Way To Go Shery

Hello.  Welcome.  Congrats to the Russ family on the arrival of your baby girl.  Way to go Shery.  The girls at Stamplorations are having a celebratory hop and I wanted to join in and welcome little Catherine.  

I used stamps from Stamplorations Heaven Sent and The Birds and the Blooms sets and CASEd Deepti's lovely card.  I used London Fog for the words and Worn Lipstick distress to colour the bear, the hearts, the bow and the base card.  

Super big congrats Shery.   

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Stamplorations August CASE Playground
Stamplorations Anything Goes Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - A Trio of Colour grey, pink and white
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Animals 

 

Lost Heads and Yoga Trousers

Hello.  Welcome.  Still a whole day left to play along with the Rubber Dance Challenge and maybe win yourself a lovely grab bag of stamps.  I decided to use the challenge colours and go BRIGHT

 

I started by stamping and embossing various stamps from Rubber Dance ATC Backgrounds 1 onto card.  OK, maybe a couple from Take the Plunge slipped in there as well.......... 

I used Taylored Expressions Colour Block Cutting Plate to cut the stamped and embossed card.  Love that little ticket stamp bottom right.  It was a little small for the cut panel size so I swiped the edges with versamark and embossed with black powder.  Great grungy look.  I know I didn't do a perfect stamp job with the diamonds but I'm learning to embrace my imperfections LOL.  Also for the diamond panel I used versamark and then black embosssing powder, where as for the others I used black archival and black embossing powder  I like the subtle difference

I stamped, embossed and fussy cut the words from Rubber Dance Affirmations stamp set on the pink card.  I dropped an 'e' on 'believe' and made 'live' and 'be'.  I added a dancer from Rubber Dance Happy Dancing!.  

Don't forget, still time to join up a project.  Make something with these gorgeous colours and link up HERE.  You don't have to use Rubber Dance stamps but we would love to see them, of course.....

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Ticket, Please!
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge -Anything Goes
Hjerteboden Juli Utfordring - Alt er Lov

Leaves Are Falling

Hello.  Welcome.  They are switching it up at Unity and today is the last friday Friends with Flair.  Awwww.  But Tuesday, 1st September, they are starting something new!!  What fun.  But can you believe it's almost September!!!!!   Arrrggggggg.  So I decided to ink up Maple Girl and get a little Autumn feeling going on

I cut a panel using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle die, masked the top and stamped the maple leaf from Unity Stamp Co. Maple Girl set using Colourbox Autumn ink pad.  This pad has three colours and I stamped the leaf using the red/orange first and then filled in using the yellow.  I cut Cheery Lynn Compass and backed it with red foil circle.  I stamped, water coloured and fussy cut Maple Girl.  

Joining the fun at
Unity Stamp Co. Be Inspired Challenge - Sketch/Colour 31 
Unity Stamp Co. Friends with Flair
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 199 - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday - Fall/Autumn 
Stamping Sensations August Challenge - Stamping and Dies 

Thanks for dropping by.  This is a Friends with Flair post.  Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win.  Hugz

Gelly Roll Frosting

Hello.  Welcome.  Over at Marks Finest Papers blog the challenge this week is to use or decorate a candle.  I bought some candles a while ago and there they sit, sad and undecorated, so I thought this might be a good opportunity to get a few ready to gift.   Last time I did this technique I used my heat gun.  Well, we know how that stands!  Dead!!  So here comes Mr Iron to the rescue again.  

I decided Christmas will be here before we know it so I decided to use the cute little gingerbread dude from Marks Finest Papers Holiday Tags set.  I stamped him 4 times on tissue paper and coloured with Versamagic Gingerbread chalk ink, red sharpie and white gelly roll pen.  

Then I ironed them on to my candle.

I liked it so much I decided to decorate some more. 

These 4 candles came in a little tray and I was going to cover it with gold paper, but couldn't find it.  So I unfolded the tray and used it as a template to cut a new one from gold card.  Much easier and prettier.  I also stamped some of the sentiment stamps from the Holiday tags set around the side.  Make sure you get them up the right way LOL!!!!

  
Now I just need to add a bit of cellophane and a ribbon and it's a cute little gift.  

Joining the fun at
Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 276 - Use/Decorate a Candle
CHNC Challenge 243 - Use Some Gold 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
ABC Christmas Challenge - Q is for Quantum Leap  N is for Not A Card

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Layers of Help

Hello.  Welcome.  Thank you all for your comments on my last post.  It seems I am not the only one who has tried different ways of melting embossing powder.  Must admit the toaster option seem a bit more tricky than the iron.  Maybe I need to investigate the crafty potential of other household appliances.......

I wanted a masculine look for this card using sketch #3 from the die-namites challenge.  I was heading for a simple round aperture when my rattlings through the die box turned up Simon Says Stamp Luminary Circles die.  I thought it would be a bit more exciting.  I cut a white panel and mounted on a piece of MME patterned paper.  

I cut Die-namites Cattails die once from the MME paper and twice from black card.  I layered them and added a sentiment from Unity Stamp Co 11/13 KOM on a banner.  

Joining the fun at
Die-Namites August Sketch Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Dies R Us Challenge 31 - The Great Outdoors
Unity Stamp Co Friends with Flair

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

It's an Emergency!! Get Ironing

Hello.  Welcome.  Yesterday disaster struck.  One minute my heat tool was working.  The next it wasn't.  I ran to my man with mournful countenance and, after major surgery, news came.  Dead :-(  But fixable :-)  I am relieved, but must be patient.  All you gals who are going, hey no biggy just go buy a new one, obviously don't live in a crafty desert, what like I do.   The nearest shop is a good distance away.  The chance is they might have one.  Possibly.  Definitely at a price that would make your toes curl!!  Due to the weight, and the time, getting one shipped from the UK is probably not a goer.  So I shall have to be patient.  

But of course, today I really wanted to emboss.  So, let's think back to old fashioned methods.  I considered using a light bulb.  I've done that in the past!  Then I realised that although low energy bulbs may be a technological advance, and may possibly even be helping us to save the planet, they give out very little heat, and are of limited use to a crafter in distress.  So, with no other alternative, I got out the iron!!  Actually, 99% of the time I use an iron is crafty time.  I am not a domestic goddess and have never understood the idea of spending hours flattening out clothes, when the minute you put them on they get creased anyway.   But today Mr Iron saved the day.  Hurrah

I saw some lovely cards yesterday by Leslie at Dies R Us that got me thinking.  I have used the number 4 sketch from this months Die-namites challenge and Die-namites Deer Birch Background die.  The base card is MME paper and the sentiment is from Rubber Dance Winter Wonderland stamp set.  I used pastel blue embossing powder and my iron.  It worked, slowly, whilst I worried that my card would start to burn.  But it seems my fears were unfounded.  Will be glad to have my trusty heat tool back though.

Joining the fun at
Die-Namites August Sketch Challenge
Dies R Us Challenge 31 - The Great Outdoors
August Rudolph Days Challenge
Winter Wonderland Challenge - Christmas Carols/Songs Walking in a Winter Wonderland
ABC Christmas Challenge - Q is for Quantum Leap  A for Antlers

Thanks for dropping by.  Off to do some more ironing LOL.  Hugz

Back to Black

Hello.  Welcome.  I started with the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches, inspired by the Verve and Viva Las Vegas Stamps mood boards and came up with this.  

I used a black base card and stamped the VLVS line of hanging shoes and embossed with white powder.  I masked the shoes and used versamark ink through a stencil then embossed with white powder.  

I cut the celebrate Sizzix diecut and embossed with lots of black powder to make a faux enamel embellishment.  I added it to the card on a vellum banner.

Joining the fun at
Freshly Made Sketches #200 - A Celebration
Verve Stamps Inspiration Challenge - Celebrate
VLVS August Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Back to School  hurrah, the kids are back n school but don't you hate it when they come home without their shoes.........

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

The Skill of the Photographer is Inversely Proportional to the Number of Sprinkles on a Donut

Hello.  Welcome.  Well, what a weekend.  It was good.  Great weather, lots of visitors, good food and I took time and relaxed.  Ahh, bliss.  Even found a little time to craft.  

OK, so I'm thinking this looks like a chalkboard advert for a donut shop LOL.  Actually that was not my intention.  And of course I added glitter sprinkles just to frustrate the photographer.  I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches rotated 90°.  The donuts are Stamplorations Sugar Rush set, stamped, water coloured and fussy cut.  I added glitter sprinkles to give them a bit of glitz.  I stacked them on a black base card and wrote my sentiment with a white gelly roll pen.   Spot the pun??

Joining the fun at
Freshly Made Sketches #200 - A Celebration
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Sweet and Sugary
Stamplorations August Challenge - Theme - Stamps and Watercolours 
Stamplorations Anything Goes Challenge 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Ho Ho Oh

Hello.  Welcome.  Some fun techniques over at Marks Finest Papers blog and this week they want us to punch both sides.  I decided to make a christmas tag and now I have the design sorted I can see me making a few of these for the xmas packages.  

The cute santa head and sentiment are from Marks Finest Papers Holiday Tags set.  I cut a red and a white tag and used Fiskars Holly border punch on the red one.  I stamped, coloured and fussy cut Santa and embossed the Ho Ho Ho directly on the tag.  A bit of wool and a snowflake brad and it's ready to go.  

Joining the fun at
Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 275 - Punch Both Sides
ABC Christmas Challenge - Q is for Quantum Leap I used E for edging punch
CHNC Challenge 242 - Something Old card, die, border punch, ink, etc...... all old
VSC Challenge 35 - Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Make My Day

Hello.  Welcome.  Whilst visiting around the blogosphere yesterday I came across Freshly Made Sketches, who have a slightly different take on the clean and simple genre.  They just want clean.  Now, of the two, the clean element is the one I struggle with.  When pushed, I term my style simple, rarely clean, so I thought this would be a good one to try.   And I liked the sketch.  So here's my idea

I wanted to use this Unity stamp and sentiment from the Call me I'll Laugh at You set.  So  searched my pp stash for a paper with telephones on it.  Nuffink!!  Then I decided to stamp my own.  DIY time.  I used various Colorbox inks and repeatedly stamped the telephone on white paper.  I cut a Cheery Lynn English Teaparty Doily and angel wing and also found some pretty pp that coordinated.  I added a piece of purple glitter tape and stamped the sentiment on a round of card.  I also made a shrink plastic telephone using the same telephone stamp.  Ain't it cute. 

Joining the fun at
Freshly Made Sketches #200 - A Celebration
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 198 - Doilies
Unity Stamp Co. Friends With Flair
Stampotique Designers Challenge 209 - Repeat Yourself

Thanks for dropping by.  Hope you are having a crafty weekend.  Don't forget to leave a comment.  You never know......   Hugz

Pop Goes The Gecko

Hello.  Welcome.  So Kathy has a Pop Up Challenge goin' on and the theme is lines.  I loved this card that Kathy used a stitched die to add texture.  So I grabbed my Simon Says Stamps Stitched Die set and cut a line.  No, actually the very first thing I did was make popcorn!!  It's a pop-up challenge and Kathy says we need popcorn so I made a big bowl. 

Now this is a straight die that cuts a stitch line and an edge.  But I figured that was OK.  Two lines for the price of one!!  So I cut a few in a fan shape.  Ooh look, popcorn....

I did a watercolour wash with distress inks, cut the edge with the stitch die and mounted on a blue base card.  Then I cut a blue cog, added eyelash lines around the edge and some squiggly lines across the middle with my white gelly roll pen.  Then I added this cute little gecho from Your Next Stamp Happy Dance set.  And popcorn.  

Joining the fun at
The Daily Marker Pop Up Challenge - Lines
Allsorts Challenge Week 324 - Favourite Colour that would be blue
That Craft Place Challenge - Blue 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Donut Worry, Be Happy

Hello.  Welcome.  A special hi and hello to Julie.  So nice to have you along.  Hugz all round for my lovely followers.  

Looking for inspiration at Stamplorations and I decided to CASE Maria's card.  I was also influenced by Karola's blue donuts.  I went with three donuts instead of balloons.  I did think about hanging my donuts on strings but couldn't find any good reason to do that.........

This was going to make a card but I wanted the donuts to look big so I made an ATC.  I added striped patterned paper to the bottom of the ATC and used Stamplorations Retro Circles stencil and Cracked Pistachio on the top section.  I stamped the donuts from Stamploration Sugar Rush set several times, embossed, watercoloured and fussy cut.  I decided they needed a little more pzazz so I used some glitter glue with long glitter bits.  Looks like sprinkles!!  The sentiment from Stamplorations Trendy Butterflies set.  

Joining the fun at
Stamplorations August Challenge
Stamplorations August CASE Playground
Stamplorations Anything Goes Challenge
Stamplorations August Mixed Media Challenge 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Food and/or Drink
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Spots and Stripes

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

These Is For Dancing

Hello.  Welcome.  Summer didn't last.  Grey skies and rain.  Mojo on holiday.  Feeling uninspired.  What's on my desk?  Birthday stamps and a cow die.  This one's a bit unisex, but I'm going to call it Manly.  I mean, she's a fine looking lady.  Should have given her some eyelashes to bat.  Who wouldn't like a Moo-Hoo from her.  

  
Using my Big Shot I cut my grey base card with SSS stitched rectangle die.  I paper pieced Cheery Lynn''s Clarabell the Cow and used Cheery Lynn Old Barn Board to cut the floor.  I stamped and black embossed a sentiment from Rubber Dance Happy Birthday set.  

Joining the fun at
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 197 - Back to Nature
Unruly Paperarts August RAQ - Manly
DRU Challenge 31 - Great Outdoors 
Hjerteboden Juli Utfordring - Alt er Lov
Papirplanetens August Utfordring - Alt Går
Scrappehjertet Utfordring #12


Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Two Little Fish

Hello.  Welcome.  A special hi and hello to Anita, Susan and Susanne.  So happy to have you along.  A special big hugz to all my lovely followers.  Thanks for your support and encouragement.  

Today we have been having some weather.  We had chocolate melting, coffee blowing out of the cup weather.  Hot and very windy.  It was summer.  For one day.  Tomorrow it rains!!  What a strange year.  Over at Verve Stamps I was inspired by the black, pink and gold circles on the inspiration photo.  The black and pink have become another project but the gold ones look something like this

I die cut gold mirror card with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle die and then embossed with Simon Says Stamp Bubble Parade die.  Then I used the bubble parade die to cut black, pink and gold glitter card.......

I added some of the gold glitter circles to the embossed design.  I stamped Inkadinkado's Cute Fish on white card, coloured with watercolour pencils and fussy cut.  The sentiment is from Rubber Dance Happy Birthday set, stamped on gold card, black embossed and edged/grunged with black archival ink.  

Joining the fun at
Verve Stamps August Inspiration Challenge - Celebrate
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge 
CASology Week 159 - Aquatic 
Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes with a stamp and a die 
Addicted to Stamps Challenge 157 - Make Your Mark 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

En Liten Hilsen Mini Book

Hello.  Welcome.  Hei og velkommen. See, it's not that difficult is it??  It's my design team premier over at Rubber Dance Scandanavian blog today so get yourself over there and leave me some love and support.  What do you mean you don't speak Norwegian??  I'm not taking that as an excuse.  Just whip out your google translate.  Although between you and me, he does have some funny ideas when translating Norwegian, so let's just hope my Norwegian is better than his translation LOL.  As a last resort I have published the pictures in your own language, so you can have a look at least.  There's lots of lovely pictures.  Here's a peek

Also check out the new stamp release at the Rubber Dance blog.  There are winners on both blogs as well for those who have already been commenting.  It's definitely the place to be so hop over and leave lots of lovely comments in whatever language floats your boat.  Hope to see you there.  Hugz

Antipodean Sereotyping

Hello.  Welcome.  Here I sit.  A glorious Norwegian evening.  My friends are eating lobster and drinking wine and I am tying tiny corks onto a paper hat.  Personally, I think I'm having most fun.  Maybe I need more wine.........

Here's Cheery Lynn's Captain Kangarooooooo.  G'day.  Keeping it simple cos, well it's a party and you have to try and be sociable.  I added the hat from Cheery Lynn Arizona Cowboy set and hand tied some tiny corks for added inter-actability.  I mounted him on a card embossed using Sizzix Rays folder and tinted with distress ink.  

Joining the fun at
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 196 - Summer Fun
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Tie It Up
DRS Designs Challenge 186 - I Can Feel It
Love 2 Create Challenge #15 - Mixed Media

Thanks for dropping by.  Off to join the party people.  Have a great weekend everyone.  Hugz

Anyday Woo Hoo

Hello.  Welcome.  Here to share something a little different from my usual.  Actually, not sure what my usual is, but this just feels like something a little different from it. 

I cut Simon Says Stamp Diamond Parade from hot pink card and adhered it to a black base card.  I stamped Unity Stamp Co. Woo Hoo owl on white card, fussy cut and added him to my card.

Joining the fun at
Unity Stamp Co. Friends With Flair
Unity Stamp Co Challenge 30 - Colour
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Diamonds
Our Creative Corner - Mexico Moods

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Wishing You a Very Chilli Christmas

Hello.  Welcome.  Since I was over at MFP I thought I'd try the Popcorn Wrap Stocking Stuffer tutorial and join in the Christmas in July hop challenge.  I don't do microwave popcorn so I decided to be creative with chocolate

Hmmm, nam.  Perfect.  I've altered the dimensions given in the tutorial to 12 x 8" and 10 x 4" for my papers

NBUS alert!!  I've used MME Snowed In papers.  This was a 2008 release!!  Too pretty to use!  Get 'em gone girl!!  Ooh, GEGG.  Maybe Darnell would like that one.  

Actually the altered dimensions worked perfectly for me cos I wanted to use MFP Nutcracker stamps and they are quite tall thin images.  I stamped and embossed the nutcracker and colored with sharpies and my gold pilot pen.  The frame was cut using Spellbinders Labels 23.  The sentiment is also from the nutcracker set

Joining the fun at
MFP Stamp Shop Christmas in July Blog Hop
Winter Wonderland - Christmas Carols/Songs We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Thanks for dropping by.  Back soon maybe since Mr Mojo and Mr Organised seem to have got it together.  Famous last words.....  Hugz

Woven Tiger

Hello.  Welcome.  Crafty time has been sadly lacking and I have so many thing started and not finished.  That's me folks!!  So I decided to sit down and concentrate on just one thing.  And Lo! a Tiger appears in the east.   Sorry!  It's the christmas paper.  But hopefully you won't notice that LOL.  

Over at MFP they have a lovely tutorial on weaving a card center so me and Tiger thought we'd join the fun.  My base card, woven pieces and tiger are all on Basic Grey Jovial paper.  I picked up a few pieces of this cos I thought it was lovely summer colours and liked the printed text look.  Ahhhh.... christmas carols text!  Ah well, who reads it that close.  We're going for the seasonal birthday look.  The Tiger and the sentiment are from MFP Tiger set.  I cut the sentiment using Simon Says Stamp stitched tag die and tied on a tuft of wool that maybe looks like the end of a tigers tail??  Well, artistic license at work.  My panel was embossed with Couture Creations Ohh La La embossing folder and I added some Shabby Shutters distress ink.  

Joining the fun at
Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge 273 - Weave the Center 
FSC Challenge 101 - All About the Men 
Unruly PaperArts RAQ -Manly
DRS Design Challenge 186 - I Can Feel It 

Thanks for dropping by.  Back soon.  Hugz

A Dark and Stormy Knight + a Winner

Hello.  Welcome.  The inclement weather that had been forecast finally arrived so I took all precautions, barricaded myself in my craft room and crafted like a good 'un.  I feel restored.  Over at Viva Las Vegas stamps they have a lovely moody board.  Just perfect for grey rainy days

I used a piece of dictionary paper sent to me by Tricia.  Thanks Tricia.  Hugz.  I stamped VLVS Steampunk Warrior on silver metal and embossed with black embossing powder.  I die cut Sizzix Harlequin Border from black metal, added a section along the bottom of the book paper and some of the diamonds randomly on the card.  I inked the edges with black archival and mounted on a grey card base.  

Joining the fun at
VLVS August Challenge
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Diamonds
FSC Challenge #101 - All About The Men
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 
The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Creative Challenge - Anything Goes

Many moons ago, well one moon ago, I proposed a little Name That Bloke competition on this post.  I would like to thank the five lovely ladies who supplied a name and made me very happy that they played along.  So here's the bloke

And of the names supplied I thought BORIS suited him just fine.  So Tangled Blue Rose
drop me an email with your snail mail address and the doggy stamp is yours.  Thanks again for playing along ladies.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hope you are getting time to be crafty.  Hugz

Newsflash! Starting Small

Hello.  Welcome.  Well, would you believe.....  The lovely Bibi at Rubber Dance had a design team call and guess what??!!  One of the lucky ladies is ME!!  Gosh, wow and by the way I'm joining the Scandinavian team!  So I hope you will be visiting and maybe we can all learn a little Norwegian LOL.  Oh, that's maybe you can learn a little Norwegian.  We are all hoping I already know a bit!!  Anyway, my first post on the Rubber Dance blog will be 9th August, so to keep you interested I decided to do a little something using this months challenge colours

For a chance to win some lovely rubber make something using the challenge colours and stamping.  The theme is optional and you don't have to use Rubber Dance stamps, but of course we would love to see them LOL.

I cut my ATC base from textured card using Sixxix ATC die and stamped the beach babe from Take the Plunge in Colourbox Irish ink.  I masked her and stamped Spooky ATC background using Mowed Lawn distress ink.  

 

I stamped the beach babe again using Archival Potting Soil and fussy cut her.  I paper pieced her costume and coloured her towel with Mustard Seed distress ink. 

I added some black embossing powder as a grungy border and stamped and embossed the smallest butterfly from Antique Botanicals.   I fussy cut my butterflies and coloured with distress.  Hopefully my beach babe looks like she's in the garden.  Love that image.  All the stamps are available at Rubber Dance

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at

Stamping Sensations - Stamps and Dies

Repeat Impressions WIW July Anything Goes Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Card and Scrap Udfordring 101 - Alt er Lov