I Love Promarkers DT Card - Release the Glitter

It's time for a new challenge at I Love Promarkers, this week our theme is "Release the Glitter" , and we're sponsored by QKR Stampede, who very kindly gave the DT an image of our choice to play with.  I chose Santa Bear, who, after colouring with my Promarkers, I added Glamour Dust to all the fur trim on his Santa suit, which unfortunately hasn't shown up very well in the photo.

 The papers are Dovecraft, Back to Basics, Christmas, Traditional, I added a fine line of Stickles in Christmas Red and Holly around the edges of two of the layers to add to the glittery theme, and also some Star Dust Stickles round the edge of the kraft card that I matted the Craftworks Cards sentiment onto.
To embellish, I added some layered ribbon, a matching bow, a red doily and some holly cut from glitter card using a Spellbinders die, topped off with some red pearl berries.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Dream Valley - #105 - Recipe - 1 image, 1 sentiment, 3 papers, 3 embellishments (bow, doily, holly)
Love to Scrap - #52 - Anything Goes
Winter Wonderland - Twinkle, Twinkle
Fab 'n' Funky - #257 - Christmas

Christmas Church

A new die and another Christmas card!  It's one of the new release Die'sire dies, I thought this church would be very versatile, good for wedding, christening, and of course Christmas cards.

 The church was fun to decorate, I added Glamour dust over Cosmic Shimmer white PVA for snow, and glazed the windows with Glossy Accents to look like stained glass.
The papers are Dovecraft, Back to Basics, Christmas, Modern, to which I've added a die cut kraft oval that I lightly dragged gesso over with a piece of scouring pad.  I then stamped the oval with a stamp from a Creative Expressions set called Christmas Post, in fact, all the stamps used on this card are from that set.
To embellish I added, some layered ribbon, a matching double bow, some die cut ivy made with a Joanna Sheen die, some poinsettias made with Nellie Snellen punches and silver micro beads,some punched snowflakes, some cream pearls, some tiny iridescent dew drops, and a few touches of Star Dust Stickles here and there.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Crafting From the Heart - #57 - Anything Goes
Christmas Card Challenges - #21 - Anything Goes
Sister Act - #103 - Anything Goes
CRAFT - #308 - Make Your Own Embellishment
Cuttlebug Mania - Use Stamps - Dies used - Die'sire church, Joanna Sheen ivy, Spellbinders Floral Ovals
Loves Rubber Stamps - #149 - Use at Least Two Dies

House Mouse and Friends GDT Card - Dotty for Dots

Here's my last GDT card for the House Mouse and Friends challenge blog, where the theme this time is "Dotty for Dots".  I've really enjoyed my time as guest designer, thanks to the DT for making me feel so welcome and for leaving me such lovely comments on my blog, it's very much appreciated.

 I didn't make nearly enough Christmas cards last year, so I'm trying to get as many done nice and early as I can, so I decided to use this super cute decoupage sheet, the colours of which I thought went rather well with these Papermania, Capsule Collection, Spots and Stripes, Festive Colours papers.
I used a 7x7 card blank as the image is quite big, but even with a large base I didn't have a lot of room for embellishment, especially on such busy paper.  I added a punched holly border, done with a Martha Stewart punch for a bit of interest, and wrapped some pretty, printed, grey and silver silver ribbon round the topper, finishing with a fancy bow and Christmas tree charm.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Christmas Card Challenges - #21 - Anything Goes
Pile It On - #66 - Same Pattern, Different Ways
Crafty Catz - #276 - Things With Wings
Aud Sentiments - #130 - Things With Wings + a Sentiment
Crafty Creations - #287 - Seeing Spots
Penny's - #224 - Use Spooled Items
Crafty Cardmakers - #137 - Dots
Craft Your Passion - #259 - Anything Goes

On Your Baptism

Well, what strange weather we've had in Inverness today, sunshine, rain, hail, sleet, and finally snow, and not just a few flakes either!  It was lovely, warm spring weather just a few days ago, I'm hoping that the temperature will soon rise again.
Today's card is for an adult baptism, always such a lovely, joyful occasion.  The young lady it's for is very much a girly girl so I wanted to make it pretty with a splash of pink.

 The background and die cut flowers and butterflies were done with a Sizzix / Hero Arts stamp and die set, I coloured the stamps direct with Distress Markers and spritzed them with water before stamping for a soft, almost watercolour look.  I also added a little Star Dust Stickles to the die cut flowers and butterflies.
The crosses were cut with Spellbinders dies and gently inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink to highlight the embossing.  The sentiment was computer generated, then die cut with a Sue Wilson banner die.
To embellish, I added some lace, some grosgrain ribbon, and a matching bow.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Open Minded Crafting - #35 - Shabby Chic
Suzy Bee's - #77 - Use Some Lace
Crafty Catz - #276 - Things With Wings
Aud Sentiments - #130 - Things With Wings + a Sentiment
Fab 'n' Funky - #256 - Lace
Word Art Wednesday - #180 - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps - #103 - Flowers
Sentimental Sundays - #256 - Inspiration Board / Colour Combo

A Gem of a Challenge DT Card - Sweet Treats

It's challenge time again at A Gem of a Challenge, this time our theme is "Sweet Treats".  I've used Ice Cream Ellie, from the Pink Gem store, colouring her with my Spectrum Noir pencils in a change to my usual Promarkers.  The more I use these pencils, the more I like them, I love the soft look they give, but they'll never replace my Pros!  I cut the image out with one of my favourite Spellbinders dies, Floral Ovals, it's just so pretty, and such a handy size for so many images.

 The papers are First Edition, Desert Blooms, a lovely double sided, glittered stack, the flowers were stamped onto some subtle patterned paper from the same pack, then die cut with a Heartfelt Creations matching stamp and die set, I used white micro beads for the centres.  I further embellished with a star flourish, cut with a Joanna Sheen die and glittered with Star Dust Stickles, layered ribbon and matching layered double bow, a sentiment stamped with a Lili of the Valley stamp, some peach pearls and a scattering of white pearls.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Creative Craft Cottage - #38 - Something Yummy to Eat or Drink
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - #89 - Use a Die Cut
Crafts 4 Eternity - #223 - Anything Goes
The Stamping Boutique - Ribbon and/or Lace
CRAFT - #308 - Make Your Own Embellishment - Flowers and bow
The Crafter's Cafe - #113 - Ribbon and/or Lace
Crafty Gals Corner - #16 - Girls, Girls, Girls
Penny's - #224 - Use Spooled Items
The Paper Shelter - #2oo - It's a Celebration
Papertake - Cute as a Button

I Love Promarkers DT Card - Bugs

It's challenge time again at I Love Promarkers, this week our theme is "Bugs", and we're sponsored by Milk Coffee, who very kindly gave the DT some super cute digis to play with.  I used Lisbeth Rides a Ladybug for my card, coloured, of course, with Promarkers.

 The papers are Prima, Jack and Jill, if you look closely, you'll see they have teeny, tiny ladybirds and butterflies on them, making them perfect for this theme.
The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards, as is the shaped blank.
To embellish, I made some daisies with Woodware punches, using micro beads for the centres, die cut a butterfly flourish with a Joanna Sheen die, adding a bit of sparkle to it with some Star Dust Stickles, added a tiny punched butterfly, stuck on a few clear gems, and finished with a piece of red Card Candi that I decorated with a black Promarker to look like a little ladybird.

I'm entering this card int he following challenges -

Inspiration Destination - #30 - Anything Goes
Crafty Gals Corner - #16 - Girls, Girls, Girls
Inky Impressions - #206 - Punch It - Punched flowers and leaves
Come and Get It - Thing That Star With B - Bugs, Butterflies, Blooms, Bling
Sister Act - #102 - Anything Goes

Under the Weather? - Get Well Soon

I dug out an old Tatty Button stamp that hadn't seen the light of day for quite some time and inked her up, colouring her with Promarkers, adding Glossy Accents to the puddles and creating and raindrop background of Star Dust Stickles.  I actually stamped her twice, the oval was die cut, leaving a partial image, all I coloured of that was the puddles and ground.  I then stamped the image again, coloured the girl, cut her out and decoupaged her onto the oval base using foam pads, so that the umbrella stands proud above the top of the oval.

 The papers are Papermania, Gorjuss, from the latest goody bag, the colours in this pack are really lovely, some bright, some dark and some soft and muted.
To embellish, I added some layered ribbon with a matching bow, made on my Embellishment Attic bow maker, a sentiment stamped with a stamp from a Personal Impressions set, a trio of lilac gems, and I finished with some flowers made with a Spellbinders die and a Woodware punch, using silver micro beads for their centres.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Pile It On - #65 - April Showers Bring May Flowers
Come and Get It - Things That Start With B - Brolly, Bling, Blooms, Bow
Crafting From the Heart - #56 - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - #258 - Anything Goes
Love Rubber Stamps - #148 - Add Flowers
Sweet Sketch 2 - #51 - Sketch

I Love Promarkers DT Card - Many Happy Returns

It's time for a new challenge at I Love Promarkers, this week our theme is "Many Happy Returns", and we're sponsored by Doctor Digi, who very kindly gave the DT some fabulous, fun images to play with.  I chose Martini Bianca, who I coloured, of course, with my Promarkers, adding some Star Dust Stickles to her shoes.

 I got the idea for the olive background from some cards that I'd seen on Pinterest; I die cut some green ovals, punched some tiny red circles, layered them together to make stuffed olives, stuck them randomly onto some white card, then passed the whole lot through a Crafter's Companion embossing folder.
The cocktail glasses were stamped with Stampin' Up stamps, coloured with Promarkers, then given a bit of shimmer with some Wink of Stella.  I made a coaster shape using a scalloped circle Spellbinders die, with a glass ring stamped on it, using a Creative Expressions stamp from a wine themed set.  The sentiment was computer generated and I finished my card with a few clear gems.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Inspiration Destination - #29 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Make Your Own Background
Tuesday Throwdown - #240 -  All Clear - I used clear gems
Incy Wincy - Embossing

Daffodil Egg Box

Here's a little Easter gift I made for a friend, it's a box of four Egg 'n' Spoon chocolate eggs, with the packaging decorated up a bit to make a pretty present.

 The original packaging is still there under the decorative wrap, so that the recipient knows what's inside and how many calories are in each egg!  I used the packaging from another box of the same sort of choccy eggs, that I had previously scoffed, as a template for the patterned paper wrap.  I used Papermania, Simply Floral paper in colours to tone with the egg carton, the sentiment tag is from the same range.
I made the daffodil with a Spellbinders die set, the mat the bloom is sitting on was cut with a Spellbinders die too.  A few gems finish my project.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges -

Get Creative - #12 - Include a Tag
The Crazy Challenge - #195 - Springtime
The Corrosive Challenge - #222 - Floral Fantasy

House Mouse and Friends GDT Card - April Showers

I have another GDT card for the House Mouse and Friends challenge today, this fortnight's theme is "April Showers", and there are some great prizes to be won, hop on over to the challenge blog for the details.
I decided to use this super cute Happy Hoppers decoupage sheet for my card, I thought it was perfect for the theme.  I used Collal 3D glue to build up the layers, then added some Star Dust Stickles to the rain drops and puddle for a bit of shimmer.  The sentiments were on the decoupage sheet too, I just matted them up to match the rest of the card.

 I used some soft eau de nil pearl card for the base layer of my 7x7 card, the plain lilac card and patterned paper are from Papermania's Capsule Collection, in French Lavender, I embossed the cardstock with an Embossalicious folder.
To embellish, I added some lilac ribbon, a bow made with my new Embellish Attic bow makers, a flower made with Xcut dies, and a trio of green flower shaped gems.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Eclectic Ellapu - The Purplies - April Showers / Spring
Robyn's Fetish - #259 - Use Baker's Twine, I used it in my bow
Allsorts - #306 - Bingo - Gems, Ribbon, Sentiment
Dragon's Lair Designs - Add an Animal
Simply Create Too - No Digis or Stamped Images
Crafting For All Seasons - #99 - Animal Magic
Simon Says Stamp - April Showers and/or Spring Flowers
The Sisterhood of Crafters - April Showers

I Love Promarkers DT Card - Ink it Up

It's challenge time again at I Love Promarkers, this week our theme is "Ink it Up", and we're sponsored by Marianne.
I inked up a brand new Gorjuss stamp for my DT offering, colouring her with Promarkers and fussy cutting her out.

 The pretty papers are Papermania, Craft Collection, Pastels, I inked all the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The large doily was stamped onto one of the plain, fabric print papers with a Papermania, Vintage Notes stamp, and heat embossed with white powder.  The stars were fussy cut from one of the patterned papers and used as embellishments, I glued a button to the centre of two of them.  The hessian panel at the bottom was a scrap of embossed kraft left over from another project, I inked it up with Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick Distress Inks, then inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink to match the the rest of the papers.
To embellish, I added some lace, some pink silk ribbon, a triple bow tied from the silk ribbon, and a sentiment tag from the same range as the papers.  The 12x12 papers and sentiment tags are both in the current Docrafts goody bag, it's a really nice bag this time, well worth the money.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Papertake - Anything Goes with Optional Extra, Include a Bunny 

Penny's - #221 - Anything Goes
Craft-Dee Bowz - Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow
Sparkle 'n' Sprinkle - Anything Goes with Loose Glitter, Embossing Powder or Flock, I used white embossing powder
Addicted to Stamps - #101 - Stars
Robyn's Fetish - #258 - Pastel Colours
The Ribbon Girl - Pastel Colours
Suzy Bee's - #74 - Use Pastel Colours
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - #88 - Use a Doily
Fussy and Fancy - #136 - Buttons and Bows

Spring Has Sprung

A spring card today, I'm sure many bird houses across the country are full of nesting birds, my garden is certainly alive with the sound of birdsong.

 I picked up this stamp and pretty paper pack, from Trimcraft's Forget Me Not range, in The Works yesterday, and couldn't wait to have a play.  I've used my Spectrum Noir pencils to colour the image for a soft look, I rather like effect they give on kraft.  I added a bit of faux stitching for added interest to the papers and topper.
To embellish, I added some lace, some yellow silk ribbon, a bow, and some flowers made with Xcut dies.  I made the flower centres by squeezing a big blob of Eucalyptus Stickles in the middle of each bloom, then covering it with moss green micro beads.  When the Stickles dries, the middle shrinks, leaving a raised ridge with a dip in the centre, much  like many real daisies.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Crafty Cardmakers - #136 - Wings
Papertake - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday - #80 - Use a Punch or Die
My Time to Craft - #286 - Get Krafty
Just Us Girls - #287 - Spring
Make My Monday - Birds and Inspiration Pic - I was inspired by the pink flowers
Sweet Sketch - #49 - Sketch

Cutie Pie DT Card - One For The Boys

It's challenge time again at Cutie Pie, this month our theme is "Cute One For The Boys", and we're sponsored by Bugaboo, who very kindly gave the DT some images to play with.  I chose this sweet boy with his canine pal, and to ring the changes, chose to colour him with my Spectrum Noir pencils, rather than my usual Promarkers.  I used Crafter's Companion stamps to add interest to the edges of the topper.

 The hessian background was done with a Crafter's Companion embossing folder, it's a sheet of kraft, which after embossing was inked with a variety of Distress Inks.  The patterned papers are DCWV, the Juniper Stack, one of which I stamped with a grungy design, using the same set of Crafter's Companion stamps as before.  The textured bright blue paper is also DCWV.
To embellish, I added some buttons, and a sentiment stamped with a Papermania stamp.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

My Time to Craft - #286 - Get Krafty
Wags 'n' Whiskers - #151 - Buttons
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Happy Birthday
Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - #256 - Anything Goes

Happy Easter and a Christmas Card!

Happy Easter everyone, I hope you haven't all overdone it on the chocolate!  I had the family round for lunch, followed by an egg hunt for my wee boy, the sun has even managed to shine!
Rather unseasonally, I have a Christmas card to share today, using my new Papermania, Craft Collection, Pastels papers from the latest Docrafts goody bag.  They aren't Christmas papers, but the blue ones made me think of winter woolies, so I decided to take the festive route with them.

 The image was stamped with a Marianne stamp that came free with a magazine ages ago, I coloured it with Promarkers and added a little Star Dust Stickles to the ice.  I punched the bottom of the topper with an Argyle pattern EK Success punch, and backed it onto blue paper from the Papermania pack mentioned above.  I then made a little tassel embellishment and wrapped the topper with baker's twine, before sticking it to the card base, which had been matted and layered with more of the Papermania papers.
To finish off, I stamped a sentiment and die cut it into a tag shape, added a row of Cosmic Shimmer white PVA dots along the bottom of the card, and fussy cut a couple of stars from one of the sheets of paper to use as embellishments.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges-

Passion for Promarkers - #290 - Blue Skies
Addicted to Stamps - #101 - Stars
Addicted to Stamps and More - #138 - Holidays
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Blue Christmas
Inspiration Destination - #27 - Anything Goes
Christmas Card Challenges - #18 - Colour Challenge - Polar Hues

A Dozen Tiny Easter Eggs!

I had fun making this one, slapping on the gesso and getting messy!

 I used a 7x7 kraft blank and added a border of Cosmic Shimmer white PVA dots, which I lightly sprinkled with a very pretty, variegated peach / pink / cinnamon glitter, while still wet.
The next layer is a piece of Prima, Fairy Rhymes paper, the edges of which have been distressed.
Next comes a sheet of kraft card, that I embossed with an Xcut folder that has a border design.  After embossing, I painted on some gesso, and, once dry, sanded back the embossed areas to reveal the pattern.  I then masked off the border and stamped an Easter greeting as a background design to the central panel using Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I also used some Brushed Corduroy Distress Stickles round the edge of the centre square, where it meets the border.
The eggs were cut with an Xcut die from Prima, Fairy Belle papers, then, once stuck in place, were given a covering of Glossy Accents.
The bird was stamped with an Artemio stamp and coloured with Distress Markers, the feather was made with a Spellbinders die and highlighted with more Distress Stickles, and I finished off with a stamped sentiment.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

The Stamping Boutique - Easter
4 Crafty Chicks - #240 - Easter
Crafter's Cafe - #110 - Easter
The Paper Shelter - #197 - Easter
Try It On Tuesday - They Who Have Wings
Perfectly Rustics - #44 - Eggs
Allsorts - #305 - Easter

I Love Promarkers DT Card - Kids Have Fun

It's challenge time again at I Love Promarkers, this week our theme is "Kids Have Fun", and we're sponsored by Just Inklinded, who kindly gave the DT some digis to play with.  I chose Video Games, which I coloured, of course, with Promarkers.  It's not the sort of image I usually go for, but I have to say that I really enjoyed colouring it.
I really struggled to photograph this card, my camera didn't like the bold colours against the black, white and grey, and no amount of editing could make the colours look completely true to life, the colouring has much more shading and depth in reality.

 I used some slightly textured grey cardstock as a base for my layers, stamping with some Crafter's Companion stamps to add interest.  The red strips and Card Candi lend a pop of colour to compliment the image, and I finished off my card with a sentiment stamped a stamp from a Personal Impressions set that I thought was just perfect for this image and our challenge theme.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -

Penny's - #221 - Anything Goes
Cardz 4 Guys - #64 - Something Beginning with S - Screen, snack, square 
Sketchy Colors - #245 - Sketch - I flipped it