#106 Games Over - sketch

Theme at I ♥ Promarkers - use the sketch
Sponsor & prize this week - Digi Doodle Shop ($10 gift voucher)

For my take on the sketch that Karen has devised for us this week, I have used an image from our sponsor, Digi Doodle called, 'Games Over', of this poor, dejected lad whose side would have appeared to have lost given the sad look on his face. Now, you could write on a postage stamp what I know about baseball, but the outfit I have given him looks good enough to me. LOL - and by the way, that is indeed a red shirt & hat I gave him, but try as I might it kept coming out in the photos a little pinkish rather than a colour very similar to the circles around him that it actually is. Grrr. In fact, all the colours on the image look washed out compared to the original today. No idea why.

Still, whatever team this might or might not be, it was coloured using Promarkers and I continued the ball kind of theme with the border around him, using red as well as white, as I believe they 'sew' the baseball with red stitches.  I then set the bordered image so it was slightly above the card base using foam pads.

The layers of card are all Papermania textured cardstock and for the detailing on the sketch I cut out two circles at the top & bottom of the card so that the white below (yes, you guessed it - more balls, LOL) would peep through.  Nothing like running with a theme is there! LOL.

Tine :)

Challenges I would like to enter this card for are:
Crafty Catz - 'b' is for baseball
Hotshot - one for the boys
Wags 'n' Whiskers - masculine birthday
Sweet Stampin' - it's a man thing
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - manly or for a boy
Cupcake Craft - boys and their toys
Sisterhood of Crafters - use a digi
Pixie Cottage - (either use their sketch) or anything goes.

#105 Reading Time in Olden Times

Theme at I ♥ Promarkers - time
Sponsor & prize this week - Crafty Emma (£10 voucher)

I inked up for my DT card this week, in order for me to use this adorable image from Sarah Kay and one, I have to admit, I haven't used for a long while. If it has a proper name (which I am sure it has), I sorry but I can't tell you as it's not on the original packaging which I still have to safely keep it in before it goes into my 'Stamp File'.

The sketch I have followed is from the CLP challenge this month, but me being me, I rotated it so it was upside down.  The image was stamped onto white card before I cut the shaping around it using the largest of the Spellbinders Labels 22 dies (embossing it too for good measure) and I then created my own larger mat for it from the same blue card-stock as I had chosen for the base and mounted it using glue gel for dimension. I coloured the image, needless to say, with my Promarkers, including a couple of the new Spring release colours which of course, I simply had to get my mitts on!  Yes, the little lad has ginger hair, but my son had this kind of hair style when he was small (it was fashionable at the time I hasten to add!!!) and he seems to think I have to always colour this one so it looks vaguely like him with his big sis - so when he saw which stamp I had got out I was under orders. LOL.

The several layers of papers I have used were distressed at the edges before being sewn into position and the horizontal cut work designs following the design layout were made from a deep cream 'woven' textured card (as were the swirling leaves) and also from off-white pearlescent card too which I used on the taller row of flowers.  I also made the 3 blue flower embellishments from two different shades of blue card and the two pink horizontal elements of the sketch (see below), I interpreted as two ribbon/bow 'butterflies' with blue pearls in the centre to match the 3 pearls I added to the corner for balance.

On the inside of my card I replicated the basic elements of my layout, reducing it a little in size. The sentiment on the nestie shape is from TLC and the February calendar from Cindy over at Bluebird Flats. Having cut myself more floral borders, I made a less dimensional flower (well, whilst pretty dimensional considering it is for the inside of the card is nothing like as 3-D as the roses on the front, LOL), and also the two-layered tag with the word birthday cut out of it. This was slotted behind the central mat (which was attached using glue gel along 3 sides especially to accommodate the tag fitting behind), the tag having the 'to' and 'from' written on the back of it.  So, a very dimensional card overall but I am giving it to a friend by hand this weekend and not having to squeeze it into an envelope!

Hope you like it!

Tine :)

Challenges:

CLP - design layout              
Glitter Geeks - girls & boys
Stamping Boutique - stitching
Bunny Zoe - celebration
Do You Stack Up - layers 
Sundays With Crissy - birthday
Corrosive - dimension
Allsorts - free & easy February
Secret Crafter - bingo (I have actually managed two rows! LOL, - middle row of swirls, flowers, pearls & bottom row of ribbon, bow & leaves)
Whimsy - monochromatic
Totally Papercraft - ribbons & bows
Sentimental Sundays - use a sentiment
Die Cuttin' Divas - favourite pets
Tuesday Throwdown - winter blues (use blue)
Fashionable Stamping - (no digi images) - monochromatic plus one
Stamping for the Weekend - photo insp

#104 Nature

Theme at I ♥ Promarkers - nature
Sponsor & prize this week - Stampeezee (£10 voucher)

No, not a square card this week, but a rectangle for a change and I tried to keep it all relatively simplistic & uncluttered. Yes, I know it looks pretty square to you, but the back of the card actually extends out with cut circle detailing - it is just when the card is open you can't actually see that element at all!  Best laid plans going astray I think we can safely say on that one. LOL. However, if you look at the angled photo you can see the glossy black die cuts on the back.

The die cut on the back of the card can only really be seen when fully closed  or from an angle.

The image of this resplendent peacock is from A Day For Daisies and as he is something of a stylised bird I decided to colour him with Promarkers in quite a stylised way.  I layered my papers and cut out ovals which themselves were layered up to echo the feathers' eyes. Hopefully, the die cut border (a Spellbinders'), on the glossy black card has something of the same effect.

Tine :)

Challenges:
Charisma - things with wings
Flutterby Wednesday - ANYTHING with wings
Divas By Design - wings and things
Truly Scrumptious - all creatures great and small
Scrappy Frogs - die cut  (Spellbinders Borderability die on the edge of the back of the card)
Inky Impressions - punches or dies (....see above)
Stamps Are Us - anything goes
Penny's - anything goes
OSAAT - anything goes.

For Dorcas.....

Welcome to this special hop in honour of my blog-buddy, Dorcas, who is understandably feeling a bit low at the moment after her much loved feline companion of many years was sadly killed in a road accident. This card then, Dorcas, is FOR YOU!  I do hope you like this one - it was a bit of a rush to get it made for you & posted out at short notice - & you know I don't do quick cards, LOL, but I hope that it cheers you up a little at least at this difficult time). Bet you can't wait to check your postbox! LOL. You should have arrived at my blog from Tracey's blog - and if anyone else around Blogland would like to join in with our hop you might want to start at the beginning at Stacey's.

The Promarker-ed image is of course, LOTV, this one being 'Rosie Posy' with her bouquet of flowers.  I only got her & a few other LOTV gems a couple of weeks ago & haven't had time to ink her up before now. The card base, whilst still square is actually a little smaller than I usually use as I generally create my own base from A4 card but this was a pre-scored card complete with envelope so was perfect for a quick turn around card that had to go through the mail. I even managed to find some card to match the pretty, spring-like floral papers which I though rather cheery. I also paper-pieced her outfit for a soft pattern effect to match in.  Her mat was cut using the largest of the Spellbinders' Labels 18 set of standard dies so I had to I do the 'fake Nestie' trick of drawing around the die & cutting out by hand to give me the pink mat to go behind the image.

Whist relatively flat still has some dimension.

It actually took a few dies & punches to create my floral embellishment. The largest of the flowers was created using 2 different dies - the outer section being from the newish Marianne Craftables lacy oval shape set (CR1204) which came with a flower too. This section was the smallest of those included 3 floral dies. The centre petals were cut using one from a set of Marianne Creatables flower dies. The tiny pink flowers scattered about were punched using a Woodware punch but I went 'all creative' for the blossom that I thought matched the pattern of the dp pretty well really. For those 2 dimensional blossoms I cut out the berries from Spellbinders' poinsettia set of dies from pink card, folding back one of the berries to lie against the other 2. I then punched a circle (from Do-Crafts), coloured it with Promarkers and cut 2 'V'-shapes into it at the top & bottom to echo the dp flower design. These were set onto 2 differing swirling sprigs (Double-Do dies) and there is the perhaps recognisable punched trellis of Martha Stewart's running across the background. All I had to do then was dot my flowers with a few gems and I had managed to keep this relatively flat for posting too. Well, I did use some glue gel to raise my image up slightly - but I do like a bit if dimension if I can.

I kept the insert relatively simple (& flat!!!!) by printing a sentiment from TLC onto deckled-edged paper. Now that I have finished telling you about my latest creation, you should hop along over to Babs' blog who has a gorgeous creation made especially for you, Dorcas.

Tine :)


P.S.  I am sure you won't mind me entering this card into a few challenges.....

Sir Stampalot - in the garden
Crafts & Me - (use a new image)
Sparkles Forum - new crafty goodies (believe it or not this adorable stamp as well as 2 of the dies)
Crafty Pad - fresh, spring colours
Digital Tuesday - red or pink
Papertake - anything goes.

#103 Love is in the Air

Theme at I ♥ Promarkers - Love is in the Air
Sponsor & prize this week - Letraset (pack of Promarkers)

Aren't these House Mouse images just so cute?  As ever, Promarkers did the colouring honours & I just had to do the inside of the card too (another excuse to colour another mouse!)

All 3 of my stamped images come from the Joanna Sheen 'Smelling the Rose' set.  On the front of the card, the image was layered up using card cut using a Spellbinders' Edgabilities die and Anita's gems dotted equidistantly apart onto that pearlescent ivory card. (the same as the card base).  I echoed the  layout on the inside to some extent altering to suit each variation. On the left as you view it (where it is predominantly a horizontal layout, the deeper pink & white card peeping out has the space for writing the 'to' & 'from'.  Yes, on my Valentine's to my OH I used to play along with the large question mark as if absolutely anyone could have sent it - but really, who else does he know that is mad enough to make him a card other than me anyway, LOL.

On the opposite side I replicated the front layout a bit more closely using my single mouse to continue the sentiment. Hope you (& my other half) like it!

Tine :)

Challenges I wish to enter this card for are:
House Mouse - love (with more than one heart)
Joanna Sheen - love is in the air
Penny's - love is in the air
By The Cute & Girly - love is in the air
One Stop Crafts - for the one I love
Di's Digis - Valentine
Card Makin' Mamas - Valentine
Sentimental Sundays - feel the love
Glitter Geeks - pets (Wouldn't you like little meece like these? Hey, they can even read!!)
Allsorts - free 'n' easy

Anniversary Rose

Well, have you missed me?  LOL.  Nope, quite sure you haven't.  LOL. It has been though odd not posting for over a week, but I am feeling so much better now (there is a pic of my face half-way through its inflammation but is too frightening to show you, LOL) & now I am as raring to go as I ever was. Well, I was until my printer threw up an error message up telling me that it was now 'ill' & needs to go the the Service Centre. What we will do without I printer I don't know!

Well, as I start to head straight into 'silly season' for birthdays in my family, it kicks off, as it does every year with the anniversary of my parents-in-law.  I am still trying my hand at making cards without featuring any coloured image (still seems a bit strange - as you know how I love to colour!), but I want to get my head around every avenue of card making if I can. Well, I can try! LOL.

I used a peach rectangular card base for a change . I matted & layered the sentiment from Elegant WordArt using a Nestie (Labels 22) and copper-coloured mirri to tone in with the peach.  To my mind it looks rather like 'rose gold'.  Spellbinders' Fleur de Lis Accents created my white feature borders and I used yet another Spellbinders' die, that of Shapabilities Spiral Blossom One for the gorgeous rose helping to illustrate the sentiment next to it. This was cut from double-sided card so it would look equally fab from any direction - well hopefully! LOL. Yep, another one that won't fit into a regular envelope. LOL.

For the insert on this occasion, I returned to the traditional paper sort, giving the edges a deckled finish as I know my own mother loved deckled paper.  She also would have appreciated the lengthy verse as I am sure my father-in-law will too as he is known for writing long poems to celebrate certain family occasions (a gift my own hubby has too). This one though was from Verses For Cards and I think is very meaningful. Sadly, although the photo I took is quite legible it is decidedly blurry now it is on Blogger. Could just be my eyes of course, but just in case, so that you can appreciate the thoughtful text, it goes......

Children do not realize
till childhood days are past
How deep
their parents' love can be,
How long that love can last --
They do not fully understand
How helpful are their ways,
How kind and thoughtful
are their deeds,
How busy are their days...

 But as they grow,
 they come to know,
In one way or another,
The happiness and love and care
Bestowed by
Dad and Mother,
And when a special day appears,
What they want most to do
Is to say, in all sincerity,
"Thank heaven for you two!"

With Love on Your
Anniversary and Always

Tine :)

Challenges:
Paper Shelter - love is in the air
Penny's - love is in the air
Joanna Sheen - love is in the air
Ladybug - loves me, loves me not
One Stop Crafts - for the one I love
Stamping Sisters In Christ - show love
Sentimental Sundays - feel the love
Whimsy Stamps - make your own flowers
Craft Us Crazy - anything goes
Divas By Design - anything goes.

#101 Pinks & Purples

Theme at I ♥ Promarkers - pinks & purples
Sponsor & prize this week - Digi Doodle Shops - $10 gift certificate

I have chosen to use the Digi Doodle Shop image of 'carousel' for my card this week & coloured it with  Promarkers - and using the specified colour combo this week, very girly I think it looks too.  I kept my variation of purples to the softer, lighter lilac variety and setting the merry-go-round horse in a circle he could almost be in a snow globe. LOL.

On the front, I have punched several of the dps corners using a Fiskars punch which also gave them an embossed finish that I thought tied in fairly well with the floral design on the carousel - it is just that photographing such intricacy is never easy! In case you are unsure which corners these are (because of the poor camera work of yours truly), I you can tell as I also dotted them with tiny 2mm gems - lilac & pink ones of course.  The white die cut border peeking out behind the pink horizontal paper is actually just the very top of a Nellie Snellen border punch. The flowers, this time sporting 3mm gems in their centres, where created using a Woodware punch & layering up.

On the inside I cut circles to accommodate my Irish blessing sentiment from Raindrop Echo Designs but on the opposite side I went all arty & fiddled with the carousel image to make my row of horses go up & down. That is the trouble of having my head - prone to seeing other possibilities too!

Tine :)

Challenges:
Totally Papercrafts - make your own flowers
Hotshot - flowers
OSAAT - round & round (carousel imagery as well as circles)
Sentimental Sundays - dies/punches/digi cutters etc (& use a sentiment - just on the inside this time)
Clearly Inspired - pastel colours
Sundays With Crissy - beat the mid-winter blues (I think the pastels are so spring-like)
Truly Scrumptious - something forgotten (not used this punch in ages - but rang the changes by constructing the flowers differently to how I normally do them)
Joanna Sheen - celebration
Stamping With The Dragon - anything goes.

Pyramid of Prayer

Still, trying to catch up on myself!  So here is another thoughtful & prayerful project and I managed not to colour an image on this one too!  LOL.  Don't worry, my Promarkers aren't being made redundant. LOL.  Instead I went for shape & die cuts - as well as the sentiment needless to say, to convey my message.

A tepee card, it has of course got 3 sides - and with the symbolism of 3 in Christianity (Holy Trinity or even different aspects of creation as in birth, life & death or mind, body & soul or even past, present & future), not to mention the point going ever heaven-ward like a spire on a Gothic church,  this seemed perfect shape for a condolence card - one to hopefully be more uplifting than sad.

The card base, Spellbinders' crosses & fleur de lis borders were all cut from pearlescent card stock which I think does actually show up on the photos for once. I made a paper template for myself to make sure that each of the 3 design papers were cut to exactly the same size and I popped a matt, silver peel-off down the longest side of each of the panels. Why did I chose blue patterned paper? Well, I have to admit it is my favourite colour, especially when teamed with white (I'd say just like the clouds in the sky but our clouds are usually grey! LOL). There is another reason I used blue though, I thought this most appropriate too for the message of the card. A 'soft' blue is thought to be the colour of the spirit with calming & restful qualities.

I then added the Shapabilities fleur de lis borders to the lower edges and matted & layered the sentiment from Digi Doodle Shop which I had cut into a circle & embellished with 2 more fleur de lis die cuts.  The sentiment which I hope will prove of help in time of sorrow says, 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him shalt not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16'.

I used all but one of the Spellbinders' crosses in the set, layering each up using glue gel for dimension but I then added to this further by cutting two of the fleur de lis 'circles' & used gel glue again to attach them behind my cross. I then found a large pearl for the centre. Attached to the second of the triangle's sides, the third side is for the 'to' & 'from'.

Tine :)

Challenges:
Our Daily Bread - W-I-N-T-E-R (W-white ,T-triangle & E-edging)
Stamping Sisters in Christ - new something (this was the first time that I had made a pyramid card)
Mark's Finest Paper - use border punches
Lothian Crafts - die cuts
Pink Elephant - favourite colour/s (blue & white)
My Mum's Craft Shop - favourite colour combo
Little Darlings - favourite colour/s (blue & white)
Secret Crafter - anything goes with blue
Crazy4 - blue
Crafty Bloggers Network - monochrome
Inky Impressions - shaped card
I Brake For Challenges - shaped card
Simply Create Too - layers (the cross itself has 5, LOL)
Card and Scrap - clean & simple
Craft-room - clean & simple (logo on sidebar)
Crafty Cardmakers - no floral embellishment
Die Cut Dreams - sympathy.