Pretty Polly!

Warning!!  The following post includes references to “that time of year“!  Readers of a sensitive nature may wish to pop back tomorrow!!

Well, here goes….my first Christmas card of 2014!  If I’m honest, I’m normally start my Christmas crafting in November, or even in a blind panic in December.  It feels a little bizarre to have spent my afternoon with Poinsettia Polly, when the sun is (finally!) blazing outside – but I am feeling very proud of myself for starting early.  Not sure if one card counts as really starting though, guess we’ll have to see what the next few week’s crafting result in!

For this week’s challenge at Crafting From The Heart, we have three amazing sponsors; Lacy Sunshine, Sassy Designs Studio and PaperNest Dolls!  As always, our theme is “Anything Goes” so you are bound to be able to join in!

I have used Poinsettia Polly for my DT card; this little cutie was coloured with ProMarkers.  The layout is based around the current sketch challenge at Your Next Stamp.  Unfortunately, I can’t remember where these papers are from – I can tell you that the bauble paper is from the first paper stack I ever bought though!

As usual, my teamies over at Crafting From The Heart have been crafting their socks off – we’d love you to pop by and leave us some lovely comments!

I ‘d like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Paper Nest Dolls – Anything Goes

Bunny Zoe’s Craft – Layers

Fan-Tastic Tuesdays – Anything Goes

Fairytale Stamper – Flowers

Pile It On – Use Patterned Paper

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Splendid!

My son is the biggest fan of Jack Skellington from A Nightmare Before Christmas!  So I couldn’t resist picking Jack the Pumpkin King by Sassy Designs for my latest DT card for Crafting From The Heart!  Our new challenge starts today; the theme is Anything Goes and we’re sponsored by Sassy Designs and Angi’s Digi Stamps.

I stuck to a CAS design, to keep the colour palette mainly black and white.  I’ve used Pro-Markers to colour Jack (Cool Grey 1 – 5 and Black) – the majority of his clothing is actually the two darkest shades of Cool Grey, with a smudge of Black for emphasis.  I still try to avoid colouring black (and red!) as I find it a little tricky, but I’m pleased with the result on this card.  The sentiment was added in Silhouette Studio before printing the image, using Chiller font.  Finally a black mat beneath the image, and it’s good to go!  Now I just need to keep it safe until November…..think I may have been a bit premature this year 😉

Don’t forget to head over to Crafting From The Heart to look at the other DT makes!

I’d like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Lexis Creations – For the Man/Boy In Your Life

My Craft Spot – Black/White + One Colour

Without Words – Gentlemen Only

Digi Haven – Black/White + One Colour

Jellypark Friends – One For The Boys

That’s Crafty – Black/White and A Splash

Dragonfly Dreams – Make It For The Boys

Anything Goes With The Crafty Girls!

Time for a new challenge over at The Crafty Girls!  We were sponsored by Sassy Design Studios and Di’s Digi Downloads this fortnight; I chose to work with “The New Sassy Cassy” from Sassy Designs – she looks fabulous!!

I based my layout around the current sketch over at Seize The Sketch – I used to play along regularly, but haven’t for a while as my DT cards are usually ready weeks in advance; not so this time though as it’s the Easter holidays for both my children, so we’re making the most of some free time and sunshine by spending our days catching up with friends in the park!

The image was coloured with Pro-Markers.  I worked hard on the hair again this week, and I reckon it looks like I might be getting a little better at it!  I have watched so many YouTube tutorials on colouring hair that I really should be an expert 😉 – but it’s one thing listening and watching, another thing entirely when it comes to reproducing the delicate shades of light, and not over blending!

All the papers are from the First Edition Summer Breeze paper stack – it’s been lurking at the back of my paper box for over a year now, and has only ever been used a couple of times so I’m pleased to have made a little more of a dent into it today!

The final touches were some peach ribbon, tiny dark peach pearls on the bottom paper and an oval shaped sentiment, created using the print and cut function on the Silhouette.

Hope you get time to pop by with an entry for our Anything Goes Challenge at the Crafty Girls!

I’d like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Seize the Sketch – see sketch above

Fairytale Stampers – BINGO (flowers, glitter, pearls)

Digi Choosday – Use 2 Patterned Papers

 

We’re Off To The Movies!

This week at Crafting From The Heart, we’re off to the movies!!  We’re looking to see your creations based around a movie theme – maybe your favourite film, or actor or even the Oscars!!

We were sponsored by Art By Miran and Sassy Designs Studios.  I chose to use Miss Sunshine, as she has a hint of Elle from Clueless about her!  I coloured her using Pro-Markers, choosing a light and fresh colour palette.  The papers are all from a Papermania collection, but I can’t remember which!  I chose to keep the layers flat as I will have to post this card, rather than hand deliver – I thought the difference in patterns would create some detail anyway.  The two little flags on the right hand side were stiffened with Mod Podge before sticking them down, so that they can stand forward a little.  Finally, for the circles, I simply cut three decreasing size circles, coloured them with a co-ordinating Pro-Marker and topped with Glossy Accents.

The layout was based on the current sketch over at The Deconstructed Sketch – I finally managed to get one completed in time to enter the challenge 🙂

Make sure you pop over to Crafting From The Heart to have a look at the other movie themed cards the DT have prepared for you…and don’t forget to enter our challenge too!

I’d like to enter this card into the following challenges:

The Deconstructed Sketch: Sketch 142 (see above)

Melonheadz Friends – Girly

Created With Love – Girly

ABC Challenges – H Is For Hair

Emerald Faeries Challenge – Girly and Pink

Crafting From The Heart

It’s time for a new challenge over at Crafting From The Heart.  The theme for this fortnight is Anything Goes; we were lucky to be sponsored by Sassy Design Studios and The Stamping Chef.

Here’s my card for the challenge:

The image, from Sassy Design Studios, was coloured with Pro-Markers.  For the bubbles, I drew some pale blue ink from a marker onto a blender pen and coloured in circles to make the colour follow the shape of the bubbles and also to keep the colour uneven.  I added some Star Dust Stickles to some of the smaller bubbles, while some of the larger bubbles got the Glossy Accents treatment, as you can see in the close up below.

I added the image to a scallop frame, which I coloured using Tumbled Glasss Distress Ink.  The backing paper, vellum and ribbon were all from my stash.  For the sentiment, I added some Star Dust Stickles to a turquoise button as it toned the colour down a little.

The layout was based on Sketch 47, the current challenge over at From The Heart Stamps:

I’m also delighted to let you know that I have been asked to join the Crafting From The Heart team as a DT member – thanks again to Fiona and Erin!  I’m looking forward to some more great challenges in the New Year.

I’d like to enter this card into the following challenges:

LEJ Designs – Anything Goes

Opus Gluei – Circles Everywhere

Thanks for reading x