The Crazy Challenge - Monday 10/5/10

I have only recently come across The Crazy Challenge Blog and the topic this week is cute and cuddly so I couldn't resist.  I have used a Paws for Thought backing paper, border and decoupage that I got free in a reduced price magazine recently so I thought I'd bring this cute little dog to life.  I haven't adorned the card too much as I like to give a variety of decoupage/raised cards and flatter cards for the charity stall for those that need to be conscious of postage charges.


This card fits the following challenges:


CRAFT - Weddings or birthdays
Pile it On - Cute and cuddly
Lexi-s Creations - Animals
My Time to Craft - Too cute.

Dottie's World - Sunday 9/5/10

Over at the Dottie's World Challenge this week the topic is flowers.  I have used one of the Sugar and Spice digital images of a little girl in the garden with some flowers.  The image has been coloured in with Promarkers.  The papers are all ones I am using up that I have been given so I don't know the make - sorry. The card is finished off with some Dawn Bibby glittery flowers which I have coloured red with my Promarkers to match the paper, a sentiment off the computer and some gems.


This card fits the following challenges:


Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Anything goes
CRAFT - Weddings or birthday
Crafty Angels - One for the girls.

Commisioned Birthday Card for a Teenager

A customer asked me to make her a card for her best friends grandson who will be turning 13 shortly.  He's mad about West Ham Football Club.  I have used two of Crafty Ann's Abstract digital papers to replicate the colours of West Ham.  They are available here.  I have used an image of Upton Park and added text in My Craft Studio.  The little football fan image is from Lily-Boo's Boutique and I have coloured him in with West Ham colours.  If my son supported this football club I know he'd like this card and he's 13 so I have hopefully got it right.


This card fits the following challenges:


Cute Card Thursday - Boyz to Men
CRAFT - Weddings or birthdays
Stampin' for the Week-end - Card for a male
Stamp Something - Birthdays
Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Anything goes.

Just Magnolia Challenge - Friday 7/5/10

I haven't had a go at the Just Magnolia Challenge for so long but when I was asked to make a card for a customer's daughter-in-law who is into gardening the idea just suddenly fell into place as the challenge at Just Magnolia this week is "It takes two" ie you have to use two Magnolia images.  I have used a Joanna Sheen Messy Rabbit backing sheet and added the Magnolia windmill and also Tilda.  I have coloured the images in with Promarkers but kept them to more earthy colours to tie in with the backing sheet.  I decided to decoupage the images to give the card more height.  The backing papers are from my stash - a green vellum, green pearlescent and a green backing paper designed by Nancy Watt as a freebie in a magazine a while back.  The flowers are made with a Woodware punch and Marianne Designs flower die from different shades of orange backing paper odds-and-ends which I have distressed with Tim Holtz's Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.  The card is finished off with a sentiment off the computer, some Marianne Designs ferns, Papermania glitterations, vellum butterfly adorned with some sparkly gems, fibres, card candy and an insert from Joanna Sheen's Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.


This card also fits the following challenges:


Pollycraft - Here comes the sun
By the Cute and Girly - Celebrations
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Crazy Amigo - Birthday
Creative Card Crew - April flowers bring May flowers
CRAFT - Weddings or birthdays
Daring Cardmakers - Emerald Isle - this was certainly a challenge for me as I hate the colour green
Alphabet Challenge - B is for butterflies
Magnolia Down Under - Paper tole - I am hoping this means decoupage
The Crazy Challenge - Bling, bling, bling
Paperplay - Stamp/digi and bling
Totally Stampalicious - Flower power
Stamp Something - Birthdays
Whoopsi Daisy - As you like it.

Crafty Ann's Challenge No 14 - Friday 7 May 2010

I'll let you into a secret shortly but in the meantime today is the start of another challenge over at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog.  The topic this fortnight is "ANYTHING GOES".    For my card I have used Crafty Ann's new Aga.  I found a Tilda image holding a tray of heart shaped cookies so this went perfect with the Aga.  I have coloured both in with Promarkers.  I couldn't decide which backing papers to use so I have used three of Crafty Ann's Polished Stone papers, mid brown, stone and tan to tie in with the colour of the Aga.  The card is finished off with some card candy, an insert from Joanna Sheen's Pamela West CD with lots of cupcakes on it and a sentiment off the computer.  


Please click here to go and have a look at my fellow Design Team Member cards.  We would be delighted if you could try and enter the challenge this fortnight.


This card also fits into the following challenges:


Corrosive Challenge - Birthday
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Die-cut Dreams - Tilda in Pink
Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Anything goes
Digital Tuesday - A toast to you - food and/or drink
The Creative Cottage - Food/drink
CRAFT - Weddings or Birthdays.


Well, I promised to let you into a secret.  Here it is.  Crafty Ann's is having their first BLOG HOP to celebrate the launch of ??????????????????? - well I didn't promise to tell you everything - so you will have to wait until 21 May 2010 when ALL will be revealed.  There will be prizes to be won on every Design Team Members Blogs so put the 21st May in your diary - one not to be missed!!!

Quixotic Challenge - Wednesday 5 May 2010

Over at the Quixotic Challenge this week the topic is "oh baby!" so the second card I was asked by a customer to make would fit the bill.  I have used an image from My Craft Studio Celebrations CD of a gorgeous teddy bear and thought he'd make an ideal new baby card for the Mum and Dad.  I did print off some backing papers for this card from the CD but also used some from my stash.  I used a Martha Stewart Lattice Punch on the edge of some pearlescent paper to add a bit of interest.  The card is finished off inside with another image and a verse, a sentiment off the computer, fibres and some metal charms that I must have had for 1-2 years now.  I am certainly using up papers/card/other crafting items this year still and feel proud my New Year's Resolution is still going strong.


This card also fits the following challenges:


Creative Inspirations - Congratulations
Everybody Art - Pastel colours
Fan 'n' Funky - Show us your fancy edges.

Creatalicious Challenge - Flowers and Wings

Over at the Creatalicious Challenge the topic is "flowers and wings" so I decided to use one of my Sweet Pea images which I coloured in with Promarkers and highlighted in various areas with my Sakura Satrdust clear pen. The papers I was given.  The bright pink, purple and orange in the papers dictated the whole tone of the card - a bit brighter than I normally do.  The card is finished off with a ticket sentiment, a tag from my stash and some fabric flowers.


This card fits the following challenges:


Raise the Bar - My retreat - a card using my favourite colours of purple and lilac
Sweet Stampin' - It's Summer time
Corrosive Challenge - Birthday
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Creative Belli - Birthday and use up things from your stash - well these flowers I bought when Woolworths was shutting down over a year ago!!!
Pollycraft - Here comes the sun
Creative Card Crew - April showers bring May flowers
Creative Inspiration - Orange, hot pink and purple
Crafty Creations - Magical
Flutter by Wednesday - Anything goes
CRAFT - Weddings or birthdays.

Karen's Doodles Scandinavia Challenge - Wednesday 28/4/10

Yet another challenge deadline reached by the "skin of my teeth"!!!  Over at the Karen's Doodles Scandinavia the challenge was "ribbon".  For anyone that knows me I love fibres and ribbon so this wasn't too hard for me.  I used the Butterfly Baby Girl image - isn't she cute??  I coloured her in with Promarkers and then I used my new See D's Morsel stamps ie like tapestry stamps to build up a flowery frame around the image using colours to match in with the image.  The backing papers are from Crafty Ann's and leftover from a Design Team card I had to make so I used all of the three colours, tan/mid brown/stone.  The card is finished off with a sentiment off the computer, some card candy and obviously ribbon.


This card also fits the following challenges:


Gingersnap Creations Colour Challenge - Use kraft or light tan
Gingersnap Random Redhead Challenge - Botanicals
Lili of the Valley - Here comes Summer
Charisma Cardz - Girly card with flowers
Sweet Stampin' - It's Summer Time
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Pollycraft - Here comes the sun
Crazy Amigo - Birthday
Creative Card Crew - April flowers bring May flowers

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - Monday 3/5/10

I thought I'd have a go at the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge this week although I am not too keen on sketches.  Think it must be because I LOVE these stamps.  I have coloured the stamped image in with promarkers, Copics and some Sakura Stardust pens to ad a bit of sparkle and distressed the edges with Tim Holtz's Faded Jeans Distress Ink Pad.  The backing papers are from Basic Grey from my stash.  The card is finished off with two shiny gold card candy and a sentiment that was designed by Nancy Watt in a recent magazine I got.


This card also fits the following challenges:


Incy Wincy Designs - Anything goes
Craft Cardmakers - Distressing
Creative Craft - Blooming marvellous
The Creative Cottage - Circles
Quixotic Challenge - How distressing
Crafty Catz - Spots
Basic Grey - Photo as inspiration
Corrosive Challenge - Birthday

Michelle Perkett Challenge - Tuesday 27/4/10

I hope I am just making the deadline for the Michelle Perkett Challenge this week.  There was an option to use the sketch or not.  I decided not and have used this gorgeous Michelle Perkett image of a lady watering her plants.  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and distressed the edges with Tim Holtz's Shabby Shutters Distress Ink Pad.  I have used some K&Co papers and pearlescent papers from my stash.  The card is finished off with some flower brads I've had since I first started cardmaking four years ago along with some flowers I won in some blog candy last year.


This card also fits the following challenges:


Creative Card Crew - April showers bring May flowers
Creative Craft - Blooming Marvellous
Quixotic Challenge - How distressing
Lili of the Valley - Here comes Summer
Charisma Cardz - Girly card with flowers
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Pollycraft - Here comes the sun
Craft Cardmaker - Distressing.

CD Sunday Challenge - Sunday 2/5/10

Over at the CD Sunday Challenge this week the topic is "Baby Talk".  How did they know I had to make a couple of new baby cards?  For this card I have used a gorgeous image from Joanna Sheen's Baby Love CD for the front of the card and the same CD for the image inside.  I have decoupage the image on the front.  I have to admit to printing off the paper to go with the image but the grey and silver card were off-cuts.  I have used some gorgeous burgundy lace and accented the card with a sentiment off the computer, some bought flowers and a little pram charm.  I have decorated inside the card and added a verse.


This card also fits the following challenges:


Everybody Art - Song Title - I have chosen "Baby Love" by The Supremes - for the fact of a new baby to love and also that is the title of Joanna Sheen's CD as well
Spoon Full of Sugar - 3D something
Creative Craft - Blooming marvellous.

Cards for Men Challenge - Tuesday 27/4/10

The topic for the Cards for Men Challenge this week was "monochromatic".  I normally shy away from topics such as this but part of these challenges in the blog world is to challenge you - and this one did!!  I used some Red Hot Bed Spanish images I've had for some time in various shades of orange and teamed it up with two different shades of pearlescent papers.  The die-cut images I popped out and then got my distress tool to them and then ink the edges with Tim Holtz's Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink - you'd never guessed I liked them would you?  I decorated the inside of the card like I normally do as I think a nice inside and out makes the card better.


This card also fits the following challenges:


Crafty Angels - Summer
Flourishes - Vintage
Quixotic - How distressing?
Lili of the Valley - Here comes the Summer.

Karen's Doodles UK Challenge - Wednesday 28/4/10

Over at Karen's Doodles UK Challenge this week the topic is "Animal Magic".  Karen has drawn some gorgeous animal images so there were quite a few to choose from.  In the end I went for the little princess riding her pony and coloured in with Promarkers and distressed the edges with Tim Holtz's Tattered Rose Distress Ink.  I distressed the backing papers which are from my stash and are from a Daisy and Dandelion paper pad I have had for some time now.  One of the pieces of backing paper I cut both edges with my Martha Stewart lattice punch and layered it onto some gold mirror card.  The image has been 3D to give some height along with the ticket sentiment from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop.  The card is finished off with some card candy, a Happy Birthday sticker and some princess decoupage I was given finished off the inside of the card.


This card also fits the following challenges:


A Spoon Full of Sugar - 3D something
Quixotic Challenge - How distressing?
Stampin' Royalty - Use your punches
Charisma Cardz - Girly card with flowers
Delightful Sketches and Challenges - Use your punches
Allsorts - Animal Creations
KL Stampin' n Scrappin' - Decorate card inside and out
Corrosive Challenge - Let's celebrate
One Stitch at a Time - Children's card.

Crafts and Me Challenge Blog - Wednesday 28/4/10

Over at the Crafts and Me Challenge Blog the challenge this week is for "sparkle".  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers.  For those crafters that know me I don't do glitter very much as I hate getting messy but I do love the Sakura Clear Stardust pen for adding as much sparkle as I want to projects.  I have highlighted areas of this gorgeous Sweet Pea stamp hair, clothes and also the backing paper.  The shimmer isn't showing much on the photo but it's more than I normally do but this kind of image allows for it.  I have falled so in love with these Sweet Pea stamps thanks to a fellow crafter!!!  I have used backing paper from my stash, distressed the edges of the image and punched card with Tim Holtz's Faded Jeans Distress Ink Pad, added a peel-off, some flowers and a ticket sentiment from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Crafty HO's - April showers bring May flowers
One Stitch at a Time - Flowers
Quixotic Challenge - How distressing
Creative Card Crew - April showers bring May flowers
Creative Craft - Blooming marvellous
Stampin' Royalty - Use your punches
Pals Paper Arts - Monochromatic blues
Paperplay - Pretty Pastels
Lili of the Valley - Here somes Summer
Charisma Cardz - Girly card with flowers
Delightful Sketches and Challenges - Pull out your punches
Sweet Stampin' - It's Summer time.

Karen's Doodles USA - Monday 26/4/10

I had the task of making a sympathy card for a customer who had a lady friend whose relative died.  Like many of us I don't like making these kinds of cards but this angel I have used a number of times and it has been well greeted as a suitable image.  The image has been coloured in with Promarkers.  I have used some papers from my stash that I was given by a friend along with a sentiment off the computer.  The papers are pink, burgundy with brown branches so I thought they were quite a nice combination.  I have kept it very clean and simple.  This card fits the Karen's Doodles USA Challenge this week as the card has to be for "Mom/Feminine" and the recipient of this card was feminine so I hope this counts.


This card also fits the following challenges:


All that Scraps - Pink and brown
Flutter by Wednesday - Clean and simple.