Thursday 28 February 2013

Circles!...

Hi guys!

This is my second post of the day, scroll down for my other one!!

As predicted, I'm back with another CAS-ology card :)  


This one is literally a circular card and, if I do say so myself, it is cute!  It's just so dinky!  I had to make a little envelope for it as my envelopes were all too big.

Here's my little card;

...and here he is with his little envelope;


I used Spellbinders Labels 24 dies to make the small flowers and the leaves as I don't have a flower die this small, or this shape!  I'm quite pleased with my little card  :)

Thank you for stopping by ;)








Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Sky Blue, Bright Red
Stamps: Verve - Bloom & Grow
Ink:        VersaColor - Lapis Lazuli
Other:    Spellbinders - Classic Scallop Circles Large, Classic Circles Small and Large, Labels 24;
             Papermania - Clear e/p; thread, pearls

A rare event...

Hi there!

This is a very rare event indeed - I have managed to make one card for THREE challenges!  I generally tend to make one for each challenge, but I am running out of available time!!

I'm back with another entry for the Dynamic Duos!  I'm not sure that this one will count as I used a little bit of grey, but I'm hoping that that passes as a neutral ;)

I am also playing along with another new-to-me challenge at The Paper Players.  This week is a sketch by the wonderful Jaydee.  I love this sketch as you can use it as a super CAS sketch (which obviously I have!) or you could really dress it up and make it shabby chic.  I really wish I could get a grip on shabby chic and vintage, but alas, try as I might it still turns out a little too contrived :(

This also (I hope!) qualifies for the cue word over at CAS-ology this week, which is Circle;


The colours for Dynamic Duos are;

And the Paper Players sketch is;

...my card based on these is;

... and a little close up;


I chose the embossing folders for each of these circles on the fact that they are also all circular patterns :) 

I am planning on making another card for the CAS-ology challenge this week as my mind is racing with so many ideas!!!  I have until Sunday, I can see me blogging them all in the same day so I apologise in advance if I end up having a blogging binge :)

Thanks, as always, for stopping by ;)  All your comments mean so much and are really encouraging me of late ;)








Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Pale Turquoise, Grey, Teal
Stamps: Verve - Hope Blooms
Ink:        SU! - Classic Black
Other:    Craft Concepts e/f - Grunge Dots, Jo's Circles; Provocraft e/f - Swiss Dots; rhinestones





Wednesday 27 February 2013

Retro Sketches meets Dynamic Duos...

Hey peeps!

I hope you're all well :)

I have a card today that is for two challenges that I've been meaning to get around to for a LONG time, but haven't had a chance to - until now!

These are the Dynamic Duos and Retro Sketches challenges.  The criteria for Dynamic Duos this week is Monochromatic - Teal Blues and this weeks' Retro Sketch is a 'pick your own' from all the historic sketches.  This was particularly handy as I haven't played along with any of them so I got to go back and choose my favourite one!



I chose sketch #30;

I love the simplicity of this sketch - I seem to have gone minimalist CAS lately, super simple.  It says a lot about me really doesn't it!  :)


I quite enjoyed being restricted to these two colours - it's a colour combination that I don't use enough!

I feel good now that I have managed to have a go at these two challenges, here's hoping I can have another go next week :)

Thanks for stopping by ;)








Supplies
Card:     White Hammered, Teal, Pale Turquoise
Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Big Day Essentials
Ink:        VersaColor - Black
Other:    WOW! Ebony e/p; rhinestones

Viva La Verve meets Addicted To CAS...

Hey!

Here I am with my last entry for February's Viva La Verve challenge.  I am also combining the sketch below with the code word over at Addicted To CAS (so glad I found this challenge blog - it's got Sian written all over it!) The code word is;

...this is Janelle's fab sketch;


...and here is my card;


I have a few male birthdays coming up so this will be winging it's way to one of those!  I have also made another card for this Addicted To CAS challenge...but I'll save that for another day!!

Thank you for stopping by ;)








Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Bright Red, Ocean Blue, Daffodil, Lime
Stamps: Papermania - Celebration
Ink:        VersaColor - Black
Other:    WOW! Ebony e/p; Spellbinders - Classic Edges One; rhinestones

Tuesday 26 February 2013

CAS(E) This Sketch #16

Hello!

I know I'm cutting this seriously fine, but it's the first opportunity I've had to get this post done!!  Aaargh!

I did make this card for the CASology challenge as well at the awesome CAS(E) This Sketch sketch, however it's WAAAAY too late for the CASology deadline - whoops!  Ah well, at least I can still submit it for this one!

This is the fabulous sketch for CAS(E) this sketch;



I decided to go horizontal as this is something I never do.  The cue word over at CASology last week was 'FLAME', hence the colours I've used.  As soon as I saw the sentiment panel I thought 'bookmark' - don't know why, just did!  So that's what I made;


I made the black panel into a little pocket with flame coloured stitching down the side.  Then I just skid the bookmark into the pocket so that it can be removed to be used!  To make sure that the card wasn't too plain once the bookmark had been removed, I embossed another little sentiment underneath, like so;


And here are some more little pictures;







I loved this sketch and will absolutely be using it again!!!

Now to see if I can make the deadline for the new CASology challenge - CIRCLE!!!

Thanks for stopping by ;)








Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black
Stamps: Verve - Sunny Days, Great Friend, Hope Blooms
Ink:        VersaColor - White; Distress Ink - Antique Line, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door
Other:    WOW! Opaque White Super Fine e/p; thread; rhinestones

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Sketchbook Saturday #90...

Hey!

I love Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday sketches, they're always so different from what I normally come up with!  I like the challenge of the layers and embellishments, although I'm not sure how successful I am!!


It's been ages since I made a card with butterflies on so I HAD to keep these as butterflies!  I don't have a butterfly die or punch (yet!) so that's probably why I don't use them so much.

Here is my card;


This picture looks a bit dark because I'm now in a work space where I have no windows so I have to take my photo's using artificial light.  Not ideal, but at least I now have a space to call my own!!  You can't really see it, but there's glitter down the middle of each butterfly, it looks nice and sparkly in real life :)

I really enjoyed this challenge, thank you Chupa!  This card will be going to my friend next month for her birthday, I hope she likes it :)

Thanks for stopping by ;)








Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Primrose, Pink Sorbet, Lilac, Pale Turquoise; K&Co - Best Of
Stamps: Papermania - Celebration
Ink:        VersaColor - Lavender, Old Rose
Other:    Spellbinders - Classic Edges One; WOW! Earthtone Grape e/p; gifted butterfly punch outs; pearls;
             Glitter Glue

Monday 18 February 2013

Thank You's...!!!

Hey, it's me again!

I'm afraid there's no card on this post, so if you're here to look at pretty pictures then you may as well go now!  :)

I just wanted to say a few BIG thank you's!  I am feeling very pleased with myself today - this weekend I have been chosen as an SCS Favourite of the Week, SCS CAS Favourite of the week AND I got an Honourable Mention over at CASology!!!







And on top of that, I am lucky enough to have a few new followers!!  Thank you for joining me here and I hope to see you back soon :)

So thank you to everyone who has been a part of making this possible and to all those who continue to encourage and support me in my creative endeavours, I appreciate each and every one of you and you make it all worthwhile!

Ok, I promise I'll be back with a picture next time and not so many words!!

Thanks for stopping by ;)

Sunday 17 February 2013

A CAS Bonanza...!

Hey!

As this title suggests, this is a CAS festival! I am entering his one card into three CAS challenges :) 

The first of which is CAS(E) this sketch - I've been meaning to have a go at this challenge since it started, but alas I haven't managed to until now.  Here is the sketch;


The second challenge is CAS-ual Fridays - the criteria for this week is Black and White plus 1 - my '1' is red.


The third is another entry for CASology.  The cue card is 'Red'.  I know there's more black and white tyhan red on this card, I'm just hoping it still counts!  :)


Finally, here is my card;




Hopefully it's still obvious that it came from the sketch above?!!  I really enjoyed making this card and combining all the challenges - I usually struggle with that!  I'm quite pleased with how it turned out :)  My other half has 'Man Flu' at the moment, hence the sentiment :)  Obviously, it's worse than any cold anyone else has ever had, EVER!  He'll be feeling better soon I'm sure, I hope!

Anyways, I hope you're all enjoying your weekend and thank you, as always, for stopping by and leaving such wonderful, encouraging comments - it means a lot :)

Supplies
Card:     Paper Mill Direct - White, Black, Red
Stamps: Verve - Hope Blooms
Ink:        Range Perfect Medium
Other:    WOW! - Ebony embossing powder; Tim Holtz - Tattered Florals Die; Spellbinders - Classic
             Edges 2; Craft Concepts - Grunge Dots e/f; pearl; thread

Friday 15 February 2013

Viva La Verve Week 3...

[This is my second post of the day - can you believe it?!!!  :)  Scroll down to see my other VLV post] 

Well hello there!

I hope everyone is well and looking forward to a good weekend :)

I have, for the first time in I can't remember how long, have completed my Viva La Verve card on the Friday it was released!!!  I really enjoyed this sketch, it just sort of came together which makes a change lately  :)

Here is Charmaine's fabulous sketch;


...and here is my take;


...and a little close up of the flowers - check out the sparkly centres!  


I decided to go with the emboss resist for the background as I haven't done it for AGES!!!!

Thanks for stopping by ;)








Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Lilac, Pale Turquoise, Sky Grey, Grape, Ivory Linen
Stamps: Verve - Bloom & Grow; SU! - Bliss
Ink:        VersaColor - Violet, Sky Grey; Ranger Perfect Medium; Distress Ink - Broken China, Dusty
             Concord
Other:    Verve Cut Above - Elegant Leaves; Tim Holtz - Tatetred Florals Die; WOW! Silver Pearl and 
             Clear Matt Dull e/p; Papermania Clear e/p; Pearls; Split Pins; Glitter Glue  

Viva La Verve - Best Wishes...

Hey!

This week over at Viva La Verve is the usual sketch challenge, but there's a cool inspiration photo as well just to spice things up a little!

The sketch is by Moe and is gorgeous, as always;


and this is the inspiration photo Moe chose for us to work with;


I don't know about you, but I can honestly say I've never seen a pink front door before!  It's making my British Racing Green one seem a bit ordinary - maybe I'll have to work on that!  :)

I used Moe's sketch and pulled the pink from the inspiration, here is my card;


Thanks for stopping by ;)









Supplies
Card:     Paper Mill Direct - White, Ivory Linen; parcel paper
Stamps: Verve - Wishful Elegance; Papermania - Art Deco
Ink:        Ranger Perfect Medium
Other:    WOW! Tickled Pink and Pastel Pink embossing powder; Crafty Ribbons - Flamingo Pink seam
             binding; rhinestones; thread

Thursday 14 February 2013

Romance and Love...

Hello there!

I have been suffering from a loss of mojo for a few weeks - life's been a bit stressful and it's always my creativity that suffers :(  However, all is not lost!  I managed to have a little creative session and play along with the challenges I have been unforgivably neglecting.  

I don't normally go in for the whole Valentine's thing if I'm honest - but I am feeling it this year!  



So, here is my Valentine's card for the WOW! Embossing Powder Challenge - Romance and Love - awww!  :)

EDIT: I nearly forgot to mention that I have also entered this into the CASology challenge for  this week where the cue card is;
                                                          

Thank you Ardyth for pointing out that my card qualifies!!



I know this photograph doesn't show it very well, but the sentiment is embossed with red sparkly embossing powder!  The damask paper is actually wrapping paper - sshhh, don't tell anyone!  It was what my brother used to wrap our Christmas present in - he purposefully used too much because he knew that I'd love it and that it would go on to have a better life as an up-cycled embellishment :)  I drew and cut out the hearts by hand - I really must get some heart dies - they are on my wish list!  The damask heart was attached to the card front with a little hand stitching - very therapeutic :)

Thanks for stopping by :)










Supplies
Card:      Paper Mill Direct - White, Bright Red; damask wrapping paper
Stamps: Hero Arts - Valentine Flourishes
Ink:        Papermania - Red; Distress Ink - Barn Door, Vintage Photo (on edges of solid red heart)
Other:    Cosmic Shimmer - Christmas Sparkle Red e/p; thread