Emerald Oz Birthday Card

Another one from the super Graphic 45 collection 'Magic of Oz' but this time as a birthday card for my lovely friend Jo.  I thought it was about time I had a go at a different card layout from the normal square or rectangular design.  I cut the front of the square card blank in half and then placed two scalloped circle die cuts overhanging the edge.  The inside of the card was then covered with matching 'Oz' paper and the coordinating  reverse side was used on the front of the card.

The white scalloped circle was stamped with 'Dororthy', 'Toto, and the 'Yellow Brick Road' and then coloured with Pro-markers.  I think next time I would stamp the Yellow Brick Road then add Dorothy and Toto as separate die cuts over the top as unfortunately the brick road was visible through Dorothy's shoes and legs!! Fatal error!

I've then used my Marianne Creatables 'swirl' and also a leaf die from the same collection to create the finishing touches.  The heart was from a selection at Hobbycraft and paper roses were purchased from 'Flowers4Crafts' on Ebay.  The remaining paper flowers were by Petaloo and were purchased on our recent trip to Crafters Cove in Llangollen :).

I am entering this creations in the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz Challenges - #25 Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - #169 Anything Goes
I <3 ProMarkers - #123 Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge - #161 In Bloom

Thanks for stopping by! x

My First Tilda Stamp

 I took my DD to the local craft shop, MSA Crafts last week as a treat for doing well settling into High School.  Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! (Although I did buy a fair amount of stuff too ;) ).  I can't believe I've never visited before and I can't wait to go back again as they had a really good selection.  We bought another pile of Promarkers, rubber stamps, decoupage sheets, card blanks and I was really chuffed to see they had a massive collection of Marianne dies.

I've seen a lot of Tilda stamps around on various blogs and magazines and I just love these cute stamps. So I decided whilst out 'treating my DD' that I would also treat myself to one of these :).  The Magnolia 'Tilda Wants a Hug' stamp grabbed my eye but it wasn't till I got home that I realised it's actually a Christmas Stamp as she has holly in her hair! Oh well, I shall enjoy using it for this years Christmas cards.

I've used Dovecraft backing papers and my newly bought Marianne swirl die.  The paper edges have been torn and inked with Dovecraft Forest Green ink and the stamp coloured with promarkers and finished with a little red glitter glue.  The sentiment is from Daisy & Dandelion with Mulberry flowers from 'Flowers4Crafts10' on Ebay.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

CES Challenge Blog - #56 Totally Gorjuss/Pretty Girls

Thanks for stopping by! x

Quick an easy charity Christmas cards

Next Friday, hubby and I will be holding a coffee morning through our business in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.  This is the first time we've attempted this so I thought, in addition to the lovely cakes and coffee on offer it may be nice to sell a few of my cards with the proceeds going to this very worthy cause.

Although I have a stock of cards that were suitable I thought it might be a good idea to create a few Christmas cards as people may want to stock up in preparation.  I scoured my old craft magazines to see if I could find a simple concept that would be quick and easy to make.  After sifting through I found some great ideas in 'Quick Cards' using their free rubber stamps.

As my Christmas stash of craft goodies is not the largest I used various freebies such as the 'My Minds Eye' papers I'd received in this months Card Making & Papercraft magazine plus other papers such as Dovecrafts Jolly Happy Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by! x

Lilac Fairyland

Today I thought I'd have a go at something I've not really tried before.  I've seen so many cards online using the distressed look and have never had the nerve to give it a try....till now!  It was actually easier than I thought in the end.  I marked my papers up and then lined them up on my paper cutter.  Then, instead of cutting with the blade I tore them along the edge of the trimmer.  I then inked the edges with a pink inkpad.  I think in hindsight the pink is a little too bold for this creation but as my craft supplies are not extensive I have to make use of what I have :).

The stamp I've chosen was one I found online (sorry, can't remember where though now as I have quite a few!).  I ordered a sample pack of papers from Ebay a couple of days and I chose one of these as the colour theme for the whole card.  Now, the papers I thought I'd ordered were from Dovecrafts Eastern Promise pack but after looking again online they look nothing like the picture!  Therefore, don't take my word as gospel as they could be something completely different :).

I've used Bazzill card for a couple of the layers and also lilac dotty paper from Dovecrafts Back to Basics.  The sentiment was found online here.  Paper flowers were by Fizzy Moon.  I've finished the digi stamp with Promarkers and finished the fairy's wings and hair with a little silver glitter glue.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Whiff of Joy - #113 Jane's Sketch

Papertake Weekly - Things with Wings 

Magical Monday - Anything Goes
CES Challenges - #54 Embellish me More
Craft your Passion - #75 Use the 'F' word 

A Gorjuss new stamp

Have been waiting a while to purchase one of these lovely stamps by Santoro's Gorjuss.  It's called 'Puddles of Love' and I've seen it used quite a lot on various card making sites.  It really was a joy to finish with Promarkers.

I decided to go with a lovely green and yellow theme.  I bought some papers whilst on holiday in Cornwall from a super bargain basket.  Although they were Forever Friends Easter papers they matched my theme perfectly.  I've used Kraft card for the base layers.

The paper flowers were made using the Marianne Creatables range to co-ordinate with the papers I'd already used.  The wooden flower was from a selection at Hobbycraft.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge - Inspired by a Song (It's Raining Again - Supertramp)

Charisma Cards Challenges - Inspired by a Song (It's Raining Again - Supertramp)

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping by! x

Christmas with Daisy and Dandelion

I bought a lovely pack of rubber stamps on my last visit to 'The Range'.  They're from the Daisy & Dandelion collection and are called 'Santa's Little Helpers'.  Have been waiting patiently for my new red promarkers to arrive so that I could have a go at these and here's my first attempt.

 

The papers are from Dovecraft Jolly Christmas and I've used my Martha Stewart punch for the red card.  The stamp was finished with various shades of Promarkers and the tag was also created with a stamp from the Daisy & Dandelion pack.  Hubby wasn't so keen on using the stamp with the square die and suggested that next time I could maybe cut the stamp out.  Will be giving this a try over the weekend.

Thanks for stopping by! x

A new bargain basket stamp

Whilst on hols in Cornwall I discovered a fabulous and friendly little craft shop called 'Moments' in Belle Vue, Bude.  'A' and I spent quite a while looking round and in particular at the bargain basket just inside the door where we found Forever Friends Easter papers and stamps, lots of ribbon, flowers, brads and a lovely little stamp reduced from £5.99 to just £1.50......bargain! :)

[caption id="attachment_1064" align="aligncenter" width="256" caption="Stamp coloured with Promarkers"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1065" align="aligncenter" width="254" caption="Stamp coloured with Promarkers"][/caption]

Due to my current addiction to Promarkers I decided to give the stamp a try and have made a couple of cards along the same theme but just using different colours.  The papers are from a lovely freebie selection I had from a recent Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine called 'Vintage Rose'.  I've used paper flowers purchased from Ebay and a Nellie Snellen die.  The image is a 'Whispers' stamp from docrafts.



[caption id="attachment_1062" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Blue & Pink"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1063" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Pink & Green"][/caption]

A Passion for Promarkers!

For a while now I've been looking at the rubber stamping techniques in my monthly Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine and am often in left awe by the fantastic finish others manage to acquire on their shading. I bought myself a pack of 'Skin Accent' Promarkers by Letraset a while back when Hobbycraft were having a sale. Up till now I'd always used watercolour pencils for any small bits of colour that were needed but I'd heard on the grapevine that Promarkers were the way to go. I decided to buy another pack of Promarkers and went for the 'Muted' Blending pack which I managed to pick up relatively cheaply on Ebay. Since then I've not looked back!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="342" caption="Free stamp with Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine"][/caption]

Learning to blend and shade the colours takes practice but it is certainly much easier than I expected it would be. I've since bought the 'Skin Tones' and 'Cool Grey's' pack to extend my collection a little further and although I've also bought a couple of individual pens (Berry and Holly), I could do with a few more reds and greens to help make my upcoming Christmas stamps look a little more authentic.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="342" caption="Lovely Free Digi Stamp from Sliekje Digi Stamps"][/caption]

 

I have to say that 'A' and I both find colouring with Promarkers thoroughly addictive (yes, we have no life :) ). 'A' actually said to me the other day that she could spend hours just sitting there colouring and me personally I feel about 5 again, getting such a thrill out of 'colouring in' lol.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="343" caption="Stamp from Daisy & Dandelion - Santa's Little Helpers"][/caption]

Although I've made a couple of cards using the stamps I've shaded (new post coming soon), I'm currently just enjoying the moment with my new found Promarker friends! I still feel that my stamps could look a little better, but I guess with practice and more pens to add to my collection it won't take too long.

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