Celebrate

A congratulations card for 2 challenges. The first is Moving along with the times who provided the sketch and the inspiration for Cute as a Button. The bear is certainly cute and of course, there are buttons. The second challenge is Forever Friends who have a theme of celebrate as Monday was their 21st anniversary. They have little candy (image folders) to give away this week so don't miss out. Didn't put any flowers on this card as the colours make it suitable for male or female.

Ingredients
Stamp - Forever Friends
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers, highlighted with glitter pens
Paper - Main paper is Papermania Rich Red, other was free
Die cuts - Nestabilities, Cuttlebug star
Embellishments - buttons

Sugar Bowl Challenge 15

A much simpler sketch this week in the Sugar Bowl Challenge with the added feature of ribbons and bows . I used one of the Gorjuss Girls with papers from Dovecraft and K & Co's sparkly sweet. Flowers are Prima and Hero Arts. Brad and bows from stash. Quit a simple card, this one.

Christmas wreath

Another Christmas card, hooray. I've never been this far ahead with them. This sketch is from Sketch and Stash Challenge 15. The image is one I haven't used before from Pollycraft Designs called Cherry Kisses Wreath. The card has a vintage feel to it. I added those USA snowflakes and Sizzix corners cut from glitter card for a bit of sparkle.

My first Snowy Anya card

I had to use the flash to take this picture as it is so dark again this evening. The only problem is it bounces off the card a bit so hope you can see the detail OK. I love this image so much and am so pleased to be the proud owner of her. Decided to enter her for the I love Promarkers Challenge. Have used the same set of papers as the last card. Used Nestability for the circle which I then put through the Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder. Although I love the papers together I didn't feel the circle showed enough so outlined it in pink glitter pen. The image is of course coloured with Promarkers and I added glitter to the fur. I promised myself to use more glitter this Christmas. Hope you love her as much as I do.

Gorjuss Girl in Pink and Grey

A quick post from me. Had a much better night's sleep last night. Thanks for all your good wishes yesterday. Went back to work today but arm still very itchy. This is my first entry using the sketch for Stamp Something Challenge. Its one of those Gorjuss Girls again. The papers are a set but don't remember where they came from. Have used my Sizzix scribble swirl for the Spoonful of Sugar Challenge of swirls and the colour combi of pink and grey for Papertake. Flowers are Prima and the sparkly flowers are from stock.

In the Summertime

Well it hasn't been much like Summer today. It has been raining nearly all day and it is so dark. This little lady, My first Anya card, is for 4 challenges. The sketch is from Charisma Cards, It's Summertime for Roses on Paper, Polka dots again for Creative Card Crew and Tripleplay for Our Creative Corner. Their challenge was to use 3 of any of the listed items, of which I used brads, ribbons and bling. I've been missing using flowers having made some Christmas cards lately so have made up for that with this card.

Ingredients
Stamp - Greeting Farm Anya Sunshine
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers, highlighted with glitter pens
Paper - from stash
Die cuts - Nestabilities
Embellishments - Brads and ribbons from stash (The spotted ribbon was on a birthday cake , good recycling there)

Flowers - Prima

Happy Anniversary

Two cute little mice for this Moving along with the Times challenge sketch with an optional theme of wedding or anniversary.

Ingredients
Stamp - Penny Black
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers, highlighted with glitter pens
Paper - Papermania Amethyst Infusion
Die cuts - Nestablities
Embellishments - X cut punched hearts from glitter card, brad and ribbon from stash

Flowers - Prima

Sentiment - Lakeland

Letter to Santa

Well I was supposed to be back at work today after a week and a day off. However I have been having some problems with my left arm. I burned it on the iron just above the elbow nearly 4 weeks ago and about a week ago I started getting terrible itching, numbness and pains in that arm, especially at night. Yesterday it was much better but last night I slept really badly. I didn't know where to put my arm and couldn't get comfortable at all. At 3am I was taking ibuprofen and making hot chocolate so went off the the Doctors today. I have a nerve virus as a result of the burn so have a week's tablets to take. Not feeling too sharp today and didn't even feel like getting out my cardmaking stash. Now you know how bad I felt! Just made this simple Christmas card for 5 challenges and hope to be back at work tomorrow. Also hoping for a better night's sleep tonight although my arm is itching like mad but I am determined not to scratch it.

The stamp is a Penny Black for their challenge soft and sweet. The dots on the paper and the swiss dots on the Cuttlebug embossing are for Creative Card Crew polka dots challenge. Winter Wonderland's challenge is Santa Claus is coming to town and this little mouse is writing to Father Christmouse. The last one is One Stop Craft Challenge Good Sense of Humour. You probably can't read the letter but he is asking for some sugar mice, a Tom and Jerry video and a mousetrap game amongst other things.

Just found out my 3rd win is with Stamps for Fun so maybe I'm not going to win the lottery after all, shame. However the prize from Stamps with Fun of a voucher for some digi stamps was a lovely surprise.

5 in one challenge

Another Christmas card which is for 5 challenges! The sketch is from A Spoonful of Sugar, Cupcake Craft Challenge want a Christmas card, Cute Card Thursday are looking for Xmas in July, Colour Create want blue and white and Saturday Challenge are looking for spots and stripes. There are spots on the umbrella, his coat, her boots, a snowflake and one of the papers. There also stripes on that paper and stripes on her tights and scarf and his boots (or are they his socks?).

The image is a Rachelle Anne Miller stamp called Rainy Days but I think it is perfect for a snowy card. I added glitter to the snow at the bottom and coloured it with Promarkers. The papers are from Flower Soft and Forever Friends from last year. The card is embossed with Cuttlebug Divine Swirl and the snowflakes were bought in USA. Why didn't I buy 2 packets, they are so lovely? Gems from stash.

3 in one challenge

One of my challenges for myself today was to see how many challenges I could fit in. This card is for 3 challenges. There are several challenges at the moment to do with numbers and the first challenge is for Allsorts to only use one of anything. I have used one image, one paper, one matting card, one flower and one butterfly. The other 2 challenges are both Animals, Lili of the Valley and The Pink Elephant.

Ingredients
Stamp - Daisy and Dandelion

Coloured with Letraset Promarkers, highlighted with glitter pens
Paper - Papermania Simply Elegant
Die cuts - Nestabilities
Embellishments - butterfly bought at show
Flowers - K&Co paper flowers

2nd retirement card

I am really pleased with the way this card turned out. I discovered this challenge blog from somebody else's blog and am so glad I found it. The sketch is gorgeous and so right for this A5 card. The challenge is Inspirational Card Sketches . Certainly well named as they have inspired me.
Ingredients
Image - Pollycraft Crazy Daisy
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers, highlighted with glitter pens
Paper - Papermania Boutique
Die cuts - Sizzix Scribble Swirl

Flowers - Large ones are Prime, small mulberry flowers from Readicut

First retirement card today

Well as predicted I didn't get a lot of time for crafting last week. I checked out a couple of blogs last night and to my surprise found I am the very lucky winner of Vicky's (Angeldrummer)blog candy. I am very excited about this particularly as I got to chose some stamped images from her. I chose Whiff of Joy as I don't yet have any of these stamps and they are gorgeous. Can't wait to receive my parcel. Thanks a million Vicky. That's 2 things I have won this week, the first being £25 on the premium bonds (see earlier blog lst week). They say things come in threes so perhaps I will be this week's lucky lottery jackpot winner, ha ha. If I am you can be sure there will be some fantastic blog candy up for grabs.

Hubby is back at work today so apart from a few chores the day is mine for cardmaking. Spent some time blogging this morning, checking out what is happening and commenting on those blogs I follow. I have made 2 cards so far today, both orders for retirement cards. Sketch challenges are so great for A5 cards. This is for a huge Notts County fan, as you can see by the shield, which I used instead of a flower on the sketch. The sketch is from Truly Scrumptious who wanted a theme of black and white with one other colour. Perfect for this card as Notts County colours are black and white. the red just gives some contrast.

Ingredients
Stamp - Football logo Personal Impressions, footballer Pollycraft
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers and fineliner
Paper - Papermania Monochrome and red from stash

Katherina's blog candy

To celebrate the launch of the Whiff Of Joy fall stamps, see my sidebar for the link, Katherina is offering 2 fall stamps kits. Closing date 26 July. To enter click here .

Let's mistletoe

I had a nice surprise in the post this week. I won £25 on the premium bonds. Not a fortune but enough to buy some Greeting Farm stamps I have wanted after seeing the wonderful cards you other ladies are creating. I struggled to find the set I wanted as everybody was out of stock. However I checked out one of my follower's websites and found the Rain Snow Shine set for sale at Quixotic Paperie. Very reasonable p&p rates and free for spends of £25 or more. Of course I had to spend all of my winnings. I placed the order on Wednesday and the nice postie has just delivered it so thanks Elaine for such a prompt response. As well as the Anya set I also bought another Greeting Farm stamp, some flowers, charms and flatbacked pearls.

Now onto my entry for 4 challenges which I managed to make last night just in time for some of these. The first challenge is Winter Wonderland with the Christmas present challenge which I interpreted as a present being a kiss under the mistletoe and present meaning contemporary. The swirls are for the Penny Black challenge, the sketch is from Papertake and the 4th challenge is the use of cutting dies and/or punches for Dutch Dare.

Ingredients
Stamp - Penny Black let's mistletoe
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers and glitter pens
Paper - Green is Papermania A Wonderful Christmas time, other from last year
Die cuts - Nestability, Sizzix scribbles swirl, Sizzix corner
Embellishments - gems from stash
Punch - X cut corner rounder

On the beach

Second card I made last night. I wanted to enter the Moving Along with the Times sketch challenge with the theme of the beach. I couldn't think of a suitable image but then remembered a Cherry Kisses download from Pollycraft. It also fits the bill for Passion for Promarker's challenge of using Ruby and Gold with jewels and gems. These are perfect colours for this beach card. I was pleased to find these free papers in my stash. The suns and cherries work so well with this image. The corners are Sizzix.

Get ahead, get a hat

Well I was very restrained yesterday and only bought some blank cards and envelopes and a jar of Prima flowers. Still planning an online order and off to another local craft shop later today. These elegant Debbi Moore stamps are for The Fresh Batch sketch challenge and Paperplay challenge of Ooh la la... fashion. The ribbons and sentiment are from Craftwork cards.

Hannah's 19th Birthday

Must get out do some gardening before we go out at lunchtime. Just time to post this card which is for my friend's daughter who will be 19 next week. Meeting them for a meal later so had to get this card made last night. The sketch is from Friday Sketchers and is just perfect for this card. The other challenge I am entering is Papertake. Getting this one in just in time before this week's challenge. They wanted you to use your faourite things. Although I have only had this stamp a little while it has been on my wish list for some time but has been out of stock. It is of course Sugar Nellie Sweet and Sassy. The card is very pink as that is Hannah's fave colour and one of mine too for cards. I love the deep pink of the Papermania Touch of Pink paper and the Prima flowers. Brads and sparkly gems complete my favourite things on this card plus of course Promarkers. I've gone for the distressed look again on the jeans mixing blossom with maroon.

New Home

I've got the whole week and next Monday off work, hooray, which is how I am able to post this at this time of the morning when I am usually busy working away at my desk. Not sure how much time I will get for cardmaking this week as hubby is also on holiday. Lots to do, decorating etc but meeting some friends for a meal later after a visit to a garden and craft centre with the biggest selection of cardmaking materials in the area. Unfortunately nothing like as big as the craft shops in America but I'm sure I will find something to buy. Graham is back at work next Monday so plan to spend most of the day cardmaking. Should be able to increase the 6 Christmas cards I have so far.

I have just bought 4 Rachelle Anne Miller stamps from the Secret Crafter and this one is perfect for a very different welcome to your new home card I needed to make for a friend who moved house yesterday. Such a change from the usual new home cards. I wanted to give the watering can a distressed look so blended coral and ivory Promarkers together. I've used this technique a little on terracotta pots with spice and ivory but on a much smaller scale. The stamp is called Peek a Bunny. This card is for 4 challenges. The sketch is from Sketch Saturday. The other challenges are A Pet Parade at Our Creative Corner, furry things over at One Stop Craft Challenge and shapes and punches over at Stamp with Fun. I used Nestabilities for the shapes and the X cut corner rounder punch.

Win $1,000 at TheCuttlebugSpot.com!

I have just discovered that The Cuttlebug Spot is having a contest - "The Journey to 1,000"! They are trying to reach 1,000 followers by the end of July and need your help. To enter all you have to do is go to their site, sign up as follower and complete a few easy steps and you could win a $1,000 gift certificate to Custom Crops (www.CustomCrops.com)! GO NOW and check it out at www.TheCuttlebugSpot.com

Let it Snow

Another Christmas card made yesterday for Just Christmas and Birthday Cards. Love this sketch for their challenge which was just perfect for these 2 cute stamps. Will definitely be making more of these in various colours. Finally got my timing of posts sorted out, thanks Lynsey. I didn't know I had to set it to GMT in the settings. I was on Pacific time!!!

Ingredients
Stamp - Personal impressions snowman, penguin bought last year ( sorry no details)
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers

Paper - Forever Friends Christmas Snow and free paper from mag last year
Die cuts - Nestabilities
Embellishments - Blue snowflake bought in USA, gold snowflake confetti

Rudolph

Getting this challenge in just in time I hope for Stamptacular Sunday Challenge Christmas in July. Thanks guys for encouraging me to get another Christmas card made. I bought this stamp late last year so this is the first time I have used it and thought I would keep the card fairly simple with a classic red and green theme.
Ingredients
Stamp - Anita's Rudolph& presents
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers, highlighted with glitter pens
Paper - free from magazine last year
Die cuts - Nestabilities
Embellishments - Present from Crafty Bitz, gems from stash

Silver Wedding

Yet another A5 card order. Its not that easy to find suitable images for anniversary cards but I had this wedding couple from Twiddleys. I removed the veil and added Papercellar silver trim to the dress. The heart paper is from Forever Friends and the hearts and flowers from Crafty Bitz. A very rare use of silver peeloffs for the border just to finish it off. This week's CRAFT challenge is to make an age or special anniversary card so this just happens to fir the bill.

Sugar Bowl Challenge 14

Another A5 card order for one of the girls at work who is leaving to go to University to study for her PGCE to become a teacher. I used the sketch for the Sugar Bowl Challenge 14. The please include feature was sparkle so I used some sparkly flowers and dragonfly, gems as dots in the text and glitter pens on the image.

Ingredients
Stamp - Sugar Nellie A Good Book
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers, highlighted with glitter pens
Paper - Papermania Bouquet
Die cuts - Nestabilities, Sizzix swirl
Embellishments - dragonfly and gems from stash
Flowers - Prima, sparkly flowers from stash

Lettering - Sonnets scrapbook stickers plum blocks

Congratulations

I love these Forever Friends stamp and this one is so useful. The unusual sketch is from Friday Sketchers.

Ingredients
Stamp - Forever Friends
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers, highlighted with glitter pens
Paper - Forever Friends For Him, Dovecraft and from stash
Die cuts - Nestabilties, Cuttlebug Star Die
Embellishments - gems and heart from stash

Celebrating America

Well there was a definite American feel to some of the challenges last week due to the 4th of July celebrations so this card is for 4 challenges. I managed to capture the red, white and blue and the stars and stripes. The sketch is from Sketch Saturday who wanted an American theme. The second challenge is the ABC Challenge U is for United States. Our Creative Corner wanted red, white and blue and Pollycraft challenge is to use an arrow as I have done with the drive in sign.
Ingredients
Stamp - retro set bought in USA
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers
Paper - Papermania striped paper, red from stash
Die cuts - Cuttlebug stars die, X cut star punch
Ribbon - Dovecraft

Retirement Card

A colleague at work asked me to make a retirement card so I decided that my new Papermania Bouquet papers would be perfect as they are so elegant. The sketch is from Dutch Dare Card Challenge

Ingredients
Stamp - All Night Media bought locally
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers, highlighted with glitter pens
Paper - Papermania Bouquet
Die cuts - Nestabilities
Embellishments - Flower buttons from the Range, gems from stash
Flowers - Prima, rose from stash

Howzat

I just love these sporting stamps and thought this one was perfect for the sketch challenge over at Just Christmas and Birthday Cards. I'd love to make a Christ ms card for this challenge too and will if I get the time tomorrow. Looking at snowflakes just might help to cool me down as it is still very hot here at 7 o'clock in the evening. That isn't going to be the time showing on my post though. Anyone got any ideas why the time is always wrong on my posts when the time on my laptop is correct? The stamp that's the prize there this week is on my wish list so would really love to win it. The second challenge is over at Charisma whose challenge is to use buttons.

Ingredients
Stamp - Personal Impressions
Coloured with Letraset Promarkers
Paper - Dovecraft, Papermania Secret Garden and K & Co Sparkly Sweet
Die cuts - Nestabilities
Embellishments - Buttons from stash

Baby girl

A late entry for crafts 4 Eternity Challenge 38. The challenge was to use their great sketch and add some bling. I recently had some flower fairy tags free with a mag and thought this one was perfect for a new baby girl card. I'm really pleased with the way this one turned out.

Ingredients
Paper - Papermania Raspberry Champagne
Die cuts - Nestability, Sizzix corner and swirl
Embellishments - Free flower fairy tag,

Flowers - from stash

A Winner

I was excited today to find that I was one of the 2 winners of the first Moving Along With The Times challenge. I look forward to receiving my stamp. I have only had my blog for 3 weeks but am really enjoying entering the challenges. The sketches are great and I feel that my cardmaking has already improved. I never knew you could use papers in so many ways on a card.

Messy Rabbit

Friday Sketchers provided this great sketch for another A5 card ordered by a friend for her niece's 7th Birthday. Hope she likes it. She likes rabbits and dogs so I used this Messy Rabbit image that my friend, Lynsey stamped for me. Thanks Lynsey. The papers are Papermania Sweet Nothings and the cute dogs in handbags paper is from Dovecraft. The flowers are Prima and others from stash and the rub on sparkly letters are from Poundland!