Digital Tuesday Challenge 3/8/10

Over at the Digital Tuesday Challenge this week the topic is to use two different digital images from two different companies.  I decided to use a cute bear with roses image that I think is from the Digi Stamp Boutique (I printed off a copy but didn't save it on my computer so please let me know if I am wrong as I would hate the original artist not to get the credit for this cute bear with his roses) and also a gorgeous fairy from Fairy Knoll.  My card is centred around the colours or pink and purple and the theme of roses.  I have coloured both digital images with Promarkers and Sakura Stardust Clear pen.  I have used my new My Craft Studio Tattered Lace CD that a friend bought me and it's fab.  I used their new Open Books for the front of this card.  I have taken a photo of the pages laid out before they were put together as I thought it easier than doing when it was put together.  The card is finished ribbon, card candy, sentiment off the computer, glittery Dawn Bibby flowers and various stickers.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes
Creative Card Crew - Cute and girly
Penny's Paper Crafting - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - Whateva
Charisma Cardz - Teddy bears
Just Inspirational - Purple tones and sparkle and texture
Sweet Stampin' - Pretty in Pink
Stamp Something - Photo inspiration.

Commissioned Birthday Card

I was asked to make a birthday card for a male who likes the great outdoors.  Over at the Digi Doodle Stamp Challenge this week the topic is "use your favourite stamp" - well I used my favourite image last week so didn't want to use it two weeks in a row so I have gone for my second favourite, the little log cabin, out in the wilderness away from the mayhem of living in a town or city.  I have coloured the image with Promarkers and distressed the edges with Tim Holtz's Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress Ink Pads.  The blue card and blue/green torn backing paper (from Crafty Ann's Digi Store) are all scraps leftover from other commissioned or challenge cards so they found a home on this card.  I decided to do a wacky edging - I punched some random holes and then sewed through thin raffia to give it a rustic but not uniform edge.  The card is finished off with a sentiment off the computer and a little pottery vase with some male orientated coloured flowers.  The customer was "over the moon" with the card!!!

This card also fits the following challenges:

Paper Sundaes - Stitching
Cupcake Craft - Distressing
Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes
Cards for Men - Off an adventure - I'd certainly like to go off on a adventure to a lovely log cabin in the country away from civilisation!!
Your Next Step - Birthdays - Happy 1st Birthday to Your Next Step
Penny's Paper Crafting - Anything goes
Craft Your Days Away - Favourite things (I have used three favourites - digi/rubber stamps, flowers and the use of inks) - Good luck with the new challenge blog by the way
2 Sisters Challenge - Stitching.

A Thousand Sheets of Paper Blog Candy

Amy over at the A Thousand Sheets of Paper Blog has some gorgeous candy up for grabs.  She's been keeping a tally of how many sheets of paper she's cut into and has now just gone over 1000.  I dread to think how many I've cut up!!!  Please click here to have a look at Amy's Blog and the candy which ends on 3/9/10.

Magnolia Down Under Challenge

It's a little while since I've entered the Magnolia Down Under Challenge.    It took me a long long time to bond with Tilda but now we are the best of friends.  Their challenge this week is "birthdays" so I was asked to make a cute pink card but not fussy so hopefully I've picked OK.  The papers are some that I was given and have used up.  Tilda has been coloured in with a Promarkers.  I have simply finished off the card with a ribbon bow, sentiment off the computer and some squidgy gems.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Stampin' Royalty - Keep it Simple
Simon Says Stamp - Going dotty
Creative Friday - Things with wings
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Clean and simple
One Stitch at a Time - Sketch or pink or both
Creative Card Crew - Cute and girly
Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes.

Commissioned Birthday Card

Yet again I was asked to make a birthday card for where my son works for a lady for next week.  I used my new My Craft Studio Festive Deco Follies CD but picked an image that didn't jump out and say Christmas.  The image has been decoupaged and layered up onto black and a backing paper from the CD.  The inserts inside the card are the same image but the opacity was taken down to 15%.  The back of the card has the same image but at 25% with the verse printed on the front.  As per usual I had to do a decorated envelope - I did it for the first card I made for them and the trend has had to be followed!!!  The A4 card is finished off with some feathers, ribbon, sentiment off the computer, peel-offs and lots and lots of gems.

This card fits the following challenges:

Fussy and fancy Friday - Pink and black
Allsorts - Dressing up
CD Sunday - Anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - Sketch or pink or both
Crafty Angels - Something old, something new - "old" is the feathers as I've had them for ages and ages and "new" is the My Craft Studio Festive Deco Follies CD
Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes
Creative Card Crew - Cute and girly
Party Time Tuesday - Summer birthday
Tuesday Taggers - Lots of lovely black.

Lollipop Crafts Debut Challenge

Over at the Lollipop Crafts they are having their debut challenge.  I wish the Design Team all the luck and look forward to seeing their creations.  For their debut challenge the topic is "anything goes" - a nice easy one to settle us in.  I also saw the Crafty Cardmakers challenges this week of punches so this also helped steer me in the direction for this card.  I used my Martha Stewart lattice punch, X-cut scroll border and X-cut corner rounder punches for this card.  The decoupage I cut out with my own hands from a rather neglected pile as I seem to be more into digital or rubber stamping these days.  The card is finished off with some ribbon, a sentiment off the computer, card candy and some gems.

This card also fits the following challenges:

2 Sisters Challenge - Punches.

Digi Doodle Challenge - Thursday 29/7/10

I have only recently come across the Digi Doodle Shop and have purchased some images - too may to choose from on their website - so I thought it a good idea to take part in their own challenge.  The topic for the Didi Doodle Challenge this week is "punch or cut me".  I purchased some of their images the other day but fell in love with this lighthouse so of course this had to be the first image to be coloured in.  I have coloured the lighthouse image with my Promarkers and cut the shape out with a Nellie Snellon die.  The next piece of card I cut out with a Nestabilities die but should I let you into a secret what the card is ...................... the packing for the Nellie Snellon die.  The words waste-not, want-not come to mind but I thought the ripply texture replicated waves etc of the sea.  The backing papers are pieces from my stash including some pieces of Crafty Ann's digi papers that are leftover from my challenge cards.  The card is finished off with a die-cut mount given to me by a friend, peel-offs and a Digi Doodle mermaid which I coloured with Promarkers but I highlighted her tail with Glossy Accents.

This card fits the following challenges:

Pear Tree Design - Birthday
Ooh-la-la-Creations - Birthday
Crazy Challenge - Birthday
Crafty Creations - Summer lovin'
Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes
Charisma Cardz - Something with a tail - for my card it is the mermaid who has a tail
Dutch Dare Challenge - Anything goes
One Stop Craft - Patterns - I chose dots
Stamping Vacation - Fountain of Youth - two of my good blogging friends have just been lucky enough to make the Stamping Vacation Design Team - so if you have the time please pop over to the Stamping Vacation and support Corry and Lorraine.  Good luck to you both in your new venture.

Sketch and Stash Challenge No 40 - 19 July 2010

Well, it seems an age since I last entered a Sketch and Stash Challenge.  I do struggle at times with sketches but I have had a go with this one.  I have used some Crafty Ann's digital paper that I had leftover from a challenge card for the main theme of the card along with the roses decoupage which I have had for some years now.  I have used a scrap of pearlescent card I had to use up and punched both edges with a Martha Stewart lattice punch.  The striped ribbon I got in some candy last year and I've had time to stroke (as it's wonderful quality) but it's now time to give it a home on some cards.  The card is finished off with a die-cut mount with a new Happy Anniversary peel-off which I bought in a sheet of lots of different sayings but in smaller fonts and a little ribbon bow.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Pollycraft - Love and marriage
For Fun Challenge - Bright colours
Gingersnap Colour - Yellow, orange and red
Dutch Dare Challenge - Anything goes
CRAFT Challenge - Hot and spicy colours
Stamping Vacation - Pick 3 Challenge of the Month (I have chosen red cardstock (I have used a burgundy red cardstock), border punch (Martha Stewart lattice punch) and sticker (peel-off Happy Anniversary sticker)
2 Sisters Challenge - Punches.

Sarah Wright's Wedding Anniversary Candy

Sarah, from Sarah Wright's Designs - Welcome to my Little World, is celebrating her 28th wedding anniversary.  Click here to go and have a look.  If her husband sends her a bouquet of flowers she'll add something else!!  Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Wright for their anniversary.

Crafty Ann's Challenge No 20 - Friday 30/7/10

The time has come for another Crafty Ann's Challenge.  I was so pleased to see all the entries for my challenge last week.  This weeks' challenge is entitled "Lazy Hazy days of Summer".


For my card I used Crafty Ann's river digital image and coloured it in with Promarkers.  It took quite a long time as I used 6 greens, 5 browns, 4 blues and a Satin colour to get shadow/different shades in the picture.  I have distressed the edges of the papers with Tim Holtz's Peeled paint Distress Ink Pad.  The backing paper is from Papernation as is the decoupage which I have had for some time.  I'd just love to be camping by that river right now.  I have finished the card off with a Crafty Ann's ticket sentiments, some Crafty Ann's flowers with card candy in the middle and some fibres.


Please go over here and have a look at the fabulous cards made from the Design Team and to take part in the challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this fortnight.


Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Use a digi image
Pear Tree Design - Birthday
Ooh-la-la-Creations - Birthday
Crazy Challenge - Birthday
Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes birthday
Fun Fun Challenge - Summer colours
Crafty Creations - Summer Lovin'
Stamping Vacation - Fountain of Youth Challenge - to have water in your project
Stamping Vacation - July Challenge - Picnic Month/Recreation Month is what I chose - this happy couple are having a holiday and whilst away will enjoy a picnic by the river
Gingersnap Spicy Challenge - Markers
Passion for Promarkers - Green as predominant colour
Donna's Den - Green
Creative Inspirations - Anything goes
Our Daily Bread - Distress it
Daring Cardmakers - Layer it up
Dutch Dare Challenge - Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - Texting
Paperplay Challenge - Anything goes.

Sweet Pea Stampers - Monday 26/7/10

Here is another week for the Sweet Pea Stampers.  This week the topic is "anything goes".

I chose to use this image and stamped with Versafine, embossed with clear embossing powder and out came my Lyra Watercolour crayons.  The second image I stamped with a red Memento ink pad onto some cream card.  Both images have had Tim Holtz's Tattered Rose and Fired Brick around the edges.  The backing paper has been made with these two inks and using cut-and-dry foam they have covered the white card and some blobs of replacement tattered Rose ink in places on the paper.  I then sprayed the backing paper all over and then sprinkled on some table salt and then heat set it.  Then I rubbed off the salt to leave speckled areas.  The images I cut out with a Nellie Snellon die and the large image I weaved in-and-out some pink ribbon which was still hard as my tapestry needle is being a bit elusive still!!!  The card is finished off with some pink raffia ribbon, burgundy organza ribbon, some gem flowers, a pink crystal attached with a jump ring and a sentiment off the computer.  It's certainly a brighter card than I normally do but the recipient is a teenager.

This card also fits the following challenges:

Stamp Something - Something flowery

Creative Friday - Teenage dreams

Sweet Stampin - Vintage

Secret Crafter - Fairytales

Our Daily Bread - Distress it

Wee Memories - Include stamping on your project

Crafty Sentiments - Embossing

Creative Inspirations - Anything goes

Totally Stampalicious - Birthday

Pear Tree Design - Birthday

Ooh-la-la-Creations - Birthday

Crazy Challenge - Birthday

Craft Your Passion - 3 different ribbons (I have used organza ribbon, raffia ribbon and thin velour grosgrain ribbon)

Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes birthday

Fun Fun Challenge - Summer colours

Gingersnap Colour - Yellow, orange and red

Crafty Creations - Summer Lovin'

Flutter by Wednesday - Open theme

Dutch Dare Challenge - Anything goes
CRAFT - Hot and spicy colours
Cute Card Thursday - Texting
Paperplay Challenge - Anything goes.

New Challenge Blog

A new monthly challenge blog will be starting up on 5 September 2010.  The challenge will begin on the 1st Sunday of each month.  Up until 8 August 2010, Suzanne is looking for some Design Team members for a three month post to join the Let's Ink it Up Design Team.  The purpose of the challenge blog is to use rubber and clear stamps.  Click here to go and have a look.


I thought I would have a try for the Design Team.  For this you had to show three of your best projects.  I found it difficult to choose but have gone for the following projects I have made:

Mo's Digital Challenge No 41 - 22/7/10

Over at Mo's Digital Challenge the topic this week is "paper piecing".  I like doing paper piecing so I had to take part.  The dilemma though was what gorgeous images to use.  I chose this little angel and have made her into a Christmas card.  I have some mounts with Coredinations cardstock and have used a piece of Basic Grey paper that I got in the recent Simon Says Stamp Christmas in July candy giveaway.  I've got various Basic Grey paper pads but never knew that they did two sided paper - I know "where have I been?" - but the only problem is that I didn't know whether to use this checked side or the snowflakes.  I decided the checks but in hindsight I should have done the mounts smaller to show more of this gorgeous paper.  I added some lace, card candy, ticket sentiment and did some faux stitching.  The image I coloured with promarkers and the the angel's dress is from a Crafty Ann's digi paper.  The only thing I did wrong was that I printed two images side-by-side to use up the paper better and therefore didn't have enough space to cut an area around each so had to cut the image out - not normally a problem - but I'd already paper pieced the image so it was quite difficult.  The moral is cut out first!!!


This card also fits the following challenges:


Friends Having Fun - Christmas in July
Papertake Weekly - Cutie Patootie
Flutter by Wednesday - Christmas in July
Crafty Creations - Happy or sweet
Aud Sentiments - Choose your own Christmas sentiment
Just Inspirational - Digi image
Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Stitching
Basic Grey - Stitching
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Use a digi image
Creative Inspirations - Anything goes.

Whoopsi Daisy - July Challenge

Over at the Whoopsi Daisy Challenge the topic this month is "HOT".  I don't tend to use lots of "hot" colours but that is part-and-parcel of challenges ie taking you out of your comfort zone.  I have used this gorgeous little girl image and coloured her in with tones of orange and lemon Promarkers.  She's such a cutie.  The backing paper, ribbons, buttons, bows and flowers were all freebies from a magazine that I was given and I have torn the edges of the middle pieces of paper to add some extra texture.


This card fits the following challenges:


Craft Your Passion - Orange, yellow and blue
The Shabby Team Room - From the garden
Papertake Weekly - Cutie Patootie
Crafty Creations - Happy or sweet
Gingersnap - Sunshine
Rainbow Lady's - Oranges and lemons
Just Inspirational - Digi image
Crafty Catz - Summer time
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle - Use a digi image
Creative Inspirations - Anything goes
Raise the Bar - Distressed, torn, ripped or broken.