Beach Bum Mum!

Sometimes it's just nice to make a card, not for an order or for a DT, but just because you like an image and want to!

After taking much crafty time off this summer, I wanted to make this card just for fun, the image is from Meljens Designs and is available here.

Papers are craft companion and the shells mostly off the local beach, although there is one fancy one which must have been bought.

Challenges;
Meljen's Designs - Shades of Blue, Down by the sea
A Creative Romance - Beach Babes
Digi Haven - Life's a Beach
Crafts Too Challenge - Fun in The Sun - you can't beat a day at the beach in my book!
Just Inspirational Challenge - Beach Picture below

Digi Makeover Challenge - Summer theme
Without Words - Seaside
Papertake - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Sea Theme
Jx

21st Aug
Just Inspirational challenge picked me as their winner and my prize...more Bugaboo images! Brilliant, Jx

7th Sept
Top 3 at Without Words - Seaside

Diva's Love Pearls

Continuing on my baby girl week, I have yet another baby card to share with you.  This one ties in nicely with the current challenge over at Diva's By Design, where the challenge is;

Pretty Pearls

Sponsoring us this time is Crafty Charlie, and our lucky winner will receive the prize indicated on the main Diva's Blog Page..

Back to my card now, made in an easel style so I could include baby birth details.  The stamp is a lovely digi from Meljen's and the papers are Crafters Companion.

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Sketch No 223
Meljen's - Pretty in Pink
Kaboodle Doodles - Pastel Colours
Oh La-LA Creations - Welcome little one
Scrapbook Stamp Society - Easel Card
Papernest Dolls - Animals - Little Donkey

So that's my take on the Pretty Pearls challenge, now head back to the Diva's main page to see what the rest of the DT made, then join us in this challenge, Jx

Sunflower Buggies

Well here am I, making a bright and cheery summery card, and what did we get again last night - several inches more snow! Lucky for us, daytime temperatures seem to be shifting it quickly, but when we first woke this morning the garden and plants were under a good 2 inches of snow again!

Back to my card however - and yup, I now have a new tube of silicone glue so it's been in action again!  My card this time features an Meljen's image called Sunflower buggies.  Again the papers are Nitwits by LOTV combined with kraft.  The banner is the lovely die cut from La-la Land and the card is completed with faux stitching & pearls.

Challenges;
Meljen's - Happy Birthday
Card Crafters Circle - Bugs - Bees & Ladybirds
Creative Corner - Girly Birthday
Crafty Calendar - Sunshine & Showers
One Stop Crafts - Birthday
Lady Bugs Craft Inc - Anything Goes
Happy Campers - Flower Power
Fussy & Fancy - Faux - Faux Stitching & Pearls
Sketch Wednesday - Sketch 200 - Followed the lovely sketch below;

12th Apr
Placed in the Top 3 at Card Crafters Circle - Thanks ladies, Jx

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

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

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

The Window Cat

Most of you probably know I own a grey cat called Femo.  Femo just loves to sit on the window ledge looking out - especially when it's dark for some strange reason!

Anyway, when I saw this Meljen cat image I immediately thought of Femo and obviously had to get it!  The rest of the card is made up of a brickwork embossed background made using a Tim Holtz folder and the window is glazed with acetate.

I raised the window off the brick work, then further raised the cat for a bit of depth to my card.

Challenges;
Allsorts - Animals
Lawnscaping Challenge - Stamp a Scene
Lexi's Creations - Monochromatic
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Stamping Sensation - Fur & Feathers
Crazy For Challenges - C4C174 - Texture - Embossing & Acetate
Clearly Inspired - Black White + Another - Grey
Cute Card Thursday - Simplify
Milk Coffee Challenge - Make It Cute
I love Promarkers - Four Legged Friends

A Daytime shot of Femo as the flash bounces off the window at night! Jx

Shell's Sketch

I'm scheduling this post a bit earlier than normal cause I'm off in to Aberdeen today and don't want to get bogged down on my blog before I go!

I also think that it's better to be early rather than late although you wouldn't think it as I'm always chasing my tail!  Today however see's the beginning of another challenge over at MAWTT and this time it is Shell who is hosting and she has done us a fabby sketch to follow - I've included it below.

So make us a card, using the basics of the sketch and you could be in with a chance of winning four lovely Meljen Design images - as Meljen's is our sponsor this week.

...so I think that is enough of a reason to get crafting - like you need an excuse!

For my card I went with the lovely Soda for Two image available here.

It's coloured with Promarkers, then the glass given my favourite - a glossy accents finish!

I struggled a bit for papers with my card as I coloured in my image without first checking I had papers to match, but I wanted those colours so I just went online till I found papers that matched.  They ended up being "Whoo's Having A Party - Dot's & Solids" by Raspberry Road - our last weeks sponsor!

So that's what I did with the sketch, now check out what the rest of the team did before joining us in our current challenge over at Moving Along With The Times.

Challenges;
Cutie Pie Challenge - Pretty Pastels
Digi Darla's Challenge - Food For Thought
House of Gilli - Anything Goes + Pastel
613 Avenue Create Challenge - Use set colours - Pinks & Brown
Addicted To Stamps - Use Kraft
Meljens - Seeing Spots
Mema's Crafts Challenge - February - Hello Doily - Use a doily

24th Feb
One of the newer challenges to me is 613 Avenue Create, but I'll certainly be playing along with them again.  Today I spied a top 3 placing for my card above in their colour challenge last week - thanks ladies, Jx

To My Valentine

I'm so into my Meljen images at the moment and I just love this curvy beauty!  She is perfect for my this years Valentine.  She's set on lovely heart papers by Craft Companions and the ribbon down the side was purchased last summer when we were in Berlin having a great time together.  That holiday was spent rooting out Mango stores all over Berlin and tracking down crafty shops on the way!  Boy did we explore Berlin and  boy did I make some super purchases!

Anyway, back to the card, nothing much more to say about it really, so here it is,

Challenges;
Allsorts - Valentines
Crafty Creations - Love/Hearts
Divas By Design - Love/Romance
Crafty Sentiments - Valentine
Papertake - Hearts & Flowers
Come & Get It - Show Us Your Heart
Sentimental Sunday - Love is in the air
Stamptacular Sunday - From The Heart
A Gem of a Challenge - Hearts/Valentines
Meljens - All You Need is Love

Other news... we have a leak!  The bad news is it's right above my craft table and has been dripping on to my desk for a good part of today.  The good news is, I just tidied my desk yesterday so nothing was damaged.  Had it happened a couple of days ago I think I may have cried as there were loads of half finished projects and coloured images just sitting around awaiting completion!  So today I'm on the hunt for a slater!

Little Donkey

Must make this a quick post to catch cup cake challenge, but I so must get cracking with tea!

Time is not on my side and tatties need to be peeled!  More details after tea.

Challenges;
Sketch Saturday - Sketch 245
Cupcake Craft - Yellow & Grey
Papertake - Anything goes, with optional yellow
Meljens - KISS - Just say if it's too fussy, wasn't sure?
Glitter & Sparkle - Female Cards
Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon

Jx

Happy Anniversary - Cats

I have been tidying our loft this past week and am beginning to see floor space again.  I had a load down to the recycling centre today and I have a load more stuff to go to various friends & charities.  Hopefully this year I will actually complete the tidying process and have a respectable loft at the end of it...which may ultimately give me a bigger craft room!

So today's card uses another lovely pair of kitties from Meljen's Designs.  Paper is a Bo Bunny sheet and the sentiment LOTV.

Challenges;
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Lovely sketch
I Love Promarkers - Love

I Miss You

On with my mission to use different stamp suppliers and another new company for me today.  This card uses an image by Meljen's Designs.  Now I did enter their challenge last week, then I read the rules... use one of their images! Oops! Sorry you lot, my first entry is invalid... cause I didn't read the rules - something I think we are all guilty of now and then!

So, I popped over to their shop, made a couple of purchases and stocked up on their lovely freebies - thanks for the freebies!

So this card does in fact use a lovely freebie. (Available here.)

It was quick to make and fits their challenge.

Challenges;
Meljen's Designs - Make it Square - square image, mount & card.
Cupcake Inspirations - I picked up on all the white in the image
Speedy & Friends - Doodle a frame
Cark Makin Mammas - CAS
CASual Friday - Use markers & CAS - Colouring with Promarkers

All this week Debbi is giving you a chance to win Flex Markers to celebrate her birthday.  Head over to her blog to enter, Jx