Daring Cardmakers "Oriental Splendour"

This week over on the Daring Cardmakers Challenge Blog the theme is "Oriental Splendour", make an oriental card without using red or black.

For my card I have used three japanese dolls from the 2009 Hero Arts Debut set, and they have been coloured with distress inks using the following colours...
Tattered Rose (Skin)
Worn Lipstick (Kimono's and Accessories)

The papers are by SEI "Chocolat range that came in my February ScrapaGoGo kit, as was the ribbon. I have also added a sentiment by Printworks, a heart pin and some Stampin' Up Choc Chip Taffeta.

I really love these Hero Arts stamps as they remind me so much of my Momiji dolls. Check out the challenge this week, the DT cards are well worth a look....so thanks ladies.

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge #37 & Papertake Weekly Challenge "Heart & Flowers"

This week over on the Papertake Weekly Challenge Blog the theme is "Hearts & Flowers" and I have teamed it with the lovely sketch over on A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge Blog provided by Tina46.

For my card I have used two of the new Magnolia Love Collection, both have been coloured with Distress Inks using the following colours...

Tattered Rose (Skin)

Worn Lipstick (Blush)

Milled Lavender (Dress)

Frayed Burlap (Hair)

Black Soot/Frayed Burlap (Bow & Arrow)

Weathered Wood (Shadow)

I have used SEI "Chocolat" papers, Bazzill cardstock, Maya Road Blossom, Basic Grey Stickers (all these items are from the ScrapaGoGo February 2009 Kit), and I have also used Stampin' Up Choc Chip Taffeta and a charm given to me by Marlene.

I am really pleased with the card, and love all the elements used....and that stamp...just too cute.

To check out both the challenges that I combined to make this card...follow the links to the right. There are some gorgeous cards, and it is well worth checking them out.

More snow arrived early this morning, so Georgia is off school and David spend over one hour waiting at junction 13 to join the M1 trying to get to work....he eventually gave up after being told that the place he was driving to was in chaos...so we are all taking advantage of an unexpected day off.

***ETA A Huge Thank You to Simonne who kindly answered my plea for a watermark....I have added it to the card above....and it is FAB-U-LOUS....Thanks so much Simonne, you are a star.***

Sketch Saturday - Sketch #34

Here is a card I made last night using this weeks sketch over on the Sketch Saturday Blog. For my card I have used four different Magnolia stamps. The main image is "Sitting Alf" from the Jingle Jangle collection, as is the big toad stool, the row of toad stools was from the Autumn Club Kit and the small individual one I cannot remember. All the images have been coloured using Tim Holtz Distress Inks.

Card Details
Images - Magnolia
Papers - Sassafraslass, October Afternoon "Night Light" & My Mind's Eye (All from January 2009 ScrapaGoGo kit)
Mediums - Distress Inks, Tattered Rose, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Fired Brick, Faded Jeans, (cannot remember what brownsI used for the boots and hair)
Other - I have also added Stickles in Silver (bell on hat), and Stardust (on the toad stool)

I have also inked the edges of the main image and all the patterned papers with VersaMagic chalk ink in "Hint of Pesto".

I loved this sketch and may use it again very soon....I love how it worked with the fancy edge of the Sassafraslass paper.

We had a lovely evening last night at Lynsey & Paul's.....a Mexican evening....which finished with the Men & Kids playing on the Wii and Lynsey & I stamping and colouring downstairs at the kitchen table...

Daring Card Makers "Cafe Chic!"

This week over on the Daring Cardmakers! Challenge Blog, the theme is "Cafe Chic!". Now this theme had me stumped for a while, and then I remembered the cute Whiff of Joy stamp I had. I have coloured her with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Cocoa (Hair)
Blush (Jumper)
Burnt Sienna/Ruby (Trousers)
Ruby (Mug)
All the papers are from the ScrapaGoGo October kit, and I have added the bling from my stash....the red bling heart is by MAMBI, the letters are stickers my Making Memories and the ticket is by Tim Holtz. The final touch was some Sakura clear glitter gel of her hair.

Check out the challenge, the DT cards are fab, and so different from each other....it always amazes me how we can all interpret a theme so differently. You might even win the prize......'cause I was one of last weeks winners, and will be getting a surprise from Karen @ Charmed Cards & Crafts.

Acetate Card

I made my first ever acetate card while visiting with Marlene this week. All elements (with the exception of the prima flowers, ribbon and bling) of the card were from the October 2008 ScrapaGoGo kit. The stamp is by hAnglar & stAnglar and was in the Winter Club Kit. I have coloured her with ProMarkers using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Warm Grey 4 (Hair)
Vanilla (Dress)
Spice/Apricot/Gold (Scarf & Head Scarf)
Cinnamon (Basket & Shoes)
Ruby (Hearts)
The overlay is by Hambly and the patterned paper is by My Mind's Eye. The zig zig edge paper was part of a mini book that I pinched a page from. I actually made a mistake while colouring her face so instead of throwing it away, I decided to decoupage the face and hands....and I think it looks so cute. Finally I added a sentiment that came from a sheet of K&Co Maison paper that I pinched from Marlene when I was visiting.

Today I took Georgia and three of her friends to see High School Musical 3....and we had a fab time. We even dragged David with us, and were amazed at the amount of Dad's that were there. After the film and popcorn we had McDonalds for lunch and then went bowling.....finished off with an icecream.....and now Georgia is all dressed up as a Bat Girl dishing out sweets to the kids that knock at the door this evening.

A Couple of Cards...

I finally finished off this card last night. It had been sitting on my craft table for a couple of days. I just couldn't decide how to do the sentiment.....it is hard to stamp onto brown cardstock. In the end I decided to use my ATB tape writer and a tag. I love the combination of colours as it reminds me of raspberry truffle....yum yum. All the cardstock (inc the CI cardstock with holes by Samantha Walker) and the felt heart were from my September ScrapaGoGo kit, I added the Prima Flowers, gems and the tag and tape writer sentiment. The image is one of the hAnglar & stAnglar Winter Club Kit...and is so cute, although I think I prefer the little boy version with his backward facing cap.....so cute.

This was a quick and easy card I made for a Car Crazy Football loving male....All I have used on this card are papers from the Forever Friends "For Him" paper pad, with an added sentiment is a stamp by PrintWorks that I got at Ally Pally from Stamp Addicts....I really must drive over there and get some of the other packs....they were fab.

Last night I started to pack my stash for the weekend...cannot wait. Just have to finish work at 3pm today and I am done for the week....really looking forward to tomorrow, a whole weekend of crafting, nice food and NO Kids/Hubbys.....BLISS

Also I have just seen that over on the hAnglar & stAnglar blog, they are showing 11 of my most recent cards. It is not the first time I have had cards on their blog...but this is the most they have featured at any one time....I do LOVE those stamps.

I also wanted to thank everyone that emailed me about the hAnglars that I was selling, they are now sold....I think I could have sold them a few times over....the correct ones are now on order, and now I have them to look forward to.

High Hopes Challenge #2

This week over on the High Hopes Rubber Stamps Blog the challenge was to use Blue/Green/Brown and any neutrals. For my card I have used an image given to me by a friend. I have coloured it using ProMarkers and I believe the colours were (forgive me...I coloured it weeks ago...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Apricot/Gold (Hair)
Grass (Grass & Leaves)
Lime Green (Hat)
Apple (Top)
Sky Blue (Jeans)
Gold/Pastel Yellow (Flowers)

The papers are both my My Mind's Eye and were part of my September ScrapaGoGo kit. The metal "Friends" sentiment was given to me, but for the life of me I cannot remember by who. The sentiment stamp is by PrintWorks, ribbon by SU, and flowers by Prima. I have added Sakura clear glitter gel pen to her hair and Stickles to the Prima flower.

Thanks to the High Hopes DT for the challenge and as always for their inspiration.

Ismaki Challenge 33 by Beatrix

This week over on the Ismaki Blog the sketch has been provided by the lovely Beatrix. She also gave us the option of using leaves, and for the first time ever, I have managed to add the option.

For my card I have used October Afternoon "Country Fayre" papers, from October 2007 ScrapaGoGo Kit....and lush the kit was, not difficult with these gorgeous papers. I have used one of my new hAnglar & stAnglar Winter Club Kit stamps and coloured her with ProMarkers as follows...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Cocoa (Hair)
Maroon/Sandstone (Scarf/Hat/Dress)
Umber/Maroon (Shoes)
Spice (Basket)
Ruby (Hearts)

I have also added some Sakura clear glitter gel pen to the hair and hearts. The ribbon is by American Craft and the flowers are by Prima....cannot believe I actually used FIVE without hyper-ventilating...LOL, under the top flower stack I have added a Maya Road charm that says "love". Finally I have finished it off with a sentiment by Printworks that I got at Ally Pally from Stamp Addicts, punched out with a circle punch and chalked with a little Sakura glitter gel pen as a finishing touch.

Check out the Ismaki Blog, there are cards from some very talented International card makers.

Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge "It's a Wrap"

This week over on the Tilda & Friends ATC Challenge Blog, we are challenging you to wrap something around your ATC. So for mine I have used some SU choc chip taffeta ribbon (yum...sounds good enough to eat). The rest of the items I have used are October Afternoon "Country Fayre" papers that were in Oct 2007 ScrapaGoGo kit...they are still lush one year on.....I believe they were the first line by October Afternoon, and I have loved all the ranges that have come since. Anyway, back to the ATC. I have used 2 of the new Winter Club Kit hAnglar & stAnglar stamps...and I think they fit the theme as they are both "wrapped" up warm in mittens, scarfs and hats.....hehehehe. I have coloured both the images with my ProMarkers using the following colours....
Ivory/Blush (skin)
BOY
Cocoa/Apricot (Hair)
Olive Green/Sandstone (Hat/Scarf & Gloves)
Moss/Sandstone (Jumper)
Petrol Blue (Trousers)
Umber (Boots)

GIRL
Cocoa/Apricot (Hair)
Apricot (Hat/Gloves & Boots)
Maroon (Trousers)
Sandstone/Maroon (Jumper)
Pastel Green (Scarf)

To finish it off and add to the "wrapped" theme, I am making a little envelope for it to live in.

So why not come over and join us. Last week we proved that you don't have to make ATC's to swap, you can turn them into something else....and remember you are allowed to use "friends" now, so Hanglars, Spiral Whispers, Sugar Nellies, Cuddly Buddlys....basicly any stamp with a cute round face that matches Tilda.

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Sketch 12 by Katharina

This week over on Papertake Weekly Blog there is another fab sketch by Katharina. So here is my card. I have used one of my new hAnglar & stAnglaR Winter Club Kit stamps that finally arrived yesterday. I have coloured him with ProMarkers, using the following colours...
Ivory/Blush (Skin)
Cocoa (Hair)
Cornflower (Hat & Jeans)
Ruby (Neck tie)
China Blue/Blue Pearl (Top)
Ice Grey 1 (Bicycle frame)
Ice Grey 3 (Tyre)
Spice (Basket)
Silver (Hat buckle)
Pastel Blue (Shadow)

The papers are Basic Grey "Cupcake", and the ribbon is by American Craft. I used my circle nestabilities for the circle around the stamped image and also the scalloped circle. Finally I used one of my new sentiments by Printworks from a pack called"Friendship Greetings" and added a few bits of bling.

I have been busy the last couple of days creating with October ScrapaGoGo Create Kit.....boy is it lush....can't how you yet, but pop over the ScrapaGoGo to see the kit, also on their blog are sneaky peeks of the DT work.

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Sketch 11 by Katharina

This weeks challenge over on Papertake Weekly is another fabulous sketch by Katharina.

For my card I have used one of Katharina's "Whiff of Joy" stamps. The image is coloured with Promarkers, and I used the following colours...

Ivory/Vanilla/Blush (Skin)

Pastel Yellow/Gold (Hair)

Ice Grey 1 (Wings)

Rose Pink/Blush (Heart Box)

Lime Green (Top)

Cool Aqua (Jeans)

Silver (Jewellery and Belt Buckle)

Pastel Blue (Shadow)

The papers are all K&Co Urban Rhapsody, with the flowers by Prima Marketing. They are attached using a PaperMania glitter brad, and spacer from eBay. The sentiment has been added with Autumn Leaves "ticket" stamps. The Ric Rak was from August ScrapaGoGo Kit...and is lush.

Papertake Weekly Challenge "Autumn Haze"

The challenge this week over on Papertake Weekly was "Autumn Haze". I am a little late this week, but I wanted to wait for my new Fall Stamp Club to arrive. This card was made using all papers from ScrapaGoGo Autumn Create & Greetings kits. They are Sweetwater, Crate Paper & Fancy Pants. The blossoms are Prima attached with spacers and brads from my stash. The sentiment was also part of the Fall Stamp Club from Magnolia. I have coloured the images with my ProMarkers, using the following colours...
Ivory/Vanilla/Blush (Face)
Pastel Yellow/Gold/Apricot (Hair)
Maroon (Top)
Sandstone (Trousers & Mittens)
Cocoa (Wellies)
Apricot/Terracotta/Gold (Leaves)
Ice Grey 1 (shadow on mushrooms)
Moss Green (Tufts of grass)
As always I have used Pastel Blue to create a shadow around the whole image.

In a rush now, as I am off out to dinner with my Dad, Sister and the family.

First Card with my new Fall Stamp Club Magnolia's

So my new Magnolia Fall Stamp Club kit arrived yesterday and as usual I was unable to resist stamping a couple of them immediately and making a card...it is a little tradition of mine...LOL

So for this card I have used the Tilda with the flowers (not sure what flowers, they look like a type heather) and the log. I have coloured all the images in with my ProMarkers, using the following colours...
Ivory/Vanilla/Blush (skin)
Pastel Yellow/Gold (Hair)
Blossom (Hat & Wellies)
Sandstone (Top)
Warm Grey 1 (Trousers)
Marsh Green (Leaves)
Lavendar/Lilac (Blossoms)
Cocoa/Sandstone (Log)
The papers are K&Co Urban Rhapsody, and the blossoms are by Prima attached with brads and spacers. The ric rak was from a previous ScrapaGoGo kit. The sentiment is a stamp by Catslife Press (I love these stamps and have a huge collection of the seal ones). I cut the circle and scalloped circle with my Nestabilities using my Cuttlebug.

So that's it...first card completed....fingers crossed I get time later for more crafting.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 27 "Cats and Dogs"

This week the challenge over on the Cute Card Thursday Blog is "Cats and Dogs".

For my card I have used 2 hAnglar & stAnglar images. The are both coloured with my ProMarkers, and I have used the following colours...

Ivory/Vanilla/Blush (Face)
Pastel Yellow/Apricot (Hair)
Apricot/Sandstone/Pumpkin (Cats)
Cocoa (Shoes & Basket)
Lavendar/Pastel Blue (T-Shirt)
Lilac (Shorts)
Pastel Blue (Socks)

I have used some Bazzill and Chatterbox "Eclectique", Crate Paper "Sweet Branch". The chipboard buttons are also by Crate Paper. For the sentiment I used a template that was in the August ScrapaGoGo greetings kit as was the rik rak. Finally I added some Prima flowers from my stash.

As you have come to expect, the cards of the DT over on Cute Card Thursday are stunning...very inspiring.

Tilda & Co Challenge 34 "Emboss This"

A little late, but this weeks challenge over on the Tilda & Co Challenge Blog is "Emboss This". So what better excuse did I need tio get my new Cuttlebug out.

For this card I have used Forest Tilda (I think that was her name) coloured with my ProMarkers with a sentiment stamp by Hero Arts and a swirl by Autumn Leaves. All the papers are by My Minds Eye and are from the September ScrapaGoGo kit (I am using the pieces I didn't use in my designs this month). The flowers are by Prima with Flora Doodle brads by Petaloo (they are foam on the top with oodles of glitter on them...but you can't see that and were in the September kit too). The spacers are some I got in an old kit....not sure who from. I have used my new Nestabilities for the circle and scallop...yay first time I have used them.

Scrapbook Trends August 2008 Issue...

Well, for those of you who cannot get, don't know, or haven't seen, here are the two pages in the magazine that featured my mini book...

I have left the images nice and big, so if you click on them, you can see bigger pictures and even read the text....if you feel like it.

Well it is almost the end of the week again, and I am busy as always juggling work and crafting. I am just finishing of my ScrapaGoGo September DT work...almost there. Next week is a busy one her too as we are having out=r new bathroom fitted. Our bathroom is a shoebox, in fact the bath was fitted and the wall built around it, and the bathroom showroom owner could reach his arms out and touch both walls...LOL So we are ditching the bath and having a luxury shower instead....yay. So I will be home all week, looking after Georgia and working from home when I can.

Sarah Kay Challenge WK8 Sketch

The challenge for this week over on Sarah Kay Challenge Blog is a sketch. I had this image given to me in a swap...can't remember who with though. The papers and chipboard buttons are Crate Paper "Sweet Branch" and the stickers (letters and journal block) are both by American Crafts. All the elements of the card, with the exception of the image were part of the August ScrapaGoGo Kit....and lush it was too.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 23 "Soft Furnishings"

This weeks challenge over on Cute Card Thursday is to use something that you associate with soft furnishings...buttons, fabric, ribbon...youn get the idea.

For my card I have used a Hanglar image sent to me in a swap, coloured with my lovely ProMarkers. I have used scraps of paper from a past GoGo kit, with some fabric ripped to make a ribbon, also from the same old GoGo kit. The cardstock was embossed with my Cuttlebug and the sentiment was made used my ATB Tape Writer.

Loved the challenge this week....and the DT cards as always, what can I say....AMAZING!

Magnolia Summer Stamp Club Card

Another card made for me, and not a challenge.

I have used one of the Magnolia Summer Stamp Club stamps. Absolutely everything else is by K&Co "Berry Sweet". The image is coloured with my new ProMarkers.

This week I am busy designing my September ScrapaGoGo kits. So far I have made three cards...the kits are so lush, full of gorgeousness and lovely summery colours. Subscriptions for this kit are sold out, but they do have some single kits that go on sale on the 1st September with the GoGo Grab-it's. So what with that and trying to get organised for our holiday next week...things are busy....and of course watching some of the Olympics. I even went online to request tickets for the 2012 London Olympics as Georgia wants to go and watch the Gymnastics.

Love Is...Us (Together Forever)

I made this card last night for no particular reason. I had done all the weekly challenges that I wanted to...and this card idea just came to me.

The images are both by hanglar & stAnglar , the papers are Prima "Angelique", the stickers are American Craft ("love") and Scenic Route (the rest). The paper, ribbon, and stickers were all parts of previous ScrapaGoGo Kits that I am using up....they are always so jam packed that I always have lots of bits and pieces left over.

The images were both coloured with my new ProMarkers, and the girl was raised up on 3D foam.

Tomorrow I am tasked with sorting out the ironing mountain (and I mean mountain) so that we can sort what we are taking away with us at the weekend.