DCM Challenge - Big is Beautiful

This week it's Lythan setting the Dare:-

SUPERSIZE ME!

I have loads of enormous paper flowers that I have bought and never used.

So I want to see some really big embellishments on your cards.

Bonus points for outsize blooms!

I was away all last weekend so am only just catching up with myself. I don't like missing the Dare so here's my card - better late than never!

Papers are My Minds Eye 'Bloom & Grow'. Scrap corrugated card from an old box - inked and stamped. Flourish stamp from Craftwork Cards Clear Stamp Range 'Choko'. Ive had the large flowers for ages so it was lovely to be able to use them at last. Centre flower cut from 'Bloom & Grow' papers. Buttons and Ribbon from stash (ribbon coloured using Copics). Computer generated greeting and Ive used Stampin Up's Large Oval and Scallop Oval punches.

I love flowery cards so this Dare was just up my street!

Lynda xxx

Scrapping Angels Retreat

Well I'm still recovering after a very hectic but ultra enjoyable weekend at the Scrapping Angels Retreat at Wyboston Lakes. Its the first time Ive ever attended such an event and as I'm not really a scrapbooker I didn't really know what to expect. It was fantastic - Anna kept us all informed of events, classes, challenges, etc and was a great host and held everything together perfectly. So I'd like to say a big thankyou to Anna and her colleagues for the hard work they put in over the weekend.

I didn't manage to finish any of the layouts or projects in the classes but they are sitting here waiting for me to get my breath back and get on with them.

The one thing I was very pleased about was one of the challenges I entered - making a card. I won the challenge!!! So it just goes to show I am a card maker and not a scrapbooker (yet) lol.


This was my entry to the card making challenge:-

I used a strip of card from a box lid and tore the outer layer off to reveal the corrugated card underneath and inked over it. The house and trees are from a sheet of die cuts by Fancy Pants. Its from their new Kraft Kuts range which is gorgeous. I punched out a circle from KI Memories 'Bloom' paper and added Making Memories tiny alphas for the greeting.

Lynda xxx

DCM Challenge - Games and Toys for Boys

This weeks challenge is set by Rein:-

I'm daring you to make a masculine card

- Games and Toys for Boys

put a race track, dart board, vehicle... on your card.

This is my card:-

Ive used a blue manilla folder to make the card base, the papers are from the Patti Picklicious CD and the stamp is by Blonde Moments.

Other items used:- Star Punches, Card Candy, Diamond Glaze, Micro Beads, Ribbon, Copics, Melissa Frances rub-ons and Silver Leafing Pen.

I can't believe Ive used all that stuff on this little card. I stamped the car image a couple of times onto patterned paper and cut out each of the elements and glued them onto the original stamped image, coloured around the edges with Copics and used Diamond Glaze on the wheels and windows.

Another great Dare!!

Lynda xxx

Just Magnolia's First Sketch Challenge

This is my entry for the first ever sketch on the new Just Magnolia Challenge Blog. The first sketch has been created by Donalda.

As well as the beautiful Magnolia Stamps (which I have coloured using Copics) Ive used My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow papers, DCWV textured cardstock and self adhesive ribbon, the sentiment is by Melissa Frances and Ive edged the circle with liquid pearls. Buttons and sheer ribbon from stash.

Lynda xxx

A Treat from Carol

Look what I received in the post this morning - this set of co-ordinated lovelies. I was the 100th follower on Carol's blog so she has kindly sent me this lovely prezzy as a celebration of this milestone. Thank you so much Carol. I will certainly have fun playing with these.

Lynda xxx

Picklicious Cards

I haven't shown any of my creations from the Patti Picklicious CD of late so thought it was time to add a couple.

Ive used Microsoft Word a lot for manipuating image sizes and printing out different sections from the CD so you don't have to have an expensive graphics program to be able to use it. If you upload any image into Word and right click (twice) onto it a box appears that will enable you to format the picture. The first part of this box is the Crop Section which enables you to crop from left, right, top and bottom. So you can actually pick a certain part of the image and once cropped it can be made to any size you want just by clicking on one of the corners of the picture and dragging it to make it larger or smaller.

This is how I made the "birthday" section on the first card. It's from the shaped motifs section and I made it large enough to cut out and punch holes in the tabs and thread ribbon through. Ive also printed the "happy" over the top of a pre-printed sheet.

I'm just amazed by all the different techniques and the styles of cards that have been made from this first CD. So go along and check them all out here and see what you think.

Lynda xxx

DCM Challenge - Hide and Seek

The Dare this week is by Jozza:-

I would like to see a hidden message or element on your cards.

For a double dare include both!

This really had me thinking - its not something I normally do with cards so it was quite a challenge. Ive just bought these fabby new papers by Bo Bunny (Alissa collection) so wanted to use them but you know what its like when you haven't a clue what you're making you don't want to waste anything and it's nerve racking just cutting into these little beauties. Anyway I started cutting away and am really really pleased with the card. I just love these papers.

I cut out the word 'Just' with my Quickutz Silhouette and used 'Kayleigh' font and the dotty paper is from a DCWV adhesive stack. Think it's quite a good match.

I like challenges that get the old grey matter working - thanks Jozza!


Lynda xxx

Easter Magnolia Cards

I absolutely adore Magnolia Stamps but have been neglecting them a bit lately so I really enjoyed making these 3 cards. Ive coloured the images using my copics - I bought them earlier this year but didn't know how to use them properly. So I attended an early morning workshop at the Great Northern Papercrafting Show at Harrogate and was taught the basics of how to use them which was invaluable. All the backing papers are from the Patti Picklicious CD which is going down a real storm - am I surprised - No! 'cos it is fabulous.

A Very Happy Easter to you all.

Lynda xxx

DCM Challenge - Feeling Fruity

This week the dare is set by Keryn:-

My dare this week is to put a piece of fruit on your card. Make your card for any occassion and use any fruit you like the look of.

I'm really pleased with how this card has turned out (the photo really doesn't do it justice it is a lot brighter than it looks here). Ive hand drawn the tree top, cut out and zig zag stitched the edges using the sewing machine. I cut out the tree trunk, stalks and grasses from a brown manilla folder inked and lined the edges. The fruit are from Stampin Up's Tart & Tangy stamp set, papers are My Minds Eye "Bloom & Grow," the rub-on is by Melissa Frances and ive finished off with some stickles glitter glue.

Lynda xxx