The Shabby Tearoom Challenge #185 'The Splendor of Fall'

The design team from The Shabby Tearoom made such wonderful inspiration cards for this challenge, I just had to have a go even though I knew I didn't have anything apple related in my craft room.

Click on the image to have a look at the challenge cards.

 I ended up cutting out an apple and stalk shape, and using part of an Avery Elle stamp set for the wee leaves.

It's been a while since I used brads but this card just seemed to need them. Nails in the apple boxes????? :-)

Stamps: Hero Arts Sentiment and Hero Arts White Embossing Powder
Dies: Spellbinders leaves
Paper: Kaisercraft, Basic Grey (really really old) MME, Neenah white (apple and it's leaves)
Other:  Brads, Seam binding ribbon (aged), buttons, hemp twine, buttons

I am skating to get this posted in time so must end this post.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

ColourQ Challenge # 208 - Black and White with one Colour.

As soon as I saw ColourQ's challenge for this week I knew my 'other' colour was going to be turquoise.

I have no idea why, it just popped into my head!!

 I have to say, I love this card. I have used the trendy blackboard background for the sentiment.
I haven't read any 'how to's' on this technique yet. I just rubbed a bit of white pastel on the black cutout with a dry tissue. I think this achieved the blackboardy look .

Stamps: Hero Arts sentiment, Avery Elle honey comb border

Dies: Spellbinders medium rolled rose, foliage hand punch

Paper: Neenah White, Kaisercraft black, Blackboard and turquoise background Pixel Scrapper

Other: B/W twine, grosgrain ribbon, flatback pearl, rhinestones.

Thanks for dropping by.

Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge # 76 Snowmen

Hello everyone. I do hope your Christmas card stash is growing ready to send out to loved ones.

The theme for the Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge this week is a cheerful snowman.
New Zealand Christmas's are in the middle of summer so a snowman Christmas card is rarely seen here.
They are such adorable characters so it was great to have the opportunity to make a snowman card.

For my card I made a snowman using Spellbinders circles with a wee bit of drawing and inking. Couldn't resist adding a fabric scarf.

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Lots of Hearts
Dies: Spellbinders small Circles. Cuttlebug embossing folder.
Inks: Versamagic and Memento.
The background Merry Christmas strip was made in Publisher.

I made another card without the fabric scarf.

Free Printable snowman sheet here in my Dropbox.
Thanks for dropping in. I look forward to seeing your snowmen creations.
Karen

Moxie Fab's Tuesday Trigger - In Transition Card 2

I have had a busy week but I really couldn't stop thinking about this weeks Trigger. I had this stamp set on my desk from another challenge and it gave me the idea for this card. My second for Moxie Fab's Tuesday Trigger challenge.

Stamps: Clearly Besotted Leafy accents, Hero Arts sentiment, Impression Obsession Honey Bee A8859

Dies: PTI  'You'

Inks: Memento

Card: Neenah White

Have a creative week.

Karen

Runway Inspired Challenge #44 - Zuhair Murad

It's been a while since I made a card for the Runway Inspired Challenge. I love this dress it is so delicate.

 I have used shantung silk backed with interfacing for the die cut leaves. It cut really cleanly, the interfacing is the secret here. It is shiny in the light, and much darker and matte coloured out of the light. The photo doesn't really show that gorgeous silk sheen.

Stamp:- Penny Black 2716F

Die:- Clearly besotted Leafy Accents PTI Hexagon cutout. Martha Stewart butterfly Punch.

Card:- Bazzill Basics White.

Another card made.

Have a wonderful week.

Moxie Fab's Tuesday Trigger - In Transition

When I saw Moxie Fab's Tuesday Trigger all I could think about was vellum. I tried several things but nothing really gelled. I will share one I did make at the bottom of this post so you can all have a giggle at my expense. The vellum looks like coloured toilet rolls!! This wasn't my original intent.

The trigger image is so deserving of something lovely so I thought, after transparency, what next caught my attention.....that would be the fine stripes. The stamp I used is actually a dot/spot but I loved the distressed stripes. There is some transparency happening because the dye ink allows the white base card show through.

Stamps:- Hero Arts CL519 Many Dots and CL584 All the time Sentiment
Punch:- 1"
Ink:- Hero arts Shadow inks
Card:- Bazzill blue and Neenah white


In an effort to be a bit 'different' (ehhhhhk), we have this card..............................

In their defense, I do think these wee rolls would make a great ground for a sentiment.

A bit like a 'ye olde sentiment'!!??

I inked the vellum with dye ink. Dried with a heat gun.

Rolled up the vellum and ran a wee piece of roller glue across the place I wanted the roll to hold.

I glued them on to the card with a drop of Tombow. 

Meet you back here soon.
Karen

colourQ challenge #206...

I am so pleased to be joining colourQ challenge #206 this week. This is a quick post as I am getting close to the linky closing. 

The aqua in the photo is showing more blue than it actually is. I tried rephotographing but it doesn't change it much. My paper is more aqua than the Bermuda Bay shown. 

Stamps:- Hero Arts sentiment 
Inks:-Hero Arts Raspberry Jam
Dies:-Spellbinders from Aster and Poppy dies
Card:- Neenah white, Bazzill Linen sea greeny? 
Embellishments:- buttons, pearls, twine

Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge #75

Hi everyone. Gosh the entries for the last challenge were all fabulous, congratulations everyone.

The photo for the Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge has such an opulent look with the rich red and sparkly bits, I know you will find it filled with inspiration for your card creations. 

Click on the photo to take you to the challenge on Lesley's blog, Always Playing With Paper.

The challenge required Champagne gold. After a bit of thought, I found a gold embossed paper that I have had for some time. It is non-porous.
I dabbed a dry tissue in Pink Stazon ink and gently rubbed it on the gold, to make champagne gold!

Stamps:- Hero Arts sentiment (CL 359)
Inks:-Versafine black, Stazon Pink
Dies:-Spellbinders circle and Persian Motifs, Lil'inker Bow Small
Card:- Neenah white, Bazzill Linen white, classic Vanilla, Gold?
Embellishments:- buttons, fine rainbow glitter ?

Join in the challenge fun. Thanks for calling by.

Fusion Card Challenge #17

I am joining the Fusion Challenge this week, and have made a card using the sketch and the image. Click on the image below to go to Fusion's Blog.....and join in. So much fun.

 This is a hot wee card for me. I have been rather literal with the sketch by using the red and the Kraft directly from it. I then just used different reds, and a bit of orange and yellow for a bit of variety. See what you think.

Stamps:-SSS Apothecary Labels,Hero Arts Bird H5719, Hero arts background birthday print (CG269)
Inks:- Versafine Black and Memento
Paper:- MME Happy Day 6 x 6

Off to bed. Nite all.

Crazy Awesome with Lesley Croghan

My gosh, it's very hard to write this post and not be carried away by the moment.
Lesley Croghan is such an enthusiastic and gifted card maker in her own right, but she is also a great encourager to all card makers (I know many of you have been on the receiving end of her lovely comments), including those who craft 'under the radar'. Well it seems I have been lucky enough to become one of the many wee 'blips' on her radar, and she has done me the great honour of featuring me in the 'Crazy Awesome' section of her blog today. If you would like to have a look click Here. I even get a nice badge for my blog!! Large Cheshire grin!! Thanks Lesley.

I thought I should have a few images on this post, so here are some cards I made a few months ago, for no particular reason. Playing with stamps, and inspired by blogs I visit.

This one was inspired by Keisha at A Bit East-coast. Her cards are gorgeous. Have a look, you will see what I mean.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Karen

The Shabby Tearoom Week #183 - "Time Flies"

 Here we are with another wonderful Shabby Tearoom Challenge. They pick the best images to completely put you in a "Shabby' mood!! Click on their image below to take you to the challenge.

I really loved the dark and moody colours of the image so I stayed with them.

Stamps:- Hero Arts Sentiment Say It All (CL574), Paperartsy Clock

Dies:- Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Squares and Rose Creations

Other:-Martha Stewart Punch

Thanks for dropping in

Karen

The Ribbon Reel Challenge #61 'White on White'

Here we are with another totally gorgeous Ribbon Reel Challenge. Hmmmmmmm White on White!! I took the challenge fairly literally but did use cream to get some distinction in colour. Look at the fabulous cake in the image, and that lace!! Yummmo.

I was pleased with the result, and as is the way with challenges, it ...well.....it challenged me!

Card :-Bazzill and PTI Rustic cream
Dies:-MFT High-rise alphabet die and Spellbinders Fancy Lattice and Rose Creations (leaves)
Other:- Seam binding and organza ribbon, flower punch, purchased flowers, Adhesive flatback pearls, lace, stick pins

Thanks for dropping in. Until next time.

Karen

Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge #74

 Hi everyone. So here's the first post as a design team member with the Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge (I just like saying that!!), and my first card. Look at the fabulous Christmas scene in the inspiration photo. Such a lot of texture.
Click on the inspiration photo to take you to the challenge on Lesley's blog.
Do enter the challenge, it's another great reason to play with stamps and paper. This week use Green, White and Woodgrain in a Christmas theme. Remember, clicking on most blog photos gives you an even bigger view.

 

 

 

 

 

For my card I went with a vintage, textured look.

 

 

The wood grain background was created by brushing several colours of Memento ink over white wood grain card. Light brushing leaves the white 'valleys' .

 

 

Products Used:-

Stamps - Hero Arts sentiment (CL 359), Inkadinkadoo wood stamp PSX-G94619

Dies - PTI Medium Scallop and  Mat Stack 5 Die PTD-0085, MFT Stacking Star Die

Inks - Versafine black, Memento Dew Drops and Distress Markers.

Card - Neenah white, Simon Says Stamp Woodgrain white, Bazzill Green

Extras - Fine Gold Glitter, Wink of Stella Brush, seam binding 

 

 

Thanks for dropping in.

Karen