Pink!

April already! A very busy last few weeks of term have meant I've had little time for blogging, or indeed crafting, but the Easter holidays are here at last, and so is our April Challenge at Stamping Sensations. I think our latest theme will be very popular, as it is

* * * * * PRETTY IN PINK * * * * *

Making a welcome return visit as our sponsor this month is PDA Card & Craft,

who are giving the lucky winner a fantastic £40 voucher to spend on their website or in their shop, where you will most definitely be spoilt for choice!

Pink is not one of my preferred colours, even though it does occasionally make an appearance on my cards, albeit in small amounts. However, I wouldn't normally use it as a main colour, so I had to step outside my comfort zone a bit here!

The focal image was created with Card-io Majestix stamps, from the Secret Garden set and Golden Daffodils set, both sets available from PDA here. I lightly sponged a background with pigment inks on a circular diecut while the paper was still in the die, and then stamped the scene with various stamps from the two sets. This was then matted on to a scalloped circle cut from patterned paper. Both it and the background paper were magazine freebies. The sentiments were also freebies (Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine). Plain Circle and Scallop Circle dies are by Spellbinders, Butterfly by Cheery Lynn and Bluebell by Wild Rose Studio.

It may not be my favourite colour, but I am certainly hoping to see lots of lovely pink creations for our challenge! The DT have some gorgeous samples for you over on the Challenge Blog, so do go and have a look at them and while you're there say hello to our two brilliant new teamies, Gerrina and Viv.

Happy Easter everybody!

Bluebells

This is proving to be an excellent year for bluebells. Indeed, there are some growing on the bank opposite my craft room window.

The photograph was taken one evening last week. The dramatic lighting was accounted for by the fact that the sun, low and bright, was shining over us, but a rainstorm was rapidly approaching.

I was inspired to make a bluebell card for Butterfly Challenge No 7, the theme for which is butterflies and a doily.

I used my Wild Rose Studio bluebell die, and one of the papers from the "Bluebell" paper pack, also by Wild Rose Studio. One of the papers in the pack is a gorgeous all-over bluebell design, which I had thought to use, but it would have overwhelmed the focal elements. Instead I stamped some bluebells and a little butterfly (both Chocolate Baroque) on one of the plainer sheets from the pack, and coloured them with Promarkers. The die-cut butterflies (Cheery Lynn)  and the bluebell diecut were also coloured with Promarkers. The doily is the French Pastry die, again by Cheery Lynn.

I was hoping to give the impression of butterflies fluttering amongst the bluebells, just as they have been doing on the bank outside my window this week, but they are mostly Orange Tips, which I haven't managed to photograph yet as they rarely settle for long. I was able, however, to capture this beautiful song thrush today as it surveyed the garden from its vantage point on the shed roof.

And the prize is....... !

Time to reveal the gorgeous goodies which will be winging their way to this month's lucky winner at Stamping Sensations!

There's still plenty of time to enter, and as our May theme is "ANYTHING GOES" (as long as it includes some stamping, as we are of course a stamping challenge) it couldn't be easier. The DT have some extra mid-month inspiration for you over on the Challenge Blog, so if you're stuck for ideas, do have a look.

My project is a Post-It Note cover. I really like making these, they make such lovely little gifts.

Hadn't made one in this style before, so I followed Kimberley Crawford's tutorial here. I used Wild Rose Studio papers, and the butterfly stamp, die and sentiment are all by Prickley Pear. I coloured the butterfly with Promarkers.

Think I will have to make some more of these! Thanks for looking!

Butterflies and Stitches

Here's my entry for the Butterfly Challenge No. 3, which requires some stitching on your project.

I've stitched the centre panel on to a panel embossed with the Stampin' Up Tulip embossing folder. Papers are by Wildrose Studio and the sentiment is by Chocolate Baroque. Butterfly Punch origin unknown.

And here's a closer view of the details:

Thanks for looking!

Still flying!

We have lots of gorgeous entries coming in for this month's Stampalot Challenge, which is "Take Flight". I thought I'd show you a few more of my butterfly cards, all using the beautiful butterfly stamps by Prickley Pear.

BP: Wild Rose Studio "Butterfly Garden" (freebie with Quick Cards Made Easy mag).

Stamps: Butterfly and sentiment by Prickley Pear. Circle design on doily by Waltzing Mouse.

Dies: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, butterfly circle by Spellbinders.

Lace from my stash. Button from Fun 2 Do, Carlisle.

Crafts shops are a bit thin on the ground up here in Dumfriesshire. One of the few things I miss about Nottingham is that there are several good shops within reasonable travelling distance of where I used to live. However,  I found the beautiful floral button (on the card above) in a lovely shop called Fun 2 Do in Carlisle. They have the most gorgeous selection of buttons, ribbons, fabrics and general crafty bits and pieces, and I've just found out they have a website and do mail order! Driving back out of Carlisle I also noticed that there is a brand new Hobbycraft store being built there, due to open very soon! Oases in the craft desert! I'm happy now!

More cards:

BP: Book 7 "Shades of Summer" by Crafty Individuals.

Stamps: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, sentiment by The Craft's Meow.

Dies: Butterfly by Prickley pear, poppy by Memory Box.

BP: Patterned paper ("Neighbourwood") by Trimcraft, plain pearlised from my stash.

Stamps: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, sentiment by Stampingallday.

Die: Butterfly by Prickley Pear.

Punch: Hearts border by Martha Stewart. 

I love this butterfly with the leaves and grasses design. Just beautiful!

BP: Patterned paper ("Neighbourwood") by Trimcraft.

Stamps: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, sentiment by Chocolate Baroque.
Dies: Butterfly by Prickley Pear, Nestabilities label by Spellbinders.
Antennae and stick-on pearls from my stash.

There's still plenty of time to enter the Stampalot Challenge, and the flight theme doesn't just mean butterflies! Interpret it however you like. There's lots of lovely inspiration from my talented teamies on the Challenge Blog, so do flutter over and take a look!