Daring Card Makers Challenge - A Sporting Chance

It's time for a new Daring Card Makers challenge and the theme is

Sporting Chance

I've made a star shaped card from a sheet of A4 kraft card and then used the reverse of a graze box for the grass, X cut stars from the offcuts from making the card base and then made a football from embossing a piece of card  with a Sizzix folder and colouring it

Everything else is from a recycled Birthday card!  Good luck with the challenge!  I'd like to enter the following:

Moving Along With The Times:  Male
Seize The Birthday:  Birthday
Crafting By Designs:  Anything Goes
Pause, Dream, Enjoy:  Anything Goes

Little Footballer

I'm quite enjoying the new A5 X Cut honeycomb embossing folder I treated myself to.  I've used a scrap piece of card for the background and then layered it onto some black card from my stash.

The topper is from Lili of the Valley - it's one of the small squares so I've layered it onto some more black card and then added grass, using a Marianne Creatables die (it's actually icicles but upside down and in green it looks like grass!)

The sentiment is a retired Lili of the Valley rubber stamp and the number is a Cuttlebug die, layered onto an ebay die and another Cuttlebug die to get the right sized layers.

I'd like to enter the following:

Freshly Made Sketches:  Sketch followed
Crafter's Cafe:  No Red or Pink
Cute Card Thursday:  No Patterned Papers
Cardz 4 Guys:  No Patterned Papers
Crafty Cardmakers:  Add Some Texture

Daring Cardmakers Guest Designer - Geometric Patterns

I'm on the third week of a four week stint for being the Guest Designer at Daring Card Makers and this week the challenge is:

Geometric Patterns

I've used an X Cut honeycomb embossing folder, cutting out some of the pattern to create a football.  Actual football created by cutting a circle (X Cut die) and then adding the previous bits I cut out.

Grass has been hand cut and layered with waxed cord from my stash.  Hope you can join in the challenge - pop over to the blog for more inspiration!

I'd like to enter the following:

A Bit More Time To Craft:  Anything Goes
A Perfect Time To Craft:  Anything Goes
Crafts Galore Encore:  Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday:  No Patterned Paper

Polkadoodle Challenge - Anything Goes or Something Beginning with F

It's time for a new Polkadoodle challenge and the theme is:

Anything Goes or Something Beginning with F

I've gone for this Footballer digi and he's been coloured with Promarkers along with the ball.  I found some printed green papers in my stash so turned them into football pitches with a black fine liner pen.  The sentiment stamp is one I found in my stash.

Good luck with the challenge - pop over to the blog for much more inspiration from the Design Team!

I'd like to enter the following:

Colour Crazy Challenge:  Anything Goes
Simply Papercraft:  Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks:  Fussy Cutting
Craft Rocket Challenge:  Anything Goes

Polkadoodle Challenge - Winter Birthday

We've got a new Polkadoodle challenge starting today and lasting for two weeks and the theme is:

Winter Birthday

So think of those blues and whites, frosty colours!  I've made a Birthday card which is perfect for an avid Blackburn Rovers fan who has just turned 10!  Papers and pre coloured digi image taken from Work and Play Vol 6.  I resized the papers to print A5 size and used my own number templates.  I printed the pre-coloured image to save time and then fussy cut him out and added with foam pads for depth.

The black dew drops are also from Polkadoodles and they just finish the card off!  Good luck with the challenge - for more inspiration and details on how to enter, please visit the challenge blog.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Craft for the Craic:  January Blues
Simply Papercraft:  Anything Goes
Craft Rocket:  Happy Anything
Time Out Challenges:  Birthday

Polkadoodles Challenge Week 13 - Use A Die

Time for a new Polkadoodles challenge!  The theme for the fortnight is:

Use A Die

This was a special Birthday card for a Manchester City mad lady I made for a work colleague - I used the Work and Play Footballer Girl digi stamp and coloured her up with Promarkers.  The digi is great to use as you can resize as big as you like!  For extra strength, I added stiff card once I coloured the image to the reverse.

I've got lots of offcut strips of card from making square card blanks so I've used up some of the remnant's for the card base.  The die used is the grass Sizzix die and I hand wrote the Birthday flag.  Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Simply Papercraft:  Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments:  Anything Goes plus Sentiment
Seize The Birthday:  Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty:  Boys and Girls Come Out To Play

Dunderton Academicals

Ah, those were the days when a football was a football and not some plastic gimmick. Mind you, if the ball got you in the wrong place it was game over....

Some of the old boys still play although the crowds these days are not what they used to be due to the new fangled technology which pipes the match right into the parlour.

For those who need a quick card in a hurry - this image is pre coloured and can be bought HERE from Dr Digi.

The sports background is from CraftsUPrint and I've made the rosette myself!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Cards In Envy: Manly
Make My Monday: Create A Scene
The Squirrel and The Fox: It's Raining Men
Digi Haven: Vintage or Old

Goalie Jacob!

For something a little different, I thought I'd share some recent photos of Jacob as the goalie for the Under 7's Junior Gardeners White team. The first set of photos were taken at the end of June during a tournament hosted by Flixton Juniors AFC.

Out of the 6 matches they played, they drew 3, won 1 and lost 2 and Jacob only let in 3 goals and kept a clean sheet for 4 matches!

He did actually save this goal although you can't see the ball - just out of shot as he'd pushed it out!

And here is the full team (minus one who had gone home!) with their trophies for taking part:

And this Saturday the team played three friendly matches against local teams - they won 2 and lost 1 and Jacob got kicked a few times which he was not happy about - he gets his angry face on and then puts off the scorer! Jacob actually assisted at least 2 goals as he can kick the ball quite a way down the pitch for either Issac or Jack to kick it into the net.

The team move up to the Under 8's in September when the season restarts and I think that they will be a force to be reckoned with - this season was their first playing as a team and they have really settled in and play as a true team. And I thought Jacob would never make a goalie!

Football, Medals, Karting, Trophies and Paramedics!

Weekends are always busy in our household and the last one was no exception!  Jacob played in a rescheduled football tournament that was postponed at the end of March when we had a lot of snow.  He plays for Junior Gardener Whites Under 7 team and he is the goalie. 

He started the season in defense but wanted a go at being a goalie and despite a rocky start he's really flourished and does quite a decent job!  They played 6 matches and won 2, lost 2 and drew 2.  Jacob actually kept a clean sheet in one of the matches and saved all the goal attempts!

Here he is post match with his medal for taking part! 

Now onto Sunday!  Samuel was testing a new engine all day Saturday but it was not for working so we were lent an engine so he could take part in the first IKR (Independent Kart Racing) Championship at the 3 Sisters race track in Wigan.  He qualified 9th (11 racers in total but 3 different engine categories) and then moved up to 7th place after heat one.

From where we stand as spectators, we can't see the start / finish line so we didn't know what had quite happened at the start of heat 2 until the red flags (race stopped) were waved and Samuel didn't reappear.  The short video below is onboard footage from the grid start and the tangle Samuel got caught up in (watch kart 6)

All this happens at around 50mph and Samuel usually manages to avoid spins and crashes that happen in front of him but this time he didn't as kart number 6 spun into the side of him and took him clean out.  Normally the driver gets out of their kart and stands in a safe spot by the tyre wall.  But Samuel was not anticipating the contact and was rather winded by the crash (plus his sidepod was punctured by kart 6 - it looks like a bullet hole!) so the paramedics who are on standby drove onto the track (lights flashing!)in the ambulance and took Samuel off to be treated.

He was totally fine - more winded than anything but at least his rib protector worked!  We had to get him declared fit to race for the final by the paramedics (who were fantastic!) Because he didn't finish heat 2 he started 9th on the grid but by this time it was raining quite hard and Samuel is rather good in the wet! It was an 8 lap race due to the rain and he managed to finish 5th overall and 2nd in the Honda Class! So he got a trophy!!

So here he is with trophy number 15 in just 16 months of karting at Cadet level!

And in case you are wondering, he is wearing a wetsuit over his normal race suit - but at least we can spot him on track with the bright yellow markings!

So it all ended well and he was fine for school on Monday!

Simply Create Too Challenge 22 - Anything Goes!

It's time for another Simply Create Too Challenge and the theme this fortnight is a nice and easy one:

Anything Goes

I made this card for Jacob's birthday last week and despite knowing the date, I still was finishing it off the night before!  The footballer image, football and sentiment have been coloured with Promarkers and are by Gordon Fraser.  I've used various papers from Funky Hand plus some doodling around the edges and inking.

I drew the football pitch (that's why it looks a little wonky!) and added a silver die cut number 7 to the front.  Jacob actually plays in a team - Junior Gardeners and their kit is thick horizontal black and white stripes but I thought red was a bit more brigher for his card!  The team have their first match on Saturday so I'm hoping its not raining!

Good luck with the challenge and for more details and inspiration, pop over to Simply Create Too!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crafting for all Seasons:  For A Child
Diva's By Design:  For A Child
Creative Craft Challenges:  All About The Boy
Sweet Stamps:  For The Guys
Cards For Men:  Going Digital
Created With Love Challenge:  Birthday
Hooked on Crafts:  Cards For Men
Quirky Crafts:  Numbers

Image and Sentiment:  Gordon Fraser, coloured with Promarkers
Papers:  Various Funky Hand
Die Cuts:  From my stash

Polkadoodle Challenge 44 - Shaped Card

It's time for another Polkadoodle challenge and the theme this week is:

Shaped Card

I've used the brand new cd Pretty Tuff which is available for pre order right now! All the footballs are on the cd - I've simply enlarged them and then cut them out. The footballer has been coloured with Promarkers and he's been added with foam pads for extra depth.

A really quick and easy card to make! Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

CRAFT: Activities
Sarah Hurley Challenges: Use More Than 2 Images (3 footballs and footballer!)
Little Darlings: Not Square
Top Tip Tuesday: Make Your Own Backgrounds (enlarged digital image)
Try It On Tuesday's: Unusual Shaped Card

• All elements: Pretty Tuff, coloured with Promarkers

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 8

It's time for another Fetch A Sketch challenge and we are upto number 8 already! We have a very fab sponsor this fortnight and I was so pleased when Christy agreed to sponsor us! It's the one and only Tiddly Inks! And the very generous prize is a $10 gift certificate to spend at Tiddly Inks!

The sketch we are asking you to work with this fortnight has been magic'd up by Jenny and yes, we like our simple and sweet sketches!


We've both used Tiddly Ink images for our creations (I already have quite a collection as I think they are great!) I've gone for Soccer King and coloured him with Promarkers. All the papers are from Funky Hand - Craft The Year Away cd and I've used a Sizzix die to cut the grass shapes.


The big red felt star was sent to me by Jenny (thank you!) and the two gold star brads are from my stash. A bit of faux stitching and some inking here and there and the card is complete!

Good luck with the challenge - its open until Sunday 16 October and as long as we can see the sketch elements we are happy! Enter as many times as you want, combine it with as many other challenges as you can and use what ever stash you have!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

One Stop Craft: Just For Men
Shelly's Images: Tic-Tac-Toe (Gold/Silver, Digi and Free)
Ruby's Rainbow: For The Boys

• Image: Tiddly Inks, coloured with Promarkers
• Papers: Funky Hand - Craft The Year Away cd
• Dies: Sizzix
• Everything else: My stash
  

Dude Time Doodles Challenge 20 - Photo Inspiration & Sporty

It's the third Wednesday of the month (where does the time go??!) and so its the colour theme challenge for Dude Time Doodles! This week we also want to see you make it not only for a dude (young or old!) but also to have a sporty theme. All the rules and how to enter can be found on the challenge blog.

I've used Rocco Soccer as my image and his ball ('scuse the pun!) which was a freebie offered last month and now is available to buy in the store - snooze and you loose! He's been coloured with Promarkers and in the new season Manchester United football strip as I've been asked to make a 50th Birthday card for a bloke called Trev who is mad about Man Utd!

Rocco boings around on a spring although his football is well and truly attached to the card. Football pitch is from Funky Hand - Craft The Year Away cd and I've enlarged it to fit on an A5 sized card, and also printed it with one of the papers from the same cd. I've added a slightly darker line with a Promarker around the edge, printed the sentiment using the word elements, also from the same cd and the star button (I snipped the shank off) is from my stash.

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Cards For Men: Anything Goes
Sparkles Forum Challenges: One For The Boys
If The Shoe Fits: Green

• Image: Dude Time Doodles, coloured with Promarkers
• All Other Printed elements: Craft The Year Away cd from Funky Hand
• Star: My stash
  

Kick Off!

Jacob is Mr Popular at the moment at school judging by the number of parties he's been invited to! The latest one is not for a few weeks but its a football party, and I found the perfect image when going through my box of pre printed images. I've coloured to match Blackburn Rovers colours (well sort of although it looks suspiciously like Manchester City!) and I've used Promarkers.

The current Tiddly Inks challenge is:

Summer Movie

So this one will be Bend It Like Beckham. The gingham paper is from Craft The Year Away from Funky Hand and the solid blue is some pearlescent paper (donation from Lynsey!)


I've added a faux stitched line around the image and card. The small football embellishment was a button but I snipped the back off. The bottle cap was sent to me by Jenny. The two footballs at the side of the image are Sizzix die cuts as I remembered I had a sports die lurking at the box of my dies!

The divine twine is from The Ribbon Girl and I've printed the sentiment onto Safmat before layering up. And I've used another wonderful sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday for inspiration!

I'd also like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin' Challenge: One For The Boys
I Love Promarkers: Recipe - 1 ribbon, 2 papers, 2 buttons/gem/brads
Passion For Promarkers: Gingham
Crafters Companion: One For The Boys

• Gingham Paper: Craft The Year Away from Funky Hand
• Pearlescent Paper: Donation from Lynsey
• Image: Tiddly Inks, coloured with Promarkers
• Divine Twine: The Ribbon Girl
• Sentiment: Computer generated and printed onto Safmat
• Everything else: My stash
  

Wobbly Football

I've made this card for the current Dustin Pike's challenge which is:

It's A Party - Birthday Cards

So here is one with an image that I've had lying around for ages which has just been begging to be coloured! So it has, with Promarkers and I've added the die cut football via a strip of acetate so it boings over the real one underneath. I had to use some blu-tac during the photo as the camera kept focusing on the boinging football!

I've stamped the sentiment and layered it and the image with black and turquoise card from my stash. The blue stripy one is from my box of bits and I think its from Kirsty Wiseman - Patti Picklicious cd. I've doodled a faux stitched line around the edges of the card and then added the card candy. It actually took me the best part of an hour to decide where to put everything on this card. Don't know why - it just did!

• Image: Dustin Pike, coloured with Promarkers
• Backing paper: Kirsty Wiseman, Patti Picklicious cd
• Sentiment: Stamped from my stash
• Everything else: My stash
  

Newcastle United

No, Penny Black has not released a stamp that is unique to Newcastle United! I've adapted it slightly to the team colours, just in case you were wondering! I've coloured it with Promarkers and for the sky I've used a watercolour pencil. Its for the Passion for Promarkers challenge, which is:

One For The Boys

The sentiment is computer generated and its all layered onto some really lovely black card that is sort of rubbery to touch! When cleaning under Samuel's bed (I've had a run for cleaning this week!) I found a big stash of very large sheets of card that I'd forgotten I had, so I've dug some out to cut up for card blanks otherwise it will stop under there for ages again!

I think this is one of the simplest cards I've made for a while - but then again, blokes don't go for the ribbon and bling thing so this is probably enough!

• Image: Penny Black, coloured with Promarkers
• Sentiment: Computer generated
• Everything else: My stash
  

Football Match!

On Saturday me and the boys attended our first ever football match! Jacob has an hour once a week football coaching at nursery provided by Preston North End football club and we were lucky enough to be given tickets for their pre season friendly on Saturday against Everton.

Could not resist this photo!

It looks like the ground was nearly empty, but it was just this stand that was! We sat in the family area and only a few rows from the front too so we had a really good view.

Number 8 Everton player was Jacob's favourite because he had orange hair.... Everton played in blue and in the second half Samuel asked if it was France playing.....

It was a good close first half, but it seems that PNE had gone home in the second as they let 3 goals in - PNE 0, Everton 3.

Jacob was fascinated by the game and I found myself trying to explain substitutes and why one went off injured and what the players did at half time (toilet, sit down and an orange).

Jacob was also quite taken with the mascot and he wanted his photo taken with him, but at full time he was no-where to be seen!

The Football Fan

A really quick one from me now as I know this is my third post of the day! Whilst blog hopping last night (a fatal past-time!) I spotted that Pollycraft had a little challenge:

Flash Those Freebies!

Basically to make a card using one of their freebies. Last week was this football fan and as me and the little boys are off somewhere special (and I've never actually been to one before apart from an empty one!) then this was quite apt! More of what it will be will revealed next week!!


I've coloured the image with Promarkers (I was multi tasking and watching a Dirty Harry film at the same time!) He's attached to the football (made by me with shading by the Promarkers and black card layered) with a strip of acetate so he boings around very happily!

Sentiment is computer generated and I've doodled around the edges and added some brads.

I'm so looking forward to 'the surprise' next week, and no doubt the boys would. If they knew hehehe!

• Image: Pollycraft freebie coloured with Promarkers
  
• Football: Made by me with Promarkers, white card and black card
  
• Sentiment: Computer generated
  
• Everything else: My stash
  

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
  

Football

I'm falling into a good system for colouring images before I actually need them - take a selection of them to my Mum and Dads as I usually visit them with the boys on a Saturday, so whilst they play, I colour!

The theme at Charisma Cardz this week is:

Getting Sporty

I went with the typical male theme! All the backing papers are from the Papermania 6 x 6 pad 'For Him' which I've inked the edges with chestnut Whispers ink.

The image is from Crafty Downloads and I've coloured it with watercolour pencils. It's been layered onto pearlescent blue card and then layered onto the card itself. I've not added a sentiment, purely because I've forgotten to!

• Backing paper: Papermania 'For Him' 6 x 6 pad
• Image: Crafty Downloads coloured with watercolour pencils