Hope you have a wheelie good birthday, Son

It's one of my stepson's birthday later this week (I'm sure it's quite safe to show it here because I don't think he looks at my blog - and if his partner does, then please don't tell him).

Anyway, I've used the sketch for Cupcake craft 116:

I someimes find it difficult to make cards for family because I've been cardmaking for over ten years now and it can be hard coming up with new ideas. Steve is interested in bikes, so I know this will be appropriate (although I think I might have done a card similar to this a couple of years ago - oh yes, I've tried to keep scans of them, but have changed computers and some got lost). But I think it's sufficient different to be OK.

I've had the background sentiments papers and scalloped strips for quite some time, but they definitely come in handy sometimes. The image is a photo I got as part of a 'man' kit - lots of useful photos on all sorts of manly pursuits - they come in very handy too.

I'm also linking this for:

Pixie dust studio 48: it's all about men/boys in our lives
Order of the opus gluei 80: men
Sisterhood of crafters: birthday
Pattie's creations 4: birthday card
Dollies colour challenge: royal blue, pale blue, black and white
Tanda teaser 159: lt's do sporty
Challenge up your life 31: blue/green
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme

Fuzzy Santas

For these cards the backgrounds were printed from My Craft Studio Magic of Christmas CD and the Santa tags were from Poundland - the red on Sant's hat and nose is very 'touchy feely' - it's flocked:

These are for:

Mami doodles 14: fuzzy
Whoopsi Daisy: it's Christmas
Shelly's images terrifically thrilling Thursday: anything goes with Christmas
Crazy4challenges 63: Christmas
A crafty little place 64: red, white and green
Stamp something: November digi day
Some odd girl 9: backgrounds (digi)
2 sisters 13: Christmas
Bee crafty 42: Christmas 2
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme

Sepia Christmas stamping

These sets of cards were simply stamped using large foam stamps (these are such good value) with memento rich cocoa ink. These are for Cutie stampers: brown and for Aly's Sunday 29: music.

The second one is also for Something completely different: wings.

They are all also for:

Whoopsi Daisy: it's Christmas
Shelly's images terrifically thrilling Thursday: anything goes with Christmas
Crazy4challenges 63: Christmas
2 sisters 13: Christmas
Just add ink 43: just add Christmas
Stamp man 9: Christmas
Stamp and create 7: 'tis the season
Crafty Ann 27: Christmas card using non-traditional colours
No time to stamp 165: non-traditional Christmas colours
There's magic in the air Magical Monday: non-traditional colours & Xmas card
Loonie 118: one layer wonder
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme

Pink notebook

This is a notebook made using my BIA machine. The paper is Dreamstreet and the 3D flowers are Anna Griffin.

It's for:

Crafty Emma 12: think pink
Our daily bread 37: anything but a card
Kort o mania 27: flower power
Creative Friday 30: free theme
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes

Another fuzzy Santa

This card uses another of the Poundland Santa tags - the red parts are flocked, making it very 'touchy feely'.

Papers are artic frog ski bunny - 'snowflakes' is the theme for Spoon full of sugar 129, Speedy the cat (Mark's finest papers) 29, Die cut dreams Christmas club 43 and Crafty calendar 14, so I'm linking for these.

It's also for:

Mami doodles 14: fuzzy
Whoopsi Daisy: it's Christmas
Shelly's images terrifically thrilling Thursday: anything goes with Christmas
Crazy4challenges 63: Christmas
2 sisters 13: Christmas
Crafty Ann 27: Christmas card using non-traditional colours
No time to stamp 165: non-traditional Christmas colours
There's magic in the air Magical Monday: non-traditional colours & Xmas card
Freshly brewed: two or more patterned papers (yes, they look very similar, but there are two papers)
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme

Angelic green and gold

Neither the scan nor the photo really show the card as it looks. It's one of those that's so difficult to capture because of the shiny surface of the gold and green foiled card - so easy to get your own reflection on the card! The gold foiled card with green leaves was a piece left over from last year. The angel image is a rub on with glittered wings, put straight on to the green stardream card.



It's for:

Secret crafter Saturday 109: sparkle & shine
Flourishes timeless 92: glitter
Crafts and me 17: glitter
One powerful hour: little angels
Something completely different: wings
Whoopsi Daisy: it's Christmas
2 sisters 13: Christmas
Shelly's images terrifically thrilling Thursday: anything goes with Christmas
Crazy4challenges 63: Christmas
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme

Thinking of you

I've sometimes been asked for 'thinking of you' cards suitable to send to an older man, so I hope these fit the bill.

The stamp is Personal Impressions, coloured with copics.


These are for:

Pixie dust studio 48: it's all about men/boys in our lives
Rainbow lady 126: lest we forget - thinking of you
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme

Too impatient for the stickles to dry!

This is for Card patterns sketch 89:

It's also for the colour combo this week on Tuesday taggers: silver, gold and purple with some stamping. The base card is stardream, which has a glittery finish. The background paper is DCWV, on to which I stamped a Christmas lights stamp randomly and embossed with clear silver. I'm still waiting for the stickles golden rod on the lights to dry - I couldn't get the card to stay flat and didn't want to handle it too much, but was impatient to get it blogged.

The silver ribbon and the stockings have been in boxes for ages - I think the stockings came with a swap a few years ago. I wouldn't normally think of putting gold and silver together, but I think it works here.


This is also for:

Crafty Ann 27: Christmas card using non-traditional colours
No time to stamp 165: non-traditional Christmas colours
There's magic in the air Magical Monday: non-traditional colours & Xmas card
Whoopsi Daisy: it's Christmas
Shelly's images terrifically thrilling Thursday: anything goes with Christmas
Crazy4challenges 62: square card
Anything goes 24: emboss it
Paper pretties: embossing
Character cafe: embossing
Flourishes timeless 92: glitter
Crafts and me 17: glitter
Delightful: glitter it up!
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme

Totally Gorjuss sketch

This is for the sketch for Totally Gorjuss 55:

I used part of a Gojuss Christmas kit, including the background paper, with just the addition of a glittery star and snowflakes.

Not a good picture, but want to link this tonight before a new challenge is posted.

You can see better here that the main image is decoupaged:

This is also for:

Pile it on 44: furry holiday cards - Christmas + animal
Creative craft: starlight/starbright
Crafty Ann 27: Christmas card using non-traditional colours
No time to stamp 165: non-traditional Christmas colours
There's magic in the air Magical Monday: non-traditional colours & Xmas card
One stitch at a time 38: winter wonderland
ABC Christmas: W for winter wonderland
Dollies elements challenge: it's getting cold - and something glittery
Whoopsi Daisy: it's Christmas
Paper players 23: snowman
Stampin' sisters in Christ 64: snow
Spoon full of sugar 129: snow/snowflakes
Crafty calendar 14: winter snowflakes
Shelly's images terrifically thrilling Thursday: anything goes with Christmas
Crazy4challenges 62: square card
Flourishes timeless 92: glitter
Crafts and me 17: glitter
Delightful: glitter it up!
Sew many challenges: blue & white
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme

BF thanksgiving inchies

The theme for the BF forum November inchies swap is 'thanksgiving'.

I prepared the inchies digitally before printing them out.

I used the fall background that was given for this week's challenge on Soartful:

I used the right hand side of this and then inserted some of the image below (I found it on the internet), fading it to transparent on the right hand side so that the original Soartful background could be seen there.

I then added the text and printed out. I'm sorry that the photo makes them look much more faded than they are. So these are for the 'fallen background' challenge on Soartful:


They are also for:

Stamp something: November digi day
City crafter 30: thank you
Creative card crew: let's give thanks
Aud sentiments 15: happy thanksgiving
Scrappy frogs: give thanks
Frosted designs: thankful
Our creative corner: an attitude of gratitude
Order of the Opus Gluei 79: an attitude of gratitude
Stamp, scrap & doodle: fall
Crafty Emma store 11: forever autumn
Lots to do: autumnal colours
Meljen 33: food
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme

This morning's crafting

First thing this morning I said that I would make my inchies for the BF forum, do my pages in the next CJ and make some family birthday cards ... so, what did I do? I made a sympathy card, having seen today's challenge on DCM: A time to remember - asking us to include a poppy.

I've used the sketch on Sketch Saturday 128:

For the background I used a scrap left over from my card for Ooh La La challenge 66 as a Guest Designer - the paper is from the Ooh La La's Watercolour memories CD 'Poppy farm. I used a scrap of BG paper for the sentiment and embossed strip, using a cuttlebug folder and distressing with DI fired brick. So I'm linking this as another card for the 'remember, remember' challenge on Ooh La La.

The poppy stamps are PM and I've coloured with copics.

This is also for:

4 crafty chicks 11: with sympathy
Charisma cardz 45: sympathy
Rainbow lady 126: lest we forget - thinking of you
Stampin' royalty 45: lest we forget
The craft garden November: a poppy is to remember
The CD Sunday challenge: the natural world (OLL CD)
Digital Tuesday 84: use your 'never used stash' - I've used the small poppy stamps before, but this is the first time I've used th oval scene; the digi is the background poppy paper from the OLL CD
Anything goes 24: emboss it
Paper pretties: embossing
One stop craft 105: embossing
For fun: dry embossing
Character cafe: embossing
Oldie but a goodie 5: distressing (I used a stamp over 6 months old)
Kort o mania 27: flower power
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme
Stamp insanity 35: oh scraps (no new paper used, just scraps)
Crazy4challenges 62: square cards

Topaz friendship

It's been a while since I took part in a Daring Cardmakers challenge and, having decided to do something this week, I'm at the last minute once again. The theme is Topaz, the birthstone for November.

I've used Kathy's new sketch for this month - it's on her Sketch File blog here:

The panel on the right hand side of the card is gloss card that has been dabbed with butterscotch and copper alcohol inks (it's been a while since I used these inks - enjoyed playing with them again). I then used an Anna Griffin repeating pattern stamp with DI spiced marmalade. I also used this to distress the edges of the friendship sentiment, which is a stamp I love, given to me by a crafting friend. I thought this sentiment was just right for this card as friendship is one of the attributes associated with topaz.

The papers are BG ambrosia an the gems are Prima. The yellow flower is one that I bought ages ago at Early Learning Centre (they don't do them any more, which is a pity).

I'm also linking this card for:

Freshly brewed: two or more patterned papers
Crazy4challenges 62: square cards
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
CCEE 1045: use store bought flowers

BF twinchies and rose card

The theme for the BF twinchies swap for November is 'black and white' I used a section of my lovely Magenta rose stamp, inking with blck versamark and heat embossing with glitter powder (shame the glittered effect doesn't show well here, although you can get some idea from the twinchie at the bottom left).

While I had the stamp in use I stamped the whole of it, embossed as before and coloured with copic crimson - it's mounted on black metallic finish card and then on to a stardream red card.



I'm linking for:

My time to craft 114: rhapsody of roses
Creative stamp friends 11: my favourite stamps - certainly another favourite
Kort o mania 27: flower power
Flourishes timeless 92: glitter
Fun at fairy knoll: hot mess - glitter embossed
Crafts and me 17: glitter
Delightful: glitter it up!
Crazy4challenges 62: square cards
Anything goes 24: emboss it
Paper pretties: embossing
One stop craft 105: embossing
Dutch dare 90: clean & simple
ECP 25: red
Town scrapper: no embellishments
All things unity 18: monochromatic (the twinchies)
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes

Buttons galore

This month's ATC swap on BF forum provided me with an opportunity to use this lovely antique buttons stamp by Stampington.

I stamped the images with DI worn lipstick and then distressed edges first with tattered rose and then with worn lipstick to give a bit more definition. A few 'real' buttons stuck here and there and the ATCs were done and I have lovely inky fingers.


These ATCs are also for these challenges:

Crafty creations 93: buttons
Gingerloft 5: buttons
C.R.A.F.T. 76: colour palette
Stamp magic 23: blog colours
Other lovelies thoughtful Thursday 32: I - for inks
All things unity 18: monochromatic
Kenny K's krafty girlz 18: anything but a square
Creative stamp friends 11: my favourite stamps - this is definitely one of them, but opportunities to use it are rare, so I was so pleased with this theme
Oldie but a goodie 5: distressing (I used a stamp over 6 months old)
Fab n funky 48: going round in circles
Raise the bar 43: let's see those curves
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes

Salt: Transformation

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

I love the worship song that Pauline has mentioned and nearly used it on my LO.

If you click on my LO you will get a better view of the text, which says:

'Just as a butterfly goes through four stages of life before it is revealed in all its beauty, so every Christian is being transformed into a new creation. I don't think I've reached the beautiful butterfly stage yet, but I know that by the work of the Holy Spirit and God's grace in my life He is transforming me towards what He wants me to become.'

The scripture verse is: 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!' 2 Corinthians 5:17.

I found that I had the perfect paper on one of my shelves - Prima Indeed Collection 'delighted' - it's more beautiful irl than on here. But, unfortunately, it was one of those projects that seemed to go wrong at every turn, so I ended up settling for a bit of a patch up job - I wish I had got another piece of this paper, but it was the only one I had so I had to make do and mend!

I added some gems on the butterflies, some ribbon (to hide the joins that I had to make ~blush~ - and the ribbons are straighter irl than on this poor photo. I think I'll stop there before the hole I'm digging gets any bigger!

The 'transformation' letters are thickers vinyl ones.


If you have a few moments, please go to the Salt blog and have a look at what other members of the team have done - their crafting is always inspiritional - and if you visit their individual blogs you will be able to read their own reflections on 'transformation'.

I'm linking this LO for:

Crazy challenge 40: things with wings
Other lovelies thoughtful Thursday 33: J - for jewels on the butterflies
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Lili of the valley 73: anything goes
Cute card Thursday 138: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme

WOYWW 75

Just a quick post for today's WOYWW - if you don't know what I'm talking about, please visit Julia's blog and join in the fun.

Not a lot going on atm - I should be getting on with my Salt LO for tomorrow and some inchies, twinchies and ATCs - but you can see a couple of packs of PM oriental stamps that I couldn't resist when we happened to stray into Lorimer's in Orpington on the way back from mum's yesterday.

Ooopps - there's a bit of a sneak peek at a card that's ready for a guest design slot I've got - all will be revealed next Monday.

And on this side of my desk you can see the OTT light that I've just unpacked. I really should have got this a lot sooner because I often craft in the evening and it is then difficult to match up colours (I had to ditch a card the other day because the colours weren't right when I looked in daylight). I've seen a few of these on my WOYWW travels and I'm hoping this is going to prove to be a good buy. I got the rechargeable battery version so I can put it anywhere without having to worry about the lead.

Have you visited my new Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog yet? I'll be starting weekly challenge in the new year, but, in the meantime, there is Christmas candy to be won - you've got to be in it to win it - I'd love to see you there.

With thanks

This is for the sketch on Paper pretties 126:

It's my final card for the set for Limelight challenge on the 6th, using a 12 x 12 paper - I chose one from the K & Co Amy Butler lotus range - the other three cards for this can be found here, here and here.

This time the only piece of this paper left was used down the left hand side of the card, the other paper used is also from the same range. The flower stamp is Magenta, coloured with copics and the flower border at the bottom is Papermania Henbury Lane.

It's a thank you card for City crafter 30, Aud sentiments 14, Scrappy frogs, Glitterbabe's 19 (there is glitter on the Henbury Lane flowers), Twisted Thursday 81, and Our creative corner: an attitude of gratitude, Order of the Opus Gluei 79: an attitude of gratitude, all of which have 'thanks' as their theme this week. And the glitter is good for Fun at fairy knoll 'hot mess - glitter' and Flourishes timeless 92 'glitter'


It's also for:

Kort o mania 27: flower power
Crazy4challenges 62: square card
Challenge up your life 31: blue/green
Totally stampalicious: Monday blues
If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 53: feeling blue??
Anything goes 23: letter B - for blue
Cutie Sunday 117: light blue/white
My partner in crafting crime 15: marker madness - I love using copics
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes

Puddle duck

This is for the sketch on Totally Gorjuss 55:

It's another one for Limelight challenge on the 6th: card set - one more to come and then I'll link them altogether (a few scraps of the K & Co Amy Buler 12 x 12 remaining). The hexagon was cut from the reverse side of the paper.

The stamped image, coloured with copics, is 'puddle duck' (funstamps). I love his stamp - the rain is just right for Stampin' sisters in Christ 64, Stamp dreams 56 and Cutie stampers 80, which all have the theme this week of 'rain'.

Paper cutz 66 asks for a 'get well card using an image of something that flies', and this is also right for Alphabet 'B for birds' and Crazy challenge 40 'things with wings'

The embossed hearts and the flower ribbon bow have been in my stash for far too long. As I've used ribbon I'm linking for the second challenge on the new Ladybug crafts blog - and I'm so cross with myself because I missed taking part in challenge 1 (and I'd bought some Ladybug stamps in preparation - must make another entry for challenge 2 using one of those stamps).



This is also for:

Crazy4challenges 62: square card
Totally stampalicious: Monday blues
If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 53: feeling blue??
Really reasonable ribbon 11: wintter (blue, silver, white)
Anything goes 23: letter B - for blue and bird
Drunken stampers 41: punch me (the hearts)
Cutie Sunday 117: light blue/white
My partner in crafting crime 15: marker madness - I love using copics
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes

Blue and silver Tilda

This is for Inktegrity hump day 21 sketch:

The card features Tilda (unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the Tilda stamp) for Totally Tilda 9: icy Tilda: use blue and silver as the main colours. I coloured with copics and a silver gel pen for the stars. This also fits All that scraps Wednesday challenge 'Christmas using any colour except green and red' and I've used one of the required stamps.

The corners were punched with a Fiskars flower punch - so I'll show this on the fiskarettes blog.

This is the second card for Limelight challenge on the 6th: card set (I will link back to this when I make the final card from the 12 x 12 K & Co Amy Butler paper.

This is also for:

Totally stampalicious: Monday blues
Dollies colour challenge: royal blue, pale blue, black and white
If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 53: feeling blue??
Artful inkables (think ink Tuesday) 32: blue, silver and white
Really reasonable ribbon 11: winter (blue, silver, white)
Creative card crew: let's punch it
Drunken stampers 41: punch me
Stamp insanity 34: punch drunk love
Cutie Sunday 117: light blue/white
Delightful: stitching
Everybody art 115: untraditional Christmas
Crafty Ann 27: Christmas card using non-traditional colours
There's magic in the air Magical Monday: non-traditional colours & Xmas card
One stitch at a time 38: winter wonderland
Stamp man 9: Christmas
Stamp and create 7: 'tis the season - Christmas
ABC Christmas: W for winter wonderland
Whoopsi Daisy: it's Christmas
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
Crazy4challenges 62: square card
Anything goes 23: letter B - for blue
My partner in crafting crime 15: marker madness - I love using copics
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes
Creative Friday 30: free theme

Blue haute couture

This card is for the sketch 107 on Eat sleep stamp:

The stamped image is one that I received in a swap - I coloured with copics. The double sided paper is from the K & Co Amy Butler Lotus collection. I'm linking this for Gingersnap GC77: haute couture.

There seem to be quite a few challenges around atm asking for blue to be used. This week's Dollies colour challenge is to use royal blue, pale blue, black and white. Corrosive 89 calls for 'black n blue', Totally stampalicious: 'Monday blues', If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 53: 'feeling blue??' And blue is for Anything goes challenge: letter B.

This is my first card for the Limelight challenge on the 6th: card set - to use a 12 x 12 paper and create a card set with different designs. I will post the others separately when I've done them and link back to here as well.

The ribbon is stitched, so this is also for Delightful: stitching. It's also a square card for Crazy4challenges 62.

It's also for:

My partner in crafting crime 15: marker madness - I love using copics
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes

Note to self: must clean scanner glass!

Here's that man in the red hat again!

Another Christmas card, this time the papers are Forever Friends and the Santa image was part of a magazine freebie. The band across is gold foiled (difficult to see here).

It's for:

Polka doodles 44: quick & easy Christmas card
Whoopsi Daisy: it's Christmas
Crazy4challenges 62: square cards
Quixotic: Christmas is coming
Lexi's creations 26: anything goes
Freshly brewed: anything goes
Fairytale: everything goes
Iris' spot 9: anything goes