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

Belle of the Ball

Hi Everyone

I've not shared a post in a while now but ive just been so busy and its my favourite time of year Wimbledon........  I'm off there myself a week on Saturday for the final but sadly i got tickets for the women's doubles finals on court number one on the last Sunday.  So myself and little Em are going to spend a day on Murray Mount/Henman Hill as long as the rain holds off, drinking Pims and enjoying the day.

I've been so busy with work and also demos, which is why I'm not posting.  I was at Frankies a couple of weeks ago for a Spectrum Noir colouring day and on Saturday the 29th June i am off to the glitter pot......  details can be found on the Crafters Companion calendar.  Sam from the office joined me at Frankies and we had a fab day, such a laugh with all the lovely ladies and Peter....  I'm back there at the end of July for another demo day too.

Then of course there has been so much on the TV lately and i am a real telly addict.  The voice, BGT and now its Big Bro and ive watched it from the beginning and need to watch it again.  Its as addictive as ever and I'm just loving it.  Ooooo and I've been busy gardening too............  i just cannot fit everything in...........

Anyway..............

Here is my Spectrum Noir blog post, creating folds in dresses.  Step by step pictures and instructions can be found on the Spectrum Noir Blog and I've used a beautiful Swalk stamp called Belle of the Ball.  I've also used a Sunflower Small quilling die and the Green paper is from the Angelica CD and the yellow from the Toread CD (i think).  The border die is a spellbinder but I'm not sure which one it is and then the flourish is a Marianne die as well as the intricate butterfly.  And don't forget the main attraction, Spectrum Noir Pens

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

Sam's 21st Birthday

Hi Everyone

It was Sam's 21 st Birthday yesterday, our fabuloso Business and Admin Apprentice and i thought i would make her a special card.  Soooooooooooooooo   here it is.

The stamp is the beautiful Mariella from Angelica and Friends and its the first time i have coloured her in.  I've used my Spectrum Noir Pens and the purple was quite tricky as i couldn't find the colour to match the paper. So i coloured with PL1 and PL2 but over coloured with IG1 to tone the purple down.  Then to take some of the colour from her dress i used the blender pen to remove some of the purple at the edges.

I've used Glamour Dust on her wings, and distress the edge of the cut out image with vintage photo distress ink.  The flowers i have just purchased from The Ribbon Girl and the dies used are Scalloped tag and Damask Accents as they were on sale and i could not resist.  nearly 50% off!!!! Well it would be rude to say no wouldn't it? The backing paper is Pion design, and the card is matted onto watercolour card as the base with kraft card underneath.

Hope you like it, (i think Sam did).

Its ages and ages since i entered a challenge so i am entering this at

CLP Sketch Challenge

Simon Says

And this is why i don't normally enter, because i get fed up of looking and need to make more cards.........  never mind.  So 2 is enough.

Louise xx

Crafters Companion Blog Challenge May

hi Everyone

Get your thinking caps on for a masculine card on this months crafters companion blog challenege and get yourself entered as you may win, you never know.  My card this month is using a stamp from the Stamp it Australia Stamps which will be launched soon by Crafters Companion.  Even though they are not available on the CC website in the UK they have been available for our trade shops to buy so you will find them out there locally to you.  However they will be coming soon so watch this space.

I've used some backing papers a 6x6 My Minds eye that i purchased cheaply from craft Superstore as they were on sale.  Its called Lost & Found two, Sunshine but i think it must be being sold as special offers on a lot of websites as i cannot find it apart from the link shown.  I've used 4 different papers from the pad and embossed the stamp Key sentiments and embossed using copper powder.  The dark brown paper has also been embossed with the Arygle A4 Folder for added texture and I've added 4 eyelets in copper to match.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Martini Girl

Hi Everyone

There's a brand new Crafters Companion launch coming up this Friday on Create and Craft, I've just checked the schedule and its still a secret so I'm still sworn to keeping it confidential sorry.  Although i have seen some of the cards made by the DT and they are as stunning as ever.  I'm sure sneak peeks will start soon so watch this space.  

However, i am so far behind with my colouring and card making that i am still two launches back and at my demo's i have been colouring the gorgeous Frou Frou range. So here is one below i made for the Spectrum Noir Blog.  I new my first one would be Martini Girl and i think she has been the most popular.  i could so easlily have made another 6x6 card but i felt like a change and went for an A5 pop out card made on my Ultimate pro.  The papers are from the Frou Frou CD and i printed two designs onto the reverse of Centura pearl card to make a sturdy base. Ive used my spectrum noirs as usual and all colours are listed on the srpctum noir blog.  Ive used the Dahlia quilling die to make the two flowers and the ribbon, pearls and sparkly centres of the flowers are all from the frou frou embellishment  set.  The die on either side is lace Border 9.

Ok so now i am off to pack for a 1 night stay at the Inn on the Lake in Ullswater, for a lazy sunday and bank holiday Monday before i get back to work on Tuesday.  So looking forward to just chilling out............  Ooo and my first chance to use my lovely toiletry bag that Margaret Brown made for me, it has my name on and everything! Not a good photo i know but i'm in a hurry.

I'm sure i will have some photos to share with you when i get back.

Hope you like it and all colours for the card are listed on the spectrum noir blog.

Louise xx

Spectrum Noir Blog - Bella Rose Vintage Background

Hi Everyone

This months tutorial for the Spectrum Noir Blog post is using the Bella Rose Vintage Background Stamp by heartfelt creations.  I am really loving these stamps and you can buy dies to match but I've not ventured that far yet and just wanted to colour this with my Spectrum Noir pens when i first saw it.

I've used some K&C paper to match the colours i have used and then a specllbinders lace doily motif die.  I've added some brown binding ribbon that wasn't quite the correct colour so i coloured it with EB7 and then added one heart button that i bought at the NEC hobbycraft fair one year i was there.  I've distressed the edges of the stamped image after colouring with Frayed Burlap and Black soot and then decorated the inside of the card to match.

Don't forget to pop over to the spectrum noir blog for a full tutorial and list of colours used.

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