Bluebirds..

..for this week's Less is More Challenge. Looking through my (growing) stash of stamps, I found I actually had several stamps featuring birds! Most of which had not seen ink yet, so I got them out amd made a few cards!

My first card was made using a technique showcased at Nichole heady's Blog, for the Make it Monday Challenge. There's a great tutorial by Betsy Veldman on this Ghost Masking technique, and I was intrigued enough to try it. I'm not completely happy with it, but it's ok for a first try, and I wish I had some floral PTI images to use for this particular card - the closest I have are the gorgeous Harvest Berries.


The technique involves cutting a frame from vellum, and using both the negative and the cut out frame for masking.

First I stamped the PTI frame in Tuxedo Black straight onto the card stock. Then using the cut out vellum fram, stamped my Harvest Berries around the edges in Distress Inks Faded jeans and Tumbled Glass, overlapping onto the vellum. The Beautiful Bird is a Papermania image, stamped in Celadon Versacolor ink.




I then removed the vellum label to reveal the blank area left. Then, I overlaid the negative, covering the body of the card, but leaving the label shaped area exposed. then, taking my stamps and inks, I recreated the stamping, but stamped the images first on scrap paper, to create a paler 'shadow' effect in the middle of the label. Finally, I added a sentiment from Papermania and a tiny black gem for the bird's eye.

So, onto my second card - after the shadow stamping on scratch paper, I had a lovely pattern built up of the Harvest Berries, and birds, so I recreated this onto another card.



I stamped the Leaves in Faded Jeans along the edge, then the smaller leaves in Tumbled Glass.
The birds were stamped in Versacolor Celadon and Blue Lagoon, and Memento Paris Dusk.




The little frame and sentiment is from Papermania, and finally I added some gems for their eyes and on the label.


My final card is from a set i bought in June last year, and I'm ashamed to say I hadn't used them yet!

It's from a set by Darcie's, and is absolutely adorable.




Simply stamped in Memento London Fog, and coloured with my Staedtler Ergo Soft pencils, I thoroughly enjoyed colouring this couple of love-birds!



I added a couple of gems to the rain-drops, and one to the sentiment for a teeny bit of sparkle!

I am entering all three into Less is More, and the Ghost Masked card into Make it Monday.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Party!

Morning All! Today is the the first Blog Party over at Waltzingmouse Stamps - previously we had a 'Blog Waltz' over on the forum, but now it's at the Waltzingmouse Makes blog.

This month, the theme is 'Something Sweet' - so many possibilities!

I have based my card on this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge...




And here's my entry for 'Something Sweet'!



I have used Sweethearts stamp set, and created 3 panels stamped in Vintage Sepia ink sewed together with some Turquoise thread.



As this is for my hubby, it has to be clean and simple - he doesn't do ribbons, frills or fuss! So masculine was the way to go, but with a tiny touch of bling!

I stitched the panels onto some kraft card, and mounted this onto a kraft card base edged with Versamagic Turquoise Gem ink.

The sentiment panel was created by stitching a piece of vellum onto some kraft, and stamping the sentiment twice, one in Turquoise Gem, then over the top in Vintage Sepia, to create a shadow effect, and the little cupcakes are also in Vintage Sepia. Finally added some Prima Say it in crystals.

This is going to be for my husband for Valentine's Day, so I need to hide it somewhere (with my secret chocolate stash!) until it will be packed in my suitcase, as in three week's time we are going to Gambia for a holiday! Valentine's Day is whilst we are there, so I'll try not to crumple it!

I am entering this into the following Challenges:

Waltzingmouse Blog Party

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge

Paperplay Challenge

Tuesday Throwdown

I'm off to check out the rest of the Blog Party (Waltz!), thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

Charisma Cardz 3rd Birthday Challenge

Hi all, today brings us another challenge from Charisma Cardz. It's also Charisma's 3rd birthday, and we would like to see your BIRTHDAY creations!

I have gone for a masculine theme today...

This card is for my hubby's grandfather, who was 90 yesterday!He has travelled widely during his life, so I wanted to make him something reminiscent of this.



I have stamped some patterns by Waltzingmouse Stamps, from their Offbeat Backgrounds set, in Distress inks Crushed Olive and Old Paper.

Then I stamped a rope label also by WMS, Very Vintage Labels 3 and cut out with Nesties.



The small panel of travel stamps is patterned paper by Teresa Collins World Traveller stack, and the stitching is a stamp from Hero Arts Sew Artsy set.




The beautiful chocolate seam binding strips are from The Ribbon Reel, and I used some natural Hemp twine to thread the glittery leafy button onto the large green one, before adhering to the card.



To hide the seam binding strips that I had to stick down on the back of the card, I took another panel of dark green slightly textured paper from Papermania, and randomly stamped the patterns on the back in Crushed Olive. Stamped another label and sentiment, from WMS Say it Loud set, and finished.

So, if you're feeling inspired why not pop over to the blog HERE, and show us your Birthday creations!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

DYSU # 54

Hi all, today brings us another challenge from DYSU, and we have a super fabby picture for your inspiration!



I spent every day of my Secondary School years travelling to school on one of these, although they weren't pink back then! And, we still eat Hovis too lol!

This week, we are being sponsored by The Stamps of Life.


Here is my pink themed card, a girly one for a very good friend.




The shoe images are part of a set from Hero Arts - Kick up Your Heels, and were part of my prize package for winning Fresh Face last November. It came btween Christmas and New Year, and I couldn't wait to ink up these fun images!



Istamped and coloured them twice, and decoupaged them for a little dimension, adding glossy accents to the heels.

I then cut the image out using Nestabilities Labels 10, and sponged with Pink Petunia chalk ink.


I then layered a grey damask panel by Craftwork Cards, with some pink floral paper from DCWV Nana's Nursery stack, and covered the joins with some pretty Rose Petal seam binding from The Ribbon Reel, and some lace from Ribbonbox. Finally added some gems to the label.

Do stop by the rest of the DT at DYSU for some wonderful inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

The Colour Purple..

..for this week's Less is More Challenge. I love using the colour purple on cards, although it's not a colour I wear or have in my house, but to create with, I love it!


I have used a petal point card by Craftwork Cards, and layered two shades of purple polka dot paper from a new Wild Rose Studios paper stack I got for Christmas. Then using a Hero Arts Blossom stamp, coloured with Promarkers and added a sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps in Dusty Concorde distress ink. Finally added some pleated silk ribbon from The Ribbon Reel.

The petal point edge always says to me ' add pearls/gems/brads!' but as this is a CAS design, I stepped away from my gem box...however, I may add some at a later date!

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Less is More - Purple

Cupcake Crafts - Something New - I've used New Papers

CES Challenge - New - New Papers

Paperplay Challenge - New - New Papers


Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

January Blues..and Purples!

...for this year's first Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge!

I know it's January, Christmas is well and truly over, little people are back to school, bigger ones are off to work, mummies breathe a sigh of relief and it's cold damp and grey.

I am on a countdown now to Spring, so I pulled out one of my favourite WMS sets, Afternoon Tea, and coloured a cheery cup full of Pansies!









I coloured the image with Staedtler Ergo Soft Pencils, and teamed it with an MFT die cut doily and a Nestabilities Blossom sparkly flower shaped mat.




The sentiment is also by WMS, from Eat Cake set, stamped onto some pretty spotty paper by Wild Rose Studios, as is the backing paper.




The seam binding strips and silky crush ribbon are from The Ribbon Reel, and the pale blue patterned paper between the seam binding strips is from Enchanted Garden by Craftwork Cards.



The petal point card base is also from Craftwork Cards, and the Blue Baker's twine is from The Ribbon Reel. I finished off the card with some of my favourite bling - Prima Say it in Crystals, they are the most sparkly gems I've come across, YUM!

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge

Sweet Stampin' Challenge

CES Challenge

Birthday Sundaes


Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

The Ribbon Reel Challenge # 19

Hi all, today it's my turn to host the challenge over at The Ribbon Reel Challenge this fortnight!
And as it's cold dark and gloomy, I fancied something bright and cheerful to hopefully raise our spirits! So, any shade of pink, and include some polka dots and ribbon/twine in your design.

As I had the sweet PTI Baby Button Bits on loan from the lovely Ruby, and a friend had requested a New Baby card for her new niece, I set to work.



I have used a shaped card base from Craftwork Cards, and layered some pink and kraft bazzill stitched together with some polka dot paper from Wild Rose Studios.

I then cut a white doily using a Cheery Lynn die, and gently went around the edges with my glue pen and added a light sprinkling of glamour dust.

I then layered some pink twill and pink polka dot sheer ribbon underneath the doily before adhering to the card, from The Ribbon Reel shop.

I then stamped the sweet little bear, and coloured with Promarkers.

Finally added the sentiment, a pearly heart and some cream roses and leaves from The Ribbon Reel Shop.


I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge

Tuesday Throwdown

Really Reasonable Ribbons

Cupcake Inspirations

Paperplay Challenges

Crafty Catz Challenge

Sweet Stampin'


Do stop by my fellow team mates over at The Ribbon Reel Challenge Blog for some fantastic inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline