House of Card Challenge and DT Entry

Hi there,

I haven't entered a challenge for quite a while but when I saw the picture inspiration over at House of Cards I just had to play along. They are having a design team call with this challenge so I am gonna give that a go too.

I have kept to a clean and simple design as I wanted the die cut from the W Plus 9 Stag Trio set to be the main feature, just a bit of pattern paper and a sentiment from clearly Besotted and it was done, oh, and of course a little red gem for his nose!

Thanks for looking
Lorry :o) xxx

Here is my effort

and here is the photo inspiration 

A scrapbook page

Hi There,

I started scrapbooking about 2 years ago when I got a Smash book. I couldn't quite get the hang of just sticking and 'smashing' random stuff and photos onto a page, in my head it all had to be planned out and arranged neatly, plus the wiro binding gave me the hump and I ended up taking it all apart and re-binding it anyway. So I decided to start a scrapbook.

Seeing as 12x12 scared me and 8x8 was a bit of a funny size I opted for A4, and so my journey began! The paper stash grew, a lot, thanks mainly to TK Max and the embellishments also started to 'hop' into my shopping basket along with washi tape, stencils,  bakers twine, gesso etc. Now I have a fair amount of stuff which I enjoy making into my own kits so I can scrap on the go.

Any how, enough of my waffle. Here is one of the first A4 pages I made mainly using the Stampin' Up! This and That Epic Day kit with a little bit of poly filler stenciling in the background to add a bit of texture.

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xx

LCC #98 Animal Antics

Hi There

This months challenge over at Let's Craft and Create is Animal Antics. Lawn Fawn stamps are so cool and their critters are so cute, the set I used is called Critters at the Dog Park and it is just perfect for this challenge. As the stamps are outlines it also gave me another chance to play with my Flexmarkes.

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xx

LCC #97 – Autumn

Hi There

This months challenge over at Let's Craft and Create is Autumn so I thought I would ink up my Clearly Besotted Nuts For You stamp set. This little guy is so cute, it also gave me a chance to bust out my Flexmarkers again.

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xx

Retro Sketches #132

Hi There,

I have been practicing with my Promarkers and the few Flexmarkers that I have in preparation for the Copic Markers for Card Makers Online Card Class. I know I have Promarkers but they are alcohol based like Copics so hopefully the principals should be the same.

I am entering this card into the Retro Sketches #132 challenge. I used the Gorguss Perrfect Day stamp set as she is quite sweet and her cat is a cutie, I also used some papers from the Simon Says Stamp July Card kit plus a few sequins from my stash.

Thank for looking, Lorry :o) xxx

Here is my effort

And here is the sketch

http://retrosketches.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/retrosketches-132.html

Clearly Besotted Challenge #13 – Autumn

Hi There

It's great to see the Clearly Besotted challenge blog is back after the summer break. The challenge this month is Autumn, which is great as I have just got super speedy delivery of the new Woodland Pals stamp set. For some strange reason I didn't get the matching die set, so I fussy cut the deer, toad stall and leaves. I used a Lawn Fawn die for the grass and some of their natural twine to finish the card off.

Thank for looking, Lorry :o) xx

OCC Copic Markers for Card Makers

Hi There,

I have just signed up for the OCC Copic Markers for Card Makers class. Although I don't have actual Copic markers, I do have Letraset Promarkers, which, like the Copics are alcohol based. Promarkers are made in the UK and are a cheaper and easier to obtain (in the UK) alternative, my thinking is that the principles should be the same.

I have had my Promarkers for many years and love them dearly but my only niggle with them is they have a bullet nib instead of a brush tip like the Copics, so fine feathered blending can be a bit of a pain sometimes. I have recently discovered Flexmarkers also made by Letraset but these babies have a brush nib, I have got some on order to try, hopefully they will turn up before class starts so I can have a play.

Anyhow, here is a card that I made using my trusty Promarkers and a stamp from La La Land which I got for £1 from a craft shop closing down near where my sister lives.

Thank for looking, and wading through my waffle! Lorry :o) xx

LCC#96 – Anything goes

Hi There,

This months challenge over at Let's Craft and Create is Anything Goes with a chance to win a Wink of Stella pen, I have had my pen for a little while now and I love it.

The card I made for this challenge uses the Simon Says Stamp April card kit, love the papers in the kit, not sure why I haven't used it more, probably out of sight out of mind!?! I have kept the layout simple to let the image and bright paper do all the talking.

Thank for looking, Lorry :o) xx

SSS Wednesday Challenge – Summer

Hi There,
Sorry I haven't been around for a looong time, but it has been the kids summer holidays and I have been a bit pre-occupied!

I received my Simon Says Stamp August card kit the other day and even though I was meant to be occupying Max, I just had to plonk him in front of the xbox for half an hour and have a play with the cute stamps and papers. I am gonna enter this card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge – Summer. I don't normally enter the SSS challenges as I get a bit done in and intimidated with all the great talent over there, but I am quite pleased with this card and thought I would bite the bullet and share.

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xxx

Ingredients:

Stamps and Pattern Paper: Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit.

Dies: Classic Circle Nestabilities.

Embellishments: Sequins form Hobby Craft.

Promarkers: Fuchsia Pink, Rose Pink, Peony, Pink Carnation, Lemon, Buttercup, Coral, Cocoa, Honeycomb, Gold, Canary, Forest Green and Leaf Green.

52 CCT June Stash Challenge

Hi there,
Apologies for being away for a bit, family stuff kinda took over for a while.

I am back now and joining in with the 52 CCT June Stash Challenge – Use a Charm. I don't have any charms (must add them to my ever increasing wish list) so I used a pretty wood veneer shape and hope this counts as I added it in a charm kinda way.

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xx

52 CCT June Sketch Challenge

Hi there,

I have finally managed to do a challenge card – Yay! I have fallen off of the wagon lately and really need to get back on it!

This card is for the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown June Sketch Challenge, I have kept it clean and simple and let the super cute birdies do all the talking (or tweeting, sorry so corny!!).

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xx

Here is my effort

and here is the sketch

Ingredients:

Stamps: Season's Tweetings from Lawn Fawn.

Dies: Circle Nestabilities.

Embellishments: Ribbon from Dartford Market.

Promarkers: Poppy, Cool grey 1, Tan, Caramel, Henna, Cyan and Apple.

LCC #93 Spots or Stripes

Hi there,
This months challenge over at Let's Craft and Create is Spots or Stripes, I had a card in mind for this challenge and for a change it turned out pretty close to how I saw it in my head. Not sure why but this card reminds me of the Comfort (fabric softener) adverts.

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xx

Ingredients:

Stamps: Hello Sunshine from Lawn Fawn.

Background Papers: Made up on my computer and printed at home.

Dies: Hello Sunshine from Lawn Fawn.

Punch: Small heart from Hobby Craft.

Watercolour Masking

Hi There,
One of the lessons in the Watercolor for Card Makers class is masking. I have never tried using making fluid before, I have seen it but never quite known what to use it for. The smell is a bit fishy and it can really muck up your brush, so use a cheapey one just for masking, I marked my brush with a bit of mashing tape so I wouldn't get it muddled with my other brushes.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out and I will be doing this technique again soon, I just loved peeling off the dried fluid to reveal the crisp clean image underneath.

Thank for looking, Lorry :o) xx

Ingredients:

Stamps: Thinking of You by Clearly Besotted.

More Watercolor for Cardmakers Home Work

Hi there,
Here is my second piece of homework for the Watercolor for Cardmakers card class. This time I stuck to my usual way to paint, wet to dry. I am much happier with how this one turned out, my previous wet on wet effort didn't quite do it for me.

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xx

Ingredients:

Stamps: Freebie stamp set from Creative Stamper.

Watercolor for Cardmakers Homework

Hi there, 

I have been taking the Watercolor for cardmakers online card class and have been running a bit behind with my homework, no change there!

Swarup Murthy (Sanketi) showed us how to do the wet on wet technique to colour a stamped image. I thought I would give it a go but I have to say I much prefer the wet to dry method that I usually use. I think I must be a bit of a control freak as the wet on wet way is a bit random as you have less control on where the colour goes. Anyhow, here is my effort, not sure if I like it but it is OK-ish.

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xx

Ingredients:

Stamps: Thinking of You by Clearly Besotted and Big Sentiments by Personal Impressions.

Embellishment: Hemp Twine from Stampin' Up!

LCC#92 – Transport

The theme over at the Let's Create and Craft Challenge this month is Transport, planes, trains, automobiles and anything that gets you from A to B.

For this card I wanted to use some pattern papers as I hadn't used any for a while, I also wanted to make a set as my stash of blokie cards is a little low, so here are my 3 offerings.

Thank for looking, Lorry :o) xx

Ingredients:

Stamps: Motorcycle and Need for Speed from Stampin' Up! and A Little Sentimental by Clearly Besotted.

Background Papers: Aweso(me) by Simple Storie and Here & There and Darling Dear by Studio Calico.

Embellishments: Enamel dots by My Mind's Eye and Wood Veneer Stars by Freckled Fawn.

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown: April Color Challenge

It was a colour challenge over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwndown this week and I have managed to use 4 of the 6 colours in the pallet. I am not mad about this card as it was different in my head but it is growing on me, I think I would send this to a blokie as it is not the usual christmassy colours. I am loving the mini ink blending tools though, much easier to use than the rectangular ones.

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xx

Here is my effort.

And here is the colour combo.

Clearly Besotted Challenge 10 Spring

I just love the Fresh Flowers stamp and die set, I had already made a card for the Let's Craft and Create Challenge and was really pleased with how it turned out so I made another 3 cards using the rest of the flower designs in the set. I am going to enter these into the Clearly Besotted Challenge 10 – Spring.

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xx

Ingredients:

Stamps: Fresh Flowers, Butterfly Wishes and Happy Days from Clearly Besotted, Big Sentiments from Personal Impressions.

Background Papers: Basics DSP from Stampin' Up! and some made up on my computer and printed out at home.

Dies: Fresh Flowers from Clearly Besotted.

Embellishments: Sequins from Hobby Craft.

Promarkers: Ivory, Buttercup, Gold, Pumpkin, Pink Carnation, Mulberry, Fresh Bloom, Maroon, Peony, Purple, Leaf Green, Green and Forest Green.

LCC #91 – Punches and Dies

Over at Let's Craft and Create this months challenge is Punches and Dies. This was the perfect excuse to ink up the brand new Fresh Flowers stamp and Dies set from Clearly Besotted I had just received in the post.

When I showed my son Max the lily of the valley stamp he said "That's a nice bluebell", so I just had to colour it in blues.

Thanks for looking, Lorry :o) xx

Ingredients:

Stamps: Fresh Flowers from Clearly Besotted and Big Sentiments from Personal Impressions.

Background Papers: Made up on my computer and printed out at home.

Dies: Fresh Flowers from Clearly Besotted.

Embellishments: Sequins from Hobby Craft.

Promarkers: Leaf Green, Forest Green, Bluebell and Purple.