Monday 30 June 2008

NWR Digi Course - Lesson 3

Here's this weeks LO for Lesson 3. I can't believe that next week is our final week! I've learnt loads doing this course and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'll definately be doing the next one "Digi In Deep" when it comes up. Our Digital Photography course with Candice Stringham started today and boy is this one well needed.


Digital is so versatile now, you can change paper colours and correct photo's and all sorts of things, but with the photography course I'm hoping I can save time by taking photo's correctly in the first place.

Sunday 29 June 2008

Sketches! {by tamara} - Challenge #50

On my quest to find some suitable papers for my Red, White and Blue Note Book I found this adorable kit and just had to use them. This sketch I think was perfect for them.

'
The papers are from a kit called Doldrums, it's made by Ziggle Designs and comes from Scrap Orchard. The stamp is from the PrintWorks Collection - Caring Thoughts set.

Stamp Something - Red, White, and Blue.

This is this week's challenge: "Create something in red, white and blue and have it be ANYTHING BUT A CARD!" So with that here's my Red, White, and Blue Notes Book.


I used these really cute papers from Christy Lyle's "All Hands on Deck" Kit available from Sweet Shoppe Designs. I added some Ribboin, Buttons and Foam Letters.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Here's my take on this week's Penny Black challenge. I was quite pleased with it but compared to all the other takes it looks rather Bland to say the least.


I didn't use any Backing Papers for this, I used textured Brown card and Pearlescent Green and Pink card. The image is coloured with Whispers Pens.

Friday 27 June 2008

Cute Card Thursday #16

Another fabulous challenge this week! And it's No Patterned Paper. Here's what Andrea said, No Patterned Paper. Now, if this fills you with horror, as it did me, you are allowed to make your own patterned paper or card by stamping, inking, doodling etc. on plain paper or cardstock. You can emboss, tear and add anything else you like. The only restriction is no 'bought' patterned paper!
'
'
For this one I decided to go Monochromatic, only just because my Mojo had left me last night. Try as I may I just couldn't get into it. Eventually came up with this one but still not happy. I stamped some Butterflies and Flowers onto the top half of my Card using a Brilliance stamp pad, Lilac Card stock on the bottom and stamped Tilda onto White card stock and then layered onto Lilac. Iused a Sakura Glaze Pen for the Sentiment and highlighted a few flowers, stuck on some Buttons and Ribbon and hey Presto!

Wednesday 25 June 2008

CPS #70

Here's my take on this week's sketch. I really enjoyed this one, once I decided on the paper to use everything else fell into place.

'
I used Papers from Eline Pellinkhof's Babies Kit (Daisie Company). The Sentiment was stamped in Blue Chalk ink, quickie glued and then glittered. The Baby Blocks are from the Baby See D's set and the word Boy is part of Wendy Stenton's "It's a Boy" stamp. I also glittered the scalloped edge of the oval. Finally used some Ribbon and Peel-Off's to finish.
'

NWR Digi Course - Challenge Wednesday

Every Wednesday on our course we get a challenge to complete, I haven't had a chance to do Week 1's challenge yet but here's what Jessica gave us for week 2.
'
The fun part is you can pick and choose from several items to challenge yourself with, but if you choose to accept the challenge, you MUST use at least 3 of the items listed on a single page. Ready? Go!
'
Challenge #2:
  • Use at least two patterned papers from our new Carnival kit (are there some you haven't used yet? I bet there are! :D)
  • Include journaling strips
  • Download the 100 in 10 challenge list we completed on my blog a few months back. That's here: 100 in 10 challenge list. Choose one of the items on the list to incorporate into your challenge, and make sure to post the number when you post your layout! :D
  • Find another use for the circle template from Lesson 2 - perhaps put patterned paper in some of the pieces, or only use half of them.

Give it a try! I think you'll find a LOT of good ideas on the 100 in 10 challenge list.

'


Here's my LO, I used the first 3 items in the list and completed No 66 on the 100 in 10 Challenge list. The backing papers are from the Carnival Kit by Sweet Shoppe Designs that was an exclusive to everyone on the course.

Tuesday 24 June 2008

Paper Take Weekly - Katharina's Sketch #4

Here's this weeks Papertake Challenge, another sketch from Katerina. I'm trying to keep to the Quick Card theme, but it still takes me sooo long to decide on Papers! Once I've got that decision made the rest is pretty quick.
'

I apologise for the quality of the photo, but hopefully that will be rectified soon as my Online Photographic course over at JessicaSprague.com starts on Monday! I was so lucky to get in 200 spots sold out in less than 10 minutes.
'
'
Backing papers used on this card are from Kay Miller's Live for the Joy Kit. I embossed some brown card stock with the Swiss Dots Cutlebug Embossing Folder and added some Ribbon and a bow, two buttons with brown ribbon threaded through.

Monday 23 June 2008

NWR Digi Course - Lesson 2

Here's the result of my second class. I can't believe how easy it can be when you know what you're doing. I've only just discovered that there is an easy way to crop and resize photo's. I've had the same results (eventually) but it's taken ages and lots of steps to get that result. Just goes to show it's well worth taking the lessons!
'
The layout is all about the Game that was played on the Saturday night at the Create and Craft Hilton Experience 2008. It was the Crafty Version of Family Fortunes and it was a blast. Heaven only knows what they are going to do next year.'
'
'
What I learnt this week:
  • Created a grungy-edged focal photo
  • Cleaned up colour casts on photos
  • Practice hotkeys for opening, creating, and closing documents, and creating new layers
  • Used a four-square template to create a circular photo block.
  • Created reversed-out journaling strips.
  • Darkened paper edges.
  • Re-coloured and blended an overlay.

And last but not least How to Crop properly (This wasn't part of the course outline by the way).

Friday 20 June 2008

DCM - Just a quick one!

Here is this week's challenge set by Bondgirl "I want you to make a QUICK CARD! a card that takes you no more than hmm say 30 minutes max to do - start to finish. No set ingredients and pick your own theme, but be quick and be crafty! (and dont forget to tell us how long it took too)."
'
Here's what I came up with. From going through my scrap box to completion it took me 14 minutes, which is not bad for me it normally takes me about an hour just to decide on what papers to use.
'
'
I used some Pink card that I had used on Monday to try out my new Swiss Dot's embossing folder. The paper is from Nitwits Collections Breath of Fresh Air kit and the sentiment is from my Woodware Great Birthday set.

Stamp Something - Sketch Something Challenge

This week's challenge is a sketch. I love sketch challenges, sometimes I get them completely wrong but that's half the learning curve, knowing where you went wrong and trying not to make the same mistakes. I'm all pinked out at the moment so decided to go for the blues on this one.
'
'
I used the Summer Breeze Collection from NitWit Collections for the backing papers. The stamp is another one from Stamposaurus called Ellie 3, I stamped with Brilliance Sky blue and coloured the Daisies with a yellow Sakura Star Dust Pen.

Caardvarks - Think Pink

Here's another colour challenge and Pink aswell. I don't think anyone could get tired of pink cards, maybe not all in the same day though. This challenge was such a great excuse to use another of my new stamps, not that us crafters need excuses!
'
'
The backing papers are from the Adorable Me Kit by Misty Cato over at Sweet Shoppe Designs. The adorable stamp is Fairy Princesses from Stamposaurus, they just begged for Pink ballet dresses. I again used my Whispers Brush Pens and Sakura Clear Star Dust pen for the wings. The sentiment is from PrintWorks Great Birthday set.

Cute Card Thursday #15

This week's challenge is to make a Birthday Crad. I opted for a Boy's Card as I'm not any good at Men's and Boy's cards so I need all the practice I can get. I saw these really cute stamps at the weekend and decided they might just be what I need to do some decent boy's cards.
'
'
Both stamps are from the Woodware Playtime set, I matted and layered onto DCWV card stock, coloured and inked the edges with Whispers pens. It's not too busy but I'm pretty happy with the result.

Arty Girlz Challenge #39

This week's challenge is easy! All we have to do is have some Pink on our creations. It's amazing what you can do with some decent card stock and it's so worth paying the extra money. I decided to make this card without using any backing papers for a change.
'
'
I bought my card stock from the Glitter Girls at the Hilton Experience last weekend. The stamp is of course Tilda coloured with my Whispers Brush Pens. I also managed to play with my New Cuttle Bug Embossing Borders which have been glittered with Diamond Stickles.
'

Wednesday 18 June 2008

NWR Digi Course - Lesson 1

What a great start to a really great course. I have learnt so much in just one lesson and thoroughly enjoyed it. Roll on next week! Here is my Layout, I pretty much stuck to the lesson plan as it's my first one, but I'll be playing around when I get time to do my first Assignment.



'

So what did I learn, let's see:

  • How to change a photo to sepia and selectively colour one aspect of the photo.
  • Create a clipping mask.
  • Column Journaling.
  • Custom Tagging and corner rounding.
  • Using Brushes.

I'm really glad I joined this course and look forward to learning lots of new things in Photoshop.

Thursday 12 June 2008

Cute Card Thursday #14

I can't believe that I've managed to miss 10 challenges! How on earth did that happen? Well I'll have to make up for it, and here's my 1st attempt at that. I actually made this card last night after getting my new stash of Tilda's and was thinking that I might not have a challenge to tie it in with. Imagine my suprise when I saw what this weeks challenge was!
'
I must admit that I'm abit of a late bloomer when it comes to the Tilda Stamps, this time last month I had none and yesterday my second batch of 6 came so now I have 11 Tilda's, 1 Edwin and Tilda's Birds, but this is exactly why I'm a late bloomer. I knew that once you had one you would want them all!

'
The Backing Papers believe it or not actually come from a fab kit called Jungle Boogie by Kay Miller, aren't they just gorgeous! Tilda was coloured with Whispers Brushstrokes, I used a Clear Happy Birthday stamp for the sentiment and my 3 Embellishments are Brads, Gems and a Ribbon.

Paper Take Weekly - Katharina's Sketch #4

Another great sketch from Katharina's and here's my take on it. I left the strip or ribbon then went down the middle as it didn't quite fit in with my background paper. I realyy enjoyed this one and look forward to more, so keep them coming Katharina!


The backing Papers are from a scrummy little kit called Baby Buddies by Katie Pertiet and it's available from Designer Digitals. The Baby blocks were just stamped straight onto one of the backing papers which was mounted onto card stock, cut out and 3D with foam pads.

Wednesday 11 June 2008

CPS #68

Here's my take on the CPS Sketch, it's not exactly a Father's Day Card, men's cards are not my strongest point at the moment. I'm into Thank You cards and decided to go Black and White.
'
'
The Sketch is quite basic, so I decided to keep the Card plain and simple too. Basic White Card, matted and layered with Black card, white card put through the Cuttlebug using the Paisley Embossing Folder and then I took my Stazon ink pad over the top. The stamp is Aspire by Penny Black and the sentiment is from my "Thank You" Hero Arts Clear Stamps set. I added some sticky back gems as a finishing touch.

Tuesday 10 June 2008

Now We're Rocking!

I've signed up for a Digital Scrapbooking Course, "Now We're Rocking" over at JessicaSprague.com and can't wait for Monday when the class starts. I actually wanted to do the first course "Up & Running With Photoshop" but that meant I'd have to wait for the next round of courses to start which could be month's away. And as my Title description say's I'm not very patient so I decided to do the second course instead.
'
I'm sure I'll be fine as I do already use Photoshop CS3, not in great detail, but this is where I'm hoping the course will help me. I'll let you know how things are going so be sure to check back now and then to see my progress.

Saturday 7 June 2008

Create and Craft Experience Weekend

It's less than a week to go till the Create and Craft Experience weekend at the Hilton in Birmingham. It feels like I've waited forever for this to arrive! I booked my place way back in January and I'd be very suprised if I wasn't the first to book. This'll be my second weekend as I went last year, and I had an absolute ball.
'
Is anyone else going? Please let me know if you are. I'm sure it's going to be a great weekend, and can't wait to see what's in store for us this year. If you are going, I look forward to meeting you.

Wednesday 4 June 2008

Arty Girlz Challenge #33

We have 'Paint' as the challenge theme this week so go and grab your paintbrushes and have some fun! This is the challenge this week. And there's a Stamp Set up for grabs.
'

'
I've stuck with Sweet Shoppe Designs for the backing papers, this time using the Adorable Me kit by Misty Cato and Betty Jo Martins. I've painted Tilda with Watercolours and stamped the sentment.

CPS #67

Here's my take on CPS's sketch #67. Still need to get back into the swing, I'm a bit rusty at the moment. I do enjoy using Silver Mirri card at the moment. The way the photograph came out it looks like Gold and Silver. I don't think I'll ever be able to ge that effect again even if I try. It looks great.
'
'
Today I've used backing papers from Sweet Shoppe Designs Sugar and Spice Kit by Zoe Pearne. All mounted onto Silver Mirri card, stamped sentiment is from Unmounted Stamp Company, and I used some Silver Peel Off Butterflies and Flowers to finish it off.

We're Back

Well we're back safe and sound. Got back on Sunday night and with washing, work, shopping etc not had alot of time for posting or crafting. Need to get back into the swing of things now and do some catching up.
'
Italy was absolutely fantastic! Despite the fact that my Camera was stolen with all my photo's on it. Tuscany is so beautiful, we definately want to go back there and Lake Garda is stunning!
'
A couple on our trip has very kindly said they would send me copies of their sightseeing photo's, so all is not lost. I'll do some posts once I've got the photo's and had a play with them in my Graphics program.
'
I went ahead and replaced my camera already, as I need it for posting my cards and challenges and don't think I could have waited for the Insurance Company to pay out.