Friday bonus post

Hi there ... I made a couple of cards last night to show you and enter a few challenges so here goes ...

The first one is to enter this week's Merry Monday challenge where they'd like us to use a tree and I've used the sketch from  Freshly Made Sketches so I'll pop my card in there too.
AND ... it's Anything Goes week at  Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge so I'll head over there too!

Card Recipe:

Uniko Studio: Rustic Christmas & Simply Said - Christmas

MFT Die-Namics: Snow drifts (for masking and inking) 

and Fishtail Flags for the sentiment

Distress Ink: Faded Jeans & misted with Perfect Pearls

The 'silver embossed' DP has been in my stash since time began!

I stumbled across it while having a sort out but couldn't tell you where it's from

  

   

Next up I'm using 'newbies' (NBUS) following my little

retail therapy trip to the NEC with the LIM ladies last week!

Card Recipe:

Inkylicious: Poppy stamp (NBUS)

Card-io: Flutterby Garden (NBUS)

Uniko Studio: Simply Said - Birthday

MFT Die-namics: Pierced Rectangle stax & Fishtail Flags

Background created using Verscolor canary ink with a 'baby wipe'!

Fabulous technique by Wendy at Card-io - I love it! 

So I'll be entering this at the lovely Darnell's NBUS challenge 

and also Seize the Birthday which I haven't entered for ages ... very sorry ladies 

- it somehow slipped by me until another super talented blog buddy; 

Hannelie (Desert Diva) jogged my memory with her DT card.

I'd also like to enter a second card at Time Out Challenges

where there's an optional twist of black, white and a splash of another colour! 

Ok that's me for today but I'll be back tomorrow with the latest 

challenge at Less is More so hope to catch you then.

Thanks for calling in and peeping at my cards.

WHOOPIE ... 2014 IS HERE!

Firstly Happy New Year and apologies for my lack of cards and responses to your thoughtful wishes but the festivities just got in the way along with a stinking collection of germs that zapped my energy and mojo for most of it! Unfortunately my mojo is still hiding somewhere.  I've put all the Christmas deccies away and admired my new crafty stuff from Santa and nothing seems to have spurred me into action!

Anyway I decided to whip round the challenge sites and see what I could muster so here's a couple of cards I made yesterday and I've been waiting for some decent daylight to take pictures.

Fortunately I do need a couple of cards for January so here goes with the first one and it's to enter the CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge, Color Throwdown and CASology where the theme is 'Party!

This used Clearly Besotted It's Your Birthday Die Collection and Stamp Set, MFT Die-namics Basic Chevrons and Josy Rose Nail Heads and Stars. The glitter card is from Dovecrafts.

      

Next up is a card for one of my son's friend and I'm hoping his mum (one of my best friends) isn't searching my blog too carefully as his birthday isn't for a couple of weeks.  Think I may have a few 18th and 16th birthday cards this year as my kids have just passed these milestones too.

So my card is to enter another couple of challenges: Colour Q, Freshly Made Sketches and Seize the Birthday where the theme is 'Numbers'

Card Recipe:

Image: Pre-purchased Die-cut numbers which I've had for years
Papers: All Pink Petticoat
Glitter Paper: Dovecraft
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - New Home Stamp Set
Josy Rose Nail heads

      

That's all for me today but hope I might get down to some more crafting this afternoon as I've so many new bits and bobs that I can't wait to play with but the imagination is on a go slow. Thankfully your fabulous blogs have lots of inspiration.

Thanks for popping along today and hopefully I'll not be AWOL for so long again.

CRAFTY BEE AT WORK TODAY

Hello Friends

Hope you are keeping dry in this disgusting weather today ... I took the dog out for a walk this morning but neither of us were keen and thankfully I hadn't done the housework before Cookie decided to shake himself like crazy as soon as we got home! Don't you just love 'em?

So what better place to play once the jobs were done ... yep the crafty cupboard. I've had quite a few commissions to do recently and isn't it great when you can combine them with a challenge or two?

For my very first time I'm going to try one post with multiple photos and challenge entries! May have to edit this if it doesn't work though!

Here's number one which is a commission for my daughter's friend, who wasn't being particularly helpful in giving me ideas and themes! After much head-scratching and web surfing I came across the Seize the Sketch Challenge and thought I'd make use of the lovely sketch along with some amazing free papers I downloaded ages ago but haven't ever used. Think I'll be making an effort to use them in future though.

Seize the Birthday (sister challenge to Seize the Sketch) have an anything goes challenge so I'm going to drop my card in there too.

Arrrgh! Only just noticed that my card doesn't entirely match the sketch ... Oh **** Well I'm going to enter anyway and hopefully get an acknowledgement for trying! Sorry ladies.



Card Recipe:

Papers: All Freebies from Shery K Designs
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Dies used: Nestabilities Labels, Sizzix Framelits Pennants, Clearly Besotted Florals, MFT Die-Namics numbers and a Martha Stewart Butterfly punch
Button, twine and gems from my stash plus a drizzle of glamour dust here and there




So onto my next card which is for a challenge I've never entered before - the CASE Study Challenge. I spotted it while checking out Amy Wanford's blog and couldn't resist entering as I had the perfect ballerina die cut image which was a freebie from Dies to Die for.

I was also itching to try out my new poinsettia stamp and die set from Clearly Besotted. I stamped three of the large outline poinsettias onto white vellum then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I added glamour dust to the veins for extra dazzle but think I've perhaps got a bit carried away with the old glamour dust as I decided my ballerina would look pretty cool with a glittered tutu and ballet shoes!!! I've attached the vellum poinsettias to white card with brads covered with candy dots in coordinating baby pink and I'm hoping my cluster of 3 can pass as the 'circle' in the CAS - Colours and Sketches Sketch Challenge which is where my card is heading too.

Card Recipe:

Image: Ballerina from Dies to Die For, Poinsettia Stamp and Dies from Clearly Besotted
Papers: From Do-crafts (Forever Friends)
Sentiment: Uniko Studio
Sizzix Swirls Embossing folder used on the Kraft semi circle
Candy Dots from my stash


    


Did I say I'd been a busy little bee today?

So here's my last card which is another commission; this time for an 18th birthday card where the recipient loves owls.

My cute little owl reminds me of barn owls out in the countryside and on that note I've decided to enter him into the CASology Challenge where the cue word is 'Country'. I'd been watching some videos on using acetate on cards so decided to make an acetate cover for the card and layer my images on the top with the scalloped circles behind. Looking at the photo you probably can't tell there's any acetate so you'll just have to take my word for it.



Card Recipe:

Images, Papers & Sentiment: Clearly Digi Stamps who are sadly no longer trading (I stocked up before they closed the doors) but you can purchase items from Doodle Pantry
Acetate, metallic cord and gems from my stash plus I've added a few glossy accents for extra definition.




Wow that's got to go down as the longest blog post I've ever done ... a marathon indeed. Going for a lie down now or should I do the ironing???? No contest!

Hope to catch up with you all tomorrow and enjoy the rest of your evening.  Fingers crossed this multiple blog post will work when I come to enter the challenges Hee Hee!

ANOTHER SWEET BIRTHDAY

Just one more for me today and it's another entry to Pixies Crafty Snippet Playground and Seize the Birthday

I made this card last weekend in time for Pixies last Sunday but realised I couldn't post it early as it was for my Son's Girlfriend who tends to 'stalk' my blog (in the nicest possible way)!  I think I was also following a colour challenge but not sure which one.

Anyway I used lots of odds and ends and snippets so hope you like.  A little mouse features on this one too to tie in with the card my son sent.

Hopefully regular blogging will resume next week.  Enjoy the rest of your day

Card Recipe:

Image: Cr8ive Hands - freebie
Papers: TK Maxx & Clearly Digi Stamps
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Martha Stewart Butterfly punch and pearls from my stash

SWEET & LOVING BIRTHDAY WISHES

Oh my goodness I have been such a BAD blogger!  I'm going to have no friends in blogland and I'm basically having withdrawal symptoms from crafting.  On Friday I got a little time but my mojo was in the garden I think.

Had a busy week finishing off my last working week before the school holidays and had guests staying. Despite the crazy time I always love having guests and so sad when they depart.  My Crafty American Auntie was with me at the start of the week and we had an amazing time, giggling, chatting, shopping, lunching, more giggling and a teeny bit of crafting too. My parents made an impromptu stop over too as we had HRH Elizabeth II visiting our little town on Wednesday. We did our bit dressed in red, white and blue, madly waving flags.  My Auntie insisted on a stars & stripes one but she has lived in the US half of her life so we'll let her off.

Then I've had my sister, brother-in-law and gorgeous 2 year old niece staying and we babysat Gracie all yesterday while Mum and Dad were working. Certainly no glue and glitter out then just keeping cool and playing in the garden - perhaps when she's a bit bigger.  Then the in-laws are here later today.

Sooo after all that I've only one card to show but hoping to get some yummy crafting time in tomorrow.

I was very lucky to win the Pixies Snippet Playground Challenge last week and received a beautiful 'tied together' embossing folder which I couldn't wait to use.  It was my son's girlfriend's birthday yesterday so this is what I made for him to send her.  She has a cute kitten who has deposited little friends under her pillow before so thought this image from The Paper Shelter was quite apt.

Card Recipe:

Image: The Paper Shelter - unusual friends
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Digistamp Boutique
Button and pearls from my stash and a touch of glossy accents

Challenges:

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge
The Paper Shelter Challenge - Clean & Simple
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
Freshly Made Sketches:

2 COLOURS ONLY ... AND I LIKE!

Me again just submitting my second card for today to enter a couple of challenges as below.

A couple of weeks ago I was thrilled to win the Sketch Saturday Challenge and this Memory Box die was one of my wins from the lovely Simon Says Stamp.  I've been itching to use it and it arrived today so couldn't wait.  I think you'll be seeing some more of this one!

Hope you are all well.

Take care x

Card Recipe:
Image: Flower - Digital freebie from Uniko Studio
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Digital freebie from Uniko Studio
Memory Box: Large Circle Burst


Challenges:
The Paper Players: Birthday, Yellow, Ribbon
Dynamic Duos
Seize the Birthday

        

TWEET BIRDIE WISHES

Hiya

Well I think this card will have to go down as the quickest card I've ever made and I kinda like it.

I'm going to combine it with a couple of challenges and as the weather is a bit iffy here I'll try and get another make in before teatime!  If not catch you all soon.

Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique - Valentine Tree but I've coloured the red bits green
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Computer generated
Bit of bling with gems from my stash and some glossy accents to the bird and leaves

Challenges:

Dynamic Duos
The Paper Players
Seize the Birthday

                        

A CARD FOR THE STARS

What a fabulous day we are having ... daren't even say it out-loud!

I'm torn between the garden and the craft cupboard for sure today. I decided to cut a few neglected bits and pieces back today in the garden BUT may have gone a bit 'scissor happy!' Yikes ... hope they grow back ok. Best stick to crafting me thinks!

I've 'embossed' the stars and 'de-embossed' the green panel (if that makes sense).  I was stocking up on a few basic essentials at my local craft store yesterday when this mini mosaic embossing folder from Cuttlebug caught my eye!!! Just had to buy it and have a play...so here's my card for the Seize the Birthday Challenge.

And here's the sketch which runs for 2 weeks so plenty of time to compete:

Card Recipe:

Papers: Lily Bimble
Sentiment: Computer Generated using Henny Penny
Buttons, cord, gems from my stash for added dazzle!

Tools:

• Sizzix: Framelits Stars
• Cuttlebug: Mini Mosaic Embossing Folder

IT'S A HAP-BEE DAY AT SEIZE THE BIRTHDAY

My second post for today and finally got back to the Seize the Birthday Challenge having fluffed up with the Get Well card yesterday!

Following my win earlier at Sketch Saturday I've felt quite energised today so been busy in the craft cupboard.  The image I've used is a freebie from the lovely Melissa at Meljen's Designs, which I've coloured with my promarkers and drizzled some glamour dust on the wings. She offers some wonderful freebies if you want to pop by her online shop.

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday and catch you again tomorrow. I'm off to watch Les Miserables tonight as the new DVD arrived during the week. Having seen it at the cinema and loved it we can now re-live it.

Bye for now

And here's the sketch

Card Recipe:

Image: Meljen's Designs
Papers: Pink Petticoat - Honeycomb
Ribbons, gems and buttons from my stash

SEIZE THE BIRTHDAY AND LET'S PICK FLOWERS

Just another quick post.

Here's my entry to the Snippets Playground - this is a great challenge to enter especially to use up all those odds and ends from another card.  Usually I stash the bits but never go back to using them so I'm certainly going to try and have a go on the playground every week - that's if I'm allowed?

I'm also entering this into this week's Seize the Birthday Challenge.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Card Recipe:

Image: Pink Petticoat
Papers: Wild Rose Studio
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Tools: Big Shot, Cricut
Gems for a bit of dazzle from my stash