Little Bugaboo Boy

My daughter has started school this year which means there will be so many more party invites which leads to more birthday cards for children being added to my list. This one is for one of her BFFs who happens to be a boy, so I thought this Bugaboo image would suit perfectly.

Card Tip:

Bakers twine and buttons are a great embellishment when you don't want ribbons and bows.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:

standard size blue card base from stash, orange and blue card stock from stash

Papers:

patterned paper from stash

Stamps:
Bugaboo Michael Sitter, Papertrey Ink borders and corners mini stamp set for sentiment.

Ink:
Memento tuxedo black ink.

Markers:

                   Skin: E000+E00+E11+R20

                   Hair: E33+E35+E37

                   Shirt: YG03+YG06+YG09

                   Pants: B24+B26+B29+Bic Markit rambunctious
                   red on patch

                   Shoes: C01+C03+C05

Dies:

Simon Says Stamps small banner.

Other:

Bakers Twine, blue heart button, blue and green sequins.

Challenge List:

Inky Chicks #34-happy birthday
Crafty Sentiments-anything-goes
Fan Tastic Tuesday Challenge#46
Loves Rubber Stamps Challenges#114-buttons bows
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge
Cards in Envy-happy birthday to you challenge
Cheerful Stamp Pad-guys like getting cards too
Crafting From the Heart Challenge#29
Craft Creations - anything goes
Crazy Challenge#176-die cuts and punchs
Inky Impressions Challenges#170-anything goes
Pennys Challenge#188
The Sisterhood of Crafters-die cuts and or punches
Kraftin Kimmie Stamps-august

Anniversary Centre Step Card

Here is my last Guest Designer Card for Fitztown. The Challenge today is A Step Card. I feel a step card is for something a little bit special so I have created a 40th wedding  anniversary card for my aunt and uncle. This is also a first for me and I have loved how Fitztown has been constantly challenging me to try new card layouts and concepts as their guest designer, it has been a great experience.

Card Tip:

Here is a great tutorial and video to follow for the step card process. 
Split Coast Stampers Centre Step Card

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:

Pearl cardstock from stash.

Papers:

My Minds Eye unforgetable paper pack

Stamps:
Fitztown Vallentine 9,PapertreyInk fillable frame #4 for sentiment

Ink:
Versafine black onxy ink.

Markers:

               Skin: E000+E00+E11+E21

               Guy's Hair: E33+E35+E37
               Lady's Hair: E53+E55+E57

               Guy's Shirt: BG13+BG34+BG49
               Lady's Top: V12+V15+V17 
              Guy's Pants: E55

               Heart: Y17+Y21

Dies:

Spellbinders Nestabilities lattice rectangle,Simon Says Stamps small folded banners.

Other:

flowers,gems,pearls,ice stickles, Fiskars scallop border punch, kaisercraft ribbon.

Challenge List:

Art by Miran #11-anything goes

Crafty Catz Weekly #241-anything goes
Digitally Sweet# 98-embellish it up
Fairytale Challenge-digistamp
Stempelsonne - anything goes
Outlawz Challenges Twisted Thursday-anything goes
Crafty Ribbons #99
Delightful Sketches-add ribbon
My Heart Pieces-wedding or anniversary
ABC Challenge-p is for pearls
Cards Galore-use a stamp or digi
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper-july
Odd Ball Stamps-show us your coloring skills

Bows

A new challenge begins today over at Perfectly Rustic with the theme of Ribbon - add a bow or ruffle.
For my inspiration card I wanted it look like a present wrapped up with a bow and I am very happy with the results.

Card Tip:

A Stamp a Majig is a great tool for lining up your sentiments in small spaces.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock: 

standard cream card base from stash, burgundy card stock from stash.

Papers:

DCWV citrus stack.

Stamps:
Papertrey ink fillable frames #4 for sentiment

Ink:
Memento coccoa brown ink

Dies:

Lil’Inker Designs Bow Die Large,Spellbinders label 28

Other:

small resin flower from stash

Challenge List:

Crafty Catz Weekly#241-anything goes
Sister Act Card #67-anything goes
Outlawz CAS Challenges-diamonds and pearls
4Krafty Girlz #23-anything goes
Little Miss Muffet #90-anything goes
Milk Coffee-birthdays challenge
Crafters Cafe #73-anything goes
Pennys challenges#187-anything goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters-die cuts andor punches
Frosted Designs-flowers and stitching
Cupcake Inspirations Challenge#271 - Top 6

Diecut Divas Design Team

 I have been invited to join the design team for Diecut Divas. The current challenge for July is button and ribbons so below is my inspiration piece using one of the great images from Bugaboo, Spring boot

Card Tip:

Buttons don't have to be expensive; trawl second hand stores, thrift shops and your own old clothes for buttons to use of your projects.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:

Quill navy blue card base. Quill light green and white from stash.

Papers:

My Minds Eye 6"x6" paper pad notable.

Stamps:
Bugaboo Spring Boot
Markers:

Copics - Boot: E59+E55+E57+E53

              Heart: RV23

               Dragonfly: BG34

               Leaves: GO7+YG06

               Flowers: V15+V17+R83+R85+B21+B24+Y13

Dies:
Spellbinders Label 8, Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder
Other:

assorted flower buttons and blue bow.

Challenge List:

KC Clayout Challenges.#200-buttons
Penny B Friends Challenge-july
Suzy Pants Smarty Challenge#38-anything goes
Fairytale Challenge-digistamp
Patties Creations Challenge#95-summertime fun
Wags n Whiskers Challenge#133-anything goes
Outlawz Challenges - Twisted Thursday
Crafting For All Seasons Challenge#81-tic tac toe - blue/buttons/ribbon
Fattastic Tuesday Challenge#44

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge

Snarky Stampers Challenge#12

A Ute of a Card

Over at Fitztown its time for a new challenge and this fortnight the theme is Brown Cards. I thought this was a great opportunity to showcase one of Fitztown's pre-coloured images Vintage-coloured.

Card Tip:

When printing pre-coloured images, print them on cream, or off white to decrease your white space and give you a softer look.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:
Gold square card base, kraft card stock, DCWV neutral cardstock stack.

Papers:

Kaisercraft 6" x 6" paperpad base coat.
 Stamps:

Fitztown Vintage-colored, Simon Says Clear Stamps happy.
Ink:

Memento Cocoa Brown.

Dies:
Papertrey Ink chevron strips border die,Mpress convex square, Ezicut birthday.

Other:

Gems

Challenge List:

A Die For a Sketch Challenge#11

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge#94

Crafters Cafe Challenge#72-birthday
Digi Stamps 4 Joy Challenge#96-for boys
Through the Purple Haze Challenges-happy-birthday
Creatalicious Challenges#65-monochrome
CCC Digi Creations Challenge#5-digi monochrome
The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges#24-birthday
Tokbobok-tbc-14-monochrome - Winner
Left of Center Challenges#37-monochrome
Eureka Stamps Challenge#99-monochrome

Embellishment Box

So here is my Guest Designer inspiration piece for the Altered Item challenge over at Fitztown. I have to say this is the first time I have attempted any kind of mixed media or paper craft that wasn't a card. It has turned out better than I was expecting, I am so pleased with it.

I thought this would be perfect for holding an assortment of ribbons, pearls and buttons for someone just starting in card making.

Oh and the flowers, there handmade - the tutorial is below

Card Tip:

First you will need eight punch out flowers, I have used the Stampin Up pansy punch but any 5 petal punch or die will do. 8 will give you the fullness and size you see here. I have also used a ink to paper technique on ordinary copy paper.

Next is to wet the paper, I have used an glimmer mist and scrunch it up really tight.let it stay scrunched up for a minute or two.

Very carefully you want to unfold your flowers and stack them on top of each other, remember the paper is wet so it is easy to tear.

Next is a brad through the centre, it doesn't matter what colour as you wont see it in the final flower but you want quite a small one. Using a piecing tool, I make a hole first through all the flowers at once then follow with a brad, you have this tearing that way.

With the first two flowers scrunch them in on themselves very tightly.

As you get to the outer layers, don't scrunch them as tightly.

Let the flower completely dry. Then tease out the layers slowly, placing your petals as you go.

Card Ingredients:

Box Dimensions:

Lid:  22cm x 7.2cm

Sq 1: 6.5cm x 6cm

Sq 2: 14.8cm x 5.7cm

Sq 3: 6.5cm x 11.3cm

Sq 4: 14.8cm x 11.5cm

Card Stock:

250gsm cardstock from my stash, purple card stock for trim from my stash,

Papers:

Rosie's Studio 12x12 pack in the garden.

Stamps:

Fitztown Cameo 14

Markers:

Copics - Skin: E000+E00+E11+E21+R20

               Eyes: B21+B24

               Lips: R85+RV23

               Hair: E33+E35+E37+E57+E59

               Earing: BG13+B24 

               Tattoo: BG13+B24+G14+R85+V25+Y17  

Dies:

MFT Dienamics flourish die

Other:

Stampin Up pansy punch, Fiskars apron lace border punch, wink of stella pen.

Challenge List:

Miriams Crafting 14th monthly challenge-containers
Not Real Stamps-anything goes
Altered Eclectics Challenge
Picture and Scrap#79
Cards Galore Challenges-use stamp or digi stamp
Rhedds Creative Spirit Julys Challenge
Creative Moments of Craft Challenge#47

Sketch Challenge

Over at Perfectly Rustic this fortnight it is a Sketch Challenge.

Here is my Design Team Inspiration Card.

Card Tip:

Don't discount any colour combinations - until I put it together I would have never thought of putting pale pink with teal.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock:
white 5" x 7" card base, pink copy paper.

Papers:

patterned paper from my stash.
Stamp:
Get Stamping Magazine free stamp set for sentiment.

Ink:

Memento tuxedo black ink for sentiment.

Dies: 

Cuttlebug Victoria Embossing Folder.

Other:

Kaisercraft Ribbon,K&Company paper flowers

Challenge List:

Southern Girls Challenge-you spin me round baby right round
Hidingin my Craft Room#157-super scraps saturday
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge#239
Fussy and Fancy Challenge#118
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge#93
Crafting at the Weekend#3
Pumpkin Spice Challenge#78-anything goes
Suzy Pants Smarty Challenge#37-anything goes
4Krafty Girlz Challenges#22
Aud Sentiments Challenge#110

Christmas in July

So over at Fitztown the Challenge is Pick a Holiday. I thought this would be a great opportunity to start on one of the many christmas cards I hand out using Fitztown's Winter 4 image. 

Card Tip:

This is my second attempt at a tri-shutter card - here is the link for all the measurements
Tri-shutter Card

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock: 
Blue, purple and white cardstock from stash.

Papers:

Kaisercraft 6x6 Magic Happens Collection

Stamps:
Fitztown Winter 4

Dies:
Spellbinders lacy circle,petite scallop circles large,standard circles small, standard circles large, Cuttlebug snow fun. Elizabeth Craft Designs merry christmas.

Other:

image coloured in using inktense pencils,blue star gems, blue and purple star buttons, gold star. glossy accents.

Challenge List:

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge#92
The Glory of Christmas Challenge#37-anything goes
The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge#73-christmas in july
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge#184 - Winner
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper July
Christmas Stampin Challenge#18-fav color combo
Suzys Marty - completely christmas challenge#19
Jingle Belles Rock-shopping our jingle belles stash
Shopping Our Stash
Simply Create Too Challenge#65-christmas in july
Outlawz Challenges Twisted Thursday Challenge
DiesrUs Challenge#5-christmas in july

Anything Goes with Fitztown

Over at the Fitztown Challenge Blog we are holding a challenge with everyone's favorite theme 'Anything Goes'. So using Fitztown's Fae 18 image here is my guest designer inspiration piece.

Card Tip:

Scroll die cuts do not need to be kept in one piece, cut them up to place them where you want them.

Card Ingredients:

Card Stock: 
Purple cardstock from stash to make a finished card of 6"x 5" card base

Papers:

Glitter purple paper from stash

Stamps:

Fitztown Fae 18 image, Gina K Designs Hello Sunshine for sentiment.
Ink:

Memento tuxedo black ink.

Markers:
R81+R83+R85
V04+V06+V12+V09
BG10+BG13+BG15+BG34
B21+B23+B24+B26+B29
Dies etc: 
MFT Die-namics fancy flourish, MPress curved rectangle,Cuttlebug divine swirl embossing folder

Other: 

Various gems and sequins, wink of stella pen, Sakura Star Dust Pen Clear.

Challenge List:

4 Krafty Girlz Challenges#21
Crafting by Designs-anything-goes-in-july Winner
Crafty Creations Challenges#266-things with wings
The House that Stamps Built#dcc72-fur or winged things cards
Pennys Challenges#184
Through the Craft Room Door
Crafty Sentiments-no designer paper
Fantastic Tuesday Challenge#42
Ladybugs Crafts Ink Challenge
Tuesday Throwdown#202
Crafting From the Heart Challenge#25
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge#44-anything goes option use swirls
The Pink Elephant Challenge#257
A Girl Who Crafts Challenge-anything goes July
Cards Galore Challenges -use stamp or digi stamp
CCC Digi Creations#4-digi embossing wet or dry
Just for Fun Challenge#1-anything goes
The Sisters of Craft-july anything goes