Ching-Chou Kuik - Misty Allure along with Visible Image

 When we recently had a pot of Azera coffee I told my family I wanted the pot to recycle.  I knew exactly what I wanted it for, something for my friend and if we got another pot, one for me!!  I painted the pot first with two layers of gesso and then some blue/purple acrylic paint. 

 The backing papers I used were from my Perfect Papercrafting Companions General CD. On the plain purple paper I used a grunge flourish from Visible Image that I won recently in a challenge.  I have used a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Ching-Chou Kuik called "Misty Allure".  It is available as a digital stamp and rubber stamp.

 The "create with your soul" sentiment is a stamp from Visible Image.  I used it on the opposite side of the pot to the image.

 I added lace and ribbon around the top and bottom of the pot.  I have finished it off with some die-cut flowers (cut from papers from the CD), bought flowers, Prima butterflies (which were coloured with my purple Graph'it pen as an orange/yellow butterfly didn't match the colour scheme!!), branch with gems on it and pearl brads. 

This pot is just the right height to sort my tacky glue/Tonic glue to keep it facing down.

Perfect for my friend to keep her glue in.  I've just got to make one for myself now!!!

I am entering this decorated pot into the following challenges:

CD Sunday - Ribbon and bows

Pan Pastel - Anything goes

Pile it On - Ribbon

Top Tip Tuesday - Girly challenge

Craft Room Challenge - Ribbons and lace

Crafty Girls Challenge - Anything goes

Simply Create Too - Mother's day or for a female
Craftitude - Anything goes or Valentine's/love
Crafting with Dragonflies - Alter a tin or jar and the theme of vintage
Creative Fingers - Anything goes

Regan Kubecek - Hopeful Heart

Here is a Valentine's Day tag that I have made which has lots and lots and lots of pink on it!!!  I have used a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Regan Kubecek called "Hopeful Heart".  It is available as a digital stamp.  I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and even Zentangled the heart balloon.  I have highlighted the little dots in her dress with a pink Sakura stardust pen.  I have inked around the edge of the image with Tim Holtz's Victorian Velvet distress ink.

The pink backing papers I have had for about 2 years and not wanted to use but I thought it was about time I did.  I have cut a tag shape out of the back of a finished shorthand notebook.  The backing board for these make wonderful tags/backs for fridge magnets as they are sturdy.  I have laid the paper over the tag shape and then cut off the excess.  It is better doing it this way than cutting first and trying to get in the right place.

I have finished the tag off with some beads, ribbon bow, pearl Hobby House embellishments, hearts and flowers punched out from scraps of the backing paper, added pearl drops to the centres of all the flowers and some ribbon.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Pile it On - Ribbon

Craftin' Desert Divas - Use 1, 2 or 3 of colours shown (I have used lots and lots of pink)

Oldie but a Goodie - Valentine (something old is the backing papers and beads I have had for about 2 years)

Top Tip Tuesday - Girly challenge

Simon Says - Have a heart

Penny's Paper Challenge - Something old, something new (something new is the gorgeous bright pink ribbon I won recently and the something old is the backing paper and beads)

Crafting for all Seasons - Show us some romance

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Delightful Sketches - Anything goes

Crafty Little Fairies - Love

Crafty Girls Challenge - Anything goes

In the Pink - Valentine's

Cute Card Thursday - Lots of love

Crafts and Me - Photo inspiration

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge

Just a reminder that you still have a week to enter the current challenge over at the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge Blog.

The topic is "Valentine's Day/Love".

It would be lovely for you to pop on over to the Blog and take part in the challenge.  There are two prizes each fortnight.  

Prize No 1 is a digital stamp of your choice from Sweet Pea Stamps and this is picked by Random.org.

Prize No 2 is a digital stamp of your choice from Sweet Pea Stamps.  The winner of this prize is picked by the Design Team from entrants that use a Sweet Pea Stamps image on their card/creation.

Here is the card I made for the challenge:

Bearly Mine Inspiration and Challenge Blog - Monthly Inspiration by Kym - February 2014

In case you didn't know the Bearly Mine Challenge has moved from a fortnightly challenge to a monthly challenge.  

In between that time every two days you will get to see an inspirational project from a member of the Bearly Mine Design Team.

Today it is my turn to show you an inspirational project for the Bearly Mine Inspiration and Challenge Blog.

For my card I decided to make a card suitable for a teenage boy/young adult as they can be so hard to make cards for.  The image I have used is from the "Edward is Immortal" set by Visible Image.

The backing papers I have used are both from the Bearly Mine Designs Steampunk Fantasy 2 set.  These are perfect for steampunk/vintage style cards but I thought also perfect for those difficult male cards.

I have coloured the image in with Graph'it pens and fussy cut around him.  It's a bit fiddly but well worth the effort.  I have made a chain pattern on the card with some real chain held together with some brads.  The card has been finished off with some X-cut die-cut cogs with black Versamagic rubbed around the edge to distress, die-cut buttons, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and a little pocket watch stamp in blue Versafine and fussy cut (this pocket watch is from another set of Visible Image stamps called "Time after Time".

Make sure you check back every few days to see inspiration from the Design Team.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Moving Along with the Times - Birthday boys
Papercrafting Journey - Emboss that (embossed buttons and die-cut cogs)
Glitter n Sparkle - Buttons
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and option to use felt
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut Monthly Patterned Papers Challenge - Anything goes
A Little Bit Crafty - Man up
Feeling Crafty - Dies and/or punches
Love to Create - 2nd birthday celebration/anniversary
The Crafty Bloggers Network - All about boys
SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk Challenge - Time machine
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes and optional extra to make a shaped card
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
Fab n Funky - Calling all brads
Divas by Design - Die-cuts
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inklings and Yarns - Inky Linky Party No 43 - Anything goes

Jake Skates - Version 2

I recently made a card using the "Jake Skates" stamp set by Visible Image.  It's here if you want to have a look.  I make my cards to sell solely to raise funds for different charities and have lots and lots of images suitable for girls/ladies but do struggle for boys/men so that is why I was delighted when I caught sight of Visible Image stamps before I went to the NEC last November.  Yes they do lots and lots of other stamps including sentiments, images suitable for girls/ladies, backgrounds, flowers etc.  I shall keep my fingers crossed some more boy/men images come out this year.  They are fantastic quality and for the Jake Skates stamp set it is £11.99 and you get the main image and 5 other stamps (well really it's 6 - as you'll see around the stamped image of Jake there is like a distressed edge.  If you then look at the backing paper with "awesome dude" on it it's got like a dotty edge.  It's the same stamp but just different sides).

 Better stop waffling and get onto my card.  I have coloured my image in with just two green Graph'it pens for the whole green areas (8240 and 8260).  I have used one of the Visible Image stamps around the edge of the image with a green Versafine ink pad.  

The backing papers are a male set from the Paper Cellar and on the blue/green paper I have used the "awesome dude" stamp around the edge along with the dotty edge of the stamp mentioned above.  On the piece of cream card I have stamped all over with the skateboard stamp and used the distress edge stamp to frame it all.  I have stuck Jake onto paper that I have torn to create the illusion of areas for Jake to skate up-and-down on.

I have finished the card off with some cut out stars from a paper from a Debbi Moore magazine, twine with knots added to it and some Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiments.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and option to use felt

Visible Image - Love (this card is sending someone love on their birthday.  It also shows that I have fallen madly and deeply in love with the quality and variety of Visible Image stamps since my first purchase at the NEC last November)

A Little Bit Crafty - Man up
Love to Create - 2nd birthday celebration/anniversary

The Crafty Blogger Network - All about boys

Papertake Weekly - Anything goes and optional extra to make a shaped card

Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inklings and Yarns - Inky Linky Party No 43 - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge - Saturday 31 January 2014

I am determined to try and enter Hazel's weekly and monthly challenge as often as I can in 2014.  This will then mean I will have a wonderful array of cards ready for Christmas 2014.  Well that is the plan.  Let's see how it goes!!!

For my card I have used my La Pashe CD for the decoupage image and sentiment.  I have used the CD that came with the Crafter's Companion Inspiration Magazine before Christmas for the backing paper.  I have cut the image out including the decoupage elements and have simply added an insert for inside the card, Stickles glitter glue and some gems.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Creative Moments - Anything goes/add some sparkle

Crimbo Crackers - Christmas happiness (I'd certainly be happy to look out on Christmas Day to see all this snow)

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas - Stripes and/or spots (spots on my backing paper)

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything goes

Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Anything goes

New Delicious Doodles Images

Teri over at Delicious Doodles has been very busy creating.  

Here are some of her new images:

"Snowdrop Fairy" - available in the shop now

"Shadow Faerie" - available in the shop now

"Skull and Bones Papers" - available in the Delicious Darkness shop now

"Grotesque Cupid" - available in the shop now

"The Dark Forest" will be available in the Delicious Doodles Store and the Delicious Darkness Shop on Friday.

For an extra Teri has put a skull paper as a FREEBIE in her Delicious Darkness Shop.  Click here to find it and have a look around.

Kenny K Challenge - 2 February 2014

 Over at the Kenny K Challenge this fortnight the topic is "love".  For my card I have used the Kenny K image called "Playboy".  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers keeping the colour scheme to red, white and blue.

The backing papers I have used are from Summertime Designs.  I have used a "love" stamp and splodge effect stamp by Visible Image.  They come on a set with a main image and other smaller stamps called "Isabella Lost Love".

Here is the inside of the card decorated like the front.  I always decorate the inside as I feel it finishes the card off.

I have finished the card off simply with some gingham ribbon and some punched out hearts.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

I Love Promarkers - Love is in the air

Natalie and Amy Challenge - Love is all around
Crafty Calendar  Monthly - Love is all around
Open Minded Crafting - Show some love
Allsorts - Love is in the air
The Corrosive Challenge - Feel the love
The Ribbon Girl - Hearts
Kenny K Challenge - Anything goes with a twist of love
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper Monthly Challenge - Anything goes

Visible Image Challenge - Love
Ladybug Crafts - Be Mine

Kaboodle Doodle - Valentine themed

Craft Your Passion - Love is in the air
Whoopsi Daisy - Show us love/Valentine's
Lexi's Creations - Valentine's day/love
Ooh-la-la-Creations - Use a heart
Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes/hearts
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes/use red
The Pink Elephant - Photo inspiration
The Crazy Challenge - Love is in the air
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Love is in the air
Passion for Promarkers - Spots and stripes
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes and optional extra to make a shaped card
Pile it On - Ribbon

Karen Middleton - Moon Heart

Here is a card I have made using a Sweet Pea Stamps image by Karen Middleton called "Moon Heart".  It is available as a digital stamp and rubber stamp.

I have coloured the image in with promarkers and inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Mustard Seed, Rusty Hinge and Aged Mahogany distress ink.  The gold and burgundy backing paper I was given some years ago and has gorgeous flocking on it.  I have die-cut the image and laid on top of a Marainne Designs die-cut shape.  The card has been finished off with some embossing matting and layering, tissue paper die-cut flowers with pearl brad centres, gems, die-cut sentiment and a red heart that has been made out of ThermoMorph, pushed into a Spellbinders Mixed Media embossed heart frame and inked with alcohol inks (no matter how many time I took the photo I cannot get the heart to show its true colour of burgundy rather than bright red!!!).

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Passion for Promarkers - Anything goes

I Love Promarkers - Love is in the air

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

CRAFT - Love/Valentine

Papercrafting Journey - Emboss that (background card and ThermoMorph heart)

Crafty Catz - Anything goes

Crafty Calendar  Monthly - Love is all around

Sweet Stampin' - Love/Valentine's

Open Minded Crafting - Show some love

Allsorts - Love is in the air

A Gem of a Challenge - All you need is love

Di's Digi Designs - Love and/or Valentine's

2 Sisters - Embossing (background card and ThermoMorph heart)

The Corrosive Challenge - Feel the love

Robyn's Fetish - Valentine's day cards

Scribble and Scrap - Anything goes

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and optional twist to use felt

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper Monthly Challenge - Anything goes

Ladybug Crafts - Be Mine

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes

Feeling Crafty - Dies and/or punches

Craftin' Desert Divas - Use 1,2 or 3 of the colours shown - I've used red
Kaboodle Doodle - Valentine themed
Craft Your Passion - Love is in the air
Whoopsi Daisy - Show us love/Valentine's
Lexi's Creations - Valentine's day/love
Ooh-la-la-Creations - Use a heart
Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes/hearts
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes/use red
The Pink Elephant - Photo inspiration
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
The Crazy Challenge - Love is in the air

Joanne Schempp - Irish Chic

At the moment in the Sweet Pea Stamps Shop there is a Digi Sale on Easter, St Patrick's Day and Steampunk images whereby you get 20% off.

 Here is a card I have made using Joanne Schempp's image called "Irish Chic".  It is available as a digital stamp (and as mentioned above it's got 20% off at the moment) and as a rubber stamp.

I wanted to keep the colour scheme to green so used my Promarkers as I have virtually all of the greens.  I have inked around the edge with Tim Holtz's Peeler Paint distress ink and layered the image onto a tag.  I made the four leaf clover template myself and then drew around it onto the papers I printed out from Bearly Mine Designs.

  

The green spotty paper I used is from the Bearly Mine "Mini Dots" Collection and the green crumpled looking papers is from the Bearly Mine "The Boy's Zone" Collection.  Around the crumpled paper layer I distressed with a pair of scissors as my Tim Holtz couldn't get into all the nooks and crannies.  I have used a Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die for the large and small flowers which I have cut out from a book and coloured with my Bright Green and Grass Promarkers.

I have finished the card off with some fibres, card candi, sentiment, buttons, pearl dots, cheesecloth, pearls and a charm with memory wire threaded through.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Craftin Desert Divas - Shaped cards

Passion for Promarkers - Anything goes

Inky Impressions - Monochromatic

Scrap-Creations - Favourite embellishment (flowers)

Penny's Paper Challenge - Spots and dots

Inklings and Yarn - Inky Linky 42 - Anything goes

Miriam's Crafting Blog 8th Monthly Challenge - Flowers

Paper Creator - Anything goes

QKR Stampede - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Scribble and Scrap - Anything goes
Glitter n Sparkle - Buttons
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with option to use felt
Pan Pastel - Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper Monthly Challenge - Anything goes
Feeling Crafty - Dies and/or punches
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes

One Sweet Challenge - February 2014 - Love

 February is here and therefore it is time for another challenge over at the One Sweet Challenge Blog.  The topic for this month is "love" so this could be Valentine's Day, wedding, anniversary or anything that means "love".

For my card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image by Joanne Schempp called "Lil Demon".  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.  I have coloured the image in with Graph'it pens and then inked around the edge with various flower and hearts small stamps.  The backing papers are from Summertime Designs.  I have finished the card off with some satin ribbon, some white paper flowers which I have inked with Tim Holtz's Fired Brick distress ink, gems and some little wooden circles that I have coloured with my Graph'it pens and added peel-offs to make the word "love".

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Recipe - 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 different embellishments (gems, flowers and wooden circles)
Creative Card Crew - Recipe - 1 ribbon, 2 designer papers and 3 gems/pearls
Deep Ocean - Fantasy
Penny's Paper Challenge - Spots and dots
CRAFT - Love/Valentine
Milk Coffee Challenge - Valentine's/love
Aud Sentiments - Sharing the love
Miriam's Crafting Blog 8th Monthly Challenge - Flowers
Paper Creator - Anything goes
A Creative Romance - Show us some love
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Calendar  Monthly - Love is all around
Sweet Stampin' - Love/Valentine's
Open Minded Crafting - Show some love
Allsorts - Love is in the air
A Gem of a Challenge - All you need is love
Di's Digi Designs - Love and/or Valentine's
Fantasy Stampers - Love and cherish
The Corrosive Challenge - Feel the love
Robyn's Fetish - Valentine's day cards
Scribble and Scrap - Anything goes
Stamping Sensations - Wings, fantasy and fiction
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and optional twist to use felt
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper Monthly Challenge - Anything goes
Ladybug Crafts - Be Mine
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes
Musically Challenged - Inspired by Gothic Songs (The Tear Garden - "In search of my rose")
Pile it On - Ribbon

Gruffies and Guests Challenge - February 2014

It is the 1st day of the month and therefore time for another challenge at the Gruffies and Guests Challenge Blog.

The topic for February 2014 is "love is in the air".

For those of you that enter you have the chance of winning a wonderful prize of £10 voucher to be spent at the Dawn till Dusk Craft Supplies Store.

Pop on over to the Gruffies and Guests Challenge Blog to see Team A's creations for this challenge and to enter your own cards/creations using a House Mouse, Gruffies or Happy Hoppers image.

Team B will be back in two weeks to show you their creations so you will have to wait until then to see mine.

Bearly Mine Challenge - 1 February 2014 - Vintage Romance

It is the first day of the month and therefore it sees the start of a new challenge over at the Bearly Mine Inspiration and Challenges Blog.  This month the topic is "vintage romance".

I really struggle with vintage cards.  I love to see them but when I make them they don't seem to turn out right.  That said I have had a go.

  

For my card I have used papers from two Bearly Mine Design sets, Love's Dream and Plain and Simple.

The images I have used are from the Debbi Moore Shabby Chic Wedding CD.  I have made the images smaller, cut out and inked around the edge to distress.  I printed out some beige Plain and Simple paper, made a document in Word with some heart shapes, put the piece of card back through the printer, cut the shapes out and then stamped over with Tim Holtz's Rusty Hinge and Gathered Twigs distress ink and and a Sheena Douglass Aged Beautifully distress stamp.

I have finished the card off with some gems, a doily inked with Gathered Twigs and Rusty Hinge distress ink, square brads, sentiment off the computer, Bearly Mine Design freebie flowers cut out, inked and a pearl added to the centres.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Pink Elephant - Love
Craftitude Challenge - Anything goes/I see fluffy
The Crafter's Cafe - Use ribbon and/or lace 
Rhedd and Rosie - Anything goes
Divas by Design - Vintage with lace
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
CRAFT - Love/Valentine
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything goes
Natalie and Amy - Love is all around
Inklings and Yarn - Inky Linky 42 - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes

Delicious Doodles Challenge - Friday 31 January 2014 - Use die-cuts and/or punches

 It is Friday and therefore time for another challenge over at Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog.  The topic for you for this week is "use die-cuts and/or punches".

For my card I have used the beautiful Delicious Doodles image called "Valentina".  I have coloured the image in with my Graph'it pens and kept it very pastel.  The backing papers are all from my stash.  I have finished the card off with some wooden circles which I have coloured with a pink Graph'it (yes I know they look red but it must be something to do with them being wood that the pink looks red!!) and added a peel-off, flower (which I have inked with a pink Versamagic), doily (inked with the same ink pad), lace, punched hearts and some pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Squirrel and the Fox - Use embellishments (flower, pearls, wooden circles, lace and punched hearts)
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional twist of gift set

The Pink Elephant - Love
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Recipe - 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 different embellishments (pearls, flowers and wooden circles)
Inky Chicks - BINGO board (I have used lace, heart shaped paper doily and pearls)
The Crafter's Cafe - Use ribbon and/or lace 
Paper Pretties - Texture
Penny's Paper Challenge - Spots and dots
Rhedd and Rosie - Anything goes
CRAFT - Love/Valentine
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything goes
Milk Coffee Challenge - Valentine's/love
Aud Sentiments - Sharing the love
Natalie and Amy - Love is all around

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper January Challenge - Anything goes
QKR Stampede - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes

A Creative Romance - Show us some love
Crafty Catz - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Graph'it - Anything goes

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - Friday 31 January 2014 - Valentine's Day/Love

It is time for another challenge over at the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge Blog.  This fortnight the challenge is "Valentine's Day/love".  

For my card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image called "Wither" by Rebecca Sinz.  It is available as a digital stamp and a rubber stamp.

I have coloured my image in with my Graph'it pens, edged around the image with Tim Holtz's Fired Brick and Aged mahogany distress ink and then finally brushed on some white gesso.

The backing papers I have used are from my stash.  On four corners I have painted on white gesso and some glitter.  The border is a heart mask, run through my Grand Caliber to emboss the heart and lightly inked over with the Fired Brick distress ink.  I had drew a heart, covered with white gesso and inked with Aged Mahogany distress ink.  The card is finished off with a LOTV stamped postcard, peel-off sentiment, roses and lace.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional twist of gift set
The Pink Elephant - Love
Card Mania - Angels and/or fairies
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Digi Choosday - Anything goes
Craftitude Challenge - Anything goes/I see fluffy
Deep Ocean - Fantasy
The Crafter's Cafe - Use ribbon and/or lace 
Paper Pretties - Texture
Scrap-Creations - Favourite embellishment (flowers)
Rhedd and Rosie - Anything goes
Divas by Design - Vintage with lace
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Little Miss Muffet - Lurrrrve
CRAFT - Love/Valentine
Papercrafting Journey - Emboss that
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything goes
Milk Coffee Challenge - Valentine's/love
Aud Sentiments - Sharing the love
Natalie and Amy - Love is all around
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper January Challenge - Anything goes
Inklings and Yarn - Inky Linky 42 - Anything goes
Miriam's Crafting Blog 8th Monthly Challenge - Flowers
Paper Creator - Anything goes
QKR Stampede - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Anything goes
A Creative Romance - Show us some love
Crafty Catz - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Graph'it - Anything goes