Some News

Donna of Donna's Den of Crafts has decided to close her online shop for the time being and focus on her job as a mum. Please pop over to her shop and have a browse around, 30% will be taken off at the checkout and p&p is only £1. What are you waiting for... ;-)

Cards For Men - Challenge 18, Long Summer Days

The theme over at Card for Men this time is Long Summer Days - don't you wish we'd had more of these this summer! We are being sponsored this time by the fab digital image shop Phindy's Place. I was lucky enough to be able to play with some Phindy's Place images, I just love this lil chap relaxing in the paddling pool and had to make my DT card with him.

Phindy's Place Digi Stamps is where you can find hundreds of beautifully drawn and detailed images for all your handmade card, scrapbook and paper crafting projects. Digi stamping is a new endeavor for children's book illustrator Philomena O'Neill and she enjoys drawing charming line images for crafters to color and embellish for their own creative efforts. Philomena likes to think of this as a collaboration between two artists. Please stop by at Phindy's Place, you are going to find images you love!

Please do come and join in the fun with our Long Summer Days theme at Cards for Men and have a look at the gorgeous DT cards.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Challenge 106, Let's Get Digital

Bee Crafty - Challenge 37, Anything (Digi) Goes
CRAFT - Challenge 65, Milestone Birthday/Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz - Challenge 34, Hot, Hot, Hot

Digital Tuesday - Challenge 73, Cool It!

Supplies:
Image - Easy Living digi from Phindy's Place coloured with Promarkers
Papers - MME Love Me Do
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics
Sentiment - generated on pc
Charm - from stash
Screw brad - Woodware
Tools - circle & scallop circle Nesties, scissors for distressing

Girly Christmas Card

So here's another Christmas card from me, this one uses a cute digi download by Heather Ellis, available here for only 50p!!! I have paper pieced the outfit and hat.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Bee Crafty - Challenge 37, Anything Goes (must use a digi)

Simon Says Stamp - Paper Piecing

OSAAT - Challenge 28, Girly

Stampin' for the Weekend -Challenge 45, Anything Goes

Supplies:

Image - by Heather Ellis

Papers - Jack & Jill by Prima

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics

Sentiment - Hero Arts

Buttons - Basic Grey tied with embroidery thread

Tools - Marianne Designs snowflake dies

Yet Another Crimbo Card...

I just can't resist winter images at the minute. This is a new one by Pink Gem Designs called Jolly Robins, it's so cute and pretty quick to colour as it's quite small.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Emma's Store - Challenge 1, Anything Goes

Christmas Cards All Year Round - August Challenge, Snowflakes

Secret Crafter - Challenge 98, Make a Start on Christmas

Totally Papercrafts - Challenge 31, Keep it Clean & Simple

Totally Gorguss - Challenge 45, Christmas in August

Supplies:
Image - Jolly Robins from Pink Gem Designs coloured with Promarkers and Frosted Lace Stickles

Paper - Imaginisce from last year

Cardstock - Bazzill

Sentiment - can't remember where this is from, bought it last year?

Snowflake tag - from MME Merry Days of Christmas die cut sheet

Snowflakes spritzed with Glimmer Mist

Tools - Marianne Designs snowflake dies

Sorry More Christmas Cards...

My eldest monkey has been at his friend's house playing today and I have been getting creative making a couple more Christmas cards. I was supposed to be ironing but hey ho ;-)

I would like to enter this Tilda card into the following challenges:

Paper Cutz - Challenge 56, Metal (I used a brad and a charm)

Bah! Humbug! - Challenge 33, Charms!

I Love Promarkers - Challenge 29, Charming

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 127, Dieing for a Punch!

Winter Wonderland - All I Want For Christmas

Totally Stampalicious - Texture-Licious (my textures are the doily and distressed paper edges)

Christmas Card Challenge - Week 38, Vintage/Retro

Supplies:
Image - Lady Tilda by Magnolia from Crafty Ideas by Kaz coloured with Promarkers
Papers - MME Merry Days of Christmas and the text paper is an old one by Making Memories
Doily - Joanna Sheen
Sentiment - MME Merry Days of Christmas tag
Brad - from stash
Charm - Pink Gem Designs tied with embroidery thread
Tools - scissors for distressing, I went a bit distressing mad with this card!!!

This next card is for the latest Penny Black at Allsorts challenge where the theme is Glitter and Glitz. I don't have many Penny Black stamps but saw this one online recently and had to have it as it's so cute. My Glitter and Glitz is from Frosted Lace Stickles on the image and Glimmer Mist sprayed on the ribbon.

Supplies:
Image - Caroling Trio by Penny Black from Crafty Ideas by Kaz coloured with Promarkers and Frosted Lace Stickles
Paper - Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics
Ribbon - from stash spritzed with Glimmer Mist
Poinsettia - Papermania
Brad - Joanna Sheen
Gems - Hero Arts

My First Pink Cat Studio Card

As some of you already know, I fell off my self-imposed stash ban last week with a mini splurge at My Mum's Craft Shop on some gorgeous Pink Cat Studio Christmas stamps. I have teamed this lil beauty Lily with some old embellies lurking in my stash and paper that I have never cut before cos I love it so much. I never cease to be amazed at what I find in my stash when I have a rummage, so many things I have forgotten about or can't remember buying. The stash ban is doing me loads of good as it is making me look properly at what I already have.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Challenge 61, Ribbon

The Corrosive Challenge - Challenge 78, Drinks Are On Us!

Papertake Weekly - 3-2-1 (3 dew drops, 2 buttons and 1 snowflake)

Sew Many Challenges - Challenge 23, Christmas in August

The Creative Cottage - Challenge 21, Christmas

Supplies:
Image - Lily with Cocoa by Pink Cat Studio from My Mum's Craft Shop
Paper - by Adornit, been in my stash for ages
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics
Ribbon - from stash
Glove buttons - from stash
Dew drops - from stash
Snowflake - K&Co
Tools - oval and scallop oval Nesties, scissors for distressing

Tilda in pink

This is my Crafty Place card swap card this month. The theme was 1 image, 2 papers and 3 embellies. The image was sent to me by the lovely Leia, thank you x

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Just Magnolia - Week 69, Let's Get Sentimental

Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 44, Star!

Paperplay - week 33, Pink to make the boys wink

Magical Monday - Challenge 3, Flowers

Supplies:
Image - Simsalabim Tilda sent to me by Leia coloured with Promarkers and Frosted Lace Stickles used on star
Papers - Porcelain by Basic Grey
Sentiment - Elzybells
Gems - Hobby Arts
Dew drops - from stash
Tools - oval and scallop oval Nesties, scissors for distressing, Hobbycraft flower punch, Woodware leaf punch

Pink Gem Reindeer on a Zig-Zag card

There is an absolutely gorgeous freebie digi image of a reindeer over at Pink Gem at the moment. I have printed him twice but flipped one over and used both on this zig-zag card. The overall card size is 6"x18" so I took a piece of 6"x12" cardstock, scored down the middle and added another 6" square to one end.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Challenge 117, Christmas in August

Stamptacular Sunday - Challenge 73 , Two's Better Than One

Stamp Something - August Digi Day Challenge

Supplies:

Image - Reindeer from Pink Gem (thank you so much Janet) coloured in Promarkers

Paper - Write the Cards by October Afternoon

Cardstock - Bazzill Dotted Swiss (cream), Bazzill Basics (red)

Tiny Buttons - Crafty Emma's Store

Flowers - from stash

Large Buttons - Woodware

Doilies - Joanna Sheen

Sentiment - generated on pc

Sentiment ticket - from Caz's blog yet again

Northpole postmark - from Shirley Clark's blog

Tools - oval and scallop oval Nesties, scissors for distressing, Marianne Designs snowflake die

Craft Your Days Away Challenge 2 - With Wings

Whoo hoo we're onto our second challenge over at Craft Your Days Away. The theme this time is With Wings. I have chosen to stitch a bird to sit ontop of a little box. I have decorated the box simply and rustically with a few flowers and some raffia.

Our sponsor is the fab DT member Craft Emma of Crafty Emma's Store, go take a look at her shop, loads of lovely tempting stash!

Please do come and join in the challenge with us and check out the beauiful DT creations.

I would like to enter my box into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp - Make a Gift

The ABC Challenge - B is for Blue

I Did It Creations - Challenge 18, Anything but a Card

One Stop Craft Challenges - Challenge 94, Not a Card

Supplies:
Bird chart - Cross Stitcher magazine (latest copy - Sept I think)
Fabric & threads - from stash
Box - Papermania
Paint - Anita's Acrylic Paint in Country Blue
Dew drops - from stash
Raffia - Papermania
Papers used for flowers/butterfly - Linen Closet DCWV
Tools - Hobbycraft flower punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punch

A Christmas tag

I saw a challenge over at Winter Wonderland to make a tag. I don't think I've ever made a tag before so thought I'd give it a go. I used one of the gorgeous Lili of the Valley stamps I won on Jacqui's blog. Thank you so much Jacqui, I love the stamps xxx

I would like to enter my tag into the following challenges:

Lili of the Valley - Challenge 60, Four Seasons (I chose Winter)

Winter Wonderland - Tag It!

Fab 'n' Funky - Challenge 35, Use Your Favourite Colour/s (blue)

Christmas Cards All Year Round - August Challenge, Snowflakes

Bah Humbug - Challenge 31, Angels and Fairies

Papertake Weekly - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue (I went with blue and new)

Supplies:
Image - Angels with Crib by Lili of the Valley coloured with Promarkers
Sentiment - Holiday Messages by Hero Arts
Snowflake image - Holiday Messages by Hero Arts
Cardstock - blue is Bazzill, white is Rymans coated card
Snowflake charm - Crafty Emma's Store
Ribbon - from stash
Tools - circle & scallop circle Nesties

Cards For Men - Challenge 17, Decoupage

For the challenge over at Cards for Men we are looking for decoupage on your cards. I have chosen to make a Christmas card. This is quite a traditional card for me, I hope you like it. I really enjoyed making it and it was a nice change not automatically reaching for my colouring pens ;-)

Please do take a peek at the Cards for Men blog and check out the work of the other DT members, stunning as usual and there's a fabby prize up for grabs donated by our lovely boss Donna of Donna's Den of Crafts.


Donna's Den of Crafts is a family-run business where they aim to please. They stock a wide range of cardmaking and scrapbooking items from Dovecraft, Joanna Sheen, Crafter's Companion, Spellbinders.....to name but a few. Prices are reasonable and p&p is only £1. Most in-stock orders are dispatched next working day. Why not pop along and take advantage of a 10% discount for the duration of this challenge. Just enter the code CFM0410 in your shopping basket.

So onto my challenge card, I've used some Cosmo Cricket papers and a pyramid decoupage image sheet from Buzzcrafts...

Supplies:

Papers - Golly by Jolly by Cosmo Cricket

Image - Buzzcrafts

Gems - from stash

Tools - scissors for distressing

Twit Twoo!

When I saw this lil owl called Burt I knew he had to be mine, isn't he fab! I bought him a while ago and only just made a card with him for my friend Fiona's birthday. Fiona is an animal lover so think she'll like Burt.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges...

Alphabet Challenge - P for Punches (I used a leaf punch)

Crafty Catz - Challenge 45, Animal/s

The Stampman - Challenge 3, Easel Card

Charisma Cardz - Challenge 32, Easel Card

Crafty Creations - Challenge 80, Winged Things

Party Time Tuesdays - Challenge 11, Anything Goes

Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge 27, Birthdays

Simon Says Stamp & Show - Things With Wings

Stamptacular Sunday - Challenge 72, Buttons & Bows

One Stitch At A Time - Challenge 26, Pack a Punch

Supplies:

Image - Burt the Owl from Pollycraft coloured with Promarkers

Papers - Quite Contrary MME

Sentiment - Stamp from Elzybells - only £1.15 in the closing down sale!

Cardstock - Bazzill

Ribbon - from stash

Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts spritzed with Glimmer Mist

Pins - Crafty Emma's Store

Button - Basic Grey Lemonade range tied with embroidery thread

Tools - Woodware leaf punch, oval and scallop oval Nesties, scissors for distressing

A Girly Card

I really liked the sketch over at A Gem of a Challenge this month. I have used my fave Pink Gem stamp and my beautiful Olivia BG papers.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges if I may...

A Gem of a Challenge - Challenge 7, Sketch

Donna's Den of Crafts - Challenge 5, Something Sweet

Crafty Sentiments - Challenge 6, Distressing

Pixie Dust - Challenge 35, Pretty in Pink

Secret Crafter - Challenge 96, What Are Little Girls Made Of?

Sentimental Sundays - Challenge 16, Ribbon or Lace (I used lace)

Supplies:
Papers - Olivia by Basic Grey

Image - Sitting Chloe from Pink Gem Designs coloured with Promarkers

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Lace - from stash

Dew drops - from stash

Tools - scissors for distressing

A quick card...

I had to make a quick card for my aunt's birthday (quick cos I was late remembering I needed to make it!). I used a digi image and some papers that came with a magazine so I barely needed to look at my stash and decide what to use.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge:

I Did It Creations - Challenge 17, Anything Goes

Supplies:
Image - freebie digi from Sketching Stamper printed onto kraft paper
Cardstock - Bazzill
Papers - magazine freebie
Ribbon - from stash
Ivory dew drops - from stash
Tools - oval and scallop oval Nesties

A Lovely Award

My lovely cyber friend Jaqui aka PepPop has given me this lovely award, thank you so much Jaqui!!!


I have to now do 5 things:

1. thank the person who gave you the award - done above x

2. post the award on your blog - done above ;-)

3. list 3 things you like about yourself - i) I've learnt to live with a bit of mess and it not be the end of the world; ii) I like to learn new things and iii) my crafty streak

4. post a picture you love...


My beautiful boys having lots of fun on the beach splashing in the very cold sea at Great Yarmouth last week.

5. tag 5 people you wish to pass this award onto...

Jennie aka thewife

Jan aka Scrappy Scatty

Susan aka Tomsmom

Ali aka Alib

Ruth aka furrypig

Another Christmas Card

When I saw the cute Chilly Penguin digi at Squiggle Stamps I had to have him, he's soooo cute! I am really enjoying making Christmas cards in the summer, wish I'd done this last year as it takes the pressure off in the run up to the festive season. I've used a sheet of my all time fave Basic Grey christmas paper, kept it back from last year but had a talk with myself and have used it to make this card, even took my scissors to the edges - arrrggghhh!!!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Christmas Cards All Year Round - August Challenge, Snowflakes

Basic Grey - Week 26, Pearls

Secret Crafter - Challenge 95, It's a Man's World

Moving Along With the Times - Challenge 58, Christmas

Cupcake Craft - Challenge 102, Distressing

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 124, Whateva!

Supplies:
Image - Chilly Penguin from Squiggle Stamps coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics (I've used 2 colours for matting)
Button - Basic Grey
Charm - Crafty Emma's Store (tied with embroidery thread)
Sentiment - Catslife Press from Crafty Emma's Store - I LOVE this sentiment!
Pearl spray - Crafty Emma's Store
Tools - Nellie Snellen die, Marianne snowflake die set (I've used 2 of the set of 3), Glimmer Mist has been liberally sprayed on the snowflakes

Cute and girly for a cute girl

Jack has a couple of parties to go to over the summer holidays so here is another card for a child. I loved making this card with the gorgeous papers and super cute teddy bear. As the papers are quite busy I've kept the card design nice and simple.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge - O for Ovals

Pixie Dust Studio - Challenge 34, Cute as a button

Simon Says Stamp - Sing It Baby (Let me be your Teddy Bear, Elvis Presley)

Your Next Stamp - Challenge 22, Birthdays

Meljens - Challenge 19, Clean & Simple

Charisma Cardz - Challenge 31, Teddy Bears

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 124, Whateva

I Did It Creations - Challenge 16, Cute, Cute, Cute

One Stitch At A Time - Challenge 24, Sketch and/or Pink (oops too late!)

Supplies:
Image - Loved Little Bear by Meljens available from Whimsy Stamps coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Olivia by Basic Grey
Buttons - little from Crafty Emma's Store, big Basic Grey
Ribbon - from stash
Sentiment - generated on PC
Tools - oval and scallop oval Nesties, ribbon label Spellbinders die

Craft Your Days Away FIRST Challenge - Favourite Things

Whoo hoo, it's our very first challenge on the brand new Craft Your Days Away challenge blog. Joanne has picked a fab theme to kick us off... 'Favourite Things'. We all have out favourites don't we ;-) On my easel card calendar I have used loads of my crafting favourites: image, paper, lace, pins, flowers, buttons, Promarkers, Distress Stickles and loads of glimmer mist on the flowers. I have also paper pieced Daisy's outfit which is a fave thing of mine at the moment.

I do hope you can come and join us with our first challenge. We are sponsored by the fab Simon Says Stamp.


Please pop over to the blog and check out the gorgeous work made by the rest of the DT.

I would like to enter my easel card calendar into the following challenge:

Sir Stampalot - August Challenge, Bring on The Bling (I used Glimmer Mist, Distress Stickles and adhesive pearls)

Crafty Catz - Challenge 44, Buttons and Bows

The ABC Challenge - A is for August

Creative Card Crew - Cute & Girly

Supplies:
Card base made with Rymans coated cardstock
Image - Daisy by Sugar Nellie coloured with Promarkers and Picket Fence Distress Stickles added to flowers. I have paper pieced Daisy's outfit
Papers - Lush Blue by MME from Dies To Die For
Cardstock - Bazzill
Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts spritzed with Glimmer Mist
Buttons - Woodware
Calendar tab - Anita's from Grafton Crafts
Lace - from stash
Adhesive pearls - Joanna Sheen
Pins - The Hobby House
Tools - circle and scallop circle Nesties, scissors for distressing

Sweet Girly Card

I have the bug for paper piecing, it's fiddly but I love the results. I've made this card for my friend's daughter who will be 6 next week.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Your Next Stamp - Challenge 21, Easel Cards

Totally Papercrafts - Challenge 27, Going to the Movies (Annie)

Paperplay - Week 30, Anything Goes

Totally Stampalicious - Inside Out

Partytime Tuesdays - Anything Goes Birthday Card

Cupcake Craft - Challenge 102, Distressing

Supplies:

Card base made with Rymans coated card

Image - Sweet Tilda by Magnolia coloured with Promarkers and paper pieced dress

Papers and die cut sentiment - Rose Garden by Papermania

Cardstock - Bazzill

Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts spritzed with Glimmer Mist

Buttons - Woodware
Tools - oval and scallop oval Nesties, scissors for distressing, Woodware leaf punch

A very green card

I don't often make green cards but saw there were a couple of 'green' challenges and 'animal' challenges about so thought I'd make a card using another of my Elzybells bargains ;-)

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Passion for Promarkers - Week 62, Colour Green

Donna's Den of Crafts - Challenge 4, Green

Charisma Cardz - Challenge 30, Something with a tail

By The Cute and Girly - August Challenge, Animal Antics

Supplies:
Image - Scaredy Cat by Elzybells coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Origins by Basic Grey
Flowers - large made with 2 scallop circles, smaller from Wild Orchid Crafts
Brad - Joanna Sheen
Dew drops - stash
Tools - oval and scallop oval Nesties, scissors for distressing

Cards For Men - Challenge 16, Off On An Adventure...

So it's time for a new challenge at Cards for Men and the theme this time is 'Off On An Adventure'. We are sponsored this time by the fabulous Squiggle Stamps and were given some gorgeous digi stamps to play with. This lil cutey is called 'You Rock' and available to purchase here.

Here are the images that one lucky person will win...

Squiggle Stamps carry a unique range of cute, quirky and whimsical stamps designed by a talented team of illustrators. Our images are available as both Rubber and Digital Stamps with new designs added regularly. We are lucky to have a wonderful Design Team and you can see all their fabulous creations and take part in monthly prize challenges on the blog at... http://www.squigglestamps.blogspot.com/

Please do pop over to the Cards for Men challenge blog and check out the rest of the DT cards, they are gorgeous.

So here is my card...

Supplies:
Image - You Rock by Squiggle Stamps
Papers - Linen Closet by DCWV
Sentiment - generated on PC
Button - Lemonade range by Basic Grey
String - from stash
Tools - circle and scallop circle Nesties, scissors for distressing

A Monotone Card

When I saw the sketch over at Just Magnolia this week I knew I had to have a play, I've used some black and grey papers that I bought a while ago but rarely feel I have the courage to use them (bit bold for me!). I have paper pieced Tilda's dress and made my own flowers.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Just Magnolia - Challenge 66, Bev's Sketch

Magnolia Down Under - Challenge 57, Birthdays

Simon Say Stamp - Going Dotty

Paperplay - Week 30, Anything Goes

Craftalicious - Challenge 5, Make Your Own Flowers

The Stampman - Challenge 2, Take Two Colours (black & grey)

Allsorts - Challenge 63, Dressing Up

Supplies:

Image - Sweet Tilda by Magnolia coloured with Promarkers

Papers - Mono Paper Pad, Capsule Collection by Papermania

Flowers - large flower made with 2 scallop circles cut with Nestie, paper screwed up and shaped into flower shape; small flowers cut with a flower punch, 2 flower pieces for each, paper screwed up and shaped as before. Brads keep 2 pieces together

Pearl stem - Quixotic Paperie

Pearl brad - Quixotic Paperie

Crystal brads - Joanna Sheen

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Tools - circle & scallop circle Nesties, flower punch, scissors for distressing