Citrus manga birthday wishes

Managed to grab some crafting time this week, its been so busy lately I'm fit to drop when I get in from work!



The Manga Girl image was coloured over a month ago.... just waiting to be put on a card! The papers are from a First Paper Edition paper stack, I just love the bright colours in this pack, although looking at the photo I've just uploaded they don't look that bright - must get a light tent! I used the sketch from The Sugar Bowl challenge and am entering it into the Papertake Weekly challenge which is 'Fancy a Punch'

Short and sweet post today, am off to hit the shops at Gunwharf Quays, they have just started selling Radley shoes in the Tula shop, now where did I put my credit card ;)
Have a good day....

May all your wishes come true...

This Hanglar & Stangler image was one I received from a blogging buddy when I first started blogging. My wish, that H & S stamps were more readily available in the UK, not just on Ebay where they go for silly money!!



I coloured it ages ago, before I had my copics and can't remember what I used to colour it with! I rediscovered it in a pile of projects to complete, which I am working my way through in a bid to clear some worktop in my craft room!
The papers are from an MME Magnolia stack, there are some gorgeous papers in there, look out for some on cards over the next few days, they are all autumnal colours, my favourite colourway. I found a bottle of Cosmic Shimmer Mist in Rich Gold which I'm not sure has ever been used so thought I would give that a go. Flowers, ribbons and pearls from stash. Sentiment is Craftwork Cards.

I am entering this card into 2 challenges
Just Magnolia & Hanglar & Stangler - My favourite things, well I love using ribbon & pearls on my cards, not that you can see much of the ribbon, my Martha Stewart border punch and I reckon the shimmer mist may become a favourite!
Papertake Weekly - Ribbons and Pearls

That's it from me tonight, am off to catch up on Wanted Down Under.

Bloom & Grow Tilda

What a busy day... but I can relax now, the house has been de-Christmassed and cleaned through, washing up to date so that leaves me free to craft all weekend :D

I made this card for a very special friend who celebrates her birthday today. I was hoping to enter it into 4 challenges but as I am late posting, I've missed the Magnolia deadline :(



Not sure what this image is called but it was from the Autumn Magnolia kit in 2009. I used MME Bloom & Grow papers, I bought loads of these as I love the colours, so still working my way through them!
The 3 challenges I am entering this card into are
Totally Gorgeous - Someone Special
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes - lace option, hope my raffia ribbon counts!
Create 4 Fun - sketch.

Have a great weekend.

Second card this week, on a roll now!!

Managed to escape to my craft room today.... I was supposed to be going to 2 classes at The Glitter Pot with Jenny Mayes but sadly it was cancelled as Jenny has had a fall and couldn't get there :(. Get well soon Jenny, hope I can get to one of your classes soon.

Anyway here's the card I made today, did a bit more colouring with my copics and dug out my Magnolia stamps that have been tucked away somewhere safe for a while.



I used the sketch from the Just Magnolia challenge this week and colours from the picture inspiration at Papertake Weekly.
The pink paper is MME Bloom and Grown, not sure about the purple paper.

Am off now to knit some more of my socks, might not be back for a while as I get in a tangle with 4 needles!

Busy day in the craft room....

I shut myself in my craft room today, after a bit of tidying up!! It was time to clear some of the chaos out there and catch up on a few challenges...

The first card is one I made for the Anyone for Anya and Papertake Weekly challenges this week. I had several stamped images which had surfaced during the tidy up so coloured one of these with copic markers, then what paper to use???? After pulling out most of my paper stacks, apart from the fact that I couldn't find one that matched the colours I'd used, it didn't look like I had tidied at all, it actually looked worse than when I started!! Then I remembered that somewhere safe, I had this gorgeous paper from blonde moments, more mess but I found it....



Thought I would tart the insert up a bit as they look a bit boring, so pulled out a couple of swirly stamps, need to get some more tho!!



During my tidy up I made a couple of quick cards for males, having 2 footie mad sons, I often have to have a card to hand at short notice, so thought I would be prepared. I've had these peel offs for a long time, so thought it was time they were used up.



And for those non sporty types....

Black and White

I made a few cards this weekend with some of the images I've coloured up recently.



Love this Miss Anya, which I received as part of a RAK from my bloggy buddy Susie, yes, I'm still working my way through them thank you. I was drawn to my black and white papers and used the sketch from Papertake Weekly.
Papers - black & white -Imaginisce, have a feeling I am going to have to stock up on more of these or similar ones. Black shiny paper - Paper Mill shop.
Blooms & brads from stash.
Punched shapes and sentiment - SU!

2 challenges yesterday....

Managed to make 2 cards for challenges last night but light wasn't good so photographed them today.

The first one is for the challenge at PTW, which is a sketch by Dawny., Thought I would give my new stamps an inking - usually they sit in their packet untouched for ages once I have bought them! Sometimes think I get more of a buzz from buying new stash then using it!!



The image is from the Mary & Friends set from Woodware, they are such cute stamps, there are another 2 images in the set which are sure to make an appearance soon! I used PMs to colour the image and decoupaged the daisy, which I covered with Glamour Dust, really pleased with the way this looks, much better IRL - photography skills again :-( BPs are from DCWV Spring stack, really like the fresh colours on them.

The second card is for Mojo Monday challenge no 85 this week.



Another new set I got was from Pink Cat Studio, there are 12 stamps in the set, 4 good size images, 3 smaller images and 5 greetings. Image coloured with PMs again, and layered onto DCWV paper from a glitter stack, orange card from stash, distressed with a sanding block. The bow took ages to do, am surprised it ended up on the card as the pieces of ribbon kept springing all over my craft room when I was trying to assemble it but I was not going to be beaten! Greeting and punched oval shapes from SU!

Just been to The Range and bought 'Bubble & Squeak' cute little teddy bears, one of the sets from the Daisy & Dandelion range. They are just so cute, so hoping to ink them up tonight, watch this space!

3 in 1 challenge

I don't seem to have done many challenges for a while so thought it was about time I got my act together and took part in a few..... I took a look at the Monday challenges, noted them down and disappeared to my craft room (wireless network doesn't work that far, not worked out how to remedy that yet, and don't really have the space for laptop out there!)

Had a rummage through my stamps, stamped a few images up, couldn't decide what to do when I discovered the Dress Up Maggie stamp, such a cute one to work with, looked at the 3 challenges I had written down and hey presto, my card was designed, I could combine PTW, MTTC and Sketch and Stash challenges in one card.....

Papertake Weekly - this weeks challenge - Hot Chocolate! ol It's a colour combination challenge, the Pink and Orange is the 'hot' part and the brown is obviously the chocolate!

My Time To Craft - Challenge 51 is - HATS

Sketch & Stash - challenge no 5.



I just love the Sweet Always papers (new stash) I have used here, love the colour combo, the image was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa ink pad, coloured with Watercolour Crayons, Only Orange, Pixie Pink and Chocolate Chip ink pad, using watercolour brush. I added a bit of bling to Maggie's boa with Glamour Dust. Image mounted onto Chocolate Chip cardstock and backing paper from Sweet Always set. The sentiment is from the Wonderful Words set, stamped in Choc Chip ink onto Choc Chip cardstock, punched with ribbon punch and added to card with double sided tape. The flowers are some I bought ages ago, just had to have and don't think I have ever used any of them(neglected stash)!

Recipe
Cardstock - Confetti White, Chocolate Chip - SU!
Backing paper - Sweet Always - SU!
Colouring - as detailed above
Stamps - Wonderful Words - SU!, Dress Up Maggie - Sugar Nellie
Ribbon - stash
Blooms - think Craft Central

Papertake Weekly and Cute Card Thursday challenges

Update on post below, here is the card and the candle, I was really pleased with the way the candle turned out. I must remember to use strong colours next time as they appear paler on the candle. Will be making more of these. Have also realised that this qualifies for the CCT challenge of 'have a giggle' this week.




It's a friend's birthday this week so thought I would make her a card using the sketch on Papertake Weekly. I knew which stamp I was going to use, one of my favourites, the Dolly Mama stamps from Stamps Happen - 'I used to burn the candle at both ends.... now I can't find the matches! I am also planning to put the same image on a candle, not tried that yet, but have the candle and tissue paper ready and waiting - have this awful feeling I am going to end up with a pool of melted wax - too late to try it tonight, so wish me luck for tomorrow...

I coloured the image with my SU watercolour crayons, really like using these, can feel a spend coming on! I wanted to use vibrant colours as I am going to use the same colours for the candle and I didn't think pale colours would show that well.

Found this gorgeous handmade paper in my stash, its quite thick with gold bits on that look a bit like embossing altho its not, there are quite a few other colours in my stash, how could I forget lovely paper like this (prob didn't forget, just didn't want to cut it up LOL!). Just looked at the preview and the photo doesn't really show the paper off in its full glory, you'll just have to trust me on this one.

Crafty Day

I've had a very productive day, tidying up my craft room and finishing off cards. The only thing is it doesn't look any tidier now, but I have about 12 cards that I have completed today. I have even managed to fit in a couple of challenges!!

The first card is for the CCT challenge this week which is to include 'Snowflakes'
I used Bazzil Bling for the base card. The image is Funstamps, glittered and coloured with Sakura gelly roll pens, mounted on ovals cut with George & Basic Shapes cartridge. Snowflakes are cut using Punch Bunch cutter. To continue the snowflake theme I added a sheet of vellum to the inside of the card, which I stamped using white ink and snowflake stamps from Banana Frog.



The BP shown in this picture is from a pack from Dovecraft, last year I think. The snowflakes on the bottom right and top left are again from Punch Bunch punch, double layered and tweaked to give more dimension, attached to the card using brads from stash. Excuse the fingers in the photo but the card wouldn't stay closed!



This is what the card looks like when not held closed. I am really pleased with the way this has turned out.




This card is for the PTW challenge this week which has to be 'snow related.'
The stamp is from Whiff of Joy, coloured with watercolour pencils. Snow effect added to the snowman and the edge of Charlie's hat. BP is this year's Dovecraft paper. Panel on left of the card has been embossed with Swiss Dots folder and accented with white ink pad. Silver ribbon from stash and Xmas banner (bargain from Lakeland) added to complete the card.



Now my mojo has returned with a vengance, normal service should be resumed, so you should see a bit more of me!
Will be looking out for delivery man tomorrow, hoping he has my Stampin Up! goodies....

Charlie building snowman - PTW challenge

Here is 'Charlie building snowman', the other Whiff of Joy stamp I bought recently. I have used it to make my card for this weeks challenge over at Paper Take Weekly, which is a sketch by Katharina, the owner of 'Whiff of Joy' Why not take a look right now here, there were some new releases last week but you'd better hurry as they don't stay on the shelves very long!
I have coloured the image with watercolour pencils and used a black gelly roll pen to colour the top hat, eyes, mouth and buttons. I used Snow Writer on Charlie's hat and various areas on the snowman to give some depth and gave it a light dusting with Glamour Dust. Image mounted onto mirri card, just can't resist a bit of sparkle and shine for Christmas cards. Background paper is from Dovecraft, silver layer embossed with Cuttlebug Snowflakes and card finished off with white organza ribbon. I have left a border at the top and bottom to add appropriate names when later on in the year. I am doing quite well with my Christmas cards this year, I am usually making Xmas cards up to the last minute, so hoping to be a bit more organised this year ROFL!!!

Papertake Weekly - Sketch challenge

This is the card I have made for the PTW sketch challenge this week. The image is a Rubber Romance image. BP is from Dovecraft , Glamour prints pack, mounted on pearlescent card. The strip across the middle of the card was embossed using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, which was then sanded with very find sandpaper to take the top off of the dots, not too clear in the picture - sorry :-( best I could do at this time of night!
Hope to a bit more crafting time this week - watch this space!

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.

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.

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.

Papertake Weekly Challenge, All That Glitters, Treasure Box

I stamped 6 images onto cream pearlescent card (I used 2 different shades and alternated them, although this does not show clearly in the photo). I cut the images out and glittered the flowers and butterflies using Art Institute Glitter. I painted the stripes and edges on the top of the box using Twinklin H2Os. When the images had dried I stuck them together to form the box. This box can be made using 4 or 5 sections.