Love Under A Daisy!

The Sweet Sketch challenge this week is:



And I've made this - another Valentine card for my box! I've been good and used up oddments of papers from a previous project - the papers are from Funky Daze and I've had to be a little creative with what I had! The papers have been printed onto white hammered card for texture.


Edges have been rounded and inked and the image was sent to me ages ago by Jozza and is Penny Black. I've coloured it with watercolour paints and added a brown organza double bow ribbon on the side to pull all the browns together. I've handwritten the sentiment.

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Image: Penny Black coloured with watercolour paints
• Ribbon: From my stash
  

Sketch and Pink

This is the sketch over on the Sugar Bowl, with the added twist of using my favourite colour.

And I found this stamped image whilst sorting through my stash that Jozza sent me a while ago! I do have a Sugar Nellie stamp (thanks Nikky!) but I am ashamed to say that it hasn't seen ink yet!! I've coloured it with watercolour paints, cornered the edges and inked them with chestnut whispers ink.

I've used a freebie digi paper pack from The Creative Cottage so I have cheated a little with the challenge and used my (well one of) favourite papers!

The ribbon is also from my stash and I've added it to help balance the purple dress!

• Backing papers: Freebie digi download from The Creative Cottage
• Image: Sugar Nellie from Jozza coloured with watercolour paints
• Ribbon: From my stash
  
  

I Had To Flip It

This card almost never actually happened. Firstly, I printed off the image and wasn't able to cut it out as a circle. So printed it out again. And Samuel coloured in the 'wrong one'. I then faffed about for 3 nights trying to find the right papers. And then found these in my stash that the lovely Jozza gave me the first time we met up (yonks ago) and they have been lurking there ever since. So thanks Jozza!


And then I stuck the stripy bit on the wrong side of the card and the wording was all in the wrong direction, so I had to flip the sketch to make it work.

Anyway, it's for the Pollycraft challenge which is a sketch this fortnight. And I now realise that I am missing a sentiment. Ah well. Ah, but then again - the 'let it snow' bit can be it! Yeah!

I've coloured the Pollycraft image with watercolour pencils and a bit of chalking around the edges. The papers are Dovecraft 'Naughty But Nice' 6 x 6 papers, the ribbon is new to my stash (I bought 3 lovely DIY boxes from ebay to put the 3 acrylic Wedding albums in, and they just happen to come with a big piece of brown organza ribbon. Needless to say, one of the boxes doesn't have it any more but a nice orange ribbon to match the album colour scheme!)

The button (it is underneath) is from my stash and the confetti snowflakes have put in another showing.

So there you go. A bit long winded but it's been one of those weeks!

• Papers: Dovecraft 'Naughty But Nice' 6 x 6 papers from Jozza
• Image: Pollycraft, coloured with watercolour pencils
• Everything else: My stash
  

Glitzy Sixty

The CRAFT Challenge this week is a colour combination of:

Pink and Brown

It's my Mum's Birthday early in October and I am trying to be organised so decided to make this card for her. No guesses for how old she will be!

The word book is taken from Funky Daze - there are two word books on the cd - one for females and one for males and it just so happened that the female one was pink and brown colourways! I've printed it all off onto white 220gsm card and it's been printed as per the default.

I've added pink and brown organza ribbon to the 'bound' edge with a pearl topped hat pin with seed beads for extra detail. The flowers are from a lovely pack given to me by the fab and talented Jozza and I've added some Woodware brown buttons to the centres.

The silver bow charms I got from somewhere - don't know where as I found them in my stash (in fact I found quite a few charms that I'd forgotten I had so I think I'll be using more of them on my creations in the future!) The charms are tied on with thin satin brown ribbon.

I've added silver seed beads for highlighting around the edges of the letters. I'm thinking that it looks a bit too glitzy but it sort of works. Well, I've not got time to make another one so it will have to work! The pink heart button I found in my stash too.

I hope my Mum will like it although I don't think she'll be thanking me for plastering her age all over it!

I've got another two cards to make for my Mum - requests from family members, so I'd better crack on with those now!

• Word book papers & template: Funky Daze by Funky Hand
• Flowers: From Jozza
• Brown Buttons: Woodware
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

Summer

It's been a while since I managed a Penny Black challenge, so I was doubly determined this week to make sure I made a card! The theme is:

Summer

I used a portion of a sheet of 8 x 8 paper that Jozza sent me absolutely ages ago and I've not used (looked at it a few times and then put it back!) And funnily enough, the flowers are also from Jozza too! The brads are mine and so too is the ribbon.

A fairly quick card to make - quick water colouring of the image and then layered onto some golden yellow card then onto the actual card, added the flowers and ribbon and that's it! Oh, I doodled a black line around the outside of the card and image because it just needed completing. The image, I've not got a clue what it is called, but it is from the batch I bought ages ago from ebay - pre stamped and probably highly dodgy.

Hope this says 'summer' to you!

• Printed backing paper: From Jozza ages ago
• Plain card: From my stash
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Flowers: WHSmiths via Jozza
• Brads: Papermania

Cool Coloured Birthday

It's been a long long time since I joined in with a Magnolia challenge. I sorted through the stamped images I have been sent by fellow Funky Hand DT members and found some Tilda images, so I thought I'd have a go at the current challenge which is this sketch:


I decided to use the papers from Funky Daze and although they are more suited for a male card, I do like them on this one! I've coloured Tilda's dress to match the papers and have added a bit of red glitter glue to the flower she is holding and the one in her hair. I've also added some glitter glue to her wings.

The die cut flowers are layered from my Cuttlebug flower die with card candy centres. Ribbon is from my stash (just the right length!) and I've hand written the sentiment.

This card is being sent to a little girl who will be 4 very soon!

• Backing papers: Funky Daze cd
• Image: Tilda coloured with watercolour pencils and a bit of glitter glue
• Dies: Cuttlebug flowers
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
• Everything Else: My stash
  
  
  

Baby Giraffe

The Cute Card Thursday was an easy one for me this week!

This week we want to see you use a tag, make a tag card, basically we want to see a tag somewhere on your creation!

Only easy because I have a number of ready made tags all waiting to be added to cards! I found this one in the box and because I am a bit short of baby cards I used this one. The tag is a super sized Sizzix scallop die cut using papers from the Huge Funky Love download. The cute giraffe has been coloured with watercolour paints and I think it was sent to me by Jozza. Ribbon, buttons and flowers are all from my stash.

• Backing papers: Huge Funky Love
• Dies: Sizzix Super Sized Scallop Tag
• Image: Sent to me by Jozza and coloured with watercolour paints
• Everything else: From my stash
  
  

Citrus Twist

I really am stacking up the challenges this week! The Forever Friends challenge is:

Citrus Twist

This one was fairly quick and easy to complete as I knew which stamp I was going to use (first time it has seen ink) and also the papers. I then remembered I had some bright card blanks that I bought from Hobbycraft about 3 years ago and have only used one of them (shame on me!)

I honestly cannot remember where the backing papers are from, but they are a download from somewhere as I have printed them off. I have a sneaky suspicion that they are from a crafting magazine but cannot be too sure. The image I've coloured with watercolour paints with a little bit of shading done with watercolour pencils. And the two flowers are from my fab friend Jozza.


Nice and summery!!

• Backing papers: Can't remember but possibly free downloads from a craft magazine
• Image: Forever Friends stamp coloured with watercolour paints and pencils
• Flowers: From Jozza
• Brad: From my stash
  

Blooming Gorgeous!

I do miss entering the Penny Black Challenges and I'm lucky enough to have quite a collection of stamped images sent to me by my fab Funky Hand DT mates! Plus I am the very proud owner of a single PB stamp and I have some Stickeroos too - so I have no excuse!

Anyway, this week, the challenge is:

Blooming Gorgeous

This lovely cute image was stamped for me by Jozza and I'd already coloured it in some time ago as I wanted to use it on a different project, but ran out of time. So, its been coloured with watercolour paints, layered onto some pink and white spotty backing paper that I found (so don't know what it is!) and then used up some larger scraps of paper printed from Funky Daze.

The sentiment was part of a recent freebie selection, from, I think, the Do Crafts magazine and the ribbon is from my stash. A simple and quick card to make, but for some reason, it took me ages! Why does that happen?!!

• Backing paper: Funky Daze cd, bright pink - don't know
• Image: Penny Black, coloured with watercolour paints and sent to me by Jozza
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Sentiment: Freebie from Do Crafts magazine
  

Christmas Cards All Year Round - May Challenge

Yep, its the dreaded C word in May!! But it really is quite nice to make Christmas cards all year 'round! The Challenge this month is to:

Use Flowers on Your Christmas Cards

And here are my 5. Very much influenced and inspired by the design team creations so thank you ladies!

You'll have to excuse the dodgy photos - I have had a very hectic week (hence lack of posts) with a lot of meetings and travelling and have been shattered, so I've not managed any challenges so far this week, although there is still tonight and tomorrow night to make amends! We, as a family, go on holiday on Saturday for a week, so in between trying to write a diary for a giraffe called Buttons, (that's another story!) work full time, get everything washed and packed and try and do some challenges, something has to give, and I'm afraid it is the challenges.

Anyway, all the papers used are from the Dovecraft Ho Ho Ho collection (8 x 8 papers) and the brads are from the same collection. The flowers are generally from the lot Jozza gave me a while ago (not got many left now!) plus I've enhanced them with either folded red raffia, cut red raffia or white gift ribbon. Card candy from Craftwork cards and the sentiment is a Studio G acrylic stamp which I have coloured in with a black pen.

• Backing papers : Dovecraft Ho Ho Ho 8 x 8 collection
• Brads: Dovecraft Ho Ho Ho collection
• Flowers: Mostly from Jozza
• Enhanced bits around the flowers: From my stash
• Sentiment: Acrylic Studio G stamp
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
  
  

Sunglasses At The Ready!

Now even though this is a relatively simple, straightforward challenge, it had me stumped! I have only a few large blooms - the turquoise one you see here, a few bright yellow ones and one white so was rifeling through my pre printed paper box to see what would match, and would you believe it - I found this!

The Daring Cardmakers challenge this week (set by fellow Funky Hand DT mate Lythan) is:

Supersize me! Big blooms required!

Now, I must have printed this backing paper (It's Funky Too) ages ago when I went through a phase of printing everything off on thin glossy photo paper. So quite pleased that I knew, way back then, that I would need this paper for today!

All I have done (after taking 20 mins to arrange the flowers and settle for the final colour combination..) is rounded all edges, inked them and bunged the flowers in the centre. The two turquoise ones and button are from the lovely Jozza (yes that bag of blooms is still going, but dwindling now!) and the yellow one is a pre layered thing that I bought when Samuel was a baby from Topaz Crafts but had not used....

Did think of adding a sentiment, but didn't!

• Backing paper: It's Funky Too printed onto glossy photo paper
• Blooms: From Jozza and Topaz Crafts
• Button: From Jozza
  

Turquoise and Yellow

The Stampin' Chic challenge this week is a colour combination:

Turquoise and Yellow

These are not colours that readily spring to mind for me to use, however after a quick look through The Big One paper stack (it is slowly getting used!) I found a set of turquoise based papers and picked this one. The stamp is a first time used Inkadinkado which I bought a few weeks ago as I think that most of my work colleagues, friends and nursery staff are expecting (more reveal themselves almost on a daily basis - I'll be thinking I'll need to join in if I'm not careful!) I do like this stamp and will be using it more!

In fact, I also like the colour combination - the yellow layered card I found in my stash box thingy (I put all my one tone off-cuts in one and another one has all my patterned off-cuts - very organised!) I've coloured it with watercolour pencils.


The flowers and button are from Jozza - the flowers are actually held together by a giant brad with the button (and some ric rac ribbon) stuck to the top. I have (badly) inked the flowers in an attempt to tone them down so that's why they look a little grotty!

• Backing paper: The Big One - Clare Curd Signature Range
• Image: Inkadinkado
• Flowers & button: From Jozza
• Everything else: My stash

Daisy & Dandelion

In addition to the Daisy and Dandelion Challenge blog, their creator, Erica Martyn has started a monthly challenge on the D&D Official blog!

The first challenge for March / April is the following sketch:I've used one of the decoupage images (made it correctly this time and used all the pieces!) which has been layered onto a very fab fuchsia coloured flower (from Jozza!) and that has been layered onto a handmade pink vellum flower - you can just about see it. Now the vellum flower was to be used for something else but it didn't work out right, so I left it on the table as I knew I'd use it at some point!


The backing paper is a download freebie and is part of the Daisy and Dandelion collection (apologies for the poor picture - it was early morning and the sun was shining - honest!) and I've inked the edges. I've layered two different colours of ribbon across the front of the pattern, but not quite managed to stick it down too well as you can see from the flappiness on the photo!

The sentiment was originally stamped but the ink dried a lot paler than I was expecting so I went over it with a pink watercolour pencil.

Card candy has been added to the bottom corner.

• Backing paper: Free Download from Daisy and Dandelion
• Image: Daisy and Dandelion decoupage
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Flowers: Fabric one from Jozza, vellum made by me
• Sentiment: Don't know the name of the stamp
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
  
  

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
  

Cute and Cuddly

The Tag You're It Challenge this week is:

Cute and Cuddly

This was actually really quick to make! The tag is a Super Sized Sizzix Scallop tag and I've used scrap card from Huge Funky Love download. The image is from Jozza and I've coloured it with watercolour paints. All edges have been inked in Chestnut Whispers and then pink.

The flower is from my stash as are the ribbons and buttons.

I think I'd better get making more baby related stuff as 3 of the girls at nursery are expecting - Vicky in May, Kim in July and Kat in September. Plus a few of my friends and work colleagues are also expanding!

• Backing paper: Huge Funky Love download
• Dies: Sizzix Super Size Scallop Tag
• Image: From Jozza and coloured with watercolour paints
• Everything else: From my stash
  

Generosity

Well, I am back from Harrogate and a few quid lighter (although didn't spend almost as much as I thought I would) but laden down with packages from the very wonderful Kath!

Myself, Jozza and Kath had arranged to meet up at The Northern Papercrafts Extravaganza on Sunday, held in Harrogate. Kath had some samples to drop off at the Craftwork Cards stand (slightly jealous that she gets to play with all the lovely stuff!) so it all worked out really well for a mini Funky Hand Design Gang meet!

We met up in the cafe area and had a good natter. Kath, to the surprise of Joz and I produced some wonderous packages out of her bag! Here are the ones meant for only me:
A beautiful little triangular box with a very cute birdy image on it (look at the ribbon!) and a lovely folder - all matching colours!

And just look what was inside the box!! Needless to say, it was ribboned back up again sharpish, before any little monsters realise what is inside and scoff the lot! That goes for the big Daddy monster too!

Inside the folder were lots of stamped images - I didn't have chance to properly look but I think they are all Penny Black (yeah!!)

Then I had this to open:


I am instantly recognising the Craftwork Cards card candy, plus papers and sentiments (forget love - fall in chocolate heheheheh!) And more stamped images! Penny Black again and some Daisy and Dandelion too!

I said earlier that these were the packages meant for me. I've not photographed the Easter finger making puppet sets or the tubes of Mini Eggs that Kath sent for the boys. Not that any of it has been eaten - just the light was fading fast and I wanted to get the photos taken!

Samuel and Jacob don't actually know yet that they both have surprises waiting for them and I can't wait to see what they say!!

And for once, I think both Jozza and I were lost for words - Kath's generosity is very, well, generous!! The funny thing is, Kath is just like she is on her blog but real and funny!

A big thank you to Kath for the treats and also to Jozza and her friend for making me laugh when I shouldn't!

Shall we do it again sometime?!

PS Met Kirsty Wiseman too!!

Funky Girl

The challenge this week on Dottie's blog is a sketch:
For my card I have used one of the Holly and Madison downloads which I have coloured with watercolour pencils and have neatly cut round her too. All the backing papers are scraps from previous projects and are from Funky Daze. I've rounded and inked all the edges too with green and blue ink.



Although I've not put the three dots at the top right hand of the card (like the sketch) I thought that the dotty paper would suffice..... or not?!

Sentiment has been double stamped with blue (it didn't look strong enough on its own) and then with black ink, and it is a Studio G acrylic clear stamp. All the flowers are from Jozza, the heart embroidered button is from my recent button swop with Jacqui and the brads are Papermania. The scalloped border has been created with a Martha Stewart punch.

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Image: Holly and Madison download from Charmed Cards and Crafts
• Flowers: From Jozza
• Heart Button: From a recent handmade button swop and from Jacqui
• Border Punch: Martha Stewart
• Sentiment: Studio G acrylic stamp
  

Spring Is In The Air!

The Cupcake Card challenge this week is:

Spring

And I've just about made this one in time! My original plan went very very wrong so was scrapped (it really was that bad and a big disaster!) so plan B. The backing paper is Basic Grey Sultry (generously donated in a mini stash swop by Jozza) and the bits I've not used I've kept. A little bit of it has been stuck under a round clear dome sticker to make the centre of the flower as the titchy maroon brad looked a little lost!

The maroon backing card is from my stash so too is the ribbon (which was 10p for around 4 metres from Blackburn market). And the layered flower are two Prima's and were free from a website in the USA.

Although you can't really see it, I've inked the edges with my fading black ink pad.

Inspired by the cherry blossom trees near where I work which will be coming into flower in the next couple of weeks.

• Backing papers: Maroon card stock from my stash, patterned paper Basic Grey Sultry (from Jozza)
• Flower: Prima freebies
• Ribbon: From my stash (Blackburn market originally)
  

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

Some Very Fab Free Papers!

The Cupcake Challenge this week is a sketch:

And I really was not sure what I was going to do. And then I had a quick look at Kirsty Wiseman's new blog for her new Patti Picklicious Range (Jozza is a member of her design team - how fab is that?!) When lo and behold, there was a time limited freebie on offer! And what very fab colours! So I downloaded and printed both of the papers off and this is what I created that very night!

Everything - with exception to the three black gems at the bottom are all from the papers. And see what a good job I did with cutting around the circle sentiment?! Although could have tried harder when making sure the centre bit was straight and not slightly off.....

All edges have been inked with bright pink and then running out black and I've lightly doodled a border around the card. Its lightly as the pen is on its way out and I must remember to buy another.

I am very pleased with the papers and I can feel some more cards coming on. And I can't wait for the cd to be released as from what I've already seen, the papers will knock me socks off!

• Backing papers and sentiment: Kirsty Wiseman Patti Picklicious Freebie download
• Black gems: Club Green