Experimenting ...

I thought I would play some more with my new Caran d'ache water soluble pastels. For the middle chipboard panel I once more coloured with three pastels and carefully blended using a piece of baby wipe.

I chose the colours for Cards and things challenge 60:

I then stamped the middle panel first with Funstamps Paisley background and then with the DB designs flower, which I also used on the base card, colouring in with two of the pastels.


This is also for:

Totally stampalicious: mixed up: use stamps from at least two different sets
Whoopsi daisy: no designer paper
Paperminutes 147: background pattern - main theme
Stampin' B 92: use an old favourite (the two stamps I used) and something brand spankin' new (the pastels)
Crafty purple frog: new goodies and new technique
Sweet stampin': try something different
Inspiration avenue: what inspires you? trying new things, especially if stamping is involved
Flourishes timeless 99: flowers
Papertake: anything goes
Creative card world new card challenge: anything goes
Fab n funky 54: anything goes
Craft your days away 11: anything goes
Let's ink it up 8: anything goes

Totallly Gorjuss hearts

This card is for Net's sketch for Totally Gorjuss 62:

The background is vellum, hence the doodlebug brads in the corners (the vellum was stuck underneath where the main panel would go) - for I did it challenge 37 which is asking us to use vellum.

The brads are good for:

Kort o mania 31: use a charm or metal
Top tip Tuesday 16: metal Mickey
Stamp insanity 41: hardcore hardware
Paper cutz 73: metal

I used a Penny Black stamp that I received for Christmas (I was so fortunate to have so many new stamps) called 'brimming with love', coloured with copics, so I'm entering this into Penny Black 133: new beginnings (using a new stamp) and Penny Black at Allsorts January challenge: all you need is love.

The lovely strip across the bottom is from East of India 'hearts & leaves' paper chain (I bought a pack of these ages ago from John Lewis and occasionally use one - love them).

There are still quite a lot of challenges around asking for new things to be used, so, as I used another new stamp, I'm linking for:

Created by hand: in with the new
Rainbow lady 134: it's all new to me
Paper issues: new
Pollycraft 75: new things
Creative inspirations 50: use something new
Creative cottage 30: something new - new stash
Moving along with the times 80: ring out the old, ring in the new (the old stash is the vellum and the East of India paper chain strip)
My partner in crime 17: something new
Crafty purple frog: new goodies
Our daily bread 43: something new, something old (as above)

There are a few challenges around atm that feature love or hearts (yes, I suppose we are approaching Valentine's Day soon), so I'm linking for:

Ann's creative nook 199: got hearts?
Squigglefly 80: put your hearts into it - I bought the 'I {heart} you digi from Squigglefly
Woodware 9: hearts
One stitch at a time 44: love & Valentine
Lexi 31: say it with love
Bunny Zoe 8: love is in the air

It's also for:

Crazy challenge 49: animals
CES 18: all creatures great and small
Papertake: anything goes
Creative card world new card challenge: anything goes
Fab n funky 54: anything goes
Craft your days away 11: anything goes
Let's ink it up 8: anything goes

Winter fantasy

There are a few challenges around at the moment focusing on 'winter' (not surprising really as we are still in the grip of that season - although, thankfully, no more of the white stuff here, except a little frost in the mornings). So this card is for the following 'winter' related challenges:

Creative stamp friends 16: winter
Cutie stampers 89: a winter scene
Winter wonderland: let's go dotty
Stamp with fun 93: snow
Creative belli 108: snow
The paper variety: snowflakes

As part of my Christmas present John gave me a 'voucher' saying that I could spend £50 - so I decided to by some Caran d'ache pastels - Noecolor I and II. I experimented yesterday with a couple of the Neocolor II, which are watersoluble. I roughly coloured sky and grass on to a piece of chipboard and then used a baby wipe to blend - I think it worked quite well. And I'll be a bit more adventurous next time I use them!

As I've used a new technique (and new stash - the pastels), I'm linking for:

Quirky crafts 1: new beginnings - new pastels and new technique
Created by hand: in with the new
Rainbow lady 134: it's all new to me
Paper issues: new
Pollycraft 75: new things
Creative inspirations 50: use something new
Creative cottage 30: something new - new stash
Moving along with the times 80: ring out the old, ring in the new (the old stash is the foiled paper)
My partner in crime 17: something new
Stampin' B 92: use an old favourite and something brand spankin' new - the old favourite is the PB fantasy stamp and the new is the pastels
Crafty purple frog: new goodies
Our daily bread 43: something new, something old (as above)
Sweet stampin': try something different

I used liquid pearls white opal for the snow on the tree (which is a PB fantasy stamp) and dotted it across the grass which I then smudged with my finger to get a glistening snow coverage. The background paper with silver foiled swirls was part of a Christmas kit from QVC last year and the base card is stardream, which has a bit of a glittery look.

It was difficult to get a photo of the card because of the foiled swirly background reflecting, but you can get some idea - the actual card is a bit in between the two photos.

This is also for:

Ooh-la-la 71: bling it on
By the cute and girly for January: bling it on
The lollipop ladies 11: hey Jube - add some glitter or bling
Secret crafter Saturday 116: tons of texture
Incy wincy 76: go dotty
Papertake: anything goes
Creative card world new card challenge: anything goes
Fab n funky 54: anything goes
Craft your days away 11: anything goes
Let's ink it up 8: anything goes

Hope in winter

This week's challenge on Daring cardmakers is 'snowdrops and carnations' - apparently they are the flowers associated with January.

I've used a digi download I bought from Doodle Pantry, together with one of the sentiments that came with it. I coloured the leaves of the snowdrop with copics and added stickles crystal ice to the petals (I was going to use glossy accents, but it was all gummed up and I couldn't get it to flow).

I've used the sketch for CPS199:

I used a crafts-too square embossing folder to create the embossed dots and rounded the corners of that, the cardbase and the sentiment using my Xcut corner punch.

This is also for:

Tuesday throwdown 30: embossing
Simply create 34: I'm the boss - embossing
Speedy the cat (Mark's finest papers) 37: embossing
Cutie Sunday 125: winter
Lots to do: winter flowers
Karber weekly 19: use flowers
Flourishes timeless 99: flowers
PaperPlay 1: clean and simple
The lollipop ladies 11: hey Jube - add some glitter or bling
Fun at fairy knoll: all that glitters
Pixie cottage 51: punches
Tellen's place: punches
Cupcake 123: white is white
Drunken stampers 49: whiteout
City crafters 38: winter white
Moxie Tuesday trigger: winter white - this is the photo inspiration:

CHNC 2: freebie or recycle

Over on my Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog it's time for challenge 2 which is to use a freebie of some kind or recycle something - of course, the end result must be a Christmas card. You will find all the information here - I would love you to join in my challenge.

I used Bo Bunny 'believe' papers and tag that were free with Scrapbook Magazine. I used the sketch for Techno stamper Monday lunchtime sketch 154:


I used the House Mouse stamp 'Christmas tale' - I had this given to me by Christmas (I was very fortunate - John and my mum both bought rubber stamps for me - I gave them a wishlist - so I've still got more new stamps to use and show). I coloured with copics. The brads are ones that have been in my Christmas stash box for a couple of years.

As I've used a new stamp I'm linking for these challenges:

House mouse 86: new beginnings
Pile it on 1: brand spankin' new
Quirky crafts 1: new beginnings - new stamp
Ann's creative nook 118: use something ne
Woodware 8: something new
Created by hand: in with the new
Rainbow lady 134: it's all new to me - new crafting item
Order of the opus gluei 84: show us what's new
Paper issues: new
Creative inspirations 50: use something new
The crazy challenge 48: all things new
Creative cottage 30: something new - new stash
Moving along with the times 80: ring out the old, ring in the new (the old stash is the brads)
Crafty purple frog: new goodies

This is also for:

Spoon full of sugar 133: Christmas card
Anything goes (Craft Den) 30: the letter C - Christmas
ABC Christmas: A for anything Christmas goes
Christmas cards all year round: anything goes
Kort o mania 31: use a charm or metal - the two brads
Top tip Tuesday 16: metal Mickey - the two brads
Stamp insanity 41: hardcore hardware - the two brads
Paper cutz 73: metal - the two brads
CES 18: all creatures great & small
Creative craft: anything goes
One stitch at a time 43: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Craft your passion 39: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Creative card world new card challenge: anything goes
Fab n funky 54: anything goes
Whoopsi daisy: free and easy
Craft your days away 11: anything goes

Caroling penguins

This week's challenge for Unscripted 88 is to choose a favourite sketch from the past: 'should old sketches (not) be forgot ...', so I've used sketch 80 (I turned it on its side):

This is another card for my challenge 1 on my new Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog. If you haven't joined in yet there's still time to make a card for challenge 1: anything goes as long as it's a Christmas card - the challenge closes at 22:00 UK time tomorrow, Friday 7 January.

I've used a new stamp that I was given for Christmas - yesterday I showed a card with caroling hedgehogs, today's stamp is 'caroling penguins', coloured with copics and stickles crystal ice added to the white parts of the hats.

As I've used a new stamp, I'm linking for these challenges:

Pile it on 1: brand spankin' new
Quirky crafts 1: new beginnings - new stamp
Drunken stampers 48: new - use something new
Ann's creative nook 118: use something new
Sew many challenges 38: new things
Woodware 8: something new
Speedy the cat (Mark's finest papers) 36: use something new
Created by hand: in with the new
Rainbow lady 134: it's all new to me - new crafting item
Order of the opus gluei 84: show us what's new
Paper issues: new
Lots to do: new beginnings
Creative inspirations 50: use something new
The crazy challenge 48: all things new
Creative cottage 30: something new - new stash
Moving along with the times 80: ring out the old, ring in the new (the old stash is the red card and the sentiments)

The background paper is BG jovial. The red card was embossed with a docrafts snowflakes embossing folder and then distressed with fired brick DI. The embossing is good for Sparkle creations Christmas 2011 week 5, Simple doodles 34: I'm the boss, and Tuesday throwdown 30 and the distressing for Gingerloft 8.

I chose red papers for If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 60, which asks us to predominantly use the colour red.

This is also for:

Spoon full of sugar 133: Christmas card
Anything goes (Craft Den) 30: the letter C - Christmas
ABC Christmas: A for anything Christmas goes
The lollipop ladies 11: hey Jube - add some glitter or bling
Stamp something: something with glitter
Copic creations 41: sparkle
Christmas cards all year round: anything goes
Creative craft: anything goes
One stitch at a time 43: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Crafty Emma 17: anything goes
Craft your passion 39: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Ladybug 9: anything goes
Creative card world new card challenge: anything goes
Fab n funky 54: anything goes
Whoopsi daisy: free and easy

Salt: pray for holiness

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

My final artwork was nothing like what I first thought of, but the hymn came into my mind more and more and seemed appropriate for this challenge.

I downloaded the royalty free dandelion picture from geekphilosopher, printed the sheet music and then scanned it into the computer to combine the two, playing around with filters to get some graduation in the finished picture, adding my black and white photo in the right hand bottom corner.

These are the words of the hymn, written by Frances Ridley Havergal, who lived from 1836 - 1879, so it's not modern, but is still a great prayer for holiness.

1. Take my life, and let it be
   Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
   Take my moments and my days,
   Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
   Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2. Take my hands, and let them move
   At the impulse of Thy love;
   Take my feet and let them be
   Swift and beautiful for Thee,
   Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3. Take my voice, and let me sing
   Always, only, for my King;
   Take my lips, and let them be
   Filled with messages from Thee,
   Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold;
   Not a mite would I withhold;
   Take my intellect, and use
   Every power as Thou shalt choose,
   Every power as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will, and make it Thine;
   It shall be no longer mine.
   Take my heart; it is Thine own;
   It shall be Thy royal throne,
   It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour
   At Thy feet its treasure-store.
   Take myself, and I will be
   Ever, only, all for Thee,
   Ever, only, all for Thee.

As usual, you can click on the picture to enlarge it, although it isn't that big because I didn't want to lose the resolution.

As a reminder to myself I'm now using this as my desktop wallpaper (I've even hidden the icons and the taskbar so that the image fills the whole screen). As usual I'll also print this out to add to my Salt LO album.

I'm linking this to these challenges:

Ooh-la-la 70: a toast to 2011
Crazy amigo: 2011
Creative craft world: new year resolutions
Creative craft: new year's resolutions
Papercraft star 27: use one of your near year's resolutions as your inspiration
Off the wall craftiness 39, which gives this picture as a prompt:



We would love to see you join in our Salt challenge.

WOYWW

Just scraping in for today's WOYWW. I haven't joined in for the past couple of weeks - it's been a bit hectic what with Christmas and New Year and John being in hospital on Christmas Eve - OK now, thank goodness - and his birthday on 30 December - some people have awkward birthdays, don't they? So many birthdays in our family around Christmas time.

And then I've had some commissioned cards to make which had to take priority - they come along like buses - and also my new Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog started up on Saturday 1 January - I'd love to see you join me there - it's not too late to make a resolution to make Christmas cards throughout the year.

So here is my workspace - the remains of making the latest Christmas card, a few purchases, including some PM precious metals (thought this was a paste and was surprised when I got liquid all over my fingers when I enthusiastically took the lid off one of them!). A little pile of BG paper pads (the rest are in a big box in the cupboard - love those papers.

Apologies for not having got round to visit many WOYWW bloggers - must try harder!

Old, new and recycled

This card uses the sketch for Polka Doodles 51, which also states that there must be an image coloured:
The PB caroling hedgehogs image was coloured with Promarkers, so I'm linking for I love promarkers 47 where the theme is 'recycled' - the red glittered card is recycled from a Christmas cracker.


It's another card for my own challenge 1: anything goes as long as it's a Christmas card, on my new Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog - if you haven't visited yet, I'd love to see you there - perhaps you'd like to join me and link up a Christmas card - you know it makes sense to start them early. If you've made new Christmas cards for other challenges, then perhaps you'd like to also link them to mine.

Another new Christmas card challenge blog has started this week called Jingle Belles and their first challenge is asking for us to use something old and something new. The papers I've used - Bo Bunny'tis the season carols' , SEI Christmas mint and Creative imaginations studio basics 101 - are all old (I really should have used them well before now) and the PB stamp is new - it was one of my Christmas presents and I've been itching to use it. This is good for Drunken stampers 48: new - use something new, Stamp n doodle: new, Order of the opus gluei 84: show us what's new, Paper sundaes 50: something new and Paper issues: new.

This is also for ABC Christmas: A for anything Christmas goes and also Christmas cards all year round: anything goes.

Another commissioned card

I was asked to make a 30th birthday card for a friend to give to her son, so I've used the sketch for this week's Going Grey (Scrap-Creations) challenge:

And I used the colours given for Curtain call colour challenge act 63:

The top paper is BG mellow and the bottom one is BG granola. The striped strip is an unknown piece from my offcuts box. The request was for a picture of a BMW sports car, which I mounted on silver, the computer generated sentiment also mounted on silver. The 30 is silver peel offs.
This is also for:

Moving along with the times 79: birthday & circles
Scrappy frogs: sentimental

Aud sentiments 18: anything goes

Crafts and me 20: anything goes
Creative craft: anything goes
One stitch at a time 43: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Crafty Emma 17: anything goes
Craft your passion 39: anything goes
Aly's 32: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes

A very special birthday

I was commissioned to make a large A4 card for one of John's blind bowling club, a visually impaired man who was 100 on New Year's Day. We sent him a card for the special day - you can see it here - but this card, which will have the names of the club members inside - will be given to Bill at a surprise afternoon tea party for him next week. I'm safe to put this here because there is no way that Bill will be looking at my blog.

As the card is for a visually impaired gentleman, I needed to keep it quite clean and simple and with some texture, so I opted to use Jolly Nation Bowls Man (Senior) decoupage and matching background paper etc. I created the grass with the bowling mat with Microsoft Digital Image Pro 7.0 - I love that program - so easy to use.

This photo shows the build up of the decoupage:

I'm linking this for the following challenges:

Totally Gorjuss 61: for someone special
Mixed media Monday: size matters - this card is A4, which is normally outside my comfort zone
Pile it on 1: brand spankin' new - the Jolly Nation papers/decoupage were bought specially for this card
Creative inspirations 50: use something new (as above)
Ann's creative nook 118: use something new (as above)
Woodware 8: something new (as above)
Speedy the cat (Mark's finest papers) 36: use something new (as above)
Totally papercrafts 47: time to party
Creative Friday 34: let's have a party
Pixie cottage 50: party celebration
Totally papercrafts 47: time to party
Crazy4challenges 68: celebrate something
Freshly brewed 28: celebrate
Simon says: time to party/celebrate
Anything goes (Craft Den) 30: the letter C - celebration
Stampin' B 91: make a celebration card
Scrappy frogs: sentimental

Aud sentiments 18: anything goes

Crafts and me 20: anything goes
Creative craft: anything goes
One stitch at a time 43: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Crafty Emma 17: anything goes
Craft your passion 39: anything goes
Aly's 32: anything goes
Cardmakin mamas 11: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes

Let's party

This card is for the sketch for ECP 28:

The background papers are PSX paper designs 'party pattern'. The Happy New Year digi is a freebie from Raise the bar. The 'party' banner is one that's been in my bits and pieces box for a long time. The papers are mounted on to gold mirror card, which, unfortunately, looks black on this scan.


This is also for:

Cutie Sunday 124: happy new year
Creative stamp friends 15: new year's cards
Dutch dare 94: new beginnings
Pixie dust studio 55: happy new year
Rainbow lady 133: new year
Bee crafty 46: happy new year
I did it 35: out with the old ... in with the new
Paper issues: new challenge
Ann's creative nook 117: new year bling - the gold gems
Ooh-la-la 70: a toast to 2011
Paper playtime 31: new year
Crazy amigo: new year
4 crafty chicks 18: new year
Created by hand: out with the old
Going grey (Scrap creations): ring in the new year
For fun: new year
Freshly brewed 28: celebrate and/or new year
Let's craft and create 9: new beginnings
Pixie cottage 50: party celebration
Simon says: time to party/celebrate
Your next stamp 32: let's party
Stampin' B 91: make a celebration card
S2G Twisted Thursday: happy new year
Stamp magic 27: new year
Creative Friday 34: let's have a party
Fun with shapes and more 73: new year's card
Paper cutz 72: new year using a banner
Lots to do: new beginnings
One stop crafts 112: new beginnings
Soartful: celebrate
Prairie fairy Fridays 43: new beginnings
Totally papercrafts 47: time to party
Crazy4challenges 68: celebrate something
Ellephantastic 22: new beginnings

Aud sentiments 18: anything goes

Digi doodle 39: anything goes (the 'Happy New Year' is a digi)
Digital Tuesday 91: anything goes (the 'Happy New Year' is a digi)
Southern girls 9: anything goes

Crafts and me 20: anything goes
Creative craft: anything goes
One stitch at a time 43: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Crafty Emma 17: anything goes
Aly's 31: anything goes
Cardmakin mamas 11: anything goes

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge 1

I had a lovely surprise recently when Rosemary from the Order of the Opus Gluei got in touch with me, asking for my details so that she could send something to me for participating in their challenges. And this is what arrived in the post yesterday:

Over on my new Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog, the theme for challenge 1 is 'anything goes as long as it's a Christmas card'.

I couldn't wait to use these lovely stamps, so I used a piece of BG blush paper as background and randomly stamped four of the stamps, using versafine onyx black and embossing with detail silver. Because the versafine is quick drying the embossing powder doesn't quite cling to all of it, giving a nice distressed look, a bit like antique silver.

I based the card on Arianne's sketch for Sunday sketch & stamp challenge 43:

The snowman image is one that I selected for a prize for being randomly picked as winner on Shelly's TTT. The image is called 'all wrapped up'. I coloured with promarkers, mounting on to silver mirror card. The addition of a silver sentiment and some silver glitter strips and the card was done.

I'm also linking for these challenges:

Order of the opus gluei 83: if you made it, we will come

Corrosive 96: bling it on

Stamptacular 91: snow much fun

Incy wincy 74: distressing

Gingerloft 8: distressing

Mixed media Monday: 'tis the season

Pink elephant 90: winter wonderland

Spoon full of sugar 133: Christmas card

Anything goes 30: the letter C - Christmas

Creative Belli 107: merry Christmas
Christmas cards all year round: anything goes

Hodge podge 6: blue and silver

Create with Connie & Mary 131: let it snow

Stamp insanity 40: sparkle

City crafter 37: stamp it out

My time to craft 121: brand, spanking new - the snowflakes stamps and the 'all wrapped up' digi

Sew many challenges 38: new things - stamps and digi

Stamp n doodle: new - stamps and digi

Passion for promarkers 80: mega Christmas challenge

Stamp something: something with glitter

Stamping with the dragon 17: your favourite winter colour - I love making snowy cards with blue and silver

Meljen 39: cold and snowy

Sarah Hurley 23: last minute Christmas cheer

I love promarkers 46: anything goes

Fun at fairy knoll: anything goes

Aud sentiments 18: anything goes

Digi doodle 39: anything goes (the snowman image is a digi)

Crafts and me 20: anything goes
Creative craft: anything goes
One stitch at a time 43: anything goes
Papertake: anything goes
Crafty Emma 17: anything goes
Aly's 31: anything goes

Cardmakin mamas 11: anything goes

So, are you going to make a New Year Resolution to make Christmas cards throughout the year? - I would really recommend it - then don't put that Christmas stash away - please go over to Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog and join in challenge 1: 'anything goes as long as it's a Christmas card'. I look forward to seeing you there. And this time there will be a prize for the randomly picked winner.

Top twelve of 2010

Wishing all my visitors a

Happy New Year

While blog-hopping a couple of years ago I found that quite a few crafters had shown their Top Ten makes for the year and so, at the beginning of January last year, I did the same.

Last year I extended my choices to twelve, one for each month of the year and that's what I'm doing again this year.

If you click on the links, you can go to the original posts and read more about each item.

My top twelve of 2010

January 2010: Bride and groom


February 2010: my schooldays


March 2010: card for mum



April 2010: postcard from Paris


May 2010: hot pink, black and white



June 2010: fun with the melting pot




July 2010: criss cross card with tag



August 2010: a Christmas present tied up with lace



September 2010: the roaring 20s



October 2010: Salt: God's righteousness


November 2010: buttons galore


December 2010: winter birthday



I have found it quite helpful doing this review of 2010 - it has brought back many memories, but has also reminded me of some techniques etc that I haven't tried for a while, not just in the items that I've chosen to show here, but in many of these other items that have been blogged over the months.

It's over to you

Perhaps you would like to do your own 'top twelve of 2010' - if you do I'd love you to leave me a comment with a link so that I can come and look at your choices.

And then encourage others to do the same.

I'm entering my June choice of 'fun with the melting top' as my favourite for Stamp man 13: show your favourite project of 2010