Cup Cake Tilley - my version!

Hello all! Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend. I've spent my Saturday sanding walls down in readiness for paint next week - I can't tell you how tired I am now!!! I feel very "muscley" - my upper arms feel like they are bulging! Sexy.

Anyway, you might remember an entry last week with the free Cup Cake Tilley download on Wendy's Digital Doodling blog. I've now created my card and here it is...

It's a very feminine image and I knew straight away what paper to use - Blue Hill by Crate Paper (that I haven't touched since I bought it last year!). To add to the feminine feel, I used ribbon to create the border. I first did a large stitched down one side to scrunch it, but because it was self adhesive ribbon, it kept sticking where I didn't want it to stick! Boy, it was a pain.

I also wanted to machine stitch the paper down, but my Janone mini sewing machine is broken! Sooo annoyed, but luckily it's within its 1 year warranty so that's going back asap! I ended up using a Bazzill template to pierce the border and used Bazzill floss for the back stitch.

Another challenge completed. What shall I choose next?

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill brown cardstock, Crate Paper Blue Hill collection

Mediums: Derwent ColorSoft pencils with Sansodor

Image: Wendy's Cup Cake Tilley
Accents: DCWV ribbon, Bazzill floss

Tools: paper piercer, Bazzill In Stitch'z 8x8 Circle template

Anyone for Anya sketch #3 challenge

Whew! Another challenge completed! This week is to follow this sketch...

And here is mine...

It's a bit weak and I think it's because I should have matted the pattern paper onto orange cardstock to 'beef' them up. I think it is also missing a little 'oomph' but I couldn't figure out what accents to add - buttons, gems, anything! Inspiration clearly lacking at the end of another very hard week at work. If only I could craft all day...

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill vanilla cream cardstock, Crate Paper Baby Bee collection
Mediums: pencils with Sansodor
Stamps: The Greeting Farm Oh Baby

Accents: ribbon from stash
Tools: Fiskars Scalloped Lace border punch

Crazy 4 Challenges #8

I can't believe I've managed to complete over two challenges this week! Here is my entry for this week's Crazy 4 Challenges where you have to use at least 3 geometric shapes and here is my effort...

So of course I used a circle, triangles and rectangles and perhaps the yellow could be considered square?!! Perhaps not, but I got at least 3 in!

I've just realised that all my cards tend to be square. I do try with other shapes, but I always end up with a square! My obvious need for symmetry. My challenge next week is to NOT use square cards all week! Goodness, that's going to be hard...

Papers/cardstock: Papermania cream cardstock, Crate Paper Baby Bee collection

Mediums: Copic Caios

Stamps: The Greeting Farm Oh Baby

Accents: ribbon and buttons from stash

Tools: Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities, scallop circle punch

Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge - shades of autumn

Blimey, I found doing this week's Kraftin' Kimmie challenge #3 really difficult! You have to use brown, rust and yellow or green. Lovely colours, but I didn't have any patterned paper with those specific colours in and I usually use the paper to bring it all together. So hitting this wall, I decided to just go ahead and colour in the image in anyway and hope that something would come up and just hope I complete the challenge in time! I used the Copic Brown E08 - it looks like rust to me! - but I always have difficulty in stopping it from bleeding everywhere. I really concentrated to keep it within the lines, but it still bled - it drove me nuts! One to avoid if I want to keep the blood pressure down...

Well, it took me aaages to come up with the composition and it was just a matter of playing around and eventually I came up with this...whew it was hard work!




Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock in brown and rust, K&Co Wild Saffron mat pad
Mediums: Copic Caios
Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Charlotte
Accents: Robin's Nest Dew Drops Sunflower set, sheer organza ribbon from stash
Tools: inverted corner punch

JUGS challenge - 3D flower

I recently found this great blog called Just Us Girls Challenge from one of the designers, Kristin Bueter. Well, I had a double whammy smile on my face after finding Kristin! First because I love Kristin's designs (look at one of my favs, her Very Tweet Thank You card here) and secondly because the JUGS challenges are a little different. A great way to start stretching my cardmaking skills now that I'm more confident since first starting my blog!

This week's challenge is to create a 3D flower. Unfortunately, I didn't have any tissue paper to create their pretty fluffy version so I had to improvise. Hhmm, not my greatest crafting skill. Instead, I used my Nestabilities Blossom 2. I die cut three sizes and then used a pen with a wide rounded end to shape the back of them. I then layered them up, reversing the side of the middle size to create a bit more interest. Not as clever as those fluffy flowers, but I liked the way the paper got creased - a look that goes well with that paper! Here it is...


Actually, there was a third smile from meeting Kristin. She directed me to Picasa where it was so simple to fix the awful lighting in my cards - by simply clicking on 'feeling lucky' it freshed them up and it doesn't leave that awful glare you get after using MS Office Picture Manager. A HUGE thanks and HUGS to Kristin!! You're a super cool generous girl!


Papers/cardstock: Bazzill vanilla cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Little Girls paper collection
Mediums: Elzybells White Pigment inkpad in Sugar Candy (this is fabulous stuff!!), detailed white embossing powder
Stamps: sentiment from Gel-a-Tins Mini-Fancy Flakes & Sayings
Accents: BasicGrey buttons, Crate Paper Blue Hill pink trim, string from stash
Tools: Nestabilities Blossom Two, end of a pen!

Cup Cake Tilly - a freebie!

I found this beautiful freebie image on Wendy's Digital Doodling - but you also need to spread the word of her blog and to make something with the image! Full instructions here. Here is an example card using the cute image (not created by me!)...


Nice, huh? Now off to create something...

Crazy 4 Challenge - C4C7 - oh *bleep*!

If you're British, you'll know that *bleep* is a polite swear word! I've been meaning to join in with the Crazy 4 Challenges and I thought I had eventually achieved it this week, BUT I'm one day out!!! Bleep, bleep, bleep!!!

Oh well, I'm going to submit it anyway because I spent a while dreaming up my design and enjoyed making it so much that I made two! They are NOT going to waste, ha ha!! Anyway, here they are, first the sketch, then the cards...





I wanted to create some depth so I used lots and lots of dimensional foam pads, even on the blossom. I also used my Quickutz Squeeze that I haven't used for months - I had forgotten how convenient it is to pull out and use. I must admit, it's a bit of a pain having to take out my Wizard and set up the various sandwiches. Still, the results are worth it, huh?

I actually made this one below, but I had forgotten to add the three accents at the bottom right corner! What a silly billy.



My friend recently had a little girl (yes, another one of my friends, must be something in the water around here) and I can't wait to see her! I was originally going to make a really, really girly pink card, but didn't have any appropriate paper, so ended up using my stash of Crate Paper from their Baby Bee collection.


Papers/cardstock: Papermania cream cardstock, Crate Paper Baby Bee collection
Mediums: various chalk inks
Stamps: The Greeting Farm Oh Baby sentiment
Accents: buttons from stash, Paperchase self adhesive hearts
Tools: Fiskars Apron Lace border punch, Quickutz Baby Clothes, Quickutz embossing (can't style name), Spellbinders Blossom and Circle Nestabilities

AFA challenge - autumn colours

Yay! I managed to complete another Anyone for Anya challenge two weeks in a row! This time you need to use autumnal colours and I chose to use the Cosmo Cricket Earth Love papers again (and it looks like a lot of the other challengers had this perfect idea too!!). Anyway, here she is...

I used the Copics Marker pad for the first time - the colours (as you'd expect) came out fab and there was little bleeding. The paper was rather thin though so I couldn't cut out the image and use dimensional pads like I would normally do. I had to stick it down directly onto the card. Didn't like that! Still, lovely paper to colour on.

Anyway, hope you all enjoy your weekend! I'm still decorating and now have an urgent need to finish as we are getting a new puppy at the end of November!!! Sooo excited, if you couldn't tell! ;) Could you imagine the nightmare of an untidy house plus an untrained bundle of fluff?! Will post some piccies as I'm sure you all like a good old "aaahhhh!!".

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock black, Core'dinations cardstock in a bluey/green, American Crafts cardstock in caramel, Cosmo Cricket Earth Love paper pack, Copics A4 Marker Pad
Mediums: Copics, white gel pen, Distress Ink in Tea Dye
Stamps: Miss Anya Rain

Accents: Bazzill button, ribbon and wool from stash
Tools: Martha Stewart Loop border punch

Note to self - it's not Xmas yet!

I can't believe that it's only October - I've been making so many Xmas cards that I'm already getting in the festive spirit! Mad!

Luckily, my friend moved into his very first flat with his girlfriend so it gave me a good excuse to NOT make a Xmas card! So here it is...

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock in vanilla and black, American Crafts cardstock in caramel, Cosmo Cricket Earth Love paper pack

Mediums: Copics

Stamps: October Afternoon Weather Vane, sentiment - Maya Road Home Singleton Stamp

Accents: Dew Drops

Tools: fence, inverted corner punch

Thinking of you Alejandra

During my usual rounds of blog reading, I saw that Ana Wolhfahrt's cousin, Alejandra, has got cerebral brain tumor. She is only 30 years old and a newlywed. How awful, is that? Ana has been sending her cards and asked if any of her blog followers would do the same - they really cheer Alejandra up. I am sure Ana's do, she has beautiful creations.

Alejandra lives in Miami so a card from me in England wouldn't get there very soon (plus we have postal strikes) so I thought I would post this card for her instead.



I hope you like this Alejandra and please accept my very best wishes. We are thinking of you in East Sussex.


Papers/cardstock: brown Bazzill cardstock, My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow papers
Stamps: none
Accents: ribbon and floss from stash, BasicGrey buttons
Tools: none

Perfect paper piecing challenge on AFA

When I saw this week's challenge on Anyone for Anya, I thought "perfect"! I still had lots of scraps using up the K&Co Peppermint mat pad and I hadn't landed on what image to use. Well of course Snowy Anya fit the bill for both accounts!! And here they are...



The photo doesn't show it well, but the Anyas are obviously cut out and the piecing is also the furry bits. I first coloured the furry bits in with a light Copic grey and then I used my Sakura Quickie Glue Pen and smothered them with Glamour Dust Glitter (you can just see the grey peeking out giving it some dimension). I then cut the ear and hand muffs and the fluffy bobble really carefully out with my Tom Holtz serrated scissors for precision - I just luuuurve those scissors!!

Well I've nearly used up all that K&Co paper - it goes a loooong way, what terrific value for money! You must be getting bored of my xmas cards by now but after all my hard work I'm still going to share them with you!!!


Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill cardstock, K&Co Brenda Walton's Peppermint Twist Mat Pad
Stamps: The Greeting Farm Rain Snow Shine
Mediums: Derwent Colorsoft pencils, Copic Caio, Stickles in Stardust and Diamond, Glamour Dust Glitter
Accents: ribbon from stash, Bazzill buttons, Maya Road snowflakes chipboard
Tools: sewing machine, Fiskars Upper Crest border punch

"Green mood" Christmas cards

Blimey, I can't tell you how tired I still am - and the weekend is now over! What's worse is that I know I've got another manic week at work - fed up just thinking about it - grooooan! Anyway, at last I managed to photo more Xmas card creations using up my K&Co Peppermint mat and tag pads. This time I'm showing the ones with a green flavour - hence my "green mood"!! (See my blue moods here I made on WCMD.)

I'm quite pleased with these ones - hope you like too!

Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill and Core'dinations cardstock, K&Co Brenda Walton's Peppermint Twist Mat Pad and Tag Pad

Stamps: none

Mediums: Stickles in Stardust and Diamond

Accents: ribbon from stash, Bazzill buttons, Doodlebug gems, Maya Road chipboard snowflakes

Tools: sewing machine, Fiskars Upper Crest border punch, PaperShaper Snowflake border punch

Xmas Snow Bunnies!

At long last, I photographed the Xmas cards I made a week ago! I was using the same K&Co Peppermint mat pad that has been in my stash for aaaages that I used for these cards I showed last week here. I had lots of smaller pieces left from that mat pad so I used them to create the borders in these lot...

I used CC Designs Snow Bunnies and Maya Road chipboard snowflakes. I first painted the chipboard with Gesso which gave it a good base to cover Stickles glitter glues on them. My fav is the Stardust Stickles. I also used Diamond Stickles and that has a slight blue tinge to it. To colour in the Snow Bunnies, I used Derwent Coloursoft pencils and blended with Sansodor - a softer effect to using Copics. I used my Sakura Quickie Glue Pen covered with Glamour Dust Glitter.

To finish some of them off I used an Inkssentials White Gel pen - I've seen others use this to great effect, but it just looks patchy on mine! Any advice on what I'm doing wrong would be gratefully received!

I have more cards made from the K&Co Peppermint collection, but I'm in two minds whether I should bore you with more or not! I think I probably will...you've been warned!

Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill cardstock, K&Co Brenda Walton's Peppermint Twist Mat Pad

Stamps: CC Designs Snow Bunnies, Hero Arts Holiday Tags (sentiment)

Mediums: Stickles in Stardust and Diamond, Glamour Dust Glitter

Accents: ribbon from stash, Bazzill buttons, Maya Road snowflakes chipboard

Tools: sewing machine, Fiskars Upper Crest border punch, PaperShaper Snowflake border punch

A birthday card, not a xmas card...

Being of different cultural origins (English, Chinese and Portuguese), I have family dotted all around the world. It's lovely to hear from an Aunt or cousin every now and then to remind me that I can never be truly alone. I'm a lucky girl!

The problem with having family abroad, however, is that I often forget to make and post cards in plenty of time of whatever special occasion it is. And this week is no different! My sister-in-law in Hong Kong has a birthday next week and I literally just remembered today. The postal service takes a week from England to get there. So instead of taking photos of my Xmas cards that I've been promising myself aaallll week, I created a card for her. And THEN I stupidly put it in the letter box before I took a photo - D'OH!

So here instead is a card that is quite similar to it. I made this one for my mother's Mother's Day card but, hey, who would know?! The stamp set, Time for the Bubbly, is quite old now (well, old for the stamp world!) but I still love that image. It conjures up images of me lazing around in a cast iron tub with candles around me, sipping champagne... how indulgent! And something I've never done. Hey ho.

Now must really get those Xmas cards photo'ed and put up on the blog...

Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill cardstock, Laura Ashley Contemporary paper pack
Stamps: My Favorite Things Time for the Bubbly
Mediums: Stickles in Stardust, Copic markers
Accents: ribbon from stash
Tools: scallop scissors, paper pricker

New job for a lovely lady!

There's a lovely, lovely lady called Michelle at work who has recently got a new role within our firm. I knocked up this card for her...



I wish I had had more time to create a proper new job card (a girlie image would have been fab), but I'm manically busy at work so I just copied a card I've made before. I had drawn the sketch out for this card some time ago and I'm pretty sure I saw something similar on someone else's blog, but I didn't write down who's! So sorry if you've created a card like this one - I didn't mean to steal the design and take the credit! If it's yours, let me know and I'll make amends!

I was also really chuffed tonight to see my card on Dannis Doodle's blog here (fifth batch of cards down) that I made on WCMD. I love Danni's designs - fresh and contemporary - so I was so flattered to get a mention! The other cards are lovely too so it's fab to be shown with such high calibre cardmakers!

Anyway, just a quickie tonight, but more to come tomorrow when I eventually photograph the rest of my Xmas cards using the K&Co's Peppermint Twist papers!


Papers/cardstock: white cardstock, various Bazzill cardstock, DCWV Pocket Full of Posies
Stamps: Technique Tuesday Ali Edwards' Family Circle
Mediums: Versafine black ink
Accents: floss from stash, Bazzill buttons
Tools: Woodware star punches

The Purple Zone

Isn't that a fab name?! The Purple Zone is the blog for Stamp Addicts, a UK retailer, and they are giving away blog candy here and, as usual, I wanted to share the love! So if you're based in the UK, go and leave a comment on their blog - good luck!

Got some cards ready to post so hopefully will do it later this evening - ttfn!

Anyone for Anya?

I've been meaning to do one of the challenges for AFA, but always seem to miss the deadline date! Luckily I had a couple of hours to spare while I was waiting for the paint to dry in my hallway so I managed to create my card for it at last! The challenge is to use TGF image which you think represents your personality or resembles you the most so here is my choice...



I actually have very dark brown hair but it made the card a bit dull but apart from that it resembles me! The eyes could be oriental, don't you think? (I'm part Chinese if you couldn't tell from my profile photo!) If I'm really honest it looks more like me in my early 20s - I haven't worn a mini skirt in years!! But I do own a lot of brown boots and bags. I've also kept the card very simple as that is my dress style - I just can't seem to get the hang of accessories or jewellery! A very poor excuse for a woman, lol!! Hope you like!
*Speak* soon!
Cardstock: Bazzill cardstock
Stamps: The Greeting Farm - Miss Anya Collection
Mediums: Derwent Coloursoft pencils
Accents: American Crafts ribbon
Tools: Martha Stewart New Scallop border punch

Christmas cards galore!

Life has been so manic recently that I haven't had the time to spend on my cards as much as I would have liked (which is 24/7!). Not only are we decorating our hallway (which is taking aaaages), I've picked up two new projects at work which means I'm doing well over my contracted hours! Hey ho, I wouldn't do it if I didn't love my job too!

I've steadily been working on my Christmas cards to use up the K&Co Mat Pad and Tag Pad I've had in my stash for ages. I've got about 30 half made up cards now and have finally used up every bit of scrap I could sensibly do! I've made up variations of basically the same format and I managed to complete these ones last night...

I call this lot my 'blue mood' - lol! The other papers are more red, pink and greens so no doubt that's how I'll post those moods too!

I'm quite pleased with them and at least I will have made up nearly enough for all my clients and work colleagues. Last year I was going to make all my xmas cards two weeks before the special day, but I went down with the 'flu and ended up not making any at all! I refused to buy ones though so ended up sending everyone 'sorry I didn't make it' text messages!! Yeah, daft.

In between coats of paint drying this week, I will hopefully have some more to post very soon!

Papers/cardstock: various Bazzill and Core'dinations cardstock, K&Co Brenda Walton's Peppermint Twist Mat Pad and Tag Pad
Stamps: none
Mediums: Stickles in Stardust and Diamond
Accents: ribbon from stash, Bazzill buttons
Tools: sewing machine, Fiskars Upper Crest border punch, PaperShaper Snowflake border punch

50th wedding anniversary - wow!

My husband's Auntie and Uncle have reached their 50th wedding anniversary - can you imagine that?! Steve and I have been together for 12 years now and fingers crossed we will make it that far too! Apparently 50 is gold and, as I'm not a fan of the colour, I used a range of rich bieges and creams. I also used a chipboard key - before I got a die cutting machine I bought tons of different types of chipboards and I'm trying to use them up. Seriously, I have loads and perhaps I will do my own blog candy! To antique the key, I first painted it with gesso to prime it and then inked it with Distress Ink in Walnut Stain, rubbed some off with my finger and then went over it with Antique Linen. I was just experimenting but I was very pleased with the way it came out! I probably shouldn't have used the pearls on it, but they just worked so well that I kept them on.

Unfortunately, in the photo the colours look more like olive green but I can assure you it isn't!! Nevermind. I will get round to buying that full spectrum bulb soon.

Anyway, hope you like!

Papers/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock in coffee and vanilla, K&Co Classic K McKenna Mat Pad cardstock

Stamps: Woodware Francis Read sentiments

Mediums: Ranger Distress Inks in Walnut Stain and Antique Linen

Accents: ribbon from stash, Bazzill cream floss, Bazzill Chips Key, K&Co pearls

Tools: Nestabilities Heart, PaperShaper tag punch, Martha Stewart Arched Lattice border punch, inverted corner punch