Cards for Children

Over at the Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog it is time for another challenge.  The topic they have is "Double Trouble" and the ever so talented heather is offering a free image if you e-mail her and use the image for the challenge.  I asked for the image and here are two cards I've made with it.

Both cards I have coloured with my Promarkers.  I can't thank Letraset enough for them releasing their new colour chart.  In the past I did struggle find matching colours as the colours didn't really correspond with the colours on the pens.  Now I have sorted my pens as per the chart and find I can easily find colours to blend together.  For the two cards I have used different shades of green.  The ground has been made with Tim Holtz's Mustard Seed and Peeled Paint distress markers and a See D's dotty stamp.  I have used my Pan Pastels for the background.  The papers I was given.  The top card has been finished off with some twine, Card Candi and Craftwork Cards sentiment.  The bottom card has been finished off with some raffia ribbon, Card Candi and Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I am entering these cards into the following challenges:

The Paper Shelter - Animal magic

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthdays

Di's Digi Designs - All about children

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes

Lacy Sunshine - Double trouble

The Ribbon Gilr - Add ribbon or twine

One Stitch at a Time - Green 

Pile it On - Happy birthday

Pause Dream Enjoy - For the boys

Cards for Men - Monochrome

My First Try With FlitterGlu and Guilding Flakes ...........

I bought an IndigoBlu Starter Kit last year with some birthday money but the items have just stayed in the tardis but I decided to have a play.  I used some striped backing paper (two different ones) and used two different scroll stamps.  I got on OK with the glue but I don't do messy very well and hated the feel of the guilding flakes and my oh my it does go everywhere.  To be honest if it wasn't for seeing people on Create and Craft and the likes of following blogs like Brenda (Floral Fantasies) I would NEVER have stamped on patterned papers.  My head sees patterned papers made like that for a reason and they don't need anything else.  In the past few months I have become more adventurous.  My friend and I were lucky to see Brenda at Stamp Addicts and although she was mainly demonstrating Pan Pastels and Frantage it was lovely to see her cards on show, some of which showing other things added to patterned papers.  Just need to have a go at the Frantage now but that is very messy.  Think I might need one of the white heat tools for that.  Mine is quite heavy for me and severe.

The image used on both cards is called "Girl and Butterflies" and they have been coloured in with Promarkers and areas highlighted with a white gel pen.

For this card I have die-cut two shapes and inked them both with Tim Holtz's Spiced Marmalade distress ink and my Inkylicious brushes.  The card has been finished off with some striped ribbon, butterfly sticker, Card Candi and peel-off sentiment. 

For this card I die-cut a square with a Tonic die and distressed it with Tim Holtz's Black Soot distress ink and my Inkylicious brush.  The card has been finished off with some stripey ribbon, buttons, butterfly sticker and Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I am entering these cards into the following challenges:

Paper Make-up - Stripes

Crafts and Me - Dies or punches

Simon Says - Anything goes

Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon

Allsorts - For a lady

Dilly Bean Challenge - Stripes

Digital Tuesday - Birthdays (1st card)

A Gem of a Challenge - Button it (2nd card)

Addicted to Stamps - Use kraft (2nd card)
Floral Fantasies - A special celebration with prizes - I have chosen bright and cheery colours and to go with stamping on patterned papers -yikes!!!

Two Dilly Bean Stamp Cards

Here are two very different cards but made with the same Dilly Bean Stamp called "Elly Framed".  Both images have been coloured in with my Promarkers and areas highlighted with a white gel pan.  The top card has backing papers I was given.  The blue one has flock on it and you could sit stroking it all day!!!  This card has been finished off with some lace, Craftwork Cards sentiment, glitter stickers and some flowers I've made with a Marianne Designs die, scrunched them up, added Stickles and a brad to the centre.

This backing paper I was also given but thought it didn't need a lot adding to it so I have just added some ribbon, flowers, die-cut sentiment panel, peel-off, brads and some Marianne Designs die-cut butterflies.

I am entering these cards into the following challenges:

Glitter and Sparkle - Bling it on (top card)

Cupcake Inspiration - Photo inspiration (top card)

Pile it On - Sunshine (bottom card)

Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon (bottom card)

Divas by Design - Anything goes (either card)

Simon Says - Anything goes (either card)

Mother's Day Card

Here is a card made using a Delicious Doodles image called "Raven Goddess".  I have coloured my image in with Promarkers and pencils.  I have mounted the image on top of a piece of yellow card that I have embossed using a Couture Creations embossing folder and distressed the edges with Tim Holtz's Shabby Shutters distress ink pad.  The papers, flowers, leaves, bow and Mother's Day sentiment are all available from this months' Crafter's Companion free download.  I used a Crafty Ann's yellow polished stone backing paper to print on the back of the flowers as I don't like to see white showing underneath.  I have finished the card off with some sparkly fibres and Papermania Glitterations.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Cupcake Inspiration - Photo inspiration

Sentimental Sundays - Flowers, flowers and more flowers

LEJ Designs - For a lovely lady

The Paper Shelter - Animal magic

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Simon Says - Anything goes

Sincerely Yours - Mother's day

CRAFT - Use embossing

Delicious Doodles - Yellow

Stampin with the Dragon - Anything goes

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Baby Girl Card

This is a card I have made some gorgeous Forever Friends New Arrival backing papers.  The alphabet paper is all sparkly and glittery (but just a nightmare for the camera flash!!).  The image is a cutie from Lacy Sunshine and is called "Baby Lainey and Gabby" and at the moment is $1 in the Lacy Sunshine Store.  I have coloured the image with Promarkers and cut out.  Around the image I have used a See D's star stamp and Tim Holtz's Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet distress ink pad.  I have added some googly eyes to Gabby - these were a nightmare to pick up even with tweezers!!  I have finished the card off with some crochet lace, baby girl cardboard sticker and some large pink pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

One Stop Craft - For the kids

I Love Promarkers - Lace and/or pearls

Simon Says - Anything goes

Delightful Sketches - 3's a charm - I have used 3 large pink pearls

Stampin' for the Week-end - Lace

Stamping with the Dragon - Anything goes

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes - thanks for picking me as one of your featured artists last week

A Very Sad Day - An End to a Challenge Blog and my Role on its Design Team

Today sees the start of another challenge over at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog but it is tinged with great sadness as Ann has decided to shut her shop and also shut down the Challenge Blog.  Pop on over here and Ann will explain.  It would be lovely if you could check out all the other Design Team cards and post some comments as a farewell.  Each Design Team member will be drawing a winner from the comments that they receive.  The winner will receive one item from Crafty Ann's Shop (including scrapbook kits).  We will miss seeing all your wonderful creations.  Thank you to Ann for allowing me on her Design Team and getting the chance of working with some wonderful ladies.  As a special thank you for your loyalty from Ann there is a freebie in the shop for you all - a gorgeous selection of 23 metallic and matts 12x12 paper.

What do you ask is the last topic for the Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog?  The topic this fortnight is "The Sound of Music".

For my card I have used two of Crafty Ann's polished stone backing papers.  The image is from the shop and is of music/violin/roses which I have coloured in with my Promarkers.  I have coloured the backing with a brown Pan Pastel and then used an edge made with a Stamps Away Blending Mat (which I cut down from the A3 and made into about 2 inch wide strips and used decorative scissors and free-hand to make decorative edges) and a red pan Pastel.  I have used a Kanban music stamp on the backing paper and the image to tie the music theme in.  The card has been finished off with some ribbon, buttons and a sentiment off a Debbi Moore CD.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

2 Sisters - Romance

Totally Gorjuss - Happy
Anything Goes - Make it manly
Divas by Design - Anything goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Simon Says - Anything goes
Cards Galore - Music
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes
Totally Papercrafts - Love is in the air

Aud Sentiments Challenge - 28 February 2013 - Use a sentiment for Easter or Spring

Today is the start of another challenge at the Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog.  This time the challenge is "use a sentiment for Easter or Spring".

This fortnight we are being sponsored by Prairie Fairy Designs. 

For my card I have used the gorgeous Prairie Fairy image called "Egg Hunt".  Isn't she a gorgeous little mouse??  I have coloured the image with my Promarkers including the sky.  I have then used a See D's dotty stamp with a white Versafine ink pad to make the cloud effect in the sky.  The backing papers are Forever Friends New Arrivals.  The card has been finished off with a doily (which I have coloured with Tim Holtz's Victorian Velvet distress ink pad), flower ribbon, dotty ribbon, sentiment off the computer, pearls (including one for her nose!!!) and some My Craft Studio Click-Print-Go flowers.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - Hope for Spring
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

A Gem of a Challenge - Add a bow

The Squirrel and the Fox - Fairy tale and fantasy 

Totally Gorjuss - Happy
Joanna Sheen Challenge - Layer it up

Gingerloft - Ribbons and bows

Sentimental Sundays - Flowers, flowers and more flowers

Bunny Zoe's - Flowers and pearls

The Pink Elephant - Anything goes

Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
In the Pink - Pink and bling
Simon Says - Anything goes

Hope You Feel Better Soon

Here is a bright and cheery get well card I've made.  The image is called "Emily Raindrops".  I thought it was perfect for a get well card ie under the weather.  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and highlighted the water drops with my Sakura Stardust clear pen.  I have done the sky with Pan Pastels.  The backing papers are from the Basic Grey pad called Urban Prairie.  I have finished the card off with a Tonic Die-cut doily which I have inked with Tim Holtz's Mustard Seed distress ink pad and my Inkylicious brush, organza ribbon, sentiment from a Debbi Moore CD, flowers and some gorgeous K&Co pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - Hope for spring

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Cupcake Inspiration - Photo inspiration

Kaboodle Doodle - Use any bling

Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes

Basic Grey - Anything goes (I have used the black and patterned papers from my Urban Prairie paper pad)

Simon Says - Anything goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Thanks a Lot Card

This is a card I have made using a digital image from Crafts and Me called "The Lady of Opal" by Sara Burrier.  I have coloured the image in with Promarkers and highlighted areas with my Sakura Stardust clear pen.  The backing papers are all from my stash.  I have used my Martha Stewart lattice punch for decoration around the middle of the card.  I have die-cut a Marianne's Designs decorative oval and a Spellbinders butterfly and inked with Tim Holtz's Tattered Rose distress ink pad and my Inkylicious brush.  I have finished the card off with some wide ribbon, Creative Expressions ribbon flowers, ribbon bow, Craftwork Cards sentiment and pearls.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - Dies and punches

A Gem of a Challenge - Add a bow

Card Mania - Fairies or butterflies

Crafts and Me - Dies or punches

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Paper Pretties - Spike the punch

The Squirrel and the Fox - Fairy tale or fantasy

Polkadoodles Challenge - Fantasy/fairy tale

Simon Says - Anything goes

Happy Birthday Card

Here is a birthday card I have met using a Lacy Sunshine image by the ever so talented Heather Valentin.  This image is called "Eleanor and Pickles Birthday Time" and this wonderful image is being sold for $1 like many others so make sure you pop on over and have a look.

I have coloured the image in with my well loved Promarkers and highlighted the balloons and Eleanor's glasses with Glossy Accents and added Star Dust Stickles to her hat and the ribbon on that wonderfully large present she has.

  

The backing papers I have used are Bearly Mine Designs Gingham and Mini Dots.  I have finished the card off with some raffia ribbon, Card Candi and a Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Paper Shelter - Celebrations

I Love Promarkers - 4 legged friends

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

One Stop Craft - For the kids

All that Stickles - Use Star Dust Stickles (see second photo showing pot of Star Dust Stickles - this is my second favourite after crystal)

The Pink Elephant - Anything goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes

Digital Tuesday - Birthdays

Lacy Sunshine - Favourite colour combo - as anyone that knows me I love purple/lilac so this card is definitely my favourite colour combo

Giraffe Cards

Here are three A5 cards I have made with two backing papers, 3 inserts and 2 sheets of toppers from the Peerless Designs Cuddle Upz CD by the ever so talented Sarah Hallam.  Giraffes are one of my favourite animals as it is just so amazing how they keep their heads up.

 

On the first two cards I have added some Gold Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium.  I have used a harlequin mask and scraped the sparkle through and wiped little flecks of the Sparkle Medium around the card - certainly messy - and certainly proved a nightmare with the flash on the camera!!  

On the front of the three cards I have used one of the toppers, added four layers of detail clear embossing powder (as I don't have an UTEE), left it to co cold and cracked and then inked over with Tim Holtz's Tea Dye distress ink pad.  The cards have been finished off with a variety of items like fibres, ribbon, Craftwork Cards sentiments, Papermania Glitterations and Card Candi.

I am entering these cards into the following challenges:

Lexi's Creations - Monochromatic

Ooh-la-la-Creations - Sparkle and shine (first two cards)

Love to Create - All that glitetrs (first two cards)
Tuesday Throwdown - Monochromatics

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Allsorts - Animals

House Mouse Mother's Day Card

Here is an 8x8 Mother's Day card I've made using the Joanna Sheen House Mouse Project Book.  This is my second Mother's Day without my mum and I thought making Mother's Day cards would be easier but it isn't.  I have decoupaged the image that was one the CD.

I decided not to use a backing paper off the CD but instead used a perfect match from the Bearly Mine Designs Patchwork Party Digi Set.  I used my Kanban ruler stamp and used a blue Memento ink pad and stamped the ruler onto the same blue card used for the card.  I used a Crafty Ann's cotton reel and coloured it with my Promarkers and then wound embroidery thread around it.  I then poked three holes in the reel so I could poke in three yellow pins.  I have finished the card off with a Marianne Designs die-cut, peel-off, wide lace, ribbon bow and lots and lots of buttons.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

House Mouse and Friends - I love you sew much

Pile it On - Clips and/or pins

The Cutie Pie - Pretty pastels

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Crafty Ribbons - Button up

A Gem of a Challenge - Add a bow

Crazy 4 Challenge - Texture, texture, texture (embossing, lace and ribbon)

Allsorts - Animals

Creative Inspirations - Anything goes and option of angels

50th Birthday Card

This is a card and matching box that I have made for my sister-in-law's 50th birthday today.

For the card and box I have used papers, decoupage, toppers, design sheets and embellishments from the Debbi Moore Glitter and Glitz Art Deco Rome CD and decided to go with a purple colour scheme.

 

The card is a 5 panel each side concertina card and has a mixture of decoupage/toppers/ design sheet images on each page along with embellishments from the CD and other items like brads, Craftwork Cards sentiments, Stickles, ribbon and Papermania Glitterations and sentiment off the computer.

The card has been finished off with a verse that I got from "The Card Maker's Little Helper".

I am entering this card and matching box into the following challenges:

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes

One Stitch at a Time - Make it girly

Songbird Challenge - Sixteen going on seventeen (age card)

Creative Card Crew - Birthday

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

My Time to Craft - Guest Design Team Card - 23 February 2013

Today sees my last card as Guest Design Team Member for My Time to Craft.  I want to thank everyone on the Design Team for having me.  The challenge topic for this week is "song or film inspired".

My song or film inspired was "Lady in Red" by Chris du Burgh.  When my husband and I were going out "our song" was Missing You by Chris du Burgh as we worked many miles apart and because we were both chefs we didn't get much time together.  This was the first song played at our evening wedding reception and we had to dance to on our own - yikes!!  I've always liked one of Chris' other songs "Lady in Red" and this image make me think of that.

Some of the images I have used are from a Debbi Moore's magazine but others are from the Debbi Moore My Fair Lady CD.  I think this is one of my all time favourite Debbi Moore CDs even though it gives me a lot of trouble (for some reason when I send to print I get lines all over the images/papers and although I've installed new printer drivers and had help from Debbi's Team (and also other Teams as it's not just Debbi's CDs) I have to snapshot the page, take into Irfanview and then print from there and it's fine - so for some reason these kind of CDs don't like my printer and I can't afford another one so it's just one thing I have to put up with).

The card was for a 50th birthday but I kept a large hint about the lady's age for the inside.  I used my Cricut to cut the "50" and "today" and used a Creative Expressions scroll stamp to fill the letters and numbers.

The card has been finished off with gems, pearls, cherry blossom flowers, strands of pearls, pearl flower embellishments, lace, ribbon, personalised insert and sentiment off the computer.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's - Flower and pearls
Dream Valley - Ribbon and bling
Sentimental Sundays - Lace and pearls and sentiment
Incy Wincy - Pop it up
Stamp + Fun = Creativity - Lace
Songbird Challenge - Sixteen going on seventeen (age cards)
Inky Chicks - Mother's Day or birthday
Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes
Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Thank You Card

Here is a thank you card I've made using a gorgeous image from Delicious Doodles called "Lovely Lilies".  I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers, die-cut and then stamped around the edge with a See D's swirl stamp and Tim Holtz's Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet.  The backing papers I was given so I do not know their origin.  I have finished the card off with some organza ribbon, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment and some buttons.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers - Blooming images
LEJ Designs - Button mania

Craft Your Passion - All that glitters

Papertake Weekly - Buttons and bling (hope my Stickles is OK for the bling)

Crafting by Designs - Anything goes
Creative Inspirations - Anything goes and option of angels

Crafty Ribbons - Button up

Delicious Doodles - Flowers for Spring

Totally Papercrafts - Hope for Spring

Chocolate, Coffee and Cream - Buttons and bows

Going Round in Circles

Over at the Kenny K Challenge this week the topic is "going around in circles".  For my card I have used the Kenny K image called "Fashionista" and I have coloured the image in with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers.  The circle backing paper I was given.  I have used some scraps of Tim Holtz backing papers and cut them with some circle dies and edged with a Promarker.  I have finished the card off with some faux stitching, buttons, seam binding ribbon and Craftwork Cards sentiment.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Kenny K's Krafty Krew - Going round in circles

Make my Monday - Ribbon and buttons

Creative Card Crew - Birthday

Crafty Ribbons - Button up

Crafting for all Seasons - Dies and punches
Papercrafting Journey - BINGO board - I have gone with the middle row of die-cuts/punches + embossing (I die-cut and embossed the image and the circles) + buttons
Creative Inspirations - Anything goes and option of angels

The Seaside

As I mentioned in my previous post I LOVE using Delicious Doodles images for my cards.  This time I have used the image called "Sunset at Sea".  I have coloured the image in solely with Pan Pastels.  I decided to make my own backing paper with some Jayne Nesterenko seaside stamps.  I put four stamps on an acrylic block and stamped with Versafine.  I have finished the card off with some ribbon, Craftwork Cards sentiment, a metal fish and crab charm and some twine made into a triple bow.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Delicious Doodles - For the boys

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Totally Gorjuss - For the men

Here Come the Boys - Lots of layers

Simon Says Stamp - Metal-ology - I have used metal charms

Craft Room Challenge - Something for a man

Crafts and Me - Charmed I'm sure

Word Art Wednesday - Anything goes

Crafting by Designs - Anything goes

Penny's Paper Challenge - Anything goes

4 Crafty Chicks - Twine
Craft a Scene - Let your light shine

Delicious Doodles Design Team Call

Teri over at the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog is having a Design Team Call.  To enter the DT Call you have to put a post on your blog and mention a bit about yourself, why you want to join the Design Team and show three of your favourite creations.

I have loved Delicious Doodles images for sometime now.  I like the cute ones, floral and even the slightly different ones.  I make my cards solely to sell to raise funds for different charities so the variety of images at Delicious Doodles gives me a wide choice of cards to make.  I like using digital images as well as rubber stamps.  I personally find digital images easier to work with as you can change the size to whatever project you are creating.  I would love to be on the Design Team to help promote the passion I have for these images.  Teri has a wonderful array of crafters on her Design Team and I would love the chance to work alongside them.  I am three other Design Teams (Aud Sentiments, Bearly Mine Designs and Sweet Pea Stampers) and I give the Design Team 100% commitment and have never missed a challenge.  Edited 1 March 2013:  I was on another Design Team, Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog, but unfortunately Ann has taken the decision to close her shop and her challenge blog.

Now three projects - that's certainly a challenge and a half - but I have stuck with three and here here goes:

 This is a card I made last year using the Delicious Doodles image called "Cruel Cruella".

This is a card I made for Christmas using "Snow Cuddles".  This is one of my favourite Christmas images that Teri has designed.

We all struggle making cards for boys/men so this card I made is perfect.  I made the backing with a mask, various stamps and Pan Pastels.  The image is called "Zombie Pirate".

Monochromatic Card

This is a ca monochromatic card I've made using a Debbi Moore My Fair Lady CD.  I have used a decoupage image and layered it up with foam pads for some dimension.  The flowers I have cut using a Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die and inked with Tim Holtz's Black Soot distress ink pad and my Inkylicious brush.  The card has been finished off with a Craftwork Cards sentiment, lace, Stickles glitter glue on her hat, buttons and some Papermania Glitterations.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Joanna Sheen Challenge - Black and white

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes

One Stitch at a Time - Make it girly

Incy Wincy - Pop it up

Ooh-la-la-Creations - Sparkle and shine

Lexi's Creations - Monochromatic

Love to Create - All that glitters

Through the Craft room Door - Anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown - Monochromatic

Party Time Tuesday - Photo inspiration or colour inspiration - I've opted for the photo inspiration of black and white

City Crafter - All that glitters

Bearly Mine Challenge - 19 February 2013 - Ribbon, lace and twine

Another week has whizzed around and it is time for another challenge over at the Bearly Mine Challenge Blog.  The challenge this week is "ribbon, lace and twine" (you can use just one of these, 2 of these or even all three) - well for a lot of us that's not a challenge at all.

This week we have two fabulous sponsors.  The first is:

who are giving the winner a $20 gift certificate to spend in the Fred She Said Designs Store.

The second sponsor is:

Crafty Ribbons and the lucky winner will win these gorgeous ribbons.

For my card I have use a beautiful rose pricing pattern from Fred She Said called "Diamond Rose and PP Pattern Digi Set" which I have printed out onto 280gsm card and then pricked all the pattern and then did faux stitching with a fine tipped Promarker.  The image I have coloured with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers.

The backing paper I used is from Bearly Mine Designs Rose's Dreams.  I have done some simple matting and layering and used my Tim Holtz distressing tool on some of the layers.  The card has been finished off with some Broderie Anglaise lace, Craftwork Cards die-cut sentiment, some Wild Orchid mini roses and I have wound the stalk around my pricing tool for some added dimension and a ribbon and twine bow (I've not tried tying together a fine ribbon and twine before but I like the effect and will use a again.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

I Love Promarkers - One for the girls

Delightful Sketches - Frilly

Inspire me Friday - Anything goes

Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything goes

One Stitch at a Time - Make it girly

Whoopsi Daisy - Make it girly
Crafty Cardmakers - Blooming images
Creative Card Crew - Birthday
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything goes
My Craft Spot - Flowers