Fetch A Sketch Challenge 38

It's time for a new Fetch A Sketch challenge!  And here is the sketch for this fortnight:

We are sponsored by My Creative Classroom who are offering a lucky winner a place in an online class!

We've also got a Guest Designer for the challenge too, but you'll have to pop over to Fetch A Sketch to see who it is!

I've kept my card quite simple and I've managed to use up another of the Christmas tree decorations that I seem to have collected (you can never have enough pretty sparkly things that are intended for Christmas decorations but would look even better on cards!), although I have a feeling that these were generously donated by Lynsey!

I've glittered the edge of my card base and then added an acetate panel that I'd embossed with a snowflake Cuttlebug folder after cutting it out with an X Cut fancy die.  Bit of a nightmare to get it to stick to the card blank but I was determined it was going to.  And it did!

I've added the peel off sentiment - I know!  But it was the best thing I had as stamping looked terrible and actually, I think the peel off doesn't look too bad!  Just have to think of how to use the other million that I have hehehe!  Anyway, the sentiment has been added to an offcut of vellum.

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following:

Eclectic Ellapu:  Celebration with Sparkle
The Crafty Pad:  Add Some Glitter
Allsorts:  Bring On The Bling
Unstampabelles:  Monochromatic
Less Is More:  Glitz and Glamour

Christmas Tree decoration:  Donated by Lynsey
Dies:  Cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder, X Cut fancy die
Everything else:  My stash

Simples (With Green)

I had a good day yesterday of creativity despite being interrupted every few seconds by the boys. Even the littlest room in the house was not sacred!

So here is one I made yesterday. Another Wedding Acceptance card (look away now Claire - my Mum's not got it yet let alone posted it to you!!) for my cousin who gets married at the end of March. Continuing with the green theme too although I don't think the Wedding is green themed just I like this ribbon and beads!

Anyway. Kept it rather simple and did not add a sentiment. Don't have an Acceptance stamp and couldn't be bothered firing up the pc to print one. Honest. But true!

I've used D'vine Swirls embossing folder, a Sizzix layered flower die that has partly been embossed with Swiss Dots and the scalloped edge are heart punches. I've used some green organza ribbon that I bought recently (can't remember where) and some oddments of green themed beads that were another donation from Lynsey (thank you - and yes, I sifted through all the bag for these!)

Oh and a bit of inking around the edges with a badly matching green inkpad. Oh well!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Random Acts of Creativity: Sketch followed
Cooking It Up With Katie: Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz: Anything Goes
City Crafter: Winter White

• Dies: Sizzix layered flower; Cuttlebug embossing folders - D'vine Swirls and Swiss Dots
• Ribbon: My stash
• Beads: Lynsey donation
• Punch: Heart
  

Pretty Boutique

Here is the first of two new releases from Jellypark for this fortnight! Isn't this a pretty digi stamp?! I've enlarged it so that it more or less fills the whole of the card (apologies for the terrible photo but its the best I could get - darn winter!)

It's been coloured with Aquamarkers plus a smidge of glitter glue and liquid pearls. I've layered it onto something that resembles Angel Hair which was a donation from Lynsey a while ago (thank you!) The tiny button brads are also a donation from Lynsey (thank you again!) and the embroidery thread is from my stash with the ribbon from Meiflower.

If you go to the Jellypark challenge blog you'll see the rest of the samples the Design Team have made with this stamp and virtually all of us have coloured the awning in the same colours! Weird!

The other new release I'll share over the weekend but if you can't wait - pop over to the Jellypark challenge blog!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Desert Island Crafters: Brads, Stripes, Rounded Corners
Really Reasonable Ribbon: Anything Goes with Ribbon
Sarah Hurley Challenges: Colouring
Scrapbook Sisters: Two Colours

• Image: Jellypark, coloured with Aquamarkers
• Angel Hair and Brads: Donation from Lynsey
• Embroidery Thread: My stash
• Ribbon: Meiflower
  

Jellypark Challenge 7 - Pink & Ribbon

It's Friday!! The weekend is nearly here and its time for another Jellypark challenge! The theme of the challenge for the next two weeks, in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness throughout October is:

Pink and Ribbon

I just could not resist using this cute freebie snowman that Claire drew (find him on the challenge blog) except that he is not a he but a she! I've used some angel hair type of paper that Lynsey gave me (thank you!) as I thought it made a wonderful frosty looking backdrop!


I've made the scalloped edges by punching lots of hearts and adding them just so that the round bit shows. Really easy to do but you just have to watch your spacing! Snowlady has been coloured with Promarkers plus I've added glitter glue around the edge of the image and also the card.

Brads hold the backing to the card blank (along with any seeped glitter glue!) and I found a decent length of pink ribbon to finish it off.

Good luck with the challenge - for more details on how to enter and to see the rest of the Design Team's take on the challenge, pop over to the challenge blog!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crazy Christmas Challenge: No Red or Green
Jingle Belles Rock: I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas (and cure)
Digi Stamps 4 Joy: Think Pink for Breast Cancer
Inky Impressions: Breast Cancer Awareness and Monochromatic
Touched By A Butterfly: First Link Up For Pink
Party Time Tuesdays: Breast Cancer Awareness
4 Crafty Chicks: Monochromatic

• Image: Jellypark freebie, coloured with Promarkers
• Pink Backing: From Lynsey
• Punches: Large heart
• Everything else: My stash

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 7 - Midway Extra

It's time for the Midway Extra and for some more inspiration at Fetch A Sketch! As a reminder, our current sponsor is Polkadoodles and a copy of A Double Sprinkle of Kraft cd is up for grabs.

As a reminder, here is our sketch:And here is my little extra! I've used papers from Pretty Sweet and distressed the edges of the backing with my scissors and added some black ink. I've made the bunting by snipping a square of four from one of the patterned sheets and hanging it over the embroidery thread line!

The embroidery thread is a recent find at the scrap store plus the other ribbon is from my stash along with the brads with the heart bead was a donation from Lynsey!

The challenge closing date is Sunday 2 October at 12noon GMT and don't forget you can use any of your stash, combine the challenge with as many others as you want and enter as many times as you wish! All we ask is that you follow the sketch and that it is recognisable. For more details please visit the challenge blog.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Gingerloft Challenge: Vintage or Distressed
One Stitch at a Time: Favourites (mine are embroidery thread, ribbon and beads)
Allsorts: Keep it Simple
CES Challenge: Recycle (embroidery thread from scrap store, heart bead from a friend)

• Papers: Pretty Sweet from Polkadoodles
• Embroidery thread: Scrap Store
• Bead: Lynsey
• Everything else: My stash
  

Craft Juice Tuesday - Week 80

Welcome to another Craft Juice Tuesday! The post today is all about reusing and recycling and what you can make from something you would have thrown away.

All these gift tags have been made by the very lovely Lynsey (Swirlyarts) and I bet we can all do with more gift tags in our lives!

For more information on each item please click on the photo.


See you next Tuesday for more Craft Juice Tuesday!

Pink, Sparkly and Dancing

You wouldn't believe me when I say that this card has taken me almost two weeks to make! I've made it for the Wags n Whiskers challenge which is:

Sparkly

I'd won some Wags n Whiskers images in a challenge recently and they are a dream to colour, so I decided to use this ballerina image, coloured her with Promarkers and cut her out. Then I got sidetracked with other things.


I then saw the Sweet Sketch Wednesday sketch and it fitted perfectly, so here it is - finished!

I've used some pink pearlescent paper that I've had for ages along with some angel hair from Lynsey (thank you!) I did try to cut it with my Nesties but it wouldn't for some reason, and then I've layered some pink handmade paper (found hiding with the pearlesecent paper!) onto the top. Then added the image on foam pads.

Glitter stickles have been added for extra sparkle plus some ribbon from Funky Hand (April Fool) and a large gem from my stash.

My card also fits the following challenges:

Rainbow Lady's Challenge: Song of Choice (Tiny Dancer by Elton John)
Clear It Out: Glitter
Glitter Fairies: Pretty In Pink

• Image: Wags n Whiskers, coloured with Promarkers
• Papers: From my stash, or donation
• Ribbon: Funky Hand
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
  
• Everything else: 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
  

Scraps and More Bling

Yep, another Christmas card and another of the Christmas decoration stars which were a donation from Lynsey! I've used up some of the offcuts I have from making my own card blanks and have cut them into squares, rounded the edges, inked them and then embossed them with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. I have a huge pile of these offcuts and keep thinking that I will have a marathon stamping session and get them all used up (plus use the stamps that rarely see the light of day!) but that's not yet happened!

I've strung seed beads, sequins and various silver and clear beads onto some craft wire and secured the corners with some silver brads. The wire has been doubled so when there is movement of the beads it doesn't look too bare.

This fits the following challenges:

Card Cupids: Monochromatic
Christmas Inspirations: Monochromatic
Jingle Belles Rock: Holiday Leftovers - Use Your Scraps
Crafty Pad: Lots of Texture
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge: Spots or Dots
Christmas Stampin': Metal
Winter Wonderland: No Red and Green

• Embellishment: Donation from Lynsey
• Everything else: My stash
  

Christmas Bling in Silver

Ah yes! Another Christmas card and another made with more of the Christmas tree decorations that was in the box given to me by Lynsey. My ever faithful helper (husband) snipped off the hanger loop at the top of the star as it didn't look right on the card.

I found some sort of silverish linen effect paper in my stash which I've cut up and dotted liquid pearls around the edge so that it fits the Sweet Sketch Wednesday sketch (below). I intentionally left the middle panel bare as the pearlescent paper I had just didn't quite sit right with everything else.

I've wound some thin silver craft wire around two brads and across the card three times, threading various beads and sequins from my stash onto it.

Glue was not dry when I took the photo hence it is lying flat as I didn't trust myself to take the picture quick enough!

The card also fits the following challenges:

Moving Along With The Times: Christmas in July
ABC Christmas: N for No Nonsense (no patterned papers)
Little Red Wagon: Christmas in July
The Paper Variety: Christmas in July
Celebrate The Occasion: Christmas in July (no red)
Shopping Our Stash: RAK
Tuesday Throwdown: Christmas in July

• Decoration: Donation from Lynsey
• Everything else: My stash
  

Christmas Bling

Apologies if you think you are going slightly crackers and that a post I published has disappeared. That's because I got my 6 and 9 the wrong way round and scheduled it for the wrong day. You'll get to see it properly on the right day. So you are not going crackers, but this is still a Christmas card and I am probably crackers!

Anyway! In the large bundle of 'stuff' that Lynsey dropped off a few weeks ago after a mega clear out of her craft room was some Christmas tree decorations. And I do like my Christmas tree decorations especially when I can use them on cards. And this one is no exception! There are a few more like this but in different colours so watch out for them!

It is really lovely and the photo does not do it justice (its chucking it down!) its a dull gold colour but it has what can only be described as faux dew drops on it and it is really tactile!

I've made the card to fit the Just Us Girls (or JUGS which tickles me every time!) current sketch and used Dovecraft Noel 4.5 x 6.5 paper stack (another bargain post New Year at the Range!) It is a left over bit of acetate behind the star which has been dotted with gold stickles.

The ribbon and buttons are all from my stash along with the elastic string (which I took from a gift I gave my Mum as it was part of the wrapping decoration - she comes to expect it!) As the ribbon is really chunky and not right for knotting, I went with a different finish. I HAD to add the brads as the dammed stuff would not stay stuck down and I didn't want glue marks.

Pretty chuffed with this card!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

UnstampaBelles Challenge: Celebration (no stamps allowed) - fab challenge too!!
Repeat Impressions #76: Christmas in July
Little Red Wagon: Christmas in July
My Mums Craft Shop: Stars and Stripes
The Paper Variety: Christmas in July
Tuesday Throwdown: Christmas in July

• Papers: Dovecraft Noel 4.5 x 6.5 stack
• Embellishment: Donation from Lynsey
• Everything else: My stash
  

Red, White and Blue (and Yellow!)

I think I got a little carried away with all the stars on this! The image is from Dustin Pike and is for the current challenge which is:

Red, White and Blue

I've coloured the image with Promarkers and used a very generous clear out donation from Lynsey for the thin mulberry type red and blue papers. The buttons are from my stash and I've added Divine Twine from the Ribbon Girl to the centres. The larger stars have been cut with a Cuttlebug die and the tiny ones are a punch, again from Lynsey.

I've added a faux running stitch around the edge of the card and the sentiment is computer generated and I've used some Safmat from Letraset which, despite looking daunting to use on the packet was really simple! I've followed the current sketch from Digi Doodles Shop's Best:

And if you've not already popped over to the Fetch A Sketch pre launch party - please do so but be quick as it ends on Sunday 26 June! Some candy on offer to two lucky commenters plus some extra prizes along the way! The Fetch A Sketch challenges launch on Monday 27 June at 9am!

This card also qualifies for the following challenges:

Off The Wall Craftiness: Red, White and Blue - Inspirational Photo (below)


Cooking It Up With Katie: Use a current sketch, for a Birthday and add Yellow
Stamp Something: July 4th Colour
Craft Us Crazy: Red, White and Blue
Paper Play: Stars and Stripes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge: Red, White and Blue

• Image: Dustin Pike, coloured with Promarkers
• Papers: Thin mulberry - donation from Lynsey
• Dies: Cuttlebug
• Divine Twine: The Ribbon Girl
• Everything else: My stash
  

Made With Love

There is an exciting announcement over on Dude Time Doodles - we have another artist join Bonibleaux Designs - the one and only Marlooney! If you've not had the pleasure of viewing her blog then I suggest you do so but not whilst consuming any liquid or food as it will end up splattered on your screen!

And in honour of the occasion, the Dudettes got to play with some of Marlene's images and I chose Fanny Fart.The title says it all really! I've coloured her in pinks cos she is still a lady despite the omissions plus a little glitter glue. I've made a voluptuous throne room doorhanger from papers by Funky Hand - Craft The Year Away and the shape is all my own doing! I drew round various rolls of tape to make the circles. The hole has been cut with a Nesties and I've recycled it as a tag and attached the sentiment 'Made With Love Especially For You'.

The ribbon and paper rose is from a recent generous donation from Lynsey (yep - its all tidied away!) I've added a faux running stitch around the edge of the door hanger and inked the edges.

If you want to read the whole interview and story, head over to Dude Time Doodles!

And if you've not already popped over to the Fetch A Sketch pre launch party - please do so but be quick as it ends on Sunday 26 June! Some candy on offer to two lucky commenter's plus some extra prizes along the way! The Fetch A Sketch challenges launch on Monday 27 June at 9am!

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

Happileigh Scrapping Challenge: Bright Colours
Creative Inspirations Paint: Bright Colours
Challenge Up Your Life: Circles
Just Some Lines: Spotty Dotty

• Image and Sentiment: Marlooney, coloured with Promarkers
• Backing paper: Craft The Year Away from Funky Hand
• Flower and Ribbon: Donation from Lynsey

Craft Juice Tuesday - Week 69

Welcome to another week of Craft Juice Tuesday! It's been a while since we've seen the cheeky chickens so here is a little installment!

All these items are made from upcycled or repurposed items and the fabrics are mainly vintage! Buy from SwirlyArts! For more information just click on the picture!

A cheeky chicken paper weight or pin cushion or just for decoration! This one is called Maureen!

Recycled old books turned into tags with a hand drawn and coloured image

And a close up of a cheeky chicken!

See you same time next week for more Craft Juice Tuesday!

Boy Blue

See! I can make something other than Christmas cards!! I've used the current Sketch Saturday sketch for the layout and the papers are from my box of bits and they are all from various Polkadoodle cd's.

The stamp is from Woodware - its a really old one as I can't find it listed and I've never used it before! It was a generous destash donation from Lynsey! I've coloured it with Promarkers plus glitter glue on the bubbles, glossy accents on the puddles and I've dotted liquid pearls around the edge for which I've used a Nesties die.


The layered flower, seed beads and ribbons are all from my stash! The cute little charm I bought from one of my local craft shops and it says 'made with love' which I think is just perfect for baby cards!


The card also fits the following challenges:

Crafty Pad: 3 papers, 2 ribbons and 1 flower
Cheerful Stamp Pad: Special Reason
Tip Top Tuesday: Wrap It Up With Ribbon
Shopping Our Stash: Oldies but Goodies

• Stamp: Woodware, coloured with Promarkers
• Papers: Polkadoodles
• Everything else: My stash

Polkadoodle Challenge 8 - StashBox Stamps & Extras

It's Friday again and time for another Polkadoodle challenge! This week Enfys has set the challenge which will be a regular monthly feature called Stashbox Stamps!

Basically, it means that the Design Team get to raid their non Polkadoodle stamps and to use them with Polkadoodle papers and elements so you can see just how versitile Nikky's CD's are!
As the Design Team are using their stashbox stamps, the challenge is to use:

2 different ribbons and a charm

You can make the charm if you want - just as long as there is a charm on your creation along with two different ribbons! I've used a Penny Black stamped image that I've had in my stash for ages and it was fancily cut around the edge just as you see so I've kept it and not trimmed it down. I've coloured it with Aquamarkers, layered it onto some black card from my stash, added tiny black half pearls to the corners and layered it all onto a paper from Sundae of Seasons.


The ribbons are from the Scrap Store and I've made the charm using two fancy beads donated to me by Lynsey a while ago! And the colour was a perfect match to the papers.

Good luck with the challenge - please pop over to the Challenge blog to see the rest of the Design Team creations and to view our rules. The challenge is open until Sunday 6 March at 12noon GMT.

• Backing paper: Sundae of Seasons
• Image: Penny Black, coloured with Aquamarkers
• Ribbons: Scrap Store
• Beads: Lynsey
  

Small, Cute and Bright Thanks!

Be warned as this is a bright post! I've decided that I really do need to use up all the bits of printed card that I have in the large shoe box instead of printing more, so when I saw the current Cupcake challenge which is:

Thank You

And after remembering that I had several sheets of this hot pink fuchsia card in my stash and some small envelopes perfect for making some Thank You cards, I got to work and made these:

Each card is 90cm square, so quite dinky (I'm using envelopes from a budget range of 10 Christmas cards from Asda at 10p a pack - no, I'm not kidding (the cards were naff, but envelopes good!) and that is before they are reduced!) I've used paper from Funky Daze (sale on at the moment plus the cd is permanently reduced!) which was left over from a previous project and fitted in well with the hot pink colour scheme!

All the buttons were donations from Lynsey (thank you!) and I've glued them on after tying string through and making a bow. I've glued the centre of the bows too.

I've used a Nestabilities die to cut the shapes and the sentiment (wonky in places but adds to the effect!) has been stamped with a little wooden Studio G alphabet stamp. A little bit of inking around the edge of the die cut shapes and the cards are complete!

I need to make some thank you cards from the boys as they got a lot of presents for Christmas, however I'd have to change the colour theme as I don't think they'd be too impressed sending these!

• Backing papers: Funky Daze from Funky Hand
• Dies: Nestabilities
• Sentiment: Studio G alphabet stamp
• Buttons: Lynsey
• Everything else: My stash
  

Birthday Owl

I made the top three last week on Sweet Sketch Wednesday! Thank you! And as I like the sketches, here is my entry for this week's Sweet Sketch Wednesday!


I've used papers from Polkadoodle's Paper Boutique Vol 1 along with the cute layered lady owl image. I've used my second set of Nesties (I treated myself a while ago!) to create the aperture through which the owl sits.

The sentiment is computer generated and the ribbon is some lovely velvet chocolate brown fabric edging that was given to my by Lynsey!

Had a pretty busy weekend just gone hence the lack of posts, more about that tomorrow though!!

• All paperbased elements: Paper Boutique Vol 1 from Polkadoodles
• Sentiment: Computer generated
• Dies: Nesties
• Ribbon: From Lynsey
  

Bright Thirty

A non Christmas challenge this week on Moving Along With The Times, which asks for:

Nice and Bright

I've made this word book card as part of an order for a friend. All the papers are from Funky Hand - Retro Fun download and I've created the letters in word art, cutting them out and then layering onto the pages.

The word 'thirty' has been cut using my Sizzix Round-a-Bout alphabet die and then layering the letters onto black card so they stand out.

All embellishments are from my stash with exception to the big blue beads as those were part of a generous donation from Lynsey (thank you!) I've used ribbons, seed beads, hat pin and brads and all colour co-ordinated!

This non Christmas card lark won't continue as I've spent a few hours this afternoon colouring winter images...... Needs must as I have two Craft Fairs coming up - one on Saturday 20 November at Crossley Heath School in Halifax and then one on 5 December in aid of the NSPCC. So I need to make sure I have enough stock. And if I have any Christmas cards left over, then its a good start on next year!

PS Thirty is spelt right - the last 't' is hidden!

• All papers: Retro Fun download from Funky Hand
• Everything else: My stash
  

Get Funky Challenge 11 - Something New

It's the first of the month so it's time for a new Get Funky Challenge! This month I am hosting the challenge and I have set the Funky Hand Design Team to make:

Something New

This could be for a new baby, new house, new job -anything as long its is for something new!

The rules are really simple - follow the challenge brief, use at least one Funky Hand product in your creation and enter via the Challenge Blog by 31 July! There is a £20 voucher to spend on Funky Hand products for the challenge winner plus blinkies for runner ups!

I've made a First Year Baby Album which matches the card I made for the June Challenge as it was for the same new baby, both commissioned by Lyndsey! All the papers are from the very first Funky Hand cd - The Funky One. The image is from Lost In Paper Scraps which I've coloured with watercolour pencils.











All wording has been computer generated and I've used embellishments and ribbons from my stash. There is page for each month including a family page and also First Birthday. The white 'patches' are memos of where to add the photos and I've used my only set of Spellbinder Nesabilities to do all the die cutting.

Once I'd got going on making the album it came together quite quickly. And I think I may have to make another fairly soon....!

• All papers: The Funky One from Funky Hand
• Image: Lost In Paper Scraps, coloured with watercolour pencils
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Card Candy: Craftwork Cards
• Everything else: My stash
• Wording: Computer generated