A little liberty...

Hey peeps!!

How are we all?!  Good I hope :)  Hello to my new followers, I'm glad you could join me!  I hope that you enjoy my blog and I can keep you interested with my posts...I shall certainly try!  ;)

My brother came down to visit us this weekend which was lovely!  I haven't seen him for a few months which is strange for us as he ordinarily comes to visit at least once a month or thereabouts.  So, it was really good to catch up and drink some wine!  Hence, no blogging or card making of any description over the weekend.  I have had a chance to sit at my desk today though, after the clean up!

I have made a card using this weeks sketch for CAS(E) this sketch...I have taken a little liberty though, only a little one...I hope that's ok?! ;)  I'm so rubbish at sticking to the rules!  I hope you can still see the sketch in there!

Here's the sketch...

...and here's my card...

...you see...I replaced the three cascading tags with one label, but my redeeming feature (as I see it anyway) are the three pearls placed vertically down the solid strip ;)  This card took on a life of it's own if I'm honest.  The blue/green blended strip was actually an off cut from this card I made last week.  Because I am a messy crafter (I hate to admit this, but it is so true that I just cannot deny it!) this off cut happened to be left sitting on top of a black piece of card and a grey piece, which made me think that they looked pretty good together!  I guess that makes this an organic card...maybe?!  ;)  I decided to go with the clear matt embossing on the background again because I liked it so much last time I did it  :)

I am also going to enter this baby into CAS-ual Fridays Birthday Bash as it is still open and this is a birthday card!  They're going to be sick of seeing my name pop up on the linky's - sorry girls!!  :)

So there we are..another day, another card :)

Thank you ever so for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Grey
Stamps: SU! - En Francais; Stamping All Day - Art Deco Birthday
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect medium; Distress Ink - Broken China, Crushed Olive
Other:    WOW! - Clear Matt Dull, White Opaque Super Fine, Metallic Blue e/p; Spellbinders - Labels 1; 
             pearls

I did it...I finally bit the bullet...!

Hello!

I have followed the Runway Inspired Challenge since Jennifer first started it way back in November 2011 - I can't believe it's been so long!!  It's an absolutely brilliant idea and completely different from any other challenge out there as far as inspiration is concerned.  I love Jennifer's work, and that of the design team and to be honest, they're all so good that I have been a bit too daunted to join in for fear of not being good enough! The level that Jennifer, the design team and the participants of this challenge are at is way beyond me - however, this time around the inspiration photo was just so gorgeous that I couldn't resist making a fool of myself!  He he!  

I absolutely NEED this dress in my life!!!...

...I mean...drool!!  How stunning is that dress?!  I am going to have to find one like it as I'm pretty sure I'll never be able to afford the original, not in a month of Sundays!  Although, if my darling brother is reading this...I'd like one of these please!!  (My brother is a hobby tailor, a very good one at that!  So Jack, get on the hunt for some of this material and we'll call it a birthday and Christmas present! ;) )

Anyways; black, white and red is one of my favourite colour combinations...EVER.  You always end up with something classy...hopefully!  Here is my attempt...

I know the dress has a floral pattern, but a lot of the other entries had flowers on and I wanted to be different!  I'm pretty pleased with how this came together, especially as I made a landscape card!  I'm not sure I've made one this way round before?!  It doesn't really show in the photograph, but the sentiment is embossed so that it stands out a little from the background.  I'm also pleased with myself for biting the bullet and jumping in the deep end :)

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:     Paper Mill Direct - White, Black
Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Big Day Additions, Fancy Flourishes & Scallops & Dots
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium; SU! - Black
Other:    WOW! - Ebony e/p; pearls

Dynamic Duos...dessert option?

Hello!

I am here with my entry for the Dynamic Duos challenge this week which is a gorgeous combination of black and grey, with a dessert option of a masculine card.

When I saw these colours together I thought 'there are gonna be some real stunners this week'!!  I was right :)  I also thought, however, that I'd come up with something right off the bat...er...wrong!  It's ok though, because I'm quite pleased with the card I did create  :)  

As per usual, I don't think you can get the full effect of this card from the photograph.  It looks quite plain here, but in real life it's quite tactile.  The background script is embossed in the awesome Clear Matt Dull powder from WOW! Embossing Powder - I love this stuff!  It gives a completely different effect than normal clear embossing - obviously!  It feels kinda soft and I think it's quite elegant :)  I received my new embossing powders this morning (my prize for winning WOW!'s challenge in February with this card) and I cannot wait to give them a go!  

I don't know if this counts as a masculine card because of the pearls and ribbons, but I'm pretty sure there are some guys out there who wouldn't mind that!  ;)

I am also entering this into the CAS-ual Fridays Birthday Bash challenge.  I hope Michele is enjoying her birthday and all the birthday love!  :)

Thanks for stopping by, you guys are great!  ;)

Supplies
Card:     Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Grey
Stamps: Stamping All Day - Art Deco Birthday; SU! - En Francais script
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium
Other:    WOW! - Clear Matt Dull and Silver super fine e/p; Spellbinders - Labels 18; Crafty Ribbons -
              Mist seam binding; pearls

Addicted to Fusion...

Hey!


First off - Happy St. George's Day to all my fellow country folk!  :)

Now on to my post proper; 

...the Fusion Challenge

Despite the gorgeous inspiration image and the very pretty sketch, I struggled a bit with the Fusion experiment this week.  The problem was that I had an idea in my head and for the life of me I could not make it translate onto a card!  Partly because I didn't have the right tools, but mostly because I just couldn't work it!

So...I decided to go with just the inspiration image - it's stunning!

...and my card...

...what do ya think?  I'm also entering this into the challenge over at Addicted To CAS this week as the code word is FLOWER.  

This is going into the CAS-ual Fridays Birthday Bash challenge too :)

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:     Paper Mill Direct - White,Black, Raspberry Pink
Stamps: Verve - Elegant Flower Plain Jane; Stamping All Day - Art Deco Birthday
Ink:       Ranger - Perfect Medium
Other:   WOW! - Ebony and Silver Super Fine e/p; rhinestones

Sorry, me again...!

Hey!

I'm here with another post for today...I'm just bursting with ideas this afternoon and I am determined to make the most of it after the very long and drawn out period I had with absolutely NO ideas or mojo whatsoever!
That's not to say that the cards will be any good...I'm just having lots of ideas pop into my head!

This is another one for the scrumptious sketch over at CAS(E) this sketch - hence I'm posting twice in one day - I don't want to miss the deadline!

...the sketch...

...the card...

I think maybe I am still suffering the after effects of Olympic fever...?!  I didn't get to go to the Olympics when they were here last summer, I did watch much of it on the television though and it was nice to see London buzzing more than usual! :)

Slight tangent there...I know this card isn't strictly like the sketch, but hopefully you can see where I'm coming from.  This is another card to go in the parcel for my Mum - I hope she knows someone with a sense of humour else this card may be one of those that sits in the drawer for a long time!!  :)

Thanks for stopping by, especially if you have done so twice today!  ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black
Stamps: Stamping All Day - Stain distress; Papermania - Celebration
Ink:        Distress Ink - Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade; Papermania - Yellow pigment ink; VersaColor -
             Green, Cyan, Indigo, Violet; SU! - Black
Other:    Thread; rhinestones

CAS(E) this awesome sketch...

Hey guys!

How is everyone?!  You all had a good weekend I trust?  Mine turned out much more eventful than I expected, so that was a nice surprise :)

As the title implies, I am here with a card for the awesome sketch by N@Ali over at CASE(E) this sketch.  As soon as I saw it I knew EXACTLY what I was going to do.  I had planned to get it done over the weekend, but as I said, I ended up being much busier than anticipated and ran out of time.  I thought I'd check out the CAS(E) this sketch blog this morning and someone else has already submitted a card that was almost identical to my idea, so I had to come up with something else!  My card is along the same sort of lines as my original idea...just slightly tweaked and much more labour intensive!

Here's the fabulous sketch...

..and here's my little card...

Originally I had intended to make the rainbow striped out of strips of coloured card...but that's been done!  (I'm so last week!!)  Instead, I thought I'd measure and pierce a billion holes and sew some little zigzags of rainbow goodness!  As I had used stitching for the vertical stripes, I decided to pop a little black banner up on foam tape and make it sparkly for the horizontal element.  

As I started to do the sewing on this card, I realised that I didn't have any orange thread and the green thread I had was kinda dreary and not really the right colour green.  So...I dyed some white thread with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink for the orange (obviously!) and VersaColor green pigment ink for the green.  I am a SMIDGE impatient, so waiting for the thread to 'dry' was not fun...not fun!  Worth it to not smear ink all over the card though :)

PS - I would like to apologise to any of those who may have been offended by my use of the word 'diddling' the other day - it was pointed out to me that it indeed does mean something different to you guys on the other side of the pond!  Over here, it just means 'how are you doing'!  Note to self: DO NOT use colloquialisms on my blog - it's international!!  Sorry guys :(

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black
Stamps: Verve - Hope Blooms
Ink:        SU! - Black; VersaColor - Green; Distress Ink - Spiced Marmalade
Other:    Thread; rhinestones

Viva La Verve catch up...

Hello there!

Is everyone ready for the weekend?!  I hope you all have some exciting plans.  I think mine will involve doing some washing and cleaning as my other half is working :(  Ah well, at least everything will be clean!

I'm here today with a card that combines the colour scheme at the Play Date Cafe this week and a sketch from Viva La Verve.  Originally, I made this card based on the sketch for week 4 by Andrea.  It was a bit fussy for me so I decided to simplify it.  When I'd finished my card, I realised that it was almost exactly what was required for the first weeks' sketch by Amber which has had me stumped!!  How bizarre!  So, I'm using this card as my week 1 entry instead and I'll have another go at Andrea's sketch over the weekend maybe - I might even attempt to keep all the layers - maybe!  ;)

I am also entering this for the challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays - it's been such a long time since I participated in this challenge, which is crazy since it was the reason I started my blog in the first place!!  I just had to join in :)  The challenge this week is BIRTHDAY!!!  I can see there being a plethora of entries for this challenge!  It's open for a little longer than usual and it's all in aid of Michele's birthday!  Happy Birthday Michele!!

Here's Amber's sketch...

...the awesome Play Date Cafe colours...

...the CAS-ual Fridays theme...

...and my card...

Now, the pink and yellow are MUCH brighter than that in real life...can I get the colours to come through on my photo's...NO!  Doh!  They are much more like the mood board colours, so you'll just have to imagine for now!  :)

This card came together pretty quickly, especially for me...it usually takes me an inordinate amount of time!  I love these colours but I don't think I would've been brave enough to have put them together myself - I love challenges :)

Thanks for stopping by and a big hello and welcome to my new followers and commenters - you make my day! ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - Black, White, Raspberry Pink, Daffodil, Sky Grey
Stamps:  Hero Arts - Small Open Flower; Stamping All Day - Art Deco Happy Birthday
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium
Other:    Spellbinders - Labels 18, Fancy Tags Three; WOW! - Ebony e/p; rhinestones

Doing my bit for the environment :) ...

Hey!

I'm here today with a reappropriated item.  The theme for the challenge over at WOW! Embossing Powder  this month is to alter or recycle something.  

This had me stumped for a while.  I have been planning to make something for my sister, but I can't reveal that for a while as it's for her birthday and it would be terrible if she saw it on here before I gave it to her!  I was tidying my desk this morning (this is a daily occurrence that doesn't ever seem to end?!) and thought that what I really need is something to put all my pencils, scissors, knives, pliers etc in.  I thought nothing more of it until I was in the kitchen and noticed that I'd kept, for reasons unknown, the tin that my hot chocolate comes in. 

Hmmm...that's a good size...??!  Time to make it prettier!

So, the hot chocolate pencil pot was born!

I think it's pretty obvious what I did...embossed in silver the script pattern onto black card, embossed and cut out pretty flowers, embossed the leaves using clear matt dull embossing powder (which is awesome stuff by the way - it gives a really cool effect!) and then die cut them.  Stuck my border round the top, stuck my flowers and leaves on then added desk clutter!  There's a load more stuff that will eventually reside in this pot, but it would've looked way too messy for the photo and given away just how much crap I have!  Now...I wonder how long this will last on my desk before it gets battered and bruised!?  I'm sure he'll be fine :)

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies

Card:     Paper Mill Direct - Black, Lilac, Grape, Pale Turquoise, Sky Grey, Teal

Stamps: Verve - Great Friend, Sunny Days; SU! - En Francais Script

Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium

Other:    WOW! - Ebony, Silver Super Fine, Clear Matt Dull e/p; Verve Cut Above Dies - Elegant Leaves; 

             Spellbinders - Classic Edges Two; pearls; hot chocolate tin!

It's an experiment...!

------------This is my second post of the day - she's on a roll!!  ;)---------------

Hey there!

I missed out on the Fusion challenge last time, and I'm a bit close to the mark on this one too!!  This is a cool new challenge - no need to find an inspiration challenge and a sketch challenge to combine - this is a two-fer!  I have gone for the 'fusion' option of combining the sketch and the inspiration photo;

I have loosely based this card on the sketch - I'm not sure if that's allowed, but I've always been a bit rebellious! :)

I decided not to line the chevrons up like I did in my CAS(E) this sketch card, but to offset them to get little diamonds of negative space in between.  They're popped up on foam tape too to add a bit of dimension and interest.  I moved the circle in the sketch down to the bottom as an anchor for my little sentiment banner and there you have it - a fusion card!

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Sky Grey, Black, Lime
Stamps: Verve - Hope Blooms
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium 
Other:    Spellbinders - Small and Large Classic Circles, Classic Edges One; WOW! Ebony e/p; rhinestones

Dynamic musings...

Hey guys!

How are you all diddling?  I have been without internet access since before the weekend and I am glad to be back online!  It's amazing how much you can miss it isn't it?!  I don't know what we ever did before it was widely available to all, I really don't!  (I did manage to sneak in a few minutes to vote over at Muse though, he he!)

We spent a lovely weekend with the in-laws, it was so nice to see them ;)  I am lucky, I have possibly the best in-laws ever!  I hope you all enjoyed your weekends too :)

Ok, back to the job in hand - cards!  This card is a mix of the colours from Dynamic Duos this week and the fabulous inspiration card over at Muse.  Both of which are just sublime.  How I was inspired by Muse is possibly slightly more tenuous this week than last, but it's there, I promise!

I love Marion's work - it is always amazing!  As this card is along the same sort of lines as Therese's card, I didn't just want to end up making something which was similar to my last entry so I decided to go with the technique Marion used.  I used to do it a lot, but it's been a while since I've used white embossing and then Distress Inks to create a background...so that's what I did!

Although blue and orange are complimentary colours (and, now I think about it, my Dad's favourites) I never think to use them together!?  I think they look really bright and summery!  I decided to stick with the flower theme of Marion's card.  I'm pleased with how this turned out ;)

Well, this card is pretty self explanatory so you don't need me waffling on any more!

Thanks for dropping by ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black
Stamps: Verve - Sunny Days; Stamping All Day - Art Deco Happy Birthday
Ink:        Ranger - Perfect Medium, Distress Ink - Broken China, Spiced Marmalade
Other:    WOW! Opaque Bright White Super Fine and Ebony e/p; rhinestones

A Play Date with Verve...

Helloo!

First things first; call me slow (I am!) but I have only just noticed that I have a bunch of new followers!  Hi guys!  Thank you so much for joining me here :)  

The reason I hadn't noticed is that I don't look, ever.  I'm not rude, I promise!!  When I first started my blog I had been following other people for ages and they all had hundreds of followers.  Obviously, when I posted the first couple of times I didn't have any followers, but I thought it might pick up a bit the more I posted.  Well...it will be two years in July and I still don't have hundreds of followers!  Ha ha!  I decided, so as not to get too disheartened, to just not look at the 'number'.  I am happy to make my cards, hopefully get a comment or three (which absolutely makes my day!) and enter the challenges that I enjoy participating in.  I am SUPER grateful to all those who do follow my blog, don't get me wrong - you guys are the best!  ;)

Ok, on to the card now :)

As the title implies, this is the sketch from Viva La Verve meeting the colours from the Play Date Cafe.  Simples, right?!!

So there's the sketch and the colour story.  To say I was slightly worried by the THOUSANDS of layers on that sketch would be an epic understatement!  Despite my best efforts, me and layers just don't ever seem to get on well!  Meh...I carry on regardless however...practice makes perfect and all that, right?  Are you ready?...

...honestly, still not sure how I feel about this card.  Unlike yesterday's CAS(E) this sketch card, I really had to work at this one and I think that's where the problem lies.  The background paper definitely saved it - you should've seen it before!  It is a grower I think as the more I look at it the better it gets :)  I'd love to know what you guys think...you always seem to see things that I'm too close to notice!  This is another one that will be winging it's way to my darling Mother and because she's my Mother she'll love it anyway ;)  Mum's are the best!

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - Off White, Ivory Hammered, Pale Turquoise, Navy, Citrus Orange; K&Co. -
              Best Of paper collection
Stamps:  Verve - Wishful Elegance
Ink:         VersaColor - Black
Other:     Spellbinders - Classic Scallop Circle Large, Classic Edges Two, Labels 18; WOW! - Ebony e/p;
              Crafty Ribbons - Indigo seam binding; star rhinestones

Shooting star...ish!...

Hey!

How ya doin'?

I am feeling back in the groove now!  Woohoo!  I am so grateful for all your wonderful comments, they really spur me on - thanks guys :)

Today I am here with a card for CAS(E) this sketch - just love this challenge!  I actually made this card as the challenge went out yesterday, but decided to post it today to spread my posts out a bit.

The sketch this week is...

...how super-duper versatile is that bad boy?!!  I can see me using this one again in the future - the possibilities are endless!

...so, there he is!  I love black, white and lime together ever since I did the stationary for my best friend's wedding :)  I don't know if you can see it very well in this picture, (maybe if you can enlarge it?!) but the sentiment is on a little flag that is only attached under the star - it's like a shooting star! :)  (I do try and keep my crazy hidden from you lovely, well adjusted people.  Sometimes it just peeks out though - sorry!)  I made the star a sparkly one and popped him up on foam tape to add a bit more interest to what is a really simple card.  I also used my brand new stamp for the sentiment (ssshhh, don't tell him!  It arrived yesterday having only ordered it on Tuesday - how good is that?!) - I love the Art Deco style.

This card came together so quickly - I looked at the sketch and knew exactly what I was going to make and then I made it and it looked just as I had envisaged!  Pleased or what?!!  This is another card that is going into the parcel of birthday cards that I am making for my Mum.  Long story short...I gave her a bundle of cards to sell for me up where she lives and she ended up using them all herself!  She called me the other day to let me know she had run out but then realised she had to confess!  Bless her :)  So, I am on a birthday card mission now!  

Thanks for stopping by today and bless you if you actually read my somewhat unhinged ramblings!  ;)

Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Lime; Papermania - Glittered paper
Stamps: Stamping All Day - Art Deco Birthday
Ink:        VersaColor - Black
Other:    WOW! - Ebony e/p; Spellbinders - Classic Edges One

Muse Card Club...!

Hi guys!

I have FINALLY pulled my finger out and joined in with the new(ish) Muse challenge!  I always love a new challenge, and this one is a little bit different - the participants choose the winners!  I mean, how did no one think of that before?!  You are judge by a panel of your peers - perfect!

Anyways, on to the inspiration.  This is the fabulous card by this weeks' muse Therese;

I have followed Therese's blog for a while now and she just creates show stopper after show stopper!  It's quite unfair really!  ;)  Actually, all of the muses on the panel are designer crushes of mine - this is partly why I haven't been brave enough to have a go myself until today!  

Before I get to the card, I would like to thank Therese for inspiring me to get back to 'my roots'.  When I was young (around 9/10 I think?!) I lived next door to a fabulous woman who was the most outstanding artist I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.  Since I can remember, I have always had a pencil in my hand and if I wasn't drawing then I was learning a new Calligraphy alphabet/technique...you get the picture...  One day, I was in my neighbours house and I was looking at all her artwork that she had on the walls and I realised that she had done every single painting and incorporated calligraphy into many of them.  Half jokingly, I asked her if she'd mind teaching me how to paint in watercolours, to which she said yes!  So, from then on, every Saturday afternoon from 2:30 until 5:00 I would go over to her house and we would paint!  Even when we both moved we still kept up the tradition until I left to go to University when I was nearly 19 :)  In fact, those sessions were my 'in' to card making!  I used to paint small watercolour scenes and use them for Christmas cards and special birthdays.  As life got busier, I didn't have the time to sit for hours painting, so I started making the kind of cards I make now :)  I do miss our afternoons and I really miss painting too.  

Anyway, slight tangent and random history lesson there, but seeing Therese's card made me think that I needed to grab my watercolour pencils (cheating - I know!!) and 'paint' these roses!  So that's what I did...and I LOVED every minute of it!!!!  It turned out much better than I was expecting it to if I'm honest!  I've never had much faith in watercolour pencils, I'm a bit of a traditionalist I suppose, but they worked really well :)  Needless to say, I'm looking for more things to paint now!  I may even be tempted back in drawing too - we'll see ;)

Right, enough rambling, here's my card!  That's what we're all here for after all!

So there you go, my little bit of nostalgia in a card  :)  I really enjoyed it, so for once, it doesn't matter if no one else likes it!  Ha ha!  You all know what I mean ;)

Thank you for stopping by ;)

Supplies
Card:     Paper Mill Direct - White, Grape
Stamps: Kanban - Roses; Waltzingmouse - Big Day Essentials
Ink:        SU! - Black; Ranger - Perfect Medium
Other:    Daler Rowney watercolour pencils; WOW! - Ebony e/p