Take a Walk on the Wild Side...

Now that I have that as my title I can't get that song out of my head LOL!  Inspired by this weeks gorgeous CAS(E) That Sketch, just missed the CASology Wild deadline as my computer was playing up - but luckily this meant I was able to Accentuate the Negative at Catered Crop.  I couldn't wait to use my TCW Mini Zebra Print Template - I tried it with paint first up, but its watery consistency meant that the paint bled behind the template and ended up way too untamed for my liking LOL!  I had another go using Versamark Ink Opera Pink - much happier with the crisper lines achieved - not perfect, just a little on the wild side, like this gorgeous Paper Smooches Zoo Crew zebra, with her newly dyed tail and added funky ear-ring!  Die-cut circles from my freshly zebra striped and black cardstocks, and pop-dotted the stripes to Accentuate the Negative.

BE Inspired for November Sneak Peeks...

It's that time again - The Alley Way Stamps SNEAK PEEK TIME!!! And the BE Inspired Chalenge!!! With sneak peeks come giveaways!!! So remember to visit The Alley Way Stamps today (Friday) and EACH DAY for the NEXT 3 week DAYS (Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday), because they'll be giving one set away each day of Sneak Peeks! And on Wednesday, it's the Blog Hop when we give away ALL THREE! 

I was inspired by the theme, the colours, and the cardboard box boat to create this 3D card using The Alley Way Stamps Kid 'n Caboodle, Background Check and the really cool large photo frame in Framed.  Perfect for The Paper Players Framed Challenge too!

Using a 12 inch strip of Bo Bunny Country Garden Weathered, I stamped 4 and a quarter of the frames, with the side edges touching, so that I created one long strip of Framed large photo frames side-by-side.  I stamped the Kid 'n Caboodle sentiment on the second and fourth panels, and cut out the middle of the frames using a craft knife.  The last quarter frame was tucked in behind the first frame, and secured with double-sided tape to create a four-sided tower. 

The Kid 'n Caboodle boat was stamped onto four pieces of Authentique Fresh papers, and these were used to paper piece two whole boats.  The two boats were taped back-to-back with two pieces of white cotton thread down the centre in between them.  I cut two 7cm square pieces of cardstock and adhered one inside the top of the tower and one inside the base for added stability.  The boat was taped to the top piece of cardstock hanging from the cotton, so the boat can bob around in the breeze.  Waves from Background Check were stamped onto double-sided cardstock, fussy cut them and adhered diagonally across the base of the tower, so you can view the waves from all sides.  Finally I stamped four Kid 'n Caboodle lifesaver rings in Stampin' Up Riding Hood Red and pop-dotted them either side of the sentiment on the front and back of the tower.  

I love that it has ended up looking like one of the life saving towers!

    You can join in the fun at The Alley Way Stamps BE Inspired til November 8th! 

Playing Anything Goes at Through the Craftroom Door and Stampin' for the Weekend too!

Time for a Play Date (again)...

Original card... What was the end, became the beginning!

I really wanted to join in the 3rd Birthday celebrations over at The Play Date Cafe - but I struggled with this weeks colour palette - purple is not on my list of favourite colours - probably stems from the childhood trauma when, according to legend, purple actually was my favourite colour, but I could never spell it correctly so I decided to change my favourite colour to light blue - strange but true LOL!

I finally hit upon the combination of Distress Inks Barn Door, Shaded Lilac and Salty Ocean applied to my clear stamping block and oversprayed with Glimmer Mist S.W.A.K. before stamping onto watercolour paper.  I overstamped my colourwash with Glimmermist Graceful Journey Butterfly and Dylusions The Right Words, before fussy cutting them.  I pop-dotted my butterfly, positioning it and some of my sentiment Over The Edge, perfect for a CAS-ual Friday.

UPDATE...  I had to laugh that this card became a self-fulfilling prophecy!  I thought this card was the end, but the start contrast between the inky butterfly and the white wasn't working for me, and it felt too much like the elements were "floating" - and not in a good way LOL!  So it became a new beginning - I added text paper from Crate Paper, bordered by Basic Grey, and I'm much happier with its' new look :)

Hello Chickie...

The more I use The Alley Way Stamps Trees Company, the more I love it!  These gorgeous birds, branch, tree foliage and nest are all from Trees Company, and the sentiment is created by combining Monster Mash and Mad Gab, perfect for a note to say hello, or to welcome a new little one to the world.  To help the nest blend into the tree foliage, I stamped the nest onto the same patterned paper as the tree foliage, before paper piecing it.  Inspired by this weeks FAB CAS(E) this Sketch, CAS-ual Fridays Over the Edge, and Less is More Autumn, with papers by Basic Grey and MME.

The CASE of a Retro Dash...

LOVE, love this weeks Retro Sketch from one of my most favourite ever cards by Kasia.  Hopefully just squeaked in with this card taking 11 minutes and 6 seconds, rather than the 10 minute deadline over at the 10 Minute Craft Dash.  I can't believe I actually made a card that fast - though I must admit the elements were die cut before I started my timing for its assembly - not sure how that fits in with the rules!  Love this Verve stamp, teamed up with my My Favourite Things die cut umbrella and hearts.  Umbrella, hearts and spots inspiration taken from this weeks gorgeous CASE Study card.  I love that the little hearts look like they are dancing!

A tip for the 10 Minute Craft Dash - to make the process quicker I used my foam dots to secure the twine to the back of the umbrella and hearts and to secure the umbrella and hearts to the page - much quicker only having to use one adhesive!

Now I really must dash or I'll be late picking up my daughter from class ;)

This made me smile :)

BE Inspired for a Monster Halloween...

I created this fun Have a Monster Halloween card using images from The Alley Way Stamps Ghoul-Friend  and the sentiment combines Admit One, Monster Mash and Cover Ups. Love that the little pumpkin stamp is the perfect button size!

Inspired by the monster Halloween theme and stacked pumpkins from this fortnights BE Inspired Challenge at The Alley Way Stamps, together with this fab Sweet Sunday Sketch and these fab colours over at Colour Q.  Papers are a combination of Authentique and Making Memories, with some gorgeous net ribbon from The Ribbon Carousel, perfect for their Halloween Challenge. Perfect for this fortnights Stampin' for the Weekend Something Spooky Challenge and Simon Say Stamp Eerie Inspiration Challenge too!

Why don't you join in the BE Inspired fun at The Alley Way Stamps?

You have until October 25!

A CAS(E) for the Dynamic Duo...

Wow, third post for the day LOL!!

I couldn't resist doing another card for the inaugural CAS(E) this Sketch, a little less CAS this time LOL!  I LOVE teal and brown combos so I couldn't resist this FAB colour combo over at Dynamic Duos - put them together with these gorgeous stamps from The Alley Way Stamps Tree's Company, and you'll understand why this is my third post today!  I felt my first attempt needed a little something so I added some Divine Twine, now I can't decide which version I prefer - so you can decide!

Playing along with Jay Gee's Nook too!

This made me smile!