3 sketches

Whilst the children and hubby snored away yesterday afternoon, obviously shattered after a trip to the local transport museum!!!, I started on 3 cards, as I like to colour in natural daylight. I got them all finished before bed, and photographed them using hubby's daylight.

Sketch 1 -
Basic Grey Challenges - sketch
Totally Gorguss - wings
Crafts and Me - distressing
Magical Crafts - metal
Sweet Pea Stampers - A sprinkling of fairy dust
Passion for Promarkers - Anything goes
I coloured the image in using promarkers, and having watched Michele's tutorial I have changed my technique, and am liking the results. I cut her out and then distressed the edges using starlight black - a fab ink as it has a shimmer to it. I added some shimmer to her hair and dress using a sakura pen and then some stickles to the moon and edges of the mat. I used the starlight black ink to stamp the borders on the triangles and then added some fab transparent ribbon I have ... it is like bra elastic!!! And then I added some ric rac. The flowers are glimmered and glamoured.

Here is a closer look at the shimmer effect from the sakura pen and starlight ink .

Sketch 2
Friday Sketcher - sketch
Just Magnolia- hot and spicy
Magnolia Down Under - flowers
Passion for Promarkers - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me - distressing
Cupcake Card Challenges - Summer time
I coloured the image using my promarkers ... I need to practise oranges!!! I distressed the background in distress inks - wild honey and broken china. Hot and spicy was a bit of a challenge, until I remembered these DCWV - I think they are hot and spicy. I added twisted raffia and some flowers with buttons in the centre, and that cute little starfish charm.

And finally Sketch 3
Sketch - Lili of the Valley
Cute Card Thursday - no patterned papers
Allsorts - black, white + 1

I love the LOTV bears, they are just so cute! I coloured it using weathered wood, black soot and marigold distress ink. I kept the background simple, using CB embossing folders, layered ribbon and a cute bow.

So that was Sunday for you!!!!

It is my birthday today so we;ve been to Chester Zoo for the day ... and are all shattered now!!

I will be back later or tomorrow with my cards and pressies, and some zoo piccies.

Secret Crafter Manga Release Day 1

It's my birthday today so we are off to Chester Zoo :) I have had lots of lovely cards and some crafty treats :)

But you are all in for a bit of a treat too today ... we are on Day 1 of the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge hop around the Secret Crafter new release Manga Stamps, and they are stunnning.
Here is the first stamp, Cat Girl.I used my pens to colour and kept the layout quite simple ... couldn't resist the BG Porcelin bird cage papers!!! Ohh and I had to add a feather .. hubby hinks that is a bit sick!!

Do check out the other DT interpretations of this fab stamp.


I will back later with the results of my crafting yesterday and some of my pressies :
Have a fab bank holiday.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Secret Crafter manga Cat girl
Colouring Media: Promarkers and copics (secret Crafter)
Papers: Basic Grey (secret Crafter)
Embellishments: from stash

Just Cute Bears Challenge 19

This week's challenge is a thank you card and we are again spomsored by the lovely Kim at Cuddly Buddly Crafts and this is the cutie on offer this week.

As I was short of time I thought I would cheat and go for a Forever friends Decoupage bear ... they take as long to layer up as colouring an image does, so not a lot of time saved there LOL!! The papers are FF Pink Parfait and the sentiment stamp is Penny Black.

The DT have made some amazing creations again this week, so do pop over to their blogs.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge week 84

It's Helen's turn to set this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and her theme is buttons and blooms.
I love this Tilda, and having coloured her using distress inks (Secret Crafter), I paper pieced her dress. I kept the layout simple and used ribbon with a bow with a button at the centre and some roses.

I had a slight measurement error and made the card slightly bigger than the card blank I had made - doh!!!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Magnolia Tilda with Rose
Colouring Media: distress inks (secret Crafter)
Papers: papermania
Embellishments: from stash

Secret Crafter Freebie Friday

This weeks Freebie Friday giveaway at Secret Crafter is one of Wendy's own range of Manga stamps - he is called 'Jake with Bubbles'.

If you would like a chance to win him here are the rules:-

1. You must be a follower of Wendy's blog by adding yourself to the followers list on the side bar.
2. Mention Freebie Friday on your blog and link to the post on Wendy's blog
3. Leave a comment under that post with a link to your blog
4. Go to the Secret Crafter Shop and find Bazzill Jewel Templates Borders. Then send an email to wendy@secretcrafter.co.uk with the item number of this item in the subject box.

Elf Tilda

Just a quick card I made in a little window of opportunity today - one of Beth's friends is 4 tomorrow!
I made it using these challenges:
Pollycraft Challenge - buttons and butterflies
A Spoonfull of Sugar - celebration card
Passion for Promarkers - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - sketch
Everybody-Art-Challenge - Fairy tale
Stampavie and More - Happy birthday for a girl
Tilda is coloured using promarkers and then I cut her out and layered her on dp. The sentiment is a little large for the sketch ... but hey ho! I added a layered flower with a button at the centre and a butterfly charm.

LOTV are giving away a whole set of their new releases to one follower of the LOTV Challenge blog !!! You have to be quick to enter as this candy will close on Saturday night !

Off to get the girls ready for bed and cook hubby his tea ... then I am going to flop in fornt of the telly.
Recipe:
Stamp(s): Magnolia Elf Tilda; Sentiment Penny Black
Colouring Media: Promarkers
Papers: K and Co Sparkly Sweet
Embellishments: from stash

ABC Challenge V is for

We are up to V already!!

V is for
Vintage

So we would like to see vintage creations ... get those distressing tools, laces, inks, etc!
I water coluoured the image and then used tattered rose and vitage photo to distress the background. I stamped round using a lacey vintagey stamp I have. The dp is distressed using my distressing tool and inked the edges. I added lace and some flowers.

Do have a look at the DT's amazing creations and join in if you can.

I am entering this card into theses challenges:
Create4fun challenge - vintage
Creative Inspirations- distressed
Simon Says Stamp - pink, with green and brown

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Magnolia
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: Basic Grey Infuse
Embellishments: from stash

Flowing in blue

I have spent a bit of time in my craft room this morning while Beth crashed on my bed and watched telly.
I made a card to fit these challenges:
Sweet Pea Stampers - recipe
Basic Grey Challenges - Punch it
Stamp With Fun - sketch

I watercoloured my image and distressed the edges. The recipe calls for 4 patterned papers - got those but it did mean i ended up using 3 shapes ... so I am going to say that square technically fall into the rectangle family so are the same!!!! I used my Marianne Creatible leaf swirl, and punched some flowers (one of the pearls appears to have got lost in the move from craft room to conservatory so I will be replacing that!!). I layered a thin satin ribbon with an organza one, and added a bow with a clear button at its centre.

Just pondering if I could get away with colour Create's soft green and light aqua theme!!!


Editted: I found my lost pearl ... on the bottom of Beth's foot!!!! Now back on the card!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Sweet Pea Flowing in blue
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers: Basic Grey Wisteria
Embellishments: from stash

Sketch and Stash #36

For this fortnight's Challenge we are proud to be sponsored by 2 amazing companies...


Stitchy Bear Stamps are offering 3 Digis from the Stitchy Stamps Range, Stitchy Stamps have a sale on during May so why not pop on over and grab a bargain!!

And we are also sponsored by The Creative Cottage who are offering their gorgeous new Digi Kit (released on 26th May) to 1 lucky winner!!

The Creative Cottage products are available exclusively from Pollycraft.

So here is the sketch to follow this fortnight...


I used one of Stitchy's fab images and coloured it using my promarkers and copics. The papers are from Creative Cottage, and are goregous, so summery. I added some flowers and pearls from my stash, and a FF Pink parfait sentiment.

Do check out the other girls' cards, they are stunners.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Stitchy
Colouring Media: Promarkers
Papers: Creative Cottage
Embellishments: from stash

3 sketches, a few challenges

Gosh it has been a warm weekend!!!! We went to a fabulous wedding yesterday, held in an apple orchard, it was gorgeous, but very hot. Today the girls have been playing with the slide and in the paddling pools, one of which the slide was put in!!!

I have got some creations to show you ... I am trying to find my mojo and get back into crafting and doing challenges, but it is a slow process.
I combined
Friday Sketcher - sketch
Simon Says Stamp - tent card + charms,
Stampin for the Weekend - card to cheer someone up (post pals - this card is going to Alice P as she lives close to where my parents do)
Totally Gorguss - bling it on
Charisma Cardz - 3D
Tilda is watercoloured and cout out. The paperes are MME Bella Bella, flowers by Prima, charm, stickles, sparkly adhesive drops and ribbon from stash.

By the way this card is going to a little girl in Cumbria who has a terminal illness. Every month I make a card and send it to a Post Pals child, it really makes their day ... .if you have time do join in the Stampin for the weekend Challenge and send a card to a Post Pals child ... I am so grateful I have two healthy and thriving children. Post Pals is my way of supporting those parents who are not so lucky.

This card combines the following challenges:
Just Magnolia - sketch
Totally gorguss - bling it on
Allsorts - tag/label
Tilda is watercoloured, the papers are MME Bella Bella again (well my pad was out!!). The tag was cut using my sizzix die, and the ribbon, gem and stickles is stash.

This card combines -
Sketch Saturday - sketch
Totally papercrafts - colour/photo inspiration
Wags n Whiskers - good friends
This images is a RAK from Samantha, and coloured using distress inks, The papers are DCWV Nursery stack, raffia and ribbon from stash and sentiment by Penny Black.

Here are some pics of the Wedding:
The bride and groom:
Ellie and Beth and Lisa (the bride)
And the water slide!!

Sorry its a bit short and sweet - loads of ironing, cleaning an tidying to do :(

Just Cute bears #18

We have a sketch challenge for this week, and the sketch has been designed by the lovely Bev who is this month's guest designer.
And here is the fab sketch designed by Bev.

Cuddly Buddly are sponsoring the challegne again this week and you can win this fab, cute teddy stamp.

Onto my card:


Recipe:
Stamp(s): Pollycraft digi freebie
Colouring Media: pormarkers and copics (Secret Crafter)
Papers: Basic Grey Eva (Secret Crafter)
Embellishments: from stash

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge week 84

It's Donna's turn to set this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and her theme is no patterned paper. Ohhh this one might be a challenge, you have to leave all those gorgeous, pretty papers on the side!!!
To me it screamed male card.
I used one of Wendy's (Secret Crafter) fab manga stamps and coloured it using my pens. I ran the black cardstock through my CB ujsing the Swiss Dots folder. The iamge is matted onto a scalloped circle and black circle. I made the little brad footballs by stamping just the football onto shrink plastic and shrinking it.

I have made the card for my hubby ... last summer he was devastated when his beloved football team was relegated ... but his woe has turned to elation as they are back in the premiership. Just struggling for a sentiment.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Secret Crafter Manga Jake with football
Colouring Media: promarkers and copics (Secret Crafter)
Papers: none!
Embellishments: handmade

Freebie Friday over at Secret Crafter

The lovely Wendy from Secret Crafter has launched Freebie friday over on her blog.

Every Friday an item from her shop will be up for grabs. This week it is the Happy Day 6x6 paper pad by S.E.I.


Here are the rules:-

1. You must be a follower of her blog.
2. Mention Freebie Friday on your blog and link to the Freebie Friday post
3. Leave a comment under the Freebie friday post with a link to your blog
4. Go to the Secret Crafter Shop and find 8" x 8" paper pad Charlemagne - Tester Pack. Then send an email to wendy@secretcrafter.co.uk with the item number of this tester pack in the subject box. (Do not post this item number in the comments or on your blog)

Entries must be in before midday on Thursday - a winner will be chosen by random.org. Checks will be carried out to ensure that all the rules have been followed and the winner will announced on Freebie Friday next week.


have fun and good luck.

Snuzzle Love

I abandoned my big little girl at school this morning in tears ... she didn't want me to go, not at all like her :( So I have made this for her when she gets home. Ellie has a bunny she was given when she was days old that she is inseparable from. Auntie JoJo has done a stirling job at patching, but bunny is very loved and tired now, but Ellie still loves her very much. This image is my girl and her bunny.
I have followed the sketch over at Everybody Art Challenge, just replacing the circle text element with a stamped sentiment and bow. Ellie loves my flower box so I have put a few roses on and a charm for her ... just wonder how long it will be before they are taken off and added to something she is making?! I have been playing around with my nesties, exploring matting different shapes together, and I like this one, the circle fits well in the label, so be warned you might see a few of these!! The card fits this week's Wags n Whiskers colour challenge, pink and green, and Stampavie and More's flower power challenge.

I am slowly getting back into card making and blogging, but my mojo and inspiration is a little tired still, bit like me!!!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Wags n Whiskers Snuzzle love
Colouring Media: promarkers and copics
Papers: K and Co Charlotte
Embellishments: from stash

Cute and girly

I have not been working today, so after a brisk trot home from Pre-school, I spent an hour in my craft room making a card for some challenges:
Stamp with fun - Stripes
Pollycraft - Summer Blooms
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Say it with flowers
A Spoonfull of Sugar - Cute and Girly
Passion for Promarkers - Fantasy/Mythical
Just Magnolia - One for the Girls
Creative Inspirations - fairies
I am loving this latest Magnolia collection, and used my promarkers to colour this sweetie in. I used my nesties to cut the matt out and then inked the edges. I love these BG papers and they are so pretty and girly. I raided the last dregs of my Poppicraft flowers for the blooms and added some organza ribbon. I need to find a new outlet for my flat flowers ... any suggestions?

The card is for a friend's birthday on Thursday. I am hoping she won't notice the wonky bits, yes there are wonky bits as walking home meant walking across Rape seed fields and through a small wooded area ... fab for the hayfever!!! I have sneezed all morning!

I am plannnig to catch up with some DT work later on ... just putting my feet up with a cup of tea before the school run!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Magnolia Fairy Tilda
Colouring Media: Promarkers
Papers: Basic Grey Eva
Embellishments: from stash

Pretty in pink

I forgot a friend's birthday ... I feel terrible about it, but we have had so much going on recently, it totally slipped my mind. So I have made her this belated birthday card.

I watercoloured Tilda and then stickled her. I am trying to use up all those papers in pads that are not my favourite ... that is they are pink are really bold patterns!! The little doily was nicked from a restuarant and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. I added some raffia and this gorgeous check ribbon that I have been refusing to cut into!

The card fits these challenges:
Friday Sketcher - sketch
Creative Inspirations - Fairies
Just Magnolia - One for the girls
Magnolia Down under - black, white/cream and 1 other
Magical Crafts - black, white and 1 more colour
Allsorts - birthdays
Totally Gorguss - round round (well the doilly is round!!)

I am going to spend the morning catching up with some DT work as Beth is at Pre-school and Ellie is at school, and I need some quiet time after a hectic few days here!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): magnolia
Colouring Media: distress inks (Secret Crafter)
Papers: Basic Grey Eva (Secret Crafter)
Embellishments: all from stash

Just Cute Bears 17

We are sponsored again this week by

Cuddly Buddly Crafts

and this cutie is on offer this week.

Our challenge this week is a Recipe.
We would like to see your creations using the following recipe.

Recipe ~ 3 Brads, 2 Papers and 1 Ribbon

I used my pens to colour this FF bear and matted it onto FF Pink parfait papers. I added spotty ribbon and 3 brads. The sentiment is Pink Parfait too.