Aphid Assassinator

Looks can be deceptive.  Take for instance Mr Thomas Gunn, or Tommy Gunn as his friends call him.  At first glance appears to be a gun totting, viola case carrying, pin stripe suit wearing, hard faced kinda chap. 

But look a little further and you'll realise that the gun is actually an oversized bug sprayer, the viola case does indeed contain a viola (larger than a violin case and therefore more imposing), the pin stripe suit is because all his others are at the dry cleaners.  And well, he can't help what Mother Nature dealt him in the way of looks.

 Tommy Gunn - the Aphid Assassinator is available to buy from Dr Digi for the tax free amount of £2.

I've coloured him with Promarkers and used a vintage advertising topper from Nicecrane Designs.  The banner has been handwritten by me.  Background colouring courtesy of a used tea bag!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Card Mania:  Summer Blooms
Creative Creations Challenges:  Anything Goes
Tammy Scrapin Corner:  Use A Digi

Image:  Dr Digi, coloured with Promarkers
Advertising image:  Nicecrane Designs
Sentiment:  Handwritten
Everything else:  My stash 

Painting Ladybird

The image on my card is from I Heart Sketches and is the progressive monthly freebie image! I've coloured it with Promarkers and used papers from my stash which were left overs from a previous project - Funky Hand - Twelve Crafters Crafting cd and I had to hide the joins with embroidery thread!

The buttons I found in my stash and I've layered them up and added some more embroidery thread to the smaller one.

I was due to blog this card over the weekend but it was a busy one again as Samuel was karting all weekend! However it was worth it as he won his second Honda Cadet Novice trophy for the second weekend in a row and did some fantastic karting and overtaking too!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

I Heart Sketches: Monthly Progressive Challenge
Cd Sunday - Garden Pleasures
Crafting When We Can: Floral
One Stop Craft: Add Flowers or Ribbon
Kitty Bee Designs: Summer
Happy Campers: Summer

Image:  From The Heart Digital Stamps, coloured with Promarkers
Printed Paper:  Twelve Crafters Crafting cd from Funky Hand
Everything else:  My stash 

Jellypark Challenge - Christmas In July

Time for a new Jellypark challenge!  And the theme for the fortnight is:

Christmas In July

There is also a bumper crop of new release digi's - 6 in total and this is actually one of them.  If you want to see the others, pop over to the challenge blog - I'll be blogging all my makes over the next week.  I've used the Xmas Thank You digi stamp, coloured with Promarkers and just a tiny bit of stickles on the scarf!

I've used a kraft card blank and then papers from Funky Hand - Winter Wedding download which I have distressed and then added a fine black line around the edge.  The embroidery thread and charm are from my stash.

And for a change, I decided to decorate the inside of the card!  Good luck with our challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting For All Seasons:  Christmas In July
Creative Belli:  Christmas
Crafting By Designs:  Christmas In July
I Love Promarkers:  Christmas In July
Deep Ocean Challenge:  Blue

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
Papers:  Funky Hand, Winter Wedding download
Everything else:  My stash 

Polkadoodle Challenge 30 - Christmas In July

It's time for a new Polkadoodle challenge and the theme this week is:

Christmas In July

Nothing like making Christmas cards when its cracking the flags!  I've made some Christmas tags rather than a card and all the paper based elements are from Gingerbread Twist.  The backing card is a really lovely vintage but grungy pattern and I've added the fab gingerbread people as toppers.

I printed them out and then cut round, adding with foam pads for a bit of lift.  I cut the tags with my Sizzix Scallop Tag die and added a faux stitched line around the edge and then an organza ribbon bow to the top.

I've not decided if these will stay as tags or if I will turn them into toppers for a card....

Good luck with the challenge - for more details pop over to Polkadoodles!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Ribbons:  Anything Goes With Ribbon
Little Miss Muffet Challenge:  Nursery Rhymes - Gingerbread Man
Paper Crafting Journey:  Punches / Die Cuts
Creative Moments:  Anything But A Card
Fab N Funky:  Make A Set

All paperbased elements:  Polkadoodles - Gingerbread Twist
Dies:  Sizzix Scallop Tag Combo
Everything else:  My stash

Santa's Day Off

From when the very last gift is delivered on Christmas Eve until late July, Santa is at a bit of a loose end. There is only so much DIY he can be bothered completing so that leaves time to wax down the surf board and head to the beach!

And he cuts an impressive figure with his red board shorts and cool shades on the beach at Blackpool.

Surfin' Santa can be yours for £2 from the Dr Digi store!  I've coloured him with Promarkers and added a beach with Bazzil card stock along with a Sizzix spade die cut and sun.  The fairy lights I've had for years and the place I bought them from has since closed down.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Here Come The Boys:  Anything Goes
Hobby Cutz:  Summer
Pan Pastel:  Summertime
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards:  Life's A Beach
Stamping With The Dragon:  On The Beach

Image:  Dr Digi, coloured with Promarkers
Papers:  Echo Park Summerdays and Bazzil cardstock
Dies:  Sizzix
Everything else:  My stash

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 55

It's time for a new Fetch A Sketch challenge!  And here is the sketch:

We're sponsored by My Creative Classroom who are offering the lucky winner of the challenge a seat in one of their online classes!  To find out more about My Creative Classroom, just click on the banner below:

And here is my take on the sketch using papers from Retro Fun wordbook from Funky Hand(there are A4 papers with the collection!) along with the Doodleword New Home digi stamp also from Funky Hand that I've printed directly onto kraft card stock and made the little house shape myself.

I've used a Sizzix die for the grass and a fab Spellbinders Shapeabilities tree die which I've cut from kraft card stock too.  I've added a wooden heart button and some twine and the three brads are not actually brads but black sharpie dots with liquid pearls over the top!

Good luck with the Fetch A Sketch challenge - for more details, pop over to the blog!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

CAS on Sunday:  Kraft and Twine
Gingerloft:  Trees
Annabelle Stamps:  Polkadots

Papers:  Funky Hand - Retro Fun Wordbook download
Digi Stamps:  New Home Doodleword from Funky Hand
Dies:  Sizzix grass and Spellbinder Shapabilities tree
Everything else:  My stash

A Is For Apple

Here is the third and final new release digi stamp from Jellypark -Teacher - and it can be yours for just £1.25!  I've coloured it with Promarkers and kept it clean and simple.

Once coloured, I cut the image out and then added it to the card blank with foam pads for a bit of depth.

The ribbon is from my stash along with the apple embellishment which was originally on some Christmas ribbon from Lidl!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge:  Anything Goes
As You Like It Challenge:  Favourite Occasion (end of term so I can make thank you cards for the teachers!)
I Love Promarkers:  Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday:  Anything Goes

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

Boy With Apple

Here is the second of three new release digi's from Jellypark - this one is called Boy Thank You Teacher and can be bought for just £1.25 in the Jellypark store!

I wanted to keep the focus on the image so printed it large enough for an A6 sized card, added a faux running stitch around the edge of the card, added a gingham bow plus a wooden apple embellishment (it came from some Christmas ribbon I bought some time ago from Lidl - wanted the ribbon but not the stuff stuck on it so the apple has been waiting to be used for some time!)

I've coloured the image with Promarkers and then added it to the card with foam pads.

The boys have finished school now for the summer - they have 7 full weeks off!  Both got good reports and are both achieving above the National average for their age - really pleased for Samuel is as he is dyslexic and he does struggle at times.  Jacob also got a special award - a gift voucher - for having 100% attendance!  He had 100% last year too!  Samuel missed out as he had 1 day off sick earlier in the year.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Brown Sugar:  Anything Goes
Creative Fingers:  Anything Goes
QKR Stampede:  Fruity Fun
4 Crafty Chicks:  Let's Hear It For The Boys
Crafty Ribbons:  Clean and Simple

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

Jellypark Stamp Spotlight - Ice Cream Van

The stamp spotlight of the moment at Jellypark is this cutie:

It's called Ice Cream Van and I've coloured it with Promarkers and then watercolour emails for the background.  Paper is from Echo Park - Splash and I've added a faux stitching around the edges and two buttons.  A quick card to make!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

I Love Promarkers:  Anything Goes
Inky Impressions:  Summer
Scrappers Delights:  Summer Brights
Crafting For All Seasons:  Bingo (Buttons, Digi Image, Twine)
Creative Card Crew:  The Great Outdoors

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and Watercolour Pencils
Papers:  Echo Park - Splash
Everything else:  My stash

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 46 - Anything Goes

Time for another Crimbo Crackers challenge!  And its a nice and easy on this fortnight - the theme is:

Anything Goes

I'm sponsored by Funky Hand and there is a download from the store for the winner!

I've made a Christmas pudding using papers from the Christmas Tree download plus red and green card from my stash to make the poinsettia (Marianne Creatables die).  It was a really quick and simple card to make!

Good luck with the Crimbo Crackers challenge - for more details and how to enter please visit the blog!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting By Design:  Anything Goes
Creative Belli:  Christmas
Fab n Funky:  Christmas In July
Cuttin and Stampin Challenges:  Christmas In July
Tuesday Throwdown:  Anything Goes

Printed papers:  Funky Hand Christmas Tree download
Dies:  Marianne Creatables
Everything else:  My stash

Girl With Apple

Right, I'm on track now with the new Jellypark releases!  There were 3 new digi stamps released on Friday and here is one of them - Girl Thank You Teacher.  I've kept it clean and simple (plus I couldn't decide which papers to use!)

I remembered that I had some textured white card in my stash so I cut it down to make two A6 sized cards, added a faux running stitch around the edge and then added the image.

I've used Promarkers to colour and then added her to the card base with foam pads for depth.  The gingham ribbon I found in my stash (I had a whole reel of it that I didn't know about!) and the wooden apple is taken from some Christmas ribbon from Lidl.

And the uniform colours - I've taken inspiration from the boys' Primary school!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion:  Thank You
Creative Creations:  For You Teacher
Cutie Pie Challenge:  Cute and Cuddly
Path of Positivity:  Caring (giving thanks and recognising the hard work of teachers)

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
Ribbon:  My stash
Apple embellishment:  Originally Lidl
Everything else:  My Stash

Rock Pools

Here is the second of the older new release digis from Jellypark (that I forgot to blog when they were released!) This one is called Boy In Rockpool and I've coloured him with Promarkers and then watercolour pencils for the sky and sand.

I found some dark blue card in my stash so I used that for layering and the patterned papers are from Echo Park - Splash.  I'm quite pleased how my bunting turned out and it does look like it is flapping around in the breeze!

A little bit of doodling here and there and the card is complete!  Makes you wish you were there doesn't it in this weather?!  I certainly know where I'd rather be than stuck in an office all day!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

C is For Challenge:  Summer
Get Inky:  Summer Fun Sun
Emergency Crafters:  Summer
Heck Of A Challenge:  The Sea
The Crafting Cafe:  Summer Is Here

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and Watercolour pencils
Papers:  Echo Park, Splash
Everything else:  My stash

I'd Rather Be Dancing

Knock Out Kevin (or KO Kev as the promoters like to call him) is looking rather worse for wear. He's unbeaten in his heavyweight boxing career with 68 wins, 44 of them knock outs (hence his name).

He still has the bruises from the previous 8 wins but as his trainer says, the superficial injuries take longer to heal the older you get.

KO Kevin can be yours for just £2!  I've coloured him with Promarkers and then added a random page from an old car magazine (March 7, 1939 to be precise!) and then typed the sentiment on my computer.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Created With Love:  Anything Goes
Marker Pop:  Anything Goes
Whoopsi Daisy:  Use Your Markers
Here Come The Boys:  Anything Goes

Image:  Dr Digi, coloured with Promarkers
Background:  Vintage car magazine
Sentiment:  Computer generated

Get Funky and Craft - Good Luck!

It's my turn to show some inspiration over at Get Funky and Craft!  This is a quick card made using the I Love You Sew download papers.  And the best bit is, most of it was made using left over scraps from previous projects!

I've added some faux stitching of my own and carefully cut out some of the letters from the matching alphabet and then added some organza ribbon and embroidery thread to the side for a bit of detail.

And even though there is pink in the collection, the download would make some great male cards too - lots of zig zags!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Hiding In My Craft Room:  Super Scraps
Inspire Me Friday's:  Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge:  Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge:  Two Word Sentiment


All papers:  Funky Hand - I Love You Sew download papers and alpha
Everything else:  My stash 

Happy Bug Day!

Here is one of the new release digi stamps from Jellypark from a fortnight ago - I totally forgot to blog it and the other stamp so that will probably follow tomorrow!  This one is called Bug Boy or Alien and he's been coloured with Promarkers plus dabs of liquid pearls here and there.

The papers are all from Funky Hand - Spooky Dookie download (yes, its a halloween collection but the colours were just what I was looking for!)

The letters have been cut with a Sizzix alphabet die - Girls are Weird and I've used some silver offcut of card that I found in my stash.  A bit of doodling around the edges and the card is complete!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Colour Me Creative Challenge:  Anything Goes, Twist - Animals (well, sort of!)
Send A Smile 4 Kids:  Punches or Die Cuts
Totally Gorjuss:  Sweet
Word Play Saturday:  Birthdays
Creative Corner:  Anything Goes

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and liquid pearls
Papers:  Funky Hand - Spooky Dookie download
Dies:  Sizzix Girls are Weird alphabet

Jellypark Challenge - Give Thanks

It's time for a new Jellypark challenge and the theme for the fortnight is:

Give Thanks

Which is quite apt as my two finish school next Friday for 7 (yep!) weeks!  I've used one of my favourite Jellypark images - Boy With Sign.  He's been coloured with Promarkers and then Jacob handwrote the sentiment in the centre - I actually have made 4 cards but couldn't get the 4th one in on the photo as it didn't look placed correctly!  All four are for his favourite teachers (and one for the Headmaster!) and the boy actually looks quite like Jacob in his school uniform!

The papers are from Samantha Walker - A to Z mega kit and I've added some long forgotten and languishing card candy.  And then to finish it off, I tied some embroidery thread in a bow around the top.  I didn't want the card to be too fussy as I was making 4 of them plus I like the image too much!

There are 3 new releases too from Jellypark and all thank you and school themed!  I'll be blogging those (and the two new releases from a fortnight ago as I forgot to blog them!) over the weekend and early next week!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting By Designs:  Thank You Cards
Nutcrafters:  One For The Boys
Word Art Wednesday:  Anything Goes
Paper Minutes:  Anything Goes
Creative Creations Challenges:  For You Teacher

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
Papers:  Samantha Walker A to Z mega kit
Everything else:  My stash

Polkadoodle Challenge 28 - Summer!

The Polkadoodle challenge for the week is an apt one:

Summer Fun

And here is a little cheeky number that I've made!  I've used my own template and used papers from the brand new Pen and Paper Circle Issue 8 kit plus ribbon from my stash and seed beads.

And here is the reverse!

I've also added a dotted line of liquid pearls around the edges of the bikini for a bit of bling!  The ribbon is actually quite a good match in real life - it looks rather hot pink in these photos!

Good luck with the challenge!  I'd like to enter the following challenges:

365 Day Cards:  Day 191 - Glamour
Penny's Paper Crafty:  Pink
Whimsical Designs:  Clean and Simple
Deep Ocean Challenge:  On The Beach
Going Grey With Scrap Creations:  Ribbons and Bows
Songbird Challenges:  Ribbon

Template:  My own
Papers:  Polkadoodle Pen and Paper Circle issue 8
Everything else:  My stash

Simply Create Too Challenge 41 Midway Extra - Christmas In July

The posts are going to come thick and fast this morning - this is the first of three!  We are at the midway point of the current Simply Create Too challenge which means that there is just under a week of the challenge left and the theme is:

Christmas In July

And it can't be done without Santa!  And this Santa is courtesy of Dr Digi!  I've coloured the Naughty or Nice digi with Promarkers and then the background with watercolour pencils.  Papers are from DCWV Christmas Wishes 6x6 stack which, to be honest, I've had for a number of years so its about time I used some of it up!

The star is wooden and was a different colour before I covered it with an offcut of paper!  I bought a load of the little packs from Tesco last year - 10 for £1 which is not bad!  I also had some left from a previous year which I bought in the January sale!

Some stickles around the edges of the star and image and its complete!  Good luck with the Simply Create Too challenge and Santa can be yours for just £2 in the Dr Digi store!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Papercrafting Journey:  Christmas in July
Creative Belli:  Stars
Fab n Funky:  Christmas In July
Inky Impressions:  Christmas In July
Crafty Sentiments:  Christmas In July
LEJ Designs:  Christmas In July

Image:  Dr Digi, coloured with Promarkers
Papers:  DCWV Christmas Wishes 6x6 paper stack
Star:  Tesco 2012 and 2011 Tree Decorations
Everything else:  My stash

The Blue Screen of Death

He really does try to understand which cable gets plugged into where and what all the strange computer speak means, but Ian, just cannot master being a techno geek. And he usually creates more problems than he is trying to fix.

Still, he is rather proud of his original Atari tshirt and that seems to placate his long suffering customers.  You too can create your own technological disaster for £2 with IT Ian.

I've coloured Ian with Promarkers and then added him via foam pads to a plain blue backing - the text I printed on the pc. And that's it!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Digi Make Over Challenge: Anything Goes
House of Gilli: Anything Goes / Bright Colours
Make It Monday: Anything Goes
Scribbles Designs: Mainly Men

Goalie Jacob!

For something a little different, I thought I'd share some recent photos of Jacob as the goalie for the Under 7's Junior Gardeners White team. The first set of photos were taken at the end of June during a tournament hosted by Flixton Juniors AFC.

Out of the 6 matches they played, they drew 3, won 1 and lost 2 and Jacob only let in 3 goals and kept a clean sheet for 4 matches!

He did actually save this goal although you can't see the ball - just out of shot as he'd pushed it out!

And here is the full team (minus one who had gone home!) with their trophies for taking part:

And this Saturday the team played three friendly matches against local teams - they won 2 and lost 1 and Jacob got kicked a few times which he was not happy about - he gets his angry face on and then puts off the scorer! Jacob actually assisted at least 2 goals as he can kick the ball quite a way down the pitch for either Issac or Jack to kick it into the net.

The team move up to the Under 8's in September when the season restarts and I think that they will be a force to be reckoned with - this season was their first playing as a team and they have really settled in and play as a true team. And I thought Jacob would never make a goalie!

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 54

It's time for a new Fetch A Sketch challenge and the sketch is:

And we have a brand new sponsor - Scribble Designs!

And here is my take on the sketch:

I've used Frame 7 from Scribbles Designs as my main focal point and then added Sizzix die cut letters to the centre and X Cut stars to the sides - really quick and easy to make!

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

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crazy 4 Challenges:  Let's Get Wordy
Send A Smile For Kids:  Punches / Die Cuts
365 Day Cards:  Day 186 - Finished in 15
Creative Corner:  Many Thanks

Frame:  Scribbles Designs
Dies:  X Cut stars, Sizzix Girls are Weird for letters

Get Funky And Craft - Paper Weaving

Hope you've had a lovely weekend - the weather has been fantastic and lets hope it lasts!  I've got a quick card to show you, all made with papers from the Summer Wedding download - and the download is only £1.99!

To make the weaving, I used some offcuts of thin card, inked the edges with some black ink - worked out the width of each strip and then started weaving!

The flowers are also made with the papers - for the larger flowers I've added a smaller one inside and then glued seed beads to the centre.  A bit of faux stitching around the main panel and the card is complete!

It was quite a quick card to make, or it would have been if the glue had dried quicker on the flowers!

I'd like to enter the following:

Gem of a Challenge:  Lots of Layers
One Stop Craft:  Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenges:  Make Your Own Flowers
Bloggers:  Create Your Own Background
365 Day Cards:  Day 185 - Overlapping Elements

Papers:  Summer Wedding download from Funky Hand
Dies:  Memory Box 
Everything else:  My stash 

Jellypark Stamp Spotlight - Dancing Fairy

I'm sure a day has sneaked away from me at some point this week - how can it be Friday already?!  And I'm rather late in blogging the Jellypark Stamp Spotlight feature......  I suppose better late than never!

This week its the turn of this cute Dancing Fairy - and she can be bought from the store for only £1.25!  I've coloured her with Promarkers plus stickles on the wings and wand.

I bought some purple card some time ago as my rationale was that I don't use purple enough!  Use two Spellbinder dies to cut the image and then for layering.  I've had the Cadbury purple ribbon for a while and its left over from making a Wedding card last year (of course I had to buy far to much than I needed, just in case!)

Some liquid pearls dotted around the edge and the card is complete!  Such a lovely image - have a look at the samples the rest of the Design Team have made!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Dutch Dare:  No Square Cards
Papercrafting Journey:  Anything But A Square
Crafting For All Seasons:  Girly
Fab n Funky:  Anything But Square
The House That Stamps Built:  Monochrome

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and Stickles
Paper:  Papermill Shop
Ribbon:  Meiflower
Dies:  Spellbinders
Everything else:  My stash

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 45 - Girly

Happy 4th of July!  And a new Crimbo Crackers challenge!  The theme for the fortnight is:

Girly

And I am sponsored by the very lovely Jellypark who are offering the challenge winner two digi's from the store!

I've used one of the Jellypark digi's for my creation - Wish Upon A Star Angel and coloured her with Promarkers plus some stickles here and there (a fairy does need to be sparkly!)  I've used papers from the Just For Jen download from Funky Hand.

I've used two Marianne Creatables snowflakes and then glittered them and the fancy die at the bottom is a new purchase (I treated myself) and is a Memory Box Frostyville die that I bought from Oyster Stamps.  I needed some new cutting pads for my very old Original Red Sizzix machine so the die didn't cut too well in the centre - so there is a bit missing but you'd never know if I didn't tell!

The hot pink ribbon is from my stash.  Good luck with the challenge - pop over to Crimbo Crackers for more details and how to enter.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Christmas At Sweet Stamping:  Cute and Cuddly and Non Traditional Colours

Crafting For All Seasons:  Make It Girly

Creative Belli:  Stars

Diva's By Design:  Cute

Ruby's Rainbow:  Things With Wings

Whimsical Designs:  Christmas In July

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and stickles

Dies:  Memory Box and Marianne Creatables

Papers:  Just for Jen download from Funky Hand

Everything else:  My stash

Living The Life

All is good and quite mellow in the life of Beach Bum Bob.  He worked hard for a living selling all manner of household appliances at his family owned firm - Bomit - the well known electrical retailer - but just could not get to grips with the new fangled technology age and decided to call it quits.

He now revels in the beach life and he can be found wandering around the beach huts sipping a strictly non alcoholic cocktail authentically served from half a coconut.

The only hint of his highly successful career is his penchant for the highly sought after Christian Louboutin sandals.  Treat yourself to Beach Bum Bob - only £2.  A darn site cheaper than the sandals.  And Bob will probably be in fashion longer too.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew:  No Designer Paper
Use It Tuesday:  Bring On The Sunshine (I've had the 'sand' paper for around 4 years and had the beach huts already cut out from a project last year)
365 Day Cards: Day 182 - I'm Torn
Digi Makeover Challenge:  Vacation
Lexi's Creations:  Summer Holiday


Image:  Dr Digi, coloured with Promarkers
Beach Huts:  Polkadoodles Sundae of Seasons cd
Everything else:  My stash