A new team, two cards and warm water

Back again - finally! We had a lovely week away and then a manic week back home catching up - plus I started my few weeks of work at our son's school (covering medical leave). The pay isn't at all great - but it should help towards my embellishment addiction and maybe a little towards paying for the gym membership I've just taken out!

Let me catch you up with a card or two I've recently made:

There was a recent challenge to make a windmill card over at the Sweet Shoppe (complete with instructions by Andrea), and this was my take. I love the colours I chose - so girly and just right for my niece. I made the challenge extra fiddly for myself by having the bright idea (!) to make mini windmills, rather than one large one, but it has worked beautifully so I will be doing this again 'cos its such a nice idea.

I designed this next card to be a simple one to construct, after assembling all the digital elements in Photoshop and printing out:

I printed the lion banner twice, so that I could select certain areas to layer up (such as the lion's head and the balloons). Inking has yet again added definition, don't you think? As you can see, I printed the image a third time, but at a reduced size, for a quick tag.

All the papers and digi-elements from these cards are from kits by Heather Roselli - who has very kindly invited me to be part of her design team! A very big and excited toot, toot for me :)

I am hoping to make the lion and banner a give-away on Heather's team blog sometime in the near future. I'll let you know....

I can't begin to describe how happy (and constantly surprised!) I am at all the faith in my work shown by these incredibly talented people. Makes me feel very humble - thank you to them all again, and again...

I have definitely decided that 4 full time teams is my limit, especially with working (just a little) and the Summer holidays coming up, when crafting time will be rather limited and precious! ...but may be I can wrangle a guest spot in another team now and again. I live for the variety and challenge!

Have you investigated the digi-worlds of scrapping and creating yet? If not, you must!!! Imagine: unlimited access to papers and elements you love, with ideas for what ribbon/ buttons etc will coordinate with the kit. I know I'm part of the team over at Digiscrap Addicts, but honestly, even I am totally in awe of the scale of ideas, suggestions, friendship, coupons and freebies that are on offer there. All you do is register (FREE!), and you can access some beautiful kits and gallery inspiration - but don't forget to check out the general forums too - they are truly multinational and very welcoming :)

Be brave, stick your toe in - the water's fine, trust me!

I promise to be back soon!

Sx

Windmill card:

Made using 'Girls and Dolls' - Heather Roselli (here at Sweet Shoppe Designs)

Sugar coated brads and rub-on alpha - Doodlebug Designs

Dovecraft chalks

Grrreat birthday card:

Made using 'Life's a Circus' - Heather Roselli (here at Sweet Shoppe Designs)

Ricrac - Doodlebug Designs

Ranger Stickles glitter glue, ink, freebie stars

Poppicrafts and a Springy quiz

Hi! I made the above card for Poppicrafts - the last batch, not the one Michelle received this morning. I was really proud of the L, so here it a little closer:

I really like playing with craft wire. I just twirl it around a smooth-sided pen to make the loops and stretch or twist it into the final shape. But it can be a pain to fix in place, unless there is something to anchor it at both ends!

As I mentioned, Michelle received the box of bits and pieces I made this morning, and I can't wait to see them in the Poppicraft gallery. I haven't used so many blooms in my cards this time - at least not whole ones! ...and wait 'till you see how I've used the hinges from my favourite on-line crafty store!

I have another one of those free, daft and anonymous quizzes for you to try. Wouldn't you like to know 'What Part of Spring' you are? This is me:

You Are Chirping Birds

You are a very caring person. You especially feel for innocent beings, like animals and children. You are keyed in to the world and very peaceful. You believe that everyone is connected. You remain focused and in the moment. You are not easily distracted. You have a good memory, especially for things that you hear. You listen carefully.

What Part of Spring Are You?

I'm not sure my family would recognise this description of me - especially where it mentions me not being easily distracted, and as for the good memory - but things I need to remember leak out of my brain all the time (I really need to start using my Brain Training again).

It was my turn to add to the Girl Talk blog this week. My article is here if you'd like to see it - and is about gift tags and wrapping paper :)

We're going on holiday at the weekend, just for a week, to see family. I am having very guilty feelings about taking Alex out of school, but we haven't seen my family (particularly my Mum) since last August, and we all miss them. Soooo, no posts for a week - I'll be back after the 17th - but remember to check out the Sweet Shoppe this Saturday, as all new releases are 20% off, and I have a strange feeling that Dani may have something yummy in store....

Enjoy your week!

Sx

Green flowery paper: Pink Petticoat; Cloud paper: ‘Once Upon a Time’ by Lili & Emily Merritt; Blue sugar coated card: Doodlebug Designs; All other elements: Poppicrafts (including the Fancy Pants felt)

Good Evening! Its been such a lovely day today - and I haven't made the most of the sunshine 'cos I've been sale shopping on line. Today is National Scrappbooking Day in the US, and its a great excuse for lost of digi-shops and designers to have wonderful sales and give away nice things too.

If you are new to the digi-world, or want to sample it for yourself - today is the day to go looking - though most sales and celebrations are actually on all weekend. Digiscrap Addicts is a brilliant place to start your journey - join the 'blog train' and collect almost a dozen freebies and discover lots of different designers en route.

I spent lots in the Sweet Shoppe sale as usual - but there again I've been naughty all week: new printer, camera and a bind-it-all machine. Honestly, it was all in the sale and I did need it all (though maybe not the Bind-it-All... I just really wanted that). I think I have already had this year's birthday and Christmas presents :)

Did you see my article for Girl Talk? Well, I'm showing 2 of the cards from there now - the other, my favourite, I plan to rephoto as the original pic is just so grainy (hence new camera, as my current one is just so unpredicatble).

I love the sunflower card at the top: Quite simplyt print the same flower out twice, chalkt the edges and then layer on top of each other, gently easing the petal ends upwards. I measured my card blank first before printing the larger flower, so that it would fill the card and I think the border finishes it perfectly.

Here's the second - which is a printed out, snipped out, inked and layered card, but it would be really simple (and a lot less intensive!) to make it a purely digi-card, just remember to measure your card base first:

I added a gem for sparkle to the centre of the stylised flower - which you can equally do with a digi-card making it a little more special than simply a flat image.

On Tuesday, I will be posting a new package of cards and thingummys to Michelle at Poppicrafts - but I have had some trouble with a card I wanted to make. I know it will work eventually, but after two attempts I am going to leave it for another day. Thankfully I had a couple of alternate design ideas in reserve - but I am still determined to make my original plan work some how. I'm being a bit cryptic I know, but when it works, it'll look great - hopefully!

Finally, I'm doing another blog article for Girl Talk on Tuesday (still no thumbs up on the freebie I want to share, but I think Dani's planning a big release of lots of yummy new things soon), so hopefully I'll see you there (sort of!).

Enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend...

Sx

PS Anyone else re-reading the Twilight books?


All papers are from Dani Mogstad's 'Pop Goes the World' kit
Doodle borders adapted from Lauren Grier's 'Border Line'
Craft wire, Dovecraft chalks, ink, gem all from local craft store