From The Heart Stamps - Sketch 120 - Inspiration

Welcome to my inspiration for the current I {heart} sketches  #120 challenge.  The sketch is below along with the twist - you can either use the sketch or the twist or both!  Don't forget to link up before the end of the challenge - more details can be found on the blog.

And here is my creation!  I've used French Mustache Birdbrain, coloured him with Promarkers and then layered onto card from my stash; the sentiment comes with the image.  I've used a charm from my stash along with embroidery thread.

A little bit of faux stitching around the edge of the image and card blank (which is a strip left over from making a square card) and all complete!  Don't forget to see what the rest of the Design Team has created and remember that you must use a From The Heart Stamp too!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting By Designs:  Anything Goes
Crafty Gals Corner:  Things With Wings
Simon Says Stamp:  Anything Goes
Di's Digi's:  Animals Behaving Like Humans

Deedee's Digi's - September Guest Designer - Week 5

This is my final week as Guest Designer for Deedee's Digi's and I just had to add a Christmas card to the collection!  These Merry and Bright penguins are so cute and fun - coloured with Promarkers plus a little glitter glue and glossy accents on the fairy lights.

I've kept the card simple so the image shows itself off - layered onto black and red card to make it pop, along with the sentiment, I've just added some glitter glue and half pearls for extra detail.

The card blank has been made from an offcut of card from making a square card blank previously - I save all these offcuts just for cards like these!

I've really enjoyed my month being Guest Designer for Deedee's Digi's and for their generosity.  If you're not familiar with Deedee's Digi's, check out the store as there is bound to be something for you in there!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

A Snowflake's Promise:  Christmas / Winter Theme
Artistic Inspirations:  Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers:  Make It Sparkle
Christmas Card Challenges:  Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge:  Stick It Down

More Tea Vicar?!

Now that is a blast from the past!  The Big Breakfast!  A quick and easy card made using the Tea Time Sentiment 01 sheet from Dr Digi and some square die cuts.  I've used an X Cut die and saved the frame part.  It's all layered onto some stripy papers I had lying around from a previous project.

The little spoon is a charm along with the waxed cord.  I've added a faux running stitch around the edge of the card, sentiment and frame with a black fineliner pen.  Hmmm, I fancy a cuppa now!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

AAA Cards:  Word Play
Robyn's Fetish:  Square or Rectangle Cards
Sweet Stampin' Challenge:  No White Base
Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge:  Stitching, Real or Faux

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 90 - Someone Special

Time for a new Crimbo Crackers challenge and the theme for the fortnight is:

Someone Special

I've used a From The Heart digi stamp - Mistletoe Birdbrains, coloured with Promarkers and then layered onto some rather shiny silver card cut with a fancy Spellbinder die.  I've used a wooden rustic heart decoration (if I remember correctly, from Tesco!) and the embossing is a Cuttlebug folder.

And here is the inside:; I've used a cute Memory Box dangling heart die for the sentiment, everything else is from my stash.  The red ribbon hides the embossing join!  I've added a thin line of glitter around all the inner edges of the card for extra sparkle!  I've handwritten the letters

Good luck with the challenge - pop over to Crimbo Crackers for more details!  I'd like to enter the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks:  Glitter and Sparkle
Aud Sentiments:  Christmas and a Sentiment
Cute Card Thursday:  Things With Wings
DRS Designs:  Flying High
Crafty Creations:  It Takes Two
Fab n Funky:  Cute Critters and Christmas

From The Heart Stamps - Sketch 119 - Inspiration

A while ago there was a DT call for From The Heart Stamps and as a big fan of Faith's work, I decided to apply and I was selected!  So my six month term officially starts in October, through to March but I decided to join in anyway with the planned sketches.  So here is my little bit of inspiration for the current I {heart} sketches challenge #119.

I've used Christmas Spirit Birdbrain and he has been coloured with Promarkers plus glossy accents on his nose and eyes and a little glitter glue on the whipped cream in his mug.  The sentiment also comes with the digi.

I've embossed a panel of cardstock with a Cuttlebug folder then added the dots with a silver gel pen.  The snowflake is a Marianne Creatables die and the coloured card and half pearl are from my stash.

Here is the sketch for you to follow along with the twist - either is optional but you must use one of them and of course a From The Heart digi.

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following:

The Paper Nest Dolls:  Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin':  Emboss It
Crafting With Friends:  Anything Goes
Digitally Sweet:  Anything With Wings

Deedee's Digi's - September Guest Designer - Week 4

I really do like this digi set from Deedee's - this is week 4 of my September Guest Designer stint and just had to include the Cow Are You digi set!  Coloured with Promarkers plus watercolour pencils for the background and some of the foreground plus I've used the cow print paper from the digi pack along with some hot pink ribbon I had in my stash and a cute flower charm.

Added some pink half pearls to finish it all off.  To give the image some more depth, I added it to the card with foam pads.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting For All Seasons:  Layer It Up
Moo Mania:  Favourite Colour Combination
The Paper Shelter:  Birthday with a Sentiment
Natalie and Amy's Challenge:  Charming

Geriatric Super Powers (Part 2)

Pow!  Boom!  Zap!  Here comes.............. Blunder Woman!!!  A wannabe Superhero in a snug fitting costume!

With the added power of a sentiment from Birthdays Sentiment Sheet 01 both image and sentiment are from Dr Digi.  Blunder Woman coloured with Promarkers plus random die cuts I found in my stash (knew I'd use them one day!)

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting From The Heart:  Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion:  Anything Goes
Get Creative Challenges:  Fantasy
The Paper Nest Dolls:  Anything Goes

Deedee's Digi's - September Guest Designer - Progressive Stamp of the Month Reminder

The progressive monthly stamp challenge at Deedee's Digi's is still live for September - the digi set is Leaf Your Cares Behind and I've taken the sentiment digi and combined it with some of the leaves (selected them and printed multiple times) from a different digi from the same set.

The pencil is part of the High School Daze set.  I cut the sentiment digi with a fancy Spellbinders die and then wrapped some twine around the card blank before attaching with foam pads for depth.  The leaves have also been attached with foam pads and I've added three half pearls from my stash.

The challenge is open until the end of the month and if you play along, you'll receive the next months' digi for free!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts:  Happy Fall Y'All
Crafting Musketeers:  Autumnal Colours
Creative Corner:  Shades of Autumn

If Friends Were Pumpkins....

A little cutie here today! This is the September Stamp of the Month image by From The Heart Stamps - if you join in, you receive the next month's stamp for free!  You can find the challenge - here and the image - Faithful Friends Pumpkin Patch Girl - can be bought here.

I've coloured the image with Promarkers plus added a faux running stitch around the edge of the card, sentiment and image with a black fineliner pen.

Layered onto red and black card from my stash, I've added foam pads to the reverse to provide a bit of depth.  Half pearls also from my stash.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts:  Happy Fall Y'All
Crafting Musketeers:  Autumnal Colours
Creative Corner:  Shades of Autumn
The Sisters of Craft:  Anything Goes

Deedee's Digi's - September Guest Designer - Week 3

Week 3 of my monthly Guest Designer spot for Deedee's Digi's and this week I've made my eldest son, Samuel's Birthday card!  He turned 12 at the weekend (yes, the boy's Birthday's are a week apart!)  This week I've used the bold and bright Way To Go digi set.

All I've added is the large black star die cut (X Cut) plus the gold numbers (Sizzix) and also the sentiment (Clearly Besotted) and of course some black card for layering - everything else is from the paper pack.  And for just $3 (approx £1.75) you do get a lot to work with!

I've also added faux black stitching with a fine liner pen around the edges of the card to provide some definition and to stop it all 'falling' off the page.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Card and Scrap:  Use Dies
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge:  Anything Goes
Sisters of Craft:  Anything Goes
Crafting By Designs:  Let's Celebrate
Crafty Gals:  Anything Goes

Geriatric Super Powers (Part 1)

Apologies this post is a little late however it's all in the name of Geriatric Super Powers, namely Captain Thunderpants.

He did start the crime fighting spree early doors (5:30am) but has only just this very moment made it out of the front door.

Sentiment is from the Birthday Sentiment Sheet 01 along with Captain Thunderpants (coloured with Promarkers) and both are from Dr Digi.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Paperminutes:  Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart:  Anything Goes

Snowman's Stocking

I have a rather long list of Christmas card orders (yes, already!) so need to get cracking. I do find that when I need inspiration, its so much easier to find a sketch challenge - usually because my mind is already onto my next card and what to use!

This image is From The Heart Stamps - Snowman's Stocking and I've coloured it with Promarkers plus a little glitter on the hat and also for the snow.  You can't see, but I've also added glossy accents to the hearts.  And because it needed something to 'hold' it together, I've added a dotted line of liquid pearls around the edge of the image and also the card blank.

I've added ribbon and bakers twine from my stash and hand wrote the Sizzix tag and finished it off with a Marianne Creatables snowflake die and found some tiny half pearls in my stash (I have a feeling they have been languishing in my box for some time!) that matched the colour scheme.

One down, loads more to go!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Jingle Belles:  Christmas - Something From my Stash - old, old half pearls!
Aud Sentiments:  Anything Goes plus Sentiment
CRAFT:  Christmas
Crafting By Designs:  Get Ready For Christmas
From The Heart Stamps:  Sketch and twist followed

Awareness

I treated myself to some Tiddly Ink stamps a while ago plus I'd been lucky enough to win one of their challenges and part of my treat, I choose this:  Awareness - it comes with a single boy and a single girl digi plus one of them both together.  Coloured with Promarkers plus layered onto black card from my stash, I then added a faux running stitch around the edge plus the edge of the card.

Spotty papers are from Funky Hand (ceased trading) and were from my stash.  Sentiment is an acrylic Papermania stamp that I've had for longer than I care to remember; button and waxed cord are from my stash.

Oh, and the image doesn't have a crease in it - it must have been a shadow cast by a dirty mark on the window when I was taking the photo!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Tuesday Morning Sketches:  Sketch followed
A Gem of a Challenge:  Boys, Boys, Boys
Crafty Friends:  B is For..... Boy, Buttons and Black
Morgan's Art World:  For The Kids
4 Crafty Chicks:  Birthday
Seize The Birthday:  Birthday Anything Goes

Polkadoodle Challenge Week 37 - Shabby Chic

Time for another Polkadoodle challenge and the theme for the fortnight is

Shabby Chic

Kraft card and pink - perfect shabby chic combination!  The polkadot pink papers are from the Serenity Fairy CD layered with foam pads onto kraft card letters (my own templates) then haphazardly added to the card base with half pearls for added detail.  Lots of tiny pearl dots around the edge of the card blank to keep it all contained.

And to be honest, the card, in my head, didn't start out like it ended!  Good luck with the challenge - pop over to the blog to see the rest of the Design Teams creations and inspiration and to check out the rules.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks:  Birthday
Aud Sentiments:  Anything Goes With A Sentiment
Cute Card Thursday:  Numbers
Southern Girls:  Layer It Up
Fab n Funky:  Shabby Chic

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 89 - Transport

Time for a new Crimbo Crackers challenge and the theme for the fortnight is:

Transport

I've used this rather cute From The Heart Stamps digi - Toboggan Ride, coloured him with Promarkers plus added glitter glue around the edge of the image and also on his hat and for the snow.  Papers are all from my stash along with the ribbon, pearls and embroidery thread.

I've used a Sizzix tag die and handwrote the sentiment.  Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting by Designs:  Get Ready for Christmas
Crafting For All Seasons:  Tic Tac Toe - centre down - Die Cuts, Digi Image, Sentiment
A Snowflakes' Promise:  Christmas
Creative Card Crew:  Christmas
Get Creative:  Use A Tag

Deedee's Digi's - September Guest Designer - Week 2

It's my second slot for the September Guest Designer for Deedee's Digis and this week I've used the Stitchy Stars digi pack.  This card is for my youngest son, Jacob, as he was 10 at the weekend.

I've printed two of the papers - one slightly smaller than the other and distressed the edges to give a shabby chic feel.  Also printed two of the stars, again, one smaller than the other and layered them with foam pads.



The waxed cord (a bargain buy from ebay!) has been wrapped around the star and also the centre of the card plus I've added a little boy silver charm (again from ebay!) and die cut silver numbers.  To finish off the card I've added some black half pearls and hand written the sentiment.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Cardz 4 Guys:  3 of Something - 3 black pearls
Paperminutes:  All About Children
Tuesday Throwdown:  Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs:  For the Boyz
Unstampabelles:  Boyz Will Be Boyz

Another Cuppa

Sometimes you know you are onto a winner, and what a winner this is - Cuppa digi.  Makes a perfect brew every time!  And to accompany the cuppa is one of the papers from the Tea and Bickies set.  Buy both from the Dr Digi store!

I've coloured the image with Promarkers and used an X Cut die for the heart and a Spellbinder die for the fancy shape behind.  Layered everything with foam pads to provide depth and then finally rounded the edges and added a faux running stitch with a black fineliner pen.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Not Just Cards:  Anything Goes
Lacy Sunshine:  Anything Goes
Glitter and Sparkle:  Anything Goes
Allsorts:  Lots of Layers
Crafty Calendar:  Anything Goes

Polkadoodle Challenge Week 36 - Things With Wings

It's the midway point for the current Polkadoodle challenge and the theme is:

Things With Wings

Couldn't resist this sweet image from the Serenity Fairy CD - the papers are also from the CD - printed as A5 for a smaller pattern and I've added organza ribbon and charm from my stash.  Really lovely image to colour up and easy to add lots of sparkle!  I've coloured the image with Promarkers.

The die cut is a fancy Spellbinders - I made sure that the image would it by sizing it on the computer and holding the die in front of it..... nothing fancy!!

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Bloggers:  Ovals or Circles
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards:  Fancy and Feminine
Digitally Sweet:  Anything With Wings
Really Reasonable Ribbon:  Things With Wings and Ribbon
Creative Knockouts:  Flower Power
In The Pink:  Ribbons and Bows

Simply Create Too - Challenge 93 - Midway Inspiration

We're at the midway point of the current Simply Create Too challenge, and the theme is:

It's A Special Occasion 

I've made this cute backpack from a set I bought quite some time ago from The Clip Art Fairy, although it is now discontinued.  It was really easy to make and it opens at the top like a normal card.  All the buttons are from my stash and I hand wrote the sentiment.

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Craft for the Craic:  Anything But Square or Rectangle
Crafts 4 Eternity:  Children
Creative Corner:  Back To School
Frosted Friday:  Back To School
Fussy and Fancy:  Back To School
Wags N Whiskers:  Back To School

High School Lily

Such a lovely image and made for an equally lovely girl who has started High School!  The image is from Tiddly Inks - School Girl and Extras and I've coloured her with Promarkers.

I wanted a clean and simple look to the card so the image has been printed directly onto it (Papermill Direct white linen effect).  The little tag has been handwritten and I've cut it from the same card and its a Sizzix die.  I've scored a line around the edge of the card for a little extra interest.

Bakers twine and charms are from my stash.  Actually, I've got a bit of a thing about charms at the moment and have bought quite a few from ebay and although they come in bags of between 20 and 100 I still find others that I *need*.....  I know that they will come in useful one day!!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Tiddly Inks:  School Rules
Crafty Sentiments Designs:  School
Artistic Inspirations Challenge:  Anything Goes / Twist of School
Crafty Cardmakers:  No Patterned Paper
Dream Valley Challenges:  Back To School
Get Creative:  No Printed Papers

Deedee's Digi's - September Guest Designer - Week 1

A month or two ago I won a Deedee's Digi Challenge and was asked to be the September Guest Designer!  So this is the first post for week one - 4 more weeks to follow.

I've used the Grillin' and Chillin' digi set; I've printed one of the sentiments onto kraft cardstock and then used a Spellbinders die to cut it out.  I've then layered it onto the card blank with foam pads, added the waxed jute string and a bronze fish charm.  I've also coloured the ketchup and mustard bottles from the set and added them.

A bit of faux stitching around the edges after inking them and some black half pearls and my card is complete.  This is a great set with loads of images - both coloured and non coloured and ten sentiments!  And it's only $3 which is approx £1.75 so you get loads for your money!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting By Designs:  Anything Goes
Creative Moments:  Anything Goes / Use A Sentiment
Ruby's Rainbow:  It's A Man's World
Deep Ocean Challenge:  For The Boys
Crafty Cardmakers:  No Printed Paper
Robyn's Fetish:  Square Cards Only

Very Smart

And now for something a little different! I've made this jacket and shirt and used papers from Polo's from Dr Digi - one colour for the actual shirt and a contrast for the inside of the jacket.  The brown card is from a great pack I bought from Lidl last week, buttons, watch charm, chain and half pearls are all from my stash.

I made the template for the jacket and shirt myself - I did get some inspiration from Pinterest but couldn't find the right template so made my own.

I've only printed one sheet of each paper as 8x8 and didn't have much left over!  So quite economical.

And the best bit?  The papers only cost £1 for 5 different colour-ways!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts:  Shaped Cards
Crafting From The Heart:  Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion:  Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs:  Anything Goes
Glitter and Sparkle:  Buttons