BIG, TINY NEWS

Hello.

Flying by today with a simple card for the 'small images' theme,
at Less is More.

FACT : Having a puppy makes it easier to create CAS cards  :o)
I have no time to overthink what I'm doing - just straight into my craft room - a simple image and sentiment - 
a touch of colour - and BAM! 
I'm done.
What works for you?

Less is More

supplies

mft - hello little one, coloured with copics

mft - stitched scallop basic edges die

echo park - bundle of joy dp

Go Green

Despite green being my favourite colour,

it often gets relegated to the bottom of the card pile.

Today I dug deep and came up with this bold, polka dot paper.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but I know exactly who this card is for.

Once again I'm playing along at

Freshly Made Sketches

I've made my rectangle slightly larger, and replaced the circle

with my die-cut dog, but I hope you can still make out the sketch.

Freshly Made Sketches

Avery Elle - Happy Howlidays + Postage Stamp Die       

Echo Park, Bundle of Joy DP       

Copics       

I think you're amazing

Take one photo. 

Upload to 1) new tablet and 2) ancient laptop.

Compare.

Wow! Gobsmacked.

Totally different brightness, contrast and colours.

Eek! Makes me wonder what you see.

Time to play with my camera.

Steep leaning curve this way .....

Big thanks to Debby Hughes at Lime Doodle

Her cards are always an inspiration,

but have you checked out her excellent photography tips.

I have a long way to go.

Challenges.

Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes + DT call

Inkspirational - Colour Blast from the Past (71. Anything + Gold)

Stamps - WPlus9, Unforgettable

Die - Lawn Fawn, Sm Stitched Rectangle.

DP - Echo Park, Bundle of Joy

Inks - Encore Gold Metallic with Wow Gold Embossing Powder

Versacolor, Cyan       Memento - Angel Pink, Rose Bud, Lulu Lavender, New Sprout

Pearls, Sequins

I'm back. What have I missed?

Hello.    It's been a while.

Things have been tough.

Long story.

 

This is my first card in 8 months!

I'm a little rusty.

 

Things I need to re-learn (quickly) -

How to post.

What size to cut my base cards.

How to get a sharp, stamped, die cut.

Which colour combos go together.

How to take a decent photo. 

Challenges.

CAS(E) This Sketch

 

Stamps - Clearly Besotted, Make A Wish

DP - Echo Park, Bundle of Joy

Inks: Versacolour - Orchid,Heliotrope,Cyan

        Memento - Tangelo

Celebrate Good Times

Shhhh...   I'm  not supposed to be buying any new craft supplies,

but I just couldn't resist these 'Amigos'.

I thought they would be great for hubby's birthday card,

and, with all the sentiments they come with, they are super versatile.

 1. Cover base card with dp.

2. Die-cut stitched rectangle.

3. Stamp 'celebrate' sentiment and heat emboss with clear powder.

4. Add stitched hillside border.

5. Stamp and die-cut three amigos, colour with Copics and white gel pen,

and attach with foam pads.

6. Add glitter dots and attach the panel to the base card with foam pads.

Challenges
Sweet Stampin' - Inspired by a book or film.
These critters definitely remind me of 'Over the Hedge'. One of those 'kids' movies that just cracks me up!
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Use A Sentiment
Addicted to Stamps -  Make your Mark

Supplies.

Mama Elephant - Three Amigos

DP - Echo Park, Dots & Stripes 'Girl'

Stitched Rectangle and Hillside Border - Lawn Fawn

'Celebrate - Winnie & Walter, Big, Bold & Party - stamped in Versacolor Celadon

Glitter Dots

Hola Amigo

Decisions, decisions !!

It seems likely that our stuff will have to go into storage.

That means,  I am only allowed one art box to keep with me - 

and it's filling up fast!

I made this super, quick card with a few supplies, that are so versatile,

they  will defintiely make it into the box.

On a stitched rectangle I die-cut a balloon shape. 

Then I popped a balloon, cut from my dp, back into the space,

and added the hillside border.

I die-cut my 'Amigo', coloured him with Copics and popped him up on foam pads.

I gave him a jaunty top hat and used a black fineliner to draw the balloon string.

My base card was covered with dp, and I attached the panel with foam pads.

Finally I scattered on a few sequins and gems.

Challenges.

Less Is More - Up, Up and Away

Allsorts - Quick & Easy

Supplies.

Mama Elephant - 3 Amigos

Clearly Besotted - Make A Wish

Lawn Fawn - Stitched Rectangle and Hillside Borders Dies

Echo Park DP - Bundle of Joy, Dots & Stripes, Boy & Girl

Sequins/Gems

BOY (n) A noise with dirt on it.

Right now I'm working my way through Justified on Netflix,
so I had cowboys on my mind when I was making this boy's card  :-)

I used a rectangle nestie to cut a couple of 'windows' in my card panel - and foam pads to attach it over some blue card.
The cowboy is coloured with Copics, fussy cut and attached with foam pads.
(I really need to buy shares in a foam pad company!!)
Originally my cowboy is holding a lasso, but I cut that bit off and gave him a balloon instead.
Lastly, I added the die cut letters for my sentiment.
 

Challenges.

Seize the Sketch - Sadly, this challenge blog is closing and this will be their last challenge.
Simon Says - Anything Goes (This week they are showcasing Memory Box products)
Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash #166 - ABC's   A=Alphabet Dies,  B=Balloon,  C=Cowboy

Supplies.
Digi Stamp - Bugaboo Cowboy with Lasso,  coloured with Copics.
Memory Box Alphabet Dies.       DP- Echo Park, Note to Self.
Clearly Besotted 'Make A Wish' Balloon & Die

Great minds think a bike!

My home town, Harrogate, is hosting the final of the first stage of the Tour De France this July,
so I had bicycles on my mind, when I saw this week's challenges at
Addicted to CAS - Wheels - and Less Is More - Round and Round.

 
I took inspiration from CAS(E) this sketch-  substituting their square centre shape for my circle, to continue the round theme,
and added dimension to my card, by popping up some elements on foam pads.

Challenges -
CAS(E) this sketch - #70
Less Is More - Round and Round
Addicted to CAS - Wheels

Hero Arts Bicycle - Stamp and Die.     Memento Rose Bud Ink   Digi DP, Echo Park Country Life.
Memory Box Landscape Die       Pink Petticoat Sentiment

Take me home, country roads.

Hi there, how are you all?
Hope you've got your brollies and macs out - 
you know thunderstorms are on the way when Wimbledon starts!

I have finally managed to get some time in my craft room,
but my mojo seems to have deserted me.

Here's a card for my daughter, Maria, who moved house at the weekend. 

I had another play with negative die cuts, using a circle nestie and some clouds.
Sorry about the shocking photo, it's very gloomy today. 
You might just be able to make out the clouds -
bonus points for spotting the little one :-)
Also, the letters are cut from metallic card, which is very pretty IRL   :-)

Challenges.
Cupcake Craft - Not for Flowers
My Mum's Craft Shop - Dies, Dies, Dies
The Hobby House - Anything Goes (2nd entry)
Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings

Digi DP - Echo Park, Country Drive
Nestie Circle Die
Memory Box Puffy Clouds and  Alphabet Dies.
DCWV Tres Chic Cardstock

Just my type!

I am not an 'inky' person.
I am a straight down the line,  Memento Tuxedo Black, person.
So it was a suprise to me, when I found myself reaching for an old, pink ink pad. Pink!!! 
I never stamp in colour!!

It's not easy, is it? But, I think I like it :-)

I also discovered a neat little trick with clear, dew drops. 
If you use a Copic to dot colour on your card, then stick the dew drop on top,
 using a tiny glue dot, the colour shows through beautifully.

(Ignore the black line under the ribbon and the dark grey line along the bottom of my card panel, 
they're just shadows that my camera has picked up)

Challenges.
Addicted to CAS - Birthday
The ABC Challenge - Not Just One (use 3 or more embellies)
Crafty Creations - KISS, Keep it Simple
One Stop Craft - Anything Goes

• Digi Papers, Echo Park Country Drive
• Typewriter and Sentiment Stamp, Hero Arts Set
• Adhesive backed ribbon
• Dew Drops
• Copics
• Glamour Dust  

I just called to say hello

The sun is shining - again!
That means going out into the garden for the big tidy up.
Hmmm... maybe I can leave it just a few more days ;-)

On the net last week, working hard hardly working, I came across this adorable image from Mashi's Muffins. 
Why have I not seen these before?
I used this cutie for my SIL's birthday card.
Her birthday's not til the end of May, so I'm ahead of the game :-)  

I played along with the sketch at Seize the Birthday.
My card seemed to lack something at the bottom, so I added those little corners, that I found in my 'bits & pieces' box.
Hmmm... I'm not sure about them now, but they are stuck down, so there's no going back!
 

 Challenges
Seize the Birthday - Sketch 
All that Scraps - Spring Fling  The dreaded 'spring cleaning' came to mind when I saw this cutie in her apron, so I matched her with pretty spring colours.
Digi Galore - One for the Girls 
A Little Bit Crafty - Anything Goes  This is their very first challenge and they are open to any style crafts, so pop over and check them out.
Copic Marker Europe - Only Girls Allowed 

• Digi Image, Mashi's Muffins Mom, from All That Scraps 
• Coloured with Copics
• Digi Papers, Echo Park Sweet Girl
• Do Crafts Smallest Nested Heart Die
• Spellbinders Nested Oval Die
• White Gems
• Grosgrain Spotted Ribbon  
• 'Hello' Stamp, Wild Rose Studios, Girly Greetings

Hey, I'm swingin' here!

**Please scroll down for my card**

Having a white dog, with little legs, is not a good idea in the winter!

And Suzie is a real muck magnet.

This morning we decided to give her a good old bath - 

not just the dip in the sink that she usually has after a walk.

It took 2 of us to keep her in the bath and there was water everywhere. 

Now she's ignoring me  :-)  Can you tell she's annoyed!

Anyhoo - enough of my ramblings and on to my card.

I played along at CAS(E) this Sketch

I need some more 'guy' cards for my pile and came across this Spider Henry, in my digi stamps collection. 

I don't know why I haven't used him before, he's super easy to colour and great for guys.

Challenges.
CAS(E) this Sketch - Chrissy's Sketch
Moving Along With The Times - Song or Film   No prizes for guessing 'Spiderman' :-)
Digi Tuesday  - Boys

• Whiff of Joy Digi Stamp, Spider Henry
• Copics
• DP Echo Park, Note To Self
• Sentiment Stamp, Penny Black Critter Party

It's 5 o'clock somewhere

Finally - the last of the snow has gone from the garden and today we have - sunshine!!!
I don't want to jinx it, but I think Spring may have arrived.

It got me in the mood for some pretty, spring colours.
For my card I followed the sketch at Seize the Birrthday - just changing the oval (I'm allergiK to ovals)  
to a photo frame.

I know it's hard to make out the frame in the picture, but it's there. 
I printed out my sentiment and used a rectangle nestie for the opening, then cut the frame like a polaroid.
I'm sure somebody makes a die for this, but this way you can make your frame any size you like.

Challenges.
Seize the Birthday - Sketch and feminine birthday
Totally Papercrafts - Birthday girl in pink. One of my birthday girls is in pink, hope that counts :-)
Simon Says Stamp - Congrats on their 4th Birthday. Happy Birthday/Celebration
Totally Gorjuss - Anything Goes with Sparkle
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Buttons and Bows.

• Stamping Bellas, Victoria and Juliette's night out - coloured with Copics
• Glamour Dust
• Spellbinders nested rectangle and circle. 
• Edgability Die, Classic Bracket
• Ribbon, Button, Bakers Twine
• Echo Park, Country Drive digi paper

Born To Shop - Forced To Work

It's Tuesday -  back to work day!!   Hope you all had a lovely Easter break.
My eldest dd, Maria, came home for the weekend and we had fun.
This year we decided to have the Easter Bunny for dinner - literally!!!
We defrosted the little guy and set about jointing him, only to discover - 
to lots of screams and shrieks and giggles - that he had all his insides intact!!! Eeeewww.
I can honestly say - despite the fact that he was delicious - we won't be doing that again!!

Here's the card I made for Maria's birthday - she will be 24 on Friday.
 

I had 2 definite ideas for this card. I knew I wanted to use this Stamping Bella girl and my blue stripe ribbon.
I went through my whole stack of papers trying to find a match to the blue, but couldn't find a thing. 
As a last resort I checked my comp and found this pretty, echo park digi paper. Perfect - especially considering that hexagons are so popular right now.

Challenges.
Totally Gorjuss - Something Blue
Papertake Weekly - Anyting Goes (Kraft is the Optional Extra)
Digi Tuesday - New Crafting Trends. Chevrons are out and Hexagons are IN   :-)
Pretty Little Ribbon - Spring Is In the Air
Sweet Stampin' - Girly
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbon

•  6 x 6 On the Edge Card Base
• Stamping Bella, Uptown Girl, Posh has a present
• coloured with Copics and Glamour Dust
• Echo Park, Country Drive Digi Paper 
• Martha Stewart Lace Doily Punch 
• Spellbinders Pennant Die
• Sentiment made on my comp.  

 

Sweet Wishes

Top secret!
Someone, who may or may not be my best friend,
may or may not have just got their dream job!  
Eek! I am so excited for them, I may have made them a congrats card :-)

I chose this ridiculously cute Pure Innocence girl.
My image programme (PSP) and my printer have had a major fall out and refuse to talk to each other. So this girl was printed out much larger than I asked for - but I guess the printer was right, she looks fab this size.

Even the paper pad I wanted to use conspired against me - with annoying holes where it had been hung up for sale. I used it anyway, and threaded my ribbon through the hole.

Challenges.
PaperPlay - Paper Piecing
Totally Gorjuss - Plain & Simple
Dream Valley - Anything Goes
One Stitch at a Time - Use a Digi

Supplies.
Digi Stamp - Pure Innocence
DP - Echo Park, Note to Self
Congrats Stamp - Wild Rose Studio
Ribbon from my stash

Our house is a very, very, very fine house!

Just a quick post from me today - I am trying to get my head around working and fitting everything else in!

My dd Annabel and her b/f are moving tomorrow - to their first little house. They've been in Uni digs and flats before, so you can imagine how excited they are.

Here's a little CAS card I made for them.

I am really pleased with the overall look of this card - it's just a shame about the printed names - as you can see my printer is rubbish. I nearly went over them with my fineliner, but thought that would make it even worse!!

I printed the house onto scraps of DP and layered them up with foam pads.

Challenges

Less Is More - Don't scrap it! (Use scraps of anything)

Allsorts - It's your choice

2 Sisters - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Supplies.

House Digi Stamp - Pink Petticoat

DP - Echo Park, Country Drive   Spellbinders Pennant Die

Adhesive Gems

Hope you're all enjoying your EXTRA day :-))

Have Your Elf A Merry Little Christmas

How is everyone's Christmas card pile coming along?

PLEASE don't tell me you haven't started one yet - I will get stressed out for you!! lol***

Our Totally Papercrafts challenge this week is...

                Glitter it!

Sorry about the rubbish photo - the flash has washed the colours out a little.

Our sponsor this week is the fabulous Sassy Studios - I love their digis -  and they kindly sent me this cute Santa's Helper to play with.

She's coloured with Copics, some fine green glitter and white opal Liquid Pearls.

Please check out the gorgeous, glittery creations from my TPC teamies

and I hope you find time to glitter something up this week :-)

Challenges - 

Party Time - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Anything Goes

Paper Shelter - Anything Goes

Supplies -

 6 x 6 On the Edge Card Blank from Crafty Emma's

Digi Stamp - Santa's helper from Sassy Studios

Copics / Green Glitter / Liquid Pearls.

DP - Echo Park, Merry Christmas Kit. (The holly and lights were stickers from the kit)

Twine and bell from my stash.

Merry Christmas Stamp - Catslife Press.

Water, water, everywhere

Oh, be gentle with me girls... it's my first time hosting the challenge at CES and I have chosen the theme...

Water it!

At this time of year we think of beach scenes and boating, but, with the weather we've had up here in Yorkshire, umbrellas and wellies might be more appropriate!  :-)

I got to play with these gorgeous Echo Park, Country Drive papers, from Crafty Emma's.

I cut out some wave shapes and used foam pads to attach them, then coloured my Cool Cat with Copics and nestled him amongst the waves.

Something makes me think that this cat is a guy! I know - he's got flowery flip-flops on, but I think he's borrowed those, 'cos the ground is too hot for his delicate little feet!!!

I added some glossy accents to his sunglasses and the ice in his drink.

I covered a piece of card with Bakers Twine and added the Catslife Press stamp - both available from Crafty Emma's. - and attached it around his paw, as though it was a little kite. Oh, and the little birdy is cut from the DP.

Here's a picture to show you the layers better.

I know it's a busy time of year, but it would be great if you could find time to enter the challenge this week.

(I don't want them booting me out if we get no entries!)

and don't forget you could win a £10 voucher to spend at Crafty Emma's Store (p & p not inc)

Challenges - 

Stamp Something - August Digi Day
and a challenge that's new to me - (check it out if you haven't seen it) -

Crafting For All Seasons - Beach/Ocean

I would also like to enter this card for the St Luke's Charity Cards Challenge
and thank you to Jenny for pointing me in the direction of this great challenge and fund raising blog. I will post this card off to you, and I'm sure I can find some others to go with it. :-)

Supplies -

from Crafty Emma's -  6 x 6 Card Blank,    Bakers Twine

Echo Park, Country Drive DP

Catslife Press Stamp
Plus...    Cool Cat digi stamp from Hambo Stamps
Papermania Shimmer Dots (on the waves)
Button from my stash.