Project: Sketch time at MAWTT

This week at Moving Along with the Times we are hosted by Claire and she's got a sketch for us to play along with:

The headline is my take on the layout. I recently rediscovered these cameo dies and thought it would be fun to play with them on this challenge using modern colors and patterns.

I used a decorative nesting label die for the central feature and did two layers in beige and chevron. The cameo is cut out of a dark brown paper that I also used for the border punch, a Martha Stewart one that is a favorite of mine. The green spotted paper and chevron paper are both from the Neopolitan Recollections pack from Michael's.

The beige ribbon is actually covering an oops moment - I smeared some ink from a completely different card on the green paper and thought I'd see if I could hide it rather than start over - successful I think!

The little beige pearls were added for texture as were the little brown spotted candies. I really enjoyed digging out these dies - sometimes a layout challenge causes you to rethink your kit and I hope you find it does the same for you this week!

Project 201: A wanderlust inspired challenge

I recently stumbled across The Paper Player's challenge to use a big sentiment as a feature and, with double inspiration, when I saw Retro Rubber's sketch challenge this week I quickly got a plan in my mind of what I wanted to do.

I have a stamp set that is a few years old, from Get Stamping magazine issue 3. It has some lovely travel stamps and sentiments and I thought they'd be perfect to combine these challenges.

The big feature stamp is full of positive sentiments, and everyone needs a bit of cheer in January, don't they? All of the papers (except the background) are scraps that I had on my desk - a nice tidy clear out was due. The colors feel nice and retro and I am loving mustard yellow and teal together right now.

I added a bit of yellow twine to add texure and a candy to balance out the layout. I thought it was a fun mix of challenges and I can't wait to see what the DTs think.

Project: MAWTT use a die or punch challenge

I'm delighted to be returning as hostess this week at Moving Along With the Times - are you ready for the challenge?

This week we are asking you to use a die or punch as a central feature. It can be a die or punch that you use your kit for, it can a pre-cut die or punched shape you've got in your stash - whatever you want to use!

If you're a regulr follower you'll know I'm obsessed with these feather dies. They are my piece of kit of the moment and I'm finding loads of inspiration on Pinterest. There was a gorgeous use of the die by Whimsy Art Cards on Etsy and I thought it was a great way to demonstrate not just a die cut but the use of the negative space as well. So thank you for the layout and texture ideas - you get full credit there!

I started with a plain color and added the embossing folder texture to one layer (houndstooth) and then die cut out the feather. I then layered some patterned acetate on a white card so that it's revealed in stripes. I used a greeting that I thought would work for birthdays or more general occasions as well. The baker's twine and button top it off. I like the almost hidden original feather - I could have stamped over it but thought the simpleness is really nice.

I thought it would be nice to see an alternative so I tried it in purple and black as well:

Here I used a striped pattern paper instead of acetate just to see if it would work - and I think it does:

I was really happy playing with the die in a new way and hope the challenge inspires you in a similar way!

Project 200: An early valentine card challenge

Just a short post from me as I wanted to enter the Freshly Made Sketches challenge before time ran out! Yes I know two posts in one day, I should spread these out better...!

This is the sketch this week:

I had rediscovered a set of owl stamps in my stash and had the idea to use two different sizes as if they were a couple and make it a Valentine's Day card.

The sketch worked great to feature the image and I decided that I would stamp the owls onto colored paper and then cut them out. The inking wasn't perfectly clean but I liked that it gives the a vintage feel and that sort of set the tone for the whole project.

I also rediscovered this yellow patterned paper - it's from Trader Jane Recollections stack and I thought it had a great sort of 70s quality to it. I chose browns, oranges and greys for the other papers to keep with that 70s feel. 

I topped the eyes off with bling - I love those chrome bling eyes on the owl on the left. Finally I added a sentiment I've never used before - "You're a hoot" - how fun is that?!

Project 199: Fashion 18th birthday card

It’s my husband’s cousin’s 18^th birthday this week and thought this was a great opportunity to use some awesome new stamps Claire gave me for Chistmas. They are fun and sharp and really suit the birthdya girl.
 
The colors at Color Throwdown this week were perfect - red, white and black, a fashion classic:

The face is actually a different stamp from the dress - the full stamp set by Nina Chakrabarti is just gorgeous if you want to check it out. I liked using them in this way as it's a bit mysterious and different. After I stamped the images I lined them with a glittery black paper to give them a bit more texture. I didn't color them in - I thought the lines were so striking on their own.

The black and white paper is from Dove Crafts and the red paper is from a Wanderlust pack, also from Claire (as is the happy birthday greting stamp from a sentiment pack and the super big black sparkly 18). I mean, if it's an 18th birthday card there should be some big bold things going and I'm pretty happy with the composition of this one.

Hopefully the birthday girl will like it as well!

Project 198: A Red White and Blue 30th

Next week is my husband's 30th birthday and I have a tradition of using KennyK stamps so I wanted to keep that up with a special twist for this monumental birthday and enter in KennyK challenge 186 with a twist of new beginnings. Entering your 30s is a new beginning if you ask me!

I decided to go for the Fourth of July digi from KennyK as I'm American (he's English) and thought I'd go full red white and blue for the whole card. It was also partially inspired by the beautiful stencilled background from my friend Claire who gave that to me as sample of her work for me to repurpose. Isn't it great!? It uses Chelsea blue and as that's my husband's favourite colour (and football team) I thought it was perfect to use as a background.

The image is coloured with ProMarkers and then blinded up with Stickles glitter glue (red on the hat and bikini bottoms, clear on the bikini top). There are big blue stars on her hat and a big red star in the corner.

Finally I topped it with a big blingy 30 in the middle and left the sentiment off. He knows it is his birthday after all!

Project 197: A mix of featured stamp cards cards

Some days you just gotta craft and I found yesterday to be that day!

I have not posted for a while because I have been busy with house-tasks (painting windowsills, reorganising the kitchen...you know all these fun tasks that you do when you have a free week in the house) but I wanted to have a bit of a play with some new ideas and all of them feature a bit die-cut central stamp. Not intentional but here we are!

First I have to brag about this little bee card (which is actually part of a set of 4). I was inspired by the beautiful Etsy shop of H Dawn Parratt - check it out if you have a chance as she does a great little colored bee card set. I openly admit stealing the diecut central image of a bee with black scallop over a yellow square background. I embossed the background with a basket weave pattern, adding a black sparkly flower border and little bee sticker from Jolee's. This set is for my Aunt Bonnie as she loves bees - hope it gets to her in time for her birthday in 2 weeks!

Then I needed some thank you cards. I decided to use scraps of strips that I had from previous projects for the middle, banner and punched bit. The white circles are also scraps if you can believe it. The scallop circle, sadly, is not from a scrap but I think that's pretty good usage! The stamp is from a Michael's black Friday sale - I think it was $0.65? This is its first outing and it stamps like a gem! The greeting is from Fiskars in a Thank You set from Claire.

 Next up is an engagement card for my brother-in-law and soon to be sister-in-law!

They got engaged a week ago and we're so excited. I decided to make their card a bit different, and used some gorgeous papers Claire had given me. I die cut the Love greeting from one of the papers and layered it over a charcoal paper. Then I used a scrap of striped paper from the same set for a vertical border and punched a border from the offcut of beige card I used for the card base. See? Scrapping all over the place. I added a little J <3 C in the bottom right hand corner for their initials and then some great little bling blob things I got from Paperchase.

No challenges in these but sometimes you just gotta craft with your own mojo!

Project 196: A very scrappy sketch challenge

Claire often puts me to shame with her use of scraps and the ability to reimagine them into new cards. I was determined to turn over a new leaf and use scraps and bits and bobs she had given me to make my thank yous this year. I've done a few different options which I'll blog about tomorrow, but for now here is one inspired by this week's Retro Sketches layout:

I'd like to point out that the spotted paper behind the thank you is actually from a card Claire sent me years ago and I liked it so much I kept it for use somewhere else. Decided that day had come! The black die cut greeting and the hexagons are also from Claire's punches and dies that she kindly sends me from NYC.

I used a blue card base and scraps of yellow for the punched border and a (rather large) scrap of blue for the middle section. (it had a cut into it from a 12x12 - that counts as a scrap right?!)

It's pretty simple but I like it overall. More to follow tomorrow on the other outputs from today!