Day of the Dead Birthday Twist

Well I actually had this card made for a while, but I was waiting to post it.  I made it for my Mum's birthday - she shares my love of skulls, so Aurora Wings' 'Day of the Dead Sprite' was just perfect.  

If you follow me you will know how much I love twisted easels. There's just something about them - impressive to look at, but so easy to make.  

Products used:

• Card blank
• Cardstock
• Patterned paper
• Recollections gems
• Leather thread
• Skull beads
• Stitched hill dies
• Petal Lu flowers
• ProMarkers - Warm Grey 1-5, Black, Shale, Crimson, Berry, Lipstick, Indigo, French Navy, Aegean, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Sunflower, Canary & Lemon
• Sakura Gelly Rolls - Blue Star, Metallic Silver & White

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Stamps by Aurora Wings - Sprite Delight V 
2. Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes
3. World Wide Open Design Team - #3 Anything Goes
4. A Perfect Time To Craft - #4 Anything Goes
5. Classic Design Team Open - #24 Anything Goes
6. Love To Scrap - #108 April Showers Bring May Flowers
7. Crafts Galore Encore - #50 Anything Goes

Mermaid Friendship

I am one of those guilty of having many images that I haven't used yet.  You win some then you win some more, but you have birthday cards and Christmas cards and DT cards to make and before you know it month's have gone by!

I really fancied making a shaker card, so decided to use the beautiful 'Lilies Commitment' from Ching-Chou Kuik that I won a while ago.  Lilies are my favourite flower and I thought this image would work well as a friendship card. 

I started by colouring the image and fussy-cutting, then decided on a 5x7 card which I made from 350gsm white cardstock.  I cut a slightly smaller piece of dark blue GlitterSilk card to serve as the front of the shaker.  I positioned my image and sentiment to decide where to die cut a circle for the shaker portion. Once the circle was cut I placed it over the card base and pencilled in where it would be.  I coloured the base card with a matching ProMarker to serve as a background for the shaker window. 

I then glued a circle of acetate to the window and added 3D foam tape around all the edges.   I put all my sequins and pearls within the coloured portion of the base card before adhering the window card.  

I finished off by attaching the image and sentiment, plus some silver net and shells.

Product list:

• White cardstock
• Dark Blue Core'dinations GlitterSilk
• X-Cut circle die
• 3D foam tape
• Cuttlebug acetate
• Silver net
• Pearls
• Sequins (Walmart)
• Shells (Michaels)
• ProMarkers - Burnt Sienna, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush, Burgundy, Mango, Soft Peach, Pine, Apple, Pumpkin, Amber, Olive, Pear, Black, Ginger, Saffron, Oatmeal, Mint, Tea Green, Sky Blue, Arctic Blue & Powder Blue

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #56 AG
2. Pile It On - #129 Interactive and/or Birthday
3. Work It Wednesday - March AG Spring
4. The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog - #171 Easter and/or Spring
5. TTCRD - AG WK 18th April
6. World Wide Open Design Team - #21 AG
7. Ching-Chou Kuik Blog - April Under The Sea
8. Crafting By Designs - Girls or Flowers
9. A Perfect Time To Craft - #4 AG
10. CCC Digi Creations - #71 Add Some Glitter
11. Ching-Chou Kuik Facebook - April Spring is in the Air

Winter Wonderland ~ with 4 Crafty Chicks

As November draws to a close it's my final guest post over at 4 Crafty Chicks. The challenge this week (#326) is Winter Wonderland. I just had to get this wonderful image from Bugaboo Digi Stamps called 'Sign It Snow Friends'.  This one is great as comes with a frame that you can add your own sentiment to like I have. I used 'ShellaHerra' from FontBundles (I'm slightly addicted to fonts, but that's another story!)

As there's a lot going on with the image and sentiment I kept the card pretty CAS, apart from some sparkly snowflakes.

Products used:

• Card blank from my stash
• Core'dinations Glittersilk card
• Sizzix Sizzlits Snowflakes #5 & #8
• Wink of Stella Clear
• ProMarkers - Cool Greay 1-5, Blush, Raw Sienna, Cocoa, Walnut, Cardinal, Ruby, Burnt Sienna, Gold, Tulip, Buttercup, Pine, Forest, Bright Green, Burnt Orange, Bright Orange, Peach, Lipstick, Berry, Crimson, Cyan, Duck Egg & Cool Aqua

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

1. Sparkles Monthly - #86 Christmas is Coming
2. The Crafter's Cafe - #161 Christmas Comes Early
3. Unicorn Challenge - #15 Snow/Snowflakes
4. World Wide Open Design Team - #16 AG
5. Crafty Creations - #329 Christmas
6. I ♥ ProMarkers - #322 No Patterned Papers 
7. Inspiration Destination - #113 AG
8. Just Keep On Creating - November AG
9. Simon Says Wednesday - Christmas to Die For!
10. Craft Rocket - #29 Winter Time
11. Craft Your Passion - #339 AG
12. Crafting By Designs - Get Ready For Christmas Nov Edition

Fabric ~ with 4 Crafty Chicks

Doesn't time fly when you're having fun?! Already week 3 of my Guest Designer spot at 4 Crafty Chicks.  The challenge this week (#325) is Fabric.   

As soon as I saw that I knew I had to make a dress.  I had some lovely fabric in my stash which I knew would be perfect for this theme. It has been a while since I made a card with no digital image, so it was really nice to give myself a break from colouring. 

Products I have used to create my card:

• Kraft card blank and laser-cut paper pad from Michaels
• DoCrafts red glitter card, gem and outline sticker
• Ribbon, pearls and 3D foam pads from my stash
• Yellow Stickles

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. World Wide Open Design Team - #16 AG
2. Glitter 'n' Sparkle - #214 AG
3. Deep Ocean - #142 Inspired by Song or Movie (Lady In Red)
4. 613 Avenue Create - #191 AG
5. Come and Get It - Ribbon or Twine
6. Craft Your Passion - #338 AG
7. Creative Fingers - #120 AG

Vintage ~ with 4 Crafty Chicks

It's my second week with 4 Crafty Chicks and for this challenge (#324) the theme is Vintage.  

I already had the gorgeous Savannah Belle from KennyK Stamps coloured up, but I didn't know what to do with her at the time. Seems I was saving her for this challenge! I have recently been getting into canvases so decided I would make something for myself as I cannot bear to part with this image...lol.

I started with using Distress Inks and a stencil to colour the whole canvas, then Texture Paste with a different stencil on the left side.  Once that was dry I inked over again to make the texture stand out. I added some vintage lace down the left-hand side, then attached a key to some twine and glued next to the lace. I attached the image plus some flowers with brads in the centre. I finished off with some black pearls in the top-right corner and some more twine for hanging. 
Products I have used to create my canvas:

• Canvas, flowers, key, stencils & black/white twine from Michaels
• Jute twine, pearls & brads from my stash
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Dried Marigold, Vinntage Photo & Walnut Stain
• Ranger Texture Paste
• Vintage Lace from Normas Treasures on Etsy
• ProMarkers - Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush, Rose Pink, Cocoa, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Gold, Indigo, True Blue, Cobalt, Mustard, Sky Blue, Arctic Blue, Caramel, Sandstone, Black, Cool Grey 1-5, Dusky Pink, Satin & Walnut

I am entering my canvas into the following challenges:

1. TTCRD - AG w/c 8th Nov
2. Get Creative - #51 AG
3. Pearly Sparkles - #10 AG
4. Crafty Awesomeness - Nov AG
5. Crafting with an Attitude - #21 AG
6. Classic Design Team Open - #8 AG
7. Craft Your Passion - #337 AG
8. 613 Avenue Create - #191 AG