Esmeralda The Fortune Teller

This week's challenge at Through the Purple Haze Challenges is Steampunk. 

Now I'm a clean and simple girl at heart so Steampunk is a real challenge for me. 

Luckily I had the amazing Esmeralda from Rick St Dennis to use. 

What an incredible image! 

I took some advice from a friend and this is what I created.

I tried all sorts of different techniques on this that I don't normally use on this card. I used Vintage Photo Distress ink to colour the ivory cardstock I used as a base. I then used a distressing tool to roughen the edges. 

The sentiment if from the Fiskars Quotes set 'Make a Wish'. 

I embossed it with Wow Super Fine Embossing Powder.

I layered brown satin ribbon, ivory lace (with a little Vintage Photo Distress ink). I threaded an old necklace through one side of the lace and added a vintage key on a ribbon.

The letter underneath is stamped with part of a stamp from Stampin' Up's Fresh Cuts stamp set. I distressed it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and roughened the edges with my thumb nail.

I coloured Esmeralda with my Promarkers:

Skin - Blush, Sunkissed Pink, Coral, Burnt Orange with Pastel Pink Cheeks

Hair - Cocoa, Chestnut, Walnut, Copic E29

Shirt & Underskirt - Ivory, Satin, Putty

Shawl  - China Blue, Midnight Blue, Warm Grey

Wrap - Pine, Holly, Warm Grey

Wrap - Tulip Yellow, Gold, Raw Sienna

Skirt - Cardinal Red, Burgundy, Warm Grey.

I hope you like my Steampunk effort.

I'd like to enter her into the following challenges:

Left of Center Creative Challenges - Anything Goes Anniversary Challenge

Alter a Can

The Challenge at Digi Galore this fortnight is to Alter a Can or Alter Something. Now you know me - I never do things by halves do I? So I decided to make a desk tidy using three cans (peanuts, tinned tomatoes and sweetcorn).

We're sponsored by the lovely MayzyArt and I chose Steampunk Zilpha as I knew I wanted to make a tool tidy so that image with her holding her spanner was perfect.

I cleaned the three cans and then made a backing paper by spraying black card with a range of cosmic shimmer sprays. It doesn't show up brilliantly in the photo, but they're beautifully bright and colourful which makes a lovely background.

I stuck the card onto the cans with strong double sided tape, and used some more thin strips to join the 3 cans together.

Here's a close up of Steampunk Zilpha. She was a joy to colour.

I coloured her using my Promarkers:

Skin - Blush, Sunkissed Pink, Coral, Burnt Orange with Pastel Pink cheeks

Hair - Tulip Yellow, Sunflower, Gold, Raw Sienna

Dress and Boots - Red, Berry Red, Cardinal Red, Burgundy

Hat & Skirt - Pine, Holly, Warm Grey

I hope to see you over at Digi Galore x

Bingo with The Stamping Chef

The challenge this week at Through the Purple Haze Challenges is sponsored by The Stamping Chef and involves a bingo card. 

We had to choose a line - either horizontal, vertical or diagonal and include all of those elements in the card. I chose the middle horizontal line.

This is what I created with Rockabilly Boom who I love!

Lots of fun and colour in this one. I started with a plain black piece of card and spritzed it with various Cosmic Shimmer Sprays. It's a bit difficult to catch the shimmer in a photo, but it's really pretty and looks a bit like outer space.

The sentiment is from the Silhouette Store and I cut it from glitter vinyl I bought in the sale at Hobbycraft. Again it's difficult to catch the glitter on the camera, but trust me it shines.

I added the 'flames' from the back of the rocket using metallic gold thread and a leaf pattern on my sewing machine. 

I coloured Rockabilly Boom with my Promarkers and mounted her on black foam dots. 

Skin - Blush, Sunkissed Pink, Coral, Burnt Orange with Pastel Pink cheeks

Lips - Antique Pink

Hair - Tulip Yellow, Sunflower, Gold, Raw Sienna

Swim Suit - Turquoise, Marine, Petrol Blue

Rocket - Ice Grey 3,4,5. Red, Berry Red, Cardinal Red, Burgundy. Yellow, True Blue

I really hope you like her. Don't forget to pop over to Through the Purple Haze to join in the Bingo fun. 

Birthday Celebrations

It was Birthday time in our house this week as my husband celebrated his 30 something birthday. He's a big dog fan so I made him this card using Paul the Dog from Encino Stamps.

I'm pleased with how he turned out, but fur is difficult to colour, so I'll try him a bit differently next time.

The other thing I made for my husband was a Minion Cake! It was an idea I came up with and wasn't sure it would work, but it came good in the end. His face when he saw it was a picture! A very happy 30 something year old :P

Encino and Digi Galore - Two of my Favourite Things!

I'm Happy as Larry today as two of my favourite things have come together! Encino Stamps is sponsoring Digi Galore Challenges!!!! How great is that???!!! I consider myself so lucky to be on the DT for this amazing digi stamp shop and this amazing challenge blog!

The theme is Anything Goes so nice and easy.

I decided to make a really fun card this time. I was thinking of those pull out tab books that we had as a kid and decided to make something similar. It took a bit of thought to work it out, but I got there in the end. 

I didn't have a present Digi so made one myself in Craft Artist 2. 

Look at that tempting pull tab. Give it a gentle pull and out comes .........

Gerlinde!!!!

I thought she'd be perfect for this fun card!

The Sentiment is from Stampin Up's A Word for You Digital Stamp

I coloured everything using my Promarkers:

Present:

Royal Blue, Indigo Blue

Yellow, Sunflower, Gold, Raw Sienna

Red, Berry Red, Cardinal Red, Burgundy

Gerlinde:

Leaf Green, Bright Green, Forest Green

Green, Lush Green, Pine

Red, Berry Red, Cardinal Red, Burgundy

Yellow, Sunflower, Gold, Raw Sienna

I hope I've made you smile.

Don't forget to join us at Digi Galore Challenges to join in with Anything Goes



I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:
Just Inspirational Challenges - Anything Goes Blog Hop
I Love Promarkers - Let's Get Spotty
Paper Pretties - Birthday Cards
Splendiforous Creations - They Say it's Your Birthday 
Crafty Calendar Challenge - March - Animal Antics
As You Like It - Favourite Colouring Medium and Why I adore my Promarkers because they blend beautifully and let me transform a simple line drawing into a bright, colourful object that appears 3 dimensional.

Amazing News!!!!!

I have amazing news to share with you! A couple of days ago I was approached and asked if I'd like to join the Kenny K's Krafty Krew Core 4!!!!

After sitting in shock for a while & then bouncing off the ceiling with excitement I of course said yes! How could I have said no!!!! What an honour to be asked! I've loved Kenny K's digis for ages so it's amazing to be on the team. I'm going to have a great time and am very proud to display this badge

There are fortnightly challenges over at Kenny K's Krafty Krew so pop over and have a look. At the moment there's a great blog candy up for grabs.

To celebrate I decided to have a play with the Easter Elements that are available as a freebie this month from Kenny K (scroll down and on the left hand side). I paired them with Happy Hour to make this Egg holder. 

The design for the fold is the Gift in a Bottle Card from Hougie Mini Masterpiece Book. I tweaked the sizes to accommodate the eggs as mini eggs just wouldn't do, and made it using my Hougie Board. 

  To give the effect I wanted I used the Cut Out Studio in Craft Artist 2 to remove small section of the basket handle and the bottom of the ears so it sat right.  

I coloured her using my Promarkers:

Skin - Burnt Orange, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush with Pastel Pink Cheeks

Hair - Raw Sienna, Gold, Sunflower, Tulip Yellow

Lips - Dusky Rose, Antique Pink

Eyes - Sky Blue, Azure, True Blue

Dress - Orchid, Purple, Aubergine

Basket - Cinnamon, Cocoa, Henna

Egg - Pink Carnation, Rose Pink

Bunny Tail - Satin

Bunny Ears - Rose Pink, Ice Grey 1, Lilac (which I actually picked up by accident but it luckily worked nicely :P )

Martini - Cool Aqua, Satin, Olive Green

I hope you like her. 

Don't forget to pop over to Kenny K's Krafty Krew to enter the Blog Candy draw - there's loads of great prizes.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:
I Love Promarkers - Lets Get Spotty
Whimsy Stamps - Easter Bunnies, Chicks etc
Created with Love - Think Spring
Great Impressions Stamps - Spring Celebrations
Pile it On - Easter Joys
Bastel-Traum - Gift or Box
Paper Sweeties - Polka Dot Love (inspired by the Polka dots and the eggs)
Sweet Stamp Blog - Fun Folds
Just Inspirational Challenges - Anything Goes and Blog Hop


Wow! With this card I was picked for

Top 3 at Just Inspirational Challenges

Honorable Mention at Created with Love

Milk Coffee stamps and Crafts U Print

It's challenge time again over at Through the Purple Haze Challenges and we're lucky enough to have two sponsors this week so I had two images to play with. 

The first sponsor is Milk Coffee. I've not come across them before but after seeing their style I'm sure I'll be back to visit their Etsy store soon. 

I had the beautiful Fairy Tiffany to use and decided to make a slightly different card to show her off to her best advantage. This is the result.

I created an oval based easel card and cut it on my Cougar. I then coloured it with my Shabby Shutters and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks (something a bit different for me).

I cut Fairy Tiffany out with the Print and Cut function of my Cougar and coloured her with my Promarkers.

Wings - Purple, Orchid, Blossom, Blender, Stickles

Roses - Maroon, Ice Grey 1 & 2

Vines & Leaves - Meadow Green, Leaf Green, Bright Green, Pine

I've signed up for Kit and Clowder's Skin and Hair colouring class and worked hard to build the shadows and depth on her skin.

Skin - Burnt Orange, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush with Pastel Pink Cheeks

Hair - Tulip Yellow, Sunflower, Gold, Raw Sienna

The roses on the stopper are handmade by Sam of Samaflora. They were white and I coloured the tips with my Maroon Promarker.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Crafting with Dragonflies - Shaped Cards

Kaboodle Doodles - Anything but a Square

Emerald Faeries - Girly - Pretty in Pink

Jellypark - Things with Wings

Sweetpea Stampers - Easel Card

Our second sponsor is Crafts U Print. They gave us access to 4 printable decoupage sheets to choose from (You can get them for free if you sign up to the mailing list). I chose this lovely vintage one. I was a bit unsure about what to do as I don't do decoupage, but then I remembered a vintage nail file set I picked up in Poundland ages ago knowing it would come in useful at some point.

The background is a plain white card that I coloured with Distress Inks - Antique Photo, Fired Brick and Stormy Sky. It's only the 3rd time I've ever used distress inks, but I thought they'd work for this.

From the side you can see how high the decoupage builds up.

It was a lovely surprise to find the nail files have the vintage image printed on them as well as on the packet.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamps - D is for Distress

Eclectic Ellapu - Vintage

I hope you like both of my cards. Please come over and join us at Through the Purple Haze Challenges x

Bring on the Cake!

Who doesn't love cake? For a birthday, for a celebration - any excuse really! 

Ellen from Encino Stamps certainly loves her cake!

The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up Digi Stamp set 'Bring on the Cake' 

I used these Promarkers:

Skin - Burnt Orange, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush with Pastel Pink Cheeks

Hair (which didn't work very well this time) - Cocoa, Henna, Chestnut, Walnut, Burgundy

Dress - Red, Berry Red, Cardinal Red, Burgundy

Cake - Vanilla, Saffron, Pastel Yellow

Candle - Gold Gel Pen, Yellow, Orange, Berry Red

I hope you like her x

Kenny K Happy Birthday

I love Kenny K's images and was lucky enough to have Present Surprise to play with for this week's challenge at Through the Purple Haze (use a Digi).

I decided to keep the card clean and simple as I wanted the image to be the main focus.

I love the expressions on their faces!

The sentiment is from the Stampin Up Digi stamp set A Word for You

I coloured my image using my Promarkers:

Skin - Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush with Pastel Pink Cheeks

His Hair - Tulip Yellow, Sunflower, Gold, Raw Sienna

Her Hair - Cocoa, Henna, Chestnut, Walnut

Her Top - Green, Lush Green, Pine

Her Trousers - Midnight Blue, Indigo Blue

His Top - Azure, True Blue, Royal Blue

Present - Bright Orange, Orange, Burnt Orange

Red, Berry Red, Burgundy

Ribbon - Yellow, Canary, Gold

I used my Pormarkers with the fine tips on them to draw a frame around the card.

I hope you like it. 

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

The Pink Elephant - Birthday 

CAS on Sunday - Colour me Pretty

Pile it On - Bold and Bright

Totally Gorjuss - Happy Birthday 

Steampunk with Mr Steam from Ditzie Digi Design

The challenge at Digi Galore this time is Steampunk. Now any of you who know me know I'm not a steampunk girl in any way. I admire it from afar, but have never tried to make anything in that style. There's a first time for everything though and here it is!

This rather dashing chap is Mr Steam from our sponsor Ditzie Digi Designs

I coloured him with my Promarkers:

Skin - Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush

Hair & 'Tash - Cocoa, Henna, Chestnut, Walnut

Shirt - Ivory, Ice Grey 1

Waistcoat and Hat - Burgundy, Warm Grey 5

Cogs - Gold and Silver gel pens

Goggles - Gold Gel Pen, Chestnut, Cool Aqua

Tie - Pine, Holly

I used the blender pen to remove some of the ink from his waistcoat so the detail of the 'embroidery' stands out. 

I added some Chronology metal Cogs, Doodled around the outside with my Walnut Promarker and stamped the Just Because stamp from Technique Tuesdays with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink.

I really hope you like him. 

Come over and join the Steampunk ness at Digi Galore

I'd like to enter Mr Steam into 

Paper Crafting Journey - Make it Manly/ Boyish

The Sisterhood of Crafters - One for the Boys