{ font-family: Arial!important;}

Followers

Thursday 31 December 2009

Happy New Year 2010



The above card I have made using a Stamp in the Hand stamp I bought at Stamp Addicts on Tuesday.  The papers are from Summer Driggs and the card is finished off with some flowers cut out of another backing paper, two swirls cut out using a Colour my World template, some card candy (as I've not got "card candyitis" thanks to Lisa) and some ribbon I won in some blog candy from Wendy, Crafty Butterfly.  The card will make its way into my boxes for the charity stall but digitally I will give it to all my blog readers to wish them a Happy New Year.

This card fits the challenge for Colour Create as the topic is lemon and lime with the optional element of spring/summer flowers.

**********************

Well the arrival of 2010 is looming soon on the horizon - sounds like a ship doesn't it?  I know this has been a good year for some but then others will be glad to see the back of it for one thing and another.

This time last year I vowed 2009 I would do more stamping.  April came and I hadn't put that into practice much but since then I think I've got the contagious stamping bug as I get withdrawl symptoms if I don't do stamping for days and days.  Don't think there is a cure is there apart from more stamping!!!

This year heralded my journey into digital stamps.  I wasn't sure at first but then because I make my cards solely to sell to raise funds for different charities this proved a cost-effective means of getting different images.  It also helps as some websites provide freebie stamps for you to "try before you buy" and that is what I did.  Now I'd just like the funds to have ALL the ones I want.

2009 saw the arrival to many many homes of Promarkers.  I waited and waited and waited but eventually gave in and bought a few and every month I add a few more to the collection as they give wonderful results and they can either be used with stamped images if you use an ink like Memento or with digital images.

2009 saw me taking part in more challenges and even entering ones I struggled with - the recent Mo's Digital Challenge one springs to mind as this topic was "Just all White" and therefore you had to use as much white apart from the colours used in colouring in the image.  I started quite a few attempts but that's as far as they went but I did it in the end and entered my card into the challenge.  I think 12 months ago I'd never have even attempted the challenge.  Click here if you would like to have a look at my entry.  There have been sketch challenges, topic challenges and even colour challenges.  Doing these challenges though has certainly "challenged me" but it has been a journey that I have been happy to have taken.  The card above shows just that journey as the topic for this challenge was "lemon and lime" - certainly not two colours I would normally have put together but I am pleased with the result.

This year I have been to a few Open Days at Stamp Addicts and have learnt a lot from these from various demonstrators.  One of the highlights for my year was in October when my husband took me away for my 40th birthday and I had asked him to make the trip from Blackpool where we were staying to Dawn Bibby's shop.  Dawn Bibby was the person that got me really into cardmaking in 2005 and helped me to keep going through a difficult time.  Luckily Dawn was in her shop that day but luckily the lovely Lindsay Mason was there as well and I learnt so much and she was patient with me as I stayed soooooooo long whilst my husband was ready a book in the card.  Dawn gladly posed for some photos of the two of us together, one of which is on my computer desktop at home.  On returning home I decided I'd have a go at some techniques I had seen Lindsay use and made a thank you card for Dawn and also one for Lindsay.  Unfortunately, it looked liked these cards were lost in the post back in October as I'd made Dawn a Halloween card but thankfully they have arrived as a highlight for me today was that I got a Christmas card today from Dawn saying congratulations on my fundraising achievement.  That's certainly a card that won't be thrown out!!!

Well, I'd better stop waffling and wish everyone a Happy New Year and that you and yours have a happy and healthy 2010.  I have met such lovely people in the blogging world over the last few years and hope to make more next year.

Pink Gem Blog Candy



Pink Gem are offering the chance to win 6 of their stamps of your choice, subject to availability.  Click here to go and have a look.  The draw takes place on 18/1/10.

Wednesday 30 December 2009

Quixotic Challenges New Year Candy



Elaine over at Quixotic Challenges is offering some New Year Candy which ends on 5/1/10.  What do you have to do for this candy you ask?  You have to put a link to your favourite creation of 2009.

Well I have a few that stick in my mind for this year but my all time favourite has to be my card I made for Joanna Sheen's Card Competition back in April where I used various Messy Rabbit backing papers, stamps and many many hours colouring in and cutting out.  It was worth it as I was a named runner-up.

Monday 28 December 2009

Calendar for 2010



I have made this calendar for 2010 using a free paper designed by a wonderfully talented Penny Wessenaurer.  I certainly wouldn't know where to start with anything like this so I have full admiration for people that do do this.  I have used the topper sheet and one of the backing sheets and the calendar is finished off with some fibres, a calendar pad and some card candy.

I think I got mentioned on QVC yesterday.  For my 40th birthday in October my husband took me away for a few days to Blackpool.  We visited Rosemary Merry's shop on the way up and the highlight of the week-end was to visit Dawn's shop as I owe my cardmaking as it is now to Dawn and her shows on QVC.  I met the talented Lindsay Mason at Dawn's shop as she was demo'ing that day and both of them were so kind and helpful that I made them a card each and sent it to Dawn's shop.  I mentioned in my card that I'd got a 40th birthday from a blog friend Lisa which I loved and I loved the card candy on it and had bought some packets in Dawn's shop but I wish I'd bought all of them as I've not got "card candyitis".  I am hoping that it's not a coincidence that someone has written the same thing as me, rather that the cards have actually arrived but a bit late for the occasion they were sent for halloween - so if it is them where have they been?

This calendar fits the criteria for the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Anything but a card
Rosie-Dee's Challenge - Free Theme.

Sunday 27 December 2009

Thank You Card




As I had everything out to stamp my previous card I thought I'd stamp two at once - maybe something to do in the future - I'll see how long this continues!!!  I need to make a Thank You Card and I have used an image from the My Craft Studio Parchment CD.  I have also made some mounting in My Craft Studio, placed the image on top, coloured it in with Promarkers and then cut around the edge with my new scalloped square Nestabilities my eldest son bought me for Christmas.

This card fits the criteria for the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Thank You
Flutter by Wednesday - Open theme but it has to have a fairy, angel or butterfly on the project
Craft Challenge - Thank You
Magical Crafts - Thank You
Winter Wonderland - Thank You

Digital image:  My Craft Studio Parchment CD
Colouring Medium:  Promarkers
Backing papers:  Papermania
Ink pads:  VersaMagic Sahara Sand and Brilliance Rocket Red Gold
Embellishments:  Lilac ribbon, card candy and material flowers
Stamps:  Kay Carley flouish stamps (which by the way were lovely to use) and also the thank you sentiment is off the sheet of stamps as well and I like it as it's quite funky!!!

New Year's Card



The Greetings Farm were kind enough to make a free digital image for people to use so I have made some mounting in My Craft Studio, placed the image on top, coloured it in with Promarkers and then cut around the edge with my new scalloped square Nestabilities my eldest son bought me for Christmas.

This card fits the criteria for the following challenges:

Paper Cutz - New Year Project
If the Shoe Fits Scrap It - Favourite colouring medium - well, mine at the moment happens to be Promarkers
Simon Says Challenge Blog - Party On
Cute Card Thursday - Happy New Year
Lili of the Valley Challenge - New Year's Card
The Corrosive Challenge Blog - New Year's Resolutions - in 2009 I took my stamping to a new level but in 2010 I want to go further!!!

Digital image:  Greetings Farm
Colouring Medium:  Promarkers
Backing papers:  Papermania
Ink pads:  VersaMagic Sahara Sand and Brilliance Rocket Red Gold
Embellishments:  Lilac ribbon and material flowers
Stamps:  Kay Carley flouish stamps (which by the way were lovely to use)


The Stamp Man Award for my Best Crafting Project in 2009



Over at The Stamp Man Blog they want you to share your Best Crafting Project for 2009.  For 2009 I made a New Years' Resolution that I would do more stamping.  By April I hadn't done much but I can't say that for the remainder of the year.  I have really loved trying out new techniques with stamping and in 2010 I want to try using fantasy fibres, fantasy film and using a brayer.

My favourite project is two canvasses I made for my Mum to say thank you for looking after our boys so that my husband could take me away to Blackpool for three days for my 40th birthday.  My Mum really loved them.

Friday 25 December 2009

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL





2009 has been a good year for some but for others it has been tinged with sadness in friends/family dying, friends/family being poorly and people being made redundant etc.  I hope that 2010 is a good time for everyone and that it is filled with happiness, good health and lots and lots of crafting!!!!!! 

On a personal note, thank you all for your care and support during the year.  This year I have also achieved my £1,000 goal of raising money for charity in 4 years which has certainly boosted me.  It’s a definite achievement.  Thank you to all of you that have donated things for me to use.  I have had no end of items sent with my Christmas presents so I thank you all so very much.  This has certainly helped me make this achievement and will help me to do so.  THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I made a New Year’s resolution to do more stamping in 2009.  I didn’t really start until April and am so proud of what I have achieved.  I have also got some new items for Christmas so I can try some other techniques.  I have also enjoyed taking part in challenges – these cards are never wasted as they go in the boxes to take to the regular charity stall I have – I have gone down many different avenues I would never have thought of doing with my cards with using sketches or following recipes given for a challenge or colour specific challenges but I have thoroughly enjoyed this.  Thank you all for taking the time to look at my blog and for posting comments as these are really appreciated and give me constant urges to carry on with my cardmaking for charity.

We wish you a Happy Christmas and New Year from all of us and hope you enjoy the festive season with your loved ones. 

Paul, Kym, Kevin and Steven xxx


Thursday 24 December 2009

Last Christmas card to make for 2009



Here is the last Christmas card I have made for Christmas 2009 courtesy of Joanna Sheen's Messy Rabbit CD and Debbi Moore's Art Deco Christmas CD for the burgundy snowflake words backing paper.  The card is finished off with a poinsetta insert from the Messy Rabbit CD, some ticket sentiments and some fibres.

Christmas Card



I've been um'ing and ah'ing about this card for days and days and with the topic on Mo's Digital Challenge being Just White I found this one quite difficult.  I've had a go though as I love using Mo's Digitial images and will vow to get more in 2010.  This fits the criteria for the Digital Tuesday Challenge of Let it Snow and lots of snowflakes.

Wednesday 23 December 2009

Quixotic Paperie Challenge Blog Favourite Five



Over at the Quixotic Paperie Challenge Blog there is a chance to win a Martha Stewart punch.  All you have to do is to list your favourite craft items for 2009 - sounds easy doesn't it - well it's not as I've got more than 5 but I will have a go at entering.

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Another Christmas Card




Someone who I had made an extra special card for still hasn't received it 2.5 weeks after posting it so I've whizzed up another card using the Joanna Sheen Messy Rabbit CD and a decoupage sheet of Messy and Baby Messy - ah so cute.  I have adorned the card with a chipboard snowflake which was inked with Distress Inks, clear ink and then blue Stampendous embossing inks on the top.  I put a hole in the bottom of the snowflake and put in some jump rings and a silver snowflake charm.  Just to make the card look a bit more snowy I have added some snowflake stickers.

This card fits the criteria for the following challenges:

Tuesday Taggers Challenge Blog - Let it snow

Die-cut Dreams Challenge Blog - Snowflake surprise

Crafty- Ann's Challenge Blog - anything but red and green to be seen - Messy is orange and not red!!!

Our Creative Corner Challenge Blog - Let it Snow.

Sunday 20 December 2009

Special Christmas Card




I needed to make an extra special card for a friend this week.  She loves Art Deco so I knew Debbi Moore's Glamour and Glitz Art Deco Christmas CD would come in very handy.  I decided to make her an A4 card with different pictures on all four sides and used various embeliishments like card candy, crochet flower, silver fans with fibres, chipboard snowflake coloured with Distress inks and stamped and clear embossed and a little silver handbag (I've had this little handbag for sometime now but the rose leaves had had the paint scratch off so guess what I got out ....................... my burgundy Promarker and it coloured it a treat!!).  Just hope she likes the card.

The card fits the criteria for the Lots to do Challenge this week as they have given a free theme.


Saturday 19 December 2009

Card for Three Challenges



It is a colleague's birthday this coming Friday ie Christmas Day so I decided I would make a card that is on a CD I've bought recently of Debbi Moore's - Glitter and Glitz.  Instead of putting the images one side of the card that although is A4 stands with only using one sheet due to the specific folds it has, I have put images on both sides, thus making her birthday card pink and girly one side and the other side is burgundy and all Christmasy the other side.

For the birthday card side I have embellished with some gems, flowers cut with Woodware punch which have glossy accents in the middle with seed beads pressed into it and finally a happy birthday peel-off which isn't too visible as no matter how hard I tried I couldn't take a good photo because of the holographic pink card!!

The Christmas side I have used 3D foam and raised the main lady image so I could put behind it the ends of the thickish velvet ribbon I have used.  As an embellishment to this side I have used a snowflake charm and some jump rings.

This card fits the criteria for the following challenges:

Crafty Catz Challenge Blog - Fairytale of New York - you could interpret that how you like but I thought it would be like a fairytale wearing the dresses in this card

By the Cute and Girly Monthly Challenge Blog - Lets go to the Movies - I'd say "Power, Passion and Murder" which starred Michelle Pfeiffer

My Time to Craft Challenge Blog - Yuletide Wishes.

Friday 18 December 2009

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Challenge Blog 18/12/09



The topic this week at the Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Blog this week is "last minute Christmas cards".  I have made this card with a Cute Daisy May digital image.  She's one of my favourite Daisy May images.  I have coloured her in with Promarkers and then glittered her holly-style wings.  I have mounted her on some Merry Christmas card I was given and finished her off with some white stars.

Cute Daisy May Challenge 14/12/09



The topic this week at the Cute Daisy May Challenge is gold and green.  I have used the gorgeous lamp post and coloured in with Promarkers using a selection of greens and gold colours.  Not sure the make of the backing paper as I was given it.  The card is finished off with some ticket sentiments.

Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog - 17/12/09



Over at the Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog the topic this week is a deer or large animal.  I decided to use this image of Rudolph and his friend that I was given (sorry I don't know the make of stamp).  It has been coloured in with Promarkers and the card is finished off with some ribbon, a sentiment and a wooden Rudolph embellishment.

Stamp With Fun Challenge 14/12/09 and Simon Says Challenge 16/12/09



This card has been made with a Summer Driggs backing paper.  The Forever Friends image I was given has been coloured with Promarkers and some glitter glue - well it is Christmas!!  It's finished off with a ticket sentiment and a little wooden embellishment of a little bear.

This card fits the criteria for two challenges:

Stamp with Fun - Little presents

Simon Says - Merry Christmas




Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog - 18/12/09



Over at the Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog the topic this week is any colours except red and green.  I have been guided by others and seen that a tiny tad of green or red can be used so this card should fit the bill.  It is a Cuddly Buddly image that has been coloured in with Promarkers.  The card is one I bought recently and has a large snowflake on it which I put Stickles glitter glue on.

Stamp Something Challenge Blog - 18/12/09



This is a card I've made using a Forever Friends image I was given.  Isn't he cute and on his way to deliver a nice present to someone.  This card fits the Stamp Something Challenge this week of Holiday Somethings.