Ombre Skinny card

Ombre... Oh how I have admired ombre cards - a technique that can be used for every style, CAS or really embellished cards... And oh how difficult I found it to make one myself!  I don't know how many attempts that have ended up in the bin. I was aiming for a CAS card and look what turned out! I'm very pleased about the final result, but I never thought it was going to be such a struggle to create ANYTHING ombre.

I've tried inks, mists and newly bought Gelatos. I ended up turning to my DPs and found one from Authentique I felt suited. I added die cut leaves and a heart made with Memory Box dies and a fairy from Marianne. The fairy I mounted onto black craft foram for a bit of dimension and I added frantage to her wings. 2 flowers from Prima and one of unknown provenence. A heat embossed sentiment on vellum, found in my stash of ready to use elements, two blue sequins decorated with pearls. Blue tulle. And voilà! (after 1 week and I don't know how many attempts, lol)

This card is for these challenges:
1) Inkspirational - Ombre
2) Fussy and Fancy - #131 Things with Wings
3) Simply Create Too - #77 Happy Mother's Day or for a Female
4) Crafting for all Seasons - #94 Things with Wings

Pink Ballerina

Eeeeek! Look at all that pink and girly stuff - not something you see often over here at my place. But this adorable little ballerina from Bugaboo, one of today's new releases, just screamed for it! So pink it was!

I colored her using Promarkers and her tutu has also dots of glitter glue.

The top I decorated with lace and pink ribbon. I placed stamped greetings a bit randomly, added a flower, three die cut notes and rhinestones.


I'd also like to enter my card in these challenges:
1) Send a Smile for Kids - Anything Goes 4 Kids
2) Come and Get It - Ribbon and Bows
3) Creative Knockouts - #73 Lots of Embellies

2015 Christmas Card #4

Oooops, another card with lots of red... This time for a Christmas card.
Over at 52CCT they have a challenge of inlaid die cuts, a technique I had never tried before, so I thought it was time. And Rocky's card over at CASE-ing Christmas gave the idea of the design. I was inspired by her tall and skinny design, mine is 3,5x6 inches. She used 3 stamped snowflakes, I chose die cut hearts.
When I had layered my white base onto red mirri card and had inserted the glitter paper die cuts heart I thought it looked a bit plain, so I ran it through a Tim Holtz embossing folder. I used my white gelato pen on the red embossed areas. I also die cut a Christmas sentiment with red mirri card, but I mounted in on top of the panel.

Maureen of "Scraps of Life by Scrappymo" has taken over the Rudolph Days challenge as of 2015, why not head over and have a look.

This card is for these challenges:
1) 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Inlaid Dies
2) CASE-ing Christmas - CASE #4
3) Rudolph Days Challenge - January
4) Cut it Up - #63 Embossing

Red and Turquoise

I love red and I have been using this color a lot lately. But I've never used it with turquoise. Seeing the photo over at Sketchy Colors I decided to give it a go. But I didn't have any other plan.
I rummaged through my enormous stash of DPs and found two from Kaisercraft I thought could be a good starting point. I like the reddish colors of the bricks and the worn wodden look. I heat embossed the birthday sentiment directly onto the DP and framed it with a red cut out made with a die from Marianne. I had these flowers from Prima in my stash, and I also found some red lace and blue tulle. I felt it lacked something so added a die cut for leaves and flowers using a Memory Box die. I covered it with frantage and red pearls.To avoid the opposite corner being too empty I added three sequins.

I'd like to enter this card in these challenges:
1) Sketchy Colors - #240 Colors
2) Allsorts - Lace and Pearls
3) Crazy 4 Challenges - Opposites (colors)

Bugaboo's 5th Birthday - Day 7 Recipe

It's day 7 and the final day of the week long birthday party over at Catch the Bug - we celebrate Bugaboo's 5th birthday!
You can win daily prizes, and if you choose to participate in all the challenges this week you might be the winner of the Grand Prize.

Today's challenge is to make a card following a recipe - I chose the "sno cones" option, but there are more to choose from.

This image is this week's freebie, so why not head over to Bugaboo to catch it.
I could not resist using my new background die again. This time I chose to cut  in my yellow chevron patterned DP and let the blue panel paper shine through. I mounted my image on a panel made of the same blue paper, and I also decorated with sequins, a heat embossed sentiment, glitter glue on the spots on the umbrella and glossy accent on the rain drops.


This card is also for these challenges:
1) Penny's Paper-Crafty - #211 Anything goes
2) Cards und More - # 124 - Animals
3) Dream Valley Challenges - Anything Goes

Bugaboo's 5th Birthday - Day 6 Clown

It's day 6 of the week long birthday party over at Catch the Bug - we celebrate Bugaboo's 5th birthday!
You can win daily prizes, and if you choose to participate in all the challenges this week you might be the winner of the Grand Prize.

Today's challenge is to make a a card using one or more clowns.
To be honest, when thinking of clowns what first pops to mind is the thought of the film "It" based on a book from Stephen King. I don't mind clowns, but the film sure made an impression. I remember seeing it being all by myself with the light turned off. Bad idea...

I used papers from Doodlebug Design. I've used lots of red lately for some unexplicable reason.



My layout is inspired by the sketch over at Sketch Saturday, I just turned the sketch upside down. The birthday sentiment is heat embossed and I added three star and round sequins. The clown's body and the balloon are popped up with foam.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) Sketch Saturday - #344
2) Tuesday Throwdown - #228 - Embossing

Trees

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at  Outlawz Twisted Thursday, we have the optional twist of "lovely as a tree" this week. Just add trees in some way, an image, die cuts, paper with trees on, tree embellies - it's up to you. My image is one you can find in the shop of our sponsor for January - Bugaboo.








I colored the image with Promarkers I made a frame of a DP that came free with a magazine way back. For my trees I used a die from Marianne and I made a little forest. The clouds are made using Memory Box dies and scraps, and I stamped a birthday greeting on one of the clouds.
Lots of cards with Bugaboo images from me these days as they're both sponsoring Twisted Thursday and are having a week long birthday celebration party (my GDT card will be published a bit later today.)

I'd also like to enter my card in these challenges:
1) Craft Your Passion - Always Anything Goes
2) Through the Purple Haze - Spring
3) Pile It On -  #52 Fantasy

Bugaboo's 5th Birthday - Day 5 FUNNY Birthday Card

It's day 5 of the week long birthday party over at Catch the Bug - we celebrate Bugaboo's 5th birthday!
You can win daily prizes, and if you choose to participate in all the challenges this week you might be the winner of the Grand Prize.

Today's challenge is to make a FUNNY Birthday Card!
I chose Stella and the sentiment that comes with her for this card.  I colored the image using Promarkers and attached it to a die cut background with birthday sentiments.
I would also like to share a tip: I have mainly 6x6 paper pads and I often start cutting the paper from the center if I need a smaller piece for a project. It leaves my with a scrap piece "frame" I can use for other projects, instead of just paper strips if I had started cutting from a corner. The left over frame can be used as a frame or a backing paper for future projects. For this card I also cut a thinner frame of red paper, and the one that you can see through the cut out sentiments is actually the card base.  I think this creates a little dimension, like an actual frame.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) Top Tip Tuesday - Something New (die with cut out birthday greetings)
2) Aud Sentiments Challenge - #123 Anything Goes

Bugaboo's 5th Birthday - Day 4 Color Inspiration

It's day 4 of the week long birthday party over at Catch the Bug - we celebrate Bugaboo's 5th birthday!
You can win daily prizes, and if you choose to participate in all the challenges this week you might be the winner of the Grand Prize.

Today's challenge is COLOR INSPIRATION!
I chose to play with one of the images that is part of the set of images you can win. Too cute! I colored the image using Promarkers and attached it to a die cut background with birthday sentiments. You're going to see more cards where this die has been used, I love it so much. The crackers are made with dies from Memeory Box, and the balloon is stamped and attached to foam.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) Glitter n Sparkle - #120 Cute
2) Natalie and Amy's Challenge - #28 All Things New (die with cut out birthday greetings)
3) Send a Smile for Kids - Anything Goes 4 Kids Challenge
4) Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - #82 NO Circles

Bugaboo's 5th Birthday - Day 3 Photo Inspiration

It's day 3 of the week long birthday party over at Catch the Bug - we celebrate Bugaboo's 5th birthday!
You can win daily prizes, and if you choose to participate in all the challenges this week you might be the winner of the Grand Prize.

Today's challenge is a PHOTO INSPIRATION! I was inspired by the balloons, spots and stripes, and I chose to play with Frame it - Bears birthday.  I colored the image using Promarkers and I added lots of loose glitter and glossy accent on the balloons.

The DP is from Maja Design. The sentiment is die cut, I added buttons from my stash to give my card some more color, and I used string and made a bow for the bland one.


This card is also for these challenges:
1) ABC Challenge - B is for Buttons and Bows
2) Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Bugaboo's 5th Birthday - Day 2 Sketch

It's day 2 of the week long birthday party over at Catch the Bug - we celebrate Bugaboo's 5th birthday!
You can win daily prizes, and if you choose to participate in all the challenges this week you might be the winner of the Grand Prize.

Today's challenge is a SKETCH!

I chose to play with the lion which is part of "Mini Set - Tall Jungle blocks". I colored the image using Promarkers. I atteched the image onto a panel of burlap. The circle sentiment is heat embosed with brown EP, the stamp was a freebie with a magazine some time last year. I added three star sequins and attached a green enamel dot to each. The DP is DoodleBug Design.



This card is also for these challenges:
1) Creative Knockouts - #72 Birthdays
2) Cardz 4 Guyz - #53 - Happy Birthday 

Bugaboo's 5th Birthday - Day 1 Bingo

Happy Saturday everybody!

Today is the start of a week long birthday celebration over at Catch the Bug - it's Bugaboo's 5th birthday!
You can win daily prizes, and if you choose to participate in all the challenges this week you might be the winner of the Grand Prize.

Today's challenge is BINGO!

I chose to play with "Happy birthday to ewe". I colored the image using Promarkers, I used a snowpen for the wool and loose glitter and glossy accent on the balloon. The sentiment is stamped and heat embossed with gold EP. I used a pink doily and some rhinestones, and I machine stitched around the edges.



This card is also for these challenges:
1) Cards und More - # 123 Use a Doily
2) Clear It Out - Pinks Stash: Pink Things (doily, DP, glitter)
3) Digi Choosday Challenge - #2 Birthdays
4) Perfectly Rustics - Animals

Card with Eyelets

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at  Outlawz Twisted Thursday, we have the optional twist of "use brads and/or eyelets" this week. Our sponsor for January is Bugaboo.








I used an image from Bugaboo with a young footballer. I colored him with Promarkers and stitched the panel with white thread. I attached it to an embossed striped background. I decided to use the option of eyelets for my card, so I attached 2 in each corner and used them to decorate with a frame of twine. I used a tag to add a birthday greeting and a footbal metal charm.

I'd also like to enter my card in these challenges:
1) I love Promarkers - #252 Hobbies
2) Addicted to Stamps - #95 Use a Tag On Your Creation
3) My Time to Craft - Stripes

2015 Christmas Card #3

I love making Christmas cards all year round. I don't like to put them off to last minute as there are so many other enjoyable things to do in December.

I picked inspiration from the layout of the CASE card over at CASEing Christmas. I had several ideas for this card, but I went with my original idea of using my ice skates die from Tim Holtz.

The flower of the CASE card has a metallic look, that what made me think of the skates.
Even though I love purple I went with warm grey colored DPs. The one I used for the banner has Christmas greetings in Norwegian printed on it, so I felt it wasn't necessary to add a sentiment.

I also used a MB die cut snowflake I had in my box of already cut elements, and I used a punch to make the smaller ones. I added purple gems to their centres. For the iceskates I used silver mirri card and white paper.  I inked the heals using walnut DI. I used sewing thread for the laces and added two bows made with seambiding ribbon.



This card is for these challenges:
1) CASE-ing Christmas - CASE #2
2) Die Cut Divas - ANYTHING GOES
3) Cut it Up -  #62 Cut It Up
4) Live & Love Crafts Challenge - #31 Winter Sports
5) ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for Anything Christmas

A card made without any plan...

I love the theme they have this week over at Inkspirational - note - there are so many possibilities!
I had no idea how this card would turn out when I started on it...

So I started my card choosing a DP with musical notes. Cut it to fit an A2 size card. Then what? Why not try my new round corner punch for the first time.... Looking at my unused set of sentiment stamps. Good, will try that one and heat emboss with black. Rummaging through my box of already cut elements. OK, the Marianne die cut frame fits. And why not take the silver leaves made with a MB die. Need some flowers. Found 2 from Prima I felt suited the color scheme. A bit of lace. But my card needs something more. Some metal - found a butterfly one. Finally finished off my card by adding 3 rhinestones and 3 pearls added to the flowers of die cut.


This card is for these challenges:
1) Inkspirational - #73 Word prompt "note"
2) Card and Scrap - #88 Brug stempel
3) Dies R Us Challenge - Die cuts Anything Goes with a Twist use something NEW! (sentiment stamp and rounded corner punch)
4) Crafter's Cafe - #98 Something New ( (sentiment stamp and rounded corner punch)
5) Darnell's NBUS challenge #3 - My NBUS elements are the sentiment and I've used my new rounded corner punch for the first time

Birthday Fred

Today is the start of a new BINGO challenge over at Catch the Bug and this is my GDT card featuring two images - Fred and Houses. This is the the second time ever I've merged images. Quite fun and you can make your images look like new ones using this technique.
The scene is colored with Promarkers and the balloon is covered with glossy accent.
I added a die cut cloud using a MB die and craft foam. The image is placed onto a panel with a punched border. I used a birthday greeting in Norwegian and added a button with string.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) Love to Scrap - Use something beginning with at least one of the following letters: L, T, S, C, B (Button, String, Chevron pattern, Cloud)
2) Stamping Sensations - Dies and Punches 

Flower overload!

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at  Outlawz Twisted Thursday, we have the optional twist of "a Gate Fold Card" this week. Our sponsor for January is Bugaboo.








I used an image with Ava and her cat on a swing. And I went bananas with the flowers. It started with one and was increased to three. Then I just wanted to add a couple more because there were empty gaps. And before I knew it I had totally covered the top. Oh well, I don't use flowers very often, so why not go overboard when I do:)
I colored the image using Promarkers, fussy cut it and attached it to a scrap piece of DP. I believe this one and the one used for the background are from Authentique.
To keep my card closed I added blue seambing ribbon. The sentiment is heat embossed with gold EP on a die cut oval.


I'd also like to enter my card in these challenges:
1) Creative Card Crew - #78 - For a Child
2) Creative Colours - Pink, Blue, White + flowers and sentiment
3) Clear It Out - Anything Goes Stash: Anything Goes (flowers)

Bathing Baby

I need to stock up on baby cards for different occasions, so I went off to play with little Cupie Baby - Bath from Bugaboo. Isn't he cute? Also, January 8 is Bubble Bath Day!

I decided to use some scraps (I've got tons of scraps, I'm unable to throw away bits of papers, especially DPs, I love them too much!) and some dies that have been a bit neglected - the ric rac border and pendant hearts, both from Memory Box.

I used a doily and enamel dots that match the colors of the papers. The image is colored with Promarkers, and the bubbles were covered with glossy accent and loose glitter for a bit of sparkle.

This card is for these challenges:
1) Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes with die cuts
2) The Crafting Cafe - Lots Of Layers
3) Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes
4) Creative Knockouts - #70 For The Kids  

 

2015 Christmas Card #1 and 2

Mynnette has started a new challenge blog, which is all about CASEing Christmas cards. I love sketch and CASE challenges, so I thought I'd give it a go. And it resulted in 2 cards - same design, different colors.

My New Year's resolution is to use what I already have in my stash - no shopping of new DPs (I'm addicted to DPs) for at least 3 months, use my existing rubber stamps and try my inks.
So that's what I did. I used papers from Kaisercraft, pearls and rhinestones from my stash and Tim Holtz rubber stamps. I masked Santa and used the script stamp for the background, heat embossed then inked with Stormy Sky and Aged Mahogny Distress inks.

This card is for these challenges:
1) CASE-ing Christmas - CASE #1
2) Completely Christmas - #44 - Anything Goes with a twist - New Years resolutions
3) Christmas Cards All Year 'Round - Anything Goes

Happy New Year Card

Today is the start of a new "Stella Says Sketch" challenge over at Catch the Bug and this is my Guest Designer card, using this image. I thoght he would make a sweet image on a New Year's card. He's colored with Promarkers.


Even though I'm a DP addict, I have used none on this card. The black background is embossed with a Spellbinders embossing folder and is attached to a panel of silver mirri card for a bit of shine. Again I've used my Marianne die cut frame, I even used the cut out part, which is also embossed. The silver frame I created using black paper covered with silver EP.
The black lace I bought on one my travels, I believe it was Riga. I actually buy most of my lace abroad as there are still small secialist sewing stores to b found and they have really good prices.
I used letter stickers to make the sentiment. I also added two gemstones from my stash.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) Simply Create Too - #76 Let's Celebrate
2) 4 Crafty Chicks - #227 Celebrations
3) Aud Sentiments Challenge - #122 Use the word NEW
4) Crafter's Cafe - #97 New

Roses for you

I hope everybody has had a great start of the new year!
Today is the start of a new "ANYTHING GOES" challenge over at Catch the Bug and this is my GDT card featuring Oval roses, colored with Promarkers.

I made my card base using a Spellbinders die. The background is plain black paper heat embossed with silver EP and a script stamp from Kort&Godt. I also used a die from Marianne to make the frame for the image. The sentiment is stamped.


This card is also for these challenges:
1) Sparkle N Sprinkle - Anything Goes with Loose Glitter, Embossing Powder and/or Flocking
2) Polkadoodles - #1 Tic Tac Toe (Sentiment+Image+Die Cut)
3) ABC Challenge - A is for Anything Goes

I also want to remind you of Bugaboo's 5th Birthday event from January 17-23- you can read more about it here.

Winter Birds

Happy New Year everybody!
It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at  Outlawz Twisted Thursday, we have the optional twist of "Winter" this week. Our sponsor for January is Bugaboo.








I used an image called "Winter bids on a limb" and you can find it here. I colored the image using grey, blue and brown Promarkers and a bit of glitter glue was added to the snowy parts.
I cut out time image using circle dies and my Marianne star half circle die and some silver craft foam. The snowflakes are punched and have a rhinstone added to the centre.
The sentiment tag is made with a stamp from LOTV and I attached it to white seambinding ribbon. The DP is paneled onto silver mirri card and a light blue card base.


I'd also like to enter my card in these challenges:
1) Papertake Weekly - Pick a favorite challenge from this year (To Die for)
2) Digi Sketch Challenge - Sketch and/or Winter Snowflakes (T)
3) Glitter n Sparkle - #117 Anything Goes
4) Fussy and Fancy - #129 Snowflakes & Ribbon

Winter Dottie

Today I'm sharing a card showcasing this week's freebie image - you can pick it up in the Bugaboo store.  

Dottie has been colored with Promakers in different shades of greens and browns.
I attached her to a striped embossed background, which I sanded. I added a strip of burlap and a little piece of leftover ribbon, I just tied a knot and trimmed the ends. The sentiment came free with a magazine and is heat embossed with gold EP. Finally I added three green sequins.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) Crafting By Designs - Embossing
2) Sparkles Forum Challenges - Anything Goes

My final 2014 Christmas Card

I hope everybody has had a wonderful Christmas Eve and that Santa has brought you some nice presents...

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at  Outlawz Twisted Thursday and it's Anything a Goes! Our sponsor for December is Anne's Digital Art.  I've used a reindeer image from Penny Black, stamped onto DP and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I mounted them onto a paper and a panel of burlap.

The tartan patterned paper I believe gives this card a masculine feel, so I didn't embellish my card with anything but some die cut stars (Memory Box) and a die cut bow with Christmas sentiments (Tim Holtz). I machine stitched with white thread around the edges.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) Inky Chicks - #44 Winter Wonderland
2) Addicted to Stamps - #94 Anything Goes at Christmas
3) Love to Scrap - Nature

Skating Bear

Today is the start of a "BINGO" challenge over at Catch the Bug and this is my GDT card featuring an image from the Mini Set - winter bears. Promarkers were used for coloring and glitter was added to the fur trimmings of the hat.

I cut the image using circle dies. I added a half circle die cut, using a die from Marianne and kraft paper covered with frantage.
The sentiment banner is made using heat embossing and a stamp from a Penny Black set.
Papers from Simple Stories, star sequins and pearls from my stash.

This card is also for these challenges:
1) A Crafty Mess - #2 Anything Goes/Traditional Christmas Colors
2) Brown Sugar – #125 Christmas
3) Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Winter Sports
4) Shopping Our Stash - #181 Red Alert

Tags with Wreaths and Bunnies

Time for a new challenge over at  Outlawz Twisted Thursday, we have the optional twist of "First day of winter" this week. Our sponsor for December is Anne's Digital Art.

I struggle making tags and was so exited to make two that I forgot to add some snow on them for a more wintery feel.
I used Anne's beautiful wreath image, printed them onto a DP and colored the DP with Promarkers and a white gel pen. I was quite surprised of how well the colors cover the DP - I'm going to use this technique again, for sure. I used the same patterned papers for both tags, but differently, and I used red and natural colored twine.

I would like to try my luck in these challenges as well:
1) Cutie Pie Challenge - Cute + Anything but a Card
2) Come and Get It - Merry Christmas (2nd entry)
3) Eclectic Ellapu - PURPLE - Christmas but not a card!
4) Pile It On - #49 Anything Goes Christmas/Holidays