Sunday, January 29, 2012

Another post..... trying something new.....

.......I've got some new stamps! Woohoo. Well actually, that's nothing new. I get new stamps most weeks...... but these particular new stamps have prompted me to try something different.




Kinda cleaner, more stylized. I like it. I also went for an out and out Clean and Simple one too- not my style at all! I've been itching to try ripping  lots of coordinating papers as well, it's worked out OK I think. I'm entering these into the Happy Daze Try something new challenge.


I'm entering this one into the Totally Gorjuss KISS challenge (Keep It Simple Silly).

Woo, 2 posts in one day, I may have to go for a lie down. After going out for lunch to celebrate my husband's  birthday, a nap might be just the ticket......

Thats magic!

I've had this image coloured since my holidays in August! It's just been sitting there.......


......well no more! Now it's a card. Lots of stash paper and an edge cut with a Tim Holtz die, and I finally found a use for the stars that have been loitering in a box for months too! Result.

I'm entering this into the Lili's little fairies challenge- Oh boy.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Embellish it at The Stamp Man....

I'm having an erm sort of afternoon. Today started off in a promising manner- Mr M has a couple of days off work (twas his birthday yesterday), and as we WENT OUT yesterday, we decided to STAY IN today. The requisite chores were swiftly dispatched, we settled down to be down right decadent- which in this house means watching an over 12 rated DVD on our own. We went for the new X Men, which was very good, then Burke and Hare which was funny. 

Soooooo. Why am I in what can only be described as a meh mood?

The other 3 (husband, child one and Miss Little Legs) are all off to Tae Kwon Do in an hour or so. Love 'em to bits, but I can't wait for them to go today, and I feel guilty for it.

Ah well, shall I show you something I made instead? No point in answering, I'm showing you anyway......


This is my DT card for the new Stamp Man challenge, which is embellish it. I went for one BIG embellishment.......


I'm going to enter this into the Try it on Tuesday challenge of In the Mail- as this is a Valentine's Card that will  hopefully be in the mail to it's recipient.......

Right, I'm going to give myself a good talking to and snap out of it! Wish me luck.

For this card I used....





Friday, January 20, 2012

Stampotique, oh how I love Stampotique.

Now I have way too many stamps. I know a lot of crafters say this, but I really do have too many. Some of you will have seen my fabulouso stamp storage that my fabulouso husband built for me (check it out here if you haven't), well it's not quite full....yet....but I can sort of see a time when it will be. I've certainly got at least 2 drawers that need expanding.

One of those drawers is the Stampotique one- I have a wish list I'm determined to fulfill so I'll need the space!

I was making backgrounds with paint and stencils today- using a newish brick effect stencil, which is now my new favourite.


I was playing around today making a little pocket calendar for the Stampotique designer's blog challenge. As an added bonus the base card is recycled from a mobile phone box I've been saving for ages without inspiration!

Inside.

The back.

I added a little elasticated band to keep it shut. Sometimes it all comes together and the idea I have in my head ends up finished on my desk. This is one of those times. Happy :D

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Big cards

I sometimes get a big scared of big cards, there's such a lot of space to fill. So I decided not to fill it all.


These are 8x8 cards, Stamping Bella and Stampin' Up stamps, coloured with copics. I'm entering this starry one in the Gorjuss challenge- to use a star.


She's a lovely little stamp- I borrowed a stamp of her from Kay, but I may have to have her for myself eventually......

Friday, January 13, 2012

New Stamp Man Challenge- come and join in!

The new Stamp Man challenge is to use RED. Perfect for getting to grips with those Valentine's cards.....


So.....how many are you sending this year?

I used the Stamp Man Aspects of Design Artistic elements stamp plate, it's a fab one. Lots on there for arty crafters- especially you ATCers out there! 

There's also a layer of shimmer on the big heart- I used a Sakura pen, it doesn't show up on the photo, but it's there, I promise!

I'm entering this into the Crafty Cardmakers challenge- no floral embellishments.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Happy new year and some cards

So, how's 2012 treatin' ya so far? It's been a bit cold and, well, January-like round here to be honest... odd that, eh?

Just a few cards to show you today, I've been making a few for sock and to try to steal a march on my birthday list!

Here's my lovely friend Michelle's birthday card....


I love using this technique- colouring with watercolour sticks direct to the stamp and then spritzing with water.


One of my favourite dress stamps in two different colour ways, both paper pieced. I'm entering the pink one into the Allsorts paper piecing challenge.


The swirl round the edge of one and in the background of the other is a fab Stampin' up one, the little flower is from the same set.


This is for a lovely friend over on the Docrafts forum, cute but still suitable for a man I thought. I am particularly fond of those little mice :)

This next one is from a game of Chinese whispers from a group over on Facebook- one person starts the whisper by making a card, a photo of which is sent to the next person in the list, who makes a card inspired by it and sends a photo of their card to the next person.....and so on. So each person only sees the card immediately before their's. It was really interesting to see which themes, layouts, colours, shapes made it through from start to finish! I'm entering it into the Crafts and Me Anything goes mega challenge.


And finally.....  a belated Christmas card image I only came across this morning. I made several of these for the children to give to their fellow Tae Kwon Do club members.


Cute isn't he? They were simple to do and easy to personalise with the right colour hair/ belt of each child.