High Hopes, Allsorts & Pink Elephant

It's the first time I've entered a challenge at High Hopes - my lovely blogging friend Squirrel (from Squirrels World) sent me a selection of fab High Hopes images. I've been wanting to get some of the stamps for ages, but there are so many lovely ones that I tend to just look at them all and can't decide which to get! I loved this sketch and Walkabout Wallie's great, thanks Squirrel hun :o) I'm also entering my card for the challenges at Allsorts where they want to see buttons, and Pink Elephant where they want to see colouring in your favourite medium. I've coloured this with my fave promarkers as usual.

The papers are MME bloom & grow, with bazzill cardstock. I've cut the image out with a Nellie Snellen circle die and added some buttons tied with thread and some card candy dots. It came together really quickly this card, which is always a bonus!

Crafty Cardmakers challenge 9 - alternative Christmas

It's time for another challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and it's a fun one - we want to see either non-traditional Christmas colours (so no red, green & gold) or non-Christmas images done in traditional colours. Have a look at the rest of the DT's fabulous work and join us if you can :o)

I've made this one for an order (as I suddenly have about 20 orders to complete and am panicking a bit!), and used a large 8"x 8" card blank. I've used a gorgeous digi stamp from Pink Cat Studio, coloured with promarkers and with bucketloads of glamour dust added! The papers are MME, with some sparkly blue cardstock from my stash. The sentiment is computer generated using Scriptina font. The snowflake was made using the cuttlebug icicle die, again with loads of glamour dust, and added large flat back pearls for snowflake centres.

I'm also entering my card for the following challenges:

• Card Patterns - followed the sketch (although I have adapted it slightly, hope that's ok!)
• Stamp With Fun - Christmas
• Bee Crafty - sparkle
• Crafty Catz - angels & fairies
• Dare U 2 Digistamp - glitter
• Sophisticat - snowflakes & sparkle
  

Totally Gorjuss challenge 7 - not a card

I'm very late getting my DT project for Totally Gorjuss on here tonight. We had the hairdresser round tonight doing everyone's hair (me, hubby, and the 2 boys) and it meant we were running late with everything. Anyway, this week we'd like to see you make anything other than a card - it's been great seeing all the different ideas the other DT girls came up with so I can't wait to see what you all come up with if you can join us this week :o)

I've made a little gift box to go with the card I made for my cousin last week. She's asked for money for Christmas, but I didn't really want to just put money in a card, so I thought I'd pop a small gift and a money envelope in a little box. I've used my Crafter's Companion thingy (sorry I'm tired and can't remember what it's called!) to make the folds for the box. The cardstock is DCWV and some sparkly gold card from my stash, the paper is Sandylion. The big snowflake was cut using the cuttlebug icicle die, and attached using a big gem brad. The small snowflakes were made with a punch, with little gem centres. Oh, nearly forgot (you can tell I'm tired!) the image is obviously the sitting gorjuss girl, coloured with promarkers and cut out with nestie squares. Ribbon is from stash - I tried (and tried and tried) to make a bow but I'm useless at it, so I've now ordered a bow maker lol.

I'm panicking slightly now because my hairdresser has ordered loads of personalised Christmas cards from me tonight. It's always nice to get orders because it makes me feel like people think my cards are worth paying for, but I already have a big card order from a friend, as well as loads of our Christmas cards still to make. It's my fault for not being more organised through the year though - I'll try and remember this next year when I think I don't really want to do Christmas in February!

I'm also entering my box for the following challenges:

• Everybody Art - Christmas
• Papertake Weekly - Christmas crackers
• Charisma Cardz - Anything Christmas
• CRAFT - Christmas gifts
• Cooking it up with Katie - Something in 3's, use red, use a brad
• One Stop Craft - Snowflakes
• Lots To Do - Free theme
  
  

No cards today, cute pics instead!

Seen as I'm having one of those bad cardmaking days where nothing will go right for me - why does this happen when I'm at my busiest?! - I thought I'd put a couple of cute pics on here to cheer me up. Hubby took these a few days ago and they made me laugh when I saw them. Dex loves the cats (we have 2) and Phoebe in particular loves him. She's taken to snuggling up with him and she'd just sat down with him in the first pic, then by the time the second one was taken they both look half asleep! Bless 'em, so cute :o)

Creative Craft, ABC & Die Cut Dreams

I've made this one following the sketch at Creative Craft, the theme of 'puppy love' at Die Cut Dreams and the colour indigo blue (although I've also used lots of yellow, hope that's ok!) from ABC.

The image is a digi stamp from Digistamp Boutique, coloured with promarkers. The cardstock is coredinations, with some Papermania paper I've had for ages - I've decided that the amount of paper I've bought recently is quite ridiculous and I really have to start using some of the older stuff up! There are papers that have been sat in drawers for 2 years - honestly I think I have enough to keep me going for 10 years but I still can't stop buying more! Anyway... the button, ribbon and sequin stars are all from my stash, the number 4 was cut with a sizzix die (night & day alphabet) and the sentiment is a Pink Petticoat download.

ICSketches 44 GD card

Well it's my last week as guest designer at Inspirational Card Sketches - another fab sketch from Dawn, although I must admit I stared at it for quite some time before I came up with something - I think my card turned out ok though, hopefully! Have a look at the DT cards, they're all lovely, and play along if you can :o)

I've used an Elzybells stamp, coloured with promarkers. The papers are My Mind's Eye, with bazzill and coredinations cardstock. I've made my pearl zig zag on the reverse of the paper, using a bazzill template. The flowers are green tara with a button and thread centre, some little flower buttons from stash and an Elzybells sentiment. Apologies for the dreary photos again - surprise, surprise it's been raining on and off since last week, although thankfully we're not experiencing any of the flooding here that a lot of the country are suffering at the moment.

I'm also entering my card for the challenges at:

• A Spoonful of Sugar - brown with either pink or blue
• Creative Card Crew - favourite things (I've used Elzybells stamps, pearls, pink & brown and buttons!)
  

Sugar Bowl 24

I've made this card for our neighbour's little girl's 2nd birthday, following the fab sketch at The Sugar Bowl, where you also had to include zig zags.

I've used the lovely Sugar Nellie 'splashing maggie' stamp, coloured with promarkers with a chalked sky background. Then I've gone over all of the bits that should be shiny - wellies, umbrella, raincoat, puddles - with an embossing pen and clear embossing powder, so that they're raised and shiny. I've not tried this before, and I'm not sure if you can really tell from the pics, but I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. The papers are Dream Street, the cardstock is bazzill (pink) and coredinations (blue). I've used nestie labels to cut out the image (and snapped one of my big shot plates in the process, oops!), then added some white ric rac ribbon for my zig zags and some little pink rainbow drops to finish.

Totally Gorjuss challenge 6

Here's my DT card for the 6th challenge at Totally Gorjuss - this week we'd like to see Christmas creations, and this week you can use any cute & girly stamps you want, either on their own or with a Gorjuss Girl - you'll get 2 entries if you use a GG stamp. Hope you can join in with us this week :o)

I've made this card for my cousin who's 17, but I must admit now I've made it, I'm not sure if it might be a bit 'young' for her - what do you think? I've used the lovely sitting gorjuss girl, coloured with promarkers. The papers are Sandylion - I bought them in my local craft shop Craft Haven the other day, and was gutted to be told that they're closing next month because business has been so slow recently - noooo, where will I buy beautiful papers now?! It's such a shame, it's a lovely shop. Anyway, back to the card.... green cardstock is DCWV, not sure what make the gold is - it's not actually glitter card but it's got a lovely subtle sparkle to it, don't think the pics really pick it up. The snowflake is cut with the cuttlebug icicle die, with a button centre, then I punched some little snowflakes and added gem centres. The ribbon is one I've had for a very long time and never managed to use, it just never seemed to go well with anything before, but hopefully it looks ok here.


I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Charisma - fab sketch
• Cute Card Thursday - teen terrors (although my cousin really isn't a terror, she's lovely!)
• Caardvarks - colour it
• Creative Inspirations - sparkle (I've not actually used any glitter but the gold card, the ribbon and the gems are quite sparkly, hope that's ok)
• Tuesday Taggers - red, gold & green
  

Friday Sketchers 79

My mum rang me at 11.30 last night to ask for a card for a 2yr old - we often speak very late because we're both night owls! Anyway, she needed the card today and I didn't have anything already made up that would have done for a boy (lots for a girl though, typical!), so I've made this one quickly today while Dex had his nap. For a very quick card I'm quite pleased with it :o)

I've used the lovely sketch at Friday Sketchers, I really like this one and I'm sure I'll use it again. The stamp is from Squiggle Stamps, so cute isn't it? It came with the little sentiment too. First time I've used this stamp and I really like it. I've coloured the image with promarkers and I've used a white highlighter pen on the teeth (and for the little highlights obviously). The papers are Cosmo Cricket, cardstock is coredinations. Added some ribbon from stash, card candy dots and a star cut with a sizzix die - printed the 2 from the computer and added some little dots around the star with a black fineliner.

I couldn't add any of my close up pics because they all went blurry in the horrible weather!

Papertake weekly, etc

Probably not the best use of a lovely sketch, but I had to make this one for an order - I'll have to use the sketch again another time to make a nicer card!

I've used a 'George' download from Charmed Cards & Crafts, coloured with promarkers. The gingham paper is one I found in a drawer, not sure where it was from. The cardstock is coredinations, and I've embossed the centre piece with the spots & dots folder and the corner pieces with the swiss dots folder, and then sanded it back. The sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Papertake Weekly - fab sketch
• Lots To Do - embossing
• Just Us Girls - dry embossing + birthday
• The Corrosive Challenge - emboss something
  

I've posted some candy on my blog today to celebrate going past 5000 hits - it's pinned at the top if you'd like to have a look :o)

Another 21st card

Here's another card for my cousin's 21st birthday - I've already made one for us to give him, this one is for my mum to send.

I've used a downloaded 'mikey' image from Charmed Cards & Crafts, coloured with promarkers. The papers are MME with coredinations and bazzill cardstock - Donna sent me the dotty bazzill (along with lots of other lovely goodies!) from her shop Donna's Den to celebrate my new DT position on her new challenge blog (starting 1st Dec!) Cards For Men. The '21' is computer generated, printed onto a Nellie Snellen circle die, buttons from stash with some thread tied through one of them.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

• Stamp Something - lovely sketch
• Stampavie & More - brown + 1 other colour (I've used green, obviously!)
• Creative Card Crew - strings attached (I realise I haven't used much thread on my card but hopefully it's ok!)
  

I've also noticed that I suddenly went over 5000 hits at the weekend - this has crept up on me slightly, I'd been planning some candy for this 'occasion' - I'm sorting some out now, so hopefully I'll have it on here soon :o)

ICSketches 43 GD card

Well it's my 3rd week as Guest Designer at Inspirational Card Sketches, just one more week to go :o( It's another great sketch, and the DT have made some gorgeous cards, so have a go if you can!

I've used a new Digistamp Boutique image - this cute little dragon is Harold :o) He's coloured with promarkers, and cut out with nestie circles. I've then drawn around the nestie and cut another slightly larger circle out to mount him on. The paper is Daisy Bucket and the cardstock is DCWV. I've used the smallest of my new Nellie Snellen circle dies to cut the little fancy circle that I've mounted the numbers on - this card is for my cousin who will be 21 (obviously lol) at the weekend. I actually can't believe he's going to be 21 - I remember taking him to the park in his buggy when he was a baby! The numbers are cut with the Sizzix 'night & day' alphabet dies. Added a couple of buttons from stash to finish.

Apologies for the less than brilliant photos, it's getting so hard to get a decent photo now, it's sooo dull all the time! Think I'm getting a daylight lamp for Christmas though, so hopefully that will help.


I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Cupcake - digital images
• Stampin for the Weekend - let's celebrate
• Creative Inspirations - new or neglected
  

Crafty Cardmakers challenge 8 - clear as day

Time for another challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and this time we'd like to see you use something clear (I've used acetate) on your projects. Have a look at the rest of the lovely DT work for some great ideas, and Vix has given some great ideas on there too - hope you'll all join in :o)

I've used the Elzybells 'polar bear' teddy stamp, I really do love this cute little bear. He's coloured in with promarkers, with a chalked sky background, some sakura clear glitter pen on the little falling snowflakes and some polar white flowersoft for snow. My plan was to make some snowflakes from acetate, but I soon realised that none of my dies or punches would go through the stuff - eek!! Change of plan, so I used a sizzix bigz flower die to cut some flowers, then covered them in glamour dust and added some button centres. I've used Papermania 'naughty & nice Christmas' paper, a nellie snellen circle die to cut out the image and then added a strip of pink & blue fibres to finish.

For such a simple card it fits quite a few challenges :o) Here are the ones that I'm entering:

• Sketch Saturday - what seemed like a tricky sketch, but I really like it now!
• Charisma Cardz - merry & bright
• Crafty Creations - snow
• Susie's Sassy Challenge - Christmas
• Creatalicious - Christmas, with snowflakes, sparkle & glitter
• Secret Crafter - four seasons
• Crazy 4 challenges - acetate
• Allsorts - something for a child
• Elzybells - texture

Create4Fun 45 & Anyone For Anya

Apologies if you came looking for my Totally Gorjuss card - it's on the post below, I had to get this one in before the new Create4Fun challenge starts tomorrow. Apologies also for the terrible photos! The light has completely gone now so I had to use the flash, I'll replace the pics tomorrow.

I've followed the sketch at Create4Fun and the recipe at Anyone For Anya (3 papers, 2 buttons, 1 bow). I've used a Miss Anya stamp coloured with promarkers, cardstock from stash and papers from a wedding pad, although I can't remember what make they are! The flowers are made using Woodware daisy punches, with buttons and a thread bow added. The sentiment is computer generated using Scriptina font.

Totally Gorjuss - Christmas Blues

It's time for another challenge at Totally Gorjuss and this week we want to see your blue Christmas creations! Have a look at the rest of the DT's lovely cards and join in if you can :o)

I've used lovely bumblebee gorjuss again, she's so pretty! She's coloured with promarkers, a silver gel pen and sakura clear glitter pen on her wings. The papers are DCWV with coredinations cardstock. I had a mad moment with the fibres (well they were new!) but I think it worked out ok! The little snowflake was a freebie with my order from Dies to Die For, I've just added some glamour dust and a little gem. A few big gems in the top corner and a couple of little ones near the image to finish - quite a simple little card really.


I'm also entering my card for the following challenges:

• Truly Scrumptious - a sketch and 'texture', I've cheated slightly with the sketch I think but the paper really follows the sketch without needing to add anything else
• Sophisticat - wings
• By The Cute & Girly - winter wonderland
  

Card Patterns 40 & One Stop Craft 54

Hmm, I think what we have here is the cardmaking equivalent of a bad hair day... this is meant to be for one of Morgan's friends, who will be 7 soon, but I think I might be making another one! Love the digistamp, just hate how the card turned out!

I've made this one following the sketch at Card Patterns and I'm also entering it for One Stop Craft where the challenge is 'cards for kids'. The fab digistamp is from Pink Cat Studio, and I've coloured it with promarkers and added some rainbow drop noses. I'm not sure what make the paper is, I forgot to look - I bought it in my local craft shop, Craft Haven. The spotty ribbon was another craft fair purchase, and I've added a few card candy dots (coloured red with a promarker).

I wonder if it would look better with a sentiment added.... sigh.... don't you just hate it when cards don't turn out quite how you imagined them?

ICSketches 42 GD card

It's my 2nd week as guest designer for Inspirational Card Sketches and another great sketch to follow. I've made another Christmas card - still need to make lots more!

I've used this adorable little bear from Elzybells, I just got him last week and couldn't wait to use him. I've coloured him with promarkers, chalked the sky background, added a little bit of glitter to the falling snowflakes and used polar white flowersoft for the snow on the ground. The papers are glittery ones from a DCWV stack, the cardstock is coredinations that I've sanded back a little. The big snowflake was made with the cuttlebug icicle die with lots of glamour dust added and a huge gem, and then I've used a little snowflake punch to make some little snowflakes, added glitter, stuck them onto some blue buttons and added some little gems. The gingham ribbon was a craft fair purchase - I went a bit ribbon mad that day!

I'm also entering this card for the following challenges:

• Allsorts - bling
• Crafty Calendar - weather
• Stamp Something - recipe (1 ribbon, 2 papers, 3 embellishments)
• Cupcake Craft - snow much fun

When I was checking through the challenges to enter, I noticed that I got top 5 at Cupcake last week, how fab is that? So thank you Cupcake for choosing my card :o)

Totally Gorjuss 4th challenge - bling!

This week at Totally Gorjuss it's a nice easy challenge - we want to see your bling! I think we all love playing with sparkle and blingy bits don't we? Well I do! Hope you'll all join in with us this week :o)

I've used one of my favourite gorjuss girls, coloured with promarkers, with lots of stickles on her wings and I've set some gems into the stickles while it was setting. I found some glitter card that I'd forgotten about, then embossed some yellow coredinations with my new stars embossing folder and sanded it down a bit... then I decided it didn't quite go so I had one of those 'wonder if this will work' moments - I scribbled on the stars with a sakura clear stardust pen and then grabbed a damp baby wipe (nearest thing to hand at the time!) and rubbed the stardust lightly to leave a bit of a shimmer. It doesn't show up brilliantly in the pics but it's quite effective in 'real life'. The green cardstock is DCWV, the flowers were cut with woodware daisy punches, then sprayed with spray adhesive and sprinkled with glamour dust, with a big gem centre. The sentiment is a download from Pink Petticoat, and finally the gorjuss girl is matted onto my new nellie snellen dies - they only arrived yesterday and I just couldn't wait to play with them!

I'm also entering my card for the following challenges:

• Everybody Art - lovely sketch
• Quixotic - birthdays (their very first challenge!)
• Passion for Promarkers - grass & canary
• My Time To Craft - so many scallops
• Stampavie & more - stars

Ooh, I almost forgot to mention it - I spotted earlier that I'd made the top 5 at Stamp Something - how fab is that?! It makes up for the fact that no matter how many challenges I enter, I never win the random prize! Well, I tell a lie, I won Just Magnolia once, but nothing since - never mind!