Strongo Turns 40

Strongo the Magnificent from Dr Digi shows no signs of slowing down or retiring - how could he when he's only turning 40!

Trophy (with handles removed) is from the cheap section at Dr Digi. Go get yours! I hope my brother appreciates this - how organised am I? His Birthday is not until the end of December! He was the bodybuilding Mr Junior Great Britain when he was 18 so it does look a bit like him (although he's never had a 'tash!)

The background paper is from Sassy Designs and the sentiment I cut from a shop bought card (I actually bought it so I could cut out the chalk board effect sentiment and the others that were on it!)
I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Digi Sketch: Make Me Laugh
Pink Elephant Challenge: Anything Goes
Opus Gluei: Happy Birthday
The Squirrel and the Fox: Happy Birthday

From The Heart Stamps Sketch 81

It's my last sketch challenge as a Guest Designer for From The Heart Stamps - and I've sure enjoyed myself during the past 2 months! Thank you! The sketch is below and the twist is to use eyelets. Don't forget that you must use a From The Hearts Stamp for your entry.

I've used Flappy Birthday Birdbrain which is the progressive freebie image for September. I've used a combination of Promarkers and watercolour pencils to colour the image and I remembered that I bought a pack (actually two) of these scalloped edged card blanks from Sainsburys during the summer as they had a 25% off promotion.

I've used black and red card from my stash for layering and the ribbon and half pearls are also from my stash - the sentiment comes with the image.

Good luck with the challenge - pop over to the challenge blog for more inspiration!

I'd like to enter the following challenges

Craft-Dee BowZ: Anything Goes With a Handmade Bow
Crafting From The Heart: Anything Goes
Cutie Pie Challenge: Three's
Love To Create: Ribbon
Lunagirl Moonbeams: Put a Bird on It

Forgotten Funkies - Spookie Dookie

Each month the Funky Hand Design Team delve into the back catalogue and this month its the turn for us to use Spookie Dookie - perfect for Halloween!

I've meade some funky straws by layering two die cuts and adding a witches hat from my stash (I dread to think how long I've had them!) and also some cupcake toppers - the bats are confetti and again, I think I've had them a fair while!

Pop over to the Funky Hand store - all cds are reduced to £1 as are the acrylic stamp sets - total bargains!!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Brown Sugar: Anything Goes
Craft for the Craic: Something With Circles
4 Crafty Girls: Anything Goes
Decorate to Celebrate: Anything Goes

Simply Create Too - Special Occasion

It's time for a new Simply Create Too Challenge and this fortnight the theme is Special Occasion. I've made a simple wordbook using some wonderful linen effect white card from The Papermill Direct.

I've cut out letters using an existing wordbook template, added them to the pages with foam pads for depth and then added stickles around the edges. The half pearls, charms and organza ribbon are from my stash. The smaller letters are a Cuttlebug die and I've added them via a strip of acetate. Simple!

Good luck with the challenge and pop over to the blog to have a look at all the special occasions the Design Team are celebrating!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge: Q for Quadruple (4 pearls used)
Keep It Simple: No Stamps
Sister Act Card Challenge: Anything Goes
CRAFT: Add a Charm

Happy Hour

Ah, I do like the sentiments on the Funny Sentiments Sheet 2 from Dr Digi. Just perfect for when you need to wish someone a Happy Birthday but also to poke fun at the same time. Perfect.

I've used papers and a frame from Dovecraft - Curiosity Corner and distressed them a little. Embroidery thread and dinosaur charm are from my stash along with the half pearls.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Stamp and Create: Circles or Dots
Whoopsi Daisy: Bling or Pearls
A Little Bit Crafty: Distress It

From The Heart Stamps - Sketch 80

My Guest Designer two month term at From The Heart Stamps is almost at an end - next week will be the last sketch I take part in. It's a fab little sketch this week and don't forget that you can flip it and add extra embellishments, just as long as the sketch is clear and you've used a From The Heart Stamps then its good to enter!

The twist this week is to use a handmade embellishment but you don't need to add the twist if you don't want to. Challenge closes on 28 September at 10pm CST and each entrant will receive a $1 voucher to use either towards a digi from the store or can be saved up and used to snag a free stamp!

I've used Birdbrain Balloon (which is becoming one of my favourites), coloured with Promarkers and watercolour pencils for the sky. Papers are from Funky Hand - left over from making a wordbook - I really don't like to throw pretty papers away when I can reuse them so easily! I've made the little pin with tiny beads and some sequins. The trim is from the scrap store and is actually upholstery trim which makes it easy to glue down!

I've added some faux stitching around the edges of the panels and the card is complete! Good luck with the challenge and don't forget to use a FTHS image!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Cutie Pie Challenge: Cute with Shades of Autumn
Fitztown Challenge: Animals with Digital Elements
Lexi's Creations: Autumn Colours
Through The Purple Haze: Stitching - Real or Faux

Plump and Juicy

Now you may be forgiven for thinking you've already seen this little creation; fear not - it is BBQ Bill's identical twin brother - Bert - who is equally gifted with the Char-Master 2000. Maybe plump and juicy are the wrong adjectives.....

BBQ Bill / Bert is available in the Dr Digi store - go on - you know you want one!

Colouring done with Promarkers, grass is an icicle Marianne Creatables die (multi functional!) and the brick wall is from Polkadoodles. The lovely retro signage was part of a tissue box (yes, I did buy the tissues just for the box!) and I have been known to root through a whole shelf to find an interesting design that I can reuse!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting From The Heart: Anything Goes
Love To Scrap: Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes
One Stitch At A Time: Anything Goes With a Die

From The Heart Stamps - Sketch #79

It's time for another From The Heart Stamps challenge and its another fab sketch with a twist! And the twist is to add a bit of humour! You must use a FTH image (there are loads to choose from the store) and follow the sketch - and every sketch you enter, you receive a $1 coupon to redeem against your next stamp purchase; they last for a month which means you can save them up and use them to get a free digi!

I've used Full of Beans Birdbrain digi and coloured it with Promarkers. I've typically kept it all clean and simple and decided on (it actually was an inspired moment!) adding bunting with some off-cuts of card from a previous project (I hate to throw pretty papers away!)

The sentiment also comes with the digi - everything else is from my stash. Good luck with the challenge - don't forget to follow the sketch, use a FTH image and pop over to the community to see all the inspiration from the Design Team!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Boots: Anything Goes
Digi Makeover: Clean and Simple
Lawnscaping: Critters
Perfectly Rustic: Banners / Bunting

Polkadoodle Challenge - Tag You're It

Just a quick reminder tha the current Polkadoodle challenge has a week remaining - I've made a bottle tag using an offcut of card plus one sheet of A4 paper from the Work and Play 5 Festive Hollibobs cd - I printed the design onto both sides and made 3 different sizes of flowers and then added a glass gem to the centre of some of them.

Just goes to show that the cd can be used all year around and it doesn't have to be Christmas! Everything else is from my stash.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Catz: Clean and Simple
Digitally Sweet: Charms
Wags and Whiskers: For The Girls

Cuppa

There's nothing better than a sturdy cuppa first thing in the morning; not too milky and not overly Builders Brew - the perfect cuppa is a great way to start the day (even though these mornings its still dark outside!)

Cuppa digi from Dr Digi won't break the bank at only 50p! Papers from Echo Park - Summerdays, charms, embroidery thread and half pearls all from my stash.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

2 Cute Ink: Anything Goes
My Craft Creations: Anything Goes
Squigglefly: Stripes
Through The Purple Haze: Clear and Bright

From The Heart Stamps - Sketch #78

It's time for a new sketch challenge at From The Heart Stamps and the sketch is below - the twist this week is to use something recycled! You don't need to follow the twist but to enter the challenge you must use a From The Heart digi stamp.

I've used Birdbrain Winter Scarf and coloured it with Promarkers - sentiment comes with the digi. The papers I found when having a sort out of my rather overflowing box of oddments and its from Funky Hand - Funky Daze cd and if you are quick there is a HUGE sale on - all cds are just £1!!! You really cannot miss an offer like that and Funky Daze is one of my favourite Funky Hand cds too!

The buttons are my other recycled element and the half pearls are from my stash. Good luck with the challenge and don't forget to use a FTHS!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Bastel Traum: Animals
Ladybug Crafts: Anything Goes
Crafting Musketeers: Buttons
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge: Anything Goes
Creative Cottage: Things With Wings

From The Heart Stamps - September Blog Hop!

Welcome to our From the Heart Stamps blog hop; the theme for September is For the Bird(brains). As you hop along, please leave a comment on each blog as one random commenter will be selected from each stop on the blog hop to win an image of choice from the FTHS store. Plus one commenter on the From the Heart Stamps blog will be selected to win a $15 gift voucher to the store!

And that's not all! Have you ever had a great idea for a Birdbrain image? Well, this is your chance! One lucky winner randomly selected from all the comments left on the FTHS blog will be selected to work with Faith to design a Birdbrain image!

As you hop from blog to blog, if you like the look of the tutorial you can recreate it and don't forget to use a FTHS and your favourite Birdbrain image - just link your blog up with the InLinkz code at the bottom of each blog post as a random link will be picked to win my creation!

I've made a simple Tee-Pee card using one of my favourite FTHS images - Birdbrain Balloon - and coloured it with Promarkers and then cut it out.

Next, I printed Sassy Designs - Primary onto some thick cardstock - you will need three 11cm square peices. Sign up to the newsletter on the website as you'll get to hear of the fantastic sales where the digi paper packs are reduced to 99cents!

Score diagnally across each of the three squares to create a valley fold on the non-printed side. I've also inked all the edges with a brown Whispers inkpad (cheap and cheerful!)

To construct the Tee-Pee, lay the three squares as shown - overlapping each one. Double check that it will all fold together before you glue it, just in case (you can always trim the edges if needed to make it fold flat)

Stand the card up and embellish as desired with your favourite FTHS image! I've also added glossy accents to the balloon and eyes. And I've replaced the balloon string with an offcut of bakers twine. To keep the card shape when its stood up, I've added a button which has a foam pad underneath so that the flap rests on it and keeps it all closed. Alternatively, you can add a brad.

Back to the blog hop! If you have arrived from Joanna, you are in the right place, if not why don’t you start on the From the Heart Stamps blog, so you don’t miss anything. Don't forget to leave me a comment before you hop over to Angela to see what she's created.

Thanks for hopping with us today. The hop will end on Sunday 14 September at 6am, EST. Winners will be posted on the From the Heart Stamps Blog on Wednesday 17 September.

Good luck!

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Simply Create Too - Something New

The current Simply Create Too challenge is at its halfway stage and the challenge theme is Something New.

I've made a Good Luck at school card for my neice and used two new charms that I bought (and rather a few more on ebay!) So new school, new experience and new charms!

The papers are from Samantha Walker - A to Z Mega pack and the image is from Jellypark - Girl With Sign - and I've coloured her with Promarkers and handwrote the sign.

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments: Any Sentiment Except Birthday
CRAFT Challenge: Back To School
Hanna and Friends: Special Card
Milk, Coffee Challenge: Back To School
Creative Moments: Back To School

You've Reached That Age

Just a quick and easy card - great when you needed one an hour ago! Made with one of the quotes from the Funny Sentiments Sheet 2 from Dr Digi.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafts Galore: Make A Card
Ladybug Crafts: Anything Goes
Sisters of Craft: Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments: Anything Goes