Daring Card Makers Challenge - February Elemental Inspirational

It's time for a new Daring Card Makers Challenge and as it is the first Friday of the month, it is time for an Elemental Inspirational photo.  I'm the hostess this week and here is my theme:

Colour can only count as one item but you need to be able to match three to enter and to tell us what they are!  I've used the cactus, red hearts on a stick, the twine and also the scalloped edge.

The image is from Little Miss Muffet Stamps, coloured with Promarkers and I've used a die to cut the postage stamp edge.  Two hat pins with red die cut heart added are tied to the card with waxed cord.

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

Crafts Galore Encore:  Anything Goes
Creatalicious:  Anything Goes with option of Hearts
Love To Craft:  Anything Goes
Creative Fingers:  Anything Goes

Daring Card Makers - February Elemental Inspiration

It's time for a new Daring Card Makers challenge and as it is the first Friday of the month, its time for an elemental inspiration challenge.  The picture is:

Just remember to select three elements (colour counts as one) and to list them in your entry.

I've gone for hot pink, pearls, pins, heart, glitter and stitching.  The top layer of the butterfly wings (Memory Box) has been cut from glitter card but it just does not show too well in the photo.

I have lots of seed beads and pins in my stash so good excuse to use up some of those!  The bottom layer of the wings is cut directly from the card and remains attached in the centre, I've added an offcut of hot pink card underneath for extra depth.

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

Alphabet Challenge:  W is for Wings
Cut It Up:  Hearts
Southern Girls:  Love Is In The Air
Die Cuttin' Diva's:  Anything Goes

Polkadoodle Challenge - Anything Goes or Engagement

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

Anything Goes

The DT were challenge with the theme of Engagement.  I've used one of the pre coloured images from Winnie Celebrations collection 1  I printed her directly onto the cardstock and then used a stamp edged die to cut her out.  The sentiment is also from the collection and I've added an organza ribbon bow from my stash plus some hat pins.

And to finish, I've added a dotted line of liquid pearls around the edge of the card.  Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following:

Crafting With Friends:  Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft:  Anything Goes
Crafty Dee BowZ:  Anything Goes
Noor Designs:  Celebrate

Reading

Here is the second of the two new release digi stamps from Jellypark - this one is called Woman Reading Book and its available to buy for only £1.25!

I've coloured her with Promarkers and watercolour pencils for the sky and the softer parts of the grass and I've used papers I found in my stash.

As it was a large image that I'd printed I went for a slightly distressed look and then added a dotted line around the edge of the image with a black fineliner.  I've also added a faux stitch around the edge of the card.

The green organza ribbon I've had in my stash for probably 5 or 6 years and I bought a rather large roll of it at the time so still have plenty to go at!  The hat pin is from my stash and I've added some pink sead beads to the top and bottom.

Quite a simple card and I did think about adding a sentiment but couldn't think or find one that I liked with the image!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Craft Room Challenge:  In The Library
LEJ Designs:  Show Us Your Ribbons
ABC Challenge:  Colour Challenge - Pink, Blue and Green
Melonheadz:  Girly
The Pink Elephant:  Spring Colours

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

Polkadoodle Challenge 10 - Distressing

Time for another Polkadoodle challenge!  And this week the theme is:

Distressing

And I've actually incorporated a used tea bag and splodged it all over the Wonderland papers!  I printed the papers as A6 sized and then added to a card blank which has also been splodged with a wet tea bag.  I've added some faux stitching around the edges plus some seed beads and half pearls.

The flowers are made from a recycled Primark bag along with the handle (I must have had the bag a while as the handles are different now!)  I've added some bright pink tissue paper to the followers and seed beads to the centres.  Hat pin is from my stash.

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

Sarah Hurley Challenges:  Recycle (tea bag and Primark paper bag)
Sassy Studio Designs:  Recycle (tea bag and Primark paper bag)
Shelly's Images:  Roll Em - Ribbon or twine / Kraft / Dimensionals
City Crafter:  Shades of Pink


Papers:  Wonderland cd from Polkadoodles distressed with a tea bag
Everything else:  My stash

Cupcake Craft Room - Guest Designer

I was asked to be a Guest Designer for the current months challenge on Cupcake Craft Room as I'd won the previous month's challenge (who-hoo!)

The theme for the month is

Spring Bouquet

And I got a little carried away with myself and made two sets of cards - one in pinks and one in greens! I've used the Leaves and Things download and I printed the patterns and flowers onto A4 card so I got 4 to a page as this gave me a smaller pattern.

The block colour was printed as it came - 8x8 and I've layered it up onto textured white card. The ribbons are from my stash as are the pins and beads. The flowers have been cut from the paper and glittered - the smaller one is layered for a bit more dimension.

Thank you Mandy - I've enjoyed my spot!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Purple Frog: Pink and Girly
DRS Designs: Clean and Simple
Paper Crafting Journey: Pretty Pastels
Sassy Studios: Monochromatic
Just Inspirational Challenges: Picture Inspiration - used both
Phindy's Place: Spring

• All papers: Leaves and Things download from Cupcake Craft Room
• Everything else: My stash
  

Simply Create Challenge 44 - Special Day

Welcome to another Simply Create Challenge! This time the theme is:

Special Day

So you can interpret that how you wish - the challenge ends Thursday 2 June and for more details please visit the challenge site where you can also see the inspiration from the rest of the Design Team!

I've made two cards for the challenge as they were so quick and easy to do! I've used a ready to print horseshoe template from The Clip Art Fairy (bargain for 50p!) I've printed the background directly onto the cardstock (prints as a 15cm square card) then I layered up two of the horseshoe images with foam pads for each card.


I've then added, to each card, a hat pin made by myself, ribbons, flowers and half pearls.


This is such a lovely template to use and I'd made both the cards in an hour - the glue took longer to dry though!

Good luck with the challenge!

• Template: The Clip Art Fairy
• Everything else: My stash
  

Balloons for a Baby

I am feeling rather like a domestic goddess this afternoon. That is if one sports very raggedy and glue / paint / glitter splattered jogging bottoms. I've washed the curtains from the dining room french windows and cleaned said windows. And I've washed the 4 curtains from the big bay window in the front and cleaned windows too. And done a random load of washing. All dried and all back where they belong!

I've also managed to make 2 cards (this one included), start 2 other cards and do some DT work too. And been to Burger King, two different B&Q's AND had a lie in until 8am!!

The sun is shining and it is pretty hot too so I've done the proverbial 'make hay whilst the sun shines'. And as its the UK, its probably not going to shine again for a fair few weeks!

Anyway, here is one of the cards I've made today - for the Tiddly Inks challenge which is also a refer a friend and a bunny hop. So, if you are joining in with the Tiddly Inks challenge - make sure you add to your post and leave a comment at Tiddly Inks that I sent you along!! You never know - be both could be in with a chance of winning something from Tiddly Inks!


I've used this very cute elephant and balloons which is a freebie from the Tiddly Inks website. I've coloured her with Promarkers and added some glossy accents to the balloons. All the papers are from Craft The Year Away from Funky Hand and I've used one of my Martha Stewart punches for the lacy bit. Ribbon from my stash along with the half pearls and I've made the hat pin myself.

Although you can't see it, I've dotted a fine silver line around the edge of the card blank and also the edge of the pink backing paper.

So there you have it! Oh, and I think I'm really getting organised with this card too as one of our neighbours who happens to be the Mum of one of Jacob's school friends is expecting a baby girl in the summer. So that's another item ticked off my to do list!

• Image: Tiddly Inks freebie, coloured with Promarkers
• Papers: Craft The Year Away from Funky Hand
• Punches: Martha Stewart
  
• Everything else: My stash
  

Simple Doodles Challenge 30 - Lace and Pearls

Time for another Simple Doodles challenge! This fortnight the challenge theme is:

Lace and Pearls

I've made a 60th Birthday card in the shape of a bottle using my own template. The top of the bottle is silver 3d paint which I've randomly sqwidged around (yes, that is a word!) I've glittered the sides of the bottle with glitter glue, added the printed text (pc) as the label and then decorated the top of the bottle with ribbon, pins with pearls, string of pearls and some lace.

I've also computer generated the sentiments and attached them under all the ribbons etc.

Good luck and hope you enter the challenge! The challenge is open until 19 November and you can link up your creation via the challenge blog here.

• Bottle template: My own
• Text and greetings: Computer generated
• Everything else: My stash
  

Bubble Time!

I found another challenge blog whilst looking for something else - I found the Digi Sparkle challenges! And this one is only Heather's second challenge!

This fortnights challenge is:

Girls

I already had this set from being part of the Digi Blog Hop (still time to enter if you haven't already done so - click here to go to my post!) so I printed a few of the elements - you get the lady in the bath image, sentiment, duck and a load other images too!

I've coloured the images with my Promarkers and have added some glitter glue as sparkle.


The ribbon, by good fortune (as it was destined for another project but was the wrong shade of blue) matched the Papermania card blank perfectly as did the glass headed pin that I've added seed beads too.

Makes a nice change from Christmas cards as I'm in the midst of making an order of word book Christmas cards!

• Card blank: Papermania
• Images: Digi Sparkle, coloured with Promarkers and glitter glue
• Everything else: My stash

Simple Doodles Challenge 26 - Spots & Dots

Welcome to another Simple Doodles challenge! Now I'm a BIG fan of spots and dots (but not if they are on me!) and what better way to celebrate this than setting the challenge as:

Spots and Dots

I've used long neglected papers from Pink Petticoat - Big Dots Mini Download, which I don't think is available any more which is a shame. I've made a word book using Word Art letters and cutting them out, layering onto the thick backing card. I've run the letters through my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder too for more dots!

A bit of doodling with a blue gel pen (really does not show up in this photo!) and a black fine liner along with some added embellishments, eyelets, ribbon and the card is complete!

With a bit of luck I'll get to meet the little chap this is for next week!

• Backing papers: Pink Petticoat, Big Dots Mini Download
• Embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
• Everything else: My stash
  

B is for Blue

A nice and easy challenge this fortnight on ABC Challenges which is:

B is for Blue

This card was made for one of Samuel's teachers who retired at the end of the summer teaching term and I offered to make the card from the Governors.

I kept the theme very simple (her favourite colour is blue) and added some twine (she also likes gardening!) along with some hat pins I made with seed beads and silver heart beads.

I've used a nesties die for the shape and raised it on foam pads, inked the edges and then added all the embellishments. The printed paper is from Patti Picklicious by Kirsty Wiseman.

I've used some off white felt effect card that I bought ages ago and has a really feel to it.

• Backing paper: Patti Picklicious by Kirsty Wiseman
• Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities
• Everything else: My stash
  

Faux at Sixty

A great technique challenge over on Corrosive Challenges this week and it is to

Faux

I've used faux stitching around the letters on this wordbook. My Mum asked me to make a sixty card for a friend so I used the wordbook section on Funky Daze - just printed the letters I wanted and then printed a paper on the reverse, cut it all out and joined it together with eyelets.


All the ribbons, pins, beads, brads, gems and flowers are from my stash and I was lucky enough that they all matched!

• Wordbook template and papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Everything else: My stash
  

Colour Me Happy

The brand new Funky Hand cd Colour Me Happy is available to purchase direct from Funky Hand from today! This is the same platform and format as Dreams Come True and there are some truly stunning colour collection and papers on the cd!

Again, there are fully re sizable digi stamps (you can enlarge them right upto A4 - I know - I have!!) without any loss of quality, plus interchangeable letters to make word books. And colour co-ordinated printable alphabets which can also be printed off to the size you require.

Anyway! Here is one of my creations made using papers from Colour Me Happy. Spot the washing line hehehe!


Apologies for the photos being in a random order. Can't get them to move either.

All the layers have been made using recycled stuff - bottom layer is a Dairylea cheese triangle box (the double one), then a thick sellotape roll. Next, a cotton bud container, then a cut down toilet roll inner and finally a tiny spool from a Dymo label printer.


Some ribbon here and there, plus wire and hat pins and its completed! These are actually quite quick and easy to make as long as you have something else on the go as you need to wait for the glue to dry once the layers have been covered.

Hope these colours have made you happy - go and buy!! Or, if you fancy your luck, enter our monthly challenge on Get Funky! As you could win a £20 voucher to spend on Funky Hand products!! You've got to be in it to win it!

• All papers: Colour Me Happy from Funky Hand
• Everything else: My stash
  

Rubies and Tin

A very timely challenge on Daring Card Makers this week, as it is:

Birthstone for July is Rubies

On Sunday (11 July) it is my Mum and Dad's 40th Wedding Anniversary which is traditionally a Ruby Anniversary. And today is our 10th (tin) Wedding Anniversary!

And even though I've known for quite some time that I would need to make a special card for my parents, I've still left it to the last moment. To the point that I could not sleep last night for thinking about it, so got back up at 11:15 and made the card whilst peace and quiet reigned throughout the house! I was in danger of gluing my fingers to the table by 1:15am so went back to bed.

This is a very similar layout to the Sapphire Anniversary card I made a few months ago, but as it worked and I liked it, I decided to replicate it here! The photos are scanned copies of their Wedding ones so I could get them to a workable size.

My Mum and Dad look so young! My Mum actually made her own Wedding Dress and her two sisters were Bridesmaids and she made those dresses too! It's quite sad but touchingly funny when I look at the group photo - both sets of Grandparents are no longer here - my maternal Grandparents died in 1977 and 1979 so I have good but limited memories of them, whereas my paternal Grandparents died in 1997 (the week we got engaged) and 2004. The funny ones are my Aunts and Uncles who look so dashing in 1970!

I've used My Mind's Eye Bella Bella 12x12 double sided papers (only used the pattern) plus lightly grained red 12x12 cardstock. The cream ribbon and gems are from my stash, with the red stain edged organza bought especially for the card.

All the paper flowers are from Hobbycraft and they are such a good buy and look so realistic!

The next photo shows where I'll write the message. I actually forgot that I would need somewhere to write to show who it is from....

Oh, the hat pins I've made myself!

On Sunday, Mum and Dad will be in competition with the F1 British Grand Prix and the World Cup Final. They should have known that 40 years ago!!

• Papers: Printed - Bella Bella from My Mind's Eye; Plain - 12x12 cardstock
• Ribbon: Mostly my stash, red from Hobbycraft
• Flowers: All from Hobbycraft
• Everything else: My stash
  

Summer Birthday

I did say that I would be showing more word books as I've had an order for 3, so here is number 2. And it fits nicely with the current Rosie Dee challenge which is:

Summer Birthday's

I've used papers from Now That's Funky from Funky Hand and I manage to get two letters length ways from a sheet of A4 card as I print the letters via wordart. Each letter has been outlined again with a black sharpie marker for definition.


The ribbons, beads, hat pins and flowers all come from my stash.

Just one more wordbook to go now, so watch out for that one before the end of the week!

• All papers: Now That's Funky from Funky Hand
• Everything else: My stash
  

Strawberries and Cream

Hmmmmm! The challenge over on Secret Crafter is:

Strawberries and Cream

I've been asked to make a number of word books and although the actual word is the customers' choice, I have free reign for colour schemes etc. So I thought this word book fitted in nicely with the challenge!


I've used papers from It's Funky Too from Funky Hand and printed the letters using Word Art and resized them to fit two width ways on a sheet of A4. I've used a black Sharpie marker around the inside of the letters plus added buttons and beads. The flower has been made with a Cuttlebug die and a blingy gem has been added to the centre.


The hat pins are my own creation with wooden beads and seed beads. Red organza ribbon from my stash.

Watch out for more word books over the next week - I have at least 2 more to make!

• All papers: It's Funky Too from Funky Hand
• Dies: Cuttlebug flower
  
• Everything else: My stash
  

Blue Sapphire

I was asked to make a very special Wedding Anniversary card by an old school friend of my Mum's - it was to be her In-Law's Sixty Fifth Wedding Anniversary - and could I make a special card?! Of course! So I did a bit of research (google!) and found that a 65th Anniversary is Blue Sapphire, so I used those colours as the theme.

I made a Joy Fold card as I wanted to incorporate some photos of when the couple were courting which I tidied up in photoshop before printing onto photo paper. All the backing papers are Basic Grey and are from the Wisteria Collection. The base card is a lovely linen effect cream 300gsm card that worked wonderfully well with the theme. The bow on the ribbon hold the front of the card down but is flexible enough to let the card be displayed.

The flowers I bought from Hobbycraft and they are beautiful handmade flowers and look very lifelike! The gems I also bought for the occassion along with the blue satin edge ribbon.

The verse was asked to be included on the card and I've printed it on my computer with a font and colour to match the overall card. The blank panel inside the card had an insert upon which the message could be written and then stuck inside the card as it would be a little tricky to write it directly onto the card with all the flowers on the reverse!

I made the hatpins myself and used some pearl beads that were left over from making my Wedding dress 10 years ago.

My Mum and Dad celebrate their 40th - Ruby Wedding Anniversary this summer so I now know what I'm going to make - just will substitute the blue for red!

The card also fits the current challenge on Charisma Cardz of a Wedding or Anniversary card.

• Papers: Basic Grey - 12 x 12 papers - Wisteria Collection
• Flowers, Gems and Blue Ribbon: Hobbycraft
• Everything else: My stash
  

Pin and Twine Cards

Another installment of the note cards that I made a while ago. I've used my only set of Spellbinder Nestabilities (about time I got another set!) with papers from Patti Picklicious cd from Kirsty Wiseman. I think this particular collection - split sheets must be my favourite! Really elegant and classy. And great for notelets!

I've inked the edges with Chestnut Whispers ink (getting a little well worn now!) and then added a pin along with seed beads at the top and bottom (to stop any surprises!)

And I've tied some twine string in a bow around the middle of the pin. The card I've used is a linen effect cream card and it is just lovely to use - from the Papermill online shop.

I think these will be going for sale on my website at some point. However I don't think I can part with them as I like them so much. So that means I won't use them either!

• Printed papers: Patti Picklicious from Kirsty Wiseman
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Everything else: My stash
  

Another New Wardrobe!

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

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

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

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


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

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