Sunday, 20 January 2013

Bookworm Geek (and another interim FREEBIE)

I'm using one of the new Saturated Canary images from The Stamp Basket today and quite a clean & simple card.  I don't often use green and yellow, but these bee themed papers are really cute.

Again I've tried hard when colouring her hair, using both copics and pencil highlights.  I'm still not sure about it though.




This image is currently ON SALE at The Stamp Basket.


See my cards available to buy on eBay
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All items are from The Stamp Basket as follows:
Pop over to The Stamp Basket to see the lovely array of products on offer.


Freebie:
As promised above, here is my freebie for today.  It's one of the sentiments that was requested on my 'competition' post and was suggested by Mojca.   I hope she likes it!!  They'll be more to come, as I work my way through my favourites, so become a follower if you want to pick up some more (or if you want to help yourself to my older ones!)

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, but please send them over to collect it themselves.
  4. Please give me credit when you use them and post your finished creations on your blog.
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

Saturday, 19 January 2013

Amy (& a sale on Saturated Canary stamps)

Today I'm using Whimsy's Amy from The Stamp Basket.  I've opted for a beautiful purple colour scheme for this card, and really tried harder with my colouring of the image.  I've coloured her first with copics, and then done some highlighting and shading with my pencils.  I worked for ages on her hair with both the copics and pencils, and it went from looking worse than my usual attempts can manage, to being what I now consider to be adequate.  I think I need to revisit the hair colouring department!! LOL.

I added some tufts of grass at her feet using a flicking motion with really sharp pencils in a few different shades of green.

I've also included two lovely dies, both coloured in some way; the picket fence was cut in white card, and then coloured with copics and pencils, and the honeyblossom sprig was cut in purple card and I used a dark purple copic to give the flower centres some depth before adding a huge pearl centre.

I've stitched around the image and DP panels, added a beautiful bow in the gorgeous sparkly sheer white ribbon, a few pearls and some flowers, and voilĂ !


While I've got your attention I wanted to give you the heads-up that there's a sale on the BRAND NEW Saturated Canary stamps that have only just been released.  Pop over to The Stamp Basket for some great discounts on them.

See my cards available to buy on eBay
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All items are from The Stamp Basket as follows:
Pop over to The Stamp Basket to see the lovely array of products on offer.



I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.  

Friday, 18 January 2013

I 'ink' I love you

There is a new release and freebie today at StampFairy which is Mimi Valentine and I've again tried to paint her with my Distress Ink re-inkers (hence the blog post title).  I've opted for softer colours than yesterday. I've struggled a bit with the hair, but I like the softness of the colouring on the envelope and (bottom half of) her dress.  The card is a J-fold style as I was a tad short on time when I was making this card, and these ones always seem to be a bit quicker for me as there can be fewer embellishments as the 'fun' is in the folds of the card itself.



See my cards available to buy on eBay
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Card Recipe:
Please pop on over to StampFairy to see the newly released digi images.


Here's a preview of the set being released today:


    I've been inspired by:
    Happy Crafting

    Thursday, 17 January 2013

    Distressed at Distress Inks

    We have some temporary glitches at Lili's Little Fairies as our leader Jacqui is offline with computer problems at the moment.  I'd made this card for this week's challenge, but we're going to have a wee break until she's returned, so as I'd scheduled this post, I'm sharing my card anyway.

    I've been practising my painting with distress inks again.  I still think I need to keep practising to get better with the inks, but I've now got some paint brushes that I'm happier with, and also some good watercolour paper, so it's really now just down to my ability. I can't blame my results on poor quality materials now, can I!



    See my cards available to buy on eBay

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

    Wednesday, 16 January 2013

    Simply Jake

    To mark the mid-way point of the A for Aminals challenge at the ABC Christmas Challenge I've made a card using Jake Poinsettias from Stampfairy.  I love his cute expression.

    This is a real C&S card from me, so different from my usual style, but the papers were quite busy so I didn't want to splatter gun it with embellishments.



    See my cards available to buy on eBay

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

    Tuesday, 15 January 2013

    Sending you owl my love

    We're half way through the Fur or Feathers challenge at Top Tip Tuesday, and because I did a 'fur' card for my DT card last week, I've chosen to make a 'feathers' themed card to mark the mid-way point.

    At least one of my New Year's resolutions is continuing, as I'm still stitching (even the fiddly little sentiment saw some stitching action!).  I'm not sure about the rest of the resolutions....

    I've used a cute pair of owls, written a matching 'owl' themed sentiment, and even used papers with owls on them!  That's a whole lot of owls!

    Warning :
    Look away now if you don't like pink!
    Continue at your peril !



    See my cards available to buy on eBay
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    Card Recipe:
    • Image - Funny Owls from Stampfairy
    • Typed Sentiment (font = "where stars shine the brightest")
    • Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
    • First Edition Sweet Owl Paper Pad
    • Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
    • Wooden Heart (from my lovely teamie Samantha - thank you honey)
    • From my stash -  Pearls, Sewing machine
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting.

    Sunday, 13 January 2013

    Little Lady Bug & Interim FREEBIES

    I'm using another Saturated Canary rubber stamp from The Stamp Basket today.  This one is called Little Lady Bug.

    It's turned out as a monochrome red card, but she just seemed to need some red and I think I got carried away!

    I've also glittered her to the max with glossy accents  crystal glamour dust  and a touch of Stickles just to top it off!




    See my cards available to buy on eBay

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    All items are from The Stamp Basket as follows:

    Freebies.
    As promised, I've got a couple of freebies to share with you today.  Hopefully you've seen my freebie sentiment competition which is running until the end of January.



    Well, I've got two interim 'winners' already, because Helen and Chris each left a comment on my competition post saying they needed their sentiments fairly urgently for some creations they were making at short notice.  So, I thought I'd make a start on the long list of requests!

    I'm going to make as many as possible, but you're gonna have to bear with me as there are already quite a few requests!   But keep entering your ideas on the competition post, and I'll do my best to get to as many as possible.  I'll probably publish some more 'winners' during this month too from those already requested, so keep your eyes peeled and pop back to collect your freebies!

    You're free to download any of my freebies; 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, but please send them over to collect it themselves.
    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!





    Today's card has been inspired by:
    Happy crafting.

    Saturday, 12 January 2013

    Honeyblossom Picked Sweet

    Today's card uses an Elizabeth Bell image in some lovely spring fresh colours.  I tried so hard to colour her hair, doing lots of "flick" type movements with my copics, but I still don't think that it looks quite right.  More practice needed, I think!

    I coloured the pearls, and the pearl brad with my copics to match the pink theme, and maintained my new year's resolution to include stitching on my card (around the card base including the scalloped base edge which was a challenge in itself).

    I've also used my honeyblossom sprig die again, this time I've coloured it with my chalks rather than leave it plain pink.




    See my cards available to buy on eBay

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    All items are from The Stamp Basket as follows:
    Pop over to The Stamp Basket to see the lovely array of products on offer.



    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting.

    I've finally figured out how to zigzag!

    StampFairy are sponsoring my old teamies at One Stop Craft Challenge so I'm joining in as a guest designer for their challenge which starts today.  This was a bit of a rushed card as I was running late, but using pink as my main colour motivated me quite a bit!  The theme is 'new beginnings' so I've made a little baby girl card.  I've also managed to figure out how to do a zigzag stitch on my sewing machine. I think it hides my wonky stitching around the circle better than a straight stitch has been doing!  I do seem to stupidly keep picking these awkward shapes!



    See my cards available to buy on eBay
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    Card Recipe:
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy Crafting

    Friday, 11 January 2013

    A hint of pink ...

    There is a new release and freebie today at StampFairy and it's Herb Ribbons today. I've made another little gift tag all in pink.

    I'm not sure that Herb is too sure about all this pink that's surrounding him.  But since he's carrying the 'think pink' breast cancer awareness ribbon, and he's wearing a pair of fairy wings, I'm afraid it just had to be done!

    Sorry Herb!



    See my cards available to buy on eBay
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    Card Recipe:
    • Image - Herb Ribbons from Stamp Fairy
    • Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
    • Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
    • Magnolia Scalloped Tag
    • Glossy Accents
    • From my stash -  Stickles, Seam Binding
    Please pop on over to StampFairy to see the newly released digi images.


    Here's a preview of the set being released today:


      I've been inspired by:
      Happy Crafting

      Thursday, 10 January 2013

      Charming

      Assuming all goes well (I'm not sure what happened to last week's challenge) the theme today at Lili's Little Fairies is "Charming" and I've got yet another Christmas card to share.  This one was made for a customer so the sentiment is a custom one that I've made myself.

      His requirements were to use his wife's favourite things; fairies, hearts (I managed to get 4 on there!), glitter, pink and the sentiment that he'd requested.   Plus I managed to also get on some snowflakes, ribbon, bow, pearl brad, flowers, pearls, gems and a home-made pin.

      Phew.

      That's a whole lotta stuff for one lickle card!





      See my cards available to buy on eBay

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

      Wednesday, 9 January 2013

      Double Trouble with Barry Bear

      Despite it being January, it's Christmas every week at the ABC Christmas Challenge.  The theme this fortnight is an easy "A for Animal". We're being sponsored by Stampfairy and I've made 2 more circle step cards, both using Stampfairy's Barry bear. I've coloured him in grey for the first card, and brown in the second for some variation.  I don't usually colour Barry in brown, but he looks cute (and a bit younger!) so he may be brown more often now!



      And here's my second card, without the snowflake dies; just an embossed circle step card, two trees and my image.  Oh and a spot of snow!  Simples !!!




      See my cards available to buy on eBay

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      Card Recipe:
      • Image - Barry Winter 1 and Barry Winter 2 from Stampfairy
      • Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
      • My Favourite Things Snowflake Dies
      • Cuttlebug Snowflakes Embossing Folder
      • Go Kreate Large Scalloped Circle Dies
      • Marianne Design Tree die
      • Glossy Accents
      • Liquid Pearls
      • From my stash -  Stickles, Pearls
      I've been inspired by:
      Happy crafting.

      Tuesday, 8 January 2013

      Bicycle Bunny

      The theme today at Top Tip Tuesday is Fur or Feathers.  I've made a little gift-tag for my FIL who likes cycling, but I'm not sure whether the basket of flowers in the bunny's basket makes it a bit feminine!!!  I'll have to have a think about this one before I give it to him!

      Perhaps I should have laid off the Stickles too!

      Hopefully he's in touch with his feminine side.





      See my cards available to buy on eBay

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

      Sunday, 6 January 2013

      Tilly with (huge) Rose

      This is a Springtime card to cheer me up while the days are still short and dark.  This one features Tilly the dog with a HUGE rose.  I've kept it kind of simple, but used an oversize sentiment which I think matches the huge image too.

      Hope you like my spring fresh card.



      See my cards available to buy on eBay
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      All items are from The Stamp Basket as follows:
      Pop over to The Stamp Basket to see the lovely array of products on offer.



      I've been inspired by:
      Finally, don't forget my sentiment competition which started yesterday. Click on the image below to pop over to the competition post.


      Happy crafting.

      Saturday, 5 January 2013

      China Girl - and a Freebie "Competition"

      Ok, before I get onto my "competition", I've got a card to share first.   The Stamp Basket is now stocking some Saturated Canary stamps and I've got this gorgeous girlie to share with you today.  This was the first non-Christmas card that I've made this year, and I really loved it when I'd finished it.  I love the lilac colours and pretty papers.

      The flowers were a Christmas pressie from my lovely TTT and ABC Xmas teamie Samantha (thank you honey, I think they are perfect for this card).

      The pearls in the corner were originally white, but I coloured them with one of my copics (G24) so that they matched my card.  I also coloured the pearl in the middle of my brad which holds on my bow.

      As it was one of my new year's resolutions, I've also taken the time to do some stitching on my card (and then regretted it as I manoeuvred around the first part of the fancy shaped card base!!! LOL).  But overall, I'm really pleased with the finished card.  Hope you like her too.



      See my cards available to buy on eBay
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      Freebie Competition:

      Well it's been a while since I created any new sentiments, (see all my previous freebies here).   To be honest, I've been very lazy recently and just typed most of my sentiments recently, although I have made a couple of personalised ones for some special recipients, but I can't give those away since they're only suitable if you're making a card for a person with the same name !!! LOL

      Anyhoo, I'm going to try to make a few new sentiments, and I'm looking for new ideas.

      And that's where I need your help....

      Perhaps you can think of a seasonal, topical, or just plain sweet sentiment that you'd like to see in print.  But what I'd like is something that I can share with everyone, so not too restrictive.

      So, if you have any great ideas, leave them in a comment on this post, and if it grabs my interest, then I'll make it, and share it on my blog for you (and everyone else who's interested) to grab.

      I'll be honest and admit that the circle shaped sentiments are my favourite, and I can get about 3 to 4 words (top arc, middle banner, bottom arc) on those, so get your thinking caps on.

      If you think your sentiment would be suitable on a different shape, then you can add that suggestion too, but I'm more likely to pick something that will be useful to lots of my readers, so things that can be easily cut out, even if they don't have matching die shapes.

      So, what do you need to do? ...
      1. Leave your suggestions as comments on this post, 
      2. Ensure you're a follower of my blog, 
      3. Spread the word on your own blog if you have one (using the badge below and a link back to this post on your sidebar), and 
      4. Don't forget to check back at the end of the month to see if your idea has been picked.  
      Simples !
      There is no limit on the number of suggestions you can make, so pop back later in the month if you think of something else, and perhaps you'll see your idea in 'ink'!

      I'm also not going to restrict the 'winners' list, and I will choose as many suggestions that tickle my fancy!

      Have fun getting sentimental with me!!!

      I look forward to seeing your ideas.


      Card Recipe :
      All items are from The Stamp Basket as follows:
      Pop over to The Stamp Basket to see the lovely array of products on offer.



      I've been inspired by:
      Happy crafting.

      Friday, 4 January 2013

      Up in the Air

      StampFairy are sponsoring the Friday Sketch Challenge today and I've made a card using the sketch.  I usually prefer digis to rubber (I only have a few rubber stamps, except for my vast (and still growing) collection of LOTV images), but rubber does make a nice change from the digis, and this character looks like Toby who is one of my favourite StampFairy characters.

      I'm also still keeping up my new year's resolution to do stitching on my cards.  So far, so good!  I wonder how long it will last!



      And here's the sketch that I followed:



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      Card Recipe:
      • "In the Air" Stampfairy rubber stamp from Marianne Design
      • LOTV tag sentiment
      • Promarkers, Copics
      • First Edition Hideaway Papers
      • Glossy Accents
      • Liquid Pearls
      • Flowers were a Xmas gift from my lovely blogpal Samantha.  Thanks honey!
      Please pop on over to StampFairy to see the cute digi stamps.


      I've been inspired by:
      Happy Crafting

      Thursday, 3 January 2013

      Toboggan for Two

      The theme today at Lili's Little Fairies is to use two backing papers and although Christmas is over, I'm sharing a card that I didn't have chance to post during the holidays.

      I made it for a lovely lady who'd asked me to make Christmas cards for both her daughters and her husband.  And then her husband contacted me separately asking me to make one from him to his wife as she liked my cards so much.  So, because between them, the whole family was going to be receiving one of my cards, I decided to send the whole family a card from me, so I popped this one in their parcel!

      I hope they liked it!!

      I made the sentiment in Microsoft Word by slightly overlapping text boxes with their names in different fonts and colours until they fitted into the shape I needed to be able to use my Bistro Label die.



      See my cards available to buy on eBay

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

      Wednesday, 2 January 2013

      Let's Celebrate

      HAPPY NEW YEAR

      Stampfairy are sponsoring Creative Inspirations where the theme this week is 'Celebrations'.  It's also the mid-way point of our 'Zoo Animals' challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge so I'd thought that I'd make a card that combines both challenges.



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