Handbags & Gladrags

 Hi lovelies!

There's a bit of golf fever spreading around over here!  The Irish Open is currently taking place in Newcastle, Co. Down (only a few miles up the road from me) and there has been so much buzz and excitement about it!  I'm not really into golf myself, but I'm enjoying the craic about it.  My cousin's wee boy was very excited to get Rory McIlroy's autograph the other day and there are photo's popping up all over Facebook of local people with the rich and famous!  Unfortunately the weather isn't playing ball (or golf!) as there have been a few showers, but it brightens up in between the showers, so hopefully people get a chance to dry off then.  It may be affecting the local hero though as Rory hasn't been playing so well, hopefully he will pick up a bit today as it would be good to see him compete.

I'm still trying to get the hang of being back at crafting and blogging again!  I've been trying to make changes to my craft room but there is so much stuff and it's only a small room, so it's a challenge!  I am going to get a bookcase to put on top of an existing bookcase to try to make more storage space.  I need a bigger house!!  Mostly so I can fit all my craft stuff in!
I bought a load of gorgeous fabric to make some aprons a while back but haven't gotten around to them yet as I don't have the space to lay out the fabric!  I'll figure something out though.

We have a new challenge today at the Alphabet Challenge Blog.  We're up to H again and the challenge for the next fortnight is...

H for Hats and/or Handbags

Here's what I did

This is actually a twisted easel card, here it is opened up

I knew the exact stamp I wanted to use for this one - it's one of the first stamps I ever bought and it was perfect for this challenge!  She is Dressing Up Maggie by Sugar Nellie and I coloured her with the following copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20,RV23. Dress; R39,29,RV29,25. Hat; RV29,25,23. Boa & Hat; B39,37,34. Beads & Gloves; 100,C9,6.  I also used a black prisma pencil and a graphik "snow" line painter to help with shading and highlights.

I used papers from the Rosarian pad by Prima along with cream and black card.  I love easel cards and twisted easel cards but I really love the shape of this one.  To shape it I used an XL circle die by Go Kreate, the largest one in the set, and hooked it over one corner of the card and passed it through my Grand Callibur.  It can be a little messy looking so the ribbon helps to hide the sins!

I used Spellbinder ovals and scalloped ovals as well as a border punch by Martha Stewart.  The sentiment was cut using the Alice & the Centurion alpha dies by X-Cut.  For the stopper I pulled the stalk out of an old earring and glued the base into place.  A wee tip - when I cut the edges of the ric-rac (which I did after the layers were stuck down, so couldn't tuck the ends in under) I applied some clear nail varnish to help avoid fraying.

A few diamantés here and there always finishes everything off nicely - that's my motto for life! lol!

 And that's my card, I do hope you can join us this fortnight at the Alphabet Challenge Blog, I'll keep an eye out for you there!


Thanks for looking!
 

A Baby Girl

Hello to you all and Happy Christmas Eve!

What a rough night we had to bring in Christmas eve, the winds were mighty!  I've seen some snow falling but nothing lying here... yet!  I would hate to have to go to shops or anywhere today, it's much nicer staying in in that weather!

We have our last challenge of the year today at the Creative Card Crew and we are being sponsored by The Scrapping Center

The challenge we have for you to enjoy over the festive season is a really hard one, cos we really wanted to challenge you, it is...

Anything Goes!

Oh, no, that's not too difficult!!  Lol!  We have an extended challenge this time and it's lasting for 3 weeks, so plenty of time to enjoy Christmas and enter the challenge! ;)

So, here's my card which I made for my best friend after she had her first baby:

I made a circular easel card - and I made it with pearly card so it was a pain to photograph!

The image is by Sugar Nellie and I coloured it with the following copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hat & blanket; R24,22,21,20. Background; E42,41,40.  I was always a bit intimidated by this image cos it's so realistic and I was afraid to colour it, I'm not sure if I did it justice, but at least I tried!

I used Spellbinders Grand Nestibilities Circles for the base of the card and an ordinary small one (although the biggest one in that set) to cut out the middle of the moon to make the crescent shape.  Other dies used are heart and scallop heart and labels 14 (all Spellbinders).
After I inked the edges with Worn Lipstick and Tattered Rose distress inks, I used a Umount swirl stamp with super sparkle holographic embossing powder to add a bit of interest and that all-important bling!  I then added pink Frantage embossing powder around the edges and sprinkled some through the middle and heated from underneath so it didn't go everywhere!

The sentiments are all computer generated and the font is Lainie Day.  All the sentiment pieces got the same ink/frantage treatment as the base.  I used a couple of eyelets and jump rings to attach the heart to the moon.  I also added a wee diamante swirl on the base of the card where you can see through the crescent shape when the card is closed.

 The inside of the card got the same processes applied to it with space left for my greeting.

So please pop over to the Creative Card Crew blog to take part in our last challenge of the year and to see what the rest of our talented DT have made!

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

4 Crafty Chicks; Distressing
613 Avenue Create; Anything goes
Bearly Mine; Anything goes
Crafts 4 Eternity; Anything goes
Crafty Creations Challenges; Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday; Celebrations
Divas By Design; Anything goes
Drunkers Stampers; Embossing
A Gem Of A Challenge; Anything goes
One Stitch At A Time; Anything goes
Party Time Tuesday; Anything goes
Simon Says Challenges; Anything goes
Stamp & Create; Anything goes
Stamp N Doodle; Anything goes
Stamin' For The Weekend; Anything goes
The Pink Elephant; Anything goes
Twisted Tuesday Challenge; New Beginnings - new stuff: Pink Frantage

I'd like to wish you all the Very Merriest of Christmasses and if I don't see you before then a Wonderfully Happy New Year!

Thanks for looking!
 

Key To The Door

Hi everyone!  Me again - no you're not seeing things, the men in white coats can stay where they are, this is actually my second post of the day!  To see my PunkYouGirl card, scroll down to the next post.

This one I have saved for the other challenge blog that goes live today - namely the Alphabet Challenge Blog!

It's the very lovely Jan's turn to choose our theme and she has chosen...

K for Keys!

I can imagine lot's of possibilities for this one (and I've just thought of piano keys!)

Here's what I did:

The image I've used is an oldie by Sugar Nellie called Life Is A Journey - perfect for a 21st birthday card!  I coloured her with the following... copics: skin: E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair: E49,31,09,07. Clothes: E39,37,35.  Mother of pearl acrylic paint was used on the background, antiqued bronze Distress Paint was used on the frame, Bronze Viva pearl pen on the dots and a gold pen for the fixings.  I messed up around her eyes, the actual image isn't as big as it's shown here so it doesn't look quite that bad :/

The papers are Glitz, Pretty In Pink.  I used a Tim Holtz Alterations "Hardware Fndings" die to cut out the key.  Other elements are Make It Crafty gears galore and Stampin' Up! hodgepodge hardware and the whole lot were frantaged to within an inch of their lives with gold frantage powder (I've put it away now cos I had some visitors arrive mid frantaging and they went home looking considerably goldier!).  The 21 was die cut using memory box dies and the pearls, ribbon and jewellery findings are from my stash.

The inside is somewhat plainer than the front but more or less matches it with a Melissa Frances keyhole thingy (painted with distress paint) and another frantaged buckle.

So there you go, with my two cards for today (check below for the other one) - I'm off for a lie down!  So while I'm doing that, you could take a peek at what the rest of the DT have done over at the Alphabet Challenge Blog!

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

Cute Card Thursday: Stars or stripes
Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog: Heavy Metal
Fussy & Fancy Challenge: Steampunk
Ladybug Crafts Ink: Birthdays
The Sugar Bowl: Anything goes

Thanks for looking!
 

Celebrate Good Times

Come on!!
Did I just get a song stuck in your head?  Cos it's stuck in mine!

I hope everyone is well.
I hurt my back yesterday, I think it's just cos I've been sitting at various desks for so long and I have a terrible posture so it has aggravated my whiplash in my back :(  Hopefully a few stretches etc will sort it out.
It didn't help that I went to see a comedian last night and the whole show was rubbish!

But on a lighter note, it's time for a new challenge at the Alphabet Challenge Blog!  It was our lovely Avril's turn to choose the theme and she chose...

B for Bottles!

So you can alter one or have one in an image.  I chose to go the image route and here's my card:

My image is an oldie - Fizz by Sugar Nellie.  I coloured her with the following copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair; E57,55,53,51. Bottle; Y15,13,11. Dress; YR04,02,00,RV34,32,10.

The papers are also oldies, Papermania, Diagonal Dots.  I used a Spellbinder circle die to cut out the image and then layered it over two Crown Circle die cuts, one in pink and one in peach.  I also used a Lea'bilities 'Frame Swirl' and a Cherry Lynn Designs 'Princess Tree' carrying on the fizz out of the bottle!
The "Celebrate" is a metal tag I got a couple of years ago in M&S in their gift wrapping department.  The ribbon and button are from my stash.

The inside, as always, compliments the front.

So go and check out what the rest of the DT did at the Alphabet Challenge Blog and join in with this fab challenge!

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

Crafts & Me Challenges; Dies or punches
Crafts For Eternity; Tic tac toe - Layers/spots/yellow
Crafty Ribbons Challenges Blog; Anything goes with ribbon
Cute Card Thursday; Something old (stamp and paper)
Fab N Funky Challenges; Pastel colours
My Time To Craft Challenge; Inspired by a song (Celebration by Kool & The Gang!)
Stamp n doodle; Use 2 different dies
The Pink Elephant; Anything goes
The Shabby Tearoom; Pink Party
Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges; Use some metal

Also, I'd like to wish a Happy St. David's Day to all my Welsh friends!

Thanks for looking!
 

Another Friday!

Here we are again on another Friday and this one is in to May!  The year is flying by!
And since we've flown through another fortnight it means that there's another challenge up on the Alphabet Challenge Blog.
It was the lovely Hilde's turn to pick a theme and as we're up to G she chose...

G for Garden!

So here's my card

The image is by Sugar Nellie, Sweet Art Ebony called Flowers which I've had for years and don't know if I've ever acutally used it before!
I coloured her with my copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Trousers; V09,06,04 Top & hat; R59,39,37.  Wattering can; RV34,32,10 Flower; YR24,21,14.  Hair; E57,55,53,51
Then I used nesties to cut her out.

The papers are also oldies that were rather large snippets!  I'm afraid I don't know who they're made by as the name was previously cut off.

The butterfly is from a chipboard sheet from Stampin' Up!  I drew a design on it and then filled in each section with glue, covering with glitter and letting it dry before I moved on to the next colour of glitter.  It takes a while to do this if you are using lots of colours!  I then added a few Swarovski crystals to bling it up even more!!

It's an easel card and the top of it is a nested flower shapeability.  I drew around the die and cut out the shape for the mat.

The wee tag is also from a Stampin' Up! sheet and I coated it with glue and attached it to some of the paper before trimming the excess and sanding the edges.  The sentiment is from Wild Rose Studios and the ribbon is from my stash.

So take yourself over to the Alphabet Challenge Blog and join in the fun with us!

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

Anything Goes Challenge Blog; Things with wings
Creative Card Crew; Ribbon
Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog; Flower Power
Moving Along With The Times; Summer Sunshine
The Paper Shelter; Sketch
Papertake Weekly; Anything goes
Pixie Dust Studio Challenge; Flowers
Simon Says Stamp Challenge; Birthday
Stampin' For The Weekend; Layers
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge; Spring Bling

Thanks for looking!
 

The best is yet to be

I made this a while ago cos needed to make a card for my friend whose birthday is next week, “why?” I hear you say. Well I bought her a ticket for a concert/festival which is two days after the big day, and I thought she’d need a bit of time to get used to the idea and build up the excitement!!

I used a Sugar Nellie/Leanne Ellis stamp “Dreamer” coloured with...copics! I gave her nice red hair cos my friend has nice red hair! I blinged up her wings with some glamour dust.

I cut out some scalloped circles to make flowers and put a jewel cluster in the centre. The sentiment is from Stampin’ Up! and is on a Tim Holtz ticket.

Now for the inside!!! I took a gold envelope and adjusted it to fit the card and attached another scalloped circle flower to hold the envelope closed.

And what is in the mystery envelope?? (much excitement!!!)

This card fits the following challenges;

Anything Goes Challenge Blog: Bingo – Die cuts, Flowers, Ribbon

A Spoon Full of Sugar: Anything goes

Crafts 4 Eternity: Recipe – Flower, Ribbon, Bling

Crafty Catz: Anything goes

Crafty Creations: May Flowers

Paper Play Challenges: Sparkle Galore

Papertake Weekly: Bloom & Grow

Simon Says: Sparkle & Shine

Truly Scrumptious: Anything goes

Thanks for looking!

Hippy Chick

An old style easel here, and using one of the fabulous sassy girls from Sugar Nellie.

I coloured her with copics and cut her out with nesties using the out-of-the-box technique.

I used paper from the s.e.i. Jocelyn pad and punched out some wee daisies, I added a Swarovski to the middle of some daisies and 3d paint to the others.

I used an alphabet stamp to stamp the sentiment on the inside

This card fits the following challenges;

Crafty Creations: Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations: Decorate the inside

Delightful Challenges: Flowers

Oldie But a Goodie: Say it with flowers

Papertake Weekly: Fancy a punch

Peartree Designs: Spring

Scrappy Frogs: Anything Goes

Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays: Old supplies

Thanks for looking

Deary me!

Another bout of absenteeism, but not quite as long this time! :p
This time I'll show a card that I made about a month ago for my sisters birthday

As far as I remember I used my Sugar Nellie Manga girl stamp, coloured with my copics and used Basic grey paper.

I made the butterfly with a nestie shape and curled it to give it shape. I added the beads to the card over the ribbon from stash and then the butterfly on top.
The sentiments were printed and cut out with a nestie and cut in half.

I finished it off in a matching box.

I hope you like it, thanks for dropping by!

Holly's Birthday Card

It was my gorgeous wee niece's 1st birthday on sunday. And of course I was still making her cards on saturday night!!

I made this card from my mum & dad - her grandparents

I used a Gorjuss girl coloured with my pm's.

The paper is Basic Grey (I think it's call lemonade).
I got the sparkly "1" from Joanna Sheen's online shop and the other bits are from my stash. The sentiments are computer generated.

And this is the inside

It fits 2 challenges
1. the sketch from Stamp Something
2. Glitz and bling from Basic Grey Challenges

Thanks for dropping by everbuddies!