The quickest card ever!

I wanted to do the challenge on Dottie's World this week - get well wishes - but time ran out. So this is the easiest, quickest card on record - a download of Dottie at work, ready coloured picture of nurse and words added - and still in time for the deadline of the challenge (I sort of promise that I'll spend more time on the next challenge!):



Dottie's downloads are terrific - if you haven't seen them yet, why not follow the link and try some for yourself - but be warned: you'll want more!

Sunday Stamper 41 + Mixed Media Monday

Following on from the last post, I used the same background and stamp for this card for Sunday Stamper and Mixed Media Monday (links as below) - both of which challenged to make something using favourite things - in this case, using alcohol inks. I used some stickles on the trees:



As is often the case, I'm not happy with the scan (and a photo looked worse) - the sky doesn't look as good as it does irl (looks somehow softer and more blended).

Sunday Postcard art

I found Sunday Postcard art today and thought I'd combine this with some stamping challenges - I ended up making one postcard and one square card, using the same background and stamp - which I'll submit for Sunday Stamper and Mixed Media Monday.

I used alcohol inks for the sky background. a mixture of denim, silver, slate and red pepper. And, of course, I've used the trees stamp again that I used earlier today, seen in a post below.

Becuase the trees were stamped on to shiny card I must have moved the stamp slightly and it became a bit blurred, but I thought that it gives a more shadowy look which might even suggest a hint of frost or snow, so I decided to keep it as it is.

Joanna Sheen January challenge: stamped background + Lots to do 1: Time

The January challenge on Joanna Sheen is to use a stamped background on a card and the new challenge on Lots to do (kindly taken over now by Hilda) is 1: Time.

I've used a couple of Debbi Moore text stamps randomly to make the background and the two images are from Miniatures 'People & Places' from craftyindividuals.



The background card is from pda.

I thought this card could be used for someone going away, either on holiday or for another reason, adding a 'bon voyage' on the insert if appropriate.

Four challenges in one!

There are so many lovely challenge blogs out there now - so much to inspire us and get the creative juices flowing - thank goodness, because today I don't really feel like doing much at all (my back is feeling as if I've ridden a horse for hours and hours and got off it and can't move - not that I've ever ridden a horse in my life!!).

Anyway, to get back to the reason for this post. I was very taken with the background provided on Art Creations Friday (found this lovely challenge site via a link from somebody else - as you do!). The brief is: 'Every friday we post a new challenge, a picture or a background. You must use that picture or background and make a atc or card, or something els you like.'

A few days ago I said I would do something for the 'trees or leaves' challenge 41 on Lots to do, so it was a lovely opportunity to use one of my favourite tree stamps, simply stamped with black versafine on to the background provided on Art Creations. This was then mounted on to a black card blank (it has an iridescent sheen to it that you can't see on the scan) and added a couple of pieces of black and gold sticky ribbon.

If you follow the link to Lots to do, you'll see that this is the last challenge, but the good news is that Hilda is taking over the challenges, so there will still be lots to do!

The other challenges I'm linking to are Wednesday stamper open theme, using at least one rubber stamp, and TGIF 66: winter time.



(As often is the case, the top of the card looks crooked, but not irl!)

Sketch and Stash Challenge Blog

I've just come across a new challenge blog - a sketch one with a twist - 'Every 2 weeks there will be a sketch to follow. You can rotate the sketch, resize the elements and add extra elements if needed.
The second part of the challenge is to use your newest stash on your card. You can use a new paper, new stamp, new embellishments etc. They can all be new or just one thing which is new, that's up to you!
When you're posting your card on your blog please let everyone know what your new item is, the make or manufacturer and a link to where you bought it from if possible!
But most importantly, HAVE FUN!!'

'To celebrate the launch of the Sketch and Stash Challenge Blog we are offering some blog candy! One lucky person will win a Willow with Umbrella stamp from Whiff of Joy. We are offering some blog candy! One lucky person will win a Willow with Umbrella stamp from Whiff of Joy.'

The first challenge is going to be on Monday 5 January, but there is an opportunity until today to win some candy by leaving a comment and linking.

Looks interesting! Why not take a look here

Forever Friends challenge + Cupcake Craft: 20 background inspired

I've visited the Forever Friends challenge blog previously, but have never done anything for it. Before Christmas I bought some FF stamps and was going to get them out for the current 'open' challenge, but in the end I used some stickers, mounted on to a piece of English Paper Company paper, the addition of a couple of chippie cupcakes, together with a PG tips coaster!

The challenge on Cupcake this time is 'background inspired' and so the 'cupcake' theme fits very well for this challenge as well.

Salt: Happy New Year

Today would normally be the launch of a new topic on Salt, but we decided to take a week's break and come back with a new challenge next Thursday 8 January at 10.00 GMT.

Meanwhile, please have a look at the recent challenges and perhaps even have a go at producing something crafty for one of them.

All of the Salt team wish you a Happy New Year. If you pop over there you'll also see that we'll be having a DT call very soon.

Happy New Year

I needed to make two thank you/New Year cards today, so I have made these for the challenges on TGIF (challenge 65: all it's new) and A Spoonful of sugar (challenge 29).

I've used various DCWV papers for both cards, some sticky ribbons and computer printed 'Happy New Year':





This is a good opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

I much appreciate those who visit my blog and it's lovely when you leave comments.

Looking forward to a new year of ever-evolving excitement in the world of crafting - there are so many lovely forums, blogs and challenges out there and plenty of inspiration.

Our Creative Corner

I've added a link to Our Creative Corner on my sidebar. They have just added three new design members to the team and are giving away some fun goodies:

'How would you like to win some fun goodies from Jacksonbelle Embellishments? To be entered to win, add our banner to you blog and leave us a link here in this post. We will announce the winner on Wednesday, January 7th.'

Crafty Creations

Over on Crafty Creations there is the offer of two lovely stamps - all you have to do is leave a comment and link to your blog. It's a lovely challenge blog - why not hop over and have a look?!

CBCC 078 It's off to work we go

New challenges have started up on CBC and the first new one has been set by Jackie is 'off to work we go': 'Your challenge today is to make something NEW with a theme of occupations.'

I suppose this is stretching it a bit, but I thought I'd use some of the Jolly Nation decoupage and background papers to make a 'riding instructor' card:



I'm hoping that at some point I'll need to send a card to someone who's mad about horses!

Spiral Whisper new previews & Comp

There is news on Spiral Whisper of some lovely new designs being prepared for launch. There is an opportunity to win some - just go over to their blog, leave a comment and put a link on your blog. Certainly worth a look - such cute images.

2 Sketches 4 You: 16 Laura's sketch + Created by hand: pattern paper + Our Creative Corner: clear thinking

Our central heating failed to come on yesterday morning - the engineer came today, but a part is needed and won't be available till next Monday at the earliest. I spent most of today waiting around for him to come, wearing lots of layers and not really being able to settle to do anything. We're now beginning to warm up - the engineer lent us a fan heater and then a friend happened to ring and, as a result of John telling him about the problem, he turned up later on our doorstep with two sizeable convector heaters, so we can now warm more than one room.

That means that I've been able to do a little crafting.

I decided to make a card using Laura's sketch on 2 Sketches 4 You:



I used alcohol inks on the back of a Ranger memory glass, ran it through my little xyron adhesive (took the little cartridge out so I could put the glass through straight) and stuck this on some patterned oil on water paper. The papers, including the flowers, are DCWV pocket full of posies.



This card is also for the challenge on Created by hand - using pattern paper.

I've just discovered that the current challenge on Our Creative Corner is 'clear thinking' - add something clear to your project - so the memory glass is perfect for this.

One Stop Craft + Sketch Saturday

On One Stop Craft challenge blog the current challenge 9 is '3 is the magic number'. I've used three patterned papers (K & Co Addison), 3 small blooms, 3 buttons (all from a PM mini embellishment kit). The ivy stamped image is Whispers and was stamped with library green and coloured with copics.

I also used sketch 26 from Sketch Saturday



as this week's challenge 31 is 'your choice' - choosing any of the SS sketches as the basis of a card.

ABC challenge 'U is for underneath'

The current challenge on ABC is 'U is for underneath' - We want you to interpret underneath however you choose, it can be images/objects underneath thinngs, or images hidden underneath tags etc. Let your imagination go wild.'

I've used some pieces I had left over from Dream Street papers that I got earlier in the year from a kit from BF.

The flap at the top lifts up to reveal the pocket, which in turn has the card tucked into it:

DCM traditional silver and gold

The current DCM challenge is 'traditional silver and gold', so here are four cards (sorry about the flash reflection on the photos, but impossible to take pictures of foil card without this happening) that use either gold foiling or silver.

These are pyramage cards that were part of a concept card kit I bought earlier in the year - these got put aside - tucked away on the keyboard shelf - to be used on a rainy day. Well it's not actually raining today, but I thought I'd use them!

The first card three cards have silver foiling on them and the last one has gold foiling (despite some of it looking silver with the flash):









The build up of the pyramage doesn't show here, but irl this dimension gives an additional feature to the cards.

And another silver one, this time just flat, no pyramage:

Sorting, tidying or making?

I'm not really sure today whether I'm sorting, tidying or making? In fact, it was going to be a sorting session, but I seem to be doing more making and certainly less tidying, because the more I make the more untidy everything becomes.

Underneath my work surface I have a pull out keyboard shelf - I don't use this for a keyboard, but to put bits and pieces for safe keeping until I might want to use them! Some of these have been there for quite some time, tucked away out of sight. I decided therefore that as part of the sorting and tidying I would use some of them on some cards (at last!).

So here are three cards I've made (so difficult to get photos when pearlised card is being used):







It wasn't intentional, but a colour theme seems to have emerged (which is good for matting and layering some of the pieces of paper and card).

It's done!

I've made John's birthday card - and it's not till Tuesday!

I feel I've let him down though - I wanted to make a rugby card because he loves it, but when I looked through my stock I could only find Jolly Nation background sheets and no decoupage ones, so I've used a different rugby decoupage with it. I printed on to BG cupcake blue paper and mounted with 3d tape.

It's a very simple card, but with John's poor vision it's best not to make it too complicated.



The current challenge on Kaboodle Doodle is 16: For the boys: 'This week the challenge is all about Males, we would like to see a creation aimed towards boys and/or men. Ok so it is quite a difficult one this week, but we are nearly at the end of the year so we thought we would give you a challenge.' So this card fits the bill for that.

Three challenges in one

I didn't really intend to make a card tonight, but it just seemed to happen. I've used a recycled picture from an old card, inked the edges with green and pink and then mounted on BG sultry and two scoops papers and then on to a pink base card.

The BG challenge at the moment is 15: Going green - 'For this weeks challenge we would like to see you use some recycling on your creations, eg, cardboard, parts cut from another card, material from old clothes, postage stamps, it can be anything you like, the list is endless, also its not essential that the recycled item has to be old and used, you could simply use the inside of a business envelope for example as i know they can have some lovely patterns that can be used as backing papers etc, so have fun and of course not forgetting to use at least one item from basicgrey somewhere on your creation.'

There is also an ongoing recycling challenge on Arty Girlz, so I'm linking there too.

The current challenge on My Time to Craft is 41: Colour challenge: green - I feel this card has enough green on it to link for that.



I wonder if anyone can understand or explain why it is that I made this card that I didn't have to make, whereas I need to make one for John's birthday next Tuesday and still haven't done it. And actually as it's still Boxing Day I didn't intend to do any crafting till tomorrow - but it's just a bit of relaxation.

Crafty presents + a Christmas surprise!

First of all I thought I'd show the crafty presents I received for Christmas. This doesn't mean I didn't equally appreciate the non-crafty presents, because I did = it's just that this is a crafting blog, so here they are:



I also got a 'voucher' from John towards another set of 36 copic pens.

And when I logged on today I found out that I have won blog candy over at Claire's Crafty Corner! Take a look here to see what I've won!! Thank you so much, Claire - a lovely Christmas surprise.