Here is my entry for Craft Stamper Embossing challenge. The background is made from stripes of red and green embossing powder, and the butterflies are covered with  clear UTEE. The stamp is by Julie Nutting.

Entry for the Craft Barns 'Y' challenge

This is the first ever blog challenge I have entered, and it all feels slightly scary! But everyone has to start somewhere. I chose Year as my word and signified an anniversary date, with the addition of a Yellow Pages advert, just to echo the yellow theme! 

Here is my entry for Cardmaking and Papercraft's Lace challenge. I love the new Julie Nutting Doll stamps. The only trouble is I haven't got an acrylic block long enough! Still, with a little delicate handling I managed to stamp without using one, the lines are so crisp and clear. I then decoupaged her dress, shoes and crown with the Emma's Garden free papers from last month's issue. And lace, lace and more lace. I made a lace frill by pleating pink ribbon at the edge of the card, and then some beautiful old fashioned cream lace and a strip of lacy washi tape. I gave the doll a lacy frill to her skirt, and added a couple of bits to the crown, so she is fully co-ordinated! Oh, then to ensure the lace theme came over fully, I added a lacy doily. Over the top? I think so!

Minimalist style

I punched out a circle and masked off a small area, then coloured it with Distress inks and over-stamped with some fern stamps from Crafty Individuals. After removing the mask, I then stamped the dandelion head and a greeting. A few matching stick on gems and a ribbon made a nice quick, simple card.

Another iris

Another stamp from the beautiful iris set. 

First time using tissue mask

I got a beautiful new stamp from Chocolate Baroque. The iris is very delicate and pretty, so masking using the conventional method of a post-it note wouldn't have been successful. So I tried the tissue masking method. The tissue is backed by thin plastic, which means it is easy to cut around even the most intricate designs. I then peeled it off carefully and placed over an image I had stamped on to white card, and sprayed green and yellow Dylusions ink over the top. The mask came off and left the stamped design perfectly clear. I have stored the masks on a sheet of paper, as I think I will be able to use them again. Any slight 'halo' effect round the design was easily filled in afterwards.

Get well soon!

I had been looking for this Tim Holtz umbrella man for ages. I finally found him at the Five Craft Exhibition, so when my friend had a horrid bout of 'flu, I knew just how to cheer her up. I thought he was great for a get well card. The tiny box of tissues brought a smile to her face! I made the box, then cut up a tiny tissue to stick inside. What with the teardrop gems, and the cloud shaped die, it was the perfect card for feeling 'under the weather'.

Canvas wall hanging

This was made using Tim Holtz tissue paper, which was sprayed with Dylusions ink spays. The words were stamped onto face tissues, and coloured in on the back with pastel sticks, taking great care not to tear them! The butterfly (Chocolate Baroque) was also coloured this way too. I then stuck on a few watch parts and some charms on the bottom edge. I filled in one of the watch parts with Glossy Accents over a word to give the appearance of a magnifying glass. 

Amelie, aged eight, also made a canvas, in pink and mauve. I laughed so much at the way she sprayed the tissue, with one in each hand, and shooting them like guns! She also fitted all her own jump rings and charms herself.