A very difficult card!!!!

My colleague also wanted a card for her partner for his birthday who is a rugby referee at the week-ends.  This card I had all planned out - but that all went to pot and when one thing went wrong it just escalated and became a nightmare.  I made the paper to go on the front of the card by merging two backing paper and then stuck it on the front.  I then put the acetate inside and stuck it together only to find the paper on the front was upside down so I had to remove it, print some more, draw around the aperture again, cut it out and stick it on.  I then chalked the other side of the rugby player.  Then I decided to make the other backing paper myself in My Craft Studio and added some rugby words - after trawling on the Internet as I know NOTHING about rugby - and added them in different fonts/in different directions and I got bog-eyed.  The verse was added along with some rugby balls for decoration.  The card was finished off with ribbon.  I just hope she likes it!!!

This card should fit the bill for the CRAFT Challenge Blog which has to have movement on it ie flipping, turning etc.  This card has to be flipped over to get the full impact and is from La Pashe's Flippin' Men range so I hope this is OK.

This card should also fit the bill for the One Stop Craft Challenge Blog this week as the topic is "Let's hear it for the boys!".  I know some girls like rugby but I think more boys like it.

Commissioned Birthday Card for a Sister-in-Law

A colleague at work wanted me to make her a card for her sister-in-law who is into gardening.  I used some Joanna Sheen decoupage sheets alongside Joanna Sheen's Cottage Garden CD to make this card.  Please excuse the bad photo - definitely operator error!!!

This card fits the bill for Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog this week as it is G for Garden, G is for Gold etc with a twist there is to be a tree on it.

Over at the Thank God It's Friday Challenge Blog the topic this week is architecture so I think this card fits the bill with houses on it.

Penny Black Challenge - 30/5/09

I'm not up to much today after my visit to an Open Day yesterday (see post below) but I wanted to have a play with my new toy I got yesterday at the Stamp Addicts Open Day - my Nestabilities set.  It's BRILLIANT - just wish I could afford them all!!!  For the Penny Black Challenge this week they have a sketch to follow.  I thought I'd try out my new Penny Black stamps I got this week called Tiny Wishes and I chose the little girl hedgehog off out with her backpack.  The background papers are from Shabby Princess.  The flowers I cut with my punch and a few came out marked so instead of printing another sheet of the faded backing paper from the Card Creations Strictly Card Dancers CD I decided to distress the edges with my nail file - quite a time consuming job.  I put a scroll on the bottom right hand corner from a U-mount set of stamps I have got as I thought it was on the sketch but I think it is the designer's signature - what a silly billy am I????  Think though that it adds just something to that corner - but then I don't need an excuse to stamp these days.

Open Day at Stamp Addicts - 30/5/09

I attended my first Open Day at Stamp Addicts today with my friend and my 12 year old son.  My son found a Formula One magazine and a settee to sit on so he was OK whilst we went on our rounds.  We went for a trawl in the shop before going to look at any demos.  We first saw Kay who was doing some lovely colouring using some special pencils, pencil blend and some specially rolled paper pencils to blend colours to avoid pencil marks.  It certainly worked a treat.  

We then went back into the main shop to have a walk around as our only negative comment about the event is that there weren't chairs for people to sit on and watch the demonstrators.  Due to my ill health I found standing there with my walking stick very difficult and I was swaying like a boat on high seas!!!  

We then saw Jennie from Artistic Stamper demoing the alcohol inks/distress embossing powders etc.  As many of you know I don't do "messy" but I was converted to try the alcohol inks so they jumped into my basket without a fuss.  It was cheaper to buy in sets but I preferred to buy three colours I liked individually.

We then went into the demo room again and saw Amanda Bateman using some multi-colour ink pads.  I'd never really liked the though of using them but she certainly made them appealing.

Next I did a make-and-take of a bookmark for my hubby using a little flower stamp, watercolouring with ink pads, using a stencil to sponge the scalloped shape, stamping some words in it and finishing off with a ribbon.  We did manage to sit for that so wemight have sat more than we should.

I then went to give our masterpieces to my son to look after and dry as we'd used Stickles glue on them and came back and did some colouring with some new Lyra pencils.  I found this so hard and nearly gave up a few times as it's hard colouring when you have to bend down.

Next was another pootle around in the shop.  Some naughty things flew into my basket - including a set of Nestabilities as I've wanted them for sooooooooooo long after seeing lovely creations by my fellow bloggers.

It was a lovely experience and I have picked up some tips for my cardmaking so thank you Stamp Addicts.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge Blog - 28/5/09

Over at the Cute Card Thursday Challenge Blog the topic this week is a "bit o' bling".  I have used a Pollycraft image, coloured in with Lyra Watercolours.  It's amazing how you can colour in two images with the same colour pencils and them be so different.  The backing papers are from Shabby Princess, some of which I have distressed with a nail file.  For the card background I have used a U-mount stamp stamped with blue Versamagic ink.  The "bling" is some gems which I have coloured with two different blue Dufex pens.

Pollycraft Monday Challenge Blog - 25/5/09

Over at the Pollycraft Monday Challenge Blog this week the topic is monochrome.  I decided to use different shades of blue with my little girl and her flowers.  The background is stamped with a U-mount swirl stamp and Adirondak Denim blue ink and the backing papers are from the Shabby Princess.

Creative Card Crew Challenge Blog - 26/5/09

Over at the Creative Card Crew Challenge Blog this week the topic is pretty flowers.  I made this card for the people that have organised/gone on the Inter-church camp my son has been on since Sunday and comes back tomorrow at Coniston.  I know my mum kindly paid for him to go but even so people have either given up their school holiday or for those not in term-time jobs they have had to take annual leave so a card and a large box of biscuits for them to share at the Sunday Service isn't too much to do is it??  I have done the picture with 3D Decoupage CD but it looked a tad bare at the side so I decided to do a bit of rubber stamping/watercolouring with my Lyras and it gave me a good excuse to try out one of my new stamps from the Llewelyn-Bowen Retro Rose set.  I wish I could have done more with the card but I'm not really up to it.

Allsorts Challenge Blog 23-5-09 and One Stop Craft Challenge Blog - 24/5/09

The above card hopefully fits the bill for two challenges.  I have made four of these cards to go with donations to charities from my mother-in-law's estate.  I could have just put them in with a letter but I thought that this looked a lot nicer.  I have used four different decoupage sheets and backing papers from Joanna Sheen's Cottage Garden CD.  I then took the A4 writing paper into My Craft Studio and then took the words to go on the letters from Word.  

Over at the Allsorts Challenge Blog challenge no 2 the topic is No Stamped Image - ahhhhh for someone into stamping this year this topic was hard!!!

Over at the One Stop Craft Challenge Blog the topic this week is vintage and your interpretation of that.  I hope that people agree this is OK as I term this as a vintage style country scene rather than a modern one.

I just thought I'd show you how the other three looked like as well.  I'm not at all well at the moment so they are very basic but in my opinion much better than just putting a cheque in an envelope with a letter printed off from the computer.

Card for Two Challenges

Over at the Daisy May Challenge Blog this week the challenge is Monotone.  I decided to use different shades of pink - pink used to be my favourite colour until some years ago so I was surprised I chose pink but the little Whiff of Joy stamp spoke to me to be coloured in in pink.

Over at the Creative Inspirations Blog you had to use your favourite stamp.  I had been given some Whiff of Joy images and some multiple ones of little Melinda who I fell in love with.  I've now just received my very own copy and so I had to use her.  She has been coloured in with Lyra Watercolours and the whole card is made in shades of pink.

Card for a Customer

I was making a card for one of my customers yesterday and noticed that it was her nephew's 2nd Wedding Anniversary on 2/6/09 so I have made a card without asking - cheeky or what???  No, she knows about my bad health and when she realised she wouldn't want to ask me at such short notice.  I'll see what she says when she collects it tomorrow evening.  I have used my new Fee J Designs Bear Beezz CD.  The characters on here are soooo gorgeous and I've got a friend's card to make which is sat printed out on my table but another design on the CD - a Bear Beezz with an ice-cream lollipop.  I have used the pyromage sheet from the CD, a backing paper (and as I had a small bit left over I made a small mount on the computer so I could decoupage up using some of the backing paper.  I imported the insert into My Craft Studio and imported a verse I had off a CD and personalised it.

Commissioned Card for a Man's Aunt

My husband came home with an order for a card for me to make for Tuesday - yikes.  The customer had written down:  budgies, British Airways planes and crazy painted nails and as much detail as possible.  I've spent countless hours on it today on-and-off only to do the final sticking together and my husband says have you got the planes and nails on it - I was led to believe it was one of them and not all three but I've had a go.  The customer has cards at his place of work and showed my husband the things he likes.  Hopefully I've managed to finish it so the customer is happy - I'll find out on Tuesday.  I'm not sure the inside of the front cover of the card on the front of the card - an idea I pinched from the every popular and talented Michelle Marsden - it might change before Tuesday or it might not!!!!  I have used My Craft Studio to make the majority of this card.

I found this card very hard as I don't like birds - I whince in a square in town nicknamed "pigeon Square" when the pigeons start flying around!!!

Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog - 21/5/09

Over at the Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog the topic this week is black and white and a silhouette.  I have made this card with an image from the Card Creations Art Deco CD.  I used a black and white backing paper, some velvet ribbon, a sentiment typed on the computer, some black fibres and some of Jak Heath's blossom flowers.

Regular Charity Stall - May 2009

I couldn't believe it when the reminder came on the computer to set up the stall for charity yesterday.  My eldest son went with my after work.  The stall before had been selling plants and the chap had taken them away but not cleaned up the mess or asked anyone else to do so.  My son went and got a chap to wipe down the main shelf and then he was gone.  Thankfully I had some tissues in my bag as mud and handmade cards don't mix!!!  This time I trying to raise some funds for the RSPCA. 

Funky Fairys Challenge Blog - 13/5/09

Over at the Funky Fairys Challenge Blog this week the challenge was flowers and bling.  I have used some of the gorgeous Funky Fairys backing papers and mats made into different sizes to use as matting and layering and added a Daisy stamp from the Daisy and Dandelion Stamp collection.  I have finished off with various lots of blingy gems.

Daisy May Challenge -18/5/09

Over at the Daisy May Challenge Blog this week the challenge is Spring colours and flowers.  I have used one of the cute Daisy May images for this challenge of the little girl with a flower in her hair.  I have gone out of my "comfort zone" and used some different colours to normal and their corresponding flowers.  They are from Shabby Princess and the design set is called Express Yourself.  There are some gorgeous papers on here.

The Next Level Challenge Blog

I have found out a new Challenge Blog that is due to start on 1 June 2009.

Extract I have found:

The Next Level is the exciting new concept of Dawn (All Pink Girl) and Ann (Madgesty - Love to Create) probably better known as blog name Madge. Our aim in designing this new informative style of blog is not only to produce really creative Weekly Challenges that are not tied to any specific brand, but also to explore new avenues, ideas and techniques with a completely fresh approach.
The Next Level will not only be a fun and informative place to hang out for card crafters and scrapbookers of all levels, but it is hoped that it will also become a valuable source of information, hints and tips, tutorials, downloads and much more. We want to cover the craft of traditional card making but also add in a touch of digital, not too much to scare anyone away, but enough to explore the magical world out there at your fingertips for anyone wanting to venture.

Sounds very interesting doesn't it.  They have also got some lovely blog candy up for grabs.  Please click here and have a look:

What a nightmare of a card!!!!

A friend at work asked me to make her a card for her boss so I agreed.  I knew I had it to do today but I wish all the things that went wrong hadn't!!!  As he likes wine I bought in the Arty Farty template.  I find following instructions quite difficult with my illness so despite the template maybe being easy for some it certainly tested me today with my concentration.  Before sticking the box together I thought I'd edge with a gold Pen touch pen - wrong idea - I mustn't have shaked it enough as in one place I had to do a repair job as it came out greasy.  Then as I'd edged the box with the deckle edged scissors the pen caught an edge and flicked colour all over the front of my box and one side ahhhhhhhhh - this then meant I had to cover the box throughout so had to go searching on the computer for something suitable so I used a Funky Fairy download of a brown swirl pattern.  Had awful time then trying to finish off the box and finishing off the card but hopefully it doesn't look too bad for a Consultant to receive.

Daring Cardmakers 15-5-09 and The Saturday Challenge 9-5-09

This card fits the criteria for two challenges.

Daring Cardmakers - the topic is "The Sound of Music" and for this I have used a Dottie's World digital download of Mikey playing his guitar.  The image has been coloured in with Watercolour Pencils.  The backing papers are from Funky Fairy and also Colour my World.

The Saturday Challenge is for people to use brads or eyelets on their card.  I have used brads on the "You're a Star" and used two large gromets on the border from We R Memory Keepers.

Penny Black Challenge 9/5/09 and A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge 12/5/09

Here is another card for two challenges.  Please excuse the awful photograph - I seem to be getting worse at taking photos these days!!!

Over at the Penny Black Challenge this week it is a colour challenge - black, white and 1 other colour.  Instead of the usual red/pink I decided to use something different to what I normally put with black and white ............. purple.

Over at the Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge this week the challenge is buttons galore.  The flowers did have faux buttons on them but I decided to add a touch of purple with adding purple buttons to the centres of the flowers.

Blog Candy

Debbie has some wonderful blog candy up for grabs to celebrate her birthday.  Happy Birthday Debbie.  Please click here and go and have a look.  Ends 23/5/09

Sketch and Stash Challenge - 11/5/09

Over at the Sketch and Stash Challenge they have another sketch.  I thought I'd have a go with this one as I had a little spare time to play around with things.  I have used some striped Papermania paper that I had for ages and ages but never got around to using.  The digital image is a free image that I got from Pollycraft Designs as I subscribe to their newsletter.  It's called Cherry Kisses.

Card for Two Challenges

Over at the Simon Says Challenge Blog this week the challenge is "One for the Boys" so I think this card fits the bill for this one.  The papers are from Shabby Princess and the image is a digital download from Dottie's World of Mikey from Charmed Cards and Craft.  He has been coloured in with Watercolour Pencils and Derwent Inktense Pencils.

Over at the Creative Inspirations Blog the challenge this week is embossing.  I have used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder as the embossing for this card.

Dottie's World First Birthday

Well the celebrations will be soon under way for Dottie's World First Birthday.  The celebrations start on Sunday 17/5/09 to 24/5/09.  Please click here and go and have a look.  Congratulations to all involved and I'll certainly be having a look.

Card for Five Challenges

Thankfully as I've spent so much time lately getting the cards etc ready for the Dog Rescue Stall this Sunday, this card should fit the criteria for five challenges as follows:

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Animals - this cute little bear/panda from Pollycraft Designs

My Time to Craft Challenge - Kids Cards - any little girl or little boy would like this cute card 

ABC Challenge Blog - the letter this week is M for Metallic - the metallic card used on this card caused an awful problem with the camera flash!!!

Cute Card Thursday - a card to cheer someone up - this card could be sent to someone to cheer them up and just to thank them for being there for you.  The bear/panda has such a nice smile on his face so who could resist him???

Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog - the aim for this week is to use frames on your cards.  I used the different coloured mats as a frame for the bear/panda to sit inside.

Card for Two Challenges

I am hoping that this card will fit two challenges:

Pollycraft Monday Challenge - Monday 11/5/09 - Flowers - I have used my new Mary Lou "Hello Sunshine" stamp and embossed some flowers and coloured them in with H2O equivalents.  The stamped image has been coloured in with Watercolour Pencils.

Lily of the Valley Thursday Challenge - 7/5/09 - Pink, Green and Blue - Well these colours certainly appear in this card as well as the backing paper from Funky Fairy.

Bookmarks for Dog Rescue Stall

I decided to make a few bookmarks to go on the Dog Rescue stall.  I didn't have time to make some myself from images from Joanna Sheen's Animal Antics CD but instead had to use some ready-made ones from her more recent CDs, Cottage Garden and Messy Rabbit.  Think my favourite has to be Rowdy Rat.

Sets of notelets for the Dog Rescue

My D-Day is fast approaching for me to take the items to the Dog Rescue lady for the Dog Show next week-end ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I have made some sets of notelets up as something different to sell as well as cards.  The photos are spectacular - that's operator error I'm afraid.  The images are from Joanna Sheen's Animal Antics CD and the backing papers are from Funky Hands Funky Daze CD and also some free downloads from Funky Fairy.