Getting Organised!

I am determined not to get caught out by Father's Day again this year!

Every year I put off making these cards until the last minute and every year I make a promise to myself that I won't get caught out again.

So here is my first design.

Sorry if I have confused you into thinking that I have lots of Dad's ... I don't ... but I do get a lot of orders for Charity cards ...

This is my first ever Edwin stamp from Magnolia and the paper is from the Basic Grey Periphery collection.

I made the 'Hats Off" topper on my computer and I found the ickle top hat charm in my stash.

Too Pink? Too Girly?

Indeed! Is there such a thing?

The jury is still out on that one for me! I was asked for a pink and girly card for a friend's sister and this is what I came up with!

The card was also designed to fit in with this week's Penny Black challenge which is buttons.

No prizes for guessing then that the stamp is indeed Penny Black! The stamped image and the cotton was coloured using Pro Markers [colouring cotton is a neat little trick and saves you a fortune on coloured cottons] The paper is from the Basic Grey 'Sultry' range.

I hope you are enjoying your Bank Holiday weekends - whatever you are doing!

I am on a Roll!

Don't stop me! I am definitely on a roll now!

Look! Another boy card! I had totally forgotten that Messy Rabbit plays football too ... well Messy Rabbit as a ballerina was just sooooo cute and she looked good in pink!

Cute Card Thursday wanted letters or numbers this week ... so I have gone with the number 6 ... and I got another boy card made to boot ... gettit??? Football??? Boot??? Ok ... Maybe not!

The lovely paper is from the new Paper Artsy range and I have coloured Joanna Sheen's cute little rabbit with Pro Markers!

Don't look too closely at the silver cup ... I embossed on silver card and could n't cut it out quite close enough for my liking without cracking the embossed line...

Have a good  evening!

I know what I said ... But ...

I know, I know ... I said I was going to sort all my rubber stamps out and get rid of the ones I never use before I got anymore but ...

I just had to have this little beauty! It is called Right Accessories and it is from Stamps Happen Inc.,/Janlynn!

Still ... if I clear out some of my other stamps this  one will fit in ... no problem! Please note I did say "If".

Right that is enough rambling from me! This card was made for this week's Sketch and Stash Challenge which was based on this fab sketch!

As part of the challenge you also have to state what new or unused stash you have included in your card! See ... I definitely needed that rubber stamp to qualify for the challenge and if you look closely the shoe brad has been knocking about in my craft box for yonks, so long in fact I can't even remember where I got it ... quite possibly a ScrapaGoGo kit last year!

Right ... I am off to play with some more ... erm ... new stamps ... Don't look like that! ... when was the last time you only bought the one???

Full Steam Ahead!

I dread the men in my life having a birthday! Why can't they like butterflies and fluffy things like the rest of us?

OH's Dad's Birthday tomorrow and I have been building up to making him a card since the start of the month!

Luckily, in the nick of time, The Basic Grey Challenge came to the rescue with a fab sketch!

I should n't moan ... I managed to use another  stamp out of my drawer ... this one is the Steam engine and is from Fun Stamps.

The paper's are Basic Grey :0)) All are from the Periphery range 6 X 6 pad and my male take on an embellishment is made from Bazzill, Grunge Paper and one of T!m's coggy wheely thingies!

I must go ... I am definitely running out of steam ... should have been out 10 minutes ago and I am not even ready ... Oops!

See Ya's!

One Card; Two Challenges!

I don't often combine cards on challenges ... but this one has been such a trial ... I kind of thought ... Oh what the heck!

I started this card yesterday for the Cute Card Thursday Challenge which is "Happy Mail"

I say I started it because colouring in Tilda and deciding on the "Happy Mail" message ... that's as far as I got ... and then I got side tracked with the clock ... as you do! You do too??? ... Right???

Anyways, the elements were on my desk this morning when the Just magnolia challenge was set ... the theme this week being "in stitches"!

Now this is the 4th week of that challenge and every week so far I have promised myself I would enter ... and then got side tracked!

So I added the back ground to the Tilda and a few faux stitches ... a tag and a few blossoms and voila ... a card that took flippin' ages to make :0)) but fits TWO challenges!!!

You are My Sunshine!

The theme over on the Thank God it's Friday blog is childhood!

It has been ages since I have had T!m Holtz's Little Darling out and she is just perfect for this challenge and soooooo cute!

The swirls are from the Stitchel's Nature Range and the sunflower has been laying around in my stash since time began ... at least!

I still get a kick out of using my talking Dymo gun ... especially when it says "ouch"

Have a good weekend people!

100% Grunge!

This little clock started life as a CD!

No, not a stolen one :0)) I paid good money for it :0)) If you have no clue what I am talking about ... it is probably best if you click here!

The CD is entirely decorated using grunge paper and boy ... Do I love it? I was amazed at how robust it is ... seeings as

"T!m, the crafting god" calls it paper ... it is sooooooo strong and flexible ... really good stuff!

I coloured the grunge paper with Distress inks in Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed and Shabby Shutters. I then stamped and cut out the Dawn Bibby Designs leaf and fab little flower from Rhonna Farrer.

Everything was stuck together with Ranger Glossy accents and here it is .... it is called "Spring Forward" as I plan to make another three for each season ... plus the fact it was going to be my entry for a "Spring" competition ... but I realised this morning I had left it too late to apply - Hey Ho!

Time is flying ... Moscow!

A Mermaid's Reflection!

Technically this spoon could be classed as stolen goods!Please don't tell John! The kitchen in our house is his domain and because he does all the cooking and cleaning and the shopping ... well ... it would be sheer madness to argue! John is a tad obsessive compulsive about the kitchen and the contents ... I once borrowed a wooden spoon to alter and before I had got up to my craft room ... he had noticed it's absence! Needless to say I returned it unaltered when his back was turned!

Well today the challenge on the Wednesday Stamper is spoons and ... after a night shift John is in bed! So I have sneaked one of his twelve soup spoons to alter! We can only get 10 people round our dining table anyway ... perhaps I should go back for another one :0))

Yes I could have gone to the supermarket and bought a cheap one ... but then I would have to do my hair and put some make up on and ... what a palaver!

I alcohol inked the spoon first and then added my stamped image ... I wanted to create a spoon that looked like it had been under water and had a mermaid's reflection in it ... hence all the weed and the dew drops!

I am not sure I am entirely happy with the result ... but I can't just bin it ... John puts the rubbish out too :0))

More Sneaky Peeks!

You will be forgiven for thinking this is an ATC!

That is because it is!

The Circle journal I am part of on UKScrappers involved making an ATC as a signing off card ... which I think is a fab idea ... the theme is strictly vintage

I used the papers and lace etc., that I used on my lay out to make it and just added a doo dad and a Paper Bag Studio stamp to finish it!

I don't like to show the whole CJ entry on my blog as I feel this may spoil the surprise for the recipient ... but I do like to blog my progress so here are a few sneaky peeks.

I used grunge board to make the initials and painted and embossed then in gold. The frames were made with stamps from Paper Bag Studios.

As with all my entries I have added some Stitchels flowers. I make them using metal foil and Claudine Hellmuth's sticky backed canvas coloured with Vintage photo distress inks from Ranger.

I have had lots of emails asking about these flowers so I will try and make a tutorial ... I say try because I have never actually done one before :0))

This entry was only posted today ... a little bit late due to the Bank Holiday weekend .... I am looking forward to receiving next month's project any day now!

Don't Panic!

Mr Daniel Torrente's design has a place for life in my stamping drawer ... he will never have to find himself a new home during a clear out!

This card may look somewhat familiar ... that is because it is an old design ... I have just remade it in different colours.

I love all things cup cake at the moment so it only seems right that I should take part in this weeks Cup Cake Challenge. The theme is numbers ... so my card for a 14 year old chappie fits the bill!

The paper is from the Rock Star stack ... but don't tell Cass because it may spoil her day ... when she finds out I had to cut it! The image is coloured with Pro Markers, of course!

I am not sure what happened to the weather today! It's raining here ... not Bank Holiday weather at all!

I hope the sun is shining wherever you are and that you enjoy the rest of your Monday!

The Sunday Stamper!

This week's theme over on the Sunday Stamper is Birthday! So I have been really original and made ... erm ... a Birthday card :0))

I am planning on a BIG craft room clear out and  have decided to begin with my drawers full of wood mounted stamps!

The goal is to work my way through the stamps and if I cannot make a card or think of a use for them ... well they are out!!!!

So ... I am really pleased to announce ... this little beauty from Stamps Happen Inc. is most definitely staying!

The backing paper is La Creme from DCWV and I have added some decorated hat pins, flowers and copious amounts of crystal gems to bling it all up a bit!

The stamped image is coloured using Pro Markers!

Have a good week peeps!