Believe in the Magic

What a beautiful day it is here in the South of England. I do believe Spring is here. Its been a while since my last post due to the school holidays. We had a fantastic family trip to Disneyland Paris where you certainly do believe that magic can be found everywhere! If you would like to see more of my photos you can follow me on www.instagram.com/thesparklyfairyisme

So it was apt that this week's challenge on CASology is BELIEVE.

For my card I diluted Distress Ink before applying with a wet brush.  I overstamped the fairy and sentiment using an archival inkpad. For added sparkle I added small dots of glitter.

Just remember always BELIEVE!

I am entering my card into the following challenges

Make My Monday  - Things With Wings

Animal Tag

Don't you just love it when you discover stash you have never used and completely forgotten about?!

I haven't made a tag for a challenge for a while and wanted to join in with Tag Tuesday's theme which is Animals.  Searching through my stash I found an UNOPENED PACK OF SHEENA STAMPS!!!

This is the set is called a Perfect Day

and this is the tag I made

I created a tag blank and used Distress Inks to create the background. The stencil was also found in my stash! again from Sheena and I used this with Distress Ink to create the foliage. The hare I stamped onto card and coloured with ink and a wet paintbrush. I punched out a moon shape and stamped the cloud.

Having found all that new stash I am one happy hare (bunny!)

Other challenges I am entering:

Crafty Animals - Anything with Animals

Stempelgarten - Wildlife

Autumn Leaves

Its the turn of Team A at Addicted to Stamps and More this week to set the challenge. Its an easy one - ANYTHING GOES!

As we are well into Autumn now I decided to make a card titled "Autumn Blessings"

I used a stamp set from Crafters Companion to stamp the leaves using Distress Ink colours. I used a water brush to draw out the colour. Using a foam applicator I applied Distress Ink colours to the edge of the card.  I wrapped ribbon around the card before applying the stamped and die cut sentiment. Finally I mounted the finished piece onto a kraft card blank.

I hope you can come over and join in!

I am entering the following challenges:

The Crafty Addicts - Autumn Colours

Lets Craft and Create - Fall / Halloween

Beautiful Rose

I loved the recent freebie with Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine. 

It was this lovely embossing folder and stamp set. I embossed the design and then used Worn Lipstick Distress Ink over the raised areas. The rose was stamped with archival ink and then watercoloured with Distress Ink and a waterbrush. I also used Crafters Companion Clear Sparkle Pen to add some bling. Its such a striking stamp you need little else to make it stand out.

I am entering this into the following challenges

 Simply Papercraft Challenges - Anything Goes

AAA Card Challenges - Anything Goes

Spring Flowers

On our dog walk we found these beautiful daffodils growing wild.

So these were perfect inspiration for this card I made for the Craft Stamper Blog Challenge (Spring Flowers)

I created it using a PaperArtsy stamp set, masks and distress inks. First I stamped the the flowers and then masked them before using another mask to apply Distress Ink through. I wanted to keep it quite simple. You probably can't see but the flowers glitter after having Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens added to them.

Other challenges I am entering:

Card4Galz - Springtime

Through the Paper Haze - Flowers

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

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

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

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

Mixed Media With Wings

Over at The Mixed Media Card Challenge the theme is WINGS and there is also a DT Call!

For my entry I used a favourite stamp set which I think was from Inkadinkadoo originally. I can't believe I have never used this particular one.

First I stamped the image onto book printed paper and then used Watercolours and Spectrum Noir pencils to add colour. Some of the areas I highlighted with gold pen. The dots I then applied using a stencil and Peeled Paint Distress Ink.

I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Other challenges I am entering:

Bloggers Challenge Flutterby Challenge - Flutterby

Craft For the Craic - Wings

Fashionable Stampers Challenge - Things with Wings

Ink on My Fingers - Books (Book Paper)

Craft Stamper - Take It Make It

Key to My Heart

Its been ages since I joined in with any of Tim Holtz's tag challenges, but I was so inspired by February's tag I started to make my own.  Its also been a long time since I played with mixed media and I've really missed it!

To make mine I used the same background technique as Tim, using various images to create a collage. These were all pulled together by dry brushing with white acrylic paint.

I then added a few brighter images and the ticket. The red heart on Tim's tag gave me the idea to use felt for mine, add some lace and the keyplate.

To finish I coloured some twine with Frayed Burlap ink and used it to tie on the key.

I am so pleased with the end result and am now working on a little canvas to match - pictures to come soon!!

I am entering the following challenges:

Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 - February

A Vintage Journey - Love is in the Air

Frilly and Funky - Be My Valen - twine

Belated Father's Day

I hope you all had a good weekend. Unfortunately my Father's Day post is a day late as I spent most of the weekend in bed with a migraine. I hope all Dads, StepDads, had a great day and also those Dads that are no longer here were in our thoughts.

This is the card I made for my Dad.

I used a stamp set from the magazine Creative Stamping. First I created the background using torn paper and Distress Inks. I am quite pleased with how the clouds turned out! The balloons I stamped with Distress Ink again and drew out the colour with the wet brush. I think my Dad was really pleased!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Glitter n Sparkle - Father's Day

That Craft Place - Men

Country View Challenges - Only Men Allowed

All At Sea

This week I have felt as though I have been all at sea - what with my puppy having his op. It was like having a baby in the house again! I've also been busy making new samples for Serif Craft Artist and trying out my new Cricut Explore machine - which I have to say is pretty impressive!

With all this excitement I decided to make a simple card for the Keep It Simple challenge which this week is Maritime.

I stamped the images using Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink and had a go at masking some of the images to create a collage. I then used a waterbrush to pull out the colour, before cutting out and edging with the same ink. I quite like the simplicity of this.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

KraftyHands Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Jo's Scrap Shack - Life's A Beach

Simply Create Too - Fathers Day / For A Male

Working with Vellum

I hope you are all surviving the wet and windy weather here in the UK. Living on the South Coast is very windy at the moment!

I am sharing a card with you which I have made for Moving With The Times challenge blog. Hazel was kind enough to ask me to join the group. So do pop along an join in with the challenge which this week is to use vellum or parchment.

I was inspired by an article in Craft Stamper to make this card. I stamped onto the parchment and then embossed on the wrong side with a ball tool. Once this was done I blended Antique Linen Distress Ink over the back. The paper is from a beautiful freebie with Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine this month. I used some dyed seam binding and pleated it to decorate.

Other challenges I am entering:

Rhedd and Rosie Challenge - Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes

The Crafting Cafe Challenge

Today it is my turn to share my DT card at The Crafting Cafe Challenge blog. 

This month our fabulous sponsor is The Stamping Boutique and we had the choice of some gret images to work with.

I chose Rocking Horse and came up with this card.

I printed the stamp onto cream card, having recoloured the outline to brown to give it a vintage feel. The backing card was embossed using a folder and I rubbed over the raised areas with a Distress Ink Pad. I used Distress Markers to colour in the image and then diecut it using an X-CUT die.

I created the embellishment using a paper flower, buttons and ribbon. The sentiment is stamped in Distress Ink and mounted onto a die cut.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you will join us at The Crafting Cafe for our Anything Goes Challenge.

You have until the end of the month to enter!

I am entering the following challenges with this card:

Allsorts - Buttons and Bows

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

Stampin With the Dragon - Anything Goes

One Crazy Stamper - Anything Goes

Let It Snow

Here's hoping we will see some snow in the South of England this year! With Christmas fast approaching and more presents to wrap than Santa I decided to keep things CAS.

I made this card using a stamp set which came with one of the stamping magazines. I used two different colours of Distress ink - Chipped Sapphire and Salty Ocean.

And that is it!

Challenges I am entering :

Addicted to CAS - Snowflakes

Sweet Stampin Christmas - Let It Snow

Fab n Funky - Snowflakes

Autumn Trees

With Winter fast approaching I suppose it's a good thing I got this card finished! I am always inspired by the artwork on the blog challenge Craft a Scene, but have never entered. This time the theme was Trees and I decided to enter this card.

I started off by colouring the background Centura Pearl Card with a variety of Distress Inks. Then I overstamped using three shades of the Distress Inks the trees, using Crafty Individuals Stamp CI-209. I then spattered Cosmic Shimmer mica spray over the centre of the picture.  I drew in the fence freehand. I made a stencil to create the sun and overstamped the trees in the foreground using Brushed Corduroy Ink. Finally I added the sentiment again from the same stamp set and mounted the piece onto a kraft card blank.

I am also entering this into the following challenges:

LadyBug Crafts - Autumn Colours

So Artful - Trees

Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge - Week 5

Its certainly beginning to feel colder now and heading fast towards December. And I'm still a bit behind with my Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge entries.

For this one I decided to stick with the vintage look.

I created the background by stamping a holly garland across the page in Walnut Stain. I stamped the Father Christmas (Artistic Stamper I think) on white card using Walnut Stain and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks. I then diecut the frame from kraft card using Spellbinders die and embossed both the mat and the frame using a wood texture folder. I aged the pieces with Frayed Burlap and Barn Door inks. The lace was added and the poinsettia has again been aged with Distress Inks. I added glitter glue to the stamped holly background and flower centre.

Why not join in with this fun challenge - all you have to do is make something inspired by each of the 12 tags and you could be in with a chance of winning $50 to spend at the Funkie Junkie Boutique

Happy Halloween!

It's here! The spookiest night of the year! We are all set here at our house!

Time has been a bit short this week with it being half term, so I made a quick card with a fabulous stamp set I won from Flonz Crafts via The Fashionable Stamping Challenge.

I used Distress Ink and a stencil to create the moon. Then I stamped and embossed the image using Ebony Black WOW! Embossing Powder. I added ink around the edges and mounted it onto black card.

There are lots of Halloween Challenges around this week so I am entering this into the following :

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

Happy Campers - Halloween

Fan Tastic Tuesday - Square Halloween

Fab N Funky - Halloween

Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas - Week 3 Catch Up

Sometimes it's great when a plan DOESN'T come together! Which is exactly what happened when creating this project.  It started out as a card, but the gold leaf went on slightly wrong, so I ended up cutting the card in half to make this tag and I'm quite pleased with the result.

I am slowly catching up with The Funkie Junkie's 12 tags of Christmas Challenge. As Linda did I coated the card with Frayed Burlap and dusted it with gold perfect pearls. I stencilled the stars with the Frayed Burlap. and added the Sunset gilding flakes along the bottom. The black silhouettes are peel offs I found in my stash (amazing what hides in the stash!). I didn't have the same font for the Noel so I used a wooden embellishment covered with WOW Brass Sparkle Embossing Powder. The brass stars are brads  - again in my crafty stash!

Onto Week 4!