Dottie's World Sunday Challenge - 115 Days to Christmas!

It's my turn to set the challenge over at Dottie's World and it is a special challenge because there's a fabulous prize for everyone who takes part this week!!! The task is simply to create something Christmassy - anything goes... cards, decorations, layouts, tags - anything.

I made this Jacob's Ladder (and the box) using lots of the fabulous Christmas images available here by using the tutorial on the Charmed Cards and Crafts website here . I used the coloured images for this project and highlighted some areas using Sakura Stardust pens which are fab for detail work. This would make a great Christmas wall hanging or a special Christmas card or gift.





Don't be daunted by this - it is a little time consuming, but really easy to do and the results are worth it!
Hope you like...xxx

Daring Cardmakers - Piping Hot!

Daring Cardmakers was the first challenge I ever did, well over a year ago now, and I still love them ......even though I HATE pipe cleaners!!! I raided DS's craft box for this one.

"..... I want you to use PIPE CLEANERS!! Any shape, colour or form - put them on a card! I know it can be difficult to incorporate Pipe Cleaners on cards (sticking them down is one obstacle!) but they can be put to lots of interesting uses too! So go on - it wouldn't be a challenge site if it was easy would it?"

The Christmas tree, banners and Christmas Fairy are, of course, part of the Christmas Dottie Collection available from Charmed Cards and Crafts. Papers are Basic Grey Figgy Pudding

and the pipe cleaner is the tinsel on the tree. I added faux stitching, highlighted the images with Sakura stardust pens and covered the Christmas tree bucket with Doodlebug Flock.

TFL, xxx

Friday Sketchers

There's another fabulous sketch challenge at Friday Sketchers today devised by Claudia Rosa. I used my new Little Claires Polar Bear stamp coloured with Prisma Pencils, Colour Connection Rose and the Christmas Trees paper is K&Co Peppermint Twist.
Dabs of Stickles and Cosmic Shimmer Iced Crystals to finish.

Looking forward to the weekend and a visit to the GMex show - anyone else going?
Thanks for visiting, xxx

Cute Card Thursday - In The Water!

Been away again for a few days, but that's it now - school begins again on Tuesday. It's good to be back blogging and crafting, but isn't it amazing how your ideas dry up when you have a little time away from it? It did help having a delivery of some gorgeous Cuddly Buddly stamps to come back too, but I still struggled with putting this card together.

The challenge is for Cute Card Thursday which is 'In The Water'......

"In the water!
As always a little flexibility is allowed in the theme, it can be in, on or beside water and the water can even be frozen i.e. snow or ice! We always look forward to your own interpretations!"

Papers are Basic Grey, the stamp is Cuddly Buddly 'Penguin Post' coloured with Prisma pencils, the snow is Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Jewels 'Iced Crystal' and the metal Christmas trees are 'Craft for Christmas'.

Off to catch up on some of my blogging buddies now - can't wait to see what you've been up to!!!
TFL, xxx

Magnolia Challenge - Hands

*Challenge 22* Hands
( Tilda & Edwin with their Hands does not count) we would love you to produce some work showing “ hands”
Some ideas are: Hand charms, Hand Shaped Chipboard, Hand Shaped Card, Clock Hands, the possibilities are endless

I found this really difficult this week, but I suppose it IS a challenge! Anyway, after much thought I went for the clock hands and came up with this creation using a mix of stash, most of which I have forgotten the brand (sorry). It was supposed to be a bit 'collagey', but I didn't really achieve that, I do like it though because it's different for me! Going to enjoy the beautiful evening sunshine now ....... it's gonna rain again tomorrow! :-(
TFL,
xxx

DARING CARDMAKERS - THIS WAY!

The dare at Daring Cardmakers this week is called 'This Way!' and is to use arrows....

"I want to see arrows on your cards - whether big, small, staright, curly, lots or just one arrow."

I used Basic Grey 'Two Scoops' papers, Prima Flowers, Papermania brads and a gorgeous sparkly heart bought from Dawn Bibby's Design Studio. Sentiment is a MM rub-on and I used the waste from the scalloped border to add detail.
Thanks for visiting xxx

Dottie's World Sunday Challenge - Dottie's Been Tagged!

This is Adele's first week at setting the challenge over on Dottie's Wonderful World and she decided she would like to see tags....stand alone tags or tags on anything and to include at least one heart or flower.

This tag with Christmas Fairy Dotty is inside an acetate sleeve backed with red flock paper, but it makes it soooo difficult to photograph!! Papers are mainly Basic Grey (available from Charmed Cards and Crafts) with various rub-ons added and a bit of doodling here and there.


I have to say that the card looks much better IRL.
TFL,
xxx

BLOG CANDY WINNER!!!!

My DS has just drawn the winner of the blog candy - here is his little hand in my ribbon tin with all 67 names inside, and the winner is......

Mueppi - congratulations Gisela from Germany!!!

Please contact me with your address Gisela and I will post it to you. xx

Thanks to everyone else who took part - hope to do some more sometime soon.

xx

Cute Card Thursday - Bright Colours

The fabulous challenge at Cute Card Thursday is to use bright colours. Well, anyone who's seen my cards knows I'm a big fan of bright colours, so no challenge for me then!

Papers are Papermania, the chipboard elf is ATD and the Christmas tree is from the Dottie downloads from Charmed with a little Doodlebug glitter added!

Speaking of Dottie, don't forget tomorrow is Sunday Challenge day - check out Dottie's Wonderful World

Thanks for visiting - love to hear your comments!
xxx

Sketch Saturday

Another first for me! - Sketch Saturday - I just love using sketches and this one is so easy to use and the results are a really well balanced card. Papers for the Christmas card are Basic Grey Figgy Pudding, I used a R&L rub-on for the image (these are gorgeous!) and Anna Griffin flocked letters and snowflakes.


Papers are K&Co Berry Sweet, the cupcake is from a Bigshot die and the rub on is Imaginisce. Berry Sweet strawberry and felt hearts to finish.
Had a couple of days away at my son's in Birmingham this week - he lives in the city centre and it's manic, so I'm very relieved to be back in my craft room.
Have a great, hopefully sunny, weekend.
xxx

My Time to Craft Challenge - Recipe

There is a recipe challenge at My Time to Craft this week:

"This week's theme is a recipe: on your card you must add the following '1 ribbbon, 1 flower, 2 buttons and some glitter'. You can do what ever else you want on your work as long as these things are used. "

Papers are K&Co and Heidi Grace, the chipboard bird is covered with Doodlebug flock, the branch is painted with Adirondack 'Lettuce' and the flower is Prima 'Painterly'. The ribbon is holding the two button balloons (from Scrapagogo kit), and there is glitter on the branch.

I am really enjoying having the time to do all these challenges - they are providing loads of inspiration, making me try new techniques as well as making me break out of my comfort zone.
Thanks for visiting - your comments are always welcome!
xxx

ABC Challenge - F for Fairies

I was lucky enough to be invited to be Guest Designer this week for the ABC Challenge which is F for Fairies and this is the card I came up with. I thought this image of Dottie could be adapted to be a fairy, and doesn't she look pretty! Papers are Basic Grey, Dottie is paper pieced and I used some gorgeous glittery hearts for her wings.

Why not have a go at the challenge.
TFL xx

Papertake Weekly Challenge Sketch

The challenge over at Papertake this week is another of Katharina's fabulous sketches, and here is my take on it. Papers are Basic Grey 'Sugared' and the stamped image (not sure what it is, but it's cute!) is by Funstamps. The sentiment is a freebie from Karen .


Another rainy day here in Yorkshire ..... will it ever stop?
Have a good day and thanks for visiting xxx

Tilda Challenge - Cold As Ice!

The challenge over at the Magnolia Challenge Blog this week is 'Cold As Ice' .......

"The sun is now drifting away very fast and soon it will be as cold as ice....
Using the colours Blue & white Only . Show us how cold your projects can feel this week."

I can't believe I have been humming 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' whilst I was making this card!!! In August!!!!

Paper is Rayher, I used plentiful amounts of Cosmic Shimmer which is the best snow effect I've found so far, and the sentiment is from the 'Christmas Dottie' download from Charmed Cards and Crafts.

Another Christmas card off my list - how organised am I? LOL xxx

Dottie's World Challenge

The challenge over on Dottie's World is to use pink with beads, charms or gems. The first card is using an image which I paper pieced from the 'Love and Marriage' Collection. Papers, corners and border are Basic Grey 'Sugared'. I used Perfect Pearls and Stickles for the bouquet, head-dress and necklace, but they don't show up too well.

This card uses one of the free circle sentiments from Karen which I enlarged in Word, and 'Salon Dottie' from the 'Dottie at Home' Collection. Her dress is paper pieced, the rest is Primsacoloured, and a giant Prima. The card is edged with stickles and there are a few gems dotted about.

Hope you're all having a restful Sunday. xxx

This Thursday - 'Colour is my Obsession'

I was absolutely thrilled to bits to win the ribbon prize for my entry last week into the challenge at This Thursday which was given by Ribbon Oasis as a girl can never have too much ribbon.

This week's challenge is to use colour on your card.....

"So this week's challenge is “Colour is my obsession” a quote from Monet . So you can work in your favorite colour or colours or just make something really colourful. We will also accept pieces inspired by Monet."

I made this very colourful card the other day using 'Hippie Dottie' and the free circle sentiments from Karen - papers are DCWV Blossoms and Butterflies.


Going to check out X-Factor now (sad or what?)
TFL xxx

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - 'Ribbons'

Another new challenge for me, this time Penny Black - I took part in this because I don't use my PB stamps often enough. Here it is....

"Ribbons
this week we would like to see ribbons on your project.As always its entirely up to you what you make - card, atc, altered art etc..as long as it features at least on penny black image."

This ballerina image is so easy to work with (because there isn't much colouring to do!!) and I decided to go for a girly pink and lilac theme using Blonde Moments papers. The slide in panel is in fact a bookmark as you can see in the second photo.
I just need to say a huge thank you to my lovely friends Sammi, Lea and Sarah C, who all gave me an award this week. I will put it in my side bar later and pass it on.

Have a lovely weekend and TFL xxx

Friday Sketchers

Whilst hopping around some blogs this afternoon I came across Friday Sketchers and really liked the look of this week's sketch, so I gave it a go. I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying the school holidays and being in my craft room AND I've started making Christmas cards!


Thanks for looking and leaving a comment - I really appreciate all your opinions, good or bad!
xxx

Daring Cardmakers - 'It's a Wrap!'

The dare this week over at Daring Cardmakers is to make a card with a wrap. I have used this scalloped edge wrap from Craftwork Cards and doodled the edges of the wrap and the flower. I added a touch of colour with the ric-rac and stickles to the sentiment circle and finished off with a ribbon rosette on a stamped flower stem.
You can see from this photo that the wrap opens to reveal a place for a message. Thanks for stopping by - I would love to hear your comments.
xx

Candy Alert!!!

There's some fab candy on offer at Karen's blog - go take a peek..........

Cute Card Thursday - Soft Furnishings

This week's challenge over at Cute Card Thursday is.........

"Soft Furnishings -
you can use fabric, ribbon, stitching, buttons etc, anything you can find on the soft furnishings in the home ie curtains, cushions, sofas etc."

I received these beautiful new Heidi Grace papers and the fab stamp today from Scrapagogo and I just had to use them for this challenge. I made the house to echo those on the paper and I thought the journalling stamp looked like a puff of smoke!


Hope you like and thanks for visiting xx

Magnolia Challenge - "Christmas is Coming.."

Over at the Magnolia Challenge blog the challenge is to make a Christmas card.......

"*Challenge 31* Christmas is Coming..
Please Create anything as long as it is Christmas Related,
Maybe your already starting your Christmas cards for this Year already!
( You don't need to have Christmas Magnolia Stamps to join in this week, As You Can see by the Design Team below they have all used different ones)."

It's true - you can make any Tilda stamp into a Christmas card. I used Papermania papers, covered a chipboard frame, a 'Colour Collection' handcrafted rose and an ATD sticker. I used Cosmic Shimmer for the snow, which is fab to use, and Tilda is coloured with Prismacolour pencils. I love these colours for Christmas cards.

Off to sort my 12x12 papers into their new shiney acrylic trays. Have a good day xxx

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Button It!

"This week's challenge is to use a button or buttons on your project! If you don't have any buttons you could try drawing one freehand, making one with chipboard etc! Don't cut 'em off your cardies though lol!!!! "

Not at all sure about this card, but I did enjoy making it.....paper is Prima 'Harmony', the journal block and bird stamps are also from Prima as is the jewel flourish. The buttons are from stash.
Done a couple more projects for Dotties-Wonderful-World which appear later this week as well as a card for the ABC Challenge on which I have a guest designer spot next week - check it out on Wednesday.

Had the worst toothache ever the last couple of days so had to pay a visit to my dishy dentist this morning *swoon* - my knees were already weak with the pain, but it's all gone now thank goodness!!!

Have a great rest of the day - can't believe it's actually sunshining here in Yorkshire.....it won't last :-(

TFL xx