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

INTAAS - Use mainly Yellow and Orange

Come and join us over at International Art and Soul with our theme of Use Mostly Yellow and Orange. This was set by design team member CG.

My card blank is a 7x7 scalloped by Crafts UK. The yellow card is by Hobbycraft and was cut with s Spellbinder scalloped die, The orange card which was matted on to the yellow, is by Papermill and was also cut with a Spellbinder scalloped die. These were set as the base mat for the image of the dog. I coloured him with my Promarkers before carefully tearing him out. The image was then edged with a Distress Ink before centring him on the mat. I love this image of the dog, I think it's by Bugaboo but please correct me if I'm wrong. To complete the card I added three small peachy coloured pearls to the bottom corners of the orange mat. The pearls are from Mei Flower.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Critter Crazies - Anything goes with a critter

Arty Divas - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

Crafty Animals - Must have animals

Beyond the Blue - Layered Die Cuts

INTAAS - Birthday

Please come and join us at International Art and Soul and show us your take on the challenge of 'Birthday' chosen by DT member Chriss. 

I've used a scalloped 7x7 card blank by Craft UK. I used Spellbinder dies to cut out 2 scalloped cards in turquoise and red as the mat for the white scalloped image. This image is a favourite of mine but I cannot remember who drew it - I think it's a Bugaboo but please correct me if I'm wrong. I coloured the cute little elephant with my Promarkers. This card was to be for my daughter in law's niece and she was going to be the grand old age of 18. I printed a ClipArt figure 18 and cut it with a spiky scalloped Spellbinders die before edging with a turquoise Distress Ink. This was added to the top right corner of the image. Apparently she was thrilled to bits with this happy card.

I'm entering it into the following challenges:

Colour Crazy Craft - Anything Goes with colouring

Colour Throwdown - cdt657

Crafty Creations- Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes with Promarkers

The Paper Shelter - Colour It

Ike's World - Anything Goes with option of Animals

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Arty Divas - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

International Art and Soul - CAS

The challenge over at International Art and Soul is CAS - Clean and Simple, set by DT member Maggie.

Once again I'm using a Craft UK card blank but this time it's not a square!

I used a stamp by Judi Ikins and it's called Wispy Bamboo. The small sentiment is by Glenda Waterworth. They were both stamped directly on to the card blank using a Moss Green Distress Ink. I know that a bamboo is not a weed, nor a flower, but I had to have one removed from my raised garden bed not long after I moved here - it was growing like a weed and was huge. The sentiment is very true in lots of respects - thinking of the pretty buttercups and dandelions but certainly not that bamboo. 

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Make My Monday - Slimline card

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + a sentiment

Craft Rocket - CAS

Stinkin' Inkers - Long and Skinny

Addicted to Stamps & More - Make your Mark

Thank you to all my visitors.

International Art and Soul - Winged Things

This theme was set by Christine and is 'Winged Creatures' so I went for a dragonfly image which I've used for a similar challenge in the past. I'm not keen on flying creatures of any sort, in fact I'm terrified of them so I've gone for one that I rarely see now that I no longer have a garden pond. Do join us at International Art and Soul with your creations.

My card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK. A bright yellow mat of Hobbycraft card is the base for the pretty mottled paper which is from a Cardmaking and Papercraft pad of paper. I stamped the dragonfly and the sentiment with Memento Ink in Cocoa. The dragonfly stamp and sentiment are both from Visible Image. I coloured the dragonfly with various Gelly Roll Stardust pens before tearing it out and colouring the edges with Distress Inks. I also tore out the sentiment and edged that in a similar fashion. The three gems in the corner are from Craft Box.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + a sentiment

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes with a Critter - does a dragonfly qualify?

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Lemon  Shortbread - Anything Goes

Simon Says Monday - Layer It

Dragonfly Dreams - Feature a Creature - how about a dragonfly?

Crafter's Castle - Anything Goes

Colour Crazy Craft - Anything Goes Colouring

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

International Art and Soul - Bunny

Please join us at International Art and Soul with our theme of Bunny. I had to use Peter Rabbit because he's my favourite rabbit of all time.

My card blank is a 7x7 by Crafts UK. I made a mat of bright turquoise card which covered the whole front of the card. I stamped the images of Peter Rabbit and his friends using Joanna Sheen's stamps. My Promarkers came out for the colouring before I used Spellbinder oval and circle dies to cut them out. I then used Distress Ink round the edges. The ribbon I've had for years and I have two boxes full of rolls of ribbon so I decided I had to use some of them. Three strips were placed across the bottom half of the mat before fixing Peter Rabbit in the bottom left running towards his friends in the top right. The little Happy Birthday sentiment was on a sheet of sentiments but I have no idea where I got them, sorry. I matted it on to pale blue card to match the distressed edges of the images.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Craft Rocket - Use Dies/and/or Spring

Creative Knockout - Birthday Wishes

Stinkin' Inkers - Hop to it

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Passion for Markers - Soft Finishes

The Cutie Pie - Bunnies and Blooms

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - March challenge must have critter

Animal Friends - Hare or rabbit

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

Crafty Friends - Happy Birthday

INTAAS Off to Dinner

I'm the host for this challenge of 'Off to Dinner' so please come along and join us at International Art and Soul.

I would like to think that I would go off to dinner looking like this but I'm afraid it would never happen. lol I did enjoy going out for dinner with my husband but I never felt the need to get too dressed up, apart from the fact that we didn't go anywhere too fancy!

My 7x7 scalloped card blank is by Craft UK. The lilac card is foundation card by Sue Wilson and I used a Spellbinder large scalloped square die to cut it as the base mat. I used a sheet of Joanna Sheen's lace paper, which I've had for years, and then cut it with  another Spellbinder die to make a strip across the middle of the mat. The image is by Rick St Dennis and I love it. I coloured with my Promarkers and then cut it with a large oval Spellbinder die. I touched the edges with Distress Ink . The finishing touch was to add three small pearls to each scalloped corner of the lilac mat. I think that the pearls were a freebie pack from somewhere.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Colour Crazy Craft - Anything Goes with coloured image NOT pre-coloured

As You Like it - Rubber, clear or digi and why - I prefer digis because they give a clear image and the Rick St Dennis classy ladies are all beauties!

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Passion for Markers - Celebrations - we're off to dinner to celebrate!

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

IAAS Winter

Join us again at International Art and Soul with your project this time featuring Winter, the challenge theme set by CraftyGirl.

I love seeing icicles and so I knew that my card would show these somehow but we don't have any here at the moment, I'm pleased to say. I had to resort to Google for some images and these were on ClipArt. I printed the image and then added Diamond Stickles to the stars twinkling on them. I added more of  the Stickles to the bottom so that it looks like a great snowy mass.

My card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK and I matted on to it a base of dark blue glitter card. I've had this so long I have no idea where I bought it, sorry. On top of this I set the icicles hanging from the top edge. I generated the sentiment on my computer and after printing and cutting it out I edged it with Stormy Sky Distress Ink. This was then set across the bottom of the card. 

I'm entering my card into the following challenges

Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments- Anything Goes plus sentiment

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Crafty Gals - Snow Much Fun

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

INTAAS - Gratitude

This challenge over at International Art and Soul was set by Maggie and the theme is 'Gratitude'. Please come along and show us what you can do.

My card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK. The cerise and lilac card is by Papermill and they were the base mats of the design. I also used a lilac and cerise patterned paper but I'm not sure where I got this from! Hmm. The sentiment was stamped in Distress Ink in a lilac shade and then cut with a Spellbinders die. The sentiment is by Bee Crafty and I bought it at Ally Pally a few years ago. To finish off the design I used two of Joanna Sheen's signature dies - the shooting star and the butterflies. I thought both were  perfect to go with this uplifting sentiment. I hope you agree.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

The Paper Funday - Anything Goes with option of Give thanks/Grateful

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Thanks for joining me. I hope to see you again soon.

INTAAS Fairies and/or Elves

Come along and join us at International Art and Soul with our challenge theme of Fairies and/or Elves. I chose to use a fairy.

My card is a 7x7 scalloped blank by Craft UK. For the mat I used pale yellow card by Hobbycraft and then matted on some yellowy/green paper by The Works. These were both cut with Spellbinder scalloped dies. The image is by Bugaboo and I coloured her with my Promarkers before cutting with a Spellbinders circle die. I matted this on to a yellow scalloped circle, again the card by Hobbycraft and the die by Spellbinders. I added Hobbycraft gems to the edge of her dress and the edge of her sleeve. The sentiment was generated on the computer and cut with another of Spellbinder's dies. I edged the sentiment with Distress Ink before adding to the top right of the image.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything

Creative Craft Cottage - Spooky and/or Cute

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes with option of Birthdays

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything

INTAAS Christmas card based on Christmas carol/Christmas song

A Christmas card based on a Christmas carol or Christmas song is the theme over at International Art and Soul so please come along and join us.

My card blank is a 7x7 by Craft UK, The white paper is embossed with a Crafter's Companion ambossalicious folder. I matted it on to silver card, from Hobbycraft, as the base mat. I've had the little Rudolph reindeer for a while and I'm not sure where it came from. I've got a feeling I got is a prize along with other charms. After sticking him to the centre of the card I used red Card Candi on some of the embossed dots, two of them were metallic just because I could. lol I generated the 'sentiment' in red on the computer before cutting with a Spellbinder die. I edged it with Distress Ink in Barn Door colour and then backed it on to a scalloped Spellbinder oval in red card from Papermill.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - Christmas card

My Time to Craft - Christmas in July

A Bit More to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments - Christmas in July + a sentiment

ABC Christmas Challenge - N is for no fuss

Christmas Craft Creations - Christmas Characters

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

INTAAS Use Green as your main colour

Come and join us at International Art and Soul and show us what you can make for our theme of 'Use Green as your main colour' which was set by Maggie.

My card blank is a 7x7  by Craft UK. I have to admit that I have no idea where I got the bright background paper which I matted on to the sludgy green card as the mat. The image is called  Grotesque Cupid and is by Teri Sherman. I coloured the image with two green Promarkers and a Sakura glitter pen. His teeth look really nasty with that glisten. lol After colouring the image I cut it with a large Spellbinder circle die. I used a green Distress Ink to colour the edge of the circle and then added a light green 50, again cut with Spellbinder dies. This card is for my 'baby boy' who will be 50 in June. Where did those years go? I had a freebie stamp of 'Happy Birthday' which I inked with another Distress Ink in a darker green and I stamped it above the head of the cupid.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

DL ART - Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes with option of using sentiment

Simon Says Stamp - Use some Green

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door  - Anything Goes

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 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 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 - 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