Tuesday 30 August 2011

Passion For Promarkers - flexible!

I'm in bit of a rush today - tried to schedule my post last night because my blood tests were first thing this morning, but we lost internet connection so I couldn't do it.  So I've been and had my blood taken, which went ok - just need to wait for the results now.  Hubby's now cooking breakfast for us (couldn't have any before my test) and then we're off to York for the day... we're going on the train and visiting the Railway Museum, which Dex is very excited about, he loves trains :o)

Right, onto our new challenge at Passion For Promarkers... the DT can hardly wait for the release of the new Flexmarkers, so we decided to have a 'flexible' challenge - so anything goes this week.  We're sponsored by Letraset and our very lucky winner will receive 2 packs of 6 flexmarkers... ooh I wish I could win!




I love this Gorjuss Girl stamp, she's so cute :o)  I've coloured her with promarkers, flexmarkers and koh-i-noor pencils.  The papers are First Edition, and the ribbon, buttons and pearls are from my stash.  Sentiment is CC Designs.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Apologies for the rush - will catch up with you all later, hope you all have a lovely day!

Monday 29 August 2011

Sparkly gift box

I've got quite into making boxes lately, and my mum asked me to make one for a gift she bought for a friend.



I just wish I was better at taking photos of boxes!  I've used a Penny Black sentiment stamp and some sparkly patterned card I found in my stash, the flowers are all glittery too - not that you can tell from the pic.  The sentiment was cut out using a die from Little Claire and the scalloped border is a new MFT dienamics die.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Got the dreaded blood tests tomorrow - I HATE having blood taken, they never seem to be able to get a vein first (or 2nd or 3rd!) time and it hurts while they prod and poke me.  I'm such a wuss!

Sunday 28 August 2011

Snippet owls...

I'm not feeling too good again today, but I really wanted to get some crafting done.  I sat in my room for a while but couldn't seem to make anything that really 'needed' to be made, so I got out my unused Stampin' Up owl punch and attacked some scraps instead :o)



I got quite carried away assembling owls lol, so I've got some ready to make some more cards with.  Cardstock and paper from my scraps, flourish stamp is from an Eco Green set, sentiments are from the Penny Black 'salutations' set.  I'm entering them both for Jules Crafty Snippets Challenge and my first card is for the Sweet Sunday Sketch.


Off to try and catch up with you all... I never quite manage it though, you're all too productive!

Saturday 27 August 2011

Less is More wk30 - recipe

Hubby took Dex to his mum's this morning, so I've had some quiet time in the craft room and made a card for the new challenge at Less is More.  This week it's a recipe challenge - to take 3 of the previous challenges and combine them to make a card.


Apologies for the dodgy photo... think I'll have to start taking my pics in the kitchen again, it's so hard to get the lighting right in the craft room.  The weeks I chose were - 16 - butterflies, 23 - something with legs, and 25 - button or ribbon, but there's a few more it would fit too (embossing, off centre, things that move).

I've used a stamp set called A Girl and Her Cake by The Cats Pajamas and some nameless gingham card from my stash.  The butterfly was cut with a Stampin' Up embosslits die, button is from my stash.

I'm also entering my card for the 'strawberry, chocolate and cream' challenge at Sweet Stampin.

Thanks for all your lovely comments yesterday, I'm slowly catching up with you all!

Friday 26 August 2011

Stamp Something - back to school!

Sorry to have dropped out of blogland for the last few days... I've not been feeling all that well so I needed a bit of a rest from it all.  Having some blood tests next week, so fingers crossed I'll be sorted soon.

Our theme at Stamp Something for this week is 'back to school' (doing a little dance because it's not long now lol!!) and we're sponsored by Simon Says Stamp so one lucky person will win a $20 gift certificate to spend in their fab online store :o)


I've made this for Morgan, although I'm not sure he'll be quite this happy about returning to school!  This is Off to school Ben from DigiStamp Boutique, and he's coloured with promarkers and koh-i-noor pencils - in Morgan's school colours.  Papers are K&Co with cardstock from Papermill Direct, computer generated sentiment and buttons from my stash.  Not the best card really, but the mojo's ailing along with the rest of me.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Right, off to do some hopping around your lovely blogs, as I've missed everything you've all done in the last couple of days.

Tuesday 23 August 2011

Passion For Promarkers - no patterned papers

Our new challenge at Passion For Promarkers for this week is 'no patterned papers' and we're sponsored by Whiff of Joy who are providing some lovely new stamps for our winner :o)  For some reason I struggled with this challenge - no idea why because I make loads of cards with no papers!  I kept trying different things and in the end went for something very simple...



I love this pretty Flower Girl gorjuss stamp, she's one of my favourites.  I've coloured her with promarkers, flexmarkers and koh-i-noor pencils.  I cut a border on the base card and also on some blue core'dinations using the MS scallop dot punch.  Ribbon and button from my stash, flower cut with a x-cut punch.

I've noticed something very strange over the last couple of days... you know the little feedjit 'traffic feed' thing that tells you where your visitors are coming from?  Well at the moment when I visit a blog it says I'm in Stoke-on-Trent!  Slightly confused because I'm definitely in Sheffield... and until recently feedjit always got that right - so why has it suddenly decided I've moved?!

Monday 22 August 2011

Less is More and new DigiStamp Boutique images

I managed to squeeze in some time in the craft room today and made a card for this week's challenge at Less is More, where the theme is 'things that move'.  This could either be a moving component on the actual card, or featuring something that can move in real life.



I think my little girlie with her balloons probably qualifies lol :o)  She's one of the fab new 'Lil Pops' images from DigiStamp Boutique available here.

I rotated the image slightly and then cropped off part of the balloons so it would (hopefully!) look like she was floating away.  She's coloured with promarkers - no added pencils on this one because she's a bit little and fiddly, yay for the promarker fine nibs!  The sentiment is from a Flourishes set, ribbon from my stash and cardstock is DCWV.

I'm also entering my card at Charisma Cardz where the challenge is 'negative space'.

Dex's first cinema trip went really well - apart from constant loo breaks for both kids lol!  And the Smurfs was better than I thought it would be.  Sooo expensive for us all to go though - we ended up spending more than £50 on tickets, treats and drinks, so we won't be doing it too often!

Saturday 20 August 2011

Bit different for me!

Look, I've gone all distressed and vintage, and I wasn't forced to do it for a challenge either lol... My regular visitors will think they've come to the wrong blog!



This is a large 8" square card for my Auntie and Uncle's 25th wedding anniversary, which is tomorrow.  I knew I wanted to use this photo that my mum gave me to use, but I was struggling for ideas a bit... then I noticed Allsorts had a 'you've been framed' challenge and finally the cogs started whirring!

So... I cut a nestie circle out of the centre of a square of GCD Studio 'ella blue' paper and used that to 'frame' the photo.  Everything, including the blank card, has been well inked - very unlike me!  The flowers started off white and have been part coloured with promarkers, then sprayed with gold 'spray & sparkle' and then spritzed with bronze cosmic shimmer spray.  I curled the wires that were attached to the flowers instead of cutting them off as I usually do, added some pearl pins and a LOTV sentiment.

The inside is also decorated and I made a matching box too, but the photos are rubbish so I might add more pics tomorrow if I can get better ones!  So many of my lovely Ella Blue papers went into making this card... I think it might be the first paper pad I ever manage to fully use up lol.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

We're being brave (or stupid!) and taking Dex to the cinema for the first time tomorrow, seeing the Smurfs... not convinced he'll sit still for long enough so we'll probably end up only seeing half of it.  Still, I'm not that bothered about the film so I don't suppose it matters lol.  He seems very excited about the popcorn!  Right, off to squeeze in some commenting as I'm very behind as usual...

Friday 19 August 2011

Stamp Something - to say thank you!

Our challenge for this week at Stamp Something is 'something to say thank you' and we're sponsored by Funky Kits so there's a fab prize for our lucky winner :o)



I've used one of the adorable Sherbet Pip images Candy Pip and coloured her with a combination of promarkers, flexmarkers and koh-i-noor pencils.  Please ignore the folds in her dress!!  I still need some practise with creases and made a bit of a mess of it... I'd already drawn in the wall/ sky/ grass scene though, so I didn't want to waste what I'd done!  Gingham paper is Papermania, cardstock is from Papermill Direct.  The little flowers were cut with a Stampin' Up punch, buttons from my stash and sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:
We're just having a quiet day pottering around at home today, so I'll actually get some time to catch up with commenting.  There just aren't enough hours in my days at the moment... roll on 5th September when the littlies go back to school lol!

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Alf the milkman!

Some of you might remember that I was looking for a milkman image to use on a retirement card - for my grandma's milkman :o)  Well the FABBY Sally-Ann at DigiStamp Boutique has kindly adapted one of the Alf images for me to use - and doesn't he look great as a milkman?!



I've coloured him with a combination of promarkers, flexmarkers and koh-i-noor pencils.  The papers are Making Memories, spotty buttons from my stash and the sentiment was computer generated.  And that's it, quite a simple one :o)

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Keeping it short tonight because hubby's waiting for me to finish typing so we can watch something... will be round to visit you all later!

Tuesday 16 August 2011

Passion For Promarkers - a pirate's life for me!

Our challenge for this week at Passion For Promarkers is a fun one - a pirate's life for me!  We're sponsored by DigiStamp Boutique and the fab prize is 6 digis of the winner's choice.



I'd planned to go with more 'piratey' colours originally, but I had papers in front of me and the inspiration wouldn't come... so after a rummage through my papers I came up with this instead.

I've used the super cute Pirate Sammy from DigiStamp Boutique, and he's coloured with promarkers, flexmarkers and koh-i-noor pencils.  The papers are Making Memories, with core'dinations cardstock.  Zig zag border cut with a MS punch, star cut with a sizzix die, button, ribbon and twine from my stash.  The sentiment was made using a Paper Smooches alphabet set and some little alphabet stamps I've had for ages and never really used - they're a bit soft and tricky to use.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

I'm not sure what we're doing today... I'd planned a day in the park and lunch at KFC for a bit of a treat lol.  But it's bloomin' raining so the park's probably out for today - typical!


Monday 15 August 2011

Less is More wk28 - one layer, use ink

The challenge at Less is More this week is a one-layer card using ink... should have been easy really, but I've struggled a bit for some reason.  Well, actually the reason is almost definitely the school hols!  I know, I keep complaining... I do love my boys to bits, but they're SO loud!  I'm really struggling to create anything - tomorrow I'm just giving up and we'll go out for the day I think.


Anyway... this was the last card I made and the only one I actually like.  I inked the stamp (Hero Arts) with memento 'lulu lavender', then dabbed 'lilac posies' and 'grape jelly' on random bits of the stamp, sprayed it with water and then stamped.  I really like this effect and if I'd been more in the mood I would have made a batch in different colours - another day!  The sentiment is Penny Black, and I added a few black pearls to finish.


My first card - an attempt at resist embossing - ended up in the bin.  The resist bit worked fine but I ruined the card.  My second card ended up in the bin too.  So I gave up and splodged a distress ink pad (shabby shutters) directly onto my card and then stamped a Hero Arts stamp in 'bamboo' memento... just because I needed to do something really simple!  It's a bit boring, but I thought I'd include it seen as it didn't get binned!

Saturday 13 August 2011

Custard the cow...

This wasn't what I'd intended to make today at all, but I had the urge to use this stamp so I just went along with it...



The stamp is a Sugar Nellie called 'Custard' - one of the first stamps I ever bought and it's been too long since I last used it.  I've coloured it mainly with promarkers, adding a bit of koh-i-noor pencil for shading.  The papers are a mix of Papermania and Dovecraft, with coredinations cardstock.  Butterfly cut with a Stampin' Up embosslits die, border cut with MS scallop dot punch, ribbon and pearls from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

This is also my entry for the Sugar Nellie facebook challenge, which is punches, but I need to go and work out how to enter that as I've only just joined the group!

Ooh.... I know this is a bit boring for most of you, but those with mini champions of fussiness will understand my excitement - Dex ate a strawberry today, just because he wanted to!!!  He's not eaten a strawberry (or lots of other things) for about 2yrs so I'm very pleased.  He said he liked it too :o)

Friday 12 August 2011

Stamp Something - dog days of summer!

Our challenge for this week at Stamp Something is 'dog days of summer' and you can either use dog or summer images.  We're sponsored by Bunny Zoe's, who are providing our winner with a £10 gift certificate.



I've used a cute Barney image from DigiStamp Boutique... I had to do a quick colouring alteration this afternoon, because when I saw my card on the challenge blog, it finally dawned on me why it didn't look quite right - I'd coloured his legs to match his tummy instead of brown like the rest of him.  So I've altered it with pencil... still not sure I've got it quite right though!

He's coloured with a combination of promarkers, flexmarkers (I have some samples from Letraset and just can't wait until the other colours are released!!!) and koh-i-noor pencils.  The papers are Dovecraft, with dark brown card from Papermill Direct.  Sentiment is Craftwork Cards, flowers and button from my stash.

gif maker


I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Apologies for my lack of commenting... haven't had much blogging time in the last couple of days... SO ready for the school hols to be over but still another 3wks to go... boo hoo!!!

Wednesday 10 August 2011

CASEing Katina...

Ooh that's quite catchy isn't it?!  Maybe I should make it a regular feature lol.  I spotted a lovely card on Katina's blog here and had the urge to CASE it... Katina was kind enough to let me, thanks hun :o)


It's not a patch on Katina's card though... I might have to make another in prettier colours!  I've used some scraps of Pink Petticoat papers and black core'dinations card.  The bird is a Glitz stamp, the swirl is an Eco Green stamp and the sentiment is Stampin' Up.  Little flower button and sparkly thread from my stash.

I'm entering my card for Jules' Crafty Snippet Challenge as I've made it using scraps, and the following challenges:
**Scroll down to see my candy winner**

And the candy winner is....

Oops, I forgot to come back and announce my candy winner yesterday - sorry!

Mr Random thingy has done his work and says the winner is....

Number 30 - Mary!

Congratulations hun!  Could you email me please and I'll sort out your DigiStamp Boutique voucher for you :o)

Back later with a card hopefully, if the little darlings let me have some time in the craft room today...

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Passion For Promarkers - divas with glam and glitter

This week's challenge at Passion For Promarkers is 'divas with glam & glitter'!  We're sponsored by Joanna Sheen and our lucky winner will win a £10 voucher to spend in Joanna's fab online shop.  I struggled a little bit with my card - I don't really do all that much glittery, blingy stuff!  I spent a LONG time just staring at my card, wondering what on earth to add... and ended up adding hardly anything!  Which is about typical for me.



I've used some glittery First Edition papers and one of my new sugar nellie Simply Sassy stamps - this is City Girl and she's definitely a bit of a diva isn't she?!  I've coloured her using promarkers and koh-i-noor pencils. The little tags are also from the First Edition pad, the sentiment is a CC Designs stamp.  Ribbon and bling from my stash.

Back later to announce my candy winner :o)

Monday 8 August 2011

One for fun...

The boys have (mostly) played nicely today, so I managed to get a DT card done this morning, and then in the afternoon they decided to watch Fireman Sam in their room... so I made a quick card just for fun :o)


I've used a Riley stamp, love these cute images :o)  I've stamped on Stampin Up Kraft card and coloured him using koh-i-noor pencils blended with sansador.  I used my brand new Paper Smooches alphabet set, which arrived today, to make the sentiment.  The stars were cut with a sizzix die and the button and twine is from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Keeping this really brief so I can rush off and do a bit of commenting!

600 followers candy...

As I recently went over 600 followers, I thought I'd offer a little candy :o)

So I have a gift voucher for one lucky winner, from my absolute favourite place for digistamps - DigiStamp Boutique...



There are no rules - feel free to advertise my candy on your blog, but you don't have to.  I'd love it if you decided to follow me, but again you don't have to in order to win!  Just enter your name below and I'll announce the winner on Monday 8th August.



Sunday 7 August 2011

Quick reminder...

I've not had chance to make anything today as we've been out all day, but just thought I'd post a reminder about my DigiStamp Boutique candy.  It's open until tomorrow if you've not entered yet!  Go to this post if you'd like to enter :o)

Saturday 6 August 2011

Less is More wk27 - your nation's flag

Hubby's taken the boys to his mum's this morning so I could have a few hours peace, it's been lovely!  I've sat in the craft room happily stamping, with NO interruptions, and made a few cards for the new challenge at Less is More :o)  This week Chrissie and Mandi want to see your nation's flag colours.


Now when I have a 'red, white & blue' challenge to do, I always think - boy card!  So that's what I did with my first card.  I made the panel using my Inkadinkado circle stamps and memento inks on a pale blue piece of linen card, and added a few small red dots using a Stampin Up stamp... I've no idea why I didn't just use a piece of red, white & blue patterned paper, it would have been much quicker lol.  More fun this way though!  The stars were cut with a sizzix die, button and twine from my stash and the sentiment is from a set by The Cat's Pajamas.  I'm also entering this card for the 'clean & simple' challenge at Cards For Men.


Then for my second card, I went with the colours of the St George's flag, rather than the Union Jack (and it works for hubby's Polish flag too).  The flourish stamp is from a set by Eco Green, that I treated myself to because I didn't have any flourish stamps... now that I've got them I'm not totally sure what to do with them, but they're all gorgeous so I'm sure I'll find a use for them!  The bird is a Glitz stamp and the sentiment is from the 'kids play' set by Flourishes.  It's ended up looking a lot like a Christmas card, but that wasn't my intention!


This one makes me hyperventilate just looking at it!  Eek, so much white (or ivory linen actually) space!!!  The flower and the sentiment are from the Penny Black 'salutations' set, and I added a teeny blue pearl in the centre of the flower... not sure I'll ever use this card, it's a bit too CAS for me!

Friday 5 August 2011

Stamp Something - digi!

It's the first Friday of the month, so it's time for our regular digi challenge at Stamp Something.  We have lots of great sponsors - have a look at the challenge blog for details of all the prizes to be won :o)



I've used a super cute little dragon image from one of our sponsors, Digi Doodle Shop.  I've coloured him with promarkers and koh-i-noor pencils.  The papers are K&Co, with teal cardstock from Papermill Direct.  Pearls from my stash and a Craftwork Cards sentiment.  I started out following a sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp, but veered a bit too far from the sketch (typical for me!) so I'm not actually entering lol.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

This is a bit sad of me, but I'm quite excited to actually have an afternoon at home - I can finally catch up with all your lovely blogs, yay!  See you all soon :o)

Thursday 4 August 2011

Another baby one!

Yup, there I go again with the original titles!  This is the other baby card for a customer...



Ah I've really enjoyed making baby cards, I don't seem to make that many usually.  This image is Bathtime Flynn from DigiStamp Boutique - there's a fab sale at the mo, with 20% off ALL images, so go and grab a bargain :o)  I've coloured Flynn with promarkers and koh-i-noor pencils.  The papers are K&Co with Stampin Up Kraft card.  Sentiments are computer generated, ribbon and button from stash, stars are a sizzix die, flower is an MFT die.

I'm sooo behind with everything at the moment it's ridiculous!  Huge apologies for my lack of commenting - we've been out all day, then when we got back I had to finish this card... we haven't even eaten yet lol, hubby's ordered pizza!  I'm planning a big catch up tomorrow though, don't think I'm ignoring you if I haven't visited yet... agh don't you just love the school hols?!

Wednesday 3 August 2011

Baby boy...

Sorry, couldn't think of anything more interesting to call this post!  I had an order for a couple of baby cards and this is the first of them, the other one will probably be on here tomorrow.



Apologies for the pics, they're a bit overlit... I seem to be struggling with getting a balance between too dark and too light at the moment!

The image is from the Simply Baby Collection from DigiStamp Boutique, I love these simple little images.  I've printed it onto linen card and coloured with promarkers, added a little heart pearl on the vest.  The papers are Pink Petticoat, also printed onto linen card, cardstock is core'dinations.  The flowers were cut with x-cut punches, with silver pearls from my stash, and the sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

I'm a bit late tonight, had another busy day, so I'll keep this brief and spare you my usual waffle!

Tuesday 2 August 2011

Simply Sassy spotlight!

**2nd post for today - please scroll down for my PFP card**

I was so excited to get an email from Maria, asking if I'd like to be in the Spotlight on Sugar Nellie's Simply Sassy blog!  I'll be the first to admit I didn't really 'get' these images at first, but it didn't take me long to become hooked and now I LOVE them... and seem to have rather a lot of them in my collection... oops!



Here's the card I made for my spotlight post, using one of the brand new images Strike a Pose, coloured with promarkers and koh-i-noor pencils.  The papers are from the Papermania capsule collection, with cardstock from Papermill Direct.  The lace started out white - I've coloured it with a promarker.  Flowers cut with an MFT die with pearls from my stash, sentiment was computer generated.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Thanks everyone who helped me with my question yesterday... I have a few ideas now :o) Off to see if I can finally catch up with you all, you never know lol!

Passion For Promarkers - hugs and kisses

Our challenge for this week at Passion For Promarkers is 'hugs & kisses'... aww, lovely theme :o)  We're sponsored by Bearly Mine Designs so there'll be a fab prize for our lucky winner.


Now, before I go any further I just have to say - I made a BOW!!!!  Have you noticed I don't often add bows to my cards?  Basically, even with a bow maker (I have the bow-easy and a Papermania one) my bows still look awful, and I've never managed to tie one 'free-hand'.  But thanks to the lovely Jan, who kindly showed me how, I've tied one... all by myself... without the aid of a safety net and all that... woo hoo, thank you Jan!!!  Although, I do think I went a bit overboard and my bow should probably be a bit smaller lol...

Moving on... I've used an image from Some Odd Girl, coloured with promarkers, with koh-i-noor pencils for the shadow and glow.  The papers are Making Memories, with dark brown cardstock from Papermill Direct and the fab gingham ribbon is from Hobbycraft (I went in to buy a paintbrush!).  The sentiment is CC Designs.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

Back in a little while with something else....

Monday 1 August 2011

Can anyone help?

I know this is a bit of a longshot, but I just wondered if anyone knew of a digi of a milkman, or maybe a milk float... I've been asked to make a card for a milkman who's retiring and I'm struggling to find anything.  Any suggestions would be very welcome :o)

Very quick one...

Oh I know, it's a bit rubbish!  I have also made a DT card today but I can't show it yet... that took me about 5hrs what with running up and down the stairs to break up arguments, provide whatever the boys were pestering for, sweep sand off the kitchen floor (sent hubby out for a water table and he came back with a sand & water one instead... kids love it but agh at the state of the floor!)... well, you get the idea!  Last week hubby was off work, so it wasn't too stressful getting things done, but I'm on my own with the little darlings this week... let's just say I'm not having much fun so far!


I'll stop moaning now, I promise!  Here's the quickest card ever... using a Stampendous 'agapanthus cluster' cling stamp and a background stamp from IndigoBlu, stamped in Memento inks.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up, and should have been stamped a bit further away from the flowers I think.  Added a pearl from my stash.

Back with two slightly better cards tomorrow... apologies again for being so behind with comments, I'm slowly catching up!