A Stitch In Time

Hello there,

I woke up all excited this morning, every Friday Viva La Verve post a new sketch, I've done all the other sketches for this month so I couldn't wait for this one. As soon as I saw it all I could think was wow! It's very pretty so I couldn't wait to get started. I have decided to team the sketch with a colour combo challenge over at Color Throwdown which I love, I don't think I've ever used Perfect Plum before and I really can't think why?!

See what I mean? Beautiful! I don't normally do stitched cards, but when you're working with a sketch this pretty you have to go the extra mile, so out came a needle and thread, and a paper piercer, and here are the results

I'm also entering this card for the Just Add Ink challenge which was to use something 'from your stash' I have used a stamp from a Sale-a-bration set that I haven't inked since February called Punch Bunch, and also I found at the back of my drawer a pot of shimmer paint that I bought but I thought I'd lost because I've never used it! Here's a close up of the shimmer on the tag

I have had so much fun making this one, hope you like it too, xx

Round or Square Mojo

Hi everyone,

I always love the last Mojo Monday challenge of the month as it is always round or square.

I have been asked to make a few masculine cards this month so I thought I'd combine this tricky theme with the Mojo challenge. I decided to make a square card, and chose two papers from the Elegant Soiree DSP pack, because of the colour tones this paper pack works brilliantly for both masculine and feminine cards.

As you can see I replaced the flower element on the sketch with a star, and what looks like a ribbon is actually a strip of card stock. I couldn't help myself, I just had to add the brad embellishments, but I think they bring the card together and don't look too girly. It also gave me a chance to use a retired stamp set that I haven't yet used called Starring You, which I coloured and stamped with my markers.

I'll be back with some more of my masculine cards soon.
xx

Mojo Throwdown

Good Evening,

My USB stick is playing up and I didn't think I was going to be able to post this card in time for the challenges. Thank you Dan for emailing them to me!

This card combines the Colour Throwdown Challenge colours and Mojo Monday's sketch, I'm still not sure of the colour combo, what do you think? I think I went a bit OTT on the pink.

I'm still trying to stick to my personal challenge of using all my stamps, I have used this set before but this stamp had not seen ink, I also dusted of my crimper and spritzing tool for this card.

Here is the colour palette we have been challenged to use

and the beautiful sketch

Think I may have to give the colour combo another go and balance the colours better.

Have a great evening
xx

Simply Stampin' challenge 1

Good Morning!

Happy Mother's day!!

It's a bit grey here, so it's the perfect excuse to shut yourself away and lose yourself in a bit of crafting.
I never need an excuse to get a bit crafty, I like to think of Sunday's as my craft day. At the moment I seem to have more cards to make than Sunday's to make them in, but never fear, I've got next week off work, so I can get crafty then, I also have my first real workshop this Wednesday! Wish me luck, I'm a little bit nervous, but it's with friends so I'm sure they'll be gentle with me.

I was getting a bit bored of my blog background so I decided it was time for a change. What do you think?
It took a bit of jigging around but I'm quite happy with it.

Now onto a card, I was looking through my favourites (all other crafty blogs, hee hee) and stumbled across a link for a new challenge blog called Simply Stampin'. As I still needed to make my boyfriend's mum a Mothers day card I thought I'd give the sketch challenge a go.



This card uses a brand new product from the mini the gorgeous Beautiful Wings Embosslit, it's great value at just £10.50, this little beauty not only cuts out the cutest little butterflies but it embosses them at the same time!! I've teamed them with the Elegant soiree papers, love these, they are all my favourites colours in one pretty pack.

Here's the recipe
Stamps, Occasional greetings
Papers, Chocolate chip CS, Marina mist CS, Elegant soiree paper pack
Ink, Chocolate chip
Accessories, Beautiful wings Embosslits, rhinestones, Marina mist satin ribbon, scallop circle punch, scallop trim border punch, white gel pen.

Don't forget if you place an order with me before 7th April you'll get 10% off so you could get your hands on these gorgeous butterflies for just £9.45!

Happy stampin'

Marina Mothers day

Hi there,

As you may have read previously I have been asked to make some mothers day cards.
This card is using a retired set called Bloomin' with Beauty. It is gorgeous, I'm so sad that it was removed from the catalogue.

I stamped the image in Chocolate chip ink, cleaned off the stamp then using a sponge dauber dotted the flower part of the stamp with Marina mist, Rich razzleberry, and Wild wasabi inks before stamping again.

I added some dazzling diamonds glitter to the centre of each flower before cutting out and layering on top of the original image.

I used a blending pen and the choc chip ink to add highlights to the vase.
The background paper was made using the Elegance wheel and Marina Mist cartridge, with a piece of the Elegant soiree paper layered over the top.

My upline Amanda is showing a wonderful tutorial of ribbon brooches that would have finished this card off a treat, if you'd like to check it out please click here to go to her blog.

Here's today's recipe
Stamps, Bloomin' with Beauty (retired), Occasional greetings, Tiny tags
Paper, Elegant soiree DSP, Whisper white CS, Marina mist CS, Chocolate chip CS,
Ink, Marina mist, Chocolate chip, Rich Razzleberry, Wild wasabi,
Accessories, Elegance wheel and handle, dazzling diamonds glitter, blender pen, sponge dauber, Jewellery tag punch, Scallop trim border punch, chocolate chip satin ribbon, basic rhinestone.

Hope she likes it xx

Boy oh boy!

I thought it was best to have a little break from the Cottage garden stamps just for one day, I still have another couple to show but I wouldn't want people to get bored.

I've CAS'ed this card from one I saw on splitcoast. I know it's a boy's card but I couldn't resist a bit of ribbon.

It is using a new stamp set that I got last week called Choo choo, I have my eye on the matching wheel to go with it.

This card uses the Elegant soiree paper pack which when I bought it I thought would only be for women's cards but now I think maybe men's as well!

The recipe
Stamps, Choo choo, Punch bunch SAB
Paper, Elegant soiree, Marina mist CS, Early espresso CS, Very vanilla CS
Ink, Chocolate chip, Marina mist, Baja breeze
Accessories, Chocolate chip satin ribbon (retired), stamp-a-ma-jig

I'm getting very excited about the draw for my voucher, there's still time to enter click here for all the details!
Plus I have a ribbon share available, click on the special offers tab above this post to find out more.

Hope to see you tomorrow xx