Flame in Black

Hello all

I am so sorry that I didn't get time to blog my card for last week.  Honestly, you would think being in lockdown I would have loads of time on my hands.  However, because I have found all those jobs for hubby to do - you know, the ones you never have the time to do - well obviously I have to help out too which cuts down my craft time.  Besides, it's not really fair if I have stuff to occupy me and shut myself away in my craft room whilst he is working away is it.

Anyway, a huge congratulations to all of our lucky winners from the last challenge. What fabulous entries we had. I am hoping to see some equally gorgeous entries this month too.

So my card this week uses the gorgeous Flame in Black which is available in Ching Chou's Etsy store here.

Gorgeous isn't she?

So here is my card:

Once again, coloured with my copics and I thought I would have a go at a different hair colour this time.  These are the warm greys but I didn't have W9 so started off from a bit of a lighter base hence the lighter colour, but I am still really happy with it.

I wasn't looking forward to doing the swan because I am not really all that good with animals - never seem to get it just right.  Mind you, I am quite happy with how this turned out if I'm honest.

What do you think?   Please let me know whether you think it is ok.

Now I have in the past, created a background to these images but this time I just wanted to use a pattern.  So I looked through my stencils and this Lisa Horton Medieval stencil jumped out at me.  It is currently out of stock but Lisa has some other fabulous stencils to choose from at That Craft Place

I don't know about you, but I think this just "works" with this image?  I used Distress Oxide inks through it in Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet and Hickory Smoke.

Then, to finish off I added one of Lisa's Wordage Sheet sentiments.  Let me tell you, these are just sooooo useful.  It is nice sometimes to just add something a little bit different, don't you think?

The flower is one I made from some Foam Miran with some new flower dies I recently purchased.  I am quite happy with how that turned out although I am sure I could get more shaping into it if I tried a bit harder.

Anyway, that's it for now.

Hope you find plenty to do without leaving home over the Easter weekend.

Stay Safe, Stay Home and Protect the NHS

TTFN

xxx

Challenges:

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes plus a sentiment

CRAFT challenge - Create your own embellishment (My flower)

Southern Girls Challenge - Team Trace Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

Be in my Heart

Hi all,

Well, pretty much near the end of this current challenge at Ching Chou Kuik's Facebook Group.

For my last card this month I have used the gorgeous:

Be in My Heart

Isn't she just beautiful?

So here is my interpretation of her:

Now those of you who have been here before will know that I am not a lover of green really but for some reason I just thought of green as soon as I saw this image.

And, to be honest, I am really pleased with how this turned out.

Image is coloured with my Copics and I left the background white as I wanted the image to just stand out on it's own.

The papers are from a Lili of the Valley pad which are no longer available to buy as physical pads.  I think they do some digital pads but they are just not the same sadly.  Hey ho.

All the flowers are from my stash as are the little gems.

That little label, sentiment and butterfly are all from the new range at Lisa Horton Crafts at That Craft Place.  A stunning new range from Lisa now that she has decided to take the huge step of going out on her own.  There are some absolutely fabulous goodies and they can be used in sooooo many different ways.  Well worth a look - trust me.

So, I hope you found the time to take part in this month's challenge and I will be back soon with more inspiration for next month's challenge.

Stay safe everyone.

TTFN

xxx

Challenges:

Colouring in Scrapland - Colouring - opt Spring

Crafty Cardmakers - Spring

Cutie Pie Challenge - Gorgeous Greens

Use your Stuff - Spring

Dragonfly Dreams - Make it Feminine

International Art and Soul - Green as the main colour

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Little Daisy - Perfect for Spring.

Hello everyone.

I hope you are all managing to stay safe and well throughout this unprecedented crisis?

It still amazes me how selfish people can be with all this panic buying doesn't it you?

Surely if we were all just a little bit sensible and only bought what we normally bought then there would be enough for everyone?  I just find it so incredibly sad.

Anyway, I digress.  Enough about this Virus thing, let's get to the important stuff of the day eh?

On to what we are all really here for - crafting!

So we are now well into our March challenge over at Ching Chou Kuik's Facebook challenge and this month's challenge for all you lovely people is Easter/Floral but some weeks the Design Team are challenged with something a little extra and this week we were to use lots of layers.

So here is my card for this week using Little Daisy.

The image is coloured with my copics and I decided for this image not to do any background colouring as I wanted the image to be the main focus.

The papers I have used here are from a Lili of the Valley paper pad, sadly no longer in production.

The nested flags are by Lisa Horton Crafts as are the three little flower blooms.  They are each part of new die sets recently released by Lisa on Create and Craft and I have to say they are two of my most favourite die sets ever.  The pearls in the middle of the flowers are so beautiful as they have the most fabulous shimmer on them, again one of Lisa's new releases.

I have also used a little bit of cream Sisal, also a Lisa Horton Crafts new release as is the Ticker Tape "Happy Birthday" sentiment.  They are such clean looking sentiment stamps don't you think?

Why not pop over to That Craft Place and have a look at all of Lisa's new products, there are some stunners I can tell you.

So there you go folks.  Hope you can find the time to take part in this month's challenge.  I will be back at some point during next week to show you my last inspiration card for this month's challenge.

TTFN

xxx

Challenges:

As you like it Challenge - Your favourite Easter or Spring and why.

(I chose Spring - I love this time of year as it is a new beginning for so many things and gives a burst of colour after the dreary winter hues)

Cards 4 Galz - Spring Flowers

Craft Rocket Challenges - Flowers

Seize the Birthday - A Touch of Green

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

Hello Spring!

Well,I might be saying Hello Spring but ir really still feels like the middle of winter here.

I hope it starts to warm up soon, I don't like the cold.  Mind you, I would rather have it cold than wet wouldn't you?  I feel so sorry for all those folk whose homes have been flooded, it must be a nightmare.

Anyway, I digress.  We are well into our new challenge at Ching Chou's Facebook Group (remember that the challenge blog also has the same theme so you could enter in both places if you wanted to!)

The theme this month is Easter or Floral, your choice.

So Hello Spring is the image I have chosen to use this week.

The main image is coloured with my Copics and the background is done with Pan Pastels and a paintbrush as I think it applys to the card much better that way.

The lace is some that I won from a wonderful lady on Facebook, Brenda's Lace and Ribbon Specials.  Sadly I don't think the group is still running anymore and that's a real shame as she had some fabulous products.

The sentiment across the lace is from Polkadoodles.

Those gorgeous bright pearls are from Lisa Horton Crafts and you can purchase them from Lisa's shop That Craft Place.  These pearls come in two sizes, 4mm and 6mm (these are the 6mm) and they have a gorgeous Mother of Pearl like shimmer to them.  They are absolutely divine.

The background paper is from a Lili of the Valley Paper Pad sadly no longer in production but such fantastic quality.  I have quite a bit to keep me going but it makes me sad to think that when they are gone, they are gone! Boooo.

So there you have it folks.  My Easter card ('cos it has a bunny on it, lol) for this week.

Hope you like it.

See you soon.

xxx

Challenges:

Aud Sentiments - Feminine and a sentiment

CRAFT Challenge - Female 

(I think this is a perfect image for a female card and of course the image is female too)

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenge - Anything Goes

The Paper Shelter - Let it be Spring

Simon Says Stamp - Something Feminine

Love - Must be something in the air!

Hi all

February is all about love isn't it?

Well, just because it is about love doesn't mean it has to be pink or red right?

This is the card I made for week 3 of our challenge over at Ching Chou Kuik's Facebook challenge.  (The blog challenge has the same theme so you could enter there too! 😉😉)

My card features the gorgeous LOVE image which is part of the Dreaming of Love set at Ching Chou's Etsy store.  What a gorgeous set of images this is.

I coloured this with my Copics and then went over some of it with my Polychromo pencils.  I am really really pleased with how this came out.

I think it looks lovely and soft in those lemon colours don't you?

Would you use an alternative to pink/red on your Valentine's cards?

The papers are from a Lili of the Valley with Raspberry Road Designs paper pad called Heartfelt.  I decided to use two different papers and cut them on the diagonal, something a bit different.  Does it work?  

The flowers are from my stash and the sentiment and little heart are from the Polkadoodles stamp set from the new Timeless Rose collection.

The background is done with my Pan Pastels and I "painted" them on with a paint brush.

So there you go.  Hope you can find a bit of spare time to join in with our challenge this month, we always love to see your fabulous creations.

See you soon.

XXX

Challenges:

Creative Knockouts Challenge - Flower Power

Southern Girls Challenge - Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

A Bit more time to craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect time to craft - Anything Goes

Classic Design Challenge - Anything Goes

The Crafter's Cafe Challenge - Use pink and/or red

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft challenge - Anything Goes

A Fairy Wren

Did you get chance to enter the challenge at Ching Chou Kuik's Facebook page this month?

I do hope so, there have been some lovely entries.

My final card to show you this month is called:

Fairy Wren

Isn't it just such a beautiful image?

I love the colour of the bird on this example so I decided to go with similar colours for him.

Again, coloured with my copics and the background is done with Pan Pastels.  This time though, I actually used a paintbrush to add the colour to the background and I am so much happier with the way it turned out.  The background papers are from Claritystamp.  They are all double sided and come in an 8 x 8 pad with four sheets of each design.  Superb quality, the only downside is choosing which side to use! Lol

The flowers are from my stash.  I shall add a sentiment once I decide who it is going to and why.

I really need to be more adventurous with colour I think, I always seem to go with purples and blues.  They are my "go to" colours.  What are your favourite colours?  Do you have any colours that you just hate to use?

Pop me a comment before you leave, let me know what you think about my card and also about your colour likes/dislikes.  I love reading all your different choices and reasons.

So, until next time.......

xxx

Challenges:

A Mythical Beauty

Hi all,

Do you prefer Fairies or Unicorns?

I mean if you had to choose something mythical, which would it be?

Well, for me it would be Unicorns.  I just love the thought that there might be something so beautiful and ethereal out there. 

So, with that in mind, and the DT challenge to use something mythical this week, obviously I had to choose a Unicorn image.

This one is called Unicorn Love (I mean who couldn't love this beauty, right?)

Sometimes, when you see an image, you get an idea in your head of how you want it to look don't you?  Well, in this instance it turned out better than what was in my head! Even if I do say so myself.

Coloured with my copics, I am just so chuffed with the end result.  I am particularly pleased with her hair. The background is done with distress inks using some Claritystamp masks and the sky is just done with brushed inks and some sponging over the top for the clouds.

The background paper is from a DCWV paper pad called The Once Upon a Time Stack.  Now let me tell you, I have had this pad for years!  You know what it is like, you see a paper pad in a store and you think "Wow! The things I could do with that!" and you just HAVE to buy it!  Well, that's what happened with this pad.  Trouble is, once I got it home, none of the projects I made fitted the papers so hence the reason I still have quite a bit left.  This backing paper was just SO perfect for this image, don't you agree?  So, image and backing paper - nothing else!! Does it need anything else? I don't think so, do you?

Thanks for stopping by, and please leave me a comment on my card before you leave.  I do love to read all your comments.  Hope you find time to enter the challenge over on Ching Chou Kuik's Facebook page and also over on the Challenge blog where the theme is exactly the same.  So that gives you double the chances to win doesn't it? 

Until next time.....

xxx

Challenges:

As you like it challenge - Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

World Wide Open Design Team Challenge - Anything Goes

The Fairy and the Unicorn - Anything Fantasy Goes

Halloween Dusk!

Hi everyone

So, did you manage to get a project done for our very special anniversary challenge?

I do hope so, and I hope that if you did, you will enjoy using the Dark Moon image which was given to every entrant.

So, I would just like to say congratulations to all of our winners.

There were some fabulous entries this month.

I do love seeing what you all come up with.

Anyway, I just thought I would pop in and show you my latest card.

For this card I have used the fabulous Halloween Dusk.

This comes as part of a set of two images, both of which I think are gorgeous.

Ching Chou really does the most expressive faces, don't you think?

Anyway, here is the card I made using Halloween Dusk.

I have coloured this using my Polychromo pencils this time although the background was done using my Prismacolours.  I do think they lend themselves more easily to backgrounds as they are such a softer pencil.

Having said that, I think I prefer my backgrounds done with my Pan Pastels.  I do think they give a better coverage on the paper.

I really need to practice my black cats though!! I mean, look at him! He looks like a startled rabbit rather than a cat. Lol.

Right, I'm off to do a bit of crocheting now - Christmas presents and the like.

So, remember to look out for the new challenge starting at the Facebook page and the Blog too.

Look forward to seeing what you all come up with.

See you soon.

Challenges:

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Classic Design Team Challenge - Anything Goes for a DT

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge - Anything Goes

Love to Craft Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Sweet Stampers - Autumn or Halloween

Wicked In Mist!

Hi there.

I would like to show you my latest creation for the current challenge over at Ching Chou Kuik's Facebook group.

This fantastic image is called Wicked In Mist and you can purchase it at Ching Chou's Etsy store here.

I usually colour with my Polychromo pencils but decided to use my Copics for this one.

Some time back I coloured another of Ching Chou's witch images with the colouring classes at Kit and Clowder so I used that as my inspiration.

Now as I was colouring this image, I just knew that my colours were too bright for the look I was after.  Grrrr, what to do?

💡 - black pencil!!!

So, I went over all my colours with a black pencil and then rubbed over it with my finger.

Tadaaa!  Just what I wanted.

Then for the background I decided to use my Pan Pastels.

So I used five different colours and the colourless blender.

Then using the black pan pastel, I "drew" the trees into the background.

These are already on the image I just went over what was already there.

Lastly I matted the image onto some Kraft card and then added that to the background paper which is from a Lili of the Valley with Raspberry Road Designs pad called Father Knows Best, sadly now unavailable.

So there you go, my little piece of inspiration for the current challenge which is of course Fall/Fall Colours.

Remember also, if you enter the challenge this month, because we are celebrating our 5th Anniversary you will receive the image Dark Moon for free at the end of the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by, please let me know what you think.

I always read all my comments, (good or bad) and they do mean the world to me.

See you soon.

Challenges:

Crafter's Castle - Anything Goes, option of Fall/Autumn

Crafty Calendar - autumn colours/halloween

Di's Digi Designs - Halloween/Harvest

My time to craft - Halloween or Cats

The Fairy and the Unicorn - Anything Fantasy Goes

Blue Pumpkins for Halloween

Hello again

Here I am with my second inspiration project for our Halloween theme over at Ching Chou Kuik.

This image is called Blue Pumpkin and you can find it in Ching Chou Kuik's Etsy store here.

Because Pumpkins is one of the elements of the theme this month I thought I would be brave and use a pumpkin on my card this week. 

Now obviously the image is called Blue Pumpkin so I thought I would go with a more blue theme than my previous two cards.  

Now I have to be totally honest here and say this isn't how I wanted the pumpkin to turn out.  There are so many layers of colour on this pumpkin you just wouldn't believe. Lol

Still, I don't think it looks too bad does it?  Let me know what you would have done differently to make it more of a blue without the blue hitting you in the face, which was the problem I had.

In the end I just kept changing the shades of blue, yellow and green and then decided enough was enough and had to step away before my card disintegrated before my very eyes. Lol.

I guess that's the good thing about using Markers, you can keep going over colours until you are happy with the results. (well almost happy). 

The background on this image was again done by blending Pan Pastels.  I decided I wanted her to look like she was in an area with lots of leaves/reeds so just used the edge of my Sofft tool in the black pan pastel and "drew" the "leaves".  Do you know what, I kinda like the effect.  What do you think?

The two border strips were done with a Crafter's Companion embossing folder, brushed over with black ink and then I added Inka Gold to add a bit of grungy shine.

I brushed the gold roses with black ink to dull them down a bit and sponged ink on to the die cut and then rubbed some gold perfect pearls over it to match the borders. (well sort of match).

Remember, if you enter the challenge this month you will receive the fabulous image "Dark Moon" for free at the end of the challenge.

As always, I welcome all your lovely comments so please, don't go without leaving me a few words of advice/encouragement/criticism (only nice criticism though!) Lol

See you again soon with some more CCK inspiration.

TTFN

XXX

Challenges:

Crafty Catz Challenge - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Patties Creations - Autumn/Halloween

Scrapper's Delight - Anything Goes

Simply Create Too - Anything Goes, option spooky/scary

Crafting with an attitude - Anything Goes

Creative Knockouts - Halloween

Creative Playground - Anything Goes

All things Halloween at Ching Chou Kuik and an anniversary gift!!

Hello all

So, have you managed to join in with our new challenge over on the Facebook page or the blog yet?

No?  Well, if you love Ching Chou Kuik's images you really ought to get an entry in.

If you read to the end there is a special surprise further down!

I would like to show you my latest project which is, as the blog header suggests, very much about Halloween.

This is my inspiration post for the current Facebook challenge over at Ching Chou Kuik.  The challenge this month is centered very much around Halloween.

So, Halloween/Pumpkins/Halloween Colours

(i.e. black, orange, purple and green)

So, I am sure you can all find something that fits the bill can't you?

Although I am not a huge lover of Halloween, I have to say that Purple is my FAVOURITE colour ever.  So this challenge was right up my street.

The image I have used here is called Misty Reflections and you can find it at Ching Chou's Etsy store here.

I chose those backing papers from a pad of Claritystamp papers which you can find here.

These papers are double sided and all mix and match perfectly.

I added the flowers because I think they just finish the card off perfectly and the little gems just give the card that bit of bling.

I decided to go with my markers for this project and I am pretty pleased with how it turned out.

See the moon?  That was a technique I picked up at Alyce's colouring classes over at Kit and Clowder on Facebook, I think it gives the moon that cool textured look, don't you?

I love how this came together and the only think I would do differently if I made it again would be to change the colour on the cats.  I'm not sure whether the black really works.  Please let me know what you think.

Now, just before I go, I have some fabulous information for you all.

This challenge will be celebrating five years of Ching Chou Kuik's challenges - how fantastic is that?  Quite an achievement in today's crafting world I think, don't you?

Well, to celebrate, everyone who enters the challenge this month, both on the blog challenge and the Facebook challenge, will each receive a copy of this fabulous image, called Dark Moon.

Isn't she fabulous?

So, because this is such a special occasion, I have made a card using this image too.

For this project I decided to use my Polychromo pencils.  I really do love using pencils for my colouring but the only downside is that they do tend to take a little longer, but hey I can live with that. Lol.  Now strangely enough I went for purple on her dress - which was not planned but as I said, it is my favourite colour so tends to be my go to Halloween choice. Lol

The stencil behind the image is a Claritystamp stencil which you can find here.

The background is done with pan pastels which I blended to give a more ghostish finish, if you know what I mean?

The little die cut leaf branch is one I have had in my die cut box for simply ages, I just coloured it green and then added the roses.  These were bright red so I brushed them over with some black ink to give them a darker look.  I finished off with a piece of ribbon and black bow and three little purple gems. 

These free images will all be sent out at the end of the challenge.  Doing it this way means our lovely Kym isn't on and off the computer like a jack in a box!! Lol

So there you go then.

What did you think of them?  What colours would you have used for these images?

Please leave me a comment and let me know, I do love to read your comments as they may just change the way I do something on a future project.

Thanks for stopping by, see you again soon.

TTFN

xxx

Challenges:

Crafter's Castle #22 - Anything Goes, Option Fall/Autumn

Crafty Calendar - Autumn Colours/Halloween

Daisy Chain Challenge - Pink or Halloween

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes with an animal

2 Sisters on the Blog - Autumn Card

A bit more time to craft - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Papercraft Goes

Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything Goes

Craft Dee Bowz - Anything Goes with a handmade bow

The Fairy and The Unicorn Challenge - Anything Fantasy Goes

Paper Funday Challenge - Anything Goes, Twist of Halloween