A Special Challenge and Blog Hop

On the 1st February 2010 there will be a very special "One off challenge" with some rather special candy as the main prize.  It will be no ordinary candy but really a serious piece of equipment that all of us would like in our craft room.  There will be runner-up prizes as well as prizes for the blog hop.  It all sounds very interesting.

If this has enticed you to go and have a look please go to the Floral Fantasies Blog for more information.

Non-traditional Valentine's Day Card

The challenge at Passion for Promarkers this week of the colour combo of Pastel Green and Blossom has lead me to the design of this card.  I haven't used the Pastel Green much as I don't like green but on using this it's more turquoise and therefore should get more life in the future.  Blossom though feels she's "over worked and under paid" as I do use this one a lot - all I will say is why can't all faces, arms, legs be coloured in blossom - too bright I know but it is lovely!!!  The backing papers I was given and it included a sheet of little embellishment so I've put on two sentiment mounts and cut out the flower.

This card fits the following challenges:

Dutch Dare Challenge - Summer in winter

Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenge - Valentine's
Raise the Bar Challenge - Use something old - I have a large collection of peel-offs - a lot I've been given by blogging friends - but the With Love sentiment I've had since I started making cards 4 years ago

Crafty Cardmakers - Hearts and romance

Passion for Promarkers - Blossom and Pastel Green

Cute Card Thursday - Blooming gorgeous

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Hearts

Saturday Challenge - Hearts

Just us Girls - Wildcard

Lexi's Creations - Valentine's.

Regular Charity Stall

Yes, shock horror, another month is up and it was time to set up the regular stall for charity.  This time I have changed my charity to raise funds for the Haiti Earthquake Disaster.  For those of you that have sent me cards to put on the stall, if you increase the size of the photo you might see your creations on display.  Thank you to everyone that gives cards or those that send me things to use on my cards thus helping me to help others.

Card for a Very Good Friend

It was a friend's birthday this week and I wanted to make her an extra special card.  I used my new My Craft Studio Deco Follies CD for this rather LARGE card.  I scored an A4 card into A5 and then stuck three of these together.  I made the images large enough just to add some backing paper and either metallic or holographic card and then the images were adorned with flowers, ribbon etc.

Our friend thought the card was wonderful so all my hard work was worthwhile.

This card fits the following challenges:

Colour Create - Soft pink, soft blue, white and silver

Sassy Designs from Die-cut Dreams Challenge Blog - Red, white and blue

Everybody Art Challenge - Brown, blue and white

Die Cuts R Us Challenge Blog - Ribbon

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog - Metallic.

Card for Five Challenges

I have used a gorgeous Prairie Fairy image along with a Pollycraft Designs sentiment saying "to a fairy special friend" - aren't they gorgeous words.  I have used a mixture of papers I have been given, card from the box of bits-and-pieces on the table including one that had been put through a Cuttlebug embossing folder, peel-off I have had for ages and ages, some flowers I was given for Christmas, a Bizzy Becs ticket sentiment and it is finished off with some card candy I've coloured to match with Promarkers.

This card fits the following challenges:

Prairie Fairy - to follow the above sketch

Flutterby Wednesday Challenge Blog - Open theme

Fab n' Funky - Use a digi image or sentiment - well I've used both

Creative Inspirations - Feminine

Totally Papercrafts - Friends.

Card for my Charity Box

Here is a card I have made following this weeks' topic for the Cute Daisy May Challenge of vintage.  I do so struggle with vintage but I have had a go.  I have used a K&Co roses paper and some other paper won in blog candy last year from the box on the dining room today.  I have coloured in the Cute Daisy may image with watercolours as I felt Promarkers too severe for the paper.  I have added some lace, a hat pin, a crochet flower, some card candy and a Bizzy Bec's digital sentiment.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Crafty Creations - Valentines or love

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Freestyle

My Time to Craft - Elegant Rose.

Card for Marie Curie Appeal 2010

It's that time of the year again when a lot of us make cards for the Marie Curie Appeal.  I like to make 50 and have a little way to go to reach that yet but I am determined.  I have used some backing papers I was given by a friend so I am unsure of the make of them.  I have used my new Kraftin' Kimmie stamp - isn't she funny - wish I had a waistline like that!!!  I have coloured her in with my Promarkers.  I heard all the hype and resisted for so long but I can't see life without Promarkers as they are wonderful.

This card fits the following challenges:

Stamp Something Challenge Blog - something to make you giggle - well that waistline of the Kraftin' Kimmie certainly makes me laugh and want to dream ...........

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge Blog - Colour me wonderful using your favourite mediums - mine at the moment have to be my Promarkers

Sophisticats Challenge Blog - Spring

Papertake Weekly Challenge Blog - Pretty Pink Papertake
Fab n Funky Challenge Blog - Blue, green and white
Creative Card Crew Challenge Blog - Punch it
Simon Says Stamp - Punch it
Raising the Bar Challenge Blog - Use something that you have been given - I am using the backing papers I was given therefore I don't know the make of the them

Crazy 4 Challenges - Pretty in Pink
Artful Inkables - Think Spring
Created by Hand - Waiting for Spring
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Touch of green

Totally Gorjuss Challenge Blog - Dimension - the stamped image is on foam pads along with the faux leaves in the corner

Sunday Sketch and Stamp Challenge Blog - to follow the sketch given

Pile it On Challenge Blog - Warm wishes - who doesn't want the warmer weather and in the meantime a cheery coloured card like this will have to do!!

Card for Six Challenges

For this card I have used a Bizzy Becs digital image and have coloured her in different shades of pink, brown and turquoise.  I have used some Digital Scrapbooking Papers - that were, yes, you've guessed it in the bit box and then printed off a digital ribbon and bow from Summer Driggs.

This card fits the following challenges:

The Treehouse - Get Well Soon

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Lots of layering

Passion for Promarkers - Girls, girls, girls and any colour theme

Allsorts - Brown and pink

The Corrosive Challenge - Use a digi image

Sketchy Colors - Brown and turquoise.

Birthday Card

Well this card was a mammoth one to make and just as so to take good photos of!!!  I have used Debbi Moore's Glitter and Glam Art Deco CD for all the images as they are wonderful.  As the person I have made it for likes her jewellery I have added more gems to the project that I normally would have done - but that's the luxury of making your own cards for people ie you can tailor to their likes/dislikes.

I feel proud that I printed off the full sheets of toppers but have all the large ones and some smaller ones left for other cards/projects.  The card is made up of 3 C6 cards I bought in a sale in January 2009 and hadn't used before and I have used so many pieces of A5 or smaller pieces of card and paper from the bit box on the table and even used a piece of backing paper from the CD that I'd printed off already.  My New Year's Resolution is still going strong.  I have used various ribbons, gems galore, card candy and a gorgeous flower attached to ribbon that I won in some blog candy last year (well I've looked at it sooooooooo many times to use it but couldn't but I think it needed a better home than my ribbon box!!!) to embellish the card.  Just hope the recipient likes it.

This card fits the following challenges:

Pile it On - To use three different ribbons

CRAFT Challenge - Red

Creative Belli Challenge - Hearts - (I've used a number of heart gems on the card)

Just Us Girls - Burgundy, blush, vanilla and gray.

My First Guest Designer Post - Digital Two for Tuesday

Well today is the day for me to be the Guest Designer for the Digital Two for Tuesday Blog.  I am nervous as I am not sure what people will think of my creations but I have given it a go.  This is the first black-and-white image I was given:

The image has been imported into My Craft Studio (MCS) and I put some frames around it and a backing sheet from Walk in Wonderland and printed out.  The image I coloured in with Promarkers and used Sakura Clear Stardust pen (no700) to accent the image in places and I did some faux stitching around the edges of the frames.  I rubbed a piece of Coredinations card stock with an emery board to age/distress and then scraped along the edge with a craft knife to distress it/make it ragged.  I did the same with the digital image sheet.  The Coredinations card stock I stamped around with a Kay Carley flourish stamp and Crimsen Red Versafine.  I then wet the edges of both sheets with Versamark then put on gold embossing powder and heated it up.  I then put the card together with a bow pinched from a box of chocolates we haven’t even eaten yet (don’t tell on me!!!), some glittery gemstones, some card candy and finally some lace with was originally white but didn’t fit in with the colour scheme so I coloured in with my Umber Promarker.

This is the second black-and-white image I was given:

I found four different but toning backing colours in My Craft Studio and layered it all up.  I added a flourish in each corner and then placed the flower image in the middle.  I then printed it out and coloured in the image with Promarkers using a mixture of pinks/light purples for the flowers and I used a gold Sakura pen for the stamens.  I then printed out the backing paper from an Artylicious Damask Delights CD onto a purple pearlescent paper which made it very feint but this was the effect I wanted.  The main image was decoupage and then put on some gold mirror card and 3d foam pads to elevate for more dimension.  The card was then finished off with some card candy, a ticket sentiment and some purple fibres.

If you want to read the whole article please go over to the Digital Two for Tuesday Challenge Blog.

My Time to Craft Challenge 12/1/10

I put together this card at the week-end but forgot to post it and the deadline is due shortly for the My Time to Craft Challenge this week of "Cool Cats".  I have used DCWV papers and card from the box and used a topper sheet from Allissa Crafting Studio.  The cat is certain cute but scary!!  I have finished off with some fibres wrapped around, some card candy and some little star gems.

Card for Five Challenges

I made this card yesterday but didn't have chance to post it on my blog.  Yet again it's using more bits from the box on the table - I am being sooooooooooo good - but I'm not sure how long it will last!!!  The backing paper was a DCWV pad I bought in 2008 and never finished in 2008 or 2009 so maybe 2010 will be the year.  All the papers have gone in the box.  The printed vellum is also from the box.  The decoupage is a Forever Friends Die-cut and isn't he just the cutest.  I have highlighted areas of the decoupage with Sakura Clear Stardust Pen (no 700).  I have finished the card off with some brads (these were taken from a handmade card we got for Christmas but due to bad treatment on its journey it arrived to us in a terrible state so I took off the brads to use again), a ticket sentiment from Allissa's Paper Town and some shapes cut out from backing paper - yes from the box!!!

This card is being entered into the following challenges:

Sassy Designs by Susie - Card for a boy with an option of an animal (well I've gone for the Forever Friends bear himself)

Die-cut Dreams by Susie and Vicki - Recycle it

Bizzy Becs Creatalicious Challenge - not to use a stamped or digi image - quite a hard one for me

ABC Christmas Challenge - B is for bells (the words Jingle Bells are on the printed vellum)

Forever Friends Challenge Blog - Quick and simple.

Card for Three Challenges

I have made another card for the charity box.  This time I have used Joanna Sheen's Messy Rabbit CD - well he's so cute and as I love poppies I had to use this one didn't I.  The backing papers were in the bit box and I have cut and inked the edges.  The card is finished off with some ribbon, a sentiment off the computer and some card candy.

This cards fits the following challenges:

Cute Daisy May - Flowers and ribbon

Sew Many Challenges - Anything goes theme

Paper Cutz - Summer/beach theme.

Card for Four ChallengesThis card

I have made this card for my stash.  I have used some DCWV backing paper I bought last year and didn't finish using this Christmas so it's living on the box on the dining room table ie to be used so it's found a new home on this card!!!

The main image is from a Papermania stamp and you could buy the ladies shopping stamps to go with it.  I just bought the backing as I thought it would be a nice back-drop stamp and I have stamped with Memento and then coloured in with Promarkers.  Next came the messy bit of scribbling on some Quickie glue pen, letting it dry a tad and then dabbing with a cheap cotton wool pads to get the fluffy bits onto the image.  I then dabbed with a Sno Writer in various places over the roofs, grass and pathway and left to dry a tad before heating from the back.  It worked perfectly and feels very textural.  I then inked the edge of the image with Tim Holtz's Denim, Peeled paint and Brushed Courhuroy Distress Ink pads.  I have stamped a little girl from a Personal Impressions set that I had bought and hadn't used and coloured her in with Promarkers.  The card is finished off with some fibres and ticket sentiment from Allissa's Paper Town.

This card fits the following challenges:

Susie and Vicki's Xmas Club - Snow

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Winter

Sophisticats Challenge Blog - Doth the North Wind Blow

Bah! Humbug - Using new or Nearly New Stash.

Not Craft Related

My husband met me from work yesterday and there sitting in the front of the car was a gorgeous bunch of flowers.  I said he shouldn't have done but he said it was worth it to see me smile as I don't smile as much as he would like.  Think I could have done with Joanna Sheen's help in arranging them as I am absolutely hopeless.  He's definitely one in a million!!!

Tellen's Place Challenge Blog - 13/1/10

Over at Tellen's Place this week they have a sketch.  The main image is an oval and I hope they don't mind I've changed it for another shape as I haven't got any oval shapes.  I have used some more backing papers from in the box on my table - some blue glitter paper and some red snakeskin.  I have used some die-cuts of the Eiffel Tower that I got in Create and Craft's January sale last year and haven't used yet.  I decided to hunt for these as one of the free images this week on Tellen's Place is of a French girl.  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers.  The card is finished off with a sentiment (I've taken no end of pictures but as the words are printed on vellum it's not showing up well - the words say "Hearts Bloom on Valentine's Day") and a pair of lips sticker I was given.