Dynamic Duos CAS-ually CASS

Discovered a great new colour challenge site - makes me think of Batman & Robin every time I see it ;) Dynamic Duos is created by the lovely Lesley Crohgan, and this week is their first ever challenge.  This card is inspired by the gorgeous duo of Aqua and Lime Green, this versatile sketch from Clean & Simple Stamping, and Happy Birthday celebrations at CAS-ual Fridays.  I challenged myself to stamp a card without black ink, so keeping it simple, the frame and birthday sentiment from My Favourite Things are stamped in Turquoise Versa Colour then pop-dotted onto the Coture Creations Swiss Dots embossed white cardstock, the Spellbinders butterfly was die-cut from my scrap stash, and a body created using Kaisercraft pearls.

...like you, it's unforgettable! 

The Things that Dreams are Made of, Rosettes, Cardabilities and Pink Elephants too!

  Butterflies Challenge

This card was inspired by this stunning Rosette Colour Trends Challenge at Embellish Magazine, and drawn from this gorgeous Cardabilities Sketch, first time I've played along at both these sites, and I couldn't resist joining in at The Pink Elephants Butterflies Challenge too!

I created these gorgeous roses using My Favourite Things Mini Rolled Roses Die Cuts in hot pink felt.  I discovered that you can create larger roses by die-cutting an extra rose (or more if you need to!), and continuing to wrap it around the outside of the rose to create exactally the sized rose you want - so I was able to use two die cuts to make three different sized roses - perfect!  I was inspired by all the circular elements in the Rosette Colour Trends Challenge - so all the papers (from SEI and Making Memories) are spotted, and I have repeated the circular elements in the scalloping and the Kaisercraft pearl bling too. I created a double frame around my card to reflect the frame from the photo too.  The gorgeous butterfly die cut is from Spellbinders.  This beautiful sentiment is from Verve Always on My Mind, stamped in Versa Colour Opera Pink and Orchid.

Hope your dreams come true today too!

Paper Smooches Easter Joy...

Inspired by this fortnights gorgeous photo from Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge, I love the cute felt bunnies and the saturated colours.

I tried something new by stamping images from Paper Smooches Spring Fling onto felt to achieve a light outline to use as a stitching guide.  I found the best option was to stamp them using Distress Ink. I used Victorian Velvet, but any light colour could achieve the same effect (although Spun Sugar was too light to see the outline). The outline was then highlighted by using 3 strands of embroidery thread - the usual 6 strands did not produce a fine enough line.  I used DMC Embroidery Thread in 704 (green), 3806 (pink) and... yellow whose code has fallen off!  The papers are from Alison Ellis Design and Rose Moka - although you could be really creative and make your own ;)  The egg shape negative cut was achieved by enlarging the Paper Smooches Spring Fling image on a photocopier, then cutting out the shape using a craft knife.  The Spring Fling sentiment is stamped using Versa Colour Lime, and I love the subtlety of the sentiment in the midst of all the saturated colours.

To adhere the egg and bunny to the card, I used Provo Crafts Terrifically Tacky Tape (also known as red tape). The best thing about Terrifically Tacky Tape is that it is terrifically tacky, the worst thing about Terrifically Tacky Tape, is that it is terrifically tacky - so you have to be extra careful - once it sticks, it stays!

Today is a gloriously sunny day - hope you are enjoying Spring / Autumn wherever you are!

Colour Q - Hope Perches on the Soul...

Inspired by this weeks gorgeous combination of blue-greens and purples by Colour Q.  This gorgeous bird on a branch die cut is by Marianne Design, the scalloped circle is a Marvy punch, papers by Authentique Gathering, MME On the Bright Side - Two, and a special Australian Papercraft paper by docrafts.  This gorgeous sentiment stamp by Verve has been stamped in Versa Colour Violet - as much as I love this colour, makes me wish I had a few more Stampin' Up ink colours.

We can always live in hope :)

A Classy and Fabulous CASE...

I love that Coco Chanel quote "A girl should be two things, Classy and Fabulous".  I think this weeks CASE Study Challenge card is Classy and Fabulous too, so I made a couple of cards to match. Paper is from Kaisercraft To Have & To Hold, together with Bazzill Swiss Dots, ribbon is black grossgrain, the buckle is by Bella and the gorgeous sentiment stamped in Versamark ink and clear embossing powder is from Jane's Doodles Big Sentiments.

Hope your day is classy and fabulous too!

Thanks Snow Much...

Had fun playing along with the Creative Card Crew Snow Day Challenge, inspired by the snowflakes and colours from the Ribbon Carousel Challenge and this gorgeous sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

Even though we don't get snow in this part of the world - I couldn't resist this gorgeous snowman from Inkadinkado.  He is stamped with Timber Brown StazOn onto teal Basic Grey paper, coloured in and his hat and scarf are pop dotted on for depth.  The clear snow flake is from Heidi Swapp, and the teal ribbon was just calling to me from my stash!   Background is dry embossed with Cuttlebugs Snowflakes folder then rubbed over the top with Versamark seafoam ink, and heat embossed all over using Dazzle ink and clear embossing powder. Cardstock base is Espresso Bazill.

Thanks SNOW much for stopping by :)