Just Because

Hello everyone on an absolutely gorgeous sunny Spring day on which I managed to go out without my coat for the first time this year. I actually saw people in shorts and vest tops - totally mad as it wasn't quite that warm!
I have a card here that I made with bits and pieces of the decorated paper from a class I taught on Monday when we made very easy to do stamped mix and match papers with pastel cardstock and Distress inks.
The card uses the inspirational sketch for this week's Papercraft Star which I had to have a go at as it's so lovely.

The background papers I made use a flourish stamp from the Viva Decor My Paper World Floral Embellishments clear stamp set which is never put away at the moment as I'm forever using it. The papers mix and match really well because I used the same stamp and then stamped on the card in an ink only a shade or two darker then the card.
I used Scattered Straw Distress ink on the cream card, Shabby Shutters on the green, Victorian Velvet on the pink and Scattered Straw also on the lemon card. As you can see, the same ink looks quite different on the cream and lemon card.
I stamped the chrysanthemum by Circa Design with VersaFine Smokey Gray ink, coloured it with pencils and cut it out. I added it to a heart shape I hand cut out then embossed with the Craft Concepts Gem Flourish folder and then added a few pink pearls.
I assembled the card as you see with a sentiment from the Polka Doodles Sensational Sentiments stamp set, a pale green panel embossed with the gem folder and white card punched with a Martha Stewart double edge punch.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:
Papercraft Star Challenge 38  - Sketch
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes
For Fun Challenges - Flowers and a Sentiment

Thanks for looking,
Fliss xx

Walkies Card

Hello everyone, hope you're having a good weekend so far and the weather isn't too bad. It's just windy here at the moment after yesterday's horrible rain and I got totally soaked when I popped out to do a bit of food shopping - so wet I had to change clothes when I got home as my jeans were dripping wet half way up the legs!
I've managed to finish a card for a few challenges using a sweet image as bought last year and had yet to use. Partly as it's more cute than I normally go for but something about it appealed to me. I've used the colours from this week's Play Date Cafe challenge:

I've combined the colours with the lovely sketch from Papercraft Star:

 

I've moved the sketch around just a little so that my image is facing onto the card:

The stamp I've used is by Penny Johnson for Stamp A Vie and I stamped the girl and her little dog in VersaFine Smokey Gray ink. I then coloured the image with Prisma pencils, blending with Zest It and I found a great tutorial by Chris Dark for The Craft Barn on colouring with pigment pencils really helpful. I need a lot more practice before my colouring is as good as Chris's and you can find the downloadable PDF here.
I made the card up using papers from the Die Cuts With A View Linen Closet collection which I really love as the colours are so soft and pretty. The blue scalloped border was embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and I added a further scallop punched with a Martha Stewart deep edge punch.
I finished off with some lace and a flower made from some vintage French bias binding that I found in a flea market in Brighton a while back - the centre is an altered Prima flower with a vintage button.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:
The Play Date Cafe Challenge 64 colours
Papercraft Star Sketch Challenge 28
Lets Ink It Up Challenge 8 - Anything Goes
The Craft Barn Colouring Challenge
Thanks for looking!

Floral Tributes

Hell everyone and hope you're all having a good weekend so far. I managed to get some crafting done due to yesterday's rather nasty weather and have a couple of cards here for some challenges.
The first one is inspired by the lovely photo of this week's Papercraft Star challenge:

I've used one of my favourite digital stamps, this gorgeous hydrangea by Teri of Delicious Doodles and coloured it with Prisma pencils which I then blended a little.
I've used the beautiful Linen Closet papers by DCWV which I couldn't resist because of the gorgeous blues and beiges. I embossed the mat for the flower with the Cuttlebug textile folder and die cut a further mat using a scallop Nestabilities die. I finished off with cream crochet lace, pearls and a touch of glitter. The greeting is by Butterfly Kisses and part coloured with Promarkers.

Challenge - Stamp Something - Something Digital for November Digi Day

My next card was inspired by Remembrance Day and the photo inspiration from Stampin' Royalty:

The poppy stamp I've used here is from the Papermania Build A Poppy set and was stamped in black Mamento ink and coloured with Barn Door, Fired Brick and Vintage Photo Distress inks. It was assembled with a copper brad to fix the sections.
I made a circle easel card and added papers from the Papermania Sunshine Capsule collection as I wanted a warm effect for my card mostly inspired by my dear late Aunt who wore a beautiful bright red coat to my Grandmother's funeral as my Gran didn't like black and my Aunt said that her mother loved her in that coat. This has always stayed in my memories and I think it's much nicer to remember loved ones with sunshine and colour.
To finish my card, I added a butterfly sticker, a flower shaped brad and some pearl trim.

Challenges - Stampin' Royalty - Lest We Forget
                   - Daring Cardmakers - A Time to Remember

Hoping that you all enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Christmas Already

Good afternoon all, I've another card to share with you today which I've made for my first ever entry to Papercraft Star which is challenge 16 and a sketch by Beth Moore as below:

As I'm trying to get ahead on my Christmas cards this year rather than as usual start panicking at the beginning of December, I decided to make one to add to my collection.

I couldn't resist using this really cute Penny Black stamp called Let's Play and stamped it on ecru card with VersaFine Toffee ink. I added a mat of gold textured card.
I then followed the sketch design with some coordinating papers from the Papermania Classic Christmas collection and inked all the edges with VersaColor Evergreen ink before sticking them to the card blank.
I assembled the card with some homespun wired cross stitch border fabric and some gorgeous reindeer ribbon. The greeting is by Stamp-It and was stamped Memento Bamboo Leaves.
Thanks for looking.