Merry & Bright

I don't usually get Christmas cards started until November - I'm a terrible crafter, LOL. Summer holidays with the kids and all the birthdays I have to make for tend to take precedent there, so this year I am trying to get a few done at least. 

I am also trying to use images that I've had for a while and not used before, so for this card I have used 'Rooftop Party' from The Paper Shelter.  I think it was a freebie at the time I got it, but it's still available in the store.

I created a fun background of bright lights to go with the theme of the image and surrounded it with foliage for a sort of wreath. 

Products used:

• Card blank
• Plain & shiny cardstock
• Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament sentiment stamp
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Festive Greenery dies
• Stampendous Red Dragon embossing powder
• ProMarkers - Crimson, Poppy, Red, Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Black, Sandstone, Holly, Lush Green, Henna, Powder Blue, Walnut, Cocoa, Raw Sienna, Cinnamon, Gold, Sunflower, Cool Grey 1-5, Marine, Turquoise, Mint Green, Primrose, Soft Lime & Lemon
• Blue glitter gel pen

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. The Paper Shelter - #391 Holiday Time
2. TTCRD - WK9 July ATG
3. CCC Digi Creations - #105 Christmas In July
4. Creative Fingers - #168 ATG
5. Power Poppy - Do you need a little Christmas?

Butterflies at Ching-Chou Kuik

Eeep, it's already December! 2018 is just flying by... and mentioning flying... this month's challenge at the Ching-Chou Kuik blog is BUTTERFLIES OR INSECTS.  Flutter on over and link up your gorgeous creations here.

I have gone with butterflies and made an easel card using 'Aloha, Lady'.  For a change it's just a regular easel not a twisted easel!

Products used:

• Card blank
• Cardstock
• Graphic 45 'Flutter' designer paper
• Ribbon
• Papermania gems
• Sizzix Stampin' Up Embosslits 'Beautiful Wings' dies
• Little Claire Designs outline stickers
• Ranger Liquid Pearls - White Opal & Pewter
• ProMarkers - Burnt Sienna, Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Black, Cool Grey 5, Caramel, Yellow, Soft Lime, Cool Grey 1, Pine, Forest, Apple, Sunflower, Mustard, Mulberry, Fuchsia, Blossom, French Navy, Cobalt, Henna, Gold, Saddle Brown, Bright Orange, Pumpkin, Antique Pink, Duck Egg, Cool Aqua & Tea Green
• Prismacolor pencils

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Crafting By Designs - Holiday Anything Goes
2. Crafting With An Attitude - #46 Anything Goes
3. Crafty Catz - #440 Anything Goes
4. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - December ATG
5. Simon Says Monday - 'B' is For?
6. Classic Design Team - #12 Anything Goes

Purple Night at Ching-Chou Kuik

Hello all, are you getting back to normality after the summer break?  We're into the second week of our COLOURS OF FALL challenge at Ching-Chou Kuik and I hope you've enjoyed the inspiration so far.  Please enter here and be sure to also share your work in our Facebook group.

This week the team were given the theme PURPLICIOUS, which is great as it's my favourite colour.  I don't think the 'spooky' images should be reserved only for Halloween projects, so I've used 'Dark Moon' for a twisted easel friendship card.

Products used:

• Card blank
• Black cardstock
• Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Rectangles and Pendants dies
• Sizzix Tim Holtz script word dies
• Papermania gems
• ProMarkers - Lavender, Cool Grey 1, Slate, Pale Pink, Caramel, Dusky Pink, Satin, Black, Cool Grey 5, Putty, Lime Green, Aubergine, Plum, Purple, Violet, Lilac, Lavender, Moss, Burnt Sienna, Cinnamon & Raw Sienna
• Prismacolor pencils
• Silver Sakura Gelly Roll
• Clear Wink of Stella

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #1836 ATG
2. Brown Sugar - #282 All creatures great and small
3. CCC Digi Creations - #96 Use Pearls/Gems
4. Crafting With An Attitude - #43 ATG
5. Crafty Gals Corner - #174 3+ Layers

Spooky Reflections at Ching-Chou Kuik

Where is the summer going? It's already the last week of inspiration posts at Ching-Chou Kuik's challenge blog! Don't forget the theme this month is Under The Sea and you still have plenty of time to enter here.

This week Bonnie challenged the team to 'Let your light shine'.  I have made my first double twisted easel and used 'Blue Pumpkin' twice to create the effect of a reflection. 

Products used:

• Cardstock
• Ribbon
• Gems
• Sizzix Architectural Accent #3 die
• Sizzix Regal Labels dies
• ProMarkers - Soft Lime, Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Putty, Almond, Warm Grey 1-5, China Blue, Blue Pearl, Powder Blue, Black, Cool Grey 3-5, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Shale, Crimson, Lipstick, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Amber, Walnut, Cocoa, Raw Sienna, Forest Green, Leaf Green, Lemon, Canary, Prussian, Violet, Cobalt, Aubergine, Plum, Purple, Amethyst, Berry, Red, Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Sandstone, Holly, Bright Green, Apple & Leaf Green

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. A Perfect Time To Craft - #8 AG
2. TTCRD - 21 Aug AG
3. The Paper Shelter - #350 Digital Image
4. I ♥ ProMarkers  - #366 AG
5. Dream Valley - #184 Animals
6. World Wide Open Design Team - #8 AG

Under The Sea at Ching-Chou Kuik

Halfway through summer and we have a wonderful new challenge for you this month.  This one is perfect for all you mermaid-lovers.... UNDER THE SEA is our theme, so we'd like to see all your beautiful makes featuring everything oceanic.  You can enter the challenge here.

Don't forget we also have monthly challenges running in our Facebook Group.

I have made my very first bendy card using 'Floating Pearls', as I thought the shape would work perfectly with the theme. 

Products used:

• Cardstock
• Bubble die
• Shell border die
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Festive Greenery die
• ProMarkers - True Blue, Sky Blue, Arctic Blue, Powder Blue, Prussian, Violet, China Blue, Mulberry, Fuchsia, Black, Marine, Turquoise, Duck Egg & Cool Aqua
• White Sakura Gelly Roll

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. A Perfect Time To Craft - #8 AG
2. Classic Design Team Open - #8 AG
3. Colour Crazy - WK31 AG
4. Crafting With An Attitude - #42 AG
5. Creative Craft Cottage - #110 No patterned paper
6. If You Give a Crafter a Cookie - #100 Sealife
7. Passion For ProMarkers - WK456 Make it Feminine

Festive Bow

I like to mooch for inspiration on Pinterest and kept seeing these fantastic bow cards, so I had to try one for myself.   I actually made the bow a little while ago, but it got put aside for other things as I didn't really know what I wanted to do with it.
Being a fairly small space on the front, I figured a sprite would be the perfect image to use.  So finally I have finished it using 'Holiday Wreath Sprite' from Aurora Wings.

Products used:

• Recollections cardstock
• DoCrafts glitter card
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Festive Greenery dies
• Spellbinders Big Scalloped Oval die
• Distress Ink - Stormy Sky
• ProMarkers - Warm Grey 1&2, Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Almond, Indigo, True Blue, Cobalt, Arctic Blue, Berry Red, Holly, Lush Green, Pine, Forest, Burgundy, Cardinal, Gold, Canary, Cool Grey 1, 2&4, Moss & Bright Green
• Sakura Gelly Roll - White
• Prismacolor pencils

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Aurora Wings - Anything Goes
2. Get Creative - #71 Shaped Card
3. Simon Says Wednesday - AG
4. Passion For ProMarkers - WK454 Dies/Punches
5. Cut It Up - #153 Christmas In July
6. Crafty Gals Corner - #170 Christmas In July
7. Crafty Creations - #371 AG
8. Card Mania - #106 AG
9. Crafting By Designs - AG
10. C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #477 Christmas

Key of Love at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's the last week of inspiration projects for July at the Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge Blog, but you still have plenty of time to enter the challenge. 
Don't forget the theme is Thankyou or Sympathy and you can enter your creations here

This week Lozzy challenged the team to use embossing on our projects, so I used a couple of different folders for extra texture.   I have used the image 'Key of Love'.

Products used:

• Card blank
• Cardstock
• Lace
• Ribbon
• Square gems
• Petal Lu flowers
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Script dies 
• Embossalicious and Crafts Too embossing folders
• ProMarkers - Burnt Sienna, Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Satin, Rose Pink, Cocoa, Caramel, Burgundy, Burnt Orange, Mango, Berry, Pine, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Lipstick, Cardinal, Black, Cool Grey 5, Sky Blue, Arctic Blue, Powder Blue, Tulip, Warm Grey 3-5
• Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Spun Gold

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. TTCRD - 17-24 July AG
2. The Crafter's Cafe - #200 Lots of Layers
3. Let's Craft & Create - #139 AG/Red, White & Blue
4. Crafty Creations - #370 AG
5. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #1828 AG

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

Monochrome Thank You at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's week two of our challenge and inspiration posts at Ching-Chou Kuik's blog. The current theme is USE YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR and you can enter here.

This week the team were challenged to go Monochrome. I chose to use black and white as I did a coloured monochrome recently.
I used one of the newer grayscale images - 'The Fading Rose' - and added a bit more definition, as it printed pretty light.  
Products used:

• Card blank
• Embossalicious embossing folder
• Spellbinders nesting die 'Lattice Rectangle'
• Ribbon
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Celebration Script word dies
• Papermania gems
• ProMarkers - Black, Cool Grey 1-5

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Colour Crazy - WK14 Anything Goes
2. Crafts Galore Encore - #50 Anything Goes
3. I ♥ ProMarkers - #356 Monochrome
4. Simon Says Wednesday - Add Some Texture
5. A Perfect Time To Craft - #4 Anything Goes
6. Allsorts - WK462 Be There or Be Square

Easter or Spring at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's time for a brand new challenge at Ching-Chou Kuik's blog.  This month our theme is EASTER OR SPRING, so let's see some pretty makes. You can enter the challenge here.

I have gone a bit crazy with this one and chosen a fold I've never done before.  It opens out rather large and has lots of little panels to decorate.  I've seen them called Double-Display cards or Double Tri-Shutter cards. 

I have used the image 'Swing In Spring' with some gorgeous pastels in a purple, yellow and blue theme. I love this patterned paper and colour combo, it reminds me of spring floral fabric!

Products used:

• Papermania cardstock
• Recollections designer paper
• Sizzix Butterfly dies
• Flower dies
• Frame & scroll dies
• Ranger Liquid Pearls - Pewter
• ProMarkers - Tan, Sunkissed Pink, Putty, Almond, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Ginger, Sky Blue, Blue Pearl, Cocoa, Pine, Forest, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Gold, Mustard, Buttercup, Antique Pink, Warm Grey 1-3, Purple, Amethyst, Sunflower, Orchid, Cobalt, Arctic Blue & Powder Blue

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Creative Craft Cottage - #105 Make It Feminine
2. The Corrosive Challenge - #3 Anything Goes
3. Simon Says Wednesday - Girl Power
4. Power Poppy - Inspired by Fabric!
5. Let's Craft and Create - #135 Anything Goes
6. I ♥ ProMarkers - #354 For A Girl

Ribbon Love Birthday at Conie Fong

How is it March already?  I've been away from blogging a little while as am super-busy with a new business! (click the link on my sidebar for more info on that 😉)

I'm excited to be back here today with a bonus project for Conie Fong Art & Design.  The brand new image 'Emma Rose' was actually created in February when I was still guest designing, but she's only just been released into the shop. 

I've used some fabric inspiration to create a background with my new ribbons. First time I've done this... doesn't it look awesome?!

I've used the spotlight technique for the first time too and I think it turned out pretty good.

Products used:

• White card black
• Black & red card
• Assorted ribbon
• X-Cut Scalloped Heart nesting die
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Celebration Script word die
• Papermania Shimmer Dots
• ProMarkers - Cool Grey 1-5 Black, Aubergine, Slate, Violet, Crimson, Ruby, Berry, Orchid, Amethyst, Blue Pearl, Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Satin, Caramel, Sandstone, Denim & Powder Blue

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes
2. Let's Craft & Create - #135 Anything Goes
3. Power Poppy - Inspired by Fabric!
4. CCC Digi Creations - #90 For The Girls
5. Crafty Catz - #406 Anything Goes
6. Allsorts - WK457 Ladies Only