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.

The Muppets' Swedish Chef

When I saw the fab sketch over at Sketch Saturday I knew I would have to play along if I could. I have used this brill drawing of the Muppets' character, the Swedish Chef by residentlilly at DeviantArt which I coloured with Promarkers & typed up the message along the side on the PC.  The 'pie' embellishment  was constructed in 3 layers before being inked using 2 Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  Once these layers were stuck together I gave it all a sprinkling with white gel pen dots for a light icing sugar dusting & then an 'egg-wash' - otherwise known as a dose of Anita's 3-d glaze. LOL. I also used the same glaze on the 3 card 'brads' along the bottom.

On the inside.

The Chef makes a reappearance on the inside alongside cooking utensil embellishments I created on the Cameo & again inked at the edges.  I was actually going to pop these on another card but seemed too perfect for this one to miss out on using.  I also used my Cameo to create the cupcakes.  I have made cake designs before but they were pre-Cameo so were larger & cut carefully with pinking shears. This time of course, I could go tiny - but this made colouring them with my Promarkers just that little bit more tricky. One, as you can see, I coloured to give it some Sprinkles before setting the 'cake' up ever so slightly using a dab of glue-gel but the second cupcake has a circular sentiment from Rockin' Digis. I made a much larger cupcake on the other side, again actually colouring the outer 'paper' & 'cake' using Promarkers.  I kept this icing plain so I can write who it is going to etc later.




Tine  :)

Challenges I would like to enter this card for are:

Sketch Saturday - design sketch
Wags 'n' Whiskers - colour inspiration
Hybrid Chick Card Caravan - cupcakes
My Creative Moments - birthday
Crafty Boots - die cuts (all cut using Silhouette Cameo)
Paper Shelter - punches or dies
One Crazy Stamper - birthday
CCEE - make your own embellishments
Milk Coffee - show us your colouring skills
By Lori - designer papers

Wags 'n' Whiskers

613 Avenue - anything goes (optional sentiment)
Lady Anne's - anything goes (using a digital/rubber stamp)
Crazy - anything goes
Crafty Calendar - anything goes
Digitally Sweet - anything goes (digi elements - image, papers & cutter)
Papertake - anything goes (optional vintage).

Hexagonal Anniversary

Another anniversary card but in our family, August is a month full of them.

The free image Silhouette Studio users were offered last week was a wonderful hexagonal background cut so I thought that I would take up the challenge of creating a card around this design. First of all I decided to coordinate the shape make a hexagonal card base- & once created I then added my text border to each side.  After that, it was a case of making the hexagonal design a hexagonal shape to fit the base & sizing so I was happy with the overall effect. This I then cut out of pearlescent textured cream card. The sentiment added into yet another hexagon is from Paulette at TLC & the layered sentiment then added to the centre of the card using foam pads.

Card on the inside - left blank for a hand-written sentiment.

For the inside I welded the hexagonal Silhouette design into a rectangle & cut this from the same pearly patterned card as on the front. This time however, I left the hexagonal centrepiece devoid of sentiment so that I can handwrite a personal message later. The only embellishment, if you can call it that, is the addition of 'pearls' of Cosmic Shimmer.

Tine :)

Challenges I would like to enter this card for are:

Silhouette America - either 3 of something or use the S.Studio freebie file
Silhouette Challenges - shaped card

The Pink Elephant - texture

My Craft Spot - CAS

One Stop Craft - CAS

Whimsy Stamps - CAS

Digi Darla – ice-cream colours 

Lexi's - anniversary
Little Claire's - wedding/anniversary

Pink Gem - pearlescent (embossed card & pearl)
Crafty Creations - texture
Crafty Boots - die cuts (all cut using Silhouette Cameo)
Paper Shelter - punches or dies
Papertake - anything goes (optional vintage).

Totally Gorjuss - anything goes (with pearls)

Crazy - anything goes

CAS Anniversary

Now, I do have a very good reason why there is no image on this card, before anyone starts asking why I have got one.....the sketch I was following didn’t have one! LOL. Yes, stretching my attempts at CAS further, I kept my Promarkers firmly in their case but hopefully made the design of the lace background 'do the talking' instead.  

One of my more complicated lace cut-work designs too I think it would be fair to say. When I start creating my cut-files using Silhouette Studio, I often end up with several variations of my chosen design theme - and the design I have used on this particular card is in actuality two of my borders from one 'matching set', one narrower than the other & turned upside down to give me the top border. The paper I have chosen to add above the matt, white card base is a pearlescent cream & the all-over embossed pattern hopefully adds to the lacy-feel.  I thought that it reminiscent of a wedding lace or crochet design. A 'print & cut' sentiment using the gorgeous Edwardian Script font has a simple off-set mat behind & there are minimal finishing touches too - a single pearl (from MeiFlower) along with a small length of cream satin ribbon.

Tine :)

Challenges I wish to enter this card for:

Silhouette America - Thursday sketch

Silhouette America sketch

My Craft Spot - CAS

One Stop Craft - CAS

Whimsy Stamps - CAS

Digi Darla – ice-cream colours (my favourite is Cream of Cornish!)

Lexi's - anniversary

Great Impressions Stamps - square card

Pink Gem - pearlescent (embossed card & pearl)
Crafty Creations - texture
Crafty Boots - die cuts (all cut using Silhouette Cameo)
Little Claire's - wedding/anniversary

Totally Gorjuss - anything goes (with pearls)

Crazy - anything goes
Challenges 4 Everybody - anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes
Papertake - anything goes (optional vintage).

Well Done - Reading Mouse

Yes, two of a kind - & these are smaller than my usual cards too being only 10.5 cm (just over 4"), across and 9.5 cm high (3 6/8"). I am of course, assuming here that my nephew & God-daughter have done well in their exams as the results will be known in a couple weeks or so but as long as they have done their best, that is 'doing well' & therefore makes Auntie Christine happy.  :)   I am venturing into CAS territory once more for cards using this studious looking mouse from Elizabeth Dulemba (called 'Reading Mouse') with his precarious pile of books.  I can't see these without being reminded of all the weighty tomes I ploughed through for A-level history at school - just taking them home in my leather case built up muscle strength though whether they made a difference to my brain is another! I did, I am sure it must go without saying by now, use Promarkers to colour my 'meeces' & I aimed to give my books that 'well-thumbed' 'serious & intellectual' appearance. (Don't ask much of my markers, do I?   LOL).

For anyone Silhouette savvy, you will notice the image has been welded onto a circle before being turned into a print & cut for the 'out of the box' technique effect. The red card mat behind the image revealed a white core I was finding distracting so I got out a red Promarker & went around the edge till it offended no more. LOL. The sentiment on the front was also created using my Cameo, giving the font the same precarious existence as that pile of books & the narrow horizontal strip of card, embossed using an Embossalicious folder.  I also created my own background paper simply by printing my chosen text from an English Literature book tearing the side edges as if it had been torn from a publication but cutting the top & bottom for a slightly crisper edge. The chosen book? Why Dickens' 'Great Expectations'.....LOL.

I kept the inside very CAS with just a simple printed insert.

I used the font from the front sentiment again on the inside of the card - just on the emphasised words using a hopefully uplifting sentiment to tell the recipients "well done" with the achievements so far but keep up that momentum for the year ahead. Those little cards had to say a lot...LOL.

Thanks for coming by my blog & thanks for leaving me comments so I know you have visited.

Tine :)

Challenges I wish to enter are:
Cuttin' & Stampin' - CAS
Cuttlebug Mania - CAS
Alphabet - M is for Micro/Mini (little cards)
Artistic Stampers - celebrations (well I hope we are all celebrating! - time will tell, LOL)
Natalie & Amy's - celebrate
Scrappers Delights -  inspired by a song (Book of Dreams - Bruce Springsteen)
Cards Galore - bingo (diagonally: embossing/masking, die-cuts, sentiment)
Whimsical Designs - bugs or animals
Southern Girls - animal antics
LEJ Designs - distressing or tearing
SweetPea Stampers - embossing (wet or dry)
Tammy's Scrapin' Corner - use a digi
Paper Crafting Journey - punches/die-cuts (Silhouette Cameo)
Word Art Wednesday - anything goes (using uplifting sentiment)
613 Avenue - anything goes (optional twist of friendship)
Eclectic Ellapu - anything goes
Hanna & Friends - anything goes.

Christmas Blessings - Noon Angel

Still in 'Christmas mode' & this card uses an absolutely beautiful image by Sarah Burrier called 'Noon'. Now, anyone who knows me probably has a fair idea that I LOVE angels but this image is fabulous & I enjoyed every minute of colouring her with my Promarkers. Yes, "Noon" isn't ordinarily a Christmas image but I thought to myself, "Why not?" after all, those squirrels & chipmunks will need feeding & looking after in the winter months probably more so than at any other time of year so why not have my angel looking out for them & create a Christmas card?  I have her looking down from her celestial view-point in the winter skies above as large snowflakes tumble down the right-hand side -  though the ones opposite them are more controlled in their frame. All cut of course, using my Silhouette Cameo, in case you hadn't guessed already. LOL.  Given a good dose of Stickles to make them shine & glisten, the snowflakes also have pearly centres from my bottle of Cosmic Shimmer.

The mat with the dp from Jak Heath, as well as the embossed background, were first distressed at the edges & then given a rippled edge using white acrylic paint. The sentiment is from Mudmaven & underlined with a satin ribbon.  The mats were attached to the card using foam pads.

On the inside more snowflakes and this time the sentiment is from Lisa at Crafting Cottage.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Tine :)

Challenges I wish to enter my card for are:

Sentimental Sunday - Christmas in July
I ♥ Promarkers - Christmas in July
Crafting For All Seasons - Christmas in July
Stamp & Create - Christmas in July
Fariytale - Christmas in July
Crafty Catz - Christmas in July
Crafting By Designs - Christmas in July
Jellypark - Christmas in July
Totally Gorjuss - Christmas in July
Crafty Hazelnut - Christmas
Christmas Card - snowflakes
2CreativeChicks - 3-d (used foam pads & layering)
Colour Me Creative - anything goes (using markers - Promarkers)
Tip Top - spooled item  (ribbon)
Creative Inspirations Paint - ribbon & bling
Papertake - die-ing for a punch (Silhouette Cameo digital die cutter)
Creative Belli - Christmas - (+old embellies etc..... Stickles)
Cuttlebug - shaped card - snowflakes welded onto basic card shape (dotty embossing folder)
Whimsical Designs - pile it on
Penny's - bling
Artistic Inspirations - dry embossing
Milk Coffee - embossing
Creative Craft2 - blue/brown
Paper Crafting Journey - dies cuts &/or punches (digital die cutter)
My Craft Creations - use a die (digital die cutter)
Digi Sketch - layer it up &/or sketch
Crafty Ribbons - anything with a ribbon
Crimbo Crackers - anything goes
Divas By Design - anything goes
Paper Shelter - anything goes
Crafts & Me - anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - anything goes (using scripture or uplifting sentiment)

Tea Party - Teacups

I have used the sketch over at Sketch Saturday this week for my teacup themed card, made especially for my sister-in-law's birthday as she collects cups & saucers. I have used an image from Nutcrafters called 'Tea Party' which I did of course, colour with Promarkers. Did the teapot pour itself in Alice in Wonderland? Couldn't recall but thought that perhaps it had - years & years since I read it, but a conclusion I came to as I couldn't see this gal's fingers on the handle.  I decided to go with the' magical teapot pouring itself' option  - even though it looks as if she is raising her arm up to me! LOL. I chose my papers carefully to go with the inspirational image from the Ribbon Girl challenge & which was just so perfect for my chosen theme. I created the main, striped design paper myself to give myself the exact background I wanted.   I did this using the Silhouette Studio software making stripes of different widths & dashed stitch-like lines too (all added with cut-lines turned off of course) to the blue rectangle beneath.  Reminded me of ticking fabric given the colour-way. I kept the layering simple & uncomplicated to go with the less complex design sketch which I rotated & the sentiment is from Bird's Cards. Silhouette users will have probably noticed that the image was cut using my Cameo to protrude slightly from the otherwise rectangular mat.

The inside of my card is just a little more complex. Still in keeping with my chosen teacup theme, the Mad Hatter's pile of cups in the image is echoed in the cut-file pop-up design (from the Silhouette Store). More matching paper following the Wedgwood china colour scheme, this time actually printed onto the reverse of my card base itself. This then peeks through the cut-work design to give my 'China cups' some colour. Below this I created a layered pocket (reminded me of stacked crockery in itself as I had used pure white card on the inside, but that is probably my own mad imagination coming to the fore, LOL), again using a sentiment  from Bird's Cards.  These mats were then attached at the requisite 3 edges using thin foam. I needed this bit of dimension so I could easily slot in my 'tea-bag' message tags.

The layered 'teabag' tags.

The 'tea' "letting the flavour flood out", LOL, comprises of little cut-outs from my tea-bag shape with a layer of card underneath coloured brown using a Promarker. This was sandwiched between the blue outer tea-bag & the front. Another tea-bag shape including a sentiment from Scrapalicious (print & cut) was then attached to the reverse before my baker's twine was knotted onto the top. I then made a second tea-bag tag this time incorporating my SIL's name on the front & chose a font to do this which 'sort of' matched the fonts used on the sentiments.

Thanks for visiting my blog & thank you in advance for your comments too.

Tine :)

Challenges I wish to enter this card for are:
Sketch Saturday - design sketch
Ribbon Girl - photo inspiration (spooled item - baker's twine)
One Stop Craft - make your own background (main striped background)
Silhouette Blog - interactive element
Silhouette Challenges - faux stitching using Silhouette (dashed lines on the design paper I created)
Digi Sketch - layer it up &/or sketch
Creative Card - blue/pink or/& baby
My Craft Creations - use a die (digital die cutter)
Deep Ocean - blue

Ribbon Girls

Inky Impressions - birthday
Craft Your Passion - happy birthday
Little Red Wagon - tags
Scrapper's Delights - inspired by a song (Tea for Two - Doris Day)
Creative Craft2 - blue & brown
Paper Shelter - anything goes
Crafts & Me - anything goes
Colour Me Creative - use markers (Promarkers ) - anything goes
Divas By Design - anything goes.

Snowy Hugs

Another card-shape I have several versions of! LOL. Created with my Cameo of course, this one uses snowflakes welded into the frame for an interlocking arched card & when opened, reveals my image of Tilda, (Snowy Hug), coloured with Promarkers & given the Titian haired requirements of the Totally Tilda challenge. I love making Christmas cards - I actually like to give my images snow-laden skies & decorate with snowflakes - but I am also prone to making more work for myself! LOL. Yes, the image isn't even in a perfect arch as the broom's bristles protrude slightly.  To add to the icy-feel, I also used some Stickles to give my 'ice' that extra sparkle on the image itself but I also used some Cosmic Shimmer to give my snowflakes pearly centres.

You can see how it interlocks together from the closed front view.

The verse on the back of the card.

Stickles were also added to all those layers of snowflakes scattered here & there on top of some of the welded ones which my Tilda & her wintery-friend peek through. Yes, I know, my photography skills are 'rubbish' & you can't see any real sparkle at all on any of the photos- but I did try, honestly!  When you open it up, you can see the circular sentiment (from Cuddly Buddly) on the interlocking feature but I also added a sentiment to an arched shape (print & cut) for the very back of the card with enough space beneath for me to add a few written words later too. This verse I typed up myself on the PC using two different fonts which were similar(-ish) ones to the one on the front of the card for uniformity & I hope this sentiment, (the words of which I find particularly meaningful), will also be appreciated by the recipient.

Thanks for visiting by blog!

Tine :)

Challenges I would like to enter this card for are:
Totally Tilda - Titian Tilda (red hair)
Cuttin' & Stamping - Christmas in July
Stamp & Create - Christmas in July
My Craft Spot - Christmas in July
Fairytale - Christmas in July
Cut It Up  (+die-cuts) - Christmas in July (everything cut using my Cameo!)
Creative Belli - Christmas (not used in ages item - image)
Crafty Hazelnut - Christmas
Christmas at Sweet Stamping - snowmen/snow-women
Dream Valley - fancy folds
Tilda's Town - fussy & fancy or elegant & understated
Christmas Card - embossing (+Christmas theme) - Die'sire folder
Marvelous Magnolia - embossing +sentiment
Milk Coffee - embossing
Kaboodle Doodles - embossing
CardMania - pearls &/or gems
Stamping For The Weekend - sparkle & bling
2Sisters - make it sparkle (3 different bottles of Stickles)
Creative Corner - let it sparkle
CCEE Stampers - sing, sing a song (Frosty the Snowman - Ronettes)
Whoopsidaisy - use markers (Promarkers)
I ♥ Promarkers - anything goes (+use markers by Letraset)
Word Art Wednesday - anything goes (using scripture or uplifting sentiment)
Sister Act Card - always anything goes
Brown Sugar - anything goes.