Friday 24 February 2017

Nature ... Southern Girls style!

It's time for another challenge with us at the Southern Girls.


This fortnight Team Lou have created projects to inspire you for the new challenge

Challenge #154 - Nature Inspired with Team Lou


Our awesome sponsors for this challenge are....


Krafters Cart

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First up, I have to say Thank You and apologise to Polkadoodles.
My RA has not been very co-operative on the crafting front, so I was not able to colour the super cute Buzzy Bee Honey - Winnie Fruit Punch digital stamp that they provided me to use for this challenge.  I look forward to colouring and creating with the image real soon.

Thanks to the amazing pre-coloured images available through Polkadoodles, I was still able to make a card to share and hopefully inspire you.  The gorgeous images from the Darling Buds collection are a delightful mix of cuteness and flowers, perfect for the nature theme for our latest challenge.

It is with great pleasure I introduce you to "Primrose".


I designed the cards on my Silhouette Cameo mat.
I started with the Laced Frame 45d on my mat, using the outline to make two card bases for a top folding card and set up the bases and lacy top layer on one 12x12 sheet, cutting one set from Moss cardstock and one set from the lighter Splice cardstock.  This enabled me to make two cards at once.
I took the Darling Buds "Primrose" image, sized her to fit inside the window, duplicated and set up two on an A4 page.  I printed the images on heavy white cardstock then cut them using the Cameo.
I made a rounded rectangle for the sentiment panel inside the cards and used the sentiments from the Darling Buds Big Bundle ... there are so many lovely ones to choose from.
I added a dollop of Diamond Stickles to each pink polkadot of the backgrounds and added sparkle to her dress using Clear Wink Of Stella.


Once the image panels were dry, I adhered them to the frame, then adhered the lace frame layers to the "top" panel of each card.
I adhered the sentiment panels to the "back" panels, scored the top section of the "back" panels to make the "fold", adhered them to the front panels and two cards were made
The cards stand 6 1/4" tall.

  

 

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Polkadoodles - digital stamp - Darling Buds "Primrose"
Polkadoodles - digital stamps - Darling Buds Big Bundle
(sentiments inside the cards)
Polkadoodles - polkadot paper - FREE Tatty Twinkle Easter Digital Craft Download
smooth white cardstock
Kaisercraft - weave cardstock - Splice
Kaisercraft - weave cardstock - Moss
Silhouette Cameo electronic cutting machine
Monica's Creative Room - FREE cut file - Laced Frame 45d
Diamond Stickles - added to the polkadot background
Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush - added to the dress
Martha Stewart Scoreboad
Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive - to adhere the layers
Helmar Professional Acid Free Glue - to adhere the top "fold"
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue - to adhere the image panel to the leafy frame

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Sending a big Thank You to Polkadoodles and Krafter's Cart for sponsoring
Challenge #154 - Nature Inspired with Team Lou
with us at the Southern Girls.
    
I hope I have inspired you to create something nature-themed and look forward to seeing your project shared in the challenge gallery.
Remember we are not just a card blog, we love to see scrapbook layouts, artjournal pages and all types of papercraft.

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I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):
My favourite combo is green & pink, love green & orange too
Spring means flowers, lots of flowers
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The lacy frame around my image is a cut file named "Laced Frames"
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My card is a birthday card
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Wednesday 22 February 2017

Crafty Gals Corner - Challenge #111 - Anything Goes

It's time for another challenge with us at the



This week we are letting our creative juices flow with

The sponsors for this challenge are:
Digital Delights by Louby Loo
Prize: $5 Gift Certificate

Prize: $13 Gift Certificate

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Today I have used the Bouquet Of Blessings digital stamp from Graciellie Design, one of our generous sponsors this week.

My top folding sympathy cards are 5" x 7".



I like how the buds align with the sentiment on the card you see on the right but I like the extra white space around the sentiment on the left one just that little bit more.

How about you, which one do you prefer?

I confess that these cards are not what I had planned for this week.
... I had started my project using vellum and foiling, with plans for Copic markers
but my RA had other ideas and wouldn't co-operate with my creative plans this week.
I'm ever-so-grateful for the wonders of digital stamping!

   

Can you see the Rose Gold foil on the vellum image?
Click on the image to see the enlarged version and see the subtle shimmer & shine.
I printed a toner sheet and "cooked" the "negative" piece of foil,

I think it will make a pretty background.
Can't wait to get creative with both shimmering panels real soon.
Looking forward to adding a touch of colour with my Copic markers too.

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Graciellie Design - digital stamp - Bouquet Of Blessings
Graciellie Design - digital stamp freebie - WITH Sympathy
X-Press It - A4 blending card
Martha Stewart Scoreboard - to score back panel to make top fold
Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive - to adhere image panel
Helmar Acid Free Professional Glue - to adhere top & base to make top fold
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Sending a big Thank You to Graciellie Design for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #111 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.
    
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I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

Wednesday 15 February 2017

Crafty Gals Corner - Challenge #110 - Favorite Things

It's time for another challenge with us at the

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with
Challenge #110 - Favorite Things
PS - you will see me use different spelling for favourite and it is intentional.  The challenge is based in the US, so it is "favorite" for the challenge title and I am an Aussie, so it's "favourite" for my blog post :)

The sponsors for this challenge are:

Miss Daisy Stamps
prize: 4 Digital Images (1 from each artist)
 Jennifer Nilsson Art  ♥︎  Mari Digis  ♥︎  Miss Daisy’s Collection ♥︎  We Are 3  

prize: 2 Digital Images

prize: 3 Digital Images

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My favourite things make for a long list including:
manual die cutting - Big Shot & dies
electronic file cutting - Silhouette Cameo
sparkle - glitter & Stickles
shine - embossing powder & Glossy Accents
colouring - Copic markers
fancy folds
dimension
interaction - Action Wobbler
Word of warning, I have used lots of favourite things, so there are lots of photos too!

Today I have used the Christmas Turtle digital stamp from Rick St Dennis, one of our generous sponsors this week and combined it with my favourite things.



I coloured my turtle using Copic markers (details below) then fussy cut him out and went around the edges with a Memento Tuxedo Black Dual Tip Marker.

To add the shine to the turtle's shell, toe nails and the ornaments on the tree, I went over them with a Versamarker Pen and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder.  I gave everything two coats for a solid and smooth shiny finish.

I added sparkle to the trim on his hat by adding Stardust Stickles then smothering it with "snow" glitter.  Some Clear Wink Of Stella added a pretty sparkle to the star on the top of the tree too.


To add gloss and dimension to his eye, I added a big dollop of Glossy Accents, using a piercing tool to drag it into the fine points.

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the card base (file details listed below) and Distress Ink to ink up the edges of the patterned paper before adhering all the layers in place.


I cut bundles (and bundles) of holly berry sprigs using my Big Shot and adhered them in place to make dimensional accents across the bottom of the feature panel, along with some sprigs to decorate the side panels.  I used a Copic marker (R27) to darken some bling to finish off the holly berry sprigs.

Open flat view

Almost closed flat, perfect for mailing.

Side views, so you can see the fancy folds.
   

Check out the cool wobbler action

This card is cool to look at from all angles.
The fancy folds give dimension when opened and it is stable standing up,
even while the turtle dances
   

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Rick St Dennis - digital stamp - Christmas Turtle
X-Press It - A4 blending card
Copic markers - shell - YR21 YR24 E08 E09 E47 E49
Copic markers - body - E41 E42 E43 E44
Copic markers - mouth - E93
Copic markers - eye - YG17 YG67
Copic markers - tree - YG03 YG25 YG17 YG67
Copic markers - star - Y15 Y17
Copic markers - wood - E55 E57 E59
Copic markers - hat, baubles, ribbon & bow - R22 R24 R27 R29
Copic markers - hat trim - N0 and "0"
Fiskars Micro Tip Scissors
Memento Tuxedo Black Dual Tip Marker
Stickles - Stardust
Wink Of Stella Brush - Clear
American Crafts - WOW! glitter - snow
Glossy Accents
Versamarker Dual Tip Pen
WOW! Embossing Powder - Clear Gloss Super Fine
American Crafts Heat Tool
Action Wobbler
Sizzix Big Shot
Couture Creations - Be Merry Collection - Holly Berry Sprigs Set die
Queen & Co - Red Twinkle Goosebumps
Silhouette Cameo
Silhouette Design Store Design ID #63383 (enlarged)
Kaisercraft 12x12 patterned paper - Mistletoe Collection - Paper Wreath
Distress Ink - mini - Barn Door
Mini Distress Ink Blending Tool

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Sending a big Thank You to Rick St Dennis for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #110 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.
    
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I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):
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ABC Christmas Challenge
Christmas Theme + C forCreature/s and D for Dimension
My creature is a turtle and I have dimension in my
fancy folds, holly berry sprigs and action wobbler 
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Crafty Hazelnut's ChristmasChallenge
CHNC Challenge #320 + optional theme “cute”
My Christmas Turtle is super cute, especially with the wobbler action.
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My card is primarily red with shades of green (& a touch of turtle brown).
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The turtle and Christmas tree ornaments are heat embossed.
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The turtle and Christmas tree ornaments are heat embossed.
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I used my two favourite tools, my Sizzix Big Shot and Silhouette Cameo,
an old favourite and a new favourite.

   
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I think my turtle is really cute, especially with the cool wobbler action.
   
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Wednesday 8 February 2017

Crafty Gals Corner - Challenge #109 - Shades of Red

It's time for another challenge with us at the

This week we are letting our creative juices flow with
Challenge #109 - Shades of Red

The sponsors for this challenge are:

Fabrika Fantasy
prize: 3 Digital Stamps

Melonheadz
   
Prize: 1 bundle of your choice, no combo packs

Today I have used the Winter Games 1 digital stamp from Fabrika Fantasy, one of our generous sponsors this week.  This digital stamp comes as both a coloured and a black & white image.



I designed my card elements on my Silhouette Cameo mat, starting with a window cut file (details below).  I enlarged the card to be 6 3/4" tall x 5 1/4" wide.

Then I added my Winter Games image and re-sized it to fit nicely behind the window.
Next came the background.  I added a delightful Birch Trees digital paper and re-sized it to be in proportion to the little boy and moved it so that the tree trunks were offset from the window frame.  I printed the image on A4 X-Press It blending card.  This was my first time working with a pre-coloured image.  I couldn't resist giving my Copic markers a workout though, so I used them to transform the orange elements into shades of red and to take the bright blue edge off the trousers, making them more shaded and teal to match the wallpaper.
I changed my cutting mat to be 12x12 and cut the window elements and base of my card.

I cut the "wallpaper" manually from a Kaisercraft paper pad, adhered it to a foam sheet, worked out where I wanted to place the window and cut out the space, making it almost the size of the outer edges of the window, so that when you look through you can't see any edges.

I adhered the image panel to the base of the card.  The image panel is larger than the outer edges of the window frame, so when you look through the window it really does look like you are looking outside, you can peek through at an angle to see more.

I added strips of foam tape to the window frame to add more dimension for when you look through to the wintery scene in the background.  It adds more height for "peeking" through too.



I die cut the bow and sentiment to finish off this
CAS design with a fun window to peek through.



Here are some side views to show some of the dimension inside the window.


   

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Fabrika Fantasy - digital stamp - Winter Games 1
X-Press It - A4 blending card
Silhouette Design Store - Design ID #161056 - Santa Window Pane Card by Sweet Afton
Decosse's Dynamite Doodles - digital - Birch Trees Patterned Paper
(from The Nature Of Christmas Mini Kit)
If you are interested in purchasing this set, please contact the designer by leaving a comment on her blog, or emailing her at decossesdynamitedoodles [at[ yahoo [dot] ca
Copic markers - top, hat, mittens, boots & dog collar - R21 R22 R24 R27
Copic markers - trousers & ground - BG70 BG72
Kaisercraft - 6 1/2" paper pad - Miss Nelly
foam sheet (under the "wallpaper" panel)
foam tape (under the window frame)
Paper Smooches - Christmas Words Dies
Pretty Pink Posh - Twine and Bows Dies

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Sending a big Thank You to Fabrika Fantasy for supplying the digital stamp I used today and for being a sponsor for Challenge #109 with us at the Crafty Gals Corner.
    
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I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):
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ABC Christmas Challenge
C & D - C for Creature(s) and D for Dimension
my card has both, the dog is my creature and the window has dimension,
with foam layers inside the room and outside amongst the trees
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Crafting From The Heart
Challenge #145 - Anything Goes
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Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge
CHNC Challenge #319 Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas
optional theme: Add Some Ribbon
I hope that the paper ribbon of my big red bow counts as ribbon
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Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra
CHNC Extra for February 2017 - Always Anything Goes
(as long as it's Christmas)
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Creative Fingers Challenge Blog
Challenge #124 - Anything Goes
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Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog
Penny's Challenge #315 - Anything Goes
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Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog
Simon Says: Cute
   
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