Gold and White for Christmas

Being inspired by some challenges running at the moment I finished this card yesterday. I've only used gold and white for this card, I really like the look of these colors together.

I had a general plan for the layout in mind and started out embossing the background, using a Tim Holtz EF.

I cut the poinsettia with dies from Marianne, layered it with a sequin and pearl in the centre. Behind it I attcahed some gold metal thread and a few berries on a stem.

I placed the poinsettia onto a gold heat set piece of vellum, using a script stamp from Glitz.


This card was made for:
ABC Christmas Challenge - 'G' is for Green or Gold
52 Christmas Card Throwdown Christmas color
House of Cards - Script and/or colors

Summer penguin

Can't wait for summer to arrive! So my DT card for the new "Stella Says Sketch" challenge that starts today over at Catch the Bug is quite  summery.

I used an image called Poppi Penguin - popsicle colored with Promarkers. I mounted the DPs onto panels of yellow and stitched with red thread around the edges. I added buttons as embellishments. Stitched dies, ovals and scallop, are all Dienamics ones. Die wise I think they were my best investment ever - I seem to use them over and over again, and I see that stitched dies are very much popluar out there in blogland too.

This card is also for:
Dies R Us Challenge - #46 Use Scallops
Through the Purple Haze - #99 Layers
Crafting for all Seasons - #123 Use Die cuts/Punches

Flowers for you

A very clean and simple card today. I was inspired by the April's CASE designer over at HLS for both the layout and theme.

I used a to me new stamp from Penny Black, embossed with clear embossing powder and colored using Distress Inks. I followed the colors of the photo over at ColorQ.
A panel in the middle was cut out and raised on foam, and I only colored in the image on the raised panel.
The sentiment is also heat embossed, it translates "for you" and is from Norsk Stempelblad.

This card is for these challenges:
ColourQ - Color Challenge #336
Happy Little Stampers - April CASE the Designer
Penny Black and More - Birthday
Ett Trykk - Clean and simple
Twofers - #17 Birthday

Similar cards - different themes

My mother needed a card for someone who has moved, so I made a card using my stamps from Hot Off the Press. I started out stamping the house and fence onto kraft, colored in the details of the house with a white gel pen, cut them out, then I chose two DPs ans layered them onto kraft panels. That being done I thought "this is going nowhere".  Ideas totally gone. I decided to pull out a tree die from Marianne and some lace from my stash. The card felt empty at the top, so pondered a bit, took out my star die from Marianne, heat embossed the cut with EP. It got better, but I wanted to add a sentiment to, used my Lawn Fawn banner die to cut it, moved the piece  around and finally settled for a spot.
 
I was sure this was destined to be a card that would end up in the "get back to it later pile" (yeah right) but when finished I actually liked the whole layout so well that I decided to make one similar but with a Christmas theme.

I know that on the photo the roof lookes like moulded cheese, but I used my snow pen for texture and added some glitter and IRL it looks quite nice. I used another tree die, also from Marianne, chose white lace and stamped a Christmas sentiment.

The cards are very similar in design and I've used many of the same items, but I feel I acheived two different looks. Now I would love to hear your opinion - which one is your favorite?

The "Home is where your heart is" card is for these challenges:
Inspiration Destination - #80 Always Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew - #110 Die Cut
Cards und More - # 155 - Use Kraft

The "Joy to the World" card is for these:
Happy Little Stampers Christmas - Die Cuts (tree and star dies from Marianne)
Addicted to Stamps and More - #188 Holiday
A Snowflakes Promise - #20 Anything Christmas Goes

Bear with ladybug wings

This is my DT card to showcase one of Jodie's new releases. She's currently taking a break, but will be back later this week and then this image will be available in the Bugaboo store.

I colored the bear with Promarkers, added glitter and glossy accent to the wings and sponged with shaded lilac DI. I added flowers and ribbons from my stash.

The background is made using a DP from Maja Designs, I used an embossing folder that was a freebie with a magazine, spomged with white ink on top so that the pattern shows better.
The sentiment is die cut using fun foam and a di from Dienamics.

This card is also for:
Come and Get It - Tag You're It
Through the Purple Haze - #98 Flowers
Incy Wincy Designs - Use your Favorite Colouring Medium (Promarkers)

Stencil used as stamp

Over at Happy Little Stampers the CAS challenge of the month is to use a stencil as a stamp. I loved the sound of the concept and got to work, using my Memory Box star stencil as stamp, blue DI and water. I didn't acheive a perfect result, but kind of loved how unperfect it looked, so went ahead.

I added a fussy cut ADFD image, colored with Promarkers and decorated with red glitter. Then I stamped and heat embossed a birthday sentiment from Whimsy Stamps, mounted it all onto a dark blue panel and card base and that was it.

I didn't add any embellies and it's a non fussy card, but I'm worried  it's not CAS enough, but I'll enter it as a CAS card into these challenges and we'll see:
Happy Little Stampers - April CAS: Stencil monoprint
Less Is More - White space but not white
A Day for Daisies - #144 Add Glitter (added glitter to the flowers)
C.R.A.F.T. - #357 Create Your Own Background Paper

Pig party!

It's Thursday and time for an OLDIE BUT GOODIE over at Catch the Bug and a new challenge over at Outlawz Twisted Thursday.
This will be my last card as an Outlawz DT, I've decided to step down but have really enjoyed the experience since my first post on August 22 in 2013.

This week the challenge theme is ANYTHING GOES and the sponsor for March is Bugaboo.

I've used a fun birthday image with pigs for my card, colored with Promarkers, decorated with glitter and glossy accent on the eyes.
The paper was an unsuccesful attempt at splooshing, using gelatos in different shades of pink. So i Covered the background using a stamp and gold EP. The frame is die cut with a Dienamics die.

This card is also for:
Addicted to Stamps and More - #187 Make Your Mark
Make My Monday - Circles
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

CASEing Kim

I'm a follower of Kim's blog - Cupcakes, Cards and Kim - and she's the designer to CASE in March over at Happy Little Stampers. I love visiting Kim's blog as she gives me much inspiration, especially when it comes to color combinations.

I loved her colorful card to CASE, I was inspired by the layout and went for a Christmas theme, using a poinsettia die from Memory Box. I cut it out using silver mirri card. The white base was embossed, then cut into panles and stitched in place using silver metallic thread. I heat embossed a sentiment in silver and added white pearls. Trying to keep my Christmas cards flat and non heavy (therefor no frills) to keep postage costs down.

This card is for:
Happy Little Stampers - March CASE
ABC Christmas Challenge - Frills or no frills (no frills)

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - #68 Use your stash (pearls) 

Rudolph Days Challenge - March

Pirate and parrot

I'm here to share my DT card for the new "Stella Says Sketch" challenge that starts today over at Catch the Bug.

I used an image called AKV Pirate parrot, colored with Promarkers and fussy cut it.The background is made by using a honeycomb like embossing folder as stamp, I sponged the background with DI and finally used a Prima map stamp and black ink. I cut a out a part with a Dienmaics banner die, layered it onto a black one and onto the leftover of my own made paper. A leftover piece of a Maja Design paper and jute paper was used. The banner was die cut, inked and stamped, and I used a black pen to make the lines along the edges.

This card is also for:
Crafting By Designs - 3 or More Layers
Craft Rocket Challenges - #11 Anything Goes
Send a Smile for Kids - For the boys 

Spots, shoes and sketch

I've got a feminine card to share with you today, one that was inspired by a sketch and the themes of polka dots and shoes.

I've got one Prima doll stamp. It's quite large, you can either fit the upper part or the bottom on an A2 sized card. The idea of using the bottom part I got from Monika, I cased one of her cards, you can read more about it here.

So I stamped the bottom part with legs and SHOES and paper pieced with POLKA DOT paper. I cut the image into sections and mounted the pieces onto foam and a white panel. The sentiment is cut with a Lawn Fawn die and I used a birthday sentiment in Norwegian, from Kort&Godt.

This card is for:
CAS Colours & Sketches - #166 Sketch
Less Is More - Polka dots
Twofers - #16 Shoes (clear/rubber stamps only)

Easter egg basket

Happy Friday! I'm here to show you my card featuring the Freebie Friday -  you can pick it up at no cost in the Bugaboo store.

My card is made up with scraps. You now the pieces that is left when using a 6*6 paper and you cut it to fit an A2 card? Well I've got plenty of 2 inch strips in my stash..

Lots of stitching on here, the zigzag one, using white thread. 

Image is colored with Promarkers and I stamped an easter greeting in Norwegian.

I wish you all a Happy Easter!

This card is also for:
Pile It On - #104 Stitching
A Gem of a Challenge - Easter
Crafting with Dragonflies - Easter

Teddy on bench

It's Thursday and time for an OLDIE BUT GOODIE over at Catch the Bug and a new challenge over at Outlawz Twisted Thursday.

This week the optional twist - or theme - is "SPRING" and the sponsor for March is Bugaboo.

I've used an image called Teddy - Rose Hat colored with Promarkers. I've made a scene for her using several dies. The bench is from Marianne, I received this as a candy from Annie a good while back (thanks!) - covered it with bronze EP.
I used the negative of a die cut made with a LaLaLand grass border die. The fence is also Marianne, the butterflies Penny Black, covered with pearls.
I added a floral washi tape and a butterfly tape border. DP is Maja Design. Layering on kraft and white, stitching around the edges.

What's outside my window

Seeing the CASE card over at TIME Out and the theme over at LIM "what's outside your window" I deciced to make a CAS card. From the CASE card I picked the flower theme and colors.

I used a white paper with texture, masked off a square area and sponged away using shaded lilac DI - love the color as it's not too purple and not too blue.
I removed the tape and stamped a flower image using an uninked stamp from Fiskars, heat set and colored it it in using some blue, purple and green ink pads and a brush. 
I used my favorite sentiment stamp - love it because it's decorative and perfect for almost any occasion, then added the finished panel on foam onto the card base.

This card is for:
TIME OUT Challenges - #52 CASE
Less Is More - What's outside your window

Wizards

It's Thursday and time for an OLDIE BUT GOODIE over at Catch the Bug and a new challenge over at Outlawz Twisted Thursday. This week the optional twist - or theme - is "add layers" and the sponsor for March is Bugaboo.

I've added layers onto the kraft cardbase, using white paper for the panel, a paper from Maja Design. I cut out a piece with an oval stitched die, added a fence die cut (cut in two halves), a die cut oval for a stamped birthday greeting and lots of different sequins for the shaker piece. So this is a card with layers but a rather clean look.

3 images from Bugaboo's Har Repotter collection were merged together and colored with Promarkers.

This card is also for:
Passion For Promarkers Challenge - #337 Child's Birthday
Sweet Stampin - Boys to men
Just Us Girls - Shakers

Cherries!

I've been making cards for both Christmas, Easter and spring lately, and here comes my first summer card!

Over at Twofers there's the theme of organic, with the of clear or rubber stamps only.  Rummaging through my stash of stamps I found this unused one from Panduro which I decided to ink up with red, thinking of yummy cherries, sun and nature, to me those things represent something organic.
For the layout I was inspired by a sketch and I wanted to keep it clean so I emboosed a panel, stitched and just added a stamped sentiment on a banner, it says "happy summer". No embellies, no DPs, just red and white papers and 2 dies used.

This card is for:
Twofers - #15 Organic (clear/rubber stamps only)
CAS on Sunday - #78 Sketch  (I was inspired by the sketch, but it's a bit altered as I memorized it slightly wrong, please delete if inappropriate)
Try It On Tuesday - Nature

A baby fills a place in your heart...

....that you never knew was empty. That is what it written on one of this week's new release images at  Bugaboo. I colored the image using Promarkers and chose colors fit for a baby boy.
The background is embossed with a Spellbinders EF. I machine stitched (again) the edges with zagzag stitches. I used lace and ribbon from my stash and added a metal charm. Not a complicated card, but it has lots of texture. No DPs used. I'm a DP addict but lately I've found myself using less DPs and more embossing folders. Heat embossing used to be my favorite embossing style, but in my non-DP mood I prefer dry embossing to decorate my background (I'm not that good at using inks and stencils just yet...)

This card is also for:
As You Like It Challenge - Favourite Style Of Embossing & Why (dry when no DPs used)
Cute Card Thursday - #416 Lace Or Ribbon (I used both)
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

Masculine with lots of stitching

I'm here to share my DT card for the new "Stella Says Sketch" challenge that starts today over at Catch the Bug.

I used an image called Gus - Marriage - Women Angels, colored with Promarkers and fussy cut. I teamed it up with two birthday sentiments in Norwegian with a humorous touch.
For the layout I sectioned my white paper by machine stitching, not too evenly though. 3 green enamel dots were added.

This card is also for:
Seize The Birthday - Birthday + Optional Topping: The Great Divide
Simon Says Stamp - A Bit of Green (enamel dots and bottle)
Crafting With An Attitude - Always Anything Goes

Cat rescue

It's Thursday and time for an OLDIE BUT GOODIE over at Catch the Bug and a new challenge over at Outlawz Twisted Thursday. This week the optional twist - or theme - is "use green" and the sponsor for March is Bugaboo. This was a bit of a challenge for me as I rarely use much green, mostly for a few leaves or Christmas greeneries.

I used an image of a fireman rescuing a cat. Even though this isn't a St Patrick's Day card I'm sure the cat feels a bit lucky here.The image and my Marianne die cut trees have been colored with Promarkers.
The grass is made using a Lalaland die and a tulip punch was used. And of course there's stitching too (I'm addicted) using a green metallic thread.

This card will go to my sister who has 3 young boys, from 7 months to 9 years, and they're invited to lots of birthday parties. When I was achild boys wanted to be policmen of firemen when they got older, today they dream about becoming "you tubers". Oh well, times changes...



This card is also for:
I love Promarkers - #304 Men At Work
Tuesday Throwdown - #284 Create a Scene
Crafty Cardmakers - Green

Preparing for Easter

Tuesday is new release day over at  Bugaboo and this is my DT card showcaseing one of Jodie's latest images. Cute Easter image, isn't it?

I colored it using Promarkers and used pink DI on the background, it's really soft and doesn't show that well in the photo. I stamped an Easter greeting in Norwegian in the upper left corner.

I kept it all really simple, machine stitching around the edges, adding the panel onto a DP, the DP onto the card base with foam and 3 yellow flowers and voila.

I'd like to enter my card in these challenges as well:
Creative Corner - Bunnies Everywhere
Come and Get It - #108 Favorite Technique (Stitching)
Great Impressions - Bunny Hop!

Monochromatic Card with Vintage Santa

I haven't made as many Christmas cards as usual this time of year. But here's one more, featuring a vintage Santa that I made using a Tim Holtz stamp.

I used brown ink and cut the image with an oval Spellbinders die. I used a rectangle frame die, also from Spellbinders, and placed it onto a distressed panel of off white paper.

I've used one single 6*6 sheet of Maja Design paper, both back and front, distressed the edges and added a narrow lace border.

The snowflakes are die cut (I used two die cuts for each snowflake) and decorated with pearls. I also added one single layer one from a stamped musicla notes paper, it's in the upper right corner but it's hard to spot.

The sentiment is in Norwegian, I cut it from white fun foam that I inked using old paper DI.


This card is for these challenges:
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - March Sketch
Winter Wonderland - Use Some Lace
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Vintage or anything goes
Ett Trykk - Trykkpressa mars - Monokromatisk kort

Elephant and kites

I really struggle  with color challenges,but I love seeing what people make using them as inspiration.This is my attempt at one of these challenges, not a 100% happy, but it'll have to do. I've made some many cards using color challenges as inspiration without ever blogging them. I've also followed a sketch and a theme.

My elephant is a stamp from Lawn Fawn. I've used clouds from Hot off the Press, tag and sentiment dies from Dienamics and kites and building dies from Memory Box. Colored with Promarkes.

The paper I received from Sandie (thank you Sandie), ribbon and twine from my stash.
Machine stitching around the edges.


This card is for:
Sketch Saturday - Sketch #402
Colour Q - #331
City Crafter Challenge - #301 Elephants

A pig who can fly

There's a new challenge over at Catch the Bug, and this being the first Saturday of the month it's ANYTHING GOES.


For my DT card I chose to play with Superman pig who was colored up some time ago, using my Promarkers.

Being a DP addict I'm no good at using my inks and stencils, but here I used 3 to make my background, no DP in sight!
I added a die cut building using a MB die and stamped a sentiment with a Prima stamp.
I felt the background lacked something, so I used my sewing machine to frame the scene. I stitched two lines of straight stitching and zigzag in the middle.

I'd like to try my luck in these challenges with my card:
Inkspirational - Geometric
Tuesday Throwdown - #283 - Frame It (Stitched frame)
The Outlawz Festive Friday challenge - Choose from 4 themes (National Pig day)
Through the Purple Haze - #96 Make A Scene
Cardz 4 Guyz - make your own background

Martian

It's Thursday and time for an OLDIE BUT GOODIE over at Catch the Bug and a new challenge over at Outlawz Twisted Thursday. This week the optional twist - or theme - is "use dies/punches".


The image is called Martian and is colored with Promarkers. I took inspiration from the Sketch Saturday sketch and added a die cut globe with a Tim Holtz die and heat embossed with silver EP. The sentiment is made using stamps from from Technique Tuesday, cut using a Spellbinders die. A border was stamped, DP along the edges and some machine stitching.

This card is also for:
Sketch Saturday - Sketch #401
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - Anything goes with a twist: fantasy
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes

Boy and stocking

I haven't made many Christmas cards so far this year, I need an average of about 5 a month and I'm behind. This card is more embellished than what I normally make, not exactly according to my goal of keeping postage costs down this year, but oh well...

Over at Twofers there's an anything goes challenge (clear or rubber stamps only) with an optional twist of using your oldest stamp. I went back to February 2012, when I started my blog, and I saw this stamp had been used for one of my posts that month, so if it's not THE oldest it's an early one. You can see my old card here.

The image is a North Star one, the background with script is one from Kort&Godt, both Norwegian stamp companies. I used old paper DI while the image was still inside of the Spellbinder die.

The embellies are made using dies from Marianne, Whiff of Joy and Kort&Godt and a punch from Martha Stewart. Fun foam, vellum and paper left overs were used.
The pompon ribbon I believe came free with a magazine, glitter gold enamel dots from my stash.




This card is for:
Twofers - #14 Anything Goes (clear/rubber stamps only)
Rudolph Days Challenge - February
Winter Wonderland - Must use a sentiment (I used a die cut Christmas sentiment in Norwegian)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Use a sentiment

Funny Bunnies

I'm here to share my DT card for the new "Stella Says Sketch" challenge that starts today over at Catch the Bug.

I used an image called Funny Bunny - funny bunny babies andcolored it with Promarkers. The image has been cut using a Lawn Fawn die and I used an Easter sentiment that was part of a freebie set with a magazine. Yellow DP with spots, flowers from Storyteller. I added jute paper to a yellow panel and stitched a double border of zigzags using yellow thread.

This card is also for:
Crafting for all Seasons - #120 Three Of A Kind (flowers, bunnies)
The Crafty Addicts - #9 Anything Goes/ Spots or Stripes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday - #125 AG with twist: Include an Animal

Birthday monster!

It's Thursday and time for an OLDIE BUT GOODIE over at Catch the Bug. The image is called "Heart Monster" and I colored him up with Promarkers, added glossy accent to the hearts and added stickers to make a birthday sentiment in Swedish as this is going to be sent to my hubby's newphew who'll turn 18 in March.
The background I made using stamps from Panduro, Marianne and Prima, using grey and black inks, being inspired by the photo over at "TIME Out". I used number dies from Memory Box and cut out "18" and used the the inlaid technique.
I added the panel onto silver card stock and machine sticthed around the edges using white thread.
This card is also for:
TIME OUT Challenges - #50 Photo Inspiration
Tuesday Throwdown - #282 Create Your Own Background
Allsorts - Birthday wishes
Aud Sentiments Challenge - #149 Cute + Sentiment

 

Big catch

Over at Outlawz Twisted Thursday we have a new challenge for you and this week it's ANYTHING GOES. our sponsor for February - Make it Crafty. I didn't use a sponsor image for my card, but a decoupage sheet that came free with a magazine some years back. My father's birthday is just around the corner and this card suits his sense of humour.
The image was quite big (A5 size?) but I trimmed it to fit on a square card 6*6 inches. Details have been popped on foam. I added Wink of Stella to the water, glossy accent to the small fish and water splatter and doodled lines along the edges. The cutting took some time, otherwise a rather quick make.

This card is also for:
Inkspirational - Pop (decoupage layers popped on foam)
Try It On Tuesday - Transport
Sparkles Forum Challenges - #77 Something for the Males
Crafty Boots - No Stamps

Portrait

I was so lucky to win a gift certificate from Sassy Studio and this is my first time using one of these images. I just couldn't resist this portrait and I'm sure I'm going to use this image many more times in the future. I colored the image using Promarkers and added some pearls as well.
I was inspired by the sketch over at Sunday Stamps. I used left over pieces of DPs from different brands, stitched oval and banner dies from Dienamics. My old sewing machine couldn't do this type of zigzag stitches, but my new machine does - very happy with that:)


This card is for:
Sunday Stamps - #120 Sketch
I love Promarkers - #302 Bingo (die cut+free+pearls - as free element I've chosen stitching)
Addicted to Stamps and More - #181 Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers - For a Special Woman
Craft Rocket Challenges - #9 Mother's Day/Female

Spring friends

There's a new challenge over at Catch the Bug, this week it's BINGO TIME.
For today I chose to play with spring friends, perfect for Easter or spring, colored with Promarkers, and I used the middle horisontal row.

I used Spellbinders dies to cut and emboss the image and placed it atop a pink doily. I've been using doilies lately, it seems I use them a lot, then nothing for a long time, then a lot again. The background is embossed using a Darice embossing folder. Flowers from my stash. A die cut butterfly (Penny Black) decoarted with liquid pearls (used with the same frequency as dolilies it seems), white string (very often used).

This card is also for:
Digi Choosday Challenge - #7 Animals & Insects
ABC Challenge - B is for... (Bunny, bird, butterfly)
Fan-Tastic Tuesday - #124 Anything Goes + Make it Cute