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
Like many crafters, I love fairies and I love cute images and so when I saw several challenges this week where a fairy would fit right in I reached for my cutest fairy image, but then I remembered Scilla. I was lucky enough to win her a while ago on the Dutch Dare Challenge Blog and had not had the courage to colour her up, however I thought it was about time and so here she is, using the sketch from SSW.
Image - 'Scilla' - Crafty Sentiments coloured with Promarkers
Checked paper - 'Spring Chic' - Docrafts Me To You
Roses paper - 'Butterfly Garden' - Wild Rose Studio
Lace - WOC
Charm - 'Simply Hearts' - The Hobby House from J & C Creations
Glitter - Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles 'Angel Whispers'
Gems, ribbon, pink card and small butterfly punch from stash
Dies/punches used - Spellbinders Classic Squares, Scalloped Squares & tag, corners from Spellbinders Floral Doily Accent set, Martha Stewart butterfly punch
Challenges:
'Anything Goes' - CYDA
'Monochrome Image with Unusual Hair Colour' - PFP
Sketch - Sweet Sketch Wednesday
'Anything Goes' - Divas By Design
'Bling It On'- Dutch Dare
'Bling It Up' - Cute Card Thursday
'Fairies' - CRAFT
'Pink, Pink, Pink' - Little Miss Muffet
Today's card is one I made for J & C Creations - one with no stamped image for a change, but I won't be making a habit of it as I do love colouring.
Items from J & C Creations
Black paper
Dies used - Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations 'On The Edge Distressed Doily' & 'Brackets' and Spellbinders 'Labels'
Pearls - The Hobby House
Roses
Emboss Ink Pad
Ribbon
Other Items
Wild Rose Studio ' Butterfly Garden' 6 x 6 pad
Butterfly stamp
Embossing powder
Challenges:
'Anything Goes' - CYDA
'Totally Sentimental' - Joanna Sheen
'Include A Sentiment' - Whoopsi Daisy
'Pink & Black' - Crafty Bloggers Network
After my recent unintentional break I found my mojo flagging somewhat, so it was a lovely surprise and a great mojo booster to be chosen as a top 5 Passionista at Passion for Promarkers this week. Thank you ladies! Another thing which keeps me going is my place on the DT at J & C Creations where it is time for another monthly challenge. This month the theme is 'Something A Little Bit Different', which I must admit threw me a little at first. I very rarely make anything other than cards, so this was a toughie for me and I haven't exactly gone very far outside my comfort zone. However I have made something that I have not done before, so here is my tag for the August Challenge, why not come and join in the fun?
Products from J & C Creations
Image - From the Penny Black 'Hedgie Friends' clear stamp set, coloured with markers
Blue card - Coredinations Tim Holtz & Ranger 'Distress Collection'
Paper - Best Creation Inc 'Basic glitter paper'
Leaves cut using Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations 'Mini Tattered Leaves' dies
Circle & scalloped circle cut using Spellbinders dies
Pearls - The Hobby House
Flower - Prima
Glitter
Other products
Butterfly cut using a Martha Stewart punch
Fancy Flourish cut using a Cheery Lynn die
Rose - WOC
Ribbon from stash
Challenges:
'Anything Goes' - CYDA - Last ever challenge :(
'Anything Goes' - Tammy's Scrapin Corner
'Furry Friends' - Dutch Dare
'Whiskers and/or Wings - Penny Black & More at Allsorts
Oh dear oh dear, where did the last month go? Seriously, I was on a roll posting 2 or 3 times a week and then along came the summer holidays and it all went to pot! I thought I'd have more time to craft and blog, but between work, ferrying the kids around and doing all those jobs I'd been leaving for a rainy day (and we had quite a few of those!) crafting took a side seat. Hopefully I can start to remedy that now! Today's card is one that I made for J & C Creations, I do love cute images and they don't come much cuter than this sweet elephant!
Items from J & C Creations
'Bella with Presents' clear stamp by Wild Rose Studio
Pink card - Coredinations Tim Holtz & Ranger
Glitter paper - Best Creation Inc
Flower - Prima
Pearls - The Hobby House
Rose
Tim Holtz Distressed Ink Pad ' Worn Lipstick'
Dies used - Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations On The Edge - 'Brackets', 'Vintage Lace', Spellbinders 'Classic Squares' & 'Tags'
Other items
Martha Stewart butterfly punch
Ribbon & gems from stash
Challenges:
'Scallops' - Little Miss Muffet
'Anything Goes' - Whoopsi Daisy
'Lots of Layers' - Whimsy Stamps Inspiration
'Die Cuts & Punches'' - Dream Valley
'Shaped Cards' - Passsion for Promarkers
