Polkadoodle Challenge - Anything Goes or Anything But Square

We are part way through the current Polkadoodles challenge which is (as always)

Anything Goes

The DT were challenged to make Anything But Square and here is my effort.  I've used papers from the Fredericka Mini Collection.  I've used my own large number templates and dotted around the edges with liquid pearls.  I made the banners using wooden skewers and off cuts of card - the letters are all hand written and I finished them off with dots made using a fine liner black pen.

I've added star die cuts (X Cut) from shiny silver spotty card I found in my stash.  Good luck with our challenge - pop over to the blog for lots of wonderful inspiration!

I'd like to enter the following:

Aud Sentiments:  Birthday Sentiment  TOP FIVE
Crafting With An Attitude:  Anything Goes
Crafty Girls:  Anything Goes
Crafty Gals Corner Challenge:  Pastels
Words 2 Craft By:  Numbers

A Special Shoe

Sometimes I have an idea. And then I let it swirl around. Sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for a few days. And sometimes for a few weeks. This was one of those ideas.

The brief was to make something special for a work colleague for his wife's 50th Birthday.  I'd been given a list of likes and because I knew her as well I decided to combine it with her bright and funky personality.

So enter Now That's Funky and the Lollipop paper collection from Funky Hand - plus the cd is only £1!!

Everything I've made is from my own templates which I've hand cut with some inspiration from Pinterest here and there. Plus some half pearls and lots of half glass diamonds for bling plus two die cut sentiments using Clearly Besotted dies.

I was given a verse to use which I printed onto a medium scallop Sizzix tag and then cut a larger size so that a message could be handwritten onto it.  This fitted beautifully into the shoe!  More luck than planning!

The shoe was actually quite easy to make once I'd got my head around what I needed to do and how it would glue together.  I reinforced the heel just in case and the sole of the shoe has the same papers as inside the box.

It created quite a bit of a stir in the office when I brought it in to hand over.  And the recipient loved it!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

The Crafter's Cafe:  At The Movies (Cinderella)
Fresh Brewed Designs:  Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty:  Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly:  Ooh So Pretty
2 Creative Chicks:  Anything Goes - No Cards

Treat Bags and BIG Funky Hand Sale!

Do you like these little cute treat bags?! I've made them both from one sheet of A4 card and from a fab template downloaded though the Hybrid challenge that is taking part on The Crafters Cafe over the Christmas holidays! I'm hoping to be able to participate in all the challenges that are going on plus the games too!

There are a set of little treat bags and various templates that can be downloaded to use for the Hybrid challenge and the bags are courtesy of Wendybird Designs.

I found a sheet of A4 card in my stash that I'd printed ages ago - its from Funky Hand but the collection it is from (Boys and Girls) is no longer available as it was a one off special for a charity crafting cd.

However, there IS a fab 50% off sale at Funky Hand for the next few days! You get 50% off all Funky Hand branded products - loads of cds and downloads to go at!! And free shipping (minimum spend of £10) worldwide - its a sale not to be missed!!

I've rounded the corners on the treat bags, doodled a line around the edges and cut out the aperture and added some acetate. I've not been able to source any little delights to put inside as my two darlings have virtually eaten everything they got chocolate based!

The ribbon is from my stash and now that I've spent time organising all my ribbons into big grip seal bags by colour - I can see what I have and can get what I want without rooting through the big tub every time!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Ooh La La Creations: Anything But A Card
Just Add Ink: Fancy Packaging

• Papers: Boys and Girls collection from Funky Hand (retired)
• Template: Wendybird Designs
• Everything else: My stash
  

Dungarees

I found a dungaree template whilst blog hopping and I'm sorry but I can't remember where I got it from so cannot credit the designer. I've added a little t-shirt to the inside of the card with pearlesecent paper and I've added a faux running stitch around the edges.

I've used a sheet of Debbie Mumm's Nursery Rhyme 6.5 x 4.5 glittered stack for the actual dungarees and also added a faux running stitch around the edges with a blue gel pen. The buttons are from my stash and the button twine is from The Ribbon Girl. The pocket has been added with an off cut and is on foam pads.

And if you've not already popped over to the Fetch A Sketch pre launch party - please do so! Some candy on offer to two lucky commenters plus some extra prizes along the way! The Fetch A Sketch challenges launch on Monday 27 June at 9am!

My card fits the following challenges:

Fab n Funky: Templates
Anita Be Stamping: Shaped Cards

Aly's Sunday Challenge: All About Kids

Creative Inspirations: Stitching

Marks Finest Papers: Buttons

Word Play Weekend: Blue

• Template: Can't remember
• Papers: Debbie Mumm - Nursery Rhyme 6.5 x 4.5, pearlescent paper from my stash
• Button Twine: The Ribbon Girl
• Buttons: My stash

Polkadoodle Challenge 1 - A Wish for the New Year!

Welcome to the first Polkadoodle challenge of 2011! Emma has set the challenge this week and it is:

A Wish for the New Year!

This can be interpreted however you wish, but remember to follow the theme and not to enter your creation into more than 10 challenges including Polkadoodles otherwise you won't be eligible for a top three placing. The challenge runs until Sunday 16 January at 12noon GMT.

I've used the cupcake template from the brand new CD which is Paper Boutique volume 3 and will be released tomorrow live at 12noon and 3pm on Sky channel 671. This cupcake is made up of layers, a bit like decoupage, but you can layer it up as much as you want and have the freedom to make it how you want too!

There is also a pink version but I've gone for the lime green A5 pre-coloured version (sizes are A6, A5 and A4 in black and white for you to colour or paper piece yourself or pre-coloured versions). The ribbon bow at the top actually closes my cupcake so the concertina fold is at the base of the cupcake.

A bit of glitter glue here and there and a handwritten sentiment and its good to go! And almost as good to eat! There are lots of shaped cards or templates on the cd - Spaceman, Rocket, Robot, Bathing Hippo, Truck, Flowers - lots and lots and all a lot of fun and really easy to make!

Good luck in entering the challenge!

• All paperbased items: Paper Boutique Vol 3 from Polkadoodles
• Sentiment: Handwritten
• Ribbon: From my stash
  

Polkadoodle Challenge 38 - Hidden Element

Welcome to another Friday and a Polkadoodle challenge! This week the challenge has been set by Claire who has asked us to create something with a

Hidden Element

I've used the Cupcake Box template and have used some matt brown card and also some pink pearlescent card to make the box so it looks like an actual cupcake! The box itself is really easy to make with the template - I made most of the bottom layer and then added the icing layer afterwards, gluing the joining parts.

All the score lines are on the template which makes it really simple and quick to follow. I've added various types of seed beads to the top of my box to look like sprinkles.

The box opens out really easy with the closure on the top and is perfect for a real cupcake to be placed inside!

Good luck if you decide to enter this challenge - it is open until Sunday 3 October at 12noon GMT and please remember to combine it with no more than 9 other challenges otherwise you will not be considered for a top three place.

• Template: Polkadoodles
• Card: From my stash
• Seed beads: From my stash
  

Polkadoodle Challenge 35 - Shaped Card

It's Friday again and time for another Polkadoodle challenge! I'm hosting the challenge this week and have gone with a Shaped Card theme, so I want to see shaped cards - no squares, rectangles or circles this week! If you decide to enter, you have until Sunday 12 September at 12noon GMT and add your entry to the challenge blog - remember, you can only use your Polkadoodle creation with 9 other challenges.

I've used the Hugo Pandapaws template to make my card - and its a BIG card too! I've used hammered cream card for the base and then some brown card for the extras.

I've inked the edges and little features and used a white gel pen for highlights. Added some large wobbly eyes and he's completed! To make it more stable, I stuck him to a sheet of A4 card and cut round - so he just about fits onto a sheet of A4 to give you an idea of size!

A great template that can be adapted for babies!

Hope you can join in the challenge this week!

• Template: Hugo Pandapaws from Polkadoodles
• Everything else: My stash