My fave five of 2014

I have shared my favourite five CHRISTMAS cards for 2014,  and Debby has asked us to share our favourite cards for the whole of 2014 too. so here's mine...

HAN & LEIA...

Original post is HERE.
This was one of my first few card makes for 2014, and was made for my husband.
Love the image, love the papers, and I was happy with the brown foam/eyelet 'belt' that I made to compliment the image.
And hubby loved it :)



 SPIT HAPPENS...

Original post is HERE.
I chose this card because it uses my favourite Mo Manning stamp, Spit Happens.
I've coloured this image for both girls and boys, and for newborn cards as well as 1st birthday cards like this one. I also love how pretty the layout, papers and flowers work together on this card.



GRUMPS' BUDGIE...

Now, I couldn't do a favourite card list without including my favourite feathered dudes, the Birdbrains, could I?
I'd choose all of them for this list if I could, and my first Birdbrain card can be seen HERE, but I have chosen the following one for this list, as it still makes me giggle when I see the photo, and it was also the first Birdbrain that I coloured a little differently to personalise it especially for the recipient...

Original post is HERE.
I love how you can personalise the Birdbrains by just colouring them a little differently than the norm, and if you look through my BIRDBRAIN CARDS you will find some that show exactly what I mean.



 JUST ARRIVED...

Original post is HERE.
This card is special to me because it is the first card made for my new baby grandson, Richard Jr (RJ).



MY BATTY HERO...

Original post is HERE.
This card was made for my older grandson, Mikey.
He loves Batman, so this Tiddly Inks image was perfect for his card. I also love the cityscape die background that teams up with the image perfectly.

Well, that's it, my fave five for 2014. Here's to a happy and creative 2015!

Happy New Year everyone! xx

My fave five CHRISTMAS cards for 2014.

The ever so talented Debby Yates makes fun, colourful and well thought out cards, and she has shared her favourites with us again. These posts are always fun to read :)
HERE's the link to see Debby's favourite five Christmas cards for 2014.
She asked us to share ours too.
Here goes, oh, and if you like the Birdbrains, you'll like this post, lol...

Holly Jolly Christmas...

Original post is HERE.
This was made back in March and was my first Christmas card make for this year.
The image cracks me up! and I was really happy with the papers and bright colours I chose when I made this card.


Mistletoe Birdbrains...

Original post is HERE.
This was the first time that I made a diorama card, and I loved the end result!
It folds flat for posting, a great idea eh?


Let it snow... Somewhere else!...

Original post is HERE.
Hehehe, perfect for those peeps that don't like shovelling ;)



Christmas Gift Horse...

Original post is HERE.
*what? no Birdbrain?!* hehe.
Seriously though, I was really happy with this card. The colours, paper / mirror card combo, and fantastic Whimsy image.


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Original post is HERE.
Ending with another Birdbrain, and I just LOVE this image! and I also love that it didn't need much else adding to make this simple yet fun Christmas card.

Hope you liked my fave five, and I hope you'll join in too :)

Christmas Tweets

Here's the christmas card I have made for my daughter and son-in-law this year...

I've used an image from the Christmas Tweets set by DigiStamp Boutique.
The snowflake border is from a Poppystamps Die (Frozen Flakes), and the paper is by Dovecraft (Merry Magic). The sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering this card into the December customer competition at DigiStamp Boutique
and also at:
Papertake Weekly - last christmas card of 2014
Creative Card Crew - anything goes
Pennys Paper Crafty - anything goes
Creative Inspirations - christmas/new year
Addicted to CAS - family

I want to thank you for visiting me throughout 2014, and I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and that 2015 is a happy and healthy year for you all.
Have fun, relax and enjoy! Cheers! :)

Jo xx

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

How are you today? My husband gave me an early pressie... his cold!  so I am feeling a little poorly at the moment, but it should pass in a few days (hopefully), the persistant cough is the most irritating part.
So, are you all ready for the big day?
Or are you like me and still have cards to make?
Well, if you do, then From The Heart Stamps may be able to help you out there, because today is Mid-Month reminder day, and we have a FANTASTIC image for December's Stamp Of The Month.

If you joined the SOTM challenge in November, you will have received Christmas Spirit Birdbrain via email. 

If you join in this month, you'll get next month's digi for free too.

If you don't have this month's SOTM, you can still play along by buying the image on it's own, or you can still get it for free if you spend $10 in the store and use the code HO-HO-HO

Told you it was fantastic didn't I?
Here's my card...

I've coloured my image using promarkers, and then stamped around the edges with a Bo Bunny holly leaf stamp from their 'Father Christmas' clearly stamp set.
The snowflakes are a Poppystamps Die (Frozen Flakes)
The sentiment is one of FOUR you get for FREE with this great image :)
So, a quick card, letting the image be the star of the show.

I'm entering this card at:
Incy Wincy Designs challenge - anything goes
Simon Monday Challenge - anything goes
Christmas Card Challenges - clean & simple
Sister Act card challenge - anything goes
That's Crafty - anything goes

There's still time for you to play, there's 2 more weeks to get your entry in, and remember if you do, you'll get January's SOTM emailed to you for free! ;)
Thanks for looking!

Inspiration Wednesday

It's time for a little mid-week inspiration by From The Heart Stamps.

This lovely image is Hamlet and Harriet Pigwit Christmas Mistletoe, coloured, as is usual for me, with Promarkers.
I've used papers by Dovecraft, Back to Basics, Christmas (vintage), and have used this week's sketch as a starting point.
The sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering this card at:
Allsorts - Animal Magic
That Craft Place - Christmas
The Ribbon Girl - Anything goes
Stamp & Create - Anything goes - Christmas

You can find more inspiration, and enter the I {heart} sketches challenge by clicking HERE.
Please join us on Facebook and “Like” our page to read about the latest FTH news.
We'd also love it if you'd join our Facebook Group too, this group makes it easier for you to share pics of your FTH makes, we'd love to see them!

Christmas Gift Horse

Isn't this horse adorable? What a great image. It's from Whimsy Stamps (a Crissy's digi).
It's reduced at the moment because Whimsy have announced that they can't continue with digi stamps from 1st Jan 2015 because of the new VAT tax laws in the EU. So if you planned on buying any digi's from Whimsy, grab them now while you still can.

Here's the card recipe...

Image: Whimsy Stamps 'Christmas Gift Horse'. Coloured with promarkers.
Sentiment: DigiStamp Boutique 'Christmas Greetings set 3'
Paper: Jennifer Ellory 'Berry Merry'.
Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Decorative Elements 'Elegant Ovals', Marianne Creatables 'Mistletoe', & Dienamics 'By The Letter'.

I'm entering this card at:
Allsorts - Animal Magic
That Craft Place - Christmas
The Ribbon Girl - Anything goes
A Random Fan - Christmas
Papertake Weekly - Anything goes
   

FTH December Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on this month's From the Heart Stamps blog hop.

Our theme this time is "Christmas or Winter"

As you hop along, please remember to leave a comment on each blog.
One random commenter will be selected on each blog to win an image of choice from the FTH store.
And additionally, one commenter on the From the Heart Stamps blog will be selected to win a $15 gift voucher to the store!

If you have arrived here from Jessica, you are in the right place. If you haven't, why don’t you start at the From the Heart Stamps blog, so you don’t miss anything. The full hop list is there too.

Here is my card...

 I've used No Snow Birdbrain for my image today, and I've coloured it using promarkers.
The sentiment is one that you get for free with this image, and i've used a spellbinders die, the smallest from their Decorative Elements 'Elegant Ovals' set behind it.
I haven't used any designer paper, instead, opting to have a white embossed snowflake design using a cuttlebug folder.
I wrapped a couple of pieces of blue stitched-edge grosgrain ribbon at one corner to balance with the large snowflake embellishment (snowflake trio dies by CBS) at the other corner.

I'd like to enter this card at:
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Fantastic Tuesday - anything goes (twist: embossing)
Crafty Creations - embossing
Sweet Stampin - let it snow
Totally Gorjuss - christmas animal
Stamp & Create - anything goes christmas


Now, please head over to Kathy's blog to see her fantastic card for this hop.

Thanks for hopping with us today.
The hop will end on Monday December 8th at 6am, EST (11am UK time).
Winners will be posted on the From the Heart Stamps Blog on Wednesday December 10th
Good luck, and happy hopping! xx

FTH sketch #89

A new week means a new I {heart}sketches challenge with From The Heart Stamps :)

Here's the sketch, and an optional inspirational photo too, should you wish to use it as well as the sketch and/or twist, which, this time, is to use a tag...

Join in the challenge, and EVERYONE who plays will receive a $1 discount code for the store, and if you are the challenge winner, you will receive a $5 discount code to the store! :)
Remember though, you must use an image by From The Heart Stamps to be eligible, and please include a pic of the sketch in your blog post too.

Here's my card...

Now, I did start off with the sketch in front of me, but for some reason I went off at a tangent and the background isn't like the one on the sketch. No matter, I have use the twist, which is to use a tag.

The image is Seven Christmas Birds. However, I trimmed away 5 of them as these 2 drew my eye with their ear muffs and scarf. Plus they fit nicely onto a tag ;)
I coloured using my promarkers and added some 'snow' with a white gel pen.
The tag itself is hand cut from paper (SU 'ski slope', it's retired now though) and red cardstock, then I set a gold eyelet at the top using my cropadile. The bow at the top is a scrap piece of ribbon.
I also used a different paper from that ski slope dsp as my background, and teamed it with some gold mirri card and a spotty piece which was found in my scraps tub.
I used the same gold mirri card to punch out my stars and to cut out 'merry' using a memory box die.
'XMAS' has also been die cut using By The Letter dies by Dienamics.

You can find more inspiration, and enter the I {heart} sketches challenge by clicking HERE.
Please join us on Facebook and “Like” our page to read about the latest FTH news.
We'd also love it if you'd join our Facebook Group too, this group makes it easier for you to share pics of your FTH makes, we'd love to see them!

Oh, and remember to join us on Friday for this month's blog hop!

I'd like to enter this card at:
Sister Act - anything goes
Pennys Paper Crafty - anything goes
Creative Inspirations - seasons greetings
Simon Wednesday Challenge - anything goes
Totally Gorjuss - christmas animal
Christmas Card Challenges - anything goes

Thank you for visiting today, hope you have a great week :) xx

Rather Be Skiing

Good morning,
The weeks just fly by don't they?
Today is my final week as guest designer for the I♥ProMarkers challenge.
I'd like to thank Ruth for asking me to be their guest, I've enjoyed making some christmas cards this past month, and it has motivated me to make more.
To Ruth & the DT, thanks for having me! xx

Well, it is almost December. In fact, not only is it my son's 16th birthday tomorrow, but 27th November means it's exactly 4 weeks until the the big man in red has left gifts for all the good girls and boys!
If you haven't started already, best get your christmas craft on peeps! ;)

How about joining in with this weeks challenge, which is 'Frosty The Snowman'
yep, you guessed it, show us your snowpeople please.

This week we are sponsored by Marianne Design and by Milk Coffee.

Here's my card...

The image is Rather Be Skiing Snowman by From The Heart Stamps.
Oooo, by the way, there's a Thanksgiving Sale on there at the moment ;)

Promarker colours used:
Snowman - pastel blue & lots of blender (slight shading of the snowman), spice & orange (nose), black & ice grey 5 (coal 'buttons').
Hat, scarf & gloves - rose pink, cocktail pink & lipstick red; grass & leaf green; powder blue & sky blue.
Skis - powder blue & sky blue; ice grey 5 & cool grey 3.

I used a clear glaze pen on the eyes, buttons & carrot nose. Then used a clear glitter pen around the edge of the image and again on the bottom of the skis and on the snow on the ground.
I added some polar white Flowersoft to the hat.
Papers are both from the same pad; Dovecraft, Merry Magic.
I finished the card with a snowflake, cut with a die from Clearly Besotted Stamps.

I'd like to enter this card at:
The Pink Elephant - anything goes
Shopping our Stash - free is good (flowersoft was a gift from a friend)
Christmas at Sweet Stampin - snowpeople

Thank you for stopping by today.
Please remember to go visit the blog for the challenge, where you can link up your entry, and see more fabulous inspiration from the design team :)

Fa La La La La...

Good Morning :)
Here's my 3rd card as a guest designer for the I♥ProMarkers challenge blog.
This week, we want you to use your favourite Christmas song or Christmas carol as inspiration for your entry please.
This weeks fab sponsor is Polka Doodles.
 

How cute is this image? it's Dexter Caroling, a Pollycraft image, that you can buy from Little Miss Muffet Stamps.

Promarker colours used:
Dexter - black, ice grey 5, spice, honeycomb & sunflower yellow,
Hat - pastel green, denim blue, ivory & ruby,
Songbook - pastel green & soft green.

I've teamed up my cream card stock with 2 different patterned papers;
First Edition 'Nordic Christmas', and BoBunny 'Silver & Gold Collection' (the "red" piece!).
The ornate square frame is a Lea'bilities die (Leane 005 Frame Curve).
The holly was die cut using an old Quickutz die, I used shiny red brads for the berries.
Fa La La La La is handwritten.
The card jingles (Jingle Bells!) thanks to the 3 silver sleigh bells tied together with bakers twine.

I'm entering this card at:
Sweet Stampin - to die for
Passion for Promarkers - entertain us ( carol = "Deck the halls")
Sister Act - anything goes

Thank you for stopping by today.
 Please remember to go visit the blog for the challenge, to link up your entry, and to see more fabulous inspiration from the design team :)

UPDATE: woohoo! Thank you!

FTH sketch #87

Happy Monday! it's time for a new I {heart}sketches challenge with From The Heart Stamps :)

Here's the sketch, and an optional inspirational photo too, should you wish to use it as well as the sketch and/or twist, which, this time, is to finish the inside of your card too...

Join in the challenge, and EVERYONE who plays will receive a $1 discount code for the store, and if you are the challenge winner, you will receive a $5 discount code to the store! :)
Remember though, you must use an image by From The Heart Stamps to be eligible, and please include a pic of the sketch in your blog post too.

Here's my card...

and the inside...

The image i've used today is November's Stamp Of The Month, Angel Joy.
I've coloured using promarkers, then added a touch of shine and a teensy bit of glitter with a couple of Sakura gelly roll pens; clear glaze and clear stardust.
Both patterned papers are from Lawn Fawn's 'Peace, Joy, Love' paper pad.
The greeting inside the card is free with this image :)

You can find more inspiration, and enter the I {heart} sketches challenge by clicking HERE.
Please join us on Facebook and “Like” our page to read about the latest FTH news.
We'd also love it if you'd join our Facebook Group too, this group makes it easier for you to share pics of your FTH makes, we'd love to see them!


There's still time to join in with our SOTM challenge, you can enter until November 30th :)

I'd like to enter this card at:
Sister Act - anything goes
Crafting when we can - use markers
Christmas Card challenges - colour challenge

Thank you for visiting today, hope you have a great week :) xx

Thanks

It's Inspiration Wednesday with From The Heart Stamps :)
I needed a quick thank you card, and this image shouted out for me to use it...

This is Spring Fence.
Yeah, I realise that it isn't Spring, but I still think it looks fab for a thank you card.
The image is detailed enough that it will look good on its own, so I let it be the star of the show, and just gave it a delicate watercolour wash background.
'thanks' has been cut using a die from Clearly Besotted Stamps.
A quick and simple card (if you don't mind fussy-cutting).

Check out more inspiration on the blog.
Remember that we have a new sketch challenge and a SOTM challenge too.

Oooh and today is the day that the Blog hop winners are announced... could you be a winner? ;)

Superheroes love Christmas too.

Happy Wednesday everyone :)
It's my 2nd week as guest designer for the I♥ProMarkers challenge :)
This week, we are sponsored by the fabulous KennyK Downloads & also by Dies to Die For
The theme is to make a christmas card for a male.
I have made a christmas card for a Superman fan...

So, as you can see, I've used Superhero by KennyK for my card this week.
As you can see, I gave the image a christmas hat.

I'd like to thank Elena & Kenny for allowing me to add the hat to their image.

IMPORTANT: Always ask for permission from the copyright holder BEFORE altering any image(s).

Although actually, I didn't alter the original image at all. But I still wanted to ask beforehand.
I opened up the image in my paint program, then created a new raster layer for the christmas hat which I drew in. I then erased parts of the hat layer and added the final lines around the edges so that the superhero image would show underneath, making it look as though they were merged when in fact they were not.
I finally sent these layers to my printer where it printed both as one image.
I had to touch it up a little around his hairline with my fineliner pen before colouring as my lines didn't print out as smooth as Kenny's professional lines.
I'm happy with how it turned out though, and the colouring of the image certainly helped to make the 2 look as one image.

Promarker colours used:
Costume and Hat - royal blue, midnight blue, poppy, burgundy, sunflower yellow.
Skin & Hair - oatmeal, tan, umber.

For my design, I took inspiration from my Grandson's birthday card that I made a couple of weeks ago. It worked so well with that card that I decided to do something similar again for a different super hero. Plus, I wanted to play with that cityscape die again :)
I framed my cityscape scene with a gold mirror card heart frame, cut using dies from Marianne's scalloped heart set. The mistletoe above the frame was also cut (twice) using a different Marianne die, then I added some flat backed pearls for the berries.
The yellow starry paper is from Doodlebug's Hip Hip Hooray paper pad.
The name was cut from red and blue mirror card using Die-namics By The Letter dies.
I really like how this card turned out.

I'm entering this card at:
MAWTT - sparkle and/or shine
Creative Card Crew - christmas joy
QKR Stampede - christmas
Crafty Calendar - christmas

Thank you for stopping by today. Please remember to go visit the blog for the challenge, and to see more fabulous inspiration from the design team.
Have a great day, i'll be back at 11am with some inspiration 'from the heart' ;) xx

Mikey The Knight

Here's a pic of the cake that I made for my grandson, Mikey, who was 4 last week...

I made him a castle cake, the photo above was taken just after i'd finished it.

The following pic was taken once we'd delivered it and had his action figures placed around it,
I wasn't brave enough to have a go at modelling those!

Mikey was very happy with his cake, phew! success!

FTH November Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on this month's From the Heart Stamps blog hop.

Our theme this time is "Faithful Friends"

As you hop along, please leave a comment on each blog.
One random commenter will be selected on each blog to win an image of choice from the FTH store.
And additionally, one commenter on the From the Heart Stamps blog will be selected to win a $15 gift voucher to the store!

If you have arrived here from Jessica, you are in the right place, wasn't her card lovely, I love the fresh blues against that black background, and the image really pops! :)
If you haven't arrived from Jessica, why don’t you start at the From the Heart Stamps blog, so you don’t miss anything. The full hop list is there too.

Here is my card...

I've used Brotherly Love for my image today., and I've coloured using promarkers.
I chose colours to match the papers which are from Doodlebug (Hip Hip Hooray).
The sentiment is one of three that you get for free with this image :)

I'd like to enter this card at:
Allsorts - Masculine
Bugaboo Stamps - November Anything Goes challenge
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Now, please head over to Kathy's blog to see her fantastic card for this hop.

Thanks for hopping with us today.
The hop will end on Monday November 10th at 6am, EST.
Winners will be posted on the From the Heart Stamps Blog on Wednesday November 12th
Good luck, and happy hopping! xx

Rudolph

Good Morning :)
I'm very happy and excited to tell you today that I have been asked to be a guest designer for the I♥ProMarkers challenge throughout November!

The new challenge today is 'Cute Christmas', so you don't really have an excuse not to play do you? I think everyone has their fair share of lovely christmas cuteness to colour up eh? ;)

For my cuteness, I chose to use a Pollycraft image. I bought this before Paula closed the Pollycraft doors, oh how we all still miss her talent don't we?
This is Rudolph...

I've coloured him using promarkers of course.
Colours used:
Costume and Antlers - umber, cocoa, sandstone.
Hair - buttercup, sandstone, caramel.
Skin - oatmeal, peach, pastel pink.  Nose - ruby.
Banner - ruby, forest green, pine.

I wanted to keep to a bright red, white and green colour palette, so along with my plain card stock, I used a candy stripe paper from Lawn Fawn's 'Peace, Joy, Love' paper pad.
I then edged the image either side with die cuts from Clearly Besotted Stamps; Snowflake Trio Die Collection. I have used the 2 smallest dies on this card.
I wanted to add a touch of green for balance, so finished the card with a couple of punched stars.
I've left room at the bottom of this card to add the name of the recipient.

I do hope you'll join in the challenge this week, who doesn't love making cute christmas projects? ;)
This weeks sponsor is Sherri Baldy, details of the prize on offer can be found on the blog.

I'm entering Rudolph at:
The Ribbon Girl - christmas
Crafty Calendar Challenge - christmas
Without Words - preparing for christmas
Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes 
Allsorts Challenge - masculine
Creative Card Crew - christmas joy

Hope you liked my card, thanks for visiting, I look forward to seeing what you make for the challenge.

FTH sketch #85

It's Monday, a new week, and time for a new I {heart}sketches challenge with From The Heart Stamps :)

Here's the sketch, and an optional inspirational photo too, should you wish to use it as well as the sketch and/or twist, which, this time, is to make a gate fold card, or include a window to the inside...

Join in the challenge, and EVERYONE who plays will receive a $1 discount code for the store, and if you are the challenge winner, you will receive a $5 discount code to the store! :)
Remember though, you must use an image by From The Heart Stamps to be eligible, and please include a pic of the sketch in your blog post too.

For my card, I have used the sketch and 'sort of' a window, but it doesn't show the inside of the card, it's a window for a shaker card...

This image is Trimming The Birdhouse, and has been coloured using promarkers.
Hehe, one of those poor Birdbrains (obviously male! lol) got his foot tangled in the lights while decorating their birdhouse.
I thought it might look good to make a shaker card so that there could be falling snow around them.
I filled the shaker with Polar White flowersoft, in hindsight, it doesn't 'fall' very easily, i'd probably have done better to just add some glitter instead. Never mind, it looks ok.
My papers are both from the same pad; Dovecraft's Back To Basics Christmas (Modern)
The snowflakes are the 2 smallest dies by Clearly Besotted Stamps; Snowflake Trio Die Collection
I cut them from white card that had been covered with Stampin Up's dazzling diamonds glitter.

I'd like to enter this card at:
The Ribbon Girl - christmas
Crafty Calendar Challenge - christmas
Without Words - preparing for christmas
A Random Fan - red, white, & green
Crafty Cardmakers - cut it out

You can find more inspiration, and enter the I {heart} sketches challenge by clicking HERE.
Please join us on Facebook and “Like” our page to read about the latest FTH news.
We'd also love it if you'd join our Facebook Group too, this group makes it easier for you to share pics of your FTH makes, we'd love to see them!

Thank you so much for stopping by today :)

My Batty Hero

My grandson loves Batman. Well, actually he LOVES Mike The Knight, but Batman is a very close second.
So I just had to make him a Batman themed card when I found this perfect image; My Batty Hero by Tiddly Inks...

I've coloured him using promarkers, and kept to an all black & grey batman, because apparently he is better than a blue batman, haha!
The yellow starry paper is from Doodlebug, Hip Hip Hooray paper pad. I added some extra punched stars from silver mirror card, and a number 4 cut with my Die-namics By The Number dies.
'Grandson' was also cut using Die-namics dies (By The Letter)
I lightly sponged in a sky in the background on the card base so that it would show through the oval aperture I cut from the top layer. Then I die cut the cityscape die from Clearly Besotted Stamps 3 times from different coloured card and trimmed off the tops on 2 of them to make them look a little different. I then stuck yellow card stock to the back of the 'windows' so that it would look like the lights were on. I layered and glued these down on top of the sponged sky, then added my top layer with the starry paper.
Hope he likes it!

I'd like to enter this card at:
Penny's Paper Crafty - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
The Pink Elephant - anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes 

oooh, all anything goes challenges!
Thanks for stopping by :) xx

Monster Boo!

How fab is Monster Boo?! what a great image :)
You can get him at DigiStamp Boutique, HERE, and at the time of this post, he's still on offer, but may not be for much longer, so grab him for 99p today.... be quick!

I've coloured 'Boo' with promarkers, and then fussy cut him out.
I've teamed him up with Doodlebug papers, Hip Hip Hooray. I'm loving these papers, they are such good quality, and have lovely bright and fun designs. I can see more Doodlebug papers in my future, that's for certain. :)
The stamped stars in the corner were from a freebie stamp set from a craft mag.
The greeting is by Clearly besotted Stamps, from the 'For Everyone' stamp set.

I'd like to enter this card at:
DigiStamp Boutique - october customer competition
Penny's Paper Crafty - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
The Pink Elephant - anything goes

Thanks for looking :)

Halloweeeeeeeeeeen!

Here is a treat bag i've made for the new Crafting By Designs challenge, where I am happy to say that I am their guest designer for this challenge :)

Please go check out the fab creations by the Design Team, and I hope you'll join in the challenge too.

This week's challenge theme is 'Halloween'...

I've used the fab image Broom Flying Birdbrain by From The Heart Stamps... 'Whooosh!' ;)
I coloured with promarkers and sponged in the background.
The sentiment is one of six you get free with the image.
'MIKEY' was cut using my trusty Die-namics By the Letter dies.
The bat paper is by Erin Bradley, from a set called 'Going Batty'. I also cut out an extra bat to add to the top of the treat bag.
The ribbon is from my stash, I can't remember where I bought it from though, I have had it years!

I'd like to enter this treat bag into the following challenges:
Sweet Stampin - anything but a card
That Craft Place - halloween
Simon Monday Challenge - treats!
2 Cute Ink - halloween treats
The Pink Elephant - anything goes

Thank you, Crafting By Designs, for having me as your guest :)
and Thank YOU for stopping by today.
Happy Halloween! xx

Kitten Surprise

Well it's been 8 days since my last post, which means my beautiful baby grandson is 8 days old today. Thank you all so much for your comments, our little man is perfectly content, he's feeding really well, and settles afterwards quickly too. My daughter is feeling fantastic, being a mommy suits her and it shows when you see the love in her eyes and the glow on her face when she holds her baby son. I'm so proud!

Monday means that it's time for another I {heart}sketches challenge with From The Heart Stamps.
This time we are letting you choose which sketch that you'd like to use. You can choose any sketch from #001 to #083
Make sure you show us which sketch you have used, you can find them all by clicking HERE.

Faith has given us an inspirational photo to play with...

and I chose sketch #026, although I have turned it 90 degrees and added a sentiment beneath the image...

Here's my card...

I've used this adorable new image called Kitten Surprise, it's perfect for your christmas cards, birthday cards, or for anyone you know who adores kitties :)
You get SIX bonus sentiments with this cute image too!  I've used one of them here :)

I coloured the image with promarkers, adding a bit of detail to the spots on the gift box with a gel pen so that it would go with my paper choice slightly more, which is from Dovecraft's Merry Magic paper pad.
Behind the image, I thought i'd take the inspiration from the photo and attempt a watercolour wash background using 2 of the colours shown. I actually used 2 colours by Stampin Up; Yoyo Yellow & Pink Passion. They are from the old Bold Brights collection, but I don't know if they are available anymore since they changed the colour groups.
I've added some shiny, cerise mirror paper and some blue flat-back gems to give it a bit of sparkle.

Quite bright, modern colours for a christmas card, don't you think?

I'd like to enter this card at:
Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes 
Fantastic Tuesday - anything goes with a twist (add some yellow)
ABC challenge - V is for Vibrant
Crafty Little Fairies - Only one DP
A Random Fan - anything goes
Oldie But A Goodie - christmas (my patterned paper is over a year old, and my watercolour card is about 6 or 7 years old!)

As always, join in the challenge, and EVERYONE who plays will receive a $1 discount code for the store, and if you are the challenge winner, you will receive a $5 discount code to the store! :)
Remember though, you must use an image by From The Heart Stamps to be eligible, and please include a pic of the sketch that you use in your blog post too.

Thank you for stopping by today, I do hope you'll join in this week :)

UPDATE: woohoooo!! thank you xx

Just Arrived

This card is for the sudden arrival of my grandson, who was born today at 2:50am
He wasn't due for another 9 days, my daughter went into hospital with back pain, 20 mins later she was holding her baby boy!
He's perfect, so gorgeous, and i'm totally in love with him.
I can't share any pics online, sorry.
RJ is short for Richard junior, as he will be named after his daddy...

My husband paid for some new LOTV stamps for me, one of my wedding anniversary gifts.
Just Arrived was one of these stamps.
I coloured this adorable image with promarkers.
All of the papers are from the same pad, Doodlebug's Snips & Snails, the only others used were white and kraft cardstock.
'baby' is a word die by Clearly Besotted Stamps.
'RJ' was cut using Die-namics By the Letter dies.

I'm entering this card at:
LOTV's ideas to inspire monthly challenge - anything goes
Penny's Paper Crafty - polka dots
Creative Inspirations - anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes
Crafting when we can - name it


UPDATE: This card won a top 3 slot at Crafting When We Can! thank you :)

I'm completely in love with my grandson, and i'm so proud of my daughter.
Thank you Laura & Rich for our gorgeous little RJ, a baby brother for Mikey :)

Hetty

Here's a birthday card made for a friend to give to his wife, a lady who loves elephants...

This cutie is from the Edwin & Hetty Set by DigiStamp Boutique, which I've coloured using promarkers.
The floral paper was given to me years ago as a birthday gift, so I can't remember what company it's from, sorry. The red paper used inside the scalloped heart (Marianne die) is by Lawn Fawn (Peace, Joy, Love).
The sentiment at the bottom is computer generated, the circle sentiment is a stamp by Stampin Up.

I'm entering this card at:
DigiStamp Boutique - october customer competition
Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes
Creative Inspirations - anything goes
The Pink Elephant - think pink
Fab 'n' Funky - anything with ribbon
Paper Makeup Stamps - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Hope you're all having a fab weekend :)

Our Anniversary

Today is my 14th wedding anniversary. I actually met my husband on this day, 19 years ago.
He's my everything. Happy Anniversary Dave xx

I've used Cabaret from Kenny K because Dave saw it some time ago, and said that he liked it as it reminded him of me.
Now, let me just say straight away, that in reality I look NOTHING like this image. I don't own any black peep-toe boots ;)
But, my hair is a similar style, so i'm guessing that's what he meant, otherwise he seriously needs to go to Specsavers, lol.
Anyway, I have had this image for a while now, and I haven't used it until now (my bad).
I've coloured Cabaret with promarkers, then fussy-cut her out.
I've placed the image over top of a die cut heart (Heart of Hearts die by Impression Obsession)
Either side, i've used the Staggered Heart Border die by Die-namics.
The paper is from My Mind's Eye, Stella & Rose, Mabel paper pad.
The sentiment is from 'For Everyone' stamp set by Clearly besotted Stamps, and 'Husband' has been cut using my By the Letters Die-namics dies.
I've added a bit of bling with some flat-backed crystals to finish.

I'm entering this card at:
KennyK's Krafty Krew - anything goes (twist: orange & black)
The Ribbon Girl - glitz & dazzle (do the crystals count?)
Paper Makeup Stamps - anything goes
Crafty Little Fairies - Only one DP
Cute Card Thursday - spots & dots

Thanks for looking :)

Bewitchin' Birdbrains

Happy Monday Peeps!
We have another fabulous I {heart}sketches challenge starting today with From The Heart Stamps.
Here's the sketch for this week. Also, Faith has given us an inspirational photo too, should you wish to use it as well as the sketch and/or twist...

This week's twist: Use paper strips or washi tape.

Join in the challenge, and EVERYONE who plays will receive a $1 discount code for the store, and if you are the challenge winner, you will receive a $5 discount code to the store! :)
Remember though, you must use an image by From The Heart Stamps to be eligible, and please include a pic of the sketch in your blog post too.

Please tell your crafty friends, we'd love to see loads of entries :)

Here is my card using the sketch, the twist and the inspirational photo...

This great image is Bewitchin' Birdbrains, I've coloured it using promarkers.
The patterned paper used for my strips are both by Erin Bradley, the grey chevron is from 'Going Batty' and the orange is from 'Ultra Mini Dots'. I've also used plain orange, black, grey and cream cardstock.
I've used a few punches; Dovecraft 38mm circle punch, Woodware yellow circle punch, and the Clippunch small star.

I'd like to enter this card at:
2 Cute Ink - halloween 
Crafts Galore Encore - Trick or Treat
Allsorts - Autumn
Crafting from the Heart - anything goes
QKR Stampede - anything goes

You can find more inspiration, and enter the I {heart} sketches challenge by clicking HERE.
Please join us on Facebook and “Like” our page to read about the latest FTH news.
We'd also love it if you'd join our Facebook Group too, this group makes it easier for you to share pics of your FTH makes, we'd love to see them! There will also be challenges posted there too from time to time :)

Thank you so much for stopping by today :)

FTH October Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on this month's From the Heart Stamps blog hop.

Our theme this time is "Think Pink"

As you hop along, please leave a comment on each blog.
One random commenter will be selected on each blog to win an image of choice from the FTH store.
And additionally, one commenter on the From the Heart Stamps blog will be selected to win a $15 gift voucher to the store!

If you have arrived here from Jessica, you are in the right place, if not, why don’t you start at the From the Heart Stamps blog, so you don’t miss anything. The full hop list is there too.

Here is my card...

Here's my card recipe:
Image: Hamlet PigWit Icing on the Cake.
Sentiment: 'Happy Birthday 653F' by Catslife Press Rubber Stamps & 'friend' die by Clearly Besotted Stamps.
Spotty Paper: Fancy Pants 'Beach Babe'.
Colouring Medium: Promarkers.
Other Supplies: Die-namics Flowers & Leaf trio die, Die-namics Party Banner die, Xcut scalloped circle die, Cuttlebug embossing folder 'Mini Monsters Companions', card candi & pale pink lace ribbon from stash.

I'd like to enter this card at:
Creative Inspirations - lovely lace
The Pink Elephant - anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - make it feminine
Crafty Little Fairies - Only one DP
ABC challenge - U for unique (anything goes)
Crafts Galore Encore - Trick or Treat (I've gone for a 'sweet' project)
Cute Card Thursday - spots & dots

Now, please head over to Kathy's blog to see her beautiful card.

Thanks for hopping with us today.
The hop will end on Monday October 6th at 6am, EST.
Winners will be posted on the From the Heart Stamps Blog on Wednesday October 8th
Good luck, and happy hopping! x

FTH Inspiration Wednesday

It's inspiration day with From The Heart Stamps :)

Cool Dinosaur is a friendly looking dude, isn't he?
The sentiment shown here comes with him too, one of 3 bonus sentiments you will receive when you buy this image.
I've coloured Dino using my promarkers.
The papers are old ones. We R Memory Keepers 'Travel Light' (the checked piece), & Stampin Up 'old olive DSP' (striped).

I'd like to enter this card at:
Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes
The Pink Elephant - anything goes
Sentimental Sundays - use kraft (plus a sentiment)
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Crafty Catz - birthday

Please join us on Facebook and “Like” our page to read about the latest FTH news.
We'd also love it if you'd join our Facebook Group too, this group makes it easier for you to share pics of your FTH makes, we'd love to see them! There will also be challenges posted there too from time to time :)

Happy Crafting! xx

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Thank you xx

16th Birthday - take 2

This is the 2nd card I made for my son to give to his friend. You can see the other one in my previous post if you're interested to see it.
He has 2 friends who have birthdays on consecutive days. They all became friends in Nursery, and are now doing their GCSE's!

The image is by Jelly Park, I fussy cut it out after colouring as I wanted to use just the main part of the image. I coloured it with promarkers.
Both patterned papers are by Papermania (capsule collection/spots & stripes/jewels)
The metallic navy & kraft papers are scraps that I found, which happened to go nicely with the Papermania papers.
I stamped the game controller from the 'Text Me' stamp set by Clearly Besotted Stamps, I didn't stamp it perfectly (my fault, not the stamp) but I liked how it looked anyways so fussy cut it out and popped it up on foam pads next to the sentiment (which is by Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler)
I added '16' using my Die-namics By The Numbers die set, and finished the card with a few punched stars to balance it out.

I'm entering this card at:
The Pink Elephant - sketch
Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes
My Mums Craft Shop - dies or punches
Stamp & Create - circles or dots
I love Promarkers - include a number

Thanks for stopping by today :)

UPDATE 02/10/14: Thank you! :)