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

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

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

On becoming a vet...

Big celebrations next door - Becky has just qualified as a vet! Really pleased for her, as I've been through all that and know how tough it is, and how much panic is involved!

 

Supplies:
Image: "She Loves Animals" by Meljen's Designs, coloured with Promarkers.
Papers: Pink stars & yellow/pink spots from Docrafts "Me To You" paper pack
Tools/ Embellishments: Mirror board cut with Marianne Creatables die. Decorated with gems.
Technique: Joy Fold Card from ABC Christmas Challenge Tutorial

Challenges:
Creative Craft - Moving Parts
Top Tip Tuesday #37 - More than one fol
Do it with Digis #12 - Animal Magic

House-Mouse & Friends Challenge GDT #96 - Football Frenzy

Time has flown, and it's time for my second and final guest DT card for  House-Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge.

The briefing was an American Football-themed card, but being from the UK I didn't know anything about their game/teams, so I've just gone for an English football theme instead!
The card is for my friend's little boy, who is being brought up to support Arsenal (hence the colour scheme)!
 Hop over to the challenge post to see the DT's fab creations!

Supplies:
Image: "Relax" from House-Mouse Designs, coloured with Promarkers.
Sentiment: "Time to Celebrate" Ticket from Mudmaven Designs
Paper: Football paper from Forever Friends "Just for Him" paper pack.
Tools: "Shapeology Banner Pennants Die Set" from Whimsy Stamps (which I bought using the gift certificate I won in their Help for Japan Blog Hop! Nestabilities Blossom dies for the image/layering.
Embellishments: A couple of red eyelets to thread my banner throught, and some red/white bakers twine to hang the pennants. The lettering on the pennants is using alphabet rub-ons.

Challenges:
One Crazy Stamper May Challenge - Boys & Men 
I Love Promarkers #66 - Animals 
Top Tip Tuesday #34 - One for the kids
C.R.A.F.T Challenge #103 - Happy Birthday & Blog Hop
Crafty Sentiments - Children's Cards
I Did It Creations #56 - Anything Goes
Craft Us Crazy #8 - Something New and/or favourite embellishment

House-Mouse & Friends GDT - May Flowers

So, how excited was I to receive an email inviting me to be a guest designer for House-Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge for the month of May?

I love the House-Mouse stamps, and loved the theme - "May Flowers" as I had this gorgeous "Spring Blossoms" image coloured up and ready to go when the sun came out!

I you haven't already, pop on over to the challenge blog post to see what the fabulous DT have created! And this fortnight's sponsor is Simon Says Stamp with $15 worth of goodies!

 

Supplies:

Image: "Spring Blossoms" from House-Mouse Designs, coloured with Promarkers.

Paper: Papermania Capsule Collection Sunshine paper, Orange Coordinations cardstock for floral border.

Tools: Martha Stewart floral border punch

Embellishments: Flowers from Papermania Capsule Collection Sunshine collection, Hero Arts stick-on pearls, die-cut greeting.

Challenges:

By The Cute & Girly May - Anything Goes

Crafter's Companion #12 - Girl's Birthday

Oldie but a Goodie #18 - Say it with Flowers

Dream Valley #6 - Flowers

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Flowers

Top Tip Tuesday #32 - Open Challenge

Sundays with Crissy #17 - Flowers

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

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

First Twisted Easel Card!

Well, I've seen everyone else having a go at these twisted easel cards, so I thought I'd give it a go - after a bit of puzzling over which way up to stick the image, I finally worked it out!
This is a card for someone who I won't name as it will spoil the surprise, but it is a thank you for something!! I thought I'd go for a bright, flowery theme as it's Spring, even though it's really miserable and gloomy outside!

Supplies:
Images: Miss Anya with Flowers from The Greeting Farm, coloured with Promarkers, "Thank You" from Raindrop Echo Designs
Paper: My Mind's Eye - Summer
Tools: Nestabilities Blossom die
Embellishments: Flowers & brads

Challenges:
Sir Stampalot March - Spring is in the air
Creative Craft Challenge - Thank You
Top Tip Tuesday #24 - Favourites - I think easel cards are my fave style, and I love my nesties!
Inky Impressions - Easel card
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Challenge - Easel card

A Magical Birthday for Mum!

It's Mum's Birthday on Monday, but I have had to be super-prepared this year as I go in for my shoulder surgery tomorrow so think my right arm will be un-useable for at least a few days. The presents are wrapped, I've made my card to Mum, and I'm currently making Dad's for her!
The image is "Wings of Hope" from Whimsy Stamps (a Crissy Armstrong creation)- a beautiful Pegasus carousel horse! I've coloured it with Promarkers, and glittered the wings and hooves. My sentiment is also from Whimsy Stamps (Raindrop Echo).
I've used some flourishy pink and spotted blue paper from Papermania's Henbury Lane collection, some blue vellum which has been stitched with silver thread, a ribbon with heart-shaped brad (that's been hanging around the drawer forever), and some die cut flowers with gems.

Challenges:
Ooh La La Creations #73 - For Someone Special
Pollycraft #80 - Special Birthday
Sketch & Stash #55 - Sketch & neglected heart ribbon brad, so old I forget where it's from!
Oldie But A Goodie #12 - Add a Heart
Papertake Weekly - Putting on the Glitz
Top Tip Tuesday #22 - All Stitched Up - My top tip for stitching by hand like this is to plan your stitches first before making holes, otherwise you may end up with your loose ends in the wrong place, or uneven stitching!
Charisma Cardz #6 - Mythical/Fantasy (2nd entry)
Cute Card Thursday #151 - Hearts & Flowers
Paperplay #6 - Hearts & Flowers but not Valentine's
Sundays with Crissy February - It's all about Love

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

You've Been Framed!

So I've been working slightly outside the usual papercraft box to get this finished in time for Mum & Dad's return, and hoped to enter into a few challenges where "altered/alternative" crafts are allowed...
It's my first attempt at a beaded frame, but i hope they like it! (In case anyone's wondering, it's a basic wooden frame from B&Q).

Challenges I'm attempting to enter:
Cupcake Craft #109 - Transport
Top Tip Tuesday #2 - Tip or Alter (Obviously I chose to alter this photo frame)