Friday Sketcher

Well I'm back!! I hope you all had a fab Christmas and got the things you wanted.

I had a lovely few days at my parents for Christmas. The girls had a great time opening all their presents and playing with their new toys and games, so I got some peace and quiet! Ellie is well and trully recovered from her operation and is positively glowing (shame he couldn't have removed her voice box as well as the tonsils!!), but Beth has been quite poorly over Christmas with a nose like a tap and infected ears. However she has needed her Grandad not me ... so I was OK! The cat survived staying with my parents dog - not sure which is going to need therapy!
My lovely hubby bought me lots of Promarkers and my Mum got me a stack of Dsitress inks so I have spent a few days curled up in front of a fire trying out my new toys! Still need a bit of practice, but the three cards I have posted today were coloured using either distress inks or promarkers.

I have made a little promise to myself (having hit the Glitterpot sale big time!) that I am not going to get any more stash until I have used most of what I have - I seem to have flowers, papers and ribbons pouring out of my craft room, and yet I feel the need to buy more ... so I am going to resist. I am not, however, opening a book on how long I will last!

Anyway, this is the card I made using the Friday Sketcher sketch (a bit late but it is Christmas!!).

I used my new Promarkers to colour her in and Basic Grey Sugared papers. I used my large sizzix tag die to cut the tags. I went a bit mad with the faux stitching and stitched everything!The organza ribbon is from my stash, as are the brads.

Off to play with the girls and their train set (they are very keen on Brio!). Have a lovely evening and if I don't get on the 'pooter tomorrow

Happy New Year.

Sketch Saturday

The Sketch Saturday challenge is any previous sketch, so I chose sketch 17 and altered it slightly!!! Rather than a circle I cut my image as an oval as it looks better as an oval.

I used this gorgeous Sarah Kay which I haven't inked up for a while. I used my new distress inks to colour her. The dp are Basic Grey Eva, and the lace is from my stash. I used my oval and circle nesties to cut the shapes. I added 6 green gems to finish it off.

Hope you like it.

Papertake Weekly Challenge sketch

For this Papertake Weekly sketch I used one of my favourite stamps, Sugar Nellie's Daisies. I coloured her using my Promarkers, and have used a selection of purple cardstock and papers by Papermania. The flowers are Prima with little gems in the centre. I added gems down the right hand side (not very clear, sorry), purple organza ribbon from my stash and a gold peel off for the text.
As the Cute Card Thursday is a card of our choice I am also using this for that challenge as it is one of the many thank you cards I will b e making for the girls to send their thank you letters in.

DutchDare Card Challenge 29 - a sketch

This week's Dutchdare challenge is a sketch.I rotated the sketch and came up with this ...

I used Edwin and watercoloured him, before cutting him out. The papers are all Basic Grey, Archiac and Mellow. I added buttons, ric-rac and a Basic Grey rub-on to complete the card.

I am going to use this for my big brother's birthday card, he would like to be sophisticated like this Edwin, and he would certainly like Edwin's head of hair!!!

This is the 1st card I have made in over a week due to having caught the bug thing that is going round and being unable to get rid of it. I have been off blogging and crafting, but hopefully a rest over Christmas will revive my enthusiasm in both.

I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Merry Christmas

and

A Happy New Year

I haven't been around at all recently - we have all succombed to the nasty bug, and after 4 weeks of coughing, having no voice and a nose that resembles a tap with a faulty washer, I am thoroughly fed up!! I haven't done any crafting, except my DT cards and haven't visited anyone's blogs - I am so sorry folks. However, I am off to my Mum's for Christmas so hopefully some TLC and rest will cure the bug and revitalise the need to craft!! (Better had as I have promarkers and distress inks on my Christmas list!!)

Thank you to all of you who have visited my blog this year and left such positive and supportive comments. And big hugs from Ellie to all of you who thought of her and sent the cards and gifts when she had her tonsils out (and she is doing really well!!) - you are an amazing bunch of generous, warmed hearted and immensely talented people.
So I wish you all a fab Christmas and a prosperous New Year, and I will be back with avengence (hopefully!!) in the New Year.
Hugs and Kisses,

Dutchdare challenge - Charms

For this week's DDCC challenge, charms, I have used this gorgeous new Sugar Nellie designed by Elizabeth Bell. I stamped her in Versafine Sepia and coloured her in blues and brown. The papers are coredinations, run through my embossing folders and distressed. I inked the edges of the papers and images with a papermania pad. I added snowflake charms on wire and ribbon from my stash. I used some Stickles (waterfall) to pick out bits of the snowflake embossing and the stamped snowflakes, and added pale blue gems to the middle of the prima flowers.
I hope you have time to join in the challenge this week.

PTW Monochrome

For those of you who know me well this card will surprise you as it is ... PINK!!! However I have made it as a commission for one of the mums at pre-school - Christmas has not yet addled my brain!
I used my Cuttlebug embossing folders, pink cardstock and this gorgeous butterfly that I embossed.
I really like the effect so might make a few more in this style, but maybe not in pink!

PSBC meets Sketch Saturday

I combined this week's Sketch Saturday with the recipe from PBSC (3 flowers, 2 papers and 1 ribbon) and came up with this. I don't often like using really patterned, floral papers, but I thought these Basic Grey ones would work really well with this image. Rather than scalloped edges I have used this gorgeous lace, and the bitty flowers are prima.



Sorry a bit of a short post but got to do the school run!

Friday Sketcher

I have had a few days off blogging and crafting as I have been to see my parents. It didn't stop me craft shopping mind!!

I have managed to do some crafting this afternoon while the girls have played quietly and slept 9in recovery from the grandparents!!)

This is my take on the Friday Sketcher.

I decided to used my Coredinations papers and emboss and distress them for a change. I love my new Sugar Nellie, Blossom, she is so cute and quick and easy to colour. I stamped her in Versafine Sepia to keep her quite soft. The embossing folders are Cuttlebug ones, and the ink I have distressed the papers is is by Papermania. I added Hero Arts corner swirls in Sepia, a Prima flower and oragnza ribbon. No sentiment yet, as I am not sure when I will use it.

2009 journal

I have been making this journal as a Christmas present (Vicky don't look!!), and have finally finished it today. Having looked at the challenges it fits the CCT challenge, punches, and the LOTV challenge New Year (tenuous, but it has 2009 on it and it is a journal for next year!)

I used my Bind-it-All to make the book.

I stamped this gorgeous PB stamp, Water skiing, in Versafine Sepia, and watercoloured it with my pencils. I added scrolls using the sepia ink. I used K and Co papers for the covers, matting and flowers. I used my Stampin Up Scallop punch and my X cut flower punches. The tag and numbers were cut out using my Cuttlebug Olivia alphabet. The ribbons are from my stash.

Some of the inside pages:

The scroll stamps are from the Angel Company, and the flower and grass stamps are Magnolia. The inks are from Making Memories.

I hope she likes it.

Dutchdare Challenge 27

This week's Dutchdare challenge is to include food or drink in your card. This is not the card I designed for the challenge. I actually got creative and used a template to paper peice a cup of coffee ... having completed my masterpiece, the delightful cat that moved in (and could rapidly be moving out!) jumped onto my craft table and knocked my cup of tea all over the said card and several Christmas cards. Hmmm.

So this is what I am left showing you.

I coloured this gorgeous WOJ and Manolia window using my Acqua promarkers and cut them out. The dp is cardstock and DCWV Old World stack. I added Woodware's Fluffy Stuff to the window and some gingham ribbon. The finishing touches are felt snowflakes, and silver doodling round the edges of the papers and I have written Christmas Wishes and The night before Christmas in Silver.

Not as good as the original, but not too bad in the time I had tonight!

As it uses a WOJ and is not in red/green I am also going to enter it into this week's WOJ challenge.

Christmas is officially over ... well the making of Christmas cards!!
I have finally finished the last batch and written them, so its shop bought ones for all those people hubby has forgotten! I finished the 20 cards for Dave for work, the 27 for Ellie's preschool, the 11 for Beth's Mums and Tots, and the 80 odd we send. Can I now please put my Christmas stamps and papers away for 6 months!!!

We are well organised for Christmas - the tree is up (sort of thanks to the cat), the presents bought and wrapped (and partly unwrapped by the cat!), and Dave has got me my pressies (thank you Funky Kits and Silly Monkey Crafts). God is in his Heaven as they say up here in the North.

Had a bit of a disaster tonight on the crafting front ... you will find out tomorow all about it, so going to have a bath, light some scented candles, drink a glass of wine and chill!!
Have a good evening,
Hugs

ABC Challenge U is for ...

Underneath

You can interpret this theme as you like, either things under other things, or use flaps and tags.

I interpreted the theme as hiding underneath, so I made this aperature card. I used Daisy D and Dovecraft papers and embossed cardstock. Tilda is watercoloured and is sitting in the Magnolia window watching the snow (Woodware Fluffy stuff). I used green organza ribbon as curtains for her to hide underneath.

I look forward to seeing all your creations.

Papertake Sketch

I love doing sketches and the Papertake Weekly Challenge is one of Dawny's fab sketches.

Hopefully this is the last time I have to colouring in this fab Sugar Nellie Father Christmas for another year! I tore the paper and inked the edges of it. The papers are DCWV (last year!), and again I inked the edges. I added ric rac and Prima flowers. I have a real problem matching some of my red ribbons to the flowers I have - does that mean I need to go on a flower shopping spree?!! I haven't added the sentiment as the printer is out of ink so hopefully one will appear before it goes in the post!

Ellie is doing really well, so well that I am tempted to send her back to Pre-school on Thursday! Peace needs to reign again in the house!!

New Year Card

I have finally got round to doing the Sketch Saturday sketch this week, and have combined it with the Spoonfull of Sugar challenge which is to make a News Years card.I have used bits and pieces from my Christmas papers, and my nesties to cut out the ovals. Tilda is watercoloured and I have added gold pen to the glass. The ribbon is from my stash and the flowers are Prima.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge sketch

The challenge over at PBSC this week is a sketch by Beth. It is a fab sketch and one I will be using a lot.

I love this cute stamp, and I watercoloured it using my pencils. The papers are from last year's stash, the ribbon from my stash and the sentiment from Cuddly Buddly.

Embossed tree

The Secret Crafter Challenge this week is to use embossing, any kind of embossing. I am still snowed under making Christmas cards, having had the ones I made to send taken from under my nose this weekend by a friend, and 2 people who have recieved cards I made for other people have asked for some - eek!!!


So this challenge was a great oportunity to make a couple of quick cards!

I used my lace tree embossing folder and Ellie helpfully added so green and red adhesive gems. I matted the tree onto green cardstock and used papers from last year and green organza ribbon. The sentiment is a vellum Papermania one from last year.

We managed to get 2 of these made really quickly.

Friday Sketcher

This is my interpretation of this week's fab sketch.

I had a bit of a problem as I knew the image I wanted to use, but to get this gorgeous Sugar Nellie Snowman to fit, I had to melt a bit of his feet away (hopefully not too painful for him!). I cut him out using my nesties and matted him onto holgraphic carstock. I used Basic Grey papers and prima flowers. The ric rac and brads are from my stash. I have decided it needs a sentiment so I will add one before I send it.

Thank you to all of you who have visited my blog this week. With Ellie being at home I have not done much blogging or card making, when my mum was here. I promise to get round to you all next week, after her birthday and the friends that are coming for the weekend have gone!

Have a good weekend.

Skating hedgehogs

I have managed to get some space in my craft room today to make a couple of cards - Ellie and Beth have done the child equivalent of world domination ... kicked me out of my craft room!!

I made this Christmas card (how many more do I have to make :() using this week's fab sketch from LOTV challenge blog. I love these little hedgies, especially the one going the wrong way! I used Dovecraft papers from last year (love them more than this year's), some green cardstock, organza ribbon and prima flower. The sentiment is part of a stamp have for the inserts I occasionally do!

Dutchdare Challenge - Scalloped edges

This week's challenge is to use scalloped edges, and I have used my nesties to create a frame for Willow and her umbrella. I watercoloured her and then added glossy accents to the umbrella, rain drops and around her feet. I added some small blue adhesive gems to some of the raindrops. I used Basic Grey's Urban Priarie papers and covered a couple of wood chip corners. I added Prima flowers and ribbon from my stash.
A bit of a quick card this week, but I have been a little short of crafting time.

ABC challenge T is for ...

Threes

Ok this is slightly different we want you to do everything in three's bar your image. So if you use papers, there must be three different sheets. If you add flowers we want to see 3, if you add anymore it must be in multiples of 3, get the idea.

For this challenge I made a triangle Trifold card (the tutorial is on Splitcoasters), so 2 lots of 3 there!

I have used 3 papers from Basic Grey, 3 brads, 2 red and 1 snowflake, 3 white flowers, 3 blue gems and the ribbon has 3 bits to it, silver, organza and thread. The image is from Penny Black's 12 days of Christmas set.

It opens like this.

I am looking forward to seeing your creations this week.

Not a Christmas Card!!

I have combined the Secret Crafter sketch with the Papertake Weekly recipe and the Spoonfull of Sugar challenge to make a thank you card. And its PINK!!!
I have made this to go with the box of chocs my very close friend earned looking after Beth and the cat when Ellie went into hospital.

I used a pad of paper I haven't touched for ages, Papermania's Retro Floral, and a lovely FF bear which I have finally had the courage to colour in. I added a green ribbon, some brads from my stash and the sentiment is a Penny Black.

I have started doing less fussy cards again as I noticed at a recent craft fair it was my less fussy ones, and dare I say it, those without stamped images (EEK!!) that sold the best. Also my freind is about as fussy as a pair of doc martens!!

2 more Christmas cards

I thought I had finished my Christmas cards ... and then a friend came and bought a load I was going to use!! So the papers and stamps are back out.

I madfe this card using the Friday Sketcher sketch. Its a great sketch, quite simple but effective. I used a Penny Black image and papers by Daisy D. The cardstock and ribbon are from my stash.
For this one I used the Sketch Saturday sketch. I love this Penny Black but haven't really used it this year. The papers are Basic Grey and I used Woodware's Fluffy stuff to create the snow. Stickles, a peel off and a red and gold ribbon finish it off.

I am hoping to get back into crafting over the next few days, Ellie and Beth allowing. Ellie is a little quiet today and Beth has a rotten cold - what a pleasant day it is going to be!!! Off to dig out scraps and bits for the girls to play with and hopefully give me peace!