check out the Paper Smooches PS DT Blog Hop

YES, it's time for the May 2017 release PS DT Blog Hop!

It's Pep Rally Week on the Paper Smooches Blog.

Kim and the DT are sharing fun and fabulous projects using the

two new stamp sets and six new dies from the May 2017 release,
 

CREATIVE INSPIRATION

CRAFTY TEMPTATION

AND

the chance to WIN one of FOUR $25 Paper Smooches gift certificates too!!!

AWESOME!!!

Head on over to the
Paper Smooches Blog

and get hopping now,
GOOD LUCK :)

Here are some links to their store if you want to check out all the crafty delights they have to tempt and inspire.  The new releases will be available to purchase 8pm PT 1st May 2017.

    

Anything Goes this week with us at the Crafty Gals Corner

It's time for another challenge with us at the

Crafty Gals Corner

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with

Challenge #120 - Anything Goes

Our sponsors for this challenge are:

Conie Fong                  Lia Stampz

    

    Prize: 3 digital images                      Prize: 2 Images DT Used

~~~*~~~*~~~

Today I have used the cute Birthday Elephant digital stamp
by Lia Stampz, one of our generous sponsors this week.

I printed the image on A5 X-Press It blending card, "set" with my heat tool

and coloured with Copic markers.

The 5" x 7" card base is matted with white textured cardstock.

I trimmed the 6 1/2" square patterned paper to be the same height as the card base

and matted it with pink cardstock.

I trimmed the image panel down to 3" wide x 5" tall and matted it with grey cardstock. 

 Next came an old favourite border punch, the Fiskars Scalloped Sentiment.  I punched 12" strips of  pink and white cardstock, adhered them together, cut in half, then aligned with the matted image panel.

The sentiment is a double-layered die cut, black under grey,
for a bit of shadowy dimension.

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Lia Stampz - digital stamp - Birthday Elephant
X-Press It - A5 blending card
Copic markers - elephant C00 C0 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
Copic markers - pinwheel - RV32 R37
(yes, I combined an RV + an R)
Kaisercraft - 6 1/2" paper pad - Fairy Dust Collection
Kaisercraft - weave cardstock - Rose
Kaisercraft - weave cardstock - Brey
Paper Smooches - Birthday Words Dies
Fiskars - border punch - Scalloped Sentiment
Helmar450 Quick Dry Adhesive (to adhere the layers)
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue (to adhere the sentiment)

~~~*~~~*~~~

Sending a big Thank You to Lia Stampz for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #120 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.
I hope you're feeling inspired and create something to enter our challenge.

    

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - Challenge #128 - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Challenge #116 - always Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #474 - Birthdays
Digi Choosday Crafting Challenge - WK 16 - Anything Goes
Glitter 'N' Sparkle Challenge Blog - Challenge #236 - Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge - So So Cute
Morgan's ArtWorld - Challenge #8 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Challenge #326 - Anything Goes
Pile It On - Challenge #129 Interactive and/or Birthday
Polkadoodles Paper Crafting Challenge - Week 16 - Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Challenge #240 - Feathered Friends or Anything Goes

Quirky Crafts Challenge Blog - Challenge #2 - Quirky Pets
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Challenge #114 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter - Challenge #291 - Birthday Card
Through The Craft Room Door - TTCRD Challenge April 25th - Anything Goes

more bunny hugs

As soon as I saw the Spring Bunny with Tulips image by Tlc Creations,

I couldn't wait to colour and create a card with it.

The image is a freebie from the Tlc Creations Blog (this post).

Here is the link to the first card I made.

I used the same combination of Copic markers as for the 1st card but this time I saturated the paper a little more, so the colours are much richer.  I reversed the yellow layers, matting the image with the lighter buttercup and putting it on a darker sunshine cardbase with a buttercup bow.

Here they are together.
You can see that although they're the same markers,
this version is more saturated and looks darker.

*** INGREDIENTS ***

Tlc Creations - digital stamp - Vintage Sketch Spring Bunny with Tulips

Watercolour paper

Copic markers - tulips - R81 R83

Copic markers - daffodil - Y00Y35 Y38

Copic markers - leaves - G40
Bella! - distress tool

Kaisercraft - weave cardstock - buttercup
Kaisercraft - weave cardstock - sunshine

pre scored 6 1/8" card base
Winnie & Walter - Take A Bow Cutaways

foam square (to mount the bow)
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the layers

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

Crafting By Designs - Challenge - Vintage

Create with Tlc - Challenge #9 - Anything Goes with a Create with Tlc Element
Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge - So So Cute

STAMPlorations - April Challenge - Stamps & Wings and Sketch

I have used the sketch and put a dimensional bow instead of the sentiment

   

The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog - Challenge #110 - Bunnies & Chicks

Vintage bunny hugs

Now for something completely different

I have found a new (to me) digital designer

Tlc Creations

Paulette has the most amazing vintage images in her store (here and here)

and generously shares some as freebies on her blog (Tlc Creations).

As soon as I saw the Spring Bunny with Tulips image,

I couldn't wait to colour and create a card with it.

This image was a freebie from the Tlc Creations Blog (this post).

I printed the image on watercolour paper and selectively added a touch of colour to the flowers and leaves, just like the old hand coloured photos I used to see on the mantle at my Grandparents.

I distressed the edges of the image panel and matted on a slightly larger darker yellow cardstock.  I die cut a dimensional bow and popped it in place with a foam square.

*** INGREDIENTS ***

Tlc Creations - digital stamp - Vintage Sketch Spring Bunny with Tulips

Watercolour paper

Copic markers - tulips - R81 R83

Copic markers - daffodil - Y00Y35 Y38

Copic markers - leaves - G40
Bella! - distress tool

Kaisercraft - weave cardstock - buttercup
Kaisercraft - weave cardstock - sunshine

pre scored 6 1/8" card base
Winnie & Walter - Take A Bow Cutaways

foam square (to mount the bow)
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the layers

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

Aloha Friday Challenges - Challenge #93 - In The Garden
Colour Crazy Challenge - Week 16 - Anything Goes

Crafting By Designs - Challenge - Vintage

Create with Tlc - Challenge #9 - Anything Goes with a Create with Tlc Element

Glitter 'N' Sparkle Challenge Blog - Challenge #235 - Easter
Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge - So So Cute
Sasayaki Glitter Challenge Blog - April Challenge - Colour Yellow
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Showers and/or Flowers
Simon Says Stamp Blog - Work It Wednesday April 2017
April Showers Bring May Flowers

STAMPlorations - April CAS Card Challenge - Anything Goes

with optional twist Any Pastel Colour

STAMPlorations - April Challenge - Stamps & Wings and Sketch

I have used the sketch and put a dimensional bow instead of the sentiment

   

The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog - Challenge #110 - Bunnies & Chicks

Feathered birthday wishes

Our nephew is having a "nearly" milestone birthday at the end of the month and I thought this might bring a smile to his face.

... no, you're not seeing things, 

I have used this bird and sentiment combo before
and it always makes me smile :)

I made a larger version of this card last year (HERE) and because it was for my husband, I am able to include it in my pic again today, so that you can see them together.

The best thing about scaling it down is that I could use a pre-scored card base with matching envelope and more importantly, it is suitable for going through the post without being packaged as a parcel.  Apart from being smaller, I have matted the inside with black textured cardstock, added a die cut sentiment in bright yellow and written with white gel pen.

The digital stamps I used are the Cool Chicks set from Beccy's Place.

I sized and positioned the Bea image and sentiment using Adobe Photoshop,

printed on X-Press It blending card, "set" using my heat tool and

coloured with Copic markers.  

*** INGREDIENTS ***

Beccy's Place - digital stamp - Bea Bird image from the Cool Chicks
X-Press It - A5 blending card
Copic markers - Bea Bird - Y11 Y13 Y15
Copic markers - beak - Y17 YR23
Copic markers - legs - YR23 YR24
Copic markers - claws -
Kaisercraft - 12x12 patterned paper - Pop! Collection - Party Time
I confess, I LOVE this paper and have bought some more sheets
American Crafts - textured cardstock
Perfect Layers Rulers
Sizzix Big Shot
Kaisercraft - Release Paper
Couture Creations - intricutz dies - Happy Birthday Title
Helmar 450 Quick Dry (liquid adhesive)
foam squares (under sentiment panel)
Tombow Mono Multi Adhesive (to adhere the die cut sentiment inside)

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

Beccy's Place - April Challenge - Anything Goes using Beccy's Place image
Colour Crazy Challenge - Week 16 - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Challenge #116 - always Anything Goes
Morgan's ArtWorld - Challenge #8 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Challenge #325 - Anything Goes
Pile It On - Challenge #129 Interactive and/or Birthday
QKR Stampede - Challenge #240 - Feathered Friends or Anything Goes
Quirky Crafts Challenge Blog - Challenge #2 - Quirky Pets
Sasayaki Glitter Challenge Blog - April Challenge - Colour Yellow
STAMPlorations - April Challenge - Stamps & Wings and Sketch

   

STAMPlorations - Things With Wings Linky Party

It's All About A Boy ... with Team Lou at the Southern Girls

It's time for another challenge with us at the Southern Girls.

This fortnight Team Lou have created projects to inspire you for the new challenge

Challenge #158 - About A Boy with Team Lou

Our awesome sponsor for this challenge is

Sasayaki Glitter

~~~*~~~*~~~

Today I have used the super cute Shy Flies A Kite digital stamp by Sasayaki Glitter, our generous sponsor this fortnight.

I opened the image in Adobe Photoshop and sized to fit on an A5 panel.

I added the sentiment using the AR Carter font.

... I confess, I cannot see a kite without thinking of Mary Poppins.

I printed the panel on X-Press It Blending card, two copies, one for the card, one so that I could make a mask.  I "set" the printed image using my heat gun.  I placed some X-Press It Mask-It over one of the images and fussy cut it to make a "Shy" mask.

I applied the mask to cover the image then made another mask to create a sloping hill for the background.  I also made a stencil from cardstock with my Silhouette Cameo and a digital cut file for the sun rays in the background.

I blended Distress Inks to create the hill and rays of sunshine.

I heat set the inky panel before dragging out my Copic markers to colour Sky and his kite.

I coloured the image panel with Copic markers, adding red Wink Of Stella Glitter Pen to the bows on the kite tail.  Yes, I needed to layer colour on top of the kite tail bows as I forgot to mask them before adding the background, a lesson learnt for next time.

I trimmed the panel down and adhered it to black mat then adhered it to a top folding card base.  It started as 6 1/8" square but I didn't want to trim too much off the sides of the image panel, so I trimmed the bottom off the card instead, ending up with a 6 x 6 1/8" card.

*** INGREDIENTS ***

Sasayaki Glitter - digital stamp - Shy Flies A Kite

X-Press It A5 Blending Card

Copic markers - skin E0000 E000 E00 E01

Copic markers - hair - E31 E34 E35 E37

Copic markers - cap - R21 R22 R24 R27

Copic markers - shirt - YG03 YG25 YG17

Copic markers - trousers -  B91 B93 B95

Copic markers - shoes - E41 E42 E43 E44 E47

Copic markers - kite - YR15 YR16 YR18 E37 E39

 Wink Of Stella Glitter Pen - red

added to the bows on the kite tail

Silhouette Cameo electronic cutting machine

Silhouette Design Store - cut file - Design ID #47228
Sunburst Mat Stencil by Amanda McGee 

Distress Inks - Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed & Peeled Paint
pre scored 6 1/8" card base

black textured cardstock

Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the layers

~~~*~~~*~~~

Sending a big Thank You to Sasayaki Glitter for sponsoring

Challenge #158 - About A Boy with Team Lou with us at the Southern Girls.

I hope I have inspired you to create a masculine card and look forward to seeing your project shared in the challenge gallery.

Remember we are not just a card blog, we love to see scrapbook layouts, artjournal pages and all types of papercraft.

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

AAA Cards - CAS Game #88 - Stencil

A Bit More Time To Craft - Challenge #42 - Anything Goes
Colour Crazy Challenge - Week 15 - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - Challenge #128 - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Challenge #116 - always Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #474 - Birthdays
Digi Choosday Crafting Challenge - WK 16 - Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge - So So Cute
Morgan's ArtWorld - Challenge #7 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Challenge #325 - Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Paper Craft Challenge - Week 14 - Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Challenge #239 - Flowers or Anything Goes
Sasayaki Glitter Challenge Blog - April Challenge - Colour Yellow
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Challenge #114 - Anything Goes option Easter
Scrapper's Delights Challenge Blog - Blog Challenge #65 - Anything Goes
The Crafty Addicts Challenge Blog - Challenge #35 - Anything Goes / Add A Sentiment
The Paper Nest Dolls - Challenge #4 April 2017 - Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter - Challenge #290 - Sentimental
Through The Craft Room Door - TTCRD Anything Goes for the week of 18th April

Embellish It ... with us at the Crafty Gals Corner

It's time for another challenge with us at the

Crafty Gals Corner

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with

Challenge #119 - Embellish It

Our sponsors for this challenge are:

Polkadoodles

Prize: $15 Gift Certificate

Dr. Digi

Prize: 2 Digital Images

~~~*~~~*~~~

Today I have used the fun and fabulous Skydive Santa digital stamp by Dr Digi's House of Stamps, one of our generous sponsors this week, to make a Christmas treat box.

I opened the digital image on my Silhouette Cameo design mat with the Santa Chimney Treat Box cut file.  The cut file comes with Santa's feet sticking out the top of the chimney, so I adjusted the size of the digital image so that Santa's parachute was the same width as the outer edges of the cut file boots, positioning several on an A4 sheet.  I was thinking that I should have made him a bit larger but he magically shrinks to go down the chimney, doesn't he?

I printed the image on X-Press It blending card, "set" the image with my heat gun then coloured with Copic markers.  Although I added shading to the parachute with a series of grey markers, it still looked a little "flat", so I went around the outer edges with a Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush.  To give a metallic sheen to his belt and braces buckles, I went over them with a Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Pen.  I added some sparkle to the trims on Santa's hat and gloves by smothering them with Stickles then snow white glitter, a pretty texture and sparkle.

I added some repositionable adhesive to the back for the image, attached it to some black cardstock then fussy cut both layers together, so that I had a backing piece that matched the image perfectly.

I cut the pieces from the cut file to make the chimney treat box using textured cardstock in my Silhouette Cameo.  I assembled the box, starting with the red portion of the box, the black brick panel and then snowy trim.

Next came a bit of creative improvisation.
I wanted to have Skydiving Santa "floating" down to land in the chimney.
I took a sheet of acetate and cut a strip the same width as the chimney, scored one end at 1" then cut up the middle to the score line, folding one flap backwards, the other forwards.  Next I trimmed the top section of the acetate to be just narrower than the width of Santa's tummy, with the length 1/4" shorter than the top of his parachute.  I added some liquid adhesive to the top of the flaps and inserted the strip up through the lid of the treat box, adhering the flaps to the underside of the lid.  I made an extra black panel adhere over the flaps, so that they were secure and hidden.

 

I put some liquid adhesive along the front edge of the acetate strip and positioned Santa so that he was floating above the chimney.  I added liquid adhesive to the back of the image panel and acetate strip and positioned the black backing panel in place, so that the inky back of the image panel and the acetate strip were securely hidden from sight.

Did you think that I had forgotten that this challenge was all about embellishments?
I think adding the sparkle to Santa's hat, gloves, buckles and parachute was a good start but not nearly enough, so I added a decorative bling border strip around the chimney, like a string of Christmas lights, then added some rhinestones to the parachute too.

Here are some pics of the open treat box.
... I think I will be making some more of these sweet Christmas treats!

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Dr Digi's House of Stamps - digital stamp - Skydive Santa
X-Press It - A4 blending card
Copic markers - skin - E50 E51
Copic markers - beard - C00 C0 C1
Copic markers - googles - C3 C7
Copic markers - clothes - R21 R22 R24 R27
Copic marker - belt - 100
Copic markers - boots - uppers - C5 C6 C7 C8
Copic markers - boots - soles - W3 W5 W7 W9
Copic marker - braces - G07
Copic marker - buckles - YR27
Copic markers - harness - C1 C3 C4
Copic markers - parachute - C00 C0 C1
Wink Of Stella - Clear Glitter Brush
Wink Of Stella - Clear Glitter Pen
Stickles - Stardust - trim on hat and gloves
WOW! Glitter - snow - trim on hat and gloves
Bella! Bling Borderlines
Silhouette Cameo
Silhouette Design Store - cut file - Santa Chimney Treat Box
Design ID #104695 by Jennifer Rush
American Crafts Textured Cardstock - 100 sheet value pack
Helmar450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue

~~~*~~~*~~~

Sending a big Thank You to Dr Digi for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #119 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.
I hope you're feeling inspired and create something to enter our challenge.

    

~~~*~~~*~~~

I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

~~~*~~~*~~~

ABC Christmas Challenge - H and I are for?
H is for Home, I is for Informal
my card has both the H and the I,
the chimney is part of a home and Santa is being very informal with his delivery
A Bit More Time To Craft - Challenge #42 - Anything Goes
CCC Digi Creations - Challenge #71 - Add Some Glitter
I have added glitter to the trim on Santa's hat and gloves,
there is also delicate glitter sparkle on his parachute and buckles
Colour Crazy Challenge - Week 15 - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - CHNC Challenge #329
Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas, optional theme "include a house or other building" 
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - CHNC Challenge Extra for April 2017
Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas
Creative Fingers Challenge Blog - Challenge #128 - Anything Goes
Digi Choosday Craft Challenge - WK 15 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog - Challenge #325 - Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Challenge #239 - Flowers or Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Challenge #114 - Anything Goes option Easter
Scrapper's Delights Challenge Blog - Blog Challenge #65 - Anything Goes
The Crafty Addicts Challenge Blog - Challenge #35 - Anything Goes / Add A Sentiment
The Paper Nest Dolls - Challenge #4 April 2017 - Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door - TTCRD Anything Goes for the week of 18th April