Old Bird

Hello Nomad friends.  I made another shaker since the last one was a roaring success.

I used Unity Old Bird stamp and partially fussy cut around the old lady before slipping in an arch die to cut my shaker window.  Using a single piece of foam cut with the same die behind the stamped panel is a winner in my book.  Used Autumn colours on the old lady and found some lovely sequins in autumn shades for the shaker.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Food/Drink
Allsorts Challenge Week 751
Stamping Sensations Challenge - Autumn

Hello Gorgeous

Hello Nomad friends.  It's cold out there!!  Not much to do with everything frozen and the chill making my bones ache.  Decided to have a play and make a box and a matching card for the De Egel challenge.  I went with a self closing box and kept it quite clean and simple.

I used white 250 gm card for the cardbase, box and panels.  The stamps are Crafter's Companion Sweet & Sassy Hello Gorgeous.  I stamped the girl directly on the card base, and the books with wine and cookies directly on the small triangular panels for the box.  She was a bit big for the box large triangle so I stamped, coloured and fussy cut her and stuck her on the box with her hair hanging over, which is quite fun me thinks.  I added a little pink twine with tiny sequins around top of the box.  Colour was distress inks and markers and some gold ink highlights.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
De Egel Maart Challenge 158 - Box with matching card

Bun in the Oven

Hello Nomad friends.   I wanted to make an expectant mum card with some new to me Marianne Design dies.  I think baby showers are a bit more of a US idea.  Brits tend to be a bit more pragmatic, or is that realistic, and I don't think we are so into counting our chickens before they have hatched.  But any excuse for a party is OK with me LOL.

I made a shaker filled with hearts, stars and the 100% happy sentiment.  I used Marianne Design papers cut with MD Ticket dies and the expectant mum was cut from black card.  The congrats is a goldline sticker.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Marianne Design Challenge 289 - Shaker Card CR1391, LR0348, PB7044, COL1321
As You Like It Challenge - Interactive or Not I like interactive cards.  So many interesting effects you can add to make it extra special.
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Add a Die Cut
Country View March Challenge - Mother's Day

Keeping Off The Rain

Hello Nomad friend.  It's the 10th of the month so time for the new challenge at Let's Squash It!!  This month the theme is double emboss.  I did a Technique Time post the other day with some tips and ideas so do check that out.  Here's a card I made using one of the panels that I showed in that post.

I used a plaid embossing folder that came with Lisa Horton Inspired to Create issue 68 magazine.  

 

 

I inked the flatter side of the folder and embossed my off white card with Vintage Photo distress powder.  Made me think industrial....

I inked the edges of the panel and added it to a kraft card base.  I die cut Sizzix Umbrella Man and Creative Expressions chain from black card, and added some bronze flower sequins and half pearls.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Do hop over to the Let's Squash It! blog and check out Jo's fabulous make and join the fun this month.

Hugz

Joining the fun at
Allsorts Challenge Week 645 - Embellish It

Bunny Shaker and Cowgirl Party

Hello Nomad friends.  My Favourite Things are having one of their Camp Create events and I was hoping to join in with all 5 of the challenges before close of play on Wednesday.  The first challenge is shakers and I have a bit of an up and down love/hate relationship with these.  Coincidentally Josi had a really cute shaker on the Rubber Dance blog today and her lovely tutorial made me pull on my big girl panties and go for it.

I love this big time.  Hugs and bunny!  What more could you want???   I used a burlap patterned card panel and cut MFT Big Hugs die.  I stamped one of MFT Easter Bunnies on the card panel and also on a scrap of white card.  I coloured and fussy cut the bunny and glued him over the stamped image.  I've used a scrap of plastic packaging for my window and craft foam for the layer.  I used the stripey side of a Kort og Godt patterned card for my card base. 

Inside the pattern is stars and I cut a panel of paper and stamped the bunny again.

I also wanted to enter the Emboss Resist challenge.  I found a scrap of card I had already stamped and embossed with Rubber Dance Buttons and white embossing powder.  I gave it a watercolour wash with Worn Lipstick distress ink, wiped off the embossed areas and cut with two stitch rectangle dies.  I inked all the edges with pink Promarker, inside and out, and glued them on to a base card.  I found a pink scrap that was big enough for a panel and the sentiment strip.  I cut it with the small stitched rectangle die and stamped MFT cowgirl from Saddle Up and Celebrate.  I stamped the sentiment from the same set on the remaining strip.  I coloured the cowgirl with Promarkers and added a little glitter to her hat.  I cut round her feet so I could slip the sentiment banner behind them.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Bunny Hugs is joining the fun at
MFT Stamps Camp Create Day 1 - Spectacular Shakers
Papercraft Challenge 72 - Shaker Cards
We Love Chocolate Baroque August Favourite Stamps Challenge anything bunny....

Cowgirl is joining the fun at
MFT Stamps Camp Create Day 3 - Emboss Resist
Pixies Snippets Playground Challenge 409
Stamping Sensations - Any Occasion

Thank You

Hello Nomad friends.   Yesterday I was angry at lots of things that I have no control over.  So I did some gardening, and the simple process of pulling weeds, fingers in the soil, no sounds but birds singing, chickens squawking and rabbits discussing the attributes of carrots helped bring me some peace.  Today it's raining so I have been making things and I've used some sequins gifted from a friend.  That got me thinking about online friendships and you.

Yes, you!

I started my blog in October 2012, mostly to join challenges.  I was actually surprized how fast people found me and started leaving nice comments.  Most people in blogland leave nice comments.  Since then I've joined many many challenges, a few design teams, an international card exchange, that I now help to run, and started the Let's Squash It! embossing folder challenge with my best crafting buddy Jo.  And in all this time I have made many many true, loving and supportive friends.  I have touched hearts, minds and inspiration with many beautiful souls around the world.  And when ET gets around to leaving a comment I am sure we will get along famously.  So, since April is my birthday month, I have decided to give away some of the cards I am making.  If you would like me to send you a card just leave a comment on any post between now and the one I plan to do on the 22nd April.   I will random draw names from all the comments made between this post and that one.   

But first.....This.......

I've made three Artist Trading Cards.  I cut my ATC's from Kilimanjaro (pale sky blue) card and embossed them using That Special Touch Of - Butterfly stencil.  I smeared the raised texture with Bundled Sage distress ink.  I liked the 'Knot' theme Mrs A had for the Butterfly challenge so I used some brown twine, tied three different types of knots and added them to the ATC's.  I stamped the sentiments from Stamplorations Woodland Friends set.  Then I added a few super sparkly sequins I got from my friend Dee, all the way from Kenya!!  Thanks Dee.  

OK, thanks for reading my wordy post, or maybe just looking at the pictures LOL.  If you want a chance to get some happy mail from me then don't forget to leave a comment.  Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Butterfly Challenge 154 - K For Kite Fold used colour and knots
Scrapchat Utfordring Mars - ATC's med Egen Bakgrunn
Nordsalten Hobbyklubb #193 - Lag Din Egen Bakgrunn
Stamplorations March Stencil Challenge

31 Days of Halloween Day 15 - A Bat-tallion of Bats

Hello Nomad friends.  31 Days of Halloween continues here, on the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity and many other place in the between.  Today is the 15th so a new challenge starting at the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity and, as is our habit, we try to offer a mid month alternative for people who are not so spooktastically inclined.  So we've gone for Furry Friends.  Remember to use real rubber or clear stamping and the theme and you are good to go.  It doesn't have to be Halloweeny if you don't want.  Here's my spooky furry, out in the moonlit woods.  

I black heat embossed Lost Coast Designs Tall Trees Background and ink blended with distress inks.  I stamped, coloured and fussy cut Lost Coast Designs Werewolf and added him to the scene.  The postman brought me some new tiny little bats from my crafty friend Jo in the UK so I decided to glue a few amid the trees.  Lost a few as they pinged out of the tweezers.  I am sure they will turn up sometime, or not LOL.  In case you are interested Alenes tacky glue seemed to do a very good job of holding these tiny bat shaped sequins in place.  

Thanks for dropping by.  If you are a fan of all things spooky the 31 Days of Halloween at the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity is well worth a visit.  Th team are really knocking it out of the park with their amazing makes.  See you there.......

Werewolf is joining the fun at
Two Old Bats Halloween Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Spooky
Scrappelyst Grublis for Oktober - Jordfarger/Høst
Country View Challenges October - Halloween Make a Scene

Charlie in Pieces

Hello Nomad friends.  I saw a challenge the other day for matchbox art.  Now I wouldn't usually do this sort of thing, but Mr Mojo thought it would be nice to think outside of the box, or in this case, inside the box!!!!  So here we are, an altered, mixed media matchbox featuring the gorgeous Charlie Chaplin from Carmen's Veranda.

 I actually am in love with this tiny creation!!  For all the details you can check out the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity.  There is also still time to stamp something with a masculine theme and join the Man Cave Challenge.  Here's a quick look at the inside, which I filed with stars and a Charlie Chaplin magnetic puzzle!!!!

 

I stamped Charlie on a 3" square of white woodgrain patterned card, added some red Promarker colour, covered with sticky plastic and cut into inch squares.  I also added some thin magnet to the back of each piece cos I thought it would be fun to have a fridge magnet Charlie puzzle!! I stamped Charlie on white shrink plastic, fussy cut and shrunk him. 

I covered the inside of the matchbox drawer with black paper, the outside with red paper and attached a piece of red ribbon.  I cut a piece of red foam and one piece of black to fit inside the drawer.  I cut the black piece with a star die and put them in the drawer. 

I covered the matchbox cover with handmade textured paper and wrapped it with some sequinned red thread.  I cut a few stars from red mirror card and added my shrunken Charlie.  What a fun treat it will be!

Remember to link up your Man Cave makes for a chance to win.
Thanks for dropping by. Hugz

Joining the fun at
Art Piaskownica Small Forms - Matchbox
Paperbabe Stamps Challenge 128 - Dimension
Papercraft Challenge 61 - Black and White + One
We Love 2 Create Challenge 10 - Anything Mixed Media

Hello Hello Hello

Hello.  Welcome.  I've made a fun shaker card using Memory Box Underwater Scene.

I die cut Memory Box Underwater Scene from grey woodgrain card and gold mirror card.  I coloured the grey woodgrain die cut with Promarkers and added the gold frame over the top.  I used turquoise marble card base and added a layer of foam with a circle aperture.  I filled it with sequins, added an acrylic pane and a grey woodgrain panel.  Then I stuck the framed Underwater Scene on.  I die cut two fish from the underwater Scene set, foiled them with Colourcraft foil and added them on top of the acetate.  I used Poppystamp Hello Background die and cut the three hellos, which of course are much more fun than one!!

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Memory Box Challenge 53 - Framed
Poppystamps Challenge 60 - Anything Goes
Unstampabelles Challenge 93 - Time For A Recess
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Something Clear
Country View September Challenge - Under the Sea
Dies R Us Challenge 128 - Nature

Warm Weather Gremlins

Hello.  Welcome.  It's hot hot hot!  I ventured into the craft room, and it's hot hot hot there too.  I'm not sure if the gremlins are more active in warm weather or if it was just my brain was less able LOL.  Anyway, decided to make a shaker card using a lovely sketch I saw at The Little Paper Tree fb group.

Squeeeeee!!  So cute.  I hope the little man does get his puppy for his birthday.  Boys and dogs go so well together.  I used My Favourite Things New Best Friend stamp and sentiment.  I stamped the boy/dog on a scrap of white card with black archival and water coloured with distress inks and my waterbrush.  I used some scraps of patterned paper and acetate for the shaker windows.  I used a Bazzill panel on a blue card base.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
The Little Paper Treehouse Tribe Sketch Challenge
MFT Camp Create Day 1 - Wonderful Watercolour
MFT Camp Create Day 3 - Spectacular Shakers
Dare 2 B Artzy Challenge - Masculine Birthday
Virginia's Show and Share 

Doodles Paper Playground First Birthday Bash Bog Hop

Hello.  Welcome.  This is my final guest design post for the Doodles Paper Playground and I'm going out with a bang!!  I am excited to be participating in a very special Birthday Bash Blog Hop starting today, January 24th and ending at 11:59pm EST on January 27th! The Designing Divas and I, along with several members of the talented White Rose Crafts design team, have created extra special Birthday Themed Shaker Cards for the hop today!

I made a rocking shaker using the lovely January Garnet sparkle blend and the fun Penny Black Skip and Romp stamp.

I coloured the image with distress inks and the background is printed paper from Craft Creations.

Happy Birthday Doodles Paper Playground.

For a limited time, you have the opportunity to receive an exclusive, 1st Birthday Freebie Sparkle Blend--only available, while supplies last, with purchase over at White Rose Crafts!

Don't worry, though--Amber has reserved 6 of these freebie blends to give away on Monday, after the hop ends! 5 of those 1st Birthday Blends will go to 5 lucky winners, as Door Prizes, who leave comments on each of the Blog Stops. The more comments you leave, the more entries you get! For our Grand Prize this month, one lucky winner will receive the full February Release (before it's revealed), plus a full sized Birthday Freebie Blend! That's 7 full sized sparkle blends! To be eligible to win the grand prize, you must leave comments on all legs of the blog hop.

As an added bonus, White Rose Crafts will be offering Free Shipping all weekend to correspond with the Blog Hop, so if you've had your eye on any of the limited edition Sparkle Blends from our previous releases, now is the time to buy before they sell out and are gone for good!

Here are the the hop links

Doodles Paper Playground

Annie

Alison

Carolyn

                             Gail <== you are here 

Fawn

Kelli

EK

LeeAnn

Thanks for dropping by.  Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Country View Challenges January - Landscape/Cityscapes
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafter's Castle Challenge 13 - Anything Goes
Scrap the Rainbow Utfordring 8 - Alt Er Lov
Repeat Impressions Anything Goes Challenge - J2319
Ellibelle's Corner Crafty Wednesday January - Sparkle and Shine

Shake Your Gnome

Hello.  Welcome.  I am guest designing for the Doodles Paper Playground this month.  I was a bit stumped for my project idea until I came across the Marianne Designs challenge where they want to see a gnome on your project.  Unsure as to whether I actually owned a gnome I went on a little gnome hunt and discovered a cute Panduro stamp.  The mushroom he was sitting on was a bit small so I borrowed the one from Visible Image Caterpillar set and made a shaker.

I used Marianne Design papers, dies and washi tape (behind the semi-circle apertures in the shaker frame) and the beautiful Flaming Sunset Sparkle blend. 

Hop over to the Doodles Paper Playground for more details. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hope you are having a crafty day.  Hugz

Joining the fun at

Marianne Design Challenge 217 - Gnome  PK9121, CR1242, PT2317

Fashionable Stamping Challenge 142 - Anything Goes
Pammies Inky Pinkies Challenge 1902 

Scrap the Rainbow Utfordring 8 - Alt Er Lov 

Hot Pink Eight Pocket Shaker

Hello.  Welcome.  I am guest designing over at the Doodles Paper Playground for December and January and today I am sharing an eight pocket shaker card using Flamingo Tropic Sparkle Blend and the new Winnie and Walter Peppermint Zone die. Love this die!

The Flamingo Tropic blend fitted perfectly with my pink and green scheme.  Can't beat a bit of warm pink and glitter on a miserable winter day.  I did think about adding an image and sentiment but decided it was too pretty to cover up!  Do pop over to the Doodles Paper Playground blog and check out how I put this beauty together.  Very pleased with the idea of having many small pockets to keep those sparkles in play.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Winnie and Walter December Colour Combo
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Something New new die 
Love to Scrap Challenge 117 - Anything Goes

Snowflakes and Copper Pennies

Hello.  Welcome.  I'm guest designing over at the Doodles Paper Playground this month and I had real fun combining the Copper Penny sparkle blend with Memory Box dies to make this fun shaker card.

Hop on over to the Doodles Paper Playground for all the details on how I cut my fun aperture and also all the glittery delight of this gorgeous Copper Penny blend.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Memory Box Challenge 44 - Holiday Sparkle and Shine used Tivoli Snowflake and Stitched Landscape dies
Dies R Us Challenge Challenge 111 - Anything Christmas
Mod Squad Challenge - Christmas/Winter Use a Metal Die used Stamplorations Double Stitched rectangle die
Double D Challenge - Let it Snow
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Stitch It Up

 

December Sparkle Blends Release Blog Hop

Hello.  Welcome.  This month I am guest designing for Doodles Paper Playground and I am so happy to be hopping with the team for the new release, so welcome to the December Release Blog Hop!  You should be coming from Annie.  There are 6 new blends to share with you and I can't wait to see more of what the team has to share with us all!  

Here's my project.  I made a shaker tag!

Sqquueeee!  How cute is that??  Penguins on frozen pond!!  Aren't they adorbs??  And so much sparkly loveliness!!

I started by making my Shaker element.  I cut a piece of patterned paper, a piece of acetate, a piece of foam and a piece of white card with Sizzix Rounded Tags dies.  Then I cut the foam and the white card with Poppystamps House in the Woods die.  It gives this lovely tree lined aperture, but alas, once again, the house had to go!!  I water coloured the white card to give me my scene.  The foam I cut away all the branches and tree trunks except the biggest ones on each side.  This has allowed me to make a three part shaker.  I filled the two outside shaker spaces with Icicle blend, removing some of the bigger elements, and used Juniper Berries blend for the middle shaker window.  I also stamped the penguins' skates and the Rubber Dance sentiment with black archival.

Here you can see a bit more of the blends in the shaker windows.  I stamped, embossed and fussy cut the penguins from Poppystamps Love Note set.  Stamping their skates on the tag means I didn't have to fussy cut them!!  Then I went a little crazy with the iridescent glitter glue on the penguins, the tree branches, the sentiment and also used it to add detail to the trees. 

To see detailed descriptions of each of the December Sparkle Blends release, check out the release blog post! 

We are so excited about this whole release! Do you have a favorite? Juniper Berries, Celebrate and Garnet seem to be front runners for our Designing Divas! These talented ladies have lots of inspiring projects for you, so please hop along with us and leave comments on each leg for a chance to win one of 4 great prizes!

Grand Prize: One person who comments on all posts will win full size packages of all 6 of our December Release Sparkle Blends!

3 Door Prizes: 3 randomly selected commenters will receive one full size package of Sparkle Blends from the December Release!

Giveaway closes at 11:59pm, EST, Sunday December 16, 2018

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for dropping by.  Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win and now you need to hop to Kelli.  If you get lost or find a broken link the full hop list is at the Doodles Paper Playground.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Poppystamps Challenge 51 - Merry and Bright
Kreativ Scrapping Utfordring 12 - Lag Pa Lag Jul
Visions of Sugarplums Challenge 1 - Christmas/Winter
The Cats Pajamas Challenge #352 - Winter Holidays
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Christmas