Cut It Out! at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!!

This time at Top Tip Tuesday and the theme is 

Cut It Out

we are sponsored by Shape EZ who supply die cutting files for electronic die cutting machines.  Now I have an electronic cutter, but frankly I should have bought the one that you can get files like this, not the one that takes the cartridges that cost a small fortune... hmmm... never mind.  Anyway the upshot is it is gathering dust... so I printed the files out onto my paper, then cut it out... you know... old school... with scissors :-)

I used Roll Bag this time, and used it to make a gift bag which I will use for my Dad's Fathers Day Present in a couple of weeks... not sure what is going in here yet... but it's a start!

It looks really cool... and I think my Dad will appreciate the effort :-)

Thanks for looking

Sue xx

It's all about the hair colour at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!!

I really loved making my card for this fortnights challenge over at Top Tip Tuesday - not just because the sponsor is the fabulous The East Wind, and I could crack out my previously unused Aurora Vine image.

The challenge is 

It's All About the Hair Colour

So I went for the sort of colour that I would have loved to of had when I last had mine done a couple of weeks ago, just that I can't because of work (boooo!!!)

I used some papers by Echo Park that have been in my stash for ever... I kept it quite neutral as I wanted the image to pop :-)  No idea who made the rose stamp to the left of the image, but I thought it went quite well with the card!

I decorated the inside of the card to match

In preparation for my recent colour change (I've gone a bit red ombre... well it was red ombre when I had it done... it seems like my hair did not want to be red as most of it has washed out already.... humf!) I did a bit of searching on Pinterest to get some ideas, and found these lush pics

 If you like the purple look this is a great source of inspiration

 I coloured her dress in greys, and added a pop of pink here and there, and a dash of glitter to her headdress, shoes, and glove thingys (I'm sure there is a proper name for them, but I have no idea what it is!!)

Please can I enter these challenges
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - All Layers/No layers (I've gone for lots and lots!!)
Come and Get It Challenge - Tic-Tac-Toe (Die Cut-Design Paper-Ribbon)
Suzy Bee's Challenge - Anything Goes w/twist - Make it Girlie
Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes
Wags and Whiskers - Lots of layers

That's it from me today - have a great week

Hugs

Sue xxx

Animal Magic at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!!

This fortnights Challenge at Top Tip Tuesday is

Animals

which has been generously sponsored by Crafty Sentiments

Actually, I'm a week late as I had an issue with my phone line and have been without internet access except on my phone for the last week - the kids have driven me mad!!

I used the oh-so-cute Couples image to create an Anniversary card

I used some old papers - I think they are Prima!  The heart dies are by Memorybox, and thefence is an Ooh La La, and the butterfly is from Joy Crafts.  The had-it-in-my-stash for ages ribbon is by Bo Bunny which has been layered on some lace.  The sentiment is from Woodware. I decorated the inside to match

 

The image is adorable to colour - I used copics, but I think any colouring medium would work, especially some of the aqua pens that I keep looking at and telling myself I really can't justify buying - lets see how long my resolve holds out ;-)

 

That's it from me today - but before I go, please can I enter these challenges

Come and Get It - Ribbon and Bling

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge - Use some Ribbon

Open Minded Challenge - Wedding/Anniversary

Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge - Lots of Layers

That's it from me today - have a great week

Sue xxx

Double Trouble at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!!!

This time at Top Tip Tuesday the theme is 

Duo

This is open to interpretation, and if you need some more ideas then head over to the challenge blog for more explanation or ideas!

The challenge is being sponsored by All Dressed Up, and I used the Love My Sister image as a starting point for my card

I used some old papers from my stash - I think they are Echo Park from years ago!    I coloured my image with copics, although annoyingly I think I used the wrong card as it bled out horrifically!!  I have obviously mixed up my cardmaking cardstock with my stamping cardstock... oh rats!!  I kind of rescued my image by going round it with a blue pen, hmmm... 

Anyway, that's it from me for today, hope you are able to join in with our challenge this time

Thank you for looking

Sue xx

Tripple trouble at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!

This fortnight at Top Tip Tuesday the theme is Three of Something which is my sort of challenge...

So... I started with three papers to make my card

I can't find my distressing tool anywhere, so just used my scissors... hmmm probably not the safest thing to do, but hey!!  

 

I coloured this Saturated Fairy image with my copics... I am quite happy with how this turned out!  I'm not quite sure how I got her dress like that, but it looks OK in the picture but looks even better in real life :-)

I then got a bit carried away with the whole three things, and put thee embellishments on (pearls, charm and button...

 

Then I spotted I had used three ribbons, (well, two and a lace...)

 

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xxx

They call me Mellow Yellow...

Hello!!

This weeks challenge over at Top Top Tuesday is Mellow Yellow...

Which I think is perfect for this time of the year, when all the flowers are coming into bloom in my part of the world :-)

Anyway, I decided to go for pale yellows and to use one of the first stamps I ever bought - one of the Gorguss Girl images.

I used some papers from Maja Design Spring Basics pad, then added creamy lace, and lemon pearls, and cream and yellow flowers, then stamped some tickets and a sentiment onto cardstock, then cut out and distressed with antique linen and tea dye distressed inks, which gave a nice yellow hint to them :-) The image is coloured with copics, and I added a touch of blue to her hair, to give it a bit of shine.

Hope you like it

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Action!!! At Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!!!

I am sooooo late with my card this fortnight - I've no excuse except for being crazy busy at work and then my eldests 13th birthday, then me getting the flu!  

Anyhooo, this fortnights theme is Action Images, and I think this little cutie from Lili of the Valley counts :-)  

I used a cloud die to mask out the clouds then went round them with some distress ink.  I've not done this before but I like how it looks!!

Thanks for looking

Sue xx

Stamps Only at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!!

How are you?  Can you believe we are half way through February already?

This week at Top Tip Tuesday the challenge is to stamp - no digi's are allowed, which caused me a real dilemma as so many of my images are digi's now.  Still I had a good rummage through my stamp collection and found this cute little image from Lili of the Valley that hasn't been inked up in an absolute age!  Shocking really as I found some lovely stamps that I used to use all the time, and haven't touched in ages - maybe this challenge will inspire me to use them more often!

I couldn't resist chucking everything on this card - although no flowers or pins, I just had to use some of my straws again :-)

 

 Isn't this image adorable?  Just love the little mouse in the bottom right waving :-)

Anyway, hope this challenge encourages your creativity too :-)

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Second week at Top Tip Tuesday... and I just had to have another play!

Hello!!

Happy Tuesday!!  I just loved my card for this fortnights Top Tip Tuesday and how her bright blue hair came out - check it out here - and just had to have another go!

This time I got out my pink copics for her hair, well dusky pinks anyway!  To go with the whimsy and slightly vintage look of this card, I decided to dot some stampendous embossing powder here and there on the image

Hope you like it!

Sue xx

Show us your new stuff @ Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!

I soooo meant to post more this week, but it's been kinda one of those weeks where nothing has gone quite to plan..I've got a few images coloured, and a couple of cards nearly finished, but not a lot I could share!!  Anywhoooo this fortnights challenge at Top Tip Tuesday is to show us something new.... it might be a new technique, or a product that is new to you - tell us though what it is, as I for one am hopeless at guessing and my crystal ball is broken :-D

I've several new things here... the papers are a new purchase - Vintage Frost Basics from Live and Love Crafts -  (sshhh don't tell anyone!!)...and I LOVE them, the are sooo usable

 the fabby image is new (from this weeks sponsor Hannah Lynn - she's the rather gorgeous Rainbow Sky Mermaid) and the colouring technique is new too, as I always end up colouring my images with blond, brunette or black hair, but I have loved some images where the hair has been coloured in the sort of colours I would LOVE but would get fired for these days (the time when I had jet black hair with streaks of jade, peacock and navy or pink, violet and purple have long since been unacceptable...boooo!!!!)  I am so wanting several more of these images... my new fave!!

I really loved colouring this image with her funky hair, and do you know what, I think I somehow managed to do her hair better than I usually would.. how does that work!!!   I think swapping colour has been a real boon though, as I hope to translate what I've figured out back to when I need to colour in sensible colours!!  I've also been playing with colouring eyes - not all images lend themselves to this due to the size of the pupil, but there is shading in her eye colour too!  And I used my new Stampendous Shabby Blue embossing powder on this image too... I just tapped some here and there and heated it up - all a bit random ;-)  I think it works with the distresed cardstock

That's it from me today - hope to see your new creations!

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xxx

Keeping it simple at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!  Happy New Year :-)

This fortnight at Top Tip Tuesday the challenge is 

Clean and Simple

And oh boy, this was a toughy for me!  My style is usually more is more, and I tried a couple of attempts before inspiration struck (at 3.30 in the morning!!).  I'll share one of my other attempts later this week, and you'll see why it didn't make the cut :-)

Anyway, I used a Retro Selfie image from Kenny K and it kind of came together...

I went for lots of white space with this image, and just added some twine left over from a Christmas gift wrap pack (am I the only crafter that eyes up the wrapping on other peoples pressies and snaffles all the ribbon... no thought not!!) a Stampin' Up! sentiment, blingy button and some Tim Holtz Film strip... of and some stitching... so maybe a bit more than a proper CAS card should be.. but everything is relative :-)

 

I've coloured her up with my trusty copics, then fussy cut her out and popped her on top of the film strip

 

Actually, despite the fact it took me faaaarrrrr loooonnnggger to put this one together than my usual style, I really like this card... the strong image doesn't need too much and I love the black, white and pop of red combo :-)

Please may I enter these challenges

A Gem of a Challenge - Something New (image)

One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes with Stitching

Quirky Crafts Challenge - Clean and Simple
Kenny 's Krafty Krew - Anything Goes with a Twist: New Beginnings (not sure if I've understood this, but mine is to try something different from time to time!)
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes (my Stash item is the film strip, which I have had for ages)

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Make Your Own... at Top Tip Tuesday...

Hello!!  Before we start, apologies, this is along one... I've been busy!!!

This fortnights Top Tip Tuesday Challenge is to Make your Own... and I decided to make my own background, as I've not done this in ages.

Actually, before I could do that, I had to make my own tag as I don't have a large tag die.  Actually it's pretty easy, I make it half as wide as I do tall and find those proportions work for me, regardless of if it's a big tag, or little!!

I searched out my snowflake stamps and randomly stamped them all over the kraft card stock with Burnt Sugar Ink from stamping up, then got busy with my brown toned distress inks (Tea Dye, Vintage Photom Frayed Burlap, Old Paper and Antique Linen)... Messy but worth it :-)  I then cut some snowflakes out using some snowflake dies, and added some gems here and there, some lace and organza and grosgrain ribbon, and topped it off with a Saturated Fairy image

I've been practicing colouring see through fabrics, and I think I'm getting there!!

Anyway, I have been feeling creative of late, so had the idea of making some of my own Christmas decorations... Before I knew it, I'd rolled and cookie cut numerous shapes, into which I stamped with various coloured inks... the kids joined in the fun too and made several decorations for their own trees... I should have got piccies of them busily cutting and stamping, both with their tongues out in concentration... Next year!!  Anyway, here are my ones...

Apologies for the piccie overload - not that they are very good - I thought it would look better to take pics on the tree, but the lights were a bit bright, and they look SOOO much better in real life.  As is always the way when you try something new (I've not played with clay since I was at school!!)  I got far too much clay - I tried both air drying and the stuff that you pop in a low oven for a while.  I still can't decide what I prefer - the air dry stuff curls a bit as it dries, but is easy to work with and you can get a nice embossed image with not too much pressure.  The oven dried stuff is a LOT harder to work and I had to stand up and really push to get a decent embossed image!  I also found that Distress Inks didn't work very well, but Momento and Stazon types worked well... I guess like with anything new, it's trial and error!  Now the tree is finally up and decorated with baubles and my home made decorations I think it looks lovely, and they would have cost an absolute fortune if I had bought them ready made :-)  Just goes to show that we all have stamps that can be used in so many ways, it just takes a bit of lateral thinking and a bit of bravery to do it!  What's the worst that could happen - they were rubbish and went in the bin! 

Anyway I made so many (it turns out clay goes a LONG way!!) that I had plenty left to give as gifts to some of my colleagues...  I wrapped them in Kraft, added organza ribbon and continued the homemade theme with a die cut tag which has been embossed in a sparkly white embossing powder... they look really good, and much more personal than those that we all pay a fortune for in the shops!  I went for a white on black image which apparently is quite trendy at the moment - my inner goth is delighted that black is the new black, while my inner girlie is over the moon that I can add a bit of sparkle :-)

Hope you can join in our final challenge of the year!!

Please may I enter these challenges

Card:

Decorations:

Gift tags:

Many thanks for stopping by

Sue xxx

Layering Up at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!

Welcome to my post for this weeks Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - this time we would love to see your layers... I don't know about you but its got rather chilly here, so layers seems more than appropriate... anyhoo... three or more papers is just what we would like to see... :-)

Wow, this challenge has been made for me, being a more is more kinda girl :-)

There are four papers on my card, love these neutral colours for an unusual and striking Christmas card, which is layered onto a kraft card base, and brown cardstock matting.  A Memory Box die cut, some gorgeous Berrisfords ribbon in an antique gold, some gold pins and a charm from Live and Love Crafts (love these!!) finishes the card off

 

The Reindeer image and the sentiment is a freebie from a magazine, stamped in Brown Momento, and lightly coloured with my copics.  A dash of white pen gives the impression of hoof prints in the snow

Although the more-is-more style is very me, the image is a bit of a departure, but I love this card ;-)

Please may I enter these challenges

Crafty Cardmakers - A Touch of Charm

Eureka Stamps - Four Legged Friends

Love to Create - Anything Goes

Stamp and Create - Ribbons or Bows

Fashionable Stamping - Animals

Jellypark Challenge - Festive Creations

Kit and Clowder Challenge - Christmas
Creative Card Crew - Christmas Joy 
Papertake weekly - 2 or 4 legs

Thank you for stopping by

Sue xx

Chevron Crazy at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!!

Gosh, it's been a while... hmm... not quite sure what is happening this year!!

Anyhoooo... it's time for another challenge at Top Tip Tuesday - last fortnights Colour Combo seemed quite popular, and I AM going to make one of the fabby block cards - they are one of those things that looks amazing, but when you break it down into simple steps it's a lot easier than you think :-)

But... that is soooo last week :-)  This fortnights challenge sponsored by Sweet Stamps is 

Chevrons

Now, I don't have a chevron stamp - although as I'm typing this I've just had an idea, which I will try to do before the challenge is up :-) - however, like most people I have odds and ends of papers, and lurking in here was a chevron paper - teamed with some glitter, ribbon, a charm and a blingy button and an embossed panel it was done :-)  Speaking of paper (and storage!) checkout the ideas on the challenge site...

Anyway, without further ado, here is my card...

I really love this little lady from Kenny K, she really is a joy to colour :-)

This is one of the three (yep three... check me out) that I made at the Begonia Crafts Crop at the weekend... can't wait until the next one :-)

Please can I enter these challenges
Kenny K's Krafty Krew - Christmas
Allsorts Challenge - Christmas

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Something Fishy at Top Tip Tuesday...

Hello... how quickly has two weeks flown by?!?

It's time for another Top Tip Tuesday Challenge, and this weeks is 

Kids

Which is sponsored by 2 Cute Ink and I used the Angel Fish image

Now, I don't know why (maybe I've been making too many cards for adults recently...) but I found this one tough... maybe because when I'm making a kids card, I usually have a recipient in mind... who knows!

Anyway, I really hope you like it... in my defence it is quite pink... does that count :-)

Hope you like it nevertheless :-)

Hugs, Sue xx

It's all about the stationary at Top Tip Tuesday...

Hello!

It's time for another Top Tip Tuesday, and this time it is to use stationary... if I'm being 100% honest I really struggled with this one - I'm more of a flowers and bows kind of a crafter than a metal one.  Maybe I see too much stationary every day at work to get inspired by it when I'm trying to relax :-D

Anyway, after a bit of a think I dug out some paper fasteners/brads and started playing... as I needed a thank you card, and had unearthed a whole heap of scraps my card came together.  I guess I could have popped an image on here, but I quite like the simplicity of this one without!  The brad was a bit brassy for the papers, so I coloured it with a Copic marker, I think it looks OK, and is a good way of matching metal items to your project.  Although I would recommend more patience than I had first time round, and letting the ink dry, or you end up covered :-)

Anyway, hope you like my interpretation of this weeks theme...

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xxx

Anything Goes with Bugaboo at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!

Apologies for such a long absence... to cut a very long story short we were burgled back in May, and everything I need to post on here was stolen (laptop, cameras etc)... then I realised that when they had thrown my printer on the floor they broke that, and realised last week my Grand Caliber also had been broken... gutted over it all doesn't quite cover it.

Anyway, I've chucked out everything that was broken, redecorated my bedroom and replaced the contents of my underwear drawers - just couldn't cope with the thought that horrible people had been in my personal space, and rumaging through my undies!  Yuck :-(  I hope that they get everything they deserve for making my children cry, and making us all not feel safe in our home.

Now I've done battle with the insurance company I can replace the stuff that was taken, and get creative again, it totally sapped all my energy.  And I'm delighted that both LCI and Top Tip teams that I design for have been wonderfully supportive and sympathetic, both giving me a leave of absence to sort out the insurance, house, police, children and me (being mum, I dealt with it all then it all hit me like a brick)!  Thank you all, you are fabulous xxx

Anyhooo... So without further ado... this weeks Top Tip Tuesday is an Anything Goes challenge, sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps... and there is a fabby tutorial on shaker cards... check it out... just love shaker cards especially in the run up to Christmas :-).  I used one of my go-to images - Har Repotter the chosen one.

I've not quite decided who will get this one yet, so I'll add a sentiment later!  And oh my, taking two months off has affected my ability to tie bows!  What's going on there, this took ages, and it still doesn't look right to me!!  Anyway, the papers are MME from a Halloween range from a couple of years ago - love these as they are all textured and lovely :-)

Thanks for stopping by - I might be a bit stop/start over the next couple of weeks until I get back into my stride, so please bear with me!

Hugs... Sue xx

All things metallic at Top Tip Tuesday

Hello!!

Can you believe two weeks have gone by already and it's time for a new challenge over at Top Tip Tuesday?  No, me neither!

This fortnights theme is 

Metal or Faux Metal

I went down the metal route, and made a funky card for a teenage boy (always find boys cards really tough!  Teenage boys especially so!!), and tucked this fabulous image from Ladybug Crafts Ink - he's called Skateboarder Josh and is from the Teenager range

Isn't he cool!  I've teamed him with MME papers, and a zip and metal button

I really loved how this image coloured up

Thanks for stopping by

Please may I enter these Challenges
Digi Choosday Challenge - Boys Stuff
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
One Stitch At A Time - Use a Digi
Pile It On - For a Guy

Hugs

Sue

Take 3, 5, or 7 at Top Tip

Hello!

I'm so sorry I've not been about much, just when I thought life was going better, more curve balls have been thrown.  I'm hoping the rest of the year is better than the first two months!

Anyway, how can I be down when I have been colouring this little guy up for this fortnights Top Tip Tuesday challenge, which is 3, 5 or 7 - interpret how you like!!

Don'tcha just lurve his ears!!  This little guy is Take off / Rabbit Traveler - Air plane and he is available from this fortnights sponsors Zlatoena.

 

I wondered about putting glitter on him... but decided not to, might change my mind yet!!

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xxx