Thursday, March 7, 2013

Doing the Dash for May Arts...

I always seem to like to challenge myself to the almost impossible when I start my 10 Minute Craft Dash!
This week I managed to JUST squeak in at 9 minutes 55 seconds - I had a last second panic because I had forgotten to stamp my sentiment, so I risked stamping after it was all assembled, luckily it paid off with 5 seconds to spare!  I need to be super, super organised before I start my timer - a clear picture in my mind of what my card will look like (or at the very least a sketch), the papers, cardstock & extras close at hand, my craft space tidy, all the tools I know (or think) I'll need handy.  I usually set up my Cuttlebug on the floor next to me so it doesn't take up valuable real estate on the table LOL.  First thing I do is cut all my cardstock and patterned paper to size and create my card base.  This week my scalloped circle was created using a punch - a much more time effective option than the Cuttlebug, but you are restricted by its size.  To save time, and because I knew I only needed part of my grass die-cut, I did not roll the last inch or so of my diecut through the machine - this meant it was MUCH easier to remove the die-cut grass from the die.  I glue penned my tree foliage to my kraft cardstock before I die-cut the tree trunk, so it was perfectly aligned and adhered with only one die-cut cut needed.  I knew I wanted the tree trunk longer than the die cut, so I just elongated my tree trunk cut out using scissors.  Perfect for playing along at Emphasise the Negative Challenge at Moxie Fab World too.  I stamped my deer onto a spare piece of the woodgrain patterned paper before fussy cutting.  The whole time I was cutting I was thinking - it would have been much faster to stamp this little guy onto the kraft cardstock, but once I had those scissors in my hand there was no stopping me!  A glue pen is super handy & super quick for sticking down all those fiddly bits in a hurry, and as always I peel the backing from my foam tape roll before I cut to it size to pop-dot my card.

Hope this weeks 10 Minute Craft Dash Challenge inspires you to give it a try, 
especially with a FAB ribbon pack from May Arts up for grabs!

 
Playing along with this weeks Simon Says Stamp A Bit 'o Green Challenge too.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

A MUSE CASually Framed In Stitches...


Laurie Willison's gorgeous MUSE card
I must say with gorgeous MUSE cards like this one from Laurie, our task of creating is made so much easier!  Probably veering more to CASE than MUSE this week I couldn't resist - inspired by the gorgeous white stamping on kraft cardstock, faux stitched frame, black & white pattern, fab sentiment  and hearts.  I couldn't wait to ink up my MME Sweetest Thing doilies, stamped in Versamark and embossed in Zing White, perfect for playing along with CASual Fridays Wallpaper Challenge, paired with this gorgeous sentiment by Ali Edwards from Technique Tuesday, embossed in Zing Aqua.  I love this stitched photo frame from Lil Inkers, perfect for playing along with the current Paper Players In Stitches, and Catered Crop Framed Challenges too.  Perfect for Emphasise  the Negative Moxie Fab World Challenge too!  I love that this patterned paper from my stash looks like faux quilting too.  Finished with a wooden Studio Calico heart.




A Freshly Made Play Date...


It has been a while since I played along at the Play Date Cafe, but with this weeks gorgeous colour palette, how could I resist, especially when they matched Teresa Collins Tell Your Story so perfectly.  Played along with this gorgeous Freshly Made Sketch too, but may just be a little late. Linking up with Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes as well.

 
 

Monday, March 4, 2013

There She Goes, Just in CASE...


Torico's gorgeous TSG card
I fell in love with this gorgeous card by Torico, so when this weeks There She Goes Challenge was CASE a Trendsetter, I thought I was set, but alas I left it too late.  I couldn't miss the opportunity though, so I'm playing along with this fab Dynamic Duos and linking up with Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes instead.

Instant Attraction...


What do you get when you combine the fabulous Moxie Fab World Camera Craze Challenge, the super Paper Smooches Sparks Picture Perfect Challenge, and colossal Catered Crop Framed Challenge, with the perfect Paper Players In Stitches Challenge?  Instant Attraction of course! Well I did anyways LOL!

I had been tempted to use this super cute fussy cut polaroid camera from Studio Calico on a card which read "How do you stop 'roid rage?", "Use a Canon", but with the timely intervention of the Paper Smooches Sparks inspiration photo, this card took on a more amorous overtone.

Just in case you hadn't noticed, I'm loving this Glitz wood veneer paper, combined with Paper Smooches Alphawhimsy die cuts.  Today's card is paired with Lil Inkers stitched photo frame and Paper Smooches Alphadots stamps too.

Looking forward to a gorgeous sunny first week of Autumn here, 
hope the sun is shining in your corner of the world too!



Sunday, March 3, 2013

I {heart} U Beary Deerly...


So the prompt this week for Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge is the photo above, professing love in a foreign language.  As my linguistic skills are somewhat limited, I thought I'd create a love card using sign language roughly translated as "I love you beary deerly" (it's one of those "Mum's jokes").  Had fun die cutting with the new Paper Smooches Alphawhimsy dies, and paper piecing my Paper Smooches Happy Camper & Needle Little Love stamps with American Crafts papers, perfect for playing along at the Keep It Simple Paper Piecing Challenge.

Playing along with Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes too.



Saturday, March 2, 2013

Where Flowers Bloom...


I kept on musing after my first attempt at Deanna's gorgeous MUSE card.  Between that and this weeks CASology Circle cue card, this is where I ended up.  I was inspired by the floral reds and greens of Deanna's gorgeous Muse card, together with the freehand frame.  I tried to recreate my poppies from this card, but as the base layer was not fully dried before I applied the Dimensional Magic, they are more homogenous than I was aiming for, but still perfectly suited to this gorgeous freehand Purple Onion Designs sentiment.
Deanna Jean's gorgeous MUSE card

Playing along with Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes too.