A Peaceful Christmas

With just two days to go until Christmas itself, there is time for one more posting.

This card is one I made for my Nana who will celebrate her 95th! Christmas this year. I used my Cricut machine to cut the Nativity scene. I used polkadot paper as the mat and added the flowers. I don't know if you can see it but I also added some gold glitter on the flowers and the star.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

A Snowflakes Promise - Anything Winter / Christmas

Glory of Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

And there is just time to wish you all a very Peaceful Christmas. I thank you for following my blog over the year and I hope to see you all again in 2016 with new work and challenges.

Emma x

Oh Christmas Tree

So its beginning to look alot like Christmas! We've got one of our trees up and the Christmas lights. This is our mantelpiece looking festive!

I made a few quick cards this week too. This one is made using the Christmas Tree stamp by Woodware.

First I masked off the middle area with low tack tape before applying Distress Inks with a foam. I then over stamped it with the stamp and added the snowflakes and greeting. 

Its a super quick card which is perfect for "THOSE" emergencies!!

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More - CAS

Freshly Brewed Blog - Christmas Anything Goes

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

We Six Cats

Apologies for not blogging for a few days. I had a craft stall at my son's Christmas Fayre yesterday and have spent the last three weeks buried in glitter and glue!!

I treated myself to another Little Claire stamp this season which is We Six Cats.

I created the background myself using Stormy Sky Distress ink on watercolour card. I spritzed water and dabbed it dry to get the snow like splodges! The cats were coloured with Promarkers and stuck onto the snowy sky. I created a border using a fineline pen to make the image stand out.

I wonder what they are singing??!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge - Christmas

My time to Craft - Christmas Animals

 Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Extra - Christmas

That's Crafty Challenge Blog - Seasons Greetings

Addicted to Stamps and More - Holiday

Little Claire - White Christmas

Craft Rocket Challenge Guest Post

Back in October I was lucky enough to be chosen as the Winner at Craft Rocket Challenges with my Spooky Card.

So this week I have been invited back as a Guest Designer!

The theme is Add a Sentiment which gives a lot of scope.

For my card I used stamps which were freebies with a papercraft magazine. I created a round circle template and applied Distress Inks to create the moon. I then used a juicy black Archival ink pad to stamp the rest of the images. This pad gives a nice crisp print.  To finish I hand drew a line border to frame the design before mounting it onto a black card base.

I can't wait to see what you will enter in this challenge!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Addicted to stamps and More - Anything Goes

Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes

Fantastic Tuesdays - Anything Goes / With Purple

Two Little Ducks

We are having extremely windy weather here on the South Coast of England experiencing the tail end of storm "Barney". Perfect to stay in and craft!

I am busy with Christmas makes and these are new cards I am making this year.

I used stamps by InkyDoodles and coloured them with Spectrum Noir pencils. I think of them as Dexter and Deliah Duck!

These can also be purchased from my Folksy store :)

I am entering this card into the following challenges :

A Snowflake Promise - Christmas

Crafty Sentiment Designs - Anything Goes

A Gem of A Challenge - Christmas Critters

Postcard from Paris

I have been trying to get this little card finished all week, but have been busy with card orders, making cards for my Nan who turned 95! and upcoming samples for exciting Serif Craft Artist Shows.

The card is my entry into the Sunday Postcard Challenge - so better late than never!!

First I stamped the Papermania Paris Scene Stamp onto the card and then used a masked to cover it. I covered the rest of the card with Distress Ink. Using the script stamp from the Papermania set I randomly stamped onto the postcard. The Eiffel Tower (and the frame) was diecut on my Cricut machine and then embossed with WOW! Gold Embossing Powder. The sentiment was from a Creative Expressions Paris Set which again I embossed with gold powder. I added some paper flowers and paper collage details from Docrafts Madame Payraud to finish.

I really enjoyed making this as it took me back to my original craft style.

I am entering the following competitions:

Crafting With Friends - Anything Goes

CreativeArtiste Challenge - Anything Goes

Scrap & Craft Challenge - Vintage or Shabby Chic

Which Witch?

Halloween is nearly here, so I just had to make another creepy card!

I made this in a similar way to my last Halloween Card (see previous post) using a Cricut cut image. The background was created using Distress Inks and ink sprays.

I'm hoping to share some photos of our Halloween decorations soon - so watch this space!

Here is a photo of our first pumpkin we carved this week.

Spooky!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Craft Rocket - Spooky

Moving Along With the Times - Halloween

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - Orange and Black

Die Cuttin Divas - Picture Inspired

Artistic Inspirations  - Halloween

The Witching Hour

October continues at a pace with exciting projects I am working on and towards the spookiest night of the year - Halloween!

I love Halloween and really enjoy making spooky makes! For this one I created the background myself using Distress Inks and Ink Sprays on watercolour card.  In fact the moon was created by accident when the spray bottle leaked!

The witches themselves are cut using my Cricut Explore machine. I added silver glitter glue stars to finish off.

I hope you have fun celebrating this year too!

Challenges I am entering:

Artistic Inspirations - Anything / Halloween

Dream Valley Challenges - Halloween

Dragonfly Journeys - Witches

That Craft Place - Halloween

The Pencil Cases - Halloween

Try It On Tuesday - Halloween

Autumn Leaves

After the beautiful sunshine at the weekend, the weather in the South of England has certainly turned to Autumn. 

It was also very sad to hear about the passing of the lovely Sarah at InkyDoodles. She brought the most unique stamps to market and always inspired me. I have used the Autumn Walk set of stamps to create this card.

I stamped and used the masking technique to place the pumpkins in the barrow. The strip I stamped and then cut to size. All the colouring was done with Promarker Pens - Honeycomb, Apply Cider, Tea Green and Ruby.

Challenges entered :

Penny Black and More - Warm Autumn Colours

The Craft Garden - Autumn Colours

Try It On Tuesday - Autumn

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Autumn

I also thought I would share a favourite poem of mine - William Blake's  - To Autumn

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stainèd

With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit

Beneath my shady roof; there thou may'st rest,

And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,

And all the daughters of the year shall dance!

Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

`The narrow bud opens her beauties to

The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;

Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and

Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,

Till clust'ring Summer breaks forth into singing,

And feather'd clouds strew flowers round her head.

`The spirits of the air live on the smells

Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round

The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.'

Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat;

Then rose, girded himself, and o'er the bleak

Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load. 

Crafting with Craft Artist

I was thrilled to receive the new kits from Craft Artist - hand drawn artwork by the very talented Suzanne Washington . They are being launched today on Create and Craft so I thought I would share some of the samples I created for the shows.

Tea

Farm

Garden

Safari

Meadow

Farm

Craft

On Your Bike!

Sorry - that sounded a bit rude! But I couldn't think of a better title for this project.

I finally got round to using a stamp by Anna Marie Designs which I bought ages ago. First I stamped the postcard from DoCrafts using Distress Ink. Then I stamped the bicycle using the same ink. To add colour to the flowers I used my Spectrum Noir Pencils - I love these!  The flowers in the basket are created using Flower Soft.  To finish off the vintage look I went around the edges of the card with Distress Ink.

I do hope you like this little project!

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Crafty Calendar Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafty Friends Challenge - Something beginning with B

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

My Poor Blog!

My poor little blog has been a bit neglected of late. I am working on lots of new ideas and samples so please bear with me!

One of things I posted on Facebook today was a papercut - designed by me!

I am offering the file for sale AND you can use it COMMERCIALLY yourself!. Pop over to my Facebook page to contact me regarding this.

I hope to be back later on this week with some new projects to share with you. 

Watch this space!!

I'm Back!

After the most fabulous holiday in Jersey I am home and  crafting!  I wanted to share this fabulous postcard I picked up, whilst on holiday, by MollyMac.

Now that school is back I have also had time to do my own crafting. I made this card using the Whisper A Wish stamp from Little Claire 

I used watercolour card to stamp onto. The background was created with Distress Inks and I used a mask to create the moon. I used WOW!Embossing Powder and silver glitter glue for the stars. 

I hope you like this card and have now added it to my Folksy store too!

Digital Butterflies

I haven't had much time to update my blog with school holidays still ongoing, but here is a little sneaky update.

The latest kits from Serif CraftArtist were launched on Create and Craft last week - created by Siobhan Harrison the lady behind April Rose Illustration. Some of you may be familiar with her beautiful designs and, as part of the design team, we were lucky to see them first.

There are 6 kits in total and here are some of the samples I created :

This one is my favourite sample. I printed out a range of butterflies before decoupaging them onto the card. This would make lovely framed art too!

Kit -Cornucopia

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - Anything Goes - with a butterfly

Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes

Crafty Hazlenuts Pattern Paper - Anything Goes

Kit -  Maison de Mode

 Kit - Summer Meadow

Kit - Rose Garden

Kit - Foxglove Dell

That time of Year

So its that time of year again when students all over the land wait patiently (or impatiently!) for exam results. I remember the time well, even though it is some years ago.

I had to make this card as soon as I saw the digi stamp on DigiStampBoutique. I hope he will go to a good home soon!

I used Kraft Card as a base to layer the patterned paper onto. The image was coloured with Promarkers and decoupaged. Finally I cut three banners from coloured paper to decorate.

If you are waiting for exam results I hope you get everything you wish for!!

Challenges I am entering:

Lunagirl Moonbeams - Animals

Doodle Pantry - Anything Goes (Digital)

August Already

August already! Where do the months go? I have been playing with the stamps from the latest issue of Creative Stamping Magazine.

 They are very summery and sultery. I chose to stamp the butterfly and flowers onto black card with white embossing powder. I added colour using mica paints to give them a metallic sheen. The sentiment is part of s set from Quick Cards magazine.

Surprising what you can do with a few freebies!!

Challenges I am entering:

Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Mixed Media Card Challenge - Butterflies

Bohemian Life

Did you catch the Serif shows on Create and Craft yesterday? If not then you missed the most amazing set of new digi kits.

The Bohemian collection is made up of Lilac Haven, Golden Peacock, Indian Nights, Midnight treasures, Moonstone Blush and Scarlet Dawn. There is the most amazing number of embellishments in these kits and its perfect for the mixed media look too!

Here are some of the samples I created for the shows:

Let the holidays begin

At last we have come to the end of term in our house and have 8 weeks of holidays to enjoy (endure!) I have been really busy making thank you cards for teachers - with about 12 made this week and more to do!!

The other reason for my absence is the work I have been doing for Serif Craft Artist Design Team. If you saw Create and Craft yesterday, you would have seen we were lucky enough to work with the delightful artwork from Claire Tarling.

Here are some of the samples I created  

There is also another stunning collection coming up this Wednesday - here is a sneaky peek! 

I am entering the following challenges:

Digitially Sweet - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Challenge - Animal and Sentiment

Digi Choosday - Christmas in July

ABC of Me

I saw this list doing the rounds on the web the other day and decided to add it to my beloved Smash Book.

Here are some of my pages:

I have changed some of the points to suit, so here is my take on the list. Feel free to use! Why not come back and share some of your lists here too! 

A- Age:
B- Biggest Fear:
C- Current Time:
D- Drink you last had:
E- Easiest Person To Talk to:
F- Favorite Song:
G- Grossest Memory:
H- Hometown:
I- In love with:
J- Jealous Of:
Keep Forever:
L- Longest Relationship:
M- Middle Name:
N- Number of Siblings:
O- One Wish:
P- Person who you last called:
Q- Question you're always asked:
R- Reason to smile:
S- Song you last sang:
T- Time you woke up:
U- are loving?:
V- Vacation Destination:
W- Worst Habit:
X- Xrays you've had:
Y- Your favorite food:
Z- Zodiac Sign:

Christmas in June!

Apologies for talking about Christmas soo early, but many of you as crafters and artists will already be thinking about making for Christmas 2015.

Today Serif Craft Artist launch their new kits on Create and Craft. There are some beautiful kits from Kimeric Kreations, Victoria Nelson Illustration and Laura Darrington Design Limited.


As part of the Design Team for Serif I had the pleasure of creating the samples, although I have to admit it was difficult to get into Christmas mode when the sun was beating down!

Its the journey not the Destination

I thought I would share this project I made as my entry to the Sheena Douglass Design Team. Unfortunately I wasn't successful this time, but I am really pleased with the result of this piece.

I sprayed the canvas with various ink sprays and highlighted some areas with gold acrylic paint.  The middle section is an MDF square again sprayed with inks and Distress Inks. The butterflies, sentiment and flowers were stamped and embossed with Brass WOW!Embossing Powder. 

The outside leaves and flowers are from Sheena's brambles stamps. I sprayed a sheet of watercolour card with various inks before stamping onto it and cutting out the images.

As they say sometimes its not the destination but the journey that delights us!

Challenges I am entering:

Altered Eclectics - Anything Mixed Media

Creatalicious Challenges - Butterflies

A little stitchery

I hope you are all getting ready to enjoy the heatwave in the UK?

Another craft I love to do is sewing and embroidery. This weather is perfect for relaxing in the garden with a bit of sewing. This is a WIP! Although not sure what its going to turn into yet.....I will keep you posted.....

On the papercraft front I have also created a stitch themed card.

I used a Creative Expressions set of stamps to create the images, stamping with Distress Ink and using a wet brush to pull out the ink. I used a hessian embossing folder to create the background and lots of sewing bits and bobs to decorate.

Hope you like it!

Challenges I am entering are :

Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes

 Crafty Cardmakers - Stitching

Fauna and Flora

I love where I live with so much wildlife. Just this morning I have watched two baby squirrels playing in the garden and we have foxes living next door too.

So what better way to celebrate the fauna and flora but to create a card using this beautiful Floral Collage stamp from Stamps Happen - an old favourite of mine.

I stamped the image across three tags and then coloured them using watercolour pencils and distress ink and mica paints. I think the kraft card and twine really adds to the card.

I am entering the following challenges

Make My Monday - Kraft Card

Fashionable Stamping - Use an old favourite

Sunday Stampers - Anything

Paris, London, Manhattan, Rome

So they have finally arrived  - the second installment of the CraftScapes kit from Serif Craft Artist. There are 7 to choose from : Italian Escape, Parisian Spring, Manhattan Winter, Stately Home, Riverside Walk, London Landmarks and People.

I had such a great time making the samples for today's show on Create and Craft. Each kit is packed with elements, backgrounds and more. 

Here are a selection :

Parisian Spring

London Landmarks

Italian Escapades

For more information and inspiration from the Design Team visit the Craft Artist Website