Poinsettia

Hello.  Welcome.  Just a quick CAS Christmas card to finish off February...

I stamped Penny Black's Poinsettia Amaryllis, embossed with black powder and coloured with distress ink.  The sentiment is from MFP's Dear Santa set.  

Thanks for dropping by.  See you in March.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Rudolph Days Challenge - February
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Use Red and/or Hearts 
The Craft Barn Two Weekly Challenge - CAS with a flower and sentiment
Stamplorations CAS Challenge February 
AAA Cards Game 59 - Embossing 

Hippity Hoppity Leap

Hello.  Welcome.  February 29th.  Did you wear red underskirts and propose?  Did you give birth to a baby who will be old enough to drink before he/she is old enough to go to school?  If you are born on 29th February do you only get a birthday once every 4 years?  Or do you celebrate on the 28th Feb and the 1st March??  Just curious.........  Well, however you spent your day I hope you have taken advantage of the extra 24 hours.  

  
I've made an ATC in the Rubber Dance challenge colours, red, white and kraft.  There are still 6, OK 5 and a half, hours to get your entry in.  Then it's all change with the new colours for March..........

I started by cutting my ATC, adding some ripped book paper and smudging with Barn Door distress ink.  I think this could be a hot romance......

I stamped and embossed the lion from African Animals and half a sentiment from Sarcastic Superpower.  The lion was coloured with Tea Dye distress ink.  

Thanks for dropping by.  All stamps are from Rubber Dance and if you are shopping you can get 15% off with the code gail2016.  If you get time to join the challenge we would love to see you there.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge Week 352 - Sentiment in Focus 
Scrappegarasjen Oppgave 21 - Embossing 
DRS Designs Challenge 215 - Hop, Skip or Jump  he looks like he might....

News Hound

Hello.  Welcome.  I was lucky to be the random winner of the December VLVS challenge and my grab bag prize arrived yesterday.  Looking through I spotted a cute dog and a sentiment I couldn't resist inking up.  I think they went very well together.....

So, it was going to be an ATC, but I couldn't fit the dog and the sentiment on it, so I dug out some Sizzix journaling card dies.  Then, cos I don't PL or journal I decided to stick a piece of thin magnet on the back and make a fridge magnet.  Approximate size 7,5 x 10cm.  Sorry, I got carried away and forgot to photo.  

The background is a piece of thick brown card, die cut and sponged with Ground Espresso distress ink through Echo Park Diagonal Stripes stencil.  I stamped the VLVS circle on neon paper and embossed with black powder.  I cut some ex-plastic packaging with the die and embossed with Sizzix Ledger embossing folder.  I added some brown alcohol inks around the edges on the backside.  The dog, sentiment and floor detail are all VLVS stamped on old book paper.  The floor was detail is from a circus lady's stripy trousers!  Then I stuck my magnet on the back and it's ready to swap for a cup of really good coffee........

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
VLVS February Challenge
MFP Stamps Challenge 9 - Brown
Stamplorations Mixed Media Challenge
Penny Black and More - Anything Goes with Stamps and a Die
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Bilingual Blogging

Hello. Welcome. Today I'm starring on both the Rubber Dance blogs.  I've done a step by step of my dragon clock that I showed during the Rubber Dance/EyeConnect Crafts blog hop.  Do pop over and check it out and leave me a little love.........

In English

I Norsk

Thanks for dropping by.  If you would like to buy Rubber Dance stamps you can get 15% off with the code gail2016

 

And there's still time to join the Rubber Dance Challenge

 Hugz

Jelly Beans and Butterflies

Hello.  Welcome.  It's been a while since I joined the DRS challenge.  The weeks seem to go by so fast!!  But I love the pretty jelly bean colours this weeks so, with hours to spare LOL, I decided to combine the DRS and the Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge together.

HLS want to see Embossing Folder Stamping.  So I rattled through my embossing folders and found Mod Flower by Sizzix.  I inked it with Mustard Seed, Cracked Pistachio and Festive Berries distress inks and stamped on my card.  

I stamped DRS Butterfly Kiss sentiment and a DRS butterfly that I coloured with the same inks.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
DRS Designs Challenge 214 - Inspired By Color
Happy Little Stampers February CAS Challenge - Embossing Folder Stamping
Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday February 2016 - Something Floral
Nordsalten Hobbyklubb Utfordring 133 - Sommerfuggel i Vinterland 
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge - Things with Wings 

Sun Arise, She Bring In The Morning

Hello.  Welcome.  Over at FSC they want to see sunrise or sunset.  Now I'm not much of an artist so my first take, involving a rhino, left him unsure whether he was standing under a sunrise, a sunset or a bush fire.  It's in the 'pending' basket.  Here's take two. 

I'm calling this Chameleon at Sunset.  I've used a stamp from Flonzcraft's Animal Landscape Borders #2, stamped and embossed with black powder.  The background was made using brusho's.  I sprinkled yellow brusho and rubbed it into a circle using my finger.  The I sprinkled alternating red and scarlet and rubbed them out in horizontal lines, again using my finger.  Then I spritzed with water.  This technique gives more control over the way the colours behave.  Then I went round the edge of my ATC with versamark and embossed the rough border with black powder.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
FSC Challenge 108 - Sunrise/Sunset
Scrappegarasjen Oppgave 21 - Embossing
Country View Challenges February - Make Your Own Background
Twofers Challenge 14 - Anything Goes

F is for Fabulous

Hello.  Welcome.  My second altered playing card for The Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary challenge.  This fortnight the letter is F, and we have to include a heart. 

I covered the card with scrunched red tissue paper and cut kraft coloured Bazzill with the small Sizzix Scalloped Heart die.  I stamped Unity's The Strength She Needs, embossed, coloured with sharpies and watercolours and fussy cut.  I added the definition for Fabulous, cos I think she is.......  I stamped a unity grab bag stamp on each heart in red and added some faux stitches. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary Challenge - F and a heart
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - A Heart, Not Red
Penny Black and More February Challenge - AG with Stamps and Dies
Stamping Sensations February Challenge - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - January 2016  new stamp

Snowy Village

Hello.  Welcome.  I went through a phase of buying embossing folders that were scenes, rather than patterns.  This one is Nellie Snellen's Snowy Stairs which I never used.  A very nice scene that gives a quick card.  

I embossed a blue card and then sponged on some white ink to highlight the embossing.  I stamped Merry Christmas twice on white paper with blue ink, ripped the edge and added it to the bottom of the card.  I spritzed with W&N iridescent medium to make it sparkle.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
CHNC Challenge 268 - Blue
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - January 2016 new embossing folder
 

Loads of Lolly

Hello.  Welcome.  In the Scandinavian corner of blogland I keep coming across Lollipop cards.  What's that all about?  I don't understand.   So in the interests of finding out, I decided to make one and see.  Oh dear, I think I've discovered something new and fun to do!!!   

This was way more fun than I was anticipating.  It all started cos I found this fun snowpeep from Unity stamps already stamped and embossed on a piece of card.  I cut the image with Sizzix Circle die and smeared on the Blueprint Sketch distress.  I added some lace and scored and folded some MME patterned paper to make my rosette.  

TIP #1 - use double sided patterned card!!  I had to back mine with patterned paper.

I inked the edges of the rosette with Blueprint Sketch.  The silver metal frame is from Korthobby.  The sentiment is from Unity Stamps.  I also added a tiny bell from Korthobby, cos angels arrive to the sound of bells.  Both the frame and the bell were part of a lovely bag of charms I won from Korthobby for being a challenge winner.  Thanks Wenche.  Hugz

TIP #2 - ink the edges of your folded rosette before folding it ROFL

I didn't have a stripey straw so I wrapped a stripey pipecleaner around it.  The pipecleaner also became a great way to hold the frame and bell in place.  I added a simple die cut circle to the back so there was somewhere to write.   My first lollipop card.  So, that's what it's all about...........

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Korthobby Februar Utfordringen - Die Cut og Metall
Hjerteboden Utfordring i Februar - Bretting
CHNC Challenge 268 - Colour Blue
Penny Black and More February Challenge - Anything Goes with Stamps and Dies 
Ett Trykk Trykkpressa Februar - Lollipopkort
Addicted to Stamps Challenge 181 - Anything Goes 

Crazy Chick

Hello.  Welcome.  Well, the electricity guys did whatever it was they had to do and you will be glad to know I survived 5 hours unpowered.  It's amazing how much you miss it when it isn't around.  I decided it was time to play along with the Viva Las Vegas challenge...

The sentiment, bird and circles are Viva Las Vegas stamps.  I made my background by masking off each section and sponging with Shaded Lilac and Hickory Smoke distress ink.  I stamped the circles with Shaded Lilac and edged and smudged with black Archival.   
Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
VLVS February Challenge
Country View Challenge February - Make Your Own Background
Scrappelyst Grublis For Februar - Trekanter
Stamping Sensations February Challenge - Anything Goes 

Bear Hugz

Hello.  Welcome.  Tomorrow they have forecast bad weather.  Also the electricity company is going to be doing essential maintenance which means we will be without power for hours.  No heat, no light, no internet.  Arrrgggg.  I did think I would catch up with some crafting but if it's a gloomy day that may be a challenge as well.  I suppose I must just wait and see.  I am sure there are plenty of things to do that don't require electricity.........

Cheery Lynn have moved their challenge to a Thursday and I must admit it's hard to get my head around.  I was thinking I'd missed it but luckily, they have also made it two weekly, so there is still time to join the Tickled Pink challenge.  

I have used Cheery Lynn's Koala Ken and Oval Celtic Frame.   I cut Koala Ken from black and hot pink card.  I swapped the bits and decided to use the dark version.  I still have his alter ego to use on another project.  I backed the frame with pink mulberry paper.  I cut the frame again to give the aperture in pink Bazzill card and stamped Stamplorations Big Numbers Background with Picked Raspberry distress ink.  I smudged the ink to highlight the texture of the card.

I stamped a sentiment from Stamplorations Country Rustic and added some strips of embroidered ribbon.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 222 - Tickled Pink
Stamplorations Anything Goes Challenge 
Twofers Challenge 13 - Numbers
Card and Scrap Udfordring 112 - Lag på Lag 
DRS Designs Challenge 213 - Hot & Cold 
Winter Wonderland - Have a Heart
Crafty Ribbons Challenge 143 - Animals

F is For Fashion

Hello.  Welcome.  If you are looking for the blog hop go HERE.  Still a few hours left to comment.  There be prizes.  

The Craft Barn Alpha challenge is on F is week, and we have to include a heart.  I decided to go with fashion.  Over at Scrappelyst the challenge is triangle.  An underused shape I feel, so I decided to make my background using triangles. 

So here's my large altered playing card featuring a paper pieced Prima doll.  I gave her an patterned paper skirt and jazzed it up with some glitter glue.  

 
To make the background I covered the card with black handmade paper and then I cut white triangles from scrap card and stuck them on.  I added a couple of rhinestone hearts and the definition from the Oxford English Dictionary.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary Challenge - F with hearts
The Craft Barn Weekly Challenge - Hearts, Not Red
Country View Challenge February - Make Your Own Background
Scrappelyst Grublis for Februar - Trekanter
OCS February Challenge - Anything Goes 

Just Send Chocolates

Hello.  Welcome.  If you are looking for the blog hop go HERE

I actually wanted a sentiment that read 'loves me, loves me not.....' but of course, I don't have that.  Does anyone make one?  Does anyone want to make one.  This bear just looked a bit like he was comfort eating. 

I used Gruffies Beartastic Day, coloured with distress inks and added a heart to the lid of the box.  Loves me...... loves me not.......   Or how about Dear Valentine, thanks for the chocolates...........

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
HMFMC#212 - Love is all Around
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - One Layer
Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday Something New new stamp
CASology Week 184 - Valentine
Kreativ Scrapping Utfordring 2 - Glede 

Join Our Combined Blog Hop!

Hello Crafters! I'm excited to welcome you to the very first joint blog hop with EyeConnect Crafts and Rubber Dance Stamps!

Erin Sparler of EyeConnect Crafts (USA) and Bibi Lindahl of Rubber Dance Stamps (Norway) met online in the fall of 2015. They quickly hit it off and discovered that they had a LOT in common, or as Erin so eloquently put it: There is no word for old friends who have just met!

The Design Teams have been generously supplied with chipboards from EyeConnect Crafts and rubber stamps from Rubber Dance Stamps and we are all thrilled to show you the results with this joint Blog Hop.

What's in it for you?

Glad you asked! One lucky winner will receive a Gift Certificate worth $25 from BOTH EyeConnect Crafts AND Rubber Dance to spend on our websites! Another lucky winner will receive a surprise gift from BOTH Erin and Bibi, with $25 worth of products from our two companies!

What do you have to do?

Not much! 

1) Visit all the blog posts in the hop and leave a comment. 

2) Become a follower of the EyeConnect Crafts and Rubber Dance Stamps blogs.

That's it! And who knows... maybe YOU will tie new bonds of friendships across the globe, too! :-)

You have until Valentine's Day, Sunday the 14th at midnight EST (New York time), which is 6 am Monday 15th for those of you on Central European Time (Amsterdam, Berlin, Oslo), and 5 am if you live in the UK. You can find a time converter here. Winners will be announced 18th of February.

Enjoy the hop and good luck!

Here is what I made with chipboards from EyeConnect Crafts and stamps from Rubber Dance:

A one handed clock LOL

I started with an IKEA clock.  I used EyeConnect Crafts Totem Dragon embossed with red tinsel embossing powder.  I have connected it with brads and the thing I really like about these chipboards is, they move.  I used 5mm foam to under the central body piece to attach the dragon.  Everything else moves still!  Cool

 

I used stamps from Rubber Dance Round in Circles and ATC Backgrounds 2 embossed with white embossing powder.  

I added some frayed ribbon and red rhinestones to the hand. It rotates once a minute. The circle with the pen and the word 'Imagination' rotate once every twelve hours. It's my very own Imagination-o-meter LOL

Blog hop list:

      1. Erin, owner of EyeConnect Crafts

 2. Susan

 3. Lilian

 4. Anita

 5. Irit

 6. Steph

 7. Majo

 8. Kim

 9. Kristiina

10. Gail   <==== you are here

11. Susanne

12. Bibi, owner of Rubber Dance Stamps

Challenge!

You may have noticed that the blog hop projects all use the colors from this month’s Rubber Dance Challenge, Kraft, White and Red. Play along for another chance to win Rubber Dance Stamps, this is the post you need to read (link opens in a new tab).

Thanks for stopping by and hopping along!

Don't forget to leave a comment for the chance to win.  Hugz

Joining the fun at

Country View Challenges February - Make Your Own Background
Stamping Sensations February Challenge - Anything Goes
Things to Alter #1 - Anything Goes But Not Cute 

Home Tweet Home

Hello.  Welcome.  The CAS one layer odyssey continues.  Stamplorations have a triplets challenge and I wanted a happy new house card.  Well, 1 out of 2 ain't bad.........

I stamped the triple bird house stamp from Stamplorations Country Rustic.  I had images of a swoosh! so I cut a mask and sponged with Picked Raspberry distress ink.  Then I went looking for a happy new home stamp.  Nope.  The only 'home' stamp I could find was this one from Hero Arts.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Be sure to check back tomorrow.   There's going to be a hop passing through my blog.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Stamplorations February Challenge - Stamps and Triplets
Stamplorations CAS Challenge February
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - One Layer
One Crazy Stamper Challenge - Anything Goes 

Love Birds

Hello.  Welcome.  Hearts everywhere and quite a lot of CAS as well so.......

I stamped and embossed the Artistic Stamper Birdz with tinsel red powder.  Then I coloured then with neon gel pens.  I masked and cut a heart mask and sponged with Brilliance Rocket Red Gold and added some faux stitch detail.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Challenge - Heart Art
MFP Stamps Challenge 6 - CAS and Hearts 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - One Layer 
CASology Week 184 - Valentine 
Repeat Impressions DCC210 - Use Some Hearts
Allsorts Challenge Week 349 - Clean and Simple 

Bunny Mine

Hello.  Welcome.  I have used some unity stamps to make another cartoon style card inspired by Shirley.  I arranged my boxes to go with the Unity sketch.  I am a little sad cos Unity have moved their challenge to their facebook show and tell group.  I know not everyone has fb and I did enjoy the blog challenges.  Luckily, necessity means I can join the fun, and the challenges are now weekly, so that certainly spices things up.  

I stamped a grab bag greeting and the flower and bunny from Unity's Thoughts of Spring set.  I added my boxes and coloured with dilute Picked Raspberry distress ink and a touch of red and green.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Nordsalten Hobbyklubb Utfordring 132 - Hurra For Deg 
Stamplorations February Challenge - Stamps and Triplets three frames
Stamplorations Spotlight Project Showcase
Verve Stamps February Challenge three frames/pink,green,white

Q is for Quest

Hello.  Welcome.  I have been working on a second project for the Craft Barn dictionary challenge, where we are playing with the letter Q.  I am altering a pack of giant cards and trying to do two cards for each letter.  I have used a Gorjuss stamp called The Runaway.  I loved this when it first came out and finally bought one.  This is it's first outing.  When I saw it it made me think of her going on a quest, old fashioned style on a dashing charger.  

Q is for Quest.   I stamped and embossed The Runaway stamp onto silver metal sheet.  Then I paper pieced the girl.  The definition for quest is from the Oxford English Dictionary.

I wasn't sure about the background.  At first I was going to just stick the horse onto the back of the unaltered blue playing card.  Then I found this sizzix travel words embossing folder and tried it with a matt black background.  Then I remembered this gorgeous holographic scratch paper.  Watch out kids!  Your crazy crafting mummies are going to be raiding your toy box!!  This is the stuff that is pretty colours covered with a black coating you scratch off.  Gives an amazing effect with embossing folders.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz


Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary Challenge - Q
7 Kids Challenge #144 - Anything Goes
ABC Challenge - A is for Animals
Country View Challenges February - Make Your Own Background 
One Crazy Stamper February Challenge - Anything Goes 

Starry Starry Distress

Hello.  Welcome.  Still feeling the jingle and another christmas card, this time with a distress ink background inspired by the tutorial at MFP.  

I sponged two shades of green distress ink onto a pre-embossed card, added some splats using a distress stain dabber and sprinkled with water.  I stamped the sewn star from MFP USA Heros set and embossed with black powder.  I added some ric rac ribbon and small buttons.  The sentiment is from MFP Dear Santa set.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
MFP Stamps Challenge #5 - Anything Goes 
MFP January I Want To Go To The Beach Blog Hop 
CHNC Challenge #266 - Anything Christmas
OLCC Challenge #25 - Anything Goes 
VSC Challenge 41 - Splatters and Drips 

Whoa! Rudolf

Hello.  Welcome.  So the postman comes at lunchtime with happy mail.  He bought the Reindeer Games stamp set I won in the Stamplorations blog hop.  Thanks Shery.  So, drinking my coffee, checking out my new cute reindeer stamps and doing a little surfing.  And on the Stamploration blog there's Shirley doing a step by step of her cute cartoon cards.  Love these.  So I think, I'll have a go at that with me new deers.   

OMG, how fun is that?  I must admit, despite Shirley's brilliant step by step this took me ages to put together.  I knew I wanted to use Reindeer Games, but then I had to work out the size and orientation of my boxes and which stamps I was going to use.  But I got there in the end.  I am sure next time, oh yes, there will be a next time, it will be a bit easier.  So I made a one layer christmas card with the crazy deer and a couple of the sentiments.  Looking at it, I suppose it could double as a unseasonal valentine.  A twofer ho ho ho.  Thanks Shirley.  Love this look.  Coloured with distress inks and my waterbrush.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Stamplorations Spotlight Project Showcase 
Stamplorations Anything Goes Challenge
One Layer Christmas Challenge #25 - Anything Goes
CHNC Challenge 266 - Anything Christmas 
ABC Christmas Challenge - C is for Cute Critters 
The Daily Marker 30 Day Colouring Challenge