JOY CARD - I PREFER TO CALL IT A DUET CARD!!

Hi there to all my lovely bloggers - I am just sharing this "joy card" with you - I have no idea why it is called a Joy card - I prefer to call it a Duet card because it's two cards in one - Yayyyy!

I made this for a dear blogging friend of mine who is going through a rough time at the moment (and I know she loves birdies) - she has already received the card so it's OK to post it on my Blog (I'm sure Gini won't mind)!!!

The cardstock is Bazzill Basics - the stamp is the freebie on February's Craft Stamper Mag., coloured with Sakura Stardust Gel pens, the papers were freebie downloads from Tinker and  Co, and the greeting was a freebie stamp with a recent Do-Crafts Creativity Mag. Sorry Gini -it's not the cost that counts - love you anyway, and get well soon. 

Thanks for visiting - Hugs, Sylvia xxxxxx

GRUNGE PAPER PROJECTS

Hi peeps - hope you've all had some sunshine today - it's been pretty good here in West Yorkshire - a real treat after all the miserable weather. 

Today I'm adding a bit more Grunge to my blog - I enjoyed making the Grunge Paper Rose so much for my last card, I've been messing about with more GP, Distress Inks and chipboard.  If you want to see some truly spectacular work, made with these products, do pop over to Wendy Vecchi's amazing blog HERE. Her work is fabulous.

So, here are my rather weak attempts with my new-found Grunge Paper, and boy have I enjoyed having a play!

The chipboard heart has been coloured with Distress Inks. Gingham background from Wendy Vecchi's "Nature's Art" stamp set,  and an old tiny flower stamp used on the green section. The spotty flowers are from Papermania, stamped onto Grunge Paper, cut out and coloured with Distress Inks.  Leaf spray also from the Wendy Vecchi set.  Ribbons from my stash - dark brown wire  bought from a local garden centre.

It's not very clear from the photos, but both projects have been spritzed here and there with a mixture of water and Perfect Pearls.  

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The card has been made with the same Wendy Vecchi stamp set -  the butterfly wings have been layered and curled - the head is half of a really old press-stud I found in my sewing box - I've noticed they are quite fashionable on cards right now (and quite expensive) - whoever would have thought!!

The scallop chipboard is layered onto black card spritzed with the Perfect Pearls mixture.  Base card - Core'dinations Cappucino.

Thanks so much for popping by  - Hugs, Sylvia xxxx

BAH! HUMBUG! - WEEK 2 CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE

Hi everyone - is it just me, or are the days just flying by?  Just managed to get this one finished in time for week 2 of the Bah! Humbug! Challenge - well I just had to join in this week, as I won the Challenge prize last week - a beautiful set of Elusive Images Christmas stamps!  As this week's theme is to use New or Nearly New Stash,  I decided to use one of the sentiments from my new prize.  The Nestie Label die has only been used once before and the Grunge Paper Rose is totally new to me, in fact it's my first attempt at making one of these - great fun to do.  It's coloured with Shimmerz and a sprinkling of Glamour Dust.

Other items used - CB ornate corner die, Woodware leaf punch. The  paper is from an old Bo Bunny collection - this was my very last piece - absolutely loved it, sob! (Get a grip Sylvia ...).

Thank you for looking - Hugs, Sylvia xxxx

PS: As I have been asked how I made the Grunge Paper Rose, I am including a link to the Tim Holtz Tutorial. HERE . Of course, Tim's are absolutely stunning!!

BAH! HUMBUG! JANUARY 15th UPDATE!!

Morning everyone - just a little update on last week's Challenge at Bah! Humbug! .....have just heard that my card has been randomly chosen as the winner of their very first prize draw, and needless to say, I'm thrilled to bits!

Many thanks to Ann, Irene and Max for such an enjoyable Challenge (and for such a beautiful prize)!

So, come on everyone - pop over to see what this week's Challenge is all about!

Hugs, Sylvia xxxx

BAH! HUMBUG! FIRST CHALLENGE - RECYCLING!

Hi Peeps - another challenge card - yes it's Christmas again!!

This really has been a challenge - thanks to Ann, Irene and Max from Bah! Humbug! for kicking my brain cell into gear!! This is the first Challenge of their brand new Blog and we were asked to recycle old Xmas cards (bought ones), wrapping paper, ribbon, etc. etc. I have used some thin cardboard from a package I received (looks a bit like Kraft card, but cost me nothing!), but my inspiration came from the navy and beige gingham ribbon which was wrapped around a lovely foodie gift from my daughter, bought from Betty's (they sell the most scrumptious cakes, choccies, coffee, etc.). The cardboard was a perfect match for the ribbon. The gold paper mat was a wrapping from a Ferrero Rocher choccie (yum), smoothed out a little with a brayer then wrapped around a rectangle of thin card. The two gold snowflakes were punched from another Ferrero Rocher wrapping, after attaching to a piece of thin card with DSST to give it "body"!!

Cap and Scarf Penguin stamp is from Hero Arts (love him to bits), and the blue snowflake stamp is from an Elusive Images set. Tiny red Papermania gems, Gold Glamour Dust and a red Marvy marker pen, to finish.

Thanks for popping by - Hugs, Sylvia xx

BUTTERFLY FAIRY

Hi Peeps!  Hope you have had a warm cosy weekend.  At last, another post - have been quite busy with one thing and another, and just longing to create something for my Blog - so here it is.  I absolutely adore this Butterfly Fairy digi image from Chris, whose fabulous digi stamps can be found here.

I am entering the card into two Challenges: -

Flutterby Wednesdays  and the Copic Colour Challenge.

The image is coloured with Copics which are as near as possible to the required colours, (I used G000 - Pale Green, B12 - Ice Blue and RV13 - Tender Pink plus one or two darker shades to add depth) then added a sprinkling of Glamour Dust here and there. The coloured card is Bazzill and the layers have been stitched with 6 ribbon "kisses". The paper Rose is from Joanna Sheen - it was white and I dipped it into Shimmerz then sprinkled it with Glamour dust!! The small Love stamp is an old one from HOTP.

Keep warm - Love and hugs, Sylvia xxxxxx

THE STAMP MAN AWARD FOR SHARING MY BEST PROJECT OF 2009!

The Stamp Man is giving an Award (see my side-bar) when you share your Best Project of 2009.  This is perhaps not my "best" project of the year, but it is my favourite!  I love this Elusive Images stamp, and had great fun with the shrink plastic!! The original post, with details of how it was created, can be found here  .

Hope you have all had a fabulous Christmas, and here's wishing you a Happy New Year.  Love and Hugs, Sylvia xxxxx  

PAPERMANIA CHATSWORTH - EASEL CARD

Hi peeps - hope the snow isn't keeping you indoors (on second thoughts, that may be a good thing 'cos we can do more crafting)!  Just popping by with my last card before Christmas - an easel card, made with the Papermania Chatsworth papers and stamps. (The greeting is a very old favourite from Hobby Art). I am entering this into the Creative Card Crew Challenge, as this week it's "Anything Goes".

Have a fabulous Christmas everyone - Hugs, Sylvia xxxxxxxxx

CHALLENGE 50 AT THE CRAFTY PAD - MY LAST WEEK AS GUEST DESIGNER.

Wow - my 6 weeks as Guest Designer for the Crafty Pad have just flown by and I can hardly believe it's almost Christmas!  It has been a pleasure to work with you Debbie - thank you so much.

The Challenge this week is quite an easy one as it requires "A Christmas Card" - any design you like!  Simples!!  Full Challenge details can be found here.  The winner will be a GD for one week, and will receive a free digi stamp.

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My card has been created using Nestie scallop circle dies and the CB swirls embossing folder.  The circular greeting and tiny snowflakes are from the lovely Christmas Ted Baubles stamp set, available from The Crafty Pad. The large central snowflake is coloured with a Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust pen with a pink gem added. There is some Glamour Dust here and there, but it doesn't show on the photo!  I snipped one of the tiny snowflakes from the stamp set so I could stamp it randomly - (I felt quite guilty separating it from it's little friends, but sometimes you just have to do these things)!!

Have a great week - hugs, Sylvia xxxxxxxxxxx

CHRISTMAS CARDS!

Hi peeps! Hope you're all having a good day!  Just popping by to share a couple of festive cards with you.  Both cards use very different techniques, but are fun to make.

On the top card I've used a piece of cheap glossy photopaper (ideal for this job) for the image, firstly applying drops of Alcohol Blending Solution here and there, then adding drops of two different shades of Alcohol Inks - one colour over the sky area, another for the houses (leaving some white showing through for a  "snowy" effect).  I added more drops of  Blending Solution and moved the card around, so the inks dribbled and swirled! (Oooh I do love playing with Alcohol inks)!!  The stamp is from the Elusive Images "Snow is Falling" set - this was stamped onto the inked paper with black Memento. The image was then trimmed and layered onto silver mirri card. I picked out some of the snow on the roof-tops with white gel pen. The greeting has been done on the computer, punched out with the SU oval scallop punch and the edges inked.  Finished off with a tree charm.

The second card was very quick and easy to make,  using the CB Holly embossing folder on cream card, and embossing a couple of lines beneath the image using a Score Board. I've applied pale blue chalk on the Holly leaves to tone in with the Bazzill base card, and added Glamour Dust here and there (which does not show up on the photo). Finished off with a Papermania greeting stamp and cream ribbon.

Thanks for looking - Hugs, Sylvia xxxxxxx

CHRISTMAS TED SPREADING JOY AND CHEER!

     Hi everyone - hope your weekend is going well.  This is my 5th week as Guest Designer for the lovely Debbie at The Crafty Pad - how time flies! For this week's Challenge we are asking you to work with a sketch - full details, and insipration from the DT,  can be found by clicking on the link above.  The prize is a one-week GDT spot and a free digi stamp.  Closing date is Saturday 12th December. For my GDT card his week I have used one of  Debbie's Christmas Ted stamps and have paper-pieced Ted's scarf, and both hats.  Lots of Stickles and Glamour Dust has been added, and red stitching (a bit wonky, and that was before I had the wine)!!  The base card is Bazzill, the Xmas BP is Papermania Joyeux Noel, and the red and cream dotty is a freebie download from Shabby Princess. The double-edged border has been punched with a Fiskars border punch - goodness knows how the two edges matched up first time - miracles do happen !  The greeting stamp is from HOTP, punched out with the SU scallop oval punch. Six red Papermania Shimmer Dots added, but they don't show up too well on the photo. PS: almost forgot - Ted is coloured with Copics!

Look forward to seeing your creations for this week's Crafty Pad Challenge - lotsa hugs, Sylvia xxxxxxx

WEEK 4 AS GUEST DESIGNER FOR THE CRAFTY PAD!

Hi peeps - hope your weekend has been relaxing and enjoyable.

This is my fourth week of a six-week Guest Designer Spot for The Crafty Pad, and I am really enjoying working with Debbie and her team.

This week at The Crafty Pad the Challenge is to make a Christmas card with a triangle theme - either a triangular shaped card, or a triangle on your card! Look forward to seeing what you come up with! Full details, and inspiration from the DT, can be found by clicking on the link above. The winner will receive one of Debbie's lovely stamps, and a one-week GDT spot with The Crafty Pad.

For my card this week, I stamped the Christmas Ted Baubles onto acetate and attached this behind  a triangular aperture which I cut from a 6" square white card (covering the unsightly bits inside with a matching piece of card).  The large circle greeting stamp, which comes with the baubles set, has been stamped inside the card, but when the card is closed it appears to be one of the baubles on the acetate (honest, it really does)!! You will see what I mean from the close-up pic. which shows the card open. Pink ribbon and pink gems are from my stash, and I used Fiskars Paper Edgers"Clouds" to trim the bottom of the card. (I resisted using Glamour Dust, and am now suffering withdrawal symptoms).

Have fun - love and hugs, Sylvia xxxx

CHALLENGE No. 47 AT THE CRAFTY PAD!

Hi - hope you are all having a super Sunday and managing to escape the rain. Just popping by with my GDT card for this week's challenge over at The Crafty Pad. The challenge is to work with a sketch by the lovely Maxine, and the winner will be given a one-week GDT spot, and one of Debbie's beautiful stamps. For full details, and inspiration from the DT, please click on the link above.

The papers I have used are from Hot Off The Press, with Papermania punched snowflakes (love that punch!!) and Papermania red gems in the centres. Woodware scallop circle punch, CB embossed Swiss Dots. Stampin' Up blue cardstock, and of course Debbie's Percy and Parker stamp which has been coloured with Shimmerz, Stickles and red glitter.

Hope to see your projects over at The Crafty Pad this week! Thanks for looking.  Hugs, Sylvia xxx

CHRISTMAS FAIRY "HOLLY" (MO MANNING)

I absolutely adore this Christmas Fairy "Holly" digi-image by the ever-so-talented Mo Manning of Digital Pencil Too. If you haven't already paid Mo a visit, please do - I'm sure you will love her wonderful designs. Just click on the link to take you there. I am entering this card into the Copics Colour Challenge - click here for details, and also the Danni's Dreams Flutter By Wednesday Challenge which you can find here. Danni's challenge card must have either a butterfly, a fairy, or an angel on it. The Copics Challenge requires the use of 3 Copics Colours - Pure Pink, Chrome Orange and Yellowish Green, or the closest shades you've got. I have used Tender Pink, Light Orange and Pea Green, with 2 or 3 others for shading and highlights.

The papers are from Papermania Joyeux Noel, and K&Co. Madeline. Anna Griffin ribbon, a stamp from Papermania and lots of Glamour Dust! This is also my first attempt at stitching onto card using my sewing machine - it's not perfect, but I rather like the effect!

CHALLENGE No. 46 AT THE CRAFTY PAD.

Hi and welcome to everyone who visits my Blog - hope you are having a great weekend, and looking forward to "I'm a Celebrity" which starts tonight (or am I the only blogger who loves that programme)?!!!!

Well, this is week 2 of my 6-week GDT spot with the lovely Debbie and her Design Team, over at The Crafty Pad.  Hope you will all join in this week's fun Challenge as it's Recipe Time (a bit like Chico Time, but different)!!  The Recipe is:-

1 Circle, 2 Ribbons, 3 Papers, 4 Gems, and some sparkle -  we couldn't live without a bit of sparkle could we crafters?  Your entry may be a card, an ATC, altered art etc., and if you use a Crafty Pad stamp your name will be entered twice into the draw, once if you use any other stamp.

The lucky winner will be chosen at random - the prize is a one-week GDT spot with The Crafty Pad, plus a Crafty Pad stamp that the DT will be working with on your week.  Please pop over to The Crafty Pad for more inspiration.......

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This card is my take on the Recipe, using one of Debbie's lovely stamps - "Percy Stargazing".  Have stamped the 4 stars onto silver mirri, cut  them out and added a tiny red Papermania gem to the centres. The 3 papers and 2 ribbons are from my stash, and Percy has been coloured with watercolour pencils (without water!).  His new Christmas slippers, which Santa brought him, (ok - I know it's not Christmas yet, but this is just make-believe), have been made with Candy Cane Stickles. (You see, if you wish upon a star - you do sometimes get what you wish for)!!

The giant snowball is a Nestie, covered in Glamour Dust and edged with Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Jewels Iced Crystal.

Greeting stamp from "Build a Flower" set by Personal Impressions.

Hope to see your lovely creations at The Crafty Pad this week. 

Thanks for visiting - Hugs, Sylvia xxx

CHALLENGE No. 45 AT THE CRAFTY PAD!

Hi Peeps - hope you are having a very restful Sunday whilst doing a bit of blogging!
Just want to let you know that the challenge this week at The Crafty Pad is to work with a sketch by the lovely Maxine. The winner will be picked at random and the prize is a one-week GDT spot at The Crafty Pad plus the stamp which the DT will be working with that week. For your project you can use any stamp you wish, but if you use one of Debbie's beautiful stamps (available to order from The Crafty Pad blog), your name will be entered twice into the draw.

Pop over to The Crafty Pad for full details, and inspiration from the Design Team! We really look forward to seeing your beautiful projects (it doesn't have to be a card - it can be an ATC, scrapbook page, etc).

Above is my take on the sketch, and I have used the following ingredients:-
Blue Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey Figgy Pudding papers, X-Cut snowflake punch, Watercolour pencils for Christmas Ted's body, CB Swiss Dots folder, Glamour Dust and Cosmic Simmer Iced Crystal Glitter Jewels on the snow and the snowflakes. Ted's hat and Snowman's hat and scarf are paper-pieced with the Basic Grey paper. Greeting stamp is an old Dovecraft one.
I was so happy to win the competition recently for a 6-week GDT spot, working with the lovely Debbie and her team at The Crafty Pad, and this is my card for week one! Thanks Debbie and Team!!

PEACOCK LADY

Hi peeps! Hope you have escaped the buckets of rain today! This Best Wishes card is stamped with the Elusive Images Peacock Lady, and small Peacock, plus corner flourishes from an Elusive Images Butterfly theme plate. The greeting and oval scallop punch are from Stampin'Up. I have coloured part of the image with Sakura pens, and added a pearl onto the lady's hand.
The BP is a freebie download from the Funky Fairys Blue Christmas set, (see the link in my side-bar) and it seemed to be the perfect match for the image as it is turquoise, and has swirls rather like a Peacock's tail feathers!! The edges of the paper were inked with Versafine Smokey Grey before layering onto a black A5 card.
Lotsa hugs, Sylvia xxxxx

CARDS FOR FLISS AND IKKI

Hi there! At last - another post! This is going to be a loooong one - sorry!!! Hope you can keep awake until the end!!

I recently won some beautiful Blog Candy rubber stamps over at The Stampers Chef. (Please see my post of October 9th). Fliss is the lovely lady from The Stampers Chef who designs her own range of stamps for Hobby Art Ltd. (You can find a link to the shop on Fliss's blog). There are three sets in her "Oodles of Doodles" range, and the stamps are so detailed and give a perfect impression every time - they were a joy to use. As promised Fliss, here are the cards I made using just a few of your beautiful stamps.

These cards will be sent to the lovely Ikki at Ikki's Cuttlebug Cupboard. If you pay her a visit, you will see she is asking if bloggers would like to make a card to help support her local Breast Cancer Unit. All cards will be sold by the Clinic to raise much-needed funds. Thank you Ikki.

Card No. 1:- 6" square white card with one of the small flowers stamped randomly using black Versafine. The large flower, which has a smaller flower centre, was stamped twice - the small central flower was cut from one of the images and decoupaged. Two red Dew Drops, red ribbon, faux stitching and a greeting to finish.

Card No. 2:- I love these tiny little white cards from Anita's - just 4" square and they have a nice texture to them. (Believe me, they are snow white in real life, but not on my photos - more of a dirty grey)!!! This beautiful butterfly has been stamped onto shrink plastic and partly coloured with Sakura Gelly Roll pens. After shrinking, a layer of Diamond Glaze was added and a sprinkling of Glamour Dust (yep - I've used it again)!! Gold Krylon pen added to the edges, and I made new antennae from gold wire. (The butterfly stamp does have it's own beautiful antennae but I removed them before shrinking, as any tiny sticky-out bits tend to curl up too much - very stressful)!!
Layered onto gold textured card and turquoise Bazzill, gold thread wrapped around the punched corners.

Card No. 3:- This one was quite difficult to photograph as the top layer is acetate and it looks much nicer in real life. (Honest - it does)! The large heart was stamped onto the acetate overlay with Staz-On Cotton White. Glamour Dust added (surprise surprise, as Cilla used to say). The inside is pale green Bazzill adhered to the back section, with two small hearts stamped in Olive Green ColorBox Ink. Edges inked with Topaz Versacolour. The darker green Bazzill, which creates the narrow border, is attached onto the outside of the acetate (on the back), so the acetate is sandwiched between the two layers. Orange and green ribbon, and a stamped sentiment complete the card.
Thank goodness she's finished I hear you say!!!! Have a great week.
Thanks for looking - lotsa hugs, Sylvia xxxx

BEST FRIENDS - ELLIE & MO !!

Hi peeps - hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

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This card is made with the "Ellie & Mo" freebie digi download from the lovely Debbie at The Crafty Pad, and I am entering it into their competition, which ends on 26th October. All entrants must use the image on their card, and they then have the chance to win a 6-week GDT at The Crafty Pad . The lucky winner will be chosen by Debbie and her team on 26th October.

Debbie also designs a range of beautiful rubber stamps which are available to purchase at The Crafty Pad.

Crafty ingredients:- Basic Grey papers, Copics, Stickles Glitter Glue, Retro punches (EK Success), Fiskars border punch, Versacolor ink pads used around the edges of the image. Thank you so much for looking - Hugs, Sylvia xxxx

UPDATE - 27th OCTOBER

WOW! - HAVE JUST HEARD THAT I HAVE WON THE

6-WEEK GDT SPOT AT THE CRAFTY PAD - THANKS SO MUCH TO DEBBIE AND HER TEAM FOR THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.

Hugs, Sylvia xxx

CHRISTMAS STEP CARD

Hi everyone - hope you've had a lovely day.

When I was hopping around blogland tonight I found a lovely new challenge blog called Crafty Catz(well new to me anyway) and this week's challenge is Snowmen and Snowflakes, so I immediately thought "ooooh - that step card I made a couple of weeks ago will just fit the bill", so here it is....hope you like it!!

The Snowman stamp is part of a set from Elusive Images,the greeting is from a Papermania set. X-Cut Snowflake punch and Fiskars border punch.

Candy Cane Stickles, and a sprinkling of Crystal Glamour Dust here and there!

Brocade Blue cardstock and ink from Stampin'Up.

Thanks for looking - hugs to everyone. Sylvia xxx