A New Freshly Made Sketch Challenge #160 & Festive Friday #43

I got quite excited when I saw this sketch, over at 'Freshly Made Sketches' it gave me the ideal opportunity to try something that I have been wanting to do with my new Stampin' Up 'Wonderous Wreath' set.  Another shaker card . . . I have only tried this once before and I enjoyed the challenge of trying something new (to me) and this is what I came up with!

I also decided it would be ideal for the 'Festive Friday #43 Challenge' 

This was the sketch

 

I followed the sketch fairly faithfully, but I used a bow instead of the smaller circle . . . the greeting is on the inside.

Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate all your comments.

Supplies used:

Stamps & Dies - Stampin' Up 'Wonderous Wreath Bundle'
Embossing Folders - Stampin' Up & Darice
Inks: Versafine, Olympia Green, Spanish Moss & Scarlet Red
Pattern Paper - Printed on my printer
Embellishments - Ranger 'Glossy Accents', Bow & Gem - from my 'stash'

New Products . . . New Card!

Today, I received some new (to me) products I had on order, and, well, you just have to try them out to make sure they're OK . . . right?  I know you are nodding right now . . . so, this is what I made today.

I have listed the supplies below.

Supplies used:

Embossing - Papertrey Ink 'Linen' embossing plate
Die - Memory Box (I think?)
Stamps - Imagine That . . . . 'Write Big'
Ink - Versamark
Embossing Powder - Heat It Up 'Enchanted Gold'
Embellishments - Various sequins
Card stock - Stampin' Up 'Natural'

Thanks for stopping by!

Less Is More - Newsprint

Today I decided, is the time to do my favourite challenge of all . . . the Less Is More challenge and this time the brief was, 'Newsprint'

I thought it would be an ideal time to try out some new purchases I made recently - all supplies will be listed below - I've been dying to try some of these!

First, I die cut the leaves of the tree out of the top panel, then I die cut them again out of 'newsprint' paper.  I then mounted the top panel on foam tape and then stuck all the leaves down through the holes on to the card base - in retrospect, I realised that nobody would probably notice and I could have just stuck the whole piece of 'newsprint' paper behind the leaves - but I always end up doing things the hard way!

Finally, I cut three layers of card stock for the tree trunk and stuck them one on top of the other, and stuck it down on the front of the card.  Then, I cut a banner and stamped the greeting and mounted it on the card with foam tape in the middle and glue dots on each end, to curve the banner and give it dimension.

If I did it again, I would just stick the whole piece of pattern paper behind the die cut!

Here is the finished card

Supplies used:

Dies - My Favorite Things 'Out On A Limb' & Clearly Besotted 'Basic Banners'
Stamps - Clearly Besotted 'Basic Banners'
Ink - Versafine 'Vintage Sepia'
Pattern Paper - Printed on my printer
Card Stock - Stampin' Up 'Natural'

Thanks for visiting and I appreciate all your comments!

Mojo Monday #368

Today I thought I would have another go at the Mojo Monday sketch and this time I decided to combine it with a colour scheme from over at 'Design Seeds' where, I am sure, most of us go for colour scheme inspiration!  If you haven't visited it yet, I highly recommend that you do!  Just click on the name above and it will take you right there!

This is my card

 This was the sketch

And, this was the colour scheme (I obviously didn't use all of the colours)

I used a cream for the neural and I used some of the turquiose colour in the main piece - although it looks more blue in this picture!

Supplies used:

Stamps - Verve 'Surely goodness'
Inks - Stampin' Up 'Rich Razzleberry'
Card Base - Stampin' Up 'Rich Razzleberry' 
Cream cardstock - from my stash
Leaf dies (forgotten who they were from . . . sorry ;( )

Thanks for visiting today and I appreciate any comments!

CAS Stamping Sketch - FTL311

Today I made a card for the CAS Stamping Sketch Challenge - FTL311  and this is their sketch

 

And this is my attempt . . . I must add here that I am not that happy with the way it turned out, stamping with chevron borders that have to be matched up (because they are too short to reach all the way from edge to edge) and to make matters more difficult . . . at an angle too, really isn't as easy as it seems!

Don't be afraid to speak your minds . . . I know it's not too good!  Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate any comments or advice you can give!

Supplies used:

Stamps - Clearly Besotted 'Basic Chevrons'  and Simon Says Stamp 'Happy'

Inks - Stampin'Up 'Perfect Plum', Tsukineko Memento 'Grape Jelly' and 'Lulu Lavender'

Freshly Made Sketches #158 Challenge

Today I thought I'd have a go at the Freshly Made Sketches #158 Challenge but I only had a few hours left before the deadline!  Ooops . . . I'm always doing that!

This is their sketch

And this is my take on it.  I apologise in advance for the poor picture quality, but it is another dull and rainy day here and with the dealine looming, I had no time to waste waiting for a brighter day.

Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your comments.

Supplies used:

Embossing - Cuttlebug borders & Couture Creations - 'Cheerful'
Ink - Stampin' Up 'Night Of Navy'
Stamps - Alte&New 'Super Script 1'
Flower - From my stash

Make The Day Special - Try A Technique

Over at one of my favourite UK stores, I discovered that they have a blog and run challenges . . Yay!  This one was the 'Make The Day Special - Try A  Technique' challenge.

Well, I just had to give this one a try.  I had seen someone on You Tube use a double embossing technique - by using an embossing folder and a die at the same time - I had really admired it at the time, but never had the courage to give it a go. So, when I found this challenge it was just the kick up the rump I needed to give it a go!

What you do is this, after putting your base plate and a cutting plate on to the bed of your machine

1. Open your embossing folder of choice
2. Get a 'solid' die (one that has no hole in the middle, that was my first mistake)
3. Use repositionable glue to keep your die face up on the open embossing folder (my second mistake)
4. Place cardstock on top of the die and open folder
5. Place your rubber embossing mat on top of that
6. Put on a second cutting plate and run through your cutting machine (I used my Cuttlebug, but any of them will work)

My first attempt was rubbish, but I was fairly pleased with my second attempt.  I think when I do it again, I will use a piece of cardstock as a shim, because I would like the impression a little deeper, but I think that that is a case of trial and error.

Any questions, leave them below and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.

Supplies used:

Stampin' Up - Embossing Folder & Night Of Navy ink
Simon Says Stamp - Snowflake die
Spellbinders - Standard Ovals
Penny Black - 'Season's Wishes' stamp set
Versacraft - 'Cool Grey' pigment ink
Marvy - Le Plume II, 'Leaf Green & 'Persimmon'

Thanks for visiting today and happy crafting!

C.A.S. Colors and Sketches #96 Challenge

This was made for the C.A.S. Colors and Sketches #96 Challenge which called for the colours,

 I didn't have 'Mossy Meadow', so I used 'Old Olive' and 'Crisp Canteloupe', plus white, which is allowed by the challenge.

Supplies:

Cardstock - Stampin' Up 'Crisp Canteloupe, 'Old Olive' & White
Inks - Stampin' Up 'Crisp Canteloupe, 'Old Olive' 
Stamps - Stampin' Up 'Hopeful Thoughts'

Thanks for taking the time to visit today!

Less Is More Challenge #194 - Little Creatures

Today I decided to narrow the challenges down to the few who have bothered to comment on the entries that I have put forward for their challenges.  Oh, I know I will be in for a lot of criticism here, people are busy etc., but if I was running a challenge I would make sure that I at least took the trouble to thank each and every entrant, (or allocate a member of the DT to comment)

As a brand new blogger I find it very disheartening when I have spent time and supplies to make something for a challenge and nobody bothers!  So, thank you one and all over at the 'Less Is More' blog for making time in your busy lives to comment on a newbies attempts.  I am very grateful to you all!

Rant over . . . sorry about that folks!

Here is my submission for the terrific, Less Is More challenge #194 - 'Little Critters'

This was also my very first shaker card!  Although LIM, say that the card should be one layer and clean and simple I was unsure whether - with it being a shaker card - this was allowable - perhaps someone from the LIM team could tell me?

 

I really enjoyed this challenge, it was fun!

Supplies:

Stamps & Dies - Simon Says Stamp 'Best Fishes' & Clearly Besotted 'Basic Banners'

Stencil - Simon Says Stamp 'Waves'

Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Inks 'Tumbled Glass' & 'Pumice Stone'

Colouring - Intense Watercolour pencils

Embellishments: Mixed sequins, acetate & gems.

Thanks for looking!

My Favorite Things - Wednesday Stamp Club Challenge #198

I thought I might have another shot at the 'My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club' challenge today, which is #198.

I also thought I might enter it for the 'Colour Me' challenge that I put one in for yesterday . . . a 2nd bite of the cherry, so to speak.

This is the card

And the MFT sketch 

Supplies used:

Dies - My Favorite Things - Blueprints 18 & Pierced Circles
Cardstock - Stampin' Up - Sky Blue, Crisp Cantaloupe and White
Inks: Stampin' Up - Island Indigo & Crisp Canteloupe
Stamps - Stampin' Up - Endless Wishes

Thanks for visiting today!

Colour Me Challenge

Today was a new one to me, I had never seen it before, but it is the, 'Colour Me Challenge'  and the brief was, 'Subtle' . . . and the colour combo was, 'Island Indigo', 'Crisp Cantaloup' and 'Soft Sky', which are all Stampin' Up colours.

I stayed with the 'Stampin' Up' products, which are all listed below.

Unfortunately, I didn't own, 'Soft Sky' ink, so I used, 'Tempting Turquoise', which is a shade or two darker (I hope that's allowed)

Here is my attempt . . . please excuse the photos as it was a very dull day here in my part of the world and the light wasn't great!

 

 

This was the card

. . . and this was the brief

Supplies used:

Inks - Island Indigo, Crisp Cantaloupe and Tempting Turquoise
Cardstock - Soft Sky, Crisp Cantaloupe and White
Stamps - More Merry Messages and Christmas Collectibles with matching punch.

Less Is More . . . Take Two!

Hi everyone.  Thank you for commenting on yesterday's post and giving me your honest opinions, they were very much appreciated.  Although some of you said that you liked the bottom border . . . I still wasn't happy with it myself.  So, I set to work and repeated the card (leaving the border off) and I'm happier with it now!

I don't think that I can enter the wonderful, 'Less Is More' challenge with it as it is a repeat, but I am happier with it personally now!

What do you think now that you have the two for comparison?

Supplies used:

All the same as yeterdays post with the exception of the ink for the sentiment, which was, Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa and I used 'A Wink Of Stella' in clear on the pears for a little sparkle.

Thanks for taking the time to visit!

Less Is More Challenge - Two - The Perfect Pair

Today I decided to enter the 'Less Is More' challenge and the brief was, CAS & 2 - meaning there had to be two elements on the card.

I thought that that screamed out for me to use my Clearly Besotted, 'Fruitilicious' stamp set in which there was a pear . . . ideal!

I stamped the 1st pear, made a mask, stuck it over the first pear and then stamped the 2nd one.  I stamped the sentiment from the set and then sponged a border on the bottom (after taking the pictures, I felt that the border was overkill, what do you think?

 

Supplies used:

Inks - Ranger Distress inks in Peeled Paint & Crushed Olive,  Tsukineko, Memento Pear Tart & Bamboo Leaves, Versafine Black Onyx and Marvy Le Plume II in English Red.

Stamps - Clearly Besotted,  'Fruitilicious'

Mojo Monday Challenge #367

Today, I decided to enter the Mojo Monday Challenge #367  I have been collecting their sketches for a while now and have only just plucked up the courage to enter these various card challenges, but I am having such fun now, I think I'm hooked!  This is my entry

And here is the sketch

Let me know what you think!

Supplies used:

Stamps - Waltzingmouse Stamps 'Say It With Style'
Ink - Stampin' Up 'Night Of Navy'
Sissix Die
Various embossing folders
Irridescent ribbon

CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #96

This is my latest attempt at the CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge . . . hopefully, I am not so late with this one!

I didn't take the sketch too literally this time and rotated it.  I don't think that I deviated from the sketch too far . . . let me know what you think.

 

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Imagine That . . . . 'Write Big'

Dies: Mama Elephant 'Landscape Trio' & Memory Box 'Chloe Stem'

Inks: Colorbox 'Brown'

Pattern Paper - Printed on my printer

Accessories: Various sequins & Pearls

My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club #197 Challenge

This post was for the, 'My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club #197 Challenge'

It is also for the 'House Of Cards' challenge and this one was, to use a punch or die.

 

Materials used:

My Favorite Things - Blueprints 13 & 15 (love the Blueprints)

Stampin' Up - 'Another Thank You' stamp set

Personal Impressions - 'Mixed Sentiments' stamp set

Pattern Paper - Printed on my printer

CAS(E) This Sketch #95

As the title suggests, this ccard was made for the 'CAS(E) This Sketch #95' challenge.

Materials used:

Homemade stencil
Stampin' Up - Show & Tell 2 stamp set & Sparkling Diamonds glitter
Clearly Besotted - Many Messages
WOW - Silver embossing powder
Dreamweaver - Silver embossing paste


I think I just scraped under the deadline wire for this one!

Freshly Made Sketches #157

Today I thought I'd enter a couple of more challenges.  This was for the 'Freshly Made Sketches challenge #157'

 Materials Used:

Pearlised & Glitter Cardstock
Uniko Studio 'Pure Florals'
Tsunkeniko 'Delicata Golden Glitz'
Stampin' Up Pearls

Viva la Verve October 2014 Week 1 {Sketch + Color}

Today I started back in ernest, after my three week break.  To start me off, I decided to enter a challenge.  I decided on the, 'Viva la Verve October 2014 Week 1 {Sketch + Color}'  challenge (Just click on the name above).  Also, for the QKR Stampede challenge, 'Anything Goes'

  

I also thought it about time I did something for Christmas!

I tried to use both the sketch and the colours, but I didn't have much in the way of orange, so for the colours, I used just the two of them - Ocean Blue & Yellow.

Here is the finished card,

 

. . . and this was the inside

. . . and this was the sketch

The materials used were:

Stamps

Paper Smooches - Chubby Chum Pals & Kissables 2

Card Base & Patterned Paper 

Printed on my printer

Embellishments

Assorted sizes gold sequins

Wink Of Stella - Clear

Ranger - Glossy Accents

Colouring

Inktense watercolour pencils

Let me know what you think below.