The Flower Challenge #24 Anything Goes

I cant believe we have reached  number 24, thats two years.

 Just over two years ago I had an idea and I approached a group of wonderful ladies who agreed to join me on this journey. Some have had to step down due to other commitments and others have joined us so that we continue to have a very strong group of Designers who make the most amazing cards to get you all motivated. 

I cant thank them enough, or all of you who have joined us, in this journey. I love making flower cards and this way I know that I will be making a couple in the month. I love the inspiration from the Design Team and the amazing people who continue to follow us and enter in the different challenges. I have learnt more techniques and designs and of course I have been inspired to buy even more stamps. Ahh the joys of empowerment :)

Now lets look at what this months challenge is. 

The easiest of the lot: Anything Goes.

Now we have two surprises to share with you all this month. First we are delighted to introduce another talented crafter who is joining our team here. It's Milla from mustesormi.blogspot.com I am so please Milla accepted our invitation to join the team.

She was our Guest Designer last month and I am sure you all love her amazing cards. As she has often been in our gallery in the past you have probably visited her blog already but please take the time to look again, you won't be disappointed I know ;)

Now for our second surprise!

This month we are very lucky to have a prize for the winning card! Michele from
CAS-ual Fridays Stamps has kindly agreed to donate a prize for our winner.
The winning entry will receive a voucher for $25, so they can buy whatever they like.

The winner will be announced in the usual manner, the day before the next month's Challenge over on 

The Flower Challenge Blog. 

Now to my card. I decided to go vellum again as I seem to have great success with the Zigs watercolour pens on vellum. I bought this background stamp from The Ton and I just love how it turned out.

Remember to prepare your vellum before stamping. I use the antistatic pillow (I think I got it from Stampin Up) many many years ago and its still going strong. I tend to just drop onto the vellum and rub and do this all over till I feel its clean. I then stamped with VersaMark and add white embossing powder. I heat my gun for a bit before starting on the vellum. Make sure to use a fine paint brush to remove any stray white specks, if you don't they will show up on the vellum.

I use my zigs with no water, adding a line of colour and using a lighter colour to spread and blend. I love how it turned out, the colours all just work perfectly. I couldn't bear to cut it down to a normal card size so I went big 5 1/2 x 6". I will have to make the envelope but even then I had to trim a bit off.

I added the 'celebrate' die cut that I cut from The Tons adhesive silver paper and then stamped and white embossed the sentiment 'So happy for you!'.

The vellum I left with a slight overhang so I could attach at the top on the back with a slight fold and then added vellum tape under a few of the darker petals.

Now its time to go check out The Flower Challenge, remember to read the rules if you want to enter in the challenge with a chance to win the prize. The girls have all been busy making the most amazing inspirational projects to get you thinking. Come and join us.

Challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge : Anything Goes

Shopping Our Stash Weekly Challenge : #370 Crazy for Colouring 

Penny Black and More September - Make It Feminine

Happy Birthday & I Love You cards

I had another of those days when I walked into the craft room and the cards just came together perfectly. I made four but have kept two for The Flower Challenge for September, which is coming soon.

This card I wanted to use this stencilled panel that was left over from a card I made ages ago.

Big raindrops, I first blended Distress Inks down the stencil in rainbow colours, then I added BoBunny Glitter paste. I love the stuff it adds the best glitter, so easy to apply and dries nice and quickly.

I panel is only 2" wide so I had to think for a bit how to show it off best. At first I was going to attach to the front of the card and add white panels each side but then I thought acetate. So easy made the card fold then cut off 2" on the front. Cut a piece of acetate 2 1/4" and double sided tap holds it in place inside the card.

See how theres still room for someone to write a message, I love this.

Next I added a couple of fairies from Mo's Digital Pencil that I coloured with Copics and fussy cut ages ago. Love using things up. Die cut the 'Happy Birthday' in the circle from gold mirror cardstock then attached so it rests on both the card and acetate.

I tucked the sentiment so it looks like the little fairy at the bottom is planning to dive through the hoop. There's bound to be a rainbow challenge on somewhere that I can enter this and its another card I can give my daughter-in-law for the never ending parties the kids go to.

This next card I had another Distress Oxide background that I loved how it turned out, this time mainly oranges, yellows then goodness knows what, I just keep on going. I love doing this vase of flowers on these backgrounds but I may have gone a bit too dark with the background colours this time. The card looks very pretty but is harder to see with the darker background.

The stamps are from The Ton and the vase/bowl is a seperate stamp so some masking is involved.

I have coloured the flowers and bowl with pencils. Lots of layers, trying very hard to go lightly so I could blend them well but it is harder over the Distress Oxides.

Once I was happy with the colouring, I added first a layer of copper glitter paper to the card base then cut down the coloured panel so it left an area to frame it. I finished it off with the Simon Says (new to me) 'i love you' which cuts in the thin outline and a layer to lay it on which I cut in vellum. Lastly I added some sparkly gems, one for the 'i' as I lost the original at the last minute.

Thank you so much for coming to look and I hope you come again soon.  

Challenges:

Seize The Birthday : Rainbows

Not often that I get to play the Toppings

but its on today 'Happy Birthday'

Addicted to Stamps and More: Challenge #307 Make Your Mark

I love you card

Pixie's Crafty Workshop: Pixie's Snippet Playground #334

Happy Birthday Card - the rainbow

 raindrops are a snippet left over.

Penny Black and More: September Challenge : Make it Feminine

i love you card

Allsorts Challenge Blog Week #483 Things with Wings

Happy Birthday

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge : Anything Goes

i love you card

Home Sweet Home........

I made this sweet little card 

having been inspired by Kims Wonderful card for this weeks Muse Card Club Challenge

This is Kim's card and its just so wonderful, I love those birds and her design. My 

inspiration is the branch and birds and clean white card and stamped sentiment.

I was going to stamp some leaves, then I was going to cut a die cut branch but then more of my wonderful Purple Onion Designs, Stacey Yacula stamps arrived. I do so love her stamps, all the critters are so cute and she now has some amazing scenes as well and now I have to make sure as usual that I use some stamps. So.......

I stamped the branch and coloured with Copics as Spring is starting over here and the lovely  pink and white blossoms  are blooming. Its a new home for my little birds (they are from a previous purchase).  One of course needed to be in his rainbow coloured vest cause there is a chill in the air at night. Their making a new nest  for their home.

The Home Sweet Home sentiment is also one of Stacey's and because I order so many and so often there always seems to be lovely little sentiments gifted to me with my order. I find this happens quite a bit with smaller businesses and think its amazing that they go this extra step. Also after paying if my postage is less I always end up with a refund, how cools that.

So I thought the sentiment would work perfectly for my nesting couple.

I really pleased with how this card turned out and thank Kim for her inspiration.

Now Im thinking I need to go do another with the other idea she sparked......

Thanks so much for coming to visit and I hope you come again.

Challenges:

Muse Card Challenge #280

613 Avenue Create Challenge 212 Anything Goes Without the Twist

Without the Twist this time.

Penny Black and More: August Challenge _ I Spy Something Beginning With 'B'

MFT Summer School Inspiration, 5 cards

I decided that since I did the first session I should do the second session as well. I watched the videos earlier this week and had ideas going in my head. I planned to make my cards Friday/Saturday and was convinced I had plenty of time as I was thinking the link closed on Monday, thats overseas Monday so Tuesday for me.

Well I ruined my plans by playing with my alcohol inks and isopropyl which is a thinning agent and has a very strong smell. You are warned and I warn people all the time to make sure the area is well ventilated etc but I sat there mixing leaning over the workbench no fan going thinking I'm fine, I'm fine then leant back and wowwww.

I then had a shocking headache for two days - don't do what I did - how to ruin your weekend.

Anyway now I have just over an hour before the links close because I was also out by two days, don't ask me how just be amazed that I cooked dinner looked it up to confirm what time the link closed on Monday and wahhhhhhh it was 4 and 1/2 hours.

I did it, now my cards are here, I learnt a lot from the videos and love how they all turned out. The photos aren't the best as its now 12.30 in the morning and light is certainly gone.

My first card is Ombre. Distress Ink Antique Linen, you can see the difference better IRL. A bronze glitter paper behind. Love this lace background stamp from MFT.

Can you see the glitter, I think the reflection is stopping it showing properly but this really works well and will make an amazing wedding card.

The darker side is on the right and it really lightens to the left. After blending remember to wipe down your white embossed image so it shows up properly.

I had a different idea for Monochromatic but because of the shortness of time I went with the same design as we were shown on the video as I had this amazing die that cut the rectangle stitched pattern. Mine was thinner so I was able to add an extra tone in there starting with white.

I have then cut the MFT 'Celebrate' out twice, glued them together then attached to the card, using the negative from the die to help line the letters up properly.

rather than glue and glitter I used a new to me Nuvo glitter pen to add colour to the bottom letters. I also added to my card my adding a layer of yellow fun foam to lift my panel up.

Visual triangle is a new to me idea so I am hoping I interpreted it correctly.

the Hippo's are a MFT stamp set I had already coloured my hippo's. when designing my scene I couldn't find the stamp set, time was running out, you know how it goes!! So I used a sentiment from another MFT set. the balloons are ring ins as I didn't have any left. I had used elsewhere.

I used MFT stencils for the background added the balloons, made a banner for the sentiment then drew in the strings and hoped for the best.

I cant think of the brand for the stitched die cut. the critters are coloured with copics and everything is attached with dimensional foam.

I think this one speaks for itself - Rainbow. Lots of cardstock cut into strips, added double sided tape sheet to a piece of cardstock then added the strips in a colour run that worked well. I ended up making this yesterday along with 5 other fronts so I used up all the pieces. great way to use up pieces of cardstock.

Used the wonky stitches die for card outline. Cut the MFT Wishes word out from the rainbow panel and again in white glitter paper.

Added the glitter pieces then attached the stamped and white embossed sentiment.

Love how this turned out.

Last card - Focal Point and again I am hoping I got the right idea. To draw the eye to a particular spot of the card.

I used the Wish die cut which I also cut out twice in orange fun foam, stuck the letters together then again used the negative to help line the letters up properly.

Added shimmer to the letters for some sparkle - looks cool hey!!!

Added a stamped and white embossed sentiment, the little bird and balloons from the MFT

Hippo stamp set - yep thats where the balloons went.

Well thats it its all added, now time to link them up. thanks for coming to visit and I hope you come again.

Editing to add some Challenges:

Seize the Birthday Challenge : Anything Goes

'Make a Wish' Hippo Birthday card.

Aloha Friday Challenge #125 Birthdays

I tried to find a badge to put here for Kitty Bee Designs

as I have linked to the challenge but couldn't find one.

Birthday Card 'Wish you another year of

joy and laughter.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #544 Just For Girls

'Celebrate' card - all lace and glitter

Time Out Challenge :#116 Bright

mmm which one???

Its Bright and Sparkly too

Wish you a Happy Birthday and Many More to come

Addicted to Stamps and More ##306 - Anything Goes

'Make A Wish' Hippo Party

Little Red Wagon Challenge :#460 Hippo Birdi

'Make A Wish' Hippo Birthday

Crafty Creations Challenge #373 Anything Goes

Wish you another year of joy and laughter.