Laurane's Glitter and Gloss

Flowers and Sugar

2010-05-19T21:17:00.002+01:00

Wow. Two posts in two days. What's going on?

The challenge at The Sugar Bowl was to use a sketch and the theme of recycling something to use on your card.

The stamp is one of the Gorjuss ones - I think it's called 'A little bird told me'(?) - coloured with copics and a little bit of sakura glitter. The paper and flowers were from my stash. I 'recycled' a couple of things for this card. The text paper was actually from a very old dictionary we had lying around and I used pages with
'sugar' words on one and 'sweet' words on the other. The butterfly embellishment was actually a piece taken from a necklace I picked up at Primark. I would never have worn it as a necklace but it was made up of quite a few of these butterflies and perfect for embellishments. Can't take the credit for it - I got the idea from someone out there in blogland. I backed the butterfly with some matching paper and used sakura glaze pens to colour some of it in. I was quite pleased with how this worked out.

The challenge at Papertake Challenge was to 'say it with flowers' and over at A Spoonful of Sugar they are looking for 'Cute and Girly' Totally Gorjuss are looking for 'round and round' I'm putting this card in for these challenges also.

Thanks for looking

Laurane x

Good enough to eat

2010-05-18T21:47:00.001+01:00

Hi

I picked up a set of cupcake rubber stamps at the demo day at my local(ish) craft shop - Craft World at Hillington. Been checking out cupcakes for ages and this was a fabby set from Kanban with a lot of little stamps which are ideal for doing backgrounds.

I used flower soft and some beads to embellish the cupcake at the front, and I glittered up one at the back and the other one I topped with glossy accents. Certainly fits the bill for the challenge over at Charisma Cardz Challenge which is 'sweet treats'.

I am also putting it in for the 'Celebrations' challenge on By the Cute and Girly and the 'Celebrete Something' at Stamp Challenges

I've really lost my crafting bug recently - probably because I've developed a little fondness for going out running! There's no accounting for taste. I've got a couple of cards on the go just now so might just manage to put them in for a few challenges.

Happy crafting

Laurane x

Cute and Girly Friday Sketchers

2010-03-18T20:18:00.001Z

I liked this week's challenge on Friday Sketchers (not that I don't always like them) and I used it to create this card for Mother's Day. It was also supposed to be for another challenge with Butterflies but typically I managed to miss that but I think it fits with the 'Spring is in the Air' challenge at By the Cute and Girly blog.

The photograph is not too good but I was quite pleased with how this turned out. A nice sketch to use and went well with this new Buzzcraft Olivers Orchard stamp which I coloured with copics. The little butterflies were from the same stamp set and made nice embellishments. The paper was from my stash which I have looked at for ages and eventually decided to use it.

Thanks for looking

Laurane x

Things with Wings

2010-03-18T19:58:00.000Z

I made this card for the 'Things with Wings' challenge over on Totally Papercrafts blog. It was actually an old clip art file I had of the little fairy which I printed twice, decoupaged and covered in my trusty glossy accents. I've got two minutes to get it logged. Talk about cutting it fine.

Laurane

Blog Candy - Jak Heath

2010-03-13T17:41:00.000Z

Hi

Just to let you know that there is some amazing Blog Candy being given away by the fabulous Jak Heath. Check out her blog if you haven't already for super inspiration.

Jak Heath Blog Candy - ends 31 March

Laurane x

Something Girly

2010-03-11T22:11:00.001Z

The new challenge at Stamp Something was to do something 'girly'. My cards are usually pretty girly as I'm a bit of a glitter fan and love a bit of pink or lilacs but I thought I would enter a card which is not really girly in a traditional sense but is on a theme that most girls love - 'Chocolate'.

The stamp was from a small set of the 'therapist' and the sentiment and I couldn't resist it when I saw it - soooo true. The 'chocolates' were actually recycled from a real box of chocolates I got at Christmas. I'm a bit of a weight watcher freak and actually didn't have any of the choccies - even at Christmas time - but I could be tempted to buy the same box from M&S just to do a similar card.

I am also entering this into the challenge at Ooh-la-la-creations where the challenge is 'Anything Goes' - I think this card definitely qualifies.

Laurane x

I'm on a Roll

2010-03-11T21:56:00.001Z

Hi
Well, I go from one extreme to the other. Not been doing much crafting recently but after going to the Hobbycraft show at the SECC last week I've made a few.

I made this easel card for a couple of challenges:

I used the fabulously gorgeous 'Partying' stamp from penny black which I actually won on a Penny Black Saturday Challenge at the end of last year and had never got round to inking it up. It is soooo lovely. The challenge this week on PBSC is to make an easel card. I love doing these cards.

I was at the Lili of the Valley stand at the SECC and they had such lovely stamps I'll definitely be making some purchases from them. Their challenge this week is also to make an easel card so I'm entering this one too - think I'm just in time.

Here's a close up of the stamp

Take care

Laurane x

Hello 2010 and Sugar Bowl Challenge

2010-02-10T23:09:00.000Z

Well. I cannot believe we are already well into February and I have not posted since November. I've got an excuse for December but I don't know what's happened since then. Not true really, I've not been doing much in the way of crafting - think I overkilled on crimbo cards and just kind of lost my mojo.

Anyway, although I've not been crafting much, I have been exercising and even managed to do my back in because I went in for overkill. My really good news is that I reached my goal weight at weight watchers on 4 January - actually lost a little bit over Christmas and New Year and I have now lost 48 pounds in total (that's 3 stone, 6 pounds - a small child!). I just need to keep it off now and that's where the exercise comes in - I've even started a running programme.

On the crafting front I have a few birthdays coming up in February which was my encouragement to get back in the craft room. The challenge on The Sugar Bowl was a sketch which had to include lace and obviously a sugar nellie image. I came up with this easel card:

I must admit that I found the sketch a bit of a challenge but I was quite pleased with the finished effort. It's taken me days to get round to getting it photographed - and it's not the best photo. Might be treating myself to a new camera sometime soon.

The images are Sugar Nellie Manga Stamps, coloured with copics, the papers from a Papermania Honey and Hugs set (very cute), Cuttlebug embossing folder and the rest of the stuff was from my stash. Got just over an hour before the challenge closes - talk about cutting it fine.

Take Care

Laurane x

Better late than never

2009-11-27T23:08:00.000Z

I don't know where the time has gone recently - I've been super busy and hardly had any time to craft at all! I had a fabby weekend last week and went to a nice hotel with four of my school friends - yes school friends - I have known them for well over 30 years. OMG. We all had a hot stone massage (not together I hasten to add), lunch, sauna, swim, then off to dinner - very nice. I had a really nice time and still managed to lose a pound at my weight watchers weigh in on Monday - that's me reach the magical 9 stone something (only just) - and 39 1/2 pounds off - I am so pleased.

Anyways, the challenge this week on Penny Black Saturday Challenge was a Christmas one - Winter Wonderland. Here's mine:

I only just decided tonight to do it and saw a nice folded card on telly which I thought I'd try. It's made from one A4 card and I used this year's colours (for me) from DCWV Rose Tinted Christmas. Circle nesties in white glitter board to mat the hedgehog images onto - these are from Holly Day Critters coloured with copics and sakura glitter pens. It was a nice easy folded card and was fun to do - think I'll be doing a few more.

Thanks for looking and take care.

Laurane x

Create a Scene

2009-11-13T23:35:00.000Z

As if I would ever do that.............!

Challenge 77 on Spoon Full of Sugar was to 'create a scene'. Here's mine:

The little angel is from Judikins (it was one of the first stamps I ever bought and I never stop loving it). This was a pretty simple card - paper was Papermania contemporary Christmas pack and I stamped and embossed the snowflakes at the top. The 'scene' was a clipart picture of snowy hills and santa and his sleigh in front of the moon.

Laurane x

Merry Little Christmas

2009-11-13T22:39:00.002Z

This week's challenge at Penny Black Saturday Challenge is Song Title/Lyric. I only seem to be doing Christmas cards at the moment (funny that innit) and this challenge fitted nicely. My song would either be Blue Christmas, or Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Not sure I would say either were my favourite songs but they are up there in terms of Christmas songs. I'm sure 'Have yourself a merry little Christmas' was from Meet me in St Louis which I just love - nothing better on a rainy Saturday to sit down and watch an old musical, especially ones with Judy Garland.

This also fits the challenge at Colour Create is Blue, Silver, White with Winter and Glitter as optional extras and Charisma Cards which are looking for Merry and Bright.

Here's my card

Papers are from ProvoCraft Christmas Cheer, images are PB Holly Day Critters, coloured with copics and sakura glitter. I paper pieced and glossed the wee hedgie's bauble and embossed the silver mirror board with swiss dots. The stars were punched, coloured and attached to thread which I sewed onto the ribbon so that they will dangle (hee hee, won't do a hem but will sew for a card!)

Take care

Laurane x

The White Challenge

2009-11-05T23:46:00.000Z

Well this really was a huge challenge for me, and way out of my comfort zone. This week's challenge on Penny Black Saturday Challenge is White on White. The only colour allowed is on the image itself.

The image is from Holly Day Critters which I coloured with copics, glittered and glossed. The background was made with my trusty Cuttlebug and the swiss dots and snowflakes(?) folders.

Won't have any crafty time until Monday night at least - I'm off to Manchester to spend the weekend with my lovely bruvver Alan and leaving my hubbie with the girls. They will eat rubbish all weekend and he will let them stay up way too late - who knows what they will be wearing! Iain doesn't 'do' clothes so they will get to wear whatever they want. Hey, I won't be here to see it - thank goodness.

Laurane x

Mousey Cupcake

2009-10-26T22:58:00.000Z

Papertake Weekly Challenge this week was a sketch and I made a fairly quick and simple card with it.

As I said, pretty simple......... I tried a whole load of embellishments but nothing seemed to fit so left it plain. I will perhaps add a name or something if I use it for anyone's birthday. Papers are Papermania 'Sweet Nothings' and the image was from Dimension Fourth which I picked up at the SECC Craft Show.

Laurane x

Winter Wonderland

2009-10-22T21:35:00.000+01:00

Challenge 19 on Die Cut Dreams is winter wonderland. Funnily enough, one of the new stamps I got from FunkyKits the other day was called ...... 'Winter Wonderland' - so this must fit the challenge.

I saw a fantabulous easel card a few weeks ago on Scrapbitz from Suzanne Dean and have been dying to try it out. If you've not checked out her blog it is truly amazing - I'm sure the woman doesn't sleep.

Here's a close-up

Continuing my pink christmas theme, I have used the DCWV Rose Tinted Christmas papers and coloured my image with copics. I used Fluffy Stuff for the snowflakes.

I spent the day today at the Craft for Christmas show and had a fabby time - spent too much money as always on stuff I didn't need - but I think everyone who goes does the same. As someone said to me today, 'it's not a question of need!' Anyway, I need a cup of tea now before I come back to play with my new stuff from today.

Take care

Laurane x

Manga Christmas Fairy

2009-10-21T22:59:00.000+01:00

I got this fabby Sugar Nellie Manga Fairy from FunkyKits and the sketch on Friday Sketchers was just perfect for this - helping me get on with my Christmas cards for this year. It is a really good layout and fairly quick to make.

I think I'm going to go for a pink theme for Christmas cards this year. The papers I used for this were from DCWV Rose Tinted Christmas and they are really lovely - I always find Christmas cards using the traditional reds and greens hard but I don't think I'll have any probs with these papers.

Off to the SECC in Glasgow tomorrow for the Crafts for Christmas show - always fab demonstrations and always spend too much! Can't wait.

Laurane x

Spooky but Cute

2009-10-19T21:41:00.002+01:00

This is the second halloween card I have made now - still don't know what I'm going to do with them - but I've had a ball making them.

The challenge at Cute Card Thursday is spooky and here's mine:

This lovely ghost was an image from Nina May on There's Magic in the Air - I'm so annoyed cause I keep missing her challenges by something like a day - I must get more organised.

The pumpkin heads are clip art, the image is Nina May's and I printed off some bats on yellow card for the moon. I glittered up the ghost's hat and glossed his hat, eyes and mouth.

Must start buying in the sweets and stuff for halloween - only problem is, if it's in the house I eat it - and that's not on the weightwatchers programe! Don't think the kids would like a bag full of carrot sticks - hee hee.

Laurane x

Blue Christmas

2009-10-19T19:45:00.001+01:00

The challenge over at Stamp Something is 'bling'. As you might be able to tell 'bling' in the form of glitter and gloss is one of my favourite things - I'm a bit of a sucker for sequinny clothes although I don't get much of a chance to wear them. I think I must be a frustrated ballroom dancer ..... and don't get me started on fringes!

Anyway, I made this Christmas card :

The papers are Provo Craft Christmas Cheer and the images are Penny Black 'Critters Holiday'. I coloured the images with copics and highlighted with sakura glitter pens. The baubles were also covered in glossy accents. I tried loads of photos to get the glitter and gloss but it wasn't really happening although if you click on the images you can see the 'bling' much more clearly. Here's a close-up

Karen's Challenge 41 at Charisma Cards is 'distressing'. She reckoned it would be good therapy to get tearing and ripping - I have to say I think she was right - this was fun.

I have to say I just love, love love this Daisy image which is an Elisabeth Bell Sugar Nellie one - I can't help smiling when I see her. The papers are K & Co Classic Bailey and I thought they tied in pretty well with the distressing theme - I just set to with a pair of scissors. I spent ages trying out different embellishments but nothing seemed to work so I've just left it plain for now.

I just got a couple of new stamps delivered today from Funky Kits and I'm off to play.

Thanks for looking

Laurane x

Digital Doings - and a good weigh in!!!

2009-10-12T21:49:00.000+01:00

I've not mentioned on my blog as yet but I've been 'weight watching' since last August and I've now lost 38 pounds. It's taken quite a long time but being over 2 1/2 stone lighter feels fab. Weigh in is on Monday night and after staying the same last week (despite a huge effort on my part) I was near to tears - how stupid is that? Anyway, I persevered and lost 3 lbs tonight - woohoo. So motivated I came home and made fabby zero point soup and did a pilates dvd. My halo is shining.

Anyway ..... onto the crafty stuff.

I made my first ever halloween card which I was pretty chuffed with. Don't know who I'm going to send it to though.

I did it for Die Cut Challenge which provided the sketch and colour combo of black, purple, orange and green - but I missed posting. Hey ho.

The image is a digital image and came from Nina May and I really loved it - a wee bit different. I paper pieced the pumpkins on the main image and the pumpkin heads down the side were clip art and treated with glossy accents.

Here's a close up of the wee mousy image:

I'm going to enter into the challenge over at A Spoonful of Sugar which is looking for Halloween or other spooky projects as well as Cuttlebug Challenge blogspot which is challenging us to create a Halloween or Fall card.

Going from spooky to cute, I used another (free) digital image from Digital Delights to create this little card:

I used the sketch from week 73 challenge over at Friday Sketchers which I think fits. October is Wear It Pink month and at work we do various fund raising events to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness and I thought I would make a few cards to sell. I might even donate the box of cards I just keep in a box and look at!

Take care

Laurane x

Friday Sketchers and Colour Create

2009-09-30T21:30:00.000+01:00

Hi

There's a lovely sketch over at Friday Sketchers which was really sweet. I combined it with the challenge on Colour Create Challenge blog which set the challenge of using hot pink, dusky pink and ice chocolate (!) with the optional extras of pearls and swirls. I managed the pearls but didn't have anything swirly to use.

I thought the colour options mixed with the sketch turned out pretty well

The colour combination was lovely and I used K&Co Classic Bailley, swiss dots cuttlebug embossing folder and my wee sugar nellie Manga Girl was coloured using copics

I also thought I would post a card I did a few weeks ago which used a free download image from the fabulously talented Nina May on There's Magic in the Air. I loved this artwork and tried my hand at watercolouring - I added in the sky and the sea and thought it came out not too bad for a first attempt at anything like this.

Can't believe it's Wednesday already - apparently it's only 12 weeks to Christmas - aarghh

Laurane x

Sugar Bowl

2009-09-29T23:18:00.000+01:00

The latest challenge over on The Sugar Bowl is a sketch by Gayle which was a nice simple layout but had to include paper piecing. Now I've never tried this before but I really enjoyed doing it and will definately be using it more often.

I used papers from K & Co Classic K Bailey and paper pieced the dress and shoes of the gorguss girl - Little Miss Attitude - she so reminds me of my lovely daughter Caitlin. The charm is from Quixotic Paperie and I used my cuttlebug and paper punch for the flowers.

Night

Laurane x

Charisma Cardz and Stamp Something

2009-09-25T21:04:00.001+01:00

I checked out the Charisma Cards Challenge blog and this week the challenge is Getting Sporty. I don't use peel offs too often cos I prefer stamping but I needed to make a card for my brother-in-laws birthday which is coming up and he loves his golf so I thought this would fit the bill - hope he doesn't take the sentiment the wrong way though!

The papers are pretty old ones and I can't remember where from and I used the Fiskar shape cutter for the frame. I coloured the peel off using crystal laquer pens.

I think this next card fits the new challenge on Stamp Something which is about your favourite layout. I saw a fabby card on Cass's blog Pour Some Sugar on Me which I absolutely loved and she very helpfully posted the link for instructions to make it - it was really fun to make and I'm sure I'll be doing some more.

I borrowed the stamp from my mum so not sure where its from but I used copics to colour. The Noel was from Sizzix Chocolately Goodness alphabet die set - what a cool name.

Have a fabby weekend

Laurane x

Stamp Something

2009-09-22T23:12:00.000+01:00

The latest challenge over at Stamp Something is to use your favourite colour or papers. Now I'm normally a pink kind of gal but I've come over all autumnal just now and I made this card using reds - it's for my sister's 40th - I can't believe it!

The paper is from K & Co Classic K Bailey which is gorgeous. The image is Gorjuss Sitting from Sugar Nellie which I've coloured with copics (I was quite pleased with her hair - I'm pretty new to this copic larky). The flowers, in my new favourite red, are from Petaloo. The text is printed from the computer and layered up with nestabilities.

Laurane x

Challenges

2009-09-16T23:00:00.000+01:00

I've not had much of a chance to do much crafting this week - it's been so busy - what with work, sick children, life........ It was my birthday last week and I eventually got a Cuttlebug and I've not even had a chance to use it. Roll on the weekend!

I did get time to make this card and I think it fits two challenges;

The card uses a lovely sketch over on Penny Black Saturday Challenge and was good fun to do. The papers are MME and the images are from the Critters set (must keep a note of these things). I coloured the image with watercolours and highlighted with sakura glitter pens. Flowers are Hero Arts Summer flowers and the gorgeous pearls are from Quixotic Paperie who do fab embellishments.

Over on Stamp Something the challenge was to create a card using your favourite embellishment and I think this card fits that bill.

Off to bed now - hope to get some crafty time over the next few days.

Take care

Laurane x

Thinking of you

2009-09-11T22:39:00.000+01:00

I just heard that my cousin Fiona is in hospital and not very well. I made her this card to let her know that I'm thinking of her - hope she's better soon.

The image is Sweet & Sassy by Elisabeth Bell from the fabulous Funky Kits which I coloured with copics (I'm only just starting). The rest of the card was made from my stash.

Laurane x

Well - here goes..........

2009-09-10T06:01:00.000+01:00

This is my very first post. Never been into this sort of thing - never been on Facebook, Twitter or even Friends Reunited but I've recently ventured into Blog Land and found a world of fantastic blogs on crafty stuff and amazing inspiration.

Wanted to do some challenges and this has got to the easiest way of doing it. I recently entered a Penny Black Saturday Challenge with this card but had to do it by email which was such a footer......

The Angel stamps are from Judikins coloured in with watercolours and sakura glitter pens.

The wee hedgehogs are Holly Day Critters from Penny Black and the background was a free clipart download. Must get better with the camera though.................

I was on a roll and made this card the same week with another Penny Black Holly Day Critters image and papers from Papermania Contemporary Christmas pack.

Laurane x