Pink dragon and an award

A couple of weeks ago I was very lucky to win some lovely goodies from I love Promarkers including this cute dragon stamp from Whiff of Joy. He wouldn't quite fit in the oval nestie so had to cut round his legs. I really like the result with his legs hanging over the oval. I teamed him with some papers from Dovecraft Piece of Cake and used 2 MS heart punches. Some faux stitching, 3 pearls and a ticket sentiment keep this card quite simple but knowing when to stop embellishing is an art in itself.

Challenges:
I love Promarkers Stitching
Creative Card Crew Fantasy
ABC O is for ovals
Fab 'n' funky 1 image, 2embellishments, 3 papers
Papertake Fab sketch


I was honoured to receive this award from Margaret.


I'm supposed to tell you 8 things you may not know about me and pass it on to 8 bloggers. I would like to pass this on to my lovely teamies at Winter Wonderland for being such a great team to work with. I know that's 10, not 8, but rule are meant to be broken sometimes. I need to get ready soon as I am meeting my good friend Lynsey for coffee at lunchtime and have to pop into Hobbycraft first so don't have time to do the 8 things at the moment.

Hedgie in the round

Time for another scalloped circle easel card. This time with a cute PB hedgie. I found this gorgeous pearlised card in my stash and thought it went perfectly with the MME Quite Contrary paper with matching sentiment. I like the effect of the inverted scallops on the image withe the scallops on the outer paper and card. Flowers are Prima with Sizzix cut leaves and pearls.

Challenges:

Crafty Creations At the bottom of my garden lives
Sarah Hurley Round cards
Crafts 4 Eternity Easel card
Stamp Something Flowers
Stamp, scrap and doodle Saturdays Easel card

Bath time

Here I am with another Teddy Bo image. This time Teddy Bea is enjoying a bubble bath. The colour scheme of duck egg blue and chocolate is for the challenge at Teddy Bo. I rotated the Sketch n Stash sketch. There wasn't room to put anything on the lace as shown in the sketch so I hope that is OK. I added glossy accents to the bubbles to give them a lovely shine which of course doesn't show up in the photo. I would also like to enter this into the Teddy Bear challenge at 2 Sisters.

Sitting pretty

I couldn't find a sketch that matched my idea for Teddy Bea so had to create one of my own. I have seen some minimalist cards this week, which are beautiful and I know some people think that less is more. However much I love the minimalist cards I think more more is best .

My cold is almost better now, thanks for your sympathy. Hope those of you who have been suffering too are getting better.

Challenges:

Teddy Stampers Pink, brown and white
Totally Gorjuss Check it out
Digital Tuesday Punches
The Pixie Cottage Something cute

Image - Teddy Bo digi
Medium - Letraset Promarkers
Papers - Dovecraft Piece of Cake
Tools - MS PATP set, Papermania small leaf punch, Nestie scalloped circle
Flowers - Ribbon flowers from Meiflower, Prima
Other – card candy and charm
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

One for the boys

This week's challenge of men's cards at Penny Black had me thinking hard this week. I seem to have a lot more of their images suitable for females but once I matched the image with this K&Co Hopscotch paper and the fab sketch at Sketch Saturday the card came together. I added some card candy and a simple sentiment to finish.

I would also like to enter this into the challenges at:
CES Spots and stripes
Passion for Promarkers One for the boys
Creative Inspirations Stripes
Colour Create Choose 3 fruit colours from the photo (Orange, apple, strawberry)

Critters and Cogs Party with my new watermark

THIS IS MY SECOND POST FOR TODAY. Regular readers will know I love Pollycraft images and I hopped over there on Monday to pick up an image for hubby's Birthday card and of course 3 others fell into my basket. One of them was a Christmas image on offer at just 49p! At Tales from Pollycraft the lovely Paula is hosting a Critters and Cogs party. You have to use your favourite colours. Regulars will know how much I love all shades of purple. Last year I tried combining it with aqua and haven't used that combo for a while. Inspired by the beautiful colours of the Papermania Capsule collection here is Trix. You can buy her for just 79p this week, what a bargain. Flowers are Wild Orchid with punched leaves.

Last but not least is the news that I have a watermark designed by the talented Lynne at Sentiments 4 You. I have been meaning to get one for ages and had no idea how to make one so when I saw that Lynne makes them for just $3 (£1.91) I had to buy one. That cheered up my day as I am full of cold and it is pouring with rain. I was meant to meet a couple of ex work colleagues for lunch but feel too poorly to go out and didn't want to pass it on to them.

Stamping Bazaar GDT

I was very flattered to receive an e-mail a few weeks ago from Susan and Emma aka The Two Pink Ladies asking me if I would like to be a guest designer at The Stamping Bazaar. I was able to choose one of their digis which you can find here in their store. I would also like to enter this into the challenge at ABC Christmas of Double Trouble (1 digi, 2 papers, at least 2 embellies) and The White Stuff at Craftyhazelnuts Christmas.

Medium - Letraset Promarkers
Papers - Flower Soft and DCWV
Tools - Marianne doiley die, MS snowflake punch
Embellishments – Anita's Christmas ribbon, glitter snowflakes from Michaels (USA)

Popcorn relaxing in the garden

Oh wouldn't it be lovely if the weather was nice enough to sit in the garden. I've used a Pyrimage image again from the Popcorn Men's CD. Paper are HOTP. I used an MS simple scallop punch to keep the round theme going. The sentiment is from Craftwork cards and the tiny navy and green buttons I bought in the US. Oh they were a joy to stick on I can tell you. They are so small to hold but effective I think.

Challenges:

A spoon full of sugar Birthday wishes
Crafty Catz One for the boys
Paper Sundaes Masculine colours, navy, green and/or brown

Coffee and cream teddy

It's those BG Capella papers again, which are just perfect for the challenge of coffee and cream at Passion for Promarkers. I mounted the Popcorn image onto a nestie cut oval which I embossed with a bubble folder. I wanted to keep the design simple to show off the papers and also to make it suitable for male or female so I just added some pearls. The great sketch is from Sweet sketch Wednesday. I would also like to enter it into the following challenges:
Sarah Hurley Food or drink
Fussy and fancy Sweet treats
Cupcake Cake and/or ice cream
One Stop Craft Birthday (include a cake)

Candy winner

The winner of my mini candy is number 18, Crafty Kitten. Please e-mail me Dawn with your address and I'll get your goodies in the post to you. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who entered. It's lovely to have some new followers. Thanks for all your comments. I hope you'll keep hopping back.

Mini candy

THIS POST WILL STAY AT THE TOP UNTIL 20th FEBRUARY. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR NEWER POSTS.

Those of you who read the Do crafts magazine will recognize the little set of stamps which were a freebie this week with a coupon. I was given a second set and would like to give them away to somebody who hasn't been able to get one for themselves. I'm sure I can find a few other little goodies to add to it too. Please only enter if you haven't got these stamps.

All you have to do is be a follower of my blog and enter via Inlinkz below. I'll keep it open for a week and draw it on Monday 21st February.

My favourite colours

The challenge at Lili of the Valley is to use your favourite colours. I love all the purples from lilac though to aubergine so those are the colours I have used with this very cute ballerina. Papers are Henbury Lane, flowers are Wild Orchid. I also used a couple of the beautiful pins I won at I love Promarkers last week. I said on my last card that you would see the lovely purple patterned card candy soon.

I would also like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Inspirational Card Sketches
Dutch Dare Sparkle, glitter, bling
The Creative Cottage Fabulous florals
Papertake Putting on the glitz
Crafts 4 Eternity Hearts, glitter, pins (there are tiny hearts on the right hand paper and on her headband)

Letraset Promarkers

Over at Letraset they are introducing some new packs of blending pairs of Promarkers. To be i with a chance of winning a set all you have to do is create a blog post and show off your suggestions for some pairs. These are 3 of my favourites.


The competition is open until 28th February.

Gorjuss girl

This is my second post for today. I always try to enter The Sugar Bowl challenges as I love their stamps and their sketches. I haven't used one of these Gorjuss girls in far too long. I also used the optional colour scheme though it turned out be a bit more aqua than blue. I needed some more card blanks and bought some from Crafty Emma's store where I also spied this new patterned card candy. I bough a pack in purple too so expect to see that soon. Despite her huge selection of fab papers I still resisted buying any.


I am also entering this into the card for a teen challenge at Creative Craft and fancy folds at Secret Crafter. I'm now a member of the Sugar Nellie group on Facebook so will be hopping over there to enter this card into their easel card challenge.

Let's dance

I've had this fun digi from Charmed Cards for some time and it was just perfect for a friend's 72nd Birthday. He and his wife used to love jiving. His hair used to be similar to this but I think he wishes he just had some hair nowadays, lol! I made the embellies with a star punch and buttons.
Challenges:
Creatalicious Male card, brown and 3 stars
Fab n funky Make your own
Simon Says Make your own embellishments
Totally Papercrafts Do it with Digis
Stamp Something Funky

Happy crafting and have a good weekend everyone.

Winter Wonderland DT

This week at Winter Wonderland we are starting our usual Christmas challenges and I have chosen a nice easy one to get you started. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas is my them and all you have to do is create a Christmas card. Now there are several other Christmas challenges around and I've also spotted a few groups of friends making Christmas cards on a weekly basis so this easy challenge should mean lots of entries. We are lucky to be sponsored by one of our regular sponsors

who are offering 3 digi images to the winner.

I chose a cute PB hedgie for my card with some Papermania papers I bought half price just before Christmas. The sparkly flowers and leaves are Prima.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Sunday sketch and stamp Fab sketch, just right for this size of stamp
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Feature a creature
Penny Black at Allsorts Say it with Flowers

Teddy Bea goes shopping

I am totally in love with Teddy Bo and Teddy Bea and here is Teddy Bea shopping. I thought she was just the right image to decoupage so I printed her twice and decoupaged her hat, left hand bags and right boot sole. I also added some pearls and doodling to the shopping bags.
The doiley and flowers wee made with Marianne dies and the scalloped border is part of an MS punch. Shiny sentiment is Craftwork cards backed with a die cut flower. Papers are Papermania capsule and FF pink parfait. I have so far kept my promise to myself not to buy any papers until my stock has gone down some more. How long will this last I wonder?

Challenges:
Teddy Bo In the pink
Friday Sketchers Fab sketch
Cute Card Thursday Shiny happy cards
Paperplay Add shine
CES Cute and cuddly
Digital Tuesday Die cut

Pyrimage and internet problems

Firstly I want to say HUGE APOLOGIES for not commenting much this week but I have still been having internet problems. Monday night I posted my card and started commenting. It got slower and slower and suddenly came off line. Yesterday it wouldn't even connect via the cable at one point but BT were very helpful so hopefully it is now sorted and I can do some visiting later. I am also very busy still with DT work and this is one of them. The Crafter's Companion DT were asked to make some samples from some of the older CDs and stamps for a show. I have never made a Pyrimage card before but really like the effect. The paper and pyrimage are from the Popcorn Men's CD. I added a strip of ribbon and some card candy which is all it needed. Rather CAS for me but I like it. I would like to enter this into the challenge of clean and simple at Totally Papercrafts and plain and simple at Creative Inspirations.

We bought a new printer yesterday so once that is set up I can print wirelessly again. I also just found out that I won the Birthday challenge at I love Promarkers so thanks girls as it is a fantastic prize of 2 WOJ stamps, some Promarkers and a wallet and some pins.

In the pink

What a beautiful day it's been today. I don't like to complain but I had a job to take a photo of this card as the sun was shining. I've been very busy with DT work today once the washing and ironing was done but I did manage to get this card made as well. I used Dawny P's fab sketch at Lili of the Valley, using the sketch on both the front and bottom of the easel card. Papers are Papercellar Victorian Burgundy.

I bought some squares of these fairies at Hobbycrafts last year as the stamps weren't out until January. This is the last square of this little poppet so next time I will be able to use the stamp. Flowers are Prima with punched fern leaves from pearlised card from Crafter's Companion. You may have seen this card on Create and Craft with the SWALK launch. It really is gorgeous. I would also like to enter this into the challenge of Spring - flowers everywhere at Bunny Zoe's Crafts.

My first slanted easel card

The wonderfully talented Jacqui has started a tutorial blog and that's where I found the instructions to make a slanted easel card. I love trying different shaped cards and think this is really effective. Of course they aren't easy to photograph. The image is from Little Claire, coloured with Promarkers of course. Papers are Henbury Lane with ric rac braid, Prima flowers and punched leaves. I added a little card candy and a Nestie die cut to the sentiment to hold the front in place.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Little Claire Anything goes
Secret Crafter Stamped flower
I love Promarkers Birthday
Paper Sundaes Sundae Topping Bar (pink and flowers)

More love in the air

Lots more love to share with you. The first is one of my favourite WOJ images which is useful for so many occasions. The papers are Prima Fairy Flora, flowers are Wild Orchid. I was going to add a swirl and whilst looking for my Sizzix die I found a die with 3 different swirly hearts which I had completely forgotten about. 3 little heart pearls and lots of glitter finish it off.

Challenges:
A Gem of a challenge Great sketch
Magical Monday Love
Whiff of Joy Love is in the air
Cupcake Seeing red
Oldie but a goodie Add a heart
Crafty Creations 3 little words
CharismaMythical/fantasy
Cute card Thursday Hearts and flowers
Paperplay Hearts and flowers but not Valentines
Passion for Promarkers Let there be love

The second card is of course those little SWALK sweeties again. Papers from the SWALK CDs. I used an MS punch and Marianne doiley die, Wild Orchid flowers and punched fern leaves. I recorded the three programmes today as I have been out all day so looking forward to watching them later to see if any of cards have been featured.
Challenges:
2 Sisters Hearts
Penny's Challenge Hearts a flutter
Papertake Have a heart
Crafty sentiments Valentines/love
Dutch Dare Love is in the air
Stamp, scrap and doodle Saturday Love is in the air

Thank You

I have been challenged by wireless this week, both with the internet and my printer. The internet has been on and off and last night, when I had some blogging time planned, we had someone round to check it all out. He gave the laptop a healthcheck while he was here and it was after 9pm when he left. The internet seems OK but the printer software has a problem so I will have to use it with a cable for the time being. The wireless was a conversion which was a compromise so PC World here I come for a new printer. So my apologies for not visiting but I hope to make up for that later today.

Now onto another sneak peek of the new SWALK images. Isn't she a cutie with her little flower. All papers are again from the SWALK 1 and 2 CDs. I also used a border for the CD on the card, some ribbon and a retro flower punch with silver card candy.

The second item is a notebook. I bought a pack of these in Poundland and didn't realise they had no front cover at all. I normally make a front and attach it to the card front of the book but this time I had to fashion a cover from card first. The nestie die cut has been embossed with D'vine swirls. I would like to enter this into the anything but a card challenge at Simon Says.

Now don't forget to watch Create and Craft tomorrow at 11am, 12pm and 3pm. . The stamps are £3.99 each but there will be a launch offer of all six stamps for £19.99 available from Crafter's Companion.

Love is in the air

Judging by the amount of challenges wanting hearts, romance etc love is definitely in the air. The first card I have to show you is another sneak peek from the new SWALK range from Crafter's Companion. You will recognise this image from the CDs and on Saturday you will be able to buy it along with the other 5 new stamps. The sentiment comes separately to the image so you could also use this image for Valentines and Anniversaries. The papers are all from the SWALK CDs. I just love the colouriser on these CDS and went for a purple romantic card as a change from red or pink. Hearts and border were cut with MS punches and a Nestie die. I then embossed the glitter card with swiss dots.

Now although there are so many challenges I could enter this card into I am limiting myself to the following:
Allsorts It must be love
Stamptacular Hearts gone wild
Crafty Cardmakers Hearts
Stamp with fun Love
A spoon full of sugar Let's see some love
2 Sisters The world is your oyster (pearls)

My second card features one of my favourite Pollycraft images which I just love for Anniversary cards. I have gone for a very different colour scheme, picking up the colours from the beautiful BG Wisteria papers. I added a heart doiley which I chalked to bring down the whiteness. Hearts were die cut with a Nestie and embossed with swiss dots.
Challenges:
Pollycraft Fab sketch and love theme
Stamp Something February digi
Basic Grey Hearts
Incy Wincy Love
Teddy Stampers Love bears

Digistamp Boutique Giveaway

This is my second post for today. Scroll down for news of a new challenge blog. Over at Digistamp Boutique there is a new monthly giveaway. For a chance to win these Easter chicks and a £5 voucher hop over and check out the post. The lovely card has been made by my blogging buddy Vicky, isn't it fab.

New challenge blog

Just a quick post to tell you about a new challenge blog starting 1 March. It is Just Tracys. They also have a DT call out so if you fancy having a go hop over there. I won't be applying but look forward to joining in the challenges.

Sneak peek number 3

Here I am with another sneak peek of the new SWALK stamps from Crafter's Companion. I made an easel card for a change, in my favourite purple. Papers are all from the SWALK CDs. I added some embossed card using the music Cuttlebug embossing folder. I kept the embellies very simple on this one. Don't forget to tune in on Saturday to Create and Craft to see more of these samples and check out the rest of the DT too.

Sneak peek 2

Well what an interesting and useful day I had yesterday attending a course on using Adobe Photoshop. I have been using Photoshop a bit but never understood most of it. I just need time to practice now. This is my second sneak peek of the new Crafter's Companion SWALK images and probably my favourite. I love the sentiment which I stamped around the image and used an 8" x 8" card. Papers are all from the SWALK CDs. Isn't that shoes and handbag paper sweet and so girly. Flowers are from Crafty Emma's and Wild Orchid. The triple organza bow was made using the bow easy.
I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sarah Hurley Die cuts
Totally Papercrafts Friendship
Kaboodle Doodle Break out that ribbon stash
Pear Tree Designs Free for all

An award

I’ve been tagged with the Love Blog

Mandy Fox has very kindly awarded me this accolade. Thank you so much Mandy.

There are a couple of conditions for the award – explanation and instructions follow:
You have been TAGGED and want to participate? Then create a post where you post the 'LOVE BLOG' image. You should also blog the persons link that gave you the award and inform her/him that you accept the award. You can then choose 3 - 5 favourite blogs which you also link in your post, then each blogger will inform you that they have been tagged....

Dear bloggers:
The aim of this action is that we bring good blogs to light, so I would ask you not to blog fellow bloggers that already have 3,000 followers. As always, the hardest part is to pick who to pass this on to, there are so many bloggers I could give it to, so . . .the 5 I have chosen, in no particular order are......

Lynsey
Lisa
Fiona
Vixx
Debby

You have been TAGGED and want to participate? Then create a post where you post the 'LOVE BLOG' image. You should also blog the persons link that gave you the award and inform her/him that you accept the award. You can then choose 3 - 5 favourite blogs which you also link in your post, then each blogger will inform you that they have been tagged.....
I hope you will accept this award....

New SWALK stamps sneak peek

For all those SWALK lovers out there comes some good news. This Saturday sees a releaseof 6 new stamps and you can see them all on Create and Craft. Papers are from the previous SWALK CDS. Th sentiment comes with the stamp along with a few flower images. I added a couple of mulberry flowers to her bouquet and some lace. Flowers were made using a Marianne die which comes with the doiley die. There are sneak peeks from the DT all week and from Saturday you can buy them at Crafter's Companion.

One of my favourites

This is one of the first SN stamps I ever bought and she is still one of my favourite images. I always try to play along at The Sugar Bowl as they have such great sketches and when I saw the challenge of pink and purple at Creative Card Crew thought they would fit perfectly together. The sketch at the Sugar Bowl has wings behind the image and I was puzzling over what to add to the papers, which are some of my favourite Papermania Capsule collection when I remembered I had some feathers which fitted the sketch perfectly. How many of you have feathers amongst your stash that never see the light of day? I just added 3 gems and didn't feel any further embellies were needed as the punched papers are so lush. I would also like to enter this into the challenge of stamp it out at Paperplay.

Love is in the air

Lots of DT work to do so its a quick post from me with a couple of anniversary cards to share. I'll hopefully have more time for commenting soon. Thanks to those of you have left me comments lately. I see that I have lost 3 followers since I drew my candy. Aren't people funny, I never stop following anyone. Anyway onto my cards. The first one is another of those gorgeous LOTV images with 2 of their sentiments. I went with a bright colour scheme for a change. Papers are Henbury Lane with an off piece of heart paper. All coloured with Promarkers with Sakura gold and white souffle pens for accents. Love Grows has been coloured with Broken China distress ink ad gold pen. I didn't have any red roses so I coloured some white ones from Wild Orchid with a red Promarker and added punched fern leaves and pearls.

Challenges:
ABC Sketch and N is for Nesties (4 on this card)
Lili of the Valley Romance
By the cute and girly Red is all around us
Crafty Creations My love is like a red, red rose
CES Red and romance

The second card is one I made for Lynsey, whose anniversary was on Thursday. I posted it first class on Tuesday and wasn't pleased that it didn't arrive until Friday. Isn't that bad, within the same county. I even took it to the Post Office as I was pretty sure it would be a large letter, which of course it was. The image is from Wild Rose, papers are Prima and Laura Ashley. The border punch is an MS one I bought in America. I haven't seen that one for sale here.

Challenges:

Cupcake Old Macdonald had a farm
Simon Says Love is in the air
Sir Stampalot All Creatures great and small
Crafty Purple Frog Valentines or Love
Crafty Calendar Love

Have a great weekend everyone. We're off to the theatre tonight for a meal and a show, Hairspray.

Reach for the stars

This is my second DT card today. This week at Winter Wonderland Lynsey has the DT reaching for the stars. I thought my new SN stamp, which funnily enough was a Christmas pressie form Lynsey, was just perfect for this challenge. I've got stars galore on this card from the Cuttlebug embossing, the MS border punch, the Sizix die to the starry papers. I added glossy accents to his sunglasses. Our sponsor this week is Craftbulee so I hope you will play along.
I am also entering this card into the following challenges:
Stamp with fun Fab sketch
CES Bold and bright
The Crafty Pad Something for the boys

SFTW DT card

Our challenge at Stampin’ for the Weekend this fortnight is Valentines so the Teddy Romeo stamp from LOTV has come out again. I used my new Marianne doiley die, MS heart and border punches and inverted scallop Nestie. I kept the colour scheme to red, black and white and felt it didn't need any further embellishment making it suitable for males or females. Our sponsor this time is Simon Says so hope to see you playing along.

Crafter's Companion Tutorial

Some of you may have seen this card on some of the Create and Craft TV programmes launching Appley Dapply. I have been asked how you make this shape of easel card and today you can see my tutorial on the Crafter’s Companion News, Views and Inspirations blog.

Spring coloured fairy and blog candy winners

There's a lovely sketch at Cute Card Thursday and the challenge of Spring at Moving along with the times. Now when I think of Spring colours the first colour that comes to mind is yellow, not one of my favourite colours to use but I found these papers which contain a soft yellow. They are Papermania Honey and Hugs and Summer Blooms. The shaped card is from Craftwork Cards. The fairy is one of the new LOTV images, coloured with Promarkers with lots of added glitter of course. Flowers are Prima and ribbon flowers from Mei flower.

I would also like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Flutter By Wednesday Anything goes
I love Promarkers Anything goes
Lili of the Valley Shaped card
Crafts 4 Eternity Polka dots
Magical Monday Flowers
2 Sisters Girls just wanna have fun

And the moment you have all been waiting for which is the winner of my blog candy. Firstly I would like to say a huge welcome to all my new followers. Some of you have left me such lovely comments about my blog and my cards, so thank you. I hope you will continue to follow me and hop over whenever you have time.

I was amazed at the number of entries, 268, and random org has chosen
That's you, Donna Mosley. As promised there is a small surprise candy for a second lucky person and that is Sam/Whisper.
Please e-mail me ladies so I can get your candy in the post to you.