Easter primroses

Hi everyone, a card today for A spoon full of sugar where this week the challenge is 'gems' and Stamp Something with a challenge of 'green somethings'. I've used my 'Easter Egg with primroses' image which is now availabe in the digi-stamp shop, there are two more egg designs each with different flowers in the centre as well as three other spring floral images. I printed the image out twice once on white and once on BasicGrey Porcelain paper and then cut out the egg part of the image and paper pieced it on the white. The primroses are pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor and I've added stickles to the flower centres and to all the scallops then mounted it with dimension tape. The flowers are punched from the same BG paper moulded round a pencil and attached to the card with gel glue, added some candy dots for the centres. The green bazzil background layer has been half embossed with the damask style embossing folder and I attached ribbon around it, then added to the cream card blank. Finished with the Woodware sentiment and gems. TFL. Chris x

Basic Grey Challenges 12

Hi everyone a card today for Basic Grey where the challenge this week is embossing. I've used a new digital design that I've made and which I've added a link to in my sidebar for anyone who'd like to download and use it for their Christmas cards, it's for personal use only of course. If you do use it, I'd love it if you'd come and let me know so that I can visit you and take a look. I've pencil coloured the image and blended with Sansodor, added a some stickles and clear sparkle gel pen then distressed the edges and sponged with distress inks. Image is matted on Bazzil card over the background of Basic Grey Wassail papers and the horizonatal panel is embossed with the CB Swiss Dots folder. Added the little Christmas charm on some red cord to finish.

Thank you so much to everyone who's passed me the the awards below, they're so much appreciated and make me smile. Unfortunately I can't find anyone that I know who hasn't received them so I'll pass them to anyone visits who doesn't have them. Thanks again. TFL.


Back soon,
Chris

Happy Hopper apple eater

The post title reminds me of an old song the Purple people eater, oh dear, a very old song when I think about it! This card is for House Mouse Challenge where this week there's a recipe to follow, the card must include ribbon, two buttons, felt and a scalloped edge and as I've followed Trina's great sketch (which I flipped) I'm also entering A spoon full of sugar. I really love this little hopper image which I've pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor. I tore the edges of a rectangle of black magic card to reveal the tan coloured side and mounted these over the spot and black check background paper, then a red card blank. The two side elements of the sketch are a strip of felt and on top a strip of ric-rac which combines three of the HM requirements as the ric-rac has a scalloped edge LOL! There's a little red punched heart and buttons from stash with a knotted string on each. Sentiment is white rub on letters. TFL. Have a great week. Back soon, Chris

Kadoodle Blog Candy!

Hi again everyone, just to let you know that this week the Kadoodle blog candy is my design James and Holly. If you fancy a chance at winning this stamp pop over to the Kadoodle Blog and leave a comment.
Good luck!

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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

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

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.

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

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

Who's that?

A card for the Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge where the theme this week is 'Christmas is coming'. I've used this gorgeous Elzybells mouse and bauble stamp which is pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor. The layers are Navy Blue Bazzill and white card which has been embossed with the Christmas Ornaments Cuttlebug folder. I've added a woodware sentiment, ribbon, gems and stickles for some sparkle. TFL.

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Chris

Weatherboard Cottage

A card for Dutch Dare where the challenge this week is to follow a sketch.

I've used my Weatherboard Cottage design for Kadoodle Stamps which is stamped with Versafine Sepia ink, pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor. There's some glossy accents on the window panes but the picture hasn't caught this unfortunately. The topiary trees and flower planter stamps also come with the cottage and I've coloured, glittered and then cut them out to mount on thin dimension tape. The image is matted on the beautiful paper that was given to me by Sandy at the The Craft Barn and has been cut out using square nestability dies also layered on dimension tape. Background is Bazzil Bling which has been embossed with the CB Swiss Dots folder and the 'No.?' sentiment is cut with the 'Go Create' Milan alphabet and glittered.

I had another lovely day at the Craft Barn Extravaganza yesterday, met lovely people and I've thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend. I'd like to thank everyone for making me so welcome and Isabelle for looking after me as this was my first time demonstrating. Sandy has asked me if I'd like to do a class in November on colouring techniques which I've said I'd love to do.

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Chris

Holly Cottage

A card using my new stamp design for Kadoodle, 'Holly Cottage'. There are six cottages in this series which will be on sale from this weekend and I'll be at the Craft Barn for a demo on Saturday and Sunday which will be fun. This cottage also has the Christmas Tree and Door Wreath to go with it. They're coloured with prismacolor pencils and sansodor and the tree and wreath are decoupaged, sprinkled with glamour dust, stickles and liquid pearls for the tree ornaments. There's a good spattering of glamour dust all over the snow and roof too, it's lovely and sparkly IRL. The cottage is matted on red card and blue bazzil and lifted up on dimension tape over the Bo Bunny background paper. I finished it off with a wide red satin ribbon, dots of liquid pearls and doodled dots in metallic silver. TFL.

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Chris

Pink Princess

The Cute Card Thursday Challenge this week is 'Pretty in Pink'. I followed a sketch on the Elzybells blog for this card and have used the Elzybells 'Princess' and 'mini daisy trio' stamps. The princess is coloured with Prismacolor pencils and Sansodor, sponged with pink distress inks and highlighted with stickles and liquid pearls then mounted on dimension tape. I made the background with the mini daisy trio stamped all over white card. The centre panel is sponged with distress inks and the edges distressed then layered on pink bazzil with doodled dots. All the daisies are coloured with a pink Sakura glitter pen and the centres with a white gel pen. For the inverted corners part of the sketch I sponged a paper flower with pink ink, cut it into four pieces and spread with stickles star dust, the centre of the flower is liquid pearls. TFL.

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Chris

Kadoodle Christmas Sparkle

A card for the Papertake Weekly challenge which this week is to follow a sketch. I've used my Kadoodle James in his Santa Hat again which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils and Sansodor. I used some Doodlebug Christmas paper from last year and layered it with dark red Bazzil card that was embossed in the Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder. The edges are all sponged with Ranger Distress ink and I've highlighted the embossed snowflakes, the dots on the paper and the hat and holly with Stickles. The sentiment is from the Woodware Christmas set cut out with Nestabilities circles. TFL.

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Chris

Kadoodle Amelia and James Christmas Gift Box

For the Our Creative Corner challenge this week the challenge is 'Limited Supplies' using no more than four layers and no designer paper. I hope this counts as I've created my own paper by drawing the snowflakes on the plain green card!

My friend Dawn showed me how to make this cute little gift box a couple of weeks ago (thanks Dawn) and I made a few of them up but only got around to decorating this one today. I've made it into a Christmas gift box and used Kadoodle Amelia and present and James in Santa Hat coloured with prismacolor pencils and cut out.

The box is simple to make from one sheet of A4 paper or thinnish card. Score the paper in half across the width, measure and mark the middle of each edge length ways and then score from that point on all four sides to the end of the centre score line. You should end up with a diamond shape of score lines. Fold over on the centre score line, and then each point to the middle and you'll end up with the shape in the photograph. Where the sides meet, punch a hole and thread ribbon through both sides. I might try and photograph my dummy box to show the folding and edit this post later to include it.

To decorate the box I drew on some snowflakes with a Sakura silver pen, doodled around a nestability cut scalloped circle of cream card and stuck this to the box. I also cut out and coloured a stamped holly image and attched this. The other images were placed on the circle. I added the ribbon to close the box and some stickles for a bit of sparkle. TFL.

Back soon,
Chris