Suzanne's Papercrafting

Vintage Folded Book

2012-03-11T07:46:00.002Z

Check out the Gingersnaps Creations Blog I have got a tutorial (project really) being shown......I hope you can stop by and let me know what you think. I have created a folded book incorporating all things vintage/heritage ......... all the details can be found on the Gingersnaps Blog.

I have used stamps from Kaisercraft, Creative Expressions and TJ Designs. I love the new Marianne Design Frame Die LR0219 which I cut using metal and then aged with Stazon ink and added a lovely resin cameo which I picked up from the Cubby Hole.

I would like to enter my folded book into the following challenges:-

Craft Room Challenge - "Shabby/Vintage"

My Mojo Monthly - "Vintage Vibes"
My inspiration for the folded book came from a display in the Cubby Hole, my local craft shop where Sue Roddis of Jabberwocky created a wonderful scene usingbooks. Her style is completely different from mine but it is something I can appreciate and admire!

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - "Bingo"
I have used the left hand vertical line:- Show some Metal (my cameo frame), Lace (trim) & Some Words (Memories, vintage Treasure & Avant-Garde)

The Stamp Man - "Vintage"

Thanks for stopping by! Have a good Sunday! Suzanne ~x~

Granny's Photo Album with Gingersnaps

2012-03-07T05:27:00.000Z

Hello, this month sees the last month of Gingersnap Creations as both founding femmes, Shar and Ali are setting off on new ventures. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both of them - I have been with the Gingers for a long time now and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thank you Shar and Ali for having faith in me and offering me my first every Design Team position and wish you every success in your new "adventures".

"Granny's Photo Album"

I have gone back to my roots in more ways than one! One - I started off papercrafting as a scrapbooker following a trip to Florida and a scrapbook album. When I look back it was very basic but it set me off on this particular road to where I am now and; Secondly the photo is actually from my "Nanna's Photo Album".

The photo was taken in 1952 and was taken in my mum/my nanna's street during a street party to celebrate our Queen's coronation. Sixty years later my mum is now 68-years old, my beloved nan is no longer with us and our Queen is celebrating her diamond jubilee. I am feeling quite emotional - street parties no longer happen like they did (I remember vaguely 1977).

The stamps I have used to create my page include:- Indigo Blu, Crafty Individuals and some old text stampsfrom EK Success. My rosettes have been hand made and the flags have been hand drawn and then stamped.

Please check out my fellow DT gingers creations HERE and I really hope you can join us for the final journey of Gingersnaps Creations!

Suzanne ~x~

Spring Flowers with MMM

2012-03-05T09:46:00.001Z

March sees a new theme brought to us by Jacqueline, the Make My Monday challenge owner and leader. The new monthly theme is:-

S P R I N G

and this week we would like to see your "spring flowers"

Now I adore Spring ...it is my favourite season of the year! I have this week made an 8x8 card and used some very old K&Co vintage papers which I have machine stitched to give an extra touch! My focal image is of bluebells - I have bluebells galore in my front (very small) forecourt and love them. Thank you my friend Christine for the loan of the PaperArtsy stamp - I hope you like what I have done with it.

I have also used a Martha Stewart punch, my own PaperArtsy sentiment, distress inks for edging and shading and some gold "binding" and ribbon.

The main image has been stamped in Versafine ink, decoupaged slighly and then painted with Lyra Water Crayons.

Pop over to the Make My Monday blog to see the wonderful inspiration from my fellow DT friends...amazing as usual!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:-

Top Tip Tuesday - "Stitching"
My top tip is to cut the ribbon from garments/clothes and use these in your ribbon stash.

Just Inspirational Challenges - "Photo of Meadows filled with Daffodils & Bluebells"

Suzanne ~x~

Craft Room Challenge

2012-03-04T16:07:00.001Z

Thought I would have to give the colour challenge a miss this fortnight over at the Craft Room Blog due to missing mojo but when playing at the Cubby Hole's play day yesterday I made an inky and stamped background that when I looked at again today thought it would be perfect;- BROWN, cream and OraNGe

An 8x8 cream card base with my inky background which was made using a mixture of distress inks, Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey and Walnut Stain. Stamps used are the Papillion set from Tim Holtz. The embossing mount was made using a Tim Holtz embossing folder.

Cream card was also coloured to create the punched layered flowers.

So pleased I have managed to play ...the Craft Room challenge is one of those I do not like to miss! I would also like to enter the following challenges with my card:-

StampTacular Sunday - Text Me "Best Wishes to you" as well as my text background

Allsorts Challenge - "Spread your Wings"

Flutterby Wednesdays - Butterflies

Take care everyone! Suzanne~x~

Shabby/Vintage Blue

2012-03-03T09:42:00.002Z

One of my cards I made for Valentine that I haven't blogged yet. It's A5 in size and incorporates a stamped image from Lost Coast Designs stamped in Sepia Versafine and embossed with Shabby Blue/Gold embossing flakes.

The two patterned papers are from Papermania. The flourish is from Maya Road which has also been embossed. The heart is mountboard and has been hand-drawn. The border is from Marianne Design and the cameo is one of my charity shop finds.....

I am entering this into the following challenges:-

The Shabby Tea Room - Photo Inspiration "Shabby Shutters"

Crafty Cardmakers - Recipe

My lady is stamped, two patterned papers from Papermania, my embellishments are my flourish, my cameo and my flowers.

Hope everyone has a good weekend. The lovely early spring weather seems to have disappeared from my part of the world.

Diamonds & Flourishes

2012-02-27T10:05:00.002Z

It's the last week of the Romance theme at Make My Monday and we are going out with some glamour. We would like to see:-

"Diamonds and Flourishes" as they are a girl's best friend

(Though I would prefer a nice new rubber stamp lol:)

Click HERE to see the other design team member's work on this theme! Please also remember that we have an amazing prize kindly donated from Marianne Design for the overall monthly winner.

I have made a trio of cards in a turquoise and silver colour theme ....I must admit that I am also entering these into the Cubby Hole's "create after eight" challenge for February which was three cards in either turquoise and silver OR black and silver - no other colours were to be used. Here is what I came up with:-

All are 6" square on silver pearlescent card. Stamps used are Time Holtz Papillion set and TJ Designs vintage set along with a flourish from a Fancy Pants set vintage set. Numerous Marianne Design Dies were used including my favourite English Rose LR0162, Lace Border LR0201, Key LR0193, Lace edging LR0161/ and Open Flower LR0156. My diamonds have been added to the centre of the roses, some of the flourishes and the borders.

My photos are not particularly good - it was rather a grey day when I took these last week and then they were dropped at the Cubby Hole as this is not a virtual challenge. I hope you can play along with us at Make My Monday. I would also like to add these cards into the following challenges:-

Moving Along With the Times - "Layers"

Gingersnap Creations - "Two Colours Only"

I know I am on this DT but I didnt do a piece for this challenge but thought these would fit the two colour challenge.

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - "Make it for a Child"

Suzanne ~x~

Victorian Romance at Make My Monday

2012-02-20T10:01:00.000Z

Hello, Monday again - so that means a brand new challenge over at Make My Monday! Continuing with the month long theme of Romance - this week we would like to see your creations based upon:-

"Victorian Romance"

The Victorians were known for their romance. They gave us the meaning of flowers, the first greetings cards etc so the world is your oyster with this theme.

Don't forget we also have a great prize that has been kindly donated by Marianne Design for the overall monthly winner.

I have used Marianne Design Nostalgia Paper Bloc (which is absolutely divine), Marianne Design Craftable Frame CR1202, a very old Crafty Individuals heart stamp, perfume bottle stamps and a text, both brands escape me. The perfume bottles and heart have been embossed to give them a sheen but the photograph does not show this.

You can find my fellow DT friends take on the challenge HERE!

I am entering the following challenges with this card:-

Ruby's Rainbow - "Vintage"

Polkadoodles - "Recipe"
1x image, 2 x papers, 3 x embellishments

Just Inspirational Challenges - Photo Inspiration
Again I have been inspired by the roses in the third photo

Have a good week - looking forward to seeing your Victorian Romance. Suzanne ~x~

Cubby Hole - "Tick Tock"

2012-02-18T07:41:00.000Z

This month Carol of the Cubby Hole, Crewe asked me to provide the inspiration for her monthly challenge - "TICK-TOCK". The details can be found on Carol's Blog where she showcases her customers' work as well as being displayed in the shop - there is always so much diversity.

My piece is a double canvas mount - and I know I like the layered look but this is VERY busy for me - in retrospect I would have used less foliage stamps on the tissue paper but I did want to look like a overgrown garden.

Both canvas have had the crackle treatment with contrasting colours. Brown/cream and brown/ochre. The large canvas has also had foliage stamped onto tissue paper adhered

The cogs were cut from embossed mirri card which I had coloured with a combination of Stazon inks - these were highlighted with a white gel pen. Text are quotes from Alice in Wonderland and have been done on my computer and coloured with my wax lyra crayons.

The images are from Indigo Blu and these have also been coloured with Lyra crayons.

Little paper flowers added and micro seed beads used for the flower centres. White rabbit's clock has been covered with glossy accents for depth.

I am entering the canvas into the following challenges ........

Sir Stampalot - "In the Garden"
It's a very busy overgrown wild garden with strange inhabitants :)

The Stamp Man - "Texture"
Lots of texture;- crackle paint, tissue paper, embossed cogs, seed beads :)

Gingersnaps Creations - "Faux Techniques"
I know I have done my DT piece for this challenge - but seen as I love the faux metal (embossed mirri card) thought I would upload to the challenge.

Have a good weekend everyone - we are having Little Lillie sleeping over tonight - so I will be mentally exhausted tomorrow, but it's all good fun! Suzanne ~x~

Monochrome + 1 with Fashionable Stamping

2012-02-16T05:36:00.000Z

This fortnight the Fashionettes over at the Fashionable Stamping challenge blog would like to see entries using a monochrome colour scheme - the twist is they have asked to see one other colour with it......

Okies despite having lots of DT work to do I just had to play along! My card is an 8x8 kraft base. My choice of monochrome is "shades of brown" and the extra colour is "royal blue" (I hope).

The theme of the card is royalty/patriotic as we in Britain have a busy year with our Queen celebrating her diamond jubilee and the Olympics coming.....so that's why I put the "royal blue" with the browns. I really hope it is okay!

The background was inked and then stamped over with various stamps and square sequin waste was used to ink through. Faux stitching was added. The centre panel is a page from a very old London guide book which was further inked. My Queen and King are from Lost Coast Designs. Other stamps used are Indigo Blu and My Paper World.

Along with Fashionable Stamping I am also entering my card into the following challenges:-

Let's Ink It Up - "Ribbon & Lace"

Another one of my fave challenges. My brown lace is a trim at the bottom of the centre panel and ribbon has been used on my tag.

Anything Goes Challenge - "Bingo"
First time of playing so I hope I have got this right:- Your Choice, 2 or more stamped images, distressing, ribbons and lace......?

I have also registered with Mr Linky as we may be losing Google Friends ....I am not sure (think it may be those that use something other than blogger) but it was relatively easy to sign up to Linky in any event, see the right hand side of my blog...would love it if you want to follow me there!

Thanks for visiting today! Suzanne ~x~

Marianne Design Divas..."Winter Blues"

2012-02-15T12:11:00.000Z

My second post for the day - see below for my Gingersnaps DT contribution.

Today sees a new monthly challenge over at Marianne Design Divas and this month our challenge leader, Amy has asked to see craft based on the "Winter Blues"

I have gone literally and chosen a "winter" scene - I have painted a box with a mixture of light and dark blue acrylic paints, using a crackle medium so the dark blue shows through.

Marianne Design Products Used:-
Creatables Leaves LR0192, Creatables Sign Post LR0191, Creatables Floral LR0107, Creatables Lace Border LR0201, Eline's Pretty Pastel Paper Bloc, Vintage Image

The top of the box is a separate canvas which I have decorated with various Marianne Design products. I have added "frost" using antique micro beads.

A close up of the crackle effect!

I hope you can play along with Marianne Design Divas as there are two fabulous prizes on offer from:- Bunny Zoe Crafts and Marianne Design themselves.

I am entering my box into the following challenges

Make it Monday - always anything goes

Crafty Emmas - "lots of layers"
There are lots of layers of paint I can vouch for (as I went wrong) and my top canvas has been layered with paint, paper, die cuts and macro beads.

Scrappy Frogs Challenge - "Die Cuts"

Suzanne ~x~

Gingersnaps - Faux Technique

2012-02-15T07:05:00.000Z

Gingersnap Creations this month is having a month of "words of wisdom" and this week sees the new challenge;- "faux techniques" - check out the Gingersnaps blog as there is a section of previous tutorials to reference. I have used a faux metal technique using mirri card and Stazon inks - one of my favourite ways to get really inky fingers.

We also have the pleasure of being sponsored this month by Rogue Redhead Designs stamps - I have used their new plate "Just Sayin" and made a concertina book......

I have used my Promarkers (which I do need to practice with) to colour in the wonderful characters - they look as though they could tell me a thing or two.

Suzanne ~x~

Hearts & Flowers at MMM

2012-02-13T09:33:00.001Z

Make My Monday certainly comes round quickly - can you believe it is Valentine's Day already tomorrow. Bearing that in mind and keeping in with this month's theme "Romance" the challenge brief at Make My Monday is:-

"Hearts & Flowers"

Check out my fellow design team buddies's work HERE!

I have made two cards again this week as I was enjoying working with the kraft card and shabby sort of look with dulled tones rather than the reds and pinks.

I have used Kaisercraft papers which I have stamped over using the Creative Expressions vintage sewing set, (dressforms and sentiment). My heart is a very old stamp and I cannot remember the brand. Lace was ruffled and placed behind.

The scissors LR0194 and flowers (Craftable CR01202) are both from Marianne Design who just happen to be our wonderful sponsor for the month - there is a wonderful prize!

I am entering this first card into the following challenge:-

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - "Lace"

My lace is behind my very old heart stamp.

My second card is along the same lines - again using the Kaisercraft paper, my EK Success border punch.

I have used the Marianne Design Hearts Die LR0159 which I cut using kraft card and then layering on top of patterned paper. The text on the tag is an old stamp again. I have used the binding of a pink pig journal page for edging.

The rose is an Anitas stamped in Sepia Versafine and then coloured with water colour pencils and then text stamped around the edge.

Detail photographs.....hope you like my toned down version of Romance cards and can play along with us at Make My Monday.

My second card is being entered into the following challenges:-

Just Inspirational Challenges

I have picked out the roses from the inspirational photo.

S J Papercrafts - Happy & Use a Punch

This is a new challenge blog!! Love makes us all happy doesnt it? Heart punch and border punch used.

Suzanne ~x~

Craft Room C&C

2012-02-12T10:24:00.000Z

"C&C" ...cute and cuddly with the Craft Room Challenge this fortnight! Okay I hold my hands up ...I find this genre really really difficult .... not that I do not appreciate it when I see the lovely embellished cards, that's the bit I find difficult and the colouring in!

I inked my own background and used the following products:-

Marianne Design Clear Stamps Snoesjes-girl-with-dog

Marianne Creatables Circlets LR0152, Bird on Branch LR0138, Bird & Grass LR0204

Well I tried my best and here is what I came up with as I really didn't want to miss out playing along with them at the Craft Room.

Suzanne ~x~

Vintage Sewing Card

2012-02-07T14:08:00.000Z

A shabby chic vintage sort of looking card just because I wanted to use my Vintage Scissors die and my Sign Post Dies from Marianne Designs - they have to be two of my favourites.

Marianne Design Products: Classic Scissors LR0194, Sign Post LR0191 Lace Edging Die LR0161, and papers along with Creative Expressions Vintage Sewing Stamp set, Kraft card along with pins/buttons.

"Needlework is a way to capture Love, Beauty, Peace & Time"

It's lovely phrase isnt it?

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Stamp,Scrap & Doodle - "Die Cuts or Punches"

Delightful Challenges - "Punches or Dies"

Make it Monday with the Kraft Journal - "la la Luv Yu"

My base card, scissors and sign post are cut from kraft card

Suzanne ~x~

"Love Letters" with MMM

2012-02-06T10:49:00.000Z

New month, new theme at Make My Monday. It's my turn to select the themes too..... and I had no choice but to go for:-

ROMANCE

with a weekly theme today of "Love Letters"

We would like to see either some text or verse on your craft/artwork with the theme of Romance. Check out my fellow DT friends here at Make My Monday if you need inspiration. We are also sponsored this month by Marianne Design who have provided a super prize keeping in with the romantic theme. Check out their fabulous projects which include wonderful dies, papers and stamps to name but a few. I have the pleasure of being on both their World Design Team and the Marianne Design Divas DT so I am prone to be a bit biased......but trust me!

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:-

Joanna Sheen Challenge - "Love is in the Air"

Craft Room Challenge - "Valentine"

I know it's my second entry!

Stamps R Us - "Valentine/Love"

I have also made a second card using Marianne Design
products. This has more of a vintage feel as I have opted to use the Nostalgia Papers, Ribbon Flowers and Heart Die LR0159.

The centre piece is a Carafty Indoviduals image which has been triple embossed and then cracked to give a vintage feel. The back piece is again triple embossing which has been stamped into and then painted gold.

The image is just delightful I think and perfect for the Love Letters theme.

I apologise for the length of my post and hope you stayed with me to the end. Suzanne ~x~

Fashionable Stamping - "Its a Guy Thing"

2012-02-05T11:12:00.000Z

Fashionable Stamping has the theme of "Its a Guy Thing" this fortnight and I have managed to find time to play along. I would also like to thank Terri for choosing my last entry to be part of the Saturday Spotlight - was thrilled to see it there! This entry is an easel card and I have used mostly Indigo Blu stamps along with PaperArtsy and the Cuttlebug Cogs.

I have used a combination of sepia Versafine, distress inks, Walnut Stain, Aged Mahogny and Faded Jeans. White gel pen and charcoal pencil have added highlights.

Detailing has been also added with the use of the Marianne Design Key die, brass bits n pieces and text.....

I am also adding my card into the following challenges:-

Just Inspirational - Steampunk
I was also pleased to note that I won 1st place in this challenge for my butterfly scene card a few weeks ago - so pleased I have managed to enter another challenge with them.

Charisma Cardz - "Vintage"

Colour Create - Browns, Cream and/or White

Suzanne ~x~

Valentines with the Craft Room

2012-02-01T17:32:00.000Z

My second post of the day - see below for my Gingersnaps DT piece "Words of Wisdom". Time for a new challenge at the Craft Room and this fortnight the DT would like to see our Valentine creations. Here is my entry:-

Again it's 8x8 in size. The base was gessoed, sponged with distress inks:- Victorian Velvet and Antique Linen. I then overstamped with a Debbie Moore brocade stamp in a Memories shadow ink, Rose - you have to look carefully.

The border (another Debbie Moore stamp) was stamped using Sepia Versafine, a spine of an old poetry book (have used some of the pages and covers for other things) was added with lace under.

A poem from the aforementioned book was distressed and again stamped with a Debbie Moore stamp. Hearts, frame and image are from Crafty Individuals.

My lady and bundle of postcards are also from Crafty Individuals. The postcards have been stamped in sepia again and then coloured with watercolour pencils. Edges have been distressed.

As well as the fabulous Craft Room challenge I am entering this into the following challenges:-

Cheerful Stamp Pad - "Romance is in the Air"

Creative Stamp Friends - "SomethingOld/Antique"
My book spine is from an old poetry book as is the poem.

Stamps R Us - Valentine/Love

"Words of Wisdom"

2012-02-01T07:45:00.000Z

Gingersnap Creations are this month sponsored by Rogue Redhead Designs. The lucky Gingers have been provided with Rogue Redhead Design's and I decided to use "Milliner's Misses" on the first challenge of the month. Here is what I came up with based on the theme of "Words of Wisdom".

"Good Friends are Always in Fashion"

I have made a heart hanging which has been painted, stencilled and stamped. The trio of Milliner's Misses has been stamped onto tissue and then placed over the top.

I hope you get chance to check out the Gingersnaps Creations challenge and the wonderful stamps on offer from Rogue Redhead Designs.

I am entering my heart hanging into the following challenges:-

The Stamp Man - "Embellish It"

I have used inked flowers, brass findings and bead hanging.

Crafty CardMakers - "Beads"
Bead hanging

Thanks for stopping by! Suzanne ~x~

Butterflies & Dragonflies with MMM

2012-01-30T09:51:00.000Z

There were some fabulous entries at Make My Monday last week - its great to see the diversity . Fliss has set a great challenge brief again this week (one of my favourite things) for the last week of the January challenges:-

"Butterflies and/or Dragonflies"
Following the "nature" theme please

My piece for the MMM design team is a simple easel card but you can see the varied interpretation of my fellow DT members HERE!

I have coloured my card using distress inks and adding accents through sequin waste before stamping in sepia and distress inks. The stamps used are a very old set from Wendi Rhodes and I thought the bull rushes etc suited the dragonfly as these are often found near water.

My dragonfly was also stamped in Versafine Sepia ink and then further stamped onto acetate using Stazon ink. The back of the wings were then glittered using blue and green stickles. Simple sentiment added. I could have added more embellishment but I really wanted the dragonfly to be in a natural scene.

I am entering my card into the following challenge:-

Crafty Catz - "things with wings"

Suz ~x~

Just Playing with Dies...

2012-01-28T06:52:00.001Z

I do love my stamps but I also love my die cuts so I thought I would have a play just because. The tri-arch is especially for my husband, he is the long suffering type with lots of patience for my hobbies and pastimes. We share a wicked sense of humour - one of the standing jokes is that he wants me to buy him a new Jaguar .....to replace his old Jaguar. YES RIGHT?

Anyway the tri-arch is to say that he cannot have the keys to a new Jaguar but he does have the key to my heart ....lol:) How soppy is that? He will have a laugh at that as we dont do soppy! Kept the tri-arch simple as Neil doesnt do busy etc.

Products Used:- Marianne Design Creatables Dies - Hearts LR0159, Classic Car LR0198 and the versatile Key LR0193 Marianne Paper Bloc, Crafty Individuals glossy image, random text saying and gold acrylic dabber.

I am entering this piece into the following challenges:-

Sentimental Sundays - "Die Cuts"
I have used Marianne Creatables dies as detailed above.....

The Hybrid Chick Card Caravan - "Die Cuts"

Gothic Arch Challenge - "Use some Metal"
So pleased that this challenge has gone live again.....!

Suzanne ~x~

Gingersnaps: Gorgeous Greens

2012-01-25T09:37:00.000Z

Today sees a new colour challenge over at Gingersnaps Creations - "Gorgeous Greens". This is my favourite colour (my husband says I only like things because they are green?) and looking back over my blog over the last few weeks - most things are green lol:)

Don't forget we also have the privilege of being sponsored this month by Stampotique Originals. I chose the following two stamps to work with:- Femme Collage (7142) and Collage Definition (9188).

I have used Mariposa papers (again), bottle green Adironack ink, various green ribbons and buttons. My new Marianne Creatable die cut Doily Round LR0168 to create both the mats and the flower. I have pierced the edges of my paper before distressing.

I have added pins and paper ribbon onto chiffon ribbon for extra detail.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Sir Stampalot - "Monochromatic"

Stamping Boutique - "Die Cuts"

Suzanne ~x~

MMM - Flowers & Leaves

2012-01-23T09:22:00.000Z

My piece for Make My Monday's design team this week is a papier mache monogram letter. "S" is for Suzanne - no I am not vain I just got the one letter to give it a try before I do my granddaughter's name, Lillie for her nursery! Or it could be for "Spring" which is hopefully just round the corner!

The nature theme continues and this week MMM is asking you to create a project incorporating "Flowers & Leaves".

The monogram has been covered with patterned napkins and my flowers and leaves have been made from gold metal which have been cut using Marianne Creatable LR0168 Doily Round, these have then been overstamped with a text and decorative "star" stamp in the centre. The "dream" sentiment was stamped onto grunge paper which had been coloured with distress inks.

I have also made a card using patterned Mariposa papers which have been stamped over and then highlighted with white gel pen. Scraps of sequin waste have been added. The focal image has been stamped onto tissue paper and added to card which was coloured with a selection of distress inks. Highlights were done with a white gel pen.

I am also entering these piece into the following challenges:-

Paper Crafting Journey - "Floral"

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes & Make Your Own Embellishments

Let's Ink It Up - "Anything Goes"

Thanks for stopping by - I have been getting some lovely comments and these are much appreciated. Suz ~x~

Butterflies or Bugs with the...

2012-01-19T09:22:00.000Z

fashionettes over at the Fashionable Stamping Challenge. The current challenge is Butterflies and Bugs. As I used my bee stamp in the last challenge for Fashionable Stamping I am using butterflies. They are anyway one of my favourite things to stamp.

Another 8x8 card from me - I started first with the focal panel, which I inked using distress inks;- peeled paint and tumbled glass. I stamped three of Marianne Design Eline Huis Butterfly stamps in Versafine sepia, I then masked these and overstamped with a flourish and text stamp. The butterflies were then stamped again onto inked paper and then layered to give depth.

I then delved deep into the back of one of my cupboards and found some very old K&Co paper which I overstamped (as I wasnt fond of it now) with the text and flourish stamp and then distressed the edges with an emery board. Added ribbon and a couple of Marianne Design Creatables die cuts:-
LR201 (a new die - it's so deep for a border die) and LR0192 (a really useful fern/foliage die).

I am also entering my card into the following challenges:-

Flutterby Wednesdays - Open week

The Stamping Boutique - Die Cuts

Suz ~x~

Create a Scene - MMM

2012-01-16T09:25:00.000Z

Make My Monday sees the grey month of January continuing with Nature and today sees Fliss asking us to:-

"Create a Scene"

Now as my regular crafting friends will know I am not an artist and therefore struggle with this - I am more a collagey layering sort of girl.......I am really not sure whether I have done this particular challenge justice so I recommend you bob over to the MMM blog and see what the rest of the DT have created.

My card is A5 in size. I started with inking the background using Tumbleglass and Shabby Shutters distress inks, I then spritzed the card with water. The picket fence (Stampotique) was then stamped onto card which had been coloured using Tea Dye and Sepia ink pads. This was then cut out (which was easier than it looks surprisingly).

My "scene" of a meadow was then stamped using a selection of inks with the Elusive Images (now Chocolate Baroque) plate of foliage stamps.......My picket fence was then affixed - I tried not to stick this flat and did some bending before adhering with silicone glue! My butterfly stamps are Crafty Individuals and my love birds are Personal Impressions. The sentiment is from a plate of Papermania stamps.

Hope you can join us this week - there have been some fabulous entries so far for the month and I am looking forward to seeing what you all come up with!

I would llike to enter the following challenges with my card:-

Create a Scene - Anything as long as it is a scene!

Just Inspirational Challenge - "photo inspiration"

Stamp n Doodle - Country Living

Suzanne ~x~

Marianne Design Divas - "New" Beginings or New Stash

2012-01-15T15:46:00.001Z

"In with the New" or "New Beginnings". Interpret this challenge whichever way you please;- new stash, new baby, new house etc - that's the call from this month's new challenge from Marianne Design Divas. You have a whole month to play along and the only criteria is to use some Marianne Design products.

We are also lucky enough to be sponsored by Cuddly Bunny Crafts and Marianne Design themselves. So there are two great prizes on offer.

My contribution to the Design Team this month is an A5 card and matching gift box. I have used new stash as I am lucky enough to have received one of the gorgeous new Craftable Butterfly dies from Marianne - its just stunning particularly on the pearlised card I used.

My image was triple embossed to give a more aged feel and mounted onto greyboard. Seed beads and gems were added to the butterfly which was also layered.

Close up's of the key embossed with copper metal sheet and close up of the layered stamped flower (Craft Stamper freebie) with seed beads ended to the centre.

Card & Gift Box using Marianne Design Products:-

New Stash to me: Craftables Rectangle CR1202, Decorative Hearts LR 0159

and the most beautiful new Craftable Butterfly CR1205

Other Marianne Products used:

Creatables Key LR0193, Young Women Nostalgia Sheet and Nostalgia Paper Bloc

Insise the box and the box lid.

I am entering this card and gift box into the following challenges:-

Crafters Companion - "love is in the air"

I used my Crafters Companion box making board to construct the gift box

Incy Wincy Designs - "vintage"

Polka Doodles - "vintage"

The Stamp Man - "Use Red"

Please check out my fellow DT members and the prizes on offer from the Marianne Design Divas. Suzanne ~x~

CAS with the Craft Room

2012-01-12T07:20:00.000Z

Not my usual genre and my friends know I struggle with the clean and simple but I wanted to play along with the girls at the Craft Room challenge. I really hope that my 8x8 kraft card can be deemed to be clean and simple - there is a lot of "white/empty space" and it's clean and simple for me:)

I have dug out a set of my old tapestry stamps (I find it relaxing using these so I dont know why I dont use them more) and inked using a selection of distress inks for a change (I usually use markers when using my tapestry stamps).

The door (Paperartsy) stamp has never seen ink before and has been in my stash for well over 12-months and I really wanted to use it. Stamped onto cream card with Verafine Sepia ink and then mounted onto grey board. The sentiment from Crafty Individuals was treated the same as the door.....and pearls affixed.

Thank you for stopping by; appreciate it!

Suzanne ~x~

Make My Monday - Mid Week Motivation

2012-01-11T10:38:00.000Z

Well it feels as though Christmas was months ago...well back into the swing of things; such as work lol:). Make My Monday's weekly challenge is continuing with Fliss' nature theme:-

ANIMALS

and I have this week had the pleasure of doing the mid-week motivation (due to certain circumstances occurring at weekend) so pop along to Make My Monday to see my very short tutorial on how to make rosette flowers (opted for this as Fliss likes DIY crafting). Please forgive the quality of the photographs as I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark and the artifical light in my big old house is not great!

My card is a 6" square and I have used an old Penny Black stamp, which I coloured with water colour pencils. The background has been created using distress inks and a Crafters Workshop stencil. The border at the bottom is a Cuttlebug embossing border which I have coloured with distress inks.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Heart Song Inspirations - Use a border punch
I used an EK success border punch to make my rosette flower

Paper Creations Ink - Use a Punch/Die Cut
Border punch and scallop punches used

Suzanne ~x~

Just to let you know...

2012-01-05T16:54:00.000Z

...I am having a small clearout of some of my stamps. My husband has listed them on ebay for me and they can be found HERE!

Please note that none of the stamps look in pristine condition ..... as I do get carried away when crafting i.e. I dont always stop and clean straight away and I am very inky and messy lol:) BUT they do stamp perfectly.

Take Care All

Suzanne ~x~

Use a Set with Gingers

2012-01-04T09:29:00.000Z

At Gingersnaps Creations this month we are trying to get organised for the new year and this month we are sponsored by the fabulous Stampotique Originals - so there is sure to be some great artwork being created.

This week's challenge (which lasts a month) is to "use a set" - I had a number of Jo Capper-Sandon stamps in my stash so I thought I would use them as they are among my faves. I also received two complimentary stamps from Stampotique. All Stampotique stamps used are listed below:-

Large Bee (3008), Shrooms (3010), Hexagon (3006), Picket Fence (6090) and Dream (7092).

Other products used are:- Idealogogy Lost & Found papers, Adirondack inks, Expresso and Bottle Green, Crafters Workshop Stencil, white gel pen and charcoal pencil.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

The Craft Room - "Anything Goes"

One of my fave challenge sites as the DT are so friendly. Thanks again ladies for selecting my punch and dies cut piece as one of your top three.

Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Here the DT inspiration is amazing. New Stash - Picket Fence Stamp & Dream Stamp

Suzanne ~X~

Birds at Make My Monday!

2012-01-02T10:37:00.000Z

Happy New Year to all my blogging buddies! Last day of my Christmas break today so hopefully I will make the most of it. Not only do we see a New Year but also a new monthly theme at the fab Make My Monday Challenge Blog.

Fliss, my fellow DT member is certainly provided us with a lovely month of challenges- : NATURE! The week's theme is:-

"BIRDS"

Here is my contribution to this week's DT. It's another 8x8 card. I think it's from my scrapbooking days but I like working on this size card the best.

I have used Mariposa papers from DCWV along with my new Martha Stewart Hydrangea border punch (thank you son!), Woodware bird stamps and rose dog wreath stamp, Paperartsy flower stamp, Papermania text stamp and Marianne Design Creatable LR0152 (thank you Neil!). I have accented the bird and flower with glossy accents.

Please visit us at the Make My Monday Blog - it's a stress free friendly challenge with free rein on what you create, whether it be stamping, die cutting, decoupage ..... all types of crafting are welcomed! There is a lovely prize (donated by Fliss) for the monthly winner, which is chosen from our weekly top 3. Suzanne ~x~

Gingersnaps #132 - Colour Challenge

2011-12-28T08:23:00.000Z

I hope everyone has enjoyed the festive season and wish you all well for the New Year!

Its the last challenge of 2011 and the last challenge of "Holiday Lights" over at Gingersnap Creations. There has been some fabulous artwork by my fellow DT members and the entrants alike....

Its time for the colour challenge and this time we are to work with:-

Soft Whites and Yellows

My card is a simple card for me with the sentiment as the focal point. It is 8x8" in size and is primarily made up of machine stitching around the edge and four embossed squares which have been inked with distress inks. I was fortunate to have been supplied with some gorgeous antique silver micro beads from Penny Wise Arts which I added to the frame of the sentiment and the middle of the pointsetta....

The bauble and pointsettas are both Creatables from Marianne Design. The pointsetta in particular is one of those dies that can be used all year long!

Enjoy the rest of the Christmas holidays and hope all my blogland friends are looking forward to 2012! Take care, Suzanne ~x~

Seasonal Tag for Make My Monday!

2011-12-19T10:34:00.000Z

This is the last challenge for 2011 on the Make My Monday Challenge Blog....so this challenge takes us into the New Year when we will be back on 2nd January 2012. Anyway back to this challenge - Jacqueline's seasonal month continues and this week she would like to see a:-

"Seasonal Tag"

Here is my Tag for the DT......

Products used:-

Papermania Foliage Stamps & Text Stamp

Distress inks

Marianne Design Vintage Image & Winter Wonderland Papers

Marianne Design Creatable LR0191 (Sign Post)

Copper Metal Sheet

Stickles

Now there has been lots of "tags" out there in blog land recently so really hope we get lots of players this fortnight! Check out the Make My Monday Blog for some fantastic inspiration from my fellow DT buddies. I take this opportunity of wishing all our regulars and newcomers over at Make My Monday a very happy Christmas and Wonderful New Year! I would also like to say a huge thank you to "VALERIE" for being our GDT - her creation is just lovely!

I am entering my tag into the following challenges:-

Die Cuttin Divas - "Tag"

My Time to Craft - "Vintage Christmas"

I havve this morning tidied away my "crafting area" as it is our dining table/room and my husband wants it back this week as he thinks our guests may actually want to sit at a table to eat their Christmas Day lunch - so I may be a little AWOL. Happy Christmas all Crafting Friends and Bloggers!

Suzanne ~x~

"CHRISTMAS" with Marianne Design Divas

2011-12-15T09:22:00.000Z

Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Marianne Design Divas and you lovely people will never guess the theme lol:)

"C H R I S T M A S"

Just use any Marianne Design Product to be able to join in and possibly win the great prize that Bunny Zoe Crafts has kindly sponsored the challenge with.

I have gone down the route of my usual vintage/shabby style .... this is what I feel most comfortable with and must say I enjoyed immensely working with two of the new dies from the Creatables range from Marianne Design:- Lantern LR0190 and Leaves LR0192. The possibilities of these two dies are immense as they are so adaptable.

I made a lantern by using four die cuts of LR0190 and adhered just using double sided tape. I have embossed the lantern with Stampendous vintage shabby chic blue and gold embossing powder (which I love). The Leaves LR0192 have been embossed with clear embossing powder just to give them shine.

My decoupaged images are also from Marianne Design too and I picked these up from the CUBBY HOLE, Crewe -such delicate images and I was thrilled to find them in the Cubby Hole.

The music score was stamped onto cream card which was coloured with Aged Mahogny distress inks and then embossed with claret embossing powder. Curled wire and cream roses complete my ornament. I mounted my ornament onto a wooden coaster which I covered with Marianne Design Paper from the Eline Paper Bloc - "Let it Snow" - this too was embossed with the shabby chic blue powder.

Check out my fellow Marianne Divas inspiration HERE - they're fabulous and there's also some great blog candy on offer.

I am entering my lantern into the following challenges:-

Craft Room Challenge - "Die Cuts & Punches"

One of my fave challenge sites so I am pleased this piece fits in with their current challenge. I have used my Marianne Creatables die cuts.

Simon Says Stamp & Show - "show some depth"

Suzanne ~x~

MMM - "Red Ribbon"

2011-12-12T10:49:00.000Z

Make My Monday's seasonal month continues and this week Jacqueline would like to see some:-

"Red Ribbon"

On your seasonal projects

Everyone certainly excelled at last week's glitter challenge - it was certainly a challenge to help the rest of the MMM DT select the top 3.

This week's card for the DT is certainly a mix of techniques; stamping and heat embossing, dry embossing and alcohol inks and decoupage. I just hope that you all feel there is ample red ribbon - I did want to add a flamboyant bow but I am absolutely useless at bows (even with a bow maker lol).....

My fellow DT have done a much better job...take a look HERE! After this week there is only one more week of the 2011 challenges so I hope you can join in ... though it is a very busy time of year for us all!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:-

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - "Traditional Christmas"

One Stop Craft Challenge - "Traditional Christmas Colours"

Dream Valley Challenges - "Christmas"

Suzanne ~x~

Fashionable Stamping Challenge..

2011-12-10T06:57:00.000Z

Over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges the current challenge is dressmaking, corsets etc. Again I really just had an urge to play (shouldn't really as I still have boxes to finish for today's workshop but hey ho all will get done in time) so here is my card...

It's an 8x8 kraft card and I have tried to achieve a patchwork to go with the sentiment I used:- "A Family is a patchwork of Love". All stamps used are from Creative Expressions vintage sewing plate - even my tape measure is a stamp.

My image is from Marianne Design and she has been embossed and then cracked to give an aged feel. My scissors are also from Marianne Design.

I hope you are able to see the different machine stitching between the paper panels. My paper rosettes have been made using an EK Sucess punch.

I am also entering this card into the: Creative Craft Challenge - "Faux or Real Stitching"

Right back to the boxes! Well maybe some toast and another cup of tea first! Suzanne ~x~

Starry Night with Gingersnaps Creations

2011-12-07T09:50:00.000Z

Hello, this week sees a new monthly theme over at Gingersnap Creations - they have asked the DT to work with the theme"HOLIDAY LIGHTS" and this week's challenge is:-

Starry Night

Now I have had this piece finished for a few weeks and its been hanging on the dining room wall above the fire. I had the pleasure of attending another wokshop with the very talented Christine Costello at the Cubby Hole entitled "Steampunk Winter Canvas".

I had a wonderful day and loved all the elements used here. I had help from Christine with the wire twisting etc....I seemed to have no strength in my fingertips though I was recovering from my bout of gastric flu!

The Stampotique owl was stamped onto silver mirri card with a touch of Stazon ink added, eyelets and beads completed him!

I won't go into too much wordy detail. All the techniques are well known soI shall show you in photos.

I have added my stars and further added the gorgeous Penny Wise Arts micro beads from our generous challenge sponsor once home. I decided on opaque antique silver micro for my beads and must say these were gorgeous to work with!

I am entering my Winter/Seasonal altered canvas into the following challenges:-

Let's Ink It Up - "Christmas Project"

Simon Says Stamp & Show - "Time Pieces"
Cogs and watches (on shrink plastic) used.

Cards & More Challenge - "Snowflakes"
Hot air balloon, owl and all shrink plastic pieces are stamped.

Thanks for stopping by. Suzanne ~x~

Make My Monday Glitters

2011-12-05T09:09:00.000Z

New month sees a brand new theme for us ladies over at Make My Monday. I would also like to say a big welcome to our new Design Team members; Mynette and Val.

Jacqueline, our challenge owner and leader has selected the theme for December - its a short month too; we're having 26 December as a holiday week! The theme is "SEASONAL" so interpret that as Winter or Christmas (I hope).

"GLITTER"

Now I am not a glitter user - in fact it fills me with dread as I am such a messy untidy crafter. I am always in too much of a rush. Anyway I just held my breath and opened the glitters (and yes they got everywhere!).....

My row of houses have been stamped several times to form a street in white embossing powder. The moon was painted with white acrylic paint and glitter added whilst still wet. Glitter was also applied to the roofs of the house. A "speckle dotty" stamp created my night sky and little stars were added.

A mixture of white and navy blue paper was torn up, edged with wet glue and dipped in glitter ...oh this was so much fun NOT hehe to make my snow drifts...(hopefully that it what you see also).

Really hope you can join in with this glittery challenge this week and see over you on the Make My Monday challenge blog.

I am entering the following challenges:-

One Stop Craft Challenge - "Let it Snow"

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - "Snow"

Sir Stampalot Guest Designer

2011-12-04T08:28:00.000Z

I was delighted to have won the September Sir Stampalot Challenge and even more thrilled to have been invited to be the Guest Designer for December.

This is a monthly challenge so plenty of time to join in - and there is always fab goodies up for grabs to the winner. Anyway here is my piece..... the challenge this month was to play Bingo:-

I selected the middle row: Buttons, Flowers and Mist/Stickles.

I have decorated a tri-gothic arch and went for seasonal traditional colours, deep red and gold! Lots of gold and claret embossing powders were used. The frame and image are both from Crafty Individuals. The words and small flowers are from a Fancy Pants plate of stamps and the Pointsettas cut from Marianne Creatable LR0122 were edged in gold gel pen.

I hope you can play along witht the Sir Stampalot Challenge. I am taking the opportuity of entering my Gothic Arch into the following challenges also:-

Craft Your Passion - "Tis' the Season"

Crafty Cardmakers - "Heat Embossing"

Stamps R Us - "Must Emboss It"

Suzanne ~x~

Box with Make My Monday

2011-11-28T09:37:00.001Z

This is the last week of Suzi B's challenges at Make My Monday. The entries for last week's Winter Foliage challenge were out of this world and it took some time deciding on the top 3 (if its settled even now lol :). This week the DT were asked to:

DECORATE / MAKE a BOX

My box is a papier mache rectangle box, which hopefully will be winging it's way down south to my friend in time for Christmas.

I have used silver mirri card which has been embossed through the Cuttlebug using a snowflake folder. I have then covered with Black Stazon ink to give an aged metal look. I have repeated this a number of times, buffing with kitchen towel until I was happy. Very messy but enjoyable!

The edges of the box were finished off with a mixture of silver acrylic paint and black ink pad. The tag was stamped with an Elusive Image snowman (thanks Suzi B for the loan), the background of which was painted with silver acrylic paint. A further snowman was stamped for the top of the box. A mixture of Sakura pens and normal gel pens were used to colour in.

The Pointsetta Creatable from Marianne Design has been cut several times in silver mirri card which has been embossed with deep blue embossing powder and layered up. Seasonal ribbon added to tag. Quite simple I think but effective I hope!

The other boxes from my DT buddies are divine - check out our challenge blog HERE! I take this opportunity of welcoming Mynette and Val to the DT - you'll have a bal1.

I would also like to enter my box into the following challenges:-

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - "In a Winter Wonderland"

Crfafty Catz - "Snowmen"

Fussy & Fancy - Anything but a Card

Showtime Bunting

2011-11-27T12:49:00.000Z

Here is a very large canvas mount which I "scrapped" back in the summer to celebrate the events of our local theatre, the Lyceum which celebrates 100-years this year!

I am entering the Allsorts Challenge - "Pennant/Bunting"

The picture are of my mum and my late uncle in 1955/56 who spent their childhood taking part in "Showtime". The theatre still hosts Showtime today and its always very popular in the town.

I have used a mixture of Ranger acrylic dabbers; Cranberry, Denim and Silver.

Thanks for stopping by. Suzanne ~x~

MMM #25 - Winter Foliage

2011-11-21T11:10:00.000Z

Yes, yes and yes - back on familar ground this week with the MAKE my MONDAY challenge. Suzi B's next Christmas challenge is:

Winter / Christmas Foliage

Holly, Ivy, Snowflakes, Pointsettas - the list is endless just follow a Christmas theme and include some foliage!

I have gone the traditional route and decided to work with holly and mistletoe. My foliage stamps are from a Papermania plate of clear stamps, I have stamed in Versafine and then coloured with distress inks and water. These were then painstakingly cut out - I find this quite relaxing!

My Tunisia Bird Cage LR0147 from Marianne Design has been cut using gold mirrir card. I sanded this down to take off the glare and show the white. The bird is from a PaperArtsy plate of stamps which I have embossed with claret and gold embossing powder to make it look like a robin. Machine stitching was added around the Marianne Design Let it Snow papers. Sentiment and ribbon added.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

The Crafty Pad - "Traditional Colours"

Sparkles Forum - "Vintage Christmas"

Dream Valley Challenges - "Stitching"

I have enjoyed making this card ...its one of my favourites to date. Hope it helps inspire you to play along with us at Make My Monday - I have to say that I love being on this particular design team...thanks ladies!

Male Card - Just Because

2011-11-17T19:23:00.000Z

It's been a while since I have just made a card (or anything) just because and I thought why not. I had the Crafty Individuals vintage car stamp when I subscribed to Craft Stamper as a gift and it had not seen any ink so it seemed like a good starting point.

The background has been inked with distress inks; Faded Jeans and Peeled Paint. This was spritzed with water and then further stencilled (Tim Holtz mask) with Faded Jeans. The criss-cross was stamped in Versa Brillance Starlight Black.

Kaisercraft Paper has then been layered (including the postcards and rosette). Marianne Design Creatables (including the new car die LR0198) were cut from a "grainy" card and then further inked. My letters were cut from Kaisercraft paper and then edged with white gel pen.

The main image was stamped into an inked background of Faded Jeans and Peeled Paint with white gel highlights. An old key was coloured with alcohol inks and then an old chain added .....

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

Sir Stampalot - "Blue & Green"

Craft Room Challenge - "Travel/Postcards"

Artistic Stamper - "Backgrounds"

Thank you for visiting!

Gingersnaps - #127 "Livestock"

2011-11-16T10:32:00.000Z

Gingersnap Creations Random Redhead challenge this week is "Livestock" which continues November's theme Farm Fresh. My DT piece is relatively a simple creation as I had no "farm animals" stamps. I have used Crafty Indivduals paper which has been overstamped with a large flourish that's been embossed with white embossing powder.

My enamel tiles are also from Crafty Individuals with string/twine added, and these have been triple embossed and then "cracked" once cooled to give an aged feel. Sequin waste was randomly torn and daubed with white acrylic paint.

The rosette was made from a contrasting Crafty Individual papers, concertinered and affixed with button. Text was added. I hope you like my simple take on the theme - though there was still quite a lot of work involved. Check out the rest of the Gingers DT - there work is just out of this world

Below is the other little petal who keeps us so busy and entertained, our granddaughter - Lillie May! She is in the arms of my OH and sat on the table of the Cubby Hole's work table - I am starting her early!!

Isnt she just adorable? Nanna Suzanne lol :)

xxx

November - Marianne Design Divas Challenge!

2011-11-15T09:24:00.000Z

Can you believe it is November already and time for another Marianne Design Divas challenge and this month Amy our challenge leader would like to see: -

SPARKLE on your creations.

Using any Marianne Design Products

My wall hanging (which was difficult for me to get a good photograph of) has been created using 4 squares which have been spritzed with Sticky Fingers Inks, Elusive Images snowflakes have been stamped with Versamark and then embossed with white embossing powder. The squares have then been machined stitched before being fastened together with silver ribbon.

My snowflakes have been made using Marianne Design Creatable, Swedish Ice Star LR 0123 from silver mirrir card which have then been embossed with Stampendous new embossing powder, Shabby Blue. The image is Marianne Design Elines Snowman EC0135 which has been coloured and then further glittered.

My white chipboard letters have been randomly glittered.

There are two fabulous prizes on offer again this month from:-

Cuddly Bunny

and

Marianne Design themselves

I would like to enter my wall hanging into the following challenges:-

Craft Your Passion - "Let it Snow"

Cuddly Bunny - "Two Little Characters"

Dream Valley Challenges - "Stitching"

Thank you for stopping by - would like to welcome my new followers, I am always touched when someone decides to follow my craftiness :) Suzanne ~x~

Bird with Crown

2011-11-14T15:27:00.001Z

As you know for Carol's DT - CCTV aka The Cubby Hole I have been working "bird post" cling stamp from Stampendous.

My second card is on an 8x8 kraft coloured card base and has incorporated Mr Holtz Lost and Found papers. I have edged and inked these papers to give them dimension. I just love the inked bird cage in the background. Marianne Design Creatables LR0143 (decorative corners) and LR0162 English Roses have been added. My bird was embossed and then further coloured with crystal lacquers (do you remember those?).

Pop along to the CCTV blog - and see the other creations on display there.....I would llike to enter this card into the following challenges:-

Let's Ink It Up - Favourite Technique

Ohhh where to start; embossing,

inking through stencils, using text paper and distressing edges to name but a few

Drunken Stampers - "Up in the Air"

My inked bird cage is suspended in the air!

Suzanne ~x~

Clean & Simple with Make My Monday

2011-11-14T09:30:00.001Z

Oh...I have really struggled with this week's DT piece for Make My Monday. Suzi B's Christmas theme continues but this week she has challenged us to:-

Clean & Simple with a Sentiment!

And boy it certainly was a challenge for me....I know it's a really popular theme and I adore the cards I see but it does not come easy to me. Suzi B excells in this and it's worth taking a look at the Make My Monday blog as the other ladies will inspire you to do this theme much better than I could....so here is mine DT piece, this is the best of a bad bunch I am afraid! Really hope you can show me how to do this theme and can join in with us at Make My Monday! Suzanne ~x~

Gingersnaps #126 "Supply - Raffia"

2011-11-09T06:38:00.000Z

At Gingersnaps Creations this week there is a supply challenge. Keeping in with the "Farm Fresh" monthly theme we would like to see:-

R A F F I A

My creation for the DT is a "notice board" - I covered it with some patterned paper napkins (or serviettes depending on what part of the world or even UK you are from) - applying them using watered down PVA glue.

I then adhered the Raffia in a criss-cross pattern using brads - so that I kept the separation and randomness. I did not want the raffia to be too perfect. I am sure you get the gist of what I mean lol :)

I then stamped butterflies onto kraft card. The butterflies are from a plate of stamps from Eline Huis of Marianne Design. Seed packets/minature signs were added to finish off the piece. Please take a look at the Gingers Blog - as usual my fellow DT members have exceeded my expectations. I am always quite pleased with what I have made until I see the others - way to go ladies, fabulous as per usual!!!!

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration

Such an adorable photo - the colours used and the raffia/straw in my piece.

Kaboodle Doodles - Colours of Fall

Red, Orange & Brown

Suzanne ~x~

Another Christmas Card

2011-11-08T12:43:00.000Z

As a member of Carol's design team - CCTV aka The Cubby Hole I was provided with the "bird post" cling stamp from Stampendous. It's a beautiful seasonal stamp with the on trend crown. I really enjoyed working with it and hope I did it justice (there are more cards to follow).

My first card is an A5 landscape card. The background is from the scrumptious Mariposa papers and the stars have been made from Creatable LR0183 Star & Bauble from Marianne Design. I have cut and folded the paper to make an oval frame and further distressed it by rubbing gold acrylic paint over I like this effect so will be using it again.

The bird has been coloured using distress inks and water.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

The Craft Garden - Christmas "no green or red"

Glitter Fairies Challenges - Non Traditional Christmas Colours

Creatalicious Challenges - Distress your Edges
I hope my torn/cut frame counts.

Crazy Challenge - Something with Wings

Have a good day everyone! Suzanne ~x~

Christmas is Coming!

2011-11-07T09:20:00.003Z

Well its a new month so its time for a new theme at Make My Monday and this month the challenges have been chosen by my friend and fellow DT member, Suzi B. The whole month is to be dedicated to:- C H R I S T M A S - which suits me perfectly as it will get me started on my Christmas cards. This week's challenge is to create a piece of art or craft with a:-

Vintage / Traditional Christmas theme!

My 8x8 card has been made using the new Bo Bunny papers; Snowy Serenade and Noel Cheer.

I have added machine stitching, lace and embossed stamped text and sentiment (cannot remember the name of the stamp sorry) and a pointsetta die from Marianne Creatables (LR0122) which have also been embossed. Distress stickles were added to the Santa Claus.

I have really enjoyed making this card and am really pleased with the results.

I hope you can join us at Make My Monday - there is another lovely prize on offer this month and there is also a DT call. I would also like to welcome MYNETTE who has joined us this month as Guest Designer. I hope you visit her blog - Mynette is such a warm positive person who creates lovely cards. Look forward to seeing you there.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:-

Anything Goes Challenge - Stitching; Faux or Real

ABC Christmas Challenge - "V" for Vintage

I did it Creations - Christmas/Winter

Thank you in advance for your comments - I apprecite every one of them! Suzanne ~x~

Cute Alert!

2011-11-06T22:53:00.000Z

Now I know it's not my usual genre/style but I thought I would give it a go - CUTE! In blogland I cannot help but admire the beautiful colouring in I see of the cute images.

I have a long way to go before being anywhere near that sort of standard but I must admit even with my very limited supplies (i.e. my 18-year old son's water colour pencils from when he was in primary school lol) I enjoyed the colouring in!

It took me back to the days of my youth when the best Christmas presents received were new felt tips and pencils with a colouring book and/or an "altered design book" (who remembers those).

Products Used:-

Creatables:- LR0187 Winter Wishes, LR0125 Finnish Ice Star

Stamp:- Don & Daisy Christmas Present from Marianne Design

Flower Ribbon and Merry Little Christmas Papers by Marianne Design

I have also embossed my star/snowflakes with the new shabby blue embossing powder from Stampendous - I adore it. It is white with touches of blue and gold.....gorgeous!

I would like to enter the Bunny Zoe Challenge - "lace it up"

DT Call at Make My Monday

2011-11-02T11:15:00.000Z

Jacqueline at MAKE my MONDAY is expanding! She would like two more DT members to join her merry band of crafters.....all I can say from experience that this is a stress free design team to be on with very friendly and lovely ladies (it says it all - that none of us wished to step down lol:). I love being part of it.

If you would like to apply the theme is "CELEBRATION" but all details can be found HERE!

Suzanne ~x~

New Creatables from Marianne Design...

2011-11-01T09:52:00.000Z

I was thrilled to receive a couple of the new Creatables from Marianne Designs. These are a little different as they are perfectly suited to those cards we all dread making:- maculine cards. I have used the following dies:-

LR0198 and LR0199

On both my cards I have used a selection of papers from Marianne Design; Winterworld & Merry Little Christmas Paper Blocs. Hope you like how I have distressed my vintage automobile.

As most of my followers will know I love the dies but I do like to stamp and ink so I could not resist inking my sailing ship and then embossing before adding tiny buttons.

I am entering these cards into the following challenge:-

The Craft Room - "For a Man"
The DT here are looking for our masculine creations. These fit the challenge hopefully!

Leaves - Make My Monday

2011-10-31T09:26:00.000Z

Make My Monday is celebrating its last autumnal challenge this week. Firstly I must apologise for not visiting any blogs last week - I have been a bit poorly and all normal activities were scuppered. I hope to get round to some commenting this week. Anyway back to the business in hand. Us ladies over at MMM would love to see your creations with:-

Autumnal Leaves

My piece for the Design Team which I hopes inspires you to join in is an altered niche book, which I started whilst on a workshop with the very very talented Christine Costello at The Cubby Hole. Christine is a wonderful artist and crafter and I hope she likes what I have done with her initial inspiration.

I have based the inside of the niche book on the poem "Falling Leaves" written by Margaret Postgate Cole. I hope you are able to read the words. The poem is based upon the Battle of the Somme in World War I. I thought it appropriate at this time of year with Rememberance Day soon and poppies now on sale.

The leaves are from a napkin or cut from paper which has been embossed with paste and embossing powders and then cut from a Creatable by Marianne Design (LR0156). Vintage Images, raffia and a Crafty Individuals stamp were added.

The front of the book is covered with paper that has been heavily embossed with Dreamweaver paste and embossing paste with mesh and micro beads added. The owl and saying (Paperartsy) was done before I decided on the poem but it does fit. Courage!

The image and text have been triple embossed with UTEE.

Sorry for the picture overload

I am entering my altered book into the following challenges:-

Craft Your Days Away - "Autumn/Fall"

Drunken Stampers - "Books"

Sparkles Forum Challenge - "Remembrance Sunday"

Thanks for popping by! Suzanne ~x~

Black & Orange with MMM

2011-10-24T19:29:00.001+01:00

Sorry for the lateness of my post today ....I have been a little poorly. I cannot believe it is Monday again .... where are the weeks flying off to? Caz, my fellow DT member of Make My Monday continues with her Autumn theme - this week we have a colour scheme to play with:-

Orange & Black

Now Caz has said it can be Halloween themed or not - as long as the colours used are Orange & Black. Now as I do not like Halloween I had to stick with an autumn themed card.

I hope you like my card which has been created using primarily Rusty Hinge distress ink and an old text book.

The tree and sentiment are from a PaperArtsy set; the tree has been embossed. The leaves have been stamped onto card which has also been coloured with Rusty Hinge.

The chipboard flourish is from Maya Road and has been coloured with various inks and paints (to try and get it right) and then triple embossed, which was then stamped into whilst still wet.

Its not a combination I would usually use and it was quite hard sticking to just the two colours but I quite like the "dramaticness". Hope you can play along with us this week at Make My Monday.

Gingersnaps #123 - "Ravens"

2011-10-19T08:00:00.005+01:00

Continuing with the Go Poe / horror stories theme this month Gingersnaps Creations random challenge this week (you have a month to play along) is ...........................................:-

R A V E N S

Now regular readers and friends will realise that after taking part in a recent round robin journal all based on Ravens I became a little "ravened out" ..... but never being one to shirk a challenge I signed up for this challenge as part of the DT for Gingersnaps. Here is my Raven card ...... Nigel kindly loaned me his little goody bag of Raven stamps ...thank you so much!

I believe the stamp I used is a Lost Coast design ... it is rather fab isn't it?

I hope you like my card ... I have used a selection of distress inks and paints with various stencils and stamps. Mr Poe has been printed out and outlined with charcoal pencil and gel pen. The base of the card has been done onto journal pages and then ripped out to give me the notebook edges......

My fellow gingers have as usual excelled themselves with an eclectic array of projects... take a look HERE!

PS.....this is one of the lovely reasons why I am not producing as much craft these days ....everytime I sit down to craft I have a very mischievous companion who runs away with my sponges, ribbon, tape etc....

I shall show you the other reason next time ..... she is just as gorgeous too! Suzanne ~x~

Flora & Fauna Inchies with Make My Monday

2011-10-17T09:30:00.001+01:00

Make My Monday this week would like to see your Flora & Fauna Inchies. Of course still keeping to the monthly theme of Autumn. The trees last week cetainly proved popular and there were stunning entries.

My DT piece is a wall hanging which has primarily been created from Grungeboard and corrugated cardboard.

Numerous distress inks such as Rusty Hinge, Scattered Straw, Aged Mahogny and Peeled Paint have been used to ink the Grungeboard.

Various stamps have been incorporated along with further Grungeboard elements and letters (these have been embossed to add depth too).

I hope you like my hanging - I did have fun making it. I deliberated about adding more charms and detail but decided I didnt want my inchies to be lost.

Pop along to Make My Monday to see what my DT buddies have been up to with their inchies. I am entering my wall hanging into the following challenges:-

Artistic Stamper - Autumnal Colours

Stamp Scrap & Doodle - Falling for you with Leaves

Bloggers Challenge - "Cardboard"

Thank you for popping by and saying hello! Suzanne ~x~

Marianne Design Divas "Dying to Die Cut"

2011-10-15T09:00:00.001+01:00

Over at Marianne Design Divas

there is a new challenge for October - "Dying to Die Cuts"

Marianne Design Products Used

Eline's Pretty Paper Bloc Pale Pastels , Vintage Punch&Emboss Folder DS0913 , Cutting Sheet Nostalgia Ladies Vintage

Creatables by Marianne Design used in this project are:-

English Rose Die LR0162, Branch Garden Die LR0151, Small Butterfly Die LR0153

My sentiment and image have both been mounted onto board and then triple embossed to give an enamel finish. My frame has been made using the Marianne Design Punch & Emboss folder with pearlescent card, which has been slightly sanded down - it really has not been great light here to photograph. When it's been bright enough I have been at work!

Machine stitching has been added around the mounts and tiny pearls have been added to hopefully give a vintage feel. The small butterflies have been layered and inked with distress ink.

This month we are sponsored by Bunny Zoe Crafts, there is a great prize on offer for the winner of the "Dying to Die cut Challenge" - remember to be eligible you have to use a Marianne Design product in your creation.

I am entering my card and tag into the following challenges:-

Tuesday Throwdown - "think pink"

Gingersnaps - GC 122, Supply; Alcohol Inks

2011-10-12T08:00:00.003+01:00

Over at Gingersnaps Creations this month the theme is "Horror Stories" and this week we are on a supply theme which means the Founding Femmes have asked the DT to work with:-

Alcohol Inks

Here is my card for the Design team. Now I am not into "horror" at all ..... macabre does not really flick my switch so the most scary I get are the "adorable" stamps from Stampotique.

My background of silver mirrr card has been embossed through the Cuttlebug. Alcohol inks have been blended to give the mottled background.

From memory colours used are: Caramel, Pesto and Meadow. The same process has been used on the heart using Currant and Terracotta.

Random ad-hoc machine stitching finishes the card off! I hope you like and I hope you get round to seeing what my DT friends have also created at the Gingersnaps blog - you have a whole month to play along.

Autumn Continues...

2011-10-10T09:15:00.001+01:00

...this week at Make My Monday is with Cazro wanting to see:-

TREES on our autumnal projects.

For my DT piece I have made a card. The centre oval is has been mounted onto greyboard, spritzed with Sticky Fingers Inks and then embossed randomly round the edge with gold embossing powder. The main focal image is a stamp from Papermania. Its a good size stamp as my card is another 8x8. Th tree has been inked using a mixture of pigment inks and then it has been embossed with clear embossing powder.

The patterned paper has been layered and machine stitched.

The large wooden branch is from Kaisercraft - this has been inked with distress inks....

Stamped sentiment (from the same Papermania plate of stamps) added along with a number of Creatables (LR0187 and LR0107) from Marianne Design, some of these have been cut from gold embossed paper.

Take a look at my DT buddies Trees HERE, hope you can play along with us.

Couple of Challenges

2011-10-04T09:49:00.000+01:00

An 8x8 wedding anniversary card.

I chose this particular stamp as my mum used to be a machnist and made a lot of our clothes when we were growing up!

Real machine stitching was added to my mounts..... .

My heart was cut from paper, adhered to mount board and then triple embossed.

Products Used:-

'Eline' Pretty Pastels Paper by Marianne Design

Crafty Individuals stamp

Ribbon Floral 1 Die - Creatables by Marianne Design

I am entering this card into the following challenge:-

Fashionable Stamping - the Fashionettes over at this challenge blog are looking for Vintage creations.

Let's Ink It Up - its great to see Suzanne back in the world of challenge blogging....this month in support of breast cancer awareness she wants us to "think pink"

There are some of my fave people on the DTs of these two challenges so check out their wonderful work.

Suzanne ~x~

Autumn with MAKE my MONDAY!

2011-10-03T11:21:00.000+01:00

The first Monday of the Month seems a new theme at Make My Monday and this time round it's Caz's choice all month along. The theme is:-

A U T U M N

This week we would like to see your autumnal pieces using a resist technique.
On the Make my Monday blog.
Caz has kindly provided a link to her tutorial. I have really enjoyed making my DT piece. As is pretty usual nowadays I have selected an 8x8 cream card for my base.

I chose to go with white detail embossing powder to do my resist (I did mess round with others but liked this one the best). I used the technique both on the background paper and the main focal panel. A selection of distress inks were used:- Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmlade, Wild Honey and Aged Tea.

Stamps used were a selection of Elusive Images (main sentiment and focal images) with a text and swirl (which I cannot remember the brand). Use the words "Let the Adventure Begin" as autumn is always an exciting month as we are never sure what we are going to get in the UK - speaking of which hasnt it been warm lol? :)

My fellow DT buddies at MMM have put together some wonderful inspiration so I hope you can join us this week.

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:-

Stamptacular Sunday - Wonderul Fall Photo Inspiration

The Hybrid Caravan Challenge - Autumn/Fall

Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration

Do you like my little apple?

Thanks for stopping by! Suzanne ~x~

Mid-Week Motivation for Make My Monday

2011-09-28T10:30:00.000+01:00

I volunteered to do the Mid-Week Motivation piece that appears on the Make My Monday challenge blog on a Wednesday. Of course it is "anything but a card" but incorporating the monthly theme - Steampunk!

I have decorated a circular canvas with lots of Graphic 45 images and paper.......

Full (simple) instructions can be found on the Make My Monday blog! I hope this canvas inspires you to create with us....

This is my second blog post for today ... below is my DT piece for the Gingersnaps monthly colour.....

Suzanne ~x~

Gingersnaps Colour Challenge

2011-09-28T07:00:00.002+01:00

The founding femmes over at Gingersnap Creations always come up with beautiful colour combos for their monthly colour challenges: This month it is:-

Turquoise, Blue & Purple

Trying to use the monthly theme of Girl Pals I decided to use a Crafty Individuals image and sentiment for my DT piece. The patterned paper is from the depths of my paper box. I have then masked my "girlfriends" and stamped around them using various background stamps.

A tag was added along with a punched flower and Marianne Creatable Branch garden flourish. I hope you can play along with us at Gingersnaps. Thank you for stopping by. Suzanne ~x~

Steampunk - "anything but a card"

2011-09-26T09:10:00.003+01:00

Mmmmm....anything but a card? I thought easy peasy as cards are not something I churn out easily much preferring to use alternative things, like old frames, books, canvas etc. HOWEVER when I have to do something different I cannot think ..... maybe I have exhausted my ideas? So Make My Monday this week wants anything but a card and in a steampunk theme too...

Here is my trio of tags ........

Male images are courtesy of Land of Nod Studios ...think these are just fab. The "eccentric" words and airship are courtesy of my Make My Monday teamie and Cubby Hole comrade Suzi B - thank you - you're a sweetie pie (dont say anything but Suzi B has far too many stamps just for one crafter lol ....only jesting!) x

Papers used in the background are a mixture of Tim Holtz and Kaisercraft. Faux metal panels have been added along with Paperartsy stamped images. To make the images pop I have gone round with a mixture of black and white charcoal pencils..

I am entering my trio of tags into the

Artistic Stamper - "Numbers" Challenge

Simon Says Stamp & Show - "Men"

This is the last week of Cath's Steampunk challenges so I hope you can join us at Make My Monday. I shall be back on Wednesday with the Mid-Week Motivation piece for Jacqueline - it could be interesting as I forgot I was suppose to do "instructions" and didnt take any photos for the tutorial ...whoops - what can I say?

Suzanne ~x~

Metal with Make My Monday

2011-09-19T09:10:00.003+01:00

I am back home but this post is still scheduled to appear as I know there will be lots of laundry and cleaning to catch up on and work beckons tomorrow.....I am really not sure if holidays are a good thing. I certainly get out of the habit of work very quickly.

It is good to be home though and have a little cuddle with our new grandbaby.......to be honest I have missed the three big babies who still live with me too ...but do not tell them please lol! Anyway back to the matter in hand:-

Make My Monday is working with metal this week - this is perfect for the Steampunk theme. You can use a brad, eyelet - anything you fancy really. I have made an 8x8 (a favourite size for me at the moment) and used the Crafty Individuals steampunk butterfly stamp as my focal image.

Layers of Kaisercraft paper have been used along with more Graphic 45 clocks. The edges of the paper have been distressed and edged with black. I then stamped the butterfly and clock face from the CI stamp again using Stazon ink onto copper metal sheet and layered onto the card.

I have also used brads twisted with some copper wire in the top left corner.

My cuttlebugged background and flower is "faux" metal, it is mirri card which I have coloured with a mixture of Stazon and alcohol inks and then embossed using a Cuttlebug folder - the flower was cut using layers of a Marianne Design Ribbon Flower LR0108 die

Hope you manage to play along this week and I am looking forward to catching up with your blogs (can anyone tell me why blogger keeps telling me that I am not authorised to leave comments please?).....Suzanne ~x~

"Bloom & Grow" with Marianne Design Divas

2011-09-15T09:05:00.005+01:00

Today sees the launch of our 2nd Marianne Design Divas challenge. Last month's debut challenge was a huge success and we hope that you can play along again. All you have to do is follow the monthly theme and use Marianne Creatables products on your artwork. These can be the gorgeous dies (my absolute fave), stamps, patterned paper to name but a view - just list what Marianne D product you have used.

This month's theme is:-

Bloom & Grow

Show us your flowers

and we are sponsored by Cuddly Bunny Crafts this month with an superb prize! Cuddly Bunny stocks a vast range of Marianne's products.

I took my inspiration from Sue Roddis of Jabberwocky Fame who does marvellous things with old books and things....Sue kindly said I could take inspiration from her work - I always appreciate Sue's work though generally she is much more eclectic than me who tends to stick with her vintage shabby look - so my take is this:-

The pages have been folded, inked and then glued in places. Now for the deep part - the idea is that my garden is growing from the book - as I do believe that young people need education to bloom and grow and where better to get education than from a book....my husband said he got my thinking but I am not sure lol:-

I have cut Marianne's branch garden flourish and various flower dies from K&Co Ancestry paper. The flowers were inked around the edges with distress inks, layered and secured by a brad and then spritzed lightly with water to get that shabby crumpled look.....My word "bloom" was stamped using Papermania alphabet stamps again onto K&Co paper.

The young lady is from a Marianne Creatable Die sheet of vintage images and works wonderfully with the back panel which I have covered with Marianne Creatable patterned paper from the vintage range. Paperartsy text added.

I hope you like my take on the theme and hope I have inspired you to play along with us Marianne Design Divas - I hope so as dont forget there is a fabulous prize on offer from this month's sponsor, Cuddly Bunny Crafts-

Marianne D products used are:- Dies; Branch Garden LR0151, Small Butterfly LR0153 and Florals LR0106 & LR0107. Marianne D glossy vintage image and pretty papers from "Songbook".

I am entering my altered book into the following challenges:-

Everybody Art Challenge - "Flowers"

Craft Room Challenge - "Home Decor"

Seen as this is sat on my mantlepiece I think it can be considered as home decor!

Suzanne ~x~

Make My Monday Monochrome

2011-09-12T09:10:00.001+01:00

This Monday Cath challenged the Make My Monday design team to create a piece of craft that was:-

MONOCHROME

Aka shades of one colour - I decided to opt for shades of copper (or brown) - as a member of the DT I hope I have played along correctly lol:) Of course the STEAMPUNK month long theme continues.....

I decided to make a male themed birthday (as I always always struggle with these - preferring to buy them :( and again used my Cuttlebug Cogs embossing folder which I then coloured with distress inks; Rusty Hinge and Wild Honey.

The image (PaperArtsy) has been stamped in distress ink Walnut Stain onto card which has been coloured with distress ink, Tea Dye. The half clocks have been cut from leftover Graphic 45 paper.

Brown brads and copper wire were added to the cogs frame.

So the challenge is to just use various shades/tones of one colour ....I look forward to seeing what you come up with but in the meantime check out the Make My Monday blog for last week's top 3 and my teamies take on the challenge for inspiration. Suzanne ~x~

I am still off on my hols (missing Baby Brookfield) so cannot promise to visit your blogs which is a shame as I am dependent upon my dongle in a valley lol:) Suzanne ~x~

Canvas' Galore

2011-09-09T09:10:00.005+01:00

This month Lucy Edmonds of the Crafty Individuals DT would like to see our creations that can be "hung" i.e. a wall hanging, canvas, plaque etc. I always try my best to join in this challenge as I adore the CI stamps and products. I am still away on hols so have not had time to create a specific piece however the canvas I am entering has not been blogged and uses a number of Crafty Individuals stamps:-

I took inspiration for this canvas from a blog post I saw on Brenda's BumbleBees & Butterflies Blog but I have hopefully put my own spin on it. I love looking at Brenda's blog - she always creates something amazing! So thank you Brenda!

I have painted and stencilled a deep edged 8x12 inch canvas. Three mini canvas' (from the works) were also treated to paint (inside and out). Images were stamped onto tissue paper and then added to the canvas. Stamping was all done in a mixture of Stazon inks.

The hinges were from Wilkinsons and were purchased just because they were the lightest and the most attractive. I think I paid £1 for a pack of two hinges. I adhered the hinges to the canvas using glossy accents.

My glossy images are a mixture of Crafty Individuals and Marianne D. Charms are a mixture of old jewellry and a wonderful range of brass charms I picked up in the Cubby Hole.

Images on the main canvas behind the mini canvas are Crafty Individuals stamps as are the fronts of two of the mini canvas'..........

Marianne D dies, english roses and butterfly completed the piece along with hand cut hearts.

I also edged all canvas including the large one with Ranger gold acrylic dabber paints......As well as the Crafty Individuals challenge I am also entering this work into the following challenges:-

The Craft Room - "Home Decor"

Sir Stampalot - "Frame it Up"

Bird is the Word Challenge Blog - "Memory/Memories"

Suzanne ~x~

Lace & Memories

2011-09-05T23:02:00.001+01:00

Hello, another 8x8 card from me ..... I love working on this size at the moment and find my cards easier to make. This card has been specially made for two challenges:-

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - "Ribbon & Lace"

and

Bird is the Word - "Memory / Memories"

I have used Creative Expressions Seamstress plate of stamps. Papers used are from K&C Ancestry paper pad.

I have used a selection of distress inks; Walnut Stain, Peeled Paint and Tea Dye.

The gold thread is from a piece of twisted cord which I took apart and added to the stamped cotton bobbins. Pins added. The stamped buttons are from the stamp plate and then cut out individually to frame the centre.

Photo above showing the word "Memories" and the lace tucked behind the cotton reels.

Lace added along the bottom of the card and a knotted chiffon ribbon was placed down the side.

Thank you for taking the time to comment and try to check out the above challenges, you'll love them - would love to know what you think! Suzanne ~x~

NEW Monthly Theme at Make My Monday...

2011-09-05T09:05:00.003+01:00

September sees Cath setting a whole month long of STeAmpuNK challenges for Make My Monday - I think it's going to be an interesting month. I am actually away on holiday for a few weeks and have scheduled my blog posts to appear (fingers crossed) - so I apologise in advance if I do not manage to visit your lovely blogs and leave comments. In this debut week of Steampunk Cath would like us to make an:-

ATC with a steampunk theme

Now I do not have an abundance of steampunk stamps so have endeavoured to make do with what stash I have and interpret it as best I can - this will become clear as September progresses lol. That's what challenges are all about isn't - trying to push your own boundaries and "challenging" yourself.......

I made a trio of ATCs using the Cuttlebug cogs embossing folder and pearlised card. I then coloured these with three different distress inks and added various images from the Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante range of papers. Metal elements were added and some stamped images.

The edges of my ATCs were then embossed with a different metal element for each (as Steampunk evokes the metal); Silver, Gold and Copper.

I hope you like my little pieces of art and pop along to the Make My Monday blog to check out my fellow design team's artist trading cards, they're fab! Suzanne ~x~

Birthstone - Emerald

2011-09-03T21:54:00.001+01:00

The Shabby Tearoom would like to see a creation this week with your birthstone. Mine is Emerald.

I used a 8x8 kraft card and a selection of K&Co Ancestry Papers which I have distressed and stamped with a couple of PaperArtsy stamps in brown ink.

The butterflies and the the lady are from Graphic 45 papers. These have been highlighted with glossy accents and my emerald gem has been added though the paper used is an emerald colour too.

The greeting has been embossed with gold embossing powder and placed onto greyboard for depth. My flowers have been made with Marianne D's english rose die.........

Thanks for stopping by. Suzanne ~x~

Tuesday Throwdown

2011-09-03T19:48:00.000+01:00

I was in Tuesday Throwdown's top 6 last week with my shadow box and to show how pleased I was I wanted to play along again...HOWEVER when I saw the challenge brief I thought that's it ...not possible! The challenge was to use a "pun" or a play on words! Not my usual thing but then I thought I must have something and isnt that the whole idea of a challenge .... to push yourself to do something that you wouldnt normally do....so here is mine entry:-

"Owl always love you"

Not all my usual style or colours but it was fun to make. The Woodware owls are cute and have proved popular at the Cubby Hole. I shall be back to my usual self tomorrow, a little shabby and a little vintagey LOL :)

This is my daughter with her little niece, our new Granddaughter Lilly-May. I am so in love with her - she is adorable. She is a week old today and I have had lots of cuddles .

Hope the ladies at Tuesday Throwdown like my card -

I am off on my hols so may not be able to play for a couple of weeks but I shall be checking out the various challenges. Suzanne ~x~

Travel with the Stamp Man

2011-09-02T07:00:00.001+01:00

The current challenge over at the Stamp Man Challenge Blog is "Travel". My entry for the challenge is a children's board book, which has been stripped and painted.

Various stencilling and over stamping has been added. The front panel is from greyboard which has been stencilled and stamped with an old "Bon Voyage" stamp. The Eiffel Tower and Memories stamps were also added, layered crumpled paper added. My chipboard letters have been sanded to give them a distressed feel.

Inner pages were also treated to very random and textured acrylic paint with lots of stamping (primarily with acrylic paint - note to self always wash stamps straight away!!!).

The main image on this page is "Three Smiles" from Hero Arts and city images are from a Crafty Individuals stamp.

Vellum sentiment added (think this is from Hot off the Press) which has been crumpled and distressed.

Towards the rear of the book I glued a number of pages together and cut a niche into the pages. Elements from a Chapel Road stamp were added.

Tim Holtz stencil and papers also used with small aged brass charms.

Thanks for looking - I hope you like my travel altered board book......please check out the

Stamp Man for great DT inspiration....Suz ~x~

"Blue Moon" Time at Gingersnaps

2011-08-31T07:15:00.003+01:00

Hello, it's a special time - there are 5 Wednesdays in the month of August so we are treated to a Gingersnaps Creations "blue moon" challenge. The brief was to create something from a past Art Exchange which Gingersnaps run over on their Yahoo group....all details can be found on their blog!

My fellow design team buddies have as usual excelled at this challenge. I decided to go with the altered coasters in a romantic theme, the brief was to include a heart back in February earlier this year. My coasters were another charity shop find...4 solid wooden coasters for 50pence. Here I have painted and decorated two of them....

Stream and Denim acrylic dabbers were used and overstamped with a Debbie Moore stamp. Faux metal hearts were made using mirri card, alcohol inks and Stazon. They were cut and embossed through the Cuttlebug.

The gorgeous female images are from Marianne D Designs. There is inked scrunched tissue paper in the background and punched flowers, sentiments and lace added.

I am also entering my coasters into the following challenge:-

Cheerful Stamp Pad - "Portraits"

You have a month to play along at Gingersnaps Creations and create your Once in a Blue Moon piece, check out the other challenges too along with the amazing artwork that is displayed there......Have a good day! Suzanne ~x~

Final Week of "Things with Wings"

2011-08-29T09:15:00.004+01:00

August is coming to an end and today's Bank Holiday sees the final week of our month of "things with wings" over at Make My Monday! We have something a little different for you this week - we would like to see your craft inspired by the following photograph:-

Photograph courtesy of Mrs Twins

You can interpret this photo whichever you wish - it could be the butterflies, the colour, the bird cage, or the bird that inspires you.......as long as there is something "with wings" on your creation! I have been inspired by the bird, bird cage and the pink colour.

My contribution is an 8x8 card. I have used Mariposa papers which I have overstamped with a Paperartsy swirl. My oval is made from greyboard which has also been covered with Mariposa paper, this too has been overstamped with an Elusive Image stamp.

The bird cage and the bird on the branch have been cut from Marianne Creatables die from Bazill card.

My flower has been cut from a number of Marianne Dies, scrunched up and secured by a brad. The background is greyboard which has been covered by old text and sentiment added.

I hope the photograph and my card inspired by it also inspires you to join us at Make My Monday!

There is great new overriding theme next month for September!

"Summertime Blues"

2011-08-24T21:11:00.001+01:00

My wooden shadow box cost me 50pence from the local Cancer Research charity shop. It was plain on the inside (the side I have worked in) and the other side was a children's cartoon mouse. For 50pence it was very substantial and solid. I should have taken a photograph of what it use to look like ....but that's me Mrs Impatient!

It is now hanging in the Cubby Hole's exhibition in the collaborative summer centre piece. I used acrylic paint that I blended myself and then overstamped with acrylic white paint - this was in an attempt to get a "scrubbed washed" look - as if bleached by the sun. Pale pink flourishes were also added.

The individual panels in the box were made from the cover of an old Next Directory - these too were painted and stencilled. Words were added by stamping onto tissue paper and various stamps were used to create the backgrounds.

Some elements were further stamped onto painted card i.e. the flowers above. The butterflies, bird and foliage are Tim Holtz grungeboard elements and these too were painted in acrylic paints and edged with white acrylic paint to make them hopefully pop out. Numerous charms have been added

Paper flowers, Magenta swirls and Marianne Creatables leaf sprigs were added to the outside of the frame. I am entering this piece into the following challenges:-

The Stamp Man Challenges - Summer Colours

Tuesday Throwdown - "dimension & texture"

Flutterby Wednesdays - "open" challenge showing a butterfly in my case

Thanks for stopping by and hopefully commenting, I appreciate you taking the time. Suzanne ~x~

Acetate at Make My Monday!

2011-08-22T09:10:00.005+01:00

Make My Monday continues with its "things with wings" theme. This week the Design Team would like to see entries with some:-

ACETATE

We would be delighted if you could create using something with wings, whether it be a bird, fairy - whatever takes your fancy and use some acetate on your work. My card for the Make My Monday design team is a simply constructed easel card with a Creative Expressions stamp as the main focal point.

I have used a selection of K&Co papers and distress inks blue jeans and peeled paint. I stamped the whole stamp onto acetate in Midnight Blue Stazon, coloured the water lillies with a mixture of Sakura souffle pen and permanent marker.

My flowers were punched from K&Co paper, layered up, edged with distress inks, secured by a brad and then spritzed with water - my intention was that these were to look like the water lillies on the stamp......

My flourishes are cut from a Marianne Creatable die.

My dragonflies were decoupaged and stickles added. I hope you are able to see the acetate - we on the Design Team accept that acetate is not the easiest of things to photograph but do hope you will join us in this challenging challenge. Suzanne ~x~

"Dream" for Marianne Divas....

2011-08-16T16:01:00.000+01:00

As well as hanging on the wall of the Cubby Hole Exhibition this altered word is also a piece for the Marianne Design Divas challenge.

I took a very plain wall hanging from a well known shop and then covered with pages of old text book and decorated

My flowers and swirls are Marianne Creatable Design Dies; ribbon flower set and branch garden. These were cut from gold metal and then coloured with a selection of alchohol inks. Metal and glass charms were added. My aim was not to overdo this as I wanted the word still to be read. I have a couple of requests to decorate some more word wall hangings - so I think Christmas presents are in order .......

I am entering this word into the following challenges:-

Bird is the Word challenge - "Dream" - I hope my altered media is acceptable. I have read the rules and have bookmarked this primarily scrapbooking challenge for the future as there are some lovely pieces of work being displayed here.

Suzanne ~x~

Debut Challenge for Marianne Design Divas.......

2011-08-15T09:30:00.002+01:00

Today sees the first challenge of the Marianne Design Divas. You have the whole month to play along and we would like to see your artwork incorporating something from the fabulous Marianne Creatables range. This month's challenge is:-

"Anything Goes"

(as long as it shows something from the Marianne Design range)

I was delighted to be invited to be on this Design Team for the next 12 months - this month's challenge is sponsored by Bunny Zoe Crafts who if offering a fab prize!

My piece is on a deep edged 8x8 canvas which I have painted with a number of acrylic paints. I obtained the texture by scraping the paint off with an old credit card. I have used a Crafters Workshop stencil in the background.

The Marianne Design Tunis Bird Cage was die cut using silver metal sheet, which was then further run through my Cuttlebug and an embossing folder and then coloured with a mixture of black, midnight blue and timber green Stazon inks.

The large bird on a branch Marianne Die was put through the Cuttlebug using grungepaper, this too was embossed further and then heat embossed with a mixture of claret but primarily balck embossing powder. Further branches of the bird die was used to edge the canvas and fill out the bird cage.

My flowers are Marianne's English Roses die and were made from a mixture of silver metal and old text - the metal was coloured in the same way as the cage.

I am looking forward to popping along to your blogs this coming month and hope you have enjoyed looking at my canvas! Check out my fellow Marianne Design Divas inspiration here!

This is my second blog post for today - see below for my Make My Monday DT piece..............

Fairies or Angels at Make My Monday

2011-08-15T08:30:00.001+01:00

Today sees the 3rd challenge in my month of "Things with Wings" at Make My Monday, it was so much fun checking out all your birds and bugs last week - we now have a few regulars and its great to see them enjoying our challenges. Anyway this week we would like to see your:-

Fairies and / or Angels

My piece for the design team is a "picture frame" made from an very bright garish red Manchester United photograph album which I picked up in the local Cancer Research charity shop.

I gessoed the book directly onto the glossy cover and pages - this was done deliberately as I wanted it to look "scratched", if not I would have sanded it down. I then proceeded to paint it with acrylic paint, a very green green lol:) I edged with an ochre acrylic paint and then overstamped.

I am also entering this into the Crafty Individuals monthly challenge where Helen has given the theme "bright and beautiful" and where there is some fabulous samples from the Design Team. The Crafty Individuals products used are:-

CI-132 (whole), CI-175 (whole), CI-302 (part), CI-171 (part), complimentary CI stamps, glossy image, chipboard frame and papers from the "trees" mini book.

My garden fairy was coloured with distress inks and then coloured further with Promarkers. All the flowers were coloured with Promarkers to get the brightness. The butterflies were stamped with distress inks and then glittered. I could not get the hymn All things bright and beautiful from my head so also added some music paper from the hymn (you have to look closely lol).

The little girl on the front of my photo frame was turned into a fairy by adding some of the garden fairy's wings. The frame was coloured with distress ink, peeled paint and some stamping. Both the frame and image were triple embossed with UTEE.

Check out my fellow teamies work on the Make My Monday challenge blog, its wonderful - I am looking forward to seeing your fairies and angels this week!

Fashionable Stamping Challenges.....

2011-08-10T18:55:00.000+01:00

....check it out HERE! I was fortunate to be a part of the former Let's Ink It Up challenges run by the lovely Suzanne and was sad (but completely understood why) when she decided to close the doors. Shirl and some of the other ladies have combined their talents to form the challenge blog Fashionable Stamping Challenges and its great that they want us to only use our "real" stamps, no digis are allowed.

The first challenge ends this weekend and is "Anything Goes". My piece, which is now hanging on the wall of the Cubby Hole (this was one of my pieces for the special "summer collaboration") is a deep edged 8x8 canvas which has been gessoed painted with acrylic paints, spritzed and stencilled over.

The little girl is from a Crafty Individuals plate, her expression is just adorable - knows her own mind. She has been coloured with Promarkers and touches of pattered paper added.

The banner of flags were cut from patterned paper and then doodled around with some tiny charms added.

Everything else was stamped onto tissue paper in a mixture of jet black and midnight blue Stazon ink and then carefully adhered onto the canvas. This has fast become one of my fave things to do - I do not seem to have a problem with the fragility of the tissue paper; the tip is to water down your PVA glue. Images were then highlighted with a trusty white gel pen!

I also stamped round the deep edges of the canvas. Stamps used were Crafty Individuals (little girl and text), free stamp from a Craft Stamper, Fancy Pants (words) and a selection from a "summertime" Papermania set.

I wish the ladies over at Fashionable Stamping lots of success with their new challenge blog, for those interested there is also a DT call!

I am also entering this piece into another challenge blog I have found Everybody Art Challenge,it appealed as it seems to encourage all types of work, e.g. from the cute and whimsy to the more vintage/grungy look which I prefer so I will be keeping my eye on this one - the challenge brief is "Summer"

Suzanne ~x~