Wednesday 10 November 2010

Has He Been Yet?





Talk about last minute! I was determined to give this one a go, but left it so late that it had to be a christmas card, as that is what I have been making these past two days. Not quite in the spirit of the thing, I know, as all I have done is add santa with his sleigh and reindeers, a moon and a star, and coloured it in. But I just ran out of time!


The roof top, santa and his reindeer and the star are all from Sheena Douglass. The greeting is from Clarity. I have coloured the rooftops with copic markers, and the sky with distress inks in various shades of blue using colour dusters, having first masked the moon. The embossing powders are all from Sheena's new WOW range. Lastly, I have used a new Martha Steward punch for the icicles.


Thanks for stopping by. All comments gratefully received.

Wanda

Thursday 28 October 2010

Lavinia Stamps

I had a bit of a play yesterday with the vine and flower stamps from Lavinia Stamps and various Adirondack Dye ink pads. As the two cards are virtually the same I thought I may as well post both at the same time. Finished off with a couple of bits of coordinating ribbon and a few gems.
Nothing else to say about them really. Good fun to make though.
Thanks for looking. comments always welcome.
Wanda

Tag It On Challenge #57 - As You Like It

TIO Challenge #57 - As You Like It - Sponsored by Crafty Individuals


Wasn't sure what theme to use for this one, but as I had recently bought some new dies I decided I would use them and a bit of metal, which is actually the inside of a tomato puree tube!)
I cut out the shapes them applied alcohol inks to them to age and distress. The hanger and plaques have all been coloured with Eco paints. The hanger was painted black then I painted copper over the black and stippled it with a plastic bag until I had the look I wanted. The plaques have been painted using the crackle effect and Eco paints. I then overstamped with a selection of stamps before applying the metal pieces. I fixed it all together with jump rings as I am hopeless with chain link and such like.
Thanks for looking and I welcome your comments.
Bye for now, Wanda

Friday 22 October 2010

Crafters Companion SWALK Blog Hop

Crafters Companion 5th Birthday SWALK Blog Hop
The pick of the week this week on Create and Craft is the latest edition to the SWALK range. Set 2 promises to be just as good, if not better, than set 1. I didn't think I would want it - but I do!

Friday 15 October 2010

Cute Christmas


Bah Humbug Challenge 39 - Cute

I made this card for the Bah Humbug challenge but forgot to post it! I really thought I had. Oh well, never mind, another one for my stash of christmas cards.
Needless to say, the stamp is messy rabbit, from Joanna Sheen. The row of pines is from Clarity, I forget where the script tree is from, the sentiment is from Dimension Fourth. The border has been punched using an EK Success punch, and the snowflake has been made using a nestie die. Gem and ribbon are from my stash.
Thanks for dropping by.
Wanda

The Eyes Have It


I made this card for our daughter's 30th birthday which is today. She was really pleased with it. Like me she loves faces and eyes.
The stamp is from a plate from the Stamp Man - one of my many purchases at HSNW at Port Sunlight last weekend. The blue paper started life as qhite copy paper, sprayed with a glimmer mist, then scrunches up and opened out to dry. One the first attempt I learned that you need to punch the border before spraying, etc! The flowers, ribbon and gems are from my stash. The leaves were made using a MS punch.
Thanks for stopping by.

Tuesday 12 October 2010

France

Rainbow Ladys Challenge 122 - Around the World

Hiya Folks,
Such a long time since I last entered a challenge - or anything, for that matter. I have been really busy for the past few weeks completely re-arranging my home. Still, it's all sorted now and I have just enjoyed a fabulous week with my good friend, Janet, who came to stay for the week. We went to HSNW at Port Sunlight on Saturday and I bought far too many new stamps (not!).
The washing machine has been on overdrive today catching up on all the washing I didn't do over the past week.
It was really good fun yesterday to work in my new craftroom with Janet and get a couple of challenges done. So without further ado, here is my entry for Rainbows latest challenge "Around the World". I have chosen France for my fat book page, pictured above. The background has been stippled with distress inks, then my main image and one word stamped with black versafine. The other images have been stamped with the same distress inks used for the stippling.
So that's it for now folks. I will try and get the other one posted tomorrow.
Thanks for stopping by. All comments welcome.
Wanda

Monday 13 September 2010

Emboss It!

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge #54 - Emboss It

I'm a bit earlier this week with my entry. The background is embossed using the script plate and my trusty cuttlebug. Then I have brushed over the embossing with a brilliance inkpad. The main image is a paper artsy stamp I have had for simply ages - in fact it is one of the first stamps I ever bought, from my local craft shop, before I became aware of internet shopping for my crafting supplies! The image is adorned with a couple of feathers from my stash and raised with sticky fixers. The whole is finished off with yarn and ribbon from my stash.
Thanks for stopping by. I welcome your comments - good or not so good!
Wanda

Wednesday 8 September 2010

Oriental in Two Colours

Dragons Dream TIO#53 - Oriental in Two Colours
Again, I've only just made it with this one. I really must get my act in order. My offering today is made using a plate from the Stamp Man, and distress inks in two colours, shabby shutters and voctorian velvet. I have then lightly coloured the image using pink and green polycolour pencils.
Thanks for dropping by.
Wanda

Wednesday 1 September 2010

New Craft Room

























I finally moved into my new craft room on Sunday, and spent the next two days just getting it sorted out. I don't know how all that stuff fitted into there! It really is so much bettet than trying to craft in the dining room. I still have a few things to sort out. I need to buy a tv for in there, and the broadband connection doesn't work in there either. I think it will needed to be hard-wired or something.

We also need to get doors made to go between my craft room and Rob's model room, which incidentally, is bigger than my craft room! I tried my hardest to get him to swap but no joy there. I do have the nicest view, and I will be further away from our son whose flat adjoins the model room. I will be able to use the side door from the model room as a short-cut to the house.

Anway, I am really pleased with it. It looks fairly tidy at the moment, and Rob hopes I will keep it like that. Fat chance!

Sorry for the staggered way the photos appear. I tried to get them in two rows but no joy. I did think about taking a video or the room but thought I might have problems uploading it onto here as I have never done that before. Anway, it gives you a chance to take a look - before I mess ot all up!
Bye for now.
Wanda







Tuesday 31 August 2010

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge 52 - Face

Dragons Dream TIO Challenge No 52 - Face

It's been a few weeks since I last had a chance to enter this challenge, and this is just a quick one.
Anyway, here is my entry. I've only just made it in time. Better late than never, eh?
Thanks for looking.
Wanda

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Doe and foel


I'm a naughty blogger as I have been absent for a couple of weeks. I'm posting a card here that I made about a week ago for a swap but thought I would share it with you all now that the recipient will have received it.
The stamps used are mainly Clarity but there may be one or two from Lavinia as well. The backing paper is from the new CD from Graphicus "Essence of Nature". The leaves have been cut using a nestie set of dies then coloured with Big and Juicy foliage inkpad. The card has been finished with a few gems from my stash.
I actually had such fin making this that I made another with a slight variation on the layout.
My new craft room is really taking shape. The furniture is in, the floor is laid, the blinds are up. I'm just waiting for the joiner (who is coming back, hopefully tomorrow) to cut some shelving so I can have a couple of shelves to store my unmounted stamps. I hope to start moving in there at the weekend. I can't wait. It will be so nice to have enough space with power sockets where I need them and a seperate messy play area so I can keep my desks relatively clean. I just hope everyting fits in there. There is a lovely view down the field from my desk too. Oh, I need to go out and buy a tv for in there. I think I will just have freeview, rather than incur the cost of multi-room. If I need to watch anything on sky I will just have to pop back up to the house.
I will try and post again a little sooner next time.
Thanks for dropping by.
Wanda

Monday 2 August 2010

Get Well Cards



Last one for today. I needed to make three Get Well cards over the weekend and decided, for easy, to make them all virtually the same. I used my new Artylicious Essence of Nature CD for the backing papers, a TH sizzix bird and cage came out for another airing, and a circular nestie and some narrow ribbon completed the picture, apart from making each of the cages a bit different using DI inks, which I then overstamped the the same distress inks and a the corner of a TH swirl stamp. Ribbon from my stash. I have added gems as eyes for the birds. The third card is a birthday cards for my collection.
Right, that's me done for today. Dinner is almost ready. I will try and be a good blogger and post a little more often! Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are always welcome.
Bye for now.
Wanda

New Craft Room





I thought I would share with you a few images of my new craft room which is almost ready for occupation. The walls are painted, the floor is down, the kitcchen unit is constructed, as are the paper storage units. I'm just waiting for the desks, filing cabinets and chair, and also for the blinds and, of course, the tv, which will be mounted on the wall, then I can move in there. Well actually, I will move in without the desks and filing cabinets as I can make do with the old ones for a couple of weeks. The only draw back, is that the floor hasn't been laid in OH's model room which adjoins my craft room, so there will be dust. I daresay the joiner can do his cutting outside - weather permitting, or a temporary curtain can be put up where the door between the two rooms will be. The walls are painted in lilac, the floor is oak and the blinds will be winter white
Anyway, here are a few pics for your delectation! The next time I post pics I will be in there!
Bye for now.
Wanda



Paper Roses

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge #49 "Paper Roses"

It's been a few weeks since I last entered this challenge, I just seem to have been busy with things other than crafting or I was feeling decidedly unwell and not in the mood for crafting. Anyway, when I saw the theme for this one I had to give it a go!

I had to check out the tutorial by Lynne Forsythe after checking out the blog by JoZart and then I was away.

I used a new set of stamps from Creative Expressions and designed by Rubbernecker "Beautiful Ladies for my main image. I actually made the flowers last night following Lynne's tutorial and left them to dry. Then I used a Cosmic Shimmer Lapis Black Auroro EP to stamp my main image, then coloured it in using a foliage big n juicy inkpad. I added a bit of stickles glitter glue in a sort of yellow colour to the flowers in the image. Added a bit of cream lace from my stash and then added the flowers plus another flower and some foliage made using MS punches. The red ribbon threaded through the top is also from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by, and as usual, your comments are appreciated.

Wanda

Friday 23 July 2010

Flights of Fancy

This is my card for my swap partner for July over on the Creating Rainbows forum. The theme is Flights of Fancy. I have delayed posting it here to ensure she receives it first!



The background was created by putting Big and Juicy Ink from the hydrangea inkpad onto my craft sheet and spritzing with water, then smooshing the cardstock in it. I then inked up the edges using the same ink[pad. The foliage has been stamped using the same inkpad plus a couple of adirondack inkpads. Then I stamped the butterflies with black archival ink. The stamps used are from two plates from Creative Expressions - Meadow Flora and British Wild Flowers. The bird and cage are cut from a Tim Holtz Sizzix die. I have distressed the cage using Croco silver crackling paint. I have stamped a swilr on the bird and its wing using a flourish from a Spring plate from Elusive Images. I have added a gem for the birds eye. I have then cut a couple of corners using a Cuttlebug die. Lastly, I have added the word "FLY" which I have tried to age a bit using alcohol inks. I'm not sure which alcohol inks I used in the end as I kept playing around until I was reasonably happy with the result.



Would you believe this card has taken me 3 days to finish! I kept leaving it and then coming back to it again. Finally, today (last Monday) I decided it was now or never, it had to be completed! So here it is. I'm really struggling to find my mojo at the moment, not helped by the fact that I have a stinking cold and a nose like a tap!



I'm giving this card 2 full days to reach its recipient before posting on here.



Thanks for looking. All comments welcome.

Wanda

Friday 2 July 2010

Metallic Mode

TIO Challenge 45 - 3D Metallic Mode
The challenge this week over on Dragon's TIO Challenge blog is 3D Metallic Mode. I was waiting for an opportunity to use my new(ish) sizzix bird and cage dies, so I cut them out in black card, then painted the cage with Croco crackle paint in silver. Once it had dried I distressed it a bit with black soot DI. The bird was also cut in black card. I have overstamped a swirl on the bird using silver Brilliance ink. The tag has been coloured with various distress inks using colour dusters. Then I stamped a selection of stamps, some in the same shades of DI I had used to colour the tag, and some with black soot. I then coloured the edges of the tag with black soot DI. The stamps I have used have come from all over the place, some are from the Julia Andruss steampunk plate, one is a Tim Holtz stamp. I have then sponged Ferro silver paint on some areas of the tag. I have distressed two cogs, cut from silver mirri card, then applied black stazon to age. The cogs have been added to the tag so that they overhang the edges of the tag and I have cut the surplus away. You can't see the cogs very well in the image, but they are at the centre top and bottom left. I have then added the cage and bird, then the key hanging on a ribbon just out of reach of the cage, and a butterfly in a pendant hanging from a chain. Lastly, I have added black lace to the bottom of the tag.

It has been so much fun and relaxing making this tag. Tags and fat book pages are my favourite crafting things to make at the moment.

Right, off to bed said zebedee! Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda

Wednesday 9 June 2010

Acetate and Alcohol


I'm guest designer this week for Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge. The theme I have chosen is acetate and alcohol. I hope you will pop on over and take a look and, of course, submit an entry. This is the first time I have been guest designer anywhere, so please support me. It wouldn't do to have no entries the week I am guesting now would it!!!!!
Now, how I made the tag. Firstly, I put a gold mirri tag through a birds and swirls embossing folder, and set that aside. I covered the reverse of the acetate with alcohol inks, then stamped a swirl using black archival ink on the same side as the alcohol inks. Then I rubbed over the stamped image with a piece of kitchen roll - this removed the ink, leaving a negative image. I turned the acetate over and stamped and gold embossed the same swirl with gold EP. I atttached the acetate to the tag with a little dab of pinflair glue in the four corners and covered these with faux brads, made from gold mirri card. I cut the butterfly using a cuttlebug die, passed the butterfly through the bug again in a script embossing folder. I distressed the edges of the butterfly with walnut stain DI. I then rubbed stickles irridescent glitter glue over the wings, then put a row of gems down the body. The flower was made by sticking a piece of patterned paper to grunge paper. When the glue was dry I cut out the flowers using the TH flowers sizzix die set. I rubbed the same glitter glue into the petals. When this was dry I moulded the petals then stuck the flower together, using pinflair glue gel, then put a large gem brad in the centre. The flower was attached to the tag using glue gel and a piece of ribbon from my stash was stuck down under the flower. The butterfly was also attached to the tag with glue gel. Finally, the wool strands were added to the top of the tag with a gold brad.
Thanks for dropping by. Your comments would be most welcome.
Now, come on, over to you! Create your tag with the same theme and post it up on Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge blog.
Wanda

Sunday 6 June 2010

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge 41 - Steampunk

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge No 41 - Steampunk

I had to have a look on the internet to get an understanding of what steampunk actually is before I could attempt this weeks' challenge. Fascinating subject.

I've used a mixture of stamps for this one. The girl's face is from Tin Can Alley for Inkadinkado, the flying clock is also from Inkadinkado, the crown is from Elusive Images, the mask is from Hampton Art, the stamps in the background are from Hobby Art, Hampton Art, and Judikins. I have used DI's to colour the background and the cogs, which have been cut from mirri card and then sanded. The embellishments are from my stash.

I've had a lot of fun making this one.

Thanks for dropping by.
Wanda



Thursday 3 June 2010

Silhouettes

Silhouettes

This is my entry for this week's Bah Humbog Challenge. Talk about last minute!
No time to write anything about it as just about to go out with daughter and grandson.

Thanks for stopping by

Wanda

Openings

Openings

Here is my entry for this challenge. I thought I would support my good friend, Frankie, who is guest designer this week. The main stamps used are from Lavinia stamps, the tree, birds and grasses are from Clarity stamps. I have stamped my images using black archival ink and have coloured the background using various distress inks. I have used a crackle stamps with pumice stone DI to give the image some depth.
Thanks for stopping by.
Wanda

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home

A little late, but I didn't want to post too soon as I have sent this card to a friend who has just moved house, so I may be too late for the challenge, but I thought I would enter anyway.

Just a quick note about the card. The central image is from a stamp set by graphicus, the birds are a Clarity stamp, the swirl is by Stampers Anonymous. My backing paper is a sheet I have had for absolutely ages, from when I felt sure I wanted to do some scrapbooking - I never have! The sentiment is a useful little stamp from Docrafts Whispers. The lace I picked up a few weeks ago in a little local haberdashery shop.

Thanks for stopping by.

Thursday 27 May 2010

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge 40 - Surprise


Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge - No 40 - Surprise


The theme this week is "Surprise" - use any stamp(s) you have out on your desk. Well, I have only just today taken delivery of two new stamp plates and I had a flourish out on my desk from a previous project, so the theme was easy peasy for me this week.

I started by colouring a cream tag with DI, firstly in scattered straw, then around the edges with crushed olive, using my new colour dusters, from Inkylicious. Once I was satisfied with this I stamped the flourish, from a spring set by Graphicus, using the same two DIs. After this I stamped the sentiment from my new stamp plate twice using peeled paint DI. I then stamped the main image usinf black archival ink. I coloured in my image using Prisma pencils. I added clear gems down the front of the dress and embellised the string of pearls with white opal pearlidoodles. The ribbon is from my stash.

I'm really impressed with these two new stamp plates. They are from Creative Expressions. The image I used is from the Elegant Ladies plate. The other plate is Party Ladies.

I'm not too happy with the way the pearls turned out with the pearlidoodles. It was very hard to get tiny dots. I think, in reflection, I may have been better off using a quickie glue pen and white glitter. Hey ho, suppose I'll just have to make another one!

Any views on how I could have done the string of pearls better?

Thanks for dropping by.

Wanda

Saturday 22 May 2010

Rainbow Lady's challenge 104 - Journey with a Ticket

TIO Challenge #39 - Journey with a Ticket

The challenge this week on Dragon's Dream TIO challenge #39 is "Journey with a Ticket". This collage stamp from Clarity Stamps immediately sprung to mind. I have also used a little ticket stamp that came with Craft Stamper a while ago.
I have stamped the collage stamp onto a manilla tag and then also onto a piece of manilla cardstock. I have also stamped the ticket stamp onto the manilla cardstock using black archival ink. I have overstamped both the tag and the manilla cardstock with a crackle background stamp from Stamp Camp using antique linen DI. Then I have coloured the edges of the tag using old paper and brushed corduroy distress ink. I have cut out several features of the collage stamp from the manilla cardstock. I have covered the fobwatch with Anita's 3D clear gloss and allowed this to dry. I have mounted the cut out elements and the ticket using silicone gel. The old gold satin ribbonin the top of the tag is from my stash. Finally, I have mounted my tag onto black cardstock.
Thanks for stopping by.
Wanda

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 103 - Ocean Shades of Blue and Green

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 103 - Ocean Shades of Blue and Green

Here is my entry for this weeks challenge. Only just made it! I have used a mixture of stamps for this one. An underwater plate from Graphicus and the fish and trailing plant are from Clarity. The background for the main image has been created using alcohol inks and shaving foam. I have stamped the images using Big and Juicy Waterfall. The letter "F" is a metal letter coloured using alcohol inks.
I have a confession to make here - I have made an upside down card! I will have to mat and layer the front of this card onto another. Doh!
Thanks for dropping by. Bye for now.
Wanda

Key to my Heart

I haven't posted anything new for a few days as I have been busy with boring, housy things, so I thought I would post this card I made on Monday. This is the card I presented to my OH yesterday for our anniversary. I don't think it fits ant challenges but thought I would show it anyway.

The stamps used are from Graphicus. Two different plates are used - the flourish in the background comes from the butterfly flourish plate, and the key and lock from another plate. I have stamped the flourish on the background using antique linen DI, then edged the card firstly with antique linen DI then with rusty hinge DI. The pendant is a fairly new nestie fleur de lys die. I stamped the key and lock using sepia archival ink. Dried them with a heat gun, cut them both out, then used firstly antique linen DI and then rusty hinge DI to colourise the cream cardstock I had used. The key and lock are mounted using silicone.

Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are welcomed.
Wanda

Thursday 13 May 2010

Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge 38 Along the Riverbank


The challenge this week is set by guest designer, Janet. I thought I would have a bit of fun with it and I have used some stamps I haven't had an opportunity to use before, even though I bought them last June whilst at the Stamp Addicts retreat. The frogs and lily pad are by Heather, a make I haven't come across before. The foliage, etc, are from Lavinia stamps and Clarity. I have used a few blue and green adirondak inkpads for my background and to stamp the foliage. I have coloured the frogs and lilypad with sakura souffle pens. Unfortunately, the flower on the lilypad doesn't show up very well. The tag is mounted onto black kand then onto pale green card. The threads and fibres are from my stash.
Thanks for stopping by.
Wanda

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Rainbow Lady's challenge 102 - Own Choice

Rainbow Lady's Challenge 102 for May 6th was Own Choice

Well, I just about made it - I think! Talk About being last minute. The new challenge will be out tomorrow. Not being able to get onto the Rainbow's forum this week has really thrown me out of kilter. Anyway, better late than never, eh.

I have stamped the flourish, from graphicus, onto silk artboard, then brayered over with soothing sunset big and juicy. Then I have stamped the same flourish using the same big and juicy inkpad, then finally in black archival. I have mounted it onto black then lilac card. I have lightly brayered the white base card with the same big and juicy inkpad. I have added black grossgrain ribbon from my stash and a flower cut from paper brayered with the same big and juicy inkpad using my new flowers nesties.

I really feel this card needs something else, maybe a sentiment, but I will look at it again tomorrow. Any ideas?

Thanks for stopping by.

Wanda

Sunday 9 May 2010

Blogaversary Candy over on Dragon;s Dream TIO Challenge


Go checkout out the blog candy on offer all this month on Dragon's Dream TIO Challenge Blogspot. I should have posted this at the beginning of May really, but better late than never, eh! I've only just realised I needed to link to it. Slow or what! The challenges are really good fun, and just up my street in terms of techniques.
Wanda

Under Lock & Key



I had a lovely time At Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight yesterday. It was lovely to meet so many of my crafting friends. We kept bumping into one another as we went around the stands and had a chance to compare purchases. I was tired this morning though after all the walking. And I had to help out in the cattery this morning so didn't get a chance to play with my new stuff until this evening. I thought I would get my entry done for the TIO challenge before getting too engrossed with cutting and mounting stamps!
My tag this time is made using stamps from graphicus. I have been waiting for a chance to use this set. My tag has been coloured with distress inks in victorian velvet, milled lavender, and dustry concord. I have over stamped with the text from the same plate using milled lavender, then second stamped the lock using dustry concord. My key and lock have been stamped onto grungepaper using black archival ink and then coloured with black soot DI. I have added some purple gems to the fob of the key. The strands of wool are from my stash.
Thanks for stopping by.
Wanda

Wednesday 5 May 2010

Baby Love

CD Sunday Challenge
This week's challenge is "Baby Talk". I used Joanna Sheen's Baby love CD for this image and backing paper. The border is made using a MS punch as are the flowers and leaves. Bow and gems adorning gthe centres of the flowers are from my craft stash. It's ages since I had to make a baby card so this one will come in handy too! Sorry it's short and sweet but domestic goddess duties call - yuk!
Bye for now. Thanks for stopping by.
Wanda

My apologies, for an error I made when I posted this yesterday. The image is indeed from the very talented Joanna Sheen but it comes from the Precious Petals collection and not from Baby Love as stated. Once again, my apologies for misleading you. I hope you haven't been searching the Baby Love collection in vain! Mind you, you will have had fun looking though all the lovely images!
Wanda

New Craft Room





Well here it is in all its glory. My new craft room. I can really see it now. I'm up to the stage of choosing paint colours and layout. Since I took these pictures the electrician has been in and done a bit more on the sockets and light fittings. The floor still needs to be laid and the joiner needs to fit skirting boards and door frames. I then need to chose blinds. Hopefully, I will be in it by the beginning of June. Can't wait! (I wonder if all my craft stash will fit in there?) OH has a lovely BIG model room next door but he's said no to me having that one - pity.
Wanda

Monday 3 May 2010

Snowflakes

Bah Humbug Challenge #16 is entitled "snowflakes"

Here is my card for that challenge. I'm determined not to have that last minute rush just before Christmas!

Anyway, back to this card. The backing paper is from the Seasons Greetings CD1 from Graphicus. I have distressed the edges using stormy sky DI and stamped a little star stamp from Denami in the same ink randomly. I have matted this onto dark blue card, then added a polka dot ribbon in pale blue. I have cut the snowflakes using a cuttlebug die and added crystal stickles to them, then added a star shaped gem to the centres (not too sure about the gems?). The flourishes in the corners are cut with another cuttlebug die.

As always, when I am making my cards for this challenge, I made two pretty much the same - adds to the stack!

I then spent most of the evening trying to cut out two welded reindeer and a shadow on my cricut using my gypsy. It cut the welded reindeer ok but just kept freezing just after it had started cutting the shadow. Frustrating to say the least. I went onto the cricut website and found a section devoted to the gypsy with a section for technical issues. I found someone else who had just the same problem. I tried everything they suggested but to no avail, so finally gave up and went to bed at 1.30 am!!! Needless to say, I'm feeling tired this morning. Anyway, I am going to get back to it and see if I can get any further with solving the problem today.

Oh well, back to the grind! Bye for now.
Wanda

Saturday 1 May 2010

Distress It!


Here is my entry for the TIO Challenge #36 over on Dragon's Dream. Check out the blogaversary candy celebrating the first anniversary of the blog.
I covered both sides of a piece of grunge paper with scrapbook paper. I'n not sure where I got it from, but it is double sided, so both sides of my tag co-ordinated beautifully. I put the whole tag through a new cuttlebug folder, called victoria, then brushed corduroy DI over the raised parts of the pattern to make it pop. Then I used the same distress ink around all the sides of the tag, followed by black soot DI just on the edges. Then I roughed up the edges of the tag, then applied black soot DI again, then dipped into black EP and heated.
I didn't have a large black eyelet, so I coloured one using a black copic pen. It worked a treat although I had to let one coat dry then apply a second. I have put black strands and an old gold ribbon through the eyelet.
I made the flower using various scraps of patterned paper, which I cut out with the blossom nestie dies, then distressed the edges using corduroy DI. Then I sprayed the layers with mango blaze glimmer mist, allowed to dry, then curled the petals, having first cut into them to allow more dimension. I then glued the layers of the flower together and finished off with a black button.
Finally, I cut two flourishes from the Home Accents cartridge on my cricut from black card, stuck them to the tag with glue gel then finished by adhering the flower.
Thanks for stopping by.
Wanda

Wednesday 28 April 2010

Pretty in Pink!

Here is my entry for challenge 15 over at Bah Humbug "Pretty in Pink". Last one part the post I daresay. I actually made the card whilst staying up in Scotland with Janet, so please forgive me for being vague about the origins of the materials I used. I must say I found this one really challenging!
I think the stamp is from Kanban. I have stamped the main image with versa mark and black detail EP. Then I have highlighted the branches with a green marker and then used cystal stickles. This has been cut with an oval nestie. The edges have been distressed with a pink inkpad, the matt has been distressed with a slightly darker ink from Stampin Up. The background has been cut using a big nestie, and I have used the same tree with second degree stamping in black, with the same branches of the same tree stamped in pink to create swirls. I have edged this mat by dragging the SU pink inkpad around the edges. Card is finished with a pink grossgrain ribbon and flowers and leaves using Martha Steward punches. The flowers have been finished with crystal stickles applied with my finger and a pink gem. The backing paper is grey ribbed.
Thank for looking
Wanda

Sunday 25 April 2010

Dragon's Dream Tag It On Challenge "Emboss It"

And here is my entry for Dragon's Tag It On Challenge. The tag has been embossed using the Cuttlebug Ornamental Iron folder. I then rubbed all over it with black soot DI, then distressed the raised pattern with a sanding block. The border and sole embellishment have been cut using the same cuttlebug combi folder, as has the small tag. The image on the small tag comes from a Stamp Man oriental plate and is stamed with black stazon ink. The tags are finished with dark brown ribbon.
Thanks for dropping by.
Wanda

Rainbow Lady's Challenge - April Showers


Here is my entry, using a digi image of unknown source. I have coloured the image using H20's - a product I haven't used for some time. I have decoupated the umbrella in the foreground. Backing paper is, again, from an unknown source, but probably a Joanna Sheen CD, edged with brilliance pearlescent sky blue. The border is the same backing paper with a pink ribbon over. The card is finished with three gems and a sentiment.
Thanks for stopping by.
Wanda

Monday 5 April 2010

Embossed Christmas Tree

Bah Humbug Challenge 12 - Embossing
This is my entry for this weeks challenge over at Bah Humbug.
The backing paper is from the Artylicious Seasons Greetings CD, matted onto silver mirri card. The tree has been cut out using a nestie, then embossed using the christmas tree embossing folder. I have then rubbed over it gently with a Versa Magic Sea Breeze ink pad. This has been layered onto another piece of white card that has been embossed with the swiss dots embossing folder. Again, I have rubbed over this with the same Sea Breeze ink pad. Then it has been matted onto silver mirri card. The snowflake has been cut using a nestie with pale blue glitter card. The ribbons are from my stash. The card has been finished with a peel-off greeting.
Thanks for stopping by. Please feel free to leave a comment.
Wanda

Saturday 3 April 2010

Through the Window

Challenge 97 over on Rainbow Lady's challenge blog is "Through the Window", so I thought I would give it a go. The background behind the window has been brayered using big n juicy soothing sunset. This has been overstamped using black archival ink with a stamp from Clarity. The window is a peel-off which I have put through the zyron and layered onto acetate then layed over the image. The background paper is from the My Minds Eye Spring collection, layered onto black card, then I have cut the border using an EK Success border punch. Over this I have layered a gold ribbon. The ornate corners are cut in black using a cuttlebug die. The gems at the top are from my stash.

Right, I'm off to check out other challenges! Thanks for looking.
Wanda

Saturday 20 February 2010

Eastern Promise



Here is today's offering. Most of the stamps are from a new set by Graphicus, called Eastern Promise, the greeting is from a new Sheena Douglas set of meadow flowerss. The backing paper has been brayered using a big n juicy Hydrangea inkpad, ribbon is from my stash.

I don't know if I will manage any more finished cards today, I really should get into the kitchen!

Bye for now.
Wanda

Friday 19 February 2010

Little Boy Blue

This one is my final offering for the day and it is for 2 challenges, Cute Card Thursday "Metal Mania", and Papertake Weekly Challenge "Check this Out".

The image is by Whiff checked backing paper is by Dovecraft.

The blue brads on the image and on the panel across the centre are my metal, and the backing paper is checked.

Right, that's it for today. I'm ready to eat!

Bye for now.

Wanda

Fairy Glen


Here is my second offering of the day - and my entry for Rainbow Lady's challenge number 91 "Recipe".
The Fairy stamp is from Personal Impressions. The background stamps are a mix of Sheena Douglas and Lavinia Stamps. I have brayered the backgrounds using Big N Juicy Soothing Sunset, and stamped the meadow plants using Dried Marigold Distress ink, Adirondack Red Pepper, and Purple Twilight. The fairy is stamped with black versafine. The black dotty ribbon is from my stash and the photo corners I picked up when at Rosemary Merry's shop last Monday.

This is nearly a record for me - two cards in one afternoon!