Monday, 11 January 2010

Maggie with Balloon

Well, I certainly made the most of my crafting time yesterday...but I won't overload you cards all at once...I'll have something to show you everyday. The first one this week uses the Sketch & Stash Challenge sketch...my new item is the 'Maggie with stick and accessories' (by Sugar Nellie)...I've had this stamp for ages...it came in a goody bag, but this is it's first outing on a card. I thought that as Maggie was all wrapped up, she'd be perfect for the Pollycraft Challenge's 'Winter Birthdays' theme. The paper is by My Mind's Eye ('Adore'), the sentiment stamp is from the CCSR set by Papermania and the flowers are a mixture of Prima and Poppicrafts. I distressed all of the edges with my distressing tool...so I'm also entering this card for the Creative Card Crew's 'Distressing' challenge.

Sunday, 10 January 2010

Dream a Dream...

After spending all afternoon working in front of my computer, I decided to treat myself to some craft time last night...and made a couple of cards. This one uses Sketch 2 from the Penny Black Saturday Challenge (I also like Sketch 1...so I might have a go at that too today!). I've also managed to include a couple of other challenge themes: the Cupcake Craft 'Baby Card'; the Papertake Weekly 'New Beginnings'; and A Spoon Full of Sugar's 'Hearts'.
The image is 'Dream a Dream' (by Penny Black), and the paper is 'Blush' by BasicGrey...and I decided to use the same paper for all of the layers, to make the image really stand out. The sentiment stamp (which says 'Cherish'...although it's not that easy to see in the photo) is from a Studio G set, and I added a few pieces of card candy, and some organza ribbon.


Well, as it's far too cold to go outside...I plan to spend today crafting...so I'll probably have lots to show you next week! lol

Saturday, 9 January 2010

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Sketch

It's Saturday, so it's time for another Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge...and this week we have a lovely sketch designed by Jane.
I've used it to make a card for a crafty friend who's suffered another heart attack this week to let her know I'm thinking of her...and 'Boo Boo Bear' (by Whipper Snapper) seamed just perfect. The papers are BasicGrey 'Blush', the sentiment stamp is by Studio G, and the flowers are from Poppicrafts.


There's plenty more inspiration over on the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog...including some gorgeous cards by our lovely new DT members Melissa & Christine.

Friday, 8 January 2010

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...

Thursday, 7 January 2010

Peekabunny

Here's my card for this fortnight's Sugar Bowl Challenge...where there's another fab sketch and the added extra to include 'Something New'...in my case the lovely 'Peekabunny' image...it was among the stamps I won on the Sugar Nellie blog a couple of months ago...but this is the first time I've inked it up. I watercoloured her to match the My Mind's Eye '29th Street Market' papers. I added some faux stitching around the edges...to make it look sort of like patchwork...some organza ribbon, a couple of Prima flowers and some Papermania pearl brads.

Wednesday, 6 January 2010

'Say No' Candy

As you may have noticed, a lot of bloggers have been campaigning to get people to turn off word verification on their blogs...it's on by default, and it makes leaving comments very time consuming...not to mention virtually impossible for those with eyesight problems or dyslexia. It's really very simple to make sure that it's switched off on your blog...and to offer some incentive...Samantha has some candy on the ABC Christmas Challenge blog on offer for those who join in with the current challenge ('A is for Angels')...and join in with our 'Turn it off!' campaign. If we manage to get 50 entrants...I will add another package of candy, so that we can have 2 lucky winners! :0)

If you'd like to join in, and help us to make blog-hopping a much more pleasant experience, click the banner above to find out more before the candy closes on January 13th.

ABC Challenge - L is for...

Our challenge for you this week over on the ABC Challenge blog is:

'L is for Layers'

We are being sponsored by the lovely Lacey of Stamp & Create, who will be sending a special prize to her chosen winner.

I've made a gift box, and decorated the lid with layers of BasicGrey 'Eskimo Kisses' paper, and a Whiff of Joy image ('Wee with Reindeer') that I've decoupaged.


Here's a view from the side, showing you the layered image:


I've used this box to send my ABC Christmas Challenge blog hop candy to my winner in...hence the Christmassy feel...I just hope it survives the post! Our first challenge is under way...so if you've resolved to get organised next Christmas...make sure you pay the ABC Christmas Challenge a visit.

There's plenty more inspiration from the rest of the design team...including our lovely new family member Lorraine...and Cathy, who I'm pleased to say, has rejoined us...over at the ABC Challenge.

Tuesday, 5 January 2010

For You!

I love this week's Sketch Saturday sketch...even if I did rotate it to fit my image! :0)
I went a bit crazy with the polka dots...and then discovered a new (to me anyway) challenge blog whilst blog-hopping last night called Crazy4Challenges (which I am!) where the theme is 'Polka Dot Fun'...it must be fate! lol I'm also entering this card for the One Stop Craft Challenge...which asks us to include 'Something Beginning with B' on our cards...in my case 'Big Bow', 'Brads' and 'Box'. The image is of course Penny Black (from the 'Wonderful' set), the papers are Papermania ('Sweet Nothings'), the flowers are from Poppicrafts, the ribbon is from Hobbycraft, and I couldn't resist a few pieces of card candy in the corners.

Monday, 4 January 2010

2010 Calendar

I made another of those little easel card calendars at the weekend...this one is for my Mum to keep on her desk...and I've managed to find quite a few challenges to enter it into: Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential's 'Calendar' challenge; Penny Black Saturday, Cuttlebug Spot, Everybody Art, and Lili of the Valley challenges...all have 'New Year' as their theme; Daring Cardmaker's and Stampin' for the Weekend both have 'New Beginnings' challenges this week; and Fussy & Fancy Friday and Stamp Something both have 'New' as their theme...in my case 'New Year'...and the image and paper are both new.


The image is 'Cheescake Message'...perfect for a desk calendar! lol
I watercoloured it to match the My Mind's Eye '29th Street Market' paper...which I've had for a while, but I've never used before...so they are sort of 'new' to me! ;0)
I embossed some more of the MME papers with the 'Spots & Dots' folder, sanding the raised pattern lightly to bring out the detail, and added a few Papermania brads. The calendar tab is by Anita's, and the numbers were cut using the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet.


Shortly after this photo was taken...my Dad managed to flood the kitchen worktop, soaking the bottom of my card...he decided to leave a bucket filling from the tap, while he went off and made a cup of coffee! The water was all along the worktop...and all over the floor...and it took us ages to mop everything up...thankfully I was able to save the card...Mum's library book isn't in such good shape though! lol

Sunday, 3 January 2010

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.

Saturday, 2 January 2010

Brrr.....Keeping Warm!

Brrrrr....it's a bit nippy out! lol
So, I've been inside, safely in the warm crafting...and have made a card for the Crafty Calendar's 'Keeping Warm' challenge. I used a Whiff of Joy image...as Willow looks nice and toasty with her big chunky jumper and hot chocolate. I followed one of the Pink Elephant Challenge sketches...to make my card for this month's friendship card swap on the Docrafts forum. The papers are BasicGrey 'Blush'...in keeping with the 'chocolate' theme, the sentiment stamp is by StudioG, and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - New Beginnings

This week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge theme has been set by Cathy...and rather appropriately, she has chosen:

'New Beginnings'

This could be New Year, New Baby, New Job, Wedding, Retirement...the list goes on...
I chose to make a 'New Home' card...and have used an image and sentiment from a set by OneFourZero as the focal point. The papers are by Daisy D's, the brads are by Papermania, and the raffia lace (behind the image to look like a picket fence...lol) is from Hobbycraft.


The design team have worked their magic again, and created some gorgeous projects...so make sure you stop by the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge blog for some more inspiration.

Friday, 1 January 2010

My Favourite Project of 2009

Yes, I know it seems like I've posted endless lists of my favourite cards lately...but I saved this from yesterday's round up, to enter into the Quixotic Challenge's Happy New Year candy...well I couldn't resist the chance to win the £40 mystery gift pack that's on offer! lol
This is my favourite project of last year...a paper bag card, that I decorated with Penny Black hedgies and my favourite My Mind's Eye '29th Street Market' papers and gave to my Nan for her 90th birthday.
Here's a view of the front & back:


And the inside:


If you want any more details...the original post for this can be found here.
It's been lovely having a nosey through everyone's favourite cards...what a lovely idea for a candy! :0)

First card of 2010!


Happy New Year Everyone!


I have to say that 2010 has got off to great start for me...I've just discovered that I won the last Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge...and a fab prize package from Toodles & Binks...woo-hoo!

Well, on to my first card of 2010...well, actually it's my last card of 2009, but I didn't get around to photographing it yesterday. I used the sketch from Anyone for Anya to make a 'Thank you card' for the Creative Inspirations Challenge. I've used 'Miss Anya'...and coloured her to match some of my favourite My Mind's Eye '29th Street Market' papers. I embossed a couple of the papers using the Cuttlebug 'Victoria' and 'Textile' folders, which I then sanded to reveal the patterns. I distressed the edges of all the papers using my distressing tool, and added a few adhesive pearls, and a Hero Arts sentiment (from the 'Anytime Messages' set).

Thursday, 31 December 2009

My Favourite Cards of 2009...

I posted my favourite 5 Christmas cards of the year last week on Christmas Eve...and was going to pick my favourite 5 cards of 2009 to post tonight...but I've seen quite a few people selecting a card from each month...and I thought it might be an interesting way to see how my style has progressed over the course of the year...so I've done the same, so I'm afraid there are 12 cards on this post! lol

If you want any details of items used on any of the cards, click on the month above the card, and it will take you to the original post for that card.

























Before I sign off for the year, I'd just like to say a big thank you to all of my lovely followers & visitors for the lovely comments you've left me this year, and wish you all a very Happy New Year! :0)