Thursday 31 December 2009

Dino Wishes

As I am trying to use up scrap papers from previous projects and the digi images that I have previously printed, I decided to use them on this Funky Fairy sketch: The green spotty paper is from Patti Picklicious, the other papers are from Funky Daze and the image is from Dustin Pike which I've coloured with felt tips and a white gel pen. I was watching The Day of The Triffids whilst I was colouring it, so its ended up a bit more green than I anticipated!


I've handwritten the sentiment (hence the slightly wonky look) and added card candy on the sides.

  • Backing papers: Green spotty - Patti Picklicious by Kirsty Wiseman, everything else, Funky Daze from Funky Hand
  • Image: Dustin Pike coloured with felt tips and white gel pen
  • Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
  • Sentiment: Handwritten

Wednesday 30 December 2009

Anything But Christmas!

The Charisma Cardz challenge is:

Anything But Christmas!

So I've made this football boy card. There are a few boys Birthday's coming up so thought I'd get my stocks to a reasonable level and also to use up some images I've already printed and papers too. Starting on my New Year Resolutions early (but how long they will last is another thing!)

The image is from Crafty Downloads and I've coloured it with felt tips and watercolour pencils. All the papers are from Now That's Funky and are left overs in my scrap box. The embellishment is from a pack of Dress It Up buttons that I bought last year in the sales but never got round to using them.

I've dotted a fine black line around some of the papers for a little more definition and also inked the edges.

  • Backing papers: Now That's Funky from Funky Hand
  • Image: Crafty Downloads digi image, coloured with felt tips and watercolour pencils
  • Embellishment: From my stash

Tuesday 29 December 2009

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

Monday 28 December 2009

Frosty Frosty Frosty!

To get out of the house we decided to go to Martin Mere to feed the ducks and birds. When we set off from home it was glorious sunshine. But when we got closer to Southport it looked like this:

Very very frosty and foggy!



We slipped and slided all the way around holding onto the fences for support!

Sunday 27 December 2009

Classy Valentine

And my last of three posts for today! This time a Mojo Monday sketch:
And I've used papers from Patti Picklicious which have been left over from previous projects and I hate to see anything go to waste! I've layered three different colour papers which have been printed onto lovely linen effect 300gsm ivory card.

The ribbon looks really red in the photo but it is not quite that bright in real life! The brown organza ribbon links the chocolate brown backing paper for balance. I've made the hat pin myself by adding a red pony bead and seed beads.
  • Backing papers: Patti Picklicious from Kirsty Wiseman
  • Ribbon: From my stash
  • Hat pin: From my stash

This Monster Loves You!

This will be the second of three posts today only because I've had a burst of energy and creativity over the last few days and I'm managing to enter the challenges by the skin of my teeth!

This one is a nice simple sketch from The Pink Elephant:

And continuing with my Valentine cards mission, here is another one! The printed backing paper is from a Funky Hand pack 'Funky Females' and the silver paper is from my stash. The image is from Lost In Paper Scraps and I've coloured it with watercolour pencils.


The ribbon is from my stash too and I've made the heart pin by literally stuffing a pink pony bead over the pin head and then added some seed beads on the ends.
So you now know what a monster in love looks like!
  • Printed papers: Funky Females from Funky Hand
  • Plain paper: From my stash
  • Image: Lost In Paper Scraps coloured with watercolour pencils
  • Everything else: 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

Saturday 26 December 2009

Making a Start ....

.... on Valentine's Day cards! I am trying to be organised and now with Christmas out of the way (for a while until I start chipping away at those cards!) I thought I'd make a start on Valentine's cards, so be prepared to see quite a few in the coming weeks!

I have a little basket of them placed outside the Managers office at nursery and I sell quite well - last year I only had a few left!

The current Crafty Garden challenge is this sketch which was originally for a layout, but can be adapted for a card.I've used papers from Patti Picklicious cd by Kirsty Wiseman which have been printed onto wonderful 300gsm ivory linen effect card. I've dotted tiny black dots around the edge of the main panel for a little definition.

The heart stamp was a freebie on a magazine last year which I found in my stash. The two flowers have been layered and are from The Craft Garden - there is a matching tiny red button in the centre but you can't see it too well.

I really do like these papers especially the red so be expecting more of these!!

  • Backing papers: Patti Picklicious by Kirsty Wiseman
  • Flowers: From The Craft Garden
  • Stamp: From my stash

Friday 25 December 2009

Merry Christmas 2009!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


Thank you to all my followers and those who leave me comments - it means a lot to me that you take the time to do this and I still have to pinch myself when I realise that I am on the two bestest Design Teams ever with the most wonderful DT mates!

And if you want to make the above tree - just click here for instructions and for lots of other Christmas inspiration (for 2010!)

Thursday 24 December 2009

Forever Friends - Anything Goes!

It's been a while since I entered a Forever Friends challenge and I need to make a Birthday card as Samuel has been invited to another party in early January and decided to use the decoupage bear with a gift.

The current challenge is:

Anything Goes!

I've also used the two papers from the decoupage pack along with the sentiment. The purple satin ribbon is from my stash. Sorry about the quality of the photo - it had a blue cast on it and this is the best I could get it!


Edges have been rounded and then inked to give a bit of definition, and that is it really!

  • Papers, image and sentiment: Forever Friends decoupage pack
  • Ribbon: My stash

Wednesday 23 December 2009

Purple, Ribbon and Bling

Now this was a nice quick and easy card to make! I made it for the current Lexi's Creations challenge which is:

Purple, Ribbon and Bling

I was so pleased to have won the last challenge and I'm hoping that lightening strikes twice! Thank you to the DT for choosing me!!

The backing paper was a free digi download from A Work In Progress but it has been retired and I can't remember which collection it is from either as I printed it a while ago and left it in my bits box. The ribbon, gems, flowers and button are all from my stash and I liked that the orange flower added a splash of colour!


  • Backing paper: Digi free download (now retired) from A Work In Progress
  • Everything else: My stash

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Rudolph's Got A Bright New Bell!

And just as I thought that I'd finished making Christmas cards for the time being (I aim to try and make some throughout 2010 as I did this year - and the result? Not stressed! Yeah!) I saw this cute felt tree decoration (or at least it was before I snipped the cord off) from Sainsbury's and it was half price too!

So, it stayed on my craft / dining table until I saw Rosie Dee's current challenge which is:

Rudolph's Got A Bright New Bell!

So how could I resist?! And this was one quick card to make too! Backing paper is a trimmed 6 x 6 sheet from A Wonderful Christmas Time pack from Papermania, edges inked with chestnut Whispers ink and a touch of green on the corners. Rudolph came with the bell attached and I've added the silver stars (the one on the antlers hides the string hole which looked a bit macabre!)

The ribbon is from my stash and I've tied a double legged bow for a bit of fancy.

And there you go! I bought another reindeer too, so I could possibly make another one the same!

  • Backing papers: A Wonderful Christmas Time 6x6 paper pack from Papermania
  • Felt Reindeer: Sainsbury's tree decoration
  • Ribbon: From my stash

Monday 21 December 2009

Birthday Girl

Here is a frosty coloured card perfect for a snowy and frosty day!! The sketch over on Sketch and Stash is this:
And I've made this card for a little girl who is 2 today. The papers are from Candy Doodles cd from Polkadoodles which I've just inked the edges. The flowers, buttons and ribbons are all from my stash (the polka dotted one was generously donated by Lynsey a while ago - from her new pj's too!)
The image is on its first outing - its a digi image from Beary Dust Designs and is called Honey - I won the digi image a while ago on a challenge. She has been coloured with watercolour pencils and a little chalking on the face.

And the funny thing is, she actually looks like the Birthday girl, Grace!

Sunday 20 December 2009

All 8

Earlier in the week I entered the Funky Fairy challenge with a sketch - my original post is HERE and I actually made 8 of the cards to give to Samuel's Headteacher who was leaving after 11 years at the school. I gave her them on Wednesday at a special Open Afternoon with performances from current and past pupils and she really liked the cards!

So here are all 8!







I've used my only set of nesties (maybe Santa will take pity on me?!) and printed from Patti Picklicious cd. The ribbons are from my stash and the buttons from a combination of my stash and also Lynsey.
  • Printed papers: Patti Picklicious from Kirsty Wiseman
  • Cardstock: Papermill Shop
  • Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
  • Ribbons: From my stash
  • Buttons: From my stash and Lynsey

Saturday 19 December 2009

Festive Chic!

This is for the current Stampin' Chic challenge which is to:

Be Chic with a Festive Theme

So, taking inspiration from I think the current issue of Papercraft Inspirations and the wonderful Enfys, I've made a little pocket bag!

I've used two of the papers from the Big One, stuck them together to create doublesided paper and folded the 12x12 sheets as per instructions. I tied some fluffy ribbon stuff (recycled from a box of Christmas cards!) and threaded it through the holes I made to keep the folds together. I've added some thin black ribbon too so it tied together and the fluffy stuff didn't moult too much!
The bling gems are from the Poundshop - a sheet of them in different sizes for a pound! And the Christmas stamp is Papermaina 'Let It Snow' collection that I've stamped onto black card with silver ink and then added a ring of red glitter glue around the edges.


This will go into my box for next year as for me Christmas is now organised. Almost. Just a few things to wrap and I'm done. And because it was so quick and easy to make I have a feeling that I will be making more of these for next Christmas.
  • Papers: The Big One - Clare Curd Signature Range (stuck together to make it doublesided)
  • Stamp: Papermania 'Let It Snow' acrylic collection
  • Ribbons: From my stash

Friday 18 December 2009

Polkadoodle Challenge 31 - Free Theme

And it is Friday again, so time for another Polkadoodle Challenge! This week will be lasting until 28 December at 12noon GMT as we appreciate that things get a little busy this time of year, so this is the last challenge of 2009!

Nikky has asked the Design Team to make anything they like but to use the new cd Back To Nature. For my sample I've made these circle flowers - the printed templates are on the cd and you simply click and print which sizes and colours you want! I also printed on the reverse as I don't like seeing white card!

I've used the largest size, the next one down and the one down from that too - there are smaller ones but I didn't use them. For the larger flowers I've inked the edges once I'd cut them out. The flowers are made by pulling in the centre and attaching 3d foam pads at regular intervals where the two sides will meet.

Wooden beads hold the flower in place on the sticks (yes they are BBQ skewers from Tesco!) and also between the flower heads. Silver crafting wire has been curled and pops out of the top of the bead.

I glued the beads and wire in place otherwise it was all a little too delicate! For those eagle-eyed of you, these were part of the tv show where Nikky launched the cd - I made them especially for the show!

Really easy and quick to make once all the elements are cut out and there are lots of other colours on the cd too.
Remember you have until Sunday 28 December 2009 at 12noon GMT to enter this challenge and good luck!!

  • Paper elements: Back to Nature cd from Polkadoodles
  • Everything else: My stash

Wednesday 16 December 2009

A Six Year Old and Pins

Here is what you get when you give a six year old some pins, sequins and a polystyrene ball!

A Christmas bauble!!

How fab is this?! Some of the pins have dropped out but it looks really good (especially when I don't use the flash!) and it has pride of place on our Christmas tree.

Tuesday 15 December 2009

So Good I Made 8!

Now I really took to the current Funky Fairy challenge as it was this sketch:

I wanted to make a leaving gift for Samuel's Headteacher as she leaves the school after 11 years on Friday and as a parent and also a Parent Governor, I wanted to give her something useful. Or at least I hope they are useful!

I've made a set of 8 of these cards which can be used for anything! I've made each card in a different colour all with ribbon and buttons to match the paper! I bought a mega box of card last week from The Papermill Shop online and I am very impressed with it - here I've used some of the linen embossed card white card which is just beautiful and a dream to print on!

The papers are from Patti Picklicious (I do like this particular collection) and I've used my one and only set of Nesties for the shape! Ribbon and buttons are from my stash.

If I manage to see daylight before Wednesday (when I'll be giving the set to Mrs Morton) I'll take photos of all of them as I'm really pleased how they turned out.

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

Monday 14 December 2009

Buttons and a Thank You

I do like simple sketches as they don't scare me! This one is from Simply Scrapping: and the added twist was to use buttons.

I've used some lovely white embossed linen card to make the card base and also to print the pattern on - used Patti Picklicious cd for this. This sketch was supposed to be for something else (but I made them instead for tomorrows post!) and it just morphed into this card! Strange how that happens!


The ribbon and buttons are from my stash (I think some are from Lynsey at some point!) and the flower is from an embellishment pack I bought ages ago, and have only just opened (shame on me!)
I'm not sure where the sentiment stamp came from but it is my stash.
  • Cardstock: Papermill Shop
  • Printed card: Patti Picklicious from Kirsty Wiseman
  • Sentiment stamp: Don't know
  • Everything else: My stash

Sunday 13 December 2009

Baby Boy

The Mojo Monday challenge this week is a sketch and a nice simple and easy one too!I'd been asked to make a baby boy card so this sketch was used. Papers are from Polkadoodles Candy Doodles cd and I've used a compass to make the three circles. They have been inked around the edges with some blue.

The ribbon and acrylic dummy are from my stash and the elephant shape is from a template I made. The sentiment is a silver rub on that I bought a while ago - I got a whole page of them for 25p! Bargain! This is the first time I've used a rub on and quite pleased how it turned out.

  • Papers: Candy Doodles cd from Polkadoodles
  • Image: My own template
  • Everything else: My stash

Saturday 12 December 2009

Brown, Gold and Cream

The Pixie Dust Studio's Challenge is a colour recipe of:

Brown, Gold and Cream

I'd been asked to make a Wedding Anniversary card and decided that this colour combination would work really well. I've used two of the split sheets from Patti Picklicious but used each of the patters. I've layered the chocolate brown pattern onto some matt gold card so it stands out a little more.

The ribbon is from my stash and I've made the pin using sequins and little gold balls. The heart brad is from my stash. I have used this particular layout before, but I do like it!

  • Papers: Patti Picklicious from Kirsty Wiseman
  • Everything else: My stash