Let It Snow

Can you believe that it's November already? That means that the new Lavinia challenge has begun and the theme for this month is 

"Let It Snow"

Something a bit different from me, I haven't had my Brusho's out in ages so thought I'd have a bit of a play. 

First of all I flicked Masking fluid over my paper and left it to dry. I then stamped the Spring trees in Versamark, slightly moved my stamp and then inked and stamped it again with black Versafine, before adding clear embossing powder and heat embossing. I then stamped  the moon, masking the areas that I didn't want to add the brushos to. I added a little Purple, Turquoise and Ultramarine into separate areas of my mixing pallet then sprayed a little water into each one. At first I brushed the diluted colours randomly over the sky then sprinkled a little extra powder to add a bit of depth that I felt it needed. When the card was dry I rubbed off the masking fluid, this gives the look of lightly falling snow. 

I mounted the focal panel onto navy card, tied some bakers twine before mounting it onto my folded card.

For my second card I again flicked masking fluid over my card then stamped Zen Snowflakes randomly over my backround before using clear embosing powder and heat embossing. I then used the leftover mixed brusho , watering it down slightly and brushing it over my card. I then again gave a good sprinkle of the powders and heat dried the card. 

After removing the masking fluid I once again randomly stamped the Zen snowflakes using the Versafine, I was going to use white embossing powder over them but when I was looking through my box, (I hardly ever use embossing powder) I discovered a powder called snowflake, when heat embossed it gives a lovely white/silver/holographic  glittery effect. I stamped my words onto white card, matted it onto navy card and added it to my matted focal panel.

I love the dimention that has been achieved using the different techniques here.

I'm using these cards for the following challenges:-

SR352, Glitter,

HJC84, Trees,

Unicorn 15, Snowflakes,

Merry Christmas 5, Anything goes Christmas,

CCC46, Anything goes,

FSC116, Trees,

We love 2 create 22, Anything mixed media goes.

If you fancy being in with the chance of winning a 

£40 Lavinia voucher, 

all you need to do is ink up your Lavinia stamps and join us in the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

All That Glitters

Happy 2016 bloggers!

December ran away with me, one day maybe I will be organised but 2015 seemed worse ever. Maybe it was the fact that as usual I left my cards till the last minute to make.

This is never a good idea as Christmas is also one of the busiest times of the year at work also, all I want to do when I get in at the end of the day is sit in the chair and stay there.

Then I had this bright idea that instead of buying presents for the little ones in the family, I would make them, why oh why did I decide to do that!

Don't get me wrong, I stretched myself thin but I wouldn't want it any other way the presents were all made,wrapped and delivered in time and I even managed to make the post!

If I remembered to take a photo I might even show you what I made another day.

Anyway, this design of card happened entirely by accident, I'd used my ScanNCut to cut the words, glued two together to give a little depth whilst still being thin enough for a standard postage stamp. To add some sparkle, I sprayed glue over the cut then sprinkled with glamour dust. When I picked up the word, the paper scrap looked so pretty, leaving the word plain which lead to the idea of  glittering directly onto the card blank. Unfortunately the camera doesn't pick up the shadowing that was left where I offset the word showing a thin unglittered area.

Not bad for some last minute makes.  

I'm using these cards for the following challenges:-

Avenue613, Anything goes, CAS,

CCC140, Square cards,

CHNC, Christmas,

CTC, Sparkle.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Lavinia Expects Some Snow!

It's time for the new challenge at Lavinia today, and the theme this time is 

Let It Snow!

I got out my masking fluid, flicked it over my card and waited for it to dry. I then stamped my Spring trees, dobbing some masking fluid over the edges of branches to look like snow was settling.(Dobbing really is a technical term ;)) After the fluid had dried, I inked my background before rubbing off the now rubbery fluid, leaving the white of the cardstock showing through. The sentiment is from seasonal words set. 

The masking fluid came out again for my second card.I stamped my background using various trees and added snowflakes to my card base before adding my fussy cut cat to my window frame.

A sprinkling of glitter was added to both cards!

I'm using these cards for the following challenges:-

CSD, Winter,

CCC101, Cold Outside,

CM, Embossing,

HJCC, Embossing.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Christmas?

It's time for Lavinia's new challenge theme today, and to get you started on those Christmas cards, the theme is 

"Christmas"

For my first card I used the Holly stamp, after several attempts at creating a wreath with the sprig, I ended up drawing around the inside of a circle die, adding a freehand doodle then tapping the stamp with two shades of green ink pads to give a more variagated look. A twine bow twisted amongst the leaves and glitter to the leaves completed the look.

For my tag, I masked the top and bottom sections, lightly adding colour to the background using pale pink and blue, I then randomly stamped the beautiful "Zen snowflakes" in pink, lilac and blue adding the seasonal words, I wonder why I ended up singing songs from "Frozen" .

A pierced edge, a bit of bling and glitter complete my tag.

Now, I struggled a bit with my final card, I toyed with not sharing it but I just love this Santa stamp! The card originally was just the Kraft section but a longer piece of card, then a little voice in my head said,"how can a brown card with a bit of gingham ribbon say Christmas?" so I trimmed it down and mounted it on a red card base, still wasn't happy so I cut off the back and mounted it on a white card. Am I happy with it? no! I wish I'd not listened to that little voice and left it as a longer Kraft card.

For future reference, what do you think, is a Kraft card acceptable to send at Christmas?

I'm entering the following challenges:-

Allsorts 335, Christmas,

C4C310, Christmas,

Polkadoodles, Sparkle Bling or glitter,

RRR128, Christmas,

WW, Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Snow And Sparkle With Lavinia

The new theme starts today at 

Lavinia Stamps Challenge.

"Snow and Sparkle."

It's a great one for all of you Lavinia lovers that want to get some Christmas cards made!

I flicked masking fluid over my card before inking up my night sky and stamping Santa and his Reindeer

 (Christmas Night)

 onto the freshly fallen snow lol!

 I did have a bit of a laugh when I'd rubbed of the dried masking fluid and it revealed a few rather large snowballs instead of delicate flakes. Oh well!

There's a great randomly picked prize as always, a £40 voucher to spend in the Lavinia shop where you can now treat yourself to some of the gorgeous new 

Celtic Dream Dies!

A blog isn't essential as email entries are also accepted.

 

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

AFC, It's cold,

Artistic Stamper, Christmas is coming,

CHC201, Sparkle,

Little Claires, Christmas,

LIM196, Non traditional Christmas colours.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.

Last Of The Christmas Cards.

I do hope that you all had a lovely Christmas, ours was eventful one way or another but it's been lovely to slow down and spend time with the family. I've just been sitting and looking back over my files at cards that I've made but still haven't got around to showing. This one's another that I did for Karen's craft taster night back at the beginning of November, it proved to be popular, it was lovely to inspire other crafters.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

ACR, Sparkle,

BS74, Winter,

Craftitude 55, Anything goes Sparkle,

Crafty Hands 4, Winter,

MIM171, Anything goes.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Been A Busy Girl!

Well, Father Christmas will soon be flying over off to leave presents for all the good boys and girls!

Today I have been a busy girly and have also spent a little time in the "Crafty Cabin" I do seem to have left things till the last minute this year.

The little red bag was made using my Stampin Up Envelope  Board (I think that's what it's called) It took a 11x11" square of bazil to create it, it's big enough for a net of chocolate coins and a coupe of chocolate penguins.

It really is a great gadget! I just wish I'd given myself more time so that I could have added more decoration to the tiny money wallet/bags that I also made using 8x8" DP.

Then I got cracking making my mum a card, I know, it's similar to my card from the other day but this one has loads of glitter and a splash of red too!

I'm using these for the following challenges:-

ACC January, Anything goes, no cards, (Red bag)

PR13, Washi Tape,

LIM151, as week 143, twine,

Craftitude 55, Christmas sparkle.

Thanks for stopping by,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Julie.x

And Another.

 I  wish I'd had this die sooner, I ended up making 30 cards in a few hours .

The hardest thing with this card was positioning the snowflake in the cutter so that I could use both halves.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

LIM151, 140 WOW Christmas,
MTTC228, WOW,
Jellypark Friends, Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by,
Julie.x

A Quick Solution

Ok as usual I left it till the last minute to make my cards for posting. Luckily the most perfect die arrived in the post courtesy of a rather special courier service.(thank you Kerry.xxx)

A few minutes on "Word" and a sheet full of "Christmas" was printed out to be hand cut into tiny tags, ready to be doodle tied to the "Y".

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

LIM 151, Week 140, wow Christmas,
CHNC156, Last minute cards,
MTTC228, WOW Christmas,
CCC,CAS.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Clean And Simple.

It's time again for a new challenge at Totally Ladybug Tuesday and this time it's the lovely Susan's turn to host the challenge, her chosen theme, one of my favourite,

"Clean and Simple"

As usual with me at the moment, I had little time to play so chose to colour only the bow of Christmas Wreath Delight and add some shadowing using a black Polychromo pencil. I then just used the most gorgeous holographic silver glitter .

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

CAS23, Christmas,
FTT12, Sparkle,
DMC118, Sparkle,
MIM170, Anything goes,

LIM149, Metallic.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Anything Goes.

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!

December already!

That means it's time for a new challenge at Lavinia Stamps and a perfect one for a busy month. 

Anything Goes!

I inked up Midnight Meandering for the first time, masking a little hill and sponging with distress inks. 

Without a Lavinia snowflake stamp I think I got away with using a star stamp by using the second stamping so that it was feint.

Oooooodles of glamour dust and a couple of die cuts complete the card.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

CHCB3, Sparkle and bling,

JFFC, Christmas,

LIM148, Sparkle,

KIS28, Snow,

CBD23,Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Fancy Some Pudding?

My blog is feeling neglected, it's not that I haven't anything to show you, in fact I've quite a few things to share, it's more along the lines of not enough hours in the day to find the time to write any posts! Anyway, here's another of the demo cards that I made for Karen's craft taster evening a few weeks ago. Don't quite know why the berries  don't show as red, I assure you that they are! The berries in the pudding were made using the eraser on the end of a pencil and various suitable ink pads. The "sauce" was hand cut and shaped slightly before gluing around the card edge only. I can't remember who the holly stamp is by but I seem to remember buying it from "The Range" for 99p

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

CC46, Christmas,

CFAS65, Stitching,

TPS138, Christmas,

R&R 20, Christmas,

SAM199, Christmas,

CTD269, Christmas,Colour recipe,

MIM167, Anything goes.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Sunday Quickie.

It's been a while since I posted a "Sunday Quickie"

So here it is, exactly what it says on the packet lol, a quick card, made on a Sunday!

Sometimes it pays being a messy crafter, there was already a remnant of  narrow card and a folded card just waiting to be used. I just used my "Tattered Lace" snowflake, using the negative cut, placing the white waste into the middle by using a quickie glue pen into the remnants within the die and then putting the die back into the cut and using a pin to push them out so that the stuck perfectly into place. 

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

CC November, Christmas,

LIM 146, DP CAS,

LC39, Christmas,

T4S24, Die.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Evening!

I've been a bit of a slack blogger of late, I just don't know where the time goes, my "Cards yet to post" file is getting fuller so I thought that even though this is going to be a "short but sweet post", it would be better than nothing at all.

This is one of the cards that I made to demo at

Karen's craft taster evening.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

Allsorts 232, White Christmas,

Amusing Challenges, Glitter,

Hobbycutz 24, Christmas,

2Sisters 169, Christmas sparkle,

CC November, Christmas,

CHNC150, Outdoors,

Sweet Stampin, Christmas,

Wordplay November, Snowman,

Speedy Fox 185, White Christmas. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Hot Colours With Lavinia.

 "A pinch and a punch for the first of the month!" 

So that means it's time for a new theme at Lavinia Today.

November's theme is

"Hot, Bright Colours"

I sponged a selection of red, gold and yellow inks on to Papermill's  felt card which resulted in an almost leather look. I then stamped Lavinia's "Three Kings" image.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

ATSAM, CAS,
PWC282, Bold colours,
SOS125, Stitching,
MIM164, Anything goes,
ASC92, Christmas,
Aloha 11, Black,white plus one,
Polka Doodles 44, Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by,

 Julie.x

Simply A Tree.

A quick post sharing a simple paperpieced Christmas tree, made using a Nitwits stamp and some off cuts.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

LIM 142,Trees,

CSAYL38, Candy,(candy canes in the stamp)

Polkadoodles 42, Christmas,

WNW115, Paperpiecing,

CRAFT229, Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Winter Wonderland Challenge.

Morning, LCI are sponsoring the 

"Winter Wonderland Challenge"

 this week so some of the Ladybugs have been asked to do a guest DT spot.

The challenge theme is "Carol Singers"

Now everyone knows that Cats are excellent at a chorus and Magnum is no exception, I just wonder if Lily is singing all of the verses lol!  

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

Craft 229, Christmas,

MAWTT, Christmas cuties,

ATSAM, Colouring,

SSS, Christmas,

Crafting Musketeers 6, Christmas,

DTC22, Tie it up,

MIM162, Anything goes,
Polka Doodles 42, Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x