30 March 2018

Do Something Digi - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

I hope you're having a break from the norm this Easter long weekend.  Always a good to spend time with friends and family which is exactly what my plan is.  Saying that, I do have a Trimcraft demo booked tomorrow at The Range in Leicester, but it means the boys are well looked after by their grandparents!

Kathy has set the Challenge this week and she's asked us to use a digital image of any kind, be it papers, an image to colour in or simply a sentiment printed out.  I've downloaded one of Sarah Hurley's Hand Drawn Florals from the Create & Craft website.  I was drawn to the pretty florals, perfect for the time of year.  On the sheet not only do you get a choice of images to colour but a selection of sentiments and other additions too. 


I decided to use the circular floral design which I coloured in using alcohol markers.  I then die cut the image and thought it would look pretty on a circular easel card so that's what I made!  I coloured and fussy cut a couple of other flowers and chose the 'lots of love' sentiment which worked really well as the stopper.

To embellish I added a subtle dab of glitter to the flower centres and a little satin ribbon to bring out the green.

There's a lot of variety over on the Daring Cardmakers HERE so please do take a peek and as it's a long weekend why not join in? 

See you again soon,
Shabneez

Products Used:
Promarkers
Create & Craft Sarah Hurley Hand Drawn Floral
Everything else from my stash


23 March 2018

Back To Basics - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

How has your week been?  It's flown by for me and only a few days of school left before the Easter holidays - I can't wait!

Joanne has set the challenge over on the Daring Cardmakers this week and has asked for us to use one geometric shape and one primary colour as a focus.  Can you guess what I've chosen?  Yes, you got it right - blue rectangles!


I ordered a sentiment pack from Craftwork Cards in the sale not so long ago and apart from the largest blue strip, the entire card is made up of sentiments and embellishments from that pack!

I've arranged all the sentiments on a strip of blue cardstock and added twine, flowers, a heart and gems to embellish.  It's simple but I love how pretty it looks.

There is a lot more inspiration on the Daring Cardmakers blog HERE so I hope you'll pop by and join in this fun challenge.

I have a day off on Sunday and family coming over which I'm very much looking forward to it as it means I get to make some special dishes for everyone to enjoy.  I hope you have a good weekend whatever you're up to.

See you next week,
Shabneez

Products Used:
Craftwork Cards Sentiments
Simply Creative Gems
American Crafts Twine
Everything else from my stash

21 March 2018

It's All In The Background

Happy Wednesday!

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog today with a selection of makes using different mediums with stencils.


To begin I've used texture paste, distress inks and a spray mist on a Kraft tag.  I coloured the sunflower and fussy cut it, stamped a sentiment and added ribbon to finish.


Next, I have a card where I have used distress inks in rainbow colours and added texture paste mixed with distress oxides to give additional interest.  I added a sentiment and die cut clouds to finish.


For my final card, I made a background using the smooshing technique then added clear texture paste and applied perfect pearls to give it a shimmer.


I've taken a close up so you can see the shimmer created with the perfect pearls.


After making the background I thought it would lend itself quite well to an ocean themed card so I stamped and coloured a mermaid and bubbles and added a heat embossed sentiment.

If you're interested, there is a more in depth tutorial on how I created all these on the CrafTangles blog HERE.

See you again on Friday,
Shabneez

Products Used:
CrafTangles Kraft Card
Tim Holtz Distress Mini Inks
CrafTangles Everyday Sentiments Stamps
Texture Paste
Versafine Black Ink Pad
Kuretake Zig Clean Color Brush Pens
CrafTangles Wooden Background Stencil
Distress Oxide - Worn Lipstick
CrafTangles Cardstock - Earl Grey
CrafTangles Cardstock - Black
CrafTangles Stamps - Girl in the Rain
Stitched Cloud Die Set
CrafTangles Treads Stencil
Ranger Perfect Pearls
CrafTangles Mermaid Kisses Stamp Set
Texture Paste - Transparent Matt
CrafTangles Floral Mesh Stencil
Everything else from my stash

16 March 2018

Watch The Birdie! - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

Just got back from a Drop In session at school where we got to see what my eldest son has been up to.  It's a good idea to have these drop in sessions as not only do you get to see what the children have been doing in lessons, but it's really motivational for them to show you their achievements.   Plus, as it's first thing parents can come in before they go to work.

On with this week's Challenge for the Daring Cardmakers which I have set.  As the title suggests I would love to see a bird on your creation either as a focal point or embellishment, die cut or stamped.  Lots of choices so I do hope you'll join in and there's some amazing inspiration from the Design Team HERE.


As you can see, I've gone a little tropical for my creation, obviously thinking of the warmth and sunshine that you associate with it!

I've used the new First Edition Tropical Die set and added coloured card through the die cut image of the toucan - paper piecing using dies.  The addition of a tiny gemstone for the eye gives me my bling fix.  I've die cut some leaves to create foliage for the toucan to sit on.  A mini paper doily and die cut sentiment finish the card.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I will be doing a Trimcraft demo at the The Range in Thurrock on Sunday which I am looking forward.

See you again soon,
Shabneez

Products Used:
First Edition Tropical Die Set
Nature's Grace Doilies
First Edition Hello Baby Paper Pad
Dovecraft Happy Birthday Die

12 March 2018

A Trio of Love & Sequin Cards

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend?  I'm all refreshed and ready to take on the new week. 

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog HERE today with a selection of cards using their love themed papers and element pack.  While I was making the cards it got me thinking how you don't really need a day to tell someone you love them do you?  So, I recommend you make love theme cards all year round!  I know I'd like that - haha!!!

As you know from my previous blog post, I'm big on bright colours and so this collection is an ideal one for me!


My first creation is the most simple using a strip of paper, a couple of fussy cut elements and sequins to embellish.


The second creation is a gap card using the heart element to secure the 2 parts together.  I've added a sentiment, strips of paper and sequins to embellish.


This final creation is my favourite.  I used twine to wrap around the fussy cut flower bouquet and used it as part of the background too.  I stamped a sentiment onto the fussy cut tag and added sequins once again to embellish.  Do you have a favourite?

Have a wonderful week and I'll see you again on Friday!
Shabneez

Products Used:
CrafTangles Be My Valentine Paper Pad
CrafTangles Be My Valentine Element Pack
CrafTangles Sequin Mix - Candy Blue
CrafTangles Sequin Mix - Hot Pink
CrafTangles Everyday Sentiment Stamps
Everything else from my stash



09 March 2018

Getting to Know You - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

I love Fridays.  No matter what sort of a week you've had you know you get to have a break from the norm over the weekend.

Over on the Daring Cardmakers, Dawn has set the challenge this week and she's asked what techniques you enjoy as a crafter and where you craft.  This was tough as I enjoy many techniques and I can't really narrow it down to one but for this post I've chosen die cutting as I treated myself to a couple of new dies and used them on this creation.


I ordered the scrabble tile letters as soon as I saw them but had to wait a couple of weeks for them to come into stock and I can see them being very useful.  The Mother's Day die was one I saw on a creation by a lady who came to see me at a demo last week.  I really enjoy seeing other people's creations and sharing ideas.

I've used stitched dies both for the circle and the grass as well and used an embossing folder for the background, inking over it to add extra texture. 

The wellington boot, sticker flowers, brads and papers are all from a Doodlebug kit I bought a long time ago.  I'm a big fan of vibrant colours so this collection was ideal for me!

Before I go, I better answer the second question about where I craft.  I really wish I could say I have a craft room but I can't.  I craft on the dining room table.  I need a table and structure to craft although I do all my die cutting on the floor.  I make a lot of mess when I craft and needless to say I have to tidy up afterwards as best as I can.....

I'd love to see what your favourite techniques are and where you craft so please join in with the Challenge and you can find more inspiration from the Design Team HERE.

Have a lovely weekend and for those of you celebrating Mother's Day - enjoy!

Shabneez

Products Used:
Trimcraft First Edition Alphabet Tile Dies
Doodlebug Kit
Cut & Make Mini Die
Lawn Fawn Stitched Circle and Border Dies
Everything else from my stash






02 March 2018

Paper Bouquet - March Elemental Challenge for Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy March!

Can you believe it's March already?! With all the snow we've had it's hard to believe it's March but through the snow you can see hope in the form of the Spring flowers.  The boys' school has been open so I've been taking them in and then they come home and spend as long as they can outside having snowball fights!

As you know by now, the first Friday of the month is an elemental one on the Daring Cardmakers.  


I chose the First Edition Wanderlust paper pad for this challenge.  I fussy cut the flowers from one of the papers and arranged them in a doily making a paper bouquet.  I added a couple of die cut leaves from the same paper pack and a brand new Dovecraft Happy Birthday die to finish.

You can see the image that Miri has chosen along with more inspiration from the DT HERE.  The elements I chose are the flowers, colours and patterns.

I hope you have a good weekend.  I have a Trimcraft demo at The Range in Romford on Sunday so I'm hoping the weather will be a little better and the roads clearer.

See you again soon,
Shabneez

Products Used:
First Edition Wanderlust Paper Pad
First Edition Tropical Die Set
Dovecraft Nature's Grace Doily Pack
Dovecraft Happy Birthday Die
Dovecraft Adhesive