Snuzzles and cuddles

Its Saturday morning and I have been up since the crack of dawn thanks to our 'delightful' cat who has obviously read somewhere that owners like their cats to bring very alive shrews (or mice) into the bedroom to torture!! She stalked off to my craft room to kill the first and we managed to liberate the second ... but by 6am I was wide awake ... so I thought i would have a go at making some challegne cards before cracking on with some DT work.
For both cards I have my latest stamps .. both from Wags 'n' Whiskers .. and bought before Lent!!!

The first card covers these challenges:
Wags 'n' Whiskers - favourite things ... stamps, charms, flowers, distress inks ...
Sketch Saturday - sketch
Stamp Something - touch of Spring (I think the papers are spring like!)
Totally Papercrafts - Lots of Spots
Fuss 'n' Fancy - Dazzle us
Cute Card Thursday - metal mania
Totally Gorguss - Flower Power
I masked the wings off and stamped the image, before watercolouring it using distress inks and distressed round the outside in tumbled grass (new and just a bit fab!). I rotated the sketch and the sentiment is Magnolia, with the not masked off. Sorry I have just noticed the charm is twisted ... opps! I added some gems in a sort of swirl, some flowers and spacers and a charm.

Now I bought this image as it reminded me of one of my favourite things ... younger daughter Beth and her favourite teddy Harvey (no pink bow!!) ... oh and she is wearing her favourite colour ... pink!!

Onto the second card ...
Friday Sketchers - sketch (rotated)
Wags 'n' Whiskers - favourite things (see above)
Cute Card Thursday - metal mania
Totally Gorguss - Flower power
Allsorts - tag/label/ticket
Totally Papercrafts - Lots of Spots
I LOVE this image ... it is Ellie and her bunny! I watercoloured the image and distressed the edges. I faux stitched the dp and added a Tim Holtz ticket for the sentiment. The flower is layered and I added a charm to it. Finally some white organza ribbon and a ickle bow.

Here are my gorgeous babies with Bunny and Harvey ... you can't really see Bunny ... trust me she is well loved and very patched!!! (Auntie JoJo will confirm that as she's the one that gets to patch Bunny!)
Ellie on New year's Day 2005 with Bunny - they were both 3 weeks old!!
and finally Beth in April 2007 with Harvey ... the day she got him.
The girls were supposed to be going swimming ... but that has been cancelled ... so hubby is on playing duty so I can craft :)
I will be blog hopping later ... got lots to catch up on as I have had a really busy week and not much 'pooter time.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Wags 'n' Whiskers Bear Hug, Snuzzle Love; Magnolia sentiment
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers:MME Pretty Please
Embellishments: ribbon, charms, spacers, brads, flowers from stash

A couple of cards and a sneak peek

I have a stinking cold and sinustus and feel rotten today. The girls have had their first swimming lessons and they both loved them and got on really well, and loved it. I think I two water babies in the family :) While Beth had a sleep to recover from all her exertion in the pool, I have made a couple of cards for a few challenges this afternoon ... Ellie helped with the embossing and glittering!
The first card follows the Just Magnolia sketch, the winter theme over at Fuss and Fancy, Glitter over at Ba Humbag, and the Simon Says Stamps punch it challenge... and I am keeping to my New Year's Resolution of at least 1 Christmas card a week.
Tilda is watercoloured and then I distressed the edges with distress ink. took my distressing tool to the edges of the image and cardstock, then liberally pushed it into my versamark pad (Ellie liked this ..) before sprinkling embossing powder over and heating it (Ellie really liked this bit!!) I (We) repeated the process for the dp and cardstock. I used my cuttlebug snowflake die and pushed it into the versamark pad (helped by Ellie) and then sprinkled with embossing powder (Ellie did this bit) before heating it. I added some raffia and layered punched snowflakes.

The second card I made was for several challenges:
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Something sweet
Sketch Saturday - sketch
Allsorts - Hearts and flowers
One Stop Craft Challenge - love and kisses (xxx on the tag, and that mouse loved those chocs!!)
Basic Grey Challenge - Animals
The image was watercoloured and then I inked the edges. I added heart gems to the sweets and to the top corners of the image. I don't have any corner punches so I cut a flower into quarters. I used rirac for the scalloped edge.

Its the first challenge tomorrow over at Just Cute Bears Challenge.

And here's a peek at my 1st DT card ...

If you have time do join in.

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Magnolia Tilda with Vintage roses, Magnolia sentimen; Penny Black Sweet Slumbers, Papermania sentiments
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers: Basic Grey Fruitcake; Basic GreyInfuse
Embellishments: all from stash

A couple of Tildas

What a weekend .. the girls were at Tumble Tots on Saturday and then swimming yesterday, and we have been visiting my friend and her gorgeous little baby girl.
I coloured a couple of images last night while watching telly and put them on cards this morning.

The first uses the layout from Sketch Saturday and the thank you theme over at Just Magnolia.
Tilda is coloured using my promarkers and copics and then matted onto cardstock. I resisted the distressing urge!! The dp is Basic Grey Wisteria and I have matted it onto purple cardstock. The card base is purple cardstock too. The sentiment is Penny Black, and the flowers are punched. I added a few gems to finish.

This card uses the layout fgrom Friday Sketchers, and the Magnolia Down Under Valentine theme. I used pink and grey so that's Cute Card Thursday covered too!!
Tilda and the accessories are coloured using promarkers, and then cut out. I embossed distressed the pink cardstock and matted the Cosmo Cricket dp onto the same pink cardstock. Just some pink ribbon to finish. I'm not sure, but a couple of friends' have said they like it so I'll leave it as it is!


And I have exciting news!! I have been chosen to be on my good blogging friend Ali's new Challenge blog.

The first challegne is on Sunday, so get your bear stamps inked up and join in the fun.

Look what I made .... eventually!!!

So it has taken me nearly a week to produce what I am showing today .. good job I can link them to some challenges!!!

The first is an easel card for my Godmother ...it is her birthday at Christmas so she always gets a Christmas themed card ... kills two birds with one stone so to speak.
This card covers theses challenges:
Just Magnolia - Christmas
Sketch Saturday - sketch
Basic Grey Challenges - cream, pink and blue
Allsorts - pearls and swirls
Totally Gorguss - Free and Easy
Create4fun - easel card
Magnolia Down Under - bedazzledThis gorgeous Tilda is coloured using distress inks and then I inked the edges of the image and dp. I added stickles to the image - might have just got a little carried away ... having added baby blue ... I had to add some cotton candy!!!
I used organza ribbon and added a fab tea rose, glimmered and glamoured and some punched swirls and some flat backed pearls.
Here's the sketch element.
Here's a close up of the image and sparkle.

This is for a crafting friend ... and I used these challenges -
A Spoonfull of Sugar - monochrome
Papertake Weekly - no red or green
Passion for Promarkers - Christmas theme, but not a card
Friday sketcher - sketch
Simon Says Stamp - snow
Whiff of Joy - sparkle
Uru and his littl friend are coloured using Promarkers and then stickled. I kept the papers simple and just added lace and punched snowflakes which were liberally stickled too!! I added fluffy stuff to make the snow under Uru's feet.
The box/bag is made using two bottoms for a gift box I use and adding vellum inbetween ... so you can't see your pressie!! The box/bag is tied using some gingham ribbon, so all you need to do is untie the ribbon and take the lid off ... just need to think about how to post it now LOL!!
Ellie has finally opened the last of her birthday presents we can start on Christmas!! I bought a whole salmon today that is now filleted and in the freezer (guess what the girls chose for Christmas dinner!!) and the cat is happy!! Oh and cubed 5lb of topside for hotpot on Christmas Eve ... not just for the 4 of us I hasten to add!!
So we are off to get the tree tomorrow, and the Christmas music will come out, and I need get wrapping those pressies! But the cards are written and posted!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Magnolia Tilda with Present; WOJ Uru with Bird
Colouring Media: Distress inks; promarkers
Papers: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses; Periphery; MME - Christmas Glitter stack
Embellishments: all from stash

A couple more Christmas Cards

I am trying very hard to get a few Christmas cards made, as a couple of friends have asked for a few!
Both cards fit Colour Create's red, green and white challenge.
For this one I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday and Animal Antics from Simon Says Stamp.
These LOTV bunnies are watercoloured and I added stickles to their hats. The papers are Basic Grey and I used lace and flowers from my stash. The white flowers are inked a bit as they looked too white!! The sentiment is Papermania.

This card uses a Father Christmas from Whiff of Joy. He is watercoloured and the background distressed in aged mahogany and weathered wood. I followed the sketch over at Stamp with Fun, and distressed the edges of the Basic Grey papers.

Ellie is off poorly today so I haven't been working, just doing the after school bit for a couple of children. Hopefully she will be back at school tomorrow. It has given me the time to rummage through my stamps and list a few on Ebay ... I really do need to reduce my stamp collection as I am running out of space!!! if you fancy a peek, you can find them here.

Christmas cards ... I'm on a roll!!!

I thought I would crack on with a few Christmas cards ... the New Year's resolution to make at least 1 a week has been on rocky ground for a while so a bit of a catch up is in order!

This card uses this week's Sketch Saturday sketch.
I watercoloured the image and then glossed the bauble. Once the gloss was dry I added the stickles. I have kept everything simple, using my deckled nesties for the scallop edge. The papers are DCWV, the smaller pattern comes from one of the borders papers. The sentiment came from somewhere ... still no Christmas sentiment stamps so I am going to have to resort to buying some :(

This card is for this week's Allsorts challenge ... a sketch and monochrome Christmas.
Snowy is a great stamp to use for monochrome!! I watercoloured him and stickled him. After cutting him out I matted him onto pearlised cardstock embossed using my snowflakes folder. The dp is DCWV and matted onto turquoise cardstock. I punched the snowflakes and added a bit of stickles. The sentiment is a vellum Papermania one found deep in my stash.

Finally I used the Stampin' for the Weekend sketch.
Not very Christmasy but I have someone in mind for it and they are very butch and not at all sparkly!! I watercoloured Henry and matted him using red and green cardstock. The dp is DCWV Christmas stack from a couple of years ago. I used my nesties to cut the diamonds out. It does need a sentiment ... might be resorting to the peel-offs I found at the bottom of my Christmas box!

Trick or Treat

I don't really do Halloween cards, but I have made Ellie a bag for our Halloween trick or treat treasure hunt (Beth's is in the pipeline!!)
I used a few challenges to help me along the way ...
Simon Says Stamp - halloween
Allsorts - halloween
Colour Create - red, yellow, black, white, and the optional flowers (sorry no checks!)
Cute Card Thursday - Charms
Sketch Saturday - sketch rotated

So here's the bag ...

and a close up of the front ...
I made the backing paper using my Tim Holtz mask and weathered wood and black soot distress inks. Its been a while since I did any masking and I really like this fence. I would have liked Wilma standing behind it, but my printer doesn't like the card I use for my bases and the paper I use for digi images is not very distres ink friendly - so Wilma is floating slightly LOL!! I stamped the swirls at the top using versafine and ran the cardstock through the cobwebs CB folder. I distressed them in weathered wood and black soot. I added the ribbon, fab hat charm (from Bunny-Zoe's shop) and flowers. Finally I added a bit of stickles to the stars on the hat.

I'll be back later with some pics of the girls - we had a day out yesterday and hopefully another card- off to craft!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Wilma Witch; swirl stamp from Katzel Kraft
Colouring Media: Promarkers
Papers: cardstock and coredinations
Embellishments: ribbon, charm, punched flowers and brads from stash

The results of my weekend

What a busy weekend!!! It was hubby's birthday yesterday, and he had arranged to collect his new car ... very nice, just a bit RED!!!! We went to Southport to see the Red Arrows at the air show there. They were really good, and although they didn't do their really big loops, the girls loved the show. Today we have been to Bury to by his birthday present .. a camera for him, so he doesn't need to nick mine all the time!
I have found some time to do some crafting, but my back is really painful (thanks to a small child swinging on me and twisting it!!) so I haven't spent as long as I would like to in my craft room.

The first card is for the Allsorts Challenge, Autumn Days.
I adore this Tina Wenke image, Opossum Pals, and coloured it using my promarkers and copics, all available at the Secret Crafter. The papers are Basic Grey Mellow and I used organza brown ribbon and orange satin ribbon from my stash.

The next card is for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge, pink, brown and yellow, and I used the Saturday Sketch, which I rotated.
I coloured this cute mouse (Penny Black Gifts for you) in using my distress inks. I inked the edges and matted it onto the dp. The dp is Basic Grey Sugared. I added brown ricrac, and punched the scalloped edge with my Stampin'up punch. The flowers are punched and should have pearls in the centre but I think small fingers have had them away whilst i was finding the camera! Please imagine pink pearls! The sentiment is from Pollycraft Sherbert Dreams and is stamped in sepia.

Finally I used the Friday Sketcher sketch and this week's Just Magnolia pink and grey challenge to make this card.
I coloured Dala Tilda in using my promarkers and then inked the edges in pink and black soot ink. The papers are Basic Grey (Boxer and Eva) and I stamped swirls from a TAC set I have. I added grey organza from my stash and a layered flower using prima flowers and a rose bud.

I have another busy week ahead of me ... but am hoping to get back in my craft room in the evenings.

Its a new Sketch and Stash challenge tomorrow, and I LOVE the card I have made for it, partly because Becky's sketch is a cracker ... do pop back to take a peek.

Oriental

Oriental is well out of my comfort zone ... in fact this is the first oriental card I have made!! Simon Says Stamp challenge is oriental, and I used this week's Sketch Saturday sketch and Stamp Something's theme, favourite embellishments. My favourite embellishments are flowers (especially punched ones!) and ribbon, both of which are on this card.
I stamped the image using versmark and then added gold embossing powder. I matted it onto an embossed panel of gold and then black cardstock. I stamped the stamp using versamark round the edges of the red cardstock, and then added the ribbon, a couple of large punched flowers with gold brads, and smaller punched flowers with gem centres. I was going to add a sentiment but it didn't look right ... so that went in the bin!
I am hoping to get more crafting timer this afternoon, but the girls have invited me to a barbeque ... barbequed conkers and holly leaves are on the menu ... can't wait!!!!
Recipe:
Stamp(s): Lavinia Cherry Blossom
Colouring Media:
Papers: cardstock
Embellishments: punched flowers, ribbon, brad and gems from stash

Michael's 18!!!

My best friend's little boy is 18 on Saturday .. and I have known him since he was 3 - eekkk!!!! How old do I feel?!! I have been struggling with the birthday card for him, but finally settled on the image and the rest has sort of fallen into place - would have liked another few weeks for this (not that i've not known it was coming LOL!!!).
I have combined a few challenges for it ...

• PBSC - blue, tan and cream
• Sketch Saturday - layout
• A Spoonful of Sugar - travel (well they are in a boat LOL!)
• Papertake Weekly Challenge - pick your favourite challenge and do it again - mine was Elegant embossing (not sure this is so elegant LOL!)
  

I watercoloured the image and the cut it and the matt using my nesties. I embossed all the cardstock using Swiss Dots and the Happy Birthday folders. I used my Fiskars threading water punch for the scallops and added a strip of carstock instead of ribbon. No flowers, I used buttons instead of flowers.
Now just got to get the pressie!!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Fishin', Saluations
Colouring Media: distress inks
Papers: coredinations cardstock
Embellishments: buttons form stash

Manga children

I've been having a play with my Promarkers and Sugar Nellie's Manga images this afternoon.
The first card I made is for the Sugar Bowl, and its Marlene's sketch with doodling.

I coloured the Manga Boy with Promarkers and the cut him out. I matted all the dp (MME Wild Aspargus) onto olive green cardstock. I did dots round the mat circle and crosses and dashes in the corners of the dp. I think I am going to use this card for my hubby's birthday.

The second card is for Sketch Saturday - I forgot the sentiment off it - doh!!
I coloured my image in using promarkers, enjoyed having a play with the hair colour!!. The papers are MME Bloom and Grow. I punched slots to thred the ribbon through and punched flowers.
Recipe:
Stamp(s): Sugar Nellie Manga girl, Manga Boy
Colouring Media: promarkers
Papers: MME Wild Asparagus' Bloom and Grow
Embellishments: punched flowers, buttons and ribbon from stash

Soft and sweet

Just a quick card today... I tried the girls out in their 'bangy' clothes (Dave does English Civil War re-enactment) and ... shock horror Ellie's long dress from last year reaches her knees!! Should have kept the tonsils!!!!! So I have been making her a new dress as we are away at the weekend and she likes to dress up! Beth got away with just dropping the hem on her dress.
I combined PBSC's soft and sweet challenge with the sketch from Sketch Saturday, which I rotated.
I colored the cute ickle mouse in distress inks and distressed the background in tattered rose, aged mahogany and shabby shutters. I matted the dp onto K and Co dp and added gold organza ribbon. I used a small flower and a couple of flower brads to finish it off.
Going to have an early night tonight .. bath and telly!
Recipe:
Stamp(s): Penny Black Gift for you
Colouring Media:distress inks
Papers:K and Co, Basic Grey Porcelein
Embellishments:Papermaina flower and brads, ribbon from stash

Saturday Creations

Me and the girls are spending the wekend in the Lake District with my parents, so I have had a little time to make a couple of cards.
The first is for this week's Sketch Saturday. Its a fab sketch and I have rotated it.
I watercoloured the image and distressed the edges in Scattered Straw, dried marigold and shabby shutters. I added braid to the dp (very stokeable this paper!) and punched some flowers and added pearls.

My mum has asked me to make a card for her - strict instructions - NO flowers, fibbon, buttons or fuss. I have made this using this week's Penny black Saturday Challenge (swirls) and Stampin for the weekend's colour challenge (red and brown).

I coloured the image and matted it onto cardstock. I put some red cardstock through my D'vine Swirls folder and cut a panel and 2 squares. I pierced the edges of the cardstock and then put my hands behind my back so as not to grab ribbon, punches, buttons!! Mum loves it ... I NEED to add to it!!
Off to play out while it is still nice.

Recipe:
Stamp(s):Sugar Nellie Country Garden; Pennt Black Three Meows
Colouring Media: Distress inks
Papers:My Minds Eye; cardstock
Embellishments: punched flowers, gems and braid from stash

Simon Says ....

I have finally got round to joining in a Simon Say Stamp challenge, and its a colour challenge, lemon, orange, apple green and pink. I used the Sketch Saturday sketch for the layout, and rotated by 180 degrees.
I watercolured the image and distressed it using spiced marmalade and mustard seed. I used my Glimmer mist screen and spiced marmlade ink to creat the botton right corner detail. All the dp is distressed. I added prima flowers, brads, ribbon and acharm to finish the sketch.
I've just noticed there's something green at the top left corner of the card that shouldn't be there!

Recipe:
Stamp(s): Sarah kay
Colouring Media: distress ink
Papers:My Minds Eye everyday Tango
Embellishments:Prima flowers, brads, ribbon and charm from stash