4 into 1 does go!

I needed to make a "get well" card for a close friend who is having a knee op done next week, so looked around for some challenges to help me with some inspiration. I think I managed to fulfil 4 challenges with this card:


1. Colour create #4 - pink & grey, with the optional theme of cute and cuddly (well I think Ellie is exceptionally cute and cuddly, don't you?)
2. CCT # 49 - animal magic
3. Charisma Cardz #8 - Animals
4. Cupcake Craft Challenge #28 - sketch.


This is my first go at the Colour Create Challenge which I thought was Sunday, but I'm now hoping I'm not too late !! (eek!)

Recipe:
Main image and sentiment (inside) : Penny Black
Sentiment (outside): Cuttlebug diecut
Supplies: flowers - Prima; brads - Doodlebug sugar coated; charm - Dolls Made Up; paper and pearl gems from my stash.
Silver card border cut with my new Martha Stewart doily punch.

The inside follows the outside layout fairly closely.

I hope that this will cheer my friend up while she is laid up and that she'll soon be back to full fitness.

Have a good weekend and thanks for looking.

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #38

Good morning, and welcome once again to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge. It was wonderful to see everyone's "get well" cards last week - what a fantastic selection as always. Don't forget to visit the challenge blog to see who has won Carole's gorgeous selection of ribbons.

I haven't had much time for crafting this week as I've been both busy and slightly under the weather with a cold; but I couldn't resist making my DT card for this week's challenge as the theme is

Something you can eat

... and eating always works for me lol! I actually have several PB stamps which would fit the bill, but I decided to base my whole card around a gorgeous piece of ribbon I bought from Penrith Crafts on a craft retreat last autumn. I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to bring it into play ... so this challenge made me think the time has come!

I used the discontinued PB stamp "Sweet Slumber" which I had to pay somewhat over the odds to buy off ebay after previously using RAK images - it is coloured with a mix of watercolour pencils and Cosmic Shimmers to give the box a twinkly look! I cut the image out using my labels nesties and matted at an angle onto some unusual "distressed" gold and brown metallic card. The papers are individual sheets from a broken up stack but I believe they are K&Co. - I inked and distressed the edges with walnut stain & antique linen distress inks.... I fondly imageined that it might give an impression of choccy stains!! Flowers are all Prima and pearl brads are by Papermania; and the sentiment is also by PB.

Had another go at decorating the inside, and you can probably just about see that I have used my new martha Stewart doily edge punch for the first time - woo hoo!

As always we have got a fab priz on offer this week for one lucky winner, which is 2 fantastic sheets of stickeroos kindly donated by Tracie. These really are just the business if you need to make a card quickly, and PB stickers really are great quality!

Please do pop over to the other DT members' blogs as they have produced a mouthwatering assortment of cards on this theme - looking forward to seeing all your "recipes" lol!

Just a quick Birthday Card ... as easy as ABC

Just a very quick posting and a very simple card from me this afternoon - I sat down to do a bit of cardmaking but the phone has been ringing etc., so I am just about in the nick of time (literally!) with one of these challenges. I daresay i will decorate the inside, but no time if i want to photograph it while it's still daylight lol!

I got my latest Docrafts Creativity magazine on Friday, and stragiht away thought that the cute sticker giveaways would be good for this week's ABC Challenge, which is B is for Blue & Brown. I don't normally tend to use magazie giveaways, but thoguht these were rather sweet for a change. I decided to make a reasonably masculine birthday card, so I followed this week's sketch for Just Christmas and Birthday Cards.

I used:

Main images and sentiment; stickers free with this month's Docrafts "Creativity" magazine:

Papers and ribbon from my stash.

Thanks for looking!

Penny Black Challenge #37 - Get Well Soon

Hello again ... welcome to the weekend, and the latest Penny Black Saturday Challenge. Already we are at week 37 - where does the time fly? As ever the DT would like to thank everyone for their amazing response to Nat's fabulous sketch challenge last week - don't forget to look out for the prizewinner.

This week's challenge is Get Well Soon - your chance to send a hug to a loved one who is under the weather. As always you may interpret this any way so long as you include one or more PB stamps or stickeroos in your design.

We have another amazing prize kindly donated by Carole - a selection of fab buttons and ribbons to jazz up one lucky winner's future creations.

I thought I would interpret this as sending a bouquet of good wishes to someone , and that I would make the card in cheerful and spring like colours.

I inked up one of the cuties from the PB "Hugs!" set for the first time, and also used some cheerful spring papers that came free with the first issue of a new craft magazine - Creative Cardmaking. I don't normally go much on the free papers in craft mags, but I liked these sufficiently that Iactually bought the mag because of it!

I am still decorating the insides and am loving using my new personalised stamps on the back - I particularly like this one as I can colour the 3 flowers to match the colour scheme of the card.

I used:

Main image: Penny Black transparent set "Hugs!" coloured with watercolour pencils & decorated with Stickles.

Sentiments: "For You" by studio g clear stamps; "A Bouquet ..." by Hero Arts; "Hugs & Kisses.." (inside) by Inca.

Papers (inc. printed disc): free with issue 1 of Creative Cardmaking magazine.

Supplies: flower by WH Smith; brad by Doodlebug sugar coated; charm from Dolls Made Up. Leaves punched using Leone Em Ash branch punch.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Magnolia vs Stampavie #14 - Colour Challenge

Well I'm sitting here this morning feeling a bit sorry for myself as I woke up feeling shivery, achey and full of cold, so I have taken the day off sick to dose up, nap and recuperate. Before doing that I thought I would just load up the card I made last night before the lurgy set in .. for the first time in a long while I have taken part in the Magnolia versus Stampavie Challenge, which this week is a colour combo.

Loved the look of this colour combination so had a root through my stash to see what I could find - not sure how exactly I have managed to match up the shades, but this is the best I could produce with available supplies.

Recipe:

Image: Sarah Kay "Precious Moments" coloured with watercolour pencils, and edges distressed with Walnut Stain and Antique Linen distressed inks;

Sentiment (inside): Penny Black;

Paper: BasicGrey "Two Scoops", with the edges distressed as above;

Flowers: Prima and Papermania;

Lace: RAK from Cathy;

Charm: Dolls Made Up

Buttons, gems and brads from my stash.

Here's a pic of the inside - couldn't seem to get the light right on this one so it is a bit dark.

Just off to get my feet up now and get some rest! Hope the DT over at MmvS will get to see this card as I can't see Mr Linky ... this seems to be a problem on a number of challenge blogs for Vista users - anyone else have this problem?

Have a great day.

I have also realised in the nick of time (which I didn't previously in my befuddled state) that this card fits the theme and timing of this week's Secret Crafter Challenge #19 which is Spring has Sprung ... so I hope it is ok to enter it for that too :-)

Friends old and new ...

I was really thrilled and touched to receive the following award from my lovely friend Sharon - it made me smile and that means a lot :-)



I decided that I would like to pass this on to "friends old and new" - some friends from pre-blogging days who have also got blogs (either long-standing or more recently), plus a few of my newest friends who I have come across through blogging.
Carol, Cathy, Helen, Jo, Samantha, Sue, Carole, Debbie, Jacqui, Marcea, Tracie.
Enjoy, ladies!

Penny Black Challenge #36 - Sketch by Natalie

Hello everyone, and welcome again to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge - week 36. Well I have to say what a fantastic response to last week's challenge of romance ... and what a romantic lot you all are!! We were thrilled by the wonderful array of romantic cards, so don't forget to pop over to the challenge blog to see who has won the prize

This week's challenge is a brilliant sketch by Natalie - the DT loved working with this and we hope you will too. You can see the fantastic DT examples on the challenge blog as well as details of this week's prize - hope you will take a peek. Don't forget that the only rule is that you must have PB image (stamp or stickeroo) somehere on your creation.

Here is my interpretation.

Recipe:

Main image: PB "Crossing bridges" coloured with watercolour pencils;

Sentiment: PB transparent set "Salutations";

Papers: Imaginisce;

Flowers: Prima hydrangea petals ;

Ribbon: Hobbycraft;

Brads: Papermania and Doodlebug sugar coated;

Charm: Dolls Made Up.

You won't see any interior pics of this card for two reasons: I only finished the outside at gone midnight, and I hadn't a scrap of the paper left (though I really NEED to get some more LOL!)

Have a great weekend, and looking forward to seeing all your creations.

5 challenges and a ribbon blossom

I have mentioned before that I am part of a group of crafty friends that is a lovely friendly forum and includes setting each other monthly (non-blogging) challenges. Each month one member sends the others a pack of bits that they have to use to make a card: this month as it happens my dear friend Helen was in the chair, and she sent a pack that comprised the following:

• 1 piece approx 6 " x 6" of coredinations cardstock
• 1 large red/brown fabric flower
• 2 small red/brown fabric flowers
• 1 large white pearl brad
• 1 small silver puffy heart charm
• 2 cream skeleton leaves
• approx 1/2 yard of cream organza ribbon.

The only other rule was that we must use a "new technique" (eek!) in making our card. I agonised over this so long and hard I actually slightly missed the deadline (oops!) ... but last night I finally got down to business ....
It seemed clear to me that my BG "Sugared" papers were perfect to co-ordinate with the bits I'd been given, and once I'd picked out a paper then the WOJ image "Melinda Blowing Kisses" seemed to suggest itself naturally (I don't own this stamp .... approx 3 different peeps have sent me RAK's of this so I'm not sure who sent this one .. but thanks!!)
During the planning stage (about 2 weeks ago lol!!) I decided that the best new techinque to put together with this little lot would be a ribbon blossom, as I've admired them on other blogs and been meaning to have a go. I bought a number of small reels of co-ordinating Anita's ribbons, and I was away - I followed Pam's tutorial on Splitcoaststampers. I actually found this incredibly fiddly to do, and I think for the future I would get better results with all organza ribbon (rather than some grosgrain) as the knots are still somewhat visible ... the other concern is that these ribbon blossoms are pretty big so it kinda dominates the card ... but hey, it's done now and I'm still glad I had a go. I may try it with slightly shorter ribbon pieces next time.

Recipe:
Image: WOJ "Melinda Blowing Kisses" coloured with watercolour pencils;
Sentiment (inside): Penny Black;
Papers: BasicGrey "Sugared"; Coredinations red/brown cardstock embossed with Cuttlebug "Divine Swirls" and distressed by sanding
Flowers: from kit sent to me (I believe they are Papermania) + 1 Prima gold-coloured flower.
Ribbon: Anita's
Brads, charm and spacers from kit or from my stash.

Here's a picture of the inside - I'm still trying to decorate them. I haven't yet managed to do the back with my new personalised stamp, but will do before I send it.
Before putting this card together I thought I would see whether I could tie it in to any blog challenges, and so would also like to enter it for the following:
Friday Sketchers #38 - although there is a lot of extra embellishment the basic sketch is still there (somewhere!)
My Time to Craft #48 - this week is going for gold - and I have matted Melinda onto some distressed gold mirri card.
A Spoon Full of Sugar #38 - is Doodle doo! .. I have done some (very amateurish) kissy doodles round my image and sentiment inside.
Arty Girlz #72 - this week is flowers .. well this card has certainly got plenty of those, including with a twist!
I have decided I am going to send this card to my mum "just because..." :-)

DDC, CCT and a Cupcake ... and more zzzz's!

I accidentally came across the Double Dutch Challenge blog whilst doing some commenting on another blog, and found some great challenges there. This week they have a fab sketch, not to mention a too-good-to-miss opportunity to win a fabulous vintage style Penny Black stamp! So for the past few days I have been getting round to producing a card, and yesterday I finally managed it.

I also really fancied the colour scheme for Cupcake Challenge #25 which is pink, pale plum, dark plum and white. It is based on Stampin' Up colours, but as I don't have these I have just tried to stick to the basic colour scheme.

Here is my card: I got on a roll with my sleepy characters yesterday whilst doing the ABC Challenge, and just had to do another lol! This stamp is Penny Black "Dream a Dream", and if you look in my blog header you will get a clue as to how much I love it. I also tried to tie this card in to the CCT Challenge #46 which is Metallica - I cut one of the layers for the sketch from a pink/plum mirri card and embossed with Cuttlebug Stylised flowers folder, and also used a butterfly charm.

Recipe:
Image: Penny Black "Dream a Dream" coloured with watercolour pencils;
Sentiments: Hampton Art (front), Penny Black (inside); Hand printed .... stamp from ebay shoop Loongchai74. Papers: DCWV "Pocketful of Posies"; glittery printed vellum by Papermania;
Flowers: Prima
Charm: from ebay shop Dolls Made Up.

I'm still enthusiastically decorating the insides of my cards, and on this one I took the next step and decorated the back, as I had taken delivery of two gorgeous personalised stamps from Chris Yong's ebay shop. I was incredibly impressed with his service, speed of delivery and the stamps when they arrived, and the whole card somehow looks more finished off ... so I'll be trying to keep it up in future.

Overall I'm pretty pleased with how this card turned out - hope you like it and thanks for looking :-) It's just started snowing here quite persistently, so i guess I'd better snuggle up with some warm crafty goodies!

PTW ... SFoS ... ABC ... zzzzz....

I spotted that this week over at ABC Challenge they have reached the end of the alphabet for the first time - congratulations ladies!! .. and their theme for this week is zzzz (sleeping). How cute is that?? I actually have got several stamps of cute PB sleeping characters as well as one or two House Mouse RAK's, but this stamp is definitely one of my favourites. As luck would have it I'd got a "left over" image ready coloured and glittered from Christmas, so I knew what I had to do!

At PTW this week the theme is hearts and flowers ... so Valentine's cards might spring immediately to mind, but I think I am all Valentine'd out right now, so I decided to make a hearts and flowers Christmas card. Hopefully you will notice that I have incorporated hearts both into the sentiment and the cute little gems. I'm not up to date with doing a Christmas card a week during 2009, but at least I now have a couple done already!

I have laid this card out line with the sketch for this week's Spoon Full of Sugar #37 , which I have rotated by 90 degrees.

Recipe:

Main image: PB "The Night Before Christmas", coloured with watercolour pencils & Twinkling H2)s, and decorated with pewwe glitter;

Sentiment: PB "A Wish from the heart";

papers: All BasicGrey "Figgy Pudding";

Flowers: Prima "Christmas Bubble";

other items from my stash.

Thanks for looking!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge #35 - Romance

Hello again, and welcome to another Penny Black Saturday Challenge. Once more we have been overwhelmed by the popularity of our li'l blog, and it was fabulous to see all those stunning circle cards last week ... there were a lot of positive comments that you enjoyed making a different shaped card. Don't foget to pop along to the blog later to find out who won last week's scrummy downloads.

So onto this week's challenge, which is

Romance.

Time to get all kissy and cuddly and show us your best lovey-dovey efforts. As always you can interpret this however you choose so long as you include one or more PB stamps or stickeroos somewhere on your project.

This week we have another fab prize from Funky Hand - two downloads from the new collection due to be released, called "Huge Funky Love" .

The DT are obviously a romantic lot as they have come up with some fabby creations to inspire you - hope you will call by their blogs for a peek!

Here is my card ... I decided to go with the theme of "love letter" so I made a trifold envelope card and then mirrored the shape in the main image of kitty peeking out of an envelope.

I then carried this through with the cute bees carrying love letters. I had to be a bit careful with the decoration as this is going to be my husband's Valentine card, and I always have to try to avoid red as he has very definite blue football affiliations (let's just say that when Everton knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup on Wednesday he was overcome with joy!!) So I always try to do a mainly blue based card, though you have to have a li'l bit of red on a heart don't you??

Recipe:

Images: PB transparent set "Every Which Way" and "Hugs!";

Sentiments: PB set "Every Which Way" and Art Impressions;

Paper : Papermania Creative Tones "Venetian Skies";

Flowers: Wh Smith/Papermania.

Also ... seeing as I DO have a very busy life but DON'T have an incredibly busy love life and therefore don't really have the need to make multiple Valentine cards, I would also like to enter this one into a couple of other Valentine challenges - namely E-A-C #25, and Stamp Something (Something for your Valentine) - hope that's ok.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend and look forward to seeing your creations this week.