Surprise Us!

Hi Folks,

Well I hope you all had a good Christmas and if you were good, got lots of lovely new stash!  I must have been very good this year - lots of new stash, which I've been dying to try out,  but haven't had much crafting time.
The theme this fortnight at Fashionable Stamping is 'Susrprise Us'   and my surprise was that I had a couple of hours on Friday night to make my DT card, but unfortunately, it has rained since (for a change) and I've really struggled to take a decent picture.
I've used new Katzelkraft stamps, so a good excuse to go all girly and pink!
The lady is stamped in Onyx Black Versamark, coloured with Tattered Rose Distress Marker, and the background is DI's. The frame , which was cut with a Nesti, was coloured with Victorian Velvet and then heat embossed with Silver Pearl EP.
The background  is a mixture of Katzelcraft and Inkylicious stamps, which were stamped with a Memento black inkpad for a slightly faded look.
My fabulous teamies were a bit more organised than me and will really surprise you with their creations, so please pop over here to be 'surprised'!!!
And don't forget - we are sponsored by Marina of Cottage Crafts who will be offering the winner a €7 gift cert to spend in the online store.

Before I go, I would like to wish you all a Very Happy New Year,  and hoping that 2013 will be a lot sunnier so we can all take good photographs!!!

I am going to enter this in:
  In the Pink - Pink & Pearlie
  Totally Gorjuss - New
  Stampin for the Weekend - Anything Goes
  Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Thats it for me until next year, thanks for - looking,  your very much appreciated comments and your continued support and friendship.

Avril xx

Mask It

Hi Folks,

Well I'm back after a lovely sunny holiday, it was really nice to wake up to sunshine every day for 2 weeks,
but its back to reality now, and a catch up on Christmas!
Back to reality also means another challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and this time its 'Mask It'.
This can be using masks or stencils as well as masking techniques with rubber stamps.
I have used both on my card, I started with a Tando Music mask with Tattered Rose and Bundled Sage DI, and then over the top I used and Imagination Leaf Swirl mask with the same inks.  For the stamped panel I used IndigoBlu 'Music Hall'. The lady was stamped and masked then I stamped with the Music hall poster and then masked that before random stamping with the music score.  The sentiment is also from the same set.
I made the card before I went on holiday, but didn't take a photo and since returning home the days have been so dark I have really struggled to get a decent photo and this looks a bit 'green' no matter what I do!
The rest of the DT have some wonderful creations for your inspiration, so please pop over here to take a look, and don't forget, we are as usual sponsored by Cottage Crafts and the winner will receive a €7  to spend in their online store.

Now that the washing and ironing is done, Christmas Tree is up and the cards are all posted, I hope to start catching up and finding out what you have all been up to!
Thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Christmas Home Sweet Home for Fashionable Stamping

Hi Folks,

Its time for another challenge over at Fashionable Stamping and this week it's   Home Sweet Home. My teamies have again excelled themselves and created a wonderful variety of 'Home' themes, so please do pop over here and take a look.  We are again sponsored by the lovely Marina of Cottage Crafts who will will give our winner a €7 voucher to spend in her online shop.

For my card, I  used one of the new Christmas stamps from Stampendous. I stamped  on to a shaped card, distressed the image with Vintage Photo, masked the image and used the free stamp from this months Craft Stamper  for the Snowflake border, and stamped in Iced Spruce, which was also used for the shading. I stamped again and  coloured with Promarkers and DIs added Diamond Dust, which gives a lovely crunchy sparkle, which of course, doesn't show in the photo, and attached with 3D foam.

I don't know about you, but I do try to make all my Christmas cards, so there was a little batch of this one!

I am entering this card in:
  4 Crafty Chicks - Winter
  Everybody Art - Oval shape
  Its All about the Vintage - Snow
  Joanna Sheen - Cold & Frosty
  The Crafty Pad - Christmas

That's it for now, hope to catch up with you later- had such a hectic week I haven't managed many visits, so I need to see what you've been up to!

Avril xx