O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

A quick blog entry as a break from Christmas card production!  Here is one of my creations.  The tree is coloured with promarkers and glitter dusted around the edges.  I added ribbon and a little fringing.  The multi-coloured background is created by blowing some ink around on some gloss card.  I discovered I like the results better if I add the colours separately, letting one dry before adding another colour.

Striped paper:  Ribbon Stripes from a digikit by Pink Petticoat
Christmas tree: 'TALL 'N' SKINNY' POM POM TREES digistamp by Pink Petticoat
Punched border: Fiskars Apron Lace border punch
Ribbons: from stash
Colouring: promarkers - leaf green, lilac, cool grey1
Round embellishments: Chocolate Box Candy by Craftwork Cards
Shaped card: Top Notch card pack by Craftwork Cards

Competitions Entered:
Passion For Promarkers: Week 80 Mega Christmas Challenge
Crafty Pad: 100th Challenge

Beach Huts In December

I know it might seem a little odd living in the northern hemisphere and making a beach hut card in December especially as there is snow falling outside as I type.  But there it is, it just took my fancy.  The image was a freebie by SJ of Little Musings.  Thanks very much SJ.

I made the multi-coloured background after watching something on Create & Craft recently.  I suddenly remembered I had a box of inks that I bought many years ago.  I messed about with them on some glossy white card, something else I've had for years.  I dropped a few different colours on to the card and blew them around through the casing of an old biro and hey presto.

Finally I had another go at printing some digikit paper directly onto card and this time it worked (well almost, I didn't photograph the back of the card!).

This card is a lot more cheerful in reality.  There is sparkly sand and the colours are warmer than viewed here. Nice card, shame about the photography!

Beach hut digi: Little Musings
Stripey background: Pink Petticoat's Ribbon Stripes, putty on white
Ribbon: Hobbycraft
Colouring: Promarkers and Lyra Aquacolors
Glitter: DecoArt Glamour Dust - Crystal stuck on with Sakura Quickie Glue Pen

Competitions
Gingerloft Challenge:  GL7 Bows
I {heart} Promarkers:  Anything goes with a bit of sparkle if you like
Passion For Promarkers:  Special challenge  - Old & New

Blooming Marvellous

I'm feeling a bit pleased with myself.  Two patterned papers, two types of ribbon, two punched borders and my sentiment has even got faux stitching.  This is not like me at all.  Usually I am lucky if I manage one pattered paper and an image per card. 

I treated myself to a few more promarkers.  Wow, they are such fun.  And I love my new bow shaper (The Glitter Girls), something else new!

Digistamp:  With Flowers by Pink Petticoat
Patterned papers:  Digikits by Pink Petticoat
Border Punch: Fiskars Apron Lace

Competitions Entered:
Passion for Promarkers - Week 78 Stitching & Distressing
Kaboodle Doodle - Challenge # 44 - It's A Recipe
2 Sketches For You - Kazan's Sketch # 66

Oh So Fuchsia

I was asked to make some wedding invitations. The requirements were fuchsia, sparkly and modern and this is what I came up with.  It is inspired by an example on the Pink Petticoat website. 

This was my first go with Promarkers and my first go with a Fiskars border punch too and also my first go with DecoArt Gamour Dust (Crystal) that I used for the wedding dress though I have not discovered how to photograph better as it is so sparkly, you have to see it to believe it.  On and another first I must mention, I used Satin Finish Printer paper by Crafter's Companion as I wanted to use something I hoped would be good quality.  Oh my, it was outstanding.  Not only did it print the background papers beautifully it felt gorgeous too.  I was really pleased with that because it adds a little something when the guests take the invite from the envelope.

I had such a lot of fun.

Card blanks 135cm sq by Papermania
Fiskars Border Punch: Apron Lace
DecoArt Gamour Dust Crystal
Ribbon: 15mm white with irridescent border sold at Hobbycraft by the metre
Digi Background paper patterned: Sweet Flourishes in putty/white by Pink Petticoat
Digi Background paper plain: Sweet Flourishes solid colour in double cream by Pink Petticoat
Promarkers
Sakura Quickie Glue Pen (for sticking the Glamour Dust)
Digistamp: Lola Rose by Pink Petticoat

Competition Entries:
Digital Tuesday Challenge: #84
Everybody Art Challenge: #116
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge: #92

Papaya & Yellow

I thought I would try borderless printing direct onto card.  As you can see my printer's idea of borderless is not exactly borderless!  However, I rather liked the effect so persevered.  The colour is called 'papaya' it is a sort of pinky orange, I love it, rather unusual.

The USB connection for my digital camera packed up tonight.  I had to find out how to remove the card from the camera and find where to stick it in the computer.  Did it eventually.  It never rains but it pours.

Competitions entered:
Crafty Calendar Challenge: First Birthday Challenge
Craftlicious Challenge: #10
Lexi's Creations: Challenge #25


Papaya paper: Pink Petticoat Digikit: Sweet Flourishes
Tree stamp:  Pink Petticoat Digistamp:  from With Flowers
Border: Fiskars Apron Lace Border Punch
Ribbon: from stash

Ahead Of Myself!

A bit more practice with the water colour pencils using the tutorial and I had a go with the ribbon tutorial.  Now all I need is someone to send this card to.  Happily, I do not have friends and family who need Get Well wishes at the moment.  Gosh, I must be ahead of myself - unheard of!

I have entered Pattie's Creations Challenge #1 Anything Goes

Paper: Ribbon Stripes by Pink Petticoat
Image: With Flowers Collection by Pink Petticoat
Border: Fiskars Border - Elegance
Ribbon: GSC Ribbons

Variation: Male

Card needed and I was not feeling creative so I went for variation.  I have tried to make this card more suitable for a male by changing the colours and using a smaller patterned paper (see last post for original version).  I am also trying to improve my colouring.  Well it is an attempt anyway.  I used a mixture of watercolour pencils and Sakura Gell Roll pens.

I have entered:
Fab N Funky Challenge #43: Use a digi image
Digital Tuesday Challenge #79: Ribbons, buttons, bling + a digi
The Paper Players Challenge #18: Monochromatic

Background papers: Digikits by Pink Petticoat
Stamp: Digistamp from With Flowers by Pink Petticoat
Water colouring Tutorial: There She Gloes Clear Stamps

Just for Ewe

I thought I would experiment with using background papers to suggest scenery.  It was a lot of fun and easier than I thought it would be.  I am quite pleased with the result.  I found it easier to use mainly one colour (soft blue) to work out what went well with what and then coloured the image after I had made the background.  The papers and the stamped image were all digital ones from Pink Petticoat.  I especially like the ribbon stripes papers which I have used on cards for any age or occasion and for both genders. 

I really like the example cards on Pink Petticoat.  They look simple until you try to replicate them and then you realise how complex and clever they are. 
There is a really good bow tying tutorial by one of the Pink Petticoat design team that has inspired me to practise.

I have entered this card in the Daisy Doodles #18 Challenge Critter Mad.

Striped background paper: Ribbon Stripes colour Collection
Flower background paper: Wild Blossoms Just Papers
Digistamp: With {Flowers} Image Stamps

Printer Drama

I thought I would upload some of the cards I've been making while not blogging for the last few months.  This background (from a free digikit) should have looked more pristine than this.  But I was having a drama with a new printer which did not like my Jessops Matt paper at all.  However, despite not printing the way it should I thought it was still salvagable and turned out to be quite a dramatic background (very dramatic for me).

Digikit: Urban Kiwi by Shabby Princess
Digistamp: With {Flowers} by Pink Petticoat

Two Button Card

It was one of those days where nothing was going right and severals efforts ended up in the bin. Finally I came up with this, which the recipient enjoyed, so that's good enough for me!

Background striped paper: Colour Collection - Ribbon Stripes by Pink Petticoat

Digistamp: from 'WITH {FLOWERS}' IMAGE STAMPS by Pink Petticoat

New Red Seal Card

Oh, how I wished I hadn't been in such a hurry to post this card.  I would have had time to move some of the clutter and take this photo from a better angle than this one where the camera was balanced on top of a printer!

Again as I was in a hurry I didn't have time to design a card from scratch so I decided to just revamp an old design (see smaller photo below).

It turned out to be an interesting exercise.  It is easy to forget how much you learn along the way and how your style changes and how new craft goodies effect your choices. 

But that's enough waffling for one day.

(For new card - larger photo above)

Digikit: Colour Collection - Ribbon Stripes by Pink Petticoat

Stamp: Seal by Rubbadubbadoo

Ink: Versafine - Crimson Red

Brads: from stash

Pretty In Pink

You can't blame a girl for putting her new kits through their paces!  I entered the Kaboodle Doodle challenge to make a birthday card.

Digikit: Wild Blossoms by Pink Petticoat
Digistamp: With {Flowers} by Pink Petticoat
Colouring: Sakura Stardust pens

New Beginnings

It is lovely to come back to blogland after a long absence especially when you have such a friendly follower like Scrappyjacky. She is always there with words of praise and encouragement. Thank you so much. You are appreciated. Do visit her blog for some brilliant inspiration.

A family member asked my to create a card for her friend for a special occasion.  It seemed like a perfect excuse to buy some new digistamps and invest in a digikit (all now safely backed up on separate media!).  I am so getting hooked on Pink Petticoat so I did a bit of buying in her boutique instead of my normal window shopping.  And here is the first of my creations with my new kits.  I entered the Pollycraft Monday Challenge for sparkly things.  The stardust pens are very sparkly, though not in a photo!

Digikit: Wild Blossoms by Pink Petticoat
Digistamp: With {Flowers} by Pink Petticoat
Colouring: Sakura Stardust pens, Lyra Aquacolours

Oval frame: Majestic Keepsake Board by the Glitter Girls

All Things Bright And Beautiful

Went a bit mad with the vibrant colours I think!  Well that must have been my mood, though there was some thought to the taste and age of the recipient.  The background paper was from a digikit, sorry I can't remember which one and since I made this card my PC crashed and I had to re-install Windows (sob, sob,sob) consequently, despite having an automatic backup service on my PC, I lost nearly all my digikits and some of my digistamps. I wont be recommending the backup service to anyone!

Digistamp: Birdie by Pink Petticoat (free)

Truly Scrumptious Milly

I thought I'd have a go at the Truly Scrumptious sketch (Challenge 23).  A lot more elements than I usually use.  Not sure I like the end result much but hey I gave it a go.  Sorry if I sound miserable, blame it on the weather.  I am missing my rambling in the country fix as all the walks have been cancelled for the last two weeks, yes you've guessed because of the snow.

Digikit: Sweet Springtime by Summertime Designs (free)

Digistamp: Frilly Milly by Pink Petticoat

Welcome Spring

Just before Christmas some tulips were pushing through the soil in a pot on my south-east facing balcony.  They seem to have done an about turn and lowered themselves back under the soil!  I guess it's the equivalent of us humans staying under the duvet, very understandable in this very deep mid-winter! 

I'm not wishing my life away but I thought I'd have a go at a design to say a big welcome to spring, when it decides to arrive - I reckon many will think it can't be a moment too soon but I actually like walking in the country in winter.  Though I have to admit the weather this week was so bad that we had to miss our rambling, though I heard some people madder than us did actually go.

Digistamp: Frilly Milly by Pink Petticoat

Digikit: Full Of Joy by Jamie Dell (free)