Pinspirational 125 - Anything Goes

It's everyone's favourite this week at Pinspirational , Anything Goes !

I used a digistamp kindly provided by one of our sponsors - Flat Friends .

Please come over and join us at Pinspirational , where there are great prizes to be won.

I'd like to enter:

Crafty Catz   birthday 

As you like it  fave digi - fun to paper-piece and use in different colours 

Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge  use some red 

Getting to Know You Blog Hop

I was tagged for this Blog Hop by Kylie .
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Kylie in real life and she is just as friendly, kind and fun as she seems online. She also makes great cards, so go and check her blog.
Okay, the idea is I answer the following questions.
1.What creative projects are you currently working on?
My main craft is cardmaking and , if I’m not making a card for a friend or relative, I am making cards for challenges- ones where I am on the DT AND ones that I just love the enter.  I’m on the Design Teams at Inkspirational, Pinspirational, Make My Monday and the Creative Cutting Challenge. I also have a regular feature on my blog called Festive 48, where I post a Christmas card a week and invite others to join me.

I also enjoy scrapbooking (I am posting an example at the top of the post) and I go to a lovely local group once a month.

I do like to make other things too, as long as they’re not too skilled! Recently I sewed some cushion covers and a cot blanket, and etched some glasses using a stencil.

Finally, not exactly a creative project but I also volunteer at Paper Playful.
2.What inspires your designs?
Mostly, I’m inspired by the person, occasion or challenge theme that I am making the item for.

3.What method / process (if applicable) do you apply to each of your creative projects, and how long does each project take to complete?
A card usually takes 30 minutes to two hours, excluding thinking and drying  time . Most of the time (especially if it’s two hours) is taken up with correcting mistakes and looking for things!
Coming up with an idea that I find interesting is the first stage of the process and then I just try to make it work, using whatever means necessary.

4.If you had to describe your 'signature' style, what would it be?
Slightly wonky. I do like a stick on gem too.

5. What are 3 crafting products/tools you can't live without?

1) Computer  with printer–  I use it to type text, for digis and craft cds, link to my electronic die-cutter and to connect with other crafters.

2) Adhesives – I know it’s obvious but I’m always looking for the best and easiest. Currently I use fingerlift tape and zig glue pens.

3) Card blanks – I have trouble cutting straight so these save me a lot of time and trouble.

At this point I’m supposed to tag in two crafters who I admire to be next in the Blog Hop. Well I did invite two talented and supportive crafters to join the blog hop…and they both declined as they felt it was not the sort of thing they enjoy!

So I’m throwing out an invitation – if it’s the sort of thing YOU enjoy, please leave me a message in  a comment and I will tag you in.

Thanks for reading . 

Make My Monday - Die Cuts / Punches

Our challenge this week at Make My Monday is die cuts / punches . As I have an electronic die-cutting machine (not to mention a Big Shot) , I use die-cuts all the time , so this time, I challenged myself just to use punches. I used four punches: the dog (Woodware), heart, and two borders. I also used a shadow stamp and a sentiment stamp.

We'd love you to join in our challenge at Make My Monday. 

I'd like to enter:
Perfectly Rustics  punch art
A Song in Your Art  I've got a dog
Cute Card Thursday punches
Chocolate Coffee Cards dogs and cats
Pink Elephant  anything goes

Apple Harvest

We have a cooking apple tree in the garden and, for zero effort all year round, it provides us with lovely apples every autumn. The perfect plant for the lazy gardener!

Here I used a Rubber Stampede apple stamp, which I coloured with inks and water, and cut out. The woodgrain is a Hero Arts stamp and the background is a Stampin Up leaf stamp,heat embossed in copper on copper card. Although it appears lighter at the bottom, this is just the photo.

I'd like to enter:
Time Out  stamping with twist of apples
Our Creative Corner autumn
Give a Crafter a Cookie autumn
Red Rubber Inspirationals  ag
Little Red Wagon  fall

Two Trees

Today, I spent a lovely day crafting with my dear Inkspirational team-mate, Sandie. She told me all about the challenge on her challenge blog Time Out . In honour of their DT member Bev, who has just had twins (congratulations!) , the challenge is to use two of something. And there's a fabulous prize!

For my card I've used two die cut Christmas trees - not sure if you can see that the top halves are embossed in white pearl. The background is a Justrite stamp.

As well as Time Out , I'd like to enter:
Crafting when we can  no designer paper
Addicted to Stamps  white and one other colour

Inkspirational Challenge - Beverages / Drinks

The new Inkspirational Challenge is a 'designer's choice', chosen by Carol and it is - Beverages/ Drinks.

For my DT card I found this picture in a book of copyright free images called Art Deco Designs, scanned it into my computer and printed it. I really enjoyed colouring it with Promarkers and paper-piecing with patterned foil paper. I highlighted the glass with glossy accents, glitter and a gem - but it doesn't show in the photo.

Come over to Inkspirational , see what the DT has done and meet our wonderful guest designer MaryV. Whether yours is a pint or a nice cup of tea, we hope you'll join the challenge.

I'd like to enter:
Crafty Creations  vintage
Moving along with the Times 321
Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge use red
Eclectic Ellapu Lady's Birthday

Festive 48 - Week 37

Is this a Christmas card? Certainly I thought I was making a Christmas card when I made it! For some reason I thought the stamp of the bird in the circles, a freebie with Craft Stamper magazine, was a Christmas stamp, but looking at it now there's not really anything Christmas about it , (and the CS DT's projects weren't Christmas either).

I stamped 'Winter Wishes' (part of a free set from another magazine) and added gems and a panel of embossed red card ( using a non- Christmas embossing folder!).  So does it look Christmassy or will the recipient think I'm mad???

Just to recap, I have challenged myself to make a Christmas card every week , and post it here (to make sure I do it!) . If I do this, by the beginning of December I will have 48 Christmas cards. I have also issued an invitation to anyone who would like to join me by linking up ONE card each week. 

This link up is always 'Any Christmas Card Goes'. 

Thank you to everyone who's joined me so far. I love seeing your cards. 

I'd like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps  holiday 

Open-minded Crafting Fun roll out the red

Stamping Sensations   things with wings 

An InLinkz Link-up

Creative Cutting Challenge - Fall

Here's my DT project for Creative Cutting Challenge  - Fall. It's a shaker card, using Basic Grey Mellow collection (I've had this for years and still using it up) and, for the shaky bits, I used Creative Pointe  'fall leaves' SVG set, cut very small on the Silhouette Cameo.

We'd love you to join our challenge at Creative Cutting  - all you need to do is use an SVG or similar electronic cutting file, make an autumn themed project  and tell us what you've used.  See you there.

I'd like to enter:
Creative Knockouts fall
Corrosive Challenges autumn 
Crafting for all Seasons colours of autumn
Craft your Passion   I can see clearly (acetate used in shaker card)

Make My Monday - Autumn Colours

I was asked to make a 'thank you ' card for a childminder, so I thought I'd combine it with my DT project for Make My Monday , where the challenge is 'Autumn Colours'.

I used a free digistamp from Dearie Dolls  and I coloured it with Promarkers, paper-pieced the jacket, and stamped the sentiment on the swing.

If, like me, you love the colours of autumn - reds, browns, orange and golden-yellow- I hope you will join us this week at Make My Monday. 

I'd like to enter:
Creative Knockouts fall
QKR Stampede fall colours
Oldie But Goodie  autumn
Incy Wincy anything goes

Nordic Christmas

I often avoid challenges that demand a particular style (shabby chic, cas) for fear of getting it wrong but I couldn't resist trying the Nordic Christmas challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown , so I hope I got the style right!

The die cuts were cut on the Silhouette, the trees are wooden and the background paper was a magazine freebie.

As well as 52CCT, I'd also like to enter:
Craft Room Challenge Forest Friends
Come and Get It  3 of something - wooden trees and red gems
Crafting when We Can  Christmas come early

Festive 48 - week 36

How do you photograph mirror card without your refection???!!!

Two for the price of one this week for my Festive 48, using a Hobby Art snowman stamp.

The first card is a one-layer card, using Promarkers and snowflake stamps.

The second card uses masking for the snowman and resist embossing for the snow.

Just to recap, I have challenged myself to make a Christmas card every week , and post it here (to make sure I do it!) . If I do this, by the beginning of December I will have 48 Christmas cards. I have also issued an invitation to anyone who would like to join me by linking up ONE card each week. 

This link up is always 'Any Christmas Card Goes'. 

Thank you to everyone who's joined me so far. I love seeing your cards. 

I'd like to enter the first card into:

Completely Christmas  anything goes
Sparkles Forum Christmas snowman  

Paper Creator  early Christmas 

An InLinkz Link-up

Make My Monday - Tea and /or Cake

This week's theme at Make My Monday  was chosen by me, and it is - Tea and/ or Cake.

For my card I was trying to get a sort of 'Alice in Wonderland' feel, without any actual ..er..Alice!

I composed my image using digistamps from My Craft Studio A Very Important Date CD and adding the text. After orinting, I coloured them by sponging distress inks and paper-piecing using the paper ( a magazine freebie) that I also used on the card base. I did add some Glossy Accents to the tea and the cherry, but they don't show in the photo.

I hope you will make a project on the tea and cake theme, and join us at Make My Monday. 

I'd like to enter
Daring Cardmakers  food
Eureka Stamps  use floral paper
Love to Scrap anything goes

Caravan

My friend is having an operation next week, so I wanted to make a bright and cheerful card to send to her.  I spotted the caravan (trailer) picture inspiration at Scrapping for Fun  over a week ago and thought that it’d be nice to use one of the cute caravan images I’ve got in digikits. 

All the images I used are from Lori Whitlock Summer Lovin digikit - I traced them in the Sillhouette (digital cutting machine)  and 'print and cut'  them. Then I stamped the sentiment- lots of love.

As well as Scrapping for Fun, I'd like to enter:

Sentimental Sundays  vehicle

Perfectly Rustics  bunting 

Vintage Nautical

Also at the crop, we made a fabulous layout using Graphic 45 papers , and so I used the leftovers to make a card. I added a sentiment, pearl and an Indigo Blu script stamp.

I'd like to enter
Sentimental Sundays  vintage
Craft-room Challenge  something old, something new (old stamps, new papers)
Country View Challenges  nautical
Hiding in my Craft Room  scraps

Woodland Layout

I had a lovely time at my local crop today, and made this layout using the sketch from Sketchabilities.

I used papers from October Afternoon (Woodland Park), some hessian (burlap) and stamps from Stampin Up, Kaisercraft and Cosmo Cricket.

Inkspirational Challenge - Flight

This week's challenge at Inkspirational  is a word prompt and the word is - 'flight'.

I used a photo of a Spitfire plane, and added the words- the first and last lines from the poem 'High Flight' by John Magee. The poet died very young and these words were inscribed on his gravestone.

The stamps I used were a grid by Kaisercraft and numbers by 7 gypsies and I added metal cogs, a metal tag and a mini playing card.

Please do visit us at Inkspirational to see the different ways our DT has interpreted this challenge and to see our Guest Designer, Cornelia. We'd love you to join in.

I'd like to enter:
QKR Stampede  things with wings
Card Making Mamas metal x 3
Crafting for All Seasons wheels or cogs
Aloha Challenges in the sky

Festive 48 - week 35

This card has simple shapes and colours but I hope the crimping and dry embossing add interest. (That was the plan, anyway!).

Just to recap, I have challenged myself to make a Christmas card every week , and post it here (to make sure I do it!) . If I do this, by the beginning of December I will have 48 Christmas cards. I have also issued an invitation to anyone who would like to join me by linking up ONE card each week. 

This link up is always 'Any Christmas Card Goes'. 

Thank you to everyone who's joined me so far. I love seeing your cards. 

I'd like to enter:
Shopping our Stash  crimp
Christmas Cards All Year Round  kraft and cream
Jingle Belles gold

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Birthday Yvonne

Happy Birthday to my lovely Inkspirational team-mate , Yvonne. 

This is the card that I hope she has received in real- life. (If not, it's on its way!)

I used a flower stamp by Impression Obsession - I stamped it onto a background I made when I was playing around with backgrounds. I used 'second generation' stamping to create the impression of more flowers behind (well I hope that's the effect!) . I added a 'Wink of Stella' to some of the petals and kept it unembellished for its transatlantic flight.

I'd like to enter:
Eclectic Ellapu  Lady's birthday
Craft Hoarders  flowers
Vintage Stamping  anything goes

Creative Cutting Challenge - Anything Goes with an SVG

Great news! I've joined the Design Team at Creative Cutting Challenge  and that means I get to play with lots of great SVG (electronic die-cutting) files from the Creative Pointe !

This time, I used 'race car with numbers' and yes, it comes with the full set but I decided to use number four, for my grandson's fourth birthday.  Using Silhouette Studio, I made a shaped card and cut out all the pieces. I used a chevron embossing folder and sanded it down. I cut out a photo of my grandson, and put him in the driving seat.

We'd love you to join our challenge at Creative Cutting  - all you need to do is use an SVG or similar electronic cutting file and tell us what you've used.  See you there.

I'd like to enter:
Crafty Cardmakers dry embossing
Delightful Challenges  don't be square
Crafty Catz boys
Hobbycutz boys
Crafter's Cafe child's birthday
Corrosive Challenges boys

CAS Oriental

I don't often set out to make a CAS card - if I do one, it's usually by accident!

But I do like an oriental theme...and I do like a challenge, so I though I'd have a go at the Addicted to CAS challenge this week.

The doll stamp is one of a set of three Hero Arts stamps that is on my 'use it or lose it' pile - that is, if I don't use them, I'll get rid of them! I stamped onto a piece of red vellum and paper-pieced the dress.

The text background is an Oyster Stamps large stamp - I masked off the edges of the cards with tape, and used a second generation image for a faded , patchy look ( yes, it's deliberate!). I also used a Sheena Douglass oriental text character, which apparently means 'friend'.

As well as Addicted to CAS, I'd like to enter:
Ooh La La Creations cas
City Crafter vellum - okay, so it's a small piece of vellum, so it does stand out!
Seize the Birthday   anything goes with option of black and white ( nearly managed the option!)

Festive 48 - Week 34

I was feeling a bit uninspired this week, so I reached for this vintage photo I'd previously printed (it was a freebie from Completely Christmas ). I created a 'frame' round the edge with embossing poweder and added a scrap of patterned paper, some die-cuts and sentiment.

Just to recap, I have challenged myself to make a Christmas card every week , and post it here (to make sure I do it!) . If I do this, by the beginning of December I will have 48 Christmas cards. I have also issued an invitation to anyone who would like to join me by linking up ONE card each week. 

This link up is always 'Any Christmas Card Goes'. 

Thank you to everyone who's joined me so far. I love seeing your cards. 

I'd like to enter:

Completely Christmas  anything goes

Crafty Hazelnuts people matter

Allsorts early Christmas makes 

ABC Christmas quick and easy 

Christmas Stampin anything goes  

An InLinkz Link-up

Butterfly Canvas

I got this idea from an Online Card Classes class , although I didn't follow the same techniques etc. I painted the canvas with Fresco paints and then used different techniques and materials on each butterfly.

(The colours would work for the challenge over at Inkspirational , but I can't enter there as I'm on the DT!)

I'd like to enter:
Come and Get It  wings
Love to Scrap  let's fly away
Natalie and Amy  wings
Loves Rubberstamps anything goes
Clear it Out  anything goes

Pinspirational Challenge 123 - Tea Party

Here's my DT project for this week's Pinspirational Challenge , and here's the photo:

The cupcake stamp was kindly provided by one of our sponsors , Bugaboo, and I paper-pieced it, coloured it with markers and added liquid pearl and glitter. I made the box on my Silhouette Cameo - wouldn't it be lovely to find a cupcake inside? 

How does the photo inspire you? Come over to Pinspirational  and join in. 

I'd like to enter:

Paper Makeup anything goes 

Papertake Weekly anything goes 

Clear it Out  anything goes 

Make My Monday - Indian Summer

This week's challenge at Make My Monday is Indian Summer - and that means using bright colours.  As well as the bright colours, I tried to get an Indian feel to my card (apologies to anyone Indian reading this, for the lack of authenticity!).

The elephant stamp is by Paper Parachute (it's an old wood-mounted one) and I stamped it in brown for a henna effect. The stamps surrounding the elephant are by Crafty Individuals and the background pink panel is stamped with a paisley stamp by Blade Rubber.

I hope you will come over and join in at Make My Monday. 

I'd like to enter:
That Craft Place summery colours
Crafting at the Weekend  anything goes
Simon Says Stamp  bold
Imagination Crafts anything goes