Sunday 27 February 2011

99 Red Balloons - not quite!


I wanted to use a bright blue/red colour combination for a change, but what to do with it? 
My lovely friend Tams (aka Rusty) had sent me this lovely stamped image so I coloured him in denim tones with my trusty copics and gave his balloon and jumper star a coat of glossy accents for starters. Now what? Ooo I know! my new MS edge punch to add interest to the layers. I used Paper Mill red card, Papermania back to basics dotty and Pink Petticoat gingham papers for the blue. The recipe challenge at Cards for Men asked for 1 image, 2 papers and 3 embellishments (same or different) and this is where I got stuck, does the sentiment count or not? hey ho, go for it. I found the 3 balloon image, copied it onto stiff, slightly shiney card and cut it out myself !!!! The sentiment was printed on the same card in a 'balloon' font, cut with my oval SU punch and to cover the join I used Craftwork Card Candi (note the new spelling). Two slivers of red card made my 3rd embellishment.

I'd like to enter the following please:

Cards for men - recipe
I did it Creations - Punches & dies
ECP Challenges - Something for the boys
Stamping with the Dragon - Birthdays
Wags & Whiskers - Punches
Do You Stack Up - Anything Goes

Thank you for looking
Margaret

Friday 25 February 2011

MSE Bingo


Over on MSE Jan (Scatty Jan) set us an interesting challenge she called bingo whereby we could choose any one of 3 lines each containing 3 card making elements. I was inspired to select Line 1 Circles Spots and Glitter. Above is the result. I shaped the whole card with my largest scalloped nesties, the PP green spotty paper was cut using the next size down plain circle and the flowers are on another, smaller scalloped circle. The fine glitter isn't very clear on the photo but is on the outer rim of the card (and all over me & my desk!). I coloured the flowers with Copic pens and used some fime silver cord to trim the top edge, having found all my ribbons too heavy for this little card.

This card seems to meet the criteria for the following challenges so I'd like to enter:

http://fairyknoll.blogspot.com/p/fun-at-fairy-knoll-challenges.html /Green
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com /flowers
http://digidoodleshopsbest.blogspot.com /spots/dots
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ /circles
http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.com / shaped card
http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ round cards
Thank you for visiting
Margaret

Thursday 24 February 2011

Out of my comfort zone!


These colours are so not me! I love this LOTV image die cut square and that was my starting point. I struggled to find some paper to co-ordinate with the main colour of her frock. I eventually found this digi paper that's been in my drawer for so long I don't know where it came from - sorry. I spotted her frock with a Copic and used the same on her hatband & flower. A little glossy accent on her bag clasp, mirror, her beads and hat flower and she was ready to go! The green card is the back! of co-ordinations whitewash and the brown is from MME Fine & Dandy recently purchased from Funky Farm Scrapbook Barn (brilliant service). The spots on both papers are actually more aqua than green and I think they match very well. The ribbon is self adhesive and was part of a long ago swap with the lovely Toni  (OAP1945). Thank you! I punched the little flower from a previously debossed scrap. The spotted buttons are Papermania and tied on with fine silver cord.

Thank you for looking. 

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

http://creativecraftworld.blogspot.com/ use a square
http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com/ Use green
http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ Sketch
http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ spots and stripes

Margaret

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Made in Extreme Haste!



Those who I chat to on MSE may remember me asking about the Turtle image last week. Tams (aka Rusty) very kindly pointed me in the direction of Mejen's images at Whimsy Stamps. Thank you Tams.

Above is the reason I wanted it, to represent tortoises, a long standing joke between DH & me. I'd managed to get the image sorted but had run out of time to do anymore with it & abandoned the idea. UNTIL....... yesterday, when DH declared he was "Going out for a walk" in the determined tone that meant I wasn't expected to go with him. OMG! best do something with that image just in case....

I didn't have time to mess about, I didn't know how long he'd be out. I used 'Home Bargains' red mirri type card to mat the image, cut the words and the outline hearts in the same with my Cuttlebug, and table confetti for the tiny solid hearts  I wanted to use the doiley heart but it wouldn't show up on the front and the colour of the lovely Sizzix paper was wrong to go with the red Mirri card so following the trend of decorating the inside I did just that. Oops! just noticed I think the paper is actually upside down.

Not a very sophisticated design especially with my hand written sentiment on the front but I'm pleased to say he loved it. Phew!

I'd like to enter the following:
http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/ - Challenge Hearts
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ - Challenge Hearts
http://tiffanydoodles.blogspot.com/ - February Valentine Challenge
http://www.cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ I Love you

Thank you for visiting

Margaret

Sunday 13 February 2011

Lots of MSE Birthdays!

On the MSE card making thread we try, when we are able, to make each other birthday cards and 3 of my friends have birthdays over the two days just gone.  I hope they have now all received the cards, I was a bit late making them as I've had eye surgery and my vision is still 'wobbly'.

Here is the card I made for my friend Caroline.

The green and white papers are Pink Petticoat and the paper with the big roses was amongst some that the lovely Sarah sent to me. I coloured the image with Copic pens, covered her skirt with glamour dust, her wings with glossy accents and added some gems to her belt. Bling! The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards and the bow is a ready made Papermania one. The flowers at the Rt hand corners were punched with my little Tesco flower punch and the centres blinged too.

I'd like to enter this card in:
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ Make it Pretty
http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ I did it creations Bling it up
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ Pink and flowers
http://samueltaylors.blogspot.com/2011/01/samuel-taylors-monthly-challenge  Copics




This card is the one I made my friend Jennie.

Pink Petticoat paper again (I do have others honest!). I coloured the cake image with Copics trying to give the plate stand a look of glass. I added glossy accents to the strawberries and cherries on the cakes. I used my MS doily punch on some vellum and some very glossy wrapping paper that just happened to be the  right colour to trim the bottom edge. A few daisies from my stash, another Craftwork sentiment, vellum and a bit of bling and the card was finished.
I'd like to enter this in:
http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Lovin' from the Oven
http://simplycreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ Bold and Bright
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ Clean & Simple
http://samueltaylors.blogspot.com/2011/01/samuel-taylors-monthly-challenge Copics





My friend Claire shares the same birthday as Jennie. I needed to put my thinking cap on to come up with a different style of card.

I decided to use my butterfly die. This die is notoriously difficult to get the die cut out of the die and as I haven't got round to buying the recommended ejection foam I tried to use some packaging foam instead. It didn't work! But I liked the gossamer effect it gave and used it over a solid pink & silver butterfly shape. The silvery grey card is from the Papermill, I embossed it with tiny flowers and the pink backing paper  is a matt version of a shiny one I found in a recent magazine. Ribbon from my stash, a blingy butterfly, a flowerand another craftwork sentiment completed this card.

I'd like to enter this one in:
http://cceestampers.blogspot.com/ Dry embossing


Thank you for looking at my efforts

Margaret x