Monday 31 December 2012

Poppy Heart Card

I was delighted to see the Baroque Hearts as they are ideal for lots of occasions. I have made a feminine card using the Poppy Baroque heart.
The heart is stamped with Memento Black ink and coloured with Promarkers then triple embossed with clear embossing powder. The embossing definately intensifies the colours of the heart. For the background, I used the crackle stamp from Echoes of Italy and my all time favourite corner flourish from the Butterfly Daisy Collage. The flowers are hand cut and coloured with Tattered Rose distress ink the same as the background and stamped with the crackle. Thanks for visiting Debbie

Saturday 15 December 2012

Trees of different Seasons

I have made three very similar cards using Terrific Treescapes, the layouts are the same but the colours suggest different seasons of the year.
For the first I used yellows and greens. A large circle of paper was used for the outline if the sun/moon and Squeezed Lemonade edges it.
The sun/moon of this card was created using the waste form the circle of the first card. Dried Marigold is the colour of the sun and I used my favourite red, Vermillion Archival Ink for the trees and sentiment.
The soft blues of this one make me think of winter. On all three of the cards I masked the bottom of the card and inked a line so the sentiment words had something to sit on. Thankyou for visiting Debbie

Thursday 13 December 2012

More Christmas Decorations

Another card from Christmas Decoration stamps, this time in landscape. For this card I stamped onto turquoise green card and added festive red card and bows. I stitched pearl seed beads so the baubles weren't floating.
Thanks for visiting Debbie

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Christmas Decorations

Another festive offering using the Christmas Decorations stamps using black and white. I used the diamond from the collection to create the backgroung stamping it with Memento London Fog as not to take the eye away from the baubles.
Thanks for visiting Debbie

Tuesday 11 December 2012

Home Sweet Home

My card today isn't from a Christmas set it's from the Home Sweet Home stamps. These stamps are so versatile as the design team came up so many beautiful samples. I went wintery with this one.
Thanks for visiting Debbie

Monday 10 December 2012

Snowy Trees

This is an 8x8 card made with the trees from Fat Robin stamps. I used glossy card and brayered the background for this one and added falling snow with my inksentials pen.
Thanks for visiting Debbie

Sunday 9 December 2012

Christmas cards from the past

Over the next few days I'll be posting Christmas cards from a while ago. I'm hoping that if any inspiration is needed for last minute cards I can help. These will be short posts as I'm full steam ahead making costumes etc for our childrens production at school.
Made with a stamp from Fat Robins Thanks for visiting Debbie

Saturday 1 December 2012

Snowflakes

My post today seems appropriate as snow has been forecast soon. I've been looking at them since June. I've been making wedding invites etc for a lovely couple who are getting married in an Ice Palace. There were 60 invites for friends and family and a couple of larger for their parents.
The menus are done and the table planner is all ready to print out. I'm leaving the printing out till nearer the time in case of any changes. I have also used the snowflake for a friends xmas cards. So my wrought iron snowflake die came out again for all 80 of the cards.
I'm so pleased with the results and they were delivered last weekend. Thanks for stopping by Debbie

Sunday 25 November 2012

A few Little Party Birds

I was delighted when I saw these clear stamps as they fill a gap in my stamp collection. The Party Words and Birds stamps are a little querky and ideal for quick cards. Here are a few I've made.
For the birds on this card I did the paper piecing technique using scraps of left over paper.
Simply stamped and coloured with alcohol pens.
Another quick card, I love the way they can be stood on the sentiment. A couple of washi tape strips for extra detail.
I took inspiration from DT buddy Lesley for this card. I love her polka dot papers available for download from the website. For the red hearts on the flowers I stamped onto the card. I stamped another three, coloured them red and covered with glossy accents. I cut the hearts out and decoupaged. Thank you for visiting Debbie

Wednesday 21 November 2012

New England Winter

I'm sure like me you're in the process of making christmas cards for friends and family. Over at Chocolate Baroque the New England Winter stamps is on offer until Saturday. Debbie

Sunday 18 November 2012

Tangled Garden meet Felt

Well, my project today doesn't use card but it does involve stamps and ink. I love the versatility of stamps and immediately new that the large flower would be great stamped onto felt. It gives a great impression as there are no fiddly bits to cut out.
I used Black Stazon and stamped twice then cut them out. The centers are lots of french knots stiched with three strands of embroidery thread. A brooch back is stitched to the back so that it can be moved from the hat to my jacket. This photo gives a better view of the french knots.
We all have crafty things that we hang onto and feel they are to precious to use. I bought this fabric over two years ago and it fell into the strokable catergory. My first thought was to make a cushion but I decided the fabric was a good size for a bag.
I hope this post has inspired you to think about different ways of using your stamps. Debbie

Sunday 11 November 2012

I had a rummage around my craftroom to collect lots of bits and pieces that were going to tie in with the paper from the En Francais 6x6 paper pad I fell in love with. I love the colours and the size is ideal for cards.
I used a word mask and brushed corduroy on the paper. The flowers are from prima and were coloured with distress inks and spritzed. I was amazed how the colours changed and split. The wording is from Best Ever Relative clear stamps. The stamps are so handy to used as an addition or the main focus of a card. Have a good day Debbie

Thursday 8 November 2012

A blue sparkling Christmas

I'll start by saying thank goodness fireworks night has been and gone. Like other pet owners our dog has been so nervous and upset by the enormous bangs from the fireworks. My card was made a couple of weeks ago using the Joyful Christmas and Best Relative Ever Clear stamps.
I used a mask for the background and embossed it through my grand calibur. The poinsetta and words are heat embossed with Wow powder Silver and Nice Ice Blue. I love the sparkle from these powders. Thanks for visiting Debbie

Wednesday 7 November 2012

A Garland of Baubles

Thought I post a picture of this card I made using the garland of baubles. The stamp and a few more leapt into my hand when looking at the at the Lili of the Valley stand at Harrogate. I coloured with Promarkers and covered the baubles with Glossy Accents. The edges were shaded with Shaded Lilac Distress Ink. Debbie

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Merry Christmas Tree

This card is from the cards I've been batch making for my neighbours. The stamp is from Stained Glass Christmas and stamped onto cream pearl card with red ink.
A quick and easy card ideal for batch makes. Thanks for looking Debbie

Monday 5 November 2012

Poor Melting Snowman

I always send my neighbours a handmade card at Christmas. Some of them have wonderful sense of humors so when I saw this stamp at Harrogate it fit the criteria perfectly.
Thanks for stopping by Debbie

Sunday 4 November 2012

Chinese Lanterns

This card is made from the Chinese Lanterns clear stamps. My DT buddy Judith does a forgotten friday post and this prompted me to rummage and find my H2O's.
I stamped with black ink and heat embossed with clear the lanterns and coloured with my H2O's. The border is cut with a Crealies Doily Element. The congratulations word is from Best Ever Relative clear stamps and I curved it. Hope you have a good day Debbie

Saturday 3 November 2012

Busy week and new stamps

I've had a great time this week playing with lots of crafty things. I started the week playing with paint, making gifts for Christmas and sewing like mad making costumes for our show at school. I have been knitting myself a scarf and have re-decorated our bedroom. In between all of the above hubby and I two days away in the beautiful city of Durham. I foolishly suggested I kept him company climbing the spiral staircase to the top of the Cathedral (I'm not good with heights) but I had such a feeling of achievement when I got to the top. Four new sets of stamps have been released this week over at Chocolate Baroque. Three of them are Clear Stamps and one is rubber. I'll be posting photos of some of my creations over the next few days. Here is a card made from the Tangled Garden set. I love the size of these stamps.
This card didn't take long to make as the detail is in the stamps. Thanks for stopping by Debbie

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Chistmas Card with matching tag

I made this set a few weeks ago as part of my DT samples. I wanted to have a matching set so stamped the presents stamp twice onto white card with Versamark and embossed with Red Glitz WOW powder. The edges were coloured with Antique Linen Distress Ink. As this is a tall stamp the card is a DL size. The ribbon on the tag is long enough to tie around the neck of a bottle.
I hope this gives you some ideas. Debbie

Monday 8 October 2012

Gothic Fragments Christmas Card

This is my first card made with the Gothic Fragment stamps which are going to be so versatile. I have a few friends who like tradtional cards at Christmas time and I had them in mind when putting this card together.
The arched window has been stamped twice with versamark and embossed with silver powder. I wanted to keep the colouring soft so I water coloured with distress inks. I used chipped saphire and antique linen. For more depth I painted more colour around the edges of the windows. I mounted them onto silver mirror card and added them to the fronts of the gatefold card.
For the inside I stamped the sentiment from the new Joyful Christmas clear stamps with black and embossed with clear powder. I cut it out with a nestablitie and framed with the larger shape that has been coloured with the chipped saphire. I also stamped one of the other arched windows and left it uncoloured as I wanted the wanted the sentiment to be the main focus.
Debbie

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Celebrating Friendship

Good morning all. My card today is a clean and simple card that uses a combination of the new clear stamps. I love the way that these new stamps can be mixed up. The lanterns are from Chinese Lanterns and the sentiment is from Best Relative Ever.
I used Memento black ink to stamp the lanterns and coloured with alcohol pens. It's not easy to see on the photograph but I drew around the edge of the lanterns with a light grey to give them dimension. The words are stamped individually and the beauty of clear stamps is that the can be lined up so easily. I matted onto black card and fixed to a white base card. I have a special friend who is having nearing the end of her chemotherapy and this card will be heading over to her in a few weeks as I want to hand deliver it but I've been full of cold and have stayed away as not to pass it to her. Have a good Wednesday. Debbie

Monday 17 September 2012

Enjoying the Sunset

I have been so excited about the new clear stamps for a while now. I'm sure when people start to play with the new designs they will love them as much as the Design Team do.
My card was created by stamping the Crane first onto white card and then make a mask to cover it. I then cut it with a nestability and taped the shape to the cut to frame so that when I used the distress ink it would leave a white border. I used Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed for the sunset and Stormy Sky for the water. I cut a larger black frame to mount on. I decided to keep the base card simple so that the main image popped out from the background so I only stamped with black ink. There's lots more inspiration to follow from the team. Enjoy. Debbie

Saturday 15 September 2012

A good week

I'm sure we've all had the feeling that your week seems to go from bad to worse and you worry where it's going to end. Well my week has been the total opposite, very rare so I wanted to record it. Sunday things went very well with the xmas card production line. Monday, I found a large amount of grey and brown fabric at our local Hospice shop for our schools Xmas production. Tuesday, I've been invited to accompany the teachers and children to watched Oliver at Newcastle as I'll be making the costumes.
Also my DD got a part time job which is really going to help fund the Masters Degree she's doing this year. I can't believe how many interviews she's attended and how many young people are applying for the same job. Wednesday, I got a phone call from the garage where we've ordered our new car. I've waited so patiently for 12 weeks. We decided that we didn't need our large petrol guzzler as we are not travelling half way down the country with DD's belongings any more. Thursday, I've been making felt flowers and was pleased with my efforts.
Friday, I run an after school club that teachs the children cookery skills (great fun) and I have been asked to attend a yearly conference in Durham. I'm looking forward to meeting lots of other people who see the benefit of teaching young children such a valuable life skill. Saturday, I go to collect our (my) new car. Hope it's a good Saturday for everyone Debbie.

Wednesday 12 September 2012

Full steam ahead for Christmas

My post today is a couple of cards I made a few weeks ago with stamps from the The Gift of Christmas. I wanted to create backgrounds using Shaded Lilac and Picked Raspberry Distress Inks.
I stamped the mistletoe snowflake with the raspberry and then used the same colour ink to colour the rest of the card. I then stamped the Merry Christmas sentiment onto white card and cut it with a nestability label. I left the die in place and inked so to leave a white border. I repeated on a larger label to mount onto. I added a gem to the centre of the snowflakes and finished by putting onto a white card. The Lilac card is done in the same way. I called this post full steam ahead as I've been busy making cards as the girls I work with have been asking for cards already so I have had a production line going through the holidays. I'll try and take a couple of photographs to show the cards I've made. Happy stamping Debbie

Thursday 6 September 2012

The BIG secret is out

An enormous sigh of relief was let out at 1.00pm today as I had been keeping a secret that I have been so excited about for a while. If you'd like more information about the secret being let out, pop over to the Chocolate Baroque Design Team blog and take a look. There are a few give aways there as well. Good Luck!!! Debbie

Party Time

Everybody enjoys a good party and this morning over at Chocolate Baroque they will be tweeking the details to make it a great one. Pop over to here and find out the details of this online event. Hope you can be there. Debbie

Tuesday 4 September 2012

Beautiful Baubles

My card is from the newly released set of stamps from Chocolate Baroque called Pears and Baubles.
Glenda posted the picture of it on the Design Team blog so I thought I would give you the details of what I used.
The cards are made from Kraft card and are 6 x 6 size. I used Versamark and my new favourite embossing powders, Red Glitz, Opaque Bright White and Nice Ice Blue. I love the way these powders really 'pop' when heated. As Glenda says on the DT blog they are ideal for batch card making with them looking very elegant. I underlined the sentiment with a white pen. I've made more cards from this stamp set and will post the photographs over the next day or so. Happy stamping Debbie

Friday 31 August 2012

Winter Cottage

For this card I worked on smooth card rather than glossy. The image is stamped with black memento so it could be coloured with alcohol pens.
I stamped again onto a post it note for a mask and applied. I brayered the sky with Stormy Sky distress ink then added dots of white with an Inkssentials pen for snow and edged around the branches. The cottage, trees and bushes were coloured with pens. To finish I layered and added to a square card that has been stamped with the snowflakes. Debbie

Thursday 30 August 2012

Baby Pram Quilt

I've had a bit of a rush on this week as I wanted to make my neighbours Christmas cards done before returning to work as I'm always stressing in December. My daughters lovely friend is going to be an Aunty in the next week or so and had asked my to make a pram quilt for the new baby. I have had a collection of baby boy fabric stashed away for quite some time. So I set to and here is what I made for here. Front
Back
Cards to accompany the gift
Thanks for visiting Debbie

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Christmas Gifts

I'm sure when we all know the feeling that when we have new stamps ideas flow, well I knew these stamps would really work well with bright colours.
I coloured the parcels with a mix of Copics and Flexmarkers, cut out and matted onto silver mirri card then trimmed around it.
For the background I used Salty Ocean Distress Ink with the snowflake (mistletoe) from the Gift of Christmas Stamps. A gem was added to the centre of the flakes and to finish I put on the sentiment. Thanks for visiting. Debbie

Friday 24 August 2012

Waiting Patiently for Christmas

I love the idea that this christmas tree will stay intact and upright when the owner takes their eyes off the pets for a moment. I have alot of friends who are animal lovers and I'm sure they will love this image.
I decided I wanted the tree green, the dog and cat different colours. I coloured the stamp with Distress Markers, black soot, forest moss and walnut stain. Remember to huff on the stamp. I used water and a brush to shade the tree and it also gives the animals a more defined colour. I rubbed the edges with Antique Linen and mounted onto brown card. The background paper is from the Seasons Greetings CD and over stamped with the mistletoe flake. The Design Team have been busy so stop by again for more beautiful cards. Debbie

Monday 20 August 2012

A Festive Bookshelf

I look forward to the summer holidays as I usually start my Christmas cards and this year I've decided quickly which stamps I'll use for my own cards that I'll be sending out. The bookshelf stamp colours so well and is so detailed.
I stamped with Versafine Onyx Black and embossed with Clear Wow powder. The colouring is done with a mix of Copic and Promarker Pens. The edges have been softened with Antique Linen Distress Ink and I left the Die in place so it kept a white edge. I layered onto red, cut the base card and folded to make an easel card. Thanks for stopping by and if you leave a comment Thank you. Debbie

Friday 3 August 2012

Stylish Flowers

Well it's nearly the weekend and we are off for a little break next week to Wensleydale so that means lots of delicious cheese to snack on. Last weekend hubby and I went up to the Gateshead Flower Show. I love wondering around looking at the competition area with it's enormous vegetables and pefectly formed flowers. My favourite area is the arranged flower displays. There are hours of careful placing of flowers done. Definately a passion of the creators.
This card is made from the Dusky Damask Stamps. I used white embossing powder on the background and coloured with Festive Berries Distress Ink. I cut it in half to extend it to a square shape. I covered the gap with the red fibre (not sure of the name of it). The flowers are coloured with Alcohol Pens and the I cut it out with a Nestabilitie Shape.
I hope the weather stays fine for next week Debbie