Chevrons, Flowers and Friendship

It feels like I've been making cards all day today.  First, I went to my local craft club this morning, we had a lovely time chatting, looking at some new stuff and making a fab card - it's amazing when everyone makes the 'same' card at how different they turn out to be. Anyway, I was introduced to a new colour there - Primrose Petals - don't ask me why it's pink as I thought primroses were yellow, but that doesn't really matter. This afternoon I used the fold we were shown this morning, with a twist, and the colour to make a card for two challenges CAS-ual Fridays, where the theme is Chevrons and Flowers and Addicted To CAS, where they want a CAS project inspired by the word Friend.

 I used the stamp set The Language of Friendship (perfect for the ATCAS challenge) to stamp the flowers, and, because I don't own the matching punch, fussy cut them out. I used Primrose Petals CS (thank you, Jacqueline!) to layer some SU chevron DP and make an inverted frame which makes a 'springy' base.  The leaves are made out of coppery coloured Fimo, rolled very thinly and scored with 'veins'. Then the leaves and flowers were stuck to the centre panel, which pops right off the card, but you can't see it all that well . Inside the card I have stamped some more little flowers.  The sentiment is also stamped in Primrose Petals and comes from the same stamp set.

Can you see the dimension a little better in this photo? I have made a few more cards, which I'll be sharing with you later, until then Happy Crafting!

Seize the Cup Cake

We're having a bit of a bake-off at our house this weekend, and I think it may have influenced my card making! My daughter, home from Uni, is baking chocolate -orange cupcakes, cappuccino chocolate eclairs and marshmallow muffins.  Here is my offering - much better for the waist-line.

 I have used the sketch this week from Seize The Birthday challenge blog, and, as it's week one, they would like to see feminine cards.  Here's the sketch, as you can see I've used a square card blank so I've had to change it a little, but isn't it fab - bet you can do all sorts with this one!

I used my cup cake builder punch to paper piece the little cake, and some pink and brown stripey paper from my stash - chocolate and pink is a favourite combination of mine.  I used Naturals White for the card base, as it reminded me a bit more of cookie dough than a basic white. I cut the lacy scalloped edge out of the striped paper.  Inside, I have folder over the 'ribbon' and finished it with a fish-tail (which you can't see) and added a border of coordinating paper which you can just catch a glimpse of in this photo

I think this would be a great card for any of my daughter's friends - they love cup cakes too!

Christmas Cheer

Here's another card using my latest stamp set from SU - Happy Hour.  This time I've used it to make a Christmas card for the sketch challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown. It is great when you find a stamp set which can be used for lots of different occasions.

For my card I've used the traditional holiday colour combo

For my scalloped edge I decided to cut around the design in the DP, and it's made a very pretty edge, I think. I have popped up the red drinks,and added a little touch of shading with a Warm Grey Promarker at the base of the glasses to give some dimension to my card.  

Go and see what the other DT members have made with this sketch, there's bound to be something  which catches your eye ;)

The Drinks are on Me!

April's here! Blue skies and sunshine I hope (and not too many showers!). This is a card which I have made for the colour challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches, using my newest stamp set, Happy Hour

Aren't these colours gorgeous? Don't worry if you don't have the exact SU shade, use the closest you have, like me!

I think my Bashful Blue got a bit overpowered - a bit like me if I drank all this! I've made cocktails using each colour- a Screwdriver, a Strawberry daiquiri and a blue lagoon, matted and layered onto each colour too and finished off with a  Raspberry Ripple chevron DP.
Do go over to the blog to see the creations from the DT girls -they're fantastic.

Water Stamped Easel card

It's the first Tuesday in April and that means a brand new technique challenge at Technique Time Tuesday, Hop on over to the blog to follow the tutorial on water stamping. Now, if you have visited my blog before you'll know that I'm a CAS kind a girl, so this card is a little bit different for me.  My background started with blending inks from my Big and Juicy sunset ink pad and adding butterflies and field grasses stamped in water- you can just see them in the photo

I cut out the flowers (from the Reason To Smile set) and dragonflies, stamped on a similar inked background, and stamped some grass silhouettes in the corner. Two ribbons, black and purple to pick up the colours, run across the card and, as you can see, I've made it into an easel card, with this panel

The dragonflies all have bodies made from 3 black gemstones,two are popped up on dimensionals along with the flowers.
I am going to enter my card in a couple of challenges, the Heck of a challenge, where the theme is 'just add water'-well I sure did that, and Crafty Ribbons Challenge - can't believe I've not found this challenge blog before as I LOVE using ribbons in my cardmaking. Finally I found a challenge for pastel shades, Jellypark Challenge, and although I haven't used a Jellypark image, I did have fun looking at them (love the little sheep!)
Not sure if I will be developing my style in this direction, I find it so hard, but it's always good to have a go at something new.  It's a big DT at Technique Time Tuesday so there's bound to be something there to amaze and inspire you and you have the whole of April to make your project- go on- try water stamping!

Rose, Turquoise and Sand

Hello! I have two cards for you today and that's because they were both inspired by the colour challenge at Addicted To Stamps and More

combined with the CAS one layer challenge at Make My Monday. Why two? Well, I made the first one and added a small piece of turquoise twine , then I actually read the post at MMM and found that they want not only no layers but no embellishments either! I tried remaking the first card without the twine but then another quite different card popped out!
Here they are

I really like this colour combo.  For the first card I used Perfectly Preserved stamp set and for the second a set called Charming, both from Stampin' Up. The sentiment on the second card is from Friendly Phrases, a really useful sentiment set, the sentiments being just a little bit different.

Birthday Sketch for Him

I've had a ball this Easter Sunday, a whole day to craft and spend time with the family too.  I've made several cards that I can't show you yet, as they are future DT projects but here's one I can.  I have made it for the challenge at Seize The Birthday. If you haven't found this blog yet, check it out.

It's a sketch challenge, one week for a feminine card and the same sketch the next week for masculine cards and always for birthdays.  What a great idea to build up your stash of cards.  This week it's a male card and I really want to make more of these, I never have a male card when I need one.

I've made it very CAS, with a cafe au lait type colour scheme.  The large sentiment is one of my favs for cards for men/boys and I've stamped it in Chocolate Chip. I've added the dog, stamped and embossed in Crumb Cake, and popped up on dimensionals - here's a close up so you can see better

I've added a Choc Chip lacey scallop border and will also enter my card in this week's Less Is More, where the challenge is to incorporate scallops into your CAS project.