More Blog Candy - Digistamp Boutique

Anyone who knows me will quickly realise that I love digistamp boutique and have been collecting her images since she first started. Pop on over to her blog to see what's on offer, loads of yummy goodies and best of all the chance to win all the new releases.

Another Boy Card

I absolutely love this image that my BIL drew, and this is the second card I have made so far, the papers were all left overs from the other card. the image is so nice to colour and gives a lovely result. Didn't follow any sketch just placed it all according to the size that was left. I think making a second card with the scraps may be a way to tackle my ongoing paper scrap mountain problem. I was checking back through most of the male cards I have made and realised that this paper is my go to male kit, I know that the Toast & Jam set is my go to for girls but hadn't realised how many times I have used this paper.

I don't know about anyone else but this cold is starting to get to me, usually by now it is getting milder and in anticipation I turned my heating down, big mistake huge, spent two nights absolutely freezing before I remembered I had turned it down, doh.

Ingredients

Image: Geek Alley

Papers: Summertime Designs "Fathers & Fedoras"

Sentiment: Pollycraft "Friday Freebie"

Embossing: Cuttlebug " Tiny Mosaic

Scrap Card - Twelve Step Program

I don't know about anyone else but I seem to be unable to throw even the smallest pieces of card or paper away. I have pieces of card that are so small I will never be able to use them but it feels wrong to throw them out. I know that anyone reading this will think I have lost the plot....plot what plot...was there supposed to be a plot....sorry got sidetracked hehe...I hope someone can help with a counselling group or a local crafters anonymous. Maybe I should start my own..

" Hello my name is Amanda and I have a been collecting paper for five years, I know I need to stop and use some of it but it is just so pretty I can't bear to cut into it....."

I think there should be a twelve step programme and maybe step one should be to put the scissors near the paper but not cut it, to cut it would be way to scary for the first step...

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Amanda

Kaths Blog Candy

Well Kath has some fabby blog candy on offer, she makes the most gorgeous cards and has on offer all the things she uses on them. pop on over and have a look.

Cards for Men Challenge

I enjoyed the last cards for men challenge so much I couldn't wait for the new one to be posted. I knew immediately what card I was going to do and it just so happened I had planned for this card to be green before I knew the challenge. This is an old favourite bloke card layout, not too fancy but with a bit of interest. I even managed to glossy accent the hammer head but it isn't clear in the picture. Coloured with the usual copics although I was tempted to use my prisma pencils.

Ingredients

Image: Dustin Pike

Papers: Funkyfairy papercrafts "gorgeous grids" (shop has now gone and I do miss it)

Card: Large pack from Wal*Mart Florida, had it two years and its still going strong.

Embossing: Cuttlebug 'Tiny Mosaic"

Lily of the Valley Thursday Challenge Card

I couldn't wait for the last release of the Lili of the Valley stamps and bought two on the release day. Excellent value at only £3.75 each and really fast delivery too. Fell in love with them on Jacqui and Bev's blogs and hope I have done the image justice. I couldn't decide which one to use for the challenge until my Mum asked for a first birthday card for a boy and I thought excellent that has made the decision for me.

Anywho on to the card, on the Lili of the Valley Thursday Challenge Blog there was a sketch to follow and finally I am getting the hang of them, it's not perfect but what a boring world it would be if everything was perfect lol. It is my first entry for this challenge but rest assured it won't be my last, especially if the sneak peeks of their new cat stamps are anything to go by.

Ingredients

Image: Lili of the Valley " Baby Boy"

Papers: Nitwit "Bear Boys Too"

Cardstock: Bazzill (used the very last bits)

Buttons, Brads and ribbon: Stash

Another Coco Card

Made another card with this cute bear from Digistampboutique called Coco. It is such a joy to colour in and this card is quite small for me at 4x4 or 10cm x 10cm, usually use a 51/2 x 51/2 square card so the image was way smaller than I am used to. Decided to make it fairly plain as any additional bits were really small and made it feel crowded also got to use up all the scraps I had lying around of these papers. Will definitely use this card size again and may try one of the 3x3 just need better glasses hehe.

Ingredients

Image: Digistampboutique "Coco"

Papers: Shabby Shoppe "Toast & Jam"

Free Images

Instyle stamps have two gorgeous images to giveaway on their blog. They are both so cute I had difficulty deciding on which one and I am sure you will too. I already own quite a few of their retro images and they are a joy to colour, must try and post a card with them on.

More Blog Candy

The very talented Jacqui at Cats Whiskers is celebrating a birthday and blog anniversary and is giving away some gorgeous candy. Why don't you pop by and take a look.

Copic Dilema Update

Thought I would update you all on my copic dilema. I ordered E000 and E0000. I have used both and they definitely make the skin tones easier. I have decided based on my experience with the new pens that I will order the new very pale pastels on payday or sooner if hubbie is going to pay. The added benefit is they are in a set of 12 and come with a storage holder. I keep telling myself they will make shading easier as I can start with a paler shade but I think they look kinda pretty in the box hehe.

I have just visited the site and whilst preparing my basket I noticed a few other colours that would compliment my ciao collection......it is a slippery slope indeed.

Updated: I bought my single colours from Cult Pens but intend to buy the larger set from The Glitterpot.

Bling Candy Thank You

You may remember that I won Michelle's bling candy giveaway a while back, I thought I had posted a thank you on my blog but it seems to have disappeared, technology got to love it. I received a massive bag of bling, all sizes and shapes and will never need to buy bling again. Thank you once again Michelle.

Ingredients

Image: Digistampboutique "Lilly'

Papers: Shabby Princess " Toast & Jam"

Copic Dilema

I purchased set A of the copic ciao and loved them so much I got set B just before Christmas, so what's the dilema I hear you say well I bought two sketch markers for skin colours that aren't available as ciao and I can already feel the need to complete the set taking over. As the ciao's came as sets they were already in storage boxes but these two lonely sketch markers don't have a home, should I buy a storage box like the ciao ones to store them in or will I be tempting fate and have to fill the box with the sketch markers. Have only used them once each so far and they do feel very different, it is easier to identify the end you want to use as the chisel end doesn't have a grey strip, but are they worth twice the price of a ciao. When I tried to discuss with hubbie I got that vacant zoned out look, so I am looking for some reassurance that I am not mad and that these things do truly matter, lol.

I just read him this post and he said "Do you want me to buy you some markers" men you just never know what they are thinking.

Paper Take Weekly Challenge

As soon as I saw this image from Mo I knew the colours I wanted to use. I did find it difficult to stray from the pink and brown phase I am in but the fresh colours of this paper range will quickly become a firm favourite I am sure. I love digis in all aspects, from images to papers and find that this sorts out my too good to use issues that my physical paper collection stirs. The downside or upside is that you can print them as many times as you like which is great but means you forget about the other ones you have. I think I need to challenge myself to use a different set of papers each week. The sketch is from papertake weekly and was a joy to follow, can definitely see myself using this one again and again.

Ingredients

Image: Digital Pencil "Between" ( 900 member freebie)

Sentiment: Pollycraft Friday Freebie

Papers: Shabby Princess " Lavender Mint Tea"

Vertigo or Labyrinthitis

I have just been diagnosed with this and oh my gosh it is awful. When the doctor first said labyrinthitis all I could think of was the film with David Bowie, hehehe. I am not allowed to drive for two whole weeks and I never realised just how independent I was. I am so not used to having to ask to go somewhere and the first thing I am going to do after the two weeks is drive and drive and drive oh and maybe stop at a craft shop lol.

I would love to hear any remedies I should try cos nothing seems to be working at the moment but please no horror stories of it lasting longer than two weeks cos I think I would cry.

Hope to be back later with a card especially if my BIL has finished the image he recently started.

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge

I have decided to enter a challenge to be a guest designer on Mo's Digital Challenge blog. I have chosen a gorgeous image of a little boy on his bike with a really cool backpack. I instantly thought of these papers when I saw the image and it just had to be bright colours cos boys don't do pastels :-)

Ingredients

Image: Mo's Digital Pencil "ByeBye"

Papers: Nitwit Collections "Fabusaurus Too"

Punch: EK Success Dinosaur

Candy: Craftwork cards candy dots

Another Christmas Card

I can't believe i am making Christmas cards in February, not your traditional colours though. I am so enjoying making cards at the moment I don't seem to be able to stop, this is mostly due to the stream of images my BIL is creating and everytime I see a new one I want to make a card.

Ingredients

Image: Geek Alley " Cold Outside"

Paper: Summertime Designs " Winter Wonderland"

Cards for Men

I discovered this challenge blog yesterday called Cards for Men and they had a great sketch to follow, the only condition was it had to be a card for the males in our lives. I have used an image that my BIL drew, it reminded me so much of him, he was always coming home with bits of his school uniform missing. I think we all lost count of the number of coats and bus passes he had, hehehe. I hope you love the image as much as I do.

Ingredients

Image: Geek Alley "Hometime"

Papers: Shabby Princess "Candy Jar"

Mo's Digital Pencil

I love the images Mo draws, they are so detailed and when you want to sit quiet and colour they are perfect. I first spotted Mo's images last year on Rachel's blog and knew I had to buy some. I have bought quite a few and made some lovely cards but as usual forgot to photograph them before I posted them. This is the one exception.

I have been playing with several new images that Geek Alley (my talented BIL) has drawn and will be posting one later today.

Ingredients

image: Digital Pencil

Paper: Summertime Designs "Golden Sunshine"

Dino-mite Birthday

I have been sorting through the mountains and mountains of craft stuff I have bought over the years. I saw this image on a blog over a year ago and just had to buy it to make a card, well I has sat in my craft cupboard ever since. Do any of you do the same? I have stamps that have never been inked, paper too nice to use, and loads and loads of decoupage. I have decided that every week I have to use some of the mountain before I buy anything new. Oh well lets see how long it lasts, hehehe.

Ingredients

Image: Jolly Nation Dinosaur Boy

Paper: Jolly Nation

More Blog Candy

February certainly seems to be the month of love and blog candy. A fellow docrafter and blogger Poppy Petal has some fab candy on offer, so pop on over and enter.

Pink Gem Blog Candy & New Challenge Blog

Janet from Pink Gem has some fab birthday blog candy on offer and I have an image in the right hand side of my blog. She is also launching a challenge blog on the 8th February. So pop along and take a look.

Cricut 60 card

My Mum asked me to make a card for her friends 60th birthday and to make the numbers as large as possible. I knew I had seen a lovely card like that on Zoe's blog so I decided to make one very similar. The lady loves red so I knew this would be the colour scheme. These cards are so addictive once you start and I have made a 70 for my Auntie who's birthday isn't til May, I know how organised am I, and for my friends 40th. I used the cricut to cut the numbers with the George & Basics cartridge.

I resisted buying a cricut for a few years because I thought the cartridge system would be really expensive and although they aren't cheap they contain loads of different elements. I was really lucky to be in Florida on thanksgiving and able to buy a cricut for a reasonable price to try but I must say I have used it so much since I would have gladly paid full price. My matting and layering has never been so neat.

Ingredients

Paper: Summertime Designs "Apples and Almonds"

Border: Cut with Martha Stewart Doily Punch

Ribbon & Gems : Stash

Tween Card

I said yesterday that I had a tween card to show today and I thought I ought to post before work for a change. The image was draw as a request by my brother-in-law. He enjoyed drawing it so much he has been drawing away ever since. Hopefully I will have more of his images to show soon. I have left the card fairly plain to show off the image.

Ingredients

Image: Geek Alley

Paper: Summertime Designs Fathers & Fedoras

Panda Card

I have been playing with some images created by my brother-in-law for my blog header and created a card for a friend who is a huge Panda fan. He created the image and enjoyed it so much he has been busy drawing ever since. I will have another card tomorrow featuring a tween boy and I think you will love his images. I have added a link below the image to his blog where the images will be available to buy. Even if you don't want to purchase any images at the moment he would welcome any ideas of images you would like to see.

Ingredients

Image: Geek Alley

Papers: Summertime Designs, Limeade

Gems: Clear gems coloured with a black copic.