Chevrons

A new challenge over at the The Shabby Tearoom this week, and it's Charlene's turn to host. Taking  inspiration from this photo, create a card or project with Chevrons, and use the colors, Blue, Green, Orange,Yellow, Brown and Cream as in the following inspiration picture:

We have a fantastic prize this week offered by JustRite stamps, who are debuting some new sets of stamps on The Shabby Tearoom blog on Monday … how cool is THAT! Here's what you can win:

 
and here is my interpretation for this week's challenge:

I have used the fabulous "Greetings from Paris" set of stamps provided by Justrite on my card to create the postcard and tag. Very Parisienne and very me - I love these stamps!

Challenges: Simon Says Stamp - Dies / Punches

Check out the Shabby Girls blogs for some more inspiration:

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - Deb's Simple Treasures

Charlene Cundy - Expressions Of Me!

Cindy Holshouser - Sweet P Paperie

Melissa Bove - Creating From The Heart

Sheri Holt - My Sheri Cards

Vintage White

Well it's my first week on the DT over at the The Shabby Tearoom! Week #80's challenge is to

take inspiration from this beautiful inspiration photo and create a card or project using all neutrals - white, cream, kraft, brown, black.

This week's sponsor is Ellephantastic, and TSTR winner will receive 4 digi images of their choice.

So, onto my card - I loved the idea of using neutrels so much I made to projects!

My first being this card. I've used soft papers, lace and doilies to match the delicate tones and textures of the inspiration pic. For the centre frame I embossed some kraft card and lightly swept some white paint over it to to highlight, then used this fab brown rub on frame and finally this gorgeous Melissa Frances frame backed with a vintage image and little bird I cut from paper.

I made the flower by gathering layering different laces whch I've secured with a brad. The little 'pebble' at the top of the card was made with a magnifying resin stone, which I backed with a small piece of paper and decorated with some pearls.

For my second, I made a little tag and used this cute little witch digi stamp (Halloween Charlotte from Ellephantastic) coloured in with Pro Markers and a touch of glitter. Sanded wood textured Core'dinations topped with a doily and this fab spider web (cut from a sheet of paper). Painted corrugated card, Bakers Twine and a fun sentiment give it an extra spooky feel!

Check out the Shabby Girls blogs for some more inspiration:

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - Deb's Simple Treasures

Charlene Cundy - Expressions Of Me!

Cindy Holshouser - Sweet P Paperie

Melissa Bove - Creating From The Heart

Sheri Holt - My Sheri Cards

Floral Flutter

Our new Challenge #11 at theThe Ribbon Reel  is taking inspiration from this fab cake photo and making a Birthday themed card or project with ribbon/lace/twine.

For my card I've used a digi die-cut card blank and (look closely) some Prima doily print acetate packaging! I saw this and thought it was too nice to be kept just as packaging :) Of course I have used a lot of beautiful ribbons from the The Ribbon Reel :- seam binding, twill, lace and sheer ruffle.

My fave Tim Holtz die cuts came out again - the bird and cage! These are inked for delicacy and his wing has been Crackle Accented. I've used seam binding and a paper butterfly to decorated the cage, along with a chain and little metal key (so cute!).

Layered paper flowers, Prima glitter flower sticker and some doilies that cut from some October Afternoon paper (I am in love with this!) add a floral flourish.

Lace and a scallop border with Saf-Mat greeting finish the card off.

All ribbons/lace, Hellebores, and pink Roses from The Ribbon Reel

Birdcage die, Tim Holtz by Sizzix

Prima butterflies and glitter flower

October Afternoon paper 'Collectors Item'

Mini Key, 7Gypsies

Letraset 'Saf-Mat'

Pins

 

Happy Happy Birthday

This week it's Kathy's challenge at Daring Cardmakers, which is entitled How Many Candles -

make a Birthday Card with at least one candle on. We also have a prize up for grabs this week for one lucky winner - we are joining in the celebrations for the launch of Funky Hand latest Papercraft Factory CD, 'Happy Happy Birthday '

Our lucky random draw winner will receive a copy of this fabulous, brand new CD Rom!

To be in the draw you must:

1. Make a card for this week's challenge and leave a link so we can see it.

2. Add links to your blog mentioning to your readers about Funky Hand and Daring Cardmakers .

3. Enter your card for no more than FIVE other challenges

The DCM team have all used Funky Hand papers from the Happy Happy Birthday CD to make their cards this week so you'll see what it's all about, but of course you may not have any (yet), so you can use anything you like.

Challenges:

Card Patterns - Sketch 132

The Shabby Tearoom - Boys Will Be Boys

Stripe & Spot papers, Funky Hand
Core'dinations

Circle alphas, Pink Petticoat

Black alphas, Doodlebug

Chipboard brackets, American Crafts 'Thickers'

Doily bunting rub on, Crate Paper

Candle rub on

Twine

Buttons

A very exciting Tea Time

Some of you may know that one of my favourite blogs, The Shabby Tearoom ran a Design Team call to find two new designers recently, and I'd like to share with some exciting news - I was chosen to be part of the team!! :) I can't tell you how excited I am to be joining the Shabby Girls! The other new girl is the very talented Cindy Holshouser. We 'officially' start next week for the Week #80 Challenge. How exciting :)

The inspiration photo was this beauty:

And these are my entries!

I made this little cup out of papier mache, layering bits of paper and glue into a greased tea cup and saucer to get the 'mold'. Once this was done, I left it to dry overnight and the painted it with this pretty aqua paint and glazed it. Next came the fun part - decorating! I made the cup base by cutting the top of a polystyrene egg, which was a perfect fit and covering in papier mache and then spraying gold. Lace, seam binding and pearl string decorate the cup along with this pretty teacup tag. I used a digi stamp spoon for added effect and couldn't resist putting a little bow and flower on! For the gold decoration around the rim and saucer, I used Perfect Pearls in Gold.

For the card I've used layers of card and digi die cut shapes. The doily looks perfect for the 'tea theme' and this wonderful Pink Paislee doily stamp which I've heat embossed, looks so pretty. A stained seam binding rosette and hand made Fimo button give the card a regal topping. The greeting has been printed onto Letraset 'Saf-Mat', which makes a sticker (fun stuff!) and I've accented the greeting label with butterfly and a ruffled seam binding, button and resin embellishment.

Lace, applique, velvet ribbon and gathered satin ribbon add texture. The tea cup image is from Etsy, and I absolutely love it! I coloured this in with Pro Markers and used Glossy Accents on the flowers to replicate glaze. A tiny tag and some roses accent the cup.

 

Flutterby

It's Keilly's first dare this week over at Daring Cardmakers and she has chosen this gorgeous inspiration photo. Use the colours from the photo and also include butterflies!

Now I love Hydrangea flowers, and decided I must make one for this card! I made it by cutting a polystyrene ball in half and stuck these little flowers that I die cut all over the ball. I've used pearls and ink for decoration. I've added some roses and lush velvet leaves, splattered with some paint for interest, and some coiled Core'dinations flourishes.

 

This lovely lace from the Ribbon Reel has been layered over some natural mesh, and this fab X-Cut border finishes it nicely. The butterflies are a digi image which I've chalk inked and layered for dimension.

 

Challenges: Card Patterns - sketch

 Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Lets Create challenges - Blast From The Past - '#18 Say It With Flowers'

Papers, Etsy
Digi Butterflies, Two Peas In A Bucket
X-Cut 'Margaret' border die
Nellies Multi Frame 'Doily' dies
Pink & Green lace, The Ribbon Reel
Flowers, Wild Orchid crafts
Core'dinations
Polystyrene ball, Hobbycraft

Back To School

A new challenge is upon us over at The Ribbon Reel and Zuzana has chosen the theme 'Back To School'. Yes, it's that time of year again when the nights draw in (oh no!) and the kids toddle of back to school. I wanted to do something a bit different for my project, and came up with the idea of upcycling a notepad. I had so much fun doing this I'm planning to make some more as gifts.

I've used kraft and this perfect-for-the-job alphabet embossed Coredinations which I've sanded to give a blackboard effect. On top of that went my 'pencil holder' - I made a slit in the scalloped circle and fed a small loop of ribbon through which I sewed so keep it nice and tight so the pencils wouldn't fall out. I've used this wonderful Celery Loop Trim to edge the circle and decorate the pencils.

Some roughed up newsprint paper and glitter Thickers make a cute 'title'. Along the side of the card I've used a paper chain ruler (this is what is supposed to be, but I think they are great for cards!), Twill Stripe and Bakers Twine topped with a flower and cute crepe paper swirl in the centre.

I've tied small lengths of ribbon onto the sprial of the notebook for a finishing flourish!


All ribbons from the The Ribbon Reel
American Crafts 'Thickers'
Core'dinations by Cosmo Cricket
Phrase Label (on side) Cosmo Cricket
Dot paper, Echo Park 'For The Record'
Newsprint paper from Two Peas In A Bucket 'Collage Kit'
My Minds Eye ''Stella & Rose paper' (on scallop)
Ruler, East Of India

September Flowers

It's Flower of the Month time at Daring Cardmakers, and the choice for September's flower is either Asters or Morning Glory. I have chosen Asters for my card.

For this card I've used an off-cut of card as my base (great to use those bits up!) and I really like the shape as it's a little different. I've layered these lovely aqua papers up with an embossed a digi cut label, corrugated card oval that I've edged with ruffled seam binding. The Aster is made by using a Doodlebug 'Paper Frill', which is basically a fringed strip of card and rolled into a spiral then flattened out the petals and inked. A brad and some felt flowers finish off the Aster. Lace, aqua satin and palce blue velvet ribbon runs along the top with some cute little buttons and twine.


Challenges:
Cr84fn Colour challenge - Light blue, Turquoise, neutrels

Garnet Noel

Challenges: The Shabby Tearoom  - Birthstones
Papertakeweekly - Sketch

My birthstone is Garnet, so I decided to make (another) Christmas card! To me, it's the perfect festive colour and I'm also quite pleased with myself for getting another Christmas card 'in the bag'!

I've layered up with Core'dinations and 7Gypsies paper, two of my favourite things! How fabulous is the Christmas script and garnet and cream flocked card?! Cotton lace, twill and trim decorate the middle of the card and fab chipboard  frame backed with flourish textured Core'dinations and embellished with a little felt dove with chipboard wings. The chip greeting is adhered onto corrugated card highlighted with paint.

I've pushed the boat out and used this beautiful pearl flourish and topped with a Crackle Painted snowflake, metal charm and a smaller inked snowflake that I have accented with Crackle glaze. A tissue paper bow and festive roses finish off this little card.

 

Thanks for reading!