Splashing In The Rain

This is such a cute image and the best thing is that it came pre-coloured!  So a nice and quick card to make!  I bought it as part of a crafters resource pack from CraftsUPrint - I got 5 different Sassy Cheryl pre-coloured images for only £3 which is a bargain!

I've used a Nestie to cut the image and also the two half circles either side plus used another Nestie for the scalloped edge layering.  All the papers are from Funky Hand - Rainbow Polkadots download and the ribbon (well, its actually upholstery trimming from the scrap store) is from my stash.

I've added some clouds and three tiny glass gems (which were left over from my cousin's Wedding last year!) plus a bit of stickles over the rain drops.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday:  Sketch Followed
Simon Says Stamp:  April Showers
Creative Card Crew:  Clouds
Tip Top Tuesday:  Boys and Girls Come Out To Play
Craft Your Passion:  Water
Digi Makeover Challenge:  Water


Image:  Crafters Resources from CraftsUPrint - Sassy Cheryl image
Papers:  Rainbow Polkadots download from Funky Hand
Dies:  Spellbinder Nestabilities
Ribbon:  Scrap Store
Everything else:  My stash 

Gardening and Knicker Elastic

And here I am with the second (very late) blogging of the new release digi stamp from Jellypark!  This one is called Woman Gardening and I've coloured it with Promarkers plus watercolour pencils for the sky - again for a softer finish.

The main background paper is from Dovecraft - Enchanted Fairytale 6x6 paper stack which I bought from Dunelm early in the New Year and it was half price!

The ribbon is from my stash and the brighter pink on the top is actually lacy knicker elastic - I picked up a few meters of it last time I went to the Scrap Store (and got some in mint green too!)

The chipboard butterflies I've had for some time and I've covered them with some pink paper and added some half pearls to the centre.  The dark blob to the centre of the earth on the image is a snail - I sort of overcoloured it that's why it looks a bit odd!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Totally Gorjuss:  Anything Goes with Lace (does lacy knicker elastic count?!)
Card Crafters Circle:  Springtime
Crafty Ribbons:  Anything Goes with Ribbon
Happy Campers:  Flowers and something Digital
Paper Crafting Journey:  For A Girl
Flutterby Wednesday's:  Anything Goes with Butterfly or Fairy

Image:  Jellypark, coloured with Promarkers and Watercolour pencils
Papers:  Dovecraft 6x6 Enchanted Fairytale 6x6 stack
Everything else:  My stash and the Scrap Store

Simply Create Too Challenge 25 Midway Extra - Colour Combo

The Simply Create Too challenge is at it's midway point so here is my inspiration for the colour combo theme of:

Yellow, Orange and Black

I'm not much of a Halloween person so I had to think of something a bit different and this ginger cat was perfect!  I've used a freebie image which was pre coloured (the best kind!) and sentiment from a recent Papercraft Inspirations magazine and cut the image with an X Cut fancy die then added a faux running stitch around the edge.

The papers are Cosmo Cricket Mr Campy - I do like these papers! And I've added black card for layering.  The ribbon is from the scrap store and I've added a recycled button and some embroidery thread.

There are 6 images to the sheet of A4 and I've simply printed them as they came, so I have some more to go at and I have a feeling I'll be using the same papers too!

Good luck with the challenge - for more details pop over to Simply Create Too!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Heck of a Challenge:  Shades of Autumn
Lia Stampz:  Autumn Colours
The Cupboard Trilogy:  Autumn
Fab n Funky:  Die Cuts / Punches
Inky Impressions:  Lots of Layers
Penny's Paper Crafty:  Birthday's
Southern Girls:  Animal Crackers

Image and Sentiment:  Papercraft Inspirations freebie
Papers:  Cosmo Cricket Mr Campy
Ribbon:  Scrap Store
Everything else:  My stash

More Wooden Love

To be honest, I've not got a clue what day it is! I'm off work this week as its half term for the boys and they are off school. I've also got Monday off so I have a day to recover as I've had enough all ready! Plus I don't get enough time on the pc to do what I need to do so I'm behind with blogging my cards!

This one is for Sketch 10 for Card Positioning 5th Anniversary Celebrations. I've actually done all the sketches, just not blogged them yet!


I've used a kraft card blank and scraps (and I do mean scraps!) of Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 papers plus another wooden heart from my stash (Matalan), some lace from the scrap store (it's actually underwear lace!) and a random red rose type flower I found in my stash.

Pretty quick to make once I'd decided what I was doing! Jacob had another karting session late afternoon and knocked another half a second off his fastest time! We usually film the boys when they are on track and I've been thinking about getting a You Tube account so I can share. Still at the thinking stage!!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Card Positioning Sketches: 5th Anniversary, Day 10
Crafting For All Seasons: Love Is In The Air
Friendship Garden: Love and Three Embellishments (lace, flower, wooden heart)
Sisterhood of Crafters: Valentine
Celebrate the Occasion: Valentine and Use A Heart
Clear It Out: Valentine and Use Pink or Red Scraps

• Wooden Heart: Matalan
• Papers: Cosmo Cricket - Circa 1934 paper pack
• Lace: Scrap Store
• Flower: My stash
  

Dude Time Doodles - Challenge 31 - Photo Inspiration

It's time for a Dude Time Doodles challenge and this week it's photo inspiration plus die cuts and punches. I've mainly used the photo as inspiration and just about managed to use a punch - a corner rounder! For more ideas and inspiration, head over to the challenge blog!

I've used Harold Hammock for my card and coloured him with Promarkers. The printed papers are from the Retro Stack 6x6 pad from DCWV and I found some brown corrugated card in my stash (I don't even remember buying this so must have had it for years!). I've had the paper pad for years and I keep forgetting to use it! Sentiment is computer generated and I've used some more of the fabric ribbon from the Scrap store.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Card Positioning Systems: 5th Anniversary, Day 14
Creative Card Crew: Masculine
Digital Tuesday: Use Your Stash
Use It Tuesday's: Birthday's
Stamps + Fun = Creativity: Birthday

• Image: Dude Time Doodles, coloured with Promarkers
• Papers: DCWV Retro 6x6 stack
• Ribbon: Scrap Store
• Sentiment: Computer Generated
• Everything else: My stash
  

Four Owls

Here is the first of the Jellypark releases for this fortnight! The digi is actually four owls but I've separated them and made four different cards! Each have been coloured with Aquamarkers and all the specific details to each card appears with it.

Glad to say the indigestion has now completely vanished! I was in agony again Thursday early evening, coupled with having to keep going to school to drop the boys off at a disco (infants and juniors had different times) plus it was cold and wet so I felt right sorry for myself! Had a rather hot bubble bath at around 9pm and volia! All the pains went! Although I think it was helped by half a bag of midget gems! So I had a great night sleep and feel fine now!

Right, onto the cards!Card 1 (above): Papers are from Boys and Girls collection (sorry, no longer available) from Funky Hand plus a bit of faux stitching and a silver heart charm taken from a rather naff bracelet from the poundshop. Ribbon is from my stash.

Challenges:
Card Positioning Systems: 5th Anniversary - Day 1
CRAFT: Valentine / Love
Cute Card Thursday: Pink Valentine

Card 2 (above): Paper is Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 kit (just can't stop using it!) along with a Nesties die and a brand new Marianne Creatables die that I've bought recently! I've added a heart recycled from a Christmas card and a Studio G acrylic stamped sentiment.

Challenges:
Card Positioning Systems: 5th Anniversary Day 7
CRAFT: Valentine / Love href="http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/2012/02/challenge-103-love-is-in-air.html">I Love Promarkers: Love Is In The Air
Forever Friends (Monthly): Valentine

Card 3 (above): I've used a sheet of rather posh Tom Smith Christmas paper for this card as I love the colours! Faux stitching around the edge and I've used some red ric rac ribbon underneath a strip of what can only be described as industrial ribbon! It came from the Scrap Store in a big roll and it does look like ribbon but more fabric like!

The very blingy heart is actually an earring! Jacob and I spent a good 10 minutes one morning on the way to nursery 3 years ago going through all the reduced jewellery in Asda - these should have been £2 for 2 pairs and were reduced to 50p so I got 4 of these hearts for just over 10p each! Jacob does love a bargain!

Challenges:
Card Positioning Systems: 5th Anniversary Day 6
Charisma Cardz: Things with Wings
I Love Promarkers: Love Is In The Air
Sisterhood of Crafters: Valentine
Shopping Our Stash: Hearts and Valentines

Card 4 (above): Again, Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 paper with a ruffle added across the centre and another strip of the industrial ribbon from the Scrap Store. I had to be inventive and used my Nesties as a template to draw around as the proper square shape was too big. So if it looks a little wonky, that's why!

Challenges:
Card Positioning Systems: 5th Anniversary Day 5
Charisma Cardz: Things with Wings

So there 'you have it'! And in case you've not noticed, I am determined to do all 15 Card Positioning System sketches for their 5th Anniversary celebrations. I've got 7 more to do with a further 2 yet to be revealed, so I better crack on with those 9!

Fetch A Sketch Challenge 8 Midway Extra

We are at the midway extra point at Fetch A Sketch! Here is a reminder of the sketch:

And our wonderful and generous sponsor is Tiddly Inks! Christy is offering the winner a $10 gift certificate to spend in her store where you will be spoilt for choice!

And here is how I've used the sketch this time! And of course it is Christmas! These are diddy cards, around 4ins square and the card blanks are actually card offcuts that I got from a recent visit to the Scrap Store - just perfect for making diddy cards!

I've used the Inky Critters set - you actually get all four images - and I've coloured them with Promarkers. I've layered each image onto a Nesties die shape, added three tiny puffy silver stars (dread to think how long I've had these!) and then added a fine line of glitter glue across the bottom - its there honest, you just can't see it terribly well in the photo!

Good luck with the challenge - you have until 12noon GMT on Sunday 16 October to enter - pop over to the challenge blog for more details!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

ABC Christmas: T is for Tiny and to make 4 mini cards or tags
Fab n Funky: Die Cuts and Punches
Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge: No Designer Paper
Try It On Tuesdays: Minimal

• Card blanks: Scrap Store
• Images: Tiddly Inks, coloured with Promarkers
• Everything else: My stash

More Decorations

At risk of seeming like I only use Christmas decorations as card embellishments, here is another card made with yes more Christmas tree decorations! This very glittery snowflake was bought from Tescos when the decorations were on a 3 for 2 offer! I've snipped off the prong (do snowflakes have these?!) which had the loop attached and then simply glued it to the backing papers.


The papers are from Mad About Cards and are part of a traditional Christmas download. I've inked the edges and layered the word panel onto some gold card. The ribbon is from the Scrap Store that I found in my stash. The layout follows the sketch from the ABC Christmas challenge and the theme is Clean and Simple.

• Backing papers: Mad About Cards download, traditional collection
• Embellishment: Christmas tree decoration from Tesco
• Ribbon: Scrap Store

Bubble Bath

This was a pretty quick card to put together once I'd re-discovered the card base! The card base is an off-cut from something that I got last time when I visited the Scrap Store. Its the perfect size to make a square card (I got two out of the length that I had plus some spare) and is a lovely pinky purple slightly embossed thick card. Its sort of like wall paper but a lot thicker.

So the challenge this is for is Bugaboo which is:

Embossing

The card is embossed plus I've added a panel that has been through the Swiss Dots folder - I glued it down before I realised the image would cover most of it - doh!! The image is Bugaboo which has been coloured with Promarkers and I've added some tiny flat back pearls from Bunny Zoe's Crafts for bubbles.

The ribbon is from my stash and as luck would have it, a perfect match! I've layered the image onto random bits of card also from my stash (the box level is slowly going down!)

• Image: Bugaboo, coloured with Promarkers
• Embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
• Half pearls: Bunny Zoe's Crafts
• Cardstock: Scrap Store
• Everything else: My stash
  

Some Red Laces

A cute little theme over on Bugaboo stamps for this week:

Flower Power

I got the Bugaboo digi image as part of the 50/50 Digital Stamping Group and I've coloured it with Promarkers and added some glitter glue to the little character's wings.

I've doodled a little around the edges of the backing paper (Dreams Come True from Funky Hand) and also around the edge of the image.

The plastic red lace is from the Scrap Store and I just knew it would come in handy one day! I also got some in orange and yellow. It looks great but ain't easy to tie!!

• Backing papers: Dreams Come True from Funky Hand
• Image: Bugaboo, coloured with Promarkers and a little glitter glue
• Red lace: From the Scrap Store
  
  

Polkadoodle Challenge Week 17 - Alter It!

It's Friday again so its another Polkadoodle challenge! This week it is my turn to host the challenge and I've picked the theme of:

Alter It!

I've used papers and topper from the brand new cd All Around and Everywhere which I've used to cover this plastic jar which I picked up on my last trip to the Scrap Store. I've inked and doodled around the edges of the paper.

It's a bit difficult to make a nice clean join so I've had to pretty it up with the tied ribbon! The topper is also from the cd and I've simply cut it out and layered it onto black card, punched holes in the side and tied it on with organza ribbon.

And here it is holding the windmills I made for last week's challenge!

To enter the challenge, please go to the challenge blog, link up your creation with Mr Linky and please remember you can enter it into upto 10 challenges including Polkadoodles. And the deadline is 12noon GMT on Sunday 9 May. Good luck!

• All paperbased items: All Around and Everywhere from Polkadoodles
• Jar: Scrap Store
• Black card and ribbon: My stash
  
  

I've Finally Used My Promarkers!

Can you believe it?! I've finally succumbed and open my only pack (so far - more are in the post!) of Promarkers - the flesh ones and I've used them!! Only been sat on the dining table for about 4 weeks - I kept looking at them and humming and arring - just don't know why its taken me so long as I'll be using them on EVERYTHING now!!

As I've only got the flesh tones - I've only coloured the flesh bits on this Penny Black image, the rest is watercolour pencils! I have the Manga additions 3 pack and Summer pack on it's way to me as I had some Amazon gift certificates that were begging me to spend them...... I have a very beady eye on the Polkadoodle shop for some more packs as they are at a very very good price......!!

Anyway, I'm really here to say that the card below is for the Penny Black Saturday challenge and this week it is:

Check It Out (Checks)

So, after colouring the image (those Promarkers were really easy peasy to use!) I've used some blue textured paper from my stash - I think this came from the scrap store a while ago - plus papers from Clare Curd Signature Range paper - the Big One.


Bit of inking here and there and some doodling and that's it! Not too sure about the ribbon, but it was a bloody good match for the paper and image colouring!

• Printed Papers: Clare Curd Signature Range - The Big One
• Plain Papers: My stash
• Image: Penny Black, coloured with watercolour pencils and Promarkers (flesh bits)
• Everything else: My stash
  

Warning! It's Very Yellow!

It's my last time as Guest Designer over on the Simple Doodles challenge and I've really enjoyed my time and the warmth and generosity of the team - so thank you!

The new challenge for the coming fortnight is:

Layers

I've used the very cute little duck freebie image, coloured him with felt tips and then layered him onto bright yellow card from the Scrap Store and an off cut of white from my stash.

I've used a Nesties die to do the cutting and a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the texture. The orange ribbon is also from the Scrap Store. A little bit of doodling around the edges and the card is complete!

Hope you are able to join in with the challenge - you can use any digi image you want although there are lots of freebies to be found on the Simple Doodles blog!

• Image: Freebie digital image from Simple Doodles, coloured with felt tips
• Dies: Nestabilities and Cuttlebug embossing folder
• Everything else: My stash
  

Polkadoodle Challenge Week 11 - Sketch & Theme

It's Friday again so time for another Polkadoodle Challenge! This week, Nikky has set the sketch along with a theme. The sketch is below:

And the theme is to use only the colours blue and brown. There are some wonderful Design Team samples, so pop over to the Challenge Blog to have a look and also to enter the challenge. Please remember that you can combine your Polkadoodle entry for 10 challenges but no more if you wish to be considered for a top three spot.

For my sample, I've used the new cd Paper Boutique along with the A6 sized car which I've just used the front elements and decoupaged them. The round sentiment backing is also part of the same collection and I've used my Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet to create the letters.

The 'ribbon' is actually upholstery off-cuts which I got from the scrap store! I've had to glue the edges to stop the fraying, but I think it looks pretty good as bloke ribbon!

The challenge is open until Sunday 28 March at 12noon GMT so hope you can join us!

• All paperbased elements: Paper Boutique cd from Polkadoodles
• Sentiment: Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet
• Ribbon: Scrap Store
  

Get Funky Challenge 7 - Love Crafting

Ah, can it really be February already?! Where did January go?! Well, to be honest its good news for crafters because it is a new Get Funky challenge!

Anice is setting the challenge for February and it is:

Love Crafting

So, interpret this how you want - make something you can be proud of or for that special someone! The only rule is that you use a Funky Hand product in your creation and that you link back to the challenge blog by 28 February to be in with a chance of winning a £20 voucher to spend on Funky Hand products!! Ah, that was 2 rules, but easy ones eh?!

You may have seen these flowers before if you saw the launch of Dreams Come True in January on Create and Craft / Ideal World! I made them as show samples for Anice to promote her brand new and very wonderful (don't take my word for it - buy it and try it!) cd Dreams Come True. It is like no other papercrafting cd and you can create your own word books, change the letters and the colour too! Plus fantastic colour collections and digi stamps that you can enlarge to A4 without any quality loss!

These flowers were really easy to make - I printed on both sides of the card (I used 160gm) and then drew one large circle two smaller ones the same size and then two more slightly smaller but the same size and then finally one even smaller - 6 circles in total.

I randomly cut snips out of the edges then cut about 1cm into the centre of the circle. I feathered the edges by rolling the card so that it looks more like petals.

The largest was for the centre of the flower then I layered the top and then added the other two underneath so they sort of look like chrysanthemums.

The flower stems are barbecue sticks from Tescos - I hunted high and low for these during the summer and then found them after the barbecue season had ended! Typical! I've added a wooden bead to the top of the stick and also underneath the flower to finish it off (plus no sharp ends in the centre of the flower!)

These really were easy to make but look so effective! And they never need watering, deadheading - just a bit of dusting or blowing with the hairdrier!

Good luck with the challenge for this month and the Design Team can't wait to see what you've created! You have until 28 February to enter!

• All paperbased items: Dreams Come True
• Sticks: Tesco barbecue sticks
• Beads: Scrap Store ages ago!
  

I Knew I'd Find a Use For It!

Whilst blog hopping I came across another Challenge site - this one is called Quixotic Challenges and the current challenge is:

To Use Lace

I've used a sheet of lace as the backing to this card. It is actually a lace / underwear fabric sample that I picked up on my last trip to the Scrap Store with Lynsey just before Christmas and I knew then that it would be perfect for cards!

The four discs have been printed from the brand new Polkadoodle cd Love, Marriage and More which is launched next Sunday on Create and Craft / Ideal World (more details are in my sidebar).

I've added some lovely red grosgrain ribbon from my stash and a red heart gem. Edges of the card have been inked and also the centre panel, which has a very small dotted line around the edges too.

• Backing papers: Love, Marriage and More from Polkadoodles
• Lace: Scrap Store
• Everything else: My stash
  

Saturday Afternoon Crafting

Some pictures taken yesterday afternoon at my Mum and Dad's. Jacob wanted to do some sewing so he used some of the stuff I found last time I went to the Scrap Store.

After being shown how to hold the needle and thread it through he picked it up really quickly and sat for half an hour making his creation!

I think next year he can make coasters for everyone at Christmas!

Happy Birthday Tara!

The Charisma Challenge this week is:

Any theme, any style!

So, I've made this little card, for a special little girl, who is having her third Birthday party today! The papers are taken from Funky Word Books - Positively Kiddies collection, but instead of making a word book, I've cut the letters out, run them through a Cuttlebug embossing folder and doodled the edges.



The words have had the same treatment but I've used my Sizzix round-a-bout alphabet dies.

The laces holding the 'pages' together are from the scrap store and matched quite well!

Happy Birthday Tara!

• Backing papers: Funky Word Books
• Dies: Cuttlebug embossing folder (square dots or something) and Sizzix round-a-bout alphabet set
• 'Laces': Scrap Store
  
  

Polkadoodle Challenge #4 - Sketch

It's Friday once again, and that can only mean that there is another challenge set over on the Polkadoodle challenge blog!

Thank you to all those who have entered the challenges so far - as part of the Design Team, I can tell you that we are all delighted to have so many people playing along! The standard of entries is also very high and its a difficult decision to pick our top three each week!

It's Week 4 and again its another sketch, but one with a twist! The sketch is below, but head over to the blog to see what the rules are!

The Design Team had to use Lulu the Ladybird stampies for our samples and on mine I've added 3. The base card stock is A4 white hammered card which has a backing sheet printed onto it and then I've shaped the card to fit the sketch. All edges have been inked in black and red ink along with the paper printed flowers - the top layer is vellum and for some reason does not take too well to being inked - it looks like I've been eating chips and left grease marks!

I've added a bit extra doodling on the sentiment backer and also on the little flowers. The centres of the larger flowers have been tied with some wonderful plastic laces that I found in SAMMS scrap store on my last visit and I was more than chuffed to find that the three colours matched the flowers perfectly!

All elements on this card (except the plastic laces) are featured on the Sugar Birdies cd which is due for release very soon.

Getting Organised!

This is a new Sketch Challenge blog for me - Inspirational Card Sketches, and the sketch is:

As soon as I saw it, I knew what I wanted to do! I always try my best to be as organised as possible because if I'm not, something always happens that takes that precious allocated time away and I either end up on the very last minute or late. And I don't like that. Anyway. Planning ahead. Samuel will complete his first year at school in the Reception class at the end of July and I want to make his 4 teachers a thank you card. And this is what I came up with:

The spotty backing paper is from Funky Daze, the pearlescent deep blue card (can't really tell its pearlescent on this photo) is from SAMS Scrap Store in Blackburn, the sentiment is a Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet set, the apple is my own template and I've chalked it for effect, and the 'mini Samuel' is all Sizzix.

Edges have been inked and either dotted or doodled. One down, 3 to go!

• Printed backing paper: Funky Daze
• Dark blue backing: From SAMS Scrap Store
• Dies: Sizzix for 'mini me' and Cuttlebug Baby Face alphabet
• Apple: My own template