A Passion For Cards

HOW TO BUY DIGI IMAGES

2012-12-21T13:06:00.001Z

As you can see from the posts on this blog,I draw my own images for cards and I've made them into digi images to sell.

All images can be viewed on A Passion for Stamps

To buy the DIGI IMAGES simply use the "ADD TO CART" button. When you have paid I will send the chosen digi images to you as a zipped file as soon as possible.

If you have any problems with this send an email, to hamiltonarch@btinternet.com and I will get in touch to help asap.

Parrot and Tropical flowers

2012-01-31T12:31:00.005Z

Guess who was having a play with her flower punches?

1. It all started innocently enough - I printed off my Cheeky Parrot digi image, coloured it with Promarkers and decided to cut it out with my little Tonic Studios scissors. Then, as I looked at it I had the idea of making lots of tropical looking flowers and creating a "jungle" effect! Just as well, then that I kept the actual card white and didn't add any patterned paper!

2. Next, I decided to use my new Tonic Studios Shape Mate Starter Pack with the Oval shapes to create an aperture in the card front, so I used the smallest oval and cut around the outside.

3. I cut another piece of card to fit inside the front ie the same height but 1cm wider to allow for gluing and stuck it to the inside.

4. This time I cut an oval on the 2nd "page"to fit exactly inside the first oval but using the inside of the Shape Mate Oval template.

5. To make the "Tropical" leaves, I used the Tonic Studio Classic Heart punch, Craft Tacky Glue, turquoise card, a little green wire and a paper crimper.

6 .I added a little Craft Tacky Glue to the middle if the heart then folded it in half with the wire in the centre.
Pinch the heart tightly in the centre over the wire to keep it in place.

7. I fed the "leaf" through the crimper at an angle to create veins.

8. After a lot of punching flowers using the fabulous Petal Pairs, mini Daisy, Multi Detail Flower,

mini Snowflake. mini Flower head and mini Butterfly, I added some pen detail and a gem before adding the finished flowers to the different layers of the card.

A bit different for me but I hope you like it!

Challenges
My time to craft ...Adorable
Allsorts.. one or more hearts (I've used 3 to make leaves!)
Alphabet Challenge ...Zoo animals
Crafty Catz... things with wings

Promarker and digi giveaway

2012-01-31T11:38:00.000Z

+5 DIGIS

I've had these 5 Promarkers to use as a giveaway for a while and was waiting till after Christmas when the postal service had settled down again.

So, I have 5 BRIGHT Promarkers and 5 digi images (of the winner's choice) from A Passion for Stamps to give away. You'll find all the details on A Passion for Stamps.

All I ask is that

a) you are a follower(existing or new)

b) you leave a comment on the post on A PASSION FOR STAMPS (NOT HERE)

c) you add the pic, LINK and details to your blog sidebar to spread the word.

It will run until 31st of January

Dacshund

2012-01-25T09:59:00.004Z

I've had a chance to finish one or two of the things I started at the weekend so the first one I'm sharing today is "Dacshund". You'll find the digi HERE and it's another card which is suitable for sending to a man so I've resisted the temptation to add bows, flowers etc. I did have several different layouts in mind and had all the "stuff" left out (ie ribbons etc)but then decided to keep it plainer.

The paper is DCWV Retro pack which I've had for a while. I love it but don't like to use it up! The beautiful borders at the top and botton were created using Tonic Studios Royal Fleur 2 in 1 punch. One shape is the "positive" while the other is the "negative".

1. I used the Royal Fleur punch with the Border System

2. The cut border

3. Simply snip the two shapes apart and use separately.

I've added a tiny drop of Glossy Accents to the eyes to make it more realistic (but not scary!)

Challenges
Alphabet Challenge..Y is for You can choose

Love Birds!

2012-01-23T09:34:00.007Z

Good morning! I've been catching up on a lot of card making over the weekend but did it in a strange kind of way - started several very diferent cards at the one time and befuddled myself by doing a bit here and a bit there.

Result...a pile of unfinished projects and only one complete card to show for it!

Well, this is it!!

The cute little Love Bird image was one which I drew at the weekend too and you can buy it HERE at A Passion for Stamps if you like. It's coloured with Promarkers and I added Stickles to the "heart" on their chests to highlight it. I've also used Glossy Accents on the beaks.

The hearts are from a Nellie Snellen die cut set and all the punches are by Tonic Studios.

I used the Border System , Edger 3 and Hearts Accent Punch for the bottom part and the Flower head plus the small flower from the Floral Border punch for the flowers at the top.

Don't forget about the chance to win one of the Tonic Studios punches. You can see the details HERE on Blog Tonic

The giveaway of 5 Promarkers and 5 digi images is still running on A Passion for Stamps until Jan 31

The "Baker's Twine" was a little experiment. I have oodles and oodles of gorgeous coloured embroidery thread so, on a flying visit to Craftworld in Belfast on Saturday, I bought some white. I twirled the two colours together and added a little glue from a glue stick. It worked better then I expected so I'll definitely be making more colours.

Challenges
CupcakeCraft ....All you need is love
Moving along with the times ....things with wings
Totally Papercrafts ..make your own flowers

Some new digis

2012-01-22T09:26:00.002Z

Good morning! Just letting you see the latest new digi images I've added to A Passion for Stamps - why don't you nip over and have a look?

I'll be adding some cards made with these images later.

Don't forget, too, about the Promarker and digi giveaway on the same blog - which you can find HERE

Love Birds; £1.90

Cheeky Parrot; £1.50

Lily of the Valley; £1.70

Clarkia; £1.70

Dachshund; £1.70

Punch giveaway on new Tonic Studios blog

2012-01-13T16:04:00.000Z

THIS POST IS A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON BLOG TONIC

Welcome to the sparkly new Blog Tonic. We've moved all our old posts over to blogger and we are looking forward to sharing more of our creative ideas with you. To celebrate, we have some great news for you...

We are giving you the opportunity to win one of Tonic Studio's fabulous Simplicity Geared Punches. What is more, it will be the punch of your choice!

Their ingenious (and patented) gearing mechanism takes all the effort out of punching from the user meaning even the most ornate shape can be punched effortlessly!

Their beautiful New Simplicity Geared Pattern Punches are a breeze to use and with the wide selection of patterns on offer you are sure to be spoilt for choice.

If you'd like to get your hands on one of these little beauties this is what you need to do...

GO OVER TO BLOG TONIC AND SEE THE DETAILS

Tonic Studios New Blog and Snowdrop card

2012-01-12T10:19:00.004Z

Good morning!

Tonic Studios have just launched their NEW BLOG and we'd love you to come over and become a follower. The blog already showcases some of the projects made by the Design Team using their fantastic products over the past year or so but there will be lots more ideas and news which you should keep an eye on!

TO CELEBRATE THE NEW BLOG TONIC ARE HAVING A GIVEAWAY OF ONE OF THE NEW GEARED PUNCHES....READ ABOUT IT HERE

Don't forget,too, that I have a giveaway of 5 Bright Promarkers and 5 of my digi images running until Jan 31st. You can enter HERE

My card today has been made using the Tonic Studios Daisy Border punch to create the doily. You will find a really simple tutorial HERE showing how I made this for an earlier card (below)

The image is Snowdrops - one of my own digis which you can see with all the others on A Passion for Stamps

The scalloped edge of the striped paper was created using the Tonic Studios border system and

Edger punch 3

To give the card more dimension I used the Tonic Studios Mini Trimmer to create a little box which I added underneath.The "box" folds flat for postage.

I used the tiny cut out flowers from the Floral border punch to add to the centres of the scallops.

Challenges
Digital Tuesday...Punch it out
Divas by Design ...new beginnings (snowdrops for spring)
For Fun Challenges ...What Fun!
Moving along with the Times ...spots and/or stripes
Paperplay ..in stitches

Crocuses

2012-01-04T12:18:00.002Z

It's another grey, wet and windy day here so I thought I'd share a bright Spring card with you!

As you can see I've used gingham paper again - I can't get enough of the stuff (as well as gingham ribbon) and have to keep telling myself to use something else, otherwise it would be on all my cards.

This is one of my new drawings and is called "Crocuses" (what else?) and you can see it HERE along with the little Cairn Terrier I drew a couple of days ago. I've also printed out some of my Snowdrop digi images and will be using them soon too.

Perhaps I'll get more drawing done now that I'm off work looking after my husband....

While I'm in this frame of mind I'll probably be going BRIGHT to compensate for the lack of sunshine!

Challenges

Papertake weekly....anything goes

Sir Stampalot DT card - Monochromatic

2012-01-01T11:17:00.009Z

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and would like to wish you a very happy New Year!

Maybe you got lots of lovely crafting goodies for Christmas and "need" to try them out? Why not join in the challenge at Sir Stampalot where the theme this month is "monochromatic".

If you need any encouragement to join in - there is a fantastic surprise package as a prize on offer from the shop!!

I've been drawing again - this time I've done a few images which I really needed for my own cards and hope you'll find them useful too. I send a lot of Get Well cards, and needed some images which could be used for both male and female cards. This one is "Bunch of Grapes" and I've already coloured it in green, dark red and purple and am pleased with how it looks.

You'll find it along with the others HERE at A Passion for Stamps. EDITED.. If you've read my post from last night you'll know that this card was "one I made earlier" and the new images will be available soon...

The die cut is Nellie Snellen, the punches are Tonic Studios border system and Royal Fleur 2 in 1 corner punch.

Don't forget to check out the other DT cards...you'll get all the inspiration you need to get you reaching for your stash!

Challenges

ABC G is for Green

Happy New Year!!

2011-12-31T20:32:00.004Z

I'd like to wish you all a very happy New Year! I am so grateful to all my followers and commenters. I really appreciate you taking the time to drop a line now and then and I want to thank you,too for all the inspiration you've given me over the last year.

I had intended to make a lovely card for this post but things have not gone smoothly, to say the least, this week .

I'll not bore you with all the details but the latest trip to A&E today was with my husband who ,we now know, has a broken bone in his foot. Unfortunately David has not been able to put his foot to the ground for 4 days. He has actually only been able to crawl to the bathroom. We thought it was a bad sprain and didn't got to hospital until today so now we know the reason for all the pain :(

Rest has been ordered and is definitely needed so we'll not be up to see the New Year in - hopefully we'll be fast asleep by then.

I have a card to share with you tomorrow for the Stampalot Challenge...thankfully I made it a couple of weeks ago!!

Happy New Year , one and all!!

A very Happy Christmas to all my readers!!

2011-12-24T11:34:00.005Z

I just want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas! I hope you enjoy a lovely time with friends and family.

Many things have happened to us all over the past year but let's not forget what Christmas is all about and remember to thank God for the wonderful gift of His Son. As I wrote on some of my cards...

"Unto you is born this day...a Saviour which is Christ the Lord"

and the reason He was sent;

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"

Love and best wishes , Ruth x

Last few Christmas cards

2011-12-20T10:26:00.002Z

This is the last of my Christmas cards...I can't wait to move on now!! Anyhow, I thought I'd like to try a bright image on a black and white background, so I chose DCWV paper, Marianne Creatables die cut ,Sunray embossing folder, "icicle" scissors and black glitter paper. The image is,of course,Holly,
from A Passion for Stamps

This card was one of the quickest I've made. I used my Papermania Christmas Stocking embossing folder and cut out two extra stockings. Some glitter , a little matting behind the image and c'est fini!

Challenges

Try it on Tuesday ...anything goes

Passion for Promarkers ...Celebrations

Everybody Art ..anything goes

It Takes Two...

2011-12-10T09:52:00.007Z

Good morning! What a week....anyhow, I didn't see the time passing and almost forgot to add the card I'd made. This was a commissioned card for "a 21 year old fashion student called "Jodi" so this is what I came up with. It's also my Guest DT card for Allsorts this week where the theme is "It takes two" and that means you've to use just two colours along with a white base if you like.

I'm also sponsoring Allsorts this week so come on over and join in - you could win 4 of my digis from A Passion for Stamps !!

I've used my Mannequin digi image which you can find HERE at A Passion for Stamps and I've edged the image with my Tonic Studios Daisy Border punch and I think it looks like black lace. There are tiny dots of Stickles around the image and it is a lovely effect in real life.

Back to the week I've had... my brother, who had major surgery for bowel cancer last year had a further operation last week and had a massive bleed the following day and was rushed back to theatre again. He has been very ill but thankfully is on the mend now but is very weak and tired.
Our younger son has had a terrible cold and was only able to get out of bed to go for exams.
Snow meant that we had to hurriedly change our work plans and then I got the awful cold myself. I had a day in bed (unheard of!!) and still feel terrible. It's only a bad cold but it has made me feel rotten.

Anyhow, it's Saturday again so I had a lie in and ,as usual, my lovely husband brought me poached egg and toast to bed for breakfast....I love Saturday mornings!!!

Oh, two more little things!
I was featured in last month's Cardmaking and Papercraft mag and got my super prize and a copy of the mag this week..

I won a lovely prize from Docrafts this week too and was really pleased with it....where am I going to put all the stuff??

Tonic Studios Multi Detail Snowflake Punch uses

2011-12-09T14:23:00.007Z

I've made a couple of cards etc showing the different ways I use the Tonic Studios Multi Detail Snowflake punch as I mentioned yesterday.

In the card above you can see that I've used the outside part just snipped from the paper to form a lovely frame around the circle.
The Robin and Holly digi image is one of my drawings avaliable from A Passion for Stamps and I've overlapped the snowflakes behind the circles.
I've then used the snowflakes as flowers and leaves and, if you look closely, you'll see I have snipped them again and used them as corners.

For this card I have used the inner snowflake as a frame around the centre of the card. The image on this one is Christmas Rose also from A Passion for Stamps with a little of the greenery removed to suit the card.

Last, but not least....I have used the punch again along with the Tonic Studios Flower Head punch to make some pretty little flowers which can be used at any time of the year and (like a dog!) not just for Christmas!! I've embossed the centre flowers too and added a flat backed pearl but the possibilities are endless.......

In case you missed any of the other flowers I made with these punches in earlier posts , here they are again..

Hope you like....if you come up with any more please let me know!

I may as well join in a couple of challenges while I'm at it!

Alphabet Challenge .. White Christmas (snowflake and Christmas rose card)

Crafty Catz. .. Anything goes

Stampin for the Weekend ...Christmas

Cute Card Thursday ...anything goes

Colour Create Red, white and Green

Christmas Stocking

2011-12-08T11:14:00.001Z

Another Christmas card made, but I've so many still to do!
Each year I promise myself I'll be organised but it hasn't happened. Here I am again making cards and writing them as the glue dries!
This one was fairly quickly put together using Christmas Stocking digi image from A Passion for Stamps, coloured with Promarkers (as usual!) a gold gel pen,Stickles and Glossy Accents.
The stocking is matted on a Marianne Creatables die cut and I've added Christmas ribbon to the top of the stocking .
The border punch is one of my "new favourites" - Tonic Studios Stars border and the Snowflakes are 2 layers of a Tonic Studios Multi Detail Snowflake punch. I've got great use from this punch and hope to add a separate post showing all the different ways I use it (if I get time!). I love the way it has 2 parts and can be used in so many different ways to make flowers and not just Christmas ideas.

Challenges
Moving along with the times ... ...last minute Christmas
Creative Card Crew ...Tis the Season
For Fun Challenges ...Christmas Sparkle

Mountain Ash - Berries and Snowflakes

2011-12-05T10:00:00.000Z

I've been meaning to use this image ( Mountain Ash) for ages and had it all coloured up. I added lots of glitter to the berries and then wanted it to really "shine" so I added Glossy Accents on top of the glitter but only on alternate berries and left it to dry. Then I added it to the rest of the berries, and that way the Glossy Accents stayed looking like berries and didn't run into one big "pool".

The snowflakes are from a Tonic Studio Multi Detail Punch and I've used 2 layers and added Stickles all round the edges. In the centre I drew a little berry and gave it the same "treatment" as the berries in the image.

You can see the effect in more detail in the close up below.

Challenges.

Addicted to Stamps ...... Christmas Card

Craft Your Passion ....anything goes + glitter

Christmas Lantern

2011-12-04T09:15:00.001Z

Hello....would you believe it - it's time for another challenge at Sir Stampalot!!
Thanks to all who joined in last month's challenge, it was great to have the excuse to check out all your lovely cards.
This month the theme is Bingo..is pick any 3 items in a row and use them on your card -

and just look at the fabulous prize which is up for grabs this month!!!! Someone will be very happy to win this lot!!

The three elements I've chosen are Flowers, Punches and Pearls.....right up my street!
I have made another Christmas card ( knocking them off my list )and have used my new Christmas Lantern digi image from my collection at A Passion for Stamps.
I have coloured it with Promarkers and added lots of Stickles on the glass and love the effect in real life.
I freely admit to getting carried away with my Tonic Studios punches - I've used 5 different ones on this card!

Because the lantern has a Poinsettia on the top I thought I'd make some punched flowers to match (I quite liked this when I made the Christmas roses to match the image on THIS card).

The Poinsettias were made using 2 layers of the Flower Head punch pinched in the middle of the petals and I drew little veins on. I then glued these to part of the Multi Detail Snowflake punch and added a pearl to the centre.
The outside corners of the embossed red card were punched with a Royal Fleur 2 - in- 1 corner punch ; the white card of the image has little leaves from the Flora and Fauna Birdy punch and I've added a couple of
Furled Leaf punches to the sides.

Christmas Lantern and Christmas Stocking digi images

2011-12-01T09:59:00.002Z

Good morning!
Just showing you 2 new digi images which I added to the Christmas collection at A Passion for Stamps if you'd like to nip over and have a look..

Christmas Lantern; £1.70

Christmas Stocking; £1.50

Christmas Roses

2011-11-20T15:45:00.002Z

It's been 2 long weeks since I've posted card to my blog and in the meantime I've added 3 more digi images to the collection at A Passion for Stamps.
This new card features one of them ....Christmas Rose.
I've used Promarkers and Stickles along with some Glossy Accents.To complement the image I've made some flowers with Tonic Studios Flower Head, layered and "pinched" and then set on a Snowflake . I added a little pen detail to the centre and finished with Stickles.
The gorgeous borders at the top and bottom of the card were made using Tonic Studios Stars Border punch. I think I'll be using this a lot on my Christmas cards!

Challenge

ABC ....Dazzle

During the week I was working in Belfast and when I went out to bring something in from the car someone called me and asked if I'd like a kitten as he had 4 needing a home. Now, I don't have pets at the moment and wouldn't really have the time to commit to looking after one properly but I just had to have a look...
When I went home that evening I spoke to a friend who was able to offer 2 of the kitties a home on a farm -
so the following day I collected the two little balls of fluff and brought them home after work.
I thought I'd share some photos of the pair of them in my living room before I took them to their new owner.
How stupid was I to think that they would sit at peace on the floor!!! Just look at the pair of them scaling my sofa and looking down!!

Great fun while it lasted but I'm sure they've got a better home now than I could have offered them!!

Wedding card

2011-11-06T15:48:00.004Z

Another little tip for using the Tonic Studios Daisy Simplicity Geared Punch is to create a doily shape with it. This can then be used on its own or to complement the border pattern as in the wedding card above.

1. Cut a circle 11cm in diameter.

2. Place circle into punch as shown above.

3.Turn punch over so that you can see it form underneath. Start your next punch exactly on top of the last hole on the left of the previous punch. This is a lot easier than it sounds -you can see the hole clearly marked by the arrow.

4. Continue right round in this way until the last pattern. This time you just have to line up both sides as shown above.It fits exactly and you can even "feel" the punch resting in the correct place.

Challenges

Allsorts...anything but square

Craftycatz...anything goes

One Stop Craft...3 of something (circles)

The Cuttlebug Spot ....anything goes

Truly Scrumptious ...Bingo (lace, flowers and ribbon)

Stampalot November Challenge/Blue and Green

2011-11-06T08:50:00.000Z

It was a real "treat" to see all the entries to last month's "food" themed challenge at Stampalot Challenge and I certainly got plenty of inspiration for future cards.
This month the theme is "Blue and Green" and I'm looking forward too seeing what you all come up with for this one! Don't forget to check out the DT creations - but, best of all, have a look at the prize...

Now, a little about my card:
The image is Scabious - a digi from my collection at A Passion for Stamps - coloured with Promarkers and matted onto a Nellie Snellen die cut.
The little butterfly edging is from a Tonic Studios punch called Butterfly Strip which you can also see HERE used to create a delicate circle.

Holly and Snowflakes

2011-11-04T12:38:00.000Z

After I posted the photo of the Poinsettia card yesterday, I got several requests from other crafters asking how I had created the punched effect around the image so I decided to make a similar card and show how I did it.

The image I've used this time is Holly from A Passion for Stamps, coloured with Promarkers and highlighted with Glossy Accents.


1. Cut a square of card/paper to fit as a mat on your card front,then cut a circle 15cm from the centre of this.

2. Insert card /paper into the Mini Holly punch, so that the punch rests on the edge of the circle


3. Line up punch as shown and repeat till the circle is filled.It's as simple as that!!

On this card I've embellished the corners with the inside part of the Tonic Studios Snowflake punch
to which I've added some glitter

Poinsettia and holly

2011-11-03T10:13:00.006Z

I really wanted to add this card with my new Poinsettia digi image but the light here is awful today - it's been raining for "months" now (well, it feels like that anyhow!)

The punches used are Tonic Studios Mini Paper punch Holly and Floral Border

There is actually quite a bit of glitter on the centre of the flower but it's not being picked up by the light - and I've fiddled around with a candle for so long trying to highlight it that I's afraid of setting the whole thing on fire!!

This is just one of the digi images which you could win..the details are HERE

Challenges

Craft Your Passion ..Bingo(Flower, bling, punch)

Creative Inspirations ..lots of sparkle.

Cupcake Craft ..leaves (holly)

I Love Promarkers ..glitter and glitz

One Stop Craft ..no sentiment

Paper Playtime anything goes

Papertake Weekly anything goes

The Cuttlebug Spot anything goes

2011-10-31T15:31:00.002Z

I've added a couple fo Christmas images to my digi collection at A Passion for Stamps and thought I'd point you to them from here..
There are more Christmas digis to come and I hope you like them.....

Poinsettia; £1.50

Holly; £1.50

Sarah; £1.70

Changes to the dates of Sir Stampalot Challenge

2011-10-27T12:18:00.000+01:00

Oops! I was meant to post this a week ago but better late than never!!

This is a copy from Brenda at the Sir Stampalot challenge blog

"Hello peeps, I'm popping in mid month to give you a heads up about a change to our challenge.

As from November the starting date of challenges will be the first Sunday of the month which means that most months, our challenge will run until the end of the month................unless the first Sunday falls on the first of the month...............but rather than complicate things here I will be putting a list of exact dates on the sidebar to make life easier for us all.

Apart from that everything remains the same, fun themes, great prizes from Sir Stampalot, our monthly Top 3 and of course inspiration from the Design Team.

This months challenge will run until midnight GMT on 31st October and the next challenge will start on Sunday 6th November."

Tonic Studios butterfly punches

2011-10-20T11:18:00.009+01:00

I've had another idea for using the Tonic Studios Butterfly Strip punch ....actually I've used the same idea to create doilies etc with some of the other new border punches and I'll show you those soon too.

The image used on the card is Butterfly 1 from my digi collection at A Passion for Stamps.

This "strip" punch creates such a beautiful delicate pattern that I thought it would be lovely used as the centrepiece so I have chosen contrasting colours for the card and matted the butterfly circle on white for impact.

The butterfly border strip looks great used as a straight border but I wanted to share this circle idea with you.

1. You'll need a circle of cardstock measuring 11.5cm diameter

2. Place the circle into the punch as shown in the photo above.

3. Turn the punch and card over together and line up the punch with the edge of the last punched shape on the top left corner leaving about 1mm of card showing.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO TURN THE CARD AND PAPER TOGETHER TO KEEP THE PATTERN CORRECT!!


4. Continue right round the circle in this way

5. The last piece to be punched will have a "space" at the top on both sides - this is correct for lining up.

6. This is the shape you'll be left with and you can use it like this or snip the butterfly circle from the scallops as I have done for my card.

7. I then added the Accent corner wings to my Accents Butterfly punch to decorate the corners of my background.

8. I added some contrasting cardstock behind the butterflies .

DON'T FORGET TO SEE THIS POST FOR DETAILS OF MY DIGI GIVEAWAY.

Challenges

My Time to Craft ...punches and dies

Top Tip Tuesday ...layers

Horsechestnut leaf

2011-10-16T11:15:00.005+01:00

Things are more than a little upside down here at the moment with my mother being in hospital ....so, not surprisingly, this card took a while to make!
It has been sitting in bits and pieces in a box for days and I've finally got it together.

Actually the first thing I did was make the bottom layer as I wanted to use my new Tonic Studios Celtic border punch. It's so easy to use and cuts through card up to 400gsm because of the gears so I used it here on canvas texture pearlescent "Gemstones" card. I haven't added lots of clutter round the card because the punch pattern is too striking to take away from.

The image is Horsechestnut and Leaf - one of my Autumn drawings - and you can find it at A Passion for Stamps. As usual I've coloured it with Promarkers and have also added a 3D foam pad to raise the Chestnut after using Glossy Accents on it.

The little butterfly at the top is from another Tonic Studios punch - Butterfly Folder

Challenges
Pals Paper Art ...Fall
Fab n Funky ...Autumn colours
I love Promarkers ...Autumn colours
ForFun Challenge ...Autumn has arrived
Kaboodles Doodles ...Autumn leaves

Promarker winner.........

2011-10-15T21:23:00.001+01:00

It's getting a bit late.....I've been at hospital all day with my mother as she was very unsettled. Thankfully she's more settled this evening - we could do with a good sleep!
Anyhow the winner of the Promarkers is Roma !! Please email me at hamiltonarch@btinternet.com with your full name and address and I 'll post them as soon as possible. Congratulations!!!

Lavender and Lace

2011-10-15T08:39:00.002+01:00

I'm sponsoring the Allsorts challenge with a prize of 4 of my digi images this week and this is my Guest DT card. The theme is "Lavender and Lace"
I've just got some of the new Tonic Studios Simplicity Geared punches and couldn't wait to try them out. This one is Daisy Border. The digi I've used is Pincushion and Thread from A Passion for Stamps and I coloured it with Promarkers. I added some gems to the pin heads.I used the Argyle Cuttlebug embossing folder because I thought it matched well with the stitching effect.
For an extra little lacy effect I cut a little "corner" from the same border punch and added some glitter glue.

As usual, when I get new punches, I have punched out lots of each shape tp play around with and I have a folder for keeping the ideas in. I'll be using some of these in my next cards.

Today is the final day for entering my Promarker giveaway as I'm picking a winner tonight.
Also, as this is a scheduled post I can only hope that I manage to get to the Craft Fair in the King's Hall in Belfast today. My mother has been ill again and is in hospital (in Belfast) so I have other priorities but I still hope I can fit a short visit in as I have already bought my ticket.

Challenges

Craft your Passion ...card for any occasion

Autumn leaves

2011-10-06T08:47:00.005+01:00

With the arrival of Autumn here in Country Antrim the colours all around are amazing!

I've been gathering leaves,berries,acorns,beech nut,chestnuts etc and enjoying drawing them as and when I get time.

I've also been having a look at my Tonic Studios tools and punches to make an Autumn card.

The image I chose to work with this time is Maple Leaf which I drew a few days ago and you can find it with lots of others on my digi site A Passion for Stamps.

This is a little tutorial of how I made the card using the Tonic Studios Mini Trimmer and Furled Leaf Punch

1. Print out digi image, colour and then cut out with Tonic Studios scissors

2. Mark the paper you have chosen to use for the basket weave at 1cm intervals

3. Cut into strips with the Tonic Studios Mini Trimmer

4. Put double-sided sticky tape along one edge.

5. Stick down the strips vertically as close to each other as possible leaving an overlap at the top

6. Now create the basketweave effect by inserting the horizontal strips as shown in the photo above.

7. When all the strips have been added, turn it over and add DST to all edges of the back. Then fold all the edges over and stick down to create a neat square on the right side.


8. Finished basket weave panel.

9. Adhere some raffia to the panel (sticking down in one point only) and then add the coloured digi image on 3D foam pads for dimension.

10. Using the Furled Leaf Simplicity Geared Punch punch out several shapes

11. Draw veins with a fineliner and colour the leaves with the same colours of pens as used for the main image


12. Tuck these little leaves randomly into the basket weave to give the effect of falling leaves .Then stick this panel down onto a base card which has had a square of matching paper added.

Aqua, lime and white

2011-10-03T15:14:00.004+01:00

I suppose it's no secret that aqua and turquoise are my favourite colours...they do make regular appearances on my cards!
When I saw the theme on the current Colour Create challenge I just had to make a card.
The image is 2 Roses from A Passion for Stamps and is one that I use a lot for all sorts of cards. Actually I ususllay keep several of them coloured in various hues at the ready.
Again I've used Promarkers, the paper is Papermania, the ovan is by Nellie Snellen and the border punch is Martha Stewart string lace.
I've added the texture with the ribbon.

Challenges

Colour Create lime, aqua and white (with texture..ribbon)
Allsorts ..flowers

Crafty Cardmakers..anything goes

I'm now a member of the Sir Stampalot Design Team!!

2011-10-01T08:37:00.002+01:00

Great news today! I've been invited to become a member of the Sir Stampalot Design Team!! Thank you so much, Brenda!
The rest of the team have made me feel very welcome and I feel privileged to have asked to join this very talented bunch of crafters.
The theme for this month's challenge is Food, Glorious Food and there is,of course, a great prize on offer!

I paid a visit to the store in July when I was on holiday visiting family nearby and treated myself to some lovely goodies...though I have to say there was so much to choose from I really didn't know how to decide.
My first DT card uses some of the items I bought on my visit... the Sunray embossing folder which I used as a background and also as a "wafer" behind my Banana Split digi image from A Passion for Stamps.
The beautiful punched corners were made by another of my purchases..they are part of a Martha Stewart String Lace punch set; and I also bought the pink cardstock there too.
Looking forward to seeing your creations for the challenge

4 new Autumn digi images

2011-09-29T23:27:00.005+01:00

Tonight I've added 4 new Autumn digis to my collection...you can see them with all the others at A Passion for Stamps

Maple Leaf; £1.50

Toadstools; £1.50

Beech Nut; £1.50

Acorns; £1.50

Autumn

2011-09-26T22:28:00.005+01:00

Good evening! I think Autumn must be my favourite season of the year with all the beautiful, rich, warm colours. I just love the oranges, rusts and browns all around us at the moment.
I drew these Pumpkins a couple of days ago and have been enjoying taking my time to colour them with my Promarkers and add some dimension and texture to the card.
The paper is MY Minds Eye and the corners were made using the same paper inserted halfway into a heart punch. I'm still chopping paper at a great rate with my new Tonic Studios Mini Trimmer and I used it again with the quilling tool but this time I snipped the lengths of paper and made "sunflower" type flowers.
I used some raffia behind the image to add a little dimension.
You can find the Pumpkin image with some other new ones at A Passion for Stamps.

Challenges

Crafty Catz ...Autumn

Crazy4Challenges ...Halloween or Fall

Fussy and Fancy ..Try a new technique (quilling sunflowers)

My Time to Craft .. L is for "leaves"

Paper Playtime ..Halloween

Paper Sundaes ...anything goes

Paperplay ..Autumn leaves

Tuesday Throwdown ..Fall

PROMARKER GIVEAWAY

2011-09-26T21:00:00.000+01:00

THIS POST WILL STAY AT THE TOP UNTIL 15TH OCTOBER SO PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR NEW POSTS.

The Promarkers have arrived so now I can have my giveaway!
The prize is 2 sets of 5 Promarkers.
It's open to followers old and new and all you have to do is leave a comment here and post it in your blog/sidebar. I will choose a random winner on 15th October and post them to the winner as soon as possible after that.
I have another set of 5 Promarkers to give away as well but I will do that in a couple of weeks to a random commenter! I'll let you know in advance about it.

Tonic Studios Mini Trimmer in action!

2011-09-12T08:29:00.004+01:00

Ever since I got my Tonic Sudios Mini Trimmer a couple of weeks ago I've been chopping strips of paper and card at a great rate! I've always used a blade trimmer until now so I've been fascinated by the neat cutting and how narrow I can make the strips now......Then, when I had lots of little strips of paper in a pile in the kitchen, I thought.....I could make little quilled flowers with these!!

I'll show you how I made the card at the top of the post .

1. I printed out several of my Bedside Table digi images and coloured one of them with Promarkers.

I coloured and extra drawer front to decoupage. I added little details such as Glossy Accents on the vase and lamp, a gem for a drawer knob, glitter on the tissue box and beads hanging from the drawer

2. Using my super sharp Tonic Studios scissors I cut out the image.

3. I used the trimmer again to cut the mats for the card, choosing pale pink for behind the table to look like wallpaper.

4. Back to the trimmer....I marked pale paper at 3mm intervals and cut several for my roses.

5. The quilling strips

6. Using a small quilling tool I rolled up the strips and made the roses.

7. The quilling paper is turned at 90 degrees to form the petals.

After I adhered the roses I added little branches from the birdy punch (minus the bird!). I think I'll be using this little punch a lot one way or another. Check out where I first used it on my ROBIN card.

You might notice,too, that before I stuck the image to the pink paper, I made a slit in the top of the tissue box and popped in some tissue!

Challenges

Alphabet Challenge ....Pretty Pastels

Craft Your Days Away ..make your own flowers

Craft your Passion ..something beginning with "F" (flowers)

The Pink Elephant ...vintage

Allsorts GDT card

2011-09-10T12:45:00.002+01:00

It's another grey day here in Northern Ireland....you'd think I'd be used to it by now! Anyhow, I don't feel so guilty about not cutting the grass when it's drizzling again! Today I'm Guest Designer and joint sponsor on the Allsorts Challenge blog where the theme is "flowers and swirls". I've used Rosebud from my floral collection of digis on A Passion for Stamps and coloured it with Promarkers.

Just while I'm talking about Promarkers ...I have just had the chance to try out a set of their new FLEXMARKERS. I must say, they are very impressive!! I love the new brush type nib and, while they do take a little bit of getting used to, I'll definitely be having some more! I hope to upload a card soon showing them.

I have been assured that I'll be able to have another Promarker giveaway on my blog soon (ie as soon as they arrive!) which will be open to followers old and new, so please watch out for this!

Back to the card! I have glittered the swirls but it's not showing up too well in the photo. I find myself saying that a lot lately - must be something to do with our weather! Maybe I should try a daylight lamp or a light box. Any suggestions are welcome.

The swirls are a mixture of Marianne Creatables and Cuttlebug designs and the paper is My Mind's Eye.
Thanks for looking,

Challenges

Crafty Catz ..ribbon
Creative Card Crew ..anything goes
Marianne Design Divas ...anything goes
Papertake Weekly ...anything goes

Mannequin

2011-09-06T09:40:00.007+01:00

Good morning!
I've been having computer problems which mean my time on the internet has been short and sweet. On top of that work and family commitments seem to have overtaken again and this card has been "in the making" for days now..
The image is Mannequin - one of my newest digis from A Passion for Stamps and when I drew it I was thinking of a black metal stand which wouldn't need coloured....however if you have a look at the slideshow you'll see a couple of lovely cards made by Nic and Brenda using colour and they look great!!
I have added some spots of glitter around the image to add highlights and some ribbon.
The papers are are real mixture - DCWV Nursery, Forever Friends Retro and Papermania Regency.
I have used a zig zag embossing strip and some doodled stitching.

I have it on good authority that I'll be having another Promarker giveaway soon which will be open to followers (old and new) of my blog, so keep a lookout for this!

The little spool was another little punch idea.

1. Woodware flower pot punch or similar

2. Punch out two shapes

3. Adhere these together as above

4. Wrap embroidery thread around the "spool"

Challenges

Alphabet Challenge ...P for Pretty Pastels
Crafty Catz ... monochromatic
Stamp Something ..digi day
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle ...labour day
Tuesday Throwdown ...3papers,2 buttons and 1 ribbon
Try it on Teusday ..monochrome

Crafty Calendar Challenge DT card

2011-09-03T09:49:00.004+01:00

"Let sleeping bears lie" is the theme for this month's challenge at Crafty Calendar Challenge and I had just the right digi image.."Baxter flat out". The prize is 4 digis from Crafty Sentiments. Lately I've been making more cards which lean towards the "clean and simple" way of things but it's probably just a phase!! For this one anyhow I thought I'd show off the image with a bright backing paper and keep the rest quite plain. It was another one made for the birth of little Eva, my newest great neice.

I have it on good authority that I'll be having another Promarker giveaway soon which will be open to followers (old and new) of my blog, so keep a lookout for this!

I love using Promarkers and actually use them for ALL my colouring. Most of my digi images are flowers and for a while I struggled with using Promarkers on the finer parts and stems but now that they have released the new fine tips I'm really happy with the results and have just ordered more..

Challenges

Crafty Creations ...3 or more dies or punches
Creative Card Crew ... anything goes
Cute Card Thursday ...a pinch and a punch
I Love Promarkers ...anything goes

Wild rose, Thistle and Scabious

2011-08-29T12:26:00.001+01:00

Good morning...Just showing you the new flower digis I've added to my Passion for Stamps collection. I'm finishing some more digis at the moment (not floral) and hope to add them later along with some cards.
Hope you like..

Wild Rose; £1.70

Thistle; £1.50

Scabious; £1.70

Cosmos with punch!

2011-08-23T14:16:00.006+01:00

I'm really beginning to like this idea of matching a digi image with a punch!! After I made the Robin card I had a look through my new Tonic Studios punches and came up with this one...it's another of the geared punches (no effort required to punch :)) and it's called Flora and fauna / pansies. I have used it so that the flowers point in the opposite direction to my image but it could go the other way just by turning the paper over.
The image I'ved used for this one is Cosmos from A Passion for Stamps where you'll find all my other digi images.
As usual I've coloured the image with Promarkers...Carmine, Ruby, Forest Green and Gold.
I'll check out some challenges later...must get on with drawing for now!!

Challenges

Kaboodles ....ribbons
Addicted to Stamps ..floral photo inspiration
One Stop Crafts bold and bright

Doda's birdy punch giveaway!

2011-08-23T10:49:00.001+01:00

I have just realised that Doda is offering a giveaway of 2 of the little birdy punches which I used on my Robin card and you'll find the details HERE
Ruth :)

First Christmas card of the year!

2011-08-20T21:07:00.011+01:00

Just last week I saw some Christmas cards posted in a gallery and thought.......I'll not be making any for a while yet. Then I got some lovely punches from Tonic Studios and couldn't resist them. You've probably noticed already that the main one I chose to use isn't even a Christmas punch, but as soon as I saw it I thought it would look great with my Robin digi image from A Passion for Stamps.

I've kept the card quite Clean and Simple because I want to enter it into the Less is More challenge which I'm sponsoring this month with a prize of 8 of my digi images. This week's theme is "something that moves".

The punch is called Simplicity Geared Punch...Flora and Fauna/Birdy and it's the first time I've used a geared punch. It feels great to use! I have used it as an addition to the Edger punch system and just punched out in the centre of each scallop.

The image is coloured with Promarkers and I've also used some DecoArt Snow writer, glitter and Glossy Accents on the holly berries.

Tonic Studios

Baby Girl Shoes

2011-08-13T09:13:00.004+01:00

I've just got another beautiful little great neice...the second inside 4 weeks!!

Kaya Eva was born on July 11th and Eva May was born on August 8th.

That means I just had to make some baby cards!! Obviously I knew the babies were on the way and had some new images drawn. You can find them HERE on A Passion for Stamps.

This one is called Baby Girl Shoes and although I've coloured it with Promarkers here, I think it would be great for paperpiecing too.

The paper I've used is Papermania Blueberry Hill and I've added little Papermania satin rose buds at the sides.

Challenges

Crafty Catz ...emboss it

Papertake ...grow your own (punched etc flowers)

Sir Stampalot ..anything goes

Blog TonicTeam Member!!

2011-08-09T23:53:00.011+01:00

I'm so chuffed today to be able to say that I am now a blog member for Blog Tonic !!

Tonic Studios

I bought some of their lovely punches complete with a border system and was smitten!! Since then I've been busy with the punches trying out different ideas and the card above is my latest.
I've used the scallop punch with the border system to create the collar of the cardigan. I ran it through a crimper to make it more realistic and added pearl brads as buttons.
I've also added 2 of my own digi images...Single rose ...as motifs on the pockets and have coloured them with Promarkers.
I made a little blouse for under the cardigan using Papermania Blueberry Hill paper.
I'm really looking forward to trying out more ideas with the Tonic Studios products!!!

You can see my intro HERE

Challenges

Creative Inspirations ...buttons and stitching
Cupcake Craft Challenges ...sew mad
Addicted to Stamps ..anything goes
Make it Colourful ...colour with pink

Less is More

2011-08-06T22:31:00.002+01:00

I really didin't expect to be posting two cards today but I got this one ready sooner than I thought.

I'm sponsoring this month's challenges at Less is More with a prize of 8 of my digi images so please join in the challenges!!

This week they ask for a card made with the colour of your nation's flag and, as I live in Northern Ireland....this is what I've made.
As ususal, the image is one of my own digis...this time it's Rose in Glass from A Passion for Stamps .
I would not normally make a floral card using these colours (and you can see I've sneaked a tiny bit of brown in!) but I thought the little bit of blue in the water looked quite well. As always I've used Promarkers to colour my image.

I don't think it's really showing up too well, but I have added glitter gel to the rose and Glossy Accents to the water.
Hope you like!!

Crafty Calendar Challenge for August

2011-08-06T08:30:00.007+01:00

I think you might need your sunglasses for this one!
The theme this month at Crafty Calendar Challenges is HOT COLOURS so I dug out my Dovecraft Kate Knight Wild Blossoms papers and some matching ribbon.
The image is Cosmos from A Passion for Stamps and I have used this for lots of cards but usually colour it in varying shades of pink/purple but I think it looks well in orange too.
I used Promarkers..Orange, Red and then had to colour the stems in with my Whispers Brush strokes. Since I finished the card I have bought some new Promarker fine nibs that will be great for adding finer detail to my floral images.

The corner dies from Cuttlebug have been given the glitter treatment to make them stand out from the white background and the corner punch used was Martha Stewart String Lace. (If you haven't seen it yet, you can have a little look HERE to see how I made a little birdcage using this punch set.)

Challenges

StampSomething...August digi day

Summer flowers

2011-08-04T19:46:00.005+01:00

This card uses one of the new digis which I drew this week. It's called Acidanthera and you can find it on A Passion for Stamps with lots of other floral images.
When I looked at the finished flower, I thought it would be a good one to decoupage, so I coloured another with Promarkers and a white Sakura glaze pen.

Viola Mahr GUEST DESIGNER

2011-08-02T16:48:00.000+01:00

I'm really chuffed today to be able to show you this gorgeous card made by ....Viola Mahr.!!
I just knew that if she got her hands on one or two of my digi images she would create something quite unique...she definitely has a style all of her own...and I love it!!!
Just look at the lace around the top of the booties and the little gems on the bows....beautiful!!

I couldn't believe it when, after following her blog, for quite a while, I realised she was only......19!!! Please do have a look at her blog and nake sure you have plenty of time to spare - you'll be amazed at what you see there.

Thanks so much, Viola!!

new floral digis at A Passion for Stamps

2011-08-02T11:31:00.003+01:00

I have just added another 3 floral digi images to my collection over at A Passion for Stamps. I'll be adding cards made with these images later.

Waterlily; £1.70

Nasturtium; £1.50

Acidanthera; £1.70

A little different ....birdcage from border punch and tiny,tiny digi roses

2011-07-30T09:39:00.013+01:00

Anyone who follows my blog will already know that I love to experiment with my punches and see if I can come up with other uses for them as well as their straightforward punch shape....Well, here's another idea!

I bought a Martha Stewart "String Lace" punch around the page set in Sir Stampalot a couple of weeks ago and got to thinking....
Firstly I punched a "corner "(the top of the cage) and then made a punched line down each side from the top. This left a rather blank looking part in the middle so I made a "ribbon" from the same punch and adhered it to the "inside" of the cage.
I then hung the little cage from a Marianne Creatables branch from which I had removed the bird.
Next, I coloured the bird with Promarkers (Blush and Dusky Pink) and put him on the cage.
To add a little more interest I printed out my Two Roses digi image from A Passion for Stamps and made them really small before colouring them to match the bird. I know it's not perfect...but I like it!!

1. Punch a corner

2. Measure1.5cm from edge of punched corner on each side and mark.

3. Cut 2 parallel lines from the marks.

4. Punch both sides from as close to the corner punch as possible, then cut across the bottom leaving a little "ledge"

5. Cut a 2.5cm strip of paper and make the "ribbon" part for the inside of cage.

Don't forget to check the blog page "Making the most of your punches" to see more punch ideas.
I will be adding more soon,too.

Challenges

Allsorts ...free and easy
Creative Card Crew ...animal antics
Cupcake Craft ...shabby sparkle
Divas by Design ...summer is here
One Stop Craft ...vintage
PaperPlaytime ...in the garden
Passion for Promarkers ...animals (I hope that includes birds..one of the DT cards has birds!)
Totally Papercrafts ...bling it up

Sweet pea ...take 2

2011-07-28T17:20:00.000+01:00

I haven't taken part in the Less is More challenge for a few weeks. The main reason was that I was on holiday but before that there was a "one layer" card challenge and I just can't do that! I have got Page Plus but just haven't been able to master it yet. Also because I use Promarkers I think my colouring would come through the card.
Anyhow, here is my card for the challenge this week...button or ribbon. I've used ribbon as a little tag under the image.
I used the same image as yesterday mainly because it's new and also because I wanted to try a few different colours of it. So, again, it's Sweetpea from my digi collection ..A Passion for Stamps.

Challenges

Less is More

Sweetpea

2011-07-27T12:10:00.002+01:00

I've been waiting for a chance to use this sweetpea digi image since I came home from holiday. I drew it in my nephew's garden and thought I would get a lot of use from it for various cards I had to make when I got home...but this is the first chance I've had.
You can see it HERE on A Passion for Stamps.

The embossing folder I've used is a new one which I bought on holiday too - it's Creative Expressions, Lattice EF002 .
I've coloured the flower with Promarkers...Carmine and Ruby, Apple Green and Forest Green. Then highlighted with a white gel pen.

Challenges

Everybody Art ...garden

Digital Tuesday ...garden things with wings

Crafty Cardmakers ...flutterbies

Stampavie ...summer

I Love Promarkers ...anything goes

Allsorts .. free and easy

Two new digis (sweetpea and baby girl shoes)

2011-07-27T09:02:00.002+01:00

Just a little post to let you know I've added these two dig images to my collection on A Passion for Stamps. I'm just getting into the swing of things again after my holiday so there should be more soon!

Sweet Pea; £1.70

Baby Girl Shoes; £1.50

Summer roses and butterflies

2011-07-21T10:00:00.011+01:00

A few weeks ago I tried some "cut out" cards and this is one that I started then but never finished until now.
I added strips of card in the cut out panel in "sun ray" formation before adding my image...Two roses from my collection A Passion for Stamps . I coloured the roses with Promarkers and highlighted with a white gel pen.
The beautiful border feature to the left of the flowers was made with the help of my new Tonic Studios border punch system and I added two of the tiny butterflies at the top.

Challenges..
Allsorts ...free and easy July
Divas by Design ....pastels
Stampin' for the weekend....wings and things
Paperplaytime ..summer

Met Brenda at Sir Stampalot!

2011-07-21T09:30:00.005+01:00

Just in case anyone noticed, I should say I've been on holiday! We had a lovely time in Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire and the Lake District and it was great to see my family over there again!

As you can see from the photo above I also had the perfect opportunity to meet up with Brenda and where better to meet than in Sir Stampalot. (That's Brenda on the left and me on the right!) We had a wonderful time and it was lovely actually to meet face to face. Thanks, Brenda, for the coffee and cream buns!! Fortunately both of us seem to have extremely patient husbands....while we were poking through crafting goodies David and Eddie were sorting the world out!!

You do know, of course that I couldn't leave a super shop like that without treating myself....so I bought a Martha Stewart punch set, a couple of embossing folders, gimgham ribbon and black and white papers (etc!) and I've now made this card using them along with my Stargazer lily digi image.

I'm entering this card into a couple of challenges (yes....no more than 6!!)

Sir Stampalot .....anything goes

Allsorts ...free and easy

Kaboodles ...embossing

Paperplaytime ..summer

Crafty Calendar Challenge.....Under the Sea

2011-07-02T08:47:00.002+01:00

It's Crafty Calendar Challenge time again and this time the theme is "Under the Sea".
I didn't have any images to use for this one so I drew a new digi just for the challenge. It's simply called Sea Shells and I kept it simple as I am trying to build up a reserve of images which can be used for both male and female cards when I need them.
I've also used my Forever Friends Retro Collection boat embossing folder as it goes really well with the "sea" theme.
The prize for the challenge will definitely have you all wanting to join in....it's from Wild Orchid Crafts!

I'm on holiday at the moment so there's not as much detail about the card as there usually is. Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful summer weather!

I'm also going to enter a couple of challenges if I can...

Allsorts...... Free and Easy
Stamp Something ....digi day

Here Come the Boys GDT card

2011-06-26T09:25:00.000+01:00

Spots and Stripes! That's the theme for the Here Come the Boys challenge this week Iam sponsoring this challenge and the prize is 4 digis of the winner's choice from A Passion for Stamps.
The DT have used a selection of my digi "male" images - so please nip over and have a look...they've done a fantastic job!!!
I've used Scarecrow for my card coloured with Promarkers and added a Sizzix fence die cut with a little raffia.
I made a card using this same image for someone who had done very well in their exams and used the cheesy line inside....."You're outstanding in your field!"

Rosebud

2011-06-19T23:43:00.002+01:00

Today's card was made using my new Rosebud digi image , some black and white gingham paper and a couple of punches. I'm going to share with you a little tutorial of how I made it and the punches I used.

First of all, I coloured the image with Promarkers .

These are the two punches I used and I adapted the tutorial seen HERE (by Becca) to suit the Xcut scallop border punch and made a little "frame". Then I ran the frame through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder.For this card I actually used the "negative" and kept the other bit for another card.

I kept the little cut out bits from the scallop punch and folded one in half to make the antennae for the butterfly.

Hope this inspires you to have a go with these punches!

Challenges

I Love Promarkers ...black, white and one other colour

Kaboodles ...floral

Stampavie ...butterflies

Totally Papercrafts ..punches/diecuts

I'LL BE ADDING THIS TO THE REST OF MY PUNCH TUTORIALS HERE

AFTER WORK.

New DT member!

2011-06-18T20:51:00.000+01:00

First of all I want to welcome a new DT member on board....Nic !! Nic and I have been buddies on Docrafts for a long time and I've admired your beautiful cards since I first "met" her. Her cards have just got better and better even though I didn't think it possible. No surprise then that I asked her ages ago to become a DT member but she has only just got a printer now and is able to use digi images. I'm delighted to have her join the rest of us and equally delighted wuth her 1st DT card which you can see HERE.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes next, thanks so much Nic!!

Slippers

2011-06-14T11:20:00.002+01:00

This is my card for this week's Allsorts challenge - "a recipe for the boys ; 1 paper; 2 dies or punches and 3 buttons"
It's pretty simple as I made it for a neighbour who is not well amd I didn't want it to be too fussy.
The image is Slippers which I originally drew for Get Well cards but have been using for Birthday cards too. It's available from A Passion for Stamps.
Because I love using gingham I thought I'd also make it for the Digital Tuesday challenge
Also..Papertake Weekly..Dads and lads
Cupcake Craft ...boy oh boy
Crazy4challenges...masculine
Stamp Something ....punched
Alphabet challenge. F is for Father/male card

Cosmos

2011-06-11T09:26:00.001+01:00

The card I've made features COSMOS which is a new addition to my digi range A Passion for Stamps.
In fact, so new that I only drew it yesterday! As usual, I used Promarkers - this time the flower is "maroon". Now that it's June, even though the weather is not great, there are so many flowers coming that I can't stop drawing!

The paper is Forever Friends Retro and I added my last little piece of black gingham ribbon :(.
To give extra dimension I popped the image up on a little "box" (sides 1cm) which folds flat for posting.

I used the back of the image mat to adhere my Marianne Creatables leaves (minus the bird) and added some gems and an Xcut butterfly.

New Design Team Member

2011-06-08T16:48:00.001+01:00

I'm really delighted today to be able to add another mamber to my Design Team forA Passion for Stamps ....Brenda known as Floral Fantasies!
I've been following her blog for ages now and really love her style. Obviously with a name like "Floral Fantasies" you'd know that most of her designs incorporate flowers but she also uses birds etc to stunning effect. I've watched while she reduced her DT workload and thought that I'd never stand a chance - but when I got in touch I was delighted that she agreed so readily to join us and I just can't wait to see her new work.
She actually got to work right away and came up with these beautiful creations;

Kingfisher

2011-06-06T22:26:00.000+01:00

Good evening.I had a bit of (unusually ) free time today and got another card made. This one follows the Mojo Monday sketch and I've used my Kingfisher dig image from A Passion for Stamps. I always find this is a very useful image for both male and female cards, especially if I want a male card with a splash of colour.

I'm entering it into the Woodware challenge where the theme this week in "masculine".

Pink and blue

2011-06-06T13:37:00.002+01:00

This is the first time I've entered a Wild Orchid Craft challenge after seeing it on Bev Rochester's blog. There is a sketch to follow and a beautiful prize to be won..so here goes!

I decided to use New Puppy digi image and matched up papers from Papermania/Blueberry Hill and My Mind's Eye.

I 'm also going to enter a couple of other challenges with it..

Cupcake Craft...things with tails

Craft your Passion ...anything goes

Aqua Rose

2011-06-05T14:57:00.001+01:00

The theme at this week's Less is more challenge is "monochrome" so I've made a very simple card using my
Single rose digi which I've coloured with Aqua and turquoise Promarkers and then added some Papermania glitter glue. I have used a Nellie Snellen die cut for the image and another in turquoise as an accent.
The 2 beautiful die cut shapes behind the image are Marianne Creatables and I've hand embossed a frame around the edge of the card.

In case any of you Limettes who are looking at this didn't notice last week I have added 2 little digi FREEBIES which you can grab HERE.

Now I'm off to catch up with the rest of the lovely cards on the Less is More blog ..

Crafty Calendar Challenge DT card

2011-06-04T08:08:00.001+01:00

Another month ..another card!
This month at Crafty Calendar Challenge the theme is "things with wings" so I've used my new Butterfly on flower digi image to make a card and matching bookmark. This digi can be found HERE
I've decoupaged the flower and added lots of glitter to it and the butterfly. The paper is My Mind's Eye and I've made matching flowers and leaves with it.
The prize this month is 5 digi images from Whimsy Stamps so I'm sure you'll want to join in ...think butterflies, birds, fairies etc and create!

Challenges

A spoonfull of Sugar ...flower power

Freebie handbag digi image and wedge sandal

2011-06-01T12:39:00.001+01:00

I have added 2 little freebie images on my other blog A Passion for Stamps so feel free to help yourself to them. There will be others from time to time, so you can keep an eye on it by becoming a follower if you like. Please mention where you got them when you use them, Ruth

Handy Man!!

2011-05-29T18:06:00.001+01:00

Ok ,I have a little thing to point out before I go on......this digi image of a drill and tape measure is actually a drawing of my own tools which I work with every day but I've added them to the "male" section of my gallery because I know it's usually men who use them!! I have coloured them in gold but strictly speaking the drill is a Makita and teal /red. You can see I'm quite attached to my tools lol!
On to the card, I just had to use this "metal grid" Cuttlebug embossing folder and added two little orange brads to the corners. Big son was in a helpful mood and kindly made me a computer generated measuring tape which I printed onto ribbed cardstock to make it more realistic looking. Sticking to the measurement/number theme,I also uased a sheet of numerical paper from the DCWV Black and White set.
Hope you like it and the details were not too boring!

Challenges

Here come the Boys..Father's Day

Craft your Days Away ..Fathers Day /Special Man

Pals Paper Arts ...brads

You can see this image and all the rest of my "male " digi images which are suitable for Father's Day etc HERE. Thanks for looking, Ruth

Morning Glory

2011-05-26T23:43:00.004+01:00

I made this card tonight for this week's sketch challenge on PapercraftPlanet and I'm sure you can spot the mistake right away... I forgot to add the sentiment !!..but it's late now and I've to leave early in the morning for work...
Anyhow, I've used Morning Glory from A Passion for Stamps and coloured it with Promarkers, then mounted it on foam pads onto My Mind's Eye paper. The border punch is by Xcut and the corner die is by Cuttlebug.

If I get a chance to add the sentiment tomorrow I'll take another photo.

Hi again...I've taken the new pic and put it at the top of the post; this is the original one.

I'm also entering this into the Stampavie challenge..pink

Violets

2011-05-25T20:22:00.003+01:00

I was out plundering the garden a few weeks ago looking for flowers to draw and found lots of little violets which had seeded themselves along the edges of a gravel path and they looked lovely. I brought a bunch indoors and THIS is the resulting digi image.

I made the rectangular card at the time but never uploaded a photo and tonight when I saw the ABC challenge theme (violet) I made the other little card. So, really the first card above is the one for the challenges..

Challenges..

ABC ....v is for violet

I love Promarkers ...pearls
My Time to Craft ...use a die cut
A Spoonfull of Sugar ...things with wings

Butterflies..

2011-05-21T23:52:00.006+01:00

Good evening! I just got my new Butterfly digi images drawn, finished and added to A Passion for Stamps and I made this card using one of them. I was really happy then to see that this week's challenge at Less is More is on the theme of..........butterflies!

I coloured my butterfly with Promarkers and added some Stickles to the wings and body but I wanted to emboss some buterflies and didn't have a butterfly embossing folder. I looked at it for a while ,then remembered my butterfly punch... (and most of you know by now that I like to make my punches work for their money!)

I punched out 12 butterflies like so:

Then I glued 3 sets of 4 on top of eachother like so

I arranged the new thick butterflies around the base of my paper and embossed it in my Cuttlebug

And the finished embossing turned out quite good!

These photos aren't too good as they were taken in bad light but I'll try to sort that out tomorrow.
You can do this with all sorts of punches........

Challenges

Less is More
Alphabet challenge ...C is for Clean and Simple

Teresa Kline has just made another beautiful guest DT card using my Rose cupcake digi image.

Isn't it just gorgeous? Her cards are always so original and this one has so much beautiful detail..stitching, seam binding, pearls, button etc. Thanks again,Teresa!!

New Puppy

2011-05-20T17:48:00.000+01:00

I'm having a look at making different cards using the same image but with different colour combos so this is the first one and I'll save the other for a challenge that it suits..

This image is New Puppy from my A Passion for Stamps collection of digi images but I think I've only ever posted a card using it as a Christmas image.
I love these colours together..

Challenges..

Divas by Design.. one for the girls

I love Promarkers...animals

One Stop Craft... ice cream ( mint choc chip colours)

Truly Scrumptious ...anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown ...for a baby/child

Hawthorn Blossom

2011-05-17T11:38:00.004+01:00

Good morning! I've just noticed a few days ago that my stock of cards is very low so I decided to get cracking and stock it up again. I always seem to need lots of Get Well and Thinking of You cards so I use plenty of florals.
This one is Hawthorn Blossom from my A Passion for Stamps digi collection and I have cut out several images and decoupaged some petals and leaves. I have used gorgeous Reeves bronze glitter in the centre of the flowers and plain glitter around the edges of the die cut.

Challenges..

Papertake Weekly ...bloom and grow

A Spoonfull of Sugar ..anything goes
Kaboodles.. digi, die cut and glitter
Crafty Cardmakers ..embossing
Cupcake Craft ...in the garden

Bluebells and FLOWER TUTORIAL

2011-05-15T15:54:00.007+01:00

The card I'm showing today features a flower which has very special memories for me...
When I was 9 years old my lovely dad had a severe stroke and was in hospital for a long time. It was around this time of year and as he loved flowers I picked masses of bluebells and took them to his little ward and filled lots of containers with them. He was delighted and when I see them in bloom I always remember that time. He did recover well but,sadly, suffered another more severe stroke 3 years later and passed away after 10 days in a coma.

Well, as you can see he passed on his love of flowers and he also passed on his love of drawing them. This BLUEBELL image is from my last batch of digi images available HERE.

I bought some more gingham paper as I think it really complements floral images.
Hope you like it.

Challenges

Crafty Creations ...anything goes

Creative Card Crew ....May flowers

Kaboodles ...Lots of layers

Moving along with the Times..2 B's (Bluebells and Bow)
Divas by Design ...anything goes
Everybody Art ...flowers
Tuesday Throwdown ...diecuts

For those of you who asked on Docrafts, the tutorial of how I made these flowers can now be seen HERE. Thanks for all the lovely comments you've been leaving on my gallery over there!!!

Is it "all white?"

2011-05-10T16:36:00.006+01:00

I've been looking through my collection of punches and die cutters again to see if I could use any of them in ways I haven't tried yet. If you look HERE you'll find some other ideas which I tried before and made simple tutorials of. I have some more ideas ready to add and will do this soon if you want to keep an eye on the page.
Anyhow, back to this card.... I made the wedding dress using Nestabilities Scallop circles, Martha Stewart doily border punch and a little light embossing. I'll add the tutorial for this one later too!
I've added lines of glitter to define the edges and I quite like how it has turned out. However I think it might also suit a tiny pink rosebud in place of the white bow.

It fits in with the following challenges....

Less is More. White on White

Papertake Weekly ...Fancy a punch?

My Time to Craft ..Scallops

Woodware USA. Wedding/ Anniversary

I've been drawing again and here is a sneak peak of what's coming soon ..some "male" images and some butterflies etc.

UPDATE... some of my new drawings have just been added HERE as digi images

UPDATE...I have added the tutorial of the dress to my page HERE

Another new Guest Designer!! Julie'sInkspot!!

2011-05-07T22:52:00.000+01:00

Since I joined the Docrafts forum a couple of years ago I've taken a lot of inspiration from Julie or UKJEM as she is known there. Her cards always have a touch of elegance and class, especially her "white on white" and pastel floral cards. She also makes the most amazing paper roses! A couple of weeks ago I asked Julie if she would make some cards using my digi images and was delighted when she agreed! I was really surprised then when she asked for my Baxter images as I thought she would prefer the floral images.

So, I got a lovely surprise tonight when I logged in and found the two beautiful cards on her blog!! She really has made Baxter look a treat! Thanks so much,Julie!!

Crafty Calendar Challenge DT card and a new Guest Designer!!

2011-05-07T10:21:00.001+01:00

Good morning!
Today's card is my DT card for the Crafty Calendar Challenge where this month's theme is to make a card with a teddy bear on it. The bear on my card is Baxter Gardening and you can find him HERE along with some others.
It's a very popular theme so you should be able to join in ...
This is also my 2nd entry into the HERE COME THE BOYS challenge.

I have a new Guest Designer from across the "pond"to introduce this morning!!..................Teresa Kline!! To say I'm flattered that she agreed to make some cards with my images is an understatement! Judging by the amount of blog followers she has, most of you will already know her wonderful, unique style. When she emailed me with a list of images she would like to use I knew right away that they would not appear in their "normal" colours but in her amazing stylised form.This one is fantastic and I can't wait to see the others!! Thanks so much ,Teresa!!

Lastly,
I've been drawing again and here is a sneak peak of what's coming soon ..some "male" images and some butterflies etc.

Here Come the Boys ..

2011-05-04T14:14:00.003+01:00

I have to make a few cards for men (and boys) this week so I'm entering this one into the new Here Come the Boys challenge where it's "anything goes" to get started.
The image is Fishing from A Passion for Stamps and I've coloured him with Promarkers.
I'm not sure if the little bucket of fish shows up too well in the photo, but I added glitter to the fish and they sparkle.
The embossing folder is from the new Forever Friends range used on Cored'inations paper and sanded a little to show up the boats better.

Challenges

Here Come the Boys ....anything goes

Divas by Design....anything goes (it's their 1st challenge, too!)

Creative Inspirations ...embossing
Moving along with the Times...anything goes
Papercutz...anything goes
Papertake anything goes
Totally Papercrafts...glitter

Honeysuckle LIM card

2011-05-01T17:08:00.003+01:00

I really didn't like the card I made for the Less is More challenge yesterday so it's in the bin now :( and I decided to make another.
I need a Thank You card for a good friend and she loves flowers so , here it is.
The image is Honeysuckle which I drew from my garden last year when it was in bloom. You can find it in A Passion for Stamps
I think I've been bitten by the "cut out" bug and have all sorts of cut out cards now sitting on my table ready for making up...
This time I cut out a circle, added thin strips of thin white card to form a lattice and stuck them down with tacky glue.Then I added a Nestie scallop circle cut out on the top.

I've just added a pic of the inside to show Chrissie how it's finished!

3 Things to tell you ...and a card!

2011-04-30T15:41:00.002+01:00

1.Today I have to introduce you to a new DT member...............Vicky!!!! I know lots of you will already know her as a fabulous crafter and, like me have been following her blog and keeping an eye on all her wonderful creations. Well, I'm delighted to be able to have her on my Design Team making cards with my digi images from A Passion for Stamps. Her first beautiful card is already on her blog so please nip over and have a look - you'll love it!

2.Another member of my DT, Kerry has been chosen as the Guest Designer for this week's Less is More challenge. Congratulations,Kerry!! Her "Camelia" card is stunning!!

3.Lots of you will already know that I'm a member of the Docrafts site (you'll find a link to my gallery there in my RH sidebar) and a letter which I sent to them has been published in this issue(27) along with my photo and a photo of some of my cards!

Onto the card....
Time for another Less is More challenge and this week there is the choice between making a Thank You card or Congratulations card. I've made a card using my Two Roses digi image and I've followed this week's sketch over at PaperCraftPlanet but although I'm entering the challenge with it as it is ...I may add something to the left side (shh!) before I send it !!

Challenges

I Love Promarkers....no designer papers

Crafty Creations...lots of white space

Stampavie ...pearls

Magnolia...Less is More

2011-04-26T11:02:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post this morning to add my 2nd Less is More card. I liked the "off centre" idea and thought I'd make another one.
I've used Magnolia which lends itself to the "white on white" phase I'm having again lol!
Hope you are enjoying the Easter break..we had a family BBQ yesterday but I hope to get some crafting done today!!
I think you can see in the background which flowers I'll be drawing next!!

Camelia

2011-04-24T10:18:00.002+01:00

This is my entry for the Less is More challenge this week, where the theme is "off centre".
I loved the cut out effect of the last card I made so I tried it again leaving part of the card attached this time. It has given me lots of new ideas which I hope to try out over the Easter holidays.
The image is one of the new digis which I drew this week. It's called Camelia and you can find it on A Passion for Stamps with the others.
The leaves are part of a Marianne Creatables die cut ( I cut the bird off!)
Thanks for looking and I hope you all enjoy the Easter break.

Rhododendron

2011-04-22T20:21:00.001+01:00

I've been working in a lovely house in Belfast all week and the garden there is full of beautiful rhododendrens, camelias and magnolias. So...while I was having my lunch I was also sketching! This Rhododendron image is one of the results.All of the images can be seen on A Passion for Stamps.
I have been entering the Less is More challenges lately and the theme this week is Acetate and there have been lots of gorgeous entries. The actual design for this card was inspired by the sample card there (although this one does not feature acetate!)
There are so many flowers coming into bloom at the moment that my mind is buzzing with ideas..

Challenges

Passion for Promarkers.... White on white
CRAFT.... flowers
Digital Tuesday... pretty punches
Paper Sundaes... texture
I Love Promarkers.... anything goes

Using acetate LIM

2011-04-17T15:19:00.002+01:00

Well, I have to admit that this is the first time I've ever used acetate on a card but I bought some in the Silly Monkey closing down sale a few weeks ago intending to use it but never got round to it. The Less is More challenge this week is to use acetate so now I have no excuse as there is plenty of inspiration in the gallery.
I used Crab Apple Blossom digi image from my Passion for Stamps collection which I coloured with Promarkers and cut out. I mounted this onto acetate and set it in a cut out made by a Nellie Snellen die. I added Cuttlebug corners and a pale pink insert.
I was going to emboss the insert with Swiss Dots / Roses embossing folders but then decided it really wouldn't be "Less is More" ish!
I'll definitely be trying lots more of this on my cards as I've got plenty of ideas from the gallery..

Guest DT cards by Teresa

2011-04-08T09:19:00.000+01:00

This morning I have two gorgeous cards made by Teresa using 2 of my digi images...Strawberry Jam and Lily.
I've long been an admirer of Teresa's fantastic gallery on Docrafts where she regularly posts beautifully coloured and embellished cards in her own unique style and persuaded her to make a few cards for my blog.She has done a super job with them and I'm really proud of her results!!! There will be some more to follow...
Thanks very much, Teresa.

Eyes Left

2011-04-07T17:54:00.003+01:00

This has been the first day this year I've been able to take a finished card outside to photograph it and it felt good! The weather has been great here for a couple of days and it should last at least until the weekend!!
The card today is a birthday card featuring Eyes Left which you can find with my other digi images on A Passion for Stamps
I've coloured the dog with Vanilla Promarker and used mainly Blue Pearl and Cinnamon for the boy's clothes.
The paper is a really good quality freebie from Simply Cards and Papercraft called In the Meadow.

Challenges

CRAFT....animals /pets

Paperplay.... Critters galore

Creative Inspirations ...punches and dies

Papertake... anything goes

Addicted to Stamps... Birthdays
Craft Your Days Away ....spots and stripes
One Stop Craft .... spots and dots

Easter

2011-04-04T18:28:00.005+01:00

I bought a big pack of Papermania 12 x 12 paper at half price a while ago and was just having a look through it last night and thought the pale aqua and lemon would make a lovely Easter card - so here it is!
The sentiment is computer generated and really is the true meaning of Easter. I've used Rose Topiary, another of my digis available from A Passion for Stamps and coloured it with Promarkers and added a little glitter to the berries. Then I got a little bit carried away with a box of punches and die cuts!
I love these colours together. Below is the verse which I printed for the inside, mounted on Nellie Snellen die cuts,

Challenges

The Pink Elephant... Easter

Cupcake Inspirations.. ( I chose the aqua)
Paper Sundaes ..spring blossoms
Stamp Something... April digi day
Pals Paper Arts,,punches

A few weeks ago I was given a card which I had made when I was 9 years old (that's 38 years ago!!)for my Sunday School teacher who had had a heartattack. I had no idea the card was kept and didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I saw it!! Oh well, at least they say "it's the thought that counts!"

Crafty Calendar Challenge DT card

2011-04-02T09:17:00.007+01:00

Good morning!
This month the challenge at Crafty Calendar Challenge is "April showers bring forth flowers" and it's sponsored by Sentiments 4 You. There are lots of beautiful floral themed cards made by the rest of the Design Team to give you inspiration and you have a month to enter!

I used Single Rose digi image (£1.00!!) which was one of my first release but one which I use for lots of different occasions.
If you have a close look you can see the gorgeous leaf die cut. It's Forest Branch by Marianne Creatables and I won it as a prize in a challenge on PaperCraftPlanet for my Love is in the Air card and as soon as it arrived in the post I cut out lots of them in white and tried various patterns. I liked the simplicity of this design so I made a set in various colours..
Also, my Mothers Day box style card was one of the top 3 at Pals Paper Arts this week

Challenges

ABC ..R is for Roses
Less is More ...a touch of red
Allsorts ... blooming blossoms
Pals Paper Arts....punches

Less is More

2011-03-29T13:12:00.002+01:00

I can hardly believe I've actually made a card for the Less is More challenge this week! I've tried it so many times but my usual style is definitely "more is more" lol! There is a great sketch to follow and I just thought I'd have to give it a go.
I've used Tulips , one of my Spring digis which you can see over at A Passion for Stamps, coloured with Promarkers and added some bright ribbon.
I'm really not sure what I think of it but may join in a few more of the challenges to see if I can improve my Less is More style..

Challenges

Tuesday Throwdown....florals

Woodware USA...clean and simple

Mother's Day

2011-03-25T12:09:00.000Z

I've managed to get a couple of hours off work this morning.....doesn't happen often when you're self employed! I've been very busy clearing out cupboards etc but thought it was time for a break!

This is the card I made for my Mother for Mother's Day and I know she loves anything with flowers on it. Just to be a little different this time I made a box card and I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

The image is HAWTHORN BLOSSOM which is another of my latest drawings and is available from A Passion for Stamps. I decoupaged a couple of the flowers and added a little glitter as well but then decided to keep the card uncluttered to try and achieve an "elegant" look....

The challenges this time are

I love Promarkers.... go dotty!

Pals Paper Arts ...embossing (the corner die cuts are embossed)

Colour Create.. pastels

Creative Inspirations ... no squares

Papertake ... it's a mom thing

Crafty Catz... pearls and swirls (on corner die cuts)

Passion for Promarkers ... in the garden

Hyacinth

2011-03-21T09:14:00.002Z

Good morning! I'm rushing off to work so I'll give all the details of this card and challenges when I get home.
It's my new HYACINTH drawing which you can see as a digi image HERE

See you later!

I'm back...what a day! I just rushed in from work, peeled potatoes,veg and cooked the meat.....gulped it all down at top speed, had a bath and ran off to a parents' evening at my son's school. So now I'm glad to be sitting down again!

Well, the paper used on the card is Papermania , Blueberry Hill. The scallop circle is a Nellie Snellen die embossed with a Rose folder.I've used a Martha Stewart border punch, the corners are Cuttlebug and the leaves have been cut off a Marianne Creatable bird and branch die. I gave the image an outline of fine glitter and the sentiment is computer generated (Scriptina font)

Challenges

Stamp with Fun ....Spring
Paper Sundaes.... Embossing
Craft Your Days Away... Mum or Special lady
Crafty Catz... Mothers Day
Papercutz .... your choice
PaperPlay ...embossing

Tulips

2011-03-16T20:42:00.001Z

This is about as close as I can get to "keeping it simple"....my new Tulips digi image which you can see with the others I drew recently over at A Passion for Stamps is the main focus but when I try to keep the colours to a minimum I tend to add a lot of embossing!
The embossing on the kraft card was done with a free folder from Creativity magazine. The tulips were coloured with Promarkers and I added glitter to their bases.

Challenges

Paper Sundaes ...keep it simple

Stampavie ...Spring / Easter

Crafty Calendar Challenge DT card

2011-03-05T12:19:00.001Z

Good morning! It's time for another Crafty Calendar Challenge and this time the theme is "Spring"

The prize this month is 5 digital products from Robyns Fetish so why not join in?

There are so many beautiful ideas for Spring around at the moment that I wasn't quite sure where to start but , as I've been using some of my floral images lately I thought I'd make a card with my recent Bunny in Basket digi image which is available along with other spring images at A Passion for Stamps.

I've actually coloured this image in a couple of different colourways but think this is my favourite.

Challenges

Stamp something...March digi week

Alphabet challenge blog ...R is for Ribbon

Stamping for the Weekend ...Spring

Grape Hyacinth

2011-03-03T11:13:00.005Z

The sun is shining here in Co Antrim again this morning and it really does feel like spring, even though there was a heavy frost earlier on. I'm fortunate enough to be working right on the shores of Belfast Lough at the moment and the view is amazing, the sun is so bright on the water!
I've made another spring flower card, this time using Grape Hyacinth which I drew along with some others a couple of weeks ago.
Thanks to ALL who have bought my Snowdrops digi image..it's been really popular! Please don't be shy in showing off your creations when you've used it, I really love to see what you do with my drawings!
Anyhow, I'm waiting to go for an eye appointment as I'm having problems. I've been waiting to be referred to hospital for 5 months and just found out that my Doctor has not even passed on the referral yet...

I should be at work now but I'm waiting for a phonecall and may need to rush off.

Challenges

Cute Card Thursday signs of spring
I love Promarkers ..green and purple
Creative Inspirations...In the garden
Papertake Weekly ..anything goes
Crazy Challenge .. here comes Spring

Snowdrops

2011-02-28T22:46:00.001Z

I've just signed in to post a pic of the card I made with one of my new digi images. It's called Snowdrops
and is one of my new drawings of spring flowers.
I kept the card mainly white to highlight the snowdrops but added lots of embossing for texture.
I have just seen a couple of cards using the same image made by Elaine and Kerry and they are really are gorgeous. You should have a look at their blogs to see what different people do with the same image. I'm actually partway through making a card with the Narcissus image but I hope to post it here soon.
It really does feel like Spring here now as there are bulbs popping up all over the garden. I hope the snow has gone now until next winter but you never know....

Challenges

Crazy4Challenges ...flowers

One Stop Craft Challenges ....spring flowers

Papercutz ...spring

Stamp Something ...with flowers

Paperplaytime ...Digi monday

Little duckling!

2011-02-25T09:08:00.006Z

I made this card over a couple of days again and really wanted it to be CAS . I imagined it all white with a delicate little duckling in the corner ....and look what happened again!!
Anyhow I also wanted to enter the Sir Stampalot challenge and see now that I am a few hours too late!
I'll look up some more chalenges later.
This is "Duckling" , another of my new spring drawings. I hope you like it!

Challenges

Fussy and Fancy.. embossing
Papercutz ...spring
Colour Create ..colours of fruits(banana, orange, watermelon)
Crafty Creations. at the bottom of my garden lives...
Stamp Something ...flowers
Digital Tuesday.. punches

Spring lamb!

2011-02-19T16:15:00.004Z

It seems like ages since I added my last card but family and work seem to have overtaken my life at the moment! Anyhow, both of these things are very important and I wouldn't want to be without either!! Just a little more time to draw and make cards would be lovely....
I've got 4 new Spring digi images drawn and I'm in the process of drawing some spring flowers too so You'll be seeing some more examples soon!

This card uses my "lamb and chicks" image and I don't know whether or not you can see the flocking on the chicks very well, but I love it!
I ran my Sizzix fence die cut thtough the Cuttlebug with a woodgrain embossing folder and added some punched egg shapes cut with pinking scissors at the bottom.
The paper is from a large Papermania pack which I got less than half price ( I love a bargain!)
I'll enter a few challenges with this card later when I get a chance to look.
Ruth :)

Challenges

Allsorts ...inspired by nature
Totally Papercrafts ...do it with digi
Digital Tuesday.. diecuts

Love is in the air!

2011-02-05T09:24:00.002Z

It would be difficult to miss the fact that it's almost Valentine's Day!! This month's theme at Crafty Calendar Challenges is "Love" and can include Valentine projects so this is my DT card featuring Together on the Wall which is one of my newest digi images available from A Passion for Stamps.

We have several new Dt members this month so there are lots of beautiful cards for you to look at ... and this month's prize is a £15.00 gift voucher from Squiggle Stamps!

It's another one of those cards which I made over a couple of days, adding a little bit here and there until I thought it was finished.It started with the image and then I couldn't resist my new Maroon Promarker so I got some matching paper which I embossed with the Hearts Cuttlebug embossing folder and made matching flowers.I threaded some fine gossamer ribbon through the heart punched border too but it doesn't show up too well in the photo.
Because there are so many challenges with the same theme this week I've beeen able to enter quite a few...!

Stampin' for the Weekend ....Valentines

Totally Papercrafts ...Friendship

Papertake ...Anything goes + flowers

Paperplay ...Stamp it out (digi image)

CRAFT ...In the roll of a die (Nellie Snellen die cut)

I Love Promarkers .... Anything goes + Promarkers (all I ever use!!)

Crafty Creations .... poem for inspiration

My Time to Craft ... flourishes

Try it on Tuesday ...Feel the lurve!

Paperplaytime ...Anything goes

Cupcake Inspirations... Photo inspiration

Paper Sundaes ... Valentines
Basic Grey .....Hearts (my paper is "bittersweet")
Allsorts ....Love
Crazy4challenges ...Valentine card