Another Cracker

Hope everyone has had a great Saturday? :)  I was intending to tidy my craft room up today, but got sidetracked with making this little card.

Its using one of the fabulous Kenny K downloadable digi stamps, and they are all awesome! 

I used HOTP papers, MS lace punch, and a McGill Fern punch.  I coloured using Pro-markers, stickles and  foiled the edges of the image with Kanban gold foil.  I used my crop-a-dile to fix the eyelets, and the red glitter flowers are from QVC, with centre black roses from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I was inspired by a sketch over on Stampin for the Weekend and it had a twist.  You had to have a butterfly somewhere on your card, and so while I couldnt find an excuse for a butterfly at christmas, I doodled a tattoo butterfly on her thigh! :) lol.

I am entering this card in the following competitions:

Kenny K Krafty Girls - Not a square card

Stampin for the weekend - Great Sketch, and have a butterfly somewhere on project.

Pocket full of posies - Winter bouquet.

Digital Tuesday - Never used stash - This is the first time I have used this image, and the McGill punch, and the black Wild Orchid Roses.

PaperPlay Challenges - Ribbon, Lace and flowers.

Christmas Stampin All Year Round - Stripes

Totally Gorjuss - Traditional Christmas colours - I used Red, Gold and Green.

Crazy 4 Challenges - Christmas

Creative Inspirations - Glitter, Glamour and Girly.

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

Crackers!

I made this card today using a fabulous stamp from Lili of the Valley after I had seen Dawny P's creations in the recent CM&P magazine.  I knew when I saw the stamp I had to have it!   I have two wonderful, bonkers gorgeous English Springer Spaniel dogs, Kevin and Oliver, and they are my world.

Below is a picture of Oliver tearing right into his christmas present!

Anyway, the challenge over the the Lili of the Valley Challenge this week is not only Anything Goes, but also a fab blog-hop with some awesome prizes.  I love the Lili of the Valley range, they are the cutest, most adorable and fun images to craft with, and I totally loved making this card.

I used Cracking Christmas stamp, coloured with Pro-markers.  I embossed the white panels, layered on pale blue bazzill card, and used Marianne D dies.  (Does anyone know how we are fixing these fab flourishes, as Im just getting by with a few sticky dots?).  I followed the excellent sketch over at the Totally Gorjuss blog.

I am entering this card in the following competitions:

Lili of the Valley - Anything Goes
A Spoonful of Sugar - Snowflakes
I Love ProMarkers - Icy Colours
Simon Says Stamp - Card for a male, with a charm (guess whos hubby is getting this for xmas!) :D
Totally Gorjuss - Great Sketch!
ABC Christmas Challenge - W is for Winter Wonderland - I used a Snow embossing folder, and snowflakes.
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
Creatalicious Challenges - Mostly White
Crafty Calender Challenge - Winter Snowflakes
Paper Sundaes - Let it Snow

Thanks so much for looking, and have a great weekend! :)

Made for me :)

Today I wanted to share a card made for me by my niece Adelle for my birthday last month.  Its Brilliant (....with a capital B!) to have your birthday so close to Halloweeeeeeen (no one dare forget) and I love all the spooky cards I get (at least thats why I think I always get witches on my cards - ahem, Mother-In-Law!).. :D

Anyway, she made this card using Batty Princess from Quixotic (my birthday present to me!) as I had to have it when I saw it.  I love Bats, which is a good thing, as they seem to like living at our house!  I assure you they are in the attic, and we are not over-run, but we do get used to seeing them fly through the house occasionally during midsummer, and take lots of care when we find them lost. 

Below is a picture of 'Batfink' a baby bat (apologies if you dont like them) that we found in our curtains last year.  This wee fella was the size of a 50p and following the instructions from the bat society protection people, we placed him in a little shoe box, on tissue paper with a small amount of water in a bottle top lid.  Later at night, we put him on one of the upstairs windowsills (away from danger) and he was found by his mum and gone by the morning. :)  

Anyway, as this card is posted too late for most of the halloween challenges, I am entering it on behalf of Adelle in the Creative Craft Challenge as this week the challenge is Stars.  There is a star charm hanging from the pin, so I hope this is ok.

Thanks for looking :)

hugs, xxalisonxx

Back to Basics

This week on the Sugar Nellie - PCP Challenge, we had a challenge to make a card without DP!... So I went back to basics on this card, and not only have I used Mirri Board (despite vowing never to use it again) I have also stamped and emobssed my own background!..  (go me!) :D

It was quite a challenge but really nice to reconnect with a side of stamping I often forget.

I used a digi-stamp from Funky Kits/Sugar Nellie and I die cut my leaves.

This is the one challenge I like to make sure I enter each week, as it has 3 great Sugar Nellie stamps (free choice) up for grabs.  Its a small forum type challenge and really friendly. :)

I am also entering this card in the following competitions:

Sugar Nellie - PCP - No DP!

Colour Create Challenge - Red, Gold and White

PaperPlay Challenges - Autumnal colours

Totally Gorjuss - Use Flowers

Allsorts challenge - Colours of Autumn

Thanks so much for looking xxalisonxx

Exam results, and a card

Well, well, another week flew by!...

First of all, I wanted to share my exam results, as I never expected to get 86% and a Distinction!.. :) woo hoo!... so that was brill, and I am now looking forward to starting again in October. :)

Anyway, the above card was made for my nephews birthday, and as he is a bit of a Goth like me (Im very proud of him! LOL) I thought I would stick with something quite dark.

Its brightened up quite a bit in the picture, but you get the idea.

This card is for the Sugar Nellie, PCP Challenge and this week it was embossing.  I embossed the black card with a spot design in my cuttlebug (not clear on pic) but I promise I did  :)

I used a Sugar Nellie stamp called Goth Girl, which I love, and the papers are by Creative Imaginations, and the epoxy sentiment is by March Johnson.  I coloured the silver edges using a marker, and followed Marlenes sketch for the Sugar Bowl challenge.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Sugar Nellie PCP challenge - embossing

The Sugar Bowl - Sketch by Marlene

Crafty Cardmakers - Birthday

Ooh La La Creations - Spots and dots (spotty embossed black card, and silver dots)

Papertake Weekly - something old - the papers are old, Something new - the stamp is new

Passion for ProMarkers - Music.  This is inspired by goth rock

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

Poppy Love

Ok, so I finally get my satellite internet speed back up to something decent (512kbps - hardly brilliant!, but it was throttled last week due to watching too much Big Brother online!) :D Tee Hee!

Even browsing blogs and challenges was like pulling teeth at 56kbps!..... but anyway, new month, new allowance (phew!) :)

So I made this card today in time to enter the Sugar Nellie - Papercraft Planet Challenge 16 This is one of my favourite weekly challenges, so the pressure was on to get something made.  this week, Fiona challenged us to make a card in blue.  I used the Poppy digi-stamp from FunkyKits/Sugar Nellie, and used K&Co Blue poppy and dotty backing papers, an MS punch, and die cut some flowers, leaves and the corner.  I followed sketch 17 on the Sugar Bowl challenge.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Sugar Nellie - PCP - Challenge 16 - Blue

Sir Stampalot - Bring on the bling. (Gems and stickles)

Sugar Bowl - Any sketch, any theme (I used sketch 17 and flipped it horizontally - theme blue)

Digital Tuesday - Digital stamp and Dazzle Me

Simon Says - Go Dotty (K&Co Dotty paper)

The Crafty Pad - Ribbons and Flowers

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

Fairy Wishes

I was inspired today to make this card in honour of my new blog background!..  :) I wanted something a little lighter and fresh.

I used the Sketch by Bev over on the Just Magnolia challenge, and stuck to a theme of blue and white.  I used distressed effect K&Co paper (I also sanded them a little),  and inked the edges to match.  I coloured using pro-markers, and to get a delicate finish with them I used the invaluable blender pen!

I am entering this card in the below challenges:

Just Magnolia - Sketch by Bev - Link to Bevs website on my sidebar

Everybody Art - Blue and White

Passion For Promarkers - Distressing.

Good luck to everyone in these challenges :)

Lili Of The Valley Sketch

I made this card today for the Lili Of The Valley challenge, which finishes tomorrow, so I have left it kind of late! :)

Its an easel card, inspired by many summer themes, following the sketch by Dawny P, link to her blog on my sidebar, and she also has some fab candy for grabs this week Pinkpiggywiggy go check it out!

As I am short of time, its a quick post, but I am entering this card in the below challenges this week:

Lili of the Valley - Dawny P's sketch

Bunny Zoes Crafts - July challenge, summer days.

Papertake Weekly - Cutie Patootie

Allsorts Challenge - Summer Days

Crafty Cardmakers - Spotlight Easel Challenge

I Love Promarkers -  Buttons

Thanks for looking,

Donkey Smiles 2

Finally! Finally I managed to get this card done :) I now have black ink for my printer, and so was able to use the free digi stamp from Whimsy Stamps in aid of the Card Drive for Michelle Oatman.

I think this is a brilliant challenge to get everyone involved and send cards to Michelle following her terrible accident and loss of her eye.  I sincerely send her my best wishes, thoughts and hugs. xx

So, before I pop the card in the post to her, I am entering this card in the below card-drive and challenges.

A Spoonful of Sugar - Donkey smiles card challenge

Whimsy Stamps Inspiration - Sketch

Rosie D's Challenge - Burgundy, Pink and Cream theme.

Charisma Cardz - Pink

Totally Gorjuss - Thinking of You

Crafty Creations - Happy or Sweet - This card is sending smiles, and the donkey is very sweet!

Fab n' funky challenges - Re-use or recycle.  The ribbon has been recycled (I didnt notice the smudge mark until too late) and came with a soap gift set.

Thanks for looking :) have a great day,

Birthday Wishes

This card I made for my husband Dave's birthday next week.  I had to try so hard to step away from the ribbons, glitter and gems, as the base card is 8 x 8 inch square and there was just so much space to play with!  It looks really really big, but he is very special, and I wanted it to stand out.

xXx love you babe xXx

I followed the sketch on Just Cute Bears, and the photo theme on Simon Says Stamp.  I used K&Co Addison papers (.....on a roll with them! lol) and a MS punch, dies and card candy.  I also hand stitched the stamp panel.

I am entering this card in the following competitions:

Just Cute Bears - Sketch

Forever Friends Challenge - Stitching

Creative Inspirations - something very old from stash - I used K&Co sentiments which I have had years!

Simon Says Stamp - colour theme

One Stop Craft - monochrome

Allsorts challenge - Love x

Thanks for looking, have a great week, and good luck everyone in these challenges.

Mint Choc Chip

This card is my entry for the Sugar Bowl Sketch by Judy, and for the Sugar Nellie Challenge over on PCP, which this week was Mint Choc Chip Ice Cream.

I have left this to the very last minute, but used the Digi Stamp from Sugar Nellie funkykits called Iris, K&Co Papers, and some bead danglies from Stash.

I am also entering this card in:

Ooh La La Creations - Simply summer.. I think ice cream flavours are summery :)

Thank you for looking,

Chocolate Tilda

This is the card I made for the 1st challenge on the Totally Tilda blog.  The theme was chocolate.. :) yum!.

I have had this stamp for some time, but this was the first time I used it, as I thought it looked kind of christmassy, and was saving it for that.  It looks kind of chocolate boxy now though! :)

I did quite a bit of inking and distressing on this card and the flowers are a definately more beigy in real life.  I made the pin, die cut the leaves and used Coffee and Cream pearls from Quixotic paperie.

Oh, and I was made up today to make the Top 5 Passionista for the Passion for Promarkers Blog, and the Top 3 on the I love Promarkers Blog!..  It really made my day to receive these, as I havent been able to craft much this week due to the tree pollen making my eyes swell up, but I love the challenges on both of these blogs, and so will display my blinkie/award with pride.  Thank you :) xx 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Totally Gorguss - Sketch
I Love ProMarkers - Distressing.
Totally Tilda - Chocolate Tilda
Sweet Stamping Challenge - Pearls and Pins
One Stop Craft - Distressing
CraftyCatz challenge - Distressing
Creative Card Crew - To die for - I used my cuttlebug to die cut leaves, and circle
Magnolia Down Under - In the News - I used newspaper paper on the tags, and inked them with distress ink.

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

Little Princess

I was feeling quite inspired by all the stormy weather here today, rain, black clouds and thunder! So this image (still my favorite) seemed ideal. :)

After last weeks mirri-board debacle, I thought I would try seeing how glittercard photographed, again its good to experiment! ;)  There are 2 different shades of blue glittercard used here, and they complement the papers quite well, whilst giving it a little texture.  I also hand-stitched the stripe panel.

I used K&Co Addison papers and sentiment.  I coloured the lace flowers with pro-markers, and also inked the edge of the image to match (not so clear on the picture).

This card is my entry into the below competitions:

Mo's Digital Pencil - Use fabric.  I used lace and ribbon.

Crafty Cardmakers - Inky Fingers - I used pro-markers to colour in the lace flowers, and inked the edge of my image

Simon Says - Check it out - I used K&Co checked paper.

Sketch Saturday - Great sketch by Simonne

Passion for Promarkers - Use a number

I Love Promarkers - Stripes

Papertake Weekly - In stitches - I hand stitched the stripey panel.

Everybody 4 Art - Birthday
Paperplay Challenges - Card for child or teenager
Pile it On - My Favourite things - I used TwoJill stamp from Mo's digital pencil - my favourite :)

Good luck to everyone in these challenges, and thank you for looking :)

Summer, Poppy and Pollen.

I have struggled to make a card this week due to pollen and itchy eyes....  tut. :)  I keep on rubbing them and making them quite sore, but I have soldiered on (lol) and today made this summery card using a great new digi-stamp from Sugar Nellie - Funky Kits .  This image is called poppy, and there are 3 more to collect.  They are ALL adorable, and a lot of fun to colour. 

I used K&Co papers and also HOTP, layered paper flowers from a QVC kit, and a metal sunshine charm from stash. 

The SCS Sugar Nellie challenge blog has now moved to PCP and this weeks challenge was 'no squares'.  I used a rectangle card blank, and stretched the sketch on Friday Sketchers.

I am entering this card in the following competitions:

PCP SugarNellie - Not a square card

Sir Stampalot - Lazy Hazy Summer

By The Cute and Girly - Warm Summer Days

Charizma Cards - Metal - I used a sunshine metal charm and added some chain to make a dangle.

PCP - Simon Says Stamp - Summer Time

Friday Sketchers - Really great sketch by Inge

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

Revenge of the Mirri Board!

Today I wanted to make a card for a competition that specified Turquoise, Cream and Gold.... hmmmm... gold.....
So I thought, 'Oooh,  I have heaps of much-maligned mirri-board just sitting in a box.  I wonder why its out of fashion'? :) lol... I now realise - its because you cannot photograph it to save your life!!..  :) tut.  This actually looks really nice IRL, and not as brassy as it looks in this pic. (Thats my story, and I'm sticking to it!)

Anyway, I turned off the flash on my camera, and this is the best I could do.  I went for a shabby-vintage look to this card, and used K&Co Addison papers and embellishments, some die cut leaves and a papermania wire word from stash.

I am entering this card in the below competitions:

Just Magnolia - sketch by Bev - link to her fab site on my blog!
Stamp Something - Vintage with flowers
Simon Says Challenges - Friends
Creative Inspirations - Turquoise, Gold and Cream
By the Cute and Girly - Something old, something new, something blue etc.

thanks for looking! xxalisonxx