Friday 28 September 2012

A Winner!

Hey!

TGI Friday, peeps! :)

I'm here with some news to make somebody's Friday super happy; it's time to announce the winner of the Holiday Cards & More 12 Blogs of Christmas Bloghop!

Do your 'thang' Mr. Random.Org:


Number 6 means that the winner of a copy of this fantastic Paper Crafts issue is Elise C who said:

Elise C. said...
Wow, that does look so easy to mass produce! I really like the leaves and holly that you added!

Congrats, Elise C! Please contact me with your postal addy (click on the 'contact me' tab at the top for my email address) and I'll pass on your deets to Paper Crafts. That issue should be with you in plenty of time to inspire you for your Christmas crafting! :)

Thanks so much to everyone who hopped along with us - I hope you all found some inspiration for your Christmas projects!

Have a wonderful weekend - mine will be sniffle free, finally! Yay! 

Catch ya later!

 

Friday 21 September 2012

Happy Happy Autumn Fall!


This is my second post and blog hop for today! Please scroll down to check out my Paper Crafts Holiday Cards & More Vol:7 blog hop entry or click here - thanks! :) 

Hey!

Happy Friday! It's super happy over at The Craft's Meow as the September release is now officially available for purchase!

The Craft's meow

We're celebrating the release the TCM way with a blog hop and a chance for you to win the entire September release! You should have hopped across here from my fellow teamie, Amy T - if you haven't, then be sure to start here (leave a comment on each blog by 9:00pm PDT, Sunday, Sept 23rd for your chance to win the release!).

Now as you probably know by now, I autumn. The rich colours, the magic of the leaves changing before your very eyes, the crisp air, oh I could go on and on but you're here to see a card, right?!

Well with my love for autumn in mind, I couldn't resist inking up Golden Days (a FREE set with purchases of $50 or over!) and Fall Blessings to create a very simple card:

Happy Happy Fall!

I wanted those three squares to give the impression of a leaf falling from the sky. The sentiment 'Happy Fall!' was masked to stamp the words individually on each square. Pretty simple, but I like it that way :)

Right, there's a lot of hopping to be done so I won't delay you any more - I reckon you should hop along to my buddy and all-round sweetie, Iwona Palamountain! Remember to leave a comment on each blog during the hop by 9pm Sunday to be in with a chance of winning the entire September release!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - I hope you have a super weekend! :) 

Catch ya later!








Card Deets
{Happy Happy Fall!}
Stamps: Golden Days, Fall Blessings (The Craft's Meow)
Ink: Canyon Clay (Papertrey Ink)/Rich Cocoa (Memento)/Antinque Linen (Distress Ink)
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Jute Button Twine, Canvas and Linen Impression Plate (Papertrey Ink)

Hoppin' for the Holidays...


Hey!

TGI Friday! Today is super exciting on here on the blogeroo as I'm totally honoured to be a part of a special Paper Crafts blog hop to celebrate the release of the special issue: Holiday Cards & More Vol.7!


I'm lucky to have a few projects published in this special issue and I'm pinching myself to be hopping with some awesome talent - here's the list should you get lost:

1.       Chan Vuong
2.       Angeline Yong Jeet Leen
3.       Heather Campbell
4.       Kalyn Kepner
5.       Lorena Cantó Lavería
6.       Cristina Kowalczyk
7.       Amy Wanford (that's me!)
8.       Vanessa Menhorn
9.       Latisha Yoast
10.   Jocelyn Olson
11.   Meredith MacRitchie
12.   Clare Prezzia

So you should have hopped across here from the simply amazing Cristina Kowalczyk. If you haven't, then be sure to start here for the chance to win some amazing goodies!   
For this hop, we were challenged to use the free digital sentiments available as part of the special issue here. Did you know that Paper Crafts always has a fab collection of free, digital art perfect for your paper crafting? (Click on an issue and scroll down to check them out)  Well the freebies with this special issue are holiday themed of course; so I got a head start on my Christmas cards (now that's a first for Aimes the procrastinator!)

Merry Christmas

This card was easy peasy to create, required no Christmas themed products, (apart from the free image) and features a design that would be great for mass production. It simply involves printing the digital sentiment, stamping two leaves from Papertrey Ink's Modern Basics, adding a touch of bling and mounting on to a card base. Super simple, super quick, super flat for postage! *wink*

Tip: if you daren't put card through your printer when it comes to using digital elements, simply print on paper and adhere that paper to a sheet of cardstock for extra stability.

So my first, official card of the season is finished with a design I'll probably reproduce a few times over when I leave my cards to the last possible postal deadline *wink*

Paper Crafts have been super kinda and have given you the chance to win a copy of this special issue. Simply leave a comment on this blog post by Tuesday 25th September 11:59 MDT and I'll randomly select a winner!

Thanks so much for hopping along here today! The next hop is over to my fellow European peep, Vanessa Menhorn so what are you waiting for?!

Catch ya later!







Card Deets
{Merry Christmas}
Stamps: Modern Basics (Papertrey Ink)/Digital Sentiment Stamp from Paper Crafts
Ink: Simply Chartreuse (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, White, Simply Charteuse (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Clear Gems (Stash)/Promarker to colour bling (Letraset)


Thursday 20 September 2012

Booyah!


This is my second post for today - please scroll down if you're looking for my CASE Study post or click here. Thanks! :) 

Hey!

Ready to carry on the fun of The Craft's Meow September release sneaky peeks? I hope so!

The Craft's Meow

Today we get to share the final two sets with you - one of which is FREE! 

First up we're giving you a peek of a fun set by Kaitlyn Ord called 'Good Times'. This set is perfect for you scrapbookers, all you Project Life peeps and card-makers too of course. I opted for the card-making when it came to inking this set up (no surprises there!)

celebrate today

I'm diggin' those fun, bold chevrons and was in the mood for a bold colour combo of bright pink and black. Not my favourite choice of colours but maybe, just maybe, the neon trend is creeping up on me (better late than never, eh?!)

Now this is no ordinary card. Don't let your eyes deceive you. There's a fun, interactive element on this card too. Simply lift the chevron tab to reveal....
booyah!
Ta-Dah! (or should that be Booyah?!)

Hee! I couldn't resist creating an interactive card with the power of magnetics. I played with some super slim magnetic discs (courtesy of the kind folk at Magnet Expert). I simply adhered a magnetic disc to the reverse edge of the chevron strip and placed another magnet inside the card to secure it. The card remains super slim and perfect for posting - bonus!

The next set we're sharing today made my autumnal lovin' heart skip a beat. 'Golden Days' designed by Karen Baker features beautiful leaves and fabulous flourishes. I loved that when I got to ink this set up, I could take pleasure in my main reason for loving this season - the colours:

Thankful for you

Using lots of rich autumnal shades of ink, I stamped the different leaves to create my own kinda DP. I also find that for autumnal projects, I can't stop using both sides of my linen and canvas impression plate; for some reason plaid just screams out autumn to me :)  

Another awesome thing about 'Golden Days' is that it's free for all customers spending over $50 at the TCM Store!

However, if you can't wait that long you could take a chance at winning this set or the 'Good Times' set by leaving a comment on the TCM Blog by 9pm PST tonight. While you're over there, take a peek at the amazing projects the rest of the TCM DT inked up for your viewing pleasure!

Right, that's enough from me for today. I'll be back tomorrow to celebrate the actual September release with a good ol' fashioned blog hop - I hope you can join us!

Catch ya later!








Card Deets
{celebrate today/booyah!}
Stamps: Good Times (The Craft's Meow)
Ink: Bubblegum (A Muse)/Tuxedo Black (Memento)/Versamark
Cardstock: True Black, White (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Pink Embossing Powder (WOW! powders)

{Thankful for you}
Stamps: Golden Days (The Craft's Meow)
Ink: Canyon Clay, Summer Sunrise, Scarlet Jewel, Kraft (Papertrey Ink)/Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Cardstock: Scarlet Jewel (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Buttons, Twine, Impression Plate (Papertrey Ink)



Wednesday 19 September 2012

Pumpkins and Candy Corn - Yum!


Hey!

So we're halfway through the week and halfway through the release countdown for the September release at The Craft's Meow!

The Craft's meow

We've peeked at Vintage Clocks, we've adored Lovely Ovals but we've not yet celebrated the season. No, not Christmas (you really think that I'm that well organised with my crafting?!) but my favourite season of them all, autumn!

Today we've got two super sweet sets up for sneaky peeks: 'Fall Blessings' and 'Fall with Fibi and Lilly'. Both sets are super cute and features sweet images with Halloween and Thanksgiving in mind.

For my first project I inked up 'Fall Blessings':

Give Thanks

I couldn't resist the lovely pumpkin in this set - it gave me the perfect excuse to sit and colour :)

Next up, 'Fall with Fibi and Lilly'

happy halloween
FYI: I added the lines around the candy corn to add some movement/fun to them :)

Although the set focuses on the characters, Fibi and Lilly, I decided to focus on the candy corn image and stamped it repeatedly across a strip of card. I do love me some candy corn - it first hit my taste buds a couple of years ago and although it's not super easy to get hold of over here, I definitely recommend it. Yum!

Now I've only featured a small element of each stamp set we're previewing today. Be sure to check out the rest of the TCM DT too of course!  

I dunno about you but I'm craving a sweet treat now! But before I dash to get a sweet fix, I'd better tell you how you could win one of these sets for yourself today. Simply leave a comment on the TCM Blog by 9pm PST tonight and a random winner will be selected for each set!

Thanks so much for visiting here today - I always appreciate your visits!

Catch ya later!








Card Deets
{Give Thanks}
Stamps: Fall Blessings (The Craft's Meow)
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Harvest Gold (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Canvas and Linen Impression Plate (Papertrey Ink)/Apron Lace Border Punch (Fiskars)/Promarkers (Letraset)/Twine (Pink Paislee)


{Happy Halloween}
Stamps: Fall with Fibi and Lilly (The Craft's Meow)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: True Black, White (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Promarkers, Fineline Black Pen (Letraset)



Tuesday 18 September 2012

Lovely ovals (but I'm diggin' squares!)


Hey!

We're back for Day 2 of The Craft's Meow September release countdown!

The Craft's meow

Today's sneaky peek is of a set by Elizabeta Kushner called Lovely Ovals. These Ovals are not only lovely, but the set has some fab, smaller images perfect for a spot of pattern building:

Thank You
FYI: I purposely stamped the pattern in grey ink. This helps the black sentiment stand out and is within keeping of the soft, subtle blue tones.

This is a super mini-card in which I created a square pattern from the Lovely Ovals set. I'm thinking it woud be sweet to whip up a set of these in different colourways. My focal point uses a small stamp that I rotated 90 degrees and coloured with different shades of blue (intensifying towards the centre to draw your eye to the button). The sentiment is from the set too - I love that font!

Now if you wanna check out some seriously lovely ovals from this set, then be sure to check out projects from the rest of the TCM DT! Oooh and if you leave a comment on the TCM Blog by 9pm PST tonight, then you may just win this set for your own inky mitts! :)

That's all from me today but be sure to stop by tomorrow as we party on, TCM stylee....

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Catch ya later!








Card Deets
{Thank You}
Stamps: Lovely Ovals (The Craft's Meow)
Ink: London Fog, Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: White, Spring Rain (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Hawaiian Shores Button, Satin Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)/Promarkers (Letraset)

Monday 17 September 2012

Long time no see...


Hey!

Happy Monday! Super duper happy here as we can finally celebrate a release countdown again at The Craft's Meow!

The Craft's Meow

Today we're giving you a sneaky peek of a gorgeous set by Nina. B called Vintage Clocks. Vintage Clocks may be vintage by name, but I chose to give those clocks a more modern spin for my project today:

Long Time...

From vintage to retro neon, this set will cater for all styles! :)

I'm dedicating this card to you (well, anyone who is stickin' around to read my posts still!) I'm so sorry I've been MIA recently - I could bore you with excuses but I won't as I'm sure you haven't come here to hear them. I'm just going to say I'm super duper busy with work and within my first two weeks back I'm already experiencing my first cold. Ugh! Fingers crossed the sniffles will pass and the work load will lessen - I'll be back when I can!

Anyways back to those lovely vintage clocks. Fancy winning the set for yourself? Then be sure to leave a comment on the TCM Blog by 9pm PST tonight! I also reckon you should check out the rest of the TCM DT too including Suzanne Bier as our Guest Designer!

Right - back to the honey and lemon...and work!

Thanks so much for still stopping by!

Catch ya later!








Card Deets
{long time no see}
Stamps: Vintage Clocks (The Craft's Meow)
Ink: Buttercup, Bubblegum (A Muse)/Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: White, Soft Stone (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Chompy! (Corner Chomper)

Saturday 15 September 2012

Uniko Studio Crazio Release!


Hey!

Happy Weekend! It's especially happy for Uniko Studio as we celebrate a fabulous new release! I hope you're ready to feast your eyes on some gorgeous goodies! :)

Uniko Studio have seven products in total to release today! (two stamp sets and five digital products) I'll have to summarise as there's so much!
  • Label Love: Thank You stamp set (£9.95) - featuring 4 circular label images and a number of thank you sentiments in a variety of fabulous fonts; you'll be spoilt for choice!
  • Wonderful Washi stamp set (£15.95) - got no washi? Well hows about you stamp it! This set features fabulous washi tape designs that are so on trend. Coordinate your stamped washi tape to your project by picking the pefrect ink - simples!
  • BRIGHT Butterflies Additions (£3.00) - feast your eyes on some pretty digital extras to compliment the FREE digital pack, BRIGHT Butterflies
  • EEK! digital Halloween elements (£1.75) - perfect for your trick or treat projects! 
  • Classics Autumn digital collection (£1.50) - super neutral and masculine papers that have me wanting to create projects for the season and for the guys!
  • Classics Halloween digital collection (£1.50)- though not just for Halloween, these digi papers are so versatile!
  • Eclectic Mix Halloween digital collection (£1.75) - fabulous, fun and funky patterns to allow your Halloween (thought not limited to just Halloween) projects to spook in style! 
Phew! What a release! Well I best share some of the stuff I've whipped up with these goodies!

First up a bit of stamped washi tape:

Celebrate

This was so simple to make! I simply stamped three washi tape designs from Wonderful Washi off the edge of the card and selected a sentiment from Fontiments: Birthday to stamp on the middle strip. A few sparkles add a touch of colour and help frame the sentiment - simples!

Now I think it's 'TIME' to take a peek at the Classics Autumn collection *wink*

TIME to celebrate

This fab, neutral argyle pattern immediately made me want to create a card for the guys using the stamp set, TIME. I also added a huge dollop of Glossy Accents to the pocket watch for extra dimension:

TIME to celebrate (close up)

One day I'll be patient enough to let the stuff dry before touching it :)

This next card features a sentiment from Label Love: Thank You along with a DP from the BRIGHT Butterflies Additions pack:

Thank You

I love that font and figured that it was kinda matching for those stripes; standing tall and straight!

Another card featuring a sentiment from Label Love: Thank You but a bit more seasonal with the addition of a DP from the Classics Halloween collection:

With Thanks to You

I finally found a use for some chipboard stickers too - bonus! :)

Now last, but by no means least, a real Halloween project that features some of the fun papers from the Eclectic Mix Halloween collection and elements from the EEK! collection:

Halloween Treats!

I reckon these treat holders might just find a place with my nieces and nephews this year. So easy to whip up: simply roll the paper in a tube and stick, then place sticky tape at one end of the tube and stick together; place treats in container and stick the other end together at a 90 degree angle to the other end. I like to use a paper crimper to seal the ends tightly and then decorate. They take literally mintues to make!

Right that's enough projects for one day! Be sure to check out the Uniko Studio Blog and Store for full deets of the release and to check out what the rest of the DT whipped up - I can't wait to take a peek for myself!

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Catch ya later!





Saturday 8 September 2012

It started with a CASE...


Hey!

Wa-hoooooooo for the weekend! It couldn't come soon enough here; the first week of school is always a shock to the system!

Today I'm sharing a card that comes with a challenge that I seriously could not pass up on: CASADIA! The fabulous and fun idea by fellow, sweet, bloggin' buddy, Wida! This is basically one mega long CASE chain - check out the whole chain on Wida's blog here!

So as part of the CASE Study DT, it seemed to apt for me to throw my hat into the ring and play along. My turn has arrived and I have this fabulous card by Erin to CASE:


Check out the original post of this card here!

Those texty, (yes, I know that's not a real adjective!) clouds really captured my eye and so did Erin's paper piecing. In fact, I realised I had that Cosmo Cricket DP collection myself and challenged myself to use a different sheet from that pad (well, using any DP is a bonus for me! Ha!)

So clouds and paper-piecing turned into:

CASADIA

Tip: I inked one side of my frame from the set, Frame-It (Waltzingmouse Stamps) to create straight lines to hang those hearts from.

An anniversary card for my parents. They celebrated 44 years of marriage this week - amazing! I couldn't squeeze a sentiment on the front of the card I felt the card didn't need a sentiment, I can write what I need to write inside, right?! Although my punny heart would have loved to added the sentiment 'Love is in the Air'! *wink*

I'm also going to enter this card into the Moxie Fab Movement Challenge - the texture of the clouds separate them from the card base, and those simple faint lines from the clouds help guide your eyes to take in the whole of the focal point - I hope!

Before I dash to make the most of my weekend, I'd like to thank Wida for having me play along and for hosting such a fun idea! Thanks, Wida! :)

OK, I'm scootin' - this weekend isn't going to wait for me!

Catch ya later!







Card Deets
Stamps: Frame-It (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: London Fog (Memento)
Cardstock: White (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: From 'The Boyfriend' 6x6 Collection (Cosmo Cricket)

Accessories: Cloud Die, Text Impression Plate (Papertrey Ink)/Martha Stewart Heart Lace Border Punch - I used the negative of the punch! (Martha Stewart)


Wednesday 5 September 2012

Ready, Set, CRAFT!


Hey!

Well I'm back again this week! Don't get used to this super frequent blogging - work will catch up with me sooner or later.....! Speaking of which, y'know the whole tea-stained timetable thing of Monday? Well I was given a brand spanking new one the next day due to some changes that had been made - the whole glass half full approach pays off sometimes I guess! :)

But enough of me spilling tea over everything. You came for a card, right? Today I present a card that came with a challenge...a 10 minute challenge. I'm participating as a guest designer for the 10 Minute Craft Dash!



This fun challenge is hosted by the sweet Paulina and Ginny. Challenge #2 is a colour challenge with the colours in the graphic above. For a slow-coach like me, time was a real challenge but the colours are so fresh and inspiring that once I'd got a sketch in my head and got my supplies ready (including a random paper clip thingy on my desk), I hit start on my timer and just kept going no matter what.

Happy Birthday

I finished in 9 minutes 32 seconds so had a few seconds left to ummm and ahhh a little over gem placement :)

Now this challenge has made me think that it is possible to squeeze in crafty sessions if I'm super organised and have an idea in my head already. I actually had more fun than I imagined and didn't stress out at all!

So I challenge you to join in the 10 Minute Craft Dash Challenge too! If you do, not only may you surprise yourself, but you may win a $20 gift certificate for Neat & Tangled!


Thanks so much for stopping by today and thanks to Paulina and Ginny for inviting and challenging me to this fun idea!

Catch ya later!








Card Deets
{HAPPY BIRTHDAY}
Stamps: Decorative Doilies - Hands of Time, Fontiment Birthday (Uniko Studio)
Ink: London Fog, Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, White (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Gems (Stash)/Promarker to colour gems/Clip (Stash!)

Tuesday 4 September 2012

Same stamps, different card....


Hey!

Happy Tuesday - this Tuesday is a bit of a shock to the system as it's back to school for me this week! So if you've noted an absence in my bloggin' or presence around Blogland, it's because of one of the following:
  • I'm doing all the work I said I'd do in the holidays.....
  • I'm trying to rescue my tea-stained timetable to see what I've got (seriously, my shiny new timetable lasted less than an hour before I gave it a vintage look - unintentionally!)
  • I'm sleeping! Zzzzzzz.....
Well before you know it, autumn will be here, (I'm secretly happy - it's my favourite season) so let's see summer out with some colour:

You {water}color my world

Or should that be watercolour? Yup - I couldn't resist trying the technique that seems on trend right now, watercolours. It was fun to dig out my watercolours and paint again. You don't need watercolours for this though; the same effect can be achieved with markers (I hear Distress markers are great) or your ink pads with a bit of water. :)

I whipped this card up when I had the supplies out for this card. I like that if I'm short on time, I can still whip up a card that still plays on the sentiment (although I'll always love the 'magic' of the interactive version *wink*)

I also entered this simple card into the current challenge on A Blog Named Hero (to use embossing on your project) and the  August Hero Arts Challenge - CAS stamping. I only wish I'd had time to enter more - that challenge was right up my street. *wink*

Right then, back to work for me!

Thank you so much for visiting here today!

Catch ya later!








Card Deets
{you color my world}
Stamps: Globe from the set Wonderful World (Hero Arts)/Sentiment from Happy Trails (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Versamark/Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: White, True Black (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Detail Clear Embossing Powder (Stampendous)/Watercolours (Art Supply)

Copyright/Disclosure

I am on various design teams and receive free product to use and promote. I geniunely love the products of the companies and all opinons are honest and my own.

I'm flattered if I've inspired you and you want to CASE anything of mine, but please don't enter it for commercial publications or competitions.
Thank You!
All designs, text, and photographs on Crafting Confessions are ©2009-2016 to Amy Gray unless stated otherwise.