Birthday Bear

I resisted these bears when they were a digistamp and again when MFT released them, I wasn't sure I would use them even though I'm a confirmed bear collector. When I saw the cards Michelle made with them I could resist no longer and I had to get them. Unbelievably for me I have coloured two already and plan on making an almost identical card to this one as soon as I can get back in my disaster area of a craft room.

Ingredients
Image: "birthday bear" birdie brown for mft
Paper: "calm and cozy chevron" from MFT
Dies: blueprints 15 and jumbo peekaboo both mft

Copics
Bear - E29, 27, 25, 23, 21
Balloon - BG13, 11, 10

Not a Card - Something Different

I have been looking for a square shadow frame for quite some time so imagine my surprise when I spotted one and very reasonably priced too. I bought the 8 x 8 size and I also have a 6 x 6 that I have plans for too.

I made this card for my Aunt way back in 2012 and my mum liked it a lot and asked for a picture as it also contains her favourite poem, I have been wanting to surprise her with this for a while and now that christmas is over I can show you on here.

Ingredients
Image: Just Inklined Next Big Thing CD
Frame: The Range

Copics
Daffodils - Y11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 38, 35YR27, 23, 16, 15, YG67, 17, 23, 21
Water - BG00, 0000
Glass - W1, 0
Shadow - C5, 3, 1

My Balloon

So these paper scraps were sitting on my desk after I made the "rosie" card, I was about to tidy up when I realised there was enough of each sheet left to make a quick and simple card. This entire card was made with snippets, its been so long since I was able to say that I almost forgot what it was like to use up every scrap of something, well it feels very satisfying if you must know lol.

Ingredients
Image: "my balloon" Pure innocence from MFT
Paper: "perfect pear" Nit Wit with Lili of the Valley (free paper pad with magazine)
Card: "sour apple" MFT
Sentiment: "piggy bank" Pure innocence from MFT
Dies: stitched circle stax, circle stax and blueprints 1, 2 and 14, Horizontal stripes all MFT

Copics:
Skin - E11, 00, 000, R20
Hair - E15, 17, 19
Dress - R22, 21, 20
T-shirt - YG01, 21, 25, 17
Ground - W1
Balloon - R24, 22, 21, 20

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Peek a Boo Trio 2

This is the second card I made with this die, once I started I couldn't seem to stop lol. Again I used Stampin Up images as they are on the small side and one seems a little lost on a card on its own.

Ingredients
Image: "boys will be boys" Stampin Up
Card: "pacific point" Stampin Up
Paper: "All about a boy" Echo Park at Jessica Sprague

Copics:
Lego - Y17, 15, 13, R29, 24, B26, 24, 23, 21
Robot - N9, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, B24, R27, YG17, Y15
Yoyo - E09, R08, 05

Peek a Boo Trio

I recently bought this die from Michelle at the Cardgrotto, it arrived really quickly and I couldn't wait to get started. The Stampin Up images are on the small side so these suited the size of the circles rather well, I think I might even make a few more.

I am also using the "fine liner" bottle for my glossy accents and so far it seems ok, will let you know once Ive been using it for a while if I still think it doesn't clog.

Ingredients
Image: "dinoroar" Stampin Up (retired)
Paper: "little boy" echo park at Jessica Sprague
card: "new leaf" paper trey ink

Copics:
Stegosaurus - YG99, 97, 95, 93, 91
Brontosaurus - BG99, 96, 93, 90, 72
Tyrannosaurus Rex - E89, 87, 84, 81
Background - BG11, 10

Magnum

Today is the birthday of a very good friend, we are the same age and very similar in many ways, especially our love of family, ice-cream and coffee, not necessarily  in that order lol.

On one of our outings I discovered she likes my cat cards the best so even though I had bought a different image for her I knew her card had to have a cat on it. This stamp does remind me of her cat though, he is a lovely cuddly grey ball of fluff and runs to see you to get a tummy rub lol.

Ingredients
Image: "Magnum Bon Appetite" Ladybug Crafts (no longer trading)
Sentiment: "Its only words 3" Ladybug crafts
Paper: "Here is Happy" MME
Card: "raspberry ripple", "smoky slate" both Stampin Up and "Harvest Gold" Papertrey ink
Dies: "rounded rectangle stack" and blueprints 12 all MFT

Copics
Bird - R56, 59, Y26
Cage - BG13, 11, Y28, 26, 23
Cat - T7, 5, 4, 2
Ground - W3, 1, 0

Mini Bear

As a proud mini owner I couldn't resist this image, now my mini is a dark blue but my friend has one which is cream with black stripes, I tried to draw in the stripes but it just wasn't happening so I just went with cream instead. I"m still loving the blueprints 20 think this is my favourite set yet, of course until I get the next one lol.

Ingredients
Image: "mini bear" Lili of the Valley
Paper: "cowboy" MME
Card: black star dream (snippet folder)
Dies: Blueprints 20, 3 and horizontal stripes all mft

Copics:
Bear - E44, 43, 42, 41, 40
Mini - N7, 5, 4, 3, T9, 7, 5, 4, Y11, 13, E53, 51, 50
Ground - W3, 1, 0, 00

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Birdbrain Chocolate Box

I found this digi stamp company after seeing a card on the lovely Jules blog, of course I had to get the chocolate one, it would appear that no matter what I can't stay away from chocolate. The sentiment was included and I think is a perfect one and is probably by life mantra lol.

I did do something I never ever do though and colour the image without knowing what papers I was going to use, I used to colour this way when I first started and then struggle to find papers to match which is why I changed but I was so eager to colour this one that I didn't even think about it. Luckily I had these papers in my snippet folder and they kind of match, well enough to get away with. I used the stampin up card which is a lovely colour but I always get the name confused with the pti version so I'm not sure if this is correct.

Ingredients

Image: "Chocolate Box" Birdbrain by From the Heart Stamps

Paper: "Lavender Mint Tea" Shabby Princess

Card: "winter wisteria" Stampin Up

Dies: Pierced Oval Staxs, Oval Staxs, blueprints 14 and 3 all MFT

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Creeper Riley

These creeper images from The Greeting Farm are perfect for those awkward "tween" girls, especially the not girly girly ones. I enjoyed colouring this one and I like this kinda grungy look.

Ingredients
Image: "riley" The Greeting Farm
Papers: "nutmeg" MME
Card: "kraft" recollections from Michaels
Sentiment: "Happy Hexagons" Papertrey Ink
Dies: blueprints 1 and 13, mini tabs, horizontal stripes all mft stamps

Copics:
Skin - E13, 11, 00, 000, R02
Hair - E59, 57, 55
Clothes - E89, 87, 84, 81, BG09, 05, Y35, 32, W1, 00

Oh No Polly and her Perfume again.....

I love this stamp as you could probably tell if you look back through my blog. She is so versatile and looks great coloured brightly like below or subtly. I was going to paper piece the chair this time but once I got my copics out there was no stopping me. The papers I used have a bit of significance as the person the card this is for lives in Newport and thats what the paper collection was called, good job she likes bright colours lol.

Ingredients
Image: "polly and perfume" Uptown Girls by Stamping Bella
Papers: "Newport" Sassy Designs Inc
Cardstock: "Tempting Turquoise" Stampin Up
Sentiment: "big birthday wishes" a la mode by MFT
Dies: stitched circles, circle stax 2, sentiment strips, bracket border all MFT
Numbers: "cherry limeade" cricut cart

Copics:
Skin - E11, 00, 000
Hair - E29, 27, 25, 23
Sofa - BG07, 05, 02
Dress - YR09, 07, 04, 02, 12

Mad About....Fishing?

I bought this stamp at the same time as the golf one I used in september last year, they are both very large stamps and they lend themselves to paper piecing which you know is one of my favourite things to do. I started this card in September but it has taken me this long to make it into a card, I just couldn't decide what size and shape of card to use and in the end went for a simple one as I felt the image says it all.

I have used the first paper pack I ever bought, its by Papermania and is all blues, oranges and browns but I have lost the front cover so have no idea what it is called lol. It was perfect for paper piecing though as there were lots of small bits already cut. As I used both recycled card and snippet I am off to the playground.

Ingredients:
Image: "fishing" woodware
Card: Old file folders
Paper: Papermania

Challenge: Snippet Playground

Something Fishy

Another birthday card needed in a hurry, as I already had the LaPashe Cd open I had a look for a fishing image and this caught my eye, It was so quick and easy to put together and really took the stress out of a last minute card. The longest bit was waiting for the glossy accents on the fish to dry.

Ingredients
Image: "value decoupage" Best of LaPashe Cd
Sentiment: "happy" exclusive Simon Says Stamp stamped in "black liquorice" MFT and "New Leaf" papertrey ink
Papers: "happy camper" echo park at Jessica Sprague

Mouse House or is it House Mouse

I am never sure which way this should be labelled and even after I look it up (its House Mouse) I still want to say Mouse House lol.

I won these stamps last year from the lovely Di at the Snippet Playground and I have finally inked them up and coloured one of them. It took a lot longer than I realised but I think its really cute. The rest of the card is a tried and tested, mojo is a wandering, card style. I return to this sketch time and time again when I am fresh out of ideas and I still like it even after all these years.

I am also on a use it up kick at the moment, I recently had a bit of a crafty spending splurge (look out for the videos soon) and I now have nowhere to store my new goodies, so I have decided to start using it up. No more replacing something as soon as I am half way through, no this time I need to start using the whole item and then not replacing it. OMG I am breaking out in a sweat jut thinking about it.

So as the image was a prize from the snippet playground I had to make the card with some snippets. The patterned paper isn't a snippet but all the card was.

Ingredients
Image: "" House Mouse
Papers: "jennifer ellory" free with a magazine
Card: "gumdrop green" MFT
Dies: oval stax 1 and 2, blueprint 2 all MFT
Sentiment: kelly purkey set from Michaels

Copics:
Mice - W5, 3, 1, E00, 000
Blue - B45, 23, 21, 41
Green - G46, 43, 40
Scissors - N4, 2
Ground - E42, 41, 40

Challenge - Snippet Playground

Happy 1st Birthday Lily

Wow this last year has speed by, I can't believe that Lily is one already. She is such a cutie, very inquisitive and walking to.

This is a large card and I wanted the image and name to stand out, hopefully they do. I coated the numbers with wink of stella and irl they really sparkle.

Ingredients
Image: "beatrix with bear" Mo's Digital Pencil
Papers: "bear necessities" Nit Wit
Card: "bashful blue" stamping up and "sweet blush" papertrey Ink
Punch: "eyelet lace" martha stewart
Dies: Circle stax and stitched circle stax both MFT stamps
Numbers and name: "robotz" cart cut on cricut

Copics:
Skin - E11, 00, 000, R02
Hair - E55, 53, 51, 50
Clothes - B00, 000, 000, 0, R22, 21, 20, 00
Bear - E47, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40

Bellissima

As soon as I saw this stamp in the flesh I knew it needed to be paper pieced, I bought it online and wasn't sure of its size but I am so happy with it and know I am going to be using it again and again.

I have been sorting my paper pads to make way for some new ones and this was a few of the last remaining bits from one of my favourite packs by MME. I couldn't believe that there weren't any full sheets left what am I going to do once all the bits are gone....

As no full sheets were harmed in the making of this card I am entering the snippet challenge, it has been a while since I joined in but it is a challenge that I really enjoy and it helps reduce the mountains of card and paper at the same time.

Ingredients:

Image: Bellissima by Papermania

Papers: "blush" MME (last few sheets)

Cardstock: Snippet folder

Dies: Blueprints by MFT (1, 4, 5 & 6)

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Clearly Besotted Happy Everything

I finally caved in and bought the 'happy everything" stamp set from Clearly Besotted, I have wanted it since it was first released and I finally had someone I could use it for. 

I embossed the rose in white and coloured with my colics, I had to be more careful than normal as when the copic got on the white the only way to remove it was with the blender pen. I coloured the rose on pti white and it gives a lovely effect even though it takes longer and is more difficult than the rymans 200gsm smooth.

I coloured the image at last months Bristol play day and everyone now wants the stamp and their birthday cards made with it to.

Ingredients

Image: "happy everything" Clearly Besotted Stamps

Dies: "notepad" MFT Stamps & "happy everything" Clearly Besotted Stamps

Sentiment: "For everyone" Clearly Besotted

Numbers: "billionaire" cartridge on cricut

Papers: "always and forever" Nit Wit

Dots: Stash

Card: "pear pizazz" stamping up and "stampers select" paper trey ink

Copics

Stems: YG97, 95, 93

Rose: R89, 85, 83

Beer Peep - stamping bella again

I adore these images by stamping bella in fact I like them so much I have ordered all the ones I can find lol. This was so easy to colour and looks so effective especially with a liberal coat of glossy accents, but I just noticed I forgot his shoes lol, oh well they were supposed to be white....

I used left over paper from the last guy birthday cards and didn't intend making this one but my mum saw the last one I made and decided she needed it so I had to start again. I am still loving the a2 size of cards and think this may be my go to for a while.

As I used snippets on the card I am going to enter the Snippet Playground challenge, it is a while since i joined in and I hope there is still room on the ark for me.

Oh just noticed that the less is more challenge is masculine cards, well this is a cad card so I am going to enter, hopefully it isn't to crowded to qualify.

Ingredients
Image: "beer peep" stamping bella
Paper: "note to self" echo park at Jessica Sprague
Card: "elegant evening" Papertrey Ink
Dies: rectangle stax by MFT

Copics:
Beer: E34, 33, 31, 30
Lime: YG25, 23, 21, 00
Boy: E11, 00, Ro2, Ro8, Ro5, E09, BG97, 93
Ground: W3, 1, 0

Challenges: Snippet Playground
Less is More

Stamping Bella Polly again

I love this stamp, she is so much fun to colour I had to use her again, I thought she would be perfect for my cousins birthday and tried to use colours that she has in her lounge as I know she really likes them. I wish I remembered to ground the image ah well it is already been posted, fingers crossed she won't notice lol.

Ingredients
Image" Polly loves her perfume" Stamping Bella
Dies: pierced circles stax, circle stax, notched border and sentiment strips all mft
Papers: "keita" Sassy designs Inc
Card: "early expresso" stamping up
Sentiment: "for you" clearly besotted

Copics:
Skin - E11, 00, 000, R02
Dress - YR67, 23, 21
Chair - E77, 74, 71, B02, 01, 00
Hair - E29, 27, 23

Two for the price of one.

I must admit I truly enjoy making guy cards, I am not sure why but they always seem easier to me. I thought of the recipient of this card when I bought this stamp set last year, now I know the iPhone is a bit different now but I still think it looks effective. All the supplies for this and the card I made from the negative are from the snippet draw.

I decided to try one of Kristina Werner's tips and stick different papers to a piece of paper and then die cut, being on a snippet challenge to myself though I used left over white card but it made cutting the die more difficult so next time I will use paper instead. On the second card I used the left over strips to create a background by cutting at angles and placing randomly

Ingredients
Image: "boys toys" from Dimension stamps
Card: Recollections kraft
Paper: "note to self" echo park at jessica sprague
Sentiment and die: "wonderful words birthday" paper trey ink
Ink: "elegant evening" paper trey ink

Ingredients
Card: "elegant evening" paper trey ink
Paper: "note to self" echo park at jessica sprague
Sentiment and die: "wonderful words birthday" paper trey ink
Ink: black liquorice mft

Challenges: Snippet Playground

Another a la mode...

Another a la mode and another birthday card made.

I used an blueprint sketch for this card and I quite like how it turned out. I am entering the snippet playground again as this card is entirely from snippets. The scalloped border is the waste from a card at the beginning of October. I was trying to see how I could cut the scallop off when I dropped it onto the card and that was it, lightbulb moment lol.

Ingredients
Image: "girl talk"a la mode MFT
Papers:  MME
Card: kraft from recollections at Michaels
Sentiment: a la mode MFT
Dies: Blueprints 1 and 2, washi tape all MFT

Copics:
Skin - E11, 00, 000, R02
Hair - E53, 55, 57, 59
Clothes - V91, 93, 95, Y26, 21, YR23
Ipad - N9, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0

Challenges: Snippet Playground