Birthday Ages

Good morning all on a rather hot and sunny Friday morning, the summer has certainly returned this last few days and I put my woollies away again.
We have a new challenge for you over at Polka Doodles chosen this time by Colette and she would like to see cards with an Age on. My younger daughter and all her friends will soon be turning 21 so I decided to get a head start on the cards.

I've gone for pretty pastels using a yellow stitched style paper from the Double Sprinkle Of Kraft CD with a border of pretty pink paper which was a leftover scrap from the Sundae Of Seasons CD.
I printed out the numbers (Double Sprinkle CD) on very smooth card, cut out into a circle and clear embossed it before the ink dried. I put this on a contrast scalloped mat.
I finished off with a lovely sentiment from the Double Sprinkles CD and a little stamped butterfly (Hobby Art) coloured with Promarkers.
Make sure you pop over to the challenge blog for some fabulous inspiration from the Design Team and hope to see you there.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Flutterby Wednesdays - Anything Goes (with butterfly, fairy or angel)
Anything Goes Challenge -  Anything Goes

Have a lovely day and a great weekend,
Fliss xx

A Contemplative Mood

Hello all and hope you've had a good start to the week. I wasn't actually going to do a post today but I came cross something (whilst looking for something else of course!) that I haven't yet put on here so I decided that today's the day to share it with you.
This is largely because I've been making samples with Nikky's gorgeous new mini CD, Pretty Sweet, which will be on Create and Craft on Friday and I'm now in a mood for making really pretty things so this is the perfect time to show you this little piece of artwork.

This started life as one of the chipboard pages from a Papermania bare elements chipboard album and I find these really useful for making little wall hanging pieces of artwork. They come in several different shapes with the holes already in them. I painted my scallop shaped piece with aqua acrylic paint and then stamped on flourishes from the Viva Decor My Paper World Floral Embellishments clear set (available from The Craft Barn) with Distress embossing ink and embossed with clear powder. I then painted over the top with the same colour for a subtle textured effect.
The paper I used is Papermania Rose Garden and I inked the edges of a square with pink ink and then added a double border of paper scraps. I double mounted the gorgeous lady from the Dezinaworld Spring Ladies collage sheet on contrasting card and added her together with some pink pearls.
To finish, I added a layered paper and fabric flower and knotted pink ribbon through the top.

I'd like to enter my wall art in the following challenges:
Stamp With Fun - Sketch

Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration

Creative Stamp Friends - Anything But A Card
My Craft Spot - Ribbon

Before I go, I'd like to welcome Rebekah to my blog. Lovely to see you and hope to get to know you soon.
Fliss xx

Steampunk Garden

As promised, I'm back and this is where you might need your sunglasses as my artwork will surely brighten up a dull day!
Today we have the final Steampunk Challenge for you over at Make My Monday and this week we would like to see Anything But A Card with a Steampunk Theme.
My creation started life as a piece of cardboard packaging which I decided to recycle and when I painted it with several shades of olive green the underlying corrugated cardboard bobbled up and came through to give a rather interesting (or at least I thought so!) textured effect.
I then went a little mad and OTT with my collection of Artistic Stamper steampunk stamps - this is the bit where you need the sunglasses as here it is! Also if you click on the pic to enlarge it, it's not quite such a shock - honest lol

I stamped the flowers with black, crimson red and habanero VersaFine inks and embossed them with clear powder. I then sponged them with Distress Inks in Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Fired Brick, Victorian Velvet and Worn Lipstick.
I stamped the leaves with black, spanish moss and olympia green VersaFine inks and again embossed with clear powder. I then sponged these with Crushed Olive and Peeled Paint.
I cut them all out (a bit of a labour of love here as it took ages lol) and glued the flowers to some glitzy copper wire. I then added these to my painted background as you see.
I then stamped the glamorous lady (Time To Stamp), coloured her with Promarkers and stamped the plain butterfly, also coloured with a Promarker to turn her into a fairy.
I added the cute little steampunk snail (so sweet with his top hat) coloured with Vintage Photo DI as a finishing touch.

I'm entering my little piece of artwork in the following challenges:
Crafty Emma's Challenge - Recycle
Mark's Finest Papers - Things With Wings
Hanna & Friends - Anything Goes
Little Miss Muffet - Things With Wings
The Sunday Stamper - Simply Irresistable

Thanks for looking and once again, have a great week.
Fliss xx

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 7 - Guest Designer

Good morning everyone on a rather dull and dark Monday, it looks like rain will be here soon but I do have a post a bit later that might cause you to bring out the sunglasses! Not this one though.
I'm here now with my last card for Fetch A Sketch as I've come to the last post as September's Guest Designer. I would like to thank Ruth and Jenny for having me as I've so enjoyed doing the challenges - I find sketches really help if you're a bit stuck for ideas and sometimes do this myself to start off the creative process.
The sponsor for this challenge is our lovely Nikky of Polka Doodles and there's a fabulous prize for the winner so do pop over for a peek.
Here's my card and there's a reminder of the sketch underneath.

My card features papers and a cute image from the brand new Polka Doodles mini CD, Pretty Sweet. The papers and elements on there are just that with yummy colours and designs with a vintage, shabby chic edge.
To add a little extra texture I printed out the pink and white paper on linen card and it really does give it a fabric like feel. I added this to a scalloped card blank as I decided to go for all over pretty!
I added the image to a plain mat of Bazzill card cut with a Papermania large rectangular scalloped die. I then added a border of pretty patchwork paper trimmed with pinking shears and made the bunting from the same paper by marking out the measurements on the white reverse and cutting it out with scissors.
I finished off with a pretty greeting from the CD and a lilac gingham bow.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:
Aly's Sunday Challenge - Bows
Corrosive Challenges - Punches And/Or Dies
Paper Sundaes - Anything Goes
Our Craft Lounge - Patterned Papers

Have a good week.
Fliss xx

Vintage

Hello everyone, it's time for a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and you certainly rocked the last one with all the gorgeous tags on display.
The theme for this fortnight is Vintage which I absolutely adore and I'm sure a lot of you do too so there are sure to be a lot of entries this time. You can make whatever you like but please remember that it must include some stamping.
I've made an 8 x 8 card as the image as chose to use and which I've had for a while is quite large and I wanted to do some stamped papers to go behind it.

I really love this collage style image which is Paper Artsy Wings Plate 5 and I've had this in my collection for a number of years. I stamped it with VersaFine Imperial Purple and then inked it with VersaColor cubes in Old Rose, Cinnamon, Topaz and Lilac. I added colour to the adorable little angels wings with an aqua pencil and then painted on a touch of Stickles.
I set the panel on a mount stamped around the edges with a tiny Anna Griffin stamp that I've also had for years (the code is 580C02). I embossed with gold detail powder and sponged on burgundy ink.
I made a background paper with parchment paper sponged with Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet Distress inks, stamping on the large flourish corner from the Viva Decor My Paper World Big Corner Elements clear stamp set with the Victorian Velvet.
I tore a piece of dusty pink handmade paper with deep pink flecks and attached this to an 8 x 8 kraft card blank. I added the pink flourish panel and then some cream crochet lace. I added the image panel and then some pink pearls.
I finished off with a layered flower - the larger one was altered with the Old Rose and Topaz inks and the centre is a German Gold Scrap flower from Paper Artsy.

I also urge you to visit the challenge blog as the creations by the Design Team are totally stunning and you couldn't wish for better inspiration to spark your creativity.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Fairy Fun Fridays - Pink and Distressed
Raise The Bar - Things With Wings
Sugar Creek Hollow - Vintage Children
Emerald Faerie Garden - Pearls
Wags 'n' Whiskers - Lace
Deep Ocean Challenge - Lace

Thanks for looking and Happy Sunday,
Fliss xx

Less Is More Take Five

Well, I'm back again with what will be my last entry for the Less Is More Anything Goes 1000 entry challenge as my younger daughter is off back to uni tomorrow and I have loads to do on the washing, helping with packing etc front.
Thanks to Chrissie and Mandi for this challenge too and for commenting on all the entries which must take an age. Good luck with your goal ladies and hope you get there.

The image here is also by La Blanche as I really lovely their pretty stamps. I stamped in black and coloured with my Prisma pencils again. I then stamped the circular greeting by Inkadinkado in black and coloured this with Tumbled Glass and Worn Lipstick Distress inks. I have to say that I really like these pretty scalloped card blanks by Papermania as they add a lovely detail to clean and simple cards.

The cards I made for this challenge will all be going off to a local charity shop in memory of a lovely crafting friend that I lost just over a year ago. She spent a lot of time making cards for the local hospice and is very much missed.

Fliss xx

Distress It

Good morning everyone on a rather cold but very sunny Friday. I don't know where the last week went but it's time once again for a new challenge over at Polka Doodles and this week Emma has chosen the theme of Distress It so you can do some ripping, sanding, scrunching and so on to add a bit of shabbiness to your creation.
I really loved this challenge and have made something a little different:

I used the gorgeous bird cage from the Paper Boutique Vol 3 CD and distressed it up somewhat! I printed out the black and white digital stamp twice then distressed one with Tarnished Gold embossing powder (Ranger Antiquities). I then coloured elements of the second one with Promarkers, cut out the horizontal bar sections and added them to the cage with the inner spaces cut out.
I then die cut some branches with a Sissix set and coloured these with Distress inks in Crushed Olive, Spiced Marmalade and Rusty Hinge for an Autumn feel. I die cut the bird from the Tim Holtz Sissix set and coloured this with DIs using Rusty Hinge, Vintage photo and Barn Door for the wing.
I punched some flowers, coloured these with Promarkers and layered them up. I added all the elements to a kraft card covered with torn edged paper from the CD as it has a lovely shabby look which was perfect for my card.
I finished off with some butterflies punched from the inky scrap paper resulting from colouring the branches as it looked too good to waste!

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:
CCEE Stampers - Add A Bird
Paper Play - Autumn Leaves
Crafting For All Seasons - Fall Colours

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the DT inspiration as there are some fabulous ideas there.
Have a great weekend.
Fliss xx

Less Is More Take Four

And another one! There will be more tomorrow too as I'm on a roll at the moment and can't seem to stop!
I'll wish good luck here to the lovely ladies of Less Is More too and hope they reach the target.

A really simple one here with the lovely dahlia stamp by Circa Design which was stamped in black, coloured with Prisma pencils and then inked with VersaColor Bisque. The sentiment by Hobby Art was stamped with VersaFine Spanish Moss.

Fliss xx

Less Is More Take Three

Here's the next one folks for the Less Is More 1000 entry challenge and I'm really enjoying my colouring at the moment so this one has more of that:

The cute stamp here is called Big Hat and is again by La Blanche who have some really gorgeous vintage images at the moment. She was stamped with Vintage Sepia VersaFine ink and coloured with Prisma pencils. The sentiment is an old one by Anita's that I've had for ages and is also stamped with the sepia ink.

Fliss xx

Less Is More Take Two

I'm back again with the second one for Less Is More and things were getting easier so here it is:

The stamp here is Among The Daisies by La Blanche and was stamped in VersaFine Olympia Green and coloured with Prisma pencils and VersaColor Split Pea ink. The little butterflies are Hobby Art and the Hero Arts sentiment was stamped with the same dark green ink.

More to follow shortly as my hubby is calling me down to watch TV!
Fliss xx

Less Is More Take One

Hello everyone, after seeing all the blog entries of the last few days about the Less Is More 1000 entry challenge I decided to join in with the fun. This is a real challenge for me as I find doing less very difficult!
Here's the first of several I managed to come up with:

This uses the Technique Tuesday Pocket Full O' Posies clear stamp set. I stamped the big bloom and some leaves in black and then coloured the flower with Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold and Worn Lipstick Distress inks and the leaves with Crushed Olive.
I streaked the card with Scattered Straw, Crushed olive and Spun Sugar DIs and stamped on the sentiment by Hobby Art with VersaFine Spanish Moss.

More to follow!
Fliss xx

A Decorative Mood

Morning everyone, I won't say it's a good one today as it's dark, miserable and grey - not to mention rather cold! I have something quite bright to show you that might cheer up a dull day though.
It's my turn to do the Mid Week Motivation for the Steampunk with Metal Challenge over at Make My Monday this week and I've done a tutorial on how to get a fabulous metal look on your creations without breaking the bank! So of you pop on over, you'll see how I made the dress form on my tag below:

The details of the dress form are on the tutorial and the rest of the supplies used to make the tag and the wings are as follows:
Wings - The Artistic Stamper Steampunk Butterflies
Background Stamps - Grungy Numbers from Paper Artsy Gentlemen Plate 4
Text from Paper Artsy Wrought Iron 3 USW13
Embossing Folder - Mini Steampunk from Tim Holtz Texture Trades Artful Muse set
Additional Inks - Stormy Sky and Dusty Concord Distress Inks, Black VersaFine Ink
Clear Embossing Powder
Drill Ribbon (altered with the StazOn inks)

I'm entering my tag in the Simon Says Stamp challenge - Dies To Die For (Tim Holtz Sewing Room)

No crafting for me today as when this pops up I shall be in the middle of preparing a VAT return!
I would like to say hello and welcome to Jane before I go - thanks so much for joining my followers.
Fliss xx

Up Up And Away

Hello and welcome to this week's challenge at Make My Monday. We're continuing with the September theme of Steampunk chosen by Cath and this week the added extra is to use some Metal on your creation.
Although I do have a few metal embellishments, I don't have any metal sheet in my stash so I decided to improvise and here's the result:

My collage started off as a frame mount which I stamped all over in black with the Artistic Stamper cogs stamp. I then inked over the top with Wild Honey, Vintage Photo and Spiced Marmalade Distress inks and I have to admit I added a little too much of the orange - my only excuse for this is that I was shouting at the TV in annoyance at the time as I was watching the X Factor auditions!!!
I then embossed a piece of aluminium foil backed with card with the Cuttlebug clockworks folder and coloured this with Olive Green, Midnight Blue, Timber Brown and Jet Black StazOn inks.
The glamorous lady is by The Graphics Fairy and her fabulous top hat is from the Steampunk 3 Collage Set by the lovely June of Dezinaworld. I cut these out, rounded them out with a large embossing ball tool and added them with foam tape.
The gorgeous hot air balloon that you see here started off as a fabulous pencil drawing by my daughter Sarah (studying a Fashion degree) which she drew to make a bookmark and matching card for her Dad for Fathers Day. I altered the size a little to fit my collage then added colour with Distress inks, cut it out and embossed it with clear powder to add some definition.
The finishing touch is a Dymo text label.

I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for this challenge as the entries for the monochrome challenge were just fabulous. For inspiration, look no further than the challenge blog as the other DT ladies have come up with some stunning creations!

I'm entering my collage in the following challenges:
Creatalicious - Anything Goes
Papercraft Star - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Song or Film Title Inspired (Up Up and Away)
Gingerloft - Vintage or Distressed
Quirky Crafts - Anything But A Card
Scrappy Frogs - Vintage
Linking to The Graphics Fairy Brag Monday too.

I'll be back on Wednesday with a tutorial for Make My Monday for the current theme of metal.
See you then!
Fliss xx

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 7 - Guest Designer

Good morning everyone on a very chilly Monday. Hope you all had a lovely weekend too and are rested and ready for the week ahead. I'm teaching a class this morning and hopefully by the time this pops up I should be a great deal more ready for it than I was when I drafted this post!
This is my second and last challenge as guest designer for Ruth and Jenny of Fetch A Sketch and the sponsor for this one is our lovely Nikky of Polka Doodles. There's a really great sketch this time perfect for celebration or Christmas so without further ado, here it is:

As you can see. I chose to make a Christmas card and used digital stamps, embellishments and papers from the Magical Winter CD set which has loads of elements for Winter themed cards and of course, Christmas!
I covered a kraft card blank with the blue dotty paper and then added a torn strip with a dotty ribbon and bow.
I printed out the jolly snowman and the Merry Christmas bunting and coloured these with Promarkers. I made the scarf look woolly by colouring all over with a pale blue marker then adding dotted stripes with 2 darker shades of blue and 2 greens. I hope you like the effect.
I cut these out and assembled the card as you see. Simples!

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see all the gorgeous samples and details of the challenge prize which is sure to be fabulous!

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:
The Squirrel And The Fox - Anything Goes
Jingle Belles - Christmas including a digi
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
Paper Creations Ink - Buttons Or Bows

Thanks for looking and have a good week,
Fliss xx

Whiteout!

Morning everyone and no, it's not snowing! It's just the theme for this week's challenge at Polka Doodles chosen by Enfys. It actually looks more like rain here this morning as it's sunny at the moment but there was a very red sky earlier and the old saying about the shepherd's warning springs to mind.

Before I go on to the challenge, I'd like to welcome Joan, Debbie-Anne and Jane to my blog - lovely to see you here ladies.

This week's theme is Whiteout and Enfys would like to see your all white creations although black outlines for stamped images are allowed. I have to say I was a bit stumped by this one as I do love my colour and although Christmas did pop into my head for a moment, I decided against that and made a romantic vintage style card with loads of texture instead.

I actually photographed the card against a pink background as my usual white one made it disappear! You may also need to click on the pic to see the card properly as a white blog background dosen't help either!
As you can see, I've used embossing folders to add texture and made 2 panels, trimming the dotty one with scallop scissors to add detail. I die cut a white glitter scalloped circle with a Nestabilities die and some letters to spell love from the same card from an old Quickutz set.
My frilly flower is made from some of the black and white flowers from the All Around & Everywhere CD and I cut them out inside the black lines. I scrunched them up and then layered them up to make the flower, adding a vintage pearly button centre. The finishing touch is some lovely crunchy white crochet lace.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:
Deep Ocean Challenge - Lace
Everybody Art - Flowers
4 Crafty Chicks - Embossing

This is also now linked up to the lovely Cindy Adkins Shabby Chic Girls Club - click HERE for details.  Well worth a look if you love shabby chic and vintage.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend,
Fliss xx
PS: Do check out the Polka Doodles website as there's a brand new mini CD on the block and it's adorable! I got my hands on it yesterday and the papers on there are to die for, plus there are loads of really cute images too.

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 6 - Decoupage Fairy

I'm back with another post as today is the mid way in the Sketch 6 challenge over at Fetch A Sketch and you have nearly a week still to get your entries in.
Here's a reminder of the sketch:

Here's my card with uses Claire of Jellypark's cute decoupage fairy:

 

I printed out the fairy and cut out all the elements then layered them up with foam tape. I rubbed the back of the wings with a large embossing ball tool to give them a bit of shape then added the fairy to a circle of white card embossed with the Cuttlebug Paisley folder.

I chose a favourite paper, Basic Grey Lemonade and covered my card blank with a piece of floral paper having first rounded the corners. I added a layered central bar also with rounded corners. I finished off with a sentiment from Inkadinkado stamped on some of the patterned paper and cut out and some Prima flowers - I altered the colours to match with Promarkers - with button centres.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge - P Is For Pretty Pastels

Totally Papercrafts - Cute With Buttons

Flutterby Wednesday - Anything Goes

My Mum's Craft Shop - Layer It Up

Thanks for looking,

Fliss xx

Monochrome Steampunk Collage

Hello everyone on a very wild, windy and wet Monday, I think the hurricane leftovers have now reached Sussex so I don't think I'll be going far today!
Being Monday, we have a new challenge for you over at Make My Monday. Continuing with the September theme of Steampunk, this week we would like you to create a Monochrome project which I think suits steampunk very well.
I'm definitely addicted to this type of artwork now so expect lots more over the next few weeks! The piece I made for this challenge is a favourite with my hubby who loves the airship in particular. I shall be raiding his books soon as he has quite a lot with vintage engineering diagrams.
Here's my effort:

You may need to click on the pic to see the full detail as I couldn't fit a very large photo on without cropping part of the collage.
Ingredients Used:
Airship - Creative Expressions
Buildings - Crafty Individuals
Cogs and Gears - The Artistic Stamper
Elaborate Clock - B Line Designs
Victorian Gentleman - The Graphics Fairy
Pocket Watch - Vintage Feedsacks
Inks - VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Distress Inks in Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap, VersaColor Umber, Sand Beige
Promarkers in brown shades

Using the Vintage Sepia ink, I stamped a row of the buildings on white card and then stamped the airship at the top left. I coloured the images with a mix of Distress inks and VersaColor inks then added detail with Promarkers. I stamped the cogs and gears at the top right corner, stamping with the Vintage Sepia ink, stamping a second time without re-inking the stamp.
I stamped the B Line Designs Time stamp with the sepia ink, coloured with inks, cut this out and fixed in the top right corner before trimming the excess.
I printed out the gentleman and pocket watch images having first altered the colours a little in Photoshop to give them a sepia tone. I coloured them with Distress inks and cut them out.
I added some detail to the sky by cutting a cloud style paper template with 2 sizes of scallop scissors  and sponged on some clouds with the Sand Beige ink.
I finished off as you see, adding a little propeller to the gentleman's hat made by stamping part of the airship and cutting it out.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making this and I'll also enjoy looking at your creations. Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the other DT samples as they're fabulous.

I'm entering my collage in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp And Show Some Steampunk (How about that for timing!)
The Stamp Man - Monchrome
Just For Fun - Timeless Vintage
Paper Play - Use 2 Or More Stamped Images

I'd also like to say hello and welcome to Julia and all the new ladies from the Fashionable Stamping Challenges who have all joined my blog.
Have a great week.
Fliss xx

Make A Tag With Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Hello everyone, it's time for the 4th challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges but before I give you the details for this, I just want to say that everyone who was affected by the catastrophic act of terrorism on 9/11 is in my thoughts today. I know that I will remember the complete horror I felt on the day for the rest of my life and it's obviously unimaginable for those people who lost loved ones on the day.
Our new challenge runs for the next fortnight and this one has the theme of Make A Tag which gives plenty of scope for creativity, just please remember that your entry must include some stamping as that's what the challenge blog is all about - we're called Fashionable Stamping Challenges after all!
The Design Team have created some fabulous and incredibly varied inspiration for you and I hope you like mine:

The background for my tag was made using a technique I was taught several years ago by textile artist Kim Thittichai who makes the most amazing artwork. This involves painted bondaweb which is ironed on to a painted or inked background.
I inked my tag with Distress inks in Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade and Victorian Velvet Distress inks then ironed on a piece of bondaweb painted with Lumiere paints. I then ironed on some mica chips and Beadazzles and melted on some Cosmic Shimmer and Blonde Moments embossing powders.
I stamped the Magenta flower several times with Memento black ink and coloured with various purple Promarkers. I then decoupaged the flower, cutting out various sections for a 3D effect.
I stamped the B Line Designs butterfly with the black ink, coloured with turquoise Promarkers and cut it out.
I assembled the tag as you see adding altered leaves from an old floral arrangement and twisted ribbon through the top.

The winners from the last challenge will be announced in a few days and it's going to be difficult as we have loads of gorgeous entries - the theme was obviously popular! I'm hoping this one will be too.

I'm entering my tag in the following challenges:
Craft Your Days Away - Make Your Own Flowers
The Rubber Cafe - No Designer Paper
Crafty Creations - Anything But A Square
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Incy Wincy - Make Your Own Flowers

Thanks for looking,
Fliss xx

Setting The Scene With Polka Doodles

Good morning everyone, I'm writing this post at 7am in the hope that it pops up at 9.00 when I shall be at the hairdressers which this time I'm not looking forward too as my hairdresser left last week and I have someone new. My hair isn't the easiest to cut so I'm hoping the new one can cope with it!
We have a new challenge for you over at Polka Doodles which has been chosen this week by Lou and she would like to see your creations with the theme of Setting The Scene. This is something I've been doing more of so watch this space for something really different on Monday!
Her's my card for this challenge which is a tent shaped card:

All the elements on the card are from the Magical Winter CD set and I printed out the backing paper on sturdy card and used this to make the tent shape. I used the Santa's workshop cabin at the back of the aperture in the card to set my scene.
I then simply added Santa, Rudolph, some presents and a greeting on the sides of the card and my scene was set - how easy is that! The only tricky bit was making sure that the pleated base section didn't show to spoil the scene.

The DT have made some fabulous examples to inspire you and really varied too so do pop over to the challenge blog for a peek - you will love what they've made.

I'm entering my card in the following challenge:
Scrapbook Sisters - Ho Ho Ho

Have a great weekend.
Fliss xx

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 6 - Guest Designer

Surprise! I'm back again with another post as I'm really excited to be able to tell you that Ruth and Jenny over at the Fetch A Sketch challenge blog asked me to be Guest Designer for September. Thanks for the honour ladies and I can't tell you how much this means to me.
Here's the great sketch:

This fortnight's challenge is being sponsored by Jellypark so do hop over to the challenge blog for all the details. Here's my card using one of the gorgeous digital images available at Jellypark.

I printed out the cute girl and coloured her with Promarkers. I then cut the image out with a circle cutter and left one elbow and a foot peeping out over the edge. I inked the edges with VersaColor Split Pea ink. I then added a red paper mat die cut with a Nestie scalloped circle.
The background paper is Picnic in the Park by Serif and came free with a magazine a while back. I stamped the flower trio by Rhonna Farrer for Autumn Leaves several times across the base of the gingham paper and coloured them with Prisma pencils.
I added a pretty strawberry border and some tiny punched butterflies coloured with Promarkers to finish off.
The challenge lasts for the next 2 weeks so there's plenty of time to enter. Hope to see you there!

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:
Our Creative Corner - Stamping Onto Patterned Paper (I couldn't believe it when I saw this one!)
Clearly Inspired - CIC35 Patterned Paper
Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking.
Fliss xx

Steampunk ATCs

Good morning everyone, another week is here already and I hope you all had a good weekend whatever the weather threw at you - very hit and miss in Sussex with both rain and sunshine.
We have a new theme for you over at Make My Monday and this month it's Cath's turn to choose and the theme is Steampunk. Each week there is a new theme under this heading and this week we would like to see some ATCs - being small this will hopefully start you off gently.
I was both excited and apprehensive when I saw this theme as it's a style I very much admire but I had yet to take the plunge and create something. My craft space is currently covered with cogs, gears and all things machine like, much to my hubby's delight - he's been very enthusiastic about my creations which is a first!
As I couldn't quite decide what to do, I ended up with 3 little pieces of art which I hope you like:

 

Ingredients Used:
Glamorous Lady - Time To Stamp, Buildings - Crafty Individuals, Globe - The Graphics Fairy, Gears - Cuttlebug Clockworks, Ink - Wild Honey, Vintage Photo and Frayed Burlap Distress inks, Promarkers

Ingredients Used:
Weather Forecast stamp - Paper Artsy, Flying Boat - The Graphics Fairy, Ink - Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky and Vintage Photo Distress inks, Martha Stewart border punch

Ingredients Used:
Balloon - Dezinaworld, Airman and Globe - The Graphics Fairy, Cuttlebug Clockworks folder, Ink - Wild Honey and Vintage Photo Distress inks, Promarkers

I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with and do pop over to the challenge blog as the Design Team have a lot of gorgeous inspiration for you.

I'm entering my creations in the Paper Creations Ink Challenge - Vintage or Distressed Look.

Have a good week,
Fliss xx

Autumn Colours

Good morning everyone, Friday is here again so there's a new challenge over at Polka Doodles and this week's theme chosen by Miria is Autumn Leaves and she would like to see your creations inspired by Autumn colours.
I just loved this one as I'm sure you know how much I love the colours of the trees in their Autumn coats so here's what I came up with.

I've used a cute image from the A Double Sprinkle Of Kraft CD, printed her out on off white card and coloured her with Promarkers. I then used Zig Art & Graphic Twin Markers to add some grass blades around the wall.
I cut the image out with an oval cutter and added an olive green mat. The background paper I used is from the Sundae Of Seasons CD as are the acorns which I coloured with Promarkers and cut out. I finished off with a sentiment from the Sensational Sentiments stamp set which was stamped in black. I coloured the stamped card with a Promarker to make it blend in with the rest of the card.

The Design Team have come up with some fabulous creations so don't forget to pop over for some inspiration. Hope to see you there!

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Passion For Promarkers - Anything Goes

Have a lovely weekend,
Fliss xx

Published!!!

Hello everyone and hope you're all having a good week so far. I'm somewhat excited here as I can finally share some very good news with you all.
A little while back I received a mega exciting email from the lovely Nikky Hall of Polka Doodles asking me to take part in making up projects with a gorgeous Christmas kit that she designed for Practical Publishing. The kit consists of papers, stickers, die cuts, a clear stamp set, a gorgeous gingerbread house template and some lovely embellishments. It comes with a magazine jam packed with projects to make with the kit with complete instructions and photos all designed by Nikky, myself and 7 fellow Design Team members.
You will not believe  the number of different things you can make and there are 83 projects in the magazine!!! You can buy it in W H Smith (I saw it in ours today - yippee!!!), Hobby Craft and various other craft outlets.
Here's what to look for:

I'm really pleased to say that my shaped easel card made the front cover and you can see it at the top on the left hand side (many thanks go to Diane Grimshaw for this lovely surprise).
Here are some sneak peeks - more to follow next week!

My article has a homespun theme and all the cards and the gift bag have hessian, raffia and twine etc incorporated on them.

Thanks for looking,
Fliss xx