Commissioned Birthday Card

I was asked to make a card for a customer to give to her friend's grand-daughter. She's a girly-girl and therefore I thought Popcorn and Souflle would fit the bill for this card. I have used my Crafter's Companion Popcorn Birthday CD and decoupage bits on it and used my new card candy (I have a lot to thank Lisa for - not - as she used these on my birthday card and fell in love with them. I know have adhesive stonesitis and now card candyitis - thanks Lisa!!!! On a serious note I think they are a fab idea as sometimes you think a card needs just something and if you've stuck it together you can't use brads. They also come in such lovely yummy colours).

Commissioned Birthday Card

I needed to make a card for a daughter who is into Tigger. I did buy some decoupage last year with Tigger but couldn't face the cutting out - it was before the die-cut Disney ones came in - but last year I couldn't face cutting it out. This year I couldn't face it either but then I felt sorry for it sitting in the drawer unloved so out it came. Needless to say it's only got two layers as I couldn't face that tail anymore. I'd also already got the pottery Tigger/Winnie the Pooh so I have stuck this on with Pinflair Glue Gel. Just hopes she likes it.

Simon Says Challenge 26/10/09 and Creative Card Crew Challenge 27/10/09

I have made this Christmas card from a freebie from Cuddly Buddly and this snowman is sooooooooo cute. He's been coloured in with Promarkers and highlighted in some areas with Stardust pens to make him sparkle. The two backing papers are from a new design set from Summer Driggs are a gorgeous blue colour so I couldn't resist using them.

For those of you that I don't do messy I have excelled myself on this card. The border around the snowman has been edged with Twinklets Diamond Dust Glitter which I got from Joanna Sheen. I love the effect this has given. The large snowflake I bought recently from an Open Day at Stamp Addicts. I have used cut-and-dry foam and an Adirondak ink pad and a Distress Ink pad to colour the background. I then used an embossing liquid and then stamped onto the snowflake with a U-mount swirl and then added some blue embossing powder. After heating up the embossing powder I then sanded the edges to distress. Not bad for me eh???

This card fits the criteria for two challenges:

Simon Says Challenge - All that sparkles (well I have the holographic card in the background, the Sakura Stardust pens and the gorgeous twinkly diamond dust)

Creative Card Crew - snowflakes (snowflake overload here - some on the backing paper, some on the image and one decorated one!!).

Second Halloween Card Made Today

This is the second card I've whipped up today for the neighbours nephews. I've got the four little bags of sweets put with the four cards on the window ledge in the porch. ALL sweets in each pack are the same and I've put post-it notes so in case I'm busy, my husband will hand the right cards over for the right person!!!

This card is made with the Mummy and Boo backing paper from The Creative Cottage Digital Download along with the ribbons and sentiment. I certainly wouldn't want to meet up with this Mummy anytime!!!

This card fits the criteria for the following challenges:

CRAFT Challenge - Halloween

Saturday Challenge - Halloween.

Crazy 4 Challenges Challenge 31/10/09

My neighbours normally come around doing "trick or treat" with their children so I have made both their children a card. I know they've got some relatives up for the week-end so when I heard the cars starting up I popped out and asked if it was nephews or nieces or both up. I'd got a spare girls Halloween card but they are two boys so I've whipped up two more cards - I know I'm silly - but I don't want the nephews feeling left out.

I have used the Dracula download from The Creative Cottage along with using their ribbon and sentiment. The backing paper is the lovely spiders web from Summer Driggs.

This card meets the criteria for the Crazy 4 Challenges topic this week of Halloween.

Award from Lindsay Mason

When I went to Blackpool for my 40th birthday earlier this month, a treat for me on the Saturday was for me to go to Dawn Bibby's shop. I got to meet the lovely talented Lindsay Mason and thankfully as my husband went and sat in the car I spent quite a while watching and at one stage Dawn even got me a chair to sit on. It was lovely to meet Dawn as well as I wouldn't really be into crafting if it wasn't for her and QVC.

Lindsay has passed an award onto me and said on her blog that I was "wonderfully enthusiastic when I met her at a demonstration a couple of weeks ago" - me enthusiastic - is she talking about the same person??? Well I have to admit I did have to think of my husband out in the car as I could easily have stayed watching until the shop shut!!!

Well, this award means you have to pass it onto five people and mention five interesting things about yourself. I'm not sure about that bit but I will have a go. I am going to pass the award onto:

Lorraine - she's a wonderful friend I have met by blogging and she decided last week her and her laptop would fall down the stairs. Thankfully she didn't break anything but hopefully an award will help to cheer her up

Linda - another good friend that I have met by blogging. Thought this award would help to send some positive vibes to her.

Lisa - another friend I have met on the blogging world. I also owe Lisa a lot of gratitude as she captured my personality and what is in my heart by making my blog header and signature. I still can't believe it is ALL MINE. She's such a clever lady.

Debbie - I met her via Dawn Bibby's Forum when it was up-and-running and she started a Birthday List and I um'd and ah'd about whether I could commit to it/whether I was good enough but I gave it a go. When Dawn's Forum sadly went down Debbie and a friend set up our own closed forum for members of the Birthday List only and we are still going strong and this is a thank you for all her hard work in keeping it all going.

Hazel - I haven't had that much contact with Hazel as we are quite newbies to each other but we comment on each others' work when we can. She's going through a difficult time at the moment and I just wanted to let her know that her blogging friends are behind her and will help during this difficult time.

Well, onto the bit I don't like/am unsure what to put in but here goes:

1. In 1983 I made the Regional Finals of the Junior Cook of the Year Competition and had to travel to Nottingham for the event. I didn't come 1st, 2nd or 3rd but it was certainly an experience and it was a long time before we'd eat anything I had made as I had to practice my timings so many times!!!

2. I left school with 8 "O" Levels but despite everything I refused to stay on at school.

3. In my third placement on my two year YTS I had a lovely Head Chef but I'd had previous not too pleasant experiences in kitchens so I was very wary around him. Some time after starting he decided to leave to gain more experience in catering. I got him a card and a mug with his name and a car on it but didn't even give it to him as I was so shy. He wrote a letter to say thank you, I wrote one back and so it went on until we met and went out. We celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary in July so the card and mug were a good omen.

4. I was 6 months short of being a fully qualified chef but after three years of training I broke my elbow in three places by skimming it along the side of a sink and despite time off sick my arm couldn't hold heavy things so I had to give up my beloved catering that I had wanted to do for sooooooooo long.

5. I have had a number of broken bones in my lifetime. I fell at the front of the house and broke my wrist once but I broke my foot by dropping a tin of baked beans on it!!!! Yes, have a good laugh!!!!

Thanks again Lindsay for the lovely award and lovely comments.

Charlene's Blog Candy

Charlene has some lovely Halloween blog candy up for grabs. Click here to go and have a look at what you need to do.

Another Commissioned Anniversary Card

Here is another of my commissioned Anniversary cards. I have used an image and backing paper from Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique CD. I have decoupage the image and it is finished off with some organza ribbon and a charm.

DP2 Challenge 22/10/09

Over at Mo's Digital Challenge Blog this week the topic was anything but a card. I was going to make something Christmas orientated but decided to go with a calendar for 2010 - yikes that sounds scary doesn't it 2010!!! I have coloured the Rae with journal image with Promarkers. The backing papers are from Raspberry Road Designs and are gorgeous. I thought these papers matched perfectly with the colours I had previously chose to colour Rae in with.

Creative Card Crew Challenge - 20-10-09

The topic for the Creative Card Crew Challenge this week was babies and children. I have used my Fee J Designs Bear Beez CD for this card. I have used a pyromage image, a border and some flowers to adorn the card.

Digital Tuesday Challenge Blog 20/10/09

Well, I had hoped to have made this card well before now for the Digital Tuesday Challenge for "things with wings" topic but the week hasn't panned out that way so I am just making the deadline by the "skin of my teeth"!!!

I have used a little Pollycraft Designs image of a little fairy say on an upturned flowerpot. I have coloured her in with Promarkers. The main backing paper was from a pad that I was given but the green speckled paper is what I made myself with Distress Inks and Cosmic Shimmer Powders. Even though I don't do mess I did like making this and will need to make some more sometime. The flowers were cut out of the backing paper pad and were just circles which I have cut around the edges with deckle edged scissors, nicked around the edges and then distressed with a brown chalk ink pad.

Another Anniversary Card

Here is yet another anniversary card. As I know the age of this couple I decided to go with this Daisy May image. I haven't done it the traditional reds/pinks but have instead gone for a salmon pink and copper tone throughout. Two of the papers (hearts and scroll) are from Funky Fairy, the copper card is from DCWV and the other salmon pink coloured paper/card I don't know the make as I won it recently in some blog candy. I have delved into my ribbon again that I won in another blog candy - it was hard - but I hadn't got a copper tone ribbon in my previous stash.

This card fits the criteria for the Daisy May Challenge this week of "I Love You".

Another Commissioned Anniversary Card

Here is yet another commissioned anniversary card requested for a customer. I am now running short of suitable images especially as six are needed for one customer for her six children and therefore I want them to be all different. This time I have used the Card Creations Strictly Card Dancers CD. I have used some bright yellow brads I bought in Dawn Bibby's shop recently and I have also used a piece of ribbon I won in some blog candy from the Ribbon Oasis - think I need some therapy as I've delved into this blog candy - it was hard to do though as the colours are so yummy and I want to keep them all for myself!!!

CRAFT Challenge 22-10-09

Over at the CRAFT Challenge Blog this week the topic is anniversary. As I have an order for 7 anniversary cards I could certainly do this challenge this week. I have used an image from Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique CDs and also followed the rules of Crazy4Challenges Challenge Blog this week ie to use geometric shapes so I did a square, rectangle, triangle and circles (the card candy) - only to find I think you have to use a stamped image - what a silly billy eh???

One Stop Craft Challenge Blog - 24/10/09 and Friday Sketchers 23/1/09

Above - this is the card before I put on the sentiment ie exactly as the Friday Sketchers sketch

Above - this is how the card looked when I added the Happy Anniversary sentiment to the front.

Over at the One Stop Craft Challenge Blog the topic this week is celebration so I thought that this wedding anniversary card commissioned by a customer would fit this criteria. The card is made from an image from Joanna Sheen's Dancing with Shadows CD. The card is designed by following the sketch from Friday Sketchers.

Card for Thirteen Challenges!!!

WOW!!! I know I had a card that fitted the criteria for 11 challenges this week and thought I'd never top it but this one fits the criteria for 13 - unlucky for some eh???? I shouldn't be making a Halloween card as I haven't got anyone to send it to but I made it to cheer me up. My DVD/freeview has stopped working again and will need to go back to where I got it from but there's about 50 hours worth of wonderful crafting shows on the hard drive which I'll never be able to get back. The moral of this is that although I can only get about 2 shows on a DVD I must copy programmes I can't bear to lose like Spellbinders, stamping shows, Joanna Sheen, various other CD demonstrators.

I have used the little witch stamp from Squiggle Stamps that I won in a Charisma Cardz Challenge a while ago. She is so cute. Just wishes she could come out more throughout the year. The backing papers are wonderful and are digital downloads from Summer Driggs and the ribbon is also from my prize from Charisma Cardz. The witch I have coloured in with promarkers.

This card fits the criteria for the following challenges:

1. Stamp Something - Halloween

2. Stampin' for the Week-end - a Haunting good time

3. PaperCutz - 3 patterned papers

4. Creative Inspirations - Halloween

5. Crafty Creations - All Hallow's Eve

6. My Time to Craft - Halloween colours

7. Rainbow Lady's Challenge Blog - Halloween

8. One Stop Craft - Halloween

9. Pile it On - ready for Halloween

10.Cupcake Craft - things that go bump in the night

11.Corrosive Challenge - spooky times

12.Stamp with Fun - Halloween

13.Crafty Cardmakers - autumn.

Phew, what a long post!!!

Card for a Colleague

A colleague at work is leaving next week so I bought this Colour my World template to make a card for her. I used Allissa Designs CDs for the papers as they were pink, bright and cheery and were FAB for this card. The recipient of this card is mad about pigs and rabbits so I used the embellishments section on Joanna Sheen's Messy Rabbit CD for the little pig and Messy Rabbit faces in the camper van. The large Messy Rabbit has been stamped with Versafine and then watercoloured with watercolour pencils. I just hope she likes it next week!!!

Card for my Nephew

I had a call from my brother-in-law last night to say that my 18 year old nephew is off to New Zealand on 1 November 2009 for up to a year. I'd bought the Colour my World template to make a card for someone else so thought that this was appropriate to use for him as well. I used the Colour my World It's a Man's World CD for the papers for the card.

This card fits the criteria for the Alphabet Challenge Blog this week as the topic is "B is for blue".

Carol's Sketch Challenge Blog 7/10/09 and Passion for Promarkers Challenge Blog 20-10-09

Carol has a lovely sketch this week over on her challenge blog. I decided to use a stamp I got in the sale at Graphicus in January time I think. I have stamped it and coloured it in with my promarkers. The backing papers are from Summer Driggs.

This card also fits the criteria for the Passion for Promarkers challenge which is for poppy and forest green. I haven't got many Promarkers - yet - but I do have these colours by chance!!!

Please excuse my picture - I'm certainly not bonding with this camera - maybe it's jealous of the time I am spending with my new Promarkers!!!

Card for Six Challenges

For this card I have used a Mo Manning digital image which I have coloured with fall colour Promarkers. The papers are digital freebies from Shabby Princess and the card is DCWV, sentiment from the computer, crocheted flower from recent blog candy I won and the organza ribbon I have coloured in diagonal patches with three different coloured Promarkers. It's hard to pick up on the photo and looks better in the flesh.

This card fits the criteria for the following challenges:

DP2 Challenge - to use a Mo Manning image, colours or topic of fall and only 2 embellishments

Our Creative Corner Challenge - beige, brown, sage and dark green

Lots to Do Challenge - a card

Stamp, Scrap and Doodles Challenge - to use the picture as inspiration

Rosie-Dee's Challenge - carrot, courgette and flower

Crafty Cardmakers - autumn.

Linda's Blog Candy

Linda has some gorgeous blog candy up for grabs. Click here to go and have a look.