Crafty Emma Challenge - Saturday 16/10/10

Over at the Crafty Emma Challenge this week the topic is a male birthday card.  I have used an image by the ever so talented Gordon Fraser over at Crafts U Print of a footballer.  I printed out the image four times so that I could decoupage the A5 size image.  I used an 8x8 card which I stamped with some "boys toys" See D stamps which I have had for some years now.  The card is simply finished off with a sentiment off the computer.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Cards for Men - Happy birthday
Little Red Wagon - Something old/something new - old is the See D's stamps and new is the digital image
Raise the Bar - Get a hobby - hobby/sport/interest
Paper Cutz - Anything goes.

2 Sisters Challenge - Saturday 16/10/10

The topic this week at the 2 Sisters Challenge is Halloween.

I have made the backing for the image by taking Donna's (Bearly Mine Designs) free digital Halloween papers into My Craft Studio.  For a twist with this one instead of the layers being one on top of the other I twisted the last one the spider's web for a different effect.  The image is the last one I had printed off by Andy Carolan of a rather scary looking ghost that I certainly wouldn't want to meet!!  The card is finished off with some black fibres, a Jolee's Boutique witches cauldron and a sentiment printed off the computer distressed with Tim Holtz's Black Soot distress ink pad.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Ooh-la-la Creations - Nothing floral
Creative Cottage - Halloween

Frosted Designs - Fall-Halloween

Funky Friday - Halloween

Paper Cutz - Anything goes

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Halloween

Creative Inspirations - Halloween/fall

One Stitch at a Time - Embellish it

Pixie Dust - Fall into fall

Totally Papercrafts - Autumn

One Stop Craft - Halloween

Crazy 4 Challenge - Autumn/fall

Lots to Do - Plain and simple

Creative Craft - Trick or treat.

Well, I'm certain now this must be my last Halloween card as a I can't give one of these for a 2 year old's birthday card can I???  I have thoroughly enjoyed making these cards and just wish we celebrated it more here in the UK.  I've at least got a number of cards to give to people coming to the door this year along with sweets.

Moving Along with the Times - Thursday 14/10/10

This week the topic at Moving Along with the Times is  Halloween.

This card is made with more of Donna from Bearly Mine Designs Halloween freebie papers.  I know the spider's web is my favourite but a close second has to be these distressed word papers - rather spooky!!!  The images were also a freebie, this time from SJ Musings.  The mummy character is so scary.  I have taken the backing papers again into My Craft Studio for faux matting and layering and for inserting the Happy Halloween text.  The card is then finished off with some of the Jolee's Boutiques stickers of a witches spell book and a Happy Halloween sentiment.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Everybody Art - Halloween

Ooh-la-la Creations - Nothing floral

Creative Cottage - Halloween

Frosted Designs - Fall-Halloween

Funky Friday - Halloween

Paper Cutz - Anything goes

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Halloween

2 Sisters Challenge - Halloween

Creative Inspirations - Halloween/fall

One Stitch at a Time - Embellish it

Pixie Dust - Fall into fall

Totally Papercrafts - Autumn

One Stop Craft - Halloween

Crazy 4 Challenge - Autumn/fall

Lots to Do - Plain and simple

Craftalicious Challenge - Anything goes

Creative Craft - Trick or treat.

Everybody Art Challenge - Tuesday 12/10/10

This week the topic at Everybody Art is Halloween.

Again I have used some Bearly Mine Designs freebie Halloween papers which I have layered up again in My Craft Studio.  Think one of my favourites has to be the spider's web - and i HATE spiders!!!  I have used the witch which is a freebie from Andy Carolan from either last year or the year before.  The card is simply embellished with a sentiment off the computer which has been distressed with Tim Holtz's Black Soot distress ink pad and the last of the Jolee's Boutique velour feeling witches hat that I was given.

This card fits the following challenges:

Ooh-la-la Creations - Nothing floral

Creative Cottage - Halloween

Moving Along with the Times - Halloween

Frosted Designs - Fall-Halloween

Funky Friday - Halloween

Paper Cutz - Anything goes

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Halloween

2 Sisters Challenge - Halloween

Creative Inspirations - Halloween/fall

One Stitch at a Time - Embellish it

Pixie Dust - Fall into fall

Totally Papercrafts - Autumn

One Stop Craft - Halloween

Crazy 4 Challenge - Autumn/fall

Lots to Do - Plain and simple

Craftalicious Challenge - Anything goes

Creative Craft - Trick or treat

Creative Card Challenge - 12 October 2010

Over at the Creative Craft Challenge this week the topic is "trick or treat".  I decided that as I found some images I had printed off last year and saw a few more I liked this year it would be rude not to make into cards wouldn't it - well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!  I just wish we went for Halloween more here in the UK.

For this card I have used some digital paper freebies from the talented Donna from Bearlymine Designs.  There were too many nice ones to choose from - well maybe I can blame Donna for making some more Halloween cards as I couldn't work out which papers to use/not use.  I took the papers into My Craft Studio and layered them up along with making some plain colour layers.  The text I typed via My Craft Studio.  The image was a freebie from Andy Carolan last year or maybe even the year before.  The card is finished off with some more Jolee's Boutique's stickers I was given - this time it's a gorgeous velour feeling witches hat.

This card fits the following challenges:

Ooh-la-la Creations - Nothing floral
Everybody Art _ Halloween
Digi's with Attitude - Orange, purple and green
Creative Cottage - Halloween
Moving Along with the Times - Halloween
Frosted Designs - Fall-Halloween
Funky Friday - Halloween
By the Cute and Girly - Spooky
Paper Cutz - Anything goes
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Halloween
2 Sisters Challenge - Halloween
Creative Inspirations - Halloween/fall
One Stitch at a Time - Embellish it
Pixie Dust - Fall into fall
Totally Papercrafts - Autumn
One Stop Craft - Halloween
Crazy 4 Challenge - Autumn/fall
Lots to Do - Plain and simple
Craftalicious Challenge - Anything goes
Penny's Challenge - As long as it flies - well I thought a witch goes flying on her broomstick!!!

My Son's 18th Birthday Present

Today was the day for my son to have his 18th birthday present from family and friends - a two car driving experience.  We had to choose which two cars he was to drive and we went for an Aston Martin and a Ferrari.  So we left home at 6.10am this morning (yes 6.10am!!) as we had to drive to Kenilworth.

Well our son thoroughly enjoyed the experience and was marked 37 out of 40 for each drive - not bad eh since it's not even a year since he passed his driving test!!!  He did find it hard to "put his foot down" but managed 111mph in the Aston Martin.  I thought he'd prefer the Ferrari but he in fact preferred the Aston Martin.

If you are stuck for a present for man or a lady (something like this doesn't appeal to me at all but there were quite a few ladies going for the driving experience) it's certainly something to think about and I'm certainly glad we picked it as I think we would get 20 out of 10 for picking this present for his 18th birthday back in August!!!

Thank You Card

I recently took part in a Blog Hop with Stamping Vacation and was lucky enough to win a prize from The Stampsmith.  I chose this gorgeous lady and she's now arrived here in the UK and I have made her into this card.  The backing papers are all bits and pieces I have been given so I am unsure where they have come from I'm afraid.  The paisley backing paper I cut a few extra shapes out to decoupage up.  I have made my own flower with my Cricut and a book and the pages have been distressed with Tim Holtz's Peeled Paint distress ink pad along with the backing papers.   The card has been finished off with some raffia, tag sentiment, ribbon and the centre of the flower is a glitzy flower button which I bought years and years ago.

This card fits the following challenges:

The Stampsmith Challenge - Getting all dressed up
The Stamp Man - Autumn
Stampin' for the Week-end - Autumn inspiration
Crafty Emma - Make or use a tag in your work
Secret Crafter - Distressing
Sentimental Sunday - Tag it
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Thank you card
Pear Tree Designs - Autumn
Cricut Cardz Challenge - Anything goes - I have made the flowers with my Accent Essentials cartridge
Dezinaworld - Feminine and Masculine - I chose a feminine image but the colour scheme of blue, green and brown being masculine
Little Red Wagon - Something old/something new - something old is the button that I bought years and years ago and the something new is the stamp I won and also the tag sentiment which I got for my birthday recently
ABC Challenge - F is for flowers
Stampin B's - Fall colours
Paper Romances - Let's use up your buttons
Just Inspirational - Stamped project

Craft Your Passion Challenge - Guest Design Team Position - Week Two

Well week two is already here of my Guest Design Team role for Craft Your Passion.  This week the challenge is a sketch.  For my card I have used an 8x8 card, some purple vellum and two different purple swirly papers from my stash.  This week I had to use a Cocodingo digital image.  I chose to use the window ledge with lavender.  I love this image and have coloured this with Promarkers and highlighted areas with Sakura Stardust clear pen.  I have distressed the edges with Tim Holtz's Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord distress ink pad.  The card is simply finished off with some gems, fabric flower/pearl and sentiment off the computer.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes birthday

Creative Card Crew - Bloomin' marvellous

Creative Inspirations - Birthday
Sarah Hurley - Flowers
One Stitch at a Time - Use digital stamps/papers
Crazy 4 Challenge - Birthday card or project

Fab n Funky - Use a digi image.

Bizzy Bec's Store Blog and Blog Candy

To celebrate Bizzy Bec's new Store Blog some gorgeous Blog Candy is being offered.  Please click here to go and have a look.  The blog candy ends on 10/11/10.

My Last Halloween Card for 2010???????

Well, here is my last Halloween card – maybe for this year (but that will depend if anymore wonderful Halloween images speak to me very loudly!!) but certainly for this week-end.  I'm amazed how far the printed out paper has gone but then again the cards are only 6x6.  

I have used straight pieces and then crumpled/torn pieces, both of which have been distressed with Tim Holtz's Black Soot distress ink pad.  The image again is from Digital Delights and is the little Pumpkin head.  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers but this time I have gone for darker shades of orange and the blender pen and think I prefer the darker tones.  The card is finished off with a sentiment off the computer, a flower from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop and two Jolee's Boutique stickers, one of a magic wand and my favourite of the witch.

This card fits the following challenges:

Sentimental Sundays - Autumn/fall

Crafty Sentiments - Autumn/fall colours

Stampin B's - Fall card

Paper Romance - Halloween/fall

Stampin' for the Week-end - Autumn inspiration

Secret Crafter - Distressing

One Stitch at a Time - Spooky Halloween

I Did it Creations - Spooky

Shabby Tea Room - Vintage Halloween

City Crafter - Hooray for the holidays

Shirleys 2 Girls - All things scary

Meljen's Designs - Halloweeny

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Halloween.

Thought I'd post all three Halloween cards onto my blog in one go but it's taken me over an hour so I think I'll do it one-by-one next time and have a bit of variety of cardmaking and computer work.

Another Halloween Card

Well, here is another Halloween card.  I'm not sure whether I thought I'd never see these backing papers again on my computer but to print three pages of each out was a bit silly last year but we live and learn.

Again I have used the same format with straight pieces and then crumpled/torn pieces as it makes it look a bit more ragged and the Black Soot distress ink makes it look more scary.  This time the image is from Digital Delights and is of a little Pumpkin head.  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and used lighter tones of orange and have used the blender pen to try and get a more shadowed effect on the actual pumpkin like their shells normally are.  Not sure whether I've achieved it.  The card is finished off with some orange card candy and a sentiment off the computer.

This card fits the following challenges:

Sentimental Sundays - Autumn/fall

Crafty Sentiments - Autumn/fall colours

Charisma Cardz - Autumn colours

Stampin B's - Fall card

Paper Romance - Halloween/fall

Stampin' for the Week-end - Autumn inspiration

Secret Crafter - Distressing

One Stitch at a Time - Spooky Halloween

I Did it Creations - Spooky

Shabby Tea Room - Vintage Halloween

City Crafter - Hooray for the holidays

Shirleys 2 Girls - All things scary

Meljen's Designs - Halloweeny

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Halloween.

Halloween card

Yes, I know, I know I haven't got people to give them to but couldn't resist making a few more for the first few people that come to the house for Halloween and once they've gone, they've gone.  There are so many gorgeous Halloween images out there I couldn't not have a go!!!

The backing papers I have used for this card I am unsure where they are from.  I'd printed them off last year and never wrote on the back who they belonged to so I apologise to the designer.  I have inked the edges with Tim Holtz's Black Soot distress ink pad for the two main pieces of paper.  The two smaller pieces I tore, scrunched and then inked the edges and also the crinkled lines with Black Soot distress ink pad to highlight the distressing.  The image is of a gorgeous little wizard and is from Just Inklined.  I have coloured him with Promarkers and cut him out with a Spellbinders die and inked the background/edges with Black Soot.  The card is finished off with a Halloween sticker from Jolee's Boutique that I won in some candy last year and I used some peel-offs onto some silver mirri card for the word BOO.

This card fits the following challenges:

Sentimental Sundays - Autumn/fall

Crafty Sentiments - Autumn/fall colours

Charisma Cardz - Autumn colours

Stampin B's - Fall card

Paper Romance - Halloween/fall

Stampin' for the Week-end - Autumn inspiration

Secret Crafter - Distressing

One Stitch at a Time - Spooky Halloween

I Did it Creations - Spooky

Shabby Tea Room - Vintage Halloween

City Crafter - Hooray for the holidays

Shirleys 2 Girls - All things scary

Meljen's Designs - Halloweeny

Fussy and Fancy Friday - Halloween.

Autumn Birthday Card

I was asked to do an autumn style birthday card ie fall colours for someone into fairies etc so thought this card was perfect.

For the card I have used various pieces of Crafty Ann's digital orange and black papers layered on top of each other - aren't they just yummy??  The papers have all been distressed with Tim Holtz's Black Soot distress ink pad.  The image is a Sweet Pea Stamp which I won recently in a challenge.  She's gorgeous.  I have coloured her in with promarkers and highlighted areas with Sakura Stardust clear pen.  The edges have been distressed with Tim Holtz's Spiced Marmalade distress ink pad.  The flowers I have cut out and arranged on the card lifting them up to make a bit more height and dimension.  These along with the ticket sentiment are also from Crafty Ann's.  The card is simply finished off with some sparkly ribbon.

This card will fit the following challenges:

Stamptacular Sunday - Layer it on
Sentimental Sundays - Autumn/fall
Magical Monday - Back to nature
Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes birthday
Creative Card Crew - Bloomin' marvellous
Creative Inspirations - Birthday
Artistic Stamper - Layers
Flutterby Wednesday - Open theme
Crafty Sentiments - Autumn/fall colours
Charisma Cardz - Autumn colours
Stampin B's - Fall card
Sarah Hurley - Flowers
Let's Ink it Up - Halloween colours
Paper Romance - Halloween/fall
The Stamp Man - Autumn
Stampin' for the Week-end - Autumn inspiration
Crafty Calendar - Autumn birthdays
Mark's Finest Papers - Use stripes on your card
Crazy 4 Challenge - Birthday card or project
Allsorts - Inspiration from a song title - Autumn by Barbara Streisand
Secret Crafter - Distressing

Shelly's Images Fab Follower of the Week

On a little look in blog land this morning I came across this.  To say it has cheered me up is an under-statement.  Thank you so much Shelly.  I shall be going around with a "big head" today!!!

Crafty Ann's Challenge No 25

Another fortnight has come and gone and we have seen some lovely creations for the Crafty Ann's Challenge.  The new topic for this fortnight's challenge is "digi stamp and favourite colouring medium".  Your project needs to include at least one digi stamp and please tell us what colouring medium you have used.

Well, this is my second card made for this challenge as I read the challenge wrong to first time and made a boo-boo.  For this card I have used Crafty Ann's new tartan backing papers - aren't they gorgeous - along with some plain white card and some purple Crafty Ann's mottled stone backing paper.  The digital image is one of Crafty Ann's of some gorgeous irises and I have coloured them in with my Promarkers.  The image I have then cut with my my Wizard and a die and distressed the edges with Tim Holtz's Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord distress ink pads.  The flowers are also from Crafty Ann's and I painstakingly cut them all out, popped them onto a piece of purple card and then sprayed them with Dawn Bibby's Rosie Ritz Shimmer Spritz and left them to dry.  Why did I put them on a sheet of card you ask?  Well, I now have a sheet of purple shimmery card with shapes of large and small flowers out of it where the flowers were and I've removed them for this card.  For the centres of the flowers I have added some Dawn Bibby's Shine Time clear glaze.  The card is then simply finished off with some ribbon and a Crafty Ann's ticket sentiment.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Gingerloft - Digi an all that glitters and bling

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Nature card
Karber Weekly - Go digital
Pollycraft - Anything goes
Incy Wincy - Sparkly glitter
Sarah Hurley - Flowers
Paper Players - Monchromatic
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Sparkle and shine
Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes birthday
Creative Card Crew - Bloomin' marvellous
Creative Inspirations - Birthday
Fab n Funky - Use a digi image
Glitterbabe's Challenge - Anything goes and sparkle.

New Baby Card

 A colleague at work had a little girl recently so I have eventually had some time to finish off her card so another colleague can take to her at the week-end.  I have used two different backing papers from Joanna Sheen's Baby Love CD as I didn't have any suitable baby papers in my stash.  The scalloped digital image is a freebie from Cardmaking Downloads (it should have been a rocker-style card but I stuck the decoupaged layers onto the front of my card).  The image is a new Whiff of Joy stamp which hasn't seen the "light of day" until now and is of Willow holding her baby.  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and highlighted areas with my Sakura Stardust clear pen.  I printed out various different baby sayings and then cut them out with a Spellbinders die and distressed the edges with Tim Holtz's tattered Rose distress ink pad.  I could have done with the help of Joanna Sheen as I decided to make a little floral display in one corner with some babies breath, two hat pins, leaves and various different flowers (can I let you into a secret - some of the smaller flowers have been recycled off a birthday card I was given last year by a customer that she'd had from someone else ie she didn't want to keep the card but had taken things off for me to use).  Think I could certainly do with more experience of flower arranging!!!  The card is finished off with a sentiment off the computer, various Forever Friends stickers, buttons, ribbon and glittery gel stickers.  Just hope the new mum and dad like it.

This card fits the following challenges:

Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Open challenge
Craft Your Days Away - Babies
One Stop Craft - Congratulations
Stampactular Sunday - Layer it on
Paper Sundaes - Something from your stash (a lot of the flowers I have had for 1-2 years and never got to use until now)
Pink Elephant - Childhood
Sarah Hurley - Flowers
Paper Playtime - Ribbons, buttons or rhinestones
The Crazy Challenge - Go green (some flowers recycled from a customer's card)
Stamp and Create - Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
Passion for Promarkers - Recycle (some flowers recycled from a customer's card)
Creative Card Crew - Bloomin' marvellous
For Fun - Something not used before - New stamp
Artistic Stamper - Layers
I Love Promarkers - Think pink
Pixie Dust - Sweet baby.

Digi's With Attitude! Challenge Blog

There is a new challenge blog launching on Friday 8/10/10 - Digi's With Attitude! Challenge.  In preparation of this launch they are offering up a prize of winning three Digi's With Attitude! digital images.  Click here to go and have a look.

Birthday Card for a Friend

It is a good friend's birthday today - yes strange the day after mine - but hopefully she's got her card or if she hasn't yet because of the post she doesn't see it on here!!!  She's going through a bit of a time lately so I thought a nice bright card might help to cheer her up.  I used my newest Tilda stamp of Tilda dressed up in a lovely posh dress as I thought that was nice and girly.  I have coloured her in with Promarkers and highlighted areas with my Sakura Stardust clear pen to add some glitter/sparkle.  I have used scraps of backing papers from my stash, even tearing one piece for a different edge which have been distressed.  Tilda has been mounted onto some green vellum, cream card and pink scrap of paper.  The card is finished off with some lace, ribbon bow, flowers, cord brad, sentiment off the computer and of course some blingy gems.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Creatalicious Challenge - Pink, brown and green
Pear Tree Designs - Celebration
Passion for Promarkers - Vintage/Shabby Chic
Everybody Art - Friends
City Crafter - Flowers and frills
The Creative Cottage - Bling it on
Crafty Calendar - Autumn birthdays and option of autumn colours
Stamp Something - Something to celebrate
Just Magnolia - Anything goes
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Open challenge
Paper Sundaes - Something from your stash - this piece of lace I have had for ages and ages and ages but never seemed to match my papers and even nearly had the attack of the Promarkers but thankfully it fitted in with the papers/embellishments for this card
Stamptacular Sunday - Layer it on - at least 5 layers
Totally Tilda - Glitter and Sparkle.

Thank You to my Wonderful Family and Friends

Well today I have been blessed with lots of gorgeous cards and presents from my family and friends.  They all mean so much - especially the cards.  I have always opened cards before presents and did so again today.  They are all so different and beautiful, so much so, I thought I'd let you see them all.

Thank you everyone.

I have had four new fur babies arrive at the house today.  For the last 5-6 years I have collected Keel dogs - but along the way have collected a Keel lion, two baby tigers and a cat - but my favourites are the dogs still as this company make the dogs so realistic for the different breeds. Today sees the arrival of Butch the Bulldog, Buttons the Bordeaux, Max the German Shepherd and Willie the Pug.