Nordic Style

Hey there,

here's my attempt at a Nordic style card for

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown

 I used some of my smaller stamps to create a repeat pattern, and

my first thought was to simply add this stamped panel to the card base,

but it looked so flat like that. 

In the end, I stamped my sentiment onto the card base and  then cut my patterned piece in 2

and added it top and bottom.

For a little more interest I re-stamped the stockings and mugs, fussy cut them,

(shame there's no die for these little pieces)

and attached them with foam pads.

Supplies.

Stamps - Wplus9 'Heartfelt Holidays' /  Papermania 'Tweet' / Stampendous 'Yule Penguins'

Sentiment Stamp - Pink Gem Designs

Memento Ink - Rose Bud  / Bahama Blue

xxx

Pink Gem Challenge #17

Time for Jenny's second challenge at Pink Gem - and she has chosen the theme

Anything BUT Square

This is my last card as part of the GD team at Pink Gem, and I want to say thankyou to all the lovely ladies over there. I have really enjoyed my time with you. A special thanks has to go to to Janet, who has been so friendly and incredibly generous with her work and also to Mandy, who has kept me on the straight and narrow and stopped me from stressing out!

Here's my card ...

 I went for a circular easel card, which is really easy to make, using my largest scalloped nestie, and

Pink Gem's Skateboard Andy decoupage sheet was just a perfect fit.

The paper on the bottom of the easel card is from the Slugs and Snails set and the sentiment next to Andy is Puppy Dogs Tails Polymer Stamp.
Stars were cut by hand and layered with Gingham Digi Paper.
 

Hope you can make out all the decoupage  layers from this view.

Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside.

Are you all singing along?? :D)
We have a nice easy challenge for you at Totally PaperCrafts this week - the lovely Sarah is our host and the theme is

Add Buttons

 I do like buttons, but I never quite know where to add them to my cards, so I can't wait to see your entries.

If you need a little inspiration, check out the wonderful work from my teamies over on the challenge blog.

I played it safe and added some mini buttons where you might expect to see them - on the door handles!
Wouldn't you just love to have one of these little huts by the sea? I can just imagine mine, all decked out in Cath Kidston florals, pretty china and gingham bunting!! :D)
These huts were a freebie from Little Musings and all the DPs are digis, from Pink Gem. The huts are all paper-pieced and the doors are popped up with foam pads. I used my comp. to write the sentiment.
I was really tempted to add some more gems, or buttons to the bottom right of the card, but I went for the simple look instead. :-))

Pink Gem Challenge #16

Pink Gem has a new challenge for you this morning - it's a fabulous sketch by Jenny.   I love seeing all the different interpretations of a sketch, so I can't wait to see your entries.

Here's mine...

I went for a softer, spring feel with this card and used Prima, Botanical dp.  (check it out at Crafty Emma's)

I also used the dp to paper-piece Spring Chloe's coat, colouring the rest of her with Copics.

Challenges - 
Fab 'n' Funky - 'Spring into Action'.
Stampin' for the Weekend -  Springtime

Other Supplies -

Martha Stewart Border Punches - Arch and Leaves.     Ribbon - Docrafts V & A

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards        Swirls - Sizzix Die, Flourish #3

Pearls - Crafty Emma's Store.       Blooms from my stash.

A Gem of A Challenge - All the B's!!

Did you have fun with our Gem of A Challenge Blog Hop? We now have a team of little elves, behind the scenes, checking and collating and checking again, to see who the winners are. Keep your fingers crossed and check with A Gem of a Challenge on Sunday morning to see if you are on the list!

Onto the new challenge and Mandy is our host again, with the theme

Buttons, Brads, Beads and Bows

you can use one, two, three - or, if you're feeling really adventurous, all of them!

I was feeling adventurous   :o)

Well, I was when I started this card, but after several botched attempts, a bin full of discarded paper and quite a lot of swearing, I wasn't so sure. I propped the card up for the photos, (it really sits flat, like the usual easel card) but they're still not great, the light is awful here at the moment, but you get the idea.

 I saw a fabulous teapot easel card by April in the Magnolia Ink Mag.(Autumn) and I wanted to give it a go.  The teapot template was included but there were no instructions, so my attempt was trial and error - mainly error!! :o)

Once I had made the basic card, I covered it with Pink Gem Springtime Digi Papers - stitched in place.

Then I added my embellies and Spring Chloe (available as a polymer stamp).

I used invisible thread to stitch on some little pearl beads.

The teapot lid is tucked into a little pocket, so it lifts out easily to reveal the sentiment.

Challenges -
Top Tip - All Stitched Up
Charisma Cardz - Spring Has Sprung.

Extras:

Martha Stewart Lattice Border Punch.  Happy Birthday Scroll & Sentiment from Papermania.       'May all your dreams come true' text from WOJ Aladin Set.

Beads, Blooms, Buttons, Bows, Brads  from my stash. Leaves - XCut punch.

A Gem of A Challenge 1st Anniversary Blog Hop

To celebrate A Gem Of A Challenge's First Birthday we are running a Birthday Blog Hop along side this fortnight's challenge. You can enter the challenge, the blog hop or both! 

To enter our challenge follow the fab sketch by Mandy below......and simply link up your creation as normal on the challenge blog.

 If you are up for some fun and the chance to win lots of prizes, we would love you to join in with our blog hop. The winner of the Blog Hop will get these fabulous Aquamarker pens from Letraset who have very kindly sponsored us.... 

 and in addition, there are 2 fabulous Pink Gem Designs Digi stamps OR 1 set of Digi papers of your choice up for grabs on each of the DT blogs. 


You will need to start at the challenge blog, and visit each DT blog in turn to collect a 'hidded gem' from each. After collecting your answers from each DT blog, simply return to the challenge blog and leave your answers in the comments section. Please be aware there will be duplicate 'GEMS' so make sure that you have 10 when you reach the end.... Comment moderation will be on so there will be no cheating!

If you are here for the hop, you should have arrived from Katie's blog, and you have reached the end. Go back to A Gem of A Challenge and leave your gems. 

Or, go over to the challenge blog to start the hop from the beginning. 

The Gem you are looking for is SAPPHIRE   :O)

Simply leave me a comment below, to enter my draw to win 2 PGD digi stamps OR 1 set of PGD Digi Papers. My winner will be drawn at random on 19th Feb. All winners will also be announced on the Challenge blog on the 20th Feb

Good luck and have fun!

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Now, onto this week's Challenge card following Mandy's sketch.

 I used some Pink Gem Digi Download Papers - 'Dotty' and 'Gingham'. These papers come in 20 different colours so you are bound to find something to complement your projects.
The cute image is Andy with Snail, available as a polymer stamp. I cut out the different pieces, coloured them with copics and mounted them on foams pads to give some dimension.

Challenge entry
Ladybug Crafts Ink - Card for a Child

A Gem of A Challenge - Ribbon and Lace

Hello everyone...   you can relax - it's the weekend!! Put your feet up and head over to A Gem of A Challenge, where this week's challenge is hosted by the fabulously talented Debby and the theme is

Ribbon and Lace.

You can use the real kind, or make your own with punches and paper etc.

I admit, when I first saw this theme, I thought of the new Cutie Pie papers, all pink and girly, but in the end I just couldn't resist the Oh Boy papers and Decoupage sheet.

I made a little set with a New Baby card and a little bag to hold a present.
I wasn't sure about the lace - for a boy - but I think it works ok.

 This was a very easy little box/bag to make - following the great tutorial by Makeesha Byl.

(I added a strip of the DP for the handle instead of ribbon). There's not much room in this box for a pressie, but if you wanted to, I think you could easily scale it up.

For the card I used the Oh Boy Decoupage sheet. I just love how this turned out and these sheets are so handy to have if you want to make a quick project. (The picture below shows the layering).

Challenge - Allsorts - Male/Boy

Pink Gem Designs Oh Boy papers and decoupage sheet.

Martha Stewart lace border punch.  Card Candy.   Ribbon and lace from my stash.

Spring is in the air!

Well, it's definitely not springlike here in Yorkshire, but we live in hope!
I am excited to show you my card today, as it's my first one as Guest Designer at A Gem of A Challenge

If you haven't joined in with Janet's challenges before, go and check them out. They are now going to be running fortnightly and Debby is the host this time around, with a wonderful sketch to follow.

It's so nice to make something other than Christmas cards - and I couldn't resisit using this cute Spring Chloe, all wrapped up against the chilly spring weather, in her pretty coat and ugg boots, and her cat by her side.

Spring Chloe and the Happy Birthday circle are on sale as polymer stamps at the Pink Gem store, so head on over there and grab yourself a bargain!

This challenge is being sponsored by Letraset and the prize for one lucky winner is a set of Promarkers.

Stamps are coloured with Copics and the little flower was dusted with Making Memories Scrapbook Shimmer.  DP is K & Co, Classic.  Lace and string from my stash.

Challenges -
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes with the optional extra of adding some lace.

There are some fab new products in the Pink Gem store for January. Janet has made some Cutie Pie papers and gorgeous, matching decoupage sheets.
Here's a quick peek at the 'Oh Boy' papers.

Can you tell the odd one out??

Just a quick post today, as things are getting busy here. So far I have 5 'to do' lists and, as long as I don't LOSE a list, I will be fine.  :-)

I just wanted to share my good news with you - I am so excited -  I have been asked by Janet at PINK GEM to be a guest designer. From January 8th the Pink Gem challenges will be fortnightly.

Congrats to my other GD'ers   Sandra at Cherry Pickin's and Katie at Both Sides of the Paper.

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Eat, drink and be scary!

Do you celebrate Halloween?
I don't think it every really caught on around here.

I did all the trick or treating when the girls were younger,
but last year, I don't think we had a single caller!

Shame -  I had to eat all the Halloween candy myself!!!

I made a little 'trick or treat' basket using the very easy template from

  Clear and Simple Stamps Blog.
It's only small, but I managed to fit a couple of bags of Mini Oreos inside. These bags are joined together in two's and as I ripped them apart, one split open, scattering Oreos everywhere. It was a mad scrabble between me and the dog to see who could grab the most. I think she won!!

For my card I used the lush memory Box paper 'Blackbird''.
It's so gorgeous that I didn't want to cover it up too much.
I paper-pieced a lot of my stamp and coloured the rest in with Copics.
I added the 'Oct 31st' text and a few adhesive pearls, colouring them black with a copic pen.

I would like to enter this for a couple of challenges, first of all Fab 'n' Funky, where the theme is "What'eva".
This means you can make anything you like!
And secondly Simon Says Stamp - 'Holiday Fun'.  Simon Says are also running a Stamp-tember Hop, that you DO NOT want to miss out on. Check their blog for all the details.

Recipe - 

Design Paper - Memory Box, Blackbird.

Stamp - Pink Gem Designs, Milly with Pumpkin.

Oct 31 cut with Slice machine - Fa La La design card.

Advesive pearls, coloured black with Copics.

A Blue Christmas

So, I  think I have solved the problem of taking photos when it's miserable outside!
I took this at about midnight last night - pitch black outside -
I put on all the lights and the camera flash..  lol**

It's a little washed out, but it will do for me...
:-)

I spent quite a lot of time colouring my winter Milly with Copics
and even tried a new colour for her hair!!
I used stickles glitter on her earmuffs, scarf and cuffs
and polar white Flower Soft on the snow covered log.
I  added some pale blue chalk to the edges of the stamped image
and blue ink to distress the DP.
The Merry Christmas circle is one of my new Cat's Life Press stamps,
Grab them while you can from Emma's Store.

Challenges I am entering...
A Spoon Full Of Sugar - Christmas in August

Truly Scrumptious - Sketch + optional extra of brads/buttons/bows

ABC - B is for Blue

Stamp - Pink Gem, Winter Milly
DP - GCD Studios - Ella Blue

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Totally Papercrafts Challenge - Sue's Sketch

Wow!
Animals galore over at Totally Papercrafts last week -
we had a fabulous number of entries.
We hope that you will all join us again this week
for Sue's wonderful sketch.
Head on over there to the blog to check it out,
and see if you were last week's lucky winner.


This week we are being sponsored by Sew Many Cards
and you could win your choice of 5 digis.

Here's my card...
and if you have time, please check out the fabulous work
of my teammates

I used a cute digital image from Pink Gem,
coloured with Copics and I paper pieced the little bundle.
The DP is DCWV Nana's Nursery, Baby Boy
and I made the sentiment on my computer.

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Home Sweet Home

Awww shucks... this is one of those cards
that was definitely better in my head than on paper.
I'm just not very happy with it.
Maybe I will like it more, if I just step away from it for a while.

I made it for my daughters,
who are moving in to their new digs at the end of the month.
They will both be in their final year at Uni.
and I am so glad they are going to be living together.

I cut out the card shape, windows etc myself..
because I couldn't find a template on the net.
The one thing I am happy with, is that little brad,
found at the bottom of my stash.
It had an extra bit on it, that just looked like a lock.

I would like to enter this for 'A Gem of a Challenge'.
Don't forget about this wonderful challenge from Pink Gem Designs.
It's a monthly challenge and is posted on the 8th,
so you still have plenty of time to join in.
This month the challenge is hosted by Debby,
who would like to see 'ribbons and buttons' on your project'.

The stamp I used is Pink Gem 'Little Gem's Birthday' - cutting out the dog and robin.
I know the girls will like this little doggie - he is just like our Westie.
DP - My Mind's Eye - Pretty Please.
Letter Stamps - My Sentiments Exactly 'Adrienne's'
Blooms, buttons and ribbon from my stash.

xxx

A Gem of a Challenge

Did you know that Pink Gem Designs has started their very own
challenge blog?
It's called A Gem of a Challenge, and will run monthly.
You can use any image on your creation and be in with the
chance to win a Top 3 badge.
Entries with a Pink Gem stamp will also be in with a chance
to win 2 Pink Gem stamps.
These are lovely stamps and I find them to be very versatile.

Here's my card for this month's challenge,
which is a great sketch with the option of using pink and gems.

I am into beads at the moment - so I am trying to find a way to add them
to all my cards...lol*
I think I may have gone overboard with this one. :-)
I added tiny crystal beads to Milly's wellies,
pearl beads on her coat for buttons and
I tried to make the silver bugle beads look like rain.



Recipe:
Stamp - Pink Gem Designs, Milly in Rain, coloured with Copics,
with wellies, coat and umbrella paper pieced.
Design Paper - Papermania, Capsule Collection, Red Hot.
Beads, blooms and adhesive pearls from my stash.
Sentiment Stamp - Personal Impressions

xxx

Christmas for Boys

I don't have too many Christmas cards left to make now,
but here is one using the sketch over at

Papertake Weekly.

This is for my teenage nephew,
so I wanted to keep it cute, but simple.

Beside the regular weekly challenge,
Papertake are also looking for some GD'ers,
so pop on over there and check it out.
xxx

Recipe: -
Stamp - Pink Gem, Max & Snowman,
coloured with Copics and stickles glitter.

Design Paper - My Mind's Eye, Signature Christmas.
Card candy.

xxx

Christmas Notice Board

This year, I think my front room is going to be full
of crafts made with this gorgeous, glittery paper.

I just love it.
Here is a little Christmas notice board that I made for
the Stamp with Fun challenge,
where the theme is calendars or decorations.
Check out the awesome work from the DT -
who made some truly wonderful projects.

For my notice board I used a 12" x 12" canvas that I

'borrowed' from my daughter.

These are easy to find in craft shops, but you could use
an old notice board or something similar.
I covered it with my fav, glitery papers -
My Mind's Eye, Signature Christmas.

I knew that the set of little silver pegs and cord
that I bought the other day, would come in useful for something.
I strung the cord across the box, tied at the back,
and the pegs will be great to hang messages up.

The stamp is Pink Gem, Winter Milly,
coloured with Copics, a sprinkling of stickles glitter
and a heap of Diamond Dust.
:-)

For the 'NOEL' I die cut the small tags and the letters,
and added a little bit of the silver cord to them.
xxx

Autumn Birthday

Woohoo!

I was a winner at the Secret Crafter Blogoversary,

and won some crafting goodies from Wendy.
Can't wait to see what they are.

If you haven't checked out their challenge blog,

go and have a looksie.
They set a different challenge every Saturday,
and have an awesome DT.

At the end of the month all those that
enter a challenge go into the prize draw.

This week their theme is 'Autumn Colours'.

For my card I used the cute Milly stamp from Pink Gem.

This is just one of those fab stamps

that is great for paper piecing -
and that's what I did to her brolly, coat and boots.

The rest of her is coloured with copics.

Design Paper is My Mind's Eye - Bloom & Grow.
Flowers were punched from the DP
Card candy and sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

Ribbon from my stash.
xxx

Glitter Milly

Afternoon everyone,
hope you are all enjoying a relaxing weekend.

They fly by all too quickly, don't they?
I am in a good mood today,
hubby wallpapered the front room yesterday
and amazingly, the paper was still on the walls this morning!

I am cracking on with my Christmas cards
and this one is for the challenge over at

Sketch Saturday.
I just flipped the sketch to make it work for my image.

This week's sponsors are The Craft Barn
who have a great selection of crafting goodies.
They are nominated for the
Best Independent store in the south of England,
in the 2009 craft awards
and if you'd like to support them you can vote here

Recipe:
Stamp - Pink Gem, Winter Milly,
coloured with Copics and lots of stickles glitter!
Design Paper - K & Co, Peppermint Twist
Card candy and sentiment from Craftwork Cards.
xxx

Feeling under the weather?

This afternoon I had a delivery of some nice new goodies
to play with,
from The Stamp Bug.
A couple of things - Glimmer Mists and Distress Inks -
are going to take me a while to get the hang of using.

My card is for this week's Simon Says Stamp,
which is a recipe challenge.
3 embellishments
2 papers
1 image.
It is also based on the sketch over at Mojo Monday.

The stamp is Pink Gem, Milly in the Rain and
Milly's coat, boots and umbrella are paper pieced.
Then I added some glimmer mist to the boots and brolly.
It's hard to photo this, but it does give them a lovely sparkly finish.
The design paper is My Mind's Eye, Wild Asparagus.
I made the sentiment on the computer.

I have tried to use the distress inks around the edges,
but I think I need more practice with them.

Ignore the colour on this photo, it's a bit weird,
but it does give you an idea of how the glimmer mist sparkles.

xxx

Apple Sauce & Stamp with Fun Challenge

Have you ever made apple sauce?
Today was my very first attempt,
and after coring, peeling, slicing and cooking
about 9lb of apples,

I ended up with 6 jars and 3 freezer bags
full of the yummy sauce.
Looking around my bomb site of a kitchen now,
it also seems like I have used every bowl and
pan that I own!!

Whilst tea - gammon cooked in diet coke -
is simmering away on the stove,

I have just had time to make this card for
the Stamp with Fun Challenge,
following the great sketch from Saphira.

Recipe:
Stamp - Pink Gem, little Gem's birthday,
coloured with whispers pens and a little stickles glitter.

Design Paper - DCWV Nana's Nursery, Baby Boy.
Card candy and sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

Blooms and leaves from my stash.

Now, I better go and do the washing up,

before hubby gets home!

xxx