Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #15

Have you seen Dawn McVey's blog yet? She has a really professional and contemporary style - there isn't one card of hers that I don't like! She also has a very popular colour challenge that I've never done before but this week's one is sooo tasty I couldn't resist it...



As soon as I saw the colours I thought of ice cream! Specifically, those in an ice cream parlour my husband and I visited last year at the harbour in Auckland, New Zealand - they had melon flavour and then I thought of vanilla, pistachio, raspberry... nearly the colours of Dawn's challenge! I had my theme but I really struggled to come up with a format. Luckily, I knew I had the image I wanted to use straight away - an ice cream image from Elzybells. I just love their cute stamps! Surprisingly it took me 3 hours to come up with the design and complete the card - that's pretty quick for me! I'm never going to make any money making cards if it takes me that long to create just one! Anyhoo, here it is, what do you think?



The photo shows up the colours far brighter than reality which are pretty close to Dawn's colours. I just can't get the lighting right - must create that light box asap! Anyway, I didn't have any printed paper that matched so I used my fav Hero Arts raindrop background stamp with Versamark and cream embossing powder to give a little interest. I was also going to use my Copics to colour in the ice creams, but decided that I loved the 'linen' effect by using my colour pencils instead. To give it a little pop, I put glitter on top of the ice creams, think you might be able to see it here...



I'm really getting into these challenges and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next week! Caio for now!


Papers/cardstock: Bazzill Basics cardstock in vanilla, light olive green and raspberry (don't know actual colour)
Stamps: Elzybells Mini Messages Summertime, Lizzie Anne Designs Sketched Sentiments
Mediums: DecoArt Glamour Dust, colour pencils (assorted brands), VersaMagic Chalk Ink in Spanish Olive
Accents: ribbons from my stash
Tools: Fiskars Apron Lace border punch

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 32 - my very first challenge!

Well I did it! I completed my very first challenge and I chose the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 32. I'm so chuffed I did it, it was a lot of fun to do! And I even managed to come up with the design AND create it within 2 hours - I normally spend days thinking about the colours before I even start it! Having someone else provide the design really sped up the process - fabulous! I used Core-dinations green cardstock and distressed it with my BasicGrey file. Anyway, here it is and I hope you like it...

I love the My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow papers - I used the paper pack and of course used my new skill with my mini sewing machine (have I told you already that I'm madly love with stitching on cards?!!). I also love that Greeting Farm owl - sink into those eyes! The photo doesn't show it but I used a silver pearlescent chalk around the owl to help it pop a bit. I used sticky pads behind the image and the die cut flower to make them pop too - again the photo doesn't show it up well. All in all, I actually like my card!

The two photographs differ quite a lot - I've been playing with the editing software to try to improve my photos, but I can't seem to get the best from it yet. I think the trick is to take a great shot in the first place. I have been researching how to take great photos and found how to make a light box so that's my next project!

Now to go and celebrate my birthday today - it's present opening time!!

Papers/cardstock: My Minds Eye - Bloom & Grow paper pack (includes the die cut flower), Core'dinations cardstock

Stamps: The Greeting Farm - Forest Friends
Mediums: Pebbles Inc pearlescent chalks, Copic Caios, colour pencils on leaves, Versafine ink in sepia

Accents: BasicGrey button, Bazzill In Stitch'z white floss

Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities Label, Scallop and Classic Circle

Wedding card revisited & challenge dilemma!

I decided to change my friend's wedding card afterall - it was sitting there looking uncompleted but I couldn't figure out what it was that was bothering me about it! I thought about adding die cut flourshes on it, stamping the white background with a Opalite (interference ink), sticking some flocking on it - but nothing felt right. Eventually I didn't do much - just rounded the bottom corners and then decorated the inside. I didn't take a photo of it, but I also stamped the damask several times down the left hand side of the envelope. It now feels completed!

I've also been thinking about completing one of the many challenges out there, but there are so many I like that I don't know which one to choose! On my short list are:

Anyone for Anya? - Sugar & Spice and All Things Nice

Raspberry Suite - Color Challenge #15

Elzybells - waiting for challenge 26 to be announced on Thursday

Amy Rysavy's Friday Sketch

Another decision to make!

I think I'm in love...

I actually went ahead and practiced using my mini sewing machine and guess what? I loved it so much I went ahead and made a card! What do you think?



I don't normally do vintage - or perhaps it's shabby chic?! - I can never get it right, but I think I did ok with this. I can't believe how easy it was to do the stitching - I scared myself silly even thinking about trying it! If you look carefully, the stitches aren't very straight in some places - those were the times I stopped concentrating on keeping the needle centred. Well I intend in using this technique a lot from now on so I'll get lots of practice!

Big thanks to Carly who left me a lovely comment on my previous entry - it was this that encouraged me to have a go today (and not leave it for another year!). You should go and have look at her creations - they are beautiful. I love the way she uses stitching and manages to keep a clean, fresh feel. Look at one of her fabulous examples here.

Mine aren't a patch on hers, but at least I can get inspiration from her when my creative juices dry up!

Papers/cardstock: K&Co Hopscotch mat pad, Bazzill cardstock
Stamps: Hampton Art Our Baby clear stamp set
Mediums: edged with brown ink
Accents: Karen Marie Klip die cut letters, velvet ribbon
Tools: sewing machine, Woodware Fingerguard trimmer with scallop blade

Sewing made easy

My mother bought me a sewing machine (Janone Mini for only £49 bought from John Lewis) a year ago for my birthday (yes, it IS my birthday around the corner!) and I only got it out of its box two days ago.


I have no idea how to sew so it's just been sitting there in its unopened box making me feel guilty every time I go into my craft room! I've now managed to get it set up thanks to a tutorial on Gina K's blog. She took away the whole mystery of using a sewing machine so a huge thanks to Gina!

If you haven't seen Gina K's blog yet, you should get over there now! She has some great tutorials and - if you're new to crafting like me - makes cardmaking seem all so easy!

So for my next challenge, I am going to make a card using stitching. I have set up the machine and ready to do some testing first!

Wedding card

At last! I've created the wedding card for my friend! I mulled over it for ages because I wanted it to be perfect for her. Not sure if I achieved that but I think it's a style she'll like - simple and elegant. What do you think...?



I spent ages looking at all of the gorgeous papers I've bought and got myself into a twist with the choice! I turned to my stamp collection (not those kind of stamps!) and found a Gel-a-Tins damask stamp that I haven't touched yet (and there's a lot more of those, I can tell you!). I decided to create my own background. At first I wanted to get that flock look and tried various inks to make the flock stick to it, but it just wasn't giving me the coverage I was looking for! I abandoned the idea and just inked it up with my favourite Versafine black ink. After putting it all together, I felt it was a bit flat so I used Liquid Pearls in the middle of each "flower" of the Hero Arts background stamp. Not sure if you can see it in the photo below...



So, still not sure if I love it, but I do like it. Any advice on improving it would be most welcome!


Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
Stamps: Hero Arts Dots & Flowers, Gel-a-Tins Wallpaper Series #1, sentiment from the Papermania Boutique stamp set
Mediums: Versafine Onyx Black ink, Liquid Pearls Silver Pearl
Accents: Anita's silver satin ribbon, Anita's silver organza ribbon
Tools: Fiskars Scallop Sentiment border punch

Win a Greeting Farm stamp!

Just visited one of my favourite blogs The Greeting Farm and they are giving the opportunity to win one of their stamps! All you have to do is leave a comment on this entry Digital Creative Team Call. Get over there now!