Snowflakes and Glitter

I must apologise for my lack of posting. At the moment I am busy prepping my Christmas craft stall stock so very busy!

I thought I would share some of the little cards I have been making which I am selling in my ETSY store too.

The die cut cards were made using dies from DOcrafts whilst the ducks are from an InkyDoodles Stamp set. I used watercolour pens to colour the image in.

So this is a short and sweet post, but will be back soon with news on my new Cricut Maker Machine!! (Santa visited early!)

Flowers and Lace

Are your ready for another challenge? This week at Crafting By Designs we are looking for projects that use Flowers and / or Lace.

Our sponsor this week is Lacy Sunshine

I decided not to use a digital image this time but to do something a bit different - embossing onto dark card.

I used a stamp from the Folk Floral range by Docrafts. I stamped it with Perfect Medium before using White Super Fine Embossing Powder by WOW!Embossing Powder.

I had run out of stick on pearls so I used Liquid Pearls to create mine. 

The piece was mounted onto white then a blue card. I then die cut some flourishes in white card to decorate the corners.  

I have to say I was so pleased with this and hope mine and the rest of the Design Team provides some inspiration for your projects.

Come and join in!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

The Crazy Challenge - Lace

WOW Embossing Powder - Anything Goes with Embossing Powder

Penny Black and More - Anything Goes with a Stamp

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

Emboss it at The Crafting Cafe

At the Crafting Cafe Challenge blog this month we are asking you to show us a card with embossing, be it wet or dry.

The  prize of 6 pots of WOW! embossing powders as WOW! is our sponsor this month.

For my DT piece I created this......

 I used the Cracked Glass technique. I stamped and coloured the butterfly  - a favourite of mine by Anna Griffin - with Distress Pens Then I covered the mountboard with Perfect Medium before applying WOW! Embossing Ultra High Clear Powder. I repeated this three times to get a thick coverage. Then I let it cool before bending the whole piece to give a cracked look. Finally I applied a dark brown ink with Cut N Dry Foam to highlight the cracks.

The papers I selected are the new ones from Docrafts - Madame Payraud which is a great curiosity style collection. I aged the papers further with Distress Inks before cutting them into squares and mounting them onto brown card. 

I would love to see your creations too! So join us at The Crafting Cafe.

Other Challenges I am entering:
4Crafty Chicks - Things with Wings

Beside The Seaside

Its probably not the best place to be today on the South Coast as its raining! Is that summer gone? Anyway staying on a seaside theme I have created this card to enter this week's Docrafts Challenge.

I used a Michael Powell Beach Hut stamp for the main image, coloured in with Promarkers and decoupaged. The papers are from the new Docrafts Seaside Collection which I used to make the bunting as well. I finished off with a greeting "Wish You Were Here". I have to say I love it!

Other challenges I am entering :
Crafting Musketeers - Use a stamped image
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Travels to Venice

My most favourite places in the world is Italy and in particular, Venice. There are a few travel inspired challenges this week so it was a chance to use one of my favourite stamps.

To make this postcard I first embossed it using a Docrafts  / XCut folder. Then I used Walnut Stain Distress Ink to age it. I stamped the Venice image and used a water brush to draw out the colour. I stamped the place names from Crafty Individuals along the bottom. Finally I applied gilding flakes on the corners to decorate. I have to say I am rather pleased with the result! I hope you like it too

Have a great weekend!

I am entering the following challenges

Craft Room Challenge - Wish You were Here Postcard

Black and White

I hope you are all enjoying some sunshine. Here on the South Coast it is quite warm today. I have been enjoying sitting in the garden, sipping chamomile tea and reading the life story of Natalie Wood.

I have found time for some crafting too. I wanted to join in with the Docrafts challenge, which this week is "Black and White"

I embossed the bottom of the card with a dotty embossing folder. Then I cut a frame using my Cricut machine. The ornamental metalwork is amazing! The stamp is one of Michael Powell's stamps which I enhanced with a black artists pen. I made the flowers using a Marianne Die and the swirl was an offcut from a Cricut cut. Finally I added pearls to the flowers and a sentiment.

Other Challenges I am entering:

Craft Bloggers Network - Anything Goes

A Birthday in a Teacup

Well what a weekend we had at the Sparkly Fairy quarters! My Dad fell and broke is leg in the snow and still remains in hospital! Life is interesting! It's actually his birthday today so we are hoping to have him home today, but it will be a long 12 weeks in plaster!!

Anyway.....I thought I would share this little card with you, although having little time for making much at the moment. I made this card using Docrafts Papermania stamps to stamp and decoupage the teacups. I stamped the bunting and the greeting and coloured all with AquaMarkers to get a watercolour look.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

ABC Challenges - Birthday Cards

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Christmas in July

Ohno I hear you all say! Not Christmas already!  I love Christmas and could happily make Christmas cards all year - or though I never do and end up rushing at the last minute. So this year I have made a start!

I used the new decoupage kit from Papermania to make the topper and then wrapped snowfall acetate around it to create a bubble. The paper is from a selection from my stash as well as the greeting. I know its not my normal stamping style, but thought I would have a change!

Happy Christmas! :)

Challenges I am entering:
Crafters Companion - Ho Ho Ho Christmas
Creatilacious - Christmas in July
Crafters Cafe - Christmas in July with non traditional colours
Cards for Men - Masculine Christmas
Hooked On Craft - Christmas in July
Quirky Crafts - Christmas in July
Card Caravan - Christmas in July

Nature with wings

It is very hot and humid here on the South Coast today, but its never to hot for crafting!

"Flowers and Butterflies

Drift in colour

Illuminating Spring"

Today I am sharing another card which I made purely for enjoyment. I bought the background stamp from HobbyCraft yesterday and its by DoCrafts Papermania. The sentiment is from a Creative Expressions stamp set and the flourished from a free set I had from a magazine some time ago.

To make the card I stamped the butterfly background using Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink, then I overstamped with the flourish stamp and sentiment in Black Soot. I stamped the background again and cut out a butterfly from it, used Distress Inks and a waterbrush and then used Sepia Accents to give it a glossy look.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Fashionable Stamping Challenge- Nature
Dream Valley Challenges - Wings
Craft Your Passion - Things with Wings
Fashionista Challenge - Winged Things

They're Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Well what a weekend! I hope you all enjoyed the Jubilee celebrations despite the weather.
I'm still in red, white and blue crafting mode and although I don't usually go for the cute style of cards, I couldn't resist this Forever Friends stamp from DoCrafts. I used a gatefold card and paper from the Best of British collection. The image I stamped, coloured with Promarkers and cut out to layer onto the card. With the sentiment You are The Best, this card would be perfect for Father's Day too.

Challenges I am entering :
Sunday Stamper - Red, White and Blue
Artistic Stampers - Red, White and Blue
Mishelflo's Challenge - Red, White and Blue
Reddy Teddy Go - For the boys (inc a teddy)
Scrapbook Sisters - Red, white and blue
Simon Says Stamp - Diamond Jubilee
Creative Craft Challenges - Red, White and Blue
Passion for Promarkers - Red, White and Blue
Forever Friends - One for the Boys

Beside The Seaside

I hope you are all enjoying the Jubilee Celebrations, despite the English weather! We are hoping to have a picnic tomorrow with lots of red, white and blue!

The card I am blogging today is my beach huts card, made using a new stamp from DoCrafts based on work by Michael Powell. I stamped the image and used Promarkers to colour it in. Then I stamped and coloured another set of beach huts and decoupaged them. This fits perfectly with the theme at Allsorts this week which is I do like to be beside the seaside.

Other Challenges I am entering :
Amuse Studio - Anything Goes
The Squirrel and The Fox - Winter or Summer
My Sheri Crafts - Summer Lovin
Secret Crafter - Anything Goes

Fairy ATCs

Another fantastic day. Have just found a great new craft shop near me selling Distress Inks, the Debbie Moore range, crafters companion and the thing I most wanted a speedball brayer - can't wait to try it out.

Just a litte project to show you,three Fairy ATCs for a Docrafts Swap. I made them by swiping the card over big n juicy ink on a craft mat. I then stamped the fairies in black ink and highlighted them with cosmic shimmers.

Lots more fairy projects to come as I've spent most of the weekend experimenting for the Gingersnap Creations Fairy Challenge. Watch this space!!