Sir Stampalot - 2nd place!! Whoohoo

Oh wow, I can't believe that lil ole me got 2nd place in the recent Sir Stampalots first challenge. The theme was "Fantasy" and this was the card I entered:



All the details are on my original post here, I am chuffed to bits and will wear my badge with pride ;-)

Whats cooking?

Hi all

Another Magnolia card from me today! Had great fun with this one, I thought that while the kids are at school I would make some time to get crafty, funny really how although I do iron it never has the same appeal as crafting LOL!

I coloured Tilda with distress inks and watercolours, still need to practise with skin tones though well either that or I need more distress ink colours. The papers are DCWV Sweet Stack and Making Memories - Eliza. The Strawberries are from the summer WOJ set last year and coloured with promarkers then triple clear embossed. Flowers and ribbon from my stash.




I am entering into the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz - Girly with flowers
Stampavie and More - Distressing
Stamp Scrap and Doodle - Girlie
Our Creative Corner - Blossoms
Quixotic Paperie - How distressing! (however this is not the case if buying from their store - super fast delivery!!)
Fussy and Fancy - Birthday card with a sweet treat!

Prima challenge and 15% off

Hi all

Well the weather here today is thoroughly miserable, the only time I have been out is for the school run :-( didn't even get any time for crafting as my husband was at home and I had to show willing by spending some time with him LOL!

Lou from Creative Craft World has got an amazing 15% off offer on until 2nd May, don't forget she has some of those amazing Primas and promarkers in stock ;-)

Also she has promised a surprise giveaway over on the Creative Craft World challenge blog when we reach 100 followers!!! We are nearly there already.

The current challenge of using primas is running until 2nd May as Lou is poorly with food poisoning at the moment she extended the deadline (get well soon Lou).

Off to make a card while my husband is visiting his Mother!

C.R.A.F.T and Crafty Sentiments challenge card

Whoohoo this is my 100th post!!! Can't believe I have waffled so many times hehe!

Again I used one of the Tilda images from the lovely Choccy (thanks) and coloured her in using watercolour pencils and paints. The gorgeous pink and brown colour combo is for the current challenge over at C.R.A.F.T Challenge.



I followed the FAB sketch over at Crafty Sentiments which my lovely blogging buddy Lisa Jane is a DT for (waves madly and says hi to Lisa). I rotated the sketch clockwise.



The papers are a combination of DCWV The Sweet Stack and some freebie ones from last year. Used Martha Stewart punch, prima flowers and core'dinations card. Ribbon from a swap, pearls from stash. Tim Holtz distress inks (frayed burlap) and glamour dust.

Magnolia card

Hi all

One of my lovely Creative Craft World DT Teamies sent me some lovely stamped images and this is the first card I made with them - THANKS Choccy!

I followed the sketch over at Trimcraft which the lovely Rozzy put together for us to follow!



Not sure which Tilda this is but I loved colouring her in using Promarkers. Papers are DCWV Nana's Nursery and the flowers are prima and the small rose and lace from my stash.

I am entering this into the following challenges:
Just Magnolia - Anything goes
Stamp, Scrap and Doodles - Girlie
Our Creative Corner - Blooming Blossoms!

Bookmark with Cowgirl Up's "Tricia"

Hi all

I made this quick bookmark using one of CJ's fab images, this little lovely is "Tricia" which you can buy here



I used the freebie MME Spring papers, image coloured with promarkers, ribbon from stash (think it is Anitas but 100% sure) and punched flowers. Distressed inks faded jeans and peeled paint.

Digital Tuesday Challenge - April showers or April flowers 9we have flowers here)

Great week!

I have just got in from an amazing evening at Dancing on Ice the Live tour, it was spectacular!! We had rink side seats so were right next to the action! Of course Hayley and Dan won the Bolero this evening but ALL the skaters including Torville and Dean were amazing!

Well I managed to sort out my Cosmic Shimmer Mist problem, I emailed the manufacturer and explained the problem to them and today in the post arrived a new pump and spray thingy and it works a treat!

Got some more exciting news, CJ from Cowgirl Up Stamps recently had a call out for a new DT and I was one of the lucky ladies, the new challenges start on 2nd May over on Cowgirls Sunday Stamp'en challenge, the challenges will run every other week on a Sunday so come over and join us when the fun starts!



I have some other news but have been sworn to secrecy for a couple of weeks... oh gosh why is it soooo hard to keep a secret??

My other FAB news is that I got picked as top 3 in the recent Creative Inspirations challenge whoohoo, just waiting for the badge now to wear with pride ;-)

Penny Black shades of brown!

Hi all

Can't believe that I have never used this little cutie stamp for soooo long! It is from the Penny Black "Hugs" set.

Penny Black Saturday has a challenge of "MONOCHROMATIC BROWN" sounds a bit scary and well brownie but I had fun with this creation ;-)



Image was coloured with promarkers,bottom DP is K&Co, top one is cream paper stamped with a background stamp.

Cosmic Shimmer Mist problem!

Hi all

I wonder if anyone has any answers for me and my Cosmic Shimmer Mist problem.

I have only used it a few times but the pump action on the bottle is not working anymore. I have tried moving the nozzle thingy around millimetre by millimetre in case it had a locking mechanism, I have tried washing out the tube which sits in the bottle but it is still not spraying boohoo!!

Am I doing something wrong with it or has it gone faulty? Either way does any of you clever lot have a solution??



Thanks!

New home card

One of my collegaues has just bought a house and was moving in over this weekend, so I thought this card would bring some sunshine into her new home amidst all the mayhem of cardboard boxes!!

I have followed the sketch over at Midnight Madness. The stamp was another freebie from Craft Stamper magazine, don't they have great freebies which you can actually use! This is my 2nd DT card for Creative Craft World, the challenge this week is all about Prima flowers! The flowers are Prima e-line, I think I need some more of these as I love the little dotty ones!



The papers are the gorgeous DCWV Nana's Nursery cardstock, I have had this pack for ages but HATE cutting it!! How sad is that? Is it just a me thing or a crafters thing?

I am entering this into the following challenges:
Totally Gorjuss - Charming (the key is a manmade (well woman made) charm
Raise the Bar - Movie (Home Alone)

Creative Craft World DT PRIMA card

Hi all

This is my DT card for Creative Craft World, the challenge this week is all about Prima flowers! All entries must be in by midnight Sunday 18th April 2010.

Before I get onto the card we are giving away some candy to a random follower of Creative Craft World once we reach 100 followers.... so get yourself and your blogging buddies over there as you never know... you gotta be in it to win it!

Lou is selling some of the gorgeous new 2010 Prima flowers, take a look here. I have used the Prima Love Story - Kissing Pink (the large flower on the left) and also Prima Hydrangea (the large one on the right), the roses are from my stash.



Papers are the gorgeous Blueberry Hill by Papermania and the stamp is Whiff of Joy - coloured with promarkers.

I am also entering this into the following challenges:

Fussy and Fancy - Sketch

Another Sweet Pea

Hi all

Can you tell I am in love with these Sweet Pea stamps?? I havew made this for the Crafts and Me challenge which is a colour combo - pink, yellow and brown. Not a colour choice which I would normally pick ;-)

Love these Kate Knight papers which were free with this months Cardmaking and Papercraft, the colours are gorgeous and those birds were placed perfectly



Ribbon and flowers from my stash and the image coloured with promarkers. I added some sparkle with glamour dust on her eyelids.

I am entering into the following challenges:

Pollycraft Challenge -

Bookmark and card - faux metal!

Hi all

I recently joined in a monthly bookmark swap over on Trimcraft, this months theme was pink and brown. The stamped image on the card and bookmark is the free stamp from the cover of the March 2010 edition of Craft Stamper.





On the card I made the faux metal background by adhering some kitchen tin foil to a piece of card stock, after the glue had dried (well I did wait for the glue to dry after I rushed making a test version and the glue oozed out all over my cuttlebug folder duh - well you live and learn!!) I put the card through my Big Shot using the Cuttlebug Devine Swirls embossing folder. After embossing I swiped some Black Stazon over the foil, after leaving it for a couple of minutes I them wiped off the excess with kitchen paper. I then used a Henna coloured Promarker over the foil and again wiped off the excess with kitchen roll. I used the same technique for the border around the image only this time using the Swiss Dots embossing folder. I inked the stamp with Memento Tuxedo Black and then stamped the image twice as I wanted a paler image which looked like a negative, the image was then highlighted with Promarkers.

I got the inspiration for the faux metal from Inky Fingers blog.

I am entering these into the following challenges:
One stitch at a Time - Torn, distressed or shabby
Tag Tuesday - Sketch (the bookmark)
Charisma Cardz - Monochromatic (the card)

Sweet Pea Stamps ATC

Hi all

I haven't made an ATC for ages and had such fun doing this one! These stamps are the perfect size for making ATC's with! The one I have used is Ching-Chou Kuik's
"Thousand Years Waiting" from the only UK stockistCrafts and Me



The Sweet Pea customer challenge is to make an ATC following this criteria:

1. Using ONLY Sweet Pea Stamps,
2. Create an ATC (2.5" x 3.5") Card.
3. Use Purple and Pink.
4. Include an 'Odd' Embellishment.
Upload and add the link to your blog here during the week of April 11-17.


The "odd" thing I have used is a rivet from a broken button off my sons Carbrini jeans, no I didn't break it on purpose LOL!

Sweet Pea stamps are having a Blog Hop for their one year celebration which will take place on 20th April.

I coloured the image in using promarkers.

It could be YOU!!!

Lovely Lou over at Creative Craft World is offering a surprise gift to a randomly selected follower when we reach 75 followers!!!! Knowing Lou it will be something gorgeous!!



The good news is that there is only 4 to go.... come on what are you waiting for, show us some support and become a follower! You know you want to cos there are some AMAZING sponsors for our upcoming challenges... Stitchy Bear Digi Stamps, AMERICAN CRAFTS (yes really!!!), Letrasett, The Crafty Pad and more.....

See you over there ;-)

Happy Birthday Hubby!

Hi all

Made this card for my husbands birthday today! The fab digi image is from Stitchy Bear and is called 16 candles! Really great image to colour in, left myself open to comments like "did you get someone to sketch you?".... cheeky LOL! Cards for Men challenge this week is "Humour" and this even made my hubby chuckle first thing in the morning - which is no mean feat I can tell you!

I have followed the sketch over at Sketch Saturday (I just skewed the sentiment).

Finn the Dino boy!

I got this cute "Finn" digi stamp as a freebie a couple of months ago from Little Musings, I coloured him in using Promarkers and really enjoyed colouring all the detail!

Papers are Basic Grey Boxer as are the 3 brads, I followed the sketch over at Basic Grey Challenge and as there isn't too much detail or layering on it made it perfect for a boys card. Sentiment was a freebie digi but can't remember where from (if anyone knows please remind me so I can give credit where its due! The cardstock is Coredinations which I embossed using the Argyle Cuttlebug folder then lightly distressed it my sanding the top layer to reveal the white core.



I am also entering into the following challenges:
Totally Papercraft - Distressing
Totally Gorjuss - Texture
Passion for Promarkers - "The young ones"
A Spoonful of Sugar - One for the boys
Simon Says Challenge - A card for a child

Spring card

Hi all

I have had a lovely day off today and even managed to make my first spring (as in the style) card! Incy Wincy Designs challenge this week is for "Fancy Folds" so this fits in with their challenge and as it was ANOTHER card challenging my limited creative skills I am also entering it into the Crafty Cardmakers challenge of "challenging yourself".

I used this cute digi image from CJ at Cowgirl Up stamps who is having a DT call!

The lime green and black colour combo with the added extra of flowers was picked by the lovely Jude for the Creative Inspirations challenge. This is not a colour combo I would normally use but it is really zingy and works so well!



Papers are from a magazine last year, they are a little on the shiny side and I don't normally use these types of papers but the colours were perfect! Flowers are from my stash. The sentiment stamp is from Personal Impressions - Fairy Silhouette set. I used the Cuttlebug Argyle embossing folder. Image coloured with pencils and promarkers. Sparkled up her little hat with glamour dust.

As you can buy Cowgirl Up Stamps over at Stitchy Bear Stamp store I will enter this as my third and final entry onto the One Stitch at a Time challenge!

Sweet Pea challenge

Hi all

Wow, absolutely loving the Sweet Pea stamps and the Ching Chou Kuik stamps, they are seriously gorgeous! I received them yesterday from Crafts and Me who are the only UK stockists - incidentally super fast service and really lovely ladies who run the store! I only placed the order late Monday night and they were here on Wednesday, if you are like me and turn into Craftzilla when waiting for crafty stuff to arrive you definitely need to check out their website. Within an hour of getting in from work I had inked both of my new stamps up LOL, usually my poor stamps stay neglected in the packet for months before they get even a whiff of ink LOL, but THESE are sooo amazing I had to play straight away!



I have used the Ching-Chou Kuik's Dark Sirene stamp on my card, coloured her with promarkers and added some diamontes to the flowers in her hair. Ribbon from stash, Martha Stewart doily punch, stickles on butterflies, Sizzix Jelly frame and leaf punch. Papers are Papermania "Heather" and the gorgeous flowers are a mixture of silk flowers pulled apart from a fake bouquet and the large flower in the middle is the new Prima Symphony which I ordered from Creative Craft World

Prima Symphony Blend - Arietta Lilac


I have followed the sketch over at Midnight Madness - just love their sketches, especially as you get a choice of 2 to follow!

Sweet Pea Stampers challenge is "fairies at the bottom of the garden" and as a child I would imagine purple sparkly fairies LOL!

I am also entering into the following challenges:

Stampin for the Weekend - Ribbons and bows
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes

Distressed travel tag

Hi all

Today I have made a distressed tag! Still playing with my Tim Holtz distress ink pads LOL - can't wait for payday when I can treat myself to some more colours!

I am entering this into Simon Says Challenge which is distressed and the Creative Card Crew theme for their current challenge is "vintage/aged" and also Tuesday Taggers which is to make a tag. Georgina is offering a FAB Paperartsy prize this week!!!

Distressed the whole tag in Frayed Burlap. Stamped the bike and suitcase (Clear Choice Stamps) in sepia and the key in Stazon. I then stamped a swirl randomly in versamark and heat embossed with clear powder. Using the blending tool I worked Faded Jeans over the whole tag and finally stamped the text in stazon. The clock stamp in the corner is a digi from Stitchy Bear Stamps and is from a set called Timeless Beauties. I coloured her scarf and hat in with pencils. I am entering the challenge over on One Stitch at a Time which is "anything goes", as I was on the last minute for last weeks challenge they will probably fall off their chairs in shock that I am soooo early for this weeks LOL!! (Mind your head on the way down girls LOL)



Ribbon and fibre from my stash. I had a little mishap with the bike charm as the saddle with the little hole in snapped off (oops!!).

Think I need a bit more practice with the distress inks and of course I won't be so limited when I have some more to play with but it took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me LOL - the challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers is a "challenging challenge" and this was just that!

Fantasy Land!

Hi all

Something a little different again from me today! I have been messing with my distress inks (only have 3 at the mo) trying to make a background. I must have done about 10 different variations yesterday experimenting with different ink pads, techniques etc. Had great fun doing it but boy today my hands are a mess - full of ink stains (good job I am not working today LOL).

I have made this to enter into the very FIRST Sir Stampalot monthly challenge. "Fantasy" is the theme for this month and woah, I can't believe the prize.... I would be in a fantasy land if I won it LOL First prize is an amazing and generous Cricut - how cool would that be??





I used Tim Holtz Distress inks to make the background and as Allsorts challenge this week is no pre-printed papers this qualifies, masked the "moon". I then stamped the Dandelion Frame by Hero Arts around the edge using Stazon. The mushroom and fairy are from Personal Impressions - Fairy Silhouette. I glimmer misted her wings and the punched out flowers got the stickles treatment with a little diamond (well diamante as I can't afford diamonds LOL) in the centre!

Flowers and brad from my stash and the Fairyland Ticket was a freebie from Craft Stamper magazine a while ago.

I am also entering it into the following challenges:

Meljens are holding their first challenge and the theme it "anything goes"
Just add Ink - Just add... ink - anything goes!
Something Completely Different - "W" for wings!
Crafts and me - Fairies or wings

Make a wish...

Hi all

On the last minute again hence the rubbish picture!

Before I get onto the card I just want to remind my blogging buddettes that you still have time to enter the Easter Challenge over at Creative Craft World. Entries have to be in by Midnight (GMT) tomorrow 4th April 2010!!

Made this card using the FABBY Butterfly Love digi stamp from Stitchy Bear Stamps, I was lucky enough to win this in a challenge as really loved using her, great detail and a joy to colour with my promarkers.

I am entering this into the One Stitch at a Time challenge which was a recipe revealed on their recent easter egg hunt (great fun) to celebrate their GRAN OPENING. I used glitter, ribbon, beads, buttons and 2 papers from the recipe ingredients.



I have followed the sketch over at Sketch Saturday for the layout.

Also entering into the following challenges:

Totally Papercraft - Go digital!
Cooking it up with Katie - Recipe = Something new (digi fairy stamp), something old (the button I have had for ages and never used them) and something sweet (the image)
By the Cute and Girly - Fairytales
Papertake Weekly - Open theme