Wedding Fever

I was recently asked to make a wedding card and was given free rein with both design and colours.  GULP!  Sometimes having this much freedom can be more difficult than when customers are specific about what they want, but I decided to try a few ideas and let her choose a favourite.
Which one would you choose? 
If your selection matches the actual card chosen then your name will go into a draw for a wee crafty prize. 
Deadline midnight GMT Sunday 22nd July.
Click the photos for close-up views.

Design 1
A linen effect white card base decorated with blue and white diecut hearts layered onto diecut blue and silver mirri card, embellished with a simple bow and greeting.

Inside shows diecut panels and a simple stamped message.
 
Design 2
I created an off centre gatefold from A4 white linen card, adding a panel of textured burgundy card and a matching Kanban wedding topper.  A simple bow and stamped greeting are the only decoration. 

The slim panel shows white padded hearts and satin ribbon matted onto layers of white and burgundy card.

Inside, a panel of white linen card has been corner punched and decorated with diamante gems before being matted onto burgundy card and stamped with a greeting.
I'd like to submit this card as my first entry to
Sparkles Monthly Challenges - 34 Weddings
 
Design 3
I opened an image from my flowers folder in PSP (PaintShop Pro), and typed a greeting before printing onto white linen cardstock, which gives a look almost like canvas. Both elements were then matted onto silver mirri. 

White organza ribbon was wrapped around the fold on a landscape base card and tied in a bow with pearl gems added for decoration.

The inside message was stamped onto white linen card before being matted onto silver textured card and placed inside.
I'm hoping this card is eligible for entry into
Southern Girls Challenge 48 - Pearls
Sparkles Monthly Challenges - 34 Weddings (2nd entry)

Design 4
I created an easel card base from cream cardstock and opened another beautiful rose image in PSP, adding a greeting onto the image before printing this time.

The easel card panels were then decorated with pretty paper from Papermania Confetti pack, matted onto black and gold mirri and the main image was then adhered to the front panel with foam pads.

Wide cream organza ribbon was wrapped around the back and tied in a knot and a matching bow was added to the image panel. 

The stopper was created using more layered panels of paper and card adhered to the base with foam pads before being decorated with paper flowers, pink ribbon bows and pretty iridescent fabric butterflies.
A greeting was stamped and embossed with gold powder, then diecut and matted onto black and gold card.

A matching box completes the ensemble as this card is way too bulky for an envelope.
I'm entering this card into
The Cupboard Trilogy - Colour Palette Challenge
The Cupcake Craftroom - July: Layers
Sparkles Monthly Challenges - 34 Weddings (3rd entry)

PLEASE REMEMBER...
Don't forget to leave a comment with your favourite from the selection and you may be lucky enough to win a prize.

Snowflake ...

... is the name of this pretty little Sugar Nellie stamp I used for my card.  Isn't she sweet? 

She was stamped onto linen effect card with black Memento ink and then heat embossed with holographic embossing powder before colouring with Promarkers and adding Stickles for extra sparkle.
The background papers are from a DCWV pad which has been in my stash for a very long time and never lets me down if I'm in a hurry or struggling to decide on colour choices.  Sadly there are only a few sheets which remain untouched now, but I really can't complain as it has served me well being one of the very first items I ever bought from QVC - believe it or not, that was several years ago.

Silver mirri card was embossed with snowflakes in the cuttlebug and then cut in half to provide the panels which sit behind the main image and a snowflake border punch helps to decorate the white spaces. 

I only own 2 of the Sugar Nellie Christmas range at the moment, but there are 4 new Christmas Mangas due for release very soon and IF Mr. Random Selector thingy is feeling really kind and chooses my entry number, then I could be the lucky winner of all of them AND a set of Spellbinders.  Isn't that a fabby prize?
If you fancy having a go yourself then you'll need to be quick and head over to Sugar Bowl Challenge 41 and get your entry in before midnight.  YES - Thats midnight tonight!
Just follow Marlene's cool sketch with the optional theme of using 'Something Old or Something New'.  My papers definitely qualify as old so perfect for this challenge extra.

Bah! Humbug! 23 - A Child's Christmas

Hooray!  
We have internet again which means I can now share my DT samples for Bah! Humbug's! latest challenge ...  

A Child's Christmas

I decided to make a duo of cards using this ultra cute penguin trio from Serendipity Stamps - a pink version and a blue version.

The little girly one is an easel card using lovely papers from DCWV Christmas Stack.  Both images were coloured with Promarkers and then embossed with holographic powder for added sparkle before adding some adhesive gems and stars.

The boy's card was dry embossed top and bottom on the Cuttlebug using a snowflake folder and I scored 2 lines to create a central panel for the snowflake paper from Anita's Christmas Blue Collection then added the cute penguins.

All I have to do now is add some greetings, but as I intend to personalise them with glittery letters I will do that prior to posting in December.
There are more lovely examples to see over on the Bah! Humbug! Challenge blog, so do pop over for a looksee - it will definitely be worth your while and may even provoke you into joining in, which would be wonderful as we love it when you share your ideas too.

Bah! Humbug! Challenge 21 - Acetate

Not sure what happened to my scheduled post ... it's disappeared! ... completely gone! ... 'vamoosh vanished!  It was there yesterday but  ... now ... it's not.  Very strange.   However ... here's another version of what I wrote ... the bits I can remember anyway.

The 1st challenge of the month is always exciting over at Bah! Humbug! because we have a wee Prize Draw for you and have recently started featuring a Monthly Special Guest Designer.  Our lady for June is ready to wow you with her creative wonderfulness  - and you'd better prepare to be 'wowed' this week let me tell you!   
Welcome to the team
Claire : Claire's Crafty Creations
This week's challenge to use acetate had me slightly concerned as it's not something I use very often.  I love to see what others do with it and promise myself to try some of the fabulous techniques I've seen, but somehow my efforts never quite make the grade.   So in light of that I decided not to get above myself and stick to basics.
I took a sheet of the gorgeous foiled acetate, which was included in the birthday box of goodies I received from Ann when we were in York - thanks big muchness Ann xxx  I trimmed and folded it to a DL size card and added panels of black card inside and outside, placing them so that the stamped image on the front hides the message panel inside when it is closed.  Are you with me?
Tied a narrow gold ribbon down the fold for decoration and black adhesive gems in the corners ... voila!  DONE!

The stamp is one of the Secret Christmas Set from Waltzing Mouse Stamps which was available for a limited time last year ... I have e-mailed Claire to ask if it is still available and will let you know if she gets back to me.

**The answer is YES!** 
Thanks for the quick response Claire.

It was simply stamped onto black card, embossed with gold embossing powder, matted to a slightly larger piece of gold mirri and then adhered to the front with double-sided tape.  

A slightly larger panel of black card was stuck directly behind this on the inside, which cleverly hides all the sticky stuff.  The same thing was done with the message panel inside.   Not very adventurous I know but quite a nice card all the same.  
If you'd prefer to see something MUCH more adventurous, then you need go no further than check out what the other Bah! Humbuggers! have been doing with their acetate - you will not be disappointed!

Think I may go and enjoy the sun for a while now that the washing is out on the line - might take the Promarkers with me.

Bah! Humbug! 20 - Silhouettes

Simple Silhouettes is our challenge for you this week at Bah! Humbug!  I have always loved silhouettes and remember having fun as a child making shadow shapes on the bedroom wall with a torch and my hands.
When I went looking for a stamp for my card this week, I was pleased to see I have accumulated several sets of Christmas silhouette stamps over the last year or so, which meant I had plenty to choose from - the only difficulty was deciding which one to use.  
Finally, I settled on this lovely image of Santa and his reindeer flying across the sky which is from a set by Debbie Moore Designs.  

The line of trees below was embossed straight onto the card front using one of the embossing folders bought as a set from Oh My Crafts several months ago.  I do believe they are now available elsewhere so are no longer exclusive.
Adding some holographic embossing powder gives a touch of sparkle to some of the trees, which unfortunately isn't really showing in this photo.
Santa and the greeting, (from the same set of stamps), were stamped with black pigment ink and then cut with Oval Nestabilities before being treated to some holographic sparkle and matted onto a Scalloped Oval cut from black card given the same treatment.  
Oh Yesssssssss ... we are sparkling good style!
The card should've been completed at this stage but I felt it needed something else ... and yes you've guessed ... MORE SPARKLE!

A leftover strip of black card was cut with scalloped edged trimmer blade and then embossed within an inch of it's life, before being folded in half and attached down the fold.   Now I'm a happy bunny!
I just realised that Winter Wonderland Challenge this week is to use images or colours of "Christmas Sweets" so will enter this Mint Humbug colour combination of black and white and will take my chances at the following challenges too ... 
PaperPlay Challenges - Up In The Air
Cute Card Thursday - No Designer Papers
Delightful Sketches and Challenges - Texture

  

***Pssssssssttttt ...***

Just before you disappear to see what my fellow "Bah! Humbugger! Buddies" have been up to, leave a message in the comment box relating  

a fond childhood Christmas memory 

and I will select one person to win a set of the  

Debbie Moore Silhouette Stamps 

YEP!  I have somehow acquired 2 sets ... whoops!  

That's just plain greedy!  

You don't need to do anything else ... no linking back ... no blog candy posts on your blog ... no jumping through hoops or doing double somersaults ... 

Just leave me a memory message 

before midnight on Sunday 30th May - UK time

and your name will go into the draw.

Good Luck!

Winner will be announced on Monday

***

Pink Wedding

Had time for a quick browse after Naomi and I returned from bowling and happened to notice I'd almost missed Paperplay Challenges deadline - which simply wouldn't do at all, especially as I made this easel card especially to join in.

The image is from a Debbi Moore wedding silhouette stamp set which was embossed with silver embossing powder and die cut with the cuttlebug using Nestabilities Labels One.  
I randomly stamped a leafy swirl around the edge, (whilst it was still in the die cut frame), silver embossed it and then swept over it all with a Pearlescent Pink Brilliance Dew Drop ink pad, before polishing off the excess to reveal the embossed image again.  This was then matted onto a larger die cut from silver mirri card.

Using A4 white linen effect cardstock I scored and folded an easel card before decorating with pink heart patterned paper from Papermania - Scrumptious pack, some white organza ribbon and a few feathers.  

The greeting is one of my recent purchases from Waltzing Mouse Stamps (who coincidentally are sponsoring this challenge), and as you see Claire has designed it to perfectly complement the Spellbinders Fancy Tags Shape-abilities.   Brilliant!   Can't quite make up my mind whether to add flowers or not.  Will sleep on it.  Right - off to beddy-byes now ... Sweet Dreams All.

Oriental Happy Birthday

As one of six children, there are very few months in the year that are free from birthdays and today it's the turn of my baby sister Debbie. 
The oriental card I made uses a selection of Waltzing Mouse Stamps from Claire Brennan's recently released Asian Garden collection,  which were stamped onto red card and embossed with a combination of black and gold embossing powders.    A smidgeon heavy with the gold I feel, but just check out that shine!

The panels were then matted onto black card, followed by gold mirri card, leaving narrow borders before layering onto a white DL card blank.

The sentiment was stamped onto red card,  embossed in black and then lightly rubbed over with a Brilliance Dew Drop gold ink pad before die cutting with Nestabilities - Labels One.  

I matted it onto black card, embossed the edge with gold powder and then placed it over the background strip with foam pads.   The 'Birthday Wishes' part of the sentiment is from WMS Asian Garden, but 'Sister' is one of Papermania's Relations clear stamps, which I know will become a favourite to have close at hand.
Simon Says Stamp are celebrating their 1st Blogaversary and are having an awesome party which includes a Blog Hop and you'd better believe there are loads of fabulous prizes on offer, so I'm going to gatecrash and enter this card into their Birthday/Celebrations Challenge.   Hope there's some red wine on offer as blog-hopping is thirsty work!
A few other challenges are ...
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Shiny and/or Sparkly
Stamp Something - Birthday
Rainbow Lady - Make Your Own Background Paper

Happy Birthday Waltzing Mouse

Over at Waltzing Mouse, there is a party in progress this weekend as Claire celebrates the 1st birthday of her stamp company. 
She has worked really hard during difficult economic times building her business and must be commended on the fact that, despite her success, she still manages to give her customers the personal service which is not available from many larger online companies and has never compromised on the quality of her stamps.
As part of the celebrations, she has set a sketch challenge and is offering one lucky person the opportunity to win all 8 of her new stamp collections due to be released on Saturday.  An awesome prize and one which I simply had to have a go at if only to promote her products.
The sentiment I chose is from her 'Blessed' collection and was stamped onto patterned paper and heat embossed with silver embossing powder before cutting with Nellie Snellen circle multi-die.  

Further decorative circles were cut from the patterned paper and silver mirri card, before being layered and decorated with paper roses.   

I arranged a white feather in a circle, to soften the overall look, beneath the sentiment circle which was adhered with silicon gel, before placing 2 strips of decorative gems between diagonal scored lines as a final touch.  

Inside was decorated using the remainder of the pretty paper matted onto silver mirri card and decorated with a line of adhesive gems in the corner.
I hope that Claire and Waltzing Mouse Stamps will enjoy increasing success in the months and years to come and am positive that her customers will always appreciate her efforts to keep costs down, (in spite of her accountant's efforts),  whilst still maintaining the high quality of her stamps.  It only remains for me to wish WMS a very Happy Birthday and may you enjoy many more xxx

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #6 - Snowmen

It's been another amazing week for us over at Bah! Humbug!   We've had such fun browsing your blogs admiring all the fabulous cards created for our Holly Challenge.  Thanks to everyone who took the time and made the effort to join in. 
Today's the day we announce the winner of that fabulous Papermania Christmas paper pack and also set the theme for this week's challenge, which is ...  SNOWMEN.

I used this cute Skating Snowman stamp from Serendipity and heat embossed the image with holographic embossing powder before colouring him with Promarkers.  I still haven't quite got the hang of these yet but they do say practice makes perfect so I'll keep at it.

I used a quickie glue pen to add extra holographic embossing powder to his face and body.  If you click on the image you'll see the effect.  Once set with the heat gun it gives a lovely sparkle and thankfully it stays put, unlike glitter.
An X-Cut decorative corner punch was used before matting this cutie onto purple card and layering onto complementary patterned papers. 
Adhesive gems came to the rescue to 'bling' it up a bit and the glittery letters help to add some extra sparkle.
I can't wait to see what beauties will be unveiled for this week's challenge and hope that you will find the time to play along with us and join in the fun. 
I am going to post a link at Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge because it fits in with his 'Punch It and Bling It' theme, even though I'm more than a week late.  Fortunately Fab is very forgiving.

Bah! Humbug! Baubles

It's Friday again - and that means it's time for another Bah! Humbug! Challenge.
It's the last one for the month of January and the theme this time is BAUBLES.

I decided to be brave and cut into some gorgeous K. & Co. double-sided papers from a collection called Blue Awning to decorate an easel card.

The baubles were created by cutting squares and following the first steps of a tutorial for making a 3D snowflake HERE ... something I had intended doing for last Christmas but never quite managed to find the time.  

Hmmm ... I think I cut my strips a smidgeon too thinly as they're a touch flimsy compared to the tutorial version, but are obviously on a smaller scale to fit the card.

After embossing snowflakes with the cuttlebug on a panel of blue cardstock, I heat embossed it with gold and adhered it as a contrasting panel. 

The greeting is a simple 'Seasons Greetings' peel off sticker mounted onto more blue cardstock embossed with gold around the edges which are layered with strips from that delicious paper and more peel offs provide the bauble chains. 
A large blue ribbon bow adds the finishing touch to the similarily layered centre panel.

If you'd like to see what the other ladies have been up to for this week's challenge then hop over to
Bah! Humbug! and take a peek.
Hopefully their super cards will encourage you to join in and we'll all have lots of cards to choose from this year - with no stress involved!!

Gold'n'Sentiment

Following Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge again this week meant using 'Gold' - in one form or another - and a sentiment.

My take on this was to play safe and use gold mirri card - not very adventurous of me I know 'cos I use it all the time - but just so's you don't think I'm too boring, I opted to make a zig zag card.

Makes it a little bit more interesting don't you think?

The background papers are all matted onto panels of gold mirri card, leaving a narrow border and then attached to the card blank. 
I thought the Merry Christmas section made a nice contrast to the gold leafy patterned paper.

The sentiment, from Hot Off The Press Christmas Paper Stack,  was embossed with holographic embossing powder before matting onto gold mirri card tag shapes. 
It really glistens beautifully when the light catches it.

I was itching to use my new Cuttlebug Christmas tree folder which arrived the other day, so cut a strip of gold mirri card to decorate the back panel - I just love those trees and will probably wear that folder out this year.

Not much more to say really except that's another card for the 2010 Festive Stash ...  that's got to be good hasn't it?

Wedding Card

My young nephew is taking the plunge next month and getting married, so what better excuse for indulging in a touch of luxury ... or at least something that looks a little luxurious, even if it isn't really.
I decided to sacrifice a sheet of really pretty lace effect embossed paper which, if I remember rightly, was bought in a sale.
It's one of a pack of 5 different coloured papers and they really are fabulous. I have stroked them several times since I bought them, but never actually cut any ... until now!
A gatefold card was created from an A4 sheet of double~sided cardstock and 2 panels were cut from silver mirri card, slightly smaller than the front sections. Then I cut 2 slightly smaller panels from the floral embossed paper and attached it to the mirri card, leaving another narrow border.
A length of pale pink satin ribbon was firmly adhered to the lower section of each front opening before the completed embossed panels were placed on top with foam pads.
White pigment ink was used to stamp the Anita's Bride and Groom image onto another piece of doublesided cardstock and this was then covered with holographic embossing powder before being heated with a heat gun.
When the light hits the image it sparkles beautifully ... as you can hopefully see in the close up.

This was then cut with rotary trimmer, before being matted onto silver mirri card. A further piece of the same cardstock, (cut with a decorative blade this time), and a final layer of mirri card make up the front overlap section.

Inside, I once again layered up silver mirri card and cardstock before adding an appropriate quote sticker and a decorative header made up from the offcuts of paper and ribbon.
"Waste not ... want not" as my mother used to say.

I have made a matching box, (which I'll show when it's dry), and will include a matching gift card envelope to hold our gift to the happy couple.

Coincidently, this week's Cardvaarks Challenge theme is Baby or Bridal Shower, so this will be my entry.
The DT samples and the standard of entries are amazing so if you're looking for inspiration at all then take a gander ... you won't be disappointed.

Bright and Funky Christmas

I'm being quite good at making little contributions to my Christmas Cards 2009 stash and thought I'd have a go at using some bright colours maybe not usually associated with Christmas ... hence the pink, blue and green combination.
The funky patterned paper is from last year's stash and is by PaperArtsy and the stamp is from Papermania Joyeux Noel collection.
I stamped the image onto white card using the Brilliance DewDrop Pink Pearlescent ink pad which was then embossed with holographic embossing powder for added shine. The cardstock is all good quality, bought from Papermill's Pick'n'Mix selection when I last visited their shop in Tillicoutry way back in January.

I think it may just about qualify as my very 1st entry into Fab's Big Christmas Cards Challenge #28 as the theme is Bright and Funky.
I've decided to work my way through the previous challenges over there, (slowly no doubt but no matter LOL), to see how many I can complete before December ... just as a personal motivation exercise and challenge.
Wish me luck!

With Love At Christmas

Here are a couple more cards for Christmas ... which sadly will not make much of a dent in the outstanding list but it's 2 more that won't be shop bought so that's something.

The reindeer silhouette and the stamped message are from a set of Anita's clear stamps called Christmas Classics and the background papers are from the Anita's Christmas Blues collection.

I think they may well be pulled out every year as I love them so much ... what us crafters might call an investment huh??

I used black embossing powder (which is not showing at all in the photograph) and added a few blue gems to the antlers. A couple of silver snowflakes and a little bow just help to make it more Christmassy.

Using the same sentiment on the gold mirri card ... don't you just lurrrrve that font ... I added some doublesided paper borders which were ready cut and just needed folded and an organza ribbon bow, finishing with some little green adhesive gems from Dovecraft.

Doesn't get much easier than that does it?

Frosty and Rudi

I bought some gorgeous Christmas stamps ages ago and have been desperate to have a play with them but something always managed to get in the way.

So I gave myself a wee treat this afternoon while the creative urge was with me ...

... and as an extra bonus I got out the embossing powders and glitter too!

I've been a little selfish today

and will probably have to spend tomorrow doing some chores to make up for it ... but hey ho ... why not?