Super Blog Candy

Just go over and have a look at the great candy available here all you need to do is leave a link from your blog and you're in with a chance. Great blog to browse too.

Merry Christmas

I just want to say a very Merry Christmas to you all, your lovely comments on my bits and pieces have been very welcome.

I look forward to the next 12 months sharing my ideas with you all, CHEERS!

New Challenge Blog

Well folks if you are anything like me then you will be grateful for this blog, it is starting in January and looks like it could be a lot of fun but with a great result at the end of the year.

I know there are a lot of challenge blogs out there but this for me is a first so hopefully I will join in with the challenges and maybe you will too?

Rainbow Lady's challenge

I have just remembered that I hadn't made OH's card so set about it this morning, Cynthia's challenge this week on Rainbow Lady's Challenge is to use a deer or a large animal so thought this fitted perfectly.

I have used an image from Joanna Sheen's Animal Antics and the backing paper is printed from Decadent Brocade cd from Artylicious

I have sprayed with the Crafter Companium spray and shine although it doesn't show up on the scan and the snowflakes are cut on the Cricut, I have used sketch idea found while blog hopping and I think it is from the Magnolia blog but not 100% sure.

12 Christmas cards

I've made 12 Christmas cards today and they are all variations on a theme, I decided that as they had to go in the post I wouldn't put ribbons etc., on them as that just bumps up the postage so they are quite plain but hopefully the fact that I have spent time colouring them in with my Promarkers will show that I haven't just thrown them together. These images are both digi images and I fell for them whilst blog hopping, the backing paper comes from the Decadent Brocade cd from Artylicious and has been sprayed with the Spray and Sparkle from Crafters Companion.

Yet more blog candy

Those generous people over at the Stamp Man are giving away more blog candy so get on over and have a look and join in.

We Three Kings

Cynthia aka Rainbow Lady likes to make her challenges a bit different at times and this time she decided that we should make a card based on a christmas carol but with an extra twist, the base card had to be black.

I didn't think I would be able to join in as I couldn't think what I had that would suit but then remembered this stamp bought a few years ago, I have stamped it with Versamark and then used the Stickum Powder and put on some of the Polished Pigments I bought very cheaply on Ebay a few weeks ago. For the background I have again used the Stickum powder and in the set I bought there is some very fine glitter so have used that on the snowflakes, not sure that snow actually goes with the desert but hey it's Christmas!

The Stamp Man Blog Candy

The Stamp Man is giving away some great blog candy and you have until December 15th to join in, so have a look and have a go it must be worth it.

Black, White and another

This is a card for the challenge over on Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog this week it's black, white and one other colour, so I have used pink to highlight the flowers.

Tag it on challenge

Over on Dragon's Dream Tag it on challenge blog this weeks challenge is to use alcohol inks with a face theme, I only thought about this one image but now I stop and think I do have something else that would do. I have used red pepper, aqua and pearl mixative then used a bit of gold to highlight, I have also used promarkers to colour the image in, finished off with some threads I got free on the very first C&C roadshow which they don't seem to do anymore.

It's good to see that Frankie is up to posting and setting challenges again, go and have a look at her blogs she does some amazing things.

Easel Card

I feel like I've been a little more productive today and have even managed to find time to make this card which I am entering into the Basic Grey Challenge which this week is glitz and bling, hopefully this little offering will fit the bill.

I have used paper from the Two Sccops range and added some crystals, glass glitter and a couple of Flora Doodles, sorry for the poor quality of the picture but the flash has reflected and it is too dark to take it without.

Crafty Ann's 1st challenge

This card is made from a free download from My Craft Studio and I have decided to use it to enter into the challenge from Crafty Ann's challenge blog. This is her brand new challenge blog and the first one is celebration, well we tend to celebrate most things but as it is so near to Christmas I thought I'd use this, pop over and have a look and if you can give her your support you'll find her here

This is the first tunnel card I've made from MCS and it went together fairly well, although you can't tell there are five layers on this one. Hope you like it.

I made this for one of the girls over on Rainbows forum, couldn't show you before but it's her birthday today so it's ok now. This is made using tapestry card and images and backing paper from the Eastern Treasures cd from Joanna Sheen, I have printed it onto linen ink jet printer paper and it gives a fantastic result, the images are so sharp and I only have a cheap printer using a ciss system. I just hope she likes it.

More Candy

How's this for some candy worth having,
pop over to Jacque's blog and see
for your self, fabulous items to look at too.

This is for a workmate who's birthday is on Wednesday, I have seen a few of these side step cards around so thought I'd give it a go.

Yet more birthdays

This is for my sister who's birthday is at the weekend so I just hope it arrives in time.

The challenge over on Rainbow lady's blog this week is anniversary so this is my entry, it is made with a picture from the Joanna Sheen cd Hollywood Vintage which has now been discontinued.

More super Candy

Well over on Bev's blog there is a fabulous array of things in her candy and you only have to link your blog on Mr Linky to be entered, what could be easier and everyone is in with an equal chance of winning so get over and make that link.

Art Deco birthday

Sorry the picture isn't straight but I guess you get the idea, I've printed the image and the backing paper onto semi gloss photopaper and matted it onto black satin mirri card.

The gold and white panel have been put the the Cuttlebug and the ribbon and flower have been coloured with rose pink promarker to tie it all together, the panel is quite large so I have made another 8" square and hopefully it works alright.

Fab blog candy!!

You have got to check out the candy available from Jak, this is such a fabulous thing to offer and just by linking from your blog and leaving a comment you have a chance of winning. Get on over and have a look, you have to be in it to win it and it's open until 29th October so lots of time left.

Halloween Swap card

Over on Rainbows forum this month the swap theme is Halloween so I have made this card, I don't know if I have a vivid imagination but the patterned background looks like it has faces in it and the fairy in the crystal ball has bats on leads. The crystal ball is glued onto folded acetate to give it a bit of movement, it was made with the My Craft Studio cd's.

I Love Promarkers Challenge

Another card for another challenge, this time it is for the I Love Pro Markers Challenge Blog we could use any colour but follow a sketch. This time I have done something a little different for me as I don't do many cards for boys, I have used a freebie image and it was from Tales From Pollycraft

They do a Friday Freebie and Feathers the Dragon was one of them a few weeks ago, I just couldn't resist him.

One card , two challenges

This is my entry for the Passion for Promarkers and The Pink Elephant challenges, I don't know what has come over me but I seem to be on a roll and while I'm in the mood I'll just carry on.

The Passion for Promarkers challenge is any colours and polka dots and the Pink Elephant is a sketch challenge so hopefully I've fullfilled the criteria for both of them.

I think this is my last for today but you never know I may still have time for one more before I go out for my tea.

Another 8 inch square

This size of card seems really popular at the moment and as this is for a lady of 83 it is ideal, so much easier to see. You can't tell from the picture but I have decoupaged some of the flowers on the panel and then sprayed with gold glitter, the flowery paper is also sprayed with the glitter. I have put a panel of the paper on the back and a small version of the topper, I think it finishes it off well.

Another challenge!

I needed a card for a friends mum and usually she get the traditional type so thought a cutie would be a nice change for her, I can also enter this into the Sketch and Stash challenge as I have used my new cd Popcorn the Bear which I got at a bargain price from that well known auction site. You should go and have a look at the challenge and some of the DT cards as they are stunning.

A Paper Gerbera

Just for a bit of fun I made this flower yesterday and am quite pleased with how it turned out, what do you think?

I've completed a challenge!

I'm very bad about joining in with challenges but Rainbow Lady's this week was to include an owl, well it would be rude not too as they are such wonderful creatures.

I did make a start on one cut with the Cricut but it didn't work quite as well as I wanted, I cut the design a little bit too large, so have used an image from JNM cd from Joanna Sheen. I have decoupaged the owl but it doesn't really show and I printed onto linen inkjet paper and it is so sharp and I think I'll have to buy some more as I have used quite a bit already.

Do pop over and have a look and see if you can join in too, the more the merrier.

A congratulations on passing exams card

I was asked to make a card for a young girl who had done well in her GCSE's so this is what I've come up with, I've used Basic Grey papers which I didn't want to cut up but as I bought two packs the same managed ok :) The image is from Charmed Card and Crafts and the sentiment is a free download from them.

I used my Cricut to cut the flowers and the colouring is done with Promarkers. I just hope she likes it!

Wedding card

My friends daughter gets married soon and she wanted a bookatrix card as she thought it would be unusual but her daughter is a teacher and as she was finishing for the summer holidays someone gave her a card almost the same as the one that was ordered so I have come up with this one for something a little different.

I have used the My Craft Studio for the images and as the wedding colours are cream and brown left the images as they were, I made four panels the same and stamped on the front one and added some small pearls and flowersoft, the other outer panels were left plain except for the flowersoft and a little glitter. I added the names and details to the one for the inside and the other two panels with the arches on are actually cards with verses in. I then stamped the bride with versafine and coloured with Pro-Markers, this stamp is one from Joanna Sheen but I had to trim some of the train off otherwise it would have been too wide. The ribbon has been sitting in my craft room for 12 months and it was rescued from a box of chocolates bought by an ex workmate when he was leaving the company.

I did decorate the top of the box but forgot to photograph it as I was in a hurry. I just hope the bride likes it.

Blog Candy Alert

Fantastic blog candy up for grabs curtesy of the Stamp Addicts, pop over and have a look and leave a comment for your chance to win this fantastic prize. You'll find it here

You'll also find loads of good stuff and inspiration while you're there.

Over on the Rainbows forum Ann very kindly let us have one of her digi stamps to play with for a challenge to see what we all came up with. Well I was going to use the plate of apples on a table but others had done it before me so I came up with this very simple but different card.

Been having a play

I haven't been using my cd's much recently so thought I'd make a few cards, this one is from another of Joanna Sheen's range and I just imagine this lovely cat being out all night and then sleeping peacefully in the armchair all day, what a life.

This si from the newest cd Eastern treasures and the card is quite heavy now finished as it has several layers and I have used pinflair gel, not sure what is goiong on with my photo's as all these larger cards look bevelled but they're not.







This is from the same cd as the first one the Pamela West one.








Now this is from Elegant fans, I have added a little gold card which has been run through the Cuttlebug and I have added a coin and a tassel.





All of these card are winging their way up to Scotland to be sold next month to add to the funds of Bob's bikeathon, pop over to Rainbow Lady's challenge blog for more information

Eastern Treasures

This is the first card made with the new cd from Joanna Sheen
This is a great cd and although it is oriental it's not the normal kind you think of and I think it will be a well loved one before long. Sorry the picture makes the card look a bit distorted but it is an 8 inch square, which is quite usual for me these days as I seem to have fallen in love with this size. I'm halfway through another one of the decoupage designs so will pop that one on once it's finished.

More from the retreat

This is the box I made it is stippled with pink and purple the stamped with the flowers and pots from a range from Stamp Addicts, I am really impressed with these stamps so think I need to get some of them.


This is what is inside the box, stupidly I put the best wishes on a too low so it is partially hidden but as the shutters are not glued down I can get away with it I think. The flowers in the window box are stamped onto acetate and coloured with alcohol inks using the new pens that you fill with the ink. I don't think it's very clear but inside is a scruffy cat looking out of the window.

Another one from the Stamp Addicts Retreat

We made these shadow boxes and had a bit of fun, sorry it's a bit fuzzy but you can get the idea. We painted the frame with back paint then used some mosaic tape to make the surround which we stuck bits of card that had been stamped and swooshed through some mica paints which are fab and some beads, glitter and sparkly rocks. We stamped an imaged which in my case is some writing for the background recess, made the kimono and put it all together.

I'll show you some cards very soon.

STAMP ADDICTS RETREAT

We had the most wonderful fun last weekend at the Stamp Addicts Retreat, plenty of things to play with and things we've never seen before and therefore most definately need.

They started us off with this great canvas bag which we painted using templates and the birds and flowers were cut on the Cuttlebug and painted and stamped over.

The tag was done on glossy card using alcohol iks with a piece of acetate stamped and painted on the back with more alcohol inks and a piece of acylic on the top, the flower is grunge paper painted and stamped then glued together.

I'll be back later in the week to add a few more thing that got done, which include a shadow box, some cards and well you'll just have to wait and see.

Hello Baby

First we've had weddings and now we have another girl having a baby, I have done this baby card in an 8inch square again as it is a big card but not going to get bent in the post. The images come from the Baby Love cd from Joanna Sheen and the extra bits were some I had in my stash. As it's a special card I have used some tapestry card as a mat just to give it a little something extra.

It's been so long since I put anything on here you could all be forgiven for thinking I'd given up! Well too many times I have made something and let it go just to realise there wasn't a picture of it so with this little one I made sure to photograph it.

We have a couple of weddings in the office this month, I guess it must be the time of year and the above card is one I made for one of the girls. I have used the fans cd from Joanna Sheen and having seen so many already done from this image I guess it is very popular, I have done the fan to put on the box lid but have only used one of the images flat on the card but then I have decoupaged both the glasses and the flowers. The inside is just the backing paper printed off with a little less ink and then a verse put on top, my printer had been playing silly devils so I had just over half an image of the flowers left so thought it went well on the corner inside. I have put some gold tissue in the box just to make it look a little less bare. I just hope she likes it, it is 8" x 9" so all our department can sign it and I even got a comment from the boss - says I'm wasted there. Not sure if it was a compliment or maybe he's trying to get rid of me!

Rainbow Lady's challenge this week is B is for, well I have gone for the obvious one and for me it's birthday! This done with some cardstock that I got from Kanban a long time ago and the letters are from the new My Craft Studio cd's which arrived from C&C in very good time.

There is a new challenge blog which has been set up by Frankie, now I don't normally do tags but thought I'd try to support her and have a go so this is my effort. I do hope you will go and have a look and join in you'll find her blog here this week is a pre-challenge week and the theme is blossom.

Cynthia's Challenge Spot

Ok folks long time no see, I've been totally rubbish and have been busy so haven't been here keeping you all up to date.

Well this week I am being guest designer for Rainbow Lady's Challenge, I'd really love it if you could join in. I have chosen transport as the theme and here is my offering

I hope you'll go over and look at the challenge which you'll find it here

Well I've been really bad about putting things on here for you all to look at but I have still been busy, I am making some wedding invitations for my friend as her present. I did her six samples and this is the one she has chosen, I am really pleased with the way they have turned out and also the little favour bags which were cut on the Cricut using a free download from Dan who seems to have stopped blogging at the moment.

I hope to be able to put some more things on in the next few days so watch this space and thanks for dropping by.

I've been very poor at updating my blog but have been a little busy, only made cards that have been ordered or for birthdays, not been adding to my box as I've been busy taking photographs for the course I'm doing, check out the web site http://www.feelgoodphotos.co.uk/blog/

CJ is a great teacher and is so inpiring that if she does another of these courses you should give it a go. The picture above is one of my first efforts and has the honour of being in the final four images of the week.

This is my entry for the Cute Card Thursday challenge to use something metal or metallic. It's my great niece's birthday on Monday so I've made this for her, she will be seven so I've used the cuttlebug numbers embossing folder and highlighted the seven in glitter. I have tied a piece of ribbon bought very cheaply form the QVC outlet shop and fastened a fairy to it, I then placed Tinkerbell to look as though she is sprinkling the glitter. Finally I have put her name at the bottom with Basic Grey Sultry stickers

Rainbow Lady's Challenge

I seem to be on a roll this weekend, here is my card for Rainbow Lady's Challenge - windows
I need a card for our newest recruit in work, she is 24 and very tall and slim so thought these images worked for her.