White with a touch of red

Hello lovely crafters. 
In an attempt to regain some sort of crafty mojo, I've resorted to a card layout which I used to use often. Quite simple but always works.

 This was inspired by 52CCT: 

 and Merry Monday photo inspiration:

I chose the hanging decorations. 
I can also hop over to Pixie's Snippets Playground as I've used a few snippets ~ card and thread.

Our weeks holiday was perfect, thank you for asking  :) 
We had a few days out but also remodelled our kitchen. We have new worktops and have covered some wall tiles, which were not to our taste, with wood cladding. Then I painted the cupboard doors so it all looks very smart and chic. 
There were certainly days when even making a piece of toast became a mental exercise but most things are back to normal now. 
We still have woodwork and walls to paint but we completed phase 1, a new sink, about a year ago so we'll get round to it. I won't be able to spend so much time outside as Autumn draws in so I'll have to do decorating instead (or stamping).

Glass baubles

I don't know what's wrong with me recently but I mostly can't seem to make a card I'm happy with. (Which is a shame as I've just bought a shed load of stuff).
I made these baubles last week for the watercolour challenge and even though I placed them every which way with half a dozen sentiments, nothing seemed to work and in the end I gave up. 
This week the challenge for 52CCT is a sketch:

 

I stuck them down and here it is:

 Obviously there was more fiddling about than that but we won't go into it. 

After promising myself that I wasn't going to buy any more craft stuff I bought two magazines last week and these baubles came with one of them.

I embossed them in silver then filled them in with a wet brush and added some green brusho powder and moved it about with the wet brush. It makes such pretty patterns. 

As two of the baubles don't have much definition around the edge, I inked with a little Esperesso on a sponge. 

I stamped the bows, drew on the lines (which are straight) and added the gems. The sentiment is from a Joy Crafts set. 

I think I've been a bit distracted recently maybe that's why the inspiration isn't coming. Isn't it strange how sometimes you can make dozens of pretty cards and other times they all go in the bin?

I've got a week off now. We are doing some work to improve our kitchen which means nothing is where you think it should be just now. Hopefully by the end of the week there will be some development. Hoping for some days out too! 

Christmas Gifts

Anything I have made recently has found its way to the bin, this one narrowly missed.
I have used a Stamplorations stamp set Retro Mod Shapes to make these Christmas gifts. It's a great set with many shapes to mix and match. This is using a square and a leaf shape.

I realised that I should have spaced them so there was a clearer area for the words to go over, if you see what I mean. I just chose the most clear area and wrapped the overlay there.
I added a little bit of sparkle to the stars. 
I'm linking this to
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - where the theme is Gifts

And August Rudolf Days over at Scrappy Mo's blog. How is it possible we are near the end of August?
On the bright side, it is a beautiful day today and a Bank Holiday weekend is looming. I hope everyone here in the UK is able to enjoy it that we don't get typical bank holiday weather! Here we always make two plans - wet and dry. :)
Hopefully I can get back into it and find my mojo, especially as I need a birthday card for next week.
Enjoy your day.
x

Punched pink butterflies

A few months ago I bought a butterfly punch as I'd seen some lovely cards made by sewing punched butterflies onto card. I thought - Oh yes, I must have a go at that! 
 I didn't save these pictures and can I find them now?   No.

Anyway I had a go and this is what I made:

  
I've spent a stupid amount of time trying to get a good photo of this so here are a few and that's what you're getting!

 
 I made this by inking an acrylic block and spritzing with water. Then I smooshed it onto paper and when it was dry I punched out the butterflies. 
I placed them (that makes it sound very easy!) then fixed them on with tiny amount of glue on under the bodies.  

 
 Then I stitched along the whole length. The stitching does not bear close scrutiny and I did find the machine went too fast at times so I used the wheel. I hadn't accounted for the angles I'd put the butterflies at. 

Mrs A's Butterfly Challenge is currently to use punches and/or pink. I only have two punches and one is a butterfly so this was the perfect opportunity to break it out. 

AAA Cards are currently looking for stitching.

 

 Finally, am I brave enough to enter the CAS Mix Up challenge? The cards there are so amazing and inventive and always look immaculate, mine is a bit scruffy and I'm not entirely happy with the design. 
I used a water spray to get the colour effect on the pink, and also stitching and a punch.

Finally, if anyone can tell me how to get a really good white when taking a photo, I'd be grateful. I've tried using a lamp, but maybe it's the wrong kind, and I have got the white balance set right.

July Rudolf Days

I had the idea for this card a while back but had not managed to make it into reality.

I'm not sure if the photo really shows but it is gold on green. 
I embossed a piece of white card, inked in green and then sponged on gold pigment ink. I've found that this ink pad is not great for stamping but rubs on quite well. I know there is a better gold pad available now but I've just had a spending spree so no new purchases for a little long while. I'll play with what  have for now (which is plenty).
I managed to stick the embossing down off centre so had to trim both sides tight but I think it looks ok, almost planned!
This is a Sissix embossing folder. I don't know what it's called and was pleased that I'd made Christmas  card with a non Christmassy folder. But loooking at it now, I'm wondering if it is a Christmas folder? Hehe. It has berries on it.
So I've just got time to link with July Rudolf Days where it is Christmas once a month.

Orange swirls

I think I've just got time for a quick post.
Here is a card I'm entering into the Stamplorations CAS card challenge:

I love stamplorations stamps and all the wonderful inspiration on the blog. I mean to have a go more often, trying out all the ideas, or at least a fraction of them. 

 

This is a birthday card for my son whose birthday is coming up soon. He is actually artistic, not like me who just wants to be, so he'll appreciate the colours and swirls. Here is his latest work: (yes, I'm a very proud Mum)

He is an illustrator so if any wants anything illustrating give him a shout. 

https://www.facebook.com/tomcharlesworthillustration/?fref=ts

Denim and dimension

I needed a little sanity after a crazy day at work...
 but I couldn't find any so I've come here instead! I'm visiting my friends in the Playground and Butterfly Garden.
Mrs A's current challenge is D for Dimension and/or Denim. (Do you know as I type this there is no cursor today, which adds an un-needed element of interest to blogging.)
I've taken the denim idea to heart and made a fun card.

I started with the plan of making a pocket shaped swing card. I made a paper template first but even so there was a fair amount of cutting and scoring in the wrong place.
The denim is made by using a Faded Jeans ink pad and dragging it down some paper. 
The butterfly is an inky Doodles stamp. I hoped it would look like it was embroidered on the pocket. I tried a different stamp initially then remembered that I had this one which suits much better.  

I added the important double stitching with a pink, sparkly gel pen. The colours were inspired by Mrs A's card, I liked the blue and pink together.
The silver studs are made by using a flower die and saving the tiny circle centre that you might normally throw away (or save in a box if you are really obsessive). The silver card is saved packaging.
I've made this for my daughter's birthday which is not until the end of August so I am very organised. Pat on the head please. She is away just now and, though I am not consciously missing her, maybe I am sub-consciously. She is having a ball in Berlin so I am very happy that she is happy.
Flower die - Leanne Creatief
Butterfly - Inky Doodle
Button die - X Cut
Sentiments - Hobby Art
I'd like to link this to the Butterfly Challenge and Pixie's Snippets Playground. 
I've used snippets of card for the flowers an buttons so I can have a run around the playground or maybe just sit in the shade with a cool drink. Water fight anyone?