Kit and Clowder Swap Card August 2015

Well, another week has rushed by in a blur. I'd like to say I've been busy crafting but I haven't. I have been away from home spending time with my gorgeous grandchildren - I currently have two and a half of them. It's true that time flies when you're having fun.

I have also been swapping cards again. This one was in

the Kit and Clowder Facebook group where the lovely Alyce, who runs the group, organised an international card swap. The theme was "Christmas Come Early" and this is the card that I made for my partner Pam who lives in Michigan, USA.

I chose this image because I know Pam loves Yorkies.

I used an A5 landscape card blank and covered it with matt gold card and a paper from LOTV. 

The image is "Puppy in a Boot" by Mitzi from Aurora Wings and is available through the Stamps by Aurora Wings Facebook group. I used Copics to colour it then cut it out using a Spellbinders die. I matted the image onto matt gold card and punched a hole at either end to thread the ribbon though.

The flowers were made using a Marianne poinsettia die set and an X-cut punch on red card. I liberally sprinkled them with white Frantage. The sentiment is a Britannia die and I finished the card with a triple bow and some gold gems.

I received this gorgeous card in return from Pam using a delightful House Mouse stamp.

I'd like to say a big thank you to Alyce for organising the card swap. It's been great fun.

I've entered my card in the following challenges:

http://crimbo-crackers.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-88-small-and-cute.html x

http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-118-flower-power.html x

http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/ag-no-48.html x

http://asnowflakespromise.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-4.html x

Card Swap August 2015

Another week has passed me by in a blur. I really don't know where the time goes. Today I have a card that I sent to my swap partner for a little group we have in Britain. The theme this month was "The Beach".

 I used a vintage photo from the internet that I've had for ages as the focal point. The papers are from the Polkadoodles Pretty Tuff CD.

I cut two banners and coloured them with Pan Pastels before adding the half pearls. The double bow was dyed with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

The postcard sentiment was printed on the computer and the shells are from a Docrafts download called Ahoy There!

If you live in the UK and like to swap cards ask me to add you to our friendly little group. You'd be more than welcome.

I'm now going to take a few days off to spend with my family but hope to be able to get to your blogs to see what you are all up to.

The Romantique Collection

I didn't realise it's a week since I've blogged. The week seems to have flown past while I've been busy trying to get ahead with DT samples, commissions and card swaps. 

Regular visitors may remember the two little pillow boxes I showed you last month. They were a sneak peek at a new CD from Kraftyhands which is making it's début this weekend. It's called The Romantique Collection. I have some of my samples to show you.

The CD has the most romantic vintage photos that are just perfect for wedding, anniversary and engagement projects.

There are beautiful square papers with pretty florals to create lovely backgrounds or layers.

The CD comes with Card Making Sets where all the elements are ready for you to print and make.

There are plenty of gorgeous coordinating papers in a range of colours.

This is a must have CD for anyone who loves romance and vintage. 

Visit the Kraftyhands shop to order your copy of the CD and look for the ready printed matching Romantique paper packs. You can also see many more wonderful samples from my talented team mates by clicking on the gallery tab at the top of the shop home page.

Don't forget to watch the Kraftyhands shows on The British Craft Network where you will be able to see the guys demonstrating many of their CDs.

Creative Artiste Challenge 5

The eagle eyed among my regular visitors may have noticed a new DT badge on my sidebar. Creative Artiste is a challenge blog for those who like to play with mixed media and I was thrilled when Rhonda approached me about being on her design team. 

We are being sponsored for Challenge 5 by Foil Play who are offering a £15 voucher for the UK winner and Di's Digi Stamps who have a $12 voucher for a second winner. 

Our theme this month is 

"Anything Goes with Butterflies and Flowers"

This is my first DT project for the team. It's an 8"x 8" card.

I created the background by clear stamping and heat embossing a flourish stamp on white card then applying Shabby Shutters DI. - In other words, resist stamping. - I dyed a strip of lace with red ink and fixed it across the front.

The butterfly started off as a piece of lace. I painted it with red acrylic paint and shaped it to dry in the butterfly shape. I covered the pearl string with gold frantage and sprinkled some on the butterfly too.

The roses were made by curling cream paper and then they were dipped in gold embossing powder. I die cut the leaves and stamped the sentiment.

I've managed a few different techniques on my card. I'm sure you recognise at least one of them that you use. So, as long as you use more than one media and make sure you have butterflies and flowers on your project we'd love to see you enter the challenge. 

Now please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the wonderful projects created by my talented team mates for more inspiration.  Remember to have fun.

I've entered my card in the following challenges:
http://craftingwithanattitude.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-6.html x
http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/challenge-156-anything-goes.html x
http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/things-with-wings.html x
http://themixedmediacardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/mmcc-14-butterflies.html x

Kraftyhands August 2015 Challenge

The August challenge at Kraftyhands has been postponed until September 7th while the team takes a break and exciting changes are made. Nevertheless, I will still show you the inspiration card I made for the challenge. You now have extra time to create something with this theme:

"Quilts and Patchwork"

You don't have to use Kraftyhands products to enter our challenge but it would be nice if you did.

I've used the lovely Perfectly Pastels CD for this card. I printed the four different papers on to linen card and ran them through an embossing folder before cutting them into triangles. I then arranged them onto a piece of yellow card and glued them all down. I added a length of satin ribbon before fixing onto a card base.

I printed the decoupaged image into photo paper and mounted up the layers with foam pads. I added the sentiment from the CD and finished the card with a pink bow.

Please visit the  Kraftyhands Challenge Blog for a full set of the challenge rules and the Kraftyhands shop for your crafty needs. Don't forget to watch the Kraftyhands shows on The British Craft Network.

I've entered this card in the following challenges:

http://craftingwithanattitude.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-6.html x
http://carabbiemomentsofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-74-anything-goessummer-sun.html x
http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/ag-no-45.html x
http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-15.html x
http://notjustcardschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-23.html

Crafts Galore Encore August 2015 Challenge

Finally a few rays of sunshine! It feels more like April though with the showers in between the sunbursts and the cool temperatures. Maybe we will have our Summer in October?

Summer weather or not it's the first of August and time for a new challenge on the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. A full list of rules are on the challenge blog.

Our theme this month is everyone's favourite
"Anything Goes"

We are being sponsored by the fabulous Sherri Baldy who is offering a generous choice of three digis from the selection the DT have used for their inspiration this month. All the images can also be purchased from Sherri's Etsy Store  My Besties Shop or The Scrapbook Stamp Society.

This is the image I chose to work with and the card I made with it.

I started with an 8"x 8" card base and added an LOTV paper from the Perfect Pair collection. The panel is from the same paper pad.

I chose IMG931 to work with as she reminds me of my granddaughter - she's always got scrapes on her knees. I coloured her with Copics then cut her out with an X-cut oval. The scalloped oval mat is also from X-cut and has been coloured with a Pan Pastel.

I used a Marianne poinsettia die for the flowers, a Cheery Lynn flourish and butterfly and a Marianne die for the fence. I finished the card with some faux pearls and a ticket that was hanging round my work bench.
Now please visit the Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog to see the fabulous creations from my wonderfully talented team mates using Sherri's images. We look forward to seeing your Anything Goes projects.
This is the selection of digis the DT had to work with. The lucky winner can choose three of these images for themselves.

I've added my card to the My-Besties Designs Facebook group page and

I've entered this card into the following challenges:

http://www.4craftychicks.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/4cc-challenge-257-anything-goes-and.html x
http://copicmarkereurope.blogspot.co.uk/p/challenge-page.html x
http://scrapbookstampsocietychallengeblog.blogspot.nl/2015/07/challenge-71-anything-goes-option.html x
http://meetatthescrapperscorner.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/1st-august-2015-my-besties-meet-at.html DT Winner
http://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/1st-august-2016-world-wide-open-design.html x
http://yourscrapbookplace.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/your-scrapbook-place-august-challenge.html x