Friday, 29 June 2012

Balloon Bear

Being down in Kent, we have been moaning about the humidity recently, however I felt very selfish after watching last night's news and seeing the pictures of the dreadful weather people have been experiencing further north, nature can be so devastating and my thoughts are with those affected. For today's card I have used a LOTV stamp, I just adore this bear and would like to get my hands on some of the new releases from LOTV featuring more cute bears, guess I'll have to wait for my Birthday!


Image - 'Patchwork Bunch of Balloons' - LOTV - coloured with Promarkers
Sentiment - Dovecraft
Blue paper - white paper coloured with my Promarkers as I didn't have the right shade
Blue checked paper - 'Back to Basics II' - Dovecraft
Card candi and ribbon from stash
Die cuts from Spellbinders Labels 2
Stars from a Christmas set stamped onto more paper coloured with Promarkers and cut out

Challenges:
'Any Die Will Do' - Allsorts
'One For The Boys' - Ready-Teddy-Go
'Anything Goes' - I ♥ Promarkers
'Teddy Bears' - CYDA


Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Summer Fairy

One last post today, I wish I could be more organised and space things out a bit, it seems to be all or nothing lately! The challenge at C.R.A.F.T. this week is a colour combo which I must admit threw me for a while, but I got there in the end, with the help of the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday.


Unfortunately I was running out of time for the SSW challenge and had to take my photo at night, so it's not good at all!



Image - 'Birthday Fairy' - LOTV coloured with Promarkers
Pink papers - Me to You 'Spring Chic' - Docrafts
Lilac & green papers - 'Back to Basics II' - Dovecraft

Peach paper - Craft Creations
Fleur de Lis rectangle, oval and lacy oval cut using Spellbinders dies
Flowers and leaves cut using Marianne Creatables
Butterflies cut using a Martha Stewart punch and edged with Promarkers
Roses - WOC
Ribbon - Hobbycraft
Pearls - The Hobby House
'Angel Whispers' Diamond Sparkles - Hunkydory


Challenges:
Sketch - Sweet Sketch Wednesday
'Things with Wings' - Whoopsi Daisy
'Time to Play' - Lili's Little Fairies
'Colour Combo' - CRAFT

On The Beach and a GDT Spot

It makes so much difference when the sun shines, don't you think? Everyone has a smile on their face and things seem less stressful, hope it lasts! There are a few challenges this week asking us to follow a Summer theme and so I thought this card was just right. I must admit that I have had these decoupage sheets for years and had forgotten about them until I had a bit of a sort out recently, it was a nice surprise to find them! so I thought I'd better make use of them. I'm entering my card into this week's Joanna Sheen challenge and then I've got to get working on my card for their next challenge as I am going to be A Guest Design Team member, It's only my second ever GDT spot and I'm very chuffed to have been asked.

Decoupaged image, shells, bucket and seagull - Marianne Designs

Sentiment - printed on my PC
'Sand' paper - I googled 'sand' on images and copied the best one!

Postcard - googled again!
Twine - recycled packaging
  

Challenges:
'Summer Daze' - Joanna Sheen
'Here Comes Summer' - Cute Card Thursday
'Summer Fun' - Dutch Dare

Potty Mice and Fantastic news

I am so excited I have hardly been able to contain myself since I found out that I have been asked to join the DT at J & C Creations! What a fantastic opportunity, although after getting over the initial shock I have realised that I've got my work cut out as the rest of the DT are such talented ladies! J & C have a brilliant website - check it out here, as well as a Blog. They are running a monthly challenge on the J & C Challenge Blog and this month the theme is 'Animal Antics' and if you are thinking that it is too near the end of the month to enter, don't worry as the challenge runs from the 13th of each month, so there is plenty of time. J & C also have a warehouse brimming with crafty treasures and it is open to the public on the 1st Tuesday of each month (next opening 3rd July) so if you are in the Maidstone area, why not pop in and have a browse, I know I'm going to as I work around the corner and I can't wait for Tuesday to come around!

Anyway, enough waffling! Today's card is the first card that I have made for J & C and if you want to find out how to make it you will find all the details on the J & C Blog. I love Penny Black stamps (I might have mentioned that before!) and these cute mice are no exception. I chose to make an easel card for a change and have gone for a blue theme which is a far cry from my usual pinks, but I think it works. This card is also my final entry into the monthly challenge at Penny Black & More at Allsorts as I'm using more of my favourite things - Penny Black stamps (of course), ribbon, pearls, flowers, Promarkers, Swirls.



Stamp - 'Surprise' - Penny Black
Colouring medium - Promarkers
'Blue small star' paper - Craft creations
Blue card Tim Holtz & Ranger Distress Collection - Coredinations 
White flowers - Prima
Pearls - The Hobby House
Swirls cut using Sizzix Sizzlits dies
Border cut using a Fiskars border punch
Butterfly cut using a Martha Stewart punch
Tag cut using Spellbinders Tag die
Card candi coloured with promarkers & blue gingham ribbon from stash
Many of these items can be found at J & C Creations

Challenges: 
'All My Favourite Things' - Penny Black at & More at Allsorts
'Any die will do' - Allsorts
'Time to Embellish' - Crafter's Companion
'Summer Fun' - Dutch Dare
'Here comes Summer' - Cute Card Thursday

Tuesday, 19 June 2012

Quick Wedding Card

I have a small stash of die cut toppers and these come in really handy for when I need to make a quick card, still feels a bit like cheating tho! This LOTV image is so sweet, I have added lace to her veil and glitter to her dress and the hearts, although it doesn't show up too well in the photo. I used the waste bits from cutting out the medallions for the corners, they look just like petals - waste not want not!


Topper - LOTV
*Lilac paper - Craft Creations
*Lilac card
Sentiment - Dovecraft stamp
*Pearls - The Hobby House
Glitter - Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles 'Angel Whispers'
*Medallions cut using Spellbinders dies
* available at J & C Creations

Challenges:
'Lavender & Lace - Joanna Sheen
'Bingo' - CYDA (using pearls, lace, glitter)

Popcorn

Hooray, the sun is shining and it actually feels a bit warmer today! Father's Day has been and gone, but I did get round to making some cards, this was one of my favourites, I love the image of Popcorn snoozing under his newspaper, although I think my grass has turned out a bit bright, I'm not a lover of colouring grass! I have used double sided paper - I have a love/hate relationship with it. I love the fact that both sides co-ordinate so well and you don't have to go hunting through your stash for matching paper! But I hate the fact that one side gets covered up when you stick it down, it seems such a waste!


I'm also feeling a bit pleased with myself as I have finally sussed how to get my pictures where I want them in my posts, rather than having them always at the top, lol!

Image - Popcorn the Bear - Crafter's Companion coloured with Promarkers
Dps - 'Timeless Travel Stripe' by Fabscraps available at J & C Creations
Scalloped square cut using Spellbinders die
Picket Fence cut using Marianne Creatables die

Challenges:
'Father's Day - CRAFT
'One for the Boys' - Ready-Teddy-Go


Monday, 18 June 2012

Bella

I recently discovered J & C Creations who as well as having an online shop and Blogs, also have a warehouse which is open on the first Tuesday of the month and is just around the corner from me! I popped up there recently and found a huge range of all sorts of products, a veritable wall to wall Aladdin's Cave of crafting heaven. Unfortunately funds dictated that only a mini splurge was allowed, however I will go back and have a MEGA splurge ASAP!! One item I did pick up is this oh so cute stamp from Wild Rose Studio, I got so carried away with all the pretty pastel on this card that I clean forgot about adding a sentiment! I didn't want to to start fiddling about and ruin the layout, so I've left her as she is!

I followed the sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday

*Image - 'Bella with Presents' - Wild Rose Studio coloured with Promarkers
 DPs 'Spring Chic' - Docrafts Me To You
*Three Kings gingham ribbon
*Pearls - The Hobby Horse
 Border punched with a Fiskars Daisy border punch
*Circles and scalloped circles cut using Spellbinders dies
 Gems - Anitas

* Available at J & C Creations

Challenges:
Sketch - Sweet Sketch Wednesday
'Lots of Layers' - PFP
'Punch Drunk' - Cute Card Thursday
'Time to Embellish' - Crafter's Companion
'Bingo' - CYDA (gems, ribbon, flowers)



Lots of Layers




My very best friend turned 40 recently and I wanted to make her a special card, so out came my Bookatrix board which hasn't seen the light of day for a while! And seeing as there are several pages to the card plus 3d embellishments it fits right in at a couple of challenges this week on the theme of 'Lots of Layers'. AND wonder of wonders, I was actually pleased with my photos this time, yey!!!

Shoes - Hero Arts stamps coloured with Promarkers, one glittered with Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles - 'Angel Whispers', one I've added 'pearls' to with a Viva 'Ice White' pearl pen
Sentiment from same stamp set
DPs and ribbon - Papermania 'Capsule Collection'
Butterflies cut using a Martha Stewart punch
Swirls cut using Sizzix Sizzlits dies
Tags cut using Spellbinders 'Labels' dies
Pearls - The Hobby House
Pearl Buckles - WOC
Various peel-offs and charm from stash

Challenges:
'Lots of Layers' - PFP
'Time to Embellish' - Crafter's Companion
'Loads of Layers' - Little Miss Muffet
'Punch Drunk' - Cute Card Thursday
'Bingo' - CYDA (using pearls, ribbon and glitter)

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

More of My Favourite Things



I said I'd have to make another card for the challenge at Penny Black & More @ Allsorts this month as the theme is 'All My Favourite Things' and I have so many! So here it is. I love all the Penny Black stamps, but I have a real soft spot for the sweet hedgehogs. This image has been coloured with Promarkers - my favourite colouring medium and other favourite things are: ribbon, gems, scalloped card blanks, Martha Stewart punches, pink (of course) and presents! I have followed the sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday, I love this lay-out and have followed it closely, just rotating it 90 degrees.



Image - 'Hide Out' - Penny Black, coloured with Promarkers
Pink Card - Coredinations Tim Holtz range 'Worn Lipstick'
Pink background paper - Craft Creations - 'Pink Small Stars'
Ribbon - Papermania
Small gems - Anitas
Corner cut using a Fiskars corner punch
Border cut using Martha Stewart's 'Layered Arches' punch
Swirl die cut using Cheery Lynn's 'Fanciful Flourish'
Glitter - Hunkydory's Diamond Sparkles ' Angel Whispers'
Large gems and paper with text on from stash

Challenges:
'All My Favourite Things' - Penny Black & More at Allsorts
Sketch - Sweet Sketch Wednesday
'For A Little Girl' - I ♥ Promarkers
'Lots of Layers' - Passion for Promarkers
'Bling' - Whoopsi Daisy
'Ice Cream Colours' - Allsorts
'Time to Embellish' - Crafter's Companion


Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Full Steam Ahead

Ok, last card for today, and it's one for Father's Day, thought I'd get ahead for once! I love this Mo Manning image, but have been put off using it as I wasn't sure if I could do it justice, but I'm pretty pleased with the way it came out. Although I have some Mo Manning 'real' stamps, this one was downloaded from her website. I printed the text onto the DP on my computer and the tickets were stamped onto an old envelope!

Image - 'The Engineer' - Mo Manning coloured with Promarkers
Sentiment - Tickets from Stamping All Day, text from 'Popcorn' - Crafter's Companion
DPs - 'Travel Light' - We R Memorykeepers (free with a magazine)
Corners cut freehand

Challenges:
'Use a Digi' - I ♥ Promarkers
'Planes, Trains & Automobiles' - Cute Card Thursday
'Background Text' - CRAFT

All My Favourite Things

At Penny Black & More @ Allsorts this month, we have been asked to make a card using all our favourite things. Sounds easy, but actually so much of my crafty stash is my favourite, how do you narrow it down? I've gone for some of my favourites, but there are so many more! - LOTV images, Wild Orchid Crafts roses and buckles, pretty pastel papers, Spellbinders dies, Polychromos Pencils and pearls on this card, but I know I'll have to enter again using some more favourites!

Image - 'Times to Treasure' - LOTV coloured using Polychromos pencils and Sansodor oil
Anniversary sentiment - LOTV
Green papers - Docrafts 'Me to You Spring Chic'
Brown papers - Dovecraft 'Summer Breeze'
Roses & buckle - WOC
Corners cut using a Fiskars punch
Image square, scalloped circle cut using Spellbinders dies
Large flower, pearls, ribbon from stash

Challenges:
'All My Favourite Things' - Penny Black & More
'Time to Embellish' - Crafter's Companion
'Summer Colours' - Whoopsi Daisy
'Anniversaries' - Anything Goes
'Anything Goes' - Lili'
s Little Fairies

Red White & Blue

It's been a really busy week for me and no time to craft until the weekend, so I holed up in my craft room and made up for it by making 3 cards, I could have posted them as I made them, but when I'm on a crafting roll I don't like to stop in case I lose my mojo! There are lots of Jubilee celebrations going on, none of which I've been involved in, so it was nice to make a red, white and blue card which is a theme for a few challenges this week. Unfortunately I don't have any flags or crowns, so I used a free digi from Anne Bodil as I thought she looked a bit like a Pearly Queen with her jaunty hat and dotty dress which I added 'pearls to' and I cut her out and stuck her down with silicone glue. As usual my photo isn't great - you can't see the embossing on the red card, I really must put some time aside to learn how to take a decent photo!

Image - Freebie by Anne Bodil coloured with Promarkers
Blue spotty paper - 'Back to Basics II' - Dovecraft
Red paper from stash embossed with 'Swiss Dots' Cuttlebug embossing folder
Swirls cut using Sizzix Sizzlits dies
Flowers cut using Marianne Creatables and a daisy punch
Tag cut using Spellbinders die
Red border cut using Martha Stewart 'Layered Arches' border punch
Doily cut using Cheery Lynn 'French Pastry' die
Pin - WOC
Pearls on hat & dress - Viva 'Ice White' pearl pen
Ribbon, pearls & peel off from stash

Challenges:
'Use a Digi'- I ♥ Promarkers
'Pearls & Swirls' - Dutch Dare
'Inspiration Photo' - Card Mad Fairy's Digi Days
'Time To Embellish' - Crafter's Companion
'Red, White & Blue' - CYDA
'Red, White & Blue' - PFP
'Use ribbon or lace' - The Ribbon Girl