Phoenix Inspirations

It is a yucky gray and rainy day here in Bridgnorth which is a shame because today it is my Auntie's 70th birthday and she should have sunshine on her special day. I made her a special card to mark the occasion. She loves foxes so I ordered the foxes set from Clarity stamps - wow are they gorgeous stamps! I combined them the Winter Trees collection - also from Clarity and used the masks that come with the foxes - take a look I used Stampin' Up inks and sponges and LOADS of post it notes to create my backgrounds - I masked of the foxes with the custom made masks that come in the set so that I could create the background around the stamped foxes. I used a whole sheet of A4 card stock folded into thirds and used a label punch to cut out the legs at the bottom and a scallop edge punch to decorate the top - all Stampin' Up. Here are a couple of close ups I am entering this card into the challenge over on Seize The Birthday "Creatures or Animals...

That's right this week at  52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown  we have an Anything Goes challenge - as long as it's Christmassy though! For this challenge my dt piece is an easel card using my stamp of the moment - my Clarity bicycle - take a look I have used a mixture of X-Cut and Marianne Creatables dies and a couple of paper punches. The holly in the basket is stamped with the tiny stamp in the Pines and Poinsettias set - the pile of presents was hand drawn. We announce our new design team members today so please pop over and make them feel welcome and check out the wonderful creations from fellow team mates Mynnette and Ruth bye for now - Jacqueline xx

Mynnette's challenge this month over on  Technique Tuesday  is Faux Pressed Flowers - she has a great tutorial there too. Take a look at my card and then I will tell you how I made it I punched my flowers using the Boho Blossoms punch and purple papers, they were layered and glued in place on to white card stock. This was then run through my Cuttlebug in the Swiss Dots EF - flat backed gems were added to the centres and it was attached to a pre-scored card. My main panel has been stamped using my Clarity Bicycle and coloured in using Wisteria Wonder marker pen. A sentiment was added from Simply Said and a trio of punched flowers were attached to the basket. Getting really fed up with the weather now - it feels so cold and damp I think I may even light a fire!! - See you soon - Jacqueline xx

I have recently taken possession of a charming little bicycle stamp - take a look I first saw a bicycle stamp in the new Stampin' Up Summer mini but it was in the Hostess section and out of my range so I was very excited when I saw one very similar on Create and Craft with Barbara Grey. I love the fact that I can fill the little basket on the front with anything I like and I have loads of ideas fighting for position in my head!! Today's card follows the colour theme over on  Dynamic Duos and the sketch on  Mojo Monday Here is my card - I rotated the sketch to the right Thanks for looking today - see you soon - Jacqueline xx