I'm Back!!!

 Hello!  If there's anyone still there??!!

Wow, it's been so long since I have blogged, or even crafted until this week!  There are about 3 long stories about what has been going on, the incredibly short version is that my mum had a knee replacement so I spent 2 or 3 weeks helping out there and I had some treatment on my sore shoulders, which turned out to be a disaster and is still on-going.  So skip a few other chapters and I'm back and hopefully over the next week or 2 I should be properly up and running again (or at least at a leisurely stroll pace!).
I want to add a massive thank you to Mari, Shaz and Elaine for being so lovely and understanding and letting me have some time off from DT duties, it was great to not have to worry about anything.  I have also decided to step down as the leader of PunkYouGirl, but I'm still staying on the DT and the lovely Kay has graciously taken over the reigns and is doing such a fantastic job at breathing new life into the challenge blog, I wish I had've passed it over sooner!

I meant to do a post showing pics from when I was on the set of Game of Thrones - I wanted to do that after "our" scenes were broadcast, but of course that was aired just at the start of when everything kicked off here so I never got the post done - the series has even finished now!  But I'll still do up the post at some point cos it's too cool not to show off! :P

So anyway, I'm actually here today with something I have made!
It's the midway reminder today at PunkYouGirl and our dark (as always!) theme for this challenge is...

Skeletons and Secrets!

And our new boss Kay is sponsoring us with fab prizes for both 1st and 2nd places!!  Double reasons to get entering!

So I had a good rummage in my stash and found the bits and pieces I needed to decorate a box - to hide your secrets in, see?!

 The box itself was a plain white trinket box that I got in Tesco.  I started by thinking I'd like to use ink to colour it, but after trying and failing several times to open my old pot of ink, I used my pot of black Pebeo paint (which I thought I wasn't going to be able to open either cos all the power had gone out of my hands from trying to open the ink!).  I painted stripes up the sides of the box and lid - I purposely didn't line up the stripes, cos life's just too short!  And the underneath of the box and top of the lid were fully painted black.  I then used my wee old pot of gold ink, which I did manage to get open, and painted over the whole thing with it - it gives it a lovely grubby but shimmery effect.  I then took to attaching some feet to the base with glossy accents.

 The feet and the skeleton have come from a set of Halloween decorations that I bought years ago, I think you're supposed to scatter them over the table.  The foot and lower leg bits were the perfect size to stick to the corners and still leave room for the lid to go on!  They were a bugger to get to stay on though!  I also dirtied up the box sides with some Walnut Stain and Black Soot Distress Inks.

I pulled a page out of an old book (GASP!) that I bought in  a charity shop, (Charles Dickens, Bleak House) and tore it into strips and crumpled, aged, distressed (with inks) and stuck it to the box lid.  I then aged and distressed it a bit more with a sanding block and black and gold embossing powders.  I then attached the "body" with glossy accents.  I coated some round studs in the gold and black EPs and also attached them.

I printed the sentiment (or maybe its the inventory of what's inside the box??!) from the computer using the font Cardinal Alternative, cut out the words, dirtied them up and attached them to each other with some brass jump rings.

So there you go, the perfect box to keep anything you don't want people to find!

Make sure you check out what the rest of the DT have done, I can't wait to see what you do!

I'd like to enter my altered trinket box into the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations; Distressing
Just For Fun Challenge Blog; Anything goes
Crafty Girls Challenges; Anything goes
Creative Fingers Challenge Blog; Anything goes
Creative Moments; Anything goes
A Step In The Dark; Anything goes/Use metal - jump rings & studs
Altered Eclectics; Anything goes

Thanks for looking!
 

Angel Delight!

Hi everyone!

I had meant to get this posted yesterday - I uploaded my pictures to a draft post with the intention of taking 5 minutes during the day at work to write it up, but it was a hectic day, unusually so for a Friday, and didn't get it done and my shoulders were in so much pain by the evening (a lot of computer work plays havoc with my shoulders) that I couldn't face putting the computer on at home, so here I am writing it up as I watch the F1 qualifying!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this sort of thing won't bother me for too much longer as I'm going for my first injection into my shoulder on the 15th.

We have a new challenge up at PunkYouGirl and our fab sponsor for this month is Stitchy Bear Designs!

So in order to win the fab prize of $10 to spend in their store all you have to do is make something that fulfills the theme of...

Lavish Lace!

There are so many ways to go with that challenge so I'm looking forward to seeing all the entries this month - but remember to keep them dark!

Here's what I did...

The gorgeous image was supplied by our fab sponsor Stitchy Bear from Delicious Doodles and she is called Dark Valentine.  I coloured her with the following Copics: Skin: E21,13,00,0000,R20. Clothes: R39,37,29. Rose: 100,C10,8,6,3,YG17,13,93.  The wonderful shading by Teri has left this image so easy to colour, I didn't even touch her hair!

I decided to raid my 12x12 papers this time instead of my 6x6 pads and picked out a sheet of Basic Greys Winterberry paper from their Wassail range.  I made some flowers out of my fab black lace and added some black and red beads to the centres.  I found some black glittery feathers in my stash and added them to the card too.  I placed a few red Swarovski's around the image, which was die-cut with a Spellbinders Oval die and mounted on a Scalloped oval die-cut.

The inside has the same papers and another piece of the lace with space for a sentiment.  I left it blank so it can be used for any occasion.

I do hope you can join us at PunkYouGirl for this month's challenge, pop over to see the rest of Team 1's fab makes and remember to check out Team 2's in the midway reminder!

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

4 Crafty Chicks; Colour a stamped image
Creative Inspirations; Lovely lace
Daring Cardmakers; Colour challenge
Delightful Challenges; Hip to be square
Delicious Doodles; All seasons in a day
Fab N Funky Challenges; Once upon a time - fantasy
Incy Wincy Designs; Tic tac toe - Wings, Free, Lace.
Left Of Centre; Ribbon or flowers
One Stitch At A Time; Anything goes

Thanks for looking!
 

Sassy Snow White

 Happy Friday everyone!

I hope you've had a good week and are about to have an even better weekend!
I've had a busy week catching up at work but am slowly but surely getting there.
I got a date for my first cortisone injection for my shoulder, for the 15th of April.  I'm quite nervous about it but I just hope it works and that I have less pain, better movement and more strength, so I'm looking forward to it for that part!  Then I'll need another one for the other shoulder and I hate needles!  I have to go to the x-ray department to get it as it has to be guided down into the joint.  The more I think about it the more I cringe!  I'm such a wuss!!

Anyway,  here is my second card that I made for the midway reminder for the current challenge at PunkYouGirl where the challenge is...

Fairytales Gone Bad!

You may have already seen the sneaky peeky on the challenge blog but here it is in full:

I used a fab image by Mo's Digital Pencil called Bite and I coloured her with the following Copics: Skin: E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair: 100,C10,8,6. Clothes: E9,Y15,13,11. B39,37. RV29,25,23. B06,05,04. Apple: YG17,13,R37,29. Background: 100,C10,8,6,3,2,1.

The papers are Lauderdale by Basic Grey and the font around the image is called Campanile.  The ribbon and charm are from my stash.  I distressed the papers and inked with black soot distress ink.

The inside has been decorated to compliment the front.

You still have a few days to enter the challenge over at PunkYouGirl so please go and look at the rest of the DT fab work for some more inspiration!

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

Bearly Mine Challenges; One for the girls
Crafts 4 Eternity; Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons; Anything goes with ribbon
Left Of Centre; Favourite book
One Stitch At A Time; Use a digi
Patties Creations Challenges; Anything goes
Rhedd & Rosies Challenge Blog; Aged/Distressed
Stampin For The Weekend; Anything goes
ABC Challenges; H for Hair
Top Tip Tuesday; Metal or Faux metal

Thanks for looking!
 

Jack's Bad Day!

 Hello everyone!

A quick post from me as my bed is crying out for me but I just realised that I hadn't added my own cards to the reminder post for PunkYouGirl's current challenge on Monday - I was so concerned with making sure I didn't miss anyone else out (cos we've had a load of new DT members join our ranks!) and ended up forgetting about myself!!  I've been so busy since then at work, catching up after 2 weeks off sick :(, that I only just realised my mistake this evening!!

So, the challenge is...

Fairytales Gone Bad!

And our very own lovely Kay is supplying the prize for this month!

Here's my Pirates Of The Caribbean themed card:

Now, I'm a massive fan of Johnny Depp, so this image, as fantastic as it is, really creeps me out!!  It is by the lovely Teri at Delicious Doodles and is called Zombie Pirate.  I coloured him with the following Copics: Clothes: E49,47,44. 100,c10,8,6. Bandana: C6,R39,37,29,E44. Skin: E21,00,0000,BV04,00,0000,YG17. Bones: E41.

The papers are by Prima from the Moulin Rouge set. I frantaged the hell out of the Marianne Design die-cut clock and added the Spellbinders Fancy Framed tags 1 piece over it with a computer generated sentiment using the font Blackadder.  The tiny brads in the corners are from Stampin' Up! and the charm and ribbon are from my stash.

The inside has been done to compliment the front.

And that's it!  I still can't believe I forgot my own cards, especially saying as I had 2 cards for it! I'm such a numpty! lol!
I'll do the post for the second one tomorrow or Friday (which is now technically tomorrow, but it's late on Wednesday night as I type!) but you can have a sneaky peeky at it now over on the PunkYouGirl blog where you will also be able to see all the fabulous work by our gorgeous design team - old and new!

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

Daring Cardmakers: Fairytales
Fab N Funky Challenges: Boys to men
Fussy & Fancy Challenge: Happy Birthday
Just For Fun: Anything goes
My Time To Craft: Charming
One Stitch At A Time: Use A Digi
QKR Stampede: Anything goes
Rhedd & Rosie's Challenge Blog: Aged/Distressed
Stampin' For The Weekend; Anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday; Metal or faux metal

Thanks for looking!
 

Let's Have Some Fun!

 As Dr Nick (From The Simpsons) would say... Hello Everybody!

Me again!  My Second post of the evening/morning (it's quite late here!) in my vain attempt at catching up!  This time I have my card for the PunkYouGirl February challenge which started last Friday.  We also have a DT Call at the moment, so if you like making slightly alternative cards or other things then you should defo go over and put your name down!

We have a fabulous sponsor for this challenge in the form of Stitchy Bear Designs!

They're offering our winner $10 to send in their store!

So our challenge for you for February is...

Hearts & Harlequins!

Here's what I did...

The image is Clowning Around by BB Kakes and I coloured her with the following Copics: Skin;E21,13,00,0000,R20. Clothes;100,N9,7,5,RV06,04,02,BG18,15,13. Hair; C2,1. Eyes;YG23. Background;N5,BV31

One of the papers is also from our sponsor - Panda Bear Designs; Love Day Patterned Paper and I've teamed it up with a Basic Grey paper from the Out of print pad.  The black roses, charm, ribbons and gems are from my stash.  The sentiment is computer generated using the font Mistral.

The inside uses the same papers and font and a Spellbinder heart die.

So pop over to the PunkYouGirl blog to check out what the rest of team 1 have done for inspiration and remember to check back next week to see team 2's efforts!  And don't forget the DT call too!

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

Allsorts Challenge Blog; colours beginning with B - Black
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge; Hearts/love
Crafts 4 Eternity; With love
Crafts For The Craic; Heart
Crafty Catz; Love is in the air
Fussy & Fancy Challenge Blog; Be my valentine
Incy Wincy Designs; Sassy & sexy
Papertake weekly; With a heart
The ABC Challenge Blog; E for Embellish
One Stitch At A Time; With love

Thanks for looking!
 

An Emo Christmas

Good morning everyone, I hope you're all well?

I was just writing up the midway reminder post for PunkYouGirl when I counted up how many days there are until Christmas and I was shocked to see that there are only 9 days left, single digits!  Even more shocking is the fact that I am fairly well organised this year!  There's a first time for everything!  Although I know I'm probably speaking too soon and there'll be a mad panic over something that I've forgotten!

As I said, it's the midway reminder today at PunkYouGirl for our current challenge of...

Black Christmas!

We are being sponsored this month by the fabulous Teri from Delicious Doodles so I got another chance to work with her gorgeous images, only this time it's her darker images!

Here's what I did:

The image is An Emo Christmas by Delicious Doodles and I coloured her (to match the colour scheme on the challenge blog!) with the following copics: Skin: E21,13,00,0000,R20. Clothes: 100,C8,6,4,3,1, RV09,06,04,02, Eyes; G16,14,12.
I then fussy-cut the image out.

The papers I have used are from the Christmas multi stack by DCWV.  I used a Dymo label maker for the sentiment using some black tape.  I have lot's of fun with the label maker and hope to use it on a lot more cards!  I didn't add anything more to the card as the papers are quite busy and the colours are strong so I didn't think it needed anything else.

The inside uses the same papers and basic layout, and more label maker sentiments.

So please take a look at the rest of the inspiration from the fabulous design team at PunkYouGirl and have a wee go at our alternative festive challenge!

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

Crafts 4 Eternity; Christmas Chaos
Crafty Boots; Christmas
Creative Belli Blog; Candy
Cute Card Thursday; Christmas catch up
Dream Valley Challenges; Christmas
Just For Fun; Merry Christmas
Left Of Centre; Holidays
One Stitch At A Time; Anything goes
Paper Crafting Journey; It's Christmas time
Ruby's Rainbow; Christmas
Sentimental Sundays; Non traditional xmas colours
Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog; Last minute Christmas
Totally Papercrafts; Non traditional Christmas colours

Thanks for looking!
 

Expect The Unexpected

Hey everyone!

Going by my title, I should've expected the unexpected when my scheduled post didn't post last Friday!  I've only just noticed that it didn't and it has disappeared from my list of posts.  I don't know if I'm to blame or if it's another blogger glitch, I've been hearing of a few people having diffs but it might've been (in other words, probably was!) my error.

I wanted to tell you about a lovely crafter I met last Friday night at my sisters party, she makes and sells the most beautiful wee stuffed hearts and keyrings and christmas decorations as well as some other bits and bobs, it's always so nice to meet other crafters (and she was so lovely!) and to find one so close to home is a bonus!  Here's a link to Angel A's facebook page and etsy store - give her facebook page a like as she giving her 100th follower a wee prize!

Now back to the post that should've been!  We have a new challenge at PunkYouGirl and the theme for this month, set by our lovely Mo, is...

 Angels & Demons!

What a fab challenge and I must tell you, I was really challenged with this one!  My mind just wouldn't get into gear for it at all!
We have a sponsor free challenge this month, so it's just for fun and the DT were free to use whatever we wanted!  Here's what I did...

I used The Octopode Factory's Angel which I added a little tail to for a bit demontion (it's not a word!) I coloured her with the following copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R27,20. Hair & wings; 100,C10,8,6. Dress & tail; R59,29,27. Background; C4,3,2,1.

The papers are by Pink Petticoat and are printed in Jet Black.  I mounted on a lovely red card and I cut the Spellbinder scalloped circle in the red and the print which I love!

If you take a closer look at the papers you'll see why you should "Expect the unexpected"!  Cos when you open the card I don't think you'd ever expect it to be like this!

Just for a bit of fun I made the inside a cutsie Christmas card - see, you didn't expect that! lol!

So pop over to the PunkYouGirl blog to check out what the rest of my talented teamies did and have a go yourself - and remember to check the blog again for the midway reminder to see what team 1 did!

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

All Sorts; Christmas cheer
Dream Valley Challenges; Humour
A Gem Of A Challenge; Christmas is coming
One Stitch At A Time; Use a digi
Papertake Weekly; Anything goes with option of Christmas
Quirky Crafts Challenge; Make us laugh
Stampin For The Weekend; Spooky
The Ribbon Girl; Stripes
Twisted Tuesday Challenge; Free for all

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!
 

You Stole My Heart

Hi everyone!

Thank crunchy it's Friday!!  It's been a long week.  I'm so looking forward to this weekend!
What better way to end a long week than with a new challenge?
How about one from PunkYouGirl?  :)

Our challenge this month was set by the lovely Jane and she chose...

Red & Black!

My favourite colour combo!!  I've said before but they are my county colours and my car (Clifford) is red with black stripes!

Remember that we are a darker themed challenge blog so gothic/steampunk etc entries.

So here's my card:

The image is Heartless by Mo's Digital Pencil and I coloured her with the following copics: Skin: E21,00,0000. Clothes and hair: R59,39,29,100,C9,7,6.

 I used some plain black card and cut it to size, then I tore it and ran it through my bug in a Stampin Up! stripes embossing folder.  I then used my Crop-o-dile to add some eyelets.  I attached the two pieces to my red base and then threaded some thin black ribbon, corset style, up the card.  I die cut a Go Kreate heart and before I removed the card from the die I used a black fine liner to doodle a chequer-board effect over the heart (this took flippin ages!)  I fussy-cut the image and placed her over the heart.  The sentiment is computer generated and distressed with black soot distress ink.  The charm is from my stash.

The inside has the same treatment (more or less) as the front.  (I hadn't time to chequer this heart though)

So I do hope you can join us for this challenge - go take a look at what the first half of the DT have done at PunkYouGirl!

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

Bearly Mine Challenges; Anything goes
Crafty Ribbons Challenge Blog; Anything goes with ribbon
Creative Inspirations; Favourite colour combo
Eureka Stamps Challenge Blog; Tender thoughts
The Hobby House Challenge Blog; Hobby House artists - Mo Manning
Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog; Dies and/or punches
Papercrafting Journey; Anything goes
Papertake Weekly; Anything goes
ABC Challenges; U for unlimited
Totally Papercrafts Friday Challenges; Red & black + touch of white
Mo's Challenge Blog; Anything goes

Thanks for looking!
 

Host From Hell!

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all well,  I can't believe the change in the weather!  I was sitting in my house the other night, shivering!  A few weeks ago I thought I'd never feel cold again! lol!  I should've known, this is Ireland!
Parts of Ireland have even been on tornado watch!  I've seen pictures of tornadoes from all over Ireland but I haven't seen one myself, and they're only wee ones, so don't cause any/much damage.  It still makes my hair stand on end thinking about them though after what happened my friend in the US.

Anyway,  a new challenge today for you from Punkyougirl!  And it's my turn to host!  We have a fab sponsor this month in the form of Delicious Doodles!

They're offering 4 digi's to one lucky winner!

So our challenge for this month is...

Dark Humour!

Show us the light side of your dark side!  Remember that we are a dark themed challenge but that doesn't mean you can't have some fun!

Here's what I made using an image provided by our fab sponsor:

The image is called Mermaids Revenge and I coloured her with the following copics:  Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair; E30,29,YR16,14. Tail; YG97,95,93,91. Sand; YR24,23,21,Y26,23,21. Grass; YG85,67. Etc; BG49,45,R39,37,BV31,23,N5,E40,C4,0.

The papers I've used are from Basic Greys Eerie paper pad.  The sentiment is computer generated and the free font is called Chiller!  I used a Viva Pearl pen in Anthracite for the black pearls.
I distressed everything with black soot distress ink.  The ribbon is from my stash.  The grass is just made from thinly cut strips of card.

The inside basically matches the front with another computer generated sentiment.

So that's my card, please pop over to the Punkyougirl blog to check out what the other DT cards are like and have a go yourself!

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

Crafts & Me Challenges; Anything goes
Creative Inspirations; Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday; Anything goes
Delicious Doodles Challenges; Anything goes
One Stitch At A Time; Anything goes
Partytime Tuesday: Anything goes
Quirky Crafts Challenge Blog; An octopus' garden
The Octopode Factory Challenge Blog; Make a card
The Squirrel & The Fox; Nautical
Top Tip Tuesday; Spooled items

Thanks for looking!