Friday Sketchers challenge 71. What a stunningly simple sketch, love it! I've teamed this up with A Spoonfull of Sugar challenge 71 which is 'Christmas' and used my Koh-i-Noor pencils on a fab freebie image from Pollycraft to include in their challenge 25 which is to have '5 S's, Snowflakes,Sparkle,Spots,Stripes and swirls', i think I've achieved that. Then i went to one of the other new blogs Bee Crafty which is challenge 14 'Christmas' too but must use a digi image, another is Digital Tuesday challenge to use 'heart' somewhere on your digi image (epoxy gem on hat and doodling along bottom), Dare U 2 Digi stamp challenge is another new one to me and they required you to use 'punch shapes or die cuts' snow flakes on mine, pink card is from stash, stripey paper is from The Creative Cottage, super papers! dotty stamp and swirls from SSS MOD designs set and text stamp from Sweet n sassy stamps 'snowflakes set', X cut punch used for the flakes, Glamour Dust added for sparkle. Wow, didn't realise there are so many challenges for digi images out there in blogland! Hope you stayed till the end of this post as I like to credit people deservedly, bye for now.

Hi all, my second posting of today just to let you know about a new blog I discovered. The Creative Cottage has a fab freebie download for personal use 'Home Sweet Home'. There's also a kit called Fairy Wishes which I won just for following the blog!!! Thankyou to The Creative Cottage just how brilliant is that? What fab papers for quick cards, no stamping, just cut and make your own design. Well I couldn't resist but have a little play, so i thought I'd make those jump cards only mine had to fit a 14cm x 14cm envelope as the postage here is so high. So I started to tweak a template and I got a 'trapezium' looking card but i like it. I know it's not the usual square but it will do, the stamps used are from American Crafts from QVC...

...side view

This one is from the Fairy Wishes, so sorry the pic is not good but it's fab in real life. There's a small gem in the flower of the fairy's hair and she's been 3D'd. Pop over to get your freebie, there are so many possibilites for cards and I'll be using papers from both sets to make some yummy cards for challenges in the near future! Bye for now.

Cute Card Thursday #79 is 'Buzz Off' this week so I've used a PB image from clear stamps 'Hugs' set, blended with OMS using my Koh-i-Noor pencils which was a very worthwhile purchase from Elizabeth at Elzybells. The colours are typical to a bumble bee, yellow dotty download from Funky Fairy seeing Spots vol 1 along with some black/white dotty wrapping paper (this is how I got into making cards by using images cut out from prese paper). Corner stamps from SSS MOD Design set and text from SSS 'Oh Happy Day' set too. Heidi the owner of Simon Says Stamp is a very generous person and gives alot to blogland so please join in their challenge this week to get over 200 entries! Wow I would like to enter this one for Papertake Weekly as I've used their sketch, back in a bit...

Hi all, hope everyone is well in blogland. My card today is for Scrapmag challenge #15 'to use a digi image' and Lisbet the owner of Scrapmagasinet has very kindly offered Krilla Bunny digi image to start off with! Fabby, I always like a helping hand, it makes it so much easier and anyone out there must have a go, there's super giveaways over on the blog. So this is also my entry for Kaboodle Doodles challenge #14 a recipe '1 solid cardstock, 2 pattern papers ( they're ones from Kaboodle Doodles Halloween kit), 3 embellishments and also a digi image', I've used the sketch from A Spoonfull of Sugar #70 and I'd like to enter for Polka Doodles #19 which is 'Digi Colouring'. Now I'm not too sure if I was supposed to use one of theirs :( I don't have any. As you can see i love using my CB embossing folders, a fabby buy from Tracey at Dies for Die Cuts, super service! Text and pumpkins from Studio G clear stamps, image coloured using Koh-i-noor woodless pencils blended with Odourless Mineral Spirit at last I've got the proper stuff from Sir Stampalot, again super service. I ordered Friday lunchtime and postie had it for me Saturday morning :)))) Great service!!! This one is heading along with other cards to Postpals minus the buttons to put a smile on a little angels face. Have a great weekend all, until next time.

Penny Black #67 is 'lace and pearls', followed sketch from Sketch Satruday #69, Polka Doodle #18 is 'DIY Flowers', just happens that Funky Fairy challenge 35 is 'Oodles of Doodles' and Simon Says Stamp challenge is 'Stitching:real or faux'!
So the papers are from Funky Fairy downloads 'Aqualicious Delight' stamped image with Momento Tuxedo Black ink pad, PB 'hugs' clear sheet, w/coloured with my Koi's, balloon 3D'd, sentiment from American Crafts clear stamps, lace and pearls from stash, made my own flowers by cutting out circles and taking out small snippets and either curling inwards or outwards. Doodling on hand cut scallopped oval, faux stitching on the edges but seems like the stitch has runaway a little bit and become a tacking stitch for temporary dressmaking that is! I had to do quick recovery work on this one, as a stripe on the backing paper had a faulty ink line running in it and instead of throwing the whole piece away, i cut out another strip from extra sheet and pasted it on top and now you can't see it only if you look close enough, they're the two yellow lines, or maybe i shouldn't have said? Finished off the flowers with a touch of Glamour Dust.

Just to add quickly after a long post that Lorraine from Simon Says Stamp challenge would be ever so happy if you'd join in with their weekly challenge as they're trying to reach 200 entries, well with over 600 followers it can't be that difficult can it? Hope to see you there, bye for now.

Hi all, I can't believe I didn't find this new challenge blog sooner. I saw a demo on the Create & Craft channel and just had to look up their company. So this challenge ends tomorrow, so I best be quick and it's the Polka Doodle challenge #17 which is 'anything but a card', also it qualifies for another new fortnightly challenge, Bee Crafty # 13 which is a 'Bookmark', also the KLSNS08 challenge over at KL Stampin N Scrappin Blog, all of September 'Back to School' which is to use 'Notebook Paper'. I've used a torn scrap of paper from Shabby Princess and note paper, distressed edges with my new Distress Ink (Walnut Stain), watercoloured the fab 'pile of books' free digi download from Bee crafty, cut out and placed my Magnolia image also w/coloured and Glamour Dust added to her wings. All these challenges are new to me so I hope I've got them all right. This will be going to a little girl who has finally settled into Nursery school, Sorry the pic is a little wonky but I'm not having a good day so far :( The weather has turned somewhat very summery here in the UK, may be that will cheer me up...

A Spoonfull of Sugar this week #69 is 'Fall into Autumn', and what a fab title! So here it is using the'Wishing Tree image from The Greeting Farm and a freebie stamp which is a Sugar Nellie one I think, came with a Craft Stamper mag July issue.Used my new Tim Holtz Distress Inkpad (Walnut Stain) and washed over with a water brush. Owl is w/coloured with Koi's and googly eyes added. I got the inspiration from Marlene Ashby's article and her wonderful makes. They're so fab! Circle is hand cut with scallop scissors, red paper is from Funky Fairy's 'Love train' download and they're are 'recycling' in their challenge #34 so I've used white buttons from my hubby's old shirts, green paper is from 'Vintage' free papers from Shabby Princess, Simon Says Stamp challenge is a recipe '3 embellies, 2 papers and 1 image' but i think I've got 2 ;) Finished off with mini alpha stamps randomly cut into squares, and faux stitching. Hope you like this one, I'm off to a party tonight!

Hi all, hope all is well in blogland :) I think I've gone from Summer straight to Winter with this one but neverthe less I like it! I tried to find a challenge for a sunday/monday and I found Pollycrafts #24 which is 'Black, White and one other colour'. They do free images now so I thought I'd participate using 'Drake the penguin'. He's just fab, water coloured with Koi's, I may just go over to grab a few more. Sketch followed is Sketch Saturday #68 and I love it, also I've used my white Sakura gelly roll pen to do some 'Faux or Fake' stitching for Papertake Weekly.Text is a stamp from Funstamps, X-cut snowflake punch used and sequins to finish. The base white card is stamped with Chris Dickinson's 'Snowflake Set' from Sweet n Sassy Stamps with an old silver ink pad. Hoping to make a small collection to send to the children at Postpals, so this one goes in the pile. Bye for now.

Simon Says Stamp challenge 'Oriental'. Well I just couldn't believe the theme this week! I really really had to ink up the new stamps that I'd won from Chris's candy and how fab they all are. So this is SSS 'Oh Happy Day' set, papers from Dovecraft 'Wild Blossom' 6x6 pad, pink and pale green card from stash, stylized CB embossing folder, paper pieced the outfit with co-ordinating smaller patterns, Glamour dust added on lantern. This is also my entry for Papertake Weekly which is a wonderful sketch and for Cute Card Thursday which is 'Strawberry Mint Julep'. Hope I've got the right colours, had so much fun making this and the super quality of these stamps helps too! Shall go and see to the house chores now but still want to play some more with this set??? Have a great weekend everyone, bye for now. Oooh wanted to say 'thankyou' to some ladies who have left some nice comments recently.

Hi all, I really wanted to get this card on sooner but just not had the chance. Friday Skechers #68 is a fab sketch and mine is rotated twice so the text sits at the top. Image is from the Popcorn the Bear range 'Thanks a Bunch', fantastic stamps from Crafters Companions, papers are from Funky Fairys kit 'Aqualicious Delight' printed onto 120gsm Tesco'c finest premium quality. I've used my new Koh-i-noor woodless pencils with baby oil but do need the proper stuff to blend. I think I may be getting the hang of this colouring business.Glamour dust added to sunflowers. This card is also for Kaboodle Doodles challenge 13' Charming' hence the 'heart' charm, ABC challenge ' D for die cuts' my text is on one, and Funky Fairys challenge 33 'Use a tag on it' die cut is in the shape of one. Penny Black challenge is 'Hearts desire'. Heart charm and text is from 'Hugs' PB clear stamps and if you notice the bears ear there's a heart on that too!

Funky Fairies challenge 32 is 'CASE it'. This means 'Copy And Share Everything', so you create a piece of work inspired by someone elses work. So my card today was cased from Emma's fab card who in turn had cased Ria's card. I've used pink card from stash and debossed with swiss dots folder, don't possess any doileys so used my Debbie Moore 'fireworks' punch on a freebie swirls download from FFI, cupcake is from their 'Feeling Sweet' kit, used some bright Copics to colour and some decoupage work on it, dotty ribbon from stash and lots of Glamour dust added for sparkle. I will finish off with sentiment on the left as ther's an ugly ink mark, so will get it covered. There was a fab blog hop last week at FF which I thoroughly enjoyed ( fab bunch of talented ladies) and so far I've only missed a couple of their challenges, what's more important is I won their first ever challenge ;) Off now, til later.

Scrapmag has a challenge for a 'Birthday' but it ends today. Hi all, I won a couple of stamps from Scrapmagasinet from Lisbet some time ago and wanted to get in on their challenges, I missed the last one. This is Rakle Tulipa clear stamp perfect for the spring cards coloured with my limited supply of Copics and hair which is w/coloured, the flowers, dots and circles are from SSS MOD Design set, fabby stamps! Text on the tag is from American Crafts and side sentiment is from See D's 'friendship' set, finished with brads. I'm entering for the Sketch Saturday challenge 66 (rotated it once) and also ABC challenge 'C for Circles'. I've made several creations this week, so I'm hoping for a few days of turning my mind to other things that need attending to around the house :( so till then, bye.

Simon Says challenge is Heidi's choice this week, what a special occassion it is and a fab prize for the winner too. Heidi is the owner of SSS and it's her birthday today, the sketch was wonderful to work with and done in the quickest time ever. I don't have a leaf punch so omitted that, hope this still counts, however I do have a small collection of Simon Says Stamps and they are super to work with. Heidi also sponsors a number of challenges out there in blogland and they're always offering candy on their own blog too! What a generous lady owning a fantastic company!!! So as I wanted to enter this into A Spoonfull of Sugar challenge which is 'Distressing', I've used HOTP 8x8 paper pad 'Vintage' and chosen a similar image to compliment the theme. It's 'sweet lili' from Sarah Kay, used Crimson & Blake watercolouring pencils, glamour dust added to parts, chalking edges to give that distressed feel, strip of cream braid along bottom and three rhinestones. Oh nearly forgot the sentiment is a digi freebie from The Digi Shack. Thanks for any comments, bye til next time.

Friday Sketchers challenge 67 and a beautiful sketch. Papertake Weekly is 'angels and fairies' and Penny Black Saturday challenge 64 is 'Christmas'. Papers are from Kaboodles Doodles downloads 'christmas' kit, pink is from own stash, as is lace. Image was very kindly sent by Josianne ( big thankyou) and I believe it is one Anita's clear stamp range, sentiment is from PB 'Hugs' clear stamps and snowflakes are clear stamps from Sweet n Sassy Stamps. I've coloured with Koi Watercolours, accented with pink glitter gel pen and added a snowflake with sequin and micro fine glitter to the angels wings to finish! Hope you like back in a bit...