Tuesday Throwdown #232: Use Metal

Happy Tuesday, friends! Hope you are ready for another week of crafting fun with the Tuesday Throwdown gang. Our challenge theme this week is Use Metal. All you have to do is incorporate some metal on your project - such as metal embellishments, charms or ink.  Our sponsor is Sassy Studio Designs but you can use any stamps from your stash as long as you follow the theme.

I made a masculine birthday card with this image of Handy Sassy, so generously provided by our sponsor. This is a simple card, with the sexy lady taking centre stage. The Woodware square metal brads echo the embossed checkered background. The dark blue and grey are strong and masculine colours. I heat embossed the greeting in silver - more metal.

I coloured Handy Sassy with Graph'It Markers and gave her outfit and hardhat a little sparkle with the Wink of Stella Clear pen.

Challenges:
Crafting From The Heart #47: AG
Craft Your Passion #249: AG
Love To Scrap #48: AG
Craft Creations 16/2: AG
Happy Little Stampers Feb CAS: Embossing

Products used to make this card:

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's theme: "Use Metal". 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,  23rd February 2015. And the most important requirement: Have Fun!

Thanks for stopping by today and I wish y'all a fab Shrove Tuesday. 

Beijinhos!

Polka Doodles #7: All Things Kraft

Can you believe it's time for a brand new show and tell over at Polka Doodles! The theme for the nest fortnight is "All Things Kraft". And that means go crazy with kraft.

I'll be honest, this week's challenge crept up on me without warning. But that's nothing new. If it's not a blog challenge, it's somebody's birthday. I'm always caught unawares. A card is never at hand when I need it.

Enter the DESIGN SHEET.  It makes light work of last minute cards. On one sheet you have all you need to create a card. I picked this Design Sheet from the Winston Deluxe Papercrafting CD and made a cute little masculine card. There are several designs to choose from.

In keeping with the challenge theme, I used kraft cardstock and inked the edges with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

To finish, I tied bits of twine from my stash, added foam tape to give the little guy some dimension and my card is done  - all in under an hour, which is a fraction of the time I usually spend on my projects.

Here's a close up of the image. Isn't he adorable?! I just LOVE these design sheets. All you really need are a good pair of scissors, some glue and you're good to go.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: All Creatures Great And Small
Creative Moments #61: AG / Love
Cuttin' & Stampin' #6: Masculine
Everyday Art Challenge: Bakers' Twine
FanTastic Tuesday #72: AG + Optional Baker's Twine
Sister Act Card Challenge #93: AG

Products used to make this card:

Now it's over to you, my friends. Create any project - card, tag, lay-out, box, bag, etc. You have until Noon (UK Time) on Friday, 27 February 2015, to link up your entries over at the Polka Doodles Challenge Blog. You don't have to use Polka Doodles products to enter, but if you have it, by all means, flaunt it! One randomly selected winner will receive a £10 Gift Voucher to the Polka Doodles Digi Download Store. The Top 3 Design Team favourites will a £2 Gift Voucher each.

What better excuse to head straight to your craft room! Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to see your projects. Have a warm and sunny crafty weekend, friends.

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Tropical Flower

Good morning, friends! I have a simple project to share with you today showcasing stamps from Chocolate Baroque's new Sketchy Doodle Flowers A4 sheet. I'm combining 2 of my favourite techniques: embossing and water colouring, to create an easy birthday card. I was inspired by a silk scarf I purchased in Hawaii many moons ago. It has a huge pinkish red hibiscus surrounded by swirls of delicate foliage.

I started by heat embossing the leaves in white with WOW Bright White Embossing Powder on a piece of heavy water colour paper before colouring them in with Tim Holtz Distress Inks. I usually use Strathmore paper for water colouring, but this time I'm using Canson Mixed Media 300gsm Paper. LOVE it! Colour goes on smoothly and it does not warp with heat embossing.

For the leaves I used Pine Leaves and Mowed Lawn. For the little buds I used Scattered Straw and a touch of Squeezed Lemonade.

The background is colour washed with Evergreen Bough and I did some free hand swirling with Peacock Feathers to create some movement . The greeting is from Birthday Words A5 sheet, stamped with VersaFine Olympia Green.

I also heat embossed the bloom, this time with Ranger Specialty Embossing Powder Rose Quartz embossing powder, followed by Distress Inks, adding a darker shade of red each time: Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry and Aged Mahogany. When dry, I fussy cut the flower and adhered it to the card over the leafy background and off the card base.

Finally, I gave in to a little shine with the Wink Of Stella Brush Tip Glitter Marker in Clear... couldn't be helped! It's not obvious in the photo but trust me, it's there IRL.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Red & Pink
Addicted To Stamps & More: AG
Crafty Gals Corner #6: AG
Penny's Paper Craft #214: Embossing
Word Art Wednesday #170: AG
Loves Rubber Stamp #138: Show Me Some Red

Products used to create this card:

This really is an easy card and the embossed outline makes water colouring a breeze. You know me, I don't go for complicated techniques! These sketchy images are perfect for colouring in the lines. The card is also flat as a pancake - perfect for mailing!

Thanks for stopping by today. I haven't posted or visited much this week. Sorry about that. Rosie's having a tough time. We've had a few good days and it's time for a few not so good ones, I guess. As you know Rosie's not one to give in to a few aches and pains and we're cheering her on. I'll make some time for blogging this weekend. Hope to see you soon. Here's picture of Rosie looking guilty because she was caught napping on the one decent sofa we have left. We pretended not to notice. :)

Beijinhos

CASE-ing Christmas #6: Ellen

Welcome to CASE-ing Christmas! This is a weekly challenge devoted to the holiday season all year 'round and today we're starting Challenge #6.

Here's how you play along. Each week you'll be given you a card to CASE and ... you CASE it! It's as easy as that. If you've never CASEd a card before, here's how you do it:

• Look at the photo of the card to CASE; 
• Be inspired by some elements of the card - the colours, layout, image, embellishments, etc 
• Make a card based on that inspiration and link it up at CASE-ing Christmas Challenge Blog by Noon (Central) / 6pm (UK) on Thursday,  12th February 2015. 

And that's all there is to it. Our CASE card this week is this gorgeous creation by Ellen Parker. Lots of ideas here and I can't wait to see how this project inspires you.

The "O" in Joy reminds me of Christmas pudding... and there was no turning back! I'm taking the colours, the holly and the CAS look of Ellen's card to make my version of her awesome card.

The image and sentiments are by Clearly Besotted Stamps. The patterned paper is from Bo Bunny's Mistletoe Collection. Keeping it simple with just a few bling.

Here's a close-up. I've cut the images with coordinating dies and popped them up on some foam tape. Plenty of white space... more than I'm used to and it took strength not fuss and walk away. Phew!

Challenges:
Sister Act Challenge #92: AG
CHNC #214: Something Beginning With "B" - Bling & Berries (holly berries)
Word Art Wednesday #169: AG Uplifting 
Christmas Card Challenge #9: Colour / AG Christmas
Winter Wonderland: Keep It Simple
CHNC Extra February: AG Christmas

Products used to create this card:

Now it's your turn to make a Christmas card by CASE-ing Ellen's creation. Winners of Challenge #5 will be announced on Wednesday, 18th February 2015.

You'll find more ideas over at the DT's blogs: Mynn ... Donna ... Ellen ... Pat ... Steph.

Thanks for dropping by and Happy CASE-ing. I'm looking forward to seeing your take on Ellen's card. Have a lovely day, friends.

Beijinhos!

Polka Doodles #6: Flower Power

Can you believe it's Friday already!!! Where has the week gone? Still, there's comfort in knowing that the weekend starts this evening ... and you still have another week to play along in Polka Doodle's "Flower Power" challenge. Over at the Polka Doodles Challenge Blog the design team is putting up quite a show.

For my project, I'm travelling back in time to this pretty CD released in December 2012 called Cherry Blossom Lane. Adorable characters and cute papers and embellishments fill this spring themed CD. I've coloured the cute bunnies having fun around the Maypole with Graph'It markers and added a floral border. The sentiment is from the In The Garden CD. More papers flowers from my stash for extra power!

Here's a close-up of the card. I fussy cut the bunnies and after colouring. their outfits got the Wink o Stella Clear Glitter.

Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #169: AG Inspirations & Uplifting
4 Crafty Chicks #232: Hand Coloured Image
Moving Along With The Times: Pastel Time
Creative Moments Of Craft #61: AG / Love
Fab & Funky #245: Hearts and / or Flowers
Stampavie & More #230: Lots of Flowers
Ruby's Rainbow #97: Soon Be Spring

Products used to make this card:

Now it's over to you, my friends. Create any project - card, tag, lay-out, box, bag, etc. You have until Noon (UK Time) on Friday, 13 February 2015, to link up your entries over at the Polka Doodles Challenge Blog. You don't have to use Polka Doodles products to enter, but if you have it, by all means, flaunt it! One randomly selected winner will receive a fabulous Digi Bundle from the Polka Doodles Store! The Top 3 Design Team favourites will also win a digi each.

Time for y'all to get creative. Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to see your projects. Have a fabulously crafty weekend, friends!

Beijinhos!

Tuesday Throwdown #230: Monster Mash

Happy Tuesday, friends! Hope you are ready for another week of crafting fun with the Tuesday Throwdown gang. Our challenge theme this week is Monster Mash. All you have to do is incorporate little monsters on your project.  Our sponsor is My Grafico but you can use any stamps as long as you follow the theme.

I made these fun little notecards for my nephews with images generously provided by our sponsors. The papers were given to my by my blogging buddy - Monika Reeck. She's originally from Indonesia, now living in Germany, and these patterned papers are traditional batik designs. The sentiments are from WMS Half Pint Heroes clear stamp set .

I love the  bold design of these papers and thought they would go well on some fun cards with bright colours. The little monsters seemed to be the perfect match.

I tried to coordinate the little monster with the patterned papers. On this one, I'm inspired by the horns and dots. I carried on the dotty theme with droplets of Liquid Pearl.

Here I'm inspired by the spikes and talons. You can see it on the paper too!

And this wacky dude was just asking for something spotty.

Challenges:
Clear It Out: AG
Loves Rubber Stamp #137: AG
Papertake Weekly: AG
Party Time Tuesday #195: AG
Through The Craft Room Door: AG
Going Grey With Scrap Creations: Love

Products used to create these cards:

Now it's your turn to create a project based on this week's theme: "Monster Mash". 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,  9th February 2015. And the most important requirement: Have Fun!

Beijinhos!

Chocolate Baroque: Buds & Bugs

Good morning, friends! There are a couple of new releases this month over at Chocolate Baroque - Sketchy Doodle Flowers and Sketchy Doodle Landscape.

I had fun over the weekend with the Sketchy Doodle Flowers A4 stamp sheet. Here are the two cards I made: Buds & Bugs.

Let's start with the Buds. This card features the big bold sketchy blooms coloured with Graph'It alcohol markers before fussy cutting them. To create background texture without bulk I used Strathmore thick water colour paper, Distress Inks (Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey and Scattered Straw) and lots of water. I spritzed like made and let the water do all the work. I'm a lazy crafter.

When dry, I stamped the bubbly image from Texture Fragments with Tea Dye Distress Ink. The stems for the flowers are from the Wild Meadow sheet, stamped with Peeled Paint Distress Ink. To finish the card: a greeting from Birthday Words stamped with VersaFine Olympia Green and a few tiny pale green gems.

Here's a close of the "Buds". I dropped a couple of blobs of Glossy Accent in the middle of each flower. I'm actually liking the combination of bold colours and subtle texture.

Challenges:
Crafting From The Heart #45: AG
Craft Your Passion #247: AG
My Craft Creation: AG

*********************

Moving on to the Bugs. For this project, I'm showcasing the butterflies from Sketchy Doodle Flowers A4 stamp sheet. Or are they dragonflies? Still not sure what bugs I'm dealing with here.

To create the background, I did some emboss resist using the floral fragment from the Texture Fragments A4 stamp sheet and white embossing powder, followed by some good old fashioned blending with Distress Inks. I'm using Dusty Concord and Seedless Preserves to highlight the flowers. And for the background, I've blended Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord and Shaded Lilac.

For texture and shine I dumped a load of Tim Holtz Distress Glitter in Clear Rock Candy along the edge and went 3D with some matching paper flowers from my stash, held in place by Doodlebug mini brads. The flowers came from a BUMPER blog candy I won over at Snoopy's Homemade Fun - a super talented crafter with a heart of gold. 

The scene is now set for the bugs. I coloured these sketchy butterflies / dragonflies with alcohol markers, fussy cut and adhered them to the floral background. To finish: a greeting from Butterfly Dreams. And voila!

Here's a close-up. You can't see it in the photo  (because I'm a terrible photographer), but the Clear Rock Candy Distress Glitter is just gorgeous. It's shiny without being in your face. I also gave the bugs a once-over with the Wink of Stella Clear Glitter.

Challenges:
Come And Get It: Texture - Distress Glitter, paper flowers
Glitter & Sparkle Feb: AG with Glitter, Embossing, Flocking
Through The Purple Haze #76: AG

Products used to make these cards:

Sometimes, you don't need to go mad on technique to make your stamps shine. Keep it simple, play with colours, break a few rules and have fun! It also helps, if like me, you don't know many techniques. LOL.

Beijinhos!

Eclectic Ellapu February: Burgundy / Red & Cream / Ivory

Hello, friends! We have a brand new year of challenges starting over at  Eclectic Ellapu. Our DT family has grown and that means MORE crafty inspiration for you.

As always the 2 teams - Pinks and Purples - are playing together, but they have own themes. The Pinkies are colouring with "Burgundy / Red AND Cream / Ivory" and the Purplies are playing with "Hearts & Roses".

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I couldn't help but make this love-themed card with Burgundy and Cream. The hot-air balloons are from a discontinued stamp set by Clearly Besotted called "Up and Away". Such a pity because it truly was a lovely set and that heart shaped hot air balloon is the cutest! The little hearts are also Clearly Besotted, this time from the Good Times stamp set. These little guys make lovely clouds!

I cut a heart shaped window with an X-Cut die. The hot air balloons are cut with coordinating dies by Clearly Besotted.

Challenges:
Addicted To CAS #56: Codeword "Hugs & Kisses"
Inspirational #75: Rose Colours
Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #65: AG with Twist - Stitching
Sweet Stampin' Challenge: Love
Simply Create Too #78: Valentine's Day / Use Hearts

Products used to make this card:

Now it's your turn to create and link up your labour of love over at the Eclectic Ellapu Challenge Blog. Remember, we have 2 concurrent challenges: "Burgundy / Red AND Cream / Ivory" for the Pink Team and "Hearts and Roses" for the Purple Team. You can enter one or both challenges as many times as you wish, but make sure you link up your projects by 11:59pm GMT on 28 February 2015.

Thank you for stopping by today. Looks like it going to be a sunny day. We're taking the dogs for a walk on the beach. I hope you've got a fun day planned. Have a beautiful Sunday, friends!

Beijinhos!