Last few cards of the week!

After doing all the cards for the Virtual Stamp Night on Splitcoast Stampers (see this post) I managed to get a few of the other challenges done that I like to do!

My first one is for A Passion for Papertrey's Black and White challenge, which is also the same colour combo as Splitcoast Stampers' CC182 and I used Our Creative Corner's Sketch #4 for the layout.


Recipe:

Stamps: Wishing You from PTI

Papers: Basic Black from SU, Stampers Select White from PTI, Bitty Dot Basics from PTI

Inks: Basic Black from SU

Accessories: Fresh Snow satin ribbon (left over from my PTI prize a couple of weeks ago), Oval Nestabilities

My next card is for Carol's Sketch Fun #21 and CC193 to use Real Red, Basic Black and Kraft. I'm not 100% sure about the semi circle - it reminds me more of a bowl than anything else and maybe the flowers should be poking out of the top LOL


Recipe:

Stamps: Too Terrific Tags (US retired set)

Papers: Real Red cs and DSP (from retired hostess set), Basic Black, Kraft DSP (from same hostess pack)

Inks: Basic Black, SU markers in Real Red and Always Artichoke

Accessories: Red gingham ribbon, Small and Large Tag punches, Circle Nestabilities

Next up is my card for Sweet Stamping's Challenge #15 which was a sketch this week and CC163 to use Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip. There were lots of layers on this one but I think I managed them all ok.


Recipe:

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Oval All

Papers: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Tea Party DSP, Tea & Crumpets DSP

Inks: Chocolate Chip ink and marker, Pretty in Pink ink and marker

Accessories: Butterfly Punch, Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon

And my final card is for the Just Add Ink Challenge #6 - the sketch and Stacey's Curtain Call #19 to use Rich Razzleberry, Pink Pirouette, Bashful Blue and Very Vanilla. I am also very pleased to announce that Amy, my fellow design team member on Inspiring Inkin' Challenges has been asked to be part of Stacey's Curtain Call design team as well - congratulations Amy. She always makes gorgeous cards and projects and I know she'll do very well over at Stacey's.


Recipe:

Stamps: Occasional Greetings, Bloom and Grow from Sugar Nellie's

Papers: Pink Pirouette, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue DSP (from retired hostess pack)

Inks: Bashful Blue, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Ciaos

Accessories: Pink Pirouette ribbon, Square Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch.

Phew that's it for me for now anyways! Off to finish my VSN hostess duties and try to pick me a winner from all the gorgeous cards entered for my challenge.

Blog Award

I just received this blog award from Jan, which was a lovely surprise. And the rules of blog awarding state that I have to link back to the person who sent it to me and to pass it on to 5 other bloggers. I also have to write a list of 10 things that make me happy so here goes:


1. My BF Sam (most days LOL)
2. Chocolate, especially from Hotel Chocolat.
3. Getting new crafting goodies.
4. Completing card making challenges (I have a serious addiction to these at the minute).
5. Going out for my monthly night out with my BFF.
6. Seeing people's happy faces when they receive one of my cards - I like to think they're happy anyways.
7. Watching True Blood over and over again.
8. Reading supernatural books - none of this Twilight crap but proper vampire, werewolf, things that go bump in the night books!
9. Wearing my "Vampires that sparkle make me wanna puke glitter t-shirt" round Twilight fans (I love winding up people at work about this!)
10. Driving my convertible car with the roof down in the summer while everyone else is baking to death LMAO.

I'm now going to pass this award on to:
1. Amy
4. Jane
5. Lisa

It's VSN time!!!!

WARNING!!! Extra long post today! I have 16 cards to upload eventually - one for each of the VSN challenges! I haven't put the recipes in but all my cards are uploaded to my gallery on SCS if you want them.

It's Virtual Stamp Night over on Splitcoast Stampers this weekend and for those of you that have seen my blog posts in the past I LOVE doing these - tons of challenges over the weekend including sketch, colour, inspiration, techniques and anything else you can imagine. This VSN's theme is the Winter Olympics, so expect lots of Winter related challenges.

I also had the honour of being asked to host a challenge again. I have done one previously in past and was going to apply again for this one, but didn't get round to it before the VSN coordinator emailed to ask me. It truely is an honour to be asked to do this once, but twice?! I was flabbergasted to say the least, so I quickly wrote up a list of ideas and submitted them and I was chosen to do the first challenge on Saturday which is challenge F is in the photo list below. (I did ask for an early time being in the UK and 5 hours ahead of SCS an' all, but to be the first on the second day was a bit nerve wracking!)

Being a hostess is great fun, but I also get to see all the challenges first and can do them a few days in advance which is great as I'm not under the same pressure as the other players and it means I get to spend my time chatting in the forums instead of card making! So on to the challenges...

Challenge A was a sketch challenge and I also used CC43 to use Rose Red, So Saffron and Orchid Opulence. It is also for Charisma Cardz Challenge #8 to make a birthday card using candles.


Challenge B was a colour challenge using the Hudson's Bay sweater colours for inspiration. I used Basic Gray, Sahara Sand and Real Red from it. My sketch layout was from Papertake's Weekly Challenge #35.


Challenge C was to use the rolling marble technique, which I have never done before. I do think my colours were a bit too bright for this one, but never mind. It was also for CC96 to use Green Galore, Lavender Lace and Pink Passion and for Mercy's MTSC62.


Challenge D was to make an all white card. I have never done this before so it truely was a challenge for me! I also used Mojo#127 for my layout. I'm also going to enter it for the Spoon Full of Sugar's Challenge #92 which was to use distress inks (which I don't have any of, so I'm skipping that part), glitter (I got lots of that) and pearls (I used liquid pearls so I hope that counts!) And for Crazy for Challenges #26 to use 3 different textures on a card - I have glitter card, vellum and debossed pearlescent card (I embossed on the wrong side)


Challenge E was to use blue and white with an added bonus of using one of the medal colours - I used silver as it just goes so well with these colours. This card is also for CC259 which was to use the colours from the Winter Olympics icon and the layout is from Mojo#112.


Challenge F was my challenge! It was to make a free standing pop up card. I had never done one before so I went to town on it a bit. This is the card closed.


And this is it open - what a great pop up surprise huh?


Challenge G was to incorporate a water theme so I used Boatloads of Love on the sea and combined it with CC98 to use Bravo Burgundy, Brocade Blue and Night of Navy.


Challenge H was to use loose glitter on your card and I used the Dazzling Diamond Dust method, using SU's heat 'n' stick powder and Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I also used CC250 to use Crushed Curry, Real Red and Sahara Sand (I have been putting this combo off for ages and I don't know why because it turned out lovely in the end!) and Mojo#102.


Challenge I was to have a musical theme, follow the provided sketch AND decorate the inside of your card! I also used ColourQ's combo #21 to use Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal, Green Galore and a neutral - I used white!


And this is the decorated inside - not too much mind you as I was TRYING to keep as close to the 45 mins limit as I could.


Challenge J was to use the faux metal technique, which we call triple embossing over here, but I guess it doesn't necessarily need to have 3 layers of embossing. Mine certainly had more than that! I also used Mojo105 as well.


Challenge K was to use gold on your card so I added it to CC132 to use River Rock, Chocolate Chip and Really Rust and Mojo100 - Day 1.


Challenge L was to score lines other than just scoring a card blank. I created a frame for my flowers and chalked over them in pink. I used CC129 to use Purely Pomegranate, Pretty in Pink and Old Olive as well.


Challenge M was to make a card for someone who inspires you and to use 3 different ribbons - I chose Nichole Heady and in her honour I CASEd my favourite card of her's. It's such a simple, but elegant design and really makes great use of those big background stamps. I also used CC142 to use Basic Gray, Bashful Blue and Certainy Celery.


Challenge N was called Bundled Up! Basically you had to make a wrap around card or a trifold that overlapped at the front and use 2 strands of something round it. I used 2 different ribbons. I also used CC160 which was to use Mellow Moss, Creamy Caramel, Apricot Appeal and Cameo Coral.


Challenge O was to make a pocket card and I also used Stacey's Curtain Call #18 to use Night of Navy, Old Olive, Kraft, Ballet Blue and White.


Challenge P was to use the tea bag folding technique, which I haven't done in a VERY VERY long time! I combined this challenge with Color Throwdown's Challenge #81 to use brown, pink, white and olive and Stamp With Us' sketch challenge.


This VSN was great fun. The topic was great and the challenges were all fab. And I got to combine loads of other challenges which is my fave thing to do at the minute. There's still time for you to join in with this VSN - all projects have until Monday 10pm EST to be uploaded to the galleries, so why not give some of these challenges a go?

Inspiring Inkin' Challenge #21

Oops I completely forgot to post this on Saturday with my crazy weekend of crafting and marking and planning and everything else I should have done during the week that I left to the last minute! Over on our Stampin' Up team's challenge blog Inspiring Inkin' Challenges, we have set you all a challenge to make a card box with a side twist of making a matching set of cards. What style, shape and size box you make is totally up to you.

I made a criss-cross box using these instructions: http://cashcrafters.com/forum/smf_1-1-3_install/index.php?page=79 and added a lid to go with it. It was my friend Asha's birthday on Valentine's day and as I hadn't had the time during the week before to make her gift I used this challenge as the ideal opportunity. I used turquoise as the main colour because it is Asha's fave colour.


I used my new Greenhouse Garden stamp set and stamped the middle sized detailed flower all over the base before adding the embellishments. All the flowers have Dazzling Diamonds added to them and they look so sparkly in real life.

This is the box with the lid off:


You can see the criss-cross part and the stamped background better in this one.

And these are the matching cards I made to go with it:


I did 2 in each colour combo - Pumpkin Pie & Apricot Appeal, Tempting Turquoise & Taken With Teal and Rose Red & Pretty in Pink. One of each colour had Thinking of You stamped on it and the other had Birthday Wishes. I love this design and will probably make some for myself sometime soon as well.

And Asha loved it by the way!

Recipe:

Stamps: Medallion, En Francais, Sincere Salutations, Greenhouse Garden


Papers: Tempting Turquoise, Taken With Teal, Pink Flamingo DSP, Pumpkin Pie cs and DSP, Apricot Appeal, Rose Red cs & DSP, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White


Inks: Tempting Turquoise, Taken With Teal, Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive

Accessories: Tempting Turquoise grosgrain ribbon, Apricot Appeal grosgrain ribbon, Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, Scallop Edge Punch

A few more challenges from the weekend

Just thought I'd link the last few challenges I did yesterday morning. I didn't get chance to uploading them last night as I was trying to do all my APP marking for Literacy and it takes me forever as I get so bored reading 33 of the same kind of thing! Anyhooooo....

Card #1 is for Charisma Cardz sketch challenge #7 and Farm Fresh Friday's colour challenge to use Chocolate, Kraft and Guava. This colour combo reminded me of the awful living room decor we had when I was about 8 years old, so I just had to use 80s Anya as I'm an 80s girl!


Recipe:

Stamps: 80s Anya, Hello Again

Papers: Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Groovy Guava, Non SU white cs, To The Nines DSP

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Ciaos

Accessories: Martha Stewart Cornice Border Punch, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Zoomz (like dew drops), Oval Nestabilities, Prima/Hero Arts flowers, Bronze brads

My next one is for Truly Scrumptious' Sketch Challenge, Sweet Stamping's #14 New Beginnings and Splitcoast's CC192 to use Pacific POint, Basic Gray and Certainly Celery.


Recipe:

Stamps: Good Neighbors, Loads of Love

Papers: Pacific Point, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Certainly Celery DSP

Inks: Pacific Point, Basic Gray, Certainly Celery

Accessories: Basic Gray Tafetta Ribbon, Grey eyelets

And my final card is for Crazy For Challenges #25 and Splitcoast's CC251 to use Barely Banana, Dusty Durango and Basic Gray.


Recipe:

Stamps: Sweet Donkey #1 from Alota Stamps

Papers: Barely Banana, Basic Gray, Dusty Durango, Non SU white cs, Nouveau Chic DSP

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Ciaos

Accessories: Dusty Durango ribbon, Jules Jewels Embossing Folder, Zoomz

Off now to do a bit of linking :)

A Crafty Half Term

It's been half term this week and has been heavenly not having to get up at the crack of dawn each morning! I spent a lot of my time crafting the days away and managed to get loads done, so while it looks like I've gone mad, these cards were all done in the space of a week or so. And as per usual they cover a multitude of challenges. I did actually think today that I should maybe stop doing so many, but I can't!!!

First up is a cute Anya card for the Case of the Curious Card over on Splendid Stamping, which was to CASE the layout of one of Maria's cute cards and for Linda's Tackle It Tuesday Colour Challenge #3 to use Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black and Rose Red. Ok so I'm a bit short on the Basic Black but everything else is there.

Recipe:

Stamps: Happy Moments SAB set, Birthday Anya

Papers: Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red DSP, Non SU white cs

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Ciaos

Accessories: Pretty in Pink Striped Grsograin Ribbon, Curved Rectangles Nestabilties, Square gem brads from Making Memories

My next card is a late one all round. I actually did this one last weekend and forgot to upload it to my blog and missed the deadline for the Charisma Cardz male challenge. It is also for Taylored Expressions #99 and Splitcoast Stampers Color Combo 197 to use Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray and Not Quite Navy. A very simple card that took forever to colour in!


Recipe:

Stamps: Graffiti Edwin, Graffiti Wall, Circle of Friendship, Vintage Labels

Papers: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze DSP, Not Quite Navy DSP

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Ciaos, Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Circle Nestabilities

My next one is for Mojo126 and Curtain Call #17 to use So Saffron, Going Gray, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, and More Mustard. I thought this colour combo was going to be really hard at first, but it all came together so easily with some pretty DSP.


Recipe:

Stamps: Floral Frenzy Remixed and Wishing You from Verve

Papers: So Saffron, More Mustard, Going Gray,Whisper White, Tea & Crumpets DSP

Inks: So saffron, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, More Mustard grosgrain ribbon, Double Loops Martha Stweart Punch, Diamond Stickles

Card #4 is for Splitcoast's Sketch #268 and Color Throwdown's Challenge #80 to use light green, rust and burgundy. I chose to use Mellow Moss for my light green.


Recipe:

Stamps: A Rose Is A Rose, Whimsical Words

Papers: Mellow Moss, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White, Spiced Cider DSP

Inks: Bravo Brundy, Really Rust, Mellow Moss

Accessories: Bravo Burgundy grosgrain ribbon, Icicles Stickles, Victoria Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

And next up is a card for Splitcoast's Color Combo #258 to use Perfect Plum, Pale Plum and Soft Suede and for Mercy's Sketch #61. I did swap over the middle square on the sketch as I wanted the sentiment to stand out a bit more and the other 2 squares covered it up too much.


Recipe:

Stamps: Garden Dream, Whimsical Words (this set is coming in so handy!)

Papers: Soft Suede, Pale Plum, Very Vanilla Perfect Plum DSP

Inks: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Soft Suede, Mellow Moss

Accessories: Soft Suede Polka grosgrain ribbon, Corner rounding punch, Oval Nestabilities

On to the next one! This is for Taylored Expressions Sketch #101 and Splitcoast's Color Combo 190. Taylor is also doing a card drive for Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD and wanted you to include a dragonfly on your card. The only one I have is in Papertrey Ink's Wishing You set, so I had to use that one! Not sure about the placement of ribbon, but it follows the sketch!


Recipe:

Stamps: Wishing You and Polka Dot Basics from PTI

Papers: Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Pixie Pink, Whisper White

Inks: Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Pixie Pink

Accessories: Tangerine Tango striped grosgrain ribbon, Card Candy from Craftworks Cards

The next one is a card using Cameo Coral, one of my least favourite colours in the Stampin' Up colour familes. It's not pink enough and not orange enough and it usually doesn't work for me. But today Cameo Coral must have been feeling nice because I really like this card and this colour combo. It's for Just Us Girls' #21 to use Rich Razzleberry, Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral and Very Vanilla and also for Our Creative Corner's Sketch #3.


Recipe:

Stamps: Greenhouse Garden (again!)

Papers: Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry DSP

Inks: Rich Razzleberry, Cameo Coral

Accessories: Rich Razzleberry polka grosgrain ribbon (I sewed me a flower - that's a first!!), Latte buttons, Love & Happiness Rub Ons (from SU umpteens years ago - ok actually about 2-3!), Brown embroidery thread

The next 2 cards I really dislike, but thought I'd upload them for the challenges anyway as I doubt I'll find anymore time to redo them as I still have a ton of work to do tomorrow before I go back to school - stuff like planning and marking which I should have done at the beginning of half term, but as usual I left it to the last minute!

This one is for Mojo #111 - an old one I missed before, A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge #19 - Spring Time and Papertake's Weekly Challenge - Check This Out! This piggy stamp looks so cute in the packet, but is an absolute nightmare to ink up if you want the flowers and dots in different colours. It's a clear acrylic stamp and really doesn't like my SU markers at all. I think I tried 4 times in the end on various different pieces of white cardstock and it still came out naff! And I've order the owl stamp from the same collection too - AARRGGHH!!!


Recipe:

Stamps: Honey & Hugs Piggy from Papermania

Papers: Groovy Guava, Yoyo Yellow, Whisper White, Old Olive DSP, Honey & Hug Paper Pack from Papermania

Inks: Groovy Guava, SU markers in Cameo Coral, Old Olive, Yoyo Yellow

Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, Yellow Gingham ribbon, yellow velour flower from Doodlebug (the biggest one I had for this sentiment!)

My final card is actually not THAT bad, but there's too much blank space on it for my liking. It uses ColourQ's #20 to use Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue and Yoyo Yellow and Mojo#108 - I'm slowly getting through all these gorgeous sketch challenges. I did move the sentiment panel up as I didn't leave enough room at the bottom for it - oops!


Recipe:

Stamps: Queue Up (Hostess Set), Whimsical Words, Birthday Wheel

Papers: Yoyo Yellow, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White, Real Red DSP (from retired hostess pack)

Inks: Basic Black, Yoyo Yellow, SU Markers in Yoyo Yellow, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Brilliant Blue

Accessories: Turquoise and Yellow paper ribbons (I bought these in a sealed packet thinking they were thin grosgrain ribbon but they're paper type stuff and are awful!!! These are going to school for the kids to use up!)

And my final project for today is a easel matchbox (at least that's what I think they're called!) I made this for Just Add Ink's Challenge #5 to Just Add Dimension. It's such as cute and quick box to make and a lovely twist on the easel card as well. I've been dying to try it for ages and finally found the time to do so!


Recipe:

Stamps: Retro Remix Wheel, Hello Again

Papers: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Whisper White

Inks: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery

Accessories: Pale Plum buttons, Purple embroidery thread

I just want to show you a quick photo I had to take during the half term as well. My crafting area was over-flowing with boxes and boxes of stuff and it was getting more and more difficult to get anything out. We only have 2 bedrooms and neither of them are big enough to swing a cat in really so all my crafting stuff is in a corner of our bedroom, while all my wardobes and bookcases are in the other one! My boyfriend very kindly (NOT!!)decided that I needed to sort it all out and rearrange it and put things I didn't use at all in the other bedroom so I would have more space. It took the whole day basically and I constantly moved things round until I was happy (I won't really be happy until I get a huge craft room all to myself, but that's not gonna happen for a while yet!). I then decided, last thing, to move all my SU stamp sets out of their 5 plastic boxes (as well as a handful on my desk as there was nowhere else to put them) and put them all on one of the shelves above the desk, with some columns double rowed as well. And this is what they look like....


I have 124 sets!! Way more than I thought (but still not nearly enough!) I have old US retired ones, current US only ones, UK retired and current ones up there. They are now organised by size and in alphabetical order, so I can easily find the set I want without having to rummage through 5 boxes worth!!! I have 3 humungous sets, 18 extra large sets including 7 background stamps, 34 large sets, 52 medium sets, 14 small and 3 miniscule ones! This doesn't obviously include my other company stamp sets which are in boxes under my desk!

One bad thing about doing this though was revealing all to my boyfriend who straight away said, "Surely you don't need anymore?!" Admittedly I don't necessarily NEED any more stamps as I have all occasions covered, but I do WANT more. He doesn't mind what I spend my money on as it's all mine anyway and I work damn hard for it, so I spend it how I choose. So how many SU sets have you got?! I want to know if my collection is normal or not :P

Right after this incredibly long post I'm off the link all my cards to the various challenges.

Happy Stamping!

5 Cards and a Valentine's Present!

Happy Valentines Day!!! And Happy Chinese New Year!!! And Happy Birthday to my friend Asha too!!!

I had another fun full day of crafting today and managed another 5 cards! I honestly have no idea what I'm going to do with all these cards, so I think I'm going to make some boxes up and give lots away as little pressies!

My first card today is for Our Creative Corner's Sketch Challenge #2 and A Passion for Papertrey's Valentines challenge. I won the prize for the last Passion for Papertrey challenge and the lovely Aimes sent me 6 sheets of cardstock - 2 each of Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz and Pure Poppy, a Raspberry Fizz ink cube, some ribbon in Pure Poppy, Raspberry Fizz and Fresh Snow and 6 sheets of the gorgeous Simple Valentines patterned paper. I just had to use these wonderful new supplies to make my boyfriend his Valentine's card this morning. I had no other heart stamps from PTI at all other than this small one in the Sign Language set, so I'll have to rectify that with my next order! Although I'm not a fan of hearts, you never know when you might need some!

Recipe:

Stamps: Signature Greetings, Sign Language both from PTI

Papers: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Hibiscus Burst, Simple Valentine patterned paper all from PTI

Inks: Raspberry Fizz and Hibiscus Burst from PTI, Real Red from SU

Accessories: Pure Poppy grosgrain ribbon from PTI

My next card is for Taylored Expressions Sketch #100, Farm Fresh Friday's Vintage challenge and ColourQ #19 to use Regal Rose, Blush Blossom, Close To Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and White. I don't really do vintage as it's not my style, so this is as vintage as I can get :P I do love the little cheeky dancing of Savannah though.


Recipe:

Stamps: Bella Toile, Baroque Motifs, Savannah from The Greeting Farm

Papers: Close To Cocoa, Regal Rose, Blush Blossom, Non SU white, Sweet Always DSP

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Ciaos

Accessories: Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Brown brads covered with Diamond Stickles, Circle Nestabilities

My third card of the day is for Mojo #125 and Color Throwdown's #79 to use Sage Shadow, Blush Blossom and Riding Hood Red. I'm not overly happy with this card - I think I used too much red on it to be honest. Oh well....


Recipe:

Stamps: Birthday Surprise from Verve

Papers: Blush Blossom, Sage Shadow, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Washington Apple DSP

Inks: Riding Hood Red, Sage Shadow, SU Markers in Sage Shadow and Blush Blossom

Accessories: Riding Hood Red ribbon, Circle Nestabilities, Labels 1 Nestabilities

My next card is for Just Us Girls #20 to use the split negative technique, Mojo #115 that I missed and CC196 from Splitcoast Stampers that I also missed.


I had to emboss the white because when I stamped it onto the Taken With Teal cardstock, it was almost the same colour as the Teal on white!! I really like this technique and it works brilliantly with this stamp set because most of the flowers are solid images.

Recipe:

Stamps: Petal Pizzazz, Whimsical Words

Papers: Baja Breeze, Taken With Teal, Whisper White, Washington Apple DSP

Inks: Whisper White craft ink, Taken With Teal

Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Circle Nestabilities, Turquoise Zoomz (like Dew Drops)

And my final card is for Stamp With Us' Colour Inspiration Challenge and Mojo #119, another one I missed.


Recipe:

Stamps: Crazy for Cupocakes, Cupcakes wheel

Papers: Close To Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Sweet Always DSP

Inks: Close To Cocoa ink and marker, SU markers in Gable Green, Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose

Accessories: Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, Light Pink Gingham ribbon, Circle and Rectangle Nestabilities, Prima flowers, Brad from Papermania

I had loads of fun doing all these challenges today, but the best thing about today was my Valentine's gift from my lovely boyfriend. I got this box:


How gorgeous is this box?! Even better is what's inside though! Have a look...


A milk chocolate heart seductively swirled with caramelised crispies and strawberry chocolate. Finished with luscious truffles and dusted with tongue-tingling blackcurrant to make them feel fruity all over! (Copied and pasted off the Hotel Chocolat website!). I had a little bit and it is heavenly!! I love Hotel Chocolat chocolates and in a way am so glad we don't have a shop here in Peterborough as I would be in there ALL the time!
Hope your Valentine's was as good as mine!

4 Cards = Umpteen Challenges!

I am SOOOO glad this week is finally over. I had parents evening until 8 on Tuesday and again til 6 on Thursday and was completely exhausted on Friday. My throat was hurting like mad with all the extra talking I had to do! Now it's half term and I have a week to recuperate (and craft like mad! LOL)

So here's my first installment of the weekend. My first card is for Stacey's Curtain Call #16 to use Kraft, Real Red and Very Vanilla, Crazy for Challenges #24 to use Red as a main colour and Mercy's Sketch #60.


Recipe:

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly

Papers: Real Red cs and retired DSP, Very Vanilla, Kraft retired DSP

Inks: Real Red

Accessories: Real Red grosgrain ribbon, Kraft Taffeta ribbon, Papermania flower brad, Prima red flower, Boho Blossom Punch, Butterfly Punch

My next card is for Sweet Stamping's Challenge #13 to use Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Real Red, A Spoon Full of Sugar's Challenge #90 to use the recipe of 1 pattern paper,1 Embossing,1 Button,1 Ribbon.and Papertake's Sketch Challenge #34.


Recipe:

Stamps: Best Wishes & More, Darling Dots Hostess set

Papers: Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun, Real Red, Whisper White, Pink Flamingo DSP

Inks: SU Markers in Summer Sun, Real Red, Cameo Coral, Green Galore

Accessories: Tempting Turquoise grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Cuttlebug Corner dies, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Yellow Button from stash, Turquoise Embroidery Thread

My next two cards use my lovely new Greenhouse Garden stamp set. SU are currently donating £1 from every sale of this stamp set for the Haitian Relief Fund and it is a really pretty 2-step stamping set. Place your order today by emailing me at saffivort@yahoo.com to help raise money for all those affected by the tragic earthquake.

The first of these two is for Carol's Sketch Challenge #20 (I won the prize for #19 which was a lovely surprise! Thank You Carol!), Just Add Ink's Challenge #4 to use More Mustard, Rose Red, Sage Shadow and Kraft and ILWS February Challenge to use 5 ribbons on a card.


Recipe:

Stamps: Greenhouse Garden, Happy Moments SAB set

Papers: Sage Shadow, More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Kraft retired DSP

Inks: More Mustard, Rose Red

Accessories: Rose Red 1" stitched grosgrain ribbon, Kraft Taffeta ribbon, More Mustard Grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Oval Nestabilities, Diamond Stickles

And my final card for today is for Sketch Challenge SC267 and Color Combo CC257 to use Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango and Sage Shadow on Splitcoast Stampers.


Recipe:

Stamps: Greenhouse Garden

Papers: Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango, Very Vanilla, To The Nines Speciality DSP

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango, Sage Shadow

Accessories: Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon, Circle Nestabilities

Don't you just love this stamp set?! I love how it can be used with so many different colour combos. I think I might use it for our next Inspiring Inkin' Challenge next weekend. It's a fab project so make sure you join us for it.

All Things Magical and Mythical #119 Featuring Mermaid Birthday Party Treasure from Faery Ink

Good morning everyone and welcome to this week's All Things Magical and Mythical post. I haven't used a Faery Ink image for ages so...