INTAAS Christmas Card

Come along and join us at International Art and Soul with your Christmas Card - a theme set by design team member Christine.

My card is a 6x6 scalloped blank by Craft UK.

I used an embossing folder of cascading Christmas emblems on the front of the card but I can only remember that I bought the folder from the internet and there's no name on it. The coloured card is from Papermill and I used Spellbinder dies to cut two scalloped ovals, one red and one green. The image was stamped from a set of stamps given as a free gift with a Practical Publishing magazine. I coloured him with my Promarkers before cutting with a Spellbinders oval die. I set the image on the mat of green and red ovals and set it as the centrepiece. 

Thank you for your visits to my blog over the past year - have a lovely Christmas and all the very best for you and yours at New Year.

IMTAAS - Happy Fall Y'All

Come along and join us at International Art and Soul. Design Team member Debbie chose the theme of Happy Fall Y'All.

My card is a 7x7 by Crafts UK. The brown card is from Papermill. I chose the quote from the internet and after printing it  backed it with more brown card as the centrepiece. I used a small patch of SnipArt to add a little texture. The SnipArt was supplied by Craft Box UK. The paper depicting leaves is from 'I know not where' and after searching my craft room for pads, etc. I still have no idea, sorry.

I'm on a break at the minute but appreciate any comments left for me.

INTAAS Orange and Black

This challenge theme was set by DT member Chriss and it's Orange and Black. Come long and join us at International Art and Soul, we'd love to see you.

My scalloped card blank is a 7x7 by Crafts UK. The coloured card is by Papermill and the image is one from Saturated Canary. I cut the card with two Spellbinders scalloped dies and once the image was coloured I also cut this with the smaller die. I used my trusty Promarkers to colour the image. Very simple but done.

I won't be entering my card into any challenges as I'm taking a rest for a short while to refresh myself!

Thank you all for supporting me over the past few years, it's very much appreciated.

INTAAS - Wood/Trees

Come along and join us at International Art and Soul with our challenge theme of 'Wood/Trees' set by Mimi.

I'm sure you've probably seen a couple of my previous cards with these words written but they are so beautiful and thoughtful that I had to feature them again. I'll also tell you why they are so special to me.

When I was 15 I went on holiday with my cousin Jenny, her husband David and their daughter Joan to a cottage miles out into the country. No other houses in sight and very peaceful. One evening we were going to a pub - I'm not sure if David knew the owner but I know that Joan, who was 13, and I played in the hayloft of the pub until it was getting dark. When we went inside the pub for a drink and some crisps David was asked if he would sing for the customers. (I didn't know that David could sing). He sang these words which I had never heard before and I can remember thinking that it was beautiful. The customers and staff thought so too and David was given a roaring ovation when he sat down. Many years later my husband, sons and I went on our first visit to the USA and stayed with friends in North Carolina. Another couple of friends picked us up to go out for the day and we went to a forest where we saw the most fantastic trees. I didn't know the name but on our walk round this beautiful place there was a plaque with the name of the Joyce Kilmer area and underneath the words of his poem 'Trees'. I read it and got goosebumps because I realised that these were the words that David had sung all those years before. Since then I've noted that Paul Robeson actually sang this song and recorded it and I've listened to it a few times since. I still think that David's version was perfect and is such a happy memory for me. Although I always enjoyed Paul Robeson, from my memory David sang it beautifully. 

Now on to my card details.

Once again a 7x7 card blank by Crafts UK. Dark brown card from Papermill as the base with a sheet of wood patterned in a book by Papercraft Inspirations. I printed the words on my computer and then backed it with brown card to set at the top left. I then cut a rectangle of the same brown card, overlapping it slightly on the words card, before affixing a small wooden tree by SnipArt plus a brass tree charm, both by Craft Box UK. 

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Moving Along with the Times - Trees and/or Leaves

The Male Room - Song Title

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Path of Positivity - Anything Goes

Gem of aa Craft - Anything Goes

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

INTAAS -Transport

The theme for this challenge is 'Transport' so why not join us at International Art and Soul with your ideas? The challenge was set by design team member CraftyGirl

My card blank is  7x7 by Crafts UK.

I started by cutting a maroon card to fit the card blank leaving a small white edge and then cut bright red card to fit on top of the maroon. This was the mat for the Dr Who tardis image which was copyright free from the internet. I added it to the centre of the mat and then generated the sentiments on my computer. 'Happy Birthday Michael' is for my great-nephew's birthday and he is a massive Dr Who fan. That was set at top left and bottom right was a fun comment 'Michael WHO?' 

The coloured card is all from Papermill, the sentiments cut with a Spellbinder circle die, both sentiments edged roughly with Promarkers to, hopefully, emulate the edges on the tardis image.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Crafting Happiness - Add a Sentiment

Dragonfly Dreams - Happy Birthday

Gem of a Craft - Anything Goes

Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

Arty Divas - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

INTAAS - Birthdays

'Birthday' is the theme set for this challenge over at International Art and Soul and was set by DT member Chriss.

Once again my card blank is a 7 x 7 by Craft UK. 

The base mat is yellow card by Hobbycraft topped with a CostCo paper in mottled green. I used this image that I last used about 2016 but I still can't remember who created this digi. I coloured him with my Promarkers and cut him with a Spellbinders oval die before matting on to a green scalloped oval. The only addition was the Happy Birthday sentiment set at the top left. I have a sheet of these sentiments which are sticky backed ready to fix to a coloured card of your choice as a background plate. I'm not sure where I got them from as I've had them for years and only used or two.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Moving Along with the Times - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

AAABirthday - Anything Goes Birthday

digidesign - Add a sentiment

Arty Divas - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

Hope to see you next time. 

INTAAS The colours of Fruit

This challenge theme is 'The Colours of Fruit' and was chosen by DT member Jennie over at International Art and Soul.

After much thought I decided to use some die cut leaves to show the colours of various fruits.

My card blank is a 7 x7 by Craft UK.

I used yellow card by Hobbycraft as the base mat and then topped it with a caramel coloured card by Sue Wilson which I'd embossed with a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder of leaves. I then used my various Spellbinder leaf dies to cut out an assortment of leaves. I was thinking of oranges, lemons, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries but I'm not sure what I was thinking of for the bright green leaf at the bottom!  lol

After arranging them at the bottom of the mat my only addition was the Happy Birthday sentiment which I generated on the computer before backing with more red card and setting at the top right. The various card was all supplied by Hobbycraft, Papermill and Sue Wilson.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments - Summer + a Sentiment  (all these fruits remind me of summer)

Moving Alon with the Times - Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday - No Stamping

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

AAA Birthday - Anything Birthday Goes

Arty Divas - Birthday

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

Once again, that's it till next time, hope to see you then. 

INTAAS - HAPPINESS

Come along and join us at International Art and Soul and show us what you can do with the theme of 'Happiness'. I chose the theme, did so quite a few months ago and came the time to make my card and I was lost! How can I choose a theme and then be baffled as to what to make? I decided at the present time my happiness came from my crafting and so I made a colourful card with the word Happy on the front. 

My 7x7 card blank is by Craft UK. The purple card is by Papermill and I embossed it with a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder of flowers. Turquoise card, also by Papermill, was cut with a Spellbinder's large circle die as the centrepiece mat. I used Brushos in purple and blues as the background to the stencil of the word Happy and bubbles which I think was from Craft Stash, but I'm not 100% sure. After cutting with the large Spellbinder's circle die it was set against the turquoise circle. I then added 3 gems, in a mottled purple/blue, to each corner of the purple card. The gems were from Craft Box UK.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Alphabet - I is for Interests/Hobbies

Daring Cardmakers - Stencil It

Addicted to Stamps - Any Occasion

Through the /craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams - Indoor Hobbies

Arty Divas - Anything Goes

Bye, see you next time.

INTAAS - Masculine

Come along and join us again at International Art and Soul where the theme for this challenge was set by Maggie and is 'Masculine'.

My 7x7 card blank is by Crafts UK. The yellow and red card is by Hobbycraft. The image is by Bugaboo and I coloured him with my Promarkers. 

I embossed the red card with a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder of watches and clocks  before setting it on the yellow mat. After colouring the image I used a yellow Distress Ink to colour the torn edges. The sentiment was generated on my computer in red print and set on a red card mat at the bottom right of the image.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Classic Design - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

Crafty Friends - Embossing wet or dry - I used dry

Digi Doodle Studios - 3 Layers or more

World Wide Open Design Team - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

A Place to Start - Anything Goes with option Balloons/flowers

Thanks for visiting. 

INTAAS - Red White and Blue

The theme for this challenge is Red, White and Blue and was set by team member Chriss. Come and join us at International Art and Soul with your project.

I embossed a sheet of white card with a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder of bunting before setting it against a bright blue mat - the blue card from Papermill. I die cut two red shapes, the top left is a die by Memory Box, if  my 'memory box' serves me correctly. lol  The bottom scroll die is by Spellbinders. The red card is by Hobbycraft.

Mr card blank is by Crafts UK.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Gem of a Craft - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes

Everybody-Art - Two colours, white doesn't count

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Arty Divas - Anything Goes

Classic Design - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

INTAAS - 4 Legged Friends

Please come along and join us at International Art and Soul to take part in our challenge theme of 'Four Legged Friends' which was set by Mimi.

My card blank is a 7x7 by Crafts UK. 

I think it was almost twenty years ago when I ordered a book of gold and a book of silver glitter paper and in that time I've used probably one sheet of each! They are by Papermania and I decided to use a sheet of gold for the background to this lovely image of our four legged friends. 

When I first started my blog in 2011 I entered a Stitchybear blog challenge and won three images = this was one of them. When Stitchy sent them to me she asked if I would let her see what I did with them and I duly did that. She then asked me if I would join the design team and so started my first role as a blog design team member. I've lost count of how many teams I've been on since but that has changed over the past few years as I've slowed down. INTAAS is my team now and we have a super group of team members. 

Back to my card - I coloured the image with my Promarkers and then set it directly on to the gold paper as the mat. My only addition was a Spellbinder die cut in top right and bottom left corners. They were cut in brown card by Sue Wilson. Another simple card but I like it and the gold is much brighter in reality.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Cards 4 Galz - Die Cuts or Punches

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Critter Crazy - Anything Goes with a Critter

Classic Design - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything Goes with an Animal

Sweet Stampers - Animals

INTAAS - SUMMER

Please come along and join us for this challenge of 'Summer' the theme chosen by design team member Jennie, over at International Art and Soul.

I'm so behind with my DT cards and I'm desperately playing catch up. I just made it with this card. I bought four new plants last year for the large pots in my garden, a hydrangea and three senettis. The hydrangea was treated as advised by the garden centre, leaving the dead flower heads on until the frost had passed. This didn't work and it died. The senettis were in the shed over the winter and came out as spring arrived to no avail and they died too. My son and DiL were visiting and took me to the garden centre to get four new plants for the four, now empty, pots. One different type hydrangea, a freesia, a primula and a lupin. When I saw the lupin I had to have it as it reminded me so much of when I was a little girl. We had lupins of almost every colour in our garden and I loved them. Believe it or not it was a lovely sunny day when I took the photograph! This to me says summer. The irises I discovered when the raised beds were demolished. I nurtured them and they are repaying me with their beautiful colour. One pot of them is a little slower in flowering but I think one bud has opened today so it should be just as gorgeous as this one in the next few days.

Sorry I've waffled on but now I'll tell you what I've used for my card.

The card blank is a 7x7 by Crafts UK. The coloured card is by Papermill and Hobbycraft. I embossed the yellow card with a Crafter's Companion embossing folder. The doily I've had for probably 20 years. I cut the photo with a Spellbinder oval die and then it was set on top of all the layers as the focal point. I'm hoping the colours of the card remind you of summer, yellow, lilac and orange.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Beyond the Blue - Flowers

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Dream Valley - Summer Colours

Inspiration Station - Inspired by - A Flower Shop - happy memories

Use your Stuff - Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting. 

INTAAS - FLOWERS

The theme for this challenge is 'Flowers' and was chosen by design team member Josephine/Tricia. Come along and join us at International Art and Soul.

My card blank is a 7x7 by Crafts UK.

I chose a bright pink card by Papermill as the base mat for the image. This image of tulips is one of my favourites and is by Bugaboo. I coloured the tulips with my Promarkers and did them in a gentle pink. This was then matted on to the bright pink base and a simple card was almost finished. I added small pearls to the bottom right hand corner and that was it. Unfortunately the pearls were on an unmarked card so I can't remember where I bought them, sorry.  I love detailed cards but sometimes I opt for simple and I think this image shouts out simple - but beautiful.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes with a Touch of Pink

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

My Time to Craft - Thank you occasion

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes with Promarkers/Option Girly card

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Think Pink

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Pink Gem - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

Creations in Pink - Anything Goes in Mainly Pink

Dragonfly Dreams - Butterflies and/or Flowers

Thank you all for visiting. 

INTAAS - 3 THINGS

Come and join us at International Art and Soul with Mimi's challenge of '3 Things'. I had to rack my brain for this one. 

I didn't want to use three individual items so looked through my stamps. I eventually found this one which I bought at Ally Pally a good few years ago. It had no name on the stall but a lot of the stamps were American as I found when I checked their spelling on some. To add to the confusion they had no name on the wrapper, just a plain cellophane bag. This one of the three stark trees attracted me so it was perfect for this challenge as far as I was concerned.

I stamped it in Versamark 'Cocoa'  ink before tearing out and edging with a 'Mahogany' Distress Ink. The sentiment is from Visible Image and was stamped in the same ink and the same process as the image. The brown paper is from Costco and was matted on to bright green card by Hobbycraft before being set as the mat on the 7x7 Crafts UK card. 

The image was set to the right side of the mat and the image slightly overlapped top left. I used three large gems in the bottom left corner - job done. Two weeks before the challenge goes live so maybe I'm beginning to feel a little better.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Path of Positivity - Anything Goes + option of something special about friends

Arty Divas - Anything Goes

Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes with option of floral and fauna

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

INTAAS - Things with Wings

The challenge over at International Art and Soul is 'Things with Wings' chosen by design team member Christine. 

I'm not quite back into crafting, managing only an hour at a time so another simple card from me. Once again my photo is not up to scratch, my scanner is playing up for me so I've had to make do with the less than perfect image. 

My card blank is a scalloped 7x7 card by Crafts UK. I used Brushos on the actual card base as a sunny background to the actual mat. The muted green paper is from Costco and I've had a case of it for years. I cut it with a Spellbinders scalloped die and fixed it to the sunny background. The lace butterfly is by Craft Box UK but don't know where the small butterflies are from as I was given them by a friend. They were added to the bottom corners and then a small stamped 'Happy Birthday' was added, again cut with a Spellbinders scalloped die. The yellow card used to stamp the sentiment on is by Hobbycraft. The stamp was a freebie from a magazine many years ago.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments - Use a Birthday Sentiment

Creative Knockouts - Things with Wings or Furry Friends

Seize the Birthday - Birthday + Signs of Spring

Crafty Gals Corner - Spring or Easter

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Craft Galore Encore - Anything Goes

INTAAS - Landscapes

Come along and join us at International Art and Soul with the challenge of 'Landscapes' set by design team member CraftyGirl.

This is the first card I've made for a few months due to my back problem which, I hope, is on the mend.

The photo is a bit lopsided but I hope you'll bear with me until I get back into the crafting groove!

The card blank is a 6x6 by /Craft UK. The green base mat card is by Hobbycraft, the dark green card is by WH Smith but I have no idea where I got the black glitter card which is the tiny border backing the image. The image was taken from Joanna Sheen's CD 'Dancing with Shadows'. After matting and layering I added some tiny green gems, from Mei Lower, to the left column. It's not a very adventurous card but it's not too bad considering it had to be made in as short a time as possible due to the said back!

I'm not sure whether I dare enter it into any challenges but here goes:

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Crafting Happiness - Anything Goes

CD Sunday - Anything Goes with item from CD, USB , etc

Taylormadecards4u - Anything Goes with option Great Outdoors

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

International Art and Soul

I'm sorry to say that I haven't a card for this challenge over at International Art and Soul. My back still isn't quite right and I haven't been able to sit comfortably anywhere apart from the sofa. Please pop along to INTAAS and see what my team mates have made.

I hope to be back soon after I've managed to catch up with my crafting.

INTAAS Light and Dark

I set the theme over at International Art and Soul and chose 'Light and Dark'. This means however you interpret these words = light and dark card, light and dark moods - which I chose to use, or daylight and darkness or maybe you would interpret the words differently.

My card shows that there may be dark clouds behind you but there is light ahead of you so 

'No matter how you feel..........

My card blank is a 7x7 card by Crafts UK. The dark navy card is by Stampin Up and I embossed it with a Crafter's Companion embossing folder of 'clouds' before setting it as the mat for the large sentiment by Visible Image. I stamped it in black Memento ink and then cut it with a Hobbycraft die. I used a bright yellow Promarker to edge it.  The light bulb is also a Visible Image stamp which was stamped in black again and then after cutting it out I used the yellow again to highlight it.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Unfortunately since writing up this post I've had an accident in the garden and therefore have not been able to use my laptop for a while. I attempted to pick up a breeze block to put on the cover of my garden bench to prevent it flying away in these high winds. I'd forgotten my age and my back reminded me. I have lumbosacral strain so need to rest, heat pad on my back with only gentle exercise. I've been almost immobile for two weeks and cannot bend so most of my hobbies are 'out' for now. Looking at my card now I realise that this sentiment may apply to me. 

 

International Art and Soul - Hearts

This theme is 'Hearts' and was chosen by Debbie, our DT member, over at International Art and Soul.

The card is a 7x7 blank by Crafts UK. My first matt layer is a red card by Hobbycraft with another, pale yellow card by Hobbycraft that was embossed with a Crafter's Companion embossalicious folder, set as the second layer. On top of that I added the Spellbinders intricate Hearts dies cut in red again. I thought it did need a sentiment but didn't want to spoil the effect of the beautiful frame. I decided on the small Crafter's Companion 'Love' die which was cut in gold and was a perfect fit for the centre of the large heart.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges: 

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + a sentiment

Modsquad - Valentines

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Arty Divas - Anything Goes

#btchallenge109 Bastel-Traum - With Heart

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Sheepski Design - Square

INTAAS - Painted Background and/or Stamp

This theme is 'Painted background and/or stamp' and was chosen by Design Team Member Trish/Josephine over at International Art and Soul.

My card blank is a 6x6 by Crafts UK. I used Ayeeda Mists by 13 Arts via Craft Box UK to spray a piece of white paper as background. I hadn't used them for a few years so had to run the nozzles under a hot tap to release them but then they worked perfectly. I used pale blue pearl, golden pearl and orange pearl. After it was dry I backed it with cyan coloured card, by Papermill, as the base mat.  My Visible Image stamps came out for the Dance Off boy stamps as this card will be for a 17 year old boy. I stamped them in black Memento ink and then tore the image out before edging with a cyan Promarker. The sentiment was generated on the computer and again I tore it out and edged with the Promarker before setting it across the bottom left. It was raised on pads for a little dimension.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge: Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - I is for Ink

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + a sentiment

The Male Room - For a Teenager

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Arty Divas - Anything Goes

Classic Design - Anything Goes

Craft Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

INTAAS - Anything But a Card

To start the New Year International Art and Soul have the challenge of 'Anything But a Card' which was the theme set by our Desing Team member Christine.

Who remembers making Tim Holtz's grunge board bracelets? This is a real blast from the past. I last made lots of these in 2008/9 for my friends' daughters and granddaughters. They weren't quite as grungy as this, they were much prettier. However I was quite chuffed that I remembered how to do them, once I found my grunge board. The first photo isn't very good - again taken with my camera which I think is on it's last legs. My son took the second one with his mobile and then emailed it to me so that I could save it on my laptop. The subject of his email read 'Wrinkly old arm'. He does love me I'm sure!

I've really made so many other objects during my crafting sessions over the years so have got into a rut of only cards recently. I've got a box in the garage with plaques, pictures and various other items but decided to take the plunge and attempt this.

The grunge board and fastener all by Tim Holtz. Promarkers, Distress Ink were used for the decoration with some Craft Box gems for the centre of the flowers. The flower stamp was a freebie from a magazine.

I hope you've enjoyed this step back in time. lol

I'm entering my bracelet into the following challenges:

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes with Promarkers

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Passion for Markers - Anything Goes with Markers