Daring Card Makers Guest Designer - Inspiration Photo

There is a new challenge over at Daring Card Makers and I'm also the Guest Designer for March!  Rather pleased to be asked to do another month!  As it's the first challenge of the month, there is an inspiration photo that at least 3 elements needs to be incorporated into your creation.

I've gone for stripes, black and white, kraft colour and circles.  So more than 3 achieved!  I had A Big Tidy Up and Clear Out just before Christmas and found I had a rather large 12x12 paper pack that has only had light use - Papermania Clare Curd Signature range.  So the stripy paper has come from that plus kraft card from my stash and an offcut of white card.

The card candi is also from my stash (found also during the tidy up) plus half pearls.  I made the sentiment myself (rather pleased with it too!) on Pic Monkey - saved it as a jpeg so it can be used again.  I used an X Cut square die to cut out the sentiment and then freehand layered it.

The inspiration photo is below.

Good luck with the challenge - lots of inspiration on the blog - amazing to see all the different interpretations!  I'd like to enter the following:

Crafty Girls:  Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday:  Anything Goes
Star Stampz:  Make It Monochrome
Through The Purple Haze:  Male Colours
Crafting By Designs:  Anything Goes

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 44

It's time for another Fetch A Sketch challenge and here is the sketch:

The sketch, to me, shouted male and bold so I dug out my Clare Curd - The Big One 12x12 paper stack and got the two black and white papers.  The star I hand cut and the red card is from my stash - the letters cut with a Sizzix alphabet die have been drowned in glossy accents.

Some card candi and a stray piece of black elastic along with faux stitching and my card is complete!

Good luck with the challenge - for more details and how to enter, please go to Fetch A Sketch!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Amusing Challenges:  Red, Black and White

Catered Crop:  Stars

Gingerloft:  Red

Here Come The Boys:  Lots of Layers

Scrappers Delights:  Black, White and a Splash of Red

Card Crafters Circle:  Paint the Town Red

Papers:  Clare Curd - The Big One 12x12 stack

Dies:  Sizzix - Round-a-bout alphabet

Everything else:  My stash 

Flowers, Felt and Bling

It's been a while since I made a shaped handbag card and I really don't know why I don't use it more often! I've used a template that I've had for ages and I don't know where I got it from and the papers are an old Clare Curd Signature Range 12x12 stack which I've glittered the edges of and some of the flower patterns too.

I've made the handle from wire - curled it around a pencil and then added seed beads to it. The flowers I found in my stash and I cut the felt ones with a Cuttlebug die. The charm is made from a really cheap 'silver' necklace I bought in the poundshop and took off all the dangly bits and added seed beads to the wire.

Makes a nice change from Christmas cards too!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Lady Bug Inks: Bingo - Felt, Flowers, Pearls and Spots, Flowers, Charm
Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Fancy Folds / Shaped Cards
Crafty Cardmakers: Use It Three Times (pearl headed brads, glitter glue - edges, on large flower and on pattern)
Pile It On: Bling It Up
Sparkles Forum Challenges: Anything But A Christmas Card

• Template: Can't remember
  
• Papers: Clare Curd Signature Range - The Big One 12x12 Stack
• Dies: Cuttlebug flower
  
• Fastener: Queen and Co
• Everything Else: My stash
  

Simply Create Challenge 39 - Monochromatic

Welcome to another Simply Create challenge! We are also looking to add to our Design Team - have a look at the challenge blog for more details!

This fortnight the challenge is

Monochromatic

And although that translates to any shade of one colour, I decided to go for black and white. Nothing to do with reading it wrong.....! I've made a handbag with papers from The Big One from Clare Curd Signature Range - this didn't even use a full sheet of the 12x12 papers!

I've used some of the flower images to layer up and add seed beads to the centres plus also adding the beads to the corners of the bag and to the flap at the top. It closes with a Queen and Co pointy thing and a black square brad I found in my stash.

The ribbon used for the handle is also from my stash. Despite it looking quite complex, it was pretty easy and simple to make - the worst bit was gluing all the seed beads on and getting them stuck to me!

Good luck with the challenge - it is open until 24 March and for more details go to the Challenge blog and whilst you are there, have a look at the Design Team samples - some stunning cards!

• All papers: Clare Curd Signature Range - The Big One 12x12 papers
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

My Important Dates

I'm terrible with addresses, important dates and other information. So, when I saw the Forever Friends challenge I knew I would have to make a book to hold all my important dates such as Birthday's and Anniversaries etc.

The current challenge is:

Home Decoration

I've made the covers from some off-cuts of card - 3 layers which I've glued together and then covered the outer panels with papers from The Big One by Clare Curd. I've layered the image (which is a sticker) onto black and pink pearlescent card.

The lettering has been cut with my Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set. I made the pages inside the book which are sized at A6 (get 4 from a sheet of A4) and have just used word to make the dates. Printed on both sides otherwise I'd have struggled to get big enough hoops!

I've deliberately left the covers quite plain as I don't want them to get squashed or dog-eared, plus this way, it will be easier to dust!

I just now need to write in it and remember to look in it, as I've realised I've already forgotten a Birthday from earlier this week.....!!

• Backing papers: The Big One by Clare Curd Signature Range
• Image: Forever Friends sticker
• Dies: Cuttlebug Baby Face Alphabet
• Everything else: My stash
  

Snowmen Wear Jumpers

It's a right miserable day today - rain, rain and rain. So the washer is on, cup of tea at my side and the boys are playing on the Wii (fairly quietly, but how long that will last is anyone's guess!) So today is a crafting day - need to catch up on some orders and get my stock in order for an event I have a week after next.

This card fits the Creative Craft Challenge which is:

Black and White plus One Other Colour

The image is a Penny Black which I've had for ages and he's been coloured with Aquamarkers plus some glitter glue. I've used liquid pearls for the front of his jumper and added a tiny gem too.


The papers are from The Big One 12x12 paper stack by Clare Curd Signature Range, plus some blue card from my stash. Ribbon is from my stash and I've added some Card Candy too. The sentiment is a random die cut thing that I found in my stash and fitted in well!

• Papers: Clare Curd Signature Range, The Big One 12x12 paper stack
  
• Image: Penny Black, coloured with Aquamarkers
  
• Everything else: My stash
  

Dog Days of Summer

I'm attempting to be organised with Birthday and such like, however the best laid plans never seem to work out, however with the Bugaboo challenge which is:

Dog Days of Summer, plus neutral palette plus 1 colour

I decided to make a Birthday card for a little boy who will be 5 at the end of September.

The image is from Bugaboo and I've coloured it with Promarkers. The blue papers are Bo Bunny and the patterned paper is from The Big One by Clare Curd.

I've used embroidery thread for balloon strings and the number 5 has been cut with my Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet die. A fairly quick card to make in a hurry! Now all I have to do is remember to send it!

• Image: Bugaboo, coloured with Promarkers
• Papers: Main - Clare Curd, the Big One. Blue - Bo Bunny
• Dies: Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set
• Everything else: My stash

Elvis Rocks

It's been a while since I've entered a Dotties World challenge and I very nearly didn't enter this one either. That is until my cousin reminded me that she still needed a 40th Birthday Card for an Elvis fan.......

The Dotties World challenge this week is:

Fathers Day / Male Card

Because time was not on my side, I used the pre coloured Las Vegas George, cut him out leaving a thin white border. I've added 3d gold paint dots to his costume and also around the edge of the card.

The card shape is one of my own templates which is pretty easy to use and cut out. I've added paper from The Big One - Clare Curd Signature collection as all the colours matched and for once I didn't have to go hunting for a certain paper that I think I've seen somewhere in my stash...


The numbers have been cut from gold card using my Sizzix Round-a-Bout alphabet set, and again, I've dotted the gold 3d paint around the edges.

A fairly quick card to make, which was fortunate! If I don't write it down, I forget!!

• Backing paper: The Big One - Clare Curd Signature Range
  
• Image: Pre coloured Las Vegas George from Charmed Cards and Crafts
  
• Dies: Sizzix Round-a-Bout Alphabet
• Everything else: My stash
  

Simple Doodles Challenge 17 - Thinking of You

Time for another Simple Doodles challenge! These are such lovely challenges and you can use anything from your stash to enter, although if you have a look on the blog, there are loads of freebies you could use!

The challenge for this fortnight is:

Thinking of You

I've used this freebie ice cream cone image which I've coloured with Promarkers and added a bit of glitter glue to the dollops of ice cream and also the cherry. I've cut the image and layers with my only set of Spellbinder Nestabilities (I really must get some more but can never decide which ones to get!)

The red card is from my stash and it is a lovely textured thick card. The printed paper is from The Big One stack from the Clare Curd Signature Range. And the ribbon is from my stash.

Hope you can enter the challenge - deadline is midnight PST time (about 6 hours behind the UK) on 20 May. Good luck!

• Backing papers: Red card from my stash, printed from the Clare Curd Signature Range
• Image: Simple Doodles freebie coloured with Promarkers
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Ribbon: My stash
  

I've Finally Used My Promarkers!

Can you believe it?! I've finally succumbed and open my only pack (so far - more are in the post!) of Promarkers - the flesh ones and I've used them!! Only been sat on the dining table for about 4 weeks - I kept looking at them and humming and arring - just don't know why its taken me so long as I'll be using them on EVERYTHING now!!

As I've only got the flesh tones - I've only coloured the flesh bits on this Penny Black image, the rest is watercolour pencils! I have the Manga additions 3 pack and Summer pack on it's way to me as I had some Amazon gift certificates that were begging me to spend them...... I have a very beady eye on the Polkadoodle shop for some more packs as they are at a very very good price......!!

Anyway, I'm really here to say that the card below is for the Penny Black Saturday challenge and this week it is:

Check It Out (Checks)

So, after colouring the image (those Promarkers were really easy peasy to use!) I've used some blue textured paper from my stash - I think this came from the scrap store a while ago - plus papers from Clare Curd Signature Range paper - the Big One.


Bit of inking here and there and some doodling and that's it! Not too sure about the ribbon, but it was a bloody good match for the paper and image colouring!

• Printed Papers: Clare Curd Signature Range - The Big One
• Plain Papers: My stash
• Image: Penny Black, coloured with watercolour pencils and Promarkers (flesh bits)
• Everything else: My stash
  

I'd LIke A Real One Of These!

Now a real one of these would be fab!! Not sure about practicality but it would look good anyway! This handbag card, complete with wire and seed bead handle is for the Tuesday Taggers challenge which is:

Black and White

I've used my own template and the handbag opens up although does not stand up too well! I've used Clare Curd Signature Range The Big One papers which I've stuck to thick card - one tip is to stick each section at a time and then fold the paper over the fold (if you see what I mean) before gluing the next bit, otherwise it will all pull and perhaps tear.

I learnt that just in time!

I've made the flower from off cuts of the black paper and a scrap of black dotted paper from the same pack that I had. The centre has seed beads to match the ones around the edges of the handbag.

This is a fairly quick card to make once it gets going - the hardest bit is sticking all the beads on!

• Handbag template: My own design
• Papers: Clare Curd Signature Range, The Big One
• Wire and Seed Beads: My stash
  

Festive Chic!

This is for the current Stampin' Chic challenge which is to:

Be Chic with a Festive Theme

So, taking inspiration from I think the current issue of Papercraft Inspirations and the wonderful Enfys, I've made a little pocket bag!

I've used two of the papers from the Big One, stuck them together to create doublesided paper and folded the 12x12 sheets as per instructions. I tied some fluffy ribbon stuff (recycled from a box of Christmas cards!) and threaded it through the holes I made to keep the folds together. I've added some thin black ribbon too so it tied together and the fluffy stuff didn't moult too much!
The bling gems are from the Poundshop - a sheet of them in different sizes for a pound! And the Christmas stamp is Papermaina 'Let It Snow' collection that I've stamped onto black card with silver ink and then added a ring of red glitter glue around the edges.

This will go into my box for next year as for me Christmas is now organised. Almost. Just a few things to wrap and I'm done. And because it was so quick and easy to make I have a feeling that I will be making more of these for next Christmas.

• Papers: The Big One - Clare Curd Signature Range (stuck together to make it doublesided)
• Stamp: Papermania 'Let It Snow' acrylic collection
• Ribbons: From my stash
  

Tangerine, Turquoise & Chocolate

The current Pollycraft challenge is a colour theme:

Tangerine, Turquoise and Chocolate

I completed their last challenge and because I managed the 5 'S' I got to pick a free download from their shop! After a lot of deliberation, I finally settled on Tyler and Piper Rockstars and used one of the images for this card.

I've used watercolour pencils for colouring with a little glitter glue on the guitar. All the card is from my stash on which I've doodled and inked the edges. The brads are from my stash too.

The sentiment is from the male Clare Curd Signature Range. The Pollycraft image was a dream to colour so watch out - I'll be using it again!

• Backing papers: From my stash
• Image: Pollycraft - Tyler and Piper Rockstars coloured with watercolour pencils
• Sentiment: Male stamp set from Clare Curd Signature Range
• Everything else: My stash
  

Big Bloom

The current Stampin' Chic challenge is a sketch:

Which I've followed almost exactly! This is once of the other cards that have been ordered for my Mum's Birthday at the weekend. I've used papers from The Big One - I stuck the two dotty sheets back to back and then cut 4 different sized circles from them. Snipped V's from around the edge and then cut deeper towards the centre where the corner of the V was. I then ruffled the petals and layered everything up. The centre of the flower is a black button with card candy centre.

The black grosgrain ribbon is from my stash (it was 10p a bundle from Blackburn Market a while ago!) And the sentiment is from the Just For Men stamping set.

The petals are actually quite stiff so it should stand up to a bit of bashing! Oh - look closely at the centre of the card - you can see me taking the photo!

• Flowers: Papers from The Big One
• Card candy: Craftwork Cards
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Sentiment: For Men stamping set

Here Comes Summer! Or - Was That It?!

Just about managed this one in time! The current Stampin' Chic challenge is:

Colours of Summer

I've even gone for a summer theme too! And have taken the photos outside! It was a bit windy so had to be quick hence lack of 'photo styling'! I've used a template that I think I drew myself, the bikini has been cut from paper from The Big One and I've just inked the edges, added two brads then the ribbon, the flower and the sentiment is a freebie tile from a magazine ages ago which I've made into a necklace with some seed beads.

And the reverse of the card is the bottom half of the bikini! Simple and quick to make, although it took me about 4 nights to complete it!

Thank you Clare for the lovely stamp set you sent me as my winnings from the last challenge - it really cheered me up after a bit of a rubbish week! I am feeling much better now - I ended up relenting and going to see my GP who has prescribed me antibiotics for a nasty chest infection. So it looks like I'll still be able to strut my stuff with my boys on the dance floor at my cousin David's Wedding over the Bank Holiday weekend! Yeah! Bet you'd pay to see those photos eh?!

• Template: Mine
• Papers: The Big One - Clare Curd Signature Range
• Everything else: My stash
  

Vintage Dad

I always have a bit of a panic when deciding what to use for the Sketch and Stash challenge! This one was no exception as I was going to use a number of different things (all recent purchases in a very very fab sale!) but it sort of didn't happen. Don't know why either!

Anyway, this is the current Sketch and Stash challenge:
I've used (only for the second time!) the freebie download papers Vintage Dad from Tinker and Co - I actually printed the backing paper to almost the size I needed so very little cut off! The shirt is also part of the download bundle and I simply cut it out, layered it onto some chocolate brown pearlescent card and then antique gold and stuck it to fit the sketch.

The ribbon is a new purchase! Card candy from Craftwork Cards and the sentiment is from the Stampin' Men set from Clare Curd Signature Range.

At least I still have plenty of untouched stash to play with on a future challenge!!

• Backing paper and shirt: Freebie download - Vintage Dad from Tinker and Co
• Sentiment: Stampin' Men set - Clare Curd Signature Range
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
• Ribbon: From my stash (but can't remember where from!)
• Other Card: From my stash
  
  

Hmmmm

The current Stampin Chic challenge is a sketch (excuse the tiddy pic!):


It's been a while since I managed a Stampin' Chic challenge so quite pleased it was a sketch but sometimes it doesn't quite go to plan! And here is my effort. And you can tell it was a quick make. I think its the spotty paper that doesn't sit right - I should have just used some plain card instead.


Anyway, all paperbased elements including the image are from the Clare Curd Signature Range and I've coloured the golfer with watercolour pencils. The card candy is from Craftwork Cards. I've inked all edges with Whispers Chestnut ink and then rounded them.

More effort needed next time I think!

• All paperbased items: Clare Curd Signature Range - The Big One
• Image: Clare Curd Signature Range - coloured with watercolour pencils
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
  
  

Plenty of Flowers

It's been a while since I entered a Stampin' Chic challenge and I liked the simplicity of this sketch and decided to give it a try! As soon as I got the HUGE Big One paper stack out, I knew exactly what I was going to make! And this actually was a quickish card to create too - it took me around an hour and a half, in between supervising Samuel and his drawing of his Grandad for his school homework, and having half an eye on a Murder She Wrote episode (bit of car crash telly with the wooden acting by most of the cast, but somehow I find myself drawn to it!)

Anyway! The backing paper and the three layered flowers are all from The Big One paper pack - I've used my lovely Cuttlebug flower die to create the layered look and then pinched the petals for a 3d effect. The centres are, of course, card candy from Craftwork Cards.

I cut the circle on the sketch out and made another flower which is shown through the aperture, again this is cut with the same papers and die.

I've doodled a line around the edge of the card and the ribbon (matches perfectly - no surprise there considering how much ribbon I have in my stash!) has simply been tied on.

The sentiment is from the CCSR Stamping For Him set and I've layered it onto The Big One paper too.

• Backing paper: Clare Curd Signature Range - The Big One
• Dies: Cuttlebug Flower set
• Sentiment: Clare Curd Signature Range - Stamping For Him
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
  
  
  

Top Blokes

Inspirational Sketches is a new challenge blog for me - I actually found it before I went on holiday but didn't have the time before to enter but have managed it now! This week is the following sketch:

Which I have flipped round to create two gardening themed Fathers Day cards as I've had two requests from Nursery for them. Both cards use a George at Work download from Charmed Cards and Crafts and all the papers are from Funky Daze - the Son Day collection.

I've inked all the edges with chestnut Whispers ink and the image I've chalked the whiteness of the card to take the starkness of it away. And the stamped sentiment is from the Clare Curd Stamping For Him collection.

Quite simple and quick to make and they went down a storm at Nursery! I really enjoyed this sketch - nice and simple but effective!

• Backing papers: Son Day collection from Funky Daze cd
• Images: George at Work download from Charmed Cards and Crafts
• Sentiment: Stamping for Him collection by Clare Curd
  
  
  

Turquoise and Yellow

The Stampin' Chic challenge this week is a colour combination:

Turquoise and Yellow

These are not colours that readily spring to mind for me to use, however after a quick look through The Big One paper stack (it is slowly getting used!) I found a set of turquoise based papers and picked this one. The stamp is a first time used Inkadinkado which I bought a few weeks ago as I think that most of my work colleagues, friends and nursery staff are expecting (more reveal themselves almost on a daily basis - I'll be thinking I'll need to join in if I'm not careful!) I do like this stamp and will be using it more!

In fact, I also like the colour combination - the yellow layered card I found in my stash box thingy (I put all my one tone off-cuts in one and another one has all my patterned off-cuts - very organised!) I've coloured it with watercolour pencils.


The flowers and button are from Jozza - the flowers are actually held together by a giant brad with the button (and some ric rac ribbon) stuck to the top. I have (badly) inked the flowers in an attempt to tone them down so that's why they look a little grotty!

• Backing paper: The Big One - Clare Curd Signature Range
• Image: Inkadinkado
• Flowers & button: From Jozza
• Everything else: My stash