Double Contempo Card

Hello, and Happy Halloween! A big hello to my newest followers, if you hop over here and like what you see please become a follower- I will follow back as it's always great to make new friends in blog-land!
It's a ' Double' week on CAS Colours and Sketches, in honour of there being 5 Thursdays in October. This means that you get a sketch and a colour combo to follow, and this week we have

 I have decided to follow my true CAS heart and have bought some new stamps so that I can have a go at making the contemporary cards that I love so much when other people do them! I'm going to try really hard with this new style and here's my first go

I used my acrylic block to make the background, using the three colours (Don't worry if you don't have Stampin' Up colours, any close match will do) and a spritz of water.  Then I stamped the grid image and used the three colours to mat mt various parts.  The sentiment is from Happiest Birthday Wishes (this is such a go-to set for me). Finally, I added the three candy dots, one for each colour. I do like the way this turned out and will be blogging more in this style over the next few weeks.

Cascading Christmas

At last! A few spare minutes to put up a post that should have been there Saturday morning! My only excuse is a very hectic weekend, as our swimming club ran their major event of the year, our three day open meet. I'm exhausted, never mind the swimmers!
Over at 52 {Chrismas} Card Throwdown there is a really fun challenge for Christmas cards with Fancy folds (Paper engineering, I like to call it)

Earlier this year I tried a fold (well, it's rather more of a cut!) called the cascading card technique for a challenge at Technique Time Tuesday and the entries in the challenge were fabulous.  I knew that I wanted to give this one another go (there is a tutorial on the TTT blog if this is new to you).
At the time I made a card for my daughter and it's one of the few that she's kept up all year. This time of course I've made a Christmas card

 I have chosen some pretty non-traditional colours -teal, hot pink and silver. The card does fold flat to fit in an envelope.  The snowflakes are white peel-offs, the other embellishments are heat embossed baubles or punched birds and leaves. I must say the photo doesn't really do it justice, it's a very tactile card, as you pull it open you get to see the decorations inside.
Do hop over to the 52CCT blog to look at the other cards from the rest of the DT, there are some great ideas for you to try, the hardest part will be deciding which fancy fold card you want to show us!

Halloween Tag

Well, I've really got into Halloween this year - it must be all the challenges and amazing inspirational projects from fellow crafters on the blogs. This time I've made a tag (yes, still avoiding the cards!) and it's for this week's challenge at Make My Monday. It's not really scary at all...take a look

I made the little ghosties using the Owl Punch and some googly eyes. I printed the background by adding inks to my craft sheet, spritzing and then dragging the tag through. Once dry I could add the black ink, sponged around the edges, and the other embellishments. Finally, I replaced the string with black and white ribbons, it looks a bit spidery, doesn't it? I thought it would be fun added to a goodie bag.

Several Disasters later.......

Oooohh I've had problems with this one! It's the new sketch challenge at CAS colours and sketches. Now this is nothing to do with the sketch which I'm sure you'll agree is a great, clean and simple sketch

No, my problems started when I tried to create my card.  The first attempt at embossing was a failure because I hadn't allowed for the matching up of the pattern as my Embossing folder did not fit the square card base I had chosen. Change card base- had an acetate half circle, on which the edge ripped in a non-recoverable way, my third version of this card, also with acetate,  was ready to photograph, when I noticed that the cat had obviously jumped onto my crafting table and left a whacking great muddy pawprint right in the white space of my card...aarrgghh! No more acetate left, so new idea, recycle the central panel and the butterflies, make a new card base, all going so well, photograph it.... go to edit it - my photo editing software won't let me in! It's too late to mess around so here it is with unedited pic,

Frustrated or what!! What else can go wrong?
Anyway, my fellow DT members have not had disasters, their cards are lovely and you can check them out at the blog. I'm going to bed now, scheduling this post for the morning, when if I can I will put a better photo up.

Here we go!

Moose on the Loose

I did have a lovely birthday yesterday, and enjoyed a special meal out with my extended family but life in blogland goes on and so I had to have my post ready this morning for The Male Room, where we have a brand new challenge for you

Nature

This challenge blog is all about cards for men/boys and I joined the DT team because these were the cards I found most difficult to make. I think nature is a fairly easy theme for masculine cards, so I'm expecting to visit lots of blogs to leave a comment! Here's my card

I've used some woodgrain DP and embossed a panel of Chocolate Chip cs. The wooden button comes from the recycled button box. I stenciled the aspen trees and added some shading with my aquapainter, before stamping on the moose image.  I got this stamp in Yellowstone NP Visitor centre - isn't he great? I've also coloured him in with the aquapainter.  The sentiment is from  Pennant Parade and it would be a big wish granted if I'd seen one of these magnificent creatures in the wild when I was in the US but it wasn't to be.

A CASEd Card

It's my month as hostess at Technique Time Tuesday and we are more than half way through October so it's time for some mid-month motivation as I case one of the cards already submitted in the challenge.  You may remember this month's technique is Faux Cloisonne - it's got one or two of you running to Google to find out what real cloisonne is, but to make it easy we have a complete tutorial for you over on the blog, just click here.
The card I cased is this one from Jacqueline

and here is my card

I chose another regal colour, and CASEd the shape and paper pierced border from Jacqueline's card. Instead of one large central flower (the poinsettia) I have made a bouquet, with visiting butterflies. Here's a close up of the faux cloisonne technique

The stamps are from Paisley Patterns, Reason To Smile and Butterfly Potpourrie and for my paper I used a glossy catalogue from an art gallery, which had a good weight to it as well as beautiful shiny colours- perfect for the job.

Did I mention it is my birthday today - it's a big one too, so I'll be out celebrating with all my family this evening.  I might send this card to myself, I really love it so much -thanks for the inspiration Jacqueline!

Pumkin Treat Box

OK, so I have to eat my words now because here is a Halloween project from me, only two posts ago I was saying I don't do Halloween! Anyway, it was the cue at this week's challenge for CASology that prompted my about face

I did say that I've never made a Halloween card and that hasn't changed because I've made a gift box, just right for a little treat for Halloween visitors. Not fussy, just CAS.

It was very simply made from a sheet of 12"x12" orange DP from K&Co, cut into 5/8" strips. I punched a hole in the centre of each one and threaded them onto a brad. then you fan out the strips, make another hole in each end and thread them onto another brad, strip by strip.  This gives you your pumpkin.  I've die cut some leaves and made the curly tendrils by cutting very thin strips of card. To put the treats inside you simply slide the strips over and then back again. I am also entering this week's challenge at QKR Stampede  for Halloween Fun -it was a lot of fun to make, and at Stampin' Royalty for the challenge Halloween Goodie Packaging. I must say I am rather pleased with the result, I might be making a few more of these!

Bring On The Bling

Do you remember back in the beginning of the month I told you that I had made a card for the sketch challenge, which I decided didn't quite fit the bill? You'll be pleased to hear that I didn't waste it, oh no, I upcycled it for today's 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge..bling it up!

Can you see all that bling?  There's a glitter border, pearls, a silver embossed border, green Stickles on the trees 'outside', snow on the window sill, gems on the bauble, which hangs freely by the way.  Can you see why I started this card from the sketch ? I stamped the tree from Lovely As A Tree, over the top of some white card where I had cut this strips of post-it-note to form the window frame. Love the result this gave me.  There are more trees from the same set stamped in basic grey at the back to add depth to my scene.
I'm going to enter my card in a few challenges too. Firstly, at Christmas Cards All Year Round the theme is getting ready for Christmas - At Christmas time I always hang red baubles from the curtain rail in front of our large french window, at various heights, so this reminds me of that Then I'm also going to enter the challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is Christmas/Holiday creation and finally at Korttikarkuri -Let's get Inky where cards must feature stamping.

Witches' Brew

I love having the chance to blog hop around, being on a couple of DTs helps a lot as I really do get around a bit (in the nicest possible way).  It was this that led to my discovery of a challenge blog that really pushed my buttons Cup Cake Inspirations- using cupcakes to inspire cards? It was like it was made for me.  I browsed through some of their previous challenges and the cupcakes are incredible! Look at these for this week's challenge

I have chosen to use the colour combination for my inspiration.  Halloween doesn't really do it for me - don't think I've ever made a Halloween card in my life! We don't send them here in the UK, even trick or treating (which my kids do) is frowned upon by many.  But, who could fail to enjoy these cakes, and that lovely chartreuse colour got me thinking of cocktails.  Here's my (almost) one layer card

I used a set  from Stampin' Up called Happy Hour to create my image  The 'bubbles' were inspired from the sprinkles on the cake.It was going to be one layer but then a bit of a slip meant that I had to mat the sentiment - I'm sure we've all been there! .Hope I'm not too wide of the mark of the DT expectations. I look forward to many more cupcake inspired cards! As I used my promarkers to colour the cocktails  I'm also going to enter the Make your Mark challenge at Addicted To Stamps and More

Foam Blossom tree

This had to be a quick make today, and so I have used a die cut and some foam stickers that luckily just fit the bill for our colour challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches

I love these colours together- they remind me of cake (again!) but I've not gone for that, as you see here

I've used the Early Expresso as a mat and for the tree, the Real Red for another mat and in the flowers and the Pink Pirouette in the flowers (at least that's what I'm calling them - only the Expresso is the real Stampin' Up deal, so don't worry if you don't have the exact shades either, as long as it's close. All the cards for our challenge must have some stamping, so I have stamped the sentiment.  The sentiment and the foam flower stickers are both supermarket bargains -it's amazing where you can get your hands on crafting goodies.
Hope you find time to join in with the challenge this week, also don't forget to check out the cards from the rest of the DT.  Happy Thursday!

Tumbling Leaves

Lots of you out there have already discovered the card sketch challenges at Mojo Monday but it wasn't until yesterday that I visited their blog for the first time and immediately became a follower! So, I'm entering in my first Mojo Monday sketch challenge, and I'm certain it won't be my last.  Here is this week's sketch

 I've also used a little bit of inspiration from the DT over at Addicted To CAS, as I loved their cue word

So, here's my card

I usually make square cards, but I have been playing around with other formats recently and I though this sketch would look best kept in it's original rectangular form. You can't see so well but the circle is embossed with Stampn' Up's cloud embossing folder. The leaves, which re the most gorgeous stickers I've ever seen, are 'tumbling' down on the acetate banner, which I've edged with red glitter. The dotty theme of the clouds is picked up by the DP and the red twine bow complements the autumn feel.  The sentiment was the hardest decision, as I didn't want anything too big to detract from my acetate banner, so I finally chose the small Thank U from Pennant Parade

Rainbows at Christmas

It's a colour challenge week...with a difference!  It's not about what colours we want to see on your card, it's about what colours we don't want to see...make sense?  Here to help you, from your 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown hostess, Danielle, is your challenge...

 Yep, that's right, a Christmas card with no red or green.  So get out your fave off the wall Christmas colours and go for it!
Actually, as I was making this card the idea that I COULDN'T use red or green made me want to use every other colour I could think of , and so I designed a rainbow Christmas card!  Take a look

Well, I've never received one like it, have you? I really like those brightly coloured stockings, from the set Open Sleigh and the tongue in cheek sentiment from Merry and Type.  I've actually stamped a more 'sober' Merry  Christmas and a Happy New Year greeting inside just to make sure the recipient knows it's a Christmas card. Crafting should incorporate some experimentation, I think, and this was mine! I'm going to enter my card in the challenge at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long where it is 'Simply Christmas' - so I guess they want simple, stamped cards.

Star Fruit and Cup Cakes

It's a sketch week at CAS Colours and Sketches and we have a gem of a sketch for you to play with this time

It's been a while since I got out the Cup Cakes and I thought this sketch was perfect for it. I cut out the two triangular panels from Stampin' Up DP and matted them onto some Summer Start Fruit CS.  I stamped the parts of the cupcake and used the coordinating punch to cut them out. Love this combo of Summer Star Fruit with the Calypso Coral, it's yummy just like those cup cakes.  The 'chocolate' one in the middle has silver sugar balls, courtesy of some liquid pearls. I used the matching sentiment.  All in all it didn't take too long to put together and I know I'll be sending this one to someone! I'm going to pop it in the challenge at Seize The Birthday, I think these are Autumn/fall colours, although perhaps not used in a traditional autumnal way, and it is definitely a birthday card!

Christmas Bird!

When I saw the challenge at Merry Monday Christmas Challenge I just knew I had to find the time to join in.  I love Christmas cards with birds, I especially love those red cardinal birds, I think they must be from the US since we definitely don't have them here. I'd love a stamp of one of those -I'll have to look out on ebay I guess.

My Christmas bird of choice is the penguin, this one's from Zoo Review and I've stamed him and used a mask before sponging a nice chilly scene for him, with a couple of shades of blue.  To add some Christmas sparkle and an icy touch to the 'snow' I have used silver Stickles

I used a sentiment from Merry and Type, heat embossed in silver with a couple of eyelets on the tag. A shiny blue snowflake, complete with matching gem in the centre for a little bit of Christmas bling and my card was complete.

Travel by Scooter

It's time for a new challenge at The Male Room, a challenge blog for cards for the men and boys in our lives. As always we have a theme for you to experiment with and this week it's

Transport

Any kind or shape of transport, or any idea that the cue word gets you thinking about is fine we love bicycles, motorbikes, trains, cars, planes...you get the idea.

For my card I needed  card for a teenage boy -don't you think those are the most difficult, especially if it' not your teenage boy, but a friend's son, or the friend of your son, anyway, I thought that this might just be acceptable

I used a freebie image from a magazine and stamped it onto card stock four times, once on grey, once on green once on blue and finally on white, then I cut various bits out and paper pieced the Vespa back together. The wheels and seat have glossy accents added to make the shiny effect. The green chevrons are a piece of DP and the tine is there because the sentiment needed balance.  I like the rounded corners on the blue cardstock mat, they add to the retro feel I think. The sentiment is from Best Dad Ever - I like the 'maleness' of the typeset.

I think I'm getting a bit better at making these cards for men now, I certainly need the practice as I live in a house with only one female (Me!) Do have a look at the blog where the rest of the DT have some fantastic cards to look at.
I am going to enter my card in a new-to-me challenge blog called Handmade Harbour where the theme is Men and Boys too and in ABC challenges, where they are celebrating National Children's day with a challenge for cards for kids (hope it includes teenagers!) Happy Crafting!

White on White for Christmas

White on white, love making them, hate photographing them! I know I've said it before but there are so many shades of white! This is the challenge at Less Is More with the added requirement that it must be for Christmas. I've made two versions of the card, in both cases I've made a tent fold card base and used a large sentiment stamp as the focal point and and embossed border to add texture and interest.

The sentiment is LOVE & JOY - I so much like this for Christmas, for me that's what the holiday is all about. Which card counts depends on whether silver embossing is allowed on a white on white card, for purists I suspect not and so I made this version, where I heat embossed with White Tinsel embossing powder. I off set the sentiment to leave 'white space'

I would be interested to hear what you think...is silver OK?  It is only a sentiment after all..  I know my card will be in fantastic company, I've checked out some of the other cards already! Thanks for the challenge.

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

Saturday again! That means it's time for another Christmas card challenge from the team at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and as it's a new month we have a new hostess, Danielle and first off she has an awesome sketch for us all

I must say, my first card for this challenge I was very pleased with - until I took a closer look and saw that Danielle wanted us to use DP for those square panels. Oh well, never mind, you'll be seeing THAT one in a couple of weeks time as I managed to change tack and create a card for a different challenge. Back to this one. I have been  a bit naughty, as doilies are just not my style and I don't have a suitable scalloped circle, so I just went with a circle, hope our hostess will forgive me ;)

This colour combo really is a fave with me, don't you just love that big, smiling, cheery Santa image- 'Jolly Old Saint Nicholas' - I should think so! I really like the effect of white embossing on kraft card.
The heart 'paper' is actually fabric, giving the card some lovely texture. Only 13 more weekends before the big day I think, so better get your crafting stuff out and start making some festive cards. Looking forward to visiting your blogs and having a look at your take on the sketch too.
I

Charming Birthday/Anniversary

Challenge #45 at CAS Colours and Sketches is a colour challenge which is very close to the heart of our hostess for October, Patricia.  These are colours from her wedding and today she and her husband are celebrating 21 years of marriage - congratulations to you both!

I decided to take a stamp set which I have barely used, Charming, and give it a whirl and,as promised, I've used another long and thin card base.

 I don't have Soft Sky so I took the palest blue and stamped the ink pad down on some white card 5 times. I then stamped the image in Basic Grey 4 times and once in Cherry Cobbler. I mounted these 5 panels onto to Basic Grey CS and then again onto Cherry Cobbler card.  Before sticking this down I stamped the text from the stamp set down the left side and finally I heat embossed the Happy Birthday in silver. I could easily have made this an anniversary card - I should have and then I could have sent it to Patricia and her husband!
Hope you'll join in with our challenge this week, do have a look at the cards from the other DT girls.  Happy Crafting!

Harvest Corn

I saw a couple of challenges and thought I could well put them together using a stamp which I haven't inked before - always fun! So, using the fantastic colours from ColourQ

and the word cue from CASology

There is also a fabulous harvest photo inspiration challenge at Addicted To Stamps and More which I would like to enter this card in too.

The corn image and sentiment are of course from the set, Perfectly Preserved, and I just got hold of the matching dies, so cutting the cob out was a doddle! I've used paper from Stampin'Up too.  I rounded the corners of my tent fold card, cut out the banner and oval frames from Real Red cardstock and popped it all together. I am so pleased with how this turned out. I would have loved to have made a chicken card with these colours and inspiration from the photo, but, not having a chicken stamp, the corn is my next best offer.

Faux Cloisonne Swallowtail

Pinch, punch- it's the first of the month!  Happy October to you! A brand new month and the first Tuesday must mean that there is a new challenge at Technique Time Tuesday and, guess what? This month it's my turn to be hostess.  This means that I have an awesome technique for you to try out, later in the month, I get to case one of your cards and there's a fab prize for the overall winner.  Why not hop on over to the blog and watch the video tutorial on how to make Faux Cloisonne embellishments on your projects. Here's mine..

I knew almost straight away that I wanted to use Swallowtail- it has such fantastic detail that, when stamped and heat embossed with gold embossing powder, looks like the fine metal wires from the real cloisonne designs. Do all this on shiny, coloured magazine paper and you can see it looks like enamel. I also made some smaller butterflies from Papillon Potpourie with the off cuts from the same page and I used a black cardstock for the background, to add to the 'dramatic' look. I have mounted the swallowtail so it is bending off the front of the card (no chance of an envelope for this one!). This is an amazing technique that you could use with flower stamps, medallion stamps, all sorts, you're only limited by your imagination and the stamps in your stash! I do hope you'll give it a try.

I am going to enter my card in three other challenges; first at QKR Stampede , even though it's not from their products it does fit the theme for Butterflies and Bows (There are some gorgeous butterfly projects there already - check it out!) secondly in the Things with Wings challenge at Sweet Stampin', and finally in the Paper Players' Tic Tac Toe challenge

Where I have taken the diagonal line: Ribbon, Embossing, Banner.