Celebrate in a Big Way!

Eeek - almost ran out of time with this one!  But at least I am almost upto date with all my DT commitments plus all my Christmas orders are complete so its just my own stuff to do now but I've probably got enough Christmas cards as I've made them throughout the year.

Anyway, this digi image that I've used is From The Heart Digital Stamps monthly progressive challenge - you join in and then get the next month's image free!

I've coloured the image with Promarkers and then the background with watercolour pencils.  Layered it onto an offcut of red card, added the sentiment (comes with the image) and then added the gingham ribbon which is from Meiflower (a bargain at £2.49 (half price!) for a roll!) I've added glossy accents to the heart balloon - it just doesn't show up too well in the photo.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

From The Heart Digital Stamps:  Monthly Progressive Challenge
Sister Act Card Challenge:  Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday:  Anything Goes
Crafting For All Seasons:  Birthday's
Word Art Wednesday:  Anything Goes

Jellypark Stamp Spotlight - Girl Dressing Up

Every other week, between challenges the Jellypark Design team are spotlighting a particular stamp from the Jellypark store, and this week it is the turn of Girl Dressing Up.

I've coloured her with Promarkers  and used some papers from my stash - I had to use them cunningly as I didn't have anything big enough!  I've added a pink organza ribbon with Cadbury purple ribbon for extra girliness!

Liquid pearls have been dotted around the edge of the panels to soften the edges a little.  Hope you like the stamp - go and have a look in the store - all digi's are only £1.25 each!!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Card Positioning Systems:  Sketch followed
Crafts n Me Challenges:  Ribbons and a Bow
Crazy Amigo:  Anything Goes
Jackson's Digital Expressions:  Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly:  All Things Girlie

• Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
• Everything else:  My stash
• Purple Ribbon:  Meiflower

Simply Create Too Challenge 14 MIDWAY EXTRA - Wedding

It's time for the Midway Extra part to the current Simply Create Too challenge!  The theme is:

Weddings

And I'm sharing a card I was asked to make for a Pagan Wedding.  Two of the main colours were white and Cadbury Purple for which I had to buy (just had to!) some ribbon from Meiflower!



I researched some of the symbols and came across the one I've used which represents the Celtic knot which has no beginning or end - the circle of life.  I've used my X Cut fancy dies for all the layered shapes as I wanted something a bit more detailed than a square.

The card is from my stash but originally came from The Paper Mill shop and its a lovely white linen effect perfect for Wedding cards.  I printed the text and added a laced effect to the side of the card as many Pagan Weddings have a binding of the hands theme and also the gowns are brightly coloured and are laced bodices.  Half pearls from my stash.

Good luck with the challenge - there is still time to enter!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Crop Stop:  Pretty Pearls

Sarah Hurley Challenges:  New Beginnings

Southern Girls:  Die Cut or Punch

Cooking It Up With Katie:  Celebrate, Ribbon and Die Cut

Fab n Funky:  Celebrations

• Ribbon:  Meiflower
• Dies:  X Cut
• Everything else:  My stash

White Winter

I do like making cards without an image. For one its a lot quicker as I don't spend the time colouring and then trying to match papers (should do it the other way round but I never learn!) Plus I can then use what ever colour scheme I want.

I decided on the Jingle Belles sketch and as I'd just treated myself to some Marianne Creatables dies - the snowflake set- from Amazon (gift certificate) I thought I'd better use them.

For some reason I have a lot of vellum, but to be honest, you really can't have enough of the stuff as it really is great to work with and I should use it more! I used the half pearls (from Meiflower) to hide the glue splodges underneath the vellum.

And the ribbon I found in my stash and it was just what I was looking for! The snowflakes are layered and I've cut some glitter card too in between the vellum layers. I've also added a line of silver gel pen dots around the edge of the vellum to sort of finish it off as it looked a little bare.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Jingle Belles: Sketch followed
Craft Your Passion: Die Cuts or Punches
Lexi's Creations: Die Cuts or Punches
Stampin' Sisters In Christ: Something Transparent
The Stamp Man: Vellum

• Dies: Marianne Creatables
• Half Pearls: Meiflower
• Everything else: My stash
  

Pink, Pearls and Lace

I had originally made this card for the A Day For Daisies challenge but I forgot to blog it and therefore missed the challenge deadline! I've used A Day For Daisies image and coloured it with Promarkers plus added a tiny half pearl to the ribbon on the Mummy duck.

The backing paper is actually recycled wrapping paper from one of my Birthday presents - the paper was too pretty to throw away! The lace too is recycled and is from the scrap store - I just about had enough and the gap is hidden under the image. Ribbon and flowers are from my stash.

The pink pearl heart and the half pearls I bought from Meiflower and the sentiment is an acrylic stamp I got ages ago as a magazine freebie along with others. A bit of fine line black pen dotting around the edges and its complete!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Chocolate, Coffee, Cards: Pearls and Lace
Guylous Inimitability: Sketch followed
2 Sisters: Flowers
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle: Pastels
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge: Animals
Totally Papercrafts: Things with Wings
Recycle, Re-Purpose and Re-Invent: Anything Goes

• Image: A Day For Daisies, coloured with Promarkers
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
• Backing Paper: Recycled Birthday wrapping papers
• Ribbon and Lace: My stash
• Pearls: Meiflower
  

Jellypark Challenge 14 - Something In My Pocket

It's time for another Jellypark challenge! And I must say that this one had me stumped for a while but then when the light came on, I was well away! The theme is:

Something In My Pocket

I've made another gift card holder using papers from Carinia Gardner - Fresh Picked Paper collection (with a scrap bit of card inside to write the message) and I've used the Cupcake Ticket, coloured it with Promarkers, layered it onto some more scrap card and added ribbon through the top.

The ribbon is from Meiflower and I've just tied it in a simple bow across the front.

A little bit of corner rounding and some inking and its complete! Good luck with the challenge - hope you can join us!

I'll be back later with one of two new release stamps!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Do You Stack Up?: Pink - Picture Inspiration
Moving Along With The Times: Spots or Stripes
Gingersnap Creations: Ribbon
Paper Pretties: Sentiment as Focal Point
Simon Says Stamp: Spots or Stripes

• Image: Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers
  
• Papers: Carina Gardiner - Fresh Picked Paper Collection
• Ribbon: Meiflower
  
• Everything else: My stash
  

Pink Wedding Cake

Here is the second of three new releases from Jellypark! And its another Wedding themed digi stamp! This is a really quick Wedding Cake to colour which I've done with Promarkers, a little glitter glue and liquid pearls.

I've added liquid pearls around the edge of the card - the shapes were made by using a Spellbinder Nestabilitie die for a template and I've used some silver paper from my stash to layer the image on.

Backing papers are from Dovecraft 6x6 Tea House pad and for once I picked the papers before I coloured the image so it matched! Ribbon is from Meiflower and the silver heart buckle is from my stash.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge: Xtra Special Occasion
Bloggers Challenge: Celebrate Good Times
Card Crafters Circle: Anything Goes
Creative Inspiration Paints: Something New (New Life)
The Hybrid Chick: Metal
The Squirrel and the Fox: Something New (New Life)

• Image: Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers, glitter glue and liquid pearls
• Papers: Dovecraft Tea House 6x6 pad
• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities for shaped card bottom and template for image
  
• Ribbon: Meiflower
• Everything else: My stash
  

Jellypark Challenge 13 - Old Year / New Year

It's time for another Jellypark challenge and its a good one for the time of year too:

New Year / Old Year

So what ever your interpretation is then that will be good! For more details on the challenge please pop over to the Jellypark Friday challenge blog!

I've used the Bath Girl digital stamp and coloured her with Promarkers plus a little glitter glue for the bubbles. My Spellbinder Nestabilities have cut the shapes on the image and I've used my Sizzix Scallop tag combo die for the sentiments.


The card blank is from Papermania and I've run it though my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. The satin ribbon is from my stash and I've tied the tags with some waxed cotton cord from Meiflower. I've handwritten the sentiment with a pink gel pen.

Good luck with the challenge!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks: Something New
CRAFT Challenge: New Year
Cute Card Thursday: Happy New Year
Sassy Studios: Shaped Card

• Card blank: Papermania
• Image: Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and glitter glue
• Dies: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, Spellbinder Nestabilities, Sizzix Scallop Tag combo die
• Sentiment: Handwritten
  
• Waxed Cord: Meiflower
• Everything else: My stash
  

Crimbo Crackers Challenge 5 - Snowflakes

It's time for another Crimbo Crackers challenge! And its a nice and easy one this time:

Snowflakes

I've got a sponsor who is generously offering 4 digis of the winners choice as a prize - Sassy Studios Designs! To view the store, click on the banner below:
For my creation I've used Santas Helper and coloured her with Promarkers. You'll have to excuse the poor photo but its not been particularly bright nor sunny recently! I've used papers from my stash and the rather large snowflake is actually a Christmas tree decoration that I bought last year in the sales from Tesco - I've snipped the loop bit off! I buy these things, put them in a drawer and forget about them! This year I am determined (with the aid of Crimbo Crackers!) to use up what I have! The red ribbon is from Meiflower.

Good luck with the challenge! For more details and how to enter, please go to Crimbo Crackers!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Everybody Art: Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday's: Use Ribbon
Passion For Promarkers: Celebration
Shopping Our Stash: Soft as a Snowflake
Top Tip Tuesday: Anything Christmas (my tip is to buy Christmas decorations that are fairly flat and light to use on cards and remember to buy them in the sales - soooo much cheaper!)
Use It Tuesday's: Holiday Theme

• Image: Sassy Studios Design, coloured with Promarkers
• Snowflake: Tesco's
• Ribbon: Meiflower
• Everything else: My stash
  

Christmas Family

Whilst blog hopping (as you do!) I happened to notice that a DT mate was part of the new Dilly Beans DT and that there was a freebie on offer! Not one to pass this kind of opportunity, I snagged the freebie and its taken me this long to get the card finished!

Don't ask me why so long as it only took about an hour to make in total! I've coloured the image with Promarkers and glitter glue and layered it onto papers from Happy Happy Birthday from Funky Hand. A bit of faux stitching plus a snowflake with a Sizzix die and some red ribbon from Meiflower and the card is complete!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Dilly Beans: Snowfriends Family Giveaway
Squirrel and the Fox: Christmas
Craft Your Days Away: Snowmen
Crafty Hazelnut: Anything Goes Christmas
Little Claire's Designs: Family Christmas
4 Crafty Chicks: Christmas
Paper Play: Christmas

• Image: Dilly Beans limited freebie, coloured with Promarkers
• Papers: Funky Hand - Happy Happy Birthday cd
• Dies: Sizzix Snowflake
• Ribbon: Meiflower
  

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
  

Simply Create Too Challenge 2 - Embossing

It's time for a new challenge at Simply Create Too and the theme this fortnight is:

Embossing

I usually go for the dry embossing as I can never be bothered faffing around with the heat gun and powders (as I usually end up wearing the stuff for days!) but this time I decided to give it a whirl!

One of my cousins (hello Claire!) is getting married at the end of March and their Wedding invitations were sent out last week (beautiful they are!) and here is the RSVP that I will be sending and hopefully she will have received it before she sees it blogged!

I've gone with the theme of the invitation - very pale green and white but have embossed a freebie stamp that I've had for a fair while from a craft magazine and used the heat gun that Claire gave me! I think I possibly used the powders that she gave me too!

The organza green ribbon was far too wide for the little pearl buckle slider I got from Meiflower but I was determined to use it anyway so I twisted it up a bit and threaded it through the slider a few times to look how I initially wanted it. I've dotted around the edge of the card with a silver gel pen.

So watch out for more embossing from me in the future - it was actually really easy to do once I made sure I'd melted all the powder!

Now got to make another one, different of course, for my parents to send!

Good luck with the Simply Create Too challenge - for more details please visit the blog!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash: Whites option
Crafty Cardmakers: Heat Embossing
Stamps R Us: Emboss It
Victorine Stamps: Ribbon
Pink Gem Challenges: Monochromatic, Not Christmas and Sentiment
Krafting Kimmie: Heat or Dry Embossing
Less Is More: Green

• Stamp: A freebie from a magazine ages ago
• Papers: From my stash
• Ribbon: Anita's
• Pearl Buckle: Meiflower Crafts
  

Tiddly Gift Cards!

It's been a while since I entered a Tiddly Inks challenge - I do get withdrawal symptoms but I've had a lot going on lately (the boys have a much healthier social life than I have!) and have never quite managed it in time, BUT! I've made these especially for the current challenge which is:

Anything Goes

I sold quite a few of these cute gift card holders at the last craft fair and with another one coming up in a few weeks I thought I'd better replenish my stocks!

I've used the Inky Critters set, printed them as the four and then coloured with Promarkers. I've just realised that in my haste to take the photo in the daylight I've not added the glossy accents so that will be done now!


All the papers are from the new Funky Hand cd - Twelve Crafters Crafting and I've used my own template to make the actual holder. Ribbon comes from Meiflower.

I'd also like to enter the following challenges:

Christmas Inspirations: Bows
2 Sisters: Ribbon
Crazy 4 Challenges: Wrap It Up
Stamp, Scrap and Doodles: Wrap It Up

• Images: Inky Critters from Tiddly Inks, coloured with Promarkers


• Papers: Twelve Crafters Crafting from Funky Hand


• Ribbon: Meiflower


• Dies: Spellbinder Nestabilities
  

Black and White Christmas

I really do like this Tiddly Inks image although I think it is no longer available. I've cut it out with a Nesties and then layered it onto some printed card (Salt n Pepper download from Funky Hand). I've made the background by embossing the card blank - a lot easier to do when I realised I need to open out the card so I wasn't shoving double thickness through! Swiss dots for the smaller panel.

I've dotted silver 3d paint around the edge of the image plus added some to the layered snowflake which is a Sizzix die.

The large black ribbon is from my stash (probably Blackburn market) and the smaller checked is from MeiFlower which I thoroughly recommend - wonderful range, great prices and very fast shipping!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Willow Sketchie: Sketch followed plus Snowflake extra
Cupcake Craft: Black and White Christmas
Creative Inspirations Paint: Embossing
Dream Valley Challenges: Monochrome
4 Crafty Chicks: Monochromatic

• Image: Tiddly Inks
• Embossing: Cuttlebug snowflakes and swiss dots
• Dies: Sizzix snowflake, Spellbinder Nestabilities
  
• Ribbon: Black and white checked from Meiflower, wide black, my stash