Toadily Hoppy Birthday!

Just could not resist the Digital Tuesday Challenge which is:

Make Those Men Laugh!

I'd been asked to make a 30th Birthday card by one of the staff at nursery for her partner and said I could do what I wanted! So here it is!

I've used a template for the frog - it was on the inside of a pack of Muller kids yoghurt's. I've used papers from The Funky One by Funky Hand. The numbers were created using Word Art and then I simply cut them out after printing on both sides of the card.

The numbers open out to reveal the frog! I've attached acetate to the numbers and then underneath the frog for stability. Wording has been stamped with a 99p wooden Studio G stamp set and I've then doodled around the edges.

• Backing papers: The Funky One by Funky Hand
• Frog template: Muller yogurt pack
• Number template: Word Art
• Sentiment: Studio G little wooden alphabet stamps
• Everything else: My stash
  

Birthday Treats

I found a cute fortnightly challenge blog whilst hopping around last week and it is hosted by an 11 year old called Aly! The blog is called Aly's Sunday Sketch Challenge - pop over and have a look! She is currently asking for sponsors so if you fancy it let her know!

Here is her sketch for the challenge:

And here is my interpretation! Papers and image are from Love and Cherish from Polkadoodles with the organza ribbon and buttons from my stash. The image is pre-coloured (very handy!) and I've dotted around the edges of it and the card with a pink gel pen after inking.

I've shaped the card and image by drawing round my largest Nestie and then cutting it out - just gives the edge something else. Quite like the technique so don't be surprised if you see it again!

• Backing papers and image: Love and Cherish from Polkadoodles
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Ribbon and buttons: My stash
  

Polkadoodle Challenge Week 4 - Non Traditional Valentine

Welcome back to another Polkadoodle Challenge! This week Kerry has set the challenge which is:

Valentines Card using Non-Traditional Colours

I've used the new Love and Cherish cd - all the printed paperbased elements are from that and I've only added a bit of ribbon and a large bling heart! There are some wonderful papers, toppers and elements on the cd and if you are into making Wedding stationery, then this is the cd for you!! It can also be used for a lot of other occasions to as the papers are so versatile, so with a bit of imagination and some glue you'll have loads of inspiration!

I printed my papers onto some lush linen effect card but set the printer at A5 instead of A4 as I wanted a smaller pattern. I've layered the papers, inked and rounded edges and then added the ribbon and big bling heart.

The heart is actually one of a pair of earings I bought from Asda - two pairs (one red, one clear) reduced to 50p. Bargain! The backing pin folds virtually flat so easy peasy to use!

You have until Sunday 7 February at 12noon GMT to enter this challenge - please go to Polkadoodles to enter and leave a direct link to your blog post. Good luck and we can't wait to see what you create!

• Printed papers: Love and Cherish cd from Polkadoodles
• Red gem heart: Asda
• Everything else: My stash
  

Another New Wardrobe!

The Secret Crafter Saturday challenge is a colour theme with inspiration to be taken from this photo (wish my house was this tidy!!)

And I've made another expecting card! Well the stamp was out and it had been inked so it seemed rude not to use it! The colours in my card look a little washed out - however in real life they are not!

I've used papers from Funky Hand - these were part of a freebie to celebrate the launch of their monthly challenge, which I've inked and rounded the edges.

The image has been layered onto lime green post-it notes and grape pearlescent card. Again the image stamp is Inkadinkadoo and I've coloured it with watercolour paints to match the colour scheme. The ribbon, button and hat pin are from my stash - I've added extra beads to the hat pin.


Now I must remember to make lots of new baby cards with all these expectant mothers!

• Backing papers: Funky Hand freebie
• Image: Inkadinkadoo coloured with watercolour paints
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

New Wardrobe

I won one of Carol's Advent Calendar giveaways in the run up to Christmas and I won some fab Stampin' Up ribbon! So when I saw the current Stamp With Us challenge - this sketch - I knew I could join in with my ribbon!The ribbon is grosgrain 'Tempting Turquoise' and I've used a card blank which I have shaped with my nesties and added paper from Funky Hand - Dreams Come True. The layered paper is also from the same cd.

The stamp is by Inkadinkado and I've coloured it with watercolour paints, plus some inking around the edges.

The fimo star is made by me and I've had it lying around for ages just wanting to be used! This card will come in rather handy as a few of my friends are expecting!

• Backing papers: Dreams Come True by Funky Hand
• Image: Inkadinkado coloured with watercolour paints
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Ribbon: Tempting Turquoise grosgrain ribbon from Stampin' Up
• Star embellishment: Made from fimo by me
  
  

Pretty in Pink

I have to admit I am on a bit of a button fest at the moment! Jacob also picked out some of the pink buttons in this creation plus there are some fimo hearts that I've made, plenty of seed beads, other beads and some die and punched cut hearts.

This is for the Crazy 4 Challenges current theme which is:

Pretty In Pink

I made the large heart template myself and then ran it through the Swiss Dots embossing folder
before adding all the embellishments - I didn't trust myself enough to keep to a heart shape on the card so had to use the template!

The ribbon is from my stash and is a hot pink in colour although the poorly lit photo makes it look red.

• Embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder
• Fimo hearts: Made by me
• Everything else: My stash
  

It's Officially Summer!

Yes! It is officially summer!! And not yet the end of January! No, I'm not loosing my marbles - I've just heard the chimes of an ice-cream van. So it must be summer, right?!

And Valentine's Day has not yet been! This is my entry into the current CRAFT challenge which is a colour challenge of:

Red

Which currently equals Valentines! I've made this (please excuse the very dodgy photo - it was early this morning and I had to use the halogen lights in the kitchen - don't know what happened with the card being lop-sided but I will blame me being tired!) from odds and ends from my stash.

The two red felt hearts are cut with a Sizzix die, there is a red fimo sparkly heart made by me, a punched heart and general buttons, beads and another fab Asda earring just right of centre! The musical heart is punched from music printed vellum.

I think it needs a sentiment, but don't yet know so will add it later. I have Jacob to thank for the buttons on this as he sorted them out for me and picked his favourites! Watch out Lynsey!!!

• Dies: Sizzix Primitive Hearts
• Fimo heart: Made by me
• Everything else: My stash
  

Christmas All Year Around - January

I am planning on being very organised for Christmas this year! Probably only in the Christmas Cards, but none the less, organised!

The Christmas Cards All Year Around challenge for January is:

Any Christmas Card Goes!

I have to make 5 cards for the challenge and here are my five:

You'll have to excuse the slightly dodgy set up and wonky photo underneath, but Jacob insisted on helping me....

I've used my Spellbinder Nestabilities die to cut the apertures - the red patterned cards are Kirsty Wiseman, Patti Picklicious cd (which is currently half price!!) and the green are from an old digi freebie download from A Work In Progress.

I've dotted around the edge of the digi image Peas On Earth (geddit??!) which is from Whimsie Doodles. I coloured one image with watercolour pencils and then scanned it so I could print it as many times as I liked! A bit of glitter glue has been added to the peas hats.


The gems are from my stash and the silver snowflakes I got in the January sale at Matalan for £1 - there are 20 in a lovely wooden sectioned box and should be parcel stickers. Too good to stick on parcels if you ask me!

• Backing papers - reds: Kirsty Wiseman
• Backing papers - greens: A Work In Progress
• Image: Whimsie Doodles coloured with watercolour pencils and glitter glue
• Snowflakes: Matalan
• Gems: My stash
  
  

Insipid Apple

Carol's Sketches are now back after the Christmas and New Year break and this is a fab little sketch too!
I've been good and have used scraps from a previous project - I am trying very hard not to buy any new stash until I've made a dent in what I have and that includes using up scraps!

The papers are from Funky Daze and the square shape has been printed onto vellum. The apple is a Sizzix die and I've added gems to the swirls along with two gems on the corners of the vellum. As they hide the big blobs of glue as I was not as careful as I should have been!


I've used the largest die in the Spellbinders Nestabilities for the focus of the card. The ribbon across the centre is organza chocolate brown double tied and it just pulls it all together. I've handwritten the sentiment.

The apple is not how I intended it to turn out and it would have probably looked worse than it does. One insipid apple!

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Dies: Sizzix for the apple, Spellbinder Nestabilities for the shape
• Everything else: My stash
  

Almost Wrong Way Up

Now, I have a confession to make. I'd bought a pack of two of the felt reindeer you see below and I thought it looked a little strange and couldn't work out why. But didn't really think anything of it. I glued the button eye on and added the bell to a jump ring and tied it around his neck.

I'd cut and inked the squares of paper from 'A Wonderful Christmas Time' 6x6 pad from Papermania (wisely using up some scraps).

And then I turned the reindeer over to glue it before adding it to the card and I then realised I'd had it the wrong way up! I'd been looking at the antlers thinking they were his 4 legs!!

I did have a giggle when I realised!

Anyway, I've made this for the ABC Christmas challenge which currently is:

B for Bells

And the added twist of a bit of glitter. Which, I've just about added down the sides of the red paper. And yes, that is the paper curling over as I added too much!

• Backing papers: A Wonderful Christmas Time 6x6 pad from Papermania
• Reindeer: Parcel decoration from Tescos
• Bells, Buttons and Glitter glue: My stash
  
  

A Tricky One

What card can you make for a 21st Birthday male? Obviously monsters, trucks and boys toys are not quite right (although boys never grow up - right?!) So was quite pleased with my little self when I found this digi image of Mikey in my files - from Charmed Cards and Crafts. Bit of a cheat really as he was pre-coloured, although I've darkened his hair to look like the recipient.

I've combined it with the current Digital Tuesday sketch which is:

And I've used papers - physical ones - from Funky Hand called Funky Fellas. Buttons are from my stash and the jute twine is from my kitchen drawer.

The sentiment is computer generated and I've doodled a border around the edge

• Backing papers: Funky Fellas 8x8 paper pack from Funky Hand
• Image: Mikey pre coloured from Charmed Cards and Crafts
• Sentiment: Computer generated
• Everything else: My stash / kitchen drawer
  

Monster Birthday

A quick and simple card for Lexi's Challenge current challenge which is:

One For The Boys - Blue and Green

The monster is a 3d sticker from a pack that I bought from the pound shop ages ago. It's been layered onto a scrap of blue card and then added to blue and green printed digi papers from Back To Nature from Polkadoodles.


I've rounded some edges, inked them and then doodled a line around plus I've hand written the sentiment (as you can tell - I was surprised I got it central!) The buttons are from my stash.

I've got loads of these monster stickers and I like the layout of this, so probably will get to use them more often now!

• Backing papers: Back to Nature from Polkadoodles
• Monster sticker: Pack from the Poundshop
• Buttons: From my stash
• Sentiment: Handwritten
  

Polkadoodle Challenge Week 3 - Sketch

It's Friday again and another Polkadoodle challenge! This week Nikky has given the Design Team this sketch and we were able to use any Polkadoodle product!


I've used Back To Nature stackie flowers which I've cut out and then curled the petals, either inwards or outwards and then layered some of them.

I've also added buttons from my stash to the centres and curled some wire for added interest. The black organza ribbon is also from my stash.

Remember that you can combine your entry with upto 10 other challenges including the Polkadoodle entry and you can use any product you wish (although we would like to see Polkadoodle products if you have any!) and you also need to follow the brief for the week - for more details go to the Polkadoodle Challenge!

Good luck and you have until Sunday 31 January at 12noon GMT to enter!

• All paperbased products: Back To Nature from Polkadoodles
• Everything else: My stash
  

Hot Stuff!

Well, whilst blog hopping I found a challenge blog right up my street! Doodle Dragon Studios now has a fortnightly challenge which is great news as I have probably a few million of the images! I actually bought them in a digi bundle sale a while ago and they are too fab not to use!

So, the very first challenge is:

Love / Valentine

So here I've gone for a slightly quirky valentine for the non soppy male! The image has been coloured with felt tips and a bit of white gel pen highlighting and I've used papers from Funky Hand (the coloured spotty one - printed onto photo paper for a different finish) and Kirsty Wiseman (the red spotty ones).

The tiny alphas which read 'hot stuff' are also from the Kirsty Wiseman cd - Patti Picklicious. Everything has been layered onto black card after being swiped with the good trusty black inkpad.

I did think about adding a ribbon or something to break up the horizontal of the card but was a bit engrossed in watching Tremors.... Yep, its so bad it's good!

• Backing papers: Red dots - Kirsty Wiseman, coloured dots - Funky Hand
• Image: Dustin Pike coloured with felt tips and white gel pen
• Black card: My stash
  

Ladybird Love

The monthly Lily Boo Too challenge is set by the very lovely and talented Enfys and the theme is:

Valentine

As luck would have it, there is a freebie download for the challenge too and I've used it for my card! I've coloured the image with felt tips (poor man version of Copics / Promarkers!) I've used two of my only set of Nesties to frame the image which I've inked with black ink around the edges.
The backing tiny check paper is from Sugar Birdies from Polkadoodles and the ribbon is from my stash. I did want a larger knot for the ribbon but it was a tad short and I was determined to use it!

The gems are from my stash. A pretty quick card to make so don't know why its taken me nearly a month to do it!!

• Image: Freebie download from Lily Boo Too
• Backing paper: Sugar Birdies from Polkadoodles
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Ribbon and Gems: My stash
  

And This Used To Be....

A Laughing Cow cheese triangle box!! I've covered it inside and out with papers from the very new and very quickly selling cd from Funky Hand - Dreams Come True (on telly again this Friday - details in my sidebar!)

And it fits very nicely with the Die Cut Dreams challenge this week which is:

Recycle It!

I've made this box into a container for some coasters which also use papers and digi stamps from Dreams Come True.

I cut a strip of the paper (it bends better than card!) to cover the sides (the ribbon hides where the seal went) and then covered two card circles on the lid and bottom of the box as they were slightly recessed.

I made the flower thing by cutting out some circles, cutting the edges and then fluffing them up. Really simple to be honest! And then added a little brad through the centre.

The coasters - small but perfectly formed - have been made by using a Nesties die for the image and then for the paper and then a larger one finally to cut the laminated shape.

The reverse has a paper from the same collection and all were just about thick enough to be able to go through my laminator!

Hope you are able to catch Anice on telly on Friday and if you do - have a look out for these!

• All papers and digi stamps: Dreams Come True by Funky Hand
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Box: Recycled
• Ribbon: From my stash
  

What To Do With Some String...

The Pixie Dust Studios challenge this week is asking for a

Shaped Card

So here is one I made! It is not particularly practical as it won't stand up unaided but it sure will stand out from a crowd! I've used one of the digi images from Dreams Come True cd from Funky Hand - you can enlarge the images to A4 size with no loss of quality and then I've printed the backing paper from the same cd over the top.

After cutting it out, I used some of the offcuts and made extra dots which have been added randomly over the parcel after their edges have been inked.

The jute string has been added to the handles - I cut smallish lengths and then wound them around the handles, joining pieces by knotting them together and leaving the knot showing.

As I couldn't get the string right to the centre of the bow, I cut two different sized circles from left overs, layered them then added a bow tied with the same string to hide it all!

• Digi image and backing papers: Dreams Come True cd from Funky Hand
• String: My kitchen drawer
  

Perfect Cupcake

There is a free digi image on offer to go with the current Incy Wincy challenge which is:

Sweet Treats

I've coloured the free digi image with watercolour pencils and then added seed beads randomly for extra sweetness!
The papers are a mixture - the deeper pink is from Dreams Come True from Funky Hand and the harlequin pink from Love & Cherish from Polkadoodles. I've used a Martha Stewart punch (don't know its proper name as they are not labelled outside of the packaging and that has long gone!)

I've computer generated the sentiment.

• Backing papers: Dreams Come True from Funky Hand and Love & Cherish from Polkadoodles
• Imge: Freebie via Incy Wincy blog coloured with watercolour pencils
• Sentiment: Computer generated
• Seed Beads: My stash
• Punches: Martha Stewart
  

New Home!

The challenge for January for The Craft Garden is

New

So, using the brand new cd from Funky Hand - did you see it's launch earlier today on Create and Craft? If you didn't you missed a great show from Anice and you will have seen this new shoe / new home creation of mine! Don't worry if you missed the show - she is on again next week with details in my sidebar!

I've used the brand new Funky Hand cd Dreams Come True. All the paperbased elements are from the cd including this funky boot which is a digi stamp that can be resized as big as A4 with no image quality loss!
I've used various papers from one of the collections (there are 12 colour collections) and paper pieced the front image along with some chalking to give it definition.

I've used photos of Funky Hand's new offices before they moved into it in early January as it was an old mill before.

Each page swivels out so you can view the front and back and I've used two buttons and some thin brown organza ribbon to hold it all together.

The colour collections, as you would expect are fantastic and along with the word books - you can actually select which letter and colour you want on the paper rather than being stuck with just the one option, plus all the alphabet, numbers and other characters and over 30 digi images that you can resize, overlap and move around the page before printing!

So I recommend you popping over to Funky Hand to buy it before all the stock is gone!

I thought this boot would fit the Craft Garden challenge perfectly, because it is not just a new cd, but it is for a new office!

• All digital papers and letters: Dreams Come True from Funky Hand
• Images: Funky Hand
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

Polkadoodle Challenge Week 2 - Love

It's Friday again and another Polkadoodle challenge! This week, the challenge has been set by Polkadoodle creator, Nikky and her challenge is:

Love

The Design Team were asked to use her brand new cd Love, Marriage and More. I created a little book of 4 Wedding photos. You will have seen the acrylic album I made for Donna and Danny and I thought I'd make something smaller (and quicker!) for this challenge!

I've actually used one of the frame toppers from the Boundless Love collection - the word Love was already on the topper and I've added the names and date. On the reverse of each page I've used part of the design sheet - I selected an area that I wanted, copied and pasted it into word and then resized it to fit my project.

The red card is from my stash and it is a lovely leather effect finish which just does not show up in the photos!

I've used the smallest Nestability die in the set to create the aperture for the photos (printed in black and white) and then hole punched down one side of the book and tied it together with red ribbon from my stash.

I've used a thick white linen card from The Papermill shop to print on as it adds a lovely texture and makes the pages sturdy even before layering them together.

I actually thought it would take me ages to make this little album but it took around 3 hours in total including printing, resizing the images and making it. Not bad for a Sunday afternoon!

Hope you can join us in our challenge - you have until 12noon on Sunday 24 January to enter. Good luck!!

• All printed papers: Boundless Love collection from Love, Marriage and More from Polkdoodles
• Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities
• Red Card: My stash
• Ribbon: My stash
  

Pink, Brown, Cream & Toffee

For the Charisma Cardz challenge this week which is a colour combination of:

Pink, Brown, Cream and Coffee

I've used a tag that I made ages ago and turned it into a card. All the papers - the backing one has been printed onto vellum are from Huge Funky Love download from Funky Hand. The little image stamp I think is Hero Art and I've chalked the edges.

Everything else is from my stash.

Not sure if the card needs a sentiment or not, so have left it without for the time being! I did actually read the challenge as coffee instead of toffee, so if it had been coffee, then this card is perfect!

• Backing papers: Huge Funky Love download from Funky Hand
• Stamp: Hero Arts (I think)
• Everything else: My stash