Hi everyone, I haven't had much time to blog the last couple of days unfortunately, hoping to be visiting everyone over the weekend. I made this card quite a while ago for my friend Sandra's birthday but didn't post it on the blog, thought I'd put it on today. I love this little PB hedgie and it's been watercoloured with distress inks, highlighted with stickles and layered on Pink Petticoat paper and bazzil card. Sentiment is Elzybells, ribbon from stash. Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Back soon,

Chris

Christmas Sparkle

Hi everyone, I've made another quick Christmas card which will be one of a batch using Pink Petticoat downloaded image and paper. I've coloured the image with sparkle gel pens and matted on green card with a velvet ribbon and gem to finish. I do love quick cards when there are a lot to make! TFL.

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Chris

Uplifting

Hi everyone, I've done a double challenge card today for A spoon full of sugar 'sparkle and bling' and Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge where there's a wonderful sketch to follow by my blogging friend Donna, it's Donna's first sketch for the DT so I hope there are lots of entries, it's also my first time for this challenge. I've used Penny Black's uplifting stamp which I stamped three times in Versafine black ink, pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor, cut out various elements and attached with gel glue. The background paper is Pebbles 'Swirls', the pink panel and image mat are Cordinations card. The vertical panel has been embossed with the paisley CB folder and then sanded and distressed. The scalloped element and bottom strip of the sketch are white bazzil card. I added lots of stickles, flowers, gems and a tiny bow for the sparkle and bling element. TFL.

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Chris

Christmas Tree

Hi everyone, hope you've all had a good weekend. I've been making Christmas cards using a cuttlebug embossing folder which are nice and quick when making a few together and I now have nine of them made up. I've varied the mat layer on them, either red, silver or gold and also the colour of stickles and liquid pearls. This card is on a gold layer and highlighted with gold stickles and an ivory bow. TFL.

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Chris

Leaves

Hi everyone. My card today is for the SCS Ways to use it challenge where the theme is leaves with a hint of pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and also for the SCS weekly sketch challenge. I used two leaves from a Kars stamp set, the large leaf is stamped in Smoky brown versafine, sponged with Distress inks, Worn lipstick, dried marigold and mustard seed and cut out. Two panels for the sketch had the same stamping and sponging treatment with the other leaf stamp. I edged everything with black soot ink, added the sentiment panel, the popped up single leaf and other flowers and pearls. Edged the sentiment panel with sticky ribbon (not too evenly by the looks of the photo!). Touched some of the flowers lightly with black ink and added stickles to finish. Hope you all have a great weekend. TFL.

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Chris

Chloe's Star Wreath

Hi everyone and here's a little Christmas Tree decoration I made which is courtesy of a beautiful one made by the very lovely and talented Chloe here. I think she found the idea in a magazine, she's let me borrow it and as you'll see if you have time to look she has a wonderful way of putting her papers together and creating very lovely cards. The stars are die cut from the middle sized die on the large Sizzix multi star die, doodled for the stitching, glittered and then stuck to a circle cut with nestabilities. Added some punched and shaped flowers, a few gems and some pretty ribbons, the centre ribbon has been stamped with a Peace sentiment from Woodware and the ribbon heated with a heatgun to give a bit of a frill.

The papers are by Summer Driggs and Pink Petticoat.TFL.

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Chris

Evil Pumpkins

Hi everyone, here's a card for A spoonful of sugar where the challenge this week is Halloween. I almost didn't post this card, the pumpkins are so evil looking I thought they'd frighten everyone away! Hopefully not! Another step card and my design 'Silhouette Houses' for Spiral Whisper which has been stamped in versafine on white card then cut around to shape the top. I coloured all the windows with a glaze pen, sponged the scene all around the houses with Ranger distress inks and mounted on the back step of the card. The evil pumpkins are circles of card cut with nestabilities, pencil coloured, blended with Sansodor then drew on the faces and coated them in black stickles, they didn't seem so frightening until the stickles! Two of the sentiments are attached to curled jewellery wire and attched with gel glue at the bottom of the second step behind the pumpkins. Added a sentiment to the front step to finish. The paper for the card and the sentiments are from the Funky Fairies free Halloween download. TFL. Hope you aren't too spooked to come back soon.

Chris

Embossed flowers

Hi everyone, I've used the scored grid again on this card, scored at half inch intervals diagonally across the white background panel and then dotted yellow stickles where the diagonals meet. The image is a Queen Anne's Lace by Starving Artistamps which was stamped with versamark and versafine smokey grey ink several times then heat embossed. I sponged all around the bottom part of the image with Ranger distress ink in tea dye and graduated it up the panel. Added the Inkadinkado bird and sentiment stamp and matted on some white card. The Card blank is a piece of silvery grey pearlescent card and I used the off cut to make the panel behind the image, it's covered with some very fine cobweb type fabric which has gold and silver metallic inclusions. Added pearls to the corners of the image to finish. TFL.

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Chris

Awareness II

Hi everyone, another card for the set I'm sending off for Breast Cancer Awareness month. The image is by MFT, coloured with water colour pencils and H20s. I've done the card in a simple style which seems to suit the great image which was sent to me by a friend together with the sentiment. I just added the pretty background paper, doodling and edging around the sentiment, pearls and some stickles to finish. The H20 element is for an SCS technique challenge. They do give a nice sheen but there are a few lumpy looking bits here and there. I suppose it depends on the angle of the light in the photograph it doesn't seem to look like this IRL. TFL.

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Chris

Emily inspired

A card today for the SCS Featured stamper and I cased a wonderful card by Emily. For my background I used a Hero Arts manuscript stamp inked with Colorbox Orchid ink and randomly stamped over the card blank. Over this I used a sponge to give a distressed appearance. I don't know if Emily has used a background stamp on her base card but I love the effect of it. I did the sponging with more of the orchid ink followed by brown. The image was stamped in Orchid and I dry brushed some brown ink in some areas over the top, added the sentiment, two brads and the ribbon and mounted on the card. I distressed the thin strip of card in the same way and edged with a corner rounder punch. After attaching this I pierced under it with the help of a Tim Holtz ruler. TFL.

Elzybells snowgirl

Hi everyone, thank you for all the absolutely wonderful comments as always and sorry if I haven't managed to get round to everyone's blogs the last couple of days, things are a bit manic!

Today's card is for an SCS limited supplies challenge which had to include eyelets, the colour blue, only one piece of patterned paper and one ribbon. I failed on the ribbon I realised after upload as I have two. For the background/paper, I stamped Elzybells large snowflake with versamark and heat embossed with Kaleidescope ep, I repeated this over the first snowflakes and used snowflake ep onto the blue card blank. I stamped the cute Elzybells girl and robin with versamark and versafine blue lagoon together and heat embossed with the Kaleiescope. I wish it would show up better in the photograph, it's lovely and Christmassy, shimmery and sparkly! I liked the image as it was and haven't coloured it. I put the eyelet (crushed to bits!!!) on the left of the image panel and the sentiment then tied blue and white organza ribbon through the eyelet hole. TFL.

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Chris

Champagne Bear

Hi everyone, a card today for the SCS 'ways to use it' challenge which is 'ways to use plaid', which I suppose here equates to checks or tartan type pattern, this is also for Dutch Dare where the the challenge is Cardstock, so no patterned paper. I wanted to combine both challenges and to get over not being able to use paper came up with making my own check patterned background from plain white card by scoring a checked grid pattern on my scoreboard (I seem to be in a grid mood this week)! Next I used the distress inks and babywipe technique that I saw Jacqui (Cats Whiskers) use on a card recently and which I thought was a great idea (thanks Jacqui). Basically just dab the babywipe on the ink pad and colour your card, I did my colouring in alternating stripes of pine needle, faded jeans and tea dye, first one way and then the other. I've used my Forever Friends Champagne stamp and water coloured with distress inks attached to Bazzil Bling card. The sentiment is embossed with a cuttlebug folder and layered on more Bazzil bling cut with a scalloped cutter blade. Added the gems to finish. TFL.

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Chris

Poinsettia Christmas Card

Hi everyone and here's a card I made for an SCS sketch challenge. My first layer is gold pearlescent card scored to make a grid, second layers are Basic Grey Figgy Pudding (my current favourite paper!) two of which are cut with a scalloped nestie. Third layers are white card also nestie cut and scored to match the background piece but with a smaller grid. I added pearls to the half circle and dots of red stickles to the background grid. The Woodware sentiment is stamped in gold ink. The pointsettias are my Spiral Whispers design, I stamped twice, coloured with prismacolor pencils and blended with Sansodor. On the second image I coloured just a few brachts. The whole of the first image is cut out, shaped and mounted with Pinflair glue on the circle followed by a few more shaped leaves from the second image. I added yellow stickles to the centres and a little diamond to the edges to finish. TFL.

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Chris

Awareness

Hi everyone a card today for the SCS colour challenge of Pink, Black (which I forgot about and missed out!!!) and white. Every week this month there'll be a pink colour included in the challenge as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I make a click almost every day for my friend on the Breast Cancer website where clicks count towards free mammograms. I'll be making some more of these cards to go with this one and they'll be sent out to women who are suffering with this awful disease. The card is also for Papertake Weekly which has a lovely sketch by Katharina to follow and also for Cute Card Thursday where the challenge this week is Buttons and Bows. Hopefully the breast cancer awareness ribbon bows in the background paper will count for that element.

I used a Breast Cancer Awareness digital kit by Summer Driggs which is a free download, she has lots of other lovely kits and very generously lets anyone download them. I think I found the link on Madge's blog so thanks for that. I printed out the two papers I've used and layered them on white card and a scalloped nestie. The buttons are also from the kit which I've printed and cut out. I stamped the Inkadinkado bird and sentiment in Ancient Page ink. The white oblong panel is embossed with the cuttlebug swirls folder. TFL.

Lighthouse by the pier

Hi everyone, my card is for a technique challenge on SCS this week where the challenge is to make a step/accordian fold card. I used silver pearlescent card for the base and followed the instructions which are to cut the base card to 10.5 inches X 5.0 inches, score at 1.25" - 2.5" - 4.25", 6" and at 8.25" then fold with hills and valleys (accordion style) making sure that the smallest (1.25" fold) is folded down.

I've used my stamp design for Spiral Whisper stamps 'lighthouse by the pier' and a cute Magnolia Tilda, both have been pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor. The background image is matted on more of the silver card and attached to the back fold, followed by Tilda in the middle. At the front I've stamped a Woodware label and sentiment, ideally I'd have liked this on the other side at the front but I stamped first directly on the card and smudged it everywhere!!! The card is decorated with lots of paper flowers with stickles for the centres and I've used thick gel glue so that some of them are popped up over others. To give some sparkle I sprinkled glamour dust on Tilda's wings, pockets and the sea. TFL. Back soon, Chris

Kadoodle Blog Candy!

Hi everyone this is taken from the kadoodle Stamps Blog:

This is our first blog candy: your chance to win one of our really cute cottages

CANDLESTICK COTTAGE

From now until Christmas, we will feature one of our Kadoodle stamp every Monday.

Leave a comment on the Kadoodle blog for a chance of winning this cottage!

The winner will be announced next Monday

Good luck

Christmas Tree Row

Hi everyone, this week the challenge on Dutch Dare is to make a Christmas card. I've used my Spiral Whisper 'Christmas Tree Row' stamp design which is water coloured with Distress inks and sprinkled with lovely sparkly glamour dust. The image is matted on sage green bazzil and popped up on dimension tape. The background layer is white card embossed in the cuttlebug and matted on the green bazzil. I added the little tab with a woodware sentiment and decorated with tartan ribbon, red bow and little gems. TFL.

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Chris

Tulip Jungle

The challenge on Penny Black Saturday this week is 'Thanks a bunch' and I've used my PB 'Tulip Jungle' stamp and made a joy fold card (thanks again for the instructions Donna). The image is pencil coloured, blended with Sansodor and mounted on bright pink sugar coated Bazzil that I've been hoarding for a while. I used Basic Grey papers for all the different panels inside and out and Doodlebug rub ons for the sentiments. The joy fold is held closed by the sentiment tab which is foam mounted on one side. Added a few flowers, bright pink gems and stickles on the flowers to decorate. TFL.

Back Soon, Chris

Silhouette Houses

Hi everyone, a card today for Daring Cardmakers' where the challenge this week is 'Bright'. I've used my 'Silhouette Houses' Spiral Whisper stamp design, cut out with nestabilities, mounted on a nestie cut scalloped circle and I've then coloured around it with H20 paints. It would be lovely if the sparkle of these paints would show up in photographs as the card is very shimmery but unfortunately it doesn't. The windows, trees and spiders are highlighted with gel pens. The bottom of the card is a collage of torn pieces of Black Magic papers which have a coloured core, these are highlighted with H2o's. The grave stone with sentiment is hand doodled on a thick tag which is sponged with distress inks as are all the edges of the card. I added some ribbon, a gem and stamped a Starving Artistamps spider all over and doodled the web in the upper right corner. TFL.

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Chris

A winter city

Hi everyone, a card for The Tilda and Co. Challenge which this week has to include metal. I've used my Spiral Whisper 'Winter City' stamp design and Tilda with lantern which are pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor. Tilda is cut out and mounted on foam tape.The metallic element is the bronze metallic colouring on the lantern which is also glazed with glossy accents as are the boots. The background image is matted on pale yellow Bazzil card and the background mat is some gorgeous Doodlebug patterned glittered card which I've been hoarding for ages, I don't know why!!!! The card is decorated with some pretty green check elasticated ribbon, stickles, paper flowers a sentiment die cut and gems.
TFL. Back soon, Chris

Angel Fairy

Thank to everyone for the comments on using the Cropodile big bite, I think I just need to practice more, much appreciated anyway as are all comments that are left which make me smile every day. I've made a card for a Spoon full of Sugar today where the challenge is a pink and green colour scheme. I've used my Angel Fairy design stamp for Spiral Whisper. The image is pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor then matted on mint green Bazzil Bling. I used some pretty pink and green Christmas paper from last year but don't know the make. I've also used some Cordinations card for the first time, I think I just wanted to tear it to see what I got because I'm not overly happy with the card which I rushed too much. The Coredinations does tear beautifully and I love the effect of the other colour on the ripped edge. I used a couple of flowers, stickles and gems from stash to decorate. TFL.
Back soon,
Chris

Mellow Yella Ella

Hi everyone, a card for Papertake Weekly where this week they're celebrating the first birthday of the Blog. The challenge is a choice of two, make a card for a 1st or a card with no stamping!

I've gone for the no stamping option and used a Pink Petticoat download for both the image and the papers. I've coloured with pencils and blended with Sansodor and then added loads of stickles and a very big ribbon bow as it's a big birthday wishes card. I also found out on Papertake that there was a challenge a couple of weeks ago that I missed for 'Children In Need' cards which have to be yellow and as the deadline is extended I've made my card to fit in with this too and I'll be posting it off later. I decided to decorate the inside of this card too and as no stamps are allowed I've doodled and coloured some flowers on white over a layer of the PP paper. I'm having terrible trouble with photographing during the day at the moment and the card is much more yellow IRL it must be the awful dark days we're having.

I don't know if anyone can help me? Any comments gratefully received in advance. I've just bought a cropodile big bite which I can't seem to get to grips with at all. When I put eyelets in they seem to get crushed on the back, I'd love to know if that's normal or if I'm just using too much pressure. I also can't work out at all how to put snaps in!!! I probably just need to practice a bit more with it but with the snaps I can't get them to stay on paper long enough to use the lever, any tips would be great.

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Chris

Kadoodle Stamps at The Craft Barn online AND Online Voucher Draw!

Great news today, Kadoodle Stamps at the Craft Barn www.thecraftbarn.com are now up and running and their website is fantastic! Not only can you buy Kadoodle stamps but Sandy and Ian stock the most amazing array of products in the shop that I've ever seen and now they're online too. You can email Sandy direct sandy@thecraftbarn.com with any feedback on what you think about the new online shop, all the comments will be put into a draw and three people will be chosen at random to receive a
£10 online shopping voucher.
Hope you enjoy having a browse and entering yourself into the draw.
Back soon,
Chris

Snowman on the hill

Hi everyone, a card for Cute Card Thursday where the challenge this week is Christmas Animals and also for Sketch Saturday with a lovely sketch by Gill. The stamps I've used are my Spiral Whisper background design 'Snowman on the Hill' and the adorable Spiral Whisper 'Milly on Reindeer' by the very talented Janet Roberts. Both images are pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor and Milly is cut out and mounted on dimension tape as is the background image panel. I added some flowersoft to Milly's furry jacket, boots and earmuffs, I think this is a great idea, it really does look like fur and I can't remember now who's blog I saw this idea on but thank you very much, it's brilliant. I've also added some cord at the bottom for the strip panel part of the sketch, stickled flowers and sentiment from stash. The paper is Basic Grey 'Figgy Pudding' and everything is matted on red bazzil card. TFL.
Back soon,
Chris

Ski Lift

Hi everyone and here's my card for Our Creative Corner where the challenge this week is 'Bling on the Bling'. I've used my new design for Spiral Whisper stamps, 'Ski Lift' background and the absolutely gorgeous 'Harry Skiing' by the very talented Spiral Whisper stamp designer Kerry Steptoe. Both of the images are pencil coloured, blended with Sansodor and Harry has been cut out and popped up on dimension tape. I added glossy accents to Harry's skiis, the ski lift (can't at the moment remember what these little compartments are called!) windows and stickles over the snow for the bling element of the challenge. To give some more shine/bling and a snowy feel I embossed a piece of thin shiny white paper with the bubbles CB folder but unfortunately it doesn't show up too well in the picture. The sentiment stamp is by Woodware, ribbon and snowflake charm from stash. TFL.

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Chris

Winter Amelia

A card for Friday Sketchers Challenge which has a lovely sketch to follow this week. Kadoodle stamps Amelia is pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor then matted on blue bazzil card, I don't know why but I always seem to want to colour this stamp in blues!!. The background paper is Basic Grey 'Figgy Pudding' which I think I'm going to be using a lot of, it's gorgeous, matted again on the blue bazzil and wrapped with silver metallic ribbon. I added gems, a Christmas tree charm, stickles and a Craftwork Cards sentiment die cut to finish. TFL.

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Chris

Relaxing Hedgie

Hi and today's card is for Penny Black Saturday where the challenge this week is to follow a sketch. I've used a cute hedgehog relaxing in his hammock (thanks Tania) which is pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor. Background papers are all by Pebbles Inc., lovely flower, travel stripe and travel dot and the white card has been embossed with the CB swiss dots folder. I punched flowers with an EK success retro flower punch and moulded them with a ball tool for some shape then added black half pearls for the centres. The swirl corners are cut with a sizzix die. What I've ended up with here is a bit busy for me but I do love these papers!

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Chris

I've been Tagged!

Last week I was tagged by four incredibly talented and lovely ladies, Carolyn, Jami, Sally-Ann, Sandra and Erin, I hope you can take a moment to have a look a their wonderful blogs which are a huge treat, very stylish and full of inspiration. Thank you to all of you.... I think LOL but mainly thank you for thinking of me.

I have to write up seven random/weird things about me. I'm not sure really about the weird as I think it's other people who perceive the weird in us LOL and my Family should probably be writing that part :-) , anyway, here goes:

1. I loathe ironing so I bought one of those steaming machines/crease getter outers..... I loathe steaming!
2. I wore Mary Quant mascara in the '70s, the one that made you look as if you had spiders legs for eyelashes!
   
3. Ketchup is vile, I hate it!
   
4. When I lived at home with my Mum and Dad we had a Green Amazon Parrot, my Dad brought him back from South America when I was about three and he was with us until I was eighteen. I remember that he used to love to pull my earrings out if he was sitting on my shoulder, he'd screech in the morning to wake us up and have noise matches with the dog.... what a racket!
   
5. If I ask the family what they want for dinner the answer will usually be curry, they like their spicy food here!
   
6. I had my photo taken with James May (Captain Slow) from TVs 'Top Gear' last year at an awards dinner (I bet he doesn't remember having his photo taken with me lol).
7. I love chocolate. Leonidas and Godiva from Belgium are THE best (IMHO).

I have to pass the tag along seven times, sorry ladies if you've already been tagged and it's passed along with fondest wishes. Tag you're it: Jacqui, Sharon, Lynsey, Gisela, Lainy, Linda and Liza

Chris

Halloween skyline

Hi everyone, I've found a new challenge blog 'Everybody Art Challenge' from the very talented Moni's blog (she's on the DT) and the theme this week is Halloween! I've used my new stamp design for Spiral Whisper which is a silhouette, 'Halloween Skyline' and pencil coloured then blended with Sansodor. The background paper is Basic Grey and plain white card. I've added gold stickles, black pearls and doodled sentiment to finish. TFL.

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Chris

Forever Friends

Hi everyone, back to card making today with a card for Dutch Dare where the challenge is 'a card for a boy/man', don't know if I'm in time for this one but hopefully I am. I've used the little workman Forever Friends stamp which is cut out with nestabilities, pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor. The image is layered over a mat of shimmery, pewter coloured punched card and under that a layer of white card embossed with a cuttlebug folder. The sentiment is a doodlebug rub on and the dots doodled with a sharpie marker. TFL and catch up with everyone over the next few days.

Back soon,
Chris