Freshly Made Sketch - Two Versions

Hello again,

Cécile has created a very CAS Freshly Made Sketch this week and I made 2 versions of the same card. The second one on the post is the first version - I used some watercolour die cuts from Paper Smooches for the background and coloured the feather die with Antique Linen, Evergreen Bough and Black Soot distress inks (a Kristina Werner combo I think). I liked how it turned out but thought I'd have another go using Lost Shadow, Spun Sugar and Evergreen Bough:

In the second one I gave the die cuts more dimension by glueing three die cuts together. I also added a touch of sparkle with a Versamark pen and holographic embossing powder.  I prefer the colours in the original card but the more dimensional look of the second! 

I'm popping the first attempt over to Freshly Made Sketches and the second attempt over to Just Us Girls' word week challenge which is 'sparkle.' 

Let me know which one you prefer!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Addicted To CAS #198

Hello inkers,

I've made a very CAS card for Addicted to CAS' 'ombre' challenge:

 

I recently spoilt myself and bought a huge set of Brutfuner pencils with every colour under the sun - I've never really used pencils before and I have to admit I'm finding them far more difficult to get to grips with than markers. I feel like it takes ages to get an even spread of colour on the paper and colouring shadows definitely take a lot of patience! 

Anyway, this pretty Stamplorations butterfly has been die cut from a panel coloured using said pencils. I used about 6 or 7 different ones to try and get the ombre effect. I also added a white embossed swirl from Paper Smooches - the sentiment's from Poppy Stamps. 

This one's also going over to Simon Says Stamps' Wednesday challenge where 'anything goes.'

Happy stamping!

Claire

Last Ever Paper Smooches Challenge

Hello again,

I can't let the final Paper Smooches Challenge pass by without making a card for it.  I used the crazy looking rabbit from A Little Lovin:' 

I'm not good when it comes to masking. I can never work out what needs to be stamped first and always seem to stuff it up, especially if I've had a glass of wine! I kept it very simple, colouring them with Copics and adding some Glossy Accents to the eyes. 

I'm also popping it over to Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday challenge with it's 'oh so cute' theme.

Happy stamping!

Claire 

CAS(E) This Sketch - Take 2

Hello again,

I thought I'd have another go at CAS(E) This Sketch, this time combining it with Paper Smooches' colour pop challenge to use black and white with one other colour:

I used 'Curls and Swirls' for my background panel and this cute little froggy from 'A Little Lovin'.

Happy stamping!

Claire

Rainbow Dudes!

Hello folks,

Another CAS card for you, this time for Paper Smooches Anything Goes challenge.  So sad that Kim's closing the store so here's a little card I made using my very first PS purchase - Little Fella:

I've also used the inspiration photo from Time Out. Who doesn't love rainbow colours against a pure white background? 

Happy stamping!

Claire

Paper Smooches - Anything Goes!

Hello again,

Quick card for Paper Smooches' Anything Goes challenge which finishes tomorrow:

This one's also going into Time Out's latest theme challenge to make a card featuring 'the arts.' I've obviously gone for a music theme using PS Beboppin. It's an anniversary card for my husband and I had thought of writing our favourite tunes on the tapes but since our music tastes are on polar opposites of the spectrum I'm not sure I could even find 3 songs we could agree on!

Thanks for popping by,

Claire

Getting Happy With Paper Smooches

Hello again folks,

There's a distinct lack of male cards on my blog at the moment so I inked up Paper Smooches' 'Super' for their 'happy' themed challenge:

 I created the background by sponging a night sky and adding the Super 2 dies. Whilst making it I was drinking a cup of coffee and just after I finished colouring the little superhero, proceeded to spill a few drops of coffee all over him - very annoying!  So instead of leaving a white border around him I coloured it yellow to hide the coffee stains - luckily it was a crafty accident that could be salvaged...I quite like the splash of bright yellow around him. It makes him look more super!

Hope you have time time to get inky this week!

Claire

Easter Three-fer

Hello fellow inkers and happy Easter!

Despite the isolation we still managed an Easter egg hunt in the back garden and a special meal followed by pavlova. I think after all this is over I'll be rolling out of the house - eating and drinking seem to be taking up most of my time!

The remainder's taken up with card making (unfortunately very little calorie burning there) so here's a few clean and simple ones I made for a variety of challenges:

The first is for CAS(E) This Sketch.  I've stamped and embossed some Mama Elephant Basic Borders and added a large die cut butterfly from Stamplorations which has been coloured using alcohol inks. A scattering of sequins and MFT sentiment and it was done.

The second one is for MFT's latest sketch challenge. In case you missed it, MFT and Torico have made all four Birdie Brown doctor and nurse images available as a free printable. The one above looks just like one of my closest friends, currently working in the ICU of one of Sydney's largest  hospitals. Unfortunately I'm not catching up with her as much as I'd like so this is just to remind her that she hasn't been forgotten.

The last is for the Paper Smooches colour story challenge and Fusion's cute gnome inspiration pic which has similar pastel colours.  The decorative chain of spheres above the gnomes reminded me of Paper Smooches Hearts Dies. I tried to add in another PS stamp or die but despite my growing Paper Smooches collection nothing seemed to work so I used the same Stamplorations butterfly which seemed to fit well with the pretty sentiment from Fun and Flirty.

Hope you get the time to get a bit inky this long Easter weekend - happy stamping!

Claire

Paper Smooches Pastels

Hello fellow inkers,

There's not much call for baby cards in my life now but that's not stopped me making one for Paper Smooches Colour Story Challenge:

These sweet, hugging elephants are from A Little Lovin and the stamped panel is a selection of smaller stamps from Silver and Gold (recently retired.)

Now I just need someone I know to pop out a baby so I have someone to send it to!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Paper Smooches - Anything Goes!

Hello, happy weekend again!

Paper Smooches has an 'Anything Goes' challenge this week:

I inked up Bitty Bungalows, one of the very first PS sets I bought.  I've also added a sentiment from Fun and Flirty and a die cut Hearts strip which was the perfect size for the sentiment.  I'm also popping it over to CASology where the cue card is 'skyline.'

Happy stamping!

Claire x

Paper Smooches Colour Story

Hello again.,

I feel like I'm on a bit of a roll with the card making at the moment. This time I've made a very CAS card for Paper Smooches' colour challenge:

I've used the very first Paper Smooches set I ever bought which is Little Fella (no longer available).  I don't think I've done a colour challenge using so many colours but they're definitely all on there - just in very small amounts!

Thanks for stopping by,

Claire 

Love is in the Air

Hello fellow inkers,

I've been avoiding cards with a 'love' theme like the plague in the last few weeks, simply because I have a whole heap of yet to be used Valentines cards and only one husband.  However, since that's the theme over at Paper Smooches for their latest challenge, it did give the excuse to colour the Love-struck set with matching dies:

I gave this sweet little baby angel some sparkly wings and a shiny heart on which to aim his bow. For the background I stamped Curls and Swirls but it looked a little too busy behind the stamped images so I also added a layer of white card stock to make it 'pop' a little more.

I'm also sending it over to Time Out's challenge - to create an 'affectionate' card for someone. Nothing says affection more than Valentines Day!

Happy stamping!

Claire x

Weathering and Rocking

Hello, hope you are having a great Australia Day!

I've got a couple of cards today. The first is for the latest MFT Sketch Challenge and the second for Paper Smooches which has an 'anything goes' challenge:

 I used BB Rain or Shine with some patterned paper from the Sweet Celebration pack.  I stamped the puddle and raindrops and filled them in with some Glossy Accents to make it look like water.

For the PS card I used Beboppin with the colours from Colour Throwdown. I showed it to my two boys and asked them if they knew what the picture is - my 11 year old suggested a video tape so at least he was on the right track. My 13 year old had absolutely no idea! Sometimes I feel really old....

Enjoy your day!

Claire x

Seeing Pink

Hello inkers,

I'm just sneaking in with a last minute entry to Addicted to CAS' challenge to use pin and purple:

Not two colours I would normally put together,  but even I like the purple with the splash of bright and pale pinks. I stamped Paper Smooches Curls and Swirls on the left side, then made a cut through the middle and matted it on pink card stock. The die cut butterfly is from Stamplorations and the sentiment's PTI.

Happy stamping!


Claire x

CAS Sunday

Hello folks, happy weekend to you!

A couple of very CAS cards for a few different challenges - the first is for Addicted to CAS where the code word is 'daisy'. I've also been inspired by Time Out's Home Sweet home challenge and drew from the gorgeous palette of neutral whites, blue candle, distressed wood and the vase of daisies sat on the table. I stamped the Paper Smooches paint strip die with MFT's Wood Plank and coloured it using Weathered Wood distress ink. The embossed corner came about entirely by accident when I grabbed two lots of card stock by mistake and tried to die cut them both. It left an embossed image on the bottom piece which actually looked better than the die cut - love a happy accident!

My second card is for Paper Smooches' Anything Goes challenge - I've used Lovestruck with the colours from Color Throwdown. I gave the little hearts a liberal covering of Glossy Accents which has added a raised, shiny layer of texture too. These sweet little arrows are just under 2 inches in length so I'm also popping this one over to Less is More where the recipe is to use small stamps which are less than 2 inches in diameter. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Claire x