SCS Challenge - A Stamped Flower - DT Card

This weeks challenge has been chosen by our namesake, The Secret Crafter herself, Wendy (aka Da Boss Lady or She Who Must Be Obeyed hehe)

A Stamped Flower

This must be either stamp or digi and can be alone or part of an image (but not flowers on your papers alone or flower embellishments).

I had been playing with You Tube and came across a tutorial vid showing these lovely ribbon roses (I think if you put ribbon roses in the search you will find many vids).  Now i'm not the most adept with the needle (cross stitch or sewing buttons aside lol) but I found these really easy to do.  Just a line of running stitch along one edge of the ribbon, then slide the ribbon up the thread until it ruffles and starts curling back on itself.  Sew the two ends together, tie off the thread and there you go.  If you have a thinner ribbon, sew more and let the ribbon curl back upon itself and you can play about with the tension keeping some a little looser like I did with the bottom layer of the top flower. Pop a brad or pearl in the middle and there you go.

I have used the Ribbon from Secret Crafter and it has a fantabulous two tone shimmer with names as scrummy as Emerald Mint and Raspberry Lime (and at only 30p per metre its a steal).

You may recognise the paper I have used as some of you out there have it as your Blog Headers etc.  Summer Driggs at Summertime Designs have some really beautiful papers for you.  Best of all she offers them absolutely free on her blog.  Your really need to pop on over and have a peek for yourself (scroll down and there is a loooong list of her papers on the right hand sidebar).

I used my Hangler flower girl I have had for ages from a swap a few years ago and came across my swap folder during a little clear out.  Coloured with .....  yup you guessed it lol .. ProMarkers and Copics and shaded with my Prismacolor pencils.  Popped on a printed sentiment and away ye go

Now for some news.............

A couple of weeks ago we had a DT call.  We were overwhelmed with the amount of people expressing an interest in joining our little group and would like to thank you all. It was so hard choosing from the wonderful people but the we, the DT, selected four and I am pleased to say they will be joining us from March.

They are:-

BEATE

CARINA

FRANCESCA

KELLY

Great to have you joining us girls. We are all looking forward to working with you. Please visit their lovely blogs and you will see why we chose them to join us - they are mega talented.  Jane will be popping their photos to the SCS Challenge side bar in the coming week so you can "put a name to a face".

SCS Challenge - Valentine - DT Card

These great funky digi stamps are from Simply Betty Stamps, part of their Emo Valentines range (they remind me of Bettlejuice or Tim Burton films lol).  I managed to find some fab papers to use with them.  I wanted something a little different from the usual valentines red and pink so thought purple was suitably Emo'ish and found a pack from Digital Scrapbook Studio - Linda Cumberland, New Beginnings was perfect. A bit of paper tearing finished it off.

I have coloured the images again with my fave ProMarkers and Copics.    I used Distress inks and Versacolour cubes to shade the edges of my card and papers.  I have glittered the flying hearts and the edge of my sentiment using the really Ultrafine Glitter from Secret Crafter.  I got the lace trim from my local Dunelm store (but I didn't realise how expensive it was until I got to the till lol).

Wendy at Secret Crafter has released some 2011 valentine digi images which are available here.

I'll be posting a card using the images in the next few days.  I hope you'll pop on over to have a look.

Also entered into the following challenges....

• Crafters Companion Monthly - Romance
• Raise the Bar - Hearts
• Sparkles Forum Challenge - Valentine
• Allsorts Challenge Blog - Valentine
• Cards for Men - Valentine
• Polka Doodles - With Hearts
• Stampin for the Weekend - Valentines Day
• Card Mad Fairy's Digi Days - Romance
  

Stylish Blogger Award

Me ol' SCSC teamie Bridget over at CurlyBear Crafts has only gone an given me an award

Ta muchly hun xxxx

 Part of this award is to share 8 things about yourself. Oh dear I fear I may not be that interesting but  here goes....

1. My best mate owns a craft shop, how awesome is that.  Wendy lets me have a play with loads of new stuff.  There is no way i'd be able to afford to get all of it myself.
   
   
2. I love colouring in and, in my very humble opinion, i'm quite good at it lol.  I do really need to get much better at card layouts though, but I have found that sketches have helped me a great deal with placement of my bits n bobs
   
   
3. I love teaching card classes and run day ones for Wendy over at Secret Crafter.  I get a kick out of showing someone how to use the alcohol markers and pencils and seeing their faces light up when they create something after they say they just can't get the hang of it.
   
   
4. I like to go horseriding.  Nothing can beat hacking over the countryside on a spring/summer or winters day.  I even got me other half (Ian) to have lessons with me the other year (he did look a bit like a sack of spuds bouncing along though haha).  Although I can't go very often as the cost is very prohibitive at the moment with everything costing us more *sigh*
   
   
5. Apart from cardmaking I like to do a little cross stitch in front of the telly on my nights off.  I am doing a quite large christmassy one at the mo.  I told Ian i'd get it done for xmas, he frowned and said thats only a couple of weeks away and it looks like you have loads to do.  I just replied that I didn't say which christmas hehe
   
   
6. I work the night shift. Some of you may not like that idea but for me it suits perfectly.  I get to go to work,  do my classes in the morning and sleep away the afternoon/evening and sadly (not)  miss "X Factors Got Talent on Ice" lol  (I can't bear them sorry)
   
   
7. I am an avid reader. I've been a bookwork most of my life even as a kiddly.  I love all the Terrys, Pratchett, Brooks, Goodkind and I am currently rereading (well listening to on audio book) the Robert Jordan-Wheel of Time Series.  The last one should be released this year and it's been a while since I have read them so I am having a bit of a refresher before I get it. I have even got the Kindle app for my phone which was fantastic on me hols as I didn't have to take the 10 books that I normally pack lol.
   
   
8. I love driving especially in Wales or Scotland.  The countryside there is absolutely stunning.  Spring and Autumn can be particularly beautiful with all the colours of the trees changing.

Well thats my 8 things just about.  I hope I haven't bored you too much lol.   My next difficult task is to pass it on to another 8, so here goes ......

Claire- What shall I make today
Trudy - Tru's Gifts from the Heart
Carol - My Little Piece of Heaven
Priscilla - PriscillaStyles After Midnight
Collette - Heavensent for you
Andie - Andie's Space
Carina - Carinas Hobby
Debs - Especially for You

And finally quick thank you to everyone who takes the time to say hi and make me smile.

Huggles xx

SCS Challenge - Hot Chocolate - DT Card

We have some exciting news ........

The Stamping Boutique are our new monthly sponsor

They are offering the lucky winner of our challenge 5 digis of choice.

Here are a few details about them....

"I'm Tracey Malnofski, the artist and owner of The Stamping Boutique. My team and I are very happy to sponsor Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge. My store has been open since September 2009.I am currently a stamp artist for Unity Stamp Co. and I've worked for InStyleStamps, Squigglefly, and TheDigiShack in the past. I'm a professional artist and an active member of the Artist' Guild in my community. I have quite a busy household with a husband, 3 teenagers, 5 mini-dachshunds and an Appaloosa mare. It's noisy, but I love them all. I'm truly blessed. "The Stamping Boutique" is dedicated to quality products and original artwork. We not only provide wonderful digital images in our store, but also several lines of red rubber images. Our designers are chosen for their character and personality,as well as, their beautiful designs. We work hard to give you our very best. Thank you so much for having us as your sponsor."

So onto this week's challenge. We have a theme of:-

HOT CHOCOLATE

 
We want to see hot chocolate either within an image or using colours. We have been lucky enough to be given digis from The Stamping Boutique to celebrate their new sponsorship of our challenge blog.
 

The papers are from a digi download called Cinnamon but I have lost the details for them. I have coloured the image again with my fave ProMarkers and Copics.  A spray of Wild Orchid roses coloured with co-ordinating Promarker/Copic colours.  I used Distress inks and Versacolour cubes to shade the edges of my card and image.  

I created a tag with a new Photoshop brush that I have been playing with (i'm loving these and hope to show you some more creations in the next few weeks) and added text before printing out.

Lashings of stickles on the falling broken hearts and an organza bow complete my card.

Please pop along to my fellow DT'ers and see our interpretations using the wonderful Stamping Boutique images.

TracieB xx

PS... Don't forget our DT Call, you can find the post details HERE

DT CALL - SCS CHALLENGE

DT CALL

Pop on over to leave your details if you are interested.

Here is a copy of the info for you

"Design Team Applicants

We are looking to expand out DT. We would like to a enlist a further 4 or 5 members to our little team. Below are some details you will need to be able to complete if you wish to be considered.

• Set the challenge on a rota basis. This could be a theme, technique, recipe etc.
• Complete a DT project to the chosen theme every week. Your project for each week must be completed by latest Friday noon before the challenge is due to be published on Saturday.
• You will be expected to comment on some entries into the challenge by number order (Issued when joined)

Nice and simple really. If you are interested then please leave a link to your blog below and the DT can then visit. We will announce the successful applicants mid Feb.

Hugs from Wendy, Jane & DT xx"

 

So there you go get creating and posting if you want to join our little team

SCS Challenge - A Couple Thing - DT Card

 

This week's challenge is set by the lovely Kate and has chosen a theme of:-

IT'S A COUPLE THING

 

As I always forget my mon and dads anniversary I decided that this was a good a time as any to make them a card.  I love Lily of the Valley stamps and have not used this one as yet and I think it fits our challenge perfectly.

 

The papers are Pink Petticoat and are really pretty pastel colours. I have coloured the image again with my fave ProMarkers and Copics and shaded with my Prismacolor pencils.  A spray of Wild Orchid roses curve around the Marianne Die Double Frame cut from pale pink white core cardstock.  I sanded the embossed parts to expose the core and used distress inks and versacolour cubes to shade the edges of my card and frame.

I have very few circle sentiments so I created my own using Photoshop and free fonts. The lace is from a visit to Dunelm Mill and has a delicate shimmer thread through it.

TracieB xx

SCS Challenge - With Love - DT Card

This weeks challenge has been set by Jane and is....

With Love

So we would like to send us some luuuurve.  With Valentines just around the corner here's a chance to get a head start on all those cards you will be sending (and hopefully receiving lol).

I saw this sketch over at Sketch Saturday last week and followed it for the base of my card.  As I have said in previous posts i've been perusing the digi paper sales and found Sunday Gardens by Correen Silke over at Scrapbook.com.  With all the miserable weather we are having they reminded me of a lovely hot summers day.

It's a fairly simple card with the sentiment being printed out and all papers distressed with chalk inks.  Pale green card backed all the elements and lil ol Tilda graces the image panel.  Coloured her in again with my fave ProMarkers and Copics and shaded with my Prismacolor pencils.  A sprinkling of Wild Orchid roses completes me card.

I hope you like my take on the challenge this week and don't forget to pop on over to the rest of the DT and spread the luuurve.

TracieB xxx

Entered into the following challenges....

• Wags n Whiskers - With Love
• Just Magnolia - My fave Things

My Nitwit Valentine

 

Well, I think i'm on a roll at the mo cause here's another card.

Loving my new Nitwit set I have puchased for Valentines Butterfly Kisses.  I printed out most of the set before I finally decided on which bits I was going to use lol.  Started cutting different elements out and fitting them onto a card base and finally came up with the main base of my card. 

My main task then was trying to find an image to use as I wanted to put something at the top of the hearts.  I have a couple of the Magnolia sitting ones but Angel Tilda fitted perfectly.  I ended up stamping and reprinting her out to get her to sit on the hearts better.  Coloured her in with my with ProMarkers and Copics and shaded with my Prismacolor pencils.  I found out my Stardust Gelly pen and coloured her wing with that to give it a lovely shimmer. 

I sized the flowers from the set and cut and layered them up then decided on bling for the middle instead of a brad.

My thanks to me ol' DT buddy Vicky for highlighting my blog on hers.  I have had some really lovely comments from people who have taken the time to pop on over to have bit of a peek at me cards.  Cheers guys.

Thanks also to Kate (my SCS DT buddy) for your pikky comments.  I have had a play and created a sort of overlay frame for my cards and a signature thingy too, whadda u think???  My Daylight bulb for my lamp has also arrived so the colours are more true to life now too.

Oooh and I googled and found a pikky of a plate holder which I fiddled with then printed and cut out.  So in the absence of an easel I now have a stand for my cards in my new photo booth lol

I hope u likey and I'll see you all tomorro with my Secret Crafter Challenge DT card for this week.

TracieB xx 

Entered into .....

• The Creative Cottage - #30 Something New
• PaperPlay Challenges - Cute Patootie
• Cupcake Craft Challenges - Something New
• PollyCraft Monday Challenge - New Things
• Just Magnolia - My Favourite Things (ProMarkers n Copics lol)

SCS Challenge - Tons of Texture - DT Card

This week's challenge is set by our lovely HELEN. She has chosen a theme of:-

TONS OF TEXTURE

Well I was a bit stuck with this one.  As the shop is closed at the mo cause the Woo's is on her hols I don't have a lot of cardmaking bits at home.  

I grabbed as much as I could before Xmas but there is always something you forget lol (I forgot my portable hard drive with all me digi papers on).  I have no paper packs (AAAAaaaaaarrrgggghhhhh)  Soooo I have spent the last few days going digi shopping for downloadable papers (Oh Joy everybody has got a sale on lol).

Luckly most of my images I have on my laptop hard drive (cause I'm a lazy begger an don't delete them after I transfer them hehe).  I was looking at doing my other halfs valentines card early (at least he'll get one this year haha) so combined it with this weeks challenge.

I used one of Kenny K's wicked images coloured with ProMarkers and Copics and shaded with my Prismacolor pencils.  I only went and picked up two different MS PATP punches so couldn't PATP and had to settle on only corners (what a nitwit!) using the MS Round Lattice corner.  As it was a white core card after I embossed using a Cuttlebug folder (for the life of me can't remember what its called grrr) I sanded it and used copious amounts of Stardust Stickles and stuck some pink heart bling in the corners.

The paper I have used is from the digi paper pack Heart 2 Heart from Monika Designs and has a wonderful crackle finish in a fab deep purple.  I just had to add some Wild Orchid flowers (but forgot to pick up a leaf punch haha) so I just coiled the stems around my pokey tool instead. Added some text to the tag from the digi pack and attached with a bit of ribbon.

Me hopes u likey and come & join us over at SCS Challenge.

TracieB xx

SCS Challenge - Buttons n Bows - DT Card

This weeks challenge Buttons n Bows over at

has been set by the lovely Bubbly Bridget

First off "HAPPY NEW YEAR" to all u bloggy peeps and hope that 2011 is a good one for all of you.

Secondly, can anyone spot the deliberate mistake?????  Yup, I forgot to attach the sentiment circle before I took the pikky lol.  My other half mom's birthday is in a couple of days so decided to kill two birds with one card and made this using her fave colour, Green.

I have had this Summertime Designs, Sweet Springtime digi paper pack for ages and thought it was perfect for my card as it combined the green and pink in a very pretty paper set.  I used the Greens and Black Provocraft Cricut card stock pad from Secret Crafter to back the papers and it matched perfectly.  I distressed the edges a little with Distress Inks Peeled Paint and Worn Lipstick.  

I used a Deckled Edge Oval Nestie to cut out my Magnolia Tilda image which I have coloured with ProMarkers and Copics.  I have been using my Prismacolor pencils, blending with Sansodor, a lot lately to add additional shading to my images and I am really pleased with the results i'm getting.  As long as you don't try and colour over the top of them with your markers (as it transfers onto the nib) there is no problem.

I finished off with some lime ribbon and button brads from my stash and there you have it, a perfect card (apart from the sentiment that I added after I uploaded the pikky, DOH!!)

I hope you like it and don't forget to leave a message, then pop on over to our other DT Gals Blogs to see how they all did with our first SCS Challenge of 2011.

TracieB xx