On the first day of Christmas...

I didn't have to work this morning (woo-hoo!), and the atrocious weather put me off going out and about, so I put my free time to good use, and made up these cards with some images I coloured last night. I was given this stamp set (Penny Black ' Twelve Days of Christmas') for my birthday a few months ago, and haven't really used them much yet. They're not your traditional Christmas images, so I've combined them with funky 'non-Christmassy' colours.

I think all the papers I've used are by DCWV - from various Christmas stacks. Ive used both the 'Swiss Dots' and 'Snowflakes' embossing folders, and all the circles were cut using my trusty Nesties.

Scrummy Blog Candy!

Wow - feast your eyes on this scrummy blog candy! Fran is celebrating 55,000 hits and her first blogoversary and has put together this candy to give away to one lucky blogger. It closes at midnight on Sunday 16th November, so go check it out...

Cuttlebug Challenge #6 meets Cupcake Craft Challenge #12

I decided to combine the sketch for this week's Cuttlebug challenge, with the inspirational photo on the Cupcake Craft challenge blog.

I've used the Cuttlebug 'Birds & Swirls' embossing folder on cream card, then used 'shimmer' chalks to highlight the detail. I've taken the colours I used from the 'inspiration' photo, as well as the idea of bands of each colour, and also the pearlescent finish. The embossed pattern is supposed to echo the floral detail running across the bed linen. The sentiment is part of an image on a stamp from a set ('Garden Wisdom') by Hero Arts, and the flowers are Flora Doodles.

Apologies for the 'smudge' on the photo - I've tried cleaning my camera lens, but it just won't shift! I'm going to send this card to my partner in this month's Friendship card swap over on the Docrafts forum.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 22

Sentiments only - what a tough challenge this week! I immediately panicked, thinking I didn't really have any Penny Black sentiment stamps, other than the tiny ones that came in the transparent sets...but then I found this cute bauble one amongst my Christmas stamps, called '"wishes" ornament'...I bought it before last Christmas, but never got round to using it. I masked off the top of the bauble before stamping, as it looked kind of odd when I cut it out with my Nesties, then embossed it in silver. I've hung it inside an aperture (also cut with a Nestie), and then just covered the front of the card with a piece of Anita's paper (from the 'Black Classic Christmas' pack).

Another Award!

I've just been given another award, this time the 'I Love Your Blog' Award, by the lovely Erin - thank you!


The rule is, that I must pass this award on to 7 people...not easy to choose, as there are so many blogs I love to visit...although lots of you obviously love them too, as most of my favourites already have this award! My nominees are: Sharon, Lyndsey, Tracie, Katy, Kim, Kerry and Shary.

I've been tagged!

I got tagged earlier this week by Lyndsey, but everything has been a bit manic this week, so I haven't had time to think about my answers 'til now. Here goes:

Things I love:
1. Crafting!
2. Blog-hopping and gaining inspiration from all of your wonderful blogs
3. Cooking (especially baking...)
4. Eating (when once you've gone to all the trouble of baking...it would be rude not to!)
5. Reading

Things I hate:
1. Wet and windy weather (that's why I'm indoors now!)
2. Lateness (why can't people be on time???)
3. Selfishness (it doesn't cost anyone to be considerate of others...)
4. Ice cream (I know, I know...)
5. Not having enough time to craft!

Music on my ipod (there's over 1500 songs, but these have had the most playings):
1. Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
2. James Morrison - Under the Influence
3. Foo Fighters - Home
4. The Killers - Somebody Told Me
5. Greenday - When September Ends

Favourite Food & Drink (now this was tough to choose!):
1. Chocolate Brownies (yum!)
2. Veggie Curry (Indian or Thai)
3. Red Wine
4. Fruit (of any kind...just can't get enough!)
5. Freshly baked bread

Right, now I have to tag 5 people...I'm choosing: Cathy, Tracie, Natalie, Pauline and Jo - sorry girls!

Yummy Blog Candy...

My lovely crafty friend Cathy is celebrating getting over 10,000 hits on her wonderful blog - congratulations Cathy! She has two lots of blog candy on offer...including a fab Magnolia stamp, Papermania & Dovecraft papers, Prima flowers and gorgeous ribbons. The candy closes at 10am on Sunday 16th November...so why not go and take a look!

An award!

I've just been given this lovely award by Lyndsey - thank you...it was so nice of you to think of me!

Here are the rules:
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees

There are so many fab blogs that I love to visit, it's really difficult to pick just 5, but the people I've chosen to nominate are: Cathy, Katy, Emma, Tara and Pauline. I love to visit all of your blogs girls - thanks for the inspiration!

Lyndsey, also tagged me, but I need to have a think about my answers...so I'll come back and post about that another time...

Friday Sketchers #26

No you're not seeing double...it is another 'Snowy' card. I coloured a couple of images at the same time at the weekend, as I wasn't sure which shape I was going to use on my Penny Black Challenge 'Sparkly' card. Then I saw this week's Friday Sketchers sketch, and thought I'd use him for that...as although I didn't have much time to craft this weekend, I thought the sketch looked really interesting, so wanted to give it a go. This time, I've combined him with the 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder, and paper by Anita's ('Classic Christmas Black'). The sentiment stamp is by Three Bugs in a Rug, and the ric-rac was free with the latest Docrafts mag.

Secret Crafter #5 vs One Stop Craft Challenge #2

Well, after I'd spent most of yesterday working hard, I thought I'd treat myself to a little crafting time, and join in a couple more challenges, as I needed to make a card for a crafty friend. I think that all of the hours I'd spent staring at my computer screen had addled my brain...all was going well until, I embossed my backing card the wrong way up, which meant I had to flip this week's Secret Crafter sketch over, and make a 'mirror image'...either that or have the birds upside down! lol Then when I went back to the blog to have another look at the sketch, I noticed the 'twist' of only using the colours 'Brown, Pink & White'...hmmmm...how did I miss that the first time I looked???

As you can see, this card is definitely NOT 'Brown, Pink & White'!!! Luckily, I'd combined the sketch with the theme of 'Things with Wings' over on the 'One Stop Craft Challenge', so it wasn't a complete dead loss! The winged things are: the butterflies on the stamp ('Butterfly Wishes' by Penny Black), and the birds (Cuttlebug 'Birds & Swirls' embossing folder) on the background card. The patterned paper is by Dovecraft ('Aquamarine Floral' stack), and the sentiment stamp is form the 'Critter Party' set by Penny Black.

As I really liked the sketch, I thought I'd give it another go...and pay attention this time! So here is my 'Brown, Pink & White' card (with the sketch the right way round too!):

I've used a 'Forever Friends' image this time, with paper from the 'Glitter' stack by DCWV, a pink and brown spotty 'Flora Doodle', ribbon from a set from the £shop, my 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder and the same sentiment stamp as my first card.

I promise I'll pay more attention next week!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 21

Now, I really should be working, and not crafting...I have loads to do today, but I just couldn't resist joining in with my favourite challenge. The theme for this week's Penny Black challenge is 'Get Sparkly/Bonfire Night', and as I couldn't find a suitable stamp for 'Bonfire Night' (and don't have time this weekend to try and adapt one) I've gone down the 'sparkly' route. As you can see, I'm still making Christmas cards, and have used one of my favourite stamps again, 'Snowy'. I've coloured him with pearly paints - the photo doesn't show it very well, but he is very sparkly. I've used the Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' embossing folder on some silver paper for the background, and some really glittery ribbon, for some more sparkles.
I'd also like to say a BIG congratulations to all the new Design Team members - I'm really looking forward to seeing your fabulous creations in the weeks to come!

Now, I really must get back to work...

Yet more Christmas cards...

Well, all good things must come to an end...it's back to school tomorrow, but before I get back into work mode, here are a few more cards I made yesterday.
The first is using a Forever Friends image I got sent in a swap, with a sentiment stamp from a set by Studio G:


The image on this one is called 'Winter Pup' by Hero Arts - I've decoupaged his head, but you can't see that very well in the photo, and the green paper has been embossed with the 'Swiss Dots' folder:

The last one has a Penny Black image from the set 'Christmas Critters':

All patterned papers are from the 'Christmas Wishes' stack by DCWV, and the circles and ovals were cut using Nesties.

Cuttlebug Challenge #5

This is the first time I've made a card for this challenge, but as I've got a bit more time to craft this week, I thought I'd give it a go. The challenge this week is to create a project embossing on a metallic finish - perfect for yet another Christmas card! I've used two embossing folders on this card: 'Swiss Dots' on the pearlised blue backing paper, and 'Snowflakes' on the metallic silver paper. The text paper is by DCWV (from the 'Christmas' stack), the sentiment stamp is by Three Bugs in a Rug, and the main image is from the Penny Black 'Christmas Critters' set.
The card was tricky to photograph because of all the shiny paper...but at least it clearly shows the embossing!
If you're a Cuttlebug fan, and haven't seen this challenge before, have a look here for some fabulous projects and great ideas of new ways of using your bug.

Cupcake Craft Challenge 11

I had to laugh when I first saw the theme for this week's challenge - 'There's a hole in my bucket', but it's gave me an opportunity to try out using my Nesties to make an aperture card...something I've been meaning to do since I got them. I had to keep the front of the card quite simple, as I had to attach the paper before I made the aperture - there was no way I'd have lined up all the holes if I'd tried to add it afterwards! The main image is one of last years 'Christmas Critters' by Penny Black, the paper is by DCWV ('Christmas' stack), the letters were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet, and the sequins are from a pack that came with a Hero Arts clear stamp set. It was quite difficult to get a good photo of the card, but I think you can just about see through the aperture into the card in this one.

Mojo Monday #58

This is the first time I've made a card for Mojo Monday, but as it's half-term (yippee!), I have a bit more time to craft. I've stretched the sketch to make a square card, but have left it quite simple, as I'm trying to keep some of my Christmas cards flat for posting!
I've used another Penny Black stamp ('Reindeer Pup') for my main image, and papers by DCWV from 'Christmas Wishes' and last year's 'Christmas' stacks. The sentiment stamp is by Three Bugs in a Rug.

Papertake Weekly Challenge with A Spoon Full of Sugar

I've combined DawnyP's first sketch for Papertake Weekly (great job Dawny!) with the theme of 'Sparkle & Bling' over on the Spoon Full of Sugar challenge. It's a lovely sketch, and worked perfectly with one of the papers from DCWV's 'Rose Tinted Christmas' stack, as the sentiment is already printed on the paper. I've used my Penny Black 'Snowy' again, mounted on silver mirri card, some sparkly Papermania tinsel trim (free with the latest Docrafts mag), and three small gems, for a bit more bling!

Friday Sketchers #24 meets Pauline's Blog Candy Party

I love the sketch for this week's challenge - it's really simple and uncluttered...just my style! I've used it to make celebration card for my friend Pauline's Blog Candy Party, that she's having to celebrate 5000 hits - congratulations Pauline! If you haven't seen the yummy candy that she's got on offer (including some gorgeous Penny Black stamps!) there's still time for you to join the party and make a card, as it's open 'til November 9th.
The image I've used is one by Penny Black ('Kickin'') that was gifted to me by my lovely friend Karen. The papers are by Papermania ('Sweet Nothings'), the green panel of card was embossed with the Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirls' folder the sentiment stamp (stamped in two sections) is from a clear set ('Anytime Messages') by Hero Arts, and flowers are all by Prima - the large pink one with text on was sent to me by Pauline in a gorgeous friendship card a few months ago.

Secret Craft Saturday Challenge #4

There's a fab sketch by Donna for this week's challenge - I can see myself using this one again! I've used a Forever Friends image that I was sent in a swap, and some more of the yummy DCWV 'Christmas Wishes' papers in traditional Christmas colours. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Three Bugs in a Rug, and the gold trim across the bottom of the card was a freebie with the new edition of Docrafts Creativity.

One Stop Craft Challenge #1

A new challenge blog started this weekend, called the One Stop Craft Challenge - if you haven't seen it yet, do pop over for a look. The first challenge is a fab sketch by one of my blogging buddies Sharon. As I'm in Christmas mode, I've used a Penny Black stamp ('Bedecked Antlers') for my main image, and combined it with some more of my new DCWV 'Christmas Wishes' papers. I decided not to include an additional sentiment on my card as one of the papers I'd used already has text on. This was a lovely sketch to work with...I really like the way the diagonal breaks up the card - well done Sharon!

Sketch Saturday Challenge #22

I thought I'd use this sketch for another Christmas card...well it is less than two months away now! lol

I've used a Penny Black stamped image ('Candle-Lit Night') that I was sent in a swap with my lovely friend Samantha. I've combined him with some papers from the DCWV 'Christmas Wishes' that I bought yesterday, and a sentiment stamp by Studio G. I've stuck quite closely to the sketch, but I did add some brads to the corners.