How Cowboys Dream

Hello.  Welcome.  Supposedly it's Inspire Your Heart with Art Day today.  Something to aspire to every day me thinks.  So.......  I have been meaning to join the Viva Las Vegas Stamps challenge.  Their mood board is all browns and silhouette flowers.  So I decided to try my very first mail art envelope.  I searched for flowers in my VLVstamps and found a guy sleeping against a cactus.  I want his dreams.........

I stamped and black embossed the man sleeping against the cactus, the Unicorn and the dream big sentiment.  All VLVstamps and all NBUS.  Then I did some watercolouring using distress inks, Ground Espresso, Tea Dye, Frayed Burlap and Hickory Smoke.  I made the splatts using frayed burlap and Stamplorations Flutters and Splatters stencil.  I think that's quite a fun envelope.  Not bad for a first attempt. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
VLVS Challenge
NBUS Challenge 10  GC if I should be so lucky LOL 
Stamping Sensations Challenge - Coffee and Cream he's just having 40 winks whilst the coffee is cooking
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Stamplorations Mixed Media Challenge

To The Horror Of The Photographer

Hello.  Welcome.  Since I was playing with the black and gold I thought I'd have a go at another creation.  This time I splatted my black base card with metallic gold ink.  

The Film Camera is another NBUS Fuzzy Lemon die, cut from gold mirror card.  Then I cut the sentiment from the same gold mirror card using Stamplorations Birthday and Seasons Greetings dies.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Stamplorations Cutplorations January Challenge
Scrappegarasjen Utfordring 31 - CAS
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Country View Challenge January 2017 - Anything Goes
Stamplorations Anything Goes Challenge

Golden Child

Hello.  Welcome.  The last day of January so a flurry of crafting to join a few challenges.  Over at Stamplorations their die cut challenge has a lovely black and gold inspiration photo.  So I thought I'd make an any baby card....

I took about 50 photos of this one and this was the best I could get!!  That gold mirror card is gorgeous, but it's a challenge for the photographer LOL.  I wanted to play with a new die from Fuzzy Lemon.  Ain't it cute!!  I cut my black base card with Stamplorations Crazy Double Stitch Rectangle then cut the FL New Baby Panel (NBUS) from gold mirror card.  Simple and sweet for a boy or a girl.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Stamplorations Cutplorations January Challenge 
Nordsalten Hobbyklubb #153 - Baby
NBUS Challenge 10  GC if I should be so lucky LOL, and ooh look its Inspire Your Heart With Art Day!!  Don't we do that every day?
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Country View Challenge January 2017 - Anything Goes 

Born With Wings

Hello.  Welcome.  A CAS 4 x 6 postcard with one of the butterfly girls from Rubber Dance Fly With Me.  

I've coloured the butterfly girl with Promarkers, and also the panel behind the Sizzix die cut wish.  I used versamark through Stamplorations Flutterby stencil and embossed with Star Dust embossing powder, a clear powder with holographic glitter.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
CASology Week 233 - Glisten 
Addicted to CAS Challenge 103 - Wish 
Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - Stencil 
Promarker Challenge Week 379 - Feminine Fancy 
Stamplorations Mixed Media Challenge 

 

A Veritable Avalanche

Hello.  Welcome.  The mojo has been in full flow today and I thought I'd sneak in a last card to a couple of challenges that are closing soon.  

I kept it black and white for the Double D challenge and was also inspired by the patterns on the cushions in their inspiration photo.  I used the High Hopes sketch, and Loungin' Lizzy and the sentiment are both from High Hopes and are also NBUS!  Lizzy is just so cool.  Look at those bunny slippers!!

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
High Hopes Stamps January Challenge - Sketch
Double D Challenges - Black and White
NBUS Challenge 9 GC/ANY
Scrappelyst Grublis for Januar - Monokromatisk
One Crazy Stamper January Challenge - Live, Love, Laugh

Hot Pink and Tangarine

Hello.  Welcome.  It's been a while since I played at PaperArtsy but I've been grabbed by their first topic for 2017 - Pink and Orange.  Now, I must say, these aren't my go to colours.  And I would rarely, never say never, use them together.   I liked Keren's vibrant painty background and decided to have a play.  

OK, totally forgot to take pictures of my painty background so here's my rooster, Troll.  It being Happy New Year of the Rooster and all that......

Here's a pillow box I made from pink textured card.  I cut the box using Sizzix Pillow Box die, then I cut again using the poinsettia die from Sizzix Mixed Media Christmas (NBUS).  I used my painty card behind the poinsettias and also for the small tag.  Sentiment from Rubber Dance Frosty Friend.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Paperartsy 2017 Topic 1 - Pink and Orange
NBUS Challenge 9  GC/ANY 

Flurries Over My Head

Hello.  Welcome.  Just a quick christmas tag using Rubber Dance Stamps.

Snowflakes from Frosty Friends stamped with Stormy Sky distress ink.  I stamped the Let it Snow from Winter Wonderland in black archival and edged the tag with Festive Berries distress.  Some bobbly wool and we are ready to go.  Ho Ho Ho.

There's still time to join the Rubber Dance challenge.  Come on!  Show us your red, white and blue.  Frosty Winter optional. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Song Challenge 
January 2017 Rudolph Days Challenge 
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge 318 
ABC Christmas Challenge - A & B blue, bobbles
Deep Ocean Challenge 147 - Winter Wonderland
Happy Little Stampers January Christmas Challenge - AG

Black Cat or White

Hello.  Welcome.  Woke to blue sky, frosty grass and sunshine, when it cleared the mountain.  So a cold but glorious day.  Spent time in the garden doing some tidying and grooming one of my rabbits who seemed to be having a very bad hair day.  I think this warm winter has confused them as to whether they should be in winter coat or moulting for the spring.  Also took the time to think about a couple of crafty challenges and came up with this.  Uhhh, these.

Went with a pair, but not identical, 10 x 10cm cuties for the De Edel challenge.  Went black and white for Double D and was also inspired by their mood board to use a cat, in this case Cheery Lynn's Funny Cat.  I cut him in black and white and paper pieced to get one cat black and white and one cat white and black.  

Using a few thank you cards this month so for the background I stamped and embossed DRS's Thank You and Lost Coasts Cat Paw Border.  Then I went all smudgy with the black archival.  

Now here's a fun idea!!  I went all smudgy again with the black archival and then embossed it with black embossing powder.  Actually quite a cool background me thinks.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

My monochrome beauties are joining the fun at
De-Egel Januari Challenge 26
Double D Challenges - Black and White 
Scrappelyst Grublis for Januar - Monokromatisk
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Happy Little Stampers January - Anything Goes With Dies   

Fairy Nice Card for CCC January

Hello.  Welcome.  Whoop dee doo have you heard the news??  The wonderful and awesome Card Chain Challenge has it's own blog.  If you haven't heard me talk about the card chain challenge let me explain......  

This is an international card exchange.  You sign up and send a card to the person above you in the chain and get a card from the person below you in the chain.  Everyone gets a card.  Everyone wins!!  I have been a link in the chain for three years and haven't missed a month.  It's so cool knowing that a card is coming from somewhere on the planet, and you won't know what it looks like til it arrives, cos we keep that secret til we know our recipient has got her card.  Also, on the 2nd of the month we have a big reveal post and show all the cards that have been sent that month.  

The January cards are flying around the globe now, or have already been delivered.  I sent my card to Betty in Nebraska this month.  I know it has arrived, so I thought I'd share.

There are 4 options to choose from when making your card for CCC.  I chose the colours, cos I love purple and yellow, and the theme of friendship.    I cut my layers using my new Sizzix Mixed Media Thinlet dies (NBUS).  I love these.  I can see me cutting holes in many more cards LOL.   The little fairy is from Panduro's girl set.  I coloured her with Promarkers and fussy cut her.  The sentiment is from Crafty Individuals.  I added some rhinestones to her headband and antennae.  

If you would like to send and receive happy mail the February sign up is open now.  If you would like to see all the cards sent in January the reveal will be on the Card Chain Challenge blog on the February 2nd.  Do drop by and check out all the wonderful makes.  Hope to see you there.  

Thanks for dropping by.  I really appreciate your visit.  Hugz 

Joining the fun at
ODBDSLC 282 - Colour Challenge
Scrapyland Challenge 58 - Favourite Colours 
Promarker Challenge Week 379 - Feminine Fancy 
Lost Coast Portal to Creativity Challenge 32 - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes 

Cock a Doodle Who?

Hello.  Welcome.  I have made a little inspiration piece for the 

Rubber Dance challenge.  

There are real rubber stamps up for grabs.  Everyone who submits and entry using our challenge colours has a chance to win.  

Here's a peep at my project

He's looking at you looking at him!!  Pop over to the

Rubber Dance blog

 and check out the whole thing.

You have until 31st January to enter the challenge.  Here's the mood board

If you are in the mood for a little retail therapy you can get free shipping with my code

GT-FreeShip in the Rubber Dance online shop

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Daisy in a Pink Dress

Hello.  Welcome.  Well, this is verging on a record for making NBUS into used schtuff!!  Had a few happy mail packages today.  One was from Country View Crafts and contained a diverse selection of exciting things.  The first one I grabbed was the Sizzix Pillow Box Die (NBUS).  I saw this and thought it was a good price, cos it includes a few extra dies as well, and I have been making a few of these to pack small gifts, but cutting and scoring by hand.  Love it!!   I think I might work through the scraps and turn scraps to pillow boxes! 

Tried to go vintage.  Not a strong point of mine!!  I started by cutting the box from kraft and stamping Rubber Dance Vintage Script stamp with Espresso distress.  Then I smeared Old Paper and Tea Dye distress on the box.  I added a piece of lace up each size and die cut Memory Box Heart from Prima patterned paper.  I added 3 metal daisies from Korthobby.no and put a brown half pearl in the center of each flower.  This is Daisy the giraffe from  Lost Coast Designs Misc. Anthropomorphs.  Well, I think Daisy is a very good mname for a giraffe!  I coloured her with very dilute distress inks.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
NBUS Challenge #9  if I should be lucky ANY would be lovely and GC would be perfect
Korthobby Utfordring Januar 2017 - Vintage
Lost Coast Portal to Creativity Challenge 32 - AG  
Allsorts Challenge Week 399 - Daisy Daisy
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything But A Card 

It's a Twofer Darnell

Hello.  Welcome.  I made these two cuties cos De Egel want two 10 x 10 cards, the same but different.   I had already stamped and embossed a couple of the bird houses from Penny Black's Fly High NBUS.  I was lucky enough to win this stamp set at the Penny Black and More challenge last month.  I stamped the birdhouses on kraft and coloured them with watercolour pencils.  So that works brilliantly for Darnell's NBUS #8 challenge. 

I decided to make the card bases from recycled corrugated card.  I cut them to size and folded them.  They were a a bit stiff and wanted to spring open so I ran them through the bigshot.  Perfect!  Nicely flattened.  

I did a colour wash with the brown pencil at the bottom of the card and added the birdhouse and a bird from the same Penny Black set.  The sentiment is Stamploration stamps.

  
I stamped the post on the card and coloured with the brown pencil.  Then I added the birdhouse and another bird.  The thank you is a DRS stamp.  

I quite like the rustic look.......

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
NBUS #8 if I should be lucky [ANY] is fine but [GC] would be perfect
De-Egel Januari Challenge 26
Penny Black and More January Challenge - AG
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - AG
Repeat Impressions Inspiration Palette Challenge - J1817 inspired by the little wooden house

Putting Winter Behind Her

Hello.  Welcome.  This one is jumping the queue.  Yes, a number of projects slowly evolving and then this one leaps up, all fully formed and screaming to be let out.  I was inspired by the new challenge over at AAA cards.  The theme is winter chill and the thing that struck me about the inspiration picture was the stripes.  OK, they aren't exactly stripes!  Wheel tracks in the snow.  But they just said stripes to me.  And that also works for Double D where they want black and white and have some stripey pillows as well so......

This girl is from Unity Stamps January KOM.  I stamped her on the white card and then used black sharpies to add the stripes.  That took a while, but was kind of therapeutic.  She reminds me of me, when I go out in the morning and there is a hint of the spring to come.  Lift your nose, close your eyes, spring before us, winter behind.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
AAA Cards Game 82 - Winter Chill 
Scrappelyst Grublis for Januar - Monokromatisk 
Scrappegarasjen Utfordring 31 - CAS
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Chill Out she's chillin'
Double D Challenges - Black and White 
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - New Product  girl stamp is a new product 

 

P is for Pharmacist

Hello.  Welcome.  Last year I was doing the Craft Barn Alpha Dictionary challenge using giant playing cards.  I completed the challenge, in that I made a card with a letter for each fortnightly challenge, but I didn't manage to make two every challenge, which was what I hoped to do to complete the pack.  So a few of these will be popping up now and again.  Here's my second offering for P.  It was going to be poison, but that definition was split in my dictionary so I had a scout through and settled on pharmacist.  

I've used Sizzix embossing folder and blue metal sheet for the background.  The lady is a Lynne Perrelli stamp, stamped on white card, embossed with blue embossing powder and fussy cut.  The bottles on the shelf are a NBUS stamp from DRS called Magic Potion Shelf.  I stamped and embossed with silver embossing powder.  I coloured the bottles with various blue distress inks well diluted with water.  When they were dry I fussy cut them and added glossy accents.  Love the detail on this stamp.  The bottles all have quaint labels with strange contents written on them that are legible despite the embossing powder.  Definition from OED.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
NBUS #8 if I should be lucky [ANY] would be perfect
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything But A Card
Hobbygarasjen Utfordring 44 - Embossing
Hjerteboden Januar Utfordring - Blått, Hvitt, Sølv
Dare 2 B Artzy Challenge - Something New the Magic Potion Shelf stamp is new

Giraffese

Hello.  Welcome.  I saw the CASolgy challenge of Cut and had an idea.  Doesn't happen like that so often but I think this has turned out quite nicely.

I used Stamplorations Snowy Hills dies to cut my white card.  These give a nice stitch detail.  Then I cut some red card with the same dies and set them behind the cut.  I returned the panel I had cut out and stamped and embossed God Bedring from Rubber Dance En Liten Hilsen.  It means Get better Soon in Giraffe.   Oh, OK, it's Norwegian.  You got me.  And the Giraffe is also from Rubber Dance Stamps, stamped and embossed with blue powder and fussy cut. 

There's still plenty of time to join the Rubber Dance Challenge.  Hop over and check it out.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz



Joining the fun at
CASology Week 232 - Cut 
Mod Squad Challenge - Get Well Soon 
Scrappegarasjen Utfordring 31 - CAS
Country View Challenge January - AG
The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Challenge - AG 

Frozen Duck

Hello.  Welcome.  So this all started with the wellie boots.  The challenges this year at The Craft Barn are a little different and I wasn't sure if I was going to play along, but then I decided it's good to get out of your comfort zone so.........

The challenge is working through the lines of a poem by Sara Coleridge, which I am not familiar with, but probably will be by the end of the year.   So, include the first two lines in the poem and a bird in a wellington boot!  Why?  Who knows.  That's why it's a challenge.  So I decided to start at the most challenging bit, which was actually the boot, or in my case boots. 

The boots are borrowed from a girl in a sou'wester who came free with a magazine.  I stamped and embossed them on dark blue metal and fussy cut.  Then I chose my bird.  I decided a duck in wellies was a wonderful idea.  This is YNS Quackers stamped and embossed on pale blue metal.  I fussy cut him and the gold, red and mother of pearl colours are actually window paints (but that's a whole new blog post).  I decided to use a grey textured journaling card for my project.  

I used silver sparkle paste through Stamplorations Swirly Bloom stencil.   Here's a picture that shows the sparkle.  

I printed the poem lines on a piece of wintery paper and then did some tearing.  I layered the torn paper and placed an embossed die cut circle behind it with some bobbly white paper.  Then I added Quackers in his very fine boots. A bird in wellies.   

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Twelve Month Challenge 
Your Next Stamp Challenge 55 - Sketch 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything But A Card 
Fashionable Stamping Challenge 119 - Winter or Spring
Allsorts Challenge Week 398 - Wings on Things 
Stamplorations Mixed Media Challenge

Never-Before-Used-Schtuff #8 - Part 1

Hello.  Welcome.  This morning, whilst mooching around blogland I saw an acronym that made my mojo sing.  NBUS.  Yes, unexpectedly it's that time again.  Darnell is running her most amazing, most wonderful NBUS challenge.  Not once, not twice but three times.  So, in honour of Darnell, here's a card with much NBUS and also a little coloured pencils on kraft work.  Big hugz Darnell.

The star of the show here is DRS's Cowboy Snowman (NBUS).  Couldn't resist this cool guy, but he's been hanging around neglected and uninked so I stamped and embossed him on kraft card and then coloured with water colour pencils.  Didn't have a white pencil so grabbed the white gel pen and made some snow.  

I fussy cut the top part of the image and then cut some patterned kraft paper using Sizzix Stitched Oval die (NBUS).  I used Ground Espresso distress ink to edge the kraft pieces.  I added a piece of washi tape (NBUS) and a piece of twine.  Needed some buttons, and at first I found a reindeer button from Dress It Up.  But he was being very difficult and then I realised it should be horses not reindeer!!  Amazingly I found a pair of horse buttons, also Dress It Up, that fit perfectly.  

I stamped the happy birthday sentiment from Rubber Dance and embossed it.  I am loving this.  Thanks to everyone who inspired this card.  I am sure the birthday girl will love it as much as I do. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Go dig out your NBUS and join the fun.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
NBUS #8 if I should be lucky [ANY] would be perfect
Repeat Impressions Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge - J1117 buttons, snowman, pp
Your Next Stamp Challenge 55 - Sketch
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Winter Birthday
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Chill Out

Polly Says Milk and Two Sugars

Hello.  Welcome.  Can't think of anything witty to say so I'll just show you the card.....

I've used stamps from Power Poppy's Short Stacks. I CASEd Kathy's card.  I started by repeatedly stamping the sentiment stamp and embossing with white powder.  I gave the panel a watercolour wash using Tea Dye and Espresso distress inks.  I stamped and embossed the stack of cups and then coloured with various shades of brown distress inks.  

I added some rhinestones to the bottom cup and the flower on the top cup and added the sentiment.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Caseing the DT Link Up Party #9 
Mod Squad Challenge - Bling 
Stamping Sensations - Coffee and Cream 
Scrappelyst Grublis for Januar - Monokromatisk
Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge 
Hobbygarasjen Utfordring 44 - Embossing 

I Get The Big Cup With The Bling

Hello.  Welcome. 

I stamped and embossed the cups with blue powder.  I stamped the sentiment in black and splashed a bit of blueprint distress around the cups. 

Thought it needed a bit of bling so I added some blue rhinestones on the large cup.  

I cased Amy's card and all stamps are from Stamplorations Always Tea Time.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Caseing the DT Link-up Party 9
Stamplorations Anything Goes Challenge
Scrappelyst Grublis for Januar - Monokromatisk 
Mod Squad Challenge - Bling
Happy Little Stampers January Watercolour Challenge
Country View Challenges January 2017 - Anything Goes