CBC Challenges and a Really Tough Dare

Just a quick post from me with some cards I have done for recent challenges.

Over on Crafts by Carolyn forum there are a couple of challenges/comps running. First is a challenge to make a card involving some element of tearing. I have done a simple birthday card incorporating a torn greeting.

The second is a competition sponsored by Tracy @ Creative Treasurers. The challenge is to make a card using blooms and ribbons. Here's my entry which is my Mum's Mother's Day card for this year.

Both cards were made using Making Memories papers, cuttlebug embossing folder and bits from my stash.

Finally, I have done this week's DCM Dare. Jo set us the challenge of making a card using aluminium foil. I found this one really tough. I'm not really happy with the end result but at least I finished it (The photo is really bad - I think the card may have realised I was sulking with it!)

The foil element is the frames which were cut from aluminium foil stuck on card using a Cuttlebug die. I also used a Cuttlebug embossing folder and BG Perhaps paper.

Cheers,

Ruthie

Hide n Seek Dare

Last Friday it was Kathy's turn to dare over on Daring Card Makers.

Okay, for my dare we're heading to the playground for a game of
Hide & Seek
I'd like you to make a card which has a hidden component of some sort.The hidden part could be a tag, a concealed photo, message or something along those lines, maybe a pull-out or pop-up.Anything goes as long as there's something extra for the recipient to find on your card that's not immediately visible when they open the envelope.

I had been mulling over the idea of using a file folder on a card for a while so this dare was perfect. I decided to use the idea on a Valentine's card for my OH. Yes I know I had already done one, but I thought a more personal touch would be nice. I can always save the other one for next year :)

The file folder opens to reveal a photo and secret message -I know i've disguised it, but trust me it's not smutty, it's just a joke that he will get.

Ingredients:

File folder cut by hand (with a little help from a corner rounder punch)
Cuttlebug embossing folder

Black and white paper is the Bubbly Funk one designed by Kirsty Wiseman recoloured in Photoshop

Papermania anchor
Home-made bottlecap embellishment
Inking and pen stitching

Ribbon from stash

Thanks for looking,

Ruthie x

Midweek Inspiration from Lynne

I have indulged in a little bit of crafting last night inspired by the midweek challenge on Daring Card Makers


Now, as you are probably aware, both Lynne and Gillian sadly stepped down from the Design team recently, and all though the DCM team's door is always open for them, we thought it would be nice to pay a little tribute to them in appreciation for all their wonderful work during their time on the DCM design team. Lythan came up with an idea that we make a card in the 'style' of either Lynne or Gillian's cards. Or maybe pick your favourite of theirs and use an element from their cards on your own card. Everyone has their own style- we thought it might be a little challenge to try out a different style for a change!

I decided to make a card in the style of Lynne as a new Cuttlebug embossing folder landed on my door mat yesterday and they often feature on her gorgeous cards.


I opted to try and re-interpret this card which Lynne did as part of the Santa's little helpers challenges:


and this was my (non seasonal) re-interpretation:

As well as my new Cuttlebug folder I used: Making Memories Paper; chipboard presents made with a Sizzix die and greyboard, 'faux' Happy Birthday stamp created in photoshop. (Sorry the pics are a little dark)

Thanks for the inspiration Lynne!

Ruthie x

Shadows and CDs

Another post with two more challenges courtesy of Daring Card Makers and HerSpace:MySpace.

First up are two cards from this week's DCM Dare - 'Me and My Shadow'

Hiya fellow darers, Jane here ! How are you all ? This weeks dare is a hard one !! Sorry everyone, but it had to be done !! :)
I want you to create not just one but TWO cards ! But wait........there's more ! I want both cards to contain the same embellishments and papers, ribbons etc- but arranged in a different way for a different occasion....the only thing being different is the wording....I'll let you have different wording ! (How nice of me eh?) I'm well aware this is a really hard challenge, and that I have thrown everyone into 2008 off the deep end....but go on- give it a go - I DARE YOU !

I recently got some scrummy new wrapping paper from Paperchase so I teamed with a few bits from my stash and came up with these yesterday:

As well as the Paperchase wrapping paper I used Prima flowers, cuttlebug flowers (cut from mountboard and doodled), twill ribbon printed in my printer (one day I will break it!), die cut frames (embossed with a cuttlebug folder) and screw head brads.

I popped over to HerSpace:MySpace earlier and found today's prompt was CDs. As the camera was already out (from taking card pics above) and as CDs are quite common in my space I thought I would give it a go and take a pic of my current fave 'Don't Forget to Remember' by Puressence.

Thanks for looking,

Ruthie x

Getting In Early With The Valentine

Nicola has set a challenge over on the Crafts by Carolyn forum to get Valentines cards made early. As OH did not get a Christmas card from me this year I thought I had better get in early and make his Valentine. Here it is (rubbish pic due to the lovely winter evenings and electric lightbulbs)

I just love the mini bulldog clips (from Paperchase). The white card is embossed using a Cuttlebug folder and the heart is yet more mountboard but this time triple embossed with silver and black embossing powders. The frame is cut using a Sizzix die.

I made the card yesterday afternoon after me and the afore metioned OH had returned from a nice walk along the canal near where we live. It was a lovely afternoon, probably the nicest one since Christmas day afternoon so we took full advantage. There seems so little daylight at this time of year it's nice to get out and enjoy it.

Here's a rare photo of me enjoying the winter sunshine :)

Cheers

Ruthie x

New Perfume

Two dares on this post. First up is the 'New', courtesy of Lynne's dare over on Daring Card Makers.

'New'

So not only New Year, but maybe New Home, New Baby, New Job or maybe a card for someone who is starting a new chapter in their life.

I opted for a new home card, kind of apt for me at the moment as we are selling our house at the moment and so hopefully will be moving in 2008. Who knows, this card may get left in the house for the next owners of our home!

Once again I used the bound spine effect - quite into that at the moment. Not the best photo due to dark winter afternoons (and my lack of photographic ability).

The papers are all BG Infuse, silk blooms and ribbon from stash and brass key charm from Crafts By Carolyn. The chipboard flower is my fave technique - mountboard covered paper cut in the Cuttlebug!

'Perfume'

So that was new. Now onto 'Perfume' which was yesterday's prompt on HerSpace:MySpace photographic challenge blog.

Combining this with a post about new is quite apt as I got some new perfume for Christmas and here it is:

Both bottles came in a gift pack, I can't quite decide which is my fave at the moment but I think the red one may run out first.

Cheers,

Ruthie

A New Year and I will blog!

If there is anyone out there reading this Happy New Year to you, and for those of you who celebrate Christmas I hope Santa brought you some nice pressies. He did make a stop 'Chez Ruthie' and amongst other things dropped off one of these: It's a fab I-Pod doc with built in-DAB digital radio so it means I can listen to my favourite tunes and digi radio stations (6 Music and XFM) while I am in my craft room.

I've had some time off work over the holidays so I have been able to do a bit of crafting and joined in with this week's DCM Dare:

Team dare year end....4 of the best
Hi All. Today we have decided to revisit your most favourite dares of 2007. The four top dares, decided by the number of comments you made on them are (in no particular order): 'buttons', 'ribbons', ...'and cut' and 'frames'. We would like you to use this week as many of those dares as you like to make your card in any theme and any style.

I decided to use the dare to get ahead with some birthday cards for friends who are celebrating over the next few weeks.

No.1:

I combined a few elements on this one 'Ribbons', 'Frames' and 'Buttons'. I am not very good at hand cutting so confined the use of scissors to the scalloped edges.

Ingredients:
Paper - Making Memories Boho Chic
Frame - mountboard covered with MM paper and cut with a Cuttlebug die
Ribbons (and turquoise Primas) from a Christmas kit put together by Tracy at Creative Treasures
Buttons and pink and white Primas from 'Stash'

No.2

For this one I opted for the Ribbons part of the dare - no mean feat on a man card!. It's a Birthday card for my MG Midget owning car mad friend. He is no stranger to the Haynes manual as his Midget has been in bits for almost as long as I have known him. A typical man restoration project!

Most of the stuff for this card is from my stash and the ribbon on this one also comes from the Creative Treasuers Christmas kit - proving that a card kit is not just for Christmas! The bound spine idea comes from a fab tutorial here and I created the personalised faux stamp in Word.

I also manged to do a bit of crafting prior to Christmas, but as usual was on the last minute with cards for family. The afore mentioned Creative Treasuers kit came to the rescue for cards for my parents and in-laws:

My Mum & Dads:

My in-law's:

I just love the Figgy Pudding BG papers which came as part of the kit. It took a lot of courage to chop into them! Most of the bits and pieces came from the kit, I just added the checked ribbon and made the tree on the second card using mountboard cut with a sizzix die and triple embossed.

I also did a card from my Sister using some fab freebie papers designed by Kirsty Wiseman for Bubbly Funk:

The tree was hand cut, and the tag is a Sizzix die. Picture isn't the best due to the dark winter days.

Thanks for looking, and best wishes for a healthy, happy and crafty 2008!

Ruthie.