Nellie the Elephant

Another nice easy challenge this week at Totally Gorjuss and it is flowers. We are sponsored by The Ribbon Girl and Bugaboo. The DT were all given their choice of Bugaboo images and I chose this silhouette elephant. I have teamed it with First Edition Blank Canvas papers, Prima flowers and brads and some flowery ribbon I found in my stash, which I have had for a very long time.

Challenges

The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop Flowers and ribbon

High School Musical

I have so many images I bought before Christmas and which have still to be coloured and High School Student, a Simply Sassy image from Sugar Nellie was one of them. She has been coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and I have added glossy accents to her glasses.  I've gone for a grungy distressed look. The music paper is from Marianne Eline's Huis Winter pack and the book paper from Bo Bunny Weekend Market.  I pulled some threads out of the hessian and then plaited the pulled threads. (I was rather pleased with this idea.) I added some raffia, a musical charm, MB virtuoso music die cut and some Fiskare punched hearts.

Challenges

Saturated Canary Movie inspiration(High School Musical) 

The Sugar Bowl Anything Goes 

Charmed Cards and Crafts Teenagers/older children 

Cutie Pie 3 different textures (raffia, hessian and metal) 

Passion for Promarkers Favourite colours (I have several fave combos and blue and brown is one of them)
I love Promarkers Anything Goes 

Fab n Funky Favourite colour combo

Hedgie Love

It's midweek reminder at Crafty Ribbons where our challenge is Love/Romance/Anniversary. I love Penny Black images and don't use them often enough so here's my second one in a week. I've used a new image coloured with Promarkers. I have also used a Nestie, Prima Fairy Flora paper, Sizzix corner die and my lovely new Memory Box dies, precious hearts from My Crafty Heart which I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. The gorgeous ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons and you can find it here.

Here is the fabulous prize.

Challenges

Penny Black and More at Allsorts Love is in the air 

Stamping Sensations Friendship 

Kaboodle Doodles Ribbon 

Papertake Tie up your loose ends (Bow) 

Inky Chicks Bingo (Sentiment, image, bow)
Crafty CreationsTake two (hedgehogs)

What an angel

Somebody once gave me a stamped image of this stamp and I have always wished I had the stamp so I was delighted when I found one for sale on Facebook and amazed when I received it to find it was a brand new stamps too. She is an Elisabeth Bell image for Whiff of Joy and she has been coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. I have added stickles to her wings and used a Sakura clearstar pen on the necklace, pocket and jeans. The papers are Papermania Lucy Cromwell. If you are a regular visitor you will know I am a huge fan on Elisabeth Bell's work and when I saw the chance to be a Guest Designer at The Digi Belles Design Team I just had to have a go. You have to use this fab sketch so wish me luck. 

I love purple and thought I would try teaming it with lovely soft greens for a fresh Spring look. This image is perfect for Mother's Day so here is my first Mother's Day card. I need to make several ready for my craft fairs starting next month. I've used a MS border punch, Cheery Lynn butterfly die and my lovely new precious hearts die from My Crafty Heart. I added a pearl heart from Meiflower  and some pearls to the butterfly. This has been cut twice, once from purple card and once from some very fine handmade sparkly paper.

Other Challenges

Creative Card Crew Girly 

Creative Craft Bling 

Cute Card Thursday Diamonds are forever
Whimsy Fancy edges

Gorjuss Time

Wow, what a lot of snow we had on Sunday afternoon and through the night. We went for a lovely walk in it yesterday. It was quite hard going as it was so deep, so good exercise and lovely to be out in the fresh air. I'm having a day in today though and after doing some housework will be heading up to the craftroom.

My lovely hubby bought me 2 of the Gorjuss girl stamps for Christmas and this is one of them. She has been coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers with Sakura Goldstar pen for the hearts and chain. The papers are Docrafts Chronology and Bo Bunny Timepiece. The embossing folder is Tim Holtz. I've used Core'dinations and DI Worn Lipstick and lots of distressing and sanding. The flowers were made with punches and pearl, sentiment is Teddy Bo and the cute charm is from My Crafty Heart.

Challenges

Bunny Zoe Anything Goes 

Charmed Cards and Crafts Teenagers/older children 

Creative Inspirations One for the girls 

Divas by Design Girlie 

Stampin' for the weekend Girlie

  A Gem Embossing

MAWTT Happy Birthday

Friday Sketch challenge Fab sketch
Simon Says stamp and show What are you known for (I love Gorjuss girls and have a handbag, notebooks, pen, bookmark, mug, coaster, tin and diary)

On yer bike

One of my vintage no stamping cards today. I've been playing around with the new Chronology papers and toppers from Docrafts. I've embossed a couple of the matching stamps with copper embossing powder. The bicycle was cut with Marianne die and I added a metal corner from Jolee's Boutique and a cute bike charm from eBay.

Challenges

Marianne's Design Divas Banners and Bunting 

Crafts and Me New (Docrafts Chronology papers, stamps and postcard topper) 

Paper Crafting Journey Anything Goes

We got wet!

I managed some time to complete another scrapbook layout this week. It's another page for my Orlando album. I've kept the papers to a minimum, added some K&Co emebllishments, card candi, baker's twine and used a new MFT die for the wheel and anchor.

Here's the journalling a bit clearer in case you can't read it very well.

I can't describe how it felt to see the water rolling across the boat towards us and nothing we could do about it. I grabbed my handbag and held it up so it didn't get wet but our jeans were absolutely soaked as if we had been on a water ride.

Challenges

Cards Galore Scrapbook Anything Goes
CupcakeAnything but a card
Crafty Catz Anything but a card

Yet more ice cream

Our challenge this week at Totally Gorjuss is KISS, which is keep it simple stupid. This is about as simple as I usually get and it's another sample for Stamposaurus. I've coloured the image with Promarkers and a little Sakura Clearstar. I've used a Cuttlebug embossing folder, Woodware star punch and crimper. Simples! 

Challenges

Passion for Promarkers Whatever the weather 

I love Promarkers Layer it up

Don't forget you can have your own ice-cream van by entering my candy above.

I also want to tell you about a fabulous sale.

There's up to 75% off ribbons and you can find them here. 

Like the snow these bargains won't be around long so grab them while you can.

Welcome to my new followers, thanks for following.

Vintage Wedding

This week at Winter Wonderland our theme is vintage and I chose to make a scrapbook layout using probably the oldest photo I have which is of my great aunt and uncle's wedding. I had the names written on the back and didn't want to lose this info so added them as journalling. The papers are HOTP. I added two types of lace, some wooden and some Prima flowers and pearls and used wooden letters for the title.

Challenges

Sarah's cards Great sketch 

Cupcake Anything but a card 

Simon Says stamp and show Lace love 

One stop New beginnings 

Joanna Sheen New beginnings

Feeling blue?

This is my second post for today.

Here's an image I haven't used for ages, a very cute Penny Black, Raining Daisies. It has been coloured with Promarkers, the sentiment is LOTV coloured with a Flexmarker. The papers were free with this months C&PC mag along with some fab sewing stamps I really want to use soon. I added some washi tape, Prima flowers, a very old Snowman brad and some Crealie die cut swirls.

Challenges

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Penny Black January Blues 

Ready-Teddy-Go Something new (papers) 

Penny's Teddy bears 

Simon Says Washi tape 

Passion for Promarkers Whatever the weather 

Crafts 4 Eternity Moody Blues

Welcome to my new followers and goodbye to a couple of followers too. 

Have you entered my little candy yet? See post at the top of my blog.

Last shed for a while

This is the last of my shed samples for Stamposaurus and after having a brown, blue and smoky blue sheds I went with a green one this time. Coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and Sakura clearstar pens. The papers are some very old Papermania Secret Garden ones. I used a new Sew Stamper daisy head, rather pleased with th effect. The sentiment is from one of the greenhouse stamps from Stamposaurus, clouds and vine MB dies and roses from Wild Orchid.

Challenges

Wild Orchid Coming up roses 

Crafty Blogger's Network Flowers

GDT at CCWS

A couple of months ago I received a surprise e-mail asking me if I would like to be a guest designer for three months at Christmas Challenges (with sketches). I love the sketches and of course love making Christmas cards so I was delighted to say yes so here I am with my first GDT card for them. This week we are sponsored by

and I was able to choose one of their digis to use on my card. 

I used Promarkers and decided to make my gingerbread man a lovely chocolatey colour. I used one of my favourite Christmas paper packs this Christmas, Papermania Home for Christmas. This goes so well with kraft. I added a K&Co candy cane and a LOTV Grunge sentiment, another favourite. I used a new MB ornament die and used 3 of the cut out ornaments too.

Challenges

Craftyhazelnut Rudolph is resting (no reindeer) 

Delicious Doodles Anything Goes using favourite colours (kraft and red is one of my fave Christmas combos)

Sophia

This is Sophia, the second of the new gorgeous Vintage Adorables I bought from Funky Kits. I have coloured her with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and teamed her with some Basic Grey Capella papers. I added some lace, LOTV grunge sentiment, MB die cut butterflies, pearl bow, Prima flower coloured with a Flemarker and punched leaves.

Challenges

The Cutie Pie Great sketch 

The Sugar Bowl Anything goes 

Charisma Happy Birthday 

Papercrafting Journey Anything Goes 

Allsorts Dies and punches 

Basic Grey New (stamp)

More ice cream

This is my second post today and brrr, don't think an ice cream van would do very well today. This is another sample for Stamposaurus and you can find this and many other stamps here. If you would like one of these stamps then please enter my candy above. 

 I remembered I bought these Papermania Capsule papers, at Ally Pally last September and they hadn't been used so I have now remedied that. The image has been coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. I kept this simple with just some ribbon, pearls and die cut bunting using an MB die.

Challenges

Simon Says Black and white and a touch of colour 

Totally Papercrafts Ribbon

Welcome to Evie, my new follower. 

At the movies

Last Friday my friend Lynsey came over and we spent a lovely time chatting and scrapbooking. This is one of two layouts I made. I used a fab sketch from Creative Craft World for my photo which was taken at Hollywood Studios in Disneyworld, Florida. It's the beginning of one of my favourite rides which is a gentle ride through various famous movie scenes. I couldn't wait to use my new Tim Holtz film strip die with Core'dinations, which I sanded. I also used Sizzix primitive star die, MB banner die, Go Kreate large die, card candi and washi tape. Well so far I am sticking to my promise to myself to keep making more layouts, mind you it is only mid January!

Welcome to my new follower and thank to everyone who has entered my candy. You can find the post above this one.

First Vintage Adorable

I just couldn't resist buying a couple of the new Vintage Adorable digis from Sugar Nellie. These girls are so beautiful to colour with Promarkers and Flexmarkers.  As you may gather from the sentiment I was asked to make a card for a bridesmaid so the perfect excuse to buy her. I was asked for a pink and purple card. I used First Edition Dreamcatcher papers, Nestie, Sizzix corners and used the cut out hearts from them too, velvet ribbon and a sparkly butterfly from The Works. 

Challenges

The Sugar Bowl Anything Goes 

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Divas by Design Anything goes 

Papercrafting Journey Anything Goes

And another shed

Time for a new challenge at Totally Gorjuss and this week it is spotty. We have a lovely new sponsor this week, Bunny Zoe. This is another of my samples for Stamposaurus which has been coloured with Proamrkers and Flexmarkers with a touch of Sakura clearstar pen. The papers are Papermania Happy Days. I've added some MB die cut butterflies, WOC roses, MS punched leaves, Craftwork Cards sentiment and ribbon from stash.

Challenges

Charisma Happy Birthday 

Papercrafting Journey Anything Goes

Vintage fashion

I've been playing around with some older bits and pieces as a change from my new stash. In fact the newest thing on here was bought last September. The oldest must be the feather. I have a bag ful of these and use them very seldom. I do love making this style of card and they always sell well at craft fairs so I need to make some more as I have my first craft fair mid February and need to build up my stock plus make some Easter and Mother's Day cards.

Image - Free Vintage Digital images

Papers - Marianne Designs Eline's Huis Winter

Backing card- Core'dinations

Lace - Woodware white

Dress form - Craftwork Cards

Feather, buttons, pins, raffia and bow from stash

I've distressed and sanded edges and used DI Vintage photo, including on the lace.

Challenges

Cards Galore Anything Goes 

Kaboodle Doodles Vintage 

Simon says stamp and show Embrace the old 

Divas by Design Anything goes 

Card Makin Mamas Anything goes 

Dream Valley Anything goes

Anyone for ice cream?

This is my second post for today and it's another sample for Stamposaurus, this time it's an ice cream van. Isn't this a great image, perfect for somebody who is difficult to make  a card for. I've coloured it with Promarkr and Sakura goldstar pen. The papers are First Edition Blank Canvas and I've used a MS deep edge punch, some organza ribbon and roses.

Challenges

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop Flowers and ribbon 

Loves Rubberstamps Dies or punches 

Incy Wincy Something New (Stamp and papers)
Dream Valley Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday Beat the blues (ice cream would surely do that)
MAWTT Floral delights

I have a new candy above and would love you to enter.

First Wedding Card of 2013

A mid challenge reminder for Crafty Ribbons where we are looking for new beginnings projects. As I had a wedding card ordered I decided I may as well get ahead with it. I've used one of the LOTV dieuts. The gorgeous backing paper I found when I was sorting out one of my paper drawers. I think I bought it when I first started cardmaking and had no idea how to use papers. It's a very unusual type of paper, very glittery and very hard to cut. I really like the effect of the white through it so I decide not to mat it onto card as I would normally do. 

I was asked for a pink and purple card to include music so I used the MB virtuoso music die. The gorgeous rose ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons of course, flowers from Wild Orchid, pins from The Hobby House, MS punched fern leaves.

Challenges

Wild Orchid Anything Goes  

A Gem New beginnings

All about Fashion

First outing for this cutie called Fashionista, a Simply Sassy stamp from Krista Smith. I've teamed her with my gorgeous new First Edition Blank Canvas papers, a Christmas pressy from Lynsey. The backing paper is like fabric, yummy. She has ben coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. I've distressed the edges with a TH tool and DI Wild Honey. I've used an MS PATP set, LOTV sentiment, faux leather, cherry blosom from Wild Orchid and a dictionary page.

Challenges

The Sugar Bowl 4th entry using Fiona's sketch 

Saturated Canary Song title (Dedicated Follower of Fashion by The Kinks) 

Cute Card Thursday Something new 

My Mum's Craft Shop Anything Goes 

Papertake Happy New 

Passion for Promarkers Peach and blue

Parade

Woah, there's a lot going on here. I recently went back to posting on the Docrafts gallery and found they have a weekly challenge. The sketch was perfect for a scrapbook page and as I had promised myself I would make more layouts this was the result. The photos are from parades at Hollywood Studious, Florida.

I used some Core'dinations and Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby paper with a MS deep edge border punch. Anther thing I have resolved is to use my border and PATP punches more this year. Some of them haven't been used for ages. The sparkly letters are from Dunelm Mill, small butterflies made with Cheery Lynn Dies and large butterflies from The Works.

Challenges

Paperplay Celebration
Dream Valley Anything Goes
My Mum's Craft Shop Anything Goes

Snowflakes

I woke up early Saturday morning with a really sore throat and have felt pretty poorly all weekend. Saturday night when I really needed a good sleep I had the worst night I have had for a long time. The longest I slept at a time was 40 minutes. I have scheduled this post so hope I am feeling a bit better today.

I just love this Sugar Nellie image from Elisabeth Bell entitled Snowflake. This is my first Christmas card for 2013 and there will be more every month I promise you. I need to make a lot of them as I send only handmade cards and also sell a lot. This one will definitely be for me to send as I love the delicate colours and if I don't start on saving a few for me then my box will be empty come December. 

She has been coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and I've used a Sakura clearstar pen for the spots and snowflakes and added a little Stickles for snow. The backing paper was a freebie, the others are The Snowman. Did you see The Snowman and The Snowdog at Christmas? I absolutely loved it and recorded it so I can watch it again. Oops, back to my card. The tree and snowflake were cut with Marianne dies and the border with an MB die.

Challenges

The Sugar Bowl 3rd entry using Fiona' fab sketch and this time the option of let it snow 

Marianne's Design Divas It's Christmas 

BTCAG Cute and girly 

Elisabeth Bell's World Snowflakes 

Willow Sketchie Anything Goes
Craftyhazelnut Santa has gone into hiding (Christmas, no Santa image)

Delicious Doodles Sparkle and shine

Another shed

I'm back today with another of the shed cards for Stamposaurus. I've coloured it with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and used some old Papermania Secret Garden stamps. I've gone for a distre sed look with this one. The lamppost was made with a Marianne Die and Core'dinations, sentiment is LOTV. I've also used a MS Cherish punch and ric rac from Crafty Ribbons. Don't forget they have a fantastic sale on at the moment. This is my card for the Crafty Ribbons Pure Inspiration blog. Did you enter the fantastic Advent Calendar event, lots of winners? Do visit regularly to check out all the wonderful posts from the DT.

Challenges

Simon Says New something (stamp)
Crafty Catz Anything Goes

Me and my teddy bear

It's the first challenge of the year at Totally Gorjuss and it's a nice easy one of anything goes with ribbon. We have a lovely new sponsor, J&C Creations. I decided to make a boy's card rather than a girly one and just had to use this gorgeous Sugar Nellie stamp which I found for sale on Facebook. I have often admired this stamp and it was a joy to colour with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. I used Papermania Happy Days papers, some ribbon from stash, a Teddy Bo stamped sentiment and some card candi. Very simple embellishments for me I know butI really like it. 

Challenges

The Sugar Bowl Fiona's great sketch
Hotshot Crafts Clean and simple 

Forever Friends Anything Goes 

Kaboodle Doodles Anything Goes 

Simon Says New something (stamp) 

Little Miss Muffet Anything Goes 

Crafty Creations Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy Furry friends

Christmas in Paris

This was another ordered card by the same young lady who ordered the dress form card. She did challenge me I can tell you. She spent a weekend in Paris with her boyfriend a little while before Christmas and wanted to incorporate Paris into his Christmas card. Luckily I have a Tim Holtz French stamp set and once I stamped that onto kraft I found the card came together easily. I liked the way the Christmas tree charm echoes the shape of the Eiffel Tower.

This is my DT card for Winter Wonderland where our theme this week is travel. Remember it doesn't have to be a Christmas card so the possibilities are endless. We are so lucky to have 2 fabulous new sponsors

and

Challenges

Craftyhazelnut Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show Anything Goes

Party Time Tuesday Celebration 

Creative Inspirations Celebration

Because sheds don't have to be brown

I am currently working on some samples for the new stamps at Stamposaurus and this is one of the new garden shed stamps. These are such fun to colour and I decided to make this one a blue shed. Coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers. The papers are Papermania Portobello Road. I used MB fence and tree dies and added a wooden bird. 

Challenges

Simon Says New something (stamp) 

Loves rubberstamps Anything Goes 

Papertake Anything Goes

4 Ever

Well I promised I was going to do more scrapbooking this year so hope you will enjoy my layouts. I know how very lucky I am to have found such a wonderful husband and to still be together and so very happy. We met  a few weeks before my 16th Birthday and the first photo which isn't great quality as it is a print from an old slide, was taken when I was about 17. The second photo is one of my favourites, I rarely like my photos, and was taken 2-3 years ago. Graham says he has changed much more than me. Well he did have rather a lot of hair then and a moustache. He loved that car and would love one like it now to mess around with. Not so sure about the fashions though, wouldn't wear that billowy top nowadays. I've used postcard, watch and paper from the new Papermania Chronology range, Tim Holtz clock die, baker's twine, clock charm from Wild Orchid (I think). The journalling comes from the beautiful song Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce. It was this song and challenge at Crafty Cardmakers which inspired my layout. In fact I am thinking what a great idea to use song titles or lyrics for layouts.

Other Challenges

Cards Galore Scrapbook Anything Goes 

Simon Says Stamp and Show Anything Goes 

Natalie and Amy Favourite things (My hubby(!), scrapbooking, distressing. 

2 Sisters Anything but a card

I used to regularly post on Docrafts gallery but when I started my blog didn't seem to find time for both. I have started posting on there again and will try to keep it up so if you are on there please find me under Marianne's Craftroom and join me as a buddy.

Candy winners

This is my second post for today. Please scroll down for my favourite 5 cards of 2012.

Thanks for all your entries for my little New Year candy. There were 58 entries. Unfortunately a few people failed to leave a comment so using Random Org was a bit difficult. So I decided to ask my hubby to choose numbers between 1 and 58. Of course he then chose some who hadn't left a comment or hadn't posted a pic on their sidebar.

Eventually I got to 4 winners who either chose different stamps or didn't mind which one they won. So here they are in numerical order.

3 Caroline SWALK

31 Kate Mulberry Wood

49 Isobel Hunter Ellie

52 Catherine Dragonfly fairy

Sorry I haven't linked to your blogs but I am doing this on the iPad and linking on it isn't as easy as using a laptop or PC.

Please e-mail me asap with your address and I will post your stamp out to you.

More candy coming shortly x

My top 5 cards of 2012

As usual the lovely Debby has set the challenge of your 5 favourite cards of 2012. I thought choosing my 5 favourite Christmas cards was hard enough. As I had already chosen those I decided not to include any Christmas cards in this selection. So here we go, in no order.....

I just had to choose a purple card and I love all the elements on this on, LOTV image,gorgoues flowers, clock die and pearls.

I love making boy's cards, as you may know and I think this old fashioned little boy is so cute. 

A distressed card this time a gorgeous Saturated Canary image. 

Another kraft card I know. This was my hubby's anniversary card and love the Sarah Kay image.

I've really enjoyed trying some new techniques this year and I love the way this card turned out.

So there we are. I could have chosen more of course and on another day my choices may have been different. I really want to continue trying out different cards though stamping and colouring will always be my favourite. I am also resolving to continue making Christmas cards all year round and to do more scrapbooking. I started 2012 well with layouts but then the pressures of creating for craft fairs took over. So I will be doing less craft fairs in 2013 and more scrapbooking. 

That just leaves me to wish you all 

A Very Happy New Year

Let's hope it is a happy, healthy and prosperous one for us all.

Thanks for all your support and comments throughout 2012.