Happy Birthday Ryan!

Today my grandson Ryan is 5, he is such a lovely little boy & is absolutely crazy about cars. I made him a word book of his name & put lots of cars on the front (there are cars on the inside too). This took me ages to make, it was fiddly getting the letters lined up & choosing which cars he would like & where to put them... but it was worth it as he really likes it :)
The template & papers are from Scrapbooking Mad (link on the left side of my blog). Ryan is on holiday at the moment & has had a great day today at Lego Land (he also loves lego as you can see from the photo).

I'm entering his card for the Incy Wincy challenge which is "For the Little Ones" & Die Cut Dreams which is "Celebration Card with a Number on".

Lexi's - Buttons & Bows

The challenge this fortnight at Lexi's Creations is "Buttons & Bows". This time Lexi would like you to use one if her images & there are so many to choose from in her Doodles shop. I used Paolo - Stop the world I want to get off, isn't he such fun :) Our fab sponsor for this challenge is Letraset.

The papers are digital though I can't remember where from & I sewed the edges with silver thread. There is some glitter & gems thrown in for good measure, the snowflakes are buttons, the greeting is from Craftwork cards & I finished off with a ribbon & bow.

I'm entering this card for 6 challenges:
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Red, White & Blue
Fab 'n' Funky - Sketch
Creative Inspirations - Sewing/Faux Sewing
Christmas Cards all Year 'Round - Flowers, Ribbons & Buttons (there are flowers in the dots)
Lucy's - Digital
Freshly Brewed - Red, White & Blue
Creative Craft - Ribbons & Bows

Bit of an Attitude!

Hope you're all having a great bank holiday weekend. I am - we took Stuart (youngest son) out for a meal yesterday to congratulate him for passing his Assistant Managers course & today hubby & I biked to the Car Boot sale (& spent all of 20p lol). Now Mark's (hubby) settled down to watch the England game on TV I have time to catch up with my crafting/blogging :)

This image is "Roxy" from Lexi, she is one of a set of gorgeous girly images called Around the World that she has been working on which will be available soon from here. Roxy is coloured with the usual ProMarkers, the papers are from Designer Digitals & I thought they worked really well with this image. I did lots of distressing & paper piercing & finished off with a punched (& distressed) flower with a big brad centre, chain & princess charm, some bead spacers (with black diamond Stickles in the centres) & a gem flower.

I'm entering this card for 9 challenges:
Pear Tree Designs - Sketch
Crafts & Me - Distressed
Creative Inspirations - Distressed
Charisma - Going Round in Circles
Creative Cottage - Blooming Charming
Pixie Dust Studio - Going Round & Round
One Stitch at a Time - Use Something New (the image & papers)
Magical Crafts - Metal Madness
Crafty Sentiments - Punches

Vrooom......

I saw these papers at Designer Digitals & thought they would be fab for any little (or big) boy (well my little grandson Ryan loves cars so I'm sure I will using them lots for him). I machine stitched around the edges (& distressed them). The image was a freebie (I think) from Meljens which has been coloured with ProMarkers & I finished off with some card candy, scrabble letters & a ticket.

What a really long week it has been, I'm so glad it's over & we have a 3 day weekend - hopefully the weather will improve (the lovely sunshine we had last weekend would be nice BUT it is Bank Holiday lol).

I'm entering this card for 8 challenges:
Cutie Sunday - Sketch
Polka Doodles - Sew & Sew
I Love Digi - For my Dad
Dare U 2 Digi - One for the Boys
Crafty Catz - The Boys are Back
Colour Create - Soft Green & Light Aqua
C.R.A.F.T. - Blue & Green
Allsorts - Tag or Ticket


PS. Also I think I need to shout out about the For Fun challenge this week which is masking - we only have one entry so far & I'm sure she is lonely - so if you've not tried it (instructions are on the blog) give it ago & if you have tried it...why not give it another go lol ;)

For Fun - Masking

Well it's Wednesday & it is my favourite weekday as it's my day off - unfortunately we are so short staffed this week that I have to go in for 4 hours (it could have been worse at least it's not all day). The For Fun challenge this week is masking which was great fun cos I haven't done this for ages (it did take me a couple of attempts to get Melinda on top of her books lol she was in the middle of them several times). The 2 images are from Whiff of Joy (Melinda reading book & Melinda's books) - it was lovely to ink them up as I haven't used them for a while. I used ProMarkers & some Stickles glitter glue on the images. The papers are from one of my favourite designers Zoe Pearne, the sentiment is from Designer Digitals & I finished of with some ribbon, flowers, brads & twirly bits :)

I'm entering this card for 7 challenges:
The Sweet Stop - Sketch
Daisy Doodles - Anything Goes
Digi Doodle - Sparkle, Glitter, Glitz (on her wings)
Fussy & Fancy - Recipe (3 images, 3 kinds of embellishments & 3 papers)
Paper Sundaes - Favourite Book (not mine but I think she is reading hers)
Passion for ProMarkers - Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge - It's a Girl Thing

30th Wedding Anniversary

I'm trying to make this a quick post as it's getting late & I'm tired - working lots extra this week so trying to fit in my crafting where I can. This card was made for a friend whose 30th Anniversary was yesterday. I used this free image coloured with ProMarkers. I think the paper is (though you can't really see it lol) from Designer Digitals (or the Sweet Shoppe) . I used 2 Martha Stewart Heart punches & made another flower which I glittered. I finished off with a rose, punched leaves & a peel off greeting.

I'm entering this card for 4 challenges:
One Stop - Birthstones (ruby/garnet)
PaperPlay - Wedding Celebrations (don't know if this will count as it is Wedding Anniversary)
Stamp Something - 2 of Something (border, flowers, leaves, people)
CardPatterns - Sketch

SFTW - Post Pals Challenge

At Stampin' for the Weekend this fortnight my fellow Teamie Amy has set the challenge to make a card/project to make someone smile or cheer them up with the option of sending it to one of the children on the Post Pals website. I made my card for Ruby J but any of the children would love to receive a handmade card in the post. We are sponsored this time by WOJ with the chance to win 2 gorgeous stamps from their "Happy Mail" collection PLUS... the winner will be able to choose a THIRD stamp of THEIR CHOICE from ANY of the collections! (subject to being in stock obviously). We also welcome 2 new DT members Annika & Joanne so I'm looking forward to working with them & seeing their fab creations too & 2 guest designers Victoria & Heidi (ditto lol).

For my card I used papers from Designer Digitals, Fairy Doodle stamped image coloured with ProMarkers & Glamour Dust, sticky lace border, ribbon, flowers, brad, butterflies & ticket (which has been chalked) & a punched lattice heart.

I'm entering this card for 6 challenges:
Creative Inspirations - Punches or Die Cuts
Creative Inspirations - Card for a Child
Digi Doodle - Sparkle, Glitter, Glitz
Passion for ProMarkers - Fantasy/Mythology
Pollycraft - Summer Blooms
Crafting Life's Pieces - Sketch

I've also made Ruby 2 little stretchy beaded bracelets which I hope she'll like (my granddaughter is 2 & she loves them).

A Girly Card...

I love making girly cards more than any other & my favourite colour combination is pink & green. This cute image can be found here & I coloured her in with the usual ProMarkers (will have to get my Prisma pencils out soon but I do LOVE my ProMarkers). I made 2 different types of flowers one with 3 punched flowers, curled edges & sparkle & the other curly roses tutorial is here. The papers are from the Sweet Shoppe & I finished off with staples, lace, brad, punched foliage, gems & handbag sentiment (from Craftwork Cards).

I'm entering this card for 9 challenges:
Friday Sketchers - Sketch ;)
A Gem of a Challenge - Burgundy, Pink & Green
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Cute & Girly
I Love ProMarkers - Make Your Own Flowers
Papertake - Say It With Flowers
Tuesday Morning Sketches - Favourite Colour Combo & Glitter
Die Cut Dreams - Lace It Up
Fab 'n' Funky - Make Your Own Embellishments
Daisy Doodles - Mother's Day or Flowers

For Fun - Pick Your Own Poison!

This challenge is such fun - 3 different challenges that you can mix & match - do 1, 2 or 3 or any combination! The choices are:
Colour challenge: Red, Green, Blue & Yellow
Sketch: I chose this (I love sketches)
Technique: Helen gives a link so you can try something new :)
If you're looking for more inspiration why not check out the other For Fun DT members blogs & show them some love.

I used another Newton's Law image, these are fab & the sentiments are such fun. I coloured him with ProMarkers. The papers are from Designer Digitals. I finished off with 2 cupcake stickers, buttons, ribbon & a ticket.

I made this card for my friend Tanya who I work with - she's lucky & has this week off but as Wednesday is my day off she's coming over this afternoon for a cuppa & a chat (& I'm sure there will be cake involved lol).

I'm entering this card for 5 challenges:
Crafty Creations - Encouragement/Celebration
Stamp Something - Celebrate
Allsorts - Birthday (they're a year old!)
Charisma - Sweet Treats!
By the Cute & Girly - Celebrations

Lexi's Creations Sketch Challenge

I love sketches, they are a great starting point for any card (imo). This fortnight we have a sketch challenge at Lexi's Creations, the sponsor is One Stop Card Crafts with a £10 gift voucher. I used the cute Georgina Giraffe image, the papers are from SBM. I finished off with a stamped & layered flower with punched foliage, 3 brads (2 of which are animals) & a computer generated greeting. If you're looking for more inspiration why not check out the rest of the DT's blogs for more fab cards.

I'm entering this card for 6 challenges:
Creative Inspirations - Punches or Die Cuts
Crafty Creations - Around the World
Fab 'n' Funky - Metal Mania!
PaperPlay - Brown & ?
Prairie Fairy - Flowers
Secret Crafter - Metal

Well Done Stu!

I made this card quickly (well quick for me) in between hoovering, tidying etc for my youngest son Stuart who has been studying really hard doing an assistant managers course at work & he had to give a presentation yesterday for the final part of his course - & he passed! I must admit I would have been really surprised if he didn't cos he has been working sooo hard.

The image was free from: I can't remember at the moment but will try & find & add. I coloured the cheeky monkey in with ProMarkers - he was holding a rose but I used a lolly stick & made a sign. The papers are from the Sweet Shoppe (again). I used my EK Success border punch & finished off with some punched stars.

I'm entering this card for 6 challenges:
The Sweet Stop - Sketch
ABC - U for Unused Stash (star punch)
Crafty Ann's - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Someone Special
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Masuline
Your Next Stamp - Cut it Out & Pop it Up

Look A Me Go!

Wow! Third post in one day - this must be a record lol. I really enjoyed making this little pen pot which was originally a tub containing herbal teabags. I was lucky enough to win 5 of Roberta's Prarie Fairy downloads & I used some of them to decorate this (Little Miss Mousey & Prima Ballerina). The papers are AGAIN from the Sweet Shoppe (but they do have soo many to choose from). The hanging charm is made by covering chipbord shapes with papers/images & I used my Crop-A-Dile for the eyelets. I finshed off with some lace around the top & glitter around the little mice heads.


I'm entering this pot for 6 challenges:
Tuesday Taggers - Let's Recycle
PaperPlay - Stamp/Digi & Bling
Lili of the Valley - Here Comes Summer
Prairie Fairy - Recycled
Whoopsi Daisy - As You Like It
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle - Anything But a Card

A Long Lunch.....

My second card for today is made with this cute Newton's Law bear which you can find here. I love these images. The papers are from the Sweet Shoppe & I finished the card off with lots of my distressed edges (my hubby doesn't like them & when shown the card said "it's not one of my favourites, what sort of card is it anyway? lol bless him), another ticket & some bright buttons.

I'm entering this card for 6 challenges:
Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch
Pile It On - Cute & Cuddly
Digital Tuesday - Make Me Laugh
Crazy 4 Challenges - What are Little Boys Made of...
A Spoon Full of Sugar - 3 Papers & 3 Buttons (& anything else so I'm hoping they'll let me have the extra paper lol)
The Pixie Cottage - Distressing

Just "For Fun"

Hope you're having a great week. I love Wednesday cos it is my day off. The washing is on the line (fingers crossed it doesn't rain), I've had a tidy up etc & now I'm getting down to blogging some of my things I've been making in the last couple of days. I'm visiting a friend later but hopefully I can manage to fit in some more crafting later.

The For Fun challenge this week is easy! Use a favourite stamp (no digis), it was good for me cos just lately I seem to use mostly digis so it was nice to ink up this cute stamp (from The Greeting Farm set called Hope & Faith). I coloured her in with ProMarkers, used my Martha Stewart border punch, Princess ticket (love them!) & finished off with flowers, buttons & ribbon.

I'm entering this card for 9 challenges:
Sketch Saturday - Sketch!
Cupcake - Buttons
The Crafty Pad - Give Your Project a Punch
Totally Gorjuss - Pink & Green
My Time to Craft - Toooo Cute!
Delightful Sketches - Pull Out Your Punches
Crafty Angels - One for the Girls
Quixotic - Let Your Garden Grow
The Craft Garden - Picture Inspiration

Help Raise Money for Young People with ME

There is an auction over at Lexi's Creations to raise money for AYME (Association of Young People with ME). This is a great charity which has helped many young people cope with this debilitating condition. So if you've a spare 5 mins & a few pence why not take a look.

SFTW - Card for a Male....

This is Stampin' for the Weekend's first challenge under the new management of Jan & Sandie so it would be great to get lots of support & good wishes for them hosting their first challenge ALSO exciting news - we are looking for 2 new DT members :) On to this fortnight's challenge which is to make a Card for a Male, usually I struggle with men's cards but I love these images by Sally-Anne & really enjoyed making this card. The papers are hmmm.... sorry can't remember but they are printed on the computer so probably from Designer Digitals or the Sweet Shoppe. I coloured the images (the watering can is stamped) with ProMarkers & used my Martha Stewart border punch. The card edges have been sanded & the paper has been distressed. I finished the card off with a ribbon & a ticket. Looking for more inspiration please check out the other DT members blogs & show them some love :) Have a great weekend!

I'm entering this card for 7 challenges:
Cute Card Thursday - Boyz to Men!
Dare U 2 Digi - Anything Goes
Fab 'n' Funky - Show Us Your Fancy Edge(s)
Frosted Designs - Sanding
The Crafty Pad - Ribbons
Crafty Calendar - The Great Outdoors
DigiStamp Boutique - Use Their Images

Hooray for Bank Holidays!

Isn't it great having a long weekend? Especially as I managed to fit some extra crafting in (though I have gotta get the tea ready in a mo so better be quick). I tried a couple of new things on this card: messy stitching (which I really like), I thought this would be hard as I usually like things neat & precise lol but it was very easy & I'm sure I will be doing it again & I made a crepe paper flower from this fab tutorial (mine isn't as gorgeous as Terri's but for a first attempt I'm quite pleased but I'm gonna have to get some pastel coloured crepe paper). The sentiment is free from Raindrop Echo Designs & there are lots of others to choose from. The papers are from Designs by Krista, the butterfly stamp is from Anna Griffin & I finished the card with some gems & lace.

I'm entering this card for 6 challenges:

For Fun - Sketch

Sentimental Sundays - For That Special Someone

Creatalicious - Flowers and Wings

Sir Stampalot - Butterflies and Blossoms

Papertake - Do Something Different

Paperminutes - Butterflies

Anniversary Card for a Very Special Person...

My husband Mark :) - it's our 26th Wedding Anniversary on Wednesday & this is the card I made for him. It took ages to make - you know how sometimes you just can't find the right image, the right colours, or the right paper etc.... & of course being a man he wouldn't want flowers or ribbons (well I know some men might lol but not Mark). Anyway I did manage to finish it & there are elements I like & some I'm not so pleased with, but hay hoe hopefully he will like it.

The papers are mostly from the Sweet Shoppe but the strip of owls is from Summer Driggs. I distressed the edges of everything. The image is from Pink Cat Studio & coloured with Prisma pencils & some glimmer chalks. I made the sentiment on the computer & the ticket is a digi download from Becs (I'm loving these at the moment). I finished off with some string & a chunky heart brad.

I'm entering this card for 6 challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch!
Everybody-Art - Song Title (I Will Always Love You)
Our Creative Corner - Look Ma! No Flowers!
Quixotic - How Distressing!
Incy Wincy - Anything Goes!
Prairie Fairy - Go Twiggy

Lexi's Animal Challenge

Lexi's Creations challenge this fortnight is Animal themed & our sponsor is Joanna Sheen with a £10 voucher for the winner. Being a DT member I am lucky enough to have the pick of Lexi's gorgeous images & lil Ellie elephant is one of my favs but don't forget you can use any image you like though we would love to see Lexi's images of course.

I printed Ellie on to coloured paper & coloured in her ears, feet & bow with ProMarkers. I used Stickles glitter glue for the bubbles (& the centre's of the flowers). The papers are DCWV Pocket Full of Posies. I haven't made an easel card for a while & it made a nice change (in fact I think the only easel cards I have made have been Christmas cards). The finishing touches are punched flowers, rub-ons (the middle of the flowers & the greeting), buttons, ribbon & a gem butterfly. Why not check out the other DT members blogs for more inspiration & they would really appreciate it if you showed them some love :)

I'm entering this card for 6 challenges:
Allsorts - Animals
Charizma - Girly Card with Flowers
Creative Inspirations - Easel Card!
Daring Cardmakers - Easel Does It
Dutch Dare - Easel Card (with repeat something theme)
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle- Easel Cards