Rainy Day

Well, I've been having a break from cardmaking for a few weeks!  Now I am back and gearing up for Christmas.  But first, here's a cute card that I did not get finished in time to share as part of the Tiddly Inks DT.  

I've used Wryn's Ducky Dance and she's coloured with copics and paper pieced  with some gorgeous Stampin' Up papers that I have been hanging on to...

The card base is acetate decorated with glossy accents raindrops -

This card is one of my entries into the Cardmaking and Papercraft Card Designer of the Year competition. I was lucky enough to get runner-up last year, so fingers crossed I get a place this year :)

Pocket Letter

It's been a hectic few weeks with school holidays and other family stuff, so I haven't been able to make a showstoppper for my last DT project.  This is a pocket letter I sent to America 6 weeks ago, so I've been waiting for it to arrive before posting to my blog.  It's got lots of goodies in it including a sweet little Tiddly Inks card using Inking of You which was one of the first ever Tiddly Inks digis I bought. 

She's a favourite of mine so it's nice to post this project as my last card for the DT team.  It's been so much fun and I've got to know some really lovely ladies, even though I have been MIA around facebook for a while.  Thanks for reading, and I hope to be back soon with some more projects once my boy is settled back at school xxx

Here's some more pics of my Pocket Letter :

Have a bloomin' lovely day!

Valentine Pixie

Here's the card for my last challenge over at the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog.

I've used Valentine Pixie, such a cute & fun little image.  I've layered the image onto a DL card with some coloured paper and a few buttons just to balnce out the bold sentiments stamped at the top.   The sentiments are by Jo Firth-Young from the set JOFY 11.

Here's my recipe - I've used copics and Spectrum Noirs (marked*) for this one, with a touch of Stickles on the wing, hair and purple flowers :

Skin : E000 E00 E21 E11 E04
Hair: RV000 R20 R22 CR6*
Wings: B000
Pink: E18 DR5* DR1* DR2* CR6*
Purple: HB1* BV000 BV00 BV02 BV13
Green: DR2* YG63 YG67

Be You {ti-ful}

Today I've made a card with one of my favourite Wryns, School Girl and she's only $1!

I have coloured her with my copics
Skin :E000 E00 E21 E11 E04 R20
Hair :E51 E53 E43 E57
Pink :R22 E08
Red : R27 R46 R59
Book Pages : E31 E33 E35

I made the background with a paper from a digital scrapbooking kit, printed on Neenah cardstock.
I used my Stampin Up Flower Patch stamps with Crisp Canteloupe, Pistachio Pudding and Strawberry Slush inks.

A nice and simple card from me for a change :)  My photo is not so good though :(

Paws for Thought

Annabelle and Pups

There's a new challenge over at the Tiddly Inks Challenge blog, we want to see critters!

I've used Annabelle and Puppy Love.  

My card layout is kinda inspired by the scrapbooking pages I've done recently, lots of wonky layers.  I've left a white border around the image, so it pops off the page.  The papers are My Minds Eye - Sweetest Thing - Tangerine.  I've had the papers a while and really love them - this was the perfect way to use the last few scraps!

Annabelle's dress is paper pieced and she's all coloured up with copics :)

Christmas in July!

Christmas! In July?!  

I do not usually make any Christmas Cards before September, or even start buying Christmas Stash!

But I have been doing a lot of digital scrapbooking over at The LilyPad and completing a lot of challenges. This week is Christmas in July.

I have made this card for oe of the challenges, using digital papers and elements called "A Season to Remember" by Amber LaBau which you can buy in the Lilypad store. I am absolutely in love with digital scrapbooking!  You can buy so much for so little, and you can keep it forever!!

Of course, I had to use a Wryn digi as the main image on my card!  It's Cocoa Wishes, one of my favourite Tiddly Ink Christmas images.  I've paper pieced her  and coloured her with copics. I am pleased with how cute she looks :)

Walk like an Egyptian

Egyptian Cuties

Sorry!  I am a bit late today with my Tiddly Tuesday post!  I keep forgetting what day of the week it is, now there's no school! 

Home Tweet Home

Home Tweet Home

This is a fabby new image over at Tiddly Inks perfect for a Fabby Friday!  I have been experimenting with patterned paper scraps instead of the usual mat and layers.  I was inspired by scrapbooking, which I have been doing quite a lot of recently :)  

Wryn is a Building Queen in this new stamp, and she comes with the free birdhouse and sentiment. Gotta love a bargain...

She's coloured up with Copics :) as follows

Skin :   E000 E00 E21 E11 E04 R20

Hair :   E51 E53 E43 E57

Brown:E31 E33 E35 E37

Green: YG00 YG03 YG17 G99

Blue:    B60 B93 B95 B97 B99

Have a super Fabby Friday, see you on Tuesday for a new challenge :) 

Happy Birthday!! Anything Goes...

Goody Gumdrops

 It's an Anything Goes Challenge today! Is it just me or does it seem like a while like we've given you free rein with your Challenge make?  You can go wild!!

OOh Goody Gumdrops, it's one of my favourite Sweet Tooths! She is perfect, she reminds me of a teacher (great for end-of-year thank you cards) or an old-fashioned Nanny like Mary Poppins!

I've coloured her with Copics as follows : 

Skin : E000 E00 E21 E11 E04 R20

Hair: E51 E53 E43 E57

Grey: C3 C5 C7

Blue: G00 BG000 BG10 BG13 BG49

Yelllow: Y11 Y15 Y17 E08

My make is a neutral newsprint digi paper which I've printed out on Neenah cardstock.  I've used Stampin' Up Flower Patched stamps inked with Coastal Canbana and Crushed Curry for the background.  The Sentiment is Stampin Up, also, from the Crazy About You stamp and die set.  I am a bit obsessive about Stampin' Up at the moment, I can't get enough :)

Magical Friendship

Magical Friendship

Another Fabby Friday is here again!  I can't believe the time is gong so quickly!  Only one more week of school left here...

I've made this pretty card with Magical Friendship which also come in clear stamp set.

I have used plain cardstock cut with Spellbinders ovals.  The lacy effect is made with die cuts from Tattered Lace. The dies were a set of two that came with a magazine.

The girls are coloured with Copics.  The dotty background was very therapeutic to make :)

The sentiment stamp is from Stampin Up.

Let's Go Gothic

My make for the Gothic Challenge at Tiddly Inks this week.  This is Owlette who comes with a freebie digi - this twisty tree.  The suitcases are also free, you can get them here.  They seem to go very well with the Gothic ladies, who always look like they're off on an adventure! 

I've used Copics and promarkers to colour my images.  I made a shadow box type affair from Santoro papers, which turned out pretty well considering I made it up as I went along!  It even folds flat so I am feeling fairly impressed with myself ... ;)

Skin: E000 E00 E21 E04 

Hair: E71 Tawny Owl E77

Dress: Pastel Pink, Dusky Pink, E04 Shale E77 E79;  E71 Tawny Owl E77 

Tree, Owl: Sandstone Caramel E57

I coloured the outline of the  images in Grey Green and Olive Green, which looks a bit green in the photos, but actually blends quite well with the background papers in RL.  

I used my blender pen on a scrap of fabric and pressed it over the outer and inner skirt pieces to create some texture, then darkened up the shadows in the areas that looked too bleached out.

Don't forget to enter your Gothic makes into the Challenge!

I will Owl-ways love you.

Wryn - Owl Will Always Love You

Here's this weeks make with the GORGEOUS newly released Wryn, I have been waiting for ages to post this for you xx.  I've used the lovely Docrafts Owl Folk papers and embellishments, such good value for money and widely available in the UK.  I've coloured her with Copics and Promarkers to match :)

3-step Card 

I used my Silhouette .studio3 file to cut the 3-step insert.  I designed it myself, which is good news as it means you can download it for free using the link on the right.  The insert is cut using Spellbinders scalloped ovals.

Happy Crafting, everyone!! Enjoy xx

Ricky - Hanging Around

Ricky - Hanging Around

Okay, I'm a bit late posting this week, and I'll be posting again tomorrow with my Fabby Friday make, but I thought I'd just sneak this one in!

I Love, Love, Love this set.  It has LOADS of extras, just have a look! There's these little birds and some sentiments, a sweet puppy, it's all too cute!  I've seen the birds used on a card on their own, I'm gonna have to copy that idea :)

I made this card for Father's Day here in the UK , so my littlun can give it to his Dad :)

I've used Stampin Up Crushed Curry Chevron Ribbon and "Just Sayin'" sentiments and dies.  The little birdie sentiment is from the SU "Hello Love" set.

Such fun to colour, too :)  

I used Copics as follows 

Skin : E51 E00 E21 E11 E04

Hair : E53 E43 E57

Shorts : B93 B95 B97 B99

Branch : E31 E33 E35

Sky : BG000 BG01 B12 B60 B93

Greens : YG00 YG03 YG17 YG67 G99

Yellows : YG11 Y15 Y17

Super Hero - Perfect for Father's Day

Here's my make for the next Tiddly Inks Challenge, Super-Heroes!  This one is perfect for Father's Day, which is coming up in a few weeks here in the UK.  It's called Daddy's Girl, so sweet!

My sentiment was cut on my Silhouette, if you like it, you can grab the .studio3 file from my links on the right.  I finished with a few enamel dots - you can see how to make them in my post below.

I paper-pieced the shirt and coloured it using Spectrum Noirs and Copics.

Please join in the challenge, it may be a little outside your comfort zone, but any image can be turned into a super image, check out Becky's Super Shopper!

Most of all have fun!!

Yay! Graduation Wryn

Graduation Wryn

Happy Fabby Friday to you all!! I am loving happy littleWryn at the moment!  She is a joy to colour.  This is the latest release and you can find her here.

I really like colour palette of the DoCrafts May release 'Owl Folk'.  I made this card with the owl papers. The background is from First Edition papers 'Boho Chic'.  It's a lovely encapsulated glitter, but you can't see it very well in the pic. 

Docrafts and First Edition are so reasonably priced and easy to get hold of in the UK, I should use them more.  But I am such a magpie when it comes to crafty goodies, I always end up buying expensive stuff on Create and Craft or I crave somthing shiny I've seen on Pinterest or Facebook!

Anyway, back to little Wryn.  I've coloured her with my copics as follows :

Hair : E51 E53 E43 E57

Skin : E51 E00 E21 E11 E04 R20

Lilac: B60 BV000 BV00 BV02 BV13 BV08

Orange : E93 E95 YR02 E08

I bought my latest little batch of Copic Ciao from Artifolk, which worked out at £1.95 each. Bargain! They had a sale in May, but the prices are still amongst the cheapest for Copics even without sale prices.   Happy Colouring x

Pearl the Mermaid

Here's my project from Kit and Clowder's monthly pencil class.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  I used my Spectrum Noir pencils. The fab thing about this month's class, is that it's a monochrome piece so I only needed 6 pencils.  White, black, 46, 49 54 and 63. 

Alyce (our instructor) provides colour combos for different brands, a printable tutorial leaflet and a video. And, of course, a discount on this month's digi which is Pearl from Saturated Canary. 

This is my first try at colouring in this way purely with pencils, and using a 'no lines' technique.

My project turned out slightly differently to Alyce's, but I am okay with that.  When I'm working, I go into 'the zone' and don't tend to copy exactly what I'm seeing.  I just go into my happy colouring space and tune out!  But at the same time I am practising all the techniques and thinking about shadows, light source and texture and all the other bits and pieces that I'm learning from the class.  

I now have the best of both worlds, since joining the class I am still enjoying my hobby and it still has the same therapeutic effect, but I am also creating something I can be really pleased with :)

Here's a close up :

Take it Easel-y

Hello all! - time for another challenge at Tiddly Inks, here's my shaker easel card using Friends make Life Sweeter.

This took a whole day to make!!  It's my niece's birthday card, so it was a labour of love!

 I made the background with a wash of Kingfisher and Sea Green Aqua markers on watercolour card. I splashed it with Mister Huey's pearlescent spray, and then dabbed flowers in the centre of the splashes using my Begonia Aqua Marker.  It's cut to 5"x7".  Background done!

I added some sequins and Stickles before gluing the frame on

I opened the digi-stamp in my Silhouette and cut the base card with the dragons - this creates the easel stopper.  It's sized at 10"x 7" and scored along the bottom of the dragons.  The other folds along the base are at 3.5" and 7.5" from the bottom.  I placed my background on the easel and stuck it in place.  Card base done!

I used the fairy to create my shaker frame, with the print and cut facility in my Silhouette. I usually colour up my images before cutting.  I cut and coloured the dragons separately and glued them to the card base.

Here's my colours for this card:

Dragons - Promarkers: Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Pastel Blue
Grass : Copic :G02 G17 Aqua Marker: Begonia
Fairy Skin: Copic E000 E00 E21 E11 E04
Fairy Hair: Copic E43 E53 E57
Dress and Candy : Spectrum Noir: CR5 CR6 PP5 Copic RV13 Aqua Marker : Begonia
Other : Copic : G000 B000 B60  Spectrum Noir : IG1 IG2 IG6

I sprinkled sequins on the background, and some stickles.  I glued acetate to the back of my frame, surrounded it with foam tape and stuck it onto my background; then glued the shaker to the easel base. Card Done!

Fabby Friday is here again! Scooting By Wryn - So Cute!

Wryn Scooting By

Happy Fabby Friday to All.   Just thought I'd post this lovely before I go and do some housework :(
Love the new digi, you can find it here.  The scooter really *had* to be paper-pieced.

The paper I used is Boho Chic from First Edition.  I picked up the 8x8 pad from the Range for £4.99 I love a bargain, but a crafty bargain is sheer heaven!

It's layered onto a 5x7 card blank, nothing too fancy!

I coloured her with a mixture of markers - as follow :

Hair : Copic :Y21 YR23 E15 E18

Skin : Copic: E000 E00 E21 E11 E04 R20

Scooter and Pup :Spectrum Noir: BG3 BG4 BG6 BG7 IG8 IG6 IG4 IG1

Clothes: Spectrum Noir :CR8,7,9,11 Promarkers : Pastel Blue, Soft Green, Grey Green

The sentiment is Stampin Up.

I'm Crafting for Clearwater

I've spent the weekend on my scrapbooking pages, in between popping in to check up on all the fundraising events going on over at Kit and Clowder.  I'm only a beginner at scrapping , but I thought I post my latest page inspired by Clearwater :)

All the elements from my page are available over at The Lilypad.   Hope you guys have had a fun weekend, and I'll post some more Tiddly goodness later in the week!

May Flowers - Challenge at Tiddly Inks

It's challenge time again over at the Tiddly Inks blog.  We want to see May Flowers!  This can be in your stamps, papers or embellies.
Here's my take on the challenge, which looks more autumnal than I had intended!  It's a birthday card for Hollie, the lovely little girl that used to live next door to my mum :)

Fairy Happy Day

I used Fairy Happy Day and coloured her with my copics and promarkers as follows:

Skin - Copics E000 E00 E11 E21 E11 E04

Hair - Copics E53 E43 E57

Reds - Promarkers Crimson, Ruby, Burgundy, Heatwave

Yellows - Promarkers Buttercup, Sunshine Yellow, Canary.

Background - YG03, YG17, B000, B60, B93

I created the step card along with the mats and layers on my Silhouette.  If you would find it useful, please download it for free, the link is up on the right :)  All my cutting files are in .studio3 format.  This doesn't include the labels shapes, which are Spellbinders.

Have fun with your challenge make! :)

Stampin Up to Spectrum Noir

Just a quick update with a colour chart, converting Stampin Up to Spectrum Noirs. The blank chart is available to print from Google - the link is on the right under the heading "Colour Charts".
Please excuse the pic, I speed-coloured the chart, and I took the photo at night!

Enjoy!

 I'm working on a couple more colour charts, I'll upload the links when I'm done in case anyone finds them useful :)

Hope to see you bright and early tomorrow for the new Tiddly Tuesday Challenge at Tiddly Inks.  You are absolutely going to LOVE the new digis!  So exciting :)

Fabbie Friday - You Rock!

You Rock 

Happy Fabbie Friday!!  Head over to Tiddly Inks to see all the gorgeous makes.  There's quite a few to drool over this week, as everyone has been playing with the new Wedding Couples stamps.  Today is the official debut of the Design Team :)

I have used the cool Cave Folks for my make this week.  I thought they were perfect with my Stampin Up Adventure Bound paper!  I've just added some washi tape and punched out hearts for my embellishments.  The sentiment is also Stampin Up.  I had so much fun making this one :) 

Today I'm heading over to HobbyCraft to buy a few more Copics for my marker stash.  And we are treating ourselves to a takeaway tonight, so it's defintely a Fab Friday for me! xx

Tiddly Inks Design Team - Wedding Belle

I'm very pleased to show you my first Tiddly Ink Design Team card.  There's two new stamps this Tuesday over at Tiddly Inks - this one's Wedding Belle and there's also Love You Mostest.another gorgeous romantic stamp perfect for weddings, engagements or any other cute project you want!

I coloured Wedding Belle with my Spectrum Noir pencils.  I used Blushing Bride and Smokey Slate cardstock, ribbon and ink from Stampin Up for my embellishments.  The background stamp is also Stampin Up - Flowering Flourishes.   The heart and congratulations dies are from Tattered Lace and the little labels are sizzix.  The circle dies are my trusty Spellbinders.  

I can't find the full list of the pencils I used, but here's a few 

girl skin :4,6,9, 89  hair 107, 108, 11, 52 white.

greys : 113, 114 118

The dress is white and ivory, but I also used green 56 to tone down the pink. 

The pencil colouring isn't something I normally do, but I just *had* to colour her on pink cardstock lol!  I enjoyed doing it, so I am definitely considering taking some pencil classes from the lovely Alyce over at Kit and Clowder.

Dream...Colour..Create...

Gabbie Love to Colour

Hi All,

Today I'm sharing this latest card, made with a gorgeous digi stamp which you can find here at Faery Inks.  I've coloured it with my Spectrum Noir markers and pencils as follows :

Skin : FS1,FS3,FS9 TN3,TN4. Pencils 4, 9, 95
Hair : BG4, BG9, BP2, BP3, BP6. Pencil 119, 42, 31
Clothes : BG1, BG3, BG4, BG6
Other: GB10, CG2. Pencils 59, 84

How to make the Background

Easy Background

The background is really simple and effective.  I've selected a frame die and cut it out from a sheet of scrap cardstock.  You need about 180gsm, I've used Neenah. I have used the hole (no2) to ink through with 2 colours of Distress Stain - Picked Rasberry and Tumbled Glass.  I then flicked it with water and dabbed it away with kitchen roll to add texture.  Then I have flicked and splatted some more ink around the card using the same two colours.

I wrote 'dream..colour...create' round the edge of my coloured shape.  I then used the 'waste' shape (no 1) to draw around with a fineliner to create a frame.  I drew 3 different frames, moving my shape each time.

The great thing about this technique is that you do not need to be careful or precise!

Thanks for reading xx

Tiddly inks - Anything Goes

I suspect many of us limit ourselves to use a particular set of products for each project. "Today I am going to make a card with Spectrum Noirs and MME papers"  Or if we buy a card kit from HunkyDory, we stick to making it in the traditional way.

Today I wanted to throw those unwritten rules out of the window and use all my favourite stuff on one card. That's the great thing about using stamps from Tiddly Inks, is that they are so versatile. Here I have coloured this gorgeous stamp from the  Sweet Tooth range, Let Us Eat Cake.

You can use Tiddly Inks with your vintage papers, flowers, bows and ribbons. Or go for a Clean and Simple look.  Use bright colours or muted tones.  You can use pens, pencils or watercolours. Anything goes!

Here I have used Hunky Dory foiled acetate and cardstock with Stampin Up inks, sentiment stamp and ribbon, I've mixed and matched copics with spectrum noirs, promarkers and pencils.  All the pens and inks are listed below.

Let's Eat Cake

Close Up

 I have decoupaged this image myself by printing out mutiple copies and fussy cutting it.  Just decide first how many layers you would like and go for it!    You can see the effect better in real life, but here's a shot from the side.  The trick with this technique is to colour the edges of the paper when you have cut out your layers.  You don't want to end up with a white line around everything. Use your lightest marker to go around the edge.  Do this from the back, so you don't spoil your beautiful image.

Side View

Side View Close Up

Stampin Up Birthday Stamp inked up with Stampin write markers in Blushing Bride, Pool Party and Calypso Coral. Chevron Ribbon in Calypso Coral.

Cardstock and acetate from Hunky Dory.

Hair: Copics E43 E53 and E57 Promarkers Sandstone
Skin: Copics E000 E00 E11 E21 E04 R20
Blues : Promarker Aqua Blue and Copic B000
Dress: Spectrum Noir CR8 CR1 and promarker Tequila Sunrise

I used my pencils for a bit of texure on the dress in 24 and 25.  I also used 24 for blush.

I love this card!  I hope you will all get out your favourite stuff and have fun putting it all together! x

I'm going to enter this in the DT call for Tiddly Inks.  There are some beautiful entries already, so check it out. x

Holiday!

It's been a while since I posted, we've had the school Easter Holidays and we went away for a week to the Peak District.  Since we got back, I've been obsessed with digi-scrapping!!

I've made too many layouts to upload here, but here's one from my holidays.

Digi-Scrap Page from our holidays!

 

I've got a few cardmaking projects on the go, too.  So I'll be posting again soon. I just don't seem to be able to do one thing at a time at the moment!

Jacinta Sitting

Jacinta Sitting from Make it Crafty

This is a digistamp from Make it Crafty, called Jacinta Sitting. I have only dicovered these stamps quite recently.  I love the manga style.  It's perfect for anyone, but especially great for teens and tweens who are always difficult to make for!

I've coloured her with Copics as follows :

Skin   E51 E00 E21 E11 E04 R20
Hair  E43 E53 E57
Jeans B93 B95 B45 B97
Other R27 R29 E18

The flowers are Stampin Up stamped in Midnight Muse, Pear Pizzazz and Strawberry Slush.  The sentiment is also from SU.  I made the background paper by swiping ink (Midnight Muse mixed with a little water) across ordinary white cardstock with a paintbrush.  You can see how to make DIY enamel dots in my post below!

I am submitting this card to the Make it Crafty Design Team Call.  Fingers Crossed!

Fairy Wishes...DIY Enamel Dots..

This is Tilly from Saturated Canary coloured with my Spectrum Noirs.  I used :

Skin  FS2, 3, 9 TN3 CR6
Hair  HB2 TB1, 2, 3
Clothes  BP1, 2, 4 LV2 HB1, 2, 3
Pencils : 72, 79

Homemade Enamel Dots

The enamel dots are homemade using melted beads. I finally managed to make my own after several failed attempts. There are lots of youtube videos showing the technique, but I found I needed a lot of experimentation to get it right.  Here's how I did it :

I'm in the UK and Hama beads did not work.  The only beads that work are Perler beads,  you need to get the actual branded version.  They are not widely avaiable in the UK but the good news is you can get them on Amazon.  I bought a mixed bag of 1000 beads for £2.69 (free P&P).  They took about 2 weeks to arrive from the USA, but I've ordered some more to play with!  The Hobbycraft own brand (which didn't work) cost £2.

Perler beads for £2.69 on Amazon

You will need to use a baking tray or your grill tray lined with a silicone mat.  I tried baking paper (greaseproof) and tin foil which both stuck to the beads.  I also had a lots of beads with dimples in until I tried the craft mat.

Line your beads with the holes face up.

Put in a preheated oven at 190C for 20 minutes, turn your tray around after 10 minutes. The process takes 20 minutes, turning up your oven to high causes your beads to blacken. Don't leave your beads in much longer after twenty minutes, they won't melt anymore than they have already.  If your beads still have dimples after twenty minutes, try another batch at a slightly higher temperature.

Finished beads

Please be aware that Perler do not recommend that you melt their beads in the oven.  Please use common sense and also make sure your kitchen is well ventilated.  There may be an unpleasant smell.

Hazel

Spectrum Noirs 

Wee Stamps Hazel - Easel Card.

I am not sure if this little Wee Stamp is called Hazel or not, but it's what I call her!  I can't wait until Wee stamps is back selling digis again, I really miss them :(

I have coloured her with Spectrum Noir Pens as follows:
Skin FS1 FS3 TN2 TN3 PP2
Hair OR1 OR2 TN5 TN9
Dress, Tights, Shoes & Hat BT1 BT3 BT9 CR11 DR7
Other BG1 BG4 BG5 GB6 GB8 GB10

The papers are DoCrafts 'Sew and Sew' from last year.  Gotta love those Goodie Bags!