Phew!

Why does everything take so long to do?!
My antivirus program expired yesterday so I decided to renew it today.  I know there are free programs available but I'm not entirely convinced by them yet and I'm sure you have to put up with adverts etc, which I couldn't be bothered with!
I had un-ticked the automatic renew thing last year and I'm so glad I did - they would've charged me £60 to renew but by buying the product as new I got it for £25!  From the same place!  It was a bit of a nightmare to install though as I didn't think to un-install the first one and then it wouldn't install the new one and then it installed a free trial one instead of the one I paid for but I eventually got it sorted out.  And I made sure to go back in and un-tick the automatic renew thing again!
Computers, who'd have em!

Anyway, how about a new challenge to get you going for the start of the week?
It's time for a new one at Eclectic Ellapu and it's the Pink teams turn this week, and the lovely Laurian's turn to host.  The challenge she chose for us this week is...

A Recipe; 1 die cut, 2 patterned papers,

3 embellishments (can include digi)

and ribbon!

So, here's what I did;

The image is a digi from Paper Pretties called Snuggle Bunny and I coloured it with the following promarkers: Aubergine, Plum, Amethyst, Lilac, Cyan, Denim Blue, April Shower, Powder Blue & blender.
I edged the image with Decoart snowwriter for a bit of glitteryness!

The papers are DCWV, Nana's Kids.  I love this paper cos it's so textured - the glitter you can see on the bottom and the spots at the top are embossed too. 
The sentiments are by Pink Petticoat called Tiny New Baby which I printed onto safmat and attached to the image.  The buttons are gorgeous and are from House of Zandra, but I got them at the NEC.
And my die-cut is a Simple Banner by Memory Box which I've hand-written the name of the new arrival onto.

The inside has the same elements as the front including the ribbon from my stash and a button charm.

  
So take a trip to Eclectic Ellapu to check out what the rest of the Pink team did and have a go too!

Oh and can I just say that I have been having some trouble leaving comments.  On some blogs when I click to post my comment it goes to the white "503 error" page.  I have tried several times to leave comments and have even opened up Chrome to try there (even though I don't really like it!) so apologies if my comment didn't go through or if you've gotten several of the same comment from me!
I wish blogger would sort out all these issues - life is just too short! 

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

Crafty Ribbons: New beginnings
Divas By Design; Anything goes 
Dream Valley Challenges; Anything goes 
A Gem Of A Challenge; New beginnings 
613 Avenue Create; Anything goes 
Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog; New beginnings 
One Stop Craft Challenge; New beginnings 
Papertake Weekly; Happy new ? 
Totally Gorjuss; Spotty 
Totally Papercrafts Friday Challenge; Ribbon 

Thanks for looking!
 

My Last Design Team Card for 2012!

Hi all!

I'm a little late in posting this as something came up last night and I didn't get to scheduling it so it has had to wait til I came home from work.

Here it is, my last design team post of the year and then I can relax!  Well, I'm hoping to get caught up on all the cards I've made throughout the year and never actually got around to blogging.  Hopefully I'll get them done before the end of the year.

So it's time for a new challenge at The Creative Card Crew and for the next 3 weeks we are being sponsored by a fab new sponsor!  The fabulous Scrapping Center (they're from the US so I have to spell it like that! lol)

And they're offering one lucky winner a fantastic $15 to spend in their store!

So the challenge  - remember it's for 3 weeks this time is...

- Chinese New Year - 

- Red & Gold -

- Year of the Snake!

And it's easier than it sounds!  You can do an asian theme, a red and gold colour scheme (so for birthdays or Christmas or whatever) or you can add a snake to your project or whatever way you think the challenge can be interpretted!

 So here's what I did

I went with red & gold and an Asian theme.  The image is Fantastic Sophia by Paper Pretties and I've had it printed out and floating around my craft room for ages so I thought it was perfect for this challenge!  I've coloured her with the following copics: Skin;E21,13,00,0000,R20. Dress;R29,27,24,E39,37,35. Fan;E33,31,30. Hair;110,C9,7,5. Plus I used some gold calligraphy ink on the flowers on her dress and on the fan - it's not showing up very well though but it's nice and shimmery!

The papers are DCWV Fire Blossom from the Far East Print set.  I used a calendar that we got out of our local Chinese restaurant (cos we're such good customers!) and painted over the back of it with the gold ink.  I adhered it to a house-shaped frame that I made out of skewers and raffia (I love it when you need a saw to make a card!) and trimmed to fit.  I cut out the image and attached with foam pads.  I then decided that I would stamp a sentiment onto the bambooey background and hoped for the best that it would turn out ok!  The Chinese coin is one of a set I've had for ages and have only just used!  A little bit of bronze Viva Pearl Pen finished it off.

The inside has the same papers and I cut a circle out of white paper with a spellbinders die and then cut it into a fan shape.  I stamped the Wild Rose Studio sentiment and blossoms before I gently folded it to give it a bit of shape and attached to the card with a little bit of adhesive so that it sits out a bit.

So go and have a look at the fantastic inspiration the rest of the DT have provided at the Creative Card Crew and go get creative yourself!

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

Bunny Zoe's Challenge; Celebration
Cute Card Thursday; So charming
Ladybug Crafts Ink; Anything goes
Stamp 'n' Doodle; Something unusual

Thanks for looking!