Doggone Birthday!

It may be considered sad by some, but I always send a birthday card to my S-I-L's Black Labrador, Jessie. She's a huge member of the family and is very much considered as one of the kids, she's just turned 10 and I'm dreading the day that she passes away (she suffers from epilepsy and is lucky to have made it this far). I always give her a cat card as she's never been a cat lover although, thankfully now, she's too rotund to chase them!

Stamped Image: X-Large Love by Penny Black, coloured with Derwent Watercolour pencils and stickled to an inch of it's life.

Sentiment: Small Tag Lines by Paper Studio.

Papers: The Green Stack by DCWV.

Border Punch: Valentine Lace by Martha Stewart.

Christmas Card #2......I'm flying (NOT!) :)

Over on the Trimcraft forum, the lovely Eiglas has set up a Christmas card challenge to encourage us to crack on with our festive cards. This weeks challenge is Shades of Blue. I'm also entering this card into Susie's Sassy Challenge #1, which is themed as Christmas too.

Image: Mr Stocking by Sugar Nellie, coloured with ProMarkers.

Papers: Winter Stack by DCWV, blue cardstock embossed with Snowflakes Cuttlebug embossin folder.

Sentiment: Studio G by Dovecraft.

I made the white glittery/snowyish border using Drippy Goo border punch by Martha Stewart, covered in cheapo glitter glue. :)

Kraftin' Kimmie's Gorgeous Moonlight Whispers

Well, it's a bit like buses....nothing for ages, then they all come at once! I've been after the fabulous Moonlight Whispers stamps since they were launched and managed to fool myself into thinking I was being good by buying the stamps from two different craft sites (tut, tut).

The outfits remind me of that Lemony Snickett movie and the girls' expressions are priceless, you just know they're absolute nightmares!

This card was meant to be for my friend's birthday (today, yikes). However, true to form, I forgot to post the bleeding thing or even write it out - Happy Birthday, Jules, it's the thought that counts!x ;)

Image: Lillith - Moonlight Whispers by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, coloured with ProMarkers and paper-pieced.

Sentiment: Small Tag Lines by Printworks.

Papers: Paperie - Rouge by Making Memories, DCWV Brights matstack.

Punch: Apron Lace by Fiskars

Ribbon: Local Haberdashery

Pearls: E-Line by Prima

Again, apologies for the dreadful photography! It would probably help a bit if I took the piccies during the day. :)

Ooh, I'm entering this into Elaine's new Quixotic Challenge. This week's theme is Birthday.

Passion For ProMarkers - Challenge 24

After both boys having had the flu, I've not had time for much more than lurking about in Blogland and leaving the odd comment when I've had the chance. I thought it was time to get back in the saddle and get cracking with some cards, as I'm massively behind schedule (looks like most of my Xmas cards will be charity ones, again *lol*).

This card is for my brother-in-law and the image is too cool for the old so & so, but I think that's how he sees himself anyway (bless his little deluded cottons)! PFP Challenge this week is to use the colour combo Grass and Canary.

Image: My Guy Ian by The Greeting Farm.

Colours used: Grass, Canary, Lime Green, Lemon, Denim Blue, Pastel Blue, Vanilla, Pastel Yellow, Primrose, Ice Grey 1, Ivory & Blush.

Papers: Citronella Designer Mat Pad by K&Co.

I clagged the yellow paper to a chipboard circle and added Remarks Letter Stickers and Sidekick Rub-on both by American Crafts. The string is garden twine from Wilkinson's (upmarket or what?) and the wooden button is recycled from my dead knitted slipper socks. Hope it fits the bill and sorry for the super-pants photo, I really must get the screen replaced on my new camera (oops!)...... :)

Back from Lurgyland!!!

Well, what a fun couple of weeks I've had? Not only have I had a rotten fluey bug, which has completely knocked me off my feet but I've also had to handle problems at Lou's school. Bullies, don't you just love 'em (and their vile parents)....not!!! I've not made a single card since my last post, as I really haven't had much other than fluffy cottonwool-type clouds floating between my ears and have struggled to concentrate on anything creative. I have been trying to keep up with all of the gorgeous projects on my favourite blogs, apologies if I haven't commented on them all.

I decided that I needed to crack on with my crafty "To Do" list, so I made a few larger Hallowe'en boxes for Lou's new group of friends at school. He's now decided that he doesn't want me to make anything for the rest of his class (yippeee!!!), but wants at least another six of these for his favourite teachers too. I found the link for this box on someone's blog (sorry, my brain's still not working), it was a freebie by Monica Gale on the Stamp With Us blog. I do love these boxes and already have a few in mind for Xmas gifts for teachers and support staff.

The stash I used on the boxes is:

Papers:

Boo! to You! by My Mind's Eye.

Eerie by BasicGrey.

Boo Crew by Bo Bunny.

Tim Coffey Hallowe'en Chipboard Stickers by K&Co.

Spooky! T for Transparent Stamps by Penny Black.

Hopefully, I'll have a craftier head on by the weekend and can think about making some cards. :)

My First Xmas Card.... PFP Week 19.

And about time, too! I'm hoping that this will give me the kick up the pants I need to start making my Xmas cards early enough to be able to post them out in time for the big jolly fella's visit. Christmas has never been a terribly exciting time for me, personally I much prefer Hallowe'en (does that make me a bad person??). So, I always struggle to get all festive and worked up to make Xmassy things.

I bought this stamp from my fellow Trimmie, Jenni (cardmadfairy). She's just produced a range of Xmas themed stamps that I think are great. (Although she colours them a heck of a lot better than me!!) I've decided to make this card for the Passions for ProMarkers Week 19 challenge. The requirements were to use Apricot and Cool Aqua and to include a flower. As I'd decided on a Xmas card, I thought I'd make snowflake flowers instead of the usual ones. If this isn't okay, then apologies all round. :s

Recipe:

Stamped Image: Skating Josie by Cardmadfairy's Creations.

Clothing: Apricot & Cool Aqua.

Face: Ivory & Blush

Hair: Buttercup & Saffron

Stars: Canary

Blades: Cool Grey 1 & 2

Background Stamp: Snowfall - Stamp Duo by Papermania.

Papers: Winter Stack by DCWV and Gemstones cardstock by Core'dinations.

Pearls: Papermania.

Glitter: Diamond Stickles.

Apologies for the super-pants photo - it's probably just as well, really. :)

The Sugar Bowl Challenge 20

Can't believe I've managed to squeeze another card making session in this week. To be fair, I was up until 2am this morning - kids.....when will I ever get a full night's sleep? (I actually made 1 1/2 cards - got to finish the other one off later!)

Took advantage of being wide awake to make my entry for The Sugar Bowl Challenge 20, as I really enjoyed following the sketch for the last one. This time, as well as following Gayle's fabby sketch, you have to also paper piece. Another first for me, although I've been wanting to try it out for some time.

Recipe:

Stamped Image: Luvvie by Leanne Ellis @ Sugar Nellie.

Papers: Cherry Hill by October Afternoon.

Heart Mesh eyelet and brads: Making Memories.

Ribbon: Local Haberdashery.

Border Punch: Martha Stewart.

This lovely range of stamps was my first Sugar Nellie purchase and I love them to bits. Hope the card fits the bill. :)

Ooh, and I've just found out that I've won the C.R.A.F.T. Challenge 18 - can't believe it, even though it's a random pick, I'm chuffed to bits!!!! :))))