Bugaboo "Green" Challenge

February 28th 2011
The latest challenge at the Bugaboo Catch the Bug Challenge Blog is to make a "green" card and use the sketch provided. I've made a green Xmas card (getting my stash made early!!)

For this card I have used various pieces of green papers and cardstock from my "collection" as well as a couple of little red pearls. Bugaboo images are always a lot of fun to work with!
Fairy Knoll also currently have a challenge "A Touch of Green" so I have entered my Xmas card there as well.

Michelle Perkett DT Call

February 27th 2011
Michelle Perkett is having a DT call so I decided to apply for a position on her team!
Those of you who know me well know I like to make things that are a little bit different. I love the opportunity to make something other than a card so for the past couple of days I have been working on the design Michelle sent out and here are my "creations" using her cute little dragonfly.

I've made two items - one is a little hand decorated papier mache box with a cushioned fabric top on the lid which I have printed the design on and then added some little beads as decoration and the second is something similar to what I made for Valentine's Day (click here to view my CS Design Fabric Heart) - it's a little handmade fabric hanging ornament also decorated with beads and some gorgeous little dragonfly charms I found on special. I would have liked to "stuff" it with lavender (but I didn't have any!!!) and then it could have also been used as a pomander to scent your drawers!!!

I hope you (and Michelle!!) like what I have done!

If you click on the image below you will be able to see the ornament close up!

CS Designs another "Chloe" Card

February 27th 2011
Here is another "Chloe with a String of Stars" card which I have made for the new Inspirational Card Sketches challenge this week. I made a Chloe card earlier in the month using the same patterned paper and coloured cardstock - but I loved it so much I decided to use some more of it and make this card! I love this Chloe image from CS Designs she is just gorgeous!

Here is a close up of Chloe. I used a Spellbinder shape to cut out her image and have mounted it onto the card with mounting tape to give it a little bit of dimension. She is coloured with Copic Markers and some glitter added to her wings!

I've added a picture of the sketch from ICS for you to see what I have based the card on.

CS Designs "Arty Expression"

February 25th 2011
Hi everyone - I've had computer trouble for the past few days so haven't been able to post any of my "creations" to my blog! But I have it back so I want to share my new CS Designs creation using one of Chris' "Arty Expression" digis. This is the first time I have worked with one of this range and I loved it - nice and arty!!I've made a little hanging shrine with this image using a a little shrine shape I bought years ago and have added a saying with jump rings as well as a stamped crown and a keyring hanger at the top as well as some "clipart" angel wings. It's currently hanging in my front entrance.

I haven't really done any colouring as such with this shrine instead I've sponged ink onto the Arty Expression design and have used little word stamps and a floral stamp to decorate the front of the shrine and the little "doors" that open out to reveal the face behind.

Gingersnap Creations currently have a Random Redhead Challenge - "Crowns" which meant your creation needed to include at least one "crown" and as my shrine has a stamped crown image at the top I thought it appropriate to enter her in this challenge! DYSU have an anything goes challenge running at the moment so my Arty Expression Shrine has also been entered here!

I hope you like my CS Designs creation for this week - I would love for you to leave me a comment!

Ginger Gem Winner at Gingersnap Creations - Random Redhead - Crowns Challenge GC91.

CS Designs "Charisma"

February 22nd 2011
I've made this little brooch using the face from the "Charisma Montage" Digi Design from CS Designs. I've made several items using this design which I don't think I have shared yet on my blog so I will make a note to do that!! I just love the face of this design and the headband she has - like a 20's Flapper. This design was printed very small - I work in metric and it is just under 2cm in size (so for those of you who work with imperial 2.5cm is an inch so I guess it's about 3/4 of an inch). It was quite tiny to colour!!! I've used Royal Coat Dimensional Magic to stick it into the recess of the brooch and also to completely cover the image from the front as well to seal it and give it a glossy look. LOL I don't go "out" much but the next time I do I will be able to wear it!!

The current Dezinaworld Spot Challenge has a theme of "Teeny Tiny" so when I made this I had that criteria in mind!!

CS Designs "60's Splash Art"

February 19th 2011

I've spent several days this week (after work) making this lantern/candle shade - LOL not sure exactly what to call it!! The digi stamp I have used is another fantastic design in the range from Chris Stern of CS Designs. As soon as I saw this image the design did literally "Splash" out at me - I love all the elements on it!! I just knew I wanted to make something totally different with it - not just a card - so I decided a lantern to "show off" the design and the colours would be the way to go. It just looks beautiful and bright (like a stained glass window) with the candle light shining through and I am so happy with how it has turned out. I have included several photos below to show how the shade looks in daylight and in the dark with a candle inside.  And by the way they are jelly beans around the base and I have to tell you I was popular with my family as I let them eat the jelly beans after I took the photos!!

I've used Bazzil cardstock to make the frame and I printed the Splash design on White Cromatico. I've coloured the design with my copics and you will see on this bottom picture that you do get brush strokes but you don't notice them when the candlelight is shining through. It was quite time consuming to colour all four images in as I had to be careful not to smudge the colour while it was drying. The Splash design is on all four sides of the frame so whichever way you look at it you can get the effect!

Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge

February 19th 2011
This week's Smile 4 Kids Challenge Theme is "Birthday Boy" and runs from February 19th to March 5th 2011.
Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is proud to sponsor this challenge.
Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is owned by Robyn Weinrib. Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers,designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion.
Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is happy to offer the winner of this challenge 5 digital stamps or 4 digital stamps and 1 digital paper set of their choice.
After posting your creation to your blog or gallery, please leave us a direct link on the Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge blog. Winner will be chosen by the random number generator. The top 3 cards will be given a badge to display on their blogs.
Make sure you go check out the other Design Team members creations.
Designers:
Mari
Wendy
Carol
Send A Smile 4 Kids would appreciate you sending handmade cards to us for our cause - please see our challenge blog for further details.


For this card I have used an image from Robyn's Fetish range of Digi Stamps "Jake in the Country" plus some paper I found in my stash which I have had for many years!!!!

CS Design "Chloe with a String of Stars"

February 17th 2011
The gorgeous image on this card is another new design by Chris Stern of CS Designs. I love this design - it's quite versatile as I have made a xmas card with her (I will share this at another time) as well as this card which could be a xmas card or a card for a "star"!! So make sure you pop over to the store and have a look at the great range of digis Chris has available to purchase. New CS Designs challenges will be starting soon so make sure you get hold of some images and get ready to create with us!!
I've used the sketch from the latest "Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge". And have also used at least 3 items from the latest "Desert Island Crafters Challenge" Itinerary List (one patttern paper, the colour red, no flowers and sparkle!!).

G'Day Aussie Tilda

February 17th 2011
I have just made this card using my "Australian Tilda + Boomerang" from Magnolia Stamps for the first time. The new challenge at the Magnolia Down Under Challange Blog is to make a card using the sketch provided (which I have added below my card). I bought these stamps to make some cards and bookmarks to send to Japan to a relative of mine who is teaching English there for 12 months. So I have finally made a start!!!!! I think she's very cute sitting on her boomerang on the map of Australia which I made from thin cork along with the "G'day" sentiment in the bottom corner. I've had the "Australiana" paper for a long time and have never had anything in mind for it until now!! And to finish it off I have threaded two brown buttons with wool and stuck in the two top corners of the card.

Bugaboo "Dottie" Tri Shutter Card

February 16th 2011
As you can see I've been very busy over the last few days making cards and have another one to share! This is another Tri Shutter card for the new Bugaboo "Catch the Bug" Challenge Blog which requires a "Different Fold". The papers I have used on this card are from a new 6 x 6 pad I recently purchased from the BasicGrey range called "Pyrus Paper Pad" - I love these colour tones something a bit different for me! The little charm doesn't show up that well but it says 'celebrate'.

The new Stamptacular Sunday Challenge has a theme this week of  "Lovin from the Oven" so as Dottie is holding her freshly baked cupcake I thought this card would suit their challenge as well!

Deny - Two Ways!!

February 15th 2011
Here are 2 cards made using a new digi I purchased from the Karber Digital Images store. They both use the "Cocktel Deny" Image. The first thing I thought of when I saw this image was Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's - I bet lots of people have thought the same thing.
I have used this digi "two ways" - one as part of a tri shutter card and the second as a xmas card!!! I like to have images that are "versatile" and can be adapted to lots of "occasions" like this one.
Here is the first card - a black and white themed tri shutter card. I have coloured Deny with grey coloured copics and used papers, card and accessories in shades of white, black and silver. The first picture shows the card folded with just the front showing and the picture below shows the effect of when the card is open. I think she looks quite glamorous!
Karber have several challenges going on for February so I am entering the Tri Shutter card in their Monthly Challenge which is any card using any Karber Image.

The next card using Deny is a Xmas themed card! You may think I am crazy to be making Xmas cards already but it's a great way to "get ahead" LOL!! For this card I have used this week's sketch from the Friday Sketchers Challenge and will be entering my card in this challenge as well. I've used xmas papers and xmas coloured card as well as some lace edging, a sprig of holly and some buttons tied with "fluffy" wool! Karber also have a Christmas Challenge for February so I am going to enter Xmas Deny in this challenge.

Happy Valentine's Day

February 14th 2011
Hi Everyone - Happy Valentine's Day!
Today I would like to share something I made especially to post today. I've used one of the Expressive Hearts Digi Stamps from CS Designs - Expressive Heart 3. I love these gorgeous little hearts - they are so great to work with and there are endless possibilities for what you can make with them.

For this hanging ornament I have used calico fabric, some little fabric flower embellishments and a little 'love' charm as well as my copics to colour the hair, eyes and lips plus ribbon and embroidery thread to finish the hanger plus a little bit of 'stuffing' to give it some dimension. I hope you like it!
The Pink Elephant Challenge Blog has a "Be My Valentine" theme this week so I have entered my little hanger! And Gingersnap Creations have a challenge running which requires the use of a "charm" on your entry so I think my little "Love" charm hanging at the bottom qualifies!

CS Designs "Priscilla Lollipop and Balloons"

Thursday 10th February 2011

This is my Happy Birthday set using "Precocious Priscilla" a gorgeous little girl from the range of digis from CS Designs. I decided to do a birthday set to 'celebrate' Chris recently announcing her brand new DT - my inspiration was that it was the "birth" day of us as a team!

I've made a two layered invitation plus accompanying matching decorated envelope, a cute little placecard for the party table and a little lolly gift bag and matching tag and a 'Happy Birthday' card! I love this 'new' Priscilla image Chris has designed - she looks all ready to party!

If you have 'littlies' you should pop over to the CS Designs Store and get yourself some of these gorgeous images!

As you can see I have used nice bright coloured Bazzil cardstock and some good quality textured white cardstock plus my copics to colour the image and a few other bits and pieces to complete the items. The wording on the invitation, envelope and placecard have been set up on the computer and printed out. The lolly bag has been made from Bazzil card also and prior to folding it I put it through the printer and printed Priscilla randomly over the card.

  

Violet

Wednesday 9th February 2011
I've just made this card for the Bizzy Becs Store Blog February Challenge using the sketch provided. I just received my latest order from Bizzy Becs so have used the patterned paper from a new 6 x 6 Basic Grey 'Curio' Paper Pad. I have also used one of the stamps from the Blue Butterfly Stamps Range - as you can see from the title of this post her name is "Violet"! I've used my sewing machine to sew all the bits onto the card and I have tried to use a different "stitch" for each different piece of paper. I'm really happy with it all and I love these nice soft colour tones. And I think this range of images make great teenage cards!
I am also entering this card in the There's Magic in the Air Challenge which is a recipe: at least 3 flowers, lace or ribbon, pearls or gems and a die cut.

CS Designs "Expressive Hearts"

February 7th 2011
These cute little ornaments were made with card and 2 of the Expressive Hearts range of digi stamps from the wonderful Chris Stern of CS Designs. Make sure you pop over to her store and get some in time for making some Valentine's Goodies! You can also check the other DT members Blogs (listed in my sidebar) for more ideas on using these gorgeous hearts!
These are made with 6 squares of cardboard - four printed pieces with the Expressive Hearts then scored, folded and stuck together. They have a ribbon hanger and one has a tassell and the other some silver charms hanging from the bottom. I think they are really cute!

I first made this type of ornament at my local stamp group where a very clever lady called "Rosie" (who loves to make boxes and the like) taught us how to make them - I don't know where she got the pattern from. We just used patterned double sided card which was a bit easier than printing an image onto the card and getting it in the right sport for scoring and folding!



I have entered my litte ornaments in this weeks Spot Challenge at Dezinaworld as a "charming" item (I have used charms dangling at the bottom of one of my ornaments) and also the new Stamptacular Challenge has a "hearts gone wild" theme. The Do You Stack Up Challenge Blog has a "Red Hot" theme so I have entered my ornaments on their site too!

"Dezinaworld" Collage Sheets

February 6th 2011

I recently purchased a couple of collage sheets from "Dezinaworld" and have made quite a few cards with them. One sheet had a "purple" theme and the other was "autumnal tones". From each collage sheet I made about 5 cards - so that was 10 cards total!! Excellent value. And as I have sooooo much paper and embellishments I didn't need to buy anything else!

Here are a couple of cards I made from each sheet. The others I will add to my slideshow on my sidebar of my blog.

Bugaboo Bride!

February 6th 2011
I've just quickly made this card for two new challenges. One is the new Bugaboo Challenge for Febraury which has an Anything Goes Theme. The second challenge is the new Friday Sketchers Challenge. I love this "bride" Bugaboo image I think she's gorgeous. I've used nice soft tonings of Bazzil cardstock, a piece of patterned paper, some gold photo corners and sentiment sticker and some really cute paper flowers. I have also entered this card in the "Desert Island Craft Challenge" where I had to use at least 3 of the items from the itinerary - I have used a hand coloured digi image, flowers, circle die cut and some sparkle (the gold photo corners and "congratualtions" sticker).

Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge

February 5th 2011
The theme for this challenge involves a recipe "2 Brads - 1 Ribbon - An Animal".
This weeks challenge is kindly sponsored by "Sharon's Showcase" (that's ME!!) and runs from 5TH FEBRUARY TO 18TH FEBRUARY. The prize for this challenge is 5 gorgeous paper packs.
After posting your creation to your blog or gallery, please leave us a direct link on the Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge blog. Winner will be chosen by the random number generator. The top 3 cards will be given a badge to display on their blogs.
Make sure you go check out the other Design Team members creations.
Designers:
Mari
Wendy
Carol
Send A Smile 4 Kids would appreciate you sending handmade cards to us for our cause - please see our challenge blog for further details.

I've used an image from the range of Bugaboo Stamps along with black cardstock, check and striped paper, 2 red brads and a piece of ribbon. He's a cute little monkey!

CS Designs "Best Friends"

February 3rd 2011
Here is another fantastic design by Chris Stern of CS Designs - "Best Friends" - make sure you go and check out her great range of Digital Stamps!! This card is made using the new sketch for this week from "Tuesday Morning Sketches" I think this image was really suited to the layout of the card. And I 've used grey colours which I wouldn't normally use but I think the effect is good.

Here's the sketch I have used:

CS Designs "Asian Geisha"

February 1st 2011
This Asian style card was made using the latest Sketch from the Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge Blog. It's a great sketch (shown below my card) and I decided to make this Asian themed card using a digi from Chris Stern's CS Designs range. I think the colours, Asian papers, Asian wording rubber stamp and lucky gold coins go well together. This Asian Geisha is a great design - I have a few other 'projects' I will share at a later date using this same design.