Buzzing By To Say Hi!

 Hi Everyone!

One of the things I like to do is watch TV while I craft.  I bought the box set of The Sopranos ages ago and I struggled for a long time to get into it.  So many people raved about it when it was on.  But, I persevered and I have to say that now I'm quite enjoying it!  I'm just at the end of the first series, but I'm liking it now.

We have a new challenge up today at Seems A Little Sketchy and our sponsor for this week is Lacy Sunshine

 And they're offering 3 digi's to our winner.

We have a really cute sketch for you this time...

 

Here's what I did..

The image is by Lacy Sunshine called Sweet Lil Bumblebee and I coloured her with the following Copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair & Clothes; 100,C9,5. Clothes & flowers; Y17,15,13. Flowers; YG07,05,03,RV23,21. Sky; B00,0000. Blender.  I then cut the image out with Spellbinders circle dies.

The papers are Pink Petticoat - Honeycomb bees from the Isabelline set and Doodle in Goldenrod from the Spookie Doodles set.  I had little bumblebee buttons in my stash and I cut the loops off the back with pliers before attaching to ribbon from my stash.  The ribbon was black with white dots and I didn't like the white dots with the card, so here's a wee tip; I used a yellow Sharpie to colour the white dots yellow!  (They look kind of fluorescent in the pic but I think that's just from the light cos it doesn't look so bright really.) The gem stickers are also from my stash.

I used Powerpoint to make a bumblebee flight path and added a sentiment using the font AR Hermann.

So please pop over to the Seems A Little Sketchy blog to check out what the rest of the DT have done and don't forget to join in!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Blog; Warm, sunshiney colours
Bunny Zoe's Challenge Blog; Summer colours
Stamp & Create Challenges; Anything goes
The Corrosive Challenge Blog; B unique - 3 B's= Bumblebees, black, bling.
Top Tip Tuesday; Anything goes

Thanks for looking!
 

Penguin Party!

Hello everyone!
I hope you're all keeping well?
I've been busy doing this and that and not really noticing what's being done - do you ever have days like that?

We have a new challenge for you today at Seems A Little Sketchy and our fab sponsor for this fortnight are Delicious Doodles!

Here's the sketch we would like you to follow this time, remember you can rotate or flip it as long as we can see the layout in your work.

So I seem to have had a thing for black and white this year, I've done a lot of cards in that theme and this one seemed to want to go along with that theme too!  Here's what I did...

The DT got to work with some of Teri's fab images from Delicious Doodles and I chose this one so I didn't even have to do any colouring!  It was a good thing as I'm back at physio for my shoulders so the pain is actually even worse from doing the exercises, hopefully it'll get me back to my old self though.
I love the sketchy look of this image!

The papers are Pink Petticoat; Large Nordic snowflakes and Pinstripes, printed in black.  The dies I have used are Joy Crafts/Noor Designs Winter wishes border and large snowflake.  The sentiment is from the Seasons Greetings set by Whiff of Joy and I used the matching fancy shape die to cut it out.  The ribbon, photo corners, Swarovski (the large one in the centre of the snowflake) and gems are from my stash.

The inside matches the front using the same set of sentiment stamps, just not cut out this time.

I hope you can join us with this fab sketch, check out the rest of the DT's fab work at Seems A Little Sketchy!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Bearly Mine Challenges; Christmas Sentiment
Bunny Zoe's Challenge; Wings
CRAFT Challenge; Christmas
Craft Your Passion; Let it snow
Crafty Catz Challenge; 2 or more dies
Crafty Ribbons Challenge; Spots or stripes
Creative Inspirations; Contemporary Christmas colours
Delightful Challenges; You're a gem
Fab n Funky Challenges; A touch of frost
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge; Let it snow
Just For Fun; Christmas
Kaboodles Doodles; Non traditional Christmas colours
My Time To Craft Challenge; Cute & cuddly Christmas animals
Patties Creations Challenge; Christmas
The ABC Challenge Blog; A for almost Christmas

Thanks for looking!
 

Expect The Unexpected

Hey everyone!

Going by my title, I should've expected the unexpected when my scheduled post didn't post last Friday!  I've only just noticed that it didn't and it has disappeared from my list of posts.  I don't know if I'm to blame or if it's another blogger glitch, I've been hearing of a few people having diffs but it might've been (in other words, probably was!) my error.

I wanted to tell you about a lovely crafter I met last Friday night at my sisters party, she makes and sells the most beautiful wee stuffed hearts and keyrings and christmas decorations as well as some other bits and bobs, it's always so nice to meet other crafters (and she was so lovely!) and to find one so close to home is a bonus!  Here's a link to Angel A's facebook page and etsy store - give her facebook page a like as she giving her 100th follower a wee prize!

Now back to the post that should've been!  We have a new challenge at PunkYouGirl and the theme for this month, set by our lovely Mo, is...

 Angels & Demons!

What a fab challenge and I must tell you, I was really challenged with this one!  My mind just wouldn't get into gear for it at all!
We have a sponsor free challenge this month, so it's just for fun and the DT were free to use whatever we wanted!  Here's what I did...

I used The Octopode Factory's Angel which I added a little tail to for a bit demontion (it's not a word!) I coloured her with the following copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R27,20. Hair & wings; 100,C10,8,6. Dress & tail; R59,29,27. Background; C4,3,2,1.

The papers are by Pink Petticoat and are printed in Jet Black.  I mounted on a lovely red card and I cut the Spellbinder scalloped circle in the red and the print which I love!

If you take a closer look at the papers you'll see why you should "Expect the unexpected"!  Cos when you open the card I don't think you'd ever expect it to be like this!

Just for a bit of fun I made the inside a cutsie Christmas card - see, you didn't expect that! lol!

So pop over to the PunkYouGirl blog to check out what the rest of my talented teamies did and have a go yourself - and remember to check the blog again for the midway reminder to see what team 1 did!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

All Sorts; Christmas cheer
Dream Valley Challenges; Humour
A Gem Of A Challenge; Christmas is coming
One Stitch At A Time; Use a digi
Papertake Weekly; Anything goes with option of Christmas
Quirky Crafts Challenge; Make us laugh
Stampin For The Weekend; Spooky
The Ribbon Girl; Stripes
Twisted Tuesday Challenge; Free for all

Thanks for looking!
 

Movember Thanks!

Hey everyone!
I hope you're all well?  I feel like I have a hangover today, I was at a party last night, but I wasn't drinking, it could be something to do with the fact that it was 7am before I got home from it though!  It was a good night!
I was at a pub quiz on Friday night too (the reason why I wasn't drinking last night - I can't do 2 nights in a row, I'm getting too old for that!).  Me and a few of the boys from work entered a team and we were so surprised to finish in 3rd place!  Especially saying as there were more than 3 teams entered in the quiz!  We're smarter than the average bear!  Lol!

But back to business and we have a new challenge today from the Pink Team at Eclectic Ellapu and it was the lovely Elaine's turn to host and the theme she has chosen is...

Black & White!

Fab theme!  I seem to using that theme a lot lately!

Here's my card for you, celebrating the fact that we are now in Movember!

The image is a stamp that I bought in Paperchase in the House Of Fraser in Belfast, I love looking through all their bits and pieces, I don't usually buy much though!  I stamped the moustache with Versafine Onyx Black ink and then stamped a Waltzing Mouse sentiment from the Fancy Phrases set with the same ink.

The papers are all from Pink Petticoat and are all in Jet Black.  I mounted on plain black card and I used a Viva Pearl pen in anthracite to anchor the corners of each layer.

The inside uses the same papers and layout.  I didn't add the pearl pen to the inside as I find it sticks even after it has dried.

So that's my card, pop over to Eclectic Ellapu to check out the rest of the DT's fab inspiration!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create; Anything goes
CRAFT Challenge; For the boys
Crafty Sentiments design Challenge; Anything goes
Paper Crafting Journey; Anything goes
Party Time Tuesday; Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Challenge; Anything goes
The Corrosive Challenge Blog; Tic tac toe - centre row
Twisted Tuesday Challenges; Free for all

Thanks for looking!
 

Special Delivery!

Good morning all!

I hope the world is smiling at you today.  I can't believe it's October already!  Where did the rest of the year go??!  Dark mornings and dark evenings are going to be the way from here on in, but to tell you the truth, I don't mind the winter!  I've always had a theory that because I was born in the winter (in December) that I'll always be fond of that time of year.  In saying that, I do enjoy a bit of sun, but not too much!

We have another challenge for you today from the Creative Card Crew and our sponsor for this fortnight is the fabulous Birdie Brown!

I love their cute wee images and they're offering one lucky winner 3 digi images!

So our challenge theme is...

Tag!

We would like to see you make a tag or have a tag on your project!

I did a bit of both - here's my card:

I made a pop-up card with the up bit being a tag!  The image is by Birdie Brown and has been coloured with the following copics: Bear; E44,43,42,40,blender. Clothes/balloons; B00,000,0000. Grass; YG11,13,95.  I added the wording to the balloons on the computer before I printed the image and the font is called AR Carter.

The papers are some of the left-overs from the quilted card I made last week and are by Pink Petticoat - Gingham in Pebble.  I also used kraft card stock for the base of the card.  I dry brushed some white acrylic paint over the edges of the kraft to soften them.  I used my Stampin' Up! scallop border punch for the front panel and used a small tag die that I've had for ages (and have no idea who made it) for the sentiment.  The pearls, ribbon and charm are all from my stash.

The back of the tag is where I have left for the greeting.  I'm going to send this to another of my cousins (in London) who just had a wee baby boy the other day!
I've added 2 tiny pearls to the back to hold the card in the open position for added strength.

Here's the card when it is folded flat to fit in an envelope.

So I do hope you can join us this fortnight at the Creative Card Crew - pop over to see the rest of the DT's fab makes for more inspiration!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge; Something blue
Crafty Creations Challenges; Split it up
Creative Belli Blog; Ribbons & pearls
Cute Card Thursday; Pretty ribbons
Drunken Stampers; Die cuts
Fussy & Fancy Challenges; Punches & dies
Here Come The Boys; For a boy
Papercrafting Journey; For a boy
Patties Creations; Animals
ABC Challenges; W for words

Thanks for looking!
 

Soft As A Babies Bum!

Good morning everyone!

I hope you're all well?  I'm not :(  My chest infection/flu took a hold and I've been unwell all week.  Thankfully I had a better nights sleep last night and I think (touch wood!) that I'm starting to feel a little bit better today :)
On another note, I can't believe it's a year today since my accident, it really doesn't seem like a whole year though!

We have a new challenge today at the Alphabet Challenge Blog and our lovely Jennifer has chosen the theme for the next fortnight.  She has chosen...

Q for Quilt!

I was a bit stumped as to what to do for this challenge as I don't normally do that kind of thing, but then my cousin became a daddy last week and I thought that it would be a great technique to use on a baby card, cos it could look lovely and soft!

Here's what I did:

The papers I have used are all Pink Petticoat in 6 different designs and all in the colour Pebble (or the new version is Pebble Lagoon)  I printed out a couple of plain coloured sheets in the same colour for my matting and layering.  I cut the papers into 3.5cm squares (to fit the 14cm for my card.) and arranged the squares to suit the patterns.  I then took a firm foam pad and a large ball embossing tool and shaped each of the squares.  I attached the squares to my card (I lightly drew a grid on the card to make sure I got the squares lined up properly) with foam stickies, so my quilted background looks and feels soft and springy!
The dies I used are Spellbinders circle and large scallop circle, Marianne Design "Baby" and Memory Box Precious Hearts.  A few diamantés and pearls were added to finish it off.

The image I have used is also from Pink Petticoat and I paper-pieced the elephant with another Pink Petticoat paper.  I used a few copics to fill in the gaps - BV23 and YG11,13 for the grass.  A little gem in the centre of the flower was added for a bit of bling!  The sentiment comes along with the image.

The inside got the same quilting treatment and a plain circle for my greetings.

Here's a close up of the quilting.

I do hope you can join us at the Alphabet Challenge Blog this fortnight for this challenge and I hope you have as much fun with it as I did!  Check out what the rest of the DT did for more fab inspiration!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts; Something blue
Charisma Cardz Challenges; Inside
Crafty Ribbons Challenge Blog; Monochrome
Deep Ocean Challenge Blog; For a baby
Divas By Design; Monochrome
Here Come The Boys Challenges; Baby boy
Papercrafting Journey; For a boy
Patties Creations Challenges; Animals
ABC Challenges; V for Very cute
Totally Gorjuss; Dotty

Thanks for looking!
 

Animal Farm

Hi everyone!

Is it just me or is it really cold??  My office feels like someone left the freezer door open, but people keep saying it's gonna warm up again - do they mean this year or next year??!  Lol!
I've got a long awaited appointment tomorrow to see about my achy shoulders.  It's almost 11 months since my accident and my shoulders are still really sore but my main problem is that I've got so little strength in them.  I used to be quite strong but I struggle to put cups in my cupboard now :(  Hopefully they'll be able to tell me some good news tomorrow and I can get back to my old self soon.  I've got a concert to go to then tomorrow evening so hopefully they won't do anything to leave me too sore!  Nine Inch Nails might just be a concert that you don't want to go to already feeling the pain!

Anyway, time for another new challenge at the Creative Card Crew!

We have a fab sponsor this week with the Scrapping Center!

They're offering another $15 to one lucky winner to spend in their store!

Our challenge for the next fortnight is...

Down on the farm!

Oh arr!
I must admit that I made these cards quite a while ago for a swap on our forum but they fitted this challenge so well that I kept them to blog until now.

Here's what I did:

The stamps are from Woodware but they're clear stamps and you can build a scene with them which is fun!  I coloured them with the following promarkers:  Slate, lilac, lavendar, burnt orange, tequila sun rise, soft peach, warm grey 3,2,1, fuschia pink, pink lobster, tropical orchid.  I cut some cloud shapes out of paper and used them as a mask to sponge some distress ink for the sky.

The papers are Pink Petticoat Gingham and Daisy Bouquet in cranberry and sunshine.  The die is a Spellbinders Eyelet Square die.  I also used some twine and raffia from my stash.

The inside matches the front with the colours of paper flipped.

Here's the whole set:

So I do hope you can join us for this fun challenge at the Creative Card Crew - the rest of the DT have some great inspiration for you, and some also showing that you don't need animals on your card!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge Blog; Colourful
A Gem of a Challenge; Punch it out
Just For Fun Challenge Blog; Just for fun
Perfect Sentiments Challenge Blog; The great outdoors
Southern Girls Challenge Blog; Things beginning with F - Farm animals
Top Tip Tuesday; Things beginning with your initials - S for Stamp, F for Farm animals
Twisted Tuesday Challenges; Pink as all outdoors

Don't forget to check out my candy!

Thanks for looking!
 

Thanks Love!

Hi everyone,

A quick post from me today as I'm very late because of a few things that are going on here this week.

We have a new challenge for you from today from the Creative Card Crew and our sponsor for the next fortnight is Stampfairy!

 and their prize is a $10 gift voucher for their store!

Our challenge is...

Flags/banners!

I'm loving this one!

Here's my card:

The Stampfairy provided our images and I coloured Mimi with the following copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair; Y17,15,13. Shoes; RV34,32.  A nice short list as I paper-pieced her lovely flowery dress.  I also 3D'd her face, dress and shoes.

The papers are Pink Petticoat - Twill stripe, pretty doodles and daisy bouquet all printed in Rose.  The dies are Spellbinder ovals and scalloped oval, classic heart and scallop classic heart.  I made the sentiment on the heart banner with some Kars clear stamps.  I added some bling in the form of wee Swarovski crystals from my stash.

The inside has the same papers and a Cheery Lynn Designs "Heart to heart lace doily" die cut.

So that's my card, take a wee peek over at the Creative Card Crew to check out what the rest of the DT have done for this fab challenge!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks; Bling
613 Avenue Create; Use a sentiment
Bearly Mine Challenges; Tic Tac Toe - top row
Bunny Zoe's Challenge; Pink & white
Crafty Boots Challenges; Die cuts
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge; Anything with scallops
Whoopsy Daisy Challenge; Paper piecing


Thanks for looking!