Tiny Blooms

I seem to have fallen into a new chapter of my crafting after joining an ATC swap.  These are so quick and easy to make, I am not surprised they are addictive!
I actually made a few a while ago after deciding to use up my scraps of thick card, but then I put them aside and other things took over. The swap however, plus Power Poppy's latest challenge of 'Mini & Mighty' gave me a push to make some more (I will be sharing those from the swap once the recipient has received them). 
I've tried Distress Oxides for the first time on these ATCs, and used a different technique for each.
Lanterns - Distress Ink applied to acrylic block, spritzed and 'stamped' onto the card. Repeated a few times.
Roses - Distress Oxide applied directly onto the card, spritzed, repeated.
Tulips - Distress Oxide blended around the edges using a sponge, spritzed, repeated. 

Product list:

• White cardstock
• Distress Inks - Dried Marigold, Forest Moss & Stormy Sky
• Distress Oxides - Worn Lipstick & Fired Brick
• Sequins
• ProMarkers - 
• Lanterns - Pine, Leaf Green, Moss, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Amber, Gold & Canary
• Roses - Lush Green, Moss, Antique Pink, Sunkissed Pink, Pale Pink, Almond, Midnight, China Blue, Cobalt, Denim, Blue Pearl, Powder Blue, Warm Grey 1 & 2
• Tulips - Cool Grey 1-4, Holly, Forest Green, Bright Green, Shale, Crimson, Berry & Lipstick

I am entering my ATC's into the following challenges:

1. Power Poppy - Mini & Mighty
2. Creative Craft Cottage - #98 Use a Sentiment
3. Creative Fingers - #139 AG
4. Digi Choosday - WK43 AG
5. Double D - LEAVE it to me!

Believe In Faith at Ching-Chou Kuik

Hello again Crafty Peeps! Have you been keeping up with all the wonderful inspiration at Ching-Chou Kuik's blog this month? 
Don't forget, it's been an extra special month for us with the 3rd anniversary. Please join in here with your spooky makes for a chance to win one of FOUR PRIZES. 

This week is Anything Goes for the team, so I have used one of the newer images, 'Believe In Faith'.  Most of you will probably know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but did you know there's a designated month for other types of cancer too? (You can find a graphic here). 
I have made my card lavender as this is used generally to represent all cancers. 
Product list:

• Cream card blank
• Purple & lilac cardstock
• Recollections designer paper
• Floral frame die
• Woodware corner rounder punch
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Celebration Words Script dies
• ProMarkers - Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Almond, Satin, Rose Pink, Black, Warm Grey 1, 4&5, Walnut, Cocoa, Amethyst, Lilac, Lavender, Violet, China Blue, Blue Pearl, Powder Blue, Burnt Sienna, Coral & Sunkissed Pink 
• Sakura Gelly Roll, Silver

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Butterfly Challenge - #87 V for Vertical/Colour Damson
2. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - October AG
3. Passion for ProMarkers - WK417 AG
4. The Ribbon Girl - October AG
5. Classic Design Team Open - #17 AG

Samhain Trilogy

Warning: long post! I am sharing three cards, so please bear with me.

I love Halloween, it's my favourite time of year -  I think it should be a season rather than just one day, lol. But Halloween is just one name for this festivity.  I have a friend who celebrates the Pagan festival of Samhain, which I really love.  Rather than being about all spooky things, it's about the end of the harvest and the beginning of the darker half of the year. I couldn't resist sending her a few cards this year - one for herself and two for friends. 

My first card features 'Bat Friends' by Conie Fong.  These guys are so adorable, I couldn't resist. 
Products used:

• Orange & black cardstock
• Gems
• Recollections designer paper 'Boo'
• ProMarkers - Cool Grey 1, 3, & 5, Indigo, Midnight, China, Cobalt, Mint, Lemon, Canary, Soft Lime, Tea Green, Walnut, Cocoa, Raw Sienna, Blush, Holly, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Tulip, Burnt Orange, Spice, Pumpkin, Amber, Gold, Apricot, Warm Grey 1-5 & Black
• Sakura Gelly Roll - white

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

1. Conie Fong Art & Design (FB) - Make It Spook-tacular
2. The Sketchy Challenges - #128 Halloween
3. The Ribbon Girl - October Any Image
4. Simon Says Wednesday - Photo Inspiration
5. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - October AG

My next card features 'White Witch' by The East Wind.  I love this image because she's far from what we grow up thinking a witch should look like. 

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• Recollections designer paper
• Recollections laser cut card, 'Ravenshead Manor' collection
• The Eyelet Outlet brads
• Recollections paper flowers
• Bronze card
• ProMarkers - Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blossom, Baby Pink, Almond, Umber, Walnut, Cocoa, Pine, Forest, Lush Green, Bright Green, Leaf Green, Meadow Green, Holly, Burnt Sienna, Cinnamon, Burnt Orang, Spice, Peach,  Soft Peach, Bright Orange & Amber
• Wink of Stella - Clear

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

1. The Crazy Challenge - #259 Halloween
2. The Crafty Addicts - AG/Autumn Colours
3. Passion for ProMarkers - WK417 AG
4. Not Just Cards - AG
5. Deep Ocean - #166 Halloween

My last card features 'Young Witch' by Aurora Wings.  This one is more like a 'traditional' witch with a pointy hat, but she's cute rather than warty with a crooked nose!!

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• Core'dinations card
• ProMarkers - Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Satin, Burgundy, Crimson, Berry, Olive, Moss, Pear, Black, Warm Grey 1, 2, 4 & 5, Henna, Aubergine, Slate, Violet, Cocoa, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Spice, Amber, Gold, Saffron, Vanilla, Blush, Sunflower, Canary, Khaki, Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Sandstone, Pine & Baby Pink
• Sakura Gelly Roll - White

I am entering this card into the following challenges -

1. Stamps by Aurora Wings - Darkness Falls
2. Addicted to CAS - Pumpkins
3. Card Mania - #97 Colour Combo
4. Crafting by Designs - It's Halloween
5. Crafty Gals Corner - #145 Halloween Colours

Beautiful Blooms at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's the second week of our special anniversary challenge at Ching-Chou Kuik.  I hope you've been joining in as there are extra prizes this month.  Check it out here.

This week we are using flowers for our inspiration posts and I have used 'Peony Kimono Maiden' and some bright colours. 

Product list:

• Cream card blank
• Recollections paper flowers
• Flower centres
• Woodware corner rounder punch
• ProMarkers - Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Oatmeal, Saffron, Vanilla, Henna, Cocoa, Cinnamon, Tan, Holly, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Pear, Mulberry, Magenta, Carmine, Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Slate, Plum, Amethyst, Black, Warm Grey 5, Sunflower, Tulip, Buttercup, China Blue, Cobalt, Blue Pearl & Amber

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Creatalicious - #124 AG
2. Creative Moments - #128 AG
3. Not Just Cards - AG
4. The Ribbon Girl - October Card Challenge
5. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #1741 AG

A Cautionary Tail

Oooh it's almost Halloween! My favourite time of year and a great excuse to break out the darker images. I love fantasy, so naturally mermaids are one of my often-used image types. These are mostly rather beautiful, cute, girly images though so not the best for a Halloween card.  But Mitzi at Aurora Wings is fantastic at darker images and she has some mermaids that are perfect for this genre. I've used 'Secret Kisses' coupled with a quote I found, which fitted the image perfectly. 
Product list:

• Cream card blank
• Core'dinations cardstock
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Stormy Sky & Dusty Concord
• Memento Dew Drop - Tuxedo Black
• ProMarkers - Aubergine, Plum, Purple, Black, Violet, China Blue, Blue Pearl, Cardinal, Ruby, Lipstick & Warm Grey 1-3
• Wink of Stella - Clear

It's always difficult showing the sparkle in a straight card photo, so I've taken an angled one in the light to show the Wink of Stella a bit better.  I applied all over her body and tail.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Stamps by Aurora Wings (FB) - Make It Creepy
2. Stamps by Aurora Wings - #58 CAS
3. CASology - WK270 Odd
4. The Ribbon Girl - October Card Challenge
5. Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
6. World Wide Open Design Team - #26 Anything Goes

A Cornucopia of Thanks

It's Thanksgiving Weekend here in Canada and unlike last year, we haven't had any snow yet. Yay!! (Hope I haven't just jinxed it)
I like to make a few cards so I've got them ready each year.  It's one time of year I make more than one card the same as I make them all together.
Unfortunately I cannot credit the artist for this image.  It is a free colouring page I found on Google a while ago. I looked again and have found it on several different sites, but none with the artist name.
Product list:

• Kraft card blanks & cardstock
• Recollections designer paper
• Orange ribbon
• Hero Arts clear stamp
• Memento Dew Drop, Tuxedo Black
• ProMarkers - Oops, seems I forgot to write them down this time 😳

I am entering my cards into the following challenges:

1. Crafting By Designs - October AG
2. Cute Card Thursday - #498 AG
3. Deep Ocean - #165 Colours of Autumn
4. Let's Craft and Create - #130 AG/Witchy or Autumn Colours
5. Your Scrapbook Place - October AG
6. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #1740 AG

Fright Night Celebration at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's an extra special month for the Ching-Chou Kuik Monthly Blog Challenge as it's the 3rd anniversary since it started!!

Our theme is Halloween/Fright Night so we'd love to see some spooky creations.  Click here to enter.  The usual rules apply (find them on the challenge sidebar) and don't forget you get a second entry when you use a CCK image. 

This time we will be having 3 WINNERS who will receive TWO images each, PLUS an ARTIST CHOICE WINNER who will receive FIVE images. 

I have used the very spooky Bones Imprint to create a shadow box for my first inspiration this month.  I fell in love with this image the first time I saw it, so I am keeping this creation for myself! My very talented friend Susan made the spiders for me from Fimo.  I added some red nail gems to make them into black widows.

Products used:

• White cardstock
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Dusty Concord
• Cheesecloth
• Fimo
• Teardrop nail gems
• ProMarkers - Caramel, Dusky Pink, Satin, Almond, Lavender, Orchid, Purple, Pale Pink, Violet, China Blue, Blue Pearl, Black, Lush Green, Mint Green, Sunkissed Pink, Pastel Pink, Warm Grey 4 & 5, Midnight Blue, Burgundy, Cardinal, Ruby, Lipstick, Holly, Leaf Green, Cool Grey 1-3 & 5, Aubergine, Plum & Amethyst

I am entering my shadow box into the following challenges:

1. Classic Design Team - #17 AG
2. World Wide Open Design Team - #26 AG
3. Simon Says Monday - A Walk On The Dark Side
4. Double D - Fright Night
5. TTCRD - WC Oct 3rd AG

October Challenge at Crafts Galore Encore

Eep how is it October already?  It's been so cold and dark in the mornings. I know snow will be falling here soon. 

This month at Crafts Galore Encore we are sponsored by the awesome Rick St.Dennis and as always we are Anything Goes.

I love a bit of Steampunk, so I chose 'Steampunk Rose Bug' to use for my card. There are so many images in the shop, I hadn't noticed this one until I saw someone else use it in another challenge. 

Product list:

• Kraft card blank
• Recollections designer paper
• ColorBox MICAMAGIC Antique Gold ink
• Papermania Chronology stamps
• Wow! embossing power, gold
• Whispers embossing pen
• Tonic Tim Holtz Paper Distresser
• Unbranded die
• ProMarkers - Pine, Olive, Forest, Moss, Burgundy, Cardinal, Ruby, Shale, Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Burnt Orange, Spice, Ginger, Blush, Walnut, Henna, Cocoa, Cinnamon, Caramel & Sandstone
• Sakura Gelly Roll, White

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. The Ribbon Girl - October Card Challenge
2. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - October AG
3. Classic Design Team - #17 AG
4. Creatalicious - #124 Anything Goes/Own Background
5. Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes
6. Sparkle and Glitter RSD - #5 Anything Goes