On The Wings Of A Butterfly.............

......................is my last entry of the moment for this weeks Less Is More Sketch Challenge.

This is similar to Mum's Birthday Card but I loved that one so much I had to make a version for this Challenge....

I'll let you into a little secret .... this is my favourite from the three entries.

I did have to improvise a little as I didn't want to have to cut a separate section ... I wanted the base card as one layer and just have my Butterflies flying ... it did take a little manoeuvring.

I put the card through the Bigshot with an embossing rubber mat and the embossing folder flat so I could get just the panel section (not the V Butterfly at the top) ... it did leave a bit of a mark at the side so I used my score board to make a little feature either side of the panel.

The Butterfly and Sentiment are from Stampin' Up and inked with Pumice Stone Distress Ink.

The Diecut Sizzlit/Embossed Butterflies are also from Stampin' Up.

I've embellished with different size clear gems.

Many thanks for looking

Butterfly Valentine................

.................is my second entry for this weeks Less Is More Challenge.

Still struggling with the camera........

Hero Arts all the way again.............. but very simple this time.

Background Hero Art Flourish has been stamped with Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick Distress Ink.

The Butterfly has just been stamped with Worn Lipstick ... Cut out and attached to the Card with Glossy Accents and embellished with little pearl gems.

Here's a slightly different view...........

I'm finding that I'm using Stamps I haven't inked for a while but need to use more often lol!

Many thanks for looking

Thinking Of You..............

Is my first entry to this weeks 'Less Is More' Challenge Week 52 ... This week it's a Sketch!

We have to follow the Sketch exactly .. no rotating (has to be landscape) .. Rectangular .. with a side panel.

My base card is white but unfortunately I couldn't get a decent clean bright white photo no matter how I tried........ The camera just couldn't focus on all the white space today .. I'm going to have to experiment and see if I can improve for the future.

I've used Pumice Stone and Victorian Velvet Distress Inks and various Hero Arts Stamps ... 'Everyday Sayings' for my Sentiment and very small Flower ... One of the small Flowers the 4 Flowers Set and Fancy Designer Flourish for my vine.

Once I'd stamped my vine I randomly stamped my flowers.

I finished off by embellishing with little pearl gems.

I also got carried away so you will see a few more entries lol!

Many thanks for looking

Floral Frenzy and Using My New Penny Blacks..............

The Challenge over at Penny Black Saturday this week is 'Floral Frenzy' so I just had to have a play with one of my new Penny Black Christmas Stamps ...  Christmas Star!

I tried to keep it simple and let the flower do all the work.........

I coloured in two different shades of red Promarkers and also Forest Moss Distress Ink and cut out all the layers ... to finish I added some small gems to the centre.

I just had to use one of my new embossing folders ... this one is a wonderful Christmas one and didn't need any further embellishing.

To finish I just tied some string around the top layer and added the layer to my base card with foam pads.

I will have to see if I get a chance to create a few more entries before I'm back at work and too tired to do anything lol!

Many thanks for looking

That Other Card I Told You About............

A few Posts back I created a Boys Card for the Tuesday Trigger and told you I had an idea for a Girls version............. Well I've finally finished it lol!

So I have two Family Cards sorted for this year so far...........

A BIG Girls Card ... 10 going on 16 lol!

All Hero Arts Stamps apart from the Stampin' Up! Sentiment ... Inked with Brown Memento and coloured with Promarkers ... Loads of Layers but still trying to keep it Clean & Simpelish (Just loving this style at the moment .. Have you noticed?)

Number 10 is cut out with my Silhouette and I embroidered around my shadow number to add a little detail.

Each piece has been layered with foam pads.

Love, Love this Butterfly ... I've wanted this type of butterfly for ages but already had a few Hero Arts butterflies so thought I'd make do............ until I saw the new Framelet Die/Stamp Set ... I already have the Dogwood Stamp so thought I didn't want to duplicate but at least I didn't have to cut the shape with my Silhouette before stamping ... but it's great as the Framelet version is smaller ... endless possibilities!

I've attached the Butterfly with Glossy Accents.

Here's a view to show the layers.

I've used 4 Promarkers shades and the Promarker Blender for my colouring.

Well do you think she'll like her 'Grown Up Card'?

Many thanks for looking

Spring, Spring, Spring!..........

You know when you get a song in your head and it sticks ... Do you know your Musicals? Which one is this from lol!

This was just going to be an entry into this weeks Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is to use 'Crafty Bargains' and I managed to get hold of this cutie in The Glitter Pot Sale.

But then I saw the Challenge over at Simon Says Stamp & Show which is 'Song Title' and you know the rest lol! ... I might end up entering a few more before the week is out ... but then again I might not lol!

Unfortunately I did have good intentions but then work got in the way and when I'm on shift, because of my early start, I don't have the energy to do anything.

So here is the Card I created and it's been sitting on my desk for the last 4 days.

Quite clean and simple ... I've used an embossing folder on the back layer ... Nestie Flowers (One Stitched) ... Grosgrain White Ribbon and small Hero Arts Flowers (Centres have been Glossy Accented) ... Flowers coloured with Promarkers.

I've layered my little Penny Black Bear and coloured with Promarkers and the little Flower has a black gem in the centre.

Here's a side view to show of the layers.

I will just about get this entered into the Penny Black Challenge before the deadline.

Many thanks for looking

Just in case you were wondering....

I've edited the photos again as I wasn't happy how they appeared on the blog.

Sugary Sweet Love..........

Still in the lurve zone lol!

This time it's sugary sweet and possibly shabby chic!

The card base has a grainy texture which I love and I've embossed a separate layer with two rounded corners to go over the main card base ...  I've embossed with my new Craft Concepts 'In Stitches' Embossing Folder (loving this folder) and then I stamped into the centres with Spun Sugar Distress Ink and the Hero Arts little Heart Stamps from the 'Heart Sprinkles Set'.

I've decorated the front with a Spellbinders Label and a Love Quickutz Die (Inked with Spun Sugar) and folded chiffon ribbon into bows again and again for my decorative bow.

The large Heart is stamped with my Hero Arts Sketch Heart with Spun Sugar and I further embellished with my Filigree Flower Silhouette Diecut and one of my Fimo Handmade buttons.

Luckly I have the pale pink chiffon ribbon in 2 different widths so everything matches.

Yet another entry for the Hero Arts 'Hugs and Kisses' Challenge and 'Just Us Girls Challenge' so I'm off to place my entries.

I've just found that I've used one of the colours that will fit into this weeks Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger so of course I have to enter this Challenge too!

This is the Tuesday Trigger Challenge Picture

What do you think ... will I get away with it lol!

Many thanks for looking

Handcrafter's Heaven...........

I'm always on the look-out for things I can photograph with my Cards and after a rummage in my sewing box I found this old cross-stitch pin cushion I decorated years ago ... the little dress-makers  dummy is from ebay and is meant for a dolls house. Like my little display?

This was really difficult to photograph as the light wasn't with me even though I used my Daylight Lamp.

The base card is an ivory textured card which I've debossed with my In Stitches Craft Concepts Embossing Folder (Christmas Money Present) ... Love, Love this Folder so don't be surprised if you see it often.

My quilted base layer has been rounded on the top corners ... the base card has a Hero Arts Sentiment stamped on the bottom with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

I was going for a card that made you think Quilting, Sewing, Stitching hence the Handcrafter's Heaven title.

The Needle and Scissors are Quickutz Diecuts ... haven't used these for years but they were perfect for this project ... My cord is a little crochet chain ... The Filigree Flower is one of my Silhouette DieCuts and is available here if you're interested.

This is a layer on layer on layer card and has been raised with foam pads ... I've used a Ruler Sizzix Die for the centre panel and stamped with a tape-measure stamp over the top using Antique Linen Distress Ink ... I also blended the card edges with the same Distress Ink.

Embellished with a pearl button and grosgrain ribbon to finish.

I've just found that I've used one of the colours that will fit into this weeks Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger so of course I have to enter this Challenge too!

Hope you like it and thanks for looking

Another XOXO CAS Valentine................

Something a bit different from me ....... I keep seeing fab cards around that are squares with the corners rounded so I thought I'd give it a go.

First I created my Background using the same stamp Icons used Here (I did make the cards at the same time but I wanted to space my posts out a bit).

Then I punched out the squares with a square punch and rounded the corners ... at this point I also rounded a blank square and cut the corners on this one too ... Then came the Love Sentiment ... to finish I added my ribbon threaded handmade Fimo Heart Button.

The Squares have been attached to a blank card with foam Pads ... I also rounded off two corners on the card ...  A little Christmas Bakers Twine to finish.

I again used Worn Lipstick and Fired Brick Distress Inks and Hero Arts Stamps.

Yet another entry for this months Hero Arts Hugs & Kisses Challenge and also it fits nicely into the Challenge over at Just us Girls for the Colours and the Theme.

Many thanks for looking

Butterfly Kisses - Birthday Card for Mum 2012............

I really love this Craft Concepts 'Butterfly Kisses' Embossing Folder and just knew I had to use it for Mum's Birthday Card this year.

I'm still playing with Clean & Simple with just a little colour and dug out my SU Butterflies Set ... I also wanted to give my SU Butterfly Sizzlit/Embosslits Folder an outing as I've had it for ages but haven't used it yet.

I couldn't believe how the Sizzlit Butterflies almost matched the Embossing Folder as they have been produced by two separate manufacturers but they sit together perfectly.

My Card has a slight grainy texture to it and I've inked with Cranberry Adirondack.

My Butterfly Panel is layered over the top of my base card with rounded corners as a feature.

Still sorting out my photography.

Many thanks for looking

Love Heart XOXO............

Clean & Simple or is this Less Is More?

Well I've been playing anyway and I've also been trying to improve my photography skills (Well attempting anyway)

I take my photos at night with a Daylight Lamp but white just doesn't look right no matter how hard I fiddle about in Photoshop ... I've had a piece of satin sample fabric flying about and thought it would make an excellent alternative to a lightbox ... draped over a pole and fitted so the fabric flows I'm quite pleased with the effect ... no more magnolia wall distorting the colours.

Anyway back to the Card ............ I've used various Hero Arts Stamps, Worn Lipstick and Fired Brick Distress Inks ... Embellished with one of my Handmade Fimo Heart Buttons.

I marked out in pencil where I wanted my centre printed panel and then randomly stamped my XOXO and Heart Icons.

The large Heart was stamped next and I embellished with my Fimo Heart after having tied through a piece of grosgrain ribbon.

I rounded off just two of the corners.

Another entry for this months Hero Arts 'Hugs & Kisses' Challenge.
I've just found a Challenge over at

Many thanks for looking Just Us Girls that this fits perfectly so just had to enter!

Penny Black Christmas...........

I'm been using some Christmas money and invested in these little beauties from Penny Black.......

          

Can't wait to start inking.

There is a link to each stamp in the pictures if you're interested.

I know it's the wrong time of year but I've had my eye on these for a while so I thought I'd share with you.

There is an offer at Handy Hippo at the moment where there is a 3 for 2 offer on their Christmas Shop ... Well I couldn't resist.

Are you tempted? lol!

Thanks for looking



Owl Be Back................

............or words to that affect mentioned in my last Post lol!

More options for the Less Is More One Layer 'Birds' Challenge

After having another rummage I realised I had a little Hero Arts Owl Stamp in my stash ... hardly inked so I started by collecting together a few stamps and then I got carried away.

When I inked the first Owl I thought I'd like to create a little Card Gift Set for those occasions when you need a card straight away ... I thought this would make an excellent present.

Referring back to my Dove Post I created another version the same size as my Owl Card so the Card Set would sit together ... and then I realised that the Cards wouldn't gel.

I've added the adapted version to the Dove Post if you'd like to see what I did.

Why am I telling you all this ... well it gives you a little background (hope I'm not boring you) and it leads into what I did create.

Here is my little set of five.

Just A Note..........  is the first Card in the Set I created.

Get Well Soon....... came next ..  I've added a little ribbon bandage around his foot.

Boo!.... Say no more lol!

Valentine............. Another entry for this months Hero Arts Challenge which is Love & Hugs & Kisses

And lastly ..... Just Saying Hello.

Can you tell I really enjoyed creating this little set ... and I'm really enjoying these LIM Challenges.

Which one is your favourite?

Each Card is going to have it's own envelope and I'm going to create an Envelobox to store the five Cards ... with a little simple decoration on the outside (I'll show you when it's done)

Stamps: Hero Arts Owl, Hearts, Music Background & Sentiments - Heidi Grace Flourishes (Different Stamp Sets)

Shading and colouring with Promarkers - Distress Inks and Soft Sand HA Shadow Ink.

Hope I haven't bored you with this long post .. I'd better get back to the card I was working on before I went off at a tangent lol!

Many thanks for looking