You stand out from the crowd card

Hi Everyone,

So it's been another long break since my last post (I've been busy moving house and jobs so I've not had as much time for crafting as I'd have liked) but I've finally found the time to get back to what I love - and what better way to do it than with the awesome Lawnscaping challenge. This time they're after a black and white card with a splash of colour. Click on the picture below to go to the blog post to see all the amazing entries and inspiration from the design team:

Since the challenge involves using black and white I decided to go with a more masculine design, using this cute rhino image from the Critters on the Savanna stamp set from Lawn Fawn. I started my card with a piece of Neenah Desert Storm cardstock which I cropped to a 4.5inch by 4.5 inch size. I then made the background for my design by stamping the rhino rpeatedly onto Neenah Solar White cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I coloured the images with copic markers (three shades of warm grey) and fussy cut them - I had intended to use a masking technique but after several failed attempts I decided I preferred the cut and stick option. I glued the rhinos into a tiled pattern.

For the centre rhino, I added red shorts and a pair of shades and fussy cut him with a white border so that he stood out more against the background. I then layered the background and centre rhino with foam tape to create dimension. I added black liquid enamel from ranger to make the sunglasses shiney.

I completed my card with a sentiment I created using anothy Lawn Fawn stamp set - Smitty's ABCs. I stamped directly onto the craft cardstock with Versafine ink.

So there we are folks - my finished card! I really enjoyed getting out my copics again - I never get tired of the amazing shaded effects you can create with them. Anyway, that's it from me for now. All that's left to say is please leave me a comment if you liked my card - it would make my day :)

Another Create a Smile card for the November Guest Designer Search

Hello again,

Well it turns out I had a little longer until the deadline than I thought so I decided to create a 'sister' card to my original entry - I love the Whimsical Wheels stamp set so much I just couldn't resist the opportunity to use it again. There's still a little time to enter yourself if you'd like. Just click on the image below and it will take you staright to the original blog post:

So I chose to make another little love note card - I know it's not valentines day but it's just what I felt like creating I guess. To be honest I'm probably just putting off starting the Xmas cards - there's nothing quite like needing to do something to make me immediately want to do something else!

My card case is good old Neenah Solar White 110lb cut to A2 size. I rounded one of the corners for a more interesting shape. I decided to stick to pastel colours and a washi tape background as per my previous card. I used a really cute grid washi with little hearts and the word 'love' written in pencil. I'm not sure where I got if from but I love it.

Next I stamped the train and carriage images from the Wimsical Wheels stamps set from Create a Smile with Momento Tuxedo Black Ink. Again I used second generation stamping for a more subtle outline which helped to capture some of the fine lines and details in the stamp. I also thought it looked a little like pencil lead to give an almost hand drawn feel. I coloured the image with Copic Markers, fussy cut it and adhered it to my card with foam pads.

Next I created a pink ombre look on a scrap of card and stamped my sentiment onto it with more second generation stamping in Tuxedo Black ink and also Avery Elle Pigment Ink in the shade Mint To Be. This sentiment has to be one of the best ever. No only does it fit with the cute train image, it also reminds me of an episode of the simpsons when Lisa gives Ralf a card with this sentiment on - Love it!

I added hearts to the carriages, die cut from card scraps using my Simon Says Stamp mini hearts dies. I also cut heart shaped puffs of steam from cotton wool pads and adhered the whole lot to my card with Claudia Hellmuth Multi-medium matte liquid adhesive. I completed my card by adding glossy accents to the tarin and heart next to my sentiment.

Anyway, hope you like my card - all comments gratefully received xx

Create a Smile November Guest Designer Search

Hi guys,

So Create a smile are looking for a guest designer for next month and I thought I'd apply. Click on the image below to check out their blog post and why not give it a go yourself:

So here's my card. I used my current favourate create a smile stamp set, Whimsical Wheels, to create my design. Let me know what you think in the comments and, if you're interested, read on for how I created it:

I used Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock for my card base, cut to A2 size. I then used some grid patterned washi tape for the background of my little scene. I used the digger image from the Whimsical wheels stamp set and stamped it using Momento Tuxedo Black ink. I second generation stamping to create a muted grey lined image which I think works well for this mainly pastel coloured card. I then coloured my image using copic markers. I used a coat of glossy accents to give it some shine and adhered it to the card using foam pads.

I die cut heart shapes from pink and red cardstock scraps using my Simon Says Stamp mini heart dies and adhered them in a 'heap' using tombo mono liquid adhesive. I used Bella Letters from Mama Elephant to create my sentiment. Again I used Tuxedo Black ink and second generation stamping and I used more washi tape to give a pop of colour. I put the sentiment on a strip of card and adhered it with more foam pads.

Robot Happy Birthday

Hi Everyone,

It feels great to get back to card making after such a long time - I've been reorganising my craft room and, what with work and other distractions, it's taken forever to do. Well now it's done and I intend to be getting my craft on as often as possible.  

And what better way to get back into the swing of things than with a CASology challenge. It's week number 166 over on their blog and the theme is science - what a great excuse to use these super cute robots from the Beep Boop stamp set from Lawn Fawn. I added strips of washi to the background to make the images pop. This tape is really awesome and reminds me so much of the exercise books I used when I was in science class at school. 

Before I show you any images of my project I just want to apologise for the slightly dodgy lighting in the photos. Unfortunately I managed to damage my light diffuser box and one of my lamps in the great craft room redesign and I'm waiting on new supplies to arrive. I probably should have waited unil the replacements arrived before photographing projects but I just couldn't wait to get back to blogging. Any comments gratefully received as I love hearing from my crafty friends:

I started off with a card base made from Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock. Next I adhered some strips of washi tape ont the front to make a background (I'm not sure where I got this tape as it's been in my stash for a while I think).

Next I stamped images from Lawn Fawn's Beep Boop stamp set onto more solar white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I coloured the robots with Copic markers and fussy cut cut them.

To make more robots look more metallic I covered then in a layer of clear Wink of Stella marker and then finished off with a layer of Ranger glossy accents. Finally I adhered the images and sentiments to my card with different thicknesses of foam tape and glue dots. It doesn't really come accos on the photos but it adds some extra visual interest to an otherwise simple card in real life.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to check out the CASology blog post for all the other great projects. Clicking on the image below will take you straight there:

Lawnscaping Blog Hop

Hi Everyone,

And welcome to stop number 8 on the Lawnscaping coffee bloghop. I'm soooo excited to be taking part, as I've never done anything like this before! Anyway, let's get started....

Clicking on the image below will take you to the original blog post on the Lawnscaping blog:

So, next I'll show you the card I created. I used the Love You a Latte and Love n Breakfast stamp sets from Lawn Fawn to create my coffee themed love note card:

I started off with a 5 x 5 card base I made from Nennah Solar White 110lb cardstock. I then used papers from the Kiss Kiss collection to to create the layers of my card. The coffee cup and donut, from the Love You a Latte stamp set, were stamped onto more Neenah cardstock with Tuxedo black Momento ink and coloured with Copic Markers. Next I fussy cut them and adhered hem to my card with foam tape.

I die-cut the varios layers for my card using the Small Stitched Square Stackables dies from Lawn Fawn and one of the Polaroid Fun dies from Mama Elephant. I created dimension by adhereing the various layers with more foam tape. The seniment stamped on the polaroid die cut is from the Love n Breakfast stamp set from Lawn Fawn and was stamped using Tuxedo Black ink.

Finally I added enamel dots and hearts from the Just Sayin' collection from My Minds Eye. I then added some mini flare from Dear Lizzy and added sparkle to the coffee mug and dohnut with my Zig Wink of Stella clear gliter marker.

So now to some important details about how to win some prizes!!!!! First of all please checkout the websites for the amazing sponsors for the hop. I'll list them below with links to their websites:

Lawn Fawn

Ellen Hutson

The Ink Road,

Crafters Companion

Spectrum Noir

The Alley Way Stamps

Newtons Nook

Faber Castell

Right at Home

So, how do you win one of the awesome prizes up for grabs? Simple, just leave a comment on this post and you'll be entered to win. You can enter multiple times by commenting on each of the blog posts in the hop BUT they have to be unique comments (i.e. you can't jusy copy and paste the same comment into each post) and they have to be uploaded before 11:59 EST on 28/6/15. The winners will be announced on the Lawnscaping blog later in the week. So, please please leave your comments below and best of luck for winning something fun! 

So I really hope you've enjoyed my post and all that's left for me to do is to show you where you need to go next. Below is the complete list of all the bloggers in the hop. I've highlighted my name so you know where you are now, so next you'll be off to see Julie C. 

Niki G. 

Gray Whiskers Crafts

Melissa

Kristina B.

Lysa

Dianchik

Yolanda G. 

Jennie M. 

Julie C. 

Ellen 

Nina-Marie

Michele S. 

Anni

Michelle L.

Lydia

Oreet

Tammy H.

Shannon M. 

Kim

Kelly S. 

Trish K. 

Tanja

Amy

Kim H. 

Monica M. 

Beau Monde Designs

Valerie W. 

Maria

Wiebke

Maia Ink

http://melissabowden.com/

Vicki

Chitra

Tracy

Curl E. Cue's

Coralynn

Carisa

Dawn E.

Kate

Kristina P. 

Happy Hopping everyone xx

I Dig You Card

Hi again,

So this is my second card I'm entering into the Create a Smile March Guest DT spot search. My card uses the Whimsical Wheels stamp set from Create a Smile and I created it for my god son. He loves diggers and so when I saw this stamp set I had to get it so I could make him a valentines card with it. It would be great it you could join in two and clicking on the image below will take you straight to the blog post:

To make the card I started with a 110lb Neenah Solarwhite base. I adhered a peice of cityscene patterened paper from the First Edition Man Made collection to the front of my card. Next I stamped the digger image and sentiment onto more solarwhite cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I then coloured the digger image with copic markers, fussy cut it and adhered it to the card with foam tape. I also cut out the sentiment, die cut a small heart from it and then adhered it to the card with more foam tape. Next I die cut a peice of solarwhite cardstock with one of the Mama Elephant Landscape Trio dies. I then die cut another small heart from the cardstck to leave some of the patterened paper peeking through. I completed the card by adding a Doodlebug enamel heart to the diggers bucket.

This is a close-up of the digger so you can see the Doodlebug enamel heart more clearly:

Love and Fishes Birthday Card

Hi guys,

Well, I'm back for the third time this week with a card I made for the Lawnscaping challenge #99: clean and simple. As a lover of all things brightly coloured, I'm not a natural CAS girl but I love giving it a go. Living on the coast, I love a good sea-themed stamp set and the Lawn Fawn Critters in the Sea set is one of the best. I decided to use it for this CAS birthday card. Thanks for stopping by to take a look xx

I started with a card base made from Neenah Solar White 110lb Cardstock. I adhered a piece of raindrop patterned paper from a Dear Lizzy Daydreamer 6x6 paper pad to the front. Next I took another piece of solar white cardstock and die cut a wave edge using one of the Making Waves dies by My Favourite Things. I then adhered this to my card with foam tape.

I then stamped images from the Lawn Fawn Critters in the Sea stamp set onto more solar white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I coloured the images with Spectrum Noir pencils. I blended out the colouring with blending solution and paper stumps and then fussy cut the images. I adhered them to my card with foam squares. I finished the fish with my Wink of Stella glitter pen and a coat of Ranger Glossy Accents.

I created the sentiment using my typewriter and adhered it to the card with more foam squares. I finished my card with a small enamel heart from Doodlebug.

Click the image below to go to the blog post for the challenge to see all the other entries and awesome inspiration from the design team:

How 'Tweet It Is Card

Hi Everyone,

Well, it's been so long since I last posted on my blog that I almost forgot how to upload my photos - anyway, it's all coming flooding back to me. Without getting too dreary, the last few months have been pretty tough but I've decided to get back to what I love - making cards! I've filled up my planner with all the challenges I want to enter and all the friends and family I want to make cards for so that should keep me out of mischief in the coming weeks. 

So my first card is a valentines card I made for the Inky Paws Challenge #17 - use a heart shape. I chose to use the Tweet Talk stamp set from Newtons Nook for this card. I love how delicate the tree branches and little birdies are. I also love the different bird houses in the set.

Hope you like the card and please do let me know what you think in the comments below xx

I used Neenah Solar White 110lb Cardstock for my card base. I next chose a beautiful peice of patterned paper from the Crate Paper Kiss Kiss 6x6 paper pad. I love the woodgrain and little white hearts. I used the scalloped rectange die from the Mama Elephant Femme Frames and then created a window using a scalloped circle die from the Paper Smooches Just For You Icons die set. I covered the underside of the window with pink vellum from Cosmo Cricket and used foam tape and sequins to create a shaker element.

I next stamped the birds and tree branch images from the Tweet Talk stamp set onto Neenah Soar White Cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and coloured thim with Copic Markers. I stamped the bird house onto a scrap of the Kiss Kiss paper. I fussy cut the images and adhered them to the card with liquid glue and glue dots.

 I typed the sentiment onto a scrap of white cardstock using my new toy - a vintage 1960s typewriter which I adore! The sentiment was inspired by the Marvin Gaye song How Sweet It Is (to be loved by you) which is one of my favourite Motown songs. To complete the card I die cut some hearts from the remaining pink vellum with the Simon says Stamp Mini Hearts Dies.

Clicking on the image below will take you to the Inky Paws Challenge post where you can see he design teams inspiring cards as well as all of he amazing entries:

Red Riding Hood Hello Card

Hello again,

So, my card for today is a simple one which I made for the AEIHeartU Clean and Simple Challenge. I just love the Avery Elle Red and Goldie stamp set and this challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to pair it with the Xcut Woodland Shadow Box dies once again. In contrast to my Goldilocks and the Three Bears Hello Card, I only used one of the dies to create a much simpler look, but I like if just as much. I also love these great glittery enamal dots from My Minds Eye - hope you like the card!

To create this card I started with a piece of Neenah Solar White Cardstock cut and scored to A2 size. I used one of the die from the Xcut Wooden Shadow Box Dies set to create an aperture for my characters to peek out of. To create them I first stamped the Red Riding Hood and Wolf Dies from the Red & Goldie stamp set onto more Neenah Cardstock with Black Licorice Hybrid Ink from My Favourite Things. I then used a selection of Spectrum Noir and Copic Markers to colour my images. I'm still working on my alcohol marker technique and I'm hoping the Online Card Class I've signed up for will help when it starts in just over a week…so excited!!

I stamped the Hello sentiment, also from the Red & Goldie set, onto the front of my card with Versafine ink. Finally I completed my design by adding 3 enamel dots from the My Minds Eye Jubilee collection. 

Clicking on the image below will take you to the challenge post and all the other fantastic entries:

What's Up With Dave? Card

Well this card, which I made for the Lawnscaping One Layer challenge was just that - a massive challenge! I'm used to using lots of dimension and embellishments to create interest in my cards so using just one layer took a bit of getting used to. I decided to take the opportunity to sneak in a cheesy joke - well, if I can't use sequins then I have to have fun somehow! Hope you all like it xx

I used a piece of Neenah Solar White Cardstock as the base for my card and rounded the corners with my WRMK Corner Chomper. I created my design by stamping images from several Lawn Fawn stamp sets - Critters Ever After for the frogs, Hello Baby for the lilypad, reeds and grass and Joy to the Woods  for the log. I stamped each of the images in Soft Vanilla Shadow Ink from Hero Arts. I stamped the images a second time onto paper and adhered these using temporary adhesive to create masks for the images I wanted to remain uppermost in my design. I coloured over the Soft Vanilla ink with Spectrum Noir pencils, paper stubs and Blending Solution. I added freckle details to the frogs using a Uniball white gel pen and pupils and a sentiment with a Uniball black gel pen.

Clicking on the picture below will take you to the challenge post with the fantastically inspiring DT creations and all the other amazing challenge entries:

Butterfly and Woodgrain Birthday Card

This little card, which I made for a friends 30th birthday, was pretty quick to make but I'm really pleased with the results. The design is inspired by some Ikea wall art I have hanging in my bedroom. I started with a Hobbycraft 5x5 white notecard and layered on a peice of patterned paper from one of my favourite 6x6 paper pads, Fresh Cut by Basic Grey - I just love the vibrant lime green and pink tones in this paper! I used the scallop cartridge from my American Crafts trimmer to create a subtle decorative edge. Next I cut a piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock to size and ran it through my Cuttlebug in a Couture Creations woodgrain embossing folder. I then used the Bitty Butterfly and Elegant Butterfly punches from Stampin' Up to punch shapes from the embossed cardstock. Initially I adhered it to the patterned paper, without the butterflies, using foam tape to create dimension. Before attaching the butterflys into the punched spaces, I gently shaped them with my fingers to give them more movement. I adhered the butterflies with Dovecraft silicone glue, ensuring I allowed a sufficient amount of adhesive to sit under each wing, helping to keep the wings in a flying/fluttering position. The sentiment, from the Stampin' Up Label Love stamp set, was stamped with Versamark ink and embossing powder from American Crafts, in a colour called Powder. I then punched the shaped label using the coordinating Stampin' Up Artisan Label Punch. I again used foam tape to adhere this to my card. Finally, I used several sequins in coordinating colours to complete this pretty card. The pink and peach sequins are from the Neat & Tangled Pixie Dust sequin mix and the remainder are from a selection in my stash.

I really love it when I'm able to coordinate the inside of my cards with the design on the front. To create the sentiment below I used a blue/green ink from Stampin' Up called Pool Party and a peachy pink ink called Blushing Bride, also from Stampin' Up. I stamped 'happy' and 'birthday' directly onto the notecard using the Winnie and Walter The Big, The Bold and The Happy stamp set. The 30 was stamped using a Hobbycraft Script alphabet set.  Next I used the banner and 'celebrate in style' stamps from the Bloomsies stamp set by Mama elephant. I fussy cut the banner and adhered it to the card with foam squares. The design was completed using sequins and a Bitty Butterfly punch from the same Fresh Cut patterned paper as before.

Floral Birthday Card

This quick but pretty card was a birthday card for a friend. The design was inspired by my 2013 Christmas cards. The base for the card was a Hobbycraft 5x5 white notecard. I used an Xcut square nesting die to emboss a border around the edge of the card. I cut a peice of patterned paper from the Fourteen collection by Crate Paper down to 4x4. I distressed the edges a little with my Stampin' Up distress tool. Next I adhered a small peice of Neenah Solar White cardstock to the centre. I stamped the sentiment from Stampin' Up's Morning Meadow stamp set, using Versafine black ink. I stamped the flower and stem images separately onto another piece of Neenah white cardstock using the Avery Elle Petals & Stems stamp set. I used Momento London fog ink for the stem and leaves and Stampin' Up Strawberry Slush ink for the flower. I then die cut the images using the coordinating dies which I ran thrugh my Cricut Cuttlebug. I adhered the die cut pieces to the card with Dovecraft silicone glue to add dimension. Before adhereing my patterned paper to the notecard, I wrapped around a piece of green bakers twine from the Dovecrafts Riverbank Revels collection. I finished the card using the My Paper World Paper Pens in yellow and moss green. I use these as a cheaper and more flexible alternative to enamel dots. The only disadvantage is that, unlike enamel dots, you have to wait for them to dry.