Tweet Wishes!

I cannot believe it's been 2 months since I last posted. Not that I have been idle...just have not gotten round to posting! Yikes!

But here goes...Tweet Wishes for a friend.
I'm entering my card for the Art Impressions Challenge 259 'Shaker Cards'

Edited to add: So happy to have won Top Spot with this card! Thank you AI!

Laying flat with the shaker bits all over... The shaker contains sequence as well as music note and bird punchies.

And standing up to show the view through the cut out window shaker to the inside of the card. 

I used an embossing folder to create the woodgrain texture which I then stained with Tea Dye Distress Ink to accentuate the raised areas. The stamped images are from the Art Impressions Floral Birdhouse Popcard .4946 set,which also contains the sentiment and butterfly stamps. It is adorable!

I added a few white die cut sprigs to complete the picture and sprinkled more colourful sequence all around.

And inside : I used a blue card base which I blended with Distress Inks (Broken China and Salty Ocean) and spritzed with water for a more interesting look.

I'm entering this card for the Art Impressions 'Shaker Cards' Challenge 259

I used Art Impressions Floral Birdhouse Popcard 4946 for my card

Come and join us...there's a few days left still!

Sweet Happy Birthday

I have been so busy making stuff and doing all kinds of interesting things that I have not gotten round to posting at all. That is not good....

But today, finally an update from me, and that because I wanted to enter my card into the Cutting Edge Challenge over at Art Impressions. It is no secret that I really like AI stamps and that I enjoy taking part in their challenges!

For my easel card I used the 'Tea Party Popcard' set  and I used the coordinating dies to do a partial cut over the fold of the easel. It was super easy to do.

I love all the dimension on the card! I cut out all the elements with the dies, while carefully avoiding the parts that cut the slits for the pop up mechanism. Again, that was super easy to do. I added thin foam tape and double foam tape layers to get the elements to stand away from each other nicely.

As a final touch I added the little butterfly with a piece of clear plastic so it can hover near the tulips.

I'm submitting this card for the 'Cutting Edge Challenge' over at the Art Impressions blog.

Edited to add : I'm delighted to have won an 'Honourable Mention' with this card! <doing a happy dance> LOL

Here is the stamp and die set I used -Tea Party Popcard #4942 - I'm looking forward to using the pop-up die with this set....the order is on it's way!

The 'Happy Birthday' sentiment is from the 'Reel Great Guys' set  and the 'Special Treat' sentiment is from the Cupcake BFFs set

Happy Anniversary

It's that time of year again - and it's been a good many years...

Since I needed an anniversary card and I wanted to take part in the Art Impressions 'Circle Element Challenge...I put the old thinking cap on...and decided to make a 'Seven Single' (vinyl record) the size of a CD.

I cut 2 CD sized circles from black card stock and one slightly smaller one from white card. After stamping everything and colouring the image (all from Perfect Duet - see below) with water soluble crayons, I joined the black circles at the top using a hinge cut from black card and then adhered the white circle over top of the hinge to cover it.

On the front of the card I drew light circles with graphite, using a compass, to create the impression of the grooves in vinyl records. I attached a heart shaped label with the 'song title' stamped on. A bit of ink blending around the edges finished the label off nicely.

And the open card.

Finally I used a CD sleeve as an envelope for my card!

Come play along with the Art Impressions Element Challenge

The Stamp Set I used is Perfect Duet (4999)

Relax and Chill - It's your birthday!

Aaaah this little dog image is just the 'coolest' I cannot help but chuckle when I look at it.

It is simply brilliant!

I found it in Art Impressions' 'Reel Great Guys' Set (4900)

I needed a summery birthday card for a male relative and decided this dog is perfect for it. I coloured him with watercolour pencils (by Derwent) and added Liquid Embossing (by Plaid) over the entire tube to make it shiny and slightly dimensional.

The dog really needed to have a relaxing time, so I decided he might like to be floating down a little river or canal...just enjoying the ride while chilling on the tube. To get enough water for him to float on I made my card 8.5" x 4"

I cut a slit using the Silhouette Cameo and proceeded to colour the water, muddy bank and grassy edge using Distress Oxide Inks. These inks allowed me to lift colour for waves and spots for bubbles and splashes. I enhanced those with a white gel pen. I also added a bit of coloured pencil details to the bank.

The sentiment is from the 'Lake House Tryfolds' set. I stamped it onto tan cardstock, embossed it and then added a little brown ink to bring out the woodgrain from the embossing. Cutting a slit into the card front allowed me to slip the stick through to the back and 'plant' the sign in the stream.

I trust the recipient will have no doubt as to how I expect him to spend his summer birthday!

I think I should make one of these as a decoration on the wall...I know I will get a chuckle from it every time I walk past...

I'm entering my card for the Art Impressions 'Summer Vibes' Challenge

Edited to add : the card won an Honorable Mention. How fun is that?!? Thank you!

Real Great Guys

Friends Who Laugh....Last!

Too true... and sometimes all you need is a simple little card to celebrate such a friendship. I used water colours to add colour to the card base and added splatters for good measure. Playing with water colour is so much fun! I also have these little bits of patterned paper left that are too small for a card front, but it was perfect for a pop of colour on the card front. A die cut piece of lace adds a little bit of texture and the sentiment strip gives my laughing friends something solid to stand on. A few sequins added the final touch of fun.

The stamps are from the ArtImpressions 'Girlfriends' collection. The image (that never fails to bring a smile to my face) is from the set  'Laughing'  and the sentiment is from 'Comfy on the Couch'

I'm entering this card for the ArtImpressions - One Layer Ladies challenge. There's just a couple days left to enter, so come on over and join us!

'Laughing' 

'Comfy on the Couch'

Santa Trouble

I think Santa has a problem...that sack is way too heavy, the chimney rather tight...and now it is snowing like crazy too. I hope Rudolph will come his rescue quickly...

This tag turned out to be a lot of fun to make! Now I just need to decide who will get it on their package this year.

I used the Gordon Golfer image from Art Impressions

My tag is for the AI Challenge # 173 - Rudolph Red and Evergreen
Edited to add : I'm doing the very happy dance! Santa Gordon won Top Spot in the challenge! Thank you AI folks!

Critter Christmas.

It is that time of the year - Christmas card time. Sadly I find myself making less and less cards all the time. Somehow my friends are not Christmas card senders. Rather a pity that!

But the person who this card is going to, will I know, really appreciate it!

I kept it all very flat as it needs to be mailed internationally, but it opens up and still becomes a decorative piece.

All the papers are from the Recollections 'Sugar Plum' paper pad which I picked up from my local Michaels.

On the left front of this gate fold card I stamped the heart for the sentiment with red ink and embossed is with red sparkle embossing powder. Since the little hedgehog was still debating the tree decor, I added sequin 'balls' to the tree from him.

This fun image of an imminent disaster made me smile while colouring and cutting it. So cute! I stamped the image onto a patterned paper background as well. That way I did not need to cut all the uneven lines and details around the edges. I also wrapped the tree with gold embroidery thread and added a bit of gold glitter to the star.

On the inside of the left flap I added the little mouse bringing a present to put under the tree.

I added a heart shaped paper clip to the front to keep the card nicely closed for mailing.

I could add a note to the inside of the card, or to the back panel.


I`m entering this card to the current AI Challenge 172 - Be Merry

I used images from the Penny Black 'Holly Jolly' Set

and the sentiment on the front is from the Penny Black 'Winter Wonderland' set

Autumn Decor - Little Scene

I certainly have an autumn feel! Difficult to miss when the days are much cooler and the rain falls softly while a mist rises in the valley....

It is time to store summer decor and change to gold, yellow, oranges and warm reds...aahhhhh.

Every change of season I feel like I'm heading into my favourite! I like them all!

When the new challenge was posted at Art Impressions and it called for 'Cut Your Cards' I decided to indeed 'cut the (try-fold) card' and turn it into a small scene to hang on the wall.

I stamped each of the images onto a piece of cardstock and coloured it with water colour in bright fall colours.

Next I coloured a piece of cardstock with spray alcohol inks, cut a window for the scene and scored the fold lines to make a shallow shadow box for the stamped pieces to fit in and on to.

I inked lightly around the oval cutout

Next I adhered the cottage scene to the back of the box, while the boat scene was attached to a strip of cardstock to hold it suspended between the background and the front of the box.

Once the box was glued closed, all I had to do was add the third scene with the little fawn onto the front of the box and add a selection of punched leaves in fall colours as a finishing touch. At least these leaves will not need to be raked!

I like the depth created by the volume inside the little shadowbox.

Due to the dull grey (misty) day we had, I had to make do with artificial light for my pictures this time round...but I think it still looks warm and all autumny!

Thanks for dropping by. Do take a look at the Ai Challenge. There is still time to take part!

I used an Art Impressions Try-fold called 'Lake House' for my scene.

Next I want to see if I can turn this into a winter wonderland lake house...

I am also entering this for the September Colour Challenge over at Rubber Dance Art Stamps

And the Colour Challenge #23 over at Your Next Stamp