Do You Stack Up - #26 Square

HEY EVERYONE!

Thursday already, guys! This does not only mean we are up for a brand new challenge, here at DYSU Challenge blog, but on this special day it also means saying goodbye to our lovely DT member Jo and Janna. Thanks ladies for 6 wonderful months with you. Be sure, you will be missed! 

From next week on our new DT ladies will be showcasing awesome projects for you, but first things first ... welcome everyone to our current challenge:

DYSU Challenge Blog #26: Squares

This week's Sponsors:

 Stretch 'N Bubbles: 4 Single Digi Images

The Stamping Boutique: Winner's Choice of 5 Digis

 Stitchy Bear: $10 gift voucher for Stitchy Bear, Floppy Latte and Ginger Loft

Please welcome our Guest Designer!

Hannelie Bester
Desert Diva

Hi, my name is Hannelie. I am a South-African, living in the United Arab Emirates (that is in the Middle East) for almost 3 years. I am married to Hannes, my best friend, and have two lovely teenage daughters, Jolize and Danielle. I've been making cards for 10 years, but started blogging 5 months ago. If I should say... I think I've learned more in the last 5 months than in the previous 10 years! I'm always on the lookout for ideas and inspiration, and eager to try out new techniques. Thanks DYSU for this great opportunity to be guest designer!

Now get inspired by our Design Team! 

A FEW RULES

• our DT would love to leave comments on your blogs, please remove word verification to make this process easier (see right side bar for a how-to guide).
• only 3 entries per person per Challenge
• make sure to link back to this challenge and mention it on your blog in your blog post
• no back linking
• entries that do not fit the requirements will not be eligible for Winner or Top 3
• Mr. Linky closes at 2pm on Wednesdays

I have really pushed using my digis this week.  I have used the fab STITCHED FLOWER from Stretch N Bubbles.  I already have this image and used it a couple of times so I wanted to do something really different - I made a great collage picture with paint, felt, metallic thread and gems for the bedroom in my holiday flat.  I had such fun with it - and it is not really hard to do - let me tell you how

 I bought a 16" x 16" square box canvas and I sponged the background all over with several brown acrylic paints, a gold and a white.  You can blend to create a soft marble background - and leave a few bits of solid colour for texture and contrast.

I made the digi flower as big as I could to fill an A4 sheet - then I flipped it to get the other flower.  Cut out the flower shape and the leaf - and use then as patterns to cut your felt shapes.  Felt is great because it does not fray.  You don't have to buy it by the metre - you can get it in small squares.  Just pin on the pattern and cut round it

First make the flower heads - Stitch round the edge of the flowers with metallic embroidery thread using a large eye needle.  I knotted the ends at the back and added a spot of glue to keep secure.  I used the centre pattern to cut the shape for the middle and added a button just for fun.  Don't stick to the canvas yet.

Next add the stem stitching - lay the printed paper on the canvas where you want the flower to sit.  Punch through all the points of the stitching both with a large needle.  When you remove the paper you will have holes to run the thread through - I added a bit of grass as well

 Make the leaves in the same way as the flower heads - and use the paper print to place the flower heads in the correct place

Cool eh?

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

WoYWW

Hay - it's Wednesday - and I am working at my bench all day - that's what I like the best

I have been working on Christmas dog poems for the show this weekend

It's a take on the 12 days of Christmas - with the puppy destroying the house - as if we mind!!!

I have done 4 for the weekend - and added them into the shop HERE - so hoping to sell them over the show time - and taking orders for after

Sharing with What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Calligraphy

It has totally thrown me doing a show yesterday - not really sure what day it is today!!

I have been doing a couple of texts for next week end's dog show - Barrow Agility Club at The Westmoreland Show Ground.

They are in the shop at £7.50 - but if you want one I will do one for you next week - I want to save these for the week end!


Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Shows

Well - ok it is normally my day off but I have been at a dog show today (Lune Valley Agility show) -  took the boys (and the old goat) and had a fab day.  I actually took my cardi off - shock - yes - really - no woollie - first time this year.  Wonderful and warm!

The car was still packed from yesterday at Art on the Prom - so I just put up the stall and a couple of displays and left the big boxes out for people to rummage through.  I sold a bit - and the old goat worked his socks off drawing doggies - and my guys were just beside themselves with the joy of it all.

I love the dog shows - this weekend and for the next 10 days Lune Valley and then Barrow Dog clubs take over the Westmoreland Showground and camp for a huge dog agility bash - they even have Crufts qualifiers - how cool is that?

It is just the most amazing atmosphere - over 1,000 dogs - and it is such a calm, tranquil event.  Even fidget (who I was seriously thinking - could I cope with hysterics? - good as gold.

Both totally crashed out now - me to follow soon!

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

New work

I am at Grange today - art on the prom - just keep your fingers crossed - it's supposed to be a heat wave (all it needs to do is stop raining!!!!)

This is what I was playing with last night.  First attempts with Inktense pencils.

I bought a colouring book in The Works with fairy pictures - you can get some really good grown up image books there for £2 and they are fantastic for experimenting with.  I am quite pleased with my over all colour work and blending - I have a long  way to go with skin tone (always hated flesh!!!!) - and it's digging way back into the memory to water down colour to make it paler.  So used to Copics!!

 

I am going to have so much fun re-learning with my Inktense!

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

New Card Fold

I have just added the details of how to make the 3-section landscape card to my web site

HERE

And another version

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Stretch N Bubbles

OK - I am soppy - I know it - but I just love this cute fluffy goosie / duck from Stretch N Bubbles

I was down by the river with little fidget the other day - and there was a new family of the tiniest ducklings - just so amazing.  The dog sat quiet as a lamb and watched them having a swimming lesson - I don't think he could work out quite what he was seeing!


So let's keep the duck very  simple - I only coloured his beak - and matched the paper to the plain black and white look.  For a sunnier look - match the colour to the beak - which you could colour any shade of yellow - orange - or brown (or grays!)

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Do You Stack Up - #25 Mustard, Mauve and pink

HEY EVERYONE!

We're so glad to have you back for our next challenge. Your entries last week were amazing.
This week we have a color challenge for you!

DYSU Challenge Blog #25: Mustard, Mauve, Pink

This week's Sponsors:

Coco Dingo Stamps: 4 digital images

Whimsy Stamps: 5 free digital images

Please welcome our Guest Designer!

Jinny Newlin
Soaring

Jinny is a former, kindergarten teacher turned stay-at-home, home school mom to a smart, spunky, seven-year-old Ezekiel and a vocal, tenacious, two-year-old Adina. She, with her husband, BJ, and two children, resides in Kansas City, Kansas, just over an hour and half north of where she grew up. When she’s not taking care of or playing with her family, you can find her cooking, baking, gardening, camping, sewing, teaching Sunday school, and of course, paper crafting. Her love for stamping started, nearly ten years ago, at a Stampin’ Up workshop, but her love for creating began before birth. You can find her blogging at www.jinnynewlin.blogspot.com, designing for Wplus9 Design, and contributing to both The Play Date Café Color Challenge and Sketches in Thyme Scrap Challenge.

Now get inspired by our Design Team!

A FEW RULES

• our DT would love to leave comments on your blogs, please remove word verification to make this process easier (see right side bar for a how-to guide).
• only 3 entries per person per Challenge
• make sure to link back to this challenge and mention it on your blog in your blog post
• no back linking
• entries that do not fit the requirements will not be eligible for Winner or Top 3
• Mr. Linky closes at 2pm on Wednesdays

I had a hat fashion image from Coco - new site to me this one.  It is French - don't let that stop you rummaging about the images are super - the blog works just the same way as we are used to - just the language is different.  She has a really pretty 'swirly' style.  Perhaps it's me with my calligraphy pen - but I love curves and round shapes.

I printed the main image twice and layered up the hat part - and I printed a strip of smaller images to balance out the layout.  The beauty of digis - different sizes - same image.  The papers are just scraps that matched the design brief.
This a totally new look for me - and that's why I love challenges

So - your turn - get out the Coleman's - oh errr the mustard!

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Life

I sneeked a couple of days off before next month hits the fan (you should see the callender - ouch)

I am back working - Blogger isn't! - - I can't load any images - hay - like - that's useful.  GRRRRR

Tomorrow's Do You Stack Up? - which is a ........... ((colour challenge)) should be ok bcause it's done with the HTML coding stuff.

So - I am sorry all - will pack you in loads of images for the end of the week - Blogger allowing!!!!!

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

New style

I love shapes that give me extra space to write stuff - I just love the freedom of a new fold or take on stuff.  My dear friend Janet came up with this idea  - if you are up here and want to go to a class or visit her shop DETAILS HERE.

I changed the basic fold a bit because I wanted to be able to use any colour card I had to co-ordinate with the theme and papers that I wanted to use.

This is DL size - but with the folds at the short side - so you can have 3 panels in a line to tell a story.  This is super cool - and I will show you what I did tomorrow.

Just love all the space you get with this fold
Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Day/s off

I am going to sneek off for a couple of days.  tomorrow is my day off anyway - and I will leave you a teaser for Tuesday - with the instructions to follow Wednesday - when I will be back.

This is about the last chance for a couple of months for fidget and me to sneek a break - you should see the callender for next month - ouch.

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

NEW SITE

Priscilla is 1 - yeah!!!  The Crafter's Digital images group is having a party - pop over and join in


Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Stretch N Bubbles

Some of the 'oldies' are still 'goodies' - this saying has been about for years, but it still makes a fab card for a chap.  It could be a 'love' type card - or just a bit of fun for a friend or brother - or Father's Day which has crept up so fast I forgot it.

The image is a mushroom from Stretch N Bubbles HERE.  coloured with copics - the shading behind the mushroom is a new technique from Copic of lots of teeny tiny dots in the same colours as the image.  I am just starting to learn it - but it's quite effective.  The image is matted on shiny gold and the mushroom spots are also metallic which makes it look really posh

Sharing with:-

Just Add Ink - color in

Sentimental Sunday - Fathers' Day

Cupcake - Boy, oh boy- men or boys

Papertake Weekly - Dads or lads

Little red wagon - for Dad

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Odds & Soxlets

This is my very first official creation for Erica Martyn's wonderful new collection of sock monkey's - at Odds & Soxlets.  Sock monkeys are a new thing to me - they weren't about when my son was a baby - I would get one for my little fidget - but I am sure he will pull it to bits.

Anyway - this is Blossom - from the new digi range due to be released soon.  I saw the folded arms and just thought of a big hug!

It is a very simple layout because the image is coloured with Copics - and quite bright - and I found some papers that are the exact match for her.  I raised her big huggy arms and the bow.  I colour the top layer and cut it out - then shape it gently on the back with an embossing tool so that the arms are more curved - then I use silicone glue, which sets to the shape, rather than raiser pads SEE HERE for more on that technique

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Do You Stack Up - #24 Use a star

HEY EVERYONE!

Welcome to a brand new challenge at DYSU! We had some fabulous entries last week and we can’t wait to see what you have to share with us this week!

DYSU Challenge Blog #24: USE A STAR!!

This week’s Sponsors:

Little Musings: Choice of 3 digi stamp kits

JLJ Designs: $10 gift certificate to store

Pixie Dust Studios: Choice of three digis

Please welcome our guest designer!

Helene from HÉLÈNE'S LOVELY THINGS IN LIFE

Hi everyone, My name is Hélène and I live together with Jeroen and our 2 beautiful daughters. I have been a versatile crafter for quite a few years now. I use to do claymodelling, watercolour painting, embroidering and cardmaking. About 2 years ago I discovered stamping and colouring with distressink which I enjoy very much. My biggest addiction is Magnolia. I really love these little images, they are so cute. It has been a lovely surprise to be chosen in the DYSU top 3 and even better to be this week’s guest designer. I hope you’ll like my creation for this week

Now get inspired by our DYSU Design Team!

A FEW RULES

• our DT would love to leave comments on your blogs, please remove word verification to make this process easier (see right side bar for a how-to guide).
• only 3 entries per person per Challenge
• make sure to link back to this challenge and mention it on your blog in your blog post
• no back linking
• entries that do not fit the requirements will not be eligible for Winner or Top 3
• Mr. Linky closes at 2pm on wednesdays

__________________________________________________

I had this adorable teddy bear image from LJL Designs (you really must have a rummage about in her artfire shop - so many things). It is a perfect image for a baby card (see further down). I made a baby mobile - really using the digi's to the max. Make a star shape in your drawing programe - if you are REALLY clever you can change the star outline to the colour that you want your theme to be - and make the line quite wide - insert the image - get one image the perfect shape and size you want. Then copy and paste it as many times as you need - flip one (to get the other side) and copy and paste that to match. When you have coloured the image - all you have to do is cut round the outer edge - stich back to back - and run an ink pad round the joining edge - et vo-la - neat and tidy

Can't wait to see what you create

Yours
kitten xx
www.princesskitten.co.uk

Stretch N Bubbles

I have this darling little lamb from Stretch N Bubbles - it is an Easter one - but hay - since did I do what I am told.

I love the paper piled up effect.  No cutting, no measuring - just take a few off cuts that sit well together - square up all the edges and heap up somehow.  These bright bits are all different brands and sizes but look so cool together.

The sheep fleece has a bit of Copic palest yellow reds, just to create a bit of depth - and I am dead chuffed with my 'black' feet

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Day off

Monday is kitten's day off

My little doggie and I are going to sneak off for a couple of days - after the stress of my son getting a job - I need it!!!  I have left stuff done and I will be back before you know it

ours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Can't help myself

Whenever I start a new project I either cover / make a new box, or cover / make a new book - just can't help myself. 

So the new project I am just starting - -  is the cards for the Pencil Museum shop - which are going to be unique to them - showcasing colouring with the Inktense pencils.  I have a couple of the wooden boxes to keep my pencils in - which I can highly recommend by the way - so of course I need a box to keep the images and papers I am going to use.

Seriously - you can get these wooden boxes empty and they are really great.  They really are solid wood - so they are good and strong - and they are not expensive - you can stack them on top of each other to store your pencils and pastels.  I have my inktense in them as well as metallic and pastel pencils and sketching pencils.  The other really brilliant thing is that the whole draw just slides right out - so you can have all your pencils in front of you and they don't roll away.  I really NEED another unit - the old goat is there again soon so I must remember to ask him to pick one up for me

The card project box is going to do a lot of traveling between my flat and home - so it needed to be very strong.  I recovered the lid of an old calligraphy tools box with a 12" scrapbook paper.  It was a very good match to the rest of the box - and I love the big Jacquard flowers.  The extra ribbon was an off cut that was the exact colour of the ribbon ties already on the box

And I have had the most wonderful afternoon sorting through all my pattern scraps box and sorting and tidying (even chuching out) and cutting backgrounds for the cards

Started collecting the images - started with stamping as you can see, and going to look through my digis to see what would be suitable.  The whole point is to show off the Inktense pencil colours.

Hay - colouring for a living - works for me!!!!


Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Show

Saturday I am at a show.

It is the Bendrigg Trust Summer open day and fate.  The trust run an activity centre for disabled children to have holidays - gosh these guys work so hard!

Hope its a fine day - catch up later

*******
Boy it was chily out on those fellls today - don't know what fell runners are made from - but it sure in't the stuff I am nmade of.  I had 3 thick layers on - they had teeny tiny (and I mean tiny ) shorts and vest.  Gurss God never ment me for a fell rnner ;-)
Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Stretch N Bubbles

I picked up some page templates with cookie edge shapes.  I wanted to use this adorable little Stretch N Bubbles airoplane as the feature on a holiday album.

I love the way the side of the pages have arrows pointing all over the place - really makes you think of going somewnere..

I covered the pages double sided paper - using one side to cover the big back shape and, with the contrasting colour, what was left over to cover the front.  There are several card pages in the middle - I kept them small so that you can see the back through the cut out arrow.



Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk

Do You Stack Up - #23 Birthday

Hey everyone!

It has been an exciting week! So many things to celebrate: we got some brand new Design Team Members who will start inspiring you from July on, we had so many wonderful applications, so many entries for our last challenge, new followers from all over the world... we really feel like having a party! Which leads us to our current theme (haha, how did you like that intro?!):

DYSU Challenge Blog #23: BIRTHDAY!!

You can use any birthday related stamps, papers, ribbons,... to create cards, layouts, mixed media stuff, home deco or WHATEVER you would like to share with us (as long as its handmade/digital ;) ).

This week´s sponsors:

Bugaboo: is giving 7 digital images winner´s choice!

Crafty Emma: is giving 10 Pound voucher for their shop (p&p not included!)

Pink Cat Studios: is giving 5 digital images winner´s choice!

Please welcome our Guest Designer!

Cathy Santie - http://papiergirl.blogspot.com/

My name is Cathy Santie,  and I live 25 miles West of the "Windy City" - Chicago, Illinois.  I have two adult children; a daughter who graduated with her Masters in Forensics,  and a son who gave me my first Grandson , January 2010. I have a wonderful, supportive husband who actually gave me a nudge in the direction of this wonderful world of paper! Seven years ago, after watching me for a few months dabble in card making, I asked for a sewing machine for Christmas. He and my daughter had a bet going that this interest in paper wouldn't last for more than a few months. Well, as you can see, I received my sewing machine and after hundreds of cards later.....they lost! Thank you for visiting my blog, and for all your wonderful comments - they are greatly appreciated!

Now get inspired by our Design Team!

I love these side step cards - you get loads of extra area to cover - and space to play with.  This 'darling' litle chappie is from Bugaboo - just love her stuff - it's such fun.

I covered all the 'steps' - but left the paper at the back standing tall - the greeting is her digi too.

Yours

kitten xx

www.princesskitten.co.uk