Lucky - A State Of Mind

Hello there, I hope you all had a lovely weekend with some sunshine as we did down here in the South - it was really lovely although I didn't see that much of it as we had loads of family stuff going on.
I did manage a bit of crafting though for my inspiration for the new challenge at Make My Monday which has the theme of Lucky this week. I struggled with this a bit until I realised that one of the Handwritten Thoughts by Tim Holtz was about lucky being a state of mind and my journal page below is the result. Hope you like it.

This was a really quick page to make and I began by sponging on Twisted Citron and Squeezed Lemonade Distress inks on the blank page. As the edges had a bit of grey on them already fom a previous page, I stamped on my new favourite edge stamp (Crafters Companion Textures Splats & Accessories Set 2) with Watering Can Archival ink.
I stamped the flowers (Penny Black) and the text with the same ink to finish - ta dah!

Have a great week and see you again soon.
Fliss xx

Stitching at Make My Monday

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a good weekend and stayed warm if you had snow which I have to say we did not! Snow only makes a very rare appearance this far south and all we had was grey skies and rain!
We have a new challenge for you today at Make My Monday with a theme which I chose as today is my younger daughter's birthday and as she's a print designer in fashion, I picked Stitching - Real or Faux.
Here's my inspiration which is a fairly simple card to show off my beautiful new Penny Black poppy stamp. Hope you like it!

 
I inked up the stamp with several shades of Memento ink - Bamboo Leaves, Pear Tart, Lilac Posies, Sweet Plum, Grape Jelly. I then stamped the image on smooth stamping card. I trimmed this to a panel and stamped on the sentiment with the bamboo ink.
I trimmed a panel of green textured card to form a mat just on either side as the stamp image is very large (around 14cm high). I used the Tim Holtz ruler to make rows of holes and then used a Sharpie fine white marker to make the faux stitching. It actually came out looking rather like my real stitching - somewhat wonky!
I glued the panels to a pearl card blank to finish.

Have a great day and a lovely week.
Fliss xx

Embossing At Make My Monday Plus A DT Call

Hello everyone, hoping you all had a better weekend than me as I've had to wear my glasses all the time and I'm somewhat cross with the optician who didn't tell me that I'd have horrendous problems due to the fact that I wear gas permeable contact lenses. These don't seem to be compatible with glasses which considering I said I wanted to take out the lenses and put glasses on when I get home from work has turned out not to be an as well, but rather an either/or situation. I can't tell you what a miserable time I've had not being able to see properly (I feel sorry for my DH too as he's had to put up with my whingeing)
Anyhow, enough of that and on to the reason for my post which is to let you know that we have a new challenge today over at Make My Monday which has a theme chosen by yours truly:

EMBOSSING - HEAT OR DRY OR BOTH

Here's my inspiration and it's 2 for the price of 1 this week as I got carried away!

These came about because I was messing about with sprays on Saturday and made a few backgrounds in varying shades of blue, pink and purple and as I wanted to use white embossing the stronger colours were ideal.

I used Decoart Media Misters in Primary Magenta and Shimmer Turquoise, some of the backgrounds paler as I misted them with water to use up all the ink spray.

The first card uses a Stampinback Forget Me Not image which I stamped on with Archival Plum and Cobalt before stamping with Versamark ink and heat embossing with white detail powder.I stamped on the Penny Black text with the deep blue ink and attached the panel to a white card blank.

The second card uses a wild flower from the Tim Holtz Nature's Moments stamp set which I stamped with Memento Lilac Posies and Grape Jelly dye inks. I then stamped with Versamark as before and heat embossed with white. I stamped the text from the stamp set with the Archival Plum ink and attached to a white card to finish.

We also want to add some new talent to our Design Team and will have more exciting things coming up in the future so check out the challenge blog if you'd like to join.

Thanks for looking and have a great week.

Fliss xx

Shabby Chic at Make My Monday

Hello everyone, it seems like Summer has arrived so I hope you all had a lovely sunny weekend. Mine has been a bit mixed as I got my new glasses on Saturday (I wear contact lenses all the time) which I have for back-up and as I'm exceedingly short sighted and they're also varifocals, to say I've been struggling is an understatement!!!
I just about managed to get my card for our new challenge at Make My Monday which has the theme of Shabby Chic chosen by Suzi B, although a fair amount of squinting came into it! Hope you like it.

I used a scrap of the Gelli print paper shown on my post last Friday and stamped on the Penny Black collage image with Archival Wareing Can ink. I then added colout with Inktense pencils.
I stamped the Hobbycraft corner flourishes on with the same ink together with the sentiment. I then distressed the edges with an emery board and added the panel to a kraft card blank.

If you haven't yet seen I have some candy on offer, do check out the post to see what you could win.

Have a good week.
Fliss xx

Things With Wings

Hello everyone, hoping you're all OK and I'm really late with this post due to several issues with family over the weekend, then my contact lenses which I had to take out early yesterday evening as my eyes were playing up and I'm blind as a bat without them! Still waiting on my glasses - sigh! Plus I couldn't get my photo to load up on this post!
Anyhow, enough whinging and on to the new challenge over at Make My Monday which this week has a theme I chose because I really love nature themed things or fantasy of course as you could have angels or fairies instead of birds, butterflies and so on.
Here's my inspiration which I hope you like.

The bird collage is by Penny Black and was stamped on smooth cartridge paper, coloured with Inktense pencils and then inked a little with Distress inks which I also edged with after cutting it to a panel. I added mats of green and pink as I'm thinking of Spring (despite the hail storms we had today!).
I made the background paper by stamping the Stampendous Frantage flowers round the edges of a panel of card with the Archival coffee ink I used for the bird panel. I then coloured them with Distress markers and inked with Distress inks, edging as before and then sticking to a white card blank, adding the matted main panel on top.

Hoping you have a great week.
Fliss xx

Some challenges for my card:
2 Cute Ink Challenge - Bird Theme
Dream Valley Challenges - Things With Wings
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Things With Wings
Addicted To Stamps Challenge - Spring With Birds And/Or Eggs

The Dance Of Life

Hello folks, hope you're having a good week so far. I'm here today with the first of quite a few projects you'll be seeing over the coming week which all feature hearts - no guesses why that is lol
Today's project is a shabby chic, vintage style card which uses some of my favourite colours for vintage creations - burgundy and beige with of course, loads of texture.

The main vintage image on my card is from a collage sheet called Dance by June of Dezinaworld - some of you may remember June's hacking problems of a while back which forced the closure of her online store but I'm very happy to say that she's now in the process of rebuilding the store which you can find HERE. Well worth a look as there are already some gorgeous collage sheets there.
I made a background paper using Glimmer Mists in Vintage Pink, Emperor Gold and Olive Vine on beige card and then stamped on the flower (from a set by Time To Stamp called Glamour Girls from the Craft Fairy) with Crimson Red and Spanish Moss VersaFine inks. I then die cut the heart shape with a large Go Kreate die set. I inked the edges with a burgundy VersaColor ink pad.
I embossed a square of beige parchment card with a Papermania embossing folder then distressed the edges with an emery board and my fingers. I did the same with a slightly larger square of burgundy textured card and layered these to my card blank with some beige rose patterned lace.
I printed out the roses (from a rose postcard - The Graphics Fairy) in 2 sizes and cut them out. I stamped the sentiment (Penny Black 3641F full of life) with the crimson ink on beige card and cut this out.
I assembled the card as you see using both double sided and foam tape for depth.

I'll be back tomorrow with my project for That's Crafty - cue more hearts!
Hugs, Fliss xx

Some challenges for my card:
Sugar Creek Hollow -  Romantic Love
Deep Ocean Challenge - Love and Lace
Top Tip Tuesday - Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Crafty Cardmakers - Vintage Love

Monochromatic With One Other Colour

Good morning folks, hope you're all having a lovely weekend. I'm here today with details of a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and this fortnight the strut down the catwalk is all about Monochrome with the addition of a splash of Contrast Colour.
For my inspiration, I chose shades of purple with a splash of green as I really love this particular combination.

It's not that easy to see in the photo but for my background paper and also the main heart shape, I used pale lilac parchment card. For the background paper, I stamped on a Prima flourish with lilac ink.
The heart was cut out with a Papermania die and I embossed the top right corner with a Papermania embossing folder and sponged on lilac and green ink.
I stamped the vintage couple image (I've had this for years and have no idea of the make) with Imperial Purple VersaFine ink on lilac parchment card and stuck this to the heart with foam tape, trimming off the excess to keep the heart shape. I added this to a purple hand cut mat and added a further partial mat of green dotty paper which was from my scraps box.
I added a panel of purple card embossed with the same folder and a further scrap of the green paper trimmed with an X Cut border die. The sentiment is by Penny Black and I finished off by adding some tiny green pearls to the heart.

The Design Team have made some stunning creations in many different colour combinations to inspire you, so do hop over for real treat.

Challenges for my card:
Crafting For All Seasons - Love Is In The Air
4 Crafty Chicks - Valentines/Love
Do You Stack Up? - Love
Rainbow Lady's - Have A Heart
Card Crafters Circle - Valentine
Card Makin' Mamas - Valentine
Crafty Catz - Valentine
Simon Says Stamp - Love Is In The Air
Fussy and Fancy - With All My Heart
Glitter Geeks - To The One I Love

Happy Sunday and thanks for looking
Fliss xx

Creating A Scene

Monday is here yet again folks and January seems to be flying by! I hope you all had a lovely weekend and managed to fit in a bit of crafting.
We have a new challenge for you today over at Make My Monday and continuing with our monthly theme of Nature, this week would like to see you Create A Scene.
I have to admit I struggled with this one a little as I couldn't find my Artistic Outpost Serenity set which would have been perfect for this one (note to self - craft room tidy up necessary!) and had to improvise.

I decided to use this gorgeous sleepy owl stamp by Blue Moon which I love as those little cuties look so sweet and fluffy. I stamped them with VersaFine Vintage sepia ink and coloured them with various brown Promarkers. I then cut out the panel with a nestabilities die and inked the edges with Crushed Olive Distress ink.
I made a background with a piece of pale green textured look paper which I first stamped with a brick wall stamp using Stazon Dove Grey ink then sponged with Frayed Burlap and Wild Honey Distress inks. I sponged the top half with Tumbled Glass and Stormy Sky.
I stamped fern sprays from the Penny Black Enjoy Life clear stamp set with VersaFine Olympia Green and Spanish Moss inks and assembled the card as you see.

The Design Team have come up with the most fabulous scenes so do hop over for a look and be inspired.

Challenges for my card:
Craft A Scene - Anything Goes but Create A Scene
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - Birds Of A Feather

Have a great week,
Fliss xx

Animals With Make My Monday

Morning folks and hope you all had a lovely weekend. I'm here to bring you details of the new challenge over at Make My Monday which continuing with the January theme of NATURE, this week we would like to see ANIMALS on your creation.
I decided to make a card with a favourite animal as we have 2 adorable (mostly!) grey Netherland Dwarf bunnies.

My card features another of Craftwork Cards cute Warren stamps of which I have several as I couldn't resist them when they produced a limited edition last year. I stamped him with VersaFine vintage sepia ink and coloured him with Prisma pencils. I cut the panel out with my new Papermania square parenthesis die set.
I made a background paper sponging with Distress inks to colour and as you can see had sunset in mind. I then stamped on some grasses from the Penny Black Enjoy Life clear stamp set with VersaFine Spanish moss.
I added the panels to a card blank covered with Polka Doodles kraft textured paper and finished off with some butterflies from the Penny Black set coloured with Prisma pencils and a Hobby Art stamped sentiment.

The Design Team have come up with some very varied designs to inspire you so don't forget to pop over for a look.

Challenges for my card:
Dream Valley Challenges - Anything Goes
Gingerloft - Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes - Saturated Colours

Have a good week and thank for looking. Don't forget I have candy and do leave me a comment on the post if you'd like a chance to win.
Fliss xx

Tim's Tags Day Three

I'm late, late, late here with my third tag as boy, did I have a struggle with this one! I don't have anything Tim used and must have gone back to the drawing board at least 3 times before I got something I felt reasonably happy with.
It's been really chilly here and I think I must have brain freeze lol but here's my finished tag.

Improvisation list:
Text stamps - large (Inkylicious) smaller (Penny Black)
No Embossing Folder as nothing suitable
Woodware holly and leaf sprig punches and Sissix flourish die for foliage
White tag inked with Old Paper and Tea Dye Distress inks after stamping
Extra additions - paper roses, metal flower charm

Quite a simple tag in the end but I think I like it like that. I left off the twine as I couldn't make it look right.
If you haven't seen the original gorgeous textured tag and some great inspiration for making Christmas crafted items in bulk, click on Tim's 12 Days of Christmas Tag 3 and prepare to be amazed.

I'm also once again linking this to Inspiration Emporium where there are great prizes on offer and Tim's supplies available.

Have a great day and happy crafting.
Fliss xx

Merry, Merry Christmas

A bit early I know but I had to call this post something! Another Christmas card to share with you that fits a few challenges which are listed underneath the card details.
Very hard to think of Christmas on such a gorgeous sunny day and I've been out this morning as I had to do a search for a posh frock to wear to a ball next month and finally managed to find one I liked that wasn't black (this makes me look like death warmed up if you know what I mean!!!).
I also have some good news to share as yesterday I found out that my bird cage card for the Play Date Cafe challenge 49 has gained a Cream In Our Coffee award which is a lovely surprise so thank you ladies.
So on to my card:

I've again used my cute Penny Black reindeer stamp (2803K Let's Play) and stamped them on ecru card with VersaFine Toffee ink. I cut the image out with a circle cutter and sponged Umber and Topaz VersaColor ink around the edges.
I added 2 circle mats of plaid paper from the Polka Doodles Sundae of Seasons CD and made a circle shaped easel card from red mottled card.
I then added a further piece of the blue plaid paper on the base and a Penny Black greeting (3885H so very merry). A red bow finished off the card.
I'm entering my card in the following challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Don't Be Square
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Shaped Card
Alphabet Challenge - X for Xmas

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.

An Award, Dezinaworld and Easel Cards

Hello everyone, this is going to be a marathon post as I have several things to share with you.
Firstly, my lovely friend Fiona of Made in a Muddle very kindly gave me this great award a couple of weeks ago and as I've been very busy, I've only just got round to sorting it out.

I'd like to pass this on to the following 5 friends who as well as being very supportive of me, also create the most lovely, inspirational work. If you haven't seen their work yet, do pop over and have a look.

 Sally 

Cheryl

Liz

Chris

Brenda

Thanks so much ladies for all your wonderful comments and help which mean such a lot to me.

Next I have a project to share with you that I made using June at Dezinaworld's fabulous free digital stamp from last Wednesday which is a beautiful Oriental jar. In keeping with the oriental theme, I made a screen using a pre-made screen card from my craft stash.

I covered the screen with K & Co pale green crackle pattern paper and inked the feet with Brilliance gold ink. I than added panels and images from June's Art Freebies blog, having altered the Chinese script paper to fit. I coloured the jar with Promarkers and then sponged on some blue pigment ink to draw everything together. I finished off with punched flowers and butterflies.

Finally as promised last week, I have some easel cards to show you, these 2 being the first I ever made just over a week ago when I taught a class in making them.

The paper used on the butterfly card is by Trimcraft (Wild Blossom). The butterfly is the new Papermania Build A Butterfly and was coloured by sponging with Ranger Distress inks in Fired Brick, Vintage Photo, Broken China and Dusty Concord.

The paper used on the rose card is by Papermania (Exquisite). The gorgeous rose stamp is by B Line Designs (from LB Crafts) and was stamped on pale pink paper with VersaFine Smokey Gray ink. It was then coloured by sponging with Worn Lipstick and Spiced Marmalade Distress inks with Peeled Paint on the leaves. I stamped it 3 times and layered it up. I added pearls, crochet lace and a sentiment by Penny Black (Blossom by Blossom 2832F). I also added a black border trimmed with the Martha Stewart Arch Lattice edge punch.

Thanks for looking.

Fliss x