Wednesday 28 April 2010

WOYWW

First of all I must apologise for not managing to get round to see all the other desks linked on Julia's Blog last week. I will try harder this week!
I decided not to show you my desk today, but I thought you could have a gander at some other places in my craft room.
This unit is behind me and is where I do my cutting. I swivel round on my whizzy chair and away I go! It's a bit cramped, but it's the best I can manage. I have 3 trimmers, the one you see, a Fiskars one, for cutting in the centre of card as in Tri-Shutter cards, and a Woodware one which has sets of interchangeable blades including a scoring one which I find quite useful.
The Paper Mill boxes underneath contain some of my paper and card. The lower drawer contains 12x12 papers and my Bind it All wires.
The drawer at the top contains flower and butterfly stamps.
The long, lower of these two drawers contains my overlarge stamps and sets of stamps. It also contains some sentiments which I find are a little too large for me. If anyone would like them, just email me, and for the cost of the actual postage, they can be yours! (First come first served!) They are the ones, one of which says 'On your special day'. UK only, sorry folks! I bought them on eBay and have never used them.
The upper drawer contains Christmas stamps and special occasions... Mother's Day. Father's day, Valentines, seasonal flowers etc.The two sections of this shoe box contain my collection of wood mounted Penny Black Stamps. The one on the right has 3 layers of stamps, the one on the left has just one.The right hand side of this drawer, contains sentiment and text stamps, the left hand side is babies, love, weddings and the like.

This one has people, plus stamps that I didn't know what else to do with!
I think it's probably time I had a clear out... don't you think!
STOP PRESS
The sentiment stamps have been bagged!

Tuesday 27 April 2010

Card for a child!

I had made a couple of spinner cards for a friend's daughter and she asked if I could make another for her to give to her niece. She wanted the name Rachel and a guinea pig to do the 'spinning'.
Well I looked everywhere for am image of a guinea pig which would be a suitable shape for spinning. No luck!
So I decided to draw one myself!
Do you reckon it looks like a guinea pig?
Since I took the picture, I've moved the little daisy from the top left next to the large one at the top right, which I think is an improvement. I had to be carful where I positioned them so as not to impede the movement of the spinner.
The name was die cut from Cuttlebug's 'You're not the boss of me' alphabet. The clouds were just doodled.
It's for a couple of challenges.
Sophisticats - Card for a child
Stempeltraume - Animals

A bit of a change

This box came about slightly by accident.
I had intended printing a piece of backing paper, but had inadvertently left a piece of card in the printer and so I set about making a project with it rather than simply using it as a rather thick DP!
The download is from Pollycraft from a set called Cloudy Pearl. They are all fabulous papers.
After making the box, I embellished it with some Nellie's Choice Flowers made from a Punch and Emboss set, and finished with punched splat centres and adhesive pearls.
The butterfly digi image is by Chris Dark, the Sketching Stamper (link on my sidebar), coloured with Copics. The hole in the centre of the box was made with an X Cut circle cutter as I discovered that the box lid was to wide to go through my Cuttlebug. I used a Stampin' Up punch to add the decoration around the side of the box.
It is for a bunch of challenges.
Simon says Stamp - Things with Wings
Pollycraft - Make your own flowers
Paper Cutz - Mother's Day
Just Us Girls - Template Challenge
Crafty Angels - Summer (the butterfly makes me think of summer)
Digital Tuesday - Anything but a card.
Our Creative Corner - Blooming Blossoms
Allsorts - Butterfly Bracelet inspiration
Pile it on - Make it Sweet (the box is full of sweeties)
A Spoon Full of Sugar - 3D something

Monday 26 April 2010

Monday Morning

I managed to combine quite a few challenges with this card featuring Roger the bear!
Moving along with the Times - Sketch + Animals
Be Crafty - Digi Image + Holes (the circle is a hole is the front of the card)
Creative Card Crew - Happy Birthday
Penny Black - 3 Flowers, 2 Buttons, 1 Bow (the sentiment is Penny Black)
Teddy Stampers - Red & White
Crafty Ann - 1 Digi Image, Max 3 colours, 1 ribbon, 3 flowers
My Time to Craft - Ruby, ruby, ruby
Much of my weekend was spent trying something new... not quite sure how things will turn out, but all will be revealed in due course! I have a little shopping to do before I go much further!
Since taking the picture I decided to move the button from the top left corner into the bottom left corner... and I prefer it that way!

Sunday 25 April 2010

Sketch Saturday

I really seem to be into digi images at the moment and here is another from Cuddly Buddly, this time of Grandma Fairy. I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday with Cuddly Buddly Patchwork of Papers, Purple.
I think I chose this colour because when I saw the image I thought of that poem which begins... When I am old I shall wear purple... do you know the one?
The sentiment was made on the computer and reads Go ahead... WISH. She looks as though she'd like to make all your wishes come true!
I enjoyed doing this one!

Saturday 24 April 2010

My New Stamp

I have loved this Magenta stamp from the first time I saw it used on a card. Finally, I found it for sale and bought it. It's not a cheapie, but I think it's worth it.
I think that it will be quite versatile, as I have seen examples where different elements from the stamp have been used independently. However, for its first outing, it's here in its entirety.
The challenge this week from One Stop Crafts is Metallic (colours or materials) and for the first time in ages I did a little heat embossing.
The image is embossed in gold and coloured using Perfect Pearls in Copper and Heirloom Gold with Green Patina for the leaves.
The paper is from Indian summer by Basic Grey. A few gems and some gold organza ribbon completed the card.

Friday 23 April 2010

Joy Fold Card

I've done a few of these cards recently and I've been pleased with the way each one has turned out. I made the first one for a challenge and am really glad that I did.. it's just a little more interesting than a regular fold.
This one is for the current Joy Fold challenge at No Time to Stamp.
The message inside is for the 'Quote Me' challenge at Charisma Cardz. I read it somewhere, liked it and wrote it down so that I wouldn't forget it. This image from Meljen's Designs seemed perfect for it! It reads, 'The best thing to hold onto in life, is each other'
Daring Cardmakers have the challenge of using diecuts this week, so as I have used several Nesties with my Cuttlebug for this card, this is for that challenge too.
The little heart on the front is acting as a clasp to keep the card closed when required.
I used a Nestie rectangle with notched corners to cut out the sentiment, but cut it twice, moving the card further across the die to make the finished diecut much smaller. The hearts are from Stampin' Up.

K I S S

Pals Paper Arts challenge is to K I S S - Keep It Simple, Sweetie!
This couldn't be much more simple.
Yesterday, Kim from Cuddly Buddly, asked me to make a sample card with this corner flourish, which she had just designed.
I printed it onto some CB paper, mounted the paper on black then yellow. Stamped a sentiment, which I cut and mounted with Nesties, then punched out a couple of butterflies with a Tonic Studios punch. I drew the outline of the butterfly from the diecut wastage onto yellow, cut it out and mounted it behind the black punchies, so that it would show through the holes.
Done!
Sure was simple!

Man cold!

Just Cute Bears have the theme 'One for the boys' this week and this image from Meljen's Designs immediately came to mind. This little guy looks like he has a man cold... poor little chap!
The papers are Cuddly Buddly Patchwork Papers Blue, which I used in a patchwork background, adding faux stitching, for the challenge at Crafty Cats this week. I masked the edges of the sentiment which is from Hero Arts, in order to fit into the Spellbinders tag.
Thanks everyone for your good wishes about my knee, it seems to be progressing very well, although I probably won't discover exactly what went on during the surgery until I get my follow-up appointment in 8 weeks time!

Thursday 22 April 2010

Colour Create

A simple card, using my new Stampin' Up set, Pocket Silhouettes. I just love them and think that I will get quite a bit of mileage from them.
The central section is mounted on Nesties and the corners are made from consecutive sized Nestie squares cut together to make a frame and then the resulting diecut is cut diagonally in half to make the corners. It is embellished with adhesive pearls and a grosgrain ribbon.
The colour of Burnt Orange, Cream and Black are the choice this time from Colour Create.
A challenge that I have only just discovered is Stamping Vacation Pick 3 and this is from the challenge for April!
I chose
1) Black Ivory + 1 other colour (burnt orange)
2) Any item that has a leaf on it (the central stamp)
3) Use any kind of die-cutting machine (I used my Cuttlebug for the Nesties)
I decided against adding a sentiment, a) because I couldn't decide where to put one, and b)because I didn't know what would be the most suitable sentiment for this type of card.

Celebration Bears

Here is another card using another of the newly digitised images from Cuddly Buddly. This one is called Celebration bears and I think that it fits with the following challenges.
Crafty Ann - Let the sun shine in
Create 4 Fun - Circles
Crafty Angels - Wedding
Crafty Card Makers - Desert Island.
I think this challenge entry needs a little qualification. The card should utilise your favourite things...crafty goodies that you would not wish to be stranded on a desert island without!
So mine are Copics, my Cuttlebug (although you can't see it, I couldn't have cut another favourite... my Nesties, without it) Adhesive pearls, and Cuddly Buddly papers. They are in colour sets and can be mixed very readily!
So there you have it.
Today the bandage came off my knee to be replaced by a whopping great length of tubigrip. This has to stay on for 2 weeks, but happily the fetching compression stockings have gone!

Wednesday 21 April 2010

WOYWW

Hi WOYWWers!
Not a lot of interest really, as yesterday was spent in Queen Alexandra's Hospital Portsmouth having an Arthroscopy on my knee. (that may be tautology, I'm not sure if arthroscopy refers solely to the knee... I must ask my doctor son!)
Prior to this I had been busy making sample cards for Cuddly Buddly (where I have the illustriously lofty title of 'Fabulously Crafty Friend'). Kim, the owner and artist has been converting some of her rubber stamp images into digis and wanted samples for display on the website. She's also looking for new FC digi Fs to work on some of these images, so if you're interested head over there. You can access the appropriate section here.
For those of you with a sturdy disposition, here is a pic of my knees, 1 reg, 1 large. Note the trendy compression stockings! I've yet to see the inside of the dressing which has to stay on until tomorrow. I am a bit of a star with crutches, but I think I could probably manage without now. Lets' hope whatever was done will have alleviated the symptoms that I been experiencing over the last few months.

Tuesday 20 April 2010

Quick Quotes

At My Time to Craft this week, the theme is Quick Quotes. I have seen so many fabulous sentiments or verses on cards, and when I see a good one I try to jot it down. I'm useless at remembering!
This was was spotted somewhere or other and I thought it was so true.
On the front, the sentiment reads 'Love is like a butterfly'...

and inside it reads, 'it goes where it pleases and pleases wherever it goes.'
The die cutting is Cuttlebug and the papers are Cuddly Buddly and some that was sculling around in the bottom of the drawer, I think it was from one of the first packs I ever bought, probably Docraft!
I'm off to hospital today for surgery on my knee, hopefully they'll be able to clear out whatever has been giving me problems for the past several months.
I don't know if I'll feel like crafting when I get home... we'll see... I may leave it for a day or so!

Monday 19 April 2010

A card for my niece

My niece is expecting a baby girl within the next few weeks. It was always a surprise in my day!
I made this card for her, with this dear little ted arriving by balloon. I think she feels a bit like a balloon at the moment.
He's another digi download from Cuddly Buddly, as are the papers which are Fairy Fun - peach. They are such a pretty shade.
The sentiment is also a CB product, but this is from a rubber stamp. I embossed the white sections of the card with two different Cuttlebug folders and embellished it with the central punched band, a ribbon and a heart charm.
As Papertake's challenge this week is entitled Cutie Pie... I couldn't resist!
You may have remembered seeing my post about meeting Cyprus Anne the other week... well her blog is now up and running, so do go and give her a visit and give her a big welcome to Blogland! You can find her here.

Sunday 18 April 2010

Topiary Ted

Here is another card using a digi image from Cuddly Buddly. If you love the image but prefer rubber, that's available too. I like working with digis as they can be sized to suit your particular project.
The papers (Patchwork of Papers Yellow)are also downloads from CB and these are particularly useful as they are in colour sets, which makes mixing papers a breeze.
The frame is made using Martha Stewart Round the Page punches, and the daisies are from Cuttlebug's Hippie Chick Alphabet.
The sentiment is also Cuddly Buddly, mounted on Nesties.
Allsorts Challenge this week is entitles 'In Stitches'. If you zoom in you will see my faux stitching around the edge of the card. Stempeltraume has the challenge Yellow and flowers, this is for them too.

Truly Scrumptious

Here is this week's sketch from Truly Scrumptious together with the optional theme of April Showers.
It's strange how picking up a pen can influence how a card develops... I just thought I would do a yellow umbrella, but the shade I chose didn't go with any of the yellow/green papers I had, which is what I first thought I would do. So off I went with the addition of brown. I opened several reels of ribbon until I found one that was approaching the shade of yellow I needed. I think it works, but the whole thing doesn't look terribly Aprilly to me, the colours are a little rich!
I enjoyed making the flowers (Nellies) and the frame (Martha Stewart) and because the overall feel is Yellow, it's for the Alphabet Challenge, Y - Yellow, this week. At Stempeltraume, it's Yellow and flowers, so there's another challenge!
The brown background paper is embossed with Cuttlebug random Dots and the sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly.

Saturday 17 April 2010

Cuddly Buddly meets Crafty Catz

Here is another image just released as a digi from Cuddly Buddly.
I have used it for my challenge card for Crafty Catz this week, where the criteria were to use red and green and a punch.
My red and green papers are digi downloads from CB and the punch used was Martha Stewart's Punch around the Page - Crown. The sentiment is from a CB rubber stamp.
Although it's not too obvious, the image is mounted on 3D pads on an oval embossed with a Cuttlebug Hearts embossing folder.
It's nearly time for pre-prandials, I'd better go downstairs and put in my order! G&T tonight I think!

Penny Black Tree

I really like this stylised tree stamp from Penny Black and it really doesn't get enough outings. However with the theme of monochrome brown from the Penny Black Challenge this week, this image came to my mind.
I used the sketch from Crazy 4 Challenges, making it square rather than rectangular.
The ABC Challenge this week is S for Sparkle... well there is lots of pearlised paper and 4 twinkly gems on this card, so maybe that will count! Sophisticats Challenge this week is So distressing, and as the image is gently distressed with chalk, it's for that challenge too!
I made the fancy ends to the straps with the corner punch from Martha Stewart's Double Loop Punch Around the Page set. The embossing is Swiss Dots from Cuttlebug.

Tri Shutter Card

This is my first attempt at a tri-shutter card. I had seen various videos on You Tube and thought it looked comparatively straightforward, if a little time consuming. I waited until I had bought my Fiskars paper trimmer, which allows accurate cutting within a piece of card. It arrived yesterday, so I had to have a go.
The videos I had seen, were working in Imperial measures, but I adapted the measurements to fit a piece of A4 card.
The digi papers are called Cloudy Pearl, but I can't remember where they came from and I've just had a look on the download, but it doesn't give me the information!
The stamping is from Stampin' Up and the flowers are from a set of Cuttlebug Alphabet dies.
It's for a couple of challenges
Little Red Wagon - Dry embossing, there's a small section of Cuttlebug Victoria embossing behind the heart.
Quixotic Challenges - Heavy Metal, the heart charm.
PS I just Googled the digi paper and found out that it was from Pollycraft!
Michelle was asking about the dimensions of this card.
This is what I did.

Rhapsody in Blue

This young lady is Charley from Cuddly Buddly, who image has just been released as a digi file.
She is mounted over squares cut from CB digi Patchwork of papers Blue, on a background edged with Martha Stewart, Double Loop Around the Page punch set.
Charley is coloured with Copics and mounted on 3D pads.
It is for several challenges
Charisma Cardz - monochrome
The Shabby Tearooms - It's hip to be square
The Treehouse - Decoupage
Stamp Something - Something layered
The burglar alarm chap is coming in about half an hour to re-attach the alarm to our new front door... I'd better get into the shower and dressed sharpish!


One Stop Crafts - Things with wings

The DT at One Stop Cards and Crafts were kindly offered an image from this week's sponsor Glitterbabe. I chose this butterfly for this week's challenge challenge entitled 'Things with wings'. The image, which is mounted on Nesties, is coloured with several shades of lilac Copics and twinkled with Glamour Dust.
The Creative Cottage also has the theme of Things with wings and Our Creative Corner has the theme of butterflies, so this for that too.
There's lots of punching used on this card, the leaves and flowers are from Nellies punches, the centres from an X Cut punch and the central band from a Stampin' Up border punch. The corners are Cuttlebug.
The sentiment is from Stampin' Up.
As the whole card is monochromatic, (including the base digi-paper from Cuddly Buddly), it's also for the challenge of Monochromatic from Charisma Cardz.
My granddaughter has gone home again now, I miss her already!

Thursday 15 April 2010

Cuddly Buddly Digi Image

Kim, over at Cuddly Buddly has released some of her fabulous images in digital form. This is Little Miss Daisy Back from the shops.
I used CB Miss Daisy Spring papers to paper piece her packages and also for the background. The rest of her is coloured with Copics.
The sentiment is from Little Miss Daisy's greetings (rubber stamp).
I haven't got quite as much done today in my craft room as I would normally do, but I have been a little preoccupied. My granddaughter is staying with is for a couple of days and today I bought a little car for her to play in when she is staying with us. It took my daughter and I quite a while to assemble it (my husband is hopeless with a screwdriver). Daisy couldn't wait to get into it and was climbing in and out before it even had any wheels.
Here is another little Miss Daisy in her new car!
Hopefully it will last long enough for any subsequent grandchildren who may appear on the scene in future years!

Wednesday 14 April 2010

Sumpin's Wrong!

I love this image from Mo's Digital Pencil, but today for some reason the ink was smudging when I used my copics. This is the third image I coloured, and I'm not too keen on the effect of this one either. If anyone has a foolproof method of stopping printer ink from smudging when using Copics I should be glad to hear from you.
The shirt and jeans have been paper pieced... it's probably as well, or that part might have been smudged too!
The challenges this time are
Taylored Expressions - Sketch #108
I love Digi Challenge - 3 papers, 2 brads 1 embellishment
Tuesday morning sketches - Soft Hues, Flowers, Ribbons
Digital Tuesday - Paper piecing
The papers are a mix of Canon (the jeans and the big spots) and Pink Petticoat.
The stitching is faux stitching I'm afraid, my machine still isn't in first class order.
I went to the hospital this morning for a pre-op assessment, in preparation for minor surgery on my knee next week. I'm looking forward to being able to get back into some sort of exercise regime, whether I'll enjoy the actual exercise as much, remains to be seen!

WOYWW

Yesterday was spent almost exclusively on the attempted completion of wedding stationery for the the 30th of this month. My son is to be best man to his friend, who was in turn, his best man in 2008. The stationery is my gift to the couple... quite a labour of love.
The table plan is laid out on the bed in my craft room, it's a good job that I haven't stuck anything down yet, as I realised that I have spelled the name of the venue incorrectly. So I'll have to print off another card for that. My husband has since offered to proof read all the spellings of the names of the guests... some of which are unusual.
The shoebox contains the table numbers, the favour tags (which are acting as placecards) and the placecards for the bride and groom.
I'm still fiddling around with the decoration of the main panel... some of the tiny punchies from the holes in the tags may well get used as flower centres.
My Cuttlebug was working overtime too. I quite like to see the leftovers in the bin, it gives me a feeling of satisfaction to see that I've done so much!
If you were here last week and wondered how the spinner card turned out take a look here to see the completed card.
Now to see some other workspaces! If you haven't joined the fun yet hop over to Julia's WOYWW (link on my sidebar) and see for yourself!

Cooking it up with Katie DT Debut

Whilst I was on holiday, Katie emailed me to invite me to join the DT at Cooking it up with Katie, but being somewhat incommunicado, I didn't find out about it until my return. So this is my first contribution for their fortnightly challenges.
This week's recipe is
  • Use a digital image (this garland is from this week's sponsor Glitterbabe)
  • Use the colour purple
  • Add something in threes
The paper is from Pink Petticoat and the image is by Stampin' Up. My threes are the sets of tiny pearls.
I am delighted to have been chosen to join this great set of designers and would love you to come and join in the fun.
See you there!

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Such Fun Images

Here is another of Melissa Jenkins designs, this time using the sketch from CPS Card Sketches. The use of lavender, grey and white is from Colour Create and the 'Girly Colours' from Meljen's DT Blog.
Stempeltraume asks for a favourite stamp this week and I must admit that these images are my flavour of the month at the moment.
Crafty Angels are also asking for favourite things too, so this is for that challenge too!
I discovered these fabulous designs from Melissa, through the challenge of Spots and Dots at the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge, so I'm entering it for the chance to win more fabby images from them too!
The papers are my old favourite digis from CuddlyBuddly, Fairy Fun - Lavender and the tiny sentiment is from Stampin' Up.
Now to get on with a Wedding table plan needed for the end of the month ... the checking of the spelling of names seems to take me for ever!
Wish me luck!

Cards & Things - Sketch

Here is another freebie image from Meljen's Designs. I'm still waiting for the arrival of my purchased images, but I believe that Melissa does have a site where images can be downloaded immediately.
This time I used the sketch from Card & Things, or should I say I made the card and then discovered afterwards that my sketch and the sketch from this challenge were practically identical. Great minds obviously think alike.
The paper is Papermania Capsule Collection, the sentiment is Hero Arts, and the image (coloured with Copics), is mounted on Nesties.
This lion is a little cutie isn't he!

Monday 12 April 2010

2 Sketches 4 You

Here is a card for 2 Sketches 4 You, using sketch 50. I love the clean lines of each sketch they produce, as my favourite style is uncluttered. If only my craft room was uncluttered too!
As the sentiment is the main focal point, it's also for the challenge at Pile It On.
The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye, matched with a plain pearlised paper. The Stampin' Up sentiment is mounted on Nestie Labels 4. The flowers were made with Nellie's Choice Floral punch and emboss set with X Cut centres and added tiny pearls. The embellishment on the top of the ribbon is from a Spellbinders Fleur de Lys die.
There is a DT call at 2 Sketches at the moment, so anyone interested should head on over there.

Meeting Cyprus Anne

Today I met someone who has been a visitor to my blog for some time. What a wonderful circle we crafters belong to!
Anne lives in Cyprus, but is about to relocate back to the UK in a region not too distant from here. She was over for a visit and emailed to see if we could get together. We spent a lovely morning talking about lots of things... she and her husband had done a similar NZ trip to the one we've just returned from, so there was much to chat about.
Here we are outside Hobbycraft in Southampton, although I have to say that more time was spent chatting than browsing. She is hoping to get a blog up and running very soon, so we'll have to watch out for that!
Here's to our next meeting!

Meljen's Designs


Yesterday I came across an illustrator new to me... Meljen's Designs. I bought a couple of Melissa's digi-images, for which I am awaiting arrival via my email. However on her Papercraft Planet page she has offered some freebies to group members, of which this cute bear is one. I think that the images are perfectly delightful.
It is for several challenges.
Teddy Stampers - Spring (I'm not sure if these flowers are spring or summer, but the Cuddly Buddly digi-paper is very spring like in shade.)
Just Cute Bears - Flowers (my second card for them)
My Time to Craft - DT Card -Pretty Pearls
Raise the Bar - Let's Spring for it (another Spring card)
I hope you all have a really good week, today is a beautiful sunny day in Southampton!

Sunday 11 April 2010

Just a Cute Bear!

For the Flower challenge at Just Cute Bears this week, I dug out this Forever Friends stamp which has been hiding at the back of a stamp drawer for quite some time. Although I don't use him often, I still think he's kinda cute.
The sketch is taken from this week's challenge at Crafty Catz .
The digi papers are Patchwork of papers Pink from Cuddly Buddly, the sentiment is from SU. The flowers were made with a Nellie's Choice Floral punch & emboss set, using X Cut middles.
Tomorrow I'll be meeting a visitor to my blog from Cyprus, who's over in this country at the moment. I'm really looking forward to meeting her. Isn't blogging great! I'll let you know more later. Guess where we're meeting... at a craft shop!

Unscripted Sketches

Here is another simple sketch, this time from Unscripted Sketches #50, and I have used a new digi download from Chris Dark, the Sketching Stamper. Isn't it beautiful! (There's a link to her images on my sidebar.)
The delicate pink papers are downloads from Cuddly Buddly (Patchwork of Papers Pink)
The brad is a 'make your own' from Papermania and the sentiment from Stampin' Up.
The image which I coloured with my Copics, is mounted on a rectangle embossed with the Cuttlebug lace embossing folder. Because of the texture this gives, I am entering it for the Corrosive Challenge this week.
I don't seem to have been able to get going this morning, I've been pootling about for ages and this is the first thing to be completed. I've half started a few things and then decided either that I didn't like what I'd done, or got stuck for ideas. Still it is Sunday and soon I'll have to go and start getting the lunch ready. Roast pork today, I'd better get started!

Saturday 10 April 2010

Penny Black

I love Penny Black images and this little Hedgie is a favourite of mine. He looks as though he could be saying a variety of things to his friend the ladybird, but in this case he's thanking him! So this card fits nicely into Charisma Cardz challenge of Thank you!
The challenge from Penny Black is Buttons Galore and there are certainly quite a few here. I'm not exactly sure what make the paper is but it may be Anita's.
The sentiment and its mount are both from Stampin' Up.
The sketch is similar to the last card I posted... I like simple!

Handmade flower

I think that this simple style is truest to my heart. I get carried away with all sorts of fancy sketches, but the ones which please me most are the simple ones.
This sketch is from Sweet Sketch Sunday, (but this card is too late to be submitted) the handmade flower is for the challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenges and the theme of petals and pearls is from Allsorts Challenge Blog.
The sentiment is from Stampin' Up, as is the scalloped circle from which I made the petals of the flower. The central part is from brad making kit from Papermania, with a few added pearls. The leaves were made with a Woodware embossing punch.
Simples!

Get Well Duckling!

A card for a few challenges.
Secret Crafter - Get Well
Totally Papercrafts - Distressing
Crazy 4 Challenges - 1 Ribbon, 2 Buttons or Brads, 3 Different Punches
Sugar Creek Hollow Sensational Saturday Sketch - Sketch
This yummy image is from Penny Black... I intended doing a card for their challenge, but somehow got sidetracked. I gently distressed some of the edges of the card with a file. The sentiment is from MSE, mounted on Nesties. The border punch is from SU and the corners are from Cuttlebug. The paper on the lower half of the card is a digi download from Cuddly Buddly.

One Stop Crafts - On the Move


It is my turn to set the Challenge this week at One Stop Crafts and I chose 'On the Move'. Any kind of movement on a card is great for this challenge, so shaker cards and cards with flaps, waterfall cards or anything else you can dream up will be perfect.
I decided to make a Spinner Card, and this little teddy from Pollycraft is a super subject to spin.
I thought that I would also include him in another couple of challenges. Pollycraft's 'Anything Goes' and Cooking it Up with Katie's Recipe Challenge of Something Old (the sentiment) Something New (the SU Stamp) and Something Sweet ( I think this little bear is SO sweet!)
He was coloured with Copics and cut out, then a penny was stuck behind his tummy, then another penny was stuck to the first one using a circular 3D pad.
I made the track for him to spin along with a Word Window punch from Stampin' Up. The track fits between the two pennies.
You would need to raise this track from the surface of the card to give room for the pennies to rotate, so I added the grass section to the base of the card using 3D tape.
The houses are from a Jumbo Wheel stamp also from Stampin' Up.
I have added a little video for you to see him tumbling along. (It's my first attempt at video, so please be kind!)

Friday 9 April 2010

Little Red Wagon - Sketch

This image, which I had coloured, cut and mounted appeared on my desk today. I don't know where it had been hiding, or where it had fallen from, but I decided to use it and found that the sketch from Little Red Wagon's Challenge would be perfect for it.
The stamp itself is by Imaginations and was sent to me as a freebie with an auction I won from a US eBay seller some time ago. There are still lots of generous people around!
I thought that I would also enter it for the Ribbons and bows challenge at Stampin' for the Weekend.
It is mounted on a Nestie frame, which is in turn on a piece of card embossed with a Cuttlebug Embossing folder and edged with a Stampin' Up punch. The ribbons consist of a narrow piece of satin over a wider piece of organza, with some lengths of satin ribbon used to attach the buttons.
The background paper is a scrap from a Cuddly Buddly download.
I think it looks quite fresh and delicate, and could be used for a variety of occasions.