Optical Illusion

Something really different for me today.  I had a go with some distress inks, some stencils and some stamps, all of which had been waiting patiently for me to play with them again.

This is just a one layer card.  I first laid a negative die cutout over the card, and then the lattice stencil.  After taping each layer down to assure no movement, I then sponged the two colours of DI through the stencil.  Then I stamped the butterfly over the stencil.  Really pleased with the result, I felt it just needed a bit of black stamping to set it off.

Supplies used:
Diamonds stencil - from Clear Scraps
Creatopia Frame 2 die - from Spellbinders
Holly Branches stamp - from Sweet Stamps
Large Butterfly stamp - from Victorine Stamps

Hope you enjoyed your visit.  If you should give this a try....it is lots of fun!

Some challenges for my card:

Speedy Fox and Friends - #278 Stamping over a stencil

Craft Stamper - Take A Stamp - Anything Goes

Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Penny Black and More - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Stamp And Punch/Die Cut

Outlawz Challenge - Anything Goes Aurora Wings - #17 Anything with Wings

Remember When

Well, I'm finally back and ready to post a card.  It's been a busy time with doctors appointments and x-rays....as they say, 'getting older isn't for sissies'.  The verdict is in, and I'll be needing a hip replacement.  As it is classified as elective surgery, it is still months away, so lots of time to get used to the idea.  In the meantime I have some lovely meds to take the edge off.  Happy days are here!  ha ha.

For today's card I have used 3 different stamps from 3 different companies, and I've listed them below.  After stamping and colouring the ladies' image, I've masked then created a spotlight using a circle template and some pan pastels. 

The stamped panel has been coloured with distress inks, and then I have gone over it with some metalic perfect pearls, for a nice sheen.  Then, of course, you will see some layers, some gems and a pretty bow.

Stamps used:
Flonz stamps - Vintage Fashion Girl - Thirties 01
Sweet Stamps - Baroque Border
Inkadinkado - Remember When

This was a bit before my time, but I think I'm catching up!  Take care everyone, and think spring thoughts.

Some challenges for my card:

Vintage Stamping - Olde Worlde

Sweet Stamps - #212 Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - #304 Anything Goes + Option of a Sketch

Fab 'n' Funky - #250 Focus on the Image

Artistic Inspirations - #126 Anything Goes with a twist of Green

Party Time Tuesdays - #196 Anything Goes

One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes

Sugar & Betty's Challenge - Anything Goes

Craft Stamper -Anything Goes

Pretty Papers

 

A nice easy card today, making the most of some pretty paper and a couple of stamps.  This paper is part of the Summer Breeze collection from First Edition, and has lots of sparkly detail.  All I have added is the butterfly and the sentiment.   The butterfly is stamped and heat embossed, then coloured in shades of orange.  It is one of the Fanciful Butterflies from Sweet Stamps, while the sentiment is one of the Elegant Greetings from CC Designs.

The sun is shining this morning, and with luck the temperature might rise above freezing!  Maybe, just maybe, we could see  some snow disappear!

Some challenges for my card:

Sweet Stamps - #157 Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze - #29 Embossing    Top Picks

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Divas by Design - Rubber stamps only

Creative Card Crew - #55 KISS (Keep it Simple & Sweet)

Crafty Creations Challenge - #257 Keep it Simple

Crafting Musketeers - #10 Butterflies

Crafting from the Heart -#7 Anything Goes/Use Flowers

Wrapping it up...

Now it's time to start some wrapping, and a few personalized gift bags are needed.  I like giving these to family, as I know they will be reused.  It's nice when these can be passed on for use in future years.

These small bags can be found at most craft stores or dollar stores, and I find they are of stronger material than the printed ones.  The carrying handles are also better attached.  I only decorate the one side, and it folds back up neatly for storage.

Here I've used some papers from my travels, and a delightful Christmas image which I have coloured with copics.  Some gold paper candi, a sparkly gold bow, gold peel-off borders and some gold glitter in the holes of the punched borders gives it quite a festive look.  A little bit of stamping on the lower half adds a touch more interest to the DP.

Supplies used:
Lacy Sunshine image - Sleepy Holiday Fred Gnome
Papers from Dovecraft - 'Tis the Season collection
Stamp from Sweet Stamps - Holly Branches
Spellbinders die - Labels 22
MS punch - 3 Dot PATP

Keep in mind, this concept could also be used to recycle a department store gift bag, by covering up their logo.  Thanks for your visit once again, and good luck in your wrapping too!

Some fun challenges for my gift bag:

Lacy Sunshine - #23 Celebrations (Christmas)

Crafting For All Seasons - #67 Anything Christmas but a Card

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly  - Last Christmas .... Card of The Year

Bearly Mine Challenges - #117 Anything goes

My Craft Creations - Anything Goes

Loves Rubber Stamping - #83 Holiday Blitz - Anything Goes

Feeling Crafty Challenge - #23 Christmas

Card and Scrap - #66 Christmas .. Create What You Want

Crafty Hands - #4 Season's Greetings/Winter Theme My Craft Spot - #122 Wrap It Up

Favourite Colour - Blog Hop

Hello again!  It's now November, and time for another Blog Hop at Just Inklined.  I am the hostess this time around, so the hop starts with me....and I chose the theme of Favourite Colour.  I can't wait to see what everyone has made!

The blog hop order is as follows, and be sure to leave your comments along the way for your chance to win one of the 2 spot prizes.

Joyce (that's me), Gaynor, Karen J., Dawn, Tammy, Tangii, Jak, Lori, Karen L.

Now, because Christmas is on it's way, I've decided that my favourite colour today is Red....I have way more than one favourite, so it was a difficult choice. 

I've tried for a bit of a vintage feel, with this gorgeous image titled Christmas Boot (lady).  Doesn't it look fantastic in red....makes you want to go out and buy a pair.  Alas, I think I had best settle for just the bottle of bubbly, as my vintage feet can't wear those heels anymore. (sigh)

I've used an oval die to cut out the image, and the Spellbinders Floral Oval die to make the mat.  Both have been treated to some Inca Gold paint, to make them more festive.  The pretty DP is from MME and the Holly Branch is from Sweet Stamps.  Just a few red pearls and a sentiment to finish it off.

Time to put your feet up now and continue along the hop...it's sure to be a treat!  Thanks for visiting, and good luck in the draw.

Some fun challenges for my card:

4 Krafty Girls - #5 Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - #31 Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge - #231 Christmas Cheer

Craftyhazelnut's Monthly Challenge - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - #43 Anything Goes Creative Fingers - #8 Anything Goes Without Words - Getting Ready For Christmas Card Mania - #33 Anything Goes Crafty Hands - #1 Anything Goes

Classy but cool...

I'm in full hibernation mode today!  it's a scorcher outside....so hot and humid.  Thank goodness for air conditioning, but what about those that don't have it!  It looks like it should cool down a bit for Sunday, and maybe some thunderstorms before then.  I quite like watching a storm, just so long as it isn't too crazy and severe.  I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

For today's card, I finally got around to inking up some new rubber stamps.  No colouring, just black ink and a pretty patterned DP from Webster's Pages makes for a nice easy card.  Other than the die cuts, the only embellishment is 3 little gemstones.

Supplies used:

Stamps - In Her Easter Bonnet Silouette & Decorative Elements from Sweet Stamps

Magical Mini Letter Seals from Whimsy Stamps

Dies -  Floral Ovals & Inverted Scalloped Circles from Spellbinders

Thanks so much for visiting, and be sure to take care in this heat!  Try to put your feet up and drink lots of water....or something...

Some challenges for my card:

Sweet Stamps - #126 Anything Goes             Challenge Winner

Penny Black and More - Dies and Punches

Hobby House - #2 Vintage

Sentimental Sundays - #163 You've been FRAMED

Make My Monday - A Non-Inked Stamp or A New sheet of Decoupage

Penny's Challenges - #136 Use the colour black           Top Pick

Lexi's Creations - #94 For a Friend

Card Mania - #25 Pearls and/or Gems

ABC Challenge - R for Roses are Red

Great Impressions Stamps - Anything Goes

Let's Use Acetate

Good morning all!  I hope life is treating you good.  April is now upon us, and hopefully spring is in the air.  Today, we have something different for you, with this week's challenge at Charisma....to 'Use Acetate'.  I definitely had to put my thinking cap on for this one, but actually it wasn't as difficult as I had expected.  Be sure to check out the projects from the rest of the team, for inspiration and some wonderful ideas.

Something nice and easy for a change, with no colouring and no patterned paper! The butterflies have been stamped on the card and also on the acetate.  After bending back the wings slightly, a little strip of tape adheres the body to the stamped card.  I've used the Baroque Border and Fanciful Butterflies from Sweet Stamps and the classic colour combo of black and white.

Here you can see the dimensional effect that the acetate provides.  I'm quite pleased with the effect.

So now it is your turn.  This week we have some wonderful sponsors once again, with some lovely prizes up for grabs.

PRIZE ONE

(3 Digis of the winner's choice)

PRIZE TWO

 

 (with a £10 voucher)

Thank you so much for visiting, and we do hope you can join in with us this week, as we would love to see what you can come up with.  Good luck and have fun!

Some fun challenges for my card:

Pan Pastel - #13 Anything Goes

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT - Anything Goes

Card Makin' Mamas - No Patterned Paper

Digi Stamps 4 Joy - #64 Anything Goes

Natalie and Amy - #8 Monochromatic

Simon Says stamp and Show - Anything Goes Paper Crafting Journey - Monochromatic A Little Bit Crafty - Anything Goes Country View Crafts - #2 Butterflies

A One Layer Card

Good morning...at least I'm hoping it is!  This winter has been a blast....of nothing but snow and cold weather.  I'm surely looking forward to spring.  If you are spending lots of time inside crafting, perhaps you can join us this week in our challenge at Charisma.  The theme this week is One Layer Cards. 

So, as you can see....there are no added layers or embellishments.  I've used 3 different stamps with black ink, some blue chalk for shading, some glitter, and lots of doodling...all with glitter pens.  The oval shape border was created by tracing around a Spellbinder's die, while for the zigzag border I used a stencil.

Stamps used
Queen Anne's Wildflowers Silhouette - from Sweet Stamps
Butterfly from the Inkadinkado - Garden Flower set
Sentiment from the Hero Arts - Sending Smiles set

This week we have two lovely sponsors, once again with some wonderful prizes:

Prize One

(offering one lucky winner the choice of 5 Digi's)

Prize Two

 

(offering another lucky winner the choice of 5 Digi's)

I'm really looking forward to seeing your creations this week, and don't forget to check out the rest of the DT cards for more inspiration.  Have a great day!

And now, for some fun challenges for my card:

Sweet Stamps - #105 Sweet & Simple    Challenge Winner

Allsorts Challenge  - #194 Things with Wings

Pan Pastel - #7 Just Two Colours

Created with Love - #29 Things that Fly

Love to Create - #53 All That Glitters

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Penny's Challenges - #115 Anything Goes

Forever Friends - #55 Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers  - #85 Blooming Images

My Craft Spot - #87 Flowers