Dottie's World Challenge - November 2010

Over at Dottie's World the topic this month is the colour red.  I have used one of the Sugar and Spice images of a little girl flying her kite and coloured it in with Promarkers.  I have then distressed the edges of the image.  I have used various scraps of papers that are in my bit drawer to use up.  I was given them so are unsure of the make.  The card is simply finished off with a sentiment off the computer and some gems.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Lollipop Crafts - Birthdays
Lexis' Creations - Anything goes
Digital Tuesday - Use your never used stash - well I have had these papers from a friend for a year or more and also the gems I have had for even longer - a good time to use them all up
Cute Card Thursday - Anything goes
Dutch Dare - Clean and simple
Stamp Something - Anything goes and digi

Digi Doodle Challenge - Thursday 11/11/10

Over at the Digi Doodle Challenge this week the topic is "don't forget our men" ie a manly project.  I decided to use this lovely boat image which I coloured in with Copics/Promarkers.  The background for the boat ie the sea and sky I have made myself with torn paper and using my new ink dusters and Tim Holtz's Faded Jeans and Tumbled Glass distress ink pads.  I have used the Inkylicious card which I also bought at the NEC along with the ink dusters and it makes it easier to get the ink on evenly.  The striped backing paper is from a Daisy and Dandelion paper pad which I have had for a few years now.  I have torn some other pieces of paper on top of this to replicate more waves.  The card is finished off with two tags from a Hot of the Press book I got for my birthday which have been tied with some black raffia, a sentiment I had left over from a card and some card candy.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Lollipop Crafts - Birthdays
Craft Your Passion - Double anything on card - I've chosen two tags
Lexi's Creations - Anything goes
Digital Tuesday - Use your never used stash - for me it's my Daisy and Dandelion paper
Top Tip Tuesday - Use an image/sentiment - MY TOP TIP - if you struggle or think you might struggle using a brayer consider using ink dusters as I have found them a dream to start using and with some practice I should get even better
Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthday card
Pixie Dust - All about the men/boys in our lives
Pattie's Creations - Birthday card
Stamp Something - Anything goes digi
Crafty Catz - Paper tearing.

Magnolia-licious Challenge No 1 - Tuesday 9/11/10

Today sees the start of another Challenge Blog - Magnolia-licious.  The challenge is the colours pink and yellow.  I have to admit that I didn't like the Magnolia characters for some years and they've only just recently become favourites of mine in the last six months - better late than never I say!!!  Here's wishing all the Magnolia-licious Design Team all the best in their new challenge.

With the colours of pink and yellow I had already coloured a little Tilda image I won recently in some blog candy from Lynn in Australia and had coloured her in pink with Copics/Promarkers and stickled her pom-pom and fur on her hat.  Had I had a vibe about this challenge as I am not sure why I coloured this Christmas Tilda in pink.  In the end I have decided to use pink and yellow for a non-traditional Christmas card.  I have used papers from my stash to cover the 8x8 card.  The patterned yellow paper is from a recent win of some Basic Grey papers - isn't it gorgeous??  I decided to make an embossed frame to be the focal point on my card and I have distressed it with Tim Holtz's Mustard Seed distress ink pad with my new ink dusters that I got at the NEC.  I have added a strip of card, cut with an X-cut hand-held cutter into a wavy shape and sat Tilda on here.  The card as then been embellished with two different flowers, mirri leaves cut with an X-cut/emboss punch and some gems.

This card also fits the following challenges:

CRAFT Challenge - Dry embossing
Paper Romance - Everything but the kitchen sink
The Stamp Man - Christmas
Just Magnolia - Anything goes
Anything goes - Embossing
Fairytale - Anything goes
Crafts and Me - Glitter
Crazy 4 Challenge - Square cards
Oldie but a Goodie - Distressing
One Stop Craft - Embossing
For Fun Challenge - Dry embossing
Paper Pretties - Embossing
ABC Challenge - H is for holidays
Creative Inspirations - A pink Christmas
My Partner in Crime - Marker Madness
I Did it Creations - All mixed up - I have chosen Easter colours for a Christmas card
Kort o mania - Flower power
Top Tip Tuesday - Use an image/sentiment
Stamp and Create - Tis the Season.

WOYWW - Wednesday 10/11/10

Another Wednesday has arrived and it's time for another WOYWW.  I managed to visit all blogs involved in the WOYWW but couldn't leave messages on some because either it wouldn't allow or I couldn't even find the bit to post a comment so I apologise for those bloggers.  Click here to have a look at Julia's blog who organises the WOYWW.

Well I had to have a little re-jig of my workstation on Sunday to find homes for my new additions from the NEC.  I didn't buy that much but it didn't fit in where it should.

Here is my desk as it stands.  I haven't closed it for some weeks now.  My husband is very accommodating when it comes to my cardmaking and therefore he doesn't moan when it doesn't get shut up as long as he's got room to do his exercises!!

As requested, here is a close-up of some of the drawers pulled open for you all to have a look at.  They include storage for flowers (need quite a few drawers for these as I love using flowers), my DS tape and ink pads.  Some more drawers will be opened next week for you all to look.

Here is a close-up of the items on my desk.  The orange card is there awaiting going in the post.  The art deco pile is extracts from a magazine waiting to be stuck together into a card.  The lady in the black dress is for a commissioned card for my son's workplace and is from Debbie Moore's new CD Venetian Moments.  In the far corner I have printed out some kingfisher images and patterned backing paper from Joanna Sheen's Jayne Netley Mayhew CD and some plain paper to co-ordinate from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop.  I have also coloured in a stamped kingfisher image with Promarkers - I'm not sure about my colouring in of these but I haven't had much practice in colouring in animals/birds.  I am using these images for two cards - a 50th birthday card and also a commissioned birthday card for my son's workplace.

My last photo shows the desk with the addition of another one of my Keel dogs - this time Willie the Pug - for those of you that watched Eastenders over the years he's a twin for Ethel's Willy!!!

Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - 2 November 2010

Over at the Oldie but a Goodie Challenge this fortnight the topic distressing.  I have used a Papermania stamp that I have had I think for well more than six months - it's one where you can build yourself a butterfly.  I thought I'd use it a lot but haven't so I thought it was time for it to come out to play.

I have stamped the image with Potters Clay Memento and then coloured in with Promarkers/Copics and then highlighted some areas with my Sakura Stardust clear pen to add some sparkle and glitter.  The backing papers are from the Artylicious Butterfly Bliss CD - and yes I did print them out as I had no papers in the stash suitable as I wanted an orange, gold, red and yellow colour scheme.  I have distressed the edges with a chalk ink pad.  Next I stamped the butterfly again on paper, cut it out, sprayed with the Crafter's Companion Stick and Spray and placed this over the stamped/coloured in butterfly as a mask.  I then used my new Inkylicious colour dusters to make the background with Tim Holtz's Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade distress ink pads.  I found them easy to hold and use and a better effect will come with practice but I am happy with my first attempt.  The card has then been made into an easel card and embellished with a sentiment off the computer, some of the background paper butterflies decoupaged up and some gold card candy.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Flutter by Wednesday - Open theme
Lots to Do - Autumnal colours
Anything Goes Challenge - Anything with letter B - butterflies
Fairy Tale Challenge - Anything goes
Lexi's Creations - Anything goes.

Jazzlins Designs Blog Candy

My good friend Linda who opened Jazzlins Designs has some wonderful blog candy up for grabs.  Click here to go and have a look.  The Blog Candy ends on 17 November 2010.

Magical Monday Challenge - 1 November 2010

Over at the Magical Monday Challenge the challenge this time is a sketch.  I always find these a tad more difficult than a colour or topic challenge but that's part of us all being challenged with challenges.

I started off with an image from the My Craft Studio Walk in Winter wonderland.  I have decoupaged the image to give it more dimension.  I have highlighted areas with my Sakura Stardust clear pen to add a bit of glitter/sparkle.  The piece of paper at the back is a green freebie paper from Donna at Bearlymine.  It's gorgeous and yes I did print it out as I'd got no scraps of green that big!!!  I have then used scraps of red and gold paper .  The card is then simply finished off with some card candy, peel-off sentiment and some snowflakes cut with my lovely Cricut.

This card fits the following challenges:

ABC Christmas - W for winter wonderland
Cricut Cardz - Christmas card using something beginning with S - snowflakes for me
Paperplay - Circles
Pattie's Creations - Christmas card or creation
Flutter by Wednesday - Open theme
Fairy Tale Challenge - Anything goes
Anything Goes Challenge - Anything with the letter B - I have chosen bauble
Crazy 4 Challenges - Square cards - I used an 8x8 card
Crafty Calendar - Winter and option of snowflakes
Craft Your Passion - Double anything

Visit to the NEC - Saturday 6 November 2010

I went to the NEC with two friends as our chauffeur managed to get the day off work (ie my husband).  We left home at 7.00am to make the journey to Birmingham.  We had a good run and arrived there in plenty of time.  I was very apprehensive as with walking with a stick and not being that steady on my feet at times especially when I get tired but I thought I would go to cheer myself up.

It was nice seeing all the stalls.  We couldn't get to see many of the demos as there was too much pushing and shoving.  I nearly got pushed over not long after entering into the arena.  I then had a serious incident with the Everything a £1 Stall.  I was queuing to pay and therefore had my stick between my legs as I was getting out my purse.  Then came a massive shove and I nearly landed in the man's display and on the man.  Not sure how I didn't.  I wouldn't mind but that area of the arena wasn't jam-packed like other areas.  It was just the case of someone being thoughtless and I didn't even get an apology.

We then left the arena and had our lunch quickly so as not to miss out on things.  After lunch we met up with a Forum friend and her friend for a quick natter and went to the Inkylicious stand as I'd been told I had to look at the colour dusters.  Needless to say I bought them to try.  We then progressed to Lavinia stamps and looked at the wonderful examples on her stand.  I was though disgusted to see a note saying please do not take my samples - what is the world coming to eh???  We had a visit to a few more stalls and then went to find my husband who had been busy reading his newspaper and went and had a drink before we left for the 1.5 hour journey home.

All in all it was a very tiring day for me and I've paid the price for the last two days but thankfully I took today off work last minute so I don't go back to work until Wednesday which will give me a bit more time to get over things but I am glad I went.

Here are some pictures of my stash:

These are Lili of the Valley (LOTV) images and we bought five sets for £10.00 and we shared them between the three of us so we got a good selection of images.

Some 6x6 card blanks with envelopes, Pinflair glue gel (as I've now solved the problem of it going hard in the tube and in the syringe - so as it went hard last time I needed to buy another syringe), Dovecraft card reduced from £4.99 to £1.99, Create and Crate holographic card, Crafter's Companion Stick Away and Crafter's Companion Spray and Shine.

All his came from the everything for a £1 stall and there was an offer of 12 items for £10.00.

Here is the freebie from Create and Craft for being a member, Inkylicious card and Inkylicious colour dusters.

Debbie Moore had an offer on of buying 3 CDs and getting one free.  Sport Starz, Birthday Bears, Venetian Madness (wait until you see this one on Ideal World/Create and Craft as you'll love it) and the freebie one picked was Vintage Heaven (this one had sold out but Debbie allowed us to have this in the offer and it will be posted out to me - what a wonderful service eh?) and Debbie's new Magazine which came with a free CD (all I will say about this magazine is that it's FAB and the quality of the images/papers is wonderful).

All-in-all a nice but very tiring day and some new goodies to play with at some time.

Another autumn birthday card

I needed another Autumn birthday card so this time I have used a Dottie's World digital image of a little girl on her bicycle.  Isn't she cute?  I have used scraps of paper from my stash to use up and I think that they might be Basic Grey some of them but I'm not totally sure.  I have done some basic matting and layering to keep it clean and simple, added a sentiment off the computer and then coloured some Dawn Bibby glittery flowers.

This card fits the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes
Lexi's Creations - Anything goes
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
City Crafter - Get your digi on
Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes
Digi Doodle - Fall for me (autumn/fall)
Sew many Cards - Fall
Lots to Do - Autumnal colours
Crazy 4 Challenge - square cards.

Over at the Crafty Goings On Blog there is some blog candy to win at set of Copics.  I would love to win these so I am linking this card up to be entered into this as well.  Click here if you would like to go and have a look.

Dawn's Craft Place Progressive Candy

Dawn, over at The Craft Place, has some wonderful blog candy up for grabs.  You can gain more entries if you post about it in your sidebar, a post on your blog, if you are a follower of various challenges that Dawn is a Design Team member of etc etc.  Click here to go and have a look at the post explaining what to do.

Aud Sentiments Monthly Blog Candy

Another month is here and it's time for another Blog Candy offering at the Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog.  Click here to go and have a look.  This month the sponsor of the blog candy is Annabelle Stamps.

Crafty Ann's Challenge No 27

Another fortnight is upon us and it is time for another challenge over at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog.  Click here to go and have a look.

HAPPY 1st ANNIVERSARY TO CRAFTY ANN'S CHALLENGE BLOG

This challenge sees the first anniversary of Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog and of course there has to be some celebrations.  For those that leave a comment on my blog, your name will go into the draw for a free digi or a free pre-coloured sheet of your choice from Crafty Ann's.  All the other members of the Design Team have freebies as well so head on over to the Challenge Blog and have a look.

If you enter the challenge as well there is also the chance to win one of two prizes of two digi stamps, one backing paper collection and one pre-coloured sheet of your choice - one winner will be drawn from the entrants to the challenge and one winner from followers (so make sure you are a follower!!!).  So all you need to know is the topic for the challenge this fortnight - well it's a Christmas card in non-traditional Christmas colours.

Well I have to admit I struggled a bit with this challenge as I am a traditional style Christmas card kind of girl but that's part of a challenge isn't it ie to take us out of our comfort zone.  For my card I chose the colours purple, pink, black and white.  I have used some Crafty Ann's mottled stone backing papers in pink and lilac and two different pieces of the pink and black collection papers.  I have them over-printed the poinsettia digital image onto the pink and lilac mottled stone papers and cut them all out which did take some time but well worth the effort.  I have used a pre-coloured snowglobe and highlighted areas with my Sakura Stardust clear pen and mounted this on a doily and a piece of pink mirri card which I cut into a circle with my Cricut.  The backing papers have all been distressed with Tim Holtz's distressing tool and it has been highlighted with Tim Holtz's Black Soot distress ink pad.  The card is then finished off with some gingham ribbon, brads, one of Crafty Ann's ticket sentiments and some black Papermania glitterations.

We would love you to take part in this challenge but also to be part of the 1st Anniversary celebrations over at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Die-cut Dreams - Use a digital image
Mark's Finest Papers - Holiday card
One Stitch at a Time - Christmas
Lexi's Creations - Anything goes
Pattie's Creations - Christmas card or project
Raise the Bar - Let's see those curves
A Pocket Full of Posies - A winter bouquet
Paper Playtime - Use clock, ticket or tag
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Everybody Art - Untraditional Christmas
City Crafter - Get your digi on
ABC Christmas - W for winter wonderland
Paperplay - Circles
Paper Romance - Everything but the kitchen sink.

Hungry Heffy Crafts Blog Candy

Over at the Hungry Heffy Crafts they have some wonderful blog candy to give away.  They are offering 3 blog candy from Craftwork Cards - one for a newsletter prize, one refer a friend prize and one Facebook prize .

If you are interested, click here and go and have a look.  Sign up for the newsletter and say that Kym's Crafty Cards referred you.  Thanks

Simply Create, Alford, Blog Candy

Jacqui who is the proud owner of Simply Create has some WONDERFUL blog candy up for grabs - a set of 48 Prismacolour art markers.  Click here to go and have a look.  The blog candy ends on 14/11/10.

WOYWW - Wednesday 3-11-10

Well another week has come around and it's time for another What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday (WOYWW).  Click here to have a look at Julia's blog for more details.  I managed to get to virtually all other blogs - bar a few I just couldn't get into and one that wouldn't allow me to see the post comment box ahhhhhhhhhhh.  It's so amazing to see how all our craft areas differ.

Well, my desk is looking quite tidy as a customer is coming to pick up some cards I have made for her and her daughter so I've had a massive tidy up.  I had two packages arrive yesterday and they are waiting to be sorted - one is some lovely images from Lynn who lives in Australia and the Just Rite stamps, paper pad and flowers are from winning in a Blog Hop recently.  I shall put all these to good use for my cards for charity so it means a lot to get these.  Some of my Christmas stamps have made their way onto my desk as I must think about some Christmas cards.  I'm not really in the mood for them at the moment but it has to be done.  I was also naughty yesterday evening as I had kept seeing some new Kenny K images and as they were on offer it would have been rude to refuse wouldn't it.  I have also coloured in another Just Inklined image of a cute little monkey - he just needs making into a card.

For those of you that have asked, I have pulled out one of the drawers for you to see.  This is my mostly used drawer.  Back on the 1 January 2010 I made a New Year's Resolution to use up all my paper in 2010 that I had bought, been given or won and I am still doing this.  The only paper I have printed off is for Design Team cards and also commissioned cards.  I have to admit now I am getting very "itchy fingered" as I have seen so many nice papers to buy or to download but I am determined to finish what I started.  It hasn't been an easy task to set but it has certainly made me diminish the stocks I had.  A great deal I had been given by people as they had bought and not used and gave me for my charity work.  I feel better that I have put their items to use now instead of it just sitting in a drawer.

Also on my desk is a buy for today - the new Creativity magazine.  It costs £2.50 and always comes with a freebie on the front and for this edition it's a little set of stamps and the character is so cute.  There are some very good items to read in here and also competitions to enter - fab for £2.50!!!  Lastly two more fur babies have made their way onto the desk - a little mummy and baby that I bought myself for my birthday recently.

Hope you've enjoyed having a look at my work area.

Charity Stall

Yes another month has come and it was time last Friday to set the charity stall up for the week.  My chosen charity at the moment is Marie Curie Cancer Care.  I have chosen this charity as I have two work colleagues who have lost loved ones due to cancer in the last few weeks.  My thoughts are with them and their families.

Thank You Card

I was asked to make this card to give to a gentleman.  I have made this card very simply with some of Crafty Ann's new embossed flowers backing papers (I requested these backing papers and my wish has been granted).  They are fab and such lovely colours.  The image is from Digi Doodles and I have coloured in with Promarkers and Copics.  I have torn the edge of the image and inked it with a moss green chalk ink pad.  The card is simply layered with a ribbon embellishment and a computer generated sentiment,

This card fits the following challenges:

Fab n Funky - Keeping it clean and simple
Aud Sentiments - Word thanks on card/project
Digi Doodles - Anything goes
Paper Sundaes - Card for a boy or man
Cupcake Craft - Thank you with autumn colours
Craft Your Passion - Anything goes
Lexi's Creations - Anything goes
Incy Wincy - Anything goes
Cards for Men - Anything goes.

Commissioned Birthday Card

I put some finishing touches to a male birthday card for a customer today.  I had finished it a few days ago but you know what it's like when something just doesn't sit right so a few tweaks and I am more happy with it now.  I have used backing papers/embellishments from a Hot off the Press book that I got for my birthday.  The lighthouse image is from Digi Doodles which I have coloured with Promarkers and chalk pencils.  The sentiment is from my computer.

This card fits the following challenges:

Cards for Men - Anything goes
A Spoon Full of Sugar - let's get punchy
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything goes
Paper Pretties - Square card/project
Simons Says - Punch em'
Digi Doodles - Anything goes
Paper Sundaes - Card for a boy or man.

Commissioned Birthday Card

I was asked to make a card for a boy who likes motorbikes and sports - so I thought these kanban images I was given would be perfect.  I have kept the card quite plain and simple and used up various scraps of paper/card, cut some die-cuts with my Nestabilities, added a peel-off and a charm and hey presto the card has been made.

This card fits the following challenges:

Cards for Men - Anything goes
Paper Pretties - Square card or project
Raise the Bar - Go-go-go
Paper Sundaes - Card for a boy or man.