Cottonberry Creations

Cute birthday card

2012-02-23T13:55:00.001-08:00

I felt like making a cute and colourful card so this is what I made. I love pinks, purples and blues. I think they work really well together. I used lots of layers and a gorgeous swirly frame I cut out on my Cricut machine. I used one of my favourite Penny Black Black stamps that I coloured with Aqumarkers. I added some faux stitching, lace, pearls, flowers, and a butterfly I pushed twine through my buttons and tied it into tiny bows. I finished it off with a happy birthday sentiment.
I have entered this card into sooooo many challenges (listed below). Yes, I know I am a bit of a challenge freak.

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ winged things
http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ bold and bright
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ anything goes linky party
http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com/ happy birthday
http://mygraficocrafts.blogspot.com/ flowers
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ lace
http://letsinkitup.blogspot.com/ ribbons and/or lace
http://ccmonthlychallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ pearls and lace
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ lace
http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ stitching
http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ bingo ( swirls,flowers,pearls)
http://ssdschallenge.blogspot.com/ more than 2 layers
http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ bingo (pearls,flowers,buttons)
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ birthdays
http://lollipopcrafts.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://www.cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com/ flower power
http://theprettylittleribbonshop.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://ribboncarouselchallenge.blogspot.com/ colours and swirls (on a spool-lace)
http://desertislandcraftschallenge.blogspot.com/ taylor's itinerary.Use at least 3 item.s I chose stitching, twine and 2 or more patterned papers.
http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.com/ stitching
http://littledarlingschallenges.blogspot.com/ pearls
http://trulyscrumptiouschallenge.blogspot.com/ all creatures great and small
http://scrappekammeret.blogspot.com/ children
http://justtracyscraftschallenge.blogspot.com/ for a female + something trailing (I used lace)
http://just-hanna-stamps.blogspot.com/ beads/pearls
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/ use patterened paper
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ lots of layers
http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ make it cute

My Liebster nominations

2012-02-17T01:07:00.000-08:00

Just recently I have been given the Leibster award by two lovely ladies. The lovely Manderly http://manderlylynn.blogspot.com/ and the lovely Cathy (sorry I am late with this Cathy) http://kraftykoolkat.blogspot.com/
Do pop over to their blogs and take a look at their lovely work. I am honoured to receive this award and I am sure the girls will not mind if I combine the two when I follow the rules below.
Here are my 5 nominated craft blogs that have caught my eye. These I have picked at random and whom I think deserve the Liebster award.

http://www.applecakeart.blogspot.com/
http://www.korttikammari.blogspot.com/
http://www.hookedoncards.blogspot.com/
http://www.sarasstampingground.blogspot.com/
http://funwithpapermar.blogspot.com/

Liebster Award- it is given to blogs with less than 200 followers and passed from Blogger to Blogger, each hand picked by the previous recipient. This award is not given lightly and takes much thought as to who will receive it. There is a history to the Liebster Blog Award- it originated in Germany and means dearest or beloved, and Liebe is the word for love.

When one accepts the award they agree to:

Thank the person who gave them the award and link back to that person’s blog
Copy and paste the award to their blog
Reveal the next 5 blogs they have chosen to receive the award, commenting on their blog to break the happy news!
And lastly, hope the artists nominated will do the above and keep the award going by accepting and awarding “The Liebster Blog Award” to 5 special bloggers that they too would like to honor.

Loving friend

2012-02-05T01:28:00.000-08:00

The Penny Black and More challenge for February (see here) :- http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ is a colour bingo board choice and this is my DT card.

Why not join in with the challenge this month. There are lots of colour themes to choose from and lots of prizes on offer.

One of my new year resolutions is to make more cards for males so I took the bull by the horns and decided now was the time to have a go. I have had this PB stamp with the cute boy and his adorable loving puppy, for some months, and never used it. It stamped beautifully. I did minimal colouring on my image with watered down Aquamarkers. I did lots of distressing on my card edges to give some depth and interest. I also pricked around the edge of the card and did faux stitching using a fine tipped black pen. I layered my card with striped and polka dot coordinating papers and stamped and added my birthday sentiment I tied twine through my buttons and cut a piece of black Hessian to run across the card. I was really pleased with the result.

I have entered a few challenges with my card which are listed below.

http://alotarubberstamps.blogspot.com/ love challenge (no red)

http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/02/challenge-12.html one for the boys

http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ masculine birthday

http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/ people images

http://birthdaysundaes.blogspot.com/ birthday card/ sentiment

http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ "A" is for adorable

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ animal antics

http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com /love is in the air

http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ love is all around

http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/ valentine/show us some love

http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/ polka dots

http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/2012/02/inspire-me-fridays-44-anything-goes.html linky party

http://thepoodlesparlour.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ anything goes linky party

http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ Use some new stash ( I used a stamp )

Love and hearts challenge card

2012-01-01T01:17:00.000-08:00

Happy new year to you all and here is my first PB DT card for 2012.
The Penny Black and More challenge http://pennyblackandmoredtblog.blogspot.com is "Love and hearts" and I thought this image was perfect for that challenge. I kept my colouring to a minimum using my Aquamarkers to make soft delicate shades. I matched up my card and papers and cut out the leaves on my bigshot. I used a mixture of flowers and brads to coordinate with my papers and a heart doily for interest. I was pleased with the finished result but now feel I added too many flowers. Not to worry, I am sure someone will appreciate it.
I have entered my card into the challenges listed below.

http://nordsalten-hobbyklubb.blogspot.com/ girly
http://www.cutiepiechallen ge.blogspot.com/ use a sentiment
http://www.toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://www.bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://www.craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://letscreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://mymumscraftshopchallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://stampwithsarahkay.blogspot.com/ hearts
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ rainbow of colours
http://casestudychallenge.blogspot.com/ case study Amy Sheffer card
http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ happy
http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/ freestyle
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ anything but not a xmas card
http://craftingwhenwecanchallenges.blogspot.com/ friendship
http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ use some green

Penny Black card box

2011-12-04T02:42:00.000-08:00

The challenge at penny Black and More http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ for the month of December is Happy Birthday and this is my DT box card for that challenge. This little box is for my granddaughter and I am sure she will love all the characters and the sparkle.
I cut, folded, inked edges and assembled my box. I layered and stamped flourishes on my papers. I added some lace around the inside edge of the box as the picture shows. I cut and curled my roses and added my embellishments. I used a Penny Black stamps "sweet thing", "easy rider" and "Mimi and friend". I stamped "sweet thing" several times to use the cupcakes and icing for layering. All the images were coloured with Aquamarkers and glittered with stickles. To finish it off I added heart gems on top of the cakes.
I must admit this was one of those projects where everything goes wrong with it. Glue went where it was not wanted, my colouring was not up to par. I re-assembled the roses about 5 times before they were the correct size and at this stage was ready to throw it away ans start again. This was very time consuming and I was glad when it was finished. I did notice too, that one of the hearts had slipped out of place. I am sure I can take it off and replace it correctly before giving it to my granddaughter.
I have entered it into a few challenges listed below.

http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/ cupcakes colour insp.
http://www.ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ sparkle
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ anything- linky party
http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.com/ free for all
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ birthday
http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ inspire me friday linky
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ sparkle

Vintage Santa

2011-12-02T07:33:00.000-08:00

Oh dear, so many Christmas challenges I wanted to enter this week and unable to choose. Anyway, I new I wanted to to make a vintage Christmas card for my son and this is it. I used kraft card and lots of layering and distressing. I used a piece of song sheet music which is called " Santa Claus so Jolly" and distressed the edges with bundled sage distress ink. I added gold brad snowflakes and some webbing. Bearing in mind I was ill for a couple of days this week I was lucky to get it finished today. I was pleased with the end result.
Two of the challenges I have entered are :-http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ (vintage) and http://trulyscrumptiouschallenges.blogspot.com/ who's challenge is Xmas + pearls or vintage.

The rest are listed below.

http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ anything xmas
http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ tis the season
http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/ one for the lads
http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ xmas
http://stampsfun-creativity.blogspot.com/ distressing
http://thekraftjournal.blogspot.com/ xmas card (use Kraft)
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ anything goes linky party
http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ "c" as christmas
http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.com/ free week
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ masculine holiday
http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/ santa claus
http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ christmas card
http://www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://rubysrainbow.blogspot.com/ music
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/ anything goes christmas
http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://thespottedchick.blogspot.com/ use kraft card stock
http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/ xmas
http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.com/ music
http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com/ use a sentiment
http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/ all about christmas
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ anything - inspire me friday linky party
http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/ holiday theme
http://scrappyfrogschallenge.blogspot.com/ use kraft card stock

A little bit of Christmas

2011-11-17T00:45:00.000-08:00

Our DT leader Brenda of Penny Black and More sent each team member a craft pack, the same, or similar, to the one above and challenged us to make a Christmas card using our own Penny Black image. Thank you Brenda for the gorgeous crafty items.
I put a White die cut shape, image and sentiment to the kit and this is what I came up with. The cute Christmas girly Angels and co-ordinating garland are from a set of penny Black stamps called " Candy cane wishes" which I bought in a sale during the summer and up tp now has not been used. I was itching to get started.The card shape was perfect for making an easel card. I used Rose Carmine and Celery Aquamarkers to colour my image. I did not want to overdo the colouring so left a good bit of White. I won't bore you what I did to make it all as it is easy to see on this card. I was really pleased with the end result.
I have entered it into the challenges listed below.

http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/ Christmas
http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/ Friendship
http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ Bingo board die cut/ribbon/gems
http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/ Christmas girls
http://cceestampers.blogspot.com/ Use 3 different shapes
http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/ Photo inspiration challenge
http://christmasstampin.blogspot.com/ Use a stamp that has never been used
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/2011/11/inspire-me-fridays-32-linky-party.html Anything
http://floweretstamplar.blogspot.com/ Christmas cards
http://hookedoncraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Something punched / die cut
http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Use two or more images of boys/girls
http://www.lothiancrafts.blogspot.com/ Christmas
http://spcolorcombos.thescrapmaster.com / Red, Green and White
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes linky party
http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/ Never been inked or Neutral colour theme
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ use two of something
http://rubysrainbow.blogspot.com/ Something with wings

handbag card

2011-11-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

This month Penny Black and more are hosting an "All creatures great and small" challenge and this is my DT card for that challenge. I used two different stamps. The small bird is stamped and cut from "good friends" and the cute girl is from the " Betsy Bluebell " clear stamp set with the balloons removed. Sorry her face looks "sickly coloured" but the top of the bag cast a shadow when I photographed it and it looks like she is going to throw up.I used a large die cut shape and folded it in half to make the bag and creased a circle die in half and put it over the top of the bag. I used beads to make the handle and used aqua markers to colour my images. I was really happy with the way it turned out and it is perfect for my granddaughter.

I have entered it into a few challenges that are listed below.

http://www.creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ anything goes + bling
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ unusual shaped card
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://stampinroyalty.blogspot.com/ melon, blushina and pink
http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/ cutesy
http://4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ die cuts
http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/ Ivory, turquoise and deep pink
http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com/ die cuts
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://thebearyscrapdesignteam.blogspot.com/2011/11/beary-sweet-challenge-37-your-beary.html anything goes

A little bit of Vintage

2011-10-23T01:20:00.000-07:00

Brenda our design team leader at Penny Black at Allsorts sent each team member a kit to make a vintage card. The kit included beautiful papers, flowers, ribbon and a clock face with hands and some hinges. I used an 8x8 kraft card, distressed the paper edges, cut my ribbon and lace to length, I searched out an old Penny Black stamp I have had for years and stamped my image twice, die cut two flourish shapes and decided on my layout. I coloured my image with aquamarkers and cut out and coloured my second image to layer on top. I coloured the three white flowers with a Sepia aqumarker to make them blend in with the card. I assembled my card and ruffled the ribbon across the lace. I cut the ends off the hinges and slid them just underneath the papers. I love the finished result.

Aquamarker colours used :-

royal purple, wisteria, straw yellow, flame red, gold ochre, spring green and celery. The shades are muted due to my image being stamped on cream card.

If you would like to see what the other girls made with their kit, take a look here:-

challenges entered are listed below.

http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ distress your edges

http://lothiancrafts.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://kbchallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ anything goes linky party

http://stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ natures gifts

http://mypartnerincraftingcrime.blogspot.com/ photo insp. challenge

http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ fall colours

http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ layer it up

http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ punches/dies

http://oldiebutagoodiechallenge.blogspot.com/ autumnal colours

http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/ birthday card

http://4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ marker it up

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ vintage

http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ autumn

http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/2011/10/inspire-me-fridays-29-linky-party.html anything

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ layers

http://sugarcreekhollow.blogspot.com/ colours of fall

Breaking news! and my new PB stamps

2011-10-16T00:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Breaking news is that there are going to be some great new changes to the Penny Black at Allsorts challenge blog.
First of all, the name will be changing to " Penny Black and more at Allsorts" and the start date will be on the first Sunday of every month.
The challenge entry criteria is changing too, which will allow more of you to join in the challenges. You will be able to use any stamp on your work, although strictly no digi images. If you do use a Penny Black stamp or stickeroo you will be entered into an additional draw each month.
There will also be a " Who's in the spotlight" feature every month.

For full information go to http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/2011/10/some-exciting-changes.html.

To get your mojo going here are some of my latest adorable Penny Black stamps. I just love them and cannot wait to use them.

Autumn inspiration card

2011-10-01T00:43:00.000-07:00

For the whole month of October the Penny Black at Allsorts challenge is an inspirational picture challenge. My card was inspired by the picture. I had thoughts of the start of Autumn when colours start to fade and the Butterfly tries to find the last of the flower nectar.
I had some sheets of Penny Black Stickeroos that I have been itching to use for a while and my image is from the Romance of flowers sheet. They cost approx. £1.50 a sheet and you get between 4 and 18 assorted images on each sheet. Now I call that a bargain and the images are delightful. If you don't have any PB stamps why not use stickeroos. Why not pop over to the Penny Black at Allsorts blog and check out the beautiful cards the Dt have made.
Before I started my card I colour co-ordinated the card, papers and embellishments with an Autumn colour theme in mind and a bit of a vintage feel to it. I also used recycled ribbon from a box of Thorntons chocolates that matched perfectly. I am so pleased with the end result. As usual I have entered my card into several challenges that are listed below.

http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ Open + angel butterfly or fairy
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ Autumn
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://hookedoncraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Ribbon and lace
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes linky party
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ " or more ( I used ribbon and lace)
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://papercraftstar.blogspot.com/ Lace
http://4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ Vintage
http://rainbowladyschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Autumn/fall
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ Autumn
http://kartenallerlei.blogspot.com/ Autumn
http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ things with wings
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ Autumn
http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ Anything goes linky party
http://www.fridaymashup.com/ Autumn/brads

My favourite colours card

2011-09-29T03:35:00.000-07:00

Having not been well lately I decided to make a bright and colourfull card to cheer me up using some of my favourite colours. I love the vintage button card images and added some pretty buttons to co-ordinate with my backing paper. Some of the cute buttons were sent to me by a very generous and lovely crafting friend Romina who lives in India. I distressed the edges of my paper to give a bit of a shabby chic look and finished off with colour co-ordinating embellishments. I was happy with the result and the colours cheered me up.
I have entered it into many challenges as usual and hope it cheers anyone that is unwell or down in the dumps.
http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ cute as a button
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ buttons
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/2011/09/inspire-me-fridays-25-linky-party.html Anything
http://ssdschallenge.blogspot.com/ Favourite colours
http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com Anything goes
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ Buttons
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://alyssundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Add a bow
http://www.papercreationsink.com/ Buttons/bows
http://hookedoncraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Ribbon and lace
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes linky party
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ 2 or more (I used ribbons and lace)
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://papercraftstar.blogspot.com/ Lace
http://4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://itsallaboutthevintagechallenge.blogspot.com/ favourite colours

Classic Christmas with Penny Black stamp

2011-09-01T01:07:00.000-07:00

This is my DT card for the Penny Black at Allsorts challenge this month, which is "get ahead for Christmas". Pop over and take a look at all the challenge details and the DT inspiration cards here:- http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/.
I have a designer paper pad called joyful peace by GCD studios which had been in my stash for a while. It has beautiful sophisticated designs and rich colours for me to play with. I recently bought a lovely Penny Black Santa stamp and new straight away, this and the papers would work well together. The image reminds me of the Santa in the film, Miracle on 34th Street (1994) played by the famous Richard Attenborough. I know it is really for children but I love it. My husband spotted it after it was made and that is a shame as it was going to be his xmas card.
I used a Kraft card and kraft paper to stamp on which I thought went well with the papers. I am pleased with how it turned out as this is a bit out of my comfort zone.
This card is for the film/tv challenge at http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com and blast from the past challenge no #08 Christmas at http://letscreatechallenges.blogspot.com/. it is also for the challenges listed below.
http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ Inspire me Friday link up
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ As you like it (anything goes)
http://stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes Linky party
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ Christmas in August
http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/ Layers

Vintage card

2011-08-25T05:55:00.000-07:00

I had in my mind a distressed vintage card before I started to make this. There were several challenges I wanted to enter using items that I thought would not really go with this card but after a couple of days ( yes, 2 days to make this card ) and messing around changing things it came together. I chose a Kraft card and co-ordinating design papers. I distressed and tore the papers and added the layers to my card. I found a freebie vintage girly picture and frame and inked the edges and added foam pads. I stuck the girly picture to the frame and added more foam pads to the back before adding it to my card. This gave it lots of dimension and texture and is really touchy feely when you see it in real life. I added ruffled lace, butterfly, buttons that I had added twine to. I was just about to finish it off with bought flowers when my friend Tina suggested I make my own. She gave me a quick demo using scrap card and seam binding. Mine did not come out as good as hers but I think mine look ok. This is how they were made. Just tear off some rough circles of old card from your stash. Cover one side of the circles with glue as you work on each one. I found the best glue to use was an old glue stick. One that comes out very thick and "gunky". Start by making a bud shape on the end of your seam binding and stick it into the centre of the circle. Twist and turn in irregular shapes as you continue around the outer edge of the circle until there is no card left. Cut the end and conceal. Cut off pieces of the card that show around the edges, add pearl brads and there it is.This will drive you mad as you have to add more glue as you go around and your fingers will stick to the flower and the ribbon will not always stick were you want it to. Keep persevering and the more you make the easier it gets.
I love the card and it came out better that I thought. It was well worth taking the best part of the two days to make it.
Here is a list of all the challenges I have entered this card into:-
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/2011/08/inspire-me-fridays-20-linky-party.html Anything goes
http://www.fridaymashup.com/ Cupcake/ buttons or both
http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/ Bingo board ( I used brads,flowers and 2 or more designer papers)
http://www.papercreationsink.com/ Flowers( don't forget to become a follower and leave a comment)
http://stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://hookedoncraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Wings
http://lothiancrafts.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://kbchallenges.blogspot.com/ Twine ( I threaded mine through my buttons)
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes linky party
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ Dimension and texture
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ Hand made flowers
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Here come the girls
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ Lace
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ Open + butterfly, fairy or angel
http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/ Flower power
http://mymumscraftshopchallenges.blogspot.com/ Sketch chall.
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

Hot summer birthday card

2011-08-14T11:33:00.000-07:00

I am really getting into the summer groove and am enjoying using my favourite stamps and lovely bright colours.
I would say these are my favourites (at the moment of cause). Bright pinks and turquoise colours are everywhere. In papers, trims and lots of embellishments. I could not resist them and set about making a birthday card with these lovely colours and a cute Penny Black stamp. The flowers, butterflies and scrolls were die cut and the bird was stamped. The flower centres are pearly brads which are my most favourite brads at the moment. I raised nearly all my elements with foam pads and it has made my card so tactile. After a water spillage on my first backing paper and stamped image and messing about with it for a while, I am happy with the end result.
Here is a list of all the challenges I have entered.
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://paperminutes.blogspot.com/ use turquoise, dark pink and lime
http://ssdschallenge.blogspot.com/ photo insp.turquoise, pink, lime and white
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ Birthday
http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com/ Birthday
http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ Birthday
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Birthday
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ Birthday
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ Birthday
http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.com/ summertime
http://scrappekammeret.blogspot.com/ summertime photo insp.
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ hot colours
http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ hot colours.
http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ is touchy feely
http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/ butterfly
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ make or alter flowers
http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ favourite stamp
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ use a bird
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ open challenge
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://rainbowladyschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ use a stamp
http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/ use at least 3 of your fav. embellishments.
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ linky-anything goes

Penny Black Summer fun card

2011-08-07T03:19:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I bought a new Penny Black stamp and have only just got around to using it. I love this cute girly image. There were so many challenges this week for colourful and summery cards that I just had to use these gorgeous echo park papers. They are so pretty and I really enjoyed putting this card together to make a summer garden scene. Lots of layers and I pricked around the edges as this is one of my favourite techniques. I wanted to make one of those whirly things that whiz round when the wind blows so I put the 3 flowers close together and added a stripy stick to get the effect. For a change I used my pastel pencils on my image, that have not seen the light of day for several years. Yes, YEARS. I didn't blend or shade with them. I just went straight in and laid lots of thick colour on to match my papers. I wanted the colouring to look "childlike" to go with the image and it worked well. I left her face white as I had no shade in my pastel pencils that was pale enough. I think it looks ok. There are just tons of challenges I made this card for and they are all listed below. I found a new challenge called http://cateredcrop.com/ This looks to be a great fun linky party and I was eager to enter. All you do is list the recipe you used ( you only need to actually use 1 item from a given list) I used the theme of Cheryl's card and the recipe I used is here:-
I used some primary colours
Pastel pencils (colour medium)
Echo park papers
Penny Black image
Pricking (technique)
challenge list:-
http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.com/ Summertime
http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/ The sun is out
http://stampingscrappingchallengecentral.blogspot.com/ Summer fun
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ Summertime
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ Pick a bunch of flowers
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ Hot summers
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ Summer
http://kartenallerlei.blogspot.com/ Use stripes
http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ Auburn hair
http://just-hanna-stamps.blogspot.com/ Spots or stripes
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://stampinbsdesignteam.blogspot.com/ Square card+piercing
http://dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/ For the kids
http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ Photo inspired
http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com/ Spots and dots
http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Summertime
http://sukkersott.blogspot.com/ Stripes and dots
http://raisethebarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/ Sizzling summer+lace/ribb./twine etc( I used tiny gold beaded edging)
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ Anything goes linky party
http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/ No standard card
http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Colours of the rainbow
http://cutie-sunday.blogspot.com/ Flower power
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ One for the girls
http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ Summertime
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

2 Mega blog candy giveaways

2011-08-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

The lovely Romina left some lovely comments on my latest blog post and also alerted me to her fabulous blog candy. Here is the link to her blog post with all the details for winning the candy http://rominascreativecrafts.blogspot.com/2011/07/buttons-charms-n-bling-giveaway.html and above is the the amazing candy. There is an assortment of flowers, charms, buttons and much, much, more. "You have to be in it to win it" is the old but true saying. Pop over and check out the details for your chance to win the candy.
Here is another fabulous stash of candy offered by the very generous Gro. Her candy is up for grabs until the 7th August. Pop over to her gorgeous blog http://grotjeltveit.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-candy.html to check out the details of how to win this beautiful stash.

A pretty Penny Black box bag

2011-08-01T01:07:00.000-07:00

This is the handbag box I made as my DT piece for Penny Black at Allsorts ( http://pennyblackatallsortsdt.blogspot.com/ ) challenge this month. The theme is Free and Easy/anything goes.
I made this cute little summery themed hat box bag to give to my granddaughter.
I placed a strip of ribbon across the box and added lace over the top. I made the handle with the same ribbon and lace and added a couple of brads on the ends. I also added the same ribbon and lace all around the outside edge of the box. I used one of my pretty Penny Black stamps and coloured it with Aqumarkers and fixed it to the box. I pleated a wide ribbon and added it to the right side of the box. I added a small bow and jewel to the top of the ribbon and finished it off with a sentiment.
If you pop over to the Penny Black at Allsorts blog you will find lots of inspiration from the team and all the details of the fabulous stash you can win this month.
Below is a list of the challenges I have entered.

http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Girly
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ Use ribbon
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ Shaped creations
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ Summertime
http://papercraftstar.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://cropstop.blogspot.com/ Use lace
http://stampinbsdesignteam.blogspot.com/ Use ribbon
http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/ Anything but a card
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ Summery theme
http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Summertime
http://iftheshoefitsscrapit.blogspot.com/ Summer
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ Summertime
http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ Summertime
http://www.comeandgetitchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/ Shaped card or project
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

Summer Birthday with Penny Black

2011-07-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

Lots of challenges caught my eye this week and I always find it difficult to choose which ones to enter. I had a list of over 20 I liked so set about making sure I had everything I needed to cover them all.
The first two that caught my eye were moving along with the times http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ who have a challenge to show your favourite things on your card and http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ who want you to make a birthday card for yourself . My favourite things are:- I love a birthday party, friends and cupcakes. I would love to get this card myself.

The pink elephant http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/ has an inspiration photo of cupcakes pictured above. I used my Penny Black image which includes a cupcake and used shades of pink from the inspiration photo.

The Shabby tea room http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/ has an inspiration photo of a bracelet ( below) so I used the pink, green and gold colours taken from that and added a required charm.

Crafty catz http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com , / a spoonfull of sugar http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ and bearly mine http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/ are looking for tags.
Daring cardmakers http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ are asking for the use of an inspirational photo from Pinterest http://pinterest.com/ and I found this cute cupcake photo ( below) on there to use for my inspiration.

Listed here are all other challenges I entered :-
http://stampinbsdesignteam.blogspot.com/                        Use bling
http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/                        Colouring
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/                                      Anything goes linky party
http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/                               Pink yellow and green
http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/                                     Sparkle and shine
http://thefuzzywuzzychallenges.blogspot.com/                   Animals and use a punch ( leaf punch)
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/                  Flowers
http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/       use some text
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/                             Anything
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/                               use metal (brads)
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/                                  Cute
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/                                  Animal antics
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/                       Use pastel colours
http://mygraficocrafts.blogspot.com/                                    Anything goes
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/                  Anything goes

Celebrate Summer card

2011-07-02T01:08:00.000-07:00

There were so many current challenges with a summer theme, so I decided to make this bright and cheerful summery card. I used "springtime" papers by Echo Park which are my favourites at the moment. I used a girly image from LOTV to match with all the lovely colours of my papers. I used a pretty flower which matches the colour of my matting card and added my favourite candy embellishment to the centre. h http://spcolorcombos.thescrapmaster.com/ and http://inkspirations-challenges.blogspot.com/ have colour inspiration challenges. It was so hard to match the colours exactly but I tried to get as close to them as I could.

http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/ Favourite papers and embellishment
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ Summer flowers
http://kbchallenges.blogspot.com/ Flowers
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Summer
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/ Summertime
http://scrappekammeret.blogspot.com/ Summer
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ RWB/Summer
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Celebrate (Summer/ friendship)
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ Summer
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ Square
http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Just because
http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.com/ Summer birthday
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

Penny Black easel card

2011-07-01T00:26:00.000-07:00

This is my DT card for the Penny Black July challenge of "Flower Power". It speaks for itself really and I had fun making it. I pulled out an old embossing stencil I have had for a few years and decided to make a nice background with it. As the theme is for flower power I made sure I added plenty of flowers to my card. The PB image works beautifully for the theme. I only used three aquamarkers to add limited colour to my image and used some pretty metal edged pearls for my flower centres. I don't know what the metal curly embellishment is called but I bent the end of it to make a little card holder stand for my sentiment.
If you want the chance to wins some lovely Penny Black prizes, letraset markers and/ or other goodies from PB stamps and sirstampalot go to http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ for all the details of the latest challenge.
As usual I checked out several challenges to enter and they are listed below.

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything but square
http://cutie-sunday.blogspot.com/ Animals
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ Summer flowers
http://kbchallenges.blogspot.com/ Flowers
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Flowers
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Here comes summer
http://oldiebutagoodiechallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com- Summertime
http://scrappekammeret.blogspot.com/ Summer
http://cinspirations.blogspot.com/ Summer
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ Summer
http://rubysrainbow.blogspot.com/ Flowers
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ Here comes summer
http://casestudychallenge.blogspot.com/ Muse inspiration
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ Linky Friday

Father's day card

2011-06-16T04:42:00.000-07:00

There are so many challenges this month for father's day cards and as it was getting closer to the day I decided to get making mine. This card is actually for my elderly Father-in-law as my Dad died several years ago. My Father-in-law is not into "cutsie" so I got my thinking cap on and remembered he had cycled for my years in his early life. I think he will love this card, at least I hope he will.
I used tones of Brown and Beige and a little bit of paper tearing to give it some interest. The stamp I used is an "oldie but goody" that has been used many times. I finished it off with a piece of string and I doodled round the edges with a very fine pen.
I am happy with the way it turned out as "man cards" are not my thing and I must admit I sometimes end up buying them.
I have entered it into many challenges which are listed below.

http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/                   Father's day
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/             Father's day
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/           Father's day
http://peartreedesigns.blogspot.com/                      Father's day
http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/                          Free and easy
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/   Father's day
http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/                           No sentiment
http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/            A Man card
http://www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/            Anything goes
http://lothiancrafts.blogspot.com/                             For a Man
http://kbchallenges.blogspot.com/                            Anything goes
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/              Anything goes
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/                           Open challenge
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/                     Dad's and Lads
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/                              Dad's card
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/                  It's a man thing
http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/             Dad/Man in your life
http://dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/         For the boys

Vintage style door/wall hanger

2011-06-05T06:13:00.000-07:00

Some time ago I won £100 worth of craft goodies and I made this using some of the papers and embellishments from that prize. I wanted to make something "artsified" if you know what I mean and also have the appearence of a type of vintage pin board. Way out of my comfort zone but I enjoyed using something different to what I usually do. I cut out most of the items from some of the lovely papers and stamped the birdcage image onto kraft coloured paper. The buttons are just so beautifully embossed and gave a touch of red to pick up the border on the background card. There was a lovely pack of twine in my stash so I crocheted the flower in one colour and the handle with a darker colour. I assembled it all together and used the metal pin to hold the papers together.

I was thrilled with the result and have netered it into several challenges listed below.

http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/ Anything but a card

http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/ use buttons

http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ Use at least 3 different types of embellishments ( buttons, gems, ribbon, flower)

http://mymumscraftshopchallenges.blogspot.com/ Things with wings ( Butterfly)

http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/ Something that flies ( Butterfly)

http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ Anything goes/ Use your favourite

http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ texture

http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/ Anything bar a card

http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Texture

http://kbchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Things with wings

http://mypartnerincraftingcrime.blogspot.com/ Uncoloured image

http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Make your own embellishments ( Crocheted Flower and handle)

http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ Make your own embellishments ( Crocheted flower and handle)

http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ Stamp something
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

Penny Black - Your favourite

2011-06-01T00:35:00.000-07:00

This week at Penny Black at Allsorts the challenge theme is "you're my favourite". At the moment the PB image I have used on my card is one of my favourites. I love the simplicity of the stamp and it can be used for many different occasions. I decided to keep the simplicity by using only a few colours throughout. I used Aqumarkers to colour my image which worked well with the papers and card I used.

The Penny Black challenge runs for the whole month of June and there are some gorgous Penny Black stamps to be won along with other lovely goodies from Letraset and PB stamps throughout the month. Pop over to http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ to check out the DT's work for inspiration.

Great news too. The lovely Clare has joined the PB designer team and Brenda and all the team welcome her aboard. Make sure you visit when her first creation goes live on the PB @ Allsorts blog.

As usual there were so many challenges I wanted to enter and these are all listed below. Why not pop over to these blogs and check out the lovely work by the designer teams.They all work really hard to make sure you get lots of inspiration and if you left them a short comment I'm sure they would appreciate it.

http://stampwithfun.blogspot.com/ In the garden

http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ Happy Birthday

http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ Use metal

http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ Stamp something

http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ One for the girls

http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ Use a sentiment

http://creativefriday.blogspot.com/ Summer

http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/ Things of beauty ( flowers)

http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Flower power

http://paperminutes.blogspot.com/ Something in quadruple ( I used 4 silk flowers)

http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://oldiebutagoodiechallenge.blogspot.com/ Lots of layers

http://nordsalten-hobbyklubb.blogspot.com/ Childs card

http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ Open challenge

http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ Use at least 3 different embellishments

Girly Birthday card

2011-05-10T05:43:00.000-07:00

I played around for a couple of days with this card. My mojo was at a bit of a low but in the end it came together. I was twiddling with the ribbon when I had an idea to leave it curly and add it to my card. It's a little bit different but does not show up as well in this picture as it does in the flesh, as to speak. I have had this Lilly of the Valley image for some months now and decided I needed to make an effort and use it. It is so cute and I added some glitter to the cake to gift it a lift. Once again it does not show well here but does sparkles like crazy. The Pink card was a bit overpowering so I managed to tone it down by using small ammounts. I do love pricking the edges of my cards to make faux stitching. I found a fine Pink liner pen almost the same colour as my card to finished off the stitched edge.

I have entered this card into the challenges listed below.

http://mygraficocrafts.blogspot.com/ Open challenge

http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ Show your style

http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ Cake on your card

http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Happy Birthday

http://prairiefairyfridays.blogspot.com/ For the girls

http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com/ For a loved one

http://iftheshoefitsscrapit.blogspot.com/ use some Green

http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Birthdays

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ favourite colour combo

http://cutie-sunday.blogspot.com/ Butterflies

http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ Glitzy and bling

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ Funny bone

http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ Things with wings

http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

Penny Black challenge Anything but square

2011-05-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

The challenge at Penny Black at Allsorts this month is "Shape up". No square or rectangle cards. I choose to use this lovely scalloped card. I used two co-ordinating papers, some nestability die cuts, my PB image and various embellishments to give a fresh "Spring look" to it. I used left over dots from my hole punch and added them to the edge of the circle to give a bit more interest. I used Aqumarkers to colour my image and really enjoyed working with them. The versatility of these pens work really well for me as I am able to get several shades of colour with only using a few Aquamarkers. I used Aquamarine, Royal Purple, Mocha, Straw Yellow and Celery. I could not be bothered to mix a grey colour so I used 2 Grey promarkers for the cats.
There are some fabulous prizes on offer as usual on the Penny Black at Allsorts blog here:- http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com//. Pop over to get all the details and check out the fabulous makes by the designer team. The challenge runs for the whole month and you have the chance of winning some fabulous prizes.
I have entered my card into several challenges which are listed below.
http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ Layers
http://www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ Flowers
http://kbchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Perfect pets
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/2011/04/party-time-tuesdays-ptt13-anything-goes.html Anything goes
http://scrappekammeret.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://letscreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ Say it with flowers
http://mygraficocrafts.blogspot.com/ Open challenge
http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ T is for trouble
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/ May day
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ Mothers day and / or Flowers
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/ Springtime
http://creativefriday.blogspot.com/ Open theme
http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://cutie-sunday.blogspot.com/ Spots
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ Flowers
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://www.alyssundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Shaped cards

Friends/April showers

2011-04-23T07:28:00.000-07:00

I was so pleased to be asked to be a guest designer at Allsorts http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ for their Springtime challenge. Pop over and take a look at all the lovely designer cards and get lots of inspiration. You have plenty of time to enter this fun challenge. It is sponsored by Sir Stampalot who are offering a set of gorgeous hero arts stamps for the prize.

I just love this cute Penny Black stamp and it is perfect for a card to celebrate the coming of Spring. This cute couple of friends under the umbrella always bring a smile to my face. I used a mixture of Promarkers and Aquamarkers to get the exact colours I wanted and they match my backing paper perfectly. I also managed to match the lovely yellow dress colour to my scalloped circle. I am really pleased how this card turned out and it is bursting with spring colours. I added a few butterflies in keeping with the Spring theme. The little swirls between the pearl buttons were pieces I cut from an old piece of edging I found while cleaning out my craft stash. The Pearl buttons with the little raised borders are one of my favourite embellishments. They seem to work with almost any card.

I have entered my card into several challenges which are listed below.

http://iris-zh.blogspot.com/ Use a punch

http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/ The weather

http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ Spring

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Lets celebrate ( the coming of Spring )

http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/ Cute and girly

http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/ Friendship

http://stampsfun-creativity.blogspot.com/ Spring

http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Lots of layers

http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ Texture

http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ Free and easy

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ Use a rubber stamp

http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com/ Spring colours

http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ April showers

http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Open challenge

http://scrappekammeret.blogspot.com/ Open challenge

http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ Open challenge

http://kartenallerlei.blogspot.com/ April weather

http://mygraficocrafts.blogspot.com/ Open challenge

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ No text

http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/ Springtime

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ Childrens card

http://creativefriday.blogspot.com/ Open theme

http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.com/ Birds and / or butterflies

http://prairiefairyfridays.blogspot.com/ April showers

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ Spring colours

Cute Easter/ Spring card

2011-04-19T04:25:00.000-07:00

I decided to make this cute and girly Easter card using lovely bright and cheerfull colours. I wanted my card to look a bit like a flower head and I think my idea worked out ok. I just love the shaped buttons and thought they would be perfect for this card. I found the cute Bunny while having a massive craft clear out and faux stitched round the edges of the card to make it stand out a bit more. I know just the cute little girl who will get this card at Easter.

Here is the list of the many challenges that I have entered:-

http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ Eggs, bunnies and old forgotten stash

http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/ Texture

http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Easter

http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ scallops

http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ All stitched up

http://creativefriday.blogspot.com/ Easter

http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ Buttons and bows

http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ Easter

http://funwithshapesandmore.blogspot.com/ Animals

http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Stitching

http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ Easter

http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ Easter

http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ Easter

http://sugarsweetpapertreats.blogspot.com/ Easter

http://cutie-sunday.blogspot.com/ Easter

http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ Easter

http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ Texture

http://peartreedesigns.blogspot.com/ Easter

http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ Easter + pink, green, yellow and blue

http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Easter wishes

Penny Black- Box

2011-04-01T02:10:00.000-07:00

This month the theme for the challenge at Penny Black at Allsorts is "Black and White and one other colour" and I used Pink as my other colour. Some months ago my friend gave me this lovely box and I decided to turn it into a pencil box for my grandaughter. I can put this in as a little "extra" with her Birthday present. I used die cuts, punched out dots (hole punch ), lace, pearls, gems, a heart charm and of cause my gorgeous Penny Black image. I stamped a little butterfly which I left un-coloured. I used Promarkers to colour in my image and added a little bow to her hair. I hope she will like it and when the pencils are long gone it can be used for trinkets.

There are some fabulous prizes on offer as usual on the Penny Black at Allsorts blog here:- http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/. Pop over to get all the details and check out the fabulous makes by the designer team. The challenge runs for the whole month and prizes of rubber stamps are given away every week. There is also the added chance of winning a set of Aqumarkers from Promarker and a 10%

lifetime discount given by PB stamps.

Here is a list of the challenges I have entered:-

http://simplycreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ Do it yourself
http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ Use die cuts
http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ Cute
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ For a child
http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/ Bling
http://paperromancechallenges.blogspot.com/ Bling
http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/ Dies or punches and ribbon
http://www.palspaperarts.com/ Punches
http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/ Bling/sparkle
http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/ Create something for a Birthday
http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.com/ Bling

Spring is in the air

2011-03-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

Simply Create are running a challenge to win £100 worth of craft goodies. Use the above board for your inspiration to make your project for your chance to win. Here is the link to the challenge:-

http://simply-create-alford.blogspot.com/2011/03/time-for-new-challenge.html#comments

You still have time to enter so pop over and check out all the details.

This is the card I created. I hope you like it.

I looked at each square on the board and all the flowers were so fresh and bright . Perfect for a "Spring" card I thought. I also noticed the banner in the bottom left corner and decided I needed a banner on my card too. As the theme seemed to be all about flowers I used some scrap paper that I thought perfect for Spring. I added plenty of colour co-ordinated flowers. The glittered butterfly was given to me a few weeks ago by my friend Tina and it was just perfect for this card. (what a shame the glitter does not sparkle on the photo like it does in reality). I used blue cord to make the line for my flags and cut out some triangles to cover the ones already on the paper. I 3D'd the leaves, added my buttons and cut out the the Spring letters on my Cricut. It took me a whole day to make it and it was worth every bit of that time.

I have entered it into several challenges which are listed below my card.

http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Bling

http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/ Springtime

http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ 3D project

http://creativefriday.blogspot.com/ Spring Awakening

http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Spring

http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.com/ Banner

http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Spring

http://raisethebarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Photo inspiration ( I chose "Spring")

http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ Buttons

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ Song inspired ( Spring Fever by Elvis)

http://cutie-sunday.blogspot.com/ Spring colours/ images

http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ Springtime colours

http://www.alyssundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Spring

http://diekreativenstempelfreunde.blogspot.com/ Spring

http://lothiancrafts.blogspot.com/ Bright colours

http://www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ Spring has sprung

http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Buttons

A card for Mum/Mother-in-law

2011-03-20T06:06:00.000-07:00

Apologies for not posting for a while. My spare bedroom is on the way to being my craft room. You can imagine the upheaval and the "I can't find..." words. I am trying to clean out, re-arrange, and fill some more A4 boxes with craft stash. On top of this there is a lomit to how much I can do per day. It is a slow process but I will get there in the end.

New tables have been ordered and when they arrive I will be able to get a bit more organised.

My card was made with some of the lovely stash I won recently from Simply Create at Alreford. I was out of my comfort zone for sure but I was happy with the outcome (after a few changes of cause).

The items I used lend themselves to Vintage and this is just perfect for Mother/Mother-in- law cards.

I set out to make the card look as though it was a pin board with all things related tosewing and fashion of the past. It was not far off what I had hoped to achieve. Lots of distressing (where is the distressing challenge when you want one?) and chalking to age the card. I used plenty of silicone glue to acheive the 3d effect.

I wanted the items at the bottom look as though they had been put on the pin board after all the other items.
I hope you like it?

I have entered it into several challenges as usual, which are listed below.

http://diecutdreams.blogspot.com/ Mother's day
http://www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ Chocolate
http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ A bit of Green
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ Office supply item (string )
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/ Mother's day
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ Spots and dots
http://letscreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ Mother's day
http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/ Use a little bit of Green
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ Bows
http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ Postage stamps
http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ Mother's day
http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ Open challenge
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ For Mum
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ Buttons
http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ For Mum/ special lady
http://ssdschallenge.blogspot.com/ Numbers
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ Mother's day

Springtime cutie- All things bright and beautiful.

2011-03-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

When I saw Scrapbook artist software being demonstrated on tv I thought it looked great. The lady who demonstrated it made it seem so easy to make layouts. Just the thing for me I thought, something easy to use. Well...........it is easy to click the buttions and do the bits that were shown but the rest of it is time consuming.
Creating your layout , finding the elements, changing the colours, putting each singular item onto the page and arranging it took me 3 hours. I took ellements from several different digital scrapbook kits to make my page and changed the colours via the colour pallette in the software. I must say though, that when it was finished it was a work of art (as I see it anyway) .I was so engrossed in it and I love it. Obviously the fewer items you use will make it a lot quicker to make. I have called my page"All things bright and beautiful".
This is one of my new year resolutions that I have made an effort to keep and I am sure I will continue to make lovely pages with the help of photographs of my beautiful grandaughter.
I made my page with a Springtime look as there were quite a few challenges with that theme this week.

Here is the list:of challenges I have entered.. Yes, I know it is a lot but I can never choose which ones NOT to enter.

http://stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ For the girls
http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/ Button, lace and ribbon
http://iris-zh.blogspot.com/ Buttons
http://diecutdreams.blogspot.com/ Spring garden scene
http://wildorchidchallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/ Here comes spring
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ Song inspired (All things bright and beautiful)
http://diekreativenstempelfreunde.blogspot.com/ Plaid or check
http://lothiancrafts.blogspot.com/ Bright colours
http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/ Spring fling (picture inspired)
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Children
http://cinspirations.blogspot.com/ In the garden
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ Open challenge
http://thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/ Spring
http://papercraftstar.blogspot.com/ Song, movie or book inspired (all things bright and beautiful)
http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/ Springtime
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ Signs of spring
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ Nature
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ pearls and lace
http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ Things with wings
http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ Make something you would like to receive yourself.
http://www.tellensplace.blogspot.com/ Embellish, embellish, embellish.
http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/ Children
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ Use something digital

Welcome Spring

2011-03-01T04:34:00.000-08:00

The challenge at Penny Black at Allsorts for the month of February is " Welcome Spring" and this is the card that I made for the challenge. I thought the cute cat image with the basket of flowers was very apt for the theme and it is one of my favourite stamps. I used acetate for the front of my card but it is only visible in this photo along the top of the picture. A few flowers, ribbon and one of my favourite embellishments, Sparkly gems, finished it off nicely.
I photographed it several times but this is the best I could do. I did very little colouring on my image and using Aquamarkers made it so easy to do. I am really impressed with them and favour them slightly more that Promarkers just because of their versatillity. I like the fact that you can dilute the colours down to get lots of different shades. For this image I used 6 colours. Straw yellow, Rose carmine, Celery, Mauve, Storm Blue and Sepia.
The challenge runs for the whole month of March so you have plenty of time to make your card for the challenge if you have not already done so. Here are the gorgeous stamps that are up for grabs this month:-

Letraset are also offering one lucky winner a set of pens and PB stamps are offering one winner a lifetime 15% discount on Penny Black stamps bought from his store.

I have also entered my card into many challenges which are listed below.

http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/ Springtime

http://www.palspaperarts.com/ Scallops

http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ Spring

http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Birthday card

http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ Flowers

http://simplycreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ Flowers

http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Spring flowers

http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/ Flowers

http://cutie-sunday.blogspot.com/ Use a favourite stamp

http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ Cute

http://peartreedesigns.blogspot.com/ Ribbon

http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/ Flowers

http://diecutdreams.blogspot.com/ Spring garden scene

http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything but square

http://wildorchidchallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/ Here comes spring

http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Favourite embellishments or technique

http://paperromancechallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/ Simple elegance + photo inspiration (below)

The Liebster blog award

2011-02-22T10:30:00.000-08:00

A big thank you for this award goes to my crafting buddy Tina http://sparklygirl-tina.blogspot.com/ .

The aim of this award is to give it to 3 -5 blogs you have visited that are relatively unknown and bring them to light [not with thousands of followers already]. Here are the terms for accepting the award:

1. If you have been tagged, do you want to accept? YES!!!! Then you have to create a post on your blog and post the love blog photo.

2. Link back to the person who gave you the award and say if you accept it.

3. Choose 3-5 of your favourite blogs to tag, link these in your post too and tell the lucky people they have been tagged.

I choose four crafters who you may noy be familiar with. All found while hopping blogs.

My first is http://scappygirltherapy.blogspot.com/ I just found this one today. I like it because there are some freebie links and also a great video showing a quick way to lift and adhere jewels. She also has some very interesting work on her blog and I particularly like her bird canvas.

My second choice is Karen from http://hookedoncards.blogspot.com/ she does some gorgeous brightly coloured cards.

My third choice is Lisa from http://thecraftingowl.blogspot.com/ . She has a couple of flower tutorials for you and she makes great cards using her Cricut. So for all you girls who need to blow the dust of your Cricut pop over to her blog and pick up some inspiration. look out for her fabulous double easel card. too.

My fourth choice is Cat http://evilcat81.blogspot.com/ She makes gorgeous cards ,especiallyusing cute Penny Black images. pop over and take a look at her lovely cards using metal too.

I hope you finf a few minutes of your time to take a look at these blogs and leave a few comments for the girls.

£100 worth of craft goods

2011-02-22T06:27:00.000-08:00

Yes, I did it. I won £100 of crafting goodies in the Simply Create at Alford challenge http://simply-create-alford.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-challenge.html. (See my winning card 4 posts down).

I just received my goody box this morning and it is just fabulous.
Here are pictures of my fabulous stash sent to my by the truly generous Jacqui of Simply Create at Alford.

Vintage card

2011-02-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

I made this card especially for my Mother-in-law's Birthday. Made in advance of cause, as when it gets close to the date I will forget and have to rush like mad to make one up.
This is one of my favourite stamps which I have had for such a long time. I particularly like the suptle stamped words in the background. The embossing powder I used was a sparkly black and I was not sure if it would work with this card. Once it was all put together it worked out just fine. I did lots of distressing using my stitch picker. This little tool is just perfect in my eyes as you can do the little torn pieces on the edges too.
I am not sure why the lace flowers turned out so white in the picture as they are not actually white. They are a creamy colour. Oh well, it does not look too bad considering I am not much of a photographer.
As usual I managed to use items on my card that would fit into a few challenges. They are listed below.

http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ Distressing
http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ Free and easy
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ For someone special
http://stampsfun-creativity.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Stitching
http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ Happy Bithday
http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/ Flowers
http://nordsalten-hobbyklubb.blogspot.com/ Vintage with a hint of Pink
http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/ Birthdays
http://www.tellensplace.blogspot.com/ Birthdays
http://mygraficocrafts.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ For someone special
http://iftheshoefitsscrapit.blogspot.com/ Happy Birthday
http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com/ Happy Birthday

Valentine card

2011-02-13T06:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine Everyone

There are so many challenges listed for Valentine or love this week and although I had already made and posted one Valentine card I decided to make another. this time I spent a lot less time making it.

I decided to use a Brown, Turquoise and Red theme. Instead of using a die cut, I used the negative piece of card to make a window for my Penny Black image.This little Bear image is just perfect for my valentine card and I was happy how it turned out.

Off cause I entered into a mega ammount of challenges this week as it was too hard to decide which ones to leave out..

Here is the list of challenges:-

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Love

http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Hearts and flowers

http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ Hearts

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ Use some Red

http://nordsalten-hobbyklubb.blogspot.com/ Valentine + heart

http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/ Dies/punches( I punched hearts and used die negative)

http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ Use at least 3 hearts

http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/ Valentine

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ Hearts and flowers

http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ Love, be my Valentine

http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/ Valentines day/ Romance

http://4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ Valentine's day

http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Valentin'es day

http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ Love is in the air

http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ Valentine

http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com/ Valentine

http://teddy-stampers.blogspot.com/ Love Bears

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ Valentine/Love

http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Love

http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ Love

http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Love is all around

http://sukkersott.blogspot.com/ Love

http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ Valentine

http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ Love

http://ssdschallenge.blogspot.com/ Love is in the air

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ Cute and cuddly

http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Use a bug

http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/ Hearts

http://thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/ Ribbons

Stylish blog award

2011-02-10T04:38:00.000-08:00

I just received this Stylish blog award from my great crafting pal Tina- http://sparklygirl-tina.blogspot.com/ .
A big thank you to her for this award . The conditions that go along with this award are listed below.

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.

2. Share 8 things about yourself
3. Pass it on to 8 bloggers
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their award

Here are some facts about  me!

1. I am well past my sell by date.
2. I am such a very slow card maker but I do get there in the end.
3. I cannot survive the day without a caffeine fix..
4. I cut my own hair and have done so since I was 16yrs old. ( Don't look too closely at my photo).
5. I love to learn something new to do with crafting.
6. I love food. Mostly any food but not Anchovies or Olives.
7.  I have two grown up children and one grandaughter.
8.  I have one husband and I love him to bits.

Now for my choice of blogs. As the award was for "Stylish blogs" I decided to find some new ones rather than choose blogs of friends ( I hope they will forgive me) I decided to do a bit of "hopping" to see what I could find. I "hopped" this morning and found some eyecatching blogs which I think are deserved of this award.
I found:-
http://happilyevercrafting.blogspot.com/ A  lovely blog, so bright, fresh and interesting. Pop over and take a look.
http://allbycathyfong.blogspot.com/ I do admit to seeing this one before. Check it out for gorgeous, fresh and bright cards.
http://angelicascrappenings.blogspot.com/ A scrapbookers delight. Great.
http://www.shirlscards.com/blog/ All bright and beautiful. Pop over and take a look.
http://dorcasdesigns.blogspot.com/ Great blog layout. Glad I found this as it has a crochet flower tutorial.
http://digiredoodah.blogspot.com/ Gorgeous work and stylish blog. Take a look for yourself.
http://debby4000.blogspot.com/ Cards a little bit different, bright and precise. Just fab.
http://pinchofpaisley.blogspot.com/ Makes digi images come alive on her cards. Lovely photo's. Take a peep.
I am off to pass on the award info to all the very tallented ladies of these fabulous blogs. It is amazing what tallent you can find by doing a bit of "hopping"

Valentine challenge card

2011-02-08T03:48:00.000-08:00

My good friend Tina told me about the challenge at http://simply-create-alford.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-challenge.html and I loved the fresh look of the inspiration board. I picked out all 4 colours, hearts, the blue letter, the cushion and bedspread from the board to focus on my card. The board looked so bright and fresh to so I wanted my card to have that look .

When I decided to make my card I did not realize(and perhaps should not admit) it would take me three whole days to make. My Mojo dropped to zero on the very day I decided to start it. I shuffled different papers around, pulled out every embellishment under the sun and filled a whole table with enough stash for a shop. No, still no go. I left it until the next day, assembled it and finally thought I had it. When I got up on the following day I was not happy with it, so decided to change all the paper and card. Phew! At last it came together. I won't go into too much detail of how I came to the finished card but I will say I had to search through my "bitty box" to find all the embellishments to put on the hearts and that was a feat in itself. One good thing did came out of all the time spent on this card, I used my Cricut. Yes, it was dusted off and I cut out the hearts to go behind the doilies and a flower in matching colour. I am very pleased with the finished card. Was it worth all the time I spent on it? Yes. That is what challenges are all about. I hope you like the look of it.

As it took me so long to make and I wanted to share it with you all, I have entered it into several challenges which are listed below.

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Lets see some love

http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ Buttons

http://creativecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Hearts and flowers

http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/ Hearts

http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/ Lots of love

http://wildorchidchallenge.blogspot.com/ Love is

http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Red

http://thepapervariety.blogspot.com/ Photo inspiration (hearts)

http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ photo inspiration (Red & White)

http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ Love

http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Love

http://www.dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/ Buttons

http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/ Red

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ Use some red

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ Love Love Love

Say it with flowers

2011-02-01T01:30:00.000-08:00

This month the Penny Black at Allsorts challenge is "Say it with flowers". I was very fortunate to have received a set of Aquamarkers from Letraset who are one of the sponsors for this challenge. I had not used these pens before and this is the first image I coloured using just 6 colours from my set. I used Spring green and Straw yellow for the flowers, Sepia for the hair, Lamp black for the cat, Royal purple for the dress and |Gold ochre for the pot.
I had used a very fine wash of mixed watercolours over the base of my image before I used my Aqumarkers. You can see some of the Pink wash on the flesh. I must say I am very impressed with the pens. There are several ways to use them and I am loving experimenting with them. On this image I mixed some with water and used it as paint. I added some strokes direct to the image and pulled it across with a wet brush. There are two sponsors for this challenge and lots of gorgeous prizes up for grabs. Letraset are giving away a set of Aqumarkers and PB stamps are giving away a lifetime discount of 15%

I have entered my card into a few challenges which are listed below.

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ Animal on your card

http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ layer it up

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ Spring

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ Flowers

http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ Lace

http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ "P" Picking flowers

http://thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/ Flowers http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ As you like it

http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Use a female image

http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ Love

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ Bold and bright

http://simplycreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ Give your heart away

http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ Love

http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ Photo inspiration

http://peartreedesigns.blogspot.com/ Flowers

http://resqchallenge.blogspot.com/ Something in straight lines (ric rac)
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Anything girly
http://iris-zh.blogspot.com/ Use something new (Promarkers)
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ Ribbon and love
http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/ All you need is love
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ Love
http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ "Whateva"
http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

PENNY BLACK BLOG HOP WINNERS.

2011-01-24T00:20:00.000-08:00

What a fantastic turn out we had for our blog hop. I would like to thank everyone who joined the hop and left lovely comments.

The winner of this gorgeous Penny Black stamp (drawn by random .org ) is no 30 (KRASSIMI). This stamp is waiting to be sent to you Krassimi so please send your postal address to brenda@bias.co.uk .
The winner of my Penny Black stamped images is ( drawn by random.org ) no 77 (STEFFI) If you could mail me your postal address Steffi, I will send the images off to you. Don't forget to pop over to all the other DT's blogs to see the winners of all the other stamps.
Remember too that our challenge at Penny Black At Allsorts is open until the end of this month.

Penny Black at Allsorts BLOG HOP

2011-01-23T00:15:00.000-08:00

In keeping with the penny Black challenge this month of" All you need is love" I made this card with another of my favourite Penny Black images ( I love then all really). You can still enter this months challenge as well......the theme is "All You Need is Love".

It's time to HOP and we want you to "hop along" with us! Take a look at the papercrafting ideas from the following group of talented Penny Black at Allsorts DT. Click on the links below to browse their inspiring blogs for more fun and inspiration!
The 'rules' of the hop are that all entrants need to:-

1) Start from the challenge blog and leave a comment there.
2) Visit all nine listed blogs and leave a comment on each.
3) Collect the remaining nine clues.

4) Make the two words and mail your answer to brenda@ibas.co.uk

Here are the first two clue letters.There are two words, a five and six letter one.             ---A- -----S
MY LETTER IS P

You should have come from Brenda
and now go to Penny Black
Below is the fabulous Fairy stamp by Penny Black that you have a chance of winning. Make sure you leave a comment below to be sure of entering into the blog hop draw. Don't forget to visit all the other DT blogs, check out their gorgeous creations and get a chance to win more Penny Black rubber stamps.

I will draw a winner after the blog hop finishes on January 22nd and the winner (who will receive the lovely Fairy stamp) will be announced on Monday 23rd of January. All the winners will be listed on http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ on the same day.
I will also be giving away 12 Penny Black stamped images (some shown below) to a randomly chosen person on the same day.
Good luck everyone.

New year/ New start/ Something new

2011-01-11T05:24:00.000-08:00

With the start of the New Year I promised myself to start Digital Scrapping and have at last managed to have a go. I decided to use this photograph of my gorgeous Grandaughter who I love to bits.

I must admit it took me longer to put together than I thought it would. On this particular page nearly every Flower was singularly re-sized and brought onto the page. My layers were re-sized and organised to make the layout. I changed some of the colours of the elementes and angled some of them to fit into the page. I added the fringed edge, the clip, the hearts, butterflies and even the little tiny pink pin. I am amazed at all the different embellishments available in some of the scrap kits. I have found it to be very theraputic and hope as I learn more I shall get a page done in less than the 4 hours it took me to fiddle with this one.

I have entered this page into a few challenges for the fun of it which are listed below.

http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/ Something new

http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/ Buttons (on the Cardigan)

http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ Open challenge

http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Texture

http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Something new

http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/ Say it with Love

http://lothiancrafts.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://creativecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ New years resolution

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ The letter "C" (Cosy)

All you need is Love/ Penny Black blog hop info

2011-01-01T01:57:00.000-08:00

The challenge at Penny Black at Allsorts (http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/) this month is "All you need is Love". Check out the lovely creations from the regular designer girls for inspiration. There are some great prizes up for grabs. As well as the regular four stamps, there will be a special one off prize for a winner selected from all the new followers who link up this month. There is also a new sponsor. PB Stamps http://www.pbstamps.com/ , who are offering a lifetime 15% discount on products purchased from their store. If you have never visited them, pop over and take a look at all the lovely Penny Black stamps for sale.

BLOG HOP INFORMATION IS AT THE FOOT OF THIS POST

I so enjoyed making this card and it did take longer than I thought . I have had a pack of these gorgeous shaped cards laying around for a few weeks and decided it was time to use one. I used lovely 12 x 12 scrapbook paper to make the background and added more sparkle, lace, flowers, shiny flower centres, and pearls. I stamped and coloured this gorgeous Penny Black image. I cut it out and used some pads behind to give it a bit of depth. There is so much glitter and sparkle but difficult to see on here. I still have not found the perfect way to get sparkle to show on my cards. I have entered it into a few challenges which are listed below.

http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/ Pink winter birthday

http://diecutdreams.blogspot.com/ Girlie
http://creativecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/ Use a stamp

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Christmas card

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ The letter "C" (Christmas)
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/  Anything goes

http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/ Colour challenge
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/ Fav.winter colour -Pink
http://www.charismacardz.blogspot.com/  Pearls and Lace
http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ Last minute Xmas cheer
http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ Pick a prev.challenge (No 60 xmas)
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ Glitter
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ For someone special
http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ Cut something out (stamped image)
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

There will also be a blog hop on the15th of January with lots of fun and excitement and more fabulous prizes to be won. Make sure you do not miss out on the chance to win some great prizes. Why not grab our blog hop badge and help pass the word. For full details pop over to the Penny Black at Allsorts blog.

Christmas card

2010-12-27T08:13:00.000-08:00

The challenge at Kaboodledoodles http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/ this week is to use torn paper or card. The sponsor for the challenge is Shelly from http://shellysimages.com/ and the prize up for grabs is 3 digi images. I loved the look of this digi stamp by Shelly and decided to keep it quite plain and to make it stand out on my card. I did some distressing around my circle die cut with black chalk. I tried to make it look as though it was night with the chalking and the inner white would represent the brightness of snow. I used torn and distressed paper in the beckground and finished it off with a die cut and embossed edge, some ribbon and embellishments. I really liked the finished effect.

I managed to find a few challenges to enter which are listed below.

http://sukkersott.blogspot.com/ Light in the dark

http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ Xmas

http://www.dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/ Winter

http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.com/ Xmas song inspired ( Pine cones and holly berries )

http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

Penny Black Christmas card

2010-12-15T10:11:00.000-08:00

The Penny Black Saturday challenge (here) http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/
is for Holly and Ivy or Christmas flowers/trees. As I have just bought some Penny Black stickeroos I thought I would have a go at using one of the images. I must say I was very impressed with the stickers. They are not flimsy and peel off easily from the sheet. At approx. £1.50 per sheet with several images on each sheet, I thought they were excellent value. The colours are lovely and rich and the backgrounds are lovely too. I choose this gorgeous bauble to make this bold Christmas card with all my favourite Christmas colours. Not only did I enter the Penny Black challenge but lots more which are listed below.

http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Holly and Ivy or Christmas flowers or trees.
http://just-hanna-stamps.blogspot.com/ Christmas in red
http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.com/ Christmas bauble
http://mamidoodles.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://www.dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/ Christmas card/tag/ornament
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ Christmas
http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Christmas optional sketch
http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/ Christmas card using 3 colours
http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/ Your favourite colour combo.
http://sugarsweetpapertreats.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://peartreedesigns.blogspot.com/ Christmas
http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/ Traditional red and green Christmas card.
http://stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://stampwithfun.blogspot.com/ Christmas
http://diekreativenstempelfreunde.blogspot.com/ Traditional Christmas colours
http://stampsfun-creativity.blogspot.com/ Red, white and..........
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Christmas
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ Christmas papers and embellishments
http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.com/ Baubles

Clean and simple Christmas card

2010-12-13T01:51:00.000-08:00

The challenge at Kaboodledoodles http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/ this week is for a clean and simple card. The challenge is being sponsored by Robyn's Fetish http://ididitcreations.com/blog/?page_id=30 and I used this gorgeous digi snowman stamp. If you pop over to the Kaboodle blog you can check out all the details of the challenge and see what a great prize you can win.
Would you believe this card was soo hard for me to make. I made a criss cross pattern on my white scalloped card using my scor-pal, glued on a strip of designer paper and a plain piece of dark green card. I coloured my image with a Promarker, added it to my card and finished it off with some pretty ribbon and some die cut Snowflakes with brads. I soo wanted to keep adding more and had to quickly take a photograph of it or I would have kept on playing with it. This was my second attempt as hubby pointed out tactfully that my first effort had too much on it to be plain and simple.
As usual I entered my card into a few challenges which are listed below.
http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ Snow much fun
http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ Stamp or digi image + snowflakes or a snowman
http://www.dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/ Christmas card/ tag or ornament
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ Christmas
http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.com/ Use ribbon
http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Christmas or optional sketch
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ Use a digi - open challenge
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ Snowy
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ embossing
http://sugarsweetpapertreats.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://www.alyssundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Card with a movie in mind (Frosty the Snowman)
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Use ribbon
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ Clean and simple
http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/ Let it snow
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Christmas card
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ No Red or Green
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/ Christmas is for children
http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/ Something for a child
http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/ Snowman
http://paperromancechallenges.blogspot.com/ Use something metal
http://thefuzzywuzzychallenges.blogspot.com/ Christmas + Animal

Christmas card

2010-12-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

I was asked to be a guest designer at Creative inspirations http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ Their challenge (49) this week is an Anything goes Christmas challenge. The challenge is being sponsored by Soft Pencil http://digitalstamps.blogspot.com/ and Stamp and Create http://www.stampandcreate.com/. I am sure you will all be making those last minute Christmas cards so why not pop over to Creative Inspirations, check out all the details and enter your card in the challenge. You have the chance to win some gorgeous digi stamps or a $10 voucher.
I decided to make mine a Vintage Christmas card. I used some gorgeous designer paper and layered my card. I used a lovely Vintage image and a Poinsettia flower. I added two rows of pretty cream lace and framed the edges of my card with some sparkly gold ribbon.
I decided to enter a few of the Christmas challenges this week and have listed them below.
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Use ribbon
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Xmas card
http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/ Christmas,some Red and layers
http://just-hanna-stamps.blogspot.com/ Red Christmas
http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ 1 image, 2 designer papers, 3 embellishments
http://www.tellensplace.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ Christmas
http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.com/ Use ribbon
http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Christmas (theme, sketch or both)
http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/ Christmas

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....

2010-12-01T00:51:00.000-08:00

This month the theme at Penny Black at Allsorts http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ is "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and you have the chance to win some fantastic Penny Black stamps every week in the month of December. Why not pop over and check out the full details and see the lovely stamps.
For my card I decided to use a different shape so I cut out the centre of a square card ( back and front). I used a Martha Stewart punch to make my borders and stuck them to the card before covering it with some gorgeous designer paper. I cut three die cut shapes and layered them up. I water coloured my Penny Black image in colours to co-ordinate with my paper and mounted it with foam pads before sticking it to the centre of my card. I just love this image and thought she was so apt for the theme. I inked four white flowers with purple ink and added pearls to the centres. I also used two white flowers and added metal flowers and pearl brads to the centres. I punched out brown leaves and arranged the whole lot around the top of my card.
I so love this card and feel I do not want to part with it.
As usual I have entered a few challenges which are listed below.

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ Case an old CCT challenge ( I chose challenge 108 "touchy feely" )
http://creativefriday.blogspot.com/ Unusual shaped card
http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ Let's get girly
http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ Feathers 'n' fur
http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/ Shaped card
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ Embellish it
http://totallystampalicious.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ different shaped card

Traditional Christmas card

2010-11-22T05:19:00.000-08:00

I noticed there were several challenges for Christmas cards this week so I set about making this one.
I kept it in the sort of traditional vintage stlye which always brings back childhood memories. I really liked these colours and thought they worked well together. I had one little problem. After my card dried it looked a bit lumpy underneath the ribbon. Oh well, not enough to spoil the card completely but I know the little lumpy bit is there and I am annoyed with myself for not checking it before it dried.
I have netered this card in many challenges that are listed below.
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/ Baby it's cold outside
http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ Let it snow
http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com/ Winter
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ Snow
http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Snow people
http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything Christmassy or Winter
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ Red and Green
http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ Holiday
http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ Winter
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ Choose a season
http://magicalmondaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Let it snow
http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/ Traditional Christmas
http://diekreativenstempelfreunde.blogspot.com/ Vintage
http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ Xmas
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ Snow/Snowflakes

Penny Black Christmas card C4C63

2010-11-17T06:43:00.000-08:00

I decided to make an un-traditional xmas card using this PB image. I did my usual pricking, matting and layering and when I came to colour in my image I decided to do a minimal ammount. I have never done this before and was not sure if it worked or not. The more I looked at it the more I liked it so I decided to leave it as it was. It's nice to do somethinmg different for a change and I can always go back and colour it in if I change my mind. I added my image to a purple mat which I had already pricked. I cut a piece of silver foiled designer paper from Craftwork cards, emboss punched it and added it to my card. I added my image on the top. I finished it off with some gorgeous perfectly matching lace and matching punched snowflakes and brads. I saw a challenge amongst many others for "show off your style" at http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ and I suppose you could say this is my style as I love to mat, layer, and prick round the edges of my cards. Another that caught my eye at http://www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ was for a song title and I rememberd some of the words to one I sang when I was young which related to a xmas stocking. Here is the link to the song:-
http://carleneswordsandmusicworld.yuku.com/topic/1256/t/Little-Christmas-Stocking-With-A-Hole-In-it.html So I decided to enter these challenges along with a few others that are listed below.

http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ non traditional Christmas
http://sukkersott.blogspot.com/ Christmas or advent
http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge/.blogspot.com/ all your favourite things
http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/ Christmas card
http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ critter + texture
http://stampwithfun.blogspot.com/ square card
http://thefuzzywuzzychallenges.blogspot.com/ animal + spring, summer , winter or fall

Bird door hanger

2010-11-15T00:50:00.000-08:00

The challenge this week at Kaboodledoodles is being sponsored by Patti of http://pholkartblessings.blogspot.com/ and up for grabs this week are 4 digital stamps. Why not pop over to http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/ and check out all the details.

For my DT challenge piece at Kaboodledoodles this week I chose to do something a little bit different from the norm. I used the lovely bird digi stamp from pholkart but used it as a template rather than colour it. I had this great idea to make a door hanger for my Grandaughter and this is the result. I enlarged the image ( it did pixalate a bit but it did not matter) and used it as a template to cut out my bird shape from designer paper. I coloured in an eye and I cut a feathered shape to put over the wing. I inked round the edges of the Bird and the wing to make it stand out a bit more. I added 3 buttons and ribbon to finish it off.
I have entered it into a few challenges which are listed below.

http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ use 3 of something
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ use 2 or more patterned papers
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/ buttons
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ pick your Sunday toppings ( I chose Blue and Ribbon)
http://thefuzzywuzzychallenges.blogspot.com/ Animal + spring, summer, winter or fall
http://www.simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/ whatever makes you happy (watching birds in my garden)

Penny Black stamps and cards

2010-11-12T08:08:00.000-08:00

Yippeeeeeee. These are ny new Penny Black slapstick stamps which I think are exceptional value for money at only £4.50 each. They come with a lovely thick foam mounted backing ready for you to put on an acrylic block. When you think that a downloadable digi image costs approx £2-£3 and you get these to keep forever, that seems to me to be a good buy. The price for these stamps differs quite a lot from shop too shop. The cheapest I found and bought, were from http://www.craftyideasbykaz.co.uk/ and they were free p&p too.
While I am on the subject of Penny Black stamps, how many of you know about The PENNY BLACK AT ALLSORTS MONTHLY CHALLENGE BLOG http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ which is sponsored by Penny Black itself . If you pop over you will be able to check out this month's challenge and see the 4 PENNY BLACK STAMPS THAT ARE UP FOR GRABS. As the challenge runs for a whole month you have plenty of time to get your entry in. If you don't have any Penny Black stamps there are allways plenty of images available to purchase on e-bay. Anyway I thought I would give you a little inspiration by showing you some of the cards I have made in the past with my PB stamps.

Xmas gift card holder

2010-11-10T09:52:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I was shown how to make this gift card holder by Lynne. I have only just got around to a Christmas version and have used a store card to show you what it will look like. You can put paper money or a small gift inside of your choice. I embossed the front panel in a cuttlebug folder and glued it to the front of the pocket. I wrapped ribbon around it near the base and added some sparkly gem stones. I punched out some snowflakes and added them to the holder with silver brads. The Christmas tree is from Craftwork cards. I wrapped some sparkly coloured thick thread around the tree, cut two notches to hold the thread at the base and glued the ends to the back. I gently rounded the edges of my tree before glueing to my pocket with silicone glue to give it a more dimentional look.

There are plenty of challenges to enter this into and the list is below.

http://sukkersott.blogspot.com/ something for someone you love

http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ embossing

http://www.ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/ something you are grateful for

http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://iris-zh.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ it's Christmas

http://raisethebarchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/11/challenge-43.html use curves

http://stampsfun-creativity.blogspot.com/ xmas

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ now or snowflakes

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ emboss it

http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ dry embossing

http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/ something for someone special at xmas

http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/ embossing

Un-traditional Christmas card

2010-11-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

As usual this week there seems to be so many challenges I want to enter. I had a quick scan through the challenges and decided first of all to make something slightly different using a shaped card. The girl in the bonnet is an image from lilli of the valley cute Christmas squares. To make the central picture circle I took a circle die cut and added a smaller embossed circle on top. My lotv piccy was cut into a slightly smaller circle, added to the top of the die cuts and surrounded with silver beads. I covered all over inside the beaded circle with glossy accents and left this to dry. This is the first time I have used glossy accents and I did have some bubbles in the circle but they were very small and have not spoilt the look. I hope whoever gets this card thinks they were meant to be there ha ha. The shaped card I used came from Craftwork cards and I put two of these together to make the card which I covered with snowflake paper. I searched my lace box and found the exact shade to match my card. I used flowers and leaves from Wild Orchid and some lovely snowflakes that I punched using a punch that my good friend Tina lent me. I loved it when it was finished and was pleased that I had made a xmas card that was a little bit different for a change.
I have netered this card into several challenges that are listed below.

http://pocketfullofposieschallenges.blogspot.com/ winter bouquet
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ xmas card or top tip
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ rellish to embellish
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ the letter B ( I chose Bonnet on my girl image)
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ anything goes with optional sketch
http://www.charismacardz.blogspot.com/ with love at xmas
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ one for the girls
http://paperromancechallenges.blogspot.com/ everything but the kitchen sink
http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ winter snowflakes
http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ glitter. glamour and girly
http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ embossing

Vintage card with a modern style

2010-11-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

Our Kaboodledoodles challenge this week is Vintage. I was lucky enough to be able to use this gorgeous image from Stamp-n-doodle www.stamp-n-doodle.com/ who are the sponsors for this challenge.
Why not pop over to http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/ and check out the challenge for all the details and enter for your chance of winning a $10 voucher to spend in their shop. This digi stamp is so versatile it can be used for so many different cards. I decided to give my card a modern Vintage look. Something a little bit different from the normal, that can be used for Birthday,Valentine, or Anniversary. I did a bit of pricking around my card and layered it up with plain Creamy yellow card and two complimentary designer papers. I used a doily, flowers and leaves, a bow, sparkly gems, and a sentiment. My central image was coloured with just a touch of pale watercolours to co-ordinate with the colours of my card and papers. I loved it when it was finished and it had a lovely soft look to it.
I have entered it into the challenges listed below.
http://creativecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anniversary
http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/ Square card
http://www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/challenge-26.html gems.ribbon, and at least one embellishment made of paper or card
http://digidoodleshopsbest.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://stampwithfun.blogspot.com/

Penny Black Allsorts card and tag

2010-11-01T01:32:00.000-07:00

I made this card and tag for my first post on the Penny Black @ Allsorts blog since I became a part of the designer team. I was really pleased at how it looked when it was finished. It reminded me of days out in the snow when I was a child. The water always froze on the field near where I lived and we used to get up early and race down to the field to skate on the frozen water. I am so pleased to be working with the girls and looking at the fabulous creations they make. Why not pop over and take a look at the inspiration cards from the team and play along in the challenge. http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ This month the challenge is called "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" and I am sure you will have a design in mind for this theme. There are some gorgeous Penny Black stamps up for grabs and the challenge runs for a whole month so you have plenty of time to make your creation. You can get inspiration on the Penny Black blog here:- http://pennyblackinc.wordpress.com/
Here are the details of what I used for my card:-
8"x8" card with embossed detail
Designer paper ( I used plain and patterned sides)
Penny Black image ( I watercoloured her using colours I mixed to co-ordinate with my papers)
Lace, ribbon, glue, glitter, pearls and beads
Snowflakes cut on my Cricut.
Challenges I entered are listed below.
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ punches ot die cuts
http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/ square card or project
http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ G is for glitter
http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/ winter wonderland
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ die cuts or punches
http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/ embossing
http://www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://diekreativenstempelfreunde.blogspot.com/ my favourite stamp
http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/ clock,ticket or tag
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ remember,remember
http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://www.charismacardz.blogspot.com/ a pair of something
http://stampwithsarahkay.blogspot.com/ Christmas
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2010/10/sparkly-bright.html sparkly and bright
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ Christmas

Halloween card

2010-10-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

This week at Kaboodledoodles the theme is Going Batty and is being sponsored by http://fairyknoll.blogspot.com/. I used one of the Fairy knoll Pumpkin images for my card and it was apt for my Halloween card. I decided to use Purple, Green, Orange and Black as my main colours. I found some nice striped paper in my stash for the background and an odd piece of spotted ribbon which needed to be put to good use. I used a White shaped card and layered it with Black and Orange and Purple card. I pricked round the edges of my Orange card and added some little x's with a fine tipped pen to give a bit of interest. I watercoloured my main image and added a little Bat. I added some flowers and a little Trick or treat sentiment to finish off the card.
I have netered my card into several challenges this week which are listed below.
http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/ Halloween
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ Halloween
http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Halloween
http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Halloween
http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ Halloween/Fall
http://www.alyssundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Halloween
http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ Orange Green and Black
http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/ Halloween
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://creativecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Trick or treat
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Halloween

A little bit of Christmas

2010-10-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

I just love the cute little image I used for my card. It had a kind of a Vintage look to it but I didn't want a full Vintage look for my card if you know what I mean. Anyway this is what I had in mind and I was pleased with the result.
Here is a little bit of what you need and what I did to create my card.
I pricked round the edges of a square card, covered it with DP and lightly distressed around the edges with an ink pad.
Cut out 2 shaped layers, one slightly smaller than the other and inked the edges of both pieces.
I stamped the image on the smaller shape and stamped another one to use as a 3D layer on top. I used the second image and pulled a little of the ink in with a water pen to create a bit of shading. I Watercoloured the bow and yoke so it would pick up the Red flowers I was using. I cut this out and stuck it over my original image with foam pads to amke it 3D. I fixed the two layers together with foam pads and glued them to my card.
I fixed Lace just up from the bottom of my card.
I added a double bow made from two different ribbons, to the top left of my card and added a large flower to the centre of the bow.
I added another of the same, but smaller flower to the to the bottom right of my image.
I finished my card by using to cut scrolls which I ink distressed. and a little bow between the scrolls.
I entered my card into the following challenges:-
http://www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ 3d
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ More than two legs
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ A winter wonderland
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ Ribbon
http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ Flowers
http://justinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/ Digi or stamped image open challenge
http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ Colour something
http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://craftaliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://www.ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/ Use three or more embellishments
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ Distressed or torn edges
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

Autumn/Fall colours

2010-10-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

The challenge this week is Autumn colours of Orange Brown and Green at Kaboodledoodles and the sponsor is Digital Delights http://digitaldelightsbyloubyloo.com/ . The winner of the challenge will receive a $10 voucher. I chose to use The Princess digital stamp but made her into a winter Princess by using the Autumn colours for her clothes. I water coloured my image and to make her dress look as if it is Velvet. I put three coats of different shades of Brown on. I left tiny lines of the paler shades of Brown to look like the folds of her dress. I was pleased with my effort.
I entered my card for a few challenges this week which are listed below

http://ssdschallenge.blogspot.com/ Open challenge
http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ Fall
hhttp://www.ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/ Fall colours
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ Autumn
http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything with a child on
http://pocketfullofposieschallenges.blogspot.com/ Autumn Leaves

It's official news !!!!!!!

2010-09-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

I was so excited and honoured when I was told I had been selected to join the Penny Black Allsorts designer team and have been itching to do this post. I didn't sleep last night as ideas were buzzing around in my head for my first challenge creation.

If you would like to find out all the details pop over to http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/ and check out the girls on the team . Brenda, Ellie, Jules, Helene, Maarit, Mervi and Zoe and also get the details of the October challenge. If you adore Penny Black images here are three of my favourites of the many latest release stamps. They are so cute and would make gorgeous xmas cards. You can see all the latest release stamps here http://www.pennyblackinc.com/ .

Lavender, Lace and Pearls

2010-09-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

I ran through my list of challenges and just could not make up my mind which to enter. I gathered up co-ordinating paper and card and the required embellishments for lots of the challenges. I worked out my sketch , at the same time trying to work in the elements I had chosen. I needed :-
an Easel card for http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/
PB image and a punch for http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/

Animal images for http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ and http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/

Lace and pearls for http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/

to use Purple, Lime Green and Silver or Grey for http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/ (inspiration photo above)

make something sweet and use metal and ribbon for http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/
use anything of my own choice for the anything goes challenges at http://www.charismacardz.blogspot.com/ and http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/

I stamped and water coloured my Penny Black image. I made some bows with Purple and White Lace. I found some sheer Lilac bows and some flowers with Pearls in the middle and glued these all together. I also found some Silver Grey and Lilac edging which worked perfectly for The Play Date Cafe challenge. I punched out two Butterflies, mat and layered up my designer paper with Purple card and assembled my card. I was really pleased with the result even though it was a bit over the top. The layers on my bows made them just a little bit too big for this card but hey, the little girl who gets this will love it!

Shirley

Cute card

2010-09-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

I had checked out all the challenges I wanted to enter this week and found one other to add to my list which was new to me {http://tickledpinkstampmonthlychallenges.blogspot.com/}. I found it while blog hopping and loved the look of their monthly sketch challenge (above). I also spotted that http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ are being sponsored by http://www.ribbonoasis.co.uk/ this week and up for grabs are the beautiful ribbons shown above. Without further ado I set about making my card incorporating all the elements needed to qualify for the challenges. I used 2 co-rdinating backing papers and followed the sketch for the background. I water coloured my Miss Anya (greetings farm) stamped image with Pink and Lilac colours. I dug out a gorgeous roll of off cut lace that I found in a habberdashery for about 45p which still had sticky tape round the middle. I used a piece of that lace, some pearl studs, a gorgeous glittered Butterfly with gemstones and a sentiment which all seemed to work well together. It took me much longer to make than I thought as I had to re-cut my background squares twice. They seemed to dominate the card before I cut them down in size. I was really pleased with my finished card .

Below is a list of all the challenges I entered.

http://tickledpinkstampmonthlychallenges.blogspot.com/ sketch challenge

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ a tweet and a flutter

http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/ anything goes + clean out the dust ( I found lace)

http://www.alyssundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ sparkle and glitter ( on my butterfly)

http://pocketfullofposieschallenges.blogspot.com/ lavender and lace

http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ cute

http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ all winged things

Blue flower card

2010-09-20T04:33:00.000-07:00

This week at Kaboodledoodles it is a sketch challenge which is being sponsored by the http://www.aifgraphics.com/aifland/. The winner will receive a $10 voucher to spend in their store. There are some gorgeous digital stamps on their web site so why not enter the challenge this week and see if you are the lucky winner. Take a look on the Kaboodle blog at http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/ to get all the details of the challenge. My main image is called "Buttercup" which is designed by the very talented Laurie from the http://clearlydelightful.typepad.com/clearly_delightful/doodle-pantry-news/ for the http://www.aifgraphics.com/aifland/ I water coloured it Blue to co-ordinate with my background paper. I distressed my card and inked the edges but only done a tiny bit around my main image as I did not want to take away the delicate look of the flower. I found a edged it with two different inks so I could get a colour as near to my lace as possible and it worked quite well. I wanted it to stand out a bit so I added the pretty flower lace on top. I found some lovely metal flower centres but they stood too proud so I bashed them almost flat to sit in the centre of my flowers. I cut four tiny shapes to sit in the corners to match the sketch.
here are a list of other challenges I have entered with this card:-

http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ distressing
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ happy birthday
http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ pile on the flowers
http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ blue + optional extra of flowers

Child's card

2010-09-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

There were so many challenges I wanted to enter this week, especially this sketch challenge at ThePixie cottage. The sketch was easy to follow and I used Pink, Purple,Green and White for my main colours.
I also used, A Bear digi image, spotted paper,striped paper,Lace, brads, sparkly gems, brads, a flower, a stamped sentiment and I glittered round the edges of the baby Bear's dress. Why is it that when you glitter something or have something lovely and sparkly on your work it never comes out well on the photograph ! If anyone knows a good way to show sparkly bits better I would be grateful if they could leave me the details in my comments section.
Here is a list of the very many challenges I entered this week:-
http://thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/ sketch + option of a furry friend
http://justcutebears.blogspot.com/ lets go dotty
http://www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ a child's card
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ stripes
http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ lace + at least one flower
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ digi image + dots and stripes
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ animals
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ gems and sparkle
http://cinspirations.blogspot.com/ lace and sparkle
http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/ brads or eyelets
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/ what eva (anything goes)
http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/ celebrations
http://creativefriday.blogspot.com/ babies

Card made using a Digital Delights digi image

2010-09-06T03:40:00.000-07:00

This is the card I created for our Digital Delights challenge at Kaboodle Doodles this week. Our challenge is being sponsored by the lovely Wendy of http://digitaldelightsbyloubyloo.blogspot.com/ You have the chance of winning a $10 voucher if you enter the challenge here:- http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/

I have used the Princess Shona image from a new collection which was just released in August. There are some great images in the set and also rubber stamps that compliment the images. Why not pop over and check out all the details on our blog.

I used this inspiration picture to help with the idea for my card. I picked up on the squares in the quilt cover and found the perfect stitched squares to use on my easel card. I made a quick and easy easel by folding the front of my card in half. I used a brad and some ribbon that I frayed at the ends to hold back the top flap. The image was a joy to colour using my promarkers and I was pleased with the overall effect.

I have entered my card into several challenges this week and I have listed them all below.
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ use ribbon in a different way ( I fringed the ends)
http://www.dareu2digistamp.blogspot.com/ shaped card
http://www.alyssundaychallenge.blogspot.com/ use pink
http://bee-crafty.blogspot.com/ digi + anything goes
http://daisydoodlescreativechallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ stitches
http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ 3-2-1 challenge
http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ layers
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2010/08/just-one.html One of something (I used 1 piece of ribbon)
http://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/s-for-scallops.html s is for scallops
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2010/09/challenge-62-in-stitches.html stitching

Pink and Brown girly card

2010-08-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

The Pink and Brown challenge at Just cute Bears http://justcutebears.blogspot.com/ caught my eye this week. I managed to fit in other elements that would fit other challenges too, which are listed below.
How it was put together:-
I used a scalloped card
I cut and added a spotted paper layer
I die cut a square and then ran it through an embossing folder. Fixed it to my card (diagonally)
I pricked and faux stitched some Pink card and added a Brown layer on top
I added my digital image on top.
I added 4 brads in the corners.
I fixed a Star gem on my image
I made 3 flowers ( I punched out 3 mini flowers and glued 3 tiny sequins in the centres ) very fiddly
I added a small pearl flower to my image
I loved my card when it was finished it looked so fresh and girly. Here is the list of other challenges I entered:-
http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/      anything goes
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/                          use a star
http://www.alyssundaychallenge.blogspot.com/   spots and dots
http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ make your own flowers
http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/   use a little bit of metal ( I used brads)
http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/    use a star
http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/2010/08/lexis-creations-challenge-21-challenge.html   emboss
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/     girly

Altered old box

2010-08-23T06:46:00.000-07:00

I altered this horrible old red box to make a beautiful pink gift box. This is my project for our Kaboodledoodle Craftbrulee challenge this week. The sponsor this week is the lovely Jennifer of http://www.craftbrulee.co.uk/ Take a look at all the embellishments and Lace among other items for sale. If you are looking for inspiration take a look on her blog http://craftbrulee.blogspot.com/ you will not be dissapointed. She has made beautiful creations including cards and altered art.

I covered my box with two coats of White acrylic paint and then some lovely co-ordinating papers. I added beautiful Craftbrulee lace round the outside also a strip of trim I punched with a Martha stuart punch. I used punched petals, metal pins, scrap string pearls, old scraps of braid and a Craftbrulee silk flower on the top. To finish off I used some gro grain ribbon and string pearls round the lid edge and a few pearls on top of the lace around the box.
I entered a few other challenges too.
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ 3 layers (mine are patterned paper, wide lace on topof that, and plain pink paper on top of that)
http://paperromancechallenges.blogspot.com/ metal heads(Iused pins with metal heads)
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ something girly
http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ not a card
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ make a gift
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ petals and pearls
http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ round and metal
http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ Lots of pink
http://www.papercutzchallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/ vintage

Wall hanger gift

2010-08-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

I am continuing with my inking and this is a project that I have just finished.
I used a piece of 6"x 6" MDF. I painted it with White acrylic paint and dried it with a heat gun. I repeated the process using a little pale Yellow paint. When this was dry I sanded it off slightly to show a little of the White paint from underneath.I stamped some images from the Artsy Floral set by creative impressions at random until I was happy with it. I then inked the edges (which did not come out as nicely as I would have liked) and left it to dry. I die cut the Tim Holtz birdcage and fixed some Pearls, a Bird (cut on cricut) and some parts of corners cut from a nestability die. I fixed it to my card with foam pads to give a bit of dimention. I glued a die cut key, a trio of flowers and leaves and some more pieces I cut from corners that I die cut on my wizard. I added some metal centres to my flowers and a double heart charm. The butterfly was silver metal but the colour was changed by adding different inks until the colour looked like a petrol slick in water. It gave it a lovely sparkly shine. I used some thin cord to make the bow for the top of the cage and I put I few loops in with the flowers to give a bit more interest.
I made the hanger from some pink tape and knotted two small pieces of the thin cord about 1/2" from the top of the board. I was pleased with the finished article although I could have done better with the inking. I have only done a couple of projects with inking so I still have a lot to learn. I had more on my hands than on the board. the best thing about it was that I enjoyed it and will certainly continue to try and improve my inking skills.
I have entered my gift into several challenges listed her:-
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/      make a gift
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/      petals and pearls
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/     butterflies
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/      flower power
http://www.charismacardz.blogspot.com/      die cuts
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/   sparkle and shine
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/   vintage
http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/   anything goes

A card for many challenges

2010-08-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

There are so many challenges I wanted to enter this week and also to use an image that has been kicking about my craft room for months. She is so pretty and I just had to make the right kind of card to fit the image. The reaason she was kicking about for so long, was that I could not get her to fit in with any papers and card or design I had done. She just seemed to look odd. Anyway not being beaten I've had another go and came up with this result. I used a little more patience this time (it took almost a whole day to get the look I wanted) and gave her a sort of modern Vintage look.
I found a lovely piece of pink card with a gold pattern and layered it up with Mirror card and some swirly patterned scrap paper. The papers were quite strong with patterns so I did not want to put too much bling on and overdo the card. I added some gorgeous thick lace, hearts, dragonflies ,pearls and some ribbon. I finished it off with a lovely sentiment and a couple of brads.
I was really pleased with the finished card and it will be kept for someone who is having a special celebration.
Here is a list of the challenges I entered :-
http://craftaliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/             pearls and swirls
http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/                     ribbon
http://paperromancechallenges.blogspot.com/          pink and bling
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/                          glitz and glitter
http://www.justscraps.ca/                                      anything goes
http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/                  inspiration photo (delicate Rose)
http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/                        hearts
http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/                 favourite things ( I chose my favourite colours)
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/                use your favourite colours
http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/                  celebrations

Giraffe card for our Kaboodledoodles challenge

2010-08-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

This week at Kaboodledoodle we have a Metal challenge being sponsored by the lovely Michelle at Crafts 4 eternity. Michelle is offering the challenge winner 3 digi images from her shop. Take a look at her beautiful
digi's and other goods here:- http://www.crafts4eternity.co.uk/
I used this lovely Giraffe digi image called Mabel, which is one of the digi's that can be found on the Crafts 4 Eternity site. I wanted a nice fresh look to my card and decided to keep the card quite simple with clean lines. I chose Lilac,White, Green and Brown as these colours work so well together. I used a few die cuts and pricked the edges of two of them to give a bit of interest on the edges. I printed and coloured my image with Promarkers and added it to the centre of the card. I also added a few metal heart shaped brads and two metal swirls. I finished off using some ric-rac and two layered flowers.
I was pleased that my card turned out as I wanted it to look.

Fairy card

2010-08-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

There were so many lovely challenges I wanted to enter this week so I made this card to cover many of them
which I have listed below.
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ open challenge
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/ buttons and bows
http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/ buttons, bows and blue
http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ patterns
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ ribbons and flowers ( I made my own flowers)
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ a little pink
http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ butterflies,bugs and bees
http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ blue and green
http://craftaliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/07/challenge-no-5.html make your own flowers
http://diecutdreams.blogspot.com/ gingham
http://paperromancechallenges.blogspot.com/ birthday or celebration card
http://dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/2010/07/ddcc-83-july-29-anything-goes.html anything goes
http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/2010/07/10-week-30-anything-goes.html anything goes

Vintage card with a touch of Green

2010-07-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

There are three challenges that caught my eye this week.
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ Vintage
http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/ (see picture on the left below for inspiration ) A touch of Green
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ Make a card inspired by a Movie. (Kate Winslet in Titanic) (see picture bottom right) I also entered :-

http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ Birthday

http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/ All about Birthdays

http://dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ It's a girl thing

All you need is love!

2010-07-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

This week's challenge at http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ is for All you need is love and this is the card I made for that challenge. I used a square blue card and mounted it with spotted paper leaving a small gap around the edges. I pricked the edges and added Faux stitching . I stamped and water coloured my Penny Black image and mounted it on the same Blue card which I also pricked and stitched. I added this to the centre of my card and added my sentiment underneath. Some double ribbons, ric-rac and and a candy dot finished it off. There are several other challenges I entered and these are listed below.
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ Congratulations
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ Black ,White and one other colour
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ Dotty
http://cinspirations.blogspot.com/ Animals
http://creativecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Here comes the bride
http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/ Touchy feely

Colour challenge

2010-07-26T01:44:00.001-07:00

I am so lucky to be a designer on the Kaboodle blog and this is my project for this week's colour challenge. I hope it inspires you. It is a great challenge this week, which is being sponsored by the lovely http://meljensdesigns.blogspot.com/. The images are beautiful and new ones are entered on her blog every 3 weeks. You could win your choice of 4 beatiful images from Meljen's designs so why not take a look here:- http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/2010/07/challenge-36-color-challenge.html and check out all the details.

Here is a quick rundown of how I made this card.

I rounded off the top of my card and covered it with purple card and designer paper, leaving a small gap round the edges of each layer. I pricked the edges of my card and added some faux stitching. I stamped my image on pale yellow card and shaped this card and some purple card to match the underneath layers. I scalloped some co-ordinating paper and card to make a strip which I added to the card. I finished it off with some lovely pale yellow ribbons and my mounted sentiment.

Altered frame

2010-07-19T09:47:00.001-07:00

I made this little house as a key /object holder. It started life as a bare photo frame. I took out the glass and filled in the gap with cardboard. I cut and glued an oblong piece of board to the front and then cut and glued on a roof shape. I covered the house part with cream card

and the roof with " My mind's eye" designer paper. I used the same paper to make the inside of the windows and used the opposite side of the paper to make the window and door frames. I screwed in a few hooks at the bottom to hold my bling. I screwwed in two round hooks at the top back to tie my ribbbon to. I covered a pen with the same paper as the roof and made a book mark with a very large paper clip. I tied ribbon on my bling and hung it onto the hooks. I finished off my house with a chimney and added some flowers,lace an a butterfly.

It took me several days to get it finished but I loved it when it was done.

I have entered it into a few challenges which are listed below.

http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ Altered item

http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/2010/07/flutter-by-wednesday-113.html

3 or more layers + wings

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/ anything but a card

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ summer days

http://sugarsweetpapertreats.blogspot.com/ flowers and bling

http://www.rosiedeeschallenge.blogspot.com/ burgandy pink and cream

http://craftyangelsonline.blogspot.com/ shabby chic

My Award

2010-07-15T04:40:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was delighted to receive this award sent to me by my lovely friend Tina of http://sparklygirl-tina.blogspot.com/. Now one of the rules for receiving this award is to pass it on to 5 other people who are worthy recipients. Wow! there are so many worthy people I know who I could send this to. After lengthy thoughts I have decided to send it to people who give freely, digital images/templates /decoupage images etc. These are the people I have choosen:-

Jodie of http://bugaboostamps.blogspot.com/ who creates worderful images and gives freebies on her forum.

Sliekje of http://sliekje.blogspot.com/ who also creates beautiful images, some of which she gives freely to others.

Jack of http://www.jakheath.com/ not only is she an amazing designer she too gives awayfree images of some of her work.

Jo of http://www.tinkernco.co.uk/ another deserving lady who gives freely papers, ribbons and images etc.

Last but not least Penny Wessenauer http://community.webshots.com/user/d0npen, an amazing lady who gives away endless templates, decoupage sheets, and images etc. Unfortunatly I am unable to find any way to contact her so if anyone reading this can find me a way of communicating with her could you please post a message here.

The next condition is to tell you 7 things about myself, so here goes:-

1. I have tiny feet and take a size 3 shoe

2. I have 6 brothers and sisters

3. I am very soppy and weep at all the sad movies on the tv.

4. My favourite film is Pirates of the Caribean

5. During a driving lesson with an instructor who's car shone like the top of a bald head, I came across a massive pile of Horse manure in the middle of the road. I had thoughts of his wheel tread full of hard packed manure and decided the best thing to do was indicate and overtake the offending matter. Of cause I have never lived this down and one of my sisters always quotes the story as her party piece.

6. I am scared of the dark

7. My favourite foods are:- chocolate, cakes, ice cream , butterkist popcorn and anything minty

Drawstring bag

2010-07-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

I was playing around with a piece of paper with the intention of making my own paper flowers but in the end this is what I made. It is quite simple to make. I used a piece of oblong paper
approx. 8"x6". I creased it at approx 1/2" increments (lengthwise) on my scorpal. Then scored it in half across the shortest part. I then folded it in half where it was creased. It suddenly came to me that it looked a bit like a drawstring bag and all thoughts of the flowers went straight out of the window. I cut a piece off the top to get the size I needed and made small holes in the pleats to hold my ribbon. I cut two strips of paper(the length of the bag) and pleated these twice each to make the gusset for the sides. I glued these in place and left it to dry. I then threaded my ribbon through the top and gingerly pulled up the ribbon. Whoopee it worked. I then embellished it with a tassle, a bow, pearls, flowers, a butterfly(found in the dark depths of my ATC drawer), a heart and two swirls. The swirls I cut on my wizard using mirror card which never photographs well. I am so pleased with my finished article. I can think of so many little gifts I can use these bags for and of cause they can be made in any size. If you are going to make one of these bags I suggest you use a piece of thin paper to practise as it can become a bit fiddly. If you do make a bag I would love to see the results so please leave me a link to your blog so I can have a peek.
I have entered this into a few challenges which are listed below.
http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/ no cards allowed
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/2010/07/flutter-by-wednesday-112.html Open
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/ get into shape
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ swirls and pearls
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ use a heart
http://scrappyfrogschallenge.blogspot.com/ girly
http://cinspirations.blogspot.com/ on the move (ribbon pull)
http://creativeinspirationschallenge.blogspot.com/ oldest thing in craft box

Kaboodledoodles designer card

2010-07-12T01:16:00.000-07:00

I was overjoyed and honoured to receive an e-mail from the lovely Christine who runs the Kaboodle blog inviting me to be a designer for her. My fingers were working ten to the dozen to type the acceptance, as if I thought by magic, the acceptance would dissappear before my very eyes.
I have been itching to make this post for a couple of weeks but could not do so until the official design team post had been announced on http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/. I am looking forward to working with the resident designers also Cammy and Farrah who join me to make up the new trio on the team.
The card above is my first as a designer for Kaboodle and features an image and sentiment from sets, "sweetest flower" and "life is sweet". These images are created by Deedee from http://deedeesdigis.blogspot.com/ who is sponsoring this week's "Luau" challenge. For your chance to lay your hands on 5 images created by Deedee why not enter this week's "Luau" challenge. You have 2 weeks to submit your entry and you know the old saying " you have to be in it to win it".

Summer card

2010-07-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

I have been having a ittle break enjoying the lovely weather. Now I am back in gear and with Summer on my mind I made this card. I did lots of tearing and layering of different designer papers to create the field and flowers in the background. The gate and Fence were so difficult to cut out and I used scissors and a craft knife to get the best result. I wanted to make a very "cutsie" card and I am very pleased with the result.
I have entered my card into several challenges and as usual here is the list:-

http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/ Warm summer days
http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ A card for a child or teenager
http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Summer
http://ecpchallenges.blogspot.com/ Summer
http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ Create a scene
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ Animal fun
http://www.rosiedeeschallenge.blogspot.com/ Summer Birthdays
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ Simply summer
http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/ Up in the air
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ Make a scene
http://creativecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ Summer lovin'

Black, White and Blue card C4C42

2010-06-25T06:08:00.000-07:00

I just popped over to the ABC challenge blog http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/2010/06/w-top-5.html to add my entry for this week's challenge and saw that I had come in the top 5 in last week's challenge. Yipppee I am so chuffed.

This is the card I made this week for the abc challenge which is X for Xtra dimension. There is plenty of dimension on the flowers which are the main focal point. I used Black and White chipboard Flower buttons and tied some white sheer ribbon through the holes. I then glued these to my flowers using sticky pads in between each layer to give plenty of dimension.

I pricked round the edge of my card and using a black fine tipped pen to draw in the Faux stitching. I cut an oval shape on my wizard machine using black card and cut it to fit inside the oval shape in the centre of my card. I added 2 butterflies and a best wishes sentiment to finish. I was pleased with the final result and thought the designer paper matched really well with the flowers although they were not bought as a set. I loved the vibrance of the card and hope you like it too.

Here is a list of the challenges I used my card for:-

http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/ X for xtra dimension

http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ bugs and beasties

http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/ C4C42 paper flowers

http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/ Black and white + one other colour

http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ seeing double (I used two butterflies)

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ good luck/best wishes

http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/ sew and sew (faux stitching)

Father's day card

2010-06-18T04:21:00.001-07:00

I made this cute Father's day card for my Father-in-law as sadly my own father passed away many years ago. I am hopeless at making men's cards and I did plenty of Faux stitching on this one to give it some interest. I chose striped paper with shades of Blues and Browns and added Black to compliment the other colours. I used large brads and string for my embellishments.

Of cause there are plenty of challenges this week for Men's, Boys and Father's day cards so I have entered several which are all listed below.

http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ For the boys

http://magicalcraftsfortnightlychallenge.blogspot.com/ Father's day

http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ One for the boys

http://cinspirations.blogspot.com/ One for the boys

http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/ Stitching

http://creativecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ For the man in your life

http://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/ Father's day