Feeling Blue (and brown) and blue (and brown) The Stampsmith Challenge

Here's my entry to the latest Stampsmith Challenge which is Blue and Brown. I got myself into a right tizz with this, I started by cutting out a card blank with the die, but it seemed to be too much of the same shape. I  was surrounded by die cut Basic Gray in various shades of  blues and browns, and I could not get it to look right.
I finally settled on these and Marilyn (she makes any card look good).
I added a bit of lace and some flowers. The stamping says Celebrate in Style - something that Marilyn always did.
Thanks very much for looking and have a fab Sunday x

Simon Says Show Us A Word

Simon Says Stamp And Show has been making his demands again, and this time he wants a word. Now everybody knows that the bird is the word BUT I've chosed smile! This is the woman I want to be, just look at her not a care in the world. She's not got a pile of ironing the size of the National Debt in the corner. And I bet she doesn't get her hair colour from the Boots counter!

Anyway, Im not bitter lol. My tags been cut out with Sir Tim's die, and the papers are Basic Gray. My lovely lady is from Paperbag Studios, and even though I'm a stamp tart she's still one of my favourites.

The 'smile' is a hugh Heidi Swapp stamp that's been done on shrink plastic. The butterfly is from Wendy Vecchi (love her stamps, so easy to cut out).

My latest favourite is the seam binding ribbons, and I've made a dangly bird charm. Ooo the air was blue as I tried to attach these to the tiny jump rings I can tell you....

I really enjoyed making this, and thanks for looking x

It's All Hearts

I've been wanting to try cutting an aperture into a card with my nesties for a while, so today I decided to give it a go. I stuck the Basic Grey Eva paper on first, then cut through the folded card with 2 sizes of nesties (I don't know which one it is, but one is from the bigger set for the Grand Calibur. It didn't quite cut through cleanly, and if I did it again I would put the cutting die next to the front rather than the back.
I put some acetate into the window to give the card some strength. The Art Journey stamps have also been stamped then layered onto more BG papers, and I've added some to the inside for strength.
I love acetate cards, but it's such a pain having to tidy up the inside.
I'm entering this into the Art Journey, The Stampman, and Basic Grey, which are all 'hearts' challenges.
Thanks very much for looking x

She Was A Girly Girl

Here's a card I've made for the Stampotique (Girly Girl), Basic Grey (Wings) and Sketch Saturday challenges. The background paper is by Blonde Moments, and is so vibrant in real life.

I've dressed Marcy in Colour Me Silly, and the buttons are Urban Prairie.

Marcy's wings are by Heidi Swapp, and her crown is again by Blonde Moments.

Thanks very much for looking - now I have to go and iron :o(. Enjoy what's left of the weekend x

Marci & Wilbur Get it Together

Stamped that is :o)
As the queen of stamps that have never got dirty,  it's always a joy when they get their initial inking.Why is it that I love 'em, have to have 'em, then don't use them??
Anyway the challenge at Stampotique is Not So Sweet 16, and at Sir Stampalot it's All Distressed, so here's mine...

Though how anyone can say that Marci and Wilbur arn't the sweetest couple I don't know.

I love these stamps, they really make me smile, and Mr Stripes is the most handsome spider ever.

I've also used some of Jo Capper-Sandons range, the French Text, Small Bee and Splatter. If you havn't seen her blog you must go and look, her work is gorgeous.

The door hanger has been in my top drawer for as long as I can remember, and the paper on the numbers is the  Basic Grey white 6x6 pad. This is fab, lots of white backgrounds with a hint of different patterns.

Lots of distress inks acrylic paint and Modge Podge for the background, which has been roughed up nicely with a TH distresser. I thought I would use blue and yellow, but I ended up with er.. green..... who'd have thought!!

When you see this in real life it's distressed to the point of tatty, so definitely not so sweet lol.

Sorry if the font size is hurting your eyes, but I'm not a good typer at the best of times, and I can't even see the little stuff anymore -  Mother Nature up to her bee-atchy best again :o)

Thanks very much for looking and have a fab weekend x

'Twas The Night Before Christmas SDC#11

It has to be said that I do love all thing Christmas, but Christmas crafting - Ah - thats done last minute, in December, then packed away in various boxes, tubs, tins (and even an old suitcase I do believe) and flung back up into the loft till next year.
BUT my love of  Holly (and I so wanted to enter the Stampotique Christmas in July challenge)  made me brave the wobbly loft ladders (this isn't artistic licence they really ARE wobbly lol) push past Boris the spider and family, and find Christmas - Scrooge kept Christmas in his heart - I keep it in the loft, just over the living room :o)
After stamping Holly (who stamps beautifully 'cos she a proper wooden stamp) I thought lovely, but there's gonna be a lot of  (gasp) white space ... So Kitty to the rescue and here we are.
The papers are all Basic Grey, my Christmas lights are an old Sizzix die, and everythings been coloured with Pro Markers. My sentiment was computer generated, and Kitty's mouse tail is real brown felt lol.

Just look at that face - is it the face of a killer.....  oh yeah!

Mr Stripes felt a little bit left out, so I let him star in the insert....

Thanks very much for looking x

Theme Thursday - Flourishes

Here is my entry to the lovely challenge at Theme Thursday which is 'flourishes'
The sea stamp is by My Sentiments Exactly, together with the seahorse which I have used for the shrink plastic dangly.
The large flourish is by Creative Expressions, and the smaller stamps used are by Basic Grey.
The core'dinations card has been cuttlebugged and sanded, then very lightly brayered with the same big and juicy inkpad that the main image had been stamped in.
I think this is the first time that I've made a card from this stamp. It's a lovely stamp but I've never been able to transfer it to a card. I think that the Cuttlebug will solve this type of problem, and I really like the way it works with core'dination's.
Thanks very much for looking x

Way To Go Dino!

Louise over at Kard Krazy
has hosted a new Tuesday Tag challenge, and this weeks theme is 'direction'.
The direction I have gone in is Back in Time (remember when men were hairy and brought home the dino burgers).
My dino is from the very cute Basic Grey Anarchic set. The tag's been inked up with distressed inks, creased, soaked and gererally mistreated.
Not very 'arty' I'm afraid but lots of fun.
Thanks for looking and pop on over to Louise's lovely blog for more tags. xx

Daisy & Dandelion Challenge

Here is my entry to this weeks Daisy and Dandelion challenge. The main background card is Bazzill (I never remember how many z's and l's) Bling. The others are Basic Grey c'os this is my favouritist (new word) paper in the whole world.
I tried to do a card without the stamped stitching but I just wasn't strong enough - damn you stitching stamp, you have too much control over me!!
Thanks very much for looking and have a fab Sunday xx

My New Favourite Card....

At least for today is this one that I made for the Basic Grey challenge which this week is Pockets. The papers are from Archaic, and the rub-ons, brads and button are from the Sugared range.
These rub-on's are absolutely gorgeous, and so easy to use, much better than some rub-on's I've used which don't want to say goodbye to the backing sheet!
The corner and swirl stamps are by Laundry Line, and the swirly bird is by Dimension Fourth.
My pocket has just been bradded down, and my tag has another of the fabby rub-ons. I so wanted to use them but I also needed to keep them forever and take them out to look at occasionally lol. Thanks very much for looking and enjoy what's left of the weekend. xx

Hey Dude!! - My Time To Craft, Bring Me Sunshine

I was really pleased to see this challenge. I need to see a bit of sunshine, and it was time that these Tanda stamps were opened. This card also fits the challenge at Stamp Something perfectly, as their theme is Summer in Winter.
The 'Dude's' background has been coloured with acrylic paint dabbers, and cuttlebugged (Swiss dots). The base card is Basic Grey, and the surf board is from the Arcaic collection.
The little yin yan's are shrink plastic. It still scares me to death watching this shrink!!
The obligatory stitching stamps and dew drops and all finished. There's a lad at work who this card will be perfect for, so thats a mans card solved!!
I really enjoyed this challenge, and thanks for looking xx.
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2009/01/challenge-46-little-bit-of-sunshine.html

Ismaki Challenge 3

I've been chasing my tail all week trying to fit some crafting in. Ismaki challenge starts on a Monday, but there is no way I can craft until Thursdays. I really like this sketch so I definitely wanted to join in. I've used some Basic Grey papers - they were still in their cellophane wrap and I've taken them out and cut them!! Part of the challenge was to use three different stamps, so I've used the BG stamps to match the papers. I got quite a few (!) in the DoCrafts sale. The rub-on sentiment is also BG - I've remembered now, it's the Boxer range. The card was a pain in the you know where to make, but I'm really pleased with the result.
Thanks very much for looking xx
http://ismaki.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/ismaki-09003/

Art Creations Friday

Here's my entry to this weeks Art Creations Friday Challenge. It's another tag I'm afraid - I seem to be in a taggy mood at the moment.
The background is a Basic Grey Blush paper which is soooo pretty. I've copied the photograph onto printable acetate. The girls locket is a dew drop, and the rub on is by Creative Imaginations. They are not really where I wanted them to be, but they kind of stuck on before I was ready, so I had to the most of it lol.
Thanks for looking xx
http://artcreationsfriday.blogspot.com/2009/01/10th-challenge.html

Basic Grey Challenges - Challenge 16

Wow, no posts for months then 2 come along at the same time, and I've heard that wonky photography is the new straight! I've only just discovered this site, and as I have more Basic Grey than Messrs Basic and Grey I thought it would be rude not to give it a go.
If I were a better blogger I would be able to show you a picture of the sketch, but trust me it's more or less like the card.
The base card is 8x8 so boy did it take some filling. The papers used are mainly Colour me Silly. My cuttlebug doesn't go up to the circle size, so I cut around my lamp with my craft knife. This was only possible 'cos I got one of those new Fiscars finger tip knives and it's great - no way will I go back to my old one.
The topper is from the latest QVC pick of the day. I've found that my family tend to like cards that look like they've been bought from a shop rather than my inky creations, so that's what they will be getting this year!
I'm not too sure about the 8x8, it's none of your cheap stuff, but it still struggles with the layers.
It's been really nice to get crafting again, and thanks for looking.
http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/2009/01/challenge-17-first-sketch-of-2009.html

The Sunday Stampers - When My Little Girl is Smiling

The theme for this Sunday's challenge is 'Face', so I had to use my favourite (for today at least) stamp. She's by Paperbag Studios, and even my hubby (who hates anything 'arty') likes her.
The backing paper is Basic Grey Scarlets Letter. It only arrived yesterday and I've cut into it already!!
I stamped the image onto white card and watercoloured her face. I then stamped onto the BG, cut out her face (ouch), then stuck it over the top.
I'm quite pleased with the result - makes her look pale and interesting.
The sentiment is torn from a HOTP book. I inked up some velum in red and black, tore out the middle and inked that up also, and stuck over the top with a couple of brads.
Bit of gold Krylon and red ribbon (managed to tie the bow with a bowmaker I found at the back of the drawer) and all done.
Just managed to take the photograph before the sun sank behind a rain cloud.
Hope you like it x
http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/

The Sunday Stampers - Transport

I'm a bit late with my challenges this week as I visited my sister at the weekend while the boys?? went to watch Barnsley at Wemberleee - enough said (and for those who have no idea what I am talking about they lost to Cardiff in the FA Cup)
This really hasn't photographed too well, but as it's hailstoning through the sunshine, I'll put it down to bad lighting lol.
This is an Elusive Images stamp that I don't use nearly enough, with a Stampboard tile in the middle.
The backing paper is actually orange (told you it hasn't photographed too well) Basic Grey.
The grungeboard has been painted with gold and bronze acrylic dabbers. It just arrived today from that well know auction site, and I love it.
It's my uncle's birthday soon so the 'happy birthday' stamp finished it off. I'l just leave it until the last minute now to post it:o)
http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/