Red Hot Valentine

Back again today with another card to share :)

I wasnt going to make any more 'lurrve or valentines' cards, but I was having a good old rummage through my stash looking for something completely different, when I found this old red paper pack from Habico, which I have had for yonks!  It had such fabulous textured hand-made papers that there was really only one thing for it .......... a bit of passion! ;) 

I coloured this great Kenny K image (Allura) with pro-markers and glitter pens, and then cunningly transformed some old brown brads with a black promarker, glossy accents and black glitter. ;)  The brads really were essential, as hand-made paper is not only evil to cut straight (why is that?) but its also quite difficult to stick down! (tut) :)  I dont normally put brads through my main card, so I capped them on the inside with black card candy dots (which i thought was a genius idea!) lol.

I am entering this card into the below challenges as Valentines, Love, Hearts and Red seem to be very popular this week :)

KennyK KraftyGirlz - Photo inspiration

Crafts and Me - Red

Stampin For the Weekend - Valentine

Crafty Calendar - Love

By the Cute and Girly - Red is all around us

Creatalicious Challenges - Love and Ribbon

CES Challenges - Red and Romance

Craft Your Days Away - Photo inspiration

Stamptacular Sunday - Love and Hearts gone wild

Creative Inspirations - Valentines/Love

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Seeing Red

Double Dutch - Love is in the air

Papertake Weekly - Hearts

Digi Tuesday - From the heart - valentines

Creative Craft Challenges - Love is in the air

Top Tip Tuesday - Frame it - outside the frame - great tutorial!

Passion for Promarkers - Let there be love

Cute Card Thursday - Hearts and Flowers

Do You Stack Up - Ribbons

Dutch Dare - Valentine

thanks so much for looking, its really appreciated, and good luck to everyone entering these challenges.

Birthday Joy - I Love ProMarkers GDT

Today is the 1st Birthday of I Love Promarkers challenge blog :)

Wow!  time flies eh?  So to celebrate, this weeks theme is 'Happy Birthday'.   Simples.  Go checkout some of the fab and inspirational designs from the DT, you wont resist joining in.

Now I was feeling quite summery when I made this card, and it kind of fell together itself....... :)  I love it when that happens.  I followed the sketch over on the Sugar Bowl, and used 'Joy' from the Sugar Nellie digital stamps range.  Again, so easy to colour they almost do themselves.  I distressed K&Co papers, hand-stitched the panels and added pearl beads (its a phase! lol).  I couldnt find a way to add 'wings' to this image as per the sketch, so I substituted lace either side with a few blue accent beads.

I will be entering this card in the below competitions:

Sugar Bowl - Sketch

Stamp Something - Digi stamps

Sew Many Challenges - Anything Goes

2 Sisters Challenge - The World is our Oyster - Pearls

One Stitch at a Time - Do it with a digi

Thanks so much for looking :)

Love is............... unconditional

Well, its the start of a new week, and we have snow again in our part of the country.  Only about 2-3 inches, but thats enough for me :) lol.

Now, I made this card........ just because.  I love this image, and every time I see it on anyones cards it just takes my breath away.  I was in a dither when I bought it, as I am a real doggy person, but I loved this cute kitten, so I guess I will have to go back and get the puppy as well! lol.

I hand-stitched the HOTP papers onto bazzill and normal cardstock, and then layered punches and nesties. It just looked a bit lacking in sparkle and I didnt want to overcrowd with flowers and leaves, so I threaded some green star beads onto the rose stems and twisted them into shape. 

I will be entering this card in the following challenges:

Mos Digital Pencil - Lots of Love
Totally Papercrafts - Friendship
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes + Flowers
Top Tip Tuesday - Girly
Tuesday Throwdown - Stitching
Flutterby Wednesdays - Anything Goes
PaperPlay Challenges- Stamp it out - Digi or rubber
Stamp Something - Anything Goes - Digi
C.R.A.F.T. Challenges - In the roll of a die - I used fleur de lys die and also square nestie dies
Sew Many Challenges - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Love, Love, Love
Sweet Stampin - Spring flowers
Sundays with Crissy - Love is........
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes digi
Stamp with Fun - Love
Magical Monday - Love

Thank you so much for looking, and good luck to everyone in these challenges.

My First EVA GDT Card! :) - I Love Promarkers.

Oh my, I was so so thrilled last week to be chosen to be the GDT for the month of February on the I Love Promarkers blog.  Its one of my favourite weekly challenges, and I was totally blown away.   This week the challenge is 'Anything Goes' - so come on, everyone enter! :) lol.

Now, I think I was born with a sewing needle in my hand, and I was learning to sew before I could write, so to be able to combine 2 favourite hobbies is brilliant. I thought this fab paper by K&Co would be ideal to try out my new beading technique (which I have been thinking about doing for ages) as it was symetrical and seemed to suit the style.

Firstly, I backed my DP onto bazzill card using a small amount of double-sided sticky tape.  I then pricked out my holes for stitching the edges and for attaching the beads using a metallic grid sheet often used in parchment craft.  I have marked certain areas of the paper that will be covered by the layered design.

As you can see, the beads are from a cheap, deconstructed bracelet, and I used a beading needle to thread and secure the beads.

Close up of the pricked holes and pattern.

The thread is secured on the back by a small knot, and as I went along, I affixed my layered panels to the card, so I didnt waste my time beading where it would be hidden.

I finally hand-stitched around the edge of the card topper, and fixed to the base card. I followed sketch 52 from Papertake Weekly.

I coloured Tilda with Promarkers, used roses from Wild Orchid Crafts, added extra beads on the pin, and attached a charm.

Thanks so much for looking :)

I will be entering this card in the below competitions:

Just Magnolia - Going Dotty

Crafts 4 Eternity - Polka dots

Totally Gorjuss - Anything Goes

Allsorts - Saving Nature - Recycled beads from a cheap bracelet

Do You Stack Up - Patterns

Magnolia Down Under - Embossing

Pear Tree Designs - Flowers - 2nd entry

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes + Flowers

Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Girlie

Tuesday Throwdown - Stitching

Have a great week and good luck to everyone in these challenges :)

Chocolate Orange - Featured Stamper on Tuesday Morning Sketches.

Today there is a new challenge over on the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog, and its to follow this great sketch by Melissa.  I was delighted to win their judged challenge last week and was really inspired to make this card as this weeks featured stamper.  What an honour! :)

I used a fabulous image called 'Bossy' from Mo's Digital Pencil.  I love these images and seem to smile the entire time I am crafting with them.  The challenge on Mo's DP2 blog this week is 'Orange, Yellow & Red'. 

Now, anyone who knows me knows that Orange annoys me ;) Not the fruit, or the chocolate (obviously) just the colour.  I had to dig really deep in my stash to find anything orange - it was all buried!  I coloured this image with pro-markers and printed my own sentiment.  I used a sheet of paper from a free stack of MME, and the rest is assorted kanban patterned card.  The flowers, ribbon and charm were also from old stash.

I will be entering this card in the following competitions:

Mos Digital Pencil - Orange, Red, Yellow
Fab n' Funky - Digital stamping
Crafty Creations - Heat it up - I think this fits in with warm, hot and spicy.
Paperplay challenge - Layer it up
Do You Stack Up - Patterns - I have 3 different DP/Patterned papers and card on this project. 2nd entry
Crafty Catz - Flowers
Crafts 4 Eternity - Polka Dots
Cutie Stampers - Stripes
Totally Gorjuss - Anything Goes
CES - Bold and Bright
Stamptacular Sunday - Anything Goes
Pear Tree Designs - Flowers
Ooh La La - 3 of a Kind - 3 bunches of flowers
One Stitch at a Time - Photo Inspiration - Orange, gold, green
Paper Playtime - Digi Monday - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes + Flowers

Thanks so much for looking, and good luck to everyone in these challenges.

A Touch Of Spring

I am sooooo looking forward to brighter days!  Its chucking it down here today so I wanted to make something bright, light and cheery.  I used my very favouritest new stamp from Lili Of The Valley - called Pom Pom, and followed the fab sketch over on Cute Card Thursday.  The challenge on LOTV this week is 'anything but a square', so I adapted the sketch to suit a landscape rectangle card.

I coloured with promarkers, die cut the leaves and mats, and used some fabby new white roses from Wild Orchid Crafts.  Papers are K&Co, and buttermilk glitter card.

I am entering this card in the following competitions:

Lili Of The Valley - Not a square card
Cute Card Thursday - Great sketch
Everybody Art - Favourite things - this is my newest favouritest stamp :)
Magical Mondays - Flowers - 2nd entry
Top Tip Tuesday - Flowers - 2nd entry - a great tutorial on the Top Tip Tuesday blog for making flowers :)
Colour Create - Lemon, Lime and white
Moving Along with The Times - Spring
Paperplay Challenges - Layers
Do You Stack Up - Patterned Paper
Crafts 4 Eternity - Polka Dots
Sew Many Challenges - Green

Thanks for looking, and good luck to everyone in these challenges

Faery Wishes

I have decided from now on I'm going to leave the photography to my husband! lol :) 

I struggle sometimes to take a good picture, and blame it on the fact that I only have a wee digi camera, and my OH has big digital SLR's and really fancy lenses....... However, this was taken with my little digital camera and was edited by my husband on his pc using 'Lightroom' software.  What a difference!  I am going to have to play around with that and learn for myself. ;)

Anyway, I made this card today for the Lili of the Valley challenge using Dawny's sketch which was brilliant!  I am a good day early with this (which is unusual for me) but I couldnt wait to use this new image.

I used HOTP papers, and distressed and hand stitched the back panel.  I used green brads in the corner, and layered pink die cut nesties and the fleur-de-lys die.  I stamped extra wings using a pink Brilliance ink pad on Vellum and then threaded and stitched the beaded trim along the bottom.  The leaves I have had in my stash for yonks, and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  Oh, and what doesnt show up at all on the picture is the Sakura glisten pen I used to give highlights and faerie sparkle on the dress and in her hair.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Lili of the Valley - Sketch by Dawny

Do You Stack Up - Pink

The Ribbon Girl - Pink and Green

Passion for Promarkers - Let it shine - use bling/glitter

Stampin For the Weekend - Warm - I think this looks warm and summery.

CES Challenge - Angels/Faeries

The Crafty Pad - Girly

The Stampman Challenge - Distressing - 2nd entry, I think its allowed :)

Crafty Cardmakers - Florals - floral paper and flowers

Magical Monday - Flowers

Top Tip Tuesday - Flowers

City Crafter - Sew Fun

Tuesday Throwdown - Distressing

Cooking it up with Katie - Cute green brads.  I took this literally! lol :) even tho the challenge was something cute, something green and some brads.

Flutterby Wednesdays - Something with wings

Thanks so much for looking, all comments are really appreciated,  :)  and internet speed permitting I love to visit back.  Good luck to everyone in these challenges too.

Love Heart

I hadnt planned to make a card today, but I kind of just drifted into it..... :)  Well I have to do something to pass the time whilst waiting 2 hours for web-pages to load! lol :D

So I used this fab digi-stamp from Kenny K which I fell in love with when I first saw it over on my blogging buddy Suzilou's blog. She is fantastic at colouring, and thats a real inspiration to me.

I followed the great sketch by Bev over on the Krafty Girlz challenge blog and the challenge over on Charisma Cardz this week is to use numbers on your project.  I used this great quote from Winnie The Pooh, and hope this counts :)

Close up of the sentiment:

I used some old patterned card from stash (Kanban I think?) and I glittered black (Wild Orchid) roses.  I made my own pins from jewellery findings and crafty bitz and bobs, (I like to do that kind of thing ;))

I am entering this card in the below challenges:

Kenny K Krafty Girlz - Sketch by Bev
Charisma Cardz - Use numbers
Creative Card Crew - Card for a man
Tuesday Throwdown - Valentine
Passion for Promarkers - All you need is love
Paperplay Challenges - Back to Black - use black as base card
Allsorts Challenge - Card for a male
Craft Your Days Away - Love
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes
Creatalicious Challenges - Ribbons and Love

Thanks so much for looking, and have a great week!

Quick, Clean and Simple - well for me! :)

This must be one of the quickest and easiest cards I have ever made :) Now, i'm not sure whether it was because I knew what I was doing beforehand, and had it all worked out in my head, or whether just some days it all seems to just go together?  :)  Anyway, its a good thing, as due to my rubbish internet connection, it will probably take me about 3 hours to upload the picture! ;) lol.

This is using another new digi-stamp by Funky Kits called Verity and she was an absolute blast to colour.  My top tip for digi images is always print digi stamps out a good day or two before you are going to use them - it really seems to make a difference.  I quite often just print digi-stamps out as soon as I have downloaded them, I get my inspiration for them easier that way. ;)

I used some pearl paper from stash, MS 'punch around the page punch', pearl white card candy, and die cut flourishes for texture and relief in the background.  This really, really is 'clean and simple' for me.

I am entering this card in the following competitions:

The Sugar Bowl - Fab sketch by Kiki

I love Promarkers - KISS - Keep It Simple and Sweet

Shabby Tea Rooms - Bright and White

Really Reasonable Ribbon - Heart and Ribbon

Paper Playtime - Use the word 'Love'

Totally Papercrafts - Add a Heart

Creative Craft Challenges - Monochromatic Madness

Tuesday Morning Sketches - Heavy Metal - use metal on your project.

Sketchy Colours - White

Paper Sundaes - Birthday Celebrations - Pick a Challenge  - 38 Something from stash.

Sundays with Crissy - Digi stamp with ribbons

Die Cut Dreams - Digi and rubber stamp - sentiment is LOTV rubber

Stamp Something - Cute Somethings

Cutie Stampers - White

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - With Love - I have used the words 'with love' in white on the top right hand corner of the backing panel.

Top Tip Tuesday - Get sentimental - 2nd entry for this challenge, and a tip too! ;)

Challenge Up Your Life - Clean and Simple - This really is clean and simple for me, and so was quite a challenge :)

The Crafty Pad - Use something new - this is a new digi-stamp

Crafts and Me - Monochrome

Double Dutch - White Wishes

Thanks so much for looking, and good luck if you are entering the challenges.

Have a great start to the weekend :)

Rock Star

What nightmare this was to photograph! :) lol.  It was like pulling teeth!..... mirri board - tut!

Anyway, I hope everyone has had a great start to the weekend :) I made this card today following the sketch over at Simon Says Stamp and the theme of Black, White and Silver at Paper Playtime using the gorgeous Kenny K digi-stamp 'Star'.

Now I hope that the divine Richard Armitage isnt reading this blog, or it will spoil the valentines card surprise! :D  LOL......kidding! Its for my gorgeous husband David (h'obviously), but it wont be a surprise to him either, as his nose was poking in all over the place while I was making this.  Guess I have to send it to him now then! ;)

I used black embossed DP, and printed my own sentiment.  I used a quickie glue pen on the letters and went to town with the black glitter.   I have attached 3 dangle charms to give it some movement, and used my MS punch for the borders.  This card is 8x8 inches.

I am entering this card in the below competitions:

Kenny K Krafty Girlz - Love You.  My little stars have 'love' written on them.
Simon Says Stamp - Great Sketch
Paper Playtime - Black, White, Silver
Cute Card Thursday - Monochrome
C.R.A.F.T challenge - Moving components.  I have 3 dangly charms swinging about on this card.
One Stop Craft - Card for male
Creatalicious Challenges - Love Theme - with Ribbons.
Lexis Creations - Say it With Love
Saturday Challenge - With Love
Cupcake Craft - Something New - New Kenny K image
Magical Mondays - Any Kenny K image
Stamp Something - Anything Goes


Thanks so much for looking and good luck to all entering these challenges.

A Winters Tale

Well i thought I had finished with Christmas, but I realised I still had some new images never been inked and it is still Winter!  We have more snow here today, and so I was inspired to make this little winter scene, using this gorgeous image from the Lili of The Valley and using their great challenge sketch.

I ripped some pearlescent paper for the snow, used DP from a freebie pad with CM&P, and then punched and punched and die cut all afternoon :)  I coloured using pro-markers and stickles and will be entering this card in the following competitions:

Lili of the Valley - Fab Sketch
Sir Stampalot - A Winters Tale
ABC Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas
Paper Sundaes - Circles
Papertake Weekly - Cold and Frosty Morning
DCD Christmas Club - Punch out your sentiment.

Please read post below for my blogoversary candy too! :)

Good luck and thanks for looking

A Little Grace

Yay.... the weekend.  The house is clean and tidy, the trimmings away, and boy does it feel bare! :) 

Now, not a lot of people know this.... (I tend to keep it quiet :) lol ) but one of my middle names is Grace. (ahem). So when I saw this gorgeous little stamp over on Funky Kits  and found out she was called Grace, knew I would have to have it!  Im pretty sure I was just as adorable as this when I was little.. (not!) :)

Its one of the beautiful new images from Sugar Nellie's Home Grown range and available as a rubber stamp or a digi-download.  This is using a digi-stamp, as they are a cracking bargain at £2. 

I tried for a clean and simple look for this card, and this is probably as clean and simple as I get!  I used Kanban backing card, K & Co DP, and Bazzill basic blue card.  I embossed the white background and punched out the ribbon border and added some white pearl card-candy.

I will be entering this card in the following competitions:

The Sugar Bowl - Great sketch by Marlene and great prizes.  Extra option - Embossing.

PaperCraft Planet - Sugar Nellie Forum - Use something new.  I just treated myself to this little SN!

Sundays with Crissy - Digi image and Ribbons

Paper Playtime - Faces

Cute Card Thursday - Out with the Old - I used some quite old Kanban cardstock.

Moving Along With The Times - Ring out the old, Ring in the new.  Old cardstock, shiney new stamp/digi

Paperplay Challenges - Clean and Simple - I think this looks really clean, and felt quite simple and quick to do.

7 Kids Challenge - Cold

Do You Stack Up - Cute as a button

Rainbow Ladys Challenge - Its all new to me - I used my new digi-stamp

Stamp Something - Use a Digi Stamp

Stampin For The Weekend - New and Blue

Saturday Challenge - Tons of Texture

2 Sisters Challenge - Gettin Girly

Craft Your Days Away - Anything Goes

Crazy Challenge - All things New - new stamp

Thanks so much for looking

New Beginnings

I made this card today for the Lili of the Valley challenge, following the sketch over on the CLP challenge

I have titled this New Beginnings, as it fits in with the challenge theme. I dont go much on New Year Resolutions, as I feel every day is a new beginning, and judge each day on its own merits, but in relation to crafting, I have decided to try and use up some old stash by picking something at random and at least trying to work with it! :)  We will see how that goes! lol.

So my random item on this card (I dipped my hand in a gubbins box) were the gold vellum leaves (previously from a QVC Kanban Kit).  They always looked a bit posh to me, but Im quite pleased I used them now.  I have also recycled the decoupage lillies from a card that was sent to me.  I inked the edges, and distressed the paper, and did quite a bit of die-cutting and punching... you should see my floor!.. lol.

On the whole Im not too chuffed with this card, as I was in a real panic to get it done and rushed the colouring quite a bit - so I think it looks a bit pants.... :(  It looks like I have forgotten to finish it off anyway.  I had about 15 mins to colour it in, and then inlinkz wouldnt play nicely for me either... tut.  Oh well, I can faff about with it tomorrow. :)

I used HOTP papers, Promarkers, Gold Stickles, MS Punches and Kanban vellum leaves.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Lili Of The Valley - New Beginnings

Simon Says Stamp - New Beginnings

Passion for Promarkers - Thank you - greeting

I Love Promarkers - Recycle - I used decoupage from a card that was sent to me... (we never chuck owt away do we!! )

Cute Card Thursday - Thank You

Charisma Cardz - Pearls and lace

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Thank you

Dutch Dare Challenges - New Beginnings

CLP Challenge - Great Sketch

Allsorts Challenge - Thank You

Stamptacular Sunday - A gorgeous photo inspired challenge

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes with Lace

Creative Cottage - Something New - I used my spellbinder Fleur DeLys die for the first time

Flutterby Wednesdays - With Wings

Fab n' Funky - Anything Goes

Phindys Place - Give Thanks

Creative Craft Challenges  New Year Resolutions - to use old stash and pick it randomly

Try It Tuesday Taggers - New Beginnings - a great revamp of their blog and challenges

Tuesday Throwdown - Embossing - I embossed the background mat

Thanks for looking

Winter Blues

So, away with the Mirri board for another year, but I'm holding on fast to keeping the glitter! :) lol. 

I made this card today using my new Tilda in her cozy christmas coat stamp, and following the sketch over on the Crafters Companion Challenge.  I also used my new scalloped nesties......... hmmmmm...... now remember when you were little and your mum would say to you, 'you cant have anything 5 minutes..........'?  Well i have lost my smallest little scalloped nestie, and I am NOT impressed!  TUT! ..

It will either turn up when the vac screams or the dogs might bring it me to play with, (hopefully) as I cant bear the thought of it having been chucked away with the christmas rubbish.  I waited almost all year for that set of nesties.

The DP is Joanna Sheen, and a piece of backing card from a Kanban Kit.  I used McGill punch on the dp for the fern leaves, stickles and gems for added bling.  I was aiming for a deep midwinter feel to the card, Icy, dark and crisp. It snowed here all day, but not the nice bright christmas card snow, more like the January blues and grey skies snow.  I am also loving playing with scalloped edge cards too.

I will be entering this card in the following competitions:

Crafters Companion - Great sketch

By The Cute and Girly - Bling it on

Just Magnolia - Anything Goes

Totally Tilda - Ribbons and Roses

Magnolia Down Under - A Gift For You (Tildas Gift)

Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Blues

Moving Along with the Times - Circles and birthday themed

Stamp Something - Glitter

Simon Says Stamp and Show - use your newest stamp (Tilda)

Really Reasonable Ribbons - Something New (Tilda) + Ribbon

Sew Many Challenges - New Things (Tilda)

One Stop Craft Challenge - 'New Beginnings' - I used for the first time my new Tilda stamp

Creative Inspirations - Use something new

Paper Sundaes - Use something new

City Crafter - Stamp it out

Christmas Card Challenges - Embossing - I embossed the back panel behind Tilda using cuttlebug embossing folder

CES Challenges - Anything Goes

Top Tip Tuesday - Metal Mickey - I have attached a charm

Cutie Sunday - Winter

Creative Craft Challenges - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Ellephantastic Challenges - New Beginnings (New tilda stamp)

Good luck to everyone in these challenges, and thanks for looking

The Stampman - My Best Creation Award

Over on  The Stampman Challenge Blog  they are asking you to pick what you think is your best creation from last year. 

Now The Stampman Challenges are really great, and I always feel they have quite a unique style and theme.  So though a lot of my cards are either clean or sparkly, I love the more arty/grungy/distressed feel of the very creative projects over on their blog.  I have selected this card therefore, as I feel it more closely fits in with their style and its something I would like to focus more on for 2011.  This card was definately a break away from my normal style, as I tried to give it a distressed feel, and opted for aged papers, some deconstructed jewellery, a bit of sanding and old skool eyelets and ribbon snips.

Original post link: Mint Choc Chip

Thanks for looking! :)

xxalisonxx