Color Throwdown Guest Star Stamper!

Hi! I'm lucky enough to be the Guest Star Stamper at Color Throwdown this week! I used some new scribbly flowers stamps from Card-io, which I bought at the NEC Hobbycrafts Fair a few weeks ago. I didn't have quite the right colours for the challenge, but I was able to borrow some ink pads from my lovely friend Crafty Distraction! :)

Here are the colours:

And here's my card:

Thanks for visiting :)

Made a Huge Cushion!

Hi! I've really got the bug now with sewing. Still struggling with sewing straight lines, and I'm not great at measuring - I've found it's much easier to make a template with card, and draw around that.

I've spent all day making a big cushion for the cats! They like to sleep on top of some boxes on top of a chest of drawers, so I've always put a blanket up there for them, but now they have a cushion! I measured the top of the boxes, added 3" each side (bit of a guess, just thought I needed to make it bigger, because it'll be smaller when stuffed), and made the pillow. I stuffed it and took it upstairs to see if it fitted, before making the cover, but I put it down on the bed for a moment and Darwin immediately curled up on it!

Well, at least she likes it :)

I spent the afternoon making the cover. I made it with a flap inside, like a huge pillow case, so I didn't have to worry about zips or anything fancy! Here it is:

Wondering what to make next...

Bought a Sewing Machine!

Hi! I went to the NEC Hobbycrafts show a couple of weeks ago, and ended up getting a sewing machine! I've been thinking about getting one for a while, but I've never been very good at sewing, so I was worried that it would be a waste of money. But you know how it is, you see something, realise you 'need' it, and then start worrying about how to tell your Other Half... But I already have a bit of a fabric stash, from years ago when I decided to try quilting, but never got started :-s

I managed to get the machine threaded up and ready to go (with a bit of help from my parents, who were visiting at the time!) My bloke suggested I start with a pin cushion - something simple! I'm not great at straight lines yet, but I'm really pleased with my first project! I just used two squares from a charm pack I bought ages ago, so I didn't even need to do any cutting :)

So now I am hooked. I found instructions for a tote bag, and even though it looked complicated because it has a lining, I decided to give it a go. I messed up the straps, so I had to faff around with them a little bit, but otherwise I'm really happy with the results. I was up 'til nearly 3am this morning finishing it!

It's a different pattern each side because I used a pack of fat quarters, so there wasn't enough to use all one pattern. I like it though, and it's all a learning process!

I'm itching to do something patchworky, but with large squares so it's straightforward, but I might practice my straight lines a bit first. I want to make some large cushions for the cats, too. It might be a late night again tonight!

Happy New Home!

Hi! I just made a New Home card for a guy at work, so I tried to keep it very simple, not too girly, etc! Hopefully it's understated enough for a bloke :)

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks: "Less Is More"

That's Crafty: "Red & Green"

Addicted to Stamps: "Anything Goes"

Painted Eggs

Hi! Here's an Easter card I made today, which I tried to bling up a bit with Stickles, but I might have overdone it a bit! But I still like it :)

 

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Just Us Girls:

Pink Gem Challenges: "Easter"

The Card Concept: - CAS style, inspired by the painted eggs

More Easter Flowers

Hi! Here's another Easter card, inspired by this week's Color Throwdown challenge colours:

Here's my card:

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Color Throwdown

The Paper Players: "Clean & Simple - Celebrate Spring"

Sweet Stampin': "Easter"

Sparkles Monthly: "Make It Girlie"

Easter Bunny

Hi! Here's another Easter card - with a bunny :) 

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Allsorts: "Easter"

Curtain Call: "Rainbow" - I'm hoping my rainbow of colours used will count...

CASology: "Doodle"

Easter Florals

Hi! Here's an Easter card I made today. I coloured with Promarkers, and used a Wink of Stella pen to add some shimmer, although I don't know if you can see that in the photo...

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

MFT Card Challenges:

Wags 'n' Whiskers: 'Wings'

Uniko: 'Spring / Easter'

The Corrosive Challenge: 'Anything Goes'

Easter... hey, it's all about the chocolate!

Hi! Here's an Easter card I made, which is a pretty accurate reflection of what happens when I buy chocolate for other people...

I'm entering this in these two challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks: "Humorous"

Simply Create Too: "Be Funny/Make Joke"

Spring Blossoms

Hi! Here's a card I made, inspired by this week's Muse challenge. I masked the space for the sentiment and added colour either side with ink dusters. I coloured the petals with inks and a water brush to try to get subtle shades.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Muse:

Less Is More: "What's Outside Your Window" - lovely spring flowers!

Addicted to CAS: "Delicate"

CAS(E) This Sketch:

Inkspirational: "Pink & Grey"

Stencilled Eggs

Hi! Here are a couple of Easter cards I made. I used a mask for the egg shape, and stencils for the flowers. I used embossing paste for the daisies one, and just ink dusters on the swirly flower pattern one.

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:
Crazy Challenge: "Flowers"
Crafty Creations: "Spring Fever"
Creative Inspirations: "Nature"
Moving Along With The Times; "In The Garden"
Friday Mash-Up: Easter Theme"

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:
Inky Chicks: "Happy Easter"
Time Out: "CASE With Your Own Twist" - inspired by the soft colours & floral theme!

Dream Factory: "Chicken Little - eg. use chickens or eggs"
Crafty Sentiments: "Anything Goes"

Tiny Easter Flowers

Hi! I've been like a woman possessed, making Easter cards today! I'm going to the NEC Hobbycrafts show on Thursday, so I feel like I have to make lots of cards before I go, to justify all the new stuff I am going to 'need' to buy on Thursday...

I love this image, and although I thought it would be a nightmare to colour, it was actually quite therapeutic! I love all the tiny flowers :)

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations:

My Time To Craft: "Flowers"

Creative Inspirations: "Pretty Projects"

Masked Eggs

Hi! Here's a couple of Easter cards I made today stamping over an egg-shaped mask. I coloured with ink dusters and Promarkers. The effect I was going for was a painted egg with shadows around the edges, but I think I should have used thinner paper for the egg mask so the stamp printed up to the edge, and maybe I should have made the edges darker. I might have another try at this one. But I still think they're pretty :)

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Suzie Bee's: "Anything Goes with a twist... Easter"
Allsorts: "Spring is in the Air"
Pink Gem Challenge: "Spring"

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Time Out: "Easter and/or Spring with the optional twist of masking"

Come and Get It: "Easter / Spring"

Crafty Sentiments: "Easter"

Floral Easter

Hi! Here's another Easter card I made today. I didn't use a sentiment because I liked the look of it on its own, but now I'm hoping it's obvious enough that it's an egg shape :-s

I was inspired by a couple of colour challenges - I love this colour combination!

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Color Throwdown:

Hand Stamped Sentiments:

Deep Ocean Challenge: "Easter"

Wags 'n' Whiskers: "Spring Fun"

Easter

Hi! I've the spent the day getting inky with Easter cards. Here are a few I made. I made an egg shape mask, stamped the wildflowers and coloured with ink dusters. I added a bit more colour with Promarkers, and then added Stickles and punched butterflies.

 
I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp: "Make your own Background"
Addicted to Stamps: "Clean & Simple"
House of Cards: "Silhouette"

 
I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers; "Go Green"
Simon Says Stamp; "A Bit o' Green"
Simply Create Too: "Use Green Only"
The Sisterhood of Crafters: "Use Your Dies and/or Punches" 

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

MAWTT: "Purple Haze"
Little Tangles: "Ombre"
Unicorn Challenge: "Clean & Simple"