Spray Away

I stamped this flower stamp (I think it might be Kaisercraft or Kanban ?? Lost packet as usual) days ago and had it sitting on my desk, wondering what to do with it.

Then I saw the 'Play misty for me' challenge at Shopping Our Stash . I do use sprays - normally I spritz a little over an inked background, or do a little squirt to distress a finished piece. My son (aged 8) LOVES sprays and squirts them liberally and messily. So I decided to spray like an 8-year-old and whoosh it all on ...I used at least four different spray mists here.

After drying off my sprays, I added some more targetted colour to the petals with alcohol pens and did some highlights with white pen.

Purrfect Princess

I combined a few challenges when making this card.

Try it on Tuesday's challenge is to add a crown, which put me in mind of the quote I've used. I remembered some 'animal ' themed challenges - domestic animals at My Time to Craft and 'all creatures great and small' at Crafty Creations. This made me think of a cat - they really do seem to think they're royalty, don't they? As Challenge up Your Life are having a digi stamp challenge, I searched my computer and found this one by Oak Pond Creations, which I coloured and added a crown and the quote.

For my background I used foiled cardstock and embossing from a doily pattern folder I got free with a magazine yesterday. The challenge at Crafting When we can is 'bling it up'. I added clear glitter to the crown and heart, and gem flourishes,

Case-ing Deepti

Time Out  are case-ing Deepti and so I want to join in. Here's Deepti's card:

For my card I used a Clearly Besotted set that came with a magazine (sentiment and smaller jar), a jar by Stampin Up, and the other stamps are Alte New. I know you might think I've done a weird colour thing on the flower - the style of flower reminds me of 50s prints and so felt the red and mustard accentuated that.  I tried doing the head in one colour and also alternating stripes , but I just preferred it like this! 

As well as Time Out, I'd like to enter:

Use your Stuff flowers

Stamplorations stamps and leaves 

Anyone for Demis (Roussos) ?

Welcome to my gracious library.

I'm posting this in the hope it might give someone a giggle.  I've always wanted to make clothes, but I'm not talented in this area! I can't believe I've wasted the best part of two days of my well-earned annual leave making the above.

Here's what it was supposed to look like (view B):

My daughter's partner saw the photo and asked if I was wearing a sheet. 

With hindsight.......perhaps I should have made it in a floatier material. 

Also, I think there was a problem with the sizing as the sizes in the packet were in US or European sizes and of course, in the UK we do our own thing regarding clothes sizes.  So I followed their advice and measured my bust and made the corresponding size according to their chart. But....my bust is quite big and it's the only place the top fits! The neckline slips off the shoulders and there's enough room for a 5 year old child at the waist! 

This 'top' will be perfect for the beach...I could totally change out of my swimsuit into my clothes and no-one would spy an inch of flesh! 

Circles and Numbers

This card, using the sketch from Crafty Boots  was made using technology (Silhouette cutting machine) and traditional methods.

I wanted a row of sketchy circles, but I don't have any stamps (and don't even think about freehand!) , so I made some in Silhouette Studio and used the sketch pens to draw them electronically. ( The border was drawn at the same time).

I had to experiment with colouring them. I tried watercolouring with ink but the pen ran too much, so I used alcohol markers.

Then I used one of my favourite stamp sets (7 Gypsies 'numbers' ) to stamp numbers and words. Finally, I electronically die-cut  the sentiment.

As well as Crafy Boots, I'd like to enter:
That's Crafty  number's up
Addicted to Stamps  anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday  thanks
Tuesday Throwdown anything goes

Stepping Out

The challenge at CD Sunday is 'Stepping out ' and it didn't take me long to think that I might find something suitable of the Crafter's Companion Frou Frou CD. This is a lovely CD, but I really don't like Crafter's Companion's CD interface. The categories are meaningless to me ( what do 'couture collections' and 'card companions' actually mean?), and you have to trawl through a lot of folders to find a single design, often with just colour variations. What a shame, as a lot of the content is very good. 

Luckily, when I bought this CD it came with a copy in the Craft Artist format and this made it relatively easy to find a couple of images of dressed-up women.  I cropped them just above the knees to focus on the legs and shoes 'stepping out'.  The frame and flower were die-cut, using Fancy Pants Park Bench paper, and I added a charm and a stamped sentiment(Clearly Besotted).

I'd also like to enter:
Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge  girlie
Quirky Crafts  shoes
Allsorts birthday
Seize the Birthday  birthday

What the rabbit saw

We used to have a pet rabbit who loved to hop around the garden looking for a way out. I imagine a rabbit mooching round the flower beds and looking up the garden to the child swinging at the other end....

Before I get carried away let me tell you what I used here. As I was using paint I used the back of a cereal packet as it's a bit firmer ...and it has creases and flaws which add to the texture. For the background I used acrylic paints and Distress Ink Spray . I stamped the tree swing (Stampin Up) and grasses (Indigo Blu), drew the fence by the tree ( I think this is as far as my drawing talents take me)  and stamped the flowers (Impression Obsession) in a mix of paints. Finally I inked the edges and accidentally squewged a big dollop of 'wink of stella' over it ....after a rescue, managed to leave a sparkly sheen on the flowers.  But does it show up in the photo????? Smudges etc show up; subtle glittering never does!

I'd like to enter:
Anything but Cute  vintage garden
Mixed Media Monthly  May flowers
A Gem of a Challenge flowers
Uniko  flowers
Stamping Sensations  flower power

Polar Bear in a Jumper

Here's a jolly Christmas card. The stamps (apart from the sentiments) are from My Favourite Things and the papers are Bo Bunny.

I'd like to enter:
Crazy 4 Challenges green
Dis Digi Designs  two or more designer papers
abc Christmas Challenge  j is for Joy
Crimbo Crackers  anything goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin  cute Christmas

Make My Monday - Use Kraft

This week at Make My Monday the challenge is to use kraft card.


Here's a card for a one-year-old's birthday and it would have been quick and easy except for one thing....I decided to use my new Pixscan mat with the Silhouette electronic cutting machine.  This was because the baby is half Australian and I found these kangaroos in the middle of some patterned paper and thought they'd be just right. Technology is great ...but you can't rush the learning curve on a new gadget! So learning how to use the Pixscan mat took longer than anything else on this card.

I hope you'll join in the challenge at Make My Monday. 

I'd like to enter:
Cards 4 Guys world wildlife
QKR Stampede children's birthday card
Crafty Catz kids

Gold and Silver Stars

I made this card for two challenges and it was finished days ago, and I've been trying to get a decent photo ever since.

At One Layer Christmas Card Challenge  the theme is 'stars', and I decided to combine this with the challenge at Shopping Our Stash , which is 'silver and gold'.

These stamps are by Sarah Hurley. I embossed the stars using a mix of silver and gold embossing powder, and the sentiment is embossed in gold. I just wish the subtle metallic mix would show up on the photo!

I'd also like to enter this for the anything goes challenge at Christmas Card Challenges .