Listen to your heart

The Created By Hand challenge is Black and White, and the DCM one is entitled Looking back a Little. We were asked to pick a DesignTeam card from the Foil challenge and use some of the elements to create our own card. I have used Kathy's card as my starting point. Click on her name to find the original, or visit the DCM blog.

---

Stamps : SU! Time Well Spent; Tim Holtz Take Flight

Inks : Archival Black; Marvy black pen; DI Black Soot

Extras : MM sparkly black brad; PP by Chatterbox, and unknown; black paper

Ismaki Challenge no4

I recently won some blog candy papers from Kelly, so this sketch gave me a great opportunity to use some of them. The optional extras are to use a butterfly and a touch of green. I can never resist using butterflies!

---

Stamps : AudDesign Corner Swirl; Elusive Images Butterfly; Paper Artsy Frames 4

Inks : Archival Black; DI Black Soot and Peeled Paint

Extras : Junkitz Buttonz; MM flowers and brads; Paper Cellar white ribbon bow

Fob Watch

The TMTA challenge is to use geometric shapes of your choice on the ATC. I've chosen diamonds.

---

Stamps : Time to Stamp ATC set 1; Elusive Images Scripts and Timepieces

Inks : DI Pine Needles; Adirondack Dabbers Cloudy Blue and Lemonade; VersaColor Polar Blue; Adirondack Latte

The Mathematician

The 4x4 Friday challenge for this week is open themed. This gives me the opportunity to try out this more masculine colour combination.

---

Stamps : Crafty Individuals 77; Paper Artsy Numbers Mini and At Home 3

Inks : Adirondack Caramel and Butterscotch; StazOn Saddle Brown; Glimmer Mist Walnut Gold

Extras : Gesso; Pearlescent copper paper; Domed epoxy sticker; Tissue Paper

Copper Wings

The Wednesday Stamper challenge for this week is Button Dollz, and the DCM challenge is to use foil on your card. This was hard to scan in focus, as the doll and the embellishments are raised.

---

Stamps : PaperBag Studios Addison; SU!; Time to Stamp ATC set 1

Inks : Archival Black; DI Black Soot

Extras : PM buttons; Beads from my collection; BB purple card; copper foil and wire; PP by The Paper Studio and Blonde Moments

Pennant A

This is 4th of 5 in the 'Dream' Banner. A is the letter, and beads are the optional extra. I put them in place of the flower brads, although the bottom ones have slipped a little. I will replace them later. Although these are beginning to look a bit same-y, they go well together as a set.

---

Stamps : HA Note rectangle background, Printer's Lowercase and Dot Circle; Stampington Facade; See D's Ancient Alphabet

Inks : VersaMagic Night Sky; VersaColor Misty Mauve, Old Rose and Polar Blue; DI Fired Brick and Weathered Wood

Extras : SU ribon; Seed Beads; Prima Flowers; MM eyelets; SGme Clear EP

Good Things

The DCM midweek challenge is to use their sketch. This is my version of it.

---

Stamps : Tanda Stamps Flourishes Set; HA Good Things Message

Inks : Fluid Chalk Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna and Olive Pastel; Versamark; VersaMagic Hint of Pesto

Extras : BB square brads; SGme Clear EP

She's a Star

These are 'Inchies' made for the Created ByHand challenge this week. I don't think this is a size that comes naturally to me - it took me such a long time to plan and make these 4! I like the end result, however. My eureka moment came when I found the harlequin PP, which was appropriate for the stamp. (Her partner is Pierrot.)

---

Stamps : Paper Artsy Mini 11; Lakeland Ltd Ornate Set

Inks : Ecoline; VersaColor Lagoon Blue; StazOn Olive Green

Extras : Star embellishments;; PP by Scenic Route

Ismaki Challenge no3

Here is the sketch, and my contribution for the third Ismaki challenge.

---

Stamps : SU Time Well Spent

Inks : Fluid Chalk Maroon; VersaMagic Night Sky

Extras : Tag, flower and paper by DCWV, and Fancy Pants; PM Flower brads; MM flower; Sheer ribbon

Wishing for snow

This is my contribution for the TMTA theme of winter. I always long for the first snowfall of winter - preferably being on Christmas Day. There's something magical about watching it fall. My boy has to imagine that the letters are snow.

---

Stamps : PaperBag Studios Addison; Paper Artsy Man of Numbers 2 and mini 12; HA Window Screen Background

Inks : Adirondack Dabbers Pool, Cloudy Blue and Juniper; DI refill Broken China; Archival Black; Adirondack Latte and Butterscotch; VersaColor Lapis Lazuli

Extras : Perfect Pearls silver; letter beads; Tissue Paper

King of all I survey

The Wednesday Stamper theme is kings, so here is mine. This has scanned quite bright - I need to play with the scanner a bit more!


---

Stamps : Time to Stamp ATC sets 1 & 2; BLine Leaf Swirl

Inks : DI Shabby Shutters and Dusty Concord; VersaColor Amethyst; StazOn Grape

Extras ; Waxy Flax Sage and Plum; DCWV green and BB purple; MM eyelet

Pocket gift

I have made this for my daughter's 16th birthday. This is a stamp she always says reminds her of herself.

I have combined 4x4 Friday's theme of people with wings, and DCM's theme of Hide and Seek. The idea is to have something hidden on your card without it being instantly obvious.

I stitched along the top of the top layer before stitching the whole thing down to create a pocket.
---

Stamps : Paper Artsy One Penny 2; Tim Holtz Take Flight; Stampington Collage Cube; Clarity Stamps A Gift; Time to Stamp ATC set

Inks : DI Pine Needles, Broken China and Shabby Shutters; Glimmer Mist Patina

Extras : YLI thread

Pennant E

This is 3rd pennant in the 'Dream' series of 5 for January. See the link on the right if interested. This time letter E, with the addition of some lace. The Theme Thursday challenge is stamped backgrounds - here, the (barely visible) paisley. I dyed the lace red with the Adirondack ink pad.

---

Stamps : Judikins Travels in India cube; SU Explore; Elusive Images Paisley; Crafty Individuals 53; See D's Ancient Alphabet

Inks : DI Weathered Wood, Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick; Marvy pens Crimson Lake and Oriental Blue; VersaMagic Night Sky; Adirondack Red Pepper

Extras : SU ribbon and flower brads; white lace; Prima Flwers; MM eyelets; Pearl decoration from Beatties

Tribute to Gillian

The DCM midweek challenge it to make a tribute card to Gillian and Lynne, imitating the style of one of them, as a thank you for their work on the Design Team, and to say goodbye as they take their leave.

Both of them have been very inspirational, and very encouraging - their loss will be felt!

For this card I have added the verses from the Salt challenge, as Gillian loves to use scripture on her work, and used Distress Inks from Created ByHand. I rather regret using the glimmer mist, as it evened out all the colour from the distressing on the tag.

---

Stamps : Crafty Individuals 21; SU Time Well Spent; BLine Fern

Inks : DI Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain and Fired Brick; Glimmer Mist Walnut Gold

Extras : computer text; PP by BG and Dovecraft; Mini crystal gems; Prima flower; fibre scraps; YLI thread plum; Elusive Images tag

Ismaki Challenge no2

Below is the sketch for the 2nd challenge. The optional extra was to use red, white and blue, although my blues look very green here.

---

Stamps : HA Dainty Thinking; Tanda Stamps Flourish Set; AudDesign

Inks : VersaColor Split Pea and Lagoon Blue; DI Black Soot and Fired Brick; Versamark

Extras : PP by Fancy Pants; SGme Clear EP; Blue sheer ribbon; microdetail white EP

Romany princess

The Gothic Arch theme is gypsy. I found this wonderful image of a caravan on the internet, and it reminded me of my childhood, when you would see these highly decorative caravans parked on the roadside, with a horse tethered nearby.

---

Stamps : HA Old French Writing; Lakeland Ltd Ornate set; Design Objectives Corner Flourish

Inks : VersaMagic Perfect Plumeria and Spring Pansy; ColorBox Charcoal; Versamark

Extras : PP by Joanna Sheen; Gypsy image from Tuscan Rose CD3; Pearl Gold EP

German Lullaby

As you all know, I'm a big fan of Crafty Individuals. So I decided to create my own butterfly picture, similar to the ones on the paper pad for the 4x4 Friday theme of music. This is such a great theme for me, but the problem is knowing what NOT to use!!

Yesterday I ordered this Flourish set from Tanda stamps - 10/10 for service as they arrived this morning!
---
Stamps : Stampington Small Brahms and Butterfly girl; Tanda Stamps Flourishes set 1; Paper Artsy Travel 4; Design Objectives Corner Flourish

Inks : Marvy Pens Vermillion, Crimson Lake, Pale Yellow and Jungle Green; Archival Black; DI Black Soot

Extras : card scraps and black paper

View of Paris

The Created ByHand challenge is on the theme of frames. This is how I sometimes feel when I am stuck indoors at school - that I want to get outside and see some sky and a nice view, rather than the fire escape of the building next door!

I've got a new toy! Oooohhh I'm so thrilled with my new all singing, all dancing printer/scanner. I can't believe how much clearer the pictures are now, and the colours are brighter. I won't moan anymore, except when it doesn't pick up glimmer - I have yet to test for that! There again, you'll be able to see my mistakes more clearly too!
---

Stamps : R&L Travel France set; Paper Artsy School Days 3 and Letters 5

Inks : Archival Black; VersaMagic Night Sky; DI Dried Marigold

Extras : PP from HOTP Textured Papers #2

Double thank you!

The DCM challenge is entitled Me and my shadow. We have to create 2 cards using similar papers and embellishments, but with variations. Shame the scanner hasn't picked up the sparkle on the stamping.
I have opted for thank you cards, to chivy my children into very overdue Christmas thanks!


---
Stamps : SU Time Well Spent set; Stampington Scripted Elements

Inks : Marvy pens Jungle Green and Light Brown; Adirondack pen Stonewashed; Archival Black

Extras : PP unknown; PSX Diamond Sparkles; SGme Clear EP; blue and orange DCWV card

Pennant R

This is the 2nd Pennant in the 'Dream' quintet. R was the letter for this week, and we could include some ribbon. Other Rs are lurking around as well. To achieve the background I stamped the pinks on first, and clear embossed them. Then I sponged the DI on top. Lastly I ironed the EP off.

---

Stamps : Stampington Fresh Flower Elements; See D's Ancient Alphabet; HA Printer's Lowercase and Note Rectangle Background

Inks : VersaColor Old Rose and Misty Mauve; DI Weathered Wood and Fired Brick; Marvy pen Oriental Blue; Versa Magic Night Sky

Extras : SU red ribbon; MM eyelets; PM flower brads; Paper Cellar ribbon bow; Prima flowers; SGme Clear EP

Key to my heart

This atc combines 2 themes - keys from Wednesday Stamper, and Valentines from Theme Thursday.

---

Stamps : Crafty Individuals 110; Design Objectives Corner Flourish; Elusive Images Fleurs et Parfum

Inks : H2Os in Cherry Sorbet, Pink Arthurium, Garnet, Sea Glass, Fern and Sunburst; Archival Balck; Adirondack Lettuce; ColorBox Chianti

Extras : Heart punch; Tissue Paper; 7 Gypsies key; Waxy Flax Bubble Gum

New for me

I love these challenges where you are encouraged to either use your new toys, or your old ones. The former is the case for DCM little extra. The stamp was from my children for Christmas, along with the packet of bows. This is 4x4 in size.

---

Stamps : Anita's

Inks : Alcohol inks Bottle, Butterscotch, Lettuce and Metallic Silver; Adirondack Lettuce and Butterscotch

Extras : Prima flower; MM brad; Paper Cellar ribbon bows; BB card; SGme clear EP; orange ribbon

Polish Cow Bells

The TMTA theme for this week is postage stamps. I was pleased that I could use the strap-like piece of chipboard that I've had for a while, as it suited the theme on the stamp. I sponged it with the dabber and then the Latte inkpad to dull it down.

Inks : Adirondack dabber Lemonade, and inkpad Latte

Extras : PP unknown; Prima flower; Chipboard strap and flower; postage stamp; waxy flax ocean blue

Ismaki Challenge no1

Isa has joined forces with 2 friends, Magali and Kianel, to create a new challenge site Ismaki. Their first challenge is to use this sketch. I have used the option of an alternative shape. I sponged the flowers with the green, and spritzed with my homemade copper glimmer spray all over.

---

Stamps : PSX With Love; PaperBag Studios Addison

Inks : Adirondack Caramel, Butterscotch and Peach Bellini; StazOn Olive Green; DI refill Antique Linen

Extras : Perfect pearls Copper; Scissor sisters flowers; MM brads; PP by Imaginisce

Deck of Me, weeks 46 - 48

I'm still playing catch-up on Emily Falconbridge's Art Journey cards. Here's the next 3 :
Week 46's prompt was rejuvenation.

I find it amazing that nature knows when we need a burst of colour to cheer us up after the bareness of winter. The bulbs are poking through in the garden - the promise of spring to come.
Gen 1.14.

---
Stamps : AudDesign; Stampington Martha's Bulbs; Lakeland Ltd Ornate set

Inks : H2Os Cherry Sorbet, Pink Arthurium, Cedar Wood and Olive Vine; Archival Black; DI Walnut Stain

Extras : PP by Aunt Gertie; SGme Clear EP; Z Design RubOns

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The prompt for week 47 was ideas..

The ideas that I have for my craft work are prompted by words, colours, images, techniques, or the work of others. I love to join in challenges. I praise God for inspiration.

---

Stamps : AudDesign

Inks : Archival black; DI Spiced Marmalade

Extras : logo images from challenge sites; PP by SU; MM RubOns

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The last challenge in this set was my happy place..

I guess this has to be within me. I am generally a happy person, and like to laugh a lot. Cheerfulness can often be infectious. Proverbs 15:13 - A happy heart makes a cheerful face. This is so true!

---

Stamps : Crafty Individuals 118; AudDesign; Stampington Christmas Found Elements

Inks : ColorBox French Blue; VersaMagic Aegean Blue; Archival Black and Grape

Extras : Gesso; Me!

When at night I go to sleep..

I have used some lyrics from the opera Hansel and Gretal for the Gothic Arch challenge Guardian angel. It is a song I used to sing a lot when I was younger.

Because I have run out of time, and need to prepare for the new term, which starts tomorrow (eek!), I will have to double this challenge too, and add it to the Wednesday Stamper Gothic Arch challenge.

---

Stamps : AudDesign; Design Objectives Corner Flourish

Inks : DI Weathered Wood, Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint; computer generated text

Extras : Image from flickr; Paper Cellar Crystal Gems

In the wild

This is an unusual colour combination for me, but I wanted to try it out. And also use a couple of new items - the flourish from my children in my stocking, and the birds a gift from Jacqueline. You have to imagine the copper tints from my spray!

The challenges were 4x4 Friday - to use textured paper, and Penny's Round Robin Blog Challenge #3 to use fibres (see below). This used the w from the word new, from which she chose 'wild' - hence the animal colour choice. I've always been fascinated by the colouring on giraffes. I will also add this to Mary's Happy Place as she has a challenge to use one of your Christmas gifts.

---

Stamps : Design Objectives Corner Flourishes; JJ birds; Stampington Fresh Flowers Elements

Inks : DI Spiced Marmalde, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Frayed Burlap and Walnut Stain; residue from Glimmer Mist Candy Apple Red; DI refill Antique Linen; Versamark

Extras : Elusive Images tag; DCWV orange card; petal paper; fibres; SGme Clear EP; Perfect Pearls Copper

New Year Greetings

The DCM challenge is to include the word new on your card, and the Round Robin Blog Challenge uses the 'e' from new; e for embossed. Added to this, I have used the January sketch #1 from 2Peas.
The flower (from Mary's package) and the sentiment are clear embossed. I pressed the inks onto a piece of plastic, and then watercoloured with them.

---

Stamps : SU Time Well Spent set; HA Merry Christmas

Inks : Versacolor Bisque, Lagoon Blue, Pacific, Cocoa and Bark

Extras : Fiskars paper punch; PP by Fancy Pants; SGme Clear EP; Corner punch; waterbrush; brown brad

Flowers for Monet

I have fulfilled requirements for 2 challenges with this card : Theme Thursday's quote, and notepaper for Round Robin Blog Party #1. This is a 3 day challenge on Penny's site. The copper spray blended all the colours well.

---

Stamps : HA Woven Fabric Background and A Real Flower; quote unknown; PSX dragonfly

Inks : ColorBox Yellow Ochre, Yellow Citrus, Olive Pastel, Fresh Green, Frost White and Chianti; VersaColor Split Pea; VersaMagic Hint of Pesto and Night Sky; DI refill Antique Linen

Extras : page from notepad; card by BB and DCWV; Perfect Pearls Copper

Pennant D

There's a new challenge given by Lisa at Simple journeys based on making pennants for a banner. I thought it looked fun! The measurements are 6 x 7.5 x 7.5 inches. This one is the first of 5 for the month of January, based on the D from the word DREAM. Use of a Dragonfly is the optional extra. I have to credit my daughter Catherine, who advised me on the design and colours for this.

I was lucky enough to win a blog candy from Mary. Thank you Mary - you can see I have used some of the goodies already.

---

Stamps : Dragonfly unknown; SU Dream; PaperBag Studios Addison; See D's Ancient Alphabet

Inks : DI Fired Brick and Weathered Wood; VersaMagic Night Sky; VersaColor Polar Blue

Extras : MM eyelets; SU ribbon and flower brads; Prima Flowers

Le garçon

How cool is this - the Created ByHand challenge is to use glimmer sprays. I feel like 007 - Licensed to spray! I've used another homemade one, made with copper.

---

Stamps : Tim Holtz I See Paris; PaperBag Studios Addison

Inks : Adirondack Red Pepper, Butterscotch and Peach Bellini; Brillinace Coffee Bean; DI refill Antique linen

Extras : BB brads; Perfect Pearls Copper; Corner Punch

Happy New Year for 2008

The TMTA challenge is Fireworks of Colour.

I think I would have enjoyed the fireworks at midnight had I been up, but I was trying to get to sleep as I'm playing in New Year's Day Viennese concert today. I'm very excited about this, as I will be playing with some string players from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Think of me oom cha cha-ing to the Blue Danube, and other waltzes!

For this ATC I brayered with the kaleidacolor, clear embossed the firework stamp, and sprayed over the top. Then I ironed off the EP before embossing the sentiment.

---

Stamps : Stampington Scripted Elements; Denami Starburst

Inks : Kaleidacolor Bouquet; Glimmer Mist Patina; Sticky Fingers Bluebell; Versamark; ColorBox Charcoal

Extras : Clear, Turquoise Candy, and Violet EP

Deck of Me, weeks 42-45

Happy New Year everyone!!

I am in the process of fulfilling my new year's resolution - to complete my deck of cards, which I have neglected lately. Week 42's prompt of a grateful week had me stumped for a while, but then I realised how many thank yous I was saying, so recorded it here.

I am grateful to the pupils who came to extra rehearsals to prepare for the school concert. We played music from the recent Narnia film. I wonder if the Seikh girl who chose it realises that it's based on Christian principles!

---

Stamps : Stampington Small Violin and Small Trumpet; AudDesign

Inks : StazOn black; DI Fired Brick and Broken China

Extras : 2 Narnia images from internet

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Week 43's title was sCaRy.

Some might say that it is scary when you receive a word of knowledge; eg. I 'knew' when my Nana died, despite being hundreds of miles away. I would say this is a blessing.

---

Stamps : Lakeland Ltd Ornate Set; AudDesign

Inks : Kaleidacolor Melon Melody; Archival Black

Extras : brayer; Gesso; computer text

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Week44's challenge was home...

The first day we looked at this house we knew it was ours. It was empty, dirty and rundown, but I sensed God's prompting that this would be our 'home'. It certainly is!

It is a house that retains some of the original Victorian features, one being the floor tiles in terracotta and black, which I based this card on. The keys and lock are there to express the joy I felt the day we moved in. This is an open house to our friends.

---

Stamps : Paper Artsy Letters 5; Time to Stamp ATC sets; AudDesign

Inks : Adirondack Butterscotch and Caramel; DI Fired Brick; ColorBox Charcoal; StazOn Black

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Week 45's title was self realisation

I was recently invited onto the prayer ministry team at church, and have been greatly blessed by this. My realisation is that God can use me more than I'll ever know - I have to be ready and open.

---

Stamps : Stampington Collage Cube; AudDesign

Inks : Adirondack Wild Plum; Glimmer Mist Black Cherry; Castaway; StazOn black; ColorBox Eggplant

Extras : Image from chicks57 on flickr

It amuses me that some of the inks used have fruit names. Reminds me of the fruits of the Spirit!