Forest friend

The weather here in Yorkshire has made me want to make something wintery.  I decided to do another distressing experiment using Aurora Reindeer from the East Wind.  She's coloured with ProMarkers and mounted onto some brown paper from Santoro Gorjuss Neutrals.

The layers underneath the image are made up from Santoro Gorjuss Neutrals, Lili of the Valley/Raspberry Road Designs - Heartfelt, Lili of the Valley Frosty Christmas and Joy Crafts Dance to Music.  Once all the layers were on the card I distressed them.

The added bead sprays and self adhesive gems in blue, brown and pearl were all from Hobby Craft.

The image is so beautiful from The East Wind that I didn't want to over embellish the card and hide her.

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Anything Christmas

Paradise of Stamps - Winter

Addicted to Stamps - Winter

Left of Centre - Layer It Up

Robyn's Fetish - Animals

Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes

Fab n Funky - Christmas

Paper Shelter - Layers Lots of Them

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes as Long as it's Christmas

Needing some warmth

So there may be something to this CAS card stuff after all :)

As you know I don't do many CAS cards, I actually find it quite difficult to do.  BUT this image from Sherri Baldy inspired me to give it a go.

She's coloured with ProMarkers and I tried to give the effect of light on the pot coming from the left.  The image is mounted onto some plain red card stock and I've added a sentiment from Lili of the Valley.

The only other thing I've added are some red self adhesive gems from Hobby Craft.

Ok now I feel like there's loads missing and I need to say more - LOL!!

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Without Words - Dreaming of Spring

Passion for ProMarkers - Garden Life

Papertake Weekly - Take Your Pick (Warm Colours)

Lily

Here's another card in my favourite colour :)

The image is Ching-Chou Kuik's Lily and is coloured with ProMarkers.  I've cut her out using a Spellbinders die.

I've used only one design paper from the Wild Rose Studio Antique Library paper pack for this card but made up for it with the embellishments!

There's some organza rose trim and some flat back pearl trim from Wild Orchid Crafts.  The roses and pink heather are also from Wild Orchid Crafts.  The lilies pink ribbon (complete with hand tied bow) are from The Ribbon Girl.

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Ching-Chou Kuik - Add Some Flowers

Dream Valley - Anything Goes

Winter Wonderland - Only One Designer Paper

In The Pink - Pink and Pearlie

Creative Inspirations - Roses!

A little bit OCD.....

Tuesday's new challenge at Through The Craft Room Door is sponsored by Paola Jofre this week.  For my treat I chose to do a cup cake!  I've coloured it with ProMarkers and cut it out with a Spellbinders die.

We seem to be having a team thing about cup cakes this week and a few of the ladies have discovered they're definitely OCD, but not the definition you all know ;)

The OCD sign is homemade/printed and is mounted on patterned pink paper then onto brown which is cut using a Spellbinders die.  I've added a few white pearl and black self adhesive gems to this.

The papers are from Lili of the Valley/Raspberry Road Designs - Pressed in Time and Wild Rose Studio - Antique Library.

I've added a few silver star beads to the card following on from the cup cake decorations.

The final things I added were some pearl self adhesive gems and a cupcake dress it up button.

So the question is are you OCD too :)

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Inky Chicks - Anything Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Dream Valley - Anything Goes

Creative Moments - Anything Goes

In the Pink - Pink and Pearlie

Design Team Challenge - Anything Goes

Nana's 100th birthday

OK back to normal - Sarah at work asked me to make her nana a birthday card for her 100th birthday -  I don't think I'll be asked to make many of those!

Describing what she liked it was knitting, tea and cleaning.  I had an idea of what I wanted to make and looked around for some vintage style images.  We decided tea would be the best way to go because she lives off tea (and an occasional sherry).  The image we chose is from Project Printable - FRIENDS Quote TEAPOT Tea Cups.  I've added some almond ProMarker to the image to give it a more vintage look and some amber self adhesive gems.

Papers which were distressed are from Lili of the Valley/Raspberry Road Pressed In Time, Antebellum and Docrafts Papermania - Madame Payraud's.

The sentiment was home made/printed because Sarah wanted specific words - then cut out with a Spellbinders die and mounted onto black card.

The flowers and leaves are all from Wild Orchid Crafts and Live & Love Crafts.

Final touches to the card are some silver butterfly beads and a brass swirl which I found on Amazon, 100th in black glitter letters and some pearl self adhesive gems from Hobby Craft.

Sarah gave her card to her nana yesterday and she absolutely loved it saying "ain't she clever" :)

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Sparkles - Raise a Glass to the New Year

Crafty Boots - Butterflies

Creative Card Crew - Shabby Chic

Creative Knockouts - Lots of Embellies

Painting hearts

I loved this Tiddly Inks image (Wryn - Heartfelt Love) when I saw it and in honour of my mum who likes red and orange I decided to colour it in these colours using ProMarkers :)

AND more to the point I've done another CAS card - I must be feeling ill!!

The card has been created using red, white and black card stock.  The red and black self adhesive gems are from Hobby Craft.

The valentines sentiment is home made/printed and I've used a Spellbinders die to cut it out.

Ok onto more experiments and embellished cards now that's enough of the CAS stuff.... I need to get back to normal!

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Bunny Zoe - Hearts

Wags n Whiskers - Hearts

Bunny love

Yes after all the cards with masses of embellishments I've been making here I am proving I can actually do a CAS card :)

The image was one I was fortunate to win from Crafter Companion in rubbe stramp form - Bebunni Perfect Couple.  I've coloured with image with ProMarkers and inly added a small amount of grey so the bunnies are white.  Hopefully this has made the red heart stand out.

The card has been created only using red and white card stock and some self adhesive gems.  All of these were from Hobby Craft.

The red enamel hearts are from The Glitter Pot - Doodlebug Sprinkles - just in case you like them and want to know where I got them from.

Only three weeks to go to Valentines now

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

 Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Bunny Zoe - Hearts

Wags n Whiskers - Hearts

Sweet Stampin - Cute & Cuddly

Robyn's Fetish - Animals

Mirror mirror

Today I have used a beautiful image from All Dressed Up - Mirror Mirror.  I've coloured it with ProMarkers and cut it out with a Spellbinders die.

Papers used are from Lili of the Valley/NitWit Snow Princess and Solids - Snow Princess.  Over the top of this is a lacy heart doily which I bought from Lili of the Valley a while ago.  The sentiment is highlighted with purple ProMarker and from their Art Pad - Sentiments.

The pearl trim at the top and bottom of the card and the washi fabric tape are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  The organza ribbon is from The Ribbon Girl - I've also managed to tie quite a neat bow :)

The blue self adhesive gems and paper flowers were bought in Hobby Craft.

Hope you've had a good weekend

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

All Dressed Up - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - Pretty Pearls

Creative Knockouts - Lots of Embellies

Heart balloons

This is one of my first posts with a valentines card.  The image I've chosen for this first one is Bunch of LOVE from Ching-Chou Kuik.  It's been coloured with ProMarkers and some biro used to highlight her hair.  The image was cut out with a Spellbinders die.  I've also added some pearlised gems around the image.

She's mounted over the top of some white card cut with a Marianne Designs die and a paper heart shaped doilie that I bought in Lili of the Valley a while ago.  Underneath this is some lace from The Ribbon Girl.  The design papers at the back are from Lili of the Valley/NitWits - Solids-Bonnets and Bowties and Petal Fresh.

Extra embellishments are some pearl trim from The Ribbon Girl, white heart gems from Hobby Craft, some white heart lace trim and a clay heart from Live & Love Crafts.

I'll have a few more valentines cards to post over the next few weeks :)

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Cutie Pie - White on White and oh so Cute

Graph It Colour Crazy Challenge - Crisp & White

Papertake Weekly - Get In Shape

Creative Inspirations - Pretty Pearls

Allsorts - Lace and Pearls

Riverside

Was a bit busy last night creating and ran out of time to blog this.  So here goes :)

Over the new year I discovered the world of Chin-Chou Kuik.  The image I've done here is an absolutely gorgeous one called Once in a Blue Moon.

I've coloured it with ProMarkers but used a lot of grey and blues which I've blended out to give a soft misty feel.  Added to the image is some DecoArt Glitter to her hair and wings and some glossy accents to the water to make it shimmer.  You can probably see a bit better in this close up.

Papers are from Wild Rose Studio - Wedding Bells.  All the papers and the image have been distressed.

I wanted her to look like she was standing at the side of the river, hopefully I've achieved this by adding some foliage and ribbon.  The resin bird, organza rose ribbon, leaves and stamens (including the glossy accents) were all from The Ribbon Girl.

The final touch is some silver self adhesive gems that I got in Hobby Craft.

Hope you all like her

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges

Ching-Chou Kuik - Facebook Challenge - World of Magic

Wags n Whiskers - Anything Goes

Cutie Pie - White on White and oh so Cute

Papertake Weekly - Its All New

Inky Chicks - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Valentine bear

James Bear - Daisy from Lili of the Valley is just perfect for Valentines, he's just so cute.  I've coloured him with ProMarkers but in such a way to make him look almost white.  He's then been cut out with a Spellbinders die, the edge coloured with brown and faded with a blender to make it look distressed, then mounted over some lace from The Ribbon Girl.

Background papers are from Lili of the Valley/Nit Wits Country Lady.  I've cut small strip of paper from Lili of the Valley/Raspberry Road Designs Father Knows Best and used a Martha Stewart punch to make it look lacy one side.

To make the heart banner I've used some red card and a La La Land die.

The final touches are some hearts from Live & Love Crafts and some red sled adhesive gems from Hobby Craft.

I'm onto Valentines cards now so you might just see a few more

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Wags n Whiskers - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Passion for ProMarkers - Teddy Bears

Glitter n Sparkle - Cute

Geisha in PINK

I think this has got to be one of my favourite cards so far.  I'm a BIG pink fan so I decided to colour this geisha image Wind Blown from Art by Mi Ran in yes pink :)  This is another one of "those" new to me artists I'm discovering in the digi world.

Once coloured I cut her out with a Spellbinders die.  Here's a close up so you can see.  I've also added some biro to highlight her hair.  The flower embroider ribbon I've added is something I got from Hobby Craft ages ago - I can't even remember when I bought it!

Papers are from Joy Crafts - Romance and Wild Rose Studios - Antique Library.  Both lots were bought from The Glitter Pot.  The pink silk ribbon the the left hand side of the card was purchased from Hobby Craft.

The flowers you can see in the close up above are a combination Wild Orchid Crafts, The Ribbon Girl and Live & Love Crafts (I don't think I could make my mind up - LOL)

The final embellishments are some pearlised self adhesive gems (Hobby Craft), some silver butterfly beads (supplier on Amazon) and a silver fan (from The Ribbon Girl).

Sorry about the overload of posts recently - I'm having idea overload :)

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

A Gem of a Challenge - Something New

In The Pink - Anything Goes

Art by Mi Ran - Anything Goes

Glitter n Sparkle - Include Some Pink

Crafty Card Makers - Something Old, Something New

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes + Option of a Sketch

Fab n Funky - Something New

Paper Shelter - Punches and/or Dies

B is for Buttons & Bows

The new challenge for 15 January at The ABC Challenge - B is for Buttons and Bows sponsored by Pink Gem Designs is on :)

I've never used any Pink Gem Designs images so this is a new one for me!

The gorgeous image I chose for this one is Emma in Hat which I've coloured with ProMarkers and added a bit of biro to highlight her hair.  I've backed it with black cardstock before mounting onto the card. 

Papers used are from Docrafts Papermainia Bexley Black, Lili of the Valley/NitWits - Solids Bonnets and Bowties and some new paper from Lili of the Valley/Raspberry Road Designs - Mr & Mrs.  Behind the image is a paper doily which I picked up in Lili of the Valley a while ago and some silver ribbon (with a hand tied bow - yay I've mastered doing a tidy bow now) bought from one of their Little Bags of Ribbon selections.

The flowers are a pink selection (my favourite colour) from Wild Orchid Crafts.  See below for a close up :) and the blingy heart buttons are from The Ribbon Girl.

The final touch are some self adhesive gems which I bought in Hobby Craft.

So it's over to you guys now to show us what you can do with buttons and bows :)

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

A Gem of a Challenge - Something New

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Crafty Boots - Out with the Old in with the New

Creative Moments - Anything Goes/New Beginnings

In the Pink - Anything Goes

Design Team Showcase - Anything Goes

Glitter n Sparkle - Include Some Pink

Fab n Funky - Something New

Art Deco Experiment

So here I go again experimenting.  I coloured this Stamping Bella image Audrey Loves Her Makeup a while ago with ProMarkers and only decided tonight to make her into a card.  I decided to do a modern take on Art Deco to see what I could come up with - and this is the result!

I've used papers from Prima Marketing - Engravers Collection and Almanac Collection.  I cut the papers in an Art Deco style and mounted them onto the card.  I then mounted the image on black card stock and mounted this over the top.

The self adhesive gems are from Docrafts Papermania - Art Deco Roaring Twenties.  I've also used some small black round self adhesive gems from Hobby Craft.

The final touch is a sentiment from a Lili the Valley art pad coloured with red ProMarker.

Ok what to do next.......

Andrea x

 I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Fantasy Stampers - Birthday

Sweet Stampin - Girly But NO Pink

Creative Knockouts - Girly Girl

Feeling blue

Love the images I've found at Oddball Art, this one is Big Eye Panda Girl, which I've coloured with ProMarkers.  I chose this one for a winter scene because she looks like she's wrapped up warm and thought I could do her with snow - ta da and there she is complete with sliver bead snowflakes and some flowersoft so make it look like she's in snow.  I've used a Spellbinders die to cut her out.

She's mounted onto papers from Lili of the Valley Frosty Christmas.  I've completed her with some self adhesive gems from Hobby Craft and some snow ball trim from The Ribbon Girl.

It's a very appropriate card for today - this is a bit what it was like in Yorkshire this morning.

Sending you winter wishes

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Anything Christmas

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Brrr... the Blues

Oddball Art - Winter

Deep Ocean Challenge - Winter Dreams

Rocking birthday

The new challenge over at Through The Craft Room Door this week is sponsored by Dr Digi.  Some of you may know I've not been crafting and blogging for that long so it was great to browse the images available.  The one I chose to do for this challenge is Derek Clapton.  This one reminds me of my pre-wedding photo shoot when my hubby grabbed my badminton racket and tried to start playing it!  I'm not lying here's a pic :)

The image is coloured with ProMarkers and cut out with a Spellbinders die.  Here's a closed up.

Papers used are from Lili of the Valley/NitWits Winter Wishes,  Solids - Always and Forever, Solids - Promises and Santoro Gorjuss - Neutrals

I added a sentiment using a Dovecraft Alphabet Stamp Set

The final embellishments added are some Docrafts Papermania - self adhesive gems, Ribbon Girl - silver note charms and a Hobby Craft - wooden guitar

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Stamping Sensations - Dies and Punches

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Creative Moments - Anything Goes/New Beginnings

Design Team Showcase - Commencing 11 Jan 15

Wags n Whiskers - Anything Goes

Something a little different

And now for something completely different...... I've been doing a bit of blog browsing and have found some fantastic "dark" art stuff as they call it.  So I decided I decided in the new year I'd get some images and give it a go, not too sure how well I've done but here goes.  I also have the added incentive that one or two people at work like the more goth looking cards or have friends that do to encourage me to try this.

The image I've chosen to do first is from Oddball Art Co - Creepy Cute Fairy Girl.  I'm not sure if she's got a pet under those bandages but it's kinda cute :) I coloured the image with ProMarkers and used a black biro to add some more detail to her hair.  The image is cut with a Spellbinders die, then I also cut the same die out in black card and stuck the two together so there's a shadow effect.

The papers are from two different packs of Santoro's Gorjuss and I also used some black card stock as the base.  The metal heart is also from Santoro's Gorjuss.

Final embellishments - a bit of ribbon I picked dip from Lili of the Valley a while ago and some black self adhesive gems from Hobby Craft.

Oh and I also added some bats in biro to the design paper by the tree branch, nearly forgot at bit!

Hope she's ok for a first attempt - now onto the next one :)

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

PunkyouGirl - Anything Goes

Crafty Boots - Out with the Old in with the New

I Love ProMarkers - New Beginnings

Winter Wonderland - Things with Wings

Left of Centre - A New Start with Ike's Art

Robyn's Fetish Challenge - Mythical Creatures

Paul's next project

It's our friend Paul's birthday tomorrow.  When I was discussing making a card for Paul with my hubby I showed him some vintage digital images I'd bought of a motorbike and plane.  But - we decided seen as he's always doing cars up maybe I should find a vintage car instead.  While searching I found this image (DigitalThings Steampunk Vintage Bicycle) which made my hubby laugh and we decided it could be Paul's next project.

The image is mounted on some black card stock and distressed. Other papers used are Lili of the Valley/Raspberry Road Designs Father Knows Best and Prima Marketing Engraver.  There papers have also been distressed.

I've made a stamped caption saying "Paul's next project" using a Dovecraft Alphabet Stamp Set and distress ink.

The final embellishments are some Tim Holtz Idea-Ology mini gears and some self adhesive gems.

Hope he likes the card I made him

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the Cardz for Guyz challenge - Vintage

Butterfly thanks

The current Butterfly challenge inspired me to make this card.  I love butterflies and when I first started to make card sI had a real thing about butterflies and I went though a patch of making only card with butterflies on :)

The image I've used is Ching-Chou Kuik's Blue Illusion.  I've chosen to colour it in my favour colour combination blue and purple with ProMarkers.  the image is mounted onto black card stock to make it look framed.  Here's a closer look at the image.

The papers I've used are from Lili of the Valley/NitWit's Solids - Promises.  I've distressed the papers to give it a shabby chic look and added some blue and purple self adhesive gems to co-ordinate with the papers.  

The sentiment was also colour co-ordinated and is from a Lili of the Valley Art Pad.  I chose this particular sentiment because of the butterflies on it and also because it was a thank you sentiment.

The final touches for the card are from Live & Love Craft's.  I've only just recently discovered them so you may find me using plenty more embellishments from them.  I wanted to try and get an extension of the image onto the card - hopefully I've succeeded.  I used some Prima Shabby Chic Butterflies and some Kort & Godt Hortensias in pink (these most closely matched the image).

Happy crafting :)

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Butterfly Challenge - Thank you with Butterflies

Sweet Stampin - New

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Glitter n Sparkle - Anything Goes

Totally Gorjuss - Anything Goes

Glitter n roses

I love these beautiful images from Aurora Wings - the one I've used for this card is Gardenia.  This was a new digital image I treated myself to for Christmas :)  I chose to colour her in strong reds with dark blond hair, to do this I used Pro-Markers.  Here's a close up image below.

Instead of doing the pearls matt I wanted to make them shine like jewels so I painted on some glue then sprinkled with DecoArt glitter.

I've kept the card fairly simple with papers and only used red, black and white card stock.  the Spellbinders dies are cut our of the same red card stock.  There's some glitter sprinkled onto the lower half of the card as though the glitter is cascading like fairy dust off the jewels.

The flowers and leaves I've used are from Wild Orchid Crafts and The Ribbon Girl.  Here's a close up on one of the flower sections from the card.  I've added some glitter to the flowers with a DecoArt writer.

The final embellishment are some black self adhesive gems.

I love the impact the red in this card makes.

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Aurora Wings - All That Gitters

Graph It Colour Crazy Challenge - Shiny & New

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Glitter n Sparkle - Anything Goes

New baby girl

The start of a new year and the start of my attempt to re-stock my baby cards.  This first one for a new baby girl is using Lili of the Valley All Our Dreams.  The image was cut out using a Spellbinders die and edged with pink ProMarker.

I've also coloured the image with ProMarkers, here's a close up.  

Papers used are Lili of the Valley/ Raspberry Road Designs Mr & Mrs and Lili of the Valley/Nit Wits Always and Forever. 

The lace is from Hobby Craft.  Organza rose trim and pearl trim is from Wild Orchid Crafts.

The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley Art Pad - Sentiments and has been coloured with pink ProMarker.

The selection of flowers I've used are all from Wild Orchid Crafts.

The final touch is a heart banner die from La La Land Crafts.

Hope you love the card

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin - New

A Gem of a Challenge - Something New

Totally Gorjuss - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations - Dies & Punches

Glitter n Sparkle - Anything Goes