Hydrangea

"Happy Easter Everyone!"

It's not however an Easter card I'm sharing with you today, but it was one I couldn't wait to post, as I love how it's turned out.

I used a new image from Bugaboo called Block For You From Me, & I so love the stamp!  It's possibly because hydrangea always make me think of home.  When we were little, my Mum had a huge pink hydrangea bush at the front of the house beside the door.  Can't say I really rated it as a child, but clearly it left a lasting impression as I do love hydrangea's now and think back to just what a beautiful plant it was.

Anyway that's the story behind the flower, now for the card.

CaS design, Promarker colouring & finished with gems and a ribbon - simples!
(Rose Pink/Blossom/Flex Pale Blossom & Marsh Green/Pear Green/Lime Green)

I apologise that yet again, a section on the card has been raised - you will be pleased to hear, my tube of silicon glue is now finished! However, Glitter Pot have a post free weekend, so I won't be without for long! This glue is fast taking the place of glossy accents as my favourite card finisher offer!

Challenges;
Catch The Bug - Card stock & bling - gems added to sentiment dots & glamour dust to butterfly
Raise The Bar - Lovely simple sketch
Passion For Promarkers - Bingo - Ribbon/Free/Blooms
Di's Digi's - Flower Frenzy
Crafty Boots - Flowers
House of Gillli - Flowers/Ribbon
Brown Sugar - Flowers

& now in blue - told you I loved this image! ( Cornflower/Lilac/Flex Glacier Blue)

Thanks

Crafting has taken a back seat for the time being as Alan is now home for his holidays, and school breaks up for Colin on Fri.  So we have all taken out gym membership for the month so we can get super fit ahead of Summer.  Sadly however I feel a cold coming on so my super fitness may be on hold for the time being!

Tonight however I managed to  make some little 3 x 3 cards.  Using the Meljen image promarkers & glaze then doodling the edges.  Nice and simple CAS cards, but kinda cute too.   I've re-taken the triple card photo in day light this morning in case any of you notice the thumbnail is different - better shot in day light.

So I made a strawberry, vanilla and chocolate milkshake - couldn't think of any others - are there?  Nodoubt some of you will think of some.

Finally, we have woken to more snow, AGAIN! That's over a week now, I do wish it would just go away for good!

Challenges;
Meljen Designs - 3x3 little cardies!
Craft Your Passion - Cute
Pink Elephant - CAS
Whoopsi Daisy - Use a digi
Robyn's Fetish - Food & Drink  Jx

1st April
This morning, I was lucky enough to be announced as the winner at Robyn's Fetish with this card for their food & drink challenge, & my lovely prize, $20 to spend in The Paper Shelter.  Thanks Guys, Jx

4th Apr
It just goes to show, quick CAS cards are sometimes all that are needed!  These thank-you's were also winners at The Pink Elephant. Jx

Party Frock

Another decoupage card here - told you I was on a roll.  This one is off a Papermania Docrafts sheet by Lucy Cromwell.

Papers this time from my MME pad called Everyday Flair. Sentiment PB and the die cut by Memory Box - Catalina Wreath.

Challenges;
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Pile It On - Dots
Sweet Stampin - Lots of layers (The sentiment is hand stamped)
CAS-ual Friday - No stamps
Paper Pretties - Glitter - On the dress Jx

Wellington

Following on from yesterday's post, decoupage is the flavour of the month at the moment!  Here is another card I made using decoupage, but this time it was a bought sheet.

Very enjoyable to do, and it was a good starting point for the technique to use a bought sheet ahead of decoupaging a stamped image and choosing which bits to raise myself.

Challenges;
Sketch n Stash - The new is all the decoupage bits - all bought in the last month & the old is the button - bought from Elzybells just before they closed!
Happy Campers - Add dimension
Teddy Time - Have a teddy

Decoupage

Funny how I love paper-piecing and do that quite regularly, but I hardly ever do decoupage, however

Decoupage

is this weeks challenge over at MAWTT set by Kim & I have to say I'm really pleased she set it cause I've had so much fun with this technique the last few weeks!

This is the first time I've really played around with this technique since I was shown in at a class a few years ago.  Ok, so I've raised sections of images before, but not triple layered different elements of the same image to create depth, so this was a relatively new technique to me.

To start off with I had to buy the silicon glue - just bought the cheaper Do-Craft Stick-It variety, which worked well for me other than the fact I could have been doing with a narrower tip to the tube for thinner parts on the image.  (I'd be interested to hear what you guys use and what the difference is in the glue if you go for the more expensive Pinflair kind.)

So, my card... PB image, Nitwit papers by LOTV and colouring by Promarker.

The challenge this week at MAWTT is sponsored by Sir Stampalot who are offering the winner this lovely creative kit shown below, (They also have a sale on at the moment!)

So check out what the rest of the DT did here, then join us in this fantastic challenge.

Challenges;

PB@Allsorts - One For The Boys

Stamping Sensations - The Great Outdoors
Sketch n Stash - Sketch 109 - This poor stamp has been sadly neglected for over a year, shamefully I've had it that long and this is only it's first use!
Creative Card Crew - Masculine
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Addicted To Stamps - Make Your Mark - I used Promarkers
Crafty Ribbons - Challenge 41 - One for the boys

Easter + Olly!

This week sees the end of Term 2 for my eldest who is studying at Aberdeen Uni, so come the weekend I'll be mother hen with all her chicks back in the nest, just like in the card below!

Today however is a new challenge over at An Oldie But A Goodie, and this time the theme is 

Easter

The challenge this week is sponsored by Robyn's Fetish, and although I didn't use one of their stamps, they have some beauties on their site and our lucky winner will be able to get their hands on some!

For my card, I used another favourite by Milk Coffee Stamps.  As soon as I saw this image I thought of knitting on it, and was so eager to get my plan on paper I couldn't wait to post my card - it's been sitting scheduled for weeks now! Colouring is by Promarker, & my dotty paper by Andrea Jayne.  The wool here is my 6m+ item - I used it years ago on a baby jacket & that's just the left over scraps.

Challengss;
Milk Coffee Challenge - Go Green - Either colour or re-cycle.  I re-cycled cocktail sticks as knitting needles & the wool is a scrap left from knitting a baby jacket years ago.
The Paper Shelter - Easter
Stampavie & More - Easter
Sweet Stampin - Easter
A Gem of A Challenge - Easter/Spring
Digi Sketch Challenge - Easter
Deep Ocean Challenge - Cute & Cuddly

Please head over to the main blog and see what the rest of my teamies came up with and while there you'll also be able to see our new faces on the team.  Great to have you with us ladies, Jx

Finally, last night and the Olly Murs Concert - FANTASTIC! Loved every minute - here are some pics...

 With the bad weather that was forecast, we booked a hotel for after, lucky we did as it was really wintry again last night.  We left yesterday with no snow and came home to several inches! Brr.

25th March
I made Top 3 in the Digi Sketch Challenge with this Easter card - thanks ladies, Jx

Pretty In Pink

Kenny K images were new to my collection this year, but I have to say I love the images, and this one was one of the easier ones to colour!

She is combined with Craft Creation papers and pearls with added glitter where necessary!

Challenges;
Diva's By Design - Pink
Simon Says Stamp - Sketch
One Stop Crafts - Anything goes
Sentimental Sunday - Anything Goes

Good Luck!

Is it just me or do any of you find card making & challenges a bit addictive!!!

Second post of the day, & I just couldn't resist this one!  With all the green & Irish challenges around I had to make a card for some of them & this is what I came up with!

The second images shows how I double stamped & raised the largest shamrock.  (Unfortunately for this card I had to buy a new stamp too! )

Challenges;
Meljen's - Use Green
Pin-spirational - Picture - Followed the green/shamrock theme
Sweet Sunday Sketch - Lovely sketch by the way!
The Stamping Chef - Good Luck/Green
Papercraft Star - Insp Picture - Green
Pan Pastels - Green

25th March
After weeks of trying, I finally made it into the top 3 at Meljen's.  Yipee I won 2 of their super digi's in the process.  Thanks guys. Jx

Anyone Need Chicken Soup?

How is everyone today?  There seems to be lots of bugs flying around at the moment and quite a few people I know are poorly, so my get well wishes are for you as well as the recipient of this card!

And who better to cheer you up when you are ill, but Bugaboo and their lovely images.  This time it's Chicken Soup!

Papers are Tim Coffey's and the flower made with my lovely Magnolia die.  The doily is a gift from my next door neighbour - I was helping in her kitchen the other week and spied the pack and suggested they needed a new home! Thanks Stella, (x).

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 250
Catch The Bug - Bingo - Buagboo Image, Circle & Flower
Allsorts - 1 Image, 2 papers, 3 embellishments - 2 x 3 pearls
Crafty Catz - Make Us Laugh

Finally, tomorrow night I go to see Olly Murs in concert - will let you know how that goes later in the week, Jx

Jack & A Frog (Not A Beanstalk)

Today has been a crafty day for me today.  I was working yesterday then had to take my hubby to the train station later on as he's away on a course the next few days.  After all the business of yesterday I thought I should have a quieter day today - catch up on housework tomorrow before he gets back!

So my card uses a Jack image from Ladybug Craft Ink - one of many I got at Christmas last year, so prepare to be LCI'd over the next few weeks!

Papers are Basic Grey and the punched leaves done using my MS lever punch.  This is the only card I'll post today, the others may follow but they were more made to fill up my card box as sales in aid of the Multiple Sclerorisis Society have been good, so I don't want a lack of cards to prevent sales!

Challenges;

LCI - Spring - Maybe stretching it a bit, but it's bright Spring colours and perhaps in all the heat we're having this baby frog has awoken from hibernation? Good story if nothing else!

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Turned the sketch (197-67), but I think that's allowed?

Little Miss Muffet - Boys Only - Challenge 56

PB & More@Allsorts - One For The Boys

Creative Card Crew - Ribbon

Critter Sketch - Twine

Glitter n Sparkle - Go Green

Stamping Sensations - The Great Outdoors (This is a cling stamp not a digi) 

Crafty Ribbons -  (41) One For The Boys Jx

Baby Oliver

So how is everyone today?  I can't get the heat up - it's just so cold, but at least the snow isn't hanging about and we don't have it as bad a those further south.

I even made it out for a walk the last couple of days, and bumped into a neighbour yesterday who told me there was a new baby on the street, so Oliver, this one's for you!

The image is a  Meljen Little Donkey and the papers Craft Creations.

Challenges;
Meljen's - Sketch
Cards For Men - Monochrome
Sweet Stampin - Males - Baby boy
Papertake - 1-2-3 - 3 Papers, 2 Flags, 1 Image

WoW Milk Coffee Charlotte

At the beginning of the year, I was lucky enough to win some Milk Coffee stamps, and I have to say, they are fast becoming a favourite.  There are just so many digi's of theirs that I really like, I am constantly dipping back to their store to add more to my basket!  My most recent purchase was this little cutie called Charlotte.

I've kept my card quite simple so that the image is the focal point.  The flowers are made using a Magnolia Die and the butterfly a punch.

WoW cards are never the easiest to photograph so I've taken a 2nd shot to show the card dimension and give a close up of the image.

Colouring as always done by Promarker.

Challenges;
Pan Pastels - Girly
Milk Coffee Challenge - WoW
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Girly
Addicted To Stamps - Bring on Spring - Flowers - On image & die cuts.
Stamptacular Sunday - To Die For - Doo Hickeys Flower Dies
Delicious Doodles - Use Die Cuts
Cute Card Thursday - Spring Fever
My Mum's Craft Shop - Spring Has Sprung

Uptown Girls

Remember the Billy Joel song, Uptown Girl, it was in the charts in the late eighties - just as I started dating my hubby.  It was forever playing on juke boxes and in night clubs, then it was taken back into the charts more recently by Westlife.

Anyway, I'm drifting off topic! Back to my card & my fantastic new Stamping Bella stamp from my lovely friend Laurie.

It's such a great stamp and one I'm sure I'll use loads as it's great for girls and perfect for 18th's!

So the paper is Doodlebug, the dresses paper pieced, the glasses glazed and the colouring by Promarker.

Challenges
Sketch Saturday  - Nice easy one this week
Pin-siprational Challenge - Purple No 47
2 Sisters - Pastels
Totally Papercraft - Punch It - MS Doily Punch

FINALLY - Just got to tell you all about the film we watched last night. Hope Springs with Meryl Streep & Tommy Lee-Jones.  Absolutely brilliant chick flick.  Funny, sad, moving, just a delightful watch, so if you need a feel good film, this is where you should put your money.  Enjoy your evening, Jx

12th March
This has been a good week for me, hadn't won anything in ages or made any Top 3's, then THREE in the same week.  Today it's Top 3 at Pin-spirational Challenge. Thanks ladies, Jx

Harry Potter

I so love the Bugaboo Har Reporter image series, and they were just perfect for the sketch over at Sketch n Stash this week where the sketch kinda needed 2 images.

Here's my card,

Paper - Basic Grey, Urban Prarie

Challenges;
Sketch n Stash - Sketch
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
Cutie Pie - Magical
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

And now I must magically put pastry on a steak pie and have it cooked for tea! Time is now of the essence!!!  Have a great weekend everyone, Jx

11th March
Made Top 3 at Sketch n Stash - Well chuffed!


19th March So it's not just my son that is a huge Harry Potter fan then!  This card was also the winner over at Cutie Pie Challenge on their magical theme.  Thanks ladies, & thanks Jodie for my Bugaboo prize. Jx

Cuddles

What a lovely name for a stamp, Cuddles by Docrafts, and it features the lovely Tatty Ted with a floppy rabbit.  A perfect image for a little girl who wanted a teddy card for her Mum in purples!

So Amy, here's your card - hope you & your Mum like it.

And as I'm in to my silicone glue at the moment, the rabbit was double stamped & raised!

Papers are Doodlebug and the colouring by Promarker.

Challenges;

Fab n Funky - Cute & Cuddly

Creative Craft Challenges - Mother's Day

Papertake - Anything Goes

Passion For Promarkers - One for the Ladies

Stamptacular Sunday - Sketch

One Stop Crafts - Mother's Day

Orchid

Can we say we're in Spring now, it certainly seems like it?  The weather has been so good of late I've been out in the garden having a tidy and I've also started running again.  (Too cold for that in Winter!)

In between gardening & running I've manage to find a little bit of time to craft - there's a surprise eh!  Here's my card for this weeks challenge over at Moving Along With The Times.

This time around it was Judith who chose our theme and she's gone with

The Birds & The Bees

By that she means anything nature inspired, so your card doesn't actually have to feature a bird or a bee - phew for me!

Once again, we are sponsored by the fabulous A Passion For Stamps and our lucky winner will get a great prize from their store.  My card was made using the Orchid image available here.

Please also check out the rest of the DT's fabulous cards on the main MAWTT Blog.

Challenges;
Cuttin & Stampin - Use Flowers
Digital Tuesday - Buttons or Bling - Buttons for me
Bunny Zoe Crafts - Flowers & Pearls

Feeling Floral

A special day today, not only is it the start of a new challenge over at An Oldie But A Goodie - but it's also my twin sister's birthday!  Happy Birthday Liz if you're reading!

The challenge this time has been set by Helen who has chosen

Feeling Floral

& the prize is this lovely collection of hand-made flowers - perfect to embellish your lovely cards with.

So, onto my card, below,

The stamp here is the oldie, and is by Stamporium, no name or date on it but it cost £6.95 and you don't get wooden stamps this size at the price any more!

Papers are Papermania Capsule collection also 6 months+ and the lace & pearls are from my box of bits!

So that's my floral offering, now check out the rest of the DT's lovely makes on the main blog.

Challenges;
LCI - add a number
Craft Us Crazy - Anything Goes
I Love Promarkers - Lace & Pearls
Addicted To Stamps - Bring On Spring
Glitter n Sparkle - Mother's Day/ Ladies Cards
Pile It On - Happy Birthday
Allsorts - For A Lady
Bildmalarna Challenge - Yellow

PS Did I forget to mention it's also my birthday today too! Thanks to all my crafty buds who sent me such lovely hand made cards, you are all so kind and thoughtful. Jx