Shall we Dance?

I'm hoping this card conjures up an image of a bygone era - unfortunately, my knowledge of historical styles is pretty poor, so I'm not sure what era it is conjuring!!! Early 20th century is my best guess!

The image is from Joanna Sheen Fashion Boutique CD - it's surprising how often I find something on here suitable for a whole range of themes.

I also used patterned paper and chipboard stickers from Basic Grey Marrakech range.

I'd like to enter this for:

CD Sunday  Dance
Bearly Mine Challenges Sketch
Basic Grey Challenges No stamped images

Travel Tag Team

I work in education and soon we'll all be heading off for four weeks break. I'm giving each of my team a coloured glass tea-light holder as a 'thank you for your hard work ' gift  and I made these tags to attach to the handle, message written on the back.

I cut the basic tag from some 'travel label' cards that I got in a Docrafts goody bag and didn't think I would use.  Then I added something different for each tag- a punched shape, a sticker, a picture cut from patterned paper - and inked everything with 'antique linen'. The kraft camera shape is made from a very old Sizzix Original die.

I'd like to enter :
Scrappy Frogs Summer vacation
One Stop Craft challenge Add a tag
Lexi's Creations Summer holiday
Crafty Boots Anything but square

Single Flower

I thought I'd enter some of the 'flowers' challenges that are on at the moment - but I ended up making a card with just one flower , so I hope I don't get disqualified! In my defence - it's a big flower - size does matter!

The flower is a digi from A Day For Daisies, which I printed onto yellow-spotted paper and cut out.  I added a sparkly flower middle, a die-cut sentiment and some gems,  and then I doodled round everything with a black pen.

I'd like to enter this for:
Out of a Hat Creations  Inspired by song with flower in title - Yellow Flower  by KT Tunstall
Digi Haven Fun with flowers
Crafty Catz Say it with Flowers
That Craft Place Flowers

Inkspirational Challenges 26- Sketch

It's time for a sketch challenge at Inkspirational Challenges and here's the sketch :

We are still sponsored by Milk N Coffee Digital Stamps who provided the bird image I used for my DT card. I used a mask and die-cut for the background, and adhesive gems and a feather as embellishments.

How does this sketch inspire you? Come over to Inkspirational Challenges and join in!

I'd also like to enter:
Red Carpet Studio Going digital
Artistic Inspirations Fur or Feathers
Creative Card Crew No designer paper
Rhedd and Rosie's Challenge Take Flight

{Pin}spirational Challenge 63- Elisabeth Bell

This week's Pinspirational Challenge  is sponsored by Elisabeth Bell  and here's the inspirational photo:

I couldn't resist using an Elisabeth Bell acrylic stamp from my own stash - it's a particular favourite of mine.
I created the background by using masks made from post-it notes and inky sponges. I coloured the two smaller flowers to match my project and the fence embellishment is a die cut that I stamped with a Hero Arts woodgrain stamp.

Why not come and join us at Pinspirational Challenges ? We'd love to see what you do.

I'd also like to enter:
Corrosive Challenges Summertime
Cute Card Thursday  In the summertime
Lady Anne's Challenge The Great Outdoors
Make My Monday Summer scenes

Blue and green should never be seen....

...apparently. You be the judge!

For this card I used a silhouette from My Craft Studio 'Silhouettes with Style' CD, which I printed onto acetate and then coloured with alcohol inks.

I covered a butterfly embossing folder with black ink and then embossed onto lime cardstock.

I'd like to enter this for:
CD Sunday S is for (Silhouette)
Lil Red Wagon  Cardstock capers
Crafty Catz Embossing

Inkspirational Challenge 25 - June CASE - Message in a Bottle

This week we have a CASE challenge at Inkspirational Challenges and here is the lovely card, by Vicki Burdick:

So much inspiration in this card! For my DT card I took inspiration from the pastel colours and pearls, which seemed just right for the girl-in -a - paper-boat image provided by our sponsors, MilknCoffee. I paper pieced the image with scraps, and coloured it with markers. The bottle with message is a Magnolia rubber stamp and I typed the sentiment on my PC. I embellished with liquid pearls.

How does Vicki's card inspire you? Come and join us at Inkspirational Challenges .

I'd also like to enter the Clear it Out Challenge , paper piecing, with scraps.

Kimono

I do love oriental cards and try not to worry about authenticity!

For this one, I used images and papers from Debbi Moore Oriental CD and did 4 layers of decoupage on the woman, then chucked glitter dust over her.

I made the embellishment by crimping a strip of black card and using a ribbon threader punch to punch the holes.  I threaded through a red ribbon and a metal oriental charm.

I'd like to enter:
CD Sunday - Kimono
Desert Island Crafts- 2, 3,5,6
Artistic Inspirations Ribbon or twine
Creative Card Crew Metal (the charm)

Pinspirational Challenge 62- Truck

It's time for another challenge at {Pin}spirational  Challenges, and here's the picture inspiration:

For my DT card, I used a digi stamp of a truck from our sponsors, Fred She Said.  I paper-pieced it with patterned paper and then mounted it onto a purple stepper card, which I'd stamped with 'watermark' flowers.

How does the picture inspire you? Please join us at Pinspirational Challenges. 

I'd also like to enter the Love to Create challenge, Paper Piecing.

What's New Pussycat?

I made this at my local crop yesterday. These papers, Cosmo Cricket Social Club , are current faves of mine; I love the bold colours and retro feel. But I felt something was missing so I asked around at the crop to see if anyone had a cat die or punch. Luckily, someone had a brand new and unopened set of cat dies and was kind enough to let me use them! I think these 3 little cats finish the layout off.

I'd like to enter this for:
Pause, Dream, Enjoy  Make a layout
As you like it  Fave papers and why
Hiding in my Craftroom Die cuts
Heck of a Challenge Bingo -  yellow, die cut, green 

Social Club Guy

I went to my local crop yesterday. I made a layout using Cosmo Cricket Social Club paper and decided to use some scraps to make a card.

This vintage guy was originally part of a pre-made 'element' and I  was going to use it as it came, but when I was inking the edges I managed to drop the ink pad onto it! I therefore had to cut him out and I used 3d foam to mount him onto another element - and I like this better than the original.

The sentiment is a Stampin Up stamp, and the square brads are from who knows where!

I'd like to enter this for:
Simply Create Too - Male
Tuesday Throwdown- You're the man
Crafting for all seasons - One for the guys 
Sisterhood of Crafters - Man or boy

Birdwatching

Apart from the large piece covering the base, all the papers used here are scraps - in fact, I actually recovered the green strips from the bin (yuck) .

The girl with binoculars is an A Day for Daisies image and I printed her onto a scrap of adhesive canvas, which adds some texture to her skin and hair. The other papers are all leftovers from Basic Grey Lily Kate. The bird stamp is by Magenta.  On the background, I used several different inks, including white, with texture stamps. I've also used a die-cut flourish, an epoxy bird and some flowers.

I'd like to enter:
Polkadoodles  Birthday card using scraps
Digi Haven Anything
Allsorts challenge  In the garden
Crafty Bloggers Network  Bright and Breezy

Inkspirational Challenge 24 - Picture - Lighthouse

It's time for a picture challenge at Inkspirational Challenges and here's the picture:

For my DT card, I used a Kanban acrylic stamp , which I coloured with Promarkers; map washi tape by Papermania; a doily die; and distress ink .

This week we're sponsored by MilkCoffee Digi Stamps .

Please come and join us at Inkspirational Challenges and show us how the picture inspires you.

I'd also like to enter this for:
Artful Times Maps
Craft Your Passion Masculine
City Crafter All about him

{Pin}spirational Challenges 61 - Steampunkish House

Here's my DT card for Pinspirational Challenges , and here's the pinspirational picture:

This week , one of our sponsors is Rick St.Dennis, and he provided the digistamp, 'The Vicarage', that I've used. 

I paper-pieced it, layer by layer, using papers from Papermania's steampunk range, Chronology. The stamp of the woman with binoculars is also Papermania. 

Come over to Pinspirational Challenges  and show us how the picture inspires you. 

I'd also like to enter this for:

Charisma Cardz Tons of layers 

Digi Haven Anything Goes 

Eclectic Ellapu building, binoculars and black. 

White Peacock

I like to brush off my craft CD collection at least once a week and join in with the CD Sunday challenge. Sometimes it can take most of the week to get an idea to go with the theme but for this week's theme, Fine Plumage, I knew exactly where to look.

This white peacock image is from My Craft Studio Wings and Things CD . The circle behind is cut from background paper from MCS Vintage Charm CD. I faded the colour out so that I was left with white diamond criss cross lines on a very pale grey - sadly, this doesn't really show in the photo.  I also used some silver- foiled white card.

I'd also like to enter this for:
Papercraft Star- Picture Challenge - I was inspired by the criss-cross and beads on the cake - just hope you can see them in my photo!
Desert Island Crafts  - 2,7,8

Black and White Dog

Hi everyone!
I made this card using Docrafts Tulip and Friends CD. I was going to make it entirely black and white, but then I decided to keep the orange on his collar and used the colour dropper to colour some matching paper. The dog is popped up on 3d foam to give it some dimension.

I'd like to enter:
CD Sunday - Faithful Friends
Quirky Crafts- Black, white and tiny bit of colour (hope it's tiny enough)
Cute Card Thursday  - Ebony and Ivory (again, hope the orange is ok!)
The Cupboard Trilogy- birthday

Inkspirational Challenges - June Colour - Sunshine

Time for a new colour challenge at Inkspirational Challenges  and here is our fruity colour combo :

For my DT card, I used  a Melonheadz digi stamp , marker pens and a Lawn Fawn acrylic stamp of chevrons.

This month we have a new sponsor - Milk Coffee  - who are offering a prize. So please come over to Inkspirational Challlenges  and show us what you can do with this colour combo.

I'd also like to enter:
Pink Elephant summer
Use your Stuff Here comes the sun
Pink Gem Challenge summertime

You're Gorjuss

 

 

 

While watching TV, (The Fall, in case you're wondering!) I just grabbed some stamps and ink randomly and played around . The music stamp is Kanban and the girl and foxes are a Gorjuss stamp.

( Yes, and I have drawn in her mouth and nose - this is my quirk - I don't like missing features!!)

 

Very often my random play sessions end in the bin, but I quite like this.

 

I'd like to enter this for:

Shopping Our Stash - No patterned paper

Deep Ocean Challenge For a girl

Cardmakin Mamas Rubber stamps   

Allsorts Challenge Here come the girls

 





{Pin}spirational Challenges 60- Mermaid

This week's Pinspirational Challenge is sponsored by Delicious Doodles . When I saw the digis they provided for the DT to use, I noticed there was an image there with my name on it - literally - this image is called 'Marina' and so am I!

Here's the pinspirational picture:

Please come over to Pinspirational Challenges  and join in the fun by linking up your own creation inspired by  the picture.

I'd also like to enter:
Crafty Catz Challenge Storybook (The Little Mermaid)
Sarah Hurley Challenges All that glitters is gold
Natalie and Amy's Challenge- Fantasy

Inkspirational End of the Week Encouragement - Love Letters Printer Tray

I won this mini printer's tray a while back on the Tando Creative challenge blog .  I've never tried one of these before and when I saw that May had an extra 'anything goes' challenge on Inkspirational Challenges, I decided the time was right!

Materials I used include - acrylic paint (for frame) , metal foil, letter charm (free with Craft Beautiful magazine last month, and coloured with inks and stuff) , ink pot and woman writing rubber stamps (Non-Sequitur), pencils rubber stamp (unmknown), ink blot rubber stamp (Paper Artsy) , an old book and Martha Stewart border punch.

Whatever your project is, why not link up at Inkspirational Challenges  this week? We are sponsored by Tammy from Creatively Me .

I'd like to enter:
Corrosive Challenges I've been framed
As you like it  Fave rubber stamp - at present, it's the ink splats - great for inky projects.
Artful Times Vintage
Totally Papercrafts  Anything goes

The Jewel in The Crown

I was lucky enough to win some Crafty Individuals goodies from Craft-Room Challenge , and they arrived yesterday.  Included is a set of Indian-style stamps (used for the background here) and I immediately remembered the Out of a Hat Creations challenge, Jewel in the Crown.

I inked directly onto chipboard ( I love the grungy effect you get on the grey chipboard) , using Distress inks in Mustard Seed. I stamped the Indian stamps in mustard and marmalade and spritzed with Glimmer Mist in Sunflower. The purple ink is Brilliance. I stamped the elephant (Paper Perfection) and paper-pieced the blanket, adding Distress Stickles.

As well as Out of a Hat, I'd like to enter this for:
Songbird Challenges All Creatures Great and Small
Fashionable Stamping Challenges Alter It