2 Sketches 4 You Kazan #67

Over at 2 Sketches 4 You it is the last sketch of the year. I haven't been able to participate much this year and I am hoping to be able to rectify that in 2011. In the meantime I have used Kazan's Sketch # 67 to make a tag, but I have then mounted that onto a card. It is however removeable so that the recipient can recycle it onto a gift once Christmas is over. How neat is that?

I have used all papers from Papermania Honey & Hugs Festive frolics Collection. The sentiment is DCWV and the ribbon and eyelet is from my stash.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

• 2 Sketches 4 You Kazan #67 - Layout
• A Crafty Little Place #66 - Anything Goes
• Dutch Dare #92 - Christmas Card, tag or Ornament
• Kaboodle Doodles #45 - Tag You're It
• Little Red Wagon #67 - Tag or Bag
• Scrappy Frogs - Christmas Theme
• There's Magic In the Air - Anything Goes

2 Sketches 4 You Laura #65

After my crafty mojo taking a bit of a sabbatical lately I was gobsmacked to find that I was inspired to make a card using a freebie paper pack that came with Creative Cardmaking magazine on Thursday. It is a pack of papers and stickers by Bo Bunny and I just love how bright they are.

I used a sheet of A4 card for the base and covered it with the red swirly paper. Using Laura's latest sketch #65 over at 2 Sketches 4 You I cut some strips of the matching papers using my new Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment is a sticker that I mounted on card and matted onto black card mat and some of the green paper. This is raised up on 3d foam.

The ribbon is from DCWV and the little jingle bell is from my stash.

I can't tell you how good it is to be enjoying crafting again :), it's been a long time.......

Just Saying Hello

Apologies for the poor photo. I have taken it at night and the artificial lighting has played havoc with the colouring. The blue is a bit richer in real life but at least you can see how dimensional it is.

I have made this card using a new die I have had from Sizzix which is a scalloped square. I have only used part of this shape to fall in with the layout of the card which was from Kazan's sketch # 43 over at 2 Sketches 4 You. It is ages since I have been able to participate in one of their sketches so it's nice to be back in the fold :)

The brown patterned paper is a magazine freebie from my scraps with a white gel pen faux stitching border around the edges. The blue sentiment panel is a Hero Arts rubber stamp printed onto a scrap of paper which turned out to be self adhesive.

The spotty ribbon was a gift from my Secret Sister Mags and I have attached a little butterfly charm to it with a jump ring. The chipboard spotty butterfly is one I had in a Colorbok Kit from QVC last year. I have embellished it with wire antennae and Kanban self adhesive crystals.

I have been able to incorporate the following challenges into this card :-

• 2 Sketches 4 You Kazan #43 - Sketch for layout
• Incy Wincy Designs #24 - Bling
• My Time To Craft #73 - Blue & Brown colour scheme
• Creative Belli Challenge #82 - Rhinestones
• La La Land #19 - Use a Charm
• Ildi Co's Creative Challenge #7 - Only use scraps and something metal
• Paper Play 1 Week 1 - Metallic Element
• If The Shoe Fits Fashionista Friday #17 - Chipboard
• Pile It On #30 Crystal Clear - Bling
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Polka Dots
• One Stop Craft Challenge #61 - Something beginning with B (Butterfly & bling)
• Get Creative With Ann GCA#72 - New Sizzix Die and rubber stamp
• 365 Cards Day 312 - Metallic Element (Charm)
• Sunflowers & Dragonflies #23 - Faux Stitching
• Just Us Girls #15 - Stitching
• Crafty Catz #14 - Bright & Sparkly

365 Cards Day 136

Hello Tweeties !!

First I would just like to thank all the people who have given me such good wishes for my interviews tomorrow. It really is a boost after the sheer amount of things we've had thrown our way recently. If you all keep your fingers crossed maybe, just maybe I might get a job offer tomorrow. I mean, I haven't bought anything crafty since the end of March. A girl's got needs you know !

Seriously though, thank you very, very much, it means a lot to me to get such support from you, my crafty friends. Big hugs and kisses to each and every one of you xxx

What's Black and White and red allover?

My cutie little card that's what! That was today's challenge at 365 cards and I have incorporated the following challenges into this card :-

• 365 Cards Day 136 - Colours of Red, Black & White
• 2 Sketches 4 You - Laura's Sketch #30 for the layout
• My Time to Craft #69 - A bird in the hand
• Crafty Creations #23 - Birds
• Get Creative With Ann #49 - Spread your wings and fly

The black and white paper is from Clare Curd's 'The Big One' from Papermania, the red spotty is a very old one from HOTP. It came in the very 1st pack of anything I bought from the USA on Ebay in about 2003 !!!

The black scalloped strip on the side was handcut using a Fiskars shapecutter template. I had no chance doing it THAT neatly with the shapecutter so drew it with a pencil and used my trust small pair of Fiskars scissors. I sandwiched it between the card blank and the paper. I used my Martha Stewart punch on the HOTP paper and there is a velvet ribbon in the centre to add some luscious texture. The birdy is a digital freebie that I have used loads and loads and there is a link in one of my earlier posts. I matted this on a cardstock circle and used my nesties to cut a scalloped one. This is edged with a bit of black inkpad and mounted on 3d foam pads. Last but not least the sentiment was made on the computer, matted on black card and raised with foam.

365 Cards Day 105, 2 Sketches 4 You & Pile It On

Woohoo, it's the weekend :) Had a small lie in this morning and Paul has gone to his friends to do website stuff so I getto do some crafting Yay!

Paul's going to Manchester on Monday for a couple of days so I will be able to do lots and lots of crafting whilst also preparing to go camping at Silverstone from Thursday. I've got most of the supplies but will need to finalise menu's for each day and see what food we need to take. We're going with 2 of our bestest friends to watch the last Formula 1 race meeting at Silvestone race track. It is the 1st time any of us will have been and I we are really excited. It's a good thing we had to pay for our tickets a year ago though or there is no way we could have afforded to go.

Anyhoo, this card incorporates the following challenges:-

• 365 Cards Day 105 - Make a card inspired by the song Rainbow Connection
• 2 Sketches 4 You - Kazan Sketch #28 for the layout
• Pile It On - Use a non stamped sentiment

The rainbow papers for this card came from a Papercrafts Inspirations magazine freebie which featured wellies, umbrellas and rainbows, all very British themes! The papers are available as a download from their website here. They do some smashing designs and little extra motifs to match, it's just a shame that they are printed on magazine paper so the quality is a bit naff. Some magazines like Crafts Beautiful include them as a separate sheet and that is a far better compromise as those are much better. The purple trellis paper came from a Simply Cards and Papercrafts pack. I matted this onto an oval which was cut with Fiskars decorative edge scissors. The rainbows on the mat were originally a circle which I cut in half and layered on 3d foam. The clouds on the sentiment panel I have embellished with white fluffy stuff from Woodware and used my heat cut to puff it up. I love how dimensional this has made the cute fluffy clouds.

I absolutely love rainbows and really enjoyed making this card. Whilst making it, it reminded me that when I was driving back from our crafty session in Warrington I saw the most beautiful rainbow I've ever seen. I was on a really wide flat road and looking down the motorway was the most colourful and PERFECT rainbow spanning all across the road, it was just so beautiful. Obviously not a photograph moment as you can't pull over and stop on a motorway. It was one of those moments when you wish you could take a photo of what you see with your eyes at an exact moment. You very rarely see a perfect rainbow with such brilliance of colour and it was a moment to remember. They fill me with happiness, joy and hope and the belief that things can only get better.

365 day 83, Chocoholic, 2S4U & Flutterby Wednesday

The challenge for today Day 83 at 365 Cards was to make a card with a matching envelope. I didn't really know what I was going to do and was thinking about it whilst I was doing the grocery shopping. Whilst in Poundland I spotted a fab gift bag which had lots of lovely glittery flowers on one side and the same, but unglittered on the other. I bought it thinking they would be great decoupaged. Then this afternoon when I went onto the forum I am a member of the challenge set by Chocoholic was decoupage, well I had to use my pretty bag didn't I ?

The closeup photo shows the layers. The glitter was already on there except for the little Stickles dots that I added. I have found a new blog this week which has a challenge called Flutterby Wednesday.  You have to use either a butterfly or fairy and this week the challenge is to use 2 patterned papers. The layout is Laura's Sketch 26 at 2 Sketches 4 You. The butterfly paper is from a Papermania Forever Friends pad, the mottled paper is Basic Grey and the purple glimmer paper is HOTP with a bit of Martha Stewart punching.

The sentiment is a foiled one from my stash layered onto some bright pink card. The brad in the centre of the flower is by Papermania.

For the envelope I have just used the same elements and decorated it accordingly. I'm pretty sure this is the first time I have made a matching envelope for a card. I know there are many people who do that for each card they make but as the envelope gets thrown away I don't think it's something I'd do often - but it does make it look really special so would consider doing it for more cards in the future.

2 Sketches 4 You - Laura # 25

This is one of the cards I made at our crafty session. I decided I was going to be organised and mad a bag up for each card sketch or challenge with the items I was making the card with. This was much more productive than me taking a whole bunch of stuff and meandering along.... I made 7 cards in 5 hours so not too bad considering we were have a good old natter as well.

This card was made using Laura's current sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. The floral paper is a vellum which has been treated with my Martha Stewart Punch. I have stuck some Docrafts ribbon on the top.

The flower border stamp is by Clare Curd and part of the Papermania collection.I have coloured this in with Sakura glitter pens and Marvy Le Plume to match the colours in the vellum.

The flower is a petal from a bunch of silk flowers. It has been cut in half and layered and looks very full. The big brad is a HOTP with a rub on sentiment on top.

365 Cards Day 63 & Savitri's Bonus Sketch

Woohoo, managed to make the last 365 Card before the end of the week.

Challenge for today, day 63 was to make a card with 8 flowers on it.

I wanted to use Savitri's Bonus sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You as I really liked the layout. It's the last time the current DT will have submitted cards and although it's a shame to see them go, there will be a new DT next week and it's always great to see who has been picked. They have so many talented card makers and it really is a very inspirational blog. I think my cards are very basic compared to some of the luscious designs that are showcased on there, hopefuly some of it will rub off onto me :)

I started off by using a 3D floral element that came from a sticker pack at Poundland. I bought absolutely loads of them when they came out as they were fabulous value for what you got, but haven't used many of them at all. I plan to remedy that as to make some Christmas presents this year I want to make a personal calendar and card box for members of the family and need to make lots and lots of cards. That's where 365 Cards is helping me to use my stash one card at a time.

Anyway, I digress. The embellishment only had 7 flowers so I nicked one off another pack and made it 8. I added a bit of Paparmania bling to the centre. I cut an oval from a scrap of Dovecraft Laura Ashley paper and matted this on a scrap of soft gold.

The paper is from Creative Cardmaking magazine. The sentiment is from there too and matted onto some scrap black card. I added a couple of tiny butterflies to the panel to finish it off.

I am quite pleased with it as it is a pretty card and suitable for many occasions.

Going to end my day now and start reading Eclipse which is the 3rd book in the Twilight series. I have yet to see the film but have really enjoyed the first 2 books. I'll probably end up dreaming of vampires again.......

Kazan 25 & 365 Cards Day 62

The challenge yesterday, day 62 at 365 Cards was to make a card where a number needed to signify the importance of the event. Having just made an age card only a few days ago I couldn't think of an event I needed one for so soon. Then it dawned on me that our neighbours lad is 18 this year and a card was born.....

I have used Kazans latest sketch 25 over at 2 Sketches 4 You as the layout as it seemed perfect for an 18 year old male.

The papers are from Papermania and Dovecraft. The gold star is from a miscellanous pack of paper & card I had from Home Bargains. It came in an A4 red tray with tons of papers in it and was an absolute bargain. It was supposed to be a kids scrap play pack, well at 37 I can still be a kid right?

The white star is glittered and I have no idea where I got that one from. The lettering is self adhesive die cuts from a QVC TSV that Brenda Pinnick did last year.

Well it's not his birthday until late August so I've REALLY excelled myself making this one in advance....

Just one more 365 card to go and I've completed this week's challenges. 

2 Sketches 4 You & 365 Cards

OMG, I have made a 365 Cards challenge the day that it has been posted !!! Seems like a VERY long time ago since I did that. It is also weeks and weeks since I have been able to participate in a 2S4U sketch and I love Laura's this week.

As I am sure many cardmakers do, I have a LOT of scraps just waiting for something to be done with them. I am trying REALLY hard to make use of them instead of just storing them in plastic boxes. I also subscribe to some fab UK magazines and a lot of them have free papers with them, some being much nicer than others. The main paper on this card is one of those. I love the design but the paper is so very thin which is a shame...

All the papers have come from my scraps box, the ribbon is from my stash, the glittered chipboard pieces are some a great pack I got from Poundland. I used a nestabilities die for the scalloped circle and pricked holes around the edge to mirror the holes produced by the Martha Stewart Doily punch (that are starting to be sold in the UK at long, long last!)

The flowers are Primas and the glittered brad is from Papermania.

The 365 Cards challenge for today, day 52 was to incorporate circles, flowers and brads. I think this card ticks all those boxes and it's turned out really pretty too :)

2 Skeches 4 You Kazan 22 & 365 Cards Day 17

This is the mother' day card I have made for my MIL for sunday. I have used Kazan's sketch 22 over at 2 Sketches 4 You for the layout and Day 17's challenge at 365 Cards to use 3 buttons and 3 bows

The bottom paper is a printed vellum by Folia which I got from a wicked little craft shop in Stratford upon Avon. The sheet was mahoosive and it has lasted forever. It is so fab as you can't see adhesive through it and the colors are so rich. The top is black card with a white core that has been embossed using a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and sanded back a little to highlight the dots. The black ribbon is recycled from a box of Thorntons choccies, the red 'bows' are HOTP ribbon, the heart buttons are Papermania.

The rose image has been recycled from a shop bought card, the special Mum sentiment was printed out by moi ages ago and the other sentiment was from a Lets Make Cards pack and matted onto black to make it pop more. I had a small amount of the black ribbon left so added it to the top of the card with a heart shaped gem. I was n't sure about it but Paul likes it and it's his Mom the card is for.

2 Sketches 4 You & 365 Cards

Another double challenge card thankyou to the inspiration from 365 Cards and the wonderful sketch from Laura Davis.

Day 13's challenge at 365 Cards was to make a card using only Blue, Red & Yellow with white. I have to admit, they are colours that I would never have dreamed of putting together and I'm not entirely sure about this card. I've left it blank for the time being but it will probably look better with a sentiment , not sure?

Anyhoo I have used Laura's sketch # 21 over at 2 Sketches 4 You as the layout. The blue paper is a current freebie with a UK magazine Crafts Beautiful. The blue and red ribbons are from my stash. I love the red spotty ribbon with the pretty border, it is one of my fave's. The small flower is a Prima and the button is Papermania.

The yellow flower has been recycled from my living room. I have recently changed the colour scheme and had some bright yellow and orange flowers which came apart really easily and I now have a fabulous source of large and medium size blooms and there were loads of layers in each one. Quite a bargain really! The flower sequin was in my stash from ages ago, the spotty brad is Queen & Co. and the red gems are Papermania.

2 Sketches 4 You - Julie Campbell Bonus Sketch

This is the 2nd card I submitted for the Spring competition. I used one of the sketches that I'd not been anble to submit a card for by Julie Campbell who is a DT member over at 2 Sketches 4 You.

The papers are a double sided wrapping paper from Paperchase, the gems are also from there. The glittered egg and sentiment are from a Lets Make Cards pack. 

2 Sketches 4 You - Laura # 19

As soon as I saw Laura's sketch # 19 over at 2 Sketches 4 You I was reminded of the stash of skeleton leaves that I bought when I first started card making (own up, how many others did too ?)

This is the second card I have made for the Docrafts & Marie Curie Cancer Appeal and all cards are to be keps to the same A6 size. All the papers and the sentiment tag are from the HOTP Earth Tones Creative Pack. I wouldn't like to admit how long I have had it and not really used it. I need to start getting through some of the obscene amount of paper I have so I am trying to use up some of my older stuff. I think we all have a tendency to migrate towards the newer items we have and neglect what we already have. I am TRYING not to do this any longer...... Also my little craft room is not going to get any bigger and storage of my stash is always an ongoing issue. ( I am sure something that many of us suffer with too LOL)

The leaf sticker in the background is from a Penny Black sticker sheet, the organza bow is from my stash and the pearlised brad is from Papermania.

2 cards down, 3 more to go.

2S4U - My Eye Candy

Introducing you to my very own Eye Candy, my husband Paul.

Over on 2 Sketches 4 You they are running a little competition where each day they will announce a winner of some Sakura pens. All you have to do is show them your Eye Candy who makes your heart pitter patter and link back to the their blog.

Paul is the love of my life. I was extremely lucky when as a very shy 17 year old I sat next to a complete stranger at a Pet Shop Boys concert on my very 1st visit to the NEC, a huge exhibition centre outside Birmingham, UK

This July marks us being together for 20 years, there are very few 37 year olds who can say that. We have been married for just over 7 years.

I can hand on heart say I love this man with every breath of my body, always have and always will. I often remark that we both have faults as individuals but together we can do anything.

I am tremendously thankful for the day I met Paul and fully believe I am with my partner for life. I just wish that everyone could be as happy as we are.

2 Sketches 4 You - Kazan # 19

I tried scanning this card in but it didn't come out very well at all so took a photo.

This card was made using Kazan's latest sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You. I made the cardblank from an A4 piece of leather effect cardstock which I cut in half lengthways. I do like using cards this way round but very rarely do I think to make them. The scalloped border was cut using my Fiskars shapecutter template.

The purple patterned paper is Papermania and the black dotty border was cut from a sheet of DCWV. Liberal amounts of clear glitter Sakura pen have been applied to tart them up!

The ribbon flower is from a roll that I bought at the NEC in November that has a string in it to gather it up. As soon as I saw the sketch I knew I wanted to make a flower using this ribbon, the centre is a brad from DCWV.

The sentiment is from Lakeland and this has been matted onto a scrap piece of black cardstock.

Love this skech and I think it will become one of my favourites.

2 Sketches 4 You - Rae's Bonus Sketch

Rae's bonus sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You was the starting point for this card.

The glittered cardstock is from DCWV, the blue strip was cut from a piece of cardstock and the textured circle and glitter flower is also from there. The only non DCWV item is the bling from Paperchase.

2 Sketches 4 You - Laura # 18

This is te first card that I made at the crafty session with my forum buddies yesterday.

I used Laura's Sketch 18 from 2 Sketches 4 You for the layout of this card. I would NEVER have used a layout like this without a sketch to guide me so it had me expanding my style somewhat.

The red cardstock panel, paisley glittered card and floral glitter card are DCWV, the decoupaged flower was a magazine freebie and the sentiment panel was from Lakeland.

2 Sketches 4 You - Kazan # 18

What with holidays and being really busy I have been unable to make cards in time to fit the challenges for 2 Sketches 4 You, but I am happy to report that other than suffering from a stinking cold and chest infection, things are getting back to normal now.

Kazan's sketch 18 was used to form the basis of this card. I have recently subscribed to a magazine and the freebie pack was from Papermania Sweet Nothings collection and it had a pack of printed acetate in it which I have never used before. I have seen many lovely cards made my fellow bloggers and I know the main thing to be careful of was to not make the adhesive used obvious.



The ribbon hides the join where the front of the card is attached to the acetate. The inside of the card was lined with paper from HOTP. The star ribbon is self adhesive from Papermania and the birdy is a freebie digital scrapbook downloadable from Imagine by Fran

Until now, I hadn't appreciated just how awkward these are to photograph as it is difficult to see the design and the colours don't appear as strong so I have also scanned it in.

I have enjoyed the challenge of making this card and have more sheets of acetate to use so will be making other cards. I may need to brush up on my photography skills though LOL

Happy Birthday CJ

Our nephew was born on Christmas Day 12 years ago and this is the card I made for his birthday.

I based it on Laura's 15th Sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You . I had some cardstock stickers from Doodlebug which I thought were quite fun for 12 year old lad. The central panel is one of those, the ribbon strips and the circular ones are too, all with liberal smatterings of a Sakura clear glitter pen for a bit of bling.

The patterned paper is HOTP from the Creative Cardmakers Citrus pack. I do love the bright papers in this pack and am going to be gutted when they finally run out.