52 Cards Wk27: Pick a colour or two

For week 27 over on the 52 card challenge Nat gave us another colour scheme challenge

When this challenge went up I had just finished my Sketchy Scrappers layout using the Flea Market collection from Maggie Holmes and thought the colours from this collection went great with the colour palette. I had a couple of friends birthdays coming up so decided to use the palette to make them a card each, I made them the same card but ssh don't tell anyone! 

I used a couple of scraps from the collection, the floral paper had most of the colours in it. For the sentiment I used Elle's Studio letter stickers and a Flea Market project life card. 

52 Card Challenge catch up!

As usual I'm playing catch up with the 52 Card Challenge. In fairness I had made these cards a couple of weeks ago I just hadn't had the chance to blog them! 

Wk22: 50 shades of green 

For week 22 Nat asked is to use predominantly green on a card. I went through my scraps bag and pulled out all my green paper but then I was stuck as to what to do with them. So in my normal fashion k did a lot of faffing and decided to add a pop of another colour to help break the green up. In doing so my card does seem to be more pink than green but never mind! 

Wk 23: photo inspiration 

For week 23 we were given another pin to use as a starting point for our card

I picked up on the aqua and yellow colour scheme along with the floral pattern and little birdie to make this 

The floral scallop is a Papermania die cut which came in an old kit. I also used some very old K & Conpany rub ones and an MFT stamp. 

Wk 24: Chevron, Glitter & a number 

For this week we were given three prompts: chevrons, glitter and a number. 

I used my Stampin Up chevron embossing folder on a scrap piece of card for a background. I then used scraps of Amy Tann & American Crafts paper to add to the boldness. I had intended to use a glitter number 1 from a set of Thickers where I only have numbers remaining, but when I looked at the set I had in mind the 1 looked more like an L! So back to the drawing board I used a number 1 from a Deer Lizzy set and a glittered heart button instead! 

52 Cards Wk21: Hello Sunshine

For week 21 of the 52 card challenge Nat set us another sketch

At first I thought this was a nice easy sketch to work from, famous last words! I dithered for ages about whether to rotate it or not then faffed for ages over which papers to use, which sentiment I wanted. Then as I looked through my stash I came across a sticker sheet from Studio Calico's Sundrifter collection I received in a kit last year. On the sheet were a few sayings and the one saying "You are my sunshine" particular stuck out so I decided to use this. Cue more faffing over which papers to use until finally I made this card

I thought the orange in this paper from Carta Bella matched the sentiment sticker perfectly so went with this collection. I didn't like the idea of reading the sentiment sideways and at the same time changed my mind about rotating the sketch, so I compromised and placed the sentiment at the bottom right so you could still read it the right way. I added some heart trip I've had in my stash for ages and some stickers from the same sticker sheet to the left to fill in the gap. 

52 Cards Wk20: Show me tell me

Hi all sorry for the lack of blogging. Unfortunately we lost Buster last week so I've not felt like crafting which means nothing to share. Then yesterday I needed to make a birthday card for a birthday girl today so made my way to the desk and started cutting and I have to say it felt good to be doing something again. I've said it before but crafting is definetly good therapy. 

 Once again I'm playing a little bit of catch up with the 52 Card Challenge. I'll admit it now and say I've skipped week 19 as we were asked to include vellum which shockingly I have none of! I may come back to it at a later date but for now it's straight onto week 20. This week were had the prompt of Show me tell me, where we include a new technique, product or tool we want to show off to people. At first I wasn't sure what I wanted to show off, but then I remembered the Stampin Up banner punch I received when I got my new trimmer so decided to go with that. 

This card is made using only scraps from my scraps bag, I think they are all American Crafts with a tiny bit of Glitz Designs. It's a clean and simple card but nice and summery at the same time. 

52 Cards Wk18: time for tea?

For week 18 of the 52 Cards challenge Nat asked us to take inspiration from this picture 

I decided to take inspiration from the plates on the wall. First of all I thought I would just punch some circles, but then I remembered I had the saucer paper from Maggie Holmes Flea Market. This is a lovely paper but I admit I was unsure how I would use it on a layout. Thinking then how I would use it on a card tea cups came to mind. I found a template of a teapot and cup in an old magazine and so made this card

I chose a paper which looked most like a chintz patterned teacup and outlined them with a black marker to make them stand out. I added a doily cos let's face it they go hand in hand with tea parties! 

52 Cards Wk17: Pick a Pocket

Week 17's prompt for the 52 Card Challenge was another sketch which included adding a pocket or envelope to our card 

I knew in my stash somewhere I had some pockets from Papermania's All Aboard collection which I had brought last year. If I'm honest I must have had a mad moment last year as not only did I buy the pockets but also the die cut pack, tags and 6x6 papers. In fairness it was all reduced but why oh why did I buy it? We don't travel so it has all just been sitting there doing nothing so this seemed the perfect opportunity to use some of it up. 

I added a luggage label to the pocket but stuck it in so it is just for show and not serving a purpose. The tickets are a combination of a MME ticket from a strip I received in a grab box and an actual train ticket from a railway in Norfolk my parents had visited. 

Using a kraft card base means the inside is not smooth so any writing inside is not easy to read. In an attempt to actually use this collection up I took another piece of paper and made an insert

The morale of this blog post: think before you buy! Don't buy just because something is reduced! 

52 Cards Wk16: Gold

Week 16's prompt for the 53 Card Challenge was gold (admit it you read that singing Spandau Ballet, I know I did). Next week is my aunties 60th birthday so I used the prompt to make a birthday card for her. On her blog Nat mentioned that there were gold (cue Spandau Ballet again) elements in the Maggie Holmes Style Board emphemera pack. I havnt got this collection yet but I do have her Flea Market papers and so used these. 

I pulled out some old gold mirror card and embossed a strip to run along the middle. The butterflies are punched from dictionary paper using a Martha Stewart punch. 

52 Cards Wk15 & Scrapology April card challenge: foxy birthday card

For wk15 on the 52 Card Challenge the prompt was "all creatures great or small", to make a card with our furry friends. Common sense would say to make an Easter card as the prompt was before Easter and use bunnies or chicks. But I lack common sense sometimes and I'm still catching UK so Easter has been and gone! I searched through my stash for anything animal related but other than butterfly punches and my bird punch from Stampin Up, I was not feeling inspired.

Then after catching up on my blog reading I came across the Scrapology April card challenge to use freebies. I remembered I had saved a cute fox postcard we received from a supplier at work from the bin so decided to kill two birds with one stone so to speak. The rabbit tag is also a freebie from a Joules bath set I received for Christmas and I intend to make a card with this too at some point. 

The easy option would be to use the postcard as a whole as a backing appear but that would be no fun. Instead I pulled out my Stampin Up postage stamp punch and punched some foxes out. 

I added a scrap of old October Afternoon paper, some Washi tape and some Pebbles letter stickers. 

52 Cards: Happy Birthday Ian

I'm yet again playing catch up with the 52 Card Challenge. For week 14 Nat set is another photo inspiration prompt

You know when you've got lots of ideas in your head but they never translate onto paper? That happened to me. When I saw this photo 2 weeks ago I had ideas of using my new chevron punch to create a minimalist card with some wood grain Washi tape and a bold sentiment. But this never materialised, probably because me being me I left making Ian's birthday card right to the last minute so made a rushed card which is ok but not what I would have liked it to be. 

I did at least use my chevron punch! When I saw the coffee cup sticker from the Hello Again collection I knew I could only use it for either a card for Ian or a layout about him as he is a big coffee drinker. I thought the colours from the collection were fairly similar to the wall in the inspiration photo and used the coffee cup as a focal point just as the chair is in the photo. As I said, it is an ok card I'm not happy with it but Ian liked it so that's the main thing. 

52 Cards Wks 12 & 13: Mothers Day Cards

While my trimmer has been out of action I've been having to make do with a smaller trimmer only suitable for cards, so scrapping has had to be sidelined giving me time to catch up on the 52 Card Challenge and make the Mothers Day cards. Week 12 was a colour prompt, drawing colours from this picture

Sometime ago I brought some MME Miss Caroline papers from Create & Craft, but in typical Jess fashion I hadn't used them as they didn't fit my style of scrapping but as it turns out are great for cards. This is the card I made for mumma B

I decided to pull out my very neglected flower stash to fit with the spring feel. I'm sure I'm not the only one who brought loads of flowers when they started scrapping but have never actually used them, or have left them sitting untouched on the side. 

As the papers were out I used them for Wk 13's prompt which was to use this sketch

Hmm I wonder who has a Polaroid frame die? That's right I do! This is the card u made for mumma G 

Again I used some neglected flowers but this time added some butterflies punched from some scraps of card. 

Update on the trimmer: finally had an email from Fiskars asking for photos of the trimmer, after calling me Sonia! I emailed some photos to them and had an automated response saying the department was closed until April 7th! 

BUT... a new trimmer arrived yesterday, not from Fiskars but a Stampin Up trimmer I ordered as a replacement. 

And the good news... Today I have been scrapping so stayed tuned!! 

52 Cards Wk11: SOSNSBSB

This weeks 52 Card Challenge prompt was SOSNSBSB, something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. 

It is my brothers birthday tomorrow (March 17th) so I used the prompt to make a birthday card for him. Like most people I hate making the dreaded male cards so this took some thinking, but eventually I made this

Something old: I used my star punch & die, and my postage stamp punch. I also used some scraps from my scraps bag

Something new: for paper I used the 6x6 Crate Paper the Pier pad which I brought some time ago but had not used. I also used my Martha Stewart Star border punch which I brought after Christmas but hadn't used

Something borrowed: while deciding where to go with this card I popped over to Page Maps and borrowed this sketch for inspiration 

Something Blue: a dash of blue cardstock 

 

I like how the card came out and will be a versatile design to use again & again. 

Greetings from Meadow Barn

This blog post comes to you from sunny Herefordshire as it is Meadow Barn time again, a time for chatting, laughing, scrapping and cake! 

We arrived yesterday afternoon and started scrapping straightaway, well I needed to if I wanted to get a good start to my 30 layout challenge I've set myself. I was up until the early hours of this morning, had a few hours shut eye and then carried on again over breakfast. 

I have also managed to catch up on the 52 Cards Challenge. Last weeks prompt was to draw inspiration from this picture 

I have to say I struggled with this prompt as I havnt really got anything which matches the colour scheme. However after doing a layout using the Carta Bella Hello Again collection I thought the colours were not too dissimilar so decided to use the collection to make this card

I LOVE this chevron paper! The tag is from the collection sticker sheet popped up on foam tape. The Washi tape is from a new set Gemma had picked up for me from TK Maxx. 

This weeks challenge was to use wood, plastic and stickers. I brought some of the Studio Calico wood veneer stars sometime ago and have been seriously hoarding them! But I decided to finally use them and made this card

The paper is from the Close Knit collection which again Gemma had been holding for me. The sticker is from the Hello Again collection again. For the plastic element I added some star sequins from an old kit. Anyway back to the scrapping and cake! Xx

52 Cards Wk8: Sketch number 2

For this weeks 52 cards prompt Nat set us another sketch

Seeing the sketch I knew straight away that I wanted to use a doily for the circular element, you can't go wrong with a doily! I must admit I cheated a bit, if you are a regular reader this card may be ever so slightly similar to another I made last month even down to the papers! 

I used papers from American Crafts Mayberry collection. The butterfly was a white die cut I received in a swap sometime ago misted with some Mister Huey's. For the sentiment I cut part of a manufacturers strip from one of the papers. 

52 Cards Wk7: Aqua, green & blue colour combo

This weeks prompt for the 52 card challenge was another colour combo. This time Nat chose this lovely fresh colour combo of green, aqua and a hint of blue 

As with the last colour combo challenge I went through my scraps bag and pulled anything close to the colours. I had more light blue and aqua scraps than soft green so I went with these. I will admit now that I had a crafty tantrum while making my card as my original idea of running banners over a white doily on white card back fired as the doily blended  in too much for my liking and I just couldn't get it to go how I pictured it. I tried misting the doily, inking it with an ink pad to match the colours but no it just didn't look right. After lots of shuffling of papers & browsing through Pinterest I decided to scraplift this card from Page Maps 

Using only scraps I made this card

I used scraps from three different Echo Park collections and one (the ledger paper) from Dear Lizzy. I'm still not completely happy with it I admit, but it is growing on me. 

52 Cards Challenge wk6: using a collection pack

For this weeks challenge Nat asked us to use a collection pack to make a card. I do not have full collection packs and only a few 6x6 paper pads. Then last week I was naughty and purchased the Glitz Hello Again collection pack as I have had my eye on this for a while, and had intended to use this for the challenge. Then when I was over at my mums I noticed the Tilly Daydream collection she had brought have price. The images of this collection are so cute and even though the majority of them are autumninal or wintery there are a couple you could use all year round. So I changed my mind and "borrowed" some of the collection to make a birthday card for my friends daughter who is 6 in a couple of weeks. 

I matted the topper on to some gold mirror card and matted this onto some of the paper from the collection and then onto a kraft card blank. I used a Martha Stewart punch to punch some butterflies from some more paper from the collection and finally added some ribbon from my stash. 

52 Cards Wk5: Valentines Card

For this weeks 52 Cards Challenge Nat dived into her prompt jar and pulled out three prompts for us to use

The first idea which springs to mind on seeing these prompts is obviously Valentines Day. Luckily for me on Tuesday I room delivery of the Beloved paper pad from Fancy Pants which has some lovey dovey Valentines designs but also some which can be used all year round which is why I brought it (that and also to make my order of page protectors look more interesting lol). So using my new papers and some glitter card stock, once I could find it, I made this card for Ian. 

I didn't want it to be too pink as obviously it is for a guy and not for me lol, so I chose the blue triangle paper to sit with the gorgeous watercolour effect heart paper. I used some XCut nested heart dies to cut the hearts from glitter card, I've noticed in using my Big Shot more since making cards which is good. The heart trim is from a roll I've had in my stash for ages. The sentiment is made using Authentique letter stickers. 

52 Cards Wk4: picture inspiration

This weeks prompt for the 52 card challenge is to draw inspiration from this picture 

I kept looking at this picture over and over again and kraft jumped out at me straight away as to did the lace doily. I was certain I would definetly run with these two ideas but I kept changing my mind and eventually made this card 

After looking through Pinterest I like cards with white embossed elements to them and as I want to use my embossing folders more I ran with this. I chose a polka dot folder as this mimicked the dots on the cookies and then instead of using a doily I used a Martha Stewart lace edge punch for a lace effect. 

Whilst deciding what to do all week I came across a pack of MME embellishments I had brought on impulse from Create & Craft some time ago but have never used. The embellishments picked up both the colour scheme and the small flowers from the picture so I added one of these along with some ribbon I received in an old kit but had never used.