Sunday, June 30, 2013

Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus.....

.......which is the Hogwarts school motto*, and kinda fits this sample made for my Hobbycraft demo session.



This is a 6x6" easel card, made up of 2 basic card blanks stuck together. The dragon and castle are stamped using a masking technique.


The demo was fun, I saw some smashing people, was ably supported by my bezzie mate and family popping in to see me, and I sold a few bits. Will I do it again? Well yes, probably, if I'm asked......

*translation- Never tickle a sleeping dragon



Friday, June 28, 2013

Samples, samples, samples

Well tomorrow is an exciting day for me..... I'll be demoing at the local Hobbycraft store on their Artisans demo programme. The store have been really flexible, and other than agreeing that it would be a papercrafting demo, the ideas have been down to me. So...... this week has been a busy week for making samples using the right products.



I'm really pleased with this one- made using a Lindsay Mason Personal Impressions clear stamp set, coloured with watercolour pencils (when do I ever use anything else?), and set in a Stickled starry sky.



I'm hoping it'll go down well, I've got a few more ideas up my sleeve, and I'll share some more samples with you in future posts.

I'm entering this into the Playdate cafe challenge- Raspberry, pink and lilac
and also into the Crafts and Me anything goes challenge.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Agapanthus




This is the stamp I love to bits but don't own- I think I stamped this at my mate Kay's about a year ago! It's such a brilliant, easy to use stamp. The background is distress inks with splats of water  to take the colour away.

Simple card, but effective!

Monday, June 24, 2013

The drunken frog


The drunken frog, as promised a few posts ago.....


Just to be clear...... I'm not suggesting that my Dad's a drunken frog..... but he does sometimes look just this grumpy. 

I love the fly bar snacks :)

Coloured with Twinkling H20s, and that backing paper was a devil to cut out!



Sunday, June 23, 2013

Anything but a card....

......that's what the Stampotique designers have challenged us to make this week. So, in the interests of multitasking, I've made a bookmark for a swap I'm taking part in.


The quote is from Edward Gorey. 


It's difficult to see from the photo, but the cat is stamped with green teeny weeny flowers.

Sorry about the photo quality, I didn't realise it was so bad, and I've posted the original off now, so I can't retake them!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Big butterfly! I mean really, REALLY big!



Told you it was a big butterfly- fabulous stamp from Stampin' up.....and so easy to use, I mean that couldn't be simpler, right? Stamped, spot of sparkle on the wing edges and done!


I really like that it doesn't fit on the card, it's so big! I'm entering this into the CAS-ual Fridays challenge- a clean and simple card with an element that goes off the card edge.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Angels or demons? Definitely demon......

The Try it on Tuesday challenge is Angels or Demons. 
So obviously I went for a demon, but he's still kinda sweet.....


I sometimes spend a bit of time making backgrounds and this one was a favourite, it's taken me a looooong time to use it....Stoopid, I know. I can always make another one, but you know, sometimes the ink just pools and splatters just so, and it drips just right, and then I want to keep it......


Drippy goo- best punch EVER! Love these word stamps too, had them for a bargain price and the large typewriter print is class.





Thursday, June 20, 2013

Spotty thank you.


I'm still making thank you teacher cards- this one is so bright! It's hand stamped and watercoloured.

If you'd like to order one, or more!, I can make them in any colourway, hair and uniform. I'm selling them at £2.50 each with packaging and postage at £1 if required. Each card is a square white 6x6 inch, blank inside with a matching white envelope.

I can't help myself, have to add a bit of sparkle- the blue backing on this is glitter paper, with matching flowers and a touch of glitter on the edge of the girl's dress and bow.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Gorjuss kraft

Now I don't usually like children stamps without noses and mouths, but I do kinda have a soft spot for the Gorjuss girls. I think it's because they're a little bit goth.


This is on a kraft stepper card, picked a pack up for a couple of quid in a sale the other day, and I quite like them- wish I'd got more. The only problem is that they're a bit floppy, but hurray, I solved the problem with some eyelets and ribbon.....




The images are stamped straight to the card, and coloured with my beloved watercolour pencils, then outlined with black pen and glittered with stickles.


The flowers are gorgeous fake suede, with a bit of added baker's twine at the back. 

The Simon Says Stamp challenge this week is to stamp and show Kraft
I'm also entering into the Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge- button it 
and the Crafting Musketeers challenge- use a stamped image
as well as the Daring cardmakers festival of flowers challenge.




WOYWW- Craftermath

Morning WOYWWers! How's it going?

My desk shows the craftermath (new favourite word), or a week of minor crafty dabbling, and absolutely no tidying up.


I've not been feeling too well this week, so I've been doing a lot of sitting in front of the telly with my pencils and scissors and some images. Sparkly points for spotting:

  • New green and pink canisters, recycled packaging to hold my washi tapes
  • The only pencil sharpener in the house that doesn't mangle pencils instead of sharpening them (it's purple)
  • My gorjuss girls bargain stamps- a steal at Hobbycraft last week
  • The set of 15 mini stamps that I bought for just one stamp.......although lots have proven to be very useful


Have a good WOYWW and if you want to do more desk snooping- go over to Julia's Stamping Ground.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Monster bookmark tutorial

I made this tutorial for a craft group I'm part of on Facebook, and thought I'd share it here as well! It's how to make a corner bookmark.



One way is to cut off an envelope corner and decorate, or, if you want to go from scratch....


Cute eh?

Friday, June 14, 2013

Dad, clocks and a drunk frog

So..... heck of a week in the Sparkly household. Bit tough emotionally- sorting out lots of things about my Miss Little Legs' move to a new school in September, plus lots on at work, the last episode of Game of Thrones (oh how I lurve that show), and the last couple of days have seen an annoying bout of ill health :( I've managed a couple of crafty things this week, but really only the must-makes, nothing extra. Along with the rest of the country, I've been making Father's Day cards.....



This one is for the faux metal challenge at the Stampotique Designer challenge blog. I finally read the label on the dull brown tub of embossing powder I've had in the drawer for an eternity. Turns out it's copper! Hurray!!


Ooh and I promised you a drunk frog too.....well, maybe tomorrow....

I'm also entering this into
 the Papertake weekly challenge- Hello boys
Crafty Cardmakers- Fathers Day



Friday, June 7, 2013

Birthday bat

A quick card to show today.



The background is swiped with Distress Inks. I edged the Stampotique image with white pen so that it stands out.


I'm entering this into the Cupboard Trilogy challenge- birthdays

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Sepia and gingham

I'm quite liking clean and simple at the moment- although it's not easy to do- it's not my natural instinct to leave things be, I tend to keep tinkering.....


I don't often stamp directly onto the card, but it gives a lovely effect if you're brave enough! Loving a bit of gingham too- thought it was a bit dark to start with, but the more I look, the more I like it!

The Allsorts challenge is Here come the girls- I think this fits!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Oriental flowers

These poppies are an all time favourite stamp. So easy to use and really effective.



It really lends itself to a red and black theme.



I'm entering this into the following challenges:
Card and scrap- Use flowers
Hobbycutz- Roses and flowers

Thank you teech! Cards for sale.

I'm getting ahead of the game and starting on the thank you teacher cards for the end of term. It's a big move for my Miss Little Legs this year, and I wanted to get things sorted before it gets emotional!!!



The image is Bugaboo, watercoloured as ever. I'm making these to order, so if you would like some for your little one to send to their teacher, just get in touch. I can customise the colours to reflect different school uniforms/hair/skin.


The boy version looks like this.....





Again, I can make these to order- £2.50 a card if you live local and can have it hand delivered/pick it up. If not, £3.50 posted to anywhere in the UK. I'll discount for multiple purchases.

I'm entering the girl one into the Totally Gorjuss- anything goes with flowers challenge.




Monday, June 3, 2013

Bird brain happiness.

I've shown you my little tag book before, right? It's not huge, about ATC sized, and I've actually got a couple of them, so I'musing them to make something for me for a change! I'm going to use my beloved Stampotique stamps and make myself some little quote books.

This time, I've used some more budgies (I know, I know, bordering on an obsession.....) and the gorgeous hunk.



The challenge on the Stampotique designers' challenge blog is to use something transparent- I've used some clear dome stickers to highlight Happiness. 


I've also gone for some 3D glaze on the eyes- Glossy accents.



Hunk and budgies, love it.

I'm also entering this into the Crafting Musketeers challenge- Use a stamped image

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Glorious

I love a bargain, and this stamp was one of my bestest-est ever. We were on holiday and visiting Whitby, and I came across a little craft shop selling all of their wooden stamps off for a 1/3 of the price. I spent a couple of hours going through them all and came out with a very heavy bag full, and this was one of my finds.



Instead of colouring the dress I went for Promarkering the background to give it some relief.


This is my entry into the Passion for Promarkers blog challenge- Ribbon, lace or twine



Hmmmmmmmm, cute eh?

I always say I don't "do" cute. Although a startling number of my posts contain images of cute cards. However, I do stand by my statement- cute is not where my heart lies. It is, however, what sells and what my daughter likes to send to other little girls and assorted card recipients..... so cute is probably here to stay. Just know that if someone was sending this card to me, I'd quite like it in purple and lime green, with a good dose of black ink and some spider webs. 'K?


Oh OK, it has turned out quite sweet I guess!



The flower was made from scrap papers and a fabby punch that layers up into a smashing flower.


Lots of bling on this one, so I'm entering it into the Fussy and Fancy Friday Bling it on challenge.
I'm also entering it into the Craft Room challenge to Use your scraps (flower) 
and the Daring Card makers- Make it yourself challenge (again, the flower!)

If you'd like a thank you teacher card, get in touch, cos I'm selling them!


Saturday, June 1, 2013

Doggies

I've been using up stamped images- these doggies are one of my friend Kay's stamps, and they're a really easy one to colour.


Teamed with my favourite Drippy Goo punch, they look lovely don't they?


This was a tricky shape to replicate- I quite impressed myself with my scissor skills......

I'm entering these into the Try it on Tuesday challenge- On the wild side- I know they don't look very wild, but they are animals......
Also I'm entering the Blog Named Hero challenge- It's a mans,mans,mans world

Goodbye Wonderland.

It's the last challenge regular at the Altered Alice- a challenge I've not entered as much as I'd have liked, but somewhere I always visited for inspiration. I'll miss it! I made this to enter in to the final blast.



I'm making this little tag book with lots of my favourite Stampotique images- and as I've discovered Washi tape I've coloured Tweedle dee and dum to match my spotty tapes.








A Little Bit Crafty DT- new challenge......Something Sweet!

Yay, time to show you my latest DT creation for the A Little Bit Crafty challenge blog. 



The theme is Something Sweet.......but I wasn't really feeling so very sweet yesterday....... so my card is kinda sweet, but kinda not....



As seems to be usual for me nowadays, the image is coloured with watercolour pencils.



The boy image is from Bugaboo- one of our sponsors this month.



As ever- any type of crafting goes, so whether you're a card maker, scrapbooker, knitter or jewellery maker, we'd like to see your creations!

I'm entering this into the Little Claire blog challenge- Open theme
and into the new Ali-Craft blog challenge- Open theme
and into the Artistic Stamper's challenge- Makes for men