A Bit of News!

Just a little post to let you know that I have been chosen to be Guest Designer for February on Dotties Challenge Blog! So come back tomorrow when I will be showing what I have created for the Challenge. Now I must go and make it!

Thank you so much Louise!!

Birthday Bubbles with Scruff!

The Secret Crafter challenge this week is another recipe:

1, 2, 3

1 image

2 papers

3 embellishments

And I've used the same image of Scruff again (cos it is fab!) - and it was pre-coloured - saving time and giving me the inspiration for the backing paper colours! The backing papers were also a freebie and were part of the Mily Designs download, which I still cannot remember where I got them from - aren't the colours just fantastic?! All edges have been inked in black and I've rounded the edges.

The sentiment was handwritten but was supposed to be computer generated but the thing would not play nicely and work so the handwriting it had to be! The three embellishments bit of the recipe are covered by the fab flower (thanks Jozza!) and the two Queen & Co holder things and the pearlescent brads.

Sorry that the main image is at a slight angle - it is straight in real life, honest!

• Backing papers: Don't know but the download said Mily Designs
• Image: Scruff
• Flower: From Jozza
• Other Bits: Queen & Co pink things and Dovecraft pearl brads
  
  

Wearing Purple!

The second Sketch and Stash challenge (a sketch challenge to use new or rediscovered stash) is:
And I made this:

The backing papers I have not got a clue where they came from. They were a download from somewhere which caught my eye (free!) and the file has saved as Mily Designs. You will be seeing more papers from this download as the papers are fab! The image is a special freebie from Dotties World (I did a challenge and as a reward I got the free image!) and the stamp is on loan from Lynsey in preparation for a stamping frenzy that I will be embarking on!

Edges have been inked (yes that worn out tiny black inkpad still has life in it!) and I've hand drawn the frame around the main backing paper. The sentiment has been dotted and I've handwritten the word 'more' on the sentiment.

You'll be seeing more of Dottie this week as she's on most of my challenges - I cannot resist!!

• Backing paper:
• Image: Dottie (pre coloured)
• Sentiment: My Sentiments Exactly (on loan from Lynsey)
• Flower: Prima Esprit
• Brads: From my stash (originally from Jozza)
  
  

Doctors Orders Number 9.....

You need to think creativity for this one! The challenge this week on Tag - You're It is:

Numbers

I had a little think about this one. I really need to make a get well / recover quick card for my Dad as he is due to have a knee replacement op on 11 February and I wanted to be a little organised for it. So, I had a Dottie printing extravaganza and printed this little image out (along with others!) I had to google the bingo lingo to make sure I was right, and so the tag was born!

I made up the shape of the tag myself (basically the blue star card was an off-cut and I was determined that I was going to use it up!) - I used a roll of sellotape for the shaped bit at the top. I layered it onto some dark blue card to give it an edge. The ribbon was from a very generous Enfys (how can you give away that much ribbon??!!) The sentiments are stamped with blue Whispers ink (with black residue - opps not cleaned the stamps too well eh?!) and I've used my little wooden Studio G alphabet stamp set. And the number 9 is cut with the Sizzix Round-a-Bout Alphabet set.

Do you think my Dad will see the funny side of it?! She looks a bit like the Catherine Tate character doesn't she?! Lets hope he's dosed up on numerous painkillers if he gets a nurse like that!

• Backing papers: Funky Daze
• Image: Dottie (Pre coloured cos I am lazy bones!)
• Ribbon: Kindly donated by Enfys
• Sentiment: Studio G mini wooden alphabet set
• Dies: Sizzix Round-a-Bout alphabet die set
  

Dottie Challenge - Recipe

The Dottie Challenge this week is a recipe. And I'm useless at cooking but I think I did ok with this one! The recipe is:

1 of the downloads
1 ribbon
3 buttons
1 flower, but it has to be handmade (not a shop bought one, oh no!)
Chuck it all together and see what you come up with!

I'd had a printing fest of Dottie images over the weekend (well, I hate to waste good card so thought I'd print a few images off in one go!) and I'd been rewarded with the image of Scruff for taking part in a challenge a few weeks ago - you can't buy this image so its a special one!

Anyway, I've rounded the edges of the image with my trusty punch, (how DID I manage before?!) inked the edges of all the papers (Funky Daze by the way!), added the ribbon - should have bought much much more of it when I had the chance cos its very fantastic! And then added the buttons. The ribbon across the card is just tied where you see it as I couldn't get it to tie properly with two ends and neatly in a bow. The loose end by the buttons is just doubled back on itself. Thought it would look a bit different.

And the flower?! Made with my very wonderful Cuttlebug flower dies - 3 different flower shapes which I have pinched into shape and layered. Easy peasy!

• Backing paper: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Image: Scruff in the tub - special freebie from Dottie's World
• Buttons: From my stash
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Flower: Made by me with Funky Daze papers and Cuttlebug Flower die
  
  

Penny Black - Frame It

The Penny Black Challenge this week is:

Frame It

Fairly simple eh? Well, no! So I ended up drawing a freehand frame around the image as none that I had tried looked right! Plus, if it does count, the heart embellishment is a frame - its a little shaker box!

Anyway, the image came from Kath in a recent Funky Hand DT image swop and its called 'hugs'. I coloured it with watercolour pencils and a bit of inking around the edges. The backing paper Jozza gave me when we met up recently (I actually have the same papers but in 8x8). Ribbon is from my stash, and the hearts, well, there were a number of them in the pack, all different. Not got a clue where I got them from, but bought two packs!

• Backing paper: From Jozza
• Image: 'Hugs' from Kath
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Embellishments: From my stash
  
  

Give It Some Heart!

The dare this week on Daring Cardmakers is:

"...feel free to make a card fitting any theme you like as long as it has a heart somewhere on it. Stamped hearts, punched hearts, diecut hearts, heart embellishments, cut from patterned paper, whatever, whenever as long as it has the right shape."

I did cheat a little (yes I will own up!) as I originally started making the tag for the Tag You're It Challenge last week but ran out of time and forgot to photograph it. So I finished it off and added it to a card.

The backing papers and little heart tag are freebie papers from Papercraft Inspirations (you can download them from their website as the actual papers themselves are not the best quality). I've doodled a white line around the edges of the tag, and dots around the edge of the heart, added some ribbon and a pearl brad to the heart.

And its going in my Valentine Card box in preparation for nursery next week!

• Backing paper: Downloaded from Papercraft Inspirations
• Dies: Sizzix Super Sized Scallop Tag
• Ribbon & Brad: From my stash
  
  

Christmas All Year Round - January Challenge

This post has been sat ready and waiting since 9 January but didn't want to publish it until later in the month! I managed one of two of the CCAYR challenges in December but decided that I would do my very best to join in the monthly challenges - a brief is given and 5 cards have to be made for that month. The idea is, that by December I will have made 60 cards. So its either keep all my Christmas bits n bobs handy or panic in November as I've not got enough cards made!

Anyway, the Christmas All Year 'Round January challenge is:

Create a card with VERY traditional red and green colors and a stamped OR a rub-on sentiment!

So here they are!

• Backing paper: Dovecraft Ho Ho Ho papers with doodled edges
• Embellishment: Cracker (was actually a gift tag) with green wired snowflakes and red raffia
• Sentiment: Studio G outline acrylic stamp which I have coloured with black ink
  

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

• Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug snowflakes
• Image: Cut from a Christmas Card
• Sentiment: Studio G acrylic stamp

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

• Backing paper: Dovecraft Ho Ho Ho papers for the tree
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Sentiment: Studio G wooden alphabet stamp

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

• Backing paper: Traditional Christmas download from Mad About Cards
• Dies: Sizzix Scallop Tag combo
• Image: From my stash
• Sentiment: Studio G acrylic stamp
  

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

• Dies: Sizzix Christmas Tree
• Backing paper: Red - Funky Hand
• Sentiment: Studio G wooden alphabet set
• Other bits: From my stash
  

Can't wait for the February challenge!

More Randomness!

Another random tag! Ok, so 7 random facts (7?! It was only 5 last time!) about me that are different from the last random tag I received:


1. I had the same due date for both boys. I had them in the same room in hospital and they were delivered by the same midwife almost 2 years apart.


2. I've never had my hair permed.


3. I can't step onto an escalator on the first attempt - I dither a bit.


4. I've never broken a bone.


5. I love cats but I am highly allergic to anything with fur and or feathers.


6. I have very neat and small writing. If I'm writing for best.

7. I made most of the curtains in our house. See - I don't just faff with bits of paper!!




Thanks to Amanda for this!

Sometimes ...

... I just can't get everything done that I want to. It's been a difficult week at times - work has been demanding and I've had trouble concentrating with competing demands. And I've been making what feels like millions of Wedding Invitations! Not just one Wedding - but two!

One lot is practically completed; just waiting for the final details to go inside and I've made a reasonable dent in the second batch of invitations. I'll be sharing some photos of them early next week as its near impossible to take a realistic photo of dark chocolate brown pearlescent card without daylight!

And I'm also trying to make sufficient Valentine cards as I'm already getting requests for them.

Plus I have a birthday card to make and get it sent by the end of next week (yes, that would be the 30 January hehehehe!)

So, if you're wondering why I'm a bit light on the challenges this week - that is why! However, I have managed the Christmas Cards All Year 'Round January Challenge (I did make these right at the start of the month but thought it very unsporting if I blogged them too early in the month) and those will be shared next week.

Perhaps it will be 'business as usual' next week? Who knows?!!

Cuteable Giveaway!

To celebrate their first year of owning Cuteable, Lynsey is having a massive giveaway! She has approached fellow crafters for donations and I have made her these especially:


You can see them featured on Cuteable here. The notelets have been made with papers from It's Funky Too cd (these papers must be one of my all time favourites!) and I've added complementary coloured vellum discs to the front for extra interest. Insides are blank for your own messages and all come with envelopes.


To enter you need to leave a comment here on the giveaway post - and Lynsey will ship anywhere in the world!

There are some stunning handmade (and cute!) items going into the basket - go and have a look to see what else there is!

Thank you Lynsey for asking me to be part of it! And Happy Birthday Cuteable!

Trains and Kids!

On Sunday we met up with fellow Funky Hand team mate Jozza and her two lovely girlies at the National Railway Museum in York. As you can see, the kids got on very well (Jozza and I do too!) and it was great to wander around chatting whilst the kids played with the trains and generally ran around!
Jacob and Maddie hit it off really well and although it looks like they are holding hands on this picture, they aren't really!

Samuel and Abigail were a bit more reserved ('that' age of knowing girls stink and boys are rubbish!)

They all had a great time playing in the outdoor area whilst we 3 adults froze.

And I made them all line up for a final photo before we went our separate ways so that's why they mostly look glum! And yes, I am a poor mother for letting Samuel wear jeans too short. He just keeps growing!!


Thanks to Jozza and her lovely girlies for a fab afternoon! And thank you for the stash swop - can't wait to use it!

The next meeting is scheduled for end of March at the Northern Papercrafts Extravaganza. And we will be child free!

A Cheap Card!!

And just by the skin of my teeth, here is my entry for this weeks Cupcake Craft Challenge! Actually, I had made the card during the week but not managed to photograph it.....

Anyway, this week it is a sketch:

And the card was a very cheap one to make! The papers are from the current Papercraft Inspirations magazine (although I downloaded the jpeg files so I can print to my hearts content!) and the image was from a swop from Enfys.



The ribbon at the side is actually card (again from PI), sentiment is handwritten, flowers cut using my Cuttlebug flower die (what else!) and off cuts of pink card. Bronze coloured brads from my box full!

• Backing paper: Freebies from Papercraft Inspirations
• Image: My Favourite Things - How Sweet from Enfys
• Dies: Cuttlebug flowers
• Sentiment: Handwritten

Big n Bold!

Quite a simple sketch this week on 2 Sketches 4 u:

I've used more papers from Funky Daze - this time I've used the Fun Daze collection (be warned - its bright and bouncy!) I've doodled on the edges of the papers and added the broad grosgrain ribbon. The paper pattern actually showed through so I cut a piece of white paper for the ribbon to sit on.

The sentiment tile was a freebie from a magazine a while ago, and the flower was one of those impulse purchases when at the checkout and presented with a fantastic bargain, never to be repeated, which just cries to be picked up and purchased! The flower was actually attached to a stem which I removed but left quite a long bit which was a tad tricky to attach to the card but I managed it in the end (a brad poked through the reverse of the card into the hole of the stem and copious amounts of glue to hold it all in place!)

• Backing paper: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Sentiment: From my stash (originally a freebie from a magazine)
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Flower: From my stash
  
  
  

Pure & Simple

The Dottie Challenge this week is:

...I want your creations to be PURE & SIMPLE! No patterned papers, just clean, fresh and simple.

I'd already coloured the Vegas George image last week as I was going to use it on that challenge, but it just did not look right. So, not wanting to waste my efforts, I've used it this week!

I embossed a separate piece of cardstock with the D'vine swirls Cuttlebug folder and inked the edges. The stamped heart is one of three freebie stamps with this months Papercraft Inspirations and I went out and bought 2 red themed Whispers stamps as I could not stamp hearts with anything other than red could I?! Any excuse eh?!

The sentiment has been stamped with a mini wooden Studio G alphabet set and George has been lightly glittered in places too, although the photo does not show it too well.

• Image: Vegas George
• Sentiment: Studio G alphabet stamp, heart stamp is a freebie from Papercraft Inspirations mag
• Embossing: Cuttlebug D'vine swirls

Funky Daze Gift Box - It's Not A Card!

Sometimes when I see a challenge I know exactly what I'm going to make, right down to the smallest detail. And then sometimes I've not got a clue and it takes me a few days of thinking to work it all out. This was the former - I knew straight away!

For the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, it was to:

Make anything but A CARD!

So I made a gift bag! It was based upon this tutorial! I printed the card on both sides so the inside of the box is interesting too! Also, the flowers have been cut from double sided printed card - all from Funky Daze from Funky Hand.

I've used some wavy scissors (well, the scissors are not wavy, they just cut a wavy line!) to shape the top and used my eyelet setter to make the holes for the ribbon.

I've inked the edges of the flowers with either blue ink (tiny freebie ink pad) or Chestnut Whispers, pinched the petals together, glued the centres and then added tiny centres also cut from the same backing paper. I told you that you'd see more of the Cuttlebug flowers!

I'm sending this gift bag to Anice as she is on telly on 27 January with a live premier of Funky Daze (further details in my sidebar) so if its shown you can say you saw it here first!

• Backing paper: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Template: Mine - tutorial here
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Dies: Cuttlebug Flowers
  

Penny Black - Pink & Brown

I've been having a great time this week fitting all the challenges in so I can use the fab new CD from Funky Hand - Funky Daze! And I must have squealed with delight when I saw this weeks Penny Black challenge: Pink and Brown!


I'd already coloured the hedgehogs (they are really Christmas ones but I'm trying to get decent Valentine card stocks!) and needed to hide the holly that one is holding. I'd bought some heart charms on a whim a while ago from B&M bargains (the charms are really good quality and heavy!) and tied with some pink ribbon I thought it looked really good!

The papers as mentioned before are from Funky Daze and the ribbons are from my stash and have simply been double tied.


All edges have been inked with Chestnut Whispers and then rounded with my punch.

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Image: Penny Black which has been coloured with watercolour paints
• Ribbons: From my stash
• Charm: B&M Bargains
  

Recycled Birthday

The Daring Cardmakers Challenge this week is:

We'd like you to do your bit for the planet and make a card using some recycled items.

Quite a simple card - the flower has been made by the talented and generous Lynsey and I can guarantee it is all recycled / re-purposed so I MUST get at least treble points for that!! The raffia came off some fancy packaging a while ago, some of which I've used previously. And the tag? Well, this is the card which was attached to the flower brooch.

See how good I am at recycling?!

• Flower: From Lynsey
• Raffia: From my stash
  
  

Falling Over Flowers....

The Tag Challenge this week is:

Let's Go Stripey!

The overall tag has been cut with my Sizzix Super Scallop tag and all papers used are from Funky Daze. I made the little holder for the flowers and although you can't see it, the sides are slightly gusseted so the flowers sit nicely inside. Well, they should, but they are naughty flowers and take every opportunity to fall out or over.

The heads have been cut using my new Cuttlebug flower die (have I said how fab it is?!! It is very fab!) and they have been layered - Harvest coloured flower brads secure it all together. And the stems are cocktail sticks!

Chocolate brown organza ribbon from my stash.

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Dies: Cuttlebug flowers and Sizzix for the tag
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Brads: From my stash
  
  

Sketches by Tamara - Card Sketch 77

The sketch for Tamara's challenge this week is:

I've recently bought the Cuttlebug flowers dies - these are two strips of dies with 4 different flower designs on each, so 8 flowers in total and they just cry out to be layered!

Quite a simple card and I specifically picked the colours from the new Funky Hand cd Funky Daze as lilacs and soft colours are not something I usually go for. Bit of a brash, in ya face kinda girl! The backing paper and flowers all use the same collection - edges have been inked a bit heavy handed (the ink pad was loosing the will to live so I moistened it and didn't realise just how much life it then had in it!)

Ribbon and brads are from my stash and the sentiment has been stamped onto the same background paper and raised from the card with 3d foam pads.

• Backing paper: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Flowers: Cut using the Cuttlebug flowers
• Sentiment: Studio G clear stamp
• Ribbon & Brads: From my stash
  
  

Is My Dinosaur Laughing or Roaring?!

This is a new challenge blog which I have a sneaky feeling I could be joining in each time a new challenge is set!

Basically, there is a sketch and you have to use new or barely used stash to recreate the sketch - easy peasy!! So here is challenge 1:


And here is my attempt:

The dinosaur head came as a freebie (I'd bought some other dinosaur die cuts and also the Cuttlebug flowers dies from an ebay shop Nova Crafts) and I gave it a bit of life with some chalks! And added a wobbly eye (can't work out if its roaring or laughing!) The ribbon is from my stash, sentiment has been stamped as too the star which I've glittered over the top.

Backing paper is an off cut from some other dinosaur cards I made and is from Funky Hand.

• Backing paper: Funky Hand
• Sentiment: Stamped (its a 4 sided thing!)
• Die Cut: From ebay shop Nova Crafts which has been chalked
• Ribbon: From my stash
  
  
  

All About Me...

Are you ready?!

Things you've already done: bold

Things you want to do: italicize

Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started your own blog

2. slept under the stars - in a tent on a number of occasions! Although I did first read it as stairs....

3. played in a band

4. visited hawaii

5. watched a meteor shower

6. given more than you can afford to charity

7. been to disneyland/world

8. climbed a mountain - I think it was, or it could have been a very large hill!

9. held a praying mantis

10. sang a solo

11. bungee jumped

12. visited paris - as the Euro was launched

13. watched a lightning storm at sea

14. taught yourself an art from scratch - photography and pottery (did go to college but taught it all myself as didn't get on with the tutors!)

15. adopted a child

16. had food poisoning - oh yes, and didn't realise - just thought it would 'pass' hehehehe!

17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty

18. grown your own vegetables

19. seen the mona lisa in france - same trip as when the Euro was launched

20. slept on an overnight train - lack of sleep / too much alcohol consumption when younger

21. had a pillow fight - constantly with younger brother when we were kids

22. hitch hiked - with 4 other girlies

23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. built a snow fort

25. held a lamb

26. gone skinny dipping

27. run a marathon - well sort of - I ran a Fun Run..... Not much fun as pulled all the ligaments in my hip but came 1,500 and won a prize

28. ridden a gondola in venice

29. seen a total eclipse - yes, when ever the last one was!

30. watched a sunrise or sunset - usually sunrises as the boys get up awfully early at times! Seen a sunset when on the Isle of Skye

31. hit a home run

32. been on a cruise

33. seen niagara falls in person

34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors - depends how long ago you are talking!

35. seen an amish community

36. taught yourself a new language - learnt how to swear in Welsh heheheh!

37. had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person

39. gone rock climbing

40. seen michelangelo's david in person

41. sung karaoke - oh yes! But never on my own - always as a group!

42. seen old faithful geyser erupt

43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant

44. visited africa

45. walked on a beach by moonlight - would have to be somewhere warm. Couldn't imagine doing it at Blackpool.....

46. been transported in an ambulance - Samuel was taken ill very suddenly when he was 2 and we had an ambulance to take him to A&E and I travelled with him. Funny, but you don't hear the sirens when you are inside the ambulance!

47. had your portrait painted

48. gone deep sea fishing

49. seen the sistene chapel in person

50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris - think I'd wet myself. Stood at the foot of it looking up and laughing at all the people queuing in sub zero temperatures..

51. gone scuba diving or snorkelling

52. kissed in the rain

53. played in the mud

54. gone to a drive-in theatre

55. been in a movie

56. visited the great wall of china

57. started a business

58. taken a martial arts class - well, I sit and watch the boys at theirs - does this count?!

59. visited russia

60. served at a soup kitchen

61. sold girl scout cookies - does fudge count?!

62. gone whale watching

63. gotten flowers for no reason

64. donated blood - would really like to but when I was able I was still in the 'no zone' after having kids

65. gone sky diving

66. visited a nazi concentration camp

67. bounced a cheque

68. flown in a helicopter - over Blackpool and it was fab!

69. saved a favorite childhood toy - my Tiny Tears is still at my Mum and Dad's

70. visited the lincoln memorial

71. eaten caviar - bleugh

72. pieced a quilt - its a blanket type of thing and it was made about 15 years ago and is really falling apart now but it still gets used a lot!

73. stood in times square

74. toured the everglades

75. been fired from a job - been made redundant

76. seen the changing of the guard in london - and the back of a lot of heads

77. broken a bone - never!

78. been on a speeding motorcycle

79. seen the grand canyon in person

80. published a book - had a poem published in a little booklet when I was at Primary School (it was for the school)

81. visited the vatican

82. bought a brand new car

83. walked in jerusalem

84. had your picture in the newspaper - when I completed my Gold Duke of Edinburgh award and met Prince Phillip

85. read the entire bible

86. visited the white house

87. killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. had chickenpox - twice

89. saved someone’s life

90. sat on a jury

91. met someone famous - Lisa Stansfield (she bought her fags and booze from me when I worked in Kwik Save)

92. joined a book club

93. lost a loved one

94. had a baby - twice

95. seen the alamo in person

96. swum in the great salt lake

97. been involved in a law suit

98. owned a cell phone

99. been stung by a bee

Thanks to Lynsey for this! You can join in if you like!

Cuttlebug Challenge - Simple White Card

I've not managed a Cuttlebug challenge for a while, but as this one was nice and easy and I knew exactly what I was going to do, I thought I'd give it a go!

The challenge this week is to create a simple white card.


I've used the D'vine embossing folder directly onto my card stock (slightly trimmed down to fit in my Sizzix red machine!) and I left the non-embossed areas as I thought it added a bit of something... The three flowers have been cut from some very lovely mulberry coloured tissue which has gold thread running through it - this was left over from some Wedding embellishments I made a while ago. And I've used my very new Cuttlebug flowers die (bought from ebay - Nova Crafts - for an absolute steal of £8.99!) so you'll be seeing a lot more of these flowers!

Pearl brads attach the flowers to the card. I was going to add a sentiment but decided against it - my handwriting isn't the best for a card and this particular occasion and I thought that the simpleness of it all was enough. Bit like me eh?!

• Dies / Embossing: Cuttlebug flowers and D'vine swirls embossing folder
• Tissue: From my stash
• Brads: Papermania
  

Glitter, Glitter Everywhere!

Now I'm not usually a big fan of using a lot of glitter (despite owning quite a lot of it!) so thought I'd attempt this challenge to see what I came up with. The Cupcake Challenge this week is:

This weeks challenge is Glitter!

I want your creation to have glitter and sparkle on it. You can go for heaps of it or just a tiny amount. It's up to you!

I'd already stamped the image (one of my new stamps as I thought it was about time I bought some Forever Friends ones rather than using the stickers all the time!) and I really do like the little A7 brown notebook. So have used a page out of the notebook, added two gold eyelets, threaded some red grosgrain ribbon through and tied a single sided bow at one side (it isn't attached to anything so its single sided!)

All edges have been inked and chalked and I've coloured the image with watercolour pencils. The red glitter is a mixture of some lumpy glitter glue that I found in my stash, some loose glitter (which once dried fell off everywhere!) and sealed with gel glue.

Couldn't think of a not-too-sickly-sweet sentiment, so that's why its blank!

• Backing paper: A7 notebook sheet
• Image: Forever Friends coloured with watercolour pencils
• Ribbon & eyelets: From stash
  
  

Start the New Year with a Laugh!

How can I resit not to join in with this weeks Dottie challenge which asks to:

"Start the New Year with a Laugh"

I simply want to see "something funny" on your project, what you use and how you make it is up to you. Oh and of course you must use one of the Charmed downloads.

I'd already printed some Vegas George images ready to colour, but my attempt just did not look right, so I ended up printing one of the pre-coloured images instead. George has been layered onto a very shiny glittery gold star, which in turn has been layered onto a rough ripped star (edges have been lightly inked and chalked). I printed a computer generated sentiment and used 3d foam pads to give it a bit of lift. The red bead heart has red raffia pushed through and then fanned out - just something a little different! The red raffia ribbon is also across the top of the card. I've doodled around the edges of the card too. I've gold glittered the buttons on Georges' jump suit but because I didn't wait until it was dry until I took the photo, it looks a bit naff. Ah well!

• Backing paper: Pink Petticoat Doodle-icious Rainbow Collection
• Image: Pre coloured George
• Sentiment: Computer generated
• Embellishment: Made by me with heart bead and raffia
• Raffia: Tescos (Christmas parcel stuff!)

I Am Loving This Paper!

This is a new challenge site for me and I thought I'd give it a go! So the challenge this week on the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge is the following sketch:

Which I have flipped round, only because I'd bought some cute wire and bead house embellishments and wanted to use them! This was quite a quick card to make, generally because it all fell together very easily and I really like it! But I think that has a lot to do with the backing paper - Simply Elegant (again). I've hardly trimmed anything off the 6x6 paper to fit on the cardstock as I didn't want to lose the fab flourish. The embellishment has been mounted to a square of white card which I have chalked to tone it down. This has then been layered onto some lovely A7 sized notepaper (I bought one of the pads for each of my DT members as I liked it so much!) then distressed, inked and chalked the edges.

I've also used the notepaper for the sentiment, which has been handwritten and I've added some little white highlights here and there. If you look closely, you will still be able to see the pencil lines I originally drew. Then forgot to rub out! And the jute string was added to complete the sketch.

• Backing paper: Simply Elegant 6 x 6
• Embellishment: Card Candy brand bought from Mad About Cards
• Notepaper: A7 notepad
• Sentiment: Handwritten
  
  
  

New Design Team Member!

Guess what?! Anice has just recruited Lythan to the Funky Hand DT! Now I have been a bit of a fan of her work for a while and I was especially pleased to be Guest Designer for the DCM blog as I got to 'know' her a little bit better.

Do I sound like a stalker?! Hehehe!

Watch out for her Funky Hand work appearing on a blog near you!

It Doesn't Look Like It - But There Is Embossing!

The Penny Black Challenge this week is to use embossing. And honestly, I have used embossing! I've again used the lovely, lovely papers 6 x 6 Simply Elegant (so pleased I bought two packs!)

I've embossed a translucent panel of vellum with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and lightly inked it - this sits under the Penny Black image. Which, is actually a Christmas image that I've added a punched heart and a heart gem.

The ribbon was one I bought on impulse from somewhere I can't remember!

• Backing paper: 6 x 6 Simply Elegant
• Image: Penny Black watercoloured
• Embossing: Cuttlebug - Swiss Dots
• Ribbon: From my stash
  
  

DMC - Thank You

The Daring Card Makers Challenge for this week is to make a thank you card (I like your thinking ladies!) I've also had a little sort through some of my stash and was determined to use the lovely felt flower embellishment sent to me by Incy Wincy as my Grand National winnings last year! And as I'm also trying to use up backing papers that I have already printed rather than print more, I thought the colour combinations worked well.


Although you can't really see it, I've lightly inked the embossed thank you and doodled around the edges. Pink grosgrain ribbon from my stash.

• Backing paper: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Embossing: Cuttlebug 'thank you'
• Flower embellishment: From Incywincy
• Ribbon: From my stash