Friday 5 December 2014

Time out!

Snowflakes
Hey!

*Tap*, *tap*...testing, testing....1, 2, 3....is this thing on? Ha!

Yup, it's been a while but it's so lovely to be finding a teeny tiny amount of time to come back to Blogland.  Although today's card suggests it's the most wonderful time of the year, I can certainly vouch for it being the most chaotic! It's the busiest time in the publishing schedule at work and we've got  Christmas to organise and a wedding to get planned in five weeks. I like a challenge :)

Oooh and a challenge is exactly why I'm posting this card today. I'm over with the lovely, talented ladies on the Time Out challenge blog where they're asking peeps CASE a card of mine. I can't thank them enough for having me on board - totally flattered.

So today's card is a CASE of this Christmas card of mine last year:

Let it Snow

I was inspired by the snowflakes and hearts (the heart on my new card is on the sentiment along with a blob of red Stickles)  The snowflakes are actually created by cutting into this bauble die freebie from issue 129 of Simply Cards & Papercraft! I adore the delicate snowflake shape you can create with a few cuts into a die-cut shape. It's a perk of the job to play with the crafty goodies we have with our magazines. ;)

Please do pop across to the Time Out challenge blog if you can and join in the fun!

Speaking of time, it's time for me to dash, but thanks for sticking around for this brief 'time out' from my busy schedule. I really appreciate it and hope to be back again soon...!

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Wednesday 5 November 2014

Beautiful birch trees...

thinking of you
Hey!

Happy Wednesday, happy Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night and happy Clearly Besotted Stamps release day! That's right, the November release is available to view now and for you to purchase from 10pm tonight (UK time)!

For my final project of the release I've inked up the new set, Birch Trees. This mini set is fabulous and so versatile for so many occasions. I'm thinking birthdays, Christmas an even sympathy cards using this super little set.

tips and tricks

  • I embossed the trees onto vellum to achieve a softer effect. You could always layer vellum over stamped trees to soften their appearance too. 
  • Avoid adhesive showing through the vellum by adding tiny dots of Glossy Accents to the reverse side of the embossed trees.
  • This design works for so many occasions - don't be limited by using only the sentiments from one stamp set. Experiment and use a range of sentiments! 

If you haven't checked out the full release, then what are you waiting for? Pop across to Stephanie's to check it out, make your shopping list and get a ton more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

Before I dash, let me wish those of you who are celebrating Bonfire Night a very happy and safe evening. Fingers crossed the weather holds out for the fireworks!

Thanks so much for sticking around with me over the past few days - I'm thankful for every visit and your company. Thank you! :)

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Tuesday 4 November 2014

Thanks a ton...

thanks a ton
Hey!

I hope you're having a whale of a time (sorry, I couldn't resist!) enjoying the sneaky peeks of the new Clearly Besotted November release so far and you're ready for day three of them.  (if you're playing catch up then check out day one here and day two here).

Today I'm sharing a super-sweet mini stamp set, Whale Done, which consist of this adorable whale along with a choice of pun-tastic sentiments. Just my kinda set! I couldn't resist adding a googly eye to this whale - it adds so much character, don't you think?
tips and tricks

  • It's not possible to see on my pic, but I smothered that whale in Glossy Accents. It adds a fabulous dimension! 
  • In order to curl my bow tails a little more, I repeatedly ran the twine in-between my finger and a ruler. I avoided using the blade of scissors as it has a tendency to fray the twine. 
  • The sentiment is purposefully stamped overlapping the stamped water spout (is that what it's called?!) to allow the design to flow and make it easier for the eye to follow.

Be sure to visit Clearly Besotted HQ (aka Stephanie's) for more wonderful sneaky peeks and links to the rest of the super Design Team who have yet more inspirational projects to share with you today.

Well, it just leaves me now to say thanks a ton (hee!) for stopping by here today and I really hope you can join me tomorrow for a final sneaky peek and the full reveal of what's proving to be a fabulous release!

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Monday 3 November 2014

A sweet Christmas...

sweet Christmas
Hey!

Happy Monday and welcome back to day 2 of the sneak peeks of the Clearly Besotted Stamps November release! If you missed out on yesterday's sneak peek you can check it out here. :)

So today I'm moving from delicate, pretty snowdrops onto to fun, festive treats! I've whipped up a super-simple tag featuring the new set, Naughty or Nice?, and I've focused on the nice - well who can resist candy at Christmas, right? ;)
tips and tricks

  • The tag features an extremely simple form of masking. I simply stamped my sentiment first, popped a Post-it note across the centre and stamped the Christmas candy around it. 
  • The two sizes of Christmas candy stamps in the set make it easy to stamp patterns with. If you're using a dye-based ink as opposed to a chalk/pigment based ink, you can always lightly draw a grid in pencil to ensure the pattern spaces out evenly. Just don't try to erase over chalk/pigment ink as it has a tendency to smudge! 
  • If you can't be bothered with the masking technique, you can always stamp the candies all over the tag and trim the sentiment from a separate piece of cardstock to place over the top. 

Well that's all from me today but if you haven't already, please to pop across to Clearly Besotted HQ (aka Stephaine's) to check out even more sneaky peeks from the rest of the wonderful Design Team. It's an absolute pleasure to ink along with these talented ladies every month - so much fun, creativity and talent!

As always, thank you so very much for visiting today! I hope you can pop by tomorrow for yet more sneaky peeks - I dare say you'll have a 'whale' of a time if you visit...! ;)


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Sunday 2 November 2014

Hello, lovely snowdrops!

hello
Hey!

Can you believe it? November already! We have less than 10 weeks to get our wedding sorted - I have a feeling that those weeks are going to zoom by!

But enough of weddings, let's give you a sneaky peek of Clearly Besotted's November release. :) It has been my absolute pleasure to ink up the new set, Winter Blooms. I'm not horticultural expert, but I do love snowdrops and I love how I can use this beautiful set to cater for a number of occasions throughout the winter months.

tips and tricks

  • I embossed the snowdrops onto vellum and added colour on the reverse side using standard pencil crayons. Always check how the colouring looks on the front as it can appear quite subtle and pale.
  • The thin strip of acetate (an old Hambly ScreenPrint) helps to ground the design and is adhered using the strip of silver cardstock at the top to avoid adhesive showing through the acetate.
  • To add a touch of sparkle to my snowdrops, I dug out my old Sakura Startdust pens. You can't see it on the pic, but the snowdrops really sparkle. :) 

Well that's just one sneaky peek of the new Clearly Besotted release, so pop across to Stephanie's to check out many more sneaky peeks from the rest of the fabulous DT including our guesties for the month, Pia Krogh Larsen and Cindy Lovell!

Thanks so much for visiting today and have a wonderful rest-of-the-weekend! :)

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Friday 31 October 2014

Joy (it's Friday!)

Joy
Hey!

Happy Friday! Happy Halloween! Here's a Christmas card LOL!

Yup, it might be Halloween, but here it's Operation Christmas Cards. I've got a ton of these to whip out in what's proving to be an extremely busy time of year. This is another simple design featuring a combination of two Simon Says Stamp stamp sets: the wreath and berries from Autumn Blessings (designed by Clearly Besotted Stamps for SSS) and the sentiment from the Ornaments stamp set from the Stamptember festivities. I love how an autumnal stamp set can pair up with and complement a festive one. :)

I think the card is pretty self explanatory with its simple design. I'm not sure I can tear myself away from this traditional colour combo with it though!

I'm sure you have many more spooktacular things on the agenda today, so let dash and take this chance to wish you a seriously spooky Halloween. For those of us not celebrating Halloween - happy Friday! Enjoy it and have a wonderful weekend!

Thank you so very, very much for visiting today. I'll be back tomorrow with some Clearly Besotted Stamps sneaky peeks - stay tuned! ;)

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Products used




Wednesday 15 October 2014

CASEing myself...

love peace joy
Hey!

I hope you're well on this fine Friday-Eve. Autumn is officially here (I love it!) and those dark nights are creeping in (I hate it!). Cue my major grumbles at trying to get a decent photo of my projects as I burn the candle at both ends. Roll on the weekend when I can find some daylight to shoot in...

As well as the dark nights, the festive season is approaching and I'm trying to get most of my Christmas crafting done earlier rather than later as we have the small matter of our wedding to plan! ;)

When it comes to being an efficient crafter, I find it easier to CASE a design using different colour combos. It's amazing how different a design can look and the feeling it evokes by simply changing the colours.

Do you recognise today's card? It's a total CASE of my previous card featuring some yummy Simon Says Stamp goodies (check the original, bright fun version of this card here). Same design, different colours - so easy! I love the peaceful tranquility working with neutrals and vellum creates. I'm getting more from my stamps with this design too as this festive flower was created by rotating a fairy light/bauble stamp from the Ornaments STAMPtember set.

Have you started your Christmas crafting yet? I think this must be a record for me! Two cards down, many more to go...!

Gotta keep it short and sweet today but thank you so very, very much for stopping by today. Your visits are always appreciated!

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Products used






Friday 10 October 2014

A festive challenge & a winner!

CBS challenge
FYI: This is what happens when you run out of daylight hours in the working week to photograph your projects. Apologies for the poor quality pic - I'll get myself organised over the weekend! 
Hey!

Happy Friday! The weekend starts here and we're kicking it off with a brand new Clearly Besotted Stamps challenge as well as announcing the winner from my 2nd anniversary blog hop post.

First up, the challenge. Having just celebrated one fabulous, festive release we want to see you prepare to celebrate the season with us and create a Christmas project. For my card I inked up the set, Ornamental Style. I'm usually a tradition gal when it comes to Christmas colour combinations but there's something so rich and elegant about purple, gold and cream. :)

tips and tricks

  • I created the top panel of the card by stamping various sized snowflakes in VersaMark ink and dusting them with gold Perfect Pearls.
  • To add more interest to the heat-embossed baubles, I cut out out the centres with a craft knife and backed the apertures with purple cardstock.
  • I adore the script style of the sentiment and the angle of the word 'Christmas' complements the shape of the top panel.
Now it's your turn! I hope you can ink along with us! Check out the full deets of the challenge at Clearly Besotted Stamps HQ (aka Stephanie's blogeroo!)

Before I scoot, it's time to draw a winner from the Clearly Besotted Stamps 2nd anniversary blog hop. So, the winner of a £20 e-giftcard to spend on Clearly Besotted goodies is...*drumroll please*

  • Mary who said... "Love the card! The clothespin embellishment is so cute. Thanks for a chance to win a gift card to this awesome company!"

Congrats, Mary! Please pop me an email and I'll set you up for a happy spending spree at Clearly Besotted Stamps. :)

That's all from me today, but thank you so very much for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

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Sunday 5 October 2014

Happy Birthday, Clearly Besotted Stamps! :D

chalkboard christmas
Hey!

Hip, hip hooray! Clearly Besotted Stamps is 2 today! It's also release day too so we're celebrating in style with a good ol' blog hop full of inspiration and goodies for you to win!




You should have hopped across here from my teamie, Michellebut if you haven't then please start out at CBS HQ!

Today's card features my most favourite stamp ever from the new release. This trendy sentiment stamp from the set, Most Wonderful just called out to be used with the chalkboard technique that I first found here from the talented Betsy Veldman. I couldn't resist some candy-cane style stripes from the older, Diagonal Stripes set and a sprig of holly from the new set, Little Pudding to balance the design. :)

I'm gonna keep things short and sweet for this post as there's plenty of hopping to be done and prizes to be won! Every blog on the hop has a £20 e-giftcard up for grabs so leave a comment below by 7th October and I'll randomly pick a winner! In addition to this, one randomly-selected comment from all the blogs will win the grand prize of a £100 e-giftcard!

Right, it's time for you to get hopping to my most sweet and talented blogging friend - Laurie Willison! She's guaranteed to inspire you!

Thank you so much for stopping by today and for celebrating Clearly Besotted Stamps 2nd birthday in style! :D

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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.