Trees with Clarity

I'm entering this card in the Clarity Stamp Challenge which this month is Trees.

I used my gelli plate, a stencil and moon mask to create the background and used the boy stamp and one of the word chains. I used the round blending tool to add a bit more depth to the edges and a white pencil to highlight the tree branches. I then just mounted it onto black card and then onto a white 8 x 8 card blank.

Winter Walks

I think I will be needing a few Winter Walks to blow the cobwebs away and get over all the food over Christmas.

Here is my card for our Winter Walks theme at CD Sunday this time. Carol has chosen this time around and what a lovely theme for this time of year.

I've used the following two CDs.

A Touch of Elegance by Creative Crafting World (main image)
Beatrix Potter A Winter's Tale by Crafter's Companion (backing paper)
with a die cut from Memory Box and a few gems.

Just a little early but I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and lots of crafting in 2015.
 

Stamp, Stamp, Stamp!

I can't believe it's two weeks since our last CD Sunday Challenge but it is time for me to pick my top three and get on with my post for the new challenge.

Here is my card for Sue's choice of Stamp it.

I used Cute Companions Winter Tales for my background scene and then stamped lots of characters from the matching stamp sets and coloured them in. The greeting is also from the same stamp sets. It was a great excuse to add lots of glitter too.

I do hope you will find time to join in this challenge with Christmas getting ever closer and so much still to do. I had foolishly thought I was all organised and ready but looking around here at all I still have to do it would appear not.

Congratulations to Shaz for winning our spot prize and I will be back next time with my top three, don't forget to check on the CD Sunday blog to see if you are the lucky one as I have a little something to send to the winner of my top three.

You will find the latest challenge along with inspiration from my fellow teamies here.

Merry Christmas everyone:

Click here for the song 

While Shepherds Watched ......

It's my turn to choose the theme at CD Sunday and I've chosen 'Song Titles'. For those of us who are still making Christmas cards there are lots of choices but the theme would also fit lots and lots of other occasions. What is your favourite song?

I've used an image from Magical Christmas Moments CD by Creative Crafting World. The lovely die is from Joanna Sheen's lovely range of Signature Dies. The ribbon is some that I won in a competition a few years ago. 

You will find the new challenge here and don't forget to visit my teamies' blogs. They have made some lovely cards for you to enjoy this time around. Don't forget to use something from a CD and let us know which one you used. 

I found this on You Tube and feel it accompanies by card beautifully. I hope you enjoy it.

P is for ............

Wynn has chosen our theme at CD Sunday this time and it is 'P' for ............

Lots of things that could be 'P' for ........ so do please join us and show us what you think 'P' is for.

You can take a look at what my fellow teamies decided their P was for at CD Sunday Challenge Blog here.

My P is for POPPIES. There have been some beautiful Poppies to see this month as Tuesday was 11/11/14. One hundred years since World War I. Neil and I hopped on a train and went to London on Tuesday to see all the Poppies at the Tower. Such an inspiring sight and although there were lots of people there to see the Poppies there was a wonderful feeling of quiet and stillness. I'd like to share with you a couple of photos that we took.

For my card I decided that I wanted to keep it fairly simple with a plain white background so nothing detracts from the image.

My image comes from Flowers in Bloom by Card Creations Plus. I just decoupaged the flowers, added a border strip at the bottom and a die cut bow. I then mounted this onto black card and then onto a white 7 x 7 base card. 

I look forward to visiting your blog later in the week to see how you interpret our CD Sunday Challenge this time. Remember, to enter you must use something from a CD and mention which CD you have used. You can use other elements on your project as well as long as there is a CD used somewhere. 

As if by Magic

I started my card for the Clarity Stamp Challenge 21 - Travel by spritzing  a sheet of A4 water colour paper with water. I then flicked a few different colours of Brushos over the damp paper. Once I was happy that there was enough colour (a little goes a very long way) I spritzed again to move the colours around a bit. I then used some kitchen towel to blot where there was too much water (this still leaves lots of colour on the paper). I then left it to dry.

While I was waiting I took some of Theuva card and attached a stencil. I then used a mixture of Adirondack and Distress Ink pads to brush through the stencil leaving it paler in the middle of the card. Once I was happy with that I removed the stencil. I then stamped the couple in the boat and the word Magical from the word chain stamps. I added a moon mask and added a bit more ink around it to make a soft outline. I then took the round mini ink blending tool and went around the edge of the card with distress ink. This was then layered onto some card to compliment the colours and then onto a white card.

My water colour paper was now dry and ready for the next stage. I took a die by La La Land and cut out the balloon. I then glued it into position and using a micron pen attached it to the boat with the couple in so that it looks like they are going on a journey through the sky for a big romantic adventure.

Chilly Berries

I've used what is turning out to be my favourite embossing folder for this time of the year, A4 snowflakes from Crafter's Companion, to make the background for my card.  I then stamped and coloured this sweet House Mouse image together with some extra branches with fruit to make a longer branch and coloured it in using Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pencils. I've used lots of glitter for a sparkly finish. The die cut banner and words are from Marianne dies.

I'm entering my card in two challenges:

House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge - Brr, It's cold outside
Gruffies & Guests - Anything Goes + Christmas
Sketch Saturday Challenge 334 

Coffee, Peach and Cream

At CD Sunday this week we have colours as our theme and Christine has chosen Coffee, Peach and Cream. A yummy combination. If you would like to join in just go to CD Sunday Challenge Blog and find out what to do. We don't have a lot of rules but we would like you to use something from a CD and let us know which one you used. There is also more inspiration from my fellow teamies. 

I used Simpler Times CD from Katy Sue Designs with artwork by Elisabeth Bell for my image. I printed out my chosen image and put this into a cream aperture card which I have had in my stash since my early card making days. I used dies to cut out my flowers and layered them up with little pearls for the centres. I then just used some pretty ribbon to finish off. A nice simple one this week - now I look forward to visiting you in blog land to see what you do in coffee, peach and cream. 

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas

I'm entering this card in the latest House Mouse Challenge 181 

Christmas Peace

I was having a tidy up of some of my crafting things which had spread themselves (completely unaided) all over the dining room table recently and have made this card using some left over papers that I found together with the stamped image that I had already coloured and paper pieced. All I needed to do was use a couple of Martha Stewart punches for the snow flakes and stamp and emboss the word Peace (this stamp is part of a set by Crafter's Companion).

I'm entering this card in this week's Sketch N Stash Challenge 150

Seasons with Clarity

Here is my entry for the Clarity Stamp Challenge for October. The theme this month is seasons.

I've used a clarity stencil brushed through with Distress Inks. I then masked off the different heart apertures and stamped a scene for each of the seasons.

I then made a background sheet to mount it on using my gelli plate, distress inks and then stamping onto the plate with one of Clarity's stamps. I then pulled a print and used Antique Linen Distress Ink to stamp the same leaf stamp onto the paper before mounting my design.

Silhouettes

This challenge at CD Sunday has been chosen by Carol and the team have made some lovely inspiration for you so do visit their blogs and take a look.

I've used Wishing on a Star CD from Katy Sue Designs for the main image. The verse is a stamp I got free with a magazine. The dies are tattered lace. I like the little seeds from the dandelion clock. Appeals to my inner child!

Have fun and I look forward to visiting your blog soon.

Christmas is Coming

Jenny has chosen our theme at CD Sunday Challenge Blog this time and she has reminded us all that 'Christmas is Coming'. I'm grateful to Jenny for making me focus on how many cards I need to make and maybe this year I can avoid any last minute panics by starting nice and early (well I can always hope!).

I've used A Winter Walk in the Countryside CD by Creative Crafting World this week to make my card. This is one of my favourites at the moment and I am busy making quite a few Christmas cards using these images. 

I started by making an 8 x 8 card using two sheets of A4 (partly because I wanted to use the same colour for the frame but also because I have far too much A4 card in my craft room and I need to use some of it!). I then cut a slightly smaller square in dark brown to mat everything onto. The embossed frame was cut using Spellbinder dies and an 8 x 8 embossing folder from Crafter's Companion. This has been raised up with foam tape to give some depth. The inner gold frame has been cut using smaller Spellbinder dies from the same set. The bow is from the CD and the twigs, pine cones and flower are all dies. 

I do hope you will join in our challenge and remember you don't have to just make a card or even make the whole project from a CD, just use an element and don't forget to let us know which CD you have used - the rest can be anything, stamping, digis or decoupage.

Just to say .....

I've made this card using a Clarity stencil and some Clarity stamps together with Distress Inks. I thought this might make a nice new home card.

I'm entering this in the Clarity Challenge this month

A Big Birthday

This week's theme at CD Sunday is A card for a male birthday from Wendy. She is challenging us to make one of those 'difficult men' cards! 

I've used La Pashe The Big One and Crafter's Companion Everyday for the backing paper. 

This card has an aperture for the front with the main image from the Flippin Men section of the CD decoupaged both front and back onto acetate. The backing sheet is on the inside of the card. 

I used a sheet of bubble paper from Crafter's Companion for the front of the card. I like this particular paper - useful for lots of backgrounds. 

Here is the view inside:

Happily Ever After

Well it's time for another challenge at CD Sunday and this time Caz has chosen 'Happily Ever After' as the theme for this fortnight.

I've used a decoupage image from Best of La Pashe 2012. The words are a Crafter's Companion die, the flowers are from Cheery Lyn and I think the leaves might be Marianne.

Don't forget to visit the other DT blogs to see more inspiration and join in this challenge.

Get Well Soon

The challenge this time around at CD Sunday is for anyone who has been feeling poorly. The theme chosen by Sue is Get Well and here is my card.

I used a couple of backing sheets from Makey Bakey Mice from Crafter's Companion for the backing papers inside and out and the main image is from You're never too old by Card Creations Plus.

I chose this image for a golfing friend of ours who has recently been in hospital, but thankfully he is recovering nicely now.

It is a pop up card -

and here is the inside.

I've taken a side view so that you can see the layers.

I'd like to wish anyone who is not feeling too well this morning a speedy recovery and suggest that maybe some gentle card making and crafting might be just the answer to help. xx

Pretty Birdie

I started with some shaving foam and ink to make the background and then used a small corner stamp from Clarity to build a frame. Inside the frame I stamped the beautiful bird the words and two tiny birds holding each end. I used Spectrum Noir pencils to colour in the bird. I then trimmed back the card and mounted it on a toning card and then onto a white 8 x 8 card.

This is for this month's Clarity Challenge Blog.

Quilted Fun

This time it's my turn to chose the theme for the CD Sunday Challenge and I've chosen Quilted Fun.

I hope you will enjoy this challenge and join in. All you have to do is remember to use something from a CD and let us know which one - just in case it's one we don't already have and need to go shopping! lol

I used Paintbox Poppets and Bebunni Birthday for the backing papers, both CDs are from Crafter's Companion. The stamped circle,  flower and leaf dies are from Marianne. I used a mixture of paper piecing and colouring for the little rabbit. The stamped sentiment is from Lily of the Valley.

Food Glorious Food!

It's Wynn's turn this time to choose the theme at CD Sunday and this time it's all about food. I've decided to have honey and invited a couple of old bears along to join in. Thanks to Winnie the Pooh we know that all bears love honey!

Here are the last two lines of the poem The Old Vicarage, Grantchester by Rupert Brooke

Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is there honey still for tea?

If you would like to know more about him you will find it here.

I've used a Crafter's Companion CD called Meadow Cottage Bears. The embossing folder is also from CC. The teddies have been decoupaged.  I've used a couple of Memory Box dies for the hive and bumble bees. I drew the trail for the bees using a 0.3 micron pen. 

I made this card for a friend who loves her teddy bears and it just happens to be her birthday today! 

I hope you enjoy our challenge and will join us this time around. xx

Anything Goes with Clarity

Ingredients:

Clarity stencil
Bundled Sage and Peeled Paint Distress Inks
Black Micron Pen
Spectrum Noir Pencils



I'm entering this card in this month's Clarity Challenge 17 - Anything Goes

Kind and Caring Thoughts

Our theme at CD Sunday Challenge this week has been chosen by Christine. 

I used If Flowers Could Talk CD by Joanna Sheen which features Paintings by Jayne Netley Mayhew and Poerty by Patience Strong. A wonderful combination and useful for so many occasions. 

I used a very useful die by Cheery Lyn to cut a sheet of A4 card and make the step card. It is so much easier than measuring! All I had to do then is decorate it and you even get the dies to cut the papers to size. I just added a couple of die cut swirls and flowers - Ta dah!

Now it's over to you. Happy crafting!

Round Again

This fortnight it is Carol's turn to choose a theme for the CD Sunday Challenge and as well as using a CD we are recycling all sorts of things. 

I started with an empty cereal box and a container for gravy granules.

I started by cutting out a circle of cardboard to make a brim. I used a bowl to draw around to get the right size (or you could use a circular die if you want to be really accurate).

I printed off two of the backing papers from The Age of Steam CD by Jem's Designs and covered all the cardboard in one of the backing papers. I made a hat band with another backing paper and also used the same paper for the base.  I then used a PVA glue to attach the two parts. Once everything was dry I gently curved the brim on two sides just to give it a bit of shape. I then added some stripey ribbon, a die cut bow, a skull charm, feathers and some peel off cog shapes.

You can see the hat pins in this photo. 

I've used mine to hold some Spectrum Noir pens but stencil brushes would look good too. In fact anything that is rolling around your desk and needs to be tidy!

Please do visit CD Sunday and see how you can join in the challenge. I really enjoyed this one and think it is great - lots of possibilities. 

Father's Day

This is the card I made for my husband from our three cats, Daisy, Bramble and Poppy.

I used a Clarity Stamp stencil with Distress Inks brushed through. The sentiment is also from Clarity. The cat stamps are from an A4 sheet of cat images from Joanna Sheen and the paw is a wooden stamp.

This card is for my Dad - long gone but never forgotten. A lot of my childhood memories are of going to watch him play cricket so this little image from Christine Haworth seemed just perfect. I love the sentiment which is one from Crafter's Companion. I've also used the With Love stamp from Clarity again.

The stepper card has been cut using a die from Cherry Lyn Designs. Soooooo much easier than all that measuring!

Enjoy the Ride!

I've used a topper and greeting from The Best of La Pashe CD for my DT card this fortnight (don't forget the CD Sunday Challenge Blog has gone fortnightly which gives you more time to join in).

Jenny has chosen our theme this week and it is Dies. Most of us must have enough to start a shop these days so show us what you've got and make a project using some of those lovely dies.

I have used one by Crafter's Companion for the background paper which is from Buzz Craft and a die cut bow (I've searched to see if I could find the packaging for this but to no avail but it might be one I ordered from America). Anyway there are lots of very similar ones out there now.

Rememberance

We were in France with friends recently when I noticed a field full of beautiful red poppies and that has been my inspiration for my card for this month's Claritystamp Challenge.

As it is the centenary of the First World War it is also dedicated to my Great Grandfather Alfred Bertie Quarrington  5 November 1870 - 26 March 1915 (Killed in Action).

The National Roll of the Great War states as follows:

Quarrington, A B, Private, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (attached R E)

He volunteered in September 1914 and in November proceeded to the Western Front where he did gallant service in many engagements and was unhappily killed by a sniper when coming off mining duty on March 26 1915. He was buried at Cambrai and was entitled to the 1914-1915 Star and the General Service and Victory Medals.

"His memory is cherished with pride"

Here is my card:

I've used the following:

Poppy seed heads stencil from Clarity

Antique Linen

Old Paper

Poppy stamp from Clarity

Sentiment stamp from Clarity

Alcohol pens and pencils to add colour 

Thank you for looking. 

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Caz has chosen the theme this week for CD Sunday and there are some lovely 'At the Seaside' cards for you to have a look at over on the CD Sunday Challenge Blog this week.

I've used a backing paper and image from Joanna Sheen's Victorian Birthdays CD. I used a Spellbinders border die to make the waves. The splash is a Magnolia die. The bunting is a Joanna Sheen Signature Die and the stamped words I've had for ages and were a magnetic stamp from Rubbadubbadoo.

I do hope you will join in the fun this week.

One for the Boys

Morning everyone and what a beautiful sunny day it is.

It is my turn to choose this week's theme for Team B's challenge which is 'One for the Boys'. It can be boys of any age (even ones with four legs) so let your imagination roam free.

For my DT card for CD Sunday Challenge this week I have used Polkadoodle's CD Pretty Tuff. I love the backing papers on here which are going to be useful for so many occasions.

I've matted the bp onto red card to start. I then took a Crafter's Companion embossilicous folder with coordinations card and sanded the image back. This then also went onto the red card. The large note is a Marianne die and the smaller notes are a Tattered Lace die. There are some great images on the CD and this is just one of them. I cut around him leaving a tiny white border and mounted him on foam pads.

I then took some of the Clarity stamp word chain stamps to stamp direct onto my card using a black Versafine ink pad. I bet some of you are now thinking 'she must be mad stamping onto a finished card' but I did it that way around so that I could see exactly where I wanted the words. :-)

I'm looking forward to seeing your creations this week.

Just a note

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Digidesign Challenge Blog - use those markers
Friday Sketch Challenge - 69 by Claudia

Dig that crazy beat

I started by folding a sheet of pale blue centura card to make an A5 card. I then took a piece of Crafters Companion Kraft card and used a stencil and glitter paste to make the star panel. While that was drying I took a sheet of backing paper I had printed from the Angelica and Adam Collection CD from Crafters Companion and ran it through an 8 x 8 Embossalicious folder of musical notes. I then used Peacock Feathers and Black Soot Distress Inks to rub over the embossed areas. I mounted the three panels onto some contrasting centura card. I stamped my main image onto Neenah card. I used a couple of sheets from the Angelica and Adam paper blocks to do some paper piecing. The rest I coloured in using Spectrum Noir pens and my new pencils :-). The Happy Birthday sentiment is from a Popcorn the Bear stamp set.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Crafter's Companion Masculine
Sunday Sketch & Stamp 206 Julie's Sketch

Happiness is time spent with a friend

Team A are playing at CD Sunday this week and Wynn has chosen Victorian Beauties for her theme.

I came across this image and backing paper on Joanna Sheen's Victorian Birthdays CD while I was looking for something else.

I started by covering the whole of a 7 x 7 card with the backing paper and then mounted the image on to two layers of card that matches the main colours. I then used some die cuts to embellish. I used the lovely sentiment stamp from Barbara Gray at Clarity which you can find here. The die cut flowers and leaves are a Spellbinder die designed by Sue Wilson.

When I was growing up my two best friends were sisters and the three of us were always together. We first met when I was 5 and 54 years later we are still friends so this card is all about friendship.

Don't forget to visit team A's blogs this week for some wonderful inspiration.

The Gelli Girls

Ingredients:

Clarity stamps:
Lily
Annabel
Happiness is time spent

Clarity Tangle stencil

Gelli plate scraps

Distress inks:
Spun Sugar
Wild Honey
Tattered Rose
Scattered Straw

I stamped Lily and Annabel onto Theuva card using a Memento black ink pad and then stamped them again onto some paper I had from playing with the Gelli Plate and used this to paper piece the two figures (hence the Gelli Girls). I used alcohol markers to add some colour to the girls. 

I then stamped the words and used a Spellbinder die to cut the shapes out and used Spun Sugar Distress Ink to colour the edges before removing the die. 

For the background I took a sheet of centura pearl paper and the Clarity Tangle stencil and swirled a mixture of Distress Inks (Wild Honey, Tattered Rose, Scattered Straw) through the stencil.

You can find this month's Clarity challenge 'It's all about the Words' here.

Here Comes the Sun(flowers)

Wendy has chosen the theme of Ribbon, Lace and Gems for the CD Sunday Challenge this week and it's the turn of Team B to show you what we can do.

I have used this lovely backing paper from Crafter's Companion Popcorn the Bear triple CD set and this particular design is from the Florals CD. I mounted the paper onto an A5 centura pearl card. I've used a       Woodware stamp in black memento ink and then done a bit of doodling in the petals using a micron pen and alcohol pens to add some colour. These stamps are great as they are designed to add card candi. In the smaller circles I added my gems. I then edged the white card with an alcohol pen and added some pretty lace along one edge I mounted the whole thing onto my card and then just added a satin ribbon bow.

You can see more ideas on the CD Sunday Challenge Blog here.

Deco Drama

It's Team B again this week at CD Sunday and Carol has chosen our theme of Deco Drama. I've used Debbie Moore's Art Deco Galaxy CD backing paper and main image on a 7 x 10 card. 

Only a short post this week as I am away for a couple of days but I do hope you will visit CD Sunday Challenge Blog and join in this week's challenge. 

A New Hat for Easter

I've made this card for my friend's birthday and am also entering it in the Crafter's Companion challenge for April. I used Everyday with Barkley CD for the image and backing paper using some of my favourite colours. I used a Crafter's Companion 8 x 8 embossing folder on the backing paper and then used a distress ink (Brushed Corduroy) over the top. I love the 8 x 8 size embossing folders and find them so useful. I stamped the sentiment out of the coordinating stamp set and added a few die cut flowers.

In the Pink

I've just used 2 Clarity stamps for my design, Celebrate from the word chain collection and Annabel. I stamped Annabel three times onto Clarity card using the Annabel mask and then used alcohol pens to add some colour. I also had fun doing some doodle ooodleing. :-) and then added a border using a black micron pen. I then matted it onto some variegated pink paper and then onto white card. I used the same paper to stamp an all over background using Annabel again with distress ink. The word Celebrate adds the finishing touch.

I'm entering this card in the Clarity Stamp Challenge this month.