Floral Bouquet

The Digital Tuesday challenge this week is:

A Card For Mum

This has been made using one of the templates from Paper Boutique - the brand new cd from Polkadoodles. I'm not too sure that I've got all the layers right on this as I cut them out before looking at the numbers properly! It should be double sided in that the rear mirrors the front however I made another card using those elements.

I've simply added a little glitter glue to the corners of the petals and pink seed beads to the centres of the flowers. The lettering on the two tags have been cut with leftover papers and by using my Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set. The organza pink ribbon is from my stash.

This is actually the A5 sized card on the cd - there is also A4 and A6 if you want larger or smaller!

And this one won't be available on my website as it's a commission!

• All paperbased elements: Paper Boutique from Polkadoodles
• Dies: Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set
• Ribbon: My stash

Cutie

This is the second of three posts tonight and this is the card and challenge that I forgot to blog yesterday! It's a lovely sketch from The Pink Elephant and I've made another Mother's Day Card. This is a little cutie! Freebie image download from Lost In Paper Scraps - I've had this printed out for ages and been meaning to colour it and the size just went right with the sketch. I've coloured her in with my new felt tips (£2.50 from Tescos) as the last lot are partly running out.

I've added a little glitter glue to her dress, but you can't see it too well as it had not dried before I took the photo! Backing papers are Funky Daze from Funky Hand and I've used a Martha Stewart punch and the letters have been cut using my Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set. Ribbon is from my stash.

So it's another Mother's Day card to add to my website over the next day!

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Image: Lost in Paper Scraps freebie coloured with felt tips
• Dies: Martha Stewart punch and Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet die
• Ribbon: My stash

Two for One

Now this is an easy sketch for this weeks Papertake Weekly - just how I like them, but it took me all week to get my act together and make a card for it. So when I did, I made two!

I bought the two Jolly Nation decoupage ladies both on one sheet) a while ago and had already layered up the shopping one but didn't do anything with it. So inspiration struck yesterday afternoon (the boys were playing in the back garden having a water fight -I know and its February - bad mother eh?! But it kept them amused for 45 mins!!) and I knocked out these two cards using the above sketch.

The first card uses scraps from my scrap box - Patti Picklicious and a printed vellum which I am suspecting is Huge Funky Love from Funky Hand. The backing papers are actually a lovely pearlescent thick paper from the Scrap Store and I've run them through different Cuttlebug embossing folders.

The next one has a random green backing - one I made earlier for something else and so I can't remember who or what it is! Spotty printed papers are again Patti Picklicious from Kirsty Wiseman. And the green ribbon is not really ribbon but a twill kind of thing and frays just by looking at it!

So two cards to list on my website over the next day and they will also be in the basket of Mothers Day cards at nursery.

• Backing papers: Various
• Images: Jolly Nation decoupage
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

PS This will be the first of 3 posts tonight as I forgot to blog some cards yesterday. Doh! And the boys have not come down with hypothermia - nice hot bubble bath after their playing out and then watched Karate Kid on telly. Well, we may not get a summer, so they might as well have a water fight earlier in the year just in case!!

Blog Candy Winner

I've used a random number generator (Jacob) who picked comment 10. And this comment is:

Debs!

Congratulations! Please email me with your details and I'll get the stamped images off to you in the post!

Thank you to all who entered - much appreciated!

Purple Wobbly Monster

The Secret Crafter challenge for this week is:

Mother's Day

Which is fast approaching! I've been asked if I'm taking cards into nursery so I thought I'd better make some more for the occasion!



Spotty backing paper and the folded paper strip are from Funky Daze by Funky Hand and the digi image is a freebie and by GTC's Crafty Corner. I've coloured it with felt tips and some white gel pen for highlighting. It's attached to the card via a strip of acetate so it boings around.

I've made a little charm from a heart bead and some other bits and bobs and it hangs from a peice of ribbon that matches the colour of the monster perfectly! Sentiment is handwritten.

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Image: GTC's Crafty Corner coloured with felt tips
• Sentiment: Handwritten
• Everything else: My stash
  

Polkadoodle Challenge Week 8 - Shaped Card

It's Friday again and another Polkadoodle challenge! The Design Team are taking turns to set the challenges and to be hostess, and this week it is the talented Lou who has provided the inspiration!

She's asked us to make a shaped card for any occasion. Easy peasy for me! I cannot get enough of this wonderful cupcake image that is a decoupage pack on Candy Doodles. So you've seen it before, and you'll be seeing it a lot more!


I've printed it onto lovely linen effect card at A4 setting so its quite big. The decoupage is over 2 sheets so I simply printed it, cut it all out and layered it up! I've added a bit of glitter glue here and there and the little round letters are also from the cd. A great quick and easy but effective card!

You have until Sunday 12noon GMT 7 March to enter. Good luck and we can't wait to see what you create!

• Cupcake template / decoupage pack: Candy Doodles from Polkadoodles
• Lettering: Candy Doodles
  

Yee Haw!!

A great sketch for the current Sketch and Stash challenge:
And here is my interpretation! The wood effect backing paper and circles and stars are from a freebie digi scrapbooking kit by Kelly-Jo's Scraps - there are some wonderful elements too so you'll probably be seeing more of this kit in the future! The letters are from my stash - I bought them ages and ages ago from ebay and it's about time I started using them!

Woody is one of my creations and can be bought from my website. He's largely made from Sizzix die cuts with a few of my own custom creations and he wears real jeans! The silver star is from my stash.

I do like this card and I think it's one I'm not going to want to part with!

• Backing papers: Kelly-Jo Scraps
• Lettering and Star: My stash
• Woody: Made by me and available to buy from my website
  
  

Caught a Bug?

I found this lovely cute image when blog hopping last week - it is a freebie from the Digi Stamp Boutique and I've coloured it with watercolour pencils, felt tips and a little glitter glue (on the wings) and I've made the card for the current Creative Card Crew challenge which is:

Get Well Soon

I've used a selection of papers all from my leftovers box - the main green one is from Back to Nature from Polkadoodles, then the next layer is from Stamping Dragon Designs and then finally the red spotty one is from Patti Picklicious by Kirsty Wiseman. I've simply rounded and added a bit of doodling around the edges (and some inking - of course!)


The ribbon is from my stash and it was just long enough luckily as I didn't have any more!

• Backing papers: Various
• Image: Digi Stamp Boutique coloured with felt tips, watercolour pencils and a little glitter glue
• Ribbon: From my stash
  

Dad 1

The Craft Garden Challenge for February is:

Boys

And as I'm trying to get a bit organised I'm making some Father's Day cards at the moment and these are aided by the wonderful new cd that is due to be released on Thursday on Create and Craft from Polkadoodles - Paper Boutique.

I've used one of the small decoupage cars - the front and back elements print onto one sheet of A4 but I've been a little economical and have managed to make 3 cars from the sheet!


I've managed it by not using as many layers as I should so its not as decoupaged as it should be.

The two backing papers are also from the cd and I really do like these two! I've handwritten Dad1 on the number plate and the brads are from my stash.

• All paperbased elements: Paper Boutique from Polkadoodles
• Brads: Papermania

Craft Juice Tuesday - week 2

It's Craft Juice Tuesday again! As as like last week, here are a few of my favourites taken from Craft Juice. Click on the pictures and it will take you to their CJ listing as you can look some more!

I am the proud owner of a similar card to the one below created by Karen from Beads by Design. I used to do a lot of paintings in acrylic - great memory!

I love the quirkyness of this knitted lightbulb!

And yes, this is soap!! And I bet it tastes as good as it looks!! Not that I would try and eat it. But it does look good!

See you next week!

Sparkly Cake

The Digital Tuesday Challenge is:

All Things Girly

And I could not resist making this 3d shaped card from the brand new Polkadoodle cd Paper Boutique which is launched this Thursday on Create and Craft / Ideal World. This is the A5 sized version of the girly cake - you also have the option of A4 size and A6 plus lots of extras such as sentiments and matching papers.

The back of the card is the same as the front - just in mirror form! I've glittered the icing although you can't quite see the sparkle and have used liquid pearls to dot the pink hearts.

As you can see, there are lots of layers!

• Template and papers: Paper Boutique from Polkadoodles - to be released this week
  

Have A Monster Of A Day!

I've been asked to be a Guest Designer for March over on Simple Doodles, but as we are still in February, here is my entry for the current challenge which is:

Add Some Background

It asked for us to use either our own made backgrounds, designer paper or embossing, so I went with the latter two!

The lovely backing paper is from Dreams Come True from Funky Hand. I've embossed the silver panel with a Cuttlebug folder and the image and sentiment are from Simple Doodles. Colouring has been done with my felt tips.

A little bit of doodling around the edges and it's finished!

• Backing paper: Dreams Come True from Funky Hand
• Image and sentiment: Simple Doodles coloured with felt tips
• Dies: Cuttlebug embossing folder
  
  

Baby Giraffe

Another fab sketch from Carol for her current challenge:

And this is my take on it. I've used papers from Candy Doodles from Polkadoodles. The giraffe, I can't remember the stamp maker but I've coloured it with watercolour paint and then gone over the top with glitter glue. I've used one of my nesties dies for the shape behind.

The ribbon is really lovely - its sort of a linen mix and I bought a roll of the blue and also pink around 3 or 4 years ago from Hobbycraft when it was in the sale - I think a really big roll was only £1! It's quite thick so does not lend itself to being tied but looks fine as a background!

Buttons and wire from my stash.

• Backing papers: Candy Doodles from Polkadoodles
• Image: Can't remember the make but coloured with watercolour paint and glitter glue
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

Polkadoodle Challenge Week 7 - Sketch & Theme

Welcome to another Friday Polkadoodle challenge! This week Kris is our host and she has provided the following sketch but with a twist! She wants us to feature a bird somewhere too!


And here is my interpretation of the sketch - and one large bird! I've used papers from Candy Doodles and the birdie is one of the stampies that I have enlarged and used as a template. I've paper pieced the wing for a bit of definition then added wire legs.

The flower and gems are from my stash. Perfect for a new baby boy! You have until 12noon GMT on Sunday 28 February to enter the challenge - good luck and we can't wait to see what you create!

• All paperbased products: Candy Doodles from Polkadoodles
• Punches: Martha Stewart border punch
• Everything else: My stash
  

Shirt and Tie

Time for a male card and this has been made for the Rosie Dee Challenge which is:

Just For Men

All elements (except for white card circle and jute string) are digital downloads from Tinker and Co and the collection is called Vintage Dad. I've printed it all off onto ivory hammered card and then layered the shirt.

The dodgy photo is another taken by my husband and this was the best one of the two as this is shown flat. The other pic he'd stood the card up but wrong way up so it looked really odd. And he didn't realise.....

A bit of inking and corner rounding and a bit of dotting and it's complete!

• All paperbased elements: Vintage Dad download from Tinker and Co
• String: My kitchen drawer
  
  

Tequila - An Olympic Sport!

As part of the 50 / 50 Digital Stamping group, I got this wonderful Bugaboo image which I've used on a previous card. And they have a challenge blog too! Yeah! The current challenge is:

Go For The Gold / Olympic Theme

So here is what I came up with. I've coloured the image again with felt tips and added a bit of sparkle to her hair and glass. The stripy backing paper is from Funky Hand Dreams Come True cd and I did start to stitch the card with my little sewing machine but it went a bit wrong so I've had to pretend it is stitched....

Two shapes cut with my nesties are from card from my stash and the sentiment is computer generated and the buttons from my stash. Just love these images!!

• Backing papers: Dreams Come True from Funky Hand
• Image: Bugaboo coloured with felt tips and glitter glue
• Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities
• Sentiment: Computer generated
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

Wobbly Monster!

Apologies for the strange pinkness that has crept into the photo - it went like this when I saved it!! This is for the Charisma Cardz challenge which is:

Think Male

I've used a wonderful little monster image from Simple Doodles plus I've been asked to be Simple Doodle's Guest Designer for March - yay!! Pop over to the blog as there are lots of lovely little freebies on there and the challenges are every fortnight so loadsa time to enter!

I am really pleased how this card turned out - my initial focus was the backing paper and its from the fantastic new cd from Funky Hand - Dreams Come True and I've rounded the edges and doodled a line. I then coloured the image with these colours in mind and I've used felt tips and a white gel pen for highlights.

The monster is actually attached to a piece of acetate so that it wobbles, however I asked my husband to take the photo as I'm at work during the day so that is why you only have this view!

The wording has been cut with shiny green card (I knew I'd use it one day!) and with my Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set. The image actually comes with a sentiment but I couldn't place it right on the card hence me doing my own.

I've used one of my Spellbinder Nestabilities dies to draw the shape in the centre and the velvet ribbon is from my stash.

• Backing papers: Dreams Come True from Funky Hand
• Image: Simple Doodles, coloured with felt tips
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities for shape and Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set for lettering
  
  

Wise Owl

Here is another installment from the very soon to be released Paper Boutique cd from Polkadoodle. I've made this for the Paper Play challenge which is:

Birthday for Someone Special

I've made this for my Dad - it's his birthday at the end of April and I'm quite pleased how organised I am now feeling! All the paperbased elements are from the cd with exception to the lettering as that is plain brown card and I've used my Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set to make the letters.

This is the A6 sized template from the cd and I've only printed out the front of the owl - the reverse comes with it too and is also decoupage. As you can see, there are lots of layers!

A bit of inking and some corner rounding and the card is complete!

• All paperbased elements: Paper Boutique from Polkadoodles
• Dies: Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set
  

Craft Juice Tuesday - week 1

Here are some of my favourite items from Craft Juice - this is something I will be doing every Tuesday as part of Craft Juice Tuesday!

Craft Juice is free to join and you can then either vote for your favourite items (5 votes = front page exposure) or submit your own handcreated items for the craft community to vote on!

I have a button on my sidebar advertising Craft Juice Tuesday and one of my Valentine Cards is on the button!

Anyway, here I go. Click on each picture to be taken to the Craft Juice post.

See you next week for another installment!

Cute Companion

The Moving Along With The Times challenge this week is this sketch and also a theme of cute companions: And as I am a lucky girl and get to play with all the new things from Polkadoodles before they are released I can show you another sample from the very soon to be released Paper Boutique cd which is full of templates and 3d cards plus sentiments and backing papers. This one is so cute!

All paperbased items are from the cd - the sentiment is handwritten. There also is a reverse to the owl but I've not shown it on the card. This is the smallest size and the front and back print out onto a sheet of A4 but there are also an A6, A5 and A4 sized images to cut out and decoupage. As you can see, you get lots of layers!

Really easy to cut out and layer and a great way to do some crafting whilst watching telly!! I watched Bewitched (the 1960's version) on Sunday morning whilst cutting this out! I do like the older programmes!

• All paper related items: Paper Boutique from Polkadoodles
• Sentiment: Handwritten
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

Learner Car

Another nice and simple sketch this time from Stamps and Smiles:

And I've used papers and topper from the very soon to be released - you saw it here first folks! - template cd from Polkadoodles called Paper Boutique. The little car does actually have a rear but I've not shown it on the card. The cd has around 18 to 20 different templates in A4, A5 and A6 sizes with matching backing paper collections and sentiments so you will be able to make double sided cards for all occasions!

I'll be showing more of the cd over the next few days so come back and have a look! I've used one of my Nestie dies to cut the shape out of the bottom of the card and also the aperture behind the car. I've swiss dotted the silver card. The little L plate is handwritten with a square bubble sticker over the top. Gems are from my stash.

Lots of layers to this little card!

• Backing paper and car template: Paper Boutique cd soon to be released by Polkadoodles
• Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities and Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder
• Everything else: My stash

A Round Princess

The CRAFT challenge currently is:

Digi Colouring

I've used a Digi Sparkle image from the 50/50 Digital Stamping Group which I've coloured with felt tips. The round scalloped card was kindly donated (along with quite a few others) by the lovely Enfys so this determined the colours I was going to use!

I've threaded ribbon through the scallops and tied it in a sort of bow at the top and added a brad to hide the joins from the ribbon holding the princess crown charm. The pink backing paper is from Funky Daze from Funky Hand and the lilac hammered card is from my stash.

Be warned - the next few days I'll be posting more than one card per day as I've had a good run at card making over the weekend as the boys were at Hotel De La Grandparents so I could craft away without refereeing fights, wiping noses and building train tracks....

• Card Base: Donated by Enfys
• Image: Digi Sparkle coloured with felt tips
• Pink Backing paper: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Everything else: My stash
  

Toad Love

The Truly Scrumptious challenge is this sketch with the added challenge of buttons and bows. Which, as you can see, I only sort of managed one of those if the card candy can be classed as buttons....
I've made this little cute card with a handmade fimo heart and used papers from Stamping Dragon Designs and the image is from Tortagialla stamps as part of the 50/50 digital stamping group. I've coloured it with felt tips and a little white gel pen for highlights.

I've doodled a stitch line around the outside of the card and I've handwritten the sentiment.

• Backing papers: Stamping Dragon Designs
• Image: Tortagialla, coloured with felt tips
• Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
• Heart: Made by me
  

Tequila

A wonderfully simple Papertake Weekly sketch for the current challenge:

I've used an image and sentiment from Bugaboo Stamps which I got for February as part of the Special 50/50 Digital Stamping Group. The sentiment reads, One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor......

Backing papers are from Funky Daze by Funky Hand which I've inked and then doodled a black line around the edges. The ribbon is from my stash and its a either a double or triple bow as I'd cut too much and wasn't letting any go to waste!

I've coloured the image with felt tips and a bit of white gel pen for highlighting. Fab image eh?!

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Image and sentiment: Bugaboo Digital Stamps, image coloured with felt tips
• Ribbon: From my stash
  

Open! And Blog Candy to Celebrate!

After a week of mad, frantic changing, moving, deleting and uploading, my website is finally ready! Not all my cards are listed yet but I'm aiming to add batches every day. I also have my little characters which are popular on custom cards as I can create them to look like the recipient!

And to celebrate I'm offering a little blog candy as shown in the picture below! All are stamped images and include Sugar Nellie, Penny Black, Magnolia (Tilda) and Charmed Cards and Crafts.


To be in with a chance of winning, please leave a comment on this post and tell me what colour is the flower on my shop header. Closing date is 25 February at 12noon GMT and I will announce the winner the day after. Will ship worldwide!

So come on over and have a look! All the cards listed are available to buy immediately - but you can contact me for custom orders.

Blog Candy is now closed! Thank you!

Polkadoodle Challenge Week 6 - Hearts & Flowers

Another Friday and another Polkadoodle Challenge! This week it is the lovely Dolly who has set the challenge of:

Hearts and Flowers

For my sample, I've used a welly boot template that I bought ages ago from Craftwork Cards and then papers from Sugar Birdies that I cut to fit.

I've inked and chalked the boot to give it definition and a little character. The flowers are also from Sugar Birdies but I printed them at A5 so they would fit! I've curled the edges and added buttons with jute string through the centres.

Perfect card for a gardener!

• All paperbased elements: Sugar Birdies cd from Polkadoodles
• Buttons and jute string: My stash and kitchen drawer
• Welly boot template: Craftwork Cards
  

Moooving!

One of my fellow Polkadoodler Design Team mates, Brenda, is hosting a fantastic blog hop (on until Saturday!) and also a challenge on behalf of Sir Stampalot to celebrate their move to bigger and better premises! And the prize for the winner is the best ever!

Anyway, the theme for the challenge is:

Moving

And here is mine! It's a double sided cow from Back To Nature by Polkadoodles which I've printed as A4, cut out and added the rear. The fence has also been printed out as A4 and stuck together - both are held to the side of the card by acetate.

The sentiment backer is from the cd and I've used Chestnut whispers ink to stamp the lettering (Studio G alphabet set).

So, my card has a moooving theme (geddit?!) and it also moves!

• All items: Back To Nature from Polkadoodles
• Sentiment: Stamped with a Studio G mini wooden alphabet stamp set