Inspired by Joanne

Joanne is one of my favourite paper artists - and this week she had a fun challenge to celebrate 500,000 blog hits - you go girl!. She gave us this great sketch, but we were also to choose three techniques or materials from a list she provided. I chose to use text paper, gingham paper and paper piecing on my card.

I pieced the girl's dress and added some sponging for depth. The rest of the image was watercoloured. I found a 6x6 pack of paper from 7 Gypsies that I've had foreverrrrr with this funky text paper in it. I ran the ric-rac through my little xyron sticker maker (come on, you know you have one gathering dust too!) so it would sit nicely on the ribbon.

The inside is nice and simple, a coordinating sentiment and some more paper. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend - especially those of you in the US - Happy Memorial Day!



Stamps: Summer by the Sea, Short & Sweet, Heard from the Heart
Paper & Card: Creamy Caramel card
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Assorted inks for colouring
Other: Very Vanilla Grosgrain, Sponge Daubers

Paper & Card: 7 Gypsies paper
Other: Oval Nestabilities, Colluzle Template (scallops), Ric-Rac

OCC: Colour & Texture Challenge

This week's challenge at Our Creative Corner is extra fun - Loretta has challenged us to make a black and White card with lots of texture - and to use text as our focal point. I went for a range of textures on my card, dry embossing, paper flowers, brads and a little ribbon.

I've used the Circle Scissor Plus to cut my circle elements and a jumbo grommet and brad for my flower center.

Pull out all your black and white supplies and play along. Head on over to Our Creative Corner to see the wonderful array of design team creations!

 

Paper & Card: Whisper White & Basic Black card 
Ink: Black

Other: Black Brads, Jumbo Grommets E-mail me to purchase.
Stamps: Feeling Groovy - Verve
Other: Long Rectangle Nestabilities, Ribbon, Textile Embossing Folder, Flowers - Prima

Faux Sunshine

Brrrr! I know some of you in the Northern Hemisphere are having an unusually warm spring, I have a friend in PA who has taken great delight in telling me just how warm it is there this week (I'm looking at you B. - and yes I'm jealous!) so the idea of needing faux sunshine might seem silly, but goodness is it grey and dreary here in Wellington/New Zealand! Heading into what seems like the 100th day of rain in a row, I settled for creating something bright and cheerful in my stamp room.

I've used the Crazy 4 Challenges sketch by the wonderful Cindy for this card. The colour combo is Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun and a hint of Yoyo Yellow.

Oh how I love that Urban Prairie paper. See that cute little bee? *happy sigh*

I've left the inside of the card blank for the moment, I'll stamp a sentiment when I send it.

Hope there's sunshine where ever you may be!




Paper & Card: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise & Summer Sun card
Ink: Rose Red, Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise & Old OlivePunches: Large Corner Rounder punch
Other: Linen Thread E-mail me to purchase.
Stamps: Three Flowers - Inkadinkado
Paper & Card: Urban Prairie - Basic Grey
Other: Square Nestabilities, Satin Ribbon, Button, Rhinestones

OCC Sketch #17

Hi everyone - long time no blog! I've had a completely offline week, filled with good books, snuggling, lots of crochet, baking and getting things done around the house, it's been lovely and quiet. The weather here has been very cold and wet - great weather for relaxing by the fire!

This week's OCC Sketch got me back into my stamping room and creating - this is a great sketch that you can dress up with lots of embellishments, or keep it simple like I did.

 

I've used the Stampin' Royalty colours for this week - Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery & Pretty in Pink. Soft Summer must be my all-time favourite two-step stamping set I think - it just looks so pretty in any number of colour combos.

I kept the inside of this one really simple - I used the Top Note die to cut my layer, and added a sentiment from the Best Yet hostess set.

Head on over to the OCC Sketch blog to see the wonderful design team creations!



Stamps: Soft Summer, Best Yet
Paper & Card: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry & Certainly Celery
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry & Certainly Celery
Punches: Lg & Scalloped Oval, Curly Label punchesBig Shot: Top Note Die
Other: Piercing Tool, Soft Subtles Brads E-mail me to purchase.
Other: Circle Nestabilities, Satin Ribbon

OCC: Sketch Week

This week the lovely Loretta has given us a fun sketch to work with at Our Creative Corner. Love this one -  lots of layers for stamping or embossing or patterned paper.

I've also worked with the Color Throwdown challenge for this week - Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette & Melon Mambo, and the Stamp Something challenge to use two of something on your creation - I've used two jumbo eyelets.

I watercoloured my image and added glitter glue paint to the icing on the cake.

For the inside of the card I've repeated that fun paper from the Walk in the Park pack and punched out my sentiment from On Your Birthday.

Head over to Our Creative Corner - the design team have some wonderful samples this week!




Stamps: Celebrate Everyday, On Your Birthday
Paper & Card: Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo & Whisper White cardWalk in the Park DP
Ink: Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo
Punches: Scalloped Circle & Circle Punches
Other: Melon Mambo Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Mat Pack, Piercing Tool E-mail me to purchase.
Other: Jumbo Eyelets, Oval Nestabilities

OCC Sketch #16 - What's Up Cupcake?

Yay....it's time for a new OCC Sketch. This one's a classic - it'll work with so many different styles and images, it's really fun!
In fact, I hadn't realised how similar the card I posted this morning was - I made that one a few days ago, I must be going through an "oval" stage at the moment!

Remember, a sketch is just a jumping off point for your creativity! Feel free to move or slightly change elements. I changed the circle layer to an oval and moved the three embellishments to highlight my sentiment.

This is one of my favourite colour combos of all time - Purely Pomegranate, River Rock, Basic Black & Whisper White. It's elegant, but fresh at the same time. I pepped it up with some polka dots and those sassy little cupcakes! The cupcake image is paper pieced and I added shine with Crystal Effects. The background swirl is from the Priceless stamp set.

For the inside panel I stamped the cupcakes again in River Rock ink, but stamped off once to get a more shadowy image. I used the offcut of ribbon from trimming my bow to make this faux bow using a brad - easy way to use up some scraps!

Head on over to the OCC sketch blog - there's some amazing eye candy from the design team and you can link up your card based on this week's sketch!



Stamps: Priceless
Paper & Card: River Rock, Basic Black & Whisper White cardHoliday Harmony DP
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, River Rock & Basic Black 
Other: Crystal Effects, Black Brads E-mail me to purchase.
Stamps: Essential Sentiments & What's Up Cupcake - MFT Stamps
Punches: Threading Water punch - Fiskars
Other: Polka Dot Ribbon

Pretty Inspiration

Ok, how pretty are these colours?!

I had to play along with Kristina's colour challenge this week - the colours are just so feminine! I used Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Going Gray & Whisper White of course.

I stamped my 4.5" square card base with the Polka Dot background - the image from Live Your Dream was inked with Pink Pirouette first, then a Regal Rose marker for the flower petals and Kiwi Kiss for the stems. I have added a little shimmer with a glitter marker but I don't think that will show in the photo.

I repeated the flower image on the inside of the card - it's too pretty not too!




Stamps: Polka Dot Background, Tiny Tags, Live Your Dream
Paper & Card: Baja Breeze, Whisper White & Going Gray cardCandylane DP
Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose & Pink Pirouette
Punches: Large Corner Rounder, Jewelery Tag
Other: White Taffeta Ribbon, Cutter Kit, Linen Thread E-mail me to purchase.
Punches: Apron Lace - Fiskars
Other: Oval Nestabilities, White Brads, Glitter Marker - American Crafts

Project Tuesday: Card & Bookmark

It's time for another great Project Tuesday challenge! This week we're making cards with a matching bookmark! You can make a separate bookmark, or make your card with a detachable bookmark like I did.

I made my card and bookmark for my youngest brother Leroy. When he comes to stay with me we have "quiet reading time" in the afternoons. I get a little peace and quiet and to indulge in one of my biggest passions - reading - and he loves the time together. We're already planning a trip to the library when he comes to stay for over a month this Christmas - can't wait!

The sketch for the front of my card comes from Card Patterns. It's nice and simple, perfect for highlighting a special image. I watercoloured and paper pieced the image. My colour combo is Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie & Chocolate Chip.

Here's the inside of my card, showing the detachable bookmark. I've used the perforating blade from the Cutter Kit to score the bookmark so it can be torn off. (If you'd like a tutorial - leave a comment, I'll whip one up if there's some interest).

How cute is this little guy? I masked the bookworm so I could stamp the bookshelf behind him.

Here's the inside of the card when it's opened right out. I was a little sick of colouring, so just stamped the books in Going Gray behind the sentiment - love this look!

Head on over to Project Tuesday to see the rest of the design team creations - I hope you'll play along with us this week!




Paper & Card: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red & Whisper White
Ink: Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Going Gray & Chocolate Chip
Punches: Word Window
Other: Riding Hood Red Ribbon, Antique Brass Brad, Aquapainter, Cutter Kit E-mail me to purchase.
Stamps: I {heart} Books - MFT
Paper & Card: Offbeat - Basic Grey
Punches: Upper Crest punch - Fiskars
Other: Oval Nestabilities