For You

A great sketch from Carol's Fun Sketches this fortnight and a welcome return too!! I've been checking virtually on a weekly basis to see if they were up and running again but somehow I managed to miss the last one! I've kept the card simple and have used papers from Alison Sloan - Forever Autumn kit (her Scrapable store has 50% off until end of December!) and have created the central flower by printing on both sides of the card, cutting increasingly smaller circles, inking the edges and then screwing them up and unfurling slightly, securing with a brad in the centre.

The sentiment has been created with my Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set as all attempts at cutting an oval were terrible!

• All papers: Forever Autumn digital scrapbooking kit by Alison Sloan
• Dies: Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set
• Brad: My stash
  

Cowboy!

Another fab sketch from Carol for her challenge:
And all the elements are there - you just have to look for them!! This is another of the downloads I bought from CraftsUPrint - you can see my completed card here where you can also buy the sheet to print. Really quick to make - simply cut out and add the embellishments that come with the sheet.

I've also added glitter on the gun and spurs and also on the two sheriff badges plus I've added the jute string as a lasso!

• All paperbased card elements: Crafts U Print
• Added extras: My stash
  

Have a Whale of a Time!

A little later than intended with this one - I made it over the weekend and should have blogged it yesterday but forgot...

This is the sketch from Carol's Fun Sketches Challenge: And this is my interpretation. I've used papers from Funky Hand but these are the charity papers that you cannot buy directly from Anice but were part of a fundraiser for Rett's Syndrome. The little whale plaque I bought last year and have just found it and I thought it was perfect with the papers!

The anchors are a punch and I've added wire through the top to finish them off. Looking forward to the next challenge and I'll try and be a little more organised!

• Backing papers: Boys and Girls collection from Funky Hand
• Image: Polymer clay plaque from my stash
• Anchors: Punch - unknown name
  

Baby Giraffe

Another fab sketch from Carol for her current challenge:

And this is my take on it. I've used papers from Candy Doodles from Polkadoodles. The giraffe, I can't remember the stamp maker but I've coloured it with watercolour paint and then gone over the top with glitter glue. I've used one of my nesties dies for the shape behind.

The ribbon is really lovely - its sort of a linen mix and I bought a roll of the blue and also pink around 3 or 4 years ago from Hobbycraft when it was in the sale - I think a really big roll was only £1! It's quite thick so does not lend itself to being tied but looks fine as a background!

Buttons and wire from my stash.

• Backing papers: Candy Doodles from Polkadoodles
• Image: Can't remember the make but coloured with watercolour paint and glitter glue
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Everything else: My stash
  
  

Insipid Apple

Carol's Sketches are now back after the Christmas and New Year break and this is a fab little sketch too!
I've been good and have used scraps from a previous project - I am trying very hard not to buy any new stash until I've made a dent in what I have and that includes using up scraps!

The papers are from Funky Daze and the square shape has been printed onto vellum. The apple is a Sizzix die and I've added gems to the swirls along with two gems on the corners of the vellum. As they hide the big blobs of glue as I was not as careful as I should have been!


I've used the largest die in the Spellbinders Nestabilities for the focus of the card. The ribbon across the centre is organza chocolate brown double tied and it just pulls it all together. I've handwritten the sentiment.

The apple is not how I intended it to turn out and it would have probably looked worse than it does. One insipid apple!

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Dies: Sizzix for the apple, Spellbinder Nestabilities for the shape
• Everything else: My stash
  

Three For The Price of One!

When I first saw the sketch on Carol's Fun Challenge blog I didn't know what to do with it and to be honest I was in awe of her wonderful sample and didn't think I'd do the sketch justice.


However, a weekend free of the boys and all that time to craft, I had a rethink and got out all my Christmas stash and I made these three in just over 2 hours, which is a record for me as it normally takes me about 3 hours to make one!

The blue one has papers from Mad About Cards, the word is actually a tree decoration, ribbon is from my stash and I've used a Martha Stewart punch.

The next one I've used Papermania 'Wonderful Christmas Time' 6 x 6 papers along with red raffia, gems from my stash and a fantastic chipboard embellishment from the Poundshop last year. Another Martha Stewart punch - double scallops I think it's called.

And finally, the three gold snowflakes are actually parcel fasteners which I bought in the January sales from Marks & Spencer - anything that sparkles or looks vaguely Christmassy in the sales will always come in for cardmaking! Papers again are from Mad About Cards and the ribbon was a bargain buy - its more like fabric than ribbon and I bought a full spool of it for £1!

So there you go - I'm really quite pleased with my efforts! Needless to say the peace and quiet of the weekend is shattered as the boys are back and I now have to fit the crafting in around them and the day job!

• Backing papers: Mad About Cards downloads and Papermania 'Wonderful Christmas Time' 6 x 6 pad
• Embellishments: Sparkly Joy - Sainsbury's Christmas decoration, Chipboard Joy - Poundshop, Gold Snowflakes - Marks & Spencers
• Punches: Both Martha Stewart
• Everything else: My stash

Ah - Watercolours!

It's time for another wonderful sketch from my fab Funky Hand DT mate Carol! If you've not popped over to her challenge blog before, please do as she offers some great prizes every fortnight to the entrants of her sketches.

Without further ado, here is the current sketch:And here is my card! I've used papers from Papermania 12 x 12 Retro Floral prints stack - the holey scalloped edge piece across the middle was punched with a Martha Stewart punch and then the edges inked.

The image is Penny Black which was sent to me ages ago by the lovely Jozza and I've coloured it with watercolours - oh how I like my watercolour paints!

I've inked the edge with chestnut Whispers and then dotted with a very fine black pen just for a bit more definition. The ribbon is from my stash, and the heart button is Colorbok chipboard sent to me by Enfys ages ago and I've covered it with some of the pink and yellow spotty paper.

Great sketch Carol - look forward to the next one!

• Papers: Papermania 12 x 12 Retro Floral stack
• Image: Penny Black, stamped by Jozza, coloured with watercolour paints
• Punch: Martha Stewart
• Heart button: Colorbok from Enfys, covered with DCWV paper
• Everything else: My stash
  

Cake!

Carol's Sketch this fortnight is this: And I have made this card! I had to make a few cards for family for my Mum's 60th Birthday (which was yesterday!) and this is one of them.

The chocolate cupcake is a decoupage printable from Candy Doodles and I've used it a number of times before and probably will a million more because I like it so much! The backing paper is also from Candy Doodles as too are the numbers. I've glittered the cake with glitter glue and the ribbons are from my stash.

This was such a great sketch to work with and was one of those that I knew exactly what I was going to make as soon as I saw the sketch! There will be another one on Wednesday, so I'll be there to see what it will be!

• All paper based elements: Candy Doodles from Polkadoodle
• Ribbon: My stash
  
  

Birthday Dino for Jack

Nearly ran out of time with this one, but could not resist this sketch from my fab Funky Hand DT mate Carol! This is challenge 14 sketch: And I used one of the other images I coloured whilst at Isabel's Birthday party. The image, again, is Dustin Pike (such fab stuff for boys!) which I've coloured with watercolour pencils.

The backing papers are from the Craft4Charity collection Anice designed a while ago and I must say, one of my favourite collections from Funky Hand!


I've inked all the edges and doodled a fine black line around them too. The letters have been cut with a Sizzix Round-a-Bout alphabet set. And it's for a friends little boy Jack who will be 6 in October - see how organised I am!! I met Liz and Jack's Mum, Karen, when we were heavily pregnant - we were all having our first child and it was the most relaxed anti-natal class ever (I only actually went to this one, so it has a high estimation in my opinion!) and we had a good laugh. We've remained good friends and keep in touch with fairly regular curry nights!

Anyway, back to the card - the blue backing is actually printed vellum. Which I like, so I've used!

• Backing papers: Boys and Girls Craft4Charity collection by Funky Hand
• Image: Dustin Pike, coloured with watercolour pencils
• Dies: Sizzix Round-a-Bout alphabet
  
  

I Should Concentrate More!

I'm just about on time with the current challenge sketch from the wonderful Carol! I've just been caught up with lots of other things (making up party bags, wrapping pass the parcels - who said kids parties were easy?!) so this sort of went by the wayside. However, an early start on Sunday made sure I got to grips with the sketch!

I've used printed papers from It's Funky Too (I'm pretty sure it is!) which I have lightly inked and then doodled a line around. The red card is from my stash. The image is Dustin Pike which I have coloured with my trusty Tesco felt tips and a little white gel pen - the clouds got the glitter glue treatment!

The sentiment stamp is from my stash and I cut the number 4 with my Sizzix Round-a-Bout alphabet dies. I'm fairly organised with this card as its is for a friends little boy who will be 4 at the end of the month - we were both pregnant at the same time and work together too!

So why should I concentrate more? Well, I'd completed the card and then came to open it out, and realised I'd stuck it all on upside down...... so had to trim it down and stick it all on another card blank.... in my defense, I was up rather early and was only on my second cup of tea!

• Backing papers: It's Funky Too from Funky Hand
• Image: Dustin Pike, coloured with felt tips and white gel pen
• Sentiment: Stamp unknown from my stash
• Dies: Sizzix Round-a-Bout alphabet dies
  

Shiver Me Timbers!

Another fortnight has flown by and I enjoyed the sketch from my fab Funky Hand DT mate Carol! This was a quickish Birthday card to make - Samuel has been invited to a party on Wednesday, and its fancy dress. I think a pirate theme, but Samuel is going as a Knight. Complete with wooden sword. Ever the rebel!


Anyway, all elements, with exception to the twine and card candy were recent freebies from Papercraft Inspirations. Unfortunately, not downloads but physical freebies, which is a shame as I'd have liked more!! I inked the edges of the card and then doodled a line around the edge. I cut out the two swords, pirate and parrot but left a thin white border around them so they would stand out a little from the busy and bright backing paper. They were all added with 3d foam pads.

I wrapped the twine around the card and then tied it off with a bow. A bit girlie, but I decided that pirates needed to know about knots and such like. Added the card candy, and that's it!

I've still got a few more of the pirates left. They were supposed to be decoupage images, but me being a miser, decided that I'd get more if I just used one layer. Not sure what I'm going to do with the armless pirates, but I'll think of something!

• Images and backing paper: Freebies from Papercraft Inspirations
• Twine: From my kitchen
• Card candy: Craftwork Cards
  
  

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

Hey! Cupcake....!

Sometimes, when I see a sketch, I know just what I'm going to use! And this one was no exception! It's Carol's (my very fab fellow Funky Hand DT mate) Fun Sketch:The image I've used is actually one inserted into a joke email that I received, so have not got a clue where it originated from, but I thought it would be a good one to use!

Starry backing paper is the same one I used on a previous post - from Funky Daze, just my ink was running out so it's not really supposed to be this colour! The blue is from The Funky One. Edges have been inked in either pink or blue and then black, some edges have also been rounded with a punch.

To make the loops on the sketch, I've threaded ribbon through some holes - the ribbon I used specifically wider than the holes so it would bunch up.

I've had written the sentiment (can't you tell?!) and the little fimo cupcake was sent to me a while ago along with lots of other little makes by someone I can't remember their name! So sorry!

I think I may be using this sketch and image again!

• Backing papers: Pink & stars - Funky Daze, Blue - The Funky One from Funky Hand
• Image: Don't know
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Cupcake embellishment: Can't remember!
• Sentiment: Handwritten
  
  
  

Winning

I've had a run of good luck recently! I won Carol's Fun Sketch Challenge blog a few weeks ago - this was my entry and I won these stamps:

And then, literally days later, I found out I'd won the Daisy and Dandelion monthly challenge! Erica asked me what D&D products I have and then she sent me these:

How fab! Things come in three's, so I just now need to win the lottery!

Thank you so much to Carol and Erica!

Pirate Gold

I do like Carol's Sketch Challenges - even more since I won the last one!!


This time it is the following sketch:


The images really should be decoupage, however I'd had enough of cutting these out so gave up on the layering effect! I can use those other bits for another card! These were free with a recent craft magazine and came with pirate themed papers too. The blue paper has been inked and was in my stash (I think it came from the scrap store) and the 'gold' is card candy.

The sentiment has been cut from black card and I've used my lovely Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set to do it. Edges of the card have been inked and also chalked. Quite pleased I made this card as Samuel has a pirate themed Birthday party to go to during the school holidays!

• Images: Free with a recent craft magazine
• Blue paper: Scrap store
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
• Dies: Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet
  

More Male Decoupage!

I do like a simple sketch! And the very lovely Carol has given us this one as part of her Fun Sketch Challenge:This is another Freddies Friends easy peasy decoupage from Nikky as part of the Polkadoodle DT. I didn't use the backing paper that comes with it as I really liked the cartoon effect of the little man and didn't want him getting lost in too much 'busy-ness'. Anyway, its dead easy to use - simply pop the die cuts out and layer them up according to the numbers. Extra bits and bobs are included too and I've still got a few bits left to use on another project.

I've doodled around the edges of the card firstly with black ink and then a double green line to create the frame. Really simple to put together - I've only used the dark blue card from my stash which I've layered the sentiment and image onto, everything else is the decoupage sheet.

• Decoupage: One project sheet from Polkadoodle
  
  

Mooooved!

My fellow Funky Hand DT mate Carol who is wonderfully apt at creating great sketches, has launched her own dedicated challenge blog! Its on a bi Monday rotation so it gives me plenty of time to get my act together and join in!

The first sketch on her new blog (well, actually it is challenge 7 as the 6 previous ones were on her own blog) is this: And here is what I've come up with! The cow is a new Sizzix die which I have cut 3 times in pink, black and white and then layered the relevant bits. I've added a tiny bit of doodling around the black splodges on the cow (there is bound to be a technical term for it, but splodges it will have to be for now!) and I've also chalked it too for definition. The bell has been cut from very shiny silver card and I've added a twine string bow and wobbly eyes.

I've hand cut the grass in two layers and also chalked this a little. Both the grass and backing paper are from Funky Daze the Son Day collection (I do seem to be using this one quite a lot at the moment!) sentiment has been cut with my lovely Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet dies. And to finish off the sketch, I've used card candy from Craftwork Cards.

• Backing papers: Funky Daze cd
• Dies: Sizzix Cow and Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet dies
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
  
  
  

Sketches & Challenges

Just a little foghorn for my fellow Funky Hand DT mate Carol who has launched a brand new sketches and challenge blog where she will not only be setting sketch challenges (my favourite!) but also sharing templates and ideas. Have a look here.

What a good idea eh?

So pop over, say hello and become a follower!! And tell her I sent you!

PS - It launches on Wednesday 3 June at 9am and a new challenge will be set every two weeks!

Shhhhhh! You Ain't Seen This!!

Carol is back from her holiday with another great sketch, and the sketch is:

The boys have been invited to a 5th Birthday party in November (Lynsey you can stop reading here or feign surprise when you do see the card!) and I wanted to make a princess themed card. And as I do like a sketch challenge, I decided to get the card made early and used Carol's challenge sketch.

The pink stitched paper is from my camper van swop from Allie (I actually already had some of this, in pink, green and black but never used them - think I will now as it is lovely thick handmade paper!) the fairy is made from various Sizzix dies with Quickutz tiara and wand. The net on the dress is actually a remnant from a friends wedding veil (she knew I'd be able to use it!) and the name has been cut using the Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet.

The translucent vellum has been cut using my new Martha Stewart punch (I am liking it very much!), ribbon from my stash, and the metal heart / star embellishment is actually a posh paperclip from Paperchase.

Happy Birthday Anya when it does eventually arrive - the boys are already asking when is it time to go to the party!!

• Backing paper: From my Camper Van Diva swop partner
• Dies: Sizzix and Quickutz. Martha Stewart border punch
• Ribbon: From my stash
• Embellishments: Paperclip from paperchase, gems from my stash
  
  

Carol's Sketch 4 & Cute Card Thursday Lots of Sparkle

Combined two challenges into one for this as it sort of happened as I went along!

My Funky Hand DT team mate Carol's 4th fun sketch is:

And the Cute Card Thursday challenge is:

Challenge 29
This week the theme for the challenge is Lots of sparkle!
You can add bling, glitter, baubles, stickles, anything that makes your card sparkle!

Well, I'm still on a bit of a Christmas kick right now, so decided to go with that theme! And the baubles fitted right in! The baubles are made from a template I drew myself and they have been cut from some lovely silver thick card from the Scrap Store (I only picked up a few pieces and now I am kicking myself as they are fab!) which was then run through the Snowflakes Cuttlebug embossing die.

The baubles have been edged with 3d glitter paint, with ribbon around the top and for the loop and I've added fringe fibres and threaded beading for extra detail. Both the backing papers (left over from a challenge last week) are downloads from Mad About Cards, and they have been inked in blue before layering.

• Backing papers: Downloads from Mad About Cards
• Embossing: Cuttlebug snowflakes folder
• Ribbons & Fibres: From my stash
• Other Bits: All from my stash