Busy, busy, busy...

Sorry I don't have a new card to post - I actually made 5 new cards in the last 2 days, but they are top secret, for the next Caardvarks challenge.  It's going to be a good one!!!

So I thought I'd upload another of my blog day cards.  

Supplies listed here.

I'll share something new very soon, I promise.

Big News!!!

I'm so excited, I got into the Top 20 of Papercrafts Gallery Idol!  I can't believe it - there were so many amazing cards entered.  I am totally thrilled, especially as some of the other winners are my Hero Arts and Caardvarks buddies.  

So now I have to make a wedding card for the next round.  Just as well I have weddings on the brain :)

If you are interested, here is the link to the blog announcement.

And here are all the amazing submissions for the contest.

So wedding cards will be this week's focus!  I ought to be making my Order of Services!!!

Oh well...

Elephants...

I've had a crazy busy weekend and not had much time to craft for a few days. :(  But I have a couple of cards to share with an elephant theme.  I love elephants.

This I made using distress inks after watching this video.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (screen, elephants) and Brenda Walton (sentiment); Cardstock - Hero Arts Spring Notecards; Ink - Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters.

This is just a simple elephant birthday card that my mum helped me design :)

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (elephants and sentiment); Cardstock -Hero Arts Long Kraft Notecards; Paper - Pebbles Inc.; Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies.

And finally, this card was one of my cards featured on my day on the Hero Arts blog.

Supplies listed here.

Sorry I've been absent for a few days - hope to get a chance to create more soon. :)

Die cut cards... a video!!!

I have made a video to show how I make these little die cut cards like the one below.  I made this card for the current HA challenge - Complementary Colours.  This challenge is too hard!!!  Today's colours are purple and yellow!

Hope the video works - let me know if there's a problem.  It's not very good - but I don't have the right equipment to make it remotely professional.

Hope your week is going well.

Thinking Inking and Raspberry Suite No 10

I'm still playing along to Jennifer's 'Thinking Inking' class - this week it's all about embossing.  The video is fantastic - with some super ideas.  Embossing paper flowers was the one that really appealed to me...

Supplies: Sentiment Stamp - Hero Arts; Flowers and Heart Pearls - Hero Arts; Ribbon - Creative Impressions; Paper - K&Co; Spellbinders Nestabilties Labels 1 Dies; Handmade button.

The flowers were white Hero Arts flowers.  I distressed with Tim Holtz ink, then embossed 3 times with regular clear embossing powder.  I LOVE the result.  And I am enjoying playing with embellishments at the moment too...

I was also inspired by these stunning cards of Jennifer's.  Such elegance and style and beauty.

And speaking of beauty, check these projects by some of my FAVOURITE people and artists.  These girls inspire me so much!

I love this card of Donna's.  Isn't that stamp just adorable.  Her colouring is always awesome.

Deborah is amazing - and this card makes me feel happy.

And finally - check out this project.  It's a vintage WINDOW turned into the most amazing photo frame I've ever seen.  Jenn is an incredible artist!

Enjoy your day.

Animal stamps...

I am an animal lover - so this new stamp by Hero Arts has quickly become my new favourite.  I lurrrrrrve it.  And teamed with the sentiment from October Afternoon it appears a marriage made in heaven.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (deer), October Afternoon (sentiment); PP - Jenni Bowlin; Ribbon - Creative Impressions; Pearls - Hero Arts; machine stitching.

This is the card I sent my dad at the weekend for Fathers Day.  These little animal stamps from Hero Arts ROCK.  How cute can you get?

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (giraffe and bubble sentiment); other sentiment computer generated; kraft paper; coloured pencils.

I'm also LOVING Jennifer McGuire's new class over at 2Peas - check here if you've not seen it yet.  It's so inspiring.  I can't believe we've got WEEKS more classes to come!  Fantastic!!

Hope everyone has had a happy Monday.  Enjoy your week.

Hero Arts 'Be Inspired' and the new Caardvarks Challenge

The challenge this week over at the Hero Arts blog is to make a card inspired by one of the Win a Day on the blog artists.  I have been overwhelmed by the gorgeous cards people have made inspired by me, so today I made some cards inspired by the other winners.  So much fun.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (sentiment, butterfly); PP - My Mind's Eye; Buttons - Dovecraft; Pearls - Crystal Stickers; Machine stitching.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (deer, sentiment); Paper - Papertrey Ink; Button - Hero Arts.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (flowers, sentiment, butterfly); PP - Basic Grey; Diamond Stickles; Machine Stitching.

And...

The new challenge is up at Caardvarks - the sponsor is Purple Onion Designs, and they are offering a fabulous $50 shopping spree for the winner of the challenge.

The challenge is to create a window card - enter before 3rd July for your chance to win this amazingly generous prize.  Purple Onion stamps are gorgeous.  AND, between now and 3rd July, PO Designs are offering Caardvarks readers 25% discount on their products.  Check here for details.

Here are the cards I created using all PO stamps - I had a LOT of fun.

Click here to see MANY other cards created by my Design Team colleagues.  There are some amazing cards there.

Good luck - hope to see your entries.

What a long post, and my 2nd of the day.  Have a happy weekend.

Scribble This Challenge

I love Lisa Spangler!  Not only is she an AMAZING cardmaker, but she is generous enough to be running photography tutorials on her blog, showing us how to make photos crisper, lighter and better.  Last night I edited MANY photos following her adice, and I am thrilled with the results.

So I thought I'd enter her current challenge:

So I took photos of these mini cards I made, then edited it according to her advice.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

I don't actually have a photo editing programme other than iPhoto - but just playing around with the sharpness settings made a big difference.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (sentiments: here and here,  animals); Kraft ATCs; white cardstock; coloured pencils; machine stitching.

I am so so happy!  My photos actually look better.

THANK YOU so much Lisa.

Caardvarks Challenge Sneak Peek...

The new challenge goes up at midnight tonight over on the Caardvarks blog, so I thought I'd give you all a sneak peek.

Supplies: Stamps - Purple Onion Designs; Paper - Pebbles Inc; Ribbon - American Crafts; Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One Dies.

Any ideas what the theme might be....?

I've also been playing with more of Jennifer's 'Thinking Inking' techniques. 

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (screen, butterfly, sentiment, background); Ink - Tim Holtz (Broken China), Versafine.

I tried out the ideas from her 2nd class - I inked the screen shadow stamp with ink, stamped then swept over with pigment powder to make it shine.  

The butterfly was misted with water over the Versafine before being stamped on inked paper - this created the tiny white dots.

Jennifer's class is fantastic - make sure you check it out here.

Giveaway Winner...

After a random and somewhat old fashioned drawing from a hat, I am thrilled to announce my giveaway winner is...

MMG

Who wrote on 15th June:

I saw that this morning -- congrats! I am continuously stunned and amazed by your work! Thank you for the endless inspiration!

Congratulations MMG!!!

As there were an unbelievable 234 comments, I decided I couldn't stop there, so I drew another three numbers for some little bonus prizes.

Runner Up Number One:

Linda aka Oz

Who wrote on 16th June

Oh my Lucy, You give to use all everytime you post you work, now this... such kindness.  I have admired your work since the first day I joined this group.  You continue to inspire me to new heights.  You deserve this Lucy, I hope you can soak it all in.  Linda aka Oz

 

Runner Up Number Two:

Deirdre

Who wrote on 15th June 

Lucy, Congratulations on a fantastic blog day. Loved each and every one of your cards. Hope you enjoyed it. Wow... fantastic giveaway - thanks for the opportunity to win some goodies. Deirdre - Irl

Runner Up Number Three:

Cynthia B.

Who wrote on 16th June

Congrats on being featured! You do beautiful, beautiful work. So pretty and detailed. And how cool was it to work w/ Jennifer McGuire?! So excited for you, and judging from your work here, you totally deserve the honor...WTG!!

Thank you all for your kind words -  can all 4 winners please leave a comment here and tell me how to contact you.

I am still glowing from my day on the blog - thank you ALL for supporting me.  

Thinking Inking

So Jennifer McGuire's thinking Inking class finally began - I've been looking forward to it so much.  And after watching this amazing video on Monday, I HAD to get involved.  A quick order to my fave online store, and my new Tim Holtz products arrived today!  Yay.  So I have been playing with my first EVER distress inks tonight.

First, this card - my first attempt at creating a background with distress inks.  Then I tried the watercolour effect for the butterfly's shadow.  I was instantly hooked.

  

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (butterfly, sentiment); Ink - Tim Holtz (broken china);  Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One Dies; Gems - Hero Arts.

Then I tried distressing white polka dot paper.  This was a paper left over from Christmas - from the My Mind's Eye 'Be Merry' collection.  And now it's blue :)  I LOVE this idea.  Finally, I tried out the water droplets on the green inked paper - I love the effect of this too.

Supplies: Hero Arts (tree, sentiment); Ink - Tim Holtz (Broken China, Shabby Shutters);  PP - My Mind's Eye - Be Merry; Button - Hero Arts.

So I am seriously addicted to distressing now.  Bring on the weekend :)

Thanks to Jennifer for this AWESOME class.  She is an amazing teacher.  Watch the video if you haven't already, it's VERY inspiring.

My Day on the Hero Arts Blog... and a giveaway!!!

Wow - what a fun day.  My cards are featured on the Hero Arts blog.  And I'm loving it.  Jennifer McGuire is such a lovely person - and I love her sweet cards.  It's been so fun working with her.  Check it out here.  

I thought I'd upload one of the cards here now.  I'll upload the rest another day, and the ones that were not used too.  

Supplies listed here.

So I decided to have a giveaway to say "Thank You" to all you wonderful people who support me and make lovely comments on my work.  Your kindness and thoughtfulness make my day, every day!

The giveaway package includes...

I hope there's something there you like.  Just leave me a comment by Wednesday 17th June at midnight and I will randomly draw a winner on Thursday.  I'll announce the winner here and over on the Hero Arts flickr site.  

Good luck. :)

Jenni Bowlen + Diecuts

Someone I know (and love) gave me these GORGEOUS min papers by Jenni Bowlen and today I allowed myself to use one sheet of each (severe rationing).  They are such a gorgeous collection - called Tangerine Dream.  I can't source these papers over here in England so it was a very sweet and kind gift.  I am treasuring them.

 

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (butterfly, 'Thank you', stems, all other sentiments, birds, tree); PP - Jenni Bowlen; Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One Dies; Versafine; Versamark and glittery embossing powder; Chunky Glitter; Pearls - Jesse James Beads; Button - made by my lovely friend Jane.

These were so much fun to make.  I just love shaped cards.

I hope Sunday has been restful for everyone.  Tomorrow is my day on the Hero Arts blog!!!  I am pretty nervous.

Until then... have a good day and pop back soon as I plan on having a giveaway next week.  Bye

Rubbish postal system...

The acetate card I made for my grandmother got lost in the post, so I made this as a replacement.  I also made it for both the current Hero Arts diecuts challenge, using this amazing template, and for the Scrapbook Bakery challenge here.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (background, sentiment); PP - Bo Bunny Double Dot; Ribbon - Creative Impressions; tag punch; machine stitching; pearl; clear embossing power.

Hope everyone is having as lovely a weekend as I am.  We have gorgeous sunshine here.  Such a rare treat!

Butterfly layers

Jane, one of my HA Flickr friends sent me some gorgeous Fimo buttons she made .  They arrived this afternoon, so I immediately set to work making a card that showed them off.  I am going to be rationing them.  One at a time :)  Here's a link to a tutorial on her blog about how to make the lovely buttons.  

This card is also for the Hero Arts Diecuts challenge which is going on this week.  I was inspired by this gorgeous card by the fabulous Tami Hartley.  Her cards are always AMAZING.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (Sentiment, Screen background); Paper - Pebbles Inc and Basic Grey; Ribbon - Creative Impressions; Butterfly templates available here.

I hope everyone is having a great week.  Not long until the weekend now :)

My Favourite Day...

I love Sunday - it's my favourite day for crafting.  

Here's a couple of cards I made today.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (sentiment, background); Paper - From a Prima Flower package; Cuttlebug Dies - Zoo Animals.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (butterfly, screen shadow, sentiment); Hero Arts Acetate Notecard and Kraft Notecard; Papermania pearls; Versacolor Ink - lavender.

I hope everyone's had a wonderful and relaxing weekend.

Can't wait for tomorrow - Jennifer McGuire posted this yesterday... I am VERY curious and excited.  Work is going to be a trial... :)

Acetate and Albums

I made this acetate card for my grandmother who turns 88 tomorrow.  She's amazing.  I am loving acetate at the moment, especially when the sun is out.  It looks so pretty with the dots and flowers stamp and lots of glitter :)

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (background, scallop, screen (on letter G), butterflies); Card - Hero Arts Acetate Card; Paper - Pebbles Inc.; Ribbon - Creative Impressions; Ink - Versacolor (Sky Blue) and White Staz-On; Pearls - Papermania.

The new challenge is up at Caardvarks.  And there's a great prize up for grabs: a huge assortment of Club Scrap product -- a sheet of UM rubber, Club Scrap exclusive projects, a POP (pound of paper), plus a whole lot more!  The challenge is to make a 3D paper crafting project and almost anything goes.  Click here to check it out.  The deadline is June 17th.  

Here is my creation - I am quite proud of the book, my first ever 3D project!!!  Click here to see the set I used to create the book.  And click here and here to see some of my Caardvarks friends' creations using the same kit - AMAZING...  Maybe I'll get better at 3D projects with practice.

This is my friends' baby Oscar - isn't he adorable.  I decided to leave lots of white space for his mum to journal.

Hope you all find time to submit something, and I hope everyone is well and has a good weekend planned - have fun. :)

Background stamps

HA is challenging us to use our background stamps in new ways.  And I lurrrrrrve my background stamps!

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (butterflies, clouds, screen background, sentiment); Hero Arts Acetate card; Gemstones - Papermania; Versafine and Staz-on inks; Hero Arts Baby Blue Shadow ink (clouds)

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (elephants (one is reversed using acetate),background screen, sentiment, hearts); Hero Arts kraft notecard; inks - Versafine, Versamagic.

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts (LOADS of stamps used: click here for details); card - Hero Arts long kraft notecard; Bo Bunny green card.

This challenge is so much fun.  Thanks Hero Arts :)