Most Distressed...!

I seem to have been a bit more "creative" this past few days...makes up for the other "dry" days I guess!!!!! Anyway, I'm entering this card for Daring Cardmakers challenge of "most distressed".

I was lucky enough to be able to stamp this gorgeous gal out at a friends house; she is mostly coloured with the prismacolours/sansador technique. I LOVE her!

I've distressed the edges...these gorgeous K&Co papers also have a distressed "look" about them....now I see that I should've moved my paper strip/focal image up slightly to fill the gap...great how I see this when it's already made....!

I used a sketch of Beate's....quite a simple one...very easy to work with....I'll use it again me thinks!

I just wanted to mention a blog that I happened upon recently - I LOVE it! Take a little peek at this project. It's a Heidi Swapp package altered to make a "candy" gift. Unfortunately I don't understand the language, but I can (and DO!) drool at the creations...simply beautiful! bx

Cheers for Cute Card Thursday!

This is my card for Cute Card Thursday . This week's theme is "girls just wanna have fun"! Well enough said with this "lady" I reckon!!

Not sure what you call this party "animal" but she looks like a lotta fun to me! I'm so glad to get her inked up....and the matching sentiment (both by Penny Black)! The sentiment would stretch quite a bit across a card so I stamped it onto shrink plastic to fit nicely into the little space!

I must say I particularly enjoy this challenge as I am a big fan of "cute". bx

Debbie's birthday challenge!

I might be too late with this challenge...(nothing new there then!), but it's been created for Debbie's birthday challenge. The challenge was to make a girly birthday card with pretty papers and ribbons...well I think this is definitely "girly".

The colour was set by the gorgeous Autumn Leaves paper, and the girliness definitely comes from the cute "girly" by Penny Black! It's quite bright and vibrant in real life! bx

Ismaki's challenge no16

I had the chance to stamp this cutie out at a friend's house...and I was lucky enough to get to try out the colouring technique using Prismacolors and sansador (so don't look too closely!). I have to confess that you girls all made it look sooooo easy...but in reality I found it took a bit of getting used to...I loved the colours and after a while it got a bit easier; I suppose like everything else it takes practice!

I made this card using Ismaki's sketch no16 which I quite liked; Iused 4 of the K&Co Margo papers (which I love), and these little Daisy D flowers matched well I thought!

Thanks to Marlene I found out that Ila owned the sketch I used for my previous card - that was baaaad! I'll be more careful in future!

If anyone has any advice or comments about the prismacolor/sansador/paper stumps I'd be more than grateful! bx

Tara's blog candy!

If you're not in...you can't win! Tara is celebrating 20,000 visitors to her blog, and is very generously offering a magnolia stamp as candy!!!!!! Fab! All you have to do to enter is post a link to her candy - couldn't be easier! Good luck everyone! bx

I am soooo stupid...!

I am soooo VERY silly! Normally when I print out a sketch that I intend to "work on" I type the name of the owner....but not on this occasion! I'm mad at myself! If anyone recognise's the sketch please tell me so that I can credit it (and stop searching for it too!!!!).

So, I liked this sketch and used some more of the current favourite paper range - MME! I love this Penny Black image and thought it "suited" the papers. Lots of layers again - which makes me think it's obviously a "continental" sketch...please help put me outta muh misery!! bx

Still wearing muh anorak....!

I'm really enjoying these Tilda images... not to mention these My Mind's Eye "papers"! Have I mentioned how much I LOVE them....? I have to use them 'cos I just don't want them to get dusty and lonely on my shelves....!

I used Katharina's sketch for the Papertake Weekly challenge to create this one - I've noticed that "continental" crafty girls use many layers on their creations - so this was new for me! Once I'd chosen these gorgeous papers (there I go again!!) to work with, the layers were easy to follow...! I had to reposition my sentiment, apart from that I think the sketch is recognisable! I love how it's turned out....bx

It's a Man's World...

The challenge this week for Cute Card Thursday is "It's a man's world"...I chose this Penny Black stamp which thankfully, has seen plenty ink in it's day!

The papers are My Minds Eye which I thought were ideal for a male card...yes, I'm still gushing about these papers!

I used one of Julee's sketches to create the card (actually last week's!!) - easy peasy! It's "simple" but I like it! bx

I'm a Paper Anorak!

Yep - it's true! I treated myself to a few sheets of My Mind's Eye "papers" (they are really thick quality papers!) - and I just LOVE them! No...I really LOVE them!

I've used 2 of them here to create a card for Melissa's wednesday challenge. This week you had to "case" a card she had cased...! I've also used a mixture of Heidi Swapp blooms and hero arts flowers, a piece of "trim" that I got in Walmart (love that you get so many fab crafty things there!), and 2 tiny pebbles (sweet pea!) that I've had in my stash since the year dot!

I wasn't very happy with this last night when I'd made it, but today, in the sunlight, it looks much fresher!

I'm off to the disney ice show with the kiddywinkles (5 nieces/nephews) this afternoon, then somewhere for dinner with them. We love taking the kids to these shows, but last year we missed it because Colin's mam had just died; this year he's missing it as he's had to go see his dad as he's unwell...c'est la vie! bx

PS sorry about the poor photo - I miss Colin's steady hand to help me! bx

Vintage christening...

I need a few christening cards soon so I thought I'd better get on with them! They all need to be different so here's the first one: K&Co meets Melissa Frances with some doodlebug flowers and a bit of lace for good measure! The vintage MF image set the colour scheme - I was quite happy with the result. Short n sweet from me today - I'm off to make the next one! bx

Cute Card Thursday...

The Cute Card Thursday challenge this week is "things with wings"...so it was a great excuse to get this little woodware set christened...(yep, another set that i needed when I saw it, and here it is only seeing daylight months later!!). I also finally broke into this gorgeous crate paper! This little image would also have worked for last weeks theme (transport) which I didn't have time to create for...but...I did go ahead and make a card for it anyway!

It's girly-girl on her space hopper (i remember we had a bright orange one of these years ago!) - another little woodware plate of stamps. What you can't tell from this photo is that I've coiled a little wire around a pencil and stuck it behind girly-girl to create some "bounce"; so when you touch her, she "boings"!

I got these little amuse notelets on sale recently - good opportunity to get them used before they gather dust! bx

Lilybean's challenge!

I made this card following Melissa's welcome wednesday recipe which was:

1. use red, cream, black and green
2. use trim
3. make your own flowers
4. any occasion except christmas

Think I've ticked all these boxes...I quite like how it turned out - if you ignore the lovely yellow background!!!! bx

Happy birthday to you...Katharina!

Do you see this highly sought after little beauty...it could be yours...hopefully not though....hopefully it will be MINE! heehee

Katharina is approaching a very special milestone in life, and in honour of this she is going to spoil a VERY lucky blogger with this little hanglar stamp! Here's how to enter to win:

1. Subscribe to my blog newsletter by entering your email address under "Subscribe via email" on the right hand side.
2. Link my blog to your blogroll. (It of course counts, if I am already in your blogroll :)
3. I would love you to write a post on your blog letting everyone know about my blog candy. You can use the trackback feature if you know how!
4. Leave a comment on this post, so I can come to visit your blog, after you fullfilled the other points

It's that easy...so go have a look at Katharina's lovely work, and enter the blog candy if you fancy trying to be the proud owner of this cutie! bx

It rained....and rained...

and rained! The one thing I was really looking forward to was feeling a little sun on my face! Don't get me wrong, I wasn't praying for bikini weather, just a little sunshine...mais non! The sun teased me for an hour or so the last 2 evenings...just long enough to let me see how beautiful NICE really is....! Apart from that, everything went well, we toured non stop, and enjoyed the trip!

I made this little card before I left, just with bits n pieces that were already out on my desk! I love this little Tilda...!

Now I need to go and get on with a few chores - yep....it's back to porridge! bx

A visual feast....!

My sisters and I bought a little city break trip for my Mum & Dad for christmas; as they like company on a trip we decided to go also - and it's our christmas pressie to each other. It gives you something to look forward to, and after the trip you can treasure your memories - perfect! And today's the day we go...yaaaay!

So I want to share these cards with you before I set off!

The card is using CPS sketch no58 - yep, last week's sketch! Ahem! Anyway, it's using this gorgeous Tilda sent to me by Leonie (thanks Leonie!). I tried hard with my colouring....it's an ongoing struggle! heehee!! The gorgeous papers are K&Co.

This little Tilda was also kindly sent by Leonie! These papers are also from the same paper pack by K&Co - I love them!! This sketch is by Julee (wait for it...) and it's actually 2 weeks old!! I really liked the sketch though and liked how this turned out!

I'm going to enter this for Marte's blog candy challenge - "Make a card for a good friend - with the intention to show them how much they mean to you! Use something that makes you smile!" Why not have a go yourself...if you're not in, you can't win!!!!!!!!

Ok, I know what you're thinking....yes, it's the same patterned papers, but NO! it's not an old challenge, it's current..yaaay!!!!!! This is for Melissa's welcome wednesday challenge, to create a card using decorative scissors, a stamp and a chipboard shape...tick for all three!

Although these cards are all with the same papers they are all so different - love that!

I didn't get time to make this week's cute card thursday (seem to have had a very busy last few days!), but I had my perfect "transport" mode all worked out - I guess I'll make it next week! It'll be in the wrong time frame, but thats nothing new for my cards!!!!

Ok, although no-one got the correct answer to my holiday destination, I'd like to send Debs a little something...she was such a trooper "playing the game" so well! Leonie was geoghraphically the closest - so I'll send her a little something too! I'm going to San Francisco.....I've always wanted to go....I'm sooooo excited!

Just to finish, I didn't say where I'm headed today - have a go at guessing! The first one to answer correctly will get a little crafty surprise from me! You have until I get home on saturday! Have a lovely week everyone! bx

Christmas in April...

I received this cute Elzybell stamped image from Char...it's the first time I've had these images and they're lovely! This is just a little quick n easy card I made with mum to try and get ourselves organised ahead of the game! I LOVE this spotty doodlebug paper - although it's not particularly "christmas"!

So...still no correct guesses for the holiday destination...I'd like to keep this open a little longer; how about until my next post? Feel free to guess as many times as you like...I want to send some-one a little surprise!!!!!! bx

Poetic Artistry Sketch No31

I created this card using Julee's sketches - a new one for me! I really liked the sketch, and I love these doodlebug papers, and of course I love the cute stampendous stamp...but....the card is just not one of my fav's.....but i suppose they can't all be "favourites"!

And no...your eyes are not deceiving you...it IS a christmas card in April!!

Ok...I must admit that I've thoroughly enjoyed all the guesses for my holiday....still no correct answers...so I'm going to tell you that I need to get 2 flights for this destination....I'd love to have some more guesses! bx

Di Hickman March sketch no4!

Gosh...I can't believe I'm sooo behind with this sketch! Ah well!! I got a 6x6 paper pack of basic grey's new lines sultry and sugared....they are gorgeous! This is one of the sheets...I love it!! This made me feel as if you were looking through a window into a glorious garden! I kept it all very simple so as to keep the beauty of the paper.

So gals...keep the guesses coming....I can tell you that no-one has guessed correctly so far...! bx

Life's a Beach....

I made this for a birthday coming up soon...and used Nicola's sketch no7 (I'm "last tram annie" again!). I loved this image as soon as I saw it (it's another of my new/unloved penny black stamps!!)....and this little sentiment just says it all really!!

I decoupaged the trees and hammock; used stickles on the sea; diamond glaze on the "sunnies" and cocktail glass; and although the basic grey mellow paper is autumnal colours I liked the suggestion of a "tropical" theme in the background!

Sooooo...crafty gals....as I am suuuuuppppper excited about booking a little holiday today...I thought of having a little fun....the first person to correctly guess the city where I am going will get a little crafty surprise from me! I'll keep this open until sunday 7pm GMT....short and sweet! bx

A little scene...

Katharina has a fun blog candy going on...she has asked that you create a little "scene". I created this little scene using 2 different "woodware" plates. The little guy reminds me of my nephew Cormac with that cheeky little smile - this card was for him!

As he rides along (there are 2 slits in the card to allow him to move accross the card) it reveals the sentiment. He lives in a black and white bungalow so I kept the house those colours. I did a little masking to get me that forrest! I set "Cormac" just above the dotted line on the patterned paper as if it was the road markings....that's it, quite simple, for a cute little guy! bx

My first Ismaki Challenge!

I've looked at the Ismaki challenges a few times - and each time i've been a total coward! But challenge no13 attracted me!!!

My mum came for a little class today, and brought this little lady which she treated herself to yesterday! I immediately thought that she would make a great "pupil". I stamped myself a few images and when I went back to the "studio" (sorry, spare bedroom!) these papers shouted at me to use them!

And hey presto....here's my "creation"! Although I've been quite literal with the sketch, I love how this has turned out! bx

Anyone for golf...?

I finally delved into this gorgeous K&Co paper pad. The papers are just fab, really they make this card! Aren't they great colours for "men", I thought the plaid would complement this little penny black golfing guy nicely.

That's another of the newbie stamps used too...and I'm ashamed to say that I still have a few more to "work". Why ashamed...because I haven't used what I've already got and yet I want more....please tell me I'm not alone...!

We have a lot of birthdays coming in May (including mine!!!!!!) so I'm trying to get ahead of the "game"! Oh, and this is the hero arts birthday sentiment as it comes!!bx

I'm thrilled....

...to have received this Arte Y Pico award from Jakki! It was such a wonderful surprise when I logged on this morning! I am really enjoying showing my creations with you all, and am surprised and grateful that people enjoy my cards with me! Thank you so much Jakki for thinking of me; and thank you to each and every single person who has visited and commented...bx

There are 5 rules attached to this and they are -
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.
4. Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte Y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules.

Now for the hard bit! I have to choose another 5 people....hmmm...Deb, Claudia, Kristine, Leann and Rachelle - thank you girls for all that you share! Really I would like to nominate all my readers!!!!!!!!

I had a little look on the Arte Y Pcio site - a real trip down memory lane with some of those photos of all sorts of everything!! bx