CRICUT - HERITAGE CARTRIDGE

When I had the Cricut out the other day I found this house and thought it had potential.  Of course, it looked nothing like the end product but it was fun dressing the house up.

I used a natural colour cardstock for the house which then allowed me to alter the colour by sponging with distress inks.  The idea of the gable colouring came from the Hero Arts Simple Things stamp set and I also used the front door awning and window boxes from the same set.  The sentiment is from an old SU set, the fence and trim are both MS border punches and the background paper is from my stash.  The label used for the sentiment is also from SU.

MARIJ RAHDER - SUZY 3

A colleague recently celebrated 10 years with the company and I made this card for the occasion.

I blame the colouring of the cow squarely on the shoulders of DH.  He went to bed early one night leaving me and the cow image alone.  I started off with Distress ink Black Soot and an aquabrush thinking I would do a grey / black and white cow.  Well, that looked rather dull so I added the pink muzzle and udders, then decided to paint the toenails with a Spica glitter pen.  The idea of green spots and tail just came to me and next thing I knew, I had a multicoloured cow !  The pig was also done with Distress Ink and an aquabrush.

The background is from a Gina K Designs set called Funny Farm, as is the sentiment.  The background is also painted in using Distress Inks and an aquabrush. 

Dot, I hope you liked the card. 

PEACHY KEEN - HAPPY BIRD AND PHRASES

Often with a new image I stamp it out a couple of times on different cardstock to see which colouring medium works better.  This time I stamped it out 4 times and ended up not liking any of the 3 I did with Copics and normal markers.  What did work was on watercolour paper using an aqua brush with Distress Inks for the yellow and the cheeks and a Twinklling H2O colour for the blue.  The orange bits were done with markers.

The diamond shaped red paper was done with a paper crimper, the blue die cut is one from Go Kreate, the yellow die cut and the one on which the image is stamped are both Nestabilities and the heart is from CM.  The sentiment is from the same Peachy Keen set as the bird.

COTTAGECUTZ - PUPPY W/HEART

In the latest parcel of my US purchases I had ordered a number of CottageCutz dies and this puppy reminded me of our dear little chap who is no longer with us.

The pink paper is CM, the dies are Nestabilities Labels, the sentiment is Hero Arts and the flowers plus brad are from my stash.

HIGH HOPES - FAIRY TALE BUG

Every now and again I have the need to do a really bright card.  This little chap just seemed to lend himself to being brightly coloured and the card sort of flowed from there.

I used Copics to colour the image in and added a couple of tiny Penny Black images to the front and back covers of the book, plus gave it a title.  The yellow, black and lime papers are all from my stash as is the fence which was made from a MS border punch and coloured with Distress ink.  I am rather fond of my collection of Nestabilities dies and used the Deckle edged rectangles and Labels 8 on this card.  The snail is from a Hero Arts stamp set called Sending Smiles and the sentiment is also Hero Arts Simple Things.

BABY LOONEY TUNES

A while back I received this stamp set as a gift and as my US and UK purchases are delivered to a holding address in the US who repackage them prior to sending them on to me I have no idea who sent it.  I had also thought I would not be using it as it did not appeal to me.

I wanted something a little different for my niece, Erin's birthday plus I got to haul the Cricut out again for the fence.  I have struggled with my Cricut but after finding a detailed list of cardstock with the relevant settings I now feel confident to start using it again.

The stamps were coloured in using Copics and cut out.  The fence was sponged with 3 different Distress inks and the grass, which I stamped multiple times, is from Hero Arts Sending Smiles.  The embossing folder is a Tim Holtz one sponged over with Distress inks again and the sentiment, which appeals to me, is also from a Hero Arts set.

PEACHY KEEN - VALENTINE CUPIDS

Happy Valentine's day !  This cute Peachy Keen stamp was one I just simply had to buy.

I am finding the grey Copics a little challenging at the moment and admit this is not my best colouring effort.  The image is cut out using a Go Kreate Wavy Frame die and the hearts are from my stash.  No idea how I came up with the idea to put wool around the heart and in the middle but it seemed to work.  The wool was not the easiest to stick down but I eventually tried a really strong glue and it worked.  The sentiment is from the same Peachy Keen set.

CLEAR DOLLAR - PET ANGELS

So often I want to send a condolence card on the loss of a pet and can never find a suitable image.  Then I saw this set on special at Clear Dollar and thought it would be ideal.

I used Copics to colour in the stamp and cut it out.  After colouring in the wings I did not like the end result and covered over it with Stickles.  The star die is by Marianne D - Starry Garland and is a new one I was trying out.  The wavy frame die is from Go Kreate and the scalloped and normal ovals are SU punches.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

After assembling the card I decided the little dog needed a halo which is also part of the set. 

VALENTINE'S MUG

After using only the Scor-it for a couple of years I decided to buy a Scor-pal and must say I am delighted with the various projects that are available, this mug being one of them.  The instructions can be downloaded on the Scor-Pal site and it took more time choosing the cardstock for the handle than it did to make the mug.  The only deviation I made was to cut a circle for underneath the mug as I felt it was a little untidy and wanted to hide my mistakes !

The mug is made from a pad of sturdy cardstock I had in my stash, and for the handle I used CM and Nestabilities Circles.  The heart on the mug is a CM punch and the heart label is a Magnolia stamp.

VALENTINE'S BIRD HOUSE

A while back bird houses were popular but I could not find one I really liked.  After browsing through a Magnolia magazine I thought this one had potential and photocopied the pattern onto my cardstock.

The checkered pattern paper is CM with the rest being scraps from my stash.  The window opening was made with Nestabilities circles and petite scalloped circles finished off with a bit of acetate inside.  The little owl is a Go Kreate die called Owlet and he is standing on a branch made from the SU Two Step Bird punch.  The hearts on the roof are Nestabilities dies.

Under the hearts the roof is fastened with a velcro dot and lifts up to enable one to pop a gift or chocolates

CLEAR DOLLAR - LOVING LADYBUGS

With Valentine's Day looming I thought this card could be used for the occasion or perhaps even an anniversary.

I stamped the image with Archival black ink onto watercolour paper and coloured it in using a variety of markers, SU, Tombow and Marvy Le Plume, plus a blender pen.  The grass was done with Distress Inks and an aqua brush.  I framed the stamp using Nestabilities Deckled Edge Rectangles which I then Distress inked the edges.  The red label is from a Clear Dollar die and the front one with the sentiment on, also Clear Dollar, is a Nesties label die.

The CB embossing folder came in a pack of 4 of which I wanted 3 and not this one.  I actually thought I would never use it.  A lesson to be learnt, do not give anything away as you never know when you might find a use for it !  The border along the bottom is from a roll of self adhesive paper lace which I coloured with Distress Ink.

HERO ARTS - CONGRATS

Whilst searching through my considerable stash of 12 x 12 cardstock I found this brown gingham which matched the stamped rectangle sitting on my craft table.  I tend to stamp, decorate and cut out or frame an image first, pop it one side and then think about how to put it on a card.  This paper just jumped out at me.  Of course, I have not a clue where I bought it from and have not seen anything like it locally so my guess would have to be in Australia.  Debs, you might recognise it.

After buying this Hero Arts stamp set from Ronita at Simply Creative I realised the images could not be cut out so did not quite know the best way to utilise them (there are 3 frames in the set).  I think plain and simple worked well here and it is the sort of card one could make in bulk.

I used Rangers Archival Sepia in for the stamp and cut it out using Nestabilities deckle edge rectangles.  This is truly a 5 minute card which, after making it, I sat back and thought it was way too quick, almost like I had cheated as there was no colouring in.

WHIMSY STAMPS - DOG AND SIGN

I love animal images, especially dogs, but never quite know how to colour them in.  This chap did not come spotted but he looked rather plain so I decided to add a few.

What attracted me to this Whimsy stamp was the fact the image could be easily cut out and that I could add whatever greeting I wanted as the sign is blank.

I used watercolour paper and black Archival ink to stamp the image and coloured him in using a variety of markers.  I did get a little carried away with the various Nestabilities labels but I like to think they worked.  Most of the cardstock and papers are my usual CM with the photo corners being from a SU punch.

GO KREATE - BINKI BOO - BABY BOY CARD

Another baby card with this cute Go Kreate die.  This time I used a recently purchased embossing folder and framed it with a cut and emboss CB die.

I again used the Bosskutz die for the 'nest' shaped blue piece the teddy is standing on with an oval underneath.  As one of the buttons had a faulty hole I could not get my usual embroidery thread through it and instead used a very thin shiny thread which curls up at the end like a ribbon.  I think the sentiment is from a Popcorn the Bear set.

POPCORN THE BEAR - FOOTBALL CRAZY

I never tire of the Popcorn the Bear range as they are such a pleasure to work with.  The images are sweet and each set comes with the appropriate sentiments.

This image was stamped onto watercolour paper and coloured in using a variety of markers and a blender pen.  The grass was a bit more of a challenge than usual and I did not like the colour it ended up so I went over it with a Distress Ink and an aqua brush.  That is is good thing about watercolour paper, it can absorb so much more than normal cardstock.

I used a Go Kreate die to frame the image and popped it onto a square card using my normal CM paper as a background.  The watercolour paper was a bit bright so I toned it down by sponging Antique Linen Distress Ink on the edges.  The same was done with the sentiment which was hand cut.

WHIMSY STAMPS - FROG

When I buy stamps I am usually attracted to cute and whimsical characters and tend not to give too much thought as to how practical they are to colour in.  Sometimes there is a coloured example of the stamp and it looks so easy, but then I can seldom find it when the time comes to colour it in.

My frog ended up being coloured using different Distress Ink pads and an aqua brush.  A tip my sister gave me was rather than flood your ink pad with water from the aqua brush, dab the pad onto a piece of accetate and work off of there - it works like a charm !  Thanks, Debs.

The background paper is all CM and I used a Nesties Eyelet Squares die for the frame behind the image.  Not sure about the sentiment, it could be Clear Dollar.  The tag is a SU punch and the square is made from a CM punch.

WHIFF OF JOY - HENRY WITH BROKEN LEG

When I saw this stamp at 7 Kids College Fund I knew it would come in handy at some stage.  It sort of reminded me of when I was on crutches and in a boot for a year. 

After stamping Henry out onto watercolour paper I used a variety of mediums to colour him in - the usual watercolour pencil crayons, markers and SU crayons.  I then used a Nestabilities label to frame him with a larger orange one for the background.

I used a CB embossing folder directly onto the card and just rounded the corners for something different.  The sentiment came with the stamp and I used a Clear Dollar die to frame it.

GO KREATE - BINKI BOO DIE

This dear little bear is a limited edition die from Go Kreate.  Added extras on the die are a dummy, rattle and another bear with arms outstretched.  Although eyes and a nose are also included on the die I decided to use a Peachy Keen face for the added cute factor.

The background papers are from a variety of pads I have and I decided to edge them with a Martha Stewart border punch.  The bear is standing on a Bosskutz die which is one I had forgotten about but know I will use quite a bit in the future.  

The buttons are from my stash and the sentiment was one I had stamped out ages ago and put aside so I have no idea where it is from.  I did try to look for it but gave up when I found something else I had been looking for and was eager to use.

POPCORN THE BEAR - FATHER'S DAY

For this card I wanted to see if I could use the Go Kreate Wavy Frame #1 die to make a card.  I folded the cardstock in half, placed the die on top making sure the left hand side was on the inside of the die so it would not be cut and ran it through the CB twice.  It worked and I am rather pleased with the results. 

I stamped the image onto watercolour paper and coloured it in using watercolour crayons, pencil crayons and markers with a blender pen.  I used an aqua brush and Distress Ink for the grass.  It is a new technique I read about and it works really well with large areas giving the picture a watercolour look about it.

The paper is from a large pad I bought from Ronita at Simply Creative and the border punch is a Martha Stewart one.  The sentiment is from SU as is the punch used to frame it.

STAMPIN UP - MATCHBOX DIE - TOOTH FAIRY STAMP

When I saw this stamp in the SU catalogue I thought it was really sweet and I saw the potential of popping it onto a matchbox.

After making up the SU Matchbox die in white cardstock,  I punched the stamp out with a circle punch, put rises underneath and popped it onto a Clear Dollar label die.  The blue dotted paper is from my scrap drawer and I used paper lace around the box to finish it off.  All I need now is to find a little girl about to lose one of her teeth !

CLEAR DOLLAR - DAIRY DELIGHTS

I have a few cow images and cannot tell you why they attract me.  The only up close encounter I have had with a cow was when one came into our garden whilst we were living near a smallholding.  I had to phone DH to ask how to escort Annabelle through the fence opening.  It was quite a long and challenging operation and I am not sure who was more stressed, me or her !

The image was stamped onto Copic paper and before paper piecing the apron I coloured in the waitress uniform and hat using Copic markers.  The tray is a part of the stamp and the set has a number of different ice cream options to pop onto it.

The large oval is a Go Kreate die, the smaller labels are from Nestabilities and the smallest one is stamped with an image from Waltzing Mouse stamps.  The sentiment is also from the same Clear Dollar set and the zig zag strip is a left over from a SU die.  The papers are from my stash.  I finished off the card with a couple of bows.

GO KREATE - OWLETS #1 DIES

This cute owl die (yes, another one) is from UK company, Go Kreate, who also made the Wavy Frame #1 die on which the owlets are placed.  The heart is a CM punch and the border punch is from Martha Stewart.  The leaves did not come with the die and are from the SU 2 Step Bird punch.

The green background papers are from CM, the sentiment is from an un named set which I seem to using quite a lot these days.

PUNCH ART - MR ACORN

Last year on 26 October I posted a Mr Acorn card which I cased from Stamp and Scrap with Frenchie.  At the time I made a couple more of these delightful characters and thought I should now start to use them up.

The dotted background paper is my usual CM, with the brown zig zags being from the SU Bigz XL die called Tasteful Trim.  I then used a Nestabilities die and 2 different sizes of the Go Kreate Frilly Square #1 die.  The papers used with the dies are all from my stash.

The sentiment is a SU one punched out using the SU Word Window punch.

CLEAR DOLLAR - SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT

Having to colour in a crow image is not the easiest as I was a bit hesitant to use only Copic black.  Instead I settled for BV and thought he could be a bit lighter.

The Nestabilities Lacey Squares die seemed to do the stamp justice and I layered it on orange and black cardstock.  The background is from CM, the label is a Spellbinders die and the sentiment is from the same Clear Dollar set.

Who would have thought a crow could look cute ??

STAMPOSAURUS STAMPS - RESTING DUCK No. 3

I just love the "puppy dog" eyes of this cute duck image which I coloured in using Copics.

Using Nestabilities Lacy Squares to showcase the stamp I then popped an orange square underneath it and layered these onto a Go Kreate Wavy Frame #1 die.  As the card is square and would have been difficult to put through the Cuttlebug I opted to emboss a couple of strips of white cardstock layering them on the yellow paper before placing them on the card top and bottom.

The sentiment is from the Clear Dollar Dairy Delights set punched out using SU Word Window punch and layered onto a Nestabilities label die.  

COTTAGE CUTZ - OWL DIE

I seem to be leaning towards collecting a number of owl stamps and dies lately and when I saw this little fellow, well, I just had to have him.

The die is cut out using up scraps and I sponged the body and face sections with Distress Ink before assembly.  The branch comes with the die and I added some leaves punched from the Two Step Bird Punch from SU.

The background paper is from CM, the moon is made by offsetting a circle punch and the sentiment is from Clear Dollar.  The ovals on which the sentiment is stamped is from SU - Lots of Tags which is a Sizzlits die.

RECYCLED XMAS PACKAGING

On a recent visit to a local market we came across a stall selling all sorts of different alcohol.  As we had not yet finished our Xmas shopping we proceeded to help the really friendly owners make their target for the month !

Anyway, as part of DH's Xmas gift I bought him a couple of bottles of Irish Whiskey which came in this box.  Of course the box started out very different but I did see the potential in revamping it.

I used black cardstock to block out all the writing and embossed each piece top and bottom with a CB swiss dots border folder.  The sentiment is a CB alphabet cut out using glitter paper and the image is Elf Oliver from Sparkle Creations stamped on watercolour paper and coloured in using SU watercolour crayons, Marvy and SU markers. 

On the top of the box I used Nestabilities Big Scalloped Squares alternating in black and orange and then I made a bow from ribbon which came from a conference we attended last year.

I just love recyling boxes and have to be really careful not to become too much of a hoarder.

PEACHY KEEN - COLBY & JACK CHEESE SET

Peachy Keen stamps are really cute and this one is no exception.  I stamped the image onto Copic paper with Memento Black Tuxedo ink and used a Go Kreate oval die to frame it.  The yellow paper scalloped oval is also a die from Go Create.

With a fairly large area to colour in Copics do a better job and they blend rather well.  The Xmas hat was stamped separately, cut out and also coloured in using Copics.  The sentiment is from another Peachy Keen set and it fits so well into the SU ovals, plain and scalloped.  The background paper is CM.

I was really surprised at how quick this card was to colour in.  It helps that the image is so cute and such a pleasure to work with.

XMAS WINTER SCENE - UNKNOWN STAMP

This stamp was very kindly given to me by Belinda of the Scrap Studio.  There is no manufacturers marking on the side of the wooden block and I have not seen the image anywhere on my travels, hence me marking it as unknown.

This time I used watercolour paper to stamp the image onto as I wanted to use my Marvy and Tombow markers to colour it in.  I find Copics a bit challenging with a detailed image such as this.  The trees have a sprinkling of Stickles on and I used a couple of different Spica Glitter pens to highlight the bows on the wreaths.

I thought the Nestabilities Deckled Rectangles framed the image rather well and I used a couple of different CB border embossing folders on the sides of the card.  The tag is a SU punch and the sentiment is from a Penny Black set.

STAMPARVIE - LAURENCE DESIGN - MERRY BEAR

Another cute teddy which I coloured in using Copics, paper pieced the bow after making a hash of it, used Smooches for the holly leaves and Viva Decor Pearls for the red berries.

I then used Nestabilities deckle edged and scalloped rectangles and popped it onto a piece of white cardstock embossed with CB swiss dots.  The sentiment was stamped in Archival Sepia ink.