Moving Along with the Times - No Designer Papers

Moving Along with the Times, Team B's turn this week and the theme, set by Sue, is No Designer Papers. This means you can make your own background papers by stamping, spraying, sponging or any other technique you like using. You could just use layers of card or leave it CAS with just the image, it's up to you but come along and join us.

I decided to use my purple Cosmic Shimmer mist first of all and after that I stamped a little flower image randomly across the paper. The stamp is by Anita and I've used it loads, it must be the one stamp that I have used regularly and I've had it for years. I used my Promarkers to colour the flowers in shades of purple and did the centres in yellow. I matted this paper on to Crafters Companion purple card. I used my Spellbinder dies on more of the CC card to make the fancy border, the Happy Birthday sentiment nestie and an ornate base for another flower which I'd cut out to use as an embellishment. I asked one of my sons if it would pass muster and he said that it was OK for an old person! I'm sure he loves me really but he does believe in calling a spade a spade. lol

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
ABC Challenge - What's old is new again.
Created with Love Challenges - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

OSAAT #187 - Boo (or Halloween Colours)

The theme at One Stitch at a Time is Boo! (if you don't make Halloween cards then please use Halloween colours instead). My image this week is Cat Nip by Pookie over at Stitchybear Digi Outlet.

My card blank is a large square by Joanna Sheen. I embossed a sheet of Crafters Companion Core-dinations card with an embossalicious folder of giant dots, the folder is also by Crafters Companion. I sanded the dots to show a slight shade of the orange undercoat. Three lengths of Creative Expressions baker's twine was wound round the black card. I used a sheet of orange paper and stamped it with spider's webs and a sheet of green card and stamped that with bats. The paper and card both from Papermill. The little orange pumpkin was stamped with a Whiff of Joy stamp and coloured before fussy cutting. Cat Nip was coloured with my Promarkers. I cut her with a Spellbinders label die and edged it with Distress Ink, stamping spiders web round the edges. Then disaster struck! I had a black ink smudge close to her head and I couldn't use anything to hide it so I had to cut her out too. I actually like this design better than the first one so it wasn't such a disaster after all. lol I typed the sentiment on the computer, cut it out as a label and tied it in her hand.

The prize this week is from Creative Craft World and is 3 Promarkers. However, please check out the OSAAT challenge blog for full details of the prizes.

I'm entering my card in to the following challenges:
Dream Valley Challenges - Halloween
Creative Creations Challenges - Halloween
Parade Your Crafts - Halloween
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Anything Goes with option Halloween
The Crazy Challenge - Halloween
The Pink Elephant Challenge - Trick or Treat
By LORi Designs Challenge - Trick or Treat
Crafting for All Seasons Challenge - Too Cute to Spook
Creative Belli Blog - Halloween
Divas by Design - Spooked

OSAAT #179 - Make One for Christmas

This week's theme is 'Make one for Christmas' and this is mine. Come over to One Stitch at a Time and join us.  I chose the image by Teri of Delicious Doodles over at the Stitchybear Digi Outlet. The image is called 'Candle and Ivy'.

This week I've used a small 6 x 6 square card by Craft UK. The mat is an embossed white sheet adhered to gold hand made glitter paper by Papermania, The Embossalicious embossing folder is by Crafters Companion.  I coloured the ivy and the candle flame with Promarkers. The candle is covered with gold leaf and some of it hasn't quite stuck but I'm quite happy with it - it looks distressed! lol. My son thinks it looks awful. :(   I cut the image out with a Spellbinders die. My new ivy dies are by Joanna Sheen who has designed a whole load of Signature dies at very reasonable prices. I've been waiting for my ivy die to appear in the post so that I could finish my card. I used two different shades of green from Papermill for the ivy and after adding those to my card I finished it off with two small gold pearls by Queen and Co.

Please check out the OSAAT blog for details of the prize structure.

I'm entering my card in to the following challenges:
Bearly Mine Challenges - Digi Days
Cuttlebug Mania Challenges - Die Cuts
Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Embossing plus something at least 6 months old - gold leaf - donkeys years old!! lol
Through the Craftroom Door Challenge - Anything Goes
Digi Makeover Challenge - Embossing and Digi
Delightful Challenges - Make the Cut
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes

I might be a little late in visiting you today as my son and DIL are coming down here for lunch. It'll be good to see them. My other son and DIL have just got back from Greece - they've been texting me most days. I'll be speaking to them on the phone later today. I've just been speaking to Eric's cousin who lives in Meadow Springs, Western Australia.I usually remember too late in the day and think 'oops, I'll ring tomorrow' - and then forget again. Today I remembered at a reasonable time - they are seven hours ahead of us, here in the UK. It's lovely to hear her voice, I have so many happy memories of our holiday out there in 2010.

Wedding card

Looking at this photo it looks as if the bird cage and Spellbinder scalloped circles are bronze - I can assure you that they are silver! lol

I've made this card for a friend's daughter who gets married next month. The bride to be asked me to make cards for her wedding group - best man, usher, maid of honour, two bridesmaids, two flower girls and a page boy - and then I made this one for them. I've just had a message from her to say that she loves the cards. I didn't want to post any of those because I didn't want to ask if I could have permission, she might not want them on any blogs until after the wedding. They all have the base mat which is an embossed panel on 'pale lemon butter' card and silver card. The bridesmaids will have pale butter lemon dresses hence that colour for the cards.The embossed panel is different for male cards and female cards. I've really enjoyed making them, although I was quite dubious about taking it on at first. I've not been crafting very much at all since Eric's death. After initially saying a tentative 'yes' I rang the bride to be back and said a definite 'yes' hoping that it would give me something to focus on. It certainly did and I've enjoyed being in my craft room again.

A Joanna Sheen card blank as usual, lemon card and silver card from Hobbycraft. The embossed panel is made with a Crafters Companion embossalicious folder and the heart is cut with a Memory Box die. The other die cuts are all Spellbinders. The image is from Crafters Companion SWALK range and is coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment is LOTV. The pearls are from Joanna Sheen. The edges of the image and the sentiment are given a faint colour with Distress Ink Squeezed Lemonade.

I'm entering  this card into the following challenges:
Brown Sugar Challenge Blog - Wedding
Pattie's Creations Challenge - Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Delightful Challenges - Make the Cut

OSAAT #164 - Use a Digi

The challenge this week at One Stitch at a Time is Use a Digi and I'm sure you'll be able to fulfil this challenge! Come and join us and you might be lucky enough to win the images used by he design team on challenge 162. Check out the challenge blog to see the prize structure.

For this week's card I had to choose the image for me and for Josephine and I hope she likes the image I chose - it's Rustic Bench by Tami of Ginger Loft over at Stitchybear Digi Outlet.

My card blank is an 8x8 square by Joanna Sheen. I coloured the image with my Promarkers and then cut it with one of my new X Cut large dies. After cutting I used Distress Inks on the edges and then matted it on to a Spellbinders grand nestie label in dark green card by Papermill. I embossed a square of white paper with a Crafters Companion embossalicious folder and matted that on to more dark green Papermill card. I then affixed the image mat on to the embossed panel. It still looked a little bare but I don't like anything too fussy so I sat and thought about it for a while. I eventually decided to use my new Memory Box die 'Summer Border' with white card. Once again I used my Promarkers, to colour the little flowers, and Distress Ink before adding it to the bottom edge of the white panel. I think it looks quite cute.

I'm entering this card in to the following challenges:
LEJ Designs Challenge - Borders and/or corners
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
My Heart Pieces Digital Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
By the Cute and Girly - Flowers
Card and Scrap - Lots of Layers
Crafting Musketeers - Anything Goes
Country View Challenges - How Does your Garden Grow?
Fresh Brewed Blog - Flowers
Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes
Sandy's Crafty Creations - Anything Goes with a Twist - Flowers
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Flower Power

Once again, thank you all for your comments, they're much appreciated.

OSAAT #162 - Anything Goes

This week the theme at One Stitch at a Time is.......................Anything Goes! Come along and join us because the winner will get all the images that the design team used on challenge 160. The image I've used this week was chosen for the two of us by my team mate Josephine. It's called Bonsai 2 and is by Claire of Hope Jacare over at the Stitchybear Digi Outlet.

I coloured the image with Promarkers and cut it with a Spellbinders grand oval nestie. I coloured the edge with Distress Ink in the colour Peacock Feathers. The blank card base is by Joanna Sheen. I embossed a sheet of white paper with a Crafters Companion embossalicious folder and matted it on to a sheet of turquoise pearlescent card by Payperbox. I added the oval image to the centre and tucked a turqouise die cut of fresh foliage in the left side - the die is by Memory Box. The turquoise ribbon is by The Little Ribbon Shop.

Please check out the challenge blog for details of the prizes.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Artistic Inspirations Challenge 39 - Lots of Layers
Cutie Pie Challenge - Lots of Layers
Love to Create Challenge - Punches and/or dies
The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - Emboss It!
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge  - The :Letter B - Bonsai, blue, bow,
Die Cuttin Divas Challenge - Anything Goes
LEJ Designs Challenge - Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers - Die cuts or punched items
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Happy Mail
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Delightful Challenges - Add Ribbon
Thank you all for visiting and for all your comments. 

OSAAT #155 - White on White OR No Designer Papers

The challenge over at One Stitch at a Time this week is White on White (or no designer papers). I made a birthday card for my friend so I hope she likes it. I used a large square card blank by Joanna Sheen. The embossed backing paper is made with a Crafters Companion Embossalicious folder.  The image I got to use this week is Butterfly Fields by Tami of Gingerloft over at Stitchybear Digital Stamp Store. There are two images in the set. After I'd decided which image to use I printed it on to paper and it looked quite stark against all the white. I printed it again, this time on vellum from Create and Craft, and it's much more muted and suited to the embellishments. I cut it with my Spellbinders grand oval nestie and matted it on to the embossed sheet. The butterflies are cut with Spellbinders dies and the leaves are cut with Memory box dies. The large butterfly is set in the centre of another Spellbinder shape, the butterfly small nestie. I'm on a roll because this is the third card in a row that I'm actually pleased with so things are looking up!

The sponsor is Stitchybear but please check out the challenge blog for full details of prizes.

Now that this card is about to be scheduled on my blog my friend's birthday has been and gone and she LOVED her card!

I'm entering my card in to the following challenges:
Artistic Impressions Challenge 32 - Flowers
Bunny Zoe's Monthly Challenge - Girly
My Grafico - Anything Goes
LEJ Designs - Things with Wings
Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Feeling Floral with my oldie - butterfly die
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
Lady Anne's Challenge - Anything Goes
Flutter By Wednesday Challenge - Any winged creature
Happy Campers Challenge - Flutterby Butterfly



I notice that I've lost one of my followers. :(    I've had 151 for so long that I'd just become used to seeing the same number over and over again. Is it because my crafting has slowed down? I'm sorry that I'm not so prolific in my posts as I once was but I hope to get back into it at some point in the future. It's taking longer than I imagined but thank you to all my faithful followers who post on almost every card with some positive comment. 

OSAAT #145 - 'New'

Happy New Year to you all.

The first challenge of the New Year over at One Stitch at a Time challenge blog and the theme is New. That means it can be new year, new baby, new craft items used, anything along the lines of 'new', good luck.

I chose the image of Catlady by Pookie over at Sitchybear Digital Stamps and decided to use her for a new year card. She would be welcomed at any new year party when she's wearing such a beautiful dress - I'm not so sure whether the big cat would be welcome though!!

I used a large scalloped card blank by Craft UK from Joanna Sheen. The embossed panel is white paper embossed using a Crafter's Companion Embossalicious folder and then matted on to purple Mirri card. Both panels had their corners rounded with a Carl corner punch. The image was coloured with my Promarkers and cut with a Spellbinders grand oval nestie and matted on to the scalloepd nestie.Her necklace was enhanced with some purple Stickles to add some glitz for that party! I used a Marianne die for the scroll and a Spellbinders die for the beautiful shape in the top right corner, it's from the Ironwork Motifs set. I generated the Happy New Year on the computer, rounded the corners, matted on to purple Mirri card as a small plaque and added three purple pearls from Wild Orchid Crafts.

All details of the prizes can be found on the OSAAT challenge blog, please come and join us.

I'm entering this card in to the following challenges:
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Embossing
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Freshly Brewed - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - New Year
Simon Says Stamp - New Something
ABC Challenge - Embossing
Digi Galore - Something New
Crafty Sentiments - New
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

OSAAT #142 Anything Goes

The theme for this week is 'Use a Digi - oops, no it isn't it's Anything Goes so come and join us at One Stitch at a Time challenge blog. It was my turn to choose a digi for me and my DT buddy, Josephine, so I hope she liked the image I chose. It's called Pitcher and Bowl and is by April of Reece's Scrap Pieces over at Stitchybear Digital Stamp Shop.

Rick St Dennis is the sponsor this week but do check the challenge blog for full details of the prizes.

I used a large square card blank by Joanna Sheen. The yellow card, from Papermill, was embossed with a Crafters Companion Embossalicious folder. I coloured the image with my Promarkers and after cutting it out with a Spellbinders grand nestie I used Distress Ink when it was still in the die so that it kept the white edge. This was then matted on to the yellow card. All I had to do to finish it off was to add some Spellbinder die flowers in lilac, with yellow centres. I'm sorry the photo doesn't look too good, it was a miserable day when I took it and my lights didn't help much.

I'm entering this card in to the following challenges:

ABC Challenges - Anything Goes

Lady Anne's Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafty Boots Challenge - Anything Goes

My Grafico - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes

Deep Ocean Challenge - Pastel Colours

Clearly iStamps - Clean and Simple 

Fun with Shapes and More - Everything but Christmas

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Peter Rabbit

I love Peter Rabbit and here he is in all his glory!

I've used a small square card blank by Craft UK. The backing paper I've had for ages and have no idea where I bought it. The blue pearlescent card is from Payper Box. I coloured the Crafters Companion's Peter Rabbit images with Promarkers and cut them with Spellbinders oval nesties. I edged them with Distress Ink in Stormy Sky. I used three pieces of Card Candi in the bottom left and some of my Australian stock of white satin ribbon to complete the design.

I'm entering my card in to the following challenges:
Crafters Companion - 4 Legged Friends
Crafty Sentiments - Bunnies - the best bunny of all for me!
The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - To Die For

Humour

I've made this card for the Creative Card Crew challenge and their theme 'Humour'. I love Bugaboo stamps and have made quite a few birthday cards this year with their images. Here is another. I've used a Craft UK large square card blank. Coredinations paper from Crafters Companion, embossed with a Creative Expressions embossing folder and then sanded. The Bugaboo image was coloured with Promarkers, cut with a Spellbinders grand oval nestie before being edged with a Distress Ink. The Bugaboo sentiment was also cut with a Spellbinders die and edged with Distress Ink.

I'm also entering it in to the following challenges:
Shopping Our Stash Challenge 41 - Sentiments Required or Use a Bugaboo image - covered both!