Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #31

Here's my entry for this weeks cupcake challenge, which was another great sketch. I stamped and embossed with sparkly to make a background paper (actually vellum), then used watercoloured cupcake and layered various pieces of paper with some coloured raffia. Added a greeting, and there you have it! I'm rather quite pleased with it - mmm feeling hungry now!!

SBS18 Challenge 15 Bling It On

I've definitely been busy today - made up for the rest of the week when I haven't been able to craft at all!!
I've made this card using a Stamping Bella stamp, some SU cardstock and stamps, I coloured the image with stardust pens, added some bling and it now justifies entry into this weeks SBS18 challenge which is Bling It On!! I'm not sure if you can see the sparkly effect in the photo - I'll maybe do another pic tomorrow if I get the chance!!

Sarah Kay Week 9 * Purple & Green *

I've made this card for the Sarah Kay Challenge which is to use Purple and Green. I think I've rushed it a bit, and am not entirely happy with the results, but I've not got time to do it again, so it'll have to do, I'm afraid!!
I used SU backing papers, my florish sizzix die and a SU greeting stamp. Of course, I used my nesties too! I added some punched flowers and gems aswell!

Penny Black SC "Stars & Stripes" and Friday Sketchers Challenges

This card has been made for the Penny Black SC which this week is to incorporate Stars & Stripes into your project. I've also used the Friday Sketchers sketch, which is such a great one this week.

I used some papers from a mag, my new PB stamps - the xmas ones, which I watercoloured with my markers and sakura stardust pens, I then added some card stars that I UTEE'd with pink ink underneath.

Very pink and girly, don't you think!!??

Tiny Funky Fairies and Elves Animal Challenge

This card has been made for both the Tiny Funky Fairies and Elves Challenge, and also for Bryony & Isaac's Grandad's upcoming birthday!! It's a joint effort - Bryony didn't really want to use her pretty stickers, but Isaac did, so they both had some input!
I'm just glad it's over - until the next crafty escapade!!!

A spoon full of sugar Challenge *3 Ribbons*

I needed to make a thank you card for a friend, so thought I'd use the 3 ribbons and enter it for this challenge blog. I'm not going to tell you what the prize is because I'd really like it all for myself!!! Aaaah - how mean!!!

I used some floral paper, stamped some flowers and coloured them with my sakura stardust pens. The corners have been punched with my fiskars corner embosser punch!

Papertake Weekly *A Stitch In Time* & Sarah Kay Sketch Challenges

I've made this card for two challenges - the Sarah Kay sketch challenge (great sketch BTW), and also the Papertake Weekly challenge which was A Stitch in Time.

I have been really nervous in the past about getting my sewing machine out for my cards, but when papertake weekly set this challenge, I thought it was time I braved it, and this is what I came up with! I watercoloured a sarah kay image, dug out some papers, K&Co and some others, and then followed the sketch, layering and stitching as I went. I really enjoyed trying a new stitch, and am really pleased with the results. I don't think the photo does it justice, and the greeting is a bit dodgy, but I wasn't sure what greeting to use. I didn't want to do just an ordinary happy birthday or whatever (like I ALWAYS do), so thought I'd try something different with my SU words stamp set.

Hope you like!!

Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #30

This weeks challenge is a sketch, and here's my entry. I used the sweet nothings papers from papermania, and my cupcake stamp set (still one of my fave sets!!) Added a bit of glitter glue - not sure if this has come out very well in the pic, I'm quite pleased with it! Click on the pic for a close-up!!

First Kaboodle Doodles Challenge

This is just a quick entry for the first Kaboodle Doodle Challenge. To enter their challenge, you have a free download to use (available on their blog). Unfortunately, I don't have a colour printer so had to print it out in mono, and then coloured in with some marker pens!

Check out their new blog here ... Kaboodle Doodles!

OCC & Penny Black Saturday Challenges

I've made this mini file folder for two challenges this week.

The first is for the Our Creative Corner challenge which was to use Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Ruby Red and Chocolate Chip SU cardstock.

The second challenge was the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is a NO CARD week! So, I've made the file folder out of the required cardstock, and used my sizzix embossing to emboss the ruby red (although this hasn't come out in the photos) stamped the penny black stamps: butterflies, bee trio and silhouette 3 on the choc chip and old olive panels. The Penny Black stamps haven't photographed very well either - maybe I'll redo the photos tomorrow. It was nice to use the PB stamps - ones that I haven't really used much before.

Here's the link on a tutorial for the mini-file box thing: Click here.

I also decorated the file folder with punched flowers and some SU dazzling diamonds! (which may still look a little "blue" because I wanted to take half-decent photos while I still had some daylight!!) I'm going to use it to store my mini cards!

My Time to Craft & ABC Challenges

This card has been made for two challenges - My Time to craft, which was to use a 'recipe' of 2 buttons, 1 ribbon and 1 flower on your piece, oh, and glitter!

I've also made it for the F is for Fairies challenge on the ABC blog, and used the Airy Fairy paper from English Paper Co. Also used my fave nesties, and some doodlebug rub-on letters.

Hope you like!

Tiny Funky Fairies and Elves & Crafty Monkeys

We've been really busy today! First of all we went blackberry picking, and then grabbed a few apples from our orchard, so we made a crumble, then we made chocolate crispy cakes - yum! Then, Bryony has been busy making a couple of cards - one which is flowery (for her friend Sophie's birthday next week), and also the Tiny Challenge 4

and then she made a christmas card for the Crafty Monkeys challenge!

Wow. Now she's sat down after all that hard work watching TV (well earned, I think!)

P.S. Bryony is 5!

Tag You're It Week 21 Punched Art

Here's my tag for this weeks challenge. I used the florish type sizzix bigz die, and added some punched flowers in various paperstock that I had. I inked up the florish bit with garden green (SU) ink, and inked the edge of the base. Added a greeting and some ribbon from stash, oh, and some pretty sparkly brads!

Cute Card Thursday Bright Colours!!

Here's my attempt at a card for this weeks challenge, which is to use bright colours. I just hope mine is bright enough!!

I used sakura stardust pens to colour the image, used my nesties to layer it onto the card.

SBS18 Challenge #14 ** Beautiful Days **

This week, I'm setting the challenge for the SBS18 blog, and I've decided to make the topic "Beautiful Days" after spending a very wet and muddy weekend at the Beautiful Days Festival near Exeter!

So, the challenge is to make a card or atc or whatever you like, make your project a bit hippy, musical, you can involve a bit of camping, long hair, etc etc!!! As long as it's cheerful and a bit groovy!!!
Here's my card ...

The winner will receive a selection of charms, and maybe some other surprise bits and pieces!!

So, click here to go to the SBS18 challenge blog to enter!!! You have until noon, next Tuesday 26th August to get your entries in!! Good luck!

Carrots from our garden!!

I dug up the last few carrots from our veggie patch just now, and look what I got!! Kids think it's a scarecrow. I was going to chop him up and eat him, but being a veggie, I can't quite bring myself to!!! What do you think I should do with him??!!!

Sarah Kay Week 7 *How Charming* & Papertake Weekly *Katharina's sketch #9*

Here's my entry for the Sarah Kay challenge which was "How Charming", and also for Papertake Weekly which was a great sketch by Katharina. I used my nestabilities, and some paper that I've had around for ages - I'm determined to use it all up eventually (waste not, want not!!!) I used a RAK stamped image, coloured using watercolour pencils, some ribbon, a charm and stamped greeting.

Friday Sketchers Challenge Sketch No. 15

Here's my go at this weeks sketch for Friday Sketchers. I used the Words by Wanda SU set, with some paper, embossed and cut, along with some organza ribbon and gems.

Recycled Necklace from a Belt! ** Lots To Do

I was talking to a friend yesterday who was telling me about a dress she has bought for a wedding next week, but she doesn't have any necklaces to go with it. Anyway, she told me what she fancied getting, but couldn't see how she would get the time to go shopping, so I decided to make this for her. It's a bit glitzy, a bit long and dangly - she wanted something beady that hangs really low, a bit 20's ish, I suppose, and she wanted it to have red, so I found a beaded belt thing that came with some clothes and never got used, added some red beads, changed it around a bit and came up with this! What do you think - she hasn't seen it yet, I just hope she likes it!!!

This necklace also fits in perfectly with the Lots To Do challenge this week which is "Recycle It"!!!

A spoon full of sugar Challenge 12 A Secret Message

Here's my entry for this weeks A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge which was to make a card with a hidden message. I bought the match book sizzix die a while ago, and thought this was the ideal opportunity to do something with it! It's so cute!
Anyway, the photos have not come out very well - I'll try and re-do them tomorrow if I have time! ***** I've re-done the photos now - much better in daylight!!!

I used some DCWV glitter cardstock, with a sugar nellie (I think) stamp and embossed a strip of paper to go underneath.

SBS18 Challenge #13 Something Useful and ABC Embellishments

Here are some things I made for this weeks SBS18 challenge which was to make something useful. This also ties in nicely with the ABC challenge - E is for Embellishments.

The notebook has a magnetic back (thanks to my xyron sticker machine), and I covered it with some retro paper and embellies. The note clip I also covered with some retro paper, added a clip, and a magnetic back. These are two items I will find really useful on my fridge (or breadmaker where they are at the mo!) I'm always writing little shopping lists or whatever when I go to the fridge, so they'll definitely come in handy!

Oh, and I couldn't leave out my tub of home-made coconut ice - while I was taking pics in the kitchen, it just had to come out!!

Sarah Kay *Week 6* Sketch Challenge

Here's my entry for this weeks Sarah Kay challenge. I used some Dovecraft paper, I used my creative memories cutting shapes for the ovals - I don't have the right size nesties (yet!). I also tarted it up with some gems. I was going to sew each panel of paper with my machine, but I didn't have the confidence to try it! Maybe next time! Hope you like!

Daring Cardmakers - Scrumdiddlyumptious

Here's my attempt at a card for the daring cardmakers challenge this week. I was itching to use my barbeque stamp, and thought I'd take a photo of it on our real bbq, in between huge downpours of rain. Maybe we'll get to use the real one in september!!!

blog candy you gotta work for ....

Kimberly, over at seastarcreations is offering some great candy for a clinique style card! Here's my creation - I wanted it to have a shiny finish, just like the clinique box, so I used an A5 sheet of acetate folded to make the card, then stamped the fun filled stamp and coloured it with markers in a stripey effect, just like the box! Hope it fits the bill, Kimberly!

Tilda & Co Challenge Blog #31 Christmas is Coming

Another card tonight - I'm on a roll!! seems a shame to have to go to bed, wish I could stay up and craft all night tonight, but I know I'd be a wreck tomorrow when the kids wake me up at 6.30! Well, they try and wake me up! So I made this using another stamped RAK, along with papers from last year, I found some glitter from my daughters make up kit (!?) so used that as well. The banner across the middle says Happy Holidays, but the photo hasn't come out very well. I'm quite pleased with it, though!

Cute Card Thursday & Stamp Something Challenges

I made this card with limited materials while hubby watched footie stuff on tv and I felt really mean leaving him to go to my craft room, so just relocated a few bits and pieces for the evening!!! So, it hasn't really got any special embellies on it, maybe I'll tart it up tomorrow!! - ok, i've added a couple of buttons to it now!!!

I was originally doing the Cute Card Thursday challenge - The Two of Us, and when I'd finished the card, I noticed that it was primarily pink green and blue, which also fits in with the Stamp Something Challenge - a stroke of luck, don't you think!!
Anyway, it's a stamped image from a RAK, I think it's a sugar nellie?? I'm not sure! I used my new sweet nothings papers, and layered them onto pink and green cardstock, added the blue LOVE (also from these papers). Hope you like!

My Time To Craft Challenge 25: Christmas!

This card has been made for the My time To Craft challenge blog which was to make a christmas piece.
I also used the sketch from the papertake weekly challenge blog from last week - it was such a nice sketch to use.
I used some papers from last year, and sticko sticker embellishment.
My 2nd christmas card so far!!!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 9 Sketch 2

This is my entry for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge. I've had some Bo Bunny stuff for ages, so finally decided to use it, along with the PB stamp of course, watercoloured.

Tilda & Co Challenge Blog #30 Sketch This

I've managed to do this card for this weeks Tilda & Co challenge which was a sketch. I used some paper from stash, some SU cardstock and a stamped image from a RAK. I coloured it with my watercolours, added a couple of flowers and a tag, attached with brads. Fairly quick and simple - made while hubby watched the news - I didn't think I was going to get a card made tonight, but he put the news on so I thought I'd grab myself a few minutes crafting!!

Sketch Saturday #10

I've made this card for this weeks Sketch Saturday challenge - http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/
I decided to get my retro set out - it's a set of papers and bits and pieces that I really liked so had to buy, and since then have done hardly anything with!! I also wanted to make a couple of cards to send to people, but not for anything specific, so I hope this fits the bill! And one of my blogging buddies will shortly be receiving this through the post!!!

Friday Sketchers & Cute Card Thursday

Here's a card that I made with some new K&Co papers. I couldn't think what to do, and then remembered about a stamp set I had to match (almost), so thought I'd make it for the In The House theme at Cute Card Thursday, then I thought I'd use a sketch, so used the Friday Sketchers one. Quite a quick and simple card, used tearing and my versamark and chalks to colour the stamped image and greeting.

My goodies have arrived!!!

Ok, so now my goodies have arrived - I'm really impressed - 6 days from the US! I'm really pleased - the whole lot only cost about £40 - and that includes 4 penny blacks and that lovely tin of prima goodies, adhesive pearls, adhesive gelly jems, and a couple other stamps!! Why do things cost so much in the UK - it's so not fair! Anyway, I'm happy because it's all turned up now, just need to keep the kids occupied so that I can have a play!!! Nicola - I'll get some images stamped for you asap!!!

Sarah Kay Challenges *Week 5* 3 Buttons & 3 Jewels

This is my entry for this weeks Sarah Kay challenge which was to use 3 buttons & 3 jewels on your project. I used some more of the retro paper (I bought it in a sale, and absolutely love the papers), my nesties (of course!), my only SK image, coloured with prisma pencils. Thought I'd do something different so made it a bon voyage card.

A spoon full of sugar & Tag You're It

I'm feeling really pleased with myself today - I went for a 10.5 mile run, which is the furthest I've done since my last half marathon in May. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to my normal running routine soon - I've not been training as much lately, and I really miss it!

I've also made a couple of challenge entries tonight - one for the A Spoon Full of Sugar challenge - I used a sugar nellie holding a rabbit to fulfil the animal magic theme (it's the only stamp I have that fits the bill!). I used some paper from a magazine freebie, and my new swirly sizzix bigz die, oh and a couple of punched flowers and sparkly jems.

The other is a tag for Tag You're It, the challenge was to make a tag using black lime and teal. This is my first entry for this challenge - I covered a tag from a pair of jeans with black paper, cut out a smaller tag in white suede which I then stamped in teal with the greeting, and added some lime flowers in the corner.