Sketch Saturday #196

Sketch Saturday are being sponsored this week by our friends at

Here's my DT card for the challenge...

The image is "Inca Rubber Stamps - Cat Blocks"

I raised up the centre and 4 corner kitties with foam pads to add a bit of interest to the whole image.

All 3 patterned papers used are all from my Back To Basics II pad by Dovecraft.

I stamped out '21' and coloured it with meadow green promarker before adding a clear glitter gel pen on top for a bit of sparkle.

I finished it with lime green gingham ribbon and punched leaves, flowers and crystals.

For more beautiful cards, please go see what The Saturdays have made to delight you :)


Challenges entered:
 Lexi's Creations - Monochromatic
 Simon Says Stamp - Use 3 different papers
 Truly Scrumptious - All creatures great and small
 MAWTT - lots of layers
Craft Us Crazy - favourite colour (green)

Have a fab weekend xx

Sketch Saturday #192

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

Final DT card of 2011

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

Inspired by Fluff

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

PBC3 challenge winner!

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

Happy Birthday SS!

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

Little madam!

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

Saturday challenge

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

..."he's a bloody coward"

'scuse me, but that's what I hear in my head when I see this fab image from Bugaboo lol
It's how Hagrid describes his dog 'Fang' in the first Harry Potter film.

This card follows this weeks sketch over at Sketch Saturday, our sponsor this week is The Craft Barn.
I coloured the image itself with ProMarkers.
The papers are by Dovecraft, from the 'Abstract Prints' collection.
Part of the sketch is represented with a line of eyelets, not clearly seen in the photo, but looks fab in real life, i'm really happy with how this turned out :)
And i'm really happy with the cards made by the awesome SS design team too!
Please go see for yourself >>>


I'd like to enter this card into the current challenge at ABC challenges - O is for Ovals, and the challenge over at Passion for ProMarkers - one for the boys.


back in a mo...

Combined DT card.

I don't usually like to combine my DT commitments as I like to make a card for each one, but I was a little pressed for time this week, my son is 12 today :)
Happy Birthday to Jake xx  He's growing up so fast!

So here's my card for Sketch Saturday and Sweet Stampin...

picture quality isn't very good, sorry.

I have used this lovely Hanglar image and coloured her with watercolour pencils and promarkers.
The patterned paper is called 'ski slope' by Stampin Up (love it)

The layout is using this weeks sketch from Sketch Saturday, our sponsor this week is the fabulous The Craft Barn.



The challenge over at Sweet Stampin is 'buttons & bows'
I have made a paper bow and used the same paper beneath the clear buttons.
The added pin is by Pretty Pin Embellishments, who are our sponsor for this week and gave the DT a pin each to use on their cards (thank you PPE)
don't forget, we also have a monthly sponsor too, Blackleaf Studios.

And remember to stop by here tomorrow morning at 9am when I will announce the winner of my blog hop candy, you will also be able to see a full list of winners over at Sweet Stampin at the same time too.

Also, You have just a few days left to apply to be a Sweet Stamper yourself, our DT call closes this coming Friday, 3rd December at 10pm GMT.


I'd like to enter this card into the challenges over at Meljens and Fairy Fun Fridays, who both also want us to use buttons and bows this week.


Thanks for stopping by today xx

Sketch Saturday #127

This weeks challenge over at Sketch Saturday is sponsored by the lovely Sandy from The Craft Barn, this weeks challenge winner will receive a truly fabulous prize too!... An exclusive Katzelkraft rubber stamps plate worth £12.99! Sandy really spoils us! ;)

Here is my DT card this week...

I got out Herb from Whiff of Joy for this card, colouring him with ProMarkers.
The patterned paper is a download from craftsUprint and the bashful blue piece has been stamped with a snowflake design using white ink.
The sentiment is by Catslife Press Rubber Stamps.
A really quick make :)
I'm steadily getting a stash of christmas cards made,
and you'll be seeing another one in a minute's time too ;)

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

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

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

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 :)

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

Thank you everyone :)

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to enter my PBC and also for joining in with Sketch Saturday each week.

The paper bag candy on this blog is now closed, but you can still enter the main Sketch Saturday challenge to win the gorgeous birthday goodies donated by The Craft Barn, you have until 11:59 (UK time) tonight to get your entry in ;)

I have been decorating for the past week so I apologise for not leaving a comment on your blogs, but I shall be visiting each one later today, writing out the names of those eligible to win, and using random.org to choose the winner

The winner will be announced on this blog tomorrow morning.
And a list of all the DT members winners and the main challenge winner will be displayed on SS tomorrow morning too.

Thank you all for your support
Jo xx

Happy Birthday to Us......... win my PBC!

"Happy Birthday SS... Happy Birthday SS... Sketch Saturday's a year old... Happy Birthday SS!"

and this week is a little different!
Not only can you enter the prize draw to win the fabulous goodies donated by The Craft Barn,
but you can also add your name to the "Party Bag Candy" (PBC) prize draw of the design team too!
Please go to each DT members blogs and put your name down on the relevant post (including this one of course),
but please note: you are only eligible to enter each party bag candy once, and ONLY if you've already taken part in this weeks challenge too and provided a link to your work in your comment on each of the blogs candy posts you enter.
We want to thank sketch saturday challengers so this is why it's only open to SS entrants!
(we will be checking!)

Here is the birthday sketch over at Sketch Saturday this week...

and here is my gift wallet, the cover is designed using the sketch

cardstock: Stampin Up!
floral strip : 'Forever Flowers' standard wheel by Stampin Up!
patterned paper: from my scraps draw, can't remember the name though!
stamp: from 'A kid like me' set by Inkadinkadoo coloured with watercolour pencils
sentiment: Pink Cat Studio
Flowers and leaves were made using punches

*******************

To win this wallet and a small selection of craft goodies inside it, here is what you have to do...

Please enter this weeks challenge over at Sketch Saturday and leave a link to your work on the blog.
Please leave a link to your work under this post too.
& Please enter this Party Bag Candy draw by 8:00 AM (UK time) on Friday 5th June.

REMEMBER: this party bag candy draw is for Sketch Saturday entrants ONLY.
I will post worldwide, so all SS challengers are free to enter my PBC draw.

*******************

Now don't forget to go visit my lovely friends & fellow DT members blogs too!

A list of all winners from the DT blogs will be posted on Sketch Saturday next week (6th June).

Happy crafting everyone, and Good Luck in the prize draws! xx

Sketch #48 - 25th April

This weeks sketch is sponsored by our lovely regular, monthly sponsor, The Craft Barn, where this week Sandy has kindly donated 2 fantastic new kadoodle stamp releases! Go to Sketch Saturday now to see which ones they are ;)


Here is my card this week.
I have used a Miss Anya image that was given to me by my SU10 friend Vicki, thanks again Vicki! xx

I coloured her with watercolour pencils, cut her out with my coluzzle and chalked the edges before layering onto the purple paper, which I then cut to make a small border around the image.
The patterned paper was from a magazine, the glitter card and sentiment were both from my stash.
The rest of the cardstock and the scalloped DSP piece is by SU.


Hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy your crafting! ;)

Sketch Saturday #44

Would you like to get your hands on 2 Whiff of Joy stamps? YES? then please take part in our challenge over at Sketch Saturday where you could win Warrior Charlie and Draco the Dragon that have been kindly donated by our regular sponsor The Craft Barn.
Perfect for St George & the dragon themed cards.

Here is my card using this weeks sketch...


I bought the teddy bear stamp from an auction at EBid, isn't he a cutie? The cardstock and paper is by Stampin Up and the ribbon and flowers were all given to me for my birthday from Tracie, and the cute little pearls were a gift from Jeanette, thank you both so much xx