Cupcake Craft Challenge 8

I love a good sketch, and when I came across this one on the Cupcake Craft Challenge blog this morning, I just had to give it a go. I'd already coloured this image (Woodware 'Deco Flowers') to use on my Aunt's Birthday card, so I'm going to give this card to her later this month. The backing paper is from the 'Floral Stack' by DCWV, the embossing was done using the Cuttlebug 'D'Vine Swirl' embossing folder, and the flowers are a mixture of Papermania and Flora Doodles. The strip of lace was gifted to me my the lovely Cathy .

Sketch Saturday Challenge #20

This week's sketch for the Sketch Saturday Challenge is fab...and the perfect excuse to use my new oval Nesties! I've used a Penny Black stamp ('Bedecked Antlers') for my main image, with more of the 'Rose Tinted Christmas' DCWV paper, some Cuttlebug embossed 'Snowflakes', and letters cut using the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet. I really like the simplicity of this sketch, and am sure I'll be using it again.

Happy Birthday Jo!

It's my blogging buddy Jo's Birthday today. She's been having 'puter problems, and so hasn't been online recently, so hopefully all the Birthday wishes will help cheer her up!
I've used one of my favourite Penny Black stamps (from the 'Critter Party' set) for her card, along with some DCWV 'Retro Stack' paper, and sentiment stamps by Hero Arts. Of course because it's Jo, I had to use some ribbon too!
Hope you have a fab Birthday Jo!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 18 meets Basic Grey Challenge 6 via Cute Card Thursday!

Well, it's the weekend again, so that means craft time - yippee!!!
The theme for this week's Penny Black Challenge is 'Thanks a Bunch'. I chose to combine a couple of the stamps from the 'Critter Party' set for the main image. The paper is by Basic Grey (Phoebe 'The Presidio'), the sentiment stamp is from the 'Anytime Messages' by Hero Arts, and I've used my 'D'vine Swirls' embossing folder on some of the background cardstock. I think I must be psychic or something, as I've gone for one of the colour schemes for this week's Basic Grey Challenge (Green & Red) without realising, and also just popped over to Cute Card Thursday to find out what this week's theme is...to discover that I've got that one ('Buttons and Bows') covered too! I should really start checking out all of the challenge blogs before I get crafting!

Feeling Festive

During my marathon crafting session today I made a few more Christmas cards...I need to build up my stocks again after donating a load to Emma for the Support Our Soldiers card appeal. I've kept them really simple (and also flat for posting!).


This stamp ('Snowy' by Penny Black) is rapidly becoming one of my favourites - I think it may be featuring on rather a lot of my cards this year!. The gorgeous paper is by DCWV from the 'Rose Tinted Christmas' stack, and the sentiment stamp (also by Penny Black) is embossed in purple.









I've used (yet) another Penny Black stamp ('Deer in Skates') and more of the 'Rose Tinted Christmas' papers by DCWV.









Same layout and papers again, but this time the stamp is by Hero Arts ('Winter Pup') - I love his little hat and scarf!










Yes, it's 'Snowy' again! This time in pink, with more of the 'Rose Tinted Christmas paper. The sentiment is by Studio G - I think I paid 75p for the set last year!





I made a few more birthday cards today too, but I can't put them on here just yet...

Forever Friends

I swapped some images with one of my buddies on Docrafts earlier this week, and received a load of the new Forever Friends stamped images. To be honest, I didn't think that they'd be my kind of thing...despite my love of Penny Blacks, I'm not really into 'cute'...but I really liked working with this stamp. The backing papers are by DCWV ('Glitter Mat Stack'), and the sentiment is from a clear stamp set 'Fabulous Birthday' by Hero Arts.

Friday Sketchers #22

Since the weather's been so lousy today, I'd thought I'd spend the day crafting - I need to make soooo many birthday cards this month! I thought the sketch for this week's Friday Sketchers challenge looked interesting (and a good way of using up some scraps!), so I've given it a go. I've used a Penny Black stamp ('Jump for Joy'). I've combined it with scraps of paper from the 'Sweet Nothings' paper stack by Papermania, a sentiment stamp by Elzybels, and cardstock embossed with my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder.

Sketch Saturday Challenge #19

This is the first time I've made a card for the Sketch Saturday challenge blog...I really liked the look of this sketch, so I thought I'd give it a go.
I keep finding so many challenges I want to join, but I just don't seem to able to find the time to do them all!
I've used a (yet another) Penny Black stamp, 'Bunny Friends' (I masked off part of the image before I stamped it), and have coloured it with watercolour pencils. The backing paper is from the 'Text Stack' by DCWV, and the sentiment is a peel-off sticker - I hardly ever use them anymore, but I just couldn't find an appropriate stamp in my collection. The background cardstock has been embossed with my Cuttlebug ('Swiss Dots'), and the flowers are by Prima. I'm going to use this card to send to my partner for the October friendship card swap over on the Docrafts forum.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 17 meets Cute Card Thursday #30

I've combined the theme for this week's Cute Card Thursday challenge, of 'Christmas Animals', with the sketch for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge. The stamp I've used is from the transparent set 'Christmas Critters'...I just love those cute little mice! The patterned paper is from one of last year's packs by Dovecraft, as is the matching strip of glittery sticky ribbon, that has been wrapped around a piece of cardstock embossed with the Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' folder. The sentiment stamp is by Three Bugs in a Rug, and the die-cut snowflakes are from my stash.

Grandparents Day

I thought I'd missed Grandparents Day this year, as it's usually at the beginning of September, but it turns out that they've moved it this year to next Sunday (5th October)...so there's still time to get your cards done! As I didn't have much time to craft, I've kept my card very simple, and used some Penny Black 'Bear Blanks' gifted to me by my lovely friend Carol. The alphabet stamps are by Studio G, the paper is by Basic Grey 'Archangel', and once again I've used my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder.

I did make one other card last night, but it's for a friend's birthday next week, and as I don't want her to see it on here first, I'll save 'til then to upload it.

Quick Image Swap Wallet

Just a quickie for a one-to-one swap with a buddie over on the Docrafts forum. The image is a Penny Black stamp 'Dotted Petals' gifted to me by my lovely friend Karen, coloured with watercolour pencils. I've embossed the background cardstock with my trusty Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 16

I didn't get much time to craft this weekend, but I couldn't resist joining in the Penny Black Saturday Challenge where the theme this week is 'Seasons'. I've gone for winter, as I'm in desperate need of building up my stocks of Christmas cards.

The image I've used is a stamp called 'Royal Mail', which I've coloured using watercolour pencils, and added glitter to the snow. The gold star is a brad bought from Tescos last year, and the papers are from last year's DCWV 'Christmas Stack'. I've added 'snowflakes' embossed in gold (not sure that they're really snowflakes, but are little extra shapes from two different sets of Hero Arts clear stamps 'Whimsical Months' & 'Anytime Messages', and my other snowflake stamps were too big to fit!) The 'postmark' sentiment stamp (by Three Bugs in a Rug) is also embossed in gold, and mounted on to Nestabilities.

My first awards!

Wow - just seen that my friend Pauline has given me TWO awards! I've been so busy this weekend (one flatmate moving out, and another moving in, and loads of music to arrange), that I've only just seen the comment she left me on Friday!

The first is the 'Wylde Women' Award, the purpose of which is to to send love to and acknowledge women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy.

The rules are:

1 You can give it to one or one hundred and any number in between - your choice.

2. Make sure you link to their site.

3. Link back to this blog site http://www.tammyvitale.com/ so Tammy can visit all these wonderful women.

4. Remember the purpose of the award.

Now, I've been inspired by so many fabulous blogs, so much so that I just HAD to start my own blog! Most of those that I would like to nominate, already have this award (quite rightly so!), and I hope that nobody will mind if I give them a second one!

Tracie whom I met through the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, and encouraged me to start my own blog.

Lorraine for her friendship and all of her wonderfully inspiring cards.

Emma who makes me laugh, and is generously giving her time to organising a card appeal for Support Our Soldiers.

I would also give this award back to Pauline for her friendship, and all the helpful advice she gave me when I was setting up my blog, if I were allowed!

The second award is the JAVABLU award.

The rules are:
1. The winner can put the logo in her/his blog.

2. Put a link back to the person who gave you the award.

3. Nominate at least 5 persons with a blog, but first you have to tell why you want to give it to those persons.

4. Put a link to those you have nominated.

5. Visit the blogs to the nominees and tell them you gave them an award!

Again, it's not difficult to think of people that deserve this award, but they already have this one too!

Julie whose cards I have always admired from when I first spotted her gallery on the Docrafts forum a year or so ago.

Cathy for her friendship and her fab cards!

Jo for her friendship and her constantly positive outlook on life!

Lorraine for her friendship and stunningly beautiful cards.

Mand for her friendship and fab gorgeous cards.

Tracie for her encouragement setting up my blog, and all her fabulous cards.

Thanks Pauline for these two awards!

I did find a couple of hours this evening to make a few cards, but couldn't get any decent photos taken under the yellow glow of the energy-saving lightbulbs, so I'll have to wait 'til tomorrow to upload those!

I've been tagged!

I was tagged by Pauline a couple of days ago, and my initial reaction was AARRGGHH!!!! lol Having gotten over the shock, I've had a think and have to admit that I'm struggling to think of enough interesting facts about myself!

The rules are:

1. Link your tagger and list the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So here goes:

1. When I first started this crafting business, I had NO idea just how addictive it was, or just how much stash I would accumulate...I started with a small plastic storage box, then added another, and another, and another, and another, then some more to house my stamp collection, then a drawer, and a shelf in the airing cupboard, and now two...when will it end???

2. When I'm not crafting, I like to cook and bake. My favourite recipe is Delia's 'Four Nut Chocolate Brownies', which I've made soooo many times I've got the recipe memorised! If you'd like to have a try, the recipe can be found here .

3. I work as music teacher, teaching flute & clarinet (and recorder if I must!) privately, and in several schools in London. I never thought I'd enjoy teaching when I started my first job 9 years ago, and although it can be really hard work sometimes, I love it now.

4. I actually like doing H*******k! Sorry for my bad language! lol

5. I don't really like hot sunny weather...I much prefer it when it's cold, and I love watching thunderstorms - as long as I'm safely inside!

6. I was resistant to setting up a blog, as I was sure it was going to mean that I'd get less crafting done...in fact it's making me do more, as I'm rapidly becoming addicted to all the wonderful challenge blogs!

7. I can cross my eyes, and move them independently from each other...not quite sure how I discovered that! lol

Right, now it's my turn to tag some people. As I've only been blogging for a few weeks, I've really struggled to think of 7 people to tag, so apologies, if you've recently been tagged by someone else. I'm tagging: Cathy, Lorraine, Jo, Tracie, Julie, Mand and Emma. Sorry girls!

PS - just to clear up any confusion...the word is 'Housework' lol!

80th Birthday Card

This is a card I've been asked to make by my Aunt as a special 80th birthday card. I don't know the recipient, so have decided to play it safe, and rather than go down the 'cute' route, I thought I'd use a floral image (Penny Black stamp 'Gossamer') gifted to me by my friend Karen. I've coloured it with pearly paints, and then decoupaged the flower heads and leaves. I've kept the layout quite simple, and have used complimentary shades of purple card, some with embossed with my Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder. The sentiment stamp (by Hero Arts) is embossed with pearlised lilac embossing powder. I made the tag using Nestabilites, and then added numbers, die-cut using the Cuttlebug 'Olivia' alphabet, and tied it on with a piece of lilac ribbon.
This card is not my usual style, but overall I'm pleased with it - I just hope that my Aunt likes it too!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 15

The challenge over on the Penny Black Challenge blog this week is to decorate the insides of our cards. This is something that I don't usually do, and I've kind of stretched the term 'inside' with my card, and created a second flap on the front of the card, which I have decorated the inside of. I've used one of my favourite Penny Black stamps ('Birthday Dog') for the main image on the front of my card, and have coloured it with watercolour pencils.


The front of my card:

I've used a mixture of papers by Papermania ('Sweet Nothings') and Dovecraft ('Birthdays'), and have had fun with my Nesties again. The sentiment stamps are all by Hero Arts from a set called 'Fabulous Birthday'.

Inside the flap on the front of the card:

I know that technically it's not the inside of the card, but I thought that it was a fun idea!

Papertake Weekly Challenge...helped along by a Spoon Full of Sugar

Been feeling festive today...must be all that sunshine! So I've made a card for the Spoon Full of Sugar challenge, which has the theme 'Christmas is Coming' this week. I've combined it with Katharina's fab sketch for this weeks' Papertake Weekly Challenge. It's the first time I've entered a card for either of these challenges, but it appears that I'm quickly becoming addicted to blog challenges!
I've used the Penny Black stamp 'Snowy', coloured with pearly paints, and mounted it on layers of white card embossed with my Cuttlebug 'Snowflakes' embossing folder, matted on to pink and purple mirror card. All finished off with a bow of purple satin ribbon.
I really love the elegance and simplicity of this layout, and I'm sure I'll be using it again.

Cute Card Thursday meets Friday Sketchers

This is the first time I've made a card for the Cute Card Thursday Challenge blog, but as the theme this week was food...how could I resist! I've combined it with the fab sketch this week by Kristine over on Friday Sketchers.

For my main image I've used a Penny Black stamp from the T for Transparent set 'Party Critters'. The other cupcakes and the sentiment stamp are from the 'Cupcake' Clear Design set by Hero Arts. All images were coloured with watercolour pencils, with the frosting on the cupcakes highlighted with glitter glue, and mounted using Nestabilities. The papers are by DCWV ('Christmas Stack'), and I've used faux-stitching to create borders around the different designs, and behind the three smaller images.

I've just seen that I've been tagged by Pauline ...need to have a think before I post my answers...

Friday Sketchers #19

I seem to have a thing for pastel colours at the moment, and have used another couple of papers from the gorgeous 'Sweet Nothings' paper pack by Papermania on my card for this week's challenge. I've combined them with a Penny Black stamp ('Party Perch') and some buttons from my stash. I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with this card, as it seems to be missing something. I tried adding a sentiment, and some flowers underneath the buttons, and even some ribbon...but it still didn't look right, so I took them all off again!

Image Wallet

I'm taking part in the Image Swap over on the Docrafts forum for the first time this month, so have had a bit of a stamping session this afternoon. I've made this wallet to put them all in using these instructions on Katharina's fab blog.
I used a stamp by Woodware ('Deco Flowers') as my image, mounted on circles cut with Nestabilties, with a piece of Cuttlebug embossed card ('D'vine Swirls') behind.