My schooldays

This is a very similar LO to the one I did for today's Salt challenge - a couple of posts below this one - using Smilebox digitally.

This is for 'schooldays' on DCM:

Ann's Creative Nook prize

I won challenge 74 on Ann's Creative Nook and received this prize today:

2 lovely cards, 2 spools of ribbon, a pack of buttons and some rubber stamps (for mother's day).

Thank you so much, Ann.

Salt: Beatitudes

It was my turn to choose the topic for this fortnight's challenge on Salt - you can read what I wrote here.

Having chosen 'the Beatitudes' or 'the blessings', I couldn't decide what to do for my own response to the challenge.

In the end I decided to focus on just one of the Beatitudes - "Blessed are the pure in heart" and it led me to consider the verse in Philippians 4:8 where St Paul encourages us with these words: 'Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.' (NIV Bible). The version I've used on my LO is from The Message - a modern paraphrase of the Bible.

I have made a digi LO using Smilebox, which speaks for itself. The photo isn't me, but one imported from Publisher clipart.

It took me longer to make this LO than it would have done with physical paper and materials, but nevertheless I enjoyed doing it.

Please visit Salt and have a look at what the rest of the time have created for this challenge - and we'd love you to share in our challenge with your own crafting - if you do, please leave us a comment so we can come and look at your creation.

WOYWW today - just about still Wednesday!

It's Wednesday (just about still Wednesday!) which means it's WOYWW on Julia's blog. It seems that today crafters have been showing their drawers! So I thought I'd better let you have a peep inside some of mine.

My top drawer just to the left of me houses all sorts of bits and pieces. I keep a lot of ink pads in boxes in my tall cupboard, but the ones I use the most I keep handy in this top drawer. You can see that I've got a box with inchies and twinchies ... waiting to do something with them - perhaps mini book, or mount them on canvas, or ...

The drawer beneath this houses chalks, alcohol inks, stickles etc - and lots of pens (there are more underneath the two boxes of chalks.

And then there's the drawer where I keep embossing powders and such like.

I thought I'd also let you have a peep inside the bottom of my tall cupboard, where I have a metal nest of drawers in the section that was built specially to house them - and just a few of my boxes.

If you like having a nose at people's crafting spaces, go over to Julia's blog and click on the comments and follow the links.

Viv la France

I've won this lovely selection of Viv la France on Dezinaworld:


I received the downloads last night and they are gorgeous.

I won them for this card:


I've also won some other goodies for challenges, but will show them when I get the prizes.

Unconventional Christmas papers

This card is for challenge 38 sketch on Fun with shapes - the 'buttons' are die cut shapes as detailed below:

It's also for:

Another for the Christmas 25th club on BF for February
Cuttlebug spot: 'silver and black' - the 'buttons' were cut using my cuttlebug with Ellison thin cut buttons
Sparkle creations 2010 Christmas card challenge week 6: 'dry embossing' - on the die cut buttons
My Grafico 34: 'metal' - the 'buttons' were cut from metal sheet
Jacksonbelle Tuesday: 'create an everyday card using unconventional designer paper' - the background is American crafts truly inspired, the glitter embossed diamond paper is unknown (think it might be DCWV), neither of which are conventional Christmas designs
Another for Lucy's cards 4: 'glitter' - on the diamond paper and the polar bear stamped image
Another for Cooking it up with Katie 9: 'recipe: use a 'non human image', add some texture, use a product you've never used before (the 'silver' metal sheet to die cut th 'buttons')
More embossing for Frosted designs
Another for Raise the bar 3: 'the older the better' - use old papers - both papers have been in my offcuts box for a long, long time (hence I can't remember what the diamond one is)
Stamp, scrap & doodle 25: 'open'
Another for Susie & Vikki's Christmas club 3: non traditional Christmas (the papers)
Crafty angels 20: 'buttons'
Another for Cupcake 76: 'four legged & furry'
365 cards day 312: 'metal mania'

I had to resort to a scan because the flash was bouncing off the metal and glitter, but this means that the glitter on the polar bear isn't showing too well (might replace with a photo tomorrow if the light is good enough):


The ribbons at the bottom of the card are DCWV (the only 'conventional' Christmas crafting goodie used on the card, well, apart from the lovely stamped polar bear).

Oh deer - another Christmas card!

This card is for sketch 98 on Paperminutes:

It's also for:

February cards on BF Christmas 25th club (I'm aiming to do 10 every month - this is the third one for this month)
Embellish magazine colour challenge with ribbon - 'turquoise, brown, pink (can add white or cream)'
Another for Basic Grey 12: 'animals' - using eskimo kisses papers
365 cards day 328: 'I'm a frayed not'
Cupcake 76: 'four legged & furry'

Take time for music

This card is for this week's TCP sketch on Dancing in pajamas:

It's also for:

Everybody art 75: 'brown/blue/white'
Flourishes Timeless 51:' inspired by the letter P' - paisley
Sweet stampin' 11: 'scallops'
Our creative corner: 'music challenge'
The craft garden February challenge: 'boys'
Color dare 53:
Kewl colour 15:

All items used were from a magazine give-away.

What's black, white and red all over?

I think it should be written: 'What's black, white and read all over? (Answer at the bottom of this post)

Sorry, couldn't resist that!

This card is for:

ClearlyiStamp (a new challenge blog to me) 6: 'red, black and white'
Sketchy colors 9: 'red/black'
Die cut dreams 33: 'red and black with love' - I hope it's OK that the love is given for a birthday, the red rose being a symbol of love
Dollies colour challenge: 'red and black and one neutral'
Crazy Amigo: 'red'
My time to craft 76: 'elegant rose'
365 cards day 278: 'you can't miss it' - take an image, don't add colour, except one element, which should be glittered

This was a very easy card to make - from a kit that had the ready produced glittered rose image, so all I had to do was colour it with a red copic.

The answer: a newspaper

A quick card

This is a very quick card that fits the challenge on Our creative corner to make a card using the colours blue and green.

The image is one that has been in my box for far too long, matted on to a piece of green ribbed vellum.

Another much-needed birthday card

This card is for ICSketches 51:
It's also for:

SPCC 32: colour challenge: 'close to cocoa, basic grey, creamy caramel
Res-Q 31: 'check up time' - do an inventory check up - use things you haven't used for a long time - the My mind's eye Andrea Victoria paper, the striped ribbon (part of a large ribbon purchase that has been left untouched) and the velvet embossed Laura Ashely brown rub on
Dollies elements challenge: 'birthday theme'
Crafty creations 52: 'celebration'
Inspire me (stamp away with me) 5: 'one man's trash' - use something that would otherwise be tossed - the strip of paper above the ribbon was from the inside of an envelope received
Another for Saturday spotlight 16: 'bigger is better' - the big blooms on the MME paper

A much-needed birthday card

This card is for MTSC58 on Lord have mercy:


It's also for Paperplay 4: 'pink, white and green' and also for day 333 on 365 cards: 'the 3 G's - green, glitter and grosgrain

I've come to the conclusion that for a while I need to concentrate on making more birthday cards because my stock is quite low (and it doesn't help when I keep making Christmas cards!).

The background of this card is a green ribbed effect vellum and the foreground glittered flowery panel is also vellum.

Jumbo snowflakes

Another Christmas card - this time it's for Fab's big Christmas week 4: 'snowflakes' and I've gone for the giant size for Saturday spotlight 16: 'bigger is better'.

It's also another one for the 25th club on BF, this time with a polar bear rather than a reindeer.

The background paper is some that I got ages ago with an edition of Crafts Beautiful, the large lilac snowflake was part of a kit from BF, the centre is one of the crystal centres I got with my prize voucher (here). The polar bear was stamped from a stamp swap on CBC the Christmas before last (I loved it so much that I stamped a lot and still have some to use) - and he has been glittered with stickles crystal ice.

'Snowflakes' is the topic for challenge 27 on Pals paper arts and 'snow' is the Monday challenge this week on Fiskarettes, so I'll also show the card there.

I think it also qualifies for Susie & Vikki's Christmas club 3: 'non-traditional Christmas (the colours). And also for Die cut dreams 32: 'bears'.

Having tried different ways to take photos of my cards, I managed to get a little easel in Hobbycraft the other day, but now, of course (looking at this card) I realise that you can't see the bit underneath the sentiment - oh well ....!!

Vintage Christmas stripes

This card is for the Crafty pad sketch for challenge 55 (a new challenge will be going up any moment now, so I realise this is late, but still wanted to do it):

It's also for Fab's big Christmas week 2: 'merry & bright' - vintage colours and/or stripes - I know that I'm late for this, but trying to keep up my resolution of making Christmas cards throughout the year, so this challenge is helpful - and I think I've fulfilled the criteria

And it's already into month 2 for the 25th club on BF - so this fits in nicely with Tracey's challenge for us to use animals on our cards, particularly perhaps reindeer, so here he is! My aim for the BF 25th club is to make 10 cards each time, so that's one done, nine to go!

And, as this has a vintage 'flavour' to it, I'm linking it for If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 20: 'vintage'.


The card was made from a QVC kit (bought for making some quick cards).

Timeless memoirs

This card is for sketch 49 on Card Patterns:

It has the colours in the inspiration picture for Whimsical Wednesday Diedrich dare 20:
It's also for:

Cute Daisy May: 'vintage'
If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 20: 'vintage'
Peachy keen 21: any format, must contain a vintage item or be inspired by something vintage, must contain at least one stamped image - I used Stampendous 'timeless memoirs' stamp inked with heritage old English red on a piece of HOTP paper that was then torn and edged with tattered rose distress ink
Another for Ooh-la-la 46: 'distressing'

The background paper is BG sugared and the flowers/swirls are BG opaline designer half pearls.


Lol! Just realised I'd called this 'Timless memoirs' - I've now inserted the 'e'!

A gift for mummy

This card is for Laura's sketch 44 on 2 sketches 4 you:

Also for ColourQ 17:

It's also for:

Today (day 336) on 365 cards: 'the 3 S's - Stripes, Square, Spring'
Susie's sassy 7: 'red, white and blue'
Another for Artful inkables Think Ink Tuesday: 'think spring'
Another for Dottie's world: 'leaf it! - using the Charmed digi Sugar & Spice 'gift for mummy' - there are leaves on the stem of the flower
Sophisticat 19: 'mother, miss you ... or a tribute' - thought this is appropriate because the digi is called 'gift for mummy'
Another for Squigglefly 33: 'summer card in January'
Raise the bar 3: 'the older the better' - use old papers - the red and black background is a piece of HOTP paper that must have been in my offcuts for a long, long time, and so has the striped paper which was originally free with a magazine

Heart 4 heart's sake

This card is for this week's Card Positioning systems sketch 151:

I added to the sketch a bit, but I hope you can still see it.

It's also for:

Anyone for Anya: 'heart 4 heart's sake' - the digi image is Miss Anya autumn
Copic colour 49:
Another for Stampavie 79: 'love card/Valentine'
Another for Inky impressions 28: 'Valentine' - must include pink and hearts
One powerful hour: 'pink and brown'
Ooh-la-la 46: 'distressing' - sanded around the edges of the brown paper
Another for Little red wagon 13: 'hearts'
Another for Hand full of stamps 14: 'I give you my heart'
Another for Dare U 2 digi 30: 'hearts' - Miss Anya autumn is a digital image
Another for fussy & fancy 3: 'hearts'
Secret crafter Saturday 68: 'hearts'
Bee crafty 23: 'romance' - I've included a digi image

The papers were from my scraps box (I wish I could remember what the brown paper is because I'd love to get some more of it), the striped paper is Making memories and the sequined and beaded hearts are from Paper n Lace.

Blue periphery

This card is for challenge 75 on Ann's creative nook, which specifies this sketch:

and using white with one other colour only, so I've chosen shades of blue.

It's also for:

Day 334 on 365 cards: 'the 3 B's - Blue, Blossom and emBoss - the strip on the lefthand side has been embossed with a cuttlebug folder and the prima blossoms are embossed
Dollies colour challenge: 'Design dollies are bringin' the blue - monochromatic blues'
Another for Stampin' B 43: 'make a card with a butterfly, a flower and a die cut'
Another for Treehouse 34: 'butterfly + flower'
Another for Frosted designs: 'embossing challenge'
Apron strings: 'stamping' - the central image is a Laura Ashley stamp inked with Stazon ultramarine; the background was achieved with an Elzybell texture stamp and a couple of shades of blue inks
Elzybells 35: 'your own stamped patterned paper' - I used Elzybells texture stamp for the background
2 red bananas: 'behind the scenes' - create your own stamped background
Another for Basic Grey 12: 'animals' - birds and butterflies - all the papers I've used are BG Periphery (given to me by a kind crafting friend)
Another for Spoon full of sugar 88: 'freestyle' - anything you like
Another for Flutter by Wednesday 94: 'open - include butterfly, fairy or angel'
Another for Cute card Thursday 97: 'blooming gorgeous'
Theme Thursday: 'busy!' - with lots of elements
Tanda teaser 131: 'ink it up' - plenty of inking on the background as well as for the centre image

The embossed panel on the left and the central shape has been chalked.

Silver, pink and blue with love

This card is for sketch 48 on Card Patterns:


It's also for:

Basic Grey 12: 'animals' (butterflies are part of the animal kingdom, aren't they?) - I've used BG euphoria papers
Another for Allsorts 36: 'hearts and flowers'
KL stampin' n scrappin' 14: 'nesties, punches and dies - oh my' - the circles were die cut on my cricut, and the metallic butterfly is a spellbinders die cut
Another for One stop craft 64: 'love and kisses'
Stamp, scrap & doodle 24: 'spring'
Another for Totally Gorjuss: 'dimension' - particularly the flowers, but also the silver ribbon and the butterfly
Another for Dottie's world: 'leaf it!' - the digi image is a Charmed download - sugar & spice 'butterfly kisses'
Magical crafts 7: 'Valentine's'
Lexi's creations 6: 'Valentine's'
Squigglefly 33: 'summer card in January'
Another for Artful inkables Think ink Tuesday 12: 'think spring'
Die cuts R us 23: 'ribbon' - the silver ribbon down the lefthand side
Doodle palace: 'something new' - I couldn't wait to open the pack and use the Craftime silver flowers - and Alphabet 'N is for new' for the same reason
Another for Lucy's cards 4: 'glitter' - on the silver ribbon and in the centres of the silver flowers
Spoon full of sugar 88: 'freestyle' - anything you like
Another one for Belli 83: 'hearts'
Creative INSPIRATIONS 45: 'feminine'
Fab n funky 8: 'use any digi image or sentiment - the Charmed digi
Flutter by Wednesday 94: 'open - include butterfly, fairy or angel'
Gingersnap GC39:'metallics' - the butterfly die cut
Another for Inky impressions 28: 'Valentine' - must include pink and hearts
Little red wagon 13: 'hearts'
Quixotic 11: 'flutter by'
Stampavie 79: 'love card/Valentine'
Colour create 37: 'soft pink, soft blue, white and silver'
Cute card Thursday 97: 'blooming gorgeous'
Dutch dare 70: 'summer in winter'
Stampin' B 43: 'make a card with a butterfly, a flower and a die cut'
Treehouse 34: 'butterfly + flower'
Crafty Ann 6: 'metal' - the butterfly
Dare U 2 digi 30: 'hearts/Valentine' - the image is a Charmed digi
Frosted designs: 'embossing challenge' - the butterfly die cut is embossed
Fussy & fancy 3: 'hearts'
Humble pie: 'flowery'
Hand full of stamps 14: 'I give you my heart'

Gosh, that's a lot of challenges, but I guess that with a certain special date in February coming up soon, it's not surprising that there are a few around atm that are thinking about love, hearts, flowers etc.

I apologise that I took the picture slanting, but that was to avoid too much glare on the metallic butterfly and foiled flowers.

What's the point in lilac?

This card is for this week's DCM 'what's the point?' challenge thought up by Kathy.

I decided to use the points of stars and layered some lilac and silver ones and chipboard ones that I'd triple embossed with silver UTEE. I xyroned a piece of Christmas greetings vellum that I've had for a couple of years on to an unknown piece of starry lilac paper.

So it's a very simple card, but, with the large star and the embossed vellum, it seemed a shame to add anything else.

I'm also linking it for Alphabet L for lilac, Sparkle Creations 8: 'no colouring in' - inks are allowed, so the triple embossing is OK - and frosted designs: 'chipboard challenge'.





Having bought the 'flower frogs' with the spikes to try and display my cards to take photos, I managed to get a little easel this morning in Hobbycaft, so am trying using that (still haven't put my stamps back on the shelf though).

Visit to Hobbycraft

I've been out this morning. John was having a car to take him to a bowls committee meeting, so I went with him and was taken on to Hobbycraft at Crayford and then was collected after the meeting. So I had a good time to wander around - I did manage to spend some money (would have been rude not to), including some nice Bo Bunny papers. It really made a change to go somewhere like that ... and now I'm feeling cream crackered.

So this is what I bought: