MUM'S RECIPE....

Been doing a little 'card cooking' tonight using the little extra from http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com

'This weeks little extra doesn't have to be for any specific occasion but you do have to follow a reciepe. Two buttons, one ribbon and a 'spoonful' of flowers.....! Put all the ingredients together and bake in a craft room until complete !'

BP is Daisyd's and Blonde Moments, I used two pearl buttons, lilac grosgrain ribbon and a couple of layered flowers plus two flower stamps. The sentiment is a rub-on from The Scrapbook House. A bit of doodling, inky edges and that is it!

Harrogate was fabulous, enjoyed every minute, met some lovely people and got some fab bargains! Looking forward to September already. xx

PLASTIC FANTASTIC!....and OH SO JUICY!

Two dares together today, both from http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com
the first one is the 'Little Extra' which uses Blonde Moments papers, Tilda stamp coloured with watercolour pencils, K & Co rub-on and a sprinkling of gems - all in juicy colours.
The second card caused a few problems....I decided to use the plastic lid from a flower shaped tub of flowers and embossed it about a zillion times before I got a decent impression from the Hero Arts flower stamp. Papers are from The Paper Company and stamps are Basic Grey.
Gotta go pack now for Harrogate....................Yeah!

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Spring in Your Step!

This is my card for this week's Papertake Weekly Challenge - Spring in Your Step!
Papers, chick stamp, rub-on bee and flowers are all Imaginisce. Happy Easter stamp Woodware, other bits from stash. Apologies for poor lighting of photos!
Getting ready for The Great Northern Papercrafts Extravaganza in Harrogate at the weekend - sooooooo looking forward to a weekend away and seeing all that new stash (and probably buying some!)

Cardmaker of the Month at Charmed!

Wowee!! I was thrilled today to find I am Cardmaker of the Month at http://charmedcardsandcrafts.co.uk for the second month in a row. It really does one's self-esteem good AND I have a £10 voucher to spend in the best on-line shop in the world. Can't wait to see all the new CHA goodies which are coming soon - there is a list on the forum if you wanna see.

I used a mix of Basic Grey, Making Memories, Papermania and other bits for this card which was based on a sketch which I think is fab and have since used loads.

PINK PETTICOAT - It's your fault Lou!!

Well, I have to blame someone don't I? I have hankered after PP for ages and after seeing what Lou http://craftsbylouly.blogspot.com/ did with them I simply couldn't stop myself......and am I glad I got them - the Lola and Lilli are just so sweet and I love the polka dots papers! I coloured using Whispers pens and added a couple of Prima flowers and some faux stitching with the paper pricking technique. So different from what I have been doing lately, but a change is as good as a rest, as they say.

SIMPLY STRIPES!

This is my first attempt at a Papertake challenge at http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com
Papers are PM Colossal Retro Floral (stripes) and Dovecraft Retro with the chipboard pieces also Dovecraft. Stamp is PB 'Girls Rock' and I paper pieced the clothes, added colour to the hair and shoes with Whisper's brush markers and a few PM pearl gems. I also used CB embossing folder for the mat.
I would describe as bright, funky and girly!!!

LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP...

Today's dare over at http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com is all about 'love and friendship' ....

'Keryn and Rachel are daring you to make a card in the theme of love and friendship for one of the special people in your life. It could be a valentines card, a thankyou for a close friend or a way to propose to the man in your life on the 29th February.'

Well, I don't have any proposing to do, so this is for a friend!!! I used my one and only Tilda stamp, colouring her with Whispers and Sakura pens. Flowers are Imaginisce and papers are pieces found in stash. Sentiment is MM rub-ons.

Thanks to Lou for tagging me and for making it an easy one - my blog is rated 'E' for Excellent and no questions to answer!!

TWO IN ONE!

This is positively the last Valentine card I am making this year!!! It combines two dares, first on http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com and this is the brief.....

'Now, the Little extra dare has come up and guess what..... ? We have Valentines day coming up on the 14th- as you well know, and obviously we have to do a romantic type dare to celebrate! So, this weeks little extra is to give us a card with a romantic theme AND to use both red and black ribbon!'

The second is for http://challenge-cmutd.blogspot.com/ where the challenge is to make a card using a maximum of three colours - in this case red, black and white.

Don't know where that gorgeous sunshine has gone, but I wish it would come back. Back to making some bright and cheery Springtime cards now!

Weekend Project

This is a project I have been working on this weekend - the clipboard came in my parcel from http://charmedcardsandcrafts.co.uk on Saturday along with some new K&Co goodies. The papers are Dovecraft Retro, and everything else is from my stash. I used some Anita's 3D Clear Gloss to highlight the stickers, which really give them depth. This clipboard is A5 and I have another one A4 size to work on next..............that's after my new CJ and a couple of birthday cards still to make.

I am hoping to move house fairly soon and have decided to be selective about what I take with me. I have come to the conclusion that some of my wooden rubber stamps have to go, so will be selling lots soon. Please let me know if you're interested, but I won't be able to reply until the weekend, when I will hopefully have them all photographed, as I'm going away for a few days tomorrow.

Thanks for visiting again. xxx

DARING CARDMAKERS DARE.....

Today's dare over at http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com is based on a template and there's a prize for the lucky winner of a draw sponsored by Paper Pesto. Here is my creation using PM Colossal Retro papers, Dovecraft brad, Nana's Kids epoxy sticker and Imaginisce flowers and raffia ribbon. I love the colours of these papers, they remind me of Neapolitan ice cream.

More doodling and Charmed Cards & Crafts Challenge

I just loved the doodling dare on http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com so much that I made another card using the new PM Colossal Retro papers, Cuttlebug die, Imaginisce flowers and a bit of bling. I like the fresh colours of these papers.

It was my turn to set the challenge on http://charmedcardsandcrafts.co.uk this month, one of which was to create a card which included the word 'love', at least one heart, a bird and hand stitching. The second card is for this challenge and I used K & Co Smitten and MM papers, bazzil for the punched hearts, Bazzil rub-on, and loads more doodling (I'm hooked on this now!). The second part of the challenge was to alter a container originally used to hold food - mine was an
M & S Rocky Road container which I painted with Adirondack acrylic paint and used K & Co embellishments and Sakura Souffle pen in white for the doodling.

My friend and I have booked a weekend in Harrogate to visit the fabulous Papercrafts Extravaganza at the Great Yorkshire Showground - in my opinion the best show in the North! Soooooo excited - get to go BOTH DAYS!

Thanks for visiting me again - I really do appreciate your lovely comments xx

Getting there and DCM Fantastic Midweek Tutorials!

Well at last I'm getting somewhere with my photo editing problems - why do they have to change something that works perfectly well?

Here is my card for the http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com midweek dare. There is a fabulous tutorial on doodling and I have used a couple of the examples on this card. Papers are BG Two Scoops as is the chipboard. Stamp is Dovecraft and embossed with holographic powder.
I really hope I can get back to blogging properly now!

Still Screaming....

at this ********* laptop and it's 'lack of' software for what I want to do, so I'm back on my DS's, much to his annoyance. Anyway, here are a few cards I made recently - off to PCW to see what I can buy to solve this frustrating problem!

CCC Sketch Challenge

Well, I got a new laptop and I'm having so much trouble uploading and editing pictures that it has nearly been out the window!! Anyway, this is an experiment really to see if it works.

This card is based on a sketch challenge from http://charmedcardsandcrafts.co.uk my favourite online shop and favourite forum. The papers are from the new Dovecraft range - they are so affordable and the new ones are so bright and cheerful!

HIDE & SEEK!

Today's dare from http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com is to make a card with something hidden. I used a full sheet of 12x12 folded for this card and the inside is the 'hidden something', as well as the tag.


Okay, for my dare we're heading to the playground for a game of Hide & Seek.
I'd like you to make a card which has a hidden component of some sort.The hidden part could be a tag, a concealed photo, message or something along those lines, maybe a pull-out or pop-up.Anything goes as long as there's something extra for the recipient to find on your card that's not immediately visible when they open the envelope.

Papers are all Basic Grey, a mixture of ranges, rub ons and silhouette K & Co., sentiment stamp Anita's, small stamps Dovecraft, flourishes HOTP, flowers punched, loads of inked edges and MM sweet. I loved making this - hope you like it!!!

Our Mid Week Tribute! - DCM

Two members of the super talented DT at http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com are moving on to pastures new, so the challenge on Tuesday was to pay tribute to Lynne and Gillian through our cardmaking......

'Now, as you are probably aware, both Lynne and Gillian sadly stepped down from the Design Team recently, and although the DCM team's door is always open for them, we thought it would be nice to pay a little tribute to them in appreciation for all their wonderful work during their time on the DCM design team. Lythan came up with an idea that we make a card in the 'style' of either Lynne or Gillian's cards. Or maybe pick your favourite of theirs and use an element from their cards on your own card. Everyone has their own style- we thought it might be a little challenge to try out a different style for a change!'

And it was!! I used BG Scarlet's Letter paper, embelllishments from the new luscious K & Co. Two Scoops range, various rub-ons and lots of inky edges. One of Lynne's trademarks is stitching, so I used my new mini sewing machine to attach the Bazzil (it is meant to be wonky!!).
Definately more Lynne's style than Gillian's, but Lynne's is probably closer to my own.
Anyway, good luck ladies with whatever you do in the future. xx

Maze Book Challenge

This has been my project for today - it's for a challenge I am taking part in and is for my youngest son. He is delighted with it and so am I - it is the first work I have done for any of my own children, I usually do things for other people's!! As you may notice, he is a big Leeds United fan!

ME AND MY SHADOW!!

'I want you to create not just one but TWO cards ! But wait........there's more ! I want both cards to contain the same embellishments and papers, ribbons etc- but arranged in a different way for a different occasion....the only thing being different is the wording....I'll let you have different wording ! (How nice of me eh?) I'm well aware this is a really hard challenge, and that I have thrown everyone into 2008 off the deep end....but go on- give it a go - I DARE YOU !'
The dare from http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com this week is to create not one, but two cards, so I have been busy all evening creating. I got the inspiration from the beautifully coloured scallop edged paper which I picked up tonight on my way home from work, but I forgot to look at the name and make before I stuck it down, doh!! The flowers are Prima, beautiful brad is K&Co Wild Saffron, the paper ribbon is K&Co Smitten, loads of inky edges, a bit of bling and a couple of buttons. I went to town a bit with my white Sakura souffle pen too, as you can see and added a few Lasting Impressions Scrappy Rubs.
So, here are the same elements arranged in a different way for a Mum's birthday or Mothers' Day Card. Did I mention I love these colours?

ANOTHER NEW TO ME!!

Must have got too much new stash recently as this is my second 'Little Extra' this week.

Paper is Imaginisce again - these new papers are just beautiful, in fact the whole range is lovely! Cuttlebug embossing folder used, Sizzix Heart Tab Die, Lakeland brads, peel off (!!!) stitching, lots of ink around the edges and a button from my little 'box of treasures'.

I am so fed up with not being able to get well lit photographs, because the colours are much lighter than this first picture shows, although the second one is a touch better. Oh well, the nights are getting a little lighter.

Bit of snow here today, although not enough to build a snowman :-( It would be nice to just have a couple of days pure white snow (and a couple of days off work so we can play), then lots of rain to get rid of it quickly.

Thanks for visiting again - happy crafting!!

NEW TO ME!

Really exciting day today - my first Circle Journal came back to me. I didn't realise when I began this journal how precious it would become. Every single layout has been created with love and feeling. I will post some photographs when I can get some good daylight.

As the weather is so cold and windy I created this card for http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/ to evoke memories of Spring, which can't be too far away. Well, the daffodils and tulip bulbs are showing through and Easter is early this year, in fact the earliest it's been since 1913!



Mid week little extra...'New to me.....'
The first little extra dare of the new year is linking in with our main dare last Friday- still on the 'New' theme - think of it as a

'double dare!':)

We want to see your Crafty Christmas Presents ! Make a card using a new toy you had for Christmas, or in fact any crafty goodies that you received. Its a great chance to try out all your new toys/papers/embellishments! We'd love to see what crafty presents Santa dropped into your stocking.....

Papers are Imaginisce 'For Peeps Sake' from http://charmedcardsandcrafts.co.uk/
with matching rub-ons, which were a Christmas present from me to me! The ribbon is DCWV Pocket Full of Posies and was a present from my Secret Santa on CCC Forum. Brads are new Papermania and sentiment is Heidi Grace.