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

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

Pinky swear - keep a secret!!

Hi all,

No, I haven't got one to share with you, lol.  It is the title of the image I have used on my latest card and you can find her here.

This is my DT card for the Colour Crazy Challenge which started today.

Remember, we are a colouring challenge so there must be some HAND COLOURING on your project - we don't accept digital colouring I'm afraid.

Isn't she fab?

I have coloured her with my copic markers and just kept it really simple.

I often think that when an artist has gone to the trouble of coming up with an image it seems a shame to overcrowd them with flowers or die cuts.

I wanted this to be quite girly and that was the reasoning behind the paper choice here.

I just love that little pinky finger, don't you?

I hope you get chance to join in this fortnight, can't wait to see what you all come up with.

TTFN

xxx

Challenges:

Crafty Creations Challenge - Anything goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Far Away Messages!

Hello everyone

Congratulations to all our winners in the February challenge.

Just a last little bit of inspiration for you.

This image is called Far Away Messages

Isn't she gorgeous?

My image was coloured with my copic markers and if I am totally honest, I am not really happy with this.  I had an idea in my head for the colours on her tail and it just didn't work out how I had imagined it.  I had done everything else and I didn't really want to start over so it is what it is!

Do you do that?

Have an idea in your head that just doesn't work out on paper?

What do you do?  Go with it or throw it away?

I'm just loathed to throw images away that have taken quite a while to colour up, seems such a waste of time.  Hey ho.  I now know what doesn't work! Lol

The little seahorse and starfish are wooden shapes to which I have added some of the fabulous Mermaid Tails Glitter by Lisa Horton Crafts - it is fabulous stuff and it changes colour depending on the colour of the surface you are applying it too.  It's awesome.

The backing papers are from one of my many Lili of the Valley pads which are no longer available.  Goodness knows what I am going to do when I run out. Mind you, that won't be for a little while yet as I have a few!! Lol

Back soon with some more, hopefully better, inspiration.

TTFN

XXX

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

Love Hearts with Oddella.

A very good morning to you all.

Do Valentine Cards always have to be in red or pink?

I don't think so, and that is the thinking behind my latest card.

This card features the gorgeous Oddella available here

As soon as I saw this image I just knew she was going to be on my Valentine Card.

Now because she is a bit, "out of the ordinary" shall we say, I thought that the colours I used should be non ordinary too.

You may or may not know that I love purple so that was the colour I went with.  I added a bit of bright green on her skirt to make it a non traditional plaid.

Now obviously she had to have hair that was "different" too so I went with a fabulous Red Head look for her.

The Design Team were challenged to add heart shaped balloons on our projects this week and I knew just how I was going to do that.

Have you seen the Timeless Rose collection which was released recently?  Well if you haven't just click on the link and go have a look - it is a gorgeous collection.  You don't have to buy the whole collection, it all comes as seperate components too, but to be honest when I looked, it just made sense to buy it all! Lol

So in the stamp collection is this perfect stamp of heart shaped balloons! Just what I needed.

I used the die to make a frame and then added a white square on top to stamp the balloons on.  The Heart shapes at the bottom are also part of the die set and I stamped a small heart from the stamp collection on top of them.

The backing papers are from the Winnie Wonderland Paper Heaven 6 download and I love them all.

All in all, I am pretty happy with how this came out.  I think I am getting a bit more adventurous with my layouts these days and that is thanks, in part, to being a part of this fabulous Digi Choosday Design Team.

Are you adventurous with how you put your cards together?  Do you prefer Clean and Simple or The more the Merrier?  Why not leave me a comment and let me know?

So, there you go, that's it from me for today.

See you soon.

xxxx

Challenges:

Always Fun Challenges - Anything Goes

Dream Valley Challenge - Love

Incy Wincy Designs - Love Love Love (and DT Call)

Colouring in Scrapland - Hand Colouring + Opt Love is All Around

Get Creative Challenge - Use Hearts

Angie's Digital Stamps - Anything Goes + Opt Love

CD Sunday Plus - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams - It's A Love Thing

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Always Anything Goes

A bit more time to craft - Anything Goes

Darling Bud Marigold

Hi everyone

Welcome to another Team D challenge at Colour Crazy.

Sorry I am a bit late posting - been out all day and forgot to schedule! Duh!!

You know when you see an image and think, "I love that, I just have to have it"?

Well, that was the case with this gorgeous Darling Bud Marigold from Polkadoodles.

It is one of a set of Darling Buds images, all of which are gorgeous, but this one just stood out for some reason and I just had to use it for this challenge.

The fabulous POLKADOODLES is our sponsor for this fortnight and we got to choose which image we wanted to use, this was the one I chose.

So, having chosen my image, I printed her out and put her on my desk!!

WHAM!!!!

Where on earth do I start?

I just sat there for a while, staring at the image and thinking "what on earth have I done?"

Well, after a mild panic, I thought back to one of the fabulous classes that Alyce Keegan does over on Facebook in her group "Kit and Clowder"

Now if you haven't seen this group - 1. Where on earth have you been hiding? (lol) and 2.  You really should go and have a look.

My colouring used to be - shall we say - Basic!! (and that is an understatement, believe me!!)

Then, I found Kit and Clowder and my colouring really started to change.

Now, I am not saying it is beyond reproach, good heavens no.  There is always room for improvement, but - and here's the thing - I am learning to colour using techniques such as lightsource and shading/blending.  Trust me, you really should go and have a look.

Anyway, I digress.  Thinking back to a previous class, where there was a lot of fine detail, Alyce's suggestion was to not be too specific.

By that I mean, treat the image as a bigger picture rather than individual petals, such as here on this image.

So, I used five different colours and literally, dotted the colour where I thought it should go.

Now, I don't know about you, but I think nature is pretty random and following that rule of thumb, I am really happy with how this turned out.

I just love the colours of Autumn - so rich and elegant and always give such a brilliant display at an otherwise dull time of the year, don't you agree?

I decided that after all that work on the image, I wanted it to be the centre of attention so I added it to a stepper card as the main focus.

The papers I have used are from a Claritystamp paper pad called Rainbow River.  This is a double sided paper pack of the very highest quality.  Maybe not the cheapest paper pack around but undoubtedly one of the very best you will find.

The sentiments are both from Polkadoodles - I used Winnie Celebrations Sentiments Kit 3 and Winnie Special Moments Quotes.

These sentiment download kits are so bloomin' useful, there are sooooo many sentiments and quotes to fit just about every occasion.  If you just type "sentiments" in the search box, it will bring up loads and loads of downloadable as well as physical sentiments of every type.

I used the same paper pad to add little accents to the card.

Here's a little close up of the image to show you what I mean about the colouring.

Be kind now!! 🙏🙏

So, there you go then.  What do you think?

I just love these colours together and they are the first colours I think of when I think of Marigolds, although I know they come in other colours too.

The other thing I did different on this image was her eyes!

I always seem to go for blue or green eyes but just thought brown would be more suitable on this image.  Do you have a "go to" eye colour or do you vary them?

Let me know in the comments, I would be interested to see who says what.

So, that's it for now.

TTFN

***

Challenges:

Creatalicious Challenge - Anything Goes (option of hearts)

QKR Stampede - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes (Option Favourite colours - I LOVE the colours of autumn!)

Scrapper's Delights - Anything Goes

As you Like It Challenge  -Warm or Cool Colours - Your favourite and why.(Reasons quoted in post)

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes with a sentiment

Krafty Chicks - Anything Goes

Southern Girls 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

Black Haired Lady - Ching Chou Kuik

Hello my lovelies.

Hope you are all keeping well?

Can't believe we are just over half way through January already, can you?

Time goes so fast these days, I sometimes wonder how we all manage to fit everything in? Lol

So, today I am here to show you my latest Ching Chou Kuik creation.

This image is called Black Haired Lady and you can find her here.

Obviously, as she is called Black Haired Lady, I just had to do her hair black. 

The background papers are from a paper pad by Claritystamp.  Really good quality and double sided too.  Those pieces across the middle of the card are the reverse side of the main background paper.  Cool eh? 

Now, I wonder if any of you can spot a difference between this card and my usual makes??

Look hard now!!

No? Well, go on then, I'll tell you.

I decided to use watercolour pencils on this card for a change.  I have two huge sets of watercolour pencils that just never see the light of day so I thought it was about time they did.

I did the skin and hair first and because they didn't turn out too bad I decided to finish her off in watercolours too.

The challenge this month is New Year or Something New (new baby, new job etc).  The DT were given a challenge to use their least favourite colour.  Well, other than pink (which really scares me) I don't seem to use a lot of green so I guess that must be a least favourite colour then eh?

Having said I don't like using green, I actually quite like how this turned out.  I even did the background with watercolour pencils too.  

I have invested in some fine paintbrushes too, as I used water brushes for this project.  I think a paintbrush and water will give more control over the colour somehow.  Well that's my theory anyway and I shall let you know how I go on.

What is your favourite medium?  Pencils, markers, watercolours, pastels, oils, distress inks???  I'd love to know.

I will be back soon with another CCK inspiration post, so see you then.

TTFN

***

Challenges:

Crafty Catz Challenge - Anything Goes (opt twist something funny)

Cardz TV - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers Challenge - Anything Goes

Scrapper's Delight - Anything Goes

As You Like It Challenge - Anything Goes

CRAFT Challenge - Anything Goes

Craft Rocket Challenges - Something New (my technique)

Cute Card Thursday - What's New (My colouring technique)

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

New Year, New Stash!

Hello everyone.

So by now you will know that our new challenge has started over at Ching Chou Kuik's Facebook page. (The challenge blog also has the same challenges each month so you can share them in two places every time!)

So my first card this year features Crane of Peace - as soon as I saw it I just had to have it, isn't it gorgeous?

Coloured with my copics and the background was done with pan pastels.  The backing paper is from a fabulous paper pad by Claritystamp called Rainbow River.  The sentiment is a Claritystamp Word Chain stamp.  Those gorgeous flowers are from a lady on Facebook - she makes so many different paper flowers and they are all stunning.  Here is a link to her facebook group, just in case you want to pop over and have a sneaky look. Lol 

Now the only thing I am not happy with on this is the sun! It really didn't turn out as I had imagined in my head - hey ho, I wasn't doing the whole think again!! Lol

I will be back soon with more Ching Chou Kuik inspiration for you.

TTFN

xxx

Challenges:

CRAFT Challenge - Anything Goes

Craft Rocket Challenge - Something New (My image)

Cute Card Thursday - Embellish

Moving Along With the Times - All things new (my image)

Southern Girls - Team Trace Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything goes with a critter

Worldwide Open Design Team challenge - Anything Goes

My Crafting Corner - Something new (my image)

Crafty Animals Challenge - Anything Goes with an animal

Through the Window - Digi Choosday Challenge

Hello everyone

Well, things are moving along quite quickly now aren't they?  Not long before the big man goes a visiting!  Hope you are all ready? Lol

I wanted to show you my latest creation today which is a bit different for me.  I feel like I have regressed to my childhood! hahaha

For my card this time I made a "Window frame" which I cut out of Kraft card and then painted with white gesso.  I suppose I could have just used white card really couldn't I? Lol

So I wanted people to think that they were in this room and were looking out at the sweet little Carol Singer outside with her pretty little reindeer and singing birds. The image is called Winnie Heavenly Angel, Musical Winter, isn't she just the cutest?

In order to make it look like an inside window I added a piece of "net curtain" and a "pelmet" (gosh I sound old now don't I??)  I used a wooden skewer for the pole and then folded the top of the net over and stitched along the width and then threaded it onto the pole.  I was going to leave it like that but it just didn't look finished so added the chunkier lace on top.

To add to the feeling of being inside I attached a line of little stockings to the window sill. These came from the Winnie Winterland Tags and Frames digital download I changed the colour of these in my Craft Artist programme to match the "wallpaper" 😀

I added a sentiment, again from the same Tags and Frames download, which I again changed the colour on and then finished off the front with some sparkly gems.  

Then I coloured up the sweet little image and added it to the inside of the card.  I had to fiddle around with where it printed on my page so that when I trimmed the paper it fitted square on the inside.

The image is coloured with my polychromo pencils and the background is done with Pan Pastels.  I have added some sparkle to the fur on her hat and coat but it doesn't really show up very well on the pics.  Looks okay IRL though! Lol

So, there you go then.  What do you think?  Does it look like my granddaughter made it?? Lol (She is 2 by the way! 😂😂😂😂)

Now remember today is the start of the new challenge over at Digi Choosday which means not only do you have another two weeks to submit an entry for the challenge but you also get a MAHOOSIVE DISCOUNT on selected digital products over at the POLKADOODLES STORE.

Hop on over to the DIGI CHOOSDAY CHALLENGE BLOG and pick up your DISCOUNT CODE and have a mooch around the store.

You have to be quick though, it only lasts until midnight!

Right, I shall be off then.  Please let me know what you think of my project, I do love to read all your comments.

TTFN

xxx

Challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Christmas

Cutie Pie Challenge - Christmas Cuties

Dream Valley Challenges - Christmas

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Christmas without red or green

Make My Monday - Anything Christmas

Addicted to Stamps - Cold and Frosty (Last Challenge)

CD Sunday Challenge - Anything Christmassy

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes