Mixed media style card with girl in bright bold colours

 Hi everyone

We recently had a brand new release of stamps at POlkadoodles and I was lucky enough to make some TV samples with them.  As soon as I saw this set I knew it needed vibrant and bold colours to make it pop, so I used a really bright colour palette to make this card.

The stamps are from the "one of a kind" collection, this one is called fly high and all are available in the Polkadoodles shop.

To make the background I used some liquid inks in yellow and pink and put them onto a mat, adding a little water, I used watercolour card to make an inky background. I then left this overnight to dry thoroughly. 

I then used the flower stamp from the set and white embossing powder to add floral interest to the background.

I stamped some flowers, the girl image, and the tape image from the set in memento black ink, and coloured using a variety of topics. adding shade and contrast to the image.

I fussy cut everything out before sticking it to my background, either with glue or foam squares. I added a few touches using a bit of glitter pen to the dress and a doodled black border with a fine liner around the edge.  Finally, I mat and layered onto black card stock, before mounting onto a 5x7 card to leave a small white border.

I hope you like her!

I'd like to enter this into:

• creative fingers challenge - anything goes
• Craft rocket - for the girls
• creative inspirations challenge - Anything goes
• the crafty addicts - anything goes

thanks so much for stopping by - please leave a comment if you have been here.  Also follow me, either on this blog or on facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.  All buttons are at the top right of the page to take you right there!

Your support is always appreciated!

Crafting hugs!

Rachael 

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Spring is in the air

Hi Crafting friends

I don't know about you, but I am bored of this horrible grey and wet weather we are getting in the UK.  I cannot wait for spring, when the bulbs start to appear and the skies start to show blue with a hint of the sun! 

I made this card to cheer me up - I figure if it's raining outside, I can still have sunshine in my craft room.

This is for our latest challenge over at Polkadoodles.  each week we have a new challenge, but it's always anything goes!  you can enter with any image (not just Polkadoodles) and using all kinds of mediums.  The winner gets three digital images for free, chosen from the hundreds in the polkadoodles library. This image is called cute chicken with balloon, from an artist called Lucy Monkman who has a very distinct line style.  Perfect if you're not confident at colouring. 

I fussy cut them out after using Copuics to colour, and mounted on some vellum.  I did this as the patterned paper in the background is quite busy, so the vellum helps the image stand out against the spots. 

So cute - it made me smile!

I'd like to enter this into:

Don't forget to hop over to the Polkadoodles block and check out other DT inspirations and we love to see what you make each week!

See you soon

Rachael 

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Cards for the men.

Hello everyone

I hope you all had a peaceful and restful Christmas, and are ready this new year to craft, create, and generally have fun!

This week on our polkadoodles challenge, I have made a mens card for a birthday as inspiration. this is using some stamps from my stash that I have reinvigorated to make something different. Our challenge runs for two weeks and to enter you can use any supplies, from any craft company, in any theme - it's always anything goes!  The winner and some runners-up get freebies.  Please, hop on over to our blog for easy entry.

You don't have to have a blog, you can enter a link from any social media! 

The stamp soup range from Polkadoodles is so versatile, you can make everything from houses to birds, and in my case balloons and presents!  all made in blues and greys it is perfect for a teenager or any male relative to say big birthday wishes! 

I used two of the sets - flowers and things and rainbows

I also used the sentiment stamp Happy Birthday from Happy Birthday layering stamps

Coloured using glitter sparkle pens for a rich sparkle but not too much as it's a male card.

I'd like to enter this into:

creative inspiration challenges - anything goes

creative knockouts - celebration

Cardz for guyz - use something from your stash

thanks for stopping by - please leave me a comment so i know you have been here!

See you again very soon

Rachael 

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Winter pastels colours

 Hello crafting friends

Today is once again a new challenge, the last for 2024, before we take a short Christmas break! What a year it's been for me, lots of life-changing moments and an awful lot of reflection!

I find crafting helps with my mental health and certainly when I need to reflect or back away from a situation for some distance and just stop thinking for an hour or two.

Anyway - back to the challenge.  I made this for the challenge using Winnie and Penguin from the white Christmas collection. Our theme was a pastel rainbow, but I chose to just use a few of the colours.

The papers are offcuts from my scraps drawer, and the colours match perfectly with my image.  Do you colour to match your paper, or colour an image and then find matching paper?  I do both, but this time around I coloured first.

I used a Kraft card square blank and rounded the edges on two sides as a point of difference from a usual square card.

The image was coloured using Copic markers in pinks, blues and violets, and I used a white gel pen to add detail to her cheeks, and stickles for the snow and her wings.

I then fussy cut the image out and mounted it on top of the car using foam pads.

I'd like to enter this into:

Thanks so much for stopping by - there is more inspiration on my Instagram pages if you prefer this way. If you are here - I would you to leave me a comment.  

See you again soon

Crafting hugs

Rachael 

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Jingle all the way

Hello crafters!

Another two weeks has flown by and we are now into to December on the countdown to the big day!

I am dropping in to share this super cute card in nontraditional Christmas colours - after all, why can't Santa be pink, just because a large drinks manufacturer said he was red, he can be whatever colour you like! 

I made the backgournd using the smaller star stmaps in the set along with two different blue shades of copic for the spots..  Its called Jingle all the way.  I then stamped the main images and coloured them in before fussy cutting and adding on foam pads to my card.

I stamped the setmeiment int he top corner, but the card needed something else... so i doodled a border around the whole thing and around the sentiment.  When mounted on black it really pops off the page.  A really modern take on a traditional classic!

I'd like to enter this into:

Thanks for stopping by - please leave me a comment if you land here, i love to read them and please either follow me on here, or on instagram, facebook or pinterest! 

See you soon!

Rachael 

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Blue Christmas

 Hello Crafting friends.

It's time again for more Polkadoodles inspiration, and this week I'm using one of the latest releases.

This gorgeous poinsettia wreath comes coloured and in plain digis, which I adapted in my own colour scheme.  who said they have to be red or white! They are a bargain, you get loads for only £3.99

I printed the images onto smooth card and coloured using copic markers, then fussy cut them out.  The sentiment which is also in the bundle printed and die-cut using an oval die.  The background I decided to emboss for extra interest and I then mounted it onto silver mirri card.  I then layered the card up onto a 6x6 square card finished with silver glitter and Nuvo drops.

I think this is so elegant, I think I might send it to my Nan.

I'd like to enter this into:

Creative fingers - anything goes #266

My time to craft - use poinsettias #73

Cardz for gals - Dry embossing #212

Fab n funky - use blue hues #584

Thanks for dropping by - for more inspiration please do check out my other social media (buttons are top right!)

See you soon

Rachael 

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Pop up Bella bear

 Hello everyone. 

Time again for another challenge over at PD blog, and you can win some of the amazing images NIkky has.  There are loads of new ones, and a ton of oldies but goodies to choose from!

I used an image from the Bella Christmas bear release called 'Santa stop here'. Once I had coloured and fussy cutout, I used a pop-up die to add it to the inside of the card making it feel really special for the recipient. . The outside is decorated using the papers from the same release. The Christmas trees I took from the paper and enlarged them. Backing papers are more than just an accent behind the main image, have a close look and see what you can use in different ways!

I'd like to enter this into:

crafty catz - Anything goes

Creative fingers - anything goes

Jingle belles - christmas card with an animal

Most magical time of the year - Christmas

Creative inspiration challenge - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today - please leave me a message so I know you have stopped here!

lots of crafting hugs!

Rachael 

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Joy!

 Hello crafting friends

This week at polkadoodles, the DT were challenged with a colour themed Christmas card. pinks, greens and teals!

I used the clear stamp called 'winter noel'   I ink blended distress oxides (kitsch flamingo into Salvaged Patina) onto a sheet of textured card stock.  I masked the edges before so i could create a rectangle in the top third of my blank card..

I then used my stamping tool to give a good clear impression with versafine onyx black ink., using too of the stamps from the set along with the word joy.  I dug through my stash for the words at Christmas time.   I trimmed the panel and added a black mat behind, before mounting onto a 5x7 card.

I just love the CAS feel of this.

I'd like to enter this into:

Creative inspiration challenge - Anything goes

Krafty chicks - use stamps

creative fingers - anything goes

most magical time of the year - anything Christmas

The holly and Ivy - anything Christmas

I hope you like my card - please leave me a short message if you land here.  i really enjoy reading them!  you can also follow me on other social media channels, the links are top right!

See you soon

Rachael 

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Octopus kisses

Hello crafters

Another fortnight has passed so it's time again for another Polkadoodles challenge over on our blog.  You can choose any theme and any project to share with us for a chance to win images.

I have today used one of my all-time favourite images - Winnie Octopus kisses   I have seen some comments recently about people not feeling confident to colour, so just as a reminder - Polkadoodles also do pre-coloured versions of most of the images, so if you lack confidence, or even if you need a quick card in an emergency, the pre-coloured images are amazing!

If you do like to colour - then for this image I used Copic markers for a base colour.  I used a couple of shades but didn't do much blending.  Over the top, I then used polychromos pencils to add depth to the shadows and texture across the image.  They are great for adding small detail too such as flicks in the hair. It really helped with the effect of pearlescence on the tail.  it looks like it shimmers between the purple and the turquoise. Finally, I added a white gel pen for a glittery effect

The papers are from my polkadoodles stash, when I print out digi images that have matching papers I keep them in a pile on my desk so I can pull them out when needed so I don't waste anything.

All then finished with twine, stickles glitter and some Nuvo drops.

I'd like to enter this into:

Creative fingers - Anything goes

Creative Inspiration challenges - Anything goes

Ally's Angels - anything goes

Crafts galore encore - Anything goes

Love to craft - Anything goes

Thanks so much for joining me - I hope to see your entries o our blog.

If you like my work then you can follow me on Instagram, Pinterest of facebook - the links are above.

See you all soon

Rachael 

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May Flowers

Hello fellow crafters

Just dropping in with a quick post to remind you about the polkadoodles challenge that is live now!  You have two weeks to enter but there is a new challenge every week meaning you have extra chances to win some of Nikkys gorgeous images!

 This week I went back to the Blooming lovely USB, which is also available as a digital download.

Because they are digis you can increase the size, and angle to make a gorgeous flurry across the page.

For this one I also decoupaged it to I fussy cut those flowers that appear to be on top for extra dimension, but if you don't want to do this, you can just print the flowers along with the sentiment, cut to size and you're done  The package also comes with recoloured flowers for a really quick and simple card 

I coloured it with Copics and added a black matt layer so it popped, but otherwise - a really simple but effective card, that could say anything from happy birthday to I'm sorry

I'd like to enter this into:

Allsorts - April showers bring May flowers

Kraftin Kimmie - flowers and purple

sisterhood of snarky stampers  flowers

CD Sunday - anything goes as long as it's from a USB/digital

Lil Patch of crafty friends - Anything goes

Thanks so much for stopping by - I'll see you soon with more card-making inspiration - but if you can't wait for my next installment (or don't like all the chat!) please follow me on Instagram or pinterest (links are above)

See you soon and crafting hugs

Rachael 

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Egg-cited chick!

Hello everyone! 

Yay - Spring has finally arrived.  Outside is warm and sunny, with trees budding to life and flowers blooming!  this is my absolute favourite time of year....

To celebrate this, and the start of a new Polkadoodles challenge, here's this cute easter chick, re-purposed to celebrate spring.

This cutie is called egg-cited chick.  from the recent release.

I coloured him with copics adding lots of colour depth to the inside of the pot and adding white gel pen spots to the outside.  The sentiment is from the full bundle you can buy along with this chick.

The background is the square trellis one also from Polkadoodles with distress oxide ink in mustard seed.  The pink stamps are from the posy blooms stamps.  I then tore a strip of scrap pink paper to add interest around the sentiment

I hope you like this, and I also hope you'll check out our challenge blog for tonnes of inspiration from the talented DT!.

leave me some love if you stop here, or follow me on other social media platforms (links top right!)

I'd like to enter this into:

The alphabet challenge - adorable (anything cute)

Creative fingers - anything goes

lil red wagon - Spring

Passion for markers - animals

try it on Tuesday - anything Spring

See you all soon!

Crafting hugs

Rachael 

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Patch puppy

 Hi everyone

there is a new challenge over on our All dressed up Facebook page - the theme this month is die cuts or punches.

The image for this is called patch puppy and he can be found here

I coloured him with copics and fussy cut him leaving a bigger white border than I usually do.

The sentiment is a Julie Hickey die and the wishes part is from a polkadoodles sentiment stamp set called birthday celebrations.

The background circle is die cut, as are the flowers which are MFT stitched flowers dienamic.  I wanted a monochrome look for this card so stuck with blues and whites.  

I am in love with this card, it is so so cute!

I'd like to enter this into:

Thank you so much for stopping by - please leave me a comment if you land here!

See you soon

Crafting hugs

Rachael

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Born to ride!

 Hello everyone

Wow, these two weeks do sure come around fast for the next polkadopodles challenge. This card was made in advance of fathers day (i know it's not until June) but I had to make a men's themed card for the challenge and I saw this gnome.  My dad is a biker and I knew this would make the perfect card for him, so I've made well in advance to go into my stash until then.

The image is called motorcycle tattoo  and you can get him in a digi image, or precoloured if you are in a rush

I coloured him using copics, then cut him and some of the accessories out.  The papers behind are from an old pad I don't even have a cover for anymore

The 'born to ride' sentiment is with the set, and I typed a father's day sentiment on the computer for the bottom banner.

Men's cards can be really hard to make, but you will find tonnes of suitable images on the polkadoodles website that make it easier!

Our challenge is anything goes, using any image, and we look forward to seeing what you make!

I'd like to enter this into:

C.R.A.F.T. - anything goes

cards 4 guyz - any colouring medium

Pammies pinkie inkies - Anything goes

Allyangels - anything goes

classic design challenge - anything goes

See you again soon

Crafting hugs

Rachael

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thank you from Bella bear

Hi everyone

Just stopping by to share Bella bear saying thank you.  You can never have too many thank you cards in your stash, to show your gratitude towards others.

This was made for our latest Polkadoodles challenge over on the challenge blog.

 Each week there is a new challenge and the good news is that it's anything goes - with any image!

This is one of the latest daily deal releases from Nikky that is such good value.  You get a digi image and papers for such a tiny price, and they change regularly, new ones are added all the time!

I decided to have a white bear, that's what I love about digi images, you can colour in whatever you like, this type of bear could even be converted into a panda.

The papers behind are from Bob in the boat daily deal, so you can mix and match them.

I simply coloured in copics, added white gel pen dots and some glitter to her mug.  The hearts behind are from another polkadoodles stamp set just to add more interest behind her.

I'd like to enter this into:

Cutie pie challenge - something beginning with 'B'  Bella bear! 

Pammies pinkie inkies - anything goes

613 Avenue create - anything goes, option CAS

Lil patch of crafty friends - anything goes

Through the purple haze - anything goes

Thanks so much for stopping by - please follow me on other social media channels and leave me a comment.  I love to read them all!

See you again soon

Crafting hugs

Rachael

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Lily pad fairy

 Hi everyone

We have our latest challenge now on over at all dressed up Facebook, and the theme is to embellish it.  You can use whatever you like, as long as you use an All dressed up image, and add some embellies to brighten your card.

Here is my inspiration using lily pad fairy - available here from Esty

I coloured the image using a combination of copics and Polychromos pencils, before fussy cutting her out.

The oval die and the water lilies are from heartfelf=t creations.  I cut the flowers out and inked them before shaping them into water lilies.  I also added some ribbon from my stash to embellish this card.

Isn't she so cute?

I hope you will join in the fun over at our challenge, you can also enter our All dressed up blog challenge too, the theme is always anything goes, so you'll get two chances of winning and an image from the fabulous collection.

I'd like to enter this into: 

Paper Minutes - favourite color (Purple)

Shopping our stash - Flowers (The heartfelt creations flowers are really old from my stash)

Pammies pinky inkies - Anything goes

Lil patch of crafty friends - anything goes

The fairy and the unicorn - anything fantasy (fairy)

Thanks for stopping by - please leave me a comment if you do land here, and follow my other Social media channels for quicker updates and inspiration.

See you soon! Crafting hugs

Rachael 

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Rebel says hello

 Hi everyone

Not sure if you have seen the latest release from polka doodles, but she is just amazing!  I love the sassy attitude she has - perfect for any teenage girl, in fact, any diva would love this! 

I made this using a digi image (there are two types of rebel image, both the sketchy lines like this one and the solid drawn lines) I coloured her using a combination of copics and polychromos pencils and fussy cut her out.  The hearts are from another polkadoodles stamp set called Hoe grown, and the stencil is from the funky flowers release.

I finished the card using some geometric stripy paper and a pop of yellow and added a few glossy accent bubbles around her.

I think she is amazing 

I'd like to enter this into:

• Crafty cats - spots and/or stripes
• As you like it - favourite freestyle background I love to use a stencil, with some other stamped images to build my background and finished with some sparkle
• Simon says stamp - anything goes
• sisterhood of crafting - dots or stripes
• Stencil fun - use a stencil with option of hearts
• 613 Avenue create - no red hearts

Thanks so much for stopping by - please follow me on this blog - or on any of the social media channels (links are top right).

See you again soon

Rachael

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Bunita says 'happy mothers day'

 Hi Crafty friends

In the UK soon it is Mother's Day.  It's a bittersweet day for me, as my son celebrates with me being his mom, but I sadly lost both my Mom and my Mother-in-law.

I still however, have a Nan - so I always make her a card and send flowers as she looked after me a lot as a child, and deserves to be spoiled too.

This year - I made this sweet card using Bunita from Polkadoodles, and used it as your inspiration for this week's PD challenge

I used a combination of stamps and papers from Polkadoodles for this.

Firstly the image - Bunita Carrot cake, was coloured using polychromos pencils.  I wanted a soft, furry look for her.  I then fussy cut her out.

I used a paper pack called Sugar scrumptious for the backing papers, adding only a little ink around the edge.  The sentiment is also a PD one called great occasions.

I'd like to enter this into:

Make my Monday - all creatures great and small

The cutie pie challenge - mothers day

Crafty gals corner - add a heart

Krafty chicks challenge - all occasions

Creative fingers - anything goes

Thanks for dropping in - Don't forget to check out the other DT inspiration on our blog and join in with our anything-goes theme to win prizes (they don't even have to be Polkadoodles images!)

See you again soon

Crafting hugs

Rachael

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Up. up and away!

Hello crafting friends

Its time for another new release over at all dressed up and although valentines has passed, this release can be used for so much more.

Here is my inspiration using valentines boy

I coloured him with a combination of copics, then using polychromos pencils for extra depth and detail.

The papers are from a Nitwit digi kit that I layered together, and then fussy cut the cute image and added with foam tape for dimension

Here are all of the new releases

Looking good (re-release)

Valentines boy

Valentines girl

Our Facebook challenge is still ongoing here  with the theme of celebrations, or hop over to our challenge blog where the theme is anything goes!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - it really does mean the world when I get emails with your comments on them.  Follow me on Facebook, or instagram for more

See you again

Crafting hugs

Rachael

 

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Bee mine....

 Hi everyone

Over at Polkadoodles the latest challenge has been launched.  We have some fabulous prizes to be won for the random winner and extras for the Dts favourite.

This time I used the too cute range, with a bee stamp called Bee mine.

In the background I printed the sentiment onto a piece of card and cut it to size, then I used a stencil from the funky flowers range, the border stamp from the Bumpy road stamp set, and the hearts from homegrown

I printed and coloured the image using copics and added detail with a white gel pen.  The background was inked with mustard seed distress oxide.  

I then fussy cut the image out before adding foam tape pads for dimension

The border is doodled with a black fine liner, and I coloured the chequered bits in just for a bit of extra black and yellow stripy fun!

I hope you'll join us over at Polkadoodles, we would love to see you there.  If you land here - please leave me a comment so I know you have dropped by!

I'd like to enter this into:

• Dragonfly dreams - Love
• Lil patch of crafty friends - anything goes
• Allsorts challenge - anything goes with extra of hearts
• inkspirational - use stencils
• Craft rocket challenge - love/valentines

Thanks for stopping by!  See you again soon.

Rachael 

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Owl always love you

 Hello crafting friends

It is again time for Polkadoodles to have another card-making challenge over on our blog.  This time I show-casing the wings of love collection (available from the website here:) with this super cute owl.

I normally print and colour, but recently I have loved using the pre-colored images that are available alongside the black and white digis.  These are perfect if your colouring needs some practice or simply because you don't have time.  I love to use them because it means I can make cards creatively in other ways.

I used one of the backing papers to make this mini slimline card, fussy cutting out the printed pre-coloured image.  I then used thin strips of paper to weave some interest at the side and added one of the sentiments from the collection too.

We would love to see what you make in our anything goes challenge - so I'll see you there.

I'd like to enter this into:

• Send a smile for the kids - love/valentine
• inkspirational - moodboard
• Creative fingers - anything goes
• craft rocket - not square

Thanks so much for stopping by - check me out on Instagram too - links are above!

See you again soon.

Rachael 

 

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