Baby's first Christmas...

I haven't blogged for ages, but I have still been crafting, so I thought it was time to get posting again. I have been continuing with my mission to use up printed and stored images so I made another First Christmas card as I had about 4 of these cute babies from Bugaboo with the sentiment I made around them. I used some papers from an old download from Papercraft Inspirations. To finish I picked some stash card in the colours from the papers to make the snowflake with my Marianne D dies and popped a gem in the middle.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• Catch the bug- anything goes
• Challenge up your life- everything goes
• PTW- anything goes

Bright bear...

Wow, managed to get a bit of bright sunshine to photograph this card before the sky turned grey and it threw it down!
I was really inspired to follow the sketch on Sketch Saturday- such great shapes! My papers are from a digi-scrap blogtrain from STS called 'Bicycle Blues' and my image is by Bugaboo. He is coloured with promarkers and his nose is glazed. The sentiment is from Sentiments4you and I ran it through the printer twice to have it on some of the plain DP. The stars have been cut with a sizzlet die. A few Candi to finish.

I would also like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• Papertake- Cute
• Dutch Dare- birthday fun
• Totally Papercrafts- no pesky girls!
• Allsorts- for a man or boy
• CES- anything goes
• Craft your days away- all creatures great and small
• Pink Ele- polka dots and stripes

I'm addicted to checks...

It's official, I am addicted to checked papers! Yesterday's card had checked papers, as does this and another I made but haven't blogged yet- and when I was looking back through my photos of cards there are alot of others too!
Continuing with my mission to use printed but uncoloured images up- I chose this Stella image from Bugaboo from my box to make this card. I cut her out with a nestie that I must use more often and drew around it on Core'dinations for a neat mat. The papers are from a digi-scrap kit called Apple Pickin' and I coloured Stella to match with my Promarkers. The flower was cut with a Sizzix Originals die using paper I printed from the kit for a perfect match and the little swirls are cut from a Marianne D swirl using the Core'dinations. The sentiment reads- The more candles, the bigger the wish. It was a freebie from Bluebirdflats and I coloured the tiny candles to match the card. A few Candi to finish.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:-

• Simon says- anything birthday
• Dutch dare- spring has sprung
• One stop- celebrations
• Secret crafter- sketch
• Catch the bug- anything goes
• Make it Monday- linky party

More baby cards...

Well it has been a few weeks since I last posted because I have been in hospital for an operation and am just beginning to feel up to sitting at the computer. I made these cards at the same time as the last two I posted and, like before, I decided the image would work for boy and girl versions. The image is from Bugaboo and the sentiment was a freebie from Create with TLC. The papers are all by Pink Petticoat.

I would like to enter these cards in the following challenges:

• Totally Papercrafts- Things with wings
• Prairie Fairy- anything goes
• Paper Sundaes- anything goes
• Stamptacular- anything goes
• Here come the boys- cards for tiddly peeps
• Make it Monday- always anything goes

I'm hoping to feel up to making a card or two this week so should be back later in the week with more to show you.

Cards for Men challenge 16...

This time at Cards for Men we would like to see 'Clean and Simple' cards for men or boys.

I haven't really caught on to the trend for CAS cards, although I don't go mad with layers or embellishments normally either. I used 'Deacon bugs' from Bugaboo as my image and printed him out quite large, keeping some space around him when I cut him out. I coloured him with Promarkers, keeping to a limited pallette of mainly greens and browns. The small piece of DP is from the Stuff to Scrap 'Great Outdoors' blogtrain. I have also printed the sentiment on some plain DP from the same set. The sentiment is a freebie from Scrap-a-licious Times, finished off with a button from my stash which has been tied with baker's twine. Everything has been matted on some brown card from my stash.

We are sponsored by the wonderful One Stop Card Crafts website who are offering a £10 voucher for our lucky winner. The rest of our talented DT have made some fabulous cards so do pop over to Cards for Men for some more inspiration and to take part in our challenge.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Delightful challenges- dog days of summer
• Stamp something- summer fun
• Polka Doodles- in an English country garden
• If the shoe fits- summer
• Fairytale challenge- summer
• Crafty Anns- summertime

Bugaboo week of mini challenges- Friday...

Friday's challenge at Bugaboo is a nice easy one to end the week- anything Christmas goes!

Sorry about the rubbish photo- I was rushing to get this one done in time and had to take it at night with a daylight bulb spotlight! I used the super cute freebie Deacon Candy-cane which you can get HERE until next Friday. I teamed him with vintage style papers from a blogtrain called 'Countdown to Christmas' which, I think, was from Stuff to Scrap. I toned down the white around the image with chalk to blend it better with the papers and finished off with a couple of dark red Card Candi.

Well, that's it! I have entered all 5 daily challenges and the weekly challenge. It is unheard of for me to have any Christmas cards done by now and now I have 6! I'm off to follow the Bloghop now and then I will be keeping my fingers crossed that I win something :-)

Catch the bug- weekly challenge...

Bugaboo are celebrating Christmas in July this week so here is my entry.

Sorry about the rubbish photo- I was rushing to get this one done in time and had to take it at night with a daylight bulb spotlight! At least it shows the shine on the pearlised card I used to mount! I made a border o my computer for the gorgeous robins from Bugaboo before printing and colouring with promarkers. The swirls have been die cut with a Marianne D swirl and the end of each swirl has been embellished with a little pearl. The papers are from a digiscrap blogtrain called 'Countdown to Christmas' which, I think, was from Stuff to Scrap.

Bugaboo week of mini challenges- Thursday...

Thursday's challenge at Bugaboo is to make a card with snow.

I used this beautiful snowman from Bugaboo and some papers that I bought when I first began papercrafting from the stationary shop, Partners! All the card came from my stash and I did one of my favourite things, which is to make my own embellishments with dies- so satisfying to turn scraps into embellishments! I used the Finnish Ice Star dies from Marianne D for these and a couple of crystal gems to finish off.

I would also like to enter this card in:

• Stamp Something- Your fave embellishment (making my own with scraps and dies)
• Clear it out challenge- Anything goes (paper that I have had forever!)

Bugaboo week of mini challenges- Wednesday...

Wednesday's challenge at Bugaboo is to make a card following the sketch given.

I thought this cute baby image from Bugaboo would make a lovely 'first Christmas' card for either a boy or girl. I created the sentiment around the image on my computer then cut it out with a Nestie, before colouring with my Promarkers. The papers are a freebie from Shabby Princess. I am rubbish at doing bows for cards but I thought I would have a go with this grosgrain ribbon as it went so well with the papers. I used a bow maker and, for once, it has come out quite well!

I would also like to enter this card in:

• I love Promarkers- Christmas in July

Bugaboo week of mini challenges- Tuesday...

Tuesday's challenge at Bugaboo is to make a card using the freebie image provided HERE.

I decided to make a center stepper card. The papers are another download from Papercraft Inspirations mag that I've had for ages. The sentiment is a freebie from Scrap-a-licious. The flower in the middle was white and I coloured it with my promarkers.

I would also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• I love Promarkers- Christmas in July
• Anything goes Challenge- more than one fold

Bugaboo week of mini challenges- Monday...

I don't normally do Christmas cards as early as this- we've only just broken up for the summer holidays!- but I couldn't resist playing along with this week of challenges at Bugaboo as they have some fab prizes and I love Jodie's stamps.

Monday's challenge is to make a Christmas card using non traditional colours. I decided to use this ornament ted image from Bugaboo but to colour him blue. I teamed him up with a paper that I downloaded from Papercraft Inspirations mag ages ago, some bright pink card from my stash and a sparkly blue ribbon. The scalloped card was cut with a Go-Kreate card cutting die. I also decided to make a matching tag using the bear tag image and my Sizzix scallop die.

I would also like to enter this card and tag in the following challenges:

• Spoon full of sugar- create a tag
• Papertake weekly- getting cute
• I love Promarkers- Christmas in July
• Die cuttin' divas- shaped die cut cards. (Go Kreate scalloped card cutting die)
• Oh la la- tag it!

A watering can of roses...

Here's another card made with my Pink Petticoat gingham papers. This time I have gone for a soft, feminine combination of rose pink and green. The image is from Bugaboo and I have stamped the sentiment, from Elzybells, straight on to the paper for a cleaner look. I couldn't resist some more bunting cut with my MTF pennant die- I love how you can scale digi paper so that the gingham on the bunting is really small.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Daring Cardmakers- roses or honeysuckle
• Catch the bug- anything goes
• Papertake weekly- anything goes
• Scrapbook sisters- an English country garden

An Anniversary card for my husband...

On Wednesday it will be our 15th Wedding Anniversary and we have been together for 20 years! (We are not as old as Stella and Gus in the image! We met at university. The image may be things to come though!) I love that sentiment, which actually came with a different Stella and Gus image, it is very us! We aren't big on lovey dovey- a favourite at the start of our relationship was, "Do you love me?", reply "I'm still here aren't I!" Well we are still here- and to think some of our friends said we would drive eachother mad and it wouldn't last!
The image and sentiment are from Bugaboo. The papers were a blogtrain download but I can't remember whose train! The little hearts are cut with my Crealies die and the top layer of the larger one has been glazed with Glossy Accents.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Catch the bug- Dads, grads and other celebrations
• Secret Crafter- anniversary

Another dragon card...

When I printed off 'Clyde' from Bugaboo last time I ran off 2, so decided to use him again, but for a different card. The papers are from Summer Driggs Store and are called 'Fresh Start'. I have used quite a few of them but as they are all in the same colours I think it works?! The charcoal grey pearl card and the other scraps were in my stash. The fern leaves have been cut with a Crealies foliage die.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Catch the Bug- Polka Dots and Stripes
• Stamp Something- anything goes

A dragon card...

I made this card for one of the men in my church housegroup. I usually have no problems making men's cards, in fact I probably make more guy cards than girl's cards, but this was a tricky one- I could not think which image to use for him. I then remembered that there are quite a few fantasy ornaments and pictures at his house so decided to use this cute dragon from Bugaboo which I coloured with my promarkers. The papers are a download from Summer Driggs called Easton and the tag was a freebie from Mudmaven Designs, printed onto the DP. I made the stacked star embellishment with a Crealies die that I have just bought.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

• Stamp Something- things with wings
• Papertake Weekly- anything goes
• I love promarkers- song title- "Puff the magic Dragon"

A box card for Easter...

I made this card to give to my son for Easter after getting the mini eggs the other day. The image is from Bugaboo and all the DP came from a digi scrap blogtrain called 'scripture heros'. Here is the inside:

There is space to write and a box full of eggs, which opens with a flap at the top. Here's a close up of the box (and eggs!).

The box has an acetate front. I used Labels 3 and the circles for all the shapes. If you would like to make one of these yourself, there is a tutorial here.

I would like to enter this box card in the following challenges:-

• Totally Papercrafts- cuddly and cute
• Stamp Something- spring somethings
• Gorjuss- spring is sprung
• CES challenges- Die cut crazy

A pink, polka dot Easter card !...

I wasn't going to use this paper set again as I have made 2 other cards with it lately, but then I saw that Cupcake Craft have 'pink polka dots' as their challenge- so what could I do?!

The papers are from a digi set called 'Think Pink' by Just so Scrappy and I do love them so! The layout is from the great sketch at Sketch Saturday this week. This sketch had quite a few layers so I would also like to enter my card for Do You Stack Up's challenge of 'layers'. I confess to buying the digi stamp from Bugaboo especially for this card, but I'm sure I will use it plenty more times. Catch the Bug have 'scallops' as their challenge so I took this opportunity to use one of the scalloped card cutting dies I bought from Go Kreate a little while back to cut the card base, a Nellies die for the image and a Nestie for the sentiment. I finished off with a piece of organza ribbon from my stash and some card candy.

Dotty with a cupcake...

Dotty comes from a series of digis at Bugaboo and has been coloured with Promarkers. The papers are from a digi scrapping kit called Hot Cocoa by Growing Pains Scrapped. The pearls were from a lovely little surprise in my birthday card from my Cards for Men DT buddy Sarah- thanks hun, they are fab! I even got out some decorative scissors for the edge of the brown mat and a corner punch that I have had for ages for the image.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:

• Stamptacular Sunday- lovin' from the oven (food)
• Truly Scrumptious- Swirls and pearls
• Do you stack up?- dots
• Colour Create- Chocolate, strawberries and cream (more pinky than red but I hope it still counts!)

Cards for Men challenge 4- a recipe...

Well our Valentines and Love challenge was very popular and it was great to see all your entries. This time at Cards for Men we have a recipe for you- 1 image, 2 design papers, 3 embellishments (could be 3 different or 3 of one thing) and, as usual, it must be for a man or boy.

I used this cute Deacon image by Bugaboo for my card, but I used Photoshop to remove a little heart from the right of the boy's head when I was resizing it as I wanted the card to have more general appeal. My 2 DP are from a blog train download called French Tulips and, as you can see, I have used quite a busy check so I have teamed it with a simple tone on tone dot. I've added a tabbed sentiment and 2 die cut corners in the same card as my mats. My 3 embellishments are the card candy which seems to be cropping up on most of my cards at the moment!

We are sponsored by One Stop Card Crafts for this challenge. They stock a wide range of card making goodies- so do pop over and take a look at what they have. For more info on the challenge, the prize from One Stop Card Crafts and of course more wonderful inspiration from the rest of the DT see Cards for Men. You have plenty of time to take part because the challenge runs until 27th February.

I would also like to enter this card for:

• Simply Create- 'it's bright in here'
• Delightful Challenges- punches/ die cuts
• Little Claire's- anything goes

Baby girl card...

A few weeks ago I was making a baby boy card so I made the girl sentiment too and printed it at the same time, now I have finally got around to making it up. The lovely doily mat is a Nellies die which my son got me for my birthday after spotting me looking at it on Ebay! The papers are all from my stash and the die cut stars and 'baby' are Sizzlett dies.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:

• Totally Papercrafts- clean and simple
• Crafty Emma's- cute and cuddly
• Challenge up your life- monochrome