Simply Create Too Challenge 20 - Back To School

We have a new challenge starting over at Simply Create Too and although the kids in the UK have a few more weeks left of their summer break, the challenge theme this fortnight is:

Back To School

This is actually a graduation card that I was asked to make - Clair who graduated as a teacher actually looks like the Charmed Cards and Crafts digi which I've coloured with Promarkers!  I've had the Holly and Madison set of digi's for ages and I really should use them more!

I've used an acetate base for something a little different and added a blackboard type message underneath the Tiddly Inks blackboard.  Bunting I made and tied on with embroidery thread.  Gold star is table confetti (but rather chunky!) which I've had for ages.

And by all accounts, Clair loved the card!  Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Penny's Paper Crafty:  Back To School
Use It Tuesday's:  All About School (star and images are horded supplies)
365 Day Cards:  Day 166 - Squared
Daisy Doodles:  Back To School
Eureka Stamps:  Back To School
The Pink Elephant:  Back To School
There She Goes Stamps:  Back To School

• Image:  Charmed Cards and Crafts download coloured with Promarkers
• Background:  Tiddly Inks
• Everything else:  My stash or made by ME!

Howdie

Another autumnal card, this time for Dottie's World Challenge which asks for:

Autumn / Fall Colours

I've used a pre coloured Holly in the USA image which I've chalked and then inked. The papers are DCWV Retro Stack 6 x 6 which I have inked the edges (where you can see it!) with Chestnut Whispers ink.

The lovely, lovely ribbon is from my stash (49p for a big bundle from Blackburn Market a while ago) and the button is from my stash. For those with good eyesight, you will be able to see that it is a Tesco button!

That's about it folks - been a tad under the weather this week - a horrible bug that has really drained me and limited my crafting way too much. Hope to be back on track very soon!

• Backing papers: DCWV Retro Stack 6 x 6 papers
• Image: Holly in the USA precoloured
• Everything else: My stash
  

Razzle Dazzle

It has been a while. A long while, really, since I took part in a Dottie's World Challenge (so sorry!) and well, I'll be honest as I've cheated a little this week.

The current challenge is:

Razzle Dazzle

And you would have thought with cheating I'd have got my act together sooner and entered the card! Anyway. I'd made the quite large tag with Holly in her fancy underwear some time ago for the Tag You're It Challenge and its been sat in my 'need to do something with it' box since. I noticed it last night and decided to add it to a silver card blank and enter it in the Dotties World challenge.

The red card is from my stash (its a lovely slightly textured card) as too the silver pearlescent card on which the image (pre coloured) has been layered. A little bit of glitter glue has been added to Holly's feathers with corners rounded and lightly inked. I've added two of my fimo hearts with ribbon tied through and two flowers with ribbon tied over the brad.

And this is one of those cards that I'm not going to want to send!

• All plain card: From my stash
• Image: Holly and Maddison from Charmed Cards and Crafts
• Fimo hearts: Made by me
• Everything else: From my stash
  
  

Chocolate Orange

The Dare U 2 Digi Stamp challenge this week was a colour combination:

Chocolate and Orange

I've used a pre-coloured Holly in the USA image from Charmed Cards and Crafts as the colours matched perfectly and I don't think I'd have got it any closer!

All the papers are from DCWV 6 x 6 Retro Stack paper pack, and the image has been layered first onto chocolate brown pearlescent card and I've lightly inked the edges too.


The ribbon was an inspired find in my stash as it is a lovely orange colour!

Be warned - I have more challenge posts coming up over the next few days as had a good creative streak over the weekend as I now have to concentrate on Design Team work and a load of card orders that have all arrived at once!

• Backing papers: DCWV 6 x 6 Retro Stack
• Image: Holly in the USA from Charmed Cards and Crafts
• Ribbon: From my stash
  
  

For a Teenager

It has been a while since I last managed a Dottie's World challenge so made amends with this one! Really enjoyed the challenge, plus I managed to use some of my new papers! The challenge is:

To make a card for a teenager

Oh to be a teenager again eh?! Anyway, I used a Holly in the USA download (I think this was a free image) which is pre coloured and I've just added a bit of sparkle to her hat (or rather a cack handed bit of sparkle - teach me to try and craft when its too dark and I can't be bothered putting a light on!) The image has been chalked around the edges and layered onto some lovely pearlescent gold card as to the sentiment.

The papers are DCWV Retro 6 x 6 paper stack, ribbons are from my stash and the chipboard flowers were sent to me by Enfys and are Colorbok. Quite a quick card to make once I got going - it just took me 3 nights to choose which papers to use!

• Backing papers: DCWV Retro 6 x 6 paper stack
• Image: Holly in the USA download from Charmed Cards and Crafts
• Sentiment: A 4 sided block thing from Mad About Cards
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Chipboard flowers: Colorbok sent to me by Enfys

Pink Welly

The Digi Stamper Challenge this week is a coloured theme:

Pink and Green

I enjoyed using this welly template last time from Craftwork Cards so decided to use it again, but as a pink welly! Plus, thinking about it, its a bit of a hidden green theme going on too! The pink card has been chalked and inked to give it depth and structure, the flowers were freebies from a recent craft magazine and the button in the centre is from the lovely Helen at Peggy Crafts.

The image is from the Holly and Madison collection by Charmed Cards and Crafts, and I've coloured her with watercolour pencils and added a bit of glitter here and there.

• Template: Craftwork Cards
• Image: Holly and Madison downloads from Charmed Cards and Crafts
• Button: From Peggy Crafts
• Flowers: Freebies from a recent craft magazine
  

A Digi Stamp Challenge Blog!

Now I found this challenge site whilst blog hopping (I was actually looking at my Blog Candy entrants blogs - thanks Jenni!) and look what I found! The challenge site is called Dare U 2 Digi Stamp!

Basically, all you need to use is a digital image from any company plus, if you are able, digital papers.

And as always, I find these things at the 11th hour, I had to make this card in super quick time! This is their first week and its a sketch challenge:

The image is one of my favourites from the Holly and Madison download from Charmed Cards and Crafts, and yes, to save a bit of time, I've used the pre coloured one! All the printed backing papers and sentiment are from the Shabby Saturday download from Funky Hand - I rediscovered some off-cuts a few nights ago and wanted to use them. But had to print the bigger sheets off as what I had didn't fit the sketch. The green and black card is from my stash.


I've lightly inked the edges in black and the punch is a Martha Stewart one - I think its threading water or something like that. And the layered flower is from the never ending bag of flowers donated by Jozza.

A fairly quick card to make, to be honest and it is actually a lot more grungy green in real life.

• Backing papers: Shabby Saturday download from Funky Hand
• Image: Pre coloured Holly and Madison download from Charmed Cards and Crafts
• Punch: Martha Stewart
• Other card: From my stash
• Flowers: From Jozza
  

How To Use Denim!

Another week and another challenge on Dotties World! Now I liked this challenge as it meant I could use the freebie from the new collection - Holly and Madison's World Tour! The challenge is:

Get the feeling!!!!!

I would like to see some kind of fabric incorporated in the card or item, it could be felt, ribbon, lace, cotton etc and of course a Charmed Cards and crafts download.

The backing papers are from the recent Crafts Beautiful magazine - I downloaded them and the 4 papers printed onto 1 sheet of A4 card but I've only used two of them. To be honest, I could not resist the gaudy paisley pattern but knew that the Holly image would look good with it! The image is pre coloured and Ive inked the edges and also chalked the background to soften it a little.

And I've used some denim off cuts and stitched them to the card, slightly randomly, as you can see! The button is made by me from fimo and has seed beads stuck into it.

• Backing paper: Freebies from Crafts Beautiful
• Image: Holly freebie pre coloured
• Button: Made by me
• Brads: From my stash
• Denim: Samuel's old worn jeans
  

Love To Shop!

This weeks Friday Sketchers challenge is:
And I made this card. Backing papers are from Funky Daze (oh how I like these swirls!) the image is a pre coloured one from my recent Holly and Madison purchase only because I liked the colours and they matched the papers!

The flowers and button are from Jozza, the heart stamp was one of three freebies on a recent magazine and I've just used a cheap small ink pad. The wording is my ever faithful Studio G mini alphabet wooden stamp set. All edges have been inked in blue and green. The papers on which I have stamped are also from Funky Daze. Oh how I love these papers and images!!

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Image: Holly and Madison download
• Flowers and button: From Jozza

Sketch & Stash Challenge # 4

The fourth Sketch and Stash challenge is the following sketch:
I have used Funky Daze papers which is the newest Funky Hand cd (so hope it qualifies!) and also my very new Holly and Madison image downloads from Charmed Cards and Crafts - this is the first time I've used this particular image.

The larger of the flowers are from a recent stash swop with Jozza, the yellow flowers are my rarely used Prima Esprit.

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Image: Holly and Madison from Charmed Cards and Crafts
• Sentiment: Studio G wooden alphabet stamp
• Flowers: Large from Jozza, smaller Prima Esprit
  
  
  

Blast From The Past

How time flies! This is my last card as Guest Designer for Dotties Challenge blog (sob!) I've really enjoyed the last 4 weeks and hope that I've managed to inspire you with my creations. Thanks to Louise and her team for giving me the opportunity to work alongside some very talented ladies!

Blast from the Past

I want you to look through your photos of your card creations from the past, choose one you really liked then make a new one following the exact same layout but use different papers and a different image. Put them both on your blog so we can compare them! Your original card doesn't need to have a Charmed download on but obviously your new one will need to.

So here is the card I've used for inspiration (a Friday Sketchers challenge from December) - when I made this card it really fitted together quickly which I always like but was not prepared for!

And this is what I made - of course using the new Holly and Madison downloads. I coloured this one myself as I am still trying to use up all my off cuts of backing paper (I have such a lot that I'm trying to be really good and not print off more!) but failed miserably with this as they were printed specifically to match my colour scheme. Ah well - better luck next time eh?! Backing papers are from Now That's Funky and a colour collection that I've not used before. Both were printed at B5 size as I wanted a smaller pattern.

Card edges cornered and then inked with pink and then black. The silver edge ribbon was salvaged from my recent handmade button swop (thanks Jacqui!) and the pink I had just lying around the place! The sentiment is computer generated, cornered, inked and layered onto the same backing paper.

The image has been coloured with watercolour pencils and I've added some sort of purpley pink glitter glue to the gown belt and her fluffy slippers. The hair drier has had the red glitter treatment. The image actually shows the flex of the drier but it was a bit of a challenge to cut round it, so I did without!

So there you have it! My last offering as Guest Designer for Dottie! Hope you've enjoyed my stay and go and check out the challenge for this week as there is a little reward if you enter!

• Backing papers: Now That's Funky
• Image: Holly and Madison download - coloured with watercolour pencils and glitter glue
• Ribbon: From my stash and also from Jacqui
• Sentiment: Computer generated
  

Lady Marmalade

The Cute Card Thursday challenge this week (and I've not done a CCT challenge for quite some time!) is:

Music and Dance

You'll have to excuse the poor quality photographs - its the best I can do with the halogen spotlights in the kitchen at 6:30am!

I'm really pleased with the Holly and Madison downloads from Charmed Cards and Crafts and really wanted to use this image plus it reminds me of the song 'Lady Marmalade', which is one of my favourite songs! I've just bought the backing paper - its a 12 x 12 scrap page - Far East Print by DCWV and is not something I would normally buy, but at 25p a sheet, it would be rude not to!

I added the layered ribbon and the gems and then decided it needed something else, so out came the wire and the pony beads!

A fairly simple card (yes, the image was pre coloured!) but it took me ages to make as I kept faffing around with the layout! Ah well!

• Backing paper: DCWV - Far East Print 12 x 12
• Image: Holly and Madison downloads from Charmed Cards and Crafts
• Ribbon & Gems & Embellishments: All from my stash
  

A Cheeky Little Number!

The Tag You're It Challenge this week got me thinking. The challenge is:

Love and Romance

I've done with Valentine cards for the year but still wanted to do the challenge and I wanted to use my new downloads from Charmed Cards and Crafts. So this is what I came up with!


The backing card is really lovely - its sort of grained but not really noticeable. The silver card is also from my off-cuts box and I thought it went really well with the theme. All edges have been inked and rounded. I've dabbed a bit of red glitter glue to give a bit of sparkle - cos a girl needs sparkle! The image was pre coloured not because I'm being lazy this week - I'm just busy!

The hearts are made from fimo at the same time I was making the buttons for the handmade swop (my makes will be revealed later in the week!) and I've threaded some ribbon through.

The flowers are two layered together with a brad which has been tied with ribbon. So, what do you think? Does it qualify for love and romance?!

• Card: From my stash
• Image: Pre coloured Holly and Madison download from Charmed Cards and Crafts
• Ribbon: From my stash (donated by Enfys)
• Flowers: From my stash (bought from Mad About Cards)
  
  

A Bit Of Stitching On A Card

Now for this weeks Dottie Challenge, set by Adele:

I want to see stitches on your work, either hand sewn or machine- the choice is yours

I've bought the new download from Dotties World this week to treat myself (well, why not?!) The collection is called 'Holly and Madison' and its a corker! Not only do you get the images for you to colour, but they all come pre coloured too! But for my downloads first outing, I have done my own colouring so I could use these papers.

Now, I've always wanted to do a bit of stitching on a card but don't quite trust myself on my ancient Singer not to get my fingers in the way (I'm a pro when it comes to fabric but don't think that paper and card would be as easy!) so I got out a darning needle and some old I think embroidery thread (its on a wooden bobbin and is a 'Bright eye' brand - if that's any use!) and away I went!

I was careful not to do too much plus the needle made larger holes than I was expecting, but I think I got the balance right. But the best bit is, I think the centre of the flower (flowers from Jozza by the way - ta!) which was part of my button swop and the colours are just perfect (thanks Jacqui!)

I've coloured the image with watercolour pencils and added a little red glitter glue on the hair bobbles, belt and flowers.

The backing papers are again part of the Mily Designs download that I don't know where it came from and I just love the colours together. All corners have been rounded and edges inked in blue.

So - go and have a look at the new downloads and at the examples on the blog as you won't be disappointed! And hope you can join in the challenge this week!

• Backing papers: Mily Designs
• Image: Holly and Madison download from Charmed Cards and Crafts, coloured with watercolour pencils
• Flowers: From Jozza
• Heart stitched linen button: From Jacqui