Some Odd Girl Hol-ODD-day blog hop!

How excited am I?  Today is the the first Some Odd Girl Hol-ODD-day Blog Hop and I'm joining in as a guest designer!  We're having this hop to not only show some love for all our Oddies this holiday season but to have a hop that includes them!  And if you join in with the hop and leave comments at every stop, the Odd Girls have some prizes to give away to celebrate - but you have to complete the list to be entered.   



Start at the Some Odd Girl Blog and end up at Kristy's blog and enjoy the inspiring projecs along the way! You should have arrived from Tanya's blog, but if not start at the beginning to complete the hop...

SOG Blog 

Kimmy

Margie

Andrea

Leah

Corry

Sally

Yvonne

Meredith

Tanya 

Robin Mc
Jennifer
Donna

Marcie

Asa

Zarah

Tanya

Mary (me!  You are here already!)

Denise

Robin F

Diana

Jan

Cassie

Kellie

Kristy

And here is my project using the super duper Snowy Mae and I am also entering her into the Some Odd Girl challenge to create a window card... 

Your next stop in the hop is Denise's blog.  The hop is running from Nov 30th at 9am EST thru Dec 1st at 6pm EST so please have your post ready to go live at that time. Thanks so much for hopping with us! I'm thrilled to have you!

Totally Ladybug Tuesday - colourwheel challenge!

Brrr ... the weather in Britain heavily influenced my card for this week's Totally Ladybug Tuesday challenge!  It is freezing!  Luckily we haven't had any snow yet in East Sussex but boy it is sooo icy!  Less about the weather, more about the challenge! 

Our lovely November Guest Designer, Caz, has challenged us to use the colour that is in the opposite position to your favourite colour.  I couldn't cheat on this one and choose a colour I wanted to use as you all know that I luuuurve orange!  So I had to use the lighter blue of the wheel so here's my card...

My second fav colour is brown so I got that in at least!!  You can't see from the photo, but I put Stickles glitter glue on the snowflake in the image and also on the ickle lickle snowflake over the sentiment - trust me to make a brown snowflake, lol!  The blue cardstock is Bazzill Bling so it has a lovely shimmer to match that glitter - such gorgeous stuff!

This is Caz's last week with us so bye bye Caz!  We have loved having you on the team!  But of course, we will be visiting you regularly as you can't get away from us that easily!

It's so wonderful to see people play along with our challenges but of course it would be wonderful to see EVEN MORE of you join in!  Don't forget, you don't have to use a Ladybug Crafts Ink stamp - but we love it if you do!  And if you do, you can win the first prize of a stamp of your choice from the Ladybug Crafts Ink shop - so what are you waiting for?  Pop off to the challenge blog and see the other DT's wonderful cards here.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A LADYBUG CRAFTS INK STAMP WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DECEMBER'S SPECIAL OFFER-

BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE! OR WHY NOT BUY 2 AND GET 2 HALF PRICE.. WHAT A BARGAIN!

I am submitting this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says stamps - let it snow
Scrapbook Sisters - let it snow
7 Kids College - non traditional xmas colours
Color Cue - Elise Durenberger's colour challenge
Totally Papercrafts - untraditional xmas
The Crafty Pad - snowflakes


Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Bazzill Bling cardstock

Stamps: Kraftin Kimmie's Goldilocks and includes the sentiments (buy here)
Mediums: Copic and ProMarkers
Accents: ribbon from stash, Fancy Pants navy ball trim (buy here - and it's reduced!), Bazzill floss
Tools: Tim Holtz distressing tool, Nestabilities label die (inside card)

My winner of the Bunny Zoe's blog hop!

Thanks to all of you who joined in with the Bunny Zoe's blog hop!  The winner of leaving a comment on my blog is Tamara of Posh Cats Crafts!  Tamara, email Nikki at nikki@bunnyzoescrafts.com to claim your free stamp!

And don't forget that the Magnolia, CC Designs and most of the High Hopes stamps are still on special until Midnight on Thursday - go get yourself a bargain!

Sweet wishes

Well, the time has come to show you my last card as Quixotic Inspirations' Guest Designer for November.  I've really enjoyed creating for Elaine and the team so thank you for having me on board!

My last card celebrates my favourite food group - chocolate, lol!!  As soon as I saw this stamp, I knew it had to be in rich chocolates and pink - oh yum, yum!

Isn't that Moody for Chocolate scrumptious?  I didn't have any suitable brown design paper so I inked that houndstooth background by Hero Arts - isn't it fab?  Perhaps I can save money by not buying any more DPs!  Yeah, right!  I also printed off the sentiment using the free download Ali Edwards font which you can get here.

Back tomorrow for another Totally Ladybug Tuesday challenge - and don't forget the 15% discount in the store ends tomorrow so get over there now!  I will also be posting the Some Odd Girl blog hop too - so lots of fun to be had!!


I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• Sweet Stampin - buttons and bows (well, one button for me!)
• Make it Monday - share your creativity!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill kraft cardstock, My Minds Eye Quite Contrary paper pack

Stamps: Paper Makeup Moody for Chocolate (buy here)
Mediums: Copic and ProMarkers, chocolate brown chalk ink
Accents: American Crafts ribbon heart button from stash 
Tools: Martha Stewart border punch, Nestabilities label die (inside card)

You're just right!

This is my next card for Quixotic Inspirations and I've used that delicious Kraftin Kimmie's Goldilocks - just look at those eyes!!

Aaahhh!!  And I love that the sentiments come with the images - just makes the process that little bit easier and quicker!  I'm really into my pom poms at the moment - they finish the card off so sweetly!  I found these Fancy Pants ones in the shop reduced here.

I also used the new BasicGrey Marjolaine paper pack. I love this pack as it's so versatile - there are some lovely feminine papers, but others that you can use for those difficult male cards - I'm going to get a lot of mileage out of this one!

Back tomorrow with another card - probably needs to be a Xmas one as it's less then a month away - panic setting in...


Paper/cardstock: Bazzill kraft cardstock, Core'dinations navy cardstock, BasicGrey Marjolaine paper pack (buy here)
Stamps: Kraftin Kimmie's Goldilocks and includes the sentiments (buy here)
Mediums: Copic and ProMarkers
Accents: ribbon from stash, Fancy Pants navy ball trim (buy here - and it's reduced!), Bazzill floss 
Tools: Tim Holtz distressing tool, Nestabilities label die (inside card)

A Totally Gorjuss "Oh Christmas Tree"

It's Saturday so that means another Totally Gorjuss challenge!  This week we challenge you with the theme "Oh Christmas Tree" and it's sponsored by Cupids Stamps.  I decided NOT to make a card (Lisa - are you proud of me?!!) and instead created a couple of tags for all those Xmas pressies that are starting to build up in a cupboard!!

The snowflake is die cut with glitter card by DCWV - this is great stuff because the glitter doesn't come off!  I luckily bought a ton of it half price last year and I can't seem to find it in any shops now - thank goodness I have lots of stock of it!  I used the My Minds Eye Colorful Christmas paper pack - this is uber uber cute!  I am going to make a ton more tags and cards with it!

The other DT cards are top notch as usual so visit the Totally Gorjuss blog to get your daily dose of inspiration!


I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Christmas, but not a card!
• Die Cut Dreams - anything but a card
• Fab 'n Funky - go with the flow (anything goes!)
• Creative Cottage - untraditional xmas colours
• Wags 'n Whiskers - wrap it up

Paper/cardstock: My Minds Eye Colorful Christmas paper pack, DCVW glitter cardstock

Stamps: none
Mediums: none
Accents: ribbon from stash
Tools: Woodware tag punch, Marianne D Creatables star dies

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Special Event blog hop!

Hello!  Have you just come from Susie's blog?  If so, you're in the right place!  This is a very exciting day for me - I've been asked to join in today as a Guest Designer in the Bunny Zoe's Crafts Special Event blog hop!  The blog hop is to promote the 25% discount on Magnolia, C.C. Designs and most of the High Hopes rubber stamps at Bunny Zoe's Crafts.  The discount will end Midnight, Thursday 2nd December - and we could all do with a little help with not overspending at xmas, right?!



Not only will you enjoy seeing all of the uber talented DT creations on the hop, you can also win prizes!  EVERY blog taking part in the hop is hosting a prize and all you have to do is leave a comment on each post ... so that is 10 chances to win!!! The chosen winner of each blog can choose a single Magnolia, C.C. Designs or High Hopes Rubber Stamp of their choice.

So here is my card using the very sweet High Hopes Peeking Ginger (you can buy him here with of course 25% off!) - isn't he just yum?!!  The sentiment is also High Hopes and it's just perfect for a bit of fun on those Xmas Cards, don't you think?

So here is the blog hop order in case you get lost on the way...

Start at Bunny Zoe's Crafts blog 

Silvie

Debbie

Mag  

Susie 

Mary (me!)

Tina 

Moni 

Mina 

Nikki 

Rozzy 

The blog hop will remain open all weekend and will close on Midnight, Monday 29th November.  So wanna chance to win?!  Of course you do!  You now need to hop off to the amazing Tina!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock

Stamps: High Hopes Peeing Ginger (you can buy here) and sentiment (Nikki at Bunny Zoe's Crafts will be able to order it for you if it's not in stock)

Mediums: Copic and ProMarkers, Fluffy Stuff, Distress Ink in Antique Linen

Accents: ribbon and pom poms from stash (and I have no idea where I got these from so don't ask!  :)

Tools: Tonic Studios border punch system, Nestabilities rectangle die (inside card)

Naughty or nice?!

Hello everyone, hope you are having a super duper week!  Today's card as GD for Quixotic Inspirations is quite a saucy one and it's definitely going to have to be my hubby's Xmas card!  Yay - I won't be rushing and making his on Xmas Eve like I usually do!!

I've used TGF Cheeky Glamour that you can buy from Quixotic Paperie here.  I love those Cheeky Girls but I'm often at a loss who to use them for, but I bought them anyway cos they are sooo uber cute!  I used the uber cool Ali Edwards font to create the sentiments - and it's free to download too!  You can get it here...  http://lifeartmedia.com/aliedwardsfont

Have you noticed that I've been using "uber" a lot recently?  I wish I'd stop it - it's very annoying!  But it is an uber cool word... Anyway, that's it for me today - another card to share tomorrow!


I am submitting this card into the following challenges:

• Die Cut Dreams Christmas challenge - Christmas anything goes
• PaperPlay - Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
• Papertake Weekly - cut it out (use punches and dies)
• Passion for ProMarkers - old image, new papers (new to me anyway!)
• Totally Papercrafts - snow and snowflakes
• Stampin with the Dragon - inspired by a holiday song (Santa Claus is coming to town - and now that's stuck in my bloomin' head)
• Creative Inspirations - anything Christmassy
• Anyone for Anya - girlie fun

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock

Stamps: TGF Cheeky Glamour
Mediums: ProMarkers, Glamour Dust (on her dress)
Accents: Stampin Up ribbon, Bazzill floss
Tools: EK Success border punch, Nestabilities label die (inside card)

Totally Ladybug Tuesday challenges you with a sketch!

It was so great to see all those submissions in last week's Totally Ladybug Tuesday challenge - I hope you are enjoying them as much as us DTs are!  This week Michele has challenged us with a sketch that initially got me very excited and then panicky when I just couldn't get it right!  I decided to scrap my original ideas that were far too complicated and instead went for a simple style...

I just can't stop using that original Nikki - she is sooo cool!  Just the way I hope I look when I'm out with the Labs, lol!  And the sentiments are so versatile and I love that I can mix and match them for the outside and inside of my cards.

I don't think that white gel pen worked - that will teach me to think too hard!!  But isn't that ribbon just gorgeous?  It's from My Favorite Things and I just love those ruffles!  And you can't really see the added extras like the Glamour Dust on the detail on her dress and Glossy Accents on her glasses - but they make her look better, I promise!!

The other DT cards are just totally gorgeous so if you want to see their gorgeousness here are their links...

Kerry - Head Ladybug

Lisa J - Deputy Ladybug

Pinky

Tams

Sue

Anita

Hayley

Gaelle

Michele

Caz (our lovely November guest designer!)

Pami (our other lovely guest designer!)

I am also submitting my card into the Make it Monday challenge to just share your creativity - I love this blog!!  Michelle shares the creativity of others so you get to see lots of different styles - just a brilliant idea!



Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock

Stamps: Ladybug Crafts Ink Original Nikki (buy here), LCI Its Only Words 2 sentiments (you can buy here), Hero Arts dots background stamp
Mediums: Copic markers, Glamour Dust (on the detail of her dress), Versamagic ink in Pretty Petunia, Glossy Accents (on her glasses)
Accents: My Favorite Things ribbon, oval chipboard painted white, white ribbon from stash, Doodlebug button
Tools: EK Success border punch and Nestabilities label die (inside card)

Totally Gorjuss - non traditional Christmas colours

As most of you know, orange is my most fav colour ever so that uber cheeky Lisa J challenged me to make an orange Xmas card!  Luckily this week's challenge over at Totally Gorjuss is to make a Xmas card with non traditional colours and I do like to be different...

 This week's challenge is sponsored by Crafters Companion and I am sure you all have Xmas cards you can submit this week!  Go take a look at the other gorgeous DT cards on the blog here.

Now I need some advice from you!  How on earth can I fix it so that the glitter stays put?!!!  It's driving me nuts, it's everywhere!  Now don't laugh, but I sprayed some hairspray on it and it helped a bit, but there must be something out there that can help - advice strongly appreciated!  Anyone with a fix for this will get some blog candy from me!


Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, My Minds Eye Colorful Christmas

Stamps: CC Designs snowflake and sentiment stamps
Mediums: Doodlebug glitter, brown chalk (around gingerbread man), Sakura white gel pen
Accents: ric rac ribbon, Doodlebug orange gems, black flat backed pearls
Tools: Sizzix Bigz gingerbread man, Nestabilities lable dies, Martha Stewart snowflake border punch, EK Success border punch (inside card)



To distress or not to distress?!

So I tried a shabby chic/vintage style card again and I think it's come out ok but I just can't do the style justice!  I think I lack the ability to embellish properly - it scares me to add too much to a card!  Sort of spoils the clean, neat lines, lol!!  Anyhow, here it is...

You can see from the close up that I used Stickles glitter glue to add a bit of shimmer.  I think it saved the card from being so flat and boring!  Anyway, I still adore those Magnolia stamps so I am going to have to keep on trying with this style!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

• The Sweet Stop challenge - sketch
• A Spoonful of Sugar - distressing
• Magnolia Down Under - shabby chic
• Stampavie and More - monochrome

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock
Stamps: Magnolia Tilda with wedding presents, CC Designs sentiments, Hero Arts script background
Mediums: Promarkers, Stickles glitter glue, Distress Ink in Antique Linen, Elzybells chocolate ink
Accents: lace, pins, button and crochet flower from stash, Bazzill floss
Tools: Martha Stewart heart border punch and Nestabilities label die (inside card)

Love is sweet - but better than chocolate?!

I love chocolate - in any form, but mainly in bar form!  When I saw this gorgeous Meljen Designs image, I just had to have it!  And here is my first card made with it...

Yum, huh?!!  It makes my mouth water just looking at it!  right, now to do some paid work!!


I am entering this ito the following challenges:

• Meljens Designs challenge - food! (and chocolate is my fav food ever)
• Whmsey Inspirations - any Whimsey creations
• Simon Says Stamp and Show - whatever that makes you happy (chocolate! And I also love the colouring)
• Make it Monday - share your creativity!
• Aud Sentiments - something you are thankful for (chocolate! It unfailing makes me feel content!)
• Stamp Something - use a digi
• Paper Sundaes challenge - use at least two (punches and ribbon)

   

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, checked paper from stash
Image/stamps: Meljen Designs Bear with Heart (includes sentiment), Elzybells sentiment (inside card)
Mediums: Promarkers, Sakura white gel pen
Accents: buttons from stash, Stampin Up ribbon
Tools: Martha Stewart heart lace border punch, Fiskars scallop border punch, Nestabilities rectangle die (inside card)

Totally Ladybug Tuesday Xmas Sparkle

It's Tuesday which means it's another fun day over at the Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge blog!  This week uber talented Sue has challenged us to make something with the theme "Xmas Sparkle".  Now you'd think this would be easy peasy, wouldn't you?  But I spent days trying to make my card work!!!  I do use glitter on my cards, but I tend to add them as an afterthought - actually put some thought into it upfront made my brain sizzle!  Still, it's so easy to make something gorgeous with those gorgeous Ladybug Crafts Ink stamps I couldn't go far wrong...

   

Isn't she gorgeous?  This is Christmas Window Ruby (you can buy her here and you can get 15% if you buy by end of November).  I kept singing "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" throughout the creative process so now I'm all Christmas'ed out, lol!! 

You can't really see it from the photo, but there is so much sparkle going on in this card, it's blinding!  Firstly, I embossed the snowflake background onto white card, then stamped it all over with a glue pad and sprinkled Glamour Dust all over it.  Secondly, I used my precious Core'dinations Gemstone cardstock by DCWV in this wonderful bronze colour in the border and matting.  Lastly, I finished it all off with sparkly embellishing - shimmery organza ribbon, Marvy Just Glitter pen in gold (on the tree ornaments and window decoration), Glamour Dust on the fairy wings (of course!), shimmery fibres, snowflake punched out of DCWV glitter card and a touch of Viva Decor opaque gloss pen on the mistletoe berries.  Phew!

Now pop over to the other DT's blogs for their sparkly creations!

Kerry - Head Ladybug

Lisa J - Deputy Head Ladybug

Pinky

Tams

Sue

Anita

Hayley

Gaelle

Michele

Caz (our wonderful November guest designer!)

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

• ABC Christmas challenge - winter wonderland
• Just Add Ink - just add Christmas
• Sweet Stampin challenge - it's all about snowflakes
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Christmas
• BasicGrey challenges - wings
• Secret Crafter Saturday challenge - sparkle and shine
• Creative Inspirations - anything Christmassy
• Die Cut Dreams Christmas challenge - snowflakes
• Lili of the Valley - anything goes
• The Stamp Man - Christmas
• The Crafty Pad - Christmas sparkle

Wow, that must be a record number of challenges in one go for me!!!

Paper/cardstock: Papermania white cardstock, Core'dinations Gemstone cardstock, BasicGrey Wassail paper pack

Stamps: Ladybug Crafts Ink Christmas Window Ruby (buy here), CC Designs sentiment, Papermake sentiment inside card

Mediums: Copic markers, Glamour Dust, Viva Decor glossy pen in opaque, Marvey Just Glitter pen in gold

Accents: fibre from stash, organza ribbon (from Bunny Zoe's here)

Tools: Martha Stewart border punch, Quickutz embossing folder, Nestabilities label die (inside card), Woodware snowflake punch, Tim Holtz distressing tool

Is that really made by me?!!

Today I have a very different style of card for you and my second one as Guest Designer for the Quixotic Inspiration blog.  Usually I like my bright, playful cards, but I do like to experiment so my style doesn't become too samey.  This card is the complete opposite to what I make - elegant!  I was inspired by these gorgeous papers by Websters Pages (you can buy from Quixotic Paperie here) and a gorgeous sentiment stamp by Stempelglede (you can buy here) and here it is...

 

Sooo, what do you think?!!  It's so different for me - not sure if I've done those papers justice!!  The sentiment says "Magic is believing in yourself.  If you can do that, you can make anything happen."  I'm getting so soppy in my old age, lol!!  I have so many friends I would love to send this to so I'll have to make some more!

Unfortunately my card doesn't qualify for this month's challenge over at the Quixotic Inspiration blog to make a card that's NOT square or rectangle (and you all know how much I luuurve my squares!).

Enjoy the week and see you tomorrow for Totally Ladybug Tuesday!

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill cardstock, Webster's Pages Hollywood Vogue & WonderFALL paper pack

Stamps: Stempelglede Magic sentiment (you can buy here)
Mediums: Distress Antique Linen ink
Accents: lace from stash, E-line crystals
Tools: Nestabilities scallop rectangle and rectangle dies and label die inside card

If elephants could fly...

Happy Sunday everyone!  That sounds more upbeat than I'm feeling - the grey, grey, wet weather in the UK is dampening my spirits!  Hey ho, I complain vigorously about the weather about this time of the year and do you think anything's changed?  Nope!  You'd think I'd learn...

Today's card did put a smile on my face when I put together this morning - fresh and bright, the way I like my cards!

I made this card for this week's Totally Stampalicious challenge to make a card with the theme of Monday Blues.  I've had this little cutie coloured in for about a month but never had the inspiration to make a card with it - it was obviously fate for it to be made especially for this challenge, lol!!

You can see in the close up those small white pearly dots in the background - I've found this amazing stuff called Viva Decor at Quixotic Paperie,  These mediums come in gloss gel, pearl and glitter and are amazing because they hold their 3D shape.  Also, unlike the some other makes - it dries properly rounded without the usual peaks you need to tap out.  They come in tubes with small nozzles that are really easy to squeeze so you can create just the right size of pearls you want and are easy to draw lines with too.  I've used white opaque gloss gel - it's even more gorgeous in real life!  You can buy them here.

Those eagled eyed out there will notice that I haven't done the inside yet - I've forgotten which blue ink I used for the background so I'll have to find some time to find it again!  That'll have to wait to later on as we're off now to walk the dogs - yep, in the pouring rain, hmmph...


Paper/cardstock: Papermania white cardstock, DCWV vibrant blue cardstock

Stamps: Bugaboo Critter Balloon elephant (digi you can buy here), Hero Arts background
Mediums: Copic markers, Glossy Accents (on balloon), Viva Decor glossy pen in opaque, Versamagic blue ink
Accents: ribbons from stash, American Crafts rub on sentiments

Tools: EK Success border punch

A Totally Gorjuss traditional coloured Xmas!

I was a very naughty girl last week and missed the Totally Gorjuss challenge - how dare work get in the way, hmmph!  But I'm back and this week we are challenging you to create something with traditional Christmas colours - a nice easy one!  And this week you have the chance of winning a Magnolia stamp - and you can never get enough of those cuties, right?!  So here it my card....

 

Of course I used traditional colours, but I couldn't help but use a sassy Lil Lolita image.  I love the sentiment inside this card - "Friends are the true gift of the season" - I'm generally an objective, practical person but when it comes to family and friends, I'm as wet as they come!

The other DT cards are as fab as always - hop on over to take a look at them at the challenge blog here!

I am also entering this card into the following challenges:

Tickled Pink - sketch
The Creative Cottage - someone special at Xmas
Cute Card Thursday - anything goes
Just Add Ink - just add Christmas
Inkspirations challenges - red, green, kraft and white

Paper/cardstock: Bazzill kraft cardstock, BasicGrey Wassail paper pack
Stamps: Lil Lolita Lylah (you can buy from Bunny Zoe's Crafts here)
Mediums: Copic markers
Accents: pearls, lace and red satin ribbon from stash
Tools: Nestabilities label die (inside card)