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Tuesday 31 May 2011

New Baby Girl Card

 
 
 
I was asked to make a new baby girl card for my son for his workplace.  I used a Crafts U Print digital download image that I bought and have used before.  It's supposed to be a dangle card but I prefer to keep it flat and used the reverse image on the back of the card.  The backing papers and insert are from Joanna Sheen's Baby Love CD.  The card is finished off with some ribbon, flowers, baby stickers, tiny silver feet, embossed frame using a Pampered Pets embossing folder and a sentiment off the computer.

To finish the card off I used my new Crafter's Companion Boxer and my Aspects of Design stamps on some tissue paper.  It was quite simple to make but I did struggle a bit trying to keep the card on the edge of the board as I don't have the Ultimate Pro (which it has really been made to sit inside) but I got there in the end.  It would be so much easier with the Ultimate Pro but that's a dream!!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Fab n Funky - Cute and cuddly
Ai Factory - Pretty in pink
Digi Doodle - Anything goes
Totally Papercrafts - Pink and girly
Crafty Emma - Embossing
2 Sisters - Anything goes
Our Creative Corner - Beautiful baby

Male Birthday Card

 
It was a chap's birthday at work last week and I made him a card.  He was an avid Haribo or any sweet eater - but now he's dieting - but he did find this A4 card fun.  I used my Robert Addams Sugar and Spice CD which I've had for some years but not used that often and did some faux pyromage cutting the image with my large curved rectangle Nestabilities dies.  I did some simple matting and layering and added some ribbon but then the card needed something else so I put some glossy accents on the yolks of the eggs throughout the card so when dry they felt just like the fried eggs you get in Haribo sweets.  The card went down a treat!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Paper pretties - Birthday card
Charisma Cardz - Boy oh boy!
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
2 Sisters - Anything goes
Birthday Sundaes - Masculine birthday card
Lexi's Creations - father's day or a man's card
Ooh-la-la - Happy birthday
Craft Your Passion - What a guy

Friday 27 May 2011

The Crafty Purple Frog Special Project






It was a friend's birthday recently so seeing as she has helped me through many a difficult time over the last 3-4 years I wanted to make her something special.  Anything made with the Crafty Purple Frog images is special but I put my thinking cap on.  It had to be a Crafty Purple Frog project as I got my friend addicted after I became addicted.  Amy does such good work making these from Ching Chou-Kuik images.  I then couldn't decided which images to use that I'd bought and which images not to use so guess what I did - I made an album project using them all using lots of 14cm x 14cm cards!!!  Yes, the whole project took many many weeks to complete and about 25-30 hours' of work and ended up many inches deep when tied together by the ribbon.  Every single image used was gorgeous and I tried to do them justice with the backing papers, embossing and embellishments I used and these included Lace, ribbon, bows, pearls, gems, flowers, brads etc etc.  I have to either ink with an ink pad or a Promarker all edges of paper/card but I wonder how many pieces I actually inked for this project???  I posted the item well early and had to have a bit of a wait to see if my friend liked or not - and she did!!!!!

I am entering this project into the following challenges:

One Stop Craft - fairy tales
Crafty Emma - Embellish it
The Crafty Pad - Lace and bows
One Stitch at a Time - Bling it on
I Did it Creations - Anything goes
Sparkles Forum - Something metal - brads
Crafty Cardmakers - Embossing
Lollipop Crafts - Bling it
Whoopsi daisy - Birthday
Bunny Zoe's - Lace
Tuesday Throwdown - Stripes
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Things with wings - butterflies and dragonflies
Creative Card Crew - Anything goes
Anything Goes Challenge - Bingo board - Lace/ribbon, embossing and pearls/gems for me
Crafts and Me - Pearls and gems
Papercrafting Journey - Anything goes/favourite (well I have used some of my favourites on this including my Crafty Purple Frog images, flowers, gems, pearls, sparkle etc etc)
Do You Stack Up? - Animals - cat, butterflies and dragonflies
The Crafty Purple Frog - Things of beauty - for me some things of beauty are the Crafty Purple Frog images, ribbon, lace, pearls, gems, sparkle etc etc
Digi Doodle Shop - Anything goes
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Truly Scrumptious - Anything goes
Desert Islands Crafts - Use 3 out of a list of 10 - here is what I used:  patterned papers, pearls, glitter/bling, lace/trim, punch/die-cuts, embossing, flowers - a grand total of 7
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Fun With Shapes and More - Everything must sparkle
Delicious Doodles - Lovely lace
Fairytale Challenge - Anything but a card

Thursday 26 May 2011

Aud Sentiments Design Team Card - Thursday 26 May 2011 - Sentiment for a Male

Another fortnight has come around.  We had some lovely creations for the last challenge.  The Design Team tried their best to comment but with the problems accessing blogs in the last 7-10 days it proved quite a nightmare.  Click here to find out who won the challenge.
This fortnight we are being kindly sponsored by Digi's with Attitude Shop.  Here is a bit of information about them:

Digi’s With Attitude! is a Digital Stamp Company that brings sass & attitude to 
your stamping projects! Meet the newest attitude in town!  
"Grumpy Gretchen" is a sure beauty with sexy curves and very 
unique facial features. Her hairstyles constantly change, as does her 
clothing and element she is in. She is sassy and isn't afraid to show it! 
Everyone loves Grumpy Gretchen. We know you will too!  
All images are 300 dpi and come in both JPEG & PNG formats.

The topic for this fortnight for the Aud Sentiments Challenge is "sentiment for a male".  For my card I have used the image Napoleon.  I have coloured the image with Promarkers and distressed the edges and did some faux stitching.  The backing papers are all ones I was sent from a challenge win and I thought they were good manly colours and tied in with the lion.  I have cut the shapes out with my Cricut and done some scribbling on them.  The card is then finished off with some ribbon, sentiment off the computer, buttons and card candy.

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Allsorts - Photo inspiration - I have gone with a colour inspiration from the photo and used the orange from the bucket and brown/yellow of the sand.
Crafty Emma - Embellish it
2 Sisters - Use a digi
I Did it Creations - Anything goes
Whoopsi Daisy - Birthday
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT - Animals
Passion for Promarkers - All the 2's - 2 buttons and 2 shapes
My Time to Craft - Use a die-cut
Clear it Out - Colour mediums
Creative Card Crew - Anything goes
Paper Pretties - Birthday card
Sisterhood of Crafters - Use buttons
Papercrafting Journey - Anything goes/your favourite - my favourites include ribbons, Promarkers, buttons and card candy
Do it with Digis - It's all about the boys
Do You Stack Up? - Animals
Charisma Cardz - Boy oh boy!
Digi Doodle - Anything goes

It would be lovely if you could come along and join in with the Aud Sentiments Challenge this fortnight.  Click here to go and have a look.

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Sorry for not being around but .............................

I've been away for the week-end to Skegness.  We went on one of the Sun newspaper offers.  The caravan park we stayed at the best we've ever stayed at.  It has a small amount of facilities for children but as mine are older now we don't need to look for things like this.  Yes, it was very blowy at times but on Saturday it was glorious sunshine most of the day and I even dipped my toes in the sea for while.  My youngest was the only other mad person in our party to do like his mum!!!  
On Sunday the weather was slightly cooler and certainly dark and windy when we arrived in Mablethorpe but it soon brightened up.  We couldn't go far as our two boys were leaving for home early afternoon as they had to be at work and school on Monday.  My mum, our friend, my husband and myself got home yesterday afternoon.
 
Our caravan was fine.  On Saturday when we got back to the caravan we had to suffer over three hours of a dog barking next door as it had been left by its owners and because he was barking a caravan opposite who had a parrot had him chirping all afternoon.  We had some lovely visitors to our caravan:
It was too short a time by the sea and I would go back there in a flash and it would certainly be a caravan park I'd visit again:
  entrance to park
  entrance to park
 hotel on complex
  hotel on complex
  Visitors
  More visitors
  Entrance roadway

Hope to get back to commenting very soon.  Back to work tomorrow as well.

Sweet Pea Stamps Card

 
I thought it was time to put ink to my new Sweet Pea stamp called White Peacock Dryad.  I have coloured the image with Promarkers, highlighted areas with my Sakura Stardust clear pen and distressed the edges with Tim Holtz's Faded Jeans distress ink pad.  The backing papers are from DCWV and some I won in some candy.  The tag I have inked with my alcohol inks.  I have edged the tag with a matching Promarker.  The string in the tag I coloured with promarkers - yes they do get everywhere and tied sparkly beads to the ends which I have had for some eyars now.  The card is finished off with some peacock swirls from an Artylicious CD, lace, pearls, flowers, Stickles, Distress Stickles and pins.  I have included a photo of the inside of the card as I am often asked if I do anything inside and virtually all of the time I do.

I am also entering this into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Sparkle and shine
In a Sweet Pea Dream - Bling it up
Paper Pretties - Flowers
I Love Promarkers - Animals
Crafting for all Seasons - Anything goes
Little Red Wagon - Use a tree on your project
Southern Girls - Frills and polish
Paperplay - Sparkle galore
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Sew Many Challenges - Flowers and lace
Crafty Catz - Anything goes
Crafty Emma - Embellish it
One Stitch at a Time - Bling it on
I Did it Creations - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - All the 2's - 2 beads, 1 large peacock feathers, 2 medium peacock feathers
Scrap Creations - Use at least 3 different design papers - 4 different ones used
Pollycraft - Embellishment BINGO board - pearls, pin and flowers for me
Bling it On - Flowers
One Stop Crafts - Fairy tales
Timbroscrapmania Challenge - Stamps
Emerald Fairies  - Anything goes
Truly Scrumptious - Anything goes 
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Things with wings
Clear it Out - Colour mediums
Creative Card Crew - Anything goes

Friday 20 May 2011

Crafty Ann's Challenge #41 - 20 May 2011

Another fortnight has come and gone at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog.  I didn't manage to get around to as many blogs with not being well so I do apologise for that.  This fortnight the challenge at Crafty Ann's is oriental.
I have used Crafty Ann's cherry blossom fan which is gorgeous and I have coloured in with Promarkers, added one of my last gorgeous gem brads to the centre and a tassel.  The backing papers are Crafty Ann's abstract papers in bright pink, green and light pink.  I then used my alcohol inks on a piece of stampboard and let dry.  Then I stamped an oriental stamp on the top.  the card is finished off with a card ribbon sentiment, an oriental charm and some gold string which I have had for ages and ages.  It would be lovely if you could join in with the challenge this fortnight.  Click here to go and have a look.

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

Paper Sundaes - Birthday celebrations
Dream Valley - Dig out the old with the new (old is gold string, ribbon sentiment and tassel and new is the stamp and digital images used)
Crazy Challenge - Pink and green
Stamps R Us - Going digital
My Partner in Crafting Crime - Twine, jute or string
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
Corrosive Challenge - Birthdays
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Anything goes
Crafting for all Seasons - Anything goes
Divas by Designs - One for the girls
Truly Scrumptious - Anything goes
Charisma Cardz - Birthdays in pink
CCEE Stampers - Flowers
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Stamping Vacation - No, No, No Challenge - No embossing

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge -20 May 2011

It is time for another Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge.  This fortnight the topic is "lace and pearls".  Do I need an excuse to lace and pearls - well not really.
This time I have used a Ching Chou-Kuik stamped image called Soft Goth Night.  Isn't she absolutely beautiful.  I decided to go with a shades of pink colour scheme.  I have coloured her in with Promarkers, highlighted areas with my Sakura Stardust clear pen and the sky is done with chalks.  For some added dimension I have put glossy accents on the mermaid's tail.  Two backing papers I was given and the third is a piece of a glittery Papermania Henbury Lane - it's going a bit further as I am tearing it into strips and using it.  I have used some bright pink mirri card to accent the image and backing papers and for the bottom layer of the butterflies.  The card is finished off with some light pink lace, ribbon coloured with bright pink Promarker to match, butterflies, pearls, Artylicious Essence of Nature flowers scrunched up and with brads for centre, two pearl pins, ticket sentiment, Cricut scroll, faux stitching and some gold wire.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my card.  I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Paper Sundaes - Birthday celebrations
Dream Valley - Dig out the old with the new (old is gold string, ribbon sentiment and tassel and new is the stamp and digital images used)
Sentimental Sundays - Handmade flowers
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
Corrosive Challenge - Birthdays
I Did it Creations - Lace and ribbon
Stamptacular Sunday - Pink-alicious
Happileigh Scrappin' - Lots of stitching
Pear Tree Designs - Stamped image
Bunny Zoe's - Lace
Lexi's Creations - Spots and/or stripes
Anything Goes Challenge - BINGO - Punches/die-cuts, pins/charms and pearls/gems for me
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Anything goes
In a Sweet Pea Dream - Bling it up 
The Crafty Purple Frog - Mono moments
Creative Card Crew - Cute and girly
The Pixie Cottage - Sketch and/or pink and girlie
Paper Pretties - Include flowers on your card/project
Crafty Creations - Flowers, patterned paper and add some ribbon
Crafting for all Seasons - Anything goes - wishing you well for your first of many challenges
Divas by Designs - One for the girls
Simon Says Stamp - Sparkle and shine
Crafts and Me - Anything goes and option of Kraft
Truly Scrumptious - Anything goes
Southern Girls - Frills and polish (lace and pearls)
Charisma Cardz - Birthdays in pink
Paperplay - Sparkle Galore
CCEE Stampers - Flowers
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Sew many Challenges - Flowers and lace
Stamping Vacation - No, No, No Challenge - No embossing

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Very Difficult Card to Make

My husband came home from his Badminton Club on Friday and said that he'd been asked if I could make a card for them.  It is for one of their players that maybe has weeks left to live.  They didn't want a thinking of you card but something bright and cheery.  
 
 
An image I bought last year from Crafts U Print from the very talented Gordon Fraser came to my immediate rescue.  I decided to use a colour scheme of bright orange and green - strange combination but they were colours that stood out from the image and the remit for the card was bright and cheery - so I used an orange and green polished stone backing paper from Crafty Ann's Digital Shop and some coppery/orange mirri card from my stash.  I did quite a bit of matting and layering to the A4 card, leaving plenty of space on the card for all the members to write their messages to him.  I left the card without a verse.  The card is finished off with ribbon, sentiment off the computer and lots and lots and lots of tiny shuttlecocks cut out.  I am hoping that the card is going to be OK.  My husband has had to fill it in and will leave it for someone to collect as he's not going to badminton this week as we are away for the week-end.  I am hoping it will bring a lot of comfort to this gentleman when he sees all the messages from his badminton friends.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Craft us Crazy - Favourite embellishment and/or something new (one of my favourite embellishments has to be ribbon)
Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge Blog - Is that oranges I can smell?

Shopping Our Stash Challenge - 10 May 2011

Over at the Shopping our Stash Challenge Blog they want us to "show us your stash".  
This time a year ago I nearly gave up cardmaking altogether as I could not stand craft stuff everywhere and the dining room table taken over.  We saved and saved and then got a good bargain and I managed to get a The Workbox and I have never looked back.  It was going to be shut down every night but this hasn't happened but everything is to hand when I am making anything and it can be shut away and everything hidden inside my "special wardrobe" or what it's really known as in my house is my TARDIS.  I am so very lucky to have it and it has helped me no end in keeping going with making my cards to sell to raise funds for charities.

If you fancy taking a look at other crafter's areas of work/their stash, click here to go and have a look.

Thursday 12 May 2011

Aud Sentiments Design Team Card - Thursday 12 May 2011 - No sentiment

Well another fortnight has flown by and it is time for another Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog.  The challenge this fortnight is "no sentiment" and we have kindly been sponsored by Digi Chicks.
As my card had to have no sentiment the image/backing papers had to do the talking.  I have used the Seaside digital pack as I thought it would be good for a man's card.  I have used a scroll backing paper/put it back through the printer to get a dotty image on the other side.  I put a backing paper behind the lighthouse and frame and then put some of the embellishments on.  I have decoupaged the star fish and the flowers and just added some manly brads.

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

Stamp Something - Digi day
Kaboodle Doodles - Lots of layers
Crazy Challenge - Anything goes
Pollycraft - Boyz to men
City Crafter - By the sea
Try it on Tuesday - One for the boys
Penny's Paper - Anything goes

Sunday 8 May 2011

World of Sarpreet Blog Candy


Sarpreet has some wonderful blog candy up for grabs.  Click here to go and have a look.  The candy is to celebrate reaching 200 followers and to celebrate her wedding.  At the same time she is trying to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.  I doubt that there is no-one that hasn't been affected by cancer so go and have a look at Sarpreet's blog for further details.