Girl with balloons

Copics:
E000, E00, E21, R00, E50, E51, E53
R81, R83, R85, E04
B21, B23, B26, G000, G12, G14

Sorry I am late posting today, I'm not feeling 100% and haven't been taking my Bach Remedies so it's my own fault, plus it's so cold again! I get SAD in the winter months so should be getting outside to top up my vitamin D levels, only this winter it's been nigh on impossible - roll on Spring.

On my card today I've coloured up this little girl from a set of Kanban clear stamps, but don't you think she looks like the LOTV little lasses? To add a little extra interest I've doodled little white hearts onto the big gift she is sat on to pick up the hearts on the pink paper behind the image. I've taken inspiration for the layout from the sketch on the Stamp With Fun blog using various Cuddly Buddly digi papers, a Martha Stewart lacy punced edge and the white line and pricking faux stitches around the edges of the papers. Over on the Dutch Dare card challenge blog there's a recipe to create with 3 patterned papers, 3 flowers, 3 sparkly things and 1 ribbon. My 3 sparkly things are the Marianne diecut swirls covered with Eucalyptus Stickles, the blue sparkly organza ribbon and the heart that's got a stickled edge as well as the stamped text in a jade green pearlescent Brilliance ink. I didn't want to make a Valentine card, so have kept this simple so that it could be used for Mother's Day, a birthday or even for no specific reason other than to send to someone, with love.

Spring bunny hop!

Copics:
E50, E51, E53, E55, R00, E02
Y11, Y15, Y17, YG91, YG93, YG95
BG0000 shadow

I've dusted off my cute LOTV bunny hoping over the spring daffs to create a fresh spring card with the Sketch Saturday design for this week. The daffodil background digi papers are a mix from Cuddly Buddly with the white line and pricked faux stitches around the edge then matted with pale green cardstock. A MS punched border threaded with ribbon and embellished with gems sits alongside the image and to finish I punched and diecut the flowers from scraps and added 3 little gem hearts at the top. The challenge on the Everybody Art blog is for your favourite thing, well mine is the little gems - I use them all the time! The challenge on the Colour Create blog is to use lemon, green and white - perfect colours for spring, which so happens to be the theme at Moving Along With The Times.

WOW Flutterbies

I am so in two minds over this card .. .. I enjoyed making it and thought it had turned out ok, but my hubby says it's too busy, not colourful enough and boring! I suppose because I've not got a coloured image on it, just the stamped LOTV text, and that's stamped in London Fog Momento to keep the soft look I was aiming for. The only Copic pen I used was a touch of R00 on those tiny flowers in the border around the sentiment, and I tried adding a tiny weeny blob of pearl to the flower centres with my Waco Pearl Maker pen.

I was inspired by a lady demonstrating pricking techniques with brass stencils at the craft fair - the cards she had made were so beautiful with a touch of added sparkle and soft colours added here and there. Anyway, I knew I had a tin full of brass stencils at home so just got myself a new fine pricking tool and decided to have a play. My stencils aren't as swirly or as pretty as the ones she was using but I thought the technique might work with this one, it's still available at Cuddly Buddly here, and I even managed to emboss the edge and the hearts without using a light box. I've used a thick shimmery pearl paper, and also diecut a Marianne circle and Nestie blossom circle from it, made the little roses, punched the leaves and inked the edges and did the same with the tiny punched butterflies. The bigger butterflies are diecut from ordinary plain white card as I wanted them to be firm enough to keep the wings up. I've used my new Joy butterfly die set, the big butterfly and the small one, kept the dies in place to add the soft pink Versamagic chalk ink before spritzing with Pearl Glimmer Mist to keep things shimmery. To finish off I simply went mad with sticky pearls and snips of pearl string - so what do you think?

The card was made for the Flutterby Wednesday blog challenge for White on White, but I'm also entering it into the Anything Goes challenge for butterflies and Paperplay's challenge to layer it up!

Bunnies in Love!

Copics:
E50, E51, E53, R00, E02
G20, G21, B91, B93, B60, B63, BV13
B0000

I survived the craft fair at Westpoint yesterday, but my oh my do I ache today! It was a very cold day and my coat didn't come off once, and the poor stall holders were complaining about the cold so I hope it hasn't put them off from coming down to this part of the world. I must say, there weren't as many as at the autumn craft fair and I suspect the cold kept some of the visitors away as well. Anyway, I enjoyed myself and spent all the money I took to spend - but could have spent a lot more! There was a very friendly stall just inside the door with lots of punches, dies and stamps and good demonstrations too - I can't remember their name and they aren't on-line, but most of money got spent with them.

On this card I've used my new Nellie Snellen lacy heart die and teeny tiny butterfly punch and emboss set. My friend Wynneth got the next size butterfly up so we will be getting together for a punching session very soon! I've made this card for my son and dil's first wedding anniversary in March, this time last year I was frantically making favour boxes and decorating the place cards for the tables. The only anniversary text greeting stamp I have was too big for the front of the card, so I stamped it inside and found a silver rub-on for the front. The cute bunnies are LOTV, coloured with Copics and touches of baby blue Stickles, and the bling heart I got at the show from Add Some Sparkle - you could fill up a little tub with all kinds of blingy things for just £2, or get 3 tubs full for £5 - bargain! The background digi paper is from Cuddly Buddly with a row of faux pricked stitches around the edge and a piece of lavender blue ribbon tied around to embellish.

I found several challenges I can enter with my bunnies in love card: Daring Card Makers are celebrating the Chinese year of the rabbit, Charisma Cardz and A Spoonful of Sugar are looking for Valentine or Love themed projects, then Stampavie and More are looking for some love this week too!

CCT sketch

Copics:

E000, E00, E21, E02, E13, E33, E39
B21, B41, B23, B45
G02, G05, G07
W1, W3, W5, W7

This week on Cute Card Thursday our challenge is to create with the sketch designed by Lynn. Our sponsor for this challenge is Kraftin Kimmie Stamps. Fingers crossed you can see this card today as I've scheduled it to appear whilst I'm having fun at the Westpoint craft fair with my friends!

Those of you who regularly follow my blog will know that I don't go in for complicated sketches and lots of different patterned papers, so this was a bit of a challenge for me! As a starting point I had a rummage through my paper box and discovered these digi designs from Designer Digitals that come from the same set so the colours match. I cut out my layers then added a white line and pricked faux stitches around the edges, I then chose this cute image by Penny Johnson for Stampavie and coloured it to match before cutting out with a circle Nestie to fit the sketch. My green is a little brighter than the green on the flowery layer so I will have to add to my green Copic collection! It's a simple little card for my craft sale box so I just added the blue ribbon, a sprinkling of white pearls, a text greeting and punched 3 little stars from the dark burgundy card I used to mat my image. It should be thin enough to post at normal rates too - always an advantage!

The Allsorts challenge blog would like to see creations for men or boys this week so here's my card for them.

Walking in the clover

Copics
E30, E31, E34, E37
G12, G14, G17, G20
B60, B63, BV23
V12, V15, V17
Y00, Y13, Y15, Y17
R12, R14, R17, E08

I have another new Toby Tumbles to share with you today. This image is called 'walking in clover' and although detailed, was a delight to colour with my Copics. I cut out with a circle Nestie then left the die in place and inked around the image with Aloe Vera Versamagic chalk ink. The papers are also new and match the clover in the image, and in order not to cover them up too much I've simply added the white line and pricking faux stitches, matted with the clover pink card then finished with a lace border, corners and Marianne diecut flowers with white pearl centres.

Stampin' for the weekend's theme is getting warmed up - I think my Toby in the summer meadow fits the bill. The Stamp Something blog challenge is for something cute - Toby is certainly cute, and the Fab 'n' Funky challenge for this week is to delight in your digis! well Toby Tumbles digis are perfectly delightful!

Tomorrow I am going to the Westpoint craft fair with my friends, so if you are going to be there let me know and perhaps we can meet up in the café area at lunch time or for afternoon tea.

Magical Moments

Copics:
E000, E00, E21, E71, E74
B0000, B000, B00, BV01, BV02,
E0000, E40, E41

Our next challenge on the Oldie but a Goodie challenge blog is just magical - to create with a magical stamped image that is at least 6 months old. I have used one of my older LOTV fairy stamps and coloured her in with Copics, highlighting the wings with Stardust Stickles and the little dots on the gift with a Stardust pen. I've cut out the image with a fancy Nestie square then 3d mounted over my base. I've inked the edges of my patterned paper with pretty petunia Versamagic chalk ink then stickled before matting with lilac card. The circular text is from LOTV stamped with London Fog Momento for a softer look, then inked and stickled and 3d mounted. I've added soft lilac satin ribbon across diagonal corners as well as adding a bow, placed aqua gems in the opposite corners and gone a bit made with the floral embellishment. It's a mix of little roses coloured with Copics, various punched bits and pieces, AB bead strings and little AB beads. This is a really sparkly birthday card under the lights!

The For Fun challenge blog have been running a glitter everywhere challenge and the ABC challenge has been M for Magical - I'm just making it for both challenges with my fairy birthday card.

Mummy's Day

Copics:
E50, E51, E53, E55, R00
B60, B63, B0000, B000
G20, G21

At last I can show you one of the new Toby Tumbles just released over at Cuddly Buddly! This one is called 'Mummy's Day' and is so sweet. I printed it out just a shade greyer to give a softer feel, coloured with Copics then cut out with a circle Nestie and added Stardust Stickles around the edge. I've gone over the little printed starflowers on the heart with a purple Spica shimmer pen and also added the Mum and kisses to the envelope that baby is holding. The background paper is one of the new designs and I've also stickled around the edge before matting with lavender cardstock. To embellish I've used beautiful silk ribbon from Cuddly Buddly and tied a gorgeous bow with it too. Down the side I've used my new garden branch Marianne die, so pretty and delicate, then added the little flowers, punched Martha Stewart butterflies and diecut the Cuttlebug double heart.

The Fluterby Wednesday blog have an open theme this week and the Papertake Weekly challenge is for ribbon and pearls, perfect!

A letter for You

Copics:
E30, E31, E34, R00
E50, E51, E55, Y38
G000, G00, G02, G12, G14, G17
BV02, BV04, B29, B60, B0000, B000

Another simple little Toby Tumbles card to share with you today - this is the cute little puppy peeking out from behind the door, coloured with Copics and cut out with a circle Nestie. I've used the Blossom circle Nesties to cut out my mats and then 3d mount the image to the base. I've used two pieces of new digi papers coming out tomorrow from Cuddly Buddly, they are pretty pansy designs and coordinate beautifully with this image, don't you think? I've rounded the corners then added the white line and pricking stitches around the edges to keep the curvy look. To finish I've added a satin ribbon and bow in a matching lavender blue and stamped the little text greeting.

A Spoonful of Sugar have a blue and green challenge running, while over on the Our Creative Corner blog it's a 3 muskateers challenge, that means you use 3 colours next to each other on the colour wheel- mine are green, aqua and blue.

I've still not caught up with everyone that I missed while my pc was out of action, and I've been trying to make the most of the dry weather we have at the moment to tidy the garden, so I'm more outdoors than in. Whatever you are doing today, enjoy!

Thinking of You

Copics:
E50, E51, E53, E55, R00
B60, B63, R0000, R00, Y13, YR16, E08
G12, G14, G17, G20, G21

I have a tiny tease for you this morning .. .. although this cute Toby Tumbles image called Just Saying Hi! came out a while ago along with one of the daisy papers I've used, the horizontal daisy paper is new and will be released next week by Cuddly Buddly. There are some gorgeous new Toby Tumble images coming out along with more coordinating papers that will work beautifully with the already released spring designs.

I've coloured Toby with Copics and simply added the white line and pricking faux stitches around the edge of the printed papers then created a floral embellishment from bits of Marianne diecuts and stamped the Hero Arts text with lilac Brilliance ink.

Die Cut Dreams have been running a stamp and digi together challenge this week so I can enter my card with them. Top Tip Tuesday want to see a sentiment on the front of the card, and over on the Fab 'n' Funky challenge blog the theme is animal magic - perfect for Toby Tumbles.

Enjoy your weekend, and come back soon for more Toby Tumbles new releases!

Wedding Day

Copics:
E000, E00, E21, E71, E74, YR31, E51
C1, C3, C5, C7
ROOOO, ROO, R20, R21

I'm back! I woke up on Wednesday morning, switched on my computer and nothing happened! After a period in intensive care it's back with me but I'm told needs quite a bit more doing to speed things up and work properly again. But for now it will have to do and fingers crossed will stay with me a while longer. Anyway, back to my CAS (clean and simple) card that I made for several challenges, some are still running so I'll link up to them below. The image is one of the new stamps from Lili of the Valley coloured with Copics plus a little frosted lace Stickles on the edge of her veil and the little hearts. I've layered up some white pearl paper and also used it to cut out my Marianne die floral embellishment. I couldn't find a text that would work (will have to look out for wedding texts) so just added white pearls in the top corner instead.

Onto the challenges: The Secret Crafter Saturday theme for this past week has been 'With Love', Sketchy Colors theme has been for white, Cupcake Crafts have a wedding theme, and Totally Papercrafts from today is to add a heart - I've got a heart embossed layer so hope that will suffice. And fabulous news - I won the last Totally Papercrafts challenge!

I have lots of catching up to do now .. .. in between trying to catch a little of the craft day on QVC and typing letters for hubby .. .. so I had best be getting on!

Birthday Fairy

Copics:

skin tones and hair: E000, E00, E21, E71, E74, E77, E41
teddy: E43, E44, E47, E49
pinks: RV10, RV11, RV000, RV21, RV23, RV25, RV29
greenish yellow: Y00, YG00, YG21

I rummaged through my Basic Grey stash of patterned papers again to create this colourful card with my new Birthday Fairy LOTV stamp. She's coloured with Copics then a little Stardust Stickles added for sparkle - a fairy has gotta have sparkle! I found dark brown cardstock for matting and the bright pink gross grain ribbon was a gift from Secret Santa. I treated myself to the pink gem hearts on Saturday and added quite a few to this card, well a girl has to have bling too!

There's several challenges I can enter with this little fairy birthday card: First, Lili of the Valley are looking for things with wings, then I used the sketch on the Fussy and Fancy Friday challenge for the layout. Stamp Something challenge blog have an anything goes theme this week, Paperplay's theme is Cutie Patootie, and Totally Papercrafts have a Happy Birthday theme. That's enough for now, I've gotta get back to inking and colouring the other new LOTV stamps that happened to arrive with this one .. .. ..

Dream Catcher

Copics:

hair and skin tones: EOOO, EOO, E21, E71, E74, E77
wings and dress: B000, BOO, B02, BV01, BV02, B60, E0000

Yesterday I went along to my local art and craft shop with my friends and by the time I got home after a delicious lunch then got around to putting the finishing touches to this card the light had gone. So, I've snapped the picture under my work light which really shows off the sparkle! The image is a digi download from Sugar Nellie, coloured with Copics of course, then I inked the background with Sea Breeze Versamagic chalk ink, but that didn't look right so I went over it with Pretty Petunia before adding the Stardust Stickles. I've used the sketch from the Flutterby Wednesday challenge blog but turned it sideways with paper from my stash that I've also inked and stickled. The text is by Lily of the Valley stamped with London Fog Momento as I wanted a soft look, then inked and stickled too! To embellish I've punched out hydrangea flowers, butterflies and little oak leaves finishing them off with the Waco crystal pearl maker pen from Cuddly Buddly. Moving Along With The Times challenge is 'Dreams' so I'm entering my little dream catcher with them too.

Daisy Dreams

Copics:

skin: E000, E00, E21 - hair: E31, E33, E35, E37
pinks: RV00, RV21, RV23, RV25
greens: YG21, YG23, YG25, YG97

This is 'Daisy', one of Elisabeth Bell's Sweet Art Ebony images I got from Sugar Nellie several years ago. In my quest to use up the mountain of stash in my craft room, I've dug out a box of Basic Grey dps - not colours I would usually choose, which is why the papers are stuck in the box! After colouring in my image with Copics I inked the background with Pumice Stone Distress Ink, but that didn't look quite right so I added a touch of Spun Sugar, then just on the edge a little Walnut Stain before adding Crystal Stickles and matting with plain pink card. I've also inked the edges of the dps and the punched elements with Walnut Stain to tie things together. For the centres of the flowers, the bodies of the butterflies and the little pearl accents I've used Petal Pink Liquid Pearls. I stamped the Hero Arts 'Thank You' sentiment straight onto the dp with Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance ink. The punches I used were Martha Stewart branch, butterfly, Hydrangea flowers large and small as well as X-cut punch and embossed beech leaves.

Both A Spoonful of Sugar and Crafty Catz challenges are asking for Thank You projects this week so I'll enter this card with them.

It started with a kiss!

Copics
skin: E000, E00, E21, R00
hair: E30, E31, E33, E35
hats: E31, E34, E35
clothes: B91, B93, B95, RV91, RV93, RV95, E40, E41, E42
shadow: E40, E41

I have another loved up Sarah Kay card to share with you today. This is 'first kiss' and makes a perfect girly Valentine, don't you think? I've kept things simple this time and made sure the embellishments wouldn't add to the cost of posting, even though I've 3d mounted the image it should be ok for the regular rate. The paper is from the Rose Cottage digi collection by Cuddly Buddly and again I've done the white line and pricking faux stitiching around the edge before matting with pale lilac card from my stash. For a bit of added interest I've added a horizontal band of the plain cardstock with Martha Stewart punched edges and a strip of the patterned paper. The text is from Cuddly Buddly stamped in orchid pink Brilliance ink. To embellish I diecut a Cuttlebug double heart, punched out MS hydrangea flowers and added pearl centres with my white pearl maker pen.

Totally Gorjuss blog have a sketch which I've sort of followed, so hope they will accept my card for their challenge. Dutch Dare card challenges are now going to be weekly and the next one is for stitching, and faux is ok thank goodness!

It's a girl!

Copics:
E000, E00, R00, R81, R83, R85, RV000, E40, E41

This week on the Cute Card Thursday blog our challenge is to create with just one main colour - I've gone with shades of pink fading into white. Our sponsor is Simon Says Stamps - please see the CCT blog for details.

I've stamped up this cute LOTV baby then coloured in with Copics before cutting out with Nesties. I cut a scallop mat from bright pink card and a pretty white Marianne doily from white card to pop in behind. The bright pink paper is from the Miss Daisy digi collection at Cuddly Buddly and I've done the white line and pricking faux stitches around the edge. To embellish I stamped an Elusive Images text with orchid pink Brilliance ink, tied a bow with white organza ribbon, punched hearts and flowers, and diecut stamens and little sprays. The little pearls are made with my white pearl maker pen.

Crafty Creations challenge is for New Beginnings while over on the Paper Sundaes blog they would like to see circles (and their prize is from LOTV), so I'm entering this card with both of them.

Love grows

Copics
skin: E000, E00, E21, R00
hair: E30, E31, E33, E35 (her), E71, E74 (him)
hats: E31, E34, E35
clothes: B91, B93, B95, RV91, RV93, RV95, E40, E41, E42
shadow: E40, E41

This Sarah Kay image is called "a kiss for Chloe" by Stampavie and after stamping I've coloured with Copics, then inked the edges with lavender Distress ink, stamped a swirl with the same ink then edged with Silver Stickles. The paper from Cuddly Buddly has also been inked and stickled and I've matted with some pale lavender cardstock from my stash. The little flowers I punched out at my friend Wynneth's - love that punch! I've added lace, ribbon, punched leaves from silver and pearl cardstock, a heart charm and gems to finish things off.

Stampavie and More challenge blog have a sparkly glittery theme this week so I'm entering my card with them. Stamping Vacation have a Home Sweet Home with a romantic style challenge running until the 13th February. After reading about the style, I decided to enter my card.

Bright and Beautiful!

Copics
mouse: E40, E41, E42, R20
cup: B60, B63, BV23
flowers: R81, R88, R85, RV29
Y13, Y15, Y17, G12, G14, G17

Now when I read that Lisa Jane had chosen bright and cheery as the theme for our challenge on the Oldie but a Goodie blog, the song "All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small" started playing in my head! I've had this cute mouse in a teacup stamp from Stampavie for almost a year, and this is the first time I've inked it up and made a card. After colouring with Copics I cut out the image and added an embossed line around the edge with the aid of a ball tool and a square Nestie. The papers are from the Little Miss Daisy digi collection over at Cuddly Buddly and I drew a white line around the edges with a pen then pricked faux stitches. To embellish I've punched 3 little Martha Stewart butterflies from bright pink card stock then added lavender organza ribbon and pearls from my stash.

For this challenge we are being sponsored by Shopbron, but please remember if you are going to join in with the Oldie but a Goodie blog challenge you have to use a STAMPED IMAGE (sorry no digis) and it must be at least 6 months since the stamp came onto the craft market.

Just one challenge I found to link up my card - over on the Top Tip Tuesday blog it's anything goes! No new tips this time around. But, just in case you want to know again - my faux stitches are made by drawing on a white line with a gel pen then adding pricked stitches. And, when cutting out a rectangular or square image give it the Nestie look by using a ball tool and any size of square or rectangular Nestie to give you the edge by moving your image around the frame until you have embossed all around.

Hey I found another challenge on the Stamping Vacation challenge site - animal applause runs until 15 January and you must include something with an antennae .. .. hope my little ladybug will count!

Sweet Baby Toby Tumble

Copics:
baby Toby: E30, E31, E34, R00
teddy: E35, E37
roses: R00, R32, R35, G20, G21, G24
heart cushion: R00, R32, E000, E40
booties, pillow, gown: E0000, E000, E40, E30
shadow: B60

I've been making this card for days, no weeks! It's the digi sweet baby Toby Tumble from Cuddly Buddly coloured with my Copics then cut out, matted with a warm pink cardstock then 3d mounted onto the card. The patterned paper behind is also from the Toby Tumble collection but I printed it out in a paler shade before adding a white line and pricking faux stitches. A strip of Martha Stewart punched border, a scrap of lace and a piece of the dp printed out in the full colour add the horizontal layer. I've added a Cuddly Buddly text stamped with Brilliance pearl ink and stamped the little rattle then coloured it in before cutting out and 3d fixing it to the card. The smaller roses are coloured with Copics to match then I've punched leaves and fronds to create the flower embellishment then finished off with pearls and pearl snips.

Cupcake Craft are looking for something new this week - well the card is for a new baby and the digi image is new. Creative Card Crew's theme has been new beginnings while One Stop Craft's theme is to create a card for a child.

Tim Holtz and Alcohol at Cuddly Buddly!

Good Morning! I have been up since 5am with back ache, urgh! I put it down to carrying a heavy craft bag to a craft crop on Saturday - and now I know why all the other ladies had bags on wheels! Anyway, I have been sipping a cuppa and catching up with what's been happening in blog land over the weekend, and if you were wondering about the title of this post, it refers to Ranger's Adirondack Alcohol inks and the new refillable ink pen. Kim has put a couple of You Tube links up on the Cuddly Buddly blog showing how to fill the pens and ways to use them. And if you want to get one of those pens they are in the Cuddly Buddly shop here, and the inks are here. You can also get new nibs and tons of other bits and pieces too. I particularly liked the second clip showing how you can just have one pen full of blending solution and a palette of dry alcohol inks to create gorgeous coloured effects on glossy cardstock. So, if you already have some of the little alcohol ink bottles in the gorgeous Adirondack colours, why not get a pen and have a play!

I hope to back a little later with a card - once I wake up and put it all together! Enjoy your day.

A Little TLC

Copics:
skin tones: E000, E00, E21, E02 - hair: E30, E31, YR34, E34
teddy bear: E31, E33, E35, E37
pinks: RV21, RV23 - greens: G40, G82
chair: YR31, YR23
shadow: E40

Today I have one of my Cuddly Buddly creations to share with you. This is the digi image called A Stitch in Time, coloured with Copics. The background paper is from the Rose Cottage collection and I inked the edges of both the image and the paper with Spun Sugar Distress ink. But, it has lost it's pink colour and gone more tan since I made the card .. .. has this happened to you? I've edged with Stardust Stickles as well and matted with pink cardstock so that should keep things bright and cheerful. For embellishment I've punched a strip of Martha Stewart doily lace, added pale green satin ribbon and Marianne diecut flowers with little gem star centres. The text is from a clear Kanban set I have in my stash stamped with London Fog Momento ink rather than my usual black as I wanted to keep the soft girly feel to the card.

The Winter Wonderland blog is allowing non-Christmas creations for the first few challenges of the year, and the current one is 'going dotty'. As I have dotty patterned paper I'm entering my card in their challenge.

Out with the old!

Copics
puppy: E40, E71, E74
kitten: E30, E31, E33, R20
hearts: R32, R35

This week on Cute Card Thursday our challenge title is 'Out with the Old' - we want you to use some of your old stash before getting in with the new! Our sponsor for this challenge is Stamp Shoppe Creations, please see the CCT blog for details.

I've inked up one of my older Penny Johnson for Stampavie stamps and coloured the cuties with Copics - and forgot to do a shadow to anchor the image so I will have to go back and do that, I'm still getting back into the swing of crafting again! The papers are old ones from a magazine, and the flower is an old Magnolia stamp I inked up 3 times so I could add some dimension to it after colouring and cutting out the layers. The little red hearts are from my stash, and apologies if you can see the glue - I had to take the picture before it was dry and the daylight was fast disappearing, not that we had much of it yesterday. The ribbon and button are also from my stash and I've just added a little punched heart border and white stitches to finish things off.

As my card isn't totally finished, I'm not going to link it up with any other challenges. If I remember I'll take another picture to replace this one, once I've added my shadows!

Jolly Holly!

I'm back with a card to share with you after a blogging and crafting break. Well I had to take down the decs and clean the house, return some clothes to the shop as they were to small - hubby thinks I'm skinny! and then last night my grandson was rushed into hospital. He's going to be ok, just a febrile convulsion although when he stopped breathing and turned blue his parents really panicked! His elder brother get's them too and his Mum did as a child, so it looks like they both have inherited the condition from her, but should grow out of it. This morning he is back home none the worse for wear, then I had to pop along for my mammogram and a delicious coffee and danish with MIL afterwards.

So I have been busy - but not too busy to colour in this cute image - a Stampavie stamp by Penny Johnson I got on sale from Bunny Zoe's store. I'm sorry I don't have the Copic pen colours for you, it's been a work in progress for several days in between doing all those other little things. I have reluctantly had to leave the ABC Christmas challenge blog design team, not that I didn't enjoy being on the team, but I have collapsed vertebrae in my neck and the amount of time it takes to leave comments on the entries was causing me some problems. I got medical retirement from my secretarial job because of it and recently the extra time spent at the computer has reminded me how painful things can become. So now I am back to joining in with them as a player - and for the first challenge of 2011 it's A for anything goes! My papers are from the local craft store bargain bucket and the little buttons just finish things off so I can enter the card with the For Fun blog challenge to use 3dps, 2 buttons or brads and 1 image. My crafting resolution for this year is to use up the stash - isn't it always! but also to try and keep the embellishments to a minimum so the postage doesn't cost so much next year. I'm hoping that the little buttons will squeeze in under the 5mm rule.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll be around to catch up with my blogging buddies asap!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I am in slow mo today, not because I was up partying last night, but just because .. .. so that's a great start to a new year! To rid myself of the blahs, I decided to join Debby again and share my favourite 5 makes from the past year - and it's been a hard job to narrow things down.
My first choice is one of my recent creations with the Toby Tumble images new to Cuddly Buddly. These are just adorable and have converted me to digital images, but you can also get them in rubber. This cute image is going to be coloured in again very soon as it's perfect for Valentine and Mother's Day cards.

My second choice is one of Gillian Roberts cute designs for Stampavie - these are probably the best clear stamps on the market, at least in my opinion. I reluctantly had to step down from several of my DT positions recently due to ill health, including Teddy Stampers, but I will still be joining them from time to time as I have quite a collection of teddy bear stamps now. Although I love the little roses on this card, I am going to make an effort this year to create cards that will go through the post a little easier, especially as I am hoping to share a table at a couple more craft fairs in 2011 and people want cards they can pop in the 'normal' post.

My third choice is another clear Stampavie design - Sarah Kay of course! This one I started to colour with Promarkers before moving over to Copics with the fine brush tip which I love as it's so much easier to do fine details. Again, lovin' the flowers and I've started to use the Marianne diecuts that I found over at Cuddly Buddly - this is my favourite swirl of the year.

I also got into making simple projects this year and made several post-it pad covers and mini pizza boxes. My local craft store asked me to do a workshop and this is a variation of the pizza box I made for them using stamps and paper they stock. Again, the flowers .. .. and the pearls and the Stardust Stickles that I really got in to using later in the year.

I had to have a Lili of the Valley creation in my top 5, but choosing one was hard. In the end I settled for this easel card as 2010 certainly was the year of the easel - they popped up everywhere in blog land! Not the easiest to photograph, this was one of my early cards before I got new flower and border punches in my collection and started to embellish things a bit more.

Remember when I posted my 5 favourite Christmas cards I asked for your favourite 5 things to add to your card - well 3 ladies answered: Paula, Marion, and Kat. Thank you ladies, I have a little something in mind to send you in the next few weeks .. ..

Well, it's done the trick - I am now in the mood to get creating again! Wishing you all a Very Happy and Peaceful New Year and I look forward to continuing our friendship in 2011.