If you wanted one of those gorgeous stamps, now's the time to get it!

Hi all - a very quick one to let you know that lovely Kerry is giving 15% off orders on the Ladybug Crafts Ink shop from now till the end of November.  PLUS you get free p&p world wide for orders over £20.  Just put in the code CB2010 in the voucher/code button at the checkout.

I've got some images all coloured in, but I just can't find my mojo and them into cards!  Hopefully I will have something to show you tomorrow - ttfn!

A fairy wish for you

Hi all!  I hope you enjoyed the Totally Ladybug Tuesday DT challenge yesterday - I love seeing all of my team mates creations on the day!  Aren't weren't they all so fab!  Today's card is using another sweet CC Designs stamp - I love how these match up with all those gorgeous papers out there.  I got this fairy sentiment stamp set from Ladybug Crafts Ink - it's perfect for all of those many [far too many] fairy stamps I own!

 

I used Mercy's Tuesday Sketch challenge and also submitting it into the following challenges:

• Flutter By Wednesday challenge - winged things
• Paper Sundaes - things with wings

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Early Bird paper collection

Stamps: CC Designs Swiss Pixies Fall Birgitta, Ladybug Crafts Ink fairy sentiments (get here)

Mediums: Copic markers

Accents: lace and pearls from stash

Tools: Nestabilities label die (inside), EK Success border punch, butterfly punch

Totally Ladybug Tuesday DT challenge and news on our next blog hop!

The lovely Lisa Jane has set this week's challenge for us Ladybug Crafts Ink DT gals with a sketch. You all know how much I luuurve my sketches and here is my card that I made for my nephew...

Isn't that Jack the cutest?! So much fun to work with - I've already got him inked up and coloured in for another card. That stitching doesn't look very good, does it?!! It's driving me nuts - I love my straighter than straight lines!  I used cotton wrapped thread and it doesn't stitch smoothly, but hey it's a boy's card so he's never gonna notice, right?!!  I am also submitting my card into the Make it Monday challenge - this is a great one as you just post anything you'd like to share, even old posts!


I'm actually terrified of frogs (froggyphobia, lol??!). I liked them as a child but then when I was 9 years old we moved to a new house that had it's own allotment. It was totally over grown - I remember walking through the high grass and suddenly frogs were jumping up all over the place! Well, there was probably only a couple but it felt like a swarm at the time! Yeah, I know, I know - "get over it, Mary!" - I mean, they don't even have teeth, do they?!! Still, this Jack hasn't put me off and that's the important thing - to keep on loving stamping!

I'm off to see the other DT's cards as I still haven't seen their creations yet! I bet they are gorgeous - come and have a look too!

Kerry - Head Ladybug
Lisa J - Deputy Head Ladybug
Pinky
Tams
Sue
Anita
Hayley
Gaelle
Michele

We are also having another Ladybug Crafts Ink blog hop on 5 October with more prizes!  This one is to celebrate a new release of stamps at the store - they are super sweet and I can't wait to show you my card with one of them!  There will be more info on the day on how to join in and win!  You can add the blog hop banner below to your side bar - now there's a head start for you!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Prima So Cute! paper collection

Stamps: Frog Chasing Jack (it's the other way round, isn't it?!!), CC Designs sentiments
Mediums: Copic markers
Accents: My Minds Eye buttons, American Crafts rub on sentiment, cotton wrapped thread
Tools: Nestabilities label die, EK Success cloud border punch

Apple of my eye

Another Monday, another looong week I predict!  But I am determined to make more cards this week!  Today's card is using a CC Designs cutie - I haven't played with these recently as there are soooo many gorgeous stamps out there!  But I still have a very soft spot for these Honeys - I just wanna cuddle them!

Okay, sorry, babbling away!  Here's my card...





I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Stamptacular Sunday challenge - seasons change (those apples are falling fast and furious from my dad's trees now!)
• Craftalicious challenge - harvest festival

See you tomorrow with another Totally Ladybug Tuesday DT challenge!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, October Afternoon Cheery Hill, Cosmo Cricket Early Bird (red paper)

Stamps: CC Designs Honey and sentiment
Mediums: Copic Sketch markers, white gel pen, white pigment ink and embossing powder (for sentiment)

Accents: Stampin' Up ribbon, Doodlebug scallop die cut yellow border

Tools: Nestabilities label die (inside card), Fiskars border punch

You're fabulous!

And all of my blog mates are!  I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend - it was cold but sunny in south east England yesterday and we went for a brisk walk along the coast.  Very invigorating, I can tell you!

Onto today's card.   I wanted to make a thank you card for my 18 year old niece and this Lil Lolita stamp is just perfect for this age group and was dying to match her up with this funky paper!  The CC Designs sentiment is perfect for it, the inside says "Fashion can be bought, style one must possess" - brilliant!

I am submitting my card into the following challenges:

• Lil Lolita Boutique - stitches
• C.R.A.F.T. challenges - teenagers
• Stamp Something - fall colours
• No Time to Stamp - photo challenge...isn't she gorgeous?!!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Nutmet

Stamps: Tickled Pink Lil Lolita 60s Mod Ivy, CC Designs sentiments

Mediums: Copic Sketch markers

Accents: BasicGrey buttons, Bazzill floss, American Crafts ribbon

Tools: Nestabilities label die (inside card), Martha Stewart border punch

Totally sad, but a Totally other Gorjuss challenge!

It's challenge time again at Totally Gorjuss and this is my very last card as Guest Designer. This is my last card as Guest Gorjussette - boy, am I going to be sad not saying that again!  I'm gonna miss the girls there - they are so lovely and that Net is a hilarious!   Thanks girls, I'll miss you!

This week's challenge is "Christmas in September" and it's sponsored by Cupid Clear Stamps. You gotta play to win! (Is that the strapline for the lottery, perhaps I'm not allowed to use it and I'll get fined for copyright!!)

I used the BasicGrey challenge #29 sketch which was lovely to use and I love that Xmas Eskimo Kisses paper pad. I'll be stealing, I mean, casing that sketch a lot!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill scalloped cardstock, Core'dinations cardstock, BasicGrey Eskimo Kisses

Stamps: Sugar Nellie Miss Clause, CC Designs sentiments

Mediums: Prismacolor pencils with Sansador, Glamour Dust (on the fluffy bits of her coat!)

Accents: Papermania felt snowflake border

Tools: Nestabilities lacey squares die (inside card, from Bunny Zoe's Crafts here), Fiskars apron lace border punch

Sleepy time bear

I adore the new(ish) Meljen's Designs collection at High Hopes - isn't this cutie just adorable?!  I wanted to make a gender neutral card and the Cosmo Cricket Togetherness collection is cute, not too girlie!

Got to get back to work now - roll on 5pm!!!!

Sweet Stampin Challenge - stitching

Papertake Weekly - animal magic

Just Cute Bears - punch it (the punched corner)

Scrapbook Sisters - over the edge (the image is over the edge of the doily - does that count?!!)

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Togetherness paper pack

Stamps: Meljen Designs at High Hopes, CC Designs sentiment
Mediums: Copic markers, Stardust gen pen, Disress Antique Linen ink
Accents: My Minds Eye square button, BasicGrey buttons, Bazzill pink and white floss, lace (Bunny Zoe's Crafts here)
Tools: Nestabilities label die (inside card), Magnolia doiley die, Fiskars apron lace border punch, cloud Corner Chomper (inside card on matting), tiny heart punch (inside card)

Pink, glorious pink at Ladybug Crafts Ink!

Our Head Ladybug this week has charged us with creating a card using pink plus one other colour. I have chosen "white" - now some have said this is not really a colour, but I wanted to use it with this cardstock I've had in my stash for years. It has glitter pre-glued on it too - and you know how much Kerry loves her glitter! I'd do anything to please her! We aren't expecting anyone to join in with our Tuesday challenges yet but do feel free to join in if you'd like. You know I love visiting your blogs and seeing your creations so if you do want to join in, either link them in my comments section or put your link in Kerry's post. If you haven't got any Ladybug Craft Inks stamps yet (and why not, might I ask?!!), you can get them here.


See the other gorgeous DT's cards here:

• Kerry - Head Ladybug
• Lisa J - Deputy Ladybug
• Pinky
• Tams
• Sue
• Anita
• Hayley
• Gaelle
• Michele

Kerry recently had a post asking about cs that minimises bleeding from Copics. I use Sir Stampalot's Copic Premium Seriously Smooth cs so I sent her a couple of sheets to try and she kindly sent me 3 different cs to test. So I decided to do a test with all four.



You can't see how well the Copics performed in the photograph, but here are my results. I used bright pinks that I find can bleed quite badly. When using strong colours I colour slightly within the line so that the colour has a little space to bleed up to the line but not over it (if that makes sense!!).

• Neenah's - this is white with a tendency towards grey. I found that it bled quite quickly even when I coloured slightly within the line. It is also quite thin which doesn't suit my style of cutting the image out.
• Ryman's Bright White - the whitest of the bunch. A bit stark, but quite good depending on the style of your card (I wouldn't use it for shabby chic/distressed style cards) and it was excellent at showing the Copics at their truest colours and passed my bleed test. Nice and thick too. I would definitely use this again if I was creating CAS / contemporary / modern styles.
• Sir Stampalot's Copics Premium Seriously Smooth white - I rarely get bleeding with this especially if I colour in slightly within the line. It's a thick cardstock too so great for cutting out the images, although can create big creases if you wanted to shape the image (I sometimes use a rounded end tool to give the image more movement). Some people might prefer this to Ryman's because it's off white
• Reeves (Tesco) - this was practically the same as Sir Stampalot's. It is slightly less thicker, which isn't a bad thing if you want to shape it and it passed the bleed test very well. I actually used this one on my card!

I don't know how much the other cost, but Sir Stampalot's is very reasonable at £2.50 for 10 sheets. I would definitely go for Ryman's and Reeves too if they are a similar price. So there you go, Mary J's advice on cs for Copics - hope that was useful! If you have a favourite cs that you use, please share your views by leaving a comment - I'll collect them all into one post for everybody.
I am also entering my card into the following challenges:

• Make It Monday - what a fab place Michelle has set up just to share any of your creations!
• Creative Inspirations challenge - #43 pink and black (her sunglasses are coloured in black!
• Crafty Ann's challenge - #23 monochromatic

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, DCWV Blossoms & Butterflies paper pack
Stamps: Original Nikki
Mediums: Copic markers, Glamour Dust (on the butterflies on Nikki's dress), Glossy Accents (on Nikki's sunglasses) Accents: chipboard tag, ric rac ribbon and floss from stash, Doodlebug spot ribbon, American Crafts rub on sentiment
Tools: Nestabilities label die (inside card), Fiskars border punch, Corner Chomper

Me time

A quick one from me today! I've had this stamp inked and coloured for weeks but I just couldn't get it onto a card! I played around until I came up with this...

Boy, was it difficult to photo, but I think you get the general gist! Gotta go - meant to be working, hmmph!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill tan cardstock, Co'redinations grey cardstock
Stamps: Rubber Romance Chocolaterie background stamp and Julia loves to read, Claudia & Company sentiment (front), Kraftin Kimmie sentiment (inside)
Mediums: Copic markers
Accents: Stampin Up ribbon
Tools: Nestabilities label die

A warm hello

And gosh do I need one - it's turned suddenly cold down in the south east corner of Britain! I've actually ordered my hubby to put the electric blanket back on the bed! Grrrrr, but at least it's been a sunny weekend and we did a huge trek along the Seven Sisters (a series of hills) on the south coast yesterday. I feel virtuous!

Before I get to my card, I wanted to share my experience at a "Well Woman" clinic I had to attend this week, a requirement from my firm. Well I'm pleased to report that I've got clean bill of health - so all that countryside walking and keeping my food portions down really does work! The doctor said I've also got a healthy sense of humour, so I'll keep on laughing at life then. Anyway, that's not the interesting part. When you turn 40 they insist on giving you a mammogram. Has anybody had this before? My goodness, it's not a test, it's torture!!!! I only have a B cup and the poor lady taking the pictures had to twist and turn me into the most amazing positions! It must have looked hilarious, being wrapped around this huge machine - like I was trying to get intimate with it! Boy, was I sore afterwards - under my armpits of all places, lol! Results in a couple of weeks but I'm not expecting anything to come up (fingers crossed). I hope I don't have to go through that again for a long, long time!

Ok, ok, onto today's card. Another autumn theme one - I love those this Magnolia stamp makes it feel really windy! Just right for today's weather! I couldn't find any other suitable challenges but luckily they have a "anything goes" at this week's Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.

On Tuesday, us Ladybug Crafts Ink DT gals are going to do our own challenge called "pink and one other colour", set by our Head Ladybug, Kerry. Luckily I just luuurve pink so it was an easy one. Feel free to join in if you can, we love seeing all Ladybug Crafts Ink creations!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, BasicGrey Mellow paper pack

Stamps: Magnolia Tilda on the Loose, Hero Arts sentiment

Mediums: Copic markers

Accents: My Minds Eye buttons, ribbon from stash

Tools: Nestabilities lacy square, square and label dies, Magnolia Doo Hickey border punch

Totally Gorjuss Wild Things!

I was hoping to make more cards this week, but as usual work took over my life from Wednesday to the rest of the week! Luckily I managed to complete my guest designer card in time for this week's challenge over at Totally Gorjuss which is "Wild Thing". This week's challenge is sponsored by Crafters Companion so get those animals inked up and coloured for a chance to win some candy!

What with all those autumn themed challenges out there at the moment, I thought I'd take advantage and create a card with an Asian feel with those rich reds and oranges so I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

Allsorts challenge - colours of autumn

The Cute and Girly - Indian summer

A Spoonful of Suger - fall colours

I'll be back tomorrow with another card so see you then!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, BasicGrey Ambrosia paper pack
Stamps: Magnolia elephant, Kraftin Kimmies thankful sentiments
Mediums: Copic markers
Accents: ribbon and pearls from stash
Tools: Nestabilities label sixteen die, EK Success border punch

Just a note...

Hello all! I hope you all enjoyed the Ladybug Crafts Ink blog hop yesterday - the DT had a great time with lots of laughs along the way! And if you need any help in finding the hidden ladybug, just take a look at the photos on one of the DT's blog hop posts (wink, wink, don't tell anyone I told you!). Thank you for all those who left us such sweet comments - ours heads grew a little bigger today, lol!!! I will keep my fingers crossed for all of you who joined in the hope you win some blog candy!

Onto today's card. I made this for the Sweet Stampin Challenge blog "just a note" - I send this sort of card out all the time. I have a lot of friends that don't live anywhere near me so it's just nice to send a card for that personal touch. So here it is...

I loved playing with this Hero Arts stamp set - so much so I didn't even need a sketch to inspire me! Onto the next challenge!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend paper pack

Stamps: Hero Arts Just a Note set

Mediums: Prisma pencils

Accents: Stampin' Up ribbon

Tools: Nestabilities label (inside card), EK Success border punch

At last, it's here! The Ladybug Crafts Ink blog hop!

At last! It's the LADYBUG CRAFTS INK first ever Blog Hop you should have arrived here from Lisa J's blog. If not go back to the start at KERRY’S blog.

The blog hop is to celebrate the first projects made by the new Design Team over at LADYBUG CRAFTS INK. We have all been given the challenge of using the Nikki Mermaid image in any way we choose. We haven't even seen each other's DT cards yet so I'm just as excited as you to see what they have come up with!

Okay, drum roll, here is my card.....



I must say that I love playing with all of the stamps of the Nikki and friends collection. They feature Nikki (obviously!) with A.N.Other little friend like a dog, cat and...even fish! Cute, huh? Nikki is a pleasure to colour in and I did my usual cutting out, but I also stamped just the bubbles and "movements" on the background to add to the depth.

There are 3 prizes to be won on the blog hop - one stamp for each prize from the LADYBUG CRAFTS INK collection. So...... what do you have to do to win?.... It’s simple.......

1. Hopefully by now you will already have the blog hop banner on your side bar to promote the hop. If not grab it now on the right on my side bar!
2. You must visit each of the DT blogs in order and leave a comment on each of our posts.
3. At the end of the hop leave a comment on KERRY’s blog
4. There is a ladybird hidden somewhere on one of the DT blogs.... just email LISA at lisa.coe@btinternet.com and tell her where you found the ladybird.

Easy peasy, huh?!! 3 winners will be chosen at random from 3 of the DT blogs. The hop starts today and finishes on midnight (UK time) Sunday 19th September. The winner will be announced on KERRY’s blog on Tuesday 21st September. Good luck and most of all have fun!

Your next step on the hop is MICHELE.

I am also submitting this card into the following challenges...

• Cute Card Thursday challenge "play on words"
• Stamp It Crazy Challenge #5 - Girly Girl Card
• Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #39 - What'eva
• Your Next Stamp Challenge #24 - Anything Goes
• Gingerloft Challenge #1 - Anything Goes

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow paper pack
Stamps: Mermaid Nikki, CC Designs sentiments
Mediums: Copic markers
Accents: twine from John Lewis
Tools: Nestabilities label (inside card) and rectangle dies, EK Success border punch

My guest designer card for Bunny Zoe's monthly challenge

Some of you may remember that I got invited to be a guest designer for Bunny Zoe's Crafts challenge for this card here back in July. I was lucky enough to choose my own stamp from her store and I made this card for this month's new challenge sketch...

Isn't she gorgeous? She was a pleasure to colour in and thought she matched that BasicGrey Kioshi paper pack really well!

I hope you can join in this month's challenge for a chance to get more stash!!



Papers/cardstock: Bazzill kraft cardstock, BasicGrey Kioshi paper pack
Stamps: Wags 'n Whiskers Fairy Lacey, CC Designs sentiments
Mediums: Copic Ciaos
Accents: lace ribbon
Tools: Nestabilities oval and label dies, Fiskars apron lace and scallop border punches

Am I bugging you?!

It seems like everyone around me are dropping like flies. Not dead like, but with a bug! Now autumn is truly kicking in here in the UK, I thought I should prepare some get well soon cards so I'm not rushing about at the last minute!

I got my inspiration from the Quixotic challenge blog "move it, move it" and Raise the Bar challenge to use orange, brown and green (kraft is a kinda brown, isn't it?!!). I've wanted to create a shaker for aaaages so it was a good excuse for me to do it a long last! It was a bit fiddly but I managed it after a few tries! Now off to make a few more...

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Doodlebug papers

Stamps: CC Designs get well soon stamp set (can't remember it's original name, sorry!)

Mediums: Copic markers

Accents: ric rac ribbon and beads from stash

Tools: Nestabilities rectangle die, Martha Stewart border punch, a very sharp craft knife!

Another Totally Gorjuss challenge!

Yay, it's Saturday! And that means another Totally Gorjuss challenge today to include flowers on your creations! It's sponsored by Wild Orchid Crafts so get your submissions in to win some more gorgeous flowers (because we just can't get enough of that, right?!).



I haven't been using flowers as much recently so this was a good excuse to use some of my tools that are gathering dust! I created these flowers using Woodware flower punches and just did some curling on the petals to give them lots of dimension.

Enjoy today and hope to **see** you tomorrow!




Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, BasicGrey Kioshi paper pack
Stamps: Elzybells sentiment
Mediums: Copic markers
Accents: ric rac ribbon from stash, BasicGrey brads
Tools: Nestabilities label dies, Martha Stewart lattice deep edger border punch, Woodware flower punches, corner chomper, Fiskars apron lace border punch (inside card)