Saucy ribbons

I hope saucy is the same as spicy because when I saw the latest DCM challenge was for "hot and spicy," I knew immediately how I would interpret it. "Saucy" always makes me think of the Carry On films, and I had a photo to hand of Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques, so I used that to make my saucy card. The photo's mounted on HOTP paper and the zig zags are a Woodware stamp with new Stampin' Up inkpaid (and very good it is too - I getso frustrated with ink pads that don't seem to ink).
As I used ribbons too, I'm combining this challenge with the Arty Girlz ribbon challenge.

Flight of Fancy As Butterflies Flutter By

Caardvarks is asking us to think winged things in the latest challenge, Flight of Fancy.

I used a foil bird ornament that came in a kit from The Story Of My Life and a beautiful quote from Emily Dickinson: "Hope is the thing with feathers that
perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops at all."
Background paper is by College Press.

Meanwhile DCM's latest challenge also has wings, but this time it's butterflies. "Butterfly, Flutterby" asks us to put butterflies on a card. I used a gatefold card and chalked the front with soft blues. I used Twelve by 12 paper and a tag, and stamped butterflies using an Artifacts stamp onto vellum in silver. I coloured the butterflies with Gelly Roll pens and sprinkled on some fine glitter.

Shrink to Fit

This was a very intriguing challenge from DCM! "You are allowed to cover no more than a 5x5cms area of your card with paper or embellishment - the rest of the card must be left plain".

Less is better is not usually the motto of the cardmaker! But here is my attempt. I used an art mould for the first time with friendly plastic, and highlighted it on mesh with a HOTP metal accent (smaller than 5 x 5). The plastic looked more black than gold, which surprised me, so I used some Stickles on top. For the lettering I used my AB Seas alphabet stamps and silver embossing powder, after abandoning attempts to double emboss (you couldn't read the writing).

Pretty Pastels

Pretty Pastels is the theme for the extra from DCM. I used Basic Grey's Two Scoops as the backing paper and several die cuts edged with glitter. It's a quick and easy card as I'm a bit short on time this week.

Pins and Needles

I had to put the thinking cap on for the latest DCM challenge, Pins and Needles. You have to design a card with any theme, using pins and needles of some sort.

I created a baby girl card using four safety pins and torn hand-made paper. I used a baby's feet stamp by Hero Arts and stamped onto acetate in silver. Some ric-rac and glittery letters by Martha Stewart finished it off.

Meanwhile Crafty Stash is running a stamping competition until April 12. The prize a Technique Tuesday Stamp Tote, 1 set of stamps + 1 ink pad.

Here's my card for the competition. I used the Elusive Images wild meadow stamp and stamped onto card with a variety of ink pads, then chalked the flowers. I cut an aperture and placed acetate behind it. The ribbons are by Fancy Pants and the stamp is from Blade Rubber Stamps.

The flowers that bloom in the spring

The DCM midweek challenge is for cards with flowers, and not just any old flowers either (Primas or other bought flowers): "the idea of this dare is for you create your flowers yourself."

Here's my card: I used a rose stamp by Elusive Images to create a decoupage, coloured with Twinkling H2Os and highlighted with Glossy Accents and glitter. The background paper is by K&Co and the silver gatefold card blank from BG Payne Crafts.

Take a Break

The intriguing challenge from DCM is to create a card incorporating a tea bag or coffee satchel.

This was a lot of fun!

I love my tea and have numerous teapots, mostly sourced from Cardew Teapottery, and I adore a pot of Lady Grey in the afternoon (presumably the wife of Earl?). So my card pays homage to the good Lady.

I used a gatefold card blank; a (gasp) peel-off for Lady Grey; the paper is from the wonderful Rockstar pad by DCWV and lace trim by Lakeland. The teabag is not from my Lady Grey box but a Birt & Tang Figura - so revolting I was happy to use it in this way!

Mum's Recipe

The DCM little extra challenge is for a card that follows a recipe. Two buttons, one ribbon and a 'spoonful' of flowers.....!

One of the two Mother's Day cards I made achieves that formula....if hand painted flowers count!

I drew and painted the bluebells with help from a wild flowers book. There are two buttons (K&Co) and one ribbon (ric-rac, hope that counts!). The letters are by Making Memories, the blue paper by DCWV and the matting hand-made paper from Lakeland.
Here is the card I made for my Mum, which uses a stamp by Hero Arts, flowers painted with Twinkling H2Os and highlighted with glitter Mother's Day greeting from Anita's stamp and ribbons by Fancy Pants. The zig zags are peel-offs by Anita's. (I am not too proud to use peel-offs!). I stamped a butterfly (Artefacts) onto acetate which is a nice touch because you can bend the wings upwards.

Both cards are fairly traditional but the two ladies are both 75 so they prefer this type of card. Tilda's and Hanna's are not for them!