Monday 28 January 2008

Ribbons

The challenge over at the Scrummy Stash Cafe this week is to use ribbons. I've got a huge box of ribbons but isn't it always the way that I never have exactly the right shade I need... so I go and buy more! I just can't resist them... a metre of this, a metre of that...and I must have some of that one... it's like buying pick and mix sweeties! And then there are the 'special' ribbons, the lush velvets, the sparkly edged ones, the pretty printed ones... beautiful to look at and stroke but oh so hard to actually cut up and use!!! I did intend to grit my teeth and use one of my 'special' ribbons on this card... but wouldn't you know it, I didn't have exactly the right shade so I used plain satin ribbon instead!
I tried to make it a bit more interesting by twirling the tails on the bow :-)))

Paper by Brenda Pinnick, stamps by Magnolia and See-D's, Prima flowers

Sunday 27 January 2008

Daring Cardmakers - foiled!


Well the challenge on Daring Cardmakers this week had me thinking - use kitchen foil on your project!!!

I stuck foil to a piece of card and ran it through a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I was amazed how fab it looks. What a super challenge, I'd never have thought of doing this in a million years!

I used the foil, a Magnolia rubber stamp, sorry I can't remember who the patterned paper is by!

Friday 25 January 2008

It's Rudolph Day!


So what is Rudolph Day? Well... over in the cardmaking forum on UKScrappers, one of the members suggested a new monthly challenge to make our Christmas cards all through the year, instead of in one mad rush just before Christmas. Sounds good to me! The idea took off and starting today, the 25th of every month will be Rudolph Day on UKS :-)



So here it is, the first of my Christmas 2008 cards! I've only managed one card today, but I hope to make a few more over the next few days. For this one I used a Magnolia snowman and the Winter Nellie stamp from Funkykits. I used a Cuttlebug die for the glittery snowflakes and added quite a lot of Stickles Frosted Lace. I used most of my Christmas papers up for cards last year, so if I'm going to be making Christmas cards every month from now on, I need to hunt a few more down! Honestly, I really do 'need' to go stash shopping!!!

Wednesday 23 January 2008

ISMAKI Challenge #3


I don't normally like to work from sketches but I'm finding the weekly card challenges over on the ISMAKI blog really inspiring! There's always an option b to work from if you don't fancy the main sketch and there are really lovely examples from their Design Team too. Today it's really grey and miserable outside so I decided to make a really bright card for this challenge :-)

The double-sided papers are from the Sugar Plum range by collagepress, stamp by Magnolia and the felt flowers from my local pound shop. I've added some Stickles glitter to the icing on the cake just to give it a little sparkle.

Tuesday 22 January 2008

Violets are blue!


This weeks challenge from Papertake is Violets are Blue.
'We'd like to see Blues or Purples this week please!'
I 've had quite a productive morning as I ended up making not one, but two cards for this challenge!




The decoupage card has a pearlised pale apple green card background which I embossed with my Cuttlebug. I love decoupage, I find the cutting out really relaxing. I don't even mind the smell of the silicone glue :-)

I used a Magnolia stamp for the blue card, the background paper is from the K & Co Hopscotch Boy range and the sentiment stamps are by See-D's.

Monday 21 January 2008

Shiny Silver


I made this card for the Week 3 challenge over at Tilda and Company. The challenge was to use silver, which for some weird reason is a colour I only ever seem to use at Christmas. I found some gorgeous textured silver card which I've been hoarding for ages and ages. The biggest part of this challenge was to actually cut it up and use it!
I've used my gorgeous silver card (which doesn't show up that well in the photo), paper by Karen Neuberger, Prima flowers with silver brad centres and of course, Magnolia stamps! Stickles 'Star Dust' on the torn paper edge and on the wings.

Sunday 20 January 2008

Chips anyone?



I spotted this challenge over at the Scrummy Stash Cafe blog
Anyone for Chips!
'Use 3 different pieces of chipboard on your layout or card.'


As I'd only yesterday been sorting out some stash on a shelf and unearthed a box of chipboard shapes that haven't seen the light of day for months and months, I thought I'd give it a go!

The heart, wavy line and plaque are chipboard, painted with MM paints. Papers are from the K & Co Small Wonders Boy range and I used one of my lovely Sugar Nellie stamps for the main image. I hadn't used any chipboard on my cards before so although this was a quick card, I had a lot of fun making it!
Needless to say, the box of chipboard shapes has now been left in a handy place :-)


Thursday 17 January 2008

another challenge!



I found another card challenge to do! This time on the Papertake weekly challenge blog.
'This weeks challenge, Roses are Red.. is to use red on your card! Any shade or shades of red that you like from bright pillar box to deep burgandy'

I had a lot of fun getting inky with this one! Papers is from the K&Co McKenna range and I stamped the image with Adirondack cranberry. I've had this photo stamp for so long that I've forgotten the name of it and who makes it! I really like this stamp so it was nice to pull it out of the box and use it again
.

Wednesday 16 January 2008

Tilda & Co challenge #2 - numbers


This weeks challenge on the Tilda & Co challenge blog was to use numbers as well as Magnolia stamps. We have an 11th birthday coming up in the family in April, so I'm feeling well organised with this one! I wanted to get some texture on this card, so I layered some corrugated brown card behind the stamped image. The frayed netting is sewn on with fine string, which I've used to attach the tag. The stamp is by Magnolia and I used chipboard numbers, inked and chalked.

I'm loving all these challenges, they really get me going and actually making cards. It's also nice to browse round the different design teams work too, not to mention all the challenge participants blogs. I can spend hours ooh'ing and aaah'ing over all the lovely cards!

I'm off for a hunt round for more challenges to take part in!

Tuesday 15 January 2008

Ismaki Challenge #2


I made this card last night, based on this weeks challenge sketch at ISMAKI
The stamp is by Sugar Nellie, available only from Funky Kits - I love these stamps! They stamp so cleanly and the images are really detailed but very easy to cut out.

The background paper is by All My Memories, text stamps are from a set by See-D's. I used some thin beige suede strips for the criss cross elements - very strokable!

Sunday 13 January 2008

Tilda & Co Challenge

I made this card today for the first challenge on the Tilda & Co blog. This week's challenge was to use flowers as well as a Magnolia stamp.. or two.. or three LOL.


I stamped some small flowers in the grass under the bench and added 3 Prima flowers. Stamps used: Magnolia and the small flowers and butterfly are from a Tapestry set.

I've also finished another two cards this weekend - the first is a new baby card and the second is a birthday card. Used Magnolia stamps for them both of course! I so love these stamps!



I must tidy my desk and then plan what cards to make next!