Friday 30 October 2015

'Strength', Weathered Clock, Female

I know that some of you are going through really difficult times right now.  I guess that's the thing about blog posts...  'life' spills into them from time to time, enabling us (the readers) to catch small privileged glimpses that you choose to share with us.

So with that in mind I made this card...





I wanted it to be more than a 'sympathy' card or a straightforward 'thinking of you' card..  so I came up with a design that has a symbolic message...  and one simple word.



Inks used:
Tim Holtz Distress Ink 'Peeled Paint'
Tim Holtz Distress Ink 'Walnut Stain'
Tim Holtz Distress Ink 'Antique Linen'
Memento (Tsukineko) 'Love Letter'
Memento (Tsukineko) 'Tuxedo Black'

Stencil used:
Memory Box 'Leafy Stems'

Die used:
Sizzix Bigz Die 'Weatherd Clock'

Stamps used:
IndigoBlu 'Flutterby' Dinkie Cling Stamp
Inkadinkado 'Belle Fleur' Wooden Backed Rubber Stamp

Other:
Ranger 'Crackle Accents'



Challenges I'm entering...

(Butterflies + 'N' is for Numbers/#41)



(The patterned paper is from my 'snippets' collection...  and the butterfly and flowers were both stamped onto 'snippets' of white card)



(Anything Goes)


(Challenge #270 'Anything Goes')


(Challenge #99 'Off the Edge')


(Challenge #197 'Die Cuts and/or Punches)



Sometimes being 'strong' is as simple...  and yet as difficult as continuing to put one foot in front of the other.

Take care...

Donna.


(TOP 5)


Sunday 25 October 2015

Gift Bag, Poppies, Female

I finally had a reason to get out and 'play' with one of my new toys recently.  I say 'play'...  but really it was all done in the name of research...  really it was!
After all, if I didn't get out my new We R Memory Keepers 'Gift Bag Punch Board' and trial out how it works, what would happen when I needed to use it in a hurry?  One giant sized mess most likely!!!

So...  Now that I've got my justification over and done with let me tell you why I chose to use the punchboard for this...





Well...  actually there are two reasons.  The first is I'm not a huge fan of black and white cards.  End of.  But I wanted to join in with the latest Memory Box challenge.
The second reason is I have a tab at the top of my blog for 'bags and boxes'...  but it's got nothing in it so far!  
So what better than to solve two problems with one solution?


Die used...
Memory Box 'Prim Poppy'

Stencil used...
Memory box 'Rings and Puddles'

Ink used...   
Brilliance 'Starlight Black'



I've used a black card with a soft sheen to it for the poppies, glued them on to a piece of acetate and then doubled up on some of the flower heads at a slight angle to soften the overall look.
(The added bonus is that the 'cut out' for the aperture window is perfect for a name tag.   Just fold in half, hole punch top corner and attach to bag.  Easy :) 
   



...  Speaking of added bonuses... 

Style notwithstanding, this colour scheme can work with more than just black and white if you cut a piece of coloured card stock to size and slot it in at the front of the acetate 'window' before putting your gift in the bag.  (It would be very easy to add a touch of glue to keep the panel in place if you needed to).  
Of course, you could just use white if all you want to do is block the gift in the bag from view.  
Just putting some other ideas 'out there' for you :)

As my acetate and black raffia are from my snippets collection, I get to go play in the playground!
(If that makes no sense to you then I suggest you click on the link below and spend some time reading through some posts...  and through the comments sections.  They can be quite funny from time to time)!





Wishing you the very best for the week ahead...

Donna. x

Friday 23 October 2015

Folded Tag, Candy Cane, Male/Female

It's time for a new Tag You're It challenge, everyone...  and I have a little confession to make!
But before I do that, here's my tag...




... and here's Kara's tag that was used for inspiration this time around.




As for my confession?

I have never heard of, yet alone seen Candy Corn before.  I even double checked with my husband and he didn't have a clue either!  I guess it's just one of those things that hasn't made it over to the UK...  like the MISTI :(

Needless to say my daughter knew exactly what it was (she spends a lot of time online) and proceeded to tell me how it used to be available just for Halloween but now you can have it year 'round...  Is that right my American friends/passers by?
I wonder if you can make your own?

This doesn't tell you how I came up with my design, though, does it?  After all, I'm very aware it looks nothing like the original!

Well firstly, I made the jump from 'Candy Corn' to 'Candy Cane' as they are both edible, sweet and instantly recognisable - allegedly!  

Then I chose to do something I wouldn't normally do - I took a free illustration off the web as I couldn't find a candy cane stamp that I liked...  
Just printing an illustration off the web and sticking it down doesn't sit right with me though, so I printed off two copies, cut the red pieces out of the one, stuck them to the other and then mounted the whole thing onto card and cut it out again!
Then I used a deeper shade of red to colour over the red pieces on the candy cane and added on some extra lines here and there...  just to give it a bit more realism.

Kara's design has a lot of white space, one central image and four colours - if you include the black and white.  
I stuck to this design brief but brought Kara's outside edge pattern to the middle of my design.  The only way to do that without it looking cluttered was to use my Martha Stewart/All Over The Page 'Aspen Flurry' Punch, and then place a piece of black textured card behind.

The Stitched Holly Leaves (Memory Box) were used to bring the colour count back up to four.  Rather than use the berry that came with this set I cut a button from the Poppystamps 'Stitched buttons' die, put some Ranger 'Glossy Accents' on top and used that instead.

If you look really closely, can you see what else I did before gluing down the pieces?

I put my folded tag through my Cuttlebug with my Memory Box 'Shimmer' Stencil to add some subtle extra dimension to my mini make :) 

I'm beginning to realise that I love adding texture to my cards and tags!

Before I use this tag, I may 'bling it up' a little with some Christmas bells or charms.  I couldn't do that today though as Tag You're It is a Clean and Simple challenge!

I wonder what you will do with Kara's design if you chose to play along?

Donna...


PS...  I'm also adding this little tag to Pixie's Crafty Snippets Challenge as the holly, (berry) button and the piece of black backing card were all cut from my snippets collection :)




Hope you have a good weekend...

Tuesday 20 October 2015

CAS, Butterfly on leaves, Female

I don't often make CAS cards...  and if I'm honest I had no idea this would end up being one.
You see, I wanted to join in with the latest Butterfly Challenge and I had a rough idea in mind weeks ago when I first saw the 'E' for embossing theme...  but I thought I had longer than I did and almost missed the boat altogether. 
(Thanks for mentioning it on your blog, Di)!!!

Anyhow, in a last minute 'I've got eleven hours to the deadline' (which realistically means four hours tops to make the card and try and get a decent photo...  then zoom off to get daughter from school, hear her news for the day, feed her, etc...  Oh yes, and get some washing on, washing put away, prepare and eat my evening meal, etc...  That doesn't leave an awful lot of time really. does it?

Oh well... 

So like I said, this wasn't going to be a CAS card.  It was going to have more layers and embellishments...  and initially I had a choice of two designs in mind.  But...  whilst moving things around I looked and thought 'this looks better like this...  Clean and Simple...  uncluttered.'

So that's how this card was made.

Minimal supplies used:
Stampin' Up 'Best Blossoms'
Memory Box 'Blissful Butterfly Border'
Cuttlebug 'Tag Team Butterflies' Cut and Emboss Set 
Memento (Tsukineko) Ink Pad 'Bamboo Leaves'
Twine
Foam Pads

Here's the card...





I know Winter is setting in, but I still have room in my life for Butterfly cards.  If you do too, maybe you could pop over to the latest Butterfly Challenge and have a go yourself.  There's always room there you know...  unlike my craft cupboard!!!


(Butterfly + 'E' for Embossing/#40)



Also adding to...


(Butterfly from snippets collection)



Take care...

Snow Globe/Stag, Aperture, Female

I was fortunate enough to win a Guest spot on the Design Team at City Crafter a few weeks ago and was over the moon at the theme I was scheduled to play along with for this week.
'Into The Wood' couldn't be more perfect for me as I adore making nature themed cards.  
But the rules were very clear..  Include 'wood' somehow in the design, but NO TREE!!!

My plan from the beginning involved the Stag and Snow Globe die along with the Woodgrain embossing folders.
As for the rest...  that was more trial and error.   That's often the way it goes for me (having a partial design in mind that I then have to 'play' with).  I don't know about you!

Here's the card...




My aim (please feel free to tell me if it worked or not) was to create a pretty 'girly' card that wasn't overtly girly.  Does that make sense?  I also purposefully chose the whole 'brown' look, but still wanted to achieve a CAS 'feel' to the design.  Clean and Simple meets Layered meets Aperture...

Dies used:
Taylored Expressions 'Birch Tree Accessory Set' (Stag)
Memory Box 'Large Snow Globe'
Marianne Design Collectables 'Tab With Text'
Memory Box 'Holly Vine'
Impression Obsession 'Pine Branch'
Open Studio 'Snowglobe Bases'

Embossing Folders:
Sizzix/Texture Fades 'Woodgrain' (Background)
Crafter's Companion 'Woodgrain' (Snow Globe Base)
Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes'

Stencil:
Memory Box 'Splatter Spray'

Gluing two cards together and then adding inner panels is a favourite trick of mine for aperture cards, but it does add to the weight quite a bit...  so these cards are generally reserved for hand delivery only.

(I generally console myself with the fact that at least they are sturdy rather than flimsy)!

A bow with a bell attached and three vanilla/champagne Morning Dew Drops...  and this card was done...

...  except for this...





I cant't wait to see what you design if you decide to play along :)




Challenges I'm entering...


(Monochrome or Colour...  and Why?)

I like the challenge of getting a Monochrome card to 'work' for me.



(Add Texture and/or Colour Inspiration)

I chose to add texture.  



The Sisterhood of Crafters
(Die-lirious and Punchy)



Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge

Creative Card Crew
(Challenge #98 'Ribbon')



Pixie's Crafty Snippets Challenge

My patterned paper and stag were both cut from my snippets stash.



(SSC112)



(Challenge #130 'Christmas to Die for')



Cas-UAL Chic
(CCC04)

Stencilling, Die Cutting, Embossing.



Hope you are having a good week so far...
My thoughts are with those of you I know are having a rough time right now.