Blogging Off...

Just a quickie to say I'm off caravanning for the weekend in Knaresborough as its close enough for me to get to Art From The Heart for a Beginners Journalling course. Hope everyone has a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, and because I haven't had time to make a card this evening I'm uploading this little beauty by our Grand-Daughter Rose, age 16 months. She's actually 18 months now but I've only just got round to scanning it. I hope her Mummy sees it next time she's checking out my blog. Enjoy, x

Create4Fun #17 and Our Creative Corner - Blossoms/Flowers

A very good friend of mine told me it was going to be 21 degrees today. The last of the nice weather before a typically rubbish bank holiday weekend..... What can I say.....it has been persistently raining here for most of the day, which is great for the garden but not for dog walking.


Anyway, I made this card yesterday evening for the Create4Fun # 17 sketch challenge. A challenge it certainly was, as it is very prescriptive in the measurements of all the various layers. However, using a Papermania pack made it easier blending the various papers. The Magenta stamp was slightly too narrow for the paper but not to be defeated I added some ribbon from my stash and pearls from The Hobby House. I really like the colour combination and find I am being increasingly drawn to the orange pallette.


I'm also entering this into the current Our Creative Corner challenge for blossoms/flowers.


I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://create4fun-challenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-week-17.html

http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/2010/04/occ-challenge-blooming-blossoms.html

Friday Sketchers #99; LotsToDo; One Stop #77

Good Evening. My visitor arrived with my son in tow. They'd been doing some secret shopping for my birthday at the weekend. Whatever they'd been up to it didn't matter cos they came armed with yummy toffee cake. This was washed down very nicely with a cuppa.


Anyway onto this evening's card which I have done following the sketch from Friday Sketchers #99.
I'm also entering it in the Lots To Do Challenge which is asking for leaves or trees, and the One Stop Challenge #77 is asking for metallic, either in colour or material.


I can't remember where the image is from but I've stamped it with Versafine Vintage Sepia, watercoloured the leaves and then used liquid applique to make the clouds pop out.


When I was searching through my paper stash I thought 'why not combine lots of leaf designs'. The bottom layer is some I've had for simply ages and thought it would fit the One Stop Challenge being silver and metallic looking, also the corner bellie is metal.


The leaf bellies are acrylic which I bought for my beading projects but somehow they've ended up in a card project...


I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/sketch-99-sponsored-by-simon-says-stamp.html

http://lotstodocallenges.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-16-trees-and-or-leaves.html

http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-77-metallic.html

OCCSC12; SomethingCompletelyDifferent; Corrosive Challenge #61

Hello Bloggers. Went out to work this morning in a jumper and with a coat cos it looked and felt cold. By 10am I was wishing I hadn't cos it was boiling, lol.

Anyway, just a quickie for now as I'm expecting a visitor, but I threw this one together last night, initially for a colour challenge and then realised I had used the wrong stamp for the guidelines so I've adapted it to fit the current OCC sketch challenge; Something Completely Different is challenging us to use the letter 'H' (hat and handbag); and finally Corrosive Challenge #61 was to use a charm.

BTW, the image is by Thomasina cards.

I admit I'm getting a bit lazy not making my own backgrounds but I have so many beautiful papers that I need to try and use some of them. To make room, you understand, lol.

Anyway I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://ourcreativecornerweeklysketch.blogspot.com/2010/04/occ-sketch-challenge-occsc12.html

http://adifferentchallengeaweek.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-48.html

http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-61-theyre-magically-delicious.html

Challenge Card and Health Updates

Good Evening Bloggers. Hasn't it been another glorious day, and there was me stuck indoors laying a floor. Well half of it. My crafting was calling so I'll finish it off another day.

On the health front in order of priority - Doggy is healing well but still attempting the gold medal in amateur dramatics. Son, is still coughing but like a trooper he went off to his workplace today and then the pub!!! He even managed to cope with a RTA on the way home which didn't directly affect him but everyone was asked to get off the bus he was travelling on. Finally, hubby is much better and went off to work today, although he's to go back to hospital tomorrow for another check up. Poor hubby is always complaining that he is way down the pecking order in this house, lol.
I am entering this card in the following challenges :

Quixotic #22 'Make A Splash' - I figure that as Sweet Pea 'Poppy Love' has a mermaid's tail this fits in (I hope)
Theme Thursday - Black and Red
Sir Stampalot #1 - Fantasy
Copic Creations #26 - Black Hair

I've coloured Poppy Love with my copics as follows:-
skin - E00, 02, 21
hair - C3, 7, 8
poppies - R35, 37
clothing and tail - G000, 00, 02
leaves - YG00, 03, 06

I've also used glitter pens in red and green to put some sparkle on the card.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://quixoticpaperie.blogspot.com/2010/04/quixotic-challenge-22-make-splash.html

http://themethursday.wordpress.com/2010/04/21/thursday-challenge-black-and-red/

http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/stampalot-challenge-april.html

http://copiccreations.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/challenge-no-26-black-hair/

Cute Card Thursday #109; Just Magnolia #52

Evening everyone. I now have a totally poorly household, except me that is. Doggy still recovering, hubby poorly with really bad ear infection, although he's going back to work tomorrow, and now Son with what sounds like could be the start of a chest infection. Hey Ho!

So, in true me fashion I told 'em to get on with it as I had a challenge to enter, lol.

I've made this card for a friend's daughter who has a birthday this Saturday. When she was little she was always standing in front of the mirror and asking her mum 'do I look pretty?' This Princess Tilda just fits the bill perfectly.

I've coloured her with copics:-
skin - E00, 02, 21
hair - E31, 33, YR02
dress - R20, 22, 27
shoes - R27

I am entering this for the Cute Card Thursday sketch challenge #109 and Just Magnolia challenge #52 which was 'Anything Goes'.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-109-sketch-by-andrea.html

http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-52-anything-goes.html

Papertake Weekly #39; The Treehouse THT046

Good Evening Bloggers. I hope you've had a good weekend and enjoyed some lovely weather.


Apart from nursing doggy this weekend I've also had a very poorly hubby. It was NHS Direct and the local Health Centre yesterday for excruciating earache which I assumed was an infection. Apparently though he's had something burst!!! Home with antibiotics and painkillers and he's to go to hospital tomorrow to see the ENT people. Fingers crossed we get a better nights sleep tonight. He was pacing the floor at 3am.



Anyway, this evening's challenge card is using the sketch from the current Papertake Weekly and the photographic inspiration set by The Treehouse.



I've coloured my newest Tilda with copics :-



Hair - E31, 33, 35

Skin - E00, 02, 21

Dress - E02, 04, 08

Petticoat, Gloves and Socks - R00, 02

Shoes - 02, 05



I've coloured her crown with glitter pens in copper and gold.



The DP are MME wild asparagus.



I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x



http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2010/04/sketch-39.html



http://treehousestamps.blogspot.com/2010/04/treehouse-thursday-challenge-046.html

Relaxing Ronnie

If you've not heard of Ronnie then please click the link on my sidebar to find out more about him.
Anyway, Ronnie may well be relaxing on this card but I have managed to combine 5 challenges so there's been no relaxing for me, lol

I've used the current sketch on Mojo Monday (#135) as my template. Obviously the image is Relaxing Ronnie, which I have coloured with my copics (B93, 95, 97, BG01 05, 09, 93, 96, 99, R35, 37, C1, 7, E04, 31, 33, 35).

Both the Creative Card Crew #48 and A Spoon Full of Sugar are asking for Happy Birthday cards.

Then there's the recipe for Totally Papercrafts #13 which is 4 embellishments, 3 papers, 2 ribbons and 1 image.

Finally there's Emma's charity challenge in memory of her Dad Ronnie.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x
http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2010/04/mojo-monday-135.html
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-48-happy-birthday.html
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-100-happy-birthday.html
http://craftyemma.blogspot.com/2010/04/charity-challenge.html
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-13-recipe-this-post-has-been.html

Today's Challenge Upload and Doggy Update

Good Evening Bloggers. I haven't had much time today for crafting as I was able to have a long overdue catch up with a friend which involved lunch, chatting, shopping, chatting, coffee and cake and more chatting.....you get the picture.

Joss, the dog, is much brighter today but we still can't get her to keep the 'lampshade' on. If she continues to lick the wound then we'll have to go back to the vets for maybe a different size. The problem is that she regularly has her nails manicured to keep them in tip top long condition, so she is able to hook them under the collar and drag it off. Even though I thought I'd tied it tight enough to choke her... Apart from that she is going for an Oscar for the best 'woe is me' performance, lol. No photos yet but maybe tomorrow.

Anyway I've managed to cobble together this card for the Sketch and Stash #33 Challenge following their sketch and using a new Crafty Individuals stamp, new buttons from Art From The Heart and new DP which is Papermania. Don't you just love those colours.

Colour Q #29 was challenging us to use Bravo Burgundy (the ink is ColorBox fluid chalk in Maroon); Tangerine Tango, YoYo Yellow, Green Galore and White.

Finally Paper Sundae are challenging us to NOT use people in our creation.

I used the same CI image on both the main image and on the circle cut image which has been mounted on a nestie shape.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/sketch-and-stash-challenge-33.html

http://colourq.blogspot.com/2010/04/colourq-challenge-29.html

http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/2010/04/paper-sundaes-fourteenth-challenge.html

Sketch Saturday #99; Create4Fun #16; Gingersnap GC48

Good Evening. I managed to get this one completed this afternoon while I was waiting on the vet phoning and then had to delay uploading it while I went out for dinner, yum! yum!



I've used the Sketch Saturday #99 as my template. It was fortunate that there were so many circles on the sketch as Create4Fun were asking for 'circles only'.



I'm hoping it fits in with the Gingersnaps 'Growth' theme (GC48) as that's what sprang to mind with the baby and toddler in another of the lovely Rie Cramer images. I'll be getting my knuckles rapped for ignoring my rubber stamps, lol.



The papers are MME, aren't they beautiful, and they team beautifully with the Prima flowers.



I've used Adirondack dabber in Hazelnut to edge the card, and Lettuce, Willow and Salmon to colour the chipboard tag.



I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x



http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-99-17th-april-sponsored-by-craft.html

http://create4fun-challenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-week-16.html

http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/03/gc48-random-redhead-challenge-growth.html

Quick Doggy Update

Picked our little dog, Joss, up from the vets this evening. She was still groggy from the anaesthetic which she needed so that they could stitch her back up, poor little mite. Aren't animals funny when they've had an anaesthetic. They think they are OK and she had me fooled and when I asked her to jump into the boot of the car her mind was willing but her legs had other ideas and all in different directions, lol. Anyway, she spent the evening on Son's quilt on the settee feeling sorry for herself.
The best bit of all is that she has one of those lampshade thingys which I will be able to alter at some point, lol.
I'll try and get some piccies tomorrow when she is feeling a bit better, dignity and all that, x

Lots To Do #15 and my poor little doggy

Hello everyone and another beautiful day of sunshine.

I had intended to do something completely different for this challenge but my poor little dog - see my blog photo - got attacked by another dog this morning and its put me all behind. So although I'm really pleased with how this turned out it wasn't initially intended for this challenge.

On our Katys Corner Yahoo Group we were challenged, as part of a fun swap, to alter a piece of absorbent lint type material. It really was a free for all providing that there was some stamping involved.

The material proved quite difficult to colour but eventually I soaked it with alcohol blending solution and then plopped (technical term) drops of mushroom, denim and stream. They still didn't blend sufficiently so I rolled the fabric up and squeezed it and then unravelled it. I then had to wait for it to dry or rather evaporate before tearing the edges and stamping the freebie clear sun stamp from last month's Craft Stamper. I finished it off with buttons and the letter 'S'.

The final item is a photo brag book but as I didn't plan on entering it for a challenge I didn't take any more photos....duh!

I hope you like it and the challenge link is below.

Off to collect doggy from the vets now and I'll update you on that later, x

http://lotstodocallenges.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-15-alcohol-inks.html

Friday Sketchers; Totally Papercrafts; Pile It On; Allsorts #48

Good Morning Bloggers, didn't get around to blogging yesterday evening as I was trying to get a challenge finished on our Yahoo Group. Anyway this is the card I did make, not sure how happy I am with it as I don't usually have so little stamping involved.

I've used the current Friday Sketchers sketch as my template. Totally Papercrafts and Pile It On were both asking for a 'Spring' theme, and finally Allsorts asked for 'In Stitches' whether they be real or faux.

The cute image is from Rie Cramer, the papers are MME and the pearls are Hobby House.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-98-sponsored-by-cute-stamps.html

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-12-spring.html

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-15-and-dt-call.html

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/allsorts-week-48-in-stitches.html

Owl's About It...

Mega challenge upload this evening bloggers. I've managed to incorporate 5 challenges with this little beauty. It was great to ink up this Crafty Individuals stamp as I've not had it that long and I don't think I've used it, or maybe once.

Anyway, I've used the sketch from the current Our Creative Corner challenge.

Both the Creative Cottage and One Stop are asking for 'things with wings'.

Paper Sundae wanted 'no people'.

Finally, Sunday Stamper's challenge was 'free as a bird', the emphasis being on FREE as in anything goes.

The pearls are from The Hobby House, no surprise there, lol.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://ourcreativecornerweeklysketch.blogspot.com/2010/04/occ-sketch-challenge-occsc11.html

http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/creative-cottage-challenge-6-things.html

http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-76-things-with-wings.html

http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/2010/04/paper-sundaes-fourteenth-challenge.html

http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/2010/04/sunday-stamper-week-100-free-as.html

Day Dreamer

This is my second upload for this evening. This time it is following the sketch challenge over at The Pixie Cottage.

Colour Create Challenge #42 is challenging us to use the colours lilac, grey and white and also some gingham. Finally, Something Completely Different asked for the letter 'D' to be represented.

The stamp is by KayCee and is Lady and Rose Silhouette which I have stamped in Versafine Smokey Gray. I have surrounded her with adhesive pearls from The Hobby House.

All the papers are from my stash of lilac and fortunately for one of the challenges one of them has the word 'Dream' printed over it. The lady looks as though she could be dreaming.


The lilac spotted ribbon is laying over white organza ribbon.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/2010/04/pixie-cottage-challenge-14-buttons.html

http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-42-lilac-grey-and-white.html

http://adifferentchallengeaweek.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-47.html

Out Of Africa

Good Evening everyone. I've been a busy little bee this evening catching up on some bits for my Yahoo Group and also managing a couple of challenges.

Here is the first of my uploads for this week's Wednesday Stamper which was challenging us to 'Wild Animals'.

I've done another canvas to complement the elephant one I did last week. I'm trying to do a series to mount on the wall in our spare bedroom.

The stamp is by Stampendous (Lioness Collage). The canvas has been coloured with Adirondack dabbers in Terracotta, Peach Bellini, Red Pepper and Denim, with small amounts of Lettuce, Willow and Butterscotch.

I hope you like it and the challenge link is below, x

http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/wild-animals/

She wanted to be a Princess!

Well, I failed in uploading this last night. The sleep fairies were beckoning so I succumbed and left this little beauty ready to upload this morning, and what a morning.....we've had snow!!! Only little flakes that haven't settled but all the same its SNOW...We're half way through April for goodness sake.

Anyway, back to the card. I'm entering this in the Spoon Full Of Sugar Sketch 99 challenge; Crafts and Me #2 are asking for the colours Brown, Pink and Yellow; and finally Theme Thursday is asking for Hats or Crowns.

I've used one of Lisa's Altered Arts images as my focal point. She looks as though she's about to stamp her feet, lol. I've mounted her onto a nesties shape. The papers are HOTP. The crown is coloured with Adirondack dabbers and blinged with adhesive pearls from The Hobby House.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-99-sketch-by-nikki.html

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-2-brownpinkyellow.html

http://themethursday.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/thursday-challenge-hats-or-crowns-2/

Happy Anniversary to Me and Congrats...

And Hubby of course. It was Easter Saturday, 18 years ago, that we tied the knot with just 3 other people present. We had a lovely day and after the quiet ceremony at the Registry Office we went to Haydock Races for the afternoon. OK, I know thats a bit different but we had a brill afternoon and it was just right for 2 people who had been there and done it all before.

So you can imagine how thrilled I am to discover that my Anniversary card has been selected by the random thingy as winning the Sketch Saturday challenge. Of course DH wants to know if really the prize should be his as the card was for him.....Men!!!

I really should go and get showered and dressed now as I think I've caught up on my blogging until later, x

Sunday Stampers Challenge Week 100

Just wanted to let all you bloggers know that Hels has a 2 week challenge up 'Free as a Bird' to celebrate their 100 challenge. Click on the sidebar logo for details as you could be in with a chance to win some goodies, x

Mixed Media Monday and Hello Dolly

Good Morning bloggers. I defo had withdrawal symptoms yesterday being unable to blog. But what a lovely surprise this morning to see that I made the Mixed Media Monday Sampler http://mixedmediamonday.wordpress.com/2010/04/18/hello-dolly-sampler/
Just wanted to share the news with you as its the first time my work has been shown.
Hope you all have a lovely Sunday and I'll be back later with an upload, x

Roses On Paper #35; Colour Q #28; Creative Card Crew #48

I really should have been in bed a couple of hours ago as I have to be up for work tomorrow. However, I can't seem to manage without my daily challenge fix so here's a quick one I've thrown together.

Roses On Paper were asking for a birthday card involving layers. I've used my new nesties - labels 6. Tilda has been coloured using my copics. The sentiment is by Hero Arts.

Colour Q challenged us to use the colours ruby red, regal rose, pumpkin pie, bermuda bay and white. I've actually punched the leaves (McGill) with a DP that almost identically matched the bermuda bay spec.

Finally this is my second creation for the Creative Card Crew who are asking for birthday cards.

I hope you like it and the links are below, x

http://ropchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-35layers.html

http://colourq.blogspot.com/2010/04/colourq-challenge-28.html

http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-48-happy-birthday.html

Perpetual Calendar

Hi Folks,
Just wanted to share the piccies of my Perpetual Calendar which I made (almost) at Art From The Heart last week. When I say almost, that's because I brought it home to complete.
I've varied mine slightly from Dyan's sample but it works for me. The first 6 months show tags inserted. We had the opportunity to decorate these and make others but I wanted to leave the pockets empty as I have bits and pieces I want to display in them.
Not sure yet where it is going to hang, possibly the spare bedroom/computer room, or maybe my craft room. I want to make another for the kitchen but I'll need to change my colours.
The mountboard was painted with Adirondack dabbers and then doodled and painted with watercolors. The pockets were cut from a template supplied by the ever efficient Dyan, and then coloured with DP. I've embellished mine with buttons and flowers.

Hope you like it, x

Sketch Saturday #98; Ooh La La #51

Last one today bloggers. Needed to get this one completed as its for my Hubby Dave. Its our wedding anniversary on Sunday and when I saw that Ooh La La were challenging us to April Showers I immediately thought of Tilda in the rain. That led me to thinking of other forms of showers and voila! Showering you (not all of you, of course) with love. Of course, this evening had to be the evening when Dave kept bobbing in and out of my craft space, so the card was started, turned over, hidden under scrap paper, turned over again.....you get the picture, lol

I've used Copics to colour Tilda:
E00, 02, 21, 31, 33, 35
BG01, 05, 09
R20, 22, 27

I've added some glitter to the raindrops although its not very clear on the photo.

The background DP is K & Co Que Sera Sera and the matts of DP are Laura Ashley.

The sentiment is mounted onto chipboard which has been coloured with Adirondack Dabber Gold and edged with Espresso.

The swirls have been drawn on and then adhesive pearls from Hobby House attached.

Finally, I'm also entering this into this week's Sketch Saturday Challenge.

Hope you like it and the links are below, x

http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-98-10th-april-sponsored-by-simon.html

http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-51.html

Hello Dolly - Mixed Media Monday

Good Evening Bloggers. I've had great fun playing around with this theme today.

When I saw the challenge for this week's Mixed Media Monday I immediately thought of the wooden dolly pegs, and fortunately I still have a stash of them in my 'stash' cupboard. I pondered over how I was going to dress her while I was painting the shower room (as you do) and then my reward for getting the first coat on was to dress Dolly.

I first wrapped lace around the peg so that I could create the effect of an underslip. The dress is made from several layers of stamped hearts with the top (bodice) layer being small punched hearts.

The wings are from embossed grunge board which I painted with gold adirondack dabber, dried, sanded the top layer to reveal the embossing, swooshed Distress Ink - fired brick red -, wiped off with baby wipe and then dried again.

Her hat is 2 prima flowers inverted on her head. The necklace is a pendant from a found piece of jewellery.

I hope you like her and the link is below, x

http://mixedmediamonday.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/hello-dolly/

Friday Sketchers #97; Just Magnolia #50; Papertake Weekly

Evening Bloggers. Here's todays card which I've made following the Friday Sketchers Challenge Sketch #97.

I'm also entering this in the current Just Magnolia #50 challenge which asked us to use punches. I may have gone a bit OTT here as I used my corner rounder punch on the DP and main image. I also used my new WoodWare quirky heart punch to make the petals to make the flower, and finally I've used the McGill Fern Leaf punch.

Lastly I'm entering it in the current Papertake Weekly Challenge which is called 'Cutie Pie' and asks for a cute image to be used. I think Tilda with her lamb under the tree is a really sweet image and I know a little girl with a birthday very soon who would like this.

I've coloured the images with my copics: E00, E02, E21, YG00, YG03, YG06, E31, E33, E35, RV02, RV04, RV06

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-97-sponsored-by-digital.html

http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-50-punch-it-out.html

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2010/04/cutie-pie.html

OCCSC10; THT044; Something Completely Different; CreativeCardCrew Challenges

Good Evening Bloggers. Wanted to get this one uploaded to my blog before I hop off to bed.

I've followed the current Our Creative Corner Sketch challenge and hope you like my take on it.

The colours of Yellow, Lavender and Neutral were in keeping with The Treehouse Challenge. The stamp, BTW, is another of my NEC bargains from Inkadinkadoo. I've decoupaged the top aspect by using one of my new nesties (another NEC purchase).

Something Completely Different challenged us to use the letter 'B'. What better way than with balloons, lol.

Finally, The Creative Card Crew current challenge is 'Happy Birthday'.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://ourcreativecornerweeklysketch.blogspot.com/2010/04/occ-sketch-challenge-occsc10.html

http://treehousestamps.blogspot.com/2010/04/treehouse-thursday-challenge-044-color.html

http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-48-happy-birthday.html

http://adifferentchallengeaweek.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-46.html

Lily Of The Valley; Our Creative Corner Challenges

Today I've enjoyed playing with my first ever Sweet Pea Stamp - Blue Eye Fairy. I've followed a sketch set by our Katys Corner Yahoo Group monthly challenge but thought I'd incorporate other elements so that it would fit in with 2 blog challenges.

I just love the way this image has been so easy to colour with my copics. Really beginning to love these now. I only bought the black copic yesterday, lol.

Anyway, I've background stamped a leaf image with VersaColor Atlantic Blue on the right and then used DP from my stash on the left. LOTV was asking us to incorporate blue and silver and OCC was asking for bows.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-50.html

http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/2010/04/occ-challenge-bows.html

Boobs and Blog Hopping

Yep, this is one to go have a look at. She's only 13 and I think she is a very talented young lady. Hop over and see what you think http://www.hannashobbyblogg.blogspot.com/

As for the boobs bit..... nothing to do with the blog hop but a very few people knew that I've had a hell of a past 2 weeks as I'd had a breast lump scare. Anyway, thankfully my GP fast-tracked me to the breast clinic and I received the all clear today. For those of you who knew thank you for all your positive thoughts, I'm sure they helped, and for your support and understanding when I've been a bit vague (ok nothing new there, lol).

DH is now replanning his future seeing as I'm going to be around to share it with him, lol. I think he was hoping he was heading to a land of wall to wall sport........ Seriously though, he was more worried than me. He's now offering to help with any future breast examinations....Mmmm!

Girls, remember to check yourselves regularly, x

Elephants on Parade (well almost) for Wednesday Stamper and Corrosive Challenge

Ooo, I hadn't done a canvas for ages but have had 3 primed with the emulsion colour from our newly painted spare bedroom ready to make into mini works of art for about a month. So when I saw the challenge for Wednesday Stamper was for Trees and then Corrosive Challenge for texture I thought how about combine the 2.

As I said the canvas was originally coated with a layer of a peachy emulsion (my own mixture from white and a match pot). I made a moon mask from a 1" punch and then using Adirondack dabbers and a wet wipe swooshed sailboat blue, red pepper and cranberry to make up the sky. A bit of butterscotch was swooshed across the lower half of the canvas and then lettuce dabbed along the bottom edge.

I can't remember where the elephant scene came from but I stamped it with Stazon onto tissue and then tore around it and using gel medium stuck it to the canvas. The edging is from stamping Hero Arts 'woodland branches' in Adirondack lettuce dabber along the bottom third and with black stazon around the rest. Finally I used a peach dabber to frame the complete canvas.

Then I wasn't happy.......

So I set up my melt pot.....actually its a pan and an enamel bowl, over the hob and melted some beeswax and applied and melted and applied and scraped until I was happy with the finished product. It looks much more blended now and the beeswax adds to the texture of the finished piece.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/trees-2/

http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/2010/04/corrosive-challenges-59_11.html

TMTA - Nature Awakening

Happy sunny Sunday everyone. This is my creation for the Think Monday, Think ATC challenge - Nature Awakening.

I was having a play with chalk popping - you know the thing, stamp your image with versamark and then swoosh chalk over it - and I thought what a fab image for this challenge. I've created the 2 borders using this technique and then overstamped in the centre with Versamagic Sepia Brown. It makes it look as though the blossom is slowly coming to life. Although its not very clear I've used my copics (RV02) to colour the petals on the main, central, image.

I hope you like it and here is the link for the challenge, x

http://tmta.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/die-natur-erwacht-nature%c2%b4s-awakening/

MoJo Monday; The Creative Cottage; Colour Q Challenges

Evening bloggers. I hope you've all had the lovely sunshine today. Wasn't it warm. I managed to get some gardening done, after I'd finished work, and then I've been having a play this evening creating this card.

I'm not sure it I like it but I was wanting to attempt the current Colour Q Challenge which I found quite difficult. I've also managed to incorporate the current MoJo Monday sketch and thrown in a bow and some buttons to enter the Creative Cottage #5 challenge...phew!


The image is a real cutie designed by Jozart designs for Stamp Attack. I love using this image for 'New Home' cards which is where this one is going - we have new neighbours.


The main background card is Bazill cardstock and the rest are from Kanban.


I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2010/04/mojo-monday-133-contest.html

http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/creative-cottage-challenge-5-buttons.html

http://colourq.blogspot.com/2010/04/colourq-challenge-27.html

Pile It On #13; Crafty Cardmakers #18; Sunday Stampers #98; Quixotic #20

Good evening bloggers, hasn't it been a lovely day today. The sun has been shining and it just makes you feel better and brighter. It also mean't I was able to have a fairly 'clean' walk in the park with the dogs, lol.

I'm sorry I didn't blog yesterday but I was out all day in Harrogate at Art From The Heart with a mixed bunch of workshoppers, that is there were 3 different projects on the go at the same time. I don't know how Dyan does it. Anyway myself and Diane W made (well almost) a perpetual calendar which when its complete I will upload for all to share. Then in the evening I was out in Manchester with DH, Dave, at a meeting, so by the time I got home I was cream crackered and I am also well behind with catching up with Yahoo Group messages. I guess that's going to be put off until tomorrow again.

Anyway, for today's card I have incorporated 4 challenges. Pile It On is challenging us to make an easel card, which I really love, but with the Crafty Cardmakers asking us to 'challenge ourselves' I thought I would take inspiration from Debbie Dolphin's article in the May Craft Stamper to make a shaped easel card using Nestablities. I didn't have the set Debbie uses in her project but adapted it to fit what I did have. The challenge for me was in using the Nestabilities in this way as I am new to these 'toys'.

Sunday Stampers challenge #98 is to use Lace and the Quixotic Challenge #20 was to represent the Joys of Spring. What better way than to feature a tree with its leaves appearing after the winter 'hibernating'.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x
http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-13-easel-card-sponsored-by.html

http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-18-challenging-challenge.html

http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/2010/04/sunday-stamper-week-98-agadoo.html

http://quixoticpaperie.blogspot.com/2010/04/quixotic-challenge-20-joys-of-spring.html

Friday Sketchers; Gingersnap Creations GC47; Cute Card Thursday #106

Okay, so this is the last one for this evening. Are you bored yet??? Oops! Just realised its now early in the morning.....

I've made this card following the current Friday Sketchers Sketch Challenge although I've rotated it to fit the image, which is a download from the Craft Stamper vintage range.

I've used my nestabilities to create the shapes and matted the pups onto copper mirri board to fit in with the current Gingersnap Creations GC47 colour theme.

Finally the current Cute Card Thursday #106 Challenge was to either make an Easter card or use an egg/oval shape.

The DP is from MME and the pearls are from the Hobby House.

Hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-96-sponsored-by-stamp-create.html

http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/03/gc47-color-challenge-copper-ginger-or.html

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-106-so-egg-citing.html

Papertake Weekly; A Spoon Full of Sugar #98

I love this image by Mo Manning's Digital Pencil, so cute and so typical of children when they are learning about independance, lol.

Anyway I am entering this card into the current Papertake Weekly Sketch Challenge and A Spoon Full of Sugar which is challenging us to make One For The Boys.

I've coloured the wee man with my copics and the DP is from my stash.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2010/04/sketch-38.html

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-98-one-for-boys.html

Pixie Cottage; CraftsandMe; Totally Papercrafts; Simon Says

Evening everyone. I've been busy this evening and have made 3 cards. I think its because I've had a lovely day out today meeting up with the lovely Linda aka Boots from Scotland who is a member of our Yahoo Group. I came home buzzing, got loadsa stuff done indoors and then got busy crafting and I still don't feel ready for bed. No doubt I won't be able to get up in the morning when I need to for a crafting day at Art From The Heart.

Anyway, to my first card which I have really enjoyed making. I just love the way the colours have come together.

I've used the new Pixie Cottage sketch challenge as the baseline and incorporated their optional extra of embossing by using one of my new cuttlebug border embossing folders on the check DP.

Crafts and Me have just launched their first challenge which was Fairies or Wings and I love this little digital image from Mo Manning which I've coloured with copics. I've added a little bit of sparkle to the cupcake. Incidentally Totally Papercrafts (#10) are challenging us to use a digital image so this fits in nicely with the theme.

Finally, Simon Says is challenging us to make a card for a child.

The pink flowers and brads are from my stash as is the DP which is HOTP. The white flowers and pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and the leaves are a McGill punch which I got from the Hobby House stand at the NEC along with the mint green pearls.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/2010/04/pixie-cottage-challenge-13-sketch-and.html

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/2010/03/whoopee-our-1st-challenge-is-here.html

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2010/04/challenge-10-lets-go-digital.html

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/simon-says-card-for-child.html

Truly Scrumptious Sketch #29; Creative Cottage Challenge; and Our Creative Corner

Good Evening Bloggers, I'm back after a very busy weekend looking after our little Grand-Daughter. I hope you all had a good weekend and didn't over-indulge in chocolate.

I've made this card following the current Truly Scrumptious Sketch Challenge and incorporated the Creative Cottage Challenge to use pink and the Our Creative Corner Challenge to use buttons. Truly Scrumptious also challenged us to 'fly away' so I hope the little dragonfly eyelet I got at the NEC fulfils this.




I've coloured the image using my Copics as follows:-
Skin: E00, E02, E21
Hair: E21, E31, E33
Top: RV02, RV04
Jeans: BG01, BG05
Kitty: C1, C3

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://trulyscrumptiouschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-29-fly-away_31.html

http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/creative-cottage-challenge-4-pretty.html

http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/2010/04/our-creative-corner-break-out-buttons.html

Just a Quickie and an ATC

Good Evening everyone and I hope you are all enjoying the start of a long weekend, that's if you don't have to work.

It's just a quick post this evening as I was working this morning and then I've been preparing our spare room for our little Grand-daughter sleeping over this weekend. I'm not sure I'll be blogging again before Monday as the PC is in the spare room but before I go I wanted to share with you an ATC I've made for a workshop I'm on tomorrow, hosted by the lovely Neet. Check out her blog if you haven't already. She makes some amazing stuff http://hickydorums.blogspot.com/

The theme was Spring (I hope) and it was to create a pocketed ATC with a Tag. I hope I've interpreted it correctly as I'm renowned for going 'off piste' at times, lol, x

Right, off to pack my bag for tomorrow. Nighty night everyone, x

Our Creative Corner Sketch Challenge; Lots to Do #12; Create4Fun #13; Creative Card Crew #47

Well what a weird weather day we've had today. I think we must have had all seasons in one day. We've had snow, hail, sleet, gales, rain and sun, and the temperature has fluctuated from freezing to very warm!!!! What is going on???

Anyway, for today's card...I have combined this into 4 challenges but had a special person in mind when I was making it as she has a birthday very soon.

The sketch is from the current Our Creative Corner challenge. Both the Lots to Do #12 and the Creative Card Crew #47 challenges are asking for vintage. Finally the Create4Fun Challenge #13 is to use brown, cream and pink.

First of all I coloured some cream card stock with Distress Inks in Tattered Rose and Antique Linen and edged it with Brushed Corduroy. I then overstamped (only just visible in the photo) a leaf background in the first 2 colours just to give the background some definition. I've also stamped this leaf on the gold paper. The main image is one of the bargain stamps I got at the NEC by Inkadinkadoo, which I have stamped in black stazon.


The cardstock is brown embossed with gold flowers from KanBan.


The lace trim is a beautiful remnant from my stash purchased ages ago from Katys Corner.


I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-creative-corner-sketch-challenge_27.html

http://lotstodocallenges.blogspot.com/2010/03/week-12-vintage.html

http://create4fun-challenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-week-13.html

http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-47-vintage-aged.html