~~~ distressed baby ~~~

It is always a joyous time to welcome babies into the family.

This card is a 6 x 6" top fold.

I distressed each of the layers (a technique I rarely use)

There is a foam sheet between the cream mat & 1st layer and between the 1st patterned layer & the cluster of smaller layers to give the distressing a little more pop.

Products used for this card include:

• PION Design Sweet Baby - Pink Forget Me Not 12x12 paper
• PION Design Sweet Baby - Baby Girl 12x12 paper
• Kaisercraft Paper Blooms - Dusty Pink
• Ruby Rock-It Arcadia Trimmings - crochet ribbon
• Helmar 450 Quick Dry - liquid adhesive to secure all the layers, flowers and ribbon
• Craft foam sheet

          I have entered my card in the following challenges:          

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NBUS Challenge #5
(Never-Before-Used-Schtuff)

hosted by Darnell J. Knauss on her Blog djkardcreations.com

The theme is Anything Goes

Entries close 11:55pm PST Friday 18th September 2015

The NBUS items I used include:

• the crochet ribbon - I have had this in my stash for at least three years
• the flowers have been in my stash for several years too, they're from back in the days when I was focussed on scrapbooking
• the PION Design Papers - I have never used this brand before ... such lovely quality

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Craftin Desert Divas - Craft It Up & Link It Up "Just For The Kids" Linky Party

The challenge is to make any project you would give or make for a kid.

  

 

Entries close 12pm Arizona MST Sunday 13th September

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Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #36: Bingo!

The challenge is to use the chart below and make a project with 3 in a row!

link to Crafty Gals Corner Blog

Link to Challenge #36 Bingo!

  My card used:

- flowers

- ribbon

- layers 2+

{{ much more than 2 layers, if you include the base & foam it is TEN layers }}

Entries close 12pm CST Tuesday 15th September

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Peppa Pig birthday

We have two little girls turning 5 this month and I thought that

Miss Peppa Pig might be a fun way to help them celebrate.

Here is the first one of the two cards, the second is still being pieced together.

This huge stepper card stands 8 1/4" tall and 5 7/8" wide

Here is a side view so that you can see the stepper panels. 

 Close-up of the back panel showing the detail of Peppa Pig with her 5 balloons.

 Close-up of the front panel showing the sentiment.

Here is my recipe for a paper-pieced Peppa Pig:

• Head & body - Fiskars XXL circle lever punch 2 1/2"
• Cheek - Fiskars Medium Round 'n Round squeeze punch - 1"
• Nostrils & eyes - confetti from Lil' Inker Designs Baubled Christmas Tree die
  I adhered them together then coated them with Glossy Accents
• Mouth - Fiskars Medium Round 'n Round squeeze punch - 1"
  I double-punched the circle, held in the punch with a Post-It Note
• Ears - Fiskars XL Petal By Petal squeeze punch, smallest petal
• Hands - Fiskars LE Owl squeeze punch
  I trimmed the legs out of the body
• Tail - Fiskars Swirl Around lever punch
• Legs - 1/4" strips
• Shoes - 1/4" strip Fiskars 1/4 corner round squeeze punch
  I adhered the shoes to the legs then coated them Glossy Accents

Other products used for my card include:

• Cardstock - American Crafts Textured
• Patterned Paper - Kaisercraft Miss Nelly Collection - Her Dreams
• Balloons - Balloon Die set by Lil' Inker Designs
• Metallic thread - for the balloon strings
  YES, they were a challenge to tie, to knot together and to curl too
• Thickers foam stickers - for the "5" on the dress and for the name
• Pumpkin Stazon Ink by Tsukineko - to colour the alphas before adding the Stickles
• Word Dies - Sizzix Framelits Regal Card Stand-Ups die set by Stephanie Barnard
• Fruit Punch Stickles - used to add sparkle to the "5", Peppa's dress, the balloons and sentiments
• Star Dust Stickles - used to add sparkle to the pink inlaid stars of the balloons

NOTE to SELF

Think about adding some punched grassy border layers to "ground" Peppa

and some matting the inside of the card too

          I have entered my card in the following challenges:          

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Craftin Desert Divas - Craft It Up & Link It Up "Just For The Kids" Linky Party

The challenge is to make any project you would give or make for a kid.

  

 

Entries close 12pm Arizona MST Sunday 13th September

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Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #36: Bingo!

The challenge is to use the chart below and make a project with 3 in a row!

link to Crafty Gals Corner Blog

Link to Challenge #36 Bingo!

  My card used:

- punched & die cut pieces for Peppa Pig, the balloons and sentiment
- a sentiment, a combination of die cut and foam Thickers

- bling, the Stickles decorating Peppa's dress & balloons and the sentiments too

Entries close 12pm CST Tuesday 15th September

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Hiding In My Craft Room HICRM #216
Super Scraps Saturday!

I use lots of pink and orange cardstock in my crafting and tend to accumulate a lot of scrappy pieces from each 12 x 12 sheet, so I had plenty of SUPER SCRAPS on hand to punch & die cut the elements to embellish this card.

Entries close 2am CST Saturday 19th September

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*** hugs ***

A very dimensional CAS card

This is my second time using burlap ribbon.

Love the texture it adds and it really helps me cope with the dreaded white space.

The "hugs" sentiment is the In A Word: Hugs Cutaway by Winnie and Walter

The flowers are Fiskars Flower lever punches, the biggest is 1"

The leaves are Fiskars Branching Out Squeeze Punch.

As I will be giving this card in person, I added lots of dimension with foam dots between the layers of the larger flowers and curled the petals downwards (using a fine paintbrush handle).  The smaller flowers have their petals curled upwards.

Here is a close-up to show the dimension of the flowers

All the large flowers have a foam dot between the layers and underneath them too.

The top flower has been given extra POP - it has a standard foam dot ( 1/8" thick) between the flower layers and a 1/4" foam dot under the bottom layer, so it stands higher than the other large flowers.  The small flowers are adhered directly onto the card, so there are three levels of dimension.

          I have entered my card in the following challenges:          

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NBUS Challenge #5
(Never-Before-Used-Schtuff)

hosted by Darnell J. Knauss on her Blog djkardcreations.com

The theme is Anything Goes

Entries close 11:55pm PST Friday 18th September 2015

The NBUS items I used include:

- the "hugs" die { that I have had for a couple of months and can't believe that I haven't used it until today }

- the Martha Stewart THICK Foam Dots { I  confess that I have had these tucked away in my adhesives drawer for YEARS and while I was assembling the foam dots between the flower layers, I thought why not add even more pop to create another layer of dimension, thrilled that I did, the pics don't show it very well but it really does look pretty }

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The Gossip Column

on the Winnie and Walter Blog

This month there is no Gossip Column by Taheerah

(sadly due to her Mother's passing, sending deepest sympathy to Taheerah and her family)

but we have been invited to be inspired by the previous three Gossip Columns.

 

My card was inspired by Gossip Column #3 Jocelyn's Style!

It includes white space (which is always a challenge for me),
texture, layers and a pop of yellow.

I hope my hugs card brings comfort to the couple we will be giving it to.  And, having lost my Mother-In-Law a few months ago, I hope that the sentiment reaches across the miles and brings comfort to Taheerah too.

As mentioned earlier, this one is not a traditional challenge, rather, it is the opportunity to be inspired by the previous three Gossip Column articles & challenges.  If you would like to be inspired to create and share a card, the link closes in just over three days.

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          Here are the dimensions of my card          

card base 5 x 7"

burlap panel 4 1/4 x 3 1/4"

inner green mat - 4 3/4 x 6 3/4"

inner white mat - 4 1/2 x 6 1/2"

... thanks ...

Here is a card that I have been thinking about making since
the day I first saw the Roses Dies from Paper Smooches.

 I confess that the dies have been waiting since March this year to escape
the packaging and have a workout and boy did they have a workout.  I spent ages cutting the leaves in preparation for my mosaic and it was worth every second!!!

I used the largest rose from the set as the focal point.
I adhered the rose in place first using Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive, then I placed the leaves around it, trying to get a fairly even space between them all, then started adhering them in place.  Things didn't go as smoothly as a I planned, with the leaves moving around in the breeze flowing through the house and from me knocking them as I worked.  My TOP TIP if you want to make one too, is to apply a small dollop of Tombow Mono Multi to the tip of each leaf and allow it to dry.  They then become repositionable, so that they can be moved around until you're happy with their placement and they stay in place until you adhere them permanently.  I will definitely be making more mosaic cards and it will be much easier and faster next time.

Here is a close-up of the layered sentiment tag.

 I used the Fiskars XXL Tag Lever Punch to cut the cardstock and vellum layers.
The "thanks" is a stamp from Paper Smooches
(a freebie that came with one of my orders, Thank You Kim)
I used Stazon Jet Black ink to stamp on the vellum.
The sequins are Sparkling Clear 4mm & 6mm from Pretty Pink Posh and they really do sparkle!!!
I adhered them in place using Ranger Multi Medium Matte.
I put a tiny dollop of Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive on the back of the vellum tag, under the top two sequins above the sentiment and the top two sequins from the cluster of three below it and secured it to the white tag, then spread some under the white tag to layer it to the black one.
I used foam dots to secure the tag to the card.
I am really pleased with my 1st use of the Ranger Multi Medium Matte, the sequins are securely in place.  You can't see any of the adhesive showing around or in the middle of the sequins.
On the Tombow front, you can't see any of the adhesive under the vellum either.

Here is a close-up pic of the rose and some of the leaves.

I LOVE this die set!!!

          I have entered my card in the following challenges:          

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Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge Blog

September 6-12 Anything Goes (wk1) Challenge

The theme this week is Anything Goes featuring Paper Smooches product

I used the Paper Smooches Roses Dies and "thanks" stamp.

   

 

Entries close 11:59pm PST Saturday 12th September 2015

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NBUS Challenge #5
(Never-Before-Used-Schtuff)

hosted by Darnell J. Knauss on her Blog djkardcreations.com

The theme is Anything Goes

Entries close 11:55pm PST Friday 18th September 2015

The NBUS items I used include the PS Roses Dies that have been sitting unopened in my stash for too many months and the new-to-me Ranger Multi Medium Matte.

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Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog
Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember Use A Stamp Challenge and Blog Hop

The challenge is to use a stamp AND to complete their Blog Hop

My stamping is on the sentiment tag and yes, I completed the Blog Hop too,
it was filled with fabulous projects using new release SSS products.

Entries close 08:00 Ohio Wednesday 16th September 2015

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Sparkle and Shine Challenge Blog - Challenge Thirteen

The challenge is to create TAGS, stand alone tags or tags on projects.

It must include sequins and can use the colours of the inspiration photo below.
I used Sparkling Clear sequins from Pretty Pink Posh and attached my layered tag to my card.

Entries close 11:55pm Friday 11th September 2015

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          Here are the dimensions of my card          
card base 5 x 7"
black mat 4 5/8 x 6 5/8"
white mat 4 1/2 x 6 1/2"
mosaic panel 4 x 6"

Release Week at Neat and Tangled!

It's Release Week over at Neat and Tangled!

Head on over to their blog

check out their September release

BE INSPIRED

BE TEMPTED

and

have the chance to WIN too!!!

#neatandtangledrelease

Here are the links to each day of the release on their Blog:

Day 1
September 2015 Release Week Day 1: BOOed + BOOed Die + Pumpkin Everything

Day 2
September 2015 Release Day 2: Bible Journaling + Bible Journaling Companions

Day 3
September 2015 Release Day 3: Maple Leaves Journaling Card + Maple Leaves Die

Day 4
September 2015 Release Day 4: Scored Shapes Dies

Paper Smooches Design Team Blog Hop

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

Kim and the DT will be sharing fun and fabulous projects using the

two new stamps and ten new dies from the September release,
available from 8pm Pacific Time August 31st.

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 :)

  

CAS Birthday card

I have finally got some burlap ribbon and thoroughly enjoyed making this CAS birthday card ... I think this is the start of a new addiction.

  

The card is 5x7" made with American Crafts textured cardstock.
The "happy" is from Winnie & Walter In A Word: Happy Cutaway, the "birthday" is from the Sizzix Stephanie Barnard Regal Stand-Ups Framelits Card Die Set.
The flowers and leaves are Fiskars squeeze and lever punches with AC textured cardstock.
Because the front was quite heavy with the burlap panel at the top, I layered some co-ordinating cardstock inside and it is much more stable now.

  

                   I have entered my card in the following creative challenges                          

 The team at the Freshly Made Sketches blog are celebrating their
200th challenge this week and I am thrilled to be playing along with the
Freshly Made Sketches 200

Don't forget to head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches Blog,

join the celebrations and have the chance to win too :)
Entries close noon, Monday 25th Aug PDT

I'm also entering my card with the

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #33 Anything Goes

Come on over and join the creative fun with the Crafty Gals.

Entries close noon, Tuesday 25th August CST

There are two randomly selected prizes and you also have

the chance to be selected by the DT as one of the Top 3.

... I think I NEED to add another flower, so that it has an odd number and wondered whether one down on the bottom RHS of the burlap panel would "balance" everything.

I have placed one on the card to see what it looks like and would appreciate your feedback - what do you think, adhere it there, adhere it in a different position or not add it, sticking with the original design?

Looking forward to hearing what you think :)

50 & fabulous

I love to make special cards to celebrate milestone birthdays for family and friends.
This month it is time to celebrate a fabulous 50th.

The glitter sheet is from American Crafts, as are the Thickers (the "50" is DIY Shoebox, the ampersand DIY Rockabye & the "fabulous" Amy Tangerine Scene) and the WOW silver glitter I coated them all with so that the silver matched perfectly.  The embossed panel is the large Peacock Fans embossing folder from Couture Creations and this time I included a sheet of vellum inside the folder with the cardstock (Canson) so that I had a crisp texture without any cracking or tearing when I put it through my Big Shot.  Instead of foam dots, I popped the layers with foam sheets adhered in place with Helmar 450 Quick Dry, the liquid adhesive allows me to get the layers aligned perfectly and it is great for securing the embossed and glittery textures firmly in place too.  Note to self - get some thinner foam sheets, these are a bit too thick, especially when there are four layers!  Needless to say, this card is a little too chunky and heavy to be posted, so we're looking forward to hand delivering some sparkle to the birthday girl.
Dimensions:
card base 5x7, glitter panel 4 3/4 x 6 3/4, embossed panel 4 1/2 x 6 1/2
sentiment - glitter panel 4 1/2 x 1, white panel 4 1/2 x 1 1/4
alpha - glitter panel 2 x 2 1/4, white panel 1 3/4 x 2
foam panels - 1/8" inset from the panels they're popping

                        I have entered my card in the following creative challenges                          

The team at the Freshly Made Sketches blog are celebrating their
200th challenge this week and I am thrilled to be playing along with the
Freshly Made Sketches 200

Don't forget to head on over to the Freshly Made Sketches Blog,

join the celebrations and have the chance to win too :)
Entries close noon, Monday 25th Aug PDT

I'm also entering my card with the

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #33 Anything Goes

Come on over and join the creative fun with the Crafty Gals.

Entries close noon, Tuesday 25th August CST

There are two randomly selected prizes and you also have

the chance to be selected by the DT as one of the Top 3.

... I always struggle deciding how to photograph my cards,
here is another shot, I think it shows the texture and sparkle better
... what do you think?