Another Candle Christmas Card

Hi Bloggers.

Here's another card made with the Creative Expressions Tatty Button Poinsettias Stamp set.

The layout of the card follows the current sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday .

It's an A5 card blank. The paper is from Basic Grey from a couple of years ago.

The candle was stamped in Jet Black Archival and then then embossed very quickly with clear embossing powder. I stamped the bottom part of the stamp with the holly leaves a second time. I coloured in using the Cosmic Shimmer Drawing Inks. I used all mica ones this time. They give a lovely shimmer. I cut the image out using a Spellbinders Circle nestie and inked around the edge with Antique Linen Distress Ink and Cut & Dry foam. I coloured in the extra set of leaves in the same way, cut them out and went around the edges with a black promarker to hide any white bits. I mounted these on top of the full image with foam pads.

I made a poinsettia using the two smallest dies in the Spellbinders Layered Poinsettias die set. I inked them with Black Soot Distress Ink and added some little gems.

The sentiment is from the Creative Expressions Christmas Swirl stamp set. It's been stamped with Jet Black Archival and embossed with clear embossing powder. It's been inked around the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

The card was assembled as per the sketch, piercing around all of the mats with my Tim Holtz ruler. The circle mat was pierced freehand using the embossed edge as a guide.

I wrapped some Cosmic Shimmer ribbon around the card before adding the image which was mounted onto foam pads for dimension. I added a couple of red Craftwork Cards Card Candi which were inked with the Black Soot Distress Ink to tone them in with the rest of the card to the sentiment strip and them mounted it onto foam pads.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges -
Sweet Sketch Wednesday
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by.
Julia

Winnie in Earmuffs

Hi Bloggers.

In this post I'd like to share with you this card made using the Willow Designs stamp Winnie in Earmuffs.

I was lucky enough to win the Willow Sketchie Challenge last week and for the sketch this week I was determined to use a Willow Designs stamp. I must say I found it a bit of a challenge. This was was 3rd attempt at colouring the image in. I am happy with how it turned out in the end.

I coloured Winnie in with Promarkers and edged the panel with Crushed Olive Distress Ink. I added fome Flower Soft Polar White to the earmuffs.

The sentiment is from Creative Expressions and again was edged with Crushed Olive Distress Ink.

The papers are from Wild Rose Studio Christmas Milton & Co paper pack.

I assembled the card as per the sketch on this weeks Willow Sketchie Challenge and added a few Eco Green Clear Glass Glintz secured with Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges -

Willow Sketchie Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz Challenge 43 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by.
Julia

Fairies - on Tiptoe

Hi Bloggers,

Today I'm sharing a card made with the beautiful Lili Of The Valley stamp Fairies - On Tiptoe. This has to be one of the prettiest fairy images around.

The Lili of the Valley Challenge this week is a sketch by Bev and this card follows that sketch.

The image has been stamped with Memento ink and has been coloured using Promarkers. I edged the dress, wings and flowers with Sakura Clear star to give a bit of sparkle.

I cut the image out using Spellbinders Eyelet Circles die and inked around the edges with Spun Sugar Distress Ink while still in the die. I made a faux nestie and edged it with the clear star.

The sentiment is from Wild Rose Studio. I cut the tags out with Spellbinders Labels Eight, inked them with Spun Sugar while still in the die and made a faux nestie for each one. I punched a hole in them and added some pretty fluffy yarn.

I used the Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch for the border. The flowers and brads are American Crafts, roses are from my stash. The leaves were cut from Spellbinders Foliage die set. The papers are My Minds Eye Lost & Found and DCWV Nursery. All the papers and card were edged with Spun Sugar Distress Ink.

The card was assembled as per Bev's sketch and I added a pearl in each corner.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges -
Lili of the Valley Challenge 118
I Love Promarkers Challenge 89 - Tags
Polka Doodles week 43 Challenge - Magical & Mystical
Charisma Cardz Challenge 43 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

Hope you like the card.
Thanks for stopping by.
Julia.

Christmas Fun with the Vintage Inventor

Hi Bloggers.

Here it is again - my favourite stamp set. A while ago I made a Christmas card with Mr. Inventor and he had a sprig of holly on his hat. At the time I mentioned that you could perhaps replace his top hat for a Santa hat. Well, I finally got round to making such a card and here it is.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges -
Friday Sketch Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

I inked up some white card with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink using Cut & Dry Foam and stamped Mr. Inventor with Jet Black Archival. I cut him out leaving a small gap all the way round. I then cut off his hat and a bit of his hair. I stamped Wild Rose Studio Mia in the Snow with Black Memento Ink and coloured just the main part of the hat with Promarkers. I cut out the hat, added a layer of Cosmic Shimmer Dies Clear glue to the furry bits and then added Polar White Flower Soft. It was then set aside to dry.

Next I made the really cool background paper which I used on the squares. The technique is called faux batik and it's on Sue Wilson's DVD. I used a piece of white card and using Perfect Medium I stamped the snowflake (from Creative Expressions Christmas Swirl set) and the pressure guage (from Creative Expressions Vintage Illusion stamp set). I embossed the images with clear embossing powder. Then I folded the card in lots of ways to make lots of creases. I spritzed the card with water and then brayered on some Adirondack Stream and Adirondack Sailboat Blue dye inks (I used two brayers - it's important not to contaminate the ink pads so if you have one brayer then clean and dry it before using with the second ink pad). The ink will be darker on the creased lines. A great background, don't you think?

Using the Spellbinders Create a Flake die set, I made some snowflakes using card and leftover backing papers including the faux batik. I put Creative Expressions faux screw brads in two of the snowflakes and put a greeting from the Creative Expressions Christmas Borders set on the other.

The backing papers are from Polka Doodles Sundae of Seasons CD.

I assembled the card as per the Friday Sketch Challenge and added some faux stitching with a fineliner pen.

If you love the Vintage Inventor stamp set as much as I do then you can buy it from the designer herself here.

Hope you like the card.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia

Sweet & Sassy

Morning Bloggers.

Today I'm sharing this card which features the Sugar Nellie stamp Sweet & Sassy. She's one of my absolute favourites.

The image has been coloured in using Promarkers and I have inked around the edges using Dusty Concord Distress Ink and Cut & Dry Foam. The sentiment is from Wild Rose Studio and has been cut out using a Spellbinders Double Ended Tages die and was inked using Dusty Concord while still in the die.

The background paper is from a freebie pack in Papercraft Essential Magazine.

I added a few pearls to complete the card.

I'm entering this card in to the Sugar Bow Challenge - Clean & Simple this week.

Thanks for stopping by.
Julia

Vintage Christmas Button Tree

Hi Bloggers.

Today I have a card made with the Creative Expressions Tatty Button Tree stamp. I wanted to put real buttons on the tree but only had a good supply of brown ones so that's why I've used these colours. I quite like the way it turned out.

I'm entering this card into the IC Sketches Challenge this week.

I stamped the Tatty Button Tree in Coffee Archival ink and quickly embossed it with clear powder. I cut the image out using Spellbinders Labels Eight and inked around the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink while still in the die. I used a little of the Vintage Photo to paint the pot the tree is in. I added some brown buttons securing them with Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue.

The border at the top was made using just the top section of the tree stamped with Vintage photo. I tore the edges and coloured using Antique Linen Distress Ink and some Cut & Dry Foam and then some more Vintage Photo just along the torn edges.

I coloured some netted ribbon with Vintage Photo Distress Stain.

The background card was stamped with the snowflake from the Creative Expressions Christmas Swirl stamp set in Perfect Medium and embossed with clear powder. I also added some stars from the Sam Poole's Stylish Christmas set but left those as a watermark instead of embossing.

The ribbon was made from some American Seam Binding and inked with Antique Linen Distress Ink. I love its tatty look.

The sentiment is from the Christmas Swirl set and it was stamped in Coffee Archival and them embossed. I cut it using Spellbinders Doubled Ended Tags die and inked using Vintage Photo while still in the die.

The card was assembled onto an 8" x 8" Craftwork Cards card blank as per the sketch. I used Pinflair Glue Gel to raise the image and the sentiment. Finally, I added some faux pearls using Cosmic Shimmer White Pearl PVA all around the edge of the card and a couple of Creative Expressions White Pearl Stick Pins into the bow.

Hope you like the card.

Thanks for stopping by.
Julia

Candle Christmas Card

Hi Bloggers.

Today I'm sharing another card made with the Creative Expressions Tatty Button Poinsettias stamp set. This time I'm only using the candle stamp.

I'm entering this card into the Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge this week.

The image was stamped in Jet Black Archival ink and quickly embossed with clear powder. I coloured it in using the Cosmic Shimmer Drawing Inks. I used Jade Teal, Scarlet Flame, Dark Spice, Sunflower and Marigold from the matt ones and the Pearl Shine mica one. I stamped the image again and just coloured in the holly leaves and the berries. I used the largest of the Spellbinders Eyelet Circles dies to cut the image out. I inked around the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink while still in the die. I cut out the leaves and the berries from the extra image and went round the edges with a black promarker to hide any white bits. I mounted this over the top of the original image with foam pads.

The background was made by stamping one of the borders from the Creative Expressions Christmas Borders set in Perfect Medium and then I embossed it with Cosmic Shimmer Green Sparkle Embossing Powder. I added some Bundled Sage Distress Ink with Cut & Dry Foam.

I did a bit of ribbon weaving with some 7mm red organza ribbon for the borders. I stamped the sentiment border from the Christmas Borders set in Jet Black Archival and quickly embosssed it with clear powder. I cut it out and then matted it onto a piece of card cut with the smallest of the Spellbinders Eyelet Circles dies.

I assembled the card as per the sketch rotating it 90 degrees. I added some of the Cosmic Shimmer Berry Red Pearlescent PVA into each of the eyelet holes on the nestie and then added some faux stitching with an Inssentials white pen.

Hope you like it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Tatty Button Snowman

Hi Bloggers.

Today I have a card made with the Tatty Button Snowman stamp from Creative Expressions.

I'm entering this card into the Friday Sketch Challenge this week.

The snowman was stamped with Jet Black Archival ink and quickly embossed with clear powder. I coloured him in with Cosmic Shimmer Matt Drawing Inks - I used Dark Spice, Marigold, Blue Lace, Blue Cotton and Black Night. I cut the image out using the largest of the Spellbinders Twenty Three dies and inked around the edges with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink using Cut & Dry Foam. I cut out a faux nestie in contrasting card.

I made the snowflakes using the Spellbinders Create A Flake dies. I cut some borders using a Spellbinders Parisian Accents die. The sentiment was made using my label maker.

The papers are from the Polka Doodles Sundae of Seasons CD.

The card was assembled onto a 6" x 6" card blank as per the sketch.

Hope you like it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.

Poinsettias Christmas Card

Hi Bloggers.

I have another card for you this evening. I'm entering this card into Sweet Sketch Wednesday 124 Challenge this week.

I used a Craftwork Cards 6" x 6" card blank. The papers are from the Wild Rose Studio Christmas Milton Paper Pack. The images are from the Creative Expressions Tatty Button Poinsettias stamp set. They were stamped in Jet Black Archival and quickly embossed with clear powder. They were coloured using Cosmic Shimmer Drawing Inks - I used some matt ones and some with mica.

I used the 'out of the box' technique to cut the oval nestie around the image. The two panels were embossed using the Creative Expressions Lattice embossing folder.

The card was assembled as per the sketch.

Hope you like it.
Julia.

IC Sketches and Milton

Hi.

This evening I have a Christmas card to share with you. I am entering this card into the IC Sketches Challenge 136

I used a Craftwork Cards 6" x 6" card blank. The stamp is Christmas Milton from Wild Rose Studio. He has been coloured using Promarkers. I used Flower Soft Polar White on the furry bits on his hat.

The paper is Making Memories. I used the Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Square die and did some faux stitching with an Inkssentials white pen.

Thanks for stopping by.
Julia

Vintage Inventor meets Sketch Saturday

Morning Bloggers.

Today I have a card featuring Sam Poole's Vintage Inventor stamp set again. I'm always looking for something new to do with this stamp set and this time I decided to make a card with it using the Sketch Saturday challenge this week.

Here's the sketch -

And here's the card -

I used a Craftwork Cards 8" x 8" card blank. I cut a piece of card 18.5cm square and used masking tape, Pumice Distress Ink and clear embossing powder to create a faux leather technique.

I cut a piece of cream card 18.5cm square and inked it with Antique Linen, Pumice and Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. I added some water splats and stamped some cogs and springs in Walnut Stain, Pumice and Vintage Photo Distress ink.

I inked up some strips of card with Brushed Corduroy, added some water splats, some lemon juice splats and stamped the rail tracks in Pumice.

I then inked up a piece of American Seam Binding with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and stamped 'Thingamajig' in Black Archival ink.

I stamped the Creative Expressions Scattered Words stamp onto a piece of cream card and cut out an oval nestie. I inked around the edge while still in the die using Antique Linen Distress Ink. I also made a faux nestie with contrasting card.

I stamped the Vintage Inventor onto some Grungepaper with Black Archival ink and coloured with Pumice using Cut & Dry foam. I also stamped the spring and the bolt (from Vintage Illusion stamp set) in Coffee Archival and again coloured with Pumice.

The cog was cut using the Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Die - Gadget Gears. I just used a piece of packing card. I painted it with Eco Green Black Acrylic Paint and then dabbed on a little of the Eco Green Aged Gold Acrylic Paint. I added a black button and an Antique Gold Faux Screw Brad (I cut the fasteners off with some nail cutters).

The sentiment (from Vintage Illusion) was stamped onto some card inked with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. The edges were distressed and then inked with Pumice.

The card was then assembled as per the sketch.

Thanks for stopping by.
Julia

New Hat

Hi.

Today I'm sharing this card with you.

The image is New Hat from Lili of the Valley and has been coloured using Promarkers. I added a little Sakura Clear Star on the mirror and on the stamens on the flower on the hat. I cut the image out using the Spellbinders Die Labels Twelve and inked around the edges with Spun Sugar Distress Ink while the image was still in the die. I cut a mat with a larger die from the set and did some free-hand paper piercing around the edge.

I used a Craftwork Cards 8" x 8" card blank. I cut a piece of the Dusky Rose card and pierced around the edge using my Tim Holtz ruler and matted it onto some burgundy card. Following the sketch from the Willow Sketchie Challenge this week, I added a piece of Polka Dot paper from My Mind's Eye Lost & Found paper pack. I used the Martha Stewart punch Doily Lace for the pretty edge. I then distressed another piece of paper from the same pack and a Dusky Rose mat and edged them both with the Spun Sugar Distress Ink.

I cut 2 brackets out using the Spellbinders die set Parisian Accents and inked through the die with the Spun Sugar. I assembled the card as per the sketch and added a few flowers from my stash.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges -
Willow Sketchie Challenge - 20th October
Lili of the Valley Challenge 117 - Bingo  : Distressing, Flowers, Paper Piercing
I Love Promarkers Challenge 88 - Ain't it Cute

I hope you like the card.
Thanks for stopping by.
Julia

Contemporary Card

Hi.

Today I would like to share a very simple, quick and easy card made with the Creative Expressions Vintage Inventor stamp set designed by Sam Poole.

I cut out a rectangle using a Spellbinders nestability die in red, green, blue and yellow. I stamped the light bulb from the set onto a separate piece of each of the colours and also stamped the sentiment.

I cut out the light bulbs and glued them onto a contrasting rectangle. Each rectangle I then glued in the layout shown. I cut the sentiment up and used one line from each colour and glued them onto the black card.

Like I said - simple, quick and easy.

Thanks for stopping by.
Julia.

Falling Leaves

Hi.

This evening I have an Autumn card to share. It's made with the new Creative Expressions Falling Leaves stamp set.

First I made the backing paper for the tree. It was made by scrunching up a poly bag and then inking it up with distress ink and then pressing it onto the card. I used Scattered Straw, Crushed Olive and Tea Dye. I made sure that the ink was dry before I stamped the tree in Perfect Medium. I embossed the image with Cosmic Shimmer Lapis Black Aurora Embossing Powder. This is a gorgeous powder which looks a different colour depending on the angle you look at it.

I distressed the edges of the card with scissors and then inked them with Scattered Straw Distress Ink. I then mounted this onto rust card then brown card and did some paper piercing using the Tim Holtz ruler.

I followed the same method for the sentiment (from the Creative Expressions stamp set Seasonal Flora).

For the large background I used a piece of glossy white card. I stamped the vine leaves from the stamp set in perfect medium and then used a heat tool to dry the ink. I then used Wild Honey, Scattered Straw and Tea Dye distress ink with Cut & dry foam to make the images 'pop out'. I distressed the edges again and this time edged with Crushed Olive instead. Again I used rust and dark brown card for the layers but omitted the paper piercing.

I stamped one of the leaves from the stamp set onto clear shrink plastic with green StazOn. I cut the leaf out carefully and punched a hole near the top. I then shrank it using my heat tool.

I made a bow with some brown satin ribbon and wrapped some yellow baker's twine around it. I attached the shrink plastic charm to the twine with 2 gold jump rings.
I attached the bow to the card with some Cosmic Shimmer dries clear PVA and added a brown ribbon with some more yellow baker's twine threaded through it.

I hope you like the card.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.


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Pippi Longsocks with Lavender and Lace

Hi,

Today I have a card to share with you featuring Pippi Longsocks from Sugar Nellie. I must say that I have really enjoyed making this card. Hope you like it.

I started with the current challenge sketch from Sketch Saturday . I stamped Pippi Longstocks with Memento and coloured her with promarkers. I added some Sakura Clear Star to her wings to give her a bit of sparkle. I edged the image with some Dusty Concord Distress Ink using Cut & Dry foam. I mounted Pippi onto a purple frame made from a Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles die.

The papers used for the backing are all from the Polka Doodles CD Sundae of Seasons. The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley. The card blank is 8" x 8" from Craftwork Cards.

The backing for the sentiment was created from some lace. The lace was actually cream but I wanted lavender so I dyed it using the Dusty Concord Distress Ink. I added a couple of Creative Expressions Pins and the card was finished.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges -
Sketch Saturday Week #177 15th October
Allsorts Challenge 125 Lavender and Lace

Thanks for taking the time to stop by.
Julia.

Mia in the Snow in Blue & White

Hi,

I've posted several cards which have been coloured using promarkers recently so this time I thought I'd do something a bit different.

I have stamped Mia in the Snow (Wild Rose Studio) with Faded Jeans distress ink and have 'pulled' some of the colour out using a damp paint brush. I added Sakura Clear Star for the snow and Cosmic Shimmer Aurora Crystal Glitter on the furry bits on her clothes. I cut her out using Spellbinders Labels Eight and inked around the edges with Faded Jeans whilst the image was still in the die. I cut a faux nestie and mounted the image.

I cut a piece of gingham paper (from Wild Rose Studio Spring Papers CD) using Labels Eight and again made a faux nestie. I stamped little stars randomly over the gingham paper using a little Lavinia Stamp and Faded Jeans.

The blue border was made using the Martha Stewart Snowflakes PATP set. I added some navy gingham ribbon. The snowflake backing paper is from the Polka Doodles CD Jingle Jangle.

The sentiment is from Creative Expressions and has been cut out using the Spellbinders Double-Ended Tags die and again I inked around the edges with Faded Jeans whilst still in the die. I added a couple of pearls, a bow, a button with a bit of Baker's Twine and I was done.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges -
Wild Rose Studio Festive Frolics Blog Hop
Polka Doodles Week 41 Challenge - Ribbons and Bows
Willow Sketchie Challenge - 13th October

Thanks for stopping by.
Julia

I Love Promarkers Challenge #87 - Autumnal Colours

Hi.

This is the card that I've entered into the I Love Promarkers Challenge this week - Autumnal Colours.

The stamp is Faye with Flower from Wild Rose Studio and she has been coloured using Promarkers (obviously!).

The background papers are from the Milton paper pack from Wild Rose Studio. I used Spellbinders Labels Twenty to cut the shape behind Faye and made a faux nestie with rust card. The flower has been cut from the Spellbinders Rose Creations die set and has been inked with Rusty Hinge Distress Ink. The leaves are cut from the Foliage Spellbinders die set.

I added a button and some Bakers's twine to the flower. A band of orange and brown organza ribbons and some pretty pearls completed the card.

Hope you like it.

Thanks for stopping by.
Julia

Polka Doodles Challenge Week 40 - Handmade Flowers

Hi,

This if the card that I've entered into the Polka Doodles Challenge this week - Handmade Flowers.

I stamped Beviboo and coloured her in using Promarkers. I added Milled Lavender and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink to the Craftwork Cards frame using Cut & Dry foam. I blended some Milled Lavender around the outside of the frame too. The flowers were made using a Marianne Designs Die and the leaves are cur from the Foliage Spellbinders Die. I stapled a few scraps of baby blue gingham ribbon to the edge of the card.

Thanks for stopping by.
Julia

Lili of the Valley Challenge 116 - Warm and Cozy

Hi.

This is my entry for Lili of the Valley Challenge 116 - Warm and Cozy.

I love polar bears and this Lili of the Valley stamp is so cute!

I used the Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page Snowflakes set. The snowy backing paper is from a Polka Doodles CD. I coloured the image with Promarkers, cut it out using Spellbinders Label Two and edged it with Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink. I made a faux nestie and mounted the image onto it.

I added some blue & white Bakers Twine around the bottom 2 layers and mounted the image with foam pads. The large snowflake is from the Cuttlebug Snowflake Punch & Emboss Set (which I believe is no longer available) and the smaller dark blue snowflake is cut from the Spellbinders Create A Flake die set. I topped it with a blue Glass Glintz.

The sentiment is from Creative Expressions (an odd one bought at Ally Pally) and I've cut it out using the Spellbinders Double-Ended Tags die. I inked around the edges using the Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink and added a couple of pearls.

Finally, I did some paper piercing all around the edge of the blue card.

Hope you like it. Please leave a comment.
Thanks for stopping by.
Julia.

The Sugar Bowl Challenge 69

Hi.

This is my entry to The Sugar Bowl challenge 69 using Gayle's sketch.

The stamp is a Sugar Nellie stamp called Baubles. I coloured the image with Promarkers and edged it with Crushed Olive Distress Ink. The border punch is Martha Stewart. I used the Spellbinders Die Eyelet Circles around the sentiment. The papers are all from the Wild Rose Studios Christmas Milton Pack. I added some pearly swirls using Cosmic Shimmer White Pearl PVA.

Thanks for stopping by.
Julia

MK Cadiac Group Craft Day

Hi,

Milton Keynes Cardiac Group are having a Craft Day this Saturday 10am till 4pm. If you're in the area, it would be great to see you there.

For a small charge you can have a go at lots of Make & Takes in a variety of crafts. There's some yummy cakes at the refreshment stall too.

I'm be running a simple Make & Take using Wild Rose Studio stamps and promarkers.

Here's one of the designs you could make.

Hope to see you there.
Julia