Mum's The Word .. and some news

Good morning everyone and welcome to another I ♥ Promarkers challenge. This is my first card for a fortnight, as I have been rushed off my feet at work and have also had a couple of health problems which have put me out of crafting action. 

So before I get on to this week's challenge card, I have to mention that I have sadly decided that I need to scale down my crafting commitments a little so as to allow me to focus my energies on work, family, and crafting without pressure of deadlines - so alas this will be my last I ♥ Promarkers DT card. Very sad to leave as I really do ♥ my Promarkers :-) and the rest of the DT are fabby and so talented ... but it just had to be done. So big hugs to the rest of the DT - I will still be visiting regularly and hey - I may even enter for some of the fabby prizes which are regularly on offer lol!

So on to this week's challenge which is an absolutely brilliant one - we would like to see

Ribbons and Bows

and we are sponsored by the fabulous Lili of the Valley

with a £10 store voucher - woo hoo!!

So here is my card ...

I wanted to make my mum a Mother's Day card ahead of time; as next week I've got not only that but also my parents' wedding anniversary , husband's and a friend's birthdays to contend with lol!

I decided to make my first stepper card ... and no it's not a precut one - I made it myself!! I even made up my own measurements as I wanted the front of the card to stand 6" high rather than 4" - in fact the card is 5.5" high by 8" wide (it took a whole sheet of A4 card to make) and has 2 * 1.5 " steps and a rear step of 2.5".  Mind you, despite very careful measuring it did take about 6 attempts before it sat straight instead of wonky lol!! (I think I may invest in some pre-cut card blanks for next time!)

Stamps: LotV "Teddy - For Mum" (from image stack free with this month's Papercraft Inspirations magazine); LotV sentiment circles; Woodware "On Mother's Day";

Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers;

Papers: Me To You "Spring Chic";

Supplies: Papermania heart gems; ribbon from Hobbycraft; flowers by Wild Orchid Crafts;

Tools: small circle and lacy circle nestabilities; Magnolia doohickey "lovely fence" die; Martha Stewart monarch butterfly punch.

Challenges:

Dream Valley #27 - Mother's Day

Craft Your Days Away #40 - Mother's Day

CRAFT #144 - Mother's Day

Simon Says - Mother's Day / Special Girl
Passion For Promarkers #139 - For Mum

(my nesties, punch and gems are more than 6 months old)

Oldie But A Goodie - Mum's The Word

Bunny Zoe's #21 - Celebrations
CES #75 - Flower Frenzy

Kaboodle #109 - Spring Flowers

Cute Card Thursday #206 - Signs of Spring

Gem of A Challenge #41 - Perfect Pastels

Crazy 4 Challenges #126 - Fun Folds

Crafty Catz #122 - Punches and Dies

Hotshot Crafts #5 - Ribbon

Stampin' For The Weekend #4 - Bingo!

(Pink / Butterflies / Die Cuts)

CUYL #64 - Front Panel Stair Step Card

Hooked On Crafts #18 - More Than One Fold
Paperplay #9 - Something Old, Something New

(old punch and nesties, new image, paper and fence die)

Ooh-La-La #100 - On The Move

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Craft your Passion #100 - Anything Goes

Papercrafting Journey #4 - Anything Goes

Phew!! it may be some time since I made a card but i guess you could say I made this one count lol!

Hope you can join in the challenge this week.

Hugs

 

I ♥ Promarkers #105 - Time

Good morning - yet again the week is flying by and it's time for another I ♥ Promarkers Challenge. Thanks for all your stunning nature cards last week, and don't forget to check the main challenge blog to see if you have won.

This week our challenge theme is

Time

and we are sponsored by Crafty Emma's Store, with a fabby £10 online store voucher - woo hoo!

Don't forget, to be eligible for this yummy prize you need to follow the challenge theme with a new piece of work where you have coloured your image using any of Letraset Promarkers, Flexmarkers, Aquamarkers or Tria pens.

The other DT members have come up with some fabulous examples which I'm sure will inspire you. Here's my card for this week.

As you can see I've gone a bit lateral with this one as I didn't have any clocks or anything like that ... it is all focussed on the stamp with the wording "springtime" :-)  Once again this week I have used quite a few of the new Spring 2012 limited edition colour Promarkers for the bunny, daffodils and grass; though I have also added a few other pens into the mix this time!

Stamps: LotV bunny from Cut and Colour stack free with this month's Papercraft Inspirations magazine; Penny Black "spring magic" (????);

Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers; tag distressed with TH "shabby shutters" distress ink;

Papers: Forever Friends "Spring Time";

Supplies: flowers and pearls from Wild Orchid Crafts; sparkly ribbon and lace from my stash;

Tools: classic large oval and large scalloped oval nestabilities; Martha Stewart "woodland  branch" edge punch; magnolia "vintage tag" die; Crafts Too "Sweet Flowers" embossing folder.

Challenges:

Sunday Sketch & Stamp #94 - sketch

Paper Pretties Monday - Spring

The Cuttlebug Spot - Spring Is In The Air

Crafts & Me #72 - Shades Of Spring

Paperplay #7 - Critters

Truly Scrumptious #74 - All Creatures Great & Small

PCJ #3 - Make It Cute!

Totally Gorjuss #119 - Lace

Sweet Stampin' - Choose 3 In A Row 

(Lace / Ribbon / Pearls)

Forever Friends - Ribbons & Lace

DYSU #59 - Layers

Southern Girls #38 - So Distressed

Simply Create Too #7 - Add Sunshine To Your Day

Crafty Catz #120 - Favourite Things

(flowers, lace, ribbon ....)

Thanks for visiting today and hope you will be able to join in this week.

 

I ♥ Promarkers #104 - with new Spring 2012 limited edition colours!

Good morning everyone, and welcome to the latest I ♥ Promarkers challenge. Thanks for all your fabulous  entries for last week's Love & Kisses Challenge .. you were all obviously loved up, so don't forget to check the main challenge blog to see if you are a winner or top 3!

This week's challenge is

Nature

and we are sponsored by Stampeezee

who are offering a £10 online store voucher :-) for one lucky randomly drawn winner.

The challenge theme has given me the perfect opportunity to showcase for all you Promarker lovers my brand new Letraset Spring 2012 Limited Edition Promarker set ... it is filled with fabulous spring colours of nature - Daffodil Bloom, March Hare, Morning Mist, Fresh Meadow, Budding Rose and April Shower.  I bought my set  as soon as they went online and set myself the challenge of colouring my image for this week's card just using the new colours. Here's the result ...

Now I must say that the bear is not exactly the colour I would usually pick, but overall I think this image illustrates that the new set is very pretty and versatile ... the colours all have a really soft vintagey look. The only colours I used apart from the new Limited Edition set were a little Antique White flexmarker on the bear's face and tummy, a tiny bit of cool grey 1 Promarker on his specs, and the blender. I also distressed the edges of my image by smudging with a little blue ink to soften, and matting onto deckle-cut card.

Stamps: LotV "butterfly bear"; Whimsy Friendship Ticket stamps;

Media: Promarkers, Flexmarker,
Papers: Prima "Botanicals";
Supplies: yellow roses from Sweet Lilac; other flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts; ribbon, lace and pearls from my stash;
Tools: Martha Stewart "garden trellis" edge punch; X-Cut small butterfly punch.

Challenges:

Charisma #5 - Things With Wings
Flutterby Wednesdays #190 - Anything With Wings
Crafty Creations #157 - Warm & Cuddly Teddy Bears
Oldie But A Goodie - Lace
Stamptacular #151 - Pearls + Lace
Paper Sundaes #107 - Cream + Blue + Distressing + Pearls
Passion For Promarkers #136 - Distressing
Crafty Purple Frog - Flower Power
Paper Pretties Monday #26 - Use Flowers
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes

That's all for today... hope you find time to join us. Don't forget to check out all my teamies' beautiful cards over on the main I ♥ Promarkers blog.

Hugs

I ♥ Promarkers #103 - Love Is In The Air

Good morning - hope you're all keeping warm and ready for this week's challenge at I ♥ Promarkers. Thanks so much to everyone who entered last week's picture inspiration challenge - fab interpretations!

This week we are getting all lovey dovey, with a theme of

Love Is In The Air

Ideal for Valentine's Day, but also for spring anniversaries, weddings or any other love-related occasion you may have in mind. 

This week's prize is a fabby £10 online store voucher for Joanna Sheen.

Don't forget to be eligible you need to submit a new project you have coloured using Letraset Promarkers, Flexmarkers, Aquamarkers or Tria pens.

The rest of the DT are clearly loved-up this week as they have made some fabulous samples - do check them out. Here's my Valentine card for my darling husband.

This is another 8" * 8" card - for the last few years all the cards I have given him have been a tad smaller than those I received from him; so I have of course been trying to convince him that my cards are small but perfectly formed lol!! I think he's going to be a bit surprised when he sees this!

Someone commented on yesterday's 8" square card that it must be huge and indeed that is true - originally I thought it would be about 1/3 bigger than the normal 5.5" square; but when I actually thought about it logically I realised that the surface area is 400cm2 as opposed to  just over 210cm2 on a normal sized card - so it's nearly twice as big!!

This card has a few new things on it for me (apart from the Memory Box die, that is!!) ... it is the first time I have  bought a digi kit and used both a digi image and printed papers. I had to google what type of paper to print my backing paper onto, but it seemed to work fine. I don't think I will be printing papers as a rule as I guess they would hammer the ink cartridges, but it's nice to  have the option :-)

I have also gone for a bit of a different "look" in terms of colouring - a stronger more graphic look rather than shading with multiple pens - I just thought it worked better with the very simple line image and simple colour scheme of the papers.

Here's a view of the inside of the card ... with the kit it was so easy to get it all co-ordinated!

Stamps, and sentiments: all from Pink Petticoat digi kit "Old Fashioned Girl";

Papers: cream papers from Pink Petticoat as above; black paper by  Bo Bunny;

Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers;

Supplies: ribbon from stash;

Tools: Martha Stewart "Valentine lace" edge punch; Memory Box heart edge die; classic heart nestability.

Challenges:

Ooh-La-La #98 - Be My Valentine

Dream Valley #25 - Valentine

PTT #54 - Valentine's

Top Tip Tuesday #69 - Valentine's

Sweet Stampin' - The One I Love

OSCC #168 - For The One I Love

Simon Says - Love Is In The Air
Creative Inspirations #149 - Lots of  Love
Bling It On (February) - Love Is All Around

Allsorts #140 - Free & Easy February

That's all for today - hope you can join us for this week's challenge :-)

 

I ♥ Promarkers #102 - Inspiration Photo

Morning all, and welcome to another weekly challenge at I ♥ Promarkers. Hope you are all bearing up ok in this freezing cold spell we're having .... I think my post on Monday of the wrapped up bear in the snow was spookily prescient lol!

This week we have another fab challenge for you and it is something a little bit different - we have an 

Inspiration Picture

You can also be inspired by this week's prize which is a fab £10 online store voucher to spend with Joanna Sheen.

Don't forget, to b eligible for our prize you should submit a new project where you have coloured your image using Letraset Promarkers, Flexmarkers, Aquamarkers, or Tria pens.

Now I have to confess, when I first saw this picture I had a bit of a panic, as it just looked so ... well... bright ... and so ... well ... buttony!! But as I looked at it some more I let thoughts float into my head, and before I knew it I was thinking about a rainbow. 

Don't forget you can be inspired any way you like by the picture - the colours or the buttons! 

So here's my card for this week ....

Stamp: Me To You;

Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers;

Paper: Craft Creation;

Supplies: flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and Sweet Lilac; lace from The Ribbon Box; sentiment by Craftwork Cards; rainbow ribbon, buttons and pearls from my stash;

Tools: large oval and scalloped oval nestabilities; Marianne D Flower swirl" die.

Challenges:

MTTC #172 - A is for Adorable
Secret Crafter #170 - Ribbons

Totally Papercrafts - Pearls & Lace

Paperplay #4 - Lovely Lace

Winter Wonderland - Swirls & Pearls

Incy Wincy #131 - Flower frenzy

Pollycraft Monday #125 - Favourite Things

(flowers, lace, ribbon, pearls and teddies!!)

Marianne's Design Divas - In With The New

(new "Me To You" stamp from the "Spring Chic" range).

Party Time Tuesdays #53 - Anything Goes

Hope  you can join in the challenge this week.

Hugs

   

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

 

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.

 

I ♥ Promarkers #98 - Buttons and lace

Good morning all, and welcome to the first I ♥ Promarkers challenge for 2012. Thanks so much to everyone who entered our last challenge of 2011 - don't forget to check the main challenge blog to see if you are a winner.

This week we have a fabulous challenge to start the New Year ...

Buttons and Lace

and an even more fabulous prize ... a £10 online store gift voucher for Joanna Sheen

I wish I could enter!!

Don't forget that to be eligible for this prize you should submit a new piece of work that is coloured using Letraset Promarkers, Flexmarkers, Aquamarkers or Trias.

the rest of the DT have as always created some stunning samples for the first challenge of the year ... here's mine.

I sat down to make this card on Monday - my last day of holiday before going back to work yesterday ... and I couldn't help but notice the number of "new beginnings" challenges around. Therefore I decided to make a baby card , and what could be more appropriate than this adorable Stamposaurus elephant which I got last year but have never inked up until now?

 Unfortunately I only remembered right at the end of making this card that I have thrown out my pink ink pad that I would have ideally used to stamp the sentiment with as it had gone dry; and I also had to hand cut out my sentiment because shortly before Christmas I went and lost my nestie circle that I usually use. I reckon I must have accidentally swept it into my rubbish bag one time .... oh dear!! Last  but not least I also discovered that I have absolutely  no twine or teeny ribbon to tie through my buttons so I had to leave them plain. I think I need some New Year stash lol!

Stamps: Stamposaurus "Ellie No 3"; LotV Sentiment Circles;

Media: Promarkers (Cool Grey 1-4, Pink Carnation, Blossom, Meadow, Apple, Baby Pink) and Flexmarkers (Pink Lavender);

Papers: Pink Petticoat (dotty) and free from craft magazine (striped);

Supplies: flower from Wild Orchid Crafts; large pearl brad from The Hobby House; ribbon, lace and buttons from my stash;

Tools: large, small, large scalloped and lacy circle nestabilities; Marianne D swirl from "Ribbon Flower" set.

Challenges:

Bling It On - New Beginnings

By The Cute & Girly - New Beginnings

Sweet Stampin'  - New Beginnings

Allsorts #135 - New Beginnings

Simon Says - New Something
My Mum's #38 - Something New
Kaboodle #100 - Celebrate!
Daring Cardmakers - Spots & Stripes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes + option of new (new baby)
Partytime Tuesdays #49 - Something New
Top Tip Tuesday #67 - Anything Goes

Incy Wincy #127 - Anything Goes

Looking forward to seeing your creations, and hope you can join in the fun at I ♥ Promarkers this week. 

 

I ♥ Promarkers #95 - Shaped Card

Hello everyone and welcome to another I ♥ Promarkers Challenge. Thanks so much to everyone who entered last week's snowmen and snowflakes challenge - gorgeous entries!

This week's theme is

A Shaped Card

... by which we really mean anything but a rectangle or square lol!

This week we have a fantastic prize on offer for a randomly drawn winner ... a £10 store gift voucher from the lovely Joanna Sheen

Don't forget ... to be eligible for the prize draw you must use Promarkers, Flexmarkers, Aquamarkers or Tria pens on your creation :-)

The rest of the DT have been fantastically creative and have come up with some fabulous cards - do check them  out.

Again this was a bit of a challenge for me ... I don't really "do" shaped cards as I don't have any large cutting machines, mega-nesties or anything like that ... so the biggest I can make is the size of a standard nestie. Not to be deterred though I decided to make a mini-easel, so at least I would have a bit more space to play with. I also chose fairly teeny decorative elements, including a small image for my main focus ... Yes, you've guessed it - it's the li'l Forever Friends Santa teddy lol!! In fact this card was the reason for me getting out the stamp whereby I ended up colouring eight images (see Monday's post lol!).

Anyhoo .. here's the result.

I have to confess this is also the first time I have coloured a bear using Promarkers, as in the past I found I couldn't get the right shades so bought (whisper it quietly!!) 5 Copics especially for the purpose.However I persevered this time as Iwas determined to do right by the spirit of the challenge. Not entirely happy wiith my colouring but I have ordered 4 new Flexmarkers to give me more furry colouring options in future lol!!

Stamp: Forever Friends;

Media: Promarkers & Flexmarkers; glamour dust on coat and hat;

Papers: none - ultra white pearlescent card;

Supplies: flowers by Petaloo; sentiment by Craftwork Cards; gems from The Hobby house; ribbon from my stash;

Tools: small, large and scalloped circle nestabilities; Cuttlebug "Snowflakes" embossing folder.

Challenges:

CES #64 - Bear Necessities

Allsorts #132 - Going Round in Circles

Passion For Promarkers #129 - Mega Christmas Challenge

Forever Friends (December) - It's All Christmas

Bling it On (December) - It's Christmas

Creative Card Crew - 'Tis The Season

Crazy 4 Challenges #116 - Inspired By A Christmas Movie

(Santa Claus - The Movie)

Pile It On #49 - Bling It Up!

Christmas Inspirations #38 - Folded Card

Crazy Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Hope you can join us this week at I ♥ Promarkers and look forward to seeing what you create :-)