Dad - someone who carries pictures where his money used to be!

I am seriously thinking of applying for Mastermind - my specialist subject?? Houses for sale in a 20 mile radius of the A1,  from Darlington to Morpeth!!! We have been up and down that road so often that when we turn on the Sat Nav it says "A1 route again, is it?"

So, forgive me for being a bad blogger recently - thanks to everyone who has left a comment and I will try and get round to you soon ;-)

 I did manage to get into my craft room for 5 mins, to make a Father's Day card. But it  was only when I put it together that I realised I had coloured this guy's clothes the same as the paper-pieced chair!! Duh !!!
The image is popped up on foam pads, so it has a 3D look, and I added some glossy accents to the little coffee mug.

Challenges.

Digi Stamp Boutique - June Challenge

Allsorts - Paper Piecing/Piercing

Charisma - Male Card

Do You Stack Up - Boys/Men

C.R.A.F.T. - Father's Day

My Mum's Craft Shop - Clean and Simple

Papertake - 3-2-1 (I have used 3 gems, 2 clouds and 1 DP)

Supplies.

Digi Stamp Boutique, Dad relaxing with Dog - coloured with Copics, glossy accents and paper-pieced.

DP - My Mind's Eye, True Blue

Making Memories Clouds Die

Gems - Sticky Letters (coloured with a black Copic)

You're never too old for a Teddy Bear

Am I the only one stuggling to remember what day it is? I'm not sure if it's the double jubilee bank holiday, or the copious amounts of alcohol, that have fuddled my brain!! In my defense we had a few extra celebrations - dd's birthday - Suzie's birthday :-) - we bought a business and a car! - AND we sold the house! What a weekend!!!

I am also excited to be joining the girls from Do You Stack Up? as their guest designer this week. The theme is paper-piecing and they have a fabulous sponsor - Rhoda Design Studios - who kindly sent me this cute, digi bear to work with.

I went with a more 'grown-up'  bear style for this card, but I'm not sure it works... what do you think? The little bear was paper-pieced, coloured with Copics and some gems, then cut out and stuck on with foam pads.

Thanks to the DT for choosing me to join them this week, and I hope you'll play along with the challenge. xxx

Challenges.
Secret Crafter - Anything Goes

Supplies.

Digi Bear - Rhoda Design Studios.  DP Bo Bunny, Timepiece. 

Memory Box Tessatina Border Die.   Spellbinders Pennant and Lacey Circles Dies.  

 Craftwork Cards Sentiment.  Ribbon and Gems.

Live the Life you Love

I am having withdrawal symptoms today!! Sadly, I have had to step down from the DT at Totally Papercrafts - what with the house sale and my new job, I just can't keep up right now. They are an AWESOME bunch over there though - and if you fancy a spell on THE best team, play along with this week's challenge and put DT after your name :-)

As soon as I saw this image I knew it would be perfect for my daughter Annabel's birthday card. I did intend to use much darker, brunette colours - but last week Annabel decided to have blonde highlights put in her hair!! 

Of course she did!

Well, that sure tested my Copic skills :-)

I've also added a few touches of bling here and there and used my fav sentiment, - Live the Life you Love - which was a freebie from a magazine.

 

Challenges
Truly Scrumptious - Pretty in Pink
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
The Paper Shelter - Bling it On
Crafts and Me - Fabulous Flowers (there are a few on there girls - on the DP - but if that's not enough just delete my entry - no worries ;-)
Aud Sentiments - Any Sentiment

Supplies

6 x 6 On the Edge, Petal Point Card Blank.

Digi Image, Crafts and Me Violet - coloured with Copics and Diamond Dust.

DP - Papermania, Regency.  Martha Stewart Lace Doily Punch.

XCut Heart Die.  Sentiment was a mag. freebie.   Gems.  Lace. Ribbon

Wishing you a pot of love

What a busy week it's been here. We have finally put our house on the market, so it has been scrubbed and cleaned from top to bottom. It's going to kill us to keep it this tidy :-)

Having my craft room all packed up seems to be working in my favour though. Recently my cards have been much simpler, and I think I have finally found my style (it's only taken 3 years!)

On to this week's Totally Papercrafts Challenge and our host is the super, talented Lisa, with one of her own sketches for you to follow.

I love sketches and seeing how people bring the different elements together, so I hope you will play along this week. 
I have used the gorgeous Wryn, from Tiddly Inks. Her dress is paper pieced and then she is coloured with Copics (and a little stickles glitter) cut out and attached with foam pads.

My favourite things at the moment are my super, cute cloud dies - I seem to be using them on every card!

This time I cut them in the DP too and kind of overlapped them.

What do you think?

Challenges.
Crafty Sentiments - Bingo I went for the top line Paper Piecing/Patterned Paper/ Glitter.
Tiddly Inks - Mother's Day or Gorgeously Feminine
Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes
Moving Along With The Times - Keep It Real (No Fantasy Figures)
Cute Card Thursday - A Touch Of Sparkle

Supplies.

Tiddly Inks Digi Stamp, Wryn - coloured with Copics, stickles glitter and a paper pieced dress.

DP - Prima Botanical + Sweet Fairy

Memory Box Clouds Dies.     Sentiment Stamp, Wild Rose Studios.

Ribbon and Pearls from my stash.

It's A Guy Thing

I promise you, our Totally Papercrafts Challenges are only once a week, but they do seem to come around quick these days :-)

This week it's Susan's turn to choose the theme and she has gone for

No Pesky Girls Allowed

Guys are simple creatures, aren't they - so I tend to keep their cards nice and plain - I don't want to overtax their brains!! :o)

Here I have used a fan art image of Zero Kiryu,  by the amazingly talented Sureya

He's coloured with Copics, cut out and stuck on with foam pads, to add some depth.

Challenges -
Mad For Markers - One For The Boys  (use masculine colours).

Divas By Design - One For The Boys

Sassy Cheryl's - A Stitch In Time

The Paper Shelter  - Anything Goes

Supplies.

Digi Image - Zero Kiryu, by Sureya.

DP - GCD Studios, Ella Blue and Websters Pages

Sentiment from Craftwork Cards

Spellbinders Elegant Posts Die. Black Gems and Ribbon from my stash.

It's All White

Saturated colours are sooo last week ;-)

There's a new challenge at Totally Papercrafts, and the lovely Cathy has chosen the theme...

White on White

This was a 2-fold challenge for me. Not only did I have to make the card, but I also had to try and get a decent photo of it!! Very tricky :-)

I would normally reach for wedding or Christmas images for  white on white, but I wanted to try and make something for an everyday birthday - plus I was dying to use my new Rosie from Digi Stamp Boutique.

I also had another go at this dotty technique around the image - this time I used greys and a white gel pen.
I  think the photo below shows it up a bit better, but IRL it stands out more.

 Challenges
Digi Stamp Boutique - May Competition

Crafty Sentiments - Spots or Stripes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Birthdays.   Check out their 3rd Birthday Celebrations xxx

My Mum's Craft Shop - Embossing

Do You Stack Up - Circles

Supplies.
Digi Stamp Boutique -  Rosie, coloured with Copics.
Diamond Dust on the circle edge.  Embossed Dots Folder.
Spellbinders Lacey Circles.  Memory Box Tessatina Border Die.
Xcut Leaf and Bloom Punches. White Gems.
Craftwork Cards Sentiment. Silver Mesh Ribbon.

All things bright and beautiful

Well, have we got a challenge for you at Totally Papercrafts this week. It was my turn to choose and, with our sponsor being the amazing Saturated Canary, what else could I go for but

Saturated Colours

Now... don't be scared. We know you can do it :-)

Just get out those bright pens/ pencils that you never use and those vivid papers that are lurking at the back of the cupboard :-)

If you're in need of inspiration check out the amazing work of my teamies on the challenge blog. Thanks ladies - really awesome work this week!

I really wanted to do Nevaeh justice, and got so carried away with colouring her, that the rest of my card is pretty plain. It's kinda growing on me though :-)

Challenges.

Saturated Canary - Happy Birthday

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Simon Says - Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes and DT Call

Supplies -
On the Edge, Petal Point Card Base.
Saturated Canary, Nevaeh (huge thanks to Krista for the image)  and
Make it Crafty, Chaise Digi Stamp, coloured with Copics and a little stickles glitter.
DP - Kaiser Craft, La Di Da.
Craftwork Cards Sentiment.

Button it!

Hiya peeps, this is a scheduled post from me today, as I will be on my way to work. I let my daughter loose with my hair yesterday and have gone from being dark blonde to deep red!! So I hope they let me in the doors :-)

It's time for another Totally Papercrafts challenge and our fab host this week, Anne, has chosen the theme 

All Buttoned Up

I made this card for my youngest daughter, Annabel, who has just got a new job in marketing. It's what she did her degree in, so she is thrilled to bits.

Of course, I couldn't find just the right colour buttons to match my papers, so I ended up cutting these off one of hubby's shirts!!! (joking!! but it did cross my mind) ;-)

Grab a cuppa and head over to the challenge blog, where you can check out the fabulous work of my teamies and take a look at this week's great prize from the Ribbon Girl.

Challenges.

Papertake Weekly - A Stitch in Time
Do You Stack Up? - Stripes
Sweet Stampin' - Girly but no Pink

Supplies.

Gorjuss Girl Stamp, coloured with Copics.

DP My Mind's Eye, Wild Asparagus and DoCrafts, Hampstead.

Martha Stewart Lace Doily Punch.

Memery Box Cloud Dies.   Cheery Lynn Picket Fence Die.

Good Luck Sentiment, Wild Rose Studio.

Buttons from my stash.

Float Like A Butterfly

Somebody help me! For the last few months I have taken to reading romantic chick lit !! Eeek!! Mainly because it's so cheap to buy for my Kindle, but now I find myself enjoying it. OMG, before you know it I will be on the hard stuff... Mills & Boon ! And we all know it's a slippery slope from there to Barbara Cartland. Do I need professional help?

Anyhoo... enough chit chat. We have a new challenge for you over at Totally Papercrafts - hosted by the lovely Wendy who has chosen the theme

Things With Wings

I have used this cute Teddy Bea image where I cut out her arms, decoupaged them and then coloured her with Copics.

This week we are being sponsored by Digi Doodle Shop who are offering a $10 gift voucher to the lucky winner. Pop over to the blog to see the work of my fab teamies and say hell to our newest member of the gang Susan of Mix's Meanderings.

Challenges

Stampin' for the Weekend - Ready Teddy Go!

Digi Tuesday - Birthdays

Teddy Bo Challenge - Spring has Sprung (hope this is 'springy' enough for the challenge :-))

Crafty Ribbons - Things with Wings - Ribbon Optional (I've used lace instead of ribbon this time)

Supplies
Teddy Bea Digi, coloured with Copics.        DP - GCD Tea Time
Butterfly - Spellbinders Die with Gems         XCut Flower Punch and Card Candi
Sentiment Stamp - Docrafts Portobello Road          Lace, Gems, Button
Martha Stewart Border Punch

Baby's Got Blue Eyes

Can you tell this is my favourite image right now? Here I am using it again for this week's Totally Papercrafts challenge, which is hosted by the lovely and talented Victoria.

She has come up with a great Bingo board for you to follow - details are on the challenge blog.

I chose the bottom line of the Bingo board - Blue, Ribbon, Pearls.

I'd also like to welcome Kim to the Totally Papercrafts team - if you get chance please pop by her blog and say hello. :-)

I have a lemon of a printer - you know, the one that was last out of the factory on a Friday afternoon - hence all those horrible lines that are definitely not on the downloads. BUT last week hubby sold some amp thingy (boy's toy) and yesterday he came home with a brand, spanking new printer - to be honest I think my moaning had worn him down :o) 

So, can't wait to print a good copy of this image to play with.

 

Don't forget to check out the fab work of my fellow teamies and if you join us this week you could be in with the chance of winning an amazing $25 gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp

Challenges

Divas by Design - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Favourite Tool -  Gotta love my Big Shot - it's simple and easy to use and no techy bits to go wrong :-))

Papercrafts Star - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes



Supplies.
Crafts and Me Digi Image - Cali Girl, coloured with Copics.
DP - GCD Ella Blue.
I coloured the pearls with a Copic to match the blue DP
Sentiment Stamp - Wild Rose Studios.
The little hinge type things were cut from the end of a Spellbinders Elegant Posts die cut.
Ribbon and lace from my stash.

Live the life you love

Recently my cards seem to have been of the 'I can't wait for this one to slip off the page' variety - but I finally found some time to sit and craft and I came up with something I am more than happy with.
This is for my daughter's 23rd birthday on Thursday - how did she get to be a grown up so fast!!

How amazing is this image - it's from  Crafts and Me - and when I saw it I knew it would be perfect. Ignore the horrible streaky lines on it - that's just my cr** printer at work - the download itself is spot on.

I spent ages colouring her with Copics and gave her the same hair and eye colour as my daughter.
I can't wait to try her out with some different colours though - maybe some bright pink, or blue hair!! :-))

I found the perfect little sentiment in a set of stamps that came free with a magazine

Challenges

Divas by Design - Stamp Something

Truly Scrumptious - Use Lace

Simon Says - Anything Goes

Do You Stack Up - Sew it ( I did the stitching on my sewing machine)

Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes

CMC Copic Challenge - Spring Pretties ( I used the deep pink from the crocus picture to pick out my ribbon and a mix of blues and pinks from the easter eggs picture on my DP and the image)

Supplies
Crafts and Me Digi Stamp - Cali Girl - coloured with Copics.
Sorry, I don't know what this DP is, I received it as a prize.
XCut heart dies.   Lace, ribbon, gems from my stash.  Sentiment was a magazine freebie
Martha Stewart lace doily punch.

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