Oh Come All Ye Faithful

Used an old PSX stamp I have to make this card. Picked the backing paper first and then coloured in the image to match using my tombow markers. Used a fiskars border punch to make the bottom "frill" and a strip of sentiment that I got from the NEC Craft show last year. Added gold ribbon, glitter and snowflake button from stash. Not getting as much card making done at the moment as I would like as I've just started a new job and am getting into a new routine.

Pudding Family Portrait

Just a really quick last minute post for Cute Card Thursday. The theme was food so I used (borrowed) this stamp from my daughters collection. Stamped and watercoloured and then layered onto DCWV backing paper. The little gold frame is one I've had in my stash for a long time. Added gold ribbon to make it look like a hanging picture in a frame on a wall. Holly and buttons also from stash. The picture hasn't come out very well as I scanned rather than photographed the card. It has cut some of the outside of the card away. Don't know why!!

Stampendous Christmas

Chloe and I went up into the loft last night to craft. We don't craft together as much as we used to as she usually has alot of Homework from school. We decided to do Christmas things, so I made two cards both with Stampendous Stamps

First I did this snowman with his string of bulbs, stretched out and glowing in front of him. I stamped him in Versafine Smokey Grey and them watercoloured him. I layered him on to backing paper (don't know what brand -had it for ages!)and added punched snowflakes. I used crystal lacquer on the bulbs to give a glass effect. I wasn't overly happy with the colour scheme on this card.

Next I stamped this little tree also from Stampendous in Versafine Vintage Sepia. I have succumbed to purchasing some Sansodour for coloured pencil blending and gave it a try. I was quite pleased with the outcome but not sure if it's more messing around than using watercolours. The sentiment stamp is from Penny Black and reads "Christmas isn't under a tree, Christmas is in your heart" It hasn't shown up very well on the Photo. I added a Sizzix original Primitive Heart and also stamped on that and them layered it on to the Sentiment. Stamped the swirls around the edge of the card and added glitter. I put chrystal lacquer on the Christmas baubles on the tree and buttons from stash.

Thanks for looking

Christmas Decoration

After looking through a copy of "Cards and Crafts for Christmas" by "Simply cards and Papercrafts" I decided to have a go at a Christmas Decoration they had in there.

Used the nestabilities for the ring (cut 2 and glued together for strength) and then used the Sizzix original holly die, candle and a punch for the flowers. The "joy" die is a sizzlit cut in gold mirror card. I did the same on the back so it looks tidy if it turns on the tree. I added the candle to the design myself. The flower centres were also little flower punch outs in yellow and red.

Thanks for taking a peek.

Sketch Saturday #16

I'm quite getting into and enjoying following sketches now and have had a go at Sketch Saturdays challenge again this week. Here is the sketch below.
Tilda is stamped in Versafine vintage sepia and then watercoloured. I decided to have a change from pinks and cutesy colours and went for light brown/tan instead. Both the backing papers were from Little Sizzles pads. I used my new Fiskars border punch on the paper edges and then chalked them too. Added punched hearts, Sentiments and buttons from stash.





Thanks For Looking,

Halloween

Have been waiting to get in the Autumn/Halloween mood to use this stamp since I bought her in May and decided last night was it!!! (must have been the full moon!) Maybe I will peek too soon.lol. I love Halloween and we usually have a party... (for the KIDs of course!!) and no i'm not a witch.

I stamped her in Versafine Smokey Grey and watercoloured her. I used a glitter glue pad for the swirls in the background on the black card and added purple glitter. Layered her on to green card. The pumpkins (watercoloured also) and the sentiment stamps were all from a set of clear Penny Black stamps that were a bargain at £4.50 from the NEC craft show in Spring. Punched out yellow stars and added plenty of glitter to all. Used coloured chalk pads around all the edges of the card too.

Just off to get my broomstick........

Sketch Saturday By The Skin of My Teeth

Had a try at Sketch Saturday this week but didn't start it until late last night and then finished it of this evening. The sketch looked very tempting to have a play with and I think I will use it again to do other cards with. I just hope I'm not too late to enter now.
I gave mine a Halloween theme using this PSX stamp I've had for a few years , but I really like her. She was stamped in black pigment ink and clear embossed to make her raised and shiny. I then watercoloured the image using a mixture of blues and a hint of purple for the sky. It is actually more purple and a little more magical looking than has shown up on the photo. The spider and bats on the orange circle are from Penny Black as is the "Boo" on the green circle. The Pumpkin on the yellow circle is a Hero Arts stamp. I used a glue pad to stamp Penny Black spiders webs in the corners of the card and added glitter. All the circles are cut with nestabilities dies.

Let It Snow Penny Black Mouse

Decided to make another Christmas Card last night to add to my Christmas box. Picked out this really sweet little Penny Black mouse looking skywards with his cosy scarf on.
I stamped him in Versafine Vintage Sepia ink and then coloured him in with my Tombows and a blender pen which I have not used for a very long time. I added a pale blue outline which I've seen many people do on their work. I think it worked quite well and makes the image "pop out" from the paper a little more. I layered the image onto a piece of silver card and then on to a piece of backing paper from K and Co Peppermint Twist Mat Pad which I also used down the opening of the card by cutting a strip with my fiskars cutting Board and a Scalloped blade. I stamped the PSX "Let It Snow" stamp in Versafine Smokey Grey and then used a glue pen to go over the top and added glitter - just to soften it all. I then added a punched foil snowflake, little buttons from my stash and of course more glitter!!!
I'm also working on a Wedding Anniversary card for Drew but haven't finished it yet. I will share when it's done - I think!! It's not going the way I planned ( if you know what I mean) I will have a look at it tonight with fresh eyes and see what I think.
Thanks For Looking

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 13

So managed to grab a little play time yesterday and to get me started again I decided to do the Penny Black Saturday Challange The challenge this week is simply "One for the Girls." I had a dig around and stamped this oh so cute Penny Black stamp called "Opening Night" in Smokey Grey versafine and water coloured her. I stamped her twice and layered her and the dog on foam pads. The sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts which I used a brush pen to colour and then added glitter over the top. I added little buttons and a flower with a brad in the middle from my stash.

Back from My Hols

Hello, I'm back from my holiday but am surrounded by washing so I haven't managed to get up to my craft stuff yet in the loft. My youngest is just starting full-time school too and that has been a little hectic as we got a phone call the night before she was due to start to say that a place had become available at our 1st choice of school.YAY. So having spent the summer telling her how good the 4th choice school was going to be we had to turn all that around and tell her about the 1st choice school. ( poor little thing, she must be so confused but it is all for the best as it IS a better school and alot closer to home)

Well I hope to get back in my craft seat real soon (when I've cleared the backlog of washing) and look forward to interacting with everyone again and seeing all your lovely creations. Hope you all had a lovely summer too.

Speak Soon

Signing Off For A Few Weeks

Well I've been busy packing to go away but I have managed to do 1 challenge before I go. I had a go at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which my daughter Chloe was lucky enough to win last week and I can confirm that the Tinker & Co, Gingerbread cookies download she won is delightful. (mmm need more printer ink!!!!)


This week the challenge was to use the sketch below to create a card as long as you include at least 1 Penny Black image. I decided to do another Christmas card to add to my box. I stamped the little mouse and water coloured him in. The backing papers are all DCWV. I punched snowflakes from metal foil and added ribbon from stash.

Just a reminder, if you haven't already joined Katharina's Blog candy give away, you still have time to join in. Katharina is celebrating 100,000 hits (wow) by giving away a set of Elisabeth Bell Guardian Angels plus another identical set so you can host your own blog candy giveaway. Click on the link above for more details of what to do. You have until 8pm on the 16th of August to enter.

Sorry this is just a quick post as I've still got lots to do ( don't want OH to be able to say that great line -"didn't YOU pack that" AAhhhhhh!

Will be AWOL for a few weeks until I catch up on the holiday washing when we get back and get little one settled into primary school but I'm sure the loft will be calling me - in fact I'm sure I can here the ink pads shouting my name even now.LOL.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and see you all soon.

Tilda & Co Blog Challenge

Decided to have a go at this weeks Tilda & Co Blog Challenge *Challenge 30* "Sketch This"

as above. It just had to include a Magnolia image and still resemble the original sketch when you had finished.
I used "Tilda Waiting" stamped in Versafine Smokey Grey and coloured her with watercolour pencils. The backing paper is all from a Little Sizzles pad, I used nestabilities for the central circles, prima flowers and Doodlebug Jewels for the flower centres. I'm quite pleased with the juicy,bright colours on this card.

Yellow and Blue Tilda !!

Thought I'd have a bit of a change colour wise as I'm a bit of a slave to pretty pinks and purples when I'm card making. So I went for this blue and yellow combo.

Stamped Tilda in versafine smokey grey and watercoloured her. Used yellow card as a base and DCWV paper pad for the blue circle. Used my nestabilities for the scalloped circle and punched little flowers our of red/pink card to match. I cut some flowers out of the blue backing paper to decorate the corner and added the sentiment plus some stickles here and there.

Card For My Brother

My Brothers Birthday is fast approaching and I still hadn't made a card. I know I kept putting it off because I can never think what to do for Men's cards. So yesterday after perusing UK Scrappers I went off to make a start.

I was inspired by something I saw on a lady called Debs Blog. What she had done was inked her cuttlebug embossing folder before placing the card inside and running it through. So I used pale blue card and used distress ink inside the folder and hey presto, I thought it was a really good effect. I then layered it all with a natural colour card. I cut letters with ellison dies and used nestabilities for the sentiment badge. The sentiment is by Stamps Away and stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia. The little button is a sissix sizzlit die and I added brads to finish.

Pretty Christmas

This round card is a "thankyou" and a homage to Chris and her blog, because I saw one similar that Chris had made and just had to have a go.

The card is made with a large nestabilities die, cut on the fold and then using a punch I made the little holes all around. The gingham backing paper is a free download from Chris , again on her blog.( Be sure to take a look because the paper is perfect for cute Christmas cards) The snowman is from the "winter season" Stampendous Perfectly Clear set, which I stamped in Versafine black ink and then watercoloured and Stickled. I layered him on to blue card and made the little sentiment tag from a PSX stamp and a punched silver heart. The ribbon and little snowflake button were from my stash.

Engagement and A Wedding

At last found some time on Sunday afternoon to get to my hidey hole and do some card making. Still couldn't go too mad as I had some rather sensible occasion cards to make. We are going away shortly so thought I'd better get done the cards we need for the Doos we have the week we come back.

So first off was the Engagement Card for a neighbours youngest daughter. I went for a silver/grey theme and used mirror card to cut the hearts with the Sizzix double heart die. I "tied"the two together with silver/grey ribbon and added bling. The backing paper was from a K and Co pad and the congratulations is from Hero Arts stamped in Versafine Smokey Grey. Added more ribbon and bling to finish. I will put "on your Engagement" on the card insert as I haven't put it on the front.
For the Wedding card I embossed the whole front of the card with the Swiss dots Cuttlebug folder. As the card is bigger than the folder it left a nice flat area to put the Sentiment - " Best Wishes On Your Wedding Day" - Hero Arts I think, will check later. Heat embossed the wedding cake( think its from Stampendous- will correct later if not) in gold, added some pastel colours with watercolour paints and added some stickles glue to decorate. Layered up on white glitter card (hasn't shown up on photo) and some K and Co backing paper. Added the little corner details and ribbon from stash.

Busy Doing Other Things

I really haven't done much card making at the moment as I've been busy doing other stuff like organising a family holiday,sorting out bedrooms and getting school uniforms etc ready for when we come back.

The only bit of crafting I have managed to fit in is making another RSVP card for a doo we've been invited to.

I used one of my Mum s new cuttlebug folders, (Thanks Mum) and embossed the whole thing as it's only a little card. I used Hero Arts Letter rubber stamps and heat embossed in gold which I cut out and mounted onto a piece of pale blue card to match the ribbon. I then punched little flowers out of the pale blue card to add to the front.


I must say a big "Thankyou" to my blog friend Chris and my daughter Chloe for sending me the Wylde Women Award. I don't feel worthy of this at the moment as I'm not doing alot but thankyou anyway.

Here are the rules:
1. You can give it to one or one hundred or any number in between - it's up to you. Make sure you link to their site in your post.
2. Link back to this blogsite (http://http://www.tammyvitale.com//) (so I can go visit all these wonderful women.
Purpose of the Award: To send love and acknowledgement to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy.

I'm going to pass this award onto:-
Anne because everyone should know about her Magnolia creations-It's a treat for your eyes.
TaniaJ - because her blog is consistently great.

A Lovely Surprise

Have just had a lovely surprise from a blogging UKS friend Chris who has passed on this award to me. Believe me this is a huge compliment coming from this lady as she is very talented. Check out her blog you wont be disappointed.

The rules of the award.

1. Only 5 people allowed.

2. 4 have to be dedicated followers of your blog

3. one has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world.

4. you must link back to whoever gave you the award, it is a way of saying thank you to those who take time out for wonderful comments to boost your day.

I am going to pass this award to:-

Chloe

Nadia

Edna

Anna

Elliemook

Christmas Lamp Tilda

Went up in the loft last night to craft and my eldest daughter Chloe came too. We had a couple of hours crafting together which we haven't done for a while because she usually has lots of homework from school to do. Now it's coming to the end of school year it's eased off a bit for her and she has some more free time to craft.
I made a Christmas card with a Tilda stamp I hadn't used yet. She is stamped in Versafine Smokey Grey and water coloured. The green check backing paper is from a Little Sizzles pad and the circle is cut from a Christmas DCWV pad with a spellbinder die. The sentiment is a PSX stamp which I love. Added glitter and embellishments from my stash.
Chloe made a card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge -her first ever challenge. She has put it on her blog -Please take a look and leave her an encouraging comment.TIA

Wedding Acceptance

Just a quick post today to put on this Wedding Acceptance card I made for a Doo my Husband and I have been invited to. I used the swirly birdy Cuttlebug embossing folder for the main feature on the card, stamped and heat embossed the "Acceptance" sentiment down the side and added some pretty ribbon to finish.

Sizzix Dinosaur

Just not getting as much card making done as I would like at the moment with one thing and another so my postings are a bit slow. Anyway managed to get a card done that my youngest needs for the weekend.
I used the Sizzix die to cut a dinosaur out of velvet paper and gave him a makeover with a googly eye, spots and a spiny back. I made a collage background for him to live in with the Sizzix tree die, torn paper mountains and punched leaves,dragonflies and ferns. Rubbed chalk pads in the sky for a cloud effect. I printed the sentiment in "word" and punched out with a circle punch. Added a stitched effect with a brown permanent pen.
The theme of the little boys party is Superheros and Princess's but I don't have any of those!
I think most little boys like dinosaurs! Fingers crossed.

Another Christmas Card

Haven't made a Christmas card towards my Christmas Box for a few weeks so the other night I picked one out I haven't used for a while. It's a Stampendous stamp and I think he is a lovely cheerful chappy. I like the stamp not just because of the image but also because it has the sentiment on it too.

I stamped him in Versafine smokey grey and then water coloured him. The backing papers are from a K and Co mat stack. I added ribbon and embellishments from my stash and applied plenty of glitter ( it is for Christmas!) The camera hasn't picked it up very well but I have stamped snowflakes on the card front in pale blue chalk inks.

I've also made some quick cards for a Charity sale that was happening at my daughters play group in aid of a Children's Cancer Charity. Here are a couple.(below)