ASM - Mark Your Mark and news ....

....  Hi everyone!!! Welcome to our new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! You may recall that we had a Design Team call out earlier this year. Well, our team now numbers twenty in all! Our aim is to inspire you for our challenges with different styles and techniques. I have to say that I am thrilled to be working with such talented ladies. Do visit and leave a note! 

And that brings us to this week's challenge - it's another of our very popular ones - MAKE YOUR MARK. By that we mean your project MUST include the use of markers - Copics, Promarkers, Aqua Pens, Pencils, it's your choice. Here's my card:

Stamps: StampArt Design - Owl-ways Yours; PTI - Wet Paint III
Inks: Versamark; Distress - Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed
Dies: Spellbinders - Circles Lg (S4-114) #4, Crown Circles (S4-302) #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Tim Holtz Watercolour Paper; Stampin' Up! DP - Wild Wasabi; Copic Markers; Wink of Stella Brush - Clear; Cuttlebug EF - Chicken Wire; Gold Embossing Powder; Sequins

Our sponsor this week is StampArt Design and I've used Kathryne's cute little owl on my card. The winner of this week's challenge will get 5 of Kathryne's digi images - they are fab! I used a couple of challenges in the making of this card. I used the layout from CAS(E) this Sketch! - CTS#82 and over at Time Out Challenges - TOC#8 we were asked to CASE Donna Mikasa's beautiful card.

The elements that I've CASEd from Donna's card are the chicken wire theme, although I've dry embossed it rather than stencilled, the bold colours and the sequins. I've also used a heat embossed sentiment, but mine is on the inside of the card. To make the background I rubbed distress ink pads on the Cuttlebug folder, added the watercolour paper and then ran the lot through the Big Shot. I cut the panel to size and the spritzed with water to get the colours to blend a little more. The little owl was printed twice onto white card and I used the "out-of-the-box" technique to die cut the owl, so that the leaves are hanging out of the circle. I coloured both images with Copics and cut out the branches, leaves and flowers to layer onto the base image. I also added a touch of sparkle to the flowers and heart with the Wink of Stella brush - you can't see it in the photo, but it is really pretty. I layered the image onto a Crown Circle die cut for a bit of added colour. I finished the front with some sequins. On the inside I cut a mat layer of design paper and stamped a birthday sentiment, using the three colours of Distress ink that I used on the front, on the white panel.

For more inspiration using Markers on your projects, check out our blog. I'm really looking forward to seeing what you make - have fun!!

If you've been reading my blog over the last couple of weeks, you will know that I've been following the Football World Cup. Yes, I really like football. By the time this post goes live, we will know the teams playing in the Quarter-Finals, and I really hope that USA get through. I'll update later to let you know!! That's all for now - see you soon.

WMSFC - Anything Goes ....

....  Hello again, I'm back with our new challenge for Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  For the next couple of weeks our theme is ANYTHING GOES and we hope to see lots and lots of submissions.  The only requirement is to use at least one Waltzingmouse stamp, sentiment or digi image.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Rescue Remedies Additions, Very Vintage Labels No 10
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise; Versamark
Dies: Spellbinders - Labels 10 (S5-022) #4, 5 & 6, Pinking Circles Sm (S4-172) #4
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Pickled Pear; Clear Embossing Powder; SU Marker - Tempting Turquoise; Gems

I used the colours from Colour Me! - CMCC#26 and from CAS - Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#80 we have to make a shaped card - not square or rectangular.  I decided to use my Spellbinders Labels 10 dies as I knew I had some fabulous stamps from Waltzingmouse that coordinated perfectly. 

First I cut the card base into shape using the largest die; I let the die overhang the top so that there is a join (You can see the fold on the photo of the card's inside).  Next I used the same die to cut a panel of designer paper and adhered it to the card base.  I inked up the frame first with Versamark and then Chocolate Chip so that I was able to emboss the image with clear powder, then I cut it out with the matching die.  I used my SU marker to add a touch of turquoise around the edge of the frame and then attached it to the card.  I did stamp the sentiment directly into the frame, but sadly got finger smudge marks on it, so I had to die cut a circle and stamp the sentiment again.  I added some yellow to the edge to make it stand out.  On the inside I simple cut a mat of design paper and on the white card stamped a dotty border.

I realised after I'd finished the card that it is not as clean and simple as the CAS - Colour & Sketch team might want!  Sorry ladies!!!  The inside is perfectly CAS :)))  And that's all from me today.  I plan to spend the rest of the day editing photos.  Last night Jonathan, Kathryn and I went to a photo shoot at Birdsong Photography.  We took photos of two of our favourite models - Jasmine and Onikaa - both beautiful women and both totally mad!  It was such fun!!  Bye for now.

52CCT - Stash ....

....  Hi all - can you believe that we've arrived at the last Saturday in June?  It also means that it's time for our new challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.  Louise's final challenge for us is a fun one - she'd like us to use charm(s) on our cards.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Christmas Messages
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies: Spellbinders - Fleur de Lis Squares (S4-318) #4, Squares Lg (S4-128) #7
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Red Mirri Card; Red Ribbon; Charm - from Godiva Chocolate Box

Last Christmas we were given a box of Godiva Chocolates (absolutely yummy) as a present.  On the box was this magnificent charm - it's die cut metal with a beautiful faceted gem.  It was attached with green ribbon (you've seen that on a previous card of mine) and I kept it, know that it would be useful.  I die cut the red mirri card to create the frame, a square of white card and then simply attached the charm using extra strong double-sided tape.  I added the red bow with a sticky dot.  I decided to leave the front of the card and put a simple, but bold, sentiment on the inside.

Edited:  This week's challenge at Less is More - LIM#178  is to use a recycled element on your card.  I'd say this counts - so, hoping that Chrissie allows, I'm adding this to the challenge.

More more inspirational using charms, check out the cards from the rest of the team and from our Guest Designer, Marie of NJ Stamping Queen.  I hope you all have fun with this week's challenge and I look forward to seeing what you make.  Bye for now.

For my little monster ....

....  Hello!  Time has got away from me again!!  I've been doing house stuff and watching the football and tennis (but more of that later).  Today I've got a fun card to share with you:

Stamps: Rick St Dennis Digi - Aliens & Mutants; Stampin' Up! - Just Sayin'
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black, Majestic Blue
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Word Bubbles Framelits
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copic Markers; Cuttlebug EF - Distressed Stripes

I saw the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch! - CTS#82 yesterday and immediately knew what I wanted to make.  A card for my little monster, to be fair Ben's not that little any more, however he's still a bit of a monster.  But he's my monster and I love him to bits!

I recently discovered the art of Rick St Dennis - he has a wonderful collection of digi images for all occasions and I bought the Aliens & Mutants sheet which includes the cute guy above.  I printed it on white card and coloured with Copic markers, then cut him out and ran him through my Xyron to make him self-adhesive.  I cut a panel of white card and embossed it for some texture, adding a touch of colour to define the edge.  I want Ben to know that no matter how far away he is, I love him.  I made the thought bubble using the Just Sayin' set - I changed out the sentiment to fit what I wanted.  The inside has been left blank for a message from me.  I'm submitting this card to the Rick St Dennis Facebook Challenge - Anything Goes and also to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes. 

I mentioned earlier that I'd been watching the football World Cup.  England has already gone home, so as I'm living in the US I'm supporting them.  Yesterday USA played Germany in their final match of the group.  The first half was really good and USA were holding Germany, but sadly Germany scored in the second half.  The final score was 1 - 0 to Germany, but as the group stage goes on points and goal difference - USA are through to the final sixteen.

I'm also being distracted by the tennis at Wimbledon.  There have been some really good matches and it is really lovely to see Wimbledon.  We have really good coverage here, better than I expected.  It's been a while since I actually went and watched matches there, but maybe when we go back to the UK that's something we'll do.  There was a really good match today between Petra Kvitova and Venus Williams, sadly Venus lost in three sets: 5-7, 7-6, 7-5.  There's plenty more to come!  That's all for today - see you tomorrow with my cards for 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and also Waltzingmouse Fanatics.  Bye for now!!

TMR - Sketch ....

.... Good morning!  We had so many fabulous submissions for our Father's Day challenge at The Male Room - thank you all for playing along.  However, it is going to be really, really tough to pick the Top Three.  And now it's time for our new challenge at The Male Room and this time instead of a theme we've got a sketch for you to play with.  Here's my take:

Stamps: Winnie & Walter - The Big, The Bold and The Fun; Stampin' Up! - Sea Street
Inks: SU - Calypso Coral, Summer Starfruit; Archival - Cobalt
Dies: Spellbinders - Squares Sm (S4-128) #5
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU DP - Maritime

The colours I've used are from a Colour Q challenge - cQc#245 which ran a couple of weeks ago, but I wasn't able to play along; they are perfect for this card. I'm also submitting this card to Darnell's new challenge "Never-before-used-schtuff" - NBUS#1 as I've used my new SU Sea Street stamps, the DP Maritime and also my W&W BB&F set.  I die cut a couple of square from the DP and stamped the words onto them.  Before gluing the squares to the card I stamped the fish shoals in Calypso Coral on the card and added a few on the squares too.  I stamped the octopus on white card and fussy cut him out - took a while, but I think it was worth it.  I attached him to the card with dimensional tape.  For the inside I cut a mat layer in the design paper and on the white panel stamped the large word "adventure" across the centre and added the small words in darker ink.    I added a couple of accents - the starfish and lobster.   This is a fun card to send to a guy about to go on holiday or even to send to my son, he might not be on holiday, but he's young and his whole life is an adventure to play, to have fun and to "go. see. do.".

For more inspirational projects using this sketch - check out the blog to see what my team mates have made - don't forget to leave a comment - we all like a comment!

I'm typing this post on Tuesday lunch and am about to go watch the Football.  Playing now are England v Costa Rica (England are simply playing to win a match) and Italy v Uruguay.  So that's all for now.  See you soon.

ASM - Anything Goes .....

....  Good evening!  Can you believe it's almost the end of June, time is going past so fast!!!  And it brings us to the ever popular Anything Goes challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!!!  Our sponsor this week is Eureka Stamps, and I've made a fun birthday card using one of their images:

Stamps: Eureka Stamps Digi - Dragon Blowing Candles; Stampin' Up! - Endless Birthday Wishes
Inks: SU - Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey; Memento - Grey Flannel
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Chalk Talk Framelits
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Lost Lagoon; SU DP - Moonlight; Copic Markers; Glitter

I've used the sketch from this week's The Paper Players challenge - PP#201, so glad to be playing along with them again.  Don't you think this little dragon is so cute?  I printed him onto white card and coloured him with Copic markers, cut him out and added some glitter to the cake's icing and just a touch to his belly.  I used some of my new stash from Stampin' Up! - love this shade of teal/blue.  I cut a couple of strips of plain card for the sides, a panel of dotty paper for the centre and used framelits to cut the little flags.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in the dotty paper and on the white panel added a fun sentiment and a cake!  This one is going into my stash.

For more inspiration with the Anything Goes theme - check out the blog to see what my Team mates have made - as always, they are just fab.  Looking forward to seeing your creations.  That's all for now.

Barcode Muse ....

.... Good afternoon!  I do hope you've all been enjoyed lovely summer weather; it's been fabulous here today.  And what have I been doing?  Well, playing in my craft room and watching the football (soccer for my American friends).  This is a quick post as I'm about to watch the USA v Portugal match.  Now that England is out of the World Cup, I'm really hoping that USA progress.  Here's my card:

Stamps: PTI - Wet Paint, Background Basic: Random Stripe
Inks: Kaleidacolor - Denim
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Night of Navy, Soft Suede

This is my take on Marion's beautiful MUSE card - MUSE#72.  I've gone for a more masculine style card with darker colours and a more graphic image.  I used the fun Random Stripe stamp from PTI and inked it with my Kalediacolor pad - I like the way the colours change up the stamped image.  I used the same pad to ink up the big, bold sentiment.  I made the card base from Night of Navy and added a think strip of soft suede to pick up the colour from the stamped image.  On the inside I cut a mat layer of soft suede and used an off cut of the stamped stripe to edge the white panel.  There is no other sentiment inside.

That's it for now.  Off to make a coffee and watch the footy!  Go America!  I believe!  Fingers crossed :)

52CCT - Theme ....

....  Hello everyone!  It's time for our theme challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and Louise has picked Rudolf/Reindeer.  Here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Compliments of the Season
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Smoky Slate
Dies: Memory Box - Birch Trio, Deer Trio; Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Stax #3
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate; SU DP - Pink Pirouette; SU Glimmer Paper - Silver; Vellum; Gem

I've been wanting to use these Memory Box dies since I got them, but for some reason it's taken a while!!  I've gone for an elegant deer card - I really like this family group of deer.  For the colours I've taken the silver, white and pink theme from this week's Merry Monday - MM#113.  I made the card base from Smoky Slate and cut a couple of mat layers in pale pink and silver glitter.  On the white panel I randomly stamped snowflakes in a couple of shades of pink.  I die cut the birch trio in Smoky Slate and the deer in silver glitter.  I finished the front of the card with a sentiment stamped in dark pink on vellum and die cut with a fishtail flag die.  On the inside I cut a mat layer in pale pink, stamped some more snowflakes on the white panel and finished with a lovely Christmas verse.

We have some wonderful inspiration cards for you made by our Design Team and by our Guest Designer, Marie of NJ Stamping Queen.  Do stop by their blogs and leave a comment - we all like comments!!

I told you yesterday that Kathryn and I were going to the cinema, well we did and we decided to see How to Train Your Dragon 2.  It's a really super film with great animation and a super story.  We both came out of the cinema smiling and feeling good!  If you've got young children, or you're just young at heart, you'll love it!  That's all for now - looking forward to seeing your creations with a deer/Rudolf theme.

Stampin' Up! CASE cards ....

....  So much for getting back into a routine now that Mum is back in the UK!!!  Kathryn finished school last Thursday for her long, long summer break and while I had planned to stick to my routine - it's sort of fallen by the wayside!!!  And I can't really blame Kathryn, I think it has more to do with the Football World Cup in Brazil - I've been watching it - a lot!!!  So today's cards were actually made at a recent Stampin' Up! get together run by Karin.  I had lots of fun.

The first card is a masculine card with a vintage, nautical theme.  It's a CASEd (Copy and Share Everything) card based on Georgia Giguere's lovely card. We changed the white card she used to Very Vanilla, giving a more vintage feel.  The rest of the group made their card into a Father's Day card, but I decided I needed another masculine birthday card.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! - Open Sea, Endless Birthday Wishes, And Many More
Inks: SU - Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Marina Mist
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Deco Labels Framelits, Circles Framelits
Accessories: SU Card - Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla; Essential Paper Piercing Kit; Candy Dot Brads; Window Sheets

Next we made a really fun birthday card with a cute image and pun sentiment.  This one was CASEd from Lori Hellig's card.  This is pretty much as she made it, but with a variation in the design paper.  Every card looked different depending on where you punched out the circles to create the "cheese" layer.  We added a bit of dimension by shading around the cut out circles.  I coloured the image on the front of the card with Blendabilities, which I found bled just a bit, but I like the colours.  On the inside I used my Copic markers which didn't bleed, but don't quite match the card colour.

Stamps: SU - Giggle Greetings
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; SU - So Saffron
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Circles Framelits
Accessories: SU Card - Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, So Saffron, Whisper White; SU Circle Punches 1", ¾" and ½"; SU DP - Moonlight; SU Blendabilities (image on front card); Copic Markers (inside image)

Next we used the fabulous Swallowtail stamp, this card is CASEd from Jan Tink's wonderful card.  Not only do we use the beautiful butterfly, but also my other favourite new SU set - Work of Art.  The only real change here is that we only used three little flags for the greeting.  The butterfly was "coloured" by using second generation impressions from various Work of Art stamps.  I can see this card working in lots of other colours.

Stamps: SU - Swallowtail, Work of Art, Gorgeous Grunge
Inks: SU - Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey
Dies: SU/Sizzix - Banners Framelits (you), Hearts a Flutter (Just for)
Accessories: SU Card - Sahara Sand, Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, Whisper White, Hello Honey; SU Ribbon - Hello Honey; SU Gems

Our last card was a super clean and simple thank you card based on Susan Itell's CAS creation.  We switched up the colours and papers used, and I can see this working layout working for so many cards!  I used an aqua brush to paint on Blushing Bride ink and allowed it to dry.  Then it was simply a case of stamping the sentiment and adding the little flowers and gems.  I covered the envelope flap with some design paper; such a good way to use up scraps of paper. 

Stamps: SU - Watercolour Thank You
Inks: SU - Night of Navy, Blushing Bride
Accessories: SU Card -Whisper White, Night of Navy; SU DP - Flower Pot; Itty Bitty Punch Pack; SU Pearls

I spent yesterday afternoon watching the England v Uruguay match.  I started with a feeling of optimism for an England win, but it was just awful!  We ended up losing the match with a score of 2 - 1 to Uruguay.  It looks like England is heading home unless something really strange happens in the last few matches.  So it looks like I'm going to be supporting USA now!  Sorry, I know this is totally off topic ;)

I think we're off to the cinema today to see either Maleficent or How to Train Your Dragon 2.  I think it depends on what time Kathryn gets up!  That's all for now.  See you tomorrow!

ASM - 2nd Birthday - photo ....

.....  Hello everyone! It's time for our new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! And do you know, it's also our 2nd Birthday!!! Go Us!!!  Kylie set up the challenge a couple of years ago.  She has been joined by many talented crafters, and I was lucky enough to join the team last September.

Our challenge this week is Photo Inspiration, the rules for this are that you should take any element from the photo and use it in your card. Do tell us what you've used for inspiration. Our sponsor this week is Stitchy Bear who is giving the challenge winner 3 digi images up to the value of $10.00. I've used one of the images available at Stitchy Bear - a beautiful butterfly by Delicious Doodles; here's my card:

Stamps: PTI - Doodlie-Do; Delicious Doodles - Small Butterfly
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Copic Markers; Sakura Micron Pen

I've used the sketch from this week's Retro Sketches - RS#119 for the layout and as I've used some "never-before-used schtuff", I'm submitting it to Darnell's challenge - NBUS#1 too!  I've taken the rainbow colours from the photo as inspiration for the card; using bold colours on the butterfly and softer shades on the flowers.  The small butterfly is just gorgeous and is a joy to colour.  I printed it out in various sizes coloured the background of the wing a soft grey, added rainbow colours and then fussy cut them all out.  I adhered the smallest butterfly directly to the card, the largest is attached with dimensional tape and the medium sized one has a bit of a lift at the top wings. I lightly pencilled lines on the card, worked out where to position the images and stamped them with Memento ink.  Once stamped, I drew in the lines with a very fine Micron pen and rubbed out any pencil marks.  I coloured the images with Copic Markers.  I've left the inside blank.

For more cards based on this fabulous inspiration photo, check out the blog to see my Teamies cards and don't forget to leave a comment.  We all like comments.  See you soon.