Sketch Saturday 44

Sketch Saturday have a great sketch this week, but I'm not happy with my spots at the bottom - I think they are too prominent. The paper I used are from the K&Co pad Roam which I think suited the Daisy and Dandelion images quite well. The images are coloured in distress inks and the smaller ones cut and mounted onto Nestability circles. And LOOK - no flowers, charms or ribbons - must be a first!! I haven't decorated the inside as yet - I was so thrilled to be able to make a card on my table not on the ironing board. Decorating over - thank heavens!!! Now I just have to put everything back where it belongs - pheeww - great sigh!!

Materials BC - white linen : DP - K&Co Roam : Stamps - Daisy & Dandelian set : Ranger distree inks : Cuttlebug & Nestabilities : EK Success small flower punch

House Mouse Challenge 31 - Bags or Boxes

This week's House Mouse challenge is bags and bozes, we were to create a bag or a box using this week's SPONSOR - The Cutting Cafe's templates and images.

This company really has a great variety of Template files & Printable images to download, print and use.

I used the Cutting Cafe's template for the candy box. I had acetate in the lid but due to problems with the camera I removed it until I had photographed it. I cut a border (with an EK Success border/corner punch) and lined it with papers from my bit box. I left the template at the smallest size and found that here in the UK we don't have candy bars the correct size for the box - the nearest thing I could get locally were Ferrerro Roche (or however you spell it) which wasn't a bad thing as I don't like them and for the first time ever the chocolates are still in the box. (Heehee) THe image is Mudpie's munch, coloured with watercolours and the sentiment, which I used as a flower center, is also from The Cutting Cafe .

Colour Create - Blue and Mauve

This week's challenge at Colour Create has been created by the wonderful Sharon. I'm sure many of you will have seen Sharon's stunning creations already, but if you haven't yet visited you're in for a real treat. Sharon isn't afraid to tackle difficult projects and puts her heart and soul into whatever she does. She is a design team member of a number of challenge blogs which, in itself, is testament to her talent. She is also very willing to help out if you have a query or question and is a brilliant blogger!

Here is your colour combination then:

For this week's extra option we would like you to use ribbons and swirls on your creations, but please remember that this is not compulsory.

I used HOTP Soft Tints papers for this week's challenge. Tha Hanglar image is coloured with pastels and as she is sitting on a cloud I added a couple of Magnolia clouds behind her. The fur on her hat is liquid pearls and her wings and parts of the cloud are glittered with stickles. This is a terrible photograph but the best I could manage with yesterday horrible light. I shall try to get a better one today.

Materials DP - HOTP - : Image Hanglar - from friend : Derwent pastels : Stamp - Magnolia clouds : Cuttlebug & round nesties : Punch - Leone Em ash branch : Flowers, ribbon, charm & beads from stash

Triangular Box Tutorial

This is he first tutorial I have attempted so please bear with me. I anyone reading this has suggestions on how to improve this - PLEASE leave a comment and let me know.

I have been asked how to make the triangular box I used on last week's House Mouse challenge. I originally made this box for the Double Dutch challenge sometime last year, and the instructions were given at to us at the time. You would not beliece how easy this is!!

1. Take an A4 (21cm x 29.5cm)
(11.5" x 8.25" approx) sheet of card.
Measure and mark half way along both the
long and short sides.
Score across the breadth
Score from the centers to midddle - as shown by pencil lines.







2. Crease along each of the score lines with a bone folder or similar tool and fold to the center.











3. Fold all the creases inwards on themselves allowing the front side to sit on top of the bottom.














4. Holding the sides together pierce holes through each side.












5. Finish the holes with eyelets and thread ribbon through these to fasten the box.











Finish by decorating the front as desired.

These are the two I have made previously.

Basic Grey 28 Follow the sketch

This week we at Basic Grey we have one of my sketches to follow - feel free to rotate, resize and flip the sketch or even all three if you want to :), you can also add any more embellishments etc that you would like to, but remember to use at least one item from basicgrey somewhere on your creation, and most of all have fun :)

I used Porcelain papers, and followed the sketch with little or no deviation (thought I'd better as it was my sketch tee hee). The fabulous WOJ image (curtesy of the lovely Martine) is coloured in pastels. The leaves are cut with the Leone Em branch punch and the label holder SU.

A Card for Tara

No crafting as such this week. My dining room (where I keep all my stash, my computer
and do most of my crafting) is being decorated. I feel like my right arm has been chopped off. I'm sure you can all imagine the state I'm in - anxiety, stress, panic attacks you name it - I'm having it!!!

I did manage to almost make a card today - on my ironing board - how desperate is that? I hopefully will finish and post it tomorrow.

Meanwhile I'm going to post a card I made Tara for her birthday.
This is something I have wanted to do for a while. It was a challenge (complete with instructions) some time ago on Stampartic challenge blog.



I used Basic Grey Porcelain papers, and Hanglar images kindly sent to me by a friend.
It took ages from start to finish but was really enjoyable to do and I shall definitelybe doing this one again - probably in summer when good light makes it easier to photograph.

Front

Middle (front opened)

Inner

Materials
BC - Pink bazzill : DP - Basic Grey Porcelain : Hanglar Images : Stamp - Magnolia flourish : Cuttlebug - Label & shaped rectangle nesties : rest from stash

House Mouse challenge 30 - Shaped Card

At House Mouse our challenge this week is :~
Shaped Cards. Please make a card of any shape which is NOT square or rectangle!
Check out what the DT have come up with to help inspire you. Don't forget to check out their blogs for more details!!

This triangular box was on the Double Dutch challenge blog some time ago. I really enjoyed that challenge and the box is so easy to make out of one A4 piece of paper I decided to use this for my project. The papers are download from Digital Scrapbook Art
and the HM image is Wool Sew for Friends. I coloured the image in watercolours added a distressed circular flower cut with nesties and leaves cut with the Leone Em punch.

Materials
BC - Paper Mill shop : BP - download - Digital Scrapbook Art : Image - HM Wool Sew for Friends : Rowney watercolours : Cuttlebug and round nesties : Leone Em branch punch : Button, cord and brads from stash

Colour Create 6

This week's colour are Navy, Turquoise and Lime

For this week's extra option at Colour Create we would like you to create your card or project without using any design papers, but please remember that this is not compulsory. If you would like to use this option, here are some ideas for you - heat embossing, dry embossing, chalking, distressing, stamping, doodling, watercolouring.....

My first thoughts when I saw what Sarita had conjured up for us this week was Eeeek!!! Well and truly out of my comfort zone - but, I'll tell you what I shall certainly be using these colours and techniques again - so thanks Sarita.

The turquise paper is stamp with a floral/flourish stamp which Sharon kindly sent me as part of my birthday goodies (can't wait to try out the rest) Thanks Sharon. The stamp on the lime green central banner is a beautiful Magnolia flourish (although you can only see a little of it) and the corners are Basic Grey from the Boxer stamps. I fortunately had the huge lime green Petaloo flowers and the gem brad was clear crystal which I coloured blue with peel off pens.

Materials
Basic cardstock - Bazzill, SU and Paper Mill shop : Stamps - Laura Ashley, Basic Grey and Magnolia : Punches - Leone Em leaf and MS lace doily : Flowers Petaloo : Brad - papermania

Basic Grey Challenge 27 - Texture

I am so late posting this today. I was in work early and have just arrived home (3.30pm) -Yippee - my weekend begins here. When I've posted this my priority is food and putting my feet up for at least half an hour - then I will see if I can't do some hopping and commenting - had problems last night - I kept getting the message ERROR - blogger took too long. You can imagine my reaction - I'm screaming at my computer to Hurry up and get a move on before I get another error notice.

For this weeks challenge at Basic Grey we would like to see some texture on your creations, texture can be achieved is so many ways, but to name a few to give you some ideas, how about heat embossing, dry embossing, flock, felt, glitter, glossy accents, the list could go on, but don't forget though that you need to use at least one item form BasicGrey somewhere on your creation.

Simon says stamp has very generously sponsored this weeks challenge with this wonderful prize for one lucky winner :)


I used Phoebe papers this week and I have to say this did not turn out anything liked planned. I have some gorgeous check fabric in pink, lemon and green that I inteded to use - Could I find it - no!! On to plan B - felt - I started by making some felt flowers but they tended to be too 'heavy' so - in the bin they went. Plan C - back to the felt and use it as a matt. I then took some voile and made a flower base with it added three Petaloo flowers and used some glass chippings as centers . These are from a gorgeous Laura Ashley set Martine kindly sent as part of my Birthday goodies. I used the Sarah Kay image Spring Blossoms, coloured with pastels and mounted on to felt.

Materials
Basic Grey Phoebe papers : Image - Sarah Kay Spring Blossoms : Derwnet pastels : Flourish stamp - Magnolia : Flowers - Petaloo : rest from stash.

WOJ Challenge - Green

Green is the theme this week's at Whiff of Joy . I think I'm in a pretty mood this week.
The papers are Basic Grey 'Two Scoops' and the image 'Kneeling Willow' is coloured with distress inks. The gorgeous ribbon (which hasn't photographed to it's full glory) is curtesy of Tara - part of my birthday goodies - which I'm ashamed to say I forgot to photgraph as I just dived straight in and started to play - shame on me!!!

The inside of this card would not photograph at all, I mean just look at that ribbon - it looks nothing like it should and I don't really know why I bothered uploading it, but I did - so here it will stay.

Materials
Papers - Basic Grey Two Scoops : Image WOJ - Willow Kneeling : Ranger distress inks :
Cuttlebug - Fancy Borders : Ribbon - Tara : rest from stash

Double Dutch Challenge - Toilet Rolls

The Double Dutch challenge this time is 'On a Roll' or to use a toilet roll. I just love this
challenge blog - these Dutch girls certainly come up with fun challenges.

I wanted to make a holder for a bookmark tag and some chocolates for my grandson to give his mother on Mothering Sunday this week. I found a toilet roll a little small and so I unravelled a kitchen roll, doubled it over and used that. I used K&Co Blue Awning papers to cover the roll and added lace top and bottom. I used eyelets to fasten the ribbon throught at the center top and I cut the flowers with the EK Success retro flower punches and the leaves with the Leone Em Ash Branch Punch. I used the Sarah Kay Reflective image coloured with watercolours and laminated the gift tag so that it can be used as a bookmark. A few chocolates in the pockets and there we are - mission accomplished!!

Materials
Toilet Roll : K&Co Blue Awning papers : Image - Sarah Kay Reflective : Derwent pastels : Punches - EK Success retro flower & Leone Em ash branch : Cuttlebug & Curved rectangle nesties : Fibres - Laura Ashley : Rest from stash

Truly Scrumptious Challenge 3

This weeks challenge has been set by our Design Team member, Beth. Beth has put together a fab sketch for you to use and we also want to see something shiny on your cards; maybe some miri card or a charm - anything that would attract a magpie's eye!! And just to clarify, to be eligible for this weeks prize you must follow the sketch AND include the extra element.

Our sponsor this week is Pink Gem Designs. Janet has designed a range of super cute images - pop across to her blog and take a look. She has kindly given us one of her gorgeous new "Fairy Sprinkles " stamps to give away as this weeks prize:

Oh boy - did I have trouble with my "shiny stuff". Mirri card doesn't photograph well so I thought I won't go there. The bronze flowered paper behing the image and the ribbon is really shiny but when I came to photograph it - no shine showed. Back to the drawing board - as a last resort I used a flower gem in the centers of the flowers including the one Alva is holding. The image is Magnolias Alva with a flower and is coloured with distress inks. The papers are out of my scrap box. The sentiment is Inkadinkdo and the flourish stamp Magnolia. I'm not really happy with this one, although it does look better IRL. The camera seems to have picked up the orange colour leaving the whole looking very unbalanced.

No challenge - just a card I sent to Georgia for her birthday. I made her an fold-over card using Papermania Exquisite papers. I made two tags to fit in the card - one with a sentiment and one with one of my precious Hanglar images which I laminated so she could use it as a bookmark, should she want to. I finished it with a band to which I added a flower on the front and a disc on the back (which I forgot to photgraph) saying Made by
Heather especially for Georgia.

Materials
BC - Bazzill : DP = Papermania Exquisite : Image - Hanglar (sent from friend) : Ranger distress inks : Image - The Quote Garden : MS Doily Lace Punch : Rest from stash.

House Mouse Challenge 29 - A Sketch

A fabulous sketch by Emma is this week's House Mouse challenge

You can flip it, stretch it, rotate it etc etc as long as the original sketch is still visable. We also have a prize to give away to one lucky winner............

I decided to go for 'pretty' this week. The papers are by HOTP and I used the HM image 'Throwing Daisy Petals' which I coloured with watercolours. The flowers are SU, the sentiment a 'freebie' with a magazine.

Materials
BC - white linen : BP - HOTP Soft tints : Image - Throwing Daisy Petals : Rowney watercolours : Flowers - SU : Spacer, brads, pin, charms and ribbon from stash

Colour Create Challenge 6

This week's colours at Colour Create might steer you towards Christmas which is fine as you will be able to tick another card off your Christmas list and that always feels good. The colours also work really well for other times of the year though as you will see from the Design Team creations, fabulous aren't they?

Here is your colour combination then:

For this week's extra option we would like you to add wings, but please remember that this is not compulsory. You could use animals and insects that have wings, but many of our well-loved characters also have little wings tucked away (Tilda springs to mind here)!


I am not at all happy with this card - probably because it was done in such a rush at the end of a Manic week. in fact I think I only just managed to get it done in time to be posted.
I used downloaded papers and distressed the edges. I stamped the butterfly in red - first on white paper and coloured in with green and then onto acetate which I layered on top. The acetate hasn't photographed well and does look much better IRL.

Materials
BC - Paper Mill shop : BP - dowloaded - Pink Petticoat (red) & Verena Karolyi (green) : Image - Creative expressions : Sentiment - the Quote Garden : Punches - EKSuccess and Leone Em : Rest from stash

The challenge at Basic Grey for this week was suggested by our very talented DT
member Anthea.

This week we want to see rounded corners, not an angle in sight ! Please interpret this
how you would like, but of course not to forget to use at least one item from BasicGrey somewhere on your creation :)

We also have a fabulous prize for you, very kindly being given by our other very
talented DT member Kim

I chose to use Mellow papers this week and the WOJ image 'Oakley with slipover'
which I colored with pastels. Not much more I can say about this one really -
it's self explanatory.
I think I made a mistake on where I place the image I didn't like his head
being in the center of the two panels and I have shifted him down a little now -
much better and will re-photograph it later - maybe!!!

Materials
BP - Basic Grey Mellow : WOJ Image Oakly with slipover : Derwent pastels : EK Success corner cutter : Cuttlebut & round nesties : Ribbon from stash

A Pink Elephant for a Pink Elephant challenge

I've actually managed to finish a card - Whoopee!! I've had a totally MANIC week and it isn't over yet as I am working tomorrow, but I shall be glad when it is.

I started this card for the Pink Elephant challenge on Monday (ot it could have been Tuesday. I went to a local craft shop and the lady in there was really pushing me to buy this stamp and a little birdie one as well. Having seen what Julie had done with it I didn't resist very hard.

I've used brown bazzill and downloaded papers. Coloured my elephant with pastels, added a flower, a ribbon and a border using an EK Success punch and voila - one card.

Materials
BC - brown bazzill : BP - Verena Karolyi download : Image - Clear stamps : Derwent pastels : Sentiment - Inkadinkado : Leone Em branch punch : Cuttlebug & round nesties : EK Success border/corner punch : Ribbon. spacer and brad from stash.

Magnolia v Stampavie

A sketch by Carla is this week's Magnolia vs Stampavie challenge.
I used papers from Cosco and the Sarah Kay image 'Time for Apple Pie' kindly sent to me by my matey Tara as part of my Birthday goodies. I coloured the image with distress inks, and used my cuttlebug vintage corners and flowers by Papaermania. The centre flower I dug
out of my wedding box - OMG - I'd forgotten how many gorgeous flowers I had in there. The leaves surrounding the flower are cut with the Leone Em ash branch punch and the
sentiment is Inkadinkdo.
My camera is driving me mad at the moment - I can't do a thing with it. I'd take it to the shop for servicing but what would I do without it ?

Materials
BC - White Linen : BP - Cosco : Image - Sarah Kay - Time for Apple Pie : Ranger Distress inks : Cuttlebug & vintage corners : Leone Em ash branch punch : Sentiment - Inkadinkado : Large circles - pan lids : Rest from stash.

No Card - Just a Thank You

I've just got home from work and before I do anything else I just want to say thank you to all those lovely people out there for their Birthday wishes, cards and presents. I am totally overwhelmed. I have never had so many beautiful hand made cards in all my life.

I will get round to thanking you all personally as soon as possible.

House Mouse Monday Challenge - Men

The theme for the challenge at House Mouse this week is :~ Men

Thats right!! We are having a masculine challenge. We would like you to make anything for a male, not the young kind cause that would be to easy but for the grown up kind most of us struggle to make cards (or anything else) for.

Check out what our lovely DT have come up with to help inspire you. Don't forget to check out their blogs for more details!!

I chose to make a CD holder for my son. The postage (to Germany) can be expensive so if he wants the instructions he will have to download them. My 'silly' head tends to come out with the House Mousies as they are such great fun to work with.
I used denim paper I bought in Germany and download orange paper from Digital Scrapbook Art. The images are 'Say Cheese' and 'Upside down' which I coloured with watercolours. The jumbo brads I coloured with peel off pens to give them a more 'bronzed' look and the Smile, Laugh, Giggle sentiment is Inkadinkado.

Materials
BC - bazzill : BP - Download from Digital Scrapbook Art : 'Jeans' paper ? - bought in Germany : Images - Say Cheese & Upside down : Rowney watercolours : Sentiment - Inkadinkado : Rest from stash

WOJ challenge - Lavender & Lace

I'm rapidly losing the will to live today. I've had a couple of hours to spare and decided to catch up on my commenting. Has everyone been having the same problem, computer going so slow I kept falling asleep waiting for it to load the blog I was trying to comment on.

I gave up and decided to cook dinner - no potatoes - how did that happen? Went to the local shop - decided to buy a few things whilst I was there and came to pay with my card and the machine kept saying it didn't recognise my card. Tried the hole in the wall - the same response. Who needs potatoes anyway? First thing Monday am I shall have to get onto the bank and see if I can sort this problem out otherwise I will be starving to death.

Anyway, enough waffling - this card is one I have been working on for about three days - so my computer isn't the only thing that is slow this week.
The challenge at Whiff of Joy is lavender and lace. The papers are out of a magazine and I coloured the image with distress inks. The flower is a mixture of Petall (outer white) and the EK success punch finished with a pearlised white flower from stash. The sentiment is Inkadinkado and cut out with nesties.

Materials

BC - bazzill : DP - freebie from magazine : Image - WOJ Willow sitting with floral wreath : Ranger distress inks : Cuttlebug - round & label nestabilities : Leone Em branch punch : Rest from stash

Colour Create 5 - Not a card

Hmmmmm, so we were nice and gentle on you last week at Colour Create, weren't we? You know what that means then..... something a little more challenging, hee hee!

Here is your colour combination then:

For this week's extra option we would like you to come up with something other than a card, but please remember that this is not compulsory. Here is a list of some of the things you could have a go at creating and hopefully the Design Team will inspire you with their fantastic creations too!


This challenge came at a great time for me. It was my daughter's birthday yesterday (7th March) and I wanted a small box to put a few things in. I found this tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers. They have some great tutorials there, but sadly they never seem to be quite the size I want so I have to juggle around and re-size them.
I used orange bazzill for the box, and downloaded papers for the dp. The sentiment is computer generated and ribbon, flowers, leaves and eyelets from stash.

A couple of years ago Lisa (DD) had an eye infection, the hospital gave her drops and creams for it but it left her with a patch of white eyelashes on one side. Since then I have been tinting her lashes for her every 3/4 weeks. She decided she would like to do this herself so I bought her the tints & developers etc. to do this. I fastened the bow to the front of the ribbon and threaded a longer piece of ribbon through the eyelet holes and just tied this in a easy knot, so that the box can be opened without the bow being untied. This will make it easier for my eco friendly daughter to re-use the box, as I know she will.

Basic Grey

At Basic Grey we have a sketch for you to follow this week.
You can resize and even flip the sketch but please make sure that the original sketch can be recognized easily in your creations, feel free to also add any other embellishments etc to your creations and of course not forgetting to use at least one item from Basic Grey

I use Marrakech papers this week (they are gorgeous) and one of my Gorjuss girls. which I coloured with pastels. All the papers used are Marrakech including the punched flowers and leaves.

Materials
Papers Basic Grey Marrakech : Image - Diane Westcott Gorjuss girls : Derwent pastels : Cuttlebug & round Nestabilities : Punches - Martha Steward Lace Doily. EK Success retro flower and Leone Em ash branch : Dewdrops, pearls, ribbon and charm from stash

Stampartic Challenge

I have a sneaky feeling my camera is on it's way out. For the last couple of weeks I've noticed my photographs are slightly blurred. I've cleaned it and done everything else I can think of - to no avail. Another item for my ever growing wish list!!

I've been meaning to enter a Stampartic challenge for some time, but never got around to it. When I saw the fabulous sketch for this one I just had to do it.
I used paper from a Basic Grey with K&Co pad, together with bazzill basic cardstock. The image is Magnolia's Angel of the Year 2008 and coloured with pastels. I cut the flowers with the EK Success retro flower punch and the leaves with Leone Em branch punches.

Materials
BC - bazzill : DP - Basic Grey with K&Co : Image - Magnolia : Derwent pastels : Punches - EK Success & Leone Em : Pearl brads and ribbon from stash.

Truly Scrumptious #2

Challenge 2
Wow, what an amazing response to our first challenge! It was great to see so many entries, including email entries, and we really enjoyed looking at your cards.
We have used Random.Org to select our first winner who will receive the two Easter stamps from Alota Rubber Stamps. Our winner is Iris - Paper Crafting in Cocoa. Please email us with your address and we will arrange for your prize to be sent to you.

Onto our next challenge. We have another sketch for you this time, but there is more. We would like to see some handmade buttons on your card. They can be made from anything; paper, card, fabric, shrink plastic, acetate, fimo.... but they must be made by you. Our sponsor for this challenge is Sketching Stamper Digi Stamps. Christine has designed a range of gorgeous digital stamp images, some of which have been used by our Design Team. The winner of this challenge will get to choose eight images to download.
Here is the sketch:

Well - by the time I'd finished this challenge I had more misshapen, deformed buttons in my house than you would believe. Shrink plastic - I think I'll give up on that stuff, Fimo - I think I'd better give up on that as well. I ended up cutting my buttons out of some lizard skin effect furry type fabric with my cuttlbug. I tried piercing holes in them and using thread to tie them, that didn't look right so I eventually resorted to using small pink pearls as button holes. The papers are a download from Digital Scrapbook Art and I used one of Chris's amazing digi images which I coloured with watercolours, glittered her dress and matted her on to circles cut with nesties. The sentiment is computer generated.

Materials
BC - Bazzill : BP - Download from Digital Scrapbooking Art : Image - Sketching Stamper digi-stamps : Rowney watercolours : Cuttlebug + round nesties & heart die : rest from stash

WOW - 3 in 1

It's a long, long time since I managed to get three challenges with one card.
The Double Dutch challenge is a recipe. 4 buttons or brads, three scrap papers, two flowers and a metal object. I have four brads, (two at the side, and two in the centre of the two flowers). three scrap papers and a metal heart charm fastened to the ribbon.
I followed the Sketch and Stash sketch and used my new Tilda and some papers I've been stroking for years from my too nice to use box.
And Pink Elephant is ribbons and die cuts. I die cut the nestie labels that Tilda is sat on and also the sentiment tag and the ribbon is self evident.

Materials
BC - Bazzill : BP - Paper Adventure : Image - Magnolia : Sentiment - Freebie with Magazine : Derwent pastels : Papermania pearl brads : Petaloo flowers : Rest from stash