Christmas in July at Stampin' for the Weekend

This fortnight's challenge at SFTW is Christmas in July with a sketch & our fabulous sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp.  It's never to early to start making Christmas cards & as I usually leave mine until the last minute challenges like this really help me get organised lol.  Why not check out the other DT members blogs for more inspiration. 

For my card I used papers from Designer Digitals which I inked the edges with silver ink, the image was one I've had for ages & it's been coloured with ProMarkers. The finishing touches are: silver thread, die cute snowflakes, punched foliage, glittered flowers & a greeting from Craftwork Cards.

I'm entering this card for these challenges:

Alphabet - J is for Jewels

I Love ProMarkers - Stripes

Digi Doodle - Circles & Dots

Sparkle - Christmas Song (Frosty the Snowman)

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - In Stitches
Fussy & Fancy - Christmas in July

Grand Opening of Squigglefly PCP Group! (& 30 % off)

There will be celebrations galore at the  Grand Opening of the Squigglefly group here at Paper Craft Planet with a big celebration party all weekend starting Friday, July 2, and going though Sunday, July 4.

There will be free digis, a new project challenge, hopefully some of the artists popping in to say hello, and just lots and lots of fun!  New images will be released in the store on Saturday! You will get to meet the new DT and see some of their beautiful artwork!

ALSO:

Squigglefly's blog has surpassed the 300 followers mark and they have issued a special code for a 30 % discount!  This discount is only good through Sunday - but the timing's perfect because there are new images coming out on Saturday!  

Get Well Soon...

Julie, who is a  work colleague but is more of a friend as I have know her since our children were little, is very poorly & has been in intensive care for well over a week (sending you big hugs & lots of love Jules).  This is the card I made for everyone at work to sign for her.  The papers are from my stash & the image was free but I'm sorry I can't remember where from (I've since remembered it was from Pollycraft & it's only 66p at moment).  I coloured the cute image with ProMarkers, the papers have been machine sewn, the butterflies were made with my Martha Stewart butterfly punch & stamp & were glittered.  I finished off with lace, flowers, pearls & a computer generated greeting.  

I'm entering this card for these challenges:

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Animal Crackers

Fab 'n' Funky - Sew & Sew (hope I'm not too late)

Incy Wincy - Things With Wings

Just Cute Bears - Open Theme

My Time to Craft - Zig Zags!

Papertake - In Stitches

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Blooms & Butterflies

OCC- Sketch
Crafty Calendar - Bugs & Beasties

For Fun - Patriotic Pride

 I must admit when I saw "Patriotic Pride" on the For Fun challenge list I wasn't looking forward to it as I didn't know what sort of card to make apart from an England football one which I didn't fancy - then I had the idea of making a shrink plastic English flag pendant.  (The idea was that if England beat Germany on Sunday I would wear it to work on Monday & as you know that didn't happen lol).  I coloured the red cross with ProMarkers & punched a hole, shrank the plastic then covered the white parts with Glamour Dust & stuck a  heart gem in the centre for good measure.  I'm entering this into the Crazy Challenge which this week is "Make it in an Hour" (which I did easily though this is my 3rd attempt as the other 2 weren't quite right lol).

Sorry for the rubbish photos, you can't really see the sparkle at all. I have so much to do today & Wednesday is usually my day off but I have to work this afternoon til 6.30 so I'm trying to cram everything into this morn - time for a tea break though I think ;)

Back at Kaboodle Doodles...

It was lovely to be asked to be a guest designer at Kaboodle Doodles not least because I was one of the design team when the blog was first started (seems like forever ago now lol).  The challenge this week is "Celebrate Summer!" & we were given some images from Creations by Penny to use, I paper pieced all the elements & added some Glamour Dust to the sand.  The papers are digi (possibly from the Sweet Shoppe) & I finished off with a ribbon, ice cream button & a ticket.

I'm entering this card for these challenges:

Daisy Doodles - Summertime

Die Cut Dreams - Life's a Beach!!

Fairy Fun - Summer Vacation

PaperPlay - It's Sunny Here

Delightful Sketches - It's All About Summer

Scrappy Frogs - Sketch

CCEE - It's Summertime!

Lexi's Creations 3D Challenge

The weeks are flying by (hopefully the summer won't go too quickly), we're on challenge 17 over at Lexi's Creations & this time it's "3D".  I used the same digi papers I used on my Squigglefly monkey card & Marha's Stewart's star border punch again.  The image I used is "Our Boy Ali" & he is coloured with ProMarkers.  I made some bunting (which I'm really pleased with lol) using string & some printed triangles.  I finished off with a printed ticket & a peel off football.  Our fab sponsor for this challenge is One Stop Cards.

I'm entering this card for these challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - Reuse, Renew, Recycle! (string)

Digi Doodle - Anything Goes

Polka Doodles - Boy's Birthday

Stampatcular - Stars & Stripes!

Friday Sketchers - Sketch ;)
I Did It - 3D

Donna's Den - It's a Sketch!

I love sketches & over at Donna's Den this fortnight there is a great sketch for you to try.  My image is so big that you can hardly see the sketch on my card lol but if you check out the other DT members blogs you will get plenty of inspiration.  Donna is very generously offering a fab £10 voucher to be spent in her shop for the winner so you haven't got anything to loose ;)  For my card I used Popcorn Wedding Day rubber stamp set which I coloured  with ProMarkers.  The papers are from the Dovecraft Wedding designer paper pack.  I finished the card off with a flower punched border, pearls & flowers.

I'm entering this card for these challenges:

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Good Luck/Best Wishes

The Creative Cottage - Pearls & Swirls

Creative Craft World - A Wedding...

Creative Craft - Stamp It Up

Magical Crafts - Flower Power
Freshly Brewed - Anything Goes
Corrosive - Flowers

Rosie Dance

Hope you've had a great weekend. I have - we had a BBQ at the In-Laws yesterday & today MIL & I went for a walk along the seafront while the "boys" were watching the footy (shame about the score!).  I've also been catching up on my DT work, I love being on a DT it is a great incentive to get crafting (not that I really need that too much but sometimes when my mojo's disappeared it really helps) & you get to visit so many great blogs too.

Amy a fellow Teamie gave a shout out about Karen's Doodles challenge & I wanted to support her + I love Karen's art work so it gave me a chance to use her fab image Rosie Dance again. Rosie is coloured with ProMarkers & I paper pieced her dress.  The papers are MME & I finished off with  punched flowers (lots), gems, punched tag & a brad.

I'm also entering this card for

Sweet Sunday Sketch - Sketch!

The Shabby Tea Room - Cottage Comfort (photo inspiration)

Creative Inspirations - Paper Piecing
Meljen's - Bookmarks &/or Tags
challenges 

I've Been Chosen...

For the Squigglefly DT! How cool is that :)  Squigglefly have some fantastic digi images by lots of great designers.  This is my first Squigglefly card & this gorgeous image is called "Gone Bananas" by Jackie Matthews.

There is a Squigglefly reward program: you sign up for and it tracks how much you spend at Squigglefly.  For every $15.00 you spend you can pick a free image - there are no restrictions on the free image you choose either - you can even pick sets!  You can let your points build up until you're ready to use them.  Also, if you join the rewards program in the middle of the month and you've already bought images during the month - just write Squigglefly and let them know and they will credit what you spent in the same month toward your rewards! 

Squigglefly also have a challenge blog &  a new group on Paper Craft Planet. 

Back to the card - I coloured the image with ProMarkers, the papers are digi & I finished the card off with a tag, staple  & bunch of bananas button.  The star border punch is from Martha Stewart. 

I'm entering this card for these challenges:
Cards for Men - Sketch
Crafty Catz - Let's Go Digital
The Crazy Challenge - All Things Spotty
Just Add Ink - Patterned Paper
Sew Many Cards - Anything Goes
Shelly's - 3's (3 DP's)

*Update* Squigglefly's blog has 289 followers right now.  They are going to give a code for 30% off when they reach 300 members!

Birthday Presents

 I love this image from Squiggle Stamps (I only found them again recently & I had forgotten how gorgeous their images are).  This image is called "Gifts Galore" & I coloured it with my ProMarkers.  The papers are Blossoms & Butterflies from DCWV which you can get from Donna's Den of Crafts.  I used Martha Stewart border punch, punched flowers, brad balloon & wire.  The bingo cards are from Designer Digitals.  As you can see I did quite a bit of distressing & scrunching (such fun).

I'm entering this card for these challenges:
Squiggles Stamps - Birthday Best (& DT call)
Cowgirls - Anything Goes
Crafts & Me - Birthdays
Moving Along with the Times - Sketch
Passion for ProMarkers - Favourite Things (presents)
Simon Says - You Gotta Have Friends
Totally Gorjuss - Sugar & Spice
ABC - Xtra Dimension

Oooh as this is a birthday card I will take the opportunity to remind you that Donna's Den's first challenge is Birthday with a fantastic prize & there is still time to enter :)

For Fun - Clips & Pins

Where are the weeks going, they seem to be flying past.  I hope we will actually get some summer at some point lol The sun is shinning today on my day off though so that's a good start :)  The challenge at For Fun this weeks is "Clips & Pins" (but safety pins not fancy ones).  I need some baby cards so this was the perfect opportunity.  This cute image is from Di & coloured with ProMarkers & I paper pieced his romper suit & blanket, if you check out Di's fab images on her site she is giving away a gorgeous freebie at the moment (you can also get her images on Squigglefly)  I used vellum for the background & finished off with flowers, ribbon & bow, punched tag, brad, gem, Glamour Dust & of course the safety pin.

I'm entering this card for these challenges:

Crafty Creations - Shine

Crazy 4 Challenges - Paper Flowers

Create4Fun - Baby

Fussy & Fancy- Monochromatic & Wings

One Stop - One for the Boys

Polka Doodles - Father's Day or Male

Craftalicious - Monotone

Rosie-D's- Blue (option of fish which as you can see I didn't use)

Creative Inspirations - Monochrome
Magical Crafts - Male/Fathers Day

  

Have a great day & I hope the sun is shining where you are.  I'm going to do the usual: housework & crafting  (hopefully more of the latter lol).  Hubby's having a knee op this afternoon so will miss the England game but he doesn't mind too much cos while he's recuperating he will get to see lots of the World Cup & Wimbledon :)

Fun in the Sun!

 Well not here lol the weather is diabolical: cold, wet & windy (I'll just have to stay in & craft - every cloud has a silver lining).  I saw this free image on Michelle Perkett Studio blog & had to use it .  The papers are actually NOT digital for a change these are Basic Grey, Lime Rickey & I thought they were just perfect :)  I did lots of random stitching (I love doing this).  The sentiment is free from Pink Cat Studio &I finished off with Glamour Dust, ribbon, gems & beads.

I'm entering this card for these challenges:

Meljen's Designs - Fibres, Ribbon or Lace

Sentimental Sundays - Summertime

Stamp Something - Summer

Quirky Crafts - Summer

Scrappy Frogs - Summertime Fun

PriscillaStyles - Sketch

Michelle Perkett - A Stitch in Time
ABC - Weather
Crafty Creations - It's a Stitch Up
Pollycraft - Let's Have a Sing Song (Summer Holiday)

Hope you're having a great weekend (despite the weather if you're in the UK).  I am but unfortunately my week off is coming to an end (I'm trying not to think about it).

Sketch with a Twist at Stampin' for the Weekend...

 & the twist this fortnight at Stampin' for the Weekend is to use blue & yellow on your card too.  I thought this was going to be hard but I found these fab papers in one of my (many) digi paper folders on the computer  & thought they would be perfect (sorry can't remember where they are from).  Our sponsor this week is Teresa from Crafts & Me & you can win a gorgeous stamp. The image & sentiment I used are from Pink Cat Studio, I love their cute images.  I coloured the image with ProMarkers.  I finished the card off with punched stars & swirls with glittered card candy & a cupcake sticker.

I'm entering my card for these challenges:

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Sunshine Inspired Card

Charisma - All About Bling

One Stitch at a Time - Celebrations

Scrappy Frogs - Summertime Fun

Sir Stampalot - Punch It!
Forever Friends - Not Forever Friends

For Fun - Poppin' Pastels!

 I love being on the For Fun DT as we try lots of different techniques & this week it is "Poppin' Pastels" which is really easy. There is a link with a tutourial here if you haven't tried it before.  I thought I'd make a shaker card as I haven't made one for ages.  I used my Nesties to make the shaker holder & put some mini beads in colours to match the papers which are a free download from Summer Driggs.  The cute owl stamp is from My Cute Stamps & I used glimmer chalk to make him (or her lol) "pop".  I finished off with some buttons, ribbon & a punched tag.  I am a little late this week cos we had a little holiday, so I'm trying to catch up with my crafting/blogging.

I'm entering this card for these challenges:

Allsorts - Lace&/or Buttons

Truly Scrumptious - Sketch (option of gingham)

Kaboodle Doodles - Anything Goes (with a dash of purple)

Whoopsi Daisy - Ribbons & Bows

Little Red Wagon - Beads

By the Cute & Girly - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue (the buttons are old & the beads are new)
PaperPlay - Something Old (buttons as above & I forgot I have had that ribbon forever too)
Sweet Stamping Treats - Punch It

Use Something Old at Lexi's Creations

This Lexi's Creations challenge was really good for me as it meant using stash I hadn't used for ages:  the oriental charm, thread & those flowers had all been neglected. This fortnight's sponsor is the lovely Joanna Sheen.   I used Lexi's Okichi image - isn't she beautiful, she's been coloured her with ProMarkers.  The papers are from Designer Digitals (I think), I used my EK Success border punch, did a bit of machine sewing & added some pearls (coloured with ProMarkers to match the image).

The challenges I'm entering with this card are:

Daring Cardmakers - The World is Your Oyster

Digi Doodle - Tie it Up

Bee Crafty - Bloomin' Marvelous (again)

Stamp Magic - Flowers

Aly's - Stitching

This is my 2nd scheduled post as we are having a few days away (though I'm taking a few crafty bits with me for when hubby is watching the footy lol).  I will link the challenges up when we get back on Wednesday.

Exciting New Challenge Starts Today...

 Donna at her Den of Crafts is starting a new challenge today!  The theme is Happy Birthday, a nice easy one to start with & she's offering a fantastic prize for the winner: a Beatrix Potter CD rom AND stamp set - how fabby is that.  The challenge is running for 2 weeks you will find the full challenge rules & details on the blog while you're there why not check out the other DT members gorgeous creations for more inspiration.

 

My card was made using the celebration paper from the beautiful Dovecraft Wedding designer papers pack & DCWV Spring brads.  The image was free from Bugaboo which I coloured in with ProMarkes & added some sparkle to the cloud.  The border was made using a Martha Stewart punch & I finished the card off with flowers, gems& a greeting. 

 

The challenges I'm entering my card for these challenges:

Just Us Girls - Digital

Stamp Something - Happy Somethings

Meljen - Sparkle, Glitter, Bling

Totally Papercrafts - Animal Magic

Frosted Designs - Glitter

Be Crafty - Blooming Marvelous 

Shelly's - All That Glitters

Busy Beauties - Anything Goes

I've scheduled this post as we are having a few days away (can't wait) so hopefully it's worked out ok - I will link to the challenges on Wednesday when I get home.

Buy 1, Get 1 Free at Lexi's Doodles!

Why not check out Lexi's fab images over at Doodles - now's a great time to buy as for every image you purchase you get another one absolutely free & we all like something for nothing don't we :)  You should check out her new round the world girly (& one fab boy) images they are my favs. Offer on until 25th June.

Father's Day

Hooray! I've managed to make a card (haven't done much housework though lol).  I made this card for my Father-in-Law who plays short tennis - I thought this image was just perfect :)  The image is another one from Digi Stamp Boutique.  I do still find these men's cards awkward with their lack of flowers & sparkle lol.  I coloured "Jim" with ProMarkers, the papers are Designs by Krista & I used (another) new border punch from Martha Stewart this time stars.  I finished the card off with a ticket, string, corners, greeting & a staple.

I'm entering this card for these challenges:

Digi Stamp Boutique - Use any of their Images

I Love Digi - For My Dad

Double Dutch - Father's Day

Cards for Men - Father's Day

Creative Craft - For the Man in your Life

One Stitch at a Time - Boys to Men

Daisy Doodles - Father's Day/Manly

Shabby Tea Room - Just for Dad

Papertake - Sketch

Crafts & Me - Friends & Family

Happy Birthday Helen!

It is Helen over at For Fun Challenges' birthday today so I would like to wish her a Fantastic Day :).  Very fittingly the challenge this week is "Happy Birthday" & there is also a special little prize on offer.  

For my card I used this cute Pink Gem freebie which I coloured in with Prismacolors (I know no ProMarkers!).  The papers are digi & from Zoe Pearn at the Sweet Shoppe, I used my new Martha Stewart flower border punch, the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I finished off with a stamped greeting, ribbon, buttons, gems & a punched & glittered butterfly.

NB.  There is something on the photo near the right hand button, looks like glue - I have no idea what it is or how it got there it isn't on the card lol!  I have taken more photos but the battery is low so just recharging & then I will swap them over.

I'm entering this card for these challenges: 

A Gem of a Challenge - Ribbons & Buttons

Pollycraft - Ribbon & Bling

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Floral Delights

Everybody Art - Things with Wings

Cupcake - Dazzle Us

Stamp Something - Digi

PaperPlay - Flowers & Sparkle

Pixie Dust - Punch it Out

Ai Factory - Anything Goes with a Punch
Digi Doodle - Buttons
Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Luckily it's my day off today - which REALLY is lucky cos we were away at the weekend so I've got so much to catch up with - lots of crafting (good stuff) & lots of housework (bad stuff lol).  Hope you're all having a great Wednesday & get time to fit some crafting in.