I'm A Big Fan!

 Hi everyone!

2nd post today as I'm now up-to-date!  On the blog anyway, a few things to do "behind the scenes" so to speak!

We have a new challenge for you today at the Alphabet Challenge Blog from my lovely teamie Tammy!  We're back at the start of the alphabet and the theme Tammy has chosen is...

A for Always & Forever!

Great theme for today!  I hope you had a nice Valentines day whether you got a card today or not!

I made my card a while back for my auntie and uncle's 25th wedding anniversary.  On the day, instead of a bouquet, the bride, bridesmaids and flowergirls all carried fans!  Gotta love the style back then! lol!  So in homage to that I made my card like this...

And when it is opened up it is a twisted easel card

The stamps I used are ones I've had for ages from Elusive Images (they are now Chocolate Baroque) and are paisley peacock feathers.  I heat embossed the images in silver on white card and in white on silver card, cut each one out and alternated the colours to make a fan shape.  The sentiment is computer generated and the font is Laine Day.  I dry embossed a diamond shape on the background card, using my scoring board, to add a little bit of interest.

The inside has a smaller version of the stamp and the "25" is from a Pink Gem Design stamp set.  You can see the diamond embossed background better here.

I used Spellbinder circle and large scalloped circle dies and the gems are from my stash.

Please pop over to the Alphabet Challenge Blog to see what the rest of the DT have made and join in too!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion; 200th challenge special - #187 More than one fold
Crafty Hands Challenge Blog; Embossed background
Crafty Inspirations; Love
Cute Card Thursday; Clever Cutting
Divas By Design; With Love
Eureka Stamps; Love is in the air
Paper Crafting Journey; Love is in the air
Rhedd & Rosie's Challenge Blog; Love is in the air
Stamp & Create; Love is in the air
The Corrosive Challenge Blog; Feel the love

Thanks for looking!
 

Very Special Sister!

Hi everyone!

The last of my catch-ups now, this one is for the new challenge at the Creative Card Crew that started on Tuesday.

Our sponsors for this fortnight are...

Marianne Designs

Who are offering this fabulous prize to one lucky winner

And QKR Stampede

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

So to be able to try getting your hands on one of these fantastic prizes our challenge for you for the next fortnight is...

KISS

Keep It Simple & Sweet!

So, here's what I did...

The image was provided by our sponsor QKR Stampede and is called Ballet Shoes.  I coloured them with the following Copics: RV23,21,10,Y15 and I used a clear stardust pen on the stars before adding a little gem to each one.

I haven't used any design papers or dies on this one!  The sentiment was computer generated using the font Lainie Day and the ribbon, pearl (which isn't as bright in real life!) and diamante numbers are from my stash.

As the card is so simple (& sweet!) I thought I would use the image again on the inside but I decreased the opacity and coloured it with Blush Pink, Light Peach, White and Sand prisma pencils for a less bright look.

I made the card for my "little" sister who turned 17 on Monday!  Where has the time gone, it seems like no time since she was only a wee baby!
I hope you will be able to join us with this lovely challenge - check out what the rest of the DT have done on the Creative Card Crew blog!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks; Use pearls
Crafty Boots Challenges; Bingo - first line down:Pink, Glitter, Star.
Loves To Create Challenges; Use red or pink
Top Tip Tuesday; Girly

Thanks for looking!
 

Ready, Aim, Fire!

 Evening everyone!

I hope you're all safe and warm away from the awful weather (if you're around the same part of the world as I am anyway!) the wind and rain and snow have been terrible all day today and yesterday.

I'm still in catch-up mode, but nearly there now, just a couple of days behind with this one as Seems A Little Sketchy have a new sketch up since Monday.  We are being sponsored for the next fortnight by Kenny K Designs!

Who are offering 3 digi's to our lucky winner!

Here's the sketch for this challenge

And here's what I did

The image is from our sponsor, Kenny K and is called Sexy Cupid.  I coloured her with the following Copics: Skin;E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair;100,N9,7,5. Wings;RV23,21,10. Clothes;YR16,14,21,R39,29,27. Plus some YG23, BV31 & Blender.  I also used black and white prisma pencils.

The paper is Sugar Rush by Basic Grey and I used a Spellbinders Classic Heart die for the shape which I then coated with super sparkle holographic embossing powder and a layer of ultra thick embossing enamel.  The sentiment was computer generated using the font Juice.  I added a few diamantes here and there to finish it off.

The inside has the same papers, dies and font.

I hope you can join us with this fab sketch at Seems A Little Sketchy!

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

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge; Hearts/Love
Crafts 4 Eternity; With love
Crafts For The Craic; Heart
Creative Inspirations; Love
Diva's By Design; With love
Fab N Funky Challenges; Love/Valentine
Fussy & Fancy Challenges; Be my valentine
Incy Wincy Designs; Sassy & sexy
Papertake Weekly; With a heart
Kenny K's Krafty Krew; Love

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!
 

How Late Is Too Late?!

 Hello everyone!

I'm still here!  After everything going on in January I really needed a bit of time away from things, the craft desk and the computer.  I even managed to get a couple of days away with friends which really helped to lift my spirits so I'm hoping they can stay lifted and I can get on with things!
First of all though, I have a bit of catching up to do...

This was my card for a challenge on the Alphabet Challenge Blog a few weeks ago - I got it uploaded for the DT bit but I never got around to doing my own post for it so I must apologise to Shaz and all the other ladies over there.  We have a different challenge running at the minute for Z for Zesty colours which still has about a day left and then we have a new challenge up on Friday, so I hope you can join us to make up for my not-being-around-ness!  I also need to apologise for not visiting or commenting either, but I'm hoping to get round everyone ASAP.

Here's my card from the Y for Young card for a little one which I made for my wee niece Holly when she turned 5!

The image is Magnolia Happy Easter Tilda (though it's not very Easter-y so I thought it would be OK for a winter birthday!).  I coloured her with the following Copics: Skin;E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair;E47,44,43,42. Clothes;E04,RV34,32,G21,20.

The papers I used are a 12x12 sheet I've had for ages and the name on it was Me & My Big Ideas.  The dies used are Spellbinders Circle, Scallop Circle, Grand Decorative Circles 1 and Sizzix "Tina Thinks You're Cute" alphabet dies.  I used a Papermania "5" stamp and filled it in with glue and glitter over stamped and coloured Magnolia balloons.

I tried to be clever with this card but it ended up being a bit of a disaster!  I wanted to make Tilda look like she was jumping for joy so I did a bit of engineering with some lolly sticks, brads, pearls, ribbon and a cropodile and this is what a mess it looks like from behind...

You can move the image up and down and the pearls are to stop it from going too far.  My workings made the card a little too heavy and it wouldn't stand up so I threaded some ribbon through the pattern on the die at the front of the card and looped it over a brad on the back.  It's a little bit of a mend-it job but it kind of works and it stays standing up!  Here's the front again with Tilda jumping this time!

So there you go.  One totally out-of-date card!  I hope you'll be able to join us for our new challenge at the Alphabet Challenge Blog on Friday, if not, before!

I'd like to enter my card in the following challenges:
Craft For The Craic; Heart
Craft Your Passion; 200th challenge special - 172 Happy Birthday
Crafty Boots; Bingo - Diagonal line = Pink, Stamp, Die cut
Oh La La Challenges; Use a heart
Papertake Weekly; With a heart
Simon Says; Have a heart
Top Tip Tuesday; Girly
Magnolia Down Under; Hearts & Flowers

Thanks for looking!
 

Retro Revival!

Hi everyone!

I have been demented over the past few days because my Office 2010 programs quit working.  I use them for so much - I have everything organised in excel and it was really annoying that I couldn't get it fixed.  I think the problem happened when I was renewing my internet security program cos it was just after that when I tried to open excel and it wouldn't let me.  It told me to go to the control panel and do a repair, which I did, unsuccessfully, several times!  I then had the task of finding the box with the disk in that the program came on (which I eventually found and I have no idea why I put it where I did!).  I then tried the repair again, this time from the disk.  It still didn't work.  I ran virus scans and checks and could find no solution so I un-installed and re-installed the entire Office program.  I entered the key and did everything right and thought it was fixed but then it said it needed to verify the key.  Then the bloody pop-up came up again saying: “An unspecified error has occurred. Your request cannot be processed at this time. Please try again later. (0x8007000D)” with a little link asking if this information was helpful...well, no.  It really wasn't helpful!
So after a few more attempts at doing repairs that I knew wouldn't help I finally found a solution on google and got it fixed!  I can't tell you how relieved I am!  I keep opening excel and just keep looking at it!  I'm so grateful to the people who run blogs which are there to help people with things like that, cos it's not the first time I've had to get help with something and found the answer on a blog.  So a big cheer to everyone in blog-land for putting so much time and effort into things that help other people (for free!), even if it is just a silly story that will maybe help someone to put a smile on their face!

So back to my post which will bring you back through time to Tuesday, when this should've been posted!

We had a new challenge up on Tuesday at the Creative Card Crew and 2 fabulous sponsors...

First of all, one of our regulars, Marianne Designs

Who are offering a gorgeous set of stamps and a set of dies to one lucky winner!


Our second sponsor for this fortnight is Kenny K Designs

They're giving another lucky winner 3 digi's!

So, the challenge we have for you is a special one as it is running along with Seems A Little Sketchy and using their sketch!  It was lovely to use the same sketch for 2 cards and see how differently they turned out!  Here's the sketch:

And here is my card, I'm nice and early for my sister's birthday this year, it's not til April!

The image is by our sponsor, Kenny K Designs and is called What If.  I coloured her with the following Copics: Skin; E21,13,00,0000,R20. Hair; E49,47,44,43. Clothes; RV23,21,10. Background; Y15,13,11.

The papers I used are from the Country Drive pad by Echo Park.  It's not too often that I use all the papers in a pad but this one is nearing the end, lots of lovely papers in that one!
Not a lot going on on this card as I thought the retro look of the image suited a simple design, so I went with the bright coloured papers teamed with the black border and rounded corners instead.
The sentiment is computer generated using the font Calibri.  I usually make some dig at my sister about her age as she is older than me so I can get away with it!  A few years ago I bought her some wrinkle cream!  She was not amused, well, maybe a little!  lol!

The inside uses the same papers and a simple happy birthday sentiment using a Wild Rose Studio stamp.

So that's my card, please pop over to the Creative Card Crew and Seems A Little Sketchy blogs to submit your entries and have a look at what the DT's have done - lot's of inspiration this time with 2 design teams!

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

Crafty Creations Challenges; Something to drink - I wasn't sure if mentioning a drink in the sentiment was enough to enter, if it's not then please remove my entry :)
Crafty Sentiments Designs; Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday; Warm it up
Deep Ocean Challenge Blog; Happy birthday
Lady Bug Crafts Ink Challenge Blog; Keep it clean (and simple)
Moving Along With The Times; Girly Cards
Stampin For The Weekend; Happy Birthday
Top Tip Tuesday; Clean and simple
Kenny K's Krafty Krew; Use black

Thanks for looking!
 

Feeling Foxy!

Hi everyone!

It seems like forever since I have posted - I haven't posted since last year, so Happy New Year! lol!

It's been a strange week for me.  I should've had this posted on Monday but we've had a death in family at the start of this week, on my dad's side of the family and then another death on my mum's side of the family yesterday.  So although I'm behind with my personal posts, you may have seen my work already on the challenge blogs.

So there's a new challenge up on Seems A Little Sketchy with a fab sponsor - Scribbles Designs!

They're offering 3 digi's to the lucky winner!

Here is the sketch we have for you this fortnight

And here is what I did with my card:

The image is Foxy by our sponsors, Scribbles Designs and I coloured it with the following Copics: Fox;E47,27,09,YR16,14,E31,30,YG17. Ground;E35,33,31,30,blender.

The papers I have used are First Edition, Desert Blooms and the dies are X-Cut hexagons for the image and Spellbinder Fancy Tags for the sentiment which was computer generated using the font Baby Bowser.  The pearls are from my stash.

I have used the sketch for the inside of the card as well as the same papers as the front.

And there you have my first card of the year!  Please pop over to the Seems A Little Sketchy blog to join in with the fun!  I'll be back later with my Creative Card Crew card that should have been posted on Tuesday, so the surprise probably isn't a surprise any more if you keep up with the challenges over there!

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

Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge Blog: Anything goes
Cute Card Thursday; Warm it up
Papertake Weekly; New year stash - my hexagon dies are new
Stamp N Doodle; Use an animal
Sweet Pea Stampers; Flower power
The Squirrel & The Fox; Show off new stuff - new hexagon dies

Thanks for looking!