Jazz it up

This week's challenge 22 on Stampin' royalty is quite an unusual one - 'jazz it up' - 'Find an old project, card, scrapbook layout or My Digital Studio project and jazz it up - make sure to post your before and after picture'.

This is the original card I made last year - you can read about it here -

and it's been sitting in one of my boxes ever since, so I decided that I would take 'mum' off it and 'jazz it up' with some layered flowers and a Happy Birthday.

This is also for:

Charisma 22: 'flowers'
One powerful hour: 'I love that colour but never use it ....' - yellow and blue together
Challenge up your life 21: 'recycling' - the whole card! and the striped blue and white paper was the inside of an old envelope
Stamp away with me (W plus9) colour cue 4: 'white, navy, light yellow, light blue'
By the cute and girly June challenge: 'something old (the original card), something new (the added flower and sentiment) , something borrowed (the striped blue and white paper was 'borrowed' - or recycled - from an old envelope) , something blue (plenty of blue on the card'

WOYWW first anniversary

Over on Julia's blog she is celebrating a whole year of WOYWW. I haven't been taking part for all of the year, but in recent months have joined in on most Wednesdays.

Today my workspace is fairly clear as I haven't done much in the last couple of days - and I admit that I do like to tidy up in between and put everything in its place. Crafting was limited yesterday because John had to go up to St Thomas eye casualty - he has a scratch on his cornea. I did manage one card last night though - more about that later.


You'll notice that I now have my copics a bit more sorted out and all standing on a 'lazy susan' that I can pull towards me when needed and swing round to the container I want - I bought it ages and ages ago and have only recently put it into use.

I've also bought some of the long Really Useful Boxes for my ink pads. I used to keep them in a larger RU box, but had to empty out more when I wanted a particular ink. Now I have a couple of boxes for distress inks etc. The only thing is that I now need some more boxes to house the ink pad overflow!

Here they are in the cupboard:


Lastly, here is the other side of my worktop - not a lot to see, but a few stamps that were used last night for a card for my guest slot on Raise the bar this week - I was chosen as a guest bar tender - you can read about it and see my original card here - very exciting.

And now I must get off here and get the bus to go to the dental hygienist - oh, what fun!

Bubbly Funk photo prompt: machine

On Bubbly Funk forum we've decided to have a photo prompt week at the beginning of every month. We're taking turns over the next few months to set a new prompt. So, for the first seven days of June, Kathy is setting this month's prompts. For today she chose 'machine'.

My photo shows a very necessary machine that seems to be used far too frequently here:

My first joy fold card

I've often thought of making a joy fold card, but have never got round to doing it, so when I saw that this was the challenge this week for Squigglefly 51, I decided to have a go at making one.

The paper is Prima Indeed ollection 'rasberry pastures' - part of a kit I got a while ago from Bubbly Funk. I thought this went nicely with the copics colouring of the Squigglefly hummingbird. The flower at the bottom lefthand corner enables the corner of the flap to be tucked in.

I apologise that the photos are even worse than usual! - the light here is poor today (typical BH Monday) so I had to use flash.



This is also fo:

Sundays with Crissy 4: 'layers'
Moving along with the times 48: 'folds'
Frosted designs: 'photo inspiration'
Sunday stamper 105: 'wing of a dove' - or, in this case, hummingbird
Totally ggorjuss 32: 'wings'
PaperPlay 21: 'up in the air' - the hummingbird
Daisy doodles: 'anything goes' - include a digi
Lucy's cards 10: 'digital'
Bee crafty 30: 'something new' - first time I've made a joy fold card
Pollycraft 46: 'hidden message' - the birthday wishes inside the flap
Hand full of stamps 29: 'ruffle some feathers'

In the pink second birthday

This card uses Papertake sketch 41:

This week's Dancing in pajamas TCP challenge calls for us to use something wooden - I thought I'd got some wooden hearts, but found I must have used them all - then I remembered that I had some wooden numbers, so this is the original state of the number 2:

before I daubed it with Adirondack acrylic gold dabber.

The papers are Forever friends 'with love' , except for the lilac piece across the bottom, which is Making Memories. The teddy with balloon is a FF stamp coloured with copics (and I confess that the butterflies had to be included because of a smudge mark!).



It's also for:

Forever friends: 'kinetic cards'
Magical crafts 16: 'metal madness' - the heart brad
One stitch at a time 15: 'use something new' - although I've had them for a while, I've never used any of my wooden numbers before
Sunday stamper 105: 'wings of a dove' - or, in this case, butterflies
Stampin' sisters in Christ 41: 'use a heart'
Totally gorjuss 32: 'wings'
Die cut dreams 50: 'celebration card must have a number on'
Incy wincy 44: 'for the little ones'
Ooh-la-la 55: 'inspiration - use the colours of the challenge blog'
Shabby tea room: 'dear to my heart' - use hearts
Rosie-dee 71: 'easel card' (a late one for this)
Spoon full of sugar 105: 'celebrations'
Flutter by Wednesday 111: 'open' - included butterflies
Little red wagon 30: 'birthday'
Stampavie 96: 'birthday for a girl'
Moving along with the times 48: 'folds'
Alota 35: 'going buggy' - butterflies
Annabelle: 'say it with ribbon'
Timbroscrap 5: 'pink'
SPCC 50: 'blush blossom, pretty in pink, creamy caramel'
Paper Garden 4th Friday fun challenge for May: 'girly'

I'm also entering this for the current competition on Fiskarettes to make a card with 2 on it in celebration of their 2nd birthday.

Leonardo collage

I love taking part in the Soartful challenges. I usually make something digitally, incorporating the given picture. However, this time I couldn't resist using my Leonard stamp that features part of the picture given on Soartful for 'I am woman':

I wanted the stamp to be the main focus of the card, so I was pleased to find a sketch that was simple enough to achieve this. It's for Inspirational card sketches 68:

The background paper is BG obscure. I lightly distressed the image in parts with spiced marmalade and tattered rose inks. The piece of paper across the middle is from my scraps.

This is also for Pink elephant 68: 'orange'

Kraft, white, fuchsia

This is for Monday lunchtime sketch 123 on Technostamper:

For this card I used this Magenta stamp (one of my favourites):

I stamped with versamark and embossed with hot pink powder (far better sheen irl than on here). Background paper is from the BG basic kraft paper pad - other bits and pieces from scraps, including the piece of ribbon.

This is also for:

Design Dollies colour challenge: 'kraft, white and fuchsia' (I know the white is limited, but it is there on the ribbon)
Tellen's place 19: 'pink and brown'

Black, grey, white with a touch of teal

This is for the sketch on Cards & things 33:


Papers are from the PM touch of teal box, the flower in the oval is die cut decoupage and the butterflies (a bit of poetic licence needed for their size compared with the flowers) are sizzix die cut with oil on water card that reflects a silvery teal when the light is right.

This is also for:

Cupcake 92: 'black and grey with one colour choice' - having used teal for the previous card, I thought I'd also use it here
Allsorts 54: 'black, white and one other'
Jacksonbelle: 'one neutral colour (white), one colour other than black (teal) and black (including shades of grey - hope that's acceptable)
Pollycraft 45: 'buttons and butteflies'
Flutter by Wednesday 111: 'open' - included butterflies
PaperPlay 21: 'up in the aire' - butterflies
Incy wincy 43: 'button up!!!'
Pixie dust studio 24: 'going round and round' - buttons
Ann's creative nook 89: 'round and round we go!' - buttons
ECP 13: 'buttons'
Secret crafter Saturday 85: 'buttons and blooms'

Teal & brown

This is for the Critter sketch 15 (I turned it round):

The papers, the 3D sentiment and the sticky strips are from the PM touch of teal box. The flowers are die cut decoupage.


It's also for:

Crafty Angels week 36: 'teal & brown'
Cutie Sunday 94: 'freestyle'

A thank you apple for the teacher

This card is for Mercy's sketch 75 (I love her sketches):

The image is a Charmed Dottie download from the Dottie at home digis entitled 'back to school'. This week the challenge on Dottie's World is 'thanks a bunch', so this is also for that (just scraping in at the last moment).

There are quite a lot of challenges this week calling for red, white and blue (or our country's flag colours, which, of course, for me in UK are red, white and blue):

Created by hand
Diva coffee break 178
Res-Q 47
Stamp, scrap & doodle 42
No time to stamp 141: 'flying high and proud'

It's also for:

Crazy challenge 16: 'it's a girl thing'
Paper cutz 43: 'card for a teacher'
Penny's challenging challenge: 'fruit and/or veggie theme' - Dottie is holding an apple for the teacher
Daisy doodles: 'anything goes' - I've included a digi
Lucy's cards 10: 'digital'
Annabelle: 'say it with ribbon'

Christmas kiss

This card is for Lexi's creations 14 sketch:

I've used BG figgy pudding papers (wish I could get more because they are running out and I can't get a 6" x 6" pad anywhere). The image is a Charmed download called 'Christmas kiss', which I hope makes it OK for ABC Christmas 'K is for kisses'.

I'm also trying not to get behind again this month with the 25th club on BF forum, so this is my first card for Tracey's June challenge ... 'to use Christmas flora. So holly, mistletoe, ivy and of course Christmas trees.'

It's also for:

Paper sundaes 19: 'favourite book, poem or fairy tale' - my choice: poem 'Twas the night before Christmas' also Disney's 'Fairytale Christmas'
Everybody art 92: ' fairy tale' - my choice: Disney's 'Fairytale Christmas' (including the kiss)
Daisy doodles: 'anything goes' - I've included a digi
Digital Tuesday 60: 'cute people'
Lucy's cards 10: 'digital'

Purple maison des fleurs

I bought the lovely 'maison des fleurs' Stampotique stamp by Janet Klein a while ago and this is my first opportunity to use it.

I've followed the sketch on Scrap-creations going grey challenge 12 which this week is being sponsored by Stampotique:

The background paper is some that was in my scraps box (quite a large 'scrap' because the card is 7" x 5") and the bands of two papers across the middle are BG wisteria.

I stamped the image with dusty concord and then used some of the ink to lightly colour with a water brush.

Stampotique design challenge 8 is ''purple' so this card is also for that.

I'm also linking this for:

Stamptacular 60: 'pearls and swirls'
One stop craft 82: 'swirls & pearls'
Oh alice 15: 'something new is swirling about' - use swirls
Stamp dreams 33: 'swirls'
Frosted designs: 'photo inspiration'
Divine diva inspiration 28 - inspired by the purple flowers on the make-up bag
Hanna and friends 46: 'monochrome'
Kaboodle 31: 'monochromatic card'
Crafts by Carolyn TTC001: 'lilac'

Christmas marathon - yes, really!!

My apologies for those who are visiting because I've linked for challenges - there are ten cards here altogether, so you may have to scroll down to see a card for a particularly link. I'm showing the ten cards together because for the 25th club on BF forum I said I would make ten cards every month. Well, 25 May came and went and I hadn't done any for this month. Gez chose the topic for May and this is what she said: 'For the month of May my challenge is to make Christmas cards using red & green as the main colours. & if you want to make the challenge more difficult how about making your own background for your card or some how incorporating a tag onto your design. & no not including a hippo! but you can include some inchies if you like for triple brownie points.'

Well, all of my cards are red and green and the other elements are all included, but not all on the every card.

1. Brenda Pinnick papers, including the cut inchies, background stamped with Clear artistic stamps 'sparkles bright & happy holidays'. The red glitter background provides texture for the current Delightful sketches challenge. The squares are good for Wednesday stamper: 'it's hip to be square' - they aren't stamped, but the background is.

The sketch is Inchie Inklings 6:



2. BG figgy pudding papers, 'seasons greetings' computer generated - hidden inside is a 'Happy Christmas' label. The diagonal has been cut, so the front of the card is a triangle. As I've not used any stamped images, but just the computer generated sentiment (nor on the next card), this is for Die cut dreams 49. This card has a tag on for Allsorts 53: 'tag/label' - so do cards 3 and 8. And Sparkle creations 25 calls for 'sentiment only' - OK for this card and the next.

There is ribbon the tag (sorry, not very visible here, but it is there!), so I'm linking for Bah! humbug 19: 'ribbon' - there is also ribbon on card 8 below.

I've used the sketch for Crazy4challenges 38 - I've also used this sketch for the next card - and Fab's big Christmas week 21 asks for a card cut on the diagonal and/or use modern Christmas papers - so this card and the next qualify for that:


3. BG figgy pudding and Papermania papers. The diagonal has been cut, so the front of the card is a triangle - here again I used the sketch for C4C 38:

4. Brenda Pinnick and BG figgy pudding papers, Inkadinkado reindeer stamp embossed with gold detail. - just right for Quixotic 27: 'emboss it!' (and so is the next card) and also for Just us girls 35: 'dry embossing'. For this card I used the sketch for Crafty Sentiments 19 - I also used this for the next card:


5. BG figgy pudding papers, Inkadinkado reindeer stamp embossed with gold detail - I used the sketch again from Crafty Sentiments 19:

6. BG figgy pudding papers (using up scraps) and Rubber stampede 'santa collage' stamp, one of my all-time favourites - which is why I'm linking for Crafty creations 69: 'use your favourite stamp - stamped with warm red chalk ink. For this card I used Sketch girl 18:


7. Unknown paper strip (free with a magazine long ago, I think), Magenta stamp coloured with copics, stars from stash. For this I used sketch 65 on Card Patterns:


8. Background free card from PDA, Papermania Merry Christmas strip, Dovecraft tag and corners. The sketch used is Stamping 411 152:


9: Unknown paper with inchies cut from Brenda Pinnick paper. I've used the sketch for CPS 168:


10. Tim Holtz idea-ology retro grunge papers, including the squares, distressed with worn lipstick and fired brick inks; PM swirls stamped with fired brick; The distressing makes this OK for challenge 40 on Stampin' sisters in Christ, Creative inspirations 62: 'distressed' and I think this is also OK for ABC 'V for vintage' and Create4fun 21: 'make a vintage card'. It's also for Fab's 19: 'inking'.

Dovecraft stickers on squares. I've used the sketch on Sweet Sunday 70:


Most of these cards are fine, I think, for:

Corrosive 65: 'clean and simple'
Spoon full of sugar 105: 'celebrations'
Cas-tastic 5: 'a touch of green'
Susie & Vikki's Christmas club 18: 'anything Christmas'

BF May inchies received

Once again the girls on BF came up trumps with the inchies for the May swap, with the subject of 'five' - all so different, but all so on target. Thanks, girls, they are super: