The Magic of Colour

Don't be square

2012-02-17T08:17:00.002Z

Time once again for a new challenge at the Cardmadfairy and this time she has requested anything but square. I'm hoping to see some really inspirational projects like the ones the design team have made.

I have used the inspire image and as it features a picture of my highly talented niece Lynsey who is a writer I decided to make her an early birthday card, one less job to do in June! I also used one of the birds from the three crows set as it has writing on it.

I discovered a new stationers near me a few days ago, I was only looking for printer paper but to my surprise it had quite a large range of craft items including Tim Holtz Ranger. Needless to say I didn't just go home with paper!

So the papers with writing are from a Ranger pad, the other papers are from a Docraft pad, the metal letter is from an Armani jeans belt I got from a charity shop, I am always on the look out for things to craft with, and I have had the feathers for donkeys years. Oh and I also bought a set of Ranger embossing folders which I tried out for the first time, I also used my hot glue gun for the first time to put a card together and I will definitely be doing them both again soon!

Entering these challenges:

http://alotarubberstamps.blogspot.com/ shaped card
http://ccmonthlychallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://justtracyscraftschallenge.blogspot.com/ for a female with a flowing element (ribbon)
http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/search/label/challenges pink and brown with ribbon
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ things with wings
http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/ something spooled, metal, sentiment
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ distressed
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ wings
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ use your stash
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ always anything goes

Hearts

2012-02-03T16:45:00.000Z

Hello Folks time to play a new game with the Cardmadfairy! There were some FABULOUS entries for the Ribbons and Bows challenge and I have had a truly inspirational tour of Blogland.
This time guess what we are asking for! Ok not too hard to guess, it is the time of year when our thoughts turn to affairs of the heart is it not? So we are asking you to use hearts on your project. Jenni has some beautiful heart images which you can find here. The design team have made some fabulous cards with them which we hope will inspire you.
My card has actually got three different Cardmadfairy images on it! The heart which is a freebee, the banners and the bird.
I had it in my mind I wanted to create the idea of the banners you see at a street party so I printed the image in different sizes and layered them up. I was going to leave the background white but I got a free set of papers with a magazine and the sky paper jumped out at me. I wasn't sure what to do with the bottom half and I was going through my various paper pads and this one put me in mind of a garden wall with some wintry flowers in front of it which really liked with the heart . Lastly I added the little bird on the heart which again is layered to give it a 3D effect.

The hearts are coloured with distress ink and covered with glossy accents.

Entering these challenges.
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Red,white and black
http://karensdoodlesnetherlandschallenge.blogspot.com/ Make a card for someone special (my lovely husband)
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ Hearts
http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.com/ Be my valentine
http://daisydoodlescreativechallenges.blogspot.com/ Valentine's day
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Always anything goes
http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ Hearts/Valentines
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/ Use a Digi
http://trulyscrumptiouschallenge.blogspot.com/ Love and hearts

Ribbons and Bows and a Winter Wedding

2012-01-20T18:35:00.000Z

Time for a new challenge at the Cardmadfairy and the theme this time is
Ribbons and Bows.
There are some beautiful creations to inspire you over at the Challenge and quite a few of the cards have been made with brand new images. Also there is a lovely freebie just right for all the Valentines cards we will all be making soon so pop over to the shop for a look!

My card this week for the challenge is going to be winging it's way across the pond to the daughter of one of my good friends who is getting married in Canada. She loves to make cupcakes and so I asked Jenni if she would be able to make a new digi stamp I could use for her. I love the result and I am sure she will too. I coloured the image with my trusty promarkers using some of the snap on fine nibs on the detailed bits, aren't they great? As my sewing machine was out I decided to try adding stitching to a card for the first time and I love the result so I will definitely be trying it again. The flowers are from Wild Orchid and the ribbons and heart charm are from my stash.
Entering these challenges.
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Romantic card
http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Bows
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Favourite embellishment (flowers)
http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/ New beginnings
http://shellysimagesblog.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/ Pink,pearls,flowers
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ New beginnings
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Always anything goes

Inspired

2012-01-08T13:49:00.000Z

One of my Christmas presents this year was a sketch book from my daughter Emma. I have been thinking about doing some art journaling recently so it was the perfect thing to get me started.

My multi-talented big sister Jenni has taken the She Art course run by Christy Tomlinson and inspired by the fantastic work she has done I decided to have a go. Jenni's latest piece was inspired by the lyrics of a song by one of her favourite bands which got me thinking about Emma and the band she is in and some of their songs. One song starts with the line "There are voices in my head telling me what should be said" which struck me as the perfect line to start a journal with! If you are interested you can hear the song here!

So here is the result which I am pretty pleased with, the only problem is I had tidied all my crafts away as Emma is coming to stay for a few days and her old bedroom is my craft room, so now I have to go and tidy all over again! Ah well when the Muse come what can you do?

Lastly I just wanted to show off the canvas I created for my lovely husband Steve who is a cycling fanatic.

Happy crafting everyone!

http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything but a Christmas Card

http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com/ Something New

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes

http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/ Something new

http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ All things new

Thank You

2012-01-06T17:47:00.002Z

Well here we are in 2012 I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and peaceful New Year. I managed to get north to Scotland this year after being thwarted by the snowy weather the previous two and had an enjoyable stay with Jenni and the rest of the family. The journey back was a trifle hairy driving through gale force winds and horizontal rain but it was worth it, I'm not sure how many more Christmases I will have with my mum who asked me for the first time what my name is but who was very pleased to see me none the less.
Anyway on to our new challenge at Cardmadfairy. I trust everyone had some wonderful gifts to be thankful for, so what better way to start the year than by saying Thank You. I had lots of new crafting supplies and also some gift vouchers for my local craft shop so I am looking forward to testing them all out and having a spend when I need something new! I wanted to keep my card fairly clean and simple for a change so I used the sheet of dotty blooms which you can find here and I printed them out onto patterned paper. I used some pigment powder from Blonde Moments to give them a bit of sparkle and added white Sakura pen over the black dots to highlight them. The flourish was part of my Christmas present from Jenni and the papers were free with a magazine which I can't find at the mo so I can't give credit but it was a great freebie and included some lovely stamps which I can't wait to try out! I used the cut out flowers from the Martha Stewart border punch to finish off my flowers and I printed the sentiment from the computer.

Entering the following challenges:
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ The Colour Blue + 1 other colour
http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes Using Your New Stash
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/Shiny New Year (Use something Shiny on Your Creation)
http://digistamps4joy.blogspot.com/ something old(button), something new(papers and stamp )
http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/ something new (papers and stamp )
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ open
http://www.ibrakeforchallenges.blogspot.com/clean and simple
http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.com/ Use Something New
http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ Giving Thanks/ Thank You
http://www.trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com// Thank You
http://cinspirations.blogspot.com/ With Thanks

Playing Tag

2011-12-09T16:28:00.000Z

Time for a new challenge at Cardmadfairy and this time it is to make a tag, something I have never done before. I bought some die cut tags a couple of years ago and haven't done anything with them up 'til now. I love all the vintage style cards and tags I keep seeing and when I got the new Simply Homemade magazine and saw the free papers I knew they would be perfect. I made a huge snowflake the old fashioned way by cutting into a folded circle then I covered it with glitter glue which I then heated like embossing powder and it puffed up. I should apologize for the picture, my camera is broken and I had to take the tag to work and take a quick picture there and it isn't the best. I used the perforated cutter on my trimmer to make the paper rosettes and the lace trim is from Wild Orchid crafts. The little kitty is of course Cardmadfairy's Christmas kitty. Our sponsor this time is the fabulous A Day for Daisies who generously gave a few images for the design team to work with and are offering a voucher to purchase 3 of their gorgeous images - check out the new'Cozy' release over in the shop now.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

http://artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com-try something new to you
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Any Winter Holiday Sentiment
http://www.charismacardz.blogspot.com/ no cards
http://crimbo-crackers.blogspot.com/ embossing
http://pixieduststudiopixiechallenge.blogspot.com/ glitter and bling
http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.com/ Non traditional Christmas colours
http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ Snowflakes
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ Vintage Christmas
http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/ Tags, tags and more tags!

Winter wonderland

2011-11-25T16:29:00.000Z

The response to the Texture challenge over at Cardmadfairy has been fantastic and I have visited some amazingly talented card makers and seen such a wide variety of ideas. It really is staggering how many people enjoy crafting and are who are also willing to share their work through tutorials. I spend far too much of my time in blogland but I find it so inspiring. It was also my turn to pick the winner and top three.
Anyhoo the new challenge, baring in mind Christmas is nearly upon us is to create a WINTER WONDERLAND let's see all your cold, wintry and snowy projects this time, the team have been busy making some fabulous cards using a mixture of Cardmadfairy images alongside some gorgeous new images provided by this week's sponsor Meljens who this week have a very generous 50% off their normal prices - so be sure to go and check out their store!
My card has been made with one of their images which I really enjoyed playing with.
Also entering the following:
.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/ Christmas card & snowflake
/lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ Christmas
thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ Christmas Sparkle + red, green, gold
.scrapbooksisters.blogspot.com/ Christmas
whimsical-designs.com/ add texture
.4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ snowflakes
audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ winter holiday sentiments
trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com// unusual Christmas (image)
charismacardz.blogspot.com/ snowflakes
digidoodleshopsbest.blogspot.com/ animals

Something new

2011-11-19T18:47:00.000Z

I just wanted to share something new that I have never tried before. My lovely talented big sister Jenni recently started making She Art canvases and enjoys it so much and has made such beautiful pictures that I decided I wanted a piece of the action. I had a look at some tutorials on YouTube and decided to combine a few different styles to make something of my own.
I have made it for my daughter Rachael for Christmas so I hope she likes it. The papers are from an old book about Edinburgh which is where she dreams of living once she leaves Uni in Winchester and the hair style is how she usually wears her hair. I used lots of different stamps round the edges and the butterfly is from a beautiful paper napkin.
I really had a fabulous messy time making it so will definitely be having another go soon. Unfortunately I have to do a different type of painting (decorating) first!
http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/ Make a gift/Anything but a card (hope a canvas counts)
http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/ Always anything goes
http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.com/ Anything but a card (hope a canvas counts)
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ Open

Textured Teddy

2011-11-11T16:29:00.000Z

Well here we are nearly in the middle of November and it is still warm enough in the south of England to not need the heating on. I'm not sure what happened to the threats of snow by the start of the month but I'm definitely not complaining. Lets hope we can get all the way to January without it!

The challenge for the next two weeks is - Texture: it can be embossing, fabric, embellishments or anything that adds some extra texture to your creation.

I chose the image called Teddy Love this time which you can find here with all of Jenni's lovely images. I coloured it with Promarkers and tried to make the teddy look fluffy. I used a mask to then stamp behind the image instead of having the usual white background. I embossed the gold paper with an embossing plate but I'm afraid I wasn't able to take a good enough picture, you can just about see it at the top of the image. To get some texture into the flowers I took apart some old plastic daisies I have had for donkeys years and added the centres to some new flowers from Wild Orchid and I punched out a felt flower to go behind. It has a few crystals in the centre but again my picture could be a lot better!

The challenges I would like to enter are:

craftyourpassionchallenges Anything goes & brown

daisydoodlescreativechallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes with a Digi

http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/ Use orange

http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/ Texture

http://createmepink.blogspot.com/ Use flowers

http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/ Young at heart

http://diekreativenstempelfreunde.blogspot.com/ Orange/brown

http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/ Up-cycle/re-cycle ( flower centres)

Friendship

2011-10-28T09:00:00.002+01:00

Goodness me the end of half term week already Christmas before we know it! I am enjoying a few unexpectedly sunny days in Scotland so will have to keep this brief. I am staying with my big sister Jenni who is definitely one of my best friends so the theme of the next challenge couldn't be more apt. We would like to see any project with the theme of Friendship this time.

I used the Cardmadfairy image called 'Young Love' and coloured it so it has a faded vintage feel. I used an old border stamp and the Tattered Rose alcohol ink pad to stamp round the edge and then added some fake stitches with a jelly roll pen. The ice cream paper is a Basic Grey and the flowers are Wild Orchid.

The entries for the Spots and Stripes Challenge at Cardmadfairy were fabulous, I really enjoyed looking at them. This time Jenni is sponsoring the challenge herself and the prize will be 5 fabulous CARDMADFAIRY digi images of your choice.

I am also entering these challenges:

http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/ use old supplies-trims

http://cachallenge.blogspot.com/ remember

http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ "fallen" in love

http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.com/challenge-17-lace-it-up

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ always anything goes

Charisma Cardz - - Anything Goes

Paper Crafting Journey - Use a Digi (image)

I Love Promarkers - Cute

Paper Pretties - Embellish

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
digidoodleshopsbest.blogspot.com/ anything goes

anything goes

Spots and Stripes

2011-10-14T17:21:00.000+01:00

Lots of fabulous NOT 'Too Early for Christmas?' entries for our last challenge. Really inspiring. Our challenge this time at Cardmadfairy is to use spots and stripes. Sponsored by Whimsy Stamps who are offering a prize of 5 of their fabulous designs.
As I was in the Christmas zone I decided to use another christmas image for this challenge in fact I combined two images which you can find here to create a Wintry scene. I wanted to make an easel card for a change and I saw a really straight forward tutorial for using ready made cards which I have a stack of, to make one but unfortunately I can't remember where. I used the free papers that came with the Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine, a really fab free gift. I cut the edges of the image out by hand before cutting the rest with a circle die, the stopper to hold the card upright is made with two Christmas tree shapes which came from a set I bought at Lakeland Plastics years ago and I have never used, I just added some glitter glue to add some sparkle. The lace doily came from a set of ten I bought from the kitchen department of the local pound shop, bargain! I wasn't intending to use them for crafting but it was the perfect fit.

http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/ unused stash
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/ 1 technique, 2 embellishments, 3 papers
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ use Fall colours
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ always Anything goes
http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com boys
http://woodwareusa-clearstamps.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com anything goes
http://jffchallenge.blogspot.com/ kitchen finds (doily)
http://squigglefly.blogspot.com/ yipes stripes

Too Early for Christmas

2011-09-30T17:44:00.002+01:00

Well I think the title says it all really, especially as we are in the middle of a heatwave! However it is inevitable, Christmas will be upon us before we know it and it really isn't ever too early to start preparing.
Over at Cardmadfairy the challenge is 'Too Early for Christmas' and we would love to see what you are all getting ready for Tinsel Time.
We are very pleased to have three new DT members who are all very talented crafters so there is an even bigger selection of inspiration to get your creative juices flowing! The prize this time is a full set of the new Christmas Digi images that Jenni has created.
My image this time is one of Jenni's new Christmas set which you can check out over here. The papers are a freebee set which came with Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine. I used a punch to make the felt snowflakes and added some glitter glue which I also put on the scarf and hat. As always I coloured the image with my trusty Promarkers and I added some Distress Ink round the image.
I will be entering the following challenges:
http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ Die cuts/ punches
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/ Distressing (round circle)
http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/ Die cuts/ punches
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ It's a Girl thing
http://www.4craftychicks.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://magicalmondaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Christmas in September
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ Always anything goes

Layers

2011-09-16T17:45:00.000+01:00

It's a beautiful afternoon here in the south of England and I really should take advantage and get out in the garden so I will have to keep this short and sweet. Our challenge over at Cardmadfairy this time is Lots of Layers. I love this image with her pretty party dress. She is called Chloe and she reminds me of my little girl when I had to leave her at parties and she went all shy and didn't want me to go, now she is happy to party 'til 3 in the morning! You can buy this image and all the other Cardmadfairy ones over here. I wanted to use her because her dress is layered, perfect for the challenge. I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with!
The sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo. Some of the other DT members have used their images so there are a variety of cards to inspire you. The winner will be able to choose 7 digi stamps.

I am also entering these challenges:
http://www.papercraftstar.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://rubysrainbow.blogspot.com/ for a girl
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ vintage/shabby chic
http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/ flowers
http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ flowers
http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/ vintage/distressed
http://diecutdreams.blogspot.com/ flowers
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ always anything goes
http://cceestampers.blogspot.com/ pretty in pink include lace/doily
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/ girlie girl

A Veritable Bouquet

2011-09-02T09:39:00.000+01:00

Good morning All time for a new challenge at CardmadFairy and this time we are asking you to Add some Flowers to your project. Not a hardship for most I think as they are a staple in the field of card decoration!

I enjoyed looking at all the fab cards with buttons in the last challenge, it's so interesting to see all the different ideas and ways of using the same item.

This time the challenge is being sponsored by none other than the Cardmadfairy herself so a chance to win the new set of digi stamps which includes Imogen. Definitely worth a go!

The image I have used is one of the newest in the collection, her name is Imogen and she is really cute. I used a set of V&A papers to paper piece her dress and also for the other papers which I tore and then inked with distress ink . I used a two piece punch, one punch cuts and the other embosses, to make the blue flowers and also the orange one. I doodled the trailing leaves with a Jellyroll pen and used the flower cutouts from a Martha Stewart border punch to add some detail with some half pearls on top to match the larger flowers.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/ flowers flowers flowers
http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/ all dressed up
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ always anything goes
http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/ paper piecing
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/ distressing and tearing
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/ dies and punches
http://digistamps4joy.blogspot.com/ handmade flowers
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/ border punch
http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/ flowers
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ Autumn Colors and/or Favorite Embellishments(flowers)
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/ handmade flowers
http://someoddgirl.blogspot.com/ paper piecing

Silk Scarf Painting for a change

2011-08-28T18:14:00.002+01:00

I can't believe the summer holidays are nearly over and in one short week it will be time to go back to school again. I have tried to cram in lots of crafty things I was storing up but there is never enough time for it all. Especially when I spend far too much time checking out what other people have been up to on their blogs and don't leave enough for actually doing things myself!

Anyway years and years ago I gave my lovely MIL a kit for decorating her own silk scarf which at the time she was thrilled about but as it turns out not confident enough to actually have a go at. Recently she gave it back and asked if I would like to do it for her as she was worried she would spoil it. Well you don't have to ask me twice to have a go at anything crafty so I cleared a space and here is the result! Luckily the paints, which must be at least 5 years old, hadn't dried up and there were really clear instructions for mixing the different colours on the pack.

The instructions were really easy to follow and as there were several designs to choose from I opted for the one that wasn't too structured as I have a habit of not following rules or recipes too closely!

After wetting the ready made scarf I twisted the fabric into lots of swirls and then it was just a case of applying the watery paint wherever I felt like it loosely following the instructions.

Choosing an abstract design meant there is no right or wrong!

When I was happy with the design I let it dry.

Then all I had to do was iron the scarf for 5 minutes and it was all done.

I have to say I was thrilled with the results and so is MIL! There was only one problem however, I now have a whole bunch of silk scarf paint left over and an urge to make lots more. Luckily good old Ebay has a shop with ready made, ready to paint silk scarves. I have a feeling quite a few of my relatives can expect an exclusively designed silk scarf in their stocking this Christmas!

Now a first, I am going to try joining in a link party. I have enjoyed looking at countless fabulous blogs with so many clever crafty ideas this time I decided to share too....I just need to work out how!

I am linking up at

http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/

http://simplydesigning.blogspot.com/

http://makingtheworldcuter.com/blog/

Birthday Buttons

2011-08-19T09:15:00.000+01:00

Our new challenge at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days is Use Buttons. This time the challenge is sponsored by Hope Jacare find her Digi stamps here.

There is also a DT call so if you would like the chance to join a design team pop over and have a look.

We had some fantastic entries in the Summer Holidays challenge and I had great fun hopping round Blog land looking at them.

My card this time was made with someone in mind, my beautiful daughter Emma is 23 this year which I find hard to believe. She sings in a band which they describe as Indie, funk, rock so you can see where I am coming from in my design! All three images are by Cardmadfairy. I coloured the images with her two favourite colours (purple and green) and peach. When I checked my button box to see if I had anything suitable I was really pleased to find one that fitted the bill exactly. Unfortunately when I started to put all the elements together I found the button just wouldn't fit into the overall design so I will have to save it for another occasion. I have added a picture of it so you can see how well it would have fitted in, ah well.

The music in the background is some wrapping paper I bought about 15 years ago when I first started making cards, I don't remember there being any of these fantastic designer papers around then, certainly if there were I wasn't aware of them. I remember using wallpaper and all sorts! The patterned paper is Basic Grey. The ribbon is a piece of trim I bought in London at MacCulloch&Wallis, a fabulous place to find haberdashery, and the heart buttons are from my local craft shop The Art of Craft where I spend far too much money!

I would like to enter these challenges.

http://emeraldfaeries.blogspot.com/ birthdays

http://littlemissmuffetchallenges.blogspot.com/ multiple images

http://someoddgirl.blogspot.com/ complimentary colours (violet/yellow-green)

http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://stampwithsarahkay.blogspot.com/ girlie

http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com -spots-stripes

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ birthdays/celebrations

http://aifactorychallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ always anything goes

Summer's here at last!

2011-08-05T09:14:00.000+01:00

Morning All, thanks for stopping by. First week of the school holidays over already and finally the sun came out. I spent a few lovely days in Scotland with Jenni but couldn't stay long because my daughter Rachael and her friend are staying for the whole month working at the Edinburgh Festival. We spent a lovely day in Edinburgh with our younger sister Karen at the reopening of the Chamber Street Museum which was fantastic,well worth a visit. The only disappointment was the fact that they have removed the fish tanks from the grand entrance which have always been there and are a memory from our many childhood visits. Also Jenni had donated some catfish which had become too big for her tank at home and we kind of want to know what happened to them. No-one seemed to know!

While I was there we had a chance to get out in the garden and that is what inspired my card this time. The summer holidays is our theme over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days, which is when I get to spend time in the garden enjoying all the flowers and hopefully butterflies, although there have not been so many of those this year. We are sponsored this time by Sandra who is one of the DT and she has put together a prize of bits and pieces to add to your stash.

For my card I used two different Cardmadfairy images, the A4 sheet of dotty flowers and the butterfly. Isn't the butterfly fab? I wanted it to be the main focus of the card but the thing I love about digi stamps is you can make them any size you like.

The patterned paper is from the new pad I recently bought but I only used a little so the card didn't look TOO busy! The plain papers are Basic Gray. The metal corners have been in my stash since the world began!
I would like to enter the following challenges.
http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/ butterflies
http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/ In the garden
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ flowers
http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.com/ summertime
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ summer
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/ things with wings
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ flowers
http://stampwithsarahkay.blogspot.com/ summer
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ anything goes in August
http://aifactorychallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes

Oh so Girly

2011-07-22T09:12:00.003+01:00

The new challenge at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days this fortnight is Oh So Girly. We are being sponsored this time by The Poodles Parlour.
The last challenge Add an Animal was very well supported and I had great fun looking at all the entries and visiting so many cool blogs.
I really love this image as the dress reminds me of the kind we wore when we were young,so many years ago!! She also reminds me of my sister Jenni when she was little, I'm not sure if it was intended as a self portrait but that was what prompted me to use it and to give her red hair. I bought a new pack of papers and my first Martha Stewart punch which I thought would really fit in with the girly theme. I love the butterflies and glitter and the chinzy flowers on the papers. I wanted to make the little blue butterflies which I added to give a focus stand out from the card so I curled some acetate strips with my heat-gun and stuck them to it, it's a bit tricky to see from my poor photography but they actually stand about an inch from the card. The two branches in the foreground which are also a Cardmadfairy image were coloured to match the flowers in the backing paper to try to give a feel of the little girl being surrounded by flowers and butterflies.
I would also like to take part in the following challenges
http://diekreativenstempelfreunde.blogspot.com/ summer
http://kbchallenges.blogspot.com/ use a Digi
http://stampsfun-creativity.blogspot.com/ use a Digi
http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/ flowers
http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/ open
http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/ glitter (on backing paper and flowers)
http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.com/ butterflies
http://shellysimagesblog.blogspot.com anything goes
http://littlemissmuffetchallenges.blogspot.com/ summer

Animals

2011-07-08T17:02:00.001+01:00

Time for a new challenge over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days and this time the theme is to include an animal anywhere on your project. The sponsor this time is Pink Gem who are offering some of their lovely digi stamps to our lucky winner!
I combined two images this time and coloured them as always with Promarkers. I was really pleased to find a button in my box which just happened to have all the colours from the Basic Grey backing papers!
I would like to enter the following challenges
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ recipe
http://littledarlingschallenges.blogspot.com/ favourite colour combo
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ lots of dots
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ stitching
http://ynschallenges.blogspot.com/ use buttons
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ sewing
http://foreverfriendschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ include an animal
http://www.stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ there was a little girl
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ sentiment with at least two words

Taste of the Orient

2011-06-24T09:00:00.001+01:00

Hi All it was lovely looking at all the different cards in our Under the Sea Challenge it really is nice to see all the different ideas out there. Very inspirational.
The new challenge at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days is Taste of the Orient and our sponsor this time is Little Claire's who is offering 3 digi downloads to out winner. Now this is not a type of card I have ever tried before so I was a bit worried but when I checked out my stash of papers I was surprised by the number of different options I had. In the end I decided to use some digi papers from Summer Driggs which I thought were the best match for the new Geisha image at Cardmadfairy. I love the fact that with a digi you can resize the image to suit your design. I found an old book of Japanese prints I had been given years ago for inspiration as I had decided I wanted to give the image a background which I haven't tried before. I used my distress inks and a bit of masking for the background and my Promarkers for the image adding a little sparkle with Sakura gelly roll pens. As I didn't have any oriental embellishments in my stash I drew the fan onto a piece of white Shrink Plastic and added a tassel.
I would like to enter the following challenges.
http://colordare.blogspot.com/ Colour Dare red peach and pear
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/ Sparkly
http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ The letter G(Geisha)
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes
http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/ Anything Goes
http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Use Red
http://rainbowladyschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ Use a digi
http://www.gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com/ Asian Inspiration
http://stampinbsdesignteam.blogspot.com/ Use a friendship sentiment

Underwater

2011-06-10T16:16:00.002+01:00

This time the challenge at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days calls for an Underwater Theme for your project.

The sponsor this time is Stichybear Stamps.

I am just recently back from a lovely visit to Scotland to stay with my sister Jenni. While I was there she made a beautiful shaped card which you can see here for the Teddy Bo challenge and I was so inspired by it I decided to try something similar for this challenge.

I chose to use the Cardmadfairy mermaid image combined with the seaweed which I printed twice. I coloured them with Promarkers and then cut them out. I used a pudding bowl to make the shape of my card before sticking on the Basic Grey backing paper. I layered the images using sticky pads to give the mermaid some dimention. The seaweed in the foreground is actually acetate which I coloured with alchohol inks before cutting into the shape I wanted and blasting it with a heat gun to make it curl. The anchor was a lucky find in my button box.

I am entering the following challenges:

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ anything goes, use a sea image

http://www.cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ things with tails

http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/ mystical creatures

http://designdollies.blogspot.com/ colour combo

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://www.thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/ optional theme shape card

http://jffchallenge.blogspot.com/ use Tim Holtz (alcohol Inks)

Sketch

2011-05-27T08:45:00.004+01:00

This time over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days challenge Jenni has drawn a sketch to follow and also chosen a great colour combo. I have used some of her latest images to create my card. I printed the large flower and cut it out with a scalloped die after I coloured it with Promarkers. Then I printed and cut out the flowers and curled and layered them before adding pearls in the middle. Lastly I coloured the butterfly and cut it out, gluing it on with pinflair to give it a 3D effect and added lace round the image to frame it.

Our sponsor this time is Glitterbabe. Her store Glitterbabe's Digis is stuffed with a huge variety of digi images for every occasion - well worth a visit!

It also fits the following challenges;

http://hippitywithippity.blogspot.com/ flowers
http://houseofgilli.blogspot.com/ flowers
http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/ lavender and lace
http://woodwareusa-clearstamps.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ things with wings
http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/ pearls
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/ Die cuts and lace
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.com/ blossoms and blooms

Rock Star

2011-05-13T19:10:00.001+01:00

Goodness me what a pain! All that time wasted, I had written quite a long post but I am really busy this weekend and don't have the time to repeat it, never mind this post will have to be short and sweet.
This week's challenge over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days is For the Boys which is pretty self explanatory. I have used one of Jenni's new images which I love to make a card for the budding rock star in your life. The budding rock star in my life happens to be a girl so I will have to speak to her about drawing some more new images.
Our challenge is sponsored by MeiFlower who have a fab online shop with a great range of toppers and embellishments for all your cardmaking - a £10 voucher for the shop will go to the lucky winner
I would like to enter the following challenges.
http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ circles
http://promarkerchallenge.blogspot.com/ for a teenager
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ one for the boys
http://www.pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ boyz to men
http://crazychallenge.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://mymumscraftshopchallenges.blogspot.com/ diecuts
http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ colour inspiration

Wedding Day

2011-04-29T08:41:00.001+01:00

Time for another challenge over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days and there couldn't be a more suitable theme for today than Wedding! It will be hard to ignore a certain ceremony that is going on today so you might as well join in and make a card to celebrate someone's big day.

My husband and I (gosh I sound just like the Queen!) actually got married a month after Charles and Diana 30 years ago and I remember us sitting watching their wedding and wishing we had a bit more money than we had at the time to have a more elaborate affair. However given that we are still together and happy thirty years later if I've learned one thing it's the amount you spend on the wedding day definitely isn't the be all and end all! Anyway I wish Willian and Kate and any other couples tying the knot today all the happiness for the years ahead and now back to my card. I used Jenni the Cardmadfairy's digi image of a wedding cake and mounted it on a card heart which I covered on both sides with lilac paper before I distressed the edges. I folded the front of the card in half so the heart is only attached on one side, which is why I had to cover the back as well. The paper is covered in phrases related to weddings which meant I didn't have to worry about where to add a sentiment! The little sprig of flowers at the bottom is meant to remind you of the bride's bouquet, and I added some sticky pearls in the corners to finish them off. All the DT cards are fabulous please go and visit the challenge blog and if you agree be kind enough to leave a comment.

This challenge is sponsored by Whoopsie Daisy Designs who make fabulous digi stamps.

I am entering the following challenges:

http://cookingcraftingcamping.blogspot.com/ use a digi

http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/ weddings

http://mymumscraftshopchallenges.blogspot.com/ flowers

http://www.thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/ royal wedding

http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ flowers

http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/ anything goes

http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/ royal wedding

http://diecutdreams.blogspot.com/ wedding

http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/ here comes the bride

http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/ purple and lace

http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/ wedding

April Showers...

2011-04-15T08:58:00.000+01:00

Hi All, time for a new challenge at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days.This time we are hoping to see lots of cards or projects which have used the following recipe; 1 image, 2 papers and 3 embellishments. My three are flowers, lace and the button. The challenge is sponsored by Waxfruit. The image I have used this time is one of Cardmadfairy's own digital ones which are so easy to use and I love the fact that you can make a digital image any size you like, instead of being restricted by the size of a physical stamp. The papers were actually a freebee from a card magazine which I have had for years , the sticky ribbons come from a set which has been in my bits and pieces drawer for so long I had forgotten all about them and likewise the fabric flowers have been hanging about for donkey's years! I added brads to the centre of the flowers to liven them up and the large flower, leaf flourish and oval are made out of glitterboard from Southfield Stationers. The button and lace are from my stash and lastly I inked the edge of the image with 'worn lipstick' distress ink just to define the edge.
I am entering the following challenges;
http://cookingcraftingcamping.blogspot.com/ use your favourite things (flower embellishment)
http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/ 1 image, two patterned papers, 3 embellishments
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ Spring
http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ pink, blue, purple, green, yellow (use at least three)
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ card for a child
http://thepapervariety.blogspot.com/ use flowers
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ include a digital element - Female Image On Card/project
http://www.flourishes.org/category/challenges/timeless-tuesday/ Flowers, flowers everywhere
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/ April showers
http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ sparkle and bling

2011-04-01T09:42:00.007+01:00

Well here we are on our 5th challenge already at Cardmad Fairy's Digi Days. There were lots of fantastic entries for the Back to Nature challenge and I really enjoyed checking out all your blogs. This time we are turning our thoughts to Easter even though there are unbelievably still four weeks to go! The challenge is sponsored by Chi Chi Memories.

"Chi Chi Memories is the labor of love of talented artist and illustrator Natalie Tong. Natalie's background in graphic design has helped her create the very happy world of Chi Chi Memories. Her line of digi images centers around kids Jordy and Candace and their world of animal friends such as Freddie the elephant and Teddy the bear, among others. Natalie's designs are meant to spread happiness and cheer around blogland. You can visit Chi Chi Memories at the shop (where you can find FREEBIES), the blog and challenges. There is also a Papercraft Planet group for you come share your work with Chi Chi Memories images and chat. We are so excited to be sponsoring CardMadFairy's Digi Day challenge."

For my card I used Jenni's Easter chick image and I printed it out several times so I could cut the bits out. First I cut the bodies out of yellow card and then I coloured the wings and flowers of the last image and stuck them on so it has a slight 3D effect, although my photography doesn't really show it! I made the flowers with a punch and the buttons are from my lovely Mum in Law's button box.

I am entering the following challenges:

http://cookingcraftingcamping.blogspot.com/ use flowers

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ use yellow

http://thepapervariety.blogspot.com/ create your own 1/2/3/ recipe (one image 2 buttons 3 flowers)

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/ Easter

http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ make your own embellishments (flowers)

http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ make your own flowers

http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/ anything goes and handmade flower

http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/ florals

http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/ ribbon but no bow

http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ Spring/ Easter

Cupcake cutie

2011-03-26T17:12:00.001Z

Just a quickie today as I have to get on with other much more boring jobs which mean putting crafting things away for a bit, boo hoo. I really love this image from Lili of the Valley which is actually one I bought for my talented big sister Jenni as a Christmas present but she kindly let me stamp it a couple of times for myself. I really will have to get some of my own. Again I was thinking of my friend whose daughter was in Japan during the earthquake when I coloured it as one of her favourite passtimes is making cupcakes. She is now safely in Canada with her boyfriend so we can all heave a sigh of relief!
I am entering the following challenges;
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Use punches
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/ cupcakes/celebration
http://dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/ celebrations
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ shine on

Friends

2011-03-20T13:03:00.000Z

I coloured this beautiful LOTV image a few weeks ago just because I love it so much and then yesterday I stumbled across their challenge blog and was inspired by the sketch and dashed off to make it into a card. I turned it into a Friends card as one of my friends has been very much in my thoughts this week as her daughter is out in Japan about 60 miles from the reactor plant. She has spent most of the week trying to get her safely home and hopefully by Thursday she will be able to sleep again.
The papers I used are from the new Moulin Rouge collection from Prima which I got from the Happy Daze website and I made the turquoise flowers with a free stamp from Craft Stamper magazine. The larger lilac flower is one I made which I am really pleased with, I need to make some more!
I would like to enter the following challenges;
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ sketch by Bev
http://sugarcreekhollow.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://guylousinimitability.blogspot.com/ I see dots
http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/ something sweet

Back to Nature

2011-03-18T16:44:00.003Z

Hi All! Our challenge this time over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days has been sponsored by Bugaboo who have some fantastic digi images so it is well worth having a go. The theme is 'Back to Nature' which should give plenty of scope for interpretation, especially for all those who love to use lots of flowers etc. on their cards, so I am looking forward to seeing all the entries.
I have used one of Bugaboo's Garden Cat set which are really cute. I stamped the cardstock with a freebie bird stamp which came with Card Stamper magazine and distressed the edges of the flower paper, which I had torn to get a rough edge, with the same distress ink. I also distressed the edges of the image which I coloured with Promarkers. The two large flowers I made myself using a flower punch. I wet them and scrunched them up then when they dried I added the stamen. I am really pleased with how well they match the Basic Gray backing paper. I then added the ribbon and tag .
I would like to enter the following challenges.
http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/ use a digi/Up in the air ( The bird and the cat!)
http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.com/ make your own embellishment (flowers)
http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com// use flowers
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com// colour green
http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ anything goes
http://ccmspotlight.blogspot.com/ make your own designer papers
http://digidoodleshopsbest.blogspot.com/ anything goes

Glitz and Glamour

2011-03-04T09:08:00.003Z

Time for our third challenge over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days already, I can't believe how quickly this year is going! The challenge this time is to make a Glitzy Glamorous project. The challenge is sponsored byStamp-n-Doodle who have some great digi images so please join in. I got this card ready last week because I was due to go up to Scotland during half term to have a delayed family Christmas and I knew I wouldn't have much time this week. I am really glad I did because when we got back to school on Monday we were told the dreaded Ofsted inspectors would be coming for a visit this week!! Panic stations!!! Anyway back to the card, I used a combination of images this time. The bigger image is one of Cardmadfairy's digi images and the other one was a free stamp which came with Stamper magazine (I can't remember who it is by but if I do I will add the information). I liked the writing on it and the way it compliments the main image. The backing paper is a Basic Grey, the black ribbon came with a gift and I had bought the blue one to use on a sewing project but decided it was perfect for this. The crown is Tim Holtz grungeboard which I coloured with a Promarker and the other bits were from my 'stash'.

I would like to enter the following challenges

http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/ -number 131

http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ - Celebrations

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/ -Anything goes + (optional) something old/not used for long time

http://krista-kris-challenges.blogspot.com/ -(1E, JFF) - Colour

http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/ - Girly

http://kbchallenges.blogspot.com/ -anything goes using a Digi

http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/ -Anything goes with a Digi
http://www.stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ - For the Girls

DeStressing

2011-02-18T08:35:00.004Z

Thank you so much for supporting the first challenge at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days. All the cards I saw were fantastic.This weeks challenge over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days is entitled 'Distressed'. I have decided to make a card that fits the brief in more ways than one. First I have made sure it fits by distressing the edges of the backing paper, I also crumpled it and then flattening it out again but you can't really see that in the picture. I also distressed the edges of the image by rubbing it with .....wait for it.....a used teabag! A trick I am sure most mums are familiar with if their children have had to make a project look old and worn for school! And finally my last link to the subject, when you need DEstressing the first thing you reach for? A lovely cup of tea of course! Sorry I couldn't resist.

The image is one of Cardmadfairy's new valentine set which of course you can use at any time of year with the right message and the other image is from a piece of fabric I have had since I first started making cards years ago. It was nice to be able to use it again.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

http://www.bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ Felt or fabric
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ Use a die cut
http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/ Hearts
http://heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com/ Show us your heart
http://ellephantasticchallenges.blogspot.com/ Distressing with love
http://www.craftyhoschallenge.blogspot.com/ Brown and blue
http://digidoodleshopsbest.blogspot.com/ Anything goes
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ Dots
http://guylousinimitability.blogspot.com/ Hearts

At Last

2011-02-04T07:32:00.002Z

Well finally it is time to start Jenni's new Challenge Blog which is called

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge! We have been playing with her beautiful images for a while now, getting a chance to colour them and see how they work and now it is time to share the results with everyone else and give you a chance to play too! The first card I have made is going to be for my husband Steve so I wanted the card to have a bit of a masculine feel. I like the sentiment and how it looks on the card but as we have actually been married for 30 years it is probably a bit redundant! The papers I used are from a pack called V&A for Docrafts, a Basic Grey from a mixed set and the one behind the sentiment is a stamp which I stamped on cream paper and partially coloured to match the roses. The brad is also from the V&A collection. If you haven't seen Jenni's new challenge yet hop over here for a look, we would love it if you could play along.

My card also fits these challenges
Simon says stamp -love is in the air
Crafty creations -inspired by Red Red Rose (by Burns)
Creative Craft World -love
Papertake Weekly -anything goes/flowers
KB Cute Monday -use hearts
Lexi's Creations -valentines
AiFactory Challenge -pink and red
Crafty Purple Frog Challenge -valentine's day/romance
Here is another of the cards I made using one of Jenni's new images.

So the first challenge is 'Romance' and I'm sure you'll agree the images Jenni has created fit the bill. But of course you don't have to use one of her images to enter the challenge it just needs to be a digital image. If you do use one of hers your card will be entered twice. So have fun making your card and good luck!

Birthdays and Butterflies

2011-01-17T20:21:00.000Z

My card this week is actually the fourth I made this weekend but it is the only one I can share as the others are for a new challenge blog which is coming very soon. You can find out about it over here. I coloured the image a few weeks age when I was making Rachael's birthday card but then I decided Jenni's image would be more suitable. I bought a new set of papers by V&A and was so pleased with the results I got on the other cards that I couldn't resist making one more. Ah well, the housework will still be there next weekend!
I was very cross with myself as I had just finished putting it all together when I realised I had got a black mark on the corner of the image... hence the butterfly!
I am entering it in the following:

Pollycraft Monday Challenge -pastel colours
The Crafty Pad -Something new
2 Sisters Challenge -flowers
Creative Inspirations -celebrate
Catch the Bug -birthday
Prairie Fairy Friday -happy birthday

Exciting Challenge News

2011-01-05T18:46:00.001Z

Well I knew that the Fourth of February would be an exciting day as it's Rachael's 20th birthday but now I have another reason. Jenni over at Card Mad Fairy has been putting together a new challenge blog and it is being launched on that day, I have been asked to be on the design team and I am very excited. I can't wait to see what challenges she gives us.
Why not pop over here and have a look at all her fabulous digi stamps.

There will be blog candy for 1 lucky winner as well so why not become a follower and put the blog on your blog roll so you don't miss out!

First card for 2011

2011-01-03T20:22:00.000Z

How many of you, like me, can't believe it is 2011 already? It doesn't seem anything like that amount of time since the new millennium. And what it means to me in particular is that I will no longer be the mother of teenagers as my younger daughter is about to turn 20! Actually I still have a month to go but I wanted to get a head start and make a card for Rachael's birthday in February before I go back to work tomorrow. She is already making plans and dropping hints even though we have only just got Christmas out of the way.

I decided to have a go at something a bit different for a change so I have folded the card in three, I'm sure there must be a proper name for it but never mind. The papers are from a Dovecraft set which I just happened to have out and Rachael said how much she liked them, so that was a no brainer, and a matching Basic Grey one. The image is one of Jenni's which you can find over here and you can see her fantastic work over here too. It is very appropriate as it looks just like her( Rachael not Jenni) . I coloured it with Promarkers and added a little extra detail to the flowers on the dress to echo the flowers on the backing paper I hope Jenni won't mind! As I was following the challenge over at Creative Inspirations which is to use something new I then added two techniques I haven't done before, first a tag with a pocket and then a panel for writing on. Also one of the flowers on the front is made with some new felt I made myself so I hope that is enough 'newness' to fit the criteria.

Finally I thought I would add a picture of my beautiful Rachael to prove how like her the image is!

I am also entering the following challenges:

Catch the Bug -anything goes

Crafty Emma -anything goes

Crazy 4- celebrate something

Mark's Finest Papers -use something new

Crafty Sentiments -anything goes

Digi Doodle Shop's Best -anything goes

Seeing Red

2010-12-05T22:00:00.000Z

I have taken advantage of the travel caos this weekend to encourage my younger daughter to stay at Uni for the weekend instead of coming home with the ulterior motive of getting her Christmas card made. She saw the one I had made for her sister using the same image and liked it so I figured I couldn't go wrong if I used it for hers! The image is one if my sister's which you can find over here. They are on sale at the moment so go and have a look. I coloured it with Promarkers and used a snow flake stamp I have had for ages firstly on card for the big one and then on shrink plastic for the smaller ones. The pearls were actually cream ones but I coloured them with the Promarkers to match. I am entering it in the following challenges;
Wag's n Wiskers -snowflakes
Saturday Challenge -Christmas
Delicious Doodles -use a Digi
Sew Many Cards -snowflakes
Southern Girls -anything using heat
2 Sisters Challenge -sparkly Christmas
Stamp Something -Christmas colours

Another Christmas Card

2010-11-12T18:04:00.000Z

Well it is the weekend again but I knew I would have no time to craft so I have managed to spend some time during the week making a card using another of Jenni's fantastic digi stamps. It really is so easy to just print out an image from the computer and colour it in. The image is called snow baby and it is really cute, can you guess what is in his present!

I made the card with the challenge over at Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge in mind which is red and gold but it also fits with the following;

Christmas Card Challenge

Crafty Little Place -red white and green

Digital Tuesday Challenge -digi stamp and never used stash (image and ribbon)

Buttons

2010-11-07T17:19:00.001Z

So this weekend, not that I'm bitter, my beloved husband was supposed to be off on a mountain biking trip to Wales. I had planned to spend the whole weekend, and this should have included Friday, pleasing no-one but myself. Eat when I want, watch what I want, craft all I want, are you sensing a ' but' yet? Yes you guessed it at the last minute he didn't go and all my plans crumbled. Ok perhaps that sounds a bit melodramatic but I was looking forward to not cooking, watching Strictly and the X Factor without having to Sky+ etc etc!

Anyway I did get some crafting in so I will have to settle for that. I have made this card for the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp which this week is All White. Not the easiest to follow I discovered and also not the easiest to photograph!

I used the image called Buttons which you can find over at Card Mad Fairy Creations along with lots of other Christmas Digi stamps. Then I dug around for ages trying to find anything I had that was white, which it turns out wasn't a lot! The background paper is actually wallpaper which I have had for years and the glitterboard is from Southfield Stationers.

The greeting is a doublesided peeloff which I embossed with sparkly embossing powder and the snowflakes were made with two different punches with sticky pearls added.

I am also entering the following challenges:

ABC Christmas Challenge -winter wonderland

Charisma Cardz Challenge - with love at Christmas

Raise the Bar -use curves

The Stamp Man Challenge - masculine and Christmas

Craft your Days Away -all white

Another Card Mad Fairy Creation

2010-11-02T17:31:00.000Z

Here is the second DT card I have made using one of Jenni's fantastic digi stamps which you can find over here. This one is called Christmas Owl and I decided I wanted three of them, a bit like the three wise men!
That's what I like about digi stamps, you can play about with the size to suit yourself. I coloured them with my Promarkers, luckily I had the right colours to match the background paper which is one of Dovecraft's I think. I went to visit Jenni last week for a few days so I could visit our Mum who has just moved into a care home and I got total Promarker envy when I saw her collection! Definitely need to get more colours. The ribbon is one I picked up years ago from a street market and I am glad I remembered it as I think it ties in just right. You can find this image and lots of others over at Card Mad Fairy's Creations. Please go and have a look.
I am entering this in the following challenges:
Digi Doodle Shop's Best -anything goes
Bee Crafty - Christmas
Secret Crafter -anything that flies
Gingerloft Challenge- buttons
Stamps R us Challenge -buttons and bows

Exciting News

2010-11-01T07:35:00.000Z

Exciting news indeed! My very talented big sister Jenni has been making beautiful card to sell for many years using other people's images. Recently she started drawing her own and selling them on her website Card Mad Fairy. In order to promote her work she decided to put together a design team and I was extremely flattered to be invited to be a member. Please go and visit either of her blogs to see her beautiful work.

I have used the image Christmas Carol to make a card which I will give to my daughter Emma. As I have said before Emma is a singer so any image of someone singing is appropriate for her.

She also loves the colour purple so you can see why I chose that colour! Apart from Jenni's Digi image all of the other elements have come from my stash and I have had them so long I have no idea where they are from although I have a feeling the snowman paper is from Dovecraft.

It also fits the following challenges:

Incy Wincy Designs -lace and pearls

Papertake Weekly Challenge -sparkly and bright

ABC Challenge -glitter

Paper Pretties -square card

Stampavie and more -Christmas

I couldn't Resist.....but now I can!

2010-09-04T12:14:00.001+01:00

My first effort at felting using a resist. I am actually quite pleased with it considering I have only seen the technique being used on a fantastic tutorial from Felting Lessons, well worth a watch and much cheaper than a felting course. I am now feeling confident enough to make a much larger bag using the same technique. Wish me luck!

Because I felt like it.

2010-08-29T12:55:00.000+01:00

Where did the Summer go!

I can't believe there is only 1 week of the school holiday left and all the things I wanted to get done will have to stay on the list until next time.

I did make sure I had time to do some crafting and this card is for a friend who loves her garden.

I used a set of free flower stamps to make the main image and coloured it with Promarkers.

The main background paper is Basic Grey and I think the orange one is Papermania. Everything else is from my stash.

I am entering the following challenges:

Pocket Full of Posies - Winged Things

Magical Monday Challenge - Flowers

Stamping for the Weekend - Anything Goes

I also spent the past week making a variety of felt objects. I started making things out of needle felt last year but really wanted to have a go at wet felting but was a bit worried about the mess! However I found a really good website with some excellent videos and decided to give it a try.

I have to say if you need to deal with any frustration or pent up emotion then wet felting and especially Nuno felting are just the thing. There is something very satisfying about slamming a piece of wet felt into a sink over and over again and having an imaginary conversation with whoever has annoyed you. And you actually end up with something beautiful when you have finished. How good is that!

I'm Ba-ack!

2010-08-08T15:17:00.000+01:00

Well here I am at last. A few very busy months and a passion for Zentangling have left very little time for card making but now that the summer holidays are here and my beautiful daughter Rachael is away in Edinburgh taking part in a Fringe show I have got some crafting time on my hands.

The card I have made is for my other beautiful daughter Emma's 22nd birthday next week. She doesn't read my blog so I should be safe posting it early! She lives in Manchester but is hoping to come home for a few days, which is lucky as I wasn't sure how I was going to be able squash the card into an evelope to post!

To make the card I combined three challenges. The first over at Simon Says, Sing It Baby fits very well for Emma as she loves to sing and I had already chosen this image for her card. The song going round my head as I made it? ' Happy Birthday To You' but the Stevie Wonder version of course. I combined it with Fab and Funky's Spotty, Dotty and Stretchy Stripes and Creative Inspirations Recipe, 5 Flowers, 3 Papers and 1 Ribbon.

I don't know the name of the image as it was given to me by my sister Jenni but the papers are all Basic Grey.

Life Through a Lens

2010-04-25T13:34:00.000+01:00

I was really pleased to see this weeks challenge from Scrap the Art as I needed to make a card for some neighbours who are moving this week. They have lived just along the road for 14 years and my husband Steve particularly will miss them as he and Dean share an interest in scooters and spend hours out in the garage working on them (actually they are usually just gassing!). Gives me time to craft uninterrupted though! ;0)

The stimulus for the challenge this time is a picture by M.C. Esher called Hand with Reflecting Sphere from around 1935. My sister Jenni has made a card with a beautiful flowery take on it over here.

As soon as I saw it I thought of looking into a crystal ball to see the future, which connected with the idea of moving house. I also wanted a chance to use a Zentangle on a card and this really graphic picture with all the different reflections seemed like the ideal opportunity. If you are not sure what a Zentangle is have a look at this blog, it is really relaxing and fun to do. Basically it is just doodling, something anyone can do but I love the effects you can create.

I am also entering these challenges

Polka Doodles - Monochromatic

Saturday Challenge - Distressing

PaperPlay Challenges - No Patterned Paper

Scrap the Art Challenge

2010-04-15T15:27:00.000+01:00

Hi just back from an emotionally draining trip to my Scottish homeland. Well actually I'm half English but as all of my childhood was spent north of the border I feel Scottish. It wasn't the happiest trip I've had as my Mum is not well and is starting to need lots of help. It is hard to come home and carry on as normal knowing that my sisters are having to do my share. It means I will be spending all my school holidays going north to help out but at least I will get to spend more time with my sisters who I usually only see a couple of times a year.

The card I have made (mainly to cheer myself up) is for the challenge over at Scrap the Art. My sister Jenni is on the design team and she has made a beautiful card which you can check out on her blog. This time the artist Paul Klee is the inspiration, specifically his 1922 work entitled Secenio.

One of my favourite colours is orange so it wasn't hard to be inspired. The sort of eyebrow in the painting reminded me of flower petals and recently I found a tutorial on You Tube for making this style of flower which I wanted to try out. I used my deckle edge scissors to cut out all the squares to make them more petal like and drew on the stamens with a Jelly Roll pen. I found a button in my box which looked like the eyes so I was really pleased with that. The lace I have had for years, the flourish is part of a larger one by Tim Holtz and I topped the metallic flowers with half pearls.

I am also entering the following challenges

Divine Diva Challenge ~#26

Allsorts challenge ~ Petals and Pearls

Cute card Thursday ~ Touchy Feely

SophistiCat Challenge ~ So Distressing

Coals to Newcastle!

2010-04-03T09:56:00.000+01:00

Today's card is one that I have made for my sister Jenni's birthday. I am hoping that it has reached her in time for her birthday today but if not ,because of the bank holiday yesterday, here is your card Jenni. Happy Birthday!

A few of the cards I have made previously have featured the same papers by Dovecraft which Jenni has commented on so I have used them again on her card. I decided to follow the challenge over at Simon Says which is 'It's so Distressing'.......which it was, as I had to make the card in record time to get it in the post! I edged to image and the papers, which I distressed with scissors, with Tim Holtz Tattered Rose Distressing ink. The flourish is also one of his made of Grungeboard which I coloured with a promarker. The butterflies are stickers I got from Lakeland years ago, the flowers are a mixture from my stash as is the lace. Both of which I think give it a vintage feel.

I am also entering the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly -open theme

Crafts and Me -wings and things

Creative Card Crew - vintage/aged

Retirement

2010-03-29T19:37:00.000+01:00

My husband, who only ever buys cards for me, went to see our doctor the other day. He surprised me when he came home by stating that as our doctor (of 20 odd years) is retiring we should send him a card to thank him for all his help. Ok I thought I'll just buy one, but then I had a bit of spare time and fancied the challenge of making my first male card. I had a look at some challenge blogs for inspiration but most of them seem to be about Easter or spring at the moment so I plumped for Stamp Something's Doodle challenge as it isn't too specific. Luckily I know the doc plays the guitar in a band so that gave me a focus. I found some Basic Grey paper that reminded me of a fret board and attatched it to some circles and then added some embroidery thread as strings to make part of a guitar. Then I found some male papers in my stash which had a sentiment that fitted the theme of retirement. The button is one I found in my mother-in-law's button box a while ago when she very kindly said I could take what I wanted and the doodling is the musical stave at the bottom.

Orient Express

2010-03-25T17:24:00.000Z

I haven't had much time to craft lately (no more days off work with colds) and when I could be crafting I really should be doing my annual accounts. Something I always put off until the last possible minute and then some! However I did want to use this fantastic image by Mo Manning on a birthday card for a friend. She is in Japan at the moment visiting her daughter who is spending a year out there teaching English, and her birthday is on Sunday, the day she flies home. I had already coloured the image some time ago without really thinking about what papers I had to match so was pleased to find a couple in a mixed batch of Basic Grey I ordered from craft superstore recently. I used a trusty Promarker to edge the papers and make them stand out, a technique I borrowed from my sister Jenni, also edging the flowers to tie the colours in. I didn't have time to find a challenge to enter before I started so I was really pleased to find three different ones it will fit into.

They are:

Colour Create Challenge -Your Choice of Pastels

Pile It On -Furry Friends

SophistiCat Challenge - Mint green,lilac & one other colour + flowers

I hope she likes it!

Another week another virus!

2010-03-10T21:56:00.000Z

Stuck at home again with another cold, only just having got over the last one! The only good thing about it was I had been asked to make a card for someone who is retiring and I was running out of time. The cards I usually make in those circumstances are A2 size so they can take a while! No sooner was I finished that than I remembered my Aunt's birthday on Friday so I quickly found a challenge to do. I really liked the sketch over at Simon Says and literally threw this card together. It was a really easy sketch to follow. It did ask if poss to use Magnolia stamps but I wanted to use this one by my sister Jenni as it reminds me of my aunt, who used to make us cuddly toys when we were small. I coloured it with Promarkers and as I didn't have a suitable patterned paper I used a little teddy stamp to make some. The other bits came from my stash.
I am also entering it in The Color Dare Challenge and Cupcake Craft Challenge.
Now back to bed so I am fit for work tomorrow!

Mother#2

2010-03-08T17:02:00.000Z

Wait a minute, I hear you cry, you already made a card for your mother but of course there is also my lovely mother in law to think of and I don't think her son is going to make a card any time soon! I looked at some of the many wonderful challenge blogs out there and decided on

the I love Promarkers challenge as I wanted to try out a new technique I learned at the Make It show at Farnborough a few weeks ago.

The challenge is to make a card which is a different shape to the normal square or oblong so I have made a mountain fold which I did at a workshop with Dimention Fourth who make unmounted stamps. The alphabet stamps are theirs which I over stamped with a flourish and then covered with clear gloss. The image of the bird is a digital one from my sister's shop which you can find over here it is of course coloured, as are the letters, with promarkers and the papers are digital ones but I can't rememember who by.

Mother

2010-03-06T17:47:00.000Z

Thank goodness it's the weekend! The end of a stressful week worrying about various generations of my family, not that the problems are resolved but at least I can relax a bit and enjoy some crafting. First I have made a card for my mother using a digi stamp by marvelous Mo Manning. The image really reminds me of my mum as she has loved books all her life even having some of her work published. I am entering the card in two challenges, the first is My Time To Craft which is to make a card 'Just for Mum'. Secondly I am entering the Digital Tuesday Challenge which is to use scallops.

The Sugar Bowl

2010-02-23T13:38:00.001Z

Got the bug now, in more ways than one, and luckily or not I am off work with a streaming cold so I have found a challenge which definitely appealed as it is appropriately entitled 'The Sugar Bowl', something I tend to turn to when I am unwell! I wouldn't have had time to join in if I had been at work as the deadline is tomorrow but it is a friend's birthday soon so I grabbed the opportunity.
I think I have fulfilled all the criteria, my third flower is actually the button but as you can see it is flower shaped.

First Challenge

2010-02-22T18:22:00.000Z

This is the first of what I hope will be many entries in some of the fantastic challenges the blogging world has to offer. I am hoping this will give me the incentive to do more crafting as I am unfortunately the type of person who works best when a deadline is looming! I have chosen this challenge over at Scrap the Art to start with, as the painting 'Starry Night' which is the starting point is one of my favourites by Van Gogh.
I have used one of Mo Manning's beautiful images as the main feature, I absolutely love her images as they have so much character in them. I coloured her with Promarkers and backed her with sparkly black glitter card from Southfield Stationers which I also used in the middle of the flower, behind the sentiment, which I printed on my computer, and as a border round the blue background. I used an embossing plate on the bottom section as it reminded me of the shapes of the buildings in the painting and went over the raised parts with silver Rub and Buff and some turquoise Mica powder. The starry paper, the flowers and the ribbon are from my stash.

Tutorial

2010-02-16T16:23:00.000Z

Today I am in not so sunny Scotland having a much needed lesson in all things Blogging from my vastly more experienced sister Jenni. The image I have used is one I doodled myself , the background paper was stamped using a Blonde Moments stamp and all other bits are from my stash.

Blogging begins

2010-01-31T17:37:00.000Z

Well here goes, how to start?

Having lurked for the past year and travelled round the world visiting many fantastic blogs belonging to the most amazingly creative people I have finally plucked up the courage to join in!

The first card I would like to share is going to be for my daughter's 19th birthday which is later this week. I followed the sketch on Tuesday Morning Sketchers but I haven't a clue how to link to it at the moment! Watch this space 'til I find out....

The image is a digi one created by my very clever sister Jenni who you can find over at jenni's crafty journal (again apologies I am hoping she will talk me through the linking process).

Everything else came from my stash... (in other words all the bits and pieces I have stuffed into various cupboards and drawers....sound familiar?