Jolly Old Fellow!

Hi everyone!

Thank you to everyone who has entered my blog candy so far and for all the lovely comments about where I live.  I must admit to not appreciating it for most of my life but I've really come to see it's beauty as I've gotten older.  If you haven't seen my candy click here to check it out!

We have a new challenge for you today from Seems A Little Sketchy and our fab sponsor for this fortnight is Squigglefly!

 and they're offering 3 digi's to one lucky winner!

Here's our sketch for challenge 46

And here's what I did with an image kindly given by our sponsor

This image is called Better Not Pout Santa and I coloured him with the following copics:  Skin: E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hat & berries: R39,37,29. Holly leaves: YG97,95,93. Beard: E40,30. I used a Snow Marker on the furry parts of his hat and puffed it up with my heat gun.

The papers I've used are the North Country Collection by Prima.  I used a Joy Crafts Winter Wishes border die on kraft card that I dry brushed with some white acrylic paint.  The kraft card was a little thick for the die to cut the whole way through so I thinned it out a bit by tearing away a few layers of the card.  The holly is from an X-cut punch.  The bells, ribbon and pearls are from my stash.

The sketch was used again on the inside of my card and the sentiment is an old one by Anita's.

So I hope you'll join us with this fab sketch at Seems A Little Sketchy - go check out what the rest of the DT have done!

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

Allsorts Challenge Blog; Use your new stash - Joy crafts border die and digi stamp.
CRAFT Challenge; Christmas
Crafty Boots Challenges; Christmas in August
Delicious Doodles Challenges; Christmas in August
Divas By Design; Christmas in August
Fashionista Challenge; Christmas
A Gem Of A Challenge; Punch it out
The Hobby House Challenge; Christmas
Southern Girls Challenge Blog; Things beginning with F - Father Christmas
Totally Pappercrafts Friday Challenges; Favourite Colours - Red and kraft would definitely be one of my favourite colour combos!

Thanks for looking!
 

Blog Candy - Winter Is Coming!

Hi everyone!

***CANDY NOW CLOSED***

I had such an exciting week this week when Game Of Thrones came to visit!

They film a lot of the series in Northern Ireland and I knew they had been close by before but I had never seen where they were filming before.  Then they approached my Daddy to see if they could use some of our land to shoot some scenes!  I couldn't believe it when he told me that they were coming!

They arrived last Monday evening and they used the yard at my grannies house as their base unit and did the filming just up the road.

We went to the place the day before they started shooting to see what was going on and they were busy preparing the set with props etc.

I am trying to be very careful in showing pics as HBO are very strict about that, but I'm just showing a few of the things that could be seen at any time (if you know what I mean)

Here's a bit of the yard at my grannies house and some of the many trucks that were parked in it.  The first caravan was for one of the stars of the show and the second one was the directors.  There is another one somewhere for the other main star who was there and then there were 2 other actors too.  It's so hard to not give anything away! lol!
There are also trucks here for make-up and costumes.  There's more for hair and catering on over.  That's my little sister and her friends by the wall.  Not stalking at all! lol!

Here is a picture of the beautiful location where this all took place.  I'm so lucky to have grown up in such a beautiful part of the world!

Here are the signs showing where the set is - and of course, there had to be road works!

Here is the bridge on our land where they did some filming.  I have used an image that shows the bridge as it is.

And there is a little house on the land that was also used.  We were so lucky to be allowed in to look around before the filming and see all that was done to it.  I can only show the doorway as there were a lot more props around the house than at the bridge!
This is me and my brother and sister.

On the first day of the shoot, we went to the set when they were filming at the bridge and we got to see a few scenes.  I was amazed at how many people are involved in the whole process and how friendly they all were!  We weren't allowed to talk to the cast though and unfortunately didn't get to meet them as their schedule was so tight, they did manage to sign a couple of things for us but the whole experience was fantastic and something that I won't forget for a long time!

So all this excitement has gotten me in a good mood!  I thought it was only fair to share the excitement and good mood by having a little blog candy!

I don't know how I managed it, but I mistakenly ordered two sets of the summer stamps from the Magnolia Stamp Club.  So I thought I'd give the spare set away - and as "Winter Is Coming" :) I thought I'd better get a move on! lol!  The set consists of six full size characters, six additional stamps (like shells and a map etc) and two sentiments.  Please note - these stamps are in sheets and have not got the foam backing included for mounting on blocks.
I also happened to buy two of the same set of Spellbinders "Decorative Labels One" dies a while back so I'll give the spare set away too! :)

So all you have to do to win the candy above is to follow me and leave me a comment saying which of the options on the left is your favourite way to follow.  It's a bit of a pain having to have so many different ways to follow, so if I can get rid of one that would be great!  This isn't an absolute requirement to win the candy, it's more just for my information!
I'd also like you to put the above picture on your side-bar linking back to here so as to spread the word.
Lastly, enter your name etc in the linky below so as it's an easy job for me to pick a winner!
One entry per person!
The candy will stay open until just before midnight on the 31st August and I'll announce the random winner shortly after that.


Thanks for looking and good luck!
 

Mackintosh - and not an Apple in sight!

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all well?
I've had a very busy, interesting and exciting week!  I'm gonna spill all in a separate post (and I'm gonna have some blog candy too, sure why not?!) so make sure to check back a little later to see!
It's terrible when you have a few days doing something different and it really puts you off track.  It takes ages to get back into your routine again too.  Not that I ever really have a proper "routine"!

So helping to put me back on track again is a new challenge from the Pink Team at Eclectic Ellapu!
We have a fab new challenge for this week from our lovely boss lady Elaine with a theme of...

Art Deco!

Isn't it fab to have something different to try?!  I have never made anything in this style before so it was a challenge, but I have always loved the style of both Deco and Nouveau.  Part of my inspiration for this comes from the first thing I bought when I was old enough to have a credit card and is my Mackintosh chair.  I always wanted to get a full set but I don't know if you can get them anymore so one will have to do me!

Here's my card:

The stamp is called Glasgow Rose by Woodware (yep, it's a wood-mounted stamp so I had to dig for it!) and there is very little colouring to do on it!  I used my copics and coloured the roses with R20, the leaves with YG95 and a little bit of shading with C0.

I matted onto a layer of pink card (which is hard to see) and a layer of black card and I cut strips of the black card to make the design which gives the card some great texture.  I worked out what I wanted to do before I started making the card and printed the sentiment so it would fit in the design. (The font is called AR Bonnie)

I did the design again on the inside along with a LOTV stamped sentiment.

 This is nothing like what I would usually make, but I really like it.  I thought about colouring some of the squares pink, but decided not to.  I might do it yet!

Make sure to check out the rest of the DT's creations at Eclectic Ellapu, they have made a great job of fulfilling the task of this theme!

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

Eureka Stamps Challenge; Clean & simple
Just For Fun Challenge Blog; Just for fun
Ohh La La Challenge Blog; A step back in time - Art Deco/Nouveau circa 1920's
Papertake Weekly; Anything goes
Stamp n Doodle; Anything goes
The Pink Elephant; Texture
Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges; Clean & simple


Thanks for looking!
 

Thanks Love!

Hi everyone,

A quick post from me today as I'm very late because of a few things that are going on here this week.

We have a new challenge for you from today from the Creative Card Crew and our sponsor for the next fortnight is Stampfairy!

 and their prize is a $10 gift voucher for their store!

Our challenge is...

Flags/banners!

I'm loving this one!

Here's my card:

The Stampfairy provided our images and I coloured Mimi with the following copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair; Y17,15,13. Shoes; RV34,32.  A nice short list as I paper-pieced her lovely flowery dress.  I also 3D'd her face, dress and shoes.

The papers are Pink Petticoat - Twill stripe, pretty doodles and daisy bouquet all printed in Rose.  The dies are Spellbinder ovals and scalloped oval, classic heart and scallop classic heart.  I made the sentiment on the heart banner with some Kars clear stamps.  I added some bling in the form of wee Swarovski crystals from my stash.

The inside has the same papers and a Cheery Lynn Designs "Heart to heart lace doily" die cut.

So that's my card, take a wee peek over at the Creative Card Crew to check out what the rest of the DT have done for this fab challenge!

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

4 Crafty Chicks; Bling
613 Avenue Create; Use a sentiment
Bearly Mine Challenges; Tic Tac Toe - top row
Bunny Zoe's Challenge; Pink & white
Crafty Boots Challenges; Die cuts
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge; Anything with scallops
Whoopsy Daisy Challenge; Paper piecing


Thanks for looking!
 

I Sea Horses!

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all well, I've had a lovely day today and am really excited about the next couple of days too, I'll say more about what's going on in a few days, keep all the excitement to one post! lol!

We have a new challenge today at Seems A Little Sketchy (which is exciting too, huh?!) and our sponsor for the next fortnight is Delicious Doodles!

Who are offering 4 digi's to one lucky winner!

Our sketch for you to follow looks like this

We were given some images by our sponsor to use and here's what I did...

I made a card with a porthole, so the image is on the inside rather than the front.

I coloured the image with the following copics: Y17,15,13,V04,000. Foliage; YG97,95,93,R17,14,12. Sea; B01,00,000,0000.
Something happened while I was colouring this image that has never happened to me before and I just thought I'd share what it was in case it happens to someone else.  I was using my R12 pen for the first time and as I was blending the ink started to flood the image and I could see that the nib had gotten really full of ink.  I stopped colouring immediately (as it was almost the last thing on the image that I was colouring and I didn't want to ruin it!).  I remembered a tip that I saw somewhere when I was learning about re-filling my pens about how taking both caps off helps to balance the pressure in the pen, so I took the other cap off and could see the effect straight away.  I laid it horizontally on my desk for a wee minute too just to be sure before I finished my colouring.  I wondered if it was because of the heat lately that maybe built up some pressure or something, but I thought I would share in case it helps someone else some time.

I created the wood effect on the front by drawing the panels and colouring with my copics: E39,37,35,33. and a black fine liner.  I cut the porthole with my Spellbinders circle dies and then used some gold frantage powder to make it look a little rusty.  I added some rope that I've had in my stash for a while that I saved from a clothes label.  The hinge is a Tim Holtz Alterations Hardware Findings die and I also used a Memory Box Majestic Anchor both of which got the frantage treatment.  The black dots are Viva Pearl pen in Anthracite.

Here's the inside with the image and a computer generated sentiment.

So go take a look at what the rest of the DT have done on Seems A Little Sketchy and have a go at our fab sketch!

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

Crafts & Me Challenges: Anything goes
Craft Your Passion Challenges; All at sea
Crafty Boots Challenges; Die cuts
Delicious Doodles Challenges; Anything goes
Papercrafting Journey; Punches and/or dies
Sweetpea Stampers; Embossing
The Squirrel and The Fox; Nautical/sea life

Thanks for looking!
 

Welcome Baby Noah!

Hi everyone, it's me again, with my second post of today.

I have finally gotten around to making a card for my new wee nephew Noah, I just got it finished last night, I'm a bad auntie I know, but I'm sure he won't remember it! lol!

We have a new challenge starting today at the Alphabet Challenge Blog and it's the lovely Roxx's turn to host.  She has chosen the challenge of...

M for Micro/Mini!

So it's the little things that count for this fortnight!

Here's what I did:

I made a shaped easel card.

My image is by Mo's Digital Pencil and I coloured him with the following copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair: E47,44,43. Clothes; B95,93,91.  I used some white pearl pain on the cuffs and edges.

The papers are by Pink Petticoat, a selection of different designs printed in the colour Pebble.  I used several dies - Spellbinders circles, scalloped circles and Grand Nestibilites decorative circles.  Go Kreate XL circles and Memory Box simple banner.  The sentiments are mostly computer generated and the name is stamped with Craftwork Cards candi alphabet.  I also used a couple of Stampin' Up! punches and the diamantes and ribbon are from my stash.

My mini-ness comes in the form of the mini bibs that the name is on and the mini diamantes (of which I've used loads!) and of course, the mini person!

So please take a peek at what the rest of the DT have done at the Alphabet Challenge Blog and have a go, I can't wait to see what you do in mini!

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

4 Crafty Chicks; Bling
CRAFT Challenge; Monochromatic
Crafty Ribbons Challenge Blog; Use one or more circles
Fussy & Fancy Challenge Blog; More than one fold
Kaboodles Doodles; Anything with ink or paint
Papercrafting Journey; Punches and/or die cuts
Ruby's Rainbow; Layer it up
Stampin For The Weekend; Shape it up
The Pink Elephant; Masculine
Mo's Challenge; G is for... gems, gingham

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!