Not much stitching ....

.... and lots of tearing and ripping!  I set the challenge this week on PaperPlay and I decided to ramp things up a few notches from "distressing" - the challenge is called "Destruction".

I had a late card to make for a nephew - disappeared into the craftroom for a remarkably short two hours and this is what I finished with:

I'm entering this into the following challenges: Basic Grey Challenges, Simon Says Stamp + Show and Truly Scrumptious all have "Anything Goes", Creative Card Crew ("Sentiment as focal point") and Crafty Creations ("Male Birthday card").

Lots and lots of copper heat embossing, I love that effect.  I drew some letter templates and traced onto corrugated card and ordinary packaging card, then dry and heat embossed some of them.  Here's a close-up of the letter "d", which is my favourite bit:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Oliver"

Other: Cuttlebug embossing folders, copper e.p., dymo tape, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Time to get mushy ....

.... again, what with Valentine's Day coming up!!  Our challenge on PaperPlay this week is a timely one, "Love Letters", and we're sponsored by Stamp Fairy.

I've had the usual extra challenge of making a non-soppy, non-girly Valentine's card for my husband - here's what I ended up with this year:

Update 18th Feb: This card was picked as a Top 3 on Shopping our Stash - thank you!

The papers are actually Christmas ones, from two different MME collections, but I think they fit the bill very well.  I do like the letters, I printed them from the computer, backed with chipboard, cut out and covered with contact for shine.  Here's a close-up:

There are tons of Valentine/Love challenges around atm, of course, so I'm entering this into the following: Creative Inspirations, Simon Says Stamp, Truly Scrumptious, Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge and Shopping our Stash.  I'm also entering Papertake Weekly ("Anything Goes").

Here's a side-shot of the layers on the card, lots of dimension:

Recipe:

Papers: MME "Holly Jolly" and "Lost and Found Christmas"

Other: Ribbon from stash, needle + thread, burgundy stickles, glossy accents

Thanks for looking!

Ahem, forget that I ....

.... mentioned anything to do with resolving to create more in my last post.  Flippin' kiss of death, that was!!! 

It's been a loooooooong, dreary January - can't believe we've only done three weeks back at school - feels like twice that.  Oh well, only two more until half term!!  We've got quite a few family and friend birthdays in February, so I hauled myself up from hiberation on the couch and made this for a little pal:

I'm entering this into the following challenges: Fussy and Fancy Friday ("Polka Dots"), Creative Card Crew ("Seeing Red"), My Time to Craft ("Favourite Embellishment" - mine is stitching and ribbon), Passion for Promarkers ("Recycle Something" - the ribbon is from a box of chocolates), ABC Challenge ("Happy Birthday"), Basic Grey Challenges ("Favourite Things" - mine are papers and stitching), Creative Inspirations and Simon Says Stamp both have "Anything Goes" challenges and Truly Scrumptious ("Something Forgotten" - I dug out the Sugar Nellie stamp).

Here's a close-up of the image and the name banner:

Recipe:

Papers: Crate Paper "Emma's Shoppe" and BG "Piccadilly"

Image: Sugar Nellie "Manga Girl"

Doily Die Cut: Cheery Lynn "French Pastry"

Colouring Medium: Promarkers

Other: Pink Paislee die-cut numbers, ribbon from chocs, needle & thread

Thanks for looking!

It's a beautiful day ....

.... here in Dublin.  I was at school and didn't even realise the sun was out until I stepped outside the door at going-home time.  Aaaaaggghh - the glare - had to grab the sunglasses quickly!!!  And now here I am at home sitting inside at the computer!!!

But only because it's Thursday, PaperPlay day.  Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp and they're giving the winner a $15 store voucher.

(Please note: This is a voucher code that entitles the winner to a $15 saving off their order in Simon Says Stamp,  P+P charges will still apply unless the conditions are met to earn free P+P,  please check here if you would like to see these conditions)

This week's challenge is very appropriate - "Summer Citrus Splash", use greens, yellows and oranges.  I have been making a series of quick and clean/simple (for me!) cards and the first of them is my DT entry.  Here's what I did:

I'm entering these into the following challenges: Cute Card Thursday ("Embellish It"), Truly Scrumptious ("Summer Sparkle"), Stamp with Fun ("In the Garden"), A Spoon Full of Sugar ("Flower Power") and The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge ("Clean and Simple").

I've coloured the images with distress inks, used rub-ons for the sentiment on the thank you card and printed the sentiment directly onto the congrats card.  I popped the images up over the ribbon for dimension and added rock candy stickles on the centre of one flower and glossy accents on the other (don't think it shows in the pics, though).  Here's a close-up - and you can see that I took the photos on different days, the light is so different!!

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Togetherness" and October Afternoon "Thrift Shop"

Images: Hero Arts "Peeking Posies" set

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Making Memories alpha rub-ons, gingham ribbon from stash, East of India hearts ribbon, needle + thread.

Thanks for looking - I think I might just have to go out to the garden now!  Happy bank holiday weekend to all my fellow Irish crafters!!!

It feels stranger when ....

.... your little brother turns 40 than when you do!!!  Well, that's what I'm thinking about it!! 

It's been a very busy few weeks - my daughter was Head of Costume, Hair and Make-up at a production of Hercules her school year put on, and I ended up helping her with some of the props and costumes (having said I wouldn't!!).  We had some very distinguished visitors here in Dublin - first Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, then Barack & Michelle Obama.  I didn't go into town to see either visit, mostly 'cos I was working and the weather was really bad too, but I watched avidly on TV and enjoyed every moment.

I've not had much time for crafting, but I had to make something for my wittle baby brudder!!  I find it difficult to make cards for him for some reason, even though he has quite a few interests.  He wouldn't like anything fussy or fancy either -  finally, I decided to go with a cricketing theme, as he loves the game and plays for his local club too.  Here's what I ended up with:

The papers are actually baseball themed ones, but it looks close enough to a cricket ball to me!!!  I didn't have time to check out many challenges when I was making this at the very last minute, but I'm entering the following:  Simon Says Stamp ("Something Sentimental"),  Little Red Wagon ("Use a Number") and Truly Scrumptious ("Anything Goes").

Here's a side-shot of the card, showing the shiny popped up numbers and the wiggly banner:

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Lil' Man"

Sentiment + Numbers: Computer generated

Other: American Crafts eyelets, needle + thread, lots of Antique Linen distress ink

Thanks for looking!

Hellooooo, and happy ....

.... holidays (to those who are on holidays, that is!).  We've been off school since this day last week, and I've been up to not much - the usual holiday sleepathon for the first few days and catching up on housework and laundry after that.  The weather has been absolutely gorgeous all week, warm and bright with lots of hazy sunshine.  So while the washing was drying in super fast time on the line in the garden, I was "supervising" it on a seat under a tree with a book!!!

I have two Easter cards to show you - the first is my late (only very slightly!) DT entry for this week's PaperPlay - our challenge is "Easter Time":

Recipe:

Paper: October Afternoon "Seaside"

Image: Mami Doodles

Colouring Medium: Prismacolour pencils and Sansodor

Other: Ribbon and flower from stash, MME tiny alphas, needle + thread

I don't usually make Easter cards, but as we're going to stay with friends down in Wicklow this weekend, I thought I'd make an Easter rather than a thank you card.  Quite a quick and simple card for me, using one of our old PaperPlay DT teamie, Elisa's, digis from her online store Mami Doodles.

My second card is my GDT for Basic Grey Challenges - the challenge went up on Saturday, and I was sure I had posted it here too on that day, but I obviously didn't!!  Anyway, the challenge is also "Easter", and this card is for my stepmother's birthday this weekend.  It's only the second time in her life that she can remember Easter coinciding with her birthday, so I thought Easter colours and image would be appropriate.  Here's what I made:

I used yet another of Mo Manning's adorable images, I just love them so much!!!  Here's a close-up (is it my eyes, or are the pics of this card a bit out of focus?):

Recipe:

Papers: BG "Origins"

Image: Mo Manning "Easter Bunny 1"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Punches: Fiskars "Threading Water" and MS "Doily Lace"

Other: Ribbon from stash, needle + thread

I'm entering both these cards into the following challenges: Creative Inspirations "Pets/Animals", Fussy & Fancy Friday "Springtime" - and I'm also adding my second card to A Spoon Full of Sugar "Let's Celebrate", Truly Scrumptious "Vintage" and Cute Card Thursday "No Text".

Thanks for looking - off now to get ready to go to our friends' place - barbecue, yum!!  But I see the sun has gone in - oh well, who cares, doesn't matter what the weather does as long as it's the holidays!

It's Thursday ....

.... and by rights, I ought to be posting my PaperPlay DT card, but .... (hangs head in shame!) .... I didn't make one!!  Our challenge this week is "Critters Galore" and we're sponsored by Simon Says Stamp - pop over to PaperPlay and see what my exemplary teamies have made!!

While they were being good girls, I was struggling with a card for my Father-in-Law, who has just retired.  It was a difficult one - he has no hobbies, hates animals (hence no critter card!) and adored his job.  Ack, what to do?  Here's what I eventually ended up with:

I used the sketch from this week's Truly Scrumptious, and am also entering this into Papertake Weekly ("Anything Goes"), Creative Inspirations ("Punches & Dies") and Craft Your Passion ("Anything Goes").

I took ages to decide what image to use on this card, and ended up picking this one of Mo Manning's, I think Charlie looks as though he's celebrating something!  I first saw the sentiment on one of Annika's fab cards a few weeks ago - I asked her if I could use it, and apparently it's been around for ages!!  Thanks all the same, Annika!!  I clear embossed the clocks (with no hands - subtle retirement reference, I thought!).  Here's a close-up of the image:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Wander"

Image: Mo Manning "The Tramp"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Heidi Swapp clock stamps, BG buttons from stash, scallop punch, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

It's still ....

.... snowing, we've got another snow day off school tomorrow, and my cup of joy is overfloweth-ing!!!!

It's Thursday, and that means time for another challenge on PaperPlay.  We're sponsored this week by Whimsy Stamps and our challenge is "Monochromatic".

I went for an all-pink card, for a teacher in school who has just had a baby girl.  Here's what I made:

Sorry about the terrible light - it's very grey here with all the snow clouds so photos are coming out very dark.

I'm used the sketch from this fortnight's Truly Scrumptious and also the "think pink" optional extra.  I'm also entering this into Lili of the Valley Thursday Challenge ("a few of my favourite things" - stitching, distress inks, stickles!) and A Spoon Full of Sugar (Recipe - 3 papers, 3 flowers, 3 buttons).

It's the first card I've made with some recently acquired Lily of the Valley images.  I love this little cutie - perfect for Baby cards for either boy or girl.  Here's a close-up of the image:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Bittersweet"

Image: Lili of the Valley "Baby Blanket"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Wild Orchid flowers, mesh and buttons from stash, stickles, needle + thread

Now I'm going to clean up my messy house, and then head out for some fun in the snow.  I hope to take some pictures to contrast with those I took on Sunday, there is SO much more snow since then.

Thanks for looking!

You know the way ....

.... that every family has one month in the year where tons of birthday seem to fall?  Well, it's November in my family, and what's more (as I'm sure I moaned about here last year too!), it's all dreaded male birthdays this month.

First on the list is my husband's birthday, he was away in London for a few days so I took the opportunity to make his card without having to sneak around!!  Here's what I ended up with:

I used the lovely sketch from this week's Truly Scrumpious (but not the optional extra of petals, pearls and pins, don't think he'd appreciate them!).

I'm also entering this card in Little Red Wagon (use something red), Stamp with Fun (all that can fly) and The Crafty Pad (stitching).

DH loves flying and airplanes, so this Stampabilities image that my friend Sabrina sent me ages ago was just perfect.  I coloured it with prismas, glossy accented Snoopy's nose, goggles and scarf, cut out and popped up for some dimension.  Here's a close-up of the image:

Would you believe I took the photos at 11am this morning - the light was atrocious.  This side angle view gives a much better impression of the true colours:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Wander"

Stamps: Stampabilities "Snoopy Flying High" and Hero Arts "Design Block Clouds Background"

Colouring Medium: Prismacolor pencils

Other: Hairy string, needle + thread

Thanks for looking - now I really must go back to the ironing, I reckon I'm about a third of the way through!!

Aaaaah, it's the ....

.... weekend!!  Thank goodness, that was an intense three days back on the chain gang - our acting principal turned to me at the end of Wednesday and said, with all seriousness "Are you always this busy?"  Welcome to my world, bud!!!!  Got some happy news yesterday and today - my card from my last post won Sketch Saturday and got Top 5 on Stamp Something.  I am so chuffed - a voucher from one and a blinkie from the other, happy days!!  I have to apologise for the lack of commenting I've done this week, I've missed seeing everyone's work, and intend to get a good look over the weekend.

I was talking in my last post about having to make a card for a 19 year old, well it's taken a few days but I finished it this morning.  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Truly Scrumptious and also the optional extra to use a knot somewhere on the card.  I'm also entering it into Double Dutch (favourite challenge - mine is #38 - Boys only), Creative Cottage ("celebrations") and SFTW ("shabby or vintage").

I laughed when I first saw the Mo Manning digi that I got for this card, it's the living image of the birthday boy, right down to skateboard, hat and all!!! I used a lot of orange on the card, both in colouring and the papers, as it's his favourite colour.  I made the numbers from chipboard, covered with orange paper, inked and crackle glazed.  Here's a close-up of the image:

And I thought I'd pop in a side-shot of the layers and dimension too:

Recipe:

Image: "Simon" by Mo Manning

Papers: Basic Grey "Archaic"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Cuttlebug Embossing folder, hairy string, WRMK eyelets, glossy accents, crackle accents, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

DT Call for ....

.... Truly Scrumptious.  My second post today doesn't have any new cards, it's my submission for Truly Scrumptious's (try saying that out loud!) DT Call.  They're looking for two new DT members for their fortnightly challenge and hopeful candidates must post two of their own favourite cards and link through to the DT call post on the Truly Scrumptious blog.
The cards I'm entering both feature my favourite things: patterned paper and stitching.  The first has a Tilda stamp, perenially popular, but I've only recently started using them.  It's coloured with distress inks.  The second is a Penny Black stamp coloured with prisma pencils and sansodor:

Wish me luck!!!

Sending Donkey ....

.... smiles!  Many crafting bloggers will have heard of the accident that befell Michelle, a lovely lady who lives on a farm in Texas.  Some of her friends on A Spoon Full of Sugar decided to organise a card drive for Michelle - so she will get cards from all over the world wishing her well.  One of her great loves is her beloved donkeys, so as part of the card drive, freebie digi donkeys have been provided if people wish to use them.  Here's my card:

I used the lovely sketch from this week's Truly Scrumptious, and am also entering it into Totally Papercrafts (pearls and swirls).

I was originally going to use soft greys and pinks (donkey colours!) - but when I checked out Michelle's work, I can see she loves bright colours, flowers and pearls - so I ramped up the pink - a lot!!!

This is only the second time I've used a digi-stamp, my printer is not so good with these at all.  I dried it with a heat-gun several times and it took a few goes to colour without smudging.  All I can say is I'm glad my donkey is grey!!!  Here's a close-up of the image:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Bittersweet"

Stamp: Digistamp by Meljens at Whimsy Stamps

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Stickles, Maya Road Flower, Basic Grey Pearls, ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking, and if you haven't already and would like to make a card for Michelle, follow the links in this post to find out the details.