Father Fix-it or DIY Dad...

My card today is a Father's Day card, which is the challenge this fortnight at Here Come The Boys.  It was to be my last spot as Guest Designer, but they've asked if I'd like to continue for June, and of course I've said YES, so now it's not (my last spot, that is!) 

My dad was always the go-to man when we were young, now my Husband fills the role with our kids, though now they are young men he doesn't spend QUITE so much time responding to "those" calls, lol. Craft Your Days Away has Fathers Day as it's challenge this time,Do It With Digis has "It's All About The Boys" and Digi Stamps 4 Joy has Boys Boys Boys, so I'm entering there.

I used the sketch from Sketch and Stash, you know I love symmetry, so this was such an easy sketch for me.  The new or neglected stash on this card, is just about everything on it.

The digistamp from Just Inklined is one of many I've bought and not used - until now :-)  He is Aubery Bumblethorpe and I think he- along with so many of his stable mates- has that great cute but not cutesy property you need for mens cards.  

Aubery is coloured with Copics, I've added Gloss to his glasses.  The image is popped up on foam dots, of course! and even though he is a little oversized for his mat, I think it works... and Craft Your Passion has Let It All Hang Out (have something hanging over the edge, not what you're thinking, tsk!) as it's challenge this time, so it means I can enter there.

The green foil mats behind the image and the sentiment were cut with Nestabilities Standard Circles; the large one embossed with Cuttlebugs Seeing Spots folder. Embossed foil always adds a little "lift", methinks. My Time To Craft has Use a Die Cut and Digital Tuesday has Add some texture so I'm entering those challenges.  

The great chain looking ribbon effort (I don't know what you'd call it!) came from the recent Craft Show held in Perth: as is always the case with these things, I didn't know if I'd use it, now I wish I'd bought more!  

The spanner is metal, from a set I bought from Regal Craft, they're really heavy and ideal (I think!) for mens cards, it goes really well with the theme of the paper, which is from Kaisercraft (as is so much of the paper I use, lol), it is the Konstrukt range, the stripy paper is from the Utopia range.

I used "Happy Father's Day" from Sentiments 4 You - one of the sponsors over at the HCTB challenge this time...Lynne has LOADS of great sentiments available for all occassions, go and check it out (oodles of freebies too!) or you could always enter the challenge and win some! The screw in the centre is a sticker that I've had for years, love using up stuff like that, though the flow of goods is definitely inwards, lol.

I decorated the inside of this card in the simplest of fashions: adding a piece of Konstrukt paper with a Nestie circle cut out of it and a bit of the chain trim...it's all it needed.

I hope you like my card, it is one of the few that I've done that I really liked from the beginning and still liked at the end!  It "fell" together and looked as I thought it would...now if only my next one goes so well, I may be able to get a few more made.

Until next time, Happy Crafting, Dee

Sun, Sand and Seagull

Today I have a LONG post and lots of photos, but it IS two projects, so I'm sure you'll let me off, lol. I've made a card and tag set using the new release from CC Designs available at All That Scraps on FRIDAY 27th MAY go check it out, and while you're over there check out the rest of the DT inspiration!

I've used Hawaiian Gretel and the Beach House on the card, and Gretel again and the Seagull on the matching tag - all Digis, but of course!  I coloured the images with Copics and Prismacolor Pencils....one of the "Gretels" is in Copics and the other in pencil; I wasn't making them as a set, but once I started colouring the second one I realised I was going with the same colours so I just went with it!

The bucket and spade are part of the Beach Borders digi stamp set from Whimsie Doodles. 

I've used this beautiful picture from Allsorts Challenge for their inspiration challenge this week, the papers are from Kaisercrafts Seaside Collection (how appropriate, lol) including the tags - thats the tag ON the tag the one on the card ;-) Stamp Something has "Beachy Colours" as its theme this time, and Delicious Doodles has Let the Sunshine In, so I'm entering there.  Lexis Creations has Spots and Stripes...Spots on the card, in it goes!

You may recognise the sketch from Crafting Lifes Pieces for this month; I used it on My Mum's Mothers Day Card. I've never used a sketch twice before, I'm really happy (and to be honest a little surprised) with how different the end product is - it's a great sketch to work with.

The lace border on the card was cut with my new (bought at the State Craft Fair, along with far-too-much-other stuff, lol) Nellie Snellen border die..love it!  I used mini ric rac (from the show) on both...I think it looks like waves on the tag :-)  I wonder if you can guess where the flowers on the card came from, yup same show....the same guy spent forever cutting up bits of ribbon for me last year and this year - I might wear a disguise next year, lol.  Sundays With Chrissy has "flowers" as it's theme this time, so I'm entering there.  The starfish on the tag is from my stash.

Another tag from the Seaside collection is hanging over the edge of the card, which means I can enter the challenge at Craft Your Passion this time which has "Let It All Hang Out" (how cool is that) Everything is mounted on foam dots, I know it doesn't show in photos, but looks good IRL...Digital Tuesday has Add Some Texture as it's challenge so I'm in there (all those layers AND my embellies = texture plus!)

The pearls and the rhinestones (which are really TINY, but very sparkly) are from my stash. There's Gold Stickles on the stamens of the flower too, again, hard to see!

I used a new (new to me, that is) Nestabilities Labels Nine to cut a jotting panel inside the card, I distressed the edges with Kaisercraft Coral Rose ink. I used the cut out as a base for the tag, adding another label cut from the coral colour to make the tag bigger.  I inked the edges of these too.  I punched two tiny holes and used very fine gold thread as a hanger.  My Time To Craft has Use A Die Cut as their challenge, so I'm in there for both the card and the tag and Bizzy Becs has Create a Tag so I'm entering there with my little tag. Totally Papercrafts has No Squares as it's challenge theme, so I'll ignore my very square card and use my absolutely not square tag to enter there, lol.  

By The Cute and Girly has Anything Goes this month, you can only enter once this month, so I really had to think about what project I wanted to "show"...I've decided this is my favourite so I'm entering there....it's a big decision because I've made a card for my last Guest spot on Here Come the Boys (I'll be posting that on Sunday, come back and see what you think) and I LOVE it! I've just decided this set is better for Cute and Girly :-)

Finally! That's the end of my post for today....did you survive? I hope you're not too bored :-)  Thanks so much for visiting me, and looking at my little card and gift set.  Leave a comment, even if it's to tell me my posts are too long! If you leave a link I'll do my very best to come back and visit you.  Until next time, Happy Crafting, Dee

Not so Less is More

Well, hello!  I haven't posted anything for over a week!  It's been a combination of my Mojo going AWOL and making "stuff" for DT work that won't be posted for another couple of days, along with work being crazy busy (for this time of year).  I made this card yesterday with the challenge at Less is More in mind.....then immediately made it More is More, but as it was a nice easy card that didn't demand too much of me in the Mojo department I like it!

 I've used DCWV paper from the 
"Mariposa" 12" collection....I love this paper, it's so rich!  I used two sheets (luckily the pad comes with two sheets of each print) and cut the large and small butterflies from one sheet and glued them onto the base card. Flutterby Wednesday has an open theme this week, so my butterflies are all that I need to enter there!  I also layered up the yellow bud and some of the leaves, but that simply doesn't show in the photos (trust me, I took LOADS and it still didn't show up) so you'll just have to trust me it looks quite effective IRL.

I used more of the paper inside the card, I used my Nestabilities Label Four to cut out (and emboss) a jotting panel (saw that term when I was browsing the other day, can't remember who's blog, but I think it's a very good description: so much better than 'writing space panel thingy' lol)  I added the butterfly with a stamp I have had for years (in fact it was the first rubber stamp I ever bought!) with Stazon ink in Jet Black then added Xmas Red and Diamond stickles, which are on the butterflies on the front too. Paper Play Challenges has sparkle galore as it's challenge this week, so I'm entering there....plenty of sparkle here!
Some of the black flourishes were on the paper, I used parts of a Kaisercraft Christmas stamp to stamp more flourishes in the other corners to "bring" it together.  Creatalicious Challenges has "flourishes" as it's theme this time around, so I'm in there too.



I used more of the paper, with the flourishes printed on it, for the back of the card too: I felt it needed "more" finishing.  Still feeling a little guilty about how little time I'd invested in this card, I used yet more of the paper to line the envelope!!
Okay, that's it for today....sorry about all the photos, I admit it was the lazy way of describing my card, lol
I'll be back at the end of the week with something I've done for All That Scraps...I think it's pretty cute, you'll just have to pop back over to judge for yourself :-)
Until then, Happy Crafting, Dee

Take a Break, It's Your Birthday

My Dad is constantly working in the garden (not always his own idea, lol)  but as it's his 82nd Birthday I thought he could take a little instruction from this little guy and take a break.

 This is the second card I've done as Guest Designer for Here Come The Boys, The challenge theme this time around is this sketch, go and check out what the other ladies have done with it, why not have a go at the challenge while you're there - it is a great sketch!  Pollycraft Challenge this time is Boyz to Men, so I'm entering my dad's card there.
The image is from Di's Digi Downloads, he is called Gardening Pop and he is one of about a zillion great images that Di has available - Digi, of course - I am a Digi kind of girl!!   Allsorts Challenge this time around is "Teddy Bears Picnic" so I'm entering there too, as this is a Teddy Bear and this is my dad's idea of a great picnic!
I've coloured Pop up with my trusty Copics, adding some Stickles to the little bird and Glossy Accents to the ladybird.
This is the first twisted easel card I've done, I don't know why I thought they'd be complicated - they really aren't!  I suppose the main thing to remember is to put the front panel on at right angles to the body of the card.
Most of the paper is from the candy I won from Tracy ( boy am I getting value out of that!!) so I'm not sure what it is; I do know the mat behind the image panel is from Basic Greys Indian Summer collection.  The ribbon - don't you think it's just like a ladybird?! - is from my stash, as are the little letter stickers making up the sentiment.  Delicious Doodles has "Inspired by..." as its challenge theme, and really this card was inspired by the little ladybirds...my dad LOVES them (it's so cute to see him gently lift one off his roses and set it "free"), so I'm entering there.
The card is made of Textured Cardstock from Die Cuts With a View, the yellow panel is actually slightly shimmery semi-translucent paper my son got me as part of my "birthday basket" from Starfish Lane...it's really nice adding a sort of glitteriness that isn't at all feminine.
The chipboard letters are from Die Cuts With a View, they are glittery, but of course this doesn't show in the photo!  I have had the ladybirds for absolutely ages, they were on little wooden pegs.....but not for long, lol.  The twine is yet more of that fabulous candy from Tracy, and the black pearls around the edge are on a strip from Bella.
Cards For Men has Someone Special as it's challenge theme this time around and Digi Stamps 4 Joy has Celebrate, as my Dad is someone special and he is celebrating, in my card goes!  Crafty Creations has Anything Goes, as does Stamp Something, so it's definitely in there too, lol.
I hope you like my twisted easel card.....my Dad absolutely loved it, he is going to keep it - which from a man of his generation is high praise indeed!
Until next time, Happy Crafting, Dee

Party Like It's 1984

Firstly, it's really nice to be back in the land of Blog (there was an issue in Australia and the region with Blogger yesterday, so I couldn't publish this post)  Secondly, this is a card I made for our friend Clive who just turned 48

I used "Lets Party" digi image from Kenny K, one cool dude! Pollycraft has Boyz to Men as its challenge this time, I can't quite decide if this guy is a boy or a man but I do know he's in there somewhere, lol. I think he looks kind of retro, especially coupled with the swirly paper and the purple card; which means it suits Kenny K Krafty Girlz challenge this week "Lets Go Retro", being a digi means I'm entering Stamp Something's May Digi Day challenge, and Digi Stamps 4 Joy has Celebration so I'm in there too; love my digis!
The lovely black and purple swirly paper is actually wrapping paper that I've had in my stash for years, I love the iridescent swirl in it that changes colour from different angles;  The Secret Crafter has Dust Off Your Stash, so after stash-dusting I'm entering there.  Creative Inspirations has Glitzy and Bling as its challenge, and as well as the glitzy paper there's Diamond Stickles on the mirror ball and Glossy Accents on the shoes and glasses.

I used this sketch from Eat Sleep Stamp Sketchy Thursday challenge, one of my favourite sources of sketches! The silver card was embossed with Crafts Too Music embossing folder, Craft Your Days Away has  Music and Dance as its challenge so I'm in there.
As Clive was 21 in 1984 I made the sentiment to suit, the "party" is a chipboard sticker I've had for yonks and the rest was computer generated.  One Stop Craft Challenge has Birthdays as its challenge so I'm entering there.    
The checked paper is from Kaisercrafts Rewind Collection, Craft Your Passion has Check it Out for its challenge this time, so I'm entering there.  Crafty Creations has Anything Goes - so I'm definitely in there!
Paper Play Challenges has "Show Us Your Style", I think this is pretty much the style of card I like to do the best, I like strong sketches and I'm pretty well addicted to symmetry - I truly struggle to put my images on an angle, I've even been known to keep trimming the card to straighten it up, lol. It has a digi image and it's coloured with Copics.  This one doesn't have a lot of matting and pop-dotting (which most of my cards end up having, even when they don't start out like that!) part of the reason for this was that I didn't have a lot of time to do it, and the rest of the reason is - I didn't have a lot of time to do it!!
Hope you like my Party Like It's 1984 card, if you're old enough you'll remember the song ;-)  Until next time, which will probably bring yet another male card (I'm learning to love them!), Happy Crafting, Dee

First My Mother, Forever My Friend

This is the card I made for my lovely Mum for Mothers Day (which we just had on Sunday, here in Australia)

There is no stamped image on this card, as with my Mother-in-law's card......the sentiment takes its place (and the paper is so pretty it just didn't need a stamped image, I think).  The sentiment is from Kaisercrafts Chanteuse 12"collection, one of the so-called specialty sheets, the other patterned papers are from the same collection but the 6" version.
I followed this fabulous sketch from Crafting Life's Pieces, changing the centrepiece to an oval using my lovely Nestabilities (Scalloped Oval and Classic Oval) I added the green swirls (more paper from the same pad) using the Marianne D Creatables Frames and Swirls Die - well the swirls part anyway!!
The corrugated card is a lovely pearly pink, punched with Martha Stewarts Doily Lace Border punch and the cream panel behind the flowers is pearl cream embossed with Cuttlebugs Textile embossing folder (then inked lightly around the edge with green pigment ink)  The ribbon is a sort of reinforced cotton that I've had in my stash for ages, this is the first time I've used it, and I'm surprised how easy it is to use (it didn't fray and it "creased" nicely at the edges of the card making it sit nice and flat), if I can remember where I got it, and can get some more, I will.  The Secret Crafter has "Dust Off Your Stash as it's challenge theme this time, so I'm entering there.
The roses were white, I coloured them with Copics; they match the card much better in real life than on the photo, and they match that lovely twine which is still more of the super blog candy I won from Tracy :-)  
Totally Papercrafts has a recipe challenge this time "1 image, 2 papers and 3 embellishments" I have the sentiment as my image, two patterned papers and flowers, pearls and the silver heart charm as embellishments. I added half pearls to the card to "fill out" the arrangement, the sprays of pearls looked a little sparse on their own!  

Crazy 4 Challenges has "Lots of Flowers" and Sundays With Crissy has "Flowers", so I've entered this card there. 

Papertake Weekly has "Anything Goes" as its challenge theme this week so I'm entering there and finally Delightful Challenges has Mothers Day or Someone Special as its challenge theme; this is a card for my Mum on Mothers Day and she is Someone Special so I'm definitely entering there.  

I finished the inside of the card with yet another panel from that one Kaisercraft sheet - excellent value as I've done two cards and have plenty left for at least two more!! The corrugations on the pink card shows better on this photo, half pearls give a bit of a lift.

As it says, (which is where I got the title for my post today, no I'm not that inventive!) my Mum is my friend, one of my best friends in fact! So I wish her love and thank her for showing me how to be a "good mum" which is what my lovely lads tell me I am :-)

Thanks for looking at my Mothers Day card, I'll be back in a day or so with a cute birthday card I've done for a friend, until then Happy Crafting, Dee

Happy Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day in Australia, this is a card I made for my Mother-in-law, I made it (and the one for my Mother) without a stamped image for a change - and because the paper is so pretty!  

The paper is from Kaisercraft's Chanteuse collection, this was a panel from one of the "specialty" sheets.   The gold foil panel and scrolls were cut using a Marianne D Creatables die "Frames and Swirls".  The glittery chipboard letters are from Die Cuts With a View (I think!), I bought them in a box ages ago and have never used them....now I have!  The Secret Crafter has Dust Off Your Stash as its challenge theme this time, so I've entered there. (I've used some of these letters on my Father's birthday card too, which is one of the cards I've made for my Here Come the Boys DT spot, I'll be posting it next weekend....it's a cutie!)
Whoopsi Daisy has No matting or layering as its challenge this time, this really was a challenge for me, as I LOVE my matting and layering, lol. Sundays With Chrissy has flowers and Crazy 4 Challenges has Lots of Flowers..so I'm entering there with my flowery paper.
Delightful Sketches has "Mother's Day" as it's challenge theme - I'm definitely in there!  Craft Your Passion and Papertake Weekly both have "Anything Goes" which has to be the easiest of challenges. 
The inside of this super quick card was very simply finished using another panel from the same sheet, with a strip of pearls across the top.  My Mother in Law is "one of a kind" so it's very apt!
Another reason I haven't had a lot of time for crafting is that we've had some visitors over from England for a few weeks, and we've been, well, pretty much living the high life, lol.  It's really good sometimes to have overseas visitors, as you tend to visit all the "special" places and participate in more of the experiences available when you are organizing them for someone else, it gives you a fresh appreciation of your world!
 I'll be back shortly with my Mums card, which doesn't have a stamped image, but is a very pretty girly card.  In the meantime, thanks for looking and Happy Crafting, Dee

The Boys Are HERE!!

Well finally the Here Come The Boys challenge blog is up and running!  As Guest DT for the very first challenge (I'm pumped!) I made this card.

The challenge theme is Anything Goes: I told you it would be easy!
As soon as I saw this fabulous digi image "Strongo the Magnificent" from Just Inklined, I thought "stud muffin" - which I have only just learned - suited him (or at least I thought HE thought Stud Muffin suited him, lol)  Creative Inspirations has its regular Digi Day challenge, so I'm "in".

I used sketch # 42  from Sketch and Stash, which had a free choice from all their sketches for their challenge this week, of course the challenge is choosing one, being so spoilt for choice! Cute Card Thursday had an unusual challenge this week in that you could use any sketch, so I've used this one!
I've got new and neglected stash on this card: the image is new (I got him last week, along with several others who will no doubt be making their debut very shortly!) The black card is leftover from when I made the favour boxes for my son's wedding in 2009 and the black and aqua designer papers, inside and out, are from DCWV All Dressed Up mat stack and I've had that literally years!  I've always loved the aqua colours and rarely get around to using them.  It set the tone for the whole card, I used Copics in the Green and Blue/Green range.  The background paper is from DCWV too, the Mariposa 12" Collection, it is a really good match IRL. I matted everything on gold foil to give it a bit of a lift, and used tiny gold stickers for the sentiment on the front; the punchline inside is computer generated.

I cut out the swirls from one sheet of the black paper and "paper pieced" it onto the background sheet, using foam dots.  I've never done that before, it was a bit fiddly but it's really effective I've tried to get a photo of it's 3Dness -new term, ;-)  You can sort of see it.  Sweet Stampin' has Try Something New as it's challenge, and this is new for me, so in it goes.  Strongo is on foam dots too (as usual, I hear you groan) Craft Your Passion has Show Us Your Layers this week, and Stamptacular Sunday has Pile It On, use five layers; there's five - count 'em! so I'm entering there.  
Digi Stamps 4 Joy has Swirls and Pearls as it's challenge this week, I entered a card (here) before reading the part where it says "to add a romantic feel"; I don't think Conroy the Cow or Strongo could be described as adding anything like a romantic feel, so in a bit of a twist I'm just letting you know I WON'T be entering this card there.....I just wanted to mention my pearls which are in fact Dew Drops that I got as part of the blog candy I won from Tracy, aren't they lovely?  However, Simon Says Stamp, Moving Along With the Times and Crafts 4 Eternity all have Anything Goes, so I AM entering there......don't forget Here Come the Boys has that too, so why don't you pop over, have a look at the other DT work and - as we say in Australia - 'avago yourself!?!
Until next time, Happy Crafting, Dee