Naughty or Nice?

There's a fab sketch for this week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge...which I've used to decorate the front of a plain notebook that I bought from the Craft Barn. This was one of the projects on the course I won at My Creative Classroom...it's supposed to be a gift...but I'm keeping this one to use to keep track of all of the Christmas cards and presents I'm making this year...well I wouldn't want to forget anyone! lol
I thought that this little mouse image (from the 'Christmas Critters' set) was just perfect, and I've combined him with some My Mind's Eye papers ('Festive Frost'). The sentiment stamp is by Three Bugs in a Rug...and yes, I know it's the wrong shape...but this book is for all of the people who've been 'nice' this year! lol
I'm also entering this for the A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge, which has a colour theme of 'Brown with either Blue or Pink' this week.

Mistletoe & Mice

I received some adorable Gillian Roberts images from my lovely friend Cathy last week...I couldn't resist having a play, as this one ('Mistletoe & Mice') is perfect for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge's theme of 'Winter Love'. I followed the Creative Inspirations Challenge sketch...and have also managed to squeeze in a few other challenges: Stampin' for the Weekend's colour combo of 'Lilac & Silver'; the first Sketchy Colors Challenge where the dominant colour must be 'Purple/Lilac'; and the 'Christmas' theme of the Charisma Cardz, Everybody Art, Papertake Weekly, Pollycraft Monday Challenges. The spotty paper is My Mind's Eye (from the '29th Street Market' collection, the sentiment stamp is by Craft UK and the ric-rac is by Papermania. I used my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Snow Dots' folders to emboss the lilac card, and the 'Ice Crystal' die to cut the snowflake.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Christmas Trees

The theme for this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge as chosen by the Secret Crafter herself...Wendy...is:

'Christmas Trees'

I chose this fab Christmas tree image from the 'Holly-Jolly Christmas' set by Penny Black...I love the expression on the cat's face! I watercoloured it to match the 'Eskimo Kisses' papers (by BasicGrey), adding some sparkle to the baubles using a Sakura Stardust pen. The sentiment stamp is by Paper Make-Up, and as the papers and image are quite busy, I've kept the embellishments quite low-key, adding some pieces of card candy and a simple bow.

The rest of the design team have created some cracking projects to inspire you...check them out at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

A Boy's Best Friend...

I've used another of the stamps I won in the Sugar Nellie Birthday goodie bag for this fortnight's Sugar Bowl Challenge...this one's called 'A Boy's Best Friend'. I've watercoloured him to match the 'Papa' papers by Fancy Pants Designs. I distressed all of the edges using my distressing tool and inks, and added some Papermania brads and some garden string. For the 'extra' challenge element of 'Zig-zags', I used a CutterBee Bug to make the holes for some zig-zag faux stitching around the edges of all the papers...which also have zig-zag patterns on them.

ABC Challenge - I is for...

We have another colour challenge for you this week at the ABC Challenge:

'I is for Indigo Blue'

Blue is my favourite colour, so I loved this challenge! :0)

I've used 'Musing Melinda' (by Whiff of Joy) for my card...I always think she looks kind of blue! lol
I coloured to match these gorgeous papers from the 'Boxer' pad by BasicGrey...one of which I embossed using my 'Textile' Cuttlebug folder. The sentiment stamp is by Studio G, and the flowers are a mixture of Poppicrafts and Hobbycraft...it doesn't show very well in the photo, but they've been spritzed with 'Baby's Breath' Shimmerz. I distressed all of the edges, and added a few pieces of card candy to finish.

As always, don't forget to check out the rest of the design teams fab cards over on the ABC Challenge blog.

Exciting new challenge blog...

There's a new weekly challenge blog, called Sketchy Colors, launching this weekend...and as you all know, I love a challenge! ;0)


They have some yummy candy to celebrate...click the logo to visit their new blog to find out more...

Gorjuss Christmas

I had a happy day crafting yesterday...made some Christmas gifts...and a few challenge cards. This one combines three challenges: the sketch from Charisma Cardz; the 'Christmas' theme from Totally Gorjuss; and the Winter Wonderland 'No Christmas Stamps or Papers' challenge. I've used 'Little Star' (by Sugar Nellie), watercolouring her to match the My Mind's Eye papers...they're from the 'Adore' and '29th Street Market' collections...so not Christmas papers. I used my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' and 'Snow Dots' folders to emboss the plain papers, including a star cut using a Nestie die. The ribbon is from Hobbycraft, and the Card Candy is by Craftwork Cards.

Jingle Bells

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge is having a 'Countdown to Christmas' blog hop this week...so naturally I had to join in the fun and make a card for their 'Winter Wonderland' themed challenge. I used the sketch from this week's Friday Sketchers Challenge, and also managed to squeeze in a few other challenge themes on to my card: the Allsorts Challenge to use a 'Christmas Song Title' (in my case 'Jingle Bells'); the Creative Inspirations 'Sparkle' challenge (I covered the snowflakes have been coated with glamour dust, and I used Stickles on the hedgie's hats and snow); and the One Stop Craft Challenge's 'Snowflakes' theme. The sledging hedgies image is from the 'Christmas Critters' set (of course by Penny Black), and the paper is by Pebbles Inc. I embossed the blue card using my Cuttlebug 'Snow Dots' folder, then highlighted the detail with a white chalk inkpad. The snowflakes were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Ice Crystal' die, the sentiment stamp is by Studio G, pearl brad is Papermania, and the ribbon, and 'jingle bells' are from Hobbycraft.

Santa & Penguin

This adorable stamp arrived this morning...it's from a set called 'Santa & Penguin' by Craft UK, that I'd ordered nearly 6 weeks ago from the Crafter's Companion website (my first order with them)...I was beginning to think it had been lost in the postal strikes when it hadn't arrived after a few weeks...and after getting no response from their Customer Services to my three emails asking if it been posted ('cos they'd charged my card on the day I'd ordered) I had given up hope of ever seeing them...so I couldn't believe it when they popped through my letterbox today...with a packing note dated yesterday! Excellent service from the Royal Mail (for once), but I have to say that I won't be using the Crafter's Companion website again! :0(

Anyway, I couldn't resist inking them up straight away, as I thought that this image would be perfect for the 'St Nicholas' theme of the Winter Wonderland Challenge...which ends today, so I needed to get in there quickly. I followed the fab Sketch Saturday sketch...which is perfect for those larger images...and combined it with the Colour Create combo of 'Green, Red & White' with these funky papers by Doodlebug. I added some 'Polar White' Flowersoft for the snow, the sentiment stamp is from the same set as the image, and the snowflakes were cut using a Cuttlebug die.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Calendar

The theme for this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge has been chosen by Jill...and she has challenged us to:

Make a Calendar

I decided to make a small desk calendar...I'm planning to make a few of these for Christmas presents. I cut a 4.5 inch wide strip from a piece of 12x12 red Bazzill card to make the base for my calendar, scoring at 0.5 inches and 5.5 inches from one end, and 1.5 inches from the other end. I then glued the two ends together, to create my free-standing base (which folds flat for posting). I decorated the base with a contrasting blue piece of card embossed using my Cuttlebug 'Victoria' folder, a couple of Prima flowers, some Papermania brads and an embossed butterfly stamped using a stamp from the 'Doodles' set from the Papermania CCSR. The calendar tab is by Anita's.

The design team have come up with some really beautiful projects this week...a calendar would make a great gift, which makes this a fantastic way to get ahead for Christmas...so I do hope that you'll join us this week at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

Splashing Maggie

Thanks to this dreadful cold that's doing the rounds at the moment, I managed to get another quick card done yesterday afternoon, when one of my private pupils cancelled her lesson.
I combined the sketch from Inspirational Card Sketches with the 'Under my umbrella' challenge over at the My Time to Craft Challenge. I used 'Splashing Maggie' (another of the stamps from the Sugar Nellie birthday goodie bag I won), watercolouring her to match these lovely '29th Street Market' papers by My Mind's Eye. I distressed the edges, and added some faux-stitching, and a few flowers from Poppicrafts.

Caroling Chooks

Woo-hoo I finally made a card last night! I hadn't crafted for over a week...and I think I'd forgotten how to do it...it took me ages to make this...and it's so simple! lol
I followed the sketch from the Just Christmas & Birthday Cards Challenge, to make a card for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, where the theme this week is 'Christmas for the guys'. I followed the Stampavie & More colour theme of 'Brown & One Other Colour' challenge (in my case blue), and I'm also entering this for the 'Animal Antics' challenge over at Simon Says Stamp. I've used 'Carolers' (of course by Penny Black), and paper by My Mind's Eye...ok so it's not overly festive but it is from a Christmas pack! lol I distressed the edges using inks and my distressing tool, added some faux-stitching and a few snowflakes cut using a Cuttlebug die.

One Word Award

I've been given this award by a couple of my blogging buddies...Sue & Squirrel...thanks ladies! :0)
I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to get around to putting it on my blog...told you I'd been a bad blogger! lol

So, here are my 'one word' answers:

1) Where is your cell phone? - handbag
2) Hair? - brown
3) Your mother? - wonderful
4) Your father? - funny
5) Your fav food? - cake
6) Your Dream last night? - forgotten
7) Your fav drink? - water
8) Your dream goal? - contentment
9) What room are you in? - bedroom
10) Your hobby? - crafting
11) Your fear? - boredom
12) Where do you want to be in 6 years time? - here
13) Where were you last night? - home
14) Something that you aren't? - tall
15) Muffins? - yes!
16) Wishlist item? - time
17) Where did you grow up? - Norfolk
18) Last thing you did? - work
19) What are you wearing? - PJs
20) Your T.V? - Spooks
21) Your pets? - none
22) Your friends? - fabulous
23) Your life? - hectic
24) Your mood? - happy
25) Missing someone? - no
26) Vehicle? - 207
27) Something you're not wearing? - coat
28) Your fav store? – Glitterpot
29) Your fav colour? - blue
30) Last time you laughed? - today
31) Last time you cried? - forgotten
32) Your best friend? - Emma
33) One place you go to over and over? - work
34) One person who emails regularly? - Samantha
35) Fav place to eat? - Papaya
36) Face book? - never

Now...I know that I'm supposed to pass this on...but as it's taken me so long to blog this...everyone's already got it! lol

I'm off to do some quick crafting...I haven't made anything in over a week...and I've got itchy fingers...so I may even have a card to show you tomorrow!

Thank you!

I made this card ages ago...well over a week ago...using one of the Sugar Nellie stamps I won ('Big bunch of love')...so of course I had to follow the Sugar Bowl Challenge sketch and make a 'Thank you' card. I watercoloured him to match the boyish colours of these 'True' papers (by Fancy Pants Designs). I embossed the green card (just seen) using my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder, added a sentiment by Hero Arts (from the 'Anytime Messages' set), and a few buttons (from Poppicrafts).


I've been a bit of a bad blogger this past week or so...so I'm sorry if I haven't visited you recently...been a very busy bee with work, and it was my Nan's 90th birthday on Sunday, so I was away all weekend...and now I have a stinking cold...but I'm hoping to get some serious blog-hopping in this evening...so I'm looking forward to catching up with all of your fabulous creations...

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Seasons

The theme for this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge as chosen by Donna is:

'Seasons'

You can either interpret this as one season, or as all four seasons. After weeks and weeks of making lots of frosty looking cards...I decided to choose the fresher colours of 'Spring' for my card. Inspired by this week's weather...I've used 'Willow with Umbrella' (by Whiff of Joy) to represent 'April showers'. I watercoloured her in shades of blue & green to match the watery looking paper (from the 'Phoebe' collection by BasicGrey). I embossed the central panel using my 'Tiny Bubbles' folder, and added a couple of Prima flowers, adhesive pearls and a sentiment (stamp also by Whiff of Joy).

As usual the rest of the design team have worked their magic, and created some fabulous samples to inspire you...so make sure you pop over to the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog.

Ice Skating Henry

Well, after a busy weekend, trying to get my DT stuff for the next couple of weeks sorted out, and putting the finishing touches to my Nan's 90th Birthday presents and wrapping...as it's her birthday this Sunday, and I'm heading home for the weekend for the party...so no crafting for me...I have managed to squeeze in another card that fits the themes of a few challenges.
I used my new 'Ice Skating Henry Mouse' image (kindly sent to me by my lovely friend Samantha)...which is perfect for the 'New or Neglected' challenge of the Creative Inspirations Challenge. I followed the sketch from Inspirational Card Sketches and used the colour combination of 'Blue, Silver & White' of Colour Create. The Everybody Art Challenge wanted to see 'Distressing', so I used my distressing tool and inks to distress the edges of the papers, and the Cupcake Craft Challenge has the theme of 'Snow Much Fun' this week...so I used my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder, and 'Ice Crystal' and 'Snowflakes' dies to cut out a few snowflakes.

ABC Challenge - H is for...

The theme for this fortnight's challenge on the ABC Challenge blog is:

H is for 'Hidden'

We'd like to see a hidden message or element on your cards and projects...the design team have come up with some ingenious designs this week...so do make sure you go and take a look.

I decided to make a 'Joy fold' card...concealing my message in a flap secured with ribbon on the front of the card. The cute kitty is from the 'Christmas Critters' set by Penny Black...and to go with the holly on his head, I just had to use this gorgeous holly patterned paper from the 'Eskimo Kisses' pad by BasicGrey.

Here's a view of my hidden sentiment (a Paper Make-Up stamp) on more of the BG paper:

Altered Photo Frame

I won a gift certificate for My Creative Classroom, on the Cupcake Craft Challenge a few weeks ago...and I chose to use it for the '10 Quick & Easy Teacher Gifts' course...as I thought it might give me some ideas for Christmas presents. The course stared last week, and the first project was a decorated photo frame. I used one of the new Bare Basics frames by Papermania, and covered it with some My Mind's Eye '29th Street Market' paper, painting the edges with some co-ordinating acrylic paint. I added a butterfly that I'd stamped and embossed using a stamp from the CCSR by Papermania, on some foam pads, and a trail of adhesive pearls.
I'm going to enter this into the Pollycraft Challenge, where the theme is 'No Cards Allowed' this fortnight.


I've got quite a few other gift-type projects on the go at the moment...so I won't be blogging as much in the run up to Christmas...I don't want to spoil the surprise for any of the recipients...but I'll try and find the time to join in a few challenges..there's no way I can go 'cold turkey'! lol

Poppy Fields

I had a little play yesterday with one the Sugar Nellie's I won...and used my new stamp ('Poppy Fields') to make a card following the Sketch & Stash Challenge sketch. I'm also entering this card for some of the 'Thank You' themed challenges around this week: Cuttlebug Challenges; Cuttlebug Spot; Simon Says Stamp Challenge; and (I'm not sure if I've got this in in time...but they haven't put up the new challenge yet...) Pile It On. The poppy paper was a RAK from my lovely ABC DT buddy Fiona, so I'm not sure who it's by, but it was a perfect match for the image. I embossed the plain card with my 'Perfect Paisley' and 'Victoria' embossing folders. The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts (from the 'Anytime Messages' set), the teeny brads are from Poppicrafts, and I distressed all of the edges, and added some faux-stitching using a white gel pen.