Gorgeous Girl

Sorry if this pic is a bit dark, but you loose all my embossing detail with the flash on. This card was made using the layout for this weeks Sugar Bowl Challenge.
It's also Red, which is the colour of choice in the Moving Along With The Times challenge. It also takes inspiration from the Simply Create board which amongst other things also featured, love & red.

& Finally the red & rose connection ties in nicely with the inspirational challenge over on Crafty Creations set on the Burns poem, My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose. Jx

Spring At Last

Well the daffodils may not be in flower in the garden yet - or the snowdrops for that matter, but I think we can now say we are in Spring now as I can see tiny green shoots from loads of my bulbs. With that in mind, I've made a Spring card for a few of the challenges this week. My stamp is a PB called "seeing your face..." & the paper is K&Co and My Minds Eye - I think! So I'm entering this into the following challenges;

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Followed Their Sketch.
Penny Black @ Allsorts February Challenge - Say It With Flowers
Moving Along With The Times - Spring
Bah Humbug - Oldie But Goodie - But is this a Christmas Challenge - if so sorry - me thinks it is! Woops!!!
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes + Flowers
Crafty Catz Challenge - Flowers

Jx

TTT - Wordart Book

...ok, so it's a short book! But a book no less. I got there in the end, thanks to the fantastic tutorial which Carol wrote on the subject. Thank you so much Carol both for the tutorial & the follow-up help, much appreciated.

I definately think this is a type of card I'll do again. Jx

Happy Anniversary

This Tilda Anniversary card was made using the Papertake Challenge layout and includes homemade flowers so I'm also entering it into the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge which was flowers this week. Thanks Leanne for posting that great tutorial - I'll give it a go, but I didn't have time this week - I was still working on the Wordart Book from the last tutorial!

Finally, I'll also enter this card into the Crafty Catz Challenge which is also flowers this week. Jx

Get Well - Man's Card

Can you tell I need get well cards for my box at work?

Using my Woodware stamps & some Doodlebug paper, I followed the sketch in this weeks Friday Sketchers Challenge, Jx

Get Well Soon

Using the Sketch Saturday Challenge Sketch, I've made this simple get well card. Jx

Blog Awards

This special award, which is aimed at bringing unknown good blogs to light was passed to me from one of my bloggy buddies, Andria at Iona-Rose Designs. Thanks for that.

In accepting the award I have had to agree tothe following conditions;

1) You have been tagged, do you want to accept? YES! then create a post on your blog and post the love blog photo.
2) Link back to the person who gave you the award and say if you accept.
3) Choose 3-5 of your favourite blogs to tag, link these in your post too and tell the lucky people they have been tagged.


As the aim of this award is to bring unknown good blogs to light, please don't tag somebody with 3000 followers.


So Here are my chosen few:

Poodlechops43
Susiestacey
Paper Pixie Wedding Invitations & Handmade Cards

Wrapped Up Girl

You'd think I never owned a stamp prior to this Christmas, cause nearly every card I've done this year uses a new stamp - I so want to use them all!

Anyway, this little beauty by Sugar Nellie came to me from Debbi off her very generous candy post, (- thanks again Debz) & is perfect for the layout in this weeks Sugar Bowl Challenge. Papers are by Dovecraft - Jolly Happy Christmas. Jx

LOTV - Kitty Card

This is another of my Christmas presents, picked cause of that cute kitty! I've used this stamp in this weeks Lili Of The Valley Challenge which was to use their sketch. Jx

Monochrome Sun Flowers

Thought I'd try something a bit different this time - has it worked...you tell me? I really want to learn more about Promarkers, and after reading bits on Debbi's blog, I thought this would be worth trying. So my card is made using my Anita's stamp, Doodlebug papers, & obviously my Promarkers - Warm Grey Shades. I've finished the card off with the palest of pink hearts & a ribbon.

I'm entering this card into a couple of challenges, namely, Moving Along With the Times as I used their great sketch, & The Crafty Cardmakers Challenge which is Floral.
Jx

Dustin Pike Image

Just a quick post with my ABC Christmas Challenge card made from black & white Doodlebug paper & this ever so cute, Dustin Pike digi image.

I'm also entering this one into the Simply Create Challenge which was to use punches. Jx

7 Challenges!

This has got to be a record for me - one card - seven challenges! & better than that, none of it was planned!

Started off by looking for a layout I fancied, & I found it over on the Fussy & Fancy Challenge 28. Next I wanted to do a Valentines card so that ticked off The Passion For Promarkers Challenge & PB @ Allsorts Challenge as they were Love/Valentine themed. I added a sentiment so that fitted The Top Tip Tuesday Challenge. Next this weeks Penny Black Saturday Challenge - January Sales. Well the Doodlebug papers were bought from the Glitterpot sale as it's the Paper Plus value pack, & the heart nesties were also purchased then - sadly not reduced though!
So that then leaves The Papertake Challenge which was to include ribbons & pearls.

& finally if you're not asleep - the Crafty Cardmakers challenge was to include a red & a diecut.

Jx

Peelies

I can't thank Prairy Fairy Designs enough for the lovely digi images they sent me recently from a challenge they were supporting. I'd never really looked at their stuff before, but once I did, I fell in love with their original designs & attention to detail - will definitely be visiting them again!

Anyway, coming from the coast, sea gulls are a common sight, (known locally as peelies!) and perfect for a number of challenges this week, including;

Crafty Creations - Birds & Polka Dots
Allsorts - Male Card
Sketch Saturday - Their layout although I had to switch a circle for a rectangle as I didn't have a big enough nestie!
I Love Promarkers - Keep it Sweet & Simple.

Papers - Doodlebug; Punch - Martha Stewart; Image - Prairy Fairy Designs; Colouring - Promarkers. Jx

PS Sorry the pic is so dark - think the battery needs to go on charge!

Spotlight on Pencils

I love the spotlight challenges on Crafty Cardmakers and this months challenge is another good one. Years ago I used to use pencils that was BP - Before Promarkers! Now however I had a job tracking them down, but track them down I did as the Crafty Cardmakers Challenge was to use pencils again. So using the first of my gorgeous new images - won from Prairy Fairy I've made this very out of season Christmas card. Coloured using Start Watercolour pencils! Jx

Melody

Another new stamp folks, & isn't she lovely!

She's coloured with Promarkers & mounted on Dodlebug Backing Paper along with a Cuttlebug embossed panel.

I'm entering this one into the following challenges;

Sunday Sketch & Stamp - their sketch
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Icy Colours. This is my 2nd card for this challenge, but if that's not allowed, sorry, couldn't see a limit on the number of entries. Jx

Overdressed Duck

This is one of my new stamps from the Sir Stampalot sale & I love it already! I've used it in a couple of challenges this week.

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge which was to pick 4 set elements - I chose, Papers, Buttons, Ribbon & Twine.

The I Love Promarkers Challenge was to use punches - used my MS edge punch to create the top corner.

Just noticed you can enter the Pink Gem Challenge more than once so I will do as I just love their sketch.
Jx

Baby Boy

Afer my post Christmas splurge at Sir Stampalot, I have loads of new stamps I'm just itching to use...this was one of them. It's called "2 Feet" and is made by the Canadian firm GCS Artstamps.

I've combined it with Doodlebug paper & a ribbon & buttons.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges;
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Cold & Frosty Morning/Icy Colours - Blues,whites & greys etc.
Crafty Creations - New Beginnings.
A Passion For Promarkers - Baby Cards.
Jx

Shocking Pink!

The jury's out on this one... a bit too pink? I can't decide! However I so love another of my new LOTV stamps which I have used both for this weeks LOTV Challenge, which was to follow their layout along with the Crafty Catz Challenge which was Food & Drink.

I can also enter this one into the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge which this week is, anything goes.

Spring Wedding

I never find easel cards that easy to photograph, but hopefully you get the general idea. I've made this card to order & for a challenge set by Teresa on Do Crafts, however I'm also entering it into the following challenges;

Gem Of A Challenge - Their lovely layout.
My Partner In Crafting Crime - Something New - My stamp!
Allsorts Challenge - Fancy Folds - Easel Card

Award Time

One of my ex-docraft buddies, Sharon very kindly named me on her blog as a recipient of this award...



Thanks for that Sharon!

In turn, I then have to tell you all 8 things about myself and nominate a further 4 people to recieve the award - this may take a while, but here goes;

1. I have been happily married to Craig for 22 years & we have 2 boys aged 16 & 13 & 2 cats called Tommy & Femo.

2. I struggle to write these sort of things & can't think of much else!

3. I have run the Race for Life in the past & hope to run it again this year - perhaps by writing this I'll actually sign up again!

4. My New Year's Resolution this year was to learn how to get more out of my Promarkers & learn how to colour properly.

5. I have a twin sister who is also my best friend.

6. I'm beginning to think I should hand back this award as it's taken me ages to get this far.

7. Hopefully I'm not as boring has I'm making this sound, but hey-ho, you are what you are!

8. I don't want to over load you with facts so number 8 will appear in a bit - assuming any of you actually read this or notice!

So, that bit out of the way, I'm now awarding the Stylish Blogger Award to;

Ann
Jenny
Kay
Debbi

Simple Christmas Cones

This card is made using one of my new PB stamps & a different card shape to normal. I have decided to do a few of these quick makes not only because of speed, but also cause they can be posted without needing a large stamp - unfortunately loads last year weren't so thin!

I'm entering it into this weeks ABC Christmas Challenge, which was anything Christmas, along with the Papertake Challenge which was anything goes. Jx

New Beginnings

...& it's a new Christmas stamp for me! Got this one (along with a few others, from my Mam & Dad), so have decided to use it in the first 2011 challenge over at Lili Of The Valley, where the challenge was new beginnings, which could include the use of a new crafty item. Jx

Woof Woof

There was a brilliant sketch this time at the Sugar Bowl Challenge, But I was limited in the choice of stamps I had to fit a landscape oval pattern. That's until "Angus The Dog" came to the rescue - twice! Jx

Thanks A Bunch

This thank-you card is made using Papermania Colossal paper & an Anita's stamp. I'm entering it in the Sketch Saturday Challenge as I used their layout & the Allsorts Challenge & the Papertake Weekly Challenges which were Thank-You. Jx

PB Valentine

No sooner are we done with Christmas, & the Valentine card production line kicks off! I love this Penny Black stamp which was perfect for a couple of challenges, especially Incy's one over on Do Crafts where we had to doodle on our cards!

I'm also entering it into the Penny Black @ Allsorts Challenge where there challenge is, in the words of the Beetles, "All You Need Is Love".

Finally, and a bit later than it should have been I'd just like to say thanks to the PB@A Team for my Christmas stamp prize from the Nov challenge. You are so kind, Jx

Baby Bath-Time

Using this brilliant free image from Pink Gem Designs I've made this baby card for the Friday Sketchers Challenge.

Thanks for the great image Janet - will certainly be checking out your designs in the future as they are right up my street. Jx

Gone Fishin

... Well not at the moment at the lakes round here are frozen solid!

However this fella has caught a big one which by my reckoning would easily meet John West's standards!!!

My card follows the layout for the current Sugar Bowl challenge and as always uses a Sugar Nellie stamp. Jx

Snowy Photos, Boxing Day 2010

Went out for a Boxing Day walk today for a breath of fresh air, took my camera to let you see we still have snow! Jx

















Hope I haven't bored you!

Sketch Saturday

Using my final Stamporium Spring stamp I've completed this weeks Sketch Saturday Challenge. I've coloured the bluebells with Promarkers & used Papermania, Capsule Collection DP. Think I may have gone a bit too purple on this one, & prefer my whiter options! Jx

Crocuses

Another lovely Spring flower hidden under a mountain of snow, but ideal for this weeks Allsorts Challenge and also the Papertake Weekly Challenge where anything goes. I'm also entering it into the Crafty Catz Challenge, which was to pick a favourite challenge from the year passed. I chose Embossing, which I think was on week 36. The card itself uses another Stamporium stamped image mounted on embossed panels with a MS punched border & finished with a ribbon & buttons.

Also, for the Crafty Cardmakers Challenge we have been asked to show both our newest & oldest works. I don't still have a photo of one of my first cards, but hopefully this link to my very first Do Crafts post will suffice!

http://www.docrafts.com/project/Heart-in-a-Box/p311825
This was posted in Feb 2008.

Finally, the Top-Tip Tuesday Challenge is to Get Embellishing - now I'm not an OTT decorator of cards - this is about as full on as it gets! Hopefully some buttons & a ribbon counts as enough!
Jx

Jx

Snowdrops

Snowdrops...A sign of Spring, but first we need to get rid of the snow!
I've made this one using the Friday Sketchers layout, using embossed panels in the two layered rectangles.

Happy Christmas Sketchers! Jx

Letraset New Site Launch & Promarker Giveaway

Letraset are having a new site launch & promarker giveaway!




In Celebration of their new site they will also be running a ProMarker Giveaway!
For your chance to win a huge prize of 10 assorted ProMarker 5 sets (pictured above) all you have to do is follow these 2 simple rules.


1. Share a Link to the Letraset Blog and their New Website , and briefly explain the competiton on your own Blog, Facebook or Twitter.

2. Leave a comment on their blog telling them where you shared the link.

I for one will be doing this & I guess you lot will too as we do so love our promarkers don't we!!! Jx

Daffodils are such pretty flowers, & the ones on this Stamporium wooden stamp are no exception. So following the layout on this weeks Sketch Saturday Challenge, I've made a start to my next years cards. Jx

Teddy Boy

Well I think I'm all Christmas carded out for this year, so it was a lovely change to make this baby card. So using my Anita's teddy stamp some card candy & a lot of bits off the craft table this was the result. I'm entering it into two bear challenges, one over at Crafty Catz where their challenge was birthday bears - now I know I'm kinda stretching it, but then again what is a baby card if not the celebration of a birth-day?
The other challenge this one's for is, the Crafty Creations Challenge which was to make anything so long as it had a bear on it! Jx

Quick Cards!

The pressure was on at the weekend, a night out, all hand made cards used up... & more cards needed! So, a rather simple & plain card came to the rescue - well ten of them did actually. So the stamp is Anita's, grey card stock & I used card candy, & gems that's about it!

I'm entering this one into;

Allsorts Challenge - Last Minute Projects - they certainly were!
Papertake Challenge - Red & Green must not be seen.

A Christmas Birthday!

...Well almost! My husband's birthday is on the 12th Dec,so this card is for him from our 2 boys. Initially when I looked at this weeks Friday Sketchers layout, I thought I'd just leave it, but challenges are meant to challenge aren't they, so I got stuck in, & this is the result. Now the stamp is one of my favourites - a 2005 PB called Cat on the moon. So I'm also entering this card into the following challenges;
Oldie But Goodie - Christmas Birthday
PB @ Allsorts - Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder, and if you know me, you'll know that Cats come high on my list of wonderful creatures and obviously things of beauty. I could fill a gallery of cats photos I think they are so lovely!

Christmas Tree

Just a quickie cause I've spent all weekend carding & I must re-surface into family life! Made this one for the I Love Promarkers Challenge which was Christmas Trees & have done lots of white embossing for behind the image. Jx

Wallets

Mass production went into full swing this weekend, when my neighbour announced she wanted some of my stuff to go on her sales table at a craft fair next weekend.



By then I thought most people will have bought & sent their Christmas cards, so I thought wallets would be more popular. I've gone for a very simple design & made 4 different types of card, but 20 cards in total. The Crafty Creations Challenge this week is for wallets so I'll enter these into that one. Jx

Holly - Days

...Well it certainly feels like the holidays cause my boys haven't been at school for 7 days now, due to the snow!

The ABC Christmas Challenge had a number of themes this week, but I've gone with the red & green & holly options. My stamp is Anita's & the papers Dovecraft Jolly Happy Christmas. Jx

Tilda - The Return Of!

Another card using Angel Tilda, this time done in shades of blue for the last Bah Humbug Challenge of the year & using the layout in this weeks Papertake Challenge. Feel like a polititian "fiddling" my expenses here as there's been a bit of flipping on the set layout! If this isn't allowed - appologies now! Jx