4 Cards - 5 Challenges!

I've just spent a lovely couple of hours in my craft room creating challenge cards. I've made four cards covering off 5 challenges.... I just hope I link them all up right!

First off is the Mojo Monday Round or Square challenge combined with Colour Lab Challenge #22

Next comes a second entry in the Colour Lab Challenge #22 combined with a Stamping 411 sketch #183 I love this Blueberry Crisp and it fitted in perfectly with the Colour Challenge of course once again, Butterflies feature in this card and it was hard work not to use them in the other cards I made this morning!

So then it was time to try the Curtain Call Act 62 colours and this also used the sketch #51 from Stampin' Royalty (Opps too late, entries have closed!) I'm not one for murky greens, so while I'm reasonably happy with the end result, it's just not me.

Then it was across to Easy Craft Projects for this challenge, which I altered by using flowers instead of Flags, but then that's what the challenges are all about, taking artistic license with the sketches! I don't normally reach for Yellow but figured that it was a nice contrast to Rich Razzleberry, I've spritzed this all in Gold Glow smooch and embossed the sentiment in clear mixed with Dazzling Diamonds, if that wasn't enough bling, then I've added rhinestones to the centre of the flower brads as well......I had to stop myself adding them to the punched out flowers too as I thought that might be taking all that bling a little too far!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

Finally, all the pressies have been selected, the wrapping will be finished tonight and I can heave a huge sigh of relief and of course promise myself that I'll be way more organised next year....(yeah right!) I'm sure we all say that each year, and how many of us actually start our Christmas shopping in July?  

I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all who have stopped by and left a comment about my artwork, it's lovely to think I've inspired you all to go be creative.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a that 2011 is all you want it to be an more.  And now on to the creative stuff!

I've been busy making these 'Star Tags' for my gifts and found this tutorial so thought I'd give it a try.  It's too easy and looks stunning.

This is the 'Star Tag' which will be attached to the present, it's got a space for writing on the other side.

Here is the 'Star Tag' with the bead slid up the ribbon and the star starts to spring open

Take the ribbon over to the other side so you can slide the bead up to close the Star shape open.  (if that makes sense!)

Ta Da!  doesn't this look stunning?

Here is a picture of the three that I made, I've put snow flakes on the inside in Certainly Celery to add some contrast.

Another challenge

I've managed to get two challenges out tonight so hence the second post.  Looks like it's a red black and white night!

This is my very first time playing on the Crazy 4 Challenges site.  C4C67 sketch I've left exactly as is and here is my entry

The red and black has been spritzed with Champagne Shimmer Paint which sort of shows up on the photo.  I used markers to ink up the salutation and then painted the bauble in champagne shimmer paint.  I've added yet more bling with some rhinestones.

Remember When...

This Mojo Monday 169 sketch just seemed to come together like magic.  I already had decided to use one of the roses that I'd recently coloured and posted a couple of days ago, I just naturally gravitated towards the red one which then led to the red/white/black theme of the card.

I've used the flocked paper from the recent christmas promotion and it gave this lovely old world charm to the card which then led to the 'Remember When' sentiment from the Word Play stamp set.  It all just flowed together beautifully in about 10 mins....Hope you like it as much as I do!

Roses, Roses, Roses!

I finally got my roses coloured, I've done 4 in total, it just seemed to take me ages to get this card to come together tonight though!  This pale mauve rose is coloured using just one colour and slowly building up the layers to add depth and dimension, I am pretty happy with the end result.  I've put a few dew drops on the rose and leaves with Crystal Effects and added a sprinkle of Dazzling Diamonds to give a little sparkle.  

This lovely rose ended up matching the retired Pale Plum card stock so I dragged that and Mellow Moss out of the back of the cupboard and used them here!

Here's the other roses I've coloured, all ready to be used in a project.  Not sure that taking the photo at night under a bright light is doing them justice though, the shading is a bit washed out here.

Copic Christmas!

I've seen some stunning and beautiful cards done where images have been coloured with Copic markers so after debating long and hard, I went out this morning and picked up my first lot of Copic Markers.  

Here are my first cards made using them, I think I'll get better at this whole shading and blending thing as I go, but everyone has to start somewhere!  I've blended three pinks on the butterfly and then added a soft blue green to highlight the circles on her wings.  Melon Mambo and Whisper White card and the sentiment is from Well Scripted.

 

And for my next attempt at shading... I've used three reds red/oranges here for the flowers from Fifth Avenue stamp set, the sentiment comes from Many Merry Messages which is one set I use a lot during Christmas Card making sessions I love this scripted message.  

I think the shading has ended up being very subtle here on the petals but I'm pretty happy with the result. I'm sure I'll learn the tricks of the trade for this as I go.

 

I hope you've enjoyed my postings, I'm off to try the Fifth Avenue Rose with copics, I've done it in watercolours and it was stunning so lets see what I come up with using this new technique.  I'll post it later today if I get it finished!

Mojo Monday #168

Well I know it's Thursday, but it's taken me this long to find the mojo for the Mojo Monday Challenge

The week has been eventful, my grandson graduated primary school last night and all the females in the family are lamenting the fact that kids grow up too darn fast!  Possibly because Great Nanny and Nana as well as Mum have to face the fact they are getting older!   LOL Tonight saw Monther and Son among the performers in the Christmas Show at the Good Sheppard Home for the Aged (Becca works there).   Blake played the drums while the small childrens choir sang Little Drummer Boy and then a few acts later Becca and Blake got out their guitars and played a duet and sang. 

For my entry I've gone back to my woven paper technique.  Love the combo of Marina Mist and Sahara Sand, I've used shimmery white for the sentiment from Well Scripted and clear embossed it.    

Baby Cards

While in ACT recently I visited one of my favourite little craft shops and found this Sizzix folder, with all the swirls and stars I had intended to use it for Chirstmas Cards but it also works so well for Baby cards.

With this one, I've added some glitter on the dots to highlight them and used the now retired Little Angel stamp set (2010 Summer Mini) which just seemed to suit, I inked up some of Stampin' Up! paper daisies and used a pink rhinestone brad to adhere the double layer of flowers to the card.

For this Bundle of Joy card, I've used the Joy stamp from the Welcome Christmas set and just the 'bundle of' words from a stamp in Little Angels set. I just love this little embossing folder with added bling!

 

This little card is just so cute with the Little Girls poem on it.  Again more bling used to highlight the embossing folder but every little girl deserves bling!

Usually there is a pletheroa of cards and presents for the new arrival, but I have the request for some cards specifically to say congratulations to the new parents, so here are a couple that I've recently made.

I hope my cards inspire you, Cheers for now,

Kasey

Stamin' Write Markers

Inspired by a recent post from Christine Blain, I took out my markers and put them to good use.

Upsy Daisy is a great one to silhouette, I needed to make some sympathy cards for a stationary box I'm making so came up with these two cards.

This is one of my favourite colour combinations, Cherry Cobbler, Sahara Sand and Very Vanilla.

Then I got out the level 1 hostess set Because I Care and came up with this one.

I love the way the flowers came out, here is a close up.

Peacock Feathers

The picture for the Colour Q challenge inspired me to create this card.  I've also combined it with the Friday Mashup #21 sketch.

Using Soft Suede, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi and Whisper White, this is my take on the colour scheme.  The soft suede ink made the white ribbon very dark which I'm not sure I like.  it was fun making the peacock feather but the whole thing is outside my normal style, still that's why I'm doing challenges, to step me outside my comfort zone!

Back to Challenges

I've been away for a week, luckily this work trip gave me a chance to catch up with some very special friends in Canberra.  Hello all you lovely people!  

I've missed my craft room while I was away and to get back into the swing of things I've checked out my favourite challenge sites and here is my dual entry for Mojo Monday and Curtain Call.

This card is using the sketch from Mojo Monday and the colours from Curtain Call.  Colours are Basic Black, Basic Gray, Concord Crush, Crumb Cake and Whisper White.  I've layered the strips of Black, Gray and White on a mat of Concord Crush and paced that on my Crumb Cake card base.  

Then I've clear embossed the flower on the Black and Grey and on the white I've embossed in Concord Crush.  Building up the layers, White circles with Basic Gray ink sponged on the edges, Concord Crush die cut shapes and clear embossed the same flower on the larger one and the sentiment on the smaller one.  Then I've used some punches to do the stars and circles and popped on some bling! (as usual)

Here is a close up of the sentiment and stars.  What do you think?

Unfortunately, there is so much moisture in the air from this 6 weeks of rain we've had, that the card curled up once all the layers were on, I've accidently put a crease in the top layer trying to uncurl it... Damn!

Forgotton Post

Hello all, I was browsing through my photos and realised that this card didn't make it to my blog.  I sent this to a very special lady in Canberra who was having a birthday, she LOVED the card and was in awe of how stunning such a simple design can look, Thank you Theresa.  I'm glad you love it. 

This is the Wedding Sweet stamp set on Night of Navy and Whisper White card stock, silver embossing powder and versamark and the edges of the backing mat for the Congratulations sentiment has been edged in Encore silver ink, a word of warning here, it takes forever to dry so try clear embossing powder over it to speed that drying time up.  I've embossed the sentiment in clear embossing powder mixed with dazzling diamonds.  Popped a few rhinestones on the main image and used a rhinestone brad to form the bow

Luxury Hearts and Flowers

On of the girls at work commissioned a few funky fold cards, you've seen the elegant one in an earlier post, this is the one I made using Basic Grey base, Elegant Eggplant and the Lap of Luxury DSP.   Punch Potpourri stamp set, added a little bit of purple glitter from the Fine Cosmo Glitters, leaves from the two step bird punch and a sentiment from Well Scripted available from the new Mini Catalogue 1 December 2010.

Colour Throwdown Challenge

Oh I give up, this particular linky won't take my cards anytime, I keep getting errors, this is the only site it happens on!  Frustrating to say the least.

I'm hoping that this time I can link my card, I had errors last time I tried to enter the Colour Throwdown challenge.

Here is my take on Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze and Early Expresso, I've got just a small amount of Very Vanilla in the mix.

I don't normally do cutesy but this little guy fits that bill.

Funky Elegance

bI recently posted a Funky Fold card which I had done with the Blueberry Crisp DSP this time I thought I'd try it with Elegant Soiree and here's how it turned out.  Sorry the photo wsas taken at night so there is a bit of shadow over the card.

Crumb Cake base, Baja Breeze mats and butterflies in Baja Breeze and Soft Suede, I've added some Soft Suede ribbon and a few pearls to dress it up

Medallion

Well the house has been quiet for the past hour or so since my cyclonic 2 year old Grand daughter went home so I decided to go play in the craft room, heres what I came up with.  I was inspired by a card I saw while "blurfing"  which I believe is the term for Blog Surfing!  at least a made up one by a lovely girl called Aly.

On her Stampin' Pretty blog, Mary Fish had a beautiful Green card which she said was inspired by a catalogue picture of a t shirt, thank you Mary for your inspiration for this card.  

I've gone further with the layers and used the Medallion stamp along with the Ornament Punch, Whisper White, Night of Navy, Riding Hood Red CS, Night of Navy Ink and an Antique Brad. 

I'm very happy with how it has turned out.  I didn't want a sentiment or anyother decoration on the front, I think this is enough.  I hope you like it.

Stamping 411 Challenge

 I have to say I'm really having fun by doing these challenges.  And here is another one from Stamping 411.  Simple sketch that I've played around with just a little.

I've used French Filigree background stamp on 2/3 of the backing card which is mounted on Night of Navy. Marina Mist, Night of Navy and Whisper White are the colours, Silver smooch on the Vintage Vogue flowers which have been stamped with Marina Mist and Night of Navy using the rock n roll technique.  Add a bit of bling and a sentiment then you're done!

Colour Q 59

When I started this Colour Q challenge I was quite daunted by throwing Pumpkin Pie into the mix, I had a strip of Pumpkin Pie on my desk and I tried to fit it in somewhere and it just wasn't working for me, then I remembered the idea I'd passed on to a friend for a card she did and it worked a treat!  I stamped up the Punch Potourri flowers in Pumpkin Pie then sprayed them in Gold spritz to soften the look, the same treatment has been applied to the More Mustard butterflies, so they have a lovely gold glimmer.

I hope you like my interpretation of this colour combo.

Mojo Monday #165 Plus Curtain Call Colour Challenge

Again I'm combining a couple of challenges which is pretty easy when one is a colour challenge and the other a sketch!

Mojo Monday #165  and Curtain Call Act 56

My card is Whisper White base, So Saffron textured background, then I've layerd Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait Chocolate Chip (textured) stamped up the For You Flower twice, on one of them I've gone over the You and a heart in Chocolate Chip so it stood out.  I'm pretty happy with the very clean plain look to this card.

and now for a dual challenge...

This card combines two more challenges, which I found very fitting for a masculine card so this is my take on combining the challenges. 

Colour Q and CPS (sketch challenges) are a great way to get those creative juices flowing.

I've made a grungy background on So Saffron by inking up the Wonderfully Worn and Sanded background stamps in all the different colours (except white) and just stamped in a slightly different spot each layer to make this background, which I think is very effective.  I've used my old faithful photo corners which haven't seen much action of late to do the angled corners and stamped the sentiment directly on the background, it's inked up in all the colours as well.  White just seemed out of place for me on this card so I chose not to use it.

I've used the level 2 hostess set Cute by the Inch for the little squares of Cajun Craze on So Saffron, roughed up the edges with my fingernail and sponged Always Artichoke on them.

Hope you like it.

Three Challenges in One!

When checking out the latest challenges today, three of them just seemed to go together

The Friday Mashup sketch challenge then I came across the Inkspirations colour challenge

The colour challenge was to use Real Red, Old Olive, Kraft and White in a card, as these are soooo Christmas colours they fit perfectly into the Just Add Ink challenge this week of Just Add Christmas!

The embossed white background is spritzed in Champagne Shimmer Paint mixed with rubbing alcohol, this puts the nicest shimmer on the card. Next the tree and words are embossed with Old Olive then a mix of Dazzling Diamonds and clear embossing powder, the same has been done with the red ribbon only it's Real Red instead of Olive!! I've done the bell in Gold embossing powder.

For the tags I've layerd ovals onto one of the tags from the {114508 } 'Lots of Tags' Sizzlits 4 pack dies. this has the holly stamp from the {115776} Christmas Classics stamp set along with some rhinestones. As Murphy would have it, I've lent my Modern Lable Punch out to a fellow demonstrator so I had to improvise on the lables. Then I've added three {109110} Circle Fire Rhinestone brads to the top for added bling.

I think it came out quite well, What do you think?

Tapestry Roses

Finally!  My preorder arrived and the embossing folder that I've been dying to get my hands on is now mine, I love this texture and here is my first use of it. 

I love the olde worlde look to this that you get from the textrue.

I've used,  Bravo Burgundy, Naturals Ivory CS.  Early Expresso, Rose Red, Pretty In Pink, Pear Pizzazz, Always Artichoke inks  Old Olive ribbon.  sponged Sahara Sand and Old Olive ink to 'age' the canvas.

I've also used the scallop square die in the big shot.  What do you think?

Mojo Monday #164

Another challenge, seems that I'm in the mood for blue, based on the last two cards I've made.  Here's my version of the Mojo Monday sketch

This is using Pacific Point, Marina Mist, Shimmery CS.  Blueberry Crisp, organza ribbon, antique brads, rhinestones.  Oval Punches and Circle Scissors Plus to cut the circles.

Funky Fold Card

I found this card shape while surfing around on the Split Coast Stampers site, followed the link to the blog and watched the video by Cheryl.

Once again, I've used my favourite....Butterflies!  I've also been experimenting with the scallop trim edges and multiple layers, not sure that I like the Pacific Point scallop on the Marina Mist, should have maybe used white....I might just have to make another sentiment tag and compare!

Hope you like it.

Colour Throwdown Challenge

 Take three.....well the administrators deleted my incorrect picture...Thank You.  Now I can't load the real photo as the linky thing is saying incorrect format.  As it's a JPEG and the same format as the original post, I'm giving up!  LOL  I like my card but it just won't make it to the Colour Throwdown site.
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Oh boy!  did I make a mess of posting this one,  I selected the wrong thumbnail to display and my photo is on the Colour Throwdown site instead of my card!  *sigh*  that's what you get for doing this stuff at 6am.

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It seems that I'm being challenged all over the place!  I'm really getting a lot of inspiration and having a lot of fun by looking at the challenges and the coming up with something meeting those guidelines.

Here is another one of those challenges at Colour Throwdown

Not much of an orange person, so that is where the challenge comes it, these are not colours I would normally put together and I am surprised at how well the colours can work in these colour challenges, try it you might just like it!!!

Feel free to leave a comment if you like what you see.

For this card I've used:

Marina Mist, Tangerine Tango, Crumb Cake (Kraft) CS, Crumb Cake DSP, Riding Hood Red ink and ribbon,  Style Beautiful and Butterfly Prints Stamp sets.  Beautiful Butterflies die and pearls.