Monday, 27 June 2011

The Ribbon Reel Challenge #5

Hi all, well another two weeks have all but disappeared, and it's time for another challenge from The Ribbon Reel!

Below is the inspiration photo set by Zuzana:


And here is my take:




I decided to try another ribbon flower after my last one was surprisingly easy to do! I have used Plain Pink Twill to make the flower, and wrapped the gorgeous Parrot Green Leaf Trim around the edge, to give a wreath effect.

Added a fabric flower from WH Smith and a pearly brad from stash.


Along the side of the card I have used some White Crochet Lace threaded with some Loop Trim in Celery. I then topped off the lace with some pom pom trim in Avalanche.


I mounted the ribbon flower onto a kraft doily, cut using an MFT die.


Then I stamped in versamark the scroll flourish from Waltzingmouse Stamps Seasons of Love set onto some pale ink polka dot paper from Pink Petticoat. Then stiched the stamped paper onto some kraft card before adhering the ribbon flower. Then mounted onto some cream pearlescent card.

The sentiment is from WMS Fancy Phrases.

Thanks for stopping by, and if you are looking for some more inspiration, pop over to The Ribbon Reel Challenge Blog and see what my fellow DT members have for you today!
We'd love to see you take on our challenge!

Pauline xx

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

LIM, WMSC 52

Hi all, today I have a card for a couple of my favourite challenges Less is More and Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.

This week at Waltzingmouse it's a special week - the challenge turned One yr, so as a homage to all the fabby sketches for the last year we have been asked to pick a sketch from a previous week. I have chosen Sketch #37.

I have combined it with this week's Less is More challenge which is asking for our cards to feature Monograms. Not something I have ever tried to do before, and yet again Chrissie and Mandi have set a challenge that has, well, challenged me!

Here's the sketch:


And here's my take:



I have used a white linen card base, and cut a mat from some matt silver paper from Papermania, then edged with a scallop edge punch from Martha Stewart.



The patterned paper is from a beautiful paperstack by Papermania Capsule Collection in Aqua.
The paper is very dramatic, and I had to use it, it's so beautiful!



Then using some matt black paper also from Papermania I silver embossed a decorative circle from Waltzingmouse Stamps Faux Fun Circles and cut with nesties; then taking some silver matt card, black embossed the little wreath from the same set, and cut a frame, again using nesties.

Then in the centre of the larger wreath, silver embossed the 'M' from WMS Victorian Alphabet, mounted the silver wreath frame on top and mounted all onto a larger plain black circle.

Finally added some black gemstones for some understated sparkle.

I really love the elegant feel to this card today, due to the lovely paper, and it's going to a special blogging buddy as a thank-you card for a wonderful gift she sent me a while back.

I have several thankyou's to make and send as it was my birthday last week, and I've been playing catch up ever since - this is just the first and I'm going to pop it in the post today.

Thanks for stopping by

Pauline xx

Friday, 17 June 2011

WMS Blog Waltz!

Hi all, I have a card for the Waltzingmouse stamps Blog Waltz today, I haven't played for the last two, and I'm so pleased I made it today! The theme is Independance Day, which is upcoming in the next couple of weeks.


Made using Bitty Banners, Frame-it! and Asian Gardens Additions, the banners were stamped onto some patterned paper from Wild Rose Studio 'For Men' Paper Stack in Ladybug Red ink, and the frame and sentiment in Tuxedo Black. The blue bakers twine is from The Ribbon Reel.

Gotta dash, school run is looming!
Pauline xx

Tuesday, 14 June 2011

The Ribbon Reel Extra Prize!!

Hi all, just popping by to let you know that this next fortnight Keilly (owner of The Ribbon Reel) is offering an extra prize of some gorgeous coloured twines from her shop:




Just pop over to KEILLY'S blog on full details on how to win!!

Pauline xx

Monday, 13 June 2011

The Ribbon Reel Challenge #4

Hi all, today brings us another challenge from The Ribbon Reel Challenge! This week it's my turn to suggest a challenge, and I have chosen Blue, Black, Kraft and Silver/Grey. I decided for my card to make a Father's Day card for my husband from my children, although I expect they will make their own for next weekend!

So below is the picture inspiration, courtesy of Martha Stewart:



And here is my Father's Day card:




The main image is by Wild Rose Studio called Time for a Pint, and this relaxed chap is coloured using Promarkers and paper pieced with Wild Rose Studios For Men paper stack.



He has been cut out with a Go-Kreate Die, Frilly Frames no 4, and mounted onto some gingham from the paper stack and some metallic blue bazzill.


I was slightly flummoxed as to how to incorporate the beautiful ribbons from the Ribbon Reel into this card, as it's for a man, but after looking at the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday I had a few ideas!

In the end I plumped for using two different types of ribbon in a cascade effect, and it really looks pretty (but not too girly!). The ribbons used are Mesh Two Tone (light blue/blue) and navy Swiss dot Grosgrain. I cut lots of short strips, snipped the ends and attached them to a piece of white card and lots of glue dots!



I wanted to make a rosette with the little printed out label No 1 Dad, from The Cutting Cafe, so cut some more strips and snipped the ends and adhered to the back.

Finally added some pewter screw style brads and a little glossy accents to the beer mug.

I can't wait to see what you make of my colour choice this week over at The Ribbon Reel!

If you're looking for some wonderful inspiration pop by my fellow team mates and leave them some love :-)

Keilly Mulvihill

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Clare Buswell

Zuzana Obert

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday

Little Claire's Challenge

Fussy and Fancy

Creative Inspirations

Paperplay Challenge


Hope to see you over at The Ribbon reel,

Pauline xx

Sunday, 12 June 2011

Less is More

Morning all, today I have a card for Less is More, which this week is asking for 'frames'. Every week Chrissie and Mandi seem to come up with something that inspires an awful lot of people, me included, although I won't mention the 'acetate' experience!

I had this in mind yesterday, but we have had a very busy weekend, my daughter was in a musical ensemble, theme of Pirates of the Carribbean, and it was fab! All the children played so well, and they looked so funny dressed up in their pirate outfits! Then yesterday evening my daughter's guide troop had a 'Race night', to raise funds for their trip to Switzerland next year. Needless to say, we lost a lot of money! Oh well, it's for a good cause!

So this morning I set to with my idea, and I'm very pleased with it!



I'm not sure what type of card the base is, but I bought it as a single sheet from my local stationery shop, but it's very thick, good quality, and has a mottled effect in the paper. As I wanted a slightly aged theme to my card I thought it was perfect. It also has a silky feel to it, so I'm going to go and buy a load more lol!!

Stamps used are Waltzingmouse Stamps Musical Backgrounds stamped in Antique Linen Distress Ink, over a masked frame, which is from WMS Say it With Style. The frame is stamped in Walnut Ink Distress Ink as is the sentiment.

I was going to add some twine or a strip of ribbon along the side, but opted for two scored lines instead using my Martha Stewart scoreboard.

Inside I have also stamped the frame in Antique Linen, and added a sentiment 'With Gratitude' from WMS Peace and Plenty.


I'm off out to the cinema with the kids in a bit, so will have a good look at the other lovely entries and blog hopping when I get back!!

Pauline xx

Friday, 10 June 2011

My Lucky Week!!

Hi all, I had another bit of Good News this morning when I popped into my local craft shop Flutterby Crafts.

A while back I had coloured a panel at the Promarker Club there that The Wonderfully Talented Nicky runs. Nicky asked us to create a CAS card with this panel to enter the shop challenge - all card entries go on the pin board and customers get to vote for their favourite one! When I went to retrieve my card, The Wonderfully Talented Nicky informed me that my card won!! I had also popped in to tell them that I had won a prize at Passion For Promarkers with this very same card this week!!



And last Friday, I also won a prize from Stamp Something with this card:



They say good luck runs in threes! I don't normally win anything lol!

Thanks ladies you made my day!

Pauline xx

Thursday, 9 June 2011

PDCC, Cardmaking & Papercraft Sketch

Hi all, today I have a card for a couple of challenges; The Play Date Cafe and a new to me challenge for Cardmaking and Papercraft online challenge. I have been meaning to try one of their challenges for a while now, and finally got round to it today!

Below are the gorgeous colour combination from The Play Date Cafe and the sketch from Cardmaking and Papercraft:





And here is my take:



For my card i have flipped the sketch as a mirror image, the butterflies looked too big on the top!
I have used a cream pearlescent cardbase, some dusky rose bazzill and some blueberry coloured Core'dinations card, embossed with the damask Cuttlebug folder.


The doily pattern is stamped using Waltzingmouse Stamps Dainty Doilies Large set, in Memento Blue Danube and Distress Ink Victorian Velvet. For the larger doily, I have mixed these two colours onto an acrylic block, and blended them together to make the more subtle pinky blue shade. The inner small doily on this piece is a second impression in Victorian Velvet, to keep the tone similar.



Added some butterflies and gems, a WMS sentiment, some dusky rose ribbon and a little jute twine to finish.

i'm really pleased how this card turned out, the colours are very pretty together, and the WMS doilies are my favourite stamps at the moment - every time I stamp a pattern i can't stop looking at it! They make the most wonderful patterns!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline xx

Wednesday, 8 June 2011

WMSC CASE, and a few other challenges...

Hi all, today I have a card made for the Waltzingmouse CASE competition, it runs out soon, so I got my thinking cap on today and made a girly card.

I decided to combine it with a couple of other challenges too, and for colour inspiration I chose one of my favourite challenges, CR84FN.

For the Waltzingmouse CASE comp, Claire has asked us to Copy And Share Everything from one of the fabulous cards designed by WMS DT for this month's stamp release.

After lots of hemming and hawing, (so hard to choose!) I eventually settled on a card by the wonderfully talented Sarah Martina.

It struck me that the design is almost identical to this weeks challenge over at The Ribbon Reel.
There's still time to play along at The Ribbon Reel challenge, and there's a fab prize to be won too!


Below is the graphic from CR84FN:



And here is my attempt to recreate Sarah Martina's beautiful card:


I have used a cream pearlescent card base, and stitched a panel of some patterned GCD Cloisonne paper onto some pale pink bazzill.


Then pearl embossed a circle from Vintage Circles Sml, by Waltzingmouse stamps.

Then, using some lace from my stash, made a flower by threading some cotton through the holes and gathering up, then using my new can't-do-without-it glue gun, adhered it to a small circle on the underside. Attached a pink flower and a smaller cream flower with a clear gem brad and mounted this onto the embossed Vintage circle, cut out with my nesties Circles Sml.


Then tied some pink and green baker's twine to the top half and secured it under the lace topper, and tied a little bow to one side, adding a little pink chiffon bow for good measure!

Finally stamped and clear embossed the WMS sentiment from Fancy Phrases, inked some Pink Petunia around all the edges and some stickles to the flower and the pink panel edges and it's finished!

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

Waltzingmouse CASE Competition

Bling it On

CR84FN

The Shabby Tearoom

Thanks for stopping by today,

Pauline xx

Monday, 6 June 2011

PDCC, CAS-ual Fridays

Hi all, today I have a card for two of my favourite challenges, The Play Date Cafe and CAS-ual Fridays.

Here are the inspiration pics:





And here's my take:



When I saw the sketch for CAS-ual Fridays, I immediately thought of the semi circular banner shape in my my newly purchased Waltzingmouse Stamps Bitty Banners.

For my card I have turned the sketch upside down.



I have used a white linen card base, and two different shades of grey card stock from a Martha Stewart plain paper stack. Although the darker grey looks almost a kraft colour, it is a dark grey.

On the paler grey card I stamped and clear embossed the clouds from Waltzingmouse Stamps Asian Gardens Additions, and cut a panel to mount my banners on. The banners are stamped in Memento Ladybug Red and Bamboo leaves, and decoupaged for a little dimension.



The bottom border is punched with a MS punch, and wrapped some green and red twine around. The sentiment is also fro Asian Gardens and is stamped in Brilliance silver ink.

As a final touch i have added some gems in green and red.

I really like how this turned out!

Thanks for stopping by today,

Pauline xx

Saturday, 4 June 2011

Less is More, Simon Says Stamp, Craft You Days Away

Hi all, I'm back again!! I was so inspired this afternoon by the Less is More challenge of monochrome, I made another!

I have made a Father's Day card for my lovely hubby, who is a wonderful dad and a fabulous hubby - he puts up with all my crafting stuff every where and never moans, and I'm guessing quite a few of you ladies have one of these at home too :-)

So anyway, here's my 2nd entry:



Kraft card base, and panel, and typewriter image stamped twice in Tuxedo Black and decoupaged, and is by October Afternoon, as is the sentiment. I distressed the edges slightly with Walnut Stain, a colour that frankly terrifies me as I'm never too sure how dark it's going to look!

Then stitched the top panel to a second panel before mounting onto the card base.


This is the second time I have used my sewing machine, and the first panel I stitched had to be binned. Ah well, I put it all down to practice! I am really pleased with this very masculine, almost butch card, even with the sewing!

I am also entering into:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge

Craft Your Days Away

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline xx

Less is More, WMSC

Hi all, today I have a card for two of my favourite challenges, Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge and Less is More.

I had a bit of a LIM frenzy last week after making 3 cards for this particular challenge, so I feel that now I can really be regarded as a LIMette, although I'm sure my husband could come up with a few names for me but we won't go there! I just hope that this card is CAS enough to classify for an entry into this weeks challenge - MONOCHROME!! Yikes!


Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge sketch is very similar to last week's LIM sketch, so simple I thought, I've had loads of practice! Wrong! Although simple by design, it took a while to line up the squares, to fiddle with the twine, but I love it!

Here's the sketch:




And here's my take:



Using a white linen card base I cut 4 square apertures using my nesties. Then I stamped an array of banners from Waltzingmouse Stamps Bitty Banners and hand cut them out.


Then draped some Purple Plum Bakers Twine from The Ribbon Reel.

Attached the cut out banners and added some twine bows to the ends.



Finally added the sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps Asian Gardens set.

Sorry for the quality of the pics, I'm struggling with the light here today, the card seems to have a yellowish tint, but I can assure you it's snow white IRL!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline xx

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

Less is More

Hi all, today I have another card for Less is More, I have been inspired this week, so here is my third and final entry for this challenge!

Less is More graphic:

And here's my take:


Very simply used a white linen card, and stamped the image in Tuxedo black, and coloured with my watercolour pencils.


The image is by Hampton Art Stamps and is called Collectibles.

I was going to enter this into the Play Date Cafe challenge too, but I have missed the deadline.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline xx