A Tail of two Pussycats

**Edited Post: The Sincerely Yours Creations Blog has been removed. It is a shame for those of you who have entered the challenges and the sponsors who have been kind enough to support the blog. I have no further information at this time. **


Hi Folks, it's time for another challenge over at the Sincerely Yours Creations Challenge Blog. This time, the theme is 'Cats and Dogs'. Being a cat lover, I opted for a fabulous cat image called 'Snoozing Kitty on the Edge', which reminded me of my grey kitten Cody. He has huge paws, just like this image, and likes to sleep a lot. However, I couldn't make a card without adding in my other kitten Poppy, so I found an image that looks just like her! She is always full of beans, and darting about all over the place, and this image is just perfect.

I coloured a piece of watercolour paper cut to size using the wrinkle free Distress method, then once it was completely dry, I printed the black cat onto the paper, using a custom setting on my printer to specify the paper size. I practised on a scrap piece of paper first! I then stamped the wall across the background underneath the image, and coloured it in with pencils. This is a clear edge stamp from Chocolate Baroque. I masked the wall and stamped a CB tree so that it appears to be behind the wall, and added some little sequin flowers, dropping some Stickles in the centre of each flower. I stamped some flowers and added more sequin flowers underneath the wall.

I coloured the sleeping cat and cut him out before adding him to the picture. I stamped a couple of Lavinia dragonflies around the tree, and added a great CB sentiment to finish.

Our sponsor this week is Eureka stamps:

Tina is offering 5 digis of the Winners choice. So why not enter the challenge? Pop over to the blog to see what my Team mates have been making and have a go at making something yourself.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Through the CRaft Room Door Anything Goes

Make it Monday Anything Goes

Glitter and Sparkle Animals

Just before I go, here are a couple of photos of the real thing:

This is Cody.

This is Poppy.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

I'm a Dragonfly!

Hi Folks, just popping in to tell you a little bit of news. I'm joining a Design Team for a new challenge blog called Crafting With Dragonflies which is based in Australia.

The challenges will start on 1st May, but there will be bits and pieces going on before that, which I will keep you updated about. One fortnight there will be a card based challenge, and the alternate fortnight will be a non-card based challenge. This will be a great opportunity for the cardmakers amongst us to flex our creative side and make something different for a change. Some weeks it might be a scrapbook page, an altered item, a box, a mini book, or a tag. It's going to be a lot of fun, and I hope to see you there.

I've made a simple dragonfly themed card just to whet your appetite:

I've used stamps from Inkylicious, Stempelglede and Chocolate Baroque to make my card, and the dragonfly was embossed with two tone Moonglow embossing powder for an iridescent shimmer.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Use some Metal

Hi folks, it's time for another challenge over at the Artistic Inspirations Challenges blog. This week, the theme is 'Use some metal'. I have chosen to make two cards this week, but using the same sketch. My first card is using a digital image called 'Emma'. This is a fabulous vintage style image, and I wanted to create a card that had a period feel to it. I chose a colour palette of soft blues, browns and greys, and coloured the image with Copics. The background paper is a free digital download.

I embossed some pearlescent card with a metallic finish through my Big Shot, and then rubbed some Inka Gold in Silver over the raised areas. I added some more Inka Gold to the edges of my card. I added a watch charm to the ribbon to finish my card.

My second card is based on the same sketch, but would be more suitable for a child's Birthday card, or for anyone who likes a bit of magic! I've used an image called 'Starr', coloured with Copics, but added some Platinum Stickles to her dress for some sparkle. I embossed the purple circle with some gold stars, and added some punched stars from gold card. The sentiment is computer generated.

Our sponsor this week is Stitchy Bears, and the prize that they are offering is a shop voucher to spend in the online shop.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

An Easter Card

Hi Folks, it's time for another challenge over at the Sincerely Yours Creations blog. This week, the theme is Easter, and the Design Team have come up with lots of Spring or Easter themed cards for you to see.

I have chosen to use an image from one of this week's sponsors Floppy Latte, a lovely Floral Frame, which I have coloured with Copics. I have placed it around an oval that I have coloured with Distress Inks, and stamped a rabbit image from Lavinia stamps. I have added two small butterflies, also from Lavinia stamps. The sentiment comes from Chocolate Baroque, and the backing paper is from Prima.

Our sponsors are offering some great prizes this week:

Jess is offering a $6 to spend in the shop

Tammy is offering 7 digis of the Winners choice

So why not have a go and enter the challenge? Just make something with an Easter theme over the next fortnight.

I am entering my card into the folowing challenges:

Bearly Mine Challenges Easter

Digital Tuesday Challenge Frame It

Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes

Crafty Bloggers Network Spring or Pastel

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Birdsong collage project

Hi Folks, I have another project to show you using the Big Bold background stamps from Chocolate Baroque

I wanted to create a vintage piece using fabric for the main panel, and finally settled on sticky backed canvas after some experimenting. I coloured the flowers with Distress Markers, as they did not bleed, and blended quite nicely. I embossed a floral texture stamp from the Texture Fragments set onto Prima Firefly paper, using gold EP, and edged the paper with cranberry ink. I stamped a couple of little birdcages onto acetate, and added gold ribbon to the piece, to 'hang' them from. I also made little bows for the tops of the cages. The bird was embossed with gold EP again, and coloured with co-ordinating inks.

I sewed the layers together with my sewing machine, adding to the fabric feel of the project. This is a rare occurence indeed! I've used some cream lace and burgundy seam binding for the little bird to use as a perch. The cardboard at the back of the project has been painted cream to tone in with the lace, as it was too brown in its original state.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Mosaic tile in white and blue

Hi Folks, I have a sample to show you using one of the the new big bold backgrounds recently released over at Chocolate Baroque This one is called Flora. I stamped the image using white embossing powder, and then covered the card with a blend of blue inks. I then trimmed the image slightly, before cutting it into one inch squares, and sticking it onto white card. I added a mat of dark blue card.

I stamped a flower from the Tangled Garden stamp set onto a piece of Prima Firefly paper a couple of times, using white embossing powder again. I used a die from Marianne to cut some large swirls, and added a lovely clay button that I had been hoarding in my stash. I based the colours of the project on the button, which is why it fits into the colour scheme so well.

This card may have to become a Mother's Day card, as my Dad ended up having one that I made earlier to give to my Mum. I'm sure that my Mum won't mind, and with the addition of a sentiment, this card will be winging its way in the post today. I'll be back in a few days with another sample to show you using another one of the big backgrounds. They are available as a multibuy, or as individual stamps:

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Things with Wings

Hi Folks, slightly later than normal, I have my offering for the Artistic Inspirations challenge this week. I've been visiting my parents, so although I had my project finished while I was there, I just couldn't write my blog post. Yesterday, I travelled home, and met my lovely crafting buddy Lesley for lunch and a long catch up chat. We hardly see each other, so it was lovely to have a proper hug and chat instead of a virtual one.

This week the challenge is 'Things with Wings' our sponsor is Meljens, and I have used a super image called Lazy Susan buggies, which I printed onto Prima Firefly paper, and then onto plain white card. I coloured the white image, before cutting it out and decoupaging it onto the Firefly paper. I added some lovely satin ribbon and some green bazzil card as a mount. It's a simple project as I had limited stash with me at my Mum and Dad's house.

However, it will be a great storecupboard card suitable for lots of occasions.

Meljens is offering 3 digis to the winner.

Please pop over to the challenge blog to see what my team mates have been making this week, and why not enter the challenge yourself? You can make whatever you like, a card, tag, box, altered item, mixed media project, the choice is yours.

I am entering my project into the following challenges:

crafty boots

paper make up stamps

Thanks for stopping by, xx