Quirky Challenge

This week's quirky Created by Hand challenge is to use a coffin template.

Yep. Really. A coffin. Okaaaay then.

So this is my offering. The stamp is from Quietfire Design. The image is one I found on the 'net. I added the little googlie eyes
and the bride's flowers. The coffin had to be upside-down so I could fit the stamped sentiment the way I wanted to. ;)

So, hmmm, what might be a "useful" occasion for this little thing? I know! How about a GOTH WEDDING?? If you have any of those coming up, I'd be pleased to donate my little card. :) Hmmm...another thought...Suzanne suggested using it as a card for a wedding anniversary...GREAT idea 'eh? (lol) Maybe I'll use it for my OWN next year...think it'll send an interesting message??

Thanks for stopping by today to see my funnies.

Ismaki Challenge Sep 29

Another lovely Monday morning with another delightful Ismaki challenge sketch, this week from the artsy Beatrix. The sketch is below. I rotated it 90 degrees for my card. The pumpkin stamp is Penny Black. The sentiment is Impression Obsession. Thanks so much for visiting my blog today.

A sad task

These are sympathy cards for the parents and young wife of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan.

I hope you're able to take a couple of minutes out of your day to watch this, in this young soldier's memory, and for all the soldiers who have died in the past, and will die in future: "Where have all the flowers gone..."
written by Pete Seger and performed by Joan Baez

THANK YOU!

My stamping friend Renu honoured me with a little blog love. THANK YOU! She says I have to pass it on to seven bloggers whose work I admire, so here goes, in alpahbetical order:

Åshild's blog

Dymphie's Paper Adventures

Faye's Art Blog

Heather Robinson's Creative Solace

Ismaki Challenge Blog...it's the first thing I do every Monday morning!

Valita's blog

Wednesday Stamper...another challenge blog...WONDERFUL creations!

If you haven't tried these challenge blogs, DO drop by to see the fabulous ideas and art, such divine inspiration!

Now the challenging part...YOU need to try to honour seven bloggers whose work YOU admire. Don't forget to post your award on your own blog.

THANK YOU again Renu. You blessed me today. :)

Deborah.

More autumn

I love how the cooler weather and crisp nights of autumn affect my card making these days! This week's Wednesday Stamper challenge is to incorporate patterns into your work. The focal background was created on glossy cardstock with Ecoline watercolour inks, mixed with off-white acrylic paint, using the "smoosh" technique. When that was dry, I stamped over it with a Judikins background stamp, using Staz-On black ink. The "in-between" background that has a metallic copper border was created by spraying one of the same Ecoline watercolour inks on
watercolour paper...a very different look. Then I added
a simple tag with a Hero Arts sentiment. These
wonderful Ecoline inks are available

in Canada at Quietfire Design.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Autumn...LOVE it...

Autumn is definitely my very favourite season. Gone are the hot and humid, strength-sapping days of summertime, replaced by easy walking and sleeping weather. My gardening chores are done for another year, and I can begin to "nest" again for the winter months ahead. Pure and simple bliss!

The Created by Hand Challenge today is to incorporate dragonflies into your work, and the Arty Girlz challenge is to use autumn colours. All stamps used are from Quietfire Design, on a watercolour-paper base which was spray-painted with Ecoline Inks (also available at Quietfire!) from a Ranger mini mister. I stamped the dragonflies on a transparency, one with Brilliance Copper Ink, and one with Top Boss gold embossing powder over Top Boss embossing ink, cut them out, and pop-dotted them onto the base. I used Swarovski flat back iridescent crystals for their little heads, and Swarovski 4 mm bicone crystals on jewelry wire for their antennae.

Thanks for visiting today!

Ismaki challenge

I used this week's Ismaki challenge sketch to do a card for my daughter, who lives away. The background is spray-coloured with Ecoline watercolour inks in a Ranger mini mister (available at Quietfire Design), and I Cuttlebugged two pieces of it to layer on the background for added texture. I also used the Cuttlebug "With Love" embossing folder for the sentiment. The letter package stamp is All Night Media, ribbon coloured with Tombow watercolour markers. The flourish stamp in the corner is from Quietfire Design. The "Just for You" tag stamp is a Hero Arts mini stamp. Thanks for visiting today!

Impression Obsession Blog Candy Winner

I'm just tickled pink that so many folks like this delightful sentiment stamp set from Impression Obsession.

The winning name was drawn from all those who left comments on all the designers' blogs. Congratulations to "Maiah's Mommy."

Confession time here. Because of MY error, Maiah's Mommy didn't leave a comment on the correct card on Laura's blog. That's because, in my original post (corrected the next day), I'd linked to a card made by Laura for another challenge last summer. Maiah's Mommy DID leave a comment on that card though, as did others who hopped aboard the praise train, and were also included in the draw.

Sooo...Maiah's Mommy still wins. Hope that doesn't cause anybody any heartburn. :)

Please send me your postal address so I can send it along to our generous boss, Mitra Friant, owner of Impression Obsession. She'll have the sentiment set sent out to you.

I KNOW you'll just love it!

Thanks so much for playing along everyone!

Deborah.

Wednesday Stamper Challenge

Aaaahhh, my Wednesday Stamper challenge, being posted on Friday. Yep, story of my life (lol).
This is a newly released "Bella" stamp, and the first Bella in my stamp collection. Just LOVED the image...took me back to my misspent youth(lol). She's coloured with Tombow watercolours markers and a paintbrush.VIVID...just like the sixties. ;)

Thanks so much for visiting today.

Celebrating fall!

The Impression Obsession design team challenged ourselves to celebrate fall this month. I did this card for my grandson with one of the new IO stamps designed by Leigh Hannan, called Halloween Topiary, and a sentiment from the "Anytime Sentiments" clear stamp set, which is one of my favourite IO sets. I use it
often for cards for friends and family.

In fact, I like it so much that I'm offering it as blog candy today!

So have a look at it (it's there below my card), and if you'd like to win it, please hop aboard the praise train and leave a little lovin' for each card done by the design team. All the links to their cards are below. On Sunday, I'll post the random winner, from among those who leave comments on all the cards, and this delightful set will be sent to you directly from our generous boss-lady, Mitra Friant, owner of Impression Obsession! IO designers won't be playing for the stamps, but I know they'll be tickled pink to read what you think.

So here's my card, coloured with Tombow watercolour markers, and prettied up
with some "Glamour Dust" from Deco Arts.

And here's that great sentiment set. You KNOW you NEED it! (lol)

Finally, here are links to all the other designers' cards...have a look,
see their gorgeous creations, and don't forget to let us all know you've visited.

You can see Daniela's here

You can see Julie's here

You can see Kelli's here.

You can see Laura's here

You can see Penny's here

And here's the card by Dina, our guest designer

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today, and
good luck in the journey towards
this cool blog candy.

Something to crow about!

So I had FUN this morning! I combined three different challenges into one card. The Ismaki challenge sketch this week is used as the basic design, over a base dyed with Ecoline watercolour inks (available in Canada at Quietfire Design). I mixed the inks with some Winsor & Newton Iridescent Medium, and although you can't see it, there's a wonderful sparkly finish to the colour.

At Created by Hand, the challenge is crows. So I used three crows and a crown stamp,
all from Quietfire Design. I gold embossed and pop-dotted the crown.

And today is the first birthday of the Arty Girlz challenges, so their challenge is to create birthday cards.
So here's to a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our arty girlz Crissi and Julie!

Happy Birthday

I just LOVE Mondays! I wake up smiling, looking forward to the weekly Ismaki sketch. I often refer to past Ismaki sketches when I need to create a card for a particular occasion. This week, Isa tells us to incorporate a swiveling panel into our card. Here's my girly birthday card, using an Inkadinkado stamp, some beads, some Swarovski Aurora Borealis crystals, and a bit of lace. Do take the time to visit their blog to see some WONDERFUL uses of this sketch! Thanks for visiting me today!

Sing!

The current Created by Hand challenge is to use pink and brown, always a lovely combination. I used a little gold as well. Hand stitched and beaded, using a Quietfire Design sentiment stamp. I used the Quietfire Design music stamp for the paper flowers too. Thanks for stopping by!

Alter it!

This week's Arty Girlz challenge is to alter something. Here's a light switchplate I had some fun with.

Thanks for visiting today!