Stamp it with sue at CD Sunday

This week over at CD Sunday Sue has chosen Stamp it for her challenge, we decided that you could use either a real stamp or a digi so, because I'm in love with these Octavia digis from Polkadoodles I decided to go with a digi and looking at what the rest of the team have done I'm the only one!  

I used a backing paper from the Winston Collection again from Polkadoodles then I coloured the image with Copics, I did it a while ago now so sorry didn't make a note of the numbers I used. I used a Sue Wilson die that was a birthday gift and it is the first of her range of dies I had but I love the way they cut so had to buy some more, The die behind the image is from the French Collection and this one is Provence, you can find it here at a good price.  I cut three for this card, the other dies are from Tattered Lace.

Secret Santa with Polkadoodles

Hello there, well it's getting very close to Christmas and I hope you are more organised than I am and all your cards are done.  For my card this time I've used the fabulous Festive Hollybobs which is available as both a cd and an instant download.

This fortnight the DT on Polka Doodles Challenges have all become a "Secret Santa" and we each received a secret message from Santa . Guess who Santa wanted me to make a project for .... whoops, can't tell you but see if you can guess from the clues ...

1]This lady is very black and white
2] She was a founder member of the team
3] She is on Team B

4] She has two boys who love Go Karting

Please put your idea of whom you think my "secret Santa" is for in the comments section at the bottom of my post. One lucky winner will receive a digi image over and above the normal challenge prize. A random DT blog will be chosen and then a commentator from that blog will then be picked as the winner of a fab Polka Doodles digi image. So don't forget to visit all the DT and see if you can guess who has made for whom to be in with a chance to win,. All the details you need are on the main Polka Doodles challenge blog. You have up to Thursday 18th December (midnight GMT) to enter and the winners will be announced on Friday 19th December (GMT)

Onto how I made my card, I used an A4 card divided into three which I folded to make it into an easel card.  I cut the top layer in to form a point and then used a square as a topper. I cut all the elements out from the design sheet and as I did it by hand decided to cover the edges with glitter to hide the fact that it wasn't the neatest of cutting. 
The large bow at the top was cut out on my envelope board as I had a piece of backing paper left over and didn't want to waste it.

Song Titles with Jocelyn over at CD Sunday

This week over at CD Sunday Jocelyn chose Song Titles as the theme and I decided on Frosty the Snowman as my song.
The snowman stamp is one I bought at Port Sunlight cos I just fell for him, I have used my Graph'it pens to colour him and added glitter around the edge. The backing paper is from the Work and Play Festive Hollybobs which seems to have become a favourite this year.
I have used some of the spiders web to wrap around the backing paper which gives it a lovely sheen and  bit of added interest.

We have a little bit of a surprise for you this week and one of you can win a little prize that has kindly been donated by one of our followers so do come over and join in, you never know it could be you who wins.

Nordic Challenge at Polkadoodles

Over at Polkadoodles this week the challenge is Nordic Christmas, now there are some lovely things on the Festive Hollybobs cd that are suitable so this was my first stop and I found what I wanted straight away.  I decided not to use one of the images but just one of the backing papers, I cut the reindeer out on my Silhouette and used some snowflake dies but there are snowflakes on the cd so I could have used those.

I hope you can join us and you will be impressed with what my other teamies have done so come on over and join us. Oh and I forgot to say that the collection is also available as a download so you can get it straight away and start using it today. x

A Christmas Card

I am so far behind with my cards this year and think i may end up buying some but today I made a card with a new stamp I bought recently. called Snowy Postcard by Stampendous.

I stamped in Versafine onto white card then used Antique Linen distress ink to make it look a bit aged like an old postcard would do. I used my Graph'it pens to colour the little bit of holly and berries and then used a die to cut it out. The die is one from a set by Sue Wilson, it's from her French collection and is called Provence. I used another from the same set to do the back layer which I cut in half so it looks like a full piece behind the main image.  The other stamp is one from Polkadoodles, again stamped in verafine and coloured with the same pens, the white berries look very white but they are now almost translucent as the glue has fully dried.  I coloured some white ribbon with the same red pen and tied a bow, I also used the pen on the gems so everything ties in well together.

I'm entering this into the following challenges

1. Delicious Doodles - Traditional Christmas
2. Simply Create Too - Snow, Snow, Snow
3. Aud Sentiments - Use a sentiment for a December holiday.

CAS at Polkadoodles

The challenge over at Polkadoodles this time is CAS, I'm not too good at leaving lots of space so this is a challenge for me too, I've used one of the digi images off the Festive Hollybobs.

I have used my Graph'it and Copic pens and even coloured my ribbon to match. The blue border is just a piece of white card which I've coloured with the same blue pen as the little girls hat and coat.  I don't have a full set of either the Graph'it or the Copic but I like both for different reasons and I'm sure over time I'll end up with a lot more!

Please pop over and have a look at what the rest of the team have done and maybe even visit their blogs just to say hi.

P is for ............... at CD Sunday with Wynn

Good morning, time for another challenge over at CD Sunday this week. We are doing Wynn's choice of P is for ........ and I have chosen to use a panda. I needed a card for my OH birthday and thought this would be perfect, it's from an old cd called A Walk on the Wild Side from Cupcake Crafting so I don't think it will still be available as that company doesn't exist any more. It's a shame as the art work is stunning and perfect for the men in our lives.

I have used one of the older edge dies from Spellbinders with it's matching corner, the sentiment is from one of the Work and Play cd's from the fabulous Polkadoodles, check out the cd's and downloads so useable.

I am entering this into the following challenges;

1. A Crafty Mess - Anything Goes
2. Craft for the Craic - Birthday
3. Seize the Birthday - Anything Birthday goes

Coffee, Peach and Cream at CD Sunday

Good morning all, it's time for a new challenge over at CD Sunday and this week it's the turn of Christine to choose her theme, is it just me or do you look at a new theme and wonder what you'll do as it isn't something that you use or a colourway that isn't one you would think of using, well that was me this time but once I got my head into gear I quite enjoyed creating my card.

I used the Tatty Twinkle cd from My Craft Studio and printed out the digi so I could colour her in the right colours, the flower trim I bought when I went to Port Sunlight.

I'm entering this into the following challenges
Crafts Galore Encore  Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - Anything goes

Recycle it - Polkadoodles

Hello everyone, it's time for a new challenge over at Polkadoodles today. We have been tasked to recycle it and it can be a whole project using recycled things or it can be just a bit of ribbon or lace or paper, I think you know what I mean.

For my project I have used one of those inexpensive mirrors from IKEA, I have seen various ways of changing them and too be honest I did have something in mind but when this challenge came along I decided to make a Christmas themed mirror, I think it will hang in the hall for that last minute glance on the way out, if my friend doesn't want it for her granddaughter.

I have used the backing papers from the Festive Hollybobs collection to cover the main frame, I used some textured gel to make the snow and once again added some glitter. It is a bit of a shame that it doesn't show in the picture as it glistens quite nicely.  I printed out the trees, deer and sleigh which I cut out and placed onto the frame so it looks like they are standing in the snow, I then glittered the trees.  I did cut out some snowflakes from a couple of dies I have but then I found the snowflake buttons and these give a more chunky look which I think suits the project.  The blackboard sentiment is also from Polkadoodles and I have a couple of them so once I get going on my Christmas cards it should be fairly plain sailing.

I'm entering this into
 Sweet Stampin Christmas - Snowflakes
Fab'n'Funky - Christmas
The Paper Shelter - Is it too Early for Christmas

Digi Choosday Birthday

It's birthday week at Digi Choosday so I've made this card to join in with the celebrations.  I've used another of the Octavia images from the lovely Nikky Hall over at Polkadoodles.

The backing paper is from the Winston Collection which is another winner for me, go look for him here not only can you buy a cd, you can buy the download of the cd or if you're not feeling flush you can purchase the individual images to get you started.

Christmas Fun with Polkadoodles

Hello everyone and look what Polkadoodles are doing this week - it's Christmas Fun!

I used my Silhouette to cut out the cracker box from some red card. I then cut out the panels with a backing paper from the Festive Hollybobs which is part of the fabulous Work and Play collection. The embellishments are all from the cd. the ones I used are pre coloured but you will find the digi's too so you can do them yourself if you love to colour.

Please come over and join us and see what the fantastic design team have made for your inspiration.

Tatty Twinkle fast asleep

I've got quite a few birthday cards to do for the next couple of months so have used another of the Tatty Twinkle stamps I purchased recently. For this card I used a paper printed from the My Craft Studio Tatty Twinkle cd, and several die cuts, these were all cut in white and coloured with a Copic pen, even the ribbon which was white to start with was coloured with the same colour pen.

This is a 7.25 inch easel card and the image is coloured with a mixture of Copic and Graph'it pens, I stamped the image with a Memento ink in Espresso Truffle as I thought the black may be a bit harsh for such a sweet image.

I'm entering this into the following challenges;
Sister Act - anything goes
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - Anything goes with pink
Kit and Clowder - Anything Goes

Silhouettes at CD Sunday

Over at CD Sunday this time Carol has asked that we use a silhouette, as I haven't really made many Christmas cards yet I decided to use this challenge to get one made.

I printed out the backing paper and sentiments from the Polkadoodles Festive Hollybobs which seems to be very popular this year as I've seen it around quite a few blogs, I then covered it with a strip of spiders web.

I used a Spellbinder die for the mat and cut the image from my Portrait machine. A quick and easy card to do which is what we want for the ton we have to do at this time of year.

I am entering this into the following;

Kitty Bee Designs- Stamps or punches

Crafty Catz - Black and one other colour

Alphabet Challenge - R for round or rectangle.

Tatty Twinkle

I've been playing this afternoon and used one of the Tatty Twinkle stamps I bought recently.

She is coloured with both marker pens and pencils, the backing paper is from the Tatty Twinkle My Craft Studio cd and the flowers are stamped with a set of stamps I bought at Port Sunlight for £1.

I'm entering this into
Crafting at The Weekend - Anything Goes

Christmas is Coming with CD Sunday

Hello, it's time for another challenge over on CD Sunday, this time it was mt turn to choose and I've chosen Christmas is Coming.  I decided to make this box on my silhouette and used the papers from the Polkadoodles Work and Play Festive Hollybobs, you can also get some of the images in digi and actual stamp form so go check it out.  This cd is going to be used a lot this year, the papers are fab and the images are perfect for everyone, this box is made from a file I bought from Tina Fallon who does some pretty amazing things so go check out her shop.

I do hope you can join in with us this time and I'll enjoy looking at the things you make, I'll be choosing a top three and there is a small prize for the winner.

I'm also entering this into the following challenges;

We do Doobadoo - Christmas

CHPP - Use patterned paper

Christmas Cards all Year Round - Embellish it

Polkadoodles - Anything but Square

Good morning to you all, it's time for a new challenge over at Polkadoodles and this time it's Anything but Square. Well my make for this certainly fits the bill as I have made an Advent Calendar, now this is meant to look like a Christmas tree but I think it looks more like a pagoda or something but hey it's done and will fit the bill in the centre of the desks in work. I haven't decided what to put in the drawers yet but the team I work with will eat almost anything so I'll decide later.

The main structure has been cut on my Silhouette from a file I found in their store, I used Kraft card as I thought it went well with the gingerbread men from the Festive Hollybobs cd from Polkadoodles, this is part of the ever popular Work and Play Collection. The drawers are cut from 200gsm card printed with some of the fabulous backing papers that are on the same cd, as the drawers are folded I used a non directional paper as I didn't want the images to be upside down.

Hope you like my make and you'll come over and join us, as always there is a prize for one lucky winner!

Sketch at Polkadoodles

Hi there it's time for a mid-challenge post, over at Polkadoodles it's a sketch for you to follow. I quite like using a sketch when I haven't got any ideas floating around in my head as it can focus the mind a little easier. I really like this sketch so used it as it is and have used some papers from the Winston Collection because I had already printed them out and they work so well together and I also used one of the Pretty Sweet girls which are available as both single digis and on the cd.  I coloured Piper in with a mixture of markers and am still practising to be able to get the hair as I want it but some way to go yet.  The flower is cut from the same paper as the backing and I used a Spellbinders die.

This is the sketch that I used and you will need to follow too, please come over and join in!
Also entering into
Brown Sugar - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Birthday Celebrations
Sister Act - Anything goes

A Card for a Male - CD Sunday

Hello all it's that time again and another challenge over at CD Sunday, this time it's A Card for a Male and this has been chosen by Wendy.

For my card I have used a shaped card which gives a bit of interest and have used the fabulous jam packed collection from Polkadoodles which is Winston.  There are so many things on this cd that it is suitable for everyone, Winston has a friend and her name is Etty and there are so many backing papers that you really are spoilt for choice, there are the Kraft papers and then there are some beautiful pastel and pretty ones.

I chose this image because I thought it would make a great retirement card, I matted the image onto plain black and did the same for the backing paper, the two shapes are also just resized and printed from the cd, in fact apart from the buttons and the strip of Kraft card that I put through an embossing folder I haven't needed to add anything as it is all there just waiting to be printed.

I hope you like this and feel inspired to come over and join in, the winner of the top three gets a little something too.

Plant pot heaven

This little bear is just adorable and I have been playing again, this time I've chosen one of the other images from the cd by Polkadoodles which is the Winston Collection and believe me I could do so much without even using the images as there is so much STUFF on there likes buttons, hearts, dresses etc and it's all fab.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge - Water Related
DoubleClick AKA ABusy Bee - Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter - Ribbon, Twine or Floss

Another from the Winston collection

Just sharing another of the makes for the Polkadoodle launch of the Winston Deluxe Collection cd, this time I've used a beautiful image of Etty posting a letter. Apart from the die cut and a few buttons everything is from the cd.
I'm entering this into the following;
Cuttlebug Mania - Anything Die cut
Through the Craft Room door- Use a die cut

Etty

Hi all, just wanted to share a make I did for the launch of the fab new cd from Polkadoodles, The cd is called Winston and you can find it here, it is a mega cd and the images are just lush! Apart from a few buttons and die cuts everything is from the cd and it all goes so well together.

I am entering this into the following challenges;
Crafting From The Heartt - Anything goes
Crafty Boots - Anything Goes
Incywincy Designs - Shaped Cards

50th birthday card

Sorry for the quality of the photo but I just took a very quick snap meaning to do a proper one in the daylight and then forgot! I made this with a cut file for the Silhouette and although the stand looks a funny colour it is silver, I was quite pleased with it and I know it looks a bit wonky but it was straight.

Happily Ever After - CD Sunday

I'm back from my holiday in Cornwall so thought I'd share one of my makes from the great cd that Nikky Hall from Polkadoodles has produced. Winston is a cute bear but not too sugary and he has a friend Etty, so here they are doing a bit of celebrating, this is my card for the current CD Sunday challenge which is Happily Ever After. I hope you can find the time to come over and join in, we love to visit and see your creations.

Tag you're it over at Polkadoodles

I've made this tag for our current challenge over on Polkadoodles, this time it's Tag You're It.  You can make a tag or use a tag on your creation so it's really easy to join us.

For my tag I've used pan pastels to colour the tag and then added Maddie Shy which is one of the Pretty Sweet girls from Polkadoodles and you can find them here. I coloured her with Graph it markers and Copics, I cut some flowers and the lacy bit at the top is just a small bit of one of my Spellbinders dies.  i've finished the whole thing off with a piece of lilac ribbon.

Get organised for Christmas with Polkadoodles

Hello everyone, it's a mid term reminder for the Get Organsied for Christmas over at Polkadoodles. I've done a fold out book card which is an A6 in size so cheaper to post, I've used the wonderful Work and Play Hollibobs cd as there is such a variety of images and papers on it you are spoilt for choice.

This is the front, the image and paper is from the cd and the flourishes are cut on the silhouette.

These are also papers from the cd and the Santa and tag are from one of the design sheets. There is everything you need to make all your cards so check it out!

Please come over and join us and see what my fabulous team mates have created.

Get Well at CD Sunday

Hi there it's a new challenge at CD Sunday and this time it was chosen by Sue, she has decided we should all do a get well card and as I don't have any in my box I'm quite happy about that.

For this card I've used the Camden Town cd from Crafter's Companion, there are two in the set one for the ladies and one for the chaps. i have to be honest and say the ladies one is far better and easier to use.  the flowers are stamped with the new Ariana blooms from Heartfelt Creations and the fancy die is from a set which co-ordinates with the stamps.

I hope to see you over at the challenge x

Digi choosday - Pearls and bling

Over at Digi choosday they have a Pearls and Bling challenge so I've made this little card.  The image is one from Polkadoodles which Nikky has revamped a little and is now selling them as individual digi stamps, find them here.

I have coloured her with my Spectrum Noir pencils, I'm still getting used to them but it is getting better and I do enjoy using them. I love my markers but find I have a little more control with the pencils, the blingy swirls are made by cutting out a pattern with my Portrait and then using as a stencil for Sparkle Medium. I wasn't sure how it would work so only cut it in card but I'm really pleased with it so am going to cut a few different designs using acetate.

I've added a few flowers which I have had for so long I don't remember where I got them from and a few strands from a pearl embellishment, the sentiment is from a stamp set from Polkadoodles from the Fairy Flutterfly range and this is from the set with Gracie, she also has a flower and ladybug.

See you tomorrow!

More quilted fun

Hiya, just a very quick post to show you what I've been up to, I've been playing with some new digi's from Polkadoodles, they are the girls from Pretty Sweet who have had a bit of a makeover, they are lovely and so easy to work with.

Hope you like her and I'll be back soon with another post, I'm working on another card at the moment. x

I'm entering her in to the following challenges,

The Squirrel and the Fox - Anything Goes

Fairytale Stampers - Anything Goes must use a stamp/digi

Fun in the sun at Polkadoodles

Good morning, this should have been my post for last Friday but who forgot to do it so have had to add it this week instead.  The team over at Polkadoodles have made some fabulous samples for you to take inspiration from and believe me they are worth a look.  For my card I used an older cd because they never seem to age or go out of fashion and I still find something I haven't used yet.

 This image is from A Double Sprinkle of Kraft and if you haven't got it in your collection then it is one I'd recommend, you'll find it on the Polkadoodles web site here.  I thought the two owls looked like they were enjoying the sunshine on their swing, and with the butterflies fluttering around a perfect summer scene, the flower is from the same cd so as you see a one stop shop! I've added a few die cut leaves and when trying out my Silhouette I cut out the tree.

You still have a week to enter so get on over as there are some fab prizes on offer too.

Quilted fun over at CD Sunday

Good morning, can't believe it's two weeks since the last challenge over at CD Sunday but today we have a new one so it must be.

I've had a busy couple of weeks and I don't know if I'm coming or going but I'm hoping things will settle down soon and I can go back to my snails pace where I know what I'm doing and where I should be!

for my card this time I've used the Crafter's Companion cd, Halcyon days which I bought in the C&C sale a few weeks ago, it's got some lovely images on it so I'm hoping to get quite a bit of use out of it.

This card was made for a bit of fun with one of my workmates, she is 50 this month and we were planning a night out with her and she kept saying it was her 21st so we went further than she thought and she got a card, a balloon and she had to wear a flashing sash with 21 all over it, but she took it in good humour and we had a great time.

I hope you can come and join us and maybe win a prize if you are chosen as the top of the winning three.

Clash of Colours with Polkadoodles

Hi there, I'm here with my card for the mid challenge inspiration for our challenge of Clash of Colours over at Polkadoodles. I nearly freaked out when I saw the challenge as it's not what I do, mind you after getting over the shock I really enjoyed this, hope you can join in and have a go, you may surprise yourself.

I have used the Dollie Daydreams Girl Talk cd to make this card, I printed the backing paper straight onto the card once I had attached it to a sheet of paper to get it through the printer, I then printed the same thing onto another sheet which I embossed, not that you can really see it behind the cut out bit but it is there.  I coloured the girl with Graph it pens, I also used one of the pens for the flowers, the orange is pen number 2150 and most of the pink is 5125 for the skin I used 4120, 4115 and 4150, now when it comes to the hair I was playing so can't really say with confidence which colours I used but I think the lightest shade is 1250, the mid shade is 4170 and the darkest is 3125.  I'm still limited with my colours but am building my collection, they are great pens to use so I now need them all.

Food Glorious Food at CD Sunday

Hiya, another challenge over at CD Sunday and this time it's Food Glorious Food as chosen by Wynn, hope you can pop over and join us.

Foe my card I've used the Shawn Jenkins cd from Ooh La La, I wanted to do something a little different so have used some cut out shapes in the form of teapot, cup, jug and sugar bowl but using the same striped paper that is behind the trellis so it all blends together.

I'll keep this short as the weather is so warm I should be outside not sat in here at the pc, looking forward to you joining us, bye for now x

Tag it! at Digi Choosday

Hi all, just a quick post from me to show you a tag I've done.  As it's Tag it! at Digi Choosday I thought I'd enter it into their challenge.

I've used an digi stamp from the Dollie Daydreams  Girl Talk cd, I haven't had it long but have used it quite a bit already, it's got a lot of the things I love on it.  The backing paper is also what I've used to do the flowers, the girl is coloured with a multitude of things, I just kept going, I used Graph it pens but then used some coloured pencils too, the umbrella is done with the pencils as I don't have enough colours in the Graph it's yet.

Bye for now x

Kind and Caring Thoughts

Hi again, it's Sunday and that usually means a couple of things and one of them is a new challenge over at CD Sunday.  This week it's the turn of Christine to choose and her choice is Kind and Caring Thoughts, for my card I've used the Patience Strong cd from Joanna Sheen.

I embossed a line around the bottom layer of the card and used a small amount of ink to define, I printed the topper onto glossy card and finished it off with a ribbon.  Quite a quick card but sometimes it's just what we need.

Add a Twinkle at Polkadoodles

Good morning, it's another Friday and that means another challenge over at Polkadoodles. This week it's Add A Twinkle and our lovely Nikky has only gone and designed a new Christmas cd called Work and Play Festive Hollybobs, what a fab name for a truly fab cd!

For my card I used the cutest elf image but to be honest I was spoilt for choice, just look at the reindeer. As usual with Nikky she knows that we want it all so she has given us both digi stamps and coloured images on the cd, and papers, embellishments, postcards and sentiments, because I was a bit short on time I've used the pre-coloured images here.  I have just treated myself to a Shilouette and this is the first time I've done a print and cut, I resized the images within the software before cutting but to be honest they are really east to cut by hand too.
I've added lots of glitter to the tree and to the elf's hat, hope it shows up in the picture.

I wanted to use so many of the elements on the cd that I think I'll be showing you more cards in the near future even if I do think it's too early to be thinking about Christmas but I know we need to start so we aren't pushed nearer to the time.

Do come and join us and if you aren't up for making a start on your Christmas cards it doesn't matter because you can add twinkly bits to loads of things. 

Check out the rest of the teams makes as they are super, you will not be able to choose a favourite.

I'm also entering this into the following challenges
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - A Winters Scene
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
Crafting by Designs - Anything goes in July
Christmas Cardz Challenges - Anything Goes

'til next time x

Red, White and Blue at Polkadoodles

Hello, this is my first challenge post as team member over at the Polkadoodles Challenge blog, I am so excited to be part of the team and as there were a few new members who joined at the same time there is a lot of different inspiration for you now.

The challenge runs for two weeks and this is week two so get your skates on and join in with us, I have used the Dollie Daydreams cd Girl Talk which is available on the Polkadoodles website, it's full of stunning images, papers and digi's. I decided not use a main image and go for some of the accessories which as you can see are great to be used on there own, I printed off two sheets of backing paper which I then made the box with, I have seen lots of tiny boxes around but I wanted to go bigger so used the two sheets of A4 to make this. I then chose my shoes and took them into Craft Artist so I could turn some of them around so I had pairs, I printed them out and used a combination of Graph it, Promarker and Spectrum Noirs to colour the shoes. I wanted to give the impression of a shop window with all the shoes on display. (Hope I managed it) The sentiment came from the cd too, there are some really great ones on there so it really is a one stop shop, Nikky knows what we need as crafter's.  I have bought lots of pens over the years but I must say I really enjoy using the Graph it pens and I've added a link for you so you can check them out.

That's it for today, I hope you can join and also check out the other teams makes, they are a talented bunch.

Round again - recycling

Good morning it's very early on Sunday morning and the sun is shining which makes a nice change from yesterday.
This week over at CD Sunday Carol has chosen Round again or recycling, now I do use things that look like they may have a use but I am someone who throws things in the bin without thinking if they can be reused.  I thought I was going to struggle but I bought some new bedding and it came all wrapped up and tied with a ribbon.

I used the label as a mat and kept the ribbon on, I didn't think to use something  big enough to cover the wording and keep the gold border but I had two so the next one will be used that way.

The card I made is from the Card Creations + cd Crazy Cats by Linda Ravenscroft, I didn't have the right colour roses so I used an alcohol pen to colour them but the brown flowers were already that colour. The leaves are from a Tattered Lace die set and the sentiment is from a stamp set I bought recently, I've been trying to add more sentiments into my collection.

Digichooseday - Not a square card

Hi everyone, I've had a day off work so have had time to play and as I've got a bit of news for you I thought I'd tag it onto this post.

I applied for a position on the Polkadoodles design team and never thought for a minute I'd be accepted but I've got a place so I'm more than excited and will be joining in with their challenges from the beginning of July.

Now I also won some blog candy from Nikky as it was the first birthday of the Graph 'it challenge so I was over the moon when in the box with more stash than you can imagine was four - yes I did say four of the Polkadoodles cd's and even better I only had one of them in my stash so I've now got a pressie for someone too.

Anyway onto the Digichooseday challenge and as with all of Nikky's cd's there are digi images a plenty so I decided to use the Dollie Daydreams Goes East cd and this is what I came up with.

I took some of the images into Craft Artist and resized the background, I then copied and flipped it, joined the two pieces together and printed it out. I resized the little lady and printed her out, because I was in a bit of a hurry I used a pre-coloured image but it would be fun to print out the plain one and see how she develops.  I cut around the top of the flowers and slid her in so she looks like she is standing in the middle of them.
I'm going to enter her in to the following
Digi Chooseday - Not a square card
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
A Girl Who Crafts - Anything Goes
Scribble and Scrap - Anything goes
Paper Minutes - Asian

CD Sunday - Dies

Good morning, who stole my week? I can't believe it's Sunday again, mind you the upside is that there is another challenge over at CD Sunday for you to join in with.  This week it is my turn to choose a theme and I decided on dies, I have bought a few recently and I know how popular they are so thought I'd incorporate them into our challenge.

 I have been trying to persuade die in the wool stampers that cd's can be a useful tool so this week the element from the cd is the spotty backing paper, everything else is stamped and die cut. I have used a few dies in this card and just in case you are interested most of them are Spellbinders or Heartfelt Creations.

The spotty paper is from the Tom Meilko project cd/book that Joanna Sheen has put together and is on special offer at the moment @ only £6.99.  The little girl is a stamp that I have had for quite a while and can't remember where I got her from, sorry.
Now onto the dies, the curve at the bottom is a from Spellbinders set which is widely available but you can find them here.
The circle is from one of the Gold sets from Spellbinders, it is Gold circles one and is available from the same place but here is a link so you can see which set it is.

Finally the flowers and leaves are from Heartfelt Creations, the flower is stamped and cut from the Delicate Asters collection  I have put a link the a page where you can see the whole set.  The leaves are some that I use quite often and once again they were stamped and die cut, if you haven't found the Craft Clearance web site then you should go and look as they have some great bargains.  They have the stamps but not sure about the matching die.

Oh yes I almost forgot to mention that the little girl was coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and pencils, the pencils seem to be extremely popular at the moment and are out of stock in lots of places but you can usually find them on the Crafter's Companion web site.

I'm also entering this into the following challenges:
2 Sisters - Make your own embellishments (Final challenge)
CMC Copic Challenge - Anything Goes - Use your markers/ pencils
Paper Crafting Challenges - In Summer
Sweet Stampin - Say it with flowers

Bleach Blocking

This month the Craft Stamper magazines, Make it, Take it challenge is bleach blocking, now this colour change is quite subtle because I didn't use Distress ink but Adirondack ink, and the colours are quite pale but I like the change and I will be having another go with distress to see the difference.

I used Willow and Mountain rose inks which I put on with brushes, I then used an applicator sponge to remove the ink and it was a lot clearer when it was first done but now dry isn't as obvious. 

I knew I wanted to use the quote as it must ring true for lots of people, in fact I put this inside my brothers birthday card.  Once I'd finished the background I stamped the two corners again in the Mountain Rose ink, this stamp and the green leaves are from the Dylusions set Doodle Parts, oh yes the quote is from Paper Artsy and is a Hot Picks set.  Now the flower is stamped with Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret and then die cut with the matching die set, I coloured it with the Mountain Rose and then pinched the ends to give it a bit of shape, I cut this out of Centura Pearl so it is a bit rigid but once stuck down not too bad but i think I'd do it n a lighter weight next time.  The leaves are die cut from an old envelope and coloured with the Willow ink, I do love to see the way the ink reacts with the different papers so we get the same tone but quite different colours.  Finally the butterflies are from Cheery Lynn, I bought a set of these butterflies and then saw them elsewhere a lot cheaper, I was a bit miffed until I realised that there are two sets and I had the larger ones, a friend of mine bought the smaller ones and this is what I've used on here.

Sun Kissed Fleur

Since these stamps were out thought I'd try out the basket, once again I've coloured with Spectrum Noir pencils, the background was coloured with Pan Pastels and the bow was made with my WRMK envelope board.

I reckon this is a girly card so will join in with Hels at the Sunday Stamper as she has decided on Girl Talk this week. I intend to join in every week but never get anything made on time.

At the Seaside at CD Sunday

Over at CD Sunday Caz has chosen the theme of At the Seaside so I have used both Craft Artist and Joanna Sheen's Tom Meilko cd to make this this. I have put it all together digitally and will add some gems once I need to send it.

I hope you can come over and join in with us and from this week we will be a fortnightly challenge so plenty of time to make something.

Sunkissed Fleur plaque

I've had this wooden plaque for ages and had only got as far as painting it green so today I decided to do something with it. I used the Sun Kissed Fleur background stamp which I stamped in Perfect Medium then embossed with sparkling snow WOW embossing powder, I then used the corner sun kissed stamp which I stamped onto a single layer of tissue then added it to background using Slap it On from Indigoblu, the colouring is done with Spectrum Noir pencils which worked well because it was onto tissue and not onto the painted area, I stamped extra onto card, cut it out and layered up the main flowers.

The centre is stamped and embossed with gold, coloured with Dried Marigold Distress ink andcut out with a spell binders die (labels 25).  The quote is from a Crafty Individuals stamp set which fits in quite nicely.

See you tomorrow with another project for CD Sunday. x

A bit of sewing

I've been promising my friend I'd make her a small bag which is just big enough to use for a lunch box and today I finally got around to making one.

I used some calico that I've had for ages and some fabric that I bought for something else, I used a contrast cotton and am quite pleased with it, in fact I was so pleased at how quick it was I made another for myself.

More stamping

I treated myself to this stamp recently and thought I'd give it an outing before it goes in the draw for an age before I remember about it again.  I stamped it in Versafine and coloured the flowers with Spectrum Noir pencils, I decided that I would use a die and once it was cut out it seemed the thing to do to use the background die to cut another piece to frame it. I used a piece of My Mind's Eye backing paper which I also used to cut the flower and the leaves but I sponged a little Stormy Sky distress ink on them.

I'm entering this into a couple of challenges,
Sweet Stamps - anything goes
Crafting from the Heart - anything goes
Brown Sugar - Anything goes