Time to follow your dreams

The lovely strip of flowers and bugs along the bottom was from Hobbycraft. The bees are Stampotque by Jo Capper-Sandon and the 'time to follow your dreams' is a Greetings Farm stamp.

This is for:

Facebook A card a day
All that scraps: anything goes
Alota 106: bugs bugs bugs
Pumpkin spice NSD: things with wings
Natalie and Amy 9: things with wings
No matter which 9: things with wings
Make my Monday: anything that flies
DRS 68: butterflies
Little scrap pieces Friday fun: it's a bug's life
Cute card Thursday 267: come fly with me
LEJ 52: summer's coming
Creative belli 168: spring (all supplies are old)
Playing in paradise 114: springtime joy
Stampin with the dragon: spring has sprung
One sweet challenge May: spring colours
One crazy stamper May: flowers
Pink by design: May flowers
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 42: use flowers
Crafts and me 131: floral frenzy
A and T 23: flowers
Order of the opus gluei 156: bouquet for you
Crafty sentiments: use a sentiment
Loves rubber stamps 51: anything goes
Scrappy frogs May: free choice challenge
Fashionable stamping 47: anything goes
Catch the bug May: anything goes
Through the craftroom door: anything goes
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

Shaped card

A simple card using a shaped card, a doily and a couple of Hunkydory elements.

Colours for Daring cardmakers May colour combo:

This is for:

Dream valley 56: no squares allowed
Charisma cardz 17: shaped cards
Totally papercrafts 165: don't be square - use a shaped card
Anything goes 92: shaped but not square
Card and scrap 54: use doilys
LEJ 52: summer's coming
Paper pretties 256: pink & green
Glitter n sparkle 31: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes

Natural beauty ...

... not far from home.

It was a lovely Bank Holiday Monday today so this afternoon we went for a walk locally. Well, we caught the bus for one stop to get up the hill to save John having to negotiate the incline and then we slowly walked around Hollywell park. I took my camera with me and I'm glad I did because I was able to capture so much natural beauty along the way.

Notebooks

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to make some small altered notebooks. I took pictures quickly before passing them over, so some have got shine on them from the flash.

All the fronts of the notebooks were covered with pieces from my offcuts box.

The first two have backgrounds that were embossed with cuttlebug folders. These are for:

Catered crop: make any impression - embossing
Paper playtime 9: emboss
The paper nest dolls 3: emboss it
My heart pieces: add embossing

Both of these are also good for Songbird 19: truly scrumptious - food or drink

The first and third are also for 4 crafty chicks 140: stars

This one is for Cute card Thursday 267: come fly with me! and also for Live laugh stamp word play Saturday April: weather

They are all for:

Polka doodles 18: anything but a card
That craft place: altered item

Full steam ahead ...

... for a 75th birthday.

I was asked to make a card for a 75th birthday featuring a steam train as the recipient is a big fan. I used Hunkydory card and elements to make this simple card.

This is for:

Squigglefly 1813: it's a monotone kind of day
Oozak 14: anything goes with earthtones
Fairytale 66: a very special occasion
Aud sentiments 79: birthday
Ooh-la-la 129: vintage/nostalgic
Moving along with the times: one for the guys
Delicious doodles 34: something for the boys
Paper creators 8: for the boys
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 wish with a big bow

The picture on this card is from a card received long ago and the lovely wide pink grosgrain ribbon was rescued from a bouquet of flowers received a couple of year ago (always good to keep these things for when they might come in hand). The sentiment was cut from a left over strip from a kit.

I've just realised that the photo looks a bit strange because of the specks that seem to be on the picture, but, in fact, there are little glittery specks all over which give a nice look to the card, but not all of them show up here.

This is for:

Aud sentiments 79: birthday
Creative inspirations 212: birthdays
Crafty ribbons 44: anything goes with ribbon
Pink by design: May flowers
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 42: use flowers
Crafts and me 131: floral frenzy
A and T 23: flowers
Order of the opus gluei 156: bouquet for you
City crafter 157: spring has sprung
Creative belli 168: spring (all supplies are old)
Craft-Dee BowZ 1: handmade bow

A girly card ...

... for a special friend who has had her birthday by now so it's safe to show this here.

Although the card is for a birthday, the papers were actually taken from a Christmas pad - Authentique peaceful collection. I love the peaceful, calm look of the green with the black.

The stamped image on a black piece of acetate is one that I had long ago as part of a stamp swap (must be about eight years ago - I had quite a lot of these images, but this is now the last one). I've used the lovely Sizzix movers & shapers fancy label die cuts (the outer one is glittered white card). The brads are by Teresa Collins, the sentiment is Craftime and the glittered numerals are Docrafts.

Colours inspired by For your inspiration 45:

This is also for:

Fairytale 66: a very special occasion
Great impressions May: celebrations
Aud sentiments 79: birthday
Fashionista 15: shabby or vintage
Inky chicks 3: shabby chic
Ooh-la-la 129: vintage/nostalgic
Heck of a challenge May: fashion
Fashionable stamping 47: anything goes
Kaboodle 170: for the ladies
Corrosive 173: mother's day or for a special lady
Love to create 64: for mom or special lady
Whoopsi Daisy: mother's day or for a special lady
Bloggers challenge: a feminine touch
Perfect sentiments 77: make it feminine
The stamp spot May: feminine
Let's craft and create 69: one for the girls
The crafter's cafe 16 mother's or for a female
Jellypark friends: it's a girly challenge theme
Digistamps4Joy 66: women are special
Nghtshift stamping: something special
Divas by design: add a number
As you like it 1: favourite die and/or punch - I like these sizzix labels dies - so attractive and versatile
The cutie pie 43: lots of layers
Die cuttin' divas 113: anything goes
AnMaCreatief 20: metal (brads)
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

Happy Anniversary

This card has a final snippet of the My Craft Studio card used on the previous two cards, this time mostly showing the pink flowers, on a white card blank with a couple of flowers and Craftime sentiment.

This is for:

Pixie's crafty snippets week 71
Joanna Sheen: music & lyrics
The paper shelter 110: music maestro
Fairytale 66: a very special occasion
Great impressions May: celebrations
Card mania 20: flower power

Craft your passion 161: floral delights
Pink by design: May flowers
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 42: use flowers
Crafts and me 131: floral frenzy
A and T 23: flowers
Order of the opus gluei 156: bouquet for you
Robyn's fetish 158: spring colours
City crafter 157: spring has sprung
Creative belli 168: spring (all supplies are old)
Playing in paradise 114: springtime joy
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

Ruby wedding anniversary

I was silly and blogged the card that had an offcut of the paper used for this card - should have shown this one first - hey ho!

For this card I've used My Craft Studio background paper - this is so patterned that it only needed the little bunch of red roses, the sentiment and the numerals for a fortieth, ruby wedding anniversary (the numerals are gold although they don't look it here).

Sorry that the light has reflected on the glittered card.

This is for:

Joanna Sheen: music & lyrics
The paper shelter 110: music maestro
Fairytale 66: a very special occasion
Great impressions May: celebrations
Card mania 20: flower power
Craft your passion 161: floral delights
Pink by design: May flowers
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 42: use flowers
Crafts and me 131: floral frenzy
A and T 23: flowers
Freshly brewed May: flowers
Order of the opus gluei 156: bouquet for you
One stitch at a time 162: anything goes
Glitter n sparkle 31: anything goes
Eclectic ellapu: 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 music and flowers

This card is made from a sparkly creamy white card blank on to which I've used an offcut of some My Craft Studio card with music and flowers, some textured sticky ribbon that I've had for ages, plus a sentiment and flowers from stash. As this includes an offcut I'm dallying in the playground for a while (putting off sweeping out the shed) at Pixie's crafty snippets week 71.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Joanna Sheen: music & lyrics
The paper shelter 110: music maestro
Aud sentiments 79: birthday
Card mania 20: flower power
Craft your passion 161: floral delights
Pink by design: May flowers
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 42: use flowers
Crafty calendar May: blooms and blossoms
Crafts and me 131: floral frenzy
A and T 23: flowers
Freshly brewed May: flowers
Order of the opus gluei 156: bouquet for you
Robyn's fetish 158: spring colours
City crafter 157: spring has sprung
Creative belli 168: spring (all supplies are old)
Use your stuff 83: texturize (the textured ribbons and flowers)
Playing in paradise 114: springtime joy
Sugar creek hollow 60: spring flowers
Crafty ribbons 44: anything goes with ribbon
One stitch at a time 162: anything goes
Glitter n sparkle 31: anything goes
Eclectic ellapu: 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

Pink and green thank you

The shimmery flowers were decoupaged and stuck on to the oval that was torn round a template. The papers were from my offcuts box, so an opportunity to join in the playground fun at Pixie's crafty snippets for week 71 (think I need another gentle turn on the swings because it's not as warm as I thought it would be today).

The narrow panel down the left hand side is some sticky ribbon and the 'thank you' sentiment is acetate, so I ran it through my little Xyron X to save any sticky mess.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Tuesday throwdown 145: thank you teacher (I know it doesn't say 'teacher', but I'm sure she would be pleased to receive it)
Tammy scraping corner 60: lots of layers
The cutie pie 43: lots of layers
Paper pretties 256: pink & green
Hiding in my craft room 96: name your colours - pink and green this time
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 42: use flowers
Crafty calendar May: blooms and blossoms
Crafts and me 131: floral frenzy
A and T 23: flowers
Freshly brewed May: flowers
Critter 162: flowers
One stop craft 227: flower power
Order of the opus gluei 156: bouquet for you
Robyn's fetish 158: spring colours
City crafter 157: spring has sprung
Creative belli 168: spring (all supplies are old)
Playing in paradise 114: springtime joy
Sugar creek hollow 60: spring flowers
Scrappy frogs April: think spring
Crafty ribbons 44: anything goes with ribbon
CCEE 1318: make it shimmer
One stitch at a time 162: anything goes
Glitter n sparkle 31: anything goes
Eclectic ellapu: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 101
52 card pick-up 2.18

The holly and the ivy

For today's challenge for the Christmas Card Club, Zoe asked us to make a clean and simple one layer card.

I've based my card on the sketch given for CAS on Sunday 7:

And have used colours for Less is more 118, where this colour wheel was given, with the challenge to use two opposite colours, so I chose green and red:

This is also for CAS-ual Friday 100: tic tac toe - I chose the middle line: square card, bling, text.

Stamps are Elusive Images 'holly ivy mix' inked with Brilliance pearlescent ivy and coloured with Crayola colouring pencils. I added four red gems for a bit of bling.

For the love of Wonderland

'For the love of Wonderland' is the title of chapter 26 on Altered Alice. We are invited to share all things Alice in Wonderland, old projects or new.

This is a card I shared in February 2010 here featuring Alice:

and a few days later I shared this card here:

This was followed in March 2010 by this card here:

But I think my favourite 'Wonderland' creation is a digital one that I originally showed here which was made for Altered Alice chapter 12: hearts:

Another purple birthday card

This card uses the background piece of the M & S gift card that I upcycled on the previous card - so I've managed to get two cards from it. Once again I started with a deep purple card blank, matted the recycled gift card background on to which I added sizzix movers & shapers fancy label die cuts in gold and patterned paper. I stamped on to the patterned paper with one of my favourite Penny Black stamps called 'sparklers', inked with stazon vibrant violet - I love the way that this matches the design on the patterned paper (almost by accident!). I used another piece of the patterned paper to mat and layer with the peel off sentiment.

This is for:

Penny Black Saturday May: anything goes
Hiding in my craftroom 96: name your colours - purple, lilac and gold
Aud sentiments 79: birthday
Crafty sentiments: the letter B - birthday, bling, blooms
Allsorts 205: add some sparkle
Creative card crew 35: bling
Amusing challenges (stamped blessings): recycled
Die cuttin' divas 113: anything goes
Stamp and create April: use at least 1 die cut
As you like it 1: favourite die and/or punch - I like these sizzix labels dies - so attractive and versatile
Emerald faerie garden 43: ribbons
Spark your creativity 9: anything goes
Our creative corner May: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 138
Inspire me Fridays 101
52 card pick-up 2.18

Happy birthday

I started off with a deep purple card blank on to which I matted a cut piece of shaped card that was left over from making the easel card that I showed here. The panel with a pocket was rescued and upcycled from a Marks & Spencer gift card. This was on a bigger card that had a pull out piece of lilac card that said 'especially for you' - I cut this down and added into the pocket. The shimmery flowers were from Create & Craft.

This is for:

Facebook A card a day
Hiding in my craftroom 96: name your colours - purple and lilac
Crafting for all seasons 51: monochromatic
Aud sentiments 79: birthday
Wags n whiskers 103: girly birthday
Perfect sentiments 77: make it feminine
Bloggers challenge: a feminine touch
Crafty sentiments: the letter B - birthday, bling, blooms
Corrosive 173: for a special lady
Let's craft and create 69: one for the girls
Crafty calendar May: blooms and blossoms
Forever friends 60: use lots of flowers
Crafts and me 131: floral frenzy
A and T 23: flowers
Freshly brewed May: flowers
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 42: use flowers
Critter 162: flowers
One stop craft 227: flower power
Emerald faerie garden 43: ribbons
Crafty ribbons 44: anything goes with ribbon
Delightful: add ribbon
Allsorts 205: add some sparkle
Creative card crew 35: bling
CCEE 1318: make it shimmer
Spark your creativity 9: anything goes
Our creative corner May: anything goes
Twisted Tuesday 49: free for all
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 138
Inspire me Fridays 101
52 card pick-up 2.18

CHNC challenge 123: let's get sentimental (use a sentiment)

Can you believe that it's May already - more than a third of the year gone already. If you haven't started on your Christmas cards yet then this might be a good time to join in with my CHNC challenge 123 - all you've got to do is make sure there is a sentiment on the front of your card - easy peasy!

The background paper is an offcut of Graphic 45 'Carol of the bells'. The image is a combination of 'Charlie Christmas bear' and 'Christmas word art' kindly supplied by one of the sponsors of CHNC challenge 123, Robyn'sFetish Digital Stamps And More, which I coloured digitally in Paint.

The sparkly glittered holly ribbon was bought a few years ago - over the months I seem to have used plenty of it and there's still lots left. The bell is a wooden sentiment that was free with a magazine, coloured with copics. The sentiment was computer generated.

This is also for:

Pixie's crafty snippets week 70
Sparkles forum Christmas 28: favourite festive colours (I love lots of different combos for Christmas, but traditional red and green is still a favourite)
Animal friends 2: checked and/or striped - at least 1 animal friend
Drunken stampers 126: braveheart - movie or tartan/plaid/gingham
Allsorts 205: add some sparkle
Really reasonable ribbon 71: sparkle, bling & ribbon
Delightful: add ribbon
Crafty ribbons 44: anything goes with ribbon
CCEE 1318: make it shimmer
Catch the bug May: anything goes
Kort o mania 85: anything goes
Spark your creativity 9: anything goes
Our creative corner May: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
Inky linky 13
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 138
Inspire me Fridays 101
52 card pick-up 2.18

Special birthday card

I was asked by a friend to make a card for his wife's 70th birthday. It was her birthday yesterday (hope you had a good day, Diane, if you see this) so I can safely show the card now.

I used two shaped cards, cutting the front off one to make the upright of the easel. The middle nestie shapes and the edges of the card were edged with spectrum noir pens. The middle panel was stamped randomly with a little unknown blossom stamp that I've had since I first started cardmaking - one of those very useful little ones - and I coloured the blossom with a spectrum noir. The sentiment was printed directly (had to have a few goes at this before I got it right). The shimmery flowers are from Create and craft - the smaller ones were white, so I inked them with spectrum noirs. The piece of ric rac ribbonand the gems were from stash.

This is for:

The house that stamps built DCC424: shaped cards
Totally papercrafts 165|: don't be square - shaped cards
Di's digi designs: anything but square
Lacy sunshine 7: monochrome
Crafting for all seasons 51: monochromatic
Spectrum noir May: purple
All kinds of cards 79: birthday card
Aud sentiments 79: birthday
Wags n whiskers 103: girly birthday
Perfect sentiments 77: make it feminine
Bloggers challenge: a feminine touch
The stamp spot May: feminine
Let's craft and create 69: one for the girls
Jellypark friends: it's a girly challenge theme
Crafty sentiments: the letter B - birthday, bling, blooms
Corrosive 173: for a special lady
Nightshift stamping: something special
Fairytale 66: a very special occasion
By the cute and girl May: flowers
Forever friends 60: use lots of flowers
Crafts and me 131: floral frenzy
One crazy stamper May: flowers
Sandy's crafty creations May: anything goes with a twist - must use a stamped image, die cut and 3 or more flowers
A and T 23: flowers
Freshly brewed May: flowers
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 42: use flowers
Critter 162: flowers
Get inky 3: fabulous floral fun
Nutcrafters 41: bingo - I chose the bottom line: die cuts, gems, ribbon
Die cuttin' divas 113: anything goes (label die cuts)
Stampavie and more 192: lots of die cuts
Stampin' for the weekend: die cuts and/or punches
Stamp and create April: use at least 1 die cut
Creative card crew 35: bling
Whimsical: bling it out
Really reasonable ribbon 71: sparkle, bling & ribbon
Emerald faerie garden 43: ribbons
Delightful: add ribbon
CCEE 1318: make it shimmer
Divas by design: add a number
Fashionable stamping 46: sentimental
Southern girls 68: you can say that again - sentiment
Crafty ribbons 44: anything goes with ribbon
The crafting cafe May: lady luck
Mema's crafts May: anything goes + option: May flowers
Crafting musketeers 1: anything goes
Bearly mine 84: anything goes
LEJ 51: anything goes
Party time Tuesday 118: anything goes
Through the craftrom door: anything goes
Kort o mania 85: anything goes
Spark your creativity 9: anything goes
Our creative corner May: anything goes
Twisted Tuesday 49: free for all
Paper-crafting journey: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
Inky linky 13
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 138
Inspire me Fridays 101
52 card pick-up 2.18

Guest design slot for Christmas stampin' all year long

I'm privileged to have been invited to be a guest designer for Christmas Stampin' all year long challenge 14 where this inspiration photo is given:

I used the Theodore's Christmas present digital image kindly supplied by the sponsor, Bugaboo Stamp, coloured with spectrum noir alcohol pens with a sparkle of  icicle Stickles. The diamond matt foiled card is an offcut on to which I layered some netting and silver ribbon as well as the sentiment that was left over long ago from a Kanban kit.

Please click on the link for the Christmas stampin' challenge and see what the design team have done and, hopefully, join in.

This is also for:

Facebook A card  a day
All that stickles: icicle
Spectrum noir May: purple
Lacy sunshine 7: monochrome
Crafting for all seasons 51: monochromatic
Crafty ribbons 44: anything goes with ribbon
LEJ 51: anything goes
Kort o mania 85: anything goes
Spark your creativity 9: anything goes
Our creative corner May: anything goes
Twisted Tuesday 49: free for all
Paper-crafting journey: anything goes
Fussy & fancy 88: anything goes
Inky linky 13
DL.ART May linky party: anything goes
Make it Monday 138
Inspire me Fridays 101
52 card pick-up 2.18

Guest design slot for Fab 'n' funky

I'm privileged to have been asked to join Fab 'n' funky as a guest designer for the month of May. Please click on the link for the challenge and have a look at the lovely crafting of the regular design team and, hopefully, join the in the challenge.

Today's Fab 'n' funky 169: 'lots of pink' challenge is being sponsored by Stampart Design by Kathryne at Whimsy Stamps, who kindly supplied the 'sweetie bear' image that I've used for my card.

Papers are Me to you 'spring chic'. I coloured the image with spectrum noir alcohol pens and printed again on to a piece of the Me to you paper and paper pieced the bear's dress. The bows were originally white - I inked them with a spectrum noir. The stitched ribbon is DCWV and the flowers with pearls are from stash.

This is also for:

Facebook A card a day
Moving along with the times: baby card
Crazy 4 challenges 183: baby
Paper makeup 86: celebrations
Flourishes timeless 218: it's all in the date - my birth month August: a bow or two, some stitching
Rhedd and rosies 5: stitching
Crafting for all seasons 51: monochromatic
Crafty ribbons 44: anything goes with ribbon
Totally gorjuss 181: ribbons and pearls
Emerald faerie garden 43: ribbons
Ruby's rainbow 53: furry friends
Animal friends 2: checked and/or striped
Card caravan (the hybrid chick) 42: use flowers
Critter 162: flowers
Get inky 3: fabulous floral fun
Nadia 55: flowers
A and T 23: flowers
Everybody art 234: pearls
Inky linky 13

CHNC challenge extra for May

It doesn't seem possible that it's May already - a third of the year has gone - how did that happen so quickly? Those who have made a start on their Christmas cards will be thankful when it gets nearer to the festive time towards the end of the year. So many crafters have been joining in my CHNC challenges - it's great to see so many like-minded folk getting on with their Christmas cards early. It's now time to begin cards for CHNC challenge extra for May - please visit and see the cards that my guest has supplied for the challenge and, hopefully, you'll join in with the fun.

For my card I used three digital papers supplied by Bugaboo Stamps - 'blue frosty', 'blue frosty' words and 'blue snowflakes', as well as the 'snowman snowflakes' image. I coloured the image with alcohol pens.

I based the card on the sketch given for Cordine's sketch for The Sketchy challenge 46 - I turned the sketch and adapted it a bit:

I used my Die-namics fishtail die - this set of dies are proving so useful, so many sketches atm seem to have these shapes incorporated.

Colours are for Holly jolly Christmas: red, white and blue Christmas.

This is also for:

Crimbo crackers 40: anything goes
Die cuttin' divas 113: anything goes
Stampin' for the weekend: die cuts and/or punches
Card crafters circle 72: boys to men
Live laugh stamp word play Saturday April: weather
QKR stampede 36: favourite things - making Christmas cards, colouring with alcohol pens
Inky linky 12