Lily of the Valley, RHS Garden stamps

Hi folks!

Today I'd like to share the card I made using Joanna Sheen's Lily of the Valley Stamp set. I used my Cricut machine to cut the card blank which I coloured all over with distress inks. These were Antique Linen and Walnut Stain. The patterned papers were from a 'Hot off the Press' stack that I matted onto some dark brown cardstock. I cut the frame using my circle and scalloped circle Nestabilities. I added a couple of eyelets to the front panels. The delicate flowers, wheel barrow and sentiment are all stamps from the same set. I stamped and embossed the images. I used 'Pine Needles', Walnut Stain, and Black Soot distress inks to paint them except for the flower heads where I Cosmic shimmer water colour paints. I finished the card off with a ribbon bow which hold the panels closed.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend and don't get too scared the the Spooky goings on tonight!

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

Joanna Sheen's Lilies and a card for Jasmine

Hi folks!

I have another couple of cards to share with you today. The first I made for my friends daughter Jasmine. I had the following challenges in mind when I made it. Cupcake Crafts for the sketch. The Pink Elephant which has the recipe of Black, Hardware (I've used Brads) & Distressing. Papertake Weekly is looking for Spots & Stripes. The Cuttlebug Challenges are asking us to use 'Our Favourites' (mine has got to be inking around the edges...I use it on every card!) Danni's Dreams would like to see butterflies or fairies.

The papers and patterned glitter board are by Die Cuts With a View. I cut the flowers from a glittered sheet of DCWV patterned card stock. I shaped them slightly before arranging and adhering with Pinflair glue gel. I have used my rectangle and scalloped rectangle Nestabilities. I embossed the pink panel with my Cuttlebug and an embossing folder, I then inked around the edges with Black ink. The striped panel is punched with the Fiskars 'threading water' border punch. I cut the letters from Funky Foam using Quickutz Skinni Mini Phoebe alphabet set. The little flowers in the corners are brads. I stamped the image ('Demure' from the Sweet Art Ebony range at Funky Kits) and embossed her before colouring with Copic Markers. I just added a touch of glitter to her posy. I finished off the card with some tiny butterflies punched from a Martha Stewart punch.

I made this card with the Joanna Sheen Lilies stamps set from the recently released RHS Hot house flowers. I sprayed the stripy paper (Papermania) with Cosmic Shimmer mists, let it dry, screwed it up, flattened it out and gently rubbed over with my black ink pad. I covered the bottom part of the card in this paper. The top part is just a piece of white card that I stamped with the single Lily stamp and painted with watercolours. I then used Cosmic Shimmer sprays to spray over the top. I added a large velvet ribbon bow.

The inside of the card is a cut away pop out (please excuse the poor photo) I used the same distressing technique as above for the orange paper and Cosmic shimmer sprays and the 'Love' stamp for the very back of the card. I stamped and coloured (as below) the single Lily and attached to the oval aperture using some sheer ribbon.

I stamped and embossed the image onto heat resistant acetate and 'coloured' it using glitter and a dries clear glue. I backed the acetate with some vellum that I had stamped the pretty corner swirl onto. I then framed the image with a frame I had cut using my Nestabilites.

I got really messy making this card :oD

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

Joanna Sheen's 'Lilac' Garden Flower Stamps

Morning folks!

Hope you are all well and recovered from the shock of seeing my craft table yesterday ;o) Here is another card that I made for Joanna Sheen as she launched her new Royal Horticultural Society collection. Have I mentioned that Joanna is also celebrating her 30th Anniversary in the craft business? CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS Joanna!!

I usually cut my own card blanks as I like to use really heavyweight cardstock, mostly over 250gsm. For this card I added a 3 extra score lines in the middle before creasing the card to make the additional flap that houses the gift card. I used distress inks inside the card (Antique Linen, Walnut Stain and Pine Needles) and I stamped the gorgeous little lilac basket in the corner.

For the front of the card I printed a design from the Cute Companions Summer Stories CD rom. I should really have reduced the opacity as it was very bold and I wanted a more muted look. Instead I added a layer of vellum to reduce the intensity. I used my Xyron 510 with it's edge to edge adhesion to stick the vellum down and it worked a treat. The lilacs are stamped and water coloured. I used my trusty Nestabilities to die cut the circle and scalloped circle. I inked the edges with distress inks. To create the rounded corners I used my Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers) a really sturdy tool that cut easily through all the thickness's of card in one go... even the spine of the card where I had the extra flap!

I finished the card off with a ribbon bow.

Thanks so much for looking.

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

Grab yourself a Cuppa post.....it's a long one!

Hi Folks!

Please excuse the long post today... but I've got so much to share with you. I'll try and keep the waffle brief :o) I made this card last night with lots of challenges in mind. Joanna Sheen's October Challenge is to create a 'Beatles Song' inspire card (mine's Strawberry fields). Charisma Cardz would like 'Daisy' projects. Cute Card Thursday Candy Corns/Sweet inspired cards. A Spoon Full of Sugar's theme is Kitchen & Cooking. Magnolia Down Under wants Distressing and lastly I followed the Sketch from Just Magnolia, (the Strawberry stamp is by Magnolia)

The papers are by Creative Imaginations. I have used Green tulle for the central band and my EK Success postage stamp border to edge the red spotty panel. The scalloped oval is die cut wood veneer. I embossed the next oval panel with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and used distress inks, Antique Linen and Walnut Stain all over it. The little Hanglar cook I stamped, embossed and coloured with Copic Markers. The Magnolia strawberry I stamped a couple of times. First as with the Hanglar image and secondly using Stazon ink onto red velvet paper. I cut them out and pieced together, as seen in the piccie, using Pinflair glue. The sentiment is also by Magnolia, die cut with my oval Nestabilities, and distressed using Antique Linen and Pine Needles ink. The large flowers are made using my trusty Woodware flower punches. I added a little colour with my Copics, shaped them and glued them together with Pinflair glue gel. The centres are die cut circles (Quickutz) which are painted with Cosmic Shimmers. I finished off the card with a green polka dot ribbon bow.

Now onto my next Joanna Sheen card. I decided to make a slider card to display the Sweet Pea image. I covered all the panels with pretty K&Co papers and inked all the edges. I used an eyelet and ribbon to make it easier for the tag part to side out. The sentiment is from Joanna's Garden flowers Lilac plate which I stamped and then die cut with my Nestability label die.

The image itself is stamped, embossed (I use black versafine ink and clear embossing powder) and water coloured. I had to chop the antennae off the butterfly but I added my own by adhering some wire. I cut out the images and glued them to an acetate scalloped circle The tips of the butterflies wings are glittered. I finished off the card with some cream ribbon and a bow.

Phew.... thanks for sticking with me. I thought I'd share my craft table with you as it's What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. As you can see I love being completely surrounded by my crafting goodies and am a totally messy crafter....will I ever get organised?? I doubt it!! But I'm as happy as a pig in muck when I'm crafting :oD

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

(Edit - Kerry suggested I enter these cards on The Craft Garden Monthly Challenge which is 'flowers'. If you'd like to enter too you have until 31st October)

Joanna Sheen's 'Old English Rose' Garden Flower Stamps

Hi Folks!

This card caused me a bit of a headache. The triple embossing didn't want to work for me and all in all the whole card took about 3 days to complete before I was happy with it (and before it passed quality control, more commonly known as Mr. Dry). Now that must be a some kind of record for the longest time to make a card. It certainly is for me ;o)

I'm really pleased with the end result though. I simply scored and folded the card blank. For the semi-circle flap I just drew around my largest circle Nestability die and cut it out by hand (bit rough and ready but I think it's ok) I stamped the whole of the card blank with the beautiful Old English Rose stamp with Versamark ink and clear embossing powder. You can see it better on the last picture.The pretty patterned paper is from Crafter's Companion Flower Fairies Friends CD rom that I printed straight onto linen cardstock. I cut into panels and added faux stitching around the edges. The sentiment comes with the stamp set and the corners are a Cuttlebug die.

I stamped and embossed the main image into some 350gsm cardstock. Die cut it with my circle Nestability Die. Painted it with cosmic shimmer paints and embossed it with UTEE (Ultra thick embossing Enamel) I adhered it to the scalloped circle with Pinflair glue gel and sandwiched it into a big heavy book overnight so it would dry flat. I was so pleased in the morning when the pages of my book hadn't stuck together :o) I finished the card of with a big cream ribbon bow.

This card didn't make it onto the tv show but Joanna has included it here on her video samples.

Thanks for looking

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

Joanna Sheen's Hothouse flowers

Hi folks!

Here is another card sample I made for Joanna Sheen. This time from the Hothouse flowers rubber stamp collection. These are 'Carnations'. I love how the main image comes with smaller icons or, as in this case, a sentiment. 'Hugs and Kisses' could be used for so many occasions. I've also used the small butterfly stamp from the 'Hydrangea' plate. I cut the butterfly out and added some wire antennae before adding it to the scalloped circle with Pinflair glue gel.

For the card itself I made a 6x6 card blank and added the 3 6x6 panels. Before sticking the cards together I used my Nestabilities to cut the Square apertures. I covered each panel with pretty K&Co papers and inked the edges. I used the Square and Scalloped Nestabilities to create the neat frame around the small flower which I wrapped a tiny piece of sheer ribbon around.

This time the flowers were stamped and embossed and coloured in with Prisma colour pencils, Sansodor and Paper stumps. I did this a few times and decoupaged parts of the image. I used Nestability circle die to cut around the stamped sentiment and layered this onto the scalloped circle. I finished off the sentiment with a little ribbon bow.

I used a length of cream satin ribbon to tie a large bow as the closure of the card. This card was great fun to make. I hope you like it.

More cards soon.

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

Joanna Sheen Royal Horticultural Society Collection

Hi folks!

Hope you are having a great weekend. Maybe you had a chance to catch Joanna Sheen's Royal Horticultural Society Collection launch on Create & Craft today. I was glued to the set as some of my cards were on the show. It was such an honour to be asked by Joanna and her team to make some cards with her new collection of 'Hothouse & Garden Flowers' Stamps. My children had great fun spotting 'Mummy's' cards. As promised I shall be sharing the cards here and this is the first.

This is one made 'Orchids' one of the Hothouse flowers. I used my Cricut to cut the base of the card. It's actually a mini album cover which I scored so it could be easily opened. I stamped with the individual flower head randomly on the front with Versamark and embossed with candy pink moonglow embossing powder. I inked around the edge with a crimson Brilliance dewdrop ink pad. I added some large flower eyelets to the spine and knotted lots of lovely ribbon through them.

I stamped and embossed the image and used Copic Markers to colour it. I then cut the image out, curled it and glued it down with Pinflair glue gel. I repeated this process and this time decoupaged a leaf and some of the flower heads. I added some glitter to the centre of the flowers. I used the larger individual flower for the cluster at the top and used the leaves from the main image to finish it off.

I shall be sharing RHS cards throughout the week

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

No Squares Allowed, Shaped card DU2DS

Hi folks!

It's time for another great challenge over on Dare U 2 Digi Stamp. This week we would like to see your shaped cards... no squares allowed ;o) If you need some inspiration before you have a go at this challenge then hop on over to the blog and see the scrummy designs by my fellow Design Team Members. I'm sure there will be something you will love there.

For my card I used my scoreboard to fold a sheet of A4 cardstock and I added panels of Imaginesce patterned papers which I mounted onto cardstock and cut random wavy lines. I inked the edges of the card. The characters are my own Rosabella and Drake fairies, available here. They have been coloured with Koi watercolours and glitter. I added some craft wire just above the circle panel but found it difficult to adhere the letters and so I glued a circle of acetate behind it. Really helped when gluing the funky foam letters on. I finished the card with a green polka dot ribbon bow.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Hugs

Sandra x

Christening Card

Hi folks!

Just a quickie as I'll be dashing off to work in a mo. I made this card for a friend at work. Didn't have as many 'baby' things in my stash as I thought. Hope she likes the little Tilda I popped on.

I'll be entering this card into a few challenges. Cute Daisy May would like to see fairies, Die Cut Dreams has a theme of 'Babies R Us', Charisma cards wants to see distressing and My Time to craft want cards that are Quick and Cute.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

Hanglar Sowester card

Hi folks!

I thought is was about time that I had a play with my Hanglars.... these poor little cuties have been a bit neglected of late. I made this card for the Tanda Teaser Weekly challenge (Russet & Gold) but I've just noticed that they changed their theme today. I have followed the sketch from Friday Sketchers. By The Cute and Girly, The Saturday Challenge and The Pink Elephant all want to see autumnal themes/colours. Stamp Something wants Brown plus another colour. The Cupcake Crafts is asking for Buttons and Stitching. The Creative card Crew would like Scallops and Cute Card Thursday has a 'Charming' theme.

It was a welcome change not to be making a square card. The Patterned papers I used were from an ancient Provo craft stack that I've had for years. I hand pricked then stitched around the edges. I used my Nestabilities, Oval and Scalloped Oval to cut the shapes. I coloured the little Hanglar girl with distress inks. The ribbon was cream and I coloured it with my Light Walnut Copic marker. I used cosmic shimmer paint to paint the larger Prima flower. The smaller one I coloured with distress inks and stamped over it with a script stamp. The charm is from my stash and I attached it with twisted wire. I coloured and stippled the button in the centre of the flower with a peel off pen and tied a string knot. I finished off the card with some cute heart buttons in the corners.

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

Happy Birthday Papa!

It's my Dad's birthday tomorrow and I thought I'd make him a Popcorn Bear card. My Dad loves a good coffee and always tries to catch 40 winks whenever he can so this little bear was the natural choice! The Sketch is from Sketch Saturday. The Creative Card Crew are looking for Celebration cards. The Saturday Challenge wants Autumnal colours and Stamping for the weekend would like to see Orange, Brown and Green. Hopefully I've used enough of those colours to qualify.

The patterned papers are by Memory Makers. The image is the fabulous Popcorn Bear. The Tags are stamps from my See'D's collection that I embossed with gold embossing powder before adding the eyelets and string. 'PAPA' is green funky foam that I die cut using the Quickutz Phoebe skinny mini alphabet. The leaves are also Quickutz.

Hope you are all having a great weekend. I'm off to work again soon :( but we had a fab family service at church this morning. My kiddies were so well behaved I couldn't help but feel a bit proud ;)

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Challenge #23 Black, Yellow & Orange

Hi folks!

OooooOOoooOooo here's a spooky card for you. Challenge #23 on Dare U 2 Digi Stamp is to use black, yellow and orange on your creations. I have used my little witch 'Hazel' and her cute kitty on this Halloween card. This card also fit in nicely with the following challenges that want to see Halloween projects; Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday and A Spoon Full of Sugar. Pile it on would like 3D elements, I think my die cut foam bats and spider are just the ticket!

I 'free-hand' cut some textured orange cardstock into the pumpkin shape and popped the yellow Basic Grey patterned paper behind the features. Roughly inked around the edges. I adhered this to the card base with foam pads to add dimension. The swirls I cut using my Quickutz Revolution die. The bats, spider and sentiment are from a Cuttlebug die. Hazel has been coloured in using Koi watercolours. That's pretty much it. A simple card.

Ciao for now!

Sandra x

Hi folks!

I thought I'd share some more cards that I created for the Craft Extravaganza in September. Both of these cards use my recently released winter rubber stamp collection available exclusively at The Craft Barn. The image above is 'Mistletoe Kisses' and the one below is 'trimming the Tree'. I have coloured both these cuties with Coloursoft pencils, Sansodor and paper stumps.

The papers are all K&Co from the 'Swell Noel' range. I die cut the corners and sentiments from Funky foam using a Cuttlebug die and alphabet (Fancy Pants). The first card has acetate covering the large round aperture. I punched tiny snowflakes from self adhesive sheets, stuck them to the acetate and then covered them with ultra fine glitter. The card is really twinkly in real life. It's a little difficult to see but the characters are glued to the inside of the card, I was trying to create a snow globe type of effect. The large snowflake is a Cuttlebug die that I embossed using Swiss dots embossing folder. The snowflake brad is by Papermania. Both cards have been finished off using Ribbon.

The Craft Barn are celebrating their first anniversary of their website going live. Hop on over to their Blog. Lots of prizes to be won!

NB. I am so sorry to have to say to the lovely crafters that booked onto my class, 25th October, that due to personal reasons my class will not be going ahead. I am confident that The Craft Barn will provide another exciting class in it's place.