Happy Monday everybody! And a cake

Hi all. Well, am I in a good mood for a Monday! Why you ask? I'm not really sure, but I was very, very productive at work! And I didn't get home until late and I still managed to make a card! I'm sure my poor husband is feeling a bit neglected - even the Labradors are getting more attention! Anyway, here is my card that I am submitting for this week's Our Creative Corner sketch challenge and Curtain Call Color challenge Act 23.

Well, that's it for tonight - need to go to bed early to get up early!

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill kraft, pink and black cardstock

Mediums: Versamagic ink, Memento Tuxedo black ink

Stamps: Stampin Up On a Pedestal stamp set
Accents: ribbon from stash, iridescent pearls

Tools: Martha Stewart border punch

Embellish Magazine challenge

I don't know why, but the Embellish Magazine blog always inspires me to stretch my creativity. This week's challenge has lovely soft colours with stitching. I nearly ended up doing a shabby chic style, but decided to go for clean lines instead. It just feels more original and I like it! Perhaps I'm finding my own style at long last?! So here it is...

The photos makes the aqua look like blue, but it really is aqua! Hhmm, very annoying!

I used a Bazzill In Stitch'z template and Claudine Hellmuth sticky back canvas so it could be shaped without ripping like light card might do. I cut out the flower after I stitched it and then shaped the petals from behind. I like it! Hope you do too!

Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill cardstock, Claudine Hellmuth - Sticky Back Canvas

Mediums: white gel pen, Bazzill In Stitch'z template, Crafter's Workshop Stitch, Doodle Dot template
Stamps: none

Accents: floss from stash, BasicGrey button, iridescent pearls
Tools: Martha Stewart border punch

Who's cookin'? I'm cookin'!!!

I made three cards last night - that is my record of creating 3 different designs in a row! It was down to paper piecing - I'm loving this technique sooo much and I have lots (way far too many) of stamp sets that work really well with it. And as the post title suggests, it's all about cooking!

I just love that BasicGrey paper! And of course I am submitting the cards with fruit paper into their Tuttie Frutti challenge. I am also submitting the last one into the Sketch For You To Try challenge. I've never played along with their challenges before so I'm really pleased I managed one. There are a lot of challenges out there and want to play them all!

Wow, let's see how many I can make tonight!

Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill cardstock, BasicGrey Nook and Pantry paper pack
Mediums: Copic Ciaos, VersaFine Vintage Sepia ink pad, Smooch Molasses and Moonlight (accents on aprons), Papermania "just a note" sentiment

Stamps: Hannah Stamp Kiss the Cook

Accents: ribbon, iridescent dew drops from stash, BasicGrey buttons

Tools: Nestabilities circle dies, Martha Stewart border punch

Rain, rain go away!! And freebies!

Well, I must say that I'm not very impressed with our Spring in Britain so far! We have had a couple of peeks from the sun but on the whole it is grey, grey, grey and wet! So I thought this stamp set is very appropriate! I used this week's Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #66 for it...

Now, onto the freebies, hold on to your seats...during one of my usual blogging trips, I stumbled onto Amber Ink and decided to have a browse around. I couldn't believe my eyes, but they are giving away 5 sets of digistamps designed by Amber Alvarez for FREE!!! I thought they must have made a mistake (because I think these images are seriously cool) but I put them in the shopping basket with my fingers crossed and they were definitely free!! Go here now!!! They also got some cute rabbit images that you can see on their blog here.

I managed to buy some of them in clear stamp format from Bunny Zoe's Crafts on special offer here and Dies to Die For here.

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, October Afternoon Ducks in a Row paper pack

Mediums: Copic Ciaos
Stamps: Hannah Stamp Rainy Day by Amber Alvarez
Accents: ribbon, dew drops from stash
Tools: none

Phew, did it!

I made my niece's 18th birthday card - hoorah! I wanted to make it so special for her that I got creativity block! I eventually landed on this design and I even paid attention to the inside of the card - I quite like it!

To keep it from being too plain, I used my favourite foam pads under the purple circle and also under the letters - the glitter pops off the page!

We are going to TGI Friday's in Covent Garden, London tomorrow for lunch - apparently she wants to get tipsy on cocktails! Blimey. Don't they grow up fast?!

Hope you all have a super duper weekend!

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Making Memories Abby paper pack, DCWV diamond paper
Mediums: acrylic paint, Making Memories pink glitter

Stamps: none

Accents: ribbon, dew drops and chipboard numbers from stash

Tools: Nestabilities circle die

Can't think of anything witty to say today!

That's probably because I'm work and feeling a little guilty that I'm writing this post! But I won't get a chance to do this tonight as I'm out on the razzle! (Not as fun as it sounds - retirement drinks with a bunch of male accountants! Apologies to all accountants out there. Okay, that's done it, I've offended people already today...). Anyway, time to shut up and show my card...

I am submitting into three challenges:

• Sweet Stampin challenge #18 with the theme of "Spring is in the air" (thought the colours and clouds were pretty Spring-like!)
• Poppy Seed challenge #2
• JUGs challenge #25 (see my blog buddy Stephanie's - the guest DT - gorgeous card for it here)

*Speak* tomorrow - hopefully I won't have a hangover, offend anyone tonight and not panic too much as I still haven't made my niece's 18th birthday card yet!!!!!

Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill cardstock

Mediums: various inkpads
Stamps: Stampin Up Good Neighbours, Hero Arts polka dot background
Accents: ribbon from stash, BasicGrey buttons
Tools: Martha Stewart grass border punch

Embellish Magazine - thanks for the excuse!

For a long time now I've wanted to use fabric on my cards and the Embellish Magazine challenge gave me the perfect excuse!

I found the colours really difficult (again!), but I quite like color challenges over sketch ones as you need to really stretch your imagination (well, it does mine!). I used a pair of old jeans that I was hoping I'd squeeze back into one day - but hey who am I kidding?!! I'm sure I have old summer clothes that require cutting up too!

Don't you just love the sentiment? It's designed by Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday. I couldn't find them anywhere but Capture the Magic ordered it in for me especially - superstars! You can find hem here.

I've got to make my niece's 18th birthday card by Saturday - I haven't got a clue what I'm going to do!! (Panic setting in...)

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Making Memories, Elzybells Kraft cardstock
Mediums: Memento Tuxedo black ink

Stamps: Technique Tuesday Ali Edwards Loving Words

Accents: twill string and heart button from stash, green felt, jean fabric

Tools: Corner Chomper

Altered Anyas - what fun!

Good evening everyone! Guess what? I made another two cards in a row! I know, I know - amazing, this creativity thing is getting easier! I even tried a new technique for me - paper piecing. So here's the first for the Friday Sketchers Challenge #94 ...

I am also entering this one and the one below into the Quixotic Challenge #17 to alter Anyas. I used the bottom half of WS Stella and the heads of WS Ruby and WS Megan. I then took the trellis off the first card - I can't decide if I like it with it or not!

That's it! You never know, I might make another two cards tonight!

Papers/cardstock: Papermania and Bazzill cardstock, K&Co Amy Butler Sola paper pad, K&Co Brenda Walton Small Wonders Girl

Mediums: Copic Caios, Glamour Dust
Stamps: TGF WS Stella, WS Ruby, WS Megan, Papermania sentiment
Accents: pearls from stash
Tools: Martha Stewart border punches

Spring is in the air - at last!

Well, the first day of Spring wasn't looking too good here in East Sussex, England. I woke up (by the puppy again before 6am - why does she only do this on the weekend?!!) and it was miserable - raining, windy, grey. Typical British weather. But now - lunchtime - the sun is out, the wind has died down and I'm feeling in a good, good mood! So much so that I went and made a card to celebrate! Here it is...

I used the sketch over at Pretty In Ink - perfect for what I wanted! I chose these papers because it reminds me of when I visit my parents in Spring - they have a gorgeous cherry tree in their front garden and the blossoms always make me feel serene (instead of manic and a bit hyper if I'm a bit honest...).

And I'm also entering it for the following challenges...

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C29 - a Spring card

Secret Crafter Saturday challenge #75 - Spring has sprung

By the Cute and Girly March challenge - Spring is in the air

Whew! I always feel a bit of a cheat to enter one card into more than one challenge, but everyone seems to be doing it!

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, BasicGrey Lilykate paper pack
Mediums: Memento brown ink
Stamps: Woodware Tiny Phrases sentiment
Accents: iridescent pearls, Papermania sheer ribbon
Tools: Quickutz butterfly die

Blimey, if I'm not careful this will become a bit of a habit

Hello everybody! I managed to make another two cards tonight - that's twice this week that I've done that, lol!! I am submitting the first one into the Sketch Saturday challenge #95. This is the first time I have joined in this challenge and I did it because my blog friend, Nikki, is sponsoring it! I do like to support my mates - even if I have never met them face to face before, lol! So here it is...

I don't think I've mentioned it before, but I won a set of those gorgeous The Greeting Farm Cheeky Girls just by commenting on one of the TGF DT's posts. I didn't realise I had even entered to win some blog candy! Very chuffed, of course. And I adore these design papers by My Minds Eye - gorgeous! Here is what I made with one of the other Cheeky Girls...

The third Cheeky Girl is called Shooter and she's a bit saucy - I think I'll blush when I make something with her, lol!!

Papers/cardstock: Stampin Up Very Vanilla cardstock, Core'dinations cardstock, My Minds Eye Be-loved paper pack

Mediums: Copic Caios, Glamour Dust

Stamps: TGF Cheeky Glamour, TGF Cheeky Rockabilly

Accents: K&Co pearls, Papermania red gems, ribbon from stash

Tools: EK Success Embossed Curve edger punch

Ooops, I did it again...la la la la la...

Got Britney Spears in your head now?! Me too! Ok, sorry, got distracted. I meant to say "Oops, misssed another deadline!" I made this card last night for Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #104 but was so tired I went to bed thinking "I'll upload it tomorrow - loads of time!" D'oh!

I'm going to submit anyway now I've made it - I'm sure lovely Taylor won't mind ;) - and here it is...

I completely mucked up colouring in her hair! Nevermind, hopefully people look at the pretty ribbon instead! Have a super weekend everyone!

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Material Girl paper pad
Mediums: Primsacolor pencils, Sansador
Stamps: TGF Anya, Personal Impressions Essential Circles sentiment
Accents: thin ribbon from stash, BasicGrey buttons, American Crafts ribbon
Tools: Fiskars scallop border punch

Spring is in the air! And give me a pat on the head please...

Hello Everyone! I was browsing through my favourite blogs (I do far too much of that!) and thought "hey, that looks like my card" - and it was! I was chosen as one of Embellish Magazine's featured designers here. Well, talk about chuffed - I nearly fell of my chair - it's always so great to have others recognise your work. And that card took me aaaages!

Anyway, I'm sure you're not here to hear my head gently swell. My latest card is for this week's Anyone For Anya challenge Spring Fever theme. When the sun starts peeking through in March, I start thinking about spring cleaning - yes, really! I move all of my winter clothes into the spare bedroom and all of my summer stuff into the bedroom, as well a general mass cleaning! This HG Laundry stamp from The Greeting Farm was perfect for it...

I am also entering this card for Crafty Sentiments challenge here where my lovely, lovely virtual friend Lisa Jane is on the design team. Go visit her blog - she always leaves me giggling (my husband now raises his eyebrows and says "Lisa, right?"). You had to use the following sketch and two different design papers...

I'm not sure if I like this card. I think something is missing, but I don't know what! Any advice most welcome!

Papers/cardstock: Core'dinations blue and red cardstock, DCWV paper stack

Mediums: Primsacolor pencils, Sansador

Stamps: TGF Anya, Personal Impressions Essential Circles sentiment

Accents: flowers from stash

Tools: Nestabilities scallop square die, sewing machine

Swinging by to say "hi"!

Yay! More time for crafting! Well, you won't believe this but I made two cards today - yes, two! And I've decided to only use stamps that have not yet had any ink on them!

I am entering both of them into the Sweet Stampin colour challenge and the gal on the swing also into Mercy's Tuesday Sketch challenge...

And the second for Cards Pattern sketch challenge...

I'm running out of that gorgeous paper! Tempted to buy more, but I just have far too many other paper pads to use up! Must be strong...

Off to cook dinner, then make more cards - hoorah!

Papers/cardstock: Stampin Up cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Earth Love paper pack

Mediums: Primsacolor pencils, Sansador, Memento blank ink

Stamps: CC Designs Sugar Plum Cherry Emma, CC Designs Sugar Plums Swing, TGF Reading Fairy

Accents: buttons and ribbon from stash, iridescent pearls and lace (got both from Bunny Zoe's Crafts here and here)

Tools: Xcut scallop punch & border system, Nestabilities Labels One,