Chocolate

That's the theme for the current challenges at Daring Cardmakers and The Cuttlebug Spot. For my card I've followed this sketch from Seems a Little Sketchy

I've used a stamp by My Favourite Things called Dip me In Chocolate and coloured it with Flexmarkers and cut it with Nesties in my Cuttlebug. The backing paper is from an old pack called Amethyst Infusion by Papermania. Thecicle is cut with a Marianne die and the large piece of card was put through the bug with the Divine Swirls folder and sanded.  A ribbon and sentiment from the same stamp set to finish. I wasn't totally sure about this colour scheme but if Mr Cadbury can get away with it then why not?

DAD

I'm trying to get ahead with charity cards for Fathers Day. I saw this sketch on Cally's blog and thought I'd give it a go. It's from Friday Sketch Challenge and this is the sketch

I've used a sticker from Forever Friends New Arrival set and I thought this one would be great for Fathers Day. The backing papers are from the New Arrival Ultimate Die-cut pack as are the letters for DAD. I've added a few Card Candi to finish. I'm also entering this into the fortnightly Forever Friends challenge which is Bears (you can  use any bears but I always like to use a Forever Friends image - well I do have a lot of them) and the Joanna Sheen challenge which is Layer It Up

Feeling Sketchy

It's week 48 at Feeling Sketchy and when I went to see what the layout this week was I was pleased to see that my Spring Time card was featured for week 46 alongside my friend Cally and her gorgeous layout featuring Leon. Anyway, This is the sketch I've followed for my card

I've used a topper from the Docrafts Heartwarmers range. This was another bargain from my trip to The Range and cost 50p for the sheet. The backing paper is from a pad I got in Netherlands. The shells are a Marianne die and I've added some raffia and Card Candi to finish.

It was only when I checked the number for this challenge that I realised I forgot to post my card for last weeks challenge 47 so I thought I'd show it now. It's a Kanban topper and the papers are from a For Him paper pack by Papermania. The sentiment is computer generated - Mud Sweat and Gears is a bike shop near The Range in Dorchester and I thought it would fit well for this card

and this was the sketch

Birthday Present

I love this little girl and I think she really suits a vintage look. The stamp is called The Gift and it's a design by John Byers ad part of the Papermania Nostalgia range. I've stamped her in brown ink and lightly coloured her with Pan Pastels. I've layered her onto green Core-dinations and a Paperrmania Craft card blank. The sentiment is by Stampin Up and a little ribbon to finish.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:
Docrafts - Anything Goes
Pan Pastels - Happy Birthday

Tattered Lace Owls

My first card is made for the Sketch Saturday challenge.

I've rotated the sketch and used backing papers from a Prima pack that was free with Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine. The owl is one of the new dies designed by Stephanie Weightman and comes in a set of two. It cuts beautifully and came out of the die with no problem. I've matted him onto the same cardstock that I've layered the papers with

For my second card, I've used the other owl cut it in Core-dinations card stock again and layered him on a Marianne die. The backing paper is from an odds pile that I need to use up. I wanted something with not too much pattern so as not to take away from the owl. This piece was too green for what I wanted so I've added some Tumbled Glass distress ink with some Frayed Burlap around the edges. When I cut the first layer of card one of the edges had a dent in it so I've used my scissors around all the edges so it looks intentional. The flowers are by the Hobby House

Spring Tag

I've made this tag for the Marianne Design challenge which is to make a spring themed tag. I've cut the tag from card stock and used a backing paper from the Marianne Beautiful Butterflies paper bloc. I was so tempted to use the picking crocus Don & Daisy stamp but decided against it and went with a Snoesjes stamp. I've coloured her with Promarkers to match the paper, cut her out and stuck her to the tag with silicone glue to raise her. I then cut out the foliage and and fence and stuck them on with the fence raised and added a little bird sitting on the fence. A few ribbons from my stash to finish. I think I'll probably add this to a card base at some point

Cute As A Button

That's the theme at this weeks Cuttlebug Spot challenge. I've used the pram from Stampin Up's Bundle of Love set and stamped it with Memento London Fog to give a softer outline, coloured it with Promarkers and die cut it with a Marianne die. The button backing paper is from a Forever Friends pad. I've added buttons for wheels which were cut in the bug with a Stampin Up Embosslits die and used the same die for the corner buttons. A ribbon and sentiment and the card is finished. I'm also entering this into the CRAFT recipe challenge which is 1 circle, two squares, a sentiment and ribbon

Sunday Sketch & Stamp Week 145

It's Anne Marie's turn to provide us with a sketch this week and she's come up with this great design

For my card I've used a Marianne Designs stamp which I've only just got but can see a lot of uses for him. I've coloured him with Promarkers, cut him out and laid him on some Nestie circles. The lighthouses are a Marianne die and the backing paper is also by Marianne from the Beautiful Butterflies paper bloc. I've cheated a little and put the horizontal strip behind the lighthouses but I didn't want to cover them up

Bones

When I saw this challenge at Quirky Crafts was "a supernatural love story" I didn't think I would be entering. Then I had an idea and searched for an image to use and came up with this free clip art by Philip Martin. I've added the sentiment and printed it off and added some layering and a ribbon. I've added punched hearts to the corners and was going to finish with a smaller one in his hand but it fell on his chest and it looked better there so I left it

I'm also entering this into the Love challenge at Digi Galore

Sketch Saturday 246

A very quick card for this layout at Sketch Saturday

I've used a Forever Friends decoupage kit with some sticky ribbon and a couple of buttons. Very quick but another one for the animal charity once I've done the insert.

I'm also entering this into the Anything Goes Forever Friends challenge

Spring Is In the Air

We've had a beautiful few days here in Sopley, definitely springlike but they say it's about to change. The challenge at Don & Daisy this month is to make a spring card. I've started with a lilac coloured "spring" fold card. This was another find when I was sorting the craft room so you may see a few more of these popping up.The stamp I've used is Don & Daisy Finding a Crocus coloured with Promarkers. I've put some backing paper on the base but it doesn't really show in the picture. It's from the Eline's Romantic Nursery bloc and  the small flowers on the die cut fence are punched from the same paper. I've used the ivy die and added a little birdy on the fence. A few large pearls to finish

I'm also entering this into the following challenges
Incy Wincy - Pop It Up
Cutie Pie - Pretty Pastels

Fly, Fly Butterfly

That's the challenge at Daring Cardmakers this week. For my card I've used a backing paper from the Marianne Beautiful Butterflies pad. The sentiment is by Inkylicious called Far Away. I've stamped it onto a Nestie that has been coloured with purple and blue Pan Pastels. The ribbon is purple with a blue tinge and edge. The butterfly was stamped onto Clearly For Art film with a Chocolate Baroque stamp from the Tangled Garden set and coloured with blue and purple alcohol inks but you can hardly see the stamped image. I've then heated it with a heat gun and shaped it. I've since found out that you can do this with good acetate packaging but it is not quite as thick. I've tried it with acetate from a Bigz die and a Cuttlebug embossing folder so a good excuse to buy more of these.  A few gems and it's finished. I'm also entering this into the Pan Pastels challenge which is to use two colours - Blue & Purple

Shabby Chic

This is my attempt at Shabby Chic which is the current challenge at both Anything Goes and Polka Doodles. As most of my cards go to the animal charity shop, I didn't want to go too shabby so I've come up with this card. The backing paper is a piece of vellum that came from a Papermania Christmas pack a good few years ago. I found two pieces in my pile of oddments and thought this one would go well (the other has holly leaves on). The image is from the Polka Doodles Love & Cherish CD. I wish I'd remembered this CD sooner as there are some great Valentines images on it. The heart lace was bought from a small haberdashery shop in Christchurch. I was so annoyed when I got it as I got talking to the owner and missed my last bus so had to walk the three miles home. I'm so glad that I did get it though as the next time I went past, the shop had closed down. The corners were in my box of bits to use up and the buttons were on the way to the bin when I was sorting out as I thought they looked a bit, well, shabby but I gave them a final chance and here they are. The sentiment is by Craftwork Cards . I've cut a circle of card and stuck some lace to it then stick the greeting to it and that's about it

Happiness

This weeks challenge at Docrafts is to Photo Fun - you have to use a 6"x4" photograph on you card. Well that rules out my normal 5x5 card then. I spent quite a while looking through my photographs and came across this one. He's not my cat but is pictured on the roof of our shed at Southampton enjoying the sunshine. It's an A5 card so once the photo was matted onto chocolate brown card, there wasn't much room for anything else so I decided to add some corners. These are made with the new doily die and stamp and I really love how these work together. I can see I'll get a lot of use out of them. The sentiment is from a Stampin Up set called Loving Thoughts and is punched with the label punch. I've added some buttons to the corner to finish

Eline's Mailbox Owl

The challenge at CRAFT this week is Christmas. Now, I had put all my Christmas stash away but then bought the Eline's Mailbox Owl in the sale and the Marianne Cosy Christmas paper jumped into my basket. I've coloured the image with Promarkers and cut with Nesties. I've tried to follow the sketch at Sketch n Stash but totally ignored the optional love theme although I do love owls so maybe that counts!

The image was quite large for the sketch but I think I've managed all the layers. The sentiment ticket is by Stampin Up  and cut with the matching punch. I've added some Aleene's Glitter Snow which has been sat on the shelf for years and has finally been opened and I found the buttons when I was having a sort out and thought they went well. Now I just have to find a safe place to put it for the next 10 months!

Slumped & Podgy

That's the description of someone I had to make a card for! Good job he's got a sense of humour. For my card I've used a decoupage from the Wellington Ultimate kit. I didn't like this bear at first as he looks quite sad but the papers are great and I have seen some lovely cards made using him so when I saw this Ultimate pack at a very good price I couldn't resist. The papers are from the pack too and the wording is computer generated using High Tower font

Candi Stamps

This card is made with a set of Candi stamps which were free with Simply Cards & Papercraft. I've stamped the heart in red and cut it out with Netsies. The candi was free with the magazine too. I've layered it onto pink then red card - the pink card is embossed with a Sizzix hearts folder. The tags are made with the Stampin Up set called Tiny Tags and punched with an SU punch. A small heart gem holds them on - well not really but that's the effect!

It might seem a bit late to be making Valentines cards but this is going to the forces and it can take some time for it to get there, hence it doesn't actually say Valentine but the sentiment is there

I'm entering this into the following challenges
Addicted To Stamps - Heart, Stamp & Love from their Bingo card
Polka Doodles - Valentine Love
The Stamping Shack - Red, Pink & White
That Craft Place - Valentine

Spring Time

It has certainly looked spring like the last few days but it's still very cold outside. It's lovely to see brighter colours on cards while blogging and also in the garden - we have some purple crocuses showing and one daffodil out. This card is made using this weeks Feeling Sketchy layout

While I was sorting my craft room yesterday I found this book of flower rub-ons. There are 8 pages of flowers and they are raised and glossy and I thought they would go well with the layout

I've cut some rectangles from linen card and printed the sentiment on the same card. The backing paper is from a Wild Rose Studio pack. I added a ribbon and bow to the top. I did start to add flowers to the bottom left to balance it but whatever I tried, they just didn't work so I've left it as is

Sorry I Frogot!

As soon as I saw the Add Texture challenge at Incy Wincy Designs, I knew I wanted to get my flock out but could I find it - no. And when I realised my hot glue gun was missing it was obviously time for a major clear up in the craft room so that's what I did yesterday. And yes, I found the flock on the shelf in a box labelled - FLOCK!

For my card I've used the retired Stampin Up set Unfrogettable. I've stamped him in old olive ink and added some glue and then the green flock. The eyse were just calling out for googlies so that's what they got. I've used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on the edges for more texture and a Marianne die for the frame

Lucy Cromwell Thank You Cards

I've used the sketch at Fetch a Sketch for these cards

They are made from the Lucy Cromwell Ultimate kit. I needed a quick thank you card and these toppers are so sweet so I've mixed two of them so the centre piece stands out more and it's always good to have a spare one. The sentiment is from the Itty Bitty Banners by Stampin Up cut with the matching die - a great little set. A couple of fabric flowers and a die cut swirl to finish

Black Cat

When I was making my chocolate card below I looked through the other mini stamps I had and there was a very sweet cat but that reminded me of the Gem Stone Cats set I had which is also by Inkadinkado. I've stamped one of these cats in black and used clear powder to emboss. I've cut and layered it with some Nesties and added some clear gems. The backing paper is another old paper pack called Ivory Black by Papermania. The flowers are cut from black and white card scraps with a Marianne die. I've brushed the black ones with Versamark and added some holegraphic embossing powder. The corners are a Sizzlit die. T
 and the sentiment is from the Inkadinkado mini set called You're Purfect. I'm entering this into the Joanna Sheen challenge which is Black & White and the challenge at Stamping Sensations which is Fur & Feathers

Mmmmm, Chocolate

Not that I eat the stuff myself you understand. I gave it up 12 years, 4 months, 13 days, 12 hours and 50 minutes ago - give or take - and I don't miss it one bit! It was in the hope that I'd loose some weight but that didn't work.

Anyway, Chocolate is the theme at Quirky Crafts at the moment and this is my entry. You're not allowed to use digi stamps for this challenge and the colours must be chocolate and cream. The stamp I've used is by Inkadinkado called Chocolate Therapy. I have quite a few of these mini sets and they are really useful and most come with their own sentiment. (I don't know why the sentiment is discoloured but it still stamps fine) The background paper is from a pad by Avec and I've added a few mini gems

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day everyone. I hope you all got something nice from your loved one even if it was only a kiss. Hugs to those who have no-one to share the day with x

My card today is made using the Cuttlebug Owl Flourish folder. This is great for a quick card as it is the main focus. I've used some old Whitewash Core'dinations card to emboss and then sanded it down to bring out the red colour. It's layered onto a red card base and I've used the same card to cut the Marianne heart. The sentiment is from  the Woodware Patchwork Owl set and stamped with Cloud White VersaMagic. You can get this stamp set free with the current Papercraft Essentials magazine although I've had mine for ages. The Cuttlebug Spot have got a Valentine blog hop so pop over for the chance to win some lovely prizes