Festive Frugality

The Willow Sketchie Challenge on Craftbubble  is set on a Saturday and for the first time ever I actually got to make a card on the same day!!I usually limp in last every week but I even managed to post my card on the forum ahead of everyone else as well!!

This sketch was created by newly recruited DT member Lauren:

First I embossed the lines on my Eazi Score board.This eliminated the need for tedious measuring.I don’t do measuring!I love these HOTP papers that I bought last year so much I try to think of ways where I don’t give too much of them away.I managed to adapt the sketch to include just two narrow strips.

The cute bear is called Bentley and is from a set that was a free gift on the front cover of October’s Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine.He’s been coloured with Promarkers.I used Nestabilities Lables One set turned 45° to create a diamond.I also cut a piece of green hammered card.Both have been edged with Metallic Gold Promarker.Next I stamped the greeting in Cottage Ivy Memento ink.I wrapped a length of wine organza ribbon around the middle.I made two holes to thread some dark green narrow satin ribbon through the topper.I then placed some foam tape on the back and stuck the it down adjusting the ribbon which was then attached to the inside of the card.Some square gems were finally added.

At this moment I noticed disaster had struck.I’d made a nasty mark on my base card.Honestly I’m a real mucky pup!

I did the only thing I could and prepared a new card – making sure my hands were clean of course.I carefully peeled off the papers,ribbons and image in one and laid them onto the fresh card.I rescued the gems on a seperate mission.Whew!I don’t know how I pulled that one off – but I did.

Everything I used to make this card was from last years Christmas supplies, the stamp was gratis and the fact I salvaged it all is a good explanation for the title of this post I think.

TFL,

Craftybunny x

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Three-in-one

This card was made for the Willow Sketchie Challenge on the Let’s Get Stamping group at Craftbubble.

This is the sketch:

The twist was to use any type of embossing in your work.

I’ve seen foil embossing with rubber stamps and thought I’d like to give it a try.Have to confess I bought some foil sheets a while back and never got round to doing this.Now seeemed like the ideal time to put it into practice.

The stamp is a freebie from Craft Stamper magazine.I used it with Stazon ink on the reverse side of the foil.I then traced the outline with a fairly fine embossing stylus.The set of foil sheets came with an embossing mat which looked suspiciously like some purple funky foam to me!I turned the sheet over then working on the right side I used the very fine end to further emboss around the inside lines of the image.I also drew in a horizon line complete with tufts of grass.For some reason the way the light reflected off the metal and doesn’t show the line as clearly defined as it is IRL.I wanted to add a little colour so I dusted off some permanent markers that I haven’t used in a very long time.When I used the paler colours they actually took the top layer of gold off.I think this was due to the fact that the foil I used was just some cheap kids craft stuff I bought just to see how I got on with this technique.As it happens I was quite taken with the effect.

The other embossing is heat embossing on the greeting using some lovely deep red pearl powder from a set I bought some time ago.I used the Cuttlebug Distress Stripes embossing folder on some So Mod Core’dinations card and lightly sanded it.I inked around the edges using Rhubarb Stalk Memento ink.I did the same with a piece K & Co paper.I mounted these over some Burgandy jute ribbon.I attached the foil piece to some card from the DCWV Christmas Mat Stack with some brads and adhered it in place with foam pads.The sentiment was attached in the same way.I added some lovely buttons from Autumn Leaves Savannah Bag-O-Buttons.If your an enormous button fan like me you should really check these out – they’re simply gorgeous.

TFL

Craftybunny x

Oriental Beauty

Over at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge this week there is a recipe – 1 ribbon,2 buttons and 3 papers.

If like me you have a large family challenges are a great way to keep up with all the cardmaking for various occasions.Plus they’re a lot of fun too!This card is for my nieces’ birthday next month.

For this card I have used Willow Designs Oriental Delight download.Once I cut the image out using Lables One Nestabilities it was coloured with Promarkers.The 3 papers are Making Memories.I cut a Nestabilities Scalloped Circle and Fiskars Scallop Sentiment border punch has been used down one edge of the strip at the side.In my stash I found this pretty  flower Anitas Sticky Ribbon and thought it co-ordinated well.The 2 buttons are Papermania.The dark pink card is Core’dinations So Mod.I’ve been using  this a lot it just seems to be a good match for my paper collection.Because the next die up in the Labels One is too big I cut round the same one I used for the image with a craft knife.The sentiment is from a See D set.

TFL

Craftybunny x

Keeping Warm!

Here’s a card for Willow Sketchie Challenge.

This is the sketch:

There has been a change to the rules.Whereas before at least one product from Willow Designs had to be used,now it is open to anything from your crafting stash.It’s also not limited to just cards!

As I still have a way to go on the Christmas card front I thought I’d use this cheeky little chap.He is actually from Willow Designs  and he’s the Keeping Warm download.You do have the freedom to interpret the sketch any way you feel but I’ve been totally boring and pretty much followed it as it stands.

The yummy papers are Daisy and Dandelion A Winter’s Tale.The plainer piece seemed to lend itself well to the wide band across the middle .The dark green hammered card is from my stash.All layers of card and paper have been edged with Metallic Gold Promarker.

The image is coloured with Promarkers and white gel pen has been added to the bobble on his hat and top of his stocking.To create a more fluffy texture I went over the top in a swirling motion whilst the ink was still wet.His eyes have been brightened with the same pen.

The flower and button are from a Dovecraft Christmas Embellishment Kit that I found in my local craft warehouse at a really bargainous price!The ribbons are Dovecraft 99p rolls,too.I couldn’t decide which to choose so I opted for both!An offcut has been threaded through the button as well.

TFL,

Craftybunny x

Poise

This card is for Passion for ProMarkers Challenge.There is a sketch to follow but the colour choice is your own.

Here’s the sketch:

The Sugar Nellie image,stamped in Rich Cocoa Memento ink,has been coloured with Ivory,Blush,Vanilla,Pastel Yellow,Gold,Apple Green,Sky Blue,Cool Aqua,Ruby,Cardinal Red and Crimson.The Blender has been used to diffuse the two blue shades that outline the image.

The DP is by K & Co.The dark red and gold coloured card is from DCWV Christmas Matstack and the pale green is from So Mod Core’dinations.All edges distressed with the Tim Holtz tool.The ribbon slider has been cut with a from the Cuttlebug Sliders 2×2 die set then mounted onto a Nestabilities Scalloped Oval.I found some lovely grosgrain ribbon in my stash to match the Core’dinations card. Flowers are from the Prima Bigger and Bitty bags with spacers and Making Memories brads in the centers.

TFL,

Craftybunny x

A splash of colour

Over at the Willow Sketchie Challenge on the Craftbubble forum the twist this week was monochrome with a dash of colour.

Here’s the sketch:

Although I have stacks of patterned papers I don’t seem to own any black and white ones.Fortunately I’d spotted these lovely florals at Canon Creative Park a while back and thought  I’ll have to play with them sometime.Well now I  got the chance.

As they are positive and negative images of the same design I cut an apeture,using Nestabilities,out of the darker one then positioned the lighter one behind.The centers of the flowers have been accented with Maroon Promarker.The stamped image by Sugar Nellie from Funky Kits has been shaded with pens from the Cool Grey range,1,3 and 5,with small amounts of Black for extra depth.The bow,buttons and tights are coloured in Maroon and Mulberry.They are showing more purple in the photo but in IRL they match the Core’dinations card better (more like the flower middles).The skin is a mix of Ivory and Blush and highlights are added with white gel pen.Even though she’s sitting on a ledge on the stamp I decided to carefully cut some slits so that the ribbon could be extended from the tag to the image.The sentiment comes fromPersonal Impressions Cute Characters set 2.

I’m a dreamer

The challenge at Passion for ProMarkers was to use any colours but there was a recipe to follow: 3 different shapes,2 papers and 1 ribbon.

I hope I’ve got this right as I’m not that good at sticking to cooking recipes.

To use the 2 papers by K & Co I decided to split them diagonally into triangles.The image was coloured with some new and old colours along with the Blender.White gel pen has been used to brighten the eyes.It already had a rectangular frame so I cut it out and mounted it onto some papermania Textured card.The stamp is Dreamer by Sugar Nellie.Organza ribbon has been used so that it didn’t obscure the divide between the papers.A circle ribbon brad with scaps of the same papers cut with Nestabilities behind for the third shape.The sentiment is from a large wooden boxed set  and has been stamped onto a triangle shaped tag.A large circular eyelet has been added with my Crop-a-Dile.

Apologies to the Passion for Pro Markers DT.I did mean to post this last night but I’m ashamed to say I fell asleep as I’m feeling a little under the weather.

This card was also created with several other challenges in mind.

C.R.A.F.T.Challenge:What does the photo suggest to you? 

For me it sums up the glorious blue skies and sunshine we’re experiencing at the moment,the last of the fading flowers,the changing in the colours of the leaves and it being a time to reflect on the the Summer just passed.Hope I’ve managed to capture that in my card.                                                                                  

By The Cute and Girly: Autumn Glory.So the colours and inspiration behind the card fall into that catagory.

Crafty Calendar Challenge : Autumn.There is an optional extra of plants and vegetation which is included in my choice of backing paper. 

Crafty Cardmakers : Ribbons and Fibres.This challenge site is aimed at newer cardmakers and bloggers so I guess I come under the latter.Still trying to get the hang of this blogging malarky!!

Caardvarks : Create a card using ribbon in a wonderful way.Having used the ribbon to tie on the tag and thread through the brad I’m hoping this is wonderful enough.

Stamp Something : Brown Plus Something.Think this counts.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge : Autum Colours.Yes, they’re there. 

Tanda Teaser : Russet and Gold.Colours work for this one too.

 

 

TFL

Craftybunny x

Bunnies are Fairies too

Last weeks Willow Sketchie Challenge was to use up those little scraps you always keep just in case.

This is the sketch:

I chose some pieces of K & Co papers that were left over from previous cards I’d made for this challenge group .

Rather than use uniform squares I cut the edges at quirky angles and added faux stitches here and there to give a patchwork effect. 

The Fairy Rabbit is part of the Pink Cat Studios Fairy Friends stamp set and has been coloured with a mix of old and new Promarkers.Because she was stamped onto cream card the tail and wings have been whitened with gel pen.Then the wings were coated in Diamond Stickles.The greeting,from the same set,was stamped in Rhubarb Stalk Memento ink.Stickles have also been used on the stars (doesn’t show up too well in photo).Cardstock is So Mod Core’dinations.Circles cut with Nestabilities and Flower Wedding #2 has been used to mount the image and sentiment.

TFL

Craftybunny x

Grace again

Here’s Grace again.This time I’ve used her for my first entry at Willow Sketchie Challenge.It is run by Sharon Armstrong who turns her delightful drawings into stamps and downloads which are available here.To enter the challenge you have to use any of  her products and follow a sketch:

 The image has been printed onto Hessian textured card then coloured with a mix of old and new colour Promarkers.The patterened paper is K & Co and the coloured card is all from the So Mod Core’dinations pack.The Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder has been used on the strip across the bottom which has also been sanded.I made the greeting on Word Art and printed this onto some more Hessian textured card.The flower behind that is cut from the center of Flower Wedding#2 Sizzix Bigz die.I knotted some gold organza ribbon and added some acrylic dew drops using Glossy Accents.

TFL,

Craftybunny x

Grace

This is my first entry on the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge blog.

Here’s the sketch to follow:

 

I used the Grace download available at Willow Designs .She’s coloured with Promarkers; Ivory,Blush,Buttercup,Gold,Duck Egg,Agean,Crimson,Burnt Orange,Meadow Green and Apple.

The flowery background paper is by K & Co.I mounted the image and paper onto Papermania textured card.The square has been embossed with the D’vine Swirl Cuttlebug folder and sanded lightly.Circles and scallop are cut using Nestabilities.Lemon raffia ribbon,flowers from the Prima Bitty Bag with Making Memories brads have been added to decorate.I replaced the  sentiment with a charm so as not to clutter the bottom of the card too much. 

TFL,

Craftybunny x