Bellisima dress again

Of all the papermania stamps I have ever bought this has to be my favourite and most used, it is so easy to paper piece and I'm not even sure I have ever coloured it completely lol. I used very different papers to last time as the lady I made it for loves green, the stripes are also across rather than diagonal although I think I prefer them diagonal.

I've used black card from my snippet draw so I'm off to enter the playground challenge, I'm not a very good playmate at the moment because I don't seem to be using any snippets, hopefully I can resolve that soon.

Ingredients
Image: "Dress form" Bellissima by Papemania
Papers: "Market" MME
Card: Black Snippet
Sentiment: "Polka dot parade 3" Papertrey Ink
Dies: Blueprints by MFT

Challenges
Snippet playground

Creeper Riley

These creeper images from The Greeting Farm are perfect for those awkward "tween" girls, especially the not girly girly ones. I enjoyed colouring this one and I like this kinda grungy look.

Ingredients
Image: "riley" The Greeting Farm
Papers: "nutmeg" MME
Card: "kraft" recollections from Michaels
Sentiment: "Happy Hexagons" Papertrey Ink
Dies: blueprints 1 and 13, mini tabs, horizontal stripes all mft stamps

Copics:
Skin - E13, 11, 00, 000, R02
Hair - E59, 57, 55
Clothes - E89, 87, 84, 81, BG09, 05, Y35, 32, W1, 00

Happy Hoppy Birthday

Normally when I order a few stamps it takes me ages to use them but this stamp and the "lean on me" were from the same order and coloured almost immediately. I knew who this was going to be for before it even arrived so making the card, even though its early seemed the right decision. Maybe the problem is that i don't make the card I have planned straight away then when I need it inspiration has all but disappeared. I do seem to be making simple layouts recently and the blueprints from mft make this a doodle, I'm not sure how I managed without them to be honest lol.

Ingredients
Image and sentiment: "hoppy birthday" Unity Stamps
Paper: "all about a boy" echo park at Jessica Sprague
card: "pacific blue" Stampin up
Dies: Square stax, horizontal stripes, blueprints 1 and 2 all mft
Bakers twine: American crafts

copics:
Skin - E000, 00, 11, 13, R02
Hair - E27, 25, 23, 21
Jeans - B99, 97, 95, 93, 91
Top - Y32, 35, YR04, 07, R27, 24
Grass - YG23, 21, 03, 17, G24, 94
Sky - B01, 00, 000, 0000
Bucket - N4, 3, 2, 1

Rocky Balboa?

Whenever I see boxing gloves I think of the "rocky" films, my godson has decided that boxing is good exercise and he has been sparing for a while now so as soon as LaPashe released this design I had to have it, I bought the download version and was able to reduce the size a bit as I love the A2 size card and the mft blueprints are perfect for a no measuring card. Ive never been very good at measuring or cutting straight so the blueprints make card making a breeze for me and the fact you can mix and match is perfect.

I stamped the red card with the pinstripe background using mft black dye ink, this ink is fab on clear stamps but it is messy and I needed a good scrub after I finished, I also stamped the black piece but it isn't as easy to see.

Ingredients
Image: "boxing gloves" LaPashe
Sentiment: "keep it simple - happy birthday" Papertrey Ink
Card: White and black snippet draw and "real red" stamping up
Background stamp: "pinstripe" MFT
Dies: Blueprints 1, 13, 12 and vertical stripes all mft

Challenge: Snippet Playground

Oh No Polly and her Perfume again.....

I love this stamp as you could probably tell if you look back through my blog. She is so versatile and looks great coloured brightly like below or subtly. I was going to paper piece the chair this time but once I got my copics out there was no stopping me. The papers I used have a bit of significance as the person the card this is for lives in Newport and thats what the paper collection was called, good job she likes bright colours lol.

Ingredients
Image: "polly and perfume" Uptown Girls by Stamping Bella
Papers: "Newport" Sassy Designs Inc
Cardstock: "Tempting Turquoise" Stampin Up
Sentiment: "big birthday wishes" a la mode by MFT
Dies: stitched circles, circle stax 2, sentiment strips, bracket border all MFT
Numbers: "cherry limeade" cricut cart

Copics:
Skin - E11, 00, 000
Hair - E29, 27, 25, 23
Sofa - BG07, 05, 02
Dress - YR09, 07, 04, 02, 12

Bellissima

As soon as I saw this stamp in the flesh I knew it needed to be paper pieced, I bought it online and wasn't sure of its size but I am so happy with it and know I am going to be using it again and again.

I have been sorting my paper pads to make way for some new ones and this was a few of the last remaining bits from one of my favourite packs by MME. I couldn't believe that there weren't any full sheets left what am I going to do once all the bits are gone....

As no full sheets were harmed in the making of this card I am entering the snippet challenge, it has been a while since I joined in but it is a challenge that I really enjoy and it helps reduce the mountains of card and paper at the same time.

Ingredients:

Image: Bellissima by Papermania

Papers: "blush" MME (last few sheets)

Cardstock: Snippet folder

Dies: Blueprints by MFT (1, 4, 5 & 6)

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Beer Peep - stamping bella again

I adore these images by stamping bella in fact I like them so much I have ordered all the ones I can find lol. This was so easy to colour and looks so effective especially with a liberal coat of glossy accents, but I just noticed I forgot his shoes lol, oh well they were supposed to be white....

I used left over paper from the last guy birthday cards and didn't intend making this one but my mum saw the last one I made and decided she needed it so I had to start again. I am still loving the a2 size of cards and think this may be my go to for a while.

As I used snippets on the card I am going to enter the Snippet Playground challenge, it is a while since i joined in and I hope there is still room on the ark for me.

Oh just noticed that the less is more challenge is masculine cards, well this is a cad card so I am going to enter, hopefully it isn't to crowded to qualify.

Ingredients
Image: "beer peep" stamping bella
Paper: "note to self" echo park at Jessica Sprague
Card: "elegant evening" Papertrey Ink
Dies: rectangle stax by MFT

Copics:
Beer: E34, 33, 31, 30
Lime: YG25, 23, 21, 00
Boy: E11, 00, Ro2, Ro8, Ro5, E09, BG97, 93
Ground: W3, 1, 0

Challenges: Snippet Playground
Less is More

Two for the price of one.

I must admit I truly enjoy making guy cards, I am not sure why but they always seem easier to me. I thought of the recipient of this card when I bought this stamp set last year, now I know the iPhone is a bit different now but I still think it looks effective. All the supplies for this and the card I made from the negative are from the snippet draw.

I decided to try one of Kristina Werner's tips and stick different papers to a piece of paper and then die cut, being on a snippet challenge to myself though I used left over white card but it made cutting the die more difficult so next time I will use paper instead. On the second card I used the left over strips to create a background by cutting at angles and placing randomly

Ingredients
Image: "boys toys" from Dimension stamps
Card: Recollections kraft
Paper: "note to self" echo park at jessica sprague
Sentiment and die: "wonderful words birthday" paper trey ink
Ink: "elegant evening" paper trey ink

Ingredients
Card: "elegant evening" paper trey ink
Paper: "note to self" echo park at jessica sprague
Sentiment and die: "wonderful words birthday" paper trey ink
Ink: black liquorice mft

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Crafting for Christmas number 5

Another christmas card, I have been on a marathon card making session and made quite a few cards so expect to see them over the coming days. I have also been using up my "real red" snippets, my some of the pieces in the folder were minuscule lol.

I find the Just Inklined Cd's so good for the more traditional christmas card, I love cutesy images but my aunts and uncles would think I had lost the plot (not sure why they would think this as never had the plot to begin with lol). There are loads of these images on the CD and not just for Christmas either. I have both of the digital stamp ones they have released and fingers crossed there is another one next year too.

Ingredients
Image: "kissing robins" Just Inklined CD
Paper: "very merry christmas" echo park at Jessica Sprague
Card: "real red" stampin up
Dies: blueprints 2 and 3 MFT

Copics:
Birds: E79, 77, R08, 05, 02
House: E35, 34, 33, 31
Tree: E27, 25, 23
Holly: G46, 43, 24, R37, 35

Challenges: Snippet Playground

New Homes x 2

Two of my crafty friends have recently moved home and I wanted to send them both a card but as always time is short I decided to make both cards production style. I used an image from Digistamp Boutique that I have had for ages and keep forgetting about, I only found him today whilst looking for something else lol.

I used papers that were already in my snippet folder, the card is early expresso which I couldn't stop using earlier in the year but hasn't been used since I put it away. I had lots of snippets to choose from and you will be pleased to hear no full sheets were harmed in the making of these cards.

Ingredients:
Image: "a little birdie told me" Digistamp Boutique
Papers: "comforts of home" Summer Driggs
Card: "early expresso" Stampin up
Dots: Stash (reduced in Michaels a few years ago and wish they still did them)
Dies: pierced circle, circle stax and blueprints 1

Copics
Branch: E79, 77, 74, G28, 24, 46
Bird: BG05, 02, 01, 000, Y32, 38
House: E09, R08, 05, 02, E79, 77

Challenges: Snippet Playground
                   Digistamp Boutique

Sweet Peas

Firstly I think I need to apologise about the awful photo quality, it is nearly impossible to get a decent photo at the moment as there is about an hour a day of good light and this card needed to be posted and couldn't wait so there you have it in all its blue toned glory.

I coloured an image for this card whilst in Florida and I know I have seen it since I came home but when I went to make the card it had vanished so I had to start again. I would imagine the law according to sod means as soon as I hit publish on this post or put the card in the postbox it will appear lol,

Ingredients:
Image: "sweet peas" LOTV (lili of the valley)
Papers: "time for tea" nit wit collections
Cardstock: "perfect plum" stampin up
Sentiment: "" stampin up, ink "plum pudding" papertrey ink
Nailheads: josy rose
Dies: "hexagons" xcut and perfect layers tool

Copics:
 Jar: BG13, 11, 10
 Sweet peas: G46, V17, 15, 12, R85, 81, BV04, 02, 00
 Bee: Y35
Ground: W3, 1, 00

There's no family like snow family

Ok bad pun but I couldn't get the tune out of my head after so I have paid the price I promise lol. Another Christmas card I hear you say, well yes it is, I am loving making them and as my nan would say I am making hay whilst the sun shines.

Another new release LOTV stamp, this was a joy to colour and I knew who I was going to give the card to immediately. I am using real red again, I am already on my second pack of 24 sheets and can see another order coming, I really love this card and it seems to go with everything. Red is the one colour I have always struggled to get in the UK, small packs from other suppliers have never matched each other again so the fact that stampin up always matches is a real plus point for me. I am also wondering if I need the new ice cream colours mmmm ok yes I do lol.

Ingredients:
Image: "snow family" LOTV
Papers: "holly lane" KI memories at Jessica Sprague
Cardstock: "real red" stampin up
Sentiment: see D from paper mania

Copics:
Father: N9, 7, 5, 4, 2, 0, R39, 37, 35, E42, 40, BG0000, W0, E77
Mother: BG0000, W0, E44, 43, 42, R37, 35, 32, YG25, 23, 21, E77
Boy: BG0000, W0, B06, 04, 02, 01, 00, E77
Girl: BG0000, W0, R85, 83, 81, E42

Another Prisma pencil one

I coloured another image with my prisma pencils and had to make a few adjustments, I coloured the green dress blue but it was a bit too much blue so I paper pieced a new one and think it makes such a difference. I also drew the bricks in the wall as they stopped abruptly and it looked odd when I cut it out so I drew a few in, hopefully it isn't too noticeable which ones.

Ingredients
Image:  Best Friends" LOTV - lily of the valley
Papers: "Petal Fresh" Nit Wit
Cardstock: "Bashful Blue" Stampin up (retired - will miss this colour once I have used it all)
Dies: blueprints 3 MFT stamps

Sketch Saturday 281

I needed a sketch to kick start the mojo and this challenge never fails to get the thinking cap on. I used an older stamping bella stamp although it is a new stamp for me as I only just bought it.

I love all things Christmas but stockings and gingerbread men have to be my favourite. I don't seem to be able to stop buying stamps with either of them lol.

I used recycled card for the image, sentiment and matting on this card, not sure if it qualifies for the snippet challenge although neither were complete when I started having already been previously cut into so maybe they do.

Ingredients
Image: "sockabellafella" Stamping Bella
Paper: "Country Christmas" papermania
Cardstock: blue - recycled file folder, white - recycled certificate
Sentiment: "Stockings Prints" Papertrey Ink
Dies: Oval stax 1 and 2 - MFT stamps
Flock: Martha Stewart

Challenges: snippet playground
                    Sketch Saturday 281

New Home

One of my crafty friends from the Bristol playdays has moved house recently and I am hoping that it all went smoothly for her. I wanted to make her a card but time was limited so I went with a tried and tested card style. Unusual colours for me too but I am trying to use some of my patterned papers before I get to buy more.

Ingredients:
Image: "Country House Duo" Sassy Cheryl
Papers: "paper pretties" stampin up
Cardstock: "Gumball green" and "Midnight muse" both Stampin up
Dies and Tools:"button border" MFT stamps and Perfect layers

Copics:
E71, 74, 77, R27, 24, E08, 13, G40, 43, 46, 24, B99, 97, 95, 93, YR24, 23, 21, 20

Owl I want for Christmas

Still on a roll with the christmas cards with another to add to the growing pile, maybe I won't be making them on the last posting day this year. I bought the stamp last year but was a bit intimidated by the background but decided to just go for it and see what happened and I really enjoyed it, I did originally colour the yellow stocking blue but it just blended in with the background so I paper pieced a new one.

I used the new xcut hexagon to cut out the image and my perfect layers to layer it, this is such a useful bit of kit and I hadn't thought of using it on anything other than a square/rectangular before.

The red card and the white card the image is stamped on are both snippets so am off for a dip in the paddling pool over at the snippet playground.

Ingredients
Image: "Wish upon a Star" Mulberry Wood by Crafters Companion
Dies: "hexagon" papermania, "notched border" MFT stamps
Papers: "christmas in the country" papermania
Brads: Stash
Cardstock: "real red" stampin up
Copics:
    Owls: E49, 47, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40
    Tree: E79, 77, 74, G24, 46
    Stockings: Y32, 35, 38, R29, 27, 24, G46, 24, 43
    Background: B32, 34, 37, 39

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Christmas in August?

Not sure the title is as catchy as Christmas in July but I can't use that anymore cos July is gone lol.

I have wanted this stamp since last year and finally bought it with last weeks new release. It was the first one to see ink but the other two I bought are equally cute so expect to see them soon too. I really enjoyed colouring this and can see it being a go to stamp.

Although it doesn't look it this image is quite large and I had difficulty finding a way of cutting it out so went with a different look instead. I wasn't sure at first but now I really like it. It still needs some embellies but will add them nearer the posting time.

Ingredients
Image: "Merry Christmas Penguins" LOTV
Papers: "Merry and Bright" carte Bella at Jessica Sprague
Cardstock: "tempting turquoise" stampin up

Challenges: Snippet Playground