Animal antics

This is the first of two cards that I made by upcycling elements from one card. I love the drawings of the dogs. The blue gingham paper was added underneath the three little squares and for the strip with the birthday sentiment.

Using pictures of dogs prompted by Pinspirational 57:

The card blank is deep brown - colours for Come and get it: brown, blue and cream.

This is for:

The pink elephant 199: masculine birthday theme
Woodware UK: cards for men
Paper creators 8: for the boys
Incy wincy: animal antics
Ruby's rainbow 54: squares
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Sister Act 6: anything goes
Scrap-cards 47: animals
Animal friends 2: checked and/or striped
Creative craft 10: just checking
Challenges 4 everybody 20: anything goes
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 140
Inspire me Fridays 102
52 card pick-up 2.19

Guest design slot for Fab 'n' Funky: favourite embellishments

This is my third week with the privilege of being a guest designer with the team at Fab 'n' Funky and today's challenge is to use favourite embellishments.

I think you can tell that flowers are my favourites, followed closely by ribbons.

Fab 'n' Funky challenge 171 is being sponsored by Dilly Beans:

Dilly Beans kindly provided the 'Molly's hearts framed' digital image that I've used. I coloured with Spectrum noirs (I used to be a real copics fan - still love them - but since I bought some Spectrum noirs I love using them.

I used My Mind's Eye  summer papers (have had these ages) and core-dinations card. Flowers are a mix of Martha Stewart, Prima and Create and Craft silk flowers. The glitter ribbons were from Create and Craft. I've just realised that the turquoise ribbon shows up very dark here.

The Happy Birthday sentiment panel was from Craftwork cards. I used chalks to colour the original white panel.

The back is also decorated with the pink card and ribbons.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Hobby cutz 6: more than one fold
Ribbon carousel 81: celebrations
CRAFT 206: birthday
Pile it on 19: for a teen (think this is suitable for a teenager girl)
Creatalicious 50: for the girls
Gofish 41: glitter
One stop craft 228: add some glitter
Mark's finest paper speedy fox and friends 159: use glitter
Melonheadz friends: sparkle and shine
Deep ocean 51: let's sparkle
Crafts and me 133: use a digi
Di's digi designs: show us your bling
Crafty bloggers network 11: O's and X's - I choose the diagonal with bling, digi stamp, ribbon
Allways something creative 54: we want to see plants (flowers)
Simon says: flower power
Three scrappy gals May: flowers
Get creative May: flowers
Order of the opus gluei 156: bouquet for you
Can you digi it 35: birthday flowers
Dare to be sassy 176: flowers
DL.ART thankful Thursday 109: flowers
My Sheri 110: flower power - 3D flowers
The sisterhood of crafters: April showers bring May flowers - use at least one flower
Love to create 65: flowers, flowers, so many pretty flowers
Songbird 20: bloom and grow - flowers
Use your stuff 84: focused on flowers
PumpkinSpice: flowers
My time to craft 221: show us the inside
Left of center 5: use a digi image
Crafty boots: celebrations
Clear it out: anything goes + stash: use 2 or more patterned papers
Delightful: stash it
Chalk n stock May: anything goes (used chalks on the sentiment panel)
The paper shelter 112: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
Crafters digital art center: anything goes
Sister Act 6: anything goes
Simply create too 37: anything goes
Crafty catz 182: anything goes
Challenges 4 everybody 20: anything goes
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 140
Inspire me Fridays 102
52 card pick-up 2.19

Welcome baby girl

Background paper for this simple card is DCWV. The little rocking horse die cut has been in my 'baby' box for a long time, has has the silver teddy which I tinged with pale pink and mounted on to pink and brown.

This is for:

Red carpet studio 36: baby mama
The crazy challenge 145: baby card
Ladybug: baby
Aud sentiments 80: baby or mother and child
In the pink 20: may be baby
PanPastel UK 19: in the pink
Whoopsi Daisy: pretty in pink
Incy wincy: animal antics
Scrap-cards 47: animals
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 140
Inspire me Fridays 102
52 card pick-up 2.19

Golden oldies ...

In these days of MP3s etc, even CDs are taking a back seat, so what about LPs? Those were the days! These three cards, using a Kanban kit bought long ago, reflect that era.

On each card the record sleeve acts as a pocket for the LP to be slid in and out.

On the record on the left it says:

Golden Oldie:
1. You're the Best
2. The Best
3. Number 1

The record top right says:

Celebrate:
1. Happy Birthday
2. It's time to party

And the last one says:

Birthday Remix:
1. Time to party
2. Turn up the music

Think these would be suitable to give to male or female.

These are for:

Facebook A card a day
Squigglefly 1913: there is something in my pocket
Joanna Sheen: music & lyrics
Papertake: the sound of music
Crafty boots: celebrations
MilkCoffee: shabby chic/vintage
DRS 69: circles
CRAFT 206: birthday
The pink elephant 199: masculine birthday theme
Woodware UK: cards for men
Paper creators 8: for the boys
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 140
Inspire me Fridays 102
52 card pick-up 2.19

Noel Noel

A simple card made with Anna Griffin supplies (quite old now).

Sorry the photo is fuzzy (couldn't get a better one) - the sentiment says 'wishing you a very merry Christmas'. The sentiment and the flowers are decoupaged.


This is for:

Holly jolly Christmas: first letter/first name - H (Hazel) for holly
Cupcake craft 242: lots of layers
Order of the opus gluei 156: bouquet for you
Songbird 20: bloom and grow - flowers
Use your stuff 84: focused on flowers
DL.ART thankful Thursday 109: flowers
My Sheri 110: flower power - 3 dimensional flowers
PumpkinSpice: flowers
Papertake: the sound of music - song inspiration: The first Noel

Simply shaped

This card is very similar to the one shown here, using a shaped car blank, a doily and Hunkydory supplies.

This is for:

613 avenue create 19: anything goes create a shaped card
Anything goes 92: shaped but not square
Party time 120: shaped cards
Dream valley 56: no squares allowed
Tuesday throwdown 147: smell the roses
QKR stampede 38: spring
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 43: spring
Card and scrap 54: use doilys
Delightful: stash it
Simply create too 37: anything goes
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 140
Inspire me Fridays 102
52 card pick-up 2.19

Just a note ...

This is a card made with the result of my second attempt at playing with the gelli plate, using various paints, sequin waste, masks and Tim Holtz stampers anonymous ultimate grunge stamps. When it was dry I stamped on to it using the pens and hand with pen from the Indigo Blu 'take the time set', also the 'just a note' sentiment stamp from Hobbycraft. The music score is Tim Holtz tissue tape.

Photo isn't good because of flash shining - might try to get a better one tomorrow.

This is a slightly better photo taken in daylight - you can now see the pen at the end of the 'just a note ...' sentiment.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Inky linky 14
Simon says stamp and show: a little paper (bit less than 6 x 6)
Crafty ribbons 45: no designer paper
Fashionable stamping 47: anything goes
Loves rubber stamps 51: anything goes
Joanna Sheen: music & lyrics
Ooh-la-la 130: seeing red
MilkCoffee: shabby chic/vintage
Mayzy art 17: for the boys
That craft place: makes for men

With love on your special day

Another golden wedding anniversary card, this time using another offcut of My Craft Studio card with the music score and a piece of embossed pearl paper (using the embossing folder that came with my eBosser - already a favourite - so versatile).

The sentiment panel is gold mirror card, which makes it very difficult to get a photo - much better irl. Just the addition of the glitter strip and the Craftime flower and the card was done.

This is for:

Pixie's crafty snippets week 72
CCEE 1319: use those scraps
Hiding in my craftroom 97: super scraps Saturday
ABC 28: wedding & anniversary
Polka doodles 19: anniversaries
Crafty boots: celebrations
Joanna Sheen: music & lyrics
Mark's finest papers speedy fox and friends 159: use glitter
Deep ocean 51: let's sparkle

The paper shelter 111: love is in the air

Golden wedding anniversary

Recently I was asked to make a few special anniversary cards - this is one of them.

The aperture card blank is one of many similar ones that I've had for a long time. I used an offcut of My Craft Studio card in the aperture, adding the sparkly champagne flute stickers, the numerals and the sentiment.

This is for:

Pixie's crafty snippets week 72
ABC 28: wedding & anniversary
Polka doodles 19: anniversaries
Crafty boots: celebrations
Joanna Sheen: music & lyrics
One stop craft 228: add some glitter
Mark's finest papers speedy fox and friends 159: use glitter
Melonheadz friends: sparkle and shine
Deep ocean 51: let's sparkle
The paper shelter 111: love is in the air

Gelli plate print

I received my gelli plate a couple of weeks ago, but this morning is the first time that I've had it out of the package and had a play with it. I've already discovered what not to do as well as, I hope, what to do in future. Like everything else, it's a learning curve - or rather a 'playing' curve, because that's what you need to do - play!

So this is my first attempt at creating a background using various acrylic paints, sequin waste, masks and Tim Holtz stampers anonymous ultimate grunge stamps.

I added a piece of Papermania sparkly ric rac, a Kanban sentiment and stamped a Clarity stamp called 'leafy column' inked with memento tuxedo black.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Facebook A card a day
Inky linky 14
Challenges 4 everybody 20: anything goes
The cheerful stamp pad 60: it's natural
Pink by design: thank you
Simon says stamp and show: a little paper (bit less than 6 x 6)
Sweet stamps monthly technique challenge: stamp your own background paper
Crafty ribbons 45: no designer paper
Fashionable stamping 47: anything goes
Loves rubber stamps 51: anything goes

Simply orange and brown

A simple card using an orange card blank run through an embossing folder and swiped with brown corduroy distress ink, which I also used on the top flower. The sentiment was stamped with memento rich cocoa. Flowers are prima.

The use of orange inspired by Crazy 4 challenges 185:

This is also for:

Catered crop: make an impression - embossing
Paper playtime 9: emboss
Addicted to stamps and more 44: addicted to CAS
Totally papercrafts 166: CAS
Sweet stampin: clean & simple
DL.ART thankful Thursday 109: flowers
PumpkinSpice: flowers
One crazy stamper: May flowers
Lady Anne Friday sentiment 9: anything goes

Seeing stars

I'm still seeing stars for my CHNC challenge 124, this time using a stamp kindly supplied by one of the sponsors, Flonz craft. The card is based on the sketch given for Christmas challenges with sketches 72 (please click on the link to see the sketch).

The papers are from my Christmas offcuts box, including the little piece on the bottom right which is one of the remains of the upcycled card from Christmas crackers a couple of years ago (not sure that there is any more left now).

Colours are for 52 Christmas card throwdown May colour:

This is also for:

Facebook Sunday's with Santa week 19: baubles
Hiding in my craftroom 97: super scraps Saturday
Squigglefly 1813: it's a monotone kind of day
Penny Black and more at Allsorts May: sew special - stitching
Catered crop: make an impression - embossing
Paper playtime 9: emboss
Ribbon carousel 81: celebrations (Christmas)
Crafty creations 221: something old/something new (stamp is new, other supplies are old)

Third card for CHNC challenge 124: seeing stars

This is the card made with the largest print out of Bugaboo Stamps 'raggedly angel - lay on star' image that I coloured digitally in Paint for my CHNC challenge 124.

The background paper and card were from my offcuts box - the gold embossed mirror card was embossed with the folder that came with my eBosser. Ribbon and sentiment are from stash.

This is also for:

Facebook a card a day
Catch the bug May anything goes
Paper makeup digi makeover 87: favourite colour - I love working with gold for Christmas
Sparkles Christmas challenge 28: favourite festive colours
Squigglefly 1813: it's a monotone kind of day
Delightful: stash it (all old supplies)
Left of center 5: use a digi image
Di's digi designs: show us your bling
Simon says: things with wings
No matter which 9: things with wings
Natalie and Amy 9: things with wings
Pink gem 79: things with wings
Brown sugar 41: angels & fairies
Catered crop: make an impression - embossing
Paper playtime 9: emboss
Perfect sentiments 78: dry embossing
Really reasonable ribbon 71: sparkle, bling & ribbon
Ribbon carousel 81: celebrations (Christmas)
Simply create too 37: anything goes
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Glitter n sparkle 31: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 139
Inspire me Fridays 102
52 card pick-up 2.19

Another star for CHNC challenge 124: seeing stars

This is the second card I made using the middle size print out of Bugaboo Stamps 'raggedly angel - lay on star' for my CHNC challenge 124.

For this card I've followed the sketch for Merry Monday 61 at Always playing with paper:

The card blank is a kraft one, The piece of paper down the side is an offcut and the sentiment is from an Anna Griffin kit.

This is also for:

Addicted to stamps and more 44: addicted to CAS
Totally papercrafts 166: CAS
Sweet stampin: clean & simple
A little bit crafty May: kraft it
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
Hiding in my craftroom 97: super scraps Saturday
Pink gem 79: things with wings

CHNC challenge 124: seeing stars

It's Saturday again and that means a new challenge on my Christmas blog. For CHNC challenge 124 I'm asking to see stars - at least one on your Christmas cards, but many more if you wish.

I've used the 'raggedly angel - lay on star' image kindly provided by Bugaboo Stamps who are one of the three sponsors for this challenge - there are three super prizes, as usual, so please go and check it out.

I coloured the image digitally in Paint and printed it out in three sizes, so I've made three cards with the three sizes. This is the first one, which I based on the sketch for Cupcake craft 241:

All papers and card used were from my offcuts box, as well as pieces of gold glitter strips and a gold sentiment.

This is also for:

Lizzy's & Tamesis Christmas challenge 6: star
Pink gem 79: things with wings

A layout for mum

Mother's Day has been and gone in the UK, but it's always good to remember our mums. This is a digitally produced LO using a couple of photos taken Christmas 2012 when mum's care home had a Christmas party.

When I look at this now I think I might have been a bit too heavy-handed with the fading, but, hey ho, 'tis done now.

This is for:

PumpkinSpice: make a project with a mother's theme
Tuesday throwdown 146: my mother, my friend
Little red wagon 184: all about mom
GoGish 40 mom
Hobby cutz 5: mother's day
Pile it on 18: for a mother
The squirrel and the fox 43: mother's day
Created with love 40: mother's day
Eureka 38: mother's day
Melonheadz friends: mother's day

Make an animal card

This card is for PumpkinSpice 'make an animal card' challenge, using a ready decorated card blank that I've had for ages and ages with a Craftime greeting and a Carte Blanche 'me to you' 3D sticker.

This is also for:

Emma's cards: pink & blue
Ruby's rainbow 53: furry friends
Creative craft challenges 9: all about animals
Forever friends May: anything goes
Whimsy 59: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Glitter n sparkle 31: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 139
Inspire me Fridays 102
52 card pick-up 2.19

Instant photo

This week on PumpkinSpice there are lots of challenges for National Scrapbook Day. This is for the 'instant photo' challenge, using a Polaroid type frame - definitely bringing back memories of the past when I had a Polaroid camera and thought it was wonderful to see an 'instant' picture emerging ... before the days of wonderful digital imaging that is so easy now.

I've layered a picture of John on to a Polaroid frame, added the place and date that it was taken and then placed this on a background picture taken at the same place on the same day.

This is also for:

Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Glitter n sparkle 31: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 139
Inspire me Fridays 102
52 card pick-up 2.19

Patchwork embossing

Another simple card - background is a patchwork tri-boss Boofie embossing folder. The sentiment and the little stamped image with gems have been in a box for ages waiting to be used one day!

This is for:

Facebook A card a day
Crafty ribbons 45: no designer paper
Catered crop: make an impression - embossing
Paper playtime 9: emboss
Perfect sentiments 78: dry embossing
CRAFT 206: birthday
Moving along with the times: CAS (clean and simple)
Divas by design: anything goes
My heart pieces: anything goes
Whimsy 59: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Glitter n sparkle 31: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 139
52 card pick-up 2.18

Birthday circles and stars

A mixture of circles and stars for a Happy Birthday, with some stripes added behind them - matted on to a card blank with a ready made background.

This is for:

Crafty sentiments: use a sentiment
CRAFT 206: birthday
DRS 69: circles
Moving along with the times: CAS (clean and simple)
Divas by design: anything goes
My heart pieces: anything goes
Whimsy 59: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Glitter n sparkle 31: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 139
Inspire me Fridays 101
52 card pick-up 2.18

Birthday balloons

Two simple cards made with some embossed silver mirror card that was left over from making a previous card - A4 embossing folder that came with my eBosser. Just the addition of the sentiments and the lovely Carte Blanche 'me to you' 3D stickers - I took one layer off so that I could make the two cards - the top card is still decoupaged and the next one is flat.

These are for:

Crafty ribbons 45: no designer paper
Catered crop: make an impression - embossing
Paper playtime 9: emboss
The paper nest dolls 3: emboss
Perfect sentiments 78: dry embossing
Ruby's rainbow 53: furry friends
Creative craft challenges 9: all about animals
CRAFT 206: birthday
PumpkinSpice NSD 11: Children - cards for children
Moving along with the times: CAS (clean and simple)
Crafty sentiments: use a sentiment
Forever friends May: anything goes
Divas by design: anything goes
My heart pieces: anything goes
Whimsy 59: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Glitter n sparkle 31: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 139
Inspire me Fridays 101
52 card pick-up 2.18