Best birthdays are those shared with best friends

Another new card using some older stash!!

I will come back and finish this post later but I'm being shoved off the internet by my Dad who wants to get onto the Derby County website as they just beat Forest 1-0!! Hurrah! ...
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Right, I have reclaimed the internet...
The die-cuts are from Issue 21 of Let's Make Cards, and the sentiment is actually a rub-on! Pretty simple card really!

Challenges I'm entering:
A Spoon Full of Sugar #88 - Freestyle

Blooming Gorgeous!

Here's a quick card I made mainly using the contents of the latest Docrafts goody bag:

I've used the Sunshine capsule collection papers & paper flowers. The pot is from my FlowerSoft kit, and there are little gems & peel of sentiments I've had for a while! I've used my nesties to cut the sentiment out!

Challenges I'm entering:
Cute Card Thursday #97 - Blooming Gorgeous

Wings of Hope - 1st card!

Finally got round to taking pics of the 3 cards I made this week.

This is the first one, where I've used the Whimsy "Wings of Hope" digital stamp where the proceeds go to help the relief efforts in Haiti.

This is the first outing for this digi for me (coloured with Whispers), and also the first use of the new Small Deckled Mega Nestabilities that Mum & I bought this week! I've used a rub-on sentiment, and some hearts & flowers to embellish. (Oh, and I couldn't resist the Glamour Dust on the wings and hooves to make it stand out - the second picture is taken at sunset and it just catches the glitter)!
Challenges I'm entering:
Whimsy #3 - Use your heart
Cooking it up with Katie #9 - Non human image, texture & new product.
Crafty Creations #52 - Celebrations

Especially For You!!

I decided to have a go at a double stepper fold card I found the template for at The Paper Craft Tutor - FAB website with brilliant instructions on loads of different types of card!

Now, I love cardmaking and each card I make is different, no repeats and there are always some you like and some you're not so keen on.... BUT - I think this has to be my most favourite card of all the cards I've ever made. I'm a bit sad not to have a Valentine to send it to, but happy that I may keep it til the day I do!
I used the cute bunny freebie from the Digi Shack that I downloaded last year, but just re-discovered - coloured with Whispers. The backing paper is from DCWV Scrapbook kit in a stack (also used for the lettering). I've punching some hearts out of pink & polka dot paper & flowers, decorated with pearl gems. The hearts are Sizzix die-cuts. And of course some Glamour Dust (love that glitter)!
Challenges:
Corrosive Challenge #48 - Fancy Folds
Magical Crafts #7 - Valentine's
The Pink Elephant #51 - Polkadots, a bow & pink
Creative Card Crew #43 - Punch It
Crafty Catz #16 - Love
One Stop Craft #64 - Love & Kisses
Allsorts #36 - Hearts & Flowers
Crafty Creations #51 - Valentine's or Love
Lucy's Cards #4 - Glitter
Pile It On #3 - Warm Wishes

Magazine Cover Challenge!

Wendy has a challenge with a difference, over at Digital Doodling - to make a magazine cover from MagMyPic.com. It's open til Feb 12th.

I've just had quite a laugh doing this one of my little dog Foxy when he was showing off his winter coat:

Let the sun shine!!

Here is the first card I have made using the new DoCrafts goody bag (that Mum & I bought on Monday):


The digital stamp is Tilly Jeanie, from Digital Doodling - if you haven't visited Wendy already, please do!

So I've used the Sunshine themed Papermania Capsule Collection (yellow & orange, striped & flower paper), and punched a couple of flowers decorated with gems. I've kept this one quite simple, but will use more of the embellishments soon!

Challenges I have entered:
The Pink Elephant #50 - Sketch
Saturday Spotlight SSHP15 - Let the Sunshine In
Simon Says - Punch It
Charisma Cardz #3 - Fruity colours

Another little hedgehog friend!

Here is the other Penny Black "Delights" stamp from Lisa...


I admit I made a small error - initially it was just the dark pink card, BUT.... I stupidly stuck the image upside-down onto it, so the card opened the wrong way!! So, I had to cut the front off and stick it onto another card!! Oops! In fairness I wasn't feeling well this morning but really wanted to finish the card!
The brown striped paper is from the Daisy & Dandelion paper pack, and the sentiment is from the new Docrafts CDRom!
Challenges I'm entering:Inspirational Card Sketches #50 - such a great sketch!

The result of quite an unproductive day!

Well, Mum's boss would like 2 cards, the same but in different colours for her two grandaughters who are turning 3 (not sure when)!

I'm rubbish at little kids cards, as I don't know many that young and the only ones I've made were for boys (which is easy at that age and harder as they get older)!

I gave up, in frustration as it wasn't "enjoyable" any more....will try again tomorrow and hope that inspiration comes.

Instead I made this card, for someone my age and did what I wanted to do!

I believe the stamped image is called "Delights" from Penny Black - another of the little gifts from Lisa that I have picked out to get creative!
The brown stripy paper is from a Daisy and Dandelion paper pack, and the pink polkadot paper is from a magazine freebie. The sentiment is from the new Docrafts Creativity mag CD-ROM, with an X-Cut butterfly.
Challenges I'm entering:
Sketch & Stamp #19 - lovely sketch (I have turned it around)
Allsorts Challenge #35 - Brown & Pink
The Crafty Pad #54 - Animals
A Spoon Full of Sugar #87 - Lots of Layering
Papertake Weekly - Pretty In Pink

New Year, New Me!

2010 is going to be different to 2009 - I'm going to make the most of EVERYTHING, and try not to get all bogged down with things that stress me out. So, I am currently on the hunt for a new job again, but am NOT going to fall into the usual trap of rushing without looking. It always ends badly, and results in more stress, more moving house, and more cost!

I am going to enjoy some hobbies - I'm getting back into the craft-blogging (which I missed since July 2009 when I got the last job). I have also started jewellery-making, as my Aunty bought me some stuff for Christmas. Last week I went to a ballroom & latin dance class, and intend to go regularly as it is another thing that has fallen foul of work.

I also went out on Saturday night for the first time in AGES, with some of the girls from my first practice, who are fab and a great laugh to be with. More nights out are needed, and I'm going to make more effort to keep in touch with people - including you, fellow bloggers!

Today I have re-vamped my blog - new layout, colours and columns!

I have to thank the Three Column Blogger for the fab tutorial on how to get another column on my blog!! I've got a bit fed up myself of scrolling down through all the challenges to get to the candy pics, and couldn't for the life of me fathom some of the other instructions on how to get another column on the left. This blog has the answers, in the different templates, and I can understand them, so I'm sure you will too.

Let me know what you think!

China Girl

This is a card I started making AGES ago (actually at a craft class), but it needed something else, so it went in the "not quite right" pile. I recently found this little china girl at Digital Doodling and she is the perfect finishing touch!!Unfortunately I don't know the name of the paper/decoupage/peel-off kit as it was at a class - but if anyone recognises it please let me know as I'm desperate to get more of the paper!

Challenges I am entering with this card:

Corrosive Challenge #47 - Let's go Digi!
Bee Crafty Challenge #22 - Favourite colour combo (I know this is my second entry, but I love pink and blue too!)

Little Shopaholic!

Mum's boss asked me to make a card with a handbag theme, so here's what I came up with:



The image is a Miss Anya stamp kindly sent to me by Lisa last year! I've coloured it with my favourite (and pretty much only) medium - Whispers Strokes. The striped and diamond papers are from DCWV "Scrapbook in a stack - all occasions", with two handbags from the Dovecraft Glamour pack! The sentiment is a digital one from the CD on the January 2010 Docrafts Creativity magazine! I've gone for a pink and orangey-peach theme - love those colours!
So, I've entered this into the following challenges:
CPS #150 Sketch
Bee Crafty #22 - Favourite colour combo
Incy Wincy Designs #26 - Favourite colouring medium

I Love Jeanie!

This is another creation made today using the Digital Doodling freebies - Tilly as Jeanie.

Another comined challenge - for:

Secret Crafter Saturday which was a sketch
Spoon Full of Sugar - Recipe for 3 pieces designer paper, 1 ribbon, 3 flowers & 3 buttons.
The Pink Elephant #49 - A Birthday card

I've hauled out my paper stash from "Simply Cards & Papercraft" from last year (trying to use what I've got before buying yet more goodies). The image is from Digital Doodling (above), and as you can see, there are 3 flowers with 3 buttons and 1 ribbon.

Making a Come-back with a combined challenge!

Well, this is the first card I've uploaded in a very long time, so I've started with a combination of challenges:

ABC this week is L for Layering

Inspirational Card Sketches #49

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #15 - A Birthday Card

Charisma Cardz #2 - Anything New

I've used some blue cardstock, with pink "tartan" paper from Papermania's "Sweet Nothings" pack (it's actually Mum's but she let me borrow some!), the image is a freebie from:
Digital Doodling

She's called Tilly, and there are a lot of gorgeous downloads available - please check out the blog! I only found it yesterday so this is my "new" item (for Charisma challenge)!