Sugar Bowl challenge

Here is my entry for the Sugar Bowl challenge. The challenge is to use Lillian's sketch and to use "kraft", either the actual paper or the colour. Well, being relatively new the card making world I had absolutely no idea what "kraft" was so had to look it up on the internet and it seemed to be like rough brown paper, which I didn't have so I thought I'd have to go with the alternative option of using brown and cream. Then I realised that my new cabinet that is sat half unwrapped in my lounge (because it has to be moved again once the extension is finished) is wrapped in corrugated brown paper that looks alarmingly similar to "kraft"!!!! So I have torn some off and separated the corrugated bit off and used what was left LOL. There's plenty more as the cabinet is huge so I think I have enough "kraft" to last a lifetime if I so desire LOL! I decided to stamp my own design on it using the lots of dots stamp kit I won in Iris' blog candy. I stamped with espresso adirondack ink dotty swirls and flowers. It looked really effective but then unfortunately a lot of it has been covered by the rest of the design...doh!

I have used this gorgeous Leanne Ellis stamp again and tried to create quite an arty feel to the card as that is just what springs to mind when I look at Leanne's images. I couldn't resist having another go with the deep impressions embossing crystals....I just love this cracked glass effect. I distressed the edges with brushed cordoruy distress ink and also stamped a grunge stamp from Stempelglede around the edges before I embossed the whole thing. After a quick spell in the freezer I've cracked it and rubbed more brushed cordoruy ink into the cracks.

For the flower I have punched a large and small flower out of the "kraft" paper and stamped the grunge stamp on the largest one and added a prima paper flower underneath. I shaped the wire on the two red roses into leaf shapes rather than cut them off as I thought it gave quite an arty look to the flower.

Instead of a ribbon I decided the raffia twine I'd used in the button suited the style best.

Image: Leanne Ellis collection from Sugar Nellie, coloured with copics

Paper: recycled furniture wrapping, coredinations cardstock, Bobunny Eire celtic text

Flowers: punched with EK success retro flower punches, Prima, roses from Hobby House

Other equipment: Deep Impressions embossing crystals, Heat gun, Tim Holtz distress ink in brushed cordoruy

Crystals: from stash

Altered Container Just Magnolia monthly challenge

Here is my entry for the new monthly challenge at Just Magnolia to alter a container. I changed my mind from the little box I was going to alter and decided to alter this wooden box that I keep my jewellery in. My parents bought it on holiday for me a few years ago and whilst I like the shape and basic design it is a bit "roughly" made shall we say. I bought some K&Co papers especially for the project and can't believe I managed to use them they are so incredibly beautiful I almost didn't use them! So here is my jewellery box now......

I am so pleased with it and absolutely love it to bits now! I took all the metalwork off and gave the whole thing a coat of paint before covering with two different papers. I have distressed all of the edges of the papers with brushed cordoruy distress ink to make them look nice and aged and also around the hinges, handle and fastening.

I even went to my local craft shop especially to buy the Magnolia key stamp for this project! I have also had my first go at the gorgeous cracked glass effect. I coloured Tilda with copics to match the papers and then cut her out and stuck her to a tag made from one of the K&Co papers. The key is stamped directly onto the K&Co paper with just a little colouring on the ribbon and some highlighting. The tag I have embossed, cracked and distressed and the key I just used the thick embossing powder to give it an enamel effect.

I think I've just about added everything it is possible to add on this project! All the things I love most are on it: One of my hand made roses, which this time I've made with natural white paper and edged with tattered rose distress ink; a huge diamante swirl; pearls on twisted wire; lots of prima hydrangeas; lace; ribbon and two gorgeous butterflies!! If you fancy having a go at making a rose like this see my tutorial here.

One of the papers in the K&Co pad has butterflies on it so I cut this large one out and treated it to the cracked glass effect.

The small butterfly is from the same papers and I've added wire antennae as the printed ones were far to small to cut out and this has been given an enamel effect with the embossing crystals.

A view of the corner of the box so you can see the two different papers.

Some different views just because I love it so much...(sorry)

A view of the top of the box so you can see the diamante swirl and all the flowers.

and finally a view of the back showing the ageing around the hinges. Hope you like it as much as I do!

Images: Tilda with hearts and key from Magnolia coloured with copics

Papers: K&Co Madeline double sided paper pad

Flowers: Hand made rose, Prima Hydrangeas, mini roses from stash

Other embellishments: Diamante swirl by Prima, Buttons Basic Grey, ribbon, lace and brads from stash

Equipment: Deep Impression embossing powder, Ink it up embossing ink pad, Heat tool, Ranger distress inks in tattered rose and brushed cordoruy

Whiff of Joy challenge and DT call

This is my entry for the Whiff of Joy challenge this week to do paper piecing. I love doing paper piecing as everything matches so well and the dresses look so pretty. I have paper pieced Willows dress appart from the bodice and trims which I have coloured with copics, and I have also paper pieced the top of her hat. I decided to make a card that opened in the middle and I also shaped the middle edges of the card for extra detail. The edges of all the papers have been distressed with tattered rose distress ink and I have also stamped one of my grunge stamps around the edge of the image card with the same ink. I have stamped a Whiff of Joy swirl in each corner in plum Q chalk but they're mostly covered by flowers LOL!

I wanted a summery feel to this card as I think Willow looks so relaxed, chilling out on a summer's day with her shoes off so I've added a lot of gorgeous Prima hydrangea flowers to the card with pearl brads and also made a swirl from half pearls.

I bought this gorgeous hat charm a couple of months ago and finally got to use it, I think it's perfect with this card as it goes so well with Willows lovely sun hat!

The inside I have decorated with a gorgeous stripey paper which I think looks a lovely match with the stripes on Willow's bodice and I've done another paper pieced Willow sitting on the ribbon and a few flowers and I couldn't resist adding a little butterfly.

The ribbon runs through the sides of the card and round into slots on the front so that you can untie the ribbon to open the card without having to rethread it to close it back up again! I have left the inside blank as I haven't decided who I will be giving this to yet!

Image: Sitting Willow from Whiff of Joy, paper pieced and coloured with copics

Papers: Basic Grey Euphoria collection, Coredinations cardstock

Charm and ribbon: from stash

Flowers: Prima

Brads and spacers: The Hobby House

Other equipment: MS branch punch, Magnolia butterfly stamp, Stempelglede grunge stamp, Whiff of Joy spring swirls stamp, Ranger Distress Ink in Tattered Rose

The Next Level challenge

How gorgeous is the sketch over at The Next Level this week???? VERY!!!! I absolutely love it and I'm sure I'll be using it over and over again. I wanted to make a special card for my Mum's birthday and have been gradually buying special more expensive things for it and when I saw this sketch I decided it would make her card perfect. I was particularly inspired by Kim's card where she had her tag in a pocket so this is what I have done too, thanks for the inspiration Kim! I have paper pieced the Whiff of Joy image as I was going to enter it into the Whiff of Joy challenge too but then afterwards I have thought that as the WOJ team are looking for new DT members with this challenge that I ought to really design my own card from scratch!

I have added some gorgeous grey lace around the edge of the card, this is one of the things I got especially for my Mum's card as I knew I was using the Wisteria papers from Basic Grey and when I saw this at the Hobby House I knew it would match it perfectly (how lucky am I, I only live a 10 minute drive away, but it is not good for the old bank balance! The ribbon I already had but by a stroke of luck it matches the lace! I have distressed the edges of my papers with

brushed cordoruy distress ink and the image is distressed with peeled paint.

The inside is decorated quite simply with the same papers and flowers and there is a pocket to hold the sentiment tag, I just loved this on the DT's cards. Thanks to all of you for your amazing inspiration! I have written the sentiment myself with my calligraphy pen, I don't know where the phrase comes from but I think it is so beautiful for a Mother's card. I am going to make some other things to match the card, a gift bag and tags and possibly some other bits but needed to post this in time for the challenge, plus I feel like I haven't posted for days and am getting withdrawal symptoms LOL! I have been busy again with my Son's party invitations. I have managed to make six to completion and have everything done appart from the colouring on the other seven so quite pleased with myself but I am beginning to wish I'd done something a little

simpler....well I know for next time!

When I was cutting the pocket out for the tag I decided to keep some of the leaves on the paper sticking out from the pocket by cutting around them.

My tag has been distressed with brushed cordoruy distress ink and I have written the sentiment myself with my calligraphy pen. "Happy Birthday" is also hand written.

I have made an envelope from the papers to match and edged it with the lace and it has matching flowers and ribbon. I have used the Whiff of Joy potted tree stamp from the summer kit. I have been so inspired by Abby's gorgeous envelopes which is where I've drawn my inspiration for this from, thank you Abby, I hope you don't mind! x

Here is the card and envelope together.

Image: Shy Willow from Whiff of Joy summer kit, coloured with copics and paper pieced

Papers: Basic Grey Wisteria collection

Lace and Spacers: The Hobby House

Flowers and diamante swirl: Prima

Ribbon and Brads: from stash

Envelope image: Tree from Whiff of Joy summer kit coloured with copics

Bagelope!

Here is the little bag I have made to put the shirt card in that I said I'd be making. I have called it a bagelope LOL (well it made me chuckle). I intended to make it out of the same blue check paper but didn't quite have enough so I used a coordinating paper from the same range and used some of the blue check to embellish it. I have embossed the Stempelglede grunge circle onto grey cardstock and cut out the centre so that it resembles a buckle and punched holes in the checked paper to make a belt around the bag. I used my Oakley stamp from the Whiff of Joy summer kit for the first time....how terrible is that I've had them weeks now! and written Dad on his little plaque with my calligraphy pen. I punched out lots of branches with my MS punch and added a button and ribbon to the corner as it was looking a bit bare. The handles I cut off a paper bag I was throwing away....knew they'd come in handy sometime!

A close up of the details.

and the two items together making a little matching set now!

For details of the card please see a couple of posts down.

BAG DETAILS:

Image: Oakley from Whiff of Joy summer kit coloured with copics

Papers: Papermania

Other tools: Stempelglede grunge circle stamp, MS branch punch

Ribbon and Button: from stash

Just Magnolia and Roses on Paper and ISB challenges!

Here is my entry for this weeks Just Magnolia challenge to do paper piecing. There is also a challenge on Roses on Paper to combine another challenge and add flowers so I've entered that with this card too and there is a challenge to use brown and pink on ISB challenge blog so I've actually entered three challenges with one card, which is a first for me! I have also decided to try for the GDT spot for Belles n Whistles so wish me luck!

Never done paper piecing before but will definitely be doing it again it looks so effective and everything matches so easilly! I decided to use the challenge to make another thank you card for one of my Son's teachers at the end of term.

I paper pieced Tilda's dress and the bow in her hair using the same paper as the background, but I decided I wanted the frills around her sleeves and hem to look like lace so didn't include them when I cut the dress out. I cut a fancy shape around Tilda, distressed the edges and also stamped my grunge corner from Stempelglede here and there. I also cut around the bottom half of Tilda so I could thread ribbon under her so she is sat on the ribbon.

A close up of the edges, the distressing is tattered rose and the stamping is brushed cordoruy distress inks. It gives a great effect I think. I also stamped the grunge corner on the backing paper in brushed cordoruy to bring the whole thing together.

The large rose is the one I made when photographing my paper roses tutorial and I've added two small red ones from the Hobby House either side. I wrapped the wire of these two roses around a pencil to give a twirly vine effect rather than cutting the stems off! The flower arrangement is backed onto pink pearlised netting from yet another wash tablet bag LOL, I cut a thin strip of it and I've stuck it in curls onto the card.

Inside I have written the same sentiment as the Gorjuss Girl thank you card I did a couple of weeks ago: Children are born with wings, Teachers help them to fly. I think it is just perfect for a Teacher's thank you card. I decided to use the Magnolia butterfly stamp to fit in with the flying bit in the wording and paper pieced these too. I've written the sentiment with my calligraphy pen again and cut the same shape as on the front of the card and distressed and stamped it to match.

I think I almost like the inside more than the outside I love how vintage it looks LOL! Oh and have you seen the fantastic addition to the Just Magnolia blog of a monthly challenge?? I cannot wait to do my entry for this month, it is an altered container and I just love altering things and funnily enough I've had my eye on a gorgeous little wooden box kicking around my Son's room for some time! x

Image: Sweetheart Tilda from Magnolia, paper pieced and coloured with copics

Paper: Basic Grey sugared collection and Coredinations textured cardstock

Flowers: Hand made by me and The Hobby House

Ribbon and gems: From Stash

Netting: Wash tablet bag covered in Anita's pink pearlescent glue

Other tools: Stempelglede grunge collection corner stamp, Magnolia butterfly stamp, Ranger's distress inks in tatterred rose and brushed cordoruy

Father's Day card - boxed shirt

Sorry I've been absent for a few days, I thought I'd better knuckle down and do the 13 other Whiff of Joy party invitations identical to my challenge entry, so on Sunday night I got a fair way into it, cut all the papers, coloured half the images but still need to finish the colouring and distress everything before assembly! Then last night I thought I really ought to do my Dad's Father's Day card seeing as it is on Sunday! I knew I was going to do a shirt card as I haven't got any stamps for male cards yet and just couldn't motivate myself to make it....because it didn't involve stamping or colouring or pretty paper and flowers LOL! Once I got into it though a few ideas came to mind and I don't feel too bad about showing it now.

Rather than a flat shirt card I thought it would look better 3D so made the tie nice and chunky like a real one and folded the shirt collars over it which then led me to decide to put it in a box like a new shirt.

I hand stitched around the cuffs and collars to make them look more realistic and threaded the button too.

I was going to decorate the inside with the same paper and cut a white circle for the message but then I was loading some washing this morning (just for a change LOL!) and looking at the wash labels I suddenly had a brainwave to sew an inside seam in the paper and add a wash label and spare button. I have then added a message tag with a safety pin which I have distressed with Faded Jeans and Brushed Cord distress inks to look like a clothing label.

Here's a close up of the message label and the stitched seam!

As it won't fit in an envelope I am going to make a mini boutique style shopping bag for it to go in which I'll show you later.

Papers: Papermania (blue check) and Dovecraft (tie)

Buttons: Basic Grey

Message Tag: Forever Friends sentiments set

Pin & clear "twine": stashed from a real new clothing label LOL!

Now my "essential" card is done I can get back to the ultimately more enjoyable task of stamping and challenges...yay!

Before I go I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of my children. We had a lovely day out on Sunday with my Dad, Brother and his girlfriend at a nearby castle, the weather was glorious and they both had a great time!

Connor doing his best cool dude impression LOL!

Kara getting a carry from Grandad on the battlements!