Fire

This week's Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge is Earth, Wind and Fire, and I have paired it with the sketch from Cupcake Craft challenge.
I coloured the image using my pens and then distressed the edges in yellow and orange ink. I used raffia for part of the sketch, and a Prima flower with some glitter just rubbed over it. The pearl brad was a opaque one that I coloured with my pens. This is a colour combo I am really not comfortable ... but I wanted to so something a little out of my box and comfort zone.

I have been for a power walk with a couple of friends .. would like to say I feel invigorated!!! But we ended up walking in persistent rain so I just feel like a knackered drowned rat!!!!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Sweet Pea Silk Dance
Colouring Media: promarkers and copics
Papers: K and Co Que Sera
Embellishments: from stash

Pink birthday

Its hot here today, and the sun is full on my craft room in the morning ... so I had to close the blind!!!
I am trying to get back into crafting every day and doing more challenges ... so here is a challenge card.
Lili of The Valley - Sketch
Stamp with fun - birthdays
Pollycraft - Pinkalicious

My lovely blogging buddy Lols bought me this stamp for my birthday, and I have finally inked it up .. for one of Ellie's friend's birthdays!!! I coloured it using my pens and then matted the dp onto cerise cardstock. There was a sneeze disaster .. but hopefully you can't see it!!! I can't wait for autumn and no pollen!! I added the spotty ribbon and tied a bow.

I have made a huge boob though ... I used an upcoming DT challenge to make a card for one of Ellie's friend's who had his birthday and party yesterday ... only I forgot to photograph it!!!!


Recipe:
Stamp(s): LOTV I baked a cake
Colouring Media: copics and promarkers
Papers: FF Pink Parfait
Embellishments: ribbon from stash

Just Cute Bears week #23

This week we have an open theme so you can interpret it as you want. Annie is offering a fabulous prize for one lucky person (I want it!!).

I love this cute LOTV bear and having coloured him with my pens, I paired him with this fab Basic Grey Mellow paper. I punched a butterfly, added a flower and some fibres.

As the weather is glorious at the moment I have been crafting less and been out in the garden more ... hopefully I'll get to spend some time crafting this afternoo, and I can't wait to see your bear creations.

One for the boys ... and one for the girls

Its hot here today, so hot I have left the gardening until later and retreated to the coolness of my craft room.I have a couple of birthday cards to make, so I thought I would use a few challenges to help make them ... mojo is flaked somewhere in the back garden!!!

The first card covers these challenges:
Friday Sketcher - sketch
Papertake Weekly - sketch
Totally Papercrafts - easel card for a boy
Creative Card Crew - Easel card
Basic Grey Challenge - photo inspiration

Edwin and the barrel are coloured in promarkers and copics and then distressed. I love these new BG papers, and used the circles on the dark on to place some card candy. The sentiment was made by Martine. I took 2 photos as I am rubbish at taking pics of easel cards.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Magnolia Captain Edwin, skull barrel
Colouring Media: promarkers and copics
Papers: Basic Grey - Oliver
Embellishments: card candy

This card covers these challenges:
Just Magnolia - sketch
Simon Says Stamp - friends
Stampavie and more - hearts
Stamp Something - vintage and flowers
Allsorts - embossing
I coloured Tilda and then stickled her wings and dress, and froggie's crown. All the papers and mats are distressed using my Tim Holtz tool and then inked using a muted gold that I found in craft shop. I embossed some cardstock using my CB writing folder and distressed the writing. I didn't thread the lace through the image as it would look too bulky. Finally I added a swirl, some pearls, and hearts (cut from the CB hearts folder and distressed) and flowers glimmer misted in walnut gold. Think it is vintagey .. the colours are!!!!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Magnolia Tilda and frog
Colouring Media: promarkers and copics
Papers: Basic Grey Capella
Embellishments: all from stash

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge 89

It's Vicky's (Victoria) turn to choose the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and as it is the start of Wimbledon she chose Strawberries and Cream.
Here's my DT card ...

I used a very neglected Sarah Kay image, and coloured her using my promarkers and copics. I imagine she has strawberries and cream in that cute picnic basket, and possibly a couple of meringues!! The K and Co papers are matted noto cream cardstock, and I added cream ribbon, and a layered flower, with punched leaves.

Do take the time to take a peek at the other DT creations, and please remember you need to use something available in Wendy's shop to qualify for the prize.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Sarah Kay Picnic (Secret Crafter)
Colouring Media: Promarkers and Copics (Secret Crafter)
Papers: K and Co Que Sera (Secret Crafter)
Embellishments: ribbon and flowers from stash, Martha Stewart frond punch (secret Crafter)

My Favourite thing

Sugar Nellie offered a gorgeous ickle pony on their blog as a free digi, and i just had to have it!! So here it is ...
I coloured it using my promarkers and then used my nesties to cut it out, before inking the edges. I followed Marlene's sketch over at the Sugar Bowl and i think it is girly and feminine! The ribbon and raffia lace are recycled from a card I made and then decided not to use ... so I hope this counts for the Cute Card Thursday challenge this week. The pink and green colour combo fits Everybody-Art-Challenge's theme this week, and I am also using it for Passion for Promarker's favourite things challenge. I love horses, and had my own pony and horse for years, until they died. My Mum and Dad have a couple of yearlings at the moment, one of which we are hoping to keep for the girls to ride when they get a bit bigger.

Here is a picture of my lovely Fred - my pony for 27 years!



Recipe:
Stamp(s): Sugar Nellie pony
Colouring Media: promarkers
Papers: Basic Grey Olivia
Embellishments: all from stash

ABC Challenge - X is for ...

For this wek's ABC challenge we want to see an extra element or dimension on your card.
I made a trifold card with a pull out tag.

I used three of my gorgeous hAnglars and coloured them using my promarkers and copics. I made the trifold card and decorated it using MME papers and cut out the larger image and put her on the front with some pearls. I stuck the bottom of the right fold down so the tag could sit in it without falling out.
The tag is made using co-ordinating paper and ribbon. The little girl is cut out and matted onto the letter rack. there is space on the back of the tag for a message.

I have left it quite plain ..I felt it really didn't need any embellies.

Recipe:
Stamp(s):hAnglar Stanglar kit 3
Colouring Media: promarkers and copics
Papers: MME Bella Bella
Embellishments: pearls and ribbon from stash

Sketch and Stash #38

This week's Sketch and Stash is being sponsored by Meljen Designs, and they have some fab digi images in their store.

Its another fab sketch, so fab I had to make 2 cards.

I used the Cupcake mouse and cupcakes from Meljen Designs for my card. The papers are my neglected Basic Grey Two Scoops, and the raffia and ribbon are from my stash.

For this one I used my new hAnglar Stanglar image and Basic Grey Capella papers (they are very scrumy papers!!). The image is watercoloured using distress inks and I just added a rose to each square.

The Design team have come up with some stunning creations again, so please pop over to their blogs.

I am entering these cards in the Meljens Designs challenge - ribbon, lace, fibres.
I've got a busy day today - doctor's, dentist, Tumble Tots (Beth does it I read a book!!), and the school runs!!

A marathon crafting session!!!

One of my best friend's Vicky has been up for the weekend and while the DH has entertained the children, taking them as far away as Blackpool(!!!), we have crafted. It has been a bit of a shock to the system, having made only 1 card in nearly 3 weeks due to work and holidays. I made 4 for challenges and did some DT work as well!! I confess to having coloured up some of the images whilst on holiday though.

I made this card using the Cute Card Thursday sketch ... although a confess to a little bit of moving so the punched element was where I wanted it!!
I adore this cute Mo Manning fairy, and coloured her in copics and promarkers. The papers are BG Koishi, and the punched butterfly is new.

My next card follows Stampavie and More's sketch (flipped), the pirates theme over at Simon Says Stamp, and Magnolia Down Under's embossing theme.
Thbis Edwin Pirate is one of Vicky's stamps that I got my hands on and stamped up!!! I coloured him using distress inks and then inked the edges. The papers are from Cuddly Buddly's pirate download, and I added card candy, and Martine's feebie download as a sentiment. I used my CB spider's web embossing folder to imitate rigging in the bottom corner.

This card covers these challenges:
Papertake Weekly Challenge - ice-cream flavours (strawberry and pistachio!!)
Sketch Saturday - sketch
Charisma Cardz - bling
Just Magnolia - In the Garden
Totally Gorguss - Sugar and Spice
Tilda and the strawberry are watercoloured using distress inks and then cut out. The dp are DCWV Nursery stack (I love the gliter on these papers). I added some gems, and some stickles to Tilda. The flowers are Prima, and I won them on Jane's blog ... taken me ages to get past the stroking bit!! The photo looks a bit washed out - sorry.

And finally ... if you are still awake!!
This card uses the Friday Sketchers sketch.
I won this gorgeous Kathy Hare stamp on Sugar Nellie's blog, and it was a dream to colour. If you follow my blog regularly you will have already seen the image coloured ... I did it on my holiday, and have finally got round to putting it on a card. She is coloured with promarkers. The papers are Basic Grey Koishi - I really can't make up my mind if I like these or not!! I added some ribbon, flowers and a punched, glittered butterfly.

Off to do some ironing and get tea ready - the girls are across the road at a friend's house so it is all peaceful at the mo!!

Just Cute Bears Challenge #22

This week's challenge is Monochrome.

I love this little bear, and as it Father's Day, I have made a card for a football mad dad. The image seemed perfect for the card! I used my promarkers to colour the image and then used nesties to cut the squared paper. I didn't add any embellies as the daddy wouldn't want 'any fussy stuff'! on his card!!

We had had some sad news over at the challenge, Ali, our founder, has decided to have a break from blogging and has stepped down from the team for a while. We can't wait to have her back.

I am also entering this card for the following challenges:
Passion for Promarkers - sketch and male theme
Cupcake Craft Challenge - one for the boys
Magical Crafts - something for a male/father's Day
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Father's day card

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Stampavie Gillian Roberts Football bear
Colouring Media: Promarkers
Papers: Smirk
Embellishments: none!

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge DT

This week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge has been chosen by Vicky, and it is wedding/wedding anniversary.

I coloured this gorgeous Secret Crafter Manga image, Canoodling Couple, using my pens, and cut it out. I layered the Basic Grey Sugared papers onto green cardstock, and cut a couple of the leaves out. I added a ribbon and layered the leaves over the couple. I stamped the text using Pollycraft sentiment stamps.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Secret Crafter Manga Stamps Canoodling Couple
Colouring Media: Promarkers (Secret Crafter)
Papers:Basic Grey Sugared (Secret Crafter)
Embellishments:ribbon from stash

I am back off holiday!

Having not made a card for nearly 2 weeks, I went on a bit of a sharp learning curve for this!!
It fits these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp - recipe (1 image, 2 dp, 3 types of embellies)
Stampavie and More - dots
Everybody Art Challenge - things with wings
Charisma Cardz - spots and stripes
Just Magnolia - sketch
Allsorts - lace &/buttons
Basic Grey Challenge - turquoise, brown and cream
Magnolia Down Under - swirly swirly

I used my promarkers to colour the image and then cut her and some of the bubbles out. I matted her onto an embossed circle and glittered it and her. I coloured the buttons using my promarkers to match the papers and layered flowers. I added more glitter, some lace, the bubbles, glittered and glossed, and some gems (oops that makes 4 embellies doh!!!).

I have some Penny Black stamps for sale ... you can find them here. I am also gonig to be adding some Sugar Nellies, WOJ and RAM later if you are interested.


Recipe:
Stamp(s): Tilda blowing bubbles
Colouring Media: promarkers
Papers: Basic Grey Blush and unknown
Embellishments: from stash

Just Cute Bears Challenge 21

This week's challenge is

Here Comes Summer

I coloured the image using my pens and matted it onto blue cardstock. The papers are a freebie pad of MME Pretty Please ... just a few bits left now! I layered up some flowers and added some organza ribbon and a bow.



Recipe:
Stamp(s): Wild Rose Studio Milton and Co
Colouring Media: Promarkers
Papers: MME
Embellishments: from stash

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge week 87

It's the lovely Mel's turn to set this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and her theme is to include a quote.

I decided to make the quote the focal point of my card and do something a little different.
I made the paper using distress inks (Secret Crafter). I swiped wild honey, barn door and aged mahogony across my mat, spritzed them and then rubbed my cardstock into it. I gave it a quick spritz with walnut gold glimmer mist and left it to dry. I stamped both the sentimen and border in aged mahogony, then added the ribbon and flowers.

ABC Challenge ... W

We are almost at the end of our second cycle of the alphabet and more and more of you are joining in which is fabulous.

This week we are being sponsored by the lovely Wendy from Secret Crafter.

W is for
Weather

I chose Sunshine.

I love this Tilda in her little swimming costume. She is masked onto the breaker and coloured using distress inks ... I know her feet are missing, hubby took great delight in telling me that one ... perhaps the water is so cold they have turned back!! I kept the layout simple, using these fab BG papers. I think they reflect the colours of the seaside, and the circle represents the sun. I added some raffia, a layered flower and a starfish charm.


Recipe:
Stamp(s): Magnolia Beach Tilda, breaker
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: Basic grey marrakesh
Embellishments: from stash

Sketch and Stash #37

It's time for another Sketch and Stash challenge and this time we are being sponsored by the lovely Heidi from Simon Says Stamp.
Here is the sketch ...
And my interpretation of it ...
The stamp is new(ish), the flowers are new and the papers are very neglected, and sadly I am running out of them :( I coloured the image in using distress inks and distressed the background. The doily is distressed and I added some organza ribbon and these lush flowers.


Recipe:
Stamp(s): Sweet Pea
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: Kanban
Embellishments: from stash

Just sneaking a quick post ...

shhhhh don't tell anyone!!!!
The girls have gone to church with my parents and Dave is out with friends ... the house is silent and I am all alone so no-one will know!!



I got the gorgeous Kathy hare Stamps from Sugar Nellie through the post yesterday ... I won them on the Sugar Nellie blog. They are simply stunning and just had to be inked up ... I know I said I wasn't crafting for a week ... but I only coloured them!!!

This is Artist Betty

don't you just love those big boots and the splodges of paint?

This is Worried


That expression isso poignant and you can almost squidge that bear.

This one is Garden Daisy.
I love that hair!!

They are gorgeous stamps and a dream to colour! I have the other three inked up and I am going to have a play with them too ... well while the cat (or cats in this case) are away!!!

Have a great Sunday everyone ... and don't forget to have a peek at my Just Cute Bears post ... candy up for grabs for 1 lucky commenter this week.

Just Cute bears Challenge 20

This week's challenge is

Fathers Day

Now we don't do Father's Day here and never have dne, but as my Dad's birthday is 16th June, it always falls around that time, so this is his birthday card.
While I had my silicon glue and decoupage out last week I thought I might as well ... so here is another cheat card!! This is my Dad, except he needs a laptop rather than a cup of tea!!!! The papers are from the same decoupage pack, as is the greeting. I added some brads and voila!!