An Award

I have received this award from Claire at her blog, thank you so much.

The idea of this blog award is to send it to 12 people including the person who sent it to you. I therefore am sending this lovely award to:

Claire

Clare Curd

Lyndsey

Kath

Susie

Tab

Sparkle

Kim Piggott

Kim Dellow

Nic

Mandy

Kelly

Some Bunny Loves You

Here is another card using the Some Bunny Loves you range. I cetainly enjoyed making it and got to use the new gorgeous X Cut Punches which I am in love with. I enjoy being part of the Design Team for Erica Martyn as whilst i am preparing more demo samples I am getting to make new cards each week. I had planned for this to go live near the end of the week, however as I followed a sketch I did want to enter into this challenge.

Products used:

Daisy and Dandelion Some Bunny Loves You Stamp Set

Daisy and Dandelion Some Bunny Loves You Paper

X Cut Border Punch - Flowers

Pink Coordinations Cardstock

The step by step instructions for this project will go live this weekend at the Daisy and Dandelion Blog.

I am entering this card into this into Crafty Card Makers Challenge which is Spring theme. The card fits right into this theme. I am also entering this into Sew Many Challenges which is to Punch it and I have used my new punch which I adore so much. I am also entering this card into the Just Cute Bears Challenge which is to create an Easter card. Also I followed the Sketch at Lora Crafts Challenge.  I would also like to enter this card into Paper Take Weekly which is an open theme and does not have to be Easter, however I have chosen Easter. The following blogs have Easter Challenges which I have also entered:

Easy Craft Challenges 

Paper Play

CRAFT Challenge

Crafty Angels Online

Magical Crafts

HBK

Shawn Michaels did come to Raw and got his farewell speech. I thought I won't cry as I cried last night and the morning. But i did, i was balling it. Lol. There was a poster in the audience - My Heart broke last night! I felt the same. Say it isnt so. The fans shouted 'Thank you Shawn',  'Please Dont Go'. Then Shawn Michaels used the catchphrase that he started out with and I have not heard in years to end it. I will miss him. lol.

Monday Blues

I am happy that Hayley won Dancing On Ice, she was fabulous and truly deserved it.

However, as a huge fan of WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment I am a biggest fan of a wrestler in particular he is HBK Mr Wrestlemania. The headliner. The showstopper. Certainly delivered an amazing performance and retired on the grandest stage of them all on the biggest show of them all in the wrestling calendar - Wrestlemania. HBK I will truly miss you, thank you so much for all the entertainment and everything you have done for all the wrestling fans over the years. THANK YOU. I have watched wrestling since i was 6 and now i am 28. I watched HBK the first day he walked, well ran to the WWE as part of a tag team called the rockers. There have been some great memorable moments and funny moments to. I really hope he is on Raw tonight and he gets the proper send off like Ric Flair did.

So whilst I feeling happy I feel sad. Half of me expected HBK to retire, the other half was say it isnt so. And when he lost and therefore was retired as per the match stipulation. I did cry and cried whilst he walked up the ramp. Trouble is i did prepare myself for it chocolate, etc, but his match was last and i ran out of chocolate by then!

Oh no - All blogs have lost their pictures - I really hope this one fixes itself! I lost my counter recently had to restart that one to.

EDIT: So relieved the blog pictures have returned.

More Jungle Safari Animal Friends...

Happy Sunday also means that tomorrow is Monday and that means back to work. But tomorrow I have a holiday! yay! I hope you didnt forget to set your clocks forward an hour today!

I had a proper go on my wii fit console and games last night, and looked at the clock it was nearly midnight. I didnt realise that i had spent 4 hours on it! Think of the cards i could have made in that time, lol!

Here is another card I made for my demonstration, to show that quick cards do not need to be coloured in. The paper is from Some Bunny Loves You Stamp Set, but i have coloured the yellow and white areas with orange brushmarker to suit the colour theme.

Products used:

Creative Expressions Jungle Friend Stamp Set

Creative Expressions Animal Safari Stamp Set

Pink, Orange, Dark Green and Light Green Coordinations Cardsstock

White Gel Pen

Daisy and Dandelion Some Bunny Loves You Paper

Colouring in Tutorial For Onions & Pickles

This week I want to show colouring in technique for Onion and Pickles, although you could easily use other techniques i have shown the last two weeks. I have gone for promarkers - just because the finish on these is so amazing. For pickles hanging the washing image - i have used the shade Cool Grey 2.

1. Using Memento Ink Pad, Stamp your chosen image onto white cardstock.

2. Colour in the entire image with the promarker fine nib. I coloured in a section at a time. I found with promarkers, you have to be quick and precise to get equal colouring without streaks.

3. Then add the shading, with this you dont have to be quick.

Tips

1.If you go out of the line, you can always cut it out.

2. Colour in a section at a time

3. Use good quality cardstock such as coordinations

4. Use Memento Ink Pad with promarkers

5. Practise

Sparkles Christmas Challenge

This week the challenge at Sparkles Christmas Card Challenge Blog was to create a Christmas Card that uses something that represents your favourite part of the holiday. This card has a background of snow flakes - i love snow although we dont often see that at Christmas here in the UK. However I also like getting dressed up and going to family, or having family over. I am also entering this into Creative Cottage Challenge which is to use sparkle - i have used glitter on her santa hat and the snowflakes

Using waterbrush markers I have stamped the mini flower in Clare's Stamp set all over the blue paper.

For this card, I have used one of the previous sketch challenges which i loved instantly. I hope to enter more of these challenges to create lots of Christmas cards ready for the time of the year.

Products used:
Clare Curds Shop Til You Drop Stamp Set
Daisy and Dandelion - All Wrapped Up Stamp Set (for the sentiment)
Forever Friends Santa's On His Way Paper Pack
X Cut Flower Punch

Blog Candy

There is beautiful blog candy available at Sallys Creative Corner. I think she has gone far beyond the call of duty. Her sponsor for the week let her down and in place of she has offered this candy generously. To win this candy, please visit her blog here. From the service she has experienced it would certainly put me off that company, which i dont want to mention as it will only draw more attention to them. To show Sally some support, go and visit her blog.

Blog Candy Contents:
Cuttlebug die - Spring
Cuttlebug die - Party
Basic Grey Paper pack 6 x 6 - Wisteria
Petaloo- Flora Doodles
Scrappy Cats - Clear Stamps Pretty blooms
Mark Richards Pearls & dots - 3 pkgs 1 each of 3mm gold metallic, blue clear dots and 1 5mm pink
Pkg of assorted pink and red paper flowers
Michaels Bridal Table Confetti flowers. 100 assorted colors.
5 pkgs of assorted charms and embellishments
21 assorted ribbons from my ribbon stash each is at least 2 feet of ribbon for a total of 42 feet of ribbon.

Not Another Demo Card

Here is another demo card from my Creative Expressions Demo day using the animal stamp set. The characters are from the Jungle Friend Stamp set and the sentiment is from the Animal Safari Stamp Set.

I wanted to show how doodling can add to your card, and how to change an animal with a simple addition of a flower.

Products used:

Creative Expressions Jungle Friend Stamp Set

Creative Expressions Animal Safari Stamp Set

Docrafts Whisper brush Markers

Promarker - Cool Grey 2

Daisy and Dandelion - Some Bunny Loves You Paper

Black Archival Ink Pad

I am entering this into Quirky Crafts Challenge which is to use flowers.

More Demonstrations!

I have been booked into two further demonstrations at:
Kims Craft
4-8 Coventry Road
Hinckley
Leicestershire
LE10 0JT

My next demonstration is 1st May 10am to 1pm and then on 12th June same time. Both demonstrations will be based on stamping. I aim to show layouts in one and create your own backgrounds with stamps in the other. The demonstration on 12th June is a Penny Black demonstration.

Daisy and Dandelion Day - A Day Late!

Apologies to all, I have had a hectic week with family over and the house being decorated. Last night although i got the card and the tutorial done, I had such bad back pain I did not have the energy to write the tutorial and upload. I was on the verge of tears and made the decision to go to bed and rest. The back is slightly better, and taken more painkillers. However, you will have to bare with me this week if there are no new cards as although the back is better, I have learnt from the past to not push myself and do things that my back is not ready to do yet.

Anyways, onto this weeks tutorial which for the month of March is me. This week I am using waterbrush markers.

1. Stamp the image and gather the waterbrush marker, an acrylic brush, a waterbrush or water and a paintbrush

2. Scribble the waterbrush marker onto the acrylic block

3. Pick up this with your waterbrush

4. Colour the entire image with this (no shading at this time)

5. Let this dry, and then add the shading using the cololured image on the clear stamp set as your guide.

6. Using the same technique colour in the easter egg, the grass. and outline the image with the fine end of the marker (optional). By adding less water you can create darker shade or by adding more water you can reate lighter shades. When you start you may want to test the colour onto spare card until you are confident. This is your finished coloured image.

I had some messages following last weeks tutorial. Please note that with any new technique the D&D design team members show, it takes practise to get better and get the technique right. Some will pick up on this sooner and some later.

Finished Card

Here is the finished card:

You can leave the card as it is or add a sentiment:

Products used:

D&D Some Bunny Loves You Stamp Set

Brown Coordinations Cardstock

Capsule Adhesive Mosaics

Paper Flowers

Brads

Waterbrush Markers

Chocolate Archival Ink Pad

For other inspiration from this range and step by step instructions how to create this card please visit The Daisy and Dandelion Blog

I am entering this card into Stampin For The Weekend Challenge and A Spoon Full Of Sugar and Our Creative Corner and Lexis Creations which is to create an Easter Card.  This is also being entered into The Secret Crafters Challenge and All Sorts Challenge which is to create a Spring Card, bunnies and Easter fits into a Spring theme. I am also entering this into the Creative Card Crew challenge which is going dotty.

Apologies

Sorry we are doing a bit of a house makeover and I have family over at the moment, I am really busy tomorrow. I will catch up on your blogs and docraft galleries on Sunday, promise

Another Demo Card

 

I created this for my demonstration using both stamp sets. This can be done using a masking technique, however i coloured in various animals and placed them onto the card. Thus allowing me to chop and change easily with the placement of animals.

I am entering this into Creative Cottage Challenge which is to use flowers and my hippo has a flower. 

Products used:
Creative Expressions Animal Safari Stamp Set
Creative Expressions Jungle Friends Stamp Set
Docrafts Brush Markers
Promarker - Cool Grey 2
Black Archival Ink Pad
Black and Burgundy Cardstock

Simon Says Stamps Up For Grabs

Simon Says Stamp In business since 2002, Simon Says Stamp is striving to offer you the best selection of Rubber Stamps, Altered Art, Scrapbooking, Artist Trading Cards, and Paper Crafting Supplies in the world. They stock over 100,000 items in their warehouses so that they can offer you quick service and one stop shopping at a great price! They are located in Ohio, the heart of it all. Their team works hard to give you a fulfilled shopping experience and is always open to your ideas and suggestions! Happy customers are the heart of the business. They work hard to find and deliver to you the latest in stamping and paper crafting supplies! Attending classes, workshops, and sales meetings around the world to keep the product offerings fresh and current. Make them your one stop easy shop - and they deliver right to your door!

To find out more about Simon Says Stamp and for a chance to win please visit Sallys Creative Corner

Demo Card

I created this card for my demonstration at Kims Craft using the stamp set Jungle Friends from Creative Expressions. The sentiment was stamped onto a punched circle and put on top of a flower. The centre embellished with mini buttons. Doodling around the frame in which the hippo sits. The sentiments stamped over the background from both Animal Safari and Jungle Friends, then heat embossed.

Products used:

Creative Expressions Jungle Friend Stamp Set

Creative Expressions Animal Safari Stamp Set

Papermania Red Hot Mini Buttons

Waterbrush markers

Promarker Cool Grey 2

Versamark Watermark Ink Pad

Clear Embossing Powder

Paper Flower

Anita's Pink Everyday Ribbon

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all out there, hope you had a day of being pampered and spoilt rotten. I hope you got new crafting goodies or money for crafting goodies!!!

I originally designed this card to fit two challenges, the Forever Friends Challenge Blog and Cute Card Thursday challenge. I also gave this card to my mother on Mothers Day.  However I have spent the last three hours deciding whether or not to post this, I kept changing the topper on this card, by the time I made my mind up they had annonced the winner on Forever Friends Challenge Blog, lol not my fault I had the inspiration from one my Sari's late yesterday. I would have thought when they say the challenge ends Sunday, they meant midnight on Sunday! Never mind, will learn to finish the card Saturday in future!

However this card is still valid for the Cute Card Thursday and Creative Card Crew where the theme is Celebrations and Mothers day is a celebration. So i think this fits perfectly.

I am also entering this into The Secreat Crafters Challenge and Paper Cutz Challenge which is 'anything goes'

I am not sure whether I like or hate this card, the background has been created by use of the clear stamps. I am not sure whether the Forever Friends image suits the card as this is where i have been left unhappy, however i have tried all the flowers instead of the Forever Friend image in the V&A Collection and I dont find that they fit either.

Products used:

V&A Potpourra Stamp Set

Forever Friends Daisy Bear Stamp

Pink Coordinations Cardstock

Black Coordinations Cardstock

Ancient Page Dye Inkpad - Chocolate

Papermania Watercolour Pencils

Xcut Small Circle Punch

Pink Wide Organza Ribbon

Colouring In Tutorial 1: Watercolour Pencils

On my blog from now on Saturday is Daisy and Dandelion and All Their Friends day! There have been changes at the Daisy and Dandelion Blog, every month there is a theme and every month we will have a tutorial. This month is my turn for a tutorial on colouring in the Daisy and Dandelion images. I put this suggestion forward as it is not the first time I have heard people struggle to colour in these images or they are not happy with their end result. Therefore they are not inspired with the range.

This first tutorial I am going to use the following Papermania watercolour Pencils, however you can use your equivalent to these:

From this pack I have used the following pencil colours, Pink, Cream, Light Brown, Dark Brown, Black and Grey (In the picture below the cream pencil appears to be yellow, but it is not - in the above picture it is the cream pencil next to the brown and grey on the far right)

First of all I stamped my image using Black Archival Jet Blank Ink Pad onto good quality cardstock. I then coloured in the image with the cream pencil, and two pink circles for his cheeks. Please do not apply water yet.

I then coloured over the cream with the grey pencil as below.

Then i coloured the image in with the waterbrush, this combined the two shades and created the base of the image. Then using the black pencil, i shaded around the image lightly and then in the around the edges for his stomach. I then applied water with the brush, I then coloured this in with the waterbrush.

I then applied the two shades of brown, one all over, and the darker shade for the shadow areas. I then applied water using the principle outside in. I worked with the waterbrush from the dark colour to the light colour, to ensure that the shading remained as it is.

I then finished off the colouring with with the egg and the grass. I used a very dark green pencil and applied this lightly. The egg shade was achieved by combining an orange and gold watercolour pencil and the bow in yellow. Here is the finished image: 

                                           

I hope this makes sense! It takes longer to explain but it literally takes 2 minutes to do. For the other weeks in March, I will show you some quick Basic to Intermediate colouring techniques, using two shades, promarkers and waterbrush markers.

Finished Card

Using the above coloured image, this was matted onto brown card stock and put to one side.

The image I have chosen is from the gorgeous Daisy and Dandelion Some Bunny Loves You Stamp Set picture below:

I stamped the little daffodil over the bottom half of the card, i coloured this in with yellow and orange docrafts waterbrush markers. Cut a strip of 2cm brown card and placed over the centre of the card. I then, added gingham yellow ribbon from the Papermania Capsule Collection. I then added another strip of brown card. The coloured image was placed in the centre with 3d foam pads. A bow added from the Papermania Capsule collection and a mini button on top of the bow. I then added a Happy Easter Sentiment in the inside of the card to finish it off.

This card has been very inspired by a talented crafter 'A load of old pickle'

Products used:

Daisy and Dandelion - Some Bunny Loves You Stamp Set
Brown Cardstock
White Cardstock
Papermania Capsule Sunshine Ribbon
Papermania Capsule Sunshine Bows
Papermania Capsule Sunshine Mini Polka Dot Buttons
Papermania 24 Watercolour Pencil Set

For more inspiration from this adorable image from the DT members, please visit the Daisy and Dandelion Blog

P.S I am also entering this into Sassy Designs By Sue Challenge and By The Cute and Girly Challenge which is Spring theme - and Easter fits right into spring. I am also entering this into Cup Cake Craft Challenge and Challenge Up Your Life and Creative Cottage Challenge which is to use flowers and i have used this on the bottom half of my card. It is also to be entered into Stampin For The Weekend Challenge

Monochrome Demo Card

I have created this Monochrome Card by only using the two flower stamps in the Jungle Friend Stamp Set. Using this I created my own background and flower embellishments.

The flower is made of a strip of paper, stamped onto and folded back and forth and edges joined together. The centre of the flower has the little flower in the middle. Stamped the sentiment in the top right corner. The colours and stamp, can be changed to suit the occasion.

Also, with this card I wanted to show that you may not find a card blank in your choice of colour, and you may not always use all the coloured cards in a pack. So you can change the colour of the card by covering the front of a card in any colour card of your choice.

Products used:

Creative Expressions Jungle Friend Stamp Set

CCSR Sentiment Stamp Set

Papermania Capsule Mono Ribbon Bows

Black Cardstock

Black Archival Ink Pad

Anita's Black Everyday Satin Ribbon

Anita's Tacky Glue

Double Sided Tape

iCopic

iCopic is an online retailer dedicated to providing high quality Copic products backed by superior service and affordable prices. Our huge selection of Copic products and Price Match Guarantee program make us the one stop shop for supplying all your Copic needs.

Personally i love the finishing results of sample cards that I have seen from other bloggers.

For change to win a set, visit Sally's Creative Corner

Another Demo Card

Again to show how to adapt a stamp for any occasion, this could be for Anniversary / Valentines / Partners card just be changing the sentiments. This was inspired by Kath and her brilliant layout.

Products used:

Creative Expressions Animal Safari Stamp Set

Forever Friends All Loved Up Paper

Cosmetic Sponge

Burgundy Cosmetic Sponge

White Embossing Powder

VersaMark Watermark Stamp Pad

White Pigment Ink

White Gel Pen

Pink Pokey Tool

Anitas 3D Clear Gloss

Anitas Tacky Glue

3d Foam Pads

Double Sided Tape

Waterbrush Marker Pens

Promarker - Cool Grey 2

News

I was previously a Guest Designer for the Daisy and Dandelion Blog, I have now become a designer for the blog! I was so ecstatic and happy. My first DT position. Take a look at the blog for the exciting projects and tutorials heading your way.

Sparkles Christmas Challenge Card & Demo Card

This card is one of my demonstration cards, I wanted to show people that any stamp can be adapted or changed to suit any occassion. Here by simply drawing my own christmas hat - i have created a christmas card. I have created a snow effect with teared pieces of paper. My own trees. The card has been inspired by a very talented lady Kath. I am also entering this into Sparkles Christmas Challenge Blog

Products used:

Red Coordinations Cardstock

Green Coordinations Cardstock

Latte Cardstock

Whisper Brush Markers

Promarker - Cool Grey 2

Promarker - Crimson

Peel Off Stickers

Sweet Nothings Paper

Whisper Brush Markers

Ancient Page - Chocolate

Cosmetic Sponge

Glitz It Glitter Glue

Permanent Markers

Animal Safari

Thank you to all those who came to my demonstrate, with a special thank you to Friday Feeling and Crafty Mags. Friday Feeling - aka Caroline travelled so far to come and see me. Thank you. I hope you did enjoy it and it was worth your while. I was really touched by your visit.

If you came to my demonstration this morning and found my blog, please leave me a comment so I know it is worth posting these cards.

To all my followers, I will catch up on all your blogs and galleries over the weekend. Sorry I havent been around - i have been making lots of card samples.

Here is a card I have made using nothing but the Animal Safari Stamp Set, I have used the stripes as a background which has been layered onto the black cardstock.

Ingredients:
Animal Safari Stamp Set
Black Archival Ink Pad
Black & Grey Cardstock
Black Everyday Ribbon
Glossy Postcard
Waterbrush Markers
Papermania Mono Mini Buttons

Final Sneak Peaks

Above are pictures of the two stamp sets I will use in my demonstration tomorow from 10am to 1pm at Kims Crafts, 4-8 Coventry Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire, LE10 0JT.

This is the final set of sneak peaks I can show, the rest are half done up cards to show on the Demonstration day which I will have to remember and take pictures of on the day. I hope all goes well, and I manage to sell lots of stuff for the shop. I gave the list of items i used to the shop on Monday it was a long list - it must have been a job and a half for them to check if they have the items in stock! Oh well.. lol. I also showed them the link to my blog and not the cards! I got the reply that they look forward to seeing my cards.

These final sneak peaks will hopefully really hopefully get you going and thinking. I wanted to show how diverse the stamps are and how you can adapt them for anything. And you dont have to stick to the traditional colours of the animals. To those who can make it, see you tomorrow, those who can not - fingers crossed and my scheduled post goes live.