Anything Goes Challenge - Shaped Cards (No Squares)

Good morning everyone. 

Hope you had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend (UK). Well the sun was shining for most of the weekend and it certainly feels like summer is on the way.

I'm back today with a DT card for the Anything Goes Challenge and this fortnight our challenge is

Shaped Cards (no squares ).

I'm really enjoying making these shaped cards at the moment. I'd quite like to get some of the bigger Go Kreate dies that make cards bigger than 6x6. I think I may need to get an A4 die cutting machine though. If you've got any advice on which ones are good I'd love to hear your comments.

Today's card uses the gorgeous Hannah Lynn 'Melissa' image.

I've made this for my niece who's mad about Huskies. This was the closest I could get.

The card shape has been cut using Go Kreate Frilly #7 large and the papers are Prima 'Rondelle'. All the papers have been edged with Walnut stain.

As usual the image has been coloured with Copics.

Skin: E0000, E000, E00, E21, E11, R21

Hair: E21, E23, E25, E29

Cape: R20, R21, R22, R35, W3

Wolf: W0, W1, W3, W5

Sky: BG0000, BG000, Blender

I've also used the following dies to embellish my card.

Marianne - Garden Branch

Memory Box - Small Pinwheel Posie

DooHickey - So lovely wrapped heart

If your after some more goodies for your craft stash, remember to pop on over to Craft Den and have a look at the lovely things Lynne has in stock.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges

Card Mania Challenges - Flowers

Cutie Pie Challenge - Lots of Layers

Fashionista Challenge - Shabby or Vintage

House of Gilli - Anything Goes + Pearls and Lace

Avenue 613 - Anything Goes (optional gift packaging)

Eclectic Ellapu - Anything Goes

Di's Digi Designs - Anything but Square

Crafts 4 Eternity - Colour Combo

Crafting Musketeers - Anything Goes

Marianne's Design Divas - Going Girly

Thank you so much for dropping by and your lovely comments. Hope to see you again soon

Happy Crafting,

Hugs, Janine xx

Divas by Design - Babies and Toddlers

Good morning everyone...

Sorry I've not posted for a while, but life is just a little hectic at the moment, what with work and kids activities.

Had a lovely day at the Harrogate show with my Mum on Saturday. We both spent far too much (he he). Bought lots of new dies, some lovely papers and pearls from Hobby Craft, some ribbon and only one sentiment stamp from LOTV. I forgot to take a photo before trying to be organised and putting it away. Leonie still thinks I put it away quickly to hide the evidence!

Anyway onto my post for today. I'm back with a card for the new Divas by Design Challenge which is 'Babies and Toddlers'. We're sponsored by the lovely Bunny Zoe's. I chose to use a really cute Mo Manning image. It's called Bye Bye. I bought her a while ago just because she's so cute, but haven't had the occasion to use her.

The papers are a very old freebie from Cardmaking & Papercraft. They're My Mind's Eye 'Quite Contrary' and have all been distressed with Walnut Stain. I've decorated the card using Flower and Leaf dies. Still loving that rolled daisy.

I have coloured Mo Manning Bye Bye in my usual Copics

Jeans: BG70, BG72, BG75

Hair: E21, E33, E35, E37, E59

Coat: G20, G21, G24

Bike: R81, R83, R85,  RV91, RV93, RV95,  C00, C0, C1, C3, C5, C7

Shoes: C00, C0, C1, R83

The highlights on the spots of the ladybird bag and the flowers in the grass have been done with a gellyroll pen.

Here's a close up of the image and the rolled flowers.

Why not pop on over to the Divas challenge site and have a look at some more inspiration from my lovely teamies.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Crafty sentiments - Flowers Galore

LEJ Designs Challenge - Add a flower/s

ABC Challenges - Bring on the Flowers

Creative Creations Challenges #6 - The Letter B (Bicycle)

613 Avenue Create #11 - Anything Goes

Ginger Loft Challenges - The colour green

Thanks for dropping by and I very much appreciate any lovely comments which you may leave.

Hugs,

Janine xx

Happy Mother's Day...

Good afternoon and Happy Mother's Day to all you Mums out there.

Today I have my Mother's day card for my Mum to show you.

I chose a Lili of the Valley stamp for her. It's one of her favourite stamp companies. Their stand always   manages to lure us with its lovely stamps at the Harrogate Show lol.

This is Emma's Swing...

This is the first non square card I have ever made. I like this shape but it doesn't leave much space to put lots of embellishments.  

The papers are yummy Pion Designs and have been machine stitched. They're a mix of Small Leaves and Pink Ornament. Definitely going to invest in some more of these, they're gorgeous.

Emma has been coloured with Copics in a soft pinky/purple.

Copics used:

Skin: E0000, E000, E00, E11, R21

Hair: E21, E33, E35, E37, E59

Cardigan and Shoes: RV91, RV93, RV95

Hat and Dress: RV0000, RV000, RV11

Swing: E70, E71, E74, E77, E41, E43, E44

Grass: G20, YG61, YG63

The rest of the card has been decorated with die cuts, which have been distressed with either sandpaper or Walnut stain

Die cuts used:

Go Kreate frilly #5

Memory Box small pinwheel

Marianne Designs English Rose, Fence and Flowers and Leaves

Doo Hickey Dragonfly, Hellebores and Cloud

I've really struggled taking photos, non of them show a true likeness. I must have take over 30 shots at various settings! If you have any hints and tips to get good photos I would be most greatful.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Lili's Little Fairies - A Card for Mum

Crafty Catz #173 - All Stitched Up

4 Crafty Chicks #132 - Die for Dies

Sincerely Yours Creations #2 - Mother's Day

Creative Craft Challenges2 #5 - Mother's Day

Songbird Challenges # 15 - Mama I Love You

Dream Valley Challenges #52 - Mother's Day

Thanks so much for popping by. Enjoy the rest of Mother's Day.

Hugs, Janine xx

Checking FB...

Hi Everyone...

Hope you're having a lovely weekend, so far.

Well,  it was back to work for me this week. I had a lovely Christmas break but I have to admit I'm kind of enjoying be back in my usual, all be it hectic, routine.

The second coat of paint on the top landing has done the job. It doesn't look anywhere near as bad as with just one coat. It's not perfect, but the thought of having to put lining paper up and then paint was giving me shivers. Onto the middle landing now!

I've not made any New Year Resolutions as such but I've set some goals. I'm working on 3 at a time.

My first is to de-clutter my house. Which is no mean feat. I've given myself till the end of the year to complete it. Yes it's that big a job!

My second is to exercise 3 times a week. I've set myself till June to be in a regular routine of 30 minutes 3 times a week. So far so good - Monday 30 mins on an exercise bike. Tuesday 1 hour swimming and Thurs 30 mins Run/Walk and yesterday 45 minutes swimming
.

The third is to be more organised. I've put everything into a diary on my phone. That way it's always with me. I've blocked out chunks of time for blogging, housework, exercise etc. I want to plan meals too so that I don't open the fridge and think what on earth can I make for tea tonight! Hopefully, if I'm super organised I'll get more time to play in my craft room. Yay!!

Enough of my waffle ....here's today's card.

  

My card is made using a fabulous Mo Manning image 'Checking FB' which really reminds me of my very good friend Janice. She is so organised - she's a real whiz with spreadsheets. I've not coloured this image before, but when I saw it I thought of her immediately.

I've followed this great sketch from over at Addicted to Stamps.

She's been coloured with my usual Copics.

Copics Used :

Skin: E11, E00, E000, E0000, R30, R21, BV31

Nightie: YG63, YG61, G20

Purple: BV13, BV02, BV01, BV00, BV000

Peach: E97, E95, E93

Hair: E39, E37, E35, E33, E21

Background: W00, W0, W1, BV0000

The tag was cut using Vintage Tag from Doo Hickey and its sentiment is from LOTV A5 Verses.

The sentiment on the card is also from LOTV (Vintage Sentiments Occasions).

I've just added a few little flowers, from Live and love crafts and Wild Orchid Crafts) to the bottom left corner. It just looked bare without them. The leaves are cut using Marianne Creatables die LR0156.

Lastly the papers are by First Edition from their 'Daydream' 6x6 pad.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps #47 - Sketch

Mo's Digital Challenge - Something New (new digi)

Avenue 613 Challenge - Anything Goes

ATCs With Attitude #31 - Add a tag or sentiment/Anything Goes

Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes

Divas By Design - Anything Goes

Make It Monday #122 - Anything Goes

Saturated Canary - Jules

Good evening blogger friends ....

Well I'm well and truly fed up with this decorating. It's one of those jobs that the more you do.....the more needs doing. When I steamed off the 30 year old paper it brought off bits of paint from underneath too. However, it was just in patches. I've tried sanding by hand and with all sorts of hubbies electric gadgets. The first coat of paint has gone on and it looks awful. I'm going to try another coat over the weekend and if it still looks naff it looks like I'll have to line it or paper it before painting. The drops down the stairs are enormous because it's a Victorian house with high ceilings! Fingers crossed the second coat evens it out.

Today I have a card for you that I've made for a friends daughter. She'll be 17, but is still made about Marie the cat from Disney's Aristocats. I've chosen Saturated Canary 'Jules'. These images are just so fun to colour and Krista has so many to choose from.

The papers are from First Edition - 'Sweet Owl' collection. 

The ribbon was made after following a tutorial on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/user/HowToMakeHairBows). I'm really pleased with the outcome.

I've coloured her with copics. Oh, my new copics came today so that cheered me up. He he.

This is the first time that I've tried a dotted outline. I really like the effect so I think you'll be seeing it a lot more on my cards.

Copics Used:

Skin: E0000, E000, E00, E11, R20, R30

Pinks: R85, R83, R81, RV000

Browns: E44, E43, E42, E41, E40

Greys: C00, C0, C1

Hair: E35, E43, E44, E50, E51, E53

Background: W00, W0, W1

The LOTV sentiment has been stamped onto a Doo Hickey die cut cloud and the flower ribbon is from The Hobby House. I've decorated the inside to compliment the front.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

CLP Sketch Challenge #54

Saturated Canary Challenge #34 - Song Inspiration (Everybody Wants to be a Cat - Aristocats film)

Cute & Girly January Challenge - Cute & Girly

Digital Tuesday #191 - Layers

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping by - Hope to see you again soon.

Hugs,

Janine x

Never Too Old For a Cupcake ...

Hello blogger friends.

Hope the weather is still lovely where you are. It's been glorious here today.

I have a card  to show you today that I've made for my Sister-in-Law. I picked the papers first and then coloured the image to match.  I initially coloured the image with the greens and yellows swapped the other way around. I just didn't like it. Don't know whether it was having green icing that did it - but it went in the bin. I still wasn't sure when I'd finished it , but it's growing on me. I've never done a green/yellow scheme before so maybe it's a little out of my comfort zone.

Anyway enough of my waffle. Have a look and see what you think...

The papers are One Fine Day by Raspberry Road and the image is 'Never too old for a cupcake' by LOTV. I've coloured this cute image in with copics.

The sentiment stamps are also by LOTV. Recipe sentiments and Circular sentiments - For You. Thought the Birthday Recipe went well with the cupcake.
Just talking about cupcakes is making me hungry. lol.

The edges of the leaves and tag have been distressed with 'peeled paint' ink and the flowers are WOC

Card Recipe.


Image : LOTV - Never too old for a cupcake
Sentiments : LOTV - Recipe Sentiments & Circular Sentiments For You

Papers : Raspberry Road - One fine day

Copics :
Skin : E00, E000, E0000, R20
Hair : E25, E23, E50
Yellows : Y13, Y11, Y00, Y000
Greens : YG63, YG61, G20
Greys : W0, W1
Blender pen

Outline : Chalks

Tools : Nesties - Standard Circle & Classic Scalloped Circles, Doo-Hickey - Vintage Tag, EK Success - Rock Fern.

I am entering my card into the following challenges :
Sketch n Stash - #88 Jen's Sketch
Sundays With Crissy - #29 Things with Wings
{PIN}spirational Challenges - #9


Thanks for dropping by and any comments you may leave.

We're switching broadband providers soon so if I'm missing it's because I don't have access. As soon as it gets sorted I'll be back and I won't be competing on a slow broadband with 3 teenagers playing games and watching youtube. :-)

Until next time..

Hugs,
Janine xx

Chequered Flag Tilda

Good evening bloggers...

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend.

I want to say a warm welcome to all my new followers and a big thanks for all the lovely comments that have been left. I really do appreciate it :)

I've been making a card for my Niece's 21st Birthday which is in June. She's not a girly girl so I didn't want to have lots of pink and flowers. She's a big fan of Formula 1 car racing and is off to see the British Grand Prix later this summer as her birthday treat.  I've chosen Chequered flag Tilda because I thought she would be perfect for the F1 theme.

I've coloured her with copics and edged around the oval with fired brick using an old Clartity stamp.

I've been seeing lots of lovely cards using the new distress markers. Love the soft effect they create. So tempted to get them for my Birthday later this month :) Not sure how much longer the will power can hold out.

I found the '1991' brad at a local craft shop - just right for a 21st card. The little keys are from The Hobby House.

The papers are Portobello Road from Papermania and have been distressed with walnut stain.

I hope I've got the right balance - it does seem odd not putting flowers on.

Copics 

Skin : E0000, E000, E00, R20

Hair : E57, E53, E51, E50

Reds : R39, R37, R35, R32

Blues : B95, B93, B41

Dies : Nesties, Tim Holtz - Vintage Market, Memory Box - Catalina, Doo Hickey - Flags

I'm entering this card into the following challenges :

CLP Challenge - Sketch #47 (really fun to do)

Tilda's Town - 1st challenge 'Anything Goes'

That's all from me for now. Hope you have a lovely week.

Hugs,

Janine xx

Tilda with 3 Flowers

Good evening bloggers....

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. The weather was kinder to us here in Yorkshire. Well a least it wasn't raining all weekend.

Bought some lovely digi papers from Raspberry Road last week and spent ages trying to get them resized and printed to the correct scale. Have been using GIMP (it's free) for cropping and watermarks but this just wouldn't print out the same size as I had resized it.  After some long conversations over the phone with my Dad we finally got it to work in Scribus (that's free too) - thanks Dad.

I've used some of those lovely papers on today's card and another Tilda stamp.

The flowers are made from Magnolia dies rather than my usual WOC ones and I've also used the lovely heart tag too. I can see this becoming a firm favourite :)

The image is coloured as usual with copics and I've edged the flowers with vintage photo.

Here's a close up of the image.

I'm really pleased how the image has turned out. I saw this Tilda sat on the fence on a card that Kim had made ages ago and loved it. I've been wanting to colour this since then.

Here's a close up. I've followed the sketch over at Sketch n Stash. I really enjoyed following this although it did take me a while to choose the papers. I'm a bit slow, but hopefully I'll get faster.

Sorry the photos aren't as clear as I'd like them. I'll keep trying. There's just so much to learn. At least it keeps me out of mischief and from doing the housework too :)

Card Ingredients.

Images : Magnolia Tilda with 3 flowers & Spring Fence

Papers : Raspberry Road Nantucket

Medium : Copics

Face : E0000, E000, E00, R20

Dress and head scarf : R85, R83, R81 + E40, E41, E42

Daffs : Y11, YR21, YR23

Grass : G20, YG67, YG63, YG61

Leaves : YG67, YG63, YG61

Hair : E50, E23, E25, E29

Shoes : E40, E41, E42, E43

Fence : E44, E43, E42, E41

Socks : W0

Dies:

Doo-Hickey - Hellebores, Dragonfly, Vintage Daisies, SO Wrapped Lovely Heart

Marianne Creatables - LR0156, LR0205

Ribbon and 'Hand Made' Heart from stash.

I am entering my card into the following challenges :

Sketch n Stash - Sketch #87

Magnolia-licious - Pink, Green & Light Yellow

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - #24 Anything Goes

Thank you so much for dropping by and any comments you may leave.

Hugs, Janine xx