Jump for Joy ( Fold Cards! )

I think I'm in love!!!..... with these new Basic Grey papers!  They're from a pack called Kissing Booth.  Every design is stunning and they smell great too..... mmmmmmmm new papers!
I went to Elgin yesterday, to Papercraft Boutique, home of Sugar Nellie and just had to buy a couple of stamps.  Well it would have been rude not to, wouldn't it?  This is one of my new ones, Claudia the Artist.  She reminds me so much of my teenage self, floaty silk trousers, scarf, paintbrush in hand and looking a bit moody.  I could hardly wait to get home to play with my goodies!
Monday night is craft night with the girls and this week we all made joy fold cards, mine of course was made with my new stash.
I coloured the image with Promarkers and Flexmarkers.  The image is quite small and I was very glad of my fine nibs.
All the plain cardstock is Papermania and the patterned ones are all from my new Basic Grey stack.
The flower was made with my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die, such a fab die, I just love it.
I've managed to be quite restrained with the bling in this one, just a bow and a few glass nuggets to finish it off.

I am entering this card in the following challenges - 

Lexi's Creations - #59 - monochrome

Everybody-Art-Challenge - #182 - monochrome

More Crocuses

I just can't get enough of this lovely digi from A Passion for Stamps at the moment.  This time I've gone for a purple and green colour combo.
I coloured the image with Promarkers ( what else?! ). The sentiment stamp is from my stash, it's been there years and I can't remember where it came from!
The papers are all Papermania from the Forever Friends Spring Time pack and the Tatty Teddy Spring Chic pack.  I bought the Spring Time pack last year and I'm down to my last few sheets, I think I'll have to restock coz they're gorgeous and double sided to boot.
The flowers are both made from papermania plain cardstock, the larger one with my Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die and the rolled rose with a Marianne die.  I couldn't resist the urge to add some lilac glitter to them!
Bow, pearls, Candi, yup you can tell it's mine!

I am entering this card in the following challenges -
Fairy Fun Fridays - #73 - sketch
Make it Monday - #78 - always anything goes

Teen Cyclist

I had to make a dreaded teen boy card for a friend's son who will be fourteen tomorrow.  Male cards are hard enough, but I find teen boy cards the hardest!  The lad it's for is mad keen on bikes, he even builds them himself so I decided to go with that as a theme.  He did his first twenty five mile off road cycle when he was just five years old!  My five year old still has stabilisers and can hardly go in a straight line!
The silhouette was cut on Mum's Silhouette machine, thanks Mum!
The papers have been in my stash for years, I can't remember what make they are, but I'm down to my last few sheets.  I'll be gutted when they're used up because I find it so hard to find male papers I like.
The sentiment is from a Papermania set and the nesting star dies I've used are Xcut.
I'm entering this card in the following challenge -
Sketch Saturday - #196 - sketch

Christmas Cones

I'm still on target for a Christmas card a week!  I treated myself to the Tim Holtz Tattered Pinecone die yesterday and was itching to play with it.  It had been on my wish list for ages and when I went to my local craft shop yesterday, there it was, so I just had to have it!  When I showed the card to my hubby he thought that they were real cones!
I decided to make quite a simple card.  After I made the cones I accented them with Pinflair Ice Diamond to add a touch of frost.  The foliage is from the same die and has been cut from Core'dinations.
The shaped blank is from Craftwork Cards.  The base mat is linen textured card which has been punched at the corners with a Martha Stewart punch.  I then cut two mats with Nesties from pearl card and simply layered up.
The sentiment is a foiled die cut from Papermania and the pearls are Papermania too.
Some ribbon and a bow and that's it finished.


I am entering this card in the following challenge -
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - #61 - ribbons and/or charm

A Breath of Spring

It's nearly spring, yay!  I love to see the crocuses in my garden poking their heads up.  As a sufferer of SAD, spring means more daylight and a reduction in my meds til October when the clocks change again.  Spring flowers are such a cheerful reminder of longer days just around the corner.
This lovely image is from A Passion for Stamps, designed by the talented Ruth.  I've coloured it with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers and added little drops of Anita's 3D gloss to look like dew.
The plain papers are mainly Papermania and the patterned paper is Papermania Forever Friends Spring Time pack.  The embossing folder I've used is Divine Swirls by Cuttlebug.
I'm not sure where the sentiment stamp is from, it's been in my stash for years!
I've used Distress Ink in Spiced Marmalade around the edges of the scalloped blank and used it it stamp the sentiment.
Some gems and a bow embellished with a Papermania brad finish it off.

I am entering this card in the following challenges -
CRAFT - #143 - sketch
Play Date Cafe - #120 - colour combo

Flowers and Butterflies

Here's yet another stamp set I bought at the SECC in October and have just got round to using.  It's a stamp and die cut set from Hero Arts and Sizzix, you stamp the image and then die cut with the matching die.  More of these sets are now on my ever expanding wish list, such a genius idea!
I've made this card for a couple of challenges.  The colour combo was inspired by the current Color Throwdown.  I'd never have thought of using these colours together but it's a combo I'll be using again.
I stamped the flowers in London Fog Memento ink and coloured the flowers with Promarkers and Flexmarkers, leaving the leaves uncoloured, and outlined the image in very pale yellow.  The butterflies were stamped in London Fog onto patterned paper.
The papers are a bit of a stash mash-up.  The blue and grey patterned papers are Papermania Capsule Collection, the yellow patterned paper is from a magazine freebie paper stack, the blank was made with Create and Craft pearl card and the other cardstock is from Payper Box.
And well, it wouldn't be complete without some ribbon, a bow and some gems!  I added some Card Candi to balance the layout too.

I an entering this card in the following challenges -
Color Throwdown - #180 - colour combo
The Sketch File - sketch
Flutter by Wednesday - #191 - photo inspiration

Gilded Flowers

I just LOVE this stamp!  I think it's probably my all time favourite stamp as it's so versatile and can be used with so many techniques.  It's by Penny Black and is called Flying Stars.
For this card, I stamped the image with Flitter Glu by Indigo Blu by patting it onto the stamp with Cut-n-Dry foam, and then gilded it with Crafty Notions gilding flakes.  I'm not sure which one it is as it's not in it's original packaging, but it's got a hint of blue and green amongst the gold and copper tones.  I have to say that the Flitter Glu is by far the best gilding glue I've ever used and I can highly recommend it.
I then simply matted and layered the card  and added a border made from high tack double sided tape which I gilded with the same flakes as the image.
The border punch is my favourite Martha Stewart one and I finished the card with a lace bow and some pearls.

I am entering this card in the following challenges -
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - #189 - pearls and lace
Stamp n Doodle - lace and flowers

Blog Award

I've been given this award by the lovely Elaine, thanks so much hun for thinking of me!

The idea of the Liebster Blog Award is to spread the love from one small blog (under 200 followers) to other small blogs. This helps to spread knowledge and readership.

To accept the award, you must:

1) Link back to the person who gave it and thank them for thinking of you.

2) Post the award to your blog.

3) Give the award to 5 bloggers (with less than 200 followers) that you appreciate and value.

4) Leave a comment on the blogs of the five people you have chosen to let them know.

"Liebster" in German means "dearest", so to carry on the Liebster tradition, I am going to pass the award on to 5 people who's blogs have been an inspiration to me and my crafting. To be honest, passing this on will be difficult as there are so many wonderful small blogs that have inspired me. It will be a challenge to chose only 5. However, as needs must, here are 5 wonderful and inspiring blogs/ bloggers that I would love to pass the Liebster Blog award on to (in no particular order).

The 5 bloggers I would like to award are:-
Wendy
Kelly
Sue
Bernice
Michelle

Urban Butterflies

I had a lovely time with my crafty friends last night.  After the usual tea and homemade cake we set to work!  We were all playing with these Papermania Urban stamps and here's what I came up with.  I've used the butterfly set this time and a sentiment stamp from Papermania's Portobello Road range.
All the stamping has been done in Dusty Concorde Distress Ink and I've used a mixture of Create and Craft pearl card, Papermania plain Capsule Collection card and Tim Holtz Core'dinations.
The embossing folder is Divine Swirls by Cuttlebug and is probably my most used folder.
Once again, I got busy with my Tim Holtz distressing tool and I inked the scuffed edges with more Dusty Concorde.
I really enjoyed piling on the glitter on this card!  I've used Stickles in Diamond and Aqua and Distress Stickles in Milled Lavender.  I even stuck some tiny gems into the Distress Stickles for good measure!  I also highlighted the main image with some Anita's 3D Gloss.
A paper raffia bow embellished with a Papermania brad, some glass nuggets and butterfly trails done with weeny gems are the final touches.
Is it just me or does Distress Stickles sound like some male affliction of the groin area.  Say it out loud running the words together and you'll see what I mean!

I am entering this card in the following challenges -
Mojo Monday - #229 - sketch
Make it Monday - #77 - anything goes

Urban Birds

Mum and I spent a lovely afternoon yesterday playing with these Papermania Urban Birds stamps.  It's so nice to have a hobby Mum and I share.
I'm quite into kraft at the moment so it features heavily in this card.  The embossed panel was done on kraft core Core'dinations in a lovely soft flesh pink and then sanded to reveal the core.  The embossing folder is Sizzix by Tim Holtz.  I then inked round the edge with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut Stain.
The circular topper was made by stamping onto pink patterned K&Co paper, gently sanded, then matted onto a die cut lacy circle.  I highlighted the bird with Anita's 3D Gloss and went round the edge with Distress Stickles in Worn Lipstick.
The rectangle topper was just stamped onto Papermania kraft card, matted and layered and accented with 3D Gloss.
The patterned paper is K&Co and all the edges have been distressed with my Tim Holtz Distress Tool.
Some Papermania square gems and shimmer dots, along with some ribbon and a bow finish it off.

I am entering this card in the following challenge -
Mojo Monday - 228 sketch
Drunken Stampers - #83 texture

Poppies

Two posts in one day!  I got a chance to finish another card using one of my favourite stamps.

I made this with a couple of challenges in mind.  The stamp is part of a set from Sheena Douglass' Little Bit Sketchy range and is a joy to colour.  I've used my Promarkers as usual!  The sentiment is part of the same stamp set.
The cardstock various from my stash and the border punch is Martha Stewart.
Some Candi, gems, glass nuggets and tiny punched butterflies finish it off.

I am entering this card in the following challenges -
Colour Throwdown - colour combo
Graphicat Sketches - sketch
I Love Promarkers - nature

Shabby Chic

I've made this card for a few challenges, I'm getting the hang of them now and am already addicted!  This blogging lark is great fun!
The lovely image was a freebie download from Saturated Canary which I've coloured with my trusty Promarkers.  I then highlighted  the eyes, lips, heart and buttons with Anita's 3D Gloss.  I'm so glad Docrafts have brought out the gloss with a finer nozzle, it's so much easier to use on small areas.  The edges of the topper were gently inked with Distress ink in Milled Lavender after being distressed with my Tim Holtz distressing tool.  I patted Distress Ink in Pumice Stone along the edges of all the mats direct from the pad after they'd had the Tim Holtz tool treatment.
The yummy papers are Shabby Vintage from Craftwork Cards.  They weren't cheap but I just had to have them!  The plain cardstock is Bazzil.
The tag is a luggage label which has been stamped with a sentiment from a Forever Friends set and then I've gone over it with a metallic gel pen.  Some Distress Stickles in Milled Lavender and a paper raffia bow add to the shabby look.
The flowers were made with my favourite Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die from mauve card held together with brads and accented with Distress Stickles.
Some wide lace and glass nuggets provide the finishing touches.

I am entering this card in the following challenges -
Sketchy Colours - sketch
Passion for Promarkers - distressing

Festive Frogs

Well, that's Christmas card number seven made for this year!
I picked up this Pepper and Friends stamp set for a pound at the SECC in October, I do love a bargain!  As it's quite a small, detailed image all I can say is thank heavens for Promarker fine nibs!  I'd have struggled to colour it without them.  After colouring, I highlighted the eyes with Anita's 3D Gloss and the hats with diamond Stickles.  The edges of the topper and scalloped card blank were coloured with Distress Ink in Old Paper.
The patterned papers are all Papermania from the Home for Christmas range which came in a goody bag last year along with the poinsettia and leaves.
The border punch is by EK success.
I finished the card with some ribbon and gems.  I had hoped that by not adding a bow that it would be thin enough to go standard letter post but I have a feeling that the gem brad might be just a smidgen too chunky and it'll have to go as a large letter.

Oriental Lady

I've had this lovely Personal Impressions stamp for ages and decided it was time to get her out for a play.  I treated myself to the new limited edition Promarkers at the weekend and had itchy fingers to use them.  They're beautiful muted colours and a couple of them are fab for pale skin tones.  This image was coloured with a mixture of Promarkers and Flexmarkers.
I bought a lovely pack of Papermania oriental papers at the SECC in October which until now remained unopened.  Some of them are bold and bright but I decided to use this more subtle one.  The plain, neutral cardstock is Papermania Capsule Collection and the blue card is textured metallic effect from Payper Box.
The corner die is Marianne and is so useful.  The leafy border punch is Martha Stewart and the embossing folder I've used is Cuttlebug.
I've added some texture with raffia and finished the card with a coin charm and a few pearls.

I'm entering this card in the following in the following challenges -

The stamp Man - texture

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

Handbag Notebook

Every Monday night I have some friends over for a crafty session and tea and cake.  We all made a cute handbag notebook using a Sizzix die.  Crafting really is the best hobby, you can do it on your own or with friends!
The front and back were cut from mountboard and covered with snakeskin effect paper which has been in my stash for ages.  The buckle was made from silver and lilac mirri.
I used the die to cut pages from plain white paper and tied it all together with ribbon.

Strawberry Kisses

As soon as these Strawberry Kisses stamps were released I just had to treat myself!  I've only got this one so far but I'm sure that'll change!
The image was a joy to colour with Promarkers and Flexmarkers.  After colouring, I added Anita's 3D Gloss to the dish.  The sentiment stamp is part of a set by Lili of the Valley.
The papers and cardstock are all Papermania Capsule Collection in Red Hot.  This layout was a great way to use up some offcuts from the paper pack.
The flowers were made with Nellie Snellen punches and the card was finished with a bow and a few red pearls.

I am entering this card in the following challenges -
CES Challenges - Lots of Layers
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - red, white and pink
Crafts for Eternity - #58 - Raspberry Delight
Peachy Keen Stamps - 04 - photo inspiration

Cairn Terrier

How adorable is this wee dog?!  It's another digi image from A Passion for Stamps, coloured with promarkers and the eye and nose highlighted with Anita's 3D gloss.
The colour combo of blue and brown was inspired by a Stampin' for the Weekend challenge.  As soon as saw the colour combo I thought of these Papermania Chatsworth papers which I picked up in a sale.  The plain cardsstock is Papermania Capsule Collection
The layout is a sketch from Card Positioning Systems.  As soon as I spotted it I wanted a go at it!
The pretty border punch is EK Success.
I've finished the card off with some Distress Ink in Old Paper round the edges of the scalloped blank and a few pearls.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Card Positioning Systems - Sketch Challenge
Stampin' for the Weekend - Colour Challenge

Birthday Boy

I love making childrens cards, they're the perfect excuse for going wild with colour and kids get so excited when they get something with their name on.  This card is for a pal of my son's who will be six next week.
The stamp is Molly Bloom and was a magazine freebie a while back.  I've coloured it with Promarkers and highlighted the balloon and shoes with Anita's 3D gloss.
The patterned papers were also magazine freebies and the plain cardstock is all Papermania.
I made the bunting with a Stampin' Up punch which has become a firm favourite.  The lettering was done with Papermania Capsule Collection cardstock stickers.
The stars were were cut with Xcut dies and some ribbon and a few buttons provide the finishing touches.

I am entering this card into the following challenges -
Hotshot Crafts - #4 - One for the Boys
Totally Papercrafts - Rainbow
The Crafty Pad - #157 - The Letter B

Cutie Booties

It's twins!  I made this card for a lady who goes to my local craft shop who's just had twin girls.  Welcome to the world Olivia and Hope!
The oh so sweet digi stamp is from A Passion for Stamps and has been coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers.
The glitter and pearl cardstock are from Create and Craft and the papers are Marianne Eline's Baby.
I've use my favourite Martha Stewart punch to make the lace borders and a Crafts Too punch for the tag. The tiny sentiment is from a Woodware set.
Some ribbon, a bow and a few gems and it's done!

Here's another card to celebrate the arrival of a baby girl!  Work colleague of my husband's had a little girl, Lily, this week.

I've used another Passion for Stamps digi, printed out onto white card, patterned paper and ivory paper and paper pieced it up and coloured the insides of the shoes with Promarkers..  I couldn't resist adding a bit of Stickles to them for some girly glitter!
The sentiment is from a Woodware set and the lettering was done with a Docrafts alphabet set which I punched out with a circle punch and added clear dome stickers to the centres.
The pearl and glitter cardstock are again from Create and Craft and the  papers are Papermania Blueberry Hill.
It's that good ole' Martha Stewart lace punch again and surprise, surprise a bow and some bling!  Two ribbon roses add a finishing touch to the cute shoes.

Lemon and Lime

I just love Humphrey, he's so sweet!  I bought a few Crafter's Companion stamps at the SECC in October and I finally got round to inking this one up!  The card was made for a friendship swap over on Docrafts which runs monthly.  I used a sketch designed by Teresa Allday for a sketch challenge on Docrafts.
The stamped image was coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers.  The fine nibs came in very handy for the stripes on his dungarees!
The yellow papers are Papermania Capsule Collection in Lemon Sorbet and the green one is Papermania Spring Chic.
The flowers were made with Nellie Snellen punches and leaves with a Woodware punch.
A bow and a few pearls finished it off.

I'm entering this card into the following challenge -
My Time to Craft #172 - A is for Adorable

A Big Thank You!

I made this card to say a big thank you to Michelle Webb for designing my watermark and sending me a video tutorial on how to apply it.  Thank you so much, you're a star!
The cascade card was made with Bazzil cardstock and then I got to work with the embellishments!
The thank you stamp and die to cut it out is Papermania from the latest Docrafts goody bag.
The other stamped elements were made with two sets of Papermania Urban Bookprint stamps, all stamped with Whispers ink in Aubergine on Papermania Capsule Collection cardstock.
The flowers were made with bookprint doublesided paper from Stampin' Up.  The tiny cabbage rose on the thank you was made with an Xcut punch, layered up. The rolled rose was made with a Marianne die with the leaves cut from kraft card.  The daisy was made with Woodware punches with a kraft centre.
A few pearls were then added as a finishing touch.

Snowflake Wreath

Here's another Christmas card, that's six made now for this year!
It's a 6x6 blank with a mat of white pearl card which I've embossed a border on with my Hougie board and outlined with peel of borders.
The larger snowflakes were made from Centura Pearl paper with a Martha Stewart punch and the smaller ones were made from glitter velum with another Martha Stewart punch but this time it's the waste from a corner punch.
The sentiment is from a Papermania stamp set from the A Silent Night range which I've heat embossed with silver powder.
I've finished it off with some Papermania pearls and an organza bow.

Roses are Red

Here's a card that I've made for my lovely hubby for Valentine's Day using one of Ruth's gorgeous digi stamps, available from A Passion for Stamps.  I've coloured it with Promarkers and have added dew drops with Anita's 3D gloss.
The card is made from tent folded acetate with a cardstock stepper inside.  The inner stepper is made from lovely embossed black cardstock which doesn't show in the picture.  The foiled acetate, foiled cardstock and embossed cardstock are all from Hunkydory.
And well, I had to finish it with bows and a few black pearls!

I am entering this card in the following challenges -
Crafty Boots - Valentines
Lexi's Creations - Love

Gorjuss in Purple

Two posts in one day!  I'm starting to get the hang of this blog thing!
I'm still on a mission to use up at least a little bit of my stash mountain by revisiting some older papers.  These papers and cardstock are from a Hunkydory set which was a Pick of the Week on Create and Craft a couple of years back.  The set had lovely butterfly toppers and when I've used it previously I've always gone for a butterfly theme, but I decided to mix it up a bit this time.
The stamp is, of course, Gorjuss, this one is called Ruby, and I've coloured her with Promarkers and Flexmarkers.
I added a bit of interest along the side of the image with a Martha Stewart border punch.
The lovely sketch I found on the Totally Gorjuss challenge blog and seeing the word Gorjuss put me in mind of this stamp so I dug her out for a play.
I've added a charm to my bow and I think I've been very restrained with the bling!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Totally Gorjuss #117
Make it Monday #75

Something Colourful

I came across this layout for a sketch challenge at Totally Papercrafts and decided to have a bash at it. I love using sketches to get the creative juices flowing! 
The image is part of a set from Personal Impressions which was a bargain at £2 in my local craft shop.  I've coloured it with Promarkers and added beads for eyes and a little red gem for a cherry.
I've been trying to revisit some of my older stash to try to use up some of my papers before my craft room disappears under a sea of paper!  The cupcake paper is Dovecraft from their Piece of Cake range and the pink spotty paper, which is truly geriatric, is Papermania.
The ribbons are from Mei Flower.  I always stock up from them at the SECC in October because they have such a wide selection at great prices.
The buttons were made with a Woodware punch which is an old favourite.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Totally Papercrafts - #102 - sketch
Cupcake Inspirations - #146

A Little Bit of Vintage

Here's something a wee bit different for me.  Well, not that different I suppose, it's got some bling and a bow on!  I don't very often use ready made toppers but I fell in love with this vintage image.
All the papers and cardstock are from a Hunkydory goody bag which was bursting with fab goodies.
The punch around the page set is a much used Martha Stewart one.
The rolled roses and leaves were made with a Marianne die set from Whitewash Core'dinations which I gently sanded.  The small cabbage rose was made by layering up punched flowers again from Whitewash Core'dinations.

I am entering this card in the following challenges -

Scrappy Frogs - Lace

Girly and Glittery!

I've had this pretty stamp for a wee while and finally got round to using her.  Isn't she just so sweet?  I had great fun indulging my girly side with pink and glitter.
The image is a Sugar Nellie stamp, coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and accented with pink glitter.  I've used glue for glitter by Pinflair which is fab because it almost encapsulates the glitter so you get very little shedding.
The sentiment is from a set of circular sentiment stamps by Lili of the Valley which has been die cut with my trusty circle Nesties.
The little rose was made with an Xcut punch, layered six times and the open flowers were made with Nellie Snellen punches.  I couldn't resist blinging them up with a bit of Stickles glitter glue.
The corner die is Marianne and both the border punches are Martha Stewart.
The papers are Capsule Collection by Papermania and Kraft cardstock.
I then, of course had to add a bow and a few gems to finish it off!

I'm entering this card into these challenges-

The Stamp Man - Embellish It
Ditsy Craftymess - Anything Goes
                                                                                                                                                                              
Hot Shot Craft - challenge #3 - Flowers
The  Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes