Creating Clouds

Hi Everyone

Today's card to share with you is a card I made for the Spectrum Noir Blog, showing how I created clouds on the card below.  There's a full step by step picture tutorial on the blog so why not give it a go.

The image is called Meant to be and i just love it.  I've used backing papers from my paper stash, the polka dot is from Anna marie designs and the black and grey is from a papermaker pad.  The dies set I've just for the image is the cameo frame.  I've added a sentiment from my stash and the dies for the flowers are bitty blossom, a Marianne flower fantasy die and also a Britannia leaf die.  For the base I've used my favourite crafters companion matt black card and i even got my sewing machine out to edge the matting.

There is a full list of the spectrum noir markers used on the blog.

I have to say i love the clouds and you can add as many or as few as you like.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Summertime

Hi Everyone

Goodness me i forgot to share this card with you.  I made it for the Spectrum Noir Monthly Challenge in June but its been and gone now.  (Whoops)

So, I've used a belles and whistles stamp planting some love (isn't it just gorgeous)  and the reason i picked this for summertime is as have always loved gardening in the summer and still do.  I hate it when its windy and cold but in the summer when the sun is out i can spend all day in the garden tidying things up

Coloured with Spectrum Noirs and the papers are raspberry road from a a pack free in a  magazine i bought ages ago.  The dies are Marianne, Rectangle and Heart and stamp set from the collectable range.  i have then used a Martha Stewart border punch along the edges of the centre piece of card with added liquid pearls.   The large pink flower is using a small sunflower quilling die and the other two are out of my crafts stash.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Crafters Companion Challenge Blog - Dies

Hi Everyone

My card for the Crafters Companion July Challenge - Dies, is using the beautiful Eleanor stamp from the Angelica range.  I've coloured with Spectrum Noirs and i used this image for everyone to colour at the last colouring day at Frankies.  I believe everyone was pleased with their results.

The die for the main image is the Diesire Classical Frame and then I've used a couple of Marianne hearts to decorate.

If you would like to have a go at recreating the image the colours i have used are

Skin FS2, FS4, FS9, TN2,  Cheeks CR3
Hair EB1, TN2, TN3, EB8, EB5
Tutu and shoes, PP5, PP3, PP1

Why don't you pop along and take part to win a fab prize.

Hope you like it

Louise xx

Crafters Companion Challenge Blog - Summertime

Hi Everyone

June is the month for a fab challenge at the Crafters Companion Challenge Blog and its summertime......  we have had a few days lately that have been very warm but we need more.........

I've used a favourite Humphrey image, Swinging By, coloured with Spectrum Noir pens as this reminds me of the summer when i was little.  I always loved going to the park and being on the swings.  I loved them so much i talked my Mam into letting me and my younger sister have a quick visit to the park one Saturday tea time just before we were due to go to the Isle of Wight for a holiday the next day to visit my uncle and guess what.  I fell of and broke my arm in three places and we all missed the holiday and i spent a full week in hospital (my birthday too which is the first of June)........  Never mind it was a long time ago but i still have a funny shaped arm to show for it but this image always brings good memories too when my dad used to push me on the swings.

 I've used a free backing paper from a magazine i had along with a Marianne Circle die, LR0112  for placing the image onto.  Coloured with spec and the colours used are IG7, IG3, IG1, PP5, DG4, DG2, DG1, EB1, TN2, EB3 and EB2.  Then just a few flowers and a triple bow tied on my ultimate pro to finish.

Pop over and take part and you never know you may win.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Romantic Vintage

Hi Everyone

I've had a fab lazy but productive Sunday after my hectic demo yesterday at Kelso.  Loads of lovely crafters there but i really could have done with a 'Sam MacDonald  to help me find my stuff, as i couldn't find anything as per usual.  Then to make matters worse i spilt quarter of a cup of tea over my stuff!!! Luckily it was only on my tools and ink pads so no cards were spoilt.  Also one lovely lady decided to update me on the state of the roads and flooding in the Durham area so it was a bit hit and miss (or so i thought) as to whether i would get back or not.  Although i did, with no problem at all, and I'm not sure if the news and weather reports made it sound worse than it really was. I genuinely don't know as i missed it all.

Ok so today its been a lovely afternoon and i spent the early part making a card with some new purchases and then spent the rest of the afternoon outside cutting the grass.  Then a long lovely hot then cold shower!!! I feel great!!!!!!

Heres my card.

I've used a new Marianne stamp, Romantic Vintage, as crafters companion have become a distributor of this range in the last month.  How exciting and i get to have shopping trips to the warehouse.  I have mixed it with some crafters companion products too, as well as lots of bits and bobs from my stash.  So the card base is watercolour card, matted onto black coredinations card which i think i got from the neutrals pack.  Then i have stamped the image in Memento ink, london fog and die cut this with one of the opulent oval dies and in turn matted this onto the larger opulent oval die, cut out of My minds eye, lost and found, sunshine pad.  Then this was matted onto the black card with a sheet of  My minds eye, Indie Chic Safron .  I've sewn this on with my sewing machine in black thread.

Then to complete I've added black lace, a sentiment from the back of cupboard at Crafters companion HQ, the flowers are made from a Dahlia and Blissful Diesire Quilling Die. Everyone loved these yesterday at the demo and lots were sold.  I can see the shop manager being in tocuh with me tomorrow to order more.  All of the blissful flower sold out.  I've added centres to these from my stash and the cameo is from my trip to Belgium last year.  The leaves are cut in matching black card with a Marianne leaf die and a butterfly to finish off.  The opulent oval shapes have been distressed with pumice stone distress ink.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Crafters Companion Challenge Blog - Flowers

Hi Everyone

Well its Easter Sunday and my plan was to make cards and use papers from my Crafters Companion CD, however my printer is playing up its putting lines across all printed items and I've cleaned the printer heads, run test pages and recalibrated it and its still not working................ I've just replaced the black ink so i'll try a colour one and see if this helps, if not it looks like i need a new printer..........  I'm so sad as i love this one.

This card is for the Crafters Companion  challenge blog and the theme is flowers, there are lots and lots of crafters companion products that have flowers on so get hunting. And I must thank Tracey Watkiss for the inspiration in making ths as she made one like ths with a party paws image ad I just loved it!!!!!! You can see Traceys card here.

So as i had no printer to use i searched through my stash and i wanted something bright red to go with the flowers i had coloured on the mulberry wood image, Friend.  So once again i found this in my free stash from a card making mag, boy its coming in handy just recently.

I've used my Spectrum Noir Pens and only a few colours on this one, i love this little cutie in grey tones.  I've used the Waltz frame to mat the image onto after cutting him out using a circle die and then layering with a black circle.  The flower is using a Blissful diesire die and then a Marianne Leaf die.  There is a sentiment stamped in side the card, 'A Birthday Flower just for you' and this is from one of the Party Paws stamps.

Don't forget to pop over to the blog and take part, I'm sure you have a Crafters companion card with a flower on that you could enter......

Louise xx

Happy Christmas Everyone

Hi Everyone

Well i just wanted to say thanks to everyone that has viewed, commented and followed my blog in the last year and a half or so.  I love making cards and sharing them with you.  Even though i don't seem to get as much time to take part these days.  So this last one before Christmas is for the Spectrum Noir blog challenge, Winter Blues.  Theres still time for you to take part so pop along and enter to win a fabby prize.

I've coloured this beautiful LOTV image with my Spectrum Noirs and matted onto Bo Buny card stock that Margaret and i found in Holland.  I've been waiting to use it since i got back and thise was the perfect time.    The eaxact card is Snowfall stripe and Snowfall wintertime. I've used a marriane die Christmas Leaves, snowflake dies and my Scalloped Tag for the sentiment which is just printed from my pc.  Then added some extra sparkle with glamour dust.

Hope you like it and that you all have a fabulous Christmas and Happy New Year.

Louise xx

Craft Punked Blog Challenge - Keeping Warm

Hi Everyone

Well i managed to fit another card in today and its just in time for the Craft Punked Blog Challenge and this weeks theme is Keeping Warm,.  Ideas could obviously be hats, gloves coats, fires etc but i thought this image went perfectly.  What better way to keep warm than curled up on a comfy chair or sofa on these warm dark cold nights.  Oh i wish i had Minnie and Tink back with me........

So..........  coloured with Spectrum Noirs and the image is Paw Prints.  I've used some dove craft paper that i brought back from Belgium and i know the holly doesn't match the theme but it matches the backing paper and i bought this Holly die at Graces while at a demo recently and also the holly berries which i knew would be useful.  The tag is from a diesire tag set once again, with a sentiment to match.  So not really a christmassy image but it now could be used as a Christmas card.

Pop over and join in the challenge.

hope you like it.

Louise xx

Humphrey Cards & an Announcement

Hi Everyone

Well i have finally got a little time to let you know on a really big deal for me that i haven't been able to share.  Although i could've from last friday i think, but the time has just flown and i really must do it now.  As i was deoming speccies at Dainty Supplies yesterday i thought i would share some of the cards i made and the news i had at the same time.

I have been asked to be a member of Spectrum Noir Design team blog which is part of the Spectrum Noir Website and I have been an accredited colourinst for a while.  I have a little blinkie on top right of my blog which has been there for a few months now.  Information will be shared soon as to how you can become one too, its sooooo exciting. The blog is a fabulous resource for anyone who has speccies to enable them to find inspiration, tips and techniques with lots of tutorials from all 14 DT members.  There are 7 from the UK and 7 from the Rest of the World (ROW).  I shall add a list all of their blogs below, they are such a talented bunch of ladies and I feel that some of  their coloruing is way beyond what i can produce.  Also if you have just ordered the Meadow Cottage Bears Pick of the Week Jacqui has just added the tutorial for colouring onto Kraft card that Sara talked about on the shows by Liz Murphy.

Pop over and take a look as it already has lots of great tutorials loaded up and then all 14 of us have our own day to post a regular blog on our specified day, every 2 weeks.  Mine is a Tuesday so my first scheduled post will be on the 5th June, the Queens Diamond Jubilee and my 30th Wedding Anniversary.


All of the papers i have used below are from the Humphrey's Corner CD, occasions and allsorts.  The stamps are all from the newest collection from the Humphrey range, A year with Humphrey.  Matted onto coredinations and of course coloured with spectrum noirs.  I've coloured the white pearls with speccies too. The middle card has a section of core embossed with one of sheenas new embossing folders and they are fab. I love this one and a lot of the lovely crafters bought all 6 yesterday.  I will have some more cards using those to share with you soon.

UK Team

Jacqui Dennis -- http://jacqui47.blogspot.com/

Linda Hill -- http://lindasrainbowcraftingcabin.blogspot.co.uk/

Lis Murphy -- http://mycraftblogumentary.blogspot.co.uk/

Marcea Watkins -- http://marceascraftingcorner.blogspot.com/

Wendy Foster -- http://secretcrafter.blogspot.co.uk/

Lisa Baker -- http://crafty-moments.blogspot.co.uk/

US/ROW Team

Angelique Nederpel -- http://scrapping-angel.blogspot.com/

Cyndi Bundy -- http://scrappychickcyndi.blogspot.com/

Danielle Johnson -- http://fundamentalchange.blogspot.com/

Jennie Lin Black -- http://jenniebstampin.blogspot.com/

Kristine Reynolds -- http://stampingandscrapingincalifornia.blogspot.com/

Taylor Usry -- http://taylorusry.blogspot.com

Room for 1 more..............

Hope you like my cards.

Louise xx

Belle of the Ball

Hi Everyone

Well i had a really really productive day yesterday although this meant i was cooped up in my little craft room all day by myself but i thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I managed to make 6 cards, well one is a tealight card and box to match, which is amazing going for me as normally it takes me ages to just make one.  On Saturday i only made one so it just goes to show it just depends what mood i am in.

However on Saturday i did get a bit sidetracked as i was planning all of my trips away in the next few months.  It looks like Kevin and I will not be having a proper holiday away this year as i think i have over done it.  Here's what i have planned and i am soooo excited this is why i need to list them all......

June 4 & 5th London, Kevin and me for our 30th Wedding anniversary,  oooo and i have just checked its Pearl, i wonder what he will get me?????
June 9 &10th Margaret Brown and me at a Jane Nestorenko Workshop, staying in Coventry
July 17 & 18th, Gracie her mam and me at a Madonna concert in Hyde park London
July 19 & 20th Madonna Concert Birmingham, me and i don't know who as yet as this was a spur of the moment thing...................
August 3, 4 & 5th Me and Kevin at the Olympics, i was lucky enough to get tickets for the athletics 100 metre heats, so i am really looking forward to this.

Ok enough of that, so on to one of  my cards from yesterday and only 1 more sleep to the SWALK Pick of the Day show tomorrow night at 9pm and that's another trip away for me to Peterborough.  (I love my new job).  I have used the Belle of the Ball stamp and made an easel sort of stepper card, not sure really what it is called but i love it.  I have used my Spectrum Noirs to colour and backing papers from the SWALK CD ROM 2  I really wanted a background to go with her so i found a castle background digi which i thought would fit perfect. The only extra things i have added is my favourite Marianne flower die and a new vine flourish die i bought at the NEC i nearly forgot about this one, its the first time i have used it.

How fab would this be for a little girls birthday card, i know Grace will just love it so it may be that i make one for her 9th Birthday in November.

Don't forget to enter the competition, details on the crafters companion news blog, as you have a chance to win all of the new stamps and a cd resource for colouring all SWALK images with your spectrum noir pens. Closing date is 9am tomorrow which is the 8th May.  Just look at all the new cute stamps below, i love all of them.....

Ok I'm off to craft again while i still have the motivation.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx