First Chrimbo Card of 2012

Well, I may have been a teeny tiny bit slow getting out of the starting blocks, but finally here it is ... my first Christmas card of 2012. I'm determined that this year I'm going to do better than last year and get cards made ahead of time (where have I heard that one before lol!!??!!)

 I haven't inked up this darling LotV teddy for a while and have been meaning to get round to it; and I spotted a couple of challenges which meant this was the perfect time :-)

Stamps: LotV "James Bear - In The Snow"; LotV Christmas sentiment circles;

Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers; glamour dust on hat and snow;

Paper: s.e.i.;

Supplies: sparkly gems from my stash;

Tools: lacy circle nestabilities; Cuttlebug "Ice Crystal" and "Snowflakes #2" dies; Memory Box "Snowflake Corner" die; Cuttlebug "snowflakes" and Crafts Too "snowflakes" embossing folders.

Challenges:

ABC Christmas - B is for Bear + other "B"s 

(I chose bling)
Craft Your Passion #95 - Beary Sweet

Stamps + Fun = Creativity #84 - Animals + Blue
Little Red Wagon - Winter Wonderland

Lili's Little Fairies #4 - Oh Boy!
Christmas Cards #9 - Favourite Technique 

(colouring with Promarkers)

Sentimental Sundays #87 - Dry Embossing

Cute Card Thursday #201 - You're A Gem

Simon Says - Anything Goes

Divas By Design #19 - Sketch

Party Time Tuesday #52 - Picture Inspiration

Thanks very much for visiting today - I'll be back Wednesday morning with a new challenge over at I ♥ Promarkers.

 

A Simple Thankyou

Good evening everyone and hope you are enjoying the weekend.

Just a quick post from me this evening before I sit down to watch "Dancing On Ice", as I managed to sneak in a couple of quick and simple challenge cards as well as my DT work.

For some time I haven't really had opportunity to play along with the Less Is More challenges, but this afternoon I decided I really must give it a go when I saw this week's fabulous sketch. 

I could immediately see a few possibilities, so I sat down and made a couple of simple thank you cards. Here are the results.

Stamps: (both cards) Unity Stamps "Insightful Meadows"; Penny Black sentiment from "Salutations" transparent set; 

Media: clear embossing, and distressed panels with TH distress inks ("Tumbled Glass" on first card, "Spun Sugar" on second card).

Challenges:

Card 1:

Less Is More #52 - Sketch

Totally Gorjuss #116 - Keep it Simple Silly

Kaboodle #103 - Thank You

Challenge Up Your Life #61 - Thank You

CYDA #37 - Distressing

Card 2:

Stamptacular #149 - Diamonds or pearls

Hotshot #3 - Flowers (3rd entry)

Charisma #3 - Pretty In Pink

Sir Stampalot (January) - Monochromatic

Stampin' For the Weekend #2 - Embossing

Simon Says - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

That's all for now - have a great evening.

Hugs

 

Penny Black Saturday #186 - Floral Frenzy

Good morning everyone - eek!  sorry I'm running late with this week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

.... I was a bit under the weather mid-week, and come Thursday when I was feeling better I had already arranged to have a stroll to the local cinema to see "War Horse" with my husband in the evening. God knows we see little enough of each other what with work, commuting, household chores and (in my case) crafting; so I decided for once to prioritise having some quality "couple" time and let my DT card slide lol! I think it must have done me good, cos when I finally sat down to it last night I felt quite in the mood  to create.

This week's challenge was a fabulous one for me, and we're sure you'll all love it too. The theme is

Floral Frenzy

Easy peasy!!

This week's randomly drawn prize is 4 rolls of ribbon of the winner's choice from our regular sponsor Fantastic Ribbons

Don't forget to be eligible you need to create a new project that features a Penny Black image stamp, large sentiment or stickeroo as its main focus. 

The rest of the DT have done a bloomin' marvellous job ;-)  this week - here's mine.

I have made this card specifically for a very good friend of mine who has an ongoing chronic health condition:  I  found out a couple of days ago she's been a bit poorly and is off work, so I hope this will cheer her up! I really adore this kitty - she really cheers me up with the bunch of daffs which make me think of spring! :-)

Stamps: Penny Black slapstick "You're the bestest"; Whimsy Friendship ticket stamps;

Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers on main image; sentiments stamped with distress ink;

Papers: Me To You "Spring Chic";

Supplies: flowers mostly from Wild Orchid Crafts (think the large rose may be from Sweet Lilac but I've lost the packet!!; pearls from The Hobby House;

Tools: large and lacy circle nestabilities; Martha Stewart "Valentine Lace" edge punch; Leone Em "Ash Family" leaf punch.

Challenges:

MAWTT #133 - Blooming Marvellous

My Mum's #41 - Flowers

Hotshot #3 - Flowers (3rd entry)

Paper Crafting Journey #1 - Floral
The Stamp Man - Embellish It

Penny Black & More at Allsorts (January) - Love and Hearts

Allsorts - One or More Hearts
Dream Valley #24 - Animals

Sweet Stampin' - Animals
Hooked On Crafts #16 - Something Bright

Simon Says - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Scrapbook Sisters #68 - Sketch

Phew ... caught up with myself now lol!! Looking forward to seeing your creations this week :-)

Have a great weekend.

 

I ♥ Promarkers #101 - Purple and Pink

Good morning, and welcome to another I ♥ Promarkers Challenge.  Thanks so much for the amazing response to last week's Anything Goes challenge - the winner and top 3 are on the main challenge blog.

This week we have a colour challenge, sponsored by Digi Doodle Shop

 and it is

Purple & Pink

Don't forget that to be eligible for the prize you should submit a new project where your image is coloured using any of Letraset Promarkers, Flexmarkers, Aquamarkers or Tria pens.

The DT are showcasing DDS digital images - do check them all out. Here's my card for this week.

Stamps: DDS digital image "Dandelions"; Whimsy ticket stamp;

Media: Promarkers (Amethyst, Orchid, Marsh Green, Pear Green), Flexmarkers (Wild Orchid, Pale Mauve, Sorbet, Pink Pearl, Pink Lavender, Aniseed); glamour dust on dandelion petals;

Paper: BasicGrey "Wisteria";

Supplies: flowers and lace from Wild Orchid Crafts; pearls from The Hobby House; velvet ribbon from Hobbycraft;

Tools: Fleur de Lys Square nestabilities; Leone Em "Ash Family" leaf punch; Cuttlebug "Friends Forever" Cut 'n' emboss folder.

Challenges:

BasicGrey #61 - Favourite Things 

(flowers, lace and sparkle)

Pile It On #4 - Add Lace

Paperplay #3 - Ribbon

Hotshot #3 - Flowers

Papertake Weekly - Happy Highlights
(flowers highlighted wtih glamour dust)
Sentimental Sundays #86 - Die Cuts

Craft Your Passion #94 - Colour  Bingo
(pink / purple / green)
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Creative Inspiration #147 - Anything Goes
Sketch Saturday #191 - sketch

That's all for today - do hope you can join us.

Hugs

 

Penny Black Saturday #185 - Crafty Bargains

Another working week over, so hopefully it's playtime once more, and time to join in with another Penny Black Saturday Challenge :-) Thanks so much to everyone who joined in last week's Anything Goes challenge -we had a good number of entries and a fab variety of projects. Don't forget to check the main challenge blog to see if you are a winner!

This week we are into the January Sales fever, and would like to see your

Crafty Bargains

Doesn't matter whether you got it in a sale or were given it ... if it was a bargain we want to see it!!

This week we are sponsored by Crimson Cloud,

who are offering this gorgeous PB stamp to a randomly drawn winner.

Don't forget to be eligible for our prize you should submit a new piece of work (no backlinking please) which features a Penny Black image, large sentiment or stickeroo as its main focus.

The rest of the DT have prodcued some fab samples with their bargains ... what a thrifty lot we are lol!! Here's what I did.

Now I'm not much of a one for bargains normally, but this week's card features the best crafty bargain I ever had. My local craft shop has a second hand table; and last year I got this beautiful vintage PB stamp which showed no discernible sign of use, for £2!! Given that I couldn't even order this vintage stamp from any UK supplier and would  have had to get it from America, that is one HUGE saving! I really love this stamp but have to admit this is only the second time I've coloured her (blush!!)

Stamps: Penny Black "A Gift of Flowers" (586K); Whimsy ticket stamp; Woodware birthday sentiment;

Media: Promarkers & Flexmarkers; punched flowers edged with fluid chalk ink;

Papers: Papermania Capsule Collection "Blueberry Hill";

Supplies: pearls from The Hobby House; lace from my stash;

Tools: EK Success Whale of A Punch Retro Flower; X-Cut medium & small flower punches; Martha Stewart small monarch butterfly punch; Marianne D doily die.

Challenges:

Creative Craft - We're Talking The Colour Blue

My Mum's #40 - Favourite colour

(for crafting it's usually pink, but in all other aspects of life it's blue so I've gone with that)

Little Miss Muffet #27 - Blues & Creams
Marianne's Design Divas - In With The New

(Blueberry Hill papers)

DYSU #55 - Patterned Paper

Truly Scrumptious #72 - Something Forgotten
 (neglected stamp and flower punches)

My Time To Craft #171 - Your Favourite Embellishment (lace)
Hotshot #3 - Flowers
Papertake Weekly - Buttons, Bows, Bling & Blooms (2nd entry)
(this time I've used bow and blooms)

ABC - H is for Happy Birthday
Party Time Tuesdays #51 - Happy Birthday

Fab 'n' Funky #104 - Eyes Down For Bingo!

(Handmade embellishment / neglected stamp / vintage)

Totally Papercrafts - Make Your Own Flowers

Simon Says - Sketch
(I had to put the circle slightly to one side so you could see it, as I don't have anything circular big enough to surround my image ... hope that's ok!)

Have a great weekend whatever you're doing, and look forward to seeing your crafty bargains at Penny Black Saturday :-)

 

I ♥ Promarkers #100 - Anything Goes!

Hi everyone, and welcome to another I ♥ Promarkers challenge. Thanks so much to everyone who joined in last week's cute &  cuddly challenge - there were some adorable creations!

This week we have a really easy peasy challenge theme for you ... yes it's

Anything Goes!

So there is really no excuse not to join in, so long as you are able to follow our very simple rules of submitting a new piece of work where your image is coloured using any combo of Letraset Promarkers, Flexmarkers, Aquamarkers or Trias.

This week we have another great prize .. we are sponsored  by Digital Downloads owned by our very own Lorraine.

Don't forget to check out the main challenge blog to see the fab creations by the rest of the DT - here's my card for this week.

I deliberately chose my image for this challenge to tie in with the Lili's Little Fairies' challenge to use your favourite LotV stamp ... though there is a part of me that is tempted to say that is the most ridiculous challenge ever, cos how could anyone possibly choose a favourite?? It was a tough call but I made myself do it, and I have to say this adorable fairy really is my favourite as I just love dandelion clocks!

Stamps: LotV "Dandelion Clock"; Penny Black sentiments from transparent set "Critter Party";

Media: Promarkers (Dusky Pink, Blush, Ivory, Pale Yellow, Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Fuschia Pink, Meadow); Flexmarkers (Tea Rose, Nutmeg, Cappuccino, Pale Aqua, Sorbet, Pink Pearl); glamour dust on flowers and wings;

Paper: Me To You "Spring Chic";

Supplies: flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts (carnation) and Sweet Lilac (blossoms); ribbon from Hobbycraft; pearls from The Hobby House;

Tools: Magnolia "vintage tag" and "swirly butterfly" dies; Crafts Too "Sweet flowers" embossing folder.

Challenges:

Lili's Little Fairies #2 - Use Your Favourite LotV Stamp

The Pink Elephant #131 - Favourite Colour(s)

(pink and I also love aqua blue)

The Ribbon Girl #15 - Blue & Pink

Crafty Pad #153 - Glitter and Gems

Sweet Stampin' - All That Glitters (2nd entry)
Sentimental Sundays #85 - Ribbon

Papertake Weekly - Buttons, Bows, Bling and Blooms

(I have used all bar buttons!)

Stamptacular #147 - Texture

(embossed card, linen card, satin ribbon, glitter card ....)

Charisma #1 - Happy Birthday!
Sketch Saturday #190 - sketch (flipped vertically)

Thanks for looking, and look forward to seeing your creations  over at I ♥ Promarkers this week.

 

... and Have Another Cup of Tea

Just a quick post, as last night I finished decorating the final one in my series of  "Keep Calm" work calendars (for my original post of these calendars, see here)  ... it was just waiting for its ickle calendar tab, which duly arrived in the post courtesy of my lovely friend Helen (who makes a lot of fab calendars herself, I should say!)

This one is my favourite for two reasons (and it is mine for my desk !! :-) ) ... the Anita's calendar is nicer than the ones I managed to pick up locally; and this is the only one with a combo of darker red check Union Jack / "Cup of Tea" wording.

All the others were either bright red floral Union Jack / "Cup of Tea" or dark red check / "Drink Wine" wording. Personally I prefer the darker red as I'm not big on bright red so thought I might find it a bit distracting sitting next to my PC; also I think I must be the world's biggest tea drinker when I'm getting through the 9 - 5 lol!

Anyhow, just thought I would post this one separately as it allows me to enter a couple of new challenges.

Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything But A Card

Craft Your Days Away #36 - New Beginnings

That's all for today ... back tomorrow with a new I ♥ Promarkers challenge.

 

Don't Panic Mr. Mainwaring!

I always like to have a desk calendar at work and have made myself one in the past, but last year I bought one and intended to do the same this year. Unfortunately I never saw one I liked, so a couple of days ago I (somewhat belatedly) decided to make myself one.

I suddenly had a brainwave for a calendar theme (based on recently bought stash) that I thought would not only be funky, fashionable and very suitable for office life, but would also be particularly apt for this year of celebrating various British events such as the London Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee. I even imagined making calendars as li'l belated new year gifts for my team mates in the office ... I was really enthusiastic about the whole thing!

There was a problem though ... all my local stockists seemed to have run out of small calendar tabs, and all the online suppliers were also either out of stock or charging thrice for postage what the actual calendars cost (Anita's - £1 for a pack of ten!).  In desperation I sent out an online call to some bloggy buds to see if anyone had any leftovers (just for me, not all my workmates, I hasten to add!) , and the lovely Helen stepped straight up to the mark and offered to post me one ... thanks so much hun!!

If Helen is reading this now she is probably quite confused as there is no way her li'l calendar could have arrived with me yet ... well it's like this. I went for a little jaunt yesterday afternoon (Saturday) to a craft shop a few miles away ... and lo and behold they had a few individual calendar tabs hiding near the till! They're not actually as nice as the Anita's ones so I am waiting patiently for my promised one to arrive to use on my own calendar, but I was able to buy enough to make up six calendars for my work teamies ... they all look something like these!!

Although I say so myself  I'm quite chuffed with these. The idea came from seeing a card of Squirrel's earlier in the week which alerted me to the existence of the "Keep Calm And ..." set of sentiments from Personal Impressions (I just HAD to have them immediately!) ; and I soon made the mental connection with the "Portobello Road" paper pad I had bought last week in case of Olympic / Jubilee challenges. I had been wondering what to do with the funky Union Jack papers though ... well suddenly it was obvious to me! I really like this kinda retro look and Second World War sayings (with a bit of artistic licence lol!)  :-)

Most of my workmates are big tea drinkers, so 4 out of the 6 calendars follow that theme. The other 2 non-tea drinkers are getting "Drink Wine" calendars ... I really hope they a e going to like them!

Stamps: Personal Impressions "Keep Calm And" set;

Papers: Papermania "Portobello Road";

Tools: Martha Stewart "Iron Gate" punch.

Challenges:

Allsorts #137 - Celebration of Nations

Stamp With Fun #143 - Calendar 

Pollycraft Monday #122 - Anything But A Card

Hotshot Crafts #2 - Easel Card

Divas By Design #18 - New Beginnings

Ooh-La-La #96 - New Beginnings

Sparkles #28 - New Crafty Goodies
The Stamp Man - Use Red

CES #68 - Vintage

Incy Wincy #128 - Vintage

Crafty Cardmakers #59 - No Floral Embellishments

So with that I guess I'll just Keep Calm and Carry on ... enjoy the rest of your weekend!

 

Penny Black Saturday #184 - Anything Goes

Woo hoo! Saturday's here, so it's time for another Penny Black Saturday Challenge. 

Sorry to anyone who has looked on here Saturday morning - I have just logged on 11am and found that a gremlin has published the post I spent about an hour writing last night with no content!!  

So, sorry this is going to be a bit shorter than usual as I don't have time to completely recreate it all again!! Thanks to everyone who entered last week, and please check out the main challenge blog for the rest of the DT's lovely samples, challenge rules, last week's winners and this week's prizes !! :-)

So .. straight to business, this week's theme is a really easy peasy one ...

Anything Goes

..or so I thought .. for some reason I always have a really strange mental block when there is an open theme - I guess i jsut have too much choice when it comes to PB stamps lol! Anyhow here is my card for this week.

I went out of my usual zone a little and heat embossed this pretty PB stamp which hasn't seen daylight for quite a while, and then coloured using Cosmic Shimmer paints which have also been extremely neglected!! The overall effect is rather twinkly, but the dull light doesn't show that very well.

In fact the whole card is rather glittery as I also used a glitter paper, spotty glitter card and glitter card for my matting ... in fact just about the only thing that didn't get glittered is the flowers lol!

Stamp: Penny Black "Daydreams";

Media: heat embossing with detail gold flowers; Cosmic Shimmer paints;

Papers: First Edition "Spring Drop" (from Hobbycraft);

Supplies: flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts; pearls from The Hobby House; Craftwork Cards sentiment;

Tools: "Labels One" nestabilities; Cheery Lynn "Fanciful Flourish" die.

Challenges:

DYSU#54 - Pink!

Cooking it Up With Katie #87 - Pink Posies With Pearls

Birthday Sundaes #38 - Birthday Card

Winter Wonderland - Birthday Wishes

CRAFT #137 - Celebrations

Crafty Catz #115 - Use Something New

(paper pad & Cheery Lynn die)

Stampin' For The Weekend #24 - Out With The Old

(PB stamp and Cosmic Shimmer paints)

Truly Scrumptious #71 - Shabby Pastels & Paint

Fabulous Friday - Paint

Sweet Stampin' - All That Glitters

Challenge Up Your Life #60 - Bingo!

(swirls / pearls / sparkle)

Simply Create Too #4 - Layers, Layers & More Layers

Sunday Sketch & Stamp #88

(I had to move the sentiment as it wouldn't fit but hope the rest of it is ok!)

Phew! Retyped all this in a bit of a panic!! Hope you can join us this week! Have a great weekend.