Welcome Lewis

I was asked yesterday to make a new baby boy card.

Its been a couple of weeks since I've made any cards as I've been busy beading, cupcake decorating, knitting and work!

I forgot how much I love it in my craft room, its so snug. I can only make cards, out there as there isn't enough room for any other craft stash so that has to be carried out in other rooms!!

I didn't getting so much use out of this stamp when I bought it. 

I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday for inspiration, Nana's Nursery Baby Boy papers from DCWV, Vintage baby stamp from Funky Kits and assorted punches and peel off letters and numbers.

A card for a friend

What a miserable day its been here in Gosport, windy and rainy, what an excuse to while away some time in my craft room!



This card is for one of my Mum's friends who has a birthday soon. I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday and the theme of Anything Goes from the Lili of the Valley challenge this week. Love this LOTV image and thought it was quite appropriate as they go out to lunch from time to time.
Image coloured with copics, papers from a DCWV glitter stack, ribbon from stash, card candy and sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

Short and sweet from me today, just got to check out my ebay listings as I had a massive clear out last week (craft stuff too!) while we were on half term holidays and a lot of the listings end today - more money for more crafty stash - like I need it!!

Catch up soon

A card I've managed to post....

At last, a card I've managed to post! I have been busy with my cardmaking lately but just not got round to posting on my blog, so look out for a few posts over the next few days with some pictures, especially as I'm on my Easter holidays now - yippee a whole 2 weeks off....

I've been asked to make a retirement card for a friend to give, the first image that sprung to mind was the 'Lazy Afternoon' stamp from Lili of the Valley, as the recipient of this card is sure to have time to do just what is shown in the picture!



Image is stamped in Cocoa Brown Memento ink, my favourite colour as its not so harsh as black. Papers are from a Basic Grey Archaic paper stack, ideal for men's cards. The sentiment is from 'Congrats' a Stampin' Up! set that has fab sentiments for all occasions. Ribbon, brads and buttons from stash.
I used the sketch from the challenge this week at Sketch Saturday.
Am off to enjoy the sun now, catch up soon.

Escape to the craft room...

You may have noticed I've not managed to make many cards lately... but managed to escape to my craft room today.



Another LOTV stamp that has been on my desk for a while waiting to be inked up, soon sorted that, coloured with copics, thought I had better start to use the new set of copics I had to have a couple of weeks ago :) The papers are from First Edition Papers Love Letter stack I bought from the Range a while ago but not used - can you see a pattern emerging here!! I really need to get back into my cardmaking, I've still been buying stash just stock piling it.. although I did have a good sort out over the half term holiday recently.

I am entering this card into the following challenges
Totally Gorjuss - Pearls & Lace
Saturday Challenge - Flowers for Mum, card for a female with flowers on
Sketch Saturday - sketch.
Just discovered I can enter this into the Lili of the Valley challenge this week too which is 'Say it with Flowers'
Gotta run, need to go and collect my son from football now, catch up soon.

Thanks a bunch!!

Well as first days back go, that wasn't too bad.... Only tomorrow to go then its my day off, can't decide whether to do housework or crafting??
Anyway on to my card,



I suddenly realised I had a thank you card to make today, well a few actually but one pdq.... yep, you guessed it, my LOTV stamps came out along with my copics and another old DCWV paper stack, the glitter stack. The sentiment is from a Personal Impressions set I bought back in the summer which has only just seen ink, great everyday sentiments in several different fonts. Dusted down my SU! scalloped square punch, rooted around until I found the box of card candy et voila.....

I am entering this into 3 challenges,
Cute Card Thursday and Winter Wonderland whose theme is 'Thank You' and I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday for the layout.

Still got 2 more birthday cards to make so hope to be back tomorrow.

Back in the swing of things.....

Its been a long time since my last posting, where have the last few weeks gone?
We had a holiday in Devon, at the Manor House Hotel in Okehampton. A great place to go, craft, sport and pampering with the odd bit of alcohol thrown in.... what more could a girl ask for?
I've been back at work a week now, things are still a bit hectic, trying to remember where I left off at the end of July!!

I thought it was about time I made a card and entered a challenge or two.... I've been trying to avoid my craft room as its a bit untidy :( I did a bit of tidying, or should I say cleared a space to craft and here is the result.



The image is a Lili of the Valley image I have been admiring for a while, so treated myself while I was off work, along with some of the new Christmas stamps. I inked up some images and they had a lovely trip to Devon and back but never saw the light of day!! Anyhow, I've coloured some of them now so expect to see them on a card here sometime soon...
I coloured the image with copics, the papers are from stash and an MME paper stack I think, label has long gone! Sentiment from Stampin' Up! The ribbon was tied round a throw I bought recently, buttons are from stash.

I am entering this card into the Lili of the Valley challenge this week which is 'One for the Boys' and Sketch Saturday as I used this week's sketch.

Hope to catch up with some of your blogs soon

Girly Whiff of Joy

Here's a card I made for a couple of challenges.....



I used one of the City Girls stamps, such fun images, coloured with shades of cream and brown copics, as per the challenge at Whiff of Joy, I used some lovely paper from my paper mountain which is cream with gold splodges running through it, plain cardstock from DCWV mat stack. Raffia ribbon from Hobbycraft and liquid pearls. Sentiment and punched shapes from Stampin'Up!
I am entering this card into Simon Say Stamp and Stamp Something challenges which are 'Girly' and used the layout from Sketch Saturday.

Challenge catch up......

I managed a little 'me' time today - here's what I made.



I thought it was about time I inked up this lovely stamp again from Funky Kits, coloured with copics as per Copic Colour Challenge this week, yes, there is a bit of E33 Sand, a tiny little bit used in shading the hair, the layout is from Sketch Saturday. I am also entering this for the Simon Says Stamp challenge which is to make a card for a new baby and the Crafty Creations challenge of celebration - what better celebration is there?
Papers are DCWV, hearts from stash, Martha Stewart punch, pearlescent card from Range, paper edges tinted with Tattered Rose distress inks.

Get your skates on.....

I don't know how you ladies are doing with your Christmas preparations, but I still have quite a bit to do. I'm afraid I'm one of those people who don't relax until the shops have shut on Christmas Eve and I know there is nothing else I can buy! So I really need to get my skates on...



The challenge this week at Creative Card Crew is to use gold or silver on your card. Not something I usually struggle with at anytime of the year but at this time its easy peasy.
I used one of my new stamps from Whiff of Joy which dropped on my mat at the weekend, I just adore this cute lil' mouse, coloured with copics and mounted onto DCWV papers, I know a little bit predictable, but hey they are my favourites :-)

The challenge this week is sponsored by Crafty Addicts and is a fabby prize so why not visit the blog and see what it is - come on you know you want to!

Another busy day today, which sees the final 2 performances of our Christmas concert, always a very busy time, trying to organise the tickets, ensuring we can accommodate as many parents, siblings, grandparents and other relatives as possible. I am going to watch one of the performances, really looking forward to it as I have heard the practices going on for the last couple of weeks but not seen any of it yet.

Just remembered I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday, so better get on over there and leave a link before its too late.....

Late again....

I was going to enter this card for the Passion for Promarkers challenge this week but didn't manage to get it finished in time - went out with friends last night and wasn't up to making cards when we got in ;-) Was up bright and early this morning and thought I would give it a go but didn't manage it get it finished in time. I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday so all is not lost and its one less card to make at Christmas!



Stash used
Image - Miss Anya Snow
Inks - Memento Paris Dusk, Promarkers
Papers - DCWV & hOTP
Glitter board and mirri card from stash
MS snowflake punch.
Still trying to catch up on challenges that I missed while we were away last week....
Have a lovely day, the sun is shining now so off to have a cuppa in the garden while its still there!

Best Friends from Wild Rose Studio

I was lucky enough to win the challenge at Sunday Sketch and Stamp last weekend and the prize was 'Best Friends' stamp from Wild Rose Studio. This little lovely plopped onto my door mat towards the end of last week and has been waiting to be inked up.



I am going to enter this card for 3 challenges, not sure if I am too late for one of them....
Spoonful of Sugar - floral fantasy.
Colour Create - use pink, orange and green.
Sketch Saturday - sketch.

The papers are freebies from Cardmaking & Papercraft a while ago, image coloured with copics. The flowers are cut using an X Cut punch, ribbon, brads and gems from stash.

That's me for today, back with some more tomorrow, nite nite.

3 challenges in 1 card.....

Day off today, I've spent the afternoon playing in my craft room, in between sitting in the garden for short stints, well its too hot to stay out there for very long! Not that I'm complaining...

Wasn't sure what I was going to make, have a list of challenges as long as my arm but once I got going it just seemed to fall into place and I managed to combine 3 challenges with this card!



I followed the sketch over at Sketch Saturday , Cute Card Thursday challenge is 'Wheely Good Fun'use wheels on your card and finally the challenge at Inspiring Inkin' is to make a man's card with an embellishment, I used brads, but you will need to look closely as they merge in with the paper :-( in the photo, more obvious IRL.

Inspiring Inkin' is the Stampin' Up! team I am in, run by Amanda Fowler, who is a constant source of inspiration. If you want to join our happy group of stampers, give me a call or email me for further info, it really is great fun, Amanda runs quarterly training in Fareham and I come away with my head buzzing with ideas. She has also just earnt an all expenses paid trip to Monaco next year, wish I could earn that with my 'day' job!

I coloured a piece of cardstock with my brayer, new toy, using Basic Black, Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue. I stamped the lorry from Loads of Love onto spare card and coloured using SU inks listed below and my Aqua Painter, then added some Glossy Accents to the windows. I cut round the lorry and using dimensionals stuck it onto the brayered background. This was then layered up using Washington Apple DSP as per Sketch Saturday sketch.

CS - Whisper White & Bashful Blue
DSP - Washington Apple
Stamp sets - Loads of Love & Loads of Love Accessories
Inks - Basic Black, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue & Pumpkin Pie
Accessories - Soft Subtle brads
Tools - Brayer, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scalloped border, scalloped oval and large oval punches
All from Stampin' Up!

Really enjoyed today, didn't get my day off last week as I had a conference to attend but didn't mind as look who the guest speakers were



Vincent and Flavia from Strictly Come Dancing. They were inspirational, anyone who knows me, knows I was not a fan of Strictly but I have been converted, they were wonderul to watch, and very entertaining speakers. If only I didn't have the co-ordination of a dead duck I might be tempted to take up ballroom dancing, much to Barry's amusement when I suggested this!!

Had better go and cook the dinner now, hope to be back later...

Lovely relaxing day

I've had a lovely day today, just noticed the time, so perhaps I should say yesterday! Had a pub lunch with a friend - Crispy Duck and Cucumber Club sandwich and chips which are just the best I have ever tasted and a glass of wine, hey I could get used to this! and caught up with another friend for coffee later on in the day!

It wasn't all R & R tho as I had to go and choose some tiles for the kitchen, extension has only been finished about 15 months and I feel it is time we added the finishing touches, got new blinds on order, so we are getting there. Waiting for carpet man to come and measure up for the lounge carpet, got to get a wiggle on as new suite being delivered next week eek... Just hallway to do and that will be the downstairs finished, don't know about you but I really hate decorating hall stairs and landing, so much so that it hasn't been done since before my youngest was born, and he's 13, so it's long overdue :-(

Haven't managed to get much crafting done over the last couple of days, too much blog hopping! Anyway thought I should make at least one card today and here it is....



This one qualifies for the Cute Card Thursday challenge 48 which is

"Signs of Spring"
This could be interpreted through your image, an embellishment or even your colour-scheme.
I decided to use these papers from a HOTP Citrus pad I have had for ages. These colours always remind me of the spring and the feathers remind me of the cute little ducklings we will see soon - okay I know they won't be blue!
I have used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday challenge - hey 2 in 1, haven't managed that for ages.

Recipe
Image - Hanglar - I won in blog candy from Heidi, ages ago.
Watercolour pencils
Scallop circle punch - Stampin Up!
Sentiment stamp - Cuddly Buddly
Blooms - Poppicrafts
Brad & Heart gem - Papermania

Whiff of Joy stamps & Sketch Saturday challenge

Yaaaaay, my Whiff of Joy stamps arrived yesterday, so I wasted no time in inking them up - well one of them anyway!! I coloured the image with my new Promarkers, but unfortunately the image smudged and was quite streaky so I had to start all over again - this time using my good old Marvys..... The card I stamped onto was quite shiny so I guess that had something to do with it. I added Icicle Stickles to the snowballs and snow, then layered the image onto silver sparkly card.
The scrummy papers and snowflake brads are from Dovecraft - think I am going to be using quite a lot of these (especially as Barry bought me 3 more packs when he went to the Range this evening) I asked him to get me a pack in each colourway - there was only the one colour so he bought the rest of the packs on the rack - earning himself a few brownie points !!
Blue card embossed with Cuttlebug Snowflake folder. I am pleased with the way this has turned out after the false start.....
I took several photos but couldn't manage to get one without the shiny bit to the left of the image, when I turned off the flash the colours looked quite dull.

Sketch Saturday sketch challenge and DT call

Jo over at Sketch Saturday has decided to recruit a Design Team. To be in with a chance to join the dream team you have to make 2 items using this weeks sketch, (no 13 - lucky for some this week!) One item has to be a Christmas theme and the other is your own choice.



I enjoy working with sketches - I usually end up with papers all over the place and losing my tools underneath it all, but thats part of the fun of it!!

The image (Hanna) on the top card was coloured with watercolour pencils. I paper pieced the dress to match in with the base card and strip across the middle, which was embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.

The Christmas card image (Creative Expressions) was stamped onto acetate with Stazon, and glued and glittered with Art Institute glitter. This was mounted onto gold pearlescent card, that had been embossed with the Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder. Gold ribbon was threaded through eyelets on the top left and bottom right corners of the image.

Spring Fling

At least that's what the papers I have used are called! Here is my take on the sketch over at Sketch Saturday this week. I thought it was about time I used my Hanna stamps again, and felt like working with bright colours tonight! After colouring the image with the citrus colours, using Marvys, Gelly Roll and a couple of watercolour pencils I needed to find some papers to go with the colour scheme.... fortunately I remembered somewhere in my stash I had these papers from Blonde Moments - I have them in pink and purple as well, I think they are fab, even got a WOW from my teenage daughter, so can't be all bad.......

I stamped the base card with VersaMark ink to give a watermark finish (you will need to enlarge the image to see this) then played for ages with the various papers deciding which order to put them in! When the card was finished I felt it needed some sentiment, so used the 'Passion for Fashion' stamp from Rubber Romance.

I had hoped to make a couple more cards this evening, but have been having a nightmare, keep smudging them or watercolour running or going over the edges. I really need to find a good quality card stock to stamp onto and feel the need to buy something else to colour in with. All suggestions gratefully received..... lots of you seem to be using Prismacolor pencils or Promarker or Copic pens, there is so much choice out there :-s

Gonna admit defeat for today and head for my bed, busy day tomorrow, going girly shopping with DD after we have been to the RAF careers office - must remember to wear my flat shoes - she can shop for England , I trained her well....LOL. Think I got the best deal as DH is taking the boys and one of their friends to watch cricket at the Rose Bowl.