AAA Cards - #75 Photo Inspiration

Here comes AAA Cards first October Challenge. And we decided to go against the grain and ignore Halloween for a change. We came up with this photo inspiration challenge instead.

I love the bright, in your face, colours and the polka dots from the photo and they were my starting point for my card.

I masked off a strip and started by stamping my polka dots - the negative of the ones on the photo - allowing them to overlap in places.

I stamped the sentiment and added two torn strips of green polka dot washi - the same way round as the photo this time. Then I couldn't resist adding one little red enamel dot to echo the single ladybird from the photo.

Supplies:
Stamps: Inkylicious, Elements 1; Uniko, All Occasion Sentiments #6
Inks: Memento, dandelion, tangelo, danube blue, lilac posies, grape jelly, tuxedo black
Embellsihments: Washi from my stash; Doodlebug Sprinkles, ladybug asst.

We're all very excited about our photo inspiration challenge and hope you'll enjoy creating something just a little bit different for this time of the year. See how our Guest Designer ..... and the rest of the AAA Cards DT have interpreted it here.

Thanks for visiting today, so pleased you spent some time looking at my blog.  And keep crafting!

Happy Little Stampers - October Christmas Challenge

The theme this monthe for the Christmas Challenge at Happy Little Stampers is EMBOSSING.

Now I have mixed feelings about this theme, the dry type of embossing I'm more than OK with, but the heat embossing technique fills me with dread. Why? Because I always seem to make so much mess and get the powder where I don't need it to be. And yes I do use one of those duster thingies and it has made a big difference, but I still need practise.

But onwards and upwards and never one to be defeated -  remember my word for 2016 is FEARLESS - so I tackled the heat embossing issue. Here's my sparkly heat embossed snowman sitting comfortably on a dry embossed panel.

Mmm, more issues with it not really showing in the photograph. Let's try again:

Supplies:
Stamps:FunStamps, Scribble Snowman; HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments
Ink: Memento, tuxedo black; versamark
Embossing: Crafty Impressions, black rainbow sparkle; Cuttlebug, swiss dots
Promarkers: col grey 3 & 5, poppy 
Die: MFT Die-namics, Stitched Valley

Do go see what the rest of the HLS DT have created - here - I'm in awe of their expertise. I hope you'll be inspired to give embossing a go and I'll see your card popping up in the gallery.

Thanks for listening to my tale of woe today, I really do appreciate it.  And keep embossing!

The Memory Nest - Make It Monday challenge #73

Today sees the start of a new challenge over at The Memory Nest. Take a look at the fabulous sketch.

I was looking through my dad's photos the other day and discovered a couple of pics of the dog we had when I was little. I didn't even know these photos existed so of course they had to be scanned and scrapped.

Sherry was a beautiful golden gingery colour and had the most appealing face. I was about five years old in the photo and can remember how mischievous she was as a puppy, almost totally destroying my teddy bear - which I still have today!

Every time I see a dog nowadays I measure it up to Sherry and chose the sticker words under the title because thet's exactly how I feel.

I used a combination of stickers and punched circles with stickers added to create my banner. I also punched three yellow hearts and added the same enamel dots, wooden shapes and stamped words to make my triangle of interest around the photo mats.

As I've typed up this post I've realised I have loads more memories of Sherry and really need to get them journalled - watch this space for a second page devoted to her.

Supplies:
Paper: Chatterbox Scrapbook Walls, light violet solid; Lilybeedesign, lemonade stand; scraps from my stash
Alphas: Freckled Fawn, puffy stickers
Stamp: SU, So you
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black
Stickers: jillibean soup, saffron yellow pepper soup; Cosmo Cricket, tiny text; Basic Grey, carte postale; AC, Shimelle; Simple Stories, So Rad
Punch: Xcut, circle
Embellishments: Simple Stories, So Rad & Bloom & Grow enamel dots; Becky Higgins PL, wood veneer

Will you have a go at this sketch? Remember you can use it for a card too and Leslie always has a prize to be won - check it all out here.

Thanks for looking today, hope you enjoyed your time visiting my blog.  And keep crafting!   

Uniko New Release & Blog Hop

WOO HOO! Today's the day!

Yep that's right it's release day for the new Uniko stamp collections.

Here a complete look at all the sets:

    

 

And here's some cards to get you into the mood:

 My first card, using Originally Organic, is monochromatic. Elegant was what I was aiming to achieve - what do you think?

Supplies:

Stamps: Uniko, Originally Organic

Ink: Memento, tuxedo black

Pens: Promarkers, cool grey 1, 3 & 4

Die: Lawn Fawn, large stitched square stackables

Embellishments: Doodlebug Sprinkles, beetle black asst.

My second card uses that set I can't keep my hands off - Marvellous Mehndi. I heat embossed the large stamp onto vellum and coloured it on the back - so easy no need to worry about going outside the lines!

I die cut the vellum and a shiny rectangular mat and added a sentiment from Simply Said II.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Marvellous Mehndi, Simply Said II
Ink: Versamark + WOW! sparkling snow embossing powder; Memento, tuxedo black
Dies: Lawn Fawn, large stitched circle stackables; Lil'inker stitched mats rectangles
Pens: Spectrum Noir Colorista, lipstick, nectarine

My final card for the release uses Winter Foliage and an older sentiment stamp.  And I went right back to my roots and kept it very CAS.

I do love a bit of razzmatazz and sparkle, but there's something about a simple CAS card that relies only on the beauty of the stamps that really appeals to my heart.

Supplies:

Stamps: Uniko, Winter Foilage, Simply Said Christmas

Inks: SU, garden green, real red, sahara sand, tip top taupe

Now for the bit you've all been waiting for - the blog hop and chance to win the entire release! Check out all the details here.

I'm including the blog hop order, but the links to some are only to the DT blogs and not the specific posts about the Uniko release. As I'm away when this post goes live I've had to schedule it and some of the DT links weren't ready before I left home - but I know you won't let that stop you!

Good luck my friends!

Beverley

 Deborah

Jane - that's me

Lindsey

Rahmat

Sarah G

Sarah P

Thanks for your time today, I'm thrilled you spent some of it looking at my blog.  And keep crafting! 

Uniko New Release - Introducing Christmas Sparkle & Winter Foliage

The last two Uniko new release stamp sets are being introduced today and I'm here to share a couple of cards to whet your appetite.

    

Ok I'm guessing you've picked up on the theme - Christmas! Well what could be more timely than that - only 86 days left after today!

My first card uses elements from both sets plus the addition of an older sentiment set.

I chose some traditional Christmas colours  and stamped a border down the left hand side and slightly round the bottom of my card. I nestled the sentiment in the bottom corner to complete the swerve.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Winter foliage, Christmas Sparkle, All Occasion Sentiments #4
Ink: SU, real red, pear pizzazz, old olive

My second card uses stamps from just the Christmas Sparkle set. 

Well you knew it had to happen! When do I ever pass up the chance to include some purple? And this card is very sparkly too. Not only is the purple mat all shiny and glittery, but the stamped bauble has been treated to a liberal helping of Wink of Stella and really lives up to its name.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Christmas Sparkle
Ink: Memento, grape jelly
Die: MFT Die-namics, double stitched rectangles
Wink of Stella, clear

Have you already seen the rest of the Uniko DT cards? Really something aren't they? 

And now all you have to wait is one sleep and all the new release sets can jump happily into your shopping basket. Be sure to come back tomorrow when they'll be more DT inspiration and a chance to win the whole release - so exciting!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today, it's made my day.  And keep crafting! 

CAS Colours & Sketches #193

Five Thursdays in September, so the last CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge this month is THE DELIGHTFUL DOUBLE!

So you need to use BOTH the colours AND the sketch. But that's not a problem when they're as fabulous as this!

First up I tackled the left hand strip and used a stencil to get that ragged edge. I then stamped the grungy spots over it and added a ribbon using the third colour.

I stamped the large Happy Birthday on another piece of card so that I could add it on top of the ribbon to make it narrower. The rest of the stamping was done with second generation ink to enhance but not overpower the main sentiment.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, All Occasion Sentiments #2, Classic Numbers,; SU, Touches of Texture
Inks: SU, rich razzleberry, mint macaron, tangerine tango
Ribbon: SU, rich razzleberry
Stencil: Prima Marketing

How will you use the sketch and colours? Go see what the CC&S DT have done -  here - and be INSPIRED!

So pleased to have you drop by today, your visits make my day.  So please keep visiting and of course crafting!

Uniko New Release - Introducing Marvellous Mehndi & Simply Said II

Oh my! You're so going to love today's introduction of two new Uniko stamp sets.

      

I'm so besotted with them I made three cards for today's post - and I'm really short of time this week getting organised for a family holiday, so that's an indicator of how much I love these sets!

My first card is actually the last card I made, but it's my favourite so I'm sharing it first.

I was really get comfortable with the stamps and had fun creating my own pattern. And it's just so relaxing to sit and colour - perfectly peaceful.
  

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Marvellous Mehndi, Simply Said II
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black
Pens: Spectrum Noir Colorista, rose red, sandstone, maple 

 My next card uses the largest stamp from the first set and a couple of sentiments from the second set.

I stamped and heat embossed the stamps - I thought this would help keep the colouring inside the lines, but it also gives the stamp a wonderful shiny look in real life.

I hand cut the curved corner - I used a saucer to draw the curve - and then curved the sentiments on the stamp block to fit round it.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Marvellous Mehndi, Simply Said II
Inks: Versamark + Ranger superfine black embossing powder
Pens: Spectrum Noir Colorista, lipstick, gold, cyan
Ppaer: Lawn Fawn, Beachside 6x6 pad

My last card today was inspired by the idea of sharing the colouring with the recipient. I'm thinking it would be a cool thing to include some uncoloured cards in the envelope anyway.

I randomly stamped the smaller stamps from the set and then put a strip of washi about a third of the way down the die cut card. I then coloured just the top third of the stamps.

I'm wishing now that I had also heat embossed this card because I did just smudge a little bit of the ink - lesson learnt for another time. I added a corner mat to lift the uncoloured portion of the card before adhering it all to a card base.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Marvellous Mehndi, Simply Said II
Ink: Memento, tuxedo black
Pens: Spectrum Noir Colorista, denim, cyan
Die: MFT Die-namics, double stitched rectangles
Embellishment: Washi from my stash - think it's SU 

Another introduction to the Uniko new release all completed - but yes there's two more sets to make their debut tomorrow, so please come back.  

And of course the rest of the Uniko DT have been busy making intoductory cards for today's two stamp sets, check them all out here.

Huge thanks for dropping by today, I really appreciate you taking the time.  And keep crafting!