Sparkle and Shine

Evening Folks
Hope you are all well.  Been having a little play tonight with some new goodies that I purchased on Saturday.  I went along to Sir Stampalot as they had a demo day.  A lovely lady called Jayne Saunders was demonstrating products from Imagination Crafts.  It was totally fascinating and I came home with loads of ideas and a bag full of new goodies.
The main items that I bought were some Sparkle Medium and stencils from Imagination Crafts.

Here is what I created whilst having a play.  This card will be going to a good friend of mine for her birthday.

The sparkle medium is a gel paste which can be used on card, acetate etc.  Once dried it leaves a lovely glittery surface.  In this card I have used Summer Blossom stencil and stencilled with the sparkle medium onto acetate.  Once dried I mounted this onto some white card.  The sentiment in the centre is also from Imagination Crafts.  I stamped and embossed it and then die cut it out.  I used the next size up of die cut for the purple layer.  The border around the outside is done using some ribbon.  Although you can't see very well from this picture the ribbon has a real purply glimmer to it.  A couple of bows, a flower,some gems and pearls and a little pearlescent butterfly on the sentiment were the finishing touches.

Here is another picture which shows the sparkle off a bit more.  I really wish you could see this in real life, the purple is so much more vibrant.

I really enjoyed using the medium and think it would be really great on christmas cards.  Would be really interested to know what you think.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Fab N Funky - No stamped images
Charisma Cardz - Monochrome
Crafty Catz - All that glitters
One Stop - Just good friends
Kaboodle Doodles - Birthday or Special Day
Totally Gorjuss - Pearls
Crafts 4 Eternity - Brilliant Birthdays

Thanks for popping by.

Cosmic Birthday Wishes

Evening Folks
Finally managed to get a bit of time to do a post.  I have got so caught up in the Olympics.  The opening ceremony on Friday was excellent, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  We have done ourselves proud.  I am now watching the swimming and well done to Rebecca Adlington for bringing home a bronze medal.
Anyway todays card is the 2nd of 4 birthday cards that I need to make for my nephew's birthday in August. This one is going to his eldest brother to give to him.

I will warn you that there are a few photos and unfortunately the photos do not show fully the bright colours. Probably down to the dull and grey weather that was about this afternoon.

I decided to make a large gatefold card.  The finished dimension of the card is 8 x 8 inches so I made my blank using an A3 sheet of card.
All of the images used are from Pollycraft.  I purchased the 100 digi package when the store closed and there are some lovely ones in there.
I really loved this stripey paper with the stars on.  It was lazing around at the bottom of my stash box.  Think it came as a freebie from a magazine many moons ago.  I simply matted onto black cardstock and added some card candy.

Here is the inside of the card.

And a close up of each side panel and the centre panel.

This was a mammoth colouring session as I used so many images but I think it turned out okay.
All the papers used were from my stash pile that I have had for ages.  I used my distress inks on the inside paper panel and round the image on the front of the card.  Added some buttons, string and pearls to the inside panel for a bit of interest.  I also added glossy accents to all the eyes for a bit of shine.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Fashionista - Baby or birthday
One Crazy Stamper - BBQ/Food
Crafty Sentiments - Food
Celebrate the Occasion - Star Struck
Crafty Creations - Buttons
Divas By Design - Happy Birthday
Crafts 4 Eternity - Brilliant Birthdays
Digi Doodle - Lets get stripey
Secret Crafter Saturday - Bright and Cheerful
Pile It On - Cute as can be
One Stitch At A Time - Use a digi
Squiggle Stamps - Stash Attack (all papers)
Totally Gorjuss - Pearls
Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes

Thanks for popping by and would love to know what you think of this birthday card.
Take care.

Anniversary Time at Penny's

Hi Folks
We have a new challenge starting over at Penny's Paper-Crafty challenges today.  Our theme for this week is:

Anniversaries and Weddings

We have three fab sponsors this week, Stampin Dragon designs, Crafty Sentiments and Scrappers Delights.  Just pop on over to Penny's to check out all the details.  While you are there check out the lovely creations from the design team.

I have used this fab Draco image from Scrappers Delights to create my anniversary card.

The image is coloured with my usual promarkers and I used the blender pen to try and get the feeling of texture to the body of the dragon.  Think it worked but what do you think?  I also added some sparkle to the balloon using Glamour Dust.  The papers were from First Edition and are just scrummy.  Some ribbon, pearls and gems finished off the card.  The cut up sentiment was also from Scrappers Delights.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Stampin for the Weekend - photo inspiration (heart and green colour)
Sunday Sketch and Stamp - use sketch
Card Makin Mamas - 1 image, 2 papers, 3 embellishments
Disdigidesign - Mystical Creatures
Pan Pastel - Magical and Mystical
LEJ Designs - Bling, bling
Great Impressions - Colouring
Simon Says - Anything goes

Thanks for popping by and looking forward to seeing all your creations.

Dude Time Doodles New Release Blog Hop

Hi Folks
It's the last Wednesday of the month and welcome to Dude Time Doodles new release blog hop.
All of the design team have come up with projects to showcase the new images that will be available in the store.  Just pop by the dude and dudettes blogs to view the awesome projects.  But don't forget to leave some love with everyone as one of us is the mystery host.

I would like to introduce you to Pierre Painter.  I teamed him up with some brightly coloured papers that were lurking in the bottom of my paper pile.  I printed the sentiment on the computer and added some faux stitiching round the edges of the image and sentiment.  I cut some little corners from card scraps and voila.

You should have arrived here from Anne's blog and your next stop along the chain is Sharon.   But don't worry if you get a little lost along the way, our hop is just one big circle.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
TO BE UPDATED

Thanks for popping by and look forward to reading your comments.

What a little star

Evening Folks
Hope you are all well and had a good weekend.  I spent most of Saturday and Sunday afternoon watching the Tour De France.  And well done to Bradley from the UK on his victory.  Let's hope that we can now win a few golds in the Olympics that start this weekend.  Really looking forward to Friday and the opening ceremony and the start of the games.  I don't watch a lot of sport but I do enjoy athletics.  So I will apologise now if I am not around blogging as much over the next few weeks.

But, wonder of wonders, I actually managed to get a card made when I got home from work tonight.  This is a card for my nephew Jack.  It is his birthday in August but as my Sister has asked me to do a couple for him as well I thought I had better get started.

 
Like a lot of youngsters these days Jack is an accomplished gamer.  He likes nothing more than playing on his Nintendo or the X-Box so this image from Lily of the Valley was just perfect.  I coloured the image with promarkers and cut it out using one of my Spellbinders dies.  I then inked around the edges while the image was still in the die to create a border effect.   I used kraft card for the matting and the papers were from my stash.  The papers were all distressed using my distress tool. I made a little banner and stamped each piece of bunting to show his name.  I then attached this with some string. I stamped the sentiment on a little tag.  I also did some faux stitching round each piece of bunting and the tag and used some distress ink.  The finishing touch were three cut out little stars with a button in the centre of each.

Had better get my thinking cap on now as I have three more to make for him.  I do know how to challenge myself lol.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Allsorts - Distressing
Crazy 4 Challenges - Stitching
Robyns Fetish - Use kraft card stock
Pile It On - Tag You're It
Kaboodle Doodles - What's In (Pennants, Banners etc)
Love to Create - Spots and Dots
Great Impressions - Show us your colouring
Pretty Little Ribbon - Tags
Aud Sentiments - Tag It
Digi Doodle - Anything goes

Thanks for popping by.

It's Summer at Dream Valley

Hi Folks
We have a fun new challenge starting over at Dream Valley challenges today.

SUMMER

Just make a summer themed creation.  It can be a card, scrapbook page or even an altered item.  Just follow the theme of summer and what it means to you.

We have a lovely sponsor this fortnight:  Squiggle Stamps

Our lucky winner will win 3 images from their on line store.

The design team have been busy creating some summer themed projects for your inspiration.  Why not pop over to Dream Valley challenges and have a look.

Here is my creation.

I decided to go for the tropical summer holiday using some free toppers and papers that I got in a magazine many months ago.  I added some glamour dust to the sentiments, a large flower in one corner and a smaller glittered flower (which I thought looked a bit like the sun) in the other corner.  So no stamping or colouring this time around.
I must admit that I have lots of toppers in my stash that I have collected over the months and really must start using some of them.

Thanks for popping by and look forward to seeing all your entries.  Till next time.

Getting Cheeky with Corrosive Challenges

Hi Folks
Well what a lovely weekend weather wise we are having.  Actually managed to get the BBQ out yesterday, first time this year.  Let's hope this nice weather continues for a few weeks.

Well, it's time for a new challenge over at Corrosive Challenges.
Our sponsor for July is Graphicat Designs.

and they have generously offered a $15 voucher to spend in store to our July winner.

Our challenge theme for this fortnight is:

Cheeky, Saucy, and Sassy.

Using an image and/or sentiment, we want you to make us laugh.  If it's witty, funny, sarcastic, or even a tiny bit naughty we want to see it for this challenge.

We are also previewing the new layout over at Graphicat Sketches before their new challenge starts tomorrow.  And as a bonus, anyone who combines this sketch with their challenge entry for us will get an extra entry for our July prize draw.  Simply link a second time (to your general blog) and type SKETCH after your name.

So what are you waiting for.  Pop over to Corrosive challenges, check out the sketch and the awesome work of the design team and get your entries in.  Just be as funny as you can.

Here is what I created.

I created my card blank using my grand calibur and a large scalloped circle die.  I then cut various sizes of circles in different papers and card to create the layers.  The image and sentiment are from Bugaboo Stamps. I coloured with promarkers and added some glossy accents to the cherries (I wasnt sure whether they were cherries or olives so as I don't like olives I went with cherries lol).  I made the sentiment into a little tag which I hung using a small piece of red ribbon.  A red feather, bow, flower and a pin completed the card.

I was quite pleased with the way it turned out as it is the first time I have created a card blank using my grand calibur and large nesties.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Little Miss Muffet - Circles or Tags
Top Tip Tuesday - Its all about circles
Creative Card Crew - Black card stock
Digi Doodle - Anything goes
Crafts 4 Eternity - Crazy circles
Divas By Design - Anything goes
LEJ Designs - Anything goes

Thanks for popping by and look forward to seeing all your entries.

Penny's Paper-Crafty Sketch Challenge

Hi Folks
We have a new challenge starting over at Penny's Paper-Crafty challenges.  This weeks challenge is a sketch challenge and the sketch has been designed by Diane on the design team.

We have three fab sponsors this week so why not pop over to the challenge blog and join in the fun.  Check out the awesome work from the design team too.

Here is the card that I created using an image from one of our sponsors, Stitchy Bear Stamps.

The image has been coloured in promarkers and the papers are from Papermania.  I created the sentiment using peel off letters and added some glittery flowers from my stash.

Thanks for popping by and I look forward to checking out all your awesome creations.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Divas By Design - Anything goes
The Paper Shelter - Anything goes
LEJ Designs - Anything goes
Love to Create - use 3 of something (papers and flowers)
Kaboodle Doodles - Olympics, sports, outdoors, adventure, hobbies
One Stitch At A Time - Anything goes
Sweet Stampin - Use colours of nations flag (red, white, blue)
Crafty Catz - Ready for the olympics

Dude Time Doodles - Anything Goes

Hi Folks
Hope you are all well.  It's Wednesday and that means it's time for a new challenge over at Dude Time Doodles.

Our challenge this week is sponsored by The Ribbon Carousel who are generously giving our winner a $10 voucher for their store.  Such a pity I can't join in lol.

The theme for this weeks challenge is a nice easy one for you all.

ANYTHING GOES

As long as your project is of a masculine nature you are free to enter what you like.  Nice and easy me thinks.

I used this fab image 'Hippie Rocker' for my card this week.

Quite a simple card but didn't think the fab paper needed any additional embellishments.  The paper was in my stash box and thought it went really well with this image.  I coloured the image with promarkers and mounted onto some coredinations card stock.  The Feelin Groovy sentiment was also from the Dude Time Doodles store.
For more fab inspiration pop over to Dude Time Doodles and check out the fab projects from the talented Dude and Dudettes.  Looking forward to seeing all your creations.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
TO BE UPDATED

Thanks for popping by.

Welcome Little One

Evening Folks
Well, first full week back at work this week and it seems to have flown by.  Still, better that way than dragging along.  Such a shame that the weekend will fly by just as quickly no doubt lol.
Was hoping to get some gardening done this weekend but the forecast is for rain again tomorrow.  What a surprise!!  Oh well, will have to do some crafting instead.

Tonight's card share is a special request from my daughters.  One of their friends is expecting her first bundle of joy any day now.  As you can probably tell she is having a little boy.

I used this adorable little image that I purchased from Pollycraft.  I bought it as part of the mega bundle when they were closing down.  I coloured the image in promarkers and added some glamour dust to the stars.  This was then matted onto some yellow pearlescent card.  The papers were from my stash box and they were matted onto the same yellow pearlescent card.  I added some lace and a little ribbon strip with the words 'It's a boy' along the centre.  All of the flowers used were part of some candy that I won from Sassy.  Thank you Sassy, they are gorgeous.  I spritzed the flowers with some glimmer mist and added a little sprinkle of glitter.  The finishing touches were a silver star, a heart button, a teddy button and a tiny hand button.

Here is a picture of the inside which I also decorated.

Excuse the quality of the photos but the weather has been so glum today and just could not seem to get the lighting right.
Thanks for popping by and for any comments you leave me.  I enjoy reading them all and appreciate the feedback (good or bad).

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday - use sketch
Creative Inspirations - Bingo (pearls/flowers/blue)
DisDigi Design - Pile on those flowers
Cutie Pie - Glitter and bling
Passion for Promarkers - Gingham/checks
Digital Tuesday - Inside Out
Scrapbook Sisters - One stamp
Crafty Creations - Free for all
Totally Papercrafts - Lots of layers

It's Blog Hop time at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges

Hi Folks
Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty challenges.  The theme for this week's challenge is:

Anything Goes

We are also holding a blog hop to promote the fact the Penny's Paper-Crafty challenges is moving from fortnightly to weekly challenges on a Wednesday.

We have several prizes to give away from our sponsors this week.

Bugaboo Stamps - $30 worth of digis
My Heart Pieces - 3 digis of the winners choice
Dude Time Doodles - $10 gift voucher for their store

Scrappers Delight will also be giving a prize to one of the hoppers that leave a comment on their post/blog.

How does the blog hop work I hear you asking.  First of all you need to create a card for the current challenge theme.  Then visit each of the design team members blogs collecting a letter from each blog.  When you have collected all the letters you need to unscramble them to make up a mystery word.  You should then email that mystery word to juliebjenner@btinternet.com putting Pennys Blog Hop in the subject line.  Please give the mystery word together with a link to your blog and card entry number to be in with a chance of winning the main prize from Bugaboo, the 2nd prize from My Heart Pieces and the 3rd prize from Dude Time Doodles.

Also remember to leave a comment on the Scrappers Delight post/blog to be in with a chance of receiving a prize.

You also have an additional three chances of winning a mystery prize by leaving a comment on each of the design team members blogs.   Three winners will be chosen from the comments made and sent a mystery prize.

Now if you arrived here from Julie's blog you are on the right track.  If I am your first stop then you may want to pop over to Penny's Paper-Crafty challenge blog and start at the beginning.
The letter that you need to collect from me is the letter E.  Got that!!

Here is my card that I created for the challenge and blog hop.

I used an image from My Heart Pieces and she is so cute sitting atop that cupcake.  The sentiment was one that I had in my stamp box and seemed to fit the image perfectly.

You now need to head over to Melanie's blog to collect your next letter.  Do hope you will join in the fun.  And don't forget, new challenges will now be weekly instead of fortnightly.

Freebie time at Dude Time Doodles

Hi Folks
Hope you are all well.  Been back from my holiday a week now and it seems like such a distant memory lol. Just don't seem to have had much time to breathe since I have been back.  Haven't had chance to really get back into my crafting routine but hopefully over the next few days things will calm down a bit.

Anyway today sees the start of a new challenge over at Dude Time Doodles.  As it is the second Wednesday of the month it is time for our freebie challenge.  Basically, we provide the image for you to use and the best thing is that the winner gets to be our guest designer for the following month.  So what are you waiting for, head over to Dude Time Doodles, pick up the freebie and get creating.  Check out the awesome work of the rest of the design team while you are there.

Here is what I created using the freebie image Jimmy Gymnast.

I coloured the image using promarkers and then cut it out.  This was then mounted onto a die cut shape of embossed coredinations.  I cut some strips of striped backing paper and mounted these onto the same black coredinations.  A computer generated sentiment and some stars completed the card.

I do hope you will join in the fun with us and I am looking forward to seeing all your creations.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge - use sketch
Scrapbook Sisters - One Stamp
Crafts 4 Eternity - Olympics

Thanks for popping by and welcome to my new followers.  Great to have you on board.

Anything But Square at Dream Valley

Hi Folks
This is my second post for today.  You lucky devils lol.

Anyway, today sees the start of a new challenge over at Dream Valley challenges.  This time around our theme it:

Anything but Square

Quite simple really, no squares allowed.

We are lucky enough to have two generous sponsors for this challenges.



One Stop Card Crafts who are offering one winner a £10 voucher for their store.



Meljen Designs who are offering one winner 4 digi images of their choice.
Two fab prizes I think you will agree.

The design team have come up with some gorgeous creations for this challenge.  Just pop over to Dream Valley and check them all out.

This is my inspiration for you.

This is a new card shape that I have enjoyed working with.  It was introduced to me at my local craft store where I attend a workshop each month.  The stamp used is a Wild Rose Studio stamp set that I recently purchased and is just perfect for those male cards.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Top Tip Tuesday - One for the men
Cards for Men - Happy Birthday
Whimsy Stamps - Anything goes
Paperplay - Happy Birthday

Thanks for stopping by and look forward to seeing all your creations.

Sentimentally Yours at Corrosive Challenges

Hi Folks
Hope you are all well.  Have just been out for Sunday lunch with the family for our daughter's birthday.  Had a lovely carvery meal and now we are all stuffed.  Think it is time for an afternoon nap but thought I would get this posted first.

It is time for the start of a new challenge over at Corrosive Challenges.
Our sponsor for the month of July is the wonderfully witty, superbly sarcastic Graphicat Designs.



**Graphicat Stamps are stamps for the light hearted, good natured, sarcastic beast in all of us. We have our own line of Digital and Rubber stamps, mostly based around humour. I have always thought a card was supposed to cheer someone up, and when making my own cards, with all the wicked cool images out there to use now, I was always looking for the sarcastic, fun twist of a sentiment.... and when I couldn't find them I started making my own! They were so popular that I started my own line. If you check out our website, you will find we also carry lots of other stamps and paper crafting products. We are based in Canada!! Which is why we are so funny of course! Sure hope you can pop by to check us out at www.graphicatstamps.com**

Cheri has generously offered a $15 voucher for use in the store to our July winner!

This fortnight we have a fun new theme that is a perfect fit with our sponsor - "Sentimentally Yours".  We want to see a sentiment on the front of your creation.  It can be used in conjunction with an image or used all by itself as a focal point; either is acceptable.

We also have a little extra treat for you today!  We are previewing the new layout over from Graphicat Sketches before their challenge starts tomorrow.  And as a bonus, anyone who combines this sketch with their challenge entry for us will get an extra entry for the prize draw here!  Simply link a second time (to your general blog) and type "SKETCH" after your name.  Don't forget to enter over at Graphicat Sketches too for a shot at their prize as well if you do!  You can see the sneak peek here now and get a head start.  You'll see it in some of the design team creations too!




Here is my DT creation using a sentiment from Graphicat and the sketch.

I used papers from Papermania and coredinations cardstock to create the background and square panels.  The sentiment is from our sponsor and I made the little fairy panel using a freebie stamp that I got in a magazine ages ago.  I added some ribbon and a small flower to the bottom.  Although you can't see it very well I did add some glamour dust to the fairy wings and to the centre of the square panels.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Moving Along With The Times - Sentiment as main focus
Catch the Bug - Anything goes

Thanks for popping by and looking forward to seeing all your lovely creations.

It's all about the girls at LIIU

Hi Folks
Hope you are all well.  I hate to mention it but what dreadful weather we have had in the UK this past few days.  My heart goes out to all those who have been affected by all this rain and the floods.  My youngest daughter came home on the train from Manchester last night as it is her sister's birthday tomorrow.  Even that journey took her six hours instead of the normal three.  Surely we must be due for some sunshine soon lol.
I am still trying to play catch up since my return from holiday.  My apologies if I have not been over to your blog yet.  I will get caught up eventually.

Anyway, today sees the start of a new challenge over at Let's Ink It Up.  Our sponsor for this challenge is the wonderful Magnolia-Licious.




And the prize is this gorgeous Snowman with Snowflakes stamp.  Just lovely for all those christmas projects.


So without further ado our challenge for this month is:

ALL GIRL

Think flowers, ribbon, lace, pearls etc.  I think this will be quite an easy challenge for lots of you out there so hope you will pop over to LIIU and upload your projects.  While you are there check out the awesome creations of the design team.  Just remember that NO DIGI IMAGES are permitted at LIIU.

Here is my inspiration for you.

I used a lovely Crafters Companion stamp from the SWALK range for my creation.  The image was coloured with Promarkers and cut out with a scalloped circle die.  I matted this onto a doily which I lightly inked with distress inks.  The papers are First Edition and are just gorgeous.  Lots of matting, layering and distressing.  All the flowers were spritzed with glimmer mist and lightly glittered.  I added some ribbon and a double bow, some pins and a little wooden butterfly.  The sentiment came as part of the stamp set.  This card is actually going to my eldest daughter tomorrow as it is her birthday.

Hope this had got your creative juices flowing and look forward to seeing all your wonderful creations.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Little Miss Muffet - Sparkle
Sir Stampalot - Whats your crafty passion (stamping, flowers, distressing)
Card Makin Mamas - Rubber
Whimsy Stamps - Anything goes
Ribbon Girl - Girlie card
LEJ Designs - Fabulous flowers

Take care and thanks for popping by.

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges

Hi Folks
We have a new challenge for you starting over at Penny's Paper-Crafty challenges.  Our theme for this challenge is:

Red, White and Blue

Here is what I created using an image from one our sponsors, My Heart Pieces.

The image was coloured using promarkers and matted onto some blue coredinations cardstock.  I also did a bit of doodling around the edges. Used various red and blue papers from Papermania as backing papers.  I cut some freehand blue corners and added some white ribbon and flowers.

Penny's Paper-Crafty challenges has 3 fabulous sponsors for this challenge.

Sassy Studio Design
Prize - 4 images of the winners choice

     
Lily of the Valley 
Prize - £10 gift voucher



My Heart Pieces
Prize - 3 images of the winners choice

Why not pop over to Penny's and check out the awesome work of the design team.  Just upload your entry for the chance to win one of the fab prizes on offer.


Next week (11th July) we are having a blog hop to launch the start of weekly challenges.  Yes, you heard right, Penny's is moving from fortnightly to weekly challenges.
I do hope you will hop over next week and join in the fun.

Challenges entered:
Bunny Zoes - Girls, girls, girls
LEJ Designs - Fabulous flowers
Allsorts - In bloom
Squiggle Stamps - Red, white and blue
Card Makin Mamas - Red, white and blue
Ribbon Girl - Girlie card
Divas By Design - Red, white and blue
The Paper Shelter - Flower power
Papertake - Anything goes

Thanks for popping by and looking forward to seeing your entries for our challenge of Red, White and Blue.