The Scrapwest theme this week is " Back to school" and was set by Lainey. I made a card this week with a stamp I love but have never used. I coloured the background with watercolours direct from the tubes and blended them in to make an aged look then I embossed it and removed the top layer with a sanding block. I stamped the image and text with brown ink and embellished with a school house charm and a pencil. To see all the other great submissions from the team click the Scrapwest logo on the left.

The Blog Celebration winner from last week' Scrapwest comments was .....................

NOELLE

Noelle I will have something in the post to you asap. Thank you for all the lovely comments .

Daring Cardmakers challenge.

The rules for the DCM Challenge this week are set by Lythan : Three die cuts had to be used . "If you don't have access to die cuts in any shape or from, you can still play along. You can then use punches. And if you don't have punches then you can do hand cutting ". I used the sizzix sweet small die to make the lollipops which I glazed with diamond glaze to give a lovely shine ,a sizzlet die for the flowers and a punched embossed label. ( click on pictures for more detail )

Scrapwest Blog Celebration, Spotlight technique.

Scrapwest had a different sort of feel to it this week " Blog celebration" was Eva 's theme, click on the Scrapwest logo on the left for more details.

The challenge is open to everyone who wants to join in , If you feel inspired by anything you see on the blog links why not give them a try and post your blog link on the scrapwest site. Or you could inspire us with your favourite technique.

If you leave a comment here on my blog I will pick a winner on Friday 7 th and send on a little pressie =0)

"In The Spotlight"

This is a nice technique for using large detailed or background rubber stamps. It spotlights parts of an image that otherwise would get lost in all the detail. For these three cards I used black stazon ink but very different effects can be achieved by using different colour inks and embossing powders .I would love to see your take on this technique. If you would like to try it yourself here are basic instructions.

1. Stamp your large stamp image onto two pieces of different coloured card.

2.Mount and layer the image you want to use as the background.

3. With the remaining image decide which part of the image you want to spotlight, cut or punch the section out , outline the edges with a marker or inks.

4. Using double sided foam pads place the spotlight sections exactly over the same part of the image below.

Nice matters award

I received this award from Karen ( Karvaloo) and was so thrilled to think she chose me , The reason I didn't post it here is because I don't think I can choose only two other people to award it to.There are so many great people I have met over the past years and in one way or another have become friends. If I really have to I will choose.

Carrie , because we hit it off from the word go and have become good friends.

stylish stripes.

I didn't have this one finished when I posted the other shoe pics yesterday, (these shoes are addictive ) because there is no end to the colours and patterns you can use. Wonder where you could wear this one to ?

Stepping out !

Some more dry embossing, I love the effects I got on the pearl and metallic card . It really changes a plain card too without having to add another colour for a pattern. The top shoe I made using papers I got from Annamarie of The scrapbook store the white part of the shoe was already embossed.

Two very swirly shoes =0)

TMTA " Metal"

Think Monday - Think ATC this week is " Metal". I embossed some copper foil for the background then added copper and gold brads, fibers and a black and cream cameo with a pearl flower centre.

Thank You " Marian "

I had a great afternoon today over at Marians where I met up with Marian, Tracy , Julie and Pam, although I think everyone was more productive than me I did manage to get my DCM card made ( next post ) and this swirly embossed card, Silver swirl and button below acquired after a root through Marians nicky nacky box =0) It was great to relax with like minded crafters and share ideas. Thanks again Marian.

DCM Buttons

The Daring Cardmakers theme this week is " Buttons" and was set by Keryn.

DCM "Frills"

Another girlie card , this time for the Daring cardmakers challenge which was set by Jo and the theme is frills (quote) it could be some lace, frilly ribbon, a hand cut or decorative scissor edge or a folded paper frill - or what ever you choose to make."

I love this little dress I got from Kellys paper crafts ages ago ( hanger was separate) and the beautiful embossed paper from Annamarie at The Scrapbook store. The flowers are a sizzix sizzlets die.

Rose Fairy,

The Scrapwest theme this week was set by Carrie and was " Wall Art ". My first idea didn't work out so I went with this idea. I stamped a cream board mount with a rose image then gold embossed , water coloured the roses and added a touch of diamond glaze to highlight. I then stamped a backing board with the fairy image and water coloured and added gems to her dress and head dress. I twisted a ribbon to hang it from and finished it of with a pink organza bow. Very Girlie =0)

TMTA " numbers "

The Think Monday -Think Atc Theme this week is " Numbers "I stamped the butterfly lady image and coloured it with coloured pencils , layered it to make a mini collage and finished it with a gold crown charm and button.

Bleach and paint strips.

I had a great day at Lainey's crop on Saturday , While all the Scrapbookers were busy making up their Layouts we at the card table were playing around with a bleach technique.These two cards were started at the crop and I finished them at home. The card top left is made from an Image ( Which I love and need ) that I borrowed from Tracy. I inked up the image with black ink and clear embossed , then I inked the whole image and highlighted with bleach. I layered it onto a co - ordinating paint sample strip.

Audrey gave me some stampboard to try and the card top right is a piece of stampboard stamped, inked, bleached and finished off with diamond glaze.I then layered it with co-ordinating colours from a paint sample strip. ( From your local hardware)

Scrapwest " Pet's"

The Scrapwest theme this week was set by Annamarie and is " Pets" I dont have a pet so I made a card instead of a layout using a B&W photo, I notice myself using red and white a lot lately , I think it works well with B&W photos, the scarf on the woman is polka dot so that inspired me to use the dotty ribbon. I highlighted the finished card with diamond glaze. All the scrapwest submissions are fantastic ( as usual ) and there are three guest entries this week .Click on the Scrapwest logo to take you there.

DCM " Photo Finish "

The Daring Cardmakers challenge this week was set by Tracie and is titled " Photo Finish ". I love this challenge because I love taking photo's. I took this sunflower photo in June and it is one of my favourite flowers. There are more sunflower photos on my " Photo Blog" .The background paper is a lemon colour but the scan didn't show it well.

TMTA " Dream Child ".

The "Think Monday- Think ATC " theme this week is tag's. For this atc I layered velum script paper on a cream background. I then masked off the two sides with torn paper and applied ink directly from ink pad.I stamped the child image and clear embossed, covered image with ink direct from pad and used bleach to highlight, then finished off with a small tag.

Bumbleberry card challenge.

I made this card for a Challenge on the " Bumbleberry Cafe " forum set by Rachel. I had to use the same colour tones using at least three different papers and at least three buttons.

I've been tagged.

I have been tagged by Karen

Rules

"1) Send ONE card to someone you know within 7 days! (family, friends, associates, cyber people, etc.) ANYONE!!! Doesn't matter who... just do it. Can you imagine the smile on their face when they open their mailbox and see a card from you?2) Tag (yes, I know, but this is the only way to spread this) 5 people you know to do the same thing (Tag means tag them to send their own cards to their own people).3) Proudly display this on your blog to spread a little sunshine and pass it on. " ( Quoted )

I am tagging... 1. Lainey ... 2, Crafty Kate ... 3, Annamarie, ... 4, Tigger ... 5, Neasa

Scrapwest " Holidays "

The Scrapwest theme this week was " Holiday's "and was set by Ruth. I made a " Lippy chick style album "I got from "Kelly paper crafts". Instead of making a closed album it stands in a triangle shape and ties in one corner with an organza ribbon.The photos were taken last month in Puerto Rico. Click on the Scrapwest link or logo on the left to see the teams fantastic entries this week.

DCM, Time for Tea.

The Daring cardmakers theme this week was set by Kathy and is " It's about time ". Absolutely anything goes this week as long as it's on the theme of TIME."

I stamped the tag background and the tea cup, all other images are card embellishments, I finished it off with a blue organza ribbon.

Think Monday -Think ATC

The TMTA challenge theme this week is " Lovers" I stamped the background text with Versmark ink and then chalked over the whole image with blues, greens and pinks.

Friends...Scrapwest

The Scrapwest theme this week was set by Noelle and was "Friends " I made a card using a stamp that says "My best friend brings out the best in me " I used similar papers to make the shoe in the post below, I love the patterns and colours. Click on the Scrap West Logo on the left to see all the great entries this week.

DCM... "Checks".

The Daring Cardmaker's challenge this week is " Checks" and was set by Jane. I made a 3D card with this shoe template using two check/ plaid papers. I left the greeting open so it could be used for different occasions. I embossed the card background to take the plain look off it . I think there is enough going on with the shoe , butterfly and bow's without a patterned background, or any more detail added.

TMTA Challenge

The theme is Holiday this week.

I lost the original post so decided to change the ATC , The background is a magazine cut out , I layered two vintage images on top then stamped and brayered the Bathing ticket.

A bit different.

This is very different to the colours I usually use to make up pieces , but I think it works.