March Card Chain Challenge: HAPPY EASTER!!!

A Blessed Easter to all!

Hello, friends. Hope you are having a wonderful day with family and friends. This is a scheduled post as I won't be around much. We have a full day of church, family, friends, lunch ... you know, the usual festive chaos!

Here's a card I made for the March Card Chain Challenge. This card went to Gail in Norway. I've kept it relatively simple... dare I call it CAS?! It features a delicate image from Chocolate Baroque's Butterfly Easter DL stamp set, embellished with 3 sequins. That's all!

Here's a close-up of the image. I stamped it on Canson watercolour paper with VersaFine Onyx Black and  coloured it with Caran d'Ache SupraSoft water colour pencils. No fancy brush work either.

Challenges:
Fairy Tale Stampers #53: Things With Wings
Fashionable Stampers #95: Sew What
Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends #7: AG
One Stitch At A Time: AG With Easter or Passover
Avenue 613 Challenge #118: AG No Twist



Thank you for stopping by today. I'd I want to wish you a most Blessed Easter. Have a beautiful day, friends. I'll leave you with Friar Allessandro singing "Panis Angelicus".

Beijinhos!

Tuesday Throwdown #238: Easter Recipe

Happy Tuesday, friends! Hope you are ready for another week of crafting fun with the Tuesday Throwdown gang. Our challenge theme this week is Easter Recipe.

So what is the recipe? It goes something like this:  1 image AND 1 patterned paper AND at least 1 egg (image or embellishment) AND colours from the inspiration photo below:

Our sponsor this week is  MelJens Designs but you can use any stamps from your stash as long as you follow the Easter Recipe. For my card, I'm using MelJen's the super adorable Easter Bunny.

The background patterned paper is from Polka Doodles' Sugar Birdies CD. I could help but add those cute little Card Candis. For extra shine I doused them with Ranger's Glossy Accents and finished the card with a peachy bow.

The greeting is from Clearly Besotted's Hoppy Easter set, stamped with VersaColor Heliotrope. I coloured the Bunny with Graph'It markers.

Challenges:
Craft Dee Bowz March: AG with Handmade Bow
Crafting From The Heart #53: AG
Craft Your Passion #255: AG
Simon Says Stamp Monday: Pastels
Pile It On #62: Easter / Spring
Corrosive Challenge #221: Hop Into Spring
That Craft Place: Easter / Spring

Products used in this card:

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's "Easter Recipe". For ideas and inspiration, take a peek at what the rest of the DT members have made. Remember to link up your project at the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog by 3pm Pacific / 11pm UK on Monday,  6th March 2015. And the most important requirement: Have Fun... it's almost Easter!

Thanks for stopping by today and I wish y'all a Blessed Holy Week. 

Beijinhos!

He Is Risen

Hello friends! Just popping in very quickly to share a card I made over the weekend combining Distress Inks and Faber Castell Gelatos. I've been meaning to make Easter cards since... well, the beginning of Lent. Not much success there, but here's one to join my meagre collection.

I stamped the large cross from Chocolate Baroque's Easter Traditions A5 sheet on Cason Cold-Pressed Watercolour paper and heat embossed it in silver. Then I did a background wash with TH Distress Inks: Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves, Chipped Sapphire and Shaded Lilac. When completely dry and rubbed Silver Ice Gelato directly on the paper in a sweeping motion and blended with my finger. Next, I stamped the gothic window from the Texture Fragments A4 sheet with Dusty Concord and cleaned the embossed surface with some Kleenex.

To brighten up the card I added a few purple sequins and teeny tiny pale purple bling. The sentiment is from the Easter Traditions sheet and is stamped with VersaFine Onyx Black.

I took these photos with my iPhone. That's my excuse today for putting up photos that could be better... not that I do a grand job with my camera, mind you. Here's the thing, I took the memory card from the camera, went down to the kitchen to make a barrel of coffee with the memory card in hand.... and that's all I remember. Haven't the foggiest where it is now. I just hope I didn't drink it! :)

Challenges:
Through The Purple Haze #83: AG
Hiding In My Craft Room #192: Embossing
Cards Und More #128: Monochrome
Loves Rubber Stamps #144: Create Your Own Background
Retro Rubber Challenge #10: Emboss It!
Through The Craft Room Door Mar 24: AG

Products used to make this card:

Today is a super special day - it's Richard Parker's birthday!!! He was born on 24 March 2014 and that makes him one year old today. Here are a couple of photos of my boy.

He is looking shocked, maybe embarrassed that his Mama started the day by belting out his birthday song at 6am today :)

"Whaaat?! It's my birthday?"
Richard Parker - 24 March 2015

 
And this is baby Richard the day we got him - 8 weeks after his birth. Oh so tiny!

Richard Parker - 25 May 2014

Thanks for stopping by and have beautiful Tuesday, friends.

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Spring Daffodils and A Regal Bird

Happy Sunday, folks! We are so close to Easter ... can you believe how quickly we are getting through Lent?! And I am so behind on all kinds of everything - let alone my Easter greeting. Anyways, I'm here not to complain but to share a couple of projects I made with Chocolate Baroque's new Spring Bird - Daffodil stamp sheet.

There is a sentiment on the stamp sheet but I made both my cards plain so that if I don't use them for Easter, they'll work for any occasion too.

The first project showcases the lovely daffodils from this stamp set. I did some masking and stamping to get the flowers in overlapping clusters. I used Distress Inks to water colour the image and background. Hardly any embellishments on this card, except for that luxurious gold ribbon at the bottom sent to me by my crafting buddy Carol of CM Design. Thank you, Carol!

Not too many Tim Holtz Distress Inks on this card. The yellows are Scattered Straw and Squeezed Lemonade. The greens are Crushed Olive and Mowed Lawn. For the sky I used a wash of Tumbled Glass and earth is Tea Dye. For a softer look I stamped the image with VersaFine Vintage Sepia, onto Canson Cold-pressed watercolour paper.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Spring Inspiration
One Stitch At A Time #233: Nature
Scrappy Hands #35: Bingo - Flower...Ribbon...Stamps
Crafty Catz #271: No Design Paper
Graph'It Colour Challenge Wk 12: Spring Colours - with Distress Inks


My second card is a more regal affair. I created a frame by repeat stamping the smaller accents stamps from the Spring Bird - Daffodil sheet and heat embossed it with WOW Gold Embossing Powder.

I water coloured the image with Caran d'Ache Supra Soft water soluble pencils, keeping it soft and light against the strong colours of the card. As before, I stamped the image with VersaFine Vintage Sepia on Canson Watercolour paper.

Challenges:
Avenue 613 #116: AG Optional Twist - Purple
Come and Get It: Winging It - Bird
Fairy Tale Stamper #53: Things With Wings
Hiding In My Craft Room #192: Embossing
Stamplelsonne #137: AG with Stamped Main Image
Wonderful Wednesday #18: AG

Products used in this project:

That's all from me today. Thank you so much for stopping. And if you're following me on Facebook, you'll see these sticky sweet delights I made today. It's a tradition in our home to make Hot Cross Buns every Sunday in the run up to Easter, starting today the 5th Sunday of Lent. Hope you're having a sweet Sunday too!

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Dancing Tulips and A Shaker Bird

Good morning, friends. It's Friday the 13th... again! Here's something scary for you... I've got, not one but TWO posts schedule for today! Can you handle it?

First up are a couple of projects using Chocolate Baroque's gorgeous March release - a trio of Spring Birds stamps. Today I'm playing with the Spring Bird Tulip DL sheet. About ten days ago, I blogged a couple of cards made with the Spring Bird Crocus DL sheet. You can read all about it here.


I've combined the large and smaller cluster of tulips from the Spring Bird Tulip sheet on one project. With some nifty masking, I grouped them and got the stalks to look as though they are swaying in the breeze.

These are delicate flowers and I felt that water colouring would be best. I started by applying Winsor & Newton Masking Fluid on the tulips before giving the background a wash of blue and green.  Next I worked on the flowers with Distress Inks and Winsor & Newton water colours. The sentiment is from the Easter Traditions A5 sheet, stamped with VersaFine Perfect Plumeria.

I  added Winsor & Newton Iridescent Medium to the water colours to give the blooms a delicate shimmer. It looks spotty in the picture, no thanks to my photography skills, but it's lovely in real life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
My second project is a shaker card and for this I'm using the nesting bird from the Spring Bird Tulip DL sheet.  Here it is before framing.  It would have been difficult to get a good shot under the glare of the acetate sheet. The focal image is water coloured with Caran d'Ache Suprasoft pencils. I added a few tiny bling to the image.  The background is a wash of pale blue, green and a hint of yellow with my W&N water colours.

A simple frame makes sure the Spring Bird gets all the attention.  The greeting is from Birthday Words A5 sheet, heat embossed in white.

I used just a few pastel sequins on the inside so as not to loose the image in unnecessary clutter. The sequins also look like falling blossoms, don't you think? Final touches: a few strokes of Clear Wink of Stella on the bird and Gold Wink of Stella on the eggs.

Challenges:
Freshly Brewed Designs: Flowers
Happy Little Stampers March Sketch Challenge
Mod Squad Challenge: Flowers
Word Art Wednesday #174: AG Uplifting

Bunny Zoe's Crafts March Challenge: Spring Colours
Fab N Funky #250: Focus On Image
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Things That Fly
Stampin' Royalty #270: Watercolour
TIME OUT Challenge #26: Photo Inspiration

Products used in these projects:

Thanks for stopping by today. I had a lot of fun playing with water colours and I encourage you to have a go too. As mentioned earlier, I have another post coming up in a couple of hours featuring paper, scissors and glue. Living dangerously on Friday the 13th! :)

Beijinhos

Chocolate Baroque: Crocus and a Spring Bird

Hello friends! Just a very quick post from me today to share 2 cards from Chocolate Baroque's brand new March release stamps. There are 3 DL stamp sets: Spring Bird Crocus, Spring Birds Tulips and Spring Bird Daffodil.

Today I am playing with the Spring Bird Crocus set and whipped up 2 cards coloured with Graph'It alcohol markers but with 2 distinctive looks. You'll also find this card over at the Chocolate Baroque Design Team Blog, where there'll be more ideas from the rest of the team.

My first card showcases the beautiful crocuses from the  Spring Bird Crocus set. I stamped a cluster of the taller ones from the set and coloured them with Graph'It alcohol markers. Then I coloured and fussy cut the smaller cluster and adhered in in front. And to fill all the gaps I added some die cut grass by Clearly Besotted which, coincidentally match the leaves of the crocuses! The greeting is from Butterfly Easter and the butterfly is from Harebell Butterfly.

Here's a closer look. I went a little mad with the Wink Of Stella Clear Brush.

On to my second project. This time the spotlight is on the nesting bird from the Spring Bird Crocus set. I've moved away from fresh bright colours and used warm neutrals instead. As before the image is coloured with Graph'It alcohol markers and fussy card before adhering to the card base. I've also used the greeting and the itty bitty accent stamp from the same set.

Well spotted! More Wink of Stella Clear Brush action! And some Wink of Stella Silver on the eggs. Can't get enough of the stuff!

I love how this one set of stamps gives 2 different looks - garden fresh or warm & cosy. I dare say this set will get some use in the Autumn months too.

Challenges:
Creative Moments #63: AG / Spring Greens
Inspiration Destination # 23: AG
Wonderful Wednesday: AG
Word Art Wednesday #173: AG Inspirational
Crafty Sentiments: Spring Colours
Paper Weekly: AG

Products used in these projects:

Furbabe Update:

I am falling behind on my visits. So sorry about that. Our old boy, André, has Canine Cognitive Dysfunction and the past couple of weeks have been very trying for him and for us too. He is needing so much attention and with Rosie being poorly too, it's pretty hectic at home.

Over the past 8 months we've watched André change from a sweet, overly affectionate dog to a grumpy, grouchy old man who sleeps all day and becomes increasingly restless at night.
The symptoms of CCD are the same as Alzheimers in humans. He is on Anipryl, the stuff used to treat Parkinson's in humans, and there is some improvement, but nothing substantial.

If your old dog exhibits signs of senile dementia it may not just be age related. Having the ol' faithful properly diagnosed means the right treatment can be given. CCD is incurable but there are medications, both conventional and holistic, that can help with the symptoms. A head start in treatment can make a difference in the quality of life ... for both! :)

Enough depressing stories. Thank you for stopping by and I'll make another effort at visiting without falling asleep over at the keyboard! See ya tomorrow!

Beijinhos!

Stamplorations Guest Designer

To say I'm chuffed would be an understatement. Here I am Guest-ing for Stamplorations' first fortnightly sketch challenge in March. I have to say it's weird to see my little card nestled in a blogpost of amazing work. Giddy? Heck, yes!


As always, we have a lovely sketch that allows for plenty of artistic licence. Personally, I sometimes find sketches too restrictive and that usually squashes my creativity... it doesn't take much for me to throw in the towel!

I turned the sketch around 180º. My card features a digi flower (a prize from Stamplorations), which I printed in the background.  Instead of the circles, I'm using butterflies hovering around the flower. The sentiment is from Stamplorations' versatile It's All About You set - it's the only set I own... for now! :) Here's my card:

I coloured the flower with Graph'It markers and added a few flicks of Wink of Stella Gold. A few purple bling on the butterflies complete the look.

The design isn't properly centred.... looks like the whole thing is about to fly off the top of the card. Oh well.... I did say I was (still am) giddy!

Challenges:
Dream Valley Challenge #101: Mother's Day
Craft Your Passion #251: AG
Jelly Park Friends (Last Challenge): One For The Mums
Sentimental Sundays #248: AG + Sentiment
That Craft Place: Mother's Day / AG
Country View Challenges: AG

Products used in this project:

That's all from me today. Thank you so much for stopping by. If you want to play along, Sketch Challenge #29 is on for 2 weeks, starting today. Have a fab week and I'll see ya tomorrow with something wriggly!

Beijinhos!

Easter Bunny

Hello Friday! I have been waiting for you all week long and you're finally here! To celebrate, I made a card featuring a sketch and colour combo from 2 challenges I used to enter frequently, a year ago - Tuesday Morning Sketches and Colour Throwdown in a perfect Reunion.

I'm using some ancient stuff from my stash, like those card candis. No idea when (or why!) I got them. The patterned paper is from First Edition's Isabelle pad ... another oldie from way back when. The bunny and eggs are from Clearly Besotted's Hoppy Easter clear stamp set, sadly now discontinued. The good news is the greeting is is still available. :)

Little Bunny is hopping off to play at these challenges:

Tuesday Morning Sketches #289

Colour Throwdown  #331

Addicted To Stamps #133: Holiday

Brown Sugar Challenge #135: AG

Sister Act #95: AG

Products used in this project:

That's all from me today. Thank you so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend, friends. (Can you believe that tomorrow is the last day of February? Eeeek!)

Beijinhos!