Challenge 78 - Christmas Come Early

I really didn't want to think about this in September but it really is time to start thinking about it if I need to be ready and after last year when Christmas crept up on me (who knew it was at the end of December - Duh).

For this Challenge we have the fabulous Nicole from

Inky Impressions

The Winner will received a $10 Gift Certificate

We were given an image and sentiment to use and I got to use the fabulous 

Christopher Holding Logs.  I really enjoyed colouring this image in and for a change I used my Copic markers to colour my image.  I had an idea in mind when I saw the image and decided to make a stepper card and use my Tim Holtz Bigz dies of pine trees for the side steppers.  I've used glitter card throughout but the trees are a self adhesive glitter foam.  The snowflake is a die and the glitter card came from Home Bargains.  I didn't like the way the card mat edge looked so I used ribbon to mask the joins and edges.  For the edge of the white border at the bottom I drew round a Spellbinder die and then cut out with a knife.  The base card came from Craft Den Studio.  I'm really please with how this turned out and someone may get this as a Christmas card this year.

Hop over to the CWWCC and show us your Christmas projects.

CHALLENGES

Sketch Saturday #327 - Sketch by Debra
Clear it out - Fancy Folds & use your dies
4 Crafty Chicks #211 - Fancy Folds
Moving along with the Times - Texture Time (glitter card)
Papertake Weekly - Repeat Repeat (2 trees and repeat pattern on the border?)

Crafting When I Can Challenges 68 - Sketch

For the challenge over at Crafting When We Can Challenges we have a sketch by Ang and our wonderful sponsor is 

The Stamping Chef

 

The theme is a Sketch by Ang.

We were allowed to choose our image for this challenge and I chose Jolene.  I coloured her with my Spectrum Noir pens and used some ribbon I've had for about a year.  The papers were from a Trimcraft 6" pad, I embossed stars into the background paper.  All the edges of the paper and image mat were distressed with Vintage Photo DI.  I'm really pleased with her hair this time, I love the colours but forgot to write them down and now can't remember what they were.  I know there were 3 colours from the TN range.  The ribbon was from Craft Den Studios and the sentiment was from a K & Co pad.

Hop over to the Challenge and join in.

Saturday Sewing...

at Craft Den.  My daughter and I have attended a couple of sewing classes at Lynne's Craft Den Studio.  I made a big square tote and I will post the pictures of this at a later date but I wanted to show you what my 14 year old daughter made this weekend.  She made a quilted messenger bag.  (The photos are rubbish I took them about 1 o'clock last night under an energy saving bulb).

Front of bag with flap up

Back of bag

Front of bag with flap down

The front flap, gusset and strap are made from a red/cream flower and the green material for the main bag and inside strap handle has flowers on it too.  All fabric and batting from Craft Den (the web site is down at the moment but you can contact Lynne from her blog)  

I think she's done a marvellous job and she can't wait to use it when she goes to Belgium with school later this week.  

Crafting When We Can Challenges #44 - Colour Combo - Lime Green and Pink

I can't believe it's been 14 days since I last made a post, doesn't time fly.  I've been crocheting a little jacket for myself and sewing some mannequin pin cushions to sell at a local craft fair Lynne at Craft Den is organising for September.  I'm also trying to think up some other things to make and sell. 

Our Sponsor for Challenge 44 is the talented Megan at 

Dilly Beans Stamps

My image is Skellie with balloon.  I have used pearlised card so the photo is a bit reflective (my excuse for rubbish photography skills). I coloured it using flexmarkers and the papers are from my stash and I've had them years.  The little pearls are from Home Bargains.

Hop over to the Challenge Blog and leave your Lime Green and Pink creations and you could be in with a chance of winning our great prize.

CHALLENGES

Delightful Challenges - Stash It (all card used over 2 years old)

Crafty Creations Challenge 221 - Something old/something new (old card, new image)

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes

Pin and Tack (Spark your creativity now) - Anything Goes, May

CraftnDen ATC swap March - bit late...

Because of life I'm a little late with my March ATC swap for Craft Den but I will be taking them down to Lynne on Tuesday.  If you want to join in hop over and see what the theme will be for April or even better become a follower of Lynne's blog and you'll never miss them or any of the wonderful classes she runs.

The theme for March was Birds of a feather. I was going to go with flying birds but I decided to go with the colloquial ones instead and add feathers.  All 5 are the same.  I've used an image from Dezinaworld and feathers from an old boa.  The stamp is from a set that came with a magazine, inked with DI.  The little pearl is from Home Bargains.

Hope you're having a great weekend.  Weather not too bad in Sheffield today.  Half past 7   in the evening and I'm sat looking a blue sky with scattered clouds.  Spring may just be arriving and about time too.

New ATC swap

Lynne over at Craft Den Studio is starting a new ATC swap.  You can find all the details HERE 

Crafting When We Can Challenges #32 - Fairytales

This challenge we are sponsored by

Saturated Canary

Krista is giving away 2 images, to the Winner, from her wonderful store.  Krista was kind enough to let us choose our image for this challenge and I chose Pearl because I wanted to do The Little Mermaid (yes I went with the Disney version but I do love her hair).

I coloured my image with Distressed Inks and used a spellbinder die to cut it out as well as some swirls.  The ribbon is from Craft Den and the papers are from a 360 page pad by K and Co.  I never thought I would use paper but as soon as I saw this image I knew it would work.  The pearls were made with a Viva Pearl Pen and it only took me 2 goes to get it right.  The first lot I made I put my hand in, as usual but the second lot I managed to let dry without incident.  I also put some glaze drops in her hair.  

CHALLENGES

Sketch Saturday #235 - Sketch

Clear It Out - Ugly Sweater (use up old paper ~ I never thought I would be able to use this paper I've had it about 4 years)

Stampavie and more challenges #181 - Swirls and Pearls

House of Gillis #46 - Die Cuts

Papertake Weekly - Ribbons & Pearls 

Crafting When We Can Challenges 23 - Monochrome

Another great Challenge over at Crafting When We Can Challenges this fortnight.  We are sponsored by 

Fresh Brewed Designs

The Winner will get to choose 3 images of their choice from the store.

My card was made from 12 x 12 card, from Craft Den, in various colours of blue. The dark blue was embossed using a sizzix texturz plate.  I coloured the image in Copics and Promarkers.  The edge of the border was cut using a Nellie Snellen edge die.  The heart brads are from my stash as are the crystal letters and stones

Hop over to CWWCC and let's see your version of monochrome.

CHALLENGES

Sketches by Carly #61 - Sketch

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #162 - Monochrome

Digi Doodles Shop's #117 - Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin' Challenges - Monochrome

Card and Scrap #35 - Wings

Crafting When We Can Challenges #22 - 1 image, 2 ribbons, 3 buttons

Everyone's feeling better now, and things are back to normal so here is my card for Challenge 22 over at Crafting When We Can Challenges.  Our wonderful sponsor this challenge is 

Spesch Designer Stamps

and were were given our choice of image.  The image I chose was Birthday Girl by Max, I love the cute dungarees she is wearing and the careful way she is carrying her precious cupcake.

The papers are from a 360 page paper pack by K & Co. (love all the papers in this stack), the ribbons are from Craft Den the buttons are from my stash. The image is coloured with Promarker and Copics.  Edges of the Tim Holtz mat were distressed with DI, bundled sage, it doesn't look as scruffy IRL. 

I made this card while looking out at my wet, overgrown garden from the attic (my bedroom).  I haven't got my desk up there yet (it's still in the box in the garage) but I do have a shelf wide enough to work on and after moving all my OH's stuff I managed to clear a space for my craft mat so slowly but surely I'm getting there.  This year will be my year and I'm determined to get some space back from the OH and the kids.

Hop on over to the Challenge blog and leave your project with the blue froggy.

CHALLENGES
The Game - Patty Cake
Catch The Bug Challenge - Anything Goes
Victorine Stamps #38 - Buttons & Ribbons
Digital Tuesday Challenge #168 - Inside out, decorate inside of card
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafting When We Can Challeges #21 - Summer Fun

This Challenge the theme is Summer Fun so we want to see someone or something having fun in the sun.

We were given an image from our generous Sponsors

MilkCoffee

The Winner will receive 3 images of their choice

and our 2nd Sponsor is

Crafty Ribbons

The Winner will receive a ribbon bag.

I chose to make a scrapbook page using 2 photos of my daughter.  I really like these pictures and enjoyed making this page.  The only problem was when I looked through my scrapbook I found I had already made a page using the exact same photos.

The blue base is a bazzill basic bought from Craft Den.  The flowery paper is from a K & Co 300 paper pack bought from a show last year with an edge cut using a MS punch around the page set.  I cut the last edge at an angle and the pattern didn't quite match but still hey hoo I've more things to worry about at the moment and it doesn't effect the lovely memory these pictures bring back to mind.  The flowers were cut out of the blue bazzil and some scraps with a Woodware punch I then coloured the scrap with a green Copic.  The gems were from Poundland and really lift the look of the flowers.  My beautiful flower girl is from MilkCoffee and she is called Lisbeth loves Sunflower.  I printed her out in 2 different sizes and coloured her with Promarkers and Copics, I coloured her Sunflower blue to match my photos.  I have left a space for my journalling when I get around to it but put a digital label on the photo so I can remember when it was.

If you've got a creation that follows the theme then hop over to the Challenge and leave it with the blue froggy, if you've followed the rules you'll be in with a chance of winning the great prizes on offer.

Crafting When We Can Challenges 20 - Mint Choc Chip (mint green & brown)

This Challenge we are doing a colour combo the only problem is everyone has a different idea of what mint is, we all know it's green but what green.  Ice-cream tends to be a pale green but the mint plant in my garden if quite a dark green and the mint jelly from the jar is very dark green.  So I chose a green I thought was a minty colour and used that. 

Our sponsor for this Challenge is Kenny K Downloads and we were kindly given a choice of the images from the store.  My daughter chose Brianna Blaster.  As Kenny's images are so detailed I decided to print the image A5ish and colour it in and then scan the image into my computer and size it up and print out 4 copies.  I used all the images to layer up my image.  The mats are are cut from Tim Holtz dies and the tag was cut from a piece of 12 x12 double sided paper but I don't know the name (the tag is the same paper of the mat but using the other side).  The black swirls are pieces of borders from Poundland and the ribbon is from Craft Den coloured with an Anna Griffin Chocolate ink.

Hop over to the Challenge and join in with your wonderful creations.

CHALLENGES

Ruby's Rainbow #30 - Tags

Cupcake Craft Challenge 195 - Tags

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Moving Along With The Times - Anything Goes

Digital Tuesday #163 - Anything Goes

Crafting When We Can Challenges #19 - Fashion and Pearls

Once again life caught up with me along with the nasty no get up and go bug so I didn't get my second card done for the last challenge.  I still have the idea in my head so it may appear one day.

Now onto Challenge 19, Fashion and Pearls.  Our fab Sponsor for this Challenge is

Digi Doodle Shop

We were given some wonderful images to use and I chose this one because I could see in my mind something I would like to try.  The backing paper is K & Company Best of 12x12 360 designer Papers.  I really like all these papers and they pop up on my cards alot.  The white circle has been embossed with a Sizzix Texturz plate.  I've had these plates for about 3 years and never used them, I always forget but I cut the circle by hand and thought embossing would hid the rubbish edges.  The image was coloured with Promarkers and the pearls were made with a Viva pearl pen (and I didn't put my fingers in it before it set, yeah me!).  Flowers are old Woodware ones and the ribbon was from Craft Den.  I used a MS border punch to make the lace on the edge of my card and highlighted it with a little Promarker, the senitment is from Craftwork Cards.

Hop over now to the Challenge blog and show us your Fashion and Pearls creations.  While your there leave us some love.

CHALLENGES

My Mum's Craft Shop 58 - Cooking up a RECIPE

Truly Scrumptious 81 - Pretty in Pink

Penny's Paper-Crafting 80 - Anything Goes

Bunny Zoe's Crafts 24 - Anything Goes
Stamps & Fun = Creativity 100 - Anything Goes

Crafting When We Can Challenges #3 - Bingo Card

It's challenge #3 over at Crafting When We Can Challenges and I hope you will be able to join us.  The theme for challenge 3 is a Bingo Card.  The idea behind the bingo card if you don't know is you chose 3 items off the card in a line (horizontal, vertical or diagonal).

click on card to go to challenge

Our sponsors

 Sew Many Cards

This week our sponsor kindly let us choose an image from their store and I chose Halen in Wreath.  I was going to make him into a wreath to hang on the door/wall but as other members of the DT chose the same line I decided to make a card instead using the vertical centre line 'Happy' sentiment, distressing & pearls.

The plain green and red paper is from my stash I don't know the manufacturer but I got it from a local craft shop (who also does online sales) Craftden Studios, the patterned paper is from K&Co. the sentiment is from Craftworks and I used Copics and Promarkers to colour the cute image.  I used my Craft Robo to cut out the poinsettia in the corner and put yellow pearls (which came in the drawers of a white spinney pen holder from Create and Craft).  I popped up the wreath with pads and layered up Halen and the bow then stuck the sentiment as if Halen is holding it.  

I am really enjoying making cards again, being on the DT has really brought back my enjoyment in crafting.  

Today me and my OH should be sorting out some more stuff from the bedroom so I can put my new desk up and hopefully move some of my craft stuff up there.  My Craft Robo and Big Shot are already there and now I don't have to keep stretching up to get them hopefully they will be used alot more.  NO not HOPEFULLY, they will DEFINITELY be used more. 

Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend, it's been one of my best for a long time.

CHALLENGES

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge #17 - Too early for Christmas

OLLCB #89 - Punches/dies (I've used a Craft Robo don't know if this counts)

Anything Goes Challenge #50 - Anything Goes

Whoopsi Daisy - make your own embellishments (poinsettia on Craft Robo)

Digi Stamps 4 Joy #28 - anything Goes (with bonus) 

Creative Cowgirls Challenge #6 - Valentine Day Cards

This week over on the Creative Cowgirls Challenge we have the theme of Valentine Day Cards.

The Posse were lucky enough to receive an image from our sponsor Roberta at Prairie Fairy Designs.  My image was Roopid and I really enjoyed making this card I got to colour the image, cut out the circles on my Craftrobo and punch out the hearts and stickle the edges of everything.  The sentiment is mine.  All the card was from stash, dewdrops and stickles were purchased from Craft Den, small heart punches were purchased form Ideal World many years ago and the bigger hearts were embossed form my CC Ultimate board.

The sponsor this week is Prairie Fairy Designs

Roberta is giving the winner 3 images of their choice

+

Winners Badge to display with pride on your blog

TOP 3 each get 1 Prairie Fairy image of their choice

+

TOP 3 Badge to display with pride on your blog

Hop over to the Challenge and post your creation, we can't wait to see what gorgeous projects you have made.

CHALLENGES

The Creative Cottage #31 - shaped card

Scrappekammeret #23 - white + 1 other colour

Riley and Co. - a heart challenge

Gingerloft #10 - things that fly

Fairy Fun Friday #45 - for a sweetheart

Mark's Finest Papers #40 - Valentine card

Craft Your Days Away #12 - Love

Old scrapbook page

As I am trying to get back to making  more posts I have pulled out an old scrapbook page I made at one of Lynne's classes at Craft Den.  All the papers etc were from Craft Den and the picture was added afterwards.  I am entering it into the Anything Goes Challenge Brads & Eyelets, the eyelets are where the ribbon is crossed and the centres of the flowers are velvety brads.  ( I really just wanted to show of my cute little daughter in one of my favourite outfits).  We were at the Wrinkled Stocking Cafe in Holmfirth when this picture was taken.  They do delicious cream teas.

Quick post today.  Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Cowgirl Sunday Stamp'en Challenge - BLOG HOP

Welcome to our blog hop if you came here from Peggy's blog - Tricky's Creations you are on the right track if not hop over to the Cowgirl's Sunday Stamp'en Challenge to start.  You will find full details of the hop there.

I don't have a letter on my blog but you will be 

BLUE and EXCLAIMING 

your woe if you don't find this symbol. Leave me a comment and let me know if you found it and you may be in with a chance of some candy. 

I have 4 pots of tiny beads and 10 pins to give to 1 lucky blog hopper. You must complete the hop to be eligible for this prize.

From here you need to hop back to the Cowgirl's Sunday Stamp'en Challenge blog and leave a comment to say you have completed the hop.  Full hop details are on the challenge blog.

For the challenge this week our theme is HANDMADE FLOWERS you can add as many flowers as you like as long as you have made them yourself.  You could win all these fantastic flowery ribbons this weeks as our Sponsor is

CRAFTY RIBBONS

+

3 images of your choice from CJ's store Cowgirl Up Designs

+

The Winners Badge to display with pride on your blog

There will also be 3 x TOP 3 cards and these will be awarded  

2 images of their choice from CJ's store Cowgirl Up Designs

+

 The TOP 3 badge to display on their blog.

Here is the project I made for my DT work.  I used paper from my stash and a gorgeous new release from CJ at Cowgirl Up Designs called Lilbit.  I made the flowers by cutting a spiral out of a circle of paper and winding it up from the outside to the inside let it relax and stick it to the piece of card you have left in the middle, which is now on the outside.  (I should have taken a picture of the bottom). I learnt how to make these at a scrapbooking class at Craft Den.  I dabbed stickles onto the roses and the sunflowers on the image.

Here is a close up of the rose

I have used thin organza ribbon (bought from C&C) and threaded it through the holes in the Nellie C die and added 2 bows.  The leaves are from a Woodware punch.  

I had a list of challenges to enter this hanger into but my OH phoned on Friday afternoon and said we were going camping for the weekend so I won't be here to link up on Sunday. (I might see if I can find somewhere to plug my OH's netbook into on Sunday and see if I can get on line).  We are camping on an airfield with water from a stand tap (if we're lucky), toilets in a mobile (if you are near the camping site) otherwise it's the dreaded portaloos (won't EVER go in one of those again) and no electric so early nights all round, which is just as well as people get up at 6am and start playing with their model planes.  Forgot to say its show/competion weekend run by the British Model Flying Association where people show off their model planes and helicopters.  It's a weekend away from home and I don't really mind the hardship as the family is together.  Will let you know how we got on when I get back.

To all those who made it to here 

THANK YOU.

Scrapbooking at Craft Den

This is a LO I did last night with Lynne at Craft Den Studio.  It is of my son & daughter in one of her 'love you brother moments' and at the moment we don't get many of these.  Everyone got to place their pictures on the LO how they wanted so they all look quite different.  To see another example hop over to Natty's blog.

We used Bo Bunny papers.  First we made an aperture 10" x 10" and then inked and curled the edges.  I have never curled paper like this before and found you really need to work the paper to get it to give and curl nicely.  We then put the aperture paper over another 12" x 12" paper.  We then used a stamp set from Diamond Card Craft called Flourish Clear Stamps to stamp a border design, highlighted with an Inkssentials white pen.

Lynne had cut us some flowers out from a Tim Holtz, Bigz die and she showed us how to shape them to give them some dimension.  We also learnt how to make swirly roses.  I really like making these flowers so you may be seeing some on my cards in the future.  All  the items we used can be bought from Lynne at Craft Den Studio.

Craft Den - May ATC - Flowers

This is my entry for the May ATC swap organised by Lynne, owner of the Craft Den.  The papers are from the 6 x 6 paper pack Wild Asparagus by MME, the sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.  I followed the Tim Holtz method to make the paper rose.

The theme for June's swap is Shoes so get out those 2.5" x 3.5" pieces of card and get crafting.

Scrapbook pages

I have been told off by my friend today for not posting on my blog so here is a layout I have done. The pink layout I did at a Craft Den Thursday night scrapbook class last year and the blue one is the one I made to go with it. It is of my son & daughter's 1st ride home in their car seats. I have to finish off the blue layout by adding dewdrops to the middle of the flowers. I had to scan the flowers from the pink layout so I could cut them out on my Craft Robo lite (which was my Christmas present from my OH and kids), as I don't have a cricut.

My son is now 13 1/2 and nearly 6' tall, and my daughter is 10 and still as cute.