Smarty Pants

Quick post as I had to make the House Mouse 100th Challenge, which was to include Buttons, Bows & Bling (On the ribbon... a little glimmer there!) Made the card using the Sketch Saturday layout. More details in a bit...just got back yesterday.

Right, I should have made tea by now but my body clock is all to pot with travelling back home last night, so a take away later now seems like a good idea.

This card is made using my newest House Mouse stamp, bought last week to make a card for my son who gets his SQA Highers results this Thurs.

My card uses lovely reversable paper from The Paper Company - it's called Homerule Alphabet. I've also managed to stick on some lovely...hmm what's that neutral coloured stuff called under the ribbon? Never seen it in the UK, but I found it in Germany - so bought a little(LOT!)

It's also for, A Passion For Promarkers Challenge - Animal Crackers
Charisma Cards - 4 Legged Friends...of my cat's!
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Free & Easy July Jx

Blue Man Group - Berlin

2 nights ago we went to the Blue Max theatre in Berlin, to watch the Blue Man Show! Very loud, but very enjoyable!

They are such tallented guys, both in music and in mime. The show lasted an hour and a half, during which they messed around with drums, pipes, paints & food. I know this doesn´t sound that good, but trust me it was far from dull! Just wish our boys were with us to have seen it - they would have loved it.

Bye-Bye

This quick card was made to order using the Sketch 4 Fun July layout. Jx

Box Clever

...& this is my final pre-holiday post. My first box using the Hougie Board. It was made for the easel wedding card I made a week or so ago. (I was asked by the family to put snowflakes on it.) I had wanted to make a box instead of squeezing it in an envelope, but I kept putting it off as I wasn't sure how. I then stumbled upon a great link to a tutorial on Do Crafts, directing me to Lee's blog - A Wee Bit of Crafty Loops. A brilliant step by step tutorial & ta-da, job done! Thanks Lee.

Tomorrow I tidy my craft desk - wish me luck! Chat to you all in a couple of weeks, Jx

Nurse Thanks

Well that's me got all orders up to date, so the card making factory will now be closed for a couple of weeks while we holiday in Berlin - YIPEE!

This card was made using craft creations gingham paper & I think the grey is Papermania. I used the Willow Sketch for this one & so will be entering their challenge with it.

Willow Sketchie Challenge Their sketch Jx

U Star

Another card for passing exams - I hope. This one uses a Tatty Ted stamp and card from the Papeterie. The panel is CB star embossed, and the U Star is made from Doodlebug alphabet beads.

Crafty Catz - Tags - Good Luck Tag.
Charisma Cards - It's in the Stars.

High School Student

In a couple of weeks time, the SQA standard grade & higher results will be released & I'm hoping there will be a lot of happy bunnies out there so this card is for them.

It's made using the Simply Sassy High School Student stamp, some craft companions gingham paper and a CB star folder & die cut stars. It's for;

Passion For Promarkers - Gingham
Crafty Ann's - Embossing
Allsorts - Free & Easy July
Charisma Cards - It's in the Stars. Jx

Wedding Bells

This quick and simple card was whizzed up last night as my neighbour wanted one for today! It's made using my PB stamp, coloured with Promarkers & following the Sketch n Stash sketch.

Penny Black @ Allsorts - Flowers - Around the bells.
Sketch n Stash - Their sketch. Jx

Rock Idol

I so loved this weeks Sugar Bowl sketch - I've made 3 cards! This one uses the rock idol stamp coloured with Promarkers.
I can also enter A Gem Of A Challenge - Let's Hear It For The Boys with this one too. Jx

Golf Anyone?

With the Scottish Open just past and the British Open beginning at the end of the week, I thought it was perfect timing for another golf inspired card.
Stamp - Sugar Nellie
Paper - Paper Cellar Ltd
Challenges;
Sugar Bowl - Their great sketch
A Gem Of A Challenge - Let's Hear It For The Boys Jx

Disasters Emergency Committee

In the news this week there have been many pieces about the plight of thousands of refugees in East Africa and so an appeal was launched by the Disasters Emergency Commitee to raise funds for charities working in this area. In the mean time, I was planning doing a car boot sale to tidy out our loft a bit & recycle unwanted items

...Putting these two thoughts together, we managed to raise £98 at a car boot sale today (- despite torrential rain!) & so are now going to help the poor people in Africa with a £100 donation. - As you can imagine we are quite pleased with that!

Below is the article on the DEC page, along with a link should you wish more information.

East Africa Crisis Appeal

Families saving waterOver 10 million people are at risk in East Africa due to conflict and some areas being affected by the worst drought in 60 years. The DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal will support the work of our members in affected areas of Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan. Your donations can help provide life saving aid such as food, water, care for malnourished children and medical treatment.

Christmas in July

I'm one of those people who tries to do a Christmas card a week so I don't have loads to do at the end of the year. It worked well for me last year so I'm repeating the exercise this. That said, a number of regular challenges are also now talking about Christmas after all, Christmas 2012 is now closer than 2011!
So, my all white card features a favourite PB stamp, Snowball Fun, coloured with Promarkers, a Dynamics cut snowflake with stickles & a CB snowflake embossed panel.

MAWTT - Christmas in July
ABC Christmas - "N" - No papers
I Love Promarkers - Clean & Simple
Craft Us Crazy - Christmas in July
Winter Wonderland - Red & Green must not be seen - & in case you are concerned this one's quick off the mark, I made it last night but missed the close of the recipe challenge but yipee it also fits this weeks one! Jx

Tender Showers

This was my first Penny Black stamp and for that reason is one of my favourites. I'm using it this week in the following challenges;

PBSC - Favoutite Stamp
PB@Allsorts - Flower Power
Tuesday's Midnight Madness - Their Sketch
Critter Sketch - Red Jx

Chris Evert I Ain't!

Well I was going to stop making cards over the school holidays, but after tennis this morning, I needed an excuse for a seat this afternoon. It wasn't quite Wimbledon standard, but it was 2hours, 3 sets...& then victory to Alan my son. The return match will be scheduled once my "sore bits" improve!

So, onto the card, & a lovely Magna girl by Sugar Nellie. She's been coloured with Promarkers then decorated with a ribbon I got from Kate in candy (Thanks again), Wild Orchid sunflowers, a charm & a doily. The circle greeting is LOTV.

This one is for the following challenges;

Sugar Bowl - Their sketch
Passion For Promarkers - Tie a Yellow Ribbon
Oldie But A Goodie - Anything Goes
Lady Bug Crafts Ink - Summer Birthday
Allsorts - Free & Easy First Entry

I also want to draw your attention to my side bar post advertising Debbi's candy of THOSE must-have ultra fine nibs! Not only the candy, but I strongly urge you to visit Debbi's blog (if you haven't already done so) cause she is Queen of the Promarkers and has started posting tutorials - and is taking requests for topics to be covered. Thanks for doing this Debbi cause not everyone is as lucky as me and can go to your brilliant classes. Jx

Football Crazy

Two cards today, both for a boy who turns 6 this month & is football daft!

The first one is made using a Digi Stamp Boutique image and card from our local papermill.

I'm entering this one into;
Sketch Saturday Challenge - Their sketch
The Corrosive Challenge - Red & White
Secret Crafter - Here Comes Summer
MAWTT - Here Comes Summer Sun
Crafty Catz - Colours of Summer
Digi Stamp Boutique - July Competition
My second card uses an Inca Stamp. Both cards coloured with Promarkers. Jx

Wedding Bells

No one would argue that Penny Black are one of the best designers of cute animal stamps, but they are also pretty nifty at the not so cute also!

An example of this would be this beautiful bells stamp called Daisy Chime, it's such a simple image, but for me it works really well.

It was just perfect for a Wedding card I had to do for a friend who's getting married later in the year. I've teamed it with beautiful Wild Rose Studio Wedding Bells papers and co-ordinating flowers & a ribbon. (Papermania.)Colouring done with Promarkers.

I'm entering it into the following;

PBSC - Stitch it up - Yup the sewing machine was out for this one.
PB@Allsorts - Flower Power - both on the image & added as embelishments.
4 Crafty Chicks - Stitchin Good Time
Sassy Studio Designs - Easel Cards
Stampavie & More - More than 3 layers.
Creative Inspirations - Stitching
Oldie But A Goodie - Anything Goes - Stamp Penny Black 2002
I Love Promarkers - Flowers - both on image & as embellishments.

Jx