Little black dress...

• stamping bella-Audrey loves her make up
• SU!-bring on the cake
• MFT-lined up dots background
• memento 'tuxedo black' ink pad
• Neenah 'classic crest' cardstock
• Black cardstock and 5x7 card blank
• copics markers: skin : E70, E50, E51, E21, E73. Hair : YR31, E43, E44. Black : 100, W10, W8, W6, BV04. Pink : R85, R83, R81. Ground : C4, C2, C00.
• wink of stella 'gold' & 'clear'

I cut a panel of cardstock, then stamped and coloured the image, adding sparkle to accent the jewellery, handbag and lipstick. I cut another mat of cardstock and coloured this pink using copics to match perfectly with the image. I then stamped this panel with the background stamp. I layered each of these onto a mat of black cardstock, leaving a very fine border. I cut a third panel of white card to almost fill the front my black card blank. Following the sketch, I then stamped this with the sentiment before carefully gluing my panels into position.

Mx

Challenge I would like to enter:

Freshly made sketch #270

classic car...

• papermania- nostalgia classic cars stamps
• SU!- for my family
• my favourite things- line up dots background
• kraft & black cardstock
• archival 'jet black' ink pad
• black funky foam
• black gems

I masked off an area of my card blank and used the large background stamp to add pattern to my card blank. I also stamped the sentiment straight onto my card blank. I stamped a car image onto some kraft cardstock and matt & layered with some black cardstock. I glued black funky foam to the back of the cardstock, then glued it onto my card to give dimension (you could also use foam tape, or glue it flat). the final touch was 3 self adhesive black gems, to finish the sketch layout. I added a birthday sentiment to the inside of this card, but it could easily be changed to a father's day card too!!

Mx

 

challenges I would like to enter:

sketch Saturday #438

if friends were flowers...

• LOTV- if friends were flowers
• SU!- positively chevron
• SU!- remembering your birthday
• whichcraft-smooth stamp card
• memento 'tuxedo black' ink pad
• copics (Y11,13,15,18. YG21,13,17. C00,01,03. V12,15,17. T7,8. RV11,13,14. B0000,01,02)
• wink of stella- clear

I stamped my card blank with the chevron background stamp in black. I cut a panel of white card and stamped my image and sentiment. I coloured the focal image using copics, then added a bit of sparkle to the creatures wings and the glass vase. I cut a thin strip of cardstock and coloured it using the same lilac copic that I used in the image. Finally, I glued the panel and strip in place on the card blank, following the sketch.

MX

I would like to enter the following challenges:
freshly made sketches- #234
simon says Wednesday challenge- 'anything goes'

you lift me up ...

• w plus 9 stamps & dies- party animal & unforgettable
• papermania- happy days 6x6" paper pad
• memento tuxedo black ink pad
• copic friendly card
• copics
• sakura micron & white pen
• wink of stella- clear
• 6x4" white card blank & black cardstock

I cut a matt of blue patterned paper and stamped my sentiment at the bottom. I then drew on some clouds using a white gel pen. I layered this with some black cardstock, then glued it on to my card blank. I stamped and die cut my images. I coloured the elephant with copics and I paper pieced the balloon with a scrap of matching paper. I added my these to my card using foam tape for dimension. the final touch was some glitter on the balloon.

 Mx

I would like to enter the following challenges:

• sketch Saturday #391

flowers for you !!

inside

• 4X6" black card blank
• white stamping cardstock
• sizzix circle and scalloped circle dies
• SU! mum's love
• archival ink pad: jet black, watering can, carnation red, rose madder, venetian orange, chrome yellow.
• wink of stella- clear
• SU! sassy salutations (for inside)

I 2-step stamped the flowers on a mat of cardstock and glued this to the card blank. I stamped my greeting and die cut it into a circle, then matted this on to a scallop circle. I added glitter to the 'for you'. finally I added this topper to my card using foam, (you could just glue this straight down to keep it flat for posting!!)

 

for the inside of my card I cut a piece of cardstock to fit and stamped a flower in the bottom corner. I stamped my sentiment and added a final touch of glitter over the sentiment.

Mx

 

challenges I would like to enter are:

cas(e) this sketch #151

ribbon girl 'anything goes'

sending sympathy ...

• 'adorning accents' SU! Edgelits
• 'love and sympathy' SU! stamp set
• 'milled lavender 'Tim Holtz distress ink pads
• 'watering can' Archival ink pad
• 'dragonfly garden' cardio stamp
• 6x4 white card blank
• craftwork cards digi cardstock

I used my distress ink to colour the white card blank. I then created the background by stamping the card blank with the dragonfly garden image. For the mat, I stamped the flower in the distress ink, then layered the verse stamp on top using archival ink. I trimmed the mat down and used the edgelit to add a decorative border to the bottom edge. I finished this by lightly inking the edges and stuck it onto the card. I made this one simple and pretty to keep the focus on the lovely words in the sentiment.

Id like to enter this card into the challenges below:

• case this sketch #130
• The paper players challenge #252 'the great outdoors'

Mx

my millie...

front of the card

• 4x4" pearl card blank
• coloured card stock
• a tattered lace embossing folder
• lawn fawn- stitched circle stackable
• acetate
• sequins- spring mix
• digi cardstock, memento ink,copics
• avery elle- furry friends stamps & dies
• tim holtz distress ink pad (worn lipstick)
• SU! because you care
• sakura micron pen & clear star pen
• inkssentials opaque white
• glossy accents

to make this card I cut a mat of blue to fit my card, I then die cut a circle from this and the card blank. I then embossed the blue mat for added texture. I used the original circle die with a larger one to create a pink frame to layer on top. I then began to assemble the card by adding 2 pieces of acetate with beads and sequins in between, using foam tape to separate the layers creating the shaker window. I then layered the card up with the blue layer and the pink frame to decorate the front. I stamped, coloured and die cut the dog to add the image to the front of the card. I highlighted the eyes and nose with glossy accents.  I decided to colour the dog like my puppy millie, to add a personal touch.

inside the card

 

For the inside, I created a mat of pink card decorated with paws stamped all over for backing paper. I then added a blue circle of card removed from the window of the front. I stamped a sentiment and added it to the inside, lining it up with the window shaker window so it could be read from the front.
 

back of the card

I took the circle cut from the inside of the pink frame and added this to the back of the card for somewhere to write your message. I stamped it with a bone and added my 'handmade by' stamp to finish off. I think the combination of a sequin shaker, bright colours and the cute dog make this a really fun little card.  

challenges:

make the day special-(embossing, circles, bling/sequins)

simon says- clean the simple

Mx

my magnolia valentines ...

 

I created these two valentines cards using magnolia 'tilda' stamps coloured with promarkers. I have added sizzix die cut letters for the messages and the hearts. I inked the card blanks with tim holts distress ink and stamped the background for added interest. I also used an embossing folder for the circle layer on the love card. I used stickles to add glittered accents to the bee wings and cosmic shimmer pearlescent paint and a silk edged organza bow to the love card. The love envelope and insert was also stamped with the hearts background to match the card.

 

 

Happy Valentines day all,

 

Mx

coffee kraft...

 

I folded a kraft card blank in half and stamped the splatter background ( French foliage by SU!) in memento (rich cocoa) ink. I then cut a piece of white digi cardstock and stamped positively chevrons from SU! using tim holtz (mustard seed) distress ink, using the remaining ink to create a softer shade between the chevrons. I wrapped twine around this panel tied in a knot on the front. This was then stuck to the card blank using foam pads for dimension.  Finally, I stamped the coffee cup (perfect blend by SU!) using memento ink. I stamped it twice, colouring one brown with copics and adding the message to the other with a cream background using promarkers. I then cut out the images to decoupage the cream sections onto the complete brown cup. I stuck this onto the card to complete the cas(e) this sketch challenge.

 

Sketch #108

Mx

flower flourish...

 

to make this card I cut a piece of white card to shape, inked it using spun sugar tim holtz distress ink. I stamped the flourish from everything Eleanor (SU!) over the top in the same colour ink. I stamped 2 flowers from the flower shop stamp set (SU!) and coloured them with promarkers. I added a touch of glitter and punched them out using the pansy punch (SU!). I added this to my card using foam pads for dimension. I used the family sentiment die from tattered lace to die cut mum in white and glue this in place along the bottom edge. I added a final touch of glitter using a sakura pen along the edges of my pink panel.

 

Mx

punches, glitter &blooms

#103

a bright idea for christmas !!

stamps: paperartsy jofy 20, jm05, jm30 & jm31
inks: memento (tuxedo black) ink pad, promarkers
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock plus 6x4" card blank
extras: xcut corner rounder

time is flying, we are already in april... Christmas will be here before you know it so here's a simple idea to help you get prepared !!
I cut the cardstock down to fit the card and stamped the main focal image. I stamped it again onto a post it note to cut out a mask layer. I then stuck the mask down and stamped the background image. I removed the mask layer and positioned the sentiment to one side beneath, following the sketch. the image was coloured using promarkers. for a finishing touch, I simply rounded two of the corners of the matt before sticking it down onto the card blank. 



'cas(e) this sketch #70'

Mx

something for spring ...

stamps: vivid vases, Madison avenue, teeny tiny sentiments from stampin up!

inks: tim holtz (picked raspberry & peacock feathers) ink pads, memento (tuxedo black) ink pad, promarkers

cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock plus 6x4" card blank

dies: finishing touches edgelits, stylish stripes embossing folder from stamping up! & sizzix using the big shot

 

   I cut the cardblank with a decorative edge die to reveal the inside, where I placed an embossed panel of card. I inked the front of the card with pink, then  stamped a repeat pattern with the block to create a background to place on the front of the card. for the topper, I stamped the image onto cardstock, (I chose not to ink the attached message, replacing this with a separate mothers day sentiment). the image was coloured using promarkers, then cut to shape and a matt inked in pink to edge the topper. I stuck this to the front of the card, carefully lining it up and only adding tape to the overlap so it didn't attach to the inside too!! I  edged the paper piece inside with a line of pink using a fine tipped promarker (you could matt and layer for a similar effect). the finishing touch was two inked pieces of card, which I shaped into banners and layered onto the embossed card inside. this adds interest and a pop of colour to the inside of the card and completes the chosen sketch. I think it makes for a nice bright card that could work equally well for a birthday or thankyou if you swap the sentiment!!
 

open view

' seize the sketch-#16'

 

'week 240- embossing'

 

Mx

floral fancy !!

stamps: emma walkies from lili of the valley, teeny tiny sentiments from stampin up!
inks: memento (tuxedo black) ink pad, tim holtz (brushed corduroy) ink pad, promarkers
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, 6x6" pearl card blank plus cardstock, petal fresh 8x8" paper pad from LOTV & nit wit
dies: ornate label #3 framelit from sizzix, large paper doily sizzlits by stampin up!from sizzix plus the big shot machine to cut them out
extra: papermania adhesive crochet borders, liquid pearls (white opal), paper flowers



I made this card for a special birthday, so I thought it would be good to use the crafty bingo challenge as inspiration for the embellishments. I found some floral paper, which I cut to fit on the pearl card blank. I edged this with brown ink to finish it off. I also die cut a matt for the stamped image and inked the edges. I matched my promarkers to the paper to colour the image. the doily was die cut from pearlescent paper and layered onto the card. I used the adhesive border and flowers as extra special touches to complete the design. the final step was to use the liquid pearls to create the centre of the flowers.

'the ribbon girl-birthday'

 

'lili of the valley- crafty bingo- (doily, lace, flowers)'

 

 

'passion for promarkers- flowers'

 

Mx

summer lanterns ...

stamps: happy congratulations from stampin' up!, stitches clear stamps from hot off the press
inks: archival ink pad (jet black, deep purple, chrome yellow, venetian orange, magenta hue, aqua marine)
cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, black 4x6" card blank plus black card

I cut a matt to create the topper. this was stamped with the outline of the main image in black. I then used various colours with the block shape to complete the image, (the stamp-a-ma-jig is useful to help line this up, it wont look perfect as the block is a different size to the outline, but it will give you more control over the final effect.) I matted this onto black to give it definition. for the background, I cut a second matt to fit the card blank and  scattered the block image all over in the same colours. by using the stamp on its second and third print, the effect is much softer which I think works well for backgrounds. I stamped a congratulations sentiment at the bottom of this matt. the stitched line stamped beneath the sentiment, (stamped in two halves, one either side of the 'g' to create that gap) adds the finishing touch to complete the sketch.

 

case this sketch #66

 

Mx

feathers for you....

 

stamps: dictionary, sweet essentials from stampin up! feather stamp free from craft stamper magazine

inks: tim holtz (tumbled glass, broken china) ink pad, archival (cobalt) ink pad

cardstock: craftwork cards digi cardstock, 4x4" cardblank

 

first, I inked the card blank blue. I then cut a mat of digi card to fit and stamped it with the sentiment and 3 feathers (in the cobalt). I made some background paper, stamped  with the dictionary print in the darker blue and inked all over in a lighter blue (using the tim holtz ink pads). I then stamped 3 feathers in the cobalt on the paper and cut them out. I glued them on top of the original stamped images on the mat to finish.

 

'case the sketch #65'

 

Mx

summer stiletto ...

 

stamps: fabulous you, express yourself (hostess) both from stampin' up!
inks: memento (tuxedo black) ink pack, promarkers
cardstock: 5x5" card blank, craftwork cards digi cardstock

I cut my mat to fit my card blank and stamped my image with my sentiment just below. I then coloured the image using bright, summer shades of promarkers. I also used a promarker to edge the mat before I glued it to the card blank to finish. I kept the card design simple to make the most of the image, highlighting the details in it, using the multiple colours.
 

'case the sketch #63'

 

Mx

woodland wishes...

stamps: tim holtz wallpaper and wood from stampers anonymous, petite pairs & perfect punches from stampin' up!
inks: archival ink pads (sepia)
papers: 6x6 away we go designer pad from my minds eye, happy days 6x6 designstax from papermania, kraft 6x4" landscape card bland plus extra kraft, cream & black cardstock and green patterned paper
punches: bird builder & owl builder punches from stampin' up!

first, i stamped my kraft card blank with the wood effect stamp from tim holtz. i added a strip of red patterned paper to my card. i then cut a mat out of kraft cardstock for the centre of my card and stamped it with the wood effect too. i layered it with a turquoise paper, stamped with my sentiment. i then created my topper by adding punched elements. i used the owl builder punch to make a owl, using the red patterned paper for the tummy, and added the heart above the sentiment as an embellishment. i then created the branch to stand him on (from the bird builder punch). i cut this once in kraft and once on green... it took a bit of time to trim the leaves off the branch, as it is small, but its worth the effort to get the layered look. the final touch i added was a tab detail to complete the sketch. i used a stamp from the perfect punch set, onto kraft and red patterned paper, cut them out, then layered them together. i glued this in place on the card then added the central topper using foam pads for dimension. 

'fab friday #34'

'seize the sketch #13'

Mx

watercolour wishes ...

stamps: summer afternoon (hostess), blooming with kindness, language of friendship all from stampin' up!
inks: archival ink pad (sepia), tim holtz distress ink pad (brushed corduroy)
cardstock: kraft 4x6 card blank plus extra, cream cardstock

I cut a mat of cream cardstock, and stamped it all over with flowers (from the language of friendship set). I then added shading to the centre of the flowers, using the distress ink and a bit of water on a blending mat with a paint brush. I finally edged the background mat with distress ink before sticking down to my kraft card blank. I marked out and cut my topper to look like a polaroid, making sure the sentiment and chosen image fit in the appropriate  places. once cut, I stamped my sentiment (blooming with kindness set). I then stamped the focal image (summer afternoon set) on to a square of cream card and added shading as before,(very much like watercolour) to add depth to the picture. I layered these pieces together then glued them onto the card blank to finish.

'cas(e) the sketch #61'

 

Mx

over the threshold !!

stamps: over the threshold, folk flowers from lili of the valley, a word for you from stampin up!

inks: memento (tuxedo black) ink pad, tim holtz ink pad (brushed corduroy, antique linen), promarkers

cardstock: craftworkcards digi cardstock, 6x6 card blank

extras: circles framlits (657551) dies & big shot from sizzix, pink ribbon, adhesive pearls

 

I started by inking the edge of my card blank using brown. I cut a piece of digi card to mat on top and inked the edge using cream, then stamped the cardstock all over with a swirl design, using a cream ink to make a subtle background paper. I added the thin pink ribbon in the centre, criss- crossing over each other, then add a bow at one end. I stamped my focal image on to digi cardstock and die cut it using my big shot. I coloured the image using promarkers keeping the palette very soft and neutral, with a highlight of pink for the flowers and heart confetti to match the ribbon. I added a bit of ink to the edge of the circle topper to help it stand out, then glued it to the card using foam pads. for the final touch I added adhesive pearls to the corners.  



inside



for the inside, I cut a piece of card to create a matt as an insert. I edged it with brown ink, then stamped it all over with the swirl stamps, as I had done for the background on the front of the card. the final step was to add the stamped sentiment.

 

 

'sketch Saturday #294'

'week 231- ribbon, lace or twine'

'anything goes'

Mx

welcome baby boy ...

stamps: baby with bunny from lili of the valley, a word for you from stampin up!
inks: memento ink pad (tuxedo black), tim holtz ink pad (brushed corduroy), promarkers
crdstock: bear necessities papers from lili of the valley ( nitwit collect), craftworkcards digi cardstock, 5x5" card blank

I mat and layered two of the papers and glued them on to my card blank. I stamped my baby boy image onto digi card stock and added a sentiment just below. I only coloured the flesh with promarkers, paper piecing the clothes and bunny  to complete the image. I matted this layer on to a piece of card I had inked brown, to coordinate with the accent in the paper. I cut some little banners for added interest (and to follow the sketch) and glued them to the back of the topper before adding to the card. if you swap the papers, this design could easily work for a girl, or be kept neutral for a surprise arrival !!

'sketch Saturday #293'

'anything goes'

'for the boys'

 

'new...new baby'

 

Mx