Master chef....

Now, dragons may be creatures of fantasy....but we all know that BBQ is real!   So while we patiently await summer's pleasures, how about a card to light up someone's day.  This image is sure to do the trick, and can be found here....at Dr Digi's House of Stamps.  If only cooking could be that easy!

I've coloured with copics today, inking around the edges with DI after cutting out the image with the Spellbinders Marvelous Squares die.  A corner punch for a little added interest, and a couple of sentiments....makes for a fun card, sure to bring a smile.  Kind of makes me hungry too....

Thanks for stopping by.

Some challenges for my card:

That Craft Place - Anything Goes

Sparkles Montly Challenge - #77 Something for the Males

Love to Scrap - #72 Anything Goes Penny's Challenges - #266 Anything Goes Winter Wonderland - Must Use a Sentiment Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - #119 ATG with a twist - Fantasy Crafting from the Heart - #100 Anything Goes Inspiration Destination - #74 Anything Goes Creative Fingers - #103 Anything Goes The Crafty Addicts - #9 Anything Goes/Spots or Stripes

Birds of a feather....

It might be winter, but at least we missed out on that snow storm occurring south of the border.  We've been very lucky so far this year, here in Ontario, and I'm really hoping that continues.  Just think, January is nearly over....yay!!  Spring is coming (hopefully!)

Yes, happiness is in the little things....so true.   I'm really thinking spring with this one.  This is all rubber stamping done right on the card blank, except for the sentiment which I added after.  Colouring is done with copics, after which I masked the image and added the stenciling using distress ink.  Then to finish it off, the stamped corners and the sentiment.

Other supplies used:
Northwoods - Blue Jay, Robin & Bluebird
Stämpelkällan - Corner A32
Whimsy - Magical Mini Letter Seals
Tim Holtz stencil - Dot Fade

Stay safe everyone!

Some challenges for my card:

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - #343 Anything Goes w/option of a sketch

Aud Sentiments - #147 Anything Goes

One Crazy Stamper - Anything goes

Addicted to Stamps and More - #177 Make Your Mark

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Create With Critters

That Craft Place - Anything Goes

Creative Craft Cottage - #56 Anything Goes

The Ribbon Girl - Any Image

Scrapping 4 Fun - #58 Anything Goes

A Perfect Day

Good morning everyone, and welcome to another weekend.  We are in the middle of a hot spell right now, with plenty of humidity.  Not complaining though, but very thankful for air conditioning!  Just think, in six months time we'll be in the middle of winter......cold, cold, cold....ugh!

Today's card is perfect for the season, and we would all like to look like this as we enjoy a summer picnic! I've coloured the Crisalis Classics stamp...A Perfect Day, using water colours for a nice soft look.  I've than edged with distress ink to match the paper in behind. 

The sentiment is from a set by Whimsy Stamps and you will see a few stars and scattered gem stones to set the mood, along with a long strip of gemstones to add some sparkle.

Thanks for stopping by today, and have a lovely weekend.

Some challenges for my card:

Craft Stamper - Take A Stamp - Anything Goes

One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes

Penny Black and More - Anything goes with a sentiment

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Sparkle And Shine

Bizzy Bec's - Anything Goes

That Craft Place - Challenge For All Crafts - Words

Young at Heart...earplugs please!

Good morning this fine Sunday!  I say that because it's not supposed to snow today...not until tomorrow.  Hah!  I'm also hoping that I've finally gotten over the nasty bug that I've had this week.  I believe everyone has had enough of this winter... not just me!

The neighbourhood is really rockin' now that Sydney's picked up his strings again.  Everyone said he had to find a hobby upon retirement, so he's starting back in where he left off as a teen.  After all, if Mick can still do it....why can't he?  He's now just waiting to be discovered!

I definitely have a recipient in mind for this one, there's even a slight resemblance.  This fantastic image is another from Just Inklined, titled Strumming Sydney.  Once again I've used my copics, adding chalks and DI for the background.

The DP is from MME, and I've added a bit of stenciled stitching for a border.  The little puppy is a sticker from back in my scrap-booking days, and the sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers - North American Woods collection.  Party Time is a die cut made with the Whimsy - Birthday Sentimentables, which I have heat embossed using ZING embossing powder.

We must be careful when we suggest a hobby to someone.  Crafting may take over the house, but it's generally a nice quiet hobby, no?  Take care and have a great day.

Now for some fun challenges for my card:

Creative Knockouts - #24 Spots & Dots

2 Sisters Challenge - #173 Embossing

A Little Bit Crafty - Man Up

Crafty Girls - #11 Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - #44 Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - #23 Anything Goes

Crafty Bloggers  -All about Boys

A Creative Romance - Let's Get Sentimental Craft All Day - #3 Male Cards

Flowers to Cheer You

Good morning!  I'm here today with my second post for the ABC Challenge,where I have had the pleasure of being their guest designer for February.  This fortnight, the challenge theme is "F for Flowers", something I am sorely missing right now, as my gardens are blanketed in snow.

Here, I have made a card using 'Tilda with little pocket', one of the many Magnolia images available from our sponsor this week....Stamp and Create.  She has been coloured with water colours, for a change, while the sky has been created with Pan Pastels.

I played a bit with the fancy die cut mat, giving it some distress stain, some stamping, and finally some inca gold.   A co-ordinating ribbon and bow and one little gemstone heart are the only additional embellishments.

Other supplies used:
Paper from Webster's Pages - Life's Portrait
Spellbinders die - Fleur de Lis Rectangles
Whimsy - Dainty Notables 4 die and Everyday Sayings stamp

So we do hope that you join us this week for your chance to win, and our chance to see your creations.  Be sure to stop by the challenge blog for inspiration from the DT, who always have something wonderful to share.

Some challenges for my card:
 

Magnolia Down Under Challenges - #229 Hearts and Flowers

Simon Says Stamp Monday - We Love Stamps

Craft-Dee BowZ - Anything Goes and include a Handmade Bow

Country View Crafts - #12 Painty Pleasures

Feeling Crafty Challenge - #25 Dies and/or Punches

Lothian Crafts - #31 Love using your dies

Magnolia-licious Challenge - Pretty In Pink

7 Kids College Fund  - #93 Anything Goes Crafty Ribbons - Ribbon N Bows Stamp and Create with Magnolia - #29 Thinking of Spring

Let's Play Painting...

Amazing....I saw sunshine this morning!  It didn't last long though.  Soon it was raining again, and now it's grey and dreary.  Oh well, there's lots to be done inside too.  I intend to give a go at some sanding, if I can figure out how to work the sander.  A bit of floor needs some new finish....wish me luck!

 

First though, I'll post this card.  Today, I've used this cute Little Artist stamp by Sugar Nellie.  I painted with water-colours this time, something I try to do these days when I'm using inky stamps rather than digi's....I still have a problem with printer inks smudging.

I really like this Spellbinders die....adds some extra interest without being too feminine.  No ribbons, but a bit of washi tape and a bit of stamping in the corners to dress it up.  Add a sentiment and a bit of doodling, and I'm done.

Hope you enjoyed your visit, but now I had best get to work!

Some fun challenges for my card:

The Sugar Bowl - #109 Anything Goes

Penny Black and More - Anything Goes

The Ribbon Girl - Stripes

Loves Rubber Stamping - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - For all the Guys

Inky Impressions - #133 Dies and/or Punches

Heck of a Challenge - In The Frame

Clear It Out - Smores - use brown/white  Challenge Winner

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Keep It Clean and Simple

Bearly Mine Challenges - #111 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

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 *

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