A bit of a laugh

Last week was my daughter's father-in-law's 80th  birthday so I decided to make a card that would make him smile.

Materials used: 
Bugaboo Stamps - Gus Birthday Recount
Decosse's Dynamite Doodles - Spirit of America Kit
X-Press It stamping card
A5 card blank
Copic pens
small number peel-off stickers

I used the number stickers to put the age on the balloon, very discrete!

The balloon backing paper came from the Spirit of America Kit. The image, sentiment and backing paper have all been edged with a black pen.

I feel I must point out that there is no resemblence between Gus and my daughter's father-in-law! Also I am happy to say that it did raise a smile.

Thanks for popping in. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #266 - Anything Goes
Addicted To Stamps And More #182 - Make Your Mark
Inspiration Destination #74 - Anything Goes
Ruby's Rainbow #123 - Humorous Birthday
Crafty Girls Creations #15 -Anything Goes



 

Head to Head With The Dragon!

Dragons Lair Designs have a Head to Head challenge on their Facebook page. The idea is that you buy the kit and enter a project made using it. The winner then recieves the next kit free. So I decided to have a go.

Materials used: 
Dragons Lair Designs - Watercolour Elements (the shop is undergoing a revamp and I could not find it there so best to request it on the Facebook Page)
printer card
Britannia flower dies (medium and large)
swirl die
gold peel off greeting sticker
self adhesive gems
brown card
PSX Rosa stamp (PSX are no longer trading but you may find it on ebay or similar selling site)
archiveal watering can ink pad
Derwent watercolour pencils
water brush

I really enjoyed getting back to my roots with a bit of traditional stamping! While I do love the versitility for sizing and manipulating that you get with digital stamps, there is still something almost magical in using ink and rubber.

I used the frame from the Dragons Lair Designs kit and put a brown mount inside the appature to frame the stamping.

The flowers are die cut from a paper I created myself using the image lifted from the tag in the kit and repeated all over the page.

The green swirl is one I found in my stash left over from a previous project.

Before I go for today I just want to say a big thank you to all of you who have left such generous comments on my posts, I really do appreciate it.

Thank you for coming by. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Digi Choosday - The Colour Green/and or Nature
Addicted To Stamps And More #182 - Make Your Mark
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #266 - Anything Goes
Crafty Gals Corner #60 - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Create And Inspire #40 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday #220 - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination #74 - Anything Goes
Whimsy Stamps Challenge #91 - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday #414 - Florals!
Crafty Friends #26 - Florals
Crafting From The Heart #100 - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion #300 - Anything Goes
Love To Scrap #72 - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards #29 - February
Our Crafty Corner #6 - Anything Goes
Where The HeART Is #6 - Anything Goes

 

Tea For Two?

My sample for Imagine That! Digis by Kris for the middle of February was specially made for a very good friend. I think I have mentioned my friend Melanie in a past post, she introduced me to the joy of stamping many, many moons ago. We do not often get together, sometimes not for years, but when we do it is as if we had never been apart. Somehow we always manage to pick up our friendship where we left off. Mel is convinced that she and I are twins separated at birth, the fact that she is 6 months older than me does not seem to have occured to her! This card is for her birthday.

Materials used:  
Imagine That! Digis by Kris - Floral Tea Set
Imagine That! Digis by Kris - Bella's Beauties Satin Fabrics Papers
X-Press It card
printer card
white square card blank, folded to make an easel card
Copic pens
foam pads
Happy Birthday acrylic stamp
black archival ink pad

For this project I created a hybrid card using the coloured image for the tablecloth and adding the tea pot and cups which I then coloured by hand.

The image mat and the inside panal of the card are from the Satin Papers set - silver satin.

The sentiment is from the Floral Tea Set and the greeting is stamped on using black ink.

Having typed this up I realise just what a hybrid this card really is; digital image for the table top, digi stamps for the tea set and traditional stamping for the greeting!

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks #286 - Friendship
As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Fold or Shape (I really like easel cards, mainly because they are easy to fold but also they give you extra viewing space to put a special message that will not be hidden inside the card)
Crafting With An Attitude #12
Crafty Girls Creations #14 
Creative Corner Challenges - Coffee or Tea
Creative Fingers #103
Digi Designs Challenge - Birthday
Simply Papercraft Challenges #23
Craft For The Craic February - Something To Make You Smile (my friend Mel always makes me smile)
Jo's Scrap Shack Fun-Day Friday Challenge #126 - Anything Goes
All-Sorts Challenge #351 - Birthday Wishes
Crafting With Dragonflies #51 - Birthday Card
Scrappers Delights #52 - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart #100
Craft Your Passion #300
Ike's World Challenges #57 - Going In Circles (circular table and saucers! I hope that counts.)

 

Mmmmm, chocolate!

This month's image for the From the Heart Stamp of the Month challenge is a cute snowman with his warming cup of hot cocoa. What more do you need on a cold winter's day - apart from some  snow! Somewhat lacking in my part of the world this year.

Materials used: 
From the Heart stamp set - Snowman and Cocoa
X-Press It card
silver mirri board
X-cut bag die
Trimcraft Silent Night designer card pack
silver mirri card
silver ribbon
Copic pens
glitter

The image on the front of the bag is just matted onto silver card. The little tag uses two images, the snowman from the second image has been fussy cut and attached with gel glue.

Both the snowmen have glitter added to their hats.

Since this is a gift bag I have used it for a gift of hot chocolate and mini marshmallows- yummy!

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my gift bag into the following challenges:
From the Heart Stamp of the Month Challenge - February
Lemon Shortbread Challenge #9 - Anything Goes (now there's thought; Lemon Shortbread and Hot Chocolate!)
A Snowflakes Promise #16 - Anything Goes/Twist of Love (the love comes with the gift inside)
Fan-tastic Tuesday #124 - Anything Goes With A Twist - Cute
Addicted To Stamps And More #181 - Anything Goes
2 Creative Chicks Showcase #7 
A Bit More Time To Craft #14 - Anything Goes
Digistamps 4 Joy  #121 - Anything Goes/Add aTag (I hope the gift tag counts!)
Just Keep On Creating February - Anything Goes
Sisters of Craft February - Anything Goes
Your Scrapbook Place - February
Word Art Wednesday #220 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #265 - Anything Goes
My Crafting Stories #2 - Anything Goes
Craftyhazlenut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Goes
Creative Ladybirds Creations #12 - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps February - Anything But A Card
Inspiration Destination #73 - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon #329 - A Pop of Colour
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Warm Thoughts (Mmmmm Hot Chocolate!)
The Crafty Addicts #9 - Anything Goes/Spots or Stripes (stripey bag)
Sweet Stampin' - Glitter and Sparkle (the snowmen's hats)
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #28 - Anything Goes
Glitter and Sparkle #176- Anything Goes
Brown Sugar Challenge #186 - Anything Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack Fun-Day Friday #126 - Anything Goes
One Stitch At A Time #256 - Anything Goes With 3D
C.R.A.F.T. #351 - Christmas
Craft For The Craic February - Something To Make You Smile (chocolate always makes me smile!)

 

Today's the day!

It's time to announce the winners of the new release competition at Imagine That! Digis by Kris, did you have a go?

For my second sample I used the other house moving set. This time I have used the coloured images.

Materials used: Imagine That! Digis by Kris - On the Moove
printer card
black card
white 15cm square card blank
pearl gems
black Copic pen

I used 6 copies of the image for this card, which is why I opted for the coloured version! I really could not face colouring in 6 images and then chopping 5 of them up! 

[caption id="attachment_3703" align="alignleft" width="300"] showing the layers[/caption]



I wanted the background to match the cow rather than the car which is why I went for black and white, but then I discovered I only had white gems. Alcohol ink markers are fantastic for colouring embellishments so I just coloured the white ones black. Since discovering how well it did work I seldom buy coloured pearls now.

Thanks for visiting. Take care.

Pippa

Sad little elephant

The image for this month's  Freebie Challenge at Dragons Lair Designs is a cute little elephant. He looked a little sad to me so I made him into a 'Missing You' card, although I think he would work equally well as a 'Sorry' card.

Materials used: 
Dragons Lair Designs Digi Stamp (request the image from the Dragons Lair Designs Facebook Page)
X-Press It card
red and black card
white A5 card blank
Copic pens

Rather than print my sentiment separately, this time I composed the whole card as a single layer before printing it out.

I chose to mat it on the red to give a bit of colour to the card. I think it makes the elephant stand out a bit more having the contrast between the bright red and the grey.

The quote from Dr Seus is from one of my favourite books of his, 'Horton Hatches The Egg'. If you have not read it I thoroughly recommend that you do. It will not take long and even though it is a children's book the message behind it is true for eveyone. If you have already read it, or if you do read it as a result of reading this, I would love to know what you thought of it.


Thanks for dropping by. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Dragons Lair Designs Progressive Challenge (Facebook) - February
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #27
A Bit More Time To Craft #14
Love to Scrap Challenge #72
Crafting From The Heart #99
Craft Your Passion #299
Ooh La La Creations #198 - Clean and Simple
Not Just Cards #29

 

P0P #35 Desire Midway Post

Can you believe that February is alread half way through? So too is the current challenge at The Path of Positivity. Half way means that there is still half left to have a go yourself so why not give it a go, there are some great prizes on offer from our two sponsors this month:

• A $10 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.


• A $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art, one of our guest sponsors this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.


• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:

• A small selection of digital designer papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on posts published during the challenge timeframe.


• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

And now for my sample, this time I have used an image from Scribbles Designs and had a go at a shaker card.

Materials used:
Scribbles Designs -  #890 Hearts Mason Jar
Copic X-Press It blending card
red mulberry paper
white A5 card blank
Copic pens
acetate
red seed beads
gold foil hearts
sticky foam pads

Method:
Print out two copies of the image at the same size but alter one so that the hearts are missing., along with the sentiment you want. Colour the hearts and shadow the glass jar with Copics.

Cut the centre out from the second image and attach the frame to a piece of acetate. I used some from old stamp packaging. Cut out both images.

Stick foam pads around the edge of the image with the acetate on making sure there are no gaps. Before sticking this to the base image put in some seed beads, gold hearts and anything you like for the shaker. I also added a couple of the heats from the middle of the jar. Seal the bits in with the top image.

Cover the front of the card blank with red mulberry paper leaving a narrow white border around the edge. Trim the sentiment to size and mat and layer it on red paper and white card. Arrange the sentiment and topper how you like them and attach to the card base.

While making this card I have to confess that my biggest desire was that it should all work and that there were no holes in the foam edge where all the beads could escape! I am fairly sure I have made a shaker card in the past, I just cannot remember doing it! (My next desire is for a working memory!)

The more I think about desire the more 'desire's' pop into my head, some of them are pretty selfless such as; successful opperations for friends having surgery, an end to global conflict, the world sharing the resources we have fairly. However most of my 'desire's' are selfish: more money, less work, greater artistic ability so I can make a fortune from colouring all day, unendless supply of chocolate! I dread to think how many desires have become the focus of sincere, concentrated prayer over the years, even the selfish ones. But when I think about it seriously, I am glad that God gives us what we need rather than what we desire, after all too much chocolate is bad for you! Joking aside there is a Garth Brooks song that says it all. It's called 'Unanswered Prayer' and the line in it that grabbed me the first time I heard it says, 'Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers'.

Thanks for visiting. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Little Red Wagon #328 - Happy Valentine's Day!
Crafting By Designs - Hearts
Crafty Gals Corner #58 - Sweethearts (use a heart)
Mod Squad Challenge - From the Heart
Crafty Creations Challenge #308 - Hearts
Deep Ocean Challenge #122 - Hearts
Inky Chicks #62 - Love (Letters) and/or Hearts
Create and Inspire #39 - Anything Goes
Creative Inspiration #344 - Hugs and Kisses
Word Art Wednesday #219 - Anything Goes
Crafting For All Seasons #119 - Love Is In The Air
Inspiration Destination #72 - Anything Goes
Come And Get It Challenges - Love Is In The Air
613 Avenue Create #163 - Anything Goes/Optional Twist - Create a Shaker Project
That Craft Place Challenge 14th February - Anything Goes
Glitter and Sparkle Challenge #175 - Love Is In The Air
Crafting With An Attitude #12 - Anything Goes
Where The HeART Is #6 - Love

 

New Release at Imagine That! Digis by Kris

Today there are five new sets of wonderful images being released on the Imagine That! Digis by Kris site, and a Giveaway too! You can find all the details on the blog.

In view of the fact that we are in the process of buying a new house and will be moving at some point over the summer, when my husband retires from the ministry, I asked Kris if she was planning any New Home or Moving House sets and she very kindly came up with a couple. I have chosen to go with the House one this time.

Materials used:  
Imagine That! Digis by Kris - House Sold
acrylic New Home stamp from stash
X-Press It blending card
pale green card
black card
silver letter and number stickers
Copic pens
white A5 card blank

I have used two images to make my card, cutting out the front of the second image and using sticky foam pads to mount it over the base image.

I only had silver or gold letter and number stickers and wanted black so I coloured silver stickers with a black Copic pen. The house number is the same as the house we are buying!

I chose to use the pale green colouring for the house shutters, door and frame because it brought to mind one of my favourite Chris de Burgh songs 'Satin Green Shutters'. Even though our new house does not have shutters I am sure that it is where we will put our love and our hearts and make some more special memories through the years, although I think any children will be grandchildren!

Thank you for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Crafting With An Attitude #12 - Anything Goes
Craft For The Craic February - Something To Make You Smile (The thought of moving into our new home makes me smile.)
Crafting With Friends #14 
Creative Fingers #102
Simply Papercraft #23
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - CAS (Although my card is not so clean since His Majesty, Aka Finnegan our cat, walked all over it with his muddy paws and then sat on it and chewed the corner! It's a good job I photographed it before he wrecked it!



 

Floral Birthday Wishes

My first DT sample for Imagine That! Digis by Kris for this month is a lovely bouquet. I chose to put in as many colours as I could to compensate for the grey, miserable weather we have been having lately. Storm Imogen is currently howling around the house and there were local floods over the weekend. Once again large areas of the Somerset Levels are under water, however it is not nearly as bad as two years ago which is something to be thankful for. Some of the newly installed flood defenses have been tested and have held, needless to say there are a lot of relieved engineers and residents!




Materials used:
Imagine That! Digis by Kris set - Bouquet For . . .
Copic X-Press It card
yellow card stock
grey card stock
white A5 card blank
Copic pens


I have altered the little label on the bouquet by changing the greeting on it. I used two images and fussy cut the central group of flowers to  decoupage over the top. I shaped them first and then used glue gel to attach them.

Imagine That! Digis by Kris started a brand new monthly challenge on Saturday, the Creative Playground Challenge. The theme for the first one is 'Show us your heart'. So why not take a look and have a go yourself. You can get all the details by clicking on the banner on the side of the page, that should take you straight there if I have got the link correct!

Thank you visiting. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Crafting With An Attitude #12
Crafty Girls Creations #13
Craft For The Craic - Something To Make You Smile (flowers always make me smile.)
Crafting With Friends #13
Creative Fingers #102
Simply Papercraft #22
Inspiration Destination #71
Craft Your Passion #298
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #263
Sweet Stamps February - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create #162

Birthday Celebrations

I just managed to sneak in with my entry for this month's Art By Mi Ran progressive challenge on Facebook. It does seem to be the story of my life at the moment - going to the wire, usually more by accident than design! Still I did get there in the end!


Materials used:
Art By Miran digi stamp - Birthday Betty (I think it is the reserved listing, but best to check on Facebook Page)
Copic X-Press It blending card
red and black card
Little B handwritten script dies
Copics
glitter gel pens
corner rounder punch
white A5 card blank



I really enjoyed colouring in this one, especially as it gave me the opportunity to get out my glittery gel pens for the first time in ages. A bit of glitter makes all the difference!

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Lemon Shortbread Challenge #8 - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew #105 - Anything Goes
2 Creative Chicks Showcase #7
Just Keep On Crafting - February
Your Scrapbook Place - February
Word Art Wednesday #219 - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination #71 - Anything Goes
Crafting By Designs February - Anything goes
Penny's Challenge 263 - Anything Goes 
Create and  Inspire #38 - Anything Goes

Path of Positivity Challenge - Desire

The first Monday of each month sees the start of a new challenge over at The Path of Positivity. For February the theme is 'Desire'. It's is quite apt in our family at the moment. This summer is going to be an exciting and possibly challenging time of us. My husband will be retiring from parish ministry and so we will be moving out of the Vicarage. We recently sold our house and have just put in an offer on another a little bit further away from the parishes we are working in. One of the stipulations of the Church of England is that you cannot retire to your parish. So, naturally we will also be moving house at some point. Also at the end of August our youngest is getting married.

All these life events involve desire; my daughter desires her fiance and I expect also a good wedding day. My husband and I desire a house to turn into a home. My husband desires to retire. As for me, I desire that everything goes smoothly!

In view of possibly the most exciting of all these events, the wedding, I chose to go with that theme for my card.

Materials used:
Ikes Art - With This Ring
stamping card
printer card
white A5 card blank
blue card
frame die
congrats die
Copic pens
siver glitter pen
snippets of blue and centura pearl card

Method:
Print out three copies of the image and colour with Copic pens, adding some silver spots to the lady's sleeve with the glitter pen. Cut the hands from one of the images and just the lady's sleeve from one. Layer them up using a temporary glue and cut all three layers with the frame die. Take the layers apart and then layer them up again using gel glue to add dimension.

Make up a sheet of backing paper using words from the wedding vows and printing it out in grey on white printer card. Matt onto blue card then attach to the card blank.

Die cut 'congrats' in blue and centura pearl card and stick together slightly off set. Stick the topper and the sentiment to the card front.

I went with the blue colouring because my daughter is going with blue for her bridesmaids and it is as good a colour as any!

I really enjoy the Path of Positivity Challenge, it does require a bit of thought as you have to say in what way your creation links to the theme. It does not need to be a whole essay, just a line in the link up is fine. There are two great sponsors this time and some great prizes:

• A $10 gift certificate from Scribbles Designs, one of our guest sponsors this month, for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.


• A $15 gift certificate from Ike's Art, one of our guest sponsors this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.


• One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

There will also be:

• A small selection of digital designer papers from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky person who leaves a comment on posts published during the challenge timeframe.


• One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge.

So come on over and join us - please, a wam welcome awaits  you.

Thanks for dropping by. Take care.

Pippa

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Crafty Girls Corner #56 - Anything Goes
Penny's Crafty Challenge-Blog #262 - Celebrations
Create and Inspire #38 - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #13 - Anything Goes
2 Creative Chicks #7 - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations #13 - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #348 - Love/Valentines/Anniversary
Simply Create Too Challenge #101 - Something New (I used a new image and a new die)
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #26 - Anything Goes
Inspiration Destination #70 - Anything Goes
Melonheadz Friends - Love
Just Keep On Crafting  February - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards # 29
Sisters of Craft February - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion #297
Crafting From the Heart #97
That Craft Place - Anything Goes
Creatalicious Challenge #84 - Love is in the Air