Fab'n'Funky Challenges #156 - Shoes

Hello there,

Well, what a fantastic response to our last challenge.  We certainly have lots of favourite colours.  If you would like to see who was picked as our lucky winners, head over to the Fab'n'Funky Challenges blog.

I am your host this week and I have been a bit indulgent in my theme!  We would like to see...

Shoes

One of my favourite things in the world!  You can chose any type of shoes, boots, sandals or even slippers!  We also have a great sponsor in the form of Digital Delights by Louby Loo.

The team have really come up with some fab ideas for this challenge so be sure to check out their blogs for more inspiration.  I have stayed away from the pretty and gone with a steampunky look.



As you'll see I'm still lusting over my new Spellbinders!  I used a shiny black card base and then added the Spellbinders M-bossabilities Creative Cogs which was passed through the Grand Calibur with a sheet of textured silver card.  This isn't a super shiny silver so it works well with the cogs.  I cut three of the cogs using Spellbinders Cogs in the same black shiny cardstock that I used for the base.  My green paper was printed from Serif.  No pink!

For my main image, I used a Sam Poole stamp from her Steampunk Shoes set.  I tried it with black ink but this just rubbed off so I actually stamped in Versamark and then used black detail embossing powder and heated with my heat tool.  I cut an extra cog by repeating the process and fussy cut around the shape, adding with foam pads.  I love high heels but always suffer whenever I wear them so these are perfect!  No sore feet!  I used a double layer of foam pads in the centre and a single layer at the edges to give dimension. 

My sentiment also came from the same Sam Poole stamp set and I cut it using Spellbinders Framed Tags One.  This makes me think there may be more in the pipeline!  I used a recycled cog from an old card and coloured it with my black ProMarker as it was an antique gold.  I've also taken a sideways view for you.

I really hope you can join us in our Shoes challenge.  Why not walk this way with us!

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

The Cuttlebug Spot DT Card - Stars

Hi All,

I'm back with the final challenge in our "Get Into Shape" season at The Cuttlebug Spot.  This week we are celebrating using...

Stars

We would love to see stars in your projects.  I love stars and they always catch my eye when I'm out shopping or looking for new crafty stash!

I have a baby card for you this time and this image is super cute.

My image was from Pollycraft who unfortunately are no longer in business.  They had a mega clearance just before closing and I picked up a few bargain digis.  Such a shame that they're not around anymore.  I coloured my image with Spectrum Noir pens but I didn't keep a note of the colours I used.  Sorry!  

I embossed my cardblank with a Craft Concepts embossing folder and then used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Broken China to highlight the pattern.  To give a deckled edge on the front I used the Joy Crafts starry border die .  I cut the largest of the Spellbinders Star Circles in brown pearlescent cardstock using my Cuttlebug and then layered up my image with Pinflair glue gel, after rounding on the edge of my table.  Finally I added three of the stars from the Spellbinders die to the top right corner of the inside.

I really hope you can join us at The Cuttlebug Spot for our stars challenge.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

CHA Spellbinders - With Love

Hello Everyone,

I hope you've had a great weekend so far.  I've been enjoying plenty of crafty time.  I'm just about to start tidying my crafty stash in preparation of a set of new storage drawers arriving next week.  I think I'll still need a bigger house though!

I finally received my bundle of CHA Spellbinders on Wednesday and have been playing every day ever since!  Here is one of the first cards I made and I really liked the way it turned out.  

I started with two cuts using Spellbinders Detailed Scallops - love these dies.  I had printed the yellow gingham (yeehaa!) paper for another project but ended up not using it but it was the perfect colour base for my card.  I embossed the paper with a swirly Crafts-Too embossing folder and attached some My Paper Stash ribbon in black satin.  My topper is made up from two cuts of the Stately Circles in black cardstock and yellow gingham, then two layers of the Decagons, all off-set.  I stamped my sentiment in black although this is showing up slightly yellowy on the Centrua Pearl cardstock.  Finally I added three black gems in each corner.  

Has anyone else invested in these dies?  I'd love to see what you've been making.

Happy crafting, 
Rachel x

On Your Anniversary - Debbi Moore

Hi Everyone,

It's the weekend! Yippie!  That means non-stop crafting for me!  Well, I might have to give in and tackle the ironing at some point!

I've been playing with the paper kit that came with my latest Debbi Moore Inspirations magazine and have made an anniversary card for you tonight. 

I went with the red and black colour combo and really like the papers that came in the magazine.  I have to admit that I have ordered the matching Create and Craft Pick of the Week even though the crafty budget has been well and truly blown this month.  Oh well, it's an investment!

I started with an 8" cardblank but cut it down to 7.5" square on my Tonic guillotine.  I certainly couldn't craft without my guillotine.  I added a layer of red mirri-card and then topped with the four squares of lacy patterned paper.  I fussy cut the topper and added with shaker tape for a slightly raised look.  I topped with a red heart gem using Cosmic Shimmer glue to adhere.  

My finishing touch was to add the three gems to each corner.  These weren't self adhesive so were a little bit fiddly.  I used the same glue here.

Here is a close-up of that lovely topper

And now for a sideways view

I hope you are all having a great weekend and have avoided the dreaded snow.  We've been really lucky here and only had a little flurry that hasn't stuck around.  I really hate the ice though and that has appeared a bit more than I would have liked.  Anyway, wishing you all a great and crafty weekend.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #155 - Your Favourite Colour Combo

Hello Crafters,

I can't believe it's Wednesday again already!  But Wednesday means a brand new challenge at Fab'n'Funky Challenges.  So if you haven't already, check out our winners post for the last challenge as it's on the blog right now.

So, I know you're all wondering what we would like you to create this week.  Our host is the wonderful Ginny and she has chosen a great theme...

Your Favourite Colour Combo

Yip, it's that simple.  Just chose your favourite colour combo and get crafting!  We also have the brilliant Flonzcraft as our sponsor.  They are a stamp manufacturing compnay from New Zealand.  Be sure to check out their stamps here.

I had a little dilemma chosing my colour combo but this is what I first thought of when I saw the challenge theme so I knew it had to be the one - pink, black and silver.

I recently treated myself to a set of the Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Squares which I bought from America because it was cheaper then buying from the UK!  Anyway, I used these to make my card blank and then scored the back panel to allow the card to stand.

My background actually came from waste!  I spritzed all over the circles masks from That Special Touch to make a background for another card and then used the leftover ink that was still on the mask to make a second background and this what I've used here.  I really liked the way it turned out - not quite perfect but still enough to show the shimmer of the Mister Huey spray.  I used my Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry Distress Ink on my Slodge mat to add colour to the spritzy background once it had dried.  I wanted a graduated look so really went for it at the bottom of the card, fading nearer the top.

Using Spellbinders Grand Decorative Circles I cut a base shape from black card and then added a doily which I had covered with silver metallic ink.  I stamped my Flonzcraft Crystal Frame stamp in black on white card and then used my DI to colour match the background.  I added a silver-mirri butterfly from the Spellbinders Jewel Flourishes set.  Finally I finished off with some gems for the corners.  I'm still in gem-mania mode!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp and Show - What Are You Known For (pink and butterflies)
Top Tip Tuesday #94 - Lavishly Luscious Layers
Creative Card Crew #28 - Girly 
Created With Love Challenges #25 - Anything Goes 

I hope you can join us for our great colour combo challenge this week.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

The Cuttelbug Spot DT Card - Squares

Hi All,

I hope you're well and are enjoying a great week. 

We have a great new challenge at The Cuttlebug Spot in our "Get Into Shape" season.  We would like you to use...

Squares

It couldn't be simpler - just use a square in your project, link it up and you're done!

Now, onto my card.  I decided to use a new die that I received for Christmas.  It is a butterfly-edged square from Tonic and is super pretty.

I started with a handmade pearlescent pink card blank at 5" and rounded the bottom two corners with a corner punch.  I added a layer of gold textured and embossed cardstock from Create and Craft, also rounded with my corner punch. 

My dies are the main feature and I used brown and pink pearlescent cardstock here.  The top butterflies were cut using Spellbinders Les Papillion and I inked the pink layer with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen.  The top butterfly is only attached in the centre so the wings stand off from the page.

The photos really don't do this card justice but I hope you like it and have fun entering our squares challenge. 

Happy crafting,
Rachel x

Fab'n'Funky Challenges #154 - Get Moving

Hi friends, 

It's that time again - Fab'n'Funky time!  We have a brand new challenge at Fab'n'Funky Challenges hosted by the lovely Shirley and would like to see you...

Get Moving

That's right, as it's January we would like to see any images that feature someone or something doing something active, an activity or moving.  There are so many fun possiblities for this challenge so I do hope you can join us.  Our sponsor is the fantastic MayzyArt.  You should definitely check out her site as there are so many wonderful digis.  The DT were so lucky to be able to use some of her amazing artwork for this challenge.

I've gone girly for my card!  When I saw this image on the MayzyArt site, I just knew it would be perfect for this challenge.  I chose to colour her up in mainly green and orange as these are the favourite colours of my friends' daughter.  I was pleased with how it turned out as I have been neglecting my ProMarkers lately.  I used Almond, Dusky Pink, Cinnamon, Caramel, Watermelon (FlexMarker), Caramel, Burnt Umber, Artic Blue, Sorft Aqua (FlexMarker), Pear Green and Gold.  I used Spellbinders Majestic Squares as it seemed to be the perfect fit for my image.  My papers are from various kits in Serif.  I cut four of the branches from Spellbinders Cherry Blossom to create a frame.  I computer generated my sentiment used Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Six to cut out the shapes.  My final finishing touch was to add five gems to the top right-hand corner.  These are a lovely orangey gold colour which hasn't shown up in the photo.

I hope you can join us for this great challenge.

Happy crafting, 
Rachel x

The Cuttlebug Spot DT Card - Circles

Hi Everyone,

Isn't January going in fast?  We're halfway through the month already.  I hope you are finding plenty of play time!

We are still celebrating our "Get Into Shape" month at The Cuttlebug Spot and are launching our brand new challenge today.  We would like to see...

Circles

You can choose how to incorporate a circle in any way you like - it couldn't be easier.

I decided to be on the ball with my Mam's birthday card this year as her birthday isn't until the end of February.  Inspiration just came to me!  And here is my circles card...

I started with a 6" Hunkydory card blank and placed a circles That Special Touch mask on top.  I spritzed through it using a Mister Huey spray in silver.  It has a lovely iridescent shimmer when moved in the light.  The teal card was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder in the From My Kitchen set.  The corners were rounded with an X-Cut corner punch.  It is really good at chomping through the double cardstock layer.  I added a strip of black card and some silver ribbon before attaching to the card blank.  

Using my Cuttlebug, I cut two circle layers, one from Spellbinders Standard Circles Large and the other from Spellbinders Standard Circles Small which are the perfect increments for layering.  My sewing machine came from Spellbinders Sewing Elements and I used a silver mirri-card for this.  I took a sanding block to the sewing machine to distress it a little in keeping with the inky background.  My finishing touch was to add three gems to the top right-hand corner.  These came from Create and Craft. I may add another circle to showcase a sentiment but have left it for now.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge:

Allsorts Challenge Blog Week 189:  Dies and Punches

I hope you can join us for our circles challenge at The Cuttlebug Spot.  
Happy crafting, 
Rachel x

The Cuttlebug Spot DT Card - Triangles

Hi Everyone,

I hope you've all had a good start to the new year.  I've had a humongous abscess!  I couldn't even bear my hair touching my cheek!  Major bummer!  Plus I have a real fear of the dentist after a bad experience a few years ago so it hasn't been the best start to my new year.  Sorry, I went on a bit there!

So anyway, onto the latest challenge at The Cuttlebug Spot.  We would like to see...

Triangles

Easy peasy lemon treasy!  Just use a triangle somewhere on your card or project and don't forget to use those Cuttlebugs.  I love mine.  We have a wonderful sponsor this week - Trina Clark from Digiscrap Kits.  The winner can pick 2 items from her amazing blog!

 

Unfortunately Blogger is being a pain and I still can't upload any photos.  So head over to The Cuttlebug Spot blog to see my creation this week.  Once blogger starts to play ball again I'll add some photos to this post.  Update:  My lovely teamie, Brianna, suggested using a different browser and it has worked a treat!  So here is my card for our triangles challenge...

I created my card using the DayDream digikit in Serif's Craft Artist 2.  I love the colours of this kit - so pretty and girly.  Once I had my design sorted I split the layers and printed using my brand new A3 Brother printer!  Woo!  My brother bought me a Brother!  Lol!  Fab pressie and fab brother!  Although I think my future sister-in-law was the genius behind this wonderful gift. :)

I used a craft knife and steel ruler to cut out the layers and then distressed using Tim Holtz paper distresser tool, adding with foam pads from Hunkydory.  Love these foam pads.  I cut a butterfly using Spellbinders Wonderul Wings which is a brilliant set of beautiful butterfly dies.  I inked thorugh the die with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Worn Lipstick.  Finally I used a computer generated sentiment and cut it out using Spellbinders Floral Tags, adding a crystal gem to each corner.

I hope you can join us at The Cuttlebug Spot for our Triangles challenge.  We'll have a brand new challenge on Tuesday so make sure to check back for that.

Happy Crafting,
Rachel x