IAAS Anything but a card

Hello, I'm so glad to be joining you all again after having a rest for a while. My eyes haven't been at their best so I had to take a step back from crafting and my laptop to give them a chance of recovering. 

Come along and join us at International Art and Soul and show us what you can do with the theme of 'Anything but a card'.

You will see from my project that my wallets are a little skew-whiff in that the holes for the ties aren't punched centrally . I've been making them for a while and needed to get them finished for Christmas so couldn't hang on any longer in the hope that my eyes would play fair. I'm sure my family won't mind when they open them up. lol

When Eric was alive we used to shop for weeks looking for fun toys and quirky items for our two sons and DsIL. We used to spend a huge amount of money to fill Christmas sacks for each of them and I was sure they would like the money instead. I asked them and each one said 'yes please'. They still get a stocking with the usual £1 coin in the toe, fruit, sweets and little gifts so I was happy as it made my life better too - no more trawling the shops for weeks on end.

The wallets each year are never the same as wallets from previous years . The letters for their names are cut with Spellbinders dies. I used a strip of double sided tape the length of the name and then added silver glitter - I'm not sure they'll thank me for this! I punched holes in the three open edges and tied silver tape for the men and jewelled ribbon for the ladies. 

I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and I wish you all the very best for 2020.

I'm entering my wallets into the following challenges:

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media

Fab 'n' Funky - Anything but a card

A Bit More to Craft - Always Anything Goes

More Mixed Medium - Anything Goes

International Art and Soul - Tags

Please come along and join us at International Art and Soul and show us what you can do with our theme of 'Tags'. 

I'm afraid my tag isn't cropped very well. I have a new laptop and I can no longer use the programme that I used to use for cropping, colour, etc. Ugh, it's driving me mad though I suppose I'll get used to it eventually.

My tag is from The Works. I painted the background with Hobbycraft bronze acrylic paint. When it was dry I added the small Craft Box frame to the top and then added the cameo to the centre of the frame. I used some Snip Art circles for the bottom part of the tag and I cut some smaller sections for the top. Two or three of the circles I filled with bronze seed beads. The cameo, seed beads and Snip Art are all from Craft Box.My last touch was to use some jute for the tie. Job done.

I'm entering my tag into the following challenges:

Crafting with an Attitude - Always Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Creatalicious - Anything Goes with option of circles

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media

I'm having a problem with my eyes so I might not see you for a while. I'm taking a break from crafting until they settle down. Hope to see you soon.

IAAS Things with Wings

International Art and Soul have the lovely challenge theme of 'Things with Wings' so why not come along and join us?

My card blank is an 8x8 by Craft UK. The backing paper is from a pad by The Works and it's matted on to some of Anita's mirri card. The dragon fly stamp and sentiment are both by Visible Image. I stamped them both with Memento ink in Cocoa and then cut them with Spellbinder circle dies. I used more of the silver card to cut scalloped circles as backings for them. I coloured the dragon fly with Sakura glitter pens and the wings really glitter. I backed them on to their silver scalloped circles and then set them in place. I used Spellbinder dies again for two corners cut in the silver card. Job done.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Art Impressions - Use Circles

Crafty Sentiments - Die and/or punch

Lemon Shortbread - Always Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Simon Says Monday - Stamp It

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Pattie's Creations - Things That Fly

Hope to see you here again soon.

IAAS Layer it Up - Lots of Layers

To join us in our latest challenge come along to International Art and Soul and show us what you can do with 'Layer it Up, Lots of Layers' set by Christine. 

My card blank is 8x8 and is by Craft UK. I think you'll agree that I've definitely layered it up - nine layers in all. I think I got carried away. lol I'm still undecided whether to add a sentiment or flower.

The pink and lilac card is by Papermill and the various shades of yellow card are by Hobbycraft. The dies are in a complete set by Tonic. 

That was short and sweet as I have nothing else to say. 

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge - Anything Goes

Allsorts - Feminine

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Paper Minutes - Happy, Colourful

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting. 

International Art and Soul - Flowers

The theme over at International Art and Soul is 'Flowers' and was set by Maggie. Come and join us and show us what you can do with flowers.

My card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK. I started by cutting the row of flowers with a Joanna Sheen die. I then used my Promarkers to colour them in.  The green mat is a 'grass' paper from a Joanna Sheen pad. I fixed the row of flowers to the bottom edge of the mat and then used a Sue Wilson die to make the fancy fence in Papermill brown card. This was set at the top of the 'garden'. lol The stamped sentiment is by Bee Crafty and I used Promarkers again to colour the tiny flowers. A Spellbinders die was used to cut out the sentiment and then I used a pale pink Distress Ink on the edges. I raised the sentiment on pads before setting slightly to the left of centre.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Cut it Up - Focus on Sentiment (must have die cut)

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Scribbles Designs - Include a Sentiment

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

IAAS Embossing - Heat or Dry

Come and join us over at International Art and Soul with the challenge theme of Embossing - either heat or dry. The theme was set by CG.

My card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK. I used a Visible Image stamp of Streets on the yellow base mat. I then used a Crafter's Companion embossing folder of cracked ground on some brown card before matting it on to the yellow. Brown and Yellow card both by Papermill. The Street Dancer and the sentiment are both Visible Image and I stamped them in brown Memento Ink. I coloured the edges with Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink and set them at various angles over the base mat. To finish it off I added three yellow pearls by Mei Flower to the top right of the brown mat and the bottom left. This was for my son who used to enjoy break dancing when he was a LOT younger. lol

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafting with Attitude - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Thanks again for visiting, see you all again soon I hope.

IAAS Monochrome

Come along to International Art and Soul and join us with the 'Monochrome' theme.

I decided to go with black and white for my card.

I've used a 6x6 card blank by Craft UK. I cut a large black scalloped square with a Spellbinder die as the base mat. I next embossed a square of white card with a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder of clouds. The sentiment is one that I love. I received a card, just because, from some very old friends of mine who now live many miles away. The card was in aid of Barnardo's and designed by Kirsty R Walker so I presume the verse is also by her. I hope she doesn't mind me using the sentiment on my card. I printed it in black before cutting with an oval Spellbinders die and matting on to a black scalloped oval. I set it towards the bottom of the main mat and then added a stamped image of a feather, stamp by Visible image. I stamped it in black Memento ink before cutting it carefully, leaving a small white edge, before adding to the top left of the base mat. 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Get Creative Challenges - Anything Goes/Monochromatic

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Thank you all for visiting, see you again soon I hope.

IAAS Christmas in July

Why not come and join us for 'Christmas in July'? We're here at International Art and Soul with Jennie's theme. 

I've made a very simple card but it looks quite effective. I used a Craft UK card blank 6x6 in size. I made a mat of red card with bottle green card matted on top. All the card is from Papermill. The image is from a Joanna Sheen Victorian Companion CD. I printed it and then cut it with a Spellbinders oval die before matting on to a gold scalloped oval, again cut with a die by Spellbinders. The image was then set as the focal point on the card and it was finished. 

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Kitty Bee Designs - Christmas in July

Crafting With An Attitude - Anything Goes

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

The Holly and Ivy Christmas - Anything Goes Christmas

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Merry Little Christmas - Anything Christmas Goes

Thank you all for visiting. I hope to see you again soon.

IAAS Stars and/or Stripes

I chose the theme for the challenge this week and it's 'Stars and/or Stripes'. Please come along to International Art and Soul and join us.

My card blank is a 6x6 by Craft UK. I used a Bugaboo image and I coloured him with my Promarkers before cutting with a Spellbinder die. The striped paper is from a pad by The Works. My red grosgrain ribbon came into play and I added a strip to the bottom and top edges of the card. I've had these small gold stars for what seems forever so I decided to use some of them dotted around the image. I generated the sentiment on the computer  printing it in red and cutting with another Spellbinder die. Job done and the card is quite cool - my only hope is that the recipient isn't offended by the 'old man' image. lol

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Shopping our Stash - You're so Punny

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Creatalicious Challenges - Anything Gores with option - Stripes

Fabrika Fantasy - For the Men/Boys

Once again, thank you all for visiting, I hope to see you next time.

IAAS Pool Party

Come and join us over at International Art and Soul for our theme of 'Pool Party'. This challenge theme was set by Debbie and believe me when I say this one was a BIG challenge for me. 

My card blank is a 6x6 by Craft UK. The kingfisher coloured card is by Papermill and I embossed it with a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder of dots. This was the base mat for my images. I struggled to think of any stamps or dies that would fit this theme and eventually had to resort to the internet. These are both copyright free images of pool parties. The colours seemed to tie in nicely with my base mat so I sized them and then set them at an angle. I used a Craft Box UK Snipart sentiment 'happy days' which I thought went nicely with the images. Before fixing it in place I coloured it with a Starlight paint in Banana Yellow by Imagination Crafts. It gives it a gentle shimmer which looks good. Thank goodness this card was finished and it didn't take long once I'd set my brain in gear. lol

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Creative Craft Cottage Challenge - Eileen's Anything Goes 

Craft Rocket Challenge - Summer is Coming

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Always Fun - Summer Fun

IAAS Lace and Pearls

'Lace and Pearls' is the theme set by Jane over at International Art and Soul so come and show us what you can do,

My card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK. I used a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder for the background and I matted it on to Papermill's maroon card as the base. The maroon lace emblem is by Craft Box UK and makes the perfect focal point. The sentiment is a Clearly Besotted Stamp and was stamped with my burgundy Promarker. I cut it with a Spellbinder die and then used the same Promarker to colour the fancy edge so that it would stand out against the white background. The pearl border is by Hobbycraft and I set it down the left side of the base mat.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Creative Moments - Anything Goes

That's it for this challenge. I'll see you again soon.

IAAS Ecology, Environment, Conservation

This theme was set by Sall 'Ecology, Environment, Conservation' . Please come along and join us at International Art and Soul.

My card blank is 7x7 by Craft UK. The backing paper is by PaperArtsy and I matted it on to Papermill's dark brown card as the base mat. I stamped the image in Memento Ink in cocoa but I have no idea who made the stamp. I bought it at Ally Pally a few years ago. I chose not to colour the image  and after cutting it into a rectangle I used Distress Ink on the edges. Then it was set to the right of the base mat leaving some of the beautiful leaves on show. I added three wooden flowers, from Create and Craft many years ago, to the panel of leaves. 

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Classic DT - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes

International Art and Soul - Birthday

Come and join us at International Art and Soul for CraftyGirl's theme of 'Birthday'. I'm sure you can all submit one here. lol

The card blank is an 8x8 by Craft UK. The lilac card is by Papermill and the background paper is from a paper pad by The Works. I made a base mat ready to hold the large focal point. My Spellbinder dies came into play again. I used a large classic circle for the main decoration which was daisies made with Tapestry stamps. I used Distress Inks in lilac for the daisies and various greens for the leaves. I left the centre blank and then distressed the edge of the large circle with Distress Ink. I generated the sentiment on the computer before cutting with a Spellbinder circle die and matting on to a scalloped circle, cut in lilac. This fitted perfectly into the blank centre on the large circle and I finished the card by adding Mei Flower gems to the lilac scallops.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges: 

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Ike's World - D for Dies/Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Classic Design Team - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Daisy Chain - Make it Feminine

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Simon Says Monday - Going Around in Circles

Thank you all for visiting, I hope to see you again.

International Art and Soul - Easter

Chriss set this theme of 'Easter' for International Art and Soul.

The card blank is 7x7 by Craft UK. The backing paper is from a paper pad by The Works. I matted it on to gold card by Hobbycraft as the base mat. I used a Dreamweaver metal stencil of a cross which I've had for about fifteen years and I can't remember ever using it. I coloured the cross with Distress Ink in Squeezed Lemonade colour and also embossed it so that the image was raised. I matted it on to gold card and set it to the top left. The sentiment was generated on the computer and cut with a Spellbinder die before matting on to more gold card cut with a Spellbinder scalloped rectangle. This was set to the bottom right.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges: 

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes 

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Tales from the Craft Room - Easter/Spring

Aud Sentiments - Easter/Spring Sentiment

Crafting with an Attitude - Always Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

IAAS - CAS with blue

I haven't made a CAS card (clean and simple) for quite some time so I was pleased with Maggie's choice of theme for the challenge at International Art and Soul.

My card blank is 7x7 by Craft UK. I've had the stamp for a few years and this is only the second time I've used it. It's by Woodware and is called Bubble Blossom, Felicity. I have no idea if it's still available. I stamped it in Memento ink directly on to the card blank and then coloured with my Promarkers.  The sentiment is by PaperArtsy Eclectica 3 collection. The sentiment was also stamped in Memento ink, cut with a Spellbinder die and the edges coloured with the blue Promarker. A very CAS card but I actually love this one. 

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps - Spring

Dragonfly Dreams - For a Special Female (my late husband's 96 year old cousin in Australia)

Aud Sentiments - Any sentiment except Happy Birthday

Cardz 4 Galz - Flora or Fauna

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

IAAS Green and 2 colours

Chriss set the theme of Green plus 2 colours for this fortnight's challenge over at International Art and Soul.

My card is an 8x8 by Craft UK. I decided to use another of my Bugaboo images and as an elephant is grey my two colours were grey and to brighten that up, red. I coloured the image with my Promarkers, the balloons being green and the hat and candle red. The balloons are lime green the same colour as the matted card but they do look yellow in my photo. Hmmm. I cut the image with my Spellbinders die and then used larger dies to cut Papermill's red and green card to frame the image. For the background mat I used a sheet of Papermill's grey card which I embossed with a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder of bunting. I matted this on to green card. The matted image was set centrally on the base mat, job done.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Kitty Bee Designs - Animals

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes with a critter

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Classic Design Team - Anything Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything Goes (must have animal)

Thanks for visiting.

IAAS Sequins or Beads

This theme is 'Sequins or Beads' and was set by CG over at International Art and Soul. I decided to go with sequins, come and join us and show us what you can create.

Once again I used my trusty Craft UK 8x8 card blank. Just before Christmas I bought quite a few Bugaboo images and I've enjoyed making my last few cards with some of them, here's another! lol

I coloured the image with my Promarkers  and then carefully cut round the 'frame' before setting to one side. I used a sheet of spotted paper from First Edition's Desert Blooms pad and matted it on to bright turquoise card by Papermill. This was the mat for the image which I set to the top left. I used two strips of spotted ribbon, from my American stash, across the bottom and down the right. The only thing left to do was add the sequins - a beautiful turquoise set from Craft Box UK. They were added to the frame of the horse and to the sentiment. The image is supplied with the sentiment or with a blank box so you can add your own words. I chose to use Bugaboo's words.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Catch the Bug - Anything Goes

Digi Designs - Include an Animal

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Must include a critter

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect time to Craft - Anything Goes

Classic Design Team - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything Goes with an animal

Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting, I hope to see you again soon.

IAAS Shades of Any Colour

The theme set by Jennie is 'Shades of Any Colour' so come along and join us at International Art and Soul.

My ivory card blank is 8x8 and by Craft UK. I smudged the edge of the card with Distress Ink in squeezed lemonade colour and then made a background mat. The mustard coloured spotted paper is by The Works and I matted it on to yellow card by Hobbycraft. The image is by Bugaboo and I coloured it with my Promarkers before cutting it out and adding to a mat of varying shades of Hobbycraft yellow card. I set it at an angle more or less centrally on the card and then just added some Mei Flower gems, in yellow of course, to the bottom corner.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Animal Friends - Butterfly/Butterflies

Classic Design Team - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes with option of using die cut or punch

Thank you all for visiting.

IAAS Make your own background

Come and join us at International Art and Soul and show us what you can do with Josephine's choice of theme 'Make your own background'. 

My card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK. My background is made using a Leonie Pujol set of daisy stamps. I stamped them in Memento cocoa and then matted the sheet on to lime green card by Papermill. The image of the flower and bugs is by Bugaboo and was coloured with my Promarkers. I cut it with a Spellbinder classic oval die and then edged it with Distress Ink. I set the oval to the right side of the card and that was it completed. A reasonably simple card but I like it! lol

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

City Crafter - Floral Laura (must have floral background)

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes

Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Polkadoodles - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting, I hope to see you again soon.

IAAS - Choose a Movie

I set the theme of 'Choose a Movie' over at International Art and Soul so please come and join us.

After choosing the theme a few weeks previously I was stumped as to which movie to choose. I looked through my images and a few movies eventually popped into my mind but I still couldn't settle on one. I left my craft room and went downstairs to think and an idea came straight into my head. I'd been looking through family photos and liked this one of me and one of my sisters. Lorna died in November and I decided to make this card showing a photo of us, me at 9 and Lorna at 12, best buddies. 

The Way We Were.

The card blank is 7x7 by Craft UK.  The background paper is from Paper Cellar and I matted it on to pink card by Papermill. After printing the photo I matted it on to pink card and set it at an angle to the top left of the mat. I added two Memory Box dies of hanging flowers, again in pink card, to the right. The film title was generated on the computer, printed in pink and matted on the pink card. A small Spellbinder die of a butterfly was added to the small plaque and to finish off the design I added a strip of ribbon gems to the bottom edge. I bought this ribbon in America a few years ago and it's lasted for ages.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything Goes with Patterned Paper

Creations in Pink - Anything Goes in mainly pink

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Double D Challenge - Looking Back in Time

Thank you all for visiting, I hope to see you all again soon.

IAAS - Cat or Dog

Happy New Year to you all. Please start the new year by joining us at International Art and Soul with our theme of 'Cat or Dog'. It was Jane's choice and a good one.

I used an 8x8 Craft UK card blank. The brick patterned paper is by Joanna Sheen and I matted it on to dark brown card by Papermill. The image is by Bugaboo and I coloured it with my Promarkers before cutting with a Spellbinder die. Pearls by Mei Flower were added to the collar as studs and two 'diamonds' again by Mei Flower were added as glints in her eyes. I used Distress Ink in Barn Door colour to smudge the edges before setting to the right of the card. The panel to the left is embossed with a Cuttlebug folder that I've had for years. I'd cut the panel with another Spellbinder die and after embossing I used brown Distress Ink to smudge the letters so that they would stand out better.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes

Ike's World - A is for Animals

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything with a Critter

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes