Dark can still be Colourful

Good morning wonderful crafters, bloggers and friends.... hope you are all keeping warm and dry in the horrendous weather...

This is a card made with a Stamping Chef Digi Stamp that I coloured last week, but haven't had chance to use yet.

This evening is the first time I have sat down to craft since winston, my woofer, had his surgery.

Since joining the Left Of Centre DT, I have loved playing with alternative images and colour mixes etc, and I've loved it. YES I love my cute stuff, but the alternative stuff is also great and really lets me play and let my hair down a bit.

This is what I've Made

The paper is from a BoBunny halloween pad, its the first time ive used it. There are some gorgeous colourful designs in the pad, I'm looking forward to using it more.

The sengiment was a plain white and silver one, which I have inked and matted and layered with the same colours as the diecuts.

The card has been finished off with black glitter peeloff dots placed along the top, corners of paper sections and also on the sentiment.

The image has been coloured with WHSmiths blendable colouring pencils, which I am absolutely addicted to using! I get so much more detail using these, than I do using my spectrum noirs. 

I have glossy accented the eyes, heaet in the hat and some of the feather.

I have added some glitter pen to the dots ober the eyebriws, piercing jewelkery and the pattern around the eyes.

Challenges I'd Like to Enter

Love To Create Challenge Blog - http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - Sketch Challenge 

2. Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge Blog - http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/challenge-216-anything-goes.html - Anything Goes

3. Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog - http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk - Stamped Image

4. Cards Galore Encore Challenge Blog - http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk - Use Bling (black glitter peeloffs)

5. One Crazy Stamper Blog  - http://onecrazystampercom.blogspot.co.uk -  Anything Goes

6. Doodle Pantry Blog - http://doodlepantryblog.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/DPDC - Use Any Digi

Thank you once again for your visits and wonderful comments...

SeemaCrafts February Challenge

Welcome Everyone..... What I would like to know is, Where did January go?? One minute its Christmas, and next thing its February and I have no idea where all those days went!!

Over on the SeemaCrafts Challenge Blog....

This months theme is........ Love / Valentines

http://seemacrafts.blogspot.co.uk/

SeemaCrafts isn't just a Challenge Blog, but a shop as well....so pop over and have a nosy at what they have to offer.

We offer a small crafting prize, please see main blog post for details of the fabulous prize from imagination crafts, generously donated by the lovely Kath Halstead (aka mucky paws).

Here is What I Have Made

I really love this card. for me it is Clean and Simple and Elegant. The paper and the sentiment strip are both from a paper pad from the works and cost me 99p!!!

I backed everything with gol mirricard to make the papers stand out. 

The finishing touches are gems, ribbon bow and gorgeous flowers

I hope you are able to pop over to the SeemaCrafts Challenge Blog, and join in with the brilliant Challenge this month...



Left Of Centre Challenge #23

Welcome back lovely people, I hope you are all well and enjoying your crafting. 

Today is Mid-Month Inspirationg time over on the wonderful 'Left Of Centre Creative Challenges Blog'

The current challenge is #23 'Scarey Stories'.

http://leftofcenterchallenges.blogspot.ca

This challenge is sponsored by the wonderful Ike's Art, who provided us with some amazing images to use. 

www.ikesart.com

I chose to use the image 'The Hatter'. It was fate that this image was provided, as the first story I thought of when I saw the theme was 'Alice in Wonderland'. 

Now I know to most, this is a harmless story...to me this is a dark and mental story that has scared me since I was a kid. I won't even watch the cartoon adaptations of the story. 

I managed to watch the Johnny Depp version, for obvious reasons lol 

Right....on to what I have made with my Ike's Image for Left Of Centre?....

I think you will agree, the image is brilliant!! I coloured him using my Derwent water coloured pencils and a fine Koi water brush. 

I had amazing fun making this card. I ripped, curled, distressed, inked, sprayed and splatted all for one make :-) 

I wanted to have bright colours in the backing scene, but dull them down with distress inking around the edging and spray ink over the page. 

The blue mirri card I sanded down to give it great distressed areas. 

I stamped the famous wording 'we're all mad in here' and cut the letter tiles out, I have glossy accented certain areas to highlight them to stand out. 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

1. Ike's World - Anything Goes - http://ikesworldchallengeblog.blogspot.gr/2014/01/challenge-9-anything-goes.html

2. Musically Challenged - Songs Inspired by Alice in Wonderland - http://musicallychallengedchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/challenge-17.html

The music that inspired this card is the Alice In Wonderland (score) 2010 - Alices Theme by Sakura Jurai. This is a very haunting piece of music that, to me, fits the darker side of Alice In Wonderland. It's from the 2010 Disney production, which is where the backing images are taken from.

3. Simon Says Stamp - A is for (Alice in Wonderland) - http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/904/ 

4. Sister Act Card Challenges - Anything Goes - http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/challenge-41.html?showComment=1390587592032#c310631787516224593

5. The Crafting Cafe - Anything Goes - http://thecraftingcafe.blogspot.co.uk

6. Through The Craftroom Door - Anything Goes - http://ttcrd.blogspot.co.uk

7. Divas By Design - Anything Goes - http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.co.uk

8. Crafty Girls Challenges - Anything Goes - http://4kraftygirlzchallenges.blogspot.co.uk

I hope this card has shown people that if I can produce something so different like this, then anyone can. 

The Left Of Centre isn't just for alternative style makes, it's for anything from cute to gothic! 

I really hope you will pop over and play along with is, for a chance to win some brilliant Ike's images.

Thank you for your continued support...

www.leftofcentrechallenges.co.ukhttp://leftofcentrechallenges.blogspot.co.uk

SeemaCrafts January Mid-Month Inspiration

SeemaCrafts Challenge Blog has a January Theme of 'ANYTHING GOES'....

Please click the below image or link to take you to the original linkie Challenge post.

 

 

 

http://seemacrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/january-anything-goes.html

 

This month, we are doing a Mid-Month inspirational post. 

This is for those who need a little extra help to get their creative juices flowing.... 

Here is my Mid-Month Inspirational make....

I have to say, I LOVE this card. For me, it's very clean and simple. The paper is from a wedding themed paper pad from The Works. The image is a pack of wedding diecuts that I ordered from eBay and I mounted the topper and the paper on to a gorgeous pearlised paper from payper box. 

The ribbon is from my stash, as is the skeleton leaves and spray pearls. I finished off with some gorgeous coloured flat back pearls. 

Wedding cards are so difficult for me. I find it hard making something that fits in with the beauty of such a special day for the recipients. 

Well, I hope that has wet your appetite to pop over and join in the SeemaCrafts January's 'ANYTHING GOES' challenge theme :-) 

I am so lucky to have some lovely and loyal followers of my blog, thank you. 

Just For Fun January Challenge

Hello and welcome beautiful. people. 

The first challenge of 2014 over on the Just For Fun Challenge Blog is NEW! 

So new year, new baby, new job etc. 

Just For Fun Challenge Blog

Can't wait to see a mixed bag of entries!

Same rules as before, maximum of  THREE entries per person and no back linking! Please post a link to the blog challenge under your blog post!

We will choose a winner, a top three and a Guest Designer from all eligible entries! 

Please add GDT to your entry if you wish to be considered!

The challenge goes live on the 1st of each month, then on the 16th of each month, a mid way inspirational post goes live....

hopefully something in these posts will inspire you to join in. 

Here is my make for the NEW Challenge over on the Just For Fun Challenge Blog.

I used a a LOTV image that I had a few of the same images for. I cut areas to decoupage to give some depth to the topper. 

I used two different patterned papers and matted and layered them. 

I like this card as I used a different fold and it is very sweet.

I really hope you will pop over to the blog and join in with this really great themes challenge.

My Fantastic News and a New Challenge

I have been eager to share this news with you, however I have had to keep it under my hat for a while..... I was asked in December, to be a guest Designer for the brilliant 'Left Of Centre' Challenge Blog, to which I said YES YES YES straight away!

 

I then had the best start ever to a new year and was asked to join the Left Of Centre Challenge Blog Design Team as a permanent member....wooohoooo and happy new year!!!!!

 

 

The challenge is the First challenge on 2014 which is:

 

http://leftofcenterchallenges.blogspot.ca/

 

Challenge 22: Sponsored by Delicious Doodles - NEW BEGUINNINGS

 

 

 

Here is what I made

 

 

I was given the most gorgeous Delicious Doodles Image to work with and coloured this with my Water Colour Pencils. The image was brilliant to colour as you could make it as basic or intricate as you desire.

I found as many different shaded/patterned purple papers and matched them up with the colouring in the image.

I added some black lace tape as well as actual purple lace, with a ribbon runner.

Finished off with a lovely sentiment and lots of different shaped and colour flat backed gems.

 

 

This card was so far out of my comfort zone as I thought it has to be very 'alternative', however I think I found a level that I was comfortable with.

Yes I am known for making cute/girly/colourful cards, but that isn't all I am about. I am looking forward to exploring this side of my crafting, and seeing where I can take it.

 

 

I hope this make has inspired you to pop over and see my new fellow Design Teams projects, and join in with the challenge. Please don't think that you have to be a specific type of crafter to join this challenge....you don't!

 

 

Thank you for your visits and your wonderful words.

 

 

 

 

 

Sugar Button Fairies

Hello Wonderful people. Thank you to the lovely ladies that always visit my blog and leave such lovely comments. 

A few posts back I posted a photo of a Sugar Buttons Fairy that I had coloured in green and teal with water coloured pencils. 

I couldn't wait to get on and make something with this. 

My friend Linda Simpson uses a lot of stencils/masks and materials that go with them. I took inspiration from Linda and got out my Creative Expressions Texture Paste that I purchased last year and totally forgot about. 

I picked a backing colour that went with the image and chose a suitable mask and set to work. 

I admit, I got a little messy and I had a little seepage under parts of the mask, but that's why playing is all about! 

I absolutely loved the look of the texture paste and the high pale gold shine it produced. 

Anyway, enough waffle, here is what I made.....ooohhh I'm excited.....ok ok I'm posting! 

This last photo shows the absolutely gorgeous pale gold shine the paste produces. It is absolutely beautiful and adds such a 'WOW' factor to a plain old piece of card! 

I loved this card so much, I had to try out the other fairie in the stamp set. 

This one, I HAD to do in the typical girly pink and purple colours :-) I couldn't resist for long...

This is the image I coloured and here is the card that I made...I used diecuts for the first time since before Christmas as my beautiful ebosser has been packed away!!! 

Love the sparkle, shine, pretty girly colours. 

Thank you again for taking the time to visit my blog, you are all very talented people who inspire me every day. 

LEJ Designs - Challenge #85

WOW I can safely say that I am back to blogging. I have really missed it and missed visiting your lovely blogs.

 

Welcome everyone :-)

 

 

As of the 7th January, LEJ Designs Challenge Blog is starting a new era.... We are well known for our weekly challenges, however that is all changing.

We are going MONTHLY....Yes you read that right....Our challenges will now run from the 7th of the month to the 5th of the following month. This allows you plenty of time to get your makes in and look at all the fabulous Design Team Makes.

 

http://lejdesignschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Please click on the above image or link to take you to our wonderful LEJ Designs Challenge Blog, with links to the shop and gallery etc.

 

 

 

So, this is our first monthly make, wish us luck.... As it is still early in the year and people are adjusting back to normal life after the festive period, we have chosen a nice easy theme for you......

ANYTHING GOES

.....That means there are no excuses not to get involved in the Challenge.

 

 

Here is What I Made

 

 

I used the LEJ Designs Image 'Skater Boy' and added the son text to it in Serif Craft Artist2.

I coloured the image in with my Derwent Water Colour Pencils as you all know I love using them. I paint with a very fine Koi Water Brush.

 

The paper is from my stash and the green backing card is some I got in my payper box at the NEC.

I used a rangers distressing tool to distress the edges of all backing edges and used a ruller to rip the image edges.

 

I finished off with twine, Card Candi and a Happy Birthday peel off.

 

 

I enjoyed making a male card, as usually I struggle with them as I want to glitter and pretty them up lol

 

 

I hope, as always, that my make has inspired you to visit the LEJ Designs Challenge Blog and join in the new monthly challenge. Remember it is Anything Goes, so the only thing stopping you entering is you.....

 

 

Thank you for your wonderful words you leave on your visits, they are all wonderful and make my day.

 

 



YAY I Can Craft Again

Hope you all had a fantastic festive period and you are all adjusting back to normal life again....

Those of you who know me, know that I have our back living room as my craft room. When we have visitors, or my brother comes home, my craft stuff gets packed away so the room is usable again. 

I finally managed to get my craft room back and functional YAY.... 

I sat down to organise my stuff, and I got the urge to make and make I did! I managed to make four cards in one morning with no difficulty with papers etc which is what I usually have!

I would like to share with you three of my makes, the fourth one is for a Design Team make so I can't share yet...

The last image is of a stamp I pitched I last year but never got around to using.

It stamps perfectly, even on watercolour card. I used my watercolour pencils and a thin koi water brush to colour her in with. I was so tempted to colour her with the typical pinks and lilacs, but went for something totally different for me :-) 

Thank you all for your wonderful words when you visit...

SeemaCrafts - January 2014 Challenge

How weird is it to be writing 2014?!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL.......

 

Well it is a new year and a brand new me. I have made a list of all the things I want to work on and change this year....so far, I have made an excellent start.

 

 

Well, not only is it a brand new year, it is also a brand new month which means New Challenge Time over on The SeemaCrafts Challenge Blog.

Please click the below image or link to take you to the most recent Challenge post.

 

 

http://seemacrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/january-anything-goes.html

 

 

 

January is a tricky time for crafters. You have just had a very busy few months with christmas cards and Christmas projects and had a small break over the festive period. You have your Christmas stuff to pack up and get back into the mind set of ' back to normality'.

We understand this problem, so we have made Januarys Challenge nice and easy....

 

ANYTHING GOES

 

What is easier than that??!! Nothing lol

 

 

What I have Made

 

 

I have seen so many gorgeous cards with mixes of patterned papers, but I have never really had the guts to do this myself.

I found a boy themes paper pad that I have had for a while. I decided to pluck up the courage and just go for it.

I used 4 different papers, three of these being patterned. I have to say, I am pleased with how they have mixed.

 

 

I used a tent fold card. The image is a Lili Of The Valley (LOTV) ones that I have decoupages myself to give some depth to go along with the many layers of the card.

The card was finished off with lots of small flat backed gems and a little sentiment I found in my stash.

 

 

I really like this card and I am glad that I went ahead and gave it ago. Keep an eye out for more patterned paper mixed cards from me!

 

 

As always, I really hope that this make has inspired you to pop over to see mine and the other Design Teams work, over on the blog and join in. You have a while month, so no excuses about time lol

 

Thank you as, as always, for all your visits and your amazing comments that many of you leave, they really do make me happy.