Hot colours at Crafty Catz

Good morning, today sees the start of a new challenge at Crafty Catz, the last one before our summer break. There is no sponsor this week-it's a just for fun challenge but we will be choosing a top 3 as usual.

Janet is hosting this challenge, the optional twist is HOT COLOURS for anyone wishing to use it, but as always, anything goes at Crafty Catz. 

I needed a quick birthday card so I made this- The background is DP, I think it looks like it's handmade with blended ink so I really like it! I stamped the grungey floral stamp (Polkadoodles)-it's just one stamp that fits a DL size card perfectly, then used watercolours to colour some of the flowers and leaves, added some  highlights with a white gel pen , a few sequins and the fussy cut, stamped banner which I left white to make it stand out.

Head on over to Crafty Catz and check out the fabulous creations from my teamies, then I hope you'll take the chance to join in before we close down for the summer.

Thanks for visiting

Have a great weekend (whatever the weather!)

Chris

x

beautifulblossoms #7

triple B July Challenge

birthstonechallenges #4

welovestamping July Challenge

polkadoodle. #29

It is summer...

 Good morning, I've been spending more time in the craft room than I usually do in the summer months, probably because it's not much fun sitting in the garden- my book would get soggy! I'm not complaining, the cool temperatures suit me much better than 40+ degrees would and it hasn't been nearly as wet here as it has in other parts of the UK- we've had rain but not torrential rain for days on end for which I'm very grateful!

 I told myself it would be a good opportunity to crack on with Christmas cards, but unfortunately I didn't listen... I've been enjoying some colouring time though, I spent some time trawling through my files of digis and printed up some old favourites to colour. This little sweetie is  from A Day For Daisies, Flowers in my Garden, I've used Copic Markers and Polychromos to colour.  Paper from stash (very old!) a die cut frame and stamped sentiment.

Thanks for visiting, have a good day.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

digichoosday #28

aperfecttimetocraft #7

daisychain #76

allsorts #738 Summer Blues

Fun in the sun

 Good morning, today sees the start of a new challenge over at Fab'n' Funky Challenges, it's our last one before we break for the summer so be sure to check it out.

I'm hosting this time,  the theme is Summer Fun.

This little guy is really happy and chilled out- he's on holiday and enjoying a day on the beach- it's not raining,  the wind has dropped to a pleasant breeze, the sky is cloudless blue and the sun is shining- not too hot though, he doesn't like 40+ degrees, not at all pleasant with a fur coat. I don't like it either- even without the fur coat! I would rather have the cool temperatures, rain and wind that we have now than feel like I'm being boiled alive! He's sitting back, relaxing with a cold drink, admiring the magnificent sandcastle he's just built. 

The bear stamp is from QKR Stampede, one I've had for years, coloured with markers, as is the sandcastle (magazine freebie) and the background. Striped paper is Polkadoodles and the sun die is an unnamed one I bought from ebay.

There's more inspiration from my lovely teamies over at Fab'n' Funky so come on over and join the fun.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

#btchallenge125- vacation

worldwidecrafters #7

daisychain #76

FQCB #32

papercraft #96

craftingchallenge summer time

Christmas in July at Sweet Stampin'

Good morning, today sees the start of a new challenge at Sweet Stampin'

This fortnight our theme is the ever popular CHRISTMAS IN JULY.

I have to admit to struggling a bit with Christmas cards so far this year- most of what I've made/started has ended up in the bin as I haven't liked it at all.

I like this one though...so I made 2 :) 

 The card base is a Tuxedo fold, much easier than I thought it would be, it stands up beautifully and folds flat to post. The cute stamp is from Woodware, it's a tall stamp that fits a DL card perfectly so I chopped it up a bit to fit where I wanted it. 

Why not join in with our challenge this time? We're all going to need some Christmas cards and it will creep up faster than you think, now is a good time to get started. If you're stuck for inspiration there are plenty of fabulous cards  from my teamies over at Sweet Stampin'. 

Please remember to include some stamping!

Thanks for visiting.

Have a great weekend- hope the weather is kind to you!

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

Creative Creases #62

mytimetocraftchristmas #65

CRAFT #686

craftrocket #105

lilredwagon # It's cold

SAS4kids - Christmas in July

creativeinspiration #4

Double D Christmas in July

It's July.... so Merry Christmas!

 'Morning all, it's time for a new challenge at Crafty Catz, this week it's Ginny's turn to host- her choice of theme is Christmas, as always it is optional, you don't have to follow the theme to play along.

Our sponsor for this challenge is 

DI'S DIGIS STAMPS

PRIZE.....$6 DOLLAR VOUCHER

http://www.disdigistamps.com/

To make my card I used Gnoming Home For Christmas, such a cute little guy, all coloured up with my Copic markers. It's a simple matted design, the white layer is embossed with a holly EF, can't remember the brand, and the sentiment is embossed with white EP (which isn't as bright white as the paper!:(

Now hop on over to Crafty Catz to see what my teamies have created to inspire you- then please do join in as we'd love to see what you are making too.

Thanks for visiting- have a lovely weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

audsentimentsJuly

creativeknockouts #499

cardz4guyz #326

pearlysparkles #86

christmasbingo #2 (O- rectangle, free, embossing)

Double D

christmas-craft-creations

Mid month reminder for Stamping Sensations

 Good morning, a quick post from me with a reminder that you still have time to join in with this month's challenge at Stamping Sensations, the optional theme this month is Summer Flowers but anything is acceptable as long as the focal element is stamped. There is a lovely prize on offer from Crafty Individuals, please check out the main challenge blog for details.

This is very similar to my first inspiration card for this challenge, using different stamps and techniques. I die cut a square of DP to fit my stamp, stamped the bloom with black Versafine Clair ink, then heat embossed it using several layers of  clear UTEE. After it cooled down I bent it around a bit (very technical term here!) to make it crack, then sponged rust coloured DI into the cracks, it shows more IRL but this was the best photo I could get!. I matted onto a larger square of the DP , stamped the sentiment and added the die cut frame.

Thanks for visiting, don't forget to check out Stamping Sensations  for some lovely inspiration from the team - hope you'll be inspired to join in.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

welovestamping. July Challenge

welove2create #6

thesisterhoodofcrafters -in the garden

beautifulblossoms #7

Do what you love

Hello, it's Friday, time for a new challenge at Crafty Catz.

 This week our challenge is just for fun, no sponsor and no prizes, but you still have the chance for your creation to be chosen as one of our Top 3 and earn a fabulous badge for your blog!

 Our lovely host this time is Christine, who has chosen the optional twist

Make it Sparkle or Shine.

I coloured up one Ching-Chou Kuik's pretty images (Lil Bookworm Fairy) in sepia shades using my markers, and matted the die cut panel onto rose gold glitter card. I found a piece of DP that matched my colours- it also has a a lovely shine to it, the sentiments are stamped and embossed. I've added some glittery, die cut corner swirls and a few tiny gems.

As always, there's plenty more inspiration over at Crafty Catz, so hop over to see what the ladies have created this week.

Remember, our theme is always optional, you can join in with any creation you would like to share. 

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

digichoosday #27

aperfecttimetocraft #7

challengeupyourlife #160

cck-digitalstamps July Challenge

morgansartworld #7

TFATU July Challenge

 

Monochrome + a pop!

 Good morning, hope your week is going well and the weather is being kind to you. I've had a lovely week so far- yesterday I took my eldest granddaughter to lunch, she's finished school for this year, having just sat her GCSEs and enjoying some well-deserved time to relax. She's a good girl, has always worked really hard at school and is expected to get good grades, she's been offered places at 3 different Grammar schools so is just waiting for her results before making a decision. it was so lovely to spend some quality time with her, between her studies and social life I haven't seen as much of her as I used to! 

Getting back to the reason for this post, my card today is for our new challenge at Fab'n' Funky. Buffy is hosting this fortnight and she wants to see 

'Monochrome with a single pop of colour.'

To make my CAS card I've used a gorgeous stamp from Pink Ink, I just love his little face! It was quick and easy to make as the stamp is quite large and so detailed. I stamped it onto a square of mixed media card, and added a little shading with  grey coloured pencils. Stamped the sentiment and the tiny paw print and it was done.

There's some great inspiration from my fabulous team over at the Challenge Blog, so do take a look! Hope you can find the time to play along 

Thanks for visiting, enjoy the rest of the week.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

kraftychicks #671

Simply Clean & Simple #1

unicorn #89

countryview July Challenge

craftyanimals #74

crittercrazy #76

daisychain #75

aaacards. #244

All Aboard!

 Good morning, it's my turn to host the challenge at Crafty Catz this week, I chose the optional twist of More Than One Fold, but as always Anything Goes at Crafty Catz.

Our sponsor this time is

 Last Minute Manda 

shop

https://lastminutemanda.sellfy.store/

Prize - 3 Sets from the shop

who gave the DT some cute images to play with. These images come in sets so you get a lot of digis for your money.

I chose to use North Pole Express

- this choice  was very much influenced by a super card that the very talented Chrissy made a few weeks back- I am in awe of this super-talented, entertaining and very creative lady and if you haven't visited her blog before you  are missing out! Thank you so much for the inspiration Chrissy.

The card base is a long one to fit the train on, I've folded it twice and it does fit into an A5 envelope. The background sky is snowflake patterned DP with a few die cut snowflakes added.  I found a small piece of textured white handmade paper that I thought would make excellent snow so very carefully eked it out to fit along the bottom of the card, hopefully the joins don't show too much!  The train track is one of the digis included in the set, I printed it onto a grey wood-grained  DP enough times to stretch along the card, used Then fussy cut it to let the 'snow' show through the rails (took ages!) I've used 5 more of the images from the set, printed them onto mixed media paper, coloured with watercolour pens and a white gel pen and added a bit of glitter here and there. All fussy cut. There were some gaps in the snow around Santa's feet so I used some Inkylicious Fluffy Puffy to cover them up. There are 2 more images in this set that I didn't use- all for £1.50!

Please hop over to Crafty Catz to see the fabulous cards my teamies have created using these cute sponsor images-and it would be great if you chose to join in this week.

Thanks for visiting

Have a lovely weekend

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

mostmagicaltimeoftheyear. #10

hollyandivy #143

christmaswiththecuties #71

CCAYR July Challenge- 7 Characters and 7 die cut snowflakes

MLCCB #51

pearlysparkles #86

dragonflydreams July Challlenge

peaceonearth #43 (atg)

Bloom

 Good morning. it's a quick post from me to share my inspiration card for this month's challenge at Stamping Sensations, 

the optional theme for July is Summer Flowers or of course you can enter with the anything stamped option. 

There are 2 wonderful prizes on offer this month

Two prizes, £25 store voucher from Crafty Individuals and two dies from Highlight Crafts

The stamp I have used is from Imagination Crafts, I've stamped with Versamark ink onto a piece of card stock which is coloured with smooshed and sprinkled Brushos, then embossed with black detail embossing powder. There was only a small piece of the brusho-ed card left but I found some DP which matched the colours well to layer it onto. I added the black frame for some contrast and diecut the word 'bloom ' twice, once from the coloured card and once from black card to add the shadow.

There are some beautiful creations from the rest of the DT over at the challenge blog, definitely worth a visit!

Thanks for stopping by today

enjoy the rest of the weekend

Chris

x

Challenges:

welovestamping July Challenge

creativefingers #258

thecraftyaddicts #2

TIOT-Summer Blooms

beautifulblossoms #6

thefourseasons July challenge

craftinghappiness #144

Anything Goes at Crafty Calendar

 Good morning, it's the first Saturday of the month and that means it's time for a new challenge at 

Crafty Calendar.

This month we are sponsored by the fabulous 

Polkadoodles

who are offering a prize of 2 digital stamps to our lucky winner.

The DT were given some cute digis to play with, I chose to use Horace and Boo Party Friends.

I've used my markers to colour up this cute pair. It's a simple layered design using some fun papers from Imaginisce which I've had for years. I've added a die cut banner and stamped sentiments. The 'wish bi' is cut from the same paper pad.

Please hop over to Crafty Calendar where you will find some lovely inspiration from the rest of the team.

Thanks for visiting today, hope you all enjoy a lovely weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

creativeknockouts. #497

thepapershelter #560

digichoosday #24

classicdesign #7

craftyanimals#74

crittercrazy #76

dayofthemonthcardclub #52

2sisters #76