Paperplay - "Hidden Extra"

This week's challenge on Paperplay is - "Hidden Extra".... add a hidden extra to your project.  It can be a tag, gift card, journalling etc.... be creative and enjoy.  This week we are very kindly sponsored by Whimsy Stamps.

Supplies:  Whimsy Stamps digi image, PTI sentiment, 

Fiskars Upper Crest Punch, copics, Prima flowers, glossy accents,

fimo button I made, Papermania Regency A5 Paper pack and pop dots.

My hidden extra is under the digital image - you just pull on the button to reveal it.  I created a second layer by printing the image twice and just cutting out the flower pot and flower and adhering it using pop dots for added dimension.

 

We got to play with images from our wonderful sponsor this week - Whimsy Stamps and I chose this adorable cat and matched it to a PTI sentiment purr-fect friend!

Hope you have a wonderful day and get a chance to play along with Paperplay this week.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

A little tune!

My favourite song from my favourite Irish band at the moment - The Script - heard of them???? They are up and coming, well actually..... they have TOTALLY ARRIVED...... they have played support to Paul McCartney, U2.... need I say more?  The girl in the video is Eve Hewson - Bono's daughter.  Cool eh?  Tried to buy tickets to their gig in 2011 yesterday - all sold out...boo hoo!




and look what I got to photograph this morning......

and have a "rub" off (for luck!)...... the Sam Maguire Cup.  Up the rebels! - for those reading this that have no idea what I am talking about, this is the GAA All Ireland Senior Football Championship Trophy which Cork won on 19 September beating Down in Croke Park.  It is Cork's seventh title, and their first since 1990.  So you can imagine the excitement in the County!  The cup is modelled on the Ardagh Chalice.

Me with "Sam", yeap, that's my shadow on the ground!  Brian O'Regan and Eoin Cotter - Cork Senior Players with "sam" visiting my DS's school this morning.

Hope you have a wonderful day ... as you can see from the photo the sun is shining in the Rebel County!

Holiday Card

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge have a fun sketch this week and this is what I created.

 

Supplies:  Seasons of Love Stamp set by WMS, Papermania pearls, 

Cosmo Cricket pp, Kraft card blank by Jillibean Soup, 

ribbon from MemrieMare on Etsy, and Colorbox chalk ink.

My first holiday card of the season!  I used papers from a 6x6 Cosmo Cricket Pad - Jolly by Golly.  I stamped the sentiment on cream textured cardstock with chalk ink (very difficult to photograph well!).  Added machine stitching to "attach" the bauble to the card.  Beautiful distressed ribbon by MemrieMare finishes off the card.

Also entering it into the Jolly Holiday Greetings Challenge over on Moxie Fab World.  Be sure to check it out - you have until October 11th to enter.

Thanks for peeking.  Hope you have a great day.

Fun Fall/Autumn card - Caardvarks

A quick card share - Fun Fall/Autumn Card.  I used the wonderful freebie pumpkin that my friend Jane Beljo has on her site here.

Coloured the pumpkin with copics and added a generous amount of copper distress stickles to it - it really sparkles in real life!.  The sentiment I found online - "the pumpkin is always oranger on the other side of the patch!".  I printed it out in carrotflower font. 

I am entering this card into this month's Caardvarks challenge which is sponsored by Hero Arts - it is to create a "Clean and Simple Stamped card" (I used a digi stamp - hope it qualifies!!).  As you know I am a HUGE FAN of Hero Arts. 

Thanks so much for peeking.  Hope you have a wonderful start to your week.

Fall Colours

I entered this photo into the photo challenge over on 2peas this week - "Fall Beauty".  Love this photo which I took in Geneva, Illinois in October 2002.

Love how there is just one leaf after turning ...  there are things I still miss about living in the US - I loved "Fall".  The smells, sounds, coolness in the breeze.  I adored visiting the pumpkin patches with the boys when they were very young - because they were such a novelty (the patches... not the boys! LOL!).  Don't have "patches" in Ireland although some garden centres now do Fall displays which include pumpkins. 

I don't suppose that my DS would remember this now... but he got his wagon and was ready for action!.

Thankfully my Dad now grows us a pumpkin each year.  I started planting pumpkin plants from seed when we returned from the US, then my Dad (who is very green fingered!) took over and this is his beauty for us this year.... all ready for carving!.  (hopefully I will have posted a photo of the beauty here before this goes to post... the pumpkin is all wrapped up safe in the garage and is too heavy for me to lift!).

I won some wonderful blog candy over on Kathy's blog - cannot tell you how excited I am... I do not have any Penny Black stamps..... so now I get a kick start to my Penny Black collection!  Be sure to check out the new wonderful PB Blog.  A couple of my HA flickr buddies Kathy Racoosin and Ashley Marcu are designers for Penny Black and are creating amazing things.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Bounce! Card with a bookmark

Last Friday Paige set a fresh challenge on the Create Blog (formerly CARDS blog) to make a card with a pocket.  I immediately got to work and created a card incorporating a bookmark into the front.

Supplies: WOF digital image - spider henry, wordart from create with TLC, 

Bazzill dotted swiss cardstock in olive green and blue, Copics Blue B24, 

Orange E08 and Olive Green YG95

I decided to use a Whiff of Joy image I got as a freebie - "Spider Henry" a while ago and pulled out some copics and set to work!.  Pop over to Whiff of Joy - I think Spider Henry may still be there!!.  I paired him with Paulette's wonderful Word Art from Create with TLC. 

I stitched some acetate onto some dotted swiss cardstock, layered it on top and machine stitched blue dotted cardstock and added co-ordinating ribbon to the top.  (After I took the photo I added two small glass beads to the ends of the ribbon for weight - but I'm afraid I didn't retake the photo!).

Imagine my delight to see my card feature on the CREATE blog last night...woohooo! Doing the happy dance.  Thanks so much for stopping by and feel free to leave me a comment so I know that you stopped by.  I will try to get back to visit everyone's blog over the weekend.  Happy Friday!

Paperplay - Coffee & Cream

This week's challenge over on Paperplay is to use "coffee and cream" on your layout or card.  This week we are very kindly sponsored by Phindy's Place.  I am a big fan of Philomena's work for quite a while, check out her blog here and her shop here.  I used her wonderful digital image - Petticoat Patty - isn't she a cute hedgie! that is available to all 900! followers over on her Papercraft Planet Group.

 Supplies:  Petticoat Patty image by Philomena O'Neill over on Phindy's Place, 

Kraft cardstock, Bazzill dotted swiss cardstock, Spellbinders scalloped circles large, 

Quickutz cookie cutter circles, misc ribbon from stash, copics and pop dots

I coloured "Patty" with shades of brown/coffee/mocha!, I did print the image on white cardstock as my copics bleed on other papers and not on this wonderful Bristol Board that runs through my printer.

I matted and layered on various shades of coffee cardstock and adhered to a kraft card base.  Thanks for peeking and I hope you get a chance to play along with Paperplay this week.  Be sure to check out what our Guest DT member - Heather created this week and the rest of the DT * Sandie * Heather * Liz  * Vera * and Mandy.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment - I really appreciate each one.

Cards made from Digital Kits

A quick share of a few cards I made recently with Digital Kits.  I used this FREEBIE Digikit - Ocean Breeze by Scrap Originals.  It is available here.  The base paper on this is from a kit by Jen Martakis called Watercolors - available here.

The freebie sentiment is by Nini over on Suddenly Artistic - she creates amazing stuff.  I matted and layered and added it to Bazzill dotted swiss cardstock with some machine stitching.

I also made this which also has the frame portion layered on pop dots for added dimension.

The pp, frame, flower, ribbon is all from the Digikit - Ocean Breeze I mentioned above which is a freebie over on 2peas.  I left this one sentiment free for the moment - will add as needed!

(Edited to add - I use photoshop to manipulate the digital kits but you can use word/Office packages.  Great tutorial by Lucy here on how to use digi images with Word).

I hope you have a wonderful day and thanks so much for peeking.

Waltzingmouse sketch challenge

A quick card share - I saw the sketch this morning over on Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - and just had to take part.... just made this card.

Supplies: Websters Pages patterned paper, upper crest Fiskars Punch,  

WMS Stamps - Vintage Labels 2 and Seasons of Love, 

ribbon from MemrieMare on Etsy,  machine stitching, 

fimo button made by me! and some embroidery floss.

I added machine stitching, punching with my new favourite punch - upper crest by Fiskars and stamped the sentiment on kraft in distress ink - peeled paint.

Thanks for peeking.  Hope you have a wonderful day - I am dashing out the door!!!!!  Will pop back in later.

For the Birthday Girl - Squigglefly Challenge

The challenge over on Squigglefly is to use your favourite (Squigglefly) digital image.  Mine just has to be this cutie by Jane Beljo - Mia and Bosko.  I added stickles to the heart on Mia's top and coloured with copics.  Also added a sentiment sticker by SRM Stickers and a fimo heart button I made (has a slight sparkle to it!).

Thanks so much for peeking.  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Mami Doodles - new release and new challenge

Mami Doodles time..... new releases and a new challenge.  Wow, Elisa has been busy - am just LOVING "Nick and his Skateboard".  Elisa is giving away a floral stamp with every purchase made in the month of September - full details are here.

Elisa/Mami Doodles has also sponsored a challenge over on Crafters Digital Art Center.   It is a collaborative digital challenge site and you will find all your favourite digital artists have groups over there.  Her challenge is an Embellishment Challenge - "use flowers, buttons, brads or ribbons over your digital image".

Elisa has very kindly posted a freebie to use for this challenge if you wish... so be sure to pop over, sign up, play along and snag the freebie.  Isn't she a cutie?

The Challenge is open until Sept 22nd.

Now... to matters on hand...... the new challenge is - "make something for a boy that has the colour red in it!".

Supplies: Digi by Mami Doodles, pp by Dream Street Papers (Urban Ink - Hard Steel Range), 

Spellbinders Labels 14, blending chalk, copics, button from stash, 

embossing powder - silver pearl, Inkadinkado stamp set - friendly advice and copics

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you get a chance to play along with this fun challenge.

Paperplay - "Shaped Cards of any kind"

Supplies: 6x6 combo paper pack - Webster's Pages, Cream Cardstock, 

Spellbinders Scalloped circles large, copics, white gel pen,

Mami Doodles Floral digi, Craft Brulee lace/trim, 

fimo button made by me!, machine stitching and some embroidery floss.

Paperplay Challenge this week is "Shaped Cards of any kind" - I decided to go for a Scalloped circular card using some patterned paper by Webster's Pages.  I have been practising machine stitching in a circle... not easy!!! and the beautiful lace is from Craft Brulee (our sponsor this week).

You could win a €10 store voucher... so I hope you get a chance to play along this week with this wonderful challenge.  Be sure to check out the wonderful creations by all the Design Team -
Our Guest Designer for Sept - Heather and the rest of the DT * Alicia * Jeannie *  Liz B * Jan * - full deets on the Challenge blog here.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

September CCC

The options were endless on the September Card Chain Challenge organised by Deborah - here were the sketch and colour palette.

As you know... I LOVE orange and russet tones... so I played along with the colour palette and sketch (a little less LOL!!).  Here is what I came up with to send to Rikke. (She has received it ... so now I can post!).

I used the brand new digital kit from Hero Arts called Basic Tree - available here.  I printed it out, cut it with Spellbinders Labels One and used blending chalk around the edges.  I then really enjoyed colouring it with the colours from the colour palette.   I am entering this into this month's Hero Arts Challenge - "Everything Autumn".

I matted and layered and added the sentiment from HA Clear Design Anytime Messages.  Added machine stitching, embroidery floss and one of Jane Beljo's wonderful fimo buttons.

I received this wonderful card from a HA Flickr Buddy - Joy (dustypenny) in the mail yesterday - isn't it just beautiful.

It has the most amazing crackle effect on the leaf.  I got some fun bits to play with in the envelope too.... thanks Joy.

Another wonderful Card Chain Challenge - for more information and the full reveal check out Deborah's blog here.  She would love for you to join in - it really is wonderful getting a card in the post from somewhere different in the world each month.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Many thanks Card

This is one of my card's for this month's challenge over on Hero Arts.  The Challenge this month is "Everything Autumn!".  I played around with the new digital kit by Hero Arts called Basic Tree - available here. 

I used Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate cardstock for the base, matted on a cardstock from my LSS in an orangey/red colour which I ran through my new embossing folder - Woodgrain by Tim Holtz.  Sticker is a sentiment sticker from SRM Stickers.  The buttons are dark chocolate and from Papertrey Ink too.  I coloured the image with copics and added glossy accents to the red leaves only for added texture. 

I am also entering it into the Wee Memories Challenge - "Fall into Autumn" - be sure to check out their DT creations - wow, just amazing.

Pollycraft Monday Challenge is also "Autumn Colours".  Paula and the DT have amazing autumnal goodness on show too.

Thanks so much for peeking.

{Happy} Card using SRM Stickers

Supplies:  Greeting Farm Digi, Coloured Card Blank, 

Bazzill dotted swiss cardstock, Sentiment sticker from SRM Stickers, 

pink gems in various sizes and copics.

I just love this image - Loli Anya from The Greeting Farm.  I had it all coloured and ready to go but was awaiting the inspiration!.

I paired it with this pre patterned card base by Dovecraft, added an SRM sentiment sticker from this set - 52003

I then added pink gems in various sizes and it's ready for any Birthday Girl!.

Thanks for peeking.  I hope you get a good start to your week. 

Baby Card using SRM Stickers

Supplies: pp October Afternoon, Digi by Tales from Pollycraft, Fiskars border punch, 

yellow fimo button I made, Large white card blank, textured cardstock by 

Papermania, copics and pop dots.

Love how this digi by Paula over on Tales from Pollycraft marries so well with the paper range from October Afternoon.  Made this card a while ago (may have shared previously... apologies if I have) but I didn't have a sentiment on it.  I found the perfect thing to finish it off in my SRM Stickers ... just LOVE these stickers.

Hope you have a wonderful day.. and thanks so much for stopping by and if you leave a comment - thank you.  They all mean so much to me... Cheers, Deirdre

Anniversary Card & Tuesday Trigger

Today is our Wedding Anniversary.  My DH and I are married 12 years - where does the time go?  The above shot of the "lippy" is from O Magazine and is the Tuesday Trigger this week over on Moxie Fab World.  Here is my card inspired by the photo.

I made this card using the wonderful Digital Kit by Jen Martakis called "Watercolours".  I added some machine stitching, glossy accents and a computer generated sentiment - flemish script font.  The glossy hearts are meant to represent the shine from the lipsticks!.

Today is also the day that Hero Arts starts hosting their Virtual Cardmaking party (10-12 Sept) as Operation Write Home celebrates it's Birthday. 

Be sure to check out the details here. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day and great weekend.

Paperplay - Autumnal Colours

This week's challenge on Paperplay is Autumn is a comin' - use an "Autumnal" colour scheme on your project/card.

The Design Team has split into two - so this week is my "off" week!!!  Be sure to stop by Paperplay to see the wonderful creations by the Team.  We are very kindly sponsored by Simon Says Stamp again this week and the random winner will receive a $15 gift certificate.

Our Guest Designer for Sept - Heather and the rest of the DT * Julie * Sandie * Heather * Liz  * Vera * Kathryn * Evonne. * and Mandy.

Made this very quick card for my SIL - patterned paper, border sticker and buttons are from Basic Grey Sugared collection.  The sticker is from SRM and I adhered it to white cardstock and stitched to the card base.  Added brown machine stitching and hey presto job done!!  Congrats Anne... still doing the happy dance for you!!

This is the sticker set I used - just put in an order for a whole bunch yesterday...... am LOVING SRM. 

Stickers are available here and be sure to check out their daily blog here.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you have a wonderful day and get a chance to play along with Paperplay this week.

Happy Happy Birthday

 Supplies:  Quickutz Polka Dot embossing folder, Kraft card blank, 

PTI sentiment, die cut, Dark Chocolate - ink and buttons, Hero Arts digikit, 

ribbon, embroidery floss.

Got this new embossing folder by Quickutz recently and love it... polka dots.  I used it here on a simple kraft card blank and then added the sentiment and buttons from Papertrey Ink together with a butterfly from Hero Arts digikit - flutterbies.  I threaded orange ribbon through the button on the butterfly and then coloured it with a copic to match the dark chocolate buttons.  I applied a very liberal layer of glossy accents to the butterfly prior to assembly and he curled as he dried.  To make him "flatter" - I simply pressed him down and created a crackle effect.  This month's challenge on Hero Arts is "Everything Autumn."  Be sure to check it out here.

Thanks so much for peeking and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Tiffany Doodles New Challenge - Color Challenge - TD04

Can you believe another month has passed!  Another Tiffany Doodles Challenge starts today - this month it is a Colour/Color Challenge.  The colour palette is above and I found them so much fun to work with (pale pink/cream/pale green).

I started by using the colour palette to create a sheet of coloured paper in Photoshop, then printed the dogwood branch digi on top - this wonderful digi is available here.  I printed a couple of sheets and did some cutting and paper piecing.  I just wanted to prove that you didn't have to always colour your digis with your preferred medium i.e. copics, colouring pencils, distress inks etc. to make a card.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I really hope you get a chance to play along with Tiffany Doodles this month.  Tiffany has lots of freebies available here - so be sure to check them out.  Don't forget to stop by the other DT members blogs for lots of amazing creations with this colour palette too.

• Tiffany Richards   Tiffany's Garden  
• Cammy Wall   Pink Room Therapy  
• Deirdre Horgan   Colour and Ink  (you are here!)
• Donna Mikasa   3 Umbrellas 
• Julie Masse   Stampin' with Julie 
• Kim Schofield   Paperie Petals  
• Lindsay Amrhein   Note to Self  
• Peet Roeven   Scrap Album  
• Ruby McGuire   Ruby 2 Shoes Design
  
• Shannon Neparko   Desert Design Studios  
• Vanessa Menhorn   Wings of a Butterfly  
• Virginia Lu   Yes, Virgina 

 Have a great day!