Tilda with Butterflies

I'm still working on using up images that I have already coloured up. As mentioned a couple of entries ago, I have been attempting to learn a new technique in colouring with my Copic markers. The little Magnolia images are good ones for learning to create folds, so I've now got quite a number of little Tilda's in my stash. This little image, which is actually called "Tilda with Hawaiian Flower," has had the dress paper pieced to cover up my aborted attempt at creating folds. The rest of the image is coloured as usual.

I cut my image into a rectangle shape and matted it with a mustardy-green colour card. I also matted the orange dotty paper (behind the image) with the same mustardy-green. I inked the edges of both the image and the dotty paper before matting. My butterfly background is from a 6x6" pad called "Miss Caroline" by Jen Allyson (manufactured by My Mind's Eye). I also matted that with the same mustardy-green, and then mounted all to a white card base. I adhered ecru lace across the DP but atop the square of dotty paper, and added a goldish colored ribbon and bow above the lace.

I've decided that I definitely need to go shopping and look for the Martha Stewart punch of three sized butterflies (all on one punch). I have a number of butterflies in my die collections, but they were all too big for what I wanted. I finally found a very old hand punch of the small butterfly, but nothing smaller than that. Oh well, I feel it is my DUTY to aid the faultering economy, so a shopping trip is in order -- don't you agree? I finished off the card by adding some pearls to the bodies of the butterflies.

Despite using some colour combinations that I wouldn't normally use, and a background that is a bit fussier than my norm, I think the card turned out quite nicely, and I'm pleased with it.

Tilda on Pointe

Despite it being my younger daughter's favorite color, orange is not a color I use very often. It is NOT a color that I'm particularly fond of. However, I've noticed lately that I've been using it quite a bit -- what's with that?

This little image was another from my stash that I needed to use up. It is still part of my "learning" process, and while I think this one is getting closer, I'm still not "there" yet when it comes to creating the folds in the skirt. The highlight on my skirt should have been vertical (with the folds) rather than horizontal (above the folds). However, Miss Tilda was just too cute, so I've used her anyway.

For this card, I tried to "tone down" the orange using blue and white as the complimentary colors. My base card is white. I've placed a layer of blue card on top and then a piece of patterned paper on top of the blue. The two patterned papers are from a little pack that I picked up at Michael's Craft store in the dollar bin. The 6x6" packet is called "Treasures" by Shabby Chic. I cut the one piece down for the background and then cut a 1.5" piece (which I matted with the blue) for the strip on the side.

I cut Tilda out using an oval Spellbinder and "popping out" her two feet. I then cut the blue using the Scalloped oval by Spellbinder. I added a paper doily behind the strip and a piece of blue ribbon on top of the strip. I then added Stickles to Tilda's crown (can't see it in the photo) as well as a tiny rhinestone at the top of the crown. I finished off with  some rhinestones and roses from WOC.

Overall, I think this turned out rather well, don't you?

Tilda With Daisy

I have been trying to master creating folds in clothes using my Copic markers. Trying is the operative word in that sentence. Suzanne Dean covered them in her Color Me Copics class that I took last spring. Several designers have provided wonderful You-tube videos on the subject. Even the Magnolia Ink magazine covered the topic in a fairly recent issue. For some reason my mind is just not yet grasping the concept. I had a similar experience when I was painting. Give me a face to paint, no problem; give me realistic flowers -- well, let's just say that they left a lot to be desired.

The little Tilda image on my card above is one of my attempts. No, you don't see any folds. I've covered them up! I am doing my practice on my good X-Press It Blending card, so rather than wasting my cardstock, ink and time, I've paper pieced over the clothing. I have a number of these "altered" images in my stash now, so I thought it was about time to use some of them.

Well after literally spending over an hour trying to find a sketch, and then spending an equal amount of time trying to find paper that would work, not only with the image, but with the sketch, too, I finally got this little card made up (shew!)

My base card is white with a layer of green card on top (cut about 1/8" smaller than the base card). On top of the green, I have layered a piece of orange card. I cut a 1 1/2" strip of patterned paper and matted it with the green. I cut out my image using a Spellbinder die (Labels 8) and matted that with the green. Across the DP, I have added a strip of lace and green ribbon. My sentiment was cut out and matted onto the green (cut with Spellbinders Beaded Circles die). I then added some roses from WOC, and finished it off with little green gems.

The construction was quick and easy once I got the concept, the paper, the embellies and the image to all gel up (grin). Enjoy!

Tag, You're It

 The theme for our challenge this week at Card Crafter's Circle, is

TAGS

Create a tag, or a card that incorporates tags in your design.

We are excited to share with you a new sponsor, Robyn's Fetish! Our randomly drawn winner will receive their choice of five (5) digital images...

 

For my DT card, I used this cute angel image from Robyn's Fetish, coloring her with red and khaki Copic markers, then cutting around the image to form a rectangle and matting with black. I started with red card for my base, and matted my patterned paper onto black. My patterned paper was a piece of 12x12" that I had in my stash. It is a vintage look tan with subtle writing on the background.

 

I then found the patterned tag on another piece of paper and cut it out. I added the brown piece at the top where I punched my hole to give it more strength so it would not tear when I added the jute string. I also cut another tag from cream tagboard, embossed it using a Provo embossing folder and my Cuttlebug, and then inked the embossing with brown ink. I attached the two tags together with the jute string at the top.

 

The sentiment, "Thanks, You're an Angel," was printed onto a piece of the background paper and matted with the black. To finish off my card, I stacked two Prima paper flowers and added a jeweled brad in the center.

 

I quite liked the look of this little card when it was all finished. It has a bit of an eclectic feel with the vintage papers and the more modern little angel, the old world tags and the touch of the red flower and jeweled brad.

 

I hope you will take the time to create a lovely tag or card with tag and share it with us at Card Crafter's Circle (http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/). We really would love to see what you do with our challenge theme.

With a Little Sparkle

I am mega behind in getting my DT card for the Card Crafter's Circle challenge blog posted. Fortunately, the card is posted at the CCC blog on time. It is just my personal blog that is missing the card and explanation of what I did. I also am going to be playing a bit of a guessing game because I didn't write everything down as I was making the card and, alas, more than a day has passed (which means I can't remember, eh?). Anyway ---

Our challenge theme for you this week is:

SPARKLE, SPARKLE

We challenge you to create a card that sparkles.... glitter, shimmer, bling... make it shine!

We are excited to share with you our sponsor Whoopsie Daisy! Linnie creates delightful sheets of images, and each sheet contains 4 images! There is a wide variety from which to  choose.  Do visit her store. She has great prices. Our randomly drawn challenge winner will receive their choice of two sheets of digital images (that means 8 different images).

 

The Design Team have created some beautiful creations to share with you this week, and one of our very talented teamies has even created a tutorial on how she made her gorgeous glitter background. It is a fun technique, so go have a look.

 

My little image is called Angel with Candle (appropriate, right? - grin). I coloured her up with my Copic markers and then added bits and bling to make her shine. Her halo is colored first with a dark yellow Copic and then with a layer of "Clear Star" Gelly Roll pen by Sakura. Her wings and the "fire" of her candle were colored in using Stickles. After the Stickles dried, I glued small blue rhinestones around the "flame" to similate the glow of the fire.

 

I started with a white card and layered a piece of blue solid card on top (sorry, I don't know the manufacture of the solid card). The patterned papers, however, are from an 8"X8" pad by DCWC called "The Linen Closet." The striped piece actually has glitter in some of the stripes and sheen in some of the other stripes, giving double sparkle/shine. The patterned papers were all matted with white, and the little image (which I cut out with my circle Spellbinder die) is matted (cut with the scalloped circle Spellbinder die) using the same card as the first layer.

 

I used ecru ribbon that is a combination satin and sheer, and I finished off by adding the clear rhinestones in the upper and lower corners, and the sentiment "Let Your Light Shine".

You have until Thursday evening (US time) to create your own sparkle and shine creation and enter it into this week's challenge. I hope you will, as I would so enjoy seeing how you create your sparkle.

Dance As If No One Is Watching

I made this simple but cute little card for Dutch Paper Crafts. Those itty-bitty roses (about the size of a dime) were actually made with my own two hands and a little Joy Crafts die (Joy Craft Small Roses, 6003/0009). The die comes with three rose pieces and the leaves. Two of the die pieces have a slit along one side, and you twist the piece inside of itself at the slit to form the petals. I used white, light weight card for the petals and inked them to match my ribbon. I also cut some extra petals and used them for three of the five roses I made so they would be fuller. Aren't they darling?


My card is white with a strip of green patterned paper and a strip of matching solid green (both from the same paper pad -- my bad, didn't write down the manufacturer). The dotty ribbon is some I got out of the dollar bin at Target a number of years ago. My little image is by Lili of the Valley (just LUV those little images), and the pearls are some that I had left over.

I typed "Dance" on my computer and printed it off. On the inside, I have used a saying that I particularly like (which I also typed and printed from my computer). In fact, my granddaughter gave me a plaque for Christmas (or maybe it was my birthday) -- anyhoo, the saying is on the plaque and it hangs in my craft room. It goes:

Work as if you don't need the money

Love as if you've never been hurt

Dance as if no one is watching

Now I think that pretty much sums up a pretty good life, don't you? You notice it doesn't say anything about singing, right? That's probably a good thing in my case since I can't carry a tune in a hand-bag and am usually asked by my family to stop singing (LOL)! Of course, if no one is around then I'm likely to sing at the top of my lungs -- but then that would be a different saying and a different card, so we'll just stick to the dancing and leave it at that.

Welcome Little One

A very dear (and much younger) friend of mine just had her second baby, a little girl whom they named Anna Margaret. Anna arrived last Tuesday to join Mommy, Daddy and big brother Daniel. She is a little doll, and I would so love to get my hands on her, but alas, she lives up in Virginia. I made this card to welcome little Anna, and since I know she has received it, I will now share it here with all of you.

I decided to go with the soft peachy colour scheme because I thought all of the pinks in the Copic markers were too bright or too pink for a new baby. The peach was softer and more pastel. My image is Sleeping Baby Tilda (Cozy Family 2010 collection) by Magnolia stamps. I colored her little outfit using R01 (Pinkish Vanilla), R00 (Pinkish White) and R000 (Cherry white). Despite the word pink in the names of the colors, they are actually more peach. I used E00 and E000 for the skin.

I used a white card base and layered light green on top. I then used a patterned paper (sorry I don't know the manufacturer). I just really liked the patterned paper. It is so feminine with the tiny flowers and green vine trellis. The strip across the front is a piece from one of my 6x6" "From My Mind's Eye" pads (matted with the green). The strip just matched perfectly! I also used it to make the scalloped oval behind the image and the matting for the sentiment.

I cut the doily from white and inked around the edges using Apricot chalk ink by Colorbox. The ecru lace is a new find that a girlfriend told me about. It comes with adhesive on the back, so no more having to figure out how to keep those beautiful laces I love to use in place. It was a little more expensive, but well worth it. I am definitely saving my pennies to buy more ( I guess I should tell you that I purchased it from www.CustomCrops.com and it is called lace tape).

I finished off this little card with flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts. I brought in a little deeper orange with the three roses, and then I used white roses and cherry blossoms which I inked with either the Apricot chalk ink or with the R01 Copic marker pen (some of both).

I was very pleased with the end results -- a pretty little card to accompany the gift for a pretty little girl. Glad you are here Miss Anna!

Grab Your Sun Shades

This week our challenge at Card Crafter's Circle was to use BRIGHT colors. Are these bright enough? I like bright, happy colors. I have a number of outfits in my summer wardrobe that are "hot" pink, bright aqua, and yellow. However, I evidently don't like bright colors in my paper crafting because I had a hard time finding very much of it in my stash. Fortunately, another little freebie pad (got to love those free items) came to my rescue with just the "right" paper to match the adorable little image from our sponsor this week.

So, before I tell you about my card, let me tell you about this week's challenge. We are always excited to have a repeat sponsor, and this week it is the uber-fabulous... Bugaboo Stamps! Our randomly drawn challenge winner will receive their choice of 7 Bugaboo images... now that is a prize worth putting on your shades and bringing out the brights, eh? Just create a little something using bright colours and enter it at Card Crafter's Circle (http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/).

My little image is called Ava with flowers. Isn't she darling? She does remind me a wee bit of my Granddaughter, Claire. Claire enjoys and appreciates flowers, too. Ever since she was a tot, she's insisted we cut flowers, when it bloom, from my garden and fill up vases of them for inside the house. Oops, sorry, got side tracked down Memory Lane instead of focusing on the task at hand. I printed Ava onto X-Press brand card and coloured her using Copic markers. I then cut the image using the Wonky Squares dies by Spellbinder.

For the card base, I used green by Bazill, cut into 5.5x5.5". The patterned paper is from Totally Tropical papers by Kate Knight.The orange strip (which I border punched on both sides) is a piece I (miraculously) found in my scrap bag, as was the pink strip on top of it. (The pink strip is an exact match for the pink in the patterned paper, but distorted when I took the photo. I tried editing it, but then the other colors became distored and washed out, so I just left the photo alone, and you'll have to take my word that it matches - grin!)

For the embellishments, I simply used the blue ribbon and one little flower which I made by layering two paper flowers together and adding some stamin. I added the circular sentiment "Sweet sunny thoughts of you" which I matted on another circle, and voilé my cheerful little card.

Now, get off the computer and go make your own card. Can't wait to see what you create!

Entering the following challenges:
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ - use a flower
http://littlemissmuffetchallenges.blogspot.com/search/label/Challenges - flowers
http://justkeeponcreating.blogspot.com.au/ - anything goes

One Last Mother's Day Card

Wanted to share this sweet little card with you because it is quick and easy but looks lovely. It is simply made by layering various die cut shapes over one very pretty paper. My paper is from a 6x6" pade called "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" by Rowena Scott Designs, but any lovely paper you have in your stash would, I'm sure, look just as pretty.

I started with a 6x6" white base card. I trimmed the designer paper about 1/8" smaller and adhered it atop the white. Then using white paper, I started cutting different shapes. My first one is cut with my Cricut and is from the cartridge called "Paper Lace" (Lace 2 on page 23 in the handbook). Again, any similar shape from whatever cartridge or Spellbinder die you may have will also work. It is a matter of your own taste and what you have in your supplies. I adhered a white silk flower to the center, then cut two green leaves using a Joy Crafts die (6003/0007--from Dutch Paper Crafts) and tucked them behind the flower.

I typed the word Mother using a fancy font and printed it from computer onto white card. I then used a Spellbinder die (sorry, I could not find a name or number for the die, but it is an Ana Ry design; there are three dies in the package) to cut it out. The three dies in this package all make fancy label type cuts, and the one I used most closely matched the background corner designs.

The inside of the card is equally as quick. I used a second sheet of the paper on the front and adhered it to the inside. I then typed up just part of a poem I found which I thought made a lovely sentiment. I cut out the poem using the largest die in the Spellbinder "Fleur de Lis Squares" package and adhered it over the designer paper. Voilé, a Mother's Day card that would surely touch any mother's heart.

This Sunday is Mother's Day in the US. I'd like to wish all of you who are Mothers, Grandmothers, soon-to-be Mothers, some day Mothers, or even substitute Mothers a wonderful and special day.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ - Mother's Day
http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/ - For a special woman
http://celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.com/ - Mother's Day
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/ - Mother's Day
http://stamp-n-doodle.blogspot.com/ - Mother's Day

In Honour of Mom

Mother's Day is always a poignant time for those of us who no longer have their mothers. This May will be the third Mother's Day without mine. However, as the mother of two girls who are now mothers, there is still the joy of sharing this special day with special people. I look at the young mothers in today's society and think about all the things that so many of them have to juggle while raising their children.

Our theme for the weekly challenge at Card Crafter's Circle is "Mother's Day/Something for Mum." Several countries, such as the UK, have already celebrated the traditional Mother's Day, so we didn't want to limit our theme to just that one occasion. Maybe your Mum is going to have a birthday soon or you just want to let her know you are thinking about her. Make her a lovely card and express your feelings for her.

We are always excited to have our current sponsor Dearie Dolls! Although the Dearie Dolls Shop is closed at the moment, they are still graciously sponsoring our challenges. The winner will have their choice of three images showcased by our Design Team at CCC!

Don't despair.... I urge you to go visit the Dearie Dolls blog and see what is happening .... it's a blog full of freebies, and they are gorgeous! Do leave some love in your comments when you collect the free images, won't you?

Now, on to my little card. As I said, I no longer have my mother, but my little 8 years old granddaughter has a special relationship with her mother (my younger daughter), so I had her in mind when I created my DT card. This little image is so very cute and reminded me so much of the two of them. After printing my image onto X-Press card and colouring with my Copic markers, I used one of my Spellbinder dies (Labels Four) to cut out the image.

Starting with a white card base, I layered a piece of blue card on top. I then layered a floral patterned paper on top of that (leaving about 1/8" border around each layer of paper). I then cut a circle from Core'dinations white wash green and embossed it using a QuicKutz Lifestyle crafts embossing folder called Spring Time (from Dutch Paper Crafts). When doing this "technique," remember to cut your shape BEFORE you emboss because the die cutting machines will flatten your embossing.

I then layered a strip of solid pink that I punched with a Fiskar's border bunch to make small scallops. I added the pink dotty ribbon across the pink strip, the little bow and the roses (Wild Orchid Crafts), and my sentiment.

I've shown the card to my granddaughter, and she is pleased with it except that her Mum's favourite colour is orange, so she thought I should have worked that colouring in instead of the pink. Oops, she is probably right on that point, but too late now (smile). I know my daughter will like it despite having no orange (smile).

Thank you for looking. Run over to http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.com/ and have a look at what my very creative teamies have made this week for your inspiration, and then add your own wonderful work via the blue frog. We'd love for you to share with us this week. All of your entries are equally as inspiring to us as (hopefully) ours are for you.

I'm Sorry

Last night my older daughter, Paige, phoned. She lives in Virginia, and the month of April had been a challenging one for her, so she just wanted to talk with her Mom. I always enjoy our phone conversations even though they always seem to go on for several hours (smile). After I hung up with her, I went into my craft room and made this little card to send off to her.

This little Mo Manning image is so cute. I bought it in digital format thinking it might be a cute image to use if I should ever forget a birthday. I didn't think, until last night, that it would also make a cute "get well" card or, as for Paige, a pick me up card.

I colored the image using Copic markers and cropped the image into a rectangle which I matted on blue paper. The solid blue that I used for all the mats is by DCWV. The the patterned paper I used for the rest of the card is from a 6x6" pad by My Mind's Eye called Vaniety Fair. My Mind's Eye must be really appealing to me right now because I've purchased several new pads lately by them.

The card base, itself, is white, and having picking three papers from the pad and matting each, it was just a matter of layering. I printed off "I'm Sorry" from my computer using a font called "Kids" and then cut it using just the top portion of one of my Spellbinder label dies. I inked around the edges and tucked the sentiment to the right of the image.

The hardest part (for me) and the thing that took the longest in making this little card was deciding how I was going to embellish it and with what. After trying a gazillion different items, I finally decided on the yellow roses (Wild Orchid Crafts), a swirl (Joy Crafts die 6003/0008 from Dutch Paper Crafts), and leaves (McGill hand punch).

Now, I just need to get a sturdy mailing envelop made and get this little darling popped into the mail.