Crimbo Crackers Challenge 34 - Male

It's time for a new challenge at Crimbo Crackers!  The theme this fortnight is:

Male

And I'm delighted to welcome a new sponsor - Flat Friends!  If you're not familiar with Flat Friends and Emma Canning (the talented artist behind the images!) then click on the button below and you'll be taken to their own challenge blog!

The winner of this challenge will get to choose 4 images of their choice from the store!

I was lucky enough to work with the Christmas Camper image which I've printed directly onto my card blank and then coloured it with Promarkers.  I printed the sentiment at the same time as the image and I've then added a dotted liine with a blue gel pen around the edge of the card and then some tiny fairy lights on a string.  Simples!

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Passion For Promarkers:  Add Sparkle (do the fairy lights count?!)
Twisted Tuesday's:  Anything Goes
365 Day Cards:  Retro
Cards For Men:  Transport
Creative Challenges:  Keep It Simple
Make My Monday:  One For The Boys

Image:  Emma Canning - Flat Friends, coloured with Promarkers
Everything else:  My stash

Jellypark Challenge - Button It Up!

Here is my third post of today! And this one is for the new Jellypark challenge and the theme this fortnight is:

Button It Up!

I've used buttons I found in my stash with twine tied through the centres.  My image is Skateboard Oli and all proceedes from the stamp go to the Little Havens Charity which Jellypark supports - and at only £1.25 you can treat yourself! 

He's been coloured with Promarkers - the background is done with watercolour pencils.  And the papers were a freebie download from The Clip Art Fairy and I've added some X Cut stars and some doodling. 

So there you go - short and sweet!  The two new release digi stamps from Jellypark will be blogged over the weekend (at some point).

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks:  Buttons
I Love Promarkers:  Anything Goes
Stamp n Doodle:  Boys Birthday
Our Daily Bread Designs:  For A Child
Ooh La La:  Wheels


Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
Papers:  Freebie from The Clip Art Fairy
Dies:  Spellbinder oval and X Cut star
Everything else:  My stash

Polkadoodle Challenge 4 - Monochrome or Monochromatic

Today is like buses - one single blog post all week and then three come along all at once!  My Simply Create Too challenge offering is the post below, and Jellypark will be along shortly, but for now its the turn of Polkadoodles and the theme this week is:

Monochrome or Monochromatic

I've gone way back and used two butterflies from Sugar Birdies which I've then layered onto a larger card blank and the little black scalloped edges are actually lots of heart punches added just so you can see the tops.  I don't have the fancy scalloped edge dies that would have been big enough (I have an old red Sizzix machine which is too small for the Grand Nesties!)  so I have to improvise!

I've seperated each of the layers with foam pads and added a fine line of stickles around the edges.  Also added some half pearls and then black bows from ribbon I found in my stash which I must have had for ages because I can't remember where I got it from!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Dutch Dare:  Winged Things
Pixie Dust Studio:  Anything But Square
Creative Moments:  Neutral Colours
Whimsy Inspiration:  Fancy Edges
Craft Room Challenge:  Monochrome
Shopping Our Stash:  Use Your Oldest Ribbon

Images:  Sugar Birdies cd from Polkadoodles
Punches:  Heart
Everything else:  My stash 

Simply Create Too Challenge 29 - Anything Goes

It's time for the Midway Extra post at Simply Create Too and my turn to hopefully provide some inspiration!  The theme for the challenge is:

Anything Goes

I made this card for my brother who enjoys a round of golf every now and again and has an uncanny knack of golfing in extreme weather - hailstones, thunderstorms or heavy heavy rain.  And I think once it was boiling hot.

This image from Doctor Digi - Hole In One Hal - actually looks a bit like my brother in a nice caricature kind of way!  I've coloured him with Promarkers, added a previous Funky Hand freebie paper for the sky and clouds and made the grass with my Marianne Creatables icicle die (turn it upside down, and hey presto - grass!)

 

The sun, golf clubs and balls are all die cuts and I made the golf flag myself along with wonky writing!

I think he liked it.  He made a strange sound.  But then again, we had just been out for a large (and wonderful) meal so it could have been emitted from a different orifice!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Digi Stamps 4 Joy:  Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers:  Anything Goes

Paper Shelter:  Anything Goes

Stamp n Doodle:  Male Birthday

Deep Ocean:  Anything But Square

Image:  Doctor Digi, coloured with Promarkers

Backing papers:  Previous Funky Hand freebie

Dies:  Sizzix and Ellison, Marianne Creatables for the grass

Everything else:  My stash 

 

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 42

It's time for a brand new challenge at Fetch A Sketch and here is the sketch for this fortnight:

And we are sponsored by the very generous Anice at Funky Hand!  To view the prize on offer to one lucky entrant, just pop over to Fetch A Sketch!

And here is my take on the sketch.  To be quite honest it wasn't supposed to look anything like this - the only constant was to use up scraps!  But I had an Eureka moment and dug out my Primitive Sizzix heart dies and the rest is history!  I've used an X Cut fancy die for the card shape and added brads and organza ribbon to hold it together.

 

There are two different sized heart and I've used papers from Colour Me Happy cd which after cutting the edges have been inked and then I doodled a faux stiched line around the edges (and on the card blank too).  

I cut 4 of the larger hearts and scored down the middle and stuck with silicone glue - you can do two layers at once and then glue all together once dry.  The smaller hearts have been added with silicone glue behind them too for a bit more depth.  A few half pearls and the card is done!

Hope you can join in with the sketch - for more details please see the challenge blog at Fetch A Sketch!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting When We Can:  Strawberries and Cream (Red and White)

One Stitch At A Time:  Love

Totally Gorjuss:  KISS

Card Makin' Mamas:  Clean and Simple

Guylou's Inimitability:  I See Dots

Papers:  Funky Hand - Colour Me Happy cd

Dies:  X Cut fancy die, Sizzix Primitive Hearts

Everything else:  My stash 

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 33 - White On White

It's time for another Crimbo Crackers challenge and the theme this fortnight is:

White On White

I will allow a tiny bit of colour plus gold or silver!

I've used a Penny Black stamp - Fantasy - that I bought with a gift voucher I won from Simon Says Stamp in the summer and my intention was to make a large batch of Christmas cards with it to send to family.  And I never did - just ran out of time!  So shamefully, this is the first time its seen ink!

I decided to heat emboss and used some silver powder that I bought when I was making my Wedding invitations around 13 years ago!  And the embossing pad that I use is still farm fresh and not in the slightest dry! 

I'm not sure if its me or if the tree looks a little wonky - I've always thought that the trunk should be straight but looking at it here I'm not sure!

Anyway!  I've layered it onto some silver card I found in my stash and had to add the ribbon (Lidl) carefully to hide the join.  The snowflake charm is a recent purchase (Amazon voucher so it does not really count!) from the Bead and Button Company - be warned - they have a lot of stuff that could jump into your basket!

Three half pearls from my stash and edging of the image and card with stickles and the card is complete!

I've just eaten a cinnamon jelly bean.  Teach me not to look at the flavours before I shove them in my mouth.  Bring back Root Beer flavoured beans too I say!  And McDonalds in the UK too!!!

Good luck with the challenge, for more details, pop over to Crimbo Crackers!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Christmas at Sweet Stampin;  Cold and Frosty
Creative Moments:  Monochrome
Always Something Creative:  Winter
Christmas Cards All Year Round:  Anything Christmas
WOW Embossing Powders:  Heat Embossing
Creative Card Crew:  Snow and Ice
Cheerful Stamp Pad:  White as Snow
Crazy Challenge:  No Designer Paper

Image:  Penny Black 'Fantasty' stamp
Ribbon:  Lidl
Charm:  The Bead and Button Company
Everything else:  My stash

A Fairy and Her Castle

And once again, I'm late with blogging the latest releases from Jellypark!  However this time its two for the price of one as I've combined both digi stamps into one card!

I don't know why I watercoloured the bottom of the card as if it was a sandcastle at the beach but I suppose that is wishful thinking as the weather is so dammed cold at the moment!

I've used Fairy Castle and printed it off quite big - the card is A5 in size - without loss of quality, and the  Cute Fairy With Wand.  Both have been coloured with Promarkers plus a dusting of stickles here and there.  I've cut round both images and then added the castle to a card blank which I pre-coloured with watercolour paint.  I added the fairy with a strip of acetate so she boings around a little!

And I added a line of liquid pearl dots around the edge of the card to finish it off!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Diva's By Design:  Girly
By The Cute and Girly:  Cute and Girly
Oozak:  Anything Goes plus Pink and Sparkly
Can You Digi It?  Getting Girly
Everybody Art:  Girl
Card Mania:  Girly

Images:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
Everything else:  My stash

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 41 - Midway Extra

It's time for some extra inspiration over at Fetch A Sketch, the current challenge is still running and here is a reminder of the sketch:

I've kept with the Lili of the Valley theme and made a little girl card this week, using one of the large pre-printed toppers which I've layered with pink papers I found in my stash and also some silver mirror card.  I'm not sure if you can see it but I've glittered around the edge of the image and also the edge of the card plus some on the bunting.

The ribbon is from my stash along with the embroidery thread and the half pearls.  The tiny heart charm says 'made with love' and I've tied it on with some white embroidery thread.

At first I was slightly shocked as to how large these Lili of the Valley toppers were but some can be trimmed down quite easily plus it means that the image fils the card, which when it is this cute, is no bad thing!!

Good luck with the challenge - for more details and how to enter, please pop over to Fetch A Sketch!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Come And Get It Challenges:  Tie a Ribbon Around It

Joanna Sheen Challenge:  New Beginnings

Opus Gluei:  Pink

Quirky Crafts:  Something New With Pink

Pink Gem Challenge:  New Beginnings

Image:  Pre printed topper from Lili of the Valley

Papers:  My stash

Everything else:  My stash

Get Funky and Craft - Use Up Your Offcuts!

It's my turn to provide some inspiration and to showcase a Funky Hand product over at Get Funky and Craft and I thought that because its a New Year and we all set ourselves (unrealistic!) New Year Resolutions to use the stash that we have, I'd better do what I say, and I've made these cards:

I've actually made a few more than the photo shows, but you get the idea!  I've cut a sheet of A4 card in half to make two cards and used an X Cut facy die for the scalloped bottom edge.  Lightly inked in black around the edge and then added a faux stitched line with a fineliner black pen.

The bunting has been made with offcuts from wordbooks - I get a lot of requests to make the wordbooks and I hate to throw away the bits I cut off especially as at least one side has been printed on.  I simply cut some strips and then measured 2cm for the top of the triangle and then cut!  Layered onto a base colour, glued in place with silicone glue and then added the bows of embroidery thread afterwards.

I also dotted a black spot with a Sharpie marker and then dabbed glossy accents over the top.  The sentiment stamp is a Studio G acrylic 99p set and as I sent very few Christmas cards, I decided that I'd be sending Spring cards instead.  Mainly because I ran out of time (kids had something on nearly every night and each weekend from mid November onwards) and I thought that Spring cards would stay displayed longer!

Although we are no longer setting challenges at Get Funky and Craft, you can still link up and show us your creations with Funky Hand products!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Fat Pages With Attitude:  Tag / Sentiment Anything Goes

Hot Shot Crafts:  Clean and Simple

Sweet Pea Stampers:  Clean and Simple and No Embellishments

Papers:  Funky Hand leftovers

Dies:  X Cut fancy die

Stamps:  Studio G acrylic

Everything else:  My stash

Polkadoodle Challenge 2 - Free Image and Blog Hop!

It's Friday so its time for another Polkadoodle challenge!  Last week you could snag a free Emma Canning image and take part in a blog hop, and this week you can do the same, but there is a different image to snag and a different set of blogs to hop through!

So, if you've arrived at me from Margaret you're on the right track!  And very close to the end too, so I hope you liked what you've seen so far!

Don't forget that you need to use the free image and to complete the hop and leave a comment at each stop.

I've coloured the image with Promarkers and cut it out with a fancy X Cut die then layered it onto some brown card I had in my stash - the edges have been glittered for a bit of bling!  The papers are from Sugarplum Daisy and I've simply inked the edges.

I found the pink and white spotty ribbon in my stash and the cupcake brad is from Do Crafts Tea Time collection.  And finally, the ticket stamp is from the Pen and Paper Circle magazine - issue 5 which is no longer available (sorry!)  But you can order Issue 6 if you're quick - last date is 14 January!!

Don't forget to leave me a comment before you hop on to Shell!

I'm also offering a lucky commenter some blog candy - I've not taken a photo of it (forgot!) but its a selection of stamped images (not digi) and I'll draw the winner of my candy once the challenge has ended.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Paper Pretties:  Brads
Inky Chicks:  Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations:  Anything Goes / A Bit of Sparkle
Forever Friends Monthly:  Birthday
Ooh La La Creations:  Happy Birthday

Image: Emma Canning freebie, coloured with Promarkers
Papers:  Polkadoodle, Sugarplum Daisy cd
Ticket:  Pen and Paper Circle Issue 5 magazine
Everything else:  My stash

Jellypark Challenge - Winter Animals

Welcome to another Jellypark challenge! The theme this fortnight is:

Winter Animals

I've used the cute Five Christmas Robins digi stamp (only £1.25!) and coloured it with Aquamarkers and stickles (you just can't see the bling in the terrible photo!)  The sentiment is part of the image too so it made sense to keep it all nice and simple!  And to be honest, when I made this I think I was on Christmas card overload!

The papers are from The Clip Art Fairy - Beautiful Baby Boy papers and and I've glittered around the edge of the image and also the papers too.

There are two new digi releases this fortnight from Jellypark and as you know, I'll be sharing them over the weekend, but if you can't wait, just pop over to the Jellypark challenge blog and you'll see them on there!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

ABC Christmas:  A for Animal
Christmas at Sweet Stampin':  Cold and Frosty
Just For Fun:  Birds
Fab n Funky:  Winter
Sisterhoood of Crafters:  Cold and Winter

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Aquamarkers
Papers:  The Clip Art Fairy, Beautiful Baby Boy

Teenage Girl

And here is the second of the two Jellypark new release digi stamps!  This one is Teenage Girl Bedroom Gaming and I've coloured her with Promarkers and cut the oval with my X Cut die.  The scalloped edge around the oval has been made with a heart punch as I don't have the die that fits the oval!

The papers are left-over from making a wordbook and its from Funky Hand - Retro Fun wordbook download and I've had to carefully join them together but if you look close you can see the join!

I've added some felt flowers made with my Die-namics rolled die and added some half pearls to the centres.  Plus some embroidery thread to help join up the mismatched pattern!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Bloggers Network:  Flowers

Creative Creations:  Anything Goes

Daisy Doodles:  Fresh and Simple

Whoopsi Daisy Challenge:  Punches and Die Cuts

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers

Papers:  Funky Hand, Retro Fun wordbook download

Dies:  X Cut oval, Die-namics rolled flowers

Punches:  Heart

Everything else:  My stash

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 41

It's time for another Fetch A Sketch challenge - and the first one for 2013!  Here is the sketch for this fortnight:

And here is my interpretation of it!  I've used papers from my stash (a mix of The Clip Art Fairy and Polkadoodles) and a cute large topper from Lili of the Valley.  I've used shiny blue card for layering and I made the ribbon threader with a punch I've had for years from Lakeland.

I've added stickles around the edges and some bunting plus a little heart charm.  Good luck with the challenge - for more details pop over to Fetch A Sketch!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Avenue 613:  Anything Goes
Amusing Challenges:  Glitter
Pink Gem Challenges:  New Beginnings
Crafty Calendar:  What's New
Crafty Mess:  Sparkle / Bling
My Time To Craft:  All About the New
Totally Gorjuss:  Anything Goes With Ribbon

Image:  Lili of the Valley die cut
Papers:  The Clip Art Fairy and Polkadoodles
Ribbon Threader:  Lakeland
Everything else:  My stash 

Teenage Boy

I'm rather late again with last week's new releases from Jellypark, but better late than never!  Here is the first of two - perfect for teenagers!  This is called Teenage Boy - Gaming and is available to buy for the bargain price of £1.25!

I've coloured him with Promarkers and watercolour pencils (for the softer parts) and then layered onto some red and silver card I found in my stash.

I'm trying to use up all the random offcuts of printed papers in my shoe box (rather large!) so I've used red and white polkadot paper from Polkadoodles (Britannia download) and the blue and white from Funky Hand (Rainbow Polkadots download). I've added some X Cut stars and a ribbon along with some embroidery thread.

With a bit of luck, I'll be blogging the other Jellypark new release stamp before the next set are released!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Avenue 613:  Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everyone:  Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenges:  Anything Goes
Robyn's Fetish:  Anything Goes


Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and watercolour pencils
Papers:  Polkadoodles and Funky Hand
Dies:  X Cut
Everything else:  My stash 

Simply Create Too Challenge 28 - Let It Snow!

The first challenge of 2013 has been launched on Simply Create Too and we've also announced the prize winners from the First Anniversary challenge so make sure you pop over to see if you are a lucky winner!  The challenge theme this fortnight is:

Let It Snow

I've used a wonderful digi from Jellypark called Polar Bear and I've coloured it with Promarkers plus added some fake sparkly snow - I bought a bag of it from the Poundshop!

The ribbon was donated by my cousin Claire and was left over from her Wedding last year.  I've used an existing card as a template to draw around to get the scalloped shape and I've inked the edges and then added stickles.

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following:

ABC Christmas Challenge:  Z for Zoo Animal
Christmas at Sweet Stampin':  Anything Goes for Christmas
Crafts and Me:  Winter Wonderland
Creative Belli:  Winter / Snowmen
The House That Stamps Built:  Snow
Creatalicious Challenges:  Christmas but no Red or Green

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
Fake Snow:  Poundshop
Ribbon:  Donation
Everything else:  My stash

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 32 - Decoupage

It's time for the first Crimbo Crackers challenge of 2013! The theme for the fortnight is:

Decoupage

I've used a rather cute image from La Pashe - I bought the complete set of Tinsel Tots some time ago and although the full set is no longer available, the individual sheets are and you can make two cards from one sheet - and all that for 59p!  This one is called Ho Ho Ho and I've used the main image and then added all the various layers using foam pads for depth.

I've layered the image and papers onto some red card I found in my stash and the patterned paper is cleverly joined offcuts from Echo Park - All I Want For Christmas - I hate to throw any bits away and know that one day it can be used for something! The ribbon is not actually ribbon but some sort of industrial trim as it came from the Scrap Store.

Good luck with the challenge - for more details, pop over to Crimbo Crackers!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Christmas at Sweet Stampin':  Anything Goes
Use It Tuesday:  Anything Goes (scrap papers from 2011 Christmas cards and decoupage images I bought in the summer and have only just used!)
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop:  Christmas
Songbird Challenges:  Christmas
Cutie Pie Challenge:  Cute Christmas

Image:  La Pashe decoupage Ho Ho Ho sheet
Papers:  Echo Park, All I Want For Christmas
Everything else:  My stash