My crafty outlook

Simply thanks

2012-01-29T18:26:00.001Z

This is a simple card using scraps that were still out from making previous cards - they didn't even make it into my offcuts box (although there are still some scraps left that will). Anyway, it's for the sketch for Mojo Monday 225:

As I used scraps this is my first card of the week for Pixie's Crafty Snippets 5:

It's also for:

Take time for you 59: blue and white
Creative craft: we're talking the colour blue
Crafting for all seasons 19: blue & white
Kaboodle 103: thank you
Challenge up your life 60: thanks
Crafts4eternity R56: clean and simple
Card and scrap 24: clean and simple
Crafters cafe blog: CAS challenge
Totally gorjuss 116: K.I.S.S.
The craft garden January: monochrome

Stamp, scrap & doodle: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Victorine: anything goes

Simon says: anything goes

In the pink for Christmas

2012-01-29T16:45:00.001Z

Today's challenge on Facebook's Sunday's with Santa is to use unconventional colours for our Christmas cards. Christmas cards all year round for January are also asking for non traditional colours, so these are also for that.

Paper is DCWV plus Kanban topper, for Catered crop: print, also for Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: text me :

Paper is Basic Grey eskimo kisses plus Kanban topper - colours for Dancing in pajamas TCP 193:

These are also for:

Crafts4eternity R56: clean and simple
Card and scrap 24: clean and simple
Crafters cafe blog: CAS challenge
Totally gorjuss 116: K.I.S.S.
The craft garden January: monochrome
Dare to be sassy Thursday 109: Christmas/winter

Stamp, scrap & doodle: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Victorine: anything goes

Simon says: anything goes

Christmas critters

2012-01-29T13:09:00.003Z

It's time for a challenge among the Christmas Card Club girls and this time Pinky has asked us to include a critter on our card. Mine is a very simple card, using a Kanban topper. The background paper is another delightful one from Websters Pages (I'll be really sorry when I've used the last of these ... although it will be a good excuse to buy more). Please click on the links on my sidebar to see what the rest of the CCC girls have been up to with this challenge.

This is also for:

Dare to be sassy Thursday 109: Christmas/winter
Dream valley 24: animals
Blog-a-doodle: include an animal
Freshly brewed 80: snow/winter
Little red wagon 117: winter wonderland
Jellypark friends: winter wonderland
Gingerloft 32: let it snow
Crafty boots: inspired by a song title: We wish you a merry Christmas
Cutie pie 20: favourite song (for Christmas)

Stamp, scrap & doodle: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Victorine: anything goes

Simon says: anything goes

Brown and blue butterflies

2012-01-28T21:39:00.000Z

This is for sketch on Stamps + fun = creativity 83:

The card blank is a dark brown. I've used a strip of scrap paper across the middle and a couple of bands of some blue/cream lace that I bought at a local market quite a while ago - this is for Pile it on 4: add lace, also for Scrappy frogs: lace and PaperPlay 4: lovely lace.

I used a Kanban stamp, stamping the butterflies again on to some blue paper, so that they were paper-pieced - this is for Paper sundaes 104. The butterflies are for Fashionable stamping 13: butterflies or bugs, also for Lollipop crafts 64: wing it.

Lots of sparkle with the blue gems on the flowers and butterflies for Deep ocean 17: sparkle.

Colours are for Sassy Cheryl 99: light blue & brown, also for Sugar creek hollow: cream, blue & brown

Male birthday card

2012-01-28T18:56:00.002Z

This is for the sketch on Technostamper Monday lunchtime 205:

This is also for The crafty pad 154: let's see something for the boys

And I've used pictures for Order of the opus gluei 122: take a picture, it will last longer.

Papers are offcuts from a Kanban Gentlemen's journal kit, plus the sentiments.

It's also for:

My craft spot 42: let's hear it for the boys
Celebrate the occasion 47: masculine birthday
ABC: H for happy birthday
Cards for men 2: boys and their toys
Soartful 2: Georgia O'Keeffe inspiration - sepia and dark tones
The craft garden January: monochrome
Crazy challenge 103: vintage
One stitch at a time 97: round and round - circles
Pixie's crafty snippets week 4

Stamp, scrap & doodle: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Victorine: anything goes

Simon says: anything goes

Steampunk eyes

2012-01-28T18:00:00.000Z

Having just got the Tinkering with Steampunk Craft studio CD I thought I'd use it to make a card featuring eyes. I combined the eye image with a quote that I found on the internet: 'You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus' an then printed them out on a panel cut from DCWV Mariposa paper featuring a Shakespeare sonnet with a glittered butterfly. The panel on the left is an offcut of Basic Grey paper stamped again and again with the Judkins face stamp with memento cocoa bean. The panel on the right is from one of the steampunk backgrounds from the CD.

This is for:

Sunday stamper 189: my eyes adored you
Soartful 2: Georgia O'Keeffe inspiration - sepia and dark tones
Desert island 23: monochromatic, no designer paper, sentiment
The craft garden January: monochrome
Catered crop: print (the sonnet doesn't show up too well here, but it is there)
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: text me
Fab n funky 105: it's all in the eyes, where there is this photo inspiration:

Brand new

2012-01-28T14:59:00.002Z

A courier knocked at the door a little while ago with a box of Kanban card blanks, some of which have a pattern already on them - good for making quick cards for when I have a sale to raise money for Tearfund. So I couldn't resist making a card straight away ... so this is brand new!

I've used Donna's sketch for Sunday sketch and stamp 90:

And I used some blue spotted ribbon for Ribbon girl 15: blue and pink. Colours are also for Cupcake inspirations 144:

The pink edged card blank is the same on the back, which gives an extra nice look to the card. The blue edged oval is out of an A5 aperture card. I covered the edging by placing an oval template mask over it and stamping the Penny Black sparklers inked with Stazon blazing red (I always think this should be called pink rather than red) - having the template mask in place avoided the stamping going into the already decorated area.

This is also for:

Crafts4eternity R56: clean and simple
Card and scrap 24: clean and simple
Crafters cafe blog: CAS challenge
Totally gorjuss 116: K.I.S.S.
Outlawz: CAS challenge: something new
Sparkles 28: new crafty goodies
Stamptacular 148: seeing spots
Little darlings 16: polka dots
Fussy & fancy 55: polka dots
Heart song 32: red and white and/or ribbon

Secret crafter Saturday 170: ribbons
Do you stack up 56 ribbons
Stamp, scrap & doodle: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Victorine: anything goes

Simon says: anything goes

CHNC challenge 57: just make it square

2012-01-28T09:00:00.000Z

It's time for a new challenge on my CHNC blog:

Challenge 57

This is an easy challenge - all you have to do is make a square Christmas card. Please go over to CHNC challenge 57 for further details and to enter your card. And there's a great sponsored prize up for grabs too!

For my card I've followed the sketch for CPS 252:

For Jingle belles 'a banner holiday' I've used the colours of their blog header and lots of glitter.

I've used Craftime red glitter paper, some lovely sparkly organza aqua and silver ribbon in the centre and a recycled image from a Christmas card received that was too good to put in the recycling bin.

This is also for:

Dare to be sassy Thursday 109: Christmas/winter
Crimbo crackers 7: for a child
Stamps R us: just kidding around
Whimsy 23: pearls or bling

Deep ocean 17: sparkle

Heart song 32: red and white and/or ribbon
Dream valley 24: animals
Blog-a-doodle: include an animal
Pollycraft 124: warm it up
Freshly brewed 80: snow/winter
Little red wagon 117: winter wonderland
Jellypark friends: winter wonderland
Gingerloft 32: let it snow
Secret crafter Saturday 170: ribbons
Do you stack up 56 ribbons
Stamp, scrap & doodle: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Victorine: anything goes

Simon says: anything goes

Wishi washi and needles and pins

2012-01-27T21:26:00.001Z

This is for Allsorts 138: needles and pins. I've used print outs from a CD that I've just acquired, My Craft Studio 'tinkering with steampunk'. I used an element sheet, using some of it to decoupage, tearing off part of the image, so that more of the Tim Holtz tissue tape was visible, which is for today's Daring cardmakers challenge is to use washi tape. I've added a pin with beads, some flowers with pearls and a Craftwork cards sentiment. I distressed the edges of the white card blank with worn lipstick DI.

This is also for:

4 crafty chicks 74: pokin' fun - pins
Crazy challenge 103: vintage
Sugar creek hollow: go girly - feminine vintage
The artistic stamper creative team blog January: vintage
The craft garden January: monochrome
Desert island crafts 23: monochromatic, no designer paper, sentiment, distressing
Crafty bloggers network 10: distressing
Craft your days away 37: distressing
ABC: H for happy birthday
Crafty Ann 57: what's new pussycat - used a new CD
My Sheri 77: new things - used a new CD
Sparkles 28: new crafty goodies
Whimsy 23: pearls or bling

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Victorine: anything goes

Simon says: anything goes

Under the weather

2012-01-27T18:12:00.001Z

This card is for the sketch on Sketch Saturday 191:

It is also for One stop craft 166: under the weather (or get well soon).

The background paper is BG Mellow and the panel on the left is urban prairie. The digital mage is Bugaboo rainy day coloured in Paint. The sentiment was generated on my dymo letratag. Flowers are Martha Stewart.

Colours are for Craft your passion 94: colour bingo (the bottom row):

This is also for:

My mum's craft shop 41: flowers

Moving along with the times 133: blooming marvellous

Paper-crafting journey 1: floral

Hotshot craft 3: flowers

Shelly terrifically thrilling Thursday: text me - sentiment

Deep ocean 17: sparkle

Lily pad: patterned paper challenge

The stamp man: embellish it

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Victorine: anything goes

Simon says: anything goes

Happy Birthday, Faye

2012-01-27T16:27:00.002Z

One of our granddaughters will be six on Monday, so I've made an easel card for her using English Paper Company papers. The oval fairy and surrounding frame were cut with nesties. If 'big sister' happens to come on here and see this, please don't show it to Faye!

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Lexi 57: fancy folds
I brake for challenges 17: fancy folds
Charisma cardz 3: pretty in pink
Crafty catz 117: things with wings
Phindy's Friday 90: birthday card for a child
Crazy4challenges 120: a child's birthday card
Mark's finest papers Speedy fox and friends 91: birthday card
ABC: H for happy birthday
Little darlings 16: polka dots
Fussy & fancy 55: polka dots

Christmas flowers

2012-01-27T16:13:00.000Z

A couple of simple quick cards for 52 Christmas card throwdown - for their theme 1 challenge they are asking to see cards with Christmas flowers. These were made with Anna Griffin papers etc The green and white paper on the first card is very glittered, though it's hard to see that here.

These are also for:

Make my Monday 33: flowers and leaves (nature)
My mum's craft shop 41: flowers
Moving along with the times 133: blooming marvellous
Paper-crafting journey 1: floral
Hotshot craft 3: flowers

Flashback Friday 19

2012-01-27T10:32:00.001Z

For Flashback Friday 19 we've been asked to show the first clean and simple card that we blogged. These are two sympathy cards that I made and blogged in April 2007:

Get well soon

2012-01-27T00:00:00.003Z

Scarlet's letter is still one of my all-time favourite Basic Grey papers - one of the first I ever bought. I've used some for this card, which is for the sketch on A la card monkey 92:

Colours are for ColourQ 121:

The flowers were cut with a Sizzix green die - they are for Totally papercrafts: make your own flowers. The sentiment is stamped.

This is also for:

My mum's craft shop 41: flowers
Moving along with the times 133: blooming marvellous
Paper-crafting journey 1: floral
Hotshot craft 3: flowers
One stop craft 166: under the weather - get well soon
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: text me - text and sentiment
Sentimental Sundays 86: die cuts
The stamping boutique 24: die cuts
Lothian crafts 22: die cuts
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
Stampin with the dragon 2: anything goes
Stamp and create January: anything goes
Bizzy Becs January: anything goess
Victorine: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Make it Monday 73

In the pink

2012-01-26T22:57:00.000Z

Just add ink 102 is 'just add ... Kathy Tanner - to case one of her cards shown on her blog. I chose this card which is shown among Kathy's 2011 favourittes:

I've used scraps of card and paper, embossing some with Cuttlebug folders and inking with worn lipstick DI. The Happy Birthday sentiment piece was recycled from a card received ages ago, with the addition of the little punched dragonfly, some spotty ribbon and a couple of flowers with pearls.

This is also for:

4 crafty chicks 74: pokin' fun - pins
Samuel Taylors January: distress
Crafty bloggers network 10: distressing

Monochrome blues

2012-01-26T22:12:00.001Z

This is for the sketch on Clean & simple 174:

Papers are DCWV, the best wishes sentiment paper was in my scraps box, plus part of a strip of flowered ribbon and the die cut flowers with a pearl in the middle.

This is also for:

Dilly beans: have the blues
Take time for you 59: blue and white
Creative craft: we're talking the colour blue
Crafting for all seasons 19: blue & white

Bright birthday greetings

2012-01-26T21:41:00.001Z

This card is for Annabelle: say it in yellow, lime and turquoise:

Papers are all DCWV, flowers are Martha Stewart and the ric rac is from Hobbycraft. The ric rac is for Our craft lounge 101: zig zags.

This is also for:

Birthday sundaes 40: birthday
Make my Monday 33: flowers and leaves (nature)
Creative inspirations 147: anything goes

Guest designer slot for Friendship's Garden

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000Z

I was invited to join Frienship's Garden as a guest designer for their Valentine sketch challenge 8. It's such a privilege to join the DT there this week. Here is the sketch:

The blue background paper is BG sugar rush, the red paper with text is DCWV (from quite a long time ago), papers to frame the image are BG bittersweet. The pre-coloured image is called 'Anniversary' from Dottie's World by Charmed cards and craft, padded hearts, flowers, gems and sentiment are all from stash.

This is also for:

Basic grey 61: favourite things - hearts, flowers and gems (and, of course, BG papers!)
My time to craft 171: your favourite embellishments
Fairy-tale 33: cinema/at the movie - 'Valentine's Day' starring Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx and Anne Hathaway
Whimsical: love is in the air
Anything goes 59: to the one I love
Use it Tuesday 24: all about love (using up old papers)
Robyn's fetish 91: love
Cupcake crafts 176: all you need is love
Paper creations ink 17: love/romance
There she goes 140: love is in the air
Aud sentiments 46: we want to see the word love
Craft us crazy: Valentine/love
The poodles parlour: Valentines/love
Simply create too 5: love is in the air
Wags n whiskers 71: Valentines/love card
Craft room: Valentines
Drunken stampers 81: love
The pixie cottage 105: love and kisses
Corrosive 141: I {heart} you
Stampin sisters in Christ 123: heart
Alota 75: hearts
Stamp, scrap & doodle: have a heart
Inky impressions: heart you
Creative card crew 2: seeing red
The stamp man: use red
Daisy doodles 51: anything goes
Do you sttack up 55: patterned paper
Heart song 32: red and white
Hooked on craft 16: something bright
Paper pretties Monday challenge: create a Valentine's day project
Ruby's rainbow 20: something for Valentines
Let's craft and create 37: Valentine
Digi doodle shops best 92: anything goes
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
Bizzy Becs January: anything goess
Crafty purple frog: anything goes
Victorine: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 42
Make it Monday 73

WOYWW 138

2012-01-25T06:41:00.001Z

It's Wednesday again and time to show what's on my workspace - this is for Julia's WOYWW 138 - click on the link to see what it's all about and to have a nosey at other people's craft areas ... and perhaps join in the fun!

Last week, Julia commented that she didn't realise how much I had in my 12 x 12 paper rack - well, actually, the photo I showed then didn't show the full height of it. It used to be 10 trays tall, but last year I added another 5, so it is quite a bit taller (and I have to confess that I also have some 12 x 12 in a shelf in my bedroom wardrobe).

This is the area to the left of where I sit. You can see some cards that I made yesterday (they are further down on my blog), some BG paper pads, stamps etc that need to be put away.

And to the right of where I sit there are a few bits waiting to be used - a chipboard dinosaur waiting for inspiration to strike, a print out of a digi to make a get well card (sorry to hear that you are under the weather - hope to make that one today), a flower that was made with chipboard and UTEE with a stamp pressed in while it was still molten ... and a few other bits and pieces.

And I still have a nice space to work in even if I don't manage to put the other things away. Do you see the tall tin with my brushes, rulers etc - I got a half price tin of shortbread biscuits the other day - I didn't eat the biscuits though because I'm trying to be good and get rid of the weight that I've put on over Christmas.

Oh - and the box on the floor houses lots of Christmas stash and it also acts as a nice little footstool!

Just for you

2012-01-24T22:28:00.001Z

This card started off for The house that stamps build J1112 sketch, but, unfortunately, I got side-tracked from making the card and am now too late for linking, but still acknowledge using the sketch:

Papers are BG blush. The scalloped square was cut with a Sizzix clear bigz die. I've used the same little flower stamp as I've used on the last couple of cards (it was just handy) and I used the balloon from a Penny Black stamp. The teddy is die cut from a lovely velvety felt.

Colours are for Dancing in Pajamas TCP 193:

I've used pink, pearls and posies for Cooking it up with Katie 87: show me some pink posies with pearls.

The combination of using a teddy bear and pink is also for Ready teddy go 6: in the pink, the teddy bear is also for Card crafters circle 6: bear with me.

This is also for:

Crafty purple frog: anything goes
Victorine: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 42
Make it Monday 73

Purple is the colour

2012-01-24T20:33:00.000Z

This is for Creative inspirations 146: favourite colour + white - I love crafting with purple. Little darlings 15 is also asking for our 'favourite colour'.

I used the sketch for this week's Willow challenge:

The background paper is BG wisteria - another of my favourite BG papers, linked for Basic Grey 61: favourite things (and stamping is also one of my favourite things - the other papers, including the floral strip are from my offcuts box, so this is another one for Pixie's crafty snippets 4.

I used the same stamp as I used for the previous card I've shown, this time stamping it twice - this is for Glitter geeks 3: two images, also for Ooh-la-la 97: seeing double - using the same image twice.

This is also for:

The craft garden January: monochrome
Charisma cardz 2: clean and simple
Card and scrap 24: clean and simple

Favourite things

2012-01-24T18:42:00.000Z

I love patterned papers and have loads! One of my favourites that I never get tired of is Basic Grey - I have loads of their 6 x 6 pads. I decided to use cappella papers for this card and also a die cut shape from a bag of cappella pieces - I simply stamped this using an unknown stamp that I've had for ages - since I first started cardmaking. So this is for Basic Grey 61: favourite things - and I just had to include a Craftime bloom because flowers are among my favourite things too. This is also for Gingersnap GC135 random redhead - use your favourite paper.

I used the sketch for All kinds of cards 45:

The tag is one that has been recycled from a card I received a long time ago - this is for Squiggle stamps: recycle!! upcycle!!, also Timbro scrap mania 41: recycling.

The monochromatic look is for Sir Stampalot January: monochromatic.

Happy baking!

2012-01-24T18:07:00.000Z

This week's challenge on Daring cardmakers is 'kitchenalia', so I've used a digital image, part of 'kitchen-set' that I downloaded quite some time ago, but can't remember where from. I've also used the digital image of Lottie the cook by Marjorie Ramsay, which I've cut out and stuck on to the kitchen picture.

I used the sketch for Skipping stones 112:

Papers are Basic Grey granola. The sentiment was generated on my dymo letratag.

This is also for:

Secret crafter Saturday 169: food and drink
Sew many challenges 78: circles
Raise the bar 88: ring in the new year - we want to see circles

Simply a heart

2012-01-24T17:11:00.001Z

This card is for Less is more 51: cut it out - an card with an aperture. I suppose I've cheated really because I remembered that I had some cream cards that already had a heart aperture with embossing on them. Would you believe that such a simple card could go wrong? Well, yes, it did the first time, so this is the second one - and I have to admit that the stamping of the Happy Anniversary on the inside of the card to show in the aperture could have been done much better. The distressing of the embossed area (and lightly on the whole card) was done with victorian velvet DI.

This is also for:

The paper players 79: clean and simple
Charisma cardz 2: clean and simple

Motion photo

2012-01-24T16:35:00.001Z

Suzie's prompt today is 'motion' so here is my photo for Suzie's 365 day 24 - I had to go over to the post box, so I went armed with my camera. I took a few shots that just look as if the traffic is standing still, but I think this one has about captured motion:

Flora and fauna inchies

2012-01-24T14:52:00.002Z

The theme for the inchies swap on the Bubbly Funk forum this week is 'flora and fauna'.

I inked an Inkadinkado stamp with memento and stamped several times on a piece of gloss white card. I then cut three of the tiny flowers from the set by cArt-Us and stamped those (a very fiddly process, but worth it). I then used stream, butterscotch and meadow alcohol inks toned down with some blending solution for the background before cutting out the individual inchies.

I'm linking these for the following challenges:

Creative craft world mini challenge
Quirky crafts 2 2012: silhouette
Lollipop crafts 64: wing it
Moving along with the time 132: things with wings
The squirrel and the fox 9: critters
Incy wincy 130: anything but a card
CES 69: anything but a card
Little Claire 17: anything but a card
Stampin with the dragon 2: anything goes
Stamp and create: anything goes
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
Bizzy Becs January: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes
Victorine: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 42
Make it Monday 73

A for Asian

2012-01-24T12:29:00.000Z

For the twinchies swap this month on the Bubbly Funk forum the theme is A, so I've used A for Asian. And, of course, Chinese New Year has just started and it's the year of the dragon, so I've used a clipart picture of a dragon that I found in Publisher.

I covered a piece of gloss white card with a mixture of terra cotta, butterscotch and red pepper Adirondack alcohol inks, also using a little blending solution. I then printed the dragons spaced out on the card before cutting into twinchies which I then stamped with the HOTP writing stamp using archival ink.

Unfortunately, because it's a dismal day, I've had to resort to a flash photo and it was impossible to get one without some glare because of the shine of the gloss card. The colours look much richer IRL.

I'm linking these for the following challenges:

Creative craft world mini challenge
CCEE 1203: dragon
Rainbow lady 188: the year of the dragon
Creative card crew 2: seeing red
The stamp man: use red
Daisy doodles 51: anything goes (the dragon is digi)
Incy wincy 130: anything but a card
CES 69: anything but a card
Little Claire 17: anything but a card
Stampin with the dragon 2: anything goes
Stamp and create: anything goes
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
Bizzy Becs January: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes
Victorine: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 42
Make it Monday 73

Photo catch up (again!)

2012-01-23T22:03:00.000Z

The days go by so quickly. I really intend to keep up with Suzie's 365 photos day by day, but yet again I've got a few days behind, so here is my little catch up.

20: sign - this is where we sign:

21: fire - this is the nearest I could get:

22: glowing - I love this container lit up with a tealight - some of the glass if clear, some a copper colour and some a golden colour:

23: hot - I wish I'd looked at the prompt before I cooked an apple crumble earlier this evening - now I've had to settle for cheating and putting the oven on, so you can see that it really isn't that hot!:

Scraping in at the last minute ...

2012-01-23T00:09:00.000Z

This is a quick card for Critter challenge 98 sketch which is closing very soon:

I've used up scraps of DCWV papers and used the lovely snowman Stampotique stamp by Jo Capper-Sandon, with a bit of promarker colouring. The snowflakes in the top corners were punched using a Woodware punch and the star with bling, beads and wire is from stash.

This is also for:

Pixie's crafty snippets 4
Gingerloft 32: let it snow
Crafting for all seasons 18: snowmen/snowflakes
Fussy & fancy: let it snow
Allways something creative 22: ice and snow
Creative Friday 53: it's cold outside
Clear it out: baby it's cold outside
House of gilli 24: winter fun
Scrap-cards 19: winter
Stampavie 160: winter
Delicious doodles 11: winter wonderland
Stempelsonne 54: winter
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 11: punches/dies
Deep ocean 17: sparkle
Crafty cardmakers 60: beads
Crafter's cafe blog: CAS challenge
Craft room: clean and simple
ABC Christmas: A for anything goes
Crimbo crackers 7: for a child
Art impressions 48: a card for a child
I love promarkers 100: anything goes
Stampin with the dragon 2: anything goes
Stamp and create: anything goes
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
Bizzy Becs January: anything goes
Paperminutes 200: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes
Victorine: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 42
Make it Monday 73

White on white

2012-01-21T23:37:00.004Z

This white on white card is for the sketch for Anyone for Anya:

It's so hard to get a photo of white on white, especially with flash in the evening, so this is the best I could do (will replace if I get a better one). The main background is a creative expressions crackle embossing folder and the inner embossed fancy frame is Forever Friends. Various flowers and sentiment from stash.

The white on white is for:
Heart song inspirations 31: glitter and/or white on white (I used both)
Southern girls 36: white on white
Mami doodles 41: white on white
Sweet stampin: white on white

and for Our creative corner: oh baby inspiration challenge (I've concentrated on the white and peachy colours):

also for Moxie fab world Tuesday trigger winter blossoms inspiration photo:

I coloured Anya with copics - E000, YR31, R20, RV95 and RV02 - I rarely use these particular copics, so this is for iCopic 65: unloved colours. I added crystal ice stickles glitter glue to the coat.

This is also for:

Clearlyistamp 44: pastels
Creative belli 136: frames (the flowers are old stash and the stamp is well over two years old)
Cardmaking mamas: something old
Farm fresh TGFM16: let's get sentimental
Paper-crafting journey 1: floral
Hotshot craft 3: flowers
The pixie cottage 104: embossing
2 sisters 75: embossing
Desert island crafts 23: I chose embossing, no designer paper and sentiment
Cupcake 175: born on a winter's day - wintry birthday card
House of Gilli 24: winter fun
Stamp n doodle: it's all about birthdays
Crazy4challenges 120: a child's birthday card
Art impressions 48: a card for a child
Stamps R us: just kidding around
Mark's finest paper speedy fox and friends 91: birthday card
Paper pretties 189: glitter
Chocolate, coffee & cards 4: glitter latte - show some glitter
My time to craft 171: your favourite embellishments (flowers)
Stamptacular 147: texture please
ABC: H for happy birthday
Stampin with the dragon 2: anything goes
Stamp and create: anything goes
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
Bizzy Becs January: anything goes
Gingerloft 31: anything goes
Sew many challenges 77: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Paperminutes 200: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Inspire me Fridays 42
Make it Monday 72

CHNC challenge 56: have a heart

2012-01-21T09:00:00.000Z

Saturday has come round again and that means a new challenge on my CHNC blog:

Challenge 56

For this challenge I'm asking you to 'have a heart' - - feature a heart on your Christmas card - it can be part of the image, a brad, a sticker ... any kind of heart. And for this week's challenge Digi Doodle Shop are generously giving a $10 gift certificate to the randomly-chosen winner. Why not hop on over to CHNC challenge 56 and find out more ... and get out your Christmas stash and join in - it's never too early!

For my card I've used the digital image 'Christmas heart' which was kindly given to me by Digi Doodle Shop, just one of the Christmas images that they stock.I've kept to a simple design, printing out the digital image quite big - I coloured with promarkers and added the text in the circle using Christmas is love by tlc creations 'Christmas is love with all the trimmings'.Papers are K & Co Secret Santa.I then added the epoxy hearts in the corners.

Colours are for Just us girls 120:

This is also for:

Stamp, scrap & doodle: have a heart
Alota 75: hearts
Paper creations ink 17: love
Aud sentiments 46: we want to see the word love
I love promarkers 100: anything goes - I used 'grass' and 'magenta'
Drunken stampers 81: love
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
Bizzy Becs January: anything goes
Gingerloft 31: anything goes
Lexi 56: anything goes
Sew many challenges 77: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Paperminutes 200: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Inspire me Fridays 42
Make it Monday 72
52 card pick up week 3

Santa and stockings

2012-01-20T23:09:00.002Z

This card uses the colours for 52 Christmas card throwdown colour challenge 1:

Papers are K & Co Secret Santa - the scalloped circle was cut with a nestie, the image is Hero Arts jolly Santa and the glittered and foiled stockings were in a kit I bought two or three years ago.

This is a card suitable for a child for Crimbo crackers 7: for a child, also for Art impressions 48: a card for a child.

This is also for:

Facebook Sunday's with Santa week 4: Santa
Deep ocean 17: sparkle
Ruby's rainbow 20: red & black
Creative card crew 2: seeing red
Lothian crafts January 22: die cuts
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
Bizzy Becs January: anything goes
Gingerloft 31: anything goes
Lexi 56: anything goes
Sew many challenges 77: anything goes
Paperminutes 200: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Inspire me Fridays 42
Make it Monday 72

Vintage pink and brown

2012-01-20T16:21:00.000Z

For this card I've used the sketch for Techno stamper Monday lunchtime 206:

The background paper is Papermania pink collection, the sentiment is Craftwork cards, the images are glittered rub ons by La Blanche, buttons from Poundland (much more pink IRL than on the photo), ribbon and lace from stash. The panels behind the images were run through my cuttlebug with a Crafts too embossing folder - I then swiped a memento rich cocoa ink pad over the raised dots.

This is also for:

Crop stop 54: a bit old you said
Delightful: vintage/distressed
CES 68: vintage dahling!
The artistic stamper creative team January: vintage
Catered crop: button up
Papertake: buttons, bows, bling and blooms
Penny's 71: ribbons and buttons
Crafty catz 116: buttons and bows
Cutie pie 9: ribbons & lace
Scrappy frogs: lace
One stop craft 165: on the spot & ribbon
Celebrate the occasion 46: any occasion - must use polka dots
Pixie dust studio: we're going dotty
Sentimental Sundays 85: ribbon
Gingersnap GC134: spicy supply challenge: ribbon
Sugar creek hollow: embossing
The pixie cottage 104: embossing
Stamp n doodle: it's all about birthdays
ABC: H for happy birthday

Alphabet: Y for your can choose

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Sew many challenges 77: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Paperminutes 200: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes

One stitch at a time 96: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Inspire me Fridays 42

Make it Monday 72

No need for clock-watching

2012-01-20T14:25:00.001Z

This is a card to congratulate someone on their retirement.

My Sheri crafts challenge 76: time for a change was asking for a clock to be included on the card.

I've used the sketch for MFTWSC 55:

I used old retro DCWV papers, using up offcuts and a print out of a digi clock (can't remember where it came from - it's just saved on my computer as 'clock') with a retirement sentiment.

It's also for City crafter 92: pretty inside and out, where this photo inspiration was given:

The message on the inside of the card was generated on computer:

This is also for:

Polka doodles 2: vintage/retro
Digistamps4joy 35: monochromatic - aquamarine and turquoise
Crop stop 54: a bit old you said - hope retro 60s is old enough!
Raise the bar 88: ring in the new year - circles
Pixie's crafty snippets 3
Hiding in my craft room 29: super scraps Saturday
Crafty sentiments: anything goes

Just a note

2012-01-20T11:25:00.000Z

When I saw the sketch for Card Patterns 148 I just knew it would be a good one for using up scraps (I never get to the end of that resolution - lol!):

I've used snippets of various papers (now I know that it is worth keeping those pieces that are under 2 inches wide!), some of which are DCWV, inked the Donna Dewberry all night media stamp with memento tuxedo black and coloured lightly with copics - this and the surrounding paper were cut with nesties. Just the addition of the lace and stitched ribbon and the card was done.

This is also for:

Paper-crafting journey 1: floral
Challenge up your life 60: bingo - I chose the top line of flowers, lace and purple, but have used some of the other elements too
Pollycraft 123: bingo - I chose die cuts, lace, pearls
The pink elephant 131: favourite colours - I love working with shades of purple
My time to craft 171: your favourite embellishments
Little darlings 15: favourite colour
Going grey with Scrap creations: die cuts
Lothian crafts January 22: die cuts
Cutie pie 9: ribbons & lace
Scrappy frogs: lace
Sentimental Sundays 85: ribbon
Gingersnap GC134: spicy supply challenge: ribbon
Pixie's crafty snippets 3
Hiding in my craft room 29: super scraps Saturday
Make all with love 20: stitches

Alphabet: Y for your can choose

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Sew many challenges 77: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Paperminutes 200: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes

One stitch at a time 96: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got
Inspire me Fridays 42

Make it Monday 72

Bejewelled

2012-01-19T20:43:00.000Z

When I saw what Daring cardmakers were asking us to do this week - Miraculous Social Networks -

Zuzanna said: I would like to see Facebook, Twitter, Skype, You Tube ... on your cards. You can use funny sentiments, colour scheme, fonts, style, layout or PC image - I didn't think I could take part this week because I couldn't think of a way to represent social networking.

When I did Suzie's 365 prompt for today, I chose to feature a photo of Bejewelled Blitz, the facebook game that I love - you can see here what I said about it - I suddenly thought that I could use that image on a card for DCM's challenge for a friend who also loves playing Bejewelled.

I love working from a sketch, so I was pleased to find Come and get it had a sketch for their challenge this week:

All card/papers used were from my offcuts box - the background is some old Papermania card from their teal collection, the foiled holographic strip has been in my box for ages; the ribbon is from a piece left over ages ago. The bejewelled photo and the surrounding frame were cut with nesties and the sentiment generated on my Dymo letratag.

This is also for:

Going grey with Scrap creations: die cuts
Lothian crafts January 22: die cuts
Incy wincy 129: bold and bright
Sassy Cheryl 98: bright & cheery to chase away the winter grey
Ladybug 52: bows
Sentimental Sundays 85: ribbonGingersnap GC134: spicy supply challenge: ribbon
Stamp n doodle: it's all about birthdays
Party time Tuesday 51: happy birthday
ABC: H for happy birthday
Pixie's crafty snippets 3
Hiding in my craft room 29: super scraps Saturday
Creative belli 136: frames
Papercraft star 80: use a frame

Alphabet: Y for your can choose

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Sew many challenges 77: anything goes
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Paperminutes 200: anything goes
Whimsical designs: anything goes
Crafty purple frog: anything goes

One stitch at a time 96: anything goes
Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday: show us what you got

Make it Monday 72

An urgent request

2012-01-19T16:53:00.002Z

John went to a bowls club committee meeting this morning and came back with the request for three cards for members of the club who will soon be celebrating their 80th birthdays - fine by me, but ... one of them needs to go in the post today!!

So I was grateful for the sketch for Sketches by Carly 47:

The background is Kanban green grass card. The chevron piece of card and the little triangel in the bottom left corner is an offcut I've had for ages from when I made some background card with alcohol inks. The personal impressions bowler stamp with inked with memento and coloured with copics and promarker. The sentiment was generated with my Dymo letratag.

This is also for:

Stamp n doodle: it's all about birthdays
Party time Tuesday 51: happy birthday
Card crafters circle 5: happy birthday
ABC: H for happy birthday
Winter wonderland: birthday wishes
Cards for men 2: boys and their toys
Pixie's crafty snippets 3
Hiding in my craft room 29: super scraps Saturday
C.R.A.F.T. 138: use numbers

Photos catch up

2012-01-19T16:11:00.002Z

I've missed taking part in Suzie's 365 for a few days, so this is a catch up.

15: generous: this is a photo I took at the Christmas Fair where mum lives - jams and cakes donated by generous folk:

16: snack: as I'm trying to lose weight yet again (having got to target weight nearly a year ago), this is the only kind of snack I'm allowing myself (but I'd rather be eating a bar of dark chocolate):

17: naughty: I sneaked up on John and took a picture while he was happy a nap - naughty me!:

18: pleasurable: I love my craft stuff - it gives me pleasure, especially my copics, promarkers and other pens - it's very therapeutic and pleasurable colouring in:

19: bad for you!: I love playing bejewelled blitz on facebook and have just discovered that there is now an app to play on my iPad - but it can be bad to spend too much time playing when I should be getting on with other things (or getting to bed!):

I'm up to date now - thanks, Suzie, for these great prompts - I had to really think about some of them!

WOYWW 137

2012-01-18T20:54:00.003Z

A quick post at the end of the day to join in Julia's WOYWW 137 (if you don't know what I'm talking about, just follow the link and you might well get hooked!).

It's been a difficult day and no crafting in sight, so these photos show my workspace after making a couple of cards last night.

An overview:

To the left of where I sit - boxes that need to be put away, including a box of Clarity Stamps - some are mounted on holders and some not - problem is how to store these because the holders are funny shapes - I really must work out a system that's better than shoving them all in a box together. And you can see the Inkadinkado snowflakes stamps that I love - used one of them last night (card is shown further down my blog).

Not a lot to show in front of where I sit - apart from the computer, the pink, black and white card I made last night and some more scraps ready to make another one.

Over to the right, a box of ink pads, mainly Big & Juicy, but also some Adirondack that need replacing because the colours have gone yucky and blended in together over the years. Oh - and two brayers that needs cleaning - couldn't be bothered last night and been out today.

So there it is, not very exciting, I'm afraid.

Last week I managed to get round most of the WOYWW blogs - sorry if I didn't make it to yours. Not sure when and how I'll get round this week, but I'll try.

No birdie can fill your shoes

2012-01-17T23:23:00.003Z

This is a very clean and simple one layer card for Less is more 50: one layer card - birds.

I stamped the Janet Klein's lovely Stampotique stamp with memento and coloured with copics. I'm quite pleased with the sentiment that I thought up:

You will be missed
No birdie can fill your shoes

It was difficult to get a proper photo or scan of this, so this is the best I could do - the card is much whiter irl and the pink colour of the birdie more obvious.

This is also for:

Penny's 70: birds
Crafty sentiments: anything goes
Timbro scrap mania 40: wings
Cute card Thursday 199: you're having a laugh!

Pink, pearls and swirls

2012-01-17T20:53:00.000Z

What a lovely combination - pink, pearls and swirls. Hot pink, black and white is one of my favourite colour combos.

The card follows the sketch for Sweet sketch Wednesday 136-73:

The pink background is an offcut of card which has been stamped with an Inkadinkado snowflakes swirls stamp, inked with versamark and heat embossed with white detail. The other papers used are all DCVW scraps that I've had for ages. I stamped the Clarity stamps baubles with versamark and heat embossed with hot pink powder. Just the addition of a few pearls here and there and the card was complete.

This is also for:

Cards und more 45: stripes and pearls
Creative inspirations 145: swirls & pearls
Sparkle creations Christmas 2012 week 7: flourishes
ABC Christmas: A for anything goes
Christmas cards all year round January: non-traditional colour + bonus: embossing
The pink elephant 131: favourite colour(s)
Art impressions 47: pink, pink and more pink
Do you stack up 54: pink
Sugar creek hollow: embossing
Pixie's crafty snippets 3 (apart from the hot pink background that I stamped and embossed, which started off as a solid cardstock, other papers were all snippets)

Silhouette scene

2012-01-17T00:26:00.003Z

This is one of the best cards I've made, but I enjoyed making it. It's been a difficult day, so I felt I needed to play with inks and this is what I came up with, using some new Clarity stamps (will come back later with the names of the various stamps I used, but want to get this posted now) and a brayered background using a rather smeared Adirondack stained glass (I must buy a new one). I didn't do the brayering very well at all, but I quite like the rather misty look it created, so I decided to stay with it.

This was prompted by City crafter 91: back to black - using any black silhouette image, also Quirky crafts 2 2012: silhouette, Make my Monday 32: create a scene (nature(, and Craft a scene 1: anything goes (must be a scene).

This is also for Make it Monday 72 and Inspire me Fridays 41.

Winter tree

2012-01-15T18:31:00.003Z

This card was supposed to be for Sketch n stash 78, but I took too long and missed the deadline for linking. I'm still showing the sketch to give credit to them:

I was given the starry card by a friend. I decided to stamp the Kanban tree on to the white/silver star card, inked with versamark and then heat embossed with detail silver. This was then die cut with a nestie.The silver scalloped border piece is backed with a smokey-grey mirror card which, unfortunately, doesn't show up here. Just the addition of a sentiment and the card was done.

The embossing is for:

Dancing in pajamas TCP: embossing
Sugar creek hollow: embossing
Getting cricky simply Sunday challenge: let it snow/use embossing

Colours are for:

Die cuttin divas 47: blue, silver and white
Crazy4challenges 199: monochromatic card in the blues
Secret crafter Saturday 168: anything goes with blue
Crafts4eternity R54 colour recipe - ice magic:

This is also for facebook Sunday's with Santa week 3: trees.

It's also for:
Crafting for all seasons: snowflakes
Creative belli 134: snowflakes
Fussy & fancy: let it snow
Allways something creative 22: ice and snow
Creative stamp friends 42: winter
Scrap-cards 19: winter
Tuesday throwdown 80: baby it's cold outside
Creative Friday January 53: it's cold outside
Use it Tuesday 23: all about winter
The sisterhood of crafters: winter card
Stampavie and more 160: winter
Stempelsonne 54: winter
Hobbystuggu January: winter - blue or a card that oozes cold
Totally gorjuss 114: be a star
Addicted to stamps 21: January blues
ABC Christmas: A for anything goes

Alphabet: Y for your can choose

House of gilli 23: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Stamp and create January: anything goes

One stitch at a time 96: anything goes
Let's ink it up January 19: anything goes

Think thin!

2012-01-15T16:15:00.002Z

No, I'm not talking about diet, although I definitely do need to 'think thin' again! (I must say that this unexpected flare up of diverticulitis is helping me kickstart the diet!)

Anyway, to get back to the card, this was Keryn's instruction for us for today's Christmas card club challenge - to make a thin card to avoid having to use a large stamp when posting.

I've gone for the thinnest possible, with a one layer, clean and simple, card. However, I'm not going to confess how many goes at this I tried before I was (sort of) happy with the result.

I've used a new Funstamps stamp by Lindsay Mason called 'script robin' and the sentiment is a stamp (not sure whether it's Anna Griffin or HOTP - perhaps someone can tell me which).

As I've used a new stamp, I'm linking for:

Corrosive 140: ring in the new year - something brand new on your creation
Stampin' sisters in Christ 122: use something new
Cupcake craft 174: something new

Craftycreations 152: something new

Freshly brewed January: use something new

Fairytale32: something new

Crafty catz 115: use something new

Also, on Crafts for Carolyn forum, Liz has challenged us to use something new and something old - the robin stamp is new and the sentiment one is old.

I inked up the stamp with memento rich cocoa, wiping the breast area on which I then put ColorBox chalk warm red ink and a spot of Marvy le plume butterscotch for the robin's beak.

For details of the Christmas Card Club please contact one of us - the links are in a list on my sidebar. If you want to get ahead with your Christmas cards we have a challenge every two weeks. If you are interested, just get in touch with one of us. We've already had two new girls join us this year - Anne and Lorraine - and would welcome anyone else who is interested.

I'm also entering this card in these challenges:

Party time Tuesday 50: use a feathered friend
Penny's 70: birds
Stamp, scrap & doodle: winter birds
Timbro scrap mania 40: wings
The squirrel and the fox 9: critters
Robyn's fetish 90: animals
Creative stamp friends 42: winter
Scrap-cards 19: winter
Tuesday throwdown 80: baby it's cold outside
Creative Friday January 53: it's cold outside
Use it Tuesday 23: all about winter - although the robin stamp is new, the sentiment stamp is old
The sisterhood of crafters: winter card
Stampavie and more 160: winter
Stempelsonne 54: winter
Heidi hobbystuggu January: winter
ABC Christmas: A for anything goes
Craft room: clean and simple
Card and scrap 24: clean and simple
PanPastel UK: anything goes

Alphabet: Yfor your can choose

Houseof gilli 23: anything goes

BizzyBecs January: anything goes

Gingerloft31: anything goes

Lexi56: anything goes

Stamp and create January: anything goes

One stitch at a time 96: anything goes
Let's ink it up January 19: anything goes

Inspireme Fridays 41

From me to you

2012-01-14T22:30:00.001Z

This is for the sketch for Make all with love 19:

I've used the offcuts from the DCWV paper that I used for the previous card, so this is another for Pixie's crafty snippets 2, also for Aud sentiments 45: use your scraps, and Hiding in my craft room 29: super scraps Saturday. The scalloped border across the middle is another offcut, flowers and gems from stash (the gems are much more sparkly brown irl). The image is a spare ATC that I had left from doing some for a swap ages ago. You can see the original post of how this was made here.

The numbers are for Our craft lounge 100: time to play with numbers and Moxie fab world Tuesday trigger: by the numbers:

Close up of the ATC I used (flash photo for the card just didn't do it justice):

This is also for:

Stampin for the weekend 24: out with the old - use old stash - everything is old
Just us girls 119: technique - collage stamping technique
Addicted to stamps 21: January blues
The house that stamps built DCC14: blue and brown card
Stampin sisters in Christ 121: thinking of you
The stamping boutique 23: twelve - there are 12 elements on this card
Timbro scrap mania 40: wings
Totally gorjuss 114: be a star
Simon says: spots and/or stripes
Stamp and create January: anything goes
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
House of gilli 23: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Blue and brown for baby boy

2012-01-14T22:30:00.000Z

This is another 'new baby' card, this time background paper is DCWV, the pram sticker and ribbon are from stash.

Colours are for Ribbon carousel 35, where this inspiration photo was given:

This is also for:

Secret crafter Saturday 168: anything goes with blue
Card and scrap 23: baby
Ruby's rainbow 19: something for a baby or child
Crafty boots: new beginnings
Cupcake craft 174: something new - new baby
Lollipop crafts: anything new goes
Ooh-la-la 96: new beginnings
Crafty creations 152: something new
Divas by design 18: new beginnings
Crafty ribbons 10: new beginnings
Fairytale 32: something new
Craft your days away 36: new beginnings
2 sisters 74: use metal (the pram wheels)
Totally gorjuss 114: be a star
Simon says: spots and/or stripes
Moving along with the times: spots and stripes
Totally papercrafts 99: spots & stripes
Gingersnap GC134 spicy supply challenge: ribbon
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
House of gilli 23: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Blue for baby

2012-01-14T18:19:00.001Z

This is for Here come the boys 18 sketch:

Papers are English Paper Company, the main image is a recycled topper, stickers are 'forever in time', sentiment and brads from stash.

Colours are for Crafts4eternity R54 colour recipe - ice magic:

This is also for:

Die cuttin divas 47: blue, silver and white
Crazy4challenges 199: monochromatic card in the blues
The craft garden January: monochrome
Secret crafter Saturday 168: anything goes with blue
Card and scrap 23: baby
Ruby's rainbow 19: something for a baby or child
Crafty boots: new beginnings
Cupcake craft 174: something new - new baby
Lollipop crafts: anything new goes
Ooh-la-la 96: new beginnings
Crafty creations 152: something new
Divas by design 18: new beginnings
Crafty ribbons 10: new beginnings
Little miss muffet 26: something new
Fairytale 32: something new
Craft your days away 36: new beginnings
Crafty calendar January: new news
2 sisters 74: use metal (brads and the pram wheels)
Totally gorjuss 114: be a star
Simon says: spots and/or stripes
Pink elephant 130: hearts
Pixie dust studio 109: put your heart into it
Designed2delight: include a heart
Alphabet: Y for your can choose
House of gilli 23: anything goes

Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes

Love heart

2012-01-14T16:56:00.000Z

This is for the theme 'bundle of love' on A la card monkey 91 plus the sketch:

The background paper is BG sugar rush - I'm entering this for Basic Grey 60 'something new' because the flowers I've used are new - part of the package I received as a prize from Crafty Ribbons.

The heart and crepe paper were rescued from an old card, so this is another one for St Luke's 'new year new start' challenge - the theme this month is to give a new lease of life to something destined for the bin ... Don't throw it away, turn it into something magical and give it a new start for 2012 by putting it on a card. There were originally some other flowers on the heart, but I took them off because I wanted to use some of those I'd received from Crafty Ribbons.

This is also for:

Pink elephant 130: hearts
There's magic in the air magical Monday: from the heart
Pixie dust studio 109: put your heart into it
Designed2delight: include a heart
Fab n funky 103: recycle it
My time to craft 170: hugs & kisses - love
The pretty little ribbon shop January 6: be my Valentine

Suzie's 365 14: guilty pleasure

2012-01-14T14:55:00.006Z

14: guilty pleasure - This picture says it all really - I love any dark chocolate:

I won these at the raffle at John's bowls club lunch the other day. Perhaps I over-indulged because I'm really suffering atm with a flare up of diverticulitis.

CHNC challenge 55: use a digital image and/or paper

2012-01-14T09:00:00.002Z

I can hardly believe that a week has gone by since my last challenge and here we are today with challenge 55 on my CHNC blog. If you don't know what I'm talking about, why not follow the link and join in - thanks to some great sponsors that are supporting me, I'm now able to give a prize every week to a randomly-chosen winner.

Challenge 55 is being sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps more information here.

I made a set of five cards for this challenge using a lovely digi supplied by Bugaboo Stamps called 'Christmas words Noel'. I digitally coloured the image in Paint, adding strips of double sided tape on the sides. I then peeled the backing off separately to add Art Institute glitter. The cards are A5 folded sideways (so I can use up some more of those envies - you can see them here).

Two of Bugaboo Stamps team - kindly joined in the challenge, although, unfortunately, I failed to stress that it was a Christmas challenge blog, so their cards are not for Christmas, but, nonetheless, they are gorgeous - you can see them here and here - thank you, Cheryl and Rae Anne.

I'm also entering these cards into the following challenges:

ABC Christmas: A for anything goes
Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 12: Christmas stockings
Shopping our stash 34: all that glitters, sparkles or shines
Chocolate, coffee & cards 4: glitter latte - show some glitter
Sweet stampin: all that glitters
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 10: sparkle
Friendship's garden 7: clean and simple
Bizzy Becs January: anything goes

Gingerloft 31: anything goes

Lexi 56: anything goes