Blog Candy

Priscilla's blog over at Skraptacular Designs has some fab blog candy for reaching 1000 hits. Head over there for the chance to win "House Mouse stamped images, Sarah Kay stamped images, Sugar Nellie stamped images, Prima flowers, ribbon, brads, stickers, chipboard embellishments, etc... I'm sure I'll find more goodies to add between now and when the winner is announced!"

House Mouse meets Basic Grey

This card is for the challenges on House Mouse and Basic Grey. The House Mouse Challenge was to follow a sketch, which is one I will definately use again, it was really good fun to follow. The Basic Grey Challenge was to make a card using a choice of colour combos. I chose blue and gold for my card. This is the first time I've entered either one of these challenges.
I used Basic Grey Granola papers, they're gorgeous. I layered the papers onto gold mirri card, used blue brads in the corners and added blue ribbon. For the stamped image I used Tombow pens direct to stamp, then blended a little, (was really pleased with how the image turned out).I used gold ink round the edges of the card with the image on then I added it to gold mirri card, with only one side of the gold showing. I then added a few blue flowers. I did the sentiment in gold ink and in the same way as the image round the edges. I also added gold ink round the edges of the card.

Thanks A Bunch

This card is for the Penny Black and Secret Crafter Saturday Challenges. At Penny Black the challenge is Week 18 -Thanks A Bunch. On Secret Crafter Saturday Challenges there is a sketch from Sue to follow for Challenge 2. I really enjoyed following the sketch and found it went so well with the PB image.
I used Laura Ashley Contemporary papers for the backing paper. I stamped the hedgehog with a single flower as I didn't want to include the flowers in his other hand this time. Added some leaves and watercoloured. Mounted on green pearlised card and added metallic green brads after cutting the corners away. The sentiment is a peel off sticker on the same green card. Added ribbons and more green brads from stash.

Gotta Wear Shades

The challenge at Daring Cardmakers this week is called 'Gotta Wear Shades'. The challenge is to be bright. Clashy is good, hot colours are good, anything super duper bright is good too. I decided to use Vanessa's sketch from her midweek dare as it's a fab sketch.
I used HOTP Birthday backing papers and added swirls, flowers, pink peel offs and a couple of circle stick-ons from my stash. The colours are very bright, and they certainly clash.

Blogoversary Candy!

Visit Natalie at http://nattykcards.blogspot.com/ for the chance to win some fab blog candy as it's her first Blogoversary on the 18th October.

2 Sketches 4 You Challenge Laura's Sketch 10

The challenge at http://2sketches4you.blogspot.com/ is a sketch by Laura. As I've not made many Christmas cards yet I decided that this would be my theme. I used HOTP and Dovecraft backing papers, gold ribbon and Dovecraft chipboard with brads. Added some gems and a sentiment. Lastly, I brightened up the swirls in the backing paper with some gold Stickles. The picture hasn't come out very well, it looks much better in real life.

Hanglar & Stanglar

I've managed to do one card for 2 challenges. The first is from http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ where the challenge was to use the colour scheme of pink and green. The second is from http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ where you had to make a card based on a sketch by Ceal from the DT.
I water coloured a Hanglar & Stanglar stamp, cut out and put on a pink oval background. The background papers are from Heidi Grace. Added ribbon and slider, then image on top on foam pads. I punched out some green sparkly card and added flowers with gems, and lastly a 'Birthday Wishes' sentiment. It was a fun sketch to work with, and I didn't realise until now how well pink and green go together on a card.

Ooh-la-la Creations Challenge 19 Shabby Chic

Ooh-la-la's challenge is to make something in the style of Shabby Chic. I hope I've pulled it off ok with this card.
I used HOTP emerald papers which I sanded to give them a distressed look. I painted alcohol inks onto glossy card and ripped the bottom, then added the lady's face stamp (Paper Artsy) onto vellum, which I then layered onto the alcohol inks card and framed. Painted the frame and added gems. Lastly, I added a ribbon and the word 'dream' and another piece of the ripped alcohol inked card in the top corner.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge 1

Here is my entry to the SCS Sketch Challenge. The sketch was perfect for a baby card, especially as my niece was due to have a little girl 2 days ago.
I used backing paper from stash. The embellishment of a pram was mounted onto scalloped card and then layered onto a circle of pink glittery card. I added a sentiment, flowers, a little heart and pink peel offs.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge 17

I've been crafting now for 3 days in a row, not very often I get that privilege. So I thought I would use my time to enter some more challenges, Here's my entry for the Penny Black Saturday Sketch Challenge 17. I had to follow a sketch and include at least one PB image. I've used a little hedgehog stamp, watercoloured with pencils. I used a scallop punch, then layered the image onto a circle in brown card. All papers are 7gypsies Savannah range. Added white lace, 3 brads and a sentiment with a little gem in the centre.

Caardvarks Challenge

The Caardvark challenge this week is to create a ***NEW*** item that incorporates scoring in a special technique. I made my first spring card and box yesterday for this challenge. They both needed a lot of scoring, and took me a while to do as it was my first attempt at a box (I have to do things the hard way and start off with an awkward shaped one). It was also my first attempt at a Spring card. I printed the rose decoupage image (which I layered onto silver mirri card), and backing paper for the card from a Robert Addams CD 'Roses' that my friend Barbara lent me. (Thanks Babs). The base of the box was made with 300gsm white cardstock and the lid from pink glittery card. I cut an aperture from the middle after scoring it and added acetate, put a base in, then added a pink bow on the lid.

Double Dutch Challenge 2

I really enjoyed making this card. The sketch was great to follow. I used a Sarah Kay stamp (again), watercoloured, and layered on the new gorgeous 7gypsies Savannah paper. Embellishments included a flower, a brad in the tag and a metal 'love' brad. Finished off with 3 dots of Pearly Stuff.

Cupcake Craft Challenge

I thought I'd better hurry up and enter the Cupcake Craft challenge as it finishes early tomorrow morning.
I've decided to enter this one as it's a fabric card, although they don't look as good in a picture as they do in real life. Also, this image depicts what Christmas means to me, kids round the tree on Christmas morning opening their presents and having lots of fun. I'm afraid the pic's a bit wonky, but you can see the card ok.
I kept the card quite simple as I didn't want to take anything away from the image. I used a patterned gold mirri card on some red card with gold and silver ribbons and added some lovely red gems. Lastly I used gold stickles for the candle flames on the tree.
Here's the url for the challenge: http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/

On a different note, I've had a lovely day crafting today. I'll upload the results tomorrow. While I was crafting, my daughter and her boyfriend decided to thoroughly clean my bedroom and the bathroom for me as a surprise. I was thrilled to say the least, and can't wait to get into my nice clean fresh bedding tonight. x

Sarah Kay Weekly Challenge Week 13 True Blue

I thought I'd enter my first blog challenge. I've chosen the Sarah Kay Weekly challenge as they are my favourite stamps at the mo. The challenge is to produce a Sarah Kay card or project themed around the colour blue including at least one Sarah Kay image.
I stamped the Sarah Kay image with black Versafine, then watercoloured it. Added blue and brown ribbons and fibres to a piece of blue card. The sentiment was stamped with brown Versa colour. Everything was matted and layered onto backing paper from stash.
It's probably a bit soon for me to be entering blog challenges as it's so early in my card making days. Also I've only just started my blog so it needs a lot of work and learning yet, but I just thought I've got to start somewhere, sometime so why not take the plunge and have a go.
If you fancy having a go, here's the url : http://sarahkaychallenges.blogspot.com/

New ATC

I haven't posted on my blog for a couple of weeks now as I've had abit of a flare up of my illness. Hopefully, I'm now coming to the end of it and should catch up.
I made a new ATC for swapping in the Trimcraft forum. It's called 'Embrace life'. I used alcohol inks on the background, then stamped and embossed in silver and added a picture of a little girl. It brings my grand total of ATCs now to 7.
I've ordered a cuttlebug from my local craft shop, so expect to see lots of embossed cards in the next few weeks as I get used to it.