Aqua Trees

I just had to join in with the Totally Gorjuss 'Shades of Aqua' challenge...it's my favourite colour! I followed the sketch from Taylored Expressions...and combined it with the 'Tree-Mendous' theme of the Cute Card Thursday and Daring Cardmakers challenges. I decided not to use a stamped image...shock horror! I cut the little trees using a die from the Cuttlebug 'Winter' set, then matted them on to shapes cut using my Nesties. The papers are from the 'Wonderful Winter' collection by My Mind's Eye. I cut the scalloped border using an EK Success punch ('Diamond Scallop'), then tied a piece of grosgrain ribbon (from Popppicrafts) around it.

Summery Sugar

I've had the day off today...woo-hoo!...so I spent a little time crafting this afternoon, while watching the Tour de France. I followed the sketch from the Sugar Bowl Challenge (including the optional extra of 'scallops'), using one of the Gorjuss Girl stamps, 'Teddy Bear', which is also perfect for the Teddy Stampers 'Love My Teddy' challenge. I used summery coloured papers from the 'Ooh La La (for Her)' collection by My Mind's Eye, so I'm also going to enter this card into Cute Card Thursday's 'School's Out for Summer'...even though I still have a couple more weeks of teaching to go before it's out for me! :0(
I distressed all of the edges, and added a sentiment from the CCSR set by Papermania, as I'm going to send this card to my partner for this month's Friendship Card Sawp on the Docrafts forum.

Ice-cream Mouse

I've been playing with another of the gorgeous Stampavie stamps I won...this one is called 'Mouse holding ice-cream' by Tina Wenke. I watercoloured him, and added some Glossy Accents to the sundae dish and the cherry on top. The papers were also amongst the goodies I won...I'm not sure who they're by, as there were no markings on them...so if you recognise them...please leave me a comment. The rainbow ribbon is from Hobbycraft.

Challenges entered:

• Midnight Madness - Sketch (I used the simple one)
• Stampavie - Dots (Well I had to enter after they sent me all those gorgeous goodies!)
• Crafty Calendar - Summer
• Creative Cottage - Summer Surprise
• Cute Card Thursday - Fruity (well there is a cherry and a banana in the sundae! lol)

In the Shed!

It's another Lili of the Valley card today...I think must be addicted! lol This image is called 'In the Shed' - perfect for cards for those trickiest of creatures...men! I followed the sketch from Teddy Stampers...and am also entering this into the following challenges: Cute Card Thursday 'Boyz to Men'; Stampin' for the Weekend 'Card for a Male'; Cards for Men 'Outdoors'; and the Crafty Calendar 'The Great Outdoors'. The paper is by My Mind's Eye (form the '29th Street Market' collection, the raffia lace is from Hobbycraft, and the letters were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet.

Bear & Robin

Before I get on to today's card...I have a little bit of news for you. If you're a regular visitor to my blog, you were probably expecting to see my DT card for the ABC Challenge today...but the 'S for Sparkle' challenge was my last with the lovely ABC girls...I'm moving on to pastures new. As you may have seen, I became a permanent member of the Just Cute Bears Challenge DT last weekend, after a stint as a guest designer...and I've joined another challenge DT too...I can't tell you which one yet (it's a secret!) but all will be revealed at the weekend...

I've got a Christmas card for you today...using the sketch from Cute Card Thursday. The image is 'Bear & Robin' by Gillian Roberts for Stampavie, the papers are by Sandylion, the sentiment is a Cuddly Buddly stamp, and the snowflakes were all cut using Cuttlebug dies. I'm also going to enter this card into the Winter Wonderland Challenge...where 'Anything Goes' this week to celebrate their relaunch on Fridays.

ABC Christmas Challenge - D is for...

The challenge for this fortnight on the ABC Christmas Challenge blog is:

'D is for Decorations'

It's Samantha's turn to choose the 'extra' element for you to include on your projects, and like to see you use some ribbon....what could be easier than that??!!

We have a fabulous prize on offer for the lucky winner of this challenge...the fabulous Simon Says Stamp store has donated a $15 voucher for their store.

As soon as I saw the 'Decorations' theme, I just knew I wanted to use this fab Penny Black stamp (from the 'Holly-Jolly' set)...I love the way the decorations are flying off the tree! The papers are all from the 'Wonderful Winter' stack by My Mind's Eye, the sentiment stamp is by Paper Make-Up, and the grosgrain ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

I'm also going to enter this card for the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - 'Spots & Dots'
Susie & Vikki's Christmas Club - 'Christmas Trees'

Don't forget to check out the rest of the design team's cards...and also the fabulous card by our guest designer Jane, over on the ABC Christmas Challenge.

Blooming Gorgeous Hedgie!

I love Dawny's sketches...so I just had to have a go at the one for the Papertake Weekly Challenge this week...although I did replace the sentiment with some flowers...I couldn't decide what I wanted it to say! I've used a Penny Black hedgie (from the 'Wonderful' set), and papers by K&Co ('Classic K Margo'). I distressed the edges a little, then added some faux stitching with a white gel pen, and a couple of Prima flowers. So, as there are also flowers on the image, and on the paper too...I'm also going to enter this card for Cute Card Thursday's 'Blooming Gorgeous' challenge...and as the colours are 'summery' the Dutch Dare Challenge of 'Summer in Winter'.

Hot Chocolate Henry

Yes...I'm making an early start on my Christmas cards again this year...making at least one card a week worked so well last year...I ended up with some cards left over! lol
I'd used up most of my Christmas papers...so I had a bit of a splurge on some in the post-Christmas sales...well, I had to make sure I'd have enough to last 'til Christmas! ;0)
This combines quite a few challenges: the fab sketch from the Allsorts Challenge; the colour combo of 'Aqua & Red' from the Whiff of Joy Challenge; the 'Hot Chocolate' theme of the Simon Says Stamp and Quixotic challenges; Stamp with Fun's 'Snowflakes' theme; and Cute Card Thursday's 'All New' challenge.
I used 'Henry Mouse with Hot Chocolate' (by Whiff of Joy)...and was very brave, and cut into some of my new My Mind's Eye 'Colourful Christmas' papers...love the zingy colours on these...and they don't just have to used for Christmas either...I used some on a birthday card yesterday too...but you'll have to wait until later in the week to see that. I distressed all of the edges, and added some faux stitching too. The snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die, and I couldn't resist adding some card candy in the corners.


I'll be back with another Christmas card tomorrow...with my DT card for the second ABC Christmas Challenge...if you haven't joined in with our first challenge...'A for Angels'...and our 'Say No' candy...it's not too late...but you'll have to be quick!

Ruffles

I received this adorable Helz Cuppleditch stamp ('Ruffles A Present for You' by Stampavie) in the post yesterday...as part of my Christmas present from Wendy (aka The Secret Crafter)...and I couldn't resist getting him inky straight away. I followed the sketch from the Allsorts Challenge...just getting my card done in time...and obviously, I went with the 'New' option...which is also what Cute Card Thursday are asking for this week. I coloured him using the My Time to Craft Challenge colour combo of 'Blue & Brown', which is one of my favourites...so I'm also entering this card for the Everybody Art Challenge which asks us to use our 'Favourite Colour Combination'. The papers are by Prima Marketing, the sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts (from the 'Anytime Messages' set), and I embossed the light blue paper using my Cuttlebug 'Spots & Dots' folder.


Right, I'm off to see if I have to go to school today...and if so what time...they're supposed to announce it on the school's website at 7am...

Gorjuss Thank You!

There's a lovely sketch for this week's Cute Card Thursday Challenge...which I've used to make a 'Thank You Card' for the Totally Gorjuss Challenge, in the BasicGrey Challenge colours of 'Cream, Pink & Blue'. The image is 'Poppy Fields', and the papers are from the 'Wisteria' and 'Sultry' pads (by BasicGrey). I used my Cuttlebug 'Victoria' and 'Perfect Paisley' folders to emboss (and deboss...I put the paper in the wrong way up! lol) the plain papers, then distressed all of the edges. The sentiment stamp is from the Clare Curd Signature Range (by Papermania) and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

Gorjuss Birthday

I needed to make a couple of birthday cards at the weekend, and in a change from the frosty colours I've been overdosing on lately, I decided to make a card for the Charisma Cardz 'Summer' challenge. I followed the sketch over at Totally Gorjuss, and am also entering this card for Cute Card Thursday's 'Swirly Girly' challenge. I've used 'Poppy Fields', watercoloured to match this gorgeous flowery BasicGrey paper (from the 'Lemonade' pad). I embossed the pink paper using the Cuttlebug 'Victoria' folder, then sanded it to reveal the detail, and used my distressing tool to rough up the edges. The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts (from the 'Fabulous Birthday' set), the flowers and ribbon are from Poppicrafts, and the pearl brad is by Papermania.

Boo!

I won Elaine's WCMD Candy...it arrived earlier this week...and it's fab! The stamps are adorable, and the charms and pearls are gorgoeus - thanks Elaine! :0)
I had a little play with one of the stamps ('Cow Emma' by C. C. Designs) yesterday and made a Hallow'een card...I'd been avoiding all of the 'Hallow'een' themed challenges, as I didn't have any suitable images...but there's no excuse now, so I'm entering this card for the Cute Card Thursday 'Spook Fest' challenge, and the One Stop Craft 'Hallow'een' challenge, the Papertake Weekly challenge to go over to the 'Dark Side', and the Pile It On 'Hallow'een' challenge. I followed the Stamp with Fun Challenge sketch...replacing the flowers with a sentiment. The spotty orange paper is from the 'Bloom & Grow' pack by My Mind's Eye, I embossed the black panel with the Cuttlebug 'Skeleton Scrolls' folder, then used a white chalk inkpad to bring out the detail, and the letters were cut using the Cuttlbug 'Olivia' alphabet.

Hunny Bunny

Warning...please make sure you are wearing protective eyewear before looking at this card...it contains VERY bright colours! lol

I've used the Cute Card Thursday colour combination of 'Strawberry Mint Julep'...but I'm not sure the violent shades of pink and green of these BasicGrey 'Lemonade' papers are quite what they had in mind! I followed the sketch for this week's Inspirational Cards Sketches Challenge...substituting the white square for a few flowers (from Poppicrafts). The cute little bunny stamp is 'Hunny Bunny' by Whipper Snapper, and I couldn't resist adding a few pieces of card candy.


This is my last call for entries for my candy...I'll close Mr Linky at 9pm tonight...and use Random.Org to select a winner tomorrow.

Nap Time

I've managed to combine three challenges on this card: the sketch from Stampavie & More; the 'Anything Baby' theme of Stampin' for the Weekend; and the 'New Beginnings' theme of the Cute Card Thursday Challenge. The image is by Penny Black ('Nap Time')...which I've watercoloured with a hint of blue...I don't know anyone about to have a baby boy...but it's not a bad idea to have a card ready...just in case! lol I used my 'Swiss Dots' folder to emboss the background and used my Nesties to make the scalloped border. The ribbon is from Hobbycrafts, and the sentiment is computer generated.

Lazy Days

When I saw the 'Lazy Dayz' theme of this week's Cute Card Thursday Challenge...I just knew I had to use this Penny Black hedgie image...rather appropriately called 'Lazy Days'. I also followed the Sketch Saturday sketch, used the Charisma Cardz colour combo of 'Lemon, Green & Pink' and the 'Summer' theme of the Pink Elephant Challenge. The papers are from the 'Lemonade' pad by BasicGrey, the sentiment stamp was a freebie with a Docrafts mag, and the flowers were a birthday RAK from my lovely friend Carol, who also stamped the image for me. As I've used three flowers, three brads and three papers, I'm also going to enter this card into Pile It On's 'Good Things Come In Threes' challenge.

Night Before Xmas

It was my last day of school yesterday, so what have I made on the first day of my summer holiday? A Christmas card of course! lol
I used the Midnight Madness sketch for the layout, and have managed to combine it with a few other challenge themes too: Cute Card Thursday's 'Christmas in July'; Our Creative Corner's 'Pets' theme; and the 'Furry Things' One Stop Craft Challenge. The image is 'Night Before Christmas' by Penny Black, and the papers are from the 'Christmas Wishes' stack by DCWV. The 'furry' snowball trim is from Tescos, and the buttons (which I coated with clear nail varnish, then sprinkled with glamour dust) are from Poppicrafts.

Triple Challenge Wedding Card

I've used the fab Papertake Weekly Challenge sketch to make a wedding card. I used diecut hearts (Cuttlebug 'Concentric Hearts') in place of a stamped image, so I'm entering this card for Cute Card Thursday's 'Nip & Punch' challenge...and with all the embossing (Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' and 'D'Vine Swirls' folders), I'm also entering this for the One Stop Craft Challenge's 'Under Pressure' challenge. The sentiment is from the Clare Curd Signature Range set (by Papermania), and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.