Basic Grey DT - an Inspirational challenge

Before announcing the challenge for this week we have a brilliant announcement to make, our fabulous (and our one and only) sponsor Simon Says Stamp have very generously offered to sponsor us for every challenge, so now you have a bigger chance of winning a fantastic Basic Grey themed prize. The winner for this challenge will be announced shortly after the next challenge is posted on the 14th of November.

And this is the Eskimo Kisses themed prize for the current challenge.

Now - on to the challenge, we have a photo inspirations for you at Basic Grey chosen by the fabulous Tara W

 

I used Sugared papers and tried to replicate the colours and stripes.  Inoticed after I had photographed this poor Tilda is sitting on thin air - I shall have to do something about this - it's annoying  me. I coloured her with Copics and used them to distress the edges - I haven't been brave enough to try this before so I didn't over do it - I think it works OK. I stamped the edges  with Colour Box ink using a Prima build a frame stamp and then distressed them. The leaves are cut with the Sizzix branch and leaf die and the darker pink flowers are from my lovely friend  Gina
(thanks Hun) and the rest and ribbon and pearls are from my stash.
I'm also entering this card into the Magnolia Down Under challenge who require distressing from us this time.

Finally congratulations to my teamie Chris who's been asked to be a DT for Magnolia. I'm so thrilled and happy for you Chris - I'm not suprised with your amazing colouring techniques and a great choice Magnolia.

A Card, a Computer and a giggle.

Let's start with the giggle - I was doing some House Mouse DT commenting at Splitcoast stampers when I spotted this gorgeous snowflake made with the Fleur De Lys pendant.  Me thinks - ooh I'll do one of those, sparkle it up and use it on my Simons Says challenge card. Here it is:-

Sadly the pearls and sparkley bits don't show. NOW - here is the snowflake next to the card - and guess what I used to photograph it...................the back of the card!!!

Anyone with half a brain would have realised from the size of the Fleur De Lys Pendant that it would be fairly big - it's practically a card in itself.

Another great idea gone wrong - "fools rush in" before engaging brain - lol.

Right onto the card itself - the papers are Basic Grey's June Bug and I use Magnolia's Santa image, coloured it with distress inks and gave him  frosty, sparkly hair and beard. The fur on his hat, coat and trousers is Fun flock and I added glossy accents to his boots and belt which actually makes them look rather dull. I used the cuttlebug Winter House embossing folder and stickled the roofs and snowflakes.  I must have tied the bow a dozen times or more trying to get it neater - the neater it got - the worse it looked so I started again and left it with the 'scruffy' look - much better!! I finished it wirh sparkly corners topped with metal and EK Success punched snowflakes.

Next a photograph of my new computer sat next to the card to show how big it is, or should I say how small it is - my mouth fell open when I saw it for real and it's capacity is greater than my current one - about five times it size.  Now all that's left to be done is to install all my programmes and transfer my work over. This silly computer has jumbled everything up, so it will all have to be sorted and re-arranged (it's even downloaded my sidebar individually into my photograph album twice) I sit with my head in my hands when I think about it!!!

At least I can see daylight at the end of the tunnel now - yippee

Truly Scrumptious DT

This is the sketch we would like you to follow over at Truly Scrumptious this week.

And we have a recipe we would like you to follow:

3 flowers    3 brads  &   3 gems/pearls

This week we are delighted to welcome back Home Impressions as our sponsor. The winner of this challenge will receive a gorgeous Christmas stamp set.

Be sure to check out the fabulous creations the other DT's have come up with.

Here is mine - I went into  panic mode last night when my computer refused to recognise my  camera Approximately 2 hours later I eventually managed to download the photgraph - how - I don't know, I didn't do anything differently, other that scream at my computer till I was hoarse.

The papers are by Kars (Christmas Collection)  and the image is Winter Wonderland by Sugar Nellie and coloured with Copics. I used liquid pearls for the snow and the Speelbinders labels 4 to cut out the image.

I suppose most people with more than half a brain would  run the image through the cuttlebug before using liquid pearls - not me, oh no - I end up with squashed snow flakes, had to 'flick' them off and start again lol.

My three flowes are cut with the EK Success retro flower punch and the snowflakes are laser cuts from Rayher. One of the so called self adhesive pearls in the top right has slipped - I have put it right but as for re-photographing it - no chance

I'm off the the hairdressers now to get my hair cut - NERVOUS - aaarggh - who know what I may come back with when I don't speak enough of the language - wish me luck!!

Eline Pellinkov DT card

Just a very quick post - I'm having serious computer problems - it keeps crashing and/or freezing on me. I have ordered a new one as I've simply worn this one out - bless. It freezes when I try and comment and would let me down load photographs today. I managed after about two hair tearing out hours.

I made this card as DT for Eline Pellinkov using one of her Christmas children. Check out her blog she has some real cute digi images you can find here

I really wanted to use this little cutie in a pale blue, I've used Copics to colour her, the backing papers are Kars Christmas collection, the lace from Bunny Zoe's and the snowflakes cut with the EK Success punch as the the scallop at the bottom..  The raffia ribbon is some I bought locally and the sentiment Conish Heritage Farms.

I'm also entering this card for Sketch Saturday and Winter Wonderland. That's it - I'm keeping this short as I'm afraid of ending up with a blank screen again.

House Mouse DT - An Aperture Card

My choice at House Mouse this week and I decided on an aperture card as we haven't had that one before.

Please make a card or anything you would like with an aperture (for anyone who is not sure what an aperture is it's basically a hole in your card/project)

This week our sponsor is KLM designs.

The prize on offer from KLM designs is.........

Winner can choose up to 3 images from site. The Images will be emailed to winner directly.

Check out the fab creations the other  DT's  have come up with to help inspire you. Don't forget to check out their blogs for more details!!

This is not what I intended, nor even what I started to do.  I was in the supermarket just saying that German cheese is either rubbery or full of holes when a light flashed on in my brain.  Holes - apertures  -  cheese  -  mice!!! Then what a coincidence - my friend Angela sent me an email  with cute images of animals on and this below was one of them. That was it - immediate change of plans.

I used a cream linen cardstock (not the easiest to stamp and colour) and cut my holes with the cuttlebug round nesties. The images are from top left 'Curious Muzzy',  'Jumping for Joy', 'Contented Mudpie', 'Upside Down' and finally the little cutie 'Please'. They are coloured with Copics and the sentiment is Inkadinkado.  The circles I cut from the outside I distressed and attached to the inside.

I left a trail of little mousie feet across both the inside and out.

 

I'm getting better with my new camera, but there is still a lot to be desired. I'm definitely going to read the instruction - sometime - lol.

Just Magnolia and Copic Creations

This one is for Just Magnolia and Copic Creations. Just Magnolia is a wonderful sketch by the fabulous Martine and Copic creations this time is to use 'black' - not the easiest of colours to use.

The papers are by Bo Bunny and the piece set at an angle is stamped in white with a Tim Holtz text stamp and heat embossed.  The strip down the left is cut with the Spellbinders Spades borderability, the flower with Woodware cherry blossom punches and the leaves with the Sizzlits branch and leaves set. The lace is from Quixotic Paperie, the sentiment Cornish Heritage Farms and the brad a rose from stash.

I quite like this one and I think Tilda rather suits black.

Had to Share this one with you.

You know how I've been grousing about not being able to find silicone glue here in Germany. Paul (my son) rushed in yesterday saying "You'll never guess what I've got for you - silicone glue!!"  When he produced it my jaw hit the floor - actually it's still there - for  heavens sake - I'm making cards not plumbing in bathroom suites.

Just look at the size of it!!! That's a Copic pen next to it so you can see how big it is. It is acid free so I suppose if I can find a dispenser I could in fact use it.  So now the hunt for silicone glue is over and the hunt for something to dispense is on.

Now I'm going to see if I can't finish my Just Magnolia card which I started on Friday - that's if I can stop giggling.

No Card - Just a small tutorial

One or two people have asked how I made the Poinsettia a few cards ago. I didn't think it looked especially like one as it was in orange. Anyway the easiest way to tell/show how I made it is a tutorial so here it is. I'm not practiced at this so I hope it is clear and easily followed.

I use a Woodware leaf punch - no name or number - all I can tell you is it cost £3.25 about five years ago (it still has the price on it lol). Start  off cutting out 10 red leaves

5 green leaves

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 The next step is to 'score' veins along the leaves with a small ball embossing tool

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Next cut a small circle, any shape will do as it will be covered up, but  I find a circle the easiest as I can follow round when placing the leaves.

Start with the green leaves and place them a little away from the center.

I normally use silicone glue but this seems to be unavailable here so I'm preserving what little I have left and using Jones Tones this time.

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Next onto the first row of red, slightly in and inbetween  from the green.

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Place the next row of 5 into the center - again inbetween  the previous row. 

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And here we have the finished flower with the center cut with a Leone Em stamen punch and scrunched up. I'm sure there is something better that this so if any of you have any ideas please let me know. I've also done a white one (my favourite - I'm not a red and green girl) and have put small lemon seed pearls in the center.

I'm also working on a small tutorial on tying a type of bow. I would love feedback on this one and suggestions for improvements.

Whiff of Joy - Heather 's Sletch

This is a very quick post - my computer has been playing up so badly this last few days and Blogger having hiccups this morning has left me so far behind I'm now frantically trying to catch up.

This is for the fabulous sketch by by Heather at Whiff of Joy. I used Angel Henry and coloured him with Copics. Tha papers are a download from designs by Krista. The circles  are cut with the round nesties, the large snowflakes with the cuttlebug Snowflake die and the smaller ones with the EK Success punch. I used a sentiment by Cornish Heritage Farms and the ribbons brads and pearls are from stash.

Colour Create DT

My turn to choose the colours at Colour Create this week and here they are, or perhaps I sould say here it is - just the one this week.

Where I ask  you say - there - that's it - no colour - I would like you to make a card using only white - you may colour the image but that's it.  Just to make life a little easier for you there is no optional extra this week.  Now go and check out the other DT's creations - they are absolutely fabulous and amazingly all so different so  have fun and enjoy!!

This week's sponsor is the fabulous Simons Says Stamp

 Here's mine. I used Henry with lantern and coloured him with a mixture of distress inks and Copic markers. I'm really enjoying mixing my mediums at the moment.  I embossed the background with the Snow Dots folder, cut and mounted  Henry using the Nesties labels 1 and finally placed him on the Fleur De Lys pendant.  I finished it with flower and snowflakes at the top, pearls at the bottom and a ribbon bow at the side.

I distressed the edge of the image with ink and finished it with pearlized chalks - big mistake - it looks great IRL but I couldn't get a photograph that did pick up too much of the pearlized effect.

Mo's Spoonful of Sugar

Well I've had a great day today so far - I got a couple of messages telling me I won last week's Simon Says challenge - what a wonderful start to the day that was.

I've finished building my kitchen cabinets now I just need to find help to install them. Tonight I'm meeting with the double glazing man to sort out the windows that aren't already double glazed so thing are progressing.

I making progress with my replacement address book and birthdays book - so all in all I've feel like I've achieved something and I'm a happy bunny!!

Just one small puzzle - see the lousy photograph below - this is my Christmas cacti - it's flowering - does it know something I don't? Should I be worried? Can anyone tell me why its flowering NOW!!

Right onto the card - this is for A Spoonful of Sugar . I followed the fabulous sketch by Debbie and as Mo's Digital Pencil is this week's sponsor I thought I would use one of my as yet unused Mo's images. I'm not entirely happy with the colouring I think I could have done better.

The image is coloured with Copics, the green papers are by Rico and the orange by ?? Ooops cut the label off again. The sentiment is by Cornish Heritage Farms and cut with one of the Nesties label dies. I cut the poinsettia with a Woodware leaf die (though not sure it looks like a poinsettia in orange - I did one in red - now that one does) . I added a centre cut with the Leone Em stamen punch simply because I couldn't think of an alternative - I did think of small beads but hadn't any in the right colour.

Please all rack your brains and come up with suggestion for me.

Sketch Saturday

I popped over to Mo's Digital Pencil to ensure I had the name of an image correct before I posted the details and just look at the first thing a saw when I arrived - it was love at first sight (again lol). Trouble is I didn't make a note of this little chaps title so I will have to pop back and who know what I might find this time. Winter Delivery is the name of this image (I resisted temptation this time - kept my eyes closed lol) and I coloured him/her with distress inks. I followed the sketch over at Sketch Saturday. The papers are by Rayher, the snowflakes and stars are cut with the cuttlebug snowflakes die and the pearls, ribbon and charm are from stash.

Sunglasses Out!!! I just passed the pain barrier

Just Magnolia have 'Bright and Zingy' as their theme this week. Eeeeeek!!!!! I don't bright, I don't do zingy but I tried. This is the most horrendous card I've ever made, it definitely took me a zillion miles away from my comfort zone. I chose the brightest papers I could find and stuck them together - yuck!!. Change the colours and papers and I quite like the card. I wasn't going to post this - then I thought why not - give everyone a  'yeuuuww' moment, just hope none of you have a hangover lol.

I'm going to do it again in nice colours and will add it to this post.

I've done the same card again in different colours - I'm showing you the gentle one first just to break you in gently,  Same Tilda - both coloured with Copic Markers, The first card is using Rico papers, the second Basic Grey's Lemonade.  Both Tilda's are sat on a series of  Spellbinders shapeabilities Fleur De Lys pendants with flowers from stash at either corner.

I'm still struggling with my new camera, really gonna have to read those instructions, although we have been having storms here and ther's been no daylight for about 2 days.

 Tell me which you like best and I'd love to know if anyone actually likes the 'Bright and Zingy' one.

Basic Grey DT - Colour challenge

For this weeks challenge at Basic Grey we would like you to use this Colour Combo -  feel free to use other colours too just as long as these colours are on your card you are good to go, oh and don't forget to use some items from BasicGrey if you would like to be counted in the drawing to win the Monthly Prize :)

There is some fabulous DT examples, don't forget to check their blogs for instructions.

I used the adorable Kai from Mo's Digital pencil, coloured him with Copics and added liquid pears for the snow. The papers I used are from the Boxer and Eskimo Kisses ranges. The Snowflakes are cute with the Woodware Cherry blossom and the EK Success snowflake punches. The border of

the panel are cut with Spellbinders Spades borderabilites, and the image cut with labels two. The sentiment is Papermania and the ribbon from stash.

Image  -  Mo's Digital Pencil  - Kai in the Snow

Medium - Copic Markers

Papers  -  Basic Grey - Boxer and Eskimo Kisses

Tools  -  Spellbinders Spades borderabilities, Labels 2  & Snowdots embossing folder  :  Woodware Cherry blossom punch  :  EKSuccess Snowflake punch

Embellishments  -  Sentiment - Papermania  :  Ranger liquid pearls  :  ribbon from stash

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Right - I'm off shopping now but will be back later with a card  I made last night. I'd give you a sneak peak but wouldn't come back if I did so all I will say is "Sunglasses at the ready"!!!

Simon Says - a sketch by Domi

Is it just me or is anyone else having computer problems.  Commenting has become a nightmare -   I write it but when I come press the leave comment button everything just freezes and I can't go anywhere, I have to press Ctrl/Alt/Delete and close down and start all over. This morning when I opened up my computer there were 38 photographs on my desktop - at least I think they were all photographs - I only opened one - a dog - whose dog, where had it come from???   Two days ago I found all my side bar downloaded into my picture album  plus numerous cards from various blogs I'd visited, one was a photograph from Desire's blog, one a card from Debby400's.  It would be funny if it wasn't so frustrating. Anyway enough of that on to the card.

Simon Says have a fabulous sketch by Domi this week.

I chose Henry with wreath and coloured him with distress inks. The papers are by Doreen Stolz - a download from Digital Scrapbook art. The snowflakes are cut with the Cuttlebug snowflake die and EK Success punches. The ribbon and silver charms (top right) and pearls are from stash. Not much else I can say about this one other than apologise for the lousy photograph, haven't quite got used to my new camera yet.

Truly Scrumptious #18 - Mina's sketch

Edited:
There's been something 'niggling' me about this card but I couldn't for the life in me think what it was - I had an Eureka moment this morning - I had also intended to enter it for the Pink Elephant challenge.


We have a fabulous sketch be the lovely talented Mina at Truly Scrumptious  this and the theme for this week is Autumn.

We are delighted to welcome Stampattack as our sponsor this week. This is what Carol has to say about her company: "Stampattack was born 6 years ago with the aim of manufacturing our own rubber stamps. I worked on sourcing designs that were different and unique to the British market. A good friend of mine has hand drawn some lovely designs under the name of JoZart Designs and these have proved to be real winners."

I had to juggle around with the sketch a little as this image is so huge, but having spent ages colouring it I wasn't going to abandon it and do another.
 This was one of those cards that just did not want to be photographed - I know the light is poor but even with daylight bulbs it wasn't playing the game - I shall try again this morning in daylight.

This image (Autumn Wardrobe) is coloured with Copics and the papers are all from Basic Grey's Indian Summer range. The three panels/band (whatever you want to call them) are cardstock stickers, also from the Indian Summer range. I used leaves from the local supermarked and the sentiment is from Magnolia's Autum collection 2008.

Image  -  House Mouse Autumn wardrobe

Medium - Copic Markers

DP  -  Basic Grey Indian Summer

Tools   -  Oval nesties

Embellishments  -  leaves - local supermarket

A Spoonful of Sugar #73 - A sketch by Caryn

A Spoonful of Sugar this week is a great sketch by Caryn and as Mo's Digital Pencil is the sponsor this week I decided to use one of Mo's fabulous images.

I coloured the image with Derwent pastels as I was too impatient to wait for the computer ink to dry and settle.  The intention was to use Basic Grey's Eskimo kisses paper for the three strips but  none of the ones I tried plus many others in my collection just didn't do it for me!!  I ended up with three bands of lace which I actually rather like, I think it makes the whole card look rather 'snowy'. Whether I have remained true enough to the sketch I'm not so sure and I've just realised I haven't added a sentiment and I did intend to glitter the snow at the little darlings feet - (another ooops!!) - but that will have to wait till tomorrow as I have a streaming nose, swimming head and my eyes hurt - allergic reaction to the central heating. A little man came and repaired the pump and my darling son turned it up full blast - I wondered why it had suddenly got so warm.

Sugar Bowl #21 - Tiets Sketch

This is for this week's Sugar Bowl a fabulous sketch by Tiets. I used one of my favourite images 'Hug in a Mug' it was good to get her out and ink her up again. She is coloured with distress inks and oh boy am I out of practice.  The papers are all from the lovely Martine who is so generously offering them as free downloads. Scoot along and get yourself some they are gorgeous, print out a dream and are delightful to use. The sentiment ticket is also part of the download.  The snowflakes are cut with the EK Succes snowflake punch and the ribbon is from my stash.

Exscuse the lousy photograph - I've just got a new camera and am still figuring out how to work it. I suppose I should read the instruction book  but it's full of gobbldegook, so trial and error it is. The bad light is not helping and I shall rephotograph it in the morning.

House Mouse DT #54 Movies

Thank you to everyone who joined in with our last challenge at House Mouse. Fantastic work from all of you as always :-)

This week is a sad week for us as two of our very much loved DT members are leaving and this will be their last challenge.

Both Stacy and Carolyn have been a BIG part of this blog since the beginning and they will be greatly missed. I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing them the very best for the future.

Our challenge this week is set by Stacy :~ The Movies

Please create a card using a movie title as your inspiration.

There is a fantastic prize up for grabs this week from........



So if you would like to add to your collection of favourite stamps, now's your chance with a fabulous $25 voucher to spend at House Mouse. 

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I was  indecisive as usual and couldn't make up my mind, and so ended up doing two cards. The first is 'Pretty Woman'. I used the Happy Hopper image 'Fancy Pants',  coloured her with Copics and added black pearls for her necklace.  I seen to remember Julia Roberts wearing a polka dot dress so I used these papers by Penny Springman downloaded from the Sweet Shoppe. The corner stamp is Basic Grey, the leaves cut with the Leone Em branch punch and the flowers and ribbons from stash

This next one is the Red Balloon - I haven't yet seen this film but have every intention of watching it now.

This is the story line

In Paris, a French schoolboy makes friends with a red balloon, with the balloon following him around like a pet. It stays out of the reach of other would-be captors, but a gang of boys destroys it eventually. Then other balloons of various sizes and colors descend on the boy from all parts of Paris, and together they lift him into the sky and take him away over the horizon.

I used the Hoppy image 'Balloon Ride', again coloured him in copics, cut off the original balloons, downloaded an image from google, touched up the colours and attached it with black thread.  The central panel is embossed with the cuttlebug spots & dots folder, the edge is cut with the Carla Craft Macaron punch.
The papers are Basic Grey's June Bug, the butterfly is by Rahyer and the ribbon from stash.

 

Check out the beautiful, inspirational creations the other DT's have come up with.

Sketch Saturday with Eline's toddler

Another fabulous sketch over at Sketch Saturday this week. I both flipped and mirror image the sketch to accomodate the image which is another of Eline Pellinkov's fabulous toddlers. I coloured this one in distress inks and a big thanks to Jacqui at Cat's Whiskers for her fabulous tutorial on using distress inks. I got myself a large white tile to use of the inks - brilliant - no more running into one another using my water colour palette.

The fabulous papers are some of Eline's from a cutting book I've had for ages and I'm so glad now I didn't use them all.

The border edges are cut with the MS doily lace punch as are the edges of the large flowers cut with the EK Success retro flower punch, the leaves are cut with the Leone Em ash branch  and the smaller flowers with the Woodware cherry blossom punch. This little lady is one of Eline's Christmas toddlers but I really feel she is an any occassion little miss.

Image  -  Marianne designs - Eline Pellinkov Chrismas toddlers

Medium - Copic Markers

Papers - from a Marianne designs cutting book by Eline Pellinkov

Tools  -  Punches  -  EKSuccess retro flower  :  Martha Stewart lace doily   :  Leone Em ash branch  :  Woodware cherry blossom

Embellishments - BG corner stamp  :  Ribbon, flowers, pearls from stash

Just Magnolia - #26 Mina's Sketch

A sketch this week at Just Magnolia by Mina - thanks Mina for such a fabulous sketch. I used one of the images sent by the fabulous Tara (I never did receive mine and have given up on them altogether now). I coloured the gorgeous Tilda with copics - mounted her on a series of round nesties which I edged with pearls. The border is cut with Spades die from Spellbinders, the leaves with the Sizzix branch & leaf die and the larger flowers with the EK Success retro punch. The flower centres are some the lovely Gina sent me, thanks hun - they are gorgeous.

Image - Magnolia's Tilda  (Summer Collection)

Medium - Copic Markers

Papers  -  MME Ooh La La

Tools - Spellbinder Round nesties and spakes border die  :  EK Success large Retro flower punch  :  Sizzix branch and leaf die.

Embelishments - Flowers from Gina, pearls from stash

No challenge, just a new DT card

A few week's ago Eline Pellinkov emailed me and asked would I consider designing for her, I thought for about a nano second and said YES PLEASE!!

I've always loved Eline's images and was thrilled whenshe started having them made into stamps. Yesterday I received by DT package from Marianne designs and couldn't wait to get started.

I just love these little faces - they radiate happiness. The image is coloured in Copic markers and sponged around the edge with distress inks. The papers are all Eline's designs and the border is cut with  a nestibiites border, the image with ovals and the larger frame with curved rectangles. The sentiment is by Cornish Heritage farm from Simon Says and the pearls and ribbon from stash.

It 's time to set another challenge at Colour Create This week it was Janiel's turn to turn to choose the colour combo and it is a fantastic one to work with!

The colour combination is RED, YELLOW, BLACK and WHITE.

The optional extra if you would like to play along with that too is - FLOWERS and CHECKS

Check out the other DT's amazing creations.

I decided Anya would look good in bright colours so here she is. Coloured with Copics and framed with the MS flourish punch.  The papers are Bo Bunny, which I thought had got left in England but I managed to find a few scraps which fortunately were just about enough. 

I intended to print out some check paper  but my printer fell out with my computer. The printer said he had enough ink, my computer said my printer didn't have enough ink .  Heaven's to Murgatroyd - it comes to something when my computer and printer fall out - consequently I fell out with both of them and went on the hunt, sadly all I managed to come up with was the black & white strip across the middle of the card - Check?? - maybe just about. The flower is cut with the EK Success retro flower punch, the edges punched with a Friskars border punch. The leaves with the Sizzix btranch & flower punch.

 
My mojo has gone AWOL - or is it just smothered by my muggy head and the  flu' like symptoms I have. Anyway  I shall do some visiting and commenting and hope to find it along the way.