Subtle Spots & Stripes

Spots and Stripes is the theme for this fortnight's challenge over at an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge, and we're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps.  As I've done a couple of quite bold spots and stripes cards over the summer, I really wanted to do a more subtle interpretation of the theme this time around.  What do you think, can you "spot" the spots and stripes?

There's more great inspiration by the Design Team, so have a good rifle through all your old stash (you need to use at least one element that is over 6 months old on this challenge) and, if you mention it in your post, you could win a fab prize by Bugaboo Stamps - so come and join in!
Card Recipe:

Stamp: Stamps Happen Glorious

Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Memento London Fog Ink Pad

Paper & Card: Bo Bunny, Prima, Pearlescent, Vellum
Tools: Tonic Studios - Elegant Vines Square Die, Petal Pairs, Grand Calibur

Embellishments: Lace, ribbon, crystals, creative expressions pearl swirls

So the spots are on the background to the Tag as well as in the handmade flowers (using my Tonic Petal Pairs punches set 5).







There is a stripe pattern to the background paper on the tag but I also echoed the stripes by embellishing the background mat with strips of ribbon and lace woven with ribbon.  I used a pro-marker pen to custom colour the 3mm satin ribbon that I used to thread through the lace. 


Ever since I've had my Tonic Studios Elegant Vine Square Die Set, I wanted to recreate an effect that I've done previously with my Cameo Silhouette, that is; to create an ethereal vellum cut out layer.  Very pleased with how it worked here and much quicker than carefully peeling a similar design off a sticky cameo cutting mat!

I stamped the dress image onto coloured paper, but then coloured over parts of the image with pro-marker pens.  Finally, I added some pearl embellishments, a pretty swirl flourish by Creative Expressions and some pearl strands that come from a florists supplies outlet.

My oldies in this card are the stamp, ink, promarkers, brad, gems and pearls. However, in order to join in the challenge of an Oldie But A Goodie all you need to do is use one item from your stash that's over 6 months old. Hope to see you over at the challenge.

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Best Dressed

Hello, sorry to have been away from my blog for a couple of weeks, life is a bit hectic currently.  It’s also not helped at the moment with the fact that the entire contents of my craft room are currently packed up in boxes in my garage, so I can honestly say that this card has taken me longer to make than almost any previously!  However, I hope you all enjoy it, as I've made it for this fortnight's challenge over on An Oldie But A Goodie.  It was my turn to choose the theme, and I selected Best Dressed.  I've used a gorgeous Rick St Dennis digi stamp image as the focal point for my card, as Rick is kindly sponsoring this challenge.

Card Recipe:

Stamp: Rick St Dennis

Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Chalks

Paper & Card: My Mind’s Eye, Stardream, Elegant Satin
Tools: Tonic Studios Petal Pairs, Label Die, Gothic Die & Punch, Silhouette Cameo

Embellishments: Creative Expression pearl swirls, crystals, pearls, Prima Got Flowers

This glamorous lady is a Rick St Dennis image, coloured with my trusty Pro-Markers and Flexi-Markers – but not my usual selection for hair and skin – I could only find half of my pens in the garage, so necessity became the mother of invention, and I used my 2012 Special Edition colours.
I love images of ladies in glamorous clothes.

 I love pearl swirls, and these ones from Creative Expressions which have been lurking in my stash for some time were great as they came in a left and right version, working perfectly with my design.

The floral flourish embellishment at the top is made by mixing up a variety of die cuts, punched flowers and mulberry flowers.  I like the combination of hand-made and pre-made. The gorgeous background papers are by My Minds Eye, and I've combined the larger patterned 12" sheet for the card layer with the more petite print on the 6" pad on the two outer labels.

 

Please do pop over to the Oldie But A Goodie Challenge and enter.  Don't forget, you just need to follow this fortnight's theme (Best Dressed) and use at least one item from your stash that's over 6 months old.  My "oldie" items are the papers, pearl swirls, rhinestones, cardstock, flowers, promarkers, ink and chalks!

 

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Calendar - Colour Challenge
Deep Ocean - Blue
Stampin' for the Weekend - Sparkle & Bling

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Paper Roses Card

It's time for the new challenge on an Oldie but a Goodie Challenge Blog and this fortnight it's inspired by a song.  The classic song Paper Roses has inspired my offering!

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Tonic Studios Chrysanthemum Clear Stamp 
Colouring Mediums: Memento Sweet Plum Ink Pad, Encore Metallic Ink Pad, ColourBox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad, FlexMarker Pens, Promarker Pens, Cosmic Shimmer Angel Mist
Paper & Card: Tonic Butterflies Beautiful, Elegance Satin, Vellum, Textured pearlescent
Tools: Tonic Studios Doily Square Die, Simplicity Doily Strip Punch, Petal Pairs Punch Set 1,Tonic Window Basket Die, Silhouette Cameo, Grand Calibur
Embellishments: double satin ribbon 3mm, crystals, pearl-ended stamen, hatpins

I used a double-masking technique to create the focal point for this card, so that the main stamped image came out as a relief.  After using the masks to colour the background, I then subtly coloured the main image using Promarker and Flexmarker pens.  Finally, I carefully painted gilding seize over the petals of the flower and applied a layer of clear embossing powder.  (Take a look at my step-by-step tutorial on this double masking technique).

The chrysanthemum image was stamped onto a topper cut using the gorgeous Simplicity Doily Square die by Tonic Studios.

I made the Paper Roses using four layers of petals punched from Punched Petal Pairs, and accented them with glue and crystal glitter. You can see my signature hand-made decorative beaded hatpins peeking out from behind the roses. The leaves were cut using the foilage dies that come with the Tonic Window Basket die set.

The pretty border strip was cut using the doily strip punch, through which I've laced 3mm double satin ribbon that I coloured with a promaker.  I then trimmed this with crystals and a satin bow.

The card base, patterned paper mat and vellum scroll background were all cut using my Cameo Silhouette, which, once assembed, I spritzed with Cosmic Shimmer Angel Mist.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Anything Goes - Shaped but not Sqaure
Country View Cards - How Does Your Garden Grow
Deep Ocean Challenge - Let's Sparkle
Dream Valley Challenges - No Squares Allowed
Fab 'n' Funky - Use Beads
Fashionable Stamping - Anything Goes
Fussy & Fancy Friday - Anything Goes
Joanna Sheen - Music Lyrics
LEJ Designs - Summer's Coming
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
Paper Playtime - Emboss
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Sparkle, Bling, Ribbon

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A Girly Card In Peaches & Greens .....and some news that's a real tonic!

I have some news which I'm very thrilled about.  Last week I was contacted by the great craft tool specialists, Tonic Studios, and asked if I would showcase some of their products.  The answer to that would be a resounding "Yes!", they produce fantastic crafting tools and accessories, which are a pleasure to use.

So this week's card is my first project using some of the lovely Tonic Studios tools, and is a very girly card in peaches and greens, especially for the new Make It Girly challenge over at an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge, I hope you'll pop over and join in too!

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Crafter’s Companion
Colouring Mediums: Memento London Fog, Promarker Pens
Paper & Card: Tonic Studios Butterflies Beautiful, Silver texture card from stash
Tools: Spellbinders, Grand Calibur, Tonic Studios:- Daisy Circle Die, Large Butterfly Gift Tag, Petal Pairs Box Set 1, Simplicity Daisy Border 2 Punch, Simplicity Butterfly Strip Punch
Embellishments: Seam Binding, hand-made beaded Hat Pins, crystals, pearls, felt

To make this card, I punched a decorative edge using Simplicity Daisy Border 2 Punch along the short edge of my base card. I then punched a co-ordinating strip from the double-sided patterned Tonic Studios Butterflies Beautiful casrdstock stack and adhered it to the base. I layered the reverse of the Butterflies Beautiful patterned card onto a mat of silver textured card, and stitched this to the decorative front, before embellishing with flatback pearls and seam binding.

If you like the hatpins, take a look at my Creating Hatpins Tutorial, they are so easy to make, but be warned, creating pretty hatpins can become addictive!





The main image is a new Crafter’s Companion Frou Frou Girls stamp and I coloured this by matching my Pro-Marker colours to the colours in my patterned cardstock. I added 3D gloss to the table top.

For me, the test of a good die is whether it can handle fabric as well as cardstock. The Daisy Circle die cut my peach coloured felt like a dream and it retained all the detail including the tiny little punched holes. I was even able to use the “bits” by adding the some of the tiny punched out daisies as accents to the finished card.

I also used the gorgeous Large Butterfly Gift Tag. The base layer is cut from the co-ordinating cardstock blanks that come with the die, which I’ve coloured with Pro-markers. I then cut the Butterfly element again in patterned cardstock, snipped this out of the tag, layered this on and added some lovely crystals..

I do like to add flowers as a finishing touch to my cards, and this time I was able to co-ordinate with the patterned cardstock by using Tonic’s Petal Pairs Box Set 1. My flowers were created using 3 layers in alternating colours of the double-sided cardstock.

My border was created using Simplicity Butterfly Strip Punch.  It can be tricky sticking down a detailed cut-out border such as this one, but it was so easy using Scrapbook Adhesive 12" sheets.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Crafters Companion - Flowers
CountryViewCrafts - Butterflies
Pretty Little Ribbon - Spring is in the Air
Simply Create Too - Use Your Stash

Hope you like this; please do leave a comment, I love to read them! Pin It Now!