Cardz 4 Guyz: Blue's the Colour

Good morning everyone, and welcome to my last blog post of 2019.  It's time for  a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz, and this week we have a colour theme - Blue's the Colour.

I made my card using a brilliant image by Bloobel Stamps (now Twistoon).  I coloured my image with Prismacolor pencils and layered it onto embossed and patterned papers.  The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz Idea-ology pad.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz. 

Sian. xxx

The Alphabet Challenge: Snow

Good morning.  It's my turn to pick the challenge this week at The Alphabet Challenge, and I've chosen the theme of snow.  Let's see your snowy creations.

I decided to use triple embossing for the centrepiece of my car, a technique I haven't used for a while.  I used a combination of Wow embossing powder and UTEE.  (My original plan was to use just the Wow embossing powder, but it soon became clear that I wasn't going to be able to stamp into it because of the high glitter content.  If you're not familiar with triple embossing, you layer up at at least 3 layers of embossing powder and then stamp into it.  It's a good idea to use pigment ink or Versamark  or something similar on your stamp so it doesn't stick.  I'm a big fan of Versamark for things like this, and you can also use it to make your embossing powder stick to the card.  (I used two layers of Wow embossing powder and 2 layers of UTEE).I stamped the snowflake stamp into the hot UTEE, left it to cool and then pulled the stamp off.  Once it was cool, I cracked it a bit because I wanted it to look like ice. 

I created the background and layers of my card using an embossing folder, and added some die cut snowflakes and gems to finish off.  My sentiment is embossed using the same Wow embossing powder that I used for the bottom two layers of my triple embossing.

I hope you can join in the fun this week at The Alphabet Challenge.

Sian.  xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Christmas Critters

Good morning.  Today's theme at Cardz 4 Guyz is Christmas Critters. 

I created my card using a stamp by Lili of the Valley, coloured with Prismacolor pencils.  I layered my image onto patterned papers and added the paper holly leaves at the corners with some red gems for the berries.  My main image is raised up on foam pads.

I hope you can join in the fun today at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Icy Cold

Good morning!  It's my turn to choose the challenge this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.  As we're now heading well into winter I've chosen the theme of "Icy Cold", so let's see your snowy and icy creations!

I've used this brilliant image by Di's Digi stamps for my card, which I printed on kraft card and coloured with Prismacolor pencils.  I die cut my coloured image and stitched around the edge.  I always find this takes a while but I love how it looks, so I think it's worth it.  I layered my image onto kraft card and patterned papers and added some die cut snowflakes to embellish.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz. 

Sian. xxx

The Alphabet Challenge: Q is for Quick and Simple

Good morning.  It's time for a new Alphabet Challenge.  This week's letter is Q, which is for Quick and Simple.  I decided to make a set of 3 cards, using some washi tapes that I got from The Range.  I tore pieces of washi tape and stuck them onto my cards, then added some die cut butterflies and sentiments.

I hope you can join us this week at The Alphabet Challenge.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: All Wrapped Up

Good morning everyone!  It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz again.  This week's theme is All Wrapped Up, and there are two options.  You can either make a card featuring presents or you can feature a person or animal wrapped up in hats/scarves etc.  As you can see I have chosen the latter option for my card.

The image I've used for this card is by Whimsy Stamps, and I coloured it using Prismacolor pencils.  I layered my coloured image onto patterned papers and added some wooden embellishments.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz. 

Sian. xx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Food and/or Drink

Good morning.  This week's challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz is food and/or drink.  I thought this was a great opportunity to use one of my favourite digi stamps, a cupcake monster by Bloobel Stamps. 

I coloured my image with Prismacolor pencils and layered it onto patterned papers.

I hope you can join in the fun this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xxx

The Alphabet Challenge: O is for One Word Sentiment

Hello!  It's time for a new Alphabet Challenge.  This week's letter is O, which is for One Word Sentiment.  I have chosen the word "Congratulations".  I know it's not really the right time of year for graduation cards, but I love this image and really wanted to use it.

I created my card using a digi stamp by Tiddly Inks, which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils.  I die cut my coloured image and layered her onto patterned papers, adding some paper flowers at the corners.

I hope you can join us for this week's challenge at The Alphabet Challenge.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Spooky

Good morning.  It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz, and this week's theme is "Spooky".

I've used this amazing ghostly pirate image by Rick St Dennis for my card, which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils.

My background was created using distress inks and water, with some layers of stamping.  The little bat embellishments in the corner are from a pot of bats and spiders that I bought in Michaels whilst I was on holiday in Orlando in August.

I hope you can join in the fun this week at Cardz 4 Guyz!

Sian. xx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Trees/Leaves

It's time for a new challenge again at Cardz 4 Guyz, and this week's theme is trees and/or leaves.  I decided to use both.

As we're now well into autumn, I decided to create an autumn themed card.  I stamped the bare trees onto patterned paper and then added the leaves using acrylic paints.  I layered the trees onto various patterned papers and added some die cut leaves at the corners.

My card is straight, I promise.  It's my photograph that's wonky.

I hope you can join us at Cardz 4 Guyz for this week's challenge.

Sian. xxx

The Alphabet Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's new challenge time today at The Alphabet Challenge.  This month we are up to the letter M, which is for Masculine. 

I decided to make a card for my dad's birthday for this challenge, and used this brilliant image by Dr Digi, which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils.  I layered my card onto patterned papers and added a Happy birthday sentiment. 

I hope you can join us this week at The Alphabet Challenge.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Inspired by the Beatles

Good morning.  It's time for  a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz, and this week's challenge is inspired by The Beatles.

I have to admit that I struggle to make cards inspired by music, films or books, it's just not my thing, so I decided to go with a general music theme, but using a brick stencil for the background inspired by the brick background on the back cover of  the Abbey Road album.  I used stencils and ink sprays for the background and then stamped onto it.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Celebrate

Good morning!   Today's theme at Cardz 4 Guyz is Celebrate.  I wasn't quite sure what to do for this one, so I decided to use this Sheena Douglass stamp of people dancing.  I created the background for my card using Brushos.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xxx

The Alphabet Challenge: K is for Kind Thoughts

Good morning.  It's time for a new challenge at The Alphabet Challenge.  Today we are on the letter K, and the theme is Kind  Thoughts.

By the time this post goes live I will be in the middle of a 3 week holiday, so I was a bit pushed for time with this one, creating it in between organising, packing and ironing.  That meant I didn't have time to colour an image or get messy, which are my two usual styles, so I chose to use a 3D decoupage image that came with a magazine a long time ago.

I layered the image onto coordinating patterned papers and added some paper flowers.

I hope you can join us this week at The Alphabet Challenge.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: DIY

Good morning!   It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guys, and this week's theme is DIY.  I created my card using an image by Dr Digi, which I coloured with Polychromos pencils.

I layered my image onto patterned papers and added a piece of tape measure ribbon and some brown pearls.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz. 

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Music

Good morning and welcome to another DT card for Cardz 4 Guyz.  This week's challenge is music. 

I created my card using a stamp from a set by Sheena Douglass, which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils.  I layered my coloured image onto patterned papers and added some die cut notes.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xxx

The Alphabet Challenge: Insects

Good morning.  It's time for a new challenge at The Alphabet Challenge.   We are up to the letter I, and this week's theme is insects.

I created my card using a dragonfly die, using velum for the wings.  I mounted my dragonfly on an embossed background which I created using an embossing folder, then layered it onto patterned papers.

I added the "Happy Birthday" sentiment and added some paper flowers and gems.

I hope you can join in the fun this week at the Alphabet challenge.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guys: Transport

Hi all,

It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz, and this week's challenge is transport.  I thought this was a good opportunity to use the bike die, which I got free with a magazine a very long time ago and haven't had an opportunity to use. 

I layered the die cut bikes onto patterned papers and used cogs to embellish.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Black and White

Hi everyone!  Today's challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz is black and white.  Your card must be created using only black and white with no other colours.  This is a theme I love. I always think these kind of cards turn out looking great because of the contrast, but it turned out to be a  bit of a challenge because almost all of the black and white papers I have in my stash are flowery and not at all suitable for a guy card!

I decided that the only option was to create my own papers using stamping.  I used a variety of different time themes stamps for my card.  I used black archival ink to stamp on the white card, and white Stazon ink to stamp on the black card.  I cut out the clock face and the moths and matted and layered the various elements.  Everything except the sentiment is stamped.  The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz Ideaology pad.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian.

The Alphabet Challenge: G is for Grunge or Glitz

Good morning.  It's my turn to choose this week's challenge at The Alphabet Challenge.  This week's letter is G, and I have chosen the theme of Grunge or Glitz.  I was originally going to go with just Grunge, but I know it's not for everyone and I didn't want to put people off, so I thought I'd give people a choice of two completely contrasting styles.  It should make things interesting anyway!

I've chosen to go with Grunge.  I created the background of the card using Gelli Plate printing with acrylic paints.  This is a great, fun technique.  I added a layer of stamping using stamps by visible image and mounted my background on black card.

I then stamped the main image and the word "MUSIC" on a contrasting Gelli Plate background.  These stamps are also by Visible Image.  All of the stamping is done in black archival ink, which dries nicely on top of the acrylics.

I hope you can join us this week at The Alphabet Challenge.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Washi Tape

Good morning.  This week's challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz is to use washi tape.  I have to say, washi tape is something I don't really tend to use in my card making, s I don't have much of it in my stash.  The tapes I had that were suitable for a male card were limited to Christmas colours, so I used it as an excuse to carry on trying to get ahead with my Christmas cards!

I used an image by Bugaboo Stamps, which I coloured with Prismacolour pencils.  I kept my card quite simple, layering onto red and white card.  I was clean out of ideas for using washi tape, so I reverted to Pinterest for a bit of inspiration.  I used the washi tape to make some bunting along the bottom of my card.  I drew in the string using a black pen, cut the washi tape into bunting shapes and stuck them on.  I think it looks quite effective.

I hope you can join in the fun this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Father's Day

Good morning.  Father's day is coming up, so that's the theme for this week's challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz.  I decided to make a card for my own dad for this challenge.  My dad's difficult to make anything for, so I decided to go for this image by Dr Digi showing a man relaxing with a cup of tea and a newspaper. 

I coloured him with Prismacolor pencils and layered my image onto patterned papers, adding just a few flatback pearls to look like rivets.

I hop you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xxx

The Alphabet Challenge: E is for Embossing Folders

Hello again.  It's time for a new challenge at the Alphabet Challenge.  This week we are up to the letter E, and E is for embossing folders.

As you can see, I've used two different embossing folders on my card.  I embossed some pink and white card then layered both pieces onto dome darker pink card.  I added some ribbon, some die cut flowers and some pearls, along with a printed sentiment.

I hope you can join us this week at the Alphabet Challenge.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Beside the Seaside

Good morning!  It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz, and this week's challenge theme is beside the seaside.

I used a digi stamp by Polkadoodles for my card, which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils.  I then layered my image onto patterned papers.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xxx

Crazy Cat

Good afternoon.  Today I am sharing a card I made for my partner Matt for his birthday.  This is an image by Bloobel Stamps, which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils.  I hop you like it!

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Friends Challenge Blog
2 Crafty Critter Crazies
Crafty Animals

Sian. xx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Man Cave

Good morning.  This week's challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz is "Man Cave".  Your card must feature something that men do in a shed.  I've chosen a DIY theme for my card.

The image I've used is a digi stamp by Lili of the Valley, and I've coloured it with Prismacolor pencils.

I coloured my image with Prismacolor pencils and layered it onto pattterned papers.  I added the sentiment on Kraft card ans some bronze coloured pearls to look like rivets.

I hope you can join us for this week's challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xxx

The Alphabet Challenge: C is for CAS

Hi everyone!  It's challenge time again at the Alphabet Challenge.  This week we are on letter C and the theme is CAS (clean and simple). 

I've used a Gorjuss stamp by Santoro for my card (well, two stamps from a set, as the little cat at the bottom is separate).  I am a huge cat lover, and this stamp is one of my favourites.  I coloured her using Prismacolor pencils and just added a printed sentiment.

I hope you can join us this week at the Alphabet Challenge.

Sian. xx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Whatever the Weather

Good morning!  It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz, and this week's challenge is Whatever the Weather.  I didn't have many weather things in my stash that were suitable for a male card, so I decided to go with snow (even though it's April!)  It gives me a chance to carry on trying to get a head start with my Christmas cards anyway.

The image I've used is from Digi Stamp Boutique and I've coloured it with Prismacolor pencils.   I layered my image onto patterned papers and added some wooden snowflakes.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Fun and Games

Good morning.  Today it's my turn to choose the challenge theme at Cardz 4 Guyz.  I've chosen the theme of Fun and Games.  Your card can feature any game or sport.

I've done something a bit different from my usual style for this one.  The chess pieces are die cuts.  I've had the dies for ages and only just got around to using them.  For the chess board I started with a black background, carefully measured it and cut the white squares to size and stuck them on, then stuck on the die cuts, which I've tried to keep quite random.  The sentiment is layered and raised on foam pads.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian.

The Alphabet Challenge: A is for Animals

Hi everyone!  It's time for a new challenge at The Alphabet Challenge.  We're starting back at letter A this week, and A is for Animals.  Since it's so close to Mother's Day, I decided to kill two birds with one stone and make a card for my mum.

My image is a beautiful digi stamp by Di's Digi Stamps, and I've coloured it with Prismacolor pencils.  I thought this was a lovely springlike image with the bird singing and the bee. 

I layered my image onto patterned papers and added some paper and fabric flowers.

I hope you can join in the fun this week at The Alphabet Challenge.

Sian.

Cardz 4 Guyz: Get Messy

Hello again.  This morning there's a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz.  This week's theme is Get Messy - create your own messy background using paints, inks, stamping or pretty much anything else you can think of.

I created my background using a Gelli Plate and acrylic paints.  For anyone who hasn't used a Gelli Plate or similar, it's very easy to do and a lot of messy fun.  You apply acrylic paints to the gel plate using a brayer and the press various textured items into the plate to take off soe of the paint.  As you apply the acrylic paint thinly it dired quickly and you can apply multiple layers.  I think I did two layers on this one, but I tend to just keep applying more layers until I have a look I'm happy with.

The image I've used on my card is by Dr Digi, and I coloured him with Prismacolor pencils.  The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz ideaology booklet. 

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian.

Funky Cats

Good morning.  A 'just for fun' card from me today.  I made this one using a stamp by Indigo Blu and a die cut cat.

I coloured the image with Promarkers and added a bit of white gel pen.  I love the sentiment at the bottom, which is from a Tim Holtz Ideaology pad.

Sian. xx

Cardz 4 Guyz: To Die For

Good morning.  Today's challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz is to create something using die cuts.  I've had this castle die for ages and hadn't got around to using it, so I thought this was a good opportunity. 

I layered my die cut image onto one of the Enchanted Forest papers by Crafter's Companion, which I think looks really effective.  Then I used more of the papers for the rest of the card.  I added a "Happy Birthday" sentiment and then added some die cut leaves at the Corners. 

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xx 

The Alphabet Challenge - Y is for Yarn (or string or twine)

Good morning.  It's time for a new Alphabet Challenge.  This week's letter is Y, which is for Yarn (although you can also use string or twine if you would prefer).

I used yarn flowers on my card.  I used a tutorial which I found on Pinterest to make these, and adapted it a bit because I like to do things my way!

I used an image by Di's Digistamps for my card, which I coloured with Polychromos pencils.  I layered the image onto patterned papers and then added my yarn flowers.

I hope you can join in the fun at this week's Alphabet Challenge.

Sian..  xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz - CAS

Hello again.  This week's challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz is CAS.  I've used this great lighthouse stamp by Stamposaurus, which I coloured with Polychromos pencils.  I layered onto navy blue card and added a stamped sentiment.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xx

Starting Early

Hi everyone.  I've started early (VERY early) with my Christmas cards this year.  This one was made using an Image by Power Poppy which was one of the Kit and Clowder pencil classes.  I coloured it using Prismacolor pencils.

I cut around my image then layered it onto patterned papers.  I added a wooden embellishment, the Happy Christmas sentiment and some red gems.

I would like to enter my card in the Sparkles Christmas Challenge.

I hope you like it!

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz - Wild Animals

Good morning!  It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz, and this week's theme is wild animals.  I took the opportunity to use one of my favourite stamps.  I love this gorilla stamp but I've had it for a very long time and can't remember who it's made by.

I stamped two gorillas and coloured them with Prismacolor pencils.   I layered them onto patterned papers and added some die cut leaves. 

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian.  xx

The Alphabet Challenge - W is for Wings

Good morning.  The letter for this week's Alphabet Challenge is W, and theme that has been chosen is Wings.

I decided to use two of my Tim Holtz Crazy Birds stamps for this one.  I coloured them with Promarkers.  I don't use my Promarkers much any more since they stopped making the ultra fine nibs.  I love my pencils too much too, I think.

I created the background using a Gelli Plate.  This was one of my Christmas presents and is a lot of fun.  You will probably see a lote more Gelli Plate backgrounds on my blog in the not too distant future!

I hope you can join in this week's Alphabet Challenge.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Something beginning with T

Good morning.  It's time for a new challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz.  Today's challenge is to make a card using something beginning with T.  My 'T' is a teenager, and I've created my card using a digital image by Lili of the Valley, which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils.

The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz Ideaology book and reads "the sarcasm is strong in this one".  I think I'm going to give this card to one of my sons for their next birthday.  I haven't decided which one yet as they're both very sarcastic.  I don't know where they get it from!

I hope you can join us for this week's challenge at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xxx

Fantasy

Hi everyone.  This is a card I made using a beautiful image by Hannah Lynn Art.  I coloured her with Polychromos pencils.

I normally do more layers on my cards, but I loved this image and also the patterned background paper by Crafter's Companion, so I decided to keep this simple. I layered my image onto glitter card and black card, with the patterned paper forming the background behind.  The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz Ideaology pad.

Sian. xxx

Cardz 4 Guyz: Planes, Trains and/or Automobiles

Good morning!  It's time for Cards 4 Guyz' first challenge of the New Year.  This week's challenge is Planes, Trains and/or automobiles (you can choose).

For my card, I used a rubber stamp by Deep Red, which I coloured with Prismacolor pencils.  I layered my image onto pattered papers and an embossed panel made using a Tim Holtz 3D embossing folder, then added some metal cogs to finish it off.

I hope you can join us this week at Cardz 4 Guyz.

Sian. xxx

The Alphabet Challenge: U is for Use some Stitching

Good morning and Happy New Year!  I am really excited today to be joining the design team for The Alphabet Challenge blog  .

This week's letter is U, which is for Use some stitching.  The stitching on your card can be real or faux.  I decided to hand stitch my card for this challenge.  I used a cute image by LeAnn's World for this card, which I coloured using Prismacolor pencils.  I die cut a circle around my image and hand stitched around the edges.  I layered my image onto patterned papers and also hand stitched the edges of each paper that I used.  This took me absolutely ages, but it's a technique I love because I always like the way my finished card looks. 

I finished off my card with a ribbon bow and some die cut flourishes.

I hope you can join in this week's Alphabet Challenge.

Sian. xxx

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!  I'm sharing one of my last cards from 2018.  This one was made using an image by Bloobel Stamps, and coloured with Polychromos pencils.

I love this character!

I wish you all well for the New Year, and will be back soon with some of my new creations.

Sian. xxx