Bon Voyage...

...well I'm racing around trying to catch up on last minute things

 before I jet off to a sunnier destination.

So this will be my last post for a couple of weeks.

 

The card I am sharing with you today

 is one I made for my sister and her husband.

 They have moved from North to South London.

 

This card was inspired by a demo I watched at my local craft store.

Her name is Lindsay Mason, and wow she is one talented lady.

 

For the background colour I used 

a combination of Tim Holtz distress inks,

scattered straw, peeled paint and worn lipstick.

I built up the colours on a piece of ivory pearlised paper from my stash.

The grass effect was also achieved using the distress inks,

 I used a paint brush to create long strokes.

 To accurately match the colour scheme

 I used a promarker to colour the edges of the mounting card.

The castle is a stamp designed by Lindsay Mason

for Personal Impressions called 'I Dreamed of Castles'.

The background scene is from another stamp set 

designed by Lindsay called 'Hoist the Flags'.

I coloured these stamps with my promarkers,

I used 'lime green' and 'copper' stickles to highlight.

The stamp comes with all the individual parts needed to create this fabulous 3D effect,

all I needed to do was add the sticky foam pads.

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Pre - Birthday wishes...

... well its been a while and I have no excuses,

I've just been out enjoying the glorious sunshine

that we've been blessed with.

The card I am sharing with you today 

is shown in advance of my mums' birthday, 

we shall be away on her birthday, for a couple of weeks,

 basking in more glorious sunshine I hope!

 

 I love the sunny feel of the colour scheme, 

with its mix of peaches and creams, orange and gold.

The design paper used for this card 

is one by Andrea Jayne Evans called 'pampered pets'.

The original colour of the design paper was pale pink.

I thought I'd experiment with it, 

so I scanned it into my computer and played with the colours a little

using microsoft digital imaging suite.

And 'VOILA' turned it peachy.

I chose a gorgeous lili of the valley image for this card

'rosie with presents'.

 Out came the beloved promarkers,

I used coral, peach and soft peach.

The gems and pearls are from my stash.

 

The cardstock used here is by bazill bling in two complimentary shades.

The flourish is by cheery lynn 'tropical flourish'.

 These tickets were cut using the whimsy 'ticket' die.

I used a pearlised cardstock in cream and peel offs from my stash.

 

I got these delightful orangey coloured flowers from my local craft shop,

I used stickles 'crystal' to make them sparkle.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM xx

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Stampin for the Weekend challenge 6  - anything goes

 Cute Card Thursday challenge 209  -  anything goes

 

Creative Inspirations challenge 155  - anything goes

Scrapbook Sisters challenge 76   - anything goes

 

Daring Cardmakers challenge   - a box of tricks

Crafty Catz challenge 125  - spring is in the air

 

Hanna and Friends challenge 137  -  flowers

Simply Create too challenge 9  - its spring

Paperplay challenge 12  - spring colours

 

Allsorts challenge 146  - 3 in a row

Frosted Designs challenge  - grids

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft xx

For you Mum...

...well what can I say you only get ONE!

I am fortunate enough that I still have mine.

This time of year can be pretty tough for all those who have lost their mums.

But still, take a moment to remember your precious memories 

for those cannot be taken from you.

To all mums everywhere xxx

My mum just adores purple,

 so for her card there was no other colour choice.

The design paper is a First Edition from the 'dreamcatcher' range.

The cardstock is as per usual by Papermania.

The pearls are from my stash.

This divine little stamp is 'dress up maggie' by Sugar Nellie.

I'm sure we can all remember dressing up 

in mums clothes and shoes when we were small.

Although I still find myself borrowing her clothes and shoes now...

Out came the beloved promarkers to colour her in.

I used stickles 'dark blue' for her necklace,

and 'pearly stuff'' in gold by Woodware 

for the centre of the flower on her hat.

I cut out this buckle on my cricut using the 'fabulous finds' cartridge.

I used this patterned holographic gold cardstock from my stash,

I found it added an extra texture to the buckle.

The satin ribbon was one of my Boyes bargain specials.

(Our local store has a bucket full of various ribbons for only 40p)

I think it has become my second home!

This gorgeous flourish is one by Cheery Lynn, 'tropical flourish'.

Once again using a lilac cardstock by Papermania.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz Weekly challenge 124  - mothers day/special lady

One Stop Craft challenge 173   - mothers day with a ribbon

Creative Inspirations challenge 154  - something for mum

My Mums Craft Shop challenge 48  - mums the word

Craft Your Days Away challenge 40  - mothers day

I Love Promarkers challenge 108  - anything goes

Papertake Weekly challenge  -for the girls/mum

Crafts for Eternity challenge 62  - special mum

Sugar Nellie on Facebook - anything goes

Dream Valley challenge 27  - mothers day

 Top Tip Tuesday challenge  - mothers day

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Pretty as a Princess...

...todays post is for a card I made for my friend,

It is her daughters birthday and she asked me to make the card for her,

NO pressure then...

I think I pulled it out the bag,

a beautiful card for a beautiful girl.

My colour inspiration is the classic presumption of

what little girl doesn't love pink.

The design papers for this piece are 'vintage chic' by Craftwork Cards.

The glittery silver cardstock is one by Limetree Crafts.

This gorjuss princess is just what I said ... gorgeous!

She is one of the gorjuss girls range by Sugar Nellies

Once again coloured using my beloved promarkers.

The little ticket shape is a die by Whimsy Stamps,

they also do coordinating rubber stamps to match.

I used stickles 'stardust' for added bling.

For her name I used strips of white cardstock,

 mixed up some red and white acrylic paint with a splash of water

and using a sponge coloured them in.

I then stamped the letters using Dew Drop Brilliance ink in 'platinum planet'.

I used a promarker fine liner to fill in the centres of each letter.

This pretty pink sheer ribbon is one from my stash,

I usually purchase all my ribbons from the local market 

or from Boyes bargain box.

This effect was pretty easy to do

I cut a strip of pale pink papermania cardstock, 

placed double sided tape down the length of the card 

roughly matching the width if the ribbon.

Then I just gathered the ribbon sticking it down as I went along.

I cut out the number 7 free-hand.

I used a wash of the acrylic paint mix to colour some shimmery paper.

I used these beautiful pink self adhesive gems,

 from my stash, for that extra sparkle.

These delicious hearts are a cut and emboss die by Marianne design 

the 'creatables' range.

They look just divine in this silver cardstock.

The flower brad is one I picked up from my local craft store.

The love heart charm is one from my stash.

This exquisite circle flourish is a very intricate die by Memory box.

 It is 'la Rue Flourish'.

The little pink pearl heart in the centre is from Add some sparkle.

All I hope for now is that Maisie loves this card as much as I loved making it.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts challenge107  - my favourite things (pearls and gems)

Sugar Nellies Facebook challenge  - anything goes

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT challenge  - anything goes

I Love Promarkers challenge 108  - anything goes

Paper Sundaes challenge 111  - feminine flair

CES challenge 76  - charmed

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Mum's the word...

...with mothers day approaching 

this post is to show a card I have made for my mother-in-law.

 

The border edges on this card is a punch by x-cut.

It is one of my new punches that I couldn't wait to play with.

The pale pink cardstock is by papermania,

the pearlised pink card is one from my stash.

 

This effect was created by using the off-cuts

 from creating the original border edges.

The card candi is by craftworks and it is a mix of

 'passionista' and 'love me do'.

This little cutie is Milly flower power by Lili of the Valley.

I used my beloved promarkers to colour her in.

The border edges are outlined with 'crystal' stickles.

And to add that extra pizazz

 I used a diamond dust on the flower.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Passion for Promarkers challenge 138  - pastel colours

Creative Inspirations challenge 152  - anything goes

 Craft Your Days Away challenge 40  - mothers day

Hanna and Friends challenge 134  - cute stamp

 

Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge   - pink and girly

Everybody Art Challenge 182  - monochrome

Simon says Stamp challenge   - anything goes

Crafty Catz challenge 122  - punches/dies

The Crazy Challenge 108  - anything goes

Delightful Challenges   - spring colours

Sew Many Challenges 83  - punches

Craft Challenge 144  - mothers Day

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Sweet as...

...chocolate? 

No ice cream/lollies are the theme and colour inspiration for todays card,

set by sugar nellies on facebook.

I followed the sketch set by Maria Theresa from the sugar bowl challenge.

There was also an optional theme of using kraft card.

 I love this image 'butterfly girl' by sugar nellie,

and as always a pleasure to colour with my promarkers.

The design paper is from one of my finds on a visit to the Range in Scunthorpe this week.

It is GCD Studio 'Eye Candy' paper pad, it has some truly lovely double sided papers.

The pearls as always, are from my stash.

  

I cut the main shape using my cricut and the 'accent essentials' cartridge.

The pearlised green card is from my stash

and the yellow and orange card is bazill bling.

I love the shimmer from this cardstock.

I cut the flourish using the cheery lynn 'tropical flourish' die.

It is cut from a lovely self adhesive felt that I got from 

Stephen H. Smith's Garden & Leisure Centre in Scunthorpe.

Its really tactile and adds that extra depth and dimension that I love so much.

The little pink flowers are from meiflower, the picture doesn't really do them justice,

as the colours are so much more vibrant.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

My Mums Craft Shop challenge 46  - throw us some shapes

Moving Along With the Times challenge  - lots of layers

Crafting for All Seasons challenge 21  - shaped cards

Sugar Bowl challenge 78  - Maria Theresa's sketch

Delightful Challenges  - use patterned papers

2 Sisters challenge 80  - anything goes

Allsorts challenge  - its your choice

Sugar Nellies on Facebook

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Here comes the bride...

...as the wedding season is approaching,

todays post is all about wedded bliss,

 it's my friends turn to tie the knot now, so here is the card I have made...

The colour scheme she has set for her wedding is red and ivory

so I opted to use these colours for her card too.

These shimmery cardstocks are from my stash.

I have been very fortunate to have a little spending spree this week 

so I have had lots of lovely new thing to play and create with.

The heart design is a border punch by x-cut, I have had so much fun using it.

I just adore this cute little bride and groom image by lili of the valley.

I used cool grey 3 and shale promarkers to colour the groom, 

crimson red for the flowers in her hair

 and a small amount of 'crystal' stickles for the brides dress.

I decided to add some extra depth by using these gorgeous little red rose bud blooms for her bouquet.

These ones were sourced from my local craft shop.

The red on the stems is a small piece of felt from my stash,

with a little pearl to finish.

The flourish I have used is one by cheery lynn 'tropical flourish'.

Finished with red gems from my stash.

This flower is one of my new punches by x-cut, 

there is also a smaller version of this made by papermania.

Again I finished this with a pearl from my stash.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Paper Pretties challenge -  use a punch or die cuts

Whimsy Stamps challenge 27 -  monochromatic

Charisma Cardz challenge 7 -  love is in the air

Hanna and Friends challenge 133 -  pearls

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Feeling OLD...

...well this is a special post as this card is for my son.

He has reached the grand old age of 11 !!!

going on 47...

This cool dude is a sugar nellie image called 'Luca with skateboard'.

He actually reminds me alot of my son,

although at present my son is unable to partake in sporting activities

due to breaking his thumb when he was last at football training.

And being a 'typical boy' he broke his thumb before the match

and still stayed on to play the game !!!

The black cardstock is from W H Smiths.

The design papers I have used are by papermania 'It's a Mans World'

These are a really nice mix of papers.

I have used Xcut Dielicious dies to create this lovely shape.

The blue cardstock that Luca is mounted on is Bazill Bling.

I just love the shimmer effect of this cardstock.

I used my beloved promarkers to colour him in.

Following this weeks colour sheme challenge 

set by sugar nellie on facebook.

The letters were cut out using my cricut and the 'doodletype' cartridge.

I used stickles, colour 'true blue' 

on the pale blue cardstock to add extra sparkle and depth.

The ribbons and black pearls are from my stash.

For the sentiment I used white cardstock and 'denim blue' colour promarker.

Then stamped the birthday message.

I love the black glittery numbers on this card,

perfect for a male card I think. 

They are from the Hobbyhouse, my local craft shop.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Hanna and Friends Bingo challenge  - pearls, ribbon and glimmer

Paper Pretties Wednesday challenge  - ribbon or twine

Crafty Ribbons challenge  - one for the boys/men

Do You Stack Up challenge 57  - anything goes

Divas by Design challenge 20  - anything goes

For Fun challenges  - masculine birthday card

Craft Us Crazy challenge 20  - anything goes

Delightful challenge  - punches and dies

Sew Many challenges  - birthdays

Scrapbook Sisters  - numbers

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Fiddly diddly dee...

...for todays card I have chosen to follow the suagr bowl sketch and theme.

The theme is paper-piecing, boy is this time consuming 

not to mention FIDDLY.

The image I have chosen for my card is Dolly Pip, she's just adorable 

and up until today still un-inked. (gasp)

 

For those of you who have yet to experience this delight, 

paper-piecing  involves stamping the image you desire 

several times onto different coloured, textured and/or patterned papers.

Then carefully cutting out the different elements to fit onto your desired image

Here I have used design paper from We R Memories 'Hippity Hoppity' range.

I love the circle design in similar colour contrast.

The striped design paper is from my stash.

I have used a distressing tool on my cardstock, 

I think it adds an extra dimension and depth to this card.

 

 

The black cardstock is by Black Magic colorcore 'spell caster' range.

I embossed this with the cuttlebug 'Daisy' embossing folder.

When embossing this colorcore card 

the embossed part comes through in the colour of the core.

Truly magical. ( I am however, easily entertained ).

           The tannish colour cardstock is the reverse of the black colorcore.

The little butterfly charm is from my stash.

The ribbon is one I picked up at my local Boyes store. 

(They have a 40p bucket, full of different colours. 

I just can't resist buying some everytime I go in.)

The pearls and gems are from my stash.

(You can never have too many )

The plain green cardstock is by Papermania.

I don't think I've done too bad a job for my first attempt at paper-piecing.

The flowers are from Hobby House, one of my local craft shops.

I have cut the lovely little leaf shapes with my cricut 

using the accent essentials cartridge.

I have used sticklto create the sparkle, 

crystal on the flowers and eucalyptus on the leaves

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Moving Along With the Times challenge 133  - blooming marvelous

The Sugar Bowl challenge 76   - Gayles sketch and paper-piecing

Stamping for the Weekend challenge 2  - embossing

Cute Card Thursday challnge 201  -you're a gem

Do You Stack Up challenge 56  - ribbons

The Stampman challenge  - embellish it

The Crazy Challenge 104  -flowers

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Pink to Make the Boys Wink...

...hello again
Todays card is inspired by sketch saturdays challenge sketch.

The colour scheme I've used was set by sugar nellies on facebook.

I love the combination of soft pinks and grey.
Once again I have succumbed to the valentines theme.

The design papers were given to me when I first began my crafting journey,

it seem so long ago now.

This lovely little pip is called Jelly, 

and as always I just love colouring with my promarkers.

I really don't know where I'd be without them.

My favourite cardstock at the minute is bazill bling,

It just shimmers and shines in the light and I like the depth of texture.

The grey cardstock is also one by bazill.

The cute little felt shapes are by making memories.

These were part of my xmas pressies from a friend.

The silver cord and daisy ribbon were both purchased from my local market.

the sparkle in her ribbon is done with stickles and the colour is thistle.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Oldie but a Goodie challenge  - have a heart (Design paper over 6 months old )

Crafters Companion Monthly challenge 20  - love is in the air

 Do You Stack Up challenge 55 - patterned papers

Paper Creations Ink challenge 17  - love/romance

Simply Create Too challenge 5  - love is in the air

Anything Goes challenge 59  - to the one I love

Corrosive challenge 141  - I { heart } you

Sketch Saturday challenge 191  - sketch

Pollycraft challenge 124  - warm it up

Sugar Nellies Facebook challenge

Craft Us Crazy  - love/valentine

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x