Just Hanging Around

I guess we all have our favourite pastimes and how we dream of spending that mythical day that no one else knows about.  I should imagine that if everyone reading this post were asked that question no one would not be surprized if the answer were crafting or card making, after all, it is what I would say.  A close second might be just lazing around with my feet up .....

Just like Teddy Bo here.  I have never slept in a hammock, but I do not think I would be very good at it, in fact, I may well end up doing what Teddy Bo has done and keep my feet on the floor.

I coloured this image with Promarkers and then mounted it on some silver mirri card.  As I intend sending this card to my friend's son, I have kept the layout pretty simple, just a few Craftwork Cards card candy and a sentiment.  The papers are from Studio Calico.

Dionne

Back to Nature

Half way through the week already, not long now until the weekend.

Today I have another one of my Design Team cards for the current Crafty Boots Challenge to show you.  The theme of the challenge is 'Summer Time'.

This lovely Saturated Canary image is actually called 'Springtime', but around here it is highly unlikely that you could sit in a meadow full of daisies and forget-me-nots in spring, the grass would be far too wet!  So, I have saved this image for our summer time challenge.

I coloured the image with Promarkers and then mounted it on gold mirri and red card.  The backing paper is from Stampin' Up, whilst the butterfly die is by Memory Box.  The lace and pearl trim are both from Wild Orchid Crafts  and the Card Candy from Craftwork Cards.  The sentiment is from my stash.

There is still plenty of time for you to enter this Crafty Boots Challenge.

Good luck.

Dionne

A Scottish Castle

I apologise to all of my friends who are currently experiencing drought conditions, I know that my endless complaints about torrential rain and thunderstorms must be really annoying for you.  Whilst we are still seeing rain on a daily basis, the sun is shining between the showers and it is very hot and humid when the sun shines.

The theme of the current Crafty Boots Challenge is 'Summer Time' and I suspect one or two of you may be thinking that this card is not your idea of summer, but it does represent my experience of a British summer, with it's heavy skies.  It also represents something I always enjoy doing when I am on holiday and that is exploring old castles and ruined buildings from times long past.

This Delicious Doodles image is simply called 'A Scottish Castle'.  I coloured the image with my F&C pencils and then mounted it on silver mirri and blue card.  The papers are from Stampin' Up and the butterflies are made from gold mirri card using Memory Box dies.  The 'celebrate' die is a Sizzix one.

If you are currently on holiday, I hope you are doing what you like doing most.

Dionne

Beach Huts

It is already the midway point for the current Crafty Boots Challenge, which is 'Summer Time'.

Given our current weather, I think you would have to be quick to sun bath at the beach because we are experiencing an unusually large volume of thunderstorms at the moment, there are moments of warm sunshine but these are mostly rather muggy.  However, rain has never deterred the British, just as long as we had somewhere to shelter from the rain.  Therefore, rows of jolly beach huts line our favourite bathing spots.

My Design Team card today features the Delicious Doodles 'Beach Huts' image.  I coloured the image with pencils and mounted it on gold mirri card.  The papers are from Stampin' Up and the the other items are all from my stash.

We are very lucky to have three extremely talented Guest Designers today - Jane from 'Jane's Journal', Cicci from 'Cicci Vid Pennan' and Marlene from Cards Made by Marlene'.  Please stop by their blogs and show them some appreciations.

Dionne

Strawberry Picking Time

The weekend is almost here, I hope you have plans for for your weekend.

Perhaps, like TeddyBea here, you are going strawberry picking.  I have not been strawberry picking for a long time but I remember going with my parents when I was a child.  Every year my mother tried to make strawberry jam, but every year it failed to set.  As I recall my father sat in the field eating all of his strawberries whilst the rest of us picked away for the jam making.

When you open a new paper pack there are always one or two papers which I think I shall never use.  This almost florescent yellow paper featuring daisies from Studio Calico was one of those papers, but it turned out to be perfect for my version of 'TeddyBea Strawberry Picking' from Teddy Bo & Co. 

I coloured the image with  F&C polychromos pencils.  I them mounted it on gold mirri and some pink card.  The large butterfly die is a Marianne Creatable, whilst the smaller ones are all from Stampin' Up.  The gems and ribbon are from my stash and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.

Don't forget to enter your 'Summer Time' projects into the Crafty Boots Challenge.

Good luck.

Dionne

In the Harbour

Half way through the week already.  When I was young I use to laugh at my grandmother when she complained about how fast time passed.  Now I completely understand what she was saying!

This has to be one of my favourite images from Delicious Doodles, it is called 'In the Harbour'.  I look at pictures like this and fondly remember childhood holidays.  Although I suspect that this harbour is somewhere in Scotland (because that it where the artist ,Teri Sherman, is from) it always reminds me of Cornwall in the west of England.  I remember one Cornish holiday when my grandfather took me and my little sister out in a little boat, just like this one, to catch mackerel.  We caught so many he could not get them off the hooks fast enough for us.  That evening my sister and I walked around offering free fish to other holiday makers.

I coloured this image with F&C polychromos pencils and mounted it on some gold mirri and Night of Navy card.  The card and papers are both from Stampin' Up and the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.  The little fish came from ebay some time ago.

There is still plenty of time for you to enter your 'summer time' projects into the current Crafty Boots Challenge.

Good luck.

Dionne

Summer Time

It is the start of a new week and it is also the start of a new challenge over at Crafty Boots Challenges.  For the next two weeks they are looking to see projects which that say summer to you.

With the amount of rain we have seen the past few weeks I did contemplate making something involving Noah's Ark for my Design Team piece, but I decided to be optimistic and chose an image representing something which makes me think of summer in the English countryside ....... the feel of the sun on your face, the sound of swallows on the wing, the soft buzz of a bee and butterflies on the buddliea - which is sometimes known as the butterfly bush' because it attracts so many butterflies.

This lovely image of swallowtail butterflies on a buddlia is from Delicious Doodles and is called 'Butterflies on Buddliea'.  I coloured the image with F&C polychromos pencils, then I mounted it on silver mirri and Wisteria Wonder card.

The backing paper, card and sentiment stamp are from Stampin' Up.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the ribbon and flat backed gems are from my stash.

You will find some stunning inspirational projects lovingly made by the rest of the Design Team over on the Crafty Boots blog, we look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Good luck.


Dionne

Vintage Truck

Friday already, the weekend is very nearly here.  I have a quick post today to share another of my masculine cards, as you will know if you have been here any time over the past week or so, the current theme at Crafty Boots Challenges is 'Masculine Cards'.

I have another of Delicious Doodles vintage range today, I am sure you can see why I like this range so much, they are just perfect for men.  

Today's image is called Vintage Truck,   Much as yesterdays image, I coloured the truck with my F&C polychromos pencils and then I mounted it on gold mirri and orange card.  The backing papers are all from Studio Calaco and I printed the sentiment on my computer.  

One of the things I find difficult with male cards is how to embellish them, you cannot really use lace, or gems, or flowers, or ribbon so what do you use?  I was quite impressed with the new cogs I used yesterday on the Vintage Motorcycle card, so I decided to use them again today.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Dionne

Vintage Motorcycle

Back today with another masculine card.  You have probably worked out by now that I am a bit of a fan of Delicious Doodles vintage images, that is because they really work so well for male cards.

This image is called Vintage Norton Motorcycle, I have taken great liberties with the colours I used for the paintwork.  My internet searching for the colours suitable for this time period showed this model in WWII khaki, so I used my imagination when I got my F&C polychomos pencils out and went for a Kill Bill look.  I mounted the image on gold mirri and some yellow SU paper.

The backing papers are from Studio Calico and the cogs are a recent purchase, they are made of metal and treated to look bronze.  The rivets are, of course, card candy from Craftwork Cards and I made the sentiment on the computer.

There is still time for you to enter your masculine cards in this Crafty Boots Challenge.


Dionne

Bridge over the River Spey

I have made this card as a birthday card for a male friend, but in fact, this image would make a very good general purpose card.

I have become rather fascinated by these Delicious Doodles scenic images and have been trying to find out whether they are actual places.  I think this view of  The Craigellachie Bridge is on the River Spey in Scotland.  Isn't it a pretty place?

After colouring the bridge with F&C polychromos pencils and mounted it on silver mirri and some Stampin' Up Garden Green card. The backing paper and strips are also from Stampin' Up.  I made the sentiment on my PC and the card candy is from Craftwork Cards.

A very quick reminder about the current Crafty Boots Challenge - 'Masculine Cards'.

Dionne

Working the Land

I am back this morning with another one of my CAS cards featuring a masculine image from Delicious Doodles.

I do love the plow or draft horses, especially the Shires, Suffolk Punch, Clydesdales and the Percherons.  However, I do not know the breeds well enough to know which this is, he seems to be making very light work of plowing this field.

This image is called 'Working the Land'. I coloured it with F&C polychromos pencils and mounted it on gold mirri and some Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler card.  The backing paper is also from Stampin' Up.   I made the sentiment on my PC and the card candy is from Craftwork Cards.

A very quick reminder about the current Crafty Boots Challenge - 'Masculine Cards'.

Have a great day.

Dionne

Vintage Spitfire

We have already reached the midway point of the current Crafty Boots Challenge.  I have spent the last couple of days happily tucked away with my box of pencils colouring the images for a few masculine cards.

Delicious Doodles have some fabulous images, which are just perfect for the men in your life.  This image is called 'Vintage Spitfire'.  I confess I had to do a bit of research for get the colours right for this image, but it was very satisfying to know that I had had not just made them up.  From the photos I looked on line the only variation is in the colour of the nose cone, this seems to come in a variety of colours - red, white, yellow, black.

I use polychromos pencils to colour the image and I mounted it on silver mirri and Pool Party card from Stampin' Up.  The backing paper is also from Stampin' Up ... I thought it looked a bit like a stormy sky.  

I kept this card fairly simple for two reasons.  The first is because I feel that men do not really want a lot of ribbon. gems or bunches of flowers on their cards and the second reason is that I am trying very hard to cut back on the amount of money I spend on postage.  I do not know what it is like in other countries, and I would be interested to hear what it is like, but in the UK postage is not only decided by the weight of a card, but also by size and thickness.  The vast majority of my cards exceed the thickness allowance and I have to pay additional postage.

I almost forgot to tell you that we have two lovely Guest Designers at Crafty Boots this week.  Jana and Cicci won our recent 'Use a Sentiment' challenge, please make sure you take a look at their fabulous work.  Also, the other ladies in the Design Team have been very industrious, they are a great bunch.

Dionne

Vintage Chevy

As you know, the current challenge at Crafty Boots Challenges is 'Masculine Cards'.

This is never a favourite theme for me, I find it so hard to find images I like for me.  Well, that is until I discovered Delicious Doodles.  They have got some amazing images for the men in your life.

This Vintage Chevy image is one of my favourites.  I coloured the image with Promarkers and mounted it on some silver mirri and navy blue card. 

The paper is from Studio Calico and the card candy and sentiment are both from Craftwork Cards.  I believe this is probably enough decoration for a masculine card, most of the ones I know would not appreciate a fussy card.  What do you think?

Dionne

Sottish Harbour Scene

Monday already, where do the weekends go?  Not only has the weekend flown by but it is time of a new challenge at Crafty Boots Challenges.

For the next two weeks the challenge is to share with us your 'Masculine Cards'.  They can by Father's Day cards, Happy Anniversary Dear Husband cards, man or boy birthday cards or even a get well card for a sick little boy.  It can be anything you like, just as long as it is for a man or boy and, of course, a card.

Here is my Design Team card.

This lovely 'Harbour Scene' is from Delicious Doodles.  I coloured the image with my F&C polychromos pencils and mounted it on alternating navy and white card.  The anchor was from my stash and the sentiment was from Craftwork Cards.

I think this view looks like Cullen in Moray, but I am not sure.  Does anyone know?

Our wonderfully talented Design Team have been very busy making cards to inspire you, please take a look whilst you are entering your cards in this Crafty Boots Challenge.

Good luck.

Dionne 

The Rude Mechanical Bee

When I first found out about the current 'Butterfly and Bees' challenge at Crafty Boots.  I knew straight off what I wanted to make, a mechanical bee canvass, something with a bit steampunk in it's design.  And, whenever I think steampunk, I automatically think of my Sizzix layered Bigz dies, the ones with the texture fades embossing folders, I have several including this fabulous bee one.

Before starting my design I painted my canvass with Gesso, I then used a honeycomb stencil and some Liquitex Gel Medium to give the canvass a random texture. This was the first time I have used Liquitex, in the past I have always used Pamellia Johnson's fantastic texture paste, that will teach me not to take short cuts.  The Liquitex, held it's shape badly and took forever to dry.  In future I will go back to following Pamellia's paste recipe.

When the Liquidex was at last dry I gave the canvass a coat of rich yellow acrylic paint and, once that was dry, I stamped the canvass with an IndigoBlu's Script stamp and their Tree-mendous stamp.

Next I painted several sheets of card with different metallic acrylic paints and die cut the cogs and my bee.  I used two cog dies sets - a Robert Addams set and an X Cut set.  I also added a honeycomb die cut, a few flat backed gems, a metal key and some bee charms to the decorations. Finally, I dabbed on a few black ink smudges to take away that  shiny new look.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Dionne

PS  Apologies for the pun in the title but as we have been celebrating Shakespeare and I saw A Midsummer Night's Dream the other evening and I could not resist the temptation.

Teddy Bo Loves Teddy Bea

Hi have two cards to share with you today, they are both inspired by the current Crafty Boots challenge - 'Butterflies and Bees'.

Both of these little cuties are from Teddy Bo & Co.

The first is romantically called TeddyBo_255, jolly Teddy Bo is dressed up as a Bumble Bee.

Teddy Bo's girlfriend is also dressed as a Bumble Bee, her stamp is called TeddyBea_281.

I coloured Teddy Bo and Teddy Bea with Copic markers and then added clear Wink of Stella to the wings.  I mounted the images on gold mirri, white and Garden Green cards.  The backing papers and sentiment stamp are from Stampin' Up.  The ribbon and bee charms are from my crafty stash.


Dionne

More Coneflowers

Woohoo, more coneflowers, they are such pretty flowers and, if the digi artist are to be believed, they are usually covered in butterflies!

Like yesterday's card, I have used this image twice before, back in June 2013 and again in February 2015.

The image is from Eureka Stamps and is called Butterfly and Sunflowers, however, I am pretty sure the flowers have been misnamed and they are actually coneflowers.  I coloured the image with Copic markers and mounted it on silver mirri and Garden Green card from Stampin' Up.  The backing paper and sentiment stamp are also from Stampin' Up.

The butterflies are a Memory Box die and the little flat backed gems are from my stash.

There is still time for you to enter you butterfly and bees projects in the current Craft Boots challenge.

Good luck.

Dionne 

PS  Mrs Beez - A pinch and a punch, it's the first of the month!