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

Away in a Manger

And a new card to share :)

I recently won this Little Shepherd Boy stamp on the Lili Of The Valley - Ideas to Inspire 12 days of Christmas Candy.  I was thrilled to get this as its been one of my favourite images for a long time.

I followed the sketch by Dena on the Lili of the Valley challenge blog and I flipped it to the side.

I coloured using pro-markers, and used HOTP papers, snowflake brads, glitter, stickles, germs and pearls on the stars..  I made the mat for the image by cutting two panels from a Marianne Die and merged them and trimmed off the excess. I thought it worked quite well :)

I am entering this card in the below competitions: 

Lili Of The Valley - Great sketch by Dena

Simon Says Stamp - Silver, Blue and White

Bunny Zoes Crafts - Sparkle and Shine

Allsorts Challenge - Anything Goes

Passion for Promarkers - Mega Christmas challenge - Anything Goes

Totally Gorjuss - For Someone Special.  My dad had dibs on the card I made originally for my husband, so I had to make another card today just for him.  He's quite special ;)

By The Cute and Girly - Children

Ooh La La Challenges - Nativity Scene

Spoonful of Sugar - Christmas Card

Lexis Creations - Glitter and Pearls

Paper Playtime - Christmas

The Crafty Pad - Anything Goes

One Stitch At A Time - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas

Alys Sunday Challenge - Anything Goes

Sentimental Sundays - Inspired by a song - 'Away in a Manger'.

Sundays with Crissy - Christmas is coming

.......and breathe! :) Phew, thats it!

Finally I would just like to wish all my blogging friends and visitors a very wonderful and Merry Christmas and a fantastic and Happy New Year!

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

Crafty Cardmakers - Mega Christmas Challenge

Today, I am sharing two cards that I am entering in the Crafty Cardmakers challenge.  The rules are quite simple and for once only, we are allowed to backlink to previous projects and show how far we have come on our card-making journey.

So I am entering the below two cards as;

My Greatest - Original Post Link: Little Princess

Now I enjoyed making this card more than anything! :) I loved colouring this image, loved working with this colour scheme and these papers, and I think I smiled the whole time I was making it. :)  I consider it to be my greatest card, not because it won a prize, it didnt, but it did get picked for the top 5 Passionista on the Passion for Promarkers  and the top 3 in the I love Promarkers challenges.  I was blown away to have been picked by the respective DT's and awarded my badges!

My First:  I could enter an early card for this, but a real landmark for me this year in cardmaking was using watercolours.......... (Original Link: My First... )

I was really nervous attempting this card, as I had NEVER used watercolour pencils before.  Sadly I lost my mum late last year and she had quite a large collection of these pencils, which my dad then passed to me.  Anyway, after staring at them long enough, I thought I really must try and give them a go.  I enjoyed taking my time with them, and even though it took me a lot longer than I would normally spend colouring an image, it gave me time to reflect and I found it quite peaceful and relaxing.

I think she would have been really proud, as she loved painting and drawing, and in later years card-making, and my mums creativity was always an inspiration to me.  

Thanks so much for looking :)

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