Suzie's 365 day 106: alive

I've just had a wander in the garden to take some pictures for Suzie's day 106: alive - there are signs of life after the stagnation of winter:

Bee happy

I seem to have a bit of an obsession with bees today - lol! as this is my second card today featuring them.

This card is for the April challenge on My Mind's Eye blog where they want to see hexagons.

I used both sides of MME Andrea Victoria 'golden damask' and MME Andrea Victoria 'golden beads', cutting the hexagons with my cricut having made the hexagons with Make the cut software. I stamped a Stampotique small bee by Jo Capper-Sandon on each hexagon, colouring the body with copic acid yellow.I then drew round each hexagon in black and wrote the Bee Happy in the empty hexagon. This was all then mounted on to MME Andrea Victoria 'black damask' paper and mounted on to a black card blank.

This is another card for Stampotique 52: oodles of doodles.

This is also for:

Getting cricky simply Sunday challenge: favourite project
Ladybug 58: shapes
Bloggers challenge: black, white and a splash of one additional colour
Paper crafting journey 7: 3 or more patterned papers
Incy wincy 141: cute critters
Critter 110: critters
Crafty ribbons 17: things with wings
PaperPlay 15: things with wings
Totally papercrafts 112: things with wings
Deep ocean 23: song inspiration - The bee song, by Arthur Askey
Use it Tuesday 29: anything goes (using up papers I've had for quite some time)
Scrapbook sisters card challenge 79: anything goes
Anything goes 64: anything goes
Prairie fairy Fridays 76: anything goes
Wags n whiskers 77: anything goes
Make it Monday 84
Inspire me Fridays 54
52 card pickup 15

Suzie's 365 photos

I missed doing yesterday's prompt, so here it is now for Suzie's day 104: petal:

and today's for day 105: coiled (quite a boring photo, but hey ho - the coiled lead to John's razor):

I'm up to date again!

Time to follow your dreams

The challenge on Anyone for Anya this week is a photo inspiration:

The background stamping of various strips is from the Greeting farm Spotlight set, as is the 'Time to follow your dreams' sentiment. This is also for All that scraps Wednesday challenge where 'anything goes' as long as a qualifying stamp is used. It's also for Farm fresh Friday: classic patterns.

I've followed the sketch for Sketchy colors 112:

I've doodled around the edges of the card and have used the lovely Stampotique bee stamps by Jo Capper-Sandon, so this is also for Stampotique 52: oodles of doodles.

The papers are offcuts from Papermania lemon sorbet, so this is another chance to play in Pixie's crafty snippets 15 and have a turn on the swings while I'm there! Also for Hiding in my craft room 42: super scraps Saturday.

Not a very good photo - the yellow is more vibrant irl. The bodies of the bees were coloured with copic acid yellow.

This is also for:

Our daily bread 104: S P R I N G word challenge - I've used S for spots, P for patterns and I for insects
Pile it on 15: all about S - spots, squares, spring
Top tip Tuesday 74: spotty, dotty
Critter 110: critters
Incy wincy 141: cute critters
Lexi 62: focus on the sentiment
Aud sentiments 52: spring summer colours
Cupcake 187: spring is in the air
Crafty ribbons 17: things with wings
PaperPlay 15: things with wings
Totally papercrafts 112: things with wings
Stamp, scrap & doodle: things with wings
Deep ocean 23: song inspiration - All I have to do is dream
Use it Tuesday 29: anything goes (using up paper I've had for quite some time)
Scrapbook sisters card challenge 79: anything goes
Anything goes 64: anything goes
Prairie fairy Fridays 76: anything goes
Wags n whiskers 77: anything goes
Make it Monday 84
Inspire me Fridays 54
52 card pickup 15

CHNC challenge 68: let's have a sing song

Yes, it's Saturday again and time for another challenge over on my CHNC blog - don't the weeks go by quickly?!

For today's challenge 68 I'm asking you to make a card based on a favourite Christmas song or carol - or you can incorporate music into your Christmas card - you can choose. This challenge is once again being sponsored by Bugaboo stamps who are offering $21 of digital stamps to the randomly selected winner and two of their design team have joined me this week - please do go over and visit them.


My card is for the song 'Jingle Bells' and uses 'snowman bells' and 'winter circle sentiments - jingle bells', both kindly supplied by Bugaboo Stamps which I coloured with copics. I printed out the sheet music for Jingle Bells on to an offcut of English Paper Company paper that I bought ages ago. It's difficult to see here, but the circular sentiment is mounted on to a nestie spiky die cut which has been tinged with a light grey blue copic.

I'm also linking for these challenges:

Pixie's crafty snippets 15
Sparkles forum Christmas challenge 15: colour me happy - I love blue and white Christmas cards
Christmas inspirations 44: use at least 3 geometric shapes - square card, circles, rectangle
One stitch at a time 108: use a digi
The crafty pad 165: it's just die-delicious
Deep ocean 23: song inspiration
Craft room: music
Daring cardmakers: hat boutique - I love this snowman's hat!
Use it Tuesday 29: anything goes (using up paper bought long ago)
Scrapbook sisters card challenge 79: anything goes
Anything goes 64: anything goes
Prairie fairy Fridays 76: anything goes
Wags n whiskers 77: anything goes
Make it Monday 84
Inspire me Fridays 54
52 card pickup 15

Shades of green

Less is more 62 calls for a one layer card using three shades of green - I hope I'm forgiven because I've actually used five different greens.

I followed the sketch for Clean & simple 184:

I usied the flower stamp that came free with the May issue of Craft Stamper that I bought in WHS earlier today, inking it with Brilliance pearlescent jade. I then masked off the flower and used three different HOTP stitching stamps and a leafy one which is part of a V & A set, finishing off with a 'just for you' sentiment stamp by Crafters companion. The stitched stamps were inked with Brilliance pearlescent lime, pearlescent ivy and Stazon teal blue and the V & A leafy stamp inked with Stazon cactus green.

This is also for:

Delightful: stitches
Paper and such: CAS
Clearlyistamp 49: go green

Seize the cupcake

This card is for the sketch for Annabelle 48:

and for the colours for Daring cardmakers colour combo for April:

All papers used were from my offcuts box (background is WeRMemory Keepers, the flowery paper is DCWV and the nestie cut spiky circle is Basic Grey cupcake) so this is also for Pixie's crafty snippets 15.

The cupcake stamp is a Dawn Bibby Kanban one coloured with copics. This is for Shelly's terrifically thrilling Thursday 'seize the cupcake' challenge.

This is also for:

Sweet stampin: dies & doodles: die cuts and/or doodles
The crafty pad 165: it's just die-delicious
Bloggers challenge: to die for

Suzie's 365 photos day 103: shocking

I wasn't sure what to do for Suzie's day 103: shocking - but then I remembered this week's Closer magazine with this article:

Suzie's 365 photos day 102: elegant

This is one of the first circle journals I took part in, which is for Suzie's day 102: elegant:

Birthday bash

This is for The shabby tea room 109: birthday bash, where this inspiration photo is given and we were asked to create a birthday card inspired by the photo and include a cupcake.

For the background I used an offcut of a piece of Kanban Dawn Bibby designs cupcakes sugar dots, part of a kit I bought ages ago - the cupcake came from the same kit. I only really bought the original kit because there were cupcake stamps with it ... and I'm still trying to use up the rest of the kit! The bunting and cocktails are 3D stickers.

Banners or bunting figure in a couple more challenges this week:

Emerald faerie garden 21: let's see a banner
Frosted designs fabulous Friday challenge: banners

This is also for:

Pixie's crafty snippets 15
PanPastel UK 13: sweet treats
Ruby's rainbow 26: birthday cake
Pile it on 15: all about S - spots, stripes, sipping cocktails
Top tip Tuesday 74: spotty, dotty
Papercraft star 92: umbrellas (a cocktail umbrella)
My mum's craft shop 52: it's a celebration
Sassy Cheryl 110: anything goes
Use it Tuesday 29: anything goes (using up supplies bought long ago)
Scrapbook sisters card challenge 79: anything goes
Anything goes 64: anything goes
Prairie fairy Fridays 76: anything goes
Fairytale 38: everything goes
Make it Monday 84
Inspire me Fridays 53
52 card pickup 14

May all your wishes come true

I seem to be a bit stuck in a 'fairy' mode atm. Having used some of the 'fairy blossom' components from the  Hunkydory kit that came yesterday, I decided that, instead of putting the offcuts away, I'd make another couple of cards straight away - so that explains the concentration atm on fairies! So this is another birthday card - this time I've used a piece cut from an A4 card in the kit to make the border down the left hand side. I've used Craftwork cards sentiments, a folded doiley from Poundland and a little bunch of roses with bow and buttons.

This is for:

My time to craft 177: fairy nice
Stamp, scrap & doodle: things with wings
Flutter by Wednesday 198: birthday + fairy
House of Gilli 31: flowers
Pink elephant 143: flowers
Wags n whiskers 76: say it with flowers
Paperminutes 212: spring flowers
Crafty creations 165: flower power
Lily pad: flowers
Little red wagon: spring colours
My mum's craft shop 52: it's a celebration
The paper shelter 59: buttons and bows
Really reasonable ribbon 45: buttons & bows
There she goes 151: ribbon time
Freshly brewed 90: tie it up
Scrapbook sisters card challenge 79: anything goes
Anything goes 64: anything goes
Prairie fairy Fridays 76: anything goes
Fairytale 38: everything goes
Make it Monday 84
Inspire me Fridays 53
52 card pickup 14

More birthday flowers

This card uses up the remains of the Hunkydory fairy blossoms components, mixed with some Kanban flowers, Poundland buttons and Craftwork cards sentiment.

This is for the sketch for Totally Gorjuss 126:

Colours are for Hiding in my craft room 41:

This is also for:

Craft your passion 105: shaped cards
Let's craft and create 42: shaped card
Scrappy frogs: shape it up challenge - shaped card
PaperPlay 15: shaped card
Love to create 10: birthday
House of Gilli 31: flowers
Pink elephant 143: flowers
Wags n whiskers 76: say it with flowers
Paperminutes 212: spring flowers
Crafty creations 165: flower power
Lily pad: flowers
Twisted Tuesday 2: I never promised you a rose garden - flowers, but not roses
Blog a doodle: bold and bright colours
My mum's craft shop 52: it's a celebration
Scrapbook sisters card challenge 79: anything goes
Robyn's fetish 102: anything goes
Anything goes 64: anything goes
Prairie fairy Fridays 76: anything goes
Fairytale 38: everything goes
Make it Monday 84
Inspire me Fridays 53
52 card pickup 14

Birthday blossoms

This is another card made with Hunkydory birthday blossoms components - quick and easy. Flowers and brad from stash.

This is for:

Love to create 10: birthday
My Sheri 82: create a birthday card for a child under the age of 5
My time to craft 177: fairy nice
Stamp, scrap & doodle: things with wings
Flutter by Wednesday 198: birthday + fairy
House of Gilli 31: flowers
Pink elephant 143: flowers
Wags n whiskers 76: say it with flowers
Paperminutes 212: spring flowers
Amusing challenges: spring
Crafty creations 165: flower power
Lily pad: flowers
Great impressions 2: lots of flowers
Twisted Tuesday 2: I never promised you a rose garden - flowers, but not roses
Blog a doodle: bold and bright colours
Crafts and me 79: we are going 3-D (the flowers)
Little red wagon: spring colours
My mum's craft shop 52: it's a celebration
Scrapbook sisters card challenge 79: anything goes
Robyn's fetish 102: anything goes
Anything goes 64: anything goes
Prairie fairy Fridays 76: anything goes
Fairytale 38: everything goes
Make it Monday 84
Inspire me Fridays 53
52 card pickup 14

Make a wish

Having made a masculine card using a topper from a Hunkydory kit that arrived today, I decided to make a card for a girl with a fairy theme. It was difficult to get a photo because the image, surrounding mat and the sentiments were all edged with a bright pink foiling. Felt flowers with buttons are from Poundland.

This is for:

Craft your passion 105: shaped cards
Let's craft and create 42: shaped card
Scrappy frogs: shape it up challenge - shaped card
PaperPlay 15: shaped card
Love to create 10: birthday
Paper pretties 200: monochromatic card
My Sheri 82: create a birthday card for a child under the age of 5
By the cute and girly April: once upon a time, fairy tale
My time to craft 177: fairy nice
The squirrel and the fox 15: things with wings
Stamp, scrap & doodle: things with wings
Pollycraft 135: fabric (felt flowers)
House of Gilli 31: flowers
Pink elephant 143: flowers
4 crafty chicks 84: flowers
Wags n whiskers 76: say it with flowers
Twisted Tuesday 2: I never promised you a rose garden - flowers, but not roses
Lily pad: flowers
Blog a doodle: bold and bright colours
Robyn's fetish 102: anything goes
Anything goes 64: anything goes
Prairie fairy Fridays 76: anything goes
Fairytale 38: everything goes
Make it Monday 84
Inspire me Fridays 53
52 card pickup 14

Man of the match

This is a quick card for the sketch on Willow Sketchie this week:

 I used this sketch for a card the other day, but forgot the rule on Willow Sketchie regarding the number of challenges to combine, so I've made this card now instead. The alternative theme on Willow Sketchie was 'lots of layers' - I don't think you'd call this lots, although there are layers.

Papers are from my offcuts box (the striped one was originally from a magazine) - another for Pixie's crafty snippets 15 and the topper and sentiment are from a Hunkydory kit 'for the gentlemen' just received from Create and Craft (one of those kits that are useful for making up a lot of cards for selling for Tearfund).

Earlier today I blogged about the privilege of joining Shopping our stash again this week for their 'masculine theme or 'boy' colours' challenge 47, with this card., so this card is also for that challenge.

This is also for:

Make my Monday 44: men/boys vintage
Scrapbook sisters 78: men
Joanna Sheen: it's a man's world

Suzie's 365 day 101: clutter

As our DIL and girls were visiting today I did a buffet lunch. so for day 101 this is just some of the clutter from the packaging of some of the products I used (having put all the actual boxes in the paper recycling bin):

Suzie's 365 day 100: gentle

I wasn't sure what to do for yesterday's day 100: gentle on Suzie's 365, but today I had the perfect answer. Our DIL and children came over to visit us today, including baby Jorgie who will be four weeks old tomorrow. So here is a picture of the oldest granddaughter being so gentle with the youngest

Guest designer: Shopping our stash

This is my second week as guest designer for Shopping our sash and challenge 47 is asking for masculine theme or 'boy' colours.

I've used papers from my offcuts box - the main backing papers were originally magazine freebies. The paper backing the DCWV epoxy stickers is Basic Grey cupcake/kazoo blue. This is another entry this week for Pixie's crafty snippets 15.

This is also for:

Scrapbook sisters 78: men
Desert island crafts 28: I chose - no glitter, suitable for a child under 10, 2 or more patterned papers, masculine
Joanna Sheen April: it's a man's world
Charisma cardz 13: chipboard or stickers
Use it Tuesday 29: anything goes - I used all old stash
Robyn's fetish 102: anything goes
Anything goes 64: anything goes
Prairie fairy Fridays 76: anything goes

Under the weather

This is for this week's Willow Sketchie - I've used the sketch and quite a few layers for 'lots of layers':

 All papers, including white card, were from my offcuts box, another opportunity to hop into the playground at Pixie's crafty snippets 15. The stamped image is Funstamps puddle duck, coloured with copics and the sentiment was computer generated and printed. I can't claim to have made the crocheted flowers because they were shop-bought.

Colours inspired by Stamptacular 158 photo inspiration:

This is also for:

Pollycraft 134: water water everywhere
Mad for markers: April showers
Victorine 31: April showers
Oldie but a goodie: April shower (the stamp is much older than six months)
Crafting for all seasons 24: April showers
Inky impressions: April showers
Little red wagon 127: April showers brings May flowers
Pile it on 15: all about S - showers, scraps, sentiment
Do you stack up 66: friendly critters
The squirrel and the fox 15: things with wings
Stamp, scrap & doodle: things with wings
Stamp dreams 128: animals
All kinds of cards 51: animals
My mum's craft shop 51: Easter creations/animals
4 crafty chicks 84: flowers
Wags n whiskers 76: say it with flowers
Lily pad: flowers
Cutie pie 15: favourite cute stamp
Robyn's fetish 102: anything goes
Anything goes 64: anything goes
Crazy amigo: free theme
Papertake: anything goes
Papercraft star 91: anything goes
Prairie fairy Fridays 76: anything goes
Fairytale 38: everything goes
Inspire me Fridays 53
52 card pickup 14

Suzie's 365 day 99: lots and lots

I saw Suzie's prompt for day 99 much earlier today and actually took the photos, but when I came to do the post later this afternoon I found that broadband wasn't working. Fortunately, I have an iPad with 3G so I could get on the internet - just as well as I had an Ocado grocery order for tomorrow that needed finishing - but I hadn't got the photos on the iPad for day 99: lots and lots.

As regular visitors to my blog will know, I have lots and lots of craft goodies, so I've decided today to show you some of my pens/pencils:

White Christmas (again!)

This is for Christmas challenges with sketches 23 (please click on the link to see the sketch) which also has the twist of making the card white on white, with only colour on the image, which I kept to very little with copics. The image is the lovely Stampotique snowman by Jo Capper-Sandon.

I've included some embossing done with a folder through my cuttlebug, flowers and glittered strip from stash and three punched snowflakes made with a Woodware punch.

This is also another card for my own CHNC challenge 67, which this week is 'white Christmas' - would be lovely to see your entries there. It's also another one for Margaret's 'black and white' theme for the Christmas Card Club.

This is also for:

Pixie's crafty snippets 15: all pieces of white card were from my offcuts box
Pile it on 15: all about S - snow, snowman, snowflakes, spots
The cheerful stamp pad 39: anything goes
The poodles parlour: going dotty
Stamp with fun 155:: no Easter card
Paper pretties 200: monochromatic card
Cutie pie 15: favourite cute stamp
Robyn's fetish 102: anything goes
Anything goes 64: anything goes
City crafter 103: hats off to you
Crazy amigo: free theme
Papertake: anything goes
Crafty Ann 62: Christmas in March
Papercraft star 91: anything goes
Prairie fairy Fridays 76: anything goes
Simon says: use your favourite tool - cuttlebug with embossing folder
Bizzy Becs April: add some texture - the embossed dots
CCEE 1214: using an embossing folder
Fairytale 38: everything goes
Inspire me Fridays 53
52 card pickup 14