Scruffy Little Cat

Hi Everyone

Crafters Companion are launching a new range of stamps and matching paper crafting items on 9th May and here is my first make.  The stamps are fab to use with my spectrum noir markers and pencils.  This lovely girly is called Pixie.

I've used watercolour card as my base and matted with Kraft card and matched some Wild Rose Studio Polka Dot dottie papers to the colouring i have done. I've not kept a list of colours used but when finished with the Spectrum Noir pens i highlight areas to add depth with my new Spectrum noir pencils.  I've then coloured two wooden flowers with my spectrum noirs and sewn around the outside of the matting,.

Don't forget to watch Leann on Friday as she will have the whole new range and the spectrum noir pens and pencils, ooo  and a new DVD for pens and pencils too.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Shades of Grey

Hi Everyone

Time to share my latest Spectrum Noir Tutorial with you.  This time i have kept my card very simple and I just love the finished result.

The stamp is from Indigo Blu and this one is called Rose Blush, how beautiful is it.  AND while trying to find the link for you I have just spotted more of the same type so I can feel my bank balance taking a hit, there is a clematis, anemone etc, stunning!!!

The colours i have used and a tutorial are all located on the Spectrum Noir Blog and I think I have only used 6 or 7 shades of Spectrum Noirs so not a lot of work required an i think the colouring took me 20 mins max. My card base is made with Watercolour card and I've used Neenah to colour on to, with a hint of black matt card to layer with.  The stamp is a Stamp it Australia stamp set, sentiment swirls, its such a useful stamp set to have and the font is beautiful.

I think this one will be used for Kevin s Mams next birthday.

Hope you like it

Louise xx

Alva Colour

Hi Everyone

Just sharing with you today I card I have forgotten to blog about as it was shared on the Spectrum Noir Blog in February.

I found this stamp Alva Colour while browsing the web and treat myself at Christmas time I think on the Bunny Zoe website. I just love fairies and I think this goes back to when my sister and I read about the young girl who had photographs of fairies at the bottom of her garden, which of course all turned out to be fake.   It was one of the first sites I found when starting to make cards and I love it, there's so much to choose from.  The spectrum noir markers used are all listed on the blog and my card base is using, Kraft cardstock.  I've matted onto coredintations card and then used a sheet from a paper pad, Country Lady, Margaret and I shared a pack when we visited the NEC last year, so its a good way to feed my paper addiction but not have so many in my collection.  The roses and leaves are made using the same papers and card using Bitty Blossoms dies and the borders are Damask accents.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Crafters Companion April Challenge - Floral

Hi Everyone

This months Crafters Companion Challenge blog has changed and its all run via facebook, click here for information on how to enter.

So I really had to make a card using the fab new Create a card Dies, they are coming back soon  I promise and I've used our fab quilling dies. I just love these too.  I've used Kraft card as the base and then matted with Neenah card underneath the patterned paper from my stash and used the Enchanted create a card die.  I've stamped using a sentimental Memories are made  stamp set in pumice stone distress ink.  The flowers are made using the Dahlia quilling die and then I've cut leaves in Kraft card to match using Leaf 1 and then scored veins using the Springtime treat board.  Then to finish I edged with the pumice stone distress ink around the patterned card and also the petal tips, then finished with pearls in different sizes.

Oh and are you loving the new Crafters inspiration magazine.  I was away on my hols when it was released and had a really busy first week back at work so I've just browsed through it this morning.  I have to say Louisa has done a fab job it contains lots of stunning cards and projects by a lot of the team at CC and DT members.  Amazing well done everyone!!!



Dont forget to pop along to the challenge and take part.

Hope you like my card.

Louise xx

Spectrum Noir Challenge - Green

Hi Everyone

For the month of march the spectrum noir blog challenge has been green, something to do with a certain St Patrick i think.

Here's my challenge card and you can find more on the blog page.  I've used the Soar stamp from the Rachelle Anne Miller range and coloured her with Spectrum Noir markers.  The colours used are listed below.  The papers are from my stash and i matted them with Kraft card.  i made a couple of tags using my Favorite tags dies.  Then added a button and a few flowers.

blender, TN7, TN4, TN3, TN2, TN1, EB3, FS4, CT1, CT3, CT4, CG4, CG3, CG2, CG1, CR3, EB1

There's only today and tomorrow left so hurry if you would like to enter.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Crafters Companion Blog Challenge - Monotone

Hi Everyone

I cannot believe the last time i posted was 1st February, that must be the longest time ever for me............  I know i know its the old reason I've been so so so busy.  But i am still making cards and this one is for the crafters Companion blog challenge for March, Monotone.

So..........  i couldn't resist a new Rachelle Anne Miller stamp brand new this month from Crafters companion this one is called Squeeze.  I've chosen very pale mauve colours for the main card and matched this colour scheme into the lovely image too, with my spectrum noir pens.  I've used watercolour card for the base and last weekend i helped out in retail packing in the cc warehouse, which might've been a good idea before i started looking on the shelves to see what i fancied.  so i ended up buying lost more stash and the paper on the card below is from a six by six paper pad by Wild Rose Studios, called Antique Library.  I've matted with Kraft Card card and then added a couple of paper roses to match and then sewn it all together.

Colours used,

TN7, TN4, TN3, TN2, TN1, EB3, FS4, CR3, EB1, EB2, BG1, BG2, HB1, HB2.

I've just got back from a demonstrator training event which has run over the last 3 days that Leann and I delivered and its been absolutely brilliant (yep that's my opinion) i've met lots of lovely crafters who are all willing to become our demonstrators and both Leann and i will be getting back to them soon with details.

The back to work tomorrow but on weds night I'll be off to the Hobbycraft show at the NEC Birmingham for 4 days.  I'm looking forward to seeing what new stuff there is, although i don't need one single thing, but i cant resist a little look just in case.  Dawns coming with me too so i should have some photos to share.

Hope you like it and pop over to take part as you may just win a prize.

Louise xx

February Challenge - CAS Card

Hi Everyone

This months Crafters Companion Blog challenge is a CAS card, clean and simple.  I just love making these types of cards as they are really quick and easy.

I've used my Florabunda 6x6 embossing folder with some black crafters companion  card matted onto Kraft card.  (my two favourite cards types of the minute).  Don't hang around as the Kraft card is going to sell out soon and wont be back in until late February...........

Then all i have done is added some cotton ribbon and a paper flower made with blissful flower die.  This is from some text paper i had in my stash but i think it would be just as good with newspaper and distress ink. The centre is just a cut of strip of the black card.  Then a couple of die cut leaves to match

You have a whole month to take part so pop over and give it a go.........  you just might be lucky.

Hope you like it

Louise xx

Animals or Critters

Hi Everyone

OMG how are we nearly at the end of January?  I've been going to share this card for a while now thinking i had ages left but there's only a couple of days to go before its feb.

So the theme is animals or critters for the Spectrum Noir blog challenge of January.  I've chosen butterfly's from a Stamp-it Australia  stamp set and matched it with an embossing folder, ornate butterfly.  To create the background I've scribbled 3 shades of spectrum noir pens, using the chisel end of the pen onto the reverse side of the stamped image embossed in black, onto some heat resistant acetate.  Then I've spritzed it with spectrum noir blender solution popped into a spray bottle and dabbed it with cut up kitchen pan scrubber.
The colours I've chosen are LV2, LV3 and BP3

I love the effect after you matt this onto gold mirrir card.  The card base is made using crafters companion matt black card and I've embossed two shades of centura pearl card to match, then finished off with brads and a sentiment.

Ok, now i have realised its nearly February i need to quickly make two new challenge cards, one is masculine and the other is a clean and simple card.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

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

Hearts, Hearts and more Hearts

Hi Everyone

Today i am sharing you the card i made for the Crafters Companion Challenge Blog and Januaries theme is hearts.

I've used the fab new Bebunni stamp range, this one is aptly named Hearts and coloured with Spectrum Noir Pens, I've used IG1, IG2, IG5, IG7, PP1, PP3, PP5, EB1.  The die cut heart is from the Heart Doily Die set on coordination's card and the backing paper is from a nitwit collection, embossed with the A4 Patchwork Quilt folder.  The sentiment stamp is from the same stamp set and i have finished off with some white lace from my stash and a xcut paper punch.

The challenge does not finish until the end of January so pop over and take part to win a fab prize.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx