* Vera Lane Studio: Blooms

Hello Friends!

I'm here today to share my DT post for Vera Lane Studio. Our theme this month is Blossoms and I made two cards featuring some of the Vera Lane blooms.

First is a vase of flowers:



I love how this one turned out. I used 4 Vera Lane digital sets in all: Blooms for the flowers, Cats and Crocks for the vase, the banner was from May and the word 'Hello' from the Sentiments set.

All digis were arranged in PowerPoint first. Once I was happy with the arrangement, I made sure to duplicate the images and arrange separately, as I planned to decoupage the flowers to give some dimension. I coloured the images with marker pens, added some white Posca pen highlights, and fussy cut them. I always go around the images with a black brush pen from behind to make sure there are no white edges. 
I decided to use a white background to make my vase of flowers stand out. To add some interest I embossed white card with a lovely new embossing folder featuring more flowers.

The whole image was adhered first and then the individual flowers were shaped using a foam pad and a Tonic Studio embossing tool. They were adhered over the top of the original flowers. The centres of my flowers were given Glossy Accent treatment. The sentiment was popped on foam pads.

I matted my card first with yellow card, then with black before popping onto a white card base.

This photo shows the dimension of the flowers: 




My second card is made with the beautiful Paisley set (not for sale in the Etsy shop right now, but still available on request from Janet):



I arranged Paisley, her flowers and sentiment in PowerPoint, then printed them out. I initially thought I'd be making a CAS card, but it ended up different to my plans!  I coloured the images and cut them out with a stitched rectangle die. Leaving the die in place, I lightly inked the background with Spun Sugar. I chose this beautiful, floral, glittered card as a backing and found some trim, which reminded me of rose buds, in my stash. I decided to add some lovely, pink magnolia flowers from Anna Marie Designs and a double organza bow.

Blooms                Cats and Crocks                    May     
  

 Sentiments and Paisley
are not in the shop at the moment, but are available on request from Janet.

I hope you'll come along and play on Vera Lane. It's such a friendly, fun place to be!

You'll find us on Facebook in a closed group, which I invite you all to join! 
You can find us HERE. 
I guarantee, you'll get a very warm welcome!

Here's all the info you need:
Vera Lane Studio Blog

Vera Lane Studio Facebook Group

Vera Lane Studio You Tube Channel

Vera Lane Studio Etsy Shop

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Blooms
* Penny's Challenges #336 11/07
* Inspiration Destination #131 12/07
* Simon Says Stamp Summer Sunshine 12/07 
* Jo's Scrapshack #196 AG 14/07
* That's Crafty AG 21/07
* Simply Papercrafts #48 24/07
* Artistic Inspirations #183 AG/Summer Colours 24/07
* Craft Rocket #39 AG 01/08
Creative Fingers #134 AG 04/08

Paisley
* Crafty Gals Corner #130 AG 11/07
* Creative Knockouts #201 Summer Fun 13/07
* Colour Crazy Challenge #27 AG 14/07
* Catch the Bug Outdoor Fun 15/07
* Crafting From The Heart #167 AG 17/07
* PIP Challenge #1728 AG 17/07
* Dragonfly Dreams AG 29/07
* Cutie Pie #113 Here Come The Girls 07/08
* Create and Inspire #64 AG 09/08

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

To leave a comment, please click on the G+1 button below.

(If this does not open up the comments, please click either the link to this particular post in the sidebar, or click on the red heading at the top of the post and, hopefully, the comments will open).

Thanks. x

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* {Pin}spirational Challenges: Pretty in Pink

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today is the start of a new challenge at 

{PIN}spirational Challenges.

Challenge #194 runs for 2 weeks until 17th July.

Here is the lovely inspiration photo:



Our sponsor this time is Kitty Bee Designs and Sherri Baldy:

I was lucky to receive a beautiful Sherri Baldy stamp (Img 935) and here is the card I made:



I coloured the image with alcohol pens and cut it with a stitched rectangle die. I found some wood panel paper in my stash and matted it onto kraft card. I popped the image on foam pads and tucked a die-cut doily under the image. Some gorgeous hessian ribbon was added along the left edge and a small bouquet of paper flowers and  fibres were adhered along with a pink, organza double bow.



That's all from me this time.
I hope you'll pop over to 

{PIN}spirational Challenges

to check out the gorgeous designs by the rest of the DT. 

We would love for you to take part in the challenge!

Thanks for stopping by today. 
xoxo

I'd like to take part in these challenges:

* Crafting From The Heart   #166 10/07
* Pammies Inky Pinkies #1727 10/07
*Artistic Inspirations #182 AG 10/07
* Make My Monday #49 Summer Brights 10/07
* A Snowflakes Promise #41 AG 10/07
* TTCRD AG 10/07
* Aloha Friday #98 Girly Cards 14/07
* Lemon Shortbread #45 AG 16/07
* Cards und More #188 Girls Just Wanna Have Fun 17/07

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

To leave a comment, please click on the G+1 button below.

(If this does not open up the comments, please click either the link to this particular post in the sidebar, or click on the red heading at the top of the post and, hopefully, the comments will open).

Thanks x

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Vera Lane Studio: Kokeshi Dolls

Hello Crafty Friends!

Happy July! 

I'm sharing my DT post for Vera Lane Studio today and we have a brand new release - the very beautiful Kokeshi Dolls.

There are five dolls, blossom and a sentiment in the set and I made a selection of ATCs and a tag to showcase each of the dolls:

The images were coloured with alcohol pens and fussy cut. Some highlights were added with a white Post pen. The dolls were popped on foam pads onto a background made from handmade Japanese paper with white fibre and gold mesh trim. An inked Tim Holtz Chit Chat sticker was added to each.

Once again the images were coloured with alcohol pens and fussy cut. They were popped on foam pads onto a background made by stamping with a flowery embossing folder. This is one of my favourite techniques and is very easy to do: 

1. Open the embossing folder
2. Ink the side with the logo - the negative side (this colours the larger background area)
3. Spritz lightly with water
 4. Place card carefully onto the folder and either press down with fingers to stamp, or, as I did, run the folder through your machine to create both stamping and embossing.  
5. If you wish, you can ink up the positive (raised) side of the embossing folder and this will give you a finer stamped image.

The ATC has raspberry ribbon tied around it and some gold mesh and sequins along with the word 'Bloom' from the Bloom set. The tag was die-cut, then stamped with an embossing folder. Ribbon was wrapped around it and words were selected from the Kokeshi Doll sentiment. Some sequins finish it off.

Another ATC with a background made by stamping with an embossing folder. A die-cut doily segment, inked with Distress Oxide, was added along with a strip of glitter tape and sequins. The word "grow" is from The Gardener set.

Kokeshi Dolls

Just in case you missed it, yesterday saw the release of this Cake set - don't they look delicious!

Cake Sketches

Today sees the start of a new ATC swap in the Vera Lane Facebook Group.

 The theme this month is Blossoms featuring a Vera Lane Girl.

We would love you to join our swap.

I hope you'll come along and play on Vera Lane. It's such a friendly, fun place to be!

You'll find us on Facebook in a closed group, which I invite you all to join! You can find us HERE. 
I guarantee, you'll get a very warm welcome!

Here's all the info you need:
Vera Lane Studio Blog

Vera Lane Studio Facebook Group

Vera Lane Studio You Tube Channel

Vera Lane Studio Etsy Shop

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* A Gem of a Challenge #197 Summer Colours 06/07
* Brown Sugar #257 AG 06/07
Crafting With Friends #46 06/07
* Crafty Catz #377 AG/option Embossing 06/07
* Making Memories Crafting #6 Bingo (Die, Image, Bling) 06/07
* Creative Fingers #133 AG 07/07
* Catch the Bug AG 08/07
* Colour Crazy Challenge #26 AG 14/07

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

To leave a comment, please click on the G+1 button below.

(If this does not open up the comments, please click either the link to this particular post in the sidebar, or click on the red heading at the top of the post and, hopefully, the comments will open).

Thanks. x

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* SSS: Green Monster

Hello friends!

Today I'm sharing my DT project for Scrapbook Stamp Society. 

The challenges are always Anything Goes, but this time the option is to use Green and Blue.

The Winners and Runner-Ups will receive My Bestie digital stamps from a selection on offer.  For more details, please pop over to the challenge blog.

Here is my card:



I got to use this sweet monster (Scan 0019) image and chose to use lime greens and turquoise blues.

The image is coloured with alcohol pens with white Posca pen dots and highlights, and then fussy cut. She was then matted onto a white oval die-cut mat and some blue gems scattered around her. 
The papers for the stepper card background are from Trim Craft and are glittered. I added die cut elements - all cut from white card and coloured with Distress Oxide inks. I adhered hearts to the top tier. and shadow mounted them with white hearts, so that they would stand out. The Happy Birthday is also die cut, inked and shadow mounted with white. The bow (Britannia Dies) was finished with a flat back pearl cluster. Finally I added some bling across the bottom tier and some tiny organza bows.

I hope you'll pop over to the Challenge Blog and see the DT's fabulous projects.
We would love it if you'd share your work with us!

Thanks for stopping by today! 

xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* A Gem of a Challenge #197 Summer Colours 06/07
* Crafting When We Can #147 07/07
* Jo's Scrapshack #195 AG 07/07
* Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends #61 AG 14/07
* Crafting with Dragonflies #84 JFF  Punches/Dies 14/07
* A Bit More Time To Craft #47 AG 14/07
* Crafty Calendar AG 28/07
* Scrappers Delights #68 AG 28/07
* 613 Avenue Create #199 AG/Option Monochrome 05/08

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

To leave a comment, please click on the G+1 button below.

(If this does not open up the comments, please click either the link to this particular post in the sidebar, or click on the red heading at the top of the post and, hopefully, the comments will open).

Thanks. x

* Crafts Galore Encore: The Artist

Hello crafty friends!

Happy July!

Here at Crafts Galore Encore we have a new challenge. 
As always the challenge is Anything Goes and we would love  to see your creations!

This month we are sponsored by the wonderful Oddball Art. 

The winner will get 3 digis of their choice.

I was lucky to be given a digi to work with. She's called Artist with Blank Canvas (Img No: 381) and here is my card:



I added a stamped image to the blank canvas. The lovely image was then coloured with alcohol pens and fussy cut leaving a thin white border.

The background was made using Distress Oxide inks. I applied the ink to the paper then spritzed with water. This gave me more control over where the colours would be. After drying, more Distress Oxide colours were added by smooshing the paper over diluted ink. I added some water droplets and blotted off some of the ink to add more depth and interest.

The sentiment stamp, Life is About by Incilicious, was heat embossed in black EP.

I hope you'll pop to over to Crafts Galore Encore to see the DT's wonderful designs. 
We'd love to see your creations. 
Remember the challenge is always 'Anything Goes' and so you can create any type of project - it doesn't have to be a card.

Thanks for stopping by today!
xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

* Art Impressions #211 Create a Background 05/07
* Cute Card Thursday #484 AG 05/07
Crafting With Friends #46 AG 06/07

Brown Sugar Challenge #257 AG 06/07 TOP 3

* Creative Fingers #133 AG 07/07
* Aloha Friday Challenges #98 Girly Card 13/07
* Colour Crazy Challenge #26 AG 14/07
* A Bit More Time To Craft #47 AG 14/07
* Crafty Calendar AG 28/07
*Crafty Girls Creations #38 AG 31/07

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

To leave a comment, please click on the G+1 button below.

(If this does not open up the comments, please click either the link to this particular post in the sidebar, or click on the red heading at the top of the post and, hopefully, the comments will open).

Thanks x

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* Gecko Galz: July Mermaid

Hello Crafty Friends!

Today sees the start of a new challenge at 
Gecko Galz.

This month our customer challenge theme is ' Mermaid's Garden', so we'd like to see all your mermaid projects.

Here is my DT customer inspiration project:



Oh, how I love this mermaid - just look at her gorgeous red hair and her glittery blue fishtail! And there are more fabulous mermaids on the collage sheet (Pretty Mermaids). I have another to show on my next DT day (26th July).

I cut out the image and used an embossing pen to highlight small areas such as the mermaid's hair and tail, the lanterns, stars in the sky and reflections in the water. These were heat embossed with gold powders to add extra bling and sparkle. The edges of the image were then distressed and inked. The image was positioned onto heavy ivory card which was distressed and inked in turquoise blue with cheesecloth sandwiched in-between. I matted the image onto distressed paper from the Taj Mahal pack and added a die-cut doily which I had inked with Distress Oxides. A turquoise organza ribbon was wrapped around the base and finished with a double bow and a tiny flower. This mat was then placed onto a black mat which has been heat embossed around the edges with gold embossing powder. All was added to an ivory card.



Pretty Mermaids Collage Sheet      Taj Mahal Paper Pack

       

I hope you'll join our 'Mermaid's Garden' challenge. The winner gets a whopping $25 shopping spree at the Gecko Galz shop.

   xxxxx

The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product (this can be one of the freebies, so check back through the blog and also look at the freebies on the Pinterest page, or of course you can buy at the Etsy store!) 

Also if you sign up for the Gecko Galz newsletter, you'll be able to claim a free collage sheet each month.

Please hop over to the Gecko Galz blog to see the fabulous designs by the very talented DT.

We also have a Private Facebook Group where there are 5 monthly challenges, each with a collage sheet prize. Come and join us!

I'll be back on the 26th with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

Gecko Galz blog
Current Gecko Galz Challenge : "Mermaid's Garden" 

Gecko Galz Etsy Shop

Gecko Galz Closed Facebook group

  

Thanks for stopping by today.

xoxo

I'd like to play along in the following challenges: 

* Making Memories Crafting #6 Bingo Board (Die cut/Image/Bling)

* Craft Challenge #422 Add Ribbon & Sparkle 05/07
* Crafting With Friends #46 AG 06/07
* Fussy and Fancy #190 Punches and Dies 06/07

* Creative Knockouts #200 For the Girls 07/07
Delicious Doodles Beside the Sea 31/07

I'd really love some feedback :)      

I read and appreciate all your comments. 

To leave a comment, please click on the G+1 button below.

(If this does not open up the comments, please click either the link to this particular post in the sidebar, or click on the red heading at the top of the post and, hopefully, the comments will open).
Thanks x

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