Homage to Ireland

The new Celtic Harp stamp by Crafty Stamps (CT180HF) just cries out for Ireland inspired projects. And two weeks after we got such a rugby lesson courtesy of the Irish guys every supporter of the SRU team (and I am one of those myself) will hopefully forgive me for honouring our lovely neighbours in such a way ;).

I teamed up the harp stamp with clover 2x2 dies by QuicKutz, paper flowers that I bunched up and secured with small brads to create fuller flowers and adhesive pearls by Meiflower. ProMarkers in Cinnamon and Walnut provided the colouring for the harp. For the background I used apart from light green and brown cardstock a dotted Darice embossing folder.

I hope you like this first project of the weekend. Further cards will follow soon.

Edinburgh Castle

This weekend I had a play with the Edinburgh Castle stamp by Crafty Stamps, which is also available from their shop Stampers Grove. I just love this image of this important Scottish landmark, which is so full of history.

For the card above I stamped the image with Tim Holtz distress ink in 'walnut stain' onto parchment paper and give it a light colour wash with Tim Holtz distress markers in 'frayed burlap', 'antique linen' and 'walnut stain' as well as with a bit of ink from an 'antique linen' distress ink pad that I applied with a damp paint brush in the area of the buildings.

For the background I used textured cardstock from the Tim Holtz & Ranger Distress Collection by Core'dinations in combination with a Darice plaid embossing folder and a fleur-de-lys corner punch by Tonic Studios.

The card is embellished with paper flowers that I ran around a distress ink pad in 'walnut stain', Adirondack Dimension Pearls in 'Espresso, a Tim Holtz adage ticket and leaf die-cuts, which I created with Crealies dies.



For the second card I used parchment paper, textured cardstock in two brown tones and kraft cardstock. I stamped the castle image in 'walnut stain' distress ink and highlighted parts of the walls with a distress marker in 'walnut stain'.

Embellishments are Celtic borders created with a Tonic Studios geared punch and card candi from a 'Choc-a-Mocha' pack.

The Versatile Blogger Award ... passing on the love

Cliona, a very talented freelance designer and Docrafts demonstrator from Ireland, has been so kind to give me this wonderful award. Thank you so much Cliona.

You can find Cliona's great blog under http://cliona-at-night-owl.blogspot.com/.

The conditions of accepting this award are

• To thank the person who gave it to you and include a link to their blog.
• Select 15 blogs that you have either recently discovered or follow regularly.
• Tell them you have nominated them for the award.
• Tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

Below are the talented crafters, who are receiving the award from me:

http://delphinoidscardsandcraft.blogspot.com/ - Lynn
http://jessicards.blogspot.com/ - Jessica
http://thecraftygoatgirl.blogspot.com/ - Heidi
http://wendyscraftingtimes.blogspot.com/ - Wendy
http://kaardvark.blogspot.com/ - Georgina
http://motherhen-coolcats.blogspot.com/ - Gaynor
http://myhappyplace-donna.blogspot.com/ - Donna
http://maxines-arts-and-crafts.blogspot.com/ - Maxine
http://crafty-lou.blogspot.com/ - Louise
http://cosmicstrawberry-colette.blogspot.com/ - Colette
http://nanamyrt.blogspot.com/ - Janet
http://martinaskaartjes.blogspot.com/ - Martina
http://rozzyb.blogspot.com/ - Rozzy
http://thehobbyroomuk.blogspot.com/ - Michelle
http://leannchiverscraft.wordpress.com/ - Leann


And finally, seven things about myself:

I am definitely not a morning person.
I am a stamp addict. I have got more than enough of them, but can never resist new toys.
I am 'collecting' ribbons. I use them constantly and always have a massive supply.
I am currently doing a calligraphy course at a local craft shop.
After years of not getting enough exercise I have turned into a real 'gym junkie' again.
I am a rugby fan - not always easy when you are supporting Scotland ...
Starbucks is always a good location for a 'liquid treat'.

Blog Award

The lovely Dawn from the Crafts Beautiful forum (Luckydawn) was so kind to give me the above Blog Award. Thank you so much Dawn. xx

Dawn is new to blogging, but please take a look at her great and so fresh looking blog.

I would like to pass on this award to the following crafters:

Helen - http://crafty-mamma-mia.blogspot.com/
Sandy - http://sandyscraftybits.blogspot.com/
Linda - http://missygdesigns2009.blogspot.com/
Helen - http://helenlikestocraft.blogspot.com/
Mary - http://maryscardworld.blogspot.com/

The LIEBSTER BLOG Award is used to show appreciation of smaller blogs (under 200 followers) and to help spread readership and joy. It comes from the German meaning 'dearest' or 'beloved', but can also mean 'favourite'. As part of the tradition, the award is to be passed along to five other blogs that have motivated and inspired me.

The rules are:
The blogs I choose must have less than 200 followers.
I must comment on their blog so they know about it.
I must link back to the person who gave me the award and thank them as well as post the award on my blog.

Monochrome with purple

Today I wanted to create a card with typical Scottish images but give them a more modern twist. The result is a monochrome card with a hand-stamped background and purple influences brought in via adhesive gemstones and thistles.

I refrained from colouring in the piper but ran a light grey Spectrum Noir pen around the image to give it an optical lift. A Gelly Roll pen took care of some glitter accents on the stamped background.

My 'helpers' in the process were:

• Crafty Stamp Bagpiper (SC141N)
• Small bagpipes and glengarry stamps from the Crafty Stamps stamp sets SC2M and SC3M
• Crealies Doily Elements die CL DE 05
• Dovecraft Tea Party adhesive gems & pearls
• Thistles
  
• Sakura Gelly Roll pen in 'Clear Star'
• Black Memento ink pad
• Spectrum Noir pen IG1 (old name: CG0.5)
• White A6 card blank
• Smooth white cardstock
• Black textured cardstock
• Oval and scalloped oval cutting dies
• Corner rounder
• Adhesive (incl. silicone glue)
• Toolbox essentials

I hope you like the card. Thank you so much for visiting my blog.

Beatrix Potter

During the week I just could not resist ordering some of the adorable new Beatrix Potter rub-ons by Crafter's Companion. And as today is a gym-free day (yes, I am finally back into an exercise regime and spend now five sessions per week at the gym) and a lengthy and horrendous hail shower presented us with pretty awful weather conditions earlier, the time was just right to have a play with them.

I just adore the Beatrix Potter images and thought the rub-ons might be perfect for those days when I just do not fancy colouring in images or when I need to put together a card quickly for something like a nearly forgotten birthday.


I had not touched rub-ons for a while and needed to get used to them again, but feel another order for more of them coming on. And I swore to myself that I would scale down my craft spending. Oooppsss!!