THINK SNOW - BUT NIMBY!!!

Hi there blog friends - and a special hello to my new followers.   I hope you are all keeping well and are managing to find time to do some crafting.   I do love being able to blog (thanks  to Suzie's Card Den) and I am really finding myself so involved now.  For my designs to inspire other bloggers and for me to be inspired is a brilliant feeling and I don't think I will ever get used to seeing all the gorgeous creations that are out there.

I have been a little busy over the past few days, happy busy though because I was searching all the blog challenges to find some to enter, and on top of that I have made two cards!!  Good for me huh?  The first one is for my other half, so it won't be posted just yet as his birthday isn't until 1st October.  The second one is a Christmas card that I made for some of the challenges and I used an LOTV stamp 'Christmas Star'.  I loved this image as soon as I saw it and picked it as part of a Candy prize from LOTV.

I have a few pics for you to look at - many thanks to my hubby for his usual help.

O Tannenbaum (Oh Christmas Tree)

 

When I had finished the card I realised that she is a bit squiffy - I only noticed when I looked at the snow under her feet - however my lovely hubby said she is standing on an incline, bless him.

 

I am still struggling with my colouring but I do keep practising and this little image is so cute, I am sure you will forgive my dodgy shading - now I've set myself off giggling because I'm doing the mole impression - squinting!  If I squint and take my milk bottle bottom glasses off - hey perfecto!!

 

Ingredients

White pearl base card

  Back to basics Christmas papers - Dovecraft

  Christmas Star stamp - LOTV

'Winter Greetings' sentiment - Creative Expressions

Tied Together Emb. Folder - Couture Creations

Spectrum Noir pens

Circle Die/Picot Edge Circles - Spellbinders

Antique Linen/Worn Lipstick DI

Flowers/Leaves - WOC

White Pen/Glitter/red gems - stash

 

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges - I did say I had been busy searching didn't I?

 

Allsorts Challenge week 173 - Inspired by a Song - O Tannenbaum(Oh Christmas Tree) -http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/week-173-inspired-by-song.html

Challenges 4 Everybody No 3 - Anything Goes - http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/challenge-3-anything-goes.html

Dis Digi Design Challenges - Use more than 1 die or punch - http://disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.no/2012/09/use-more-than-1-die-cut-or-punch.html

Natalie and Amy's Challenge No 1 - http://natalieandamy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/anything-goes-for-our-first-ever.html

Dream Valley Challenge No 41 - Celebration - Christmas - http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.no/2012/09/challenge-41-celebrations.html

The Crafty Pad No 189 - Inspired by a Song - O Tannenbaum(Oh Christmas Tree) - http://thecraftypad.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/challenge-189-inspired-by-song.html

Squiggle Stamps Challenge - Punches and dies - http://squigglestamps.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/punches-and-dies.html

Heck of a challenge No 1 - Anything Goes - http://heckofachallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/first-challenge.html

Love to Create No 34 - Anything Goes - http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/challenge-34-anything-goes.html

Unique Crafters September Challenge - Anything Goes - http://uniquecrafterschallenge.blogspot.no/2012/09/september-challenge-anything-goes.html

Craft Room Challenge - Childhood Memories - http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/childhood-memories.html

Through the Craft Room Door No 37 - Anything Goes - http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/2012/09/challenge-37-sept-25th-oct-1st.html 

Just Keep on Creating Christmas Challenge - Christmas Project - http://justkeeponcreating.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/christmas-is-just-around-corner.html

Creative Craft challenge - Anything Goes - http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/anything-goes.html

Rudolph Day - September - http://stampingforpleasure.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/rudolph-day-september-sticky-post.html

The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge No 27 - Celebrate the Occasion -http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.no/2012/09/challenge-27-celebrate-occasion.html

Sketch N Stash Challenge No 97 - http://sketchandstashchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/challenge-97.html

Whimsy Inspires Challenge No 51 - Anything Goes - http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/challenge-51-sponsored-by-tlc.html

 

 I just want to say thank you for stopping by, if you have left a comment, you know that I am grateful, because everything you say helps to make us better crafters one way or another.  I hope you stop by again very soon, I love hopping around your blogs and leaving comments whenever I can.  I am truly amazed at the inventiveness on your blogs.

 

Big hugs to you all

 

SUE

TWINCHIE CHALLENGE NO 6 - ADD A STAMPED IMAGE

Hello friendly bloggers - I have just realised that I haven't entered the Twinchie challenge yet, so I thought I would get down to it this morning.  It took me an hour to find a stamp that I wanted to use.  I just wish I could make these decisions much faster, thank goodness I didn't have to choose papers 'cos I would still be sitting here thinking/deciding!!! 

Well here is the Twinchie challenge picture, alongside a metal rule, to show that it is - yup - just 2" x 2"!

 

I stamped the image on the reverse of some Centura Pearl card - tip from Sheena Douglass - then made a mask from a sticky note.  I dabbed a little pale blue Memento ink over for the sky then did the same with green for the grassy area.  Once the mask was removed I went on to colour in the image with Spectrum Noir pens.  I thought I would use these instead of my Promarkers just for a change.  I have seen some cards with 'white pen' on them so I thought I would give this a go - methinks I went a little OTT though - lol! I blobbed a little bit of glaze over the greeting, doorknob and windows - even though you can't see it!!!  Mind you if you stand 10 feet away and squint (you know what I mean, a bit like a mole) it looks quite good!

 

I really enjoyed colouring this little tiny toadstool in though, even if I am still practising.  The 'hello' was at the bottom of another one of the tiny stamps in the selection so I just inked that part and made it look as if the grub was speaking!!  I know I am a saddo - but I am a happy saddo!

 

Ingredients

Centura Pearl card (reversed)

Pink Petticoat stamp - freebie with a mag.

Memento Ink

Spectrum Noir pens

Sakura Glaze pen

 

I hope you like my 'Twinchie' blog friends, I love this challenge and am trying to do every one from now on.  Don't keep me to this though 'cos things are sent to try us and you never know when they are on their way!!!

 

Big hugs to you all and thank you so much for stopping by and reading my ramblings.

 

SUE

 

I am entering this into the 'Show us your Twinchies Challenge No 6 - Add a stamped image.

 

http://twinchie-twinchiehotmaillive.blogspot.co.uk/

JUST PEEKING OVER ....NEIGH!!

Hi there my blogger friends - hope you are all well and managing to craft a little on what is a dull Sunday! 

Today I want to post a card I made for a commission from my neighbour.  This is one that I really enjoyed doing because it was a 'happy' image - she chose the stamps from my collection, I suggested a couple of ways I could use them and she said she would like this one.  I started off by putting a piece of lemon glitter card across the base card.  I stamped all the animals, gate, walls and flowers on a piece of white card then coloured them with Promarkers before I cut them all out.  I cut out a mat of silver mirri and also white card then placed a few sticky note clouds on the white card and 'splodged' - technical term - a piece of cotton wool, covered in pale blue chalk, over the page.  My clouds were just visible when I removed the sticky notes.  I laid the gate and walls flat onto the card and then used Pinflair glue to stick the animal heads onto the card.  I used some foam pads for the tootsies (hooves/trotters!!) of the animals to pull them out a little more forward than the heads.  I chomped into the green card to make it look like grass and put this, together with the little flowers, on with Pinflair glue. 

I found the lemon/white flowers in my stash, along with the little letter beads and put these onto the glitter card with Pinflair - you do need a strong hold when using glitter!  Apologies for the bottom left hand corner of the pic - I took this one instead of my gorgeous photographer!  Now you know why I leave it to him!

My neighbour was really pleased with the result and so was I, especially when I found out her daughter has this card framed on her bedroom wall!

 

Ingredients

White base card

Mirri/glitter/green card from stash

Woodware - Peekin' Over clear stamps

Memento Black Ink Pad

Promarkers

Dovecraft chalks

Pinflair glue

 

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

 

Kaboodle Doodle Challenge No 137 Babies and/or Kids - http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/challenge-137-babies-children.html

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge No 173 Children - http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/craft-challenge-173-children.html

Whimsy Inspires No 51 Anything Goes - http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/challenge-51-sponsored-by-tlc.html

Stampin' For the Weekend No 18 Feelin Floral - http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/challenge-18-feeling-floral.html

Fat Pages with Attitude No 23 Anything Goes - http://justkeeponcreating.blogspot.ca/2012/09/anything-goes-challenge-3.html

My Heart Pieces Anything Goes - http://myheartpiecesdigitalstampchallenge.blogspot.in/2012/09/anything-goes.html

Just keep on Creating No 3 Anything Goes - http://justkeeponcreating.blogspot.com.au/

 

I hope you like this card as much as Katie did - why does that ring a bell? - anyway thank you so much for visiting my blog and checking my cards.  If you have left a comment I am  also grateful to you - even if it is a criticism or a suggestion!!!

 

Hugs to you my blog lovelies!

 

SUE



A TAG AND LATTICE!!!

Hi there lovely blog friends and a special hi to my new followers - thank you so much for checking out my blog and leaving your comments.  I feel really proud that so many of you like my stuff, my hairdresser was always saying that I should do this, but it's only now that my confidence is growing!  Wahey!

Anyway I am doing a first and a second - yup sounds tricky doesn't it?   Not really - my first is that I will be trying to schedule this to go out tomorrow (I will still be in me pit with a bit of luck) but I haven't done it before so who knows what may happen (lol) and my second is another card using my Fancy Lattice diecut.  I had some left over from the other day and ......... I still have a piece 6" x 1" - I will be keeping it for another time!

Just a quick update - the post didn't come out on time 'cos my blog was on Pacific time - thought it didn't look quite right - duh!!!  I am now firing on all four again.  Well your 4 is probably 2.5 for me!!

I'm not sure that I like the lace or the pic though - nothing to do with my gorgeous photographer - it just looks so much better in actual daylight.  What do you think?

As usual there are a few pics for you to look over - 

 

The tag is made from the peach card and I cut out some of the flowers and leaves from the paper, inked them with a little DI and glued them on with Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue.  I then added some swirls, flowers and butterflies.  I now think I should have inked the edges of the main card.  I might do this before I send it out to someone.

 

I glued the lattice diecut onto the peach card then used double sided tape to glue the peach card onto my white base card.  I left the middle portion unglued to form a pocket for the little tag.  I think everything else is self-explanatory and you can see what I used from my 'Ingredients' list below.

 

 

I actually did something to the inside of this card - a change for me - simply because I love Labels 6 and those lurvely swirly twiddly bits.

 

 

This is the little tag that fits snugly into the pocket on the front of the card.

 

 

Ingredients :
6 x 6 Card

Paper/card from Kanban

Spellbinders Labels 6

Spellbinders Fancy Lattice die

Spellbinders Ironworks border

Spellbinders Jewel Flowers & Flourishes (b/fly)

Marianne Creatables swirl

Sentiment stamp by LOTV

Tea Dye DI/Coffee Archival

Cosmic shimmer clear embossing powder

Lace/ribbon/flowers from stash

 

I'm still not sure about this one, so feel free to let me know what you think - this has been said before (by many) but we don't know where, or if, we are going wrong unless someone tells us!

 

Big hugs to all my blog friends.  Thank you so much for stopping by, hope to see you again soon.

 

SUE

 

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges -

 

Digi Doodles Shop - last challenge - http://digidoodleshopsbest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/ddsc-final-challenge-125-anything-goes.html

Whimsy Stamps Challenge No 51 Anything Goes - http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/challenge-51-sponsored-by-tlc.html

My Heart Pieces Chall. Anything Goes - http://myheartpiecesdigitalstampchallenge.blogspot.in/2012/09/anything-goes.html

Fat Pages and Cards etc No 23 Anything Goes - http://fatpageswithattitude.blogspot.co.uk/

Challenges 4 Everybody No 3 Anything Goes  - http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/challenge-3-anything-goes.html

Lili's Little Fairies Chall. Flower Power  - http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/flower-power.html

Just Keep on Creating No 3 Anything Goes - http://justkeeponcreating.blogspot.ca/2012/09/anything-goes-challenge-3.html



THINKING OF YOU - WITH BUTTONS ON!!!

Hi there to all my blog friends and to my new follower.  Thanks so much for your great comments on my last card - and especially for the comments about my pigeon Woody!  I am pleased to see that I am not the only one who gets distracted by the wildlife in their garden.  I was in the kitchen this morning watching the birds as my porridge set like concrete - anybody need a doorstop??

Anyway - this is a card I made yesterday afternoon with one of my new Spellbinders dies.  I lurve this Fancy Lattice - it may be my favourite one (for the time being - lol).   I got the idea the night before as I was trying to get to sleep - if I can't drop off, I try to think of ideas for cards.  Nine times out of ten I end up with no ideas and no sleep - typical.  As usual, hubby took a few pics this morning and I am putting three of them on here for you to check out.

 

I put the middle vertical strip on foam pads to give a little bit of dimension.

 

I stamped with message with Coffee Archival ink and embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Clear embossing powder.

 

I was quite pleased with this one, I love the browns and tans with the white - let me know what you think about it.  I have half of the piece of Fancy Lattice card left so I am thinking that I must use it up - simply because it is soooo gorgeous.

 

Ingredients :
6 x 6 Card

Paper from Kanban Garden Vistas A5 pad

Buttons from my Nan's button box

Spellbinders Labels 20

Spellbinders Fancy Lattice die

Sentiment stamp by LOTV

Tea Dye DI/Coffee Archival

Cosmic Shimmer Clear embossing powder

Bakers Twine

Flowers from WOC

That Special Touch of ... Mask (Dots)

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges: Just Keep On Creating, Simply Create Too, Bearly Mine and Lady Bug Crafts.

 

http://justkeeponcreating.blogspot.com.au/ -  No 2 Anything Goes

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - No 53 Fall Colours, Reds, Oranges, Browns, Yellows and Greens

http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.co.uk/  -  No 22 Anything Goes

http://ladybugcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/ - No 1 - Anything Goes

 

I hope you like this card - if you would like to leave your comments, please feel free to do so.  I really love my blogging and must admit I am making more cards these days - just for the sheer fun of it.

 

Many thanks for stopping by.  Hugs to you all.

 

SUE

HAND PICKED FOR YOU!!

Hi there blog friends - and a special hi to my new followers, thank you all so much for stopping by, checking out my blog and giving me some brilliant comments.  You make me very happy!

Well, today I am making a card using up some of my bits and pieces of paper - you know the ones - you can't throw them away ('cos they might come in useful) but they aren't really big enough to do anything major with.  Anyway, as normal, I was distracted - this time it was a huuuuuge Woodpigeon sitting in the bird bath doing callisthenics!!  First it was one wing then it was the other!  A few sit ups - then a sit down!!   The trouble was, the more he sat in there the more he looked as if he was soaking up the water!  Hubby announced he would be too waterlogged to take off and went to get his camera.  Needless to say he stopped exercising and posed for his pic!

So you now know why I was distracted.  

However, I am going to post another card that I made for docrafts Creativity 'Craft for Life' Cancer Research Campaign.  This was a while ago but I liked this little A6 card, I felt it was a 'happy' design.  When I worked in the NHS I spent some time working in a Hospice for terminally ill patients.  It was a brilliant place, there was always laughter and I made lots of friends.  The Day Care Centre was amazing - everyone was so positive and boy did we giggle!  We'd celebrate all sorts of things and I have been known to wear a red nose and antlers, Santa Hat, bunny's ears etc etc (even though my boss wasn't too keen - oops!).  It was so sad when I eventually lost some of my friends so the above campaign is dear to my heart.

This card had to be placed in a cello bag so it is very simple and I didn't use any flowers. 

Ingredients :

A6 card

Paper from Papermania

Ribbon and buttons from Papermania

Spellbinders Labels 5

La Blanche stamp

Distress Ink (can't remember colour)

Promarkers

I hope you like this one - I thought I would enter it into the following challenges:

http://dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/  -  No 182 Sugar and Spice
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/  -  No 52 Anything Goes
http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.co.uk/  -  No 22 Anything Goes
http://thepoodlesparlour.blogspot.co.uk/  -  Here Come the Girls
http://ladybugcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/  -  No 1  Anything Goes

I hope you like this little card - please leave your comments, I keep saying how much I enjoy reading them but I really do and I am so enjoying myself.

Big hugs to all of you.  Must now get on with the card I was doing before I started me bird watching!! 

SUE

THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT GRRRRRR!!

Hi there blog friends, I do hope you are all feeling well and crafty.  I did another bit of ironing this morning - booooo then had a crafty afternoon - wahey!  

About a week ago my friend had asked me to make a card for her grandson (she always gives me plenty of notice - lol) so I have been giving it some thought and I finally put my ideas onto paper today.  She knows he loves jungle programmes so she asked me if I had any stamps to do with jungle animals.  I had just the right stamps.  I bought them many moons ago but I 'filed' them without their front sheet unfortunately.   I believe - forgive me if I am wrong - that they are from Creative Expressions.  Anyway here is my card
 

 

I thought it would look nice as an easel card so I made the stopper out of a piece of punched card (Martha Stewart punch) and I stamped some gorgeous little paw prints on the top.  All of the stamps are on the same sheet.

 

I coloured the images in with my Promarkers then layered everything up as shown in the pictures.  The brown layer (Spellbinders Scalloped Rectangle) under the images is some of that faux velvet paper, it feels nice and soft like animal fur!!!  The animal print paper is from my stash.

 

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges

  

http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com.au/  - No 26 Anything Goes

http://cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  -  No 26 No Flowers

http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.in/  -  No 124 More than one Fold

http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/  - No 198 No Floral Embellishments

http://nomatterwhichchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/  -  Die cuts and/or punches

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com.au/  -  No 106 Anything Goes

http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.co.uk/  -  Boys/Men

http://craftysentiments.blogspot.co.uk/  -  Leaves

 

I hope you like my card, thank you so much for stopping by.  I always love reading your comments and I know my little story on Tuesday made some of you laugh - that pleases me no end.  We all need laughs and giggles in our lives.  Your cards often brighten my day and make me smile, which is lovely. 

 

Thanks again my blog friends.  Hugs to you all.

 

SUE