Starry Sky Bunnies

Just a quick post today to link up with a few starry sky related challenges. I tried something a bit different with inking up the moon and the sky on black card using Distress Inks and then adding plenty of Ice Stickles to the moon and stars. 

I'm linking up with a few challenges:

AAA Cards - Moonlight 

Lawn Fawnatics - Bling It Out

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Starry Night

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Animal Antics

Card and paper: White 200 gsm card, black card, Lawn Fawn Let's Polka in the Dark, Perfectly Paid Rainbow, Perfectly Plaid Fall

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Starry Skies

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Oxides, Copics

Dies: Lawn Fawn Grassy Border Die

Other: Gold embossing powder, Ranger Ice Stickles

Cozy Autumn Cuppa

Today was the first morning this season I had to scrape the windscreen of my car. Or to be perfectly honest, the boo did it for me. I'm a feminist, but I have to say I love it when the boo does the stuff that involves getting cold hands... And what a heart-warming gesture to realise when you get your car that the windscreen has been scraped! He has his moments.

We need a hot cup or two when the weather turns icy, don't we? I had to wait for a train for quite a long while out in the cold this morning, and would not have managed without my huge vat of hot latte to keep me warm. Today's card was inspired by that steaming mug of comfort as well as the cozy image over at Inspired by All The Little Things and the sketch over at Fusion Card Challenge. I'm also linking up over at Shopping Our Stash where the theme is to use a sketch and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where Anything Goes this week.

Card and paper: 250 gsm brown card, Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Christmas, Perfectly Plaid Chill, Knock on Wood, Neenah Solar white card

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Love You a Latte and matching dies

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress marker, Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Dies: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Nesting dies, Stitched Leaves, Tag You're It, Big Scripty Words, Everyday Banners

Smile A Latte

All good things must come to an end, including my lovely autumn annual leave. Many pairs of socks have been knitted, many cards made and even more lettering practice has been done. But now it's over and I have to face going back to the coal mines... 

Before that, I wanted to link up one more card over at the Fall Coffee Lover's Blog Hop - it's already the last day of the hop! Time goes so quickly. I'm also linking up with the new fall inspiration board challenge over at Lawn Fawnatics. I was inspired by the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches. I'm also linking up with the "Autumn Colours" challenge over at Make My Monday and the "Pop It Up"challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge (the tag is attached using 3D foam dots).

Card: kraft card, scraps of yellow, orange and red card, Neenah Solar white card

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Love You A Latte and matching dies

Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid

Ink and colouring: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Dies: Lawn Fawn Tag You're It, Stitched Leaves

Gleeful Garden in a Box

I realised I haven't posted this year's Mother's Day Card. I was excited to get to play with the new Lawn Fawn box card die, and I thought I'll make a garden party to celebrate spring. I had so much fun stamping and colouring the flowers and all the cute little critters. And I love how all the pieces from the box card die fit together. I've made box cards before but this die takes away all the fuss having to cut and measure the elements of the box.

I'm linking up with the current Lawn Fawnatics challenge where the challenge is to play with the inspiration image and/or colours. I'm also linking up with Make My Monday where the theme is Sugar and Spice (can you see the little cupcake over there in the grass?) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is A Bit of Sparkle.

Card: Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes, Perfectly Plaid, Let's Polka, Glitter Paper

Stamps: Gleeful Garden, Critters in the Forest, Baked With Love and Big Scripty Words with matching dies, Happy Everything

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Dies: Scalloped Box Card Pop-Up, Simple Puffy Clouds, Simple Puffy Cloud Frames, Rainbow, Grassy Border

Oh The Places You'll Flamin-go

It's been a while since I just had time to sit on the sofa, browse challenge blogs and get inspired by the challenges. And we have finally moved into spring proper, one of the great things about that is there is enough light in the evenings to have a crafting session and get photos as well! Better enjoy that while it lasts. And today everything just fell into place, and I found a bunch of super inspiring challenges. 

I have been meaning to play along with the new Lawn Fawnatics challenge, but life has been so hectic lately that I haven't managed to join in the fun for the first three challenges. However, as soon as I saw their new challenge, "Black/white And Bright", I knew this time I had to play along. I was also inspired by the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and the "A Hint of Pink" challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. Last but not least I was also inspired by the bright colours and sequins over at House of Cards and the Stamping+Splattering+Your Choice over at CAS Mixup. My choice to add was die cutting and heat embossing.

I started by stamping the flaming from Lawn Fawn Flaming together and the palm from Critters from the Past, colouring them with Copics and die cutting with the matching dies. I also die cut the sun from Spring Showers and banners using the Everyday Sentiment Banners and stamped the sentiment from the Flamingo Together set, heat embossing in black and white. Then I splatted three different yellow Distress inks onto the background before arranging the scene, adding a strip of black and white paper to the side of the card in line with the black and white theme over at the Lawn Fawnatics challenge. Last, I added some sequins as a finishing touch, inspired by the House of Cards challenge.

Card: 250 gsm white hammered card, scrap of black card

Paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka in the Dark, Let's Polka in the Meadow, Perfectly Plaid

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Flamingo Together, Critters from the Past and matching dies

Dies: Lawn Fawn Spring Showers, Everyday Sentiment Banners

Ink and Colouring: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine, Copics, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber

Other: Heat embossing powders in white and black, sequins from my stash

Colourful Circles

It's rather grey and dreary out there so I thought we really need a card with bright colours today. I was inspired by the new challenge over at AAA Cards which is circles. I was also inspired by the sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch and the CAS Mixup challenge where I have already played along twice this month but could not resist a third go as I think this month's challenge of Stamping+Masking+Your choice (die cutting in my case) is just so much fun I couldn't resist a third go. I'm also linking up with Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With a Die Cut challenge.

I started by inking through the ARTplorations Bubble Dance stencil using Distress inks Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean and Picked Raspberry. I just love how the colours blend and you get so many more colours than you start with. Then I used the CUTplorations Happy Word die and die cut words for the sentiment from Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid paper and black card. To complete the sentiment I stamped the word Birthday from STAMPlorations Balloons And Banners. Last, I added a lot of Ice Stickles for some bling. 

Card: 250 gsm white card, scarp of black card
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean and Picked Raspberry
Stamps: STAMPlorations Balloons And Banners
Stencils: ARTplorations Bubble Dance 
Dies: CUTplorations Happy Word die
Other: Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid paper, Ranger Ice Stickles

You Can Do This!

Busy day today, have spent most of it with my new journal. I'll show you soon, I promise (stop rolling those eyes, I can see you!). Then we went outside (yes, we did!) for a cycle ride to enjoy the autumnal weather and were very lucky as it didn't rain at all! I did manage to ride my bike into a big pothole and somehow managed to pull my back and hip. You would think I'm at least 60, although if this is what my body is like now, I don't want to think about what it will be like in 10 years time. Anyhow, I just about managed to finish this card and get a snap of it before we lost daylight. Sadly we are now back in the time where photography time is very limited and I know I won't have a chance to take any photos after work and will have to constrain all photography to weekends.

Today's card was inspired by the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and the gorgeous colours in the super-fun inspiration image over at Inspired by All The Little Things. I just love the gorgeous colours, as soon as I saw the image I had to drag myself from the sofa to my craft room (this was post-bikeride) and dig out my Gansai Tambis. Ok, confession, I didn't have to dig them out, they were on the floor next to the desk. Right now pretty much all my crafty gear are out on the desk/floor/any other surface in the craft room. I'm also linking up with Addicted to Stamps and More where the theme is CAS. 

Card: 250 gsm white card, scrap of turquoise card, 300 gsm Daler&Rowney watercolour paper

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Wheelie Like You, Clare's ABCs

Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolour, Copics E00, E34, E37, E39, C1, C3, C5

Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle dies, Perfectly Plaid paper

BYOB - Bring Your Own Bone

 

I'm suffering from severe post-holiday depression. I've only been away from work since Tuesday but it seems like a month. It's been such a wonderful few days in good company, not to mention wonderful weather (apart from today). Now I have to deal with going back to my overflowing inbox and all the problems I have pushed out of my mind, not to mention getting back to the diet and exercise regime. How I wish I would win the lottery and never have to go back to work again. 

Today I have spent most of the day in the craft room, creating and stuffing my face with sweets. I had so much fun making this card, which was inspired by the H is for Hounds challenge over at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers. I was also inspired by the fun Punny Time challenge over at Lawnscaping (this is my second card for this challenge). I'm also linking up with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge where the theme is Make for the Border as I used quite a number of border dies on this card, not to mention adding the scalloped border behind the scene and with Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge where the theme is Summer Fun.

I got out my Gansai Tambi watercolours and started by colouring bits of watercolour paper for the background die cuts - blues for the sky, yellows for the sun, reds and oranges for the tree border and a darker and lighter green for the two grassy backgrounds. After the backgrounds dried I die cut pieces using the Lawn Fawn Forest border, Stitched hillside borders, Grassy borders and Stitched rectangle dies. I also die cut the sun and cloud using Spring Showers dies. Next, I stamped the dogs and accessories in Versafine Onyx Black, coloured using watercolours and die cut with the matching dies. I also stamped and die cut the letters for the sentiment in Stampin' Up inks. Last, I die cut a piece of Perfectly Plaid in colours matching the scene using a Scalloped rectangle die and stamped the sentiment inside the card.

Card: 300 gsm linen textured card, 190 gsm watercolour paper

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters at the Dog Park and matching dies, Owen's ABCs and matching dies, Party Animal and matching dies, Clare's ABCs

Ink and colouring: Versafine Onyx Black, Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolours

Dies: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle dies, Scalloped Rectangle dies, Forest border die, Stitched Hillside die, Grassy border die, Spring Showers die

Critter birthday in the woods

What an insanely crazy week. Working towards our project's big Quarterly review on Friday, and there simply isn't enough hours in a day for anything else than reports, slide shows, emails and a bit of sleep in between. However, today I decided to finish a card I have been creating bit by bit for the current Lawnscaping challenge "Calling all critters". So I thought the critters would hang out in the forest and have a great birthday party with party hats and cupcakes! I love combining the various Lawn Fawn Stamp set and have used five different sets here, along with some lovely Lawn Fawn patterned papers. And sadly, it's back to writing reports now, any further crafting will have to wait until the weekend. 

I'm also linking up with the Unicorn Challenge where the theme is polka dots and the Critters and Creatures Linky Party where anything goes with a cute critter. 

Card: 300 gsm white card 

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters in the Forest, Critters in the Arctic, Party Animals, Joy to the Woods, Hats off to You and matching dies

Inks and colouring: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka in the Meadow, Let's Polka, Perfectly Plaid

Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Frame, Stitched Hillside Borders, Grassy border and Happy Birthday Border 

Smile crocodile!

We are all among friends here, so I'm probably safe in admitting that my craft room is a complete mess. First of all, I dug out some old crafty stuff I had stashed away in the loft as I sold some old, unloved stamp sets, dies and embossing folders on eBay. And the remaining stuff is still lying around, waiting to either be taken to the bin or donated somewhere (any tips anyone, do you get rid of your old crafty stuff by donating to a school, nursery etc?). I have also been so crazy busy at work that I have hardly managed to craft at all, and the few times I have made it to the craft desk, I have focussed all my energy on the process of crafting, not cleaning up. Therefore, this is what my crafty desk looks like at the moment. 

I know I should probably hang my head in shame, but at the same time, it comes with some perks. Like the fact that to make today's card, I could find almost all the stuff I needed on my desk instead of having to go hunting for it on shelves and in drawers. The added perk was that to create the cute croc, I used a scrap piece of card I had coloured for this card. 

As I've had some trouble getting my mojo going lately, I've been eagerly perusing the wonderful challenges and all the inspiration from the wonderful DT's to get going. For this card, I was inspired by the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and the colours over at Color Throwdown. I was also inspired by the CAS Mixup where the theme is Stamping + stencil + your choice (in my case die cutting, smooshing and heat embossing). I also didn't quite manage to get the sentiment and croc to stand out from the background with just stamping in black ink, and when I saw the E is for embossing challenge over at Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, a lightbulb went off in my head, and I heat embossed them in black glittery powder which made them pop much more against the background.

Card: 300 gsm white linen textured card, 300 gsm watercolour card

Paper: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka and Perfectly Plaid

Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters Down Under and matching dies

Ink and paints: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Mustard Seed and Twisted Citron, Tim Holtz Distress Paints Mermaid Lagoon and Twisted Citron, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black

Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Frames and Everyday Sentiment Banners dies, ARTplorations stencil Retro Circles

Bunny scarf in Perfect Plaid

I've spent some time re-organising my stash of coloured cardstock. I hardly ever use coloured card, or patterned paper for that matter, but I sure have a lot of both. At least some of it is a bit more organised now, hopefully that will encourage me to use it more. I bought so much crafting stuff before I really found my "look". If I would do it all over now, I would save a lot of money as there would be so much stuff I wouldn't buy. These days if I buy something I'm pretty sure to actually use it. I'm currently trying to sell off some of my unloved crafty stash on Ebay, I have several Sizzix dies and die sets as well as Stampin' Up stamp sets. All starting at £0.99, so go grab yourself a bargain here. All the stuff is in great condition, although they are all pre-loved. But everything still works perfectly well! I would love for my stuff to find a new, loving home as they are currently just sitting in the cupboard.

One of the things I recently ordered, and I know I will love and use a lot is this adorable new Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid paper. My inspiration for this card was the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and the inspiration image over at Daring Cardmakers. I was inspired by the beautiful pastel spring colours, the bunny and the silver on the cake stand for my card. I was also inspired by the bunny image over at If You Give a Crafter A Cookie. Furthermore, I'm linking up with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where Anything Goes, Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge, Fussy and Fancy Challenges where the theme is pastel colours and Creative Corner Challenges where the theme is Use Embossing Powder.

Card: 300 gsm textured white card, Vanguard card VA019 Lime Green, Neenah Solar White card
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters in the Arctic, Scripty Sayings
Ink and colouring: Tsukineko Versamark and Memento Tuxedo Black and Copics C1, C3, C5
Paper: Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid
Other: Papermania Silver Tinsel embossing powder