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

Christmas Cards

Hi Everyone

Ok so this year I decided I would make every single Christmas card that I send.  What I normally do is only make a few special ones for close family and friends and then use bought ones for the rest.  So I needed something quick and easy as I only started on Sunday afternoon.  Et voila, (I love it when Raymond Blanc says this on his cookery programmes), 5 hours later I have 25 matching Christmas cards and I have to say I love them.

I've used Crafters Companion Matte Black  card along with Crafters Companion Kraft card as the base and the main matting on the cards.  The matting and die cut piece is embossed first using an A4 snowflake embossing folder and then cut using a memory box die Grand Merry Christmas.  The folder is no longer available but they will be back next year ad there are lots of other snowflake folders out there.  I have to say using an A4 folder was a complete easy peasy way to batch make cards as it was less passes through my ebosser.  To complete I have added a die cut and stamped penguin, using Poppy stamp Arctic penguin and matching die set, coloured with my Spectrum Noir Markers and then the last thing is a wooden heart button I bought at the NEC.  I coloured the ones on the kraft background in black and they look fab but the photograph hasn't come out very clear.

Colours used, DR4, GB6 and CR3

Hope you like them

Louise xx

FOOD!!!!

Hi Everyone

The Spectrum Noir Blog Challenge for December is food............  So i have chosen a Lily of the Valley stamp i bought ages ago and had not even used once............  This one is called Icing the Cake.

All of the colours of the Spectrum Noir pens used are on the spectrum noir blog page and I've used crafters companion black matt card stock for the base.  Then some red card from my stash and the patterned paper is from Colemans when i demoed a couple of weeks ago.  Claire and i bought 2 packs and shared them.  Its an A4 paper maker pack in cream and black and its gorgeous, we also got the pink and blue too....  Then I've cut my coloured image out with the circle die from the Chantilly lace diesire die and used the black card stock for the matching Chantilly lace die.  I've also used some Frantage on the edge of my image, the smallest tag from the scalloped tag  diesire set and finished with a bit of matching black ribbon.

This card has gone to my friend Audrey who called me the other night to say she loved it. I'm just about to lock myself away in my craft room to make some more Christmas cards.  I am not allowed out until i am done as i have left it far to late this year.

Hope you like it and don't forget to pop over to the blog and take part for a fabby prize.

Louise xx.

Crafters Companion Blog Challenge - Ribbon/Twine

Hi Everyone

How amazing are those sweet treat boards...........  i just love them.  I've only demoed with them once but watched Claire too at Colemans a couple of weeks ago and some of the things you can make for gifts is fab.

So with another Crafters Companion challenge coming up for December i though it would be perfect to add some ribbon both faux card and real ribbon to my gable box.

So I've used the Sweet Things board for this box and followed Sara's you tube clip to follow so i got it right.  The card i have used is black crafters card adn then some patterned card from my stash.  Its from a 12 x 12 " pad from First edition Noir et Chic, i love it and it only comes out for special occasions.  I think i am going to make some hand made chocolates to add to this one.  The card bow is made using a template from the Sweet Treat CD and is so easy to make and lots of different sizes.  I've then stamped a Just for you sentiment from the Love is all you need sentimental stamp set and then matted onto a die cut using the Chantilly Frame die set.  The to complete I've added some black organza ribbon.

There's still time to take part so pop over and enter............  what have you got to lose.

And now to some pics from mine and Leanns London trip.  We had such a fab time but unfortunately she needed to jump of the train at Peterborough instead of coming all the way home with me as she has shows on create and craft.

Lots of drink, food and shopping with a fab show thrown in too, Jersey Boys.










And then a piccie with Jake Wood from Eastenders aka Max Branning.  He was sitting next to me in the theatre.

Hope you like it.


Louise

Little Ivy

Hi Everyone

I've been so busy that's its been a whole month since I've posted and i even missed the post of my next crafty make on the spectrum noir blog.  It went up on the 16th November i think.  But, its been a busy month what with the NEC, then a demo at Graces Middlesbrough and then this weekend gone at Colemans in Rushden.  I'm not complaining, i wouldn't have it any other way...............  although i need a weekend off soon.

Sooooooooo, tomorrow Leann and i are off to the big smoke.  We've been talking about this for a while and finally have been able to fit it in.   We leave tomorrow, hopefully if the trains are running......  what a weekend to pick........  although there is always plan B if there are no trains, drive to Peterborough and drop Leanns TV samples off ready for next week and then a quick train journey into Kings cross.  i think its only about 45 mins - an hour.  So either way we will get there and I'm sure i will have some photos to share with you.

Anyway, here's my card for the Spectrum noir Christmas blog challenge November, sorry you cant enter now as its finished.  Although there is another one already up for December so i will have to be quick and share that one.

I've used a Lily of the valley image, Little Ivy, coloured with my fabby brand new Spectrum Noir Pens, colours are on the Spectrum blog.  The base is our fab new Crafters Companion Kraft Card, with red coredinations embossed using a holly embossing folder.  Hope you have one as they are all sold out although a mistletoe 6x6 is still available and would be just as good.  The patterned paper is from my stash as is the ribbon.  I've also die cut a bow using the same embossed coredinations and a stamp from the Mistletoe kisses sentimental stamp set using fired brick distress ink.

Hope you like it.

Louise

Crafters Comapnion Challenge Blog - Winter/Christmas

Hi Everyone

There have been a few gremlins in the works on the Crafters Companion Challenge blog and last months posts or entries etc disappeared.  I believe that most issues have been ironed out for this months post but you may need to add links to the comments section rather than linking it as normal.  I'm sure it will be back to normal soon.  Also Octobers will be posted again next week.

So, how can it be nearly Christmas again?

This time i have made a fold back card using a Mulberry wood image.  The base is made from Kraft card and matted with plain white neenah.  Then using a brand new Diesire Elegance die i have cut two out in red coredinations.  I've mounted the Mulberry wood image sent with love that I've coloured with Spectrum Noir pens , using the square die that comes in the same back and distressed the edges with fired brick distress ink.  (I coloured this image quite a while ago and didn't keep a note of the colours sorry)  The sentiment is using the Jingle Bells sentimental stamp set and then I've found some red matching paper in my stash.  Then I've just added to sprigs if ivy using the smaller of the two ivy dies and finished with a small red ribbon bow.

Hope you like it and please pop over to the blog and take part to win a fabby prize.

Louise xx

Crafters Inspiration magazine Volume 3

Hi Everyone

Have you got your copy of the Crafters Inspiration Magazine, Volume 3 yet???  If not its still available on the website and I'm sure you will find it in shops out and about.  However it will also be at the Nec next week on Pink Frogs stand.  Leann will be there Thursday and Friday and Dawn Saturday and Sunday.  Plus I'll be there Thursday till Friday too and then i have a whole day shopping on the Sunday.  I love the NEC.

Its packed full of fab tutorials from all your Crafters Companion Favourite team and there's also £45 worth of free product inside just for you.

Here's my tutorial that's in the magazine and i just loved making these.

There's 3 separate items to make so take your pick and they are all using the Barkley Everyday stamp range.  There's full written step by step instructions in the magazine and all products are listed.

Hope you like it and i cant wait for Volume 4...........

Louise xx

Spectrum Noir Challenge Blog - Orange

Hi Everyone

My first post since vie returned from hols and this card has been ready for a month, just no time left in the day...............

So the them is orange this month and it would have been easy to make a Halloween card but i decided to colour this image in as ive had her for ages and not even tried. She's called Fairy Fae from Tiddlyinks and i just love her, she is very delicate and sooooooooo pretty.

All of the colours ive used are listed on the Spectrum noir blog, where you can find details of how to enter but October is nearly gone so get moving.

I've used paper from my stash and i think these two are from K&Co, backed on coredinations and a centura pearl card base.  The die is a sissix die that i bought in belgium and not sure of the name. I've used spray and sparkle iridescent on her wings and the cloud background is done by masked a cloud cut out and using tumbled glass distress ink.  It so easy to do but not got time to show you today.  If you would like details please leave a comment below and i will find some time to add it.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx