Penny Black Christmas

Here's the second of this year's Christmas card creations...

Supplies:
Image: Penny Black "Jolly Friends" stamp set, coloured with Promarkers.
Paper: Forever Friends "Santa's on his way" paper pack
Tools: Crafts Too Embossing Folder for sentiment
Embellishments: Glitter, Flowersoft Polar White

Challenges:
Charisma Cardz #44 - Cutesy
Inky Impressions #32 - Glitter it Up
Crafter's Companion Monthly #18 - Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
Cardmaking & Papercraft Challenge - Christmas Tree
Penny Black @ Allsorts November - All Creatures Great & Small
Winter Wonderland - Make you card sparkle
A Gem of a Challenge #33 - Cold & Frosty

Back after a little break...

Hello all,

It seems like ages since I last posted anything - and I suppose it is really.

Some of you know that my Grandad had been struggling with dementia amongst other health problems for quite some time, and sadly we lost him on 3rd October. We saw him in hospital where he was very peaceful and he passed away about an hour after we left to go home (Sod's law eh?). All very sad times, but at least he isn't suffering anymore...

So, with that and a bit of locum work/job hunting I haven't really been doing much in the way of crafting, but Christmas is fast approaching and I need to get on with the cards!! Mum and I went to the Hobbycrafts exhibition at the NEC last Thursday, so that's got me back in the mood!

Supplies:
Image: HouseMouse Designs "Holiday Smooch", coloured with Promarkers
Paper: Papermania Henbury Lane Poinsettia paper
Tools: Crafts Too embossing folder for sentiment.
Embellishments: Glamour Dust!

Challenges:
Little Claire's Challenge #14 - Christmas
Top Tip Tuesday #59 - Anything Christmas Goes
Dream Valley #19 - Anything Goes

Me To You Anniversary Tag

I made this card for a wedding anniversary, and to try to use some of the things we had in a Docrafts goody bag.

Supplies:-
Image: Me To You Stickers
Paper: Me To You paper pack
Embellishments: Tag die cut from Me To You paper pack, eyelet, ink around edges.

Challenges:-
Pollycraft #112 - Tags/Bookmarks
Cute Card Thursday #184 - Animal Crackers

FlowerSoft "Just for You"

I made this card for my best friend from Uni, who was on holiday for her Birthday, so I've waited to put it on here!!

Supplies:
Image: "Just for You" from Flower Soft Moments in Time range, coloured with Promarkers
Paper: Pink Petticoat "Wild Blossoms" collection
Embellishments: Shamrock Green, Baby Pink, Pale Green Flower Soft, die-cute sentiment.

Challenges:
By the Cute & Girly September - All things bright & beautiful
Crafts & Me #54 - Flowers
Simon Says Challenge - Anything Goes

Thinking of You Bear

Supplies:
Image: "Bentley Bear" from Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine stamp set
Tools: Nestabilities deckled edge rectangles, & blossoms die, XCut border punch
Embellishment: Peel off sentiment & flowers

Challenges:
Simon Says Challenge - Dies +/or punches
Allsorts Challenge #122 - Keep it simple
Paper Sundaes #88 - Anything Goes
Cupcake Craft #161 - If you go down to the woods today...
Die Cut Dreams #99 - Brown, Pink & Cream
Ooh La La Challenge #89 - Punches/Dies

Big Adventure

I've had this image for ages, and it keeps getting squashed in the little bag I keep my "ready-to-go" images in, so I thought I'd use it. I was going to use it as a birthday card, but then found the perfect sentiment!

Supplies:
Image: "They Grow So Fast" by Mo's Digital Pencil
Sentiment: "If life were easy" by Create with TLC
Paper: Brown with white polkadots - Daisy & Dandelion paper pack
Embellishment: Green/blue/white ribbon


Challenges:
Cards for Men #19 - Anything but Square
Digital Tuesday #129 - People images
Whimsy Stamps Challenges #7 - Polkadots
Stampin' for the Weekend #17 - What a cutie
Stamptacular Sunday #129 - Just sayin'

Rock Star!

Here's a card I've made for my godson who will be 6 years old at the weekend. I always struggle to find boy images as I don't have many stamps that aren't cute or girly!! But I had some images stamped for me, and decided that this was perfect!

Supplies:
Image: "Rock Idol" from Sugar Nellie Manga collection, coloured with Promarkers
Papers: Dovecraft "Masculine" paper pack
Embellishments: Star eyelet, die-cut sentiment, inking around the edge of the card.

Challenges:
The Sugar Bowl #68 - Sketch
Top Tip Tuesday #51 - 1 for the kids

Mum & Dad Inky Impressions Anniversary!

Here's the double stepper card (I think that's what it's called) I made for Mum & Dad's Anniversary last week. We went to Cornwall, so I thought the lighthouse was quite apt, and thought I'd go for a slightly cute-funny card!!

Supplies:
Images: "Rock 'n Roll Donnie" and "Zoe's Dress Up Day" from Inky Impressions, the lighthouse is from CocoDingo, all coloured with Promarkers.
Papers: Papermania "Love" paper pack - spotted and stripy paper
Embellishments: Heart brads, peel off hearts, glamour dust.

Supplies:
Inky Impressions Challenge #25 - Shaped cards
Creative Inspirations #130 - Let's Celebrate
Crafts and Me #53 - Stripes
Papertake Weekly - Creature Comforts
Cute Card Thursday #182 - Anything Goes
Totally Gorjuss #98 - Nothing square about me!
Creatalicious Challenge #26 - Anything Goes

Dad's Anniversary Card to Mum

Here's the card I made for my Dad to give to Mum for their Anniversary! Dad quite likes a funny card!

Supplies:
Image: Recycled from a card!
Tools: XCut heart border punch, cropodile
Embellishments: Red gems, eyelets, bows & glamour dust

Challenges:
Paperplay #37 - Punches & Dies
Moving Along with the Times #116 - Sparkle
One Stitch At A Time #80 - Punch It
The Crafty Pad #139 - Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

Monochrome Elephant

Another of my male monochrome pre-holiday creations - this was for my Uncle.

Supplies:
Image: Daisy & Dandelion "Pickles & Onion" stamp, coloured with Promarkers
Paper: Spot/Circle paper from Dovecraft "Charcoal Prints" pack
Embellishments: Peel off sentiment on die-cut paper, with peel off stars & inking around edge of page.

Challenges:
Oldie But a Goodie #27 - One for the Boys (2nd Entry)
Little Claire's Monthly Challenge #13 - Black & White (2nd Entry)
Dutch Dare #130 - Monochromatic (2nd Entry)
Crafty Sentiments Designs - Happy Birthday

Black & White Forever Friends

Well, I'm finally getting round to posting some of the cards I made before we went to Cornwall last week! I had a sudden rush of cards to do, and thought it would be a good time to try out some of the monochrome images I'd coloured!
This card is for my male cousin - I think black & white monochrome cards are pretty good for boy cards!

Supplies:
Image: Forever Friends daisy image, coloured with Promarkers
Paper: Spot/Circle paper from Dovecraft "Charcoal Prints" pack
Embellishments: Peel off sentiment/stars on deckled edge rectangle nestie die cut, with ink around edge of paper

Challenges:
Oldie But a Goodie #27 - One for the Boys
Little Claire's Monthly Challenge #13 - Black & White
Dutch Dare #130 - Monochromatic
Incy Wincy  Designs Challenge #112 - Distressing

Dad in his Deckchair.....DON'T LOOK DAD!!!

We're off to Padstow in Cornwall next week so I'm busy trying to get all my cards sorted that need doing before then! It's Dad's Birthday whilst we're away, so here's the card I've made for him - hopefully a reflection on what he'll be doing on the beach!

Supplies:
Image: "Deckchair Dreaming" from Lili of the Valley, coloures with Promarkers & chalks.
Papers: All three papers from DCWV Scrapbook kit in a stack "All Occasions"
Embellishments: Handmade green bow, green/blue sticker from DCWV kit, peel off sentiment.

Challenges:
Lili of the Valley Challenge #110 - Sketch
Bizzy Bec's Challenge September - Blue, Green & White
Crafty Calendar September - Let Sleeping Bears Lie
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz #35 - Anything Goes
Stampin' for the weekend #15 - Holidays
Allsorts Challenge #119 - Green & Blue
Crafty Cardmakers #51 - Summer Holiday Memories

Sparkly Forever Friends!

A little Forever Friends card I made, and I thought I'd liven it up with some sparkle borders and on the flowers!

Supplies:
Image: Forever Friends "Christmas Gift", coloured with Promarkers.
Papers: Both from Pink Petticoat "Wild Blossoms" collection
Embellishments: Die cut sentiment, Glamour Dust

Challenges:
Crafter's Companion Monthly #15 - Glitter & Glitz
Stamp & Create August - Critters
Totally Gorjuss #95 - As you like it
A Spoon Full of Sugar #163 - Party Time
Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers #115 - Anything Goes
Oldie but a Goodie #26 - Lots of Sparkle

Happy 3rd Birthday!

This was quite a quick card I put together for my cousin's little boy who will be 3 years old Saturday.

Supplies:
Paper: DCWV Scrapbook Kit in a Stack "All Occasions"
Image: Bentley Bear with balloons from Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine, coloured with Promarkers
Embellishments: Die cut sentiment, inked around the edges.

Challenges:
Sweet Stampin's Challenge - Babies & Little Ones
Just Tracy's Crafts - Happy Birthday

FlowerSoft - Thank You Bouquet

Here is the Thank You card I made for Rachel's parents, Helen & Duncan after the wedding.
I thought I'd have another go at a FlowerSoft bouquet as I hadn't done one for ages and had some new colours to play with!

Supplies:
Paper: Papermania Capsule Collection Lemon Sorbet
Embellishments: FlowerSoft Ultrafine Raspberry Fizz & Citrus Crush (plus the ribbon). Chipboard sentiment from a Cardmaking & Papercraft freebie.
Tools: Nestabilities Blossoms (for the aperture and cutting the tissue paper for the bouquet), Nesties deckled rectangles.

Challenges:
Allsorts #117 - You've Been Framed
Sir Stampalot August Challenge - Whatever You Fancy
Craft us Crazy #15 - Anything Goes
One Stop Craft #145 - Bold & Bright

Wedding Box!

Here's the box I decorated for Rachel - I wanted to give her something to keep some of her wedding "memories" in, and also put a few little keepsakes in. I knew she had her something old, something new & something borrowed, but I thought she might need something blue (and a silver sixpence for her shoe)!

The flowers are handmade - a technique I learnt at a recent Trimcraft demo! Basically cutting some scalloped circles, wetting them, folding them/scrunching them, then securing with a brad.

 Supplies:
Basics: Papermania nested box, Artiste Pearl "Ice Blue" acrylic paint
Embellishments: Chipboard bookplate, peel off, pearl brads, ribbon, gems
Tools: Nesties blossoms (for the flowers)

Challenges:
Allsorts Challenge #116 - Anything But A Card
Creative Craft Challenges - Anything But A Card
Creative Card Crew - Hand made flowers
Papertake Weekly - Blooms, Pearls & Free (gems)
Crafts and Me #48 - Blues
Crafty Your Passion #71 - Anything But A Card

Lots of embossing!

It's been quite busy round here lately - towards the end of July was my best friend from school's wedding, at which I was a bridesmaid, so lots of things to sort out for that.
Straight after that Mum & Dad went to Mexico for two weeks, and I started a locum job for two weeks so everything was quite manic (work, looking after the two dogs and trying to water all the outdoor plants in that little heatwave we had).
So I have made a few cards, but not had time to post them!
Here's the card I made for Rach's hen party (yes, I sent her an invite to her own hen party as she wanted a surprise...)

Supplies:
Image: Bay tree from the "Born To Shop" Go Green stamp set, coloured with Promarkers. The embossed stamps are from a Laura Ashley stamp set.
Tools: Heat gun, copper embossing powder, nesties deckled rectangles.

Challenges:
Crafty Catz #95 - Emboss It
Crafty Sentiment Designs - No Sentiment
One Stitch at a Time #75 - Anything Goes

Whatzup Dog Tag!

I made this a little while ago, and submitted it for the new Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Magazine, so I can now post it on my blog! Something useful for my Dad to keep his keys on, I think!
I used a technique I saw in a newsletter from The Greeting Farm (by Rachel Schneider - this link is to the tutorial on her blog).

Supplies:
Image: "Whatzup Dog" by Whimsy Stamps, coloured with Promarkers
Sentiment: "Dogs are not our whole life but they make our life whole" from Raindrop Echo Designs
Tools: Tim Holtz Fragment Charms, Anita's 3D Clear gloss finish, jump ring.

Challenges:
Ooh La La Creations #84 - Tag It
A Spoon Full of Sugar #161 - Create a Tag
Crafty Catz #91 - Tags
Sentimental Sundays #64 - For the men in your life

Wedding Day Celebrations!

My best friend from school got married on Monday, and I was one of her bridesmaids. We all had a wonderful few days (stayed at the beautiful hotel the night before and the night of the wedding) and I can finally post the crafty things I made for her on here!
Rach made her own bunting - BY HAND - in the colours on the card, and there is a little running joke about bay trees, as they have one that they decorate instead of a Christmas tree. (They also had bay trees at the wedding, and on the invitations!)

Supplies:
Images: "Wedding Couple" from Lili of the Valley, bunting from Whimsy Stamps  Celebration Pennant  stamp set, tree from Papermania Born To Shop "Go Green" stamp set, all coloured with Promarkers.
Paper: Papermania "Raspberry Champagne" paper pack
Tools: Marianne Die ribbon border & flourishes.
Embellishments: Ribbon, Glamour Dust.

Challenges:
Hooked On Craft #3 - With Love
Crafty Sentiments - Happily Ever After
Craft Us Crazy #13 - Anything Goes
Allsorts Challenge #112 - Free & Easy

Forever Friends Twirly Ribbon Border

Thought I'd have a bit of a play with some fine ribbon on this card, twisting and gluing it to make a little border!

Supplies:
Image: Forever Friends "Christmas Gift" coloured with Promarkers
Paper: Spotted paper from Papermania "Sweet Nothings" pack.
Embellishments: Pink & blue ribbon, gems, peel-off sentiment.

Challenges:
Bizzy Bec's Store Blog Challenge July - Borders & Frames
Die Cut Dreams #94 - Animal Antics
Creative Card Crew - Animal Antics
Papertake Weekly  - Getting Cute
Totally Papercrafts #75 - Girly Girls
Stamptacular Sunday #120 - Animal Antics
I Did It Creations #64 - Animals
Fab N Funky #82 - Animal Magic
Crafty Creations Challenges #128 - Seeing Double

Forever Friends Spots & Stripes!

Supplies:
Image: "Daisy Bear" from Forever Friends, coloured with Promarkers
Paper: Papermania "Sweet Nothings" paper pack
Embellishments: Ribbon & bow, peel-off sentiment

Challenges:
Forever Friends Monthly Challenge - Stripes
Stamp & Create July - Ribbons & Bows
Sweet Stampin' - Cute & Cuddly
Sir Stampalot Challenge July - Anything Goes
Simon Says Challenge - Anything Goes

Flowersoft Oriental Window

Here's some of the goodies I won on the Flowersoft blog hop a while back.

Supplies:
Paper: Flowersoft Scenic Windows Oriental, Papermania leaf paper
Embellishments: Flowersoft Russet Red, Ultra Fine Pink Fizz, Ultra Fine Citrus Crush, Ultra Fine Burnt Sienna.

Challenges:
Flowersoft Challenge #32 - Bright Colours
Creative Craft Challenges - Pretty Blossoms
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz #27 - All about flowers
Allsorts Challenge #111 - Free & Easy
One Stitch At A Time #70 - Anything Goes

Movie Poster Card

This was a bit of a last minute idea for a friend's husband from my ballroom class who loves movies. They have SO many DVDs/Blu-rays and have lent me quite a few that I hadn't seen, and we all went to see X-Men First Class last week. So, having nothing really in my stash to create with, I found these images of posters, and made them into a card. They're all quite sci-fi (robots, mutants) so I thought the starry space background would work!

Supplies:
Images: From Google!
Paper: Another that Mum printed off for me, along with the sentiment.

Challenges:
Cards for Men #13 - Stars
Crafts and Me # 41 - Birthdays
Cute Card Thursday #171 - Technology