A Clean and Simple Foiled Christmas card

I had the lovely Doodle Dear from Stitchy Bear Stamps to play with this week as they are sponsoring Through the Purple Haze Challenges this week.

It's such a beautiful design that I didn't want to try colouring it so decided to print it with my laser printer, then foil it with my Foil Master from Thyme Graphics. 

I created a simple frame in Craft Artist 2 and added a digital sentiment from Stampin Up.

I love the effect of the foiling, but it really is tricky to catch well in photos.

Look at the beautiful details on Doodle Dear! So pretty!

Happy Birthday Dad

It's my Dad's 60th Birthday today and I decided to make him a birthday card using Smart Alec buy Kenny K. I thought it made a fun card for him & tied in perfectly with Kenny K's Krafty Krew's new challenge - Anything Goes.

I kept the card fairly simple & used one of Kenny K's sentiments (Totally Awesome Dad) and added my own Happy 60th at the beginning.

I added a touch of Sakura Gel pen to give the top edge of the words a touch of shine....

.... and full on 'blinged' the word Dad.

Here's Smart Alec.  I coloured him with my Copics and kept him really bright but clean and simple to go with the Pop Art style.

I really hope he likes it.

New Kenny K Images!!!!!

Today's an exciting day as Kenny K has released two new Social Media related digis and a sheet of sentiments. 

Yep that's right! New Kenny K's!!!!!

I love both the new digis -  Texting Friends and Retro Selfie, but couldn't resist playing with Retro Selfie first.

The theme at Kenny K's Krafty Krew is Black and White to I stuck mainly to that colour scheme.

Here's Retro Selfie in all her glory.

I coloured her with my Copics & Spectrum Noir Pencils

Skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04 with R20 Cheeks

Hair - N5, N7, N9

Dress and Shoes - C5, C7, C9

Camera - E25, E27, E29, Gold Gel Pen

Stool - E33, E35, E37, E39

I designed the film strip and sentiment frame in Inkscape and cut it on my Cougar Cutting Machine.

I added a touch of Sakura Stardust Gel Pen to the sentiment.

I hope you're as excited as I am about these new images.

Happy Birthday Betty!!!!!

SURPRISE!!!!!!!

Well it won't be a surprise by now I know as I'm the 3rd hop on the list, but I hope the whole Birthday Hop was a lovely big surprise for you Betty!

I'm sure you're adding up wrong cos there's no way you can be 40? You certainly don't act it - but then again who wants to act their age? You act as you want and have fun with it.

I hope you're having a really great birthday celebration & hope our little contribution adds into it. 

Here's what I made with the lovely image made especially for you by the wonderful Rachel.

The web frame is a cut file from the Silhouette Store. I backed it with some silvery web paper. I love how the silhouette shows through on the shadow.

From the back you can see more clearly how shiny it is. 

You'll see it yourself once it's made it's way across the pond in the post, 

but for the moment the photo will have to do

Here's how I coloured Rachel's gorgeous image. I've always had a soft spot for her drawings. Her Teens were what introduced me to Simply Betty Stamps. I loved colouring her.

It's difficult to catch on camera but I added a touch of Sakura Tiara Gel Pen to the Sentiment.

 

I really hope you have a wonderful 40th Birthday Betty xxx

Your next stop on the hop is with the wonderful Irene

Here's who else is involved.

Happy Hopping xxx

*** The Hop Starts Here ****Corinne (featuring cards by Leanne, Cynthia Cole, April, Cat & Dena)  Then  Rachel, Then Tanya 

>>>>>>>>>Lucy (YOU ARE HERE<<<<<<<<<< 

>>>>>>>>>Irene (NEXT STOP)<<<<<<<<<

Anne Emily Lisa H. Patricia Anita Rita Dorinda Marie Louise Jackie Rakoski Stephanie Katya Vicky Darcy Melissa DSian H Robin Ashley Jackie Randolph Michelle Ruza Andrea Chris S Lisa N. Kitty Nia Sharette Sam Julie R. Lizzy Rebecca Bridgette Sharman ReganJackie Maunder Fernanda Helen Jo Walker Tanja Kay Celina Bettina Wendy Rhonda Miller Elisabete Erin Jill Jo McKelvey Kerrie Sharon B Holly Hughes Floss Olivia Rochelle Leadonna Lady B

Using a die and Sassy Stuidios

It's challenge time at Through the Purple Haze Challenges and this week we're sponsored by Tonic Studios and Sassy Studio Designs. 

I used Dark Fairy Sassy and layered her on Tonic Studios Baroque Oval die cuts.

I cut the Baroque Ovals from white card and coloured them with Krylon Gold Leafing pen.

I made the sentiment using a clear stamp freebie from Making Cards magazine & embossed it with Evergreen WOW Embossing powder/

I coloured  Dark Fairy Sassy with my Copics.

At certain angles you can see the shimmer I added to her wings.

I really hope you like her x

Snow!!! With Kenny K

Well Halloween's over so now it's time to count down to Christmas! Or so some clever friend told me. I'm not one for counting down this far ahead, but the Optional twist for Kenny K's Krafty Krew challenge is 'Snow' so winter it is!

I've fallen in love with the Acetate based cards so decided to make another one. This time I used my Cougar Cutting Machine from Thyme Graphics to engrave snowflakes into the acetate. 

I used a thinner acetate than usual and the engraving actually went through the acetate more than intended, but it all adds to the snowy feel.

The digi is Mrs Claus from Kenny K

I coloured her using my Copics:

Skin - E000, E00, E11, E21, E04 with R20 Cheeks

Hair - E21, E23, E25, E27, E29, E49

Dress & Hat - R24, R27, R29, R59, W7

Boots - E23, E25, E29

The Presents and signpost are Gift Way from Make it Crafty

B63, B66, B69

G14, G16, G29

Y15, Y35

Bows - Sakura Tiara Gel Pens

Signpost - E71, E74, E77

Snow - touches of B000

I hope you like it & would love to see your entry with a Kenny K digi over at Kenny K's Krafty Krew

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Delicious Doodles #108 - Baby it's Cold Outside (ends 6/11)

Moving Along with the Times - Winter is coming (ends 5/11)

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Snowflakes (ends 12/11)

Fab n Funky Challenges - Christmas (ends 4/11)

The Paper Shelter - Is it too early for Christmas? (ends 5/11)

Simon Wednesday Challenges - Anything Goes - (ends 5/11)

SBS 13 Days of Halloween - Day 13 - Altered Item

Argh!!!! Here we are!!!! The final challenge!!! I can't believe it's come to an end!!! It's been a huge challenge but such a privilege to be part of the 13 Days of Halloween as an Honorary Contestant. Thank you so much Betty for choosing me to take part. It's really stretched me and made me think outside the box on many occasions, but I've absolutely loved it.

Well here we go - the final challenge:

 Day 13 - BIG BAD HALLOWEEN BLOW OUT!  Altered project anything but a journal or a card. Must be an actual altered item.  

The thought of a countdown to Halloween popped into my head so I decided to alter a clock. 

I started with this basic cheap clock from Asda.

..... and created this!

A bit of a change eh????

Here's how I did it.

Firstly I sprayed the white surround with Black Acrylic Spray. For once it was me raiding my hubby's garage for resources rather than him 'borrowing' things from my craft room for projects! As luck would have it he had exactly the right thing and it gave a good finish after a quick coat.

Now for the base. I started with the Halloween Frame from the Silhouette Store, made it the right size and welded a circle into the centre to make it easier to attach to the clock base. I added the clock numbers at the 12, 3, 6 & 9 positions and welded them onto the frame. I had to split the frame into two pieces to cut as I didn't have a piece of card big enough. Once cut I fixed the two halves together and used strong double sided tape to attach it to the back of the clock.

Here it is from behind.

I added a touch of Wink of Stella clear pen to the edges of the numbers to gently highlight them.

As you can see the cut frame fits nicely behind the clock base.

I created the centre piece using Devilish Betty along with the Eerie Scene from Make it Crafty. 

I compiled it in Craft Artist 2 and added the words 'The Countdown is Over' in that software. 

I then used Print and Cut to cut it out accurately (including the small circle in the middle for the clock mechanism to poke through).

I used my Blitzer (1990's version of the Tim Holtz sprtizer) to hand airbrush the night sky and moon. I really love the effect it gives.

I cut out an extra printed Bat and stuck it to the minute hand. The clock hands looked a little plain so I coloured them with a Sakura Stardust pen.

I coloured the image with my Copics

Skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04 with R20 Cheeks

Hair - E21, E23, E25, E27, E29, E49

Dress, Shoes, Horns - R24, R27, R29, W5, W7

Pumpkins - YR12, YR15, YR18, E08, E19

Fence - E33, E35, E37, E39. E29

Grass - erm .... can't quite remember those (well I am human after all :P )

Wine - Sakura Stardust Pen

I really hope you like my clock. It's now in pride of place on my craft room wall.

I've had a really wonderful time taking part in the 13 Days of Halloween. I hope you've enjoyed seeing what I've created xxx

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Kitty Bee Designs - Aloha Friday Challenges #35 - Halloween (ends 7/11)

Sassy Studio Designs - Happy Halloween (ends 5/11)

Inky Impressions - Halloween (ends 4/11)

Nutcrafters - Halloween (ends 11/11)

Scrapper's Delights - Halloween (ends 5/11)

Simon Wednesday Challenges - Anything Goes - (ends 5/11)

SBS 13 Days of Halloween - Day 12 - Howling at the Moon!

Day 12 - Howling at the moon!  Make it hairy, use fuzz, feathers, anything fuzzy on your projects!  

Crumbs! How have we got to there only being one challenge left! This month seems to have gone so quickly!

Here's my creation for today.

I used Wolfie Ariel as she was just perfect for this project. 

The card base is a self standing pop up box (I think it's sometimes called a pillow box). I did a tutorial on how to make it for one of my 13 Days of Halloween entries in 2012 (yes I've been addicted for a while!)

The base squashes flat for postage...

... and as you push the top down it opens.....

.....until it's free standing and the image stands upright in the middle.

I love this design as it's so unexpected.

I used Pheasant feathers to add some 'fuzz' to the project. 

As you can see I had one that flat refused to behave and sit where it should, but I figured that fits rather well with Wolfie Ariel who I guess would be a bit mischievous. 

I added big feathers to the back and small ones to the front.

The sentiment came with Wolfie Ariel. I added the wolf charm.

Here's Wolfie Ariel 

Skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04 with R20 Cheeks

Hair - N5, N7, N9, 100

Wolf Hat - E71, E74, E77, E79

Dress - YR14, YR18, E08, E19

Gloves - BG05, BG09, B99

Shoes - E23, E27, E29, E51, E53

Cardstock - Graphic 45

I hope you like her & hope you join in this penultimate challenge.

I'd like to enter this into this Challenge:

Simon Wednesday Challenges - Anything Goes - (ends 5/11)