Totally Gorjuss 3rd challenge - seeing double!

Time for our 3rd challenge over at Totally Gorjuss - this week we want you to use two lovely gorjuss girls on your projects. You can do this however you like - the same gorjuss twice, 2 different ones together or separately, whatever you want to do is fine! Hope you'll join us for this one if you have time :o)

I've followed the sketch from Truly Scrumptious where there was also a recipe to follow - 3 flowers, 3 brads, 3 gems/ pearls. I'm hopeless at card recipes and normally give them a miss, but it's a fairly simple one so I managed it! I'm also entering this for Artful Inkables/ Think Ink where they want to see something you've not tried before - this is my very 1st attempt at masking, although I need to be a bit braver with it the next time I try! And I thought it also could make a good 'thank you' card, so I'm entering Crafty Creations too, where their theme is thanksgiving or gratitude.

My two gorjuss girls are coloured with promarkers with a teeny bit of glitter. The papers are a double sided sheet by Daisybucket, cardstock is coredinations which I've sanded down a bit. The flowers are cut from the same paper with a x-cut punch with little brad centres. The sentiment is Paper Makeup (I think!), cut out with nestie circles, and I've added 3 pearls in the corners and a corner accent cut with a sizzix die.

Card for Daniel

I spotted a request on Claire's blog for birthday cards for Daniel - here's what Claire says:

"My annual plea for Daniel. Daniel is 12 on the 7th November and is on the Autistic Spectrum. He doesn't socialize and loves recieving your handmade cards. As most will know, for the last 2 years I have asked if some of you could send a card for him to open and the response has been overwhelming. He recieving nearly 100 last year. I think he enjoys this more than the presents. Love watching his face light up. He started a boarding school for Autistic Children in Sept and although he misses home, is slowly settling in and we do get him back every weekend. So if you could help, I'd truly appreciate it."

Hubby has younger twin brothers who are severely autistic, and I know how lovely it is to find things that make them smile, so I said I'd make a card for Daniel. I've really enjoyed this one too :o)

I've followed the sketch at Sketch Saturday and used a fab new digi stamp from Pink Cat Studio - I LOVE this stamp, it's so much fun to use! I've coloured it with promarkers and added some 'rainbow drop' noses over the top of their clown noses, just for some extra silliness! The cardstock is DCWV, ric rac ribbon from stash, the paper is Bo Bunny I think. The stars are cut with a sizzix die and I've doodled (yes, me, doodling, and without being pushed into it by a challenge!) around the edges. The sentiment is computer generated and cut out with nesties.

I'm also entering this for the challenges at ABC (G is for green, hopefully there's enough green on my card), Papertake Weekly (spots & stripes) and Passion for Promarkers (animals), and for the DT call on a brand new monthly challenge Cards for Men which is all about those sometimes tricky male cards. I think male cards can be fun to do, and there are far more men in mine and hubby's family than there are women to make cards for. Fingers crossed!

All white Christmas

Sorry for the awful photos - how hard is it to get a pic of a white card on a dull day?! This is only my 2nd Christmas card made this year - I've never been the most organised person!

This is for Anyone For Anya following their sketch, Colour Create (all white) and Creative Card Crew (snowflakes). I've used this super cute Greeting Farm digi stamp again - love this little mouse! I must admit I struggled with the all white theme so it's not my best card - I had fun adding loads of glitter though! I've embossed some white card with snowflakes and swiss dots embossing folders, except that I accidentally debossed one bit, oops. Wouldn't normally have mattered with white card, but this one has a ridged/ textured effect on one side and I wanted to keep that along with the embossing - it doesn't show up on the pics though. I've added glitter to all the edges and on some of the embossed snowflakes, and wrapped some sparkly white fibres around the centre panel. The image is coloured with promarkers with some polar white flower soft added to the hat and stocking trims. White card candy added to the corners to finish.

Just Magnolia, Charisma & Crafty Catz

I don't make Tilda cards very often, because I don't really have that many people to send that sort of thing to - most of my family would think I was a bit mad if I sent them a Tilda card. But they're so cute aren't they? So, hubby needed a card for his Grandma's names day (a Polish thing), and although I had a card that would have been ok, I decided to make a new one - Pav's family seem to be over the moon with anything I make lol, so hopefully this will be ok!

I've followed the lovely sketch at Just Magnolia - I really had fun with this one and I'm sure I'll use it again. I've used a Tilda image obviously (I think she's cross stitch tilda, but I'm not sure!), coloured with promarkers. The cardstock is DCWV, with K&Co 'roam' papers, the flowers are cut from the same papers with a woodware daisy punch. The leaves are also cut using a woodware grass punch. The dark green sheer ribbon is from my stash and the lighter sparkly ribbon layered on top is part of the ribbon haul I bought from a craft fair. I've used plain and scalloped oval nesties to cut the ovals to mount Tilda on. The sentiment is computer generated (it says 'for grandma' in Polish, or something like that according to Pav!) using Scriptina font.

As I've used daisies, I'm also entering this for Charisma Cardz where the theme is 'delightful daisies' and I've got a gem brad in the centre of my flower and a button on the sentiment, so I'm also entering it for Crafty Catz where they want us to use buttons & brads.

My 1st Christmas card!

Hurrah, at last I've made a start on the Christmas cards - yay!!! Just a couple of months behind everyone else lol, but it takes me a while to get into Christmas mode. I also realised once I'd started that I don't have much in the way of Christmas embellishments, so I've ordered one of those Cuttlebug snowflake dies.

Anyway, I've made this card following the sketch at Friday Sketchers. I'm also entering it for Allsorts which is 'furry friends', One Stop Craft which is 'celebrations' and Winter Wonderland
where they have an open theme this week. I was sooo glad when I saw it was an open theme, because I actually used last week's theme of 'the Christmas stocking' as my excuse to buy this cute digi stamp from The Greeting Farm, but then I missed the deadline to enter! So I'm pleased I can still enter my card.

I've coloured the image with promarkers and used some polar white flower soft on the hat and stocking trims - it's the first time I've used flower soft so I'm not sure how successful it's been really, hopefully I'll get used to it though! I've used chalk for the background, and it does actually match better than the picture shows - I'm finding it really hit and miss taking photos in this dull weather, sometimes they turn out fine and other times the colours just don't look quite right. The papers are DCWV, with some linen effect pink card from a local craft shop. I've added some ribbon, a little snowflake and button all from my stash.

Totally Gorjuss 2nd challenge - Make a Shape

Here's my DT card for the second Totally Gorjuss challenge, which is 'Make a Shape', so anything that's not square or rectangle basically! Hope you'll all join in if you can.

I've made a 'springy card' following instructions on Split Coast Stampers. I've never made one before but it was very easy. The cardstock is DCWV, papers are a freebie download from Funky Hand. I've used scalloped square nesties and plain circles to cut the shapes, and stamped, cut out and mounted this little sitting gorjuss girl on the circle. I've coloured her with promarkers as usual. The corner accents on the bottom section are cut with a sizzix die (architectural accents), I've added some pink card candy dots from Craftwork Cards and the sentiment is a Papermania stamp, oh and a little flower gem in her hair.

Apologies for the rubbish photo, but the weather has been so awful I ended up using the flash and it's washed the colours out a bit.

Another dragon card!

If I was a more sensible person, when I saw that the challenge at Passion for Promarkers was to use the colours 'poppy' & 'forest green', I'd have made a Christmas card - seen as I've not actually started making any yet... eek! I'm obviously not sensible though, because I decided to try the Dustin Pike freebie dragon image out in red & green instead. I thought he might look quite cute but maybe it's a bit much? The sky background is chalked - need more practise at this!

I've followed the sketch at A Spoonful of Sugar - great sketch that I'll probably use again, perhaps when I get round to making some Christmas cards.... and it also fits the theme at Digital Tuesday which is 'things with wings'. The papers are My Mind's Eye with coredinations cardstock that I've sanded back. The sentiment is Papermania's CCSR range, and the stars are cut with a sizzix die with some buttons and thread on top.

This card is for hubby's brother, for his name's day (a Polish thing). I keep saying I'm going to make up a name's day date for myself - it doesn't seem fair that Pav and all his family get two lots of cake & pressies and I don't lol.

Carol's sketch fun 16 & Creatalicious 3

Not my usual style this one, but I have a box of cards for people to buy at hubby's work, and I do try to send all different ones in so there's something for everyone. So I thought I'd make one based around a sweet sentiment instead of a cute image for once!

I've followed the sketch at Carol's Sketch Fun and I'm also entering this one for Creatalicious as I've followed their rules for this challenge - to use only scrap dp (can use new cardstock) and handmade flowers.

Cardstock is DCWV, as is the scrap of spotty paper - it's actually cut from a DCWV card blank that I ruined lol, at least it hasn't gone to waste! The flower was made using a woodware daisy punch, with a button and thread centre. I've sanded all the cardstock a bit, including the flower. The border was made with the Martha Stewart scallop dot punch, although I've covered up part of the design because I just wanted to show the edge of the scallops. The sentiment is a Paper Make Up one that I bought from Quixotic Paperie.

Crafty Cardmakers challenge 6 - autumn

Here's my DT card for the 6th Crafty Cardmakers challenge, which is 'autumn' - I've just used autumn colours but you can take the theme as far as you like. Hope you'll find time to join us :o)

I've followed the fab sketch at Passion for Promarkers and my card also fits the theme at Creative Inspirations Challenge which is to make a special card with numbers on.

I've used my brand new Victoria Case stamp that I bought from Quixotic Paperie - love this stamp, it's great for slightly more 'grown up' cards. She's coloured with promarkers with a touch of white highlighter. The paper is Bo Bunny, with DCWV cardstock and some ivory pearlised card. The flowers are cut from the same paper with a x-cut punch and then shaped with an embossing tool, with flat back pearl centres. I've used a bazzill template to make my pearl swirls and finished off with a computer generated sentiment.

Sketch Saturday, ABC, etc

Not the best photos unfortunately - it's so hard to get a decent pic when the days are so dull! I've made this card following the fab sketch at Sketch Saturday and the theme at ABC which is 'F is for Flying'. I'm also entering it for Charisma Cardz which is 'distressing', Crafty Creations which is 'blue' and My Time to Craft where the theme is 'quick & cute' and they're also looking for some new DT members.

The image is a freebie from Dustin Pike - I love this little dragon! I've coloured him with promarkers and did a bit of chalking for the sky background. The papers are K&Co, cardstock is DCWV, the sentiment was a freebie with a magazine, ribbon from a craft fair, card candy from Craftwork Cards. I've used distress inks on the edge of my spotty paper just to define it a little bit (main paper was already distressed).

A Spoonful of Sugar 73

This card was made in a huge rush when I realised I hadn't made a card for Morgan to take to a birthday party that he was going to yesterday afternoon - panic! The paper is some that I had leftover from a card I made for Morgan's birthday, downloaded from Designs by Krista, cardstock is DCWV. The image is by Mo Manning at Digital Pencil Too, coloured with promarkers. Added a couple of buttons tied with thread and then, because I'd completely run out of time, added a happy birthday peel off - generally I can't stand peel offs, they drive me mad, but there just wasn't time for anything else!

Totally Gorjuss DT card - 1st challenge pink!

It's the very first Totally Gorjuss challenge today and we're starting with a nice easy one - pink! I hope you'll all ink up your lovely gorjuss girls and join in with us :o)

I think my card is a bit simple for our very first challenge, but it was just what happened when I sat down to make my card unfortunately! I've used the 'flower girl' stamp, and coloured her with promarkers and a touch of white highlighter. Image cut out with circle nesties and edged with distress ink in tattered rose. The papers are My Mind's Eye (wild asparagus I think, can't remember!). The flowers are green tara, with a sprinkle of glamour dust and some big gem centres. I've added a strip of tulle with a sheer pink ribbon over the top and a few little gems to finish it off.

Can't wait to see everyone's entries for our first challenge, ooh lots of lovely pink cards to look at :o)

Inspirational Card Sketches 38 & Creative Insp 31

I'm pleased I've managed to fit in this week's sketch from Inspirational Card Sketches. My friend asked me for a rugby themed card, hopefully this will be ok - men's cards can be tricky can't they? It's for her little girl's uncle, so it also fits with Creative Inspirations theme of family (although it's not actually for my family so hope this still counts lol).

I've used a 'George' digi stamp from Charmed Cards & Crafts, coloured with promarkers. The fab stripy paper is Bo Bunny and the (very!) green cardstock is from a DCWV Christmas cardstock stack. I've lightly edged the papers and image oval with distress inks, added some black ric rac ribbon, a computer generated sentiment and lots of buttons - they seem to be my latest 'thing', I'm using them a lot lately!

Sketch Saturday etc, DT news and a question!

Here's my card following the sketch at Sketch Saturday. I've used coredinations cardstock, sanded back to make it look a bit more 'worn', My Mind's Eye 'bloom & grow' papers and a stamp from Little Claire Designs, coloured with promarkers (the background is chalked). I've used distress ink, in brushed corduroy I think, on the edges of my papers and image. I've added some ribbons that I got at a craft show, a couple of buttons from my stash - one with ribbon and one tied with yellow thread, and the sentiment is computer generated. Which brings me onto my question - is it 'grandad' or 'granddad'??? I'll have to change it if I've done it wrong!


I'm also entering this into the following challenges:

• Stampin for the weekend - orange, brown, leafy green
• Stamp Something - brown + something
• Secret Crafter - autumn colours
• One Stop Craft - birthday
• The Pink Elephant - Fall
• Tuesday Taggers - shades of autumn
• Crafty Calendar - autumn

I also have to tell you all about a fab new challenge blog Totally Gorjuss which I'd be excited about anyway, but I'm especially excited because I'm on the DT, yay! As the name suggests, it's for all your Gorjuss Girl creations! The first challenge is on Friday 16th October - hope you'll all join in :o)

Inspirational Card Sketches 37

Hmm I REALLY don't like this card! It's not very me so I'm not quite sure what happened. All that white space!!!!

I've made it following the sketch at Inspirational Card Sketches but I've not really done the sketch justice. I'm joining them for a month's guest designer spot next month, but they might change their minds after they've seen this!

I've used a CCSR butterfly stamp and papers, silver mirri card, flat backed pearls from Quixotic Paperie - I made the swirl using one of the Bazzill templates also from Quixotic. The sentiment stamp was a freebie with a magazine.

Truly Scrumptious 17

Here's my card for Truly Scrumptious, following their sketch. I don't think I've entered this one before, and unusually for me I can't find any other challenges to put this one in for, so it's just the one this time!

The scalloped card blank is from Craftwork cards, the cute little image is from Elzybells, coloured with promarkers. I had a bit of a battle getting the colouring right with this one - I decided to try stamping on Bristol Board instead of my usual Rymans card, and was surprised to find the pens bleed so much more on Bristol Board, or maybe it's just me! I've managed to fix most of the blotchy bits where the colour ran and it's turned out ok I think.

I think I was given the papers so I'm not sure where they're from. The cardstock is coredinations and I've used some Craftwork cards card candy dots. The sentiment is computer generated. The extra challenge on Truly Scrumptious was to use some doodling, and honestly my heart sinks when I see the dreaded doodling word on challenges! I'm hopeless at it! I've made a little border around the image with a sakura clear glitter pen, and thankfully it can hardly be seen lol.

There's no close up pic today because it's a horrible day and the light's terrible, so all my close ups went blurry.

Friday Sketchers & Creative Card Crew

Here's my card for Friday Sketchers following their fab sketch, and I'm also entering it for Creative Card Crew where the challenge is 'celebrations' - although I've not actually put a sentiment on the front, it's for a little girl's 5th birthday. I'm going to put a sentiment inside this one.

It's very bright isn't it? But I think I like it, and it's very girly! This is one of my favourite gorjuss girls, and I've coloured her with promarkers, with a touch of white highlighter and some stickles here and there. The papers were a bargain from a local craft shop - £1 for 6 12x12 sheets! I'm not sure what brand they are though. The spotty ribbon was a craft show purchase. I've used a scalloped card blank from Craftwork Cards and coredinations cardstock. The hearts are cut with a sizzix die, and embossed with the divine swirls cuttlebug embossing folder, then I've sanded them back and added a couple of sparkly gems. The flowers are green tara, with some stickles painted onto the bright pink flower - you can never have too much sparkle! Finished off with a big gem brad centre.

Crafty Cardmakers challenge 5 - ribbons & fibres

Here's my DT card for the 5th Crafty Cardmakers challenge, which is to use ribbons/ fibres. I've used a large 8" square card blank and followed the sketch at Sketch Saturday. I've used a Greeting Farm Miss Anya image, coloured with promarkers, cut out and mounted. My papers are some that I've had in a drawer for a long time! I think they're by 'twelve by twelve' and I got them in a random paper selection when I first started cardmaking, and then never used them. I've used coredinations cardstock and sanded it all down to make it look faded to go better with the papers. The scallop borders were made using the Martha Stewart scallop dot punch, and my ribbon/ fibre element is a strip of sheer purple ribbon with a layer of white thread over the top, tied through a button. The sentiment is computer generated - this card is for my mum to give to my cousin, who amazingly will be 21. I remember when she was born! The flowers were made with lots of layers of pearlised paper, cut with a sizzix die, and then curled up with my bone folder, and silver bead caps and brads added - I covered the brads with lots of diamond stickles because they didn't look quite right in plain white, and added a little key charm on a chain. Finished off with a swirl using flat back pearls and a new bazzill template that I got from Quixotic Cards almost as soon as they came out, but this is the first time I've managed to use one on a card.

I'm also entering this one for Secret Crafter (celebrations) where there are some great prizes this week, including the chance of a DT position! And Pile It On are asking for 3d elements, and I think my flowers and button should qualify for that one.

Sugar Bowl challenge 20

I've made this card for my friend's little girl, who will be 7 soon. I didn't want to make it too 'girly' because she's not really a girly girl, but I wanted to use this stamp because she always reminds me of her!

This is also for The Sugar Bowl challenge, following their sketch, and their extra challenge of paper piecing. I suppose this stamp isn't an ideal choice for paper piecing but I'd already decided I wanted to use this one, and I loved the sketch - I think it turned out ok anyway. I bought some pinflair glue at the weekend and I'm very impressed - you can't really tell from the photo but I've shaped the dress so that it stands out in a 'dome' shape. I gave up on silicone glue because the one I was using went on all watery and left black greasy marks on everything, but the pinflair is fab!

The stamp is obviously a gorjuss girl, coloured with promarkers. The papers are by Imaginisce, and the flowers are punched from the same paper (and blue coredinations) using woodware daisy and x-cut flower punches, then shaped and inked with distress inks, with some big sparkly gems added to finish them off. I've lightly inked the edges of the papers with distress inks and added a button tied with some bazzill in stitch'z thread to the centre panel.

I just need to wade through a few more of my card orders, then I can play with my new sewing machine that came earlier in the week, yippee! I've bought a little Janome mini just for using on cards, I've never used a sewing machine before though, so we'll see how that goes when I start practising!

Friday Sketchers etc

I've made this one following the sketch at Friday Sketchers and it hopefully fits some other challenges too. I'm not sure though, if teddy bears can be classed as animals? I suppose they're not real ones are they.... I don't know! So this card might possibly fit the challenges at Stampavie (animals) and Secret Crafter (animal antics) but then again it might not! I have a name and age on there so I think it also fits the challenge at Creative Inspirations (letters/ numbers) and I have sparkly gems and a touch of glitter on the bear's dress, so it should also fit Creative Card Crew (all that sparkles) and Think Ink (something that sparkles).

I've used a large 8x8" square card. The stamp is from Elzybells, coloured with promarkers and a tiny bit of stickles around the middle of her dress. The green and pink papers are Sandylion but I'm not sure about the diamond pattern paper. I bought the ribbons and gems from a craft fair at the weekend (bought enough ribbon to keep me going for some time!), the flowers are green tara and the sentiment is computer generated.