Around The World

Just managed to get my entry finished for Fashionable Stamping's Challenge - Travelling Around The World.  I used a mixture of Debbi Moore's stamps and Creative Expressions to stamp the card and layered tag. I used Distress Ink to age the piece.

I want to say hello to my new followers I have gained over the Festive season - Anesha and Georgie (Nostalgic Cottage / PuddinPie). Welcome to you both!

Other Challenges:
Samuel Taylors - Anything Goes
Rainbow Lady - Your Choice

An Xtra Special Occasion and DT Call

Hello all. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas.It goes far too quickly! I am stuck in a bit of a creative rut at the moment having spent the last few months working on nothing but Christmas. I was lucky enough to get a melt pot and kit for Christmas so hopefully that will get the creative juices flowing!

Anyway on to the last challenge for 2011 at The Alphabet Challenge blog. We want to see cards for an Xtra Special occasion - special wedding anniversaries, births, weddings. My parents are celebrating their Ruby Wedding (40 years) next year so I've made a card for that occasion.  I made individual toppers with felt, buttons, beads and wire. I was lucky enough to get a Martha Stewart border punch for £7.99 instead of £18 in my local Hobbycraft sale so I used that to punch the edge of the card.

There is also a DT call at the blog  - open until Friday 13th January. So why not come and join us for 2012!

I'm taking my son to his first Pantomime today, so until later! Happy New Year!

Other challenges I am entering
Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes
Just for Fun - Anything Goes

Merry Christmas to all!

I hope you like this image, it is one from my collection of vintage postcards. I want to wish all of you a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and especially to all my followers who have supported me over the year.

Christmas Angels

With all the preparations for Christmas and an excited five year old, I have little time for anything else at the moment. However, the moment this stamp set from Debbi Moore arrived, I had to use it. I stamped the image with versamark ink and embossed it with WoW's dark blue embossing powder. I then coloured the image with mica paints to add shine.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Three Muses - Angels
Craft Your Passion - Things with Wings
Make it Monday- Anything Goes

Christmas Tag

It was really nice to make something just for myself, now that all my Christmas card orders are done! I made this tag using Artistic Outpost stamps. I coloured a white tag with Distress Ink and then stamped the snowman. I rubbed Stickles over the image and highlighted areas with Promarkers. Finally I added snow paste to the bottom and miniature cookie cutters and twine to decorate.

Challenges I am entering are:
Happy Daze - Gifts, cards and Tags
The Artistic Stamper - Christmas
Try It On Tuesday - Christmas Tags
ABC Christmas Challenge - Anything

A new DT Position for me!

Well, I mentioned I had some exciting news and it is that I have been chosen as a new DT member for Its Crafting Time blog. I look forward to sharing new projects with you in the coming weeks.

The other members of the team are :

Helen ~ http://acraftykindoftruffle.blogspot.com

AJ ~ http://fistfullofglittercardsbyaj.blogspot.com/

Alison ~ http://redsquirrelcraft.blogspot.com/

Anesha ~ http://skippereva.blogspot.com/

Cathy ~ http://ellieskeeperscreations.blogspot.com/

Jude ~ http://crafts-international.blogspot.com/

Lea ~ http://crafty-kitty.blogspot.com/

White Christmas and 100 followers!

Well what a week its been, unfortunately I have been laid up for most of it with a stomach bug. Just what you need at this time of year! Anyway I managed to get to my son's first school nativity play today and also get my Alphabet Challenge DT piece finished! For the next three weeks the challenge is White Christmas, so interpret how you will!

I made my card using Crafty Individuals stamps, Distress Ink and Embossing Powder. I used a sort of resist technique to make the tree stand out and added bling to finish.

On another note I have to say a BIG thank you to Daniella Hayes who became my 100 Follower! I will be offering some blog candy to celebrate but it will be after Christmas as the queues in my post office are mad at the moment so I only go if I really have to! So watch this space......

I also have some other exciting news but more of that to follow!

Other Challenges I am entering:

Glitter Geeks - Let it Snow

Artistic Stamper - Christmas

Crafty Calender Challenge - Cold and Frosty

Sugar Creek Hollow - Non Traditional Colours

Delightful Challenges - Blue Christmas

Beginning to feel like Christmas!

I had to share this picture with you. While I was working on the computer in the study this morning, this friendly little robin popped onto the windowsill! He often visits us most days and he is so tame!

The project I am sharing with you today is this one. I used House Mouse Decoupage to create the card which made a change from stamping! I added glitter to the fire and ribbon to decorate.

Challenges I am entering are :

Joanna Sheen -Christmas Wishes

Bah Humbug - Cute Critters

Fairytale Challenge Blog - Christmas

Glitter Geeks - Decoupage

Holly Heart

This is one of my all time favourite cards that I make and often sell many of too! The stamp is quite old, but comes out every Christmas. I stamped the image and then coloured it with Promarkers. I add bling and ribbon to decorate before mounting on red and green card with a greeting.

The challenge at Polka Doodles this week is an Italian Christmas (red, green and white) so this fits perfectly!

Other Challenges I am entering

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion - Tis The Season

V - Very Vibrant

I'm running a bit late at the moment so apologies for blogging my DT piece for the Alphabet Challenge so late! This time round it is V for Very Vibrant. It was a bit tricky as the colours I use are usually muted. So I chose to use a Polka Doodles stamp set, colouring and blending a background of Promarkers and then adding more colour to the houses. I mounted it on black card as it really made the colours pop.

Don't forget you have just under two weeks to enter the challenge!

Winter Wonderland

Firstly Happy Thanksgiving to all my followers and readers on the other side of the Atlantic. I hope you all have a wonderful time.

My card I'm sharing with you today is made using a new stamp which I was lucky enough to win in the Crafty Individuals giveaway. I stamped it using Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink. Then I stamped the snowflake over the card in WOW Embossing white sparkle powder and then rubbed the Chipped Sapphire over the top to create a resist. Finally I added ribbon and a snowflake charm to finish.

I am entering the following challenges:

Crafty Individuals - Winter Wonderland

Make My Monday - Christmas Flowers, foliage or Snowflakes

Repeat Impressions DCC1123 Designer’s Choice Challenge. - Snowflakes

Little Red Wagon - Christmas Theme

4 Crafty Chicks - Snowflakes

Shopping Our Stash - Christmas / Winter

A Christmas Mouse

I'm not really into cute cards, but I do love House Mouse stamps. I created this card using one of the House Mouse stamps and coloured it with Promarkers, then die cut it using a Spellbinders die. The paper is from HOTP and the flowers are from My Craft Studio's Paper Flower Expert with glitter glue in the centre. The candle has glossy accents on it to make it look like dripping wax. I'm sure I will have more Christmas cards to share with you in the coming days!

Challenges I am entering :

Winter Wonderland - Christmas Mouse

Forever Friends - Christmas is Coming

Cupcake Craftroom - Sweet Christmas

Back in Time

The theme at the Fashionable Stamping blog at the moment is Back in Time. I made this entry using my new Indigo Blu Stamps and Melissa Francis Paper pack. I finished the card with dyed silk ribbon, buttons and some hat pins.

Try it On Tuesday - Peel Offs

At Try It On Tuesday you had to use Peel Offs on a tag this week. First I sprayed a tag with Cosmic Shimmer. I put the peel offs onto acetate and then sprayed the back of the acetate with glitter spray. I added mini bells and fibre to finish. It's easy to forget to use your stash of peel offs, but there is some great inspiration at TIOT.

Other challenges I am entering :

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Bows and Berries - Make a Tag

Heat Embossing

This piece was one of the many I made for WOW Embossing Powders as part of their Design Team. I cut mount board into squares before using different embossing techniques on each. On some I triple embossed and dropped beads into the melted powder, I altered the metal embellishments with the powders and also stamped into the powders while they were still hot.

I am entering this into the following challenges

Fabulous Fridays - Embossing

Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

U - Under The Sea

The Alphabet Challenge for the next two weeks is Under the Sea. My piece was made by printing a digi stamp from Crafts and Me onto acetate, then covering the back with alcohol inks. I coloured in the mermaid with mica paint to make it shimmer. Finally I added some beads, shells and glitter. Unfortunately it is difficult to photograph, it looks better in real life!

Had an amazing week this week - I won the blog candy from Crafty Individuals and couldn't believe the package I received, so thank you so much CI!

On a shameless plugging note! Online this weekend on Facebook is Handmade for You UK's Christmas Fair. There are lots of online stalls (including mine!) where you can buy lovely gifts, cards and decorations for christmas. So have a look if you have time- tomorrow from 10am (GMT)

Stamping at Night

The Stampman Challenge is currently to create a night time scene. This is very apt as I'm so busy at the moment that seems to be the only time I get to stamp!

For this card I used a new Kanban stamp set, which I stamped in black ink then embossed the trees with clear powder to resist the Distress Ink I rubbed over the top. I dropped water onto the distress ink to look like falling snow.

Had a rewarding week however,my witching hour card (see previous posts) was chosen as the winner at the Happy Daze Blog Challenge and also for the Creative Expressions card of the month! I can't wait for my goodies to arrive in the post!

Happy Halloween!

I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Halloween. We have had a fun day, carving a pumpkin and I organised a spooky hunt in the garden. I hope you have fun whatever you are doing!

The Witching Hour

I love Halloween and really wanted to enter some of the Halloween challenges, but for some reason my attempts at Halloween cards haven't been successful. However, I came up with this one late last night and think it works this time!

I used Creative Expressions set of village scene stamps and an Elite Halloween set for the witch. I stamped the image and then coloured it using black and grey Promarkers. I coloured the moon, sky and pumpkins with mica paints to give a shimmer. Finally I decoupaged the lamp and more pumpkins.

Have a happy Halloween!

Challenges I am entering:

Bloggers Challenge - Happy Hauntings

Fashionista Fridays - Spooky Fall

Patties Creations - Halloween

Stampin For the Weekend - Spooky

Creative Inspirations Paint - Halloween

Opus Gluei - Halloween

Rainbow Lady - Spooks and Witches

Shabby Tea Rooms - Halloween

Shopping Our Stash - Halloween or Fall Colours

Stamping Boutique - Spooky or Scary

Happy Daze - Halloween or Christmas

GingerSnap Colour Challenge - Black and Grey

T for Teatime

Its Teatime at the Alphabet Challenge Blog this week. For my DT card I layered two pieces of torn backing paper onto a card blank and then stamped over the top. I coloured the images with watercolour pencils. The bunting I stamped onto several pieces of paper and decoupaged the flags. The sentiment I embossed with two colours of embossing powder. Finally I finished off with some glitter glue.

I hope you can join us for tea this week!

More Embossing!

Its been a manic rush to get my samples ready for the WOW Embossing Powders stand at the NEC Hobbycrafts show, but they are now all safely in the post! I will be sharing a few of them with you over the next few days.

This is one I am pleased with. The powders make the embossing so easy and clean looking. I used a Sheena Douglass sketchy stamp, gold fine powder and Aquamarkers to create this card.

I also want to say hello to my new followers Lindsay Crafty Monster 81, Jasmoon Butterfly,Brenda Brown and Tania Talat Ahmed. They have some amazing creations on their blogs so do pay them a visit.

Fall Leaves

Another project I have made for WoW Embossing Powders, but also perfect for many of the current challenges asking for Fall projects. I stamped the le

af from Personal Impressions with Versamark ink and embossed with various colours of embossing powders. I then cut out each leaf and put them together in a wreath. Around the edge of the background card I used distress ink to add a bit of colour. Finally I framed the whole piece in a simple frame.

Challenges I am entering:

Little Red Wagon - Fall Projects

Deep Ocean Challenge Blog - Fall Colours

Rainbow Lady - Falling Leaves

The Artistic Stamper - Autumn Colours

Crafty Emma - Forever Autumn

Stamping on Canvas

This piece I have made for Wow Embossing Powder DT requirements, but I thought I would enter it into the Fashionable Stamping challenge which is Anything but a Card. I inked the canvas with Distress Ink and then stamped and embossed a Crafty Individuals text stamp. I also stamped and embossed a fern design onto the background. I stamped and coloured the butterflies with Distress Ink and embossed with clear glossy powder. The middle butterfly I stuck onto the canvas and then poured WoW Ultra High Clear Embossing Powder over the top. I finished the canvas with Tim Holtz Tissue tape around the edges.

Other challenges I am entering

Stamptacular - Anything

Stamps r Us - Nature's Gifts

S - soon to be Halloween

Well its not been a good week - hence so quiet on the blog front. I have M.E and overdid it at the weekend so have paid for it this week! Never mind - things seem to be returning to normal today. The arrival of my most amazing DT package from WOW Embossing powders also cheered me up!

The theme for the Alphabet Challenge this week is S - Soon to be Halloween, so this is my DT piece. I didn't have any Halloween stamps (although I have just ordered some!) so I used background paper from Chocolate Baroque (was Elusive Images), bunting image from Tangie Baxter Designs at Scrapbook Graphics and a PaperArtsy gate stamp. I think it looks quite spooky- don't you?

Also hello to my new followers - Buffy and PJamarama. Welcome!

Other challenges I am entering:

Fussy Friday Challenges - Fall or Halloween

Sarah Hurley Challenge - Halloween Horrors

Samuel Taylor Challenge - Halloween

Tando Creative Challenges - Spooktastic Designs

Sparkles Forum Challenges - Halloween

Paper Pretties - Halloween Card

WoW !

Well I am very excited! About a month ago I applied to WoW embossing powders to become a DT member and this week I found out I have been lucky enough to be chosen! I am not just saying this but after using their powders you really see the difference! I thought I would show you the samples I made, before I get set making samples for the NEC show - so look out for more WoW work to follow!

The first sample (Above) I created a background using different types and colours of embossing powders.

This one I created small squares on a painted canvas and used different embossing techniques such as triple embossing and stamping into the melted powder to create different textures.

Finally I stamped and decoupaged a Paint Fusion stamp from Sheena Douglass and used Embossing powder to decorate and highlight areas.

Christmas Flowers

I had trouble sleeping last night so I decided to get up and make a card! I used the poinsettia stamp from Dawn Bibby which I bought last Christmas and never used! I stamped onto the card blank and then stamped and cut out extra flowers, coloured with Promarkers and mounted them with 3D foam. The sentiment is also from the same stamp set.

Challenges I am entering :

Crafts for Eternity - Anything

Charmed Crafts - Cards with a downloaded or stamped image

ABC Challenge - Anything

Christmas Inspiration - Birds or Flowers

Sweet Stamps - Anything

Scrapbook Sisters - Christmas Flowers

Alphabet Challenge - R for Recipe

Wow what amazing weather for September - nearly October! Firstly, hello to my new followers Sandra and Ephemera, their work is gorgeous so pop along and have a look.

My post today is about my DT piece for this week's Alphabet Challenge Blog. For the next two weeks it is R for a Recipe which is - 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 flowers. I used my new Lili of the Valley Stamp coloured with Promarkers, matched with Christmas papers and three My Craft Studio paper flowers. Make sure you go and join in the fun!

Other challenges I am entering:

Craft Room Challenge - Anything Christmas

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Old Fashioned Christmas

I made this card for a magazine cardmaking competition (fingers crossed!), but I thought you would like to see it. I used Sheena Douglass' Little Bit Sketchy Christmas stamps that were released last year and her new Paint Fusion Holly and Ivy stamps. I used Distress Ink and Promarkers as the colour mediums. The leaves I then decoupaged onto the front and added bakers twine and glitter to decorate. I stamped the snowflake around the card with Versamark and WOW embossing Clear Sparkle Powders. The inside I decorated similarly.

I am entering this card into the following challenges :

Scrapbook Sisters - Leaves

Samuel Taylors Crafts - Christmas Stamp. Sam has an amazing giveaway on the blog of 4 Prima 6 x 6 Paper Pads! Ends this week.

A simple card

I love making these simple cards. This one I made using the stamps from the Polka Doodles Christmas Kit which you can buy in the shops. It is one of the best kits I have bought in magazine format.

The challenges I am entering with this card are

Less is More - Sketch Inspiration

Allsorts - Clean and Simple

Less is More

At Less is More, they are attempting to get 1000 entries for this week's challenge which could be anything as long as its simple. I made this one using a House Mouse stamp and a Christmas Sentiment, coloured with Promarkers. I think its quite sweet!

Stamping a Tag

The theme at Fashionable Stamping at the moment is to make a tag. I wanted to create a pretty, vintage style tag so this is what I have come up with. I used a mixture of Papermania, Anna Griffin and a Craft Stamper freebie stamp. I used my mica paints to give all the pieces a metallic sheen and then added glitter glue for sparkle.

Other challenges I am entering :

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Anything Goes Challenge - Anything Goes

Autumn Fairy

Well you know Autumn is here when the heating comes on in the morning! Its one of my favourite times of the year, so I made a card based on that theme. I used a digi stamp by Michelle Perkett, which is part of a Four Seasons set. The background is from a My Craft Studio CD. I used Promarkers to colour the stamp and then glittered the background. The foliage is from My Craft Studio Flower Expert. There are quite a few challenges this week with this them also so these are the Challenges I am entering :

Digistamp4joy - The colours of Fall

Always Something Creative - Autumn

CraftyPurple Frog Challenges - Fall into Fall

Digi Doodle - Autumn Colours

Digi Tuesday - Celebrate the Season

Pile it On - Colours of Fall

Pennys Paper Crafty Challenge - Fall

Q - for Quick and Easy

The week once again has flown by and its time for another Alphabet Challenge. Fortunately its Q for Quick and Easy! I brayered the background and then just added a black peel off. Card was finished by mounting onto white and then black card. Simple but effective!! Do go along and join in this week - its quick, its easy!!

Try It On Tuesday - Guest Designer

Very excited this week as I am a Guest Designer over at Try It On Tuesday. The theme this week is Dig Out The Old - make a tag using a stamp you have had for awhile but never used. For mine I used a bird stamp I've never used, stamped and embossed onto coloured card and highlighted areas with Promarkers. I added a flower and chain to finish. So why not pop over and join in the challenge - and you might even see who the The Sparkly Fairy is!

Its been a hectic (and emotional!) week with my little one starting big school, but it means that I should get back on track with posting on my blog!

Back with Pretty Pastels

I've been a bit quiet this week as I've been on holiday in the Isle of Wight for a week. But now I'm back and busy with cardmaking, competitions and makes for Christmas!

As a member of the Alphabet Challenge design team I had to create something using P for Pastels. Something of a departure for me as I don't often use pastels. I made this card using a stamp from The Craft Stamper magazine, coloured with ProMarkers and added pastel buttons. The idea came from one of my first sketchbooks I have just begun.

ATC Challenge - Wings

I have just found time this week to squeeze in an ATC for the ATC Challenge Blog. I stamped the Inkadinkadoo image, coloured with Promarkers and then used different colours of Stickles on the wings and highlighted areas with a silver gel pen.

Summer Sunset

I made this card using Creative Expressions Lost Garden set of stamps. First I created the background with Distress Inks and Cut n dry foam, then stamped the images and highlighted areas with Promarkers and a white gel pen. The poem extract is from The Coming of Night by Emily Dickinson.

Challenges I am entering :

The Stamp Man - Summer Colours

Saturday Challenge - Create A Scene

Stamps R Us - Anything Goes

Victorine Originals - Summer

There's Magic In The Air - Make A Scene

Vintage Christmas

Sorry - another christmas card I'm afraid! This time its a vintage card. I used a Father Christmas image from Crafters Companion Vintage CD which I decoupaged. The background paper I highlighted areas with a glue pen and glitter. The embellishments are by My Craft Studio Klever Konstruction which you heat to mould into shape. Lastly I added a piece of bakers twine.

Challenges I'm entering

Sugar Creek Hollow - Vintage Christmas

Ooh La La Creations - Oh Christmas

I'm on the DT!

Well what a week I have had, one of the most exciting pieces of news was being selected for the Alphabet Challenge Design Team - my very first! The theme this week is O for Only Three Embellishments, so this is my card. I used a digi stamp from The Paper Shelter store and the three embellishments I used are bakers twine, a butterfly and a button. I can't wait to see everyone's take on this theme and I will be visiting your blogs to comment. So do join in!

Christmas Lights

I LOVE Christmas and can never wait to get into Christmas crafting! At Winter Wonderland this week, they wanted you to make a card featuring Christmas lights. I used a My Craft Studio Winter Whimsies digi stamp and coloured it with Promarkers, added glitz to the lights with Stickles and added buttons too. Along the side I twisted a piece of wire and again added a greeting from the My Craft Studio CD.

Other challenges I am entering :

Saturday Challenge - Christmas is coming

Jingle Belles - Bling on the Holidays

Christmas Card Challenges - Christmas Cheer / Any Christmas card

A Tag with Trees

This weeks's theme at Try It On Tuesday is a tag with trees. I created mine by stamping the image and embossing with white embossing powder. Then I used Cut n Dry foam to rub Distress Ink over the top. The stamps are by Crafty Individuals. I stamped the sentiment onto old music paper and cut out. Finally I punched a hole in a scrap of paper and added more Distress Ink through it to created the sun.

Other challenges I am entering:

Allsorts - Anything but a Card

WOYWW and other things!

Its a while since I have entered WOYWW, not a lot as changed still a "creative" mess and lots of Tim Holtz techniques going on!

I also have a couple of mentions today - firstly to my two new followers Twisted Witch and Miranda from Mir'acle art Inspirations. Pop along and see what they are creating!

Secondly I wanted to mention Raeven Nest who from next Monday is starting an Art Journal group on her blog. Looks like it will be fun.