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?

Mermaid Friends

I can never get enough mermaids, in all different styles, so I couldn't pass up a too cute freebie from Tiddly Inks for their latest challenge. 

Google is often my go-to for quotes and it rarely disappoints... what do you think? Perfect quote in my opinion.

Products used:

• Card blank
• Distress Ink - Peacock Feathers
• Distress Oxides - Cracked Pistachio & Broken China
• Brads
• Stampendous Fran·tage - Aged Ivory
• Wavy background die
• Small fish dies
• ProMarkers - Sunkissed Pink, Oatmeal, Blush, Ivory, Marine, Turquoise, Mint Green, Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Raw Sienna, Gold, Sunflower, Saddle Brown, Pastel Pink & Putty
• Prismacolor pencil - Cloud Blue
• Posca paint pen - white

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Tiddly Inks - #224 Showcase
2. Creative Fingers - #162 ATG
3. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #104 ATG
4. Cupcake Inspirations - #468 Inspirational Quotes

Ribbons Galore at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's another week and another inspiration project for Ching-Chou Kuik.   Our theme this month is Butterflies/Insects and you can enter here.

This week the team were challenged to use ribbons on our projects and I have used 'Jewelry Keeper' from the 'Beautiful Tails Mermaid Set' to create a Z-Fold card.

Products used:

• Card blank
• Coloured cardstock
• Fancy oval die
• Assorted ribbons
• Sequins
• Recollections Pearl embossing powder - Sapphire
• Crafter's Companion clear stamp sentiment
• ProMarkers - Coral, Dusky Pink, Putty, Satin, Violet, Lilac, Lavender, Burgundy, Cardinal, Red, Ruby, Indigo, French Navy, Duck Egg, Raw Sienna, Gold, Sunflower, Marine, Turquoise & Mint Green
• Prismacolor Pencils
• Sakura Gelly Roll - White

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Classic Design Team - #12 ATG
2. Crafting With An Attitude - #46 ATG
3. Crafty Creations - #380 ATG
4. I ♥ ProMarkers - #374 ATG/Ribbon or Bow
5. A Perfect Time to Craft - #12 ATG

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

Pocket Fairy at Ching-Chou Kuik

We're coming to the end of our ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE challenge at Ching-Chou Kuik's Blog.  There's still time to enter your creations here though.

This week the design team were challenged to Take A Seat.  I have used 'Toadstool Fairy' to create a bookmark card.  I saw these on Pinterest a while ago, so thought it was about time to try one.  I thought a sitting image was perfect to go with a bookmark, as generally you sit while reading.  The sentiment is also great for a bookworm.
The whole card is 2"x6", so you can tell how tiny the image is!!

Products used:

• Brown, yellow & yellow-orange cardstock
• Ribbon
• X-Cut nesting dies - Square Parenthesis
• Recollections clear stamp
• Wow! embossing powder - gold
• Distress Ink - clear embossing
• Ranger Stickles - Platinum
• ProMarkers - Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Satin, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Henna, Caramel, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Amber, Gold, Sunflower, Cocoa, Olive, Moss, Pear, Pine, Soft Lime, Blue Pearl, Baby Pink, Lavender, True Blue, Sky Blue & Arctic Blue

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Digi Choosday - WK8 Anything Goes
2. Dream Valley - #173 Things With Wings
3. Creative Fingers - #142 Anything Goes
4. A Bit More Time To Craft - #62 Anything Goes
5. The Corrosive Challenge - #2 Anything Goes
6. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #76 Anything Goes

Tinkles By Light

Eep, I'm so excited you don't even know.  My wonderful friend, Susan, bought me a Make It Crafty voucher for my birthday so I could get some of their new chippies; well the post being slow as it is, meant I've only just received them after a month of waiting. Thankfully this meant I could get my card finished on time to enter the challenge again. 
I'm definitely going to get more of these chippies as they are so versatile and Zoe has just added even more to the store!!
For my image I combined 'Tinkles' and 'Cold By Light' to create a chilly winter scene. I couldn't resist covering the scene with Fran•táge to the tune of 'Let It Snow' lol.

Product list:

• Kraft card
• Dovecraft 'A Krafty Christmas' designer paper
• Snowflake charm
• Make It Crafty chippies - Christmas word, Happy Adapt-a-Word & Twinkling Swoosh
• Ribbon
• Personal Impressions Red Super Sparkle embossing powder
• Stampendous Fran•táge  - Aged Ivory
• ProMarkers - Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Almond, Rose Pink, Black, Cool Grey 1-5, Holly, Lush Green, Mint Green, Shale, Crimson, Berry, Lipstick, Burnt Orange, Amber, Gold, Canary, Soft Lime, Walnut, Cocoa, Raw Sienna, Powder Blue, China Blue, Blue Pearl, Pine, Forest, Apple & Midnight Blue

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Make It Crafty - Glow
2. Not Just Cards - November Anything Goes
3. Allsorts - WK443 Inspired by Christmas Carol or Winter Themed Song (Let It Snow)
4. Inspiration Destination - #138 Anything Goes
5. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - November AG
6. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - #361 Anything Goes

Glow Like Christmas

After joining in with the Make It Crafty Secret Santa, I couldn't resist getting some more images and creating something for the new challenge. I'm on my way to getting all my Christmas cards done, but you can never have too many!

The challenge theme is 'Glow' so I've used 'Front Door Wreath' as it has lanterns, candles and windowpanes which are perfect for the challenge. 

I've made a CAS card, as with larger images I like that to be the focal point. 

Products used:

• Kraft card blank
• Black cardstock
• Clear stamp sentiment
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Ink
• WOW! Gold embossing powder
• ProMarkers - Warm Grey 2-5, Cool Grey 4 & 5, Amber, Sunflower, Tulip, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Soft Lime, Shale, Burgundy, Cardinal, Ruby, Holly, Moss, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Raw Sienna, Walnut & Cocoa

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Make It Crafty - Glow
2. Beccy's Challenges - November Month of Holiday Cards
3. The Ribbon Girl - November Any Image
4. Crafty Awesomeness - November/December AG
5. CRAFT - #442 Christmas
6. Addicted to CAS - #124 Bows
7. Star In My Pocket - Use a Digi Image

Bright Lilies at Ching-Chou Kuik

Already the second week of September. Have your little ones settled back into a routine yet? It's been very quiet around here with my son at school full-time now. 
If you haven't had a look over at the Ching-Chou Kuik Challenge and Inspiration Blog, what are you waiting for? Our theme this month is Fall/Fall Colours/Pumpkins and you can enter here.

The theme for the design team this week is 'Make Your Own Background' so I've gone and made two!  Firstly, the background of the image (Dark Lilies) - I wanted to create a bit of a stormy-looking sky here.  Then the card background - I have used a stencil with Distress Ink then some gold embossing. 

Products used:

• Papermania cardstock
• Leaf stencil
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Forest Moss
• Whispers Embossing Pen
• Wow! Gold embossing powder
• Orange ribbon
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Celebration Script words dies
• ProMarkers - I'll be honest, I coloured this one a little while ago and forgot to write down what I used!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. The Paper Shelter - #309 Embossing
2. Classic Design Team - #17 Anything Goes
3. Digi Choosday - WK37 Anything Goes
4. Passion For ProMarkers - WK412 Let It Shine

Time Flies

I've been meaning to try the emboss-resist technique for some time but just hadn't done it, even though I got a new heat tool a few months ago! The new challenge of create your own background at the Ching-Chou Kuik Facebook group kicked me into gear though and I finally gave it a go. I've also coloured a background around the image to emulate old paper. 

Product list: 

• Digtal Stamp 'Time Flies' by Ching-Chou Kuik
• Kraft card blank
• Papermania Chronology stamps
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inks
• Ranger Pigment Ink 
• Metal gears and brads
• Cosmic Shimmer extra thick clear embossing crystals
• Anita's 3D Gloss
• Outline stickers
• ProMarkers - Umber, Khaki, Pastel Beige, Satin, Walnut, Cocoa, Cinnamon, Black, Pastel Pink, Burnt Sienna, Tan, Pine, Olive, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Cardinal, Ruby, Lipstick, French Navy, Aegean, Blue Pearl, Sunflower, Burgundy, Warm Grey 1, Raw Sienna, Tulip, Canary, Lemon, Shale, Cool Grey 4 & 5 and Caramel

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps (FB) - Create A Background
2. Simon Monday - Touchy Feely
3. Simon Wednesday - Emboss It
4. Sparkles Monthly - #93 Embossing heat or dry
5. Fab 'n' Funky - #355 Vintage
6. Not Just Cards - #45 Anything Goes
7. Open-Minded Crafting Fun #18 Just About Time in June
8. Crafty Gals Corner - #127 Vintage
9. Creative Moments - #120 AG
10. Crafting by Designs - Things With Wings
11. A Bit More Time To Craft - #46 AG

March Challenge GDT at Ching-Chou Kuik

I was lucky enough to win a GDT spot over at Ching-Chou Kuik's Challenge Blog. I love her images, they're always so beautifully detailed.  The theme this month is 'Easter/Spring' so I chose 'Garden Daisy Fairy'. 
I finally bought a heat tool after having to leave mine in the UK when I moved to Canada. It was such fun to do some heat embossing again. I've also coloured a background using techniques learnt at Kit & Clowder. 
Products I have used to create my card:

• Card blank and pearls from my stash
• Heat It Up! gold embossing powder
• Whispers embossing pen
• StazOn black ink
• Indigo Blu clear stamps
• Ranger Stickles
• ProMarkers - Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Oatmeal, Saffron, Rose Pink, Cocoa, Cinnamon, Tan, Walnut, Raw Sienna, Gold, Mustard, Warm Grey 1 & 2, Forest, Moss, Pear, Caramel, Sandstone, Vanilla, Apricot, Plum, Purple, Tulip Orchid, French Navy, Aegean, Cyan, Olive, Powder Blue, Soft Peach, Lilac, Sky Blue, Arctic Blue, Blossom, Buttercup & Bright Orange.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Love to Scrap - #95 AG
2. Open-Minded Crafting Fun - #14 Flowering in February
3. Pearly Sparkles - #14 Flowers
4. The Crafter's Cafe - #168 CAS
5. Crafty Catz - #359 AG/twist Thoughts of Spring
6. Creative Fingers - #125 AG
7. Cute Card Thursday - #466 Florals
8. Glitter 'N' Sparkle - #228 AG
9. House of Cards - Make a Scene
10. Classic Design Team Open - #12 AG
11. Crafty Awesomeness - March AG
12. A Perfect Time to Craft - #3 AG

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge: #91 Pick Three Different Techniques

This challenge required the choice of three techniques from a list.  I have chosen heat embossing, distressing and masking. 
I took some Core'dinations ColorCore card and tore roughly to fit my card.  I then screwed it up, unfolded it and sandpapered it for a distressed look before sticking it to the card. 
Next I cut an oval from some white card and stamped three cupcakes onto it.  I then masked these and stamped two more 'behind'.  I coloured these with watercolour pencils. 
I used an embossing pen to mark the edge of the oval and heat embossed with silver, then stuck it to the card.  The final touches were some heat embossed silver flowers and a couple of strawberries. 
http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.it/2013/05/91-pick-three-different-techniques-read.html