Flower Girl - Monday 7th May

Good Morning Friends,


I hope you have been enjoying this Bank Holiday weekend! Where we live, Saturday and Sunday were actually quite pleasant, but the rain has returned with a vengeance today! We've spent quite a bit of time at home and in the garden over the weekend; our old hen Buffy is very poorly and in need of a lot of TLC, so it hasn't been an entirely 'crafty' weekend, needless to say I am all behind again, but never mind, our pets come first.

Now for some good news!!!! A few days ago I entered my first evert blog challenge - the House Mouse Monday Challenge...and guess what? I won a prize!!! I couldn't believe it when I checked this morning.

I don't get a lot of time to sit and 'play' as a crafter...there is always a pile of commissions, I'm now preparing for the workshops I'm teaching with my friend (and I am loving that this chance has happened) and I work three days a week in a job that has left me with a lot of stress of late...so playing with the Sarah Kay stamps recently is the most I've really done. However, when I saw that last week's  challenge was "anything goes', I made myself sit down and make a card...and it paid off. I think House Mouse and LOTV had to be the first challenges I entered because I love the stamps and style of cards you can make with them. The lovely comments from the House Mouse Team on my blog entry have also really encouraged me to keep on finding the time to enter!

I have also been asked to join the Design Team of another site, but more on that when/if it happens!

Do you remember when I started posting my designs for the one Sarah Kay stamp in preparation for our workshops? I said at the time that I would definitely buy more of them, so a few weeks ago when I was in Out of the Blue, Chipping Sodbury, I bought another one...

I love this image..she reminds me of the Holly Hobby dolls, bags, cards that were around when I was a kid. In fact as I was colouring her, she reminded me so much of what my bridesmaids looked like at my wedding! They wore blue and the material was Laura Ashley (dresses and pinafores made by my dear auntie Mabel, who sadly passed away just a  few months ago). The only difference is that they wore floral circlets in their hair.

 I didn't actually photograph this one very well and for this I apologise - it was just a very quick twisted easel made to try out the stamp and to make a card to send to a friend for her birthday. I used papers and paper flowers  from stash. The flourishes on the base are  from a Spellbinders Flourishes die set and are actually dark green. I also used Grand Labels 23 to die cut the image (shaded with Milled Lavender distress ink), a little stamped and embossed butterfly I had left over from my preparations for our last workshop and I cut the felt flower from Spellbinders Floral Creations. The button in the centre is a plain wooden button that I coloured with a Promarker.

The little girl is coloured with Promarkers and as I read some blogs this morning, it made me ask a question about other crafters preferred colouring materials....I do watch Create and Craft (too much!), in fact it keeps me company when I am working in the craft room on my days off..of course the premise of this channel is to sell...it's great that they have given us the monthly classroom with Barbabra Gray; I do get a bit annoyed that we never get enough of Sue Wilson's demos because there is always so much on sale and it sells out so quickly and sometimes one of the Companies that sells there seems to be on so much that I'm sure they have shares!

Back to Promarkers....I know there are a lot of different pens etc out there, both alcohol based to water based and the Companies that come on to sell always want to push their product as the best, of course they do - that's business! My dad was an artist and also a cartoonist, he knew about Promarkers long ago and I was dabbling with them before Create and Craft started selling them through the brilliant Nikky Hall from Polkadoodles. Personally I think her demos and tutorials are the best as far as Promarkers and any other pen on the market art are concerned. But the many different types of pen available can get very confusing, especially  for  people who are just starting to craft. I do actually know someone who has bought various pens from all the different makes and types (and spent a fortune in the process) and just doesn't have any idea where to start (she lives the other end of the Country or I'd help!). I can only tell her to decide what really suits her and stick with it. I know that's easier said than done isn't it? 

Through friends I have tried Copics and Whispers and some others, but for my  personal colouring tastes nothing will ever replace the Letraset pens, be it Promarkers or Flexmarkers. Colouring pens are all expensive, especially when you have got all the sets and are buying them individually. I have just found that they give the best finishes and colours. Okay, Copics you can change the ink...but that suggests it will run out...I have been using my Promarkers for years and use them almost daily. I can honestly say that in the past 5 years, I haven't replaced one of them!

Of course I don't only use Promarkers - I like colouring and blending with my distress inks and whilst I haven't used them for a while, watercolour pencils too..it's all about having fun and using the tools you like in the end, isn't it?

Thanks for stopping by and sorry it's such a long post today, enjoy the Bank Holiday, whatever the weather where you are!

Carole X

Sarah Kay (4) - Saturday 5th May

Hi Friends,


This is the last of my designs with one Sarah Kay stamp for a while (I think!); I've been making these as examples for our next workshop, but will hold back on the final design we are going to work with until after the workshop later this month!

This easel card was made using absolutely beautiful BoBunny papers (from Out of the Blue, Chipping Sodbury), I love these rich colours. I stamped the girl and die-cut the image using Grand Labels 23. The edges were shaded with Spun Sugar distress ink to give some depth. I chose the deep yellows and pinks in the Promarkers to complement the pink and gold in the paper. I also cut a circle from the the Heart Circles set, just the right size to place a sentiment on the middle and I then cut an Aster Flower Topper. The ribbon, roses and button were all from Out of the Blue.


This is probably the closest to my final project for the ladies who come to our workshop...and before I finish today, I want to share with you that our local small town, Chipping Sodbury (we are right on the edge of the beautiful Cotswolds) has been voted Best Market Town in the UK 2012...how brilliant is that!


Thanks for stopping by!
Carole X

L'il Baby Girl - Friday 4th May

Good Morning Friends,

First of all, welcome to my new followers..thank you so much for following my blog and checking in to see my cards..one of my favourite times I try to make every day, even if I don't 'post' myself, is to have a look and see what all you wonderful crafters are sharing.

Also, thank you to those who posted comments on my House Mouse card yesterday, it was the first challenge I had entered and I actually found I was quite a bit nervous doing it, but it's done now and was actually quite a pleasant and fulfilling experience! So much so, today I am going to enter a challenge I have been wanting to enter for a long time..you know that I love making cards with LOTV stamps, so it had to be done!

For today's card, I am back to LOTV and one of the stamps I bought at Ally Pally a few weeks ago..this really cute baby stamp...

 I started with some paper from stash, a polka dot in yellow and pink and some lemon glitter card. Using a die from Spellbinders Grand Labels 23, I die cut and embossed one edge of the polka dot paper and mat and layered over the lemon glitter to form the base of the card.  I stamped the image on coconut white card and coloured with Promarkers, then I die-cut using Labels 24 and shaded the edges with Spun Sugar distress ink. I stamped the sentiment from another LOTV baby stamp set that I own and die-cut this with Heart Circles.

The paper flowers, buttons, pearls, lace and ribbons are all from my stash box.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Carole Z X

I'd like to enter this into:

Lili's Little Fairies Challenge: Anything Goes


http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Jumping for Joy! - Thursday 3rd May

Hello Friends!

Today's card takes me back to my favourite little crafty creatures..those darling little House Mice. I am building quite a collection of these stamps, thanks to Joanna Sheen introducing us to them some time ago now.

This is one of my most recent acquisitions and I think the reason I like this one so much is because I like having a 'play' with the jumping mouse!

For this card I decided on a twisted easel design: I die-cut the shape using polkadot card and Spellinders Grand Labels 23 and I covered the base of the card with a lightly patterned paper from stash. I also cut another Labels 23 in this paper to tidy up the back of the easel.

The image was stamped using Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers. I cut out the images, separating the jumping mouse. I also stamped the sentiment and another 'mouse in a thimble' image from the set and  coloured him with Promarkers and cut it out.

I took a  white Jellyroll pen and drew faux stitching around the base of the card and the die cut. The pincushion element of the stamped image was placed on the die-cut and fixed with 3D foam, leaving a gap in the centre that is sealed off to prevent any sticking. I taped a strip of strong acetate to the back of the jumping mouse and threaded this through the gap...now all you have to do is move him up and down like he's jumping!

A button tied with bakers twine and some stitched ribbon was added to carry through the sewing theme and the little mouse is the card 'stopper'

Thanks for stopping by!
Carole X

I'd like to enter this card in The House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge:

Anything Goes


http://housemouse-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Sarah Kay (3) - Monday 30th April

Good Morning Friends!

Well for once, I didn't mind that it was an awful day weather-wise yesterday, because in between a few family things (where we never even had to leave home), I got quite a bit of crafting done - including a commission, some more 'playing' in advance of our workshops, making a few personal cards and I even got to play with the brayer I got from Clarity Stamps at Ally Pally!

But today's card was made last week when I was trying out some designs with one stamp, a cute Sarah Kay image from Stampavie.

This time I die cut the card using Spellbinders Grand Labels 23 and also cut the green check paper to match. I then also cut a Spellbinders Heart Square using Coredinations card. I was mostly using up bits of scrap card from my 'bits' box on this one and I also found some lighter green stripey paper and a lighter green piece of Coredinations, which I  cut square and mat and layered for the front panel.

The girl was coloured with Promarkers in violet and pink tones for the clothing and green for the doll and then cut out and placed on the front of the card using 3d dots. To finish off I added some violet blossoms, gems and a few pieces of ribbon,which we actually at the bottom of my ribbon box and I felt had a vintage look to them. I stamped the tag, but didn't want to 'overdo' with another die-cut shape, so cut a simple tag shape, which I mat and layered the same as the front panel and tied with a piece of mauve and white vintage bakers twine.

Thanks for stopping by and have a good Monday, whether working or playing!

Carole X

By the way, thanks to Linda for pointing out I had the word verification on...I didn't know I had and I know that I also find it annoying when visiting blogs. It's turned off now and you should find it easier to leave messages X

Fairy Cupcake - Sunday 29th April

Good Morning,


Today a  change from the Sarah Kay stamped cards that I've been sharing these last few days (though there are more to come). I'm back to LOTV today with a sweet little fairy cupcake!


I stamped the image on coconut white card and coloured with a mixture of Promarkers and Flexmarkers:
Promarkers: Ivory, Blush (skin), Caramel (hair); Flexmarkers: Sorbet, Wild Orchid (clothing) and I then cut out the image using Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Ovals, shading the edges with Spun Sugar distress ink.


I cut a card blank using Grand Labels 23 and then using a paper from stash, I cut three  more pieces from the same die. Apologies for  not photographing the inside of the card, but I adhered one piece to the front and the other two to the inside, where I also added the stamped sentiment, which came with the stamp set.  

I then cut flowers in purple wool felt, using Flower Creations and Spiral Blossom One and added buttons and embroidery thread to the smaller blossoms. To complete, I added three tiny heart buttons, a Greeting (I think, from Craftwork Cards), some pink ribbon, tiny star gems and some Cosmic Twinkles on the icing and wings.
Thanks for stopping by, 
Carole X

Sarah Kay (2) - Saturday 28th April

Hi Friends,


Thank you for your comments on yesterday's card...I think it's one of my favourites that I have made recently. I did say yesterday, that I would be back with a different card today and I'd spread the Sarah Kay's out a bit -but-  I was in Bath, meeting a good friend all day yesterday - we had a good catch up over lunch and got soaked! So I didn't get a chance to photograph my latest cards, so I will do that today!


For the second card in this 'series' I wanted to use the Spellbinders die I bought at the Ally Pally stamp show a few weeks ago...The Decorative Chateau Gate..which I used as a window...


The first picture is a close up of the view through the window: I stamped a background from a Jayne Nestorenko background stamp and leaves from an Artemio stamp, both with Bundled Sage distress ink; then using a water brush I lightly coloured the images with the bundled sage, just adding a little tea dye for the gate and shabby shutters for the sky. This was then cut out and placed behind the frame.

I shaded the shutters with Shabby Shutters too and in 'reality' the colour looks nothing like as dark as in the hoot!
The paper used to cover the card blank is from  a lovely designer paper pad (Spring Jubilee by pinkpaislee) that was free with Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine this month. I just thought it gave the card a vintage feel.


The image was coloured with Promarkers and forgive me for not listing the colours today because I have temporarily mislaid my 'list' - I'll add it later...


Then I cut out the little girl this time and placed her in front of the window. Finishing touches were all from stash...buttons, ribbon, flowers and little pearl gems to finish of the window. I really like this dye and eventually will buy the stamps that go with it...got to save first though!



Have a great Saturday and see you tomorrow...we are in Bristol today for most of the day as my brother in law has his car in an Italian Car Show (it's a bright red Alfa Romeo sports car that he restored and is very proud of, but that's as far as my knowledge of cars goes!), so it looks like we'll be getting wet again..so I'll be catching up with those blogs I follow later!
Carole X