Merry Berries

I don't usually make Christmas cards until November but then I'm in a crazy rush, so this year I'm trying to get at least a few made early. 

I couldn't resist having a little play for Power Poppy's latest challenge and I have taken inspiration from Julie Koerber's Word Play post. I'm so used to just printing off images that I don't think about playing around with them too much.

I have taken two images 'Merriest Berries' and 'Candy Cane' and merged them behind the word Merry.  It took a little fiddling around to get them looking how I wanted and it took referring back to the full images to work out what was what when colouring!

Products used:

• Kraft card blank
• Black cardstock
• My Mind's Eye 'Sleigh Bells Ring' designer paper
• Recollections ribbon
• ProMarkers - Berry, Red, Lipstick, Crimson, Ruby, Cool Grey 1 & 2, Holly, Lush Green, Forest Green, Cardinal, Olive, Moss, Pear Green, Aegean, Sky Blue & Black
• White Sakura Gelly Roll

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Power Poppy - Go Ahead.... Inspire Me!
2. Crafts Galore Encore - July AG
3. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - July AG
4. Colour Crazy - WK28 AG
5. I♥Promarkers - #363 AG/Christmas in July

Hello Steampunk Friend at Ching-Chou Kuik

I'm back again with some more inspiration for the Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge Blog.  Have you joined in with our Thank You/Sympathy challenge yet?  If not, you can enter here.

This week the team were challenged to use some flowers. I always use paper or die-cut flowers, so this time I wanted to be different and use metal flowers... and with metal comes a Steampunk theme! 

I have used 'Steampunk Dragonfly' for a square layered card.  I don't like a lot of froufrou or excessive embellishments on a card, but using the layering method you can add a lot of elements without going over the top!

Products used:

• Papermania card
• Papermania 'Chronology' papers
• Gear dies
• Hill & cloud dies
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Friend Script word dies
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology Foliage
• Cosmic Shimmer extra thick embossing crystals
• Distress Inks - Walnut Stain, Stormy Sky & Forest Moss
• ProMarkers - Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Dusky Pink, Satin, Henna, Cocoa, Cinnamon, Walnut, Tan, Raw Sienna, Gold, Sunflower, Umber & Powder Blue

I used the extra thick embossing crystals to give these gears a plastic shine

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Card Mania - #106 AG
2. Classic Design Team - #27 AG
3. Crafting With An Attitude - #41 AG
4. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - July AG
5. Passion For ProMarkers - WK452 Hip To Be Square
6. Allsorts - WK475 In My Garden

The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo

There's an Aurora Wings image I've had for a while but kept putting off colouring; 'Dragon Lore' has such a lot of details, it's quite daunting to look at!!
However, I really love dragons and with the latest challenge being Once Upon A Time I had to go for it.   
I haven't based this one on any particular fairytale, rather the many Chinese tales based around dragons.  Although, I do love 'The Dragon & The Phoenix'.  I had a Chinese-themed wedding and this was the name I chose for my top table because of the symbolism - "Dragon is "yang" while Phoenix is "yin", and they complement each other in creating yin-yang balance to harvest successful matrimonial bliss. This celestial couple is the symbol of everlasting love and they being together is the ultimate symbol of marital happiness".  

I coloured the image with ProMarkers - Tan, Dusky Pink, Putty, Almond, Black, Cool Grey 5, Cardinal, Berry, Red, Lipstick, Shale, Holly, Pine, Forest, Apple, Pumpkin, Amber, Sunflower, Tulip, Warm Grey 1-3, Blue Pearl & Powder Blue.
Some added details with white Sakura Gelly Roll.  
Background using Distress Ink 'Stormy Sky' & Distress Oxide 'Worn Lipstick', with chunky gold embossing powder sprinkled over.
I framed the image and added a couple of 3D dragon stickers that I've had forever and can't remember where I bought them!!

I had to take the photo on an angle so to avoid reflections!

I am entering my picture into the following challenges:

1. Aurora Wings - #68 Once Upon A Time
2. Crafts Galore Encore - July Anything Goes
3. TTCRD - WK 3 July Anything Goes
4. Classic Design Team - #27 Anything Goes
5. Crafting By Designs - July Anything Goes

Thank You or Sympathy at Ching-Chou Kuik

Wow, halfway through the year, kids have finished school and things are hotting up! 
At the Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge Blog we have a brand new challenge with the theme THANK YOU OR SYMPATHY and you can enter here.  

I have chosen sympathy as it's not a subject I often create for.  I wanted to do something a little different image-wise so chose 'Two Ladybugs' from the set 'Butterfly & Ladybug'.  I have kept my card very CAS with just a little colour and an embossed background. 

Products used:

• White card blank
• Daisy Chain embossing folder
• X-Cut Oval nesting die
• Little Darlings rubber sentiment stamp
• Memento Dew Drop in Tuxedo Black
• ProMarkers - Black, Cool Grey 1-5, Walnut, Cocoa, Cinnamon, Canary, Lemon & Soft Lime

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Cute Card Thursday - #537 Anything Goes
2. Classic Design Team - #27 Anything Goes
3. Colour Crazy - WK26 Anything Goes
4. Crafting by Designs - July Anything Goes
5. Crafting With An Attitude - #41 Anything Goes

A Bunch of Thanks

I was asked to make some thank you cards, so I thought I would experiment with some different colourways on the same image.  I love how different colours can completely transform the way things look.  This also satisfies my not wanting to make the same card again. I really love handmade cards being one-of-a-kind. The only time I really do bulk cards similar is for Christmas, but even then there are usually slight differences.

Products used:

• Card blanks
• Coloured cardstock
• Word dies
• Sequins
• ProMarkers - I was colouring a few at a time, so didn't write down the colours I used!

I am entering my cards into the following challenges:

1. Make It Crafty - Anything Goes
2. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #85 Anything Goes
3. Passion For ProMarkers - WK451 Add A Sentiment
4. TTCRD - WK 3 July Anything Goes
5. AAA Cards - #118 Use A Frame