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Monday 31 July 2017

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps - New releases

Today sees the arrival of some new images in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store: 
  Here is a set of images and you will find "dragonflies, seahorse and a ladybug".  

The set is available as a special introductory price of $3.00 (instead of the original price of $5).  

Hurry as this offer ends on 5 August 2017.

Saturday 29 July 2017

To the Bride and Groom - Just Married

We have been invited to a evening wedding reception tonight.  I wanted to make a special card for the bride and groom.  A fellow Ching-Chou Kuik Design Team Member, Aurora, made a beautiful faux book recently and I was cheeky and asked if she could share the instructions.  I don't follow instructions well and certainly struggled at times especially when trying to stick the sides of the book together.  Thanks to the internet I found a faux book tutorial by Tanya and this helped me to stick the pages together in a different way.  It certainly wasn't easy waiting for the glue to catch but I got there in the end.  Once I'd got the four sides together I weighted it down overnight with some craft magazines and some of my die storage boxes to ensure a good stick.
 For the faux book I made a box for it to sit inside.  I used my Crafter's Companion boxer board.  I struggle with this board as I bought my Crafter's Companion Ultimate on offer a few weeks before the Ultimate Pro was launched.  With the Ultimate Pro the board locks inside whereas with the Ultimate it doesn't and I have to use stand-alone and I struggle to hold the page exactly where it needs to go.  I think I did some movement as I know I measured correctly and left a centimetre gap on all four sides but when I put the book in the finished box it only just goes in.  I wish I had the funds to buy the Ultimate Pro as it would make things so much easier.  I used various scroll stamps and Toffee Versafine ink to stamp around the box before I stuck it together.
 I have scribbled out the name of the bride and groom.  For the box and the faux book I have used papers from my Debbi Moore Shabby Chic Wedding CD and my Debbi Moore Wedding CD. 
  I made all the flowers - which took some time - using a Sue Wilson die.  I added Nuvo drops to the centre and left to dry overnight.
 Inside the card I used an image from the Paper Nest Dolls.  I saw a show on Hochanda with their stamps and digital stamps were mentioned so I had to have a look.  I was pleased when I saw a "Wedding Couple" image so I had to have it - along with some others!!!.  I coloured the image in with my Promarkers.  I found a new colour combo for a light coloured dress - ivory and vanilla.  I fussy cut around the image.
 Inside the middle of the faux book I did a shadow effect with a Marianne Designs corner die.  I used a pyromage image from the Debbi Moore Shabby Chic Wedding CD.
 The inside and out of the card and box has been finished off with ribbon, hand-made flowers, gems and various elements from the Debbi Moore Shabby Chic Wedding CD.
Here is the finished card sitting inside the box.  

My husband and I hope hope the happy couple have a long and happy married life together.

Unfortunately I had a medical procedure done on Tuesday and the post-procedure recovery has been a lot harder than I ever thought so no wedding reception for me today.

I am entering this faux book card and decorated box into the following challenges: 

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
More Mixed Media - Anything goes with the option of pastel
Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
CD Sunday - Celebration
Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Creative Moments - Anything goes/summer fun
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything goes
Simon Says - Anything goes
Through the Purple Haze - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday- Anything goes
Simply Papercrafts - Anything goes
Colour Crazy - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the optional twist of anything but a card
Brown Sugar - Anything goes

Friday 28 July 2017

Enjoy Your Retirement

Here is a retirement card I have made using various elements from a Debbi Moore Inspirations Magazine.

I have finished the card off with die-cut butterflies, ribbon and ribbon slider.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Creative Moments - Anything goes/summer fun
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything goes
Simon Says - Anything goes
Through the Purple Haze - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday- Anything goes
Simply Papercrafts - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the optional twist of anything but a card

Friday 21 July 2017

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration Post - Friday 21 July 2017

 Here is my weekly inspiration post for the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog. 

Before I do I'd like to remind you that our challenge this month is "MONOCHROME".

This week the Design Team were challenged to the topic of "anything goes".

Here is my inspiration post with this theme.
 For my summery card I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik image called "Keep in Faith" and I have coloured her in with my Promarkers and added white gel pen highlights.

The papers I have used are from my friend Lozzy.  I have used papers from the following sets:  Scratch, Grid, Checkout and Mixed up.

I have finished the card off with a die-cut handmade sunflower and leaves, stamped sentiment, gems, lace and a doily.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Classic DT Open Challenge - Anything goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes
CCC Digi Creations - Anything goes
World Wide Open Design Team - Anything goes
Colour Crazy - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
As You Like It - Do you prefer gems or pearls and why? (I love them both but my favourite has to be gems as I love to add a little bit of sparkle and shine to my creations)
I Love Promarkers - Anything goes
Not Just Cards - Anything goes
Create and Inspire - Anything goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
The Ribbon Girl - July use any image challenge
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes
Come and Get It - Use 2 or more designer papers
Pile it On - Primary colours of something beginning with "s" (sunflowers)
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Anything goes with the option of monochrome
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Clean and simple or fussy and fancy
Passion for Promarkers - Bright colours
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything goes
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Penny's Paper - Anything goes
Fab n Funky - Use a patterned paper
Cute Card Thursday - Summer colours
Crafting with Friends - Anything goes
Creative Craft Cottage - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the option of party time

Thursday 20 July 2017

Our 26th Wedding Anniversary

Can you remember what you were doing 26 years ago today?

I can as it was the day I married my wonderful husband so today we are celebrating our 26th wedding anniversary.  

We haven't had an easy time due to me having ill health most of these years but we have managed to bring up two amazing children.
For my card for my husband I have used my Debbi Moore Shabby Chic Love CD and I have used a decoupage page and sentiment.

I have used backing papers from my stash.

I have finished the card off with some twine, stamped sentiment which was a freebie from a magazine and some gorgeous gems I bought from Colemans Warehouse in Rushden when I went to see Dawn Bibby.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes
Come and Get It - Use 2 or more designer papers
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Penny's Paper - Anything goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes
  

Wednesday 19 July 2017

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps - New release

 Today sees the arrival of a new image in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store:
 The image is called "Love Magic" and it is available as a special introductory price of $2.80 (instead of the original price of $4).  

Hurry as this offer ends on 23 July 2017.

Friday 14 July 2017

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration Post - Friday 14 July 2017

 Here is my weekly inspiration post for the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog. 

Before I do I'd like to remind you that our challenge this month is "MONOCHROME".

This week the Design Team were challenged to use the same image "The Tender Angie".

Here is my inspiration post with this image.
 For my seaside inspired card I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik image called "The Tender Angie" and I have coloured her in with my Promarkers and fussy cut around the image adding some Nuvo pearl dots here and there.

For this card I have used various stamps that I have bought from Joy! Crafts and also a set that came free with last months' issue of the Creative Stamping magazine.

The backing paper I have used is from Debbi Moore's Nautical CD.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Simply Papercrafts - Anything goes
Crafts Galore Encore - Anything goes
Creative Ladybirds - Anything goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything goes
A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge - Anything goes
Love to Craft - Anything goes
Love to Scrap - Anything goes
Paper Creator - Anything goes
Crafty Calendar - Anything goes
Delicious Doodles - Beside the sea
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist of monochrome
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Anything goes with the option of blue and green
Classic DT Open Challenge - Anything goes
Craft Rocket - Anything goes

Monday 10 July 2017

Crafty Purple Frog Challenge - July 2017 - Summertime

 It is time for another challenge over at The Crafty Purple Frog Challenge Blog.

The topic this month is "SUMMERTIME".

Here is my card with this theme.  
For my card I have used the Dovecraft Back to Basics goody bag.  These goodie bags are a wonderful idea as everything matches in the bag.  For this card I have used some backing papers, card blanks (which I have cut up for matting and layering as I wanted to make a bigger card) and some gems.

The rubber stamp I have had for a long time and is by Michael Powell.  I recently changed around my storage for my stamps.  It took over two weeks to finish but I have easy access to my stamps now and have made use of stamps like this that had not seen the "light of day"!!  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and some of my Spectrum Noir Illustrator pens.  I then have used my Wow! embossing pen on the surface of the sea and then added my Wow! Sand Dunes embossing powder to add some sparkle to the sea.  I then used my Wow! embossing pen on the windows of the huts and the glass of the lighthouse and then added my Wow! superfine clear embossing powder to add a glaze to the glass.

I have finished the card off with some decorative fish net, various seaside themed die-cuts coloured with Pan Pastels and some gems from the goodie bag.

This card is for my husband's birthday.  I long to live by the sea.  In the meantime when we go away it always has to be near the sea.  One time when my husband was at a course in Eastbourne I went too and I had a scary experience with a seagull who swooped down and pinched one triangle of my sandwich.  A few years later my husband and I went back again to Eastbourne and we dared to sit in the same spot.  Obviously it was a place drawn by seagulls as one swooped down and tried to pinch our lunch.  Needless to say we moved inside the shopping centre to finish our lunch!!

 I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Cardz 4 Guyz - Beside the sea
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes
Lil Patch of Crafty friends - Anything goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Anything goes with the option of blue and green
Delicious Doodles - Beside the sea
Lemon Shortbread - Anything goes
The Male Room - Add texture (embossing and netting)
Let's Craft and Create - Beachy or red/white/blue
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes/summer colours
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
Simon Says - Summer sunshine
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything goes
Star Stampz - Summer celebrations
Crafting with an Attitude - Anything goes
Craft Rocket - Anything goes
4 Crafty Chicks - Stamping - no digis
Crafting with Friends - Anything goes
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
QKR Stampede - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the optional twist of add some lace
Jo's Scrap Shack - Anything goes
Sweet Stampin - Photo inspiration

Friday 7 July 2017

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration Post - Friday 7 July 2017

 Here is my weekly inspiration post for the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Monthly Challenge Blog. 

Before I do I'd like to remind you that our challenge this month is "MONOCHROME".

Here is my inspiration post with this theme.
 For my card I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik image called "Little Companion".  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Pumice Stone distress ink.

The backing papers I have used are from the First Edition 6x6 Black Out paper pad.  They are such a wonderful quality paper.

I used one of the double-sided sheets of the Black Out paper to die-cut some flowers using one of my very early Marianne Designs dies purchases and also used one of Sue Wilson's Finishing Touches greenery dies.

I have finished the card off with a doily, lace, satin ribbon, sentiment strip cut from a backing paper which I think was from a magazine and some lovely gems.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Simply Papercrafts - Anything goes
Colour Crazy - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
Crafts Galore Encore - Anything goes
Creative Ladybirds - Anything goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes
CCC Digi Creations - Monochrome
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything goes
A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge - Anything goes
Love to Craft - Anything goes
Love to Scrap - Anything goes
Paper Creator - Anything goes
Crafty Calendar - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist of monochrome
Lil Patch of Crafty friends - Anything goes
The Ribbon Girl - July card challenge
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Anything goes with the option of blue and green
Classic DT Open Challenge - Anything goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - Anything goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes/summer colours
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
Crafty Creations - Anything goes
The Paper Shelter - Going digital
Crafting with an Attitude - Anything goes
Craft Rocket - Anything goes
Crafting with Friends - Anything goes
Creative Fingers - Anything goes
That's Crafty - Anything goes
QKR Stampede - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the optional twist of add some lace
Jo's Scrap Shack - Anything goes

Tuesday 4 July 2017

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps - New release - Believe in Faith

 Today sees the arrival of a new image in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store:
 The image is called "Believe in Faith" and it is available as a special introductory price of $2.00 (instead of the original price of $4).  

Hurry as this offer ends on 10 July 2017.

Saturday 1 July 2017

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Facebook Group July Challenge - Buttons and bows

Today is the start of the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Facebook Group Monthly Challenge.

The topic for the challenge this month is "BUTTONS AND BOWS".

I decided to play along with their challenge this month.
For my card I have used one the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamp called "Sakura".  I have coloured her in with Promarkers and distressed the edge of the image with my Tim Holtz distressing tool and inked with a yellow chalk ink pad.

The papers I have used are from a Debbi Moore magazine.

I put a piece of white card through my Grand Calibur with a button mask I had.  I then kept the mask on top and coloured through with a bright yellow Pan Pastel.

I have finished the card off with various die-cuts (buttons, butterfly and spider's web), lace, ribbon and stamped sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes
Creative Inspirations - Dots and/or stripes (dots for me on my ribbon)
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Deep Ocean - Lots of layers
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything goes
Simon Says - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - Anything goes
As You Like It - Favourite way to use ribbon and why (My favourite way to use ribbon is to use it horizontally or vertically to add dimension and break up the page)
CRAFT - Add ribbon and sparkle (ribbon and Stickles glitter glue added to card)
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything goes
Through the Purple Haze - Dots and/or stripes (dots on my ribbon)
Simply Papercrafts - Anything goes
Colour Crazy - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
Creatalicious - Anything goes with the option of red, white and blue
Brown Sugar - Anything goes
QKR Stampede - Christmas in July or anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes with the optional twist of embossing
Crafts Galore Encore - Anything goes
Creative Ladybirds - Anything goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes
Noor! Design - Use die-cuts
Country View Crafts - Things with wings
Di's Digi Designs - Layer it up
A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge - Anything goes
Love to Craft - Anything goes
Love to Scrap - Anything goes
Paper Creator - Anything goes
Crafty Calendar - Anything goes