BARTENDER POOCH

Hello

I'm excited today to be joining the awesome CASology team
as this week's Guest Designer.

And the cue card this week is : ABSTRACT

Yikes!  I definitely found this one a challenge :-)

In the end I decided to go with the dictionary definition of abstract,
rather than a more arty abstract style.

Abstract : existing in thought, or as an idea, but not having a physical or concrete existence.

I hope my Bartender Pooch qualifies as abstract.  :-)

I used an old Bartender Edwin stamp I have from Magnolia,
masked off the head, and stamped onto my die cut panel.
Then I added the dog's head from MFT stamps, popped up on foam tape,
for some added dimension.

I've just noticed that, because of the slight bow in the stripes on the shirt,
my dog looks a like he has a little pot belly. Ha ha ha!
He better get down to the gym  :o)

I hope you'll join in the challenge this week.
I can't wait to see where this cue word takes you.

Supplies.
Magnolia Stamps - Bartender Edwin.
Lawn Fawn - Stitched Rectangle
MFT - Four Legged Friends.   Mama Elephant - Labeled Messages
Copics

Gingerbread basket

A nip and a punch - the first of the month!!!
Wow! Here we are in October already, (although you wouldn't think it with this warm weather we are having) and we have another challenge for you at the CES Challenge Blog.

Our lovely host this week is Shell  
and she has chosen the theme Totally Gorgeous - Pretty Girls


A good excuse to get out all your pretty, girly papers and embellies.

I'm not really a girly girl, but I did my best. 

I made a simple box from card and used a large, doorplate die to cut the shapes, that I stuck to the front and back. I covered the basket with First Edition, Festive Treats DP from Crafty Emma's.

It's hard to make out from these photos, but the little gingerbread hearts are all glittery.

The handle is a piece of card, punched on both sides, with a strip of the DP down the middle and finished off with a little satin bow.

I decorated the front with some pretty blooms, dew drops, card candi, sheer ribbon, swirls and a Catslife Press stamp.

Tilda is paper-pieced, coloured with Copics and sprinkled with Glamour Dust.
I didn't have time to make some real gingerbread men, so, just for fun, I cut a paper one using my Slice machine, inked the edges and added black gems for his eyes and buttons :-)

I thought afterwards, I should have cut a little gingerbread man from the DP and replaced Tilda's cupcake with it - next time!!!

Don't forget to check out the awesome work of my fellow teamies - they have outdone themselves this week -we are also having a little change to the prize this time and the winner will get one Whiff Of Joy Stamp from Crafty Emma's
There's also a great SALE on right now - so head over there and grab yourself a bargain..

Challenges - 

Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes

The Paper Shelter - For the Girls

Simon Says - Anything Goes. - they are trying for 1000 entires this week!This is my second entry.

Chase those winter blues away

Is it dull and gloomy where you are right now? Well, over at CES Challenges we have a solution to brighten your day and chase those winter blues away. This week the challenge is 

Bold and Bright

So dig out all your bright papers and embellies and get creating.

I went for a patchwork theme with this card, and chose some bright dps from My Mind'e Eye, Magnolia Pad. I even managed to get my sewing machine to co-operate with a zig-zag stitch.
I added some blooms and  cute buttons.  Check out the fab range of cute buttons and flatbacks available at Crafty Emma's Store
The 'It's your birthday stamp' is Catslife Press - also available at Crafty Emma's
Magnolia Tilda with Heart Present, is coloured with Copics, her dress is paper-pieced and she has stickles glitter on her wings.

Challenges - 

Just Magnolia - Going Dotty

Stampin' for the Weekend - Getting Warmed Up

Behind every great man there is a woman rolling her eyes!!!

I think I've finally cracked it... I have found my 'style' for men's cards - 

nice and simple, with not too much going on..

just like a man!!   :-)

For this card I followed Jay Jay's sketch at Simon Says Stamp
and would also like to enter for the 'Anything Goes' challenge at Charisma Cardz

This was another quick card to make - colouring the image taking longer than anything!
I stitched the card, DP and ribbon  in place and then cut the centre shapes on my Slice machine.
I love how this machine will cut a shadow of your chosen design ( as long as you design card is MS+)
These were then stuck down with tape and then Edwin went on top, using foam pads.
The stars were also cut with my Slice and stuck with foam tape.
I edged the small stars with some glitter and added the sentiment to the larger one.
Then finished off with some card candy.

Stamp - Magnolia 'Guitar Edwin', coloured with Copics.
DP - Daisy & Dandelion 'A Winter's Tale'.
Slice machine with 'Parties' Design Card
Card candy and sentiment -  Craftwork Cards

Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the Autumn tree. ( Emily Bronte)

Well, Autumn seems to have well and truly arrived. My tumble dryer is working overtime and it won't be long before we have to fire up the central heating!!   I love it!!    It's my favourite time of year, and if I'm very lucky we will have a nice thunderstorm before too long!

Here's my latest card, using some lovely Autumn colours.

I followed Dawny's great challenge sketch over at Just Magnolia - which sent me scrabbling around in the kitchen cupboards looking for something to draw around for the large circle. I eventually found a glass sundae dish that was the perfect size!!
The tag was cut with my slice machine and I added some DP to the centre. Then I cut out my Tilda, coloured her with copics and stuck her on with foam pads. I used a punch for the small flowers, nipped the petals together to give them a little shape and added an adhesive pearl to the centre. I used card candy on the tag and the corners and finished off with some stickles glitter and the birthday sentiment.

I would also like to enter this card for Craft Yours Days Away - 'Girly 'n' Glitter'. ( Is it girly enough?? )
                                                  and  Allsorts - 'Colours of Autumn'

Stamp - Magnolia 'Flower Power Tilda'
Design Paper - Memory Box 'Blackbird'
Tag cut with Slice Machine - Basic Elements
Blooms - XCut punch
Card candy and sentiment from Craftwork Cards
'Diamond' Stickles glitter.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lazy Summer Days

What I love about warm, lazy, summer days
is sitting outside, in the swingchair with a good book.
So, I thought it would be nice to include a summer
bookmark with my pocket card.

I covered my card with the DP
and then made a simple pocket.
No scoring and folding..
I just added my DP to the pink card and
then attached it to my main card,
along three sides, with stitching.
This left the opening along the top edge.

I used the Whimsy digital garden fence,
and Tilda, who was stuck on with foam squares,
for that 3D look.
I also paper-pieced Tilda's dress and added some stickles glitter.

For the bookmark I sandwiched together
2 pieces of card, 1 of DP and
a piece of ribbon.
Then stitched around the edge.
The bird motif came with the DP
and I made the text on my comp.

I would like to enter my card for this week's
Pink Elephant Challenge, where the theme is
Pocket Cards.

Whimsy Digital Stamp 'Garden Fence' and Magnolia - Tilda with Flower,
coloured with Copics and stickles glitter.
Design Paper - and bird motif (on bookmark) My Mind's Eye 'Summer Papers' free with Cardmaking and Papercrafts magazine.
Text - made on my comp. Ribbon from my stash.

Let some sunshine in

I had a call today to say that my SIL has been rushed into hospital
and is having tests to see what is wrong. So, although this card was going to be a thankyou card,
(as the optional extra challenge over at Just Magnolia) I changed it to Get Well Soon.
I have followed Mina's excellent sketch though, so I am still in with a chance of winning the fabulous Simon Says prize.

Recipe:
Stamp - Magnolia, Tilda with Flower, couloured with Copics and paper pieced.
Design Paper - Papermania Capsule Collection, Sunshine
Get Well Soon Stamp - Personal Impressions
Blooms, Ribbon, and Bow from my stash.

Mother's Day Shadow Box Card

Woohoo! I have FINALLY finished this project.
You would not believe how long it's taken me -
and it nearly went in the bin a few times!!
It's the first time I have used this type of flower, and I had loads of trouble with the glue.
My silicone didn't seem to want to stick, but after 3 attempts,
(and lots of screaming ) those flowers aren't going anywhere!!
Thanks again to everyone who left me a post helping me out with the glue.
It's also the first time I have made a shadow box card, but it was very easy to do, following the fabulous tutorial, from Tanja, at Stempeleinmaleins
This is a great card to make, and it does fold up to fit into an envelope,
but with my added flowers I decided to make a box for it.
Thanks to Lorraine for her box tutorial, where all I had to do was alter the dimensions to fit my card.
I am entering this project for the challenge at Totally Papercrafts, where the theme this week is
Mother's Day/Special Lady.
And also for the Mother's Day/Girly, Simon Says challenge.
Here in the UK it's Mother's Day on Sunday, so if you need some inspiration check out these challenge blogs and the fabulous DT work.
Recipe...
Shadow Box Card - Design Paper, Papermania Capsule Collection, Heather.
Stamps - Magnolia, Summer Background coloured with watercolour paints,
Wooden Gate and Flower Tilda coloured with Copics.
Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts
For the box I have used the same DP, with more flowers.
The hearts were cut from a template and the text was stamped with
My Sentiments Exactly, Adrienne's.

Pearls and Glitter

I couldn't resist the 'pearls and glitter' challenge over at
A Spoon Full of Sugar
and I loved seeing all the gorgeous DT creations.
If you have any distress inks, you can use them on this challenge too.

Someone requested an 80th birthday card and I admit,
I was pretty stumped.
I tried to give this an antique feel, with the lace and pearls,
so I hope they like it.
I even tried distressing the edges of the paper, with a pair
of scissors, but I don't really know what I'm doing..lol*

Recipe:
Stamp - Jam Tilda from Magnolia, coloured with Copics,
and added stickles glitter.
Design Paper - Papermania Capsule Collection, Red Hot.
I punched the blooms from the DP, sprinkled them with stickles glitter
and added an adhesive pearl.
A fiskars lace punch was used for the edging.
Spacers and pearl brads from the Hobby House

xxx

Cinnamon Chips and Fruit Salsa

This is a great little sweet treat to enjoy as a yummy snack,
or a simple dessert.
We are going to have ours whilst we are watching the football.
Come on Leeds!!

I am entering this for 2 challenges -
Simon Says, where the challenge is 'punch it' and
Charism Cardz, where the challenge is 'fruity colours'.
It's definitely fruity!! lol*

Recipe -
I decorated the jar of fruit salsa with some red card,
punched with a fiskars lace punch.
The designer paper was a freebie from a magazine.
I added a lime green ribbon and a flower on the top
(not sure you can really see the flower).

I put the chips in a cellophane bag and for the card top,
I used my lace punch again.
I added Cherry Tilda, coloured with copics
and a little handmade stamp from Hero Arts.

Cinammon Chips - cut tortillas into wedges and put on a baking tray.
Spray with cooking oil and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar,
Bake for 8 - 10 mins at around 180 degrees.
Fruit Salsa - dice up whatever fruit you have.
I used apple(sprinkled with lemon juice),
pineapple, kiwi, strawberry and melon.
Add a little sugar and a good spoonful of good quality jam/conserve.
Chill.

Allsorts Sketch - Edwin

Post number 2 for today -
and it's this card using the sketch at
Allsorts

I can't enter this for the challenge,
as I realised, after I made my card,
that the theme is 'Monochrome Christmas'
Silly me!

I admit too, that I struggled with the sketch.
I wasn't sure what to use for the 5 round embellies.
I persevered though, and came up with the circles
and card candy.
If you want to have a go at the sketch,
and the challenge,
check out the fab work from the DT
for some inspiration.

Recipe:
Magnolia stamp coloured with Copics.
Design Paper - Card Makers Earth Palette.
Card candy from Craftwork Cards.
xxx

Sketch Saturday - Pets

Morning everyone.

Never mind what happened to the weekend,

what happened to September??

I blinked and it was gone.

My card is for this week's
Sketch Saturday challenge.

It's a fabulous sketch by Ria and the theme is 'Pets'.
We are pet mad here - I would love more animals,
but right now we just have Suzie (our Westie )

a hamster and two tankfulls of fish.

You don't want to miss out on this challenge,
because there are 2 fab sponsors this week -

Pollycraft and KreaTeja.
Check out the blog for some great inspiration from the DT

Recipe:
Stamp - Magnolia, Tilda with Puppy,
coloured with copics.
I messed up with the highlighter pen on her hair -
poor Tilda looks like she has eyebrows there now!

I never quite know where to add those accents.
Design Paper - Papermania, Sweet Nothings.
Blooms sprayed with Glimmer Mist, Tattered Rose.
Dew drops and ribbon from my stash.

Card candy and sentiment from Craftwork Cards.
xxx

Truly Scrumptious

.... you two are truly scrumptious.

Am I the only one that has to have a little sing song

whenever I go to the Truly Scrumptious blog?

:-)
This card is for their weekly challenge,
which is a great sketch,
with the option of adding some 'doodling'.

My 'Party Edwin' stamp,

really doesn't get out as much as he should,

but he's so cute,

I don't just want to use him for New Year.

I've just realised too,
that I have forgotten to add the sentiment
to the card - silly me!
I'll go and do that as soon as I've finished posting.

Recipe:
Stamp - Magnolia, Party Edwin,
coloured with copics
and added silver stars.

Design Paper - Dovecraft, Masculine.
xxx

Best Wishes Edwin

Oh dear...

I can see that the football

is going to seriously interfere with my crafting.
I made this card inbetween watching the first game of the season,

and just have time to post it and tidy up,
before the second game comes on!

I followed the sketch from Roxy, over at Charisma Cardz.
You still have plenty of time to give the challenge a go,
and you could win a fab prize from

The Cutting Cafe

Recipe:

Stamp - Magnolia Guitar Edwin,
coloured with whipers pens.
Design Paper - Dovecraft, Masculine
Ribbon from my stash.

Card candy from Craftwork Cards
xxx

Boys can sparkle too!!

I like to add a bit of sparkle to my cards
and there's no reason why boys can't sparkle too!!
Here are 2 boys' cards made with glittered papers.

The card above is for this week's Pollycraft Challenge.
It's a wonderful sketch this week, that I have turned on it's side.
Please pop over there and check out the fab DT work,
and the cute stamps, up for grabs if you submit an entry.


The card below is for another sketch at the Simon Says Challenge
The DT work over there is just the cutest -
and, the generous Heidi has offered a fab $25 prize to spend in the
Simon Says Stamp Store.
As an extra bonus there is hidden candy on one of the DT blogs.

Recipe
Card One - Woodware Playtime stamps, coloured with whispers pens.
Design Paper - DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Boy
Brads from my stash.
Card Two - Magnolia, Bartender Edwin stamp, coloured with whispers pens
Design Paper - same as above.
Buttons and ribbon from my stash.
Sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

18 Card

I don't often do 'shaped' cards,

but I wanted a card for my niece,

and this week's Stamptacular Challenge

gave me the incentive to try something different.

I found it tricky to cut out the number,

so don't look too closely!!
Sorry about the dark picture too, but it's been raining here all day
and the light isn't good.

I found the template for the 18 card online at Time For Crafting.
Hop on over there and take a look, there are allsorts
of templates and resources.

Recipe:
Design Paper - K & Co Sparkly Sweet
Stamp - Magnolia, Sweetheart Tilda,
coloured with whispers pens.

Flowers punched from DP and sprinkled with diamond dust

Pearl brads and charm from the Hobby House
Ribbon and pearl stickers from my stash.
xxx

Flower Power

Afternoon everyone,

hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

Just a quick post today with my entry for the

Just Magnolia 'Summer' challenge.

I'm not entirely happy with this card,
the blending isn't great and I need some practice

with the white highlighter pen.

Oh, and I wish I had left Tilda's feet to dangle over the flowers.

I am in awe of the fabulous DT work at Just Magnolia,
stunning cards and the brilliant colouring.

Ahhh well, practice, practice, practice!!!

Recipe:
Stamp: Magnolia Sweetheart Tilda, coloured with whispers pens.

Design Paper : DCWV Nana's Nursery, Baby Girl
Flowers made with a flower punch, card candy
and sprinkled with glamour dust.
xxx

Spoon Full of Sugar Sketch

Afternoon everyone,
it's raining here again,
so it's a good job I let the lawnmower
drag me round the garden yesterday!
It does mean that I can shut myself away in my craft room, though.

This card is for the Spoon Full of Sugar challenge.
Check out the fab DT work over there,

and play along to be in with a chance of winning some digital stamps
from the Character Cafe.

I see, from her blog, that Debby4000 has played along,
with a brilliant, colourful card.
If you have 5 minutes, pop on over there and check out her blog.

This is the third image I worked on -

I just could not get the shading right,
and then I realised that my blender pen had competely run out..
doh!!
Luckily I had bought some spares at the weekend.

It was also my first time using Diamond Dust -

I wasn't sure how to stick it on, but ended up using
glossy accents and so far so good.
It's not really clear on the pictures, but it has created a
lovely dewy look on the flowers.

Recipe:
Stamp: Magnolia, Flower Power Tilda,
coloured with whispers pens.
Design Paper: Papermania Signature - Regency.
Card Cand and Sentiment from Craftwork Cards.
Diamond Dust glitter.
Fiskars Lace border punch.

Just Magnolia

Here's my entry for this week's great sketch at the

Just Magnolia Challenge.
Head on over there and check out
the amazing DT work.
I have gone for Magnolia's Bartender Edwin,
coloured with whispers pens.
The design paper is Papermania - Rich Yellow.
The swirl was cut with a sizzix flourish die
and I have used card candy and a sentiment from
Craftwork Cards.

xxx

Strawberry Cupcake

I know... it's Tilda with Crowberry Muffin,

but the strawberry paper is sooooo cute, I had to use it.

What does a crowberry even look like??? lol*

This is my entry for this week's
Stamp with Fun Challenge.

Isn't it a great sketch... designed by Bev?

Recipe: Magnolia Stamp, coloured with whispers pens.
Design Paper - DCWV - Nursery, Baby Girl.

I used my brand new Fiskars, lace punch,
and I also punched the little flowers out of the DP.

The paper does have some glitter on it,
but you can always add more glitter...right?
So, I added some to the paper, the flowers and the little muffin.

xxx