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 "Radiant Soul" and is available at a special introductory price of $2.80 instead of $4.  

This offer ends on 31 July 2016.  

Ching-Chou Kuik's Etsy Store - New Release

 Today sees the arrival of a new image in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store:

  The image is called "Breaking Dawn" and is available at a special introductory price of $3.00 instead of $4.  

This offer ends on 30 July 2016.  

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration Post - Friday 22 July 2016

 

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 "YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR".

The week the Design Team have been given the topic of "anything goes".

I have still used "my favourite colour" purple for my card.

For my card I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik image called "Orchid in Spring".  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers, highlighted areas with my gold Graph'it pen and chalked the background.

The backing papers I have used are designed by my friend Lozzy.  The set I have used is called "Lilac Delight"'

I have finished the card off with a doily, satin ribbon, stamped sentiment and Nuvo purple pearl dots.

I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything goes

My Crafting Stories - Birthday
A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes
The Pencil Case - Yellow/anything goes
The Ribbon Girl - July any image challenge
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with optional twist of colour challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes
Love to Scrap - Anything goes
Craft Your Passion - Always anything goes
Crafting from the Heart - Always anything goes
Artistic Inspirations - Just for fun
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Favourite embellishments (I have a number of favourite embellishments but here are some, ribbon and Nuvo pearl drops)
Passion for Promarkers - Summer flowers
Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes
The Paper Shelter - Ribbon/s
Creative Moments - Anything goes
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes/friends
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Craft Rocket - Spots and/or stripes
Aud Sentiments - Anything goes and sentiment
Graph'it Challenge - Anything goes
Art by Miran - Anything goes
Creative Fingers - Anything goes

A VERY Special day for my Husband and I Today

Today is a VERY special day for my husband and I.

 For those of you that are old enough, what were you doing 25 years ago today?

 25 years ago was the day we became husband and wife.  It hasn't been an easy time as most of our 25 years, apart from a few years, I have been ill but we have "weathered the storm" and today we are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary.

Here is a picture of us all dressed up for a "black tie night" on our first cruise last September.  We paid for a photograph to be taken with the Captain as I bought a posh dress.
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Well onto my card for today.  I Love making easel cards but hate having to get on the floor to try and get a photograph!!  I have used a card kit that I purchased from Crafts U Print.  The kit was by Sandie Burchell but I can't seem to find it.  It included everything to make the card as is but obviously I took it further using my own white card and mirri card.

I have finished the card off with a Glossy Accents on the glasses of champagne, ribbon bow, heart button, flowers (these were die-cut from some gorgeous tissue paper from Hobbycraft, scrunched, held together with a brad and finally Stickles glitter glue rubbed over them for some sparkle and shine), Sue Wilson die-cut greenery (Pine Twig - CED3054) and Nuvo silver pearl drops.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Love to Scrap - Anything goes
Ooh La La Creations - Add some texture (ribbon and Nuvo pearl drops)
Crafting from the Heart - Always anything goes
Artistic Inspirations - Just for fun
Get Creative - Celebration
4 Crafty Chicks - Flowers
Crafting with Friends - Anything goes
Simply Papercrafts - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist of colour challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
Glitter n Sparkle - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Favourite embellishments (Ribbon, Nuvo pearl drops and a button)
Digi Choosday - Flowers
Creative Moments - Anything goes
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes/friends
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes

Gruffies and Guest Challenge Blog - July 2016 - Anything goes or the option of "Summer"

Today it is time for me to show you another card for the Gruffies and Guests Challenge Blog.

 The topic for April 2016 is "anything goes with the option of "Summer".

As mentioned before there will be no sponsors for the Gruffies and Guests Challenge Blog in 2016.  Instead members of the Design Team will be offering prizes.

This month it is the turn of Vickie to sponsor the challenge.  She is offering the winner 3 Paper Studio embossing folders.  Now who wouldn't want to win that?

Today is a sad day for me as it is my last post as a member of the Gruffies and Guests Design Team.  It has been a wonderful Design Team to be part of since January 2014.  I wish you all the very best with the Design Team.  I will never forget my love of House Mouse, Gruffies and Happy Hoppers!!

Here is a card I have made for a male. I have use some of my Joanna Sheen decoupage and used this gorgeous boot image and decoupaged it up.

The backing papers I have used are from my stash.

I have finished the card off with some natural twine, flowers die-cut from brown parcel paper for a rustic feel and also to be suitable for a male, Nuvo pearls drops for some bling/shine for the centre of the flowers and a stamped sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything goes

Creative Ladybirds - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything goes

Classic Design Team Open Challenge - Anything goes

My Crafting Stories - Birthday
Crafty Calendar - Punches and/or dies
Paper Creator - Just for men
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Fab n Funky - Add a sentiment
Create and Inspire - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Add some bling (Nuvo pearl drops for me)
4 Crafty Chicks - Flowers
Crafting with Friends - Always anything goes
Simply Papercrafts - Always anything goes
House Mouse and Friends - Female birthday/anything goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration Post - Friday 15 July 2016

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

The week the Design Team have been given the topic of "make your own background".

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

 I decided to make a mixed media canvas.  I used my very unloved Lyra Watercolour crayons to colour the canvas in various shades of blue to representa a watery background and left to dry overnight.  I then used a dotty mask and some Dutch Doobadoo texture paste which I mixed in some Cosmic Shimmer Aqua Lagoon Pixie Powder to make a light blue paste.  I then left this overnight to dry and then used a Crafter's Companion Textures Stamp and Tim Holtz's Chipped Sapphire distress ink and stamped around the canvas.

Here is a close-up of an area that has the background coloured, the texture paste and then the stamped details.

The image that I have used is Ching-Chou Kuik's "Lilies Commitment" and I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and highlighted areas with my Wink of Stella clear pen and then cut around the image.

The canvas has then been finished off with some cheesecloth, mesh, real shells, die-cut shells/seahorses/greenery, stamped sentiment, pearls and ribbon.

 I am entering this mixed media project into the following challenges: 

More Mixed Media Challenge - Anything goes with the option of pastel colours

Noor! Design UK - Anything goes with the option of chipboard

Crafty Calendar - Punches and/or dies

Delicious Doodles - Beside the Sea

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything goes

Creative Ladybirds - Anything goes

Altered Eclectics - Anything goes mixed media

Classic Design Team Open Challenge - Anything goes

Little Claire's Challenge - Anything goes

The Pencil Case - Whatever/anything goes

Come and Get It - Make your own background

Robyn's Fetish - Anything with water

The Corrosive Challenge - Nature/animals

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist to use birds or feathers or both

Craft Your Passion - Always anything goes

Not Just Cards - Colour scheme 

Crafting from the Heart - Always anything goes

A Snowflake's Promise - Summertime (when I think of summer I think of things to do with the seabeach)

Passion for Promarkers - Summer days (when I think of summer I think of things to do with the sea/beach)

Digi Choosday - For the girls

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes

Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes

Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes

Create and Inspire - Anything goes

As You Like It - Your trademark style and why (I love making CAS cards/projects for those that have to be posted but for those that are hand-delivered or people appreciate the work involved in cardmaking/project making I really prefer/love making more fussy and fancy cards/projects.  Yes they can take a long time to plan/execute but they are so worth it)

Cute Card Thursday - Embossing (all the die-cuts I have used have been embossed)

Aud Sentiments - For a girl and sentiment

QKR Stampede - By the seaside

Crafty Catz - Add some bling (pearls for me)

Polkadoodles - Summer  (when I think of summer I think of things to do with the sea/beach)

Crafting with Friends - Always anything goes

The East Wind - Photo inspiration

Simply Papercrafts - Always anything goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything goes

To my Wonderful Husband on his 50th Birthday

 It is a day of celebrations in our house today as my husband is 50.

I had to make cards for each of my sons and also one for myself so off I went to Crafts U Print for some ideas for cards.

For my card I used this fabulous image by Sharon Poore that I found over at Crafts U Print. My husband likes the odd glass of red wine.  It is a bottom stacker and comes with the sentiment pieces and the corks to add as extra.

I have kept the card very simple as I didn't want to detract from the image.  I have used papers from my stash.

I have finished the card off with the corks from the topper sheet, sentiment off the computer and die-cut and some pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything goes

Allsorts - One for the boys
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist to use birds or feathers or both

Get Creative Challenge - Celebration (my husband's 50th birthday)

Paper Creator - Just for men

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything goes
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Create and Inspire - Anything goes

Good-bye and Good Luck

 Here is a male leaving card that I have made using an image of a bus that I had.  I printed out the image large four times so I could decoupage the image.  I have printed some smaller images off as mini toppers on the front of the card and the back.  

The papers are from Summertime Designs.

The front of the card has been finished off with some natural twine, sentiment off the computer and card candi.

I used a stamp of a bus I have which I think is from DoCrafts from the 2012 London Olympics.  I have just added a stamped sentiment to finish it off.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist to use birds or feathers or both

Paper Creator - Just for men

Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes

Creative Moments - Anything goes with the optional twist of ribbons and/or bows

The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes/say it with flowers

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything goes

Allsorts - One for the boys
Craft Your Passion - Always anything goes (used a stamp inside - hope that's OK)
Crafting from the Heart - Always anything goes

Ching-Chou Kuik's Etsy Store - New Release

Today sees the arrival of a new image in the Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Etsy Store:

 The image is called "Poppy Night Adventure" and is available at a special introductory price of $3.00 instead of $4.  

This offer ends on 15 July 2016.  

Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Inspiration Post - Friday 8 July 2016

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 "YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR".

Here is my inspiration post with the theme of "your favourite colour".

Of course my favourite colour is purple, purple and more purple!!

I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik image called "Lighting Up".  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and chalked the background.

The backing papers are designed by my good friend Lozzy.  The set I have used is called "Lilac Delight".

I have finished the card off with some die-cut flowers with brad centres, ribbon, lace, stamped sentiment and Nuvo pearl drops.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Calendar - Punches and/or dies

CCC Digi Creations - Include a lavender ribbon or bow

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything goes
Creative Ladybirds - Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut Patterned Paper July Challenge - Anything goes
Classic Design Team Open Challenge - Anything goes

Crafting with Friends - Anything goes
Polkadoodles - Add ribbon or twine
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Flowers and lace
Simply Papercrafts - Just for fun
The Pencil Case - Whatever/anything goes
The Ribbon Girl - Card challenge - anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist of American Beauty - use a rose
A Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything goes
The Crazy Challenge - Lace
Craft Your Passion - Always anything goes
Ooh La La Creations - Something beginning with "F" - flowers
Crafting from the Heart - Always anything goes
Artistic Inspirations - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Flowers
Lemon Shortbread - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Creative Moments - Anything goes with the optional twist of ribbons and/or bows
Fab n Funky - 2 or more designer papers
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes/say it with flowers
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
The Crafter's Cafe - Things with wings
Create and Inspire - Anything goes
Crafting with an Attitude - Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - Things with wings
Aud Sentiments - For a girl and sentiment
Brown Sugar Challenge - Monochrome
Art by Miran - Anything goes

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Facebook Challenge - July 2016 - Photo inspiration

 It is time for another challenge over at the Ching-Chou Kuik's Digital Stamps Facebook Group.

The challenge for July 2016 is "PHOTO INSPIRATION" and this is the gorgeous photo to inspire you to make some wonderful creations:

Even though I am in the Blog Design Team I have decided to play along as well.

For my bright and cheerful summery card I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik image called "Blue Sea Illusion".

I have coloured my image in with my Promarkers and inked around the image with Tim Holtz's Peeled Paint distress ink.

The backing papers are from my stash.

I have finished the card off with some die-cut flowers, doily die, ribbon, flowers, feather/flower embellishment, die-cut butterflies and a stamped sentiment.

 I am entering this card into the following challenges: 

Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes

A Snowflake's Promise - Summer

Craft Your Passion - Always anything goes
Crafting from the Heart - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes with flowers
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes with the optional twist of sights, taste and sounds of summer
Robyn's Fetish - Butterflies
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
The Paper Shelter - Photo inspiration
Inspiration Destination - Anything goes
Simon Says - Anything goes