Cupcake Anyone

Afternoon Folks
Well, another miserable day here.  Not rained much but so grey and overcast.  Mind you, there are some big black clouds looming overhead.  I haven't ventured out today.  Instead I have had a pyjama day.  Don't you just love those.  Teamed up with a bit of crafting and I am a happy bunny.
Here is a quick card I made earlier using some Creative Expressions Stamps that I won in some blog candy from Sue Wilson.

Sorry for the state of the photo.  Couldn't get the right lighting conditions and asked the computer to auto correct and this is what it produced.  Bit bright but you get the idea.
Coloured the lovely cupcake stamp with promarkers and matted and layered onto brown coredinations.  I also added some glitter to the little sprinkles on the cupcake although not very clear from this photo.  The papers were in my stash.  I believe they are from Dovecraft and I got them with some decoupage months ago.  Finished the card with some ribbon, gems and flowers.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sunday Sketch and Stamp - #89
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - #169 Food or Drink
Crafty Sentiments - anything goes
Celebrate the Occasion - #46  Must use polka dots

Thanks for popping by and hope you pop by again soon.
Mags
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Birthday Blues

Hi Everyone
Well, what a miserable day it has been.  Think it has rained for most of the day if not all of it.  There can't be that much wet stuff left up there.
Before we get onto my card for today I want to share a bit of exciting news with you.  I have been invited to join the DT for Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges.  My debut challenge will be on February 1st so keep your eyes out for that.  In the meantime, why not pop over and check out their blog.  They have a great  challenge running at the moment to see projects with ribbons and buttons.  Why not give it a go.
Anyway, here is my card for today.  My daughter has a friend whose little boy will be a year old in a couple of months so thought I would be prepared.

I decided to do an easel card.  I do love easel cards but never seem to make very many.  The stamped image is one that I have had for months.  I believe it is from the Dandelion and Daisy collection.  I decided to simply stamp it onto kraft card and leave it at that.  I cut it out using one of my spellbinder dies and then attached lace on the back around the outside.  The papers are all Papermania.  The sentiment on the stopper part of the easel is from Little Claire's and I also stamped this onto kraft card and cut out using another of my dies.  Finished the card with more lace, some buttons, card candy, gems and bows.  Also felt I needed something else on the bottom so punched out a butterfly in kraft card.  Thought this suited as it is a card for a little boy.

A closer photo of the top part of the easel.

And one of the base of the easel.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges.
Fab N Funky - #104 Bingo Board (line 3d  2 papers, lace, butterfly)
Pile It On - #3 Fuzzy Friends
Robyns Fetish - #90 Animals
Stamps R Us - Just Kidding Around (card suitable for a child)
The Stamping Boutique - #24 Use Die Cuts
Ladybug Crafts Ink - #52 Use Bows
Whimsy Inspires - #22 Blue and Brown
Winter Wonderland - An Easel Card
Crafty Catz - #116 Buttons and Bows

Thanks for popping by and hope to see you pop by again soon.  Thanks for all the lovely comments you leave, they are much appreciated.

Bye for now
Mags
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Lavender and Lace

Evening Everyone
Hope you are all well.  Been working on my DT cards for the past couple of nights.  All done now though and all will be revealed on Sunday when the new challenges go live.
I did get this little card made using one of my new Lily Of The Valley stamps that my eldest daughter got me for Christmas.

I used my trusty promarkers to colour the image.  Cut it out using one of my dies and mounted onto cordinations cardstock.  Also added lots of gems around the outside of the image.  The paper used is from Papermania.  Added some lace, ribbon, lacy doily and some flowers from WOC.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday - #190 use sketch
Divas By Design - #18  New Beginnings and/or Thanks
Sentimental Sundays - #85  Ribbon and Sentiment
I love promarkers - #100 anything goes
Lili's Little Fairies - #3 Lavender and Lace

Thanks for popping by and hope to see you again soon.  Welcome to my new followers and thanks to all my followers and visitors for your support and encouragement.
Mags
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One for the girls

Evening folks
I am a bit late posting tonight but was late having my dinner so didn't get my card finished as early as I wanted to.  This is a cute little card using an image from Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps.  This is another card for my niece and this image fitted the bill nicely.

I coloured the image using promarkers and added glamour dust to the wings for a bit of sparkle.  The papers are Tim Holtz and I just love them.  The dark blue cardstock is coredinations.  I added a Marianne die cut flourish to the side and thought it might be a bit fun to add some glittery flowers and butterflies to it.  Hopefully it looks a bit like a little decorative tree - well, in my world it does lol.  Not sure where I got the flowers from but they are all glittery and sparkly with gems in the centre.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - #136
Ribbon Girl - Colour challenge  Blue and Pink
Pollycraft - Bingo board  (used line 1D - ribbon, sparkle, flowers)
One Stitch At A Time - #96  Anything Goes

Thanks for looking and hope you are all well.  I look forward to reading any comments.
Thanks to all my lovely followers and visitors to my little area of blogland.  Your support is appreciated.

Mags
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Birthday Girl

Evening Folks,
Had planned a day of crafting today but nothing turns out that way.  Between going food shopping, helping to cook dinner and catching up with the huge pile of washing I have not had much time in my crafty room.
However, I have managed to get one of my nieces birthday cards done.

Now this is quite a different colour combo for me to use.  However, over the last few weeks my niece has been peeking in my crafty room and has mentioned various items that she likes and would like to see on a card.  The main item she really liked was the glitter card that forms the first layer.  It is an aqua sort of colour and this set the tone for the rest of the card.
The stamp is a cute one from Wild Rose Studio.  As usual I coloured with promarkers.  Had to colour the cat in grey as my niece has a little grey kitten which she adores.  I cut the bow in her hair out of the same glitter card on the background.  The papers are all from my bits and bobs tin that I am trying to use up.  Although you can't see it very well I put some lace and ribbon on the left side of the card.  Final touches were the flowers, feather and gems.  Added some extra glitter to the flower as my niece does like things glittery.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
I love promarkers -  Cute and Cuddly
Totally Papercrafts -  Spots and Stripes
Stampin for the Weekend - Out with the old (papers and flowers)
Let's ink it up - anything goes
The Crafty Pad - New Year Sparkle
One Stitch at a Time - Anything goes

Thanks for looking and hope that you pop back soon.
By the way, at the moment I simply take my photos on my digital camera and upload them as they are into my blog.  Am looking for a reasonable photo package to enable me to do a bit more with them and maybe make them look a bit more interesting.  If anyone uses a good package that they could recommend I would really appreciate it.

Mags
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Be Mine Forever!!

Evening Folks
Was a bit of a chilly start this morning.  Very severe frost meant a bit of scraping of the car before I could go out.  Was quite cold all day but the sun was out so not all bad.
Decided I needed to get a head start on some of the cards I have to make.  So today's offering is a Valentines Card.  Used this image from Dude Time Doodles 'Count Vladimir' to make this card.  Their current challenge is to make a card using this free image.

Kept the colouring of the image quite simple and stuck to the traditional colours for Valentines.  The backing paper and cardstock were all in my stash.  Added a heart shaped ribbon slider to the ribbon, some flowers, a feather and the gorgeous silver corner as embellishments.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sketch and Stash - 78 (new stash: silver corner, flowers, image   Old stash: paper, ribbon)
Dude Time Doodles - use free image
One Stop Craft Challenge - #165 On the spot and ribbon
Pile It On - #2 Manly Cards

Thanks for looking and hope you all enjoy your weekend.
Mags
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Golf Anyone?

Evening folks,
Thank goodness it's Friday is all I can say.  Trouble is the weekend goes by far too quickly.
Decided to do a male card tonight.  Always seem to end up with loads of cards appropriate for females in my stockpile but not enough for men.
Here is the card I created.  I think this one will be destined to go to the Brother-In-Law as he is a big golf fanatic.  Also has a funny sense of humour so would appreciate this card.

The image is a digi from Bugaboo.  I was lucky enough recently to win some free digi images and this is one of the ones I chose.  Coloured it with promarkers and used chalk for the grass and the pale blue sky.
The coredinations cardstock came out again together with one of my new spellbinder dies.  The papers were from my stash.  Finished the card with some ribbon and card candy.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday - use sketch given
Crafty Catz - #115 Use something new (image, spellbinder die)
Winter Wonderland - Birthday Wishes

Thanks for swinging by and hope to see you again soon.
Mags
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Let It Snow

Morning folks.
Just wanted to post this quick christmas card before I set off for work.  I am trying to complete one christmas card a week this year.  Not sure how long it will last but on track so far lol.

This was a very quick card to do.  I embossed the card blank with my snowflake embossing folder.  Added some glitter strips to the side.  The stamp is from Molly Blooms and I thought it was really cute and could be quite versatile.  Added a sentiment at the bottom and a few gems.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
52 CC Throwdown - use sketch
Scrapbook Sisters - #66 Snow

Thanks for popping by and hope to be back later tonight.
Mags
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Try a bit of paper piecing

Only me again.  Second post for today but last one before I retire to my bed.
At christmas my sister gave me a list of cards that she has commissioned me to make for her throughout the year.  This is the first of those cards.

I decided to have a go at some paper piecing.  The stamp image I have used has been in my stash for months.  I am afraid I have lost the insert so can't tell you who it is by.  I stamped the image onto white card and then used the backing papers to stamp on and cut out the pieces.  Namely, the flower heads and the leaves.
The finishing touches were the punched butterfly (love this punch), vintage ribbon and gems.  I also used the same stamp set to make some smaller flower heads as embellishments in the top corner.
Another photo of the inside of the card.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sunday Sketch and Stamp - #88
Allsorts - #136 paper piecing
CES Challenges - #67 anything goes
Simon Says Stamp - spots and/or stripes
Moving Along With The Times - #120 spots and/or stripes
Charisma Cardz - #1 Happy Birthday
Whimsy Inspires - #21 Happy Birthday

Thanks for taking the time to visit.  Hope to see you again soon.
Mags
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Playing with die cuts

Evening folks.
Hope you are all well this evening.  Not had much sleep in the last 24 hours as we had a rude awakening in the early hours of the morning.  My husbands shop that he owns was broken into.  So had to turn out in the cold to check whether anything was stolen and secure the property.  Fortunately they didn't take anything.  The police reckon it was young lads looking for any cash left on the premises.  Why young lads you ask?  Well, we are fairly close to the local cinema.  And whoever broke in left a load of popcorn scattered over the floor.  Presumably they dropped it when the alarm went off.  Pity they didn't choke on it. Managed to secure the property but still spent a good couple of hours trying to sort it out.  Don't hold out much hope of anyone being caught.  They haven't caught anyone the last 2 times the shop has been broken into.

Anywho, onto my card that I completed this evening.  It is a bit different for me but think it turned out okay.  I received lots of spellbinders dies for christmas so thought it was about time I used them.  So this was a bit of an experimentation.  My inspiration came from Sue Wilson's blog.  She demonstrates the spellbinders on Create and Craft and produces some fantastic cards.

Won't bore you by going into detail about how the card was created.  I will instead list the components of the card and hopefully you will recognise them in the card:

Coredinations Cardstock

Papermania Capsule Collection Papers

Vintage Ribbon

Pearls

Marianne die for the light blue swirls

Daisy Flower spellbinder die

Parisian Accents spellbinder dies

Parisian Motifs spellbinder dies

Decorative jewellery piece for centre of flower

Here is another photo showing the inside of the card.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Lothian Crafts - #22 Die Cuts

Anything Goes Challenge - #58 anything goes

Creative Inspirations - #145 Swirls and Pearls

Simon Says Stamp - Spots and/or Stripes

Whimsy Inspires - 21 Happy Birthday

Moving Along With The Times - #130 Spots and/or Stripes

Charisma Cardz - #1 Happy Birthday

Thanks for looking and hope you pop back soon.  Thanks to all my followers and visitors for the kind and lovely comments you leave and for just browsing through my blog.  Your support and encouragement are appreciated.

Mags

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Who wants cake?

Evening folks.
Hope you are all well.  Can't believe it's the end of Tuesday already.  Before you know it it will be Friday and another week will be over.
Had to make a quick birthday card tonight for someone's birthday at work.  So cobbled together this creation.

The stamp is from Wild Rose Studio and is from the Milton & Co range.  I think it is so cute.  The stamp also came with the two sentiments 'ingredients of a great day' and 'love, laughter, CAKE' which I used on opposite corners of the card.
Other components used on the card include coredinations cardstock, Tim Holtz papers, ribbon, lace, paper flowers, die cut flourishes and gems.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - use sketch
Cutie Pie Challenge - #9  Ribbons and Lace
Papertake Weekly - Die Cute Special
Secret Crafter Saturday - #167  Let Them Eat Cake
One Stitch At A Time - #95  Use 3 embellishments (used flowers, flourishes and gems)

Thanks for popping by and hope to see you again soon.  Please let me know what you think to the card.  I love receiving and reading all your comments.
Mags
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Dream Valley Challenge #23

Afternoon Folks.
It is now time for the first Dream Valley challenge of 2012.  This time is it an easy one for you as it is Anything Goes.
This fortnight we lucky to be sponsored by a fab sponsor

and the lucky winner will receive a £10 voucher for their store.

My card features a stamp from Molly Blooms.  She has been coloured in promarkers and matted onto silver mirror card.  The background papers are from Papermania.  I used the sketch over at Totally Papercrafts for the layout of my card.  Used some lovely lace, buttons and flowers as my embellishments.

Why not pop over to Dream Valley and check out the fab work done by the design team.  You have two weeks to enter and remember ANYTHING GOES.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:
Totally Papercrafts - use sketch
I love promarkers - #98 Buttons and Lace
CES Challenges - #67 anything goes
Stamp n Doodle - anything goes

Thanks for popping by.
Mags
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Ring in the New Year

Afternoon Folks.
I promised you an exciting post yesterday.  Well, this is it.  I am now on the Design Team for The Corrosive Challenge Blog and today is our first challenge for 2012.
Our challenge this fortnight is entitled 'Ring In The New Year' by celebrating and using any new crafting goodies that you have.
We want to see something new on your project.  This could be your image, a die, an embellishment.  In fact, anything that you have not used before.
Our sponsor this month is Kenny K downloads.

http://www.kennykdownloads.com/

KennyK has kindly offered a prize of 5 digis to our January winner.  So what are you waiting for?

For my card I have used a KennyK image entitled Sundae.  I decided to go with the typical red, black and white theme for Valentine's.  The image was coloured with promarkers and die cut using my Big Shot.  I also added some glossy accents to the red hearts.  I used some papers that I have had for ages from Papermania, and matted this onto red coredinations.  For embellishments I added ribbon, lace, paper flowers made from the red cardstock, a heart charm, buttons and a string of clear hearts.
The new items used are the image, ribbon, lace, charm and clear hearts.

I hope that some of you will pop over to Corrosive Challenges and have a go.  Also, check out the fantastic projects completed by the very talented members of the design team.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Just Tracey's Crafts - Love Is In The Air
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop #6  Be My Valentine
I love promarkers - #98  Buttons and Lace
One Stop Craft Challenge - Bingo Board (3 down   Flowers/ Buttons/Charms

Thanks for looking  and hope you pop by again soon.
Mags
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Our challenge for this fortnight is one to celebrate the new year, and an excuse to use all those new crafty goodies you received for the holidays!

Challenge #140 is "Ring in the New Year" and we want to see something brand new on your creation. It could be an image, a die, an embellishment or all of the above. As long it is new and never before used, it counts for this challenge. Please tell us in your post what those new items are so we can be jealous of the fabulous loot you scored! lol

Happy Birthday Geezer

Evening Folks.
Just a quick post tonight as getting ready to go out to a friends house for a catch up and a few drinks.
Today's card is for my brother-in-law's birthday in February.  I have done this card for my daughters to give him.

The image is a digi image from Stitchy Bear.  Thought it suited as BIL can be a bit of a grump at times.  Coloured in promarkers and matted and layered using one of my die cuts.  Can't tell you where the papers are from as they were in a freebie pack in a craft magazine.  The brown square in the corner is actually the inner tube of a kitchen roll.  I flattened it out, put some distress ink round the edges and then punched it with my new Martha Stewart punch.  The ribbon is also recycled and it came off a christmas present.  By the way, Geezer is a sort of nickname for him.  Hence the sentiment.
A top tip is to keep the inners of kitchen roll holders.  They come in handy for little embellishments such as this particularly if you don't have any kraft card handy. I have also punched flowers out of them before and used them on my cards.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Cards for Men - recycling (ribbon and inner from kitchen roll)
Dude Time Doodles - anything goes
Simply Create Too - #4 use layers
Pollycraft Monday - #121 use a punch (martha stewart and sentiment)
Top Tip Tuesday - #67 anything goes (top tip listed above)

Thanks for looking.
Check back tomorrow for an exciting news post from me (well, exciting to me anyway lol).
Mags
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Give Thanks

Evening Folks.
Bit late posting tonight but had a bit of a difficult day today.  Unfortunately we had a funeral to attend today.  A friend of ours had a massive heart attack just before christmas and died.  It was so sudden as he was a fit and healthy man.  He was also only 53 years old, the same age as my husband.  It was a lovely service and so many people came to pay their respects.  Just shows that you never know when your journey in this world will end.
Anyway on to todays card:

This is a little thank you card that I put together this evening using my favourite colour of purple.  The image is actually a free stamp set that I got with a magazine a couple of years ago.  I am afraid I can't tell you who it is by or what it is called.  I coloured with promarkers and matted onto some purple and silver card.  The design paper is from Papermania and the purple card is Coredinations.  I put the Coredinations through an embossing folder and did some light sanding.  Added some little flowers, ribbon and gems to finish the card.
Here is a pic of the inside:

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sunday Sketch and Stamp - #87
Creative Inspirations - #144 With Thanks
Inspirational Card Sketches - #145  Use any sketch

Thanks for popping by and hope to see you again soon.
Thanks also to my lovely followers and all the visitors who leave me comments on my cards.  It is much appreciated and I really enjoy reading them.
Mags
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New Home

Evening.  Spent a bit of time in my crafty room this evening.  Was mainly working on my DT cards but did get this little one done.  I was itching to use some papers from Papermania that I got over christmas.  I used the sketch over at Sketch Saturday as the layout for my card.

The stamp is one that I have had for absolutely ages.  It was actually a free gift in a magazine but can't remember which one and the packaging has long since disappeared.  I coloured with promarkers and tried to keep it quite simple.  As mentioned earlier all the papers are from Papermania and are a capsule collection.  They coordinate together beautifully.  The strip across the centre of the card is a piece of the backing paper that has been punched with a border punch and a lovely dark blue velvet ribbon added.  Finished the card off with lots of gems and some flower embellishments which I have had for about a year.  Finally found a project to use them on lol.
A quick pic of the inside of the card.

One of my resolutions in crafting this year is to concentrate on the inside as well as the outside of the card.
Might have to go and adjust the position of the image on the card though.  Looking at the photo is seems to be on a bit of a wonk. Lol.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday - #188  use sketch
Ladybug Crafts - #51  use some new stash (papers and ribbon)
The Stamping Boutique - #23  Theme is 12 (I used 12 blue gems)
Simon Says Stamp - new something
Whimsy Challenges - #20  New Beginnings
Fab N Funky - use new stash (papers and ribbon)

Thanks for looking and hope to see you back again soon.
Mags
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Thinking of You

Afternoon Folks.  Finished work early today so thought I would post this little card before I set off for my crafty room.  You may have noticed that my blog design has also changed.  Don't think I want a christmas themed template for the whole year lol.
I was looking through my stamps the other night and came across this Penny Black one.  I have had it for months but never inked it up.  Went with the sentiment Thinking Of You but could quite easily have done it as a Thank You card or even a birthday card.

The image was simply stamped onto cardstock in black and embossed using clear embossing powder.  I then die cut the image and distress inked the edges.  The background paper is from Papermania.  I added some ribbons, flowers and gems to complete the card.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Dilly Beans - use shades of read and black
Papertake - anything goes

Thanks for popping by and hope to see you again soon.
Mags
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Christmas In January

Evening folks.  Well, first day back at work today after the christmas holidays.  Did not go down too well either.  Trouble is my week is all mixed up now, keep thinking it's Monday when in fact it is Tuesday lol.
Now I did manage to get all my christmas cards done but it was a bit of a rush towards the end.  I came across this new challenge blog called 52(Christmas) Card Throwdown.  They are going to post a christmas challenge each week during the year.  So I thought I would support them by entering their first challenge.  Will try and enter more throughout the year in an attempt to be more organised this year.

I have used one of the Forever Friends decoupage images.  The papers are from Papermania and have been matted onto gold mirror card.  A bit of ribbon, a gold star and some gems has finished the card.
I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - use sketch
55(Christmas)Card Throwdown - anything goes as long as it is christmas

Thanks for looking and hope I haven't bored you too much by going on about christmas lol.
Mags
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Have Fun in your New Home

Evening folks.  Well, the holidays are now well and truly over.  Back to work tomorrow which I am not looking  forward too.  Would much rather be sat in my pyjamas in my crafty room lol.
Was rummaging through my stamps today and came across this one from Papermania (I bought it several months ago) which was just perfect for a new home card.

I decided to do an easel card.  I do love these style of cards but don't seem to make many of them.
I stamped the image and then used watercolours to colour in (still a bit of a novice at this).  I then cut out the image using one of my new spellbinder dies that I got for christmas.  I then threaded ribbon around the die cut.
The papers are from Papermania (capsule collection).

Here is another angle of the card.  The sentiment was typed on the computer.  I then cut it out and mounted it onto silver mirror board using the smaller spellbinder dies.  This is acting as the stopper.  The embellishments are flowers, pins and doily from WOC.  The small butterfly is a punch and the larger butterfly is from Papermania.  A few gems completed the card.

Apologies for the quality of the photos.  Taking photos is not my best skill.
I would like to enter this card into the following challenges.
Bunny Zoe's - #19 Fancy Folds/ Shaped Cards
Simply Create Too - #3 Shape It Up
Hotshot Craft - #2 Easel Card
Allsorts - #135 New Beginnings
Stamps R Us - What you got for Christmas or Anything Goes (spellbinder dies, paper pack and WOC flowers were new items for christmas)

Thanks for popping by and hope to see you again soon.
Thanks also to my lovely followers and the comments that you leave.  I really enjoy reading them and appreciate your support.
Mags
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Anyone for rugby

Happy New Year to everyone.  Hope you all had a good New Years Eve, whatever you were doing.  We went out with some good friends of ours down our local.  Had a fab time but was a bit delicate this morning.  So glad not at work tomorrow as didn't do a lot today.
Did manage to get this card made.  It is for a friend's birthday in a few weeks.

The image is a Papermania one.  I bought this stamp set in the summer.  It is part of a set which features sporting pastimes.  As our friend is a huge rugby fan and also plays himself this image seemed appropriate.  I kept this image quite clean by just stamping it in brown ink and adding a touch of distress ink.  I cut the image out using one of my new spellbinder dies that I got for christmas.  The papers are all from my stash, not sure where I got them or who they are by I am afraid.  Added some ribbons, a sentiment and some card candy to finish the card.
Here is the inside of the card:

I do find mens cards much more difficult to do but quite pleased with the way this turned out.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - 134
Jellypark - Old and New (use something old - stamp and papers, use something new - spellbinders die and ribbons)
Joanna Sheen - Celebrations
Sir Stampalot - Monochromatic
Robyns Fetish - Anything goes

Thanks for popping by and hope you will pop by again soon.
Mags
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