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

Whimsy Bookmark for Dad!

 I saw this tutorial on the Whimsy Inspirations blog and thought I'd have a go at it as part of my Father's Day present to Dad! He loves to sit in the conservatory at night reading, and this doggy is very much like our Labradoodle Ben!

Supplies:
Image: "Whatzup Dog" by Whimsy Stamps, coloured with Promarkers.
Paper: Paw print cardstock from Payper Box
Tools: Nestabilities Blossoms

Challenges:
Crafty Catz #86 - Bookmarks
I Love Promarkers #70 - Black, white & one (red)
Top Tip Tuesday #38 - Open Challenge
Polka Doodles #23 - Something for Dad
Hooked on Craft #1 - anything goes

Summery Anya with Flowers

 Here' a card I've made for my cousin's wife. I thought I'd go for a nice summery girly card!

Supplies:

Image: "Anya with flowers" from The Greeting Farm, coloured with Promarkers.

Papers: Green striped & flowery papers from Papermania.

Tools: Nestabilities blossoms for image, Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die for flowers, Woodware leaf punch.

Embellishments: Gems for flower centres. Edge of card/ leaves were chalked. Sentiment is a topper from Dovecraft.

Challenges:

Sketch n Stash #62 - sketch. The Papermania papers have been lurking in the drawer for ages and I really wanted to try and use up some older stuff (as we have new things to put in the drawer!)

Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes 

Paperplay Challenges #21 - Blossoms & Blooms 

Crafty Catz #84 - Pink & Green 

Totally Papercrafts #68 - Pink & Girly

My First Tatty Teddy Card!

We went to the latest Docrafts Demo at The Range in Cheltenham, and couldn't help but get the new goody bag & Creativity magazine, which included this cute stamp! I've always loved the "Me to You" bears and have quite a collection of the little soft toys & ornaments!

Supplies:
Image: "Tatty Teddy" from Docrafts, coloured with Promarkers
Paper: Spotted paper from "Especially For You" Me to You paper pack.
Tools: Nestabilities Blossoms for sentiment topper - cut in Coredinations Gemstones textured card.
Embellishments: Peel off sentiment, ribbon & bow. Inked round the edges.
 
Challenges:
Crafty Calendar May - Teddy Bears
Crafty Catz #83 - Anything Goes
Pile It On #21 - Bears
Stamptacular Sunday #112 - Bearnecessities

A Vetty Happy Birthday to you!

Well, I'm loving the opportunities I have to use this fantastic Meljens Designs digi! I haven't used it for EVERY vet birthday since I got it, but it will probably be used for most!!

Supplies:

Image: "She Loves Animals" available from Whimsy Stamps, coloured with Promarkers.

Sentiment: "Happy Birthday to you" from Digi Doodle Shop

Papers: Green striped paper from Daisy & Dandelion paper pack, pawpring cardstock from PayperBox.

Challenges:

Crafty Catz #78 - Furry Friends
Top Tip Tuesday #30 - Open Challenge
I Love Promarkers #62 - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations #108 - Pets/animals

Mother's Day Gift Box & Jewellery!

Mum's been asking me to make her some hair slides for AGES, and I have now done two different ones (although keep trying to distract her so that it's a surprise for Mother's Day)! I've also made her a bracelet, and having had some nesting boxes sitting on my desk for ages, thought that one would make a good jewellery box!

Supplies:

Image: "Wee Suzi" by Wee Stamps coloured with Promarkers. "Happy Mother's Day" from Delicious Doodles.

Paper: Pink Petticoat Vintage Rose Collection.

Embellishments: Chipboard flowers coloured with Promarkers.

Base: Nesting box from Papermania

Supplies: 80mm Hair barette, green bugle beads, acrylic flowers/leaves, 4mm pearls & nylon thread

Supplies: 80mm hair barette, 4mm red firepolish beads, 4mm red/black bicone crystals, red/black seed beads, nylon thread.

Supplies: Textured silver plate chain, black suede cord, silver plated head pins, Swarovski cubes, cord ends, lobster clasp.

Challenges:

Allsorts Challenge #95 - Make a gift box

Stamping for the weekend #6 - Mother's Day
Crafty Catz #74 - Mother's Day

Craft Your Days Away #16 - For Mum
One Stop Craft #123 - Diamonds are a girl's best friend

Secret Crafter Saturday #126 - Anything but a card
Dream Valley Challenge #3 - Mother's Day
Simon Says Challenge - Mother's Day
Papertake Weekly - It's a Mom thing
Ooh La La Challenge #76 - Mother's Day
Die Cut Dreams #85 - Mother's Day

It's that time again!

A little combination of real stamping and digi stamping here!

Supplies:
Images/Sentiments: "Thinking of You" from Penny Black Slapstick Stamps, coloured with Promarkers. "Happy Birthday", "It's that time again" and the "clock" are from Raindrop Echo Designs.
Papers: Yellow & Green spotted paper from Daisy & Dandelion paper pack. Yellow striped paper from Papermania Lemon Sorbet collection.
Tools: Nestabilities Blossom die & Shapeabilities Pendant Kaleidoscope (for the corners)
Embellishments: Little green gems, green bow from Papermania Capsule Collection.

Challenges:
Penny Black Saturday #141 - More than one fold
Crafty Catz Weekly #73 - Green & Yellow
Truly Scrumptious #52 - Sketch
Bee Crafty Challenge #17 - Spots & Dots
Charisma Cardz #10 - Easel Cards
Top Tip Tuesday #25 - Birthday

Pink & Flowery!

Here's another of the Forever Friends decoupage cards I made yesterday - I love the girlyness of this one!
Again the flowery/spotted paper is from the kit, as is the sentiment. I've added a bit of fringing (trying to use up old bits of ribbon), and some little flowers embellished with gems.

Challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers #38 - Florals

Forever Friends - Dots & Spots

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes +/- Flowers

Top Tip Tuesday #20 - Anything Girly

Totally Gorjuss #65 - As you like it (I love the pink & flowery)

Crafty Catz Weekly # 67 - Flowers

Tilda Bookmark & Fancy Fold card

Here's a diagonal double pocket card made from a Splitcoast Stampers tutorial.

I've used G.C.D Studios Cloisonne double sided paper to make the actual pocket card. The gardening image on the front is from Beccy's Place  - she has loads of lovely digis to play with! I've coloured with Promarkers, and added "60" in peel-off number to the tea-cup as the card is for my friend's mum's 60th!

In the top pocket of the card I have placed a bookmark, made using gold cardstock, and Tilda with Wedding Gifts, coloured with Promarkers (to match the paper). I printed the sentiment off from Word!! I've added a ribbon and totally forgot to put an eyeley around the hole!! (Too many other things going on at home)!

Challenges I'm entering:
Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight - Fancy Folds
Colour Create #55 - Pink, Cream & Green
Crafty Ann's Challenge #25 - At least one digi stamp & favourite colouring medium
Crafty Catz Weekly #53 - Magnolia/Tilda
Craftalicious Challenge #10 - Anything Goes
One Stitch At A Time #34 - Digistamps
Fab n Funky #43 - Use a digi image
Creative Inspirations #81 - Birthday

A Gem of a Challenge - No 8

Here's a really girly card I've made using "Sprinkles" the fairy from Pink Gem. She's coloured using Whispers (in the days before my Promarkers).

The spotted paper is from My Mind's Eye Summer paper pack and the sentiment is from a Flower Fairies Dufex decoupage sheet. I've used my NEW Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die to cut the flower, embellished with a gem, and there's a couple of punched stars. I've covered everything in Glamour dust as usual, oh and inked around the edge of the paper!

Challenges I'm entering:

A Gem of a Challenge #8 - Sketch +/- Sparkle

Oldie But A Goodie #2 - Pink & Girly

Moving Along With The Times #66 - Fairies

Crafty Catz Challenge #52 - Birthday card for a child with sparkle

Sweet Stampin' #46 - Punch it out

Beach Time Fun!!

Here's my first card made with my Simon Says Stamp blog candy win from Chris!! It's a House Mouse Gruffies stamp called "Beach Time Fun" and I've coloured it with my Promarkers!

I've used beach themed backing paper from Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine, and added 3 eyelets, 2 shells (hand-collected by Mum) and a ribbon.

Challenges I'm entering:
Bunny Zoe's Challenge #2 - Summer Days
Creatalicious Challenges #12 - Make it 3D
Sir Stampalot July Challenge - Lazy Hazy Days of Summer
House Mouse Monday #74 - The Letter "B" (Beach, ball, bear, bucket, brolly!!!)
Friday Sketchers #112 - Sketch
Craftalicious Challenges #4 - Birthdays
Crafty Catz Weekly #42 - Summertime
Pollycraft #53 - Happy Birthday

All About the Flowers!

Here's a flowery card for my "Aunty" Maureen's spring birthday!

The paper is from Papermania, and I've added some Sizzix die-cut flowers, along with small and larger punched flowers, with gems. The yellow paper (apart from the main card edge) is all from Post-It notes! (They were handily the right size for the topper and the flowers)!! Random but cheap! The peel-off are from a new sheet I bought last week - more readable and "funky" than some of my older ones.

Challenges I'm entering:

The Creative Cottage #2 - Flowers

Crafty Catz #24 - Spring
Quirky Crafts #24 - Flowers

Mother's Day 2 - Special Delivery

Well, we normally have a card from me and a card from the menagerie (sorry, I mean fur-babies), so here is a second card for Mother's Day. I can't decide which I like more....?

The cute digi image is "Special Delivery" from Karensdoodles, which I've coloured with Whispers pens. I've used text paper from DCWV Text Prints paper stack, and the green flowery paper is from Daisy & Dandelion Picnic Patch collection. I've die-cut the words with my Night & Day Sizzix alphabet. Then just some ribbon, a few hearts & gems & of course, some Glamour Dust on the lettering.

Challenges I'm entering:
Papertake Weekly #36 - sketch
Karensdoodles UK #1 - Anything Goes
Totally Papercrafts #6 - Mother's Day/Special Lady
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #22 - Shades of Green
Cute Daisy May - Mother's Day
For Fun Challenges #2 - Green
Ooh La La Challenge #49 - Anything Goes
The Pixie Cottage #11 - Green
Rainbow Lady's Challenge #94 - Mother's Day
Gingersnap Creations #46 - Frosting
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle #30 - Open Challenge
Flourishes Celebration Day 4 - Sparkle

Mother's Day - Good Enough to Eat!!

Here's the card I've made my Mum (seems most cards have been for her recently - Christmas, Birthday, Valentine's Day...)



The image is Wendy's "Cupcake Tilly" from Digital Doodling available here. I've used Whispers to colour her in. I've used Cosmic Shimmers to make a background on the scalloped topper (although can't see it shimmer in the photo) and embellished with gems!
The paper is a free download from Cuddly Buddly - love the colours! Flowers & ribbon from Papermania Sunshine Capsule Collection, with glitter brads & buttons. The sentiment is from an old Let's Make Cards pack.
Challenges I'm entering:
Truly Scrumptious #27 - Sketch & good enough to eat!
Paperplay Challenges #8 - For a Mother
Crafty Catz Challenge #21 - Fancy edge (scalloped topper) & ribbon
Stamp Something - Recipe = Designer paper, ribbon, button(s)
Totally Gorjuss #19 - It's For You Mum
Allsorts #41 - Mother's Day
The Pink Elephant #56 - Green
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #56 - Scallops
Digital Tuesday #48 - Scallops
Papertake Weekly - Buttons, Bows, Brads & Bling!
Simon Says - Mother's Day/Girly
Quixotic Challenges #16 - Leave it out (leaves are on the backing paper)

Skipping!

This is another fab digital stamp from Digital Doodling - she's called "Little Issy Skipping" - go and see what great images Wendy has created!

I've used some polkadot paper from a Daisy & Dandelion paper pack, and some punched flowers, glitter & rub-on sentiment. (Oh and gems, don't forget the gems)!

Challenges I'm entering:

Crafty Catz #17 - Sketch

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

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)!