Sweet Stampin - Punch it!

This weeks challenge over at Sweet Stampin is titled "Punch it!"
We want you to use at least one punch in your creation this week please.

I used 3 punches and also punchouts from another punch that I don't own (yet) ;)

This gift wallet is made with those yummy 'ski slope' SU papers again!
I have punched the bottom of the front flap with my SU eyelet border punch,
The flowers were punched with my SU boho blossoms punch, (the leaves are by a martha stewart punch - I bought the punchouts)
The sentiment is from my SU 'so many scallops' stamp set and punched out with the SU scalloped circle punch.

I've sent this to a lovely friend of mine, she may have received it today but just incase she hasn't yet, i'm not going to spoil the surprise and say who.

Please stop by the blogs of the other design team members, the beauty of a challenge like this is that all of the DT examples are different and very inspirational, so what are you waiting for eh?! get punching!! LOL!

Enjoy your weekend everyone! xx

Last SS challenge for 2009

Hiya! :)
Yes this week is the last challenge for 2009 over at Sketch Saturday.
The design team are having a well earned rest next week to enjoy Christmas with their loved ones.
Our challenge this week is being sponsored by a lady who also helped Sketch Saturday become the success it is today, the very lovely and extremely talented Sandra Dry, who is offering our challenge winner 6 wonderful digi images of their choice :)
As you know Sandra was on the DT until recently, we were sad to see her go but are so proud that she was once part of this fantastic team of crafting friends.
And as our sponsor this week she has also made a card! YAY! like old times ;)

Sandra very kindly sent me this 'Christmas Simples' image (a download of course) so that I could use it on my card this week, this is perfect for a card for my Son, he often imitates Aleksandr Meerkat, saying 'simples!'
I printed out the sentiment on the pc, yes I know the sentiment isn't in the same place as the one on the sketch, and the word 'son' isn't either, but it just wouldn't work with this design if I had placed it correctly because I wanted to cut out the meerkat. Forgive me?
If you want to see real professional examples that follow the sketch perfectly then please go visit the blogs of the amazing DT, I promise that you won't be disappointed ;)

Ok, my card...
I used the large circle in the sketch as a bauble, and used my favourite SU 'ski slope' papers again, I just can't get enough of these papers, I love them! (as you can probably tell!)
I coloured the image with ProMarkers and added a bit of sparkle to his hat and scarf with my clear glitter gel pen.
Inside the card I have printed... 'Simples!'



Thanks for dropping by, and thank you to those of you who have taken part in our challenges throughout 2009 xx

Yippeeeeeeee! I won!

Many thanks to all of you who voted in the card challenge comp I was recently in

Wohooooo! I won!


I won £10 to spend on SU goodies, so after I placed my order with Emma, she knocked £10 off my bill, I now own 2 new SU punches, a mat pack and an adorable stamp set called 'A flower for all seasons'

my card was card #3

The most fiddly bit about this card was making the faux threading through the tiny holes made by the eyelet border punch, I also used the teeny dots to add feet to the adorable owl image (dots are waste from the same punch used on a leftover piece of the yellow cardstock)

So once again, thank you for voting for my card,
not forgetting a huge thank you to Emma for the wonderful prize and for giving us such a fun challenge in the first place!

I need more crafting time!...

... don't we all eh? christmas is just such a busy time, I take my hat off to all of you who can still find time to craft and blog as well as being domestic goddesses *bows down with respect*

I'm embarrassed to say that this week I have had to combine both of my design team commitments due to lack of time (& energy) - something which I really didn't want to do if at all possible.

Sketch Saturday is on week #81 and is being sponsored by the fabulous Simon Says Stamp where you could win a $25 gift voucher to spend in their store!

Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog is on week #4, and has a, well, 'challenging' colour combo for you all this week, and remember, you get an extra chance to win the monthly prize draw if you use Stampin Up products in your creation ;) The colours are...



The monthly prize this month is a 'Punches Three' stamp set and a scallop square punch, awesome prize eh?!

Here is my card...

I've used SU brilliant blue cardstock for the base, the old olive DSP is from their 'Haiku' collection.
I have added more mustard cardstock 'straps' and added a silver/grey washer and 2 screws as extra elements to work alongside this adorable sugar nellie image, Hamish fixing tractor. Not sure if this stamp is still available anymore actually. I've coloured the image in with ProMarkers, choosing colours that were as close as possible to the SU ones.
I have left the sentiment blank because I will add a number to the box when I know what age to add to it! lol.
TFL xx

Sweet Stampin...#3... Feathered Friends

WOW, It's already week 3 over at Sweet Stampin Challenge blog :)
It's the first Saturday of the month so that means a new prize is on offer to all of you who take part in our challenges throughout the month of December, and remember if you use any SU products you can enter the prize draw twice! :)

To find out who has won last months Simply Scrappin kit 'Sunny Day' please pop over to the blog to find out!

Here is my card for this weeks challenge which is entitled 'feathered friends'...

I used a kraft cardstock base, layered it with 'Tea Party' DSP, the green piece was punched with the eyelet border punch at the bottom to create interest.
The bird was made using elements from one of SU's On Board collections of chipboard pieces, these are from the 'So Tweet' set. You get over 80 chipboard elements in this set for just £11.75 which is a great buy! You can order a set of these for yourself from my good friend Emma.
My bird's body was inked with a mix of SU 'more mustard' and 'close to cocoa', the legs were inked with 'summer sun' and the beak with 'pumpkin pie'.
I glued the reverse side of that green DSP shown onto the wing and tail feathers.
The felt flowers are from the 'flower fusion' Accents & Elements range, the colours being old olive and pumpkin pie, you can also get these flowers in rose red colour too.
The sentiment is hand written.

OK, now it's your turn! ;) lets see your feather inspired creations!!

Have a great weekend everyone xx

Jeanettes fabulous sketch...

isn't this a lovely sketch?...

It's Jeanette's turn to host this months DT week over at Sketch Saturday :)
and I just know that her sketch is going to be a very popular one this week.
Here is my card...

I have used the lovely 'Herb' snowman from Whiff of Joy, who are also this weeks sponsor for Jeanettes challenge :)
Katharina is offering an adorable stamp for the winner this week... 'Willow reading a story'
Thank you hunni! xx
I coloured Herb with SU inks and the paper I have used is also by stampin up and is from their 'pink flamingo' collection.
The sentiment is from a Dovecraft clear stamp set.
The snowflakes were from my stash.

Guest Designer for December
We are very happy to welcome the talented Squirrel as our GD for this month!
Squirrel has made a fabulous card this week, I am looking forward to seeing more of her work this month :)

I know how busy you all must be right now, but I do hope you can find time to join in with Jeanettes challenge this week.
TFL xx

Sweet Stampin...#2...colour combo!

It's week 2 over at Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog, and this week we have a colour combo challenge for you :)

Please click on the colour chart if you need to see it bigger.
Beautiful Christmas colours, don't you think?

so I decided to make a Christmas gift tag...

I started with a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock which I punched and embossed each corner with my Fiskars corner punch.
All papers are from my favourite 'Ski Slope' DSP collection, the old olive piece being punched at one end with my eyelet border punch, the flowers were punched with my boho blossoms punch, adding martha stewart 'pine branch' punchouts for the leaves.
The sentiment is from SU's 'winter post' stamp set, which I coloured in a little with SU inks and a blender pen.
Finally I got out my crop-o-dile, added 2 eyelets and threaded through a piece of bright red ribbon, tied into a bow.
I really like how this gift tag turned out! :)

PLEASE spread the word about this new challenge blog, there's some great challenges in the pipeline, as well as a fabulous prize to be won each month!

Sketch Saturday #79...

Time for another Sketch Saturday challenge!

and this week we are sponsored by The Craft Barn
Sandy is offering a lovely Motivet stamp as this weeks prize for the challenge winner :)

Here is my card using this weeks sketch...

I've used Stampin Up papers again (I love SU papers) these are from their 'Haiku' collection, the cardstock base is More Mustard, and the scalloped pieces were punched with my scallop edge border punch out of Very Vanilla cardstock.
This image and sentiment were bought last year, I got this stamp off ebay, it's such a great image don't you think?
Sequins from my stash.

TFL, have a great weekend xx

My little boy is growing up

Today is my Son Jake's 11th birthday. Jake is a very loving & caring boy who likes to be friends with everyone and doesn't have a mean bone in his body. His Dad & I are very proud of the little man he is growing into.

My beautiful little boy is growing up fast, he's in his last year at primary school, yet I can remember his first day at nursery like it was yesterday. How time flies!

Jakes favourite programme is Dr Who, so I hope he likes his card, I couldn't add every detail but sort of got the look right... I think. Sorry about the glare off the gold paper on the photo, I took dozens of pics and this was the best one!

Happy Birthday Jakey!
xxxxxxxxxxx

Sweet Stampin....... a 'Celebration'

Woohooo! it's officially challenge #1 for the brand new Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog! :)

We would like you to make a card or project with the theme being for a celebration.

There will be a prize at the end of the month for one lucky challenger, this months prize is a Stampin Up! Sunny Day kit.

Sweet Stampin challenge blog is primarily a Stampin Up challenge blog, and although other brands are allowed on your projects, if you use a Stampin Up product you get an extra chance of winning the prize because you can put your name down twice!
So remember, you will need to leave us 2 comments, the first comment with a direct link to your entry and then a second comment telling us which Stampin Up! product(s) you have used.

Here is my card, 'celebrating' the birth of a baby...

Stampin Up products used:
Bashful blue cardstock base
Bashful blue 'patterns' DSP cut into 1" squares
Whisper white cardstock punched with the new eyelet border punch to create the 'lacy edge'
sentiment from 'so many scallops' stamp set, stamped with Bashful blue ink onto whisper white cardstock, and punched out with the scallop circle punch.

Non-Stampin Up products used:
white gel pen, and a 'clear star' glitter gel pen to add finishing touches.

I do hope you can find time to take part in our challenge, and also please go visit the new design teams work, all their examples are so beautiful, and they'd love for you to stop by and say hi :)
You can find links to all their blogs in my sidebar >>>>>

Happy Crafting! xx

Cat Nap crimbo

Hello everyone, it's saturday! & we're onto week 78 over at Sketch Saturday :)

I couldn't take part last week because I had cut my finger quite badly at work which was extremely sore and had a whopping big bandage that kept getting in the way when I tried to sit and craft :(
It's much better now though, the bandage is off, and although it's still a little sore, it's almost fully healed.

OK, back to the challenge :) and this weeks we are sponsored by Quixotic Paperie, and the lovely Elaine.
Fancy a bargain?.... There's a special 10% off all Prima, My minds eye, Cosmo cricket and Basic grey products until Midnight (GMT) on Monday 23rd November ;)

Elaine is offering a beautiful Elisabeth Bell stamp as a prize for this weeks challenge winner :)

Here is my card...

I love this kitty so much that I just had to use him again!
The stamp is an Artful Stamper image and is called 'Cat Nap' I stamped it onto glossy paper and used promarkers to colour it in (not a good idea on glossy paper!)
Unfortunately my camera has picked up all the pen strokes! I still love this image though.
The patterned paper is 'ski slope' by Stampin Up!
The sentiment is from the stamp I used to make this card.
The flowers were made by using my 'boho blossoms' & 'scallop circle' punches, adding MS 'branch' punchouts for the leaves and sequins to the centres.

Thank you for looking, now please go take a look at the breathtaking examples by the rest of the design team, you owe it to yourself ;)

have a great weekend! xx

Sweet Stampin DT announced!

It's official! Emma & I have new friends to work with!

So without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to the new Sweet Stampin Design Team!

Terry

Jan

Margreet

Faye

Rachael

Jayne

I'm looking forward to getting to know each of them more as we get to create beautiful examples to show you all.
Congratulations girls! xx

Over the Top!

With thanks to my new friend & fellow DT member Terry for passing this onto me,

I enjoyed reading her answers too.... boobtoob!! LOL! :D

The only thing I have to do is to answer some questions and pass on this award to 5 lovely people......

1: Where is your cell phone? here, next to me & the pc
2: Your hair? is on my head, (oh you mean colour?... it's dark brown with added (unwanted) grey ones!!)
3: Your mother? is named Mom and lives with Dad
4: Your father? is named Dad and lives with Mom ;)
5: Your favorite food? Hmmmm, difficult one, I like many different foods, but I do love anything with veg or pasta in it
6: Your dream last night? about my daughter, Emma
7: Your favorite drink? Diet Pepsi
8: Your dream/goal? to have a dream that will come true one day
9: What room are you in? dining room
10: Your hobby? cardmaking
11: Your fear? fast or buzzing insects
12: Where do you want to be 6 years? in a truly happy place
13: Where were you last night? right here
14: Something that you aren't? making my SS card because of a cut finger
15: Muffins? yes please! i'll bring the coffee :)
16: Wishlist item? more money to buy more craft stash!! ;)
17: Where did you grow up? Dudley, West Midlands, UK
18: Last thing you did? this questionaire ;)
19: What are you wearing? clothes! (they lock people up for asking things like that you know)
20: Your tv? is switched off at the moment
21: Your pets? a chocolate tortoiseshell cat named Tickle
22: Best friend? my husband
23: Your life? is ok, could be better
24: Your mood? good
25: Missing someone? yes
26: Vehicle? I don't drive
27: Something you are not wearing? I've told you about asking questions like that before haven't I? LOL!
28: Your favorite store? a craft store (I bet every crafter says the same lol)
29: Your favorite color? green
30: When was the last time you laughed? when I read about Terry's Boobtoob!! LOL!
31: Last time you cried? yesterday
32: Your best friend? still my husband, I promise I didn't lie first time I answered.
33: One place that I go to over and over ? my parents house
34: Facebook? No
35: Favorite place to eat? Home




Phew! a lot of questions!
Ok, I'd like to pass this onto some lovely friends from Auntys...

Julie
Fi
Jan
Karen
Sian

Sketch Saturday - it's Debbie's DT week!

So.... it's the first Saturday in November today, where has the year gone?
The first Saturday of the month also means Sketch Saturday DT week!
and this month is the turn of the lovely Debbie, who has made this beautiful sketch for us all...

This weeks sponsor is Create 4 fun, who are very generously donating 2 fabulous Inky Impressions stamps for this weeks lucky challenge winner :)

Here is my card for this week...

It's a small card ( approx 7cm squared)
This image is so cute! I love it!
I bought the stamp from an auction at eBid.
I'll be using this stamp (and another small stamp that I bought at the same time) on most of my cards this year, I only have a handful of xmas cards made so far so I needed to find something that I could do quickly, assembly line style, and these stamps fit the bill, and will help me boost my currently sad excuse for a xmas card pile.
The designer papers are from Stampin Up's 'Ski Slope' collection.

Happy crafting everyone, enjoy your weekend :)

NCBOTB!

LOL! no I haven't lost the plot! ;)
NCBOTB = New Challenge Blog On The Block! (or should that be "in blogland" instead)
and I am on the Design Team!! Woohooooooooo!

Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog is the brainchild of the lovely Emma Lockley, a UK Stampin Up demonstrator, based in the West Midlands.
Emma & I have become great blog buddies since the very first time she sponsored Sketch Saturday, so I was delighted when she gave me an outline of what she wanted & asked me to do the graphics for her new challenge blog for people who love Stampin Up products :)
and I was even more delighted (and a little bit shocked) when she asked me to be on her design team too!

The colour theme for Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog is based around 4 beautiful Stampin Up colours: Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, and Old Olive.

These are the colours that we want you to use if you wish to apply to join the design team alongside Emma & myself (more details below)
Ideally you will already have some Stampin Up products in your craft supplies, but if you don't have any yet, or need to buy more (and who doesn't!!) then Emma can supply whatever you need - if you live in the UK of course.
Emma can also supply you with a 2009-2010 SU catalogue to drool over for the incredibly low price of just £2.50 and this includes postage too!
Details found on her blog HERE
While you are there, take a look at Emma's card using the blogs colours... Fabulous!!


I made a card using the same 4 colours too...


SU products:
Cardstock - Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion, & Whisper White
Stamp set - Pocket Silhouettes
Inks (image) - Pink Passion, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive
Ink (sentiment) - Tempting Turquoise
Tools - Eyelet border punch & Spiral punch

Non-SU products:
white gel pen (faux stitching)
white satin ribbon
Cropodile (to punch the holes to thread the ribbon)



DT Call!
So.... a new Challenge Blog means a new Design Team!
We are looking for 4 DT members to join Emma & myself.
You would need to commit yourself for 6 months and take part in the weekly challenges.
If you would like to be considered for the DT this is what we would like you to do...

1) Add yourself as a follower of Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog

2) Add our blinky to your sidebar (you can find the code in the sidebar of the blog)

3) Enter the 'Colour Combo Challenge' leaving a direct link to your DT entry & tell us in your comment that you would like to be considered as a DT member.

The deadline for Design Team entry is Midnight (UK time) Wednesday 18th November

Here's the colour combo chart...



If you do not wish to be considered for the DT you can still take part in this weeks
'Colour Combo' Challenge, we'd love you to take part!!

PLUS, if you use a Stampin Up! product on your entry we want to know about it, giving you an extra chance of winning.
You will need to leave us 2 comments, One with a direct link to your entry and the other stating which Stampin Up! product you have used on your entry

The deadline for the 'Colour Combo Challenge' is Midnight (UK time) Friday 20th November.
This challenge will last for 3 weeks because of the DT call, but there will be a challenge winner chosen at random of this fabulous SU prize...



after this one there will be a new challenge set each Saturday, with a monthly prize draw for one lucky challenger, all you have to do is take part in at least one challenge throughout the month! easy peasy eh?
However, the more challenges through the month that you enter, the bigger the chance you have of winning the monthly prize draw!

Happy Crafting! xx

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween!

This weeks challenge over at Sketch Saturday is sponsored by The Craft Barn :)
and this week Sandy is offering a fab cuttlebug embossing folder with a Halloween theme...

not only that, the lucky challenge winner will also receive a surprise stamp too ;)



Here is my card...

I don't have much Halloween stash, but then I remembered this lovely freebie image that I had downloaded from Mo's digital pencil. Look at the cute dog in his black cat costume!... love it!
Thank you Mo for such a fab image.
I coloured Bella & Bronte with ProMarkers, I have bought a few more colours last week to add to my collection, still need loads more though!
The patterned paper is by Paper cellar, the cardstock is from my stash, it is navy blue with a lovely gold shimmer to it.
The sentiment is hand written, and the bats, pumpkin and little sweet are also drawn by hand, then coloured with ProMarkers.

I hope you are able to find time to join us this week, and also see the amazing cards and projects that the design team have created for you this week.

Happy crafting! enjoy your weekend,
and remember to have fun but stay safe if you go trick or treating tonight. xx

Sketch Saturday #74

This weeks Sketch Saturday challenge is sponsored by Quixotic Paperie, a treasure trove of papercrafting stash with stamps from all over the world. The prize this week being one from that huge selection of stamps... an adorable Belles & Whistles stamp :)

Here is my card...

Lots of dots on this one!
I have used SU kraft cardstock, layered with a scrap piece of pink card that I embossed with my swiss dots folder, I used the debossed side as the side on show though, adding a pretty white bottom edge with my new SU eyelet border punch.
The pink dotty strips are from Paper Cellar's 'Wedding' collection. I sponged the edges with SU close to cocoa ink.
The Forever Friends image and sentiment was given to me by my friend Fi (Magick Diva), Thanks again Fi! xx
I coloured this cute little bear with distress inks.
The flowers were made using my SU boho blossoms punch, adding pink gems to the centres & white martha stewart branch punch leaves.


Please stop by the blogs of my fellow DT members, their cards are awesome!
Hope you enjoy working with this weeks sketch.

TFL, enjoy your weekend.

That's another one done!

I've made another Christmas card using this weeks sketch over at Sketch Saturday :)
This week we are sponsored by Simon Says Stamp, who are offering a fantastic $25.00 gift certificate prize to our winner!

Here is my card...



The backing paper on this card is by Basic Grey, the name is 'Dasher', i've had this a while so unfortunately I don't know if it is still available to buy.
The holly pieces were handstamped with a stamp from a £1 Dovecraft clear stamp set and then coloured in with ProMarkers.
The sentiment is also Dovecraft, but from a different set.
'Snowflurry Tilda' was coloured with ProMarkers too, with glitter added to highlight the snowflakes and her wings.
I must extend my ProMarkers collection, the same colour schemes are getting quite tedious now.
Anyway, you will see much better cards than this if you visit my fellow DT members blogs, you can visit each one by clicking on their name in my sidebar :)

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend! xx

Ria's DT week on Sketch Saturday :)

This week it is the turn of the lovely Ria to give you all a sketch for this weeks challenge over at Sketch Saturday.
It is Pet's Day in Holland today and Ria would like to honour our furry or feathered companions by dedicating this weeks challenge to them :)
She has lined up not one but TWO sponsors, so that means 2 winners! YAY!

Ideally Ria would like us all to make our cards with a pet theme, but I desperately need to make more christmas cards and the only animal themed christmas stamp I have at hand at the moment was the one I used last week, and that is too big for Ria's gorgeous sketch.
So I used Tilda instead, just as cute as a pet, but not so furry :D
hmmmm, she does have wings though! ;)
anyway, I hope Ria will forgive me for not using an animal themed stamp.
I must get out the rest of my christmas stamps, I need them!

Here is my card, I flipped Ria's sketch...

All the papers are by Stampin Up, yes the same 'ski slope' collection I used last week.
I used the same paper to back onto the clear buttons that I used in the centre of the flowers too.
Hmmmm, I wish I had added some leaves now, maybe I will do that before I send this card.

Thanks for stopping by, please go visit the fab DT's blogs too, all the links to their blogs are in my sidebar, over there >>>>>>>
and also in the sidebar on the Sketch Saturday blog too.

Our new design team members

We would like to thank everyone who entered the Sketch Saturday DT call.
This has not been an easy decision to make, but we could only choose 5,
So, in alphabetical order, we are proud to announce that the following ladies have been welcomed to our Design Team...

Louise
Maya
Paula
Simonne
Terry

I'm so looking forward to working with these talented ladies! :)

week 70

Yes, week 70 already over at Sketch Saturday!
Thank you all very much for contributing each week :)

This weeks challenge is sponsored by The Craft Barn, who have very kindly donated this fabulous new kadoodle stamp 'Boules de Noel' for our challenge winner...



Here is my card..

All cardstock and papers are by Stampin Up! The DSP is 'Ski Slope' and was in the UK mini catalogue.
The image is a stamp by Artful Stamper, I adore this stamp, the image has been heat embossed with silver then coloured with ProMarkers, I added a little sparkle to the little bell on the hat with my clear glitter gel pen.
The same glitter was added to the 3 snowflake punch-outs too.
The sentiment is from a Dovecraft clear stamps set, I have a few of these sets, they're great and only cost around £1 each.


As you may already know, my friend the extremely talented Sandra has decided to leave our DT :(
This week showcases her last DT card for us,
please stop by her blog to see her outstanding card for this week.
We are all going to miss you soooooo much Sandra, thank you for everything xx


Thanks for looking, have a fab week!
Jo xx

SS DT call - the top 12!

It was a hard job selecting 12 entrants from all those who applied, and we are all very grateful for the time that the entrants took to make such wonderful cards.

so without further ado, in alphabetical order, are the ladies who are asked to make one more card....

Dawn
Emma
Janneke
Jerusha
Jo
Louise
Maya
Paula
Simonne
Tanja
Terry
Trish

These ladies are now asked to make a card using any sketch from the last 3 months, so that will be going back as far as sketch #56 (20th June)
They will have one week to make their card, the deadline will be 8pm (UK time) next Monday (28th)

Exciting isn't it? this time next week we will have 12 entries to whittle down to our final 5 DT members, yes that's right, we are now having 5 new DT members to join our little family instead of 3.

Good luck ladies! xx

SS week 69, sponsored by Bunny Zoe's Crafts!

This weeks sketch over at Sketch Saturday is being sponsored by Bunny Zoe's Crafts, and you could win a gorgeous High Hopes stamp and christmas tree charms to adorn your crimbo cards this year ;)

Here is my card...

I have used an adorable Whiff of Joy stamp 'Herb', my friend Mariska bought me this stamp for my birthday early in the year (thanks again Mariska!)
it's the first time that this little darling has been inked up because I haven't thought about christmas cards that much .... until now! I really must get a move on!
I've coloured Herb with watercolour pencils and added a little glitter here and there with a glitter pen.
The sentiments used are by Stampin Up! and they are both in the 'Best Yet' Hostess level 1 stamp set.
The patterned paper is also SU, the collection is called 'Ski Slope' and was in the UK mini catalogue, I think you can still order it until 30th September, but please check with your local SU Demo.
The SU whisper white cardstock has been embossed with my snowflake embossing folder.

Please take a look at my fellow DT members cards, and also our September GD.. Emma
They have produced awesome examples for your inspiration.

TFL, enjoy your weekend,
Jo xx

SS - week 68

It's Saturday! so that means another sketch over at Sketch Saturday.
This week we are sponsored by the lovely Heidi from Simon Says Stamp :)
Who has generously donated another $25.00 gift certificate to the challenge winner!
Fabulous prize eh?! :)

Here is my card for this week...

I have used my favourite patterned cardstock again, 'chateau upholstery' by Chatterbox.
The green stripy band is the other side of the same cardstock.
I have used a gorjuss image and coloured her with watercolour pencils & some Stampin Up inks.
The flowers were punched with my SU boho blossoms punch, with a half pearl in the centre of each. I really love making flowers this way (as you can probably tell!)
The sentiment is also from SU ('Best Yet' level 1 hostess set)


Just a reminder.. If you're interested in entering our DT call, you have until 8pm (UK time) this coming Monday evening (14th September) to show us your work. All details are on the blog.

Hope you all have a great weekend :)

Coco's DT week

Over at Sketch Saturday this week, the lovely Coco has provided a fabulous sketch.
Her DT week is being sponsored by La Boit A Scrap who are offering our challenge winner 20 EUROS worth of goodies! what a wonderful prize!

Here is my card...

I have used this lovely Magnolia image and coloured her with distress inks and SU inks.
The backing paper is by SU too, from their 'spiced cider' collection.
The flowers were cut from a sheet of 12x12 that I have no idea where I got it from!
The sketch had the circles underneath the top rectangle, but as I wanted to substitute the circles for flowers, I chose to put them on top instead. The leaves were punched with a woodware 'ash' punch.


**SS NEWS!**
We have a new Guest Designer for the whole month of September too! :)
I am delighted that we have Emma Lockley to join our team!
Emma is a wonderful cardmaker and a big fan of our sketch blog, so I was so pleased that she said yes when I asked her to be our GD this month.
Emma has made a beautiful card this week, please stop by sketch saturday or her own blog to see.
And please don't forget to go visit the Design Teams blogs too, as always they have made wonderful cards to inspire you.

TFL & I hope you all have a lovely weekend xx

Circle of Friends award

Special thanks to my friend Sian for this award.


THE RULES

1. Make reference to the award and publish it on your blog
2. Share 5 things you like to do
3. Share with 10 blogs..or as many as you wish to!
4. Notify those you choose.


Here are 5 things I like to do...

1. keeping my little boy happy and healthy
2. designing blog backgrounds, making logos etc on Paintshop Pro
3. cardmaking, giftmaking, jewellery making - generally being creative
4. chatting to my friends and family for support, advice and laughs
5. finding/buying a bargain! ;)


The friends that I'm passing this award onto are...

**Gill** **Jeanette** **Ria** **Sandra**
**Tracie** **Coco** **Debbie** **Mandy**
**Emma** **Karen**

Sketch Saturday DT call

Interested? then please CLICK HERE to see the sketch and instructions of how to become part of our design team.

Thanks, Jo xx

Sketch Saturday - week 66

It's the last Saturday of the month, so that means that our sponsor this week over at Sketch Saturday is The Craft Barn! :)
Sandy is giving away 2 lovely stamps to this weeks winner, pop over to the blog to go see what they are and to see this weeks sketch too.

Here is my card this week...

Papers are by Stampin Up!, from their 'tea party' collection
The flowers were punched from the same collection, I added gold pearl gems to the centre of each one.
The image is of course Miss Anya, and i've coloured her in with ProMarkers.
The sentiment is handwritten, although the other circular sentiment around one of the flowers is by Stamps Away.

It's my Mom's birthday on Monday, I hope she likes her card.
Actually, I hope she doesn't look at my blog before Monday!!

My son has also made his Nan a card, I printed 'Happy Birthday Nan' for him and then he punched out the flowers and leaves and did the rest. I think this is so beautiful, and I know my Mom will love it...


Thanks for stopping by,
enjoy your weekend, and if you're in the UK, have a fab bank holiday too :)

Change of logo code

Hi everyone,
Just a quickie to let you all know that I have changed the code for my Siggi Shop logo.
The image is exactly the same, but where I host it is different.
so if you do have my logo displayed on your own blog or website (thank you!)
I would be very grateful if you could change the code to the new one.
The code is in the sidebar
<<<<<<< over there
all you need to do is add it to a new gadget (html/javascript)
and remove the old code.

If you host the image yourself from your own site or from your own photobucket account then you don't need to do anything. If in doubt, please use the code in the sidebar.

I will be removing the image, along with others I am changing, from my old account over the next few days/weeks.

Thank you so much,
Jo xx

Sketch Saturday #65...

Hi everyone, happy weekend to you all :)

This week, over at Sketch Saturday, our challenge is sponsored by Digital Delights, and this week there is a $10 gift certificate prize for the winner!...
Wendy, owner of Digital Delights kindly gave me and the other DT a set of images for us to use on our cards if we wished.
Of course I said yes! ... once again, Thank you Wendy :)

Here is my card using Hallie the Horse and Farm Background images...


I've coloured the images with ProMarkers, the patterned paper is by Stampin Up and is from the 'Tea party' collection, the cardstock used is also by SU.
The sentiment was bought from Catslife Press Rubber Stamps.
The green velvet ribbon was free with a craft magazine.
The 3 'hay bales' at the bottom left of the card were made from lengths of twine and I used a brown promarker to add a little colour here and there so that the hay didn't look too flat.

Copic Buzz - challenge #9

I found a challenge blog yesterday, Copic Buzz,
Looks like loads of fun I thought, however, I don't have any copic markers.
so emailed Barbara to ask if it is ok to take part anyway.
She said yes! and also sent me the free 'Ben' image that has very kindly been donated by Mo's Digital Pencil Too, who is sponsoring this weeks challenge and is a fabulous artist, take a look, her work is wonderful you're sure to agree.
Thank you Mo & Barbara, I do hope you like my card...

I coloured little Ben with my limited supply of promarkers
The checked patterned paper is another download, I got it some time ago and cannot remember where from! sorry.
The flower is hand punched, I added a pearl to the centre and martha stewart punched leaves.
It needed something in the top left for balance, so I added 3 eyelets and tied a bit of raffia through them.

Glad I had time to craft today, I do love this little fella, and shall send this card to my husband's friend's little boy for his birthday.
Thanks for looking xx

Sketch Saturday #64

Hiya! it's Saturday, so must be time for a new challenge!
This weeks sketch is sponsored by Bunny Zoe's Crafts, and you could win £15 worth of goodies of your own choice from the store! fantastic prize eh?!

Here is my card...

I love this image, it's from the 'Summer by the Sea' stamp set by Stampin Up, I've coloured it in with SU inks.
I have also used SU card stock (more mustard) and the patterned paper is also SU (so saffron)
the flowers were punched using the same DSP but instead of the floral design side, I used the polka dots side.
The leaves are Martha Stewart 'branch' punch outs which I bought off a well known auction site.
The plain brown paper, raffia and small pearls at the centre of the flowers are just from my scraps box
The sentiments - the one next to the image itself is from the same stamp set and says
"Joy is not in things, it is in us"
the 'with love' sentiment is from a different SU stamp set called 'Yummy'

I'm really happy with how this card turned out, hope you like it too.
Please go take a look at my fellow Design Team members cards and of course our Guest Designer Mina, by visiting their blogs, their work is so inspiring :)

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend. xx

Sketch Saturday #63

Would you like to win a $25.00 gift certificate to spend on craft stash?........ well who wouldn't eh?! ;)
well you can be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize by entering this weeks challenge for Sketch Saturday, because we are being sponsored by Simon Says Stamp!

This is my card this week...

I'm keeping this card to send it to my sister for her birthday next month.
I'm not sure of the name of the image because it was given to me (Precious Moments perhaps?), but I think it's so cute!
I have coloured it in with ProMarkers and added a little sparkle here and there with a clear, glitter gel pen.
The flowers were punched with my SU boho blossoms punch, the leaves were punched with my woodware 'ash' punch, and the frame around the flowers is by Prima.
The patterned paper is from my scrap drawer (I used the same paper to punch out the flowers).
The sentiment is hand written, I chose to write the letter 'e' backwards because when we were little my sister wrote my name on our bedroom wall with a backward e and tried to blame me, only the thing was, I wasn't old enough to write at the time so her plan backfired! lol!

TFL, Hope you all have a wonderful weekend xx

my cousins wedding card

I have made this card for my cousins wedding, I used Stampin Up 'basic gray' cardstock, added 2 circles cut with my coluzzle, the white piece was stamped with a stamp from my 'pocket silhouettes' stamp set (also SU), the pink dotty piece is from Paper Cellar's 'Wedding' collection.
The 2 hearts and the 2 scalloped border hearts beneath them were cut from my cricut (before I decided to sell it), the 2 top hearts were embossed using cuttlebug's paisley folder, then lightly inked around the edges with 'pretty in pink' SU ink.
The ribbon, heart pearls and heart pins are from my stash.



UPDATE 12.08.09
and here is the gift I have made for them...




A post bound photo album, with cello bags to house the photos (because I couldn't find 6x4" page protectors)

Pink Gem Candy

I've just entered the draw to win SIX Pink Gem stamps!!
All I had to do was leave a comment here, post the photo (below) on my blog with a link back to Janet's blog (click on photo)
The draw will take place on Tuesday 18th August at 6pm

Good luck everyone!
(although of course I want more luck than you...LOL!)

it is Sandra's DT week...

.... over at Sketch Saturday, and Sandra has created a wonderful sketch for us!



you decide if you want to add a sentiment, and where, or don't add one at all - it's upto you ;)

Sandra is also sponsoring her DT week, offering FIVE winners the choice of 3 single images each from her digi stamps site



Sandra Dry Digi Stamps have the most stunning designs, please go take a look at what is available by clicking HERE.


Here is my card...

I have used one of Sandra's new designs... Ruby, isn't she lovely?
although to get a better/cleaner look at this lovely image, please go to Sandras blog,
unfortunately my printer is in need of a thorough clean/service, and it is leaving ink streaks on all images that I try to print...very frustrating!!

Ruby is coloured in with ProMarkers (note the purple tights, because of those annoying ink lines)
The patterned paper is a scrap piece I had left, it is called 'family translation' , I think the collection name is 'Sonnets', not sure though to be honest.
I have used stampin up 'bordering blue' cardstock, which I have embossed with my paisley folder, and then sponged the edges with the same coloured ink.
The white piece was also embossed with my paisley folder.
The sentiment is a little sticker which co-ordinated perfectly.
The flowers were punched from the same patterned paper with my boho blossoms punch from stampin up, I used the largest and smallest flowers, used my embossing tool to make them more 3D and then layered them together, finishing with a pale aqua coloured pearl in the centre of each, the leaves were punched from pale lilac cardstock using my woodware 'ash leaf' punch.

Thanks for looking! please go visit the rest of the design team, their work is always stunning!

NEW GUEST DESIGNER!!
This week also starts our new MONTHLY guest designer slots, and for the whole month of August we will be joined by the very talented Mina - Welcome to our little family Mina! :)

Enjoy your weekend, Jo xx

Sketch Saturday - week 61

I only seem to be able to find the time to get on this blog weekly at the moment :(
It's week 61 over at Sketch Saturday, and this week our challenge is sponsored by one of our regular sponsors, The Craft Barn, and you could win a fabulous cuttlebug punch & emboss folder!

Here is my card..

I have used a Miss Anya image that was given to me by my friend Vicki, thanks again Vicki if you drop by here :)
The image is coloured with Promarkers, I don't have many of these yet, so need to add loads more to my collection so that I can play about with shading etc.
The patterned paper at the top was either from create & craft or was free with a mag subscription, but I can't remember which!! lol.
The purple piece is by SU! and I have embossed it with my cuttlebug stylised flowers embossing folder.
The flowers and leaves are punch outs.

TFL xx

Week 60!

Yes it's week 60 already over at Sketch Saturday. How time flies!

This week is sponsored by the very generous Emma Lockley.
There will be one 1st prize winner and 5 runner up prizes this week!

here is my card...

The image is 'Melinda blowing kisses' by Whiff of Joy, and I have coloured her using ink from Stampin Up! 'soft subtles' collection, and also distress inks.
Instead of 'blowing kisses', Melinda is holding a butterfly (I fancied something different)
Everything else that I have used for this card are either left over scraps or stuff i've gotten free with magazines.
To finish, I added a little glitter with my 'clear star' sakura pen.

Please go take a look at the other cards made by the talented Sketch Saturday DT, they truly are an inspiration :)

TFL, Enjoy your weekend! xx

Protect your work with a watermark

HALF PRICE offer until July 31st 2009

Protect your work by adding your own personal watermark over top of your photos.
You will need a photo editing software, such as paintshop pro or photoshop, one that enables you to layer the watermark (a png file) over the top of a photo.

Will not work with windows 'paint' program!

1 watermark - £1.50
2 watermarks - £2.50
(perhaps one for personal work and one for DT work?)

payment by paypal, no additional fees added.

Please quote 'HPW' in your email subject title, thanks.

Sketch Saturday #59...

This weeks sketch over at Sketch Saturday is being sponsored by Simon Says Stamp! and the winner of the challenge will win a $25.00 gift voucher to spend on SSS goodies! WOW!

This is my card for this week...

Card Base - SU! whisper white
Designer Paper - SU! tea party
Image - Gorjuss Girl 'sitting' coloured with Pro-Markers
Sentiment - SU! 'pocket silhouettes' set
Embellishments - fabric flowers, 'ash leaf' punch, eyelets, and glitter pen.


Please go take a look at the beautiful cards by the DT girls and also the fabulous card by Gitti, who has been our GD for the last 2 weeks. WTG Girls!! *claps*

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Jo xx