Feeling green...

This card is/ was intended for the current 'My Time to Craft'challenge: Green. I think though I am a little late uploading it (I've been a little under the weather with flu - perfect timing for Christmas:))

I made the paper by combining some lovely coloured paper by KSharonk with music frippery (sort of digital confetti) from the wonderful Tracy Ann (TADA) , and chalking the edges with black and blue. The sentiment reads: You make my heart sing (in MA Smiles font).

I am so in the mood to play with pretty papers and twiddly bits following my enforced abstinence over Christmas - just think: Valentine hearts, Easter eggs and bunnies, Mothers Day and flowers and of course Spring in all its wonderful colours are all not too far off... Hooray!

Hope Santa was kind to you!

Sx

Heart sequins: Doodlebug Designs
Ribbons: Ribbon Oasis
Wire & seed beads: local craft shop

New challenge and another Christmas tree!

I have discovered a new challenge blog via Sarah's fab blog. Its called My Time to Craft Challenge.

Their current challenge is ' Contemporary Christmas', and I think this card fit the criteria nicely.

I doubt you'll be shocked to know that the paper is by Pink Petticoat! There are silver stars scattered across the card, but they are very difficult to see in the photo I'm afraid.

By the way, have you ever investigated Tracy Ann Digital Art site? She's reduced prices store wide and I guarantee you'll be oooing and aahing over her papers ...and just wait to you see the 'frippery' (I guess you'd call it digital confetti but with beautiful style and imagination).

I'm off for a nap - our son was up at 3am and would not go back to sleep. Still it gave me time to tidy my kitchen drawers... woohoo.

Sx

Paper: Pink Petticoat
Ric rac: Ribbon Oasis
Black ribbon for tree trunk: Poppicrafts
Beads and felt from local craft store
Stars (they really are there, honestly!): freebies

This Thursday & Cosmo Cricket

This is my 'naughty and nice' card for the final This Thursday challenge of the year.

I love Christmas pudding - hence the nice - but sincerely wish it was less naughty (I really should be a good girl and not eat it, but hey, its Christmas!).

I made this card for my son's class to sign and give to their classroom assistant - its difficult to see on the photo but the snowflakes are punched out, 3 at the top and 3 at the bottom.

The card below is the one for their wonderful teacher Miss Porter (who most of the boys plan to marry!).

...maybe what is inside the gift is nice or just a little bit naughty too!?

I hope my number is chosen by the random generator, 'cos all I want for Christmas is the Cosmo Cricket prize (and some nice smellies, and an ipod, and just a few other bits and bobs!).

I'm off to help at the school again - its Christmas lunch today!

Bye for now,

Sx

Pudding card:
All papers: Pink Petticoat
White sugar coated card & rub-on alphas: Doodlebug Designs
Bloom & button: Poppicrafts
Organza ribbon: Ribbon Oasis

Gift card:
All papers and black & white border: Pink Petticoat
Ribbon: Poppicrafts
Button: Doodlebug Designs
Wire & beads from craft shop.

Runner-up! ...and lots to say.

I had intended to mention this on Thursday, but somehow its now Saturday, and I'm not very sure how I lost the time - I was lovely and organised for Christmas, but now I'm in a bit of a spin about it!

Anyway, my good news: I am a runner up in this years Card Maker of the Year Competition, with the wonderful Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine! Hooray for me - I'm feeling quite proud of myself - but determined to be back next year to win it, so look out! The winner (Kath Stewart - you should check out her lovely designs) and all the runners up are in issue 53 of the magazine. The card of mine that was shown was called 'Party Girl'.

Believe it or not, this was the first time ever I forgot to take pics of my cards before sending them out. Two of the cards (the published one and one I called 'Us') were second incarnations so I have pics of my first attempts, but the third was completely new for the competition - complete with a little pic of my son on... Heed my bitter lesson, everyone!

This is the first incarnation of 'Party Girl' - the competition entry was even more girly (this original card was made as a commission for my brother again - hence less frills!). Forgive the rubbish pic, please! Do you like my home-made 'cocktail list' paper?

The next card was made for a friend to give to her sister for her 40th - I redesigned my competition entry to have 'Us' on the front. The sentiment at the bottom says: "Too much of a good thing can be wonderful". This is a Mae West quote and I love it!

I love the paper and '40' - all from The Shabby Shoppe 'Wild Love' kit. They are having a sale this weekend too...

As I said, there is no pic or forerunner of my last card, which again used papers from the Shabby Shoppe, and was scrapbook-ish and messy in a cute way (I thought!), but this was the picture of my son. The card was called 'Big Kiss' - you can guess why:

My boy just can't help being cute....

Enjoy your day.

Sx

Cocktail Card: Background paper made/ designed by me using MA Googly Bear font again!; Heart & dotty paper by Kay Miller Designs (Love Bug kit); Cocktail drink paper by Karen Foster Designs; Pink starry paper by Grazieli Niclass aka Lili of ScrapArtist.com (Once Upon a Time kit), Bloom from Poppicrafts, black card and free gem.

40th: Black background paper by Nancy Kubo, All other paper and alpha by The Shabby Princess, organza ribbon from Ribbon Oasis, Silk flower and button by Doodlebug Design, wire, beads and other elements from local craft shop. Quote by Mae West!

One for my brother

My brother is a very particular person - he does not like fussy cards or the obviously feminine. He wants cards that reflect his tastes. ...and I think I got it right with this card he commissioned - he paid me for it with a smile on his face, which is always a good sign!

I think its quite a 'clean' and simple card - and is a hybrid production of digital and physical embellishments.

I have some brilliant news to share with you tomorrow...

Sx

Blue paper and Alpha: Tara Dunstan Designs
Green background paper: lauraskathi
Circle frame: Debbie Fisher
Sequins and rub-ons: Doodlebug Designs
Seed beads, black pen

Sneaky peek... and some Fancy Pants

A quick sneaky peek at the latest cards I designed for the very lovely Michelle of Poppicrafts. She lets us indulge our imaginations and create whatever we want without restricting us to a theme - so I tried this time to avoid Christmas, though there is a wintry card amongst my 5. You'll be able to see my new cards in full very shortly in Poppicrafts gallery, but you should check it out regardless for the gorgeous work by the amazingly talented Debs, Dawny, Sarah, Tracie Jane and Hannah.

Did you see my previous creations for Poppicrafts?


... I am rather pleased with my ribbon bee in particular - I plan to redo him again with lighter Spring colours, so look out for him buzzing around again!

By the way Michelle is having a final sale before taking a break for Christmas - on some lovely Fancy Pants merchandise. Check out the mini kits, she has compiled which are a fab way of sampling lots of things at once! I'm trying the Rough & Tough kit 1 and Sweet & Pretty 2, so don't be too surprised at what elements some of my future cards include!

Got to go - we're off to see Father Christmas now!

Sx

This Thursday...its my turn!

This week its my turn to be guest designer for the challenge blog - the theme is 'Mistletoe & Wine'. I made two cards, the first is above, with a matching tag, and is my favourite ('cos it has lots of pink and lime!). It was nice and easy to make: each loop of the mistletoe is a separate piece of ribbon initially secured together with a glue dot and then with a sugar-coated white brad, which obviously acts as the berry and helpfully hid all the ribbon ends too!

The second reminds me of cosy evenings together, and is wine coloured with a lovely Pink Petticoat image coloured with watercolour pencils and a touch of chalks. I have added seed beads to represent bubbles and to add sparkle too (all stuck on with the amazing Diamond Glaze):

I hope you like my creations!

Sx

Mistletoe card & tag All paper:Corina Nelson Designs; White sugar-coated card (for frame & punched snowflakes) & brads: Doodlebug Designs; Ribbon: Poppicrafts; Pen: Sakura; Gems: Lakeland Ltd

...to us card All paper: Natalie Braxton; Image: Pink Petticoat; Ribbon: Poppicrafts; Rub-ons: Doodlebug Designs; Watercolour pencils: W H Smiths; Chalks: Dovecraft

Lime, pink & chocolate - yum!

Oh, I really didn't think I was going to make this challenge on time - I ran out of glue! Fortunately my husband saved the day (and his own sanity as I was most upset at this predicament as I'm sure you will appreciate), and here we are!

This is my chocolate, lime and pink challenge card for the lovely This Thursday...

I love these colours, and was determined to make a non-Christmas card with them, although paper for the 'cake' is from Funky Fairys wonderful kit 'A Chocolate Covered Christmas'.

Keep an eye out for the next challenge on This Thursday... and you might just notice some more of my work!

Sx

Cake paper: Funky Fairys

Background papers: Pink Petticoat

Ribbon, gorgeous brad and bloom: Poppicrafts

Beads and wire: Local craft store