Inspiration at It's a Creative World

I have been lucky enough to be asked to guest design over at the wonderful inspiration blog It's a Creative World over the Summer period. If you aren't familiar with the site, the talented ladies provide all sorts of home making and crafty inspiration, from baking to sewing, embroidery, altered art, gardening and more!

My second post went live yesterday, all about creating with digital collage stamps.

My first post looked at using premade digital templates to print out shaped photo collages.

Hmmm. There seems to be a theme here doesn't there? Bit strange for someone like me who considers themselves a technophobe. Well, if I can figure these things out then, rest assured, anyone can!

More from Virtual Stamping Night

These are the last few cards I created for Virtual Stamping Night over at Splitcoast Stampers last weekend. Time was of the essence, so these were definitely more simple. There was a time limit of 45 minutes per card anyhow.

This first one was for a challenge to dig out a very old, dusty and forgotten flower stamp.


Stamps - sentiment Hero Arts, flowers Penny Black
Inks - Memento, Promarkers
Patterned paper - Chatterbox
Other - Nestabilities die, Fiskars apron lace punch, pearls


Stamps - Hero Arts
Inks - Versamark, Memento, Distress inks
Patterned paper - Basic Grey die cuts from card making kit, including chipboard butterfly
Other - clear embossing powder

This next card was for a challenge to create a baby shower card and matching decorated envelope. Massive search through stamps - almost complete lack of any baby themed ones at all with the exception of a small pack of Studio G stamps, so I resorted to these oh so cute papers from the Little Sprout range from Fancy Pants.


Stamps - Hero Arts, Studio G
Inks - Versamark, Stampin' Up, Distress inks
Patterned paper - Fancy Pants
Other - clear embossing powder, Making Memories dyed tags, Fiskars apron lace punch, Nestabilities dies, buttons, twine

This was the very last card I squeezed in before the deadline. So ultra simple.


Stamps - Hero Arts
Inks - Memento
Patterned paper - Basic Grey
Other - Nestabilities, Prima flowers, pearls

Virtual Stamping Night

At Split Coast Stampers! I nearly missed this. Glad I didn't as I LOVE challenges and there are some great ones there. I've done 9 cards so far (didn't find out about it until Saturday tea time otherwise I might have got more done). Saying that, I'm on a roll and hoping to fit at least a couple more in before bedtime.


Stamps - Gorjuss Girl by Sugar Nellie, sentiment by Hero Arts
Inks - Memento, Distress inks and Promarkers
Paper and die cuts - My Little Yellow Bicycle
Other - Butterfly punch, Basic Grey rub-ons and pearls
Challenges - Gorjuss Girls Challenge 32 - Wings


Stamps - Hero Arts
Inks - Memento, Distress inks and Promarkers
Other - Sakura glaze pen, Nestabilities die


Stamps - Stampin' Up, Hero Arts
Inks - Memento, Promarkers, American Crafts slick writer
Patterned paper - Poundland (!)
Other - Fiskars edger punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder, bling



This was created for the challenge to use the babywipe technique, dripping re-inkers onto a babywipe and stamping into that. I had neither babywipes or re-inkers so improvised using damp kitchen roll and dripping shimmer mists onto it.
Stamps - Hero Arts
Inks - Ranger Archival ink, alcohol inks, Cosmic Shimmer mists, Tattered Angel Glimmer mists
Patterned paper - K&Co
Die cut - Marianne Design Creatables (cut out of acetate, it didn't cut right through so I cut the outer design and left the other bits that should have been cut out), Nestabilities


Stamps - Stampin' Up, Hero Arts
Inks - Memento, Distress inks, chalk ink
Paper - Bella Blvd
Other - American Crafts scalloped sticker, circle punch, Nestabilities die, Fiskars edger punch bling, ribbon, Creative Memories corner punch


Stamps - Hero Arts, Craft Stamper (bird/heart, freebie with magazine)
Inks - Versamark, Memento, Distress inks
Patterned Paper - die cut element Basic Grey
Other - Nestabilities die, clear embossing powder, pearls, ribbon


I've admired these flower pot cards for ages, so jumped at the chance to take part in this challenge (with fab linked instructions.

Stamps - Hero Arts
Inks - Ranger Archival ink, distress inks
Patterned paper - Basic Grey (red)
Other - Cuttlebug embossing folder, 3d flower gsd file from Silhouette, Sizzix flower die, Fiskars edger punch, gems, flower wires, ribbon


The flower stamp on the tag is by ??? (will have to check! and coloured with distress inks.


This card is a bit of a cheat - the tag was made previously and used as a gift tag. I just took it apart and added the flower and buttons and then layered a card base.

Stamps - Studio G, Craft Stamper (magazine freebie)
Inks - Distress inks
Patterned paper - 7Gypsies
Other - office tag, Stampin' Up oval and scalloped oval punches, Nestabilities die, buttons, 3d flower gsd file from Silhouette, ribbon


Stamps - Crafty Individuals (bird), Hero Arts (sentiment)
Inks - Stazon, Distress inks
Patterned paper - the bracket and bracket label shapes both Basic Grey die cuts

Promarker initiation

I have succumbed. To Promarkers. I tried for a long while not to, but, you know, the colours are all so gorgeous! I have found the Passion for Promarkers blog and will be working my way through all the wonderfully helpful workshops they have on there. I'm not an arty person (which is different from being a crafty person) - I have no idea of putting into practice perspective, shadows or highlights, so I can see me becoming a bit frustrated at my shortcomings (hence the need to follow the workshops!).

Anyhow, this is my first Promarker coloured image - it's a Sugar Nellie stamp - Blossom by Leanne Ellis. These stamps are so pretty and bold and simple enough for a novice like me to colour in. The sentiments stamp is from a Hero Arts message set, edger punch is Apron Lace by Fiskars, oval and oval scallop punches by Stampin' Up and the scalloped rectangle is a Nestabilities die. The patterned paper and die cuts are one of my favourite paper ranges - Dutch Girl by Cosmo Cricket - probably classed as vintage now in scrapbooking terms! I bought lots of it as I thought it would work well for the kids school photos. So far I've only scrapped one page ...


Promarkers colours used:
Cool Aqua and Duck Egg (dress)
Red and Crimson (flowers, with blending pen to lighten them a bit)
Leaf Green
Burnt Sienna, Cocoa, Spice and Coral (hair)
Ice Grey 1 (to outline)

I've added liquid pearls to the flower centres and stickles to the dress and used
Broken China and Vintage Photo distress inks for inking edges.

The card meets several challenges:
Split Coast Stampers colour challenge (red, bermuda blue and kraft)
Passion for Promarkers
Crafty Cardmakers (decorate inside the card)
Etsy Inspired (inspired by this)
Split Coast Stampers free for all challenge (buttons - inside the card)
Fresh Brewed Designs (red, white and blue)
My Time to Craft (vivid)
Stamping for the Weekend (to cheer someone up)
Sugar Nellie challenge at Split Coast Stampers (blossoms)

More yumminess

From Hero Arts on the horizon

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Sigh and drool. And CHA Summer won't be long either. I need a job and/or a sugar daddy. Unfortunately have neither.

Anyhow, just a quick share of a card featuring HA stamps (including the fabby and fun digi owl) which I did for a Two Peas challenge a while ago


I spritzed the cloud background stamp with Radiant Rain and then swiped some distress ink over to take away from the glaring white. The owl was slightly recoloured and embossed with clear embossing powder. As I had printed onto glossy photo paper, the embossing bubbled, but I really like the extra texture this gives. The branch is the HA woodgrain stamp and the sentiment (stamped onto a Maya Road sheer journaling spot) is also HA. I added some brass rings to create glasses for him too. A real wise old bird! (the owl, not me that is!).

All you need is love

Another one of my NSD creations for the Two Peas challenges. This was for the home decor challenge. Only I got mixed up with the time zones and ... oh well ...

The frame is a cheap plastic one from IKEA which I had sanded and coloured with distress inks MONTHS ago (if not longer). Distress inks don't dry well on plastic. Which is why it had been left for months.

Anyhow, now it WAS dry. I used the Hero Arts antique brocade cling stamp and Stazon ink to stamp on the frame. The patterned paper is from Websters Pages, flowers and crystals Prima (the roses were white and I spritzed them with Glimmer Mist Candy Apple). The small chipboard frame is from Delish Designs (coloured with Stazon then Glimmer Mist) and the rub on (Crate Paper) was applied to transparency and attached to the back of the smaller ornate frame.

Pulled an All Nighter!

I don't know how I managed it. I went to bed 4.30am yesterday morning and was up by 10am and as of now (9.20am) I haven't been to bed. Will admit to starting to feel a little tired though, so may have a nap until lunchtime.

Anyhow, I was so fired up by all the challenges I'd found I didn't want to stop. I did slow down significantly mind you.

I'm going to have to update all the challenge blogs on my favourites list. I did a trawl over the weekend and LOTS of them had gone. On the other hand, I have found quite a few new to me.

I've mentioned Scrapbook Challenges and Creative Scrappers in the previous posts. Well now I've found another Scrap and Stamp. Yep. Challenges to include stamping on your layouts. I'm up for this one! This week is to scrap either a Summer layout or to use Summer colours.


I created this layout to fit in with another couple of challenges at Hero Arts and Two Peas. One being to use cardstock only. Literally. Heck this must be THE hardest layout I have ever done. It took me hours of faffing. Okay, not helped by the time of night, but even more not helped by lack of patterned papers or ANY embellishments. I wanted bling! I really, really wanted bling! But I managed to stay strong and I stuck to cardstock, ink, stamps, heat embossing, punches and die cuts.

The die cut flowers are from Marianne Creatables and the fancy label is a Nestabilities die. I used Hero Arts stamps (All Occasion Messages, Thoughtful Messages, Four Bold Messages and Write Your Own - the ledger stamp). I guess you can say I like Messages stamps :) Oh and I used a couple of punches, my truly loved photo corner punch and the Fiskars Apron Lace punch.

For the love of cards

I do make them, you know, sometimes. Usually I get a blood rush to the head and do a lot (usually when it's the 2peas challenge week), but mainly I'm a 'make 'em when they're needed' kind of card maker.

This pretty, girly card, was for Mia's birthday. The image is from Wild Rose Studio. It's packaged as a Christmas stamp, but some pretty colours and bling to cover the snowflakes and it's just purrfect (sorry!) for a girly girl birthday. I coloured the cat grey to match the balls of fluff we have at home.

Patterned papers are predominantly Making Memories (I absolutely adored the Noteworthy range and have quite a few papers from that stockpiled) and look, that purple paper is some VERY old Chatterbox. So very pretty. I absolutely adored that range and, yes, there is quite a bit of that in my stash too!

I used Nestabilities (scalloped and plain rectangle), Fiskars Apron Lace punch, Sizzix flower die (cut out a felt flower) and a circle punch (to create the shrink plastic button stamped with Love words). The sentiment is from a beautiful set from Hero Arts and the image is coloured with Distress Inks. I need more practice, but I do like the water colour effect of working with these.

I've discovered a wonderful site, The Daily Dare, which lists LOTS of challenges (just perfect for kick starting the crafting gears) and this card happens to meet quite a few this week:

ABC Challenge - S is for Sparkle
All That Scraps - Sewing
Creative Belli Blog - Die cut shapes CBC89
Fab 'n' Funky - Get it all out (neglected stash!)
A Spoon full of Sugar - birthday
Creative Card Crew - birthday
Scrap Creations - 3 different embellishments
The Crafty Pad - stitching
Allsorts - stitching
Split Coast Stampers Ways to Use it Challenge WT267 - Mixing patterns

Stamping delights

Managed a quick (okay, not so quick, no crafting I do is quick) card today before spending the day out and about with Mum (garden centre, coffee shop, Sainsbury's, the excitement of my life is overwhelming).


This card features Hero Arts stamps:
Dots and flowers background stamped and embossed in white, distressed with Vintage Photo distress ink.
Antique brocade cling stamped with distress ink and butterflies punched out.
Panel background created with distress inks (broken china, peeled paint, shabby shutters).

Botanical Tulip digital download (Hero Arts at Two Peas in a Bucket) coloured with markers and triple embossed with UTEE.
Sentiment from the Thoughtful Messages clear design set, mounted on oval punchies (Stampin' Up).
And, of course, the faithful Fiskars Apron Lace punch.

At the garden centre I bought a new Sizzix embossing folders set - I had only been admiring that large embossed background on a card in an online gallery this morning before going out!

At Sainsbury's my mum bought me some yellow tulips (just one of THE perfect spring flowers) and a fruity/creamy/meringue from the bakery section (well she bought herself two fruit tartlets and they had a buy two get third free offer on the cake counter hence my good fortune). It's sat hidden in a box in the fridge ready for when I get the munchies later on tonight.

Have just cooked chicken nuggets (homemade you know!) chips, peas and sweetcorns for the kids (including two visiting additions) and after my cuppa I will be back into the kitchen again - chicken/lemon/rocket risotto for me and DH tonight.

Shopping for Stash

From older stash right here at home.


The challenge last week on the KI Memories blog was to use product from older ranges in a new project. For some reason KI Memories isn't that easy to find in the UK any more. I don't know why that is now, it hasn't always been like that - I know because I have a pile of the older papers as evidence!

For this page I used papers from the Bloom collection as well as a couple of embellishments. Some of the butterflies were cut from a patterned paper, others from punches and the largest one in the title was created by cutting around a (K&Co) chipboard butterfly. I even went diving into the boxes of older alphabets. Rub-on letters. I remember when I couldn't do a page without using rub-on letters. And these little pink ones from KI Memories went on as smooth as ever. The large glittered chipboard letters I dug out of another box. I think these were by Making Memories.


And the journaling stamps, I think these were about the first set (or high up there on the list) of clear stamps I bought. I didn't keep the packaging but I have a feeling they are Li'l Davis (yes, I said they were old!). I wanted a larger space for journaling than one block provided, so I stamped it once, stamped again onto scrap paper, cut out and then used that to mask the first stamped image and stamped a second image on top - although of course the second image actually looks like it is behind the first. Oh I used the Fiskars Apron Lace punch (again) and spritzed with the Radiant Rain Teal Zircon (again). Nothing like getting your money's worth out of stuff LOL!


The card is created using Hero Arts stamps. I bought the Truly Appreciated set (bargain from Ebay - okay this veers from the shopping from stash theme I know). I love the extra large sentiments and also the little images that are on the sheet are really useful too. Here I stamped one randomly onto the background and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The butterflies and flowers are also Hero Arts stamps, which I coloured in using Sakura Stardust pens and a watercolour technique (yay for Create and Craft, I never knew you could watercolour with these, but you can and the effect is gorgeously sparkly).

I also used a Nestabilities label die, KI Memories Bloom paper, KI Memories Pop Culture sticker strip and a selection of stick on pearls and gems. I love using bright colours. So cheery.

I'm back ... and all of a flutter!

Oh heck how predictible is that title for what I am posting? You will see!!!

I've not blogged for so long. That's what comes with having a boring life (like woo hoo when it's supermarket day) plus being too lazy to photograph what I've been doing to share anywhere.

Anyhow. I want to get back to the land of the living, including the land of blogging. Just to share things, though I will generally not bore with lots of personal stuff.

Except to say that YAY good news is that Chiara has been accepted for high school of choice. So ends another six months of anxiety (and this time I didn't put a second option, nor the local education authority option *gulp* so, yep, this was a good result). Apparently there will be a different system for when it is Mia's turn because she has a statement of special needs. Just when I had got the hang of it.

So onto scrappy stuff. I've been neglecting my craft desk rather too much lately and want to get back into the swing of things, which means I am trawling the net for challenges to take part in. Hence this post because I found one on the Bo Bunny blog. To use green, aqua, cream/white. So perfect for me because it fits right in with their Flutter Butter range which I absolutely adore. So much that I am sharing three pages using this range. Confession, the first one Such a Girly Girl is the one I created for the challenge, the other two I did at crop sometime last year, but the Full of Promise page was sitting in a to be finished pile (something else I want to get motivated to sort out).

The papers in this range are so pretty and I'm pleased to say that my new local scrapbooking shop stocks Bo Bunny so I have lots more papers ready to use. I'm hoping they will have some of the new ranges in soon too.

Such a Girly Girl records how much Mia loved pretty dresses at that moment in time. She still does to an extent ... certainly more so than Chiara ever has.






I spritzed the cardstock background with Radiant Rain Teal Zircon and used Vintage Photo distress ink to blend and add a softer look. Used the Fiskars Apron Lace punch liberally (on the accordian fold flower too, see?). The sheer journaling spots are Maya Road, bracket sticker October Afternoon, Prima crystals, letter rub-ons Scrapworks and tiny letter stickers Adornit. And lots of hand stitching. Was doing this late at night and the sewing machine is just too noisy for then.

This next page uses an older photo of Chiara. She suffers dreadfully with lack of confidence despite me always telling her different. She's pretty bright, determined and beautiful. Wish she would see that for herself.




I used Bazzill dotted swiss cardstock background, scalloped edge from a DCWV cardstock pack, American Crafts chipboard letters, My Little Shoebox tiny alphabet stickers, Hero Arts stamps, brads of various sources including MME and Autumnn Leaves, lots of stick on pearls and my trusty photo corner punch by EK Success. I love this punch!

Finally, a page featuring myself *gasp* and the guinea pigs. They are so cute!




The gorgeous butterfly stamp is by Hero Arts, the journaling card Cosmo Cricket, journaling notepaper Making Memories, felt letter stickers American Crafts and ... yes ... I told you I love that corner punch (I stamped and embossed using a Hero Arts stamp to add some subtle interest to them).

You can see the difference between crop pages and at home pages that's for sure! I love doing the busy pages but generally when I am at crop I stick to plainer layouts. Not really because of lack of product (you should see how much stuff I take with me) but because I don't concentrate on scrapping as much whilst out at crop, I love socialising more!