Hello...

Ok, it's about time I posted a card.  My mind has been elsewhere lately, and it's been a bit stressful.  You know those lovely little mice that look so adorable on cards....they're not so adorable if you find one in your house!  I'm hoping it came in through an open door....otherwise I've got a problem.  I'm not the bravest person, so thankfully I have a few people I can call on for help.

Today's card uses another of those lovely stamps from the Tim Holtz Crazy Birds.  They are good for almost any occasion.  Once again, I've worked with water colours and a Spellbinders die.  I stayed with a neutral coloured DP and with the black contrast the image really stands out.    An MS punch adds an interesting border, and a little bow and a few gems give an added touch.

Hope your day is going better than mine!  It looks like we are in for a bit of a cold spell, with some snow on the way.  Hopefully it doesn't stay around long.  I'm looking forward to seeing my first robin!

Thanks for stopping by, and here are a few challenges for my card:

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes

Where the Heart is - #7 Easter/Anything Goes

Southern Girls Challenge - Nature

Creative Fingers - #105 Anything Goes

One Crazy Stamper - Anything goes

Penny Black and More - Feature a Creature

613 Avenue Create -#168 ATG w/Optional Twist - Use A Bird

Glitter n Sparkle - #180 Anything Goes

That Craft Place - #13 Anything Goes

Ahhh Spring....

I always know it's spring when I see my first robin.....and no, I haven't seen one yet, but hopefully soon.  So for now, a card with another little bird from the Crazy Birds set, and some sunny colours to brighten the day.

Water colours again, and a Spellbinders die to cut out and mat the image.  The same DP has been used for the mat and the upper punched border.

For the background, I've added some floral stamping, using the Touch of Whimsy stamp set from Penny Black.  I didn't colour these, but I did add some glitter to some of the flowers.

No further embellishment...just the sentiment using a stamp from Printworks.  I'm sure that is what we are all wishing for!

Thanks for stopping by.

Some fun challenges for my card:

Creative Craft Cottage - #59 Let's Get Sentimental

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - #166 ATG w/Optional Twist - All That Glitters

One Crazy Stamper - Anything goes

Craft Stamper - Anything Goes      Challenge Winner

Penny Black and More - Feature a Creature

Stamping Sensations - Flower Power

Crafty Friends - #26 Floral - Feature a Flower

ABC Challenge - C is for Cute

Crafting For All Seasons - #121 Add Some Sparkle

Fly like a bird....

That will be me....I'm running away to warmer climes for a week!  Although the winter has been very mild, considering, this past week has reminded me that I really do live in Canada.  The cold and the snow makes it difficult to move about, so I'm looking forward to some walking....which should do the hip some good....I hope!

Here's a Christmas card, using one of the Crazy Birds stamps from Tim Holtz, which I'm hoping will be a symbolic kiss goodbye to winter.  Needless to say, I am really hoping for an early spring.

Once again, I've used water colours, a Spellbinders die and some DP from the Dovecraft 'Tis the Season collection.  I was finally able to make use of this pretty bird paper.

A bit of faux stitching adds a bit of interest, and a colourful bow tops off the ornament.  I tried to keep it really simple, but couldn't stop myself from adding that little bit of greenery.  lol

With luck, we will soon be seeing some birds again....looking forward to that first robin!

Take care everyone and try to stay warm.

Some challenges for my card:

Addicted to Stamps and More - #181 Anything Goes

Creative Knockouts - #129 In Stitches

ABC Christmas Challenge - 'D' for Don't Overdo It

One Crazy Stamper - Anything goes

Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes

Penny Black and More - Anything Goes with a stamp and die/s

613 Avenue Create - #163 Anything Goes

ABC Challenge - B is for B... You Pick (Birds)

A little birdie told me....

Well, I had a play with water colours again, and the Bird Crazy stamp set from Tim Holtz.   I was really surprised at how much fun these are to colour up.  Now I know why they are so popular!

I really need to start planning my cards before I do my colouring though, as it probably takes me longer to find the right papers, than it does to colour the image.  Here I have fussy cut the patterned dp to give a fancy edging, which shows up nicely against the black card stock.

Just to make sure those eyes get lots of attention....I've added glossy accents to make them pop!

The weekend is here and we still have no snow....I'm a happy camper!  If this keeps up, the grass will be turning green.  I'm hoping this weather lasts until spring....fingers crossed.

Some challenges for my card:

613 Avenue Create - #161 Anything Goes

Left of Center - #116 Things with Wings

Fab 'n' Funky - #290 All Creatures Great and Small

Creative Fingers - #102 Anything Goes

One Crazy Stamper - Anything goes

Crafty Friends - #24 Animals/Birds

Crafting by designs - Anything goes

Through the Purple Haze - #94 Things with wings

7 Kids College Fund - #144 Anything Goes

CAS Masculine Card

Hi there.  We're having a rainy day today, so I'm having a well deserved break from gardening!  Spring is definitely moving right along.  My flowering bushes are all in their glory, but I also have an abundant crop of weeds in my flower gardens.  A lot of work is needed this year, but it will be worth it, I'm sure.  I'm just thankful that the hot summer temperatures are holding off.

Now for my card today, which uses a number of Tim Holtz rubber stamps and some distress inks.  I think of this as CAS, however, as it is not my normal type of design, I'm not too sure if I would call it simple.  My cards always take me longer to think out than to actually do.

I made this one up while having a play at my daughter's house.  It's always such fun to share ideas, and stamps and other goodies too!

Now I intend to have some fun in my craft room,...oh the joy of a rainy day!  Hope you have a fun day too!

Some challenges for my card:

Simon Says Stamp! - Masculine / Father's day

Victorine Challenge - #60 Fathers Day/Masculine

Paper Crafting Journey - Masculine Cards

Love to Create - #68 Father's Day or Special Guy

Creative Craft Challenges2 - #11 For the fellas

Simon Says stamp and Show - The Letter S (Stamps)

Lexi's Creations - #91 Focus on the Sentiment

The Crazy Challenge - #146 Use Sentiments

Crafting Musketeers - Use a Stamped Image

Created with Love - #44 Anything Goes

Not a Valentine card

No Valentine card from me today.  I know I'm not alone in this, but for those of us who have recently lost our better half, this is a rather emotional day where it brings to mind what we are missing.  My heart goes out to you.  For the rest of you, be sure to give your partner that extra hug and kiss...you have no idea what the future has in store.

Today I'm showing you a card using lots of different Tim holtz stamps and elements, with some very inky techniques.  First, the card blank, which I embossed entirely on my Score Pal, to give it a check pattern.  I also cut the front narrower that the back, letting the layers extend over the edge.

I played with some resist paper, using a stencil and some red DI stain to make the dots.  Rubbed a dark blue stain over one corner, and a honey colour stain over the rest.  While most of the stamping is one with black archival ink, the sewing mannikin is stamped with white ink.

If you look closely, you will see a strip of tissue tape and a couple of buttons.  Some ribbon, and a couple of Tim's metal embellishments to finish it off.  The Sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps...one of the Magical Mini Letter Seals.

This was definitely something different for me to do.  I'm sure it could use lots of improvements, but not bad for a first go.

Have a great day people, and don't eat too much chocolate!  Wine would be good though!

Now for some challenges:

One Stitch at a Time - #150 Anything Goes

Simon Says stamp and Show - Something Messy

Incy Wincy Designs - Add Texture

Make My Monday - Add a Charm    Top Picks

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Everybody-Art-Challenge - #223 Metal

Tuesday Throwdown - #134 Anything Goes

Inky Impressions - #97 Ribbon or Twine

Chocolate Coffee & Cards - #32 Hobbies (sewing)

Cute Card Thursday - #256 An Eye for Detail

Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges *

Love is all around..

Good morning!  It's challenge time again at Charisma, and this week we are looking for cards with the theme of LOVE.   Be sure to check out all the beautiful creations from the rest of the DT, and hopefully we will get to see your projects too!

No romantic card from me today, instead a special card to show that I care, for someone I hold dear. 

As you can see, I got inky this time with a number of Tim Holtz stamps.  The blue flourish design is stamped with paint, while for the bird I've stamped in black, adding some red to brighten things up.    The background shading is done with DI, with a bit of spatter stamped for added interest.

A bit of black decorative tape and some twine to give it some balance, and a couple of flowers to remind us that spring will soon be here. (Wishful thinking, I'm sure!)

We have two sponsors this week, with some wonderful prizes up for grabs.

PRIZE ONE

 (with a £10 Voucher to their online shop)

 PRIZE TWO

 (with a $10 certificate for the winner)

Thanks so much for visiting, and here's wishing you good luck in the challenge!

Now for some challenges for my card:

Card Mania - #13 Color Combo

Fashionable Stamping - #40 Show Some Love

Card Makin' Mamas - LOVE

Sweet Stampin - Love is All Around

Stamping Sensations - Fur and Feather

Pan Pastel - #5 Animals

Incy Wincy Designs - Love is in the air

Lexi's Creations - #83 Valentine / Love

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Inky Impressions - #96 Love

Favourite Animal Challenge

Are you ready for the next challenge at Charisma?  We're looking for something with your Favourite Animal this week.  So put your feet up and have a browse, then find a nice cool spot to have a go with your creation.

I thought this week would be good for another of the little bags made using a brown paper lunch bag.  Very handy for a little gift, and reusable too!   A number of different techniques came into play....heat embossing of the image, dry embossing for the backing mat, lots of distressing and inking around the edges and I even crumpled and inked the DP on the front.

The back is almost as fancy, using DP from the same collection, plus a new sentiment stamp and coordinating die....part of my winnings from a very generous challenge sponsor....Stamp and Create!  

Products used

Prima Papers - from the Printery Collection

Martha Stewart - 3 Dot punch

Spellbinders - Labels Eight and Deckled Rectangles dies

Whimsy - Dainty Notables 4 die and Everyday Saying stamp

Tim Holtz stamp - Birdsong

Also, embossing folder, distress inks, and clear embossing powder

So, I do hope you can join us this week with your Favourite Animal.  Once again, a great thank you to our wonderful sponsors, and this week they are:

Crafty Ribbons
(details to follow)

and

(offering a £10 voucher and free p&p worldwide!)

Now, for some challenges that I will be entering..

Totally Papercrafts  - #125 Lots of Layers

Sentimental Sundays - #111 Rough Around the Edges

Card Makin' Mamas - #49 BUSTING OUT THE RUBBER

Dream Valley - #36 ANYTHING BUT SQUARE

J and C Creations - #3 Anything Goes

Fashionable Stamping - #26 Let's Get Messy & Inky

Simon Says stamp and Show - No Rules

One Stitch at a Time - #122 Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations Wednesday Challenge - #172 Altered Art / Anything But A Card