Blowing Snowflakes - Winter Fairy Halla

A couple of week's ago I shared my card using Mo Manning's "Winter Fairy Talva" but this one uses the masculine companion image of "Winter Fairy Halla". Isn't he just too adorable? Actually, I love'em both...LOL! There was a challenge the other week wanting entries which summed up the creator's style. I think this one probably sums me up - particularly when making Christmas cards anyway - using my Promarkers, my Silhouette Cameo, layers - & snowflakes, snowflakes & yet more snowflakes with a touch of sparkle & pearls to finish it off. Do you get the impression that I love Mo's images & snowflakes? LOL

I welded a large snowflake onto my otherwise square card base & layered it all up from there using Mo's gorgeous image & a multiplicity of snowflakes from various designers (including my own), which were either dosed in Stickles or sprayed with Crafter's Companion iridescent spray. The pearls also adorning my flakes were this time created using Liquid Pearls. The overall colour-scheme is a very delicate shade of lilac to turn little Halla into a real "Ice Prince", blowing frosty flakes into the world. Cut from various types of card but mainly the same pearlescent card as the front (for extra sparkle), a couple of the lilac flakes were created as a print & cut so that they matched my chosen papers. I even managed to cut some flakes from 'left-over' card - always a bonus.

For the inside of my card I have, needless to say, still more snowflakes. Some are welded along with a sentiment, into a bordered frame with others welded more simply to an edge. The card-base for the inside was cut from a 'plainer' card so that the sparkle would show up more on the other pieces. Well it does so in RL as sadly, no matter how hard I have tried I can't get the sparkle to show up on the photos which is such a shame. The printed sentiment from DesertDiva was re-coloured to suit but as I wanted black text & a lilac/purple design around it I had to 'cut out' the text using my software & then re-insert a black version before printing.  No, I don't make life easy on myself do I!

Well, I know it is quite 'fussy' for a masculine-themed card but I know it works as my son (now 22), on seeing it said he "rated that one very highly"!!! LOL

Tine :)

Challenges I wish to enter this card for are:
Mo's Digital - for the boys
A Creative Romance - fairytale or winged creations
Sweet Stamping - things with wings
Stamping for the Weekend - fairies or fantasy
Sparkles Monthly - fairies or butterflies
Christmas Cards All Year Round - Christmas fairies with a bit of sparkle
Creative Card Crew - Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut - Christmas
Oldie But A Goodie - dies/punches (old stash - some of my snowflakes & others are cut from bits of left-over card)
Love To Scrap - fancy border (cut designs on inside of the card)
Digi Sketch - sketch &/or theme (for the boys)
Eclectic Ellapu - for a boy
Paper Crafting Journey - for a boy
Whimsy - masculine
Divas By Design - monochrome
Pile It On - cool or warm colours
Always Something Creative - not colourful
Silhouette Challenges - welded letters (using a Silhouette Cameo)
Crafts-Too - September - texture +twist of shine & sparkle
Wags 'n' Whiskers - sparkle
Word Art Wednesday - anything goes using inspirational sentiment/scripture (cut into the border)
Paper Makeup - anything goes
Sister Act - anything goes.

Big Hill

Hi everyone. Back to making Christmas cards again! I have used this month's sketch at CLP for this one (turned on it's side & I then 'pulled' out the now horizontal sections to the side - so I hope this is allowed by the CLP team?). The image I chose is from 'Phindy's Place' & is called 'Big Hill'. It was coloured with Promarkers & a couple of Trias to give me a very subtle colour scheme.

I employed my Cameo as you probably can tell to create the snowflake bordered frame of the top mat & for the swirly side embellishment too. The large snowflake design comprises of 2 layers of snowflake & all my 'snow' was given the necessary seasonal sparkle from 3 various bottles of Stickles & additional 'snowballs' of  Cosmic Shimmer glue. The 'snowball' effect was continued with a dotty embossing folder & the trim running along the bottom which is from The Ribbon Girl (not to mention the occasional 'real' lilac pearl embellishment). More snow too from my blue snowflake design papers & some of my card mats were distressed.

For the inside of the card I have 'cut-out borders' onto which I have welded snowflakes for more falling snow & layered up my sentiment (from Desert Diva).

Well, thanks for coming by & have a wonderful week everyone.

Tine :)

Challenges:
CLP - design sketch
Country View Crafts - layers
Hiding in My Craftroom - layers
Creative Card Crew - Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut - Christmas
Paper Creators Crafts - make it Christmassy
Word Play Saturday - seasons
Die-Cut Divas - celebrate
Christmas Stampin' - Christmas cheer
Southern Girls - monochrome
Totally Gorjuss - dotty (using embossing folder)
Natalie & Amy's - embossing
Crafts-Too - texture (with twist my style is probably summed up with cutfiles, layers, Promarkers & glitter at Christmas)
Wags'n'Whiskers - sparkle
Creative Belli - ribbon & pearls
Creative Craft - ribbon (has little pom-poms on it)
4 Krafty Girlz - anything goes
Paper Makeup - anything goes
Challenges4Everybody - anything goes
Sister Act - anything goes
TTCRD - anything goes.

CAS - Get Well Soon

No, not my usual style but I am trying my hand at a CAS card this week & I have made this particular card for my father-in-law who has undergone surgery for skin cancer. I hoped the image of this caring 'young nurse' tending to the welfare of her teddy would remind him of the twins playing with him & so give him something to look forward to during this very difficult time.

Coloured with Promarkers & all cut using my Silhouette Cameo to produce a shaped card (round cornered rectangle onto which I welded a circle top right to house the image's mat. The image itself was cut using my Cameo too so her feet & part of the bear's bed peeked out from the circular frame, using the off-set feature to ensure the narrow red mat behind was the size I wanted.

All of which make this a quicker card to create than usual for me but it also had to be given out more quickly too.

Thanks for coming by,

Tine :)

Challenges:
Silhouette Challenges - welding letters (onto rectangle)
Silhouette Blog - weld
ALBC - clean & simple
Love To Create - clean & simple
Eclectic Ellapu - inspired by a song (Doctor, Doctor - Thompson Twins)
Robyn's Fetish - people in their jobs
Crafty Calendar - going on a bear hunt
Cutie Pie - cute card for the boys
Ladybug Crafts Ink - no squares
Creative Cutting - anything goes (all created  & cut using my Silhouette Cameo)
613 Avenue - anything goes/ happy fall y'all
Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner - anything goes
I ♥ Promarkers - anything goes
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - anything goes.

Police In Action

A very personalised card to share with you all today though you probably wouldn't guess so at first glance.  I have made it for my son's birthday & as he is a SpPC, decided to create a card for him using him & his 'beat' as inspiration. In case anyone doesn't know what a Special Police Constable is here in the UK, they have all the powers of a 'regular' but are unpaid and give their services in their 'free time'.

Yes, I ended up literally drawing this one myself too & coloured my image with Promarkers. Well, it's two images really as I have drawn his hat separately, LOL (from what I can gather they are prone to ending up on the floor!) It must look like him too as my daughter recognised her brother right away. :)   Having drawn my image, I digitised it so I could cut it out using my Cameo to give me a neat border all around. Also using my Silhouette Cameo, I created a city skyline too & it was welded into the trapezium shape - & as his shifts are nearly always at night have used dark navy card to produce the silhouette effect. To add further 'city-beat' references, I used images from the city centre and a dp of bricks. A number of the layers have been added using glue-gel for dimension & hopefully I have created an all-action layout which echoes the colourful area he patrols.

Drawing more inspiration from a city's surroundings for the inside of the card with graffiti walls, posters & bunting.  The Cameo cut out my signs once I had made my 'scruffy' edged poster designs. I didn't make the cut-files for the bunting though. These are designs from Lettering Delights and I strung them up using a length of baker's twine. I did however, make my handcuff design myself running along the top edge as a pattern & I used matt silver paper behind it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Tine :)

Challenges:
Happy Campers - use a stamp (rubber or digi - drew & digitised this one myself)
Order of the Opus Gluei - city-scape
Can You Digi It - go somewhere (Manchester (UK) city centre)
Paper Minutes - cities (Manchester, UK)
Squirrel & the Fox - creations for men
Cupboard Trilogy - male
Whimsy Stamps - masculine
Totally Papercrafts - birthday boys
Crafty Catz - men/boys
Craft a Scene - dusk to dawn
Die-cut Divas - celebrate
Sisterhood of Crafters - use a digi
Sister Act - anything goes
Creative Moments - birthday/anything goes
Totally Gorjuss - anything goes
Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes
Paper Parade - anything goes
Hobbycutz - anything goes
Creative Cutting.nl - birthdays
Creative Cutting - anything goes.

Winter Fairy Talva - circular easel

Well, when I say 'circular easel' it does also have snowflakes welded onto it so not quite circular any more. LOL. Yes, I do love my snowflakes.....and the selection here are cut-files of mine, Bird's Cards & Heather M - all mis-matched together to give me my very individual flakes. As I mentioned, I also welded a couple of them to the 'snow' bordered frame I created myself using my Silhouette Cameo before layering them up too.

Making my card an easel also ensured that I had extra space for added sentiment & room to write a personal message later - not to mention more snowflakes of course, as I utilised the space at the back of the card as well. I added those layers to reflect those on the main body of the card with gently distressed edges & a snowflake dp from Trine at NbF (but I have to admit most of those printed snowflakes are mainly covered up with my image & it's mats. LOL). The circular sentiment on the front I created myself on the PC & the one on the back is from DesertDiva.

On the reverse. 

That adorable image is by Mo Manning & is called 'Winter Fairy Talva' & I coloured her with Promarkers & the odd Tria pen. I added to that wintery-touch with 3 lots of Stickles & Cosmic Shimmer pearl glue.

Tine :)

Challenges:
Mo's Digital - anything goes (using a Mo Manning image)
Hobby House - Hobby House Artists
Emerald Faeries - magical creatures
Christmas Cards All Year Round - Christmas fairies with a little sparkle
Southern Girls - make believe
Creative Card Crew - things with wings
Flutterby Wednesday - anything goes with butterflies &/or fairies
Die-cut Divas - let's celebrate (Christmas)
One Crazy Stamper - Christmas
Ladybug Crafts Ink - winter wonderland
Sparkles Christmas - non-tradtional cols (no red, green or gold)
Silhouette Challenges - welding letters
Totally Gorjuss - texture
Country View Crafts Challenges - layers
Christmas Card - something new (my cut-files)
Scrapbook Blessings - circular easel
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - anything goes (as long as it's Christmas)
Paper Crafting Journey - anything goes
613 Avenue - anything goes (optional spotlight technique).

Coffee Break

I am honoured to be a GDT over at 613 Avenue this week where the challenge is to create a project using at least one element from each column from the table shown below.

A lot of choice as you can see, so it makes it relatively easy I reckon.  As you might have noticed, I have used more than one from some sections of the list of requirements, LOL. Well, why not? LOL. There are two sponsors for this challenge (The Paper Shelter & Shelly's Images), & I am using an image from one of them, The Paper Shelter - this particular image is called 'Coffee Break'.  I coloured this girl on her laptop using Promarkers & cut out my shaped layers using my Cameo. For the layer cut from a pink digi paper (from Denise's Digital Designs), I also added a 'sewing line' using my cutter. This is an internal off-set then choosing a pink dashed line.

The sentiment (from Bird's Cards), was created as a print & cut & I added flat floral embellishments around it (meaning it is perfect for cards having to fit into envelopes!). Well, when I say 'flat' it is still a design in 3 layers but is not one of my regular 3-dimensional flowers. Sadly, I can't tell you where that cut-file is from (no, this one isn't one of mine), as I can no longer find it!!!! How do you lose a cut-file when you label everything & keep a picture of it too? Can only assume I have managed to delete it (& it's picture! grrr....) somehow. Ah, well..... back to my card.

Whilst I was very good today & steered away from big, blousy flowers, I do have to admit to some dimension on my card as I set my image's mats up using glue-gel to create a narrow 'pocket' behind the image for my tag to fit into. Well, I do like my dimension, LOL.  I often add sentiments to my tags but not this time. This one is strictly ornamental with a broderie anglais inspired lacy cut out & with more cut designs as central 'topper' features. I really would be totally lost without my cutter now, have you noticed? LOL. However, I did use a regular paper punch on this card as well - those little shaped flowers were created using a Woodware punch out of white, scrap card & I coloured them with Promarkers to ensure they matched perfectly.

Tag front

Tag reverse

I recreated the layers on the inside too, this time featuring a 'faded' sentiment from Sentiments4You so that I could write a personal message over the top. I have embellished both the front & the inside with two sizes of pink gems & a few drops of  Liquid Pearls (in Platinum Pearl).

I know the lovely girls over at 613 Avenue would love to have you all play along, so have a look at that table & be inspired! Chana, Kathi & the gang will be waiting for you......

Thanks for stopping by!

Tine :)

Challenges:

Silhouette Challenges - shaped card
Creative Craft - not square
Deep Ocean - odd shapes
Silhouette Blog - use a number (print & cut)
One Crazy Stamper - birthday
Natalie & Amy's - celebrate something
Cards Galore - bingo (birthday, candy/gems, sentiment)
Bunny Zoe - bingo (ribbon, die-cuts (Silhouette Cameo), tag)
Happy Campers - use a stamp (image from Paper Shelter)
Ladybug - something floral
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - make your own embellishments
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes (using ribbon)
Paper Shelter - ribbon
Penny's - dies/punches
Crafty Catz - stitching (real or faux)
Paper Pretties - girly girl
Little Red Wagon - layers
Tip Top - at least 2 things beginning with your initial ('C' is for cutting, coffee & cupcake [on image] & card of course!)
Cutie Pie - anything goes
Crafty Calendar - anything goes
Sister Act - anything goes.

50th Birthday

Loads of fun creating my cut-files again & this card is for my SIL who has a big birthday to celebrate as you can see. The look I was going for was essentially very elaborate as befits a mile-stone occasion & being predominantly white has just a hint of a heavily iced cake, LOL. Went with touches of gold, again because I wanted to make it 'special' - & you can't beat a bit of the 'Midas touch' can you, to convey decadence?


Where would I be without my Cameo?!? LOL. A layered design (interlocking arches of varying sizes) onto which I have added scalloped edged peel-offs (which is actually the left-over bits from in-between designs but was exactly what I was after) & sandwiched between those card layers are foam pads to add the dimension. The pearl accents are in two sizes & are from MeiFlower.


On the inside of the card (yes more cut-files but that goes without saying now surely, LOL), are two cockatiels, Coco & Smudge, the name of my SIL's avian twosome. (You may just remember me making her a bird-themed card last year as well?)  I just had to include this mischievous pair on her card this time around too as they mean so much to her & that is the beauty of making cards for people isn't it - the personalisation which makes them more meaningful. Different cut-files for them from last year's card but they have similarly been coloured with Promarkers to give them the required cockatiel colouration &  glue-gel gives them dimension. The sentiment, according to my records, is from Tracy's Cards, so I hope this is correct.

Box lid design...... &a peek at the liner too.

However, I couldn't just leave it at that for such a big birthday could I? I just had to include a box for the card which would also give me oodles more space to elaborate on sentiments too - not to mention add an image to colour. All this I added to the box's liner, with the outside of the box reflecting the card hiding away within. Once the card is out of the box, the shaped liner with gold card border, complete with fabulous image from Sassy Cheryl (coloured with Promarkers) and an extra 3 sentiments is revealed. Makes quite a change to have the image hiding away in the box rather than on the card front but I think it still works.

Hope she likes it - & that you do too!

Tine :)

Challenges I wish to enter this card for are:

Sassy Cheryl - happy birthday
One Crazy Stamper - birthday
Outlawz - Saturday's Paper A La Mode - birthdays
Natalie & Amy's - celebrate
Happy Campers - use a stamp (girl with cupcake from Sassy Cheryl)
Silhouette Challenges - shaped card (using Silhouette)
Country View Crafts - attributable sentiments (verses4cards)
KaboodleDoodles - song or a quote
OLLCB - inspired by a song (what else could it be but "Mandy" - Barry Manilow)
My Craft Spot - 3-d item
Little Red Wagon - layers
Penny's - dies/punches
Use Your Stuff - circles (every single loop of my cut designs started life as a circle I dissected, replicated & welded to another - too many circles to count!!!!)
Tip Top - use at least 2 items with your initials - C= cutting, cockatiels, candle on cupcake
Challenges4Everybody - anything goes
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - anything goes
Cutie Pie - anything goes.

Ben's Beer Monster

I like this image for men's cards. It's an oldie but a goodie from Pollycraft. Even if the male in question isn't always propping up the bar of his local hostelry, monsters & dinosaurs still seem popular with all those men who never really grew up (I apparently know a few!) LOL. Actually, once I had started colouring this particular monster in with my Promarkers, I started to wonder if I was making him a bit frightening..?  He might well be toasting the 'birthday boy' but let's just say, I wouldn't want to meet this 'Beer Monster' on a dark night - or even during the day if it comes to that!

My Cameo cut my lettering for me - the 'drunken' 'B' a single print & cut layer, but the rest of the name is actually cut out of the image's mat to reveal the card beneath & the image off-set & welded onto it's rectangular mat. My tip for Silhouette users is to remember to stop the centre of lettering (such as the 'e' shown on this card), from becoming a waif & stray & remaining on your cutting mat when you peel off your project. If your lettering is too small, then obviously it would be a little too difficult but works well with larger lettering. To do this, after typing out your letter, draw a narrow rectangle & place it over the letter where you want the 'link' to be.  Select all & then choose the 'subtract' option from the 'Modify' drop-down list. Et voila! 'The layering I kept pretty simple otherwise with just one spotty dp echoing the embossed dots of the card mat behind my monster. I used my Cuttlebug dotty folder for this & my ever faithful, Big Shot.

I kept the insert simple & uncluttered which I thought would be better appreciated by the 26 year old recipient. (Gosh, that frightens me -26...... where do the years go!!!)  The sentiment (from Ginger's House), is something that he would  find amusing & seemed perfect for my image. LOL. I popped this to one side of the insert so that I can add the 'from' on the other.

Thanks for coming by my blog today.

Cheers!

Tine :)

Challenges:

Crafts4Eternity

Crafts4Eternity - corrosion colour palette (2 or all of colours)
Creative Corner - eat, drink & be merry
One Crazy Stamper - birthday
Natalie & Amy's - celebrate something
Pink Elephant - use the colour orange
Die Cuttin' Divas  (+die-cuts) - use orange & white (cut with Cameo)
Cuttlebug Mania - anything goes ( with embossing)
Tip Top - embossing
Milk Coffee- show us your colouring skills
OSAAT - use a digi
Country View Crafts - use an attributable quote/sentiment/stamp
Crafty Sentiments - dies/punches
Whimsy - clean & simple
Crazy - anything goes
Sister Act - anything goes.