More Blog Candy

I have just discovered some more blog candy. Hop over to http://craftlingscosycorner.blogspot.com/2008/05/blog-candy-giveaway.html for details of the scrummy stash up for grabs. You need to leave a comment by 7pm Sunday 1st June.
Am done blog hopping today, just got a call for Mum's taxi, so had better go and collect!

Lil' Deb's Blog Candy

There is sooooo much wonderful blog candy up for grabs at the moment. I've just discovered another lot. Visit http://lildebstampscrap.blogspot.com/2008/05/blog-candy.html and see what Lil' Deb is offering, there is loads of lovely calorie free goodies! She wanted to reach 2000 hits but has already exceeded this and the closing date for this one is 14th June.

Enfy's Blog Candy

Enfy's is celebrating 40,000 hits, hop on over to http://going-buggy.blogspot.com/2008/05/blog-candy-to-celebrate-40000-hits.html to see what fab candy she is offering to one lucky winner and the gorgeous cards she creates.

Charlie's Blog Candy

Just discovered Charlie's lovely blog. Hop on over to see her wonderful cards and a chance to win some candy...... before the end of the day!
http://hjemmehoscharlie.blogspot.com/2008/05/min-blog-er-fyldt-1-r-happy-1st-b-day.html

Dies to Die for Competition,1st Cuddly Buddly card

Having a great day today. After a nice lie in this morning, I found a packet on my doormat from Cuddly Buddly, from my shopping spree the other day!

I was intending to make my card for the Dies to Die for competition, which finishes today, see http://cuteycrafts.blogspot.com/ for more info. I coloured the Kyle image with watercolour pencils and accented laces and buttons with sakura glaze pens. I matted and layered the image on Papermania 'For Him' paper and cardstock from stash and put eyelets in each corner. I stuck a strip of card with sticker on, down the left side of the card, cut 2 circles, (1 shadow effect) using Cricut, George & Basic Shapes, stamped the 'Big Hugs' greeting, another CB stamp onto it, added a ribbon tag and stuck to card with 3D foam pads. I am really pleased with how this has turned out.

Now I am off to enjoy the sun in the garden....

Hope to be back later with some more creations !!

All You Need is Love

Here are a couple of cards I have made for the Charmed Cards & Crafts May competition entitled Love. There is a fantastic prizeof Basic Grey Two Scoops goodies up for grabs, closing date for comp is 1st June.
On the top card I punched a scalloped heart which I wire wrapped, threading with beads as I went. This was mounted onto a square die cut with a Spellbinders die, which is held onto a cream layer by way of the heart corner punch, then layered onto some crumpled tissue paper, and finally the base card.
On the lower card I stuck a group of hearts peel off onto mirri card, cut round the peel off, then mounted this to a spirelli shape which had been wrapped with gold thread. This was mounted onto a cream mat. 'Love' was cut using Cricut, Opposites Attract cartridge and mounted onto mirri card. This was placed below the spirelli shape, onto the cream mat, which is held onto the base card by way of the heart corner punch.

First Rubber Romance card

Finally - here's the first card I've made using my new Rubber Romance stamps!! Its quite a bit stamp, so had to make this an A5 card. While playing thought I would follow the sketch challenge thats over on Friday Sketchers this week.



Image (Vivienne loves her shoes) stamped with Adirondack ginger ink pad, coloured in using watercolour pencils. Background paper from DCWV, Retro Prints paper stack. The sentiments were freebies that the RR seller included in my parcel.

Cute Card Thursday challenge, Background paper

Another dreary day here in Gosport!! Still its the last day of the half term holidays, the kids are quiet, so am going to try and do a couple of challenges.

Over at Cute Card Thursday the challenge this week is 'to use patterned paper on your card in honour of our fabulous blog candy donated by Andrea of Kaboodle Doodles.'

After pulling out just about every piece of paper I have got, (my craft room looks like a bomb has gone off!) I decided to use these papers from The Spring Stack from DCWV. The image is a download from Pink Petticoat, which I coloured with sakura, marvys, then glued and glittered the body with glamour dust. I was going to add a greeting but didn't want to cover up the panel on the left of the card, and couldn't decide what occasion to make the card for - will leave it blank for the time being, and add one when the occasion arises......

Happy Birthday Charlotte

Had a great day today, blog hopping, online shopping, made a few cards..... how much better can it get, the sun was even out for a few hours!!! Can't wait for the postman tomorrow, hopefully some of my goodies will arrive. I did buy some downloads so I didn't have to wait to play with new 'toys'.

Here is the card I made for my niece with one of the downloads from Pink Petticoat, they have brilliant designs, so good I had to buy 2 downloads.... I got this set and Ella, who will no doubt be appearing on a card here shortly! I coloured the image with Marvys and sakura pens, then glittered with glamour dust. Tied ribbon around the card with image and mounted on pink/lilac hand made paper. Lilac paper from DCVW, pocket full of posies stack, (really lurve those papers at the moment, just hate having to cut them up!) Tag and Happy Birthday greeting cut with Cricut machine, George & Basic Shapes + Beyond Birthdays cartridges. Peel off Niece and numbers added to finish.

Here is the card I made for my children to send to their cousin, who is 11 tomorrow. I used a download, from the Dottie at Home collection (Charmed Cards & Crafts/Louise Brigden). I cut and embossed the bath and towel. Image coloured with marvys and watercolour brush. I highlighted the bubbles with stickles and the duck with glossy accents. I mounted the image on an old CD which I had embossed with holographic embossing powder, and mounted that on turquoise card embossed with cuttlebug tiny bubbles folder. Base card from Paper Mill, brown on the outside, turquoise on the inside.

Fireman George

I've managed to snatch a few hours crafting today....

Here is the card I've made for the Dottie's World recipe challenge this week, which is :-

• 1 or more Charmed Downloads
• 1 brad
• Ribbon
• Hand doodling/writing
• Dry embossing or crimping (CB embossing folders etc..)

The image is from the George at Work download available from Charmed Cards & Crafts. I have mounted the image on yellow and orange mulberry paper to represent flames, the red card has been embossed with cuttlebug distressed stripes. I finished off the hose with a piece of ribbon, put a brad on the opening of the hose. Doodling around the edge of image and circular handwritten greeting. I am still not entirely happy with the white space on the top of the card, but couldn't find anything that I thought looked right.

I have just discovered the Secret Crafter forum and blog. They have a challenge each month and this month's is 'With the next big event being Fathers Day I thought it would be a good idea to make MENS CARDS the theme for Mays challenge.' so my George card is suitable for this challenge also.

Melissa's Pink Blog Candy

Hurry, hurry, hurry. I've only just discovered this blog candy. You've got until 5pm today to leave a comment on Melissa's blog to be in with a chance to win some gorgeous pink candy and see some great designs http://princessmsk.blogspot.com/. Good luck

Circle of Friends Award

I was very flattered to have been sent the 'circle of friends award' by Stacey http://lefthandedblonde.blogspot.com/. Why not take a look at her fab blog. Now its my turn to pass it on to a couple of people who have become part of my 'circle of friends'.

I have chosen Louly,http://craftsbylouly.blogspot.com/ and
Jilli, http://jillispaiges.blogspot.com/ and 2 crafters I have only just exchanged emails with, Jo http://jo-onlyjoking.blogspot.com/ and Enfys http://going-buggy.blogspot.com/.

Rubber Romance stamps have arrived!!

Yippee!!!!! My Rubber Romance stamps arrived today! Great stamps and speedy delivery, I only ordered them last week. The seller even popped in some freebies, (a couple of small images and 4 with wording). I can feel another spend coming on soon! Things have been hectic here this afty with lots of comings and goings, so not had the chance to make any cards yet, but hope to tomorrow, I have had to settle with colouring some of the images with various mediums, H2Os, jelly roll pens, watercolour pencils.

Papertake Weekly, sketch challenge

This weeks challenge is another of Katharina's sketches and it's another great one!

Here is my card for the Papertake Weekly challenge. Papers from the Dovecraft Masculine pack, image from Sporty George download at Charmed, star, circle and Dad embellishments cut with Cricut machine, George & Basic Shapes & Beyond Birthdays cartridges. Image coloured with watercolour pencils and waterbrush, card tinted with chalks and edged with Cats Eye inkpad.

Stamp Something challenge, Thank You card

I thought I would use do some medallion stamping for this week's challenge on Stamp Something, which is ' create a little something to say thank you'. I really enjoy using this technique, although it is time consuming, and can be quite messy, I usually end up covered in glitter! I stamped 7 images using the Expressions stamp from Creative Expressions, on 3 different coloured pearlescent card and heat embossed with silver powder. I cut each layer, removing different elements, to reduce the size of the layers. I glued 3 different colour glitters on the layers and when this had dried used 3D foam pads to make up the medallion, which was then glued to the base card. 'Thanks' was cut using Cricut Beyond Birthdays cartridge. The picture below shows a close up of the layers, which is not very clear in the top image.

CCT sketch challenge

I really need to buy some new stamps as I seem to keep using the same ones recently. I ordered some Rubber Romance stamps on Monday so hope they will be delivered soon. I had to resort to one of the first stamps I bought for this week's challenge. Papers from DCWV & K&Co, Anita's stamp. I used sakura gelly roll pens to colour the image and inked and chalked the edge of the oval with green. There is a 'Happy Birthday' greeting, cut with Cricut, in the top left corner, which you can just about see. This is the best picture I could come up with!

Beading

No cards today. I have been to Colbury beading for the day. I belong to a group called UFO (unfinished objects) Beaders who meet once a month. We are given a pattern each month, usually designed by the lady who runs the group, Mary Davis. I decided to give this one a go and was really pleased with the result, am going to make a couple more trying different types of beads. I have some Swarovski crystals just waiting to be used!! I will post a picture when I have made it, am off to make a start on it now.

Play Up Pompey, Funky Fairy challenge, My Time To Craft Challenge,

Here is my entry for the Funky Fairy sketch challenge this week, which I have combined with the My Time To Craft challenge to use 'Dark Hair' . I thought I should make a start on Father's Day cards, so used an old favourite stamp from the Little Rascals range at Creative Expressions. I have coloured the football strip in Pompey colours in celebration of their win today! The image was coloured with watercolour pencils. The base card was stamped with a football stamp, I stamped a couple of extra footballs and used glossy accents to give a raised image which I then mounted on the strip on the right side of the card and the central image.

Blog Candy

Emma is offering some fab blog candy, in celebration of her birthday and 5000th hit, visit http://elf-creations.blogspot.com/2008/05/up-for-grabs.html by 20th May for a chance to win.


Heidi has some great blog candy on offer. You will get a little gift bag, one stamp of Hanglar girl with the little cat, and about 30 stamped images. The only thing you have to do is to put a link to this Blog candy in your blog by 31st May. http://heidi-kortoggodt.blogspot.com/2008/05/hanglar-blog-candy.html

Dottie's World challenge - paper piecing

The first challenge over at Dottie's World is :-

'I want you to make a card or layout using paper piecing on any Dottie or George image, but that's not all! I want you then to use the same paper as part of your card's background'.

Here is my entry for the challenge, never mind Posh Totty, let me introduce Posh Dottie, who wears a tabbard that matches the decor and a bucket that matches her outfit when she does her cleaning!! The image is from the Dottie At Home download from Charmed Cards & Crafts. I coloured the image in with Marvys then added glossy accents to the water and earrings using Liquid Pearls. Looking forward to the new challenge tomorrow.

Last one today - Friday Sketchers challenge

Here is my final challenge for today - Fridays Sketchers. I have used an image from the Sporty George download, designed by Louise Brigden. Image coloured with my good old watercolour pencils again! Green papers from stash, brown paper from Dovecraft Masculine range.

Busy day - another 2 challenges!!

I have had a great day, crafting... Here is my entry for Stamp Something's challenge of 'firsts'. The firsts on this card are, the first time I have used these stamps, which I bought ages ago, they are from Banana Frog, the set is called Build A Bloom. I stamped 24 petals on pink and lilac card, I then stamped a base of 8 petals and built the flower up from there, finishing off with a large brad which I embossed with holographic powder. The other first on this card is the doodling around the edge of the white card, something I have been meaning to try for a while and actually got round to it today!!

In my bid to catch up on challenges, here is the third one I have completed today, for Daring Cardmakers, 'we have been looking at Recycling once again. BUT there is a tiny twist! (you'd expect no less eh?) We want you to have a look at old shop bought greetings cards, wrapping paper or gift bags which you have received in the past and recycle any elements to make a card of your own.You could use them to make backgrounds, cut small focus pieces out, or use the flowers, ribbon and other interesting bits and pieces that are often attached to the cards'.
I have used the background of an old card to form part of the base card. Stamped image from Paper Nation, coloured using watercolour pencils, edged with some more doodling then mounted onto silver mirri card.

Cute Card Thursday challenge, Scrummy Stash Cafe challenge, Vacation and Travel

Thursday is my day off and I usually spend the day doing boring things like housework but as I have the house to myself and the weather is not so good I thought I would treat myself to a day of crafting!! DH is off out tonight so the kids and I are going out to eat, so no cooking either....
I have spent the morning playing in my craft room and here is my entry (not the first attempt!) for CCT and Scrummy Stash Cafe challenges this week, 'vacation & travel'. You just can't beat a bucket and spade holiday when the children are young! I chose the citrus colours to brighten up the dreary day.
Stamp from Little Rascals range at Creative Expressions, Paper HOTP citrus pack. Image coloured with watercolour pencils. Ribbon from a lovely selection at The Range.

Cute Card Thursday & Papertake Weekly Challenges, Special Friend card

I have been playing with my Dolly Mama stamps again! I have combined 2 challenges, Cute Card Thursday whose challenge is 'to use gems or jewels on your card,' and the Papertake Weekly Challenge which is 'another colour combination! Luscious Lime and Lilac - or any shades of green and purple! ' This is the first time I have entered the Cute Card Thursday challenge and the first time I have been so early with my card for the Papertake Weekly challenge! CS from Paper Mill, 'Beauty Queen for a Day' stamp from Stamps Happen. Image was coloured with Marvys and a waterbrush & Sakura gelly roll pens. Paper is from a Hot Off The Press book of citrus papers. I added nail gems to the centre of the flowers on the towels, as earrings, a ring, on the sign and tiara, and 3 larger gems to the bottom right side of the card. I added a circular shadow tag cut with Cricut machine, added ribbon (which I had bought on Saturday, fortunately in the right colour for the challenge!) and handwritten greeting.

Dolly Mamas stamping

I have been playing with my Dolly Mama stamps today and here is my entry for this week's My Time To Craft challenge, which is entitled 'Ribbons'. I coloured the image with Marvys and a waterbrush, highlighting areas with Sakura Gelly Roll pens. CS from The Paper Mill, orange is one of my fav colours at the moment! The backing paper is from my stash, tag is cut using Cricut George & Basic shapes, peel off coloured brown and the all important piece of ribbon added to the tag.

When Dottie Met George, 3C's card sketch 5

I downloaded the Dottie at Work and George at Work collections tonight and have made my card for Charmed Cards & Crafts card sketch 5 challenge. I coloured the image using Marvys, Gelly Roll pens and my water brush. The background was coloured using kitchen roll and a pink Brilliance ink pad, matted and layered on cs from The Paper Mill, brads from stash.

Blog Candy

There is so much blog candy on offer at the moment.....

I have just come across a new blog, launched today, which will be running Friday challenges. Why not have a look http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/

Ila is offering fantastic blog candy to celebrate her birthday - you don't even have to make a card! http://www.artfullyila.blogspot.com/2008/05/blog-candy-birthday-celebration.html

Ila's daughter Trina is offering her first blog candy. Fabhttp://trinastreasures.blogspot.com/ goodies on offer, why not take a look?

Ought to be off to make some cards now, but will probably spend a bit longer blog hopping!!
Happy crafting ....

Funky Fairy Challenge, Recipe

Burning the midnight oil again tonight as I have been busy in the garden today. Glad its a day off tomorrow!

The Funky Fairy challenge this week is to use 3 colours, 1 piece of ribbon, 3 buttons and a punch. I have used a white base card, white and black paper (DCWV black & white paper stack) and black, silver and white embellishments. You can just about see the ribbon which goes along the top edge of the paper, I have filled the recess in the middle of the buttons with glossy accents and covered with micro beads then glued them to the centre of the flowers. I used a corner rounder to shape the corners of the card and my cricut to cut the squares and flowers (George & Basic shapes cartridge). Sorry about picture, couldn't work out how to get a decent picture without light catching the mirri card. Must read the instruction manual for the camera........

My First George Card, Fishing George

It was my FILs birthday earlier this week, so I made my first George card. The image was designed by Louise Brigden, downloaded from Charmed Cards & Crafts. It was coloured in with watercolour pencils and mounted on papers from the Dovecraft Masculine range. I am pleased with the result. The first of many cards I plan to make from this download, I have loads of ideas buzzing round my head. I usually struggle with male birthday cards unless they are into football, (like all the males in this household!).

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Elegant Embossing

The Papertake Weekly Challenge this week is Elegant Embossing (wet or dry embossing). I have watercoloured an image stamped using one of my Dolly Mama stamps, I love working with these stamps! I have layered the image over a semi-circle of pearlescent card which has been dry embossed. The birthday greeting has been added on a circular tag with ribbon attached.