Cards in Envy - Icy Hot Challenge

This fortnight's challenge at Cards in Envy is Icy Hot, we want to see cards depicting something Icy Cold or Fiery Hot.  For example snow, snowman would be perfect for Icy Cold whilst anything to do with Summer, or the Devil etc would be a wonderful example of Fiery Hot.

For my card I went for Icy Cold, as the weather here at present is hot so we could do with some cooling down.

My card uses some old Stampin' Up Christmas Papers and a huge Glittered Snowflake.  My sentiment is from one of my Unity Stamp Co, KOTM Sets and reads 'Wishes from home to yours'.

Be sure to head over to the Cards in Envy Blog for more Hot and Cold inspiration from the rest of the DT and I can't wait to see which theme you choose.

My Heart Pieces Challenge - Use Squares or Circles

Hi Everyone, I hope you are all doing well!  It's time for another Challenge over at My Heart Pieces.  This fortnight we want to see you use either squares or circles on your creations.

I decided to go with Circles and have used a variety of them in my design.  Firstly the image - Ice Cream Cutie has been colored with my Tria Markers and then cut out with my spellbinders circle die.  I have layered the background with circles cut from one of my Echo Park Paper Scraps in both 1 3/4 inches and 1 inch size, and I have also cut spirals from the circles punched from a second patterned paper.  I think my hoping summer arrives here soon has me once again using lots of bright colors.

Buttons and my flowers also round out the circle theme.  A Sweet Birthday Wish Sentiment is from one of my Unity KOTM Sets.  

I do hope you will pop over to the My Heart Pieces Challenge Blog to see the lovely work from my fellow DT Members and also have the chance to play along with us this fortnight.

My Heart Pieces - Make Something Special for Someone!

This is my second post today - For the New Summer Release from Platypus Creek please scroll down to my previous post.

Things have changed a little over at My Heart Pieces Challenge Blog this month, instead of our challenges commencing on the 1st and 15th of the Month they will now be every second Thursday (fortnightly) from today!  Our new challenge this fortnight is to make something for someone special.  When choosing my image for this challenge I couldn't go past the Friends Forever Image as it reminded me of how much I miss having a coffee and good chat with one of my dear friends. We used to catch up on a regular basis but as life does it throws things in the way and we haven't done so in what seems like ages.

So with my friend in mind I made this card!

Digi Image:  Friends Forever from My Heart Pieces Digital Stamps

Sentiment Stamp:  Unity KOTM

Paper/Cardstock:  Stampin' Up!

Other:  Tria Markers, SU Ribbon, XL 2 Step Bird Punch, Brad and Handmade Flower.

I have definitely had a thing for the color blue of late.  My earlier post today was blue, and my card for my DT post tomorrow is too!  Anyway back to the challenge at hand.  I do hope you will join us and play along.  Don't forget to pop over to the Challenge blog for all the deets and a little inspiration from the wonderful DT.

A Strawberry Sweet Birthday Wish

My card today was created to join in the fun new challenges at Digi Haven, which is a new Challenge Blog especially for those lovers of Free Digital Images.

To play along with their very first challenge you are required to use a Freebie Forever Image ie.  A image that is offered by the creator for free on their site always, not just for a limited time period.

Image:  Strawberry from Jane's Doodles, Sentiment:  Unity KOTM

Paper/Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Real Red Cardstock, Paper unknown from Stash

Ink/Color:  Real Red Ink Stampin' Up! and Tria Markers.

Other:  Glossy Accents, Scallop Border Punch from Stampin' Up!

I went browsing for an image to use and came across this very sweet Strawberry on the site Jane's Doodles which I thought would go perfectly with the strawberry papers I have had in my stash for years.

I simply cut out the image twice, the first once I colored with my Tria Markers and then used glossy accents over the red flesh of the strawberry to give it some shine and dimension.  I cut the leaves and stem out from the second image , colored and used a pop dot to stick them over the leaves on the first image.

I hope you like my sweet card today.  If you would love to play along with the Digi Haven Challenge, they have a great list of sites who offer freebie digis on their blog, so be sure to pop over and take a look and while there check out all the wonderful inspiration from their DT too!

Other Challenges I have entered this card:

Clearly Inspired - Challenge #53 Fruity
Craft Punked - Happy Birthday/Celebration

Just My Style

Over the weekend, ATC's for All were hosting a ART-Athon which is basically where you can create any form of trading ART ie. ATC's, Chunky Pages, Book Marks, APC's etc.  I was able to find a few minutes here and there to create some ATC's to trade for this.  One of the chosen optional themes for the weekend was Ladies Fashion Accessories, so I created 3 Cards using the Just My Style Stamp Set by Darkroom Door and my If the Shoe Fits Itty Bitty Stamp by Unity.

I created the polka dot background using some punchinella and sponging over it with various colors.  My stamped images have been colored with Tria Markers.

This card I created with the latest challenge over at Fun with ATC's in mind.  I really love this sentiment and I am sure many of you can totally relate to it.  One of my fellow crafters could as it was traded within the first hour.

If I have time later this week, I will share some of my other ATC's I made and also my first ever Moo Cards which are smaller again and seem a very popular trading card on the site at the moment.

I am also entering these into the following ATC's Challenges

ATC's and Cards with Attitude - #14 Anything Goes

A 60th Birthday and a Christening Card

Firstly I want to say a big hello and thank you to all my new followers.  I joined a new networking/bloggers group this week and the response and friendliness of all the ladies has blown me away along with the wonderful creations and inspiration that I have found on all their blogs too.

I had another special order this week to create which was a 60th Birthday Card for the customers sister and a Christening Card for her grandson.  Here is what I ended up with.

The number sixty is from the Milestone Shaped Number Cards Cutting File Set from The Cutting Cafe.  I printed this and cut it out by hand,.  The papers/cardstock and stamps except for the Purple Polka Dot Paper are all Stampin' Up.  I made this into an Easel Card.

The Circular Sentiment Stamp is from Unity Stamps.  Once again my photo isn't the clearest.  It was taken at the same time as the card from yesterdays post, plus my camera never likes to show purples True to color.  For those of you familar with Stampin' Up Colors the Purples are Elegant Egg Plant, Orchid Opulence and Rich Razzleberry.

This card was made playing along with the following Challenges.

Cards and More - #56 Purple/White/Flowers

Crazy for Challenges - #C4C137 - Birthday Cards

Hooked on Crafts - #20 - Flowers

For the Christening Card I was going for a more CAS Style and Elegant look.  I used some Bazzill White embossed cardstock base with a touch of Blue.  I had a big blue satin ribbon in my stash so put this to use along with the blue bow and the butterfly bling.  The die cut frame housing the word Christening is from Spellbinders I simply cut off the bottom decorative edge.  I simply layered some blue punched ovals and circles behind this to add further color.  

This card I am entering into the following CAS Card Challenges:

Less is More:  #68 Baby Cards

Casual Fridays:  #CFC53 Punches and Dies

This week I have learned not to leave taking photos to the minute right before you are due to go out the door to deliver them to the customer.  What looked like a clear shot on the camera doesn't always turn out so once on the computer.   Thanks for stopping by I hope you are having a wonderful week.

Almost forgot - I have a question for you, What is Black and White and Yellow with lots of Polka Dots and high heels?

Have I got you stumped?  Be sure to pop back tomorrow to find out the answer!

PTT #64 - Colour/Picture Inspiration

This is my second post for today!  Please scroll down for my Magical Monday Post with Paper Cupcakes.

After undergoing two days of further medical examinations/procedures following his experiencing of chest pains, I am pleased to report that the results have come back clear for my hubby and they are showing no signs of anything seriously wrong with his heart.  He now has to follow up with his GP and may have to undergo some further tests to get to the bottom of it all, however the doctors have indicated it may have just been the result of the stressful few weeks we have just been through with the sudden death of his father and it may all settle down again after a few weeks. 

Anyway on with today's post!

This week at Party Time Tuesdays we have a fabulous color combo and photo inspiration for you all to play along with.  

Digi:  Ava Flowers by Bugaboo Digi Stamps, Sentiment:  Stampin' Up! Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Papers:  Echo Park, Stampin Up!, Colour/Ink:  Memento Black Tuxedo Ink and Tria Markers

Other:  Ribbon by Stampin' Up!  Petaloo Flowers, Roses from Stash, Circle and Scallop Circle Dies, XL Bird Punch by Stampin' Up!

I made a circle card, for Mother's Day inspired by the colours and the flowers to one side of the path in the inspiration photo.

The image 'Ava Flowers' which I used for my card today is from:

Our other sponsors joining us this week are:

To see the creations from all the Party Planners and for all the challenge details visit the Party Time Tuesdays Challenge Blog.  I do hope you will join us!

Magical Monday - Let's Get Acquainted

Its time for another Magical Monday with Paper Cupcakes over at There's Magic In the Air and this fortnight our fellow team member Shirley asked us all to get acquainted, and case a card from one of our fellow DT Members.  For those of you have been following me for some time, you know that I tend towards CAS Cards, so when I saw a recent card on Shirley's Blog using lots of layers I just knew this is the one I wanted to copy the design of.  I am really happy with how it turned out and all the colors together and the image is so fitting for today as it has been raining here for the past couple of days.

Digi:  April Showers from Paper Cupcakes

Papers:  Echo Park & Stampin' Up!

Colour:  Stampin' Up! Watercolour Pencils, 

Other:  Oval and Scallop Oval Dies, Crochet Flowers.

SHIRLEY'S CARD 

This is Shirley's Card I copied the design of.  You will find her blog post about this card here.

Nina is kindly offering the delightful image 'April Showers' which has been featured by the DT this fortnight  as this month's freebie, so be sure to grab it while you can. And don't forget that when you use a Paper Cupcakes image in any of our challenges you will be entered in the random prize draw twice.

So to get better acquainted with our DT and for all the other challenge details see this fortnight's Magical Monday Post over at TIMITA.

Cute as a Button!

I am loving the color combos over at Colour Combos Galore so couldn't pass up playing along with another one.  This is actually their challenge #220 from February however they were running late with posting it so it is open for entries until the end of March.   I so love the combination of pink and green so I actually made two cards using this inspiration board.

Flower Image - Unity KOTM, Sentiment - Stampin' Up!

Inks, Paper, Cardstock and Buttons are also from Stampin' Up!

Other:  Tria Markers to colour in petals and leaves.

Flower Stem Stamp from Stampin' Up, Ink:  Black Memento, Colour Tria Markers,

Paper:  Echo Park, Buttons from own Stash, EK Success Photo Corner Punch

Using similar colours I also took inspiration from this photo from the stem of the glass holding the flowers to use a flower stem stamps on both cards.  The tonal light and shade of the pinks of the flower petals on the first card and the green mat underneath the glass, translated into my sentiment panel at the bottom of the flower and the framing of both the sentiment and image with green on the first card and the grass on my second card.

Buttons and a CAS Design are all criteria from the challenges over at Stamptacular Sunday's and Paper Players this week hence these elements are also included in my cards today. 

Challenges Entered:

Colour Combos Galore - Inspiration Board #220

Stamptacular Sundays' - Challenge #155 Cute as a Button

Paper Players - Challenge #87 CAS with Buttons

Spring is in the Air - In the States that is!

I have been hearing for a while now from my friends in the States that Spring is in the Air, so I decided to use this as my inspiration for a card to send to a friend in the States to let her know I am thinking of her.  I thought that bright colours and a spring theme would be perfect to add a bit of sunshine to her day.   These bright colors also added some sunshine to my day, given we have experienced a very wet summer and Autumn has commenced in a similar fashion

Stamps:  Unity February 2012 KOTM, Papers"  Echo Park, Me & My Big Ideas

Ink:  Black Memento, SU Choc Chip, Tria Markers

Other:  Ribbon from 3 Girl Jam, Viva Decor Pearl Pen, Paper Flowers, Kaiser Bling.

The best part about using a Spring Theme meant I got to use brand new rubber.  Who doesn't love using new stamps.  My February Unity KOTM arrived about a week ago, the sentiment, the two brown rows of tulips and the framed sunflowers behind the picket fence are all from this latest kit.  This type of background is simple to do and a great way to use up your paper scraps, you simply layer strips in various colours and lengths.  To finish I went over the outline of the sunflowers with a yellow pearl pen to give some texture and shine and added some ribbon and two paper flowers.

I have entered this card into the following challenges:

Sweet Stamps - #57 Think Spring
Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 145 Say it With Flowers
CCEE Stampers - CCEE1210 - Flowers Flowers Flowers

I am off to the vet today and tomorrow.  Elwood is due for his yearly vaccination, whilst Felix and BB are due for their third and final vaccination as kittens.  I am interested to see how much weight they have both put on since being here, as they both seem to appear to be growing on a daily basis, and have very healthy appetites.

PTT #59 Monochromatic Challenge

This week it is all about Monochromatic Colour Schemes over at Party Time Tuesdays and I have another two cards to showcase our two fabulous weekly sponsors images.

This cute Easter Image is from

 

Whilst this adorable image is from 

 

We are also joined for all of March by 

  

Both cards I am sharing today are using Papers/Dew Drops from Robin's Nest and I have colored the images with my Tria Markers.  All other ribbon's flowers etc are from my ever growing stash.

To see more of the wonderful images from our three Digital Stamp Sponsors be sure to pop over to the Party Time Tuesdays Blog.  You will also find all the details about the challenge and how to link up your Monochromatic Project Entry.

A little bulk - A 365 Card Challenge

I spent the morning over at our other house today.  We have had the fireplace and flue renewed and I had arranged also to have a company come and give us a quote on carpets for the 3 bedrooms.  The new stainless steel flue and revamped fireplace look great but disappointingly the person coming to quote on the carpets didn't show, nor did they phone.  This sort of thing really annoys me, especially when I allowed them a four hour period in which they could come.  So needless to say I was needing to make a card this afternoon just to calm down.  I decided to play along with the Day 351 Adding a little Bulk Challenge over at 365 Cards in which you are required to use chipboard as the base of the decoration piece of your card.

For the bulky part of my card, I covered a die cut chipboard heart with a piece of die cut paper and layered this slightly offset over another heart cut from pink cardstock.  Some twine, a felt flower and my sentiment finished this decoration piece.

Love must be in the air given its was Valentine's Day earlier this week, and yesterday's post was a Wedding Card.  Today's card could be suitable for an engagement, anniversary or wedding celebration.

The cardstock colours are Stampin' Up's Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz and Pink Pirouette, the papers which are a great match are from Echo Park's Victorian Garden Collection.  I have to say I am really loving the Echo Park Range of Papers.

Well taking time out in my craft room this afternoon did help me calm down and it was probably a good thing to be thinking of a love themed card.  I will now have to ring and organize quotes for next week from some other companies.

I hope you are all having a great day whatever it is you are up to.

FWF - Sweet, Kind, Nice, Wonderful

Boy has this week flown, I've literally been all over the place this week both physically and mentally and didn't get much crafting done apart from attending our Terrific Tuesdays Craft Group's first day back for the year and making a Baby Card for a last minute order yesterday. Following a morning of shopping and because I am on dinner duty tonight I wanted to get a quick card made and catch up with all my Unity Friends for their Friday Friends With Flair so I have another CAS Card for you this week using the Inlaid Embossing Technique.

A QUICK HOW TO - IN LAID EMBOSSING

For my Inlaid Embossed Card I started with 3 Die Cut Hearts, a  Piece of White Cardstock (as my backing piece) and the "Entangled" embossing Folder.   You can use any punched or die cut shape, paper scraps or even stamped and coloured images to create your inlaid piece with your chosen embossing folder.

I simply positioned and stuck down my die cut hearts where I wanted them onto my white cardstock piece, and then ran this through the big shot machine using my Entangled Embossing Folder.

My 3 Die Cut Heats cut from floral paper positioned on the backing piece

Placing my piece in the embossing folder ready to emboss with the Big Shot

  

That completes the inlaid part.

To complete my card today, once embossed I took some red ink on a sponge dauber and highlighted the embossed pattern on my hearts, this covers up any white showing from the  papers core that I used for my hearts that  has been exposed by the embossing process.  I then simply mounted this white piece to my red cardstock base and added my stamped sentiments.

The circular words for my sentiment - 'You' and 'Are' are from my Unity November 2011 SMAK Kit whilst the 'Sweet, Kind, Nice, Wonderful' is from the January KOTM which I just received in the post yesterday.

There has been some exciting new stamp releases over on the Unity Site lately including some just being released today, so be sure to take a look and for more Unity Inspiration be sure to visit their blog and view the other FWF Creations this week.

I also created this card with the following challenges in mind.

365 Cards - Day 346 Spread the Word Challenge
Paper Sundays - #106 Clean and Simple
Cards for Men - Seeing Red

PTT#54 Valentines

This week we want you to join the party and create a Valentine's Day card or project for someone you love.  

Image:  Digi Doodle Shop

Papers:  Stampin' Up!

Flourish Rhinestones and Flowers ZVA Creative

Other:  Computer Generated Sentiment, Heart Rhinestones

There has been lots of love given this week at Party Time Tuesdays with four fabulous sponsors joining the fun. ZVA Creative provided our Party Planners with the most beautiful rhinestones and flowers whilst Wee Stamps and Digi Doodle Shop allowed us to showcase some of their adorable images.  So be sure to stop by the PTT Blog to see all the wonderful and inspiring creations from the team and for further details about this weeks wonderful sponsors.

I hope you will join us as I just know that I am going to love seeing all the wonderful love themed entries for our challenge this week.