We Wish You A Beary Christmas!

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all organised for Halloween?  I don't think I'm doing anything for it this year, it's the first time in a long time that I haven't gone anywhere, I'll probably pull on some wig or other out of my dress-up box and go see my niece and nephews.  Or I might just stay in and see if I get any trick-or-treaters, I'm not normally at home so I don't know if I do or not!  I always stock up with goodies just in case on the nights either side of Halloween but no-one has ever come to my door so I end up having to keep the goodies to myself - now there's a silver lining! lol!

We have a new challenge for you today at the Creative Card Crew and our sponsor for the next fortnight is the fabulous Stamp Fairy

 and they're offering a $10 gift voucher to one lucky winner!

So the challenge this time is...

Teddy Bears Picnic!

So anything with a teddy bear on it!

Here's what I did...

I coloured my image, which was supplied by the Stamp Fairy, with the following copics: Bears; E37,35,YR24,23,21. E47,44,43,42,41. W9,7,5,3,1 ,R20, blender stippled over after each bear was coloured to give texture. Scarves; R59,29,27. Lamp; YG97,95,93,Y17,15,13,02,00. Ground; E33,30. Sky; B39,37,34.

The cute papers are Santa's Workshop by Helz Cuppleditch.  I used Memory Box Virtuoso Music die and stuck words made out of gems onto it, it's hard to see in the photo but it says "Merry Christmas".  The ribbon and red pearls are from my stash.

The inside has been done to match the front.

So please pop over to the Creative Card Crew blog to see what the rest of my teamies have been up to and join in with our fun challenge!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge; Ribbon
CRAFT Challenge; Recipe
Paper Crafting Journey; Anything goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge; Sketchy free for all - sketch 69
Party Time Tuesdays; Anything goes
The Corrosive Challenge Blog; Tic tac toe - centre line
Twisted Tuesday Challenge; Free for all

Thanks for looking!
 

Put Your Feet Up!

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well and not been blown away, not that we had too much wind but I know a lot of other places did!

We have a new challenge today at Seems A Little Sketchy and 2 sponsors!

The first sponsor is Bugaboo

 who are offering 7 digi's to one lucky winner!

The second fabulous sponsor is QKR Stampede

Who are offering 5 digi's to another lucky winner!

Here's the sketch for the next fortnight which is a flashback to the very first sketch the blog had as we've now had 50 sketches in total!

Our sponsors kindly gave us images to work with and I used one by QKR Stampede, here's what I did

I coloured this laid-back fella with the following copics: Clothes;YG97,95,93,91,17,13,11,E39,37,35,33. Bird; 100,W9,7,5,Y17,15,13. Pig; R22,21,20. Ground; E44,43,blender. Sky; B01,00,000,0000.

The papers I have used are Origins by Basic Grey and I edged each piece with Brushed Corduroy distress ink.  I thought it would be fun to have him lying in the sun and as the sketch allowed for it, I cut a yellow circle with an inverted scallop circle die by Spellbinders, and I stamped a LOTV sentiment in the sun which suited this chap down to the ground!  The raffia and flower are from my stash.

The inside has the whole sketch replicated to compliment the front.  I haven't added another sentiment so as it can be used for anything, from a birthday to retirement or whatever.

So take a lazy stroll over to Seems A Little Sketchy to see what the rest of the DT have done.

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Boots Challenges; Autumn
Fab N Funky Challenges; Distress
Paper Crafting Journey; Anything goes
Stamp & Create; Fall
The Corrosive Challenge Blog; Tic tac toe - centre line across
Basic Grey Challenges; Food & Drink

Thanks for looking!
 

Peek A BOO!

Hi everyone!

This is my second post today, make sure you check out my earlier post of the Christening card I made for my gorgeous wee nephew!

It's a new challenge day today at the Alphabet Challenge Blog and it was my turn to choose a theme and I chose...

S for Scary!

Appropriate for this time of year!  It's also a lovely change for me from making baby cards! lol!  (there are 2 more due in the next few weeks!)

Here's my card:

The image is called Abby by Lacy Sunshine and I coloured her with the following copics:  Skin;E21,00,0000,R20. Hair;E39,33,YR21,18,14. Dress;B95,93,91,100,C9,6. Chair;100,W9,7,5,3,1. Eyes;BV31,04,0000. Floor;100,C10,9,8. Wall;E30.

The papers are My Minds Eye; Mischievous.  I used glittery black card with the Creepy Web die by Memory Box and the image is die cut with Spellbinders circle and labels 3.  I used an Anthracite Viva pearl pen for the black pearls.  The spider charm is from my stash.

The inside has been done to match the front with a Waltzing Mouse sentiment from the Halloween Party set.

So that's my scary card, I hope you will be able to join us this fortnight at the Alphabet Challenge Blog - pop over to see loads more fangtastic inspiration from the rest of the DT!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

CRAFT Challenge; Recipe
Crafts 4 Eternity; Halloween
Crafty Boots Challenges; Halloween
Creative Belli Blog; Halloween
Cute Card Thursday; Spooktacular
Delicious Doodles Challenges; Halloween
Dream Valley Challenges; Halloween
Lacy Sunshine Stamps Challenge; Fall colours
Oldie But A Goodie Challenge; Spooky
Patties Creations Design Challenge; Orange & black
QKR Stampede Challenge; Seeing orange
Simon Says; Halloween
Stamp & Create Challenge Blog; Halloween
Stampin For The Weekend; Something spooky
Sweetpea Stampers; Halloween
The Pink Ellephant; Trick or treat
Top Tip Tuesday; Black & white with a splash of colour

Thanks for looking!
 

Noah's Christening

Hi everyone, long time no post!

My back went out on me again last week from, believe it or not, doing a lot of writing!  Strenuous work I do you know!  And then on top of that I started to get a sore finger and on Monday evening, after I cleaned off my nail polish, I discovered that under my nail was full of pus!  Eww!  So I was talked into going to the doctor on Tuesday (I felt a bit odd going to see the doctor about a sore finger!  I was going to do the whole "it hurts when I touch my wrist, it hurts when I touch my elbow...I have a sore finger" thing!  But I didn't. lol!) and I'm now on anti-biotics.  I must admit that the infection must've been making me feel icky all over as I feel a lot better now.

I thought I'd share a card with you that I made a good while ago for my Mummy and Daddy to give to my nephew on his Christening.  Mummy said she wanted a really special one so I did my best - here it is...

 It's a large 8x8" card from Craftwork Cards and I thought I'd put a cute wee pic of the man himself onto it!  (I have asked permission to put his pic on my blog and they said OK!)  I also added his date of birth as requested but as it's a Christening card, the date of birth disappears when you open it cos it's an easel card!

I didn't use designer papers on this one, instead I used the gorgeous designer fabric from the Beau Château set by Stampin' Up!, I stitched around each piece with my sewing machine.  The gorgeous lace is from my stash along with the pearls and diamantés.  The pleated ribbon is by Melissa Francis.  I added the date of the Christening for when the card is open.  The sentiments are computer generated using the font "Penhurst".

The dies I have used are all Spellbinders - circles, labels 3 and Grand Nestibilities Decorative Elements Circles.  I also used a Stampin' Up! label punch.

Here's the inside

The day went really well and the wee man was so good and looked gorgeous!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge; Ribbon
Fussy & Fancy Challenges; Celebrations
Moving Along With The Times; Shape Up
One Stitch At A Time; Anything goes
Papercrafting Journey; Anything goes
The Paper Shelter; Easel cards
Quirky Crafts Challenges; Favourite things - my favourite things are - easel cards, lace, and of course the picture of my nephew!
The ABC Challenge; X for xtra special
Whimsey Stamps Inspirations Challenges; Shabby Chic

Thanks for looking!
 

Full Moon!

Hi everyone, I hope you're all keeping crafty!
I still haven't had a chance to go through all my pics from the flight, there are quite a few of them!  But I will add some to my blog at some point. 
I'm excited about the Walking Dead starting back with a new series tomorrow night, although it'll probably be Saturday before I get to see it.  I've only been able to start watching it quite recently, but I decided to buy the box-sets and was hooked in no time!  I love having TV shows on while I craft, you don't have to concentrate on them as you would with a film.  And then one of my favourite TV shows, Elementary, series 2 starts next week!  Happy days!  I hope it lives up to the standards of series 1, cos it was excellent!  Another favourite of mine is the Almighty Johnstons, it is a masterpiece of a show and I'm so enjoying the current series!  My all-time favourite is of course Game of Thrones, but it's not back on til next year - they're still filming it ;)

Enough of my TV habits!  We have a mid-way reminder for you at PunkYouGirl!

Our challenge this month has been sponsored by the very fabulous Rick St Dennis

He is offering 2 images of the winners choice!

The challenge, brought to you by our lovely boss Jacki is...

Halloween!

And remember that we are a darker themed challenge blog, so no cutsies here!

The design team were honoured to get a choice of image from our fabby sponsor - it was my first time working with their images but it won't be my last - they're class!
When I first saw the image I picked I knew what I wanted to do with it straight away.  Then by the time I received the image I had completely forgotten my great idea and I hadn't a clue what I could do with the image!  Thankfully though, I remembered and this is what I did...

I apologise for the terrible pics, but it was difficult to photograph!  I made a circular easel card.

I made the moon by cutting a circle out of white card with a Go Kreate x-large die.  I randomly stamped Antique Linen, Old Paper and Frayed Burlap distress ink pads onto a non-stick sheet and sprayed some  water on it.  I dipped my white circle in the watery mix and dried with a heat gun.  I repeated until I had achieved the desired effect and then I added a little bit of Champagne Mist all purpose ink from Stampin' Up! to the coloured water and dipped the moon one last time.  This left some lovely shimmery-ness on the moon.
I coloured the image with the following copics: 100,C10,9,8,6,5,4,3,2.
I cut the shape of a tree out by hand and attached behind the gravestones.

I stamped some images and a sentiment from the Waltzing Mouse Halloween Party set with black versafine ink.  I also used some black web ribbon, black swarovski's and black roses from my stash.

 So please pop over to the PunkYouGirl blog to check out what the rest of the DT have done and have a go at showing us your darker side!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Cards For Men; Halloween
Crafty Boots Challenges; Halloween
Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge; Halloween
The Hobby House Challenge; Roses
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge; Halloween
Oldie But A Goodie Challenge; Spooky
Oh La La Challenge Blog; Things with wings
Stamp & Create Challenges; Halloween
Sweet Stampin'; Halloween
The Pink Elephant Challenges; Photo inspiration - I took Halloween as my inspiration

Thanks for looking!
 

Catch A Falling Star

Hello hello!

I hope you're all feeling well and happy?!  I've had such a busy - and fun - few days but I'm exhausted after it all!  Last Thursday we went for our flight that we have been trying to go on for a while!  My brother and sisters and I bought a flying lesson for our Daddy for his 60th birthday last year in a 4 seater Cessna, so there would be him, the pilot and two of us able to go up.  My brother and my names were picked out of the hat to go and after a few appointments having to be cancelled due to bad weather, we finally got to go last week.  To say I was a little nervous about it is an understatement!  My Mammy came with us as a stand-in in case I chickened out - and it was a close call!  But at the very last minute I thought I'd kick myself if I didn't go, so off I went!  It was a little bumpy and it didn't help that the pilot showed us how to "spiral into the ground in a fiery ball"!!  He was good craic!  But we got to fly right down over where we live and over our beautiful Mourne Mountains.  I took a lot of photos but haven't even had a chance to look at them yet!  I'll post some in a separate blog post later maybe.  I did feel a little sick in the plane but I managed to hold it together and we landed safely - and I really enjoyed it!
The next part of my busy weekend was the Stonecrusher's Ball on Friday night.  My family own and run a quarry (and I work in the office) and every year all the quarries in Northern Ireland have a special night out in the Europa Hotel in Belfast.  So it was lovely to get all dressed up for a good night out.
Saturday night was spent in my aunt and uncles house for their surprise party for their 25th wedding anniversary!  It's hard to believe that its 25 years since their wedding!  I was one of their flower-girls!  And so cute I was too! :P
Sunday was late home and feeling a little fragile after 2 big nights out!  The less said the better! lol!

Anyway, time for another challenge, me thinks, at the Creative Card Crew!

We are being sponsored this fortnight by the Scrapping Center

And they're offering a $15 voucher to one lucky winner!

The challenge is a lovely one and the theme is...

The Sun, Moon or Stars!

I love that theme!

My card was made in a little bit of a hurry, but this is what I came up with:

My image is by Tiddlyinks and I coloured her with the following copics: skin;E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair; E37.YR24,23,21. Stars; Y15 (plus clear stardust pen). Dress; B39,37,34,G14,YG13,11. Wings; V04,BV31.

The papers I have used are DCWV "Once upon a time" and the dies are Whiff of Joy, Stars festoon; Memory Box, Night sky border; Spellbinders, circle and large scalloped circle.  A few swarovski's were added to some of the stars.  The sentiment is computer generated.

The inside has been done to match the front.

So I do hope you can join us for this celestial challenge and have some fun with it!  Pop over to the Creative Card Crew blog to see the rest of the DT's fab makes!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Bearly Mine Challenges; Anything goes
Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenges; Anything goes
Oh La La Challenge Blog; Things with wings
Paper Crafting Journey; Use Halloween colours
Papertake Weekly; Halloween Hues
Patties Creations Challenge; Ribbon
Southern Girls Challenge Blog; Sing, sing a song... (Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket by Perry Como)
Sweetpea Stampers Challenge; Sparkle & shine
The Squirrel & The Fox; Things with wings
Totally Gorjuss; Wings & things

Thanks for looking!
 

World Card-Making Day - The Card(s)

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all well and had a nice crafty World Card-Making Day?  I did a bit of crafting so was happy with that.

I was supposed to post this yesterday but it was just one of those days and I never got it done, but this is for the new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu - speaking of which, I hope you're all joining in with the fabulous treasure hunt with fantastic prizes to be won every day throughout October?!  You can read all about it on the blog.  Our new challenge, hosted by the lovely Yvonne, for this week is...

Celebrate Autumn!

So as World Card-Making Day occurs every autumn, I thought I'd combine the two!  We have a swap every year on our forum and this is my card...

The image I used is so appropriate for the occasion (in my opinion!) so I had to use it, its a Magnolia stamp; Stamping Tilda, one of the limited edition ones from last year and I coloured her with the following copics: skin;E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair;E47,44,43. Clothes;YG97,95,93,YR24,23,21,14. Stamp;E37,35,33,V04,000.

The papers are Basic Grey, Pyrus.  The sentiment was computer generated using the font Reisling.  I have used spellbinder oval and scalloped oval for the image and Memory box; Chloe stem, Cheery Lynn Designs; Princess tree and mini fanciful flourish for the arrangement as well as a Spellbinders nested bird die.  The flowers, pearls and ribbon are from my stash.

The inside has been finished to compliment the front with a Wild Rose Studio sentiment.

So please pop over to Eclectic Ellapu to join in with our challenge and also don't forget the treasure hunt!!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks; Fall/Autumn
Allsorts Challenge Blog; Autumn colours
Creative Belli Blog; Ribbons & pearls
Fab N Funky Challenges; Ribbon
The Hobby House; Roses
Patties Creations Challenge; Ribbon
QKR Stampede; Fall colours
Ruby's Rainbow; Autumnal colours
Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog; Autumn
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge; Flowers

I made a card for World Card-Making Day last year, but I never got around to blogging it as it was just after my accident and as time went on it was too out of sync.  So I thought I'd tag it onto the bottom of this years just so as I can say I blogged it!

Here it is...

I used the same stamp that I used this year and coloured her with the following copics (yes, I still have the details!): skin;E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair;E49,39,35,31. Top;YG07,05,03,BG49,45,11. Frills;R39,37,27. Stamp; BV04.

These papers are also Basic Grey but this time from the Luscious paper pad.  The sentiment was computer generated and I stroked out the Day and replaced it with month because I was so late in sending it (but it was difficult to do on time because of my arm being in a sling!).  The ribbons and flower were from my stash.

For the inside I used another Magnolia - Longing Tilda, and coloured her with the same copics as above.

Here's a close-up.

So there you have it, two cards for the price of one!
I'm not entering this one into any challenges as it's a year old!

Last reminder - don't forget the treasure hunt!!

Thanks for looking!
 

Happy World Card Making Day!

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all well?  I've had a busy few days as I've finally got around to setting up an Etsy store for my cards and a Facebook page too.  I have links on my left side-bar if any of you fancy a look ;)

I've also had a lot of personal cards and quite a few commissioned cards to make lately (still have a difficult one to do) so I'm gonna show you one of  the commissioned ones today.
The brief was for a couple who were going to Las Vegas to get married but it wasn't to be a traditionally wedding-y card.  I had a quick pop of inspiration and this is what I came up with...

I decided to make a play on the Welcome To Las Vegas sign and make it personal!
And, cos I think they always make a special card, I made it an easel card.

I drew the shape of the sign and cut it out by hand after I printed some of the wording (fonts: Brush script, Batang and Calibri).  I used card candy for the circles and used Craftwork Cards Candi Alphabet stamps for the names of the couple.  The "Wedding Day" is made of die cut letters using Memory Box Typewriter alphabet sets in upper & lower case.  The star is a Joanna Sheen Signature die and the Magnolia swirl doohickey came in handy again!  The black background was embossed with a start embossing folder and I have used lots of gems all around the sign and elsewhere.

For the base I made some poker chips by die-cutting some circles out of red card and some more out of white card which I also cut a centre circle.  I used a red copic to colour some stripes around the white O shape and then I adhered it to the red circle.  I die cut some numbers (Memory Box typewriter numbers - I knew it was a good idea to buy the full set! lol!) in white card and attached to the base chips.  I had a spare deck of cards that I pinched some out of (all hearts of course, it is a wedding card!) and attached them also.  I cut out another shape to resemble the sign for the greeting and added more gems and a pocket for the gift and hey presto, a Vegas themed wedding card!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:

Crafty Catz; Anything goes
Creative Inspirations; No square or rectangle cards
Delicious Doodles; Shaped cards
Kaboodle Doodles; Your special day
Moving Along With The Times; Anything goes
Papertake Weekly; Anything goes
Southern Girls Challenge Blog; Sing, Sing a song... Viva Las Vegas!
ABC Challenge Blog; W for words
Totally Gorjuss; Anything goes with stars

Thanks for looking!