Siggi Shop

Love You

2012-01-30T12:00:00.010Z

Hello friends, it's time for a new challenge over at Stamps R Us, and this time we have a luuuuuurve theme ;)

We are sponsored this time by Robyns Fetish Digital Stamps, who have another geneous prize package for our challenge winner.
The design team were given images to use on our cards, I chose I heart U.
The image has that text written on it, and although lovely, I wanted to add an image over the top so that the heart is used to frame behind it to draw the eye. So I looked through my pc files and I found Pussy Cat luv, also by Robyns Fetish, I won this image last year and forgotten I had it, so it was about time I used it eh?

The images were coloured with promarkers and layered.
The heart background paper is by Dovecraft (Back to Basics), and the stripy paper is from a mag, the colours worked so well together I thought.
I used my eyelet border punch by SU to make the pretty white border.
The letters used to spell out the sentiment were found in my stash and are very old, but again, the colours matched perfectly.

Please stop by to see the other cards made by my talented SRU teamies, they'd love you to stop by :)

Challenges:
I love Promarkers - purple & pink
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Truly Scrumptious - something forgotten
Craft Us Crazy - valentine/love (animals)
Charisma Cardz - pretty in pink
Sweet Stampin - let's see those animals
Totally Gorjuss - K.I.S.S
Allsorts - one or more hearts

Have a fabby week! xx

Sketch Saturday #192

2012-01-28T08:00:00.003Z

Good morning everyone :)

This weeks Sketch Saturday challenge is being sponsored by our friends at

The Craft Barn

FREE POSTAGE ON ALL UK ORDERS

available NOW until 6pm Thursday 2nd February.

For EU customers free postage applies to orders above £20 and

for deliveries to the rest of the world free postage applies to orders above £30

Here's my card this week...

The image is by LOTV and is called 'Me and My Cat'

I stamped it 3 times so that I could 3D the image a little, and coloured with promarkers. The multi-coloured diamond paper was the inspiration for the colours used, it was a freebie in a mag but i'm not sure what brand it is, i'll have to try to find out.

The lavender polka dot paper is by Dovecraft (Back to Basic pad)

Then I used my argyle embossing folder on a piece of pink cardstock which I then sponged with SU lavender lace ink, the argyle pattern goes nicely against the multi paper don't you think?

The sentiment is a plastic greeting which was also a freebie in a mag.

If you would like to see some beautiful cards, then please drop by SS to take a look what The Saturdays have made!

Today is the final day to email us if you'd like to join our Design Team, see the blog for more details.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend xx

Sketch Saturday with Bunny Zoe's Crafts

2012-01-21T08:00:00.056Z

This week Sketch Saturday is sponsored by Bunny Zoe's Crafts

You could win a £10 shopping spree in Nikki's fab store if you're our lucky winner this week.

I was asked to make a card for a man who likes beer.

I instantly thought of this fab 'Beer Monster' from Pollycraft...

I coloured him in with promarkers, I wanted the skin to look more 'monster-like' so once coloured in, I dabbed over the skin areas with the blender pen so that it would take away a little bit of the ink.

The patterned paper is from MME Stella Rose 'Hattie' paper pad. It's double sided, the argyle and spotty patterns being both sides of the same sheet.

The sentiment is from SeeD's, either side of this are 2 teeny tiny buttons, I have had these buttons for years, and only remembered that I had them when I decided that I wanted discreet buttons for this card so that I could join in with Cazza's Pollycraft BINGO challenge this week.

To finish, I got out my star punches again. The large one is a Stampin Up punch, the smaller one is by Clippunch.

Challenges:

Pollycraft - BINGO (Buttons/Pollycraft image/Punches)

PTW - Buttons, Bows, Bling & Blooms

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes (their 100th challenge!)

Truly Scrumptious - Something Forgotten (my buttons)

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

SOS challenges - create a border (used my star punch)

There's much more inspiration to be found by the other Saturday Girls on our blog, and don't forget, we have a DT call on right now!

Have a fabby weekend xx

DT call for SS

2012-01-18T12:53:00.002Z

Sketch Saturday are currently looking for 3 new DT members to join our talented team.
Do you have a personal blog? Can you commit to making one card each week and leave comments for some of our challengers? You can? then there's no reason why you can't apply then eh? ;)

Please CLICK HERE for more details. Thank you xx

SRU & Bugaboo

2012-01-16T12:00:00.115Z

Happy Monday everyone, today is the start of a new 2 week challenge over at Stamps R Us. This time, our theme is 'Just kidding around', cards for children.

Our challenge this time is sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps, who have wonderful images for young or old. The design team were each given an image to use on our cards, so I knew i'd be spoilt for choice :)

I love their Har Repotter collection, so I chose Har Repotter - The Chosen One for my card...

Coloured with promarkers, I then punched the corners and edged it with a glitter gel pen before layering the image onto black cardstock and adding a white brad to each corner.

The zig zag paper is from My Mind's Eye - Stella Rose, 'Gertie' paper pad.

I would love to say that I have cast a spell that automatically makes the greeting slide out, but I didn't go to Hogwarts, so it has to be pulled out by hand using the tab at the side (SU Round Tab punch)
I raised the image with foam pads to create the space for the sentiment, which was also layered on to a piece of black cardstock that was cut into a 'T' shape so that the sentiment cannot be pulled out in its entirety, the top of the T is held in by the foam pads...

The sentiment incidently was a freebie given some time ago by Pollycraft

Challenges:

Card Crafter's Circle - Happy Birthday (my 2nd entry)

Catch the Bug - birthday challenge

ABC challenges - H for Happy Birthday
Charisma Cardz - Happy Birthday (my 2nd entry)

Thanks for stopping by, please go take a look at the stunning cards made by my SRU teamies too, they're lovely!
Have a great week woncha ;)

Another one for hubby

2012-01-14T08:00:00.087Z

Today is Saturday, so that must mean we are inviting you to join in another challenge at Sketch Saturday.

We're sponsored by our friends at Simon Says Stamp! this week :)

You could be in with a chance of winning a whopping $25 shopping spree if you join in our challenge with us this week.

Here's the card I made for my hubby that was given to him from our son,

Jake has been too busy on his xbox lately to make a card lol

The image is of course a lovely LOTV one, coloured with promarkers.

The cardstock and papers used are all by Stampin Up.

The border punch used is also by SU, it's their spiral punch.

The large star is also a SU punch, the smaller one's from clippunch.

You'll love the cards made by our fab GD Gro & The Saturdays, please go take a look for yourself, those girls are so talented :)

Challenges:

I {heart} ProMarkers - cute and cuddly

Simon Says Stamps challenge - Spots &/or Stripes

Charisma Cardz - Happy Birthday

Card Crafters Circle - Happy Birthday
Totally Gorjuss - use a star somewhere

Thanks for stopping by today, have a great weekend xx

Happy Birthday Hubby

2012-01-11T08:56:00.036Z

Today is my Husbands 40th birthday.

Here's his card from me...

The darker grey paper is from MME's Stella Rose "Hattie" pad,

the other piece is from a freebie paper pad by we r memory keepers which was free with a craft mag.

I used plastic templates to cut out the numbers. They do look a little rough don't they? it's times like this that I wish I had not sold my cricut machine.

challenges:
Lexi's Creations - anything goes
The Pink Elephant - hearts
Bearly Mine challenges - anything goes
Delightful Challenges - have a heart
CES challenges - anything goes

Here's his card from our daughter...

The checked paper is from the same we r memory keepers pad.

The image is from LOTV and has been coloured with pencils for a change from promarkers. I think pencils look good on kraft don't you?

The 'happy birthday' sentiment stamp is by Inkadinkado.

challenges:
Lexi's Creations - anything goes
Bearly Mine challenges - anything goes
Card Crafter's Circle - make it colourful
CES challenges - anything goes

The following card has been made for a motorcycle enthusiast who will be 50 tomorrow...

The gauges were designed by myself, if you'd like them too you can buy the sheet HERE for just 80p, there are lots on one sheet in 3 different sizes...

I will say though that I altered the central gauge for my card so that the speedo points to 50, and the milage clock also says 50. I'm happy to change the design to suit your needs too, just email me before you buy.

The sentiment is computer generated also.
The purple paper, although looking quite masculine to me, is actually from the 'little girl' collection by echo park.

challenges:
Lexi's Creations - anything goes
CES challenges - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today :)

Flashback Friday challenge - first clean & simple card (DAZ)

2012-01-11T08:03:00.019Z

This card is my entry into the challenge over at Flashback Friday Challenges, who have asked us to show our first clean and simple cards, or DAZ cards as I call them ;)

I made this card waaaaaaaaaaay back in July 2008...

Here's the original post.

The bunny image is called 'gift bunny' and was designed by my friend Sally, designer/owner of Bootiful Stampz, they are no longer available as actual stamps but Sally is an exclusive designer on CraftsUprint now and I believe will be adding her range of Bootiful designs to the site as digital images over time.

Bente's DT week

2012-01-07T08:00:00.053Z

Happy Saturday!

This week is DT week over at Sketch Saturday, which means that I get to play with a sketch made by one of the talented Saturday Girls :)

It's the turn of the lovely Bente to treat us, and her sketch is sponsored by...

The DT were given some images to use on our cards (Thank you TPS)

I chose Dragon's Birthday...

I printed it out twice & coloured the image with promarkers. Layering the cake to 3D it.

The patterned papers are both from the same pad by Paper Cellar called 'celebrations'. I've had this pad for years and hardly used it.

The sentiment is handwritten.

My daughter will send this to her friends little boy for his first birthday at the end of the month.

Please go visit the other Saturday Girls to see what they have made to inspire you, you won't be disappointed, they're lovely!

Links are in my sidebar >>>
We are joined this month by Gro, who is our GD for January.
Welcome Gro! xx

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

The Pink Elephant - anything goes
Kaboodle Doodles - let's celebrate
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
The Paper Shelter challenge - anything goes
Card Crafter's Circle - make it colourful
Charisma Cardz - over the rainbow

Thank you for visiting, have a great weekend xx

1st one for 2012

2012-01-02T12:00:00.005Z

Happy New Year!

Here's my first DT card of the year :)

We kick off 2012 with a challenge at Stamps R Us, which is sponsored by The Stamping Boutique. who happen to have a New Year Sale on right now, there's 35% off all digis :)

Our challenge has an anything goes theme, but if possible, we want you to 'Show Us What You Got' if you received fabby new craft stash for christmas.

The SRU DT were each given an image to use on our cards, I chose 'Tulips' (thank you TSB), well actually I think the image chose me, I was spoilt for choice looking through the fabby digis, and I changed my mind several times, but then Tulips kept drawing my eye towards it, so I guessed we were destined to be together.

and here is a close up of the tulips, which I 3D'd for more dimension.

I'm sorry about the poor photo quality, the weather was really dull when I took them.

I started by printing off the image 4 times and coloured them with my promarkers, one of the colours is new, hubby bought me some just before christmas, so technically they were an early crimbo pressie. As were the pearls used either side of the sentiment.

I very carefully cut out the flowers so that I could layer them.

The patterned paper is by Echo Park (little girl)

The sentiment is from a stamp set given to me for christmas from the lovely Maya. Thanks again Maya xx

I hope you will join us for this first challenge of the year, my fellow teamies have made some awesome cards to share with you, please visit the challenge blog or their individual blogs to see for yourself.

I'm entering this card into the challenges at...

Secret Crafter - anything goes

Top Tip Tuesday - anything goes

Charisma Cardz - anything goes

card crafter's circle - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today xx

Final DT card of 2011

2011-12-31T08:00:00.028Z

Well, this is it, my final post of 2011, this year has flown by so quickly don't you think?
This is my final Sketch Saturday DT card of 2011, we're sponsored by...

who have another wonderful prize for our challenge winner,

Will the lucky winner be you?

Here's my card...

My daughter asked me to make an anniversary card for her to give to her boyfriend, ahhhh young love :)

Of course I immediately thought of using this stamp from SU's "summer by the sea" stamp set. Stamped with memento and coloured with promarkers.
Emma told me which colours to use.
The sky was sponged with SU bashful blue ink.
The papers are by My Mind's Eye. The spotty is from the "complete boy" paper pad. The other 2 sheets are from the "Stella Rose - Hattie" paper pad.
The grey piece has a scrap piece of grosgrain ribbon glued across it.
The sentiment is computer generated.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges...

Passion for Promarkers - celebrations
I Love Promarkers - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Challenges - anything goes
MMCS challenges - anything goes
Charisma Cardz - anything goes
Secret Crafter - anything goes

So that's it from me for 2011, i'll be back next year ;)
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all, I hope 2012 is a brilliant year for you.
Thank you for visiting.
Love, Jo xx

Merry Christmas! xx

2011-12-24T12:08:00.000Z

Merry Christmas to all of my lovely blogging friends.
Hope you've all been good this year so that the big man in red brings you all lots of lovely crafty goodies & more.
Have fun!
Love, Jo xx

A penguin for Simon

2011-12-21T11:53:00.000Z

This card is for my daugther's boyfriend who likes penguins. I didn't have a stamp suitable so decided to make a penguin out of card instead...

I used the top half of the largest oval on a coluzzle to get the shape of his head from black textured cardstock then cut down from the oval to get his body. I did the same with a piece of white for his tummy using a smaller oval half of the coluzzle.

The eyes were punched out using 3 different sized circle punches, the beak and flippers were hand cut.

The greeting is hand written.

I'm entering this card into the following:

MMCS - anything goes

Lexi's Creations - untraditional christmas

PTW - last christmas card of the year

Craft us Crazy - christmas

Charisma Cardz - last minute xmas makes

Prairie Fairy Fridays - Holly Jolly Christmas

Bling it on - christmas

new sketch, same stamp

2011-12-17T08:00:00.012Z

ooooh! not long to go before the big man in red visits... just 8 more sleeps!

But right now is time for another Sketch Saturday challenge, and this time it will run for 2 weeks instead of just 1, so you have until 11:59pm 30th December to submit your entries. NO backlinking please, NEW entries only.

Our sponsor is Crafter's Companion

and if you are our winner you could win a fab £15 shopping spree :)

Here's my card...

I used the same medallion stamp as last week. It's such a beautiful image.
The green and brown DSP papers are by Stampin Up as is the plain green piece, but the red is from my scrap drawer.
The sentiment is from a studio G clear stamp set stamped with olive green stazon ink.

The talented Saturdays and our GD Hanne have made some stunning examples for your inspiration, please go take a look, hopefully you'll have time to join us this week :)

I'm entering this card into the following challenge at:
Cute Card Thursday - stripes!

Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping byxx

A quickie make

2011-12-13T19:03:00.001Z

My Daughter needed a wreath for the door of her dolls house.

I used a 1.25" circle punch and used it on thick card, then used a 1.5" circle punch centered over the hole made by the first punch so that I could make the ring needed to attach the leaves which are punchouts of a martha stewart pine branch punch with dark green thick paper. They were glued around, overlapping a little as I went around the ring shape.
I tied a small bow with gold ribbon, glued that to the top of the wreath, then glued on a few red crystal gems to finish.
Only took about 10 minutes to make :)

Not sure if this will apply to my little wreath, but just incase, I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz - NO cards
CES - a traditional christmas
MMCS challenge - traditional christmas challenge

Thanks for stopping by today xx

An angelic card

2011-12-12T18:50:00.002Z

Today's challenge is our final one for this year over at Stamps R Us challenges, it lasts for 3 weeks instead of 2, so the deadline for your entries to be submitted is New Years Day.

Our theme this time is 'Angels' and our sponsor for this challenge is A Day For Daisies where you can find lots of beautiful angel images.
Tammy very kindly gave the design team images to use, I chose 'Love Angel'

I started by punching the 2 sides of the front of a white card blank usinga xcut 'sparkler' border punch. I then added a pice of pale blue gingham backing paper.
The image was coloured with promarkers. I used the same punch on the sides of the card to replicate the card base, then added a little SU dazzling diamonds glitter to her wings and halo.
Finally, I added some white ribbon tied into bows above and below the image.

My fellow teamies have produced the most beautiful, angelic cards this week, please take a look, they are sure to inspire you to take part in our challenge.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin - things with wings
Prairie Fairy Fridays - beat the winter blues
Cute Card Thursday - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - anything goes

SSSSSS ;)

2011-12-10T08:00:00.006Z

SSSSSS?

Simon Says Stamp Sponsors Sketch Saturday!

Yes, our lovely friends from Simon Says Stamp are giving one of you lucky SS challengers a whopping prize of $25 to spend in their fab store :)

Here is my card...

The medallion stamp was bought off a craft page on facebook that allows crafters to sell any stash they no longer need or use. I don't know what it is called or who the manufacturer is, but I do know that it is beautiful, and my parents will think so too.

I stamped it with memento several times, coloured each layer with promarkers, then cut out the layers and glued them in order again so that it would have a slight 3D feel.

The papers are all from the same paper pad,

'Forever Christmas Cards' by HOTP.

The sentiment is handwritten.

The Saturdays and our talented guest designer, Hanne have made more gorgeous cards to inspire you to make your entry for this weeks sketch challenge. I hope you will join us.

Have a great weekend xx

Karita's DT week - SS184

2011-12-03T08:00:00.062Z

Hello everyone, it's the first Saturday of December (where has the last year gone?) so it must be my week off at Sketch Saturday where I get to play with a sketch designed by one of the talented Saturday Girls.

This month, the lovely Karita will be our host.

Karita's sketch challenge is sponsored this week by Love to Stamp the home of the Little Darlings rubber stamp line. You can also find a large selection of paper, tools, sentiment stamps and embellishments.

Here is my card...

and a close up of the roses...

The Kanban roses stamp was stamped using Stazon and then coloured with SU inks. I stamped and coloured more of the same so that I could layer the design.

The pink and green patterned papers are called 'bird song' and are by First Edition. Some of the sheets in the pack are embossed as you can see with the spotty pink paper.

The white scalloped border was made using a Xcut border punch.

I'm really pleased with this card, I think it's really pretty and also think that the colours go beautifully with the kraft cardstock.

To see more beautiful cards made by the Saturdays, please go visit the challenge blog or their individual blogs, the links are in the sidebar >>>

We are joined this month by Hanne, who will be our guest designer throughout December. Her card is stunning and i'm looking forward to seeing more from her :)

Thank you for stopping by, hope you have a great weekend xx

I'd like to enter this card into the challenge at
Charisma Cardz - Spots

a few cards

2011-12-03T00:56:00.002Z

Here are a few cards I have made as part of a large order I have been commissioned to make. I'd like to enter these cards into some challenges too, I have listed the challenges beneath each card...

card 1

using Whimsy Stamps 'love me anyway' and chatterbox 'chateau upholstery' cardstock teamed with kraft.

Bearly Mine challenges - all my favourite things (Chatterbox cardstock and eyelet border punch)

Simon Says Stamp challenge - anything goes

card 2

using the fabulous 'spit happens' by Mo Manning

Simon Says Stamp challenge - anything goes

card 3

using SU 'sweet always' DSP

Sketchy Colors - white and pink

Simon Says Stamp challenge - anything goes

card 4

using beautiful freebie paper and image by Stamping Bella

Stamptacular Sundays - Anything christmas

Craft Your Passion - Tis the season

Simon Says Stamp challenge - anything goes
The ABC challenge - E is for embossing (snowflakes)
Crafty Catz - colours of christmas

card 5

using Fizzy Moon ' with love' stamp

Stamptacular Sundays - Anything christmas
Squigglefly - winter wonderland
Kaboodle Doodles - bundle up for winter
Craft Your Passion - Tis the season
Simon Says Stamp challenge - anything goes
My Mums Craft Shop challenges - Keeping Warm
Prairie Fairy Fridays - beat the winter blues

Emboss it

2011-11-28T12:00:00.022Z

That's the theme this time over at Stamps R Us challenges.
Our fabulous sponsor for this challenge is
Sketching Stamper
Such fabulous designs, with an excellent eye for detail.
We were each given an image to use on our DT cards (Thank you Chris xx)
I have a friend at work whose birthday is this coming Saturday and he adores his little car,
so I chose 'Mini Love'...

I used my argyle embossing folder for this challenge.
The DP is by My Mind's Eye (Stella & Rose - Hattie)
and the grey cardstock is by SU.

Please take a moment to go see the amazing cards made by the other girls on the SRU design team, they're fab!

Thanks for stopping by today xx

Happy Birthday Jake!

2011-11-27T08:52:00.027Z

I'm late posting my card this week, I've had camera problems lately, some days it works some days it doesn't, very frustrating!

More importantly though, I have another reason for my absence.

My son is 13 today! (time flies by too soon)

so preparations have been under way for the last few days.

one chocolate brownie stack, coated with chocolate fudge icing, cadbury's fingers and topped with maltesers all ready to be devoured after dinner today.

If I can get a photo on here I will, it has taken me ages to upload my card though.

This week, our challenge at Sketch Saturday is being sponsored by our friends at

The Craft Barn

and this weeks prize is worth over £20, check out the blog for details ;)

Can't wait to find out if you'll be our winner?

Then take advantage of their free postage offer

FREE POSTAGE ON ALL UK ORDERS UNTIL

MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 18DECEMBER

For EU customers free postage applies to orders over £25
for all other destinations it's free postage on orders over £40

Onto my card...

The image is pre-coloured and is from a collection named 'Mikey' from Charmed Cards & Crafts. Everything else is from my stash, Happy Birthday Wishes sentiment is from SU's Fun & Fast Notes stamp set. The punches used on the backing piece and also the large star punched out of a circle of card are also by SU. I have also used a mini star punch by clippunch.

Happy Birthday Jake, you may be a teenager now, but you'll always be our baby boy. xx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges...

Cupcake - teenage boys
Sweet Stampin - punches & dies
CES challenges - special milestone birthdays

ok off to prep the veg for the beef roast...

Bunny Zoe's Crafts sponsors Sketch Saturday #182

2011-11-19T08:00:00.001Z

Good Morning! well the weekend is here so that must mean it's time for a new Sketch challenge :)

This week our sponsor is the lovely Nikki from

You could be the winner of a £10 shopping spree if you are challenge winner #182, that would be a lovely early christmas present wouldn't it?

This is my card for this week...

I have used another Fizzy Moon stamp & sentiment, this stamp set is called Let's Celebrate (unsurprisingly lol)
I coloured Fizzy with promarkers.
The pretty pink floral paper is by My Mind's Eye (Stella Rose/Gertie)
Everything else used are bits and pieces from my stash.

I'd like to enter this card at:
Little Miss Muffet Challenges - Simplicity
Stamptacular Sunday challenges - Punch it

Thanks for looking, have a great weekend.
I have work over the weekend, but have to find time to make more cards from a mahooosive order, they need to be made by next Saturday!

SRU - Bling it on

2011-11-14T12:00:00.065Z

This time, Stamps R Us challenges are sponsored by Crafty Sentiments.

Our theme is 'Bling it On', we want to see some glitter and sparkle please.

The DT were kindly given images to use on our cards (Thank you!)

I chose pretty Vicky...

I used a kraft cardstock base and punched 2 of the corners.

The papers are from My Mind's Eye 'Gertie', I punched these to echo the card base and also used my SU eyelet border punch to create a pretty bottom edge too.

Vicky is coloured with promarkers, then cut and layered slightly with glue, not foam pads. I coloured over her dress with a clear star glitter gel pen, which I also used over the holes punched in the top right corners.

The sentiment is also by SU, from the Trendy Trees stamp set.

Added a few gems to finish.

Here's a close up showing her glittery dress...

I'd like to enter this card at:

Crafty Catz - use a digital image

My Mums Craft Shop challenges - sugar & spice

Truly Scrumptious - BINGO (I chose Gems, Flowers, Punch/Diecuts)
Stamptacular Sunday - Punch it

If you'd like to see more wonderful cards, then please visit my fellow SRU teamies, they'd love you to stop by.

Thanks for visiting today, hope you all have a fab week! :)

Fizzy Christmas

2011-11-12T08:00:00.034Z

Time for another Sketch Saturday challenge! and this week, we are sponsored by the fab, Simon Says Stamp!

To be in with a chance of winning a whopping $25 to spend in their awesome store, all you have to do is take part in this weeks sketch challenge, easy peasy!...

I recently bought myself a couple of Fizzy Moon festive stamp sets.

This one is called Little Messages, isn't he adorable?...

A simple card to make, I coloured Fizzy with SU markers, dotting the colour to get a look similar to fur.

The papers are all from the same paper stack by My Mind's Eye (Gertie).

The sentiments are also from the same stamp set along with some others, you choose your own message.

The gifts and bauble embellishments were hand cut from the same paper as well as co-ordinating kraft and metallic card too.

Looking at them now, maybe I should have added a little bow to the top of each gift box? might add those before sending the card.

I'd like to enter this card at:

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes + BROWN

Papertake Weekly - First Christmas

Little Miss Muffet challenges - Simplicity

Charisma Cardz - Cutesy

Thanks for stopping by today, please go visit my fellow Saturday Girls, their cards are sure to inspire you, they are amazing :)

Have a great weekend xx

The House of Fluff presents...

2011-11-05T08:00:00.089Z

...this weeks Sketch Saturday challenge!

This week is DT week, and it's Faye's turn to provide the fab sketch for us to play with. Her sketch was perfect for this 21st birthday card I was commisioned to make.

Here's the card...

The image is from Stitchy Bear, except I have added an extra shoe, then layered it up for added dimension, I also added some glitter to the pearls for some sparkle.

The 2 patterned papers are both from the same pad by My Mind's Eye (quite contrary) I decided to compliment them by using baby pink cardstock for the extra matting and card base. The plain piece behind the image is a piece of shimmered vellum that I found in my scraps drawer, it has a slight pink hue when caught in the light too.

The pretty scalloped borders were punched using my eyelet border punch from stampin up.

To finish, I added clear gems to spell the number 21.

This week sees the return of a former DT member, Emma!
Not only is Emma our Guest Designer for November, but she is also the owner of Sew Sweet, our sponsor for this week, and you could win a £10 gift voucher kindly donated by Emma, if you are our challenge winner.

Please stop by the challenge blog to see the other cards made by Emma & The Saturdays, I hope you'll join in with us this week.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (optional bling)

If you are going to any bonfires or firework displays this evening, enjoy yourselves, but please stay safe xx

You're a classic

2011-10-31T12:00:00.046Z

It's time for a new challenge over at Stamps R Us challenges. This time our challenge has a masculine theme, and we are sponsored by Doodle Pantry, with whom you can win a generous prize if you are our challenge winner :)

We were kindly given images to use for our cards (thank you Doodle Pantry)
I chose this vintage car and sentiment from their Vintage Auto set, and then tried to keep a vintage look to the card...

I started by colouring the car with promarkers, then very carefully cut it out.
The base card is kraft, I didn't use any patterned papers but wanted to have some sort of design so I embossed dark brown leather effect cardstock with my swiss dots folder, and another piece of kraft with my argyle folder. The latter was then punched at the corners with a circle punch, then distressed with close to cocoa SU ink, I layered this onto a medium brown cardstock, then added a brown crystal gem to each corner. I stapled the sentiment in place, then doodled faux stitching around the cards edge.

Thank you for stopping by today, please go visit my fellow SRU teamies too who have made some beautiful examples to show you.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments - no designer paper
Charisma Cardz - Anything goes (my 2nd entry)
Sweet Stampin - Anything goes
Stamptacular Sundays - Borders and frames
Pollycraft - Anything goes
Craft Your Passion - BINGO (distress-FREE-use a punch)
The Pink Elephant - Distressing

Cat Nap

2011-10-29T08:00:00.097+01:00

Morning all, it's Saturday so that means another sketch challenge over at Sketch Saturday

and this week we are sponsored by our friends at

where there is a set of 6 Flexmarkers up for grabs! oh yes!

and all you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is to make a card or any other creation, using any products that you like, providing you use the sketch provided... Simples!

Here is my card...

When I design the sketches, I don't have any particular images in mind, and sometimes I go *EEK!* when I look again at a sketch and have to decide what products to use. This was one of those sketches.

So I looked through my stamps, and when I pulled out 'Cat Nap' by Artful Stamper, I knew it would suit the sketch layout.

I coloured this adorable image with promarkers, and added glitter gel pen to the bell on the end of the hat, and white flock to the 'fur' trim.

The papers are all from the same pad I used a couple of weeks ago, 'Forever Christmas Cards' by HOTP.

The sentiment is handwritten.

Please visit The Saturdays to see what they have made this week too, they have a fab mix of styles and themes to inspire you. Those girls are so talented, you'll find links to their blogs in the sidebar >>>

This week is the final week as Guest Designer for Donna, but we are delighted to say that she will be staying on with us full time as our newest Saturday Girl! Woohooo! welcome Donna, so happy that you are staying with us :)

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp - Anything goes

The Paper Shelter - Anything goes

Charisma Cardz - Anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today, have a great weekend xx

A Mo for Bro'

2011-10-22T08:00:00.069+01:00

My son will be 13 next month, and my daughter asked me to make her card for her brother. I knew instantly which image I wanted to use, Video Boy from

who happen to be sponsoring Sketch Saturday this week, woohooo!

If you are one of our THREE winners this week, you will each have a $5 shop credit to spend in Mo's fabulous store.

Here's my card...

I coloured this brilliant image with promarkers, then carefully cut the boy out minus the snacks that are part of the original image.

The fab blue checked paper is by My Mind's Eye (complete boy), and the kraft papers are by Basic Grey (kraft paper pack)

I stamped my Son's name in the bottom corner, and printed the other sentiments on the pc.

If you'd like to see some stunning cards for inspiration for this weeks challenge, then please go to the challenge blog and see what has been made by our GD, Donna and The Saturdays, this week we are also joined by Dorcas who is showcasing a beautiful card using another of Mo's fab images.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenge at:

Crafty Catz - Happy Birthday

Thank you for stopping by, have a great weekend xx

Nature's Gifts

2011-10-17T13:00:00.004+01:00

This time, the challenge over at Stamps R Us is entitled 'Nature's Gifts'.
Now that could mean almost anything couldn't it? animals, flowers and trees, fruit and veg, the weather, a beautiful scene somewhere, even a precious baby. So you are bound to have the perfect image to play along with this one, if you don't, or want to have a new image anyway (and who doesn't?) then perhaps you might like to go take a look at the selection of lovely images available from our sponsor for this challenge, Heart Song Designs.
There's a great offer available right now, for every 3 digital images purchased you will receive your choice of another one free!
and who doesn't love to get a freebie eh?

The design team were given images to make their cards this week (thank you), I chose 'Flowers and Bumble Bee'...

I wanted to paper piece the flowers and leaves to match the backing paper.
The paper is by Echo Park and is from a collection called 'Little Girl' I won this collection in a competition and loved the papers in it so much that I decided to buy the digital version of the same collection so that I could always print off the pretty designs from it. Hence why the flowers are a similar design, the only difference is that I resized the pattern smaller so that the design could be seen better on the flowers, there is a difference in colour too, but that might be the fault of my printer. Even so, I'm still happy with how this card turned out, and the flowers and cute little bee were crying out to be layered a little too...

my first time of sponging a sky background too.

You can feast your eyes on more Heart Song Designs loveliness by seeing what my fellow teamies have made for the challenge.

And I do hope that you will find time to join us too,
you may even be the challenge winner and receive a prize from our generous sponsor :)

From our home to yours

2011-10-15T08:00:00.017+01:00

I love this image from Pollycraft

and it's available to download now for only 49p!!!

what a bargain! a must for your christmas collection, especially if you have to post your cards.

My card uses this weeks sketch from Sketch Saturday

I have used these lovely papers from HOTP called 'Forever Christmas Cards'

the only exception is the plain dark green piece which is by SU (always artichoke) and the pale beige scrap pieces i've used for matting.

I coloured the image with my promarkers, the door is coloured with 'ruby' and shaded with 'cool grey 5', blended over top with the ruby pen again. Got it to match the spotty paper pretty good :)

I don't have a red door on my own home, but my daughters dolls house does! :)
The stripy paper has been punched on one side but has been paper pricked on the other 3 then a white gel pen was dragged through the holes to create a faux stitched look.

This week we are sponsored by Robyn's Fetish, who are awarding the winner of our challenge this week with a choice of either 5 digital stamps or 4 digital stamps and 1 paper pack :)

Actually everyone's a winner, because throughout October, they have a 35% discount offer to honour breast cancer awareness month.

Please stop by the blog to see the fabulous work by our Guest Designer for October, Donna, and of course by The Saturdays, lots of inspiration there!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly: Get in Shape
(square card, rectangular mats, circular gems)

Charisma Cardz - In stitches (real or faux)

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend! xx

Flashback Friday challenge - first tag

2011-10-15T00:37:00.007+01:00

You have until 28th october to post about and enter the challenge at Flashback Friday. This time they have asked to see our first gift tag.

taken from their blog...

♥♥Please do not link your original blog post that contains your flashback card/project... you shouldre-post your Flashback Friday card onto your blog...that's the fun of it...taking ownership of your flashback card...layout...project..in the present day...haha...that's why some people don't want to play...but it is all for fun...♥♥

I made and blogged about this tag way back in November 2009...

I used products by Stampin Up, I so loved this ski slope designer paper, I have only scrap pieces left now :(

I used this gift tag on a large gift-wrapped box that was filled with lots of smaller sized gifts, individually wrapped, that my husband and I gave to our daughter, for her first christmas after leaving home. She thought she had just one gift (said she thought we had bought her a hoover! lol) and she was gutted at the time to think that she wasn't getting the Beano Annual that we buy for her every year. It's the only present she knows that she is definately getting each year, and that year there wasn't a beano annual shaped gift! :o
The annual was inside the box, along with lots of other gifts. She was surprised and happy, and not at all upset that she didn't get a vacuum cleaner! :D
As I said, that was her first christmas away from home. There wasn't another, she moved back home a few months later, and I had to give up my craft room so that she could move all her stuff back in.
I would love to have my craft room again...
Anyone want a lodger? lol ;D

Sketch Saturday #176

2011-10-08T08:00:00.015+01:00

Morning all :)

Time for another Sketch Saturday challenge!

and this week we are sponsored by our lovely friends at

where you could win a whopping $25 to spend in store if you are our lucky winner this week :)

Here's my card...

This card is part of a mahooosive order from my manager at work, in total she wants me to make 42 cards for her! Thankfully not all at once, although she needs some of them now, this is one of them.

I thought this cute little melonheadz robot would be fab for a 6yr old boy.

I have used 3 different papers, all available from different sets by Going Digi.

I added the name of the little boy with a silver marker to one of them.
The sentiment is from a SeeD's stamp set. and then all I did to finish was add a punched star, chipboard 'rivets' and the number six, which were made to look metallic using a silver marker.

Please stop by to see the cards made by our GD Donna, & The Saturdays.

and wait until you see the first DT cards made by our new girlies... Susie & Tracey!

WOW!!!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Bearly-Mine challenges - use 3 backing papers

Papertake Weekly - Anything goes (option of using a punch)

Happy 4th birthday PTW! xx

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by today :)

Jo xx

For a pearl anniversary

2011-10-07T17:03:00.030+01:00

I was also commissioned to make a card for a 30th wedding anniversary, using this image...

It's called 'wine and cheese' and is by Inkadinkado.

I've coloured it with promarkers but added a bit of extra depth here and there with some pencils too.

The papers are by Stampin Up (Bella Bleu) I used another paper from the same collection to punch out the flowers using my boho blossoms punch, a nellie snellen stamen punch and a woodware leaf punch. Of course I had to add flat backed pearls to the centre of the flowers didn't I? They add a lovely shimmer too.

The sentiment and '30' were both printed off the pc, but I have gone over the text with a clear glitter gel pen to add a bit of sparkle.

The centre border strip was made using a x-cut punch.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts - 5 flowers

Polka Doodles - handmade flowers

Thanks for looking xx

bake a cake

2011-10-07T16:23:00.004+01:00

I was asked to make a birthday card for a lady who bakes cakes.

I coloured the Hanglars with promarkers, then decided I wanted to frame the image in wood to match the cupboard, I didn't have anything suitable so I made the 'wooden' frame from kraft cardstock and promarkers.

The distressed paper is by My Mind's Eye
(Stella Rose - Hattie)

Then all I did was add a handwritten sentiment and punched flowers and leaves. Hope she likes it!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - time for cake

CES challenges - totally gorjuss/pretty girls

Prairie Fairy Fridays - sugar and spice (girly cards)

Just Magnolia & Hanglar challenges - Anything goes

LOTV give-away

2011-10-06T13:50:00.000+01:00

LOTV's ideas to inspire blog are running a give-away, this time they have asked us to show them our favourite cards made with LOTV products.
This is mine...

I made this card a year ago, and although I don't have it anymore, I still like to look at the photo, everything just seemed to 'work' on this card, it turned out exactly as I wanted it to in my head. Here's the link to the original post.

If you want to take part too, best be quick! the deadline is the 8th, you can enter by going to this post.

an apple a day...

2011-10-03T13:00:00.019+01:00

...keeps the doctor away (as the phrase goes)

well ok, perhaps the doctor won't be advising us to drink a bottle of cider a day lol, but I thought of the phrase while I was colouring and layering these images and decided to use it anyway, even if a little tongue in cheek :)

This is my first card as a fully-fledged DT member for Stamps R Us after my recent guest spot. woohoo!
This time our challenge has an Autumn/Fall theme, and we are sponsored by Robyn's Fetish, who not only have a generous prize package for our lucky winner, but kindly gave us images to use on our cards too.
I chose 'Apple Cider' and 'Basket of Apples'.

Once again, I coloured with my promarkers.The sentiment is handwritten onto a round tab (SU punch).
The papers are by First Edition, this collection is called 'summer breeze' yet I think these particular sheets suit autumn better than summer!

Please join me, as well as the rest of the talented Stamps R Us design team, by taking part in our challenge. You've got to be in it to win it! good luck! :)

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

One Stitch at a Time - use a digi
ABC challenges - A for Anything Goes

Think PINK

2011-10-01T08:00:00.017+01:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so I was more than happy to use 'Hope', an image given to me by Tickled Pink Stamps, who are this weeks sponsor for Sketch Saturday, where it is Paula who hosts the challenge and provides us with the sketch, giving me a week off and the chance to play with a sketch other than my own :)

here's my card...

I coloured Hope with my promarkers then VERY carefully cut her out before layering. I wrote 'think PINK' onto the notice she is holding.
The ribbon image was already on the notice, so I decided to use this ribbon to make a matching background paper especially for this card to compliment the image.
The pink, distressed paper is by Fancy Pants 'wishful thinking' I didn't want a paper that was too fussy or would clash with the ribbon paper, but I didn't want the paper to be completely plain either. So this one suited perfectly.
The pretty scalloped edge was made using a xcut border punch, and the sentiment is from SU's 'best yet' stamp set.

Hope will be available to buy from 4th October for a limited time for just $1AU (throughout october )

Please stop by SS to see the beautiful cards made by The Saturdays, and our talented GD for October Donna Mosley.
You'll also find this weeks sketch so that you can join in too :)
Our winner this week will receive either 1 rubber stamp, or 2 digi stamps from the Tickled Pink store :)

Have a wonderful, sunny, weekend! xx

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

I {heart} Promarkers - distressing
Prairie Fairy Fridays - pink & distressed

a DAZ card

2011-09-30T11:37:00.004+01:00

Occasionally I like to make clean and simple cards (CAS, or DAZ as I call them!) especially if I have a stamp that I think would look awesome.
This Kanban roses stamp is one of those stamps.

I decided to stamp directly to the card blank with Stazon, then stamped the roses again a few times on a scrap piece of cardstock so that I could layer the roses themselves.
I also thought that it would make a nice change to colour this image with SU inks and a water brush (another reason for using stazon)
Colours were a mix of garden green, old olive, close to cocoa, summer sun & barely banana.
The sentiment is from SU's 'best yet' stamp set.

Here's a closer pic of the layered roses...

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin - anything goes
Allsorts - keep it simple
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Truly Scrumptious - Clean and Simple
Crafty Creations - CAS
Squigglefly - floral fantasy
Craft Your Passion - green, yellow, black & white

Exciting news to share!

2011-09-27T09:56:00.001+01:00

As some of you may know, I have been guest designer for the current challenge over at Stamps R Us
Well I can now confirm that I will be staying on as their newest design team member! :)

At first, I was unsure whether to accept or not, purely because I was worried incase I didn't have time to join in at times (lots going on in my life right now)
But the lovely Jan has assured me that it won't be a problem if i need time-out. Thank you Jan xx
I only recently found Stamps R Us challenges, so you can guess how chuffed I am that I was asked to join this talented team of cardmakers.
As the new girl, I'm hoping that I can show this challenge blog to any crafters out there in blogland who maybe haven't seen their challenges yet.
I have 'met' the girls in the team, and know that we are going to have a wonderful time sharing our cards together. I'd like to thank each of them for welcoming me to their team :)

There is still time to join in with the current Operation Write Home birthday challenge. Closing date for challenge entries is 2nd October.

DT call for Sketch Saturday

2011-09-25T12:38:00.001+01:00

We are currently looking for 2 new DT members!

Do you have your own personal blog?

Can you make one card each week?
You can use any craft materials you like to make your DT card but you must use the sketch provided.
We'd need you to post about our challenge on your own blog each week, leaving links to SS and to our sponsors on all posts.

Can you leave comments for our challengers?

Can you take a turn hosting a DT week.
you would need to make your own sketch for the challenge, arrange a sponsor, and arrange the guest designer (GD) too.

if you're interested, and want to know more, all details can be found HERE

Inspired by Fluff

2011-09-24T08:00:00.063+01:00

Well another week has passed and it's Saturday morning, so that means it's time for another Sketch Saturday challenge.

This weeks challenge is sponsored by our good friends at The Craft Barn

This week Sandy is very generously giving our challenge winner a prize package worth almost £30! wooohooo! could it be you? the only way to be in with a chance is to join in our challenge this week.

Here's my card...

I have used the totally adorable Little Stars - Moon Lullaby digi stamp available for just 99p from Pollycraft.

Not so long ago, the lovely Faye made this beautifully cute card, she used Super Star, which is another of the stamps from the same Little Stars range from Pollycraft.

Now Faye loves yellow, everyone presumes she loves pink most of all (and she does love pink too) but yellow is her most favourite, and she used yellow as the colour palette for her card. It is a beauty! and inspired me to make a yellow baby card too, rather than automatically reaching for the pinks or blues.

Thank you Faye xx

Of course, I coloured this cutie in with my promarkers, I printed out the image 3 times so that I could layer parts of it once coloured.

I also added some white flock to the little cloud.

The papers used are all by Dovecraft (back to basics) apart from the plain yellow piece which was just from my scrap drawer and punched with my SU eyelet border punch.

The sentiment is handwritten.

I've decided that as well as a new camera, I also need to either buy or make myself a light box / photo box / other (delete as appropriate)

especially with the dark nights coming fast, I need to use my daylight lamp more often to take pics, and unfortunately that means glare (because I must be doing something wrong!) so I need to diffuse the light somehow.

Anyway, here is a close up of the layering of the image and the flock on the cloud...

Edited to add:

had another go at taking a photo in the daylight

Please stop by to see the beautiful cards made by The Saturdays this week, we also have the final cards by Jessica (our GD for September) and Lisa, who has decided to step down from the Design Team :(

I'd like to thank them both for sharing their talents with us all.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
MMCS challenge - boys & girls
The Paper Shelter - anything goes
Sweet Stampin - anything goes

Hope you all have a fab weekend xx

Guest Designer for Stamps R Us!

2011-09-19T13:00:00.010+01:00

YAY! I am very honoured to have been chosen to be Guest Designer over at Stamps R Us! :)

This time the challenge has a BIRTHDAY theme, so a nice and easy one to join in with ;)

The challenge is also a special 'Operation Write Home' (OWH) event.

OWH is an organization that sends handmade cards to US armed forces in Iraq & Afghanistan for them to write home on.
Once you have made your card, and if it is suitable to send to one of the dedicated shippers (for example - NO GLITTER allowed), please consider passing it on to them, where it will be very much appreciated.
All details can be found on the Operation Write Home website. Thank you.

The challenge is sponsored by The Paper Shelter

who have a generous prize package for one lucky winner, could it be you?

The Design Team and myself were kindly given free images to use on our cards (Thank you!), here's what I made with mine...

Using 'Happy Birthday To Me!' by The Paper Shelter

printed 3 times & coloured with Promarkers, then layered in places.

The pretty background paper is by Echo Park (little girl)

The sentiment is a SeeD's stamp, and I punched out the tab shape and made the flowers and the rounded corners using a mix of punches.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
MMCS challenges - happy birthday
Passion for Promarkers - beary special

Sweet Stampin - flowers
(I won last weeks sweet stampin challenge with my teenager card..YAY! thanks girls xx)

Here's my second card...

Using 'Little Cowboy' by The Paper Shelter

also printed 3 times & coloured with Promarkers, then layered in places.
I used a pair of shaped scissors and my cropadile to alter the 2 layers of cardstock around the image.

The background paper is My Mind's Eye (Stella Rose - Hattie)

and the green paper is by Sizzix (little sizzles - country)
The brown strips are just card scraps, but I thought it worked somehow by layering/weaving them through the green paper.
The sentiment was printed off the computer.
I wanted to add embellishments too, and thought that a sheriff's badge would look good, but I don't have any, so the little stars punched from copper coloured cardstock will do instead.

I would like to also enter this card into the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday - anything goes
Prairie Fairy Fridays - snips & snails
Stamptacular Sunday - use a sentiment
Kaboodle Doodles - lots of layers

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope to see your entries for this weeks Stamps R Us challenge :)

Bunnies, bubbles... & bribery!

2011-09-17T08:00:00.117+01:00

Mornin! :)
We kick start the weekend with another Sketch Saturday challenge! :)
and this week we are sponsored by

and you could have £10 to spend in their fab store if you're our lucky winner this week :)

Here's my card...

This will be my anniversary card to my hubby, so I will probably add the word 'husband' to it before he receives it, no rush though, it's not until next month.
I have used this totally adorable LOTV stamp called 'Bubble Bath'
Coloured as per usual with promarkers, I have ordered myself 10 new colours this week, and i'm hoping that mr postman will bring them today :)
I maybe should have used grey tones for this card, because apparently, our wedding anniversary this year is Steel (11 years)
Never mind, I went with kraft instead.... as ya do ;)

The sentiment and row of hearts were both from the 'let's celebrate' fizzy moon stamp set, this is new, I hadn't opened it until making this card. I was going to use the cute image from the set too, but when I saw the bunnies in their bubble bath I knew I wanted to use it for this card.

The paper is by Stampin Up ('Bella Bleu' DSP)
The border across the middle is a thick vellum that I found in my stash, it looks green in the photo, but it is actually an off-white colour which shimmers pale pink, but somehow my camera thinks it's green *tuts*
Actually I think my camera is packing up. I'm having difficulty getting it to link to my pc, it's taking several attempts and a lot of luck to get it to work. It is very old though.
Do you think hubby will treat me to a shiny new one?
bribery!..... yes!.... i'll buy 2 bottles of bubbly, one the (nice) smelly kind, the other the *hic* kind, what you reckon eh?

here's a close up of the image layered a little...

can you see the PALE PINK vellum on the left? ;)

Please stop by The Saturdays, they have made more beautiful creations to inspire you :)

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - anything goes

Colour Create - pink, brown, cream, white

Totally Gorjuss - nothing square

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend xx

Video Boy

2011-09-10T08:00:00.008+01:00

This weeks Sketch Saturday challenge is being sponsored by...

each month they offer a fabulous $25 shopping spree in their store to our lucky challenge winner, will it be you this month?

Here is my card for this weeks challenge...

The image is 'Video Boy' by Mo Manning, As usual I have used my promarkers to colour him in, I originally wanted the tshirt a different shade of green, but I don't have the colours needed (I can feel a shopping spree coming on soon)

I also need to get a new warm grey 1 and blush markers, both of mine are on their last legs now.

The green paper used on the base card is from Provocraft's Bitty Scrap Pad called 'windswept'.
The blue piece is by NitWit Collections, I roughed them up a bit to echo the 3 lines either side of the sentiment on the sketch layout. Then handstitched over the top with navy cotton... and yes I deliberately wanted the stitches to look that bad! lol

The sentiment was handwritten, as were the white shapes on the black 'console' buttons and the number 13 in the centre.

My son has snagged this card for his friends birthday in a couple of weeks time. The following day will be his other friends birthday too, and Jake has decided to make the card for him using one of my own designs for a teenage card.

thank you for stopping by today, I hope you will have time to stop by and see the other cards made by The Saturdays, there is such a mix of themes and styles using the same sketch :)

I'm entering this card into the following challenges...

Squigglefly - Blue & Green
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Fairy Fun Fridays - snips and snails & puppy dogs tails
Sweet Stampin - for a teenager (YAY! I won!)
Totally Gorjuss - It's a man thing

Have a great weekend xx

Sketch Saturday - Lisa's DT week

2011-09-03T08:00:00.015+01:00

Can you believe it's September already?!

where has this year gone? another school year starting already.

It's Saturday! and you know what that means, time for another Sketch Saturday challenge :)

being the first Saturday of the month, it means it is my week off and I get to play with a sketch provided by one of The Saturdays.

This weeks DT week is hosted and sponsored by Lisa, owner or The Craft's Meow, and you could win a TCM stamp set if you are this weeks challenge winner! :)

Lisa kindly sent me a TCM stamp set too, here is my card for this week...

This stamp set is called 'My Girl' from the Little Frieda & Friends collection.

I used my promarkers again, but decided to paper piece her little dress with the same paper I wanted to use on the card base.

The paper is double sided and this card shows both sides of the same sheet.

It's by My Mind's Eye - Stella Rose, from the 'Hattie' paper pad.

I finished off the card with a few gems.

The Saturday's have made some absolutely stunning cards to show you this week, but then they always do, they are such a talented bunch :)

Hope you all have fun with Lisa's fab sketch.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Craft Us Crazy - Autumn Colours

Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes

The Pink Elephant - Paper Piecing

Thanks for looking,

Have a wonderful weekend xx

for Mom

2011-08-31T08:00:00.028+01:00

Today is my Mom's birthday

Here is the card I made for her...

A simple design, but I think it works with the paper and doily and doesn't need more.

I do love this Rosie Posy image from Lili of the Valley, she always looks so lovely after colouring

(I used my trusty PMs)

The gorgeous green paper and the sentiment are both from Create with TLC, although, I did alter the text in the middle of the mom sentiment.

Happy Birthday Mom, Love You xx

I'd like to enter this card into the challenges at:

Passion for PMs - anything goes

I {heart} ProMarkers - anything goes

Totally Gorjuss - as you like it

thanks for stopping by today xx

I found some stash i'd forgotten about

2011-08-27T08:00:00.004+01:00

I bought a few verse scrolls years ago when I first started cardmaking, I found them at the bottom of a box of scrap card and papers that I have meaning to sort out, but never actually do it just incase I 'need' those little strips of offcuts. Quite why these scrolls were in my scraps box I don't know, i'm presuming hubby put them there lol

There were only 4 in the cello bag, and I can recall using one of them once before. I decided to use one as the main attraction for this weeks Sketch Saturday card...

This isn't my usual style, I was commissioned to make a card for a lady at work, when I saw the scroll, this sort of fits the bill.
I've added some flowers around the scroll, which were stamped with brown memento using a freebie clear stamp from a mag then coloured with PMs. The leaves were punched with a woodware punch.

The pretty paper is by First Edition, and is from their 'summer breeze' collection I love the embossed, glittery texture on this sheet.

The orange cardstock looks quite bold in the photo but it is actually a good match to the orange in the paper design. I used my trusty eyelet border punch to frame the orange cardstock with peach card sponged with pumpkin pie ink (SU).
To finish the front of this card, I added 2 photo corners, using an ellison thin cuts die and a few brown gems.

This week we are sponsored by our fab regular sponsor, our regular sponsor

The Craft Barn

Please go take a look at the beautiful cards made by The Saturdays and our talented GD Louise, who is sharing her final card with us today.

I'm entering this card into this weeks Stamps R Us challenge which has an anything goes theme.

Have a fab weekend, and if your in the UK, bank holiday Monday too xx

Spit Happens...

2011-08-24T11:57:00.003+01:00

...that's the name of this adorable image from
Mo's Digital Pencil

I was asked to make a card for a little girl who will be having her first birthday next month.
I coloured this little cutie with my promarkers.

The heart paper is by Dovecraft (back to basics)

The pink scalloped frame around the image was made by punching several scalloped circles out and gluing to the back of the image - I don't have any fancy frame cutters :(

The white scalloped border was made using my eyelet border punch from SU.

The flowers were also made using SU products, but the leaves are a woodware punch.

The letters used are some new alphabet stamps, I don't know who they're made by though as they were just bare red rubber when I bought them.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

A spoonful of sugar - make a birthday card

Craft Us Crazy - anything goes

Kaboodle Doodles - ribbons

Truly Scrumptious - use mainly pink

Sweet Stampin - babies and little ones

Allsorts - you've been framed
Stamps R Us - anything goes

Thanks for looking xx

I {heart} Chester

2011-08-23T12:02:00.001+01:00

Firstly, I want to thank my lovely friend Cazza, she inspired my son Jake (aged 12) to make this card for his Aunty's birthday. Thanks hunni xx

Jake used 'Retro Chester' available from Pollycraft for just 99p

I love this little dude, he's so cute!

Jake coloured Chester with watercolour pencils, as were the sentiments, the outlines of which were printed off the pooter (which was the only help I gave him)

The green patterned paper is by First Edition and is from their 'Hideaway' collection of papers.

Jake would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - snarky, sarcastic and funny sentiments
A Spoonful of Sugar - make a birthday card
Craft Us Crazy - anything goes
Totally Gorjuss - cute and cuddly
Simon Says Stamp children's challenge - anything goes

Thanks for looking! xx

WooHooooooooooo!

2011-08-22T15:56:00.002+01:00

HUGE thanks to Stamps R Us!
My card was chosen as the winning one, and I will be guest designer for them sometime :)
What an honour and such a thrill, i'm delighted!

Their current challenge is 'Anything Goes'

Sketch Saturday #169

2011-08-20T08:00:00.084+01:00

It's Saturday :)

so that must mean that it's time for another Sketch Saturday challenge!

This week we are sponsored by iCopic.com, who have donated a marvellous prize this week, stop by the blog to find out what it is ;)
there's also a generous discount offer for all our challengers! :)

Here's my card this week...

I've used another hÄnglar and stÄnglar cutie and coloured her with my PMs.
The GORGEOUS background paper i've used is by My Mind's Eye from their Stella Rose/Gertie pad.
I then layered kraft and cameo coral (SU) cardstock to make up the design to match the sketch. I wanted the cameo coral piece to be a bit different and originally thought about using an embossing folder on it, but whilst mooching through my tool drawer I picked up my small star punch and decided to use that instead, and I like how it turned out :)
The ribbon is from my stash, but I think originally it came off a box of chocs, probably Thorntons continental *yum*
The sentiment is from SU's 'Best Yet' set.

The Saturdays have once again produced such stunning cards for you to feast your eyes on this week, as has our talented guest designer, Louise.
Please stop by to leave them some love, they do appreciate your visits.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - pink & brown
Craft Us Crazy - anything goes
Paper Playtime - anything goes
Make it Monday - anything goes
The Crafty Pad - cute 'n girly
Paper Cupcakes - pink, white & brown

Hope you all have a FAB weekend, work for me, but I hope to get some crafting time squeezed in there somewhere too.
Thanks for stopping by xx

Saturday sweetness

2011-08-13T08:00:00.034+01:00

Mornin!

It's time for another Sketch Saturday challenge :)

This week we're sponsored by our fabulous regular sponsor, Simon Says Stamp, and you could win a whopping $25 to spend in store if you're our challenge winner this week.

Here's my card...

The image is from the Penny Black clear stamp set, 'piece of my heart' and has been coloured with promarkers.

The papers are by Stampin Up (sweet always DSP)

The sentiment is from an inkadinkado birthday sentiment set.

I punched out the scalloped border with my SU eyelet border punch.
Then punched the flowers and leaves, assembled them, adding a crystal gem to the centre of each flower, finally, adding a band of crystals across the card for a bit more birthday bling.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges at:

Papertake Weekly - Grow your own (homemade flowers)
Spoonful of Sugar - Happy Birthday
Crafty Sentiments - punches & die cuts
Bling it on - A,B,C (Animals, Bling (gems), chocolate/candy)
my second entry for this month's challenge

Thanks for stopping by today, I do hope that you will stop by the challenge blog to see the amazing work by The Saturdays too.

Stamps R Us - Encore Presentations #2

2011-08-11T11:55:00.001+01:00

This is my second entry to this weeks Stamps R Us challenge, Encore presentations.

This card was originally posted 02/11/10

The image is of course a lovely hAnglar, coloured with promarkers.
The Paper Weave papers used are my own design and are available in 10 different colours.
I made a matching envelope too, which also had the green paper weave paper lining on the inside too.

Stamps R Us - Encore Presentations #1

2011-08-11T11:49:00.001+01:00

This weeks challenge at Stamps R Us challenge blog is called Encore Presentations, to re-post a favourite card that we have made.

This card was originally posted 02/04/11

I love the image, it's called Love Me Anyway and is available from Whimsy Stamps.

I coloured kitty with promarkers and decoupaged the image to create depth. I think the layering really makes the image 'pop'

The cardstock used is double-sided and is by Chatterbox, it is called 'chateau upholstery' and is one of my favourites.

close up of image...

This is one of my favourite cards that I have made.

Look!

2011-08-08T16:46:00.001+01:00

I just clicked on the Pollycraft challenge blog to find out what this weeks challenge is when I saw that my card is one of the top 3 from last weeks challenge! woohoooo!
It's such a rush to see that your card is liked and chosen, so i'm delighted!
Thank you to Paula and her talented team xx

This weeks Pollycraft challenge is 'Recycle'

Terry's DT week

2011-08-06T08:00:00.009+01:00

Good Morning! Hope you are all well and happy :)
This week is DT week over at Sketch Saturday, which means I get to play with someone else's sketch this week :)
It's Terry's turn to host, and not only has she made a rather super sketch for us, but she has found a generous sponsor in the name of Art Journey, who have a fantastic prize up for grabs ;)
Our Guest Designer for this week is the very talented Kim, and later in the month we have Louise from Art Journey herself joining us! :)
Thank you ladies!

Here is my card using Terry's fab sketch...

The image is a gorgeous hÄnglar and stÄnglar stamp that was a gift from my lovely friend Maya, I stamped her a few times so that I could 3D her, and coloured her with promarkers, I added a bit of glitz to the bauble and the button on her hairband with a glitter gel pen.

The background paper is by SU and is another colour from the ski slope DSP collection. Both of the dotty yellow papers are by Dovecraft (back to basics pad). The border punch is by Xcut.

The sentiment is handwritten and punched out to echo the shape of the snowflakes.

here's a closeup of the image, I wanted it to look like her arms are holding the bauble, so I used foam pads for dimension, but glue where the arms/sleeves needed to be flush with the base image...

Please go see what Kim and the rest of The Saturdays have made to delight you this week by visiting Sketch Saturday, thank you.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges at...

Just Magnolia and H&S - Anything goes
I {heart} ProMarkers - Things with wings
Bling It On - A,B,C (Angel, Bauble, Circles)

Thanks for stopping by today :)

seasons eatings

2011-08-05T12:04:00.003+01:00

This utterly adorable image is called Chesters Pudding and you can buy him from Pollycraft

The DP is by Stampin Up and is called Ski Slope, but I think it's retired now :(
I used a fiskars punch to round the corners, and used a Xcut border punch to make the white border around the horizontal strip.
The sentiment is handwritten.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges at:

Pollycraft - Paula's sketch
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Christmas in August
Crafty Sentiments - Christmas
Craft Us Crazy - Anything Goes in August
Stamp Something - August Digi Day!
Totally Gorjuss - Christmas in July
(challenge 30th July - 5th August)

Oh Baby!

2011-08-03T12:49:00.000+01:00

Available from craftsuprint.
These 3D baby shoes are not my own design, and no, i'm not expecting a baby *thank goodness!* but I saw them, thought 'how cute!' and decided I needed them incase I ever need to send something a little different to congratulate a new birth.
These would be awesome as cute little favour holders for a baby shower too don't you think?

Printed onto 200gsm cardstock and cut out, they came together quite easily.
I used double-sided tape to stick the 'upper' to the insole first of all, then used glue to stick on the sole and glue down the strap.

Both the pink and blue were made the same to that point.
Then I made 2 little daisy card buttons for the pink pair, and 2 little foam star buttons for the blue pair.

But they need something to sit inside don't they?
so I made an acetate box to fit around them (except I measured slightly wrong on the lid so it is a little bigger than it ought to be!)
looks ok though, right?

incidently, the yellow dotty paper is by Dovecraft 'Back to Basics' and the sentiment on the tag is by SU's 'Best Yet' set.

2 more challenges

2011-08-02T11:10:00.002+01:00

I'm still playing with kraft :)

This card is for the challenges at Sweet Stampin (Christmas in July)
and at Crafty Sentiments (polka dots!)

The snowman has been coloured with ProMarkers and stuck to the card base with foam pads after I sponged a rough circle directly to the card with SU craft 'whisper white' ink. I used the same ink to stamp the greeting (which is also by SU - from their 'Best Yet' set) and the polka dots (Prima Marketing clear stamp).
Finally, I rounded the bottom corners of the card with a fiskars punch.
I really like the simplicity of this card, it turned out better than I thought it would in my head :)

sketch and stash

2011-08-02T11:09:00.002+01:00

This weeks sketch with Sketch and Stash challenge is a real easy one to work with, so you'd be a fool not to join in this week. Well i'm not a fool, well at least I don't think I am! lol
We can add our sentiment and embellishments wherever we want to.

Here's my entry:

My new or neglected stash is actually 2 items, one is new (First Edition 'daydream' papers) and the other is neglected ('Wine and Cheese' stamp by Inkadinkado). I have used this stamp just once for my Mom's birthday card last year.

I bought myself some kraft cardstock recently, after seeing all the lovely stamped creations made by Faye and being very envious and eager to try it out myself, I got out my memento pad and stamped this image onto kraft.
I coloured it in with ProMarkers.
The sentiment is by SU, from their crazy for cupcakes set.

I'd also like to enter this card into the following challenge at Stamps R Us, happy birthday!

Sweet... Seventeen

2011-07-30T08:00:00.060+01:00

Good Morning everyone!
This weeks challenge over at Sketch Saturday is sponsored by the totally fabulous...

If you win our challenge this week, you will be the owner of a new Tim Holtz movers & shapers die! WOW!

Here's my card...

I've used Kraft cardstock to make this card, along with paper by Echo Park (little girl kit). I paper pierced them and then dragged a brown pen through the holes to resemble stitching. The pretty image is from The Greeting Farm, I coloured her with PMs and this is the first time I am completely happy with how I have coloured the hair.

The flowers were made with a retro flower punch and a stamen punch, sponged, then given a bit of added sparkle in the middle.

The sentiment was handwritten to start with (SEVENTEEN), and then stamped with a SeeD's 'Happy Birthday' stamp over the top.

Lots of sponging on this card with 2 SU inks, Close to Cocoa & Pretty in Pink.

This card is for my God-daughter, who will be 17 tomorrow.

So please don't tell her about this post until she has opened the card!

Thanks ;)

I'm entering this card into the following challenges at:

Cupcake - shabby sparkle

I {heart} ProMarkers - anything goes

craft us crazy - anything goes

Bling it on - anything goes

Squigglefly - KRAFTASTIC!
Kaboodle Doodles - stitching (faux or real)
Allsorts - Free & Easy

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend xx

10% discount for all SS challengers with YNS!

2011-07-23T08:00:00.003+01:00

This weeks challenge over at Sketch Saturday is sponsored by the fabulous...

and everyone is a winner this week!

ALL of our challengers can get 10% discount off their next purchase from Your Next Stamp by using the code:

YNSSS2011

how FAB is that?!

of course there is also a prize for our lucky challenge winner too, $10.00 to spend towards stamps of their choice at the YNS store!

Here is my card this week...

another crimble card.

I coloured the cute WoJ image with PMs but then got out my pencils to colour the background because I wanted it to look more textured, I also added extra pencil to the 2 mice too after colouring them in first with PMs.

The star embellishments were punched out, the large star was punched with a nellie snellen stamen punch, backed with deep red cardstock and then a crystal gem added to the centre on the front, it sort of reminds me of a xmas tree decoration, I really like the effect.

The patterned paper is by Dovecraft, and the sentiment is by Studio G.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Cupcake - Wish Upon a Star

Papertake Weekly - getting cute

I {heart} PMs - Christmas in July

Stamp Something - Embellished (my stars)

Crafty Catz - No pink or blue

Don't forget to join in this weeks challenge, take advantage of the fab 10% discount if you can, and of course please take a look at the other wonderful cards made by Karen, Janne & The Saturdays.

Have a great weekend xx

No time to play this week

2011-07-17T10:26:00.000+01:00

Hi, I haven't had time to make a card for this weeks Sketch Saturday challenge :(
but I still wanted to remind you all that this week we are sponsored by Bunny Zoe's Crafts

and you could win a £10.00 shopping spree if you are our lucky challenge winner this week :)

The Saturdays have made some beautiful examples with this weeks sketch, why don't you go take a look, then get out your inks and papers, make your own beautiful entry and leave the direct link with Mr Linky ;)

Christmas in July

2011-07-09T08:00:00.049+01:00

Time for another Sketch Saturday challenge, and our sponsor this week is...

You could be the lucky winner of a $25 shopping spree in their awesome store if you are this weeks challenge winner :)

I decided to make a crimbo card this week, using this fab 'Helping hand' image from Dustin Pike, coloured with promarkers.

The papers are by My Mind's Eye - 'complete boy' and I used 3 punches while making this card (4 if you include the circle punch for the Stamps Away sentiment)
The 3 punches were:
Xcut - Diamond
Xcut - Sparkler
All Night Media - snowflake

The xcut punches are fab, I will be getting more of their designs over time, they punch well and are easy to line up, the ANM punch however has always been very stiff to use with cardstock, I've tried punching through foil and greaseproof paper but it still sticks and won't do as it's told unless I use paper instead of cardstock (the cardstock used here is only 160gsm too)

I had to get Hubby to punch out my snowflakes for me... brute force was needed.

I'm entering the following challenges with this card:
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Lollipop Crafts - anything goes
Bearly Mine Challenges - anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - use a digi
Sentimental Sundays - anything goes (plus a sentiment)
Digi's with Attitude - anything goes

yep, lots of anything goes challenges! ;)

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to see what The Saturdays have made this week too,
have a wonderful weekend! xx

Cupcakes that don't have calories :)

2011-07-06T08:23:00.035+01:00

This card has been made using the cupcakes that I designed for Cupcake Craft Challenges.

I used my step by step digi sheet, well I used half of the sheet actually because the sheet has enough for two 3D toppers, or for 6 individual images if preferred.

I also have an over the edge 3D topper and a sheet of digi stamps available too for the same cupcake design. You can find them HERE, at my new blog...

other items used:
SU creamy caramel cardstock
SU more mustard patterned paper (inside)
SU sentiment from 'crazy for cupcakes'
acetate
white cardstock
white gel pen
Xcut 4cm border punch - sparkler
crystal gems

Thanks for looking xx

Bente's DT week

2011-07-02T08:00:00.037+01:00

EDIT: guess who forgot to schedule her own DT post!

This week, over at Sketch Saturday, the lovely Bente is hosting her first DT week, and has provided us all with a lovely sketch, thanks Bente!
We are sponsored this week by Papilio Stamps

Here's my card, not the best photo, sorry.

This is my second card actually, the first one wasn't completed because the stars in the sketch design didn't suit it and flowers didn't look right either, so i'll keep the image and papers for another card sometime.
So I looked through my papers to see which would look good as stars, and this tiny yellow and blue star paper from my sizzix pad worked well :)
I like the yellow and blue combo of this card, it looks much better in real life than in this photo, will take another pic in daylight.

The plain blue and yellow paper is also from the same sizzix pad, I embossed the yellow with my swiss dots folder, and used my SU eyelet border punch on the blue piece.
The cupcakes were coloured with PMs, highlighted slightly with a white gel pen.
The greeting is from my SU 'crazy for cupcakes' stamp set.

You will be blown away by the awesome cards made by the DT and our fab GD for July, Janne. Please go take a look, I love them all, they are such talented and inspirational ladies.

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope that you will join us this week for Bente's sketch challenge :)

have a great weekend everyone xx

have a TWEET day!

2011-06-25T08:00:00.002+01:00

Good Morning!
This weeks challenge over at Sketch Saturday is sponsored by the totally fabulous...

and this week, if you are our challenge winner, you get to choose which Kanban clear stamp set you'd like to own. fab eh?

Here's my card...

This adorable image is simply called 'Cat & Bird' and is from Whipper Snapper Designs. Coloring with PMs as usual.
I teamed it with the sentiment, which is by Pink Petticoat but was free with a craft magazine.
The patterned paper is from SU, from their patterns pack II (i think), this colour is 'more mustard'. I used another strip of the same paper on top of the scalloped lace edged piece (punch is by x-cut)
The paw prints were stamped using an inchie from Tanda Stamps.
My flowers were made using my SU boho blossoms punch, with added bling.

You MUST go see the other cards made by the design team... they will blow you away, I for one, love them! :)

Thanks for stopping by, have a 'tweet' weekend! xx

Flashback Friday challenge - summer colours

2011-06-25T00:49:00.000+01:00

I might just be in time to enter the challenge over at flashback friday.
They want to see summer colours!
Here's my card that I made in May last year for a Sweet Stampin challenge.
Tangfastic!

Daddy Cool

2011-06-18T08:00:00.014+01:00

Hello, it's Saturday, so that means it's time for another Sketch Saturday challenge, and this week we are sponsored by our very own SS teamie, Paula, who is the owner of and the talent behind Pollycraft.
And if you are our lucky winner this week you could win a whopping prize of 18 digi stamps!! :)

Here's my card for this week, and I just wanna say... I LOVE this image!

Isn't he just fabulous? you can get him for just 99p from Pollycraft... Maurice - Daddy Cool,
I printed him out twice and coloured him with PMs, although I added a little clear star glitter gel pen to the base board of the 'DAD' cake hat.
I cut out the hat, tie & collar, and shoes from one of the images to 3D on top of the other image. I also gave Maurice a moustache using a dark grey pencil.
All of the papers used, except for the brown cardstock, are by Nitwit Collections. The sentiment is handwritten.

I shall give this card to my Dad for father's day, hope he likes it!

For more inspiration, please go see what the rest of the talented SSDT have created :)

Enjoy your weekend won't you? xx

one down, four to go...

2011-06-11T08:00:00.019+01:00

Good Morning!, as i'm typing this at night and scheduling the post, I am hopeful that when this post goes live tomorrow that the morning is a sunny one as well as a good one :)

This week's Sketch Saturday challenge is sponsored by our regular sponsor, Simon Says Stamp!

and another fab $25 gift certificate is up for grabs this week! *YAY!*
and all you need to do of course is enter this weeks challenge :)

Here's my card...

This will be one of Dave's Father's Day cards.
My hubby works long hours, so this 'chap snoozing' image from Digistamp Boutique is ideal for him as he often needs to have a nap, like most hard working men do.
I coloured this chap with PMs but decided to colour the 'carpet' a green colour with a SU marker (old olive), looking at it now, it doesn't look a very nice colour and it looks very patchy too, so i'm not entirely happy, because i've ruined the look of it now *sigh*
...and I still can't work out why I decided to use a different type of marker to the rest of those used anyway! because I originally coloured that part a lighter, more muted shade of green with my PMs, so I really didn't need to colour over it because now I prefer how it looked before.
Note to self: don't potch at the last minute!

The cardstock is all by SU, some of this has been pierced.
The patterned paper is from a sizzix 'little sizzles - country' paper stack.
I have handwritten the Fathers day sentiment and drew out the letters to spell 'DAD'

Well that's one card done, I have to make another for Dave, 2 for my Dad and one for Dave's Dad too. Guess what i'll be doing this week! :)

You may have read on the blog yesterday that we have another talented lady who joins our design team from today *woohooo!*
Welcome to my lovely cyber-sister, Fluff!
Please stop by SS and Faye's blog to see her totally fab debut SSDT card :)

And of course, please visit all of the design team, not only to see their stunning creations, but also to show them some love, these girls are THE BEST!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend, and can find time to create xx

using old stash

2011-06-04T08:00:00.003+01:00

Good Morning!
well the weathermen here in the UK reckon that we are going to have some more summery weather throughout June, hope they are right, warm sunshine really lifts the mood of the day don't you think?

This week is DT week over at Sketch Saturday, and it's the turn of the lovely Jeanette to host this weeks sketch for us all.

and we have a new (for us) sponsor! :)

My Favorite Things, and this weeks lucky challenge winner will win a $25 gift voucher to spend in their FAB store!

We also have a new guest designer for the month of June too,
Welcome Louise, your stunning card for this week is so beautiful, looking forward to seeing more from you :)

Here's my card, using Jeanette's awesome sketch...

I've decided to try to use some of my older stash, so I got out an old magnolia stamp this week, if I remember rightly, she's called 'Tilda in Paris'

I forgot how pretty this stamp is.

I've coloured her with promarkers and then stamped her again so that I could paper piece her beret, top & socks with one of the papers used on the card, which are all by K&Co, from a 6x6 pad called 'Tulip' which I bought eons ago. Not sure if this pad is still available anymore though.

I attempted to make a tulip, but I don't think I have the right punches to get it to look right, so I threw away what I had made, scrapped that idea and got out my SU boho blossoms punch and punched out 2 of the largest flowers, added a stamen using a nellie snellen punch and a deep-red brad to secure, looking at it now it looks a little bit like a poppy, ah well, it looks ok I suppose.

The sentiment is from a See D's stamp set (celebration messages).

Whilst rifling through my old stash I found loads of christmas papers, might make a start on some crimbo cards soon.

Please stop by Sketch Saturday this week, you'll love the examples made by Louise & the Design Team, they are sure to inspire you to take part in Jeanette's sketch challenge, and who knows? it could be you who wins that amazing $25 prize! :)

Enjoy your weekend! xx

PBC3 challenge winner!

2011-06-04T07:50:00.010+01:00

Thank you to everyone who entered last weeks birthday challenge over at Sketch Saturday, and to those of you who entered the draw to win my PBC.

The winner of my Party Box Candy is...

Ruby! (Ribenaruby)

with this gorgeous card...

Congratulations Ruby! :)
Please EMAIL ME your full postal address so that I can post your prize.
I hope you like the goodies that I have put inside.

You can see a full list of all of our PBC winners, as well as our main challenge winner who wins that amazing goody bag worth £50 from The Craft Barn, by visiting Sketch Saturday now :)

And remember, a new sketch challenge goes live at 8am today :)

Jo xx

wii love you dad

2011-06-01T11:40:00.002+01:00

one of my latest designs available to buy from craftsuprint.

Please CLICK HERE to see my other designs, thank you.

CRAFTSUPRINT
SPECIAL OFFER DISCOUNT CODE
Simply type the word 'SECRET' into the REDEEM VOUCHER box on the basket page BEFORE you check out then click UPDATE BASKET to save 20% off your total order value!
Code Expires: Friday 3rd June at 1pm

Happy Birthday SS!

2011-05-28T08:00:00.102+01:00

Wooohoooo! We are celebrating our 3rd birthday!

It's been 3 years since I started Sketch Saturday and what a fun 3 years it's been too :)

I've had the pleasure of getting to know loads of friends while blogging, especially my talented and supportive friends on the SS design team (past & present), our wonderful & equally talented guest designers, our awesome and very generous sponsors, and of course our talented SS challengers! Thank you to you all xx

On Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th of June, The Craft Barn are hosting their June Extravaganza weekend with FREE craft demos from 24 demonstrators, with a theme of 'The Best of British' featuring designers and demonstrators from the UK and wherever possible promoting products manufactured in the UK. What a wonderful weekend that will be, to find out more please CLICK HERE.

This week, to help us celebrate our birthday, our fabulous friends over at The Craft Barn are offering a goody bag with contents to the value of £50..... WOW!!!

Sandy, Thank you so much! xx

Like previous years, we are offering our SS friends the chance to win a Party Bag Candy too :)

It's really easy to be in with a chance of winning a PBC, to enter, all you have to do is take part in the main SS challenge and leave your entry with Mr Linky as you would normally, (new work/direct link to your work only please)

Once you've done that, please leave the same link on the blog of the DT member who's PBC you'd like to win.

So not only will you have a chance to win a truly amazing prize by The Craft Barn but you'll also have a chance to win more goodies on offer from the design team :) YAY!

See? told you it was easy! :)

To keep it fair, there are a few rules that apply:

You are only eligible to enter each DT members party bag candy once, and ONLY if you've already taken part in this weeks challenge too (please leave the direct link to your work for each PBC you enter)

We want to thank sketch saturday challengers so this is why it's only open to SS entrants!

(we will be checking! and all entries that are not eligible will be deleted)

Each PBC will close on the DT members blogs at 8:00 AM (UK time) on Friday 3rd June, please note: FRIDAY MORNING. No entries will be accepted after this time, sorry.

This is so that the DT members can let me know their winner's name so that I can get the post ready for the following morning to announce the winners on the Sketch Saturday blog :)

However, the normal Sketch Saturday challenge (to win that amazing £50 goody bag) will run until 11:59PM on the Friday evening as normal, so if you are too late for a PBC you could still win that super-amazing prize!

Would you like to see my PBC?

well I can't show you a pic of the contents (that's a surprise) but I will show you the box that I have made, using this weeks sketch design...

My Party Bag Candy is actually a Party BOX Candy :)

I didn't use a template, I worked out the sizes I needed to make the top and bottom parts of the box after measuring the size of the stash I have put inside it.

The pretty patterned paper is from Stampin Up (sweet always) and the gorgeous image on the front flap is by LOTV, coloured with promarkers. The flap lifts to reveal an acetate window which shows a glimpse of the candy within the box.

So if you would like to win this box and its contents, please enter the main SS challenge and then leave your direct link here too.

Good luck everyone! xx

I'm a cutie!

2011-05-23T13:48:00.000+01:00

... a cupcake cutie! :)

i'm delighted that my card was liked and chosen. Thank you SO MUCH to all the cupcakes :)

This weeks challenge over at Cupcake is called 'Bookworm'
will have to see if I have the stash to take part this week too :)

Mornin!

2011-05-21T08:00:00.038+01:00

It's the start of the weekend so that means it's time for another Sketch Saturday challenge :)

This week we are sponsored by the lovely Nikki from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, who is generously donating a £10 shopping spree to this weeks challenge winner!

Here is my card for this week

(I took this photo last night while using my daylight lamp, think perhaps I need to make a light box so I can take better, clearer photos)

I used this adorable Bugaboo Brat girl balloon image from Bugaboo Stamps
Isn't she a cutie eh?
I've coloured her with promarkers, and used SU 'tea party' designer series papers to compliment the sweet image. I used my boho blossoms punch to make the flowers. The sentiment is by Inkadinkado.

Well it's work for me later today, I am very happy in my job but I would much rather be crafting!
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend xx

A couple of cards

2011-05-20T11:43:00.004+01:00

For my first card, I've used this old stamp by sugar nellie/elizabeth bell, it's called sweet and sassy and is SO adorable...

I coloured this little cutie with promarkers, and stuck the image to the underside of an aperture cut out of the front of the card with an oval coluzzle.
The patterned paper is by Stampin Up (sweet always)
The flowers & leaves were made from white paper and cream cardstock using paper punches with added gems for a subtle bling. The same cream cardstock is the card base and also borders the oval too.
I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges...

Cupcake - in the garden
Papertake Weekly - bloom and grow
Truly Scrumptious - anything goes
Spoonfull of Sugar - anything goes
Crafty Catz - anything goes
Crafty Creations - flower, patterned paper and ribbon
Colour Create - white, cream and brown

My second card has been made for the aunt and uncle of my daughters boyfriend, who are expecting a baby boy in early June. I had already made a baby boy card which was similar to the one I made here, except that I put a tiny little sailing boat design on the front of the pocket instead of the star, and used a pale checked blue cardstock for the dungarees.
I didn't have time to take a photo of it though, because Emma decided she wants to send it, and has written it and sealed it in its envelope now.
She saw this card and now wishes she'd waited before writing the other one because she says she prefers this one...

I forget now where I saw this chest of drawers idea but it was on blogger somewhere so i'm sorry that I can't give credit where it's due, but I'm sure there a lots of cards along the same idea.
This is my first stepper card too :)
I drew the chest of drawers and made the drawer fronts to match, the whole lot being sponged beforehand with bashful blue SU ink. Then added brads for the drawer handles and attached with foam tape. The little outfit was hand cut from a scrap of paper that had been folded so that the bottom is still attached, I then glued around it, leaving the openings for the arms, head and legs. I made the coat hanger by twisting 2 head pins together that I took from my neglected jewellery making stash.
The spotty paper is by Dovecraft (back to basics 2), the sentiment was printed on the pooter, and the cute little image is of course by Magnolia, I coloured him with promarkers and when cutting him out I discarded the wings off the image.

hmmm, not sure if this applies but as it isn't exactly square, I will attempt to enter this card into the following challenges at...

MMCS challenge - anything but square
Totally Gorjuss - not square

and also the challenge at...
ABC challenge - unusual fold

well she's so fine, fine, fine...

2011-05-14T08:00:00.005+01:00

Well I wonder what was wrong with Blogger, whatever it was it must have been major eh?
Thank goodness it seems fine now so I can show you my DT card for Sketch Saturday...

a nice easy sketch this week I thought,

The image is of course LOTV and has been coloured with my promarkers.

The papers are by Dovecraft 'eastern promise' (floral) and Stampin Up 'tea party' (spotty)

I paper-pricked the spotty piece and then hand stitched through the holes with white cotton and layered it onto a piece of white cardstock that had been punched with my eyelet border punch (by SU).

The flowers are by Petaloo and are called 'sweet petite'

"the only flowers you'd ever wanna meet!... Oh, o-oh, ohhhhh!"

sorry had a Jackie Wilson moment there LOL! :D
(apologies if you will have that song embedded in your head for the rest of the day now!)

Incidently the flowers were given to me for my birthday by Sandra, who's sadly leaving our SSDT today :(

Please go see her beautiful final DT card this week and wish her well.

We're going to miss her on the team.

Thank you San xx

Our sponsor this week is...

and you could be the lucky recipient of a $25 shopping spree in their fabulous store if you are this weeks challenge winner :)

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful weekend xx

Flashback Friday challenge

2011-05-11T16:00:00.002+01:00

This is unheard of for me, 3 posts in one day! :)

I visited Faye's blog earlier today and saw the beautiful wedding card that she made for a sweet stampin challenge last year.
She posted it for Flashback Friday, who want to see our first wedding cards.
So I thought i'd play along too :)

This card was made for my cousins wedding back in August 2009...

oooh, I used the same paisley embossing folder as I have today on my spacehopper card.

I also made a photo album too...

Hmmm I wonder why I didn't have them matching? if i was making this today, I would use the same papers/colours as I did on the card.

off subject, Jake has made apple and cinnamon muffins at school today *YUM!* i've tasted one already, deeeeelish!, think I need to taste test another...

I {heart} the 70's

2011-05-11T13:36:00.003+01:00

When I was a little girl, I thought spacehoppers and clackers were 2 of the best toys to play with, although my bionic woman doll and weebles were my absolute fave toys as I remember, I also remember enjoying playing hairdressers with the boy next door (6 year old girl + scissors + 6 year old boys hair = one little boy with a VERY short (1" max) lop-sided fringe & me hiding from his mom in an ali baba laundry basket!).
I digress, back to spacehoppers... I lost count of the amount of times that I bounced and fell off my spacehopper cos I was the one who always seemed to bounce off the curb or bounce into fellow hoppers and I never seemed to go in the direction I wanted to go! was such a laugh though, especially when the kids in our street had a hopper race! (of course I was always last, or ended up going sideways! lol) I was forever getting my knees grazed as a kid, my Mom always had the germolene at the ready :D
My sister, Helen, had clackers. I used to love playing with those. They weren't much to look at, and were basically hard plastic balls about 2" in diameter, attached to a ring or small paddle with strong string. You held the ring or paddle, allowing the balls to hang below. Then you had to get a rhythm going using a up/down motion, making the balls swing apart, then together again (a bit like a newtons cradle), gradually swinging harder until the balls 'clacked' together above and below the hand. Many bashed knuckles and bruises ensued, but you kept trying til you succeeded and it was part of growing up in the 70s :)

When I was part of the Sweet Stampin DT, I was asked to pick a theme for one of their challenges, and i'm delighted to see that it is still going ahead despite my leaving. The theme is Childhood Memories. I had the spacehopper in mind when I thought of the challenge, so have decided to take part in their challenge, this time as a challenger ;)
I'm going to give this card to my sister...

I drew the spacehopper then coloured it with promarkers, I also drew the clackers too, didn't realise at the time how fiddly it would be to cut out the image though. Obviously they aren't to scale with each other, the spacehopper would be way to big for this card if they were!
The paper is by Dovecraft, from their 'funky vintage' collection.
I got out my circle punches and echoed the design in the paper with some cardstock scraps and layered them along the top.
The paisley strip across the middle was made using a cuttlebug folder.
The sentiment and verse were printed off the pooter.
Now I have to remember that i've made this card because it isn't Helen's birthday until September!
I'm safe to say she won't see this on here because Helen doesn't blog, infact she hardly goes on the computer at all (yep, i know, she's the weird one in the family! LOL)

I have made the spacehopper into a digi image, it's free, if you want it, snag it ;)

I'm entering this card into the childhood memories challenge over at Sweet Stampin (Hi Girls! xx *waves*)

also the fab challenges over at
Papertake Weekly 'fancy a punch',
and Crafty Catz 'give us a quote/sentiment'

cheers!

2011-05-11T09:38:00.004+01:00

I was asked by my boss to make a card for an upcoming birthday in her family. Now I don't normally like making cards for men, but then I realised that I have this fab Pollycraft beer monster digi image and I knew I could make a suitable card...

I think he is my fave Pollycraft image cos he's always there when I need to make a card for a man, and he can be coloured in whatever colours I fancy (the only time i'd get stuck is if the recipient was teetotal) and at just 99p he's an absolute BARGAIN!

I coloured him with my promarkers, and printed his hand/glass again so that I could pop that out with foam pads.
The papers are by Dovecraft, backed onto cardstock by SU (chocolate chip & garden green), the sentiment is also by SU.
The name is a mix of chipboard letters that were in different colours, I peeled off the top layer of each letter, covered with glue and then applied green flock for a fuzzy texture. I have had this flock for aaaaaaages and never got round to using it, actually I have lots of other stashy bits n pieces that I have not used yet either! (ssshh!)

I enjoyed making this card so much, that I made another similar to it for the 21st birthday of a friend of my daughter, but that's sealed in its envelope now and I forgot to take a photo beforehand.

Hope my boss likes this card, i'm in work tonight so will get the verdict then!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges...

Pollycraft - boyz to men
Crafty Creations - anything goes
Stamp Something - may digi day (use a digi)
Secret Crafter - dust off your stash (green flock)

I'm loving entering challenges again! :)

ok... off to draw a spacehopper!!

bbs xx

Maya's DT week.

2011-05-07T08:00:00.002+01:00

Yep, as the title says, this week is Maya's DT week over at Sketch Saturday :)
So this week, I wanted to use one of my Hanglar & Stanglar stamps, which was given to me by Maya herself, isn't she just adorable? (the cutie on the stamp is too) Thanks again Maya! xx

I coloured her with my promarkers and paper pieced her dress - the Hanglar girlie - not Maya! lol
The papers are from a paper stack called 'Picnic in the Park' by Serif, I got the paper stack free with my copy of Simply Cards & Papercraft this month. They give some fabbylicious free gifts!
The creased paper behind the small gingham print is also from the same stack, but I scrunched it up into a ball, smoothed it back out again and sponged over the creases and the around the edge with SU mellow moss ink.
The diamond patterned stamp is from Catslife Press.

This week we are once again sponsored by Tickled Pink Stamps, and you could win yourself 2 fab digi stamp downloads of your own choice!
Thank you Kellie, it's wonderful to have you sponsoring us again :)

We have a new Guest Designer for May too... please say hello to the very talented Nina!
and don't forget to visit our wonderful and equally talented design team too ;)

I'm entering this card into the following challenges...

Pollycraft - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (option of 'adding something round')
My Mums Craft Shop challenge - Cute & Girly
Simon Says Stamp challenge - Paper piecing or piercing
Fairy Fun Fridays - For the Girls
Just Magnolia & HS challenges - Anything Goes

see Faye?... 6 more challenges this week! YAY!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you all have a wonderful weekend xx

Cupcakes!

2011-05-02T06:01:00.054+01:00

I recently received an email from the very lovely Faye from Cupcake Craft Challenges, asking if I'd like to design a Cupcake makeover!!
Would I?!! erm.... YES!
Faye gave me an idea of what she'd like the new design to look like, so I got to work in PSP and came up with a design that I'm really proud of and more importantly, a design that Faye and the other cupcakes love *insert BIG smiley face here*
Ladies, Thank you for trusting me to design your new look blog :)

To see the design and take part in this weeks fun challenge, please click on their new logo...

Well I loved the cupcake designs so much that I have made 3 sheets available for download via craftsUprint, or you can buy them directly from me by email.
If you email me please put CUPCAKE as your subject title, and then let me know which designs you'd like, i'll then send you a Paypal invoice.

CUPCAKE SHEET #1

"Cupcakes - step by step topper"
makes TWO 3D card toppers

CUPCAKE SHEET #2

"Happy Birthday Cupcake"

makes a 3D over the edge card topper

CUPCAKE SHEET #3

"Cupcakes - digi stamps"

print out and colour in any 'flavour' you wish!

Please Note: The sheets are NOT pre-printed, they are digital downloads, you save them to your own computer and print them out yourself as and when needed.

Each sheet costs just 80p from craftsUprint, you need to be a member (free to join) and there is a minimum spend of £5.00 per order.

However, if you don't want to buy £5 worth of downloads, but like one (or all three!) of the designs above and would like to buy them, then the price direct from me is £1 each sheet, payable by Paypal.

I will invoice you for payment, and email your sheet(s) to you within hours (or minutes!) once payment has been made.

At this moment, I don't have my sheets uploaded to my own site (but I will be sorting this soon)
In the meantime, if there are any of my other designs that you'd like to purchase direct from me, please let me know which sheets you'd like by letting me know the cUp reference number
(for example, Games Addict topper with decoupage is Ref# cup183488_966 )

TERMS OF USE
All craft sheets purchased are for personal use only, You may print and use each sheet as frequently as you wish provided it is for your own personal use.
You must not sell or give away any of my craft sheets. You may sell any cards that you make from them, but you must not sell the craft sheet itself.
You may not create discs from any of my images to sell, rent, lease, lend or duplicate, however, you can make a back up disc provided it is for your own personal use only.
Due to the sheets being in a digital format no refunds will be given, no exceptions, sorry. Please ensure that you order the correct sheet before completing the transaction.

Thank you for looking :)

Little madam!

2011-04-30T08:00:00.006+01:00

I love this adorable image!
From the moment I saw it it reminded me of my daughter Laura (and dare I admit it? also of me as a child too!)
It is of course by the extremely talented Mo Manning, and is called 'Two Jill'
I coloured her with promarkers, and cut her out to add to my card for this weeks Sketch Saturday challenge, where this week you could win 2 fabulous Tatty Button Stamps, courtesy of our generous regular sponsor, The Craft Barn.

Here's the card...

The papers are all by My Minds Eye, from their 'quite contrary' collection.

I love these papers, they are sooooo pretty :)

I am entering this card into the following challenges (yay!)

Simon Says Stamp! challenge blog - Anything Goes (& blog hop to celebrate their 2nd anniversary! congrats SSS!)

ABC challenge - T is for Trouble (and this little madam looks like she could be!)

Cute Card Thursday - ANY sketch from ANYWHERE! (perfect for me!)

Well I'm going to enjoy my last day off work today because I am back tomorrow, Sunday's are always long shifts, but I am looking forward to spending another day with my hubby and kids on bank holiday monday :)

Please remember to stop by the SS design teams blogs, as always they have some beautiful cards to share with you all :)

tfl xx

Emma & cake

2011-04-24T16:42:00.001+01:00

We had a lovely time last night celebrating Emma's special day, and she loved her birthday cake :)

Happy Emma's Day!

2011-04-23T08:00:00.021+01:00

April 23rd is St George's Day in England (our Patron Saint)

But April 23rd is a much more special day for our family because today is my daughter's birthday, and it's an extra special birthday this year because Emma is 21 today!

Look at this posh photo she had taken professionally *proud Mom*

A daughter is love in a bright pink bow
A bundle of happiness all aglow
A tomboy in jeans with a tear streaked face
Crying because she has just lost a race.
Then all of a sudden, no longer small,
She's a vision of loveliness dressed for a ball
A dreamer, a schemer, no two days the same
What is a daughter...It's more than a name
She's a pleasure, a treasure, a comfort each day
Loving and sweet in her own special way
She's a sense of contentment felt deep inside
Bringing a lifetime of pleasure that fills us with pride

Happy Birthday Emma Louise ~ Love you xx

You can see the card we have sent to Emma HERE.

My friend Sandra, is also celebrating her birthday today!

Happy Birthday San! xx

Sandra is of course a member of our talented design team at Sketch Saturday.

And as it's saturday, it's time for a new sketch challenge :)

This week we are sponsored by Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps.

There's a sale on this weekend, you can get 15% off everything in the store by using the code BUNNY15, sale ends tomorrow so be quick to be sure to grab yourselves an Easter bargain!

Sparkle Smith very generously gave the DT some images to use on our cards this week, I chose Kitty Cat Josh, because it reminded me of my son Jake and our cat Tickle.
Here's my card...

Thank you to Sparkle for the image :)
I coloured Kitty Cat Josh with ProMarkers.

The checked green paper is by Stampin Up, the colour is Always Artichoke.

Both the blue and brown papers are from Nitwit, but I stamped the paw prints onto the brown piece using an inchie stamp from Tanda Stamps
The sentiment is from TLC creations

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter.
don't get sick by eating too much choklit - yes i'm looking at you Fluff! ;)
xx

I have made one of these today...

2011-04-18T19:33:00.004+01:00

a red velvet cake.

That isn't a pic of my cake, I googled for the pic above to show anyone who hasn't heard of a red velvet cake what it looks like, I haven't frosted mine because I was just testing out the cake recipe to see if the cake will be suitable for my daughters birthday cake.

The end result... looks fab with a light, yet moist texture, and it's very VERY scrummy!

The recipe I used called for vanilla extract, but I used raspberry flavouring, I'm really happy that I did too because it gives a subtle flavour which works so well with the cocoa powder & reminds me a little of these...

Hershey the chocolate monster

2011-04-16T08:00:00.004+01:00

Morning! :)

This week Sketch Saturday challenge is sponsored by a new (for us) sponsor...

and you could win youself a $20 shopping spree in their amazing store just by entering this weeks challenge using this weeks sketch.

Here's my card this week...

Isn't this little dude fab?!

His name is Hershey and he's available from Paper Makeup Stamps.

Katie Cotton, owner of PMS, gave the design team an image to use on their cards this week, I chose Hershey. His expression is priceless, too much sugar? no can't be, you can never have too much choccy ;)

I coloured Hershey with promarkers.

All the cardstock used was from my stash, I decided to make a choccy bar, complete with punched out 'bite'

The checked paper is another free download from Bearly Mine Designs.

The added chocs around Hershey are my own design.

Thank you Katie for sending me Hershey, I know I shall get lots of use with him :)

To see more fabulous creations using images from PMS, please go visit the rest of the brilliant SS Design Team.

I have a very busy week ahead of me, my eldest daughter will be 21 next saturday! yikes! where have all those years gone?!

150 weeks!

2011-04-09T08:00:00.002+01:00

Yep, this week is week 150 for Sketch Saturday :)
WOW!

And this week we are sponsored by the wonderful Simon Says Stamp where you could win a $25 shopping spree in their amazing store!

Here's my card...

The image is from Stitchy Bear and is called Butterfly Love, i've coloured her with promarkers.
The floral paper is a freebie from Bearly Mine Designs, it's such a pretty design, don't you think?
The green paper is by Nitwit Collections, I received it free with a craft mag.
The Happy Birthday sentiment is from a SeeD's stamp set.
I added 3 small flowers using a retro flower punch and adding colour with my PM's.

The lovely SS design team and GD Peggy have made more beautiful cards for your inspiration, please stop by their blogs to see and to say Hi.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges at:

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Spring Colours

Hope you all have a great weekend and if the sun is shining, get out there and enjoy yourselves :)

Awwwwwww!

2011-04-02T08:00:00.007+01:00

Morning!

It's Saturday, so that means it's time for another sketch challenge over at Sketch Saturday. This week is Sem's DT week, and she has got a truly wonderful sponsor this week, Whimsy Stamps. Denise (Whimsy's owner) will be giving our challenge winner a stamp and die package worth $31 (amazing)!!!
Now I know you want to win that eh?!
so please join in with us this week using Sem's fantastic sketch.

Denise very kindly gave the design team a choice of an image to use (Thank you Denise! xx)
I chose this adorable kitty image... Love Me Anyway, one of Crissy's Digi's...

I love this image Soooooooooo much!
I want to scoop up little kitty in my arms for a cuddle.

Fiddly work cutting it out, but it was SO worth it!

I coloured Kitty with my promarkers. The patterned cardstock is called 'chateau upholstery' and is by Chatterbox, it's one of my favourites, it's double sided, both sides being shown on this card, i'm not sure if it's still available actually, as I first bought this cardstock years ago and quickly ordered me more soon after. I am down to my final 12x12 sheet now, so I hope it is still around when I need to buy more.

My SS teamies have made such wonderful cards as always this week, many using other whimsy images. Please stop by and see for yourself, links are in my sidebar >>>

Thank you for stopping by today, hope you have a great weekend and to all the Mommy's out in blogland (well the UK anyway!)... Happy Mother's Day for tomorrow xx

Sweet Goodbye

2011-04-02T07:59:00.018+01:00

It's time for me to say goodbye as a DT member for Sweet Stampin.
I've loved being part of such a fun challenge blog, back from the very first day when Emma started up the blog for crafters who used Stampin Up products, through to now, where you can now use whatever products you wish as long as you follow the theme for the week, and there really is a fab mix of themes!

I'd just like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of the Sweeties, past, present and Guest Designers for your friendship and inspiration, thank you to the fabulous sponsors, and thank you to all of you, the sweetie followers and challengers... it's been an absolute pleasure! xx

Mother's Day Designs

2011-03-28T16:12:00.005+01:00

Here are a few of my cUp designs which are suitable for Mother's Day...

A Card for my Mother

Blue Hydrangea

Pink Hydrangea

Vintage Violets

Morning Glory

And if your Mom loves chocs instead of flowers...

~~Chocolate and~~ Roses are so overated!

in 2 designs

each sheet is 80p, $1.21 (US), $1.31 (AU) or €0.90
Available from craftsUprint

Motorbike Gauges

2011-03-28T11:13:00.003+01:00

My latest sheet available from craftsUprint...

Motorbike gauges to embellish your motorbike/motorcycle themed cards.
3 different gauges: RPM gauge, speed gauge & fuel/temperature gauge, each of these in 3 different sizes.

Price for this sheet is
80p, $1.21 (US), $1.31 (AU) or €0.90

here's my late card

2011-03-26T17:20:00.001Z

...for this weeks Sweet Stampin challenge.

The theme this week is weather, hmmmm, I intended to make a summery sunshine theme but it went off-piste! no weather as such but I hope it has a summery feel to it, well looking at her dress, there must be a summer breeze ;)

The image is of course a magnolia, I haven't used this stamp for a while and I don't know why cos I love it, I have quite a few magnolia stamps that I really should use more often. I coloured this little cutie in with PMs, but paper-pieced her dress.
The 3 flower images are from a 'flower for all seasons' stamp set by SU.
The sentiment is a PB stamp.

Gotta dash, must get ready for work. TFL xx

Saturday challenge

2011-03-26T07:50:00.003Z

Time for a new challenge over at Sketch Saturday, and as it's the last Saturday of the month, it means that we are sponsored this week by

who are offering this weeks challenge winner this fabby prize!...

This is my card...

I've used one of my latest purchases from craftsUprint.

The motorbike and the map background were both bought from there, the motorbike is a decoupage sheet, but once cut out and ready to assemble, I realised that my silicone glue is AWOL *tuts* and my foam pads are just too thick for this image, so I just curled the pieces slightly to give a bit of definition and assembled it together with normal wet glue.

As i type this, I still haven't finished my DT card for Sweet Stampin *naughty Jo* The images are all ready, just need to decide how to assemble the card, do I get out more papers, flowers, ribbons, etc, or do I make another DAZ card?

I'm sorry to my fellow sweeties, time got away from me this week, I will upload my card asap, I have work today & tomorrow but will find the time somehow.

Have a great weekend everyone xx

For Mom & Dad

2011-03-19T08:00:00.009Z

My parents celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary tomorrow (20th March)

This is the card that I have made them (although there are now added flowers to the blue panel too, but took this pic beforehand)

The image and papers are from Stampin Up, the image is from their summer by the sea stamp set and the papers are called Bella Bleu.

I coloured the image with ProMarkers, the text is handwritten.
The pretty heart border strip was made using a fiskars punch.

This card is my DT card for Sketch Saturday too, this week we are being sponsored by the lovely Nikki and Bunny Zoe's Crafts.

For this weekend you can get a massive 25% off ALL High Hopes, C.C. Designs and The Greeting Farm Stamps! what a great offer eh?... go grab a bargain!

Here's a pic of the card, in daylight, with the flowers.
The flowers were punched using my SU boho blossoms punch (the largest flower) and my nellie snellen stamen punch, securing with a brad in the centre of each. I used a woodware punch for the leaves.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Wild Orchid - to use die cuts or punches
Papertake Weekly - Trio Tastic (3 flowers)
Charisma Cardz - die cuts (does punching count too?)

Please go visit my SS sisters to see their fantastic cards this week
Have a great weekend xx

You light... the skies... up above me....

2011-03-12T08:01:00.025Z

ok, own up! who sang the next line?

It's time for a new sweetie challenge!
We're sponsored by Fairy Dust Crafts this week, with the winner getting to choose 5 digi images from their fab selection on offer.
Not forgetting our monthly sponsor, Pollycraft, who will be giving one lucky winner out of all the challenges this month ALL 7 digi images from their new release, Swings and Slides.

So what is this weeks challenge?
we want you to get inspiration from your favourite movie (or one of your favourites)

I chose...

I chose this movie because Fluff suggested it, well, when I say suggested it, she didn't say to use this exact movie, but when I told her that I was having difficulty choosing a favourite (because I have more than one) she asked what was the last movie I watched.

So, since Stardust is one of the films in my favourites list anyway (if you haven't seen it yet then you really should), plus I watched it with my son again last week, I used it for inspiration to make my star card...

I kept the colour scheme nice and simple, black and white with a very slight touch of pale blue.

The image is a mix of 4 star stamps, the largest star being part of 'fun and fast notes' stamp set from SU. I also used a little SU bashful blue ink with my blender pen to add a delicate touch of colour to the stars, then finished the image with a sprinkling of SU dazzling diamonds.

Next I got out my jewellery making box and made the 3 star charm that is hanging from the blue ribbon.

Then put it all together with a bit of matting and layering, et voila!

I thought about adding a sentiment, but eventually decided not to, but what do you reckon? do you think it needs one?

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Craft Your Days Away - Black and White
Wild Orchid Challenges - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
Polka Doodles - Black, white + one other

Would you like to see more movie inspired cards? well pop over to Sweet Stampin to feast your eyes on the cards made by the rest of the Team Carrie Sweeties (plus Team Fluff Abi - she couldn't resist joining in!) they are all AWESOME!

Disclaimer... I cannot be held responsible if you will now be singing 'Rule the World' for the rest of the day, your brain must love it too, and I have no control over your brain (I barely have control over my own!)

Circles!

2011-03-12T08:00:00.060Z

If you like using circles on your cards then you are going to love the sketch we have for you over at Sketch Saturday,

and if you like craft shopping (of course you do! who doesn't?!) there's a whopping $25.00 shopping spree prize for the lucky challenge winner, because this week, we are sponsored by our generous regular sponsor, Simon Says Stamp.

Here's my card...

I've made this for my friends Son, he's a West Bromwich Albion supporter.
I wanted grass paper but didn't have any so I made some on my pooter, hope it looks real enough.
The stripy paper was also made on the pooter, as was the sentiment.
I bought the footballer stamp off ebay, the listing said it may be a Personal Impressions stamp.
The stamps used on the strip across the middle are from a See D's set.

I'd love you to visit the rest of my SS sisters, their cards are always beautiful and inspirational, and this week is no exception.
And Paula is back from her little craft break too! :)

Thanks for visiting today.
By the way, do you like Take That?

...

Cazza's DT week

2011-03-05T08:00:00.003Z

It's the lovely Cazza's turn to host our challenge this week over at Sketch Saturday, and this week not only do we have a fabulous sketch designed by Cazza herself, but we have another new sponsor and Guest Designer for March...

And you could win 4 of Lisa's fabulous stamps as well as a wild rose studio paper pack if you are this weeks winner, great prize eh?!

Lisa very kindly gave the DT a stamp each to use this week, I chose Minx... What flowers?

Thank you Lisa, I hope you like my card...

I love this image! I coloured it with ProMarkers (had some new colours for my birthday! yay!) and teamed it with some free nitwit papers from a craft mag and punched flowers/gems.

To see more of Lisa's brilliant stamp designs, please take a look at what the rest of the DT have made this week, as well as Lisa herself, we're in for a treat this month :)

No sweet stampin card this week, it's Team Fluff in the spotlight this week :)

Have a great weekend xx

Oh So Girly!

2011-02-26T08:01:00.088Z

This week Sweet Stampin are very happy to announce that we have a special new sponsor

This lovely sponsor is none other than the founder of Sweet Stampin, Emma Lockley. She is still missed in the crafting world (and especially by all the Sweeties), but we wish her all the best with her new etsy shop.

A huge thank you to Emma for donating this FABULOUS prize to this weeks winner...

Not only that, we also have ANOTHER totally fab sponsor this week too!

with the winner being able to choose 4 packs of charms from Crafty Emma's Store

Not forgetting our monthly sponsor of course...

This week is your last chance to be eligible for their prize.

Incase you hadn't already guessed by my title (or been to Sweet Stampin), this weeks theme is called "Oh So Girly!"

Here's my card...

yes, it's the same image that I used last week for Sketch Saturday (it's from Stitchy Bear), it's such a girly image that I just had to use it again this week too, using a different colour palette this time.
Again, I used 3D gloss on the pearls.
The papers are lovely aren't they?
The heart paper is by Dovecraft, from their 'back to basics' collection.
The floral paper is from MME's 'quite contrary' collection.
The lilac paper is just scrap pieces from my stash that I punched with my SU eyelet border punch and added white faux stitching.
The sentiment is by SU too ('best yet' stamp set)

Wotcha reckon.... girly enough?

wait til you see what the other Sweeties have made to delight you (links in the sidebar) >>>

thanks for stopping by xx