BONJOUR!

I made this card for the monthly challenge at The Craft Queen

The challenge is to use pink ribbon and some stamping. How easy is that?

I started with this

This page is from the gorgeous 6 1/2 paper pad from Kaisercraft called Bonjour.
I trimmed the page down to fit the front of the folded kraft card.
The chipboard dress form was dabbed with vintage photo distress ink at the top and bottom. I then covered it with some striped pattern paper from the same paper pad.
Added some pink ribbon for the waist. Stickles for the bottom of the dress for a bit of bling.
The word "Friend" is from Crafty Secrets 'Garden Girls' gorgeous stamp set .
The Paris post mark and swirls (Tim Holtz Boundless Flight)inked with Vintage Photo distress ink. Edges of paper sponged with Walnut Stain distress ink.
The small white flower was 'dusted' with Worn Lipstick distress ink. I then applied some Iridescent Medium to the flower for some sparkle.

To enter the challenge, just click on the Craft Queen link for all the info.
You do not need a blog. Just email your creation to Nicole.
So...what are you waiting for?

Craft Barn Blog Candy

Have a look at this fabulous giveaway!

Just click here for more details.

WHAT! NO STAMPING?!

The few days leading up to my husband's operation were stressful.
I usually find getting inky with my favourite rubber stamps and distress inks relaxing,but I just could not get my creative juices going.
So I came across a fabulous magazine 'Cards and Crafts for Christmas Vol 5.' Special collector's edition.
It has tons of ideas using Christmas pattern paper. I have way too many 6x6 pattern paper pads (another addiction!)
So, I pulled out my Christmas 6x6 pads and picked two that I liked the most.
Bo Bunny "Father Christmas Collection" and my fave by Simple Stories "25 Days of Christmas"
All the cards created here were ideas from the magazine.The instructions are easy to follow. I cased some of them using the Christmas pads I had on hand.

I added a Tim Holtz Reindeer die cut and 'noel' is from another die cut.

'Joy' is a die cut. Added some stickles for bling!

Love this one! All paper here is from the Simple Stories paper pad.

This would be a great one to give to a male. Simple Stories paper used for this card. So easy!

Love the vintage style of this one!

Love the turned over corner on this card. It was supposed to have matching paper inside. I am going to use a corner style rub on in the top right hand side...or maybe even stamp a corner design.

I really enjoyed making these cards. I am going to use my other paper pads to create similar cards in other themes.
I bought the paper pads from Nicole at the Craft Queen You will find a huge range of 6x6 paper pads here.

Hope you have enjoyed viewing the cards.

ORANGE GREEN AND PURPLE!

Thank you to all my friends/followers who have emailed me to wish my hubby all the best during his illness.
This is the second time he has had cancer. The operation went well, but still a long road to recovery with chemo to come sometime soon.
Emails from my blogging buddies and phone calls from friends has kept my spirits up.
I am just starting to get creative again. So what better way to start than a fabulous colour challenge from Sarah over at Inkurable Stampers.
The theme is to use orange green and purple. You may also used a neutral. I used black.

I am a bit out of practice with the photography.
I made a gift card (7.5x10.5). First I dabbed some dusty concord,shabby shutters and spiced marmalade distress inks onto my non stick craft mat. Spritzed a little water, then dabbed some white cardstock repeatedly over the mat until I was happy with the colour.
I then stamped the Tim Holtz postcard/santa atc size image in black stazon over the coloured cardstock. After cutting it out I sponged dusty concord distress ink around the edges. I applied lime green stickles to the branches and a 'dot' next to the sentiment.
I matted it to a orange and then a black mat. The orange mat was white,which I just coloured the edges with spiced marmalade ink.
'Good Cheer' a word strip from Darkroom Door,which I coloured with dusty concord ink.All attached to olive green card base.
Thanks for visiting!

POISON BOTTLE CHALLENGE

Hi there!
Very quick post.
Stampotique's Designers challenge is to make a Poison Bottle using only Stampotique stamps.

I started with this cute little bottle

While visiting my hubby in hospital I spied this empty milk bottle on his tray and thought of this challenge. Luckily I was able to grab five minutes here and there to create this

I stamped 'Mr Stripes' onto white tissue (from napkin) in black Stazon ink.
Tore around image and applied to bottle with Liquitex. I stamped the spider again on scrap white card in Stampin Up Real Red ink. I then cut out the red striped body and paper pieced over the first image.
Word 'Poison' was simply written on masking tape with black pen and the 'x' with red pen. Stuck masking tape to bottle. Painted and dabbed on colour with black dabber paint and red Viva Precious Metal paint.

Thanks for visiting!

PLAYING CARDS

Today's card is for a challenge over at Moxie Fab World. The theme is Playing Cards.

The red folded card base is 8.5 x 12.5 and opens from the bottom. I chose this size because it was a left over piece sitting on my desk.
Image was stamped in Stampin Up Real Red. The black mat is die cut from Tim Holtz ATC die.
'Queen for a Day' are words stamped and cut out from EK and Memories in the Making.
'Celebrate' from Darkroom Door 'All Occasions' set.
Chipboard crown from Scrapware was coloured in gold gel pen. Added some red rhinestones from Kaiser.

The playing card stamp is from Darkroom Door "Playing Cards" set.
I was lucky to win this fun set from a Inkurable Stampers challenge

I also made some ATC's for the Monthly Darkroom Door ATC swap which is 'Masked Stamping'

For the ATC's I used 1920's Chic and the Playing Cards sets.
The lady in red was masked to create the background. On scrap paper a stamped the Queen playing card and cut out the Queen of Hearts image with a craft knife. I used the left over piece to 'frame' the lady.
Matted onto black ATC die cut. Added a red button and some red rhinestones.
I am looking forward to seeing what other stampers have created for this swap.
If you are interested in taking part in future Darkroom Door ATC swaps, just click on the highlighted link. On the Darkroom Door blog,look down the left hand column and you will find the themes for each month. Go on, you know you want to!

STEAMPUNK

I regularly take part in the monthly Darkroom Door Artist Trading Card (ATC)swap.
For the September swap, I borrowed my friend Lynne's Steampunk set. I made 10 of these

I created the background on a A4 sheet of white card before cutting up into ATC size
(3.5x2.5)
The background is created using the wrinkle free distress technique. You can view a fab video tutorial here
by the Duke of Distress himself :)

I think the colours I used were Vintage Photo,Faded Jeans and maybe another brown.
My hubby was kind enough to let me raid his garage for some metal washers.
I put the washers in a small zip lock bag with a few drops of rust colored alcohol ink. Shook the bag until the washers changed colour.
Then laid the washers on my craft mat to dry. Painted over in black paint then wiped off excess.
Stamped some words onto masking tape.

I had made two A4 background sheets. Some left over so I made a matching card

I thoroughly enjoyed making these.

Here is one ATC and the card together

It is World Card Making day, so I hope you all get the chance to get inky this weekend!