Wednesday 31 May 2017

Rudolf's Selfie ... part 2

No, you're not seeing things.

I created two cards using the  Rudolf's Selfie digital stamp from SheepSki Designs 

and you can read all about them HERE

This post is to focus and share the 2nd card.

I coloured the image with Copic markers and added a digital sentiment
to make this fun CAS Christmas card.


Don't forget to head on over and read all about how I made this card HERE
You will be able to learn more about our latest challenge at the Crafty Gals Corner too.

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

ABC Christmas Challenges - J and K are for? Jingle Bells and Keep It Simple
As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Skin or Fur Colour Combo (and why)
My favourite fur (& hair combo) is Copic markers E30 - E37 because
they are warm, rich and blend together perfectly for texture and shading.
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - CHNC Extra for May 2017
- Anything Goes

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - Challenge #353 - Christmas
Hiding In My Craft Room - HIMCR #302 - Any Holiday
Ike's World Challenges - Challenge #89 - Anything Goes + optional twist of "Happy"
I think that Rudolf's cheesy smile is infectious and will bring a SMILE
Morgan's ArtWorld - Challenge #10 - Anything Goes
Pile It On - Challenge #130 - Animal
Sheepski Designs Challenges - Challenge #2 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Anything Goes
The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Challenge #29 - Anything Goes
+ optional theme "Cute Christmas"
The Paper Shelter - Challenge #296 - Make It Digital
I have used a digital stamp and digital sentiment
Winter Wonderland Challenge Blog - Hats and/or Scarves
Rudolf is wearing a hat

Have your selfie a very Merry Christmas

It's time for another challenge with us at the

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with
Challenge #125 - Anything Goes

The sponsors for this challenge are:

The Paper Nest Dolls
Prize: $20 gift Certificate

SheepSki Designs

Prize: 3 Digital Images

~~~*~~~*~~~
Today I have used the Rudolf's Selfie digital stamp from SheepSki Designs,
one of our generous sponsors this week, to make a couple of Christmas cards.

I printed the image on A5 X-Press It blending card, heat set and coloured with Copic markers.  I trimmed the sides off and adhered to a top folding card base.  The Merry Christmas sentiment is a die cut.



I confess, I had fun making some Elfie Selfie cards earlier this year and could not resist making another quirky card with a fun selfie sentiment ... 



*** INGREDIENTS ***
SheepSki Designs - digital stamp - Rudolf's Selfie
X-Press It - A5 blending card
Copic markers - fur E33 E35 E37 E39
Copic markers - inside ears - E30 E31 E33
Copic markers - edge of ears - E35 E37
Copic markers - antlers - E70 E71 E74 E77
Copic markers - nose & hat - R21 R22 R24 R27 R46
Copic markers - teeth - 0 W00 W0
Copic markers - lips - E29
Copic markers - inside mouth - E77 E79
Cottage Cutz - die - Merry Christmas
Sizzix Big Shot
Helmar 450 Quick Dry liquid adhesive - to adhere the image panel
Tombow Mono Multi liquid adhesive - to adhere the sentiment

~~~*~~~*~~~
Sending a big Thank You to SheepSki Designs for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #125 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.
    
~~~*~~~*~~~
I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):
~~~*~~~*~~~

ABC Christmas Challenges - J and K are for? Jingle Bells and Keep It Simple
Aloha Friday Challenges -  Challenge #95 - Animals
As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Skin or Fur Colour Combo (and why)
My favourite fur (& hair combo) is Copic markers E30 - E37 because
they are warm, rich and blend together perfectly for texture and shading.
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - CHNC Extra for May 2017
- Anything Goes

Digi Choosday Crafting Challenge - WK 21 - Anything Goes
Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - Challenge #353 - Christmas
Hiding In My Craft Room - HIMCR #302 - Any Holiday
Morgan's ArtWorld - Challenge #10 - Anything Goes
Pile It On - Challenge #130 - Animal
Polkadoodles Paper Crafting Challenge - Week 20/21 - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Challenge #117 - Anything Goes option Butterflies
Sheepski Designs Challenges - Challenge #2 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Anything Goes
Sparkles Monthly Challenges Blog - Challenge #92 - Four (4) Or More Legs
The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up - Challenge #29 - Anything Goes
+ optional theme "Cute Christmas"

Winter Wonderland Challenge Blog - Hats and/or Scarves
Rudolf is wearing a hat

Saturday 27 May 2017

HAPPY, happy birthday wishes

Masculine cards are always a challenge for me!

I was thrilled with this combination of a digital stamp (happy - link below) used repeatedly in different sizes, digital words (miscellaneous fonts), electronic die cut (birthday - link below) and "real" die cut "happy" (link below).

I hope that it will help make our nephew's birthday a little happier.


This card is an A5 top fold.
I added a panel of white textured cardstock to the A5 card base, matted the 3" wide
digital sentiment panel with black textured cardstock then adhered it in place.


The birthday is a digital cut file (link below) which I layered by adding offsets
until in had five layers for extra pop against the "happy" sentiment panel.

  
Here is an inside view of the card.
(sorry that it is only a close up of the sentiment only ... I wrote in the card before I took the pic, so you can't see that the base was matted with white, then a layer of black, then another layer of white before adhering the layered "happy birthday" die cuts in place)


I layered the happy die cut 5 times, to give it extra pop
and have the same dimension as the 5-layered "birthday".

*** INGREDIENTS ***
white textured cardstock
black textured cardstock
Silhouette Cameo
Sizzix Big Shot
Helmar 450 Quick Dry liquid adhesive (to adhere layers)
Tombow Mono Multi liquid adhesive (to adhere die cut sentiments)

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

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - Challenge #180 - Anything Goes + a Sentiment
Cardz 4 Gals - Challenge #48 - Inspired By A Song
My song is probably the most sung and most recognised song all over the world ... Happy Birthday (to you).  The best thing about this song is that everyone sings it and the variety of voices make for a chorus that always makes me smile, especially when the voices mask my own not-so-dulcet tones!
Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #479 - CAS
Glitter 'N' Sparkle - Challenge #204 - Colour - White + 1 Other
Hiding In My Craft Room - HIMCR #301 - Masculine
Ike's World Challenges - Challenge #89 - Anything Goes + optional twist of "Happy"
I'm hoping ALL the "happy" Happy Birthday wishes will bring a SMILE
Inkspirational Challenges - Challenge #135 - Word Prompt - urban
Quirky Crafts - May Challenge - Going For A Quirky Song
My quirky song is probably the most sung and most recognised song all over the world ... Happy Birthday (to you).  The best thing about this song is that everyone sings it and the variety of voices make for a chorus that always makes me smile, especially when the voices mask my own not-so-dulcet tones!
STAMPlorations - May CAS Card Challenge - Anything Goes + optional twist "Feminine Colors"
STAMPlorations - May Challenge - Theme and Sketch
I was inspired by the sketch

   

Wednesday 24 May 2017

. . . raid your stash, gather all your pretty papers

It's time for another challenge with us at the

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with
Challenge #124 - 2+ Designer Papers

The sponsors for this challenge are:

Star Stampz

Prize: 3 Digital Images

Morgan's Art World
Morgan's ArtWorld
Prize: 3 Digital Images

~~~*~~~*~~~
Today I have used the Butterflies Fae 18 digital stamp set from
Morgan's Art World, one of our generous sponsors this week.
This stamp set comes with four beautiful butterflies to I decided to be adventurous, try my hand at making a twist & pop card and showcase all four images in one card.

closed front view

open view

The challenge this week is asking for 2+ patterned papers and I have used three,
one "digital" and two "real paper" patterned papers.



To get myself started, I found a tutorial to make a Twist & Pop card.
HERE is the one I used.

Once I had the dimensions, I made a custom sized template in Adobe Photoshop and added a digital patterned paper to it.  Next I used the magic wand tool to trace each image, selected the inverse then pasted them on to the patterned panel (saving as a different file each time).  To ensure that the images would print the exact size, I placed them all together on an A5 mat in Silhouette Studio and printed them on A5 X-Press It cardstock, making sure to heat set them before I started colouring.

After spending ever-such-a-long time looking at butterflies online, I decided that these magical creatures come in all the colours of the rainbow and an infinite variety of patterns, so I decided to go with shades of pink and orange, matching the flowers of the patterned paper used on the front of the card.  I coloured the butterflies using Copic markers.

 

 

See the butterfly on the far right?  Well I have to confess that I made an "oops" when I traced the image.  There was a small white area between the bottom delicate "decorative" wing and the real "flying" wing.  Luckily my Copic markers came to the rescue, with a mottled blend of G43 and G46 matching the background perfectly ... whew!

Next came the exciting folds.
I decided on a dark green base and sparkling black matting as they complemented the patterned papers (digital & real) perfectly and it is always nice to have a touch of sparkle, especially with butterflies and bling.

Here are the dimensions that I used:
base - 6" x 12" - scored at 6" to make a top fold
image (accordion) panel strip - 3 1/2" x 10" - scored at 3 1/2", 5" and 7 1/2"
the side score lines are valley folds, the central score line a mountain
twist & pop mechanism - 3 1/2" x 8", first score lengthways at 1 3/4", make a make  2 1/4 and 5 3/4" along each side and make the next two score lines diagonally across, crossing centrally with the original horizontal  score line.

FOLD and BURNISH each of the folds so that they will move smoothly when the card is opened and closed.  The horizontal score makes a mountain fold, the diagonal ones are all valley folds.

Mat the inside panels of the card base (I layered patterned paper over glitter cardstock), adhere the triangle of the fully folded mechanism to the inside base of the matted card base, aligning the point to just under the middle of the centre fold, apply adhesive to the top triangle of the folded mechanism then fold the card down on to it.
Fully open the card and apply the accordion panel, making sure the centre of the accordion panel aligns with the centre of the mechanism, fold the left & right accordion panels towards the centre, place adhesive on the top RHS and bottom LHS of the mechanism (above / below the score line), then fold the flaps down on to the mechanism.

GENTLY open the card the first time, making sure that the folds work properly, they may need a little assistance the first time and should operate smoothly after that.  Adhere the matted images to each of the accordion panels then have another go at opening and closing the card ... there is no special reason to it at this stage, it is just so much fun seeing everything unfold before your eyes.

I made two sentiment panels to decorate inside my card.  I used the same digital patterned paper so that they matched the butterflies and the Swirl Dance digital font by Samantha Walker, printing them from Silhouette Studio then matting them with the same glitter cardstock used on all all the panels.

For the front of the card I used another panel of patterned paper, matted it with black glitter cardstock and embellished with a black glitter cardstock die cut butterfly and a bling flourish.

Here are some pics showing the fold in action:
 

  





Do you see the green mechanism in the pic above?
Since making this card, I have since found THIS tutorial and will be giving it a try next time, as I really like how the mechanism panel is the size of the card and how the matting covers the mechanism too.  One thing to note in the tutorial is that the accordion panel should be 3" x 10 3/4", not 11" as listed.

~~~*~~~*~~~
Sending a big Thank You to Morgan's Art World for supplying the digital stamp set I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #124 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.
    
~~~*~~~*~~~
I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):
~~~*~~~*~~~

A Perfect Time To Craft - Challenge #5 - Anything Goes
Aloha Friday Challenges - Challenge #95 - Animals
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - Challenge #180 - Anything Goes + a Sentiment
Butterfly Challenge - #79 - Butterflies + L is for Layers and/or the Colour Cream
Colour Crazy Challenges - WK20 Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Challenge #371 - Anything Goes with a twist "More Than 2 Layers"
Create with Tlc - Challenge #10 - Anything Goes with a Create with Tlc Element
Creative Moments - Challenge #118 - Anything Goes
Di's Digi Designs Challenge - TIC TAC TOE 3-in-a-row Challenge
I have used 3 patterned papers, 4 digital images and 2 sentiments
I'm sure that the surprise of finding these butterflies in the fancy folds
as the card opens will bring a smile to the birthday girl's face :)
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: Little Critters
Sparkles Monthly Challenges Blog - Challenge #92 - Four (4) Or More Legs
The Crazy Challenge - CCH #249 - Birthday
Through The Craft Room Door - TTCRD Anything Goes Wk 5-23
Your Next Stamp - Sketch and Color Challenge #64
   

Thursday 18 May 2017

A Sprinkle of Sparkle 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




Our generous sponsors for this challenge are

KC

Polkadoodles

~~~*~~~*~~~

Today I have used the super cute Helga Hippo - Fairy Princess digital stamp by Polkadoodles, one of our generous sponsors this fortnight.

I created a centre box card to frame the magical Helga.



This card has fancy folds and dimension with the bonus of folding flat for mailing.

I printed Helga on X-Press It Blending card, heat set the image then coloured with Copic markers.  Then came the fun (and challenge) of fussy cutting.  Once cut, I went around the edges of the image with a tuxedo black marker.  I added clear Wink of Stella sparkle to the wings.
I created the card base using my scoreboard, layering the panels with glitter tape and foiled patterned paper.  I layered the glitter tape on white cardstock to create the die cut sentiment and fancy bows.

Here are some more pics - click on them to see them enlarged.


The card folds flat in either for mailing.

This was my first time creating a centre box card,
so I thought I would share my dimensions with you:
  • panel for card base - 6 1/2" x 10 1/4"
  • scored at 2" - 3 1/4" - 7 1/4" - 8 1/2"
  • 2" glitter tape adhered to side and middle panels
  • patterned paper panels - 1 1/2" x 6 3/8" and 3 1/2" x 6 3/8"
  • sentiment panel - 8" x 1 7/8" (trimmed 1/8" off after glitter tape adhered)
  • white layer of sentiment panel 7 3/4" x 5/8"
  • sentiment & bows - adhered glitter tape to white cardstock then die cut
  • Helga - 3 3/4" tall

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Copic markers - skin - C0 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
Copic markers - teeth - W00 W0
Copic markers - clothes - V0000 V000 V01 V05
Copic markers - wand - E99 Y21
(I added silver glitter to the wand, so you can't see the original yellow)
Copic markers - flower - Y21 V0000 V000 V01 V05
Memento Tuxedo Black Dual Tip Marker
 Wink Of Stella Clear Glitter Brush - sparkle added to wings
Kaisercraft - 6 1/2" paper pad - Violet Crush
textured cardstock
Martha Stewart scoreboard
Best Creation Inc - Glitter Tape - 2" silver
Paper Smooches - Bows Dies
Couture Creations - Intricutz Dies - Script Happy Birthday
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the layers
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive - to adhere the sentiment & bows

~~~*~~~*~~~
Sending a big Thank You to Polkadoodles for sponsoring

I hope I have inspired you to create a sparkling project and look forward to seeing your work 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):
~~~*~~~*~~~


Color It!  Create It!  Show It Off! - May Challenge Anything Goes
Colour Crazy Challenge - WK18- Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Challenge #118 - Anything Goes
Digi Choosday Craft Challenge - WK 19 - Anything Goes
Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Fold It Fancy
Glitter 'N' Sparkle Challenge Blog - Challenge #239 - One For The Ladies / Mother's Day
Ike's World Challenges - Anything Goes with optional twist of "Fairly Flying"
Helga the Fairy Princess has sparkling wings and is fairly flying across the card
In The Pink - Challenge #119 - Razzle Dazzle
Making Memories Crafting Challenge Blog - Challenge #5 - Anything Goes
Morgan's ArtWorld - Challenge #9 - Anything Goes
Ooh La La Creations - Something Beginning With "B"
this "B"irthday card has "B"ows
Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - PIP Challenge #1720 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog - Challenge #329 Anything Goes
Pile It On - Challenge #130 - Animal
Polkadoodles Paper Crafting Challenge - Week 18/19 - Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Challenge #243 - Graduation Cards or Anything Goes
Sasayaki Glitter Challenge Blog - May Challenge - Colour Pink
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Anything Goes with option "Mother's Day"
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Simon Says: A Bit Of Sparkle
Sparkles Monthly Challenges Blog - Challenge #92 - Four (4) Or More Legs
STAMPlorations - May Challenge - Theme and Sketch
I was inspired by the sketch
   

Wednesday 17 May 2017

Adding Flowers . . . with the Crafty Gals Corner

It's time for another challenge with us at the

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with
Challenge #123 - Add Flowers

The sponsors for this challenge are:

Digital Delights
Digital Delights by Louby Loo
Prize: $5 Gift Certificate

Prize: 3 Winners!!
1. $10 Gift Certifcate
2. 1 Digital Image
3. 1 Digital Image

~~~*~~~*~~~


Today I have used the Pretty Petals 2 digital stamp from Miss Daisy Stamps,
one of our generous sponsors this week to make a centre easel card.



I printed the image several times on white textured cardstock, heat set,
coloured the centre of each flower, leaves and stems using Copic markers
cut one image panel into a circle then fussy cut the rest of the flowers.
I went around the edges of the fussy cut flowers with a tuxedo black marker.

This is my first time making a centre easel card, so I thought I would share some of the details:

  • 7" x 12" panel of cardstock scored at 6" so that the folded card is 7" wide x 6" tall
  • strips cut at 1 1/2" and 5 1/2" from the bottom edge to the top card fold,
    resulting in three panels 1 1/2", 4" and 1 1/2" wide
  • adhere the 1 1/2" strips to the card base
  • take the 4" x 6" centre panel and score across at 3"
  • mat each of the panels, including the inside one
  • cut the image panel into a circle 4 1/4" diameter
  • mat the image panel
  • adhere image panel to the upper edge of the lower middle panel,
    ensuring the circle in aligned evenly when the card is closed flat
  • adhere multiple layers of fussy cut flowers to the image panel for dimension
  • adhere fussy cut flowers to decorate the side panels
  • cut a sentiment panel 2" x 2 3/4" and mat same as front panels
  • adhere sentiment
  • the sentiment panel makes the wedge to hold folded front panel
    to make the centre easel fold card 

I'm really please how these fancy folds turned out and have some more pics to share.





*** INGREDIENTS ***
Miss Daisy Stamps - digital stamp - Pretty Petals 2
Copic markers - flower centres - Y35
Copic markers - stems and leaves - YG03 YG17
Memento Tuxedo Black Dual Tip Marker
Kaisercraft - 6 1/2" paper pad - Fly Free Collection
textured cardstock
Paper Smooches - Hello Words Dies
Helmar 450 Quick Dry liquid adhesive (to adhere layers)
Tombow Mono Multi liquid adhesvie (to adhere sentiment)

~~~*~~~*~~~
Sending a big Thank You to Miss Daisy Stamps for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #123 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.
    
~~~*~~~*~~~
I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):
~~~*~~~*~~~

Aloha Friday Challenges - Challenge #94 - Anything Goes + optional twist "For Mom"
Aurora Wings Challenge Blog - Challenge #50 - My Secret Garden
Crafting By Designs - May Challenge - Anything Goes
Creative Moments - Challenge #118 - Anything Goes
Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Fold It Fancy 
Glitter 'N' Sparkle Challenge Blog - Challenge #239 - One For The Ladies / Mother's Day
Making Memories Crafting Challenge Blog - Challenge #5 - Anything Goes 

Morgan's ArtWorld - Challenge #9 - Anything Goes
Paper Smooches - May 2017 Challenge - Flowers
Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - PIP Challenge #1720 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog - Challenge #329 Anything Goes
Polkadoodles Paper Crafting Challenge - Week 18/19 - Anything Goes
QKR Stampede - Challenge #243 - Graduation Cards or Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Anything Goes with option "Mother's Day"
STAMPlorations - May Challenge - Theme and Sketch
I was inspired by the sketch