PENNY BLACK SATURDAY Week 13!!!

Yes i know!!! this is for last Saturday's challenge, and it's probably way too late, but i thought i would show it anyway!!
The challenge over at PBSC was 'One for the Girls' so i used my fab 'Ginger' stamp. I love the lacy panel at the bottom of her dress, and how you can make her look quite different each time!

Papers are Funky Hand from the 'It's Funky Too' CD, and i've watercoloured the image with Adirondack inks. Sentiment is Stamps Away, and all other items are from my stash. :)

SKETCHES! Sketch Challenge #61

This is my DT card for the current sketch over at Sketches! by Tamara. It would be really lovely if you could join in this week again! Thanks to those of you that played along last week, it was good to have your fab entries!For my design today i have used some more of the fabulous papers from Basic Grey's 'Figgy Pudding' collection. I purchased several! of the 6 x 6 pads and a few of the 12 x 12 last year, i love it so much that i don't ever want to run out of it, but i guess at some point that will happen :(
The snowflakes were cut with my Cricut machine from the Joys of the Season cartridge. I used plain white cardstock and then sparkled them up with some glamour dust!
A little bit of embossing with my Cuttlebug, and some AC Thickers for the wording. The trim is Papermania non adhesive felt ribbon.
I hope i have inspired you to play along with us, and don't forget to check out the other DT members blogs for more ideas, thanks so much for popping in and i'll see you very soon! :)

BASIC GREY 'WASSAIL'

OMG!!!I have just been viewing the gorgeous papers from this year's Christmas collection, which is called 'Wassail'. More gentle hues of colour than in previous lines, but oh so yummy!!! I think i must be one of the U.K's biggest fans of Basic Grey and i cannot wait to get my hands on it and start creating! The old 'plastic' is going to get a serious bashing when this baby hits our shores :)

If you would like to see just how gorgeous it is, then the link to their gallery is in my side bar. I am waiting for approval on another of my designs, so hopefully you may see that very soon as well! I am so excited about this new collection, i just had to tell someone! :) Look at the time!!!! my alarm goes off at 6am!!!!! Night Night :)

DCM & FUNKY HAND

The current challenge over at Daring Card Makers has been sponsored by Anice, owner and designer of all the fabulous goodies that are Funky Hand. As a member of the design team, i am provided with so many wonderful CD's, Downloads etc etc, and all Anice asks in return is some creations made with these gorgeous papers! When you love paper as much as i do, then it's like 'kid in a sweetshop time' :)
Firstly, i have to apologise for the photo, but i couldn't wait for daylight as i wanted to upload tonight!!
The prize for the lucky winner is a 'Shabby Saturday' download, and the papers i've used are from this gorgeous collection. The little duck and the circle were cut on the Cricut, and buttons, ribbon and rub-on sentiment are from my stash! I inked all the edges with a Colorbox cats eye chalk in 'Chestnut Roan' and gave him an eye with a tiny black crystal! :)
If you would like to see some gorgeous designs using the sketch and papers, then don't forget to check the blogs of all my fabbie team mates! Enjoy!! :)

CAROL'S SKETCH FUN Number 3 !!

Here is my sketch for Carol's Sketch Fun #3!
My design today uses the fabulous cupcakes from Hero Arts, which i've stamped onto watercolour paper, coloured using Adirondack inks, and cut out with a nestie scalloped circle.
The papers are from Basic Grey 'Euphoria & Eva' collections. I've also added some stickles in Cinnamon and a couple of Prima flowers, with the sentiment from the cupcake set. Brads & flowery things! are from my stash, sorry don't know the brand!!The prize for CSF#3 is a fab set of K& Company 'Wild Saffron' die cuts, and also this leaf stamp!I will draw a random winner on Tuesday 16th September at 6pm GMT (i'll try to be on time with this one!!)
Please leave a comment with your entry, and if you don't have a blog you can always e-mail it through! Good Luck everyone!

HOUSE MOUSE CHALLENGE #3 A Sketch!

Anyone that knows me will be aware just how much i love to work from a sketch! So much so that i've started my own sketch challenge! Be sure to pop back on Tuesday if you want to see what that's all about!!
However, back to the current challenge over at House Mouse & Friends, which is indeed a fab sketch! For my design today i've used the adorable 'Monica's Gift'. She stands so proud with her little cheese gift, all wrapped so beautifully, Just for You! :)

The papers i've used today are from one of the latest collections by Basic Grey 'Eva'. Gorgeous colours and patterns as always, and being such a fan of their goodies, i can hardly wait to see what they come up with next!! I used my Threading Water punch on the centre panel, but as you can see i cut it too short :( and it didn't fit properly!! The photo corners were made with square and circle punches and i used my new McGill 'pine' punch for the little leaves around the Prima flower. The gems are from Kanban!


While i am here i thought i would show you just a peek at my DT card for Sketches! by Tamara for the new sketch that will be shown next Thursday. I do hope you will join me and play along too!
Thanks for popping in today, my Granddaughter Danielle has just arrived! so off now to play with her! :) See you soon :)

KAZAN'S SKETCH 8

The girls have a gorgeous new header over at 2S4Y, to welcome the new season, along with a fab sketch of course from Kazan!
I decided to go along with the Autumnal idea, but to stray from traditional Autumn colours, and use these gorgeous elements from Basic Grey's 'Euphoria' collection! We have had yet another year here in the U.K. without a Summer!! a couple of good days here & there and that's about it! so i find it quite hard to move away from the summery colours into the warmth of the new season's colour palette.

My sandpaper went into top gear on this card, to give it that 'lived in' look :) (bit like me!) All papers and sticker elements are Basic Grey, as are the buttons, the flower is Bazzill and the jute from my stash! The sentiment is computer generated using Batang font!

Hoping to be back later with my House Mouse entry(sooo behind this week! ) so many challenges, so little time! Thanks for popping in :) see you soon!

BACK WITH THESE TWO!!

As promised i am back to show you the other cards i designed for a recent order. I have to say that i'm not overly chuffed with them, :( but i hope the lady who ordered them will like how they've turned out!Love this Core'dinations cardstock :) and the look you get if you Cuttlebug it and then sand it!

Trusty old Basic Grey papers here and a couple of stamps by Funstamps & Rubbadubbadoo.

I have already received more orders, but i have a couple of weeks before they are needed, so hopefully i can get back to some challenges in the meantime! Thanks for popping in today, i do appreciate your visits, and i'll see you very soon! :)

SKETCHES! BY TAMARA...My Debut Design!

I was very excited to be accepted onto Tamara's new Design Team, and very honoured to be part of such a talented bunch! I do hope you will have the chance to play along with us each week :)For my debut design i decided to use this gorgeous background stamp from Whispers! I used Adirondack ink in 'Cranberry' onto some white cardstock, which i then trimmed and matted onto black Bazzill.
I made my little bird house by dragging the inkpad over another piece of the white card, which i cut into shape and used a Woodware circle punch for the hole! The little wooden bird, i found in a pack of two at Coleman's warehouse, but i acidentally threw away the packaging, so unfortunately i don't know the manufacturer!! There were two in the pack for 99p!
The sentiment is HOTP and the ribbon is Making Memories, with a tiny bit of fine leather twine from my stash! The card size is 5 x 7.
I do hope some of my friends that visit me here will play along, i would love to see what you create with the sketches!

Thanks for popping in today, i'll see you very soon :)

SORRY I FORGOT!!!

I am so sorry i forgot to announce the winner of CSF #2 at 6pm as promised. I have to confess that i was loading the car with all my stuff, as the new term of my card workshops started again this evening!!!

Anyway....without further ado, THE WINNER OF MY SKETCH FUN #2 is......................................
....................................................... LYNSEY............. Congratulations Lynsey :) please let me have your full postal address, and i will get your Sunflower stamp out to you!

A big thank you to all the other ladies who joined in this time, and don't forget to check back for the next sketch on Tuesday 9th :)

CARD ORDERS.....

......are sometimes a bit of a pain!!!! I'ts o.k. if the person says'Oh i'll leave it up to you, your cards are always lovely' but....if they give specific requirements, it can be more of a problem! These are two of the four that i've been asked for.
1) Football fanatic- no particular age.2) For lady who is into Fashion - 30th Birthday.

I have two more to do, one for a golfer and the other is for a male 60th who is into cars, particularly porsches!!!! I think i'll be fine doing the one for the golfer, but not so sure about the porsche! Watch this space!!!! :)

When i have orders to finish it means i can't join in with as many challenges, which as you know i love doing, but as soon as i get these ones out of the way, then i'll be up to speed again!
Thanks for popping in today, enjoy your crafting! :)

LAURA'S SKETCH 7 & PAPERTAKE WEEKLY

Some of my new Basic Grey order has arrived! 'Ambrosia' & 'Eva' :) It was originally supposed to be early August for the shipment, but things were delayed somehow, so i only received it today!! it was worth the wait, the patterns and colours are absolutely gorgeous!!
My design today uses some paper from the wonderful 'Ambrosia' collection. Vibrant reds and oranges, along with more muted neutrals.... Fabulous!
I've used Laura's current sketch, for the layout, and the requirement for some stitching over at Papertake Weekly. I decided to hand stitch a border in a rich orange to match the papers :)

The other materials used are a page from Making Memories 5th Avenue journaling pad, onto which i've added a butterfly cut with my Cricut machine and my newest cartridge 'Home Accents'. The rub-on is also Basic Grey, with a little piece of trim from my stash!

Thanks for your visit, enjoy your day! :)

HOUSE MOUSE MONDAY CHALLENGE....

I am so pleased that there is a challenge site dedicated to these adorable guys & all their friends! you cannot fail to fall in love with all these furry little critters, i know i certainly have :)
The challenge this week is to use lace on your project.
For my design today, i have used 'Amanda Shines' which is stamped in Stazon Timber Brown onto watercolour paper, and then coloured with Distress inks. I cut the panel with my nesties, added some bling and mounted this onto some Basic Grey, this is raised on adhesive foam pads.
The background paper is also Basic Grey from the Sultry 12 x 12 collection pack. The felt flower is from a pack that i bought ages ago at Coleman's craft warehouse in Rushden, Northants, had i known at the time that felt would be so popular i would have got all the colours, there were about thirty!! in the box for £2.99!!!!! I've used some AC Thickers for the 'party' and the other is computer generated using Sharnay font.
Thanks for popping in today, and don't forget i have a sketch challenge running at the moment, so if you get time you may like to play along!
See you soon :)

***TOOT **TOOT*** Sketches by Tamara!

I am very pleased to tell you all, that i have just been invited onto the brand new Design Team over at Sketches by Tamara!
WoooHoooo!!! i am chuffed to bits, and can't wait to get started :) i hope all my lovely friends that visit me here will join in with the sketches too!
I have not had chance yet to visit all my new Team Mates, but as soon as i get sorted i will put all the details on my sidebar!! i already have a link to Tamara's blog.
I would like to say a BIG thank you to Tamara for choosing me, i am truly honoured! :)

CAROL'S SKETCH FUN Number 2!!

Here i am as promised with my Sketch Fun #2!
I intend this to be a regular feature on my blog once a fortnight, so i do hope you can play along! I will draw a random winner from the entries on Tuesday 2nd September at 6pm. The prize for CSF #2 will be this gorgeous Sunflower stamp!
My design for the sketch today uses 'Agapanthus Cluster' by Stampendous, which i've stamped onto paper from Basic Grey's 'Euphoria' 6 x 6 pad. I used Ranger Sea Brights 'Bikini Pink to colour the image. All other papers are from the Euphoria 12 x 12 collection pack, and i punched the holes with my Fiskars Threading Water punch. The sentiment is a rub-on from Creative Imaginations. Card size is 5 x 7.
Thanks for your visit today, and don't forget to show me what you can do with CSF #2 :)

Here is an entry that i received via e-mail from Margaret Carr. Margaret attends my little card club that i run in a local church hall. Thanks for joining in Margaret :)

.....AND ONE MORE!

One more little card with the new download! Why not treat yourself to it today!
Whilst i still had my yummy new Funky Hand papers out on the table, i decided to make one more card :)
I cut several narrow strips of some of the papers, and then did some weaving together! I stuck the woven piece onto some card for stability and then drew some hearts with a black Zig pen. Once cut out, the edges of the hearts were inked with my charcoal cat's eye chalk, as was the sentiment. The base card is a shimmery very pale mint green, which has been Cuttlebugged with the Paisley embossing folder. Ribbon from stash.

FUNKY HAND 'Minty Madness'

Yes, Anice has been working her magic again and there is a fab new download called 'Minty Madness' over at Funky Hand. Gorgeous papers and a special discount this Bank Holiday weekend!!
A colleague and his partner have just had their first baby, so i thought i would make them a card with some of the new papers. I think it makes a nice change from the traditional 'baby blue' colours that you normally see!

I've used a square card blank and covered the front completely with one of the fab new papers, then inked the edges with a charcoal cat's eye chalk inkpad. The panel on the front is cut from a smaller card blank with my 'nesties' which i've covered with another of the papers. The stars and sentiment are also from the download and there is a whole sheet of alpha's as well as loads of other patterned papers!
Ribbon and sticker from my stash!

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY & CUTE CARD THURSDAY

I always love it when i can combine a couple of challenges in one design, so saving me a little time i have chosen the great sketch by Katharina over at Papertake Weekly and the requirement for bright colours at Cute Card Thursday!
Still using the new stamps that i acquired at Stamperama, and this 'Jump for Joy' is seeing ink for the first time today! Stamped onto watercolour paper and coloured with Distress & Adirondack inks, then cut out using my square scallop nesties(also purchased at the show!)

Papers are bright and yummy colours from Basic Grey 'Lollipop Shoppe' which i keep pulling from my stash, getting a bit low on them now but still have several bits to play with :) The ribbon is DCWV self adhesive and i've also used a Maya Road chipboard frame inked with Archival Black. The sentiment is Stamps Away stamped onto another piece of the BG paper and nestled into the frame!

That frog is so cute!!!

KAZAN'S SKETCH 7

At last!.... Wasn't sure if i would have the time for Kazan's sketch this week, but i have not missed a week yet so i didn't want to break the spell that i seem to be under!! and here it is :)

I have to confess that my design today is made from scraps! The idea came about when Andy was packing some parcels for E-Bay(he's an avid seller!) and i saw a piece of cardboard on the conservatory floor, which i've stripped down and used for the base of my card!
The yummy green paper is Creative Imaginations from the Narratives collection by Karen Russell. I've had this paper for ages and will be sad when it's all gone, but i do actually use gorgeous papers now instead of just looking at them!!!
My little house is made from scraps of DCWV card, and i've distressed the background with a stipple brush and some Adirondack 'Hazlenut' ink, a bit of doodling and a computer generated sentiment using Viner Hand ITC font!

I should actually be cleaning my home this morning.... never mind it's a Holiday weekend here in the U.K., so i have plenty of time! There's always Monday!! :)
Have a great weekend...see you soon :)

PENNY BLACK SATURDAY Challenge 10

Can someone please tell me just where this week has gone!!!!! Here is my design for the current challenge at Penny Black Saturday. Yes... i know it's Friday already and there will be another tomorrow! but better late than never!!The challenge is to use ribbons on your project and of course, at least one Penny Black image. Well... i do have a few ;0) ribbons, and several new stamps jumped into my basket at Stamperama a couple of weeks ago, so i've used this new one called 'Berry Berry Christmas'

Stamped with Archival Black onto watercolour paper and coloured using Distress & Adirondack inks. The sentiment is HOTP. Papers are Basic Grey 'figgy pudding', red & green cardstock and all other embellies are from my stash!

******YAY****** it's FRIDAY.......... see you soon :D