Posts

Sunday 31 May 2015

A Sketch challenge



The challenge is sketch 188.

It actually closes tomorrow at noon so I'm cutting it a bit fine but here goes.

I have taken the sketch and moved the image section to the side. I hope that isn't considered cheating!!!


I added a bit of checked paper to a bought pale green envelope to jazz it up a little.

 I actually made three of these as they where really quick and easy.


Supplies:
Pattern:   Stitching Cards Bookmark Flower 5
Thread: DMC metallic range. Gun metal grey. Sorry no colour code
Card stock: 160gsm in white
Scraps of paper in mauve, pink and green
Scraps of ribbon: pink organza, green and purple satin
Flat backed gems
Envelop: bought
Checked paper: Paper Pizzazz: plaids, checks and stripes range.

Friday 29 May 2015

Animal

Addicted to CAS has a new challenge. Here is the cue card


and here is my card


I saw something similar done with stamps and decided to make my own pattern. I choose to stitch it in satin thread to give it a bit of interest.

Supplies:
Pattern: My own
Thread: Satin in light blue, lemon and dusty pink. All DMC but no number codes, sorry
card Stock: 160gsm white
Paper: Butterfly double sided 80gsm Black pad

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Tic Tac Toe

Tic Tac Toe is the new challenge # 59 at Clean and Simple on Sunday.
You get to choose a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line from this grid


of course I had to choose something that went with the "stitches" option and lucky for me that was a butterfly. So I choose the butterfly, female, stitches option and here is my entry.


The colour selected definitely makes it a "female" card.
I did some doodling in silver around the edges to complete.

(Edited to add that this card was named one of the Top 3 over at CAS on Sundays challenge # 59. Thanks for the honour ladies.) 

My second card along the same lines didn't photograph too well. IRL the burgundies are not so similar in colour and the butterfly stands out better. 
I added multi coloured peel offs to the corner to complete.




Supplies:
Pattern:Stitching Cards. Free Butterfly Pattern
Thread: mauve and burgundy: brand and colour code unknown.
Glass beads
Scraps of mauve and burgundy paper.
Hybrid gel pen in silver
Pilot Fineliner in black
Peel offs
Champagne flat backed gems


Monday 25 May 2015

Oh my stars

There is a new challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers. Free 4 All called "Oh my Stars".
This is absolutely perfect for me as although I don't often stitch stars, except on Christmas cards, I do have a star die which I use often. So here is my entry for this challenge


 I added flat backed gems in black and a couple of doodled black dots to complete.

  My inspiration


Supplies:
Card stock: 200gsm in turquoise and red
White paper
Black flat backed gems
Pilot fine liner
Cuttlebug
Sizzix 4 dies stars (657910)

Friday 22 May 2015

Wedding

A new week, a new challenge at CASology.


I was commissioned to make this card


by a colleague after she had seen this card


She choose blue as it was one of the colours of the wedding. She didn't like the bells as she thought they looked to 'Christmassy' so I merely duplicated the hearts instead.
She was very happy with the end result.
Supplies:
Pattern:Stitching Cards Bookmark Bells, Hearts and rings
Card Stock: 160gsm in white
Paper: scraps of red, gold and free blue and white download from Google.
Cuttlebug
Embossing folder: Cuttlebug Organic Flourish
Thread: Pink, red Brand and colour code unknown.
             Dark Blue DMC 0181
             Light Blue DMC 800
             Gold DMC E436 

Wednesday 20 May 2015

For a Rugby lover

This is the card I made for my nephew who is a rugby player. 


The base card was kraft and the sentiment was computer generated.

I took my inspiration from this card but swopped the American football for a rugby ball.


Supplies
Pattern: Stitching Cards. Football
Thread: Copper: DMC Antique Effects E436
Card Stock: Kraft
Paper: Emerald green
           Stripes: Free download from Google

Monday 18 May 2015

Sand between my toes

Splitcoast Stampers. Free 4 All have a fun challenge this week. It's "Sand between your toes". 
I bought these cut little felt flip flops (or jangles for the Australians and Kiwis out there) when I was in Australia and they were perfect.
I decided to make gift tags for a change.


My tags are hand cut and I did some faux doodle stitching around the edges to complete.

Supplies:
Felt embellishment: Make unknown
Card stock: scraps of 160gsm in white
Paper: Blue: Free download from Activity Village.       
                    Yellow: Paper Pizazz Soft tints
Pilot Fineliner in black
Pentel Dotliner 8.4mm roller glue

Friday 15 May 2015

Birds

Another challenge entry, this time for Addicted to CAS.
The cue card is 


Initially I wasn't overly excited about this cue as I don't have many bird patterns but then I remembered  my peacock pattern and it was A for away.


My colour inspiration came from this lovely card

Source: Wendy E

Supplies:
Pattern: Stitching Cards Peacock
Thread: Kreinik Metallics Blending Filament 095 
Card stock: white 160gsm
Paper: Aqua and gold

Wednesday 13 May 2015

The Colours of May

Last night I was stitching in front of the TV and half listening to the movie that was showing at the time. It was "Eat, Pray, Love" based on the book by Elizabeth Gilbert . 
I have watched it before so wasn't paying much attention but one scene did stand out for me. It's when an Italian man tries to explain the art of doing nothing "Dolce something or another"!!! He said that Americans are particularly bad about being able to do nothing and I think that South Africans suffer from the same complaint.
I do have one past time which I treasure and try to indulge in as often as possible and that is to spend time at our local Botanical Gardens. If I have a quiet Friday afternoon after work, with not too many errands to run, I'll take my book, buy a cup of coffee from the little charity kiosk in the gardens and spend some time reading or people watching. A thoroughly enjoyable way to spend an hour or so 'doing nothing'.

Today's card is for the Splitcoast Stampers Free 4 All. The theme for this week is "The colours of May" 
Evidently an emerald is the birthstone for May and a sapphire is the mystical stone so those two colours must be in your card.

Here is mine.


My inspiration is from one over at Limedoodle Design.

Source: Debbie Hughes

Supplies:
           Sentiment Stitching Card Words Birthday Wishes Capitals
Card stock: white and sapphire 160gsm
Thread: White: DMC blanc
             Green: Make and colour code unknown


Monday 11 May 2015

Jagged Edges

Challenge number 30 over at Butterfly Challenge is Jagged edges.
These two cards were a commission for a Granny to give to her twin granddaughters. She wanted  essentially the same design just in different colours.
They fit the challenge perfectly.



I have a special ruler which allows me to get the torn look. I prefer to use this as it is neater than just doing it free hand although I try to remember to tear on the back of the topper. As you can see I got it right on the top one but forgot when assembling the bottom one. Oops!

Supplies:
Pattern: Stitching Cards. Free Butterfly  Reduced to 50 %
Thread: All brands and colour codes unknown
Card stock 160gsm in white
Paper: Scraps of cream embossed, mauve and apricot
Beads: pearls
Jef Paper Tear Edger

Saturday 9 May 2015

Floral wreath

Another challenge over at CASology, this time


I am really enjoying stitching floral wreaths at the moment so chose a circle and made this card


and then I made this one just because it was fun!


I made the paper flowers on the first card but on the second one they are bought.
A stamped sentiment and bit of washi tape finish the look.

My inspiration came form 1001 Cartes.

Source: Francine Vuileme



Supplies:
Pattern: Form-a-Lines Free flower circle
Thread: Cerise: DMC 326
             Pink and green: Unknown
             Blue: DMC 809
Olba Bloemenponstang punch with attachment Q006 and Q007 for flowers
Pink and white washi tape
Card stock: 160gsm
Kaiser craft mini clear stamps
Liquid Pearl in platinum


Friday 8 May 2015

Anniversary wishessssssssssss.........

This week has seemed like the longest ever. Last week we had a 3 day week as both Monday and Friday where public holidays. That was really great but unfortunately it makes the next normal work week seem ever so long!!!! However it's weekend now and time for some me time.

The latest challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. Free for all is "Getting Hitched." This is perfect as it is my sister's wedding anniversary this month. After 18 years of marriage I reckon a bit of anniversary humour wouldn't go amiss.


Neither of them is particularly fond of snakes and actually where they live there are no snakes, but she is a girl from Africa, originally, and they are both nature lovers so I'm sure that they will appreciate the humour.

Supplies:
Pattern: Easy Embroidery on paper by Joke de Vette
Thread: No brands or codes available
Gold sequins
Scrap of read paper.
White card stock 160gsm
Envelope: Free download from Creative Park

Thursday 7 May 2015

Sketch


I have never taken part in a sketch challenge before but have decided to participate in the one over at
Sweet Sunday Sketch.

Here is the sketch.


I have moved the panel from the top to the bottom.

Supplies:
Card stock: 160gsm in blue and white
Thread: White DMC Blanche
             Blue: Make and colour code unknown
Flat backed gems in black, clear and one blue for centre of blue flower.


Wednesday 6 May 2015

Black, white and gold

There is a new challenge over at Addicted to CAS and it's


I choose to make this card. I battled a bit with the tail and am still not 100% happy with it but here it is never the less.


I was given this pattern so have no idea of the source, sorry.
My gold is the edging on the topper.

Supplies:
Card stock: white in 160gsm
Paper: Paper Pizazz dots, checks, plaids and stripes
Flat backed pearls
Rolfes metallic pen in gold
Thread: metallic gun metal grey
Small wobbly eye

Tuesday 5 May 2015

White with a hint of colour

Recently I discovered a new challenge which I am going to enter. It is over at CAS on Sunday and the challenge is Challenge 57: white with a hint of another colour.

I choose to make some cards with leaves on them as we are slowly, and the operative word here is very 'slowly', moving towards winter. Where I live here so close to the coast we don't experience distinct season changes, no leaves turning beautiful colours and besides the humidity being absent and less rain the weather is pretty much unchanged from summer at the moment. I envy people who experience the lovely colours of the trees in autumn.





I distress the edges of both toppers and used bakers twine on the first and washi tape on the second to finish off.

Supplies:
Pattern:Form a lines autumn falling leaves
Thread: Blue and green . Both manufactories and codes unknown
Ink: Colorbox in chestnut brown
Washi Tape: green and white zigzag
Blue and white baker's twine


Monday 4 May 2015

Lacy bits

This fortnights challenge over at Butterfly Challenge. is Butterflies and lace. As  I have mentioned before lace is not something that I use a lot of on my cards but here is my second card for this challenge and once again you have to use your imagination to identify the 'lace'.


I stretched the definition to include a lacy gold peel off which I put on either side of a strip of satin ribbon. I used a metallic pen to give the squares a blue border.

Not sure why I decided to do the card in this acid yellow colour, it's not my favourite! The one below is definitely more to my liking!!!


For this one I used red foil stripes at the base to complete the look. To get them straight I attached a strip of double sided tape to the fold and when I peeled it off I had perfect stripes. The faux stitching was done with a gel pen.

Supplies:
Pattern: Stitching Cards. Free Butterfly
Thread: light blue and metallic gunmetal grey
Card stock: White 160gsm. Acid yellow and pink scraps
Narrow double sided tape
Foil Art: Red
Gold peel offs
Blue polka dots satin ribbon
 Gel Pen: blue
Rolfes metallic blue pen
Paper: red




Sunday 3 May 2015

Flight

When I saw the new cue card over at CASology which is 


I knew immediately which pattern I had to stitch. It is one of a couple of new acquisitions and this was the perfect opportunity to make it.


I choose to do the dragonfly wings in a rayon thread as it has a sheen to it. Even though the flower is meant to be a dandelion I had seen this pattern stitched with the purple flower and decide to copy that. To complete I added some 'glitter' to the edges of the topper.

Supplies:
Pattern: Prick 'n Stitch. Dragonfly and dandelion
Thread: Silver DMC E168
             Purple: DMC 3837
             Blue: Rayon 3325
             Green 0254
Card stock: white 160gsm
Foam squares
Derivan 3D Kindyglitz in Glt. Crystalina

Saturday 2 May 2015

Butterflies and lace

The challenge at Butterfly Challenge is butterflies and lace. Lace is not something that I use a lot of on my cards so I had to think out of the box a bit with this one and here is what I came up with


 I used a lacy punch to make some card stock lace. Think that qualifies as lace, well I hope so anyway.
I made a second card with the same layout, just no lace this time.



My inspiration.

Source: K Dunbrook
Supplies:
Pattern:  Stitching Cards. Free Sweet Violet Pattern
Punch: Lacy Manufacture unknown
            Butterfly: Martha Steward
Cuttlebug
Daisy embossing folder
Liquid Pearls in gold
Thread: Green DMC 131
             Blue and coral make and number code unknown
Flat backed pearls
Daisy Paper: Free download from Crafty Ferret.

Friday 1 May 2015

Stars and Kraft paper

Today is actually a public holiday for us and I'm enjoying some time at home playing in my crafting room.

As I said a couple of posts ago this time of the year just seems to be full of male birthdays.
This one is for my Husband's brother. He is actually a twin but I'll show you the card I made for his sister at another time.


I cut the squares using a die and then cut a star in the centre of each square. I backed the stars with some white paper, added some baker's twine and voila all done. Very quick and simple.

The inspiration for this card came from something similar spotted on Pintrest.


Supplies:
Card stock: Kraft, red, lime green and bronze
Paper: White
Baker's Twine: Red
Die: Sizzix 8 square die (657565)
       Sizzix 4 star Dies (657910)