Donna & Danny - 8 August 2009

Saturday was the second Wedding of the year! I made the Day Invitations, the Evening Invitations and also the place cards for Donna and Danny. And doesn't she look lovely! Much changed from the usual Busy Bees nursery uniform of dark blue!

I took the boys to watch and we just about got there in time - normally it would take us just 25 mins and it took an hour due to the football traffic....

We were invited to the Evening Reception and the boys had a great time running around and dancing on the dance floor.

There was quite a bit of audience participation - the DJ played most of the instruments, sang and got a little kids band going - Samuel who surprised us by saying he wanted to join in - so here he is!

I did video him too but its too long for my little blog to cope!

A great Wedding and evening - thank you Danny and Donna for inviting us!

The last Wedding is over the August Bank Holiday weekend up in Scotland - one of my cousins is getting married!

Vintage Dad

I always have a bit of a panic when deciding what to use for the Sketch and Stash challenge! This one was no exception as I was going to use a number of different things (all recent purchases in a very very fab sale!) but it sort of didn't happen. Don't know why either!

Anyway, this is the current Sketch and Stash challenge:
I've used (only for the second time!) the freebie download papers Vintage Dad from Tinker and Co - I actually printed the backing paper to almost the size I needed so very little cut off! The shirt is also part of the download bundle and I simply cut it out, layered it onto some chocolate brown pearlescent card and then antique gold and stuck it to fit the sketch.

The ribbon is a new purchase! Card candy from Craftwork Cards and the sentiment is from the Stampin' Men set from Clare Curd Signature Range.

At least I still have plenty of untouched stash to play with on a future challenge!!

• Backing paper and shirt: Freebie download - Vintage Dad from Tinker and Co
• Sentiment: Stampin' Men set - Clare Curd Signature Range
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
• Ribbon: From my stash (but can't remember where from!)
• Other Card: From my stash
  
  

Buttons!

Sometimes when I see what the challenge is, I immediately know what to do! Crafty Creations challenge this week is:

To use Buttons

I used one of the backing papers from the Funky Freebie which celebrated the launch of Get Funky Challenge blog. I drew a fine black line around the edges of the card stock and also the backing paper and sentiment. The ribbons are all from my stash (the green one frays like mad so I had to seal the ends with glue!)


The buttons are also from my stash, the fabric one with embroidered heart was sent to me in a button swop earlier in the year by Jacqui. The sentiment is stamped with a new stamp I bought - 4 for 99p!

And I've used my nestie die to cut the shape for the sentiment. I sort of had a bit of a different idea in my head for this card and it didn't quite turn out that way. But its not too bad overall!

• Backing paper: Funky Freebie from Funky Hand
• Buttons: From my stash - heart embroidered button from Jacqui
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Sentiment: Anita's stamp
• Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities
  
  
  

Z is for Zero Embellishments

The ABC challenge has come to the end of another alphabet in it's challenges and this week it is Z, which is:

Z is for Zero Embellishments

Ha! Easy peasy! I do like using the chocolate cupcake decoupage sheets from Candy Doodles (I have used them a few times before!) and even though I have to carefully cut out each element I still really like the final effect. So out came the foam pads and glitter glue and here is what I created!

I've only added a bit of glitter glue here and there, layered it onto a background printed also from Candy Doodles then inked the edges a little and rounded them. I've handwritten the sentiment (can't you tell?!) onto an off cut of the backing card and cut using my nesties.

So no embellishments - easy!

• Cupcake and backing paper: Candy Doodles
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Sentiment: Handwritten
• Brown pearl card: From my stash

Polkadoodle Challenge 12 - Sketch

Another week has flown by! It's now week 12 on the Polkadoodle Challenge Blog! And this week its a sketch! I do like sketches!

The Design Team has also expanded - we've welcomed Kris L, Hope Jacare (Claire) and Boni earlier this week - if you are not familiar with their work go and have a look - all three are very talented and will bring a lot to the existing team. Welcome ladies!

The Design Team were asked to make a round card (as the sketch) and to use a large flower. So here is my contribution:

The base card has been printed onto white hammered card - I used a compass to make the circle but made sure that I had a slight straight edge so it opened like a card! The scalloped strip across the centre I cut from an extra on the cd and have added white gems.

I've used golden yellow gems for the centre of my flower, which I cut from 100gsm paper that I'd printed on both sides. Again, using the compass. I inked the edges and then slightly feathered them by cutting and ruffling. Really very simple but effective.

I am quite liking making these flowers - you may see more in the future!! Pop over to the Polkadoodle blog for more details on this weeks challenge - you have until Sunday 16 August to enter - good luck!

• All paper based elements: Candy Doodles cd
• Gems: From 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

Making Best Use!

For Carol's Fun Sketch, I managed to use some left over papers that I had on the table - in fact I do like the backing papers but must resist the temptation to use them on everything! This is such a great sketch and I have a feeling I'll be using this again in the future!


The backing papers are from Candy Doodles, which I printed onto hammered white card, shaped the edges and then lightly inked in black. The satin ribbon is from my stash.

The Jolly Nation decoupage image is a fairly recent purchase and because I am a right miser, I thought that I'd be able to use all the layers to actually make two cards, so this is the first of two (actually, the first of 4 as I bought two sheets!) I've added some seed beads to look like bubbles.

It's actually a bit more punchier in real life - the light was a bit rubbish early this morning. I did curse a little when cutting the images out - I'm totally spoilt by Freddies Friends!

• Backing papers: Printed onto white hammered card - Candy Doodles
• Image: Jolly Nation from Hobbycraft
• Seed Beads & Ribbon: From my stash

The Time To Be Happy

At long last I get to use one of the Stampin' Up images that Jan sent to me a while ago! The Stampin' Up challenge this week is a sketch:

I liked the sentiment and thought that the card needs to be bright and cheerful too! The backing paper is from Funky Daze with the panels coming from my stash - I honestly don't know where I got the stripy one from but it must have been a download.

I've inked all the edges and then rounded the panels. I forgot to tie the ribbon around them before I stuck them down, so had to cut tiny slits to feed the ribbon through! Doh! Will teach me to concentrate instead of watching Yes Minister!

I cut the quote out, lightly inked the edges and then layered it onto some red card - it didn't look right just as a whole circle, hence why I cut it out.

Thanks Jan!

• Spotty backing paper: Funky Daze
• All other backing paper: From stash
• Sentiment: Stampin' Up - Garden Whimsy from Jan
• Ribbon: From my stash
  

Hmmmm

The current Stampin Chic challenge is a sketch (excuse the tiddy pic!):


It's been a while since I managed a Stampin' Chic challenge so quite pleased it was a sketch but sometimes it doesn't quite go to plan! And here is my effort. And you can tell it was a quick make. I think its the spotty paper that doesn't sit right - I should have just used some plain card instead.


Anyway, all paperbased elements including the image are from the Clare Curd Signature Range and I've coloured the golfer with watercolour pencils. The card candy is from Craftwork Cards. I've inked all edges with Whispers Chestnut ink and then rounded them.

More effort needed next time I think!

• All paperbased items: Clare Curd Signature Range - The Big One
• Image: Clare Curd Signature Range - coloured with watercolour pencils
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
  
  

History Week at the Roundhouses

We had a trip to Martin Mere this morning. A quick hour there as Samuel had a Birthday party to go to in the afternoon. It was History Week at the Roundhouses which really meant that the boys could dress up, wave swords and shields around and shout battle type things!

Except Jacob came over all shy and didn't want to join in. Samuel was well up for it! Here he is receiving his battle training.

Samuel and I made a ye olde bracelet. Well, I actually made it and he watched cos I told him it was a bit difficult to do! Just a bit of simple looping a figure of 8 wool over another until a chain like bit of wool is formed.

And after all the battling, the warriors have to go and catch their tea in the river.

Or bash the ground for all its worth with the oar. This bit Jacob did enjoy.

We did see some ducks and the otters. But this was more interesting! The volunteers did a fantastic job of answering all of Samuel's questions and keeping a straight face too!