Back to Nature

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

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

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

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

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

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

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