Postcard - Mail Art

hello everyone and hope your all having a good start to this week. the weather is lovely today here so I hope it continues.

I have made a postcard as some Mail Art. I have used my favourite stamp set fromStampers Anonymous and coloured with distress inks(Dried marigold, Spiced marmalade and Ripe Persimmon).
The flowers are stamped from Sheena Douglass stamps and some die cut leaves added.

Now for the postcard part:

 

I have used a cuttlebug embossing postcard folder and inked around using the same inks. I have added a sentiment from a set of Justrite stamps. I am now going to attempt to mail this little piece of work to someone!!!

 

I used the sketch from Sketch saturday and rotated it:

                                                  

 

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Sketchy Colors challenge#161 - Orange and Cream

Sketch saturday challenge #256- Jen's sketch

Dream valley challenge #55 - things with Wings

Challenges 4 Everyone #19 - Anything goes

Make it Monday # 138 -with meljen's designs

 

 

Thanks a lot for stopping by and visiting and hope you all have a good week

See you Soon

x catherine

Sew Stylish Journal

Hello again everyone and welcome back. Please scroll down for my Sunday Sketch and Stamp post for today.

I have been making another journal. This one is for my daughter who is very interested in fashion and loves drawing her own designs. She is able to put them all into here and keep them safe.

I have used the sketch from the current  Sketch 'N' Stash challenge for this one:

The 3 backing papers are all from a TILDA set and are so pretty. I bought these a while ago but they seemed just too pretty to cut into before . However we must use these papers sometime!!The stamp image is from a Hero Arts set.
I used some of the Polka Dot background paper to paper piece her dress- I really like it and think it's suits that period of time.

I have also used some of the same polka dot paper and made a flower. There are some pieces of lace wrapped around some stamped thread holders for embellishments. I added some faux stitching as well.

I am entering this journal into the following challenges:
Sketch'N'Stash challenge 112 - sketch
Charisma Cardz challenges#16 - Polkadots
Totally Papercrafts challenge #164 - Flowers and Lace
Crafts 4 Eternity challenge R#121 - Perfect papers(use at least 3 different papers)

Thanks for stopping by and visiting and see you soon

x Catherine

Sunday Sketch and Stamp New challenge

Hello everyone and hope your all enjoying your weekend. I am going to Lincolnshire today to see some friends I haven't seen for a while.

Today sees a new sketch over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp challenge blog. This week the sketch has been designed by Claire and is a great one. Please pop over here to see the Design teams creations and join in with us.
We are being sponsored this week by:

I decided to do a Black and White card today as I always think these look elegant and stylish. hope mine looks like that!!
The stamp image is from a Kanban set and thought it just suited those Lace stamped panel background squares. Everything is stamped in Black archival and then heat embossed in clear.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting. I really appreciate all the comments.

See you soon

x Catherine

Allsorts challenge - Photograph Journal

Hello again and welcome to my second post for the day. 

Today sees a new challenge starting over at the Allsorts challenge blog and this week Brenda is our host. We would like to see

"Anything But A Card"
 

Please pop over to the challenge blog here and check out the wonderful creations from the design team. 

Our sponsors this week are: 

  

and

  

                                                           

                                           Digi Darla designs

 

 

I am enjoying making journal books as I like to keep quite a lot of things and these are perfect for keeping things and memories in.

 

I have made a Photograph Journal for holidays and Travel memories.

 

The background stamp is from JustRite stamps and has been coloured using distress inks(vintage Photo and Broken China).

 

I layered part of the stamp up and added a image from a Stampers Anonymous set of the aeroplane.

 

The book covers have been covered using some papers from a Tim Holtz paper stash book.

 

I have added ribbons and a ticket label onto the ring binders.

 

Hope you like this idea and something a little different.

 

Hope you all have a good weekend and thanks for visiting today. Please check my first post of today below

See you soon

x catherine

New challenge at Sweet Stampin

                     


Hello everyone and the start of another weekend. I have lots planned so here's hoping the weather is nice!!
Today sees a new challenge starting over at Sweet Stampin challenge blog. Please pop over here to see all the wonderful projects from the Design Team.

This weeks theme is

"Anything But  Birthday"

 

Our sponsors this week are:


and our monthly sponsor is:

Sometimes it's just nice to send someone a card without it always having to be a special occasion and my card is for a friend. Sometimes I don't see my friends as often as I would like and it's really nice to catch up for a drink and natter.

On Sunday I am hoping to catch up with some friends in Lincolnshire who I miss seeing and having a chat with. Really looking forward to it and know the kettle will always be on there!!!!!

This card uses a stamp set which I won in some blog candy from the lovely Brenda and is just so me with the vintage style look to it. I have coloured using Dusty Concord distress ink..

I have added some stamped lace panels behind the image and used an embossing folder in the background.

Hope you will come and join in with our challenge this week and thanks for visiting.

See you soon and have a good weekend

x Catherine

Just Fabulous Journal

Hello everyone and hope your all having a good week so far. Hello to my new follower Cindy and so glad you have joined me and hope you enjoy your visits here.

Today I have made a journal book using my Bind-It- All machine. This is a fabulous piece of equipment and so glad I got one (even if it did take me over a year before I used it!!!)

I have used an image from a Kanban set of stamps and coloured using promarkers with some stickles for dimension

The background panels are another Kanban Lace stamp embossed with black embossing powder. This looks so lovely when done like this.
I have made the flower and sprayed with some Pink Perfect pearls.

I have also added some pink pearl gems and some hat pins for extra embellishment and glamour.

I am entering this journal into the following challenges:
Creative Inspirations challenge #211- Ribbons and Pearls
Crafty Creations challenge#219 - Pink +one(Pink and black)
Simon Says Stamp challenge - Anything Goes
Make It Monday #137 - with Pink Paper paradise

Thanks so much for stopping by today and see you again soon

x Catherine

Time Traveller

 

 

Hello everyone and hope your all having a good start to the week. We had a great day out at the athletics stadium yesterday and both girls put all their effort into their events. they both achieved Personal best records in their events. It was a great experience for them both.

 

I have used the Stampers Anonymous stamp set for this card and kept to the vintage grunge look.

I used a Tim Holtz die for the ticket strips and overstamped onto them. The cogs were cut from grungepaper and used distress stains.

The background piece has been made using a brick embossing folder and the bottom panel using one of the background stamps from the same stamp set as the man.

I have added a metal frame around the sentiment and some metal screw brads at the top.

Inks used were Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap.

 

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge 87 - Vintage                               

Sketchy Colors challenge #160- Wenche's Sketch                      

Cupcake Crafts challenge 239- Monochromatic

Totally Papercrafts #163 - Monochromatic

Crafty Creations challenge #218- no patterned Paper

Make It Monday#137 - with Pink paper Paradise

 

 

Thanks for visiting today and see you soon

x Catherine



Passion For Flowers at Allsorts challenge

 

sideways view of acetate wrap

 

 

Hello everyone and where has this week gone too!! I am really looking forward to this weekend although I have athletic competitions to go to for the girls tomorrow at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. It's their first competitions so really looking forward to seeing how they cope.

Anyway today sees a new challenge over at Allsorts and this week the theme is
"Passion For Flowers".
We are being sponsored this week by:

 

and

 

 

 

The lovely Brenda all gave us the same kit to use for this weeks challenge and it has been great seeing how we have all used it. Please pop over here to see all the wonderful creations from the Design Team.

My card has an aperture acetate front panel so I could emphasis the fence more. I think it has turned out really well and the extra I used were the glittery butterflies. These are Digi images from our sponsers this week which were printed onto acetate and glittered on the back.

Hope you can all pop along and join in with this weeks challenge. Thanks for visiting and hope you all have a good weekend
see you soon

x catherine

The Timekeeper

Hello everyone and hope you all had a good weekend. I decided at last minute to make the journey down to Ally Pally on saturday. It was a really good show and I managed to pick up everything on my list(which wasn't that long-lol).

This is using one of the new stamp sets I bought from the Sam Poole designs . I have chosen to keep it Black and White and think it has worked reallly well. I have also used a new mask in the background of the grid work,  which works well with this image . I have also added some grunge board numbers painted with silver paint for embellishments. The die cut clock is from Marianne's Dies

This is my Dt card for Sunday Sketch and Stamp as well where we have a fantastic new sketch for you this week. Please pop over here and check out the wonderful creations from the rest of the DT.

I have also discovered this last week that I have someone new at my craft desk - yes my daughter has been bitten by the craft bug and is really enjoying discovering this new hobby. I have helped her set up a blog and I know she would be so pleased if maybe some people would pay her a visit.
The link to Laura's blog is
http://www.laurasmessyarea.blogspot.co.uk/.

She is thirteen and I will be monitoring this for her but it is good for her to show an interest in crafting and hopefully I won't loose too many of my things in the process!!!!(Don't worry Tim Holtz products locked saftley away-lol)

Hope you all have a good week ahead and thanks for stopping by .
See you soon

x Catherine

Pastels at sweet Stampin

Told you I would see you again soon!!! Bet you didn't think this soon though!!!

Today sees a new challenge over at Sweet Stampin and this week we would love to see you all use "Pastels" in your creations.

We are being sponsered this week by:

 

 

My card uses a stamp from Inkylicious and I have chosen to work with the distress colour (Shaded Lilac). It really is a lovely pastel distress colour to use.

 

Please pop over to our challenge blog here and check out all the fabulous creations from the Design Team.

 

Thanks for stopping by and please check my previous post for details of the Allsorts challenge this week too.

x Catherine

New challenge over at Allsorts

Good morning everyone and the start to another weekend. Hope you all have some good plans for it and the weather stays ok!!

Today sees another challenge starting over at Allsorts and this week is the turn of the lovely Helene to host it.
The theme chosen is;"Letter Of Your Name"
We want you to use something that begins with the first letter of your name.

This week we are being sponsered by:



Both of my initials are "C" so I have decided to use a "Classic Car" We would love to see what you all come up with for this one. I have gone with a vintage look to this card and thinks it makes for a great male card.

Please pop over to the challenge blog here and check out the fabulous creations that the team have come up with.

Thanks for visiting and see you again soon!

x Catherine

Happy Birthday

Hello everyone and this is my second post for today!!!Plese scroll down for my earlier one.
 I must be inspired at the moment by this arrival of some warmer weather and I seem to be in a very bright colour mode for me lately!!!
But so refreshing to have colour on my crafting desk.
These stamps are from Crafty Individuals(CI - 185) and just love these panel type images. I have chose to use them as a trio panel and inked with Sunshine yellow and spiced marmalde inks.

This card is for the following challenges:
Crafty Individuals challenge blog - April spring in fashion(using stamps CI - 185)
Papertake weekly challenge -BINGO(blooms, ribbons,gems)
Creative Inspirations challenge #209 - Anything goes with an option of hearts
Crafty Creations challenge#217 - no squares allowed
Simon says stamp challenge - April showers and /or Spring flowers
Fab'n'Funky challenge #166 - Spring colours

Thanks so much for visiting today and see you again soon

x Catherine

It's your Birthday

Hello everyone and welcome . This is a new stamp I have from Hero Arts. I have used distress inks (Dried Marigold, Scattered Straw and Spiced marmalade). I have also used some masks for the background panels and a stamp for the background piece.

I am entering the following challenges with this card:
Sketchy Colors #158-Marianne's sketch
Joanna Sheen challenge blog - Spring into Spring
Stamp with fun challenge #206 - Birthday

Thanks so much for stoppping by and visiting today. It is much appreciated
See you soon

x Catherine

Enjoy the Journey

Hello everyone and hope your having a good start to the week. Looking  a bit grey outside here again this morning but hopefully the sun will pop out later. Hello to my new followers and thank you so much for joining me and hope you will enjoy your visits here.

I have had this stamp for so long and today is it's first outing for this Bon Voyage card I need. I have used a circle mask for the square backgroung panels and my crackle stamp on the other border to give a water effect. The inks are adirondack. I used some of the leftover background piece to make the bunting with.

I am entering the following challenges:
Sketch 'n'Stash challenge 111 - sketch
Craft Your passion challenge #157- Water,Water everywhere
Make My Monday challenge - make your own backgrounds
Paper crafting Journey challenge - monochromatic

Thanks for visiting today and see you soon

x Catherine

Time Traveller

Hello everyone and the start of a new week. Hope you all had a good weekend and the weather seems to be cheering up here.

A bit of a grungy looking card today and using the new stamps from Stampers Anonymous - Time Traveller. just love this set and great for all the distressed and grunged look.

The background was a piece of Kraft card and a hexagonal designed mask embosssed and distressed with various distress inks colours.
The side circles were also Kraft card and a cogs designed embosssing folder .
The stamp image was inked with Walnut Stain ink and I used the water brush to highlight areas with the ink.
The border strip was repeat stamped using another of the stamps from the set.

For embellishments there are some cogs die cut from Grunge paper and distressed stained. the clocks have been made using foil paper and distressed with paint.
This was the sketch I followed:

This card is for the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday challenge#253-Carrie's sketch
The ABC Challenge - K is for Kraft (1st April)
Moving Along With The Times challenge- Let's Get Krafty

Thanks for visiting today and hope you have a good week

x Catherine

Faux batik

 

and side ways view

 

Good morning everyone and hope your all enjoying your weekend so far. The sun has finally come out and has been such a nice change.
My daughters team came third yesterday out of 8 teams and they won themselves a Bronze medal. It was such an achievement for the team as it is the first medal they have won. A good day was had by all!!

This card uses a technique called Faux batik on the background. It is created by a resist of embossing powder and then cracked and brayered over to give a look of wax melted onto fabric. I was really pleased with the way this turned out and think I will be adopting this technique quite a  bit.!

I had some piece left after cropping so used it to die cut some butterflies as well.

The card has an aperture wrap around acetate front shown in the side ways view. I added embellishments onto the wrap to give dimension and wrapped the ribbon around it.

This card is for the following challenges:
Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge#86 -Faux Technique(Faux batik)
Charisma Cardz challenge #13-Acetate(Acetate Wrap around front)


Thanks for stopping by and hope you like the card today.
See you soon

x Catherine

Spring at Allsorts challenge

Good morning everyone and hope you are all keeping well.I would like to say hello to all my new followers and thank you so much for joinig me and hope you enjoy your visits her.

 It is time for a brand new challenge over at Allsorts this week. This week it is the turn of my lovely team mate Jo who has chosen the theme "SPRING" I think we are all so looking forward to seeing spring appearing now!

We are being sponsered this week by:

http://www.digistampboutique.co.uk/catalog/

 

and

Crafty Ribbons

 

 

Please pop over to the blog here and check out the fabulous inspiration from all the design team.

I have chosen to use flowers for my spring card and they are from a Sheena Douglass set as so is the wonderful sentiment.
The background has been made using a Crafters Workshop Template (Basketweave).
The inks are all Adirondack colours.

I would like to say a really big thank you to all who took part in my  challenge with them last week.

Thanks for visiting and hope you all have a good weekend.
I am off to Sheffield now as my Daughter is competing in the Wheelchair Basketball finals so should be lots of fun. GO Spiders Go!!(That's the team name).

x Catherine

It's Your Birthday

Hello everyone and here we are near to another  weeknd. This week has gone quick for me.
Well I can  report there has beeen no snow this week here so could signs of spring be showing!!! I actually saw some daffodils in full bloom on my travels yesterday.

I have used a stamp from Woodware for this card and inked and embossed in black which I love for this type of image.
The background has been made using an M-Bossibilities embossing folder which is very new to me but I do like these folders and you get two sides to choose from .
I used Adirondack inks (lettuce and Stormy Blue) for the colours.
The flowers have been made using a stamp, cut out and shaped together.

I am entering the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp challeng - Happy Birthday
Crafty Creations challenge #216 - Flowers or Fairies
Crafty Catz weekly challenge 177 - Anything goes and GDT call

Hope everyone is well and thanks for visiting today.
See you soon

x catherine

Just To Say Hello

Hello everyone and hope your all keeping well.

Todays card has some very large flowers on!!!! I thought I would try the Sizzix Tim Holtz tattered flower die and make some flowers from Kraft card. Well they turned out bigger than I thought but I didn't want to leave any out, So there it was three large kraft flowers.!!!!
The flowers were lightly inked around with distress ink and then stamped with a script stamp before joining together and sculpting. I also used a piece of Kraft for the background. This was an experiment but I loved how it has turned out. First I embossed using a mask and then added Aged Mahogany and Vintage Photo distress inks to colour it. Finally I added some perfect pearls powder on top. The sentiment is from Sheena Douglass stamp set and has been heated with embossing powder.
A few die cut flourishes and leaves were added too.

I am entering into the following challenges:
Cupcake Craft challenge #236- Get your Kraft on
Creative Inspirations challenge208 -Let's get Krafty
Papertake Weekly challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for visiting today and all your lovely comments you leave me. They are very much appreciated it.
See you soon

x Catherine

A Little Bird Told Me

Hello everyone and hope your all having a good start to this week. I wonder if we will start to see signs of spring now we are into April !

This is an easel card I have made for an upcoming family birthday. The background panels have been made using a mask and some distress inks(although it doesn't really show too well on the picture!!)

The bird image is a stamp from Pink Paislie and the sentiment is from Art Journey. I have added some of the flowers from Sheena Douglass stamp sets and layered them in different colours.I have used distress inks(Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers and Squeezed Lemonade)
The sentiment on the inside is also from the same sets.

This card is for the following challenges:
Sketchy Colors challenge#157 -Blue, Mint Green, White and Yellow
Fussy and fancy friday challenge #85- Spring days
Charisma Cardz challenge#12 - Happy Birthday

Thanks for visiting and stopping by today .
See you soon

x Catherine

Vintage games

Hello everyone and here's to the start of another new week. Sometimes the weekends seem to go really quick!!

This card uses the stamp set from Creative Expressions (Vintage Games). I used a mask for the background. This was embossed through the grand calibur and then coloured with distress inks(Weathered Wood and Black Soot).
I stamped and embossed various stamped images from the set. I also added an Idealogy counter for embellishment.
I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday for this one:

This card is for the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday challenge#252 -Jen's sketch
Cute card Thursday challenge#262 - Brass in pocket

Hope you all had a lovely Easter and thanks for visiting
See you soon

x catherine