MERRIEST

Hello.
Just sharing a simple card today with an old-fashioned, wooden block stamp,
 that I've had since dinosaurs roamed the earth.
It's one of my absolute favourites.
:-)

I stamped my ForeverFriends bear onto a card panel, then masked it and added a little distress ink background.
The bear was then coloured with Copics.
I used to hold my breathe at this point - when I stamped a sentiment - as most of the time I would mess it up and drop the stamp, smudge it, or it wouldn't come out quite right,
but now, I have one of those stamping platforms and it makes things so much easier.

Lastly,  I attached my postage stamp border and then popped everything up onto a card blank with foam tape.

Challenges.

Addicted to Stamps and More 

Supplies.

Forever Friends Stamp, coloured with Copics

Avery Elle - Merriest Sentiments and Postage Stamp Die

Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass

A little birdie told me

Hey everyone,
just a quick post from me this afternoon.
The sun is shining and I'm going to have a couple of hours, in my garden chair, with a good book.

First - here's my MUSE card for this week.

As soon as I saw Marion's inspiration card, I knew I wanted to use this stamp.

It's part of a larger stamp set so I've overlooked it before, but it is kinda cute.

I layered the image onto some blue card and then some white card

and popped it up on foam pads.

I was brave, for once, and stamped my sentiment straight onto my card base ;-)

  

Challenges.
 Muse #77 Marion's Inspiration Card





Supplies.
Stamp - Forever Friends 'Sports' Set, coloured with Copics and Stickles Star Dust
'Hello' Stampendous, Happy Messages.
Sequin/Gem

Good Morning Mr Robin

Hello peeps!
I really must get a wriggle on with my Christmas cards -
I made a list this week and scared myself at how many I have to make!
That's why this week's challenge, chosen by Jenny
at the CES Challenge Blog is just perfect for me.

The theme is   SEEING RED

Now, you don't have to go down the Christmas route, 

but please make sure that red is the main colour of your card/project.

I started with a 6 x 6 On the Edge card, matted and covered with Dovecraft Back to Basics Christmas DP.

I used a couple of stamps to create a little snow scene -  paper-piecing some parts of the bear, colouring the rest with Copics and adding a sprinkling of my favourite Glamour Dust.

I don't have one of those fancy 'punch around the page' punches, so for my frame I used a Fiskars border punch, cutting the corners as best I could, and covering the joins with Card Candi, a Catslife Press stamp and a bow.

Lots of my supplies came from Crafty Emma's. Just click on the links to be taken to the store.

Hop along to the main CES blog, 
to see the amazing work of my fellow teamies

and join us this week, for your chance to win a £10 gift voucher 
to spend in the store (excl p&p).

Challenges
 ABC Challenge - Anything goes ( great to see this challenge back, with fab work from the new DT)
Simon Says - Sparkle and Bling
Forever Friends - Use Sentiment.

Supplies.

Forever Friends Stamp / Alota Stamps Snow Fence

CatsLife Press Stamp.

6 x 6 On the Edge Card.

Glamour Dust / Card Candi / Fiskars Border Punch

Ribbon & Button from my stash.

A work of heart !

Afternoon everyone... poor Suzie is having a stressful day today. The gardeners are here, trying to cut back the hedges from hell and she is not happy that they are strolling about her garden. She thinks she is a Rottweiler in a Westie body!!

I don't know what came over me with this card - I think I had a 'girly' moment !!

I've never really got the hang of distressing, but I am pleased with the way this turned out. I used Tim Holtz distress ink  on  the edges of my DP, around the stamp and on the little tags. I like the colour around Tilda, instead of it being just flat white, so I think I will be adding some inks to my list for Santa!
I cut Tilda out, coloured her with Copics and stickles glitter and paper-pieced her clothes.

Challenges...
Friday Sketchers - Aud's fabulous sketch (definitely a keeper this one!)
Allsorts - Bingo - A fun challenge from Mummylade, where you choose a row on the Bingo card.
I chose Lace, Flowers ( on my DP ) and Tags, but I admit, I was tempted to go for a Full House...lol**

Stamp - Magnolia, Tilda with Heart Package.     DP - Papermania, Regency.
Happy Birthday Stamp - Penny Black, Critter Party.       Stickles, Frosted Lace.
Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Tattered Rose.   Heart Buttons, Lace, Mini Tags, Card Candy from my stash.

********************************

Christmas Production Line

Have you started making your Christmas cards yet ?

Head over to the  ABC Christmas challenge,

where their theme is 'Quick and Easy'.

They have a great sketch for you to follow

and the extra challenge is to make more than 1 card.

A great way to start your Christmas card pile, or  add to it.

Some Christmas cards just lend themselves to having a little production line going.

I get everything cut out, coloured and ready to go,
and then it's just a  matter of assembly, when I have some spare time.

 I got to ink up my new Catslife Press stamp for this card.

I  love the cheeky  'Fa la la la la ' saying.

They do other cute text stamps too and

Crafty Emma's Store has a good selection.

You have to be quick though, as they go like hot cakes!!

Emma is expecting more stock next week,
so keep checking her store, if you want to get your hands on some.

I coloured my Forever Friends stamp with Copics and added some glitter.

Now I realise I NEED a real life sparkly dressing gown, just like this one!!!

I'm sorry, I can't remember what the DP is -

it's from last year and has long since lost it's cover!

--------------------------------------

Football Crazy

I have gone with a football theme today,
as this weekend sees the final of the World Cup.
It's been a good tournament, with lots of surprises,
just a shame our lads didn't fulfill their potential.
Can't say I will miss those vuvuzelas though!!!

I am entering this card for the
Lili of the Valley Challenge,
so I have used their cute stamp 'Football Crazy',
and followed Dawny's sketch.
The stamp is coloured with Copics,
I paper-pieced the little guy's top
and the football is 3D'd.

Football design paper is Forever Friends.
Blue dashed paper is Daisy & Dandelion 'Picnic Patch'
Ribbon and brads from my stash.
Text is a papermania sticker.

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Cuthbert Bear

Silly me... I decided this morning to cut all my nails nice and short
and now I can't get the backing off my double sided tape.
It's driving me crazy!! lol*

This week the challenge over at Sketch and Stash is to make a
CIRCLE card.
A great excuse to attempt my first circle easel card.
using my largest scalloped nestie.

The new stash I used was the cute Cuthbert with Balloons,
which was a freebie from Pollycraft.
Cuthbert usually holds two sets of balloons,
but I trimmed one set.
He is stuck on with foam pads, for that 3D look,
coloured with Copics and some added glitter.

Design Paper is Forever Friends
(but it's lost it's cover so I'm not sure which one it is)
'Thank You' stamp is Personal Impressions 'Mixed Sentiments'
The little heart is a Sizzix die - 'Hearts,Paisley'
Button, ribbon and card candy from my stash.
xxx

Where did the weekend go??

Is it Sunday night already?
Where did the weekend go?
It wouldn't surprise me if David Cameron has made Saturday one of his 'cuts' !!

Having come across the fabulous, Just Us Girls, last week,
I thought I would join in with their challenge again.
This week it's a great sketch to follow and their sponsor is
JustRite.
If you can include a JustRite stamp on your card,
you will also be entered into a second draw.

I don't have any of their stamps,
but that could change if I win this week...
fingers crossed!!
lol**

I went for another 'guy' card,
'cos I need to build up my stock of them,
and chose this cute Forever Friends stamp,
coloured with Copics.
I also made use of those cute Woodware Tool Brads
that I picked up at my local craft store.
I chose the spanner and saw,
but the packet also includes scissors and a hammer!!

Stamp - Forever Friends, coloured with Copics.
Design Paper - Papermania Hampstead
Text Stamp - from the Papermania 'Stamping for Him' set.
Woodware Tool Brads
String, button and card candy from my stash.

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Forever Friends New Home

No stamps were hurt during the making of this card!!
I have had this Forever Friends paper for ages,
and never quite knew what to do with it.
Then I thought that these cute, wallpapering bears,|
would be great for a new home card.
I have layered the bears up, to give them a 3D effect.

I have followed this week's great sketch, by Kathrin, over at
Cupcake Craft.
Pop on over there and check out the fab DT work -
and there is still plenty of time to enter the challenge
and be in with a chance of winning some fab digi images from
Di's Digi Downloads.

Recipe:
Design Paper - Forever Friends, Just For Him.
Purple check background paper - DCWV Nana's Nursery, Baby Boy
Ribbon from my stash. Sentiment made on my comp.

xxx

Christmas Bear and Robin

Are you in a panic over your Christmas preparations yet?

I am trying to stay calm,

but I have lists EVERYWHERE.

:-)

Here are 5 cards I made this weekend -
only 3 left to make!
I am entering this card for the

Stamp Something challenge,

where the theme is

Winter Wonderland.

There is a fabulous sponsor this week -

In Style Stamps -
so have a go at the challenge to be in with a chance to win.

Recipe:
Stamp - Forever Friends, Bear and Robin, coloured with Copics.
Design Paper - My Mind's Eye,
Signature Christmas for background and

Wild Asparagus for the folded tree.

Sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

Ribbon and star bead from my stash.

Bling It Bear

I can't resist a bit of bling -
so I had to have a go at this week's challenge
over at Stamp Something,

where the theme is 'Bling It'.

There is also an awesome prize this week,
of some Copic Spica markers.
Who wouldn't love to win those?

I don't often make shaped cards,
but thought I would have a go at this simple, 'z-fold' style,
and I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out.


I find it hard to photograph glitter,
but I hope you can see that there is plenty of 'bling'
on my card.
The background paper is gorgeous and has a pretty glitter finish.
I also added some stickles glitter to the bear's dressing gown.

Recipe:
Stamp - Forever Friends, coloured with Copics.
Design Paper - K & Co, Peppermint Twist
Ribbon from my stash.
Sentiment from Craftwork Cards
xxx

Christmas Bear

I am feeling a bit sniffly today -

so I am going to turn on the heating,
wrap up warm and plonk myself in front of the TV.

But first, here is my entry for this week's

Sunday Sketch & Stamp,
which is a fab sketch from Clare.
Pop over there and check out the fab DT work.

Recipe:

Stamp - Forever Friends, paper pieced and coloured with copics.
Xmas design Paper from last year's stash.

Punched snowflakes sprinkled with Diamond Dust.

Star charm from the Hobby House

Sentiment and card candy from Craftwork Cards.

xxx

Forever Friends Christmas Bear

I am confused today -
I know, it doesn't take much :-)
Using these copics is a steeper learning curve than I thought.
I now understand not to use the blending pen as a 'blending' pen
lol**
I wish I had used a pink on this little bear's dressing gown,
for highlights,
but it's difficult to do that when you don't have many pens.
I am also getting used to using much deeper and richer colours -
several projects have gone in the bin,
as my people looked like they had spent far
too long under a sun bed!!!

I was going to enter this for the sketch challenge at
'Moving Along With the Times',
but their post dates have confused me and
it turns out this was last week's challenge.
(Ever had one of those days?)

Is it too early to open the wine???

Recipe:
Stamp - Forever Friends, Cup of Cocoa,
coloured with Copics and stickles glitter
Design Paper - K & Co Peppermint Twist.
Punched snowflake with Diamond Dust

Winter Teddy

I have told my hubby that there's no point in me
ironing his shirt sleeves,
when he keeps his jacket on all day!!
But, he is refusing to see my point of view.

Men!!
So, my ironing is now eating into my crafting time.

I have still managed to finish this card for the
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge
where the theme is '3D'

For my 3D card I have paper-pieced
teddy's jacket and mittens and used foam pads
to attach them.
I have also added some flower soft around teddy's feet
and some glossy accents on the die cut corner.

Recipe:
Stamp - Forever Friends, coloured with whispers pens.

Design Paper - K & Co Peppermint Twist
Card candy and sentiment from Craftwork Cards
xxx

First Challenge at The Next Level

Have you checked out the fabulous new blog

The Next Level.
If you haven't you really should head on over there.

It's a cross between a challenge blog and a crafting magazine.
This week they have some lovely freebie downloads,
hints and tips and a tutorial for lollipop flowers.
The flowers are part of this week's challenge -
you must add one to your card, which has to have an aperture.

As you can see, I tried to make the flowers -
but not very successfully -

my first 2 went in the bin!
I hope you'll give it a go though,
it was fun trying something new.

Recipe: Digital Stamp from Pollycraft,
coloured with whispers pens and stickles glitter.
Background Paper: Forever Friends, Party Time
Lollipop flower paper: Papercraft 4 You, collection 7
Sentiment from Craftwork Cards
xxx

Forever Friends

Here's my entry for this week's

Spoonful of Sugar Challenge,

where the theme is

Blue & Green

I managed to get away without using any stamps on this card.

Which made it really quick and easy to make.

The image itself is cut from the papers,

which are

Forever Friends - Party Time.
(The dark card is actually nave blue,
but looks black on the photo.)
I made up the sentiment on my computer,
the blooms are from my stash and the
card candy is from Craftwork cards,

I really must get some more of these,
they are so useful and come in such luscious colours.

xxx

Afternoon everyone,

I am being treated to another day of crafting today,
as my daughter is cooking us a lovely meal.
Of course, I had to go out and buy all the ingredients this morning,
and I think every pot and pan we own is in use,

but it smells wonderful.

Here is my entry for this week's
Sketch and Stash Challenge.

It's another great sketch, which leaves you free to add
embellishments and sentiments wherever you wish.

The neglected stash that I used is Forever Friends - Just for Him, papers.
These papers are really cute, but I never really knew what to do with them.
For this card I decoupaged the design.
I like the way that the hat creates a shadow,
as if the sun is on the teddy's face.
Also, I ran out of thread when I was sewing parts of the card,
but I liked the effect, so I kept on going.. lol*