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Tuesday 31 January 2012

Commissioned Birthday Card

 
 
I was asked to make a card for a great-grandson's 1st birthday.  He'd recently been given a toy monkey so I decided to use a monkey template on the Polka Doodles Paper Boutique CD.  He's such a loveable looking monkey and I thought he was friendly enough not to scare a 1 year old.  The backing papers are also from the CD.  The image has been cut out, inked around the edges and decoupaged.  I put another image inside and one on the back of the card.  The card is simply finished off with a sentiment off the computer and leaves and a banana from the CD as I am always a bit reluctant to put embellishments on young children's cards in case they pull something off and put it in their mouths.

The card was LOVED by the recipient.  What I didn't know is that the little boy received the card will "go bananas" if he doesn't have a banana to eat each day!!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Pixie Dust Challenge - Let's go the zoo
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Use striped paper
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Alphabet Challenge - Z for zoo animals
Polka Doodles - Use a template
Dream Valley - Animals
Unstampbelles - Anything goes
My Time to Craft - A is for adorable

The Paper Shelter Challenge - 25 January 2012

Over at the Paper Shelter challenge this time the challenge is "pearls and swirls".  I have used a pre-coloured image to make an extra card for my regular monthly stall to be set up on Friday - yikes - that seems to come around quickly each month.  I have die-cut the image and then went around the edge with red Stickles glitter glue.  The backing papers I have printed off from Summertime Designs as I don't seem to have any red papers left at all - now who has used them all?  The card has been finished off with some Marianne Design's swirls, doily, some new heart shaped peel-offs I got for Christmas, pearls, lace, paper roses and a Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Use striped paper
Whimsy Stamps - Pearls or bling
The paper Shelter - Pearls and swirls
Moving Along with the Times - Blooming marvellous
Paperplay - Lovely lace
Totally Papercrafts - Pearls and lace
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Hotshot Crafts - Flowers
Crafty Catz - Things with wings
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Polka dots
The Poodles Parlour - Valentine/love
Di's Digi Designs - Valentine's challenge
One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi
Corrosive Challenge - I heart you
Paper Playtime - Anything goes
Daisy Doodle - Romantic theme
Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes
Paper Make-up - Be my valentine
There's Magic in the Air - Photo inspiration
Tuesday Throwdown - Use hearts
Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes
Creative Card Crew - Fantasy
Deep Ocean - Love you

CD Sunday Challenge - 29 January 2012

 
Over at the CD Sunday the challenge is "Tag you're it".  For my card I have used my Artylicious Essence of Nature CD for the gorgeous backing papers, tags and sentiment.  The card is made into a tri-fold and the the tags have been simply matted and layered.  The card has been finished off with matching leaves, brads, die-cut sentiment and card candy.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Stamping with the Dragon - Anything goes
CD Sunday - Tag you're it
Truly Madly Crafty - Anything goes
Robyn's Fetish - Make it sparkle
My Craft Spot - Anything goes
Unstampbelles - Anything goes

Sunday 29 January 2012

Allsorts Challenge - 29 January 2012

Over at the Allsorts Challenge this week the challenge is "one or more hearts".  For my card I have used a Mami Doodles image called "The Kiss".  Aren't they a cute little couple?  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers.  The backing card are all I've had for ages and ages especially the purple star one.  I decided to do a Valentine's Day card with non-traditional colours ie not pink or red but decided to go with a colour combination of purple and green - not sure why!!  The card has been finished off with some spotty satin ribbon, lace, two wooden die-cut hearts, sentiment off the computer, sparkly glass embellishment, buttons and some flowers with Stickles glitter glue on them.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Cupcake Craft - All you need is love
Paper Creations Ink - Love/romance
Craft Room - Valentine's
Paperplay - Lovely lace
Digi Doodle - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Mami Doodles - For a loved one
The Poodle Parlour - Valentine/love
Di's Digi Designs - Valentine's
Crazy 4 Challenge - Lots of layers
One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi
Truly Madly Crafty - Anything goes
Robyn's Fetish - Make it sparkle

Saturday 28 January 2012

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge - 27 January 2012

Over at the the 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge Blog the topic is "pins".  For my card I have used a scrap of backing paper left from my recently posted Debbi Moore Regency Card and also a gorgeous blue fan-like paper from Basic Grey (I had two paper pads out so it's either from Lime Rickey or Oliver).  The image is from the Crafty Purple Frog and called "Serene Winter" from the CD which will hopefully be on sale soon.  I have embossed some card with a new criss-cross embossing folder.  The card is finished off with some Polar White Flowersoft with some white glitter mixed into it to resemble snow, 3 stick pins, flowers from a My Craft Studio Click-Print-Go CD, sentiment off the computer and some Papermania Glitterations.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Pile it On - Add lace
Gingerloft - Let it snow
Shopping Our Stash - Winter blues (my old stuff is my pins as these are what I had when I did sewing many years ago)
Crafting for all Seasons - Blue and white
Little Red Wagon - Winter Wonderland
4 Crafty Chicks - Pins
Pattie's Creations - Emboss
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Hotshot Crafts - Flowers
Cupcake Inspiration - Photo inspiration
Fresh Brewed Challenge - Snow/winter
Mark's Finest Papers - At least 4 layers

Pile it On Challenge - 22 January 2012

Over at the Pile it On Challenge this week the challenge is "add lace".  For my card I have used a gorgeous Crafty Purple Frog image called "Oriental Guardian".  I love this image as she's just got such a look about her.  The image has been decoupaged and then I pleated some frilly lace around the image.  The backing papers (black distressed and green diamond) are both from my Basic Grey Oliver paper pad.  The card has been finished off with some raffia ribbon, doily inked with a green chalk ink pad, pearls, flowers, 2 stick pins, gems and peel-off corners.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Pile it On - Add lace
Cute Card Thursday - You're a gem
4 Crafty Chicks - Pins
Do you Stack up? - Ribbons
Totally Papercrafts - Pearls and lace
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Secret Crafter - Ribbon
Mark's Finest Papers - At least 4 layers

Friday 27 January 2012

Birthday Card and Box

 
 
I made this card for a lady's 65th birthday.  The CD I bought with some Christmas money and is the Debbi Moore Splendour of Regency.  It is a 3CD set and has some absolutely fabulous images on there to use.  I did a concertina card with 3 A5 sides on each side and used 4 of the same decoupage images in 4 different colours.  For the front of the card I used another of the toppers.  The flowers were die-cut from a book and distressed with various Tim Holtz distressing inks to match the papers ie Tumbled Glass, Tattered Rose, Forest Moss and Antique Linen.  All have matching brad centres.  I have used ribbon off the topper sheets, a Craftwork cards sentiment and verse on the computer to finish off the card.

For the box I did print off an A4 one from the CD but as I had made the card A5 concertina it wouldn't fit in so I had to make my box with the Crafter's Companion Boxer board.  It took me two attempts as no matter how hard I try it is very difficult to use this board independently from the Ultimate Pro.  I only bought my Ultimate a few months before the Ultimate Pro came out and as my funds are very limited as I make all my cards to sell solely to raise funds for different charities I just can't go out and buy the Ultimate Pro.  If anyone has any tips to get it fitting better without using the Ultimate Pro please let me know.  I know I am not alone as I have seen many threads on the web.  I push the card right to the edge but for some reason it doesn't always fit together when glued.  For the box I printed off some backing paper, a box off the CD which I then cut up for the main image, made some more matching flowers and added a Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I am entering this card and box into the following challenges.

Crafty Emma - Anything but a card - I am entering the box I have made
Mark's Finest papers - Birthday card
Incy Wincy - Anything but a card - I am entering the box I have made
The Crazy Challenge - Vintage
My Mum's Craft Shop - Flowers
Moving Along with the Times - Blooming marvellous
Hotshot Crafts - Flowers
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Prairie Fairy Friday - Anything but a card
Stamping with the Dragon - Anything goes

Thursday 26 January 2012

The Crafty Purple Frog Challenge - 26 January 2012

Well we had a lovely array of entries for the last challenge at the Crafty Purple Frog and we also had a good number of people requesting to join the Design Team.  I am sure Amy will be in touch very soon about that.  

It's time for another challenge at the Crafty Purple Frog and I am your official host and I have chosen the topic "Valentine's Day/Show some love".  A lot of people send Valentine's Day cards but there are others that don't or don't have a special someone to send one to so I chose "show some love" as well.
For my card I have chosen the Crafty Purple Frog pyromage sheet called "Red Hearts".  I have used a duo backing paper and an A4 backing paper from a My Craft Studio Click-Print-Go CD.  The flowers and leaves are also from the same CD so I have printed them off, cut them out and then inked the edges with Memento ink.  When printing out flowers I also tend to print on the back of the images with a corresponding colour and for this I have used a red polished stone paper from Crafty Ann's Digi Store.  The card has been finished off with a doily, lace, gems, brads for the centres of the flowers, Craftwork Cards sentiment and a laser cut wooden LOVE die-cut which I have inked with a red chalk ink pad.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
The Poodles Parlour - Valentine's/love
Totally Papercrafts - Make your own flowers
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Have a heart
Corrosive Challenge - I heart you
Pile it On - Add lace
Cupcake Craft - All you need is love
Paper Creations Ink - Love
Anything Goes - To the one I love
Craft Room Challenge - Valentine's 
Card-a-Day Challenge - Valentine's/Get Well Soon/Thank You
Pixie Cottage - Sketch and/or love and kisses
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Use striped paper
My Mum's Craft Shop - Flowers
Moving Along with the Times - Blooming marvellous
Paperplay - Lovely lace

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Crafts and Me Challenge - Guest Design Card - Wednesday 25 January 2012

Here is my second and last card as Guest Designer for the Crafts and Me Challenge Blog.  This time the challenge is "pink and sparkly".  I have used some yummy backing papers I got from a friend for Christmas.  They have glitter all over them and are so yummy but they had to be used.  The gorgeous image I have used is called "Morning Glories".  The digital stamps at Crafts and Me are only £2 each so are a real bargain.  I have coloured the image with Promarkers and highlighted areas with Stickles glitter glue and my Sakura Stardust clear pen.  I have cut around the image and then distressed with my Tim Holtz's distressing tool and then used a chalk ink pad around the edges.  To add a bit more sparkle the card has been mat and layered with some bright pink holographic card.  I've had this for ages and ages as it was too bright for most cards but I think it helped to bring this card alive.  The card has been finished off with some lace, seam binding which I have ruffled, glittery gem decoration, Craftwork Cards sentiment, some flowers I have made with two punches and then added glitter glue to the centre (I've had some bad buys with glitter glues and normally stick with Stickles now but I did try out another make which I am really happy with - Craft Essentials), Marianne's Designs flourish and then finally I got the pink flowers for my birthday and have added some Stickles glitter glue to these.

I have really enjoyed my time this month with the Crafts and Me Challenge Blog.  Thank you so much for having me.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Papercrafting Journey - Floral
Do You Stack Up? - Patterned papers
Moving Along with the Times - Things with wings
Paperplay - Ribbon each way
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Craft Your Days Away - Distressing
Mark's Finest Papers - Birthday card
Pile it on - Add lace
Marianne's Designs - In with the new (new lace, glitter glue and flowers)
My Mum's Craft Shop - Flowers

Monday 23 January 2012

Commissioned Birthday Card

I was asked to make a birthday card for a customer.  The image and backing papers are from Joanna Sheen's Times Gone By CD.  I have just done some simple matting and layering.  The papers and topped have been distressed with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink.  The card is finished off with some ribbon I've had for ages (I don't very often use wide ribbon.  I won this about 2-3 years ago and thought it was about time it made its way to a card), tag, sentiment off the computer, personalised inside and card candy.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Joanna Sheen Monthly Challenge - Celebration
Delightful Sketches - Distressing/vintage
Card Making Mamas - Something old (wide ribbon and tag)
Craft Your Days Away - Distressing
Mark's Finest Papers - Birthday card
The Crazy Challenge - Vintage

Sunday 22 January 2012

Here Come the Boys Challenge - 22 January 2012

Over at the Here Come the Boys Challenge Blog the topic this time is "dinosaurs".  What little or bog boys don't like dinosaurs?  For my card I have used a Crafts U Print image of a dinosaur having a stroll through a city.  I printed off the image 5 times so I could do my own decoupage layers.  I have just done some simple matting and layering, added a sentiment and some glittery stars.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes and sentiment
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Crazy 4 Challenge - A child's birthday
Here Come the Boys - Dinosaurs
Birthday Sundaes - Birthday card and sentiment.

Saturated Canary Challenge No 9 - Dies and/or punches

The challenge over at the Saturated Canary Challenge this fortnight is "dies and/or punches".  For my card I have used the Saturated Canary image called "Becca and Bo",  Becca is gorgeous isn't she and Bo is a cutie.  I have coloured my image with Promarkers, die-cut around the image and then stuck some gathered ribbon around the die-cut.  I decided to go a bit more flamboyant with my backing papers - the distressed lime green and the highly patterned papers are both from my Basic Grey Lime Rickey paper pad.  The card has been finished off with a Craftwork Cards sentiment, satin edged organza ribbon, laser die-cut heart, buttons, flowers, leaves and pins.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Saturated Canary - Die-cuts and/or punches and DT call
Paper Creations Ink - Love/romance
Incy Wincy - Bold and bright
Daisy Doodles - Anything goes
The Stamping Boutique - Die-cuts
Scrap-Creations - Die-cuts
Crafts and Me - Pins
Penny's Paper Challenge - Ribbons and buttons
I Love Promarkers - Anything goes
Papercrafting Journey - Floral
Craft us Crazy - Full of love
Paperplay - Ribbon each way
Shelly's Images - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Have a heart
Basic Grey - Favourite things - well some of my favourite things I have used on my card are lace, ribbon, flowers, pins, digital images and using my Promarkers
Allsorts - Needles and pins
Robyn's Fetish - Love
Corrosive Challenge - I heart you
Dream Valley - Animals
Sentimental Sundays - Die-cuts and sentiment
Pile it on - Add lace

Saturday 21 January 2012

One Lucky Crafter!!!

Recently Jules at Always with a Heart had some Promarker Candy up for grabs.  I try to enter my cards into challenges and enter candy to try and win things to put to good use for my cards that I make solely to sell to raise funds for different charities.  I was "over the moon" to hear that I had won 20 Promarkers from Handy Hippo to celebrate them selling individual Promarkers and I could pick which ones I want.  What a dilemma on what yummy colours to pick.  I picked some ones I'm running low on due to them being used to much I think (!!) but then I got some other colours to try out.

I just wanted to say a personal thank you for Jules for setting the candy up on her blog and Handy Hippo for sponsoring the challenge.  These Promarkers will keep me going for a long time.

Friday 20 January 2012

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - 20 January 2012

Another fortnight has flown around and it's time for another challenge at Sweet Pea Stampers.  This time we have been challenged to "Baddabling".  I have to admit I didn't know what it meant so I had to look it up and it means bring on the bling.
For my card I have used the Ching Chou-Kuik Fantasy Art Collection Sheet 14 by Sweet Pea Stamps.  I have coloured the image with Promarkers highlighting areas with Stickles glitter glue, then torn around the edge with my X-cut tearing ruler and distressed with a chalk ink pad.  I need some therapy as I've used some more of my gorgeous Tim Holtz backing papers.  I have finished off the card with a punches border, fabric butterflies, some gorgeous K&Co gem/pearl swirls, Craftwork Cards sentiment, doily, organza ribbon flower and some large gems for some added bling.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin' - All that glitters
Mark's Finest Papers - Use a border punch (Martha Stewart lattice punch)
Sparkles Forum - New craft goodies (die-cut sentiment and fabric butterflies)
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Use something new  (die-cut sentiment and fabric butterflies) 
Pan Pastel - Anything goes
Heart Song Inspiration - Glitter and/or white-on-white
I Love Promarkers - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Crafty Ann's Challenge #57 - What's new pussycat?

It's time for another challenge over at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog.  This fortnight we are being challenged to "what's new pussycat?".  Crafty Ann wants us to share a new technique we have learnt or use some new stash.
I decided to make a scrapbook page - quite new to me as I haven't done that many - but the ones I have done I've added extra embellishments on after printing but this one has been totally done with Serif Craft Artist and I have used Crafty Ann's new digital scrapbook Traditional Christmas Kit.  This was certainly a challenge for me as I like adding bits and pieces after I've seen what it looks like printed out but I managed to used various elements from the scrapbook kit to give me the same effect.  I think I need more practice using Serif Craft Artist as I struggled a bit but I got there in the end.

I am entering this scrapbook page into the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas - Use a digi image and/or papers
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
Creative Card Crew - Seeing red
ABC Christmas - Anything goes Christmas
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Thursday 19 January 2012

Aud Sentiments Design Team Card - Thursday 19 January 2012

We had a lovely array of entrants to our challenge for the last fortnight.  This fortnight we are being challenged to "use the word love".  We are being sponsored by:
and
For my card I have used the Mami Doodles image called "The Kiss".  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers.  I have done some matting and layering, using quite a number of scraps from my box.  The card has been finished off with some card candy, seam binding, flower with brad centre and a Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge - Y for you can choose
Totally Papercrafts - Spots and stripes
Secret Crafter - Anything goes with blue
The Ribbon Girl - Blue and pink
Sentimental Sundays - Ribbon
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes
Paper Creations Ink - Love/romance
Daisy Doodles - Anything goes
Totally Stampalicious - Gettin' ready for valentine's Day
Digital Tuesday - Romantic card
Crafty Creations - Valentine's theme
Scrapbook Sisters - My sweet Valentine
Craft us Crazy - Full of love

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Commissioned Birthday Card

I was asked to make a card for a lady who loves bunny rabbits.  Well who wouldn't love this gorgeous image from Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew CD.  I teamed the image up with some chocking pink mirri card and put some through my Swiss Dots Cuttlebu embossing folder.  The flowers are from the Crafter's Companion SWALK Cd and I have cut them out and inked the edges, adding coloured brads to the centres.  The card is finished off with a personalised insert, sentiment off the computer and some die-cut/embossed butterflies.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

2 Sisters - Use metal (brads)
Paper Sundaes - Favourite Paper Sundaes Challenge - I've gone for Challenge #86 - finishing touches - as I think finishing touches can make a card - my finishing touches are flowers, brads, butterflies and a sentiment
Pile it On - Fuzzy friends
Pixie Cottage - Sketch and/or embossing
Robyn's Fetish - Animals

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Penny's Paper Challenge - 4 January 2012

Over at the Penny's Paper Challenge the topic this fortnight was "birds".  For my card I have used an image from a Joanna Sheen CD.  I have just done some simple matting and layering, added a stamped sentiment which I distressed and the card has been finished off with some ribbon, card candy and insert.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Gingersnap Creations - Ribbon
Penny's Paper Challenge - Birds
Alphabet Challenge - Y for you can choose
Crafty Emma - Vintage dahling
Sentimental Sundays - Ribbon 
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - Birds of a feather
Crafty Cardmakers - No floral embellishments
My Time to Craft - Favourite embellishment - one of my favourites has to be ribbon
Crafty Sentiments - Anything goes and sentiment
Scrap Creations - Die-cut

Thursday 12 January 2012

Saturated Canary Challenge No 8 - Clean and Sinple

The current challenge at Saturated Canary is clean and simple (CAS) so I thought I would play along.  Due to the awfully dark and cold weather at the moment I decided to do a bright and summery looking card.  I have used Krista's image called Lolita - a Ragamuffin waiting for the fairies.  I have coloured the image with Promarkers and then added highlights for the sky and grass with shimmer chalks.  I have just done some simple matting and layering and used a piece of Martha Stewart large spots glitter paper to do all the talking to make sure it stayed CAS.  The card is simply finished off with a piece of ribbon and a Craftwork cards sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Saturated Canary - Clean and simple (CAS)
Sweet Stampin' - Spots and dots
Paper Sundaes - Saturated colours
Dream Valley - Anything goes
Lexi's Creations - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - Inspired by a song - Sunshine and summertime by Faith Hill
Anything Goes - Anything goes
Scrap-Creations - Glitter
My Mum's Craft Shop - Here come the girls

Commissioned Birthday Card

I was asked to make a birthday card with the following remit - for a young lady who loves music, girly but not too girly, no flowers or masses of things on the card and to include some stars but the reason why (she's the star in their eyes!!).  
Oh my goodness me I thought but then my Kenny K image called Mad Skillz came to the rescue.  I have coloured the image with Promarkers and cut out with my Nestabilities die and inked around the edges with a chalk ink pad.  The backing papers are a mixture of from my stash and the lovely glittery one is a new one given to me by a blogging friend.  The card has been finished off with some organza ribbon, Craftwork cards sentiment, peel-off stars and two Papermania gem brads (these are new to me - I got them for my birthday back in October but they were sooooooooooo nice I had to keep them a while but I feel it's now time to start using them).

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Kenny K's Challenge - New beginnings (new paper and brads for me)
Mark's Finest Papers - Brads or eyelets
Corrosive Challenge - Ring in the New Year
Crafty Cardmakers - No floral embellishments
CRAFT - Celebration
Crafty Creations - Something new
Moving Along with the Times - Spots and stripes

The Crafty Purple Frog Challenge - 12 January 2012 - Anything Goes and DT Call

Well it's time for the first Crafty Purple Frog Challenge for 2012 and the chosen topic is "anything goes".  Nice and easy to start you off.  We are also having a Design Team Call so if you fancy taking part please look at the blog to find out what you have to do.
For my card I have used one of the six Red is my Passion Heart Toppers.  It's brilliant that you can make six different cards from one sheet.  I have cut the image out and then put red Stickles glitter glue around the edge for some sparkle.  I have just done some simple matting and layering, using up scraps from the "scraps box".  The card is finished off with some lace, pearls, flowers and a Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Crafty Emma - Anything goes
Gingerloft - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Use 3 embellishments (I have used lace, flowers and pearls)
Dream Valley - Anything goes
The Pink Elephant - Hearts
Crazy Challenge - Lace and/or pearls
Lexi's Creations - Anything goes
Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes
Anything Goes Challenge - Anything goes

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Commissioned Birthday Card

 
This is a card I was asked to make.  As the child is quite young I kept the embellishments to a minimum.  The image was perfect for animal loving child and came from Crafts U Print.  I printed out the image several times so that I could decoupage the image.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes
Crafty Emma - Anything goes
Birthday Sundaes - Birthday card
Celebrate the Occasion - Child's birthday
Make my Monday - Animals

Sunday 8 January 2012

Joanna Sheen Challenge - January 2012

Over at the Joanna Sheen Challenge this month the topic is celebrations.  I had to make a card for someone who has had a new baby girl come into their life recently.  I have used a gorgeous mother and baby image and decided therefore to go with a more shabby chic card.  I have used various card/paper from my stash.  I have used my new Marianne's Designs die that I got from Joanna's website and it is FAB.  Not only do you get the circle you get various sized shapes to make flowers with.  I have distressed the die-cut and all the paper with a dark brown chalk ink pad.  The card has been finished off some flowers, lace, congratulations die-cut sentiment and there is a small tab sentiment embellishment that has now gone on the front but until the recipient gets it I haven't put that picture on here as I've put the baby's name on it.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Joanna Sheen Monthly Challenge - Celebrations
Paper Creations Ink - Die-cuts and/or punches
Craft Your Passion - Anything goes and distressing
Kaboodle Doodles - Celebrate
Daisy Doodles - New beginnings
My Mum's Craft Shop - Something new
Ruby's Rainbow - Baby or child
Fresh Brewed Challenge - Use something new (used some nice new lace - yes I know I should use the old up first!!)
Scrapbook Sisters - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - What's new
Card Making Mamas - New year or something new (new lace for me)
Crafty Catz - New beginning
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Crazy 4 Challenge - New year - new toys - new technique (new lace for me)
Craft Your Days Away - New beginnings
One Stop Craft - BINGO board (distressing, ribbon/lace and flowers, top row)
Crafty Emma - Anything goes
Gingerloft - Anything goes
Dream Valley - Anything goes
Corrosive Challenge - Ring in the New Year 
Cupcake Inspirations - Photo inspiration
    
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything goes (TIP:  I store my Promarkers and some other pens in the Letraset wallets on my shelf in my craft tardis.  I keep the handle end closest to me but was forever opening up the wallets to see the colours inside.  Now I've attached pieces of fibres and ribbon to each handle indicating the colours of pens in the wallets eg this one has silver, gold, black, bright pinks and purples.  I cannot believe how much simpler this makes finding the right wallet)
After making this card I still had three toppers from the sheet leftover.  In 2010 I decided that I would not put unused toppers from a sheet in a drawer to be used at some stage and would instead use them to make up more Craft for Life cards for the Marie Curie Appeal.  This saves them not being used or getting dog-eared and needing to be thrown out.  It also increases the cards that I have given to the Marie Curie Appeal.  Here are another three cards ready to be taken into the shop when we are next in town.