Dies: a2 stitched and plain rectangles both MFT

Reel Great Guys

This stamp set was a purchase last year for a specific birthday, I am terrible for doing that and then forgetting what I bought and buying more and this would have been no exception apart from the fact I had seen a card created and I knew I wanted to replicate/cas it.

I saw the card on the art impressions blog by Karen Day, Karen had drawn the tress with her copics, now mine are nothing like hers but I did try and I am pleased with the result. It was actually easier and more fun than I imagined it would be lol.

Ingredients
Images and sentiment : "reel great guys" art impressions (AI)
Card : "night shift blue" MFT stamps
Dies : a2 stitched rectangle from MFT

Copics
Skin - E04, 11, 00, 000
Boat - E47, 44, 43
Water - B02, 01, 00, 000, 0000
Trees - YG67, 63, 61
Fish - BG99, 94
Caps - E09, R08

Fairy and Unicorn

Now I don't technically need this card until October and although I knew what I wanted to make I wasn't going to start yet, until I saw that Digistamp Boutique were giving away a unicorn digistamp to anyone who entered the Facebook contest so it had to be made now lol. 

I used to enter more challenges than I do currently and I must admit to having missed making stuff other than what I need that month. I am definitely going to try to make an effort to try this style of crafting again. 

It was one of the quickest cards I've made in a long time, everything went well and no faffing either lol. 

Ingredients
Image: "" Digistamp Boutique
Sentiment : "fairy wishes" MFT stamped in "winter wisteria" from Papertry Ink
Paper: "" MFT
Card: recollections 65lb from Michaels


Copics
Skin - E04, 11, 00
Hair - E35, 34, 31
Dress - BV02, 01, 00
Wings - BG000, 0000
Unicorn - W2, 1, 0 , blender, R85, 83, 81
Crown - Y23,  21

Mo does it again

For kids birthdays I don't think you can go wrong with Mo's digital pencil images, they capture the look and feel of the people I make the cards for so well.

I have made this style of card and even used this image before but thus colour combo was a first and I love it. I'm always drawn to blues and purples and having them combined is amazing. 

Ingredients

Image: "One" Mo's Digital Pencil

Paper: "promises" Nit Wit

Card: "grape jelly" MFT

Dies: Crealies XXL stitched circles and Xxl stitched squares, Small scalloped circles and basic edges2 and scalloped basic edges 2 all MFT

Copics
Skin - E11, 21, 00, 000, 95
Hair - E57, 59, 35
Purple - V12, 15, 17
Blue - B02, 01, 00, 000

Burgers Again

I really like making guy/kid cards but for this one I was completely stumped. I've made lots of cute burger cards but wanted a slightly more realistic/older look for this one and hopefully this one fits the bill.

I stamped and masked all he food and then stamped the ketchup splotches in "wild cherry" mft hybrid ink. This was a last minute idea and one I really like.

Ingredients
Images: "fast food" Hunky-dory
Sentiment: "basic numbers" from Clearly Besotted and "big birthday wishes" from MFT
Dies: "mod stitched rectangle" MFT
Card: "red" recollections at Michaels

Copics
Fries - E35, Y32, R89, 39, 37
Ketchup - R29, 24
Burger - E35, 34, 31, 25, 29, Y17, 15, 13, YG67, 17, 25, R29, 24, R39, 37, 35
Drink - B26, 24, 23, R39, 37, Y17, 15, N3, 2, 1, blender
Ground - W4, 2, 0