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Friday 29 June 2012

Donna's Weekly Blog Candy

Today is the day for Donna's weekly blog candy.  This week on offer is this gorgeous die:
Just wish I could enter as it's gorgeous!!!  Make sure you go over to Donna's blog to become a follower and enter her candy.

Thursday 28 June 2012

Aud Sentiments Challenge - 21 June 2012

Today sees the launch of the creations by Team B over at the Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog.
The challenge is BINGO BOARD (see above) and you have to use a line of three items either horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
We are being sponsored by Stamp and Create and they are offering a $20 gift voucher for the winner.
This is my card that I made for Team A's entries last week.

Please pop along to the Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog to look at the beautiful creations by Team B.

Tuesday 26 June 2012

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - 25 June 2012

Over at the Whoopsi Daisy Challenge Blog this week the topic is "things with wings".  I had this little beauty of a Whoopsi Daisy image all coloured in so it would have been rude not to enter her into the challenge.
I have used a kraft card blank again - really love these at the moment and teamed it up with some white card and a gorgeous pink and green paper from Roses Dreams from Bearly Mine Designs.  I love these papers as a lot of papers with flowers have the flowers large whereas these images of the flowers are a lot smaller and certainly don't over-power a 6x6 inch card.  The image I have coloured in with my Promarkers, die-cut and then whilst the die was still in place I used my soft tool and a green Pan Pastel to go around the edge.  I found this a lot easier than using distress ink.  I coloured a doily with a pink Pan Pastel and edged it with the same green pan Pastel - you'd never guess I like Pan pastels would you???  I have finished the card off with some Marianne Designs Creatables fence/bird/bird house which I have coloured with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain distress ink, some Marianne Designs Creatables butterflies cut out of the kraft card, Craftwork cards sentiment and a gorgeous pink/green ribbon bow.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Daisy Doodles Creative - Anything goes
Pixie Dust Paperie - Summer days
Little Red Wagon - Get krafty
Crafts and Me - Anything goes
Raise the Bar - Hello summer
Sparkles Monthly - Summer fun
Let's Create and Craft - Anything goes
Creatalicious Challenge - Anything goes
Papercrafting Journey - Feeling krafty
It's all about the vintage - Summer and butterflies
Moving Along with the Times - Happy birthday
Paper Play - Use a die
Emerald Fairies - Birthdays
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Allsorts - Any die will do
Joanna Sheen - Summer daze
2 Sisters - Anything goes
That Craft Place - It's all about green
One Stitch at a Time - Summer dress
Dream Valley - Things with wings
The Corrosive Challenge - Summertime girls
Sentimental Sundays - Cute and girly and use 3 or more of the colours, pink, green, white and grey (I chose to use pink, green and white)
Craft Your Passion - Things with wings
Whoopsi Daisy - Things with wings
Fashionista Challenge - Winged things
Paper Make-up - Anything goes
Love to Create - Anything goes
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Celebrate the Occasion - Happy birthday
Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes
Creative Craft Challenges 2 - Tweet tweet
Sassy Cheryl - Summer

Bearlymine Challenge - 26 June 2012

Well we had a wonderful selection of entries for the Bearly Mine Challenge last week of flowers.  Make sure you check the Bearly Mine Challenge Blog to see the details of the winner.

Today sees the start of another challenge.  It is time for Team A and the challenge is "anything goes".  Well we hope to see plenty of entries for this challenge.

Please look at the Challenge Blog and see the creations made by Team A - you won't be disappointed!!!

Sunday 24 June 2012

Leaving Work to have a Baby Card

 
 I recently had to make a card for someone at work who was leaving to have a baby.  I made an A4 style book as I needed to take it around lots of departments.  The images are all from my Kraftyhands Bouncing Babies CD.  It was hard to choose which images to use so I used lots of them.  As the soon-to-be mum doesn't know whether they are having a baby boy or girl I took all the images I wanted to use into My Craft Studio and changed all of them to yellow - a safe colour.
 
 
 
The last page I added a verse (but I have used the eraser tool to omit where she works for the purpose of my blog!!).  I used various fibres and ribbons down the spine of the card.  They certainly weren't easy to get through the small hole but I got there in the end.  The front of the card I added some metal baby feet charms I have had forever and forever.  The flowers I die-cut from a book and inked them with Tim Holtz Mustard Seed distress ink pad and just did a bare touch of the edges with Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade distress ink pad.  The flowers are finished off with yellow flower buttons to the centre which I took the shank off.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Unstampbelles - Ribbon
Ooh-la-la-Creations - Baby, baby
Crafty Sentiments - Bright colours
Ribbon Carousel - Use metal hardware
Crafty Creations - Baby, baby
Southern Girls - Oh baby, baby
2 Sisters - Anything goes
Totally Gorjuss - Something yellow

Allsorts Challenge - 23 June 2012

Over at the Allsorts Challenge this week the topic is "any die will do".
For my Design Team cards/challenge cards I started printing off two lots of images and papers because when I did it only once something would go wrong.  Now with two of everything I don't seem to make mistakes so I have more cards to sell for charity.
I have used the same Bearly Mine Designs County Collection papers as per my previous card and stamped around the backing paper with brown swirls but then this card went into a vintage-style summertime creation.  I have used a gorgeous image from Krista of Saturated Canary and she is called "Lolita".  She has got such a gorgeous face and hair.  I have coloured the image with my Promarkers and then coloured the main area of grass and sky with Pan Pastels and then die-cut the image with an X-cut die.  Everything has been mounted on a kraft card blank.  I have finished the card off with some Marianne Designs scrolls (one big and one small scroll), ribbon bow, raffia ribbon, gems, Craftwork cards sentiment and some kraft Joy die-cut butterflies.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Love to Create - Summertime fun
Kraft Journal - Good ol' summertime fun
Always Crafting - Summer
Deep Ocean - Welcome Summer
Celebrate the Occasion - Welcome summer and any digi or die-cut
Little Red Wagon - Get krafty
Divas by Design - To "die" for
Crafts and Me - Anything goes
Milk Coffee Challenge - It's summertime
Cute Card Thursday - Here comes summer
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Allsorts - Any die will do
2 Sisters - Anything goes
Papercrafting Journey - Feeling krafty
It's all about the vintage - Summer and butterflies
Crafter's Companion - Time to embellish
Joanna Sheen Challenge - Summer daze
Pan Pastel - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Summer dresses
Dream Valley - Things with wings
The Corrosive Challenge - Summertime girls
Bunny Zoe's - Girls, girls, girls

Saturday 23 June 2012

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - 18 June 2012

Over at the Whoopsi Daisy Challenge the topic this week is "use those swirls".
I have used a cute little girl image from Whoopsi Daisy and have coloured her in with my Promarkers.  Around the edge of the cut round image I have stamped in pink and brown with a See D's swirl stamp.  
The backing papers are from the Bearly Mine Country Collection and this colourway determined the antique colours I used in the image.  To tie-in the backing paper I have stamped the same swirls on the circle backing paper.  The card has been finished off with two Marianne Designs swirls (one big swirl at the top and a smaller one at the bottom), brown seam binding, faux stitching, ribbon bow, photo corners and ticket sentiment from the Bearly Mine Country Collection.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show - A bit of brown
Totally Stampalicious - Teenagers
Whoopsi Daisy - Use those swirls 
Creative Card Crew - 1-2-3 of something (3 photo corner embellishments, 2 scrolls (1 big one at the top and a small one at the bottom) and 1 ribbon bow)
Fab N Funky - Polka dots
Divas by Design - To "die" for
Crafts and Me - Anything goes
Delightful Sketches - Anything goes
Moving Along with the Times - Happy birthday
Paperplay - Use a die
Shelly's Images - Anything goes
Delicious Doodles - 1-2-3 recipe (3 photo corner embellishments, 2 scrolls (1 big one at the top and a small one at the bottom) and 1 ribbon bow)
CardmadFairy's Digi Days - Girly challenge
Sweet Stampin' - Ribbon and bows
Allsorts - Any die will do
2 Sisters - Anything goes
Crafter's Companion - Time to embellish
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Friday 22 June 2012

Bearly Mine Crafts Weekly Blog Candy

Today sees the start of another weekly candy from Donna at Bearly Mine Crafts for the followers of her blog.
This is what is on offer this week - some Cheery Lynn Designs Lace Corners and a Fizzy Moon Wedding Bells Clear Stamp Set.  

If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning this candy and to see who won last weeks' candy please make sure you pop on over to Donna's Blog.

Crafty Ann's Challenge #68 - Memories are made of this

It's time for another challenge over at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog.  This time the challenges is "memories are made of this".  This can be interpreted in different ways eg vintage style which could be a card/project or something like a scrapbook page/mini album route with memories of any vintage - even yesterday!
I have to admit I had the idea of a scrapbook page but wasn't sure if I could emotionally make it as this Monday saw the first anniversary of my mum's sudden death.  I decided it would be good for me so I went for it.  I have used items from Crafty Ann's Tempting Turquoise Scrapbook Kit, Crafty Ann's Cream Dream Scrapbook Kit and Crafty Ann's Sweet Sage Scrapbook Kit.  I used Craft Artist Professional to do the scrapbook layout and added many layers, used different scissor/brush effect, added lots of embellishments from the three kits I used and finally added a picture of my mum taken when we all went to Skegness four weeks before she died, not knowing this would be her last holiday with us.

As you can imagine this scrapbook page was very hard to make with lots of tears shed but I was pleased with the outcome in the end.  Monday wasn't an easy day.  

I am entering this scrapbook page into the following challenges:

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Robyn's Fetish - Anything goes
Try it on Tuesday - Anything goes

Thursday 21 June 2012

Aud Sentiments Design Team Card - Thursday 21 June 2012

Today see the start of another challenge at the Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog.  We had a lovely array of entries for the last challenge so make sure you go and check out the winner.  Onto this challenge.  
We are challenged to a BINGO board.  You have to use a line of three either horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
We are being sponsored by Stamp and Create.Com who are giving a $20 gift certificate for the winner.
For my card I have used a Bearly Mine Floral Breeze backing paper which I have printed to fit my card blank.  
My image is a LOTV die-cut which I have inked the edges with a chalk ink pad and added some sparkle here and there.  I have finished the card off with some lovely cherry blossom flowers, Distress Stickles to the centres of the flowers on the backing paper, gems, Craftwork Cards sentiment and a lace bow.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
The Squirrel and the Fox - Make it sparkle
Robyn's Fetish - Anything goes
Lexi's Creations - Happy birthday
Papertake Weekly - BINGO board (I chose lace, Free (I used flowers) and gems.

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Bearly Mine Challenge - 19 June 2012 - Flowers

Well the weeks are certainly whizzing around aren't they?  It's time for another challenge at Bearly Mine Challenges and it's time for Team B.  The challenge this week is "flowers".
This week we are being sponsored by Fred, She Said Designs and a $20 certificate is being offered to the challenge winner.
For my card I have used some purple papers that our wonderfully talented Donna has given away free at times.  I have used a Joanna Sheen House Mouse Gruffies decoupage called "Beary Good Times".  Aren't the two of them so cute in the garden?  The image I have mounted on a piece of card I have embossed with a flower embossing folder.  I have coloured some chipboard corners with my Promarkers to match the card.  I have finished the card off with some lace doilies, gingham ribbon bow, Bearly Mine Designs spotted flowers, gem stars, two star pins, Marianne Designs Creatables butterflies with gem centres and a Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says - Summer inspiration
Paper Pretties - Summer inspiration
Fresh Brewed - Anything goes
Creatalicious Monthly - Anything goes
Joanna Sheen - Lavender and lace (lace doilies and lace effect backing paper)
Crafty Ribbons - Butterflies and bows
Crafty Catz - Embossing
Mariannne's Designs Divas - Animal antics
Raise the Bar - Summer
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Love to Create - Summertime fun
Paper Playtime - Anything goes and sentiment
Unstampbelles - Ribbon
Papertake Weekly - BINGO board - I've chosen ribbon, free (pins) and blooms
Deep Ocean - Welcome summer

Monday 18 June 2012

New Baby Cards

I needed to make a few more cards for the stall so I used this Stitchy Bear image called "Rub a Dub Dub".  I have coloured both images with my Promarkers and highlighted areas with my Sakura Stardust clear pen and put Glossy Accents over all the bubbles.  

I have made one for a baby boy birth and one for a baby girl birth.  The backing papers are from a Forever Friends Baby Collection and some from my stash.  For the blue card I made a quilt effect on the top backing paper.  The card has been finished off with an "it's a boy" printed ribbon, faux stitching and some gems.  The pink card has a seriously glittery backing paper on top so I didn't want to detract from that so the card has been finished off with three brads, some spotty ribbon, some faux stitching and a sentiment off the computer.

I am entering these cards into the following challenges:

Passion for Promarkers - Lots of layers
Top Tip Tuesday - Sparkles galore (seriously glittery backing paper on the pink card)
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
Inky Impressions - Celebrations
The Crop Stop - It's a celebration
Creatalicious Monthly - Anything goes
Papercrafting Journey - Colour it up
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Stampin' with the Dragon - Anything goes
The Squirrel and the Fox - Make it sparkle (pink card)
Robyn's Fetish - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Stitch it
Ooh-la-la-Creations - Baby, baby
The Cutie Pie - Stitching real or faux
Hooked on Crafts - All that glitters (pink card)

Saturday 16 June 2012

House Mouse and Friends Challenge - 4 June 2012

Over at the House Mouse and Friends Challenge the topic is "here comes the sun".  Well I think a lot of us are wondering if the sun will come out and stay out.
For my card I have used a summery House Mouse decoupage image of two mice out in a teacup - aren't they so very cute?  They are from a set called "Just the two of us" and are available from Joanna Sheen's website.  The backing papers were given to me so I unable to tell you the make of them.  I have used a Marianne Designs Anya corner die, Marianne Designs Craftable flower dies, Marianne Designs Creatables Decorative Elegance and Marianne Designs Creatables butterflies.  The card has been finished off with some gems, buttons, pearl brad, gingham ribbon, gem flower and peel-off sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Pile it On - Let's get outdoors
The Ribbon Girl - Use ribbon or lace
Always Crafting - Summer
House Mouse and Friends - Here comes the sun
Lexi's Creations - Happy birthday
Crafter's Companion - Time to embellish
Fashionista Challenge - Simply summer
Creatalicious Challenge - Anything goes
Marianne's Designs Divas - Animal antics
By the Cute and Girly - Cute as a button
Simon Says - Summer inspiration
Paper Pretties - Summer inspiration
Fresh Brewed Challenge - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Raise the Bar - Summer
Fun with Shapes and More - Summer

Friday 15 June 2012

Commissioned Birthday Card


I was asked by a customer to make her a card for her brother who loves trains.  Yikes I say as I have to make her train, planes and buses cards and am always running short of images.  I went though for my Joanna Sheen Nostalgia CD and used the main image which I decoupaged up and used the smaller images for accents on the insert and also the back of the card.  The card has been finished off with a sentiment off the computer which was die-cut and inked through the die, twine and card candy.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Dream Valley - For that special guy
Craft Your Passion - Anything goes
There's Magic in the Air - One for the boys
LEJ Designs - Daddy dearest/male projects
Charisma Cardz - Male cards
Creatalicious - Anything goes
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Boy attitude

Commissioned Birthday Card

Sorry I've been missing this week.  I had my dental surgery on Tuesday.  It wasn't pleasant and I'm glad it's over with.  I've still only got about a third sensation back in my mouth so I can barely say "yes", "no" etc so it's a bit of peace and quiet for hubby and the boys.  Not back to work until next Wednesday so plenty of time for my face to be less swollen and to be able to talk!!

I was asked to make a humorous 40th birthday card for a customer as her brother was turning 40.  I thought a CraftsUPrint image I had seen by Gordon Fraser would do the trick.  I also purchased a Happy 40th Birthday image for the front of the card from CraftsUPrint as well - well there was going to be no hiding for recipient in the fact that he has turned 40!!!  I just did some simple matting and layering as I wanted the images and verse to do the talking.  The customer loved it.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Dream Valley - For that special guy
The Crafty Pad - Let's hear it for the boys
Craft Your Passion - Anything goes
Make my Monday - Father's Day/Masculine
The Pink Elephant - Masculine
There's Magic in the Air - One for the boys
LEJ Designs - Daddy dearest/male projects
Charisma Cardz - Male cards

Tuesday 12 June 2012

Bearly Mine Challenge - 12 June 2012

Today sees a new Challenge over at Bearly Mine Challenges.  It is time for Team A to show you their wonderful creations.  
What is the challenge?  This week it is tic-tac-toe so for your card/project you need to use a line of three either across, down or diagonally and let us know which line you have chosen.
    
This week we are sponsored by Whimsy Stamps.   The winner will win 5 digital images of their choice.  

Please make sure you pop over to the Bearly Mine Challenges Blog to have a look at the wonderful creations of the Design Team.

Friday 8 June 2012

Crafty Ann's Challenge #67 - It's a girl thing!

It is time for another challenge over at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog.  This time the topic is "it's a girl thing!" so any card/project for a woman or girl will be fine.
For my card I have used a My Craft Studio middle step card which I printed one side with a light pink mottled stone Crafty Ann's backing paper and brighter pink mottled stone Crafty Ann's backing paper.  I have used the morning glory digital image and coloured it in with Promarkers and distressed the edges.  The card has been embellished with some Crafty Ann's pre-coloured flowers all cut out with their edges distressed with a chalk ink pad.  I have finished the card off with some Marianne Designs Creatables die-cut butterflies, pearls and Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenge - Butterflies
Robyn's Fetish - No squares or rectangles
One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi
Make my Monday - Birthday card with pearls
Lollipop Crafts - Flowers in bloom
The Pink Elephant - Vibrant colours
Paper Pretties Monday - Use bling
Digital Tuesday - Anything goes
Fresh Brewed Challenge - Pop it
Whimsy Stamps - Things with wings
My Mum's Craft Shop - BINGO board (I chose the top row - flowers, pearls and die-cuts)
Truly Scrumptious - Flower power
Moving Along With the Times - Anything but square
Papercrafting Journey - Colour it up
Southern Girls - Things with Wings
Crop Stop - Monochromatic is in!
Crafty Calendar - Flowers in bloom and optional extra of swirls/flourishes

Thursday 7 June 2012

Aud Sentiments Design Team Card - Thursday 7 June 2012

Today sees the start of another challenge over at the Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog.  The weeks seem to be whizzing by.  This fortnight we are challenged to "a birthday sentiment for a child".
This fortnight we are sponsored by Tiddly Inks.
For my card I have used a Tiddly Inks image called Kiki and made a card for a little boy.  I have coloured the image with Promarkers, die-cut the image and then chalked around the edges.  The backing papers are from a Forever Friends paper pad I won and then I have embossed some scraps of blue card with a polka dots embossing folders and stars embossing folder.  I have finished the card with some Happy Birthday ribbon, some brads and two Papermania balloon stickers.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Secret Crafter - Anything goes
Di's Digi Designs - Male cards
The Crafty Pad - Ribbon
The Ribbon Girl - Ribbon or lace
Cupcake Inspiration - Photo inspiration
Platypus Creek - For the boys
Ribbon Carousel - Birthday cards
Digital Tuesday - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - I love you dad or a masculine card
Paper Crafting Journey - Colour it up
CRAFT - Male card
4 Crafty Chicks - Monochromatic
Digi Doodle Shop - Male card

Tuesday 5 June 2012

Bearly Mine Challenge - 5 June 2012 - How charming

Today sees the start of another challenge at Bearly Mine and it is time for Team B.  The challenge this week is "how charming" so you need to use a charm on your card.
This week we are lucky to be sponsored by Kenny K Downloads.
I decided to make a Father's Day card and used the Kenny K's image called "handyman".  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and then die-cut it out.  The backing papers I have used are the Boys Zone by Bearly Mine Designs and I have layered various papers.  I then put some pieces of pearl card through my Cuttlebug and a cogs embossing folders.  The card has been finished off with a sentiment off the computer, various tool charms (spanner, wrench and pliers) and some washers, screw and nut from my husband's stash of DIY goodies.

Please make sure you pop over to the challenge blog to have a look at the other creations from Team B.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafting for all Seasons - Many layers
I Love Promarkers - Use a digi only
Simon Says - Anything goes
Pattie's Creations - father's day or card for a guy
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
The Poodles Parlour - Father's day/male card
Secret Crafter - Anything goes
Di's Digi Designs - Male cards
One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi
Platypus Creek - For the boys
Love to Create - Father's day or a special guy in your life
Cards for Men - Father's day
Clear it Out - Father's day/male projects and use eyelets (but you can use brads) - I've used brads to hold my charms on
Kaboodle Doodle - All Manly men
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes and optional extra of Father's Day or for a boy/man
My Time to Craft - Hats or handbags
Sassy Cheryl - It's all about the dads and grads
Digital Tuesday - Anything goes
Desmet Designs - For the men and boys
Scrap-Creations - Father's day

Monday 4 June 2012

My First Smash Book Pages

I saw a while back the lovely Krista of Saturated Canary doing Smash Book pages and thought I'd like to have a go at that.  I managed to get a suitable book and whilst my husband and boys were away for two days I decided to do the first two pages in my Smash Book.
I used my Pan Pastels and some chalks to colour the sand and sky.  I tore a piece of paper to add some curves in the sand.  I then used a Stamp and Create Wags 'n Whiskers image called "Water Babe" and a Saturated Canary imaged called "Beach Baby" and coloured then both with Promarkers and the Beach Baby also had the same Pan Pastel and chalk background.  The photographs were taken in April 2012 when we went to Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire here in the UK.  You'd never have guessed from the photos it was that time of the year.  The shells and starfish which took me quite a while to cut out were from Joanna Sheen's Faye Whittaker CD.  Some I left the colour they were but some I coloured with my Tim Holtz Tattered Rose and Antique Linen Distress Ink Markers.  I have used Crafty Ann's Ticket Digi Image to do my journalling.  I know from scrapbook pages that this is important and more important to do in your own handwriting but who is like me and hates their own handwriting?  The pages have been finished off with various stickers which I have had between 1-3 years, un-used and un-loved.

I am entering these pages into the following challenges:

Oldie but a Goodie - Anything goes (my stickers I have had between 1-3 years)
Paper Pretties Wednesday - Use summer as your inspiration
Inky Impressions - Summer fun
Divas by Design - Anything goes
I Love Promarkers - Use a digi only
Simon Says - Anything goes
Pixie Dust - Summer
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Secret Crafter - Anything goes
Cupcake Inspiration - Photo inspiration
One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi
The Pink Elephant - Vibrant colours
Whoopsi Daisy - Summer colours
Fashionista Challenge - Simply summer