A Bonkers Birthday

Having just won over at CCC Digi Creations I had to play with my new Sassy Studios Digis.  My husband's client's wife has a birthday coming up, so I thought I'd use 'Buttercream Babe - Mad Hatter' as they're really fun people!

I coloured her up with a rainbow of Promarkers (crazier the better for Mad Hatter I think - away with colour theory!) and added a fitting sentiment (using Alice In Wonderland font).  These I placed on a simple striped background paper.

I have a big bag of mixed buttons which I haven't used for a while, so added 3 random ones to continue the theme then added a couple of glittery flourishes and flowers to finish off.  The flowers are held with big brads which I coloured with gold Sharpie as I'm running out of colours!

Products used:

• Buttons by DoCrafts
• Flowers by Petaloo
• Brads & glitter card by Dovecraft
• Flourish die by Sizzix 
• Promarkers Used - Pine, Forest, Mint, Aubergine, Plum, Mulberry, Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Sandstone, Purple, Amethyst, Lilac, Burnt Orange, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush, Raw Sienna, Gold, Mustard, Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Tea Green, Bright Orange, Mango, Cool grey 1, Bright Green, Lime Green, Rose Pink, Pink Carnation, Pale Pink, Blossom, Buttercup, True Blue, Sky Blue, & Arctic Blue 

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

1. Brown Sugar Challenge - #204 Anything Goes
2. Craft Your Passion - #318 Anything Goes
3. Crafting By Designs - July Anything Goes
4. Crafting When We Can - #122 Any Occasion
5. Crafty Catz - #330 Button It
6. Crafty Creations - #318 Anything Goes
7. Creative Fingers - #112 Anything Goes
8. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #36 Anything Goes
9. Penny's Paper Crafty - #284 Anything Goes
10. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
11. The Crafty Addicts - #18 Anything Goes / Hobbies

Sleigh Bells Ring

I don't usually make Christmas things this early, but it's been dreary today so I thought I'd brighten the day with an ornament. 
My original thought was to make a shaker 'bauble', but then I figured why not make a few and create something more like a mobile. I chose two images from KennyK Stamps 'Sleigh' and 'Happy Holidays'. (I removed the bauble hanger part of the image so it would just be round).
After printing the images I die cut and coloured them.

I then die cut snowfall acetate plus coloured card to create the other baubles. I don't have a magnetic platform so I just use masking tape to hold the dies.

I added some thicker card to the back of the sleigh image to give it strength then glued twine around the edge. 

To create the shakers, I stuck the acetate behind the 'windows' then added a strip of 3D foam tape to keep the confetti in. I then stuck this to the background card shapes.

I finished off my ornament by adding twine to hang the baubles plus some small bells. I also decorated the baubles with gold Sharpie.

The Promarkers I used were: Cool Greys 1, 2 & 5, Black, Coo Aqua, Arctic Blue, Sky Blue, Cobalt, True Blue, Indigo, Mint Green, Tea Green, Apple, Forest Green, Pine, Buttercup, Tulip Yellow, Mustard, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Sandstone, Umber, Henna, Burnt Orange, Soft Peach, Peach, Blush, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Dusky Pink, Rose Pink, Pink Carnation, Cerise, Mulberry, Aubergine, Plum & Amethyst.

I am entering my Christmas decoration into the following challenges:

1. Club Kenny K - #11 Anything Goes
2. A Bit More Time To Craft - #22 Anything Goes
3. 613 Avenue Create - #180 Anything Goes
4. Craft Your Passion - #316 Anything Goes
5. Creative Fingers - #111 Anything Goes
6. Open-Minded Crafting Fun - #6 Seasons/Holidays

Retro Selfie Frame

As soon as I saw this Retro Selfie image from KennyK Stamps I knew I wanted to make a photo frame. I love using papercraft and cardmaking items for something a little different.  

My husband and I took a few funny selfies last year at our triple-birthday-bbq (he, my daughter and my Dad have birthdays very close together!).  I photoshopped the images first to give a more retro feel and to fit in with my image colouring.

The other products I have used to create his frame are:

• Wooden frame, burlap and mini pegs from Michaels
• DoCrafts twine
• Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Inks - Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain
• Vintage photo frames from K&Company
• Promarkers - Satin, Pastel Beige, Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa, Burnt Sienna, Henna & Walnut

I am entering this frame into the following challenges:

1. Club Kenny K - #11 Anything Goes
2. A Bit More Time To Craft - #22 Anything Goes
3. Craft Your Passion - #316 Anything Goes
4. Incy Wincy Designs - Alter something
5. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #35 Anything Goes
6. Penny's Paper Crafty - #282 Anything Goes
7. ABC Challenge - 'J' Just As You Like
8. Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes June

Gardening Nut

My friend asked me to make a birthday card for her other half with a theme on gardening or bees.  I went straight to Bugaboo Stamps and showed her the Gardening Nut image.  I've previously used the Nuts About You couple and really love these images.  
Needless to say my friend loved the image so I've created a layered card with papers that compliment the gardening theme. (I'd normally do some complicated fancy fold or pop-up for her, but I have to post this back to UK, so wanted to keep it simple!).
I've also cropped out a bee from From The Heart's Bee Happy Birdbrain image which is a freebie, so pop on over and grab it for yourself.
Other materials I've used to finish this card are:

• Paper Flowers by Recollections at Michaels
• Dovecraft large brads
• Card blank
• Leaf patterned paper by DoCrafts Papermania - Inspirations Colossal Paper Pack in Earth Tones
• Promarkers - Apple, Pine, Forest, Lime, Bright Green, Cool Greys 1, 2 & 3, Burnt Orange, Peach, Soft Peach, Mustard, Sandstone, Caramel, Burnt Sienna, Walnut, Henna & Cocoa

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

1. A Bit More Time To Craft - #21 Anything Goes
2. A Beautiful Mess - #3 Anything Goes
3. Catch The Bug - Theme Masculine
4. Craft Your Passion - #316 Anything Goes
5. Crafting By Designs - June Anything Goes
6. Crafty Cardmakers - #166 For a Special Man
7. Crafty Creations - #317 Tic Tac Toe (sentiment, flowers, leaves)
8. Creative Fingers - #111 Anything Goes
9. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #35 Anything Goes
10. Cute Card Thursday - #429 Hobbies
11. Love To Scrap - #79 It's a Boy Thing
12. The Corrosive Challenge - #6 Lots of Layers
13. The Crafty Addicts - #17 Anything Goes /Summer

Left My Heart At The Beach

It is a bright sunny day here in Sasktoon, which takes me back to childhood days spent at the beach in Bournemouth UK - my hometown and where I met my husband.  He is a Cancerian, a water sign, much more longing to be back at the beach near the sea than me a Libran air sign who is happy in many places!
So with Father's Day and his birthday very close and KennyK having the very appropriate 'Bathing Beauty' as their newsletter freebie this month, I thought I would make a frame to go up in his new office. 
I have used the following materials to create my frame:

• Card, frame, sandpaper and brads from my stash
• Enamel dots and palm tree die from Echo Park
• Gold Sharpie
• Promarkers - Oatmeal, Soft Peach, Dusky Pink, Buttercup, Tulip Yellow, Mustard, Raw Sienna, Sky Blue, Arctic Blue, Peach, Mango, Col Aqua, Duck Egg & Turquoise

I am entering this frame into the following challenges:

1. Club Kenny K - #9 June Freebies
2. The Crafter's Cafe - #150 Vacation
3. The Corrosive Challenge Blog - #6 Lots of Layers
4. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #35 Anything Goes
5. Creative Fingers - #110 Anything Goes
6. Crafts Galore Encore - June Anything Goes
7. Crafting by Designs - June Anything Goes
8. Craft Your Passion - #315 Anything Goes
9. CCC Digi Creations - #50 Anything Goes
10. Allsorts - #366 The Great Outdoors
11. A Beautiful Mess - #3 Anything Goes

It's a Steampunk Thing!

Ok, so I'm really into KennyK Stamps at the moment.  I fell in love with the Steampunk Burlesque collection as soon as I saw it.  They don't name image collections anymore, but these images will always have this name to me.
My newest addition is Velocitia ~ a beautiful winged temptress who is extremely detailed, as all KennyK images are. 
I have created a simple card focussing on the image, using the following materials:

• Card blank
• Papermania Chronology stamps
• Distress Inks - Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap & Dusty Concord
• Promarkers - Black, Aubergine, Plum, Amethyst, Walnut, Cocoa, Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Cool Greys 2, 3 & 4, Oatmeal, Soft Peach, Dusky Pink, Tea Green, Mint Green, Pine, Cool Aqua, Duck Egg, Turquoise, Pastel Beige & Satin

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

1. Penny's Paper-Crafty - #280 Anything Goes
2. A Beautiful Mess - #3 Anything Goes
3. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #34
4. Crafting With an Attitude - #16
5. Open-Minded Crafting Fun - #5 Favourite Technique (distress-inked edges) 
6. 613 Avenue Create - #178 Anything Goes
7. Crafting By Designs - June Anything Goes
8. A Bit More Time To Craft - #21 Anything Goes
9. CCC Digi Creations - #50 Anything Goes
10. Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes
11. Creative Fingers - #110 Anything Goes