Guess!!!! another baby card!

Hi!

First of all, I would like to say Hi to all my new (and old) blog-land friends... thank you so much for following me! I hope you enjoy my work and I can inspire you in the same way  I get inspired by all of you!!! 

First week back to normality still not going as planned....  Christmas tree is still up (but taking it down today for sure!). I seem to be rolling on auto-pilot at the moment... I want to make so many things, and so little time... I do my crafting mainly at night, once Alaia is in bed. It's when I feel more relaxed, with no distractions, catching up with my TV shows at the same time (mainly just in the background).
I always end up working until really late, chatting with my Crafty friends on facebook and reading lots of blogs for tutorials and inspiration. I try to give myself the night off every few days so I can catch up on some sleep... luckily, Alaia isn't an early-riser, and nursery is in the afternoon, so I don't really need to do early mornings...  lucky me!

On with the card....

Guess! another Baby card!!!

My friend in Spain had a baby before Christmas, so obviously, I made a card!

I used "Spit Happens" by Mo Manning. Mo creates the most amazing images! 

The background papers are from Papermania Capsula Collection Spots and Stripes and K&Company and some loose scraps. I don't remember where I got the yellow paper... it's really cute as it has little baby feet on it (it got covered, but it's really great for baby cards). I got it in a pack with a few more papers a long time ago.

To colour the baby, I used my Promarkers.

Sandstone and buttermilk for the hair.

Vanilla, Almond, Satin, Ivory and blender pen for the skin. Blossom for the cheeks.

Cornflower and Powder blue for T-shirt.

Sandstone and Buttermilk for the bunny.

A bit of Warm grey 1 for the nappy.

I cut the image with the Tim Holtz Alterations Torn Page die. I used the other die that comes in the same set for the notebook page die-cut paper.

I inked all the borders with Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad in Tea Dye.

The corrugated cardboard corners are recycled from Alaia's baby toiletries packaging. I still have a bit left, it comes so handy for this type of cards! I painted the cardboard with a bit of white acrylic paint. I think I'm going to get some Gesso soon to create this look... I really like the look it gives! but I will wait at least for a few weeks, I got so many things on the sale (and NOT SALE)  that I need to give my pockets a rest!!!!

If you have any experience with Gesso, please let me know in the comments below. it doesn't come cheap, so I would really like your opinion beforehand....

I also added a piece of lace mesh under the image. 

I made the rose and leaves with the English Rose die from Marianne Creatables.

The Ribbon and washi tape are from Dovecraft.

The rhinestones and buttons are from local shops.

 I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Little Fairies - Starting over 
Scrap-creations - Something New (New Baby)

Crafting by Designs - January Anything goes 

Just Inspirational - New Beginnings

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes (2nd entry)

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday wk 1 - Anything goes/New Beginnings
Totally Papercrafts #200 - New Beginnings
Left of Center #22 - New Beginnings
Crafty Hands #5 - Anything goes
Brown Sugar #75 - Use Ribbon or Twine (2nd entry)
Totally Gorjuss #217 - Ribbon (2nd entry)
A gem of a challenge #110 - Something new
All Sorts - Free and Easy  (3rd entry)
A Creative Romance - Something new
Sweet Pea Stampers - Anything goes (2nd entry)
Creative Craft Challenge # 26 - Anything goes (2nd entry)
Glitter n Sparkle #66 - Anything goes (2nd entry)
The Corrosive challenge #190 - New Beginnings
Challenges 4 everybody #37 - Anything goes (2nd entry)
Incy Wincy - 3 favourite embellishments (buttons, ribbon and flowers) 2nd entry
Paper Nest Dolls - anything goes
Crafting from the heart - Anything goes/ use pearls or buttons (2nd entry)
Crafty Boots - Anything goes (2nd entry)
Use your stuff #117 - New Beginnings 
Lexi's Creations #107 - Anything goes
Loves Rubberstamps #85 - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiment Designs - New  (3)
LEJ Designs #85 - Anything goes
Oldie but a goodie - New Beginnings
Papertake Weekly - anything goes/ optional make something to celebrate something new
Inky Chicks #20 - Anything goes
The Crafter's Cafe #45 - Anything goes
Fab n Funky - Let's Celebrate (New baby)
My Heart Pieces - Anything goes
Divas by Designs - Let's Celebrate (New baby)
Stamp n Doodle #1 -  Happy New...




thanks so much for stopping by!!! don't forget to leave a comment and follow!!!!

Until Next time!!!!

Cute and Grunge!!!

Hi!
I hope you have all had a lovely weekend! Here in the Diaz-Kaleem household we are back to our post-holiday routine.... Alaia is back to nursery today and hubby is back to work. I'm just trying to get in the rut again.... (not happening yet...) I guess I have a bit of post-holiday blues... all the pre-Christmas excitement, preparations... it all went too fast!!!! And I've made the point of not taking my Christmas tree down yet..... In Spain today it is still Christmas!!! although we don't celebrate it here in the UK, in Spain The 3 Wise Men brought the presents to children last night... So I can't really take my Christmas down until at least tomorrow.... I say with a very very sad face..... I wish it could be  Christmas everyday! (this is now turning into a song...)

So on to today's card!!!!!

I really love the card I'm showing you today...

I've tried a new style for me, "grunge". I hope I have accomplished a grunge look! when trying to achieve a look, there are so many things to consider, and so many interpretations! I distressed a lot, I went a bit crazy!!! I got the Tim Holtz Paper Distresser for Christmas and I love it! and for me, in cardmaking, Tim Holtz = grunge! More Tim Holtz in this card: the Weathered clock die, and the Distressed Ink pads in Tattered Rose, Tea Dye and Old Paper. Some of my new crafty goodies! (not all presents, some I got on the sale)

I used a cute image... can you do cute grunge? I guess so...if not, too late for me!!!! It is Bunches by Mo Manning. I've had it for a while, used it once before, and I thought it was time to use her again....

And I am so proud! for this card, I only used scraps of paper! I didn't use a brand new sheet at all! for me, this is a big thing.... some of them are from my K&Company paper pad and from First Edition ....

I coloured Bunches with my Promarkers.

Raw Sienna, Sandstone and Buttermilk for her hair, flowers and boots.

Frosted leaf for the leaves in the bunch.

Vanilla, Almond, Ivory and Blossom for her skin.

For her clothes: Blossom, Pink Carnation, Cornflower, Powder Blue and blender pen.

Another first for me, which I am really happy I made and I will make again and again is the Grunge looking flower....  I followed a tutorial I saw on how to make a Christmas Poinsetta by Chelsea Le at Crafting Life Pieces. I adapted the tutorial to make my flower.

I used 16 leaf die cuts (I used the leaves from Marianne Creatables English Rose).

I cut them from Watercolour Paper. I soaked them in water, and rolled them. 

I left them overnight to dry. In the morning, I unrolled them, used some Distress inks at the edges and glue them together: 8 leaves at the bottom as a base, and then 2 layers of 4 leaves. I added a rhinestone in the centre... 

I'm really happy how it ended up! perfect for this type of card I think....

The sentiment is from a Ribbon reel I've had for years. 

The buttons are from Papermania and Gorjuss.

The brown dots ribbon and brad are from local shops.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Mo's DP2 challenge - Anything goes w/Mo Image
Crafting Musketeers # 9 - Grunge
Moving along the times - Thank you
Crafty Catz #212 - Thank you
The Pink Elephant #232 -  Thank you
Brown Sugar #75 - Use ribbon or twine
Totally Gorjuss #217 - Ribbon
Alphabet challenge - X for xtra-ordinary (handmade flower is xtra-ordinary as it's first time I've made it!) (2nd entry)
Delicious Doodles #69 - Layer up
Left of Center #22 - New Beginnings (new craft dies and technique) 2nd entry
A Gem of a challenge #110 - something new (new craft stash - Tim Holtz die and inks)
Come and get it - Something new  (New style, craft tools and handmade flower)
Crafting from the heart #4 - Anything goes/use pearls of buttons
All sorts challenge #240 - Free and easy (2nd entry)
Incy Wincy - 3 favourite embellishments (ribbon, flowers and buttons)
Polkadoodles Digi Choosday wk 11 - Anything goes
Polkadoodles challenge wk 1 - Anything goes
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes (2nd entry)
613 Avenue Create #53 - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room door  - Anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. #240 - Anything goes (2nd entry)
Crafty Hands #5 - Anything goes
Sweet Pea stampers - Anything goes
Creative Craft Challenge #26 - Anything goes
Glitter n Sparkle #66 - Anything goes
Challenges 4 everybody #37 - Anything goes
Digi Sketch - Say it with flowers (T)
Crafty Boots - Anything goes
Creative Card Crew #52 - Anything goes (3rd entry)
Open-minded crafting fun #1 - New tools or new techniques (Tim holtz weathered clock die is a new tool)

I hope you have enjoyed my card. If you have, please leave a comment, I read and appreciate each and every of them... and don't forget to follow me! :)

Until next time!

My first DT post for Sentimental Sundays! #188 - Make it New (Alter Something)

Hi there!

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend!

As you may already know (there is no way you have missed it, as I have been shouting about it for weeks!), I'm one of the new Design Team ladies at Sentimental Sundays. I'm really thrilled to be part of such a great team! My team mates are all amazing! and I'm already learning so much from them!

The theme for our first challenge of the year #188 is 

Make it New (Alter Something)

(plus a sentiment)

Our sponsor this week is A Day for Daisies

When I saw the challenge theme, I knew exactly what I wanted to make... I've had a few wooden boxes of "Turron" (a Spanish Christmas Sweet, similar to hard nougat, but yummier!) for a good 8 months, empty and waiting to be used!!! so I couldn't wait to create something with one of them for this challenge...

From this.....

to a Shabby Chic Jewellery / Memory Box!

It's my first ever altered item (but not my last! I loved making it!). 

I used this amazing image called "Skirt of Flowers" by our sponsor A Day for Daisies. Such a pretty and romantic image... 

I coloured her with my Promarkers as usual...

Sandstone and Buttermilk for her hair.

Vanilla, almond and satin for her skin, plus a bit of blossom for her cheeks.

Lavender, Blossom and Antique Pink for her dress, with Blender Pen.

The paper I used in the background is from my K&Company paper pad. 

The sentiment and clock stamps are by Tim Holtz.

The swirl die is by Marianne Creatables.

I embellished with flowers and bling swirl by Wild Orchid Crafts, a paper doily and punched butterflies.

Used some white acrylic paint to give it a more shabby chic look.

I also covered the bottom part of the box with the paper and punched the bottom border with my flower Martha Stewart punch.

To protect the box, I covered it with Deco Art Americana Matte Varnish.

So, check out the new challenge at Sentimental Sundays, take a look at the great projects that my team mates have made and join us in the fun!!!!!

I'm also entering my project into the following challenges:

A day for daisies challenge #86 - Anything goes
Altered Eclectics - Anything goes
Sparkles Monthly #51 - Anything BUT a card
Natalie and Amy challenge#16  - One for the girlies (2nd entry)
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
Alphabet challenge - X for xtraordinary  (new crafting material: recycled box)
All sorts challenge #240 - Free and easy
Left of Center #22 -  New Beginnings (I tried a new crafting technique - altering an item-, part of my new year resolutions!)
Polkadoodles wk 1 - Anything goes
A Creative Romance - Something new (new crafting technique -altering an item)
Open-minded crafting fun #1 - Use new toys or new techniques (new crafting technique -altering an item)
Pile it on #1 -  Just because...
Lemonade challenge #61 - We change old to new



If you have like it, please leave a comment, I really enjoy reading them all! and don't forget to follow me....

thank you so much for stopping by, until next time!

Alaia's first challenge entry!!!!

Hello!

today's post is very special.... it's not my card!!!!

Alaia takes after her mummy and loves everything to do with markers, colouring and creating! sometimes when I colour my images, she's just there, next to me, absorbing as much as she can...
So when she colours and I ask her... "how do you know that?" she says... "I saw you doing it mummy!"

She created this card for one of her friends, who lives away in Manchester and she hasn't seen for a long time...

I printed this beautiful image from her. It's Jumper for Joy by Digi Darla Designs. Obviously I also printed the sentiment.... The rest is all her work! isn't she great?

Punched and coloured butterflies and stars, coloured the little girl and how about the beautiful drawings of flowers and butterflies? she's got style!!!!

I hope you like it!!!!! you can see Alaia's work in her little corner at the top tab....

Please leave her a comment, you will make a little girl really happy!!!

Alaia is entering this card into the following challenge: 

C.R.A.F.T. #240 - Anything goes

Thanks for taking a look on behalf of Alaia!!!!

New Year Resolutions and a Frame Shadow box Card

Hi!

First of all I would like to wish you all...

A very Happy New Year!!!!!!!

Around this time every year, everybody usually has some New Year's Resolutions, something we want to change or do new in our lives....  

My main new Year Resolution this year is to teach Alaia to speak Spanish properly...  when she was first born I used to speak to her in Spanish constantly, but living in the UK, and my husband not being a Spanish speaker, I guess it was easier for all of us to speak in English! So Alaia never learned... She knows some words, and now and then I speak to her in Spanish, but not always... so my resolution is that by the end of the year, I want her to understand and speak at least basic Spanish. 

I also have some "crafty" resolutions.... I want to explore different techniques, get out of my comfort zone! I get bored very easily... so it's good for me to try new things I guess! I'm looking a lot at Mixed Media art, altering items.. etc, so you may see some of this art soon on my blog! 

Today, I have for you a Frame shadox box Card! so a good way to start the New Year, with something I've never done before!

I followed this tutorial by Virginia's Scrappy Place.  I struggled a bit as I don't own a score board. I currently use my old paper cutter, using the cutting guide line as a scoring line...

The fun image is Frizzy Jynx by Saturated Canary.... Isn't she fun? I really love her, and she kind of reminds me of myself!!! I've got the crazy curly hair and sometimes I can behave a bit crazy.... 

The papers are from my K&Co  and Raspberry Road Designs.

As usual, I coloured the image with my Promarkers...

For her hair I used: Raw Sienna, Sandstone, Buttermilk and Mustard.

for Headband: Antique Pink and Pink Carnation.

For her face: Vanilla, Almond, Ivory and Blossom.

For the clothes and shoes: Antique Pink, Pink Carnation, Blossom, Pink Mittens, buttermilk, Eggnog, Cornflower, Powder blue and sandstone.

I created the quote on my computer, It's one of my favourites quotes and I think I'm going to make it part of my New Year Resolutions!!! "Live, Laugh, Love" just summarises everything I want for this year!

I distressed the papers with my new Tim Holtz paper distresser and with Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad in Old Paper.

The dies I've used are from Marianne Creatables and Nellie Snellen.

I made the white clay corner myself (another thing I want to do this year is create my own embellishments).

The flowers and pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

The buttons and ribbon are from local shops.

I decorated the inside using the same paper as at the front.

A side view

 I really enjoyed making this card today... a real challenge, but a good Crafty way to start the New Year! 

If you like it,

 please leave a comment below. I really appreciate all the nice feedback and love reading all the comments. and don't forget to follow me, I promise a lot of great things!!!!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

I love Promarkers #200 - Frame it

Loves Rubberstamps #84 - New Year Resolutions

Natalie and Amy #16 - One for the girlies
Cute Card thursday #302 - Banish the Blues

613 Avenue Create #52 - Anything goes

Kaboodle Doodles #204 - Anything goes

Through the Craft room door - Anything goes

Polkadoodles Digi Choosday wk 11 - Anything goes

Crafting by designs - Anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. #240 - Anything goes 

Inkspirational challenge #46 - Anything Inkspirational goes (3rd entry)

Creative Card Crew #52 - Anything goes (2nd entry)
Pumpkin Spice - Anything goes (2nd entry)

Sister Act #38 - anything goes (3rd entry)

Thanks for stopping by and until next time!!!