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

The good life...

Another of my pre-stamped images from 'the box' - this time I used a rubber stamp that I have had for ages from Paper Nation- I tend to stamp a couple as they are in a crate and when I've got them out and inked them I might as well! I teamed him with one of my favourite digi-scrap papers from an STS blogtrain called French Tulips- this check (I know more checks!!) is so versatile for guy's cards. I printed the sentiment from TLC straight onto the paper and finished the card with some foliage cut with a Crealies die and a few Candi.

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

• Make it Monday- linky party
• Cupcake- Ooh la la (French Tulips papers- reds and blues)
• Cards for men- kicking back, relaxing
• Waste not Wednesdays- neglected stash (image stamped ages ago)

On the mend- freebie sentiment...

I printed off 2 of this image from MelonHeadz ages ago, one which my son made into a card for his friend and another which went 'in the box'- so, in keeping with my mission to use up printed images, I used it for this card! He is coloured with Promarkers to match the digi-scrap papers from an LDS Blogtrain called 'choose the right'.  I know- I need help for the 'check addiction'!! (and I still have another check card that I will post later!) The blue paper has been run through a folder called 'Christmas stars' but I flipped it to use the de-bossed side. Green card has been cut with MTF Large Ric-Rac die and faux stitching added. The star is a Sizzlett die and the button and baker's twine are from my stash.

I made the sentiment as I wanted it to say 'on the mend' and if you would like it please feel free to grab it. (Click to bring up full size then right click and 'save as'.)

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

• Cute card Thursday- one for the boys
• My time to craft- happy healing (get well)
• Craft-room challenge- emboss it
• creative craft challenges- anything goes
• Oldie but goodie- die cuts
• The perfect sentiment- get well, without saying 'Get Well'!

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

Fight like a girl...

Well I did it- I made a card! (For those of you who have not visited before- I have been intending to make one for the last 2 weeks but I have not been up to it following my operation.) I was on my own in the house on Friday- my mum-in-law has been coming up each day while my husband is at work and our son is at school. She has been helping around the house and making sure I don't overdo it! Because I was on my own our 9 month old pup had to be in his crate for most of the day because he is still too boisterous to be around me! His crate is in the dining room which is where I craft so it was the perfect chance to make a card and keep him company. I had to get my husband to get out the Big Shot before going to work because it is still too heavy for me to risk lifting down!

The image is a fab freebie from MelonHeadz and you can find it and a few more HERE. Two of my friends from work have fought and won against breast cancer in the last few years which was what started me making these encouraging cards for my stash, although it would be great if we didn't need them at all.
All the papers are from a digi set called 'Think Pink' by Just so Scrappy. I love them for so many girly cards but they were designed for these. I decided to put faux stitching around all the edges to give the different papers a bit more definition. I used MFT Die-namics large ric-rac die for the wavy band. I made the flowers with a Joy Craft die and the tiny foliage is a Marriane D die.

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

• Make it Mondays- linky party
• Passion for Promarkers- die cuts
• Little red wagon- at least 3 flowers
• Simon says- anything goes 

Love these little mice!..

Well I still haven't managed to make a new card since my operation- the intention is there but by the time I start thinking about it I feel too tired to do it! Instead I thought I would share a card I made before but had not posted.
I followed a favourite layout using this lovely little Meljens mouse image (I love these mice so much!) and some digi-scrap papers by Scraps n Pieces called 'Ouch!'. I used a Nellies die for the scalloped square and some Joy Craft dies to make the flowers which I finished off with some Candi centers.

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

• Paper Sundaes- Let's get cute
• Make it Monday- Always anything goes
• Passion for Promarkers- die cuts
• Simon says- anything goes
• My Mum's Craft Shop- the great outdoors
• Cute Card Thurs-  animal magic
• CRAFT- animals

Baby cards...

My card stash was rather low on baby cards so I decided to make these in boy and girl versions. The gingham is by Pink Petticoat and the cute little baby image is from Melonheadz. I have used a few dies on this card: the word 'baby' is a Sizzlet, the doily circle is a Nellies die and the bunting is from MTF die-namics.

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

• My Mum's Craft Shop- Let's get digital
• Cute card Thursday- Anything goes
• Paper Play- spring colours (I think the yellow and blue of the boy card are spring like)
• Dutch Dare- cute and cuddly
• Stampin' for the weekend- anything goes

Job congrats and a FREEBIE senti...

Well, I'm managing to keep up with making the odd card and entering a few challenges and I even have a freebie sentiment for you today.
This card has been made with 'Maurice' by Pollycraft and he has been coloured with promarkers to match the papers from an LDS Blogtrain called 'Called to Serve'. The little stars have been cut with a Sizzlett die from card from my stash.

I made the sentiment and if you can use it please feel free to help yourself! (Click on the image to make it full size then right click and 'save picture as'.)

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

• Totally Papercrafts- male card
• Allsorts- 3 in a row
• Make it Mondays- always anything goes

I'm still here!...

I have been such a bad blogger lately that you must have thought I had given  up completely!

I have been making a few cards lately but I have not been entering any challenges so I decided that today was the day to get back into it! I would like to enter this card in 2 challenges: Totally Papercrafts- my favourite things and Paper Sundaes- Feminine flair. I love these papers by Summer Driggs called 'A little spring in your step'- I have used them so much! I also love Pollycraft images, using up tiny scraps to make embellishments with dies (the flowers and corner) and finally Card Candi because they avoid having to hide the 'legs' of brads!
I am also loving cupcakes! I seem to be on a baking binge at the moment and keep making them- and eating them :-)

Cards for Men challenge 20...

Well the last 2 weeks seemed to fly by! Our puppy, Bryn, is still keeping us really busy- especially when he got a upset stomach from eating clematis leaves in the garden! Sorry I didn't get around to visiting our entries until yesterday, but better late than never! For our new challenge at Cards for Men we are looking for your men or boy's cards on a Sport theme, so that should be a nice easy one!

My cousin is a mad, keen Liverpool fan so this is the card I made for him. I used the footballer from the Papermania 'Man's World' clear set, coloured with my Promarkers. The word stamp in the background is a wood mounted one from Funstamps. I have overstamped the red card with some mini football images but they don't really show up on the photo. Finally I used a personalised sentiment which I made on the computer and 3 tiny die cut stars.

Our sponsor is Peachy Keen Stamps. Check out the Cards for Men blog for details of the prize and to see the great cards made by the rest of the DT.


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

• I love Promarkers- include a number
• Southern Girls- anything goes
• Fairy Tale Challenge- sports
• Annabelle stamps- for a man
• Our Creative Corner- Numbers!

Cards for Men challenge 18 and a freebie sentiment...

Well, here we are, almost at the end of August. This time at Cards for Men we have 'G is for...' as our challenge. This one had me thinking to start with, but I eventually thought of green, grey, golf, Grandad, gnome, gardening and the one I finally used- guitar!

I dug out a wood mounted rubber stamp from Jolly Nation that I haven't used for ages for this one! Jolly Nation was my first stamping addiction, but not my last! My son plays electric guitar so I bought this to make a card for him. I coloured him with my Promarkers.
The papers were a freebie download  from No Reimer Reason called 'Americana'. I carried on the star theme by die cutting a star to mount the button on.
I made the sentiment myself and used a PNG file this time which allowed me to print it directly onto the paper. If you would like it, please help yourself!

We are sponsored by Letraset for this challenge and you know how I love my Promarkers! Pop over to the Cards for Men site for details of the prize and to see the rest of the fabulous DT cards. You have until 11th September to play along.



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

• Totally Gorjuss- Anything goes
• Challenge Up Your Life- For a man

Indulge...

I thought this image by MelonHeadz was just gorgeous and decided to use it to make a really girly card. The papers are from Summer Driggs 'A little spring in your step' freebie kit which I use so much. The sentiment is also a freebie from Scrap-a-licious Times. The flower was cut from DP with a joy crafts die and the swirl was a Marianne die.

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

• Corrosive- girlie
• My time to craft- here come the girls
• Papertake Weekly- dies to die for

Bright, bold cupcakes...

Not sure I like this now it's finished! I think the cupcake should be smaller. Anyway, the image and sentiment border were both freebies from Bird's Cards. The papers are all printed from Summer Driggs digiscrap kit- Sweet Cakes and I printed the sentiment onto a plain DP and also the cake so I could paper piece it. I didn't plan on making the flower when I started out but it needed something more and I had just enough offcuts of DP left to make 3 little ones!

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

• Allsorts- you've been framed
• One stop crafts- bold and bright
• Craft your days away- cupcakes

Cards for Men challenge 17...

Well we are halfway through the school summer holidays here in England so we thought you might appreciate a nice easy one this time! So, we are having an 'Anything Goes' challenge at Cards for Men this time, but don't forget it must be for a man or boy!

The DT were lucky enough to have some Hope Jacare images to play with so I chose to use Trevor Turtle for this card and team him up with the brilliant sentiment from TLC. The papers are from an LDS Blogtrain called 'Fishers of Men'. I loved all the soft water and sand colours. After colouring Trevor with my Promarkers I cut him out and matted him on a circle of DP which I also used to print my sentiment onto. I made the little starfish 'candy' with a Sizzlet die and drew on the dots with a gelpen.

We are sponsored by Claire who draws the amazing digis at Hope Jacare for this challenge. Details of the prize can be found at Cards for Men. The rest of the DT have also used Claire's images so do pop over and take a look at the wonderful inspiration there and join in our challenge- you have until 28th August to take part.

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

• Ellephantastic- August- add some layers
• One Stop- at the beach
• Here come the boys- critters

Inspired by India...

When I saw the inspiration photo at Cupcake Inspirations it immediately made me think of the bright colours and lavish prints of sari fabric.

I remembered that I had a really interesting pack of 'papers' that I had had for absolutely ages. They are not actually paper- they are made in India from cloth recycled from the garment manufacturers, but I had never had the right project for them until now. I found matching cardstocks from my stash and followed the sketch at I love Promarkers.

The image of the lady in a sari is from Melonheadz and I thought she was so perfect for this card. She has been coloured with Promarkers which give lovely strong colours.

I made the flower and swirl with Marianne dies. I gave the flower lots of dimension by curling it and using 3D foam between the layers. Papertake Weekly are looking for homemade flowers for their challenge this week. A few silver mirri Candi and a couple of gems complete the look.

This is really different from my usual style but I really enjoyed making it. However I put off doing some cards that I really need to get on with now!

Cute little mouse...

I am really loving Meljen's little mice at the moment- there are a few more on the table waiting to be made up too!

I followed the great sketch by Paula at Pollycraft for this card. It is such a simple design yet it works so well- I have another card, also made with the same sketch, but I'm just hanging on before posting that as it is in the post!
The papers are from a digiscrap kit which is called 'Ouch' by Scraps N Pieces. I really liked the colours and the slightly faded/shabby chic look. If my friend Helen is reading this- This is the card that I stuck the strip down by mistake when we were on the phone! I had intended to have the sentiment on a tab coming out from under the middle strip but because I was chatting I stuck it down and realised too late that I had not done the tag! Oh well, I quite like the sentiment where it is now!
The flowers were die cut with a Joy Craft die from some of the DP that I had reduced in size with Photoshop. I was having trouble deciding what to use for centers as none of the brads I tried was right then I tried the cream Card Candi- It was perfect for the larger flower but I can't decide if I like it in the smaller ones.

I would like to enter this card for:

• Allsorts- free and easy
• Pollycraft- sketch
• Papertake Weekly- anything goes
• Stampin' for the weekend- spots and dots

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- 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!