Ist Christmas Cards

As anyone who follows my blog knows we had two new additions to the family in 2013 and this meant 2 extra special 1st christmas cards were needed. I made both of them very different although both have a LOTV image as the focal point. Unfortunately Oliver's card is very blurry as I hadn't realised I had messed with the camera settings until it was safely delivered.

First is Lily's card, I wanted something very girly and definitely pink, her Mum never liked pink so it is nice to be able to use pink for Lily.

Image: "Christmas Cupboard" by LOTV
Papers: "Stocking Fillers" First Edition
Sentiment: created on computer using "marker felt" font
Dies: "oval staxs 1 and 2" mft stamps
Cardstock:
Brad: stash

Second is Oliver's card, I used the new "just arrived" LOTV stamp, this is not technically a christmas stamp but I thought it worked.

Image: "Just arrived" by LOTV
Papers: "Stocking Fillers" First Edition
Sentiment: created on computer using "marker felt" font
Dies: "rectangle staxs  2" mft stamps
Cardstock: "real red" stamping up

Snowy Postcard - love this stamp

I first saw this stamp last year on Coops blog and loved the different ways you could use it, but as always as soon as I bought it I couldn't think of a single thing to do with it lol. I decided to play it simple and went with a cut out and made a few in these colours. I enjoyed it so much I am planning on making a few more of these in January. I really need to be more organised on my christmas card makes next year as I didn't finish my Mum, Mil, or hubbie this year.

Ingredients
Image: "snowy postcard" stampendous from Joanna Sheen
Card: "real red" stampin up and "pine feathers" Papertrey Ink
Distressing: "pumice stone" distress ink

Crafty Friends Christmas Cards

Hello everyone, sorry I have been mia, I caught a particularly nasty cold/cough and although I have been crafting I haven't felt up to posting or commenting.

I made quite a few of this card for my crafty friends and when creating for such a discerning clientele I like to use my NBUS. I have looked at the aspen frost range since it was released and always wanted to be able to get it in digital form so when Jessica Sprague released it at the beginning of December I had to buy it straight away.

I have posted quite a few pictures but obviously not one of every variety. I chose three colours for the owls and sparrows and tried to ensure that there were no duplicate colours on each card. The photos aren't very clear as I left it very late making them and didn't realise how bad the photos were until they had already been sent.

 Sparrow Collection

Owl Collection

Blue Owl

Red Owl

Green Owl

Sparrows 

Ingredients
Images: 'winter owl" and "winter sparrows" both Lawn Fawn
Dies: Pierced circles and blueprints 1 and 2 all MFT and modern landscape by memory box
Sentiment: free with a magazine, unsure who made it, ink was Blu raspberry from MFT
Paper: "aspen frost" Basic Grey from Jessica Sprague

Copics:
Owl - E79, 77, 74, 71, 70
Sparrows - E74, 71, 70
Green - YG99, 97, 95, 93
Red - E09, R08, 05
Blue - BG49, 45

Crafting for Christmas Number 6

Another Just Inklined card for you today, I used this image last year but couldn't resist using it again this year too. Went slightly overboard with the glossy accents though, they even feel like glass bottles now.

Think this is my favourite of all my  just inklined christmas makes so far, think it is the colour pallet, this green is so deep and luxurious looking.

Ingredients
Image: "kissing robins" Just Inklined CD
Paper: "christmas day" Carta Bella at Jessica Sprague
Card: "pine feathers" papertrey ink
Dies: blueprints 2 and 3 MFT

Copics:
Birds: YG01, 03, B01, 00, Y32, 35
Leaves: YG99, 97, 95, 93
Milk: E51, 50, 00

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Crafting for Christmas number 5

Another christmas card, I have been on a marathon card making session and made quite a few cards so expect to see them over the coming days. I have also been using up my "real red" snippets, my some of the pieces in the folder were minuscule lol.

I find the Just Inklined Cd's so good for the more traditional christmas card, I love cutesy images but my aunts and uncles would think I had lost the plot (not sure why they would think this as never had the plot to begin with lol). There are loads of these images on the CD and not just for Christmas either. I have both of the digital stamp ones they have released and fingers crossed there is another one next year too.

Ingredients
Image: "kissing robins" Just Inklined CD
Paper: "very merry christmas" echo park at Jessica Sprague
Card: "real red" stampin up
Dies: blueprints 2 and 3 MFT

Copics:
Birds: E79, 77, R08, 05, 02
House: E35, 34, 33, 31
Tree: E27, 25, 23
Holly: G46, 43, 24, R37, 35

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Welcome Baby Verity

My good friend from work had her first most anticipated baby recently. They didn't want to find out what they were having before the actual day and even though I guessed a girl I wasn't sure this time so I waited to make the card. I love the name they chose and think that she is one lucky baby to have such lovely parents.

Sorry for the awful photo, didn't realise how bad it was until after I posted the card.

Ingredients
Image: "wee one" Wee stamps
Papers: "baby girl" echo park at Jessica Sprague
Cardstock: "sweet blush" papertrey ink
Dies: "pierced circle stax, circle stax" both MFT
Brads: stash
Sentiment: computer generated using freehand 591

Copics:
Skin: E11, 00, 000, R02
Hair: E50, 53, 55, 57
Pram: E44, 43, 42, 41, R22, 21, 20, YR23
Bird: E79, 77, 74, R05, 02
Horse: BG13, 11, 10, R22, 21, 20

Stamping Bella Uptown Girls number 3

This may be the final uptown girl card for a while or it might not lol, I have enjoyed colouring them so much I might just have to colour some more and as I have loads of birthdays between now and Christmas you never know.

Ingredients
Image: "Bianca loves her big cake" Stamping bella
Papers: "celebration" Sassy designs
Card: Anna marie
Sentiment: "happy hexagons" papertrey ink
Embossing and dies: "polka dots" cuttlebug and pierced circle stax by MFT

Copics
Skin: E11, 00, 000, R02
Hair: E55, 57, 59, 49, 47
Cake: E49, 29, 27, 25, 23, R22, 21, 20, 00
Dress: RV69, 66, 63

New Homes x 2

Two of my crafty friends have recently moved home and I wanted to send them both a card but as always time is short I decided to make both cards production style. I used an image from Digistamp Boutique that I have had for ages and keep forgetting about, I only found him today whilst looking for something else lol.

I used papers that were already in my snippet folder, the card is early expresso which I couldn't stop using earlier in the year but hasn't been used since I put it away. I had lots of snippets to choose from and you will be pleased to hear no full sheets were harmed in the making of these cards.

Ingredients:
Image: "a little birdie told me" Digistamp Boutique
Papers: "comforts of home" Summer Driggs
Card: "early expresso" Stampin up
Dots: Stash (reduced in Michaels a few years ago and wish they still did them)
Dies: pierced circle, circle stax and blueprints 1

Copics
Branch: E79, 77, 74, G28, 24, 46
Bird: BG05, 02, 01, 000, Y32, 38
House: E09, R08, 05, 02, E79, 77

Challenges: Snippet Playground
                   Digistamp Boutique

Stamping Bella Uptown Girls number 2

Not sure what happened but Mr Blogger decided to delete this post.

I have used another Stamping bella uptown girl for this card, I am loving colouring these at the moment which is just as well cos I have bought quite a few recently and only one has seen ink before.

I have used a stamp I bought on a crafty shopping trip with friends from the Bristol play day, had such a lot of fun too. I wasn't able to stay all day but next time I definitely will as it was so much fun. We went to Snazzy's in Swindon, well worth a visit and an Aladdin's cave of stamp goodness.

Ingredients:
Image: "opal is an optimist" Stamping Bella
Paper: "time for tea" Nit Wit
Card and ink: "plum pudding" Papertrey ink
Background stamp: "crackle" Kaisercraft
Sentiment: "year round puns" papertey ink
Dies: circle stax, blueprints 1 and 2, first place ribbon all mft
Brads: Papermania

Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000, R02
Hair - E55, 57, 59, 47. 49
Dress - V17, 15, 12, 01, 00, G85
Glass - R89, 37
Bottle - YG97, 95, 93, E42, 41

Stamping Bella Uptown Girls number 1

I love the uptown girls from Stamping Bella and have several, this was a new one that just had to be inked and coloured straight away. I haven't coloured in a while and I was actually nervous before I started, not sure why as it is only paper lol.

I based the card on this one from July but the image was so large it wouldn't fit on an a2 so I used my tried and tested square 6 x 6. As i have not used any full sheets of card or paper I am entering Di's snippet challenge.

I cant believe that this is week 100, I have been enjoying this challenge since Jules first started it although to be honest my snippet mountain doesn't seem to be getting any smaller. So congrats to Di for being a great playground mistress and keeping us all under control and heres to another 400 weeks at least.

Ingredients
Image: "Polly loves perfume" stamping bella
Papers: "love me" MME
Card: "smoky slate" stampin up
Nail heads: Josy rose
Sentiment: "year round puns" Papertrey Ink
Dies: Pierced circles, circle stax both MFT, speech bubble by clearly besotted
Sparkle: Wink of stella clear brush pen

Copics:
Skin - E11, 00, 000, R02
Hair - E55, 57, 59,
Chair - T5, 4, 2, 0
Dress - B01, 00, 000, R22, 21, 20, 00

Challenges: Snippet Playground week 100, woohoo

Sweet Peas

Firstly I think I need to apologise about the awful photo quality, it is nearly impossible to get a decent photo at the moment as there is about an hour a day of good light and this card needed to be posted and couldn't wait so there you have it in all its blue toned glory.

I coloured an image for this card whilst in Florida and I know I have seen it since I came home but when I went to make the card it had vanished so I had to start again. I would imagine the law according to sod means as soon as I hit publish on this post or put the card in the postbox it will appear lol,

Ingredients:
Image: "sweet peas" LOTV (lili of the valley)
Papers: "time for tea" nit wit collections
Cardstock: "perfect plum" stampin up
Sentiment: "" stampin up, ink "plum pudding" papertrey ink
Nailheads: josy rose
Dies: "hexagons" xcut and perfect layers tool

Copics:
 Jar: BG13, 11, 10
 Sweet peas: G46, V17, 15, 12, R85, 81, BV04, 02, 00
 Bee: Y35
Ground: W3, 1, 00

Crafting for Christmas Number 4

This image reminded me of my uncles farm, even down to the sheep in fact the only thing missing was the original mini in the field. I loved that mini, it was power blue, with string to open the door and sliding windows and a number plate with three numbers and three letters, my that has been a wander down memory lane lol.

Ingredients:
Image: The best of LaPashe 2012 CD
Embossing: "snowflakes" cuttlebug
Card: silver mirri
Sentiment: Craftwork cards

Lawn Fawn Haul

A couple of my good crafty friends wondered if I was ordering from lawn fawn as there were a few items they wanted, of course I said I was but I didn't have enough to qualify for free shipping so they added to my order to make that happen lol.

I haven't shown their items as I didn't think it would be fair for them to see them on youtube before they got them in person, however as it has taken so long to upload the videos I needed have worried lol.

Thanks for watching

Papertrey ink haul

Yet another Papertrey ink haul lol! I haven't ordered much this time as I only ordered a few months ago and there wasn't as much that I had to have. I have been using their ink and card though so ordered a few of those.

Space and weight allowance are always a consideration so I don't take all the card home in one trip.

Thanks for watching

Joann's Haul

I ordered a couple of times when Joann had their free shipping offer but decided to combine them into one haul video. I actually ordered the perk me up stamp 4 times before but it was always out of stock, I jumped for joy when the shipping notice showed it was included.

I had never considered ordering from Joann.com before seeing Emchanted Stephs video on youtube, she showed the Stamping Bella Uptown girls so I had to go look. I have since found lots of hard to find stamps on their website so I think for my next trip this will be the first place I order from.

Thanks for watching

MFT Shop Haul

I attended a crafting workshop at MFT and learned how to make a recessed stamped card, so easy and so effective. So of course whilst I was there I had to have a little crafty spend too.

I have already played with the inks and they are amazing, the black sticks to clear stamps and gives such a perfect impression, I think I need all the colours now.

Thanks for watching

MFT half price haul

MFT announced a half price sale on some of their die and stamp combos and also the stax in July/August. I was going to wait until I visited the shop but I knew some would be sold out so I ordered online. A few days later they reduced the sale to 75% off so of course I had to place another order. I still visited the shop too.

thanks for watching

Michaels Haul Video

Happy Sunday morning everyone, I want to apologise for not visiting and commenting as much as normal and hopefully normal service will be resumed shortly.

I was on vacation in Florida in at the end of September and made quite a few videos of my crafty haul but have only just managed to edit and upload them. I will list them separately on my blog over the next few days but they are all live on my youtube account if you want to see them altogether.

The first one I have for you is a very small Michaels haul, I only purchased a few items and although I still love Michaels my online ordering means I spend less and less with each visit.

Thanks for watching, check back tomorrow for the first of two MFT hauls.

Baby's First Christmas - Pink Petticoat version

I have four of these cards to make this year and I wanted them all to be different so I started with a tried and tested image and papers and a layout I have used before on this card.

Ingredients
Image and sentiment: Pink Petticoat
papers: "snowflake" and "gingham" (cherry blossom) Pink Petticoat

Copics:
Skin: E11, 00, 000, R02
Hair: E35
Holly: G46, 43, R89
Pram: R89, 85, 83, 81, R00, RV10

There's no family like snow family

Ok bad pun but I couldn't get the tune out of my head after so I have paid the price I promise lol. Another Christmas card I hear you say, well yes it is, I am loving making them and as my nan would say I am making hay whilst the sun shines.

Another new release LOTV stamp, this was a joy to colour and I knew who I was going to give the card to immediately. I am using real red again, I am already on my second pack of 24 sheets and can see another order coming, I really love this card and it seems to go with everything. Red is the one colour I have always struggled to get in the UK, small packs from other suppliers have never matched each other again so the fact that stampin up always matches is a real plus point for me. I am also wondering if I need the new ice cream colours mmmm ok yes I do lol.

Ingredients:
Image: "snow family" LOTV
Papers: "holly lane" KI memories at Jessica Sprague
Cardstock: "real red" stampin up
Sentiment: see D from paper mania

Copics:
Father: N9, 7, 5, 4, 2, 0, R39, 37, 35, E42, 40, BG0000, W0, E77
Mother: BG0000, W0, E44, 43, 42, R37, 35, 32, YG25, 23, 21, E77
Boy: BG0000, W0, B06, 04, 02, 01, 00, E77
Girl: BG0000, W0, R85, 83, 81, E42

Another Prisma pencil one

I coloured another image with my prisma pencils and had to make a few adjustments, I coloured the green dress blue but it was a bit too much blue so I paper pieced a new one and think it makes such a difference. I also drew the bricks in the wall as they stopped abruptly and it looked odd when I cut it out so I drew a few in, hopefully it isn't too noticeable which ones.

Ingredients
Image:  Best Friends" LOTV - lily of the valley
Papers: "Petal Fresh" Nit Wit
Cardstock: "Bashful Blue" Stampin up (retired - will miss this colour once I have used it all)
Dies: blueprints 3 MFT stamps

Prismacolor pencils

I have had my prisma pencils longer than my copics but they hardly ever got used so I took them to Florida last year and left them there. I thought not having any copics would mean they got used and boy they did this time for sure, so much that if I had any room in my case they would be in my craftroom now.

I forgot to take any papers with me and prefer to match my papers and colouring so I had to improvise and just use colours I liked and hope I had papers when I got home.

This is such an intricate image but once you start colouring it was a joy and made me wonder why I haven't used it more.

Ingredients
Image: "chocolate factory" LOTV
Papers: "fairytale dreams" Nit Wit
Card: Unknown but probably Papermill
Sentiment: "chocolate sentiments" MFT stamps

Crafting for Christmas Number 3

Another of the cards from the CD, I am so enjoying making these, there will a few to show as so far I have made 10. Almost all the one side of my family (aunts and uncles) taken care of, still need to make ones for my cousins but they won't mind shop bought ones if I run out of time.

Ingredients:
Image: The best of LaPashe 2012 CD
Embossing: "snow" cuttelbug
Card: gold mirri
Sentiment: Craftwork cards

Crafting for Christmas Number 2

This card has a little bit of dimension as this was in the decoupage section of the CD, I used the holly from the same section as the other cards as I felt it needed a little something in the corner.

In my mind this scene had a house, car and postbox and I am sure there is one like that but could I find it, oh no but you can bet I will once all the cards are made lol.

Ingredients:
Image: The best of LaPashe 2012 CD
Embossing: "snow" cuttelbug
Card: red mirri
Sentiment: Craftwork cards

Crafting for Christmas Number 1

I decided to try to make a few more traditional Christmas cards and I knew just the images I wanted to use too, I had seen this card on Pauline's blog last year and decided that I would use this style for my family cards. I have made a few so far and still have a few more to go but have enjoyed it, never thought not colouring the image would be fun too.

Ingredients:
Image: The best of LaPashe 2012 CD
Embossing: "snowflake" cuttelbug
Card: Silver mirri
Sentiment: Craftwork cards

Sketch Saturday 281

I needed a sketch to kick start the mojo and this challenge never fails to get the thinking cap on. I used an older stamping bella stamp although it is a new stamp for me as I only just bought it.

I love all things Christmas but stockings and gingerbread men have to be my favourite. I don't seem to be able to stop buying stamps with either of them lol.

I used recycled card for the image, sentiment and matting on this card, not sure if it qualifies for the snippet challenge although neither were complete when I started having already been previously cut into so maybe they do.

Ingredients
Image: "sockabellafella" Stamping Bella
Paper: "Country Christmas" papermania
Cardstock: blue - recycled file folder, white - recycled certificate
Sentiment: "Stockings Prints" Papertrey Ink
Dies: Oval stax 1 and 2 - MFT stamps
Flock: Martha Stewart

Challenges: snippet playground
                    Sketch Saturday 281

A Very Very Big Thank You

I returned from Florida last week to a fantastic parcel from Di, I won the raffle and received two sets of mouse house stamps, they are too awesome for words.

So I knew I won them whilst I was away and wanted to make a thank you card to send once I got home but I have very limited supplies, basically anything I have bought whilst I am there so I made a different card for me.

I watched this video by Nichole from papertrey and decided to give it a whirl, it was easy to create the background but cutting the foam to pop up the die seemed a bit of a pain so I combined this video by Jennifer McGuire and cut the die 4 times and used tombow mono multi to stick it all together. This gives a lovely effect and is so simple too.

Ingredients
Thank you (stamp and dies) - wonderful words by papertrey ink
Washi tape- MFT stamps
Ink - "black licorice", "steel blue", "lemon drop", "razzleberry" all MFT.
Cardbase: recollections notecards
Dies: MFT blueprints 1 and 2

Another day, another wedding card

This is the second card I made and the image for this one is from Robert Jackson, I love his images I really think you can make them look like anyone with their featureless faces. I think it is because they remind me of the fashion drawings I loved as a child, rather than the stepford wives lol. My friend wanted an elegant couple this time rather than a childlike fun one, there were a few new ones on Robert's site and I think I may have to go back and get them too.

Ingredients
Image: Robert Jackson
Cardstock: stardream in cream and blue
Pearls: from stash coloured with YG25 copic
Die: "filigree" border by paper trey ink
Ribbon: Wilkinsons, christmas range last year
Embossing: "swirls" and "geometric circles" both Cuttlebug

Copics:
Groom: E27, 25, 23, YG21, 25, N9, 7, 5, 4, E49, 47, W9
Bride: E35, 33, 34, E47, 49, W9, E41, 40

Oh Teddy

This is probably the quickest card I have made in a while, I recently invested in Blueprints 1 and 2 from MFT and I used both to cut the mats for the paper and image, once cut though they didn't fit on my a6 size card so I used an American a2 notecard that I purchased last year in Michaels, a bit of tape and voila all done.

Ingredients
Image: "oh Baby" a la mode by MFT stamps
Paper: "Be Amazing" MME
Dies: Blueprints 1 and 2 MFT stamps
Sentiment: See D Papermania stamped in Teal Zeal Memento

Copics:
Girl: E000, 00, 11, R02, BG45, 49, E55, 57, 59, W5, 3, 1
Teddy: E44, 43, 42, 41, R00, Y38, 35, 32

Trimming the Tree

This is such a cute image and it was on my wish list since last year but when Sassy Cheryl had a 30% off Labor Day Sale I couldn't resist. I made the image large so that I could make a cas card and boy was this fun to colour. I tried going outside of my normal christmas colours and I like how it turned out, of course now my ocd brain wants to see a traditional red and green one lol.

I forgot to stamp the sentiment before I added the foam pads so at present it doesn't have one but it will before it gets sent out.

Ingredients:
Image: "tree trimmers" Sassy Cheryl
Card: Recollections kraft snippet

Copics:
Snowmen: W3, 1, 0, 00, N7, 5, 4, E44, 43, 42, BG45, 13, 11, 49, R39, 37, 35, 32
Baubles: BG49, 45, 13, 11, R39, 37, 35, 32
Stars: Y38, 35, 32
Pot: E08, 99, 97

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Weddings, Weddings everywhere

I was asked by my good friend to make her two wedding cards and this is the first of them, she picked the images from previous cards on my blog and I made the cards to her colour combinations. The first one was for a family friend and they were getting married abroad and having a celebration on their return. I used the jellypark image for this one as the couple are young and fun loving and she thought it suited them perfectly. I used star dream card again and this is a nightmare to colour with copics so I printed the image a second time onto Rymans and once coloured I cut and paper pieced it onto the star dream base. This worked so well I did the same for the other card too.

Ingredients:
Image: Jellypark Friends
Paper: "washed damask" in boutique blue by Pink Petticoat
Cardstock: "Blueberry Sky" papertrey ink
Dies: "heart border" papertrey ink
Embossing: "square lattice" Sizzix for Stampin Up

Polar Bear Friend

I have tried to be a bit more creative in my christmas card making this year and try to make more eclectic but cas cards, I had to buy this image from Digistamp Boutique and colour it straight away too, it has been waiting for a little while to be finished though which is strange as all it needed was a sentiment and red border lol.

Ingredients
Image: "cute polar bear" Digistamp Boutique
Card: "real red" stampin up
Sentiment: "big christmas wishes" Amy R at CC Designs
Ink: 'lady bug" memento, "limeade ice" papertrey ink

Copics:
Snowman: YR09, 07, N7, 5, 4, 3
Bear: YG25, 23, 21, R29, 27, 24, W1, 0, 00, clear, R00

Challenges: Snippet Playground
Digistamp Boutique

A golfing birthday

Golf was the order of the day for this card, my ex-boss celebrates his 50th birthday today and I decided to make a golf themed card for him. I saw this stamp on Steph's blog and decided I had to go buy it immediately, they also had a fishing one so that will be making an appearance soon too.

This is a large image and a large card, 8 x 8 in fact so this gives an idea of how large the image is.

Ingredients
Image: "golf" stamp by Woodware
Papers: "" Echo Park at Jessica Sprague
Card: 8 x 8 from Craftwork Cards
Cardstock: "kraft" from recollections, "blue" Colorbok at Walmart
Numbers: Cut on cricut using "billionaire" cart

Bobbi Christmas

This is such a sweet little bear image, perfect for cute christmas cards. I have made this one in blue for my friends little boy and I have another all coloured ready to go too.

I am still loving the cas style for my christmas cards although I will probably get bored before christmas and start adding more stuff to them.

Ingredients
Image: "bobbi withs rocking" Digistamp Boutique
Papers: "gingham" and "snowflakes" both pink petticoat in boutique blue
Sentiment: "thing big favourrites" Papertrey Ink
Ink: "elegant evening" Papertrey Ink

Copics:
 Bear: E40, 41, 42, 43
 Stocking & Scarf: B32, 34, 37

Challenges: Digistamp Boutique

Happy Birthday Sioned

I am sure my friend won't be reading my blog today but I didn't want to post her card here before her actual birthday just in case lol.

I had to use this new colour from stampin up called smoky slate, it is a light grey colour but it seems to be more purple in the picture. It is a really pretty colour and could easily replace silver in christmas card projects. I think I may even buy the ink too as I think snowflakes stamped in this would look gorgeous.

This card is full of NBUS, the image (had over a year), sentiment and die (since May), I was going to say papers but I have just noticed I have used one sheet already lol.

Ingredients
Image: "" a la mode by MFT stamps
Papers: "Fiddlesticks" MME
Card: "smoky slate" stampin up
Sentiment: "absolutely" simon says stamp
Dies: "absolutely" simon says stamp, "star" xcut

Pollycraft challenge 7 - Harvest Colours & Sketch Saturday 275

Three challenges in one, well actually four although the fourth one is a personal challenge from the lovely Kay. Kay challenged me to paper piece/toll an image where there wasn't a tutorial to follow, I was apprehensive at the start but it is much easier than I thought and I can see myself using this method a lot.

Ok so not my normal colours but I enjoyed changing it up. I love autumn the colours, smells and crisp leaves underfoot, the promise of winter to come. The colours look brighter on the screen than in real life and match the paper a whole lot better.

Ingredients:
Image:"Monster Hugs" Pollycraft
Paper: "best of fall" summer driggs
Cardstock: Snippet folder (originally certificates)
Dies: Sentiment strips MFT stamps
Sentiment: See D by Paper mania

Copics:
Dad: E19, YR27, YR14, YR12, YG99, 97, 95, 93
Child: V17, 15, 14, YR27, 14

Challenges: Snippet Playground
Sketch Saturday 275
Pollycraft Challenge 7 - Harvest Colours

It's Pumpkin Carving Time.....

Just wanted to say hello to my new followers, big waves, thank you for wanting to follow my little blog.

Ok so my hubbie is called Ant, his favourite holiday is Halloween and his favourite part is carving the pumpkin, so this image is just perfect. Over the last few years he has carved headless horsemen, haunted houses, Frankenstein and a black cat and every year I can't wait to see the new creation. I adore the ant images from Doodle Pantry and have bought so many now I think I have every birthday, valentines, Christmas etc covered for him for at least ten years but does that stop me getting more, oh no it doesn't lol.

Ingredients
Image: "Pumpkin Carving Ants" Doodle Pantry
Papers: "Happy Haunting" Pink Petticoat (on offer for £2.99) and "gingham" Pink Petticoat
Card: Snippet draw
Bakers Twine: Studio G
Brad: Studio G and stash
Punch: "Dripping goo" Martha Stewart

Copics:
Ants: N7, N5, R24
Ground: E44, 43, 42, 41
Sky: B01, 00, 000, 0000
Pumpkin: YR09, 07, 04, 16, 15, 12, Y35, 32, YG97, 95, 93
Knife: N3, 2, E79, 77, 74

Challenges: Snippet Playground
Doodle Pantry

Pollycraft Challenge 6

I have finally managed to take part in this challenge, I love pollycraft images and have quite a few. I have made a halloween card, not something we tend to send in the UK but as it is my hubbie's favourite holiday I thought I would make at least one.

I have used all my halloween items too, I love the dripping punch but only ever seem to use it for halloween cards. This image has been coloured for a while so I don't have a list of the colours used, have been enjoying listing the colours recently, helps to jog my memory of colour combos I like.

Ingredients
Image: "Lil Spook" Swings and Slides collection by Pollycraft
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Card: black sparkly from snippet folder
Punch: Dripping goo by martha stewart
Brads: Walmart

Challenges: Snippet Playground
Pollycraft Challenge 6 - "for the kids"

Buskettie

I am ashamed that I have had this digi since it was released and this is the first time I have coloured it. I wanted to try and recreate the messy look that this meal would create and I have managed to add a bit of spaghetti sauce to his face, hands and feet but I think I could/should have done more. I really struggled though as I didn't want to ruin my image and sometimes I forget it is just card and paper lol.

I just noticed that the notched border is on offer at MFT stamps at the moment for $1.50, this is my most used border die and is perfect for those awkward male cards, not trying to tempt anyone but this is a bargain.

Ingredients:
Image: "Buskettie" Mo's Digital Pencil
Cardstock: "limeade ice" and "blueberry sky" both Papertey Ink and both snippets
Die: "notched border" MFT stamps
Papers: "party animal" Nit Wit

Copics:
 Skin: E11, E00, E000, E50, R00, R02,
 Nappy: N1, N0
 Bowl: YG25, YG23, YG21
 Bib: B00, B01, Y32, Y35, YR04
 Spaghetti & Sauce (even on skin): R05, R02, E51

Challenges: Snippet Playground
Digital Pencil 2 Challenge - Happy Birthday

Who borrowed my shoes?

This was a common phrase when I was growing up, my cousin was 9 years older than me and she had the most fantastic high heeled shoes that I would borrow when she was out, one pair in particular still bring a smile to my lips, they were teal suede with red lining and as it was the seventies incredibly high and I nearly broke my neck in them but it didn't stop me trying them on again and again and again lol.

As soon as I saw this image I knew who it was going to be for and I knew I had to colour the shoes the same as those ones from my escapades.

I am entering the snippet playground too as the red is all from the snippet folder, although I kinda wish I had gone with black instead lol.

Ingredients
Image: "big shoes" Mo's digital pencil
Sentiment: computer generated using "freehand 591" font
Papers: "circa 1934" Cosmo cricket
Card: "real red" stampin up
Dies: MS punch and tonic corner rounder

Challenges: Snippet Playground

A Congratulations Card

My good friend and former work colleague has just secured her dream job so I thought a card would be a good way of showing her how pleased I am for her. Before she starts her new job we are organising an afternoon of"Magic Mike" wine and chocolate lol.

Ingredients
Image: "wishing you luck" a la mode by MFT stamps
Cardstock: "early expresso" stampin up
Paper: "keita" sassy designs
Dies: "blueprints 3" and "notched border" both MFT stamps
Nailheads: Josy Rose

Copics:
 Skin: E11, 00, 000, R02
 Hair: E43, 42, 40
 Top and shoes: B04, 02, 01
 Trousers: E49, 47, 44
 Clover: G46, 24, 43, 40

Challenge: Snippet Playground

Inspired by

Last year I tried the paper piecing/ tolling technique that Mariska and Debby both use. I really enjoyed it and decided to use it again for this gorgeous image from Wee Stamps called "Wee One".

It is time consuming but very therapeutic and it helps that Mariska puts the pieces you need to colour and cut on her blog, think the hardest part would be working those out, even though that is done for me I still sometimes put them on in the wrong order so have learnt to build it without glue first then assemble.

Ingredients
Image: "Wee One" Wee Stamps
Papers: "bundle of joy girl" echo park at Jessica Sprague
Cardstock: "sweet blush" Papertrey Ink
Dies: "eyelet" Martha stewart punch, "flagstak" MFT stamps, "baby wonderful words" Papertrey Ink
Sentiment: "baby wonderful words' papertrey ink

Copics:
Hair: E53, 51, 50, 34
Skin: E11, 00, 000, 50, R00, 02
Bird: E74, 71, 70, R05, 02
Pram Pinks: R22, 21, 20
Pram Brown: E44, 43, 42, 41
Wheels and handle: YR24, 23, 21
Horse: R22, 21, 20, BG13, 11 10

New Home

One of my crafty friends from the Bristol playdays has moved house recently and I am hoping that it all went smoothly for her. I wanted to make her a card but time was limited so I went with a tried and tested card style. Unusual colours for me too but I am trying to use some of my patterned papers before I get to buy more.

Ingredients:
Image: "Country House Duo" Sassy Cheryl
Papers: "paper pretties" stampin up
Cardstock: "Gumball green" and "Midnight muse" both Stampin up
Dies and Tools:"button border" MFT stamps and Perfect layers

Copics:
E71, 74, 77, R27, 24, E08, 13, G40, 43, 46, 24, B99, 97, 95, 93, YR24, 23, 21, 20

A Very Big Thank you

I know I have good neighbours but last Tuesday I put that to the test by nearly cutting off my little finger whilst making a sandwich, I rang for a taxi and it was going to be 25 minutes and I knew I couldn't wait that long so I went next door and my neighbour wasn't home but her teenage daughter was, she helped me get the bleeding under control then went to my neighbour over the road who kindly took me to the local hospital and waited with me while they cleaned it and put sterile strips to close the wound, she then took me home and made me a coffee. I wanted to thank them and hubbie bought them both some chocolates and I made two little thank you cards.

It was quite difficult to make them as my hand is still healing but it was good therapy it  as  took my mind off the pain. All the ingredients were in my snippet draw, which is just as well as my printer has gone to printer heaven.

Ingredients:
Images: Free with a magazine ages ago
Papers: "little check" and "gingham" both Pink Petticoat
Cardstock: "basic grey" stampin up
Sentiment: stampin up


Challenges: Snippet Playground

Owl I want for Christmas

Still on a roll with the christmas cards with another to add to the growing pile, maybe I won't be making them on the last posting day this year. I bought the stamp last year but was a bit intimidated by the background but decided to just go for it and see what happened and I really enjoyed it, I did originally colour the yellow stocking blue but it just blended in with the background so I paper pieced a new one.

I used the new xcut hexagon to cut out the image and my perfect layers to layer it, this is such a useful bit of kit and I hadn't thought of using it on anything other than a square/rectangular before.

The red card and the white card the image is stamped on are both snippets so am off for a dip in the paddling pool over at the snippet playground.

Ingredients
Image: "Wish upon a Star" Mulberry Wood by Crafters Companion
Dies: "hexagon" papermania, "notched border" MFT stamps
Papers: "christmas in the country" papermania
Brads: Stash
Cardstock: "real red" stampin up
Copics:
    Owls: E49, 47, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40
    Tree: E79, 77, 74, G24, 46
    Stockings: Y32, 35, 38, R29, 27, 24, G46, 24, 43
    Background: B32, 34, 37, 39

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Christmas Wrapping

Another Christmas card, there is no stopping me now, except I have four birthday cards and a new baby card I need to make, better get into gear. You can bet though as soon as I start on the birthday cards the christmas mojo will disappear.

I have also been enjoying paper piercing and the lovely effect but this time I decided to try piercing every other hole and running my pen along the lines afterwards and it really looks stitched and is much easier than learning to use a sewing machine lol.

It just needs some nailheads or candy dots to finish it off and I will add them nearer the posing date.

These images have been so much fun to colour and I have several others ready to go so maybe more cards will get made soon.

I still need to decide on my mass produced design though, at the moment I am thinking I will use the Papertrey Ink stockings but that may change.

Ingredients
Image: "SCP103" Simply Cards and Papercraft
Paper: "Merry and Bright" Carta Bella at Jessica Sprague
Cardstock: " Simply Chartreuse" Papertrey Ink

Copics:
Santa: R29, 27, 24, Y38, 35, 32, YG09, 07, G94, 99, R59
Elf: YG09, 06, 03, 01, R29, Y38, 32, N5, E00, 11, R02

Challenges: Snippet Playground