Tuesday 28 June 2011

Tilda's Half Moon Shaped Card & Freebie

There is a new challenge today at Top Tip Tuesday, and the theme this week is "T for ......?".  Your creation should have as many things beginning with the letter T as possible !!!

We're sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who are offering a generous $20 voucher for their store and, as if that was not enough, Pizzazz Aplenty are offering a huge stash of crafting goodies to one lucky winner, so get your thinking caps on for T is for .....?


Here's my card.  My T's are :
Tilda
Thinking of You (sentiment), 
Two birds, 
Two flowers and 
Tried something new (making my own shaped card)



How I made the base card:
I actually made this shaped card by cutting two large circles: one from plain card which is folded in half to be used as the base card, and the other circle cut from pink patterned paper, which I then cut in half.  I then cut out 16 small circles and glued them around the edge of the two patterned paper half circles.

See the picture below which shows the reverse side of one of the patterned half circles with the little circles stuck around the edge, and also the finished result after the two semi circles with their little circle additions are stuck onto the base card.

Tip : Ensure that you attach an even number of mini circles on each half circle, so that the card stands up straight and does not lean to one side.  For example, there are 8 mini circles for each half moon on my sample below, ie 4 mini circles attached to each side of the centre point of each half moon.  The balancing point is therefore in between two mini circles so the card does not roll about, even if the embellies are weighted to one side.



Card Recipe:
  • Image - Magnolia Tilda and Magnolia Birds
  • Sentiment - One of my own Freebies (see below)
  • Papers - Summertime Designs
  • Colouring mediums - Promarkers and Copics (mix 'n' match, cos I don't have enough of each!).
  • Nesties - Lacey circles
  • 10mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
  • Embossing folder - Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
  • From my stash - Pearls, ribbons, Stickles, White gel pen
Please pop on over to the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

Freebie:
As promised above, here is my Sentiment freebie that I've used above.  You're free to download it if you like it; click on the image for a larger version, then right click and 'save picture as' to save to your own computer. 

My conditions are as follows:
  1. Please become a follower, then you will see more freebies as they are posted,
  2. Please leave a comment on this post to let me know you've downloaded it, and
  3. Please don't share my freebies directly with other people.
I also adore seeing your creations using my digi sentiments, so I'd really love you to send me an email with links to your creations so I can pop over for a peek!

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Monday 27 June 2011

Teddy Bear's Picnic

There is a new challenge today at Stamp Fairy Challenge Blog, and the theme to play along with this week is a Teddy Bear's Picnic recipe; a teddy themed project with 3 flowers, 2 ribbons and a sentiment.

I decided to make a shaped card, mainly because I received delivery of my very first Grand Nesties in the post on Saturday morning from the lovely Cindy at Scrapalicious USA, and therefore I wanted to use it straight away!!!

The Grand Nesties are absolutely huge though, and the largest two are even too big for my Big Shot.  I actually used the smallest one to cut the spotty paper (which is actually more yellow than it seems to appear in the piccy) and the next smallest nestie to cut and emboss the shaped base card.  I really like the shape and think I'll be making a few more of these !!!  However, I've got a feeling that the three smallest ones are going to be used loads and the other 3 will stay in the packet, for a while at least!!!  Doh !!!



Card Recipe:
Please pop on over to the Stamp Fairy Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our recipe challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Blog Hop at Incy Wincy

Incy Wincy Designs - 100th Challenge BLOG HOP!




Welcome to Incy Wincy Designs 100th challenge!

To celebrate this momentous occasion, we are having a blog hop with TONS of prizes!!!
All you need to do is hop to EACH Design Team member’s blogs AND enter into our challenge. That's it, easy eh?? Our challenge this week is SUMMERTIME.


We want to see your summertime cards, scrapbook layouts or projects AND we want you to use BLUE as your major colour in your creation!!!! 

Each DT member has at least one sponsor but I've been extra lucky to have 2 sponsors, so there are LOTS of prizes up for grabs.  Be sure to follow through the blog hop and comment as you go along, and then add your Summertime Blues theme creation back on the challenge blog when you're done.

As promised, I've got two wonderful sponsors for this week, and my creations using their fab images are:

First Sponsor Stamping with the Dragon
Card Recipe:

Second Sponsor Digi Doodle Shop 
Card Recipe:


OK, so I got a bit carried away and made another card sample for Digi Doodle Shop as I could not resist this image for a summertime card. It reminds me of my dad who can fall asleep just about anywhere!!!

Card Recipe:


You should have arrived here from the Incy Wincy Challenge Site so you're starting in the right place.

Leave a comment on each DT's blog to show some love as you hop through the blogs! 

When you get to the end, don't forget to link up with INLINKZ and leave a comment!!!  

Are you ready to start celebrating?!?!? 

Well, get on your hopping shoes because here is the order of the hop: 

Annette (Me !!)

Thank you so much for hopping with us!!!! Good luck & HAVE FUN!!!!

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting

Saturday 25 June 2011

A Fairy Sparkly Bag

There is a new challenge today at 2 Sisters Challenges, and the theme to play along with this week is Fairies.  We're sponsored by the Stamping Boutique who are supplying the prize this week.

I decided to try something new this week, and have decorated a cotton bag instead of making a card.  I really enjoyed doing this, although it took flippin' ages to do, because I hand made the flower which involved me dusting off my age old knitting needles.  I also spent a while finding a pattern for a knitted flower as most patterns are for crocheted flowers, and I have no idea how to crochet.

I used copics to colour the image, and the colours bled quite badly (which I'd luckily discovered by testing on a scrap of the fabric) so I had to learn how far away to stop colouring so that it only bled as far as the line of the image.  It took a bit of practice, and still bled a little bit, so I edged the whole image with a soft grey for shadow.  I think I've got away with it !!!

For decoration, I stitched on some lace to the top of the bag, and then threaded some lilac wool through the gaps in the lace to give it some colour.  I made a bow from lilac ribbon and stitched it on to the lace.  I then added some stickles to the image, and some liquid pearls to the corners to add some interest.


Project Recipe:

Here is a close up of the image:


And here is a close up of my knitted flower:


Please pop on over to the 2 Sisters Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Friday 24 June 2011

Having a Snail of a Time at StampFairy

There is a new release of uber-cute Snail images out today at Stamp Fairy.  I've made a little card from one of the newly released images.  I'd actually wanted to make a 'moving home' card, but unfortunately my printed decided to stop working (literally half way through printing a page with my sentiment on it) and as I couldn't get it fixed when I wanted to get this one coloured up and ready to make, I had to work with papers and a sentiment that I'd previously printed and was just in my 'scraps box'.  I hope the card still works, even though it is a mish-mash of bits from my scraps and left overs.


Card Recipe:
Please pop on over to Stamp Fairy to see the newly released snails digi images.  Here is the preview of the full set for you to drool over, including the fab freebie sentiment !


I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Wednesday 22 June 2011

Back in action

To celebrate fixing my printer problem that has been bugging me all week, I've got a little birthday card to share.  I'm a little addicted to these papers, they're so pretty and I love the faded look, so I'm using them for the second day in a row!  However, today's image uses Penny Black as it seem ages since I've inked up my fave PB stamps (plus my printer was on the blink at the time I coloured it, so I was going nowhere with my lovely digi stamps).



Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Tuesday 21 June 2011

A Hugs Card (and my first Tutorial at TTT)

It is meant to be the longest day today (UK) which is great (unless it rains all day like it did yesterday).  However, the down side is that the days will start getting shorter from now onwards.  I always dislike this day for that very reason.  We've not even had our summer and already the days are getting shorter !!!

Anyway, to cheer me up, there is a new challenge today at Top Tip Tuesday, and the theme to play along with this week is "Cross It" - either a criss cross card, or use ribbon / twine / paper weaving in a "criss cross" way.

Not only was this my first week of actually following a tutorial on the challenge (last week was a "free for all" tipper week), I actually offered to write the tutorial (there is nothing like jumping in at the deep end !!!).  But to be honest, I had wanted to make a criss cross card (or a 'hugs' card) for a while, so when the opportunity arose to make one as a tutorial for TTT, how could I turn it down!!!
I do hope that you can follow it, and I really look forward to seeing your creations this week.

Click here to see my tutorial.  It is a great type of card for putting gifts in for friends, like gift certificates, theatre tickets, holiday vouchers etc.

Our featured Tipper will receive a prize from Stash Books, and our random entry winner will receive 5 digis from Di's Digi Download.

For my card, I've used an adorable image from Wiff of Joy, that was given to me by my lovely Incy Wincy & StampFairy teamie, Chris - Thanks so much Chris, I really love it.


Card Recipe:
Please pop on over to the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our "Cross It" challenge.  I really look forward to seeing your tips and creations this week. I'd also love to hear your comments on my first tutorial for TTT.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Monday 20 June 2011

Three cheers for a sketch challenge

There is a new challenge today at Stamp Fairy Challenge Blog, and it is sketch time !!!

Here's my card:


And here's the sketch to play along with this week:


I'm really excited because I've recently bought some Copics which are now complimenting my range of Promarkers, as I'm mixing and matching between both ranges of colours as I need them, so there is a bit of both on this card! 

I cut out the image and layered her onto foam pads on top of the embossed square.  I bought the butterfly punch on Saturday in my local craft shop (after wanting one for ages) and edged the wings with purple Stickles.  I went a bit mad with the Stickles and edged the pom poms too, and then added more bling with some shiny pearls dotted around.  You can still see a bit of the glue on one of them cos I didn't wait for it to dry before I took the photo.  Doh!!!  

Here's a close up of the cute little glittered image:


Card Recipe:
Please pop on over to the Stamp Fairy Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

There is also a great new release out at Stamp Fairy today, and a whole new character; Tommy. Here's the preview of Tommy Sports. Check him out at Stamp Fairy.


I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Sassy Sketch at Incy Wincy

This week's challenge at Incy Wincy is a sketch by me !!!  I really hope that you like this one, and hope that you're inspired to join our challenge which is sponsored  by Sassy Studio.  Here's the sketch:


Card Recipe:

I hope that you'll join in with our sketch challenge at Incy Wincy, and I look forward to seeing your fab creations using my sketch.

I've been inspired by :


Happy crafting.

Saturday 18 June 2011

A Sticky Situation

There is a new challenge today at One Stop Craft Challenge, and the theme to play along with this week is 'get sticky' - use at least one sticker and we're sponsored by Sassy Studio.  My stickers are butterfly peel- offs stuck onto peach coloured card, and cut out, folded back to make the wings stand out, and stuck to the card.

Card Recipe:

Please pop on over to the One Stop Craft Challenge to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Father's Day

This week at 2 Sisters Challenge blog the theme is For a Guy.  It doesn't have to be for Father's day, but as it is June, I thought I would make a Father's day card.  We're sponsored this week by Robyn's Fetish.

Card Recipe:


Please pop on over to the 2 Sisters challenge blog to see the creations by the other members of the design team and to enter your card in our 'For a Guy' challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Friday 17 June 2011

The Jolly Roger

There is a new release out at Stamp Fairy today; Pirates!!!   I feel like I need to have a parrot on my shoulder as I write this post!  (will a cat on my lap be good enough?)

Anyway, I've created something a bit different to my normal card creations, and made a little bookmark this week.  I'm not sure it is the most creative thing I've made recently, but based on the fact that my hubby is a real book worm, we can never have enough bookmarks in this house!

[Update, even before going to press he's nicked it, and it is already marking his page in a large volume that he's currently reading!!!]


Bookmark Recipe:
Here is a preview of the new pirates set:


I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Tuesday 14 June 2011

My "Maiden Voyage" at Top Tip Tuesday

It's my first week on the design team at Top Tip Tuesday.  You could say it is my "maiden voyage" with the team, so what better image than a sailing theme, also ideal for Father's Day, which is this Sunday!

The new challenge today is a nice easy one to welcome the new team members without too much pressure, and it is Anything Goes.   We're sponsored by 2 fab companies, Robyn's Fetish and Stitchy Bear who have kindly supplied some digi images for the design team to showcase.

I've used a half fold card and made the image pop up from the base card so that it gives a bit of variety.  I always struggle with cards for men, because it is my natural instinct to add bows, flowers and other cute and pink things.  I seem to be at a loss to know what to put on a masculine card so decided to give it some shape.  I then added a few buttons, but managed to sneak in some stickles on the sea, as I wanted the sea to shimmer.  What do you think - still masculine !?!?


Card Recipe:
Please pop on over to the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our open challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Monday 13 June 2011

Hi-De-Hi, Campers !!!

There is a new challenge today at Stamp Fairy Challenge Blog, and the theme to play along with this week is "masculine".  I've decided to use Father's day as my theme, and as my dad loves camping, I thought it was a great excuse to colour up "Lenny Camping"; one of the recently released sets at Stamp Fairy.

I'm really getting keen on decorating the inside of my cards to complement the front cover, so I've used a second image from the same Lenny Camping set.  OK, so I admit that my dad now has upgraded his tent to a camper van, but he is still a boy scout at heart !!!

[update : before this post has even "gone to press", my hubby has now decided he wants this card for HIS father.  I guess it is appropriate because my father-in-law likes camping too (the "proper" (ie tent) variety of camping - none of this fancy camper-van camping!!!), so looks like I'm gonna have to make another card now for my own dad.  Doh!!!]

Card Recipe:
Front of card :


Inside of card :

Please pop on over to the Stamp Fairy Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our masculine challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Little Puppy

This week at the Incy Wincy Challenge the theme is Father's Day / Masculine.  We're sponsored by our very own teamie, Nikki and her fab site Limited Runs.  I've used her image "Little Puppy" on my card, and even though he's a cutie, he is still perfect for a male themed card.  Please stop by her digi shop for some great images and fab inspiration.

Card Recipe:

Please pop on over to the Incy Wincy Challenge blog to see the other fab designs by our teamies, and to enter our Male / Father's day themed challenge.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Saturday 11 June 2011

Soak Up Some Fun

This week at 2 Sisters Challenge blog the theme is a recipe : 1 image, 2 papers and 3 different embellishments.  We're sponsored by 2 great companies this week, Pattie's Creations and Whimsie Doodles.  I've decided to use pearls, flowers and a ribbon as my 3 embellishments.

Card Recipe:


Please pop on over to the 2 Sisters Challenge blog to see the creations by the other members of the design team, and to enter our 1,2,3 recipe challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations.

I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.

Friday 10 June 2011

Peeker Kids

TGI Friday !!!  Friday means new release and FREEBIE at Stamp Fairy.  Today it is Peeker Kids and the freebie is a flower.  I've decided to keep my card really simple today, and created it almost totally digitally before printing it out.  I created a wordart panel and put my Peeker Kid (the png version) over the top so that she looks like she is just gripping the top of the panel.  I added the freebie flowers to the bottom corners, flipping one around so they both face inwards.  

For the inside of the card, I used the same papers and layout, but flipped the girlie round too, so she was facing the other way.  I also made her a bit smaller on this version so the panel could be enlarged for writing my message.  I then printed both bits onto card, coloured in the images and added my embelishments.

This card is for one of my oldest friends (she's actually a bit younger than me, but you know what I mean!), who now lives a fair few miles away in Southampton.  Miss you Jules!  Happy Birthday.

Front:


Inside:

Card Recipe:
This is the preview of the full peeker kids set:

I've been inspired by :
Happy Crafting

Thursday 9 June 2011

Lenny Celebrations

I've got a cute little Lenny card to share with you today.  The main image is actually from the Lenny Happy New Year set, but I think he is ideal for a celebration at any time of year.  And wearing his little tie, he seems quite suited to a card for a man.  

I used some gems on the bubbles popping out of the champagne, and cut out the image twice, layering him up on sticky pads.  The sentiment is actually one of my own, but Stamp Fairy have a much better one that includes Lenny's face and so would better match the image.  

Orange isn't really my fave, but I quite like these softer shades and it was the papers which inspired me to try the colour, and I think it is passable as a masculine colour (well, it isn't pink or purple, is it!!)

I've used a Lenny Peeker bear on the inside of the card, peeking over the panel where the handwritten message will go. 

Front :


Inside :


Full Card View :

Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.