Delicious Doodles Challenge - 28 June 2013 - Add a charm

It is Friday and time for another challenge at the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog.  The challenge this week is "add a charm".

For my card I have used the Delicious Doodles image called "Queen of the Holly".  Yes I know it's only July but I felt like making a Christmas card.  I have coloured the image with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and highlighted areas with my Sakura Stardust clear pen and Pan Pastels.

The backing papers I was given so I do not know their origin.  I have used a Marianne Designs die to make a frame for the image to sit on.  I coloured two chipboard shapes with a burgundy Promarker and then used a Sheena Douglass crackle effect stamp and Versafine to stamp onto the shape and added some holly peel-offs and Stickles glitter glue.  The card has been finished off with some ribbon, cross charm, gems, sentiment and a cream flower which has been coloured with Tim Holtz's Aged Mahogany and Chipped Sapphire distress ink pad and my Inkylicious brushes.  I have then got messy and rubbed some red Stickles glitter glue onto the flower with my fingers.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Friends - Use a charm
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas - Christmas greenery
Sentimental Sundays - For the girls
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes
Platypus Creek - Anything goes
Incy Wincy - Tic-tac-toe - I've used the diagonal line of die-cuts/emboss it/use metal
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Passion for Promarkers - Name that tune - Holly Holy by Neil Diamond
Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
Simon Says - Anything goes
Penny's Paper Challenge - Girl power
Nutcrafters - Show us some texture
Crafting for all Seasons - Make it girly
Crafts and Me - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon
Paper Crafting Journey - Anything but a square card

New Delicious Doodles coming to the store

This character for Libra for Teri's Zodiac series is going to be available in the Delicious Doodles store come the week-end:

Then you'll have to wait for next week when the next installment of the Horror-scopes series see the arrival of the Libra character to be available in the Delicious Doodles store:

I'm a Libra.  Maybe this is me on a bad day!!!!

Can anyone help regarding a missing navigation bar???

I use Google Chrome as I was having lots of problems some years ago accessing blogs on Internet Explorer.  Until last week everything was fine.  I woke up one morning to this:

Just above the top of the my blog background should be a navigation bar which has disappeared into thin air.  It allows me to do a new post/change design/sign out.  Without this at the top of the page I have to look if there is a little pencil icon on any of the posts and if so click that and then go in via my dashboard.  If a pencil icon isn't showing on a post on my blog I then have to start looking at my Design Team Blogs until I find one with a pencil icon showing.  It's getting VERY frustrating.

As you can see below I've done the same snapshot whilst in Internet Explorer and it is there for all to see.

I have changed no settings on the computer or with Blogger.  I was just wondering if anyone else had had this problem or whether anyone has any ideas to rectify.  

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE - although I'd already done it once I took off Comodo Dragon and put on again and at the moment it seems to work.  Thanks for taking the time to reply.  It made things so hard without having that toolbar

Bearly Mine Challenge - 25 June 2013 - Monthly Sketch

It's time for another challenge at Bearly Mine Challenge Blog.  This week it is time for our monthly sketch:

This week we are lucky to be sponsored by Alota Rubber Stamps and Crafty Ribbons.

Crafty Ribbons are offering the lucky winner .....................

Alota Rubber Stamps are offering $15 to spend in their store.

Normally sketch challenges make me want to "run and hide" but I seem to be liking them more these days. The image I have used for my card is called "Airships" and is from Sweet Pea Stamps and designed by Meredith Dillman.  For those of you that prefer rubber stamps the image is available in rubber.  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and kept to shades of brown as I wanted the card to have a vintage feel.  

  

The backing papers I have used for this card are Bearly Mine Designs The Boys Zone, Shabby Vintage and a freebie paper.  The sentiments and clock with wings are from the Debbi Moore Shabby Chic CD called "Time Flies".  The card has been finished off with fibres and brads.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

I Love Promarkers - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Stamping with the Dragon - Anything goes
Pile it On - Vintage or shabby chic
Bunny Zoe's - Wings
Sentimental Sundays - For the girls
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes
Platypus Creek - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Girl power
Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes

Karen Middleton's Moon Heart

For my Sweet Pea Stamps Design Team card this week I thought I would use the "Moon Heart" by Karen Middleton.  Isn't he such a cute cat?  The image is available as a rubber stamp and is also available as a digital image.  I thought I'd make this card for my husband for our 22nd wedding anniversary on 20 July 2013.  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers and highlighted areas with my Sakura Stardust clear pen.

The backing papers are from the Glitz paper pad called "Cashmere Dame" which I won in some blog candy recently.  The card has been finished off with various elements including my Tim Holtz clock die, raffia ribbon, organza satin edged ribbon, die-cut flowers inked with Tim Holtz's Aged Mahogany distress ink, brads, gems, faux stitching, Marianne Designs die-cut hearts and some sentiments from a Debbi Moore CD.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Paper Make-up - Punches/dies
LEJ Designs - Add some texture
Fab N Funky - Animals
Whimsy Stamps - Shaped cards
Inky Impressions - Anything goes
Divas by Design - Distressing
I Love Promarkers - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - Flowers galore
Digi Haven - Flowers
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - Pick and mix - anything goes and add some embossing
A Creative Romance - Don't be square
Stampin' for the Week-end - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Stamping with the Dragon - Anything goes
Wags n Whiskers - Wedding/anniversary/love
Sweet Stampin - Cute and cuddly
Pile it On - Vintage or Shabby Chic
One Stitch at a Time - Something not square
Quirky Crafts - Everybody wants to be a cat
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes

Aud Sentiments Challenge - 20 June 2013 - Summer

Today sees the start of another challenge over at the Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog.  This time the topic is "summer" so you need to add a sentiment in relation to summer ie fun in the sun, picnic time, the surfs up etc.

This fortnight our sponsor is Stamp and Create.

For me summer means the great outdoors and especially the seaside and that is why I have decided to go through for a seaside theme card.  I have used a Sweet Pea Stamps image by the Artist Elisabeth Bell and is called "Beach Ball" and is available in a rubber stamp from Sweet Pea Stamps.

I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers/Flexmarkers and have highlighted areas with my white gel pen.  The backing papers I have used are from a seaside paper pad from Crafty Individuals.  I used a chevron embossing folder and some cardstock to gain some texture and have highlighted the embossing with some Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink and my Inkylicious brush.  I have die-cut the image and mounted it on a Marinanne Designs die-cut which I have threaded twine through.  I have finished the card off with some ribbon, card candi, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and some real shells.

It would be lovely if you could pop on over to the Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog to have a look at the other creations by the Design Team for this challenge.  Next Thursday Team B will show you their creations.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Kaboodle Doodle - Summer
Whoopsi Daisy - Fun in the sun/summer
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Crafty Sentiments - Fun in the sun
LEJ Designs - Add some texture
Loves Rubber Stamps - Summer theme
Flourishes - Scallops
Made Especially for You - Happy Summer
Ribbon Carousel - Fun in the sun
Deep Ocean - Welcome summer
Paper Pretties - Summer fun
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes with a twist to show us your season - summer for me
Inky Impressions - Anything goes
I Love Promarkers - Anything goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - In the summertime
Milk Coffee Challenge - Summer fun
Creatalicious Challenge - All about summer
Lady Anne's Stamp Challenge - Anything goes

Delicious Doodles Horrorscope Series - Cancer

On Saturday sees the release of the new installment of the Delicious Doodles Horrorscope Series.  This time it's the turn of Cancer.

Discontinued Stamps and Sale Stamps at Sweet Pea Stamps

There are some wonderful bargains to be had over at Sweet Pea Stamps.  There is a section for "discontinued rubber stamps" and the stamps in there are $2 each.  There is also the "sale section" to look at as there are some bargains there as well.

Ching-Chou Kuik's Restless Thoughts

It's time for me show another card/creation on the Sweet Pea Stamps Blog.

For my card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps image called "Restless Thoughts" by the artist Ching-Chou Kuik.  This image is available as a digital stamp or a rubber stamp.  The image does come with some toadstools around the gorgeous fairy but in this instance I have fussy cut around the image and removed them.  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and highlighted areas with Pan Pastels and some Stickles glitter glue on her wings - well every fairy should sparkle shouldn't they??

  

The background that the fairy is actually sitting in front actually comes like it is in the Bearly Mine Designs Spring Surprise Set.  It is a gorgeous setting and makes you want to be there.  I have also used some papers from the Bearly Mine Designs Just Plaids Set.  I have finished the card off with some flowers, seam ribbon binding bow and a sentiment from a Debbi Moore CD.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Use a digi
Bunny Zoe's - Wings
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Fantasy

Delicious Doodles Zodiac - Cancer

Wednesday sees the next installment of the Delicious Doodles Zodiac series.  This time it's the turn of Cancer.  Isn't she gorgeous?  Pop over to the shop on Wednesday to have a look.

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - June 2013 - One for the children

Last month a Sweet Pea Stampers we said a sad goodbye to one of the Design Team, Nataliya and subsequently Susie has decided to leave the Team.  We had a Design Team call and will now have a look at the blogs of all those that applied and will be in touch shortly.

It's the second Friday of the month and this means that it's the start of another challenge over at the Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge Blog.  This month the topic is "one for the children".

For my card I have used the Sweet Pea Stamps rubber stamp by Brigid Ashwood called "Jinx".  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers, highlighted areas with my white gel pen and Stickles glitter glue and fussy cut around the image.

    

  

The backing papers that I have used for this card are Bearly Mine Designs Gingham, Bearly Mine Designs Damask, Bearly Mine Designs Vintage Fantasy and Bearly Mine Designs Rose's Dreams.  I have used the Vintage Fantasy paper and die-cut and stamped with a large dot stamp by Sheena Douglass.  Out of plain purple card I cut out a scalloped oval and stamped with a mesh effect stamp from the same Sheena Douglass stamp set called "Ageing Beautifully".  I have finished the card off with a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment, number and star peel-offs, raffia ribbon, lace and Stickles glitter glue.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and optional twist of celebration
Robyn's Fetish - Die-cuts or punches
Bunny Zoe's - Wings
Creative Stamp Friends - Birthday
The Cutie Pie - One fr the kids
Fab n Funky - Birthday
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon
Southern Girls - Use a punch or die-cut

Delicious Doodles Challenge - 14 June 2013 - All creatures great and small

It's Friday again and time for Team B over at the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog to show you their creations.  This week the challenge is "all creatures great and small" so that is a nice and easy one for everyone.

I decided to go for a monochrome card for a card for a male that loves animals and I have used the Delicious Doodles image called "Zebra and Foal".  This is such a gorgeous image.  The backing papers were from my stash and I have used my Tim Holtz Black Soot distress ink pad and my Inkylicious brush to colour a doily.  I have finished the card off with buttons, twine, card candi and a Carftwork Cards die-cut sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Corrosive Challenge - Animal antics
Craft Your Passion - Father's Day/Masculine
Platypus Creek - For the boys
LEJ Designs - Something for the boys/men
Tuesday Throwdown - You're the man
Top Tip Tuesday - Masculine
City Crafter - All about him
Papertake Weekly - Hello boys
Crafty Sentiments - Card/project for a male
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes and twist of Father's Day/Men/Male
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Man or boy
Inky Impressions - Father's Day/for a guy
Crafting for all Seasons - One for the guys
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Sweet Pea Stamps Variations Week - June 2013

Over at Sweet Pea Stamps Blog it is time for Variations Week.  This takes place on the second week of the month.  All of the Design Team are given the same image to use in their own way and each day on the Sweet Pea Stamps Blog you see different creations.  I obviously love Sweet Pea Stamps but I always looked forward to this week of the month to see the variety of creations.  Now being part of the Design Team I get to take part.

This month the image that we have been given to use is called "Red, White and Blue" and is by the talented Artist Karen Middleton.  The image is available in a rubber stamp. I decided I wanted to keep the colour scheme to red, white and blue as per the name of the stamp.  I love this colour scheme.  I have coloured the image with my Promarkers and highlighted areas with my Sakura Stardust pen.

The backing papers I have used were a freebie last year with the DoCrafts Creativity Magazine for our Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  It also included a sheet of little postcards so I have used one of these and torn it in half.  I have finished the card off with some Papermania Glitterations, selection of buttons, red/white and blue/white twine twisted together and a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment.

If you have enjoyed looking at my card please pop on over to the Sweet Pea Stamps Blog to look at the rest of the Design Team creations throughout the week.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
A Creative Romance - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and optional twist of celebration
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes
Robyn's Fetish - Die-cuts or punches
Ooh-la-la-Creations - Buttons and bling
Craftin Desert Divas - Red, white and blue
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes

Bearly Mine Challenge - 11 June 2013 - Anything Goes

Tuesday has whizzed around again and it is time for another challenge over at the Bearly Mine Challenge Blog.  This week is a favourite amongst crafters of "anything goes".

We are lucky to have three sponsors this week.  They are:  La-La Land Crafts, Dies to Die For and Bearly Mine Designs.

La-La Land Crafts are offering a $10 gift certificate to be spent in their shop.

Dies to Die For are offering a £10 gift voucher to be spent in their store.

Donna from Bearly Mine Designs is offering a £10 gift voucher to be spent in her store.

For my card I have used a Saturated Canary image called "Pack Light".  I have coloured my image in with my trusty Promarkers and highlighted areas with my white gel pen.

    

For my card I have used Bearly Mine Designs backing papers from the freebies section and also various collections:  Damask Delight, Mini Dots and The Boys Zone.  The card has been finished off with some lace, pink/orange ribbon bow, pearls, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and some flowers die-cut and made out of pink Mini Dots paper and an orange Gingham Paper from Bearly Mine and held together with a brad.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Paper Shelter - Flower power
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
I Love Promarkers - All stitched up
4 Crafty Chicks - Flowers
Digi Haven - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Fun with Shapes and More - Stitching - real or faux
QKR Stampede - Ribbons and bows
A Creative Romance - Anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything goes
Crafty Friends - BINGO board - I have chosen the diagonal line of flowers, ribbon and die-cut
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes and optional twist of celebration
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Pretty it up
Robyn's Fetish - Die-cuts and punches
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes

Pan Pastel Challenge - 9 June 2013

Over at the Pan Pastel Challenge Blog the topic is "anything goes".  For my card I have used a gorgeous new stamp from Sweet Pea Stamps.  It is called "Iridessa and Breena" and is designed by Norma J Burnell.  When I see such wonderful images like this I wish I could draw.  For my card I have made an A6 size.  I always used to make cards this size, then moved to A5 and now seem to prefer either 6x6 inch or 8x8 inch sized cards.  Here in the UK we have a "Craft for Life" Appeal which is run by DoCrafts in conjunction with Cancer Research UK.  You make an A6 card, pop it into the special bags and take into a local Cancer Shop and they will sell on your behalf to raise funds.  I like to make 50+ cards each year for this appeal as cancer has affected my family and friends. 

I decided not to use backing papers but made my own using a diamond/cross mask and used my Dairylide Yellow Pan Pastel through the mask with the special Pan Pastel sponge.  I then used a freebie butterfly mask and my Permanent Red Pan Pastel.  Thsi time though I used my new brush to use with Pan Pastels and intricate masks (as with intricate masks they tend to pull the sponges to pieces after prolonged use).  I'd seen mention on TV about using a brush with Pan Pastels so went ahead and used one of my Inkylicious brushes.  This is a BIG no-no as it hacked at the Pan Pastel.  I then bought a brush from Nikki at Polkadoodles and all I will say it is so soft and amazing how it transfers the Pan Pastel.  I think I need one for each colour family now.

The image I have coloured with my Promarkers/Flexmarkers/Pan Pastels and edged the image with my yellow and red Pan Pastel to get a perfect match with the backing paper I made.  I have finished the card off with some die-cut Marianne Designs butterflies, pearls and a Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Marianne Designs Divas - Get your dies out

Crafting When We Can - Mad for markers

Pan Pastel - Anything goes

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes

The Corrosive Challenge - Animal antics

Some Father's Day Cards

Here is a selection of Father's Day cards I have made using a Debbi Moore Cards for Men CD1.  I still find Father's Day cards hard to make as I lost my dad in 1985 but they have to be made.

I was asked to keep the embellishments to a minimum as all of the cards had to be posted.  It's sad when this governs what people what to go on a card isn't it??

I have used various embellishments on the cards including card candi, Papermania Glitterations, cord, sentiments off the computer, cog die-cuts with brad centres and buttons.

I think my favourites have to be the motorbikes.  I'd love to have a ride on one.  Don't think my husband would agree!!!

I am entering these cards into the following challenges:

Love to Create - Father's day or special guy in your life
My Craft Spot - Dad

Anything Goes Challenge - Father's Day
Scrap-Creations - Father's Day

Creative Craft Challenges 2 - For the fellas

Paper Pretties - Fantastic fathers

Crafty Creations - One for the boys

Simon Says - Father's Day/masculine

The Crafter's Cafe - Father's or for a male

Milk Coffee Challenge - Father's Day and/or male inspired creations

Simply Create Too - Father's Day/for a male

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Crafts 4 Eternity - For the boys

Crazy 4 Challenge - Father's Day

Glitter n Sparkle - Father's Day/male cards

Pile it On - For or from a father