St Luke's Challenge - Love & Lace ....

.... Can you believe it's already 1st February and time for the new St Luke's Charity Card Challenge?  Well, it is!!  The main event in February is Valentine's day, and so we've taken amour as our theme this month.  We would like you to use some lace and make a card filled with love for someone you love, or an anniversary card, or wedding card - or something else if it fits the theme of LOVE and LACE.

I decided to make a card for my Mum - it's not specifically for Valentine's day or anything particular, but just because I love her.  I used some papers that I got free with Simply Homemade - the colours and patterns are just fabulous.  I started by sponging a touch of colour to the edge of my card base.  Next I cut two pieces of paper to make the base layers.  In my stash I found this really pretty cream wavy lace and attached two pieces side by side.  I used my Spellbinders dies to cut a couple more layers; on the top layer I stamped this fabulous frame and heat embossed it with clear powder.  I wanted to send Mum some flowers that would last, and I found these lovely stamps (that have only seen ink a couple of times).  I stamped the corner flourish in brown as it gave a much softer feel than black.  I then stamped a selection of flowers onto different papers, heat embossed them and then cut them out and attached them to the card.  I finished the card off with some faux stitching.

Stamps:  Creative Expressions - Floral; Spring Stamps - free with Crafts Beautiful; Waltzingmouse - Very Vintage Labels No 10, Sweethearts
Inks: Versafine - Vintage Sepia; Memento - Rich Cocoa; Distress - Antique Linen
Spellbinders:  Labels Ten (S5-022) # 4 and 5
Accessories:  Kaisercraft Gypsy Sisters Paper free with Simply Homemade; Clear embossing powder; Lace and card from stash

For more inspirational cards with our Love and Lace theme, check out the Design Team's blogs:

Tara Cardwell

Jenny Mullens

Anne Forrest

Sylvie Colledge

Lynne Atkinson

Our prize this month has been donated by Sasha who was our winner in November with this wonderful snowflake card.  Not only has Sasha kindly donated the prize, but she is also joining us as our Guest Designer this month, so do visit her blog and leave a comment.  The prize?  Oh yes, Sasha has donated some fabulous stamps for February's lucky winner.  Sadly, I can't win them!!!

I'm submitting my card to a few other challenges:

• Crazy 4 Challenges - C4C121 where the DT would like us to use lots of layers (done)
• One Stop Craft Challenge - #167 - they would like us to use stitching - faux or real (done)
• Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - #170 - the team would like us to use ribbons (lace ribbon, done)
• Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge - #113 Handmade embellishments (I stamped all the little flowers by hand and then cut them out, I hope this counts)

Don't forget, if you can spare your card (s), then please send them to St Luke's Hospice for the next sale - full details on the blog here.

That's all for now, but I'll be back later today.  Hope you all have a super day.

For Your Inspiration # 13 - Guest Designer ......

... I was fortunate to be selected Lovely Lotus with my FYI10 card and my prize is to be Guest Designer for For Your Inspiration #13.  Once again we have a simply gorgeous photo for your inspiration:

I was delighted when I saw this photo - it's not just fabulous, Paris has some very special memories for me, so it was perfect.  After meeting Jonathan, our first trip away together was to Paris - a city known for romance.  We stayed in at Hotel California on Rue du Berri, just off the Champs-Elysees.  We went in April, the weather was a bit mixed, but that didn't stop us having the most wonderful time.  So my card has been inspired both by the picture and by my memories of a wonderful break.

I started off by stamping the Eiffel Tower and embossing it with clear powder.  Then I masked off areas above and below my image area.  I stamped a variety of images that I associate with Paris - travel tag, postage stamp, french writing - in pale lavender and then I started to sponge colour onto the card.  I tried to keep as close to the sunset colour scheme as I could.  I added a few more image in darker inks and added deeper shading.  After removing the masks, I added a simple sentiment - Together Always.  This card is for Jonathan, my husband and best friend.

Stamps: Creative Expressions - Travel set; Llewllyn-Bowen - Venaissence; Waltzingmouse - Fancy Phrases
Inks: Distress - Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Worn Lipstick; Stampin' Up! - Bashful Blue, Night of Navy; Versafine - Onyx Black
Accessories:  Card and embossing powder from stash

Thanks so much to the team at For Your Inspiration - I've really enjoyed being Guest Designer!

OLW62 - Make it personal .....

.... gosh, talk about cutting things fine - it's only a few hours to the deadline for this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge, being hosted by Susan at Simplicity.  The challenge for OLW62 - is make it personal - "make a card for a particular person that is custom designed for him or her. You might use the person's favorite colors or a favorite image (such as a frog card for a friend who collects frogs, or an iris because it's your mother's favorite flower)". 

I don't know why this card has taken me so long to make - because I knew as soon as I saw the challenge that it would be for Jonathan to welcome him home.  But coming up with a design has been more than a little difficult.  And this card owes thanks to Chrissie - for the idea of sponging, and to Vicky - again for the sponging, but also for the idea of music!

Jonathan has lots of interests but the top two, apart from his family, are photography and music - so it was natural to use them as the main features.  And his favourite colour is green.  Once I'd got that sorted it came together really quickly.  Here's the card.

It's a square card, 13½ × 13½ cm.  I started off by masking off the top and bottom of the card.  I stamped some of the images in London Fog directly onto the white base.  The I picked my favourite green inks and sponged them on being careful to blend them.  Then I added a few more images using the various shades of green.  Finally, I added a sentiment above and below the main image.  I think this is the first time I've done one of these grungy, vintage type panels - I really like the effect. 

Stamps:  Stampendous - House & Home; Inkadinkadoo - Rock Star; Creative Expressions - Vintage Photography; Waltzingmouse - Musical Backgrounds, Fancy Phrases, Sewing Box - Hugs
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black, London Fog; Distress - Shabby Shutters, Crushed Olive, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint
Accessories:  Card from stash

I showed this to Kathryn before I added the sentiment and asked her what she thought.  She looked at it carefully and said "It's for Daddy!  His favourite colour, cameras and music!" - so it works :)

I've had an extremely busy day - I've finished the wedding cards - I've made two so that Helen can pick which she likes - I'll share them with you tomorrow.  That's all for this evening, so glad I managed to get this card finished in time for the challenge - now to put it away safely until Jonathan comes home.  Only 10 days to go! 

CR84FN34 - Good luck .....

... it's time for another CR84FN colour challenge.  We have bright, cheerful summer colours for you to enjoy - yellow, pink and bright pink - just fab!

Our inspiration photos this week have been taken by Mona's very talented husband - Scott - not only does he find the most wonderful quotes, but Scott's a darn good photographer too!!  I adore those pretty hibiscus flowers and decided to feature them in my card.

I used a lovely linen textured square base card onto which I put a mica mask and then sponged on two shades of yellow.  I wanted to echo the simplicity of the hibiscus flower, so I stamped, with Versamark, one of my favourite doilies onto some bright pink card and then heat embossed with clear powder to give a tone-on-tone effect.  I cut out the doily with the matching nestie.  Next I stamped a pretty scroll frame in pale pink onto some plain card and cut this out with the lacey circles.  I stamped these lovely hibiscus flowers twice.  Using my aqua painter I carefully pulled some of the ink from the edge of the image to give softly shaded flowers.  I added some extra ink to the central flower for depth.  I cut the flowers out and added glossy accents to the petals and left them to dry.  Before attaching the flowers I coloured the stamen with my Stardust pen.  Finally, I added a simple sentiment to the frame.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Dainty Doilies - Large, Free Spirit - Boy, Fancy Phrases, Faux Fun Circles

Inks:  Distress - Spun Sugar, Mustard Seed, Scattered Straw; Stampin' Up! - Melon Mambo

Spellbinders:  Lacey Circles (S4-293) #4, Big Scalloped Circles (S4-249) #7

Accessories:  Creative Expressions mask - Floral Background; Glossy Accents; Card and clear embossing powder from stash

Now don't forget that the rest of our Design Team also have some wonderful cards to share with you - do drop in and leave some love!!

Sue

Andrea

Stephanie

Suzanne

Heather

Mona
Lisa

That's all for now, but I do have a few more cards to share with you later - so I'll see you soon.

Butterfly wings ...

... texture and shades of white - all make up this very special card.  It's a combination of three challenges:  Mojo Monday - MOJO175 (sketch); Cooking It Up with Katie - sketch me a textured punch and Flutter by Wednesday - FBW139 white on white.

When I saw the challenge from Flutter by Wednesday I knew just what I wanted to make - an anniversary card for my husband.  We celebrate 10 years of marriage in April - yes, I know it a few months away, but I like to be prepared!!  I found the perfect layout at Mojo Monday, and over at Katie's place - the recipe is to use a sketch from another challenge, add some texture and finish with a punch.

I started off with a plain A5 pearly white blank, and added the first layer - some wonderful Stampin' Up! designer paper called Bride (sadly now discontinued) which has a gorgeous flourish pattern on it.  I found a lovely Cuttlebug folder called Floral Fantasy and embossed some matching pearly white card.  I mounted this piece on some white glitter paper from my stash.  The main topper was made from some white holographic card, which I cut with the Spellbinders Lotus pendant.  The butterfly has been stamped with London Fog and coloured with Promarkers, I cut it out using Spellbinders plain circles - I distressed the edge slightly with Antique Linen. 

I stamped the butterfly onto some vellum, coloured it on the back and added some glamour dust to the front.  To complete the butterfly I added some clear gems (see picture below for a detailed view).  The flower is made from a pretty hand crocheted rose (from Sue Walsh - A Consuming Passion), a couple of white feathers and a fabric flower from my stash.  I added a satin ribbon - not quite white, but the only one I have!!  Finally, the greeting comes from Waltzingmouse Stamps - Sweethearts); stamped in London Fog and cut out with Spellbinders dies. 

Stamps:  Creative Expressions - Small Giant Butterfly (HH283E);  Waltzingmouse Stamps - Sweethearts
Cuttlebug:  Floral Fantasy Embossing Folder
Spellbinders:  Lotus Pendant (S4-269), Standard Circles Lg (S4-114) die #6, Mega Ovals Lg (S5-023) die #2, Mega Classic Scalloped Ovals Lg (S5-024) die #2
Inks:  Memento - London Fog, Tuxedo Black; Distress - Antique Linen
Promarkers: Ice Grey 1, Ice Grey 3, Orchid, Bluebell, Royal Blue
Paper:  Stampin' Up! - Designer Paper Bride (discontinued)
Accessories:  Ribbon, gems, flowers and card from stash

I am absolutely delighted with this card - it turned out even better than I was hoping.  Now I have to put it away safely (and remember where I put it) until April. 

That's all for now.  I've had a great time playing this afternoon, but think that I'll have a glass of wine and read for a bit now!!  See you tomorrow.

Combining challenges ...

.... can be lots of fun, and save a bit of time too :)  Since discovering challenges on the web, I do try to play a few (not as many as some mind!).  However, I do find that sometimes it's difficult to get time to play in my craft room.  Today is one of those days; I've only got an hour spare as I've got to prepare for our Scouts meeting tomorrow night.

So the challenges that I've combined are the sketch layout from this week's Mojo Monday, the colours from Just Us Girls (so pretty) and the spots 'n' dots theme from My Time to Craft. 

The colours selected at Just Us Girls are really soft and pretty, but they've caused me some difficulties this week.  I couldn't think of what to do.  Then I remembered a lovely stamp that I have, but has only seen ink once!!  Shame on me.  I used London Fog to ink the image - much softer than black - and then coloured it with Promarkers.  I've taken a bit of a liberty with the sketch, opting for a rectangular image rather than circular!  The spotty backing paper is by Craftwork Card and I added some more dots with a piece of card which was embossed with Swiss Dots, and emphasised by distressing.  I added a bright aqua ribbon.  Finally, the two accent circles on the sketch - on my card are the little jewelled flower and birthday greeting. 

Stamps:  Creative Expression - Dancing on Air
Promarkers: Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Meadow Green, Apple, Oatmeal, Saffron
Inks:  Memento - London Fog;  Distress - Tumbled Glass
Cuttlebug:  Swiss Dots folder
Paper:  Craftwork Cards (free with magazine)
Accessories:  Card, ribbon and flower from stash

Now I'm going to catch up with some blogs that I follow, and reply to a few comments.  I hope to get back later, but if not - see you tomorrow.

OLW36 - part 2 ...

... after a bit of a struggle with the two colour challenges that I posted earlier, I've been busy in my craft roomn working on this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge, which is being hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink.  The challenge is to use a bare tree - no leaves, blossoms, anything like that.  When the challenge was posted on Wednesday, I made a card almost immediately.  And this one has been simmering away since then!!

It is about as clean and simple as it comes.  The tree images were inked up in rich cocoa stamped, and then quickly stamped again and again - to create some depth.  And I think the verse is just beautiful - a sympathy card for my stash.

Stamps: Creative Expressions - Trees; Waltzingmouse - Words of Wisdom
Inks: Memento - Rich Cocoa
Card: Linen effect card from my stash

OLW26 - Black, white ...

... and red all over!!  Those are the instructions for this week's One Layer Wednesday challenge, set by Jennifer over at Styles Ink.  I seem to remember that as one of the few jokes I could ever remember - the answer being a newspaper!!!  However, I knew just what I was going to do for this challenge.  A nice simple Christmas bauble and some lovely red holly berries.

Stamps:  Creative Expression - Holly; Elusive Images - Kelmscott Baubles; Stampin' Up! - Contempo Christmas
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Distress - Barndoor

I'm not entirely happy with the result; the bauble is too high up because I stamped too much of the holly border, but it's okay and I know what to do to make it better.  I also think that next time I do this card, I'm going to use smooth card and possibly use black tinsel embossing powder to make the bauble sparkle.  After all it's a Christmas card - and there really should be bling!!!

That's all for now.  I'm off to collect Kathryn - she's been out at a Halloween Party in our local community centre.  It was hopping when I left and I'm sure the children will all be on a sugar rush - but I'll bet they had fun.

Variations on a theme ....

.... or just how many ways can you use a stamp!!  Now, I have to state that I don't have these stamps, and that I borrowed them from my friend.  I do, however, think that the Elegant Ladies set by Creative Expressions is just great.  There are four beautiful images of ladies in a variety of different fashion styles, along with six sentiments, a large greyhound and a couple of smaller images.  I used Versamark ink and embossed with both silver and gold, and got multiple images.

For Buffy's birthday card I used some papers that came free with one of the magazines - I think Nanci Watts is the designer (apologies if she's not).  I used the vellum which coordinated with the diamond paper as the main backing sheet.

I stamped the lady on a piece of plain white card and then again on some of the diamond paper.  I then cut out the dress and stuck it to the other image.  I used Promarkers to colour the lady's skin, hat, scarf and shoes.  I think this was the first time I actually used my Distress inks too, and I was really pleased with the soft smudged effect around the image.

Intially, I didn't have a sentiment on the card, but once I'd decided this was going to Buffy - I knew just which sentiment was the most appropriate.

I made this card for my Mum's friend, Catherine; she's been a great support to me and my Mum since Mum had a stroke last year.  Catherine is an extremely elegant and stylish lady, and for her birthday I needed a card to reflect that.  So on Catherine's card, I used Sakura Stardust pens - in a watercolour technique.  Sadly, you can't really see the effect on this picture - which is a shame as it looked lovely in real life, with lots of lovely shimmer.

Catherine likes to wear clothes in neutral colours, so it was easy to make the dress look like her style.  I finished the card by mounting it on the very elegant Spellbinders Labels 10.  The backing paper was free with another of my many magazines.  And the final flourish on this card was to add some gold scrolled corners.

My Mum said that Catherine was delighted with the card.  I certainly enjoyed making it.

I like this stamp so much that I've made lots of cards using it.  The lady in blue is coloured with Promarkers, although I added a little bling with a silver Sakura Stardust pen for her shoes and bracelet.

The lady to the right was done using the paper piecing technique - this time I used some lovely flowered paper to make a bright, cheery card.  This time I added a birthday greeting.  I used chalks to highlight the pre-embossed card.  On both cards I added some flower embellishments.

Two more cards using the same lady. 

I've kept both cards quite simple, with only the minimum of embellishments.  One has a birthday greeting on it, but the other has nothing - yet!!

In all cases I found the image really easy to colour - using both Promarkers and Sakura Stardust Pens.  And it really works well with the paper piecing technique. 

I think my favourite card of this set is the next one.  I used the paper piecing technique - again - I like the way this makes each dress look quite different. 

I found this lovely checked paper (another of my free supply) which reminded me of a dress that my grandmother used to wear - brought back lots of lovely memories.  I used Promarkers for the lady's skin, shawl, shoes and hat; and distress inks (again) for the lovely soft edge.  I used the lace doily Martha Stewart punch to add some interest to the coordinating backing paper.  This card is still in my stash - waiting for a good home.

That's all for today, as I'm off out to Scouts shortly. I've got a busy weekend planned with family outings and the like, so may not be able to post much.  See you soon.