Belated Birthday

I made this card for a friend who recently turned fifty but who was away over her birthday, I haven't seen her since before Christmas, hence the belated card.  I'm catching up with her for lunch today for a late birthday celebration.

I coloured the Fizzy Moon stamped image with Promarkers to match yet more of my new My Mind's Eye papers, I really like the pink and orange colour combo of this stack.  All the edges were inked with Picked Raspberry Distress Ink.
I computer generated the sentiment and added a doily made with my new Xcut die.  It cuts beautifully and is well worth the effort of poking all the waste out of the die with a pokey tool!  I also used my new Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page set that I picked up in the sale.  Some zesty orange ribbon, pearls, gems and Card Candi finish it off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Papertake - sketch #75
Crafts and Me - #118 - favourite embellishment, mine is ribbon with a bow
Paper Pretties - #243 - square cards
Penny's Paper-Crafty - #112 - for a girl
Crafty Cardmakers - #83 - belated birthday
Love to Create - #50 - anything goes with a sentiment
Red Carpet Studio - #21 - card with a bear
Paper Crafting Journey - for a girl
Stamp 'n' Doodle - female birthday
Crafty Ribbons - #38 - anything goes with ribbon

I Love Promarkers DT Card - Love is in the Air

It's challenge time again over at I Love Promarkers, this time "Love is in the Air" so if you haven't made your Valentine's card why not use this opportunity to play along?!  You can of course make a project for any romantic theme as I have done with my wedding card.  Our sponsor this week is Marianne, pop on over to the challenge blog for more details of the fab prize up for grabs for our randomly chosen winner.

The stamp I've used is from a Buzzcraft set that I bought at the SECC for the bargain price of £1.50 and hadn't got round to inking.  I'm glad I did as I think it's just so adorable!  It has, of course, been coloured with my Promarkers, and I've added a hint of Glamour Dust to the bride.
The papers, buttons, die cut hearts and flowers, sentiment and the lace are all from the recently launched Papermania Vintage Notes range which I treated myself to with Christmas money.  To say I like it would be a massive understatement and the papers and die cut elements have a lovely, tactile linen texture.  I also added a rolled rose and leaves made with Marianne dies and a shed load of assorted pearls.  I love this cluttered, eclectic style and it's very much my comfort zone, the more embellies the better!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Bearly Mine - #71 - hearts galore
Creative Craft - #2 - bling
Deep Ocean - #44 - love and lace
(PIN)spirational - #42 - inspiration photo, I used hearts and fabric textured papers
Passion for Promarkers - #183 - bling, I used Glamour Dust and pearls
Forever Friends - #54 - ribbon or lace
Incy Wincy - pearls and lace
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner - #47 - buttons
Addicted to Stamps - #48 - use fabric/texture, my papers have a woven texture
Fashionable Stamping - #40 - show some love 

For my Valentine

Last night was craft night and, after tea and home made caramel whoopie pies, we all made made cards using House Mouse decoupage sheets.

I decided to make a Valentine's card for my husband using this cute image and yes, he really does tell cheesy jokes, in fact he's well known for them!  The image is really big so a large card was the order of the day, I opted for an 8x8 parenthesis shaped blank.
The papers are all Papermania Me to You, a double sided stack perfect for Valentine's projects, to which I added some red pearls card.  The hearts were made with Spellbinders dies, I kept these as the only embellishments as my husband doesn't like my fussy style, preferring a much simpler style.

  I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
House Mouse and Friends - #137 - special cuts, I used die cuts
ABC - #14 - Valentine's card
Pink Elephant - #184 - hearts
Unstampabelles - #19 - use dies
Gingerloft - #56 - love is in the air
Scrapper's Delights - love
Brown Sugar - #26 - Valentine's
CRAFT - #191 - Valentine's / love
Bearly Mine - #71 - hearts galore
Shopping Our Stash - #87 - Valentine's, my older stash is the decoupage sheet

Friend to Friend

I've been playing with my new My Mind's Eye papers again, I just can't leave them alone!

This time I coloured this adorable Lili of the Valley stamp with Promarkers to match these lush papers, I really love the soft colours and pretty colour combo of this stack.  After colouring, I highlighted the image with a generous dusting of Glamour Dust and used Diamond Sparkles glitter in Golden Sands round the edge of the topper.
The flowers were made with Woodware punches, I inked the edges of the petals with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink and topped each blossom with a dew drop.
I created the lace borders with a well used Martha Stewart punch, inking the edges with Pumice Stone Distress Ink for definition.  The sentiment is a Craftwork Cards die cut to which I added some flower shaped gems.  Some ribbon, a bow and a few weeny pearls finish my card.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Flutterby Wednesday - #224 - sketch
That Craft Place - new year goodies - I used new papers
The Corrosive Challenge - #166 - inspiration picture, I was inspired by the fairies and flowers
My Time to Craft - #206 - things with wings
One Stop Craft - #213 - sparkle and bling
Sweet Stampin' - ribbon
Totally Gorjuss - #168 - flowers
Dutch Dare - #201 - winged things
Lili's Little Fairies - anything goes
Divas by Design - fairytails

Peace and Quiet

It's my husband's birthday next week and, every year, when asked what he'd like for his birthday, his reply is "peace and quiet".  Well, when I saw this Penny Black stamp at the SECC last October I knew just who it'd be perfect for!

I coloured the image with Promarkers to match my gorgeous new My Mind's Eye papers.  Create and Craft had a great deal on five MME 6x6 pads and I was led astray by someone else who was ordering some for herself!
The stars were made with Xcut dies and I topped them with a Boofle button threaded with baker's twine.  Some Card Candi and some tiny blue pearls were all I needed to complete my card.

 I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Allsorts - #191 - masculine
Crafty Calendar - what's new? - I used new papers
Crafty Catz - #167 - cute as a button
Here Come the Boys - #44 - bingo - buttons, twine, image
Jellypark - button up
Glitter 'n' Sparkle - #17 - male cards
4 Crafty Chicks - #126 - buttons
Stamp 'n' Doodle - male birthday
The Squirrel and the Fox - #36 - something new, I used new papers
Sweet Sketch - #190 - sketch

Fun With Feathers

I had my Pan Pastels out again for a play and had a great time getting messy with a selection of warm colours.

To create the background, firstly, I swept on some yellow Pan Pastel with a sponge, then I used a peacock feather stencil and sponged on Perfect Medium with Cut 'n' Dry foam and brushed on some orange Pan pastel with a soft dusting brush.  Next I stamped some feathers with a set of Artemio stamps, again with Perfect Medium, and dusted on Pan Pastels red and magenta.  Finally, I gave it a spritz with a Perfect Pearls mica spray to seal and add shimmer.  This was then matted on some bright orange holographic card with a pretty heart design.  The panel on the right was also run through an embossing folder for a bit of texture.
The cage and bird were made with Spellbinders dies, I cut the cage form mirri and the bird from satin board.  The flowers on the cage were made with a Woodware punch with tiny orange pearls for centres.
To complete my card I added some burnt orange ribbon, a bow, a fluffy feather, orange gems and red pearls.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Craft Us Crazy - #35 - love or use red
Dutch Dare - #201 - things with wings
My Time To Craft - #206 - things with wings
For Your Inspiration - #38 - inspiration photo, I used the colours
Use It Tuesday - #48 -  warm colours - my older stash is the feather, stamps and satin board
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner - #46 - red and/or hearts

For a Sad Occasion

My husband and I will be attending the funeral of his Uncle Willie today so I had to make a card for the occasion that I think all card makers find the hardest to make for.

I chose this beautiful rhododendron image from A Passion For Stamps as this will have a special significance to Willie's family.  The churchyard where he is to be buried (where I'll be buried too, hubby and I have already bought our plot) is full of pretty rhododendron bushes.  There is a family tradition, where, when a female member of the family is to be interred, several men line the grave with either rhododendron blossoms or leaves so that it looks less stark.  This is something that Willie himself did on several occasions.
I've coloured the image with Promarkers and Flexmarkers, keeping the blooms pale and delicate.
I went for a white on white scheme along with my coloured image as I think this always looks elegant.  The embossed background was done with a 6x6 folder and punched lace strips were made with my favourite Martha Stewart punch.
The sentiment was made with a stamp from a Stampin' Up set and I finished my card with a ribbon, a bow and some pearls.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Passion for Promarkers - #182 - favourite colour combo, mine's pink and green
Fab 'n' Funky - #155 - favourite colour combo, mine's pink and green
Crafty Sentiments - white on white with coloured image
Digital Tuesday - #194 - favourite colour combo, mine's pink and green
Sweet Stamps - pearls and lace
A Gem of a Challenge - #63 - embossing
Created with Love - #25 - anything goes
Happy Campers - #9 - flowers and something digital
Sweet 'n' Sassy - #89 - all white

Something Yellow

What a relief it is to be feeling better, I've been in bed for the last few days with the mother of all colds.  I'm upright, dressed and itching to craft so I must be on the mend!
Here's my card from our Monday night craft session.  This week, after tea and home made sticky chocolate cake, we all all crafted along the theme of "something yellow".  I decided to go with sunflowers, I think we could all do with a splash of sunshine at the moment!

I dug out much much loved and much used Papermania sunflower stamps and inked up this beauty with Rich Cocoa Memento, then coloured with Promarkers.
The papers are Prima Sun Kiss, one of my very favourite stacks that I'll never tire of using.  Great minds think alike and all that, as my friend, Margaret, used this stamp and these papers on her project too, although we ended up with totally different cards.
I used a Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page set to create a leafy mat and die cut two delicate butterflies using Spellbinders dies.  Ribbon, a bow, orange gems and four huge pearls are the finishing touches.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Papertake - add a bow
Use it Tuesday - #48 - warm colours.  My older stash is the papers, stamp and pearls
Inky Chicks - #2 - bingo - die cuts, bow, pearls
Kaboodle Doodles - #155 - ribbon
CI Paint - favourite stamp
Card Crafter's Circle - #58 - layers
Die Cuttin' Divas - #99 - edge punch and ribbon
Created With Love - #25 - anything goes

I Love Promarkers DT Card - The Pencil Fairy!

Morning everyone!  It's challenge time again at I Love Promarkers, this week we have a nice easy "Anything Goes" challenge for you, so why not get out those pens and colour up whatever you fancy.  Our sponsor this week is J and C Creations.

The digi is a freebie from Whimsy Doodles which I've had for a while but hadn't got round to using, you'll find it here.  After colouring with Promarkers I added some Star Dust Stickles to her wings for a bit of fairy sparkle.
The papers are Kanban Cambridge, a stunning pack I got as a Christmas present, I just love the pretty pinks and blues it has.  The sentiment was done with a Personal Impressions stamp.
The flowers were made with Woodware punches with a dew drop in the centre, and the leaves with Spellbinders dies.  A ribbon, bow, blue gems and Card Candi finish it off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Creative Card Crew - #28 - girly
Papertake - add a bow
Top Tip Tuesday - #94 - layers
Daisy Doodles - #76 - girly
Melonheadz - #1 - use a digi
Paper Playtime - #2 - use some brown
Whoopsi Daisy - use a digi
Crafts 4 Eternity - #107 - punch it
Charisma Cardz - #2 - punch it
My Heart Pieces - thinking of you

Cutie Pie DT Card - Use Three Textures

We have a fun new challenge for you over at Cutie Pie, this time the theme is "Use Three Different Textures".  I love lots of texture on my projects so this one was right up my street.  We have two sponsors this time, Just Some Lines and The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop, so why not play along to be in with a chance of winning a lovely prize?!

The DT were given an image to play with from Just Some Lines, I chose this sweet digi, I just fell in love with this adorable bear, it's been coloured with Promarkers.  My three textures are, an embossed pattern, done with an 8x8 embossing folder then inked with Dusty Concord Distress Ink, crimped paper and fabric.  The fabric elements are the ribbon and the organza flower, which I made by heating circles of man-made organza with my heat tool to melt it slightly, which causes it to pucker and shrink.  I used four fabric circle, fastening them together with a brad threaded with a punched flower.  The rocker card was made using Grand Spellbinders, I'm so lovin' my Grand Calibur!  Some lilac pearls and a die cut leafy flourish are the finishing touches.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Addicted to Stamps - #48 - use fabric/texture
Robyn's Fetish - #143 - round cards
A Gem of a Challenge - #63 - emboss it
Totally Papercrafts - embossing
4 Crafty Chicks - #125 - pearls
Penny's Paper-Crafty - #110 - teddy bears
Whimsy Inspiration - #55 - fancy edges
Digi Galore - teddy bears
Clear it Out - circles, my older stash is the ribbon, organza and purple paper and card
Deep Ocean - #43 - anything but square

Purrrfect Friends

I just love this cute digi from Prairie Fairie called Purrfect Friends, I think the little girl looks so happy sat with her feline friend.

 The image has been coloured with Promarkers to match my lovely new Papermania Country Companions papers.  Yeah, I know, more new papers, I'm so weak willed, but they are beautiful!
I created a floral border with punched flowers which have all been gently inked, and have had pretty pink nailheads added to the centres for a bit of metallic shimmer.
The sentiment was stamped with a stamp from a Kanban set, I thought it went well with the image.
Ribbon, bow, pink gems, and scattering of tiny cream pearls and it's done.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges - 

Crafts 4 Eternity - #107 - punch it, I used a lace border punch and flower punch 

Simply Create Too - #29 - anything goes 

Charisma Cardz - #2 - punch it, I used a border punch and flower punch 

Sassy Studios - #160 - roses, ribbon and rhinestones, my roses are on the patterned paper 

Can You Digi It - getting girly 

Digital Tuesday - #193 - flower power 

LEJ - #36 - use metal, I used metal nailheads 

Tuesday Throwdown - #130 - frame it 

Stamping Sensations - friendship 

Glitter 'n' Sparkle - #16 - sentimental

At the Grooming Parlour!

I bought a beautiful Kanban stamp set at the SECC last October for an absolute bargain, about £2 I think, but hadn't got round to inking them up.  I decided to have a play and chose this gorgeously cute stamp of a wee girl grooming her dog.  There are two large image stamps as well has a whole load of sentiment stamps, and the images are lovely and big making them such fun to colour.

 I've used Promarkers, as per usual, to colour the image.  The papers are Papermania Hot Diggedy Dog, to which I've added chocolate brown pearl card.  I don't have much of the paper pack left as it's such a pretty stack that has been used time and time again.
I've managed to include my usual ribbon and bow, along with layered round buttons, flower shaped buttons which I've topped with pink gems, and some pretty pink pearls.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Stampin' for the Weekend - something girlie
Divas by Design - girly
Fab 'n' Funky - #154 - get moving
Anything Goes - #84 - buttons and bows
Loves Rubber Stamps - #35 - cute as a button
Card Mania - #12 - oh so girly
Paper Playtime - #1 - pets
Card Crafter's Circle - #58 - layers
Guylou's Inimitablity - spots
Sweet Sketch - #189 - sketch

GDT Card for "ABC" Challenges

 If you're looking for my Digi Haven card, it's in the post below.
After a recent win over at "ABC" Challenges I was asked to be guest designer for the current challenge.  This weeks challenge is a lovely inspiration photo, as soon as I saw it I knew what I was going to make.

I decided to go down the white on white route with snowy trees and branches with just a splash of red.

I really love WOW cards and I hadn't made one for a while so I had a great fun with this.  This is about as clean and simple as I get, but I have managed to squeeze in my usual bow and gems!
The frame was made with a Forever Friends Black and Gold embossing folder, I cut the middle out with a craft knife.  The trees were die cut with Sizzix dies and the branch was made with a Spellbinders die from my Fall Foliage set.  The bird was made with a Papermania Urban stamp, I stamped with Barn Door Distress Ink then added more with the applicator tool.  Everything was layered up with foam pads or glue gel to give depth to the scene.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Crimbo Crackers - #33 - white on white
Sweet Stampin' - #2 - cold and frosty
The Sisterhood of Crafters - baby it's cold outside
Papertake - baby it's cold outside
Top Tip Tuesday - #93 - fur or feathers
Tuesday Throwdown - #130 - frame it
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards - #30 - for the birds
Delicious Doodles - #19 - winter
Jingle Belles - red, white and jul
Stamping With The Dragon - in the winter garden

Digi Haven DT Card - Winter / Snow

Morning all!  We have a new challenge for you at Digi Haven with the theme of "Winter / Snow" so why not get a head start with this year's Christmas cards (it's never too early to start!), or play along with anything wintery.  Our sponsor this time is Dilly Beans and the DT were lucky enough to be given an image to play with, I had a ball with mine, I just love the quirky style of Dilly Beans digis.

I decided to go for bright, candy colours for my card and managed to use up some elderly papers in the process!  They're Papermania from the Honey and Hugs range, a lovely contemporary pack in really pretty colours.  The image has been coloured with Promarkers and after colouring, I added some pink glitter flock to the band of his hat for a bit of fuzzy texture.  The sentiment was stamped with a Papermania stamp and I finished my card with lime ribbon and bow, some snowflake buttons (I snipped the shanks off with wire cutters) and a scattering of tiny pearls.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
CRAFT - #190 - Christmas in January
Paper Pretties - #241 - ribbon
Sparkles Christmas - #24 - snowmen
Anything Goes - buttons and bows (the snowflake embellishment is a button with the shank snipped off)
Christmas Cards All Year Round - anything Christmas goes
Creative Card Crew - #27 - snow and ice
Ribbon Carousel - #76 - winter spirit
Digi Makeover - #71 - winter wonderland
Eureka Stamps - #22 - layer it up and let it snow
The Ribbon Reel - #44 - inspiration photo

Merry and Bright........ Very Bright!

It's never too early to start making Christmas cards!  I have loads to make and I can only get them done in time if I start really early, that way I don't have a massive last minute rush.  This is one of my favourite Christmas stamps, it's a lovely big Penny Black and such fun to colour, which I've done with Promarkers and Flexmarkers, and highlighted with a touch of Glamour Dust.

I picked up these lovely bright and cheerful papers in the sale after Christmas, I had a fair bit of Christmas money so I has a lovely, guilt free, crafty splurge!  I gave the edges a bit of an inking with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and added some cute Christmas tree satin trim to one of the mats, sticking bright pink pearls between each tree.
The sentiment is a foiled die cut from Craftwork Cards, I thought it was the perfect match for this bright card.  It came in a goody bag which was also a sale purchase, you wouldn't believe what was in it for a fiver, and top quality too.  Some tiny green gems and a snowflake button (I cut the shank off with wire snips) finish it off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Passion for Promarkers - #181 - whatever the weather, I chose snow
Stamptacular Sunday - #198 - sketch
ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for animal
Sweet Stampin' Christmas - #2 - cold and frosty
Sisterhood of Crafters - baby it's cold outside
Christmas Cards All Year Round - anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - winter fun
Creative Card Crew - #27 - snow and ice
Jellypark - winter animals
Hanna and Friends - #163 - snowflakes

I Love Promarkers DT Card - Layer it Up

It's challenge time again over at I Love Promarkers, this week we want you to "Layer it Up".  This was a nice easy one for me as I just love lots of layers.  Our sponsor this time is Di's Digi Downloads who are offering digis to our randomly chosen winner.

The image I've used is from Di's Digi Downloads, I won it in a recent challenge, and has been coloured to match these pretty Papermania Capsule Collection Spots and Stripes papers.  Regular visitors to my blog will know how much I love them at the moment!  I inked all the edges with Weathered Wood Distress Ink for more definition as the the colours are quite pale.  The ribbon and buttons are from the same range too.
The flowers were made with a punch from spotty paper, lining the centre of the punch over a coloured spot to give the flower it's middle, and were topped with a matching gem  The lace border was made with a Martha Stewart punch.  A sprinkling of tiny green gems finishes it off.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Digi Galore - teddy bear's picnic
Ready Teddy Go - #18 - something new, I used all new stash
Sparkles - #40 - die cuts and flowers
Anything Goes - #84 - buttons and bows
Card Mania - #12 - girly
Kaboodle Doodles - #154 - buttons
Glitter 'n' Sparkle - #15 - use a digi
Totally Gorjuss - #166 - spots
Crafty Catz - #165 - buttons and bows
Penny's Paper-Crafty - #110 - teddy bears

Shabby Love Birds

Last night was craft night with the girls and this week, after tea and chocolate macaroons, we all has a good goss.  In fact I was the only one to make anything!  A couple of the girls had some big news, some good, some bad, so we put the world to rights over copious quantities of tea.  I crafted while a chatted and made this shabby bird cage card.

I covered the shaped blank with Bohemian paper (I can't get enough of this range at the moment in case you hadn't noticed!), glittered on the inside and plain patterned on the outside, all from Craftwork Cards, and inked the edges with Pumice Stone Distress Ink.  I then added clear micro beads to the heart shape and a gem topped lace bow to the top.
The birds were kraft die cuts, again from Craftwork Cards, which I covered with patterned paper, inked with Dusty Concord Distress Ink and sprayed with Cosmic Shimmer mica spray.  I gave them pink feather wings embellished with tiny gems and some pearls for eyes.
The flowers are die cuts from the same range and were inked with more Dusty Concord, crimped and layered up.  The leaves were made with a Woodware Punch.
Some Card Candi and tiny lilac pearls are the finishing touches.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Quirky Crafts - something new (glitter paper) with pink (feathers and flowers)
The Squirrel and the Fox - #35 - anything goes
Crazy 4 Challenges - #168 - shaped cards
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - #30 - for the birds
Top Tip Tuesday - #93 - fur or feathers
Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes
Oozak - #10 - anything goes with pink and bling

Paws to Enjoy Your Birthday!

Well, it's Monday again, where did the weekend go?  I had a crafty play yesterday and here's what I came up with.

The super cute image is from Lili of the Valley and has been coloured, somewhat predictably, with Promarkers.  I added a hint of colour to the edge of the topper with Distress Ink in Weathered Wood and Walnut Stain, highlighted the bubbles and water with Glamour Dust, and  stuck on beads for eyes and a black pearl for his shiny nose.
The patterned papers are Dovecraft, which I teamed with kraft and yellow cardstock.  For some extra texture I used my crimper on the yellow band down the centre, onto which I layered some stitch effect grosgrain ribbon.  I gave all the edges the once over with some Walnut Stain Distress Ink.
The sentiment was made with a stamp from a Personal Impressions set, I thought it went well with this image.  The flowers were made with a punch and shaped with a ball tool and the final flourishes are a bow and some Card Candi.

 I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Lili's Little Fairies - use two BPs
Come and Get It - tie a ribbon round it
Eclectic Elapu - 1 die cut (oval), two patterned papers, 3 embellies (flowers) and ribbon
Fairy Tale - #58 - animals/pets
Wags 'n' Whiskers - #95 - celebrate
Top Tip Tuesday - #93 - fur or feathers
Forever Friends - #53 - favourite embellishments, mine are handmade flowers and ribbon
Created With Love - #24 - critter birthday
Sweet Sketch - #118 - sketch

To a "Deer" Dad!

It's my father-in-law's 83rd birthday today and here's the card I've made for him.

He's a country boy, born and bred so I decided to use this lovely Penny Black stamp, which I've coloured with Promarkers.  I stamped it in Rich Cocoa Memento rather than black for a softer look.
The papers are actually Christmas ones, my favourite Lili of the Valley Frosty Christmas stack, but I thought that some of them were suitable for a winter birthday too.  I inked all the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink for a bit of definition.
I made the snowflake border with the waste from Martha Stewart punches and added a tiny clear gem to the centre of each one.  The larger snowflake was made with a Sizzix die.
The sentiment was made with three Personal Impressions stamps, and, after stamping was die cut and inked with Weathered Wood and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.  Grey pearls and frosty Card Candi complete my card.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Penny Black - January Blues
Allsorts - #189 -  punches and dies
Broken Box Stock - #17 - winter / snowflakes
Crafts 4 Eternity - #106 - moody blues
Simply Create Too - #28 - let it snow
Charisma Cardz - #1 - birthday
Try Stamping on Tuesday - #100 - sketch
Little Miss Muffet - #52 - winter birthdays
Pixie Dust Studio - winter
Gingerloft - #55 - let it snow

All Snuggled Up

I decided to make a baby girl card as it was a baby boy card I made last and I always like to have one of each at hand!

The image is from Di's Digi Downloads, I won it in a recent challenge and was desperate to colour it, I think it's sooo cute.  It's been coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers to match these lovely Marianne Eline's Baby papers.  I've not got much of the paper pack left because it's been so well used, I just love the soft vintage feel to them.  I teamed the papers with kraft and distressed all the edges for a shabby chic look.
I used a Spellbinders Splendid circle die for the lacy mat and used Marianne dies to create the flowers, gently inking the petals with pink ink.  To further embellish, I added Candy Pink Stickles round the edge of the topper, made a pearl topped lace bow, and a good handful of pearls, both faceted and domed.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Crafty Ribbons - #36 - new beginnings
Bearly Mine - #68 - sketch
In the Pink - #11 - luscious lace
Wags 'n' Whiskers - #95 - celebrations
Milk Coffee - new beginnings
A Gem of a Challenge - #62 - new beginnings
My Heart Pieces - getting girly
Creative Crafts - #1 - new beginnings
Digital Tuesday - #192 - new beginnings

Fussy and Fancy DT Card - All You Need Is...

It's challenge time again at Fussy and Fancy, this time we'd like to see, "Hot Drinks".  The DT were lucky enough to get some fun images from Freshly Brewed to play with, I chose this one, called Coffee and Pie, but I think this particular cuppa is hot chocolate!  The sentiment is a freebie from somewhere but I can't remember where, I thought it was the perfect accompaniment to this naughty treat.

 The image was coloured with Promarkers and the cup and plate were paper pieced.  All the papers are from Papermania, from the Forever Friends Black and Gold range, a stunning paper pack with lush gold foiling on some of the papers.  I teamed them with gold mirri for a touch of luxury.  The hearts were die cut with Spellbinders and the lace border was made with my favourite Martha Stewart punch.  Ribbon, a bow, Card Candi and gems finish it off.  Mmm... must go and put the kettle on!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Sweet 'n' Sassy - #87 - hot drinks
Delightful Challenges - add hearts
Papercrafting Journey - anything goes
Stamp 'n' Doodle - something neglected, I've used old papers
Creative Moments - #8 - monochrome
Inky Impressions - #92 - sentiment
Use it Tuesday - #47 - sparkle.  I used old papers
Eureka Stamps - #21 - make it sparkle
Card Makin' Mamas - anything goes

Steampunk for a 40th

I have a cousin celebrating his fortieth birthday this week and here's the card I've made for him.

The stamp and papers for this one are from Papermania's new Chronology range and are in the latest goody bag. I was itching to get my inks out and play with these new goodies as I haven't made a steampunk card in a wee while and it's a style I love.  It appeals to my eclectic style and the fact that I can add loads of embellishments even although it's a male card!
I stamped the image in black Stazon and went in with Distress Inks in Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Walnut Stain, after which I added Anita's 3D Gloss to the binoculars and Crackle Paint in Rock Candy to the clock faces.  I computer generated the sentiment and inked it with the same inks as the topper.
The papers were simply matted up with chocolate brown cardstock and I embellished with sage green ribbon, die cut cogs, made from satin board using Spellbinders dies, and assorted metal nailheads.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
Here Come the Boys - #43 - sketch
Crafting for all Seasons - #43 - something new, I used new papers and a new stamp
Crafty Creations - #204 - something new, I used new papers and a new stamp
Loves Rubber Stamps - #34 - die cuts/punches, I die cut the cogs
Tuesday Throwdown - #129 - shiny and new
Craft Your Passion - #144 - vintage/shabby chic
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner - #44 - male
Kaboodle Doodles - #153 - vintage
Vintage Stamping - #4 - vintage

I Love Promarkers DT Card - Tag It

Morning all, it's Wednesday so that can mean only one thing....... it's challenge time at I Love Promarkers!  This week our theme is "Tag It", so all you need to do to play along is add a tag somewhere on your project, and, of course use a Letraset colouring medium.  I used a digi from Opal Manor, it's a freebie and you can find it here.  Our sponsor this week is Polka Doodles, who are offering a prize of a crafting CD crammed full of over 800 printable elements including digi stamps and a whole load more.

I thought that my Stampin' Up book print paper was the perfect match for this image, I combined it with some Papermania Capsule Collection papers from the Sunshine collection.  It's a pack I've had ages, there's not much of it left now as I love it so much.  Anything with orange shades always catches my eye!  The sentiment was done with an urban stamp from a travel themed set and everything has been inked with Tea Dye Distress Ink.  The flowers were made with a Woodware punch and the lace border was done with my favourite Martha Stewart punch.  I finished my card with ruched ribbon, decorated with tiny brads and some brown gems and orange pearls.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges -
City Crafter - #141 - book paper
Lexi's Creations - #81 - anything goes
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - #18 - ribbon and flowers
Crafting When We Can - #35 - favourite things, mine are ribbon, flowers and the colour orange
Inky Impressions - #92 - add a sentiment