The Sugar Bowl - Challenge 16

If you are like me, sometimes you make a card that you struggled with, but that you are really proud of. Well, this is one of those cards. You see, I've always had difficulty putting lots of different pattern papers together (even from the same collection) and have always fretted that it was too much, or that the design looked overloaded. However, for this one, I literally forced myself to get on with it, and I'm so pleased I did as I love the result! :o)

I followed the sketch for this weeks challenge over on The Sugar Bowl. Unfortunately, I couldn't get any doodling in, not because it scares me (!), but because it didn't really fit the style of my card. Hope my entry still counts!

Goodie List........
Stamps: Sugar Nellie, Sentiment by Whiff of Joy.
Paper: Classic K 'Bailey' by K & Co, Bazzill 'Kraft' CS.
Ink & Colour: Memento (Tuxedo Black) & Copic markers.
Tools & Embellishments: Nestabilities, Fiskars Apron Lace punch, gems, ribbon and button from stash.

Best dash, I'm off to see some of Ali's family today and I still need to put me face on!
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Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge

Rain, rain go AWAY! When is it ever going to stop?! I am so missing the sunshine.....! Never happy us Brits are we?! Anyway, enough of my whining..... just popped on quick to share my card for this weeks Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge with you.

I simply adore this paper but I'm not sure that it loves me very much! I really struggled with it which is a bit of a shame. It was a lovely excuse to ink up my new set of Gorjussness though!

Goodie List........
Stamps: Gorjuss' from Set 3 - by Sugar Nellie, Whiff of Joy Sentiments.
Paper: Papermania 'Blueberry Hill', Core'dinations CS.
Ink & Colour: Memento (Tuxedo Black) & Copic markers.
Tools & Embellishments: Nestabilities, ribbon coloured with Copics, pearls, button and embroidery thread from stash.

Right, best go and cook the din-dinz! Take care chicks!
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Copic Colour Challenge 19

Can't believe we are on week 19 of the Copic Colour Challenge already. Also can't believe that it is my birthday a week tomorrow - woo-hoo! Is it sad/soppy that the thing I'm looking forward to most is meeting up with my lovely Mum for a shopping trip and some tasty lunch? My parent's still live on the Isle of Wight where I grew up so I can never just nip round to say hello, so I tend to miss them lots and get terribly excited when I'm due to see them. Not long to go now though :o)

This week on CCC, the colour combo is BV00, G00 and RV02. I majorly struggled with my card. It took me DAYS. I coloured 4 images and whilst they all looked pretty good, I could not for the life of me make a card out of them. I think the problem was that I bought a sheet of gorgeous Basic Grey 'Perhaps' paper at the weekend which was perfect for this colour combo. The only problem was that I couldn't find any other paper to match it so that forced me to make a 1 layer card - eek! Think I've solved the problem for the future though as I've spotted that Tracy (my saviour on many occasions!) has some yummy paper in this range at Dies to Die For. Guess where I'll be shopping on pay day?!

So here is what I finally settled on. Bit of a change in style for me, a bit more soft and feminine, a change from my usual bold and bright style. I'm pretty pleased with it though, especially considering that I went through hell to actually produce it! I has made me realise two things though...... 1) I must do faux stitching more often as I love the effect...... and 2) I am getting an addiction to Kraft cardstock!

Goodie List........
Stamps: Sugar Nellie 'Bear Hug', Sentiment from the lovely Aimee!
Paper: Basic Grey 'Perhaps', Bazzill 'Kraft' cardstock.
Ink & Colour: Memento (Tuxedo Black) and Copic markers.
Tools and Embellishments: Nestabilities, faux stitching, Prima flowers, embroidery thread and buttons from stash.

Hope all you fellow Copic users out there are able to join in this week!

P.S. For those that are interested, the blonde hair combo I discovered the other week was Y21, YR23, E33 and E35. Apparently I did write it down afterall!

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Copic Colour Challenge 18

Can't wait for this week to be over.... Once it is over, work will go back to being nice and calm. I'll be able to drink coffee, eat biscuits and send the odd email - which is about a million miles away from how it has been for the last month or so!

So, as it is Wednesday, it's Copic Colour Challenge day again. I lurved the colours for this weeks challenge - R85, BG05 and Y15 - but then, I REALLY should like them as I picked them!

I'm so chuffed with my colouring on this one as I finally figured out the right colour combo for blonde hair - woohoo me! So, you can expect to see lots of blondies on my cards from now on!

Goodie List........
Stamps: Sugar Nellie - Gorjuss 'Little Goth Girl', Papermania sentiment.
Paper: Basic Grey 'Urban Prairie' and Bazzill Kraft.
Ink & Colour: Memento (Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa) and Copic markers.
Embellishments: Prima flowers, Dew Drops and brads from stash.

Hope all of you Copic users out there get a chance to play along with my sunny colour combo this week!

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New toys to play with....!

You may be forgiven for thinking that I have totally dropped off a cliff. Well, I can confirm that I am still alive and kicking and have in fact managed to make 4 whole cards this weekend! I know, I was stunned too! Unfortunately, I am not massively happy with any of them but refuse to put them in the bin so will be sharing them with you in the coming days. My mojo appeared fine and they went together easily enough but I didn't get that "I'm satisfied" feeling at the end of them... very odd!

This was my first card of the weekend and I actually think it is the one I like the least, which I find weird as I love all of the individual elements! I've been after some Kraft CS and this American Crafts DP for ages and so was pleased to finally get my hands on some to have a play. It was also an opportunity to ink up this super cute Gorjuss girlie from set 2, a recent 'shared' purchase with my pal Sheila. In my head, this card wasn't going to look like this, it just didn't translate brilliantly!

Goodie List........
Stamps: Sugar Nellie - Gorjuss Set 2.
Paper: American Crafts 'Everyday', Bazzill Kraft CS, Core'dinations CS.
Ink & Colour: Memento (Tuxedo Black) and Copic markers.
Embellishments: Card Candy, crochet flower and ribbon from stash.

Hope you have all had a great weekend and aren't missing those blisteringly hot days too much!
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Cute Card Thursday #58

Oh, I SO love Bank Holiday weekends and this one has been no exception. As you know, I had the house to myself yesterday and so spent the day crafting and singing along (badly) to CD's that I haven't listened to in years. Isn't it amazing how you always remember the words once the music starts?! Thats always amazed me....! I also got the chance to play with a few new toys that I have 'acquired' over the last couple of days. Probably the main new toy is my shiny new Wii Fit board! I've wanted one for ages and luckily had £23 of Amazon vouchers which knocked the price down to £45. Bargain. As I'm not the best at getting motivated for exercise (ahem), I thought this might help. Well, I'm now on day 3 and it's going well! I ache all over but have managed 1.5 hours each day - check me out!

I've also purchased a few new crafty bits this week too, namely PAPERS and LOTS of them. I think I need to face up to the fact that I am totally addicted to pretty papers! I bought some new Daisy Bucket papers last weekend and also managed to pick up a few faves from my wish list yesterday from Sweet Shoppe Designs at 30% off! Zoe Pearn, you are a legend - I salute you!

Right, enough waffle. Onto some cardage! I made this card and then realised that as it was a little bit shiny, it was eligible for this weeks CCT challenge - Mirror Mirror!

I am LOVING this image! I received it yesterday in an enormous parcel from my wonderful friend Hege. Hege won my Blog Candy a month or so ago. She said she wanted to send me something to say thank you so I sent her my address. I was expecting a card but wasn't prepared for the veritable heap of stuff that landed on my doormat! There was this beautiful card, a huge pile of stamped images, some ribbon, fab papers, big flowers, buttons, Stickles.... yep, the list goes on! I was totally spoilt! Thank you so much Hege, you are a sweetheart! ~♥~

Goodie List........
Stamps: 'Reflective' by Sugar Nellie, Sentiment from freebie Papermania set.
Digital Paper: 'Positively' by Sara Amarie - Sweet Shoppe Designs.
Ink & Colour: Memento (Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa), Copic Markers & white gel pen.
Embellishments: Distressed Stripes Cuttlebug Folder, Nestabilities, charm from Vicki, ribbon and brads from stash.

Blimey, I've waffled today haven't I?!

Enjoy the sunshine!

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Friday Sketchers #48

What a flaming week it's been so far.... Work hasn't really calmed down much as we've just lurched from one drama to another, but I do feel a little bit more like myself now thankfully. Thanks for all of your concern, you are all just lovely. I really appreciate your good wishes.

I have had some good news though...... Tracy has asked the Dies to Die For DT (me included!) to stay on permanently! I'm so over the moon - thanks so much Tracy!

Unfortunately (and typically!), I don't have a DTDF inspired card to celebrate with today! However, I had a lovely time making this one for Friday Sketchers #48 as I got to play with one of the delicious Gorjuss girls that Vicki sent me!

In hindsight (which is obviously a WONDERFUL thing), I should have moved the ticket down a bit to fill that space. Heigh-ho, still like it though!

Goodie List........
Stamps: Sugar Nellie.
Digital Paper: Manda Bean - Even Sweeter Stuff - Sweet Shoppe Designs.
Ink & Colour: Memento (Tuxedo Black) and Copics.
Embellishments: Ticket from Designer Digitals and ribbon from stash.

I've been a very lucky girly AGAIN this week as I've been spoilt by yet another crafting chum. I was recently sent a $25 voucher for Amazon.com. Unfortunately, as .com is the US version of the site, I couldn't use it as they wouldn't deliver anything I actually wanted to the UK. Grr. So.... I called upon my lovely friend Aimee and she very kindly agreed to accept delivery for me. Well, my parcel from her arrived yesterday.... Inside were the Label 1 Nesties I had ordered and (just because she is totally wonderful!), Aimee had included a big pack of clear stamps (complete with block and ink pad!) and a tin full of punched flowers and some felt ones too. It was a big surprise and totally unexpected. Thank you SO MUCH Aimee - you are a superstar! You really didn't have to but I'm kinda glad you did as my new goodies are awesome! Mwah! ~♥~

Right, best go and do some work, I 'spose.... Toodles!

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Am I A Scrap Addict #11

Blimey. Snow! Where on earth did that come from?! My readers from the US will fall about laughing when they read this but 2 -3 inches of snow caused utter chaos today in Southampton. Across the South, it is officially the most snow we have had for about 20 years. The whole place has looked amazing, so pretty. However, the roads were an utter nightmare as most of them around our area had not been treated at all so they were like giant ice rinks. It was a very surreal experience to be pirouetting down our road in the car! More snow today but thankfully, the roads look a little clearer....wish me luck getting to work!

I'm a day late in posting this - sorry Deanne! - but here is my DT card for this weeks Am I a Scrap Addict? sketch challenge. I must admit, I completely forgot about this one and so it was a total rush job trying to make it. I completely ballsed up the first attempt, spent an hour trying to correct it and then shoved it in the bin. It was in all honesty, the worst card I've ever made! So, I ended up with this plain and simple one. It's not 100% faithful to the sketch but in an abstract way, all the elements are still there..... if you look closely.....!

Anyway! Moving swiftly on..... The image is Pen Pal by Sugar Nellie which I can actually colour in properly now I have Copics (my Promarkers felt too chunky to get in all the little areas). The paper is Piggy Tales and the pink card my image is mounted on is K&Co. My 'Thinking of You' sentiment is from a MFT set.

By the way, I have to share with you my amazing parcel that arrived this week. I decided I fancied some new paper so I did a quick search on ukscrappers and found The Craftz Boutique. Not only did they have lovely papers, they were fab prices too. So I purchased and the next day, they were in my hands. "That's great but lots of retailers have quick shipping" I hear you cry, "What's so great about these guys?". Well, not everywhere packs your papers like this do they?!

I cannot tell you how super-dooper chuffed I was! Made my day :o)

Hope you all stay safe and warm with all this snow around!

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A Very, Very Late Mojo Monday Card!

Hi all! I'm back with a late Mojo Monday card from last week.... I think! I really liked the sketch but wanted to wait until my Nesties arrived. But, now they are here.......whoo-hoo!

This one is a bit of a Doodlebug fest with Doodlebug papers and Doodlebug Bazzill card. I've embossed the Bubblegum card base with Swiss Dots and have matted the papers with Swimming Pool card. The image is one I received from Beth ages ago and I have coloured with Prismas and Sansodor, highlighting with Stardust pens. The sentiment is from a clear £1 set.

Well, I think there is definitely one thing we can all say about it - it's definitely bright and colourful!

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A Spoon Full of Sugar Sketch Challenge & Christmas Card #1!

Wow, the 2nd post of the day. You don't get that from me very often! This card was made following the sketch on the A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge blog. It's also a card full of firsts.... it's the first time I've taken part in a 'Spoon Full of Sugar' challenge, it's the first time I've used these papers, it's the first time I've used these stamps and..........it's my first ever Christmas card!

I started by mounting a square of Feather Boa Bazzill Bling on to a square card blank. I then layered up slices of Dovecraft Christmas Blues paper according to the sketch, matting it on to yet more Bazzill (no idea what colour this time though!). I coloured Maggie with Prismacolors and Sansodor and highlighted her star with sparkly Stickles. I tied ribbon around the whole thing and added then mounted the image onto the card with foam pads. The sentiment came courtesy of a £1 clear stamp set and was highlighted with some star shaped gems. As usual, yet more gems finished the card!

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Friday Sketchers.....Just a Little Bit Late!

I fear that I am a bit late with this one but, hey-ho, here is my take on the Friday Sketchers Sketch from last friday......

For this card, I coloured my new 'Penpal' stamp by Elisabeth Bell with my gorgeous Prismacolors and Sansodor...... can you tell I'm loving them?! After highlighting the girlie with white gel pen, I matted the image on some layered up Basic Grey 'Two Scoops' papers. I've had these papers for months, think they're lovely but struggle to actually use them so I'm really pleased I managed it here! I added 3 pearl brads and a couple of Laura Ashley flowers to embellish the card and finished it all off with a Studio G £1 sentiment stamp. It's a first you know...... not a piece of ribbon or adhesive gem in sight!

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Cute Card Thursday Challenge - No Patterned Paper

The Cute Card Thursday challenge this week is to create a card without using any patterned paper. Hey, that's no problem for me I thought - I've finally got my Cuttlebug!

So, without further ado, here is my 2nd ever Cuttlebug card and also my entry for this weeks CCT challenge.

Do you ever make a card and then think, "Yes, that really works"?. Well, I had one of those {rare} moments when I stepped back to admire this card. I love it!

I mounted some pink cardstock onto a card blank and ran a matching piece through the Cuttlebug using the Perfectly Paisley embossing folder. I then attacked the card with an emery board, exposing the white core of the embossed sections of the cardstock. This panel was then matted on lighter pink card. I coloured the Sugar Nellie image which I received in our recent SBS swap (thanks Tracey!) with watercolour pencils, inked the edges and then matted this on pale pink card. I highlighted the corners of the card with some gorgeous little glass beads which I received in the stash Tracy from 'Dies to Die For' sent me. I finished the card with a 'Happy Birthday' seal from Stamps Away.

Hope you like my handiwork as much as I do!

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