Me & You ...........

Good Morning, creativity has eluded me for the last week. I need to find it, maybe it is buried under all the mess I made, creating this card :-)

This weeks challenge at Stamp-N-Doodle, is anything to do with the outdoors. Its a great subject I'm sure you can all do justice, the great outdoors mis full of wonderful inspiration.

Card Recipe

Background paper with flower - DCWV

All embellishments cut from Graphically Speaking Cricut Cartridge

Digital Image, Stamp-N-Doodle - A day out with Grandma

Hello to the new followers I have gained in the last week or so.

This have been very busy for me and at the moment I am not able to craft as much as I would like - I'm hoping things can get bak to normal over the coming weeks.

Thank you for your support.

Bling and Sparkle....

Hello, well this week brings some promising news and the doctor has started talking about the possibility of Anthony coming home - that surely can mean one thing - that he is happy with the progress he is seeing. So without getting my hopes up, I know only too well, that talking about it is very different to it actually happening. So it will happen on the day it happens, but I can make the plans for it to go smoothly.

 It was welcome news to our 2 boys too, to have Dad at home (even on greatly reduced play duty) for longer than one day every 2 weeks (as has been the ase for 12 months) is a very exciting prospect.

So to this weeks challenge at Stamp-n-Doodle, make a card full of bling and sparkle.

Well i don''t mind saying this was indeed a challenge to me, I am not known for being blingy and sparkly. Had my sister been given this challenge, there would be glitter everywhere and sparkly bits galore :-)

Not sure if its clear, ut there is a layer of glittered floral paper added the sparkle to this design.

Card recipe

Stamp-N-Doodle image - Grandma's Jig

Background papers - Doodlebug Designs Inc, paper potpourri pack, Lily White Boutique

Promarkers - Cool grey 1, 2, 3, 4 &5, magenta, & lavender

all bling & accessories from stash

Thank you for stopping by, and a welcome to those who are new to following me.

I have also entered this card into this months monochrome challenge over at Emma's Crafty Challenge

Just to Say............

I would never have predicted this week would turn out as it did.

Anthony's stomach pains reached such a point where he had to be admitted to hospital as an emergency last Wednesday, by Saturday afternoon he had had major surgery, and today, Tuesday, he is leaving the intensive care unit to continue his recovery on a ward.
 Thankfully he is recovering well and looks so much brighter than he has done for weeks. This morning he was allowed a cup of tea, the first thing to pass his lips in 10 days - it was the best cuppa he had had.
He has a long way before he is fully recovered, but there are small improvements everyday.

So I needed no better reason to make a card for this weeks Stamp-N-Doodle  challenge to create a mans card - So this is for Anthony.....

Card Recipe

Craftwork Cards - 8x8" card blank

Image from Stamp-N-Doodle  shop - Puddle Jumper

Tim Holtz Ideology Kraft Resist paper

Kaiser craft Balloon paper

Little Yellow Bicycle - Metal Gear & Brad

Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets Dies

Distress Ink - Chipped sapphire & fired brick

Thanks for stopping by for a look. x

For Mum.............

A quick share with you today, I've been chasing my tail it seems for the last few days and the bank holiday really threw me.  I've walked passed my little room at least 100 times each day, and each time I've said to myself  'I must go in and craft' - but it didn't actually happen until today , well last night. And I made 2 cards YAY, there's nothing like a bit of pressure and posting deadlines to get you going hehe.

This is the first of my makings, my regular tuesday DT post for Stamp-n-Doodle.

The Canadians have their Mothers Day due, on 13th May I think (though don't quote me!!), which so happens to be my Dads birthday (the second of my makes today, but I won't be sharing until next week:-)

So the theme this week is....... yes you guessed MOTHER'S DAY.

Hope you like my make, a hanging plaque with an image drawn by the lovely Lynne Crosskill, over at her Stamp-n-Doodle shop.

The image could quite easily be replaced with a photograph of you and your Mum.......



Thanks for popping by, hope you can join in with us at Stamp-n-Doodle.

bye

x



Follow your Heart......

Good Morning, STAMP-n-DOODLE challenge time again.

This week we have used a lovely classic image with the theme of Anniversaries in mind, or any celebration.

I wanted to keep the card on the simple side using elements that are elegant and complimented the era.

So lace and swirls and flowers all tie in together, to celebrate a milestone anniversay.

Card Recipe

Base card - DCWV 12x12" Bella Boutique stack, cut down to make 6x8" card

- matching Bella boutique swirls, flower, & sentiment sticker

Image printed onto K & Co. Elegance embossed frame paper

Flower - 3 layers made with: (1) Hero Arts paper flower (pastel collage); (2) Prima whie flower (3) wooden button by Prima

Background Stamps - Hero Arts script & a swirl

Lace & Ribbon from Stash

Ink - Antique Linen Distress stain around the frame, Pumice stone distress ink for background stamping.

What I though was quite nice with the DCWC Bella Boutique collection is that the accents on the base card, the flower sticker and the sentiment, are all flocked. So adding to the vintage feel of the card with the velvety texture. Hopefully you can just make this out in the photo below.



If you haven't visited the SHOP yet, make sure you cruise on over to STAMP-N-DOODLE SHOP - We have some great digi and rubber stamped images as well as our NEW Scrapbooking line and NEW ITEMS being added all the time! Also, make sure you check out the work of our FABULOUS NEW Tutorial DT members at THE LEARNING CENTER part of the shop.


Thank you for taking the time to stop by a look.

A few Bows and a few Ribbons......

The Stamp-n-Doodle challenge has ended up quite girly for me this week, and I thoroughly enjoyed putting together all the colours, and is a bit of a departure from the more serene cards I have been making of late.

The image of the girl from Stamp-n-Doodle really depicts how I see a modest young girl/teenager, who has just gained that little bit of freedom to shop with her friends.

I really enjoyed colouring her, and I think I am finally gaining some confidence and dare I say it 'the knack' of promarkers. Though I have to say using the right paper helps enormously with the blending of the colours.





Card Recipe

8x8 inch white base card

Patterned papers - Basic Grey, Out of Print collection

Cricut cartridge - Elegant edges, Eyelt3 cut (pg68)

-regular shape (lilac shape) cut at 8"

- dark purple shape, is oblong cut at 5.5"

Digital Stamp-n-Doodle stamp - Chatty Teen

Distress Inks - Dusty concord, worn lipstick

Martha Stewart punch

Ribbons, plain cardstock and rubber stamp all from stash

Just a reminder of our 25% off DIGI OF THE MONTH happening right now at STAMP-N-DOODLE SHOP. Our April image will be featured all month at SPECIAL SAVINGS, so go check it out:) If you haven't visited our SHOP yet, make sure you cruise on over to STAMP-N-DOODLE SHOP - Lynne has so many wonderful digi and rubber stamped images as well as her FABULOUS line of Crafts U Print items and NEW ITEMS being added all the time! Also, make sure you check out the work of our FABULOUS NEW Tutorial DT members at THE LEARNING CENTER part of the shop.

April Showers and Spring Flowers

Being Tuesday this is of course the title of the Stamp-n-Doodle challenge this week.

But actually its rather apt because as I was making the card, and now writing this post, the april showers are blowing their way over my garden - travelling in an almost horizontal fashion as the winds are so strong. And my poor spring flowers, the lovely scented broom and almost opened poppy are taking a real battering !!!

A stark contrast to the brilliant blue skies (and chilly breeze)  we had for the last week of the easter half term. 

Onto the challenge, pop on over to the Stamp-n-Doodle blog to see more inspiration for this week and see how my team member have interpretted April Showers and/or April Flowers.

Ive dithered over these two photos for hours, the top one is a truer colour, but the one below shows the glossy accents off. Easiest thing was to put both on (sorry for duplicating).

I used Ranger glossy accents as a finishing touch over the bird and the flowers to give the impression they had just been in an april shower.

Thanks for coming to take a look.

Elena's Birthday Card

Hello all, this week sees me back from holiday, all in one piece, as we as as a family tried skiing for the first time. We had 2 days at a resort in the mountains of Spain where both of my boys done really well on their ski's. Tom my eldest was whizzing down the slopes on his own, and Stephen my 4 year old had little ski's and tackled the nursery slopes with the aid of his Dad. We shall all definatly be going again. Being Spain we then of course popped along the coast from Granada down to Mum & Dads where we then enjoyed numereous tapa lunches (for the adults) and ice-creams for the kids on the fairly windswept beaches.

Well back to the business in hand, STAMP-n-DOODLE challenge this week is to use bold bright colours, Use bold and bright colors - reds, hot pinks, bright blues, greens, yellows and oranges.

I have to admit to making this card in February for my nieces 7th birthday and I know she'll be chuffed to be mentioned.

So Hello Elena, do you recognise this card?, how are you and are you enjoying the Easter holidays xxxx

Just a reminder if you haven't visited our SHOP yet, make sure you cruise on over to STAMP-N-DOODLE - we have some unique digi and rubber stamped images with NEW ITEMS being added all the time! We also have just added SCRAPBOOK Embellishments and Quick Pages.

Please, make sure you check out the work of our FABULOUS NEW Tutorial DT members at THE LEARNING CENTER part of the shop or on the Blog.

The rest of the design team have made some lovely cards too, so why not pop over to see what they have been up to, and then maybe join in the challenge yourself this week.

Audrey, Vickie, Lisa, Wendy, Anne-Marie, Chana, Qadirah, Angela

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and have a look.

Jumping in Puddles....

Who can resist jumping in a puddle, at some stage our lives, just to test how deep it is ? :-)

Funnily, it is my eldest son (10 yrs old) who is the worst for getting wet feet, my youngest does like a puddle, but because Peppa Pig only wears welly boots to jumps in puddles, then that is what he does. I'm very sure that will change one day.

The beginning of the month sees another stamp highlighted at 'Stamp of the Month', at the Stamp-n-Doodle website, where the above image, named Puddlejumper is offered at a 25% discount.

 Lynne has so many wonderful digi and rubber stamped images as well as her FABULOUS line of Crafts U Print items and NEW ITEMS being added all the time! Also, make sure you check out the work of our FABULOUS NEW Tutorial DT members at THE LEARNING CENTER part of the shop

Why not visit the Stamp n Doodle BLOG to see what my  team members have created with this image, I'm sure you'll find plenty of inspiration.

Thanks for taking the time to visit.

D is for Dad - an Embossing Challenge

Hi Stamp n Doodle challenge time again, this week we ask that a form of embossing is used on your creation.  Of course, we would love to see you use a STAMP-N-DOODLE image on your creation, but you are not required to use one to join us. Come have some fun and a chance to win a digi from STAMP-N-DOODLE SHOP.

This week I am getting ready for holiday, can't wait we are jetting of to Spain for the first week of the Easter holiday and soak up some that elusive sun. Also can you believe we are having a couple of days skiing too - in Southern Spain! Seems mad doesn't it, but apparently the slopes of Granada, Sierra Nevada are worth a visit. I'm a novice myself, so I'm sure I'll have stories to tell on my return.

 

So here is my card for this weeks challenge, made very late last night while I was up with my little boy who was coughing all through the night. Of course hearing a toddler cough in bed means that you can't sleep yourself until they quieten down, unfortunatly last night he only had about 2 hours rest. It was the perfect time to create, strange I really get emersed in crafting at that late hour.

I pleased to say that tonight, he is tucked into bed and I havn't heard a peep from him, the doctor prescribed something that has obviously done the trick - phew

Card Recipe

Stamp-n-Doodle image - Lonesome cowboy

Art Nouveau Cricut cartridge - pg 44 cut the letter D (font 2) & all associated layers at 5.5"

Decorative papers - My Minds Eye, Complete Boy collection by Jen Wilson

& Core-dinations whitewash (sand colour)

Promarkers - black, warm grey 4, cinnamon, sandstone, Gold, blush, powder blue, ruby

Hero arts alphabet stamps & gold embossing powder

Scrappers floss (tawny)

The image was coloured with promarkers , but to give the clothes of the cowboy that old worn in look the whole image was first coloured in with the sandstone colour (warm grey for the shirt). The shading and extra colours were then added on top and the vibrancy of the colours were muted. I was pleased with the outcome, the more I use Lynnes digi stamps and promarkers to colour them, the more confident I am becoming and getting reasonable results (i think anyway).

I did cut away all the white paper from the image and this has allowed it to blend and bee part of the card, i think giving the illusion he is sitting within the D itself. Also if you look closely i have used a length of scrapping floss, coiled and stuck it over the rope that is being held - adds some dimension to the otherwise flat image.

I have used D, but of course it could have been anything, and would be ideal to personalise with the initial of the recipient.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and have a look.

Bye,

Paradise Beach

This weeks challenge at Stamp n Doodle is ST. PATRICK'S DAY and/or GREEN and GOLD, you can use the theme, colours or both on your creation.

My Blog Hop Winner from last week was:

JOAN

who kindly participated in the hop and left comments on the blogs of all our DT members,
thank you also to everyone who played along, and left their fabulous cards on the Stamp n Doodle challenge blog.

If you would like to email me Joan at claire@cnewcombe.co.uk,  I can arrange for the digi image I used in the hop to be sent to you,

WELL DONE

 



I chose to go with using the colours this week and used the idyllic Paradise Exotic beach image from Stamp n Doodle shop

......ahhh, who wouldn't want to be walking along that beach watching the sunset ?

I wanted to keep the card simple so that the image can be the focal point.

Card Recipe

Base card - lime green 8x8" scalloped card by papermania

Basic Grey, Origins collection (sea salt)  patterned paper

Basic Grey co-ordinating stickers

Gold card stock

4 gold brads

Laser suitable acetate

Ranger Alcohol Inks - Citrus, Aqua, Watermelon, gold mixative

1) I printed the image at true size (5x4") onto laser acetate.

2) Onto a piece of smooth card (5x4") I used the alcohol inks to create the mood of the sunset beach colours, and my aim was to coincide a strip of blue and the red with the level of the sea. Instead of randomly dabbing the colours, I swiped them from left to right, flowing with the horizon.  By changing the colours and pattern of the inks, the mood of the image can really be altered.

3) I mounted the acetate, alcohol ink layer, and the gold card mat all together with 4 gold brads.

4) I cut the patterned paper from 12x12", to 8x8", according the orientation of the pattern. y placing the mounted image on the paper, it was covering some of the lovely flowing pattern - and as I am very fond of all the backing paper I have (something I'm sure you'll understand) the solution was to use a craft knife, cut around the essential parts of the pattern, and have them layer over the main image (a bit like a photo corner if you will).

5) The text was mounted firstly onto the same basic paper, then mounted again onto the reverse of the same sheet and gently nestled under the image.

6) The flourish in the top corner, and the flower next to the text are from the stickers sheet accompanying the paper collection (Basic grey, origins).

I hope this has given you some inspiration and confidence in using this type of digi image. The solid blackness can be a little intimidating - but honestly it really needn't be. Experiment and don't be frightened to use colour, or something a bit different.

Have fun with it.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and have a read.

Child Friendly Challenge & Blog Hop

Hello everyone! This week we are having a BLOG HOP to introduce our new STAMP-N-DOODLE DT members as well as for you to get to see our updated STAMP-N-DOODLE SHOP. We hope you will come hop along with us and we also hope you will play along in our NEW CHALLENGE!!

For the hop, you will follow the path to each DT member's blog, make sure you leave a comment on each and every blog in order to qualify for the prizes - each DT member will award a prize and there will be a GRAND PRIZE winner drawn from the challenge blog in addition to the challenge winner.

Our theme for the CHALLENGE is KIDS - can be images of kids, something for a kid, sentiment about kids - as long as it's something about kids, you can enter our challenge. You have until Monday, March 12 at 11:59pm EST to complete the hop and to get your challenge entries in to STAMP-N-DOODLE blog. We'd love to see you use an image from our STAMP-N-DOODLE SHOP, but it is not required to play along.

I really loved the image the image of the wolf that Lynne has on her website, and it can be interpreted in many ways. So this week I decided to use 3 of the images on a card, and take inspiration from the wolfs nature itself, being a loyal pack animal, and making a card that young children (probably girls) can send to their best friends.

Card Recipe

Stamp n Doodle digital image - Daydreamer

Backing card - 12x12" scalloped cream card, cut to form 6x8" folded base

Blue ribbon from stash

backing papers magazine freebie from stash (also used to make flower)

3D butterfly sticker from stash

1) The backing papers are edged along one side with a Martha stewart punch, edged with a light beige brilliance ink to highlight. The papers are layered together with the ribbon and attached to the base card.

2)  The flower corsage is comprised of pre printed hearts and 3 prima flower layers. The centre of the flower is made by fringing a 6x1" strip of paper, and rolling tightly (as you would a quilled strip). The roll is secured in the the last inch with double sided tape. Fan out the cut sections to look like a flower.

3) Layer up the 4 components of the flower and use a hot glue gun to secure each layer.

4) Finish the corsage with a sentiment of your choice and a 3D acetate butterfly.

5) The digital image was printed 3 times at a size of 1.25" square. Before cutting the digi images to size centre a 1.25" die cut frame over the image and cut around the frame.

6) Assemble the card with the digi images all on the same line at the bottom right of the card. To balance, place the flowers/heart corsage in the opposite corner, but still within the backing paper area to balance the elements of the card.

So, I bet you're ready to start hopping?!? Your first stop is STAMP-N-DOODLE blog, if at any time you get lost along the way, please return here to find your way back on track.

Your stops will then be as follows: You're next step after me (Claire) is VICKIE

ANNE-MARIE

BETH

CHANA

CLAIRE 

VICKIE

WENDY

AUDREY
LISA

Your final stop will be STAMP-N-DOODLE SHOP - you do not need to leave a comment at the shop. Have fun and hope you will also come play in the challenge!!

Irish Dancer

Can you believe it, the end of February is here, and that marks another stamp to be highlighted for the month over at Stamp n Doodle.
Being the month of March not only brings us St Davids day (on the 1st), but St Patricks Day on the 17th also, and therefore the Stamp of the Month is called Teagan's Irish Dance.

I went with the Irish colours for this card, and used the paper piecing technique to bring the image to life.

Card Recipe

Basic Grey card stock for base card (gypsy used to weld 2 x  Dots1-s 5 1/2 inch square)

white card stock (Dots1, page 34 cut at 5 /14 inch)

Patterned papers - free in magazine from stash

Promarkers

Cuttlebug & embossing folder

cricut Cartridge - Elegant Edges ( Dots1 cut on page 34 & Hearts1 oblong-s on page 26)

Gypsy

 You can see here, that I printed the image onto patterned paper, cut out the various sections of the dress (bottom stripy layer, and dotty pinafore), and also the chequered dog! LOL! (who knew a chequered dog would look so acceptable :-))

To complete the look the hat and shoes were also added from the stripy paper, and the rest of the image coloured with skin shades of promarkers.

In the colour palette above I you can see a ribbon, but as we all do, I changed my mind and wanted to complete the card with a slightly different look, and for some reason I had bubbles in mind -so I cut from the patterned paper circles in 3 sizes and layered them together. I even fashioned an appropriate clover shape to include as well !

Thanks for stopping by and sharing my 'makings' with me.