Love Is In The Air

The hugely talented Gez dared us this week at Daring Cardmakers';

 With Valentine's Day just around the corner and everywhere you turn in the local high streets 

Gez thought it would be great to share some 'love' ourselves..

This weeks dare is.. 
Love Is In The Air... ♥♥♥

Lets put some romance back into our blogs and drive out those winter blues...

This is my card; 

I used Kaisercraft paper, Bazzill and American Crafts cardstock, Kesi'Art, Spellbinders and Die-namics Dies, Basic Grey letter stickers and a mini peg from stash

TFL and don;t forget to check out the Daring Cardmakers' blog where the fabulous Design Team share some lovely inspiration to light your creative fires...

February Colours

Kathy dared us this week at Daring Cardmakers' and as it's the first Friday of the month it's Colour Combo Challenge Week!

Valentines Day is not far off and I thought this gorgeous montage would help get us all in the mood for romance. Of course, these colours are fantastic for any kind of card, not just Lovey-Dovey ones, so just let your imagination flow with.....

Cranberry, Slate Grey, Pale Grey 

and White

Here's the montage to help get you thinking  

We're looking forward to seeing what you come up with, but for some extra inspiration here are the cards made by our wonderful design team this week

and here's my card;

I used Crate Paper papers, and chipboard, American Crafts date stamp, leaf punch from stash, Button Twine, seam binding and flower from The Ribbon Girl and hand crocheted the flowers using the pattern in the first issue of Simply Crochet.

Don't forget to pop by the Daring Cardmakers' blog where you can see all of the beautiful cards made by the DT and find out who was the winner of last week's sponsored dare!

Setting the Scene

This week's Dare over at Daring Cardmakers' is an extra special one - chosen by the very talented Sharon and sponsored by Docrafts with their brilliant Build a Scene Dies;

"It's Sharon here to set this weeks challenge and this week we have a fabulous prize on offer thanks to Docrafts!
Firstly, the challenge - the theme is:

 Setting the Scene

 We'd like you to make your card your canvas for creating your own miniature world!  The theme is totally your choice and you can use whatever you like to create your scene - die cuts, stamps, embellishments - but please use various elements for the 'scene', don't just use one stamp!

Our challenge this week is sponsored by Xcut – the exciting die-cutting and tool range from Docrafts. The winner of the challenge can choose one of the 4 exciting new sets of Build-A-Scene Dies each worth £19.95. Each set features a collection of dies that work together to let you build up layered designs to create a beautiful or fun scene! Choose from Vintage Hot Air Balloon, Nautical, Garden Party or London."

I was lucky enough to get the Garden Party set to play with and made this; 

I used Crate Paper and Papermania papers, Crate chipboard and stickers, Ribbon Girl flowers and Papermania stickers and gems.

Thanks for visiting, please go and see the fabulous little pieces of art that the DT have made with all the dies from the range on the Daring Cardmakers blog, they are absolutely fantastic! 

Game On!

2 Daring Cardmakers' cards today, the first for Rein's amazing dare, 

Fun and Games

I'd like you to make a card which also has a little extra element of fun :

*It could include a game for the recipient to play

*Or you could put moving things on your card such as flapping wings or wheels that really work

*Or it can bee an advent calendar card with doors and windows  to open...

This was such a tricky dare :) my DCM teamies have been so much more creative than I have been! 

I made this;

and used a child's toy black board, die cut with a Sizzix die to make the rectangular board, and added actual chalk so that you can complete and play noughts and crosses.  I also used Crate Paper papers and a journalling card, a crocheted star and flower, twine, seam binding from the Ribbon Girl

and the second that I made for last week's dare but didn't quite get around to uploading it....(sorry Lythan!)

using more Crate Paper, Bazzill Kraft, Ribbon Girl Twine coloured with a ProMarker and a teeny Papermania adhesive gem.

and a sneak peek at a party set that I made for Sizzix;

You can see all the details over on The Making Spot's blog :)

Besides the seaside!

The  über talented Gez dared us this week at Daring Cardmakers';

Hi, it's Gez here this week and I've got a brand new dare to share with you.. for this weeks dare.. 

I would love to see the sea included on your card.. think  

SUN, SEA, SAND.... 

the living is easy!

Anything to do with beach life can be included! 

Simple!

I'm not sure the current thunder and lightening is beach weather :) but, that aside, I made this;

I used Echo Park Everyday Eclectic digital image and traditional papers and stickers, Kaisercraft frame, a Papermania adhesive pearl, wooden peg, washi tape and staples coloured with a ProMarker from stash.

Don't forget to check out the beachy projects that the DT have made, we have a wonderful Guest Designer, Kate with us and everybody has made amazing cards.

TFL!

Resin inspiration

The über talented Nat dared us this week at Daring Cardmakers';

This week the design team was set the challenge of creating a card featuring resin embellishments.

I have totally fallen in love with these items. Not only are scrapbooking manufacturers creating their own lines of these pretty little additions to go with their paper collections, but there are so many etsy stores and lovely online shops offering resin embellishments in every style, size, and colour you can think of.

This is my card;

I used Instagram to create a football to use as a photo embellishment;

and used a resin flower from The Tea House Bridge.  I also used MME and AC papers, OA chipboard, Tea House Bridge button, Ruby Rock-It arrow, Ikea tape measure, washi tape, Papermania pearls & eyelet, Ribbon Girl Bakers' Twine and Prima letters

TFL - Don't forget to check out the DT's gorgeous resin creations!

A Winner...

Slightly later than planned... 

The winner of the Ribbon Girl Pearls and Swirls Kit is...

(with thanks to Random.Org)

Karen - congrats :)

and two cards;

The first for Nat's fabulous Red White and Blue Challenge at Daring Cardmakers'

Made using a Union Flag and Mason Jar that I found on t'internet, Ribbon Girl leaves, crown pins, buttons, pleated ribbon, pearls and twine, Ikea tape measure, homemade tissue paper washi tape, Prima letters.

I added sparkle and shine with a wink of stella glitter pens to the jar so am popping this into the current Kuretake challenge - red white and blue with a bit of bling.

and a card for the Ribbon Girls Card Challenge - using ribbon or lace;

 there are some fabulous prizes on offer;

Ribbon Girl red ribbon kit

Stamp from Lili Of The Valley

You can check all the details and see the amazing cards made by the DT on the Ribbon Girls Blog

From The Ribbon Girl I used;

Pearls

Mulberry Flower

Leaves

Striped ribbon

Pleated satin ribbon

Pom pom trim

 Lace

Stick Pin

Bakers Twine

I also used Simple Stories papers and stickers, a Pink Paislee Union Flag, a clip from Paperchase and a white ink pad.

TFL!

All Locked Up!

Rein dared us this week at Daring Cardmakers';

It's Rein here this week with a very easy dare

I would love to see

Lock(s) and Key(s)
on your card.

After hunting high and low for a lock and key, I eventually found one that I think came in a cracker last Christmas;

I used Crate Paper papers and chipboard, Bazzill cardstock, peg, staple and eyelet from stash, Papermania gems, Cosmo Cricket letters, and Baker's Twine, Flower and Leaves from The Ribbon Girl.

TFL - don't forget to check out the DT's lovely lock and key creations here!

Going Geek

Two cards today - the first for Lythan's fantastic dare at Daring Cardmakers';

I (Lythan) have a son who is 18 this week and he is a real Geek - loves computers, computer games, physics, obscure comics (mostly online), Big Bang Theory and did I mention computers? So I thought I would throw out a real challenge and see what we could come up with in terms of making cards that celebrate Geek- dom. So the dare is....

Going Geek

and as an extra reward this week there is a random prize draw 

for a set of Imagine That alphabet stamps

 You can check all the details of how to enter and see the amazing geeky cards made by the DT here :)

This is my computer inspired card;

not many supplies - Just Bazzill cardstock and Papermania gems!

and the second card I began to make ages ago - it started out as the card for Keilly's brilliant colour dare at Daring Cardmakers, but didn't look quite right - but after another look, I managed to finish it!

I used Crate Paper and Heidi Swapp papers,Sizzix die, Ribbon Girl and Ikea flowers, Ribbon Girl Button Twine, Doodlebug sentiment, Washi tape, Ribbon Girl and Papermania Pearls, Ribbon Girl button and a paper doily.

TFL!

Marie Antoinette

Sharon dared us this week at Daring Cardmakers' with the awesome theme of Marie Antoinette;

I want to see your Vintage Parisian/Palace of Versailles creations as this week's theme is

Marie Antoinette

There are lots of possibilities with this theme - your card doesn't necessarily have to feature the Queen herself, but can be in a Baroque/Palace of Versailles style, or something inspired by the fantastic gowns and wigs she wore. Or, you could even opt for a 'let them eat cake' inspired card (even though she apparently never actually said that!)

This is my make - a Bon Voyage/Road trip card, made using a map of Paris and Versaille found on t'internet as a backdrop, and 'actual' French scrapbooking papers and journalling cards.

I used Kesi'art Itinérance papers and journalling card, MME Miss Caroline Howdy Doody "Like" Ledger paper, Melissa Frances 5th Avenue Ebony paper, Ikea tape measure, Ribbon Girl and Kesi'art paper flowers, Ribbon Girl leaf and seam binding, Papermania eyelets, Tattered Angels chipboard frame (coloured with a promarker and glittered), Mark Richards pearls, cuttlebug and nestability dies, Melissa Frances rub on, staple, hand stitching and inking.

Don't forget to check out the DT's gorgeous Marie Antoinette inspired cards here!

Spots & Stripes

The very talented Keilly's turn to set the dare this week at Daring Cardmakers' which is;

Spots and Stripes 

and this is my striped and spotted card;

made with October Afternoon Holiday Style, home made washi tape, Ribbon Girl pin, twine and ribbon

TFL :)

A Nordic Christmas

It's the very lovely Fran's turn to dare us this week at Daring Cardmakers and she has chosen this beautiful photograph to inspire us all;



This is my card;




Made with Lots of yummy new October Afternoon, Ribbon Girl flower, twine and ribbon, Kraft cardstock, Nesties, inking and handstitching.

TFL!

December Flowers - Holly and Narcissus

This week's Daring Cardmakers' dare is the last team dare of the year featuring December's flowers; Holly and Narcissus.

I went with holly and used the current sketch on the MME blog to make this;



I used MME Lost and Found Christmas papers and sentiment die cut, MME 12 days of Christmas star die cut, Ribbon Girl ribbon, seam binding, berries and button twine, some vintage holly and berries, felt holly, Tim Holtz birdcage die, doodlebug brads, a paper doily form Sarah's cards, Papermania gems and some holey backing paper, layered over more MME Lost and Found Christmas paper and a Kraft cardstock base.

TFL!

Movember Madness

Samm's turn to dare at Daring Cardmakers' this week-

It's the month of Movember so what better time than to show us some Moustaches, Tashes, Mustaches, Furry Facial Hair on your cards this week!

Not having any Moustaches to hand, I made mine digitally and added it to this card;



Made using Bazzill cardstock and brads,

This is the image that I used; (click it to big it!)



and as it is the 25th - one month 'til Christmas! It is the last Ribbon Girl Jingle All The Way To Christmas;



There is a fantastic Christmas Ribbon Kit up for grabs - you can see all the details of how to enter here;



and this is my Christmas themed card;



Made using; Ribbon and Berries from The Ribbon Girl, a Printable from CraftsUPrint, MME papers, Washi Tape, inking and stitching.

TFL!

Water, Water, Everywhere....

The theme for this week's Daring Cardmaking has been chosen by the lovely Vanessa and is;
WATER

You could make a card with a watery theme (lakes, rivers, fishies, boats etc), or maybe you'll find a way to actually use some water in the making of your card eg colouring with watercolours

This is my card - using a frozen water embellishment - aka a snowflake!



I used; MME papers and tags, a Sizzix embossing folder which I inked, Flowers, Button Twine and Ribbon from The Ribbon Girl, a doily, Nestabilities dies and a felt snowflake from The Range.

TFL - and don't forget to check out the other watery creations here.

Bejewelled

Todays's Daring Cardmakers' dare was set by the very talented Sharon;

It's Sharon here setting this weeks challenge. I'd like to see cards inspired by a piece of jewellery - you can be inspired by the colour, the stone, or the design. A good place to start is looking at the pictures on pinterest - that's where I found the gorgeous ring that inspired my card.
and also where I found my inspiration picture;


to make this card;



I used October Afternoon Sidewalks paper, poppy from t'internet, Ribbon Girl flower, striped ribbon and twine, Doodlebug gems, Papermania black, and Bazzill Kraft cardstock, a doily, adhesive border and Papermania adhesive gems.

Don't forget to check out all the DT's fabulous bejewelled creations here :)

Chrysanthemums for Our Birthday!

Last week's dare was Dare No 52 of Year 5 of Daring Cardmakers challenges - yes, we've been around THAT long! And we still enjoy setting the dares and making our cards. A Huge THANK YOU to all of you who pop in week by week to see what we're up to, and especially to those of you who join in with our challenges - we really do appreciate your support.
The DT members may have changed but our aims remain the same - to inspire and challenge you (and ourselves) to make cards, no matter what your style and no matter what your experience is. We remain open to all, have no allegiance to any company and we actively encourage as much variety as possible - we definitely do not judge one card above another so when we offer prizes winners are always chosen at random.

For our first dare of year 6 it's a return to our year-long celebration of flowers associated with each month. According to our list there is just one flower for November and it's the
Chrysanthemum
Luckily there are lots of different types, so plenty of inspiration to be had - just do a Google Image Search on Chrysanthemum and you'll be spoilt for choice!

Not sure my flower turned out to be completely like a Chrysanthemum...



I used Crate Paper random, Simple Stories Year-o-Graphy, and OA papers,AC fabric paper, Sizzix and Cuttlebug dies, Bazzill bling cardstock with extra glitter added with a Kuretake Wink of Stella clear pen, Papermania adhesive pearl and Seam binding and button twine from The Ribbon Girl.

TFL - and don't forget to check out the other gorgeous Chrysanthemums from the DT.

Fantastic Felties

Nat dared us this week at Daring Cardmakers;

This week I want to see you get creative with felt.
I just love the stuff but seem to always do the same old same old with it... so I'm really looking forward to seeing what creative ideas you come up with.
You can use felt to make your own handmade embellishments (even include some threading and beading if you're feeling energetic), use some pre-made felties, or even raid the accessories sale bins for something unique to add to your project!

I made this Halloween card;



and I used Simple Stories papers and stickers, cream felt (die cut to create a feltie skull), American Crafts Mixtape Spellbinders dies and googly eyes.

TFL - and don't forget to check out the DT's felt-tastic creations!

Banksy

Daring Cardmakers have gone urban this week with Samm's brilliant street art dare;

It's my turn to set the dare this week and my challenge is

'Inspired by Banksy'

If you're not aware of who he is, then pop on by Banksy.co.uk and take a look at some of his amazing street art across the world - you could also try a Google Image search on "Banksy" to find lots of fabulous ideas for your card.

So now is your chance to dig out those stencils, use that paint, throw in a few ironic sayings and give your card some 'street life'

This my card - we watched Banksy's documovie Exit Through The Gift Shop (which was fascinating - even if a partial fabrication) last weekend and I based my card on one of the artists featured - Invader;



I made the space invader using squares of 12x12 digi paper, resized and arranged in rows and added a sentiment using Killer DJ font from Dafont. Usual inking and stitching and a smidgeon of Basic Grey out of print paper.

The DT have made amazing street art inspired cards - you can check them out here

Have a great weekend!

2Circles2Go

This week's Daring Cardmaker's dare is a sketch, taken from Kathy's marvelous Sketch File blog;



I rotated the sketch 90° CCW and made this;

I used OA Sidewalks papers and sticker, flower and button twine from The Ribbon Girl, Spellbinders dies, Papermania gem, peg and staples from stash.

Don't forget to check out how my very talented teamies have interpreted the sketch

TFL!