Don't scrap it

'Don't scrap it' is the theme for today's Less is more challenge - to use left over bits and pieces. Having already used some offcuts of the Bitty scrap pad blue posie papers that I used earlier this morning, I still had four squares left, so I've used two of them on this card, with another Easter lilies stampo coloured with copis from the PM moments of faith set.

I've used orange and cream from Inspired by 12 photo prompt:

This is also for:

Sir stampalot February: in the garden
Art impressions 52: clean & simple or anything but ...
Let's craft and create 39: less is more - clean and simple

Easter lilies

Once again I've used one of the PM moments of faith stamps, coloured with copics, with a Happy Easter sentiment stamped on the cross. The background papers are offcuts from the card I made earlier this morning from the Bitty scrap pad blue posie.

This is for:

Paper pretties Monday challenge: spring
Crafts and me 72: shades of spring
Fairytale 35: spring
Hiding in my craft room 35: bring on some spring
Stampin sisters in Christ 127: image must be or include a flower
Cutie pie 12: flower power
The stamping boutique 26: stitching
Aud sentiments 48: include the word 'happy'
The paper shelter 52: add a sentiment
Crafty purple frog: get inspired with yellow and green
Art impressions 52: clean & simple or anything but ...
Let's craft and create 39: less is more - clean and simple
Delightful: use pattern paper
Let's ink it up February 20: ribbons and/or lace
The pretty little ribbon shop 7: anything goes
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 77
Inspire me Fridays 47

52 cardpick up week 8

Green Easter

This card is very similar to the previous one, this time using another stamp from the PM moments of faith set on which I stamped the Easter sentiment. Edges of the nestie shape were distressed with shabby shutters DI.

Colours are for For your inspiration 24 (I've also picked up on the 'quiet' feel of the picture):

This is for:

Paper pretties Monday challenge: spring
Crafts and me 72: shades of spring
Fairytale 35: spring
Hiding in my craft room 35: bring on some spring
Stampin sisters in Christ 127: image must be or include a flower
Cutie pie 12: flower power
Aud sentiments 48: include the word 'happy'
The paper shelter 52: add a sentiment
Crafty purple frog: get inspired with yellow and green
Art impressions 52: clean & simple or anything but ...
Let's craft and create 39: less is more - clean and simple
Lexi 59: monochromatic
Woodware UK: 40 shades of green
Paper pretties Wednesday challenge 194: use punches or die cuts
Do you stack up 60: distress
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 77
Inspire me Fridays 47

52 cardpick up week 8

Purple Easter

I spent time yesterday stamping and colouring so that I've got lots of Easter images ready to incorporate on cards. This is another very quick card - a ready printed card blank on to which I've matted the stamped image cut with a nestie and distressed with dusty concord DI. The stamped image is from the Papermania moments of faith set. The insert says: Happy Easter.

This is for:

Paper pretties Monday challenge: spring
Crafts and me 72: shades of spring
Fairytale 35: spring
Hiding in my craft room 35: bring on some spring
Stampin sisters in Christ 127: image must be or include a flower
Cutie pie 12: flower power
Sentimental Sundays 90: let's get sentimental - focus on the sentiment
Fussy & fancy 57: more than words - using a long sentiment or verse
Paper makeup 24: word art - quote or sentiment to be the focus
Art impressions 52: clean & simple or anything but ...
Let's craft and create 39: less is more - clean and simple
Lexi 59: monochromatic
Paper pretties Wednesday challenge 194: use punches or die cuts
Moving along with the times: lots of layers
Raise the bar 93: purple, green + one other colour (hot pink)
Do you stack up 60: distress
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 77
Inspire me Fridays 47

52 cardpick up week 8

Simply Easter

This was a very quick card- did the stamping yesterday and the nestie die cuts, so all I had to do today was stick it on the ready made fancy oval that was then stuck inside the card. Just the sentiment added and the card was done!

Colours look different because the first one is a scan and the second a photo.

This is for:

Paper pretties Monday challenge: spring
Crafts and me 72: shades of spring
Fairytale 35: spring
Hiding in my craft room 35: bring on some spring
Stampin sisters in Christ 127: image must be or include a flower
Art impressions 52: clean & simple or anything but ...
Let's craft and create 39: less is more - clean and simple
Lexi 59: monochromatic
Whimsy 27: monochromatic
Paper pretties Wednesday challenge 194: use punches or die cuts
Moving along with the times: lots of layers
Frosted designs fabulous Friday: shape it up - pick a geometric shape and use it 3 times - oval
Craft room colour challenge: orange, brown and cream
Aud sentiments 48: include the word 'happy'
The paper shelter 52: add a sentiment
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Allsorts 143: it's your choice
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 77
Inspire me Fridays 47

52 cardpick up week 8

Lily cross for Easter

This is for Catch the bug February sketch:

Some years ago I bought a few Bitty Scrap pads - can't even remember where I got them from - anyway, they have been in a box and none of the papers have ever been touched. I thought it was about time to use some, so these are from the Blue Posie pad. The stamp is Funstamps 'lily cross' stamped with memento tuxedo black and coloured with copics. The addition of a few pearls and the card was done in 20 minutes which is good for 365 cards 361: time's up.

The insert says 'Happy Easter'.

This is also for:

The stamp man: colours of spring/Easter
Paper pretties Monday challenge: spring
Ladybug 54: spring is in the air
Crafts and me 72: shades of spring
Fairytale 35: spring
Hiding in my craft room 35: bring on some spring
Stampin sisters in Christ 127: image must be or include a flower
Art impressions 52: clean & simple or anything but ...
Let's craft and create 39: less is more - clean and simple
Crazy 4 challenges 125: 2 layer card
Paper prettiesWednesday challenge 194: use punches or die cuts
Delightful: use pattern paper
Moving along with the times: lots of layers
Little darlings 18: pearls
Crafty purple frog: get inspired with yellow and green
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Allsorts 143: it's your choice
Just inspirational: anything goes
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 77
Inspire me Fridays 47

52 cardpick up week 8

CHNC challenge 61: use a ribbon and/or a charm

It's time for another challenge on my CHNC blog - by the time this one has ended we'll be into March already - this year seems to be going at a remarkable speed - all the more reason to get some of those Christmas cards made early to avoid panic later in the year.

For challenge 61 I'm asking you to use a ribbon (or anything similar, like twine, ric rac, lace etc) and/or a charm. I've opted to use ribbon for my cards - I hope I might be back later in the week with a card that includes a charm - we'll see. Please click on the link for the challenge and join in if you can - I'd love to see you there.

I've used Anna Griffin materials for these cards - they are both very glittery.

I'm linking these for:

Hiding in my craft room 34: glitter! glitter!
Winter wonderland: glitter and bling
Divas by design 23: bling it up
Crafty catz 121: I spy ... something beginning with B - bling!
Truly, madly, crafty February: ribbon and bling
Lexi 59: monochromatic
Sentimental Sundays 90: let's get sentimental - focus on the sentiment - the second card
Paper make up 24: word art - quote or sentiment to be the focus - the second card
Fussy & fancy 57: more than words - using a long sentiment or a verse - the second card
Crafty sentiments: two designer/different papers - each card has two patterned papers
Aud sentiments 48: include word 'happy' - the first card
The paper shelter 52: add a sentiment
Art impressions 52: clean & simple or anything but ...
Let's craft and create 39: less is more - clean and simple
The pretty little ribbon shop February 7: anything goes
2 sisters 80: anything goes
Allsorts 143: it's your choice
Just inspirational: anything goes
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 77
Inspire me Fridays 47

52 cardpick up week 8

First black and white card

Flashback Friday 20 are asking to see our first black and white card - I don't think this is actually the first one I ever made, but it's the first I blogged back in October 2007.

As challenge 20 is a celebration one there is also a blog hop, so I'm now off to tour the blogs!

Suzie's 365 photos day 55: cloud!

These were taken about ten minutes ago for Suzie's day 55:

Ruffled ribbon

This is for Our craft lounge 105: ruffles - I used a length of stitched ribbon, drawing the threads to make the ribbon ruffled and stuck this around a piece of gingham card which was then mounted on the white card blank. I then added various stickers and sentiment from stash.

This is also for:

The pretty little ribbon shop 7: anything goes
Cupcake craftroom February: new beginnings
Lexi 59: monochromatic
2 sisters 79: stitching
Tuesday throwdown 86: winter blues - use blue
All kinds of cards 48: white & blue
Just inspirational: anything goes

Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 77

52 cardpick up week 7

Golden retriever

I love the Inkadinkado golden retriever stamp I've used for this card - reminds me of John's first guide dog. I stamped with memento rich cocoa on to a scrap piece of  BG cupcake mac n cheese.

The colours used for this card are for Chocolate, coffee & cards 6:

Papers are Basic Grey max n whiskers plus a piece of scalloped and glittered Papermania strip.

This is also for:

Rainbow lady 193: dogs
There she goes 144: animal theme
Crafty ribbons 13: paws for thought
Alphabet: A for animal antics
Allways something creative 24: animal
Die cuttin' divas 53: favourite pet
There's magic in the air magical Monday: all critters great & small
Truly scrumptious 74: all creatures great & small
Just inspirational: anything goes
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 77

52 cardpick up week 7

Santa Tilda

It's a long while since I used any of my Magnolia stamps, not sure why not, anyway I thought I'd enter the Totally Tilda challenge 40: Tilda with a hat on ... but none of my stamps had Tilda wearing a hat, so I thought I would dress her in red and put a Santa hat on her for this Christmas card.

Tilda is obviously in celebration mood, so this is for Bunny Zoe 21: celebrations.

Papers are from my Christmas offcuts box - another one for Pixie's crafty snippets week 8 - strips of bling gems from Poundland, sentiment from stash. Tilda was coloured with copics R00, R11,R27, E29, R35, RV000, RV21, RV41, E08 and YR00 - another entry for Mad for markers: copics - pretty in pink RV or R copics.

This is also for Dilly beans: seeing red.

Post it!

A few days ago I got out the materials I wanted to use for a card for Daring cardmakers 'post it!' challenge, but hadn't got round to making the card till now.

The background paper is K & Co from a 6 x 6 paper pad that I've had for years. At one time I used to use quite a lot of the K & Co pads paper, but seem to have neglected them for ages. I tore off the right hand side of the paper because it had a postmark on it which wouldn't have gone with the stamped ones I wanted to use.

I chose a navy blue card blank and stamped the Papermania Utrban stamps with stazon ultramarine, also staining the Tim Holtz tissue tape with this ink pad. The postcard with the lovely picture of the dog is an Express yourself sticker. It originally had a deeper pink little rose in the middle,  but I swapped this for the paler pink because I wanted to dot more of these around the card - these are from a pack of PM satin buds (I carefully took off the green leaves).

Colours are for Love to create 3:  navy, pink and one other colour (creamy beige). The use of navy blue is also for Moxie fab world 'the cure for the winter blues' challenge. And Stampin for the weekend 3 is asking for blue with tones from cream to brown.

This is also for:

Do you stack up 60: distress
Rainbow lady 193: dogs
There she goes 144: animal theme
Crafty ribbons 13: paws for thought
Alphabet: A for animal antics
Allways something creative 24: animal
There's magic in the air magical Monday: all critters great & small
Truly scrumptious 74: all creatures great & small
The pink elephant 136: print it
The cheerful stamp pad 36: happy birthday
Incy wincy 134: birthday
Cooking it up with Katie 90: your 3 favourite things - patterned papers, flowers, stamping
Make all with love 22: flowers
Crop stop 59: is it blooming outside?
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
Make it Monday 77

Inspire me Fridays 46

52 cardpick up week 7

Suzie's 365 photos day 54: in the details

For Suzie's day 54 I'm showing the details on the back of a book of postage stamps:

Putting something in the post nowadays isn't as simple as it used to be a few years ago. Now we have to make sure it isn't too thick or too long or too wide ... and rumour has it that costs are going to soar yet again in April - time to buy up a few books in advance, I think.

Suzie's 365 day 52: sky high

As soon as I saw what the photo prompt for Suzie's day 52 was on Tuesday I knew what I wanted to capture - and I knew that we would be going up to Guy's hospital today for an appointment for John.

We've been regularly going backwards and forwards to Guy's for years, so we have seen The Shard develop over many months (when I say 'we' it's just me that can see it). It is now nearing completion and stands 310 m (1,017 ft) tall.

So I took my camera with me this morning and managed to get a few shots of this amazing building - to be honest I had to take the photos very quickly because we needed to get to the hospital on time, so I took the first one on the way in and the next two as we were walking back to London Bridge station and we didn't have any time to hang around, so it was just a question of point the camera and click.

Just before Christmas they took down the footbridge that used to connect London Bridge station to access to Guy's Hospital, so now it means that we have to go down to The Vaults and walk along to the hospital which takes us much more time. The old footbridge is going to be replaced with a new lift and escalators, I think by the end of May, so we look forward to that.

Christmas cocoa

This card uses a lovely pre-coloured digital image by Meljen designs called 'Christmas cocoa' (it was one I chose as part of a challenge prize) - this is for Meljen 97: anything goes using a Meljen image.

I've used the sketch for A la card monkey 96, which also includes 'moments' - I love 'moments' with a lovely mug of cocoa (I have one right beside me now!):

The background paper is Polka doodles 'bright Christmas'.

This is also for:

Crafty boots: food glorious food
Kaboodle 107: let's get cooking
Order of the opus gluei 124: warm fuzzies (lovely fuzzy warmth inside from a mug of cocoa)
My Sheri 79: warm wishes
Winter wonderland: Christmas card
CES 73: spots & dots
Let's craft and create 39: less is more - clean and simple
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
If the shoe fits fashionista Friday 99: anything goes
Make it Monday 77

Inspire me Fridays 46

52 cardpick up week 7

Bright birthday

This is for the sketch for Don't waste your Thursdays 125:

Papers are Basic Grey cupcake and urban prairie. The Happy Birthday sentiment panel is recycled from a card  received, as is the glittered vase of flowers to which I've added a few gems - flowers and gems from stash. I'm not really sure about this card - made it quickly because time was running out to meet the deadline for Don't waste your Thursdays.

Ooh la la 99 has this photo inspiration, which reminds me of the glittered bright flower arrangement I've used:

This is also for:

Clear it out: birthday card, use up your bling
Incy wincy 134: birthday
Crafty Ann 59: bold and bright
Stampin sisters in Christ 127: image must be or include a flower
Divas by design 23: bling it up
Phindy's Friday 93: bling it on
Hiding in my craft room 34: glitter! glitter!
Cutie pie 12: flower power
ABC: J for jazz it up
The poodles parlour: mother's day/card for a female
Mami doodles 43: pink, red, white
Stamp, scrap & doodle: more than two layers
Sassy Cheryl 103: no embossing
Cooking it up with Katie 90: your 3 favourite things - patterned papers, flowers, gemstones
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
If the shoe fits fashionista Friday 99: anything goes
Make it Monday 77

Inspire me Fridays 46

52 cardpick up week 7

Let's party

For this card I've used the sketch for Pals paper arts 129:

I've used a Mo Manning digital image Bella and Bronte celebrating for Mo's digital challenge 122: my sentiments exactly. I've coloured this with copics for iCopic lover 70 'colour an animal' and used colours for Inspired by challenge 11 - I've used the colours from this given picture:

I've used offcuts of BG cupcake papers and also a piece of BG urban prairie on which to print the sentiment - another snippet make for Pixie's crafty snippets 8.

I also took inspiration from the February challenge on Craft garden where this picture was given:

This is also for:

Use it Tuesday 25: it's a birthday party (I've used up scraps of BG papers that I've had for ages)
Nadia 25: party with stamp
The cheerful stamp pad 36: happy birthday
Incy wincy 134: birthday
Squigglefly 7: bright and sunny - use yellow on your card
Inky impressions:: bright colours
Crafty Ann 59: bold and bright
There she goes 144: animal theme
Crafty ribbons 13: paws for thought
Alphabet: A for animal antics
Allways something creative 24: animal
PaperPlay 7: critters
Going grey with Scrap-creations: critter
There's magic in the air magical Monday: all critters great & small
Truly scrumptious 74: all creatures great & small
Paper-crafting journey 3: make it cute
One stitch at a time 101: digi or don't - I used a digital image
The sisterhood of crafters: getting digi with it
The paper shelter 52: add a sentiment
Bunny Zoe 21: celebrations
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
If the shoe fits fashionista Friday 99: anything goes
Make it Monday 77

Inspire me Fridays 46

52 cardpick up week 7

Black, white with a touch of yellow

This is for Hanna and friends 132 sketch:

Also for Penny Black and more at Allsorts February challenge, where we were asked to choose a line:

Also for Our creative corner: black and white with a splash of colour, and Fashionable stamping 15: monochromatic plus one other colour.

I used an offcut of Kanban card that was originally used for this card so this is another one for Pixie's crafty snippets 8 (I really am trying to use up the offcuts, but the more I use the more I seem to have!).

The butterfly stamp is by Laura Ashley, simply stamped with memento tuxedo black and coloured with copic Y08 acid yellow. The scalloped circles were cut with nesties. The gold bling gems on the corners and on the butterflies are from Kanban (sorry the gold doesn't really show up here).

This is also for:

Sparkles 29: things with wings
PaperPlay 7: critters
Going grey with Scrap-creations: critter
There's magic in the air magical Monday: all critters great & small
Truly scrumptious 74: all creatures great & small
Whimsical Wednesday: time flies - something with wings
Crazy challenge 107: use a die or punch
Paper pretties Wednesday: use punches or die cuts
Scrappy frogs: die cut challenge
Stuck on u: die cut challenge
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
If the shoe fits fashionista Friday 99: anything goes
Make it Monday 77

Inspire me Fridays 46

52 cardpick up week 7

Embrace the joy of life

Among my offcuts I found some card stickers, some of which had been used long ago, but there are still some lovely ones on the sheet. I can't remember the manufacturer - I think they might be Dream Street or My Mind's Eye, but I'm not sure - if anyone recognises them I'd love to know. This is for Soartful challenges: kraft, red and pink.

This is for Eat sleep stamp sketch 160:

The card base is a kraft one and the background paper is an offcut of some Anna Griffin paper. So this is another card for Pixie's crafty snippets 8 (but my box is still just as full as it was at the beginning of the year!). I distressed the edges lightly with fired brick DI - this is for Lawnscaping 28:

A krafty note

This is a simple card using a kraft card blank, stamped music in memento cocoa bean with a La Blanche foam stamp, some natural twine and a couple of Cosmo Cricket die cut sentiments.

This is for:

Papertake: getting krafty
City crafter 97: it' all natural
Dare to be sassy Thursdays 112: kraft card stock
Lexi 59: monochromatic
Whimsy 27: monochromatic
Desert island crafts 25: I used kraft, twine and 2 die cut stickers
Celebrate the occasion 51: thinking of you
The paper shelter 52: add a sentiment
Let's craft and create 39: less is more - clean and simple
CRAFT 142: no designer paper
Rogue redhead rebel 8: stamped background
One stop craft 170: create your own background
Cutie stampers 121: self-stamped background
Lollipop crafts 68: anything goes
Mema's crafts February: anything goes
Penny's 73: anything goes
If the shoe fits fashionista Friday 99: anything goes
Make it Monday 77

Inspire me Fridays 46

52 cardpick up week 7