Sugay Bowl Challenge 7

Hi everyone, and Happy Saturday.

I've been getting withdrawal symptoms, I haven't made a card for days, I've been busy working, so I've not had much leisure time. At the moment raining 'cats and dogs' here, and not feeling much like spring at all. Anyway, not to be put off by the weather, I decided to have a go at The Sugar Bowl challenge this week. They want spring or Easter cards, so I've gone for an Easter card.

All of the papers were freebies I've got from somwhere or other over the past few months/years. Don't know how old they are, or where they came from, but I thought I'd use them up. I coloured this gorgeous image with Copic markers, cut it out using my circular nesties, and mounted it on a circle of Bazzil Basics (which wasn't free, but is always in my stash....an absolute must have). I did some faux zig zag stitching randomly around the circles, and to make it look more authentic, I pierced the card where the 'stitches' would go through. I'm rather pleased with how this looks. It's alot easier that draging the old sewing machine out too. The butterflies are from The Stamp Man's Aspects of Design range, designed by talented artist and crafter Kay Carley .

I stamped them, coloured them with my Copics, covered them with Glossy Accents, then tipped crystal glitter all over them to make them nice and sparkly. I added some Prima flowers, and the scrolls were cut using my new EK Success punches from The Hobby House. I added gems to finish it off. I didn't decorate the inside of this one. I may do, but at the moment it's blank.

Hope you enjoy the weekend.

Take care and happy Crafting.

Mothers Day

Hi everyone, and Happy Monday

Well I hope that anyone celebrating Mothers Day yesterday had a great day. I know I did. My son Paul and Jess his fiancee came over and stayed for dinner. They bought me some beautiful flowers.

I love flowers, and nothing cheers me up like a bunch of flowers in the house. They really brighten the place up, and smell gorgeous. They couldn't find a good enough card though, I guess it's difficult buying a card for someone who makes them, as shop bought cards are never quite the same somehow. Anyway I love the flowers so a huge big Thank You to Paul and Jess I love them.

Jordan (12) decided to make me a card. So while I was busy at the supermarket doing the shopping, he was busy using my forbidden Copic markers. I don't allow the children to use them as they would soon get spoiled. But on this occasion I didn't tell hime off, as he had the best of intentions. Here's the card:

Of course he didn't realise that they would go through the 'paper' and show on the other side. As you can see it's all his own work, so I think he did great.

This is the back view, I love Jordans sense of humour with the 'hand crafted' and £100.00 on the back. He even has a barcode. Well done Jordan, I love it.

Jordan and Emma (our neighbour) have been amusing themselves making short fiims on a laptop and uploading them to YouTube. They have called them Genius Ideas. Here's their take on the Cadbury's advert. You'll need to turn your sound on, it's very funny, take a look.

Sketch Saturday #43

Hi Everyone

And Happy Mothers Day. Hope you all have a great day.

ooOoo

I just want to take a minute to pay tribute to a very brave young lady.... JADE GOODY, who died this Mothers Day morning. I can't say she was my favourite person in the world, but she certainly left her mark. She has bravely battled with cervical cancer these past few months in full public view. That in itself is a brave thing to do, but to keep smiling they way she has, to realise her hopes and dreams, and to raise awareness of this terrible disease surely, is a testament to her strength of character. I only just watched her beautiful wedding with tearful eyes, last weekend on the tv, and don't know how she kept going. My heart goes out to her family, especially those two gorgeous little boys Freddie & Bobby. May you rest in peace Jade, and God bless you.

ooOoo

Now onto the challenge at Sketch Saturday this week. As you can see on the left, lots of squares. I thought I would use one of the stamps from my Gorjuss Girls collection by Suzanne Woolcott at Sugar Nellie. I adore these stamps, as do a good many other crafters. They are such a popular collection, and I shall not hesitate to get Collection Two when they are released.

I've gone all pink and girly again, just for Mothers Day, with lots of flowers, and a big 'doily heart' which I purchased from the NEC last week. The background paper is Strawberry Shortcake from Capture The Magic. The cerise pearlised paper is from Craftwork Cards, another purchase from the NEC.

I coloured the image with Copic Markers. You can see it in close up here, flaws and all. It's difficult getting black hair to look right though....I think I need a little bit more practice on that one.

I do enjoy sketch challenges so much, as they give you a starting point. I used my EK Success Retro Flower punches again, I'm loving them. They are my favourite toy at the moment.

Loads more flowers inside too.

Here are the Copic markers I used to colour the image. I'd love to hear your comments, if you care to leave any.

In the meantime, Happy crafting.

Friday Sketchers

Hi everyone, and Happy Saturday

Hope you're all well. I've just packed Sophie (my gorgeous 15 year old daughter) off to Thorpe Park for the day. It's a trip organised by the sixth formers for year ten, as part of their A level year. The weather here is gorgeously sunny, so I'm hoping she has a good day.

I've joined in the Friday Sketchers challenge this week, which is hosted by Beatrix, who has designed the beautiul sketch on the left.

I wanted to do another springtime card, so I chose an image from Sugar Nellie, and sunny orange colours. I don't know if it looks more like summer than spring though, maybe I should've stuck to paler yellow tones. Anyway too late now.

I love these springtime images. This one in particular, I can just see the little lambs skipping about in the fields, awwww.

I coloured the imaged with Copic markers. I'm so in love with these, every week I add more colours to my collection. the effects, and shading you can get is far superior to anything else I have tried, so I will keep buying them. The flowered paper is from DCWV. Not sure who makes the other one, I haven't much left, and I do love it.

The text stamp is from Hero Arts, and it's a sentiment that I truly believe, even if you do have to be friends with a little lamb, lol.

I decorated the inside again. the flowers are from Prima, and the flower gems from my stash.

Have a good day, and happy crafting.

Truly Scrumptious Challenge #3

Hi all

Happy Wednesday, and hope you're all ok.

This weeks challenge at Truly Scrumptious is another sketch, this time designed by our lovely Beth.

The theme for this one is to show something shiny on your card. There's a fantastic prize from Pink Gem for the winner. So lets see what you can do.

Here's what I have done: I've made this card for my 'Step-Grandaughter', Ellie, who will be four this month. I thought I'd make her a really girly pink card. This fairy image from Pink Gem really is so cute and fits the bill just fine. I coloured it wth Copics, and added glitter to her wings. I think maybe I should've used fine glitter though, I feel this one's a bit too chunky.

You can see it more clearly here. It'll be perfect for those winter snowflakes, but a bit coarse for dainty fairies.

Now talking about fairies, I bought this ribbon from The Craft Fairy yesterday while I was at the NEC Hobbycrafts Show. Yummy pink marshmallow, raspberry and chocolate colours, they're really making my mouth water. I cut two strips of each, and tied them together instead of a bow. I think I looks fab, how about you?

I'm also loving my EK Success Retro Punches so much I'm just putting flowers on almost everything. I put the large brown flower through a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder. I decorated the flowers with little dots of Liquid Pearls. I intend to experiment more with these punches, so watch this space. Of course I had to decorate the inside too -

And I wanted to do something special, so I decided to use the same image, but make a pop-up, just like the old story books....in fact that's given me another idea. I'll put it on hold until another time, but keep watching.

Here's a closer look at the pop-out. It was so very simple to do too, why not have a go yourself. If you need any help, just contact me.

These are the Copic Markers I used to colour the image with. Oh I almost forgot....

the shiny bit...

you know, from the challenge...

well it's the metalic silver mirri-card behind the image on the front, did you spot it?

Hope you like what I did. I'd love to hear your comments if you have the time.

Amazing Flowers.

I know many of you love using Retro Flower Punches to make co-ordinated flowers for your creations. Well......Now I have at long last, managed to get hold of some myself, I thought I'd make some to. If you love making these flowers then you just have to see these made by Ann-Louice. I stumbled across her blog quite by chance, and I'm so glad I did. Her creations are beautiful. Don't worry if you cannot speak Swedish, she has very clear photo's that you won't have any trouble following.

Clueless

Hi, I'm back again.

Apologies if I don't get round to visiting you all this week, still having internet problems. Just bear with me please, I'm sure it'll be alright in the end.

I made this card for a challenge this week, but can't for the life of me think which one it was for. I've had such a busy weekend, what with my Niece, Sarah's wedding, and the craft show, I haven't had a moment to think. So I guess I'll miss the challenge, but I'm posting the card regardless, just because I like it.

The image is from from the 'Little Cotton Rabbit' collection, at Funky Kits. I thought I would team it with denim, and ticking papers, and a little faux stitching. The front of the card's a little bit plain. I kind of lost direction, and didn't know what to put with it, so it's a little bit sparse of embelishments. Never mind....

Here you can see a closer shot of the image. He's coloured in Copic's.

The inside is decorated too, which I love.

It's a good little boys card. Hope you like it.

Take card and happy crafting.

Friday Sketchers #43

Hi all, and Happy Monday

Having a little trouble with my internet connection just lately, so I hope it's going to behave while do my post.

Had a fantastic time at the Hobbycrafts show, Lots of temptations. Far too many to buy, so I had some very hard decisions to make regarding what I should buy. And now I have a very, very long wish list of thing's I didn't buy.

Now Friday 13th was the day my eldest son Paul, became a quarter of a century old, his silver jubilee you might say. I am so proud of him and love him to bits.

It's still so hard fo me to do mens cards though. However I decided I would base his card on the sketch at Friday Sketchers this week, which is quite apt, being the same day and all. I used a Whiff Of Joy image of Charlie celebrating with a glass of something sparkly wearing his best 'bib and tucker'.

I do love classic black, grey and red for mens cards. The striped paper is by Doodlebug Designs, can't remember who the argyle patterned paper is by. I used to think it was Basic Grey, but I now think this is not the case. Anyway I love this paper, and if I could remember where it was from I'd see if I could get more. Although it's probably discontinued now.

Here you can see a close up of the Copic coloured image. I really wanted a darker grey for his suit, but alas didn't have one. so that's now on my list too, sigh.

The inside has been decorated with more or less the same layout.

I blurred the words out as I forgot to take the photo before I added my personal message, oops. Hope you like what I've done.

Happy crafting.

Mothers Day

Hi everyone

It's soon to be Mothers day here in the UK (next Sunday 22nd in fact). OMG I've got so many card orders to make, better get moving.

As I'm a mother of five, it's quite exciting to think about what I might receive from my little brood. I've told Sophie & Jordan, my two youngest children, I'd like a hand made card, and can't wait to see what they come up with. I love it when they make stuff of their own, and keep everything they've ever made in my treasure box. I get it out from time to time, and take a look just to remind myself how precious they are.

I love handmade gifts too, but I also love things that are just a little different. There's so many unusual Mothers Day gift ideas these days that I'm hoping for something to make my day a little extra special, after all I've been a Mother for 28 years now, and think I deserve a little treat. It's not easy being a Mum, and I've been through some really tough times, but I wouldn't change a thing.

I know some people who have really special treats planned for Mothers Day, and my children have asked me what I would like. Well my little darlings.....

I'd love to go hot air ballooning for instance (hint, hint). I've never been, but seems so calm , and tranquil, a beautiful way to spend the day. Now that would be a day to remember. Whenever I see hot air balloons in the sky I always think they look so magical. and wonder what it would be like to be up there where the birds fly.

So I can't wait to see what my children come up with, but I hope it's something really special. Maybe they'll get a clue from this post somehow.

I'd be interested to hear what your ideal gift would be.

I'm for 'Dies To Die For'

Hi all,

Just getting in the last post of the day, or is it the first post of the next day, whatever. I have great news to tell you. I have been chosen to be a guest designer at Dies To Die For in May. How good is that. I just snuck in before the deadline on Sunday, I'm so very lucky.

You'll be seeing lots of products available from Dies To Die For in my samples, so keep watching. It's a while to wait yet, and I'm anxious to get going. May seems a long way off at the moment. Congratulations to the rest of the guest designers too, can't wait to see what you all do.

Daring Cardmakers Patchwork Challenge

Hi everyone, and Happy Monday

Hope you all had a good weekend. I'm looking forward to the weekend again already. I have a lot going on this week. My eldest Son has his 25th Birthday on Friday, which I need to make a card for. My niece gets married on Saturday, so good luck to her. And the Hobbycrafts show at the NEC will have the pleasure of my company on Sunday, hurrah....and on top of all that, it's payday on Friday too, so I'll have lots to spend. So everyone that visits the show before Sunday, just remember to leave me some stuff to buy, lol.

Now over at Daring Cardmakers, the challenge this week is to incorporate patchwork into your design. Here's my design:

This would be an ideal baby card. The image is from the Little Cotton Rabbits range again by Sugar Nellie, available at Funky Kits. They are just so adorable, I love them. I also thought it would be ideal to go with the patchwork theme, giving that 'handmade' look. I coloured it in soft tones of green and pink, and chose papers to match, which are from Daisy Bucket Designs, Doodlebug Designs, and HOTP. The image is coloured with Copic's of course.

Here you can see a close up of the colouring, and flower detail. The flowers are from Prima, but you probably already knew that. I added a papermania brad, and a little charm that I got from Coleman's the stationers. I added a little ribbon tied in a loose knot just underneath the rabbits chin to finish it off.
The inside was decorated in the same papers.

Part of the image was used to decorate the inside too. The sentiment is from the same set that the rabbit came from. Oh and the buttons are by Dress It Up who make loads of embelishments and are available through any good craft shop. I got these particular ones from Capture The Magic.

These are the Copic's I used to colour the image. Hoe you like it as much as I do. I'd be happy to hear your comments if you have the time.

Take care, and Happy Crafting.