Thanks for your helping hands

Hello,

I haven't put away my color pencils yet. I colored this Greeting Farm stamp with my aquarelle pencils and some Sakura gelpens.

The flowers are made with Spellbinders flowers creations and the sentiment is made with Just Rite stamps.

Some Basic Grey June Bug paper to brighten it all up, with some flower brads from Making Memories.

I'm entering this card in 2 challenges; A Spoon Full of Sugar: floral delight and Simon Says Stamp!: a recipe.

I folded one edge on the background paper, this idea I got from the Cardmaker's Sketch Book. I like their books and although I don't follow the CPS-blog on a regular basis, I find them very inspiring.

Hope you have a lovely day. Bye.

JUGS #36

Hello everyone,
It's been a hot and humid day. Summer has arrived here!
I've been working from 6:30 'til 15:00 today, glad not to have the shift until 18:30!!!
I came home and just had to craft a bit. Really relaxes me.
I used the sketch from JUGS #36. I made this little Hilda card from Motivet and used Caran d'Ache aquarelable  pencils in 4 shades of gray.
I've been wanting to do this technique for a while and always thought it was too difficult. But I think it's turned out rather nice. My DH said:" Ooh! It's like from an old book!" He's my biggest fan, thinks this card is for the collection and I can't give it away... Sweetie...

Supplies: Basic Grey Granola paper, Coordinations card, Cuttlebug Swiss dots, Tsukineko ink, Sakura white gel pen, Making Memories ribbon, Basic Grey dark blue buttons, light blue from autumn Leaves, Hero Arts sentiment.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. It's gonna be hotter with thunderstorms tomorrow.

Happy Birthday to a Great Friend!

Hello everyone,
I had this invitation from Inlinkz to join their very first challenge, using the color scheme to create something for a birthday and a boy.

I used Making Memories Just Chillin' papers and Coordinations card. I stamped the image from Inkadinkado on American Crafts white card and colored with Copics and used 3D glaze for the wheels and windows. The sentiment is from Hero Arts and embossed with silver powder. Some inking, distressing and embossing to make the card more manly and some metal with MM eyelets and BG brads.

I think it turned out quite nice, hope you like it too. Thanks for visiting.

Simon Says... Challenge

Use pink or blue and green and brown for this challenge on Simon Says.

This is actually my second entry for the same challenge. I certainly tried to use up my scraps with this one.

Supplies: Marianne Design Vintage paper, DCWV card, Copics and Whispers, Stickles, Plantin Schoolbook for hearts and label, Hero Arts sentiment stamp, Martha Stewart border punch.

Vintage for City Crafter Challenge week 6

Hi everyone, I made a vintage inspired card for CCCB # 6. You have to follow a card recipe: 1 ribbon, 2 papers and 3 flowers.
I used an image from Shabbychicpapirskatter and printed on American Crafts card for some more texture.

Supplies: Coordinations  beige card, Marianne Design Vintage papers, white flowers from Kaisercraft, Glimmer Mist in Sand, Pearl, Moonlight and Marshmallow, Blingz in December Sky to color the flowers, Versamagic ink in Wheat, Sahara Sand and Mango Madness for inking the edges, lace from John Lewis, Papermania pearl colored yellow with Copic, Yellow brads from Doodlebug, gold leaves.

Let's Celebrate

Hello,
Time is flying again and I'm finding it hard to find some valuable crafting time. The ideas are coming, but time is running.

I managed to make this 3 inch accordion card.

I was planning to make a pop-out gift box with my Gypsy, but it did't turn out the way I wanted it to. So I saved my Crafty Secrets stamped images for this card. I LOVE Crafty Secrets stamps and this Bugs Life is quite a funny set.

I didn't use any designer paper, but sprayed a white sheet of paper with Glimmer Mist Vintage Pink. for the background.

Supplies: American Crafts white card, Memento ink Tuxedo Black, Ranger Vintage ink Rosebud, Versamagic Sea Breeze, Copics, Shimmerz and Blingz, Glimmer Mist Tea Rose for the flowers, Basic Grey buttons, Papermania pearls.

I 'm entering this card in Cute Card Thursday and Simon Says Challenge.

It was a bit hard to get the whole card in one shot.

Hope to get a bit more time to craft soon. I would like to prepare a mini book for our coming summer holiday. Thanks for visiting, have a nice day.

Gift box and birthday card

Hello there,

This post is a bit picture heavy as I 've made 2 items for a friend's birthday.

I'm a bit in a hurry, because I still need to buy the giftcard and I need to give it to her today. Monday is her birthday, but I won't be seeing her 'cause she's flying out to the Philipinnes for 3 weeks. Today she's at work so I 'll go and catch her there.

This is the card; the sentiment is from Woodware stamps. I cut all the die-cuts in white American Crafts card and chalked the colors on them. To seal the colors I used Pearl Glimmer Mist which also gives it a nice shine.

Blue paper is from K&Co and pink papers from We R Memory Keepers Tiffany's pad.

Lid of the box; the flowers are cut with Spellbinders Shapeabilities Flower Creations on recycled cotton paper. They had the same color treatment as above. The gems are from Doodlebug, pearls from Papermania.

The sentiment and other cuts are from Create A Critter.

The front side of the box.

Right side.

The back.

The left side.

All items together.

The only Copic used, is the red for the cherry which has also been glazed. Some small round and heart gems are from the 99p store.

I'm off now to the shops to get a gift card, might stop in TKMaxx. My favourite store. I'm always in for a bargain.

I only paid £19.99 and it has all these stamps from Autumn Leaves in it, plus an amethyst ink pad, plus a book by Autumn Leaves. The bonus item was a pack of  plain tags from Paper Reflections. I thought it was super! Only mistake I made was that I thought I would have the same stamps as on the picture. The box was sealed in the shop, but I still have a good deal; a calender set, sentiments, flourishes, spring stamps, baby stamps, flowers.... Very good! I'm off to the hunt, Bye! 

Splash!

Hi,

I'm into Create A Critter! Love, love, love all the funny little creatures.

I made this little girly whale card with the help of the Gypsy to create the exact sizes I wanted for my image and background.

Supplies: Papermania Rose Garden paper, Coordinations cardstock, Sakura gelpens, ribbon from stash and paper rose.

Isn't she cute?

Hey Gorgeous, Relax

Hello,
It seems to have been a while since I posted. Busy week as usual. I can't believe I'm already dreaming of my next annual leave in June, still 5 more weeks though, sigh...
I did manage to squeeze my card in for the CCC week4. Lovely colors Heather has chosen for this week's challenge.

I used my Stampies Mothers set. They are Dutch and my mom bought them for me. I actually didn't like them at first, but they stamp well and the images are growing on me.
I also got my Gypsy yesterday and Create a Critter cartridge. I started playing with my Gypsy and made the embellishments for the card with it. I must say I am really pleased with this machine. It's gonna take a while before I can work with it effortlessly, but so far... thumbs up! Thanks to my DH or I might not have bought it. He is in to gadgets and has PSP and DS XL, so maybe he thinks this is my PSP now...LOL.

Supplies: We R MemoryKeepers paper Tiffany's, Coordinations brown cardstock, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Storybook for flowers, leaves and flourishes, Gypsy font for the sentiment, Making Memories lace, Stickles stardust, pink pearls.

I welded the letters together with the Gypsy and adjusted width and height of the flourishes. I might be quite expensive, but so far it's worth the money.

A Smile is the shortest distance between two people

Hi there,
I hope everyone is fine and enjoying their Sunday. I managed to finish my card for The Play Date Cafe PDCC28.

I liked the colors for the challenge and thought of a stylish engagement card to congratulate some friends.
On the next picture is the size of stamp and shrinkplastic I used. For me it worked best with VersaMagic and not Memento ink, which dried slower and stained. Coloring on the plastic is a bit like on fabric; it tends to run, so you need to stay away from the edges and use minimal pressure/contact with the nib. Also use light colors, 'cause they darken when shrunk.

My first attempt, curled a bit, smudged the image and the hole I punched with the Cropadile became too small. The image shrunk to 1 inch height. I made another one for the card and colored less. Sorry for the dirty mat, which is now wharped from my heating tool. You do need a heat resistant mat. It's on the wish list...

Supplies: I used a cut from the lovely Sweethearts cartridge, paper from Basic Grey Sugared and Porcelain pads, American Crafts cardstock, Plantin Schoolbook cuts all my background squares and rectangles, Cuttlebug swirl emboss file, Prima flowers, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Vintage Pink and Marshmallow and Pearl, sticky pearls from SIL Craft, Paperchase ribbon, Hobbycraft lace, Shrinkies white shrink plastic, Inkdinkado stamp, Copics, Anita's 3D glaze, Viva salmon pearl pen, white Sakura gel pen and black ribbon from stash, Tsukineko ink.

My finished card:

And a close-up of my second Shrinkie charm;

Hope you like it and thanks for visiting.

D for drum

Another little boys' card for my stash. I made it for 2 different challenges: City Crafter Challenge and The Shabby Tea Room. For the first challenge it had to be a tag and for the second, you had to use bling.
Well, that's that, although I 'm not sure if it had to be a more shabby look.
The little boy image on the tag is from the web, but I cannot remember what the site is called. I saved a few of their flash cards too.

Supplies: June Bug Basic Grey paper, Distress Ink in Tea Dye, Basic Grey buttons, K&Co chipboard D, Doodlebug Glitter, little letter stickers and ribbon from stash, Plantin Schoolbook for cutting the squares and scallops.

Second post of the day and TESC #111

Hi,
This is the card I made for the Taylored Expressions sketch challenge. I love Taylor's blog and her designs and this is the second time I am participating.
I used the Paisley cartridge again to make the giraffe. -not sure how he gets to hold a lemon branch in his mouth, but it's fun-.
The stamp is from Inkadinkado Boxed Wishes set.

And this is my card:

Supplies: DCWV cardstock, Sizzix Little Sizzles paper, Martha Stewart border punch, Copics, Tsukiniko Jumbo Java, Basic Grey brads, ribbon from Hobbycraft, corner rounder punch.

Enchanted frog

I 've been busy playing with my Paisley cartridge. I couldn't resist cutting out the frog.
Then I remembered I had a little stamp that came with the Craft Stamper magazine. So I put the 2 together to make this fairytale card.
I used a little key stamp to make a charm, glazed and distressed it and hung it on a mini pin with some beads.
Now just hope the little fella finds his princess and that he is charming enough for her to kiss him...

Supplies: DCWV ,Papermania and American Crafts cardstock, Sizzix Little Sizzles paper, Martha Stewart border punch, 3D foam pads.

My first easel card

I made my very first easel card this morning. Not difficult, just a bit more work with all the measuring. I like that the card can be big and still fold flat for posting.
I'm entering my card on CCC week 2 and on the Cuttlebugspot Favourite Flowers.

It was also my first time to use the Paisley Cartridge, I used it to cut the 2 Matryoshka dolls, also called Babushka dolls. A true Nestabilitie :) I had one of these wooden dolls when I was a child, a present from my mum's best friend as she came back from holiday. I liked putting them all in a row with the tiny baby at the end. 

Unfortunately by moving house to often, I lost it. Now they are back in fashion and come in different styles, almost anything goes now.

I made mine in pastel colors, but they still have the bright cheeks and mouths.

The card when closed.

Standing easel card.

Supplies: Paisley Cartridge, Shapebilities Flower Creations, DCWV cardstock, Sizzix Little Sizzles paper, Copics, 3D glaze, Making Memories brads, Martha Stewart  punch, Hero Arts sentiment, ribbon from stash.

Motivet's Blog Candy

There 's a chance to win some beautiful Motivet stamps. If you click HERE, it will take you to their site. Anyone can try and I must say that their stamps are wonderful. I usually buy mine at the Craft Barn, but the choice is limited. Maybe with a bit of luck now,...

Fingers crossed xxx

TESC110 and CCCB#1 challenges

I think I'm just in time for these 2 challenges. I love the Taylored Expressions blog and challenges, but never played along. Now I heard from Heather on Simply Handmade that there is a new blog with challenges City Crafter Challenge Blog.
Now what I really liked, was that there wasn't any sketch to follow. That I like! Although I did grab a sketch from TESC.
Taylor has these wonderful quirky sketches and video tutorials - which I absolutely love-. Sometimes I just flick on You Tube while crafting and let these tutorials play, even if I don't intend making them. It's nice to see. I must be a sad person...
So here 's my card. Is it a crowd pleaser? Grin.

Supplies: K&Co paper, Plantin Schoolbook: yep, I used that to cut the square background and the little squares, told you I'm a sad person. Well who needs to measure when you've got the Cricut...

Imaginisce cupcake stamp, G Studio sentiment stamp, Copics, Tsukineko ink.
Thanks to Julie Ranae, I am also entering this on The Playdate Cafe. I didn't even know what their challenge was. I have heard of them through Heather's blog before, but never played. I must have been missing something, there is incredible talent around. Thank you all for your kind comments and help - at least I know how to link now.

On the road again

With the good weather starting to roll, I'm getting increasingly itchy for a holiday.
I had these little stamps lying around for a while and decided I must ink them up. It 's a set from Inkadinkado and has sentiments and caravans, campers, a VW bus and little scenery items, like the cloud I used on this card.
Really fun to use. Simple card, made in 1,2,3. Of course again with the help of the Cricut; Plantin Schoolbook and Stretch Your Imagination. Some June bug paper, grey cardstock, Copic and blue ribbon, that's it.

See ya,... cruisin' somewhere.

Happy Birthday friend

A Happy Birthday to all of you out there who are celebrating this month!
I decided I needed a few more birthday cards in my stash so I played along with A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge 100, here. The prize is a gift certificate. Now, who wouldn't want that?! I also entered this card on Just Magnolia, here.
I used one of my late stamps. I've got quite some stamps that haven't seen any ink, also this little Tilda. I am proud owner of 4 little Tilda stamps, but could do with more. LOL.

I used Stretch Your Imagination for the frame and present cuts. Some Basic Grey June Bug paper. Making Memories brads and felt flower. Coloring with Copics and Stickles and 3D-Glaze.

Plantin Schoolbook Rickrack challenge

I got a little card together this morning. It's a perfect day outside, though the forecast is a volcanic dust storm/wind coming over the UK today, all the way from Iceland? So, just not hang the laundry out today...
I made this card using only cuts from the PS cartridge. Rickrack frame, label, flowers and leaves and even the blue and brown background are made with the Cricut. So versatile!
Of course I had to include some stamping.

Supplies: DCWV cardstock, paper from Marianne Design Eline's Vintage, Copic and Whispers markers, Stickles, corner rounder punch small X-cut, Basic Grey brads, ribbon from stash, Whiff of Joy and Hero Arts stamp.

On a red stool

A little girl sitting pretty on her stool, checking out some apples. On the original image she is peeling them with the peels scattered on the ground, but that was a bit hard to cut out. LOL.
I copied the image from my favourite Shrinkies' sheet.
This is my entry for this weeek's challenge at CPS:

Supplies: K&Co Que Sera Sera paper, GCD studio Whoop De Doo paper, DCWV cardstock, Plantin Schoolbook cartridge for the apples, Copics, buttons from stash, leaf punch, jewels. Hero Arts sentiment, Fiskars tag punch.

You Rock

I made this card with my guitar hero in mind. He's been a bit on a limp with a wrist injury and hasn't played as much lately as he would like to.

Supplies: Making Memories paper, DCWV cardstock, Stamping cartridge, Graphically Speaking cartridge for the notebook background, Tsukineko ink, twine, jewels, white gel pen.
On the inside of the card, I put a frame with background and added the sentiment on top of it.

End of the week

So glad it's the end of the week and I 've survived. Plenty of things to do on the job this week, more like catch-up. Next week might be hectic too and a new nurse is starting whom I will be mentoring.
But for now I am only considering the week-end, don't have to work and the weather is warm and sunny. Ahhh! Spring has sprung at last after all the rain.
Now on to 2 cards I made this week. I 'm falling in love with my Cricut over and over again.
I used the Home Decor and Wild Card cartridges. The yellow card is my take on a card I saw in the Card making with Cricut-book.

Supplies: BG Euphoria paper and chipboard, Copics, glitter, Moonlight and Marshmallow Glimmer Mist, Flowersoft, Hero Arts white flowers, Tsukineko ink, Martha Stewart punch.

Supplies: K&Co Que Sera Sera paper, DCWV cardstock, Copic, Martha Stewart borderpunch, satin ribbon Veritas

The inside of the card has a punched border and sentiment. Just kept this one very simple.

Happy Easter

I love cute little images. I found this one on the Penny Loves Vintage blog. There are other cute ones and you can also buy a CD with more images on them.. Rather than making an Easter card, I made this one into a birthday card for a little girl -or a big one-.

Supplies: Marianne Design paper, Making Memories ledger paper, corner rounder punch and MS pansy punch, Cricut Home Decor cartridge for the crown, Papermania pearls, gold embossing powder, ribbon from Hobbycrafts, Woodware sentiment, coloring with Copics, Glue Dots pop-up.

Thinking of you with love

My holiday is almost finished; tomorrow is Easter and Monday, it's back to work.
We didn't decide on going away just yet and my DH was still working, but I have enjoyed every moment of this break.
I had my birthday last Monday and on Tuesday I went for a pampering session at the Clarins Spa. Delicious!
Then I met up with  friends, Loretta, Howard and Riza, who treated me to lunch with them at Nando's. They are so sweet, they even gave me a big bunch of flowers. Thanks a lot, I enjoyed your company! I 'd not had such a nice birthday since I came to the UK. Sorry, Howard, but the girls had to go shopping for afters.
I made a little card with my new Rose Garden Papermania paper. Sweet paper!

Supplies: Wild Card cartridge for the roses background, Versamagic Brilliance ink, scalloped circle Woodware punch, Martha Stewart border and butterfly punch, Hero Arts white flower and sentiment, Shrinkies nice little girls image, Copics, paper roses, vintage glitter.

A lovely Easter to you

Another rainy morning, but it doesn't dishearten me. Oh no, more time to craft!
I made this little gift box filled with jelly beans for my DH. Can't have an egg hunt now, too old and too wet...
Also the little eggs I bought for him, just wouldn't fit the box.
Anyway, he loves sweets, almost anything. I made him cut down, because I was afraid that one day he might get sick. All that sugar!
The box had to be green, his favourite color.

I used the Wild Card for the box and sentiment and Stretch your imagination for the bunny. I used 4 layers on the bunny and embossed the egg with the Cuttlebug. Coloring is done with Copics. I used glaze on the paint brush and liquid applique on the bunny tail.

I covered the sentiment in Baby Blue Stickles. The ribbon is from Crate Paper. I made a little acetate window and embossed it with little roses.

I 'm sure my DH will love it and definitly will love what's inside.

This project has been entered on: Flutterby Wednesday and Cricutters Anonymous.

You make my heart sing

I felt like not making a card today, so I dug out an old photo and decided to enlarge it and frame it.
This picture is taken in 2007 I believe, by my mom and we are standing on the green in front of our house. There are 5 old oaks on that little green patch and it might have been the main reason why we decided in May of that year to move to this house.
I like the sepia setting on cameras. It allows you to mimic the photos of days gone by.

It's a simple frame I 've had for ages, just glass and a board held together with 4 clips, but very versatile and easy to change. If  I want something different, then this picture will go in a scrapbook (page half done as it is 20x30 cm).
Supplies: DCWV cardstock, Wild Card and Sweethearts Cricutv cartridge, Pearl, Bronze and Sand Glimmer Mist, Diamond, Crystal, Stardust and Gold Ice Stickles, Hero Arts flowers, Martha Stewart butterfly punch.
The flourishes are cut with Sweethearts and the sentiment with the Wild Card.