Firstly I'd like to say welcome to my new followers, thank you for joining me and sorry everyone, but this post goes on a bit!
Today's card is a special one as it is my entry for the DT call at the Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog. I found out a couple of weeks ago that I had been chosen as one of the 12 finalists for the DT call where there are 3 places up for grabs. It was a lovely surprise followed by a lot of angst over what to make, until we were all emailed some decoupage from the cd 'From the Heart of the Garden' by Jane Shasky to see what we could come up with, so that made it a bit easier! I usually go for cute images, so this was a change from my norm and I have to admit I might well get the cd as the images and papers are lovely.
All 12 finalists' cards have been posted on the Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog and any comments left there will be taken into consideration when Paula and her team are selecting the lucky new DT members. I really would not want the job of deciding who to choose, all the creations are beautiful and a lot of work & care has gone into them!
I must admit that it made a nice change to do some decoupage even though it wasn't die cut, so I had to dust off my decoupage scissors! This is the first time at trying a box card and I was pretty pleased with the result although my photos don't show it off very well as it looks a bit flat! I have been assigned the job of making a retirement card for a lady at work who loves gardening, so this was perfect for her and just in case you were wondering, we are going to give her more than the packet of seeds, lol!
Image & papers - 'From the Heart of the Garden' cd by Jane Shasky
Green card - Coredinations Tim Holtz & Ranger Distress Collection 'Bundled Sage'
Ribbon, charm & pearls - J & C Creations
Dies/punches used - Spellbinders 'Floral Ovals', 'Floral Doily Accent', Fiskars Daisy border punch and corner punch, Cheery Lynn 'Exotic Butterflies Small'
Gems & doily from stash
I have inked some of the edges with a Tim Holtz Ditress Ink Pad 'Bundled Sage'
Challenges:
'Anything Other Than A Card' - Come & Get It
'Anything Goes' - Whimsy Stamps
'Lovely Layers' - Divas By Design
'A Different Shape' - Cute Card Thursday
'Anything But Square' - Little Miss Muffet
'Celebrations' - Dream Valley
Ok, I've calmed down enough to post today's card which is for my niece Ava who is 2 tomorrow. I immediately thought of this LOTV stamp - bears and balloons - what more could a little girl want? I'm not overly happy with the photo, there is quite a lot of glitter on there although it doesn't show up well. For my birthday I have asked for a light box, lights and mini tripod in the hopes that it will improve my photo taking, watch this space!!
Image - 'Patchwork Bunch of Balloons' - LOTV coloured with Promarkers
Blue card - Coredinations Tim Holtz & Ranger Distress Collection
DP - 'Spring Chic' - Docrafts Me To You
Pearls - J & C Creations
Bear buttons - Local knitting shop
Ribbon - Hobbycraft
Dies & Punches used - Spellbinders - 'Classic Circles', 'Scalloped Circles', 'Classic Ovals' and Tag and Cheery Lynn - 'Exotic Butterfly Small' and Fiskars Daisy Border Punch
I coloured some peel offs with promarkers for the name and number 2 and then added some Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles 'Angel Whispers' to them as well as the patches in the balloons and all the flower centres on the paper.
Challenges:
'For A Child' - Divas By Design
The post title says it all really, I don't know how I haven't spontaneously combusted before today! I had such fantastic news last week which I could not share until today, but now I can let it all out - I have been invited to join the DT at Passion For Promarkers, how stunned was I? What a fantastic honour! I had no interest in stamping & colouring until I discovered Promarkers, but once I had, there was no stopping me and now I use them on almost all the cards I make. PFP was the first challenge that I ever entered and I have been an avid follower ever since, so to be invited to join them, well, I'm still pinching myself to make sure it's not a dream, lol! I'll be starting on the DT in a couple of weeks and I can't wait! There are a couple of downsides though - I can't join in any more of their fab challenges and I'll have my work cut out to keep up with the fantastic standard of the rest of the talented DT ladies! Anyhoo, enough rambling from me, I hope to be back a little later with a card for my niece.
It's challenge time again over at J & C Creations and this month's theme is sure to be a hit with lots of you as it's 'Cute Christmas'. The prize this month is a £20 voucher to spend in store. This Penny Black image was part of one of their clear sets and it was really hard to choose which stamp to use as they are all gorgeous. Why not pop over to the J & C website, they have just had a new delivery of Christmas 2012 Penny Black stamps as well as Annabelle and Bella from Wild Rose Studio, perfect for those cute Chritmas cards!
Products from J & C Creations
Image - from 'Christmas Outdoors' clear stamp set - Penny Black coloured with Promarkers
Sentiment - from 'The Wonder' clear stamp set - Penny Black
Stickles (mistletoe & ice on ground)
Blue card - Coredinations Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Collection
Patterned card
Charm - 'Snowflake Flurry' - The Hobby House
Pearls - The Hobby House
Dies used - 'Floral Ovals', 'Classic Ovals' - Spellbinders and 'Swedish Ice Star' - Marianne Design Christmas Creatables
Other products
Ribbon
Challenges:
'Layers' - Allsorts
'Buttons or Bows' - Whoopsi Daisy
'Early Christmas' - Anything Goes
'Early Christmas Makes' - Penny Black & More @ Allsorts
'Tic Tac Toe' - Come & Get It (ribbon, free (die cuts) & pearls)
'Christmas in September' - Cute Card Thursday
I was really lucky recently to win the 'Walk The Plank' stamp from LOTV on a mini Blog Hop. I don't often make male cards, but it was my nephew's birthday, so it was the perfect excuse to ink the stamp up for the first time and here is the result! I wanted to enter the Dream Valley challenge 'Something Old, Something New' so the stamp is new and the 'twine' was recycled packaging from I don't know what many moons ago! I'm also entering at Lili's Little Fairies where they are having a DT call, well one can dream eh?!
Image - 'Walk The Plank' - LOTV coloured with Promarkers and background inked using Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad 'Antique Linen'
Paper, map & sword found on Google Images
Red card, twine & peel off from stash
Dies used - Spellbinders Labels 2'
Challenges:
'Black Magic' - Lili's Little Fairies
'Layers' - Allsorts
'Something Old, Something New' - Dream Valley
'For A Child' - Divas By Design
Since I started blogging I have fallen into the trap of making square cards, let's face it, they are easier to make and embellish and to fit in an envelope and easier to photograph! So when a challenge asks for 'Anything But Square' or 'Shaped Cards', I tend to stay away! However, after seeing this tutorial from Split Coast Stampers for a pop up card, I thought I'd have a go. I wasn't too happy with the photo - the roses are actually the same shade as the background card, but for some reason have come out rather blue!
Purple card - Coredinations Tim Holtz & Ranger Distress Collection
Dotty Paper - Card Creations
Image - 'Swing Time' - LOTV coloured with Promarkers
Edges of image - Tim Holtz 'Milled Lavender' distress ink
Dies used: Cheery Lynn 'Fancy Flourish', Spellbinders 'Floral Doily Accent' & Spellbinders 'Labels 2'
Roses & ribbon - J & C Creations
Pearl buckles - WOC
Lace, pearls, leaves and butterfly punch from stash
Challenges:
'Ribbons & Lace' - Whoopsi Daisy'
'Lace & Swirls' - PFP
Anything Goes' - I ♥ Promarkers
'Shaped Card' - CRAFT
'Anything But A Square' - Lili's Little Fairies
'Anything But Square' - Allsorts
Going Dotty' - Joanna Sheen
'
Purple' - Crafty Bloggers Network
'Lots Of Layers' - Whimsy Stamps Inspirations
Today's card is one I made for J & C Creations. I bought Tim Holtz's 'Mini Tattered Leaves' die at my last visit to the J & C warehouse and kept thinking they would look good on a Christmas card, so here is one! I have had this paper for ever, I can't even remember where I got it, but it's the first time that I have used the stamp and Spellbinders tag which I also bought at J & C.
Items from J & C Creations
Image (coloured with Promarkers) and sentiments - from Penny Black's clear stamp set 'The Wonder'
Turquoise card - Coredinations Tim Holtz & Ranger Distress Collection
Dies used - Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations 'Mini Tattered Leaves', Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Circles & Scalloped Circles and Shapeabilities 'Floral Doily Accent', Marianne Design Creatables ' Swedish Ice Star',
Pearls - The Hobby House
Other Items
Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder
Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles 'Angel Whispers' glitter
Ribbon, thread & paper from stash
Hat pin - WOC
Challenges:
'2 Patterned Papers' - Whoopsi Daisy
'Lots of Layers' - Tammy's Scrapin Corner
'Needles & Pins' - PFP
'Christmas' - Creative Card Crew
'Anything Goes' - I ♥ Promarkers
'Let's Celebrate' - Divas By Design
'A Stitch In Time' - Cute Card Thursday
'Something Old, Something New' - Dream Valley
'Early Christmas Makes' - Penny Black & More @ Allsorts
