Playing with (Digital) Paper

G'day folks!

I've been having a play with some new digital papers by Kristie Art Design in the last couple of days - you can check them out here at her Etsy store.  I have to admit, digital products are something I don't often think of, which is silly really as there's a whole heap of papers and products right at my fingertips. There's the added bonus of not having to store them anywhere too!

I used a couple of different ones - first up was a digital collage of lace pendants. I enlarged them slightly, then printed the A4 sheet and had 30 different coloured discs to choose from. After die cutting three with a circle die, I inked the edges and used them as a base for my stamped butterfly. The hearts have been die cut out of two of the pendants.

Next I used one of the 6x6 digital paper pads - Watercolor Geometry -perfect for a watercolour look without the mess!   I thought the soft pastels would go well with a chalkboard image:

I also used the latest sketch over at The Deconstructed Sketch:

Anyway, that's all from me - hope you have a great weekend and for my American friends a fabulous Memorial Day weekend!

Catch you later,

Claire x

Colour Q #292

Hello bloggers!

It's time for a new set of colours over at Colour Q and it's a gorgeous set of brights to play with:

I used Whimsy Stamps 'Happy Everything' again...I can't seem to put that set down at the moment - this time I used the balloons and the circle burst stamp to create my own patterned paper. I also used a sketch from Deconstructed Sketch - there's 200 sketches to choose from this week so I went for sketch #166:

Have you spotted the slight error? I've just realised I missed putting on the border underneath the image...oops.  I've always said that drinking wine and card making don't mix... Since I wanted the card to have bit of a fun feel, I also tilted the layers. (I can assure you, this was to alter the look of the card and wasn't as a result of drinking that wine!)

Well that's all from me folks - enjoy your week!

Claire x

Colour Q #289

Hello blogging friends!

The week has raced by in record time and another Colour Q palette is here to whet your crafty appetite:

I was a little bit stuck for ink with these colours so I resorted to using some of my mountains of MME scraps - I also had some inspiration from the current Deconstructed Sketch:

Don't forget, if you haven't got the exact colours, you can substitute the closest match.  It doesn't matter how little of the colours you use, as long as all of them make an appearance!

Thanks for stopping,

Claire x

Colour Q #267

Hello folks!

For those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, Autumn will have well and truly set in by now, so what better way to celebrate it than using these beautiful colours to make a project:

Of all the seasons,  I miss Autumn most of all - we just don't get the distinction between seasons here in Sydney.  And whilst the (mostly) beautiful weather is a definite bonus, there's something to be said about falling leaves, bracing winds and vibrant, Autumnal colours.

I used Deconstructed Sketch #175 for this one.  The flowers are a selection from W Plus 9's Fresh Cut Florals...I find it so relaxing playing around with those little die cuts and trying to make it look like a pretty bouquet...is that a little weird?!

Hope you get the chance to join in again this week.  Don't forget, if you make a comment on last week's card you'll get the chance to gain a place in the draw to win some of Tracey's goodies!

Thanks for popping by,

Claire x

Colour Q #259

G'day again!

Well Tuesday's rolled around once more so it's time for a brand new Colour Q challenge! Check out those wellies - or as they say Down Under 'gumboots.' Way too snazzy to be jumping in mud puddles eh?

I used Waltzingmouse's Heirloom Patterns to stamp the background and some SU markers to colour in parts of the stamped image to make my own patterned paper.  It took forever colouring in those little squares and triangles but I'm pleased with the result.  Definitely not something I'd be doing after one too many wines though...

I used the lovely, simple sketch over at The Deconstructed Sketch to help with the design - I added a piece of vellum under the square panel, just to soften up that multi-coloured background and some more vellum to white emboss the butterflies.

Make sure you go and send some love to the rest of the DT this week - thanks for popping over!

Claire x

Colour Q #257

 Well hello again folks!

Second post of the day and it's time for a new Colour Q combo - so many possibilities with these colours...I reckon they'd look great in a masculine card (despite the pink!)

I got my inspiration straight from the pic for this one - I love how the bright flowers pop against the navy background.  I also used the current sketch (#166) over at The Deconstructed Sketch.  

The flowers have been cut with a Paper Smooches stand alone die and it's a Paper Smooches sentiment too.  So I'm popping it into the current Paper Sparks challenge where the theme  is 'Anything Goes.' 

Heaps of inspiration again from the rest of the DT - I love how the same colours inspire everyone in such different ways.  Hope you get the chance to join in!

Claire x

Colour Q #251

Good evening blogging friends!

It's Tuesday so it must be time for a another Colour Q challenge. And such a pretty, feminine combo we have for you this week:

The dreaded purple normally throws me when it's included in the colour palette, but for some reason it didn't this time. The nearest I have to Calypso Coral is Cameo Coral which is slightly more pink than orange. I've inked up Waltzingmouse's Asian Gardens which is definitely one of my most favourite sets...so much you can do with it (although I always seem to reach for the same stamps...isn't that always the way?)  I used the pretty sketch (#160) over at The Deconstructed Sketch for some inspiration and I'm entering it into Curtain Call's 'Anything Goes' challenge too.

Hope you get inspired by the gorgeous creations from the rest of the DT - go over and give them some love won't you?

Thanks for stopping,

Claire x

Colour Q #246

Hello folks!

Hope your week is going well.  We've got a a gorgeous, regal set of colours for you this week at Colour Q:

I struggled to find these colours in my stash - the closest ink I had was more of a bright raspberry than rich razzleberry.  Luckily I did have an Old Olive marker...those SU markers are so handy for colour challenges!

I've used the Waltzingmouse Camelia set which hasn't seen some ink for far too long and the crackle background is also WMS which I've softened round the edges with some white pigment ink. I also used  Deconstructed Sketch #154.  It was a bit of a quickie this one as I'm getting ready to go away for a few days with the big bloke.

Make sure you check out the rest of the DT stuff - you can find the links to their blogs on the Colour Q blog page.

Thanks for stopping by,

Claire x

One for the Boys - Colour Q #230

Hello folks!

Are you ready for another Colour Q challenge?  How about this for a great shoe?! I'd barely be able to stand in this, let alone walk.  (Is it just me or is it a sign of age when you start to buy shoes for comfort rather than style?)

I may not buy the shoes but I love the colours and thought they would look good on a  masculine card:

It fits in nicely with the theme over at Waltzingmouse Fanatics too, where the challenge is to make a masculine card using Waltzingmouse Stamps.  I used the brilliant My Kind of Guy set. I also based it on sketch #139 over at Deconstructed Sketch - definitely one I'll be using again.

Go and check out the rest of the design teams gorgeous creations...you'll get heaps of inspiration!

Thanks for stopping,

Claire x

A Deconstructed Sketch

Hello Bloggers,

I've been meaning to have a go at a Deconstructed Sketch for a while now so what better time to try one than on their 100th sketch:

So many possibilities with this sketch - I'm sure I'll be using it again. I'd loved to have done some real stitching on those banners but I'm way too lazy and have absolutely no sewing skills, so some paper piercing and faux stitching will have to do!

Thanks for stopping,

Claire x