Watercoloured Postcards and a Birthday

Todays 'Show and Tell' comprises of some watercoloured postcards which were stamped and coloured with Whispers Brush Markers, and a simple Birthday card using HOTP papers which are always a brilliant standby when the creative part of the brain has gone AWOL ... like mine did today.

Hopefully this is just a temporary glitch caused by the combination of yet more antibiotics and painkillers.

The fancy decorative edges on the birthday card, were courtesy of the Purple Cow trimmer recently purchased from QVC ... so much easier and quicker than decorative scissors I can tell you.

There's a busy weekend ahead, with the first ranking tournament of 2009 for Naomi's ten pin bowling being held in Stirling both Saturday and Sunday ... and in between there's the usual washing, ironing and other boring stuff, so if I'm not around then don't worry.

I think the plan is for hubby to take her through one day and I'll do the other day ... but we'll see how things go.
Hope you all enjoy a Wonderful Weekend anyway, wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

Kanban Kit

It's been All Star Craft Day on QVC today and the TSV launched at midnight, was a lovely Kanban Card Kit.

I wasn't tempted this time, but it reminded me of a previous Kanban TSV that I did indulge in last year ... or it could've even been the year before that!

The quality of these particular concept card kits is excellent but the really great thing is that all the ingredients for a classy card are included, even down to the ribbon, a choice of messages, and lovely adhesive gems.

This makes them very quick and easy for beginners or equally good for more experienced crafters when time is limited.

These 3 cards were created from only one concept sheet

Bish ...

Bash ...

Bosh ...

Jobs a Good'un !

Pink Elephant Challenge 3

Thought I'd join in again with The Pink Elephant Challenge this week ... can't believe I've played along for 3 challenges in a row, 'cos normally I struggle to remember until after the deadlines !!
Must be because I'm enjoying myself ... which is probably because, (unlike some other challenge blogs), they don't impose restrictions, preferring to concentrate more on the fun aspect of challenges and getting enjoyment from everyone's participation. Makes for a much more relaxed environment and it's amazing how much the creativity flow increases each week.

Challenge #3 was a sketch by DT member Carol and here's my take on it.

The textured card, letters and dotty card are DCWV and the image is a Forever Friends sticker which came as a free gift with Papercraft Inspirations magazine.

(Just thought I'd better mention that just in case you thought my colouring skills had improved dramatically ... ha ha).

A small circle punch and heart punch help to get maximum use out of the card offcuts to create a border below the image and discs for the letter stickers. The leftovers from that were then used to decorate inside.

The chipboard flourish is from the Dovecraft Fantasy collection, which was sanded and then coloured with ink to reduce the glaring whiteness.

Adhesive gems add just enough 'bling' without being OTT.

Black 'n' Gold Elegance

Hands up ... if you know anyone who doesn't just love embossed card?
Especially if it's luxury embossed card ... like, for instance, this gorgeous example of a tapestry effect on gold.
Can you see the sheen ... and don't you just want to stroke it?

I think this pattern is the epitome of elegance and beauty, especially when combined with the black leather effect background card and it speaks to me of afternoon tea, lace tablecloths and crinoline dresses.

Such a sumptious look needed very little embellishment but deserved something special, so out of hiding, came some luxury w...i...d...e black velvet ribbon (kept only for special occasions!) and a couple of fabby gold heart brads.

This will be my (almost late) entry for the CA Challenge where embossing has been the theme this month.

Colour Create Challenge 4

Whilst blog hopping the other night ... skipping through links (as you do) ... I found the Colour Create Challenge blog, (which is now added to the rapidly growing sidebar), so thought I'd follow their colour palette challenge of Pink and Grey to produce this very simple card.
Scalloped circles, scalloped scissors and some black doodling add a wee bit of interest and the fushia pink ribbon is the finishing touch.

Selection Box

Thought I'd show what I've been 'pootling' with over the weekend.
Nothing to shout about really just a bit of colouring with Whispers Brush Markers on the embossed cards (part of an old QVC card kit) and one of the lovely Forever Friends stamps, with some silver peel offs for the sentiments.
The glittery flower card is a recyled birthday card from last year.

Quick and easy which suits me perfectly at the moment as my energy levels are well below zero.

Pink Elephant Challenge 2

The Challenge at Pink Elephant this week was to use 'GLITTER' ... which, I have to tell you, is not something I find easy.
'Flitter' more describes what I have done with this card ... but hey ho ... it sparkles enough for me.

If you look carefully you'll see a 'hint of a tint' of pink glitter on the stamped flower, (isn't that Penny Black stamp just scrummy??), but I accidently dropped a humungous blob of fushia pink glitter on the green flower brad ... so I decided to be extravagant and leave it to set.
Must be getting brave in my old age.

Strangly enough I quite like the finished result ... sometimes things are just meant to be aren't they?

I added some adhesive gems for extra 'bling' and some 'faux stitching' ... and that was about all I could cope with.

Hope it fits the criteria for the PE Challenge but regardless, my niece loved her birthday card ... and, for me at least, that's what really counts.

The background paper was one of the lovely designs sent by Tiggertastic for my birthday and was just perfect for what I wanted.

The Penny Black stamp was coloured using Whisper Brush Markers.

More practice needed obviously but getting there I think.

More Birthday Treasure

I've received yet more fabulous cards and gifts for my birthday.

Thanks to Tiggertastic, Heather and Cambiel from CB forum for continuing to spoil me rotten. I am one lucky lady xxx

Birthday Bonanza

Here are the cards sent by family and friends to celebrate my birthday yesterday

Some of them even had little surprises tucked inside and it's safe to say I was absolutely blown away by the generosity and kindness of everyone ... 'Thank You All Very Much'.

Flower Hearts

I know ... I know ... there's hearts and flowers everywhere this week, but I can get away with over indulgence because it's almost Valentine's Day ... which means it is also my birthday ... besides it's not a lovey dovey, gushy card so will suit those who're not overly romantic.

I used a small heart punch on plain and patterned paper and then layered them all to create the flower.

Bright 'n' Bold

This card uses some more of the Paper Cellar papers which were part of my CB prize.

The colours are really vibrant Springtime colours and you can't help but feel brighter just by seeing them spread on the table in front of you ... even if, (like me), you're feeling like "Little Miss CrabbyPants".

So do you think I should decorate the walls with them to keep me feeling bright'n'breezy ?

But then again ... that may be more stimulation than I can handle.

Pink Elephant Challenge 1

There's another new challenge blog been added to the sidebar and as one of my bestest bloggy friends Ann is on the new Design Team, I just had to tell you about it.

It's called 'The Pink Elephant Challenge' and already it's proving a popular place to hang out.

Here's my entry for their very first challenge ... a nice easy colour one ... where the brief is to use Pink, Black and White.

The papers are taken from DCWV paper stack and matted and layered onto black and white card stock. They fit the bill nicely as does that lovely vibrant pink ribbon and the brads ... one of each colour.
An offcut of the paper was used to decorate the inside rather than add an insert.

I hope you will all hop over there and join in the fun ... and you never know you may win a prize for your efforts!

Penny Black Stamps

I have always covetted Penny Black stamps and especially lurrrrrve the wee hedgehogs (or hodgepigs as Naomi used to call them), so I finally gave in to temptation by ordering the 'Hugs' set of clear stamps.

Unfortunately, when they arrived I wasn't feeling up to playing with them but promised myself they would be first in line when I felt better.

Sooooo ... yesterday afternoon, I opened the seal and made a card using the wee mouse in a basket and the adorable hedgehog with flowers.

I used a combination of Whispers Brush Markers and Sakura Pens for colouring and then cut out the cute images to mount on silver mirri card with silicon glue.
I'm going to enjoy playing with this set and as a new owner of PB stamps I'm hoping my colouring skills can be improved so I don't spoil them because they're really fabby.