Butterfly Fairy

I have been busy putting the final touches to my GD card for the next challenge at Craft Your Days Away, but in the meantime, I couldn't resist sneaking another entry into this fortnight's challenge. The theme is 'With Wings' and this lovely image is perfect as the fairy is also a butterfly. I have also entered the challenge at 'Magical Monday' as the theme there is 'Flowers' and I think this card qualifies (might have overdone it a bit!).

Image - digi stamp from Card Making Downloads coloured with Promarkers
Blue card embossed using my Cuttlebug
Cardstock and papers from stash
Large flowers - Woodware
Small roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
Finished with gems, daisy ribbon and candy pips from my local craft shop

Dragon

I know I am not the only one who struggles with making cards for boys/men, why is that? Anyway it took me a while, but I came up with this one for my nephew. I followed the sketch from this week's challenge at Passion for Promarkers . I also used autumn colours as requested - just squeaked in for the challenge! And as I used a dragon image I have also entered the challenge at Craft Your Days Away where this fortnight's theme is 'With Wings'. I wasn't sure how to embellish this one as being for a boy I didn't think flowers were an option. So I opted for some green chipboard shapes that I found lurking in the bottom of my drawers - they are supposed to look like claws, not sure if anyone will realise that , lol!

Image - digi stamp from Card Making Downloads coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Papermania Capsule Collection
Cardstock from stash
Sentiment stamp - Kanban
Finished with brads and ribbons from stash

Summer Lovin'

Well, the sun made an appearance yesterday, but seems to have disappeared again, so I had to settle for making a card with a summery theme - this week at Penny Black Saturday Challenge it is 'Summer Lovin' and I have used a hedgehog image as it is one of my favourite characters from the Penny Black range. I have followed a great sketch for this week's challenge at ICS and am really pleased with the end result.

Stamp - Penny Black coloured with Promarkers
Cardstock from stash
Papers - Papermania Capsule Collection
Shapes and embossing done with my Cuttlebug
Flowers - Wild Orchid
Finished with gems and ribbon from stash

Just For You

Oh gosh, I've gone a whole week without making any cards, where does the time go?!! One of the hardest things living with my mother-in-law is not being able to slope off to craft when I want as I feel guilty! However, I am home alone today and so I have been indulging myself. Today's effort is for two challenges. At LOTV, this week's theme is to 'go dotty with circles' and at the very first challenge at CES the theme is 'Anything goes'. There are some yummy stamps up for grabs and let's face it, you can never have enough stamps!

Image Stamp - LOTV - 'Little Girls Swing Time' coloured with Promarkers
Sentiment Stamp - Dovecraft
Cardstock and papers from stash
Circles and flowers cut/embossed with my Cuttlebug
Finished with gems, ribbon and candy pips from my local craft shop

GD news

I'm feeling pretty good today, despite the rubbish weather (again) and hearing that our house will not be ready for another few weeks (groan) - I have been picked as GD for week #3 challenge at Craft Your Days Away! I must admit I am slightly nervous as this will be the first time I have done anything like this and I would hate to let down the DT, but I'm also looking forward to it. CYDA is a new fortnightly challenge blog where you can enter any kind of project as long as you follow the theme - this fortnight it is 'With Wings' and the prize is a lovely stamp from Crafty Emma's Store. So I'm off to start on my entry as I will have to get lots of practice in for my GD spot! Why not pop over to CYDA and have peek.

Winter Blue

If anyone spots the sun, please will they let me know?! it's been absolutely abysmal weather here! To add to my misery, living in someone else's house is starting to take it's toll and on top of that I feel lousy. So my lovely boss (aka husband) gave me the afternoon off yesterday, but I didn't take to my sick bed, but to my craft desk, because, as I'm sure you will all agree, a little bit of crafting is a fantastic tonic! Actually it's done me a favour, as I have managed to make one card for two challenges. The challenge at Passion for Promarkers this week is 'Winter Blue' and I have also entered this week's challenge at ICS as I have followed this week's sketch.

Papers, cardstock, gems and snowflake from stash
Image stamp - Penny Black coloured with Promarkers
Background stamp - Debbi More 'Snowflake'
Sentiment - E-Z Rub On

Pretty in Purple

I have decided that after paying out for a Cuttlebug a few months ago, I really ought to use it more! So today's card has been made with that in mind and the embossing and embellishments (apart from the buttons) have all been cut with it. I must admit I don't normally use quite so much 'bling' on my cards and I'm not sure whether I have overdone it. I was pleased with the image though, I am slowly getting the hang of my Promarkers and instead of using them like felt tip pens (lol!) I am blending the colours better - I just need to add a few colours/shades - just as well my Birthday is coming up! I have entered the card into this week's challenge at Just Cute Bears where the theme is 'Buttons and Blooms'.

Papers - Papermania Capsule Collection
Stamp - Forever Friends coloured with Promarkers
'Pearls' - Viva Pearl Pen (Ice White)
Ribbon - Hobbycraft
Finished with gems, candy pips and buttons from my local craft shop

Lazy Summer Afternoon

I don't know what has happened to the sun we were promised this morning, it certainly hasn't made an appearance here, so I thought I'd cheer myself up by making a card for the 'Four Seasons' challenge at LOTV. I have used one of my newly purchased LOTV stamps, which I adore and some new papers and have tried to get a nice summery feel to my card. I have noticed that most cardmaking bloggers give a summary of the items they have used for their creations. I must admit I have shied away from doing this as I often have no idea where my bits and pieces have come from! I'm a bit of a storage nut and when I've bought new things, they come out of their wrappers and get put into various storage files/boxes etc. However as I have used new things today I know exactly where they came from, so here is a list!

Papers - Papermania Capsule Collection
Stamp - LOTV - 'Lazy Afternoon' coloured using Promarkers
Sentiment stamp - Popcorn The Bear - Father's Day

New Challenge Blog - CES Challenges

I have been following Crafty Emma's Blog for a while now and not only has she opened a new shop, but she has now got her own Challenge Blog (I don't know where she gets the time to fit everything in!). The first challenge at CES Challenges will take place on Saturday 28th August, but until then Emma is offering some very tasty candy to 3 lucky winners, so pop over to find out more and enter the draw.

RRR Blog Hop

Just a quick post before I fall into bed. I have just discovered RRR (Really Reasonable Ribbons) which is an excellent place to shop for your ribbons. They have a great blog (Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings) and at the moment there is a fantastic blog hop taking place, so if you fancy joining in the fun and getting the chance to win some yummy blog candy along the way just click here!

On the Beach

Oh dear! This card is such a late entry it may not even qualify for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge. I didn't think I had anything suitable to fit in with the theme of 'On the Beach', then I came across this little fella enjoying his ice-cream, so I think it should count. I also am entering the challenge at ICS and have followed this week's lovely sketch. I have a free weekend coming up and intend to spend it crafting with some newly purchased goodies, so hopefully I shall be posting some more challenge cards soon!

Favourite Things

Well, I didn't quite keep my promise, as this card is for the LOTV challenge which ends tonight! The theme is another great sketch. However I have been browsing my favourite blogs and have discovered two new challenge blogs where the challenges are fortnightly and I am in plenty of time for them! At Magical Monday the theme is 'pink & white' using a magical image (my trusty LOTV fairy on tiptoes!) and as pink is my favourite colour this card also fits in with the theme of 'favourite things' at Craft Your Days Away.

Flowers in Black & White

One more 'by the skin of my teeth entry' then I promise to be more organised and get my cards done within a couple of days of the challenges being announced!! This one is for ICS where the theme is a sketch. I must admit I enjoy the sketch challenges as it takes out some of the thinking needed and as I have so little time to craft at the moment, that is definitely a benefit!

Bear Hug

Oh dear, another really late entry, this time for the Just Cute Bear Challenge where the theme this week is NOT a square and include a tag. I'm pleased to be back crafting, but can't wait to get into my own home where I can put everything in it's place and not be crafting out of boxes! Fingers crossed it won't be much longer!

PB Recipe

Another late entry, but at least I'm getting to craft a bit more now. This card is for the challenge at Penny Black Saturday Challenge. This week we are cooking! The recipe is 1 circle, two papers and 3 flowers. I was pleased with my card, but I can't say the same for my photographic skills, I really need to brush up on them, so apologies for a naf photo, but as usual I'm in a hurry and can't get it any clearer!

Fairy On Tiptoes

Finally, I found some time to produce a challenge card, talk about withdrawl symtoms! Unfortunately it is a rather late entry, but 'better late than never' I suppose. It is for the fortnightly challenge at Lili Of The Valley where the theme is a rather lovely sketch. I have had to resort to my trusty fairy on tiptoes LOTV stamp as it is the only one I own, although I have got some more on order which should hopefully be dropping through my mailbox any day, can't wait!