Clearly Besotted Challenge #1

When I first got into making cards it was Christmas 2012...I googled Christmas stamps and up came some gorgeous stamps from Clearly Besotted Stamps.  I bought them, made lots of cards for my family and developed an additction to CBS! They are the best quality stamps I've bought so far and although I don't have many of the stamps from the collection there are lots on my wish list!! When I saw Stephanie was launching a challenge I couldn't wait to enter. 

The card below I have made because I recently bought some stamps for making new baby cards (lots of friends and colleagues are pregnant at the moment so thought I'd get prepared!).  I used the CBS background builder to stamp the background, which is in orchid from Versa Color.  The sentiment is from a "Baby" set by Kaisercraft and stamped using tuxedo black from Memento.  The cute feet are made by personal impressions, I used the same ink as the background and then used clear embossing powder to make them shine.  Everything else was from my stash.

It's quite a simple design but I quite like the result, I hope you do too!

Jacqui x

CTS #31

I thought I'd have another go at entering the CAS(E) this sketch...I was too late getting my first attempt uploaded! Never mind!  This weeks sketch was this:

                                      

I don't have anything that could resemble a feather, so I took inspiration from all the other elements and the need for something with a bit of height.  I came up with this...

I used paper from my stash to make all the elements of the card (mainly scraps kindly given to me by my Mum!).  As I've just got my Cuttlebug I couldn't resist using it to create a texture on the red block section, I used the "Swiss Dots" embossing folder.  The balloons I drew freehand and then covered in glossy accents, another new addition to my crafting collection...I think I need more practice as its a bit bubbly which I didn't realise until it had dried.  I like the added gloss effect on the balloons though, brings them to life a bit.  As for the sentiment I wanted to stick with the sketch so used my 2" punch to cut a circle and then stamped using some stamps from the "Everyday Words Happy Birthday" set from Personal Impressions in Tuxedo black from Memento.

I really enjoyed coming up with an idea, makes me be more imaginative than I usually am! Can't wait to see what next week's sketch will be.

Thanks for dropping by.

Jacqui x

My first ever CAS(E) this sketch entry

Today I have a card to share with you that I was inspired to make for the challenge over at CAS(E) this Sketch, I've never played along before but I really enjoyed doing it so will be joining in again soon!

Here is the sketch for this week:

                                          

I kept close to the sketch and came up with this:

I'm quite pleased with the result and it isn't something I'd have come up with on my own.  I bought a Cuttlebug at the weekend which was waiting for me when I got home from work tonight....I couldn't wait to use it and hence the background to the card is embossed using the "simple flowers" embossing folder that came with the Cuttlebug (I'm still deciding which embossing folders to buy - there's so much choice!).  The pink paper is just from my stash and I printed the sentiment directly onto a piece of white card, again from my stash.  All of the patterned paper is from the Tea House 12 x 12 paper pack by Dovecraft.

Hopefully I'll have another card to share with you tomorrow.  I have the evenings to myself this week so making the most of it with lots of crafting!

Jacqui x 

Mini Bunting

Wow, where did the last week go! It's Friday already tomorrow and I feel like the week has only just started.  

I thought that today I'd share a card that I made for my brother-in-law's birthday.  I really struggle to make cards for men (a common problem I think!), so when I saw this mini bunting card when I was perusing Pinterest I couldn't resist having a go at recreating it.  There is a great description of how the card is made on the link above, but basically you make little hinged triangles that you fold and stick around the twine and voilà  you have your cute mini bunting.  I printed my sentiment onto card using my printer as I wanted a fairly plain font that wasn't too feminine, which I mounted and added to the card on foam pads. 

Sorry the photo isn't the best, as well as improving my card making skills as I go along I'm trying to improve my photography skills too (they are none existent at present!).

Thanks for reading, please leave comments - I'd love to hear what you think.

Jacqui x

Teal 80th

This is the card I made for my Mum and Dad to give to my Grandma on her 80th birthday, no butterflies this time!  The only instruction I was given was that it had to have 80 on it and the wording "Happy Birthday Mum".

I had some shiny pearlescent teal paper in my stash (from Hobbycraft I think) and some coordinating ribbon so I decided to use these.  Its again a very simple design.  The sentiment I printed directly onto card using my printer.  To add some interest I added stick on pearls to one corner and lifted the mounted square up on foam, as well as the cut out "80".  The ribbon I wrapped a piece around the card and then stuck the bow on top afterwards as I think this is the easiest way to do it!

and a close up to show the different layers...

That's all I have to show you today.  Its bank holiday weekend and I'm spending it with my sister and her little family which I'm very much looking forward to, just one more day at work first!

Thanks for stopping by.

Jacqui x

Purple 80th

It was my Grandmas's 80th Birthday last month so I made her a card...I wanted to do something pretty and feminine so I reverted to butterflies and purple.  I'm quite pleased with the result and she seemed to like it which is the main thing =)

I printed the sentiment and number "80" directly onto a piece of white card which I mounted using purple core'dinations core colour cardstock, I love the texture of this card and its a great weight to work with.  I used the same card to cut some little butterflies using my punch.  I added a little more detail with a gem on the dot of the "i" in birthday, the card was still looking a bit empty so I added a bow which I tied in a coordinating purple.

I also made another 80th card for my Mum to give to my Grandma so I'll show you that in another post.

Thanks for visiting!

Jacqui x

"Tying the Knot"

My friend asked me to make a wedding card for her to give at a wedding she went to.  The couple's wedding invite had "We're tying the knot" written on it with a knotted piece of twine, and I was told their wedding colour theme was champagne so I tried to incorporate all of these elements to make something personal.

All of this was from my stash except the yellow backing to the main piece of white card which is from Dovecrafts Garden Party (6 x 6).  The sentiments I printed from my computer as I didn't have any suitable stamps.  All in all another very simple card!! 

Thanks for visiting me again today.

Jacqui x