Leave the lights on.

I tend to come unstuck when I try and make an 'artsy' card. 
What I see in my head never really equates to the card I make.
But, that's the style my dd likes, so I thought I would give it a go for her 'new home' card.

I used my new Memory Box landscape die to create a little scene. 

I put some orange paper behind the windows,
so that it would look like lights were on ;-)
and added some gems to the DP at the bottom.

For the moon, a circle die cut was covered with glamour dust (IRL it's very sparkly) and then the sentiment was added to one of the clouds - all popped up on foam pads.

 Challenges.
Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
Do You Stack Up - Blue Sky and Clouds 

Supplies

Memory Box dies - country landscape and clouds.

DP - Prima, Moulin Rouge

Gems, Glamour Dust  

Glitter is my Prozac!

So, if you had to pack up your craft room, what's the last thing that would be boxed away?
For me - it's GLITTER. I am a sucker for a bit of sparkle :-)

This may be the last time, for a while, that my card, me and the dog are covered in a fine layer of glamour dust :o)

I know it's hard to see, but trust me, there is a good amount of glamour dust on my card.

I am clinging to the hope that there will be a perfect spot in the new house to take great pictures - because, of course, it couldn't possibly be my photography skills at fault ;-)
 

Challenges.
Stampin' for the Weekend - Show us your style.  These days my style is tending towards more CAS cards.
2 Sisters - Anything Goes
Moving Along With the Times - Who are celbrating their 3rd birthday with a 'Happy Birthday' theme. Congrats everyone  xxx
Bunny Zoe's Crafts -Girls, Girls, Girls
Penny Black & More At Allsorts - All My Favourite Things. My fav. things are glitter, gems and pretty Prima papers.

Supplies.

6 x 6 On the Edge Card Blank.

DP - Prima, Madeline.      Stamp - Penny Black J'aime Paris, coloured with Copics.

Glamour Dust.      Gems    Sentiment Stamp - Wild Rose Studios.

An Ollie day

No card from me today, but I thought I would share this pic of the new addition to our clan :-)

Annabel and her b/f got Ollie yesterday - he is so adorable and full of mischief.

He's a Puggle (Pug/Beagle cross) and as soon as I can get him to stand still for 2 seconds, I'll get some better pictures of him :-)

 

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.