Simon Says.............Domi's Sketch!!

I'm back - just about!!! The plane had a fault so we had to wait for another one to arrive, consequently my late arrival home ended up being extremely late. I've only managed a few hours sleep and am somewhat zombiefied this morning. I'm usually sad to get home but after such a manic holiday I'm looking forward to a rest, but missing my friends and family so much!!

Right onto this week challenge at Simon Says Stamp - we have a fabulous sketch for you by the lovely Domi and the DT are featuring Penny Black. Penny Black very kindly sent the DT some images to use for this challenge so a huge thank you to Penny Black for being so kind and generous ! The Simon Says Stamp Store sells a fantastic range of Penny Black stamps - check them out !  We would love to see you use Penny Black stamps if you have any, but if not, we would still love you to join us !

Do you all remember the Winnie the Pooh books that had the beautiful water coloured  pictures in them - this is what I as trying to achieve when colouring this adorable Penny black image. I used the watercolour technique  with my Copic Markers  to lay down the base colour before continuing with normal copic use. I masked my bear so I could stamp the tree behind him - I've never done a tutorial on masking and combining images - if anyone would like one please just let me know and I will do one with pleasure.

The papers are Basic Grey's Origins and in reflection I wish I'd used a book page behind the image where I've used the paler green paper. The sentiment is also from the Penny black sheet. I resisted the temptation to add lots of embellishments - I wanted the image to be primary focal point and the eye not be distracted by too much else so I simply added a couple of butterflies, in keeping with the image, cut with Martha Stewart Monarch  and  Royal butterfly punches to which  I added some Hero Art pearls

As usual Heidi will be giving one lucky entrant a $50 voucher to her FANTASTIC Simon Says Stamp Superstore !! See the NEWEST stuff on the All New Just In Page For fabulous tutorials, inspiration and candy you should keep an eye on the Simon Says Stamp Blog too !!! :-) 

House Mouse Challenge #92 a sketch

Oooh I'm late!! I've been busy running round trying to sort a few things out before flying back to Germany tomorrow. I had to go to the bank and sort out some details of my account and ended up in there for over an hour!!! Slow isn't in it.

My fab matey 'Scoopy Sue' has done a great sketch for us this time at House Mouse & Friends Monday challenge.

I can't for the life in meremember how I made this card - this will teach me to do the whole post rather than just upload the photograph of the card.  The image which I think is called A Carrot between Friends is coloured with Copics and I think the papers are Basic Grey's Green at Heart but wouldn't stake my life on it!! I rotated the sketch 90 degrees to accomodate the image. I cut the image out with a GoKreate die but it was too large so I cut off the ends, The flowers are from my stash and the stamens cut with a Leone Em punch and the leaves with a Crealies die.

My fabulous friend Di of Di's Digi Downloads is sponsoring us again this week stamps and one very lucky winner will be able to choose 3 free Digis 

  

I had a brilliant time at the NEC this weekend, made extra special by meeting up with so many of my fabulous bloggy mates - in no special order and if I've missed you please come and kick me on the ankle, Cathy, Vicky, Lou, Fleur, Jo, Kim, Tish, Clare, Kath, Marlene, Jacqui, Bev - thank you all so much for making the day extra special. It was lovely to meet up with Lisa, Laila and Lucy from Lili of the Valley and a very special thanks to my adorable friend Lols and Dawny P with whom I sat up talking until silly o'clock, not helped by the fact that someone stole and hour off us!!! Another special thanks to Debby400 for stopping off and having coffee with with us on the Sunday morning. It was great meeting Debby - I've known her for ages but this was the first time we've met IRL.

And not only that I met up with Liz, my Basic Grey teamie on Friday. I went over to her house for  a crafty day - in 5 hours we managed to colour one image each - so you can imagine - more talking than crafting was done!!

I'm flying back to Germany tomorrow and oh boy do I need a rest!!!

Card & Shadow box Tutorial

I know I've done this tutorial before but this is one I did especially for the Simon Says Stamp blog and I think it's a little clearer and more concise than the previous one. The card I made for the birthday of my adorable matey Tara's

birthday so I didn't want to show it until I'd made sure she'd received it.

I've given details in both inches and centimeters

You need a piece of card 11 1/2" x 5 1/2" plus a 3" (9cm) square.

A scoring tool

Ruler

Pencil

Strong glue

Cutting knife and mat

Score along the longer side at 5 /12" and 6"

Draw a square at 1" in

Draw lines from corner to corner (these will be cut to form the opening of the box)

Now draw a square 1/2" in from the outer square the score all four sides of the two squares and cut along both diagonal lines.

Fold back and crease well along the outer edges of the square.

Fold inwards and crease well long the four sides of the inner square.

Your card should now look like this from the front.

Cut a further 3 1/2" (9cm) square of card, glue the four triangular flaps and firmly attach the square.

I cut four small pieces to cover the corners on the back of the 'box' but this is purely cosmetic and not necessary.

Now you have your shadow box card, all that is left is to decorate it and here is my finished card.

Materials used Stamps -Magnolia - Flying Tilda and loving wishes sentiment.
                                 Papers  -  Basic Grey - Hopscotch
                                 Punch  - Martha Stewart - Butterfly
                                 Dies - Spellbinders - Fleur de Lis Pendant & Fancy Tags
                                 American Crafts  -  Pearl Brad

Here you can see the 'box' better and below - the reason for the 1/2" at the top - it both stands better and folder flatter and firmer for placing in an envelope or box.

I covered the the Back of the 'box' in co-ordinating paper to cover the triangular flaps pieces.

Simon Says...........Mother's Day/Girlie challenge

Thank you for all your fabulous entries to our Happy Birthday challenge at Simon Says Stamp this week we would like to see you create a 
MOTHER'S DAY/GIRLIE

card or project 

It will be Mother's Day in the UK on Sunday 3rd April and in the rest of the world on 9th May :-) Not all of us are lucky enough to have our Mum's still with us so we would like to see cards for a special girl in your life too :-)

This week the team are featuring Basic Grey and I used a mixture of Kraft  Paper and Green at Heart.  I embossed the panel with the Tim Holtz Checkerboard embossing folder and decided to use a sentiment rather than an image, I found this one on The Quote Garden, printed it and cut it with a Spellbinders Labels 4  I then inked the edges with Victorian Velvet distress ink.

 I made the flower with the Tim Holtz Tattered flower die using pink cardstock and glossy accents to fasten it together, I finished it by spraying it with Pearl Glimmer Mist and added some small pearls beads to the center. The leaf are Magnolia leaves, again I inked the edges with the Victorian Velvet distress ink. The smaller roses are Prima mini roses, the rest from my stash, along with the feather. The swirl behind them is cut with a Sizzix

Swirl Die. The ribbon was from my stash and white until I died it with the Victorian Velvet distress ink and fastened it with a American crafts Pearl brad . The pearls are cut from a Prima Say It in Pearls swirl

A close up of the Rose

As usual Heidi will be giving one lucky entrant a $50 voucher to her FANTASTIC Simon Says Stamp Superstore !! See the NEWEST stuff on the All New Just In Page 

For fabulous tutorials, inspiration and candy you should keep an eye on the Simon Says Stamp Blog too !!! :-)

I'm on dog walking duty whilst I'm in the UK so now I'm off to take the dog his walk, he's stood at the door waiting for me. Thankfully it's a beautiful day here and I won't end up mud up to my knees like last time!!

Basic Grey - Recycled

Thank you all for your fabulous entries for last challenge at Basic Grey,  you certainly showed us a variety of 'Wings' 

This time we would like you to recycle something, you all must have something around the house you can use. I tried to find something 'quirky' but came across this bag that i got something, it was a perfect size and in great condition so I couldn't resist using it.

I found this beautiful sheet of 12"x12" paper Marrakech I'd forgotten I had I used it back and front and stamped the edges with a stamp from the Stempelglede Heart collection and then very lightly inked the edges with Walnut stain distress ink. I coloured the adorable Tilda with Copics and cut her out with a Go Kreate die, I added some seam binding, leaves cut with a Crealies die and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts. A pretty quick creation compared with my normal slow self!!

This is the back of the bag, I've left the label free to stamp a sentiment on when I know where this is going and who to, or......should I add  little swinging tag to the handle for the sentiment and to write on and have another image on the back side?? Decisions, decisions!!!

As always, our wonderful sponsor Simon Says Stamp is offering one lucky winner a fabulous $25 shopping spree in the Simon Says Superstore, just think of the goodies you could treat yourself to with that !!

Now I'm off to the airport and I'll see you all in a couple of weeks - well I do have DT cards to post and if my grandson will let me use his computer I might even be able to come a visiting!!

I shall be at the NEC next Saturday so I shall be looking out for any of you and if you see me please stop and say Hello - I'd love to meet you!!

At Last!!

At last I've managed to do the Less is More challenge, since my two friends Chrissie and Mandi started this some weeks ago I've sworn I would partake, both because I wanted to support them (not that they need it, lol!!) and because I'm not very good at it and need the practice.

The current challenge is off the page so I decided to have a little fun and used this adorable LOTV image and have her present soaring across and flying off the page. The 'So what!!' sentiment comes from my daughter who always responded with that saying when she was having one of her temper tamtrums.

Have to admit she soon gave up having those when it didn't get her anywhere LOL!! The image is of course couloured with my usual Copics.

I enjoyed this so much I went on to do another.

I was having a 'sort out' when I came across my badly neglected Stampotique stamps and decided to have a play.Both stamps are by Daniel Torrente but without looking them up (sorry couldn't be bothered) I don't have a name for either of them. Again coloured in Copics and I stamped the cat behind the image then front half on, back half off, then font half off and back half on the page. OMG I'm waffling but I'm sure you know what I mean.

I love this cat - it's a killer and what wouldn't you do for an outfit and hair like that!!

Now I'm going to clear my mess away and I'm hoping to come and do some visiting tonight!!

Teddy Bea is Truly Scrumptious

This week at Truly Scrumptious we want you to 'Tag It'. 

Tag shaped cards, tags on your cards tags alone - it's your choice!!

I've made a tag holder card, using the delightful Teddy Bea on my tag.

The papers are fromDonna at Bearly Mine's vintage collection - so beautiful!!

I use Kraft as my basic cardstock and lined the edges with lace from my stash. The sentiment is Lili of the Valley, the swirls cut with a Marianne creatable and the flowers and stamens a mix from my stash.

I printed Teddy Bea on Kraft cs and coloured her with my hybrid collection of Prisma and Derwent pencils which took me out of my comfort zone as it is the first time I've tried colouring fur on Kraft - I definitely need more practice!!

The rear of the tag which I forgot to photograph is line with the dp and a tag on which to write a message is added.

We are delighted to have Whiff of Joy Stamps sponsor our challenge this week. They have just launched a fabulous range of Easter stamps and the lucky winner of this challenge will receive this gorgeous stamp.

Simon Says................Happy Birthday!!!

WOW - over 900 hundred of you entered our 'Anything Goes' challenge at Simon Says Stamp last week and a huge thank you to you all for the amazing creations you showed us. 
This week we would like you to make.........a Birthday Card!!

I chose to make a step card, I'm rather partial to these at the moment as I think you might have noticed, lol!! 
I used Dinner Tilda as my image and sat her on a Tim Holtz floral borders stamp.The leaves are cut with a punch and the flowers a mixture of Prima - just check out the most beautiful selection that are in the store - they are totally 'droolsome'.
The papers are Magnolia's Fairy tale Pink Rose and the sentiment panel cut with the Spellbinders Fancy Tags and the pearls are from a Prima pearl swirl
The flourishes are Marianne, they are not what I wanted but my Sizzix swirl wasn't right - I desperately need a flourish/swirl die or punch but cannot make my mind up which one to get - I love the Magnolia doohickey one, but think it might be a little larger than I want.

As usual our fabulous boss Heidi will be giving one lucky entrant a $50 voucher to her FANTASTIC Simon Says Stamp Superstore !! and with so many new goodies arriving daily HOT from the CHA there is masses to choose from !! See the NEWEST stuff on the All New Just In Page

For fabulous tutorials and the chance to win some fabby blog candy you really need to keep a close eye on the Simon Says Stamp Blog too.

Copic Creations have got the Blues!!

It's time for yet another Copic Creations challenge and we would like you to get a little blue with us.

I used this beautiful image from the Home Grown range Country Garden and although I stated the the B90's are my favourite blues, and they are I thought I'd taken myself out of my comfort zone and use the B20's on her jeans for a change - still prefer the B90's. Her top is colours with BG0000,  BG01and BG02.


The papers are digi, but from whom I can't say as my computer kindly jumbled up all my files!!! The script stamp is Kaisercraft, the corners Elusive images and I used the Stempelglede grunge stamp for around the image. The leaves are cut with a Crealies die, the  butterfly with a MS punch and the
ribbon is seam binding from my stash.

Our sponsor this time is Sugar Nellie





and the prize for one lucky winner is four of the fabulous Sugar Nellie stamps.

House Mouse & Friends challenge #91 - Welcome Spring!!

This week at House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge we would like to 'Welcome Spring'

I really would like to welcome spring but we still have a few patches of the 'white stuff' knocking about.

I love this image - "Gentle Rain"one of the first I bought, as it typifies English springtime, although the rain often isn't  gentle!!

  

I coloured the image with Copics and pierced the edges. The papers are by Rayher and I made use of my sadly neglected sewing machine by zigzag stiching the edges.The bottom edge is punched with an EK Success punch, the ribbon, clear button and pearls are from my stash - I really think I went a little bonkers with the pearls - a few - a lot too many!!!

I set off having a great, productive day - that was until my clumsy cat knocked over a vase of flowers and I ended up with water, petals etc all over my floor.

Now I've lost a screw from my specs and received a damaged packet with half the contents missing - I should have known the run wouldn't last LOL!!

Our Sponsor for this new challenge is the fabulous Simon Says Stamp.  Be sure to play along because they are generously offering the winner $15 worth of products from their super fantastic store!