Seeing double?

As we have 5 Thursdays in May, and this one being the fifth we have a special challenge for you from CAS -Colours and Sketches which we call 'the double'.  This time you get a sketch and the colours combined. Here they are:

I think I chose quite a difficult stamp set for this challenge and it didn't quite turn out as I had hoped but here is my card - another one for Christmas!

 I've used mirri card, which is almost the same shade as Real Red, for the centre circle mat. I think the images could have been placed better, as only the top right one is in the correct place - the others are too far over towards the centre. My only excuse is that I really didn't have time to make another one, as I'm actually away on holiday right now! Don't worry I will be visiting your blogs and commenting as soon as I get back and I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do with 'The Double'.

Inspirational Sketch Too

This is my second post for the challenge at Inkspirational Challenges - OK so first I don't enter and then I enter two cards! But, this sketch is a variation on my all time favourite design so once I started.....
The second card uses the nine square idea but I've gone a bit out of the box - see what you think..

These butterflies are nearly flying off the page! I marked where I wanted them and stamped the bodies, then stamped and punch out the wings in shades of Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit and Peach Parfait. I've added some stick on brads and the sentiment is from Happiest Birthday Wishes. I've stamped inside too, see..

Shutting down now and clearing away to go on holiday.  Back in a week or so, Happy Crafting!

Inkspirational Sketch

Two cards from me today, both for the same challenge and both quite different.  I used the sketch over at Inkspirational Challenges and this is the first time I think I've managed to create a card for this challenge, although I always look at it because there really is so much inkspriration!

My first card is almost a straight lift from the sketch and I've used it to showcase some fabulous DP from SU called Birds of a Feather.

 Not sure if this challenge accepts cards with just papers so I've stamped some tiny flowers in Midnight muse and added a little gem to the centres and a hand doodled border.  There wasn't any room for a sentiment so I've stamped that inside.
Love the way these squares fit together, I couldn't make them smaller or some of the birds would not have been recognisable- I particularly like that big, fat one in the middle!

A Little Twine Tree

For our last challenge of the month we have an embellishment challenge and I was so thrilled when I saw this one because you will know that I am a big fan of TWINE!

However, I usually tie it around my card, or make small bows (and there's nothing wrong with that!) but I wanted to go all out on this one and so, cruising around I came upon a technique where you make a twine panel and stick it behind an aperture. I knew I could adapt this for the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge, even if I didn't have a Christmas tree die cut. Here's my little twine tree....

and here's my card

I stamped the tree from Season Of Joy three times and cut out the central one with my craft knife. I stuck the green twine onto double sided tape before adding a dark green mat. I added a little more twine around the panel (you can surely never have enough twine on a Christmas card) and made a pop up banner in the same dark green, with a fussy cut sentiment from Sassy Salutations.  A few gems to add some sparkle and I'm pretty pleased with myself! I'm going to pop it into the challenge at Winter Wonderland where the challenge is 'All Tied Up'.

Swallowtail 2

It is a sketch week at CAS-Colours and Sketches and this one is a real classic. I think you will agree, it's very clean and simple.

This, in my opinion, needs a strong image and I think I know just the one for me - my new Swallowtail stamp. I've also used the colour challenge at Lexi's Creations  for a very classic colour combination -black, white and a pop of red-see what you think (I've just photographed it on a green background -that's not part of my card, as you can see from the nest pic!)

 I stamped the butterfly in white onto black cs and then used my white gel pen to add detail and make it stand out more.  A hand-doodled frame centres the off-the-page image. I matted this onto white cs which I die cut  with my Edgelits to make the scalloped edge. I used a black card base, and a strip of red cs for the banner, onto which I stamped a sentiment from Happiest Birthday Wishes and added some red bling. For balance I've added a little red bow.

Make a Meadow

There seems to be a lot of green challenges around - may be everyone in the Northern hemisphere is feeling that spring is really here. At Make My Monday this week the green is paired with yellow. I have also used white as my neutral, not much of it so I hope it's OK

 Today, whilst checking on my two horses, Rio and Buttons, I had the time to sit with them in the field and, in the (fairly) warm afternoon sun I noticed the flowers in the meadow. I started to plan this card - a green field filled with white daisies and yellow buttercups, so when I came home I started straight away.

My grass is sponged in Lucky Limeade, and the daisies were made with a white gel pen, whilst the buttercups are tiny dots of yellow paint.

My big daisy flower ( yes, I know it's not white, but through trial and error I liked this combination best) is from SU Decorate a Daisy stamp set.  My friend showed me a trick to stamp two in different colours and then cut out and layer them up.  I just love the sentiment from this set, which I've used in the centre of the flower. I've added a little butterfly, just cruising through the meadow.

  Not sure what Rio and Buttons would make of this interpretation of their field - I've got a feeling that they just like to munch on the daisies!

Hello Beautiful!

You will know that I am a cat lover, with the pictures of my three furbabies on here, but I do love all animals and so when I saw the theme at Less Is More I couldn't be happier - cats and/or dogs! I am sure there are a dozen different cards I could have made but this one came into being this morning, I think I'm just in that kind of mood!

This little chap is from an Inkadoodles set called Paisley Pets (not quite sure why he would be a Paisley Pet but...)and it was one of the first stamp sets I got, though I haven't used him before. Aren't his little ears and big, droopy jowls adorable?  I stamped him and coloured him in with my Promarkers, adding a single gem on his name tag. I just wanted the pop of red from his collar. The sentiment is hand doodled. Never quite sure about my writing on a card (one reason I don't scrapbook is that I don't like my handwriting for the journaling bits) but here I think it's OK .have a closer look.

If I had been more confident I would have gone one-layer, but I'm more than happy with the way this turned out!

Candy Cane Christmas

Don't these candy canes look yummy? They are for the theme challenge this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown, can you guess it.....

Yes, you're right, it's candies and sweeties for the holidays! I paper pieced these little canes from a die cut and added little red twine bows. I chose the DP to look like the Christmas tree, so that they could be 'tied' on.  Some sparkly glitter card adds a bit of bling and I added one more stamped candy cane with the sentiment.  It's a kind of fun card and I am going to pop in into the challenge at Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge, where Hazel wants to see card with festive food and/or drink.

I am sure that you can think of all sorts of different sweet treats, my favourite would be chocolate covered cherries filled with kirsch but I don't mind the odd sugared almond or candy cane and I love the look of marzipan fruits, although I don't like to eat marzipan. Whatever your favourite is, I'd love to see it on your card or creation!

Stars and Plaid

Wow!  Three posts from me in one day!  Don't know if I've ever done that before, but I just wanted to squeeze into the draw at Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge with a card that I made using the sketch fromMerry Monday Christmas Card Challenge.  Here is the sketch:

For my card I chose a red and gold theme with lots of stars and dimension (no use trying to send this one in the mail!)

I used a stamp from the Ornament Keepsake set, stamped it 5 times and layered it together to make the 3D ornament.  I die cut one large and three small stars from mirri card and used some of my lovely plaid DP.There are even some stars on the ornament!

Back with another Christmas Card tomorrow, something quite different!

Bloomin' Marvellous

Second post for today, I am really enjoying my afternoon! This card really is CAS and it's for the challenge at Casology, where the cue word is Bloom.  That had me reaching for a stamp set called Bloomin Marvelous and this is what I came up with

 I said earlier this week that I find flowers difficult, not because I don't like them, I love flowers and am most happy when there are flowers in the house and in the garden, but sometimes I think flower cards remind me of my old gran, if you know what I mean! I intended a very fresh, modern approach and I'm happy I've achieved that. Here are my flowers, stamped in Primrose Petals.

I measured and masked off the centre of my card blank, stamped some leaves from the same set and then stamped three blooms on more CS before fussy cutting them and adding some tiny bling centres. Wouldn't this make a nice card for someone who's received some really good news!

Swallowtail -my first attempt

I unexpectedly find myself at home this afternoon with a couple of hours spare.  I wonder what I could do....
Here I am a little while later and of course I have something to show you

I have just got this stamp and it's so big and so gorgeous and I so had to use it as soon as possible! I have looked around and there are some fantastic makes with this SU swallowtail butterfly.  This one is mine and it was inspired by the challenge this week at Cas-ual Fridays where you should stamp on DP.  The butterfly was stamped onto two pieces of DP, one in black, and one in white, and heat embossed. Then I snipped part of the white wing out and paper pieced it onto the black. The sentiment is from an old set (nothing wrong with that!) and was perfect for this.  I made a paper banner out of more DP and used a coloured card blank.
I think I will be doing some more with this stamp, it is just too amazing for words!!

Feel Better Flowers

Time for a lovely colour challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches and look what we've got for you to play with this week....

Calypso Coral is becoming a favourite for me and I really enjoyed creating my card with these three colours. Remember they don't have to be exact SU colours, just the nearest you have and one other neutral only (plus black for stamped image outlines if you like) I chose cream as my neutral card base made from Naturals Ivory card stock.

I used a stamp set called Stippled Blossoms.  I'm not always in my comfort zone with flowers, but this two-step stamp set makes it easy. I used some stamped off images too, to give shades of the Calypso Coral and Certain Celery and the sentiment is from Sassy Salutations. I have stamped some more green leaves inside the card too (honestly!).

Happy Birthday Mynnette

Today is the birthday of one lovely lady!  Now, I've never met her but she's a good friend to me and so many other bloggers around the world and we want to say Happy Birthday Mynnette!To celebrate at Technique Time Tuesday we are having a Birthday Blog Hop and to have a chance to win some BLOG CANDY, here is the blog list for you.

• Technique Time Tuesday 
• Ellen In a World of Craft
• Karen  Simply Frenzied
• Die amelie VonPappe II
• Louise Cats Cards and Cupcakes (you are here)
• Karen P stamping in pINK
• Rocky Rocky's Crafting Blog
• Hayley Hayley's Paper Garden
• Nancy The Trinket Collector
• Julz Ribbons & Julz
• Tracey Serene Stamper
• Katy I Like to Cut and Paste
• Adrienne Crist - www.paperdivascraps@gmail.com
• Oh yes a blog hop with birthday cards for Mynnette and, of course, BLOG CANDY for one lucky winner! 

In order to have a chance to win, you need to visit each blog and leave a comment on each one, including this one. You will have until 5:00 PM EST on Thursday May 16th to leave your comment. One of the sites will be randomly chosen and we will randomly choose a winner from the comments on that site, using Random.org.  The winner will be posted Friday May 17th! 
Now, don’t forget to WISH MYNNETTE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY over at Technique Time Tuesday and be sure to check back on Friday for the winner of the blog candy!
Winner will have one (1) week to get in touch  to claim your prize.

Here is my card for Mynnette

Now, I didn't read the rules properly for the DT ( no real surprise there then!) and I forgot to use a recent technique from the blog. I love this card so much that I really want to give it to Mynnette, so I hope she'll forgive me.  It is a technique which I think always gives fab results - triple time stamping. I borrowed this poppy stamp from another crafty friend - isn't it awesome! I was going to colour the image but liked the black and white against the mirri card red, The butterflies were punched out and I've added little black gems.

Red and White

Red and white is such a classic colour combination for Christmas, don't you think, just imagine candy canes, Santa's suit, Swedish style decorations.  This is what we are looking for this week at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown with our colour challenge, set by the very talented Mynnette.  I went for Christmas Stockings!

I must say that I love red and white. For me, it is so versatile, it can be homely, contemporary, classic, it suits cas very well, and I think my card is a bit of a mixed bag! The stockings are stamped from the Open Sleigh set onto white cs and then I've sponged the edges in red.  I cut out white daises, and gave them each a red gem centre, before layering them behind the panel.  The paper is gorgeous, and the little bow matches so well. Finally I added another circle, this time with the sentiment- love this one!
Do have a go at the challenge, just remember ONLY red and white (you are allowed black for a sentiment stamp in the rules), looking forward to seeing all those cards!

A Sketch For Baby

My friend's daughter is expecting a baby very soon now.  Our two daughters went to school together, so this is making me feel a bit old, but I love having an excuse to make a baby card. I used this week's sketch from CAS Colours and Sketches challenge blog but flipped it around

and made this little card

I sponged the oval 'pond' and stamped the little duck from Easy Events onto white, orange and pink card and then paper pieced the little guy together.  The buttons are from my Sweet Buttons embosslits dies and I've threaded some paper twine through them. I stamped on the little sentiment from the same stamp and then added the oval, onto which I had popped up the duckling and the umbrella on dimensionals. lots of white space to keep it clean and simple. Here's a close up

I think this card will be perfect for the CAS challenge at Addicted To stamps too.  By the way, we do 'know' that it's going to be a little girl, so I should be OK with my colour choice, if not I will have to change the buttons to blue ones!

Dahlia Fold Christmas

It's the first Tuesday in May and that means that there is a brand new challenge over at Technique Time Tuesday.  I love being on the DT for this challenge blog because each month we get to try out a different technique and, being a fairly new crafter, most of them are new to me.  This month we are doing dahlia folding.  The blog has a brilliantly easy to follow video tutorial here and all you need are some circles punched or die cut from your favourite double sided DP. I decided to make a Christmas card, as if I don't already have enough of these....

I chose some beautiful paper from SU and carefully cut out my circles, ensuring that I folded them all in exactly the same place, but even so they are not as identical as I'd hoped - I guess this would be much easier if both sides of the paper had a small all-over pattern. You need 8 and then you put them together to form the large circular 'dahlia' shape. I layered mine onto a piece of the same paper, and added a red bow.  Here's a close up - not sure if it looks like a bauble, or Christmas napkins but I like it...

I used some special cs with a silver stamped holly pattern  as my card base and heat embossed the sentiment onto a small tag.  I fixed this to the card with two gem stone brads.  I think it's quite classy and it's definitely something different for me.
Do have a look at the other cards from the DT, there's a whole range of styles.

Deer in the Moonlight

We have a new set of challenges for the month of May over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and as usual we start with a sketch challenge.  Here it is

Now I have to admit that I've taken some liberties with this one, but I think that you should be able to make any sketch your own, and you can see the basic elements.  First and foremost I've chosen a square card base.  Then I've changed the central panel to a rectangle, but apart from that....

Can you still see the sketch?  I hope so. I masked off the circle before inking up the background with Indigo Island.  I then stamped the deer image and the 'frames' top and bottom in the same ink, for a monochrome effect.  The snowflake borders are also in the same colour and 2 matching gems add the finishing touch.
The cards from the rest of the DT will also give you lots of inspiration, as if you need it! Week after week we see such fabulous cards on this challenge and I can't wait to visit your blog.

Butterfly Silhouettte

It's May! Summer will soon be here (I hope it's sunnier than last year!) and for the challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches we have a fabulous colour combo for you

So Saffron is an interesting colour, a creamy, peachy sort of yellow - I didn't have any until my crafty friend Jacqueline kindly gave me some cs to use on my card.  If you don't have the correct shades or a fab friend to 'borrow' some off as I did, then use the closest you have.

I had this idea that I wanted the silhouettes to be below the DP layer and to show through, rather than mounting die cuts on top - much easier said than done! They are from a new SU set I've acquired - Serene Silhouettes and I actually thought that this stamp would be the last one I would use from the set, not the first! Getting them in the correct position was a nightmare! 

I used two butterfly punches to make my little flutterbys and added a few gems to their wings.

I haven't put a sentiment on my card yet as I'm not sure what I will use it for, could be Birthday, Thank you, Get well Soon, all will be fine, so I'll wait until I use it.
I found a new challenge blog whilst cruisin' the 'net, and I liked the idea.  It's called Cards In Envy and any card made for the challenges must fit in an envelope to go through the mail, so no more than 1/4 inch thick. This time the challenge is things with wings, so I will pop this card into the challenge over there.

Do 'flutter' over to the challenge blog and see what the rest of the DT have done with these colours.  Can't wait to visit your blogs too and see all your amazing creations.  Happy Crafting!