Happy birthday dad! And...eerrr...dad!

Okay, I mean dad and father-in-law! Their birthdays follow each other and then it's my husband's the following day - three days of male birthdays! I always struggle to make a card for this audience, but I think I quite like this one...

So much so that I made the same card for both dads! Now to make my hubbies - he isn't bothered by cards so I don't know why I'm going to bother cos he won't care that I made it! Still, I'm sure he'll pretend to like whatever I make him cos that's what love is all about! Now I just have to make it in time for Friday!

Papers/cardstock: American Crafts orange cardstock, Bazzill kraft and vanilla cardstock, Imaginisce All Kinds of Happy paper

Stamps: Lizzie Anne Designs sentiment

Mediums: none

Accents: BasicGrey buttons, ribbon from stash

Tools: Nestabilities star die, Fiskars border punch

Oh arrh matey

That's enough, I'm not even going to attempt to to write in pirate speak! My lovely blog mate, Nikki, and provider of [far too much] stash gave me a free gift recently - the very cute Magnolia Pirate Tilda. And then, coincidently, this week's Simon Says challenge is 'pirates'. So I just had to make a card, didn't I?! I went for a distressed look, which I rarely do and I think I went a bit mad with the fab Tim Holtz paper distresser...!

I wasn't sure what I would use a pirate image for, but that CC Designs sentiment from the new Summer sentiment set is just perfect - I seem to be always thanking someone for something!

Papers/cardstock: Elzybells kraft cardstock (bit darker than Bazzill's kraft), DCWV travel stack
Stamps: Magnolia Fairytale Pirate Tilda (from Bunny Zoe's Crafts here), CC Designs sentiment
Mediums: Copic Ciaos, Distress ink in Antique Linen
Accents: buttons from stash, garden string, jute ribbon in light brown (from Bunny Zoe's Crafts here)
Tools: Corner Chomper, Tim Holtz paper distresser (from Craft Barn here)

The card for my own daddy!

I decided to use the same uber cute puppy stamp that I used on my father-in-law's card for my own dad's card. He had a dog when he was a teenager and he adores seeing our babies so I know he'll appreciate the dog theme too!

I used this week's Mercy's Tuesday Sketch challenge - I thought it would be perfect to showcase that lickle, ickle pup!

Can you believe that my father-in-law's birthday is 30 June, then my dad's is 1 July and my husband's is on 2 July - phew! Now I need to go and find inspiration for three men's cards...

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, BasicGrey Max and Whiskers paper pack

Stamps: TGF Home Sweet Home, CC Designs sentiment

Mediums: Copic Ciaos, black Stickles glue

Accents: BasicGrey buttons, American Crafts ribbon, chipboard letters from stash

Tools: Tonic double scallop border punch, Nestabilities circle dies and Label One die

Father's Day card

Thank goodness for all those challenges out there encouraging you to make a man's card this week! I've still got my own dad's to do, but at least I've managed to make my father-in-law, Bill's....


My in-laws owned Labradors but their last one died a few years back. I know Bill misses them and now they love it when we bring up our two Yellow Labradors for him to cuddle and lord over, lol!! I thought The Greeting Farm dog image looked suitably cute enough to melt his heart!

As you can see, I'm keeping up my resolve to improve the inside of my cards. I could never be bothered before, but it only takes a couple of minutes more to cut and glue in a few left over scraps and I've now got a stock of various Nestability labels that are perfect to stamp on the sentiment on. Much more professional!

I am entering this card into three challenges Club Anya Saturday Sketch #22, Totally Gorjuss For the Boys, Anyone for Anya Only Men Allowed and Cupcake Craft Challenges One for the Boys. Phew! I don't think I've entered so many challenges in one go!

Now to make my own daddy's card...


Papers/cardstock: white hammered cardstock, DCWV Pet Stack
Stamps: TGF Home Sweet Home, CC Designs sentiments
Mediums: Copic Ciaos
Accents: BasicGrey and My Minds Eye buttons
Tools: Nestabilities circle dies and Label One die

Get well soon Lisa!

My poor blog mate, Lisa Jane, has been suffering from a bad back recently. It occured to me that I don't have any get well cards in stock so she inspired me to make one! I'm so glad she did as I think it's one of my most fav cards I've created, even if I say so myself! It didn't start out like that. I knew I wanted to make a multi folded card for this week's Quixotic Paperie "Fold It!" challenge but it took me aaaages to put it together. Anyway, here it is...

Hope you like it Lisa and that your back is better!

Papers/cardstock: kraft cardstock, BasicGrey Kioshi paper pack (you can buy here)

Stamps: none
Mediums: Brilliance pearlescent lavendar ink (on edge), Distress antique paper ink (on butterfly wings)
Accents: gems from stash, American Crafts rub on sentiment
Tools: Sizzix Tom Holtz brackets edge die, Corner Chomper in cloud, Bazzill jewel template in mystical flourish (you can buy here)

Happy belated birthday

I made another card for The Sweet Stop challenge - and once again I missed the deadline, ha ha!! I'm not even sure if my rounded rectangle will count in place of the oval, but I thought the frame (a left over from making a label for another card) was quite a good idea. Yeah, I used orange cardstock again - I have loads of it left over from making my cousin's wedding stationery. I order far too much! Luckily I love the colour so it will eventually get used up!

I made the card for when I will (undoubtedly) forget someone's birthday. I never have a belated card made so thought I'd be prepared as there are so many birthdays coming up over the next few months. Perhaps I should make another one to be doubly prepared...

Papers/cardstock: various cardstock, My Minds Eye Day Dreamy paper pack
Stamps: CC Designs Laying Nora, Fence and sentiment

Mediums: Copic Caios

Accents: dew drops

Tools: Sizzix label die

Bellarific! And a bit more ramble than usual!

You may have noticed that I've changed the design of my blog - a fresher look in hopes that the weather will improve! It's pouring down right now so I needed something to cheer me up!

Other news, Nikki of Bunny Zoe's Crafts has started a new monthly challenge blog which you can find here. There are so many many challenge blogs out there that I always get confused on deadline dates (hence why I always miss them!) so I'm going to just choose a selection to stick to - hopefully that will give me some discipline!

Onto the card. I've had this Stamping Bella stamp for aaaaages and thought I should really use her (sound familiar?!). And of course I used the Stamping Bella Bellarific Friday sketch...

She's really sweet, isn't she? I thought the floss was perfect with her raggy doll hair! Those Stamping Bellas are all so gorgeous - will be a change for me (and you!) from all those CC Designs I've been stuck on!

Papers/cardstock: various cardstock, My Minds Eye Day Dreamy paper pack

Stamps: Stamping Bella Ketto's Dolly
Mediums: Copic Caios
Accents: My Minds Eye flower button, buttons from stash, Bazzill cream floss
Tools: none

On time at last! But missed another...

Yay, I actually made the deadline (and in plenty of time!) for the All That Scraps Wednesday challenge - I always miss this which is bizarre considering I own so many of their stamps, lol! This week's challenge is to use buttons and ribbon. The buttons are obvious on the card, but the ribbon may not be! I have some thin velvet ribbon that I rarely use and I used it to create the bows behind the flower. Clever, huh?! Okay, perhaps not but at least I got to use some up!



I also used The Sweet Stop sketch #58 but unfortunately it was last week's! Bleh, nevermind. It was a great sketch and think the card came out really well anyway! Must remember to check the deadline dates...

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, My Minds Eye Pretty Please collection
Stamps: CC Designs Butterfly Fence and Laying Nora
Mediums: Copic Caios, Stickles glue (on wings)

Accents: BasicGrey glazed buttons, velvet ribbon from stash, Doodlebug mini alpha rub ons
Tools: none

Sweet Sunday challenge #72

Another card! Is that three days in row?! Wow and I even managed to do 20 minutes on the cross trainer too! I wish I was this disciplined every single day! Anyhoo, to the card...

I used this week's Sweet Sunday challenge #72 (I think love all of Karen's sketchs!) and it took me aaaages just to get to card that I think is passable! I think it's the border and flower I don't like - I will probably replace them one day when [if] inspiration hits me with something better!

Another card tomorrow, fingers crossed!

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, My Minds Eye Pretty Please collection
Stamps: CC Designs Butterfly Nora and swing
Mediums: Copic Caios, Stickles glue (on wings)

Accents: BasicGrey glazed brad (flower centre)
Tools: Martha Stewart border punch

Missing the All That Scraps challenge deadline again!

Hey ho, I really need to find some extra time to properly plan crafting time and getting my submissions in for those thousands of challenges out there!! I made this card, but it was really late last night so didn't post it and now of course I've missed the ATS Wednesday challenge deadline! Hey ho. I like the sketcheven though it's not totally symetrical so doesn't play well with my rather logical brain!

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill kraft cardstock, Crate Paper Brook paper
Stamps: C.C. Designs Lederhosen Hansel and C.C. Designs Field Fence
Mediums: Stickles glue (on wings), Copic Ciaos
Accents: dew drops
Tools: Nestabilities rectangle and scallop rectangle dies, Martha Stewart trellis border punch (cut off the rounded side)

i {heart} 2 stamp - I sure do!

Here is my submission for this week's i {heart} 2 stamp sketch. I love this lovely Sweet November Coriander fairy - she's just so adorable! I've matched her with those beautiful Crate Paper Brook collection - gorgeous colours!

Another busy week at work, but I have a lot of prepared coloured in stamps - just need to make some cards with them so hopefully I'll have more to share later in the week. ttfn!

Papers/cardstock: Elzybells kraft cardstock, Crate Paper Brook paper

Stamps: CC Designs Sweet November Coriander

Mediums: Stickles glitter glue, Copic Ciaos

Accents: dew drops, American Craft ribbon

Tools: none

I'm a winner! And another submission and Inkspirations challenge

Wow, do I feel like a lucky girl? I sure do! I won the first prize in last month's The Cute and Girly challenge! I've never used Joanne Sheen before so I'm looking forward to spending my £10 voucher there! I really have my blog buddy, Lisa Jane, to thank as she is on their DT, so thanks Lisa!!

Okay, okay, it's getting boring now, ANOTHER card with lime green on it - I told you I love that colour! I couldn't resist creating a card with lime being the main focus so here it is...

I'm not sure how many submissions you're allowed into the Embellish Magazine butterfly colour challenge but it's going in anyway! And I used this week's Inspiration sketch...

So now I've got four cards in this colourway and they look quite pretty together (even if I say so myself!).

I will just need to make a present out of it and give it to someone! Now just to choose the lucky friend...

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill black and kraft cardstock, Crate Paper Brook paper
Stamps: K & Co Lotus Floral, Making Memories Flowers
Mediums: Versafine Onyx Black ink
Accents: iridescent gems, Doodlebug ribbon
Tools: EK Success 1.25" scallop circle punch, Woodware 1" circle punch, butterfly punch

Embellish Butterflies Color Challenge

I hadn't realised that I had used the colours in the latest Embellish Magazine challenge in yesterday's post, unfortunately it didn't have butterflies on it so wouldn't have counted anyway! But I just adore lime green so I made two cards last night with only one being valid for the challenge as I forgot to add kraft to one! Still, I like them both and hope you do too...

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill black and kraft cardstock, Crate Paper Brook paper

Stamps: K & Co Lotus Floral, Making Memories Flowers, CC Designs "for you" sentiment

Mediums: Versafine Onyx Black ink, Stickles glitter glue

Accents: iridescent gems

Tools: EK Success 1.25" scallop circle punch, Woodware 1" circle punch, butterfly punch

Another CAS card - I'm really getting into this!

I enjoyed making my first "proper" (i.e. where it doesn't look like my 8 year nephew made it!) CAS card the other day that I had another go, using - of course! - the Clean & Simple sketch.

I made the flower by cutting up and piecing together various stamped floral images and the "brad" using the new technique that I showed in this post here.

I've got some more WIP cards to show you later. I'm getting back into a routine with my card making - yay!

Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill cardstock, Crate Paper Brook paper pack
Stamps: K & Co Lotus Floral, Making Memories Flowers, CC Designs sentiment
Mediums: Versafine Onyx Black ink
Accents: none
Tools: EK Success 1.25" scallop circle punch, Woodware 1" circle punch