Gift Wrapping

The current Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge is this lovely sketch combined with a colour challenge:

And here is my creation! All the papers are from Now That's Funky from Funky Hand and I printed them off as an A5 size as I wanted a smaller pattern, the image of Gift Wrapping Sarah-Jane is from Crafty Downloads and I coloured her with watercolour pencils.

I've inked the edges of all the paper, rounded them too and added a fine doodled border. The card candy has also been added along with the ribbon. I was going to add a sentiment but decided to make a feature of the bow instead!

I enjoyed this sketch and hope to complete more in the future!

• All backing papers: Now That's Funky from Funky Hand
• Image: Crafty Downloads coloured with watercolour pencils
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
• Ribbon: From my stash
  
  

Sale!

There is a sale on over at Funky Hand! Just thought you'd like to know!

Click here to go there and see the bargains!

Polkadoodle Challenge 15 - Sketch

And it's Friday again! And another Polkadoodle challenge! It's a sketch again and the Design Team were challenged to use the sketch and also Candy Doodles cd.


And here is my interpretation:


Basically, very straightforward - I made the flowers myself from double sided printed paper and added a button in the centre. And if you can wait a few weeks, I'll be sharing a tutorial on how to make your own flowers on the Polkadoodle challenge site, as for the month of September, it will be little moi who will be the Polkadoodle Guest Designer - so if you don't like the September challenges, well, that will be my fault! But I think you will like them!

The round alphas are also from the cd - I printed them off as A5 side rather than A4 to make them smaller. A bit of doodling and that's it!

This challenge will run until Sunday 6 September but have a look at the challenge site to see what could be won and who won last weeks challenge!

• All paper based elements: Candy Doodles cd
• Buttons: My stash
  
  
  

Have A Great Day!

It has been quite some time since I managed a Just Magnolia challenge, but as I needed to make a girlie Birthday card and the fact that this week's challenge is a sketch, it all happened very nicely!
All the backing papers, including the cupcake embellishment are from a Kirsty Wiseman freebie via Crafts Beautiful a while ago, I've just lightly inked the edges and added a bit of doodling. I coloured the image firstly with watercolour paints and then added some depth with watercolour pencils.

The wings were glittered and the sentiment stamp is Anita's.

So there you have it! For the next few days it will be Design Team posts which hopefully will schedule correctly as we are away in Edinburgh at a family Wedding. Thank goodness it is a Bank Holiday weekend so I can do some crafting on Monday before it's back to work!

• All backing papers: Freebie download from Crafts Beautiful
• Image: Coloured with watercolour paints and pencils
  

Another Birdie!

The current Scrappy Frogs challenge is

Paper Piecing

And I hope that I've got it right! This is the other birdie card that I made, I just changed things a little. The tail feathers have been layered together, slightly curled and inked. Same with the wing.
All paper based elements are from Polkadoodles Candy Doodles cd - the sentiment has been cut using my Sizzix round-a-bout alphabet set and I've dotted around the edges of the letters.

It was another pretty quick card to make, and to answer your question Sue, I used Pritt Gel to stick the feet on the card - a nice generous dollop of glue and a fair amount of waiting and its all stuck down! I swear by that glue - cheap as chips in Asda (around £2) and it glues everything!

• All paperbased elements: Candy Doodles cd
• Dies: Sizzix Round-a-Bout alphabet
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

B is for Buttons

The ABC challenge this week is:

B for Buttons

This did actually start of as the entry for the previous week which was A for Animals, however time was not on my side so I didn't get it finished, so adapted it to fit this weeks challenge!

As there has been a bit of a birthing explosion amongst the staff at nursery (two down, two to go!) and the last two will be girls, I thought I'd better make a start on their cards.

All paper elements are from Polkadoodles - Candy Doodles cd including the birdie. I cut the birdie out, layered the wings and added some fancy tail feathers with some little buttons I found in my stash.

The round button letters I printed as A5 size rather than the standard A4 so they would be small enough for the card.

I've added some wire legs to the birdie and that's it - all completed! I have made another similar card which I'll show tomorrow. The hardest bit was making the legs and gluing them to the card!

• All paperbased elements: Candy Doodles cd
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

Shiver Me Timbers!

Another fortnight has flown by and I enjoyed the sketch from my fab Funky Hand DT mate Carol! This was a quickish Birthday card to make - Samuel has been invited to a party on Wednesday, and its fancy dress. I think a pirate theme, but Samuel is going as a Knight. Complete with wooden sword. Ever the rebel!


Anyway, all elements, with exception to the twine and card candy were recent freebies from Papercraft Inspirations. Unfortunately, not downloads but physical freebies, which is a shame as I'd have liked more!! I inked the edges of the card and then doodled a line around the edge. I cut out the two swords, pirate and parrot but left a thin white border around them so they would stand out a little from the busy and bright backing paper. They were all added with 3d foam pads.

I wrapped the twine around the card and then tied it off with a bow. A bit girlie, but I decided that pirates needed to know about knots and such like. Added the card candy, and that's it!

I've still got a few more of the pirates left. They were supposed to be decoupage images, but me being a miser, decided that I'd get more if I just used one layer. Not sure what I'm going to do with the armless pirates, but I'll think of something!

• Images and backing paper: Freebies from Papercraft Inspirations
• Twine: From my kitchen
• Card candy: Craftwork Cards
  
  

Fresh Air

This is what happens when you let your kids play outside in the fresh air. Ok, so it had been raining. And was raining. And this rain had made a bit of the grass a little muddy.

It was bath time before tea and into their pj's. The bath had to be rinsed afterwards.

I blame the parents.

And Jacob had a brand new t-shirt on.

Still, they were in bed and asleep for 6:45pm. I dread to think the time they will get up in the morning....

Football Dino!

Now this was a really quick card to make! Probably because I'd already coloured the image a few weeks ago when it was to be part of something else, and then wasn't. So I think it took about 20 mins to make in total!

The Inspirational Card Sketches challenge this week is this delightfully simple sketch:
So I used a really thin and naff card blank, but made it better by using two, cutting one smaller and layering it on the top. It works, and I have an instant border too! The backing papers are from Funky Daze (oh how I love these papers!!) and I just trimmed around the dino leaving some bits sticking out then layered him onto the backing paper.

All edges have been lightly inked with blue and green with three card candy's added. The sentiment is stamped and is Anita's.

The Dino is from Dustin Pike and I've coloured him with felt tips (the bargain ones from Tesco's!) and added some white gel pen for highlights.

And the card is for a friend of mine (we met when we were heavily pregnant at a very relaxed and funny anti-natal class and we were both expecting our first bundle of joys within 2 weeks of each other) who's eldest is 6 soon. See how organised I am becoming!! It won't last, I can tell you!

• Backing papers: Funky Daze
• Image: Dustin Pike, coloured with felt tips and white gel highlighter pen
• Card candy: Craftwork cards
  
  

Crafty Downloads - August Challenge

I've a little bit of delayed news to share! I've been asked to be part of the Crafty Downloads team - I entered the July Challenge and was approached once it had closed! I was also the joint winner for July! It's a very new Challenge blog and the August challenge is only the second but you do have a month to create your entry!

The rules are simple - to follow the challenge for that particular month and to use a Crafty Downloads product. There is a freebie which was offered for July which can be found here - so no excuses not to join in!

The challenge for August, in celebration of Scotty's new baby boy is:

Birthstones

Mine is April which is diamond, so I've used Rainy Day Molli and the raindrops I have converted to little tiny diamond gem stones. The spotty backing paper is a freebie download which was created by Kirsty Wiseman but offered for a limited time through Crafts Beautiful. So I was quick off the mark to get this one!

The pale blue backing paper is an offcut from a previous project and is from Now That's Funky. Ribbon is from my stash and I hand wrote the sentiment.

I've coloured Molli with watercolour pencils and she is lovely to colour too - really easy shapes and not too much detail.

So why not pop over to Crafty Downloads and have a go at the monthly challenge? I know there is not much left of August, but September is only around the corner and you get a freebie to work with!

• Image: Rainy Day Molli from Crafty Downloads, coloured with watercolour pencils
• Sentiment: Handwritten
• Backing Papers: Kirsty Wiseman and Funky Hand
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

Polkadoodle Challenge 14 - Sketch

Yeah, it's Friday again and that can only mean another Polkadoodle challenge! This week the Design Team were given this sketch and asked to use the Candy Doodles cd. I do have my favourites on the cd but decided to use something different, hence the strawberries!

I've flipped the sketch as sometimes things work better for me in landscape. All the elements you see are on the cd but the little strawberries on the green backing paper I created all by my little self!

Basically, I copied one of the single strawberries, flipped it around in Windows Photo Editor (basic program on your computer) and then randomly added it all over a sheet of Word. I then changed the angle of the strawberry and did it again. Really quite simple! I then printed the word document out on a previously printed green background.

The big strawberry has been sploshed with liquid pearls (I found them in the back of my craft drawer as I'd forgotten I had them!) and I've slightly decoupaged it too with the stalk.

A bit of doodling here and there plus a bit of light inking and that's it! Quite an easy and quick card to make!

If you missed Nikky on Create and Craft earlier in the week, you can still catch a repeat - it's on at 11am on Sunday channel 671 on Sky and you'll get to see the unveiling of her new cd Jingle Jangles. Some really good projects are included within the cd and some stunning papers too!

Hope you can join the Polkadoodle Challenge this week - for more details and how to enter click here - you have until noon GMT on Sunday 30 August to enter. Good luck!

• All paperbased elements: Candy Doodles cd from Polkadoodles
• Other bits: Liquid pearls and a black thin pen from my stash
  
  
  

Here Comes Summer! Or - Was That It?!

Just about managed this one in time! The current Stampin' Chic challenge is:

Colours of Summer

I've even gone for a summer theme too! And have taken the photos outside! It was a bit windy so had to be quick hence lack of 'photo styling'! I've used a template that I think I drew myself, the bikini has been cut from paper from The Big One and I've just inked the edges, added two brads then the ribbon, the flower and the sentiment is a freebie tile from a magazine ages ago which I've made into a necklace with some seed beads.

And the reverse of the card is the bottom half of the bikini! Simple and quick to make, although it took me about 4 nights to complete it!

Thank you Clare for the lovely stamp set you sent me as my winnings from the last challenge - it really cheered me up after a bit of a rubbish week! I am feeling much better now - I ended up relenting and going to see my GP who has prescribed me antibiotics for a nasty chest infection. So it looks like I'll still be able to strut my stuff with my boys on the dance floor at my cousin David's Wedding over the Bank Holiday weekend! Yeah! Bet you'd pay to see those photos eh?!

• Template: Mine
• Papers: The Big One - Clare Curd Signature Range
• Everything else: My stash
  

Under The Weather

Feeling a bit rubbish at the moment. Had a slow malingering chest infection type thing for a few weeks which exploded yesterday afternoon into a stinking cold. And now I feel rotten.

Not bad enough to be at home having a duvet day, but still at work, plodding on.

So hence lack of creations!

I hope to resume normal service soon. Even chocolate has lost its appeal......

A Perfect Day

The Papertake Weekly challenge is this sketch:

I actually started making the card a few weeks ago and I was suffering a little from knowing what to do with it until I saw the sketch! One of my cousins is getting married at the end of August (this will be the third Wedding we have been to in 6 weeks!) and my Mum asked me to make a card.

The base paper and panels are from Funky Hand - I Do! Word Book (you don't have to make a word book with the papers!), I've inked and rounded edges, then added the organza ribbon - a one sided bow so I could use a pearl headed pin! I added some seed beads to the top and bottom of the pin too.

And in the centre, I've added a die cut pearlescent Wedding cake, and again decorated it with seed beads.

The sentiment has been stamped with chestnut Whispers ink and is part of a freebie set from a magazine a while ago and I think it's Papermania. I think I'll get quite a bit of use out of this sentiment!

Just got my card to finish making before the Wedding - its all cut out and ready to be decorated - its actually a word book using the I Do! collection of papers. And if I remember to take a photo of it, I'll show it!

• Printed papers: I Do! Download Wedding Word Book from Funky Hand
• Sentiment: Papermania freebie stamp
• Everything else: My stash
  
  
  

Polkadoodle Challenge 13 - Two Folds

It's Friday again! And it's another Polkadoodle Challenge! This week the Design Team were challenged to make a card with two folds.

I've printed directly onto my cardstock - white double sided hammered white card, and I've used Sugar Birdies for the lovely swirly leaf design. I decided to be a little monochromatic and then realised it needed some colour so along came the big bloom!


I've used my own template for the handbag - it actually opens out fully so that a message can be written inside. I lightly inked the edges with my trusty yet fading black inkpad and then added tiny seed beads around the edges for some interest.

I added more to the centre of the flower which has been made from printing the flowers onto paper (the bottom layer) and then vellum (subsequent three layers) and slightly curling the edges.

The handle has been made from thick silver wire which I curled around a pen. To make it the right length, I carefully stretched it, making sure I kept the curl. I've added seed beads again but they are loose and move around on the wire.

Are you upto the challenge? Click here to be taken to the challenge blog where you can see the rest of the DT's examples and also enter. You have until Sunday 23 August to enter!

• All paper based elements: Sugar Birdies cd
• Template: My own
• Wire and beads: From my stash
  
  
  

Jingle Jangle (again!)

The Pink Elephant Challenge this week is:

Brown, Turquoise and Neutral

And strangely enough, the challenge is very similar to the Cupcake challenge, so I used the same papers!

This time, I embossed the chocolate brown backing paper (if you look closely it actually has a doodle loopy swirl on it) with a Christmas snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder and then gently pressed a silver inkpad over the pattern. Also inked all the edges with silver. All the ribbon is from my stash, and if you look closely enough, the neutral element is some white ribbon in the centre (sorry the light wasn't that good early this morning!) and just in case, I've added a silver gem star too!

And obligatory glitter on the reindeer (cos its a Christmas card!) The cd will be available to buy shortly - if you can't wait either tune in to Create and Craft on Monday at 9am where Nikky will be demonstrating the cd live on telly (have a look for my cards!) or you can pre order it directly from Polkadoodles. If you can't wait that long, just keep visiting my blog and looking at the cards!

• All paper based elements: Jingle Jangle cd from Polkadoodles
• Embossing: Snowflakes folder from Cuttlebug
• Everything else: My stash
  
  
  

Jingle Jangle!

The Cupcake challenge this week is the following sketch plus to use the colour palette shown:


I've been having a play over the last day or so with the soon to be released Christmas cd Jingle Jangle from Polkadoodles, and by chance, I found just the colour palette! So not wanting to pass a challenge by, here is my card!

All the papers, including the tag are from the cd - I've added a little bit of faux stitching around the edge of the chocolate coloured card, inked the edges of all the papers, either with chestnut whispers or silver ink.

The brown organza ribbon is from my stash and I've prettied it up at the front by tying strips together and making it look a bit like a grubby snowflake! I've also added a silver gem to the front of the round tag topper.

And you've not seen the last of this colour palette either - so be warned! The cd is available to pre-order and its launch will be on Monday at 9am on Create and Craft - more details in my sidebar.

• All paperbased elements: Jingle Jangle cd by Polkadoodles
• Ribbon and gem: From my stash
  
  

Twinkle and Sparkle

I found a Christmas challenge site! Which is good news as this week the Polkadoodle DT have been tasked with making things with the-very-soon-to-be-premiered-on-telly cd Jingle Jangles! And what better excuse than to follow some challenges at the same time!

The current Christmas Challenge is:

Twinkle and Sparkle

And here is mine! All paperbased elements are from the Jingle Jangle cd - I've printed onto white hammered card and resized the backing paper to A5 as the pattern is so pretty!

The image I've embellished with watercolours and blue and silver stamps as it was difficult to see the tree. I've then added some sparkle here and there and also around the edges of the card.

The ribbon is from my stash (have a feeling it was off a box of chocs). Tune into Create and Craft (Sky 671) on Monday 17 August at 9am where Nikky will be proudly demonstrating Jingle Jangle cd and all the DT creations. Have a look out for mine and yell, won't you if you see it?!

• All paperbased elements: Jingle Jangle cd
• Ribbon and glitter glue: From my stash