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

A little bit of Christmas Humphrey

Hi Everyone

Well it was my turn to post a tutorial on the spectrum noir blog today and i thought i would share with you how i like to colour Humphrey and this lovely stamp.  Its one of my favourites for Christmas, although i must say that Mulberry wood is now taking over.  The reason i chose this one is because i found it very daunting colouring in reds and used to avoid them at all costs but now i love them as i find they work really well together.

Here's my finished image and on the Spectrum Noir Blog is a step by step tutorial, with all the colours i used and even how to fix a couple of mistakes i made so i didn't have to start all over again.  Its not made into a card as yet but it will be soon.

Hope you like it and don't forget to check out all of the fab tutorials from the rest of the Spectrum Noir DT on the blog.  They are amazing and i am still in awe of their colouring abilities.

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

A Year With Humphrey Stepper Card

Hi Everyone

I've not made many cards lately but i'm going to fix that little problem this weekend so i thought i would share one of my recent A year with Humphrey Stepper cards.  I've tried making my own stepper cards before and they have been ok but i hate measuring and taking ages to put a card together, i really want quick results as i am always so busy to get on with the next project.  So when i saw there were 3 different types of stepper card templates on the A year with Humphrey CD Rom i was so pleased.  All the pieces are there ready for you to print, the base card and then the matting and layering already measured for you, and the decorations.  I was amazed at how quick i put it together and it was so easy.  I only had one cut to make with my craft knife and then i scored the lines that are marked for you using my boxer board.

All of the buttons and decorations are from the same print out on the CD and i just love these ribbons, they look really effective.  The only extra item i have used apart form the printout itself is some collal all purpose glue, THE BEST GLUE IN THE WORLD.................

Also, these stepper cards can be used to go with all of your other crafty images and stamps as you don't need to use the preprepared items that go with so i know i will be making some more stepper cards soon and with ease.........

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Glitter Geeks Blog Challenge

Hi There everyone

Friday morning again and another Glitter Geeks blog challeneg for you. Its an easy one this time, use stiches on your prject fake or real.  I have chosen one of the new humphrey STamps from Crafters Companion using the gorgeous Swinging by stamp.  I've coloured with my spectrum noir pens and used backing paper from the Humphreys corner cd rom, the papers are fab on here and go really well with lots of stamp types.  I've used my prima flowers to decorate and the  sentiment tag is from craftwork cards.   The middle flower i have added a little sparklet in pink that i bought from create and craft a couple of months ago, they are gorgeous.  I'm not sure if you can see on the picture very well but i did sew around the backing paper using my lovely new sewing machine.  I got it out this morning and it is back stashed away in my cupboard.  I think i need to lengthen the stitch though as it looks a bit too close togther.

Pop over to the blog and take part as you could win a prize from Tiddly Inks.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Humphrey - Sneak Peek

Hi Everyone

Are you ready for Humphrey in the morning?  The first show is 11am and there will be some fab demos and cards from the DT made with the new a year with Humphrey cd , 12 new stamps and also some new Humphrey Hunkydory Kits.  Here's my second coloured card using my spectrum noirs and one of the fab new stamps.  This stamp is called Roses are red, yet mine is purple.  The backing papers are from the previous Humphrey CD.  I've matted onto coredinations card and added some ribbon , a Marianne heart die and a few pearls.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Humphrey Sneak Peek 2

Hi Everyone

This is a very quick post as i need to go and put the kettle on and get settled for Nigel's launch at 9pm.  A cup of tea and i think i have some Easter egg left to munch on...........

Tonight's card is another Humphrey sneak peek and this is one of the lovely cute frame cards on the CD rom, A year with Humphrey.  This looks like lottie doing a forward roll and she looks so cute.    The decoupage, the frame and the sentiment are all printed from the CD and i have only added a few coredinations punched flowers and some pearls.  Grace was here when i made this and she kept asking how to do it and she thought it was really great.

The new CD being launched on Sunday am with Leann is a double CD and on one CD are lots of resources such as card companions, stepper cards, frame cards, embellishments, decoupage, toppers, sentiments and more ............    The second CD is a colouring cd with videos and step by step guides on colouring Humphrey images in two colour ways.  I have had a quick peek and its a must for anyone wanting to colour with spectrum noirs as there are  of hints and tips from Sara and Lean.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Lets Catch Up- Sneak Peek 2

Hi Everyone

As promised yesterday i said i would be sharing with you another Humphrey sneak peek and this time it's a stamped and coloured image from the new Humphrey range of stamps launching on the morning of 22nd April.  This one is Lets Catch Up and i love it, coloured with spectrum noirs.  I don't know what it is about stamping and colouring but it just takes me away to another place where i don't have to worry about anything at all.  I can easily spend a whole day colouring and stamping.  I'm loving greens and yellows at the minute as they are so fresh.  I have used the previous Humphrey CD for backing papers and matted onto so Mod coredinations card.  The sentiment is included with the lovely new stamp and then I've used my favourite Marianne flower and leaf and added a few pearls.  I've also used my x cut border punch to edge some of the coredinations.  Its a very simple card to make and i love the finished card.

Don't forget to watch out for the other DT's fabulous cards and makes, they are all sooooooo  creative creative and don't forget the shows on Create and craft on Sunday am.  What better way to spend a Sunday with Leann and Humphrey?  I can't think of a better way i would like to spend the day, apart from have Gracie with me to watch.

Leann has posted more details on her blog today so pop over and take a look as she has some more pictures to share with you and info about some small video clips.  There's also some more information on the crafters companion blog about Humphrey so check that out too.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Humphrey Sneak Peek

Hi Everyone

Today i have a sneak peek of a new Humphrey CD from Crafters Companion that is launching on Sunday 22nd April on Create and Craft.  There will be 12 new stamps in addition to this CD and i will have samples of one of those tomorrow.  They are all my favourite.  The CD is called 'A year with Humphrey' and therefore there will be items that you can use for every occasion and time of year.  It is full of crafty resources for you to use which include, toppers, decoupage, tags, embellishments, card companions, exploding boxes, stepper cards, decoupage, decoupage cards, easel cards, frame cards and image sheets.

The card below is using one of the toppers with decoupage included and i have only added a little banner stamped with the word PARTY.  I've used some coredinations to matt and then the backing paper is from the  Humphrey all sorts cd rom.  Such a quick and easy card to make, so if you love your decoupage and quick cards this is for you.

Its create and craft birthday week so i think there will be some special offers available too.

Hope you like it.

Louise  xx

Papercraft Essentials Front Cover

Hi everyone

Today i can finally share a card i made a while ago for the cut out and keep section of papercraft essentials.  I know some of you out there have already received this issue of the mag but i haven't actually seen it yet so I'm still really excited about seeing the actual copy.  There are seven in total (i think, well i made seven but not sure if they are all there) and one of them made front cover, I'm amazed.

The image is Cutie, coloured with my spectrum noirs and mated using coredinations and background paper from the strawberry kisses cd rom, where you will find lots of fab paper choices and colours.  I've used roses   from my stash, a lacey circle die and i've used a marianne leaf die.  Well i don't know why i'm listing all the items here as all the instructions and items used are in the mag.

And finally a picture of the front cover.........

i will be sharing more with you soon and hope you like them.

Louise xx

Best Friends

Hello everyone

Well after yesterdays colouring session at the Aston hotel i wanted to make one of my piccies into a card and i really thought i was going to use daisy first.  However as i was looking for some paper i found these two bits that i had used recently and thought they matched my lottie image perfectly so i made this one.

 The green backing paper is from my fairyopolis cd rom and the peach is from my strawberry kisses cd rom, matted onto coredinations card that has been distressed using my sand it gadget.

I have used a sentiment from the same stamped imaged and then used my heart epiphany tool and heart epoxy shape to make my own embellishment with a heart metal charm.  The little flower is from a strawberry kisses atmap coloured onto neenah that has been coloured with my spectrum noirs in FS2.

Marcea, who i was with yesterday has a Music saves my soul Saturday on her blog and this has prompted me to listen to one of my favourite golden oldies.  Blondie, Heart of Glass,  i love love love all Blondie and Debbie harry songs and saw her in las vegas a couple of years ago.  This takes me back to 1979 when i was in the fourth year at senior school, such a long time ago now and i still play this song in my car, up really loud and with my foot down.  grace even loves it as well.



Hope you like my card and have fun listening to Blondie, it will take you back in time to some good memories i hope just as it does for me.

Louise xx

Colouring Day Out

Hi Everyone

Just a quick post to share with you the piccies of the colouring day a few of us met up for today. Pam Leng, Marcea Watkins, Margaret Brown, Rachel Brown and myself all met up at the Aston hotel to practice our colouring with speccies.

  I love all of these images and only managed to colour in four from 10am til 4pm this afternoon. We had a good chat and Sara joined us from Crafters Companion so of course we sat chatting to her as well.  Next time we will have to aim to colour more instead of getting carried away chatting.

Hope you like them.

Louise xx

Humphrey Valentine card

Hi Everyone

Well Humphrey is in the pink today.  I have used my speccies to colour, my ultimate pro to make the pop out card and my eCraft for the daisy's in pots on the front.

A very quick post form me i know but i have finally given in to the temptationof buying a brayer and some Lavinia stamps.  Grace and I went to Rainton Meadow Arena Craft Show this morning and she loved the demos using the brayer.  So we bought some, of course i just had to get a few stamps as well.  So i may be able to show your our first samples later on.

And i am so excited cos no work tomorrow I'm on annual leave for a week.  Yahoooooooooooo!!!!!!!

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Share the Love and Win - Humphrey

Hi Everyone

Today's card is another Humphrey's corners stamp that Sara took to Create & Craft yesterday, i hope you watched the shows.  Today she is on with the fab new Clever Cut Maxi which was at 50% sold out when i last watched this morning.  I think she is demoing it again at 4 and then its planned for the tool shed tomorrow.  Will it last?  Not sure.

Anyway there is still time for you to enter the Share the Love competition on Crafters Companion News Blog.  You need to make a valentines themed card and follow the instructions.  £25 is the prize and it doesn't close until the 29th Jan.

 Today i have chosen the Best of Friends stamp and used some fab backing paper from the Humphrey's Corner Crafting Selection CD ROM.  I have used this 2 CD pack loads of times before and i had never even seen this paper.  Sometimes you focus on the ones you see immediately and catch your eye without really looking at the ones that done.  I have plans for tining this down and maybe using on another wedding card i have been asked to make.

I've used my spectrum noir pens to colour the image and then just added a sentiment form another Humphrey stamp set, then finished off with some ribbon and a few pearls.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Valentines Day

Hi Everyone

valentines day is fast approaching and Sara from Crafters Companion will be on create and craft this Friday with special offers on products that could be used for that special someone in your life.  I've added a card below, although i do know that lovely Meg from CC is also going to be running a competition through their blog so watch out as the lucky winner could be you, but only if you enter.

I think you know by now sometimes i like reasonably plain cards and as my last one had lots of Flowers I've gone back to what i know best and reasonably plain and simple.

Coloured with spectrum noirs.

Hope you like it

Louise xx

Lovely Little Humphrey

Hi Everyone
Back on track i think with my blogging, this is my third one in 3 days and i need to keep this up.  Today is a Humphrey card using the stamps and my speccies.  The paper is from Humphrey's Corner CD and i really love gingham.  It's yellow today.

Love love love this image and so quick to colour.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

E-Craft Card - 1st Christmas

Hi Everyone
Today i have been playing with my new Christmas pressie from my husband (and yes i was allowed to open it early).  He normally is not very good at choosing me a gift so i gave him the heads up and told him what i would like.  I love my cuttlebug and would never be without it but as i wanted to make larger cards i was having problems with getting the right size dies.  Especially as i wanted to make card blanks.  So i considered ordering the grand caliber but when i added up the cost of the larger dies i realised if i bought the caliber and a few sets of grand dies it would be at the same price as the cost of an e-craft.  As i have used the e-craft on my Crafters Companion demos i know how good it is but always thought i could get by with my cuttlebug.  Well you know what thought did???   So it made perfect sense to me as i will not be restricted by size as it cuts all the shapes in  1/2 " increments up to 11 1/2".  I can also buy SVG  files at a single cost rather than buy full cartridges which i find is a real bonus, although cartridges are available if i wanted to buy them.  I can also use scraps of paper, no cutting mat .................  and i could go on and on but if you watch Create & Craft this Sunday, Leann Chivers will be demoing it for the first time on the channel.  It has loads of good points and i just love it.  I have been busy cutting all day and looking for free SVG files and i found loads. 

Leann is also on TV on Saturday with Reddy Die Cut Decoupage so have a look at the programme schedule.  I've checked Sundays for the e-craft and its not up as yet but i will post asap when it is available.

Ok, my first card is a Humphrey card and its for a boys 1st Christmas.  I was asked to make 2 cards like this by a colleague at work as i showed Graces card she made a while ago in red.  So its more or less the same as the previous one but in blue.  However if you look at Graces card i couldn't mat and layer any circles as i used a tea plate to make the card blank and then i didn't have any other household objects to trace around for the matts so i made do with using the tea plate again and just cutting the circle down a bit by eye.  Not very good really and you can see the first one here .   Sorry about the light but it had already got dark by the time i took this.

Every thing you see is cut with the e-craft and i know this is quite a basic card but it was so easy to do and i have made 3 all in one go.  The card blank is an 8" circle cut onto centura pearl card the next matt is a 7 1/2" circle from coredinations card and the patterned paper is from the Humphrey Christmas CD cut at 7", printed onto centura pearl paper. I love the Humphrey christmas CD's, theres two in the pack and the papers are really not just for christmas.  The paper i have used on this card is quite a generic swirly paper and could be used for all occasions.
  
Humphrey has been coloured with speccies as always and glittered up a bit.  I had already cut the circle out before i stamped him and then matted him onto a scalloped circle from an e-craft cartridge, office essentials.  The two scrolls are from the fundamentals one cartridge that comes with the machine and the two snowflakes are free SVG files i found on t'internet.  I Love these, what a find!!!!  One of them is available here and the other one i cannot find anywhere.  I've loads on my history so it would take ages to look. However if anyone wanted a copy i could email you the file, just leave me a comment and email address.

Now normally i take a close up photo of my colouring but this time i have taken a photo of the snowflakes.  The larger one is 2" cut from Coredinations and the smaller white one is 1 1/2 " cut from centura paper.  I've sprayed them both with a light coating of spray and sparkle irridescent.  Hower the photo does not do them justice, although i think you can tell how delicate the points of the snowflakes are.

If you wanted to take a look before the shows there are some clips on you tube, click here. 
And here  and here   its the lvoely leann.

Watch out for the shows and if you have not asked santa for your prezzie as yet, do what i did..... ha ha.

Hope you like it.

Louise

Humphrey Decoupage

Hi Everyone
Some of my makes from yesterday at my Crafters Companion Dainty Toys Demo.  I had another lovely day and met more crafters who had lots of questions that i could help them with.  As i was demoing the ultimate pro and boards for card blanks i made up some cards using the Humphrey Christmas and Everyday decoupage.  I think everyone likes to see a finished product so they can get lots of ideas for doing their own.
I did leave some of the more fancy shape cards behind but these some of what i did.  The first 3 are taken from inspiration from the crafters Companion card gallery so you will see something similar there.  Not sure who made them so apologies as i cannot credit you individually with names but thanks as i thought they were lovely so made them up in my demos.

Just some quick and simple cards with not very much decoration to show everyone its quite easy to achieve lovely cards without spending a lot of money.
Hope you like them.

Louise xx

Sweetie card

Hi Everyone

Been busy with making my orders of tea light cards and 6 down 6 to go. So i thought i would make an alternative to a tea light card and substitute the candles with sweets.

This card is on the Crafters Companion Ultimate Advanced Construction Techniques DVD and of course i used my Ultimate pro and boxer board.  Sara's instructions were so easy to follow and of course once you have the card done you can decorate it how you like.  I have chosen the Birthday Girl stamp from CC's Humphrey's Corner stamp range and used a sentiment from the Chocolate Box set from the same range.  I have coloured the image with spectrum noir pens and used centura pearl for the base card and backing paper.  The plaid paper is from the Humphrey's corner crafting collection cd..  The papers on here are just fab and go with lots of other images and not just the Humphrey range.

This is the inside left quite plain and room to add a personal message.  Sorry for the wonky pictures but after i had took them and realised i really didn't have time to redo them.  

On the reverse of the card i have added a stamp from the Birthday Girl set and i think it just adds the perfect touch to any card or project.

Hope you like it. 

Louise xx

Monochrome Humphrey

Hi everyone

I know its the snowman that is taking up everyone's attention at the minute but thought i would post another Humphrey Christmas card from the latest Christmas stamp and paper cd.  I have used my ultimate pro to make an A5 gatefold card and then again decided to use all greys in the spectrum noir pens. 

 As you can see I've added a few embellishments and i think i have gone a bit overboard.  The black ribbon is also crafters companion and i cannot remember where the other embellishments are from, i think its a mixture of wild orchid crafts, dies to die for and meiflower.

 I've added a bit of glitter to highlight the image in places but didn't realise it had a blue tinge to it, as i bought it as white so i was a bit disappointed as i didn't really notice til it was dried.  Below i have added an outside view and have left one ribbon untied so you can see the closing embellishment.

I have also embossed the Humphrey sentiment in in silver and used my heat gun.  I love heat embossing and am still amazed how it turns out when its done. 

I am entering this card into Jingle all the way to Christmas challenge on the Ribbon girl blog.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx