Shabby/Vintage 50th Girlie Card

My BFF's sister will soon turn 50 and I was intent on making her a special card to mark this milestone.  I always enjoy trying new techniques and improving my skills.  To help me along, I participate in Wednesday's Sketch Challenge on the Cricut forum.  It is just for fun, no pressure challenge where a small group of ladies create card's based on sketches either made by the host or found from various blogs.  We always give proper attribution for these sketches.  There are no prizes - just the opportunity to share our creations, get some feedback and have some fun!  You can join in and learn more here.

I wanted to make a vintage/shabby card.  I have made a few cards in this style and have been inspired by the wonderful cards and creations of the Shabby Tea Room.  This week's challenge is "Anything Goes" and so I will submit this card - just for fun!

I based my card on sketch #1 by Milo Lilja.

 

Papers:  My Mind's Eye - Lost & Found Market Street

Ink: Tim Holtz Distressed Ink - Victorian Velvet and Peeled Paint

Handmade Crochet Flower and Paper Flowers

Cricut cuts for flourishes: 3 Birds on Parade, Cindy Loo, Elegant Cakes

and Martha Steward Seasonal Art Cake

Teresa Collins - brad

Miscellaneous ribbons, pearls and gems

I truly enjoyed making this card and building all of the different layers.  Hope you enjoyed it too and thanks for dropping by!

Feeling Like Spring!

It was a cold day today -17 degrees Celsius but with the sun it started to feel like Spring.  I'm looking forward to having the snow melt away and putting away my winter clothes!

During my free time on the weekend,  I experimented with watercolouring with Tim Holtz distress markers and also played with alcohol inks.  I will start today by showing a simple image that was watercoloured. 

Papers: Cold pressed watercolour paper 140 lb 

DCWV Green Stack

K & Company 

 

I used cold pressed watercolouring paper  and cut the basic flower shape using a Spellbinder die.  The image is from an inexpensive stamp from Michaels ($1.50 Cdn).  I coloured the butterfly with Broken China, Faded Jeans and Peeled Paint markers and then added some Stickles to the wing.  The "Spring" frame was coloured in Mustard Seed and I then added a few pearls to the flourish. I then applied Scattered Straw distress ink being careful around the image.  As I was working with the markers, I used a simple round paint brush with a bit of water to blend the colours. It seems to have worked well although I know I can improve with the shading.

I still love my Cricut Expression and the Gypsy for cutting the shapes .  The brown frame was cut using the Elegant Edges cartridge and the green base of the flower is from the Forever Young cartridge. I inked the edges with Vintage Photo.

I added the brads and glued a blue gem on a basic paper clip to add a bit more dimension.

Thanks for dropping by!

Winter Woodland

We have been experiencing a deep freeze for the past few days with the temperature below -25 degrees Celsius and then add the windchill and it is just unbearable to be walking any distance outdoors. 

Given the cold temperatures, I was certainly inspired to make a Christmas card.  I am still playing along on the Cricut forum in RAQ's Challenges.  The particular sketch for my card was a Viva sketch.  I have also decided to submit this card in the Merry Monday Challenge.  A great challenge but unfortunately I have not played along in a while.  The theme this week is "For the Birds".

Card recipe

Papers Graphic 45 and Bazzil

Cricut Winter Woodland

Snowflake embossing folder

Miscellaneous stamp and brads

Ink - Distressed Black Soot, Vintage Photo, Sepia archival, Versa white chalk

 

Over the holidays, I watched a few videos and was reminded how inking edges can add depth and layering also helps to give dimension.  For the cardinal, I used the Winter Woodland Cricut cartridge but altered it as the bird did not have a wing nor feathery tail.  I inked the bird's chest and tail in distressed Black Soot ink.  The blue, cream and green frames are also from the Winter Woodland cart. The pine branches were made with the Martha Stewart punch and inked lightly with white chalk ink.  The sentiment is a stamp that I purchased at Michaels a few years ago and it is just hand cut.  I embossed the bottom layer using the Snowflake folder and inked with distress Vintage Photo ink. 

I am really happy with this creation!

I plan on being back soon and thanks for dropping by!

 

Just A Note...

It's Monday and I get to ease into the work week.  I worked on this card last night and finished it this morning.  For the sketch, I'm playing along with the I Spy Sketches Challenge #18 and the elements are part of the Repeat Impressions Designer Choice Challenge 523 where we need to have a Stamped Image, Embossing, and Diecut or Punch.

Card recipe

Papers - My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Market Street, K&Company Que Sera Sera

Stamped Flowers - Inkadinkado Flashy Floral, Just A Note

Tim Holtz butterfly embossing folder and distressed folder for watering can

Tim Holtz distressed ink Victorian Violet and Black Soot

Spellbinders Petite Scallop circle and Circle punch

Cricut Stretch Your Imagination for watering can

Versafine black ink and acid free markers

Gems and pearl embellishments, buttons from stash and embroidery floss

This is the first time that I coloured an image.  I wanted to give it a try before I look into purchasing some Copics.    I can see how much fun it would be so it's time for me to look into tutorials on Copics.  If you have any suggestions, please leave me a comment!

Here is the sketch from I Spy Sketches, I made my design on the landscape.

Thanks for dropping by and I would love to hear your feedback on this card!



Challenges:
I Spy Sketches -  ISSC18
Repeat Impressions DCC523

Love is in the Air

Now that it is the month of June, we are heading into the season of weddings and anniversaries.  I made this anniversary card for a family member or dear friend, just haven't decided who will receive it.

Card recipe

Papers - Fancy Pants Bella, DCWV, Recollections for base

Circle - Spellbinders Petite Circle scallops

Punches for corner and tag "love"

Fabric -  flower, blue border with rhinestones and lace

The colours and fabric were chosen as part of this week's challenge Color Me Pretty at the Shabby Tea Room and inspired with this photo

The sketch design is from Mojo Monday with a bit of a twist/my interpretation.



Thanks again for dropping by and I always appreciate your feedback and comments!

Enjoy the weekend!

Challenges: 
Shabby Tea Room Color Me Pretty
Mojo Monday #243

A day at the beach

It's still Spring here but I made this card for my SIL who lives in Italy and loves to take her children to the beach.  I made it as part of this week's RAQ Challenge on the Cricut forum and also to submit to My Sheri Crafts Summer Challenge. 

Card recipe

Papers - DCWV Songbird, Bazzill, clear acetate

Sew Easy for the piercing for the stitching

Cricut A Child's Year, Elegant Edges, Stretch Your Imagination

Embellishments: Brads, buttons, pearl and photo corner

Versafine ink for "Just Saying Hello"

I started the design with a port hole and then just chose the elements from my Cricut cartridges.  It's the first time that I've used the Sew Easy that I bought over a year ago.  It's not the "easiest" tool to use on heavy cardstock but it does add a nice touch!

Enjoy your day and thanks for dropping by!

Card for Homemade Treats

Hello again!  I'm just on a roll with making cards and keeping my blog up to date.  Thanks for the lovely comments from those who drop by from other challenges.  It's always nice to get some feedback!

Today's card is for RAQ's Challenge on the Cricut forum and it is also part of the CPS Challenge for this week #264.  There were also ad colours suggested for RAQ's challenge.

So here is the sketch and the ad colours

 

I thought it would be really difficult to select papers in the ad colours that would coordinate nicely but I think it turned out fine.  With the warmer weather, I think I will need a card for a potluck BBQ dinner so I created this cute little card. 

I made the sunflower with my Cricut using the Stretch Your Imagination, Accent Essentials and Damask Decor carts.  I have a tutorial with photos on my blog that you can read here.  The corner diamond accents are leftovers from the argyle pattern cut.

Card Recipe

Coral and Yellow sparkle papers - DCWV Glitter

Coral checkered paper - K & Company Sweet Nectar

Blue with Birds - DCWV Green Stack

Skyblue base - Recollections

Ivory Base - Staples 110#

Cricut - Wild Card for Argyle cut

Cricut - Tags, Bags, Boxes and More for sentiment frames

I'm looking forward to the next BBQ dinner with friends!

Thanks for dropping by!