365 Cards Day 136

Hello Tweeties !!

First I would just like to thank all the people who have given me such good wishes for my interviews tomorrow. It really is a boost after the sheer amount of things we've had thrown our way recently. If you all keep your fingers crossed maybe, just maybe I might get a job offer tomorrow. I mean, I haven't bought anything crafty since the end of March. A girl's got needs you know !

Seriously though, thank you very, very much, it means a lot to me to get such support from you, my crafty friends. Big hugs and kisses to each and every one of you xxx

What's Black and White and red allover?

My cutie little card that's what! That was today's challenge at 365 cards and I have incorporated the following challenges into this card :-

• 365 Cards Day 136 - Colours of Red, Black & White
• 2 Sketches 4 You - Laura's Sketch #30 for the layout
• My Time to Craft #69 - A bird in the hand
• Crafty Creations #23 - Birds
• Get Creative With Ann #49 - Spread your wings and fly

The black and white paper is from Clare Curd's 'The Big One' from Papermania, the red spotty is a very old one from HOTP. It came in the very 1st pack of anything I bought from the USA on Ebay in about 2003 !!!

The black scalloped strip on the side was handcut using a Fiskars shapecutter template. I had no chance doing it THAT neatly with the shapecutter so drew it with a pencil and used my trust small pair of Fiskars scissors. I sandwiched it between the card blank and the paper. I used my Martha Stewart punch on the HOTP paper and there is a velvet ribbon in the centre to add some luscious texture. The birdy is a digital freebie that I have used loads and loads and there is a link in one of my earlier posts. I matted this on a cardstock circle and used my nesties to cut a scalloped one. This is edged with a bit of black inkpad and mounted on 3d foam pads. Last but not least the sentiment was made on the computer, matted on black card and raised with foam.

365 Cards Day 135, GCA 49, TPE 23, CCC 48 & Paper Blooms, ABC

I've had a pretty good day today. It started off with me applying for jobs on the tinterweb and I've managed to get 2 interviews for Wednesday afternoon. One is for a job that I would really like so I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one. he doctor is really pleased with my BP and I don't have to see him now for 2 months and I've managed to keep up with the 365 Cards challenges this week, that's much better than of late.

After all the rotten luck we have had lately it would be nice to see the tide turning for a bit.

• So this little beauty was made primarily for today's challenge at 365 Cards and incorportate the following challenges :-

• 365 Cards Day 135 - Create a window on your card using see through material
• Get Creative with Ann #49 - Spread your wings & fly
• The Pink Elephant#23 - Red, Light Blue and a darker blue
• Cupcake Craft Challenges #48 - Blossoms & butterflies
• Paper Blooms - make a shaped card
• ABC Challenge - W is for Window

The base card was cut using a free flower template that I got off the Inspire Me website. I cut a window from it to fit the size of the message die cut (can't remember where that came from but thik it may have been a QVC kit) I used my Nestabilities to cut a frame, an acetate window and another frame to sandwich it inside. The card base has been covered with a spotty paper from Clare Curds 'The Big One' from Papermania.

I added a tiny gem to the inside of the card as the flower centre on the die cut. The butterflies are textured cardstock stickers by Papermania. There was a lot of handcutting on this card but I'm pleased with how it turned out. Sorry for the shadows on the photo, I had to take it very late tonight and need to go beddy bies now.

365 Cards Day 103, Stampin Chic, Spoonful of Sugar, Flutterby Wednesday & If The Shoe Fits

Now this is a bit more like me combining challenges into one card. I almost had withdrawal symptoms with only one challenge in my last post!

This card combines the following 5 challenges:-

• 365 Cards Day 103 - A recipe 4.25 x 5.5'' card, solid background, 2 patterned papers, stamped sentiment and 3 gems.
• Stampin Chic - Sketch for layout
• Spoonful of Sugar - #45 Butterflies
• Flutterby Wednesday - #61 Use ANY sketch and butterflies or fairies
• If the Shoe Fits - Colour Challenge Blue, Green & Yellow

The base card was cut to the correct size and I ran it through the swiss dots cuttlebug folder. I inked arounf the edges a little a it looked too stark. The green paper was a scrap in my offcuts box. The butterfly is from a sheet of paper in Clare Curd's Signature Range 'The Big One' by Papermania. I used the colours of blue, green & yellow from the colour challenge. The gems were added to the green paper in yellow to add a little more of that colour.

The stamped sentiment finishes the card off. I wasn't sure how well it would come out stamping on the embossed background but I think it's come out alright.

365 Cards Day 99 & Pile it On

At 365 Cards today it is Super Sketchy Sunday as usual but today Jeannie who is a regular on the blog is offering a fabby prize for reaching 10,000 hits on her blog. The only condition is that you include a dragonfly on your card.

Today is the 1st challenge on Pile It On and you are to include a sentiment on your card, but it is NOT to be stamped.

The dream paper is HOTP, the mettallic flower circles are cut from wrapping paper and the glitter paper is wrapping paper too. The sentiment is a Papermania rub on which was applied to a HOTP label. A little bit of bling has been added courtesy of Paperchase.

The pi'ece de resistance however is my beaded dragonfly made by little old me with assorted beads, a bit of wire and some wings that were stamped from the bottom part of a butterflies wings from a set by Clare Curd & Papermania. I stamped each one individually and offset them. It is the first time I have made one and I love how it turned out.

Thanks very much Jeannie for the chance to win some new goodies and also for inspiring me to try a new technique.

It's Day 100 at 365 Cards tomorrow, can't believe it has gone so quickly. I haven't been able to keep up with all the challenges but the 26 that I have missed I am slowly working my way through and fully intend to complete them all.

365 Cards, Spoonful of Sugar, Charisma, DCM & TPE

Isn't it great when you start off with an idea for a card and it just grows, and fulfils 4 challenges at the same time ??

This morning I was going through a box of embellishments and found an unopened packet of brown embellishments from Jolees. I put it to one side as I wanted to use the buttons to go with the latest sketch for challenge 54 at A Spoonful of Sugar.

Charisma Cardz has a new challenge today to use the colours brown and pink. An older challenge on 365 Cards for Day 90 was to use only 2 colours on your card (stamped images could be in black ink on white card) and then to top it all off Daring Card Makers has a challenge to use 5 of one item.

The bottom swirly paper is an offcut from a freebie magazine paper, the top pink one is from the Two Scoops pack by Basic Grey. The chocolate swirly paper is from Craftwork Cards and was a gift from my very good friend Sarn.

The stamped image is from Clare Curd's Signature Range by Papermania. I have coloured it in with Marvy Le Plume pens. It was matted ontoa scrap of chocolate brown cardstock. The sentiment is from Let's Make Cards. The ribbons and buttons were from the Jolees pack, the checked ones are fabric with a clear button on top and they were all threaded and had 3d foam already to go. I have an idea that I got them from a clearout on Ebay but can't for the life of me tell you how long I have had them. Isn't it great when you fall in love with old stash? :)

08/06 I have just entered this card in for The Pink Elephant colour challenge of Pink Brown & White. I hope it is allowed as I made it only a few days earlier. I've never backlinked a card before but as it is the EXACT colours and wasmade so recently I hope it will be allowed.

365 Cards Day 94 & Paperminutes # 65

OMG, another green card from me, will wonders never cease? I really like how this one has turned out too....am I converting to green???

This card was made for Day 94's challenge at 365 Cards. You had to make a card inspired by images from an advertisement. It was for a wedding, using colours green balck and white and had damask designs in it.

I have used this weeks sketch # 65 from Paperminutes. It is a really simple layout which has enabled the papers and elements to stand out.

The green paper and ribbon are from HOTP. The black and white paper is from Clare Curds Signature Range by Papermania. The scrolly frame is from a wedding pack of papers that came with Issue 4 of Creative Cardmaking magazine. The epoxy sticker is from a craft pack that came from Poundland.

I was tempted to put some small gems on the paper but decided against it as I thought it might detract from the simple design. I am trying to learn the theory of 'less is more', I said trying........

Just popping round to Paul's Grandad's in a little while as he is bring brought home from hospital in an ambulance. After 9 weeks inside he is so looking forward to coming home. He's still got to have 2 operations but after almost losing him twice today is a very happy day for us all.

STOP PRESS !!

This card was nominated as one of the 3 Cards of The Week at 365 Cards, I am so chuffed :)

CPS 118, 365 Cards 93, Stampin Chic & My Time to Craft

Goodness me it has taken a long time to try and get on the tinterweb tonight. Our service has been terrible for 3 days now and Paul complained to our provider. They are apparrently doing some work and it wll be the same for the whole week. It's blinking frustrating for me but a complete pain for him as he is programming a website for a client and the tinterweb is quite important for that. They are ginving us a refund for the whole week so that's at least a sweetener :)

This is my card for today's challenge Day 93 at 365 Cards. You had to incorporate a phone or the words 'call me' in it. To me, mobile phones and teenagers go hand in had so that spawned the idea for this card.

The layout is courtesy of this week's sketch 118 at CPS. It's quite a while since I have participated in one of their challenges so it makes a nice change to be able to this week. The main paper is from a Dovecraft Smirk paper pack. It had lots of teenager type words on it and is quite sassy. The tiny butterflies and flower paper is the whole reason I bought this pack. It is very textured and has gots lots of glitter on it and is blooming gorgeous. It's also very pink so I have entered it into this weeks challenge at My Time to Craft.

The rubber stamp is from Clare Curds Signature Collection by Papermania and is from a prize that Clare sent me for winning a challenge on her blog. I have selected 2 scraps of paper to piece the clothes. This is something I have only just started to do (I'm not the best stamper!) and I love the results. The rest of the image is coloured with Marvy le Plumes and lots of Sakura clear glitter pen. I have entered this in for the challenge this week at Clare's challenge blog, Stampin Chic.

The image and circle have been matted on scraps of card. The ribbon is from a craft pack at Poundland, the mobile phone is a Doodlebug cardstock sticker and the sentiment is from my Dymo machine. A very teenage sentiment for a teenage card. I have the perfect recipient in mind for it too :)

Just Christmas & Birthdays & 365 Cards Day 25

I made this card using this week's sketch from Just Christmas & Birthday Cards. It was for a square card but I had adapted it to fit an A5 rectangular card to suit the butterfly image. The colour scheme is to fit in with an old challenge, day 25 on 365 Cards

The backing paper is from Clare Curd's The Big One by Papermania.

The butterfly image is recycled from an old card I had received. It is stamped in a pearlescent ink and has glitter on it. I have added a little Sakura glitter pen onto it as well. This is matted onto HOTP shimmer paper and then on white card. The sentiment panel is from HOTP and has a card candy on a 3D foam where the printed brad is on the tag. I've added glitter pen to the lettering.

The brown grosgrain ribbons are from Ebay and the patterned green paper is from a book that came free with Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine.

2 Sketches 4 You - Laura # 25

This is one of the cards I made at our crafty session. I decided I was going to be organised and mad a bag up for each card sketch or challenge with the items I was making the card with. This was much more productive than me taking a whole bunch of stuff and meandering along.... I made 7 cards in 5 hours so not too bad considering we were have a good old natter as well.

This card was made using Laura's current sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. The floral paper is a vellum which has been treated with my Martha Stewart Punch. I have stuck some Docrafts ribbon on the top.

The flower border stamp is by Clare Curd and part of the Papermania collection.I have coloured this in with Sakura glitter pens and Marvy Le Plume to match the colours in the vellum.

The flower is a petal from a bunch of silk flowers. It has been cut in half and layered and looks very full. The big brad is a HOTP with a rub on sentiment on top.

Stampin Chic, Forever Friends & 365 Cards

Lucky me, I have made this card and managed to get it to tie up with 3 different challenges.

The challenge this week at Forever Friends was to make a card of a different than normal shape. I decided I wanted to make a flower shaped card as I haven't done one before. I used a template from Mel Stampz blog to cut the card shape from a Papermania blank and then resized it to make the 2 smaller outlines.

The challenge at Stampin' Chic this week was to include stitching of some sort, whether real or faux. I used one of the outlines to add faux stitching with a gel pen. The spotted paper is from the Papermania Clare Curd Signature range.  I used rubber stamps from the same range to make the flowers. I just stamped onto some offcuts of card and shaped the smaller flowers to add dimension. The FF bear is a clear sticker mounted onto white card which came free with a magazine. The with love sentiment has been matted onto white card and I have put little dots around the edge to add definition. The flower is from the same sticker sheet. The sister sentiment is cut from a FF decoupage sheet by Papermania.  I have added stickles glue to the flower centres and random dots on the paper. 

The challenge for day 65 at 365 Cards was to make a Mothers Day Card or to make a card to honour a woman in your life. I had intended this card to be sent to my secret sister (she doesn't ead my blog, I'm safe !!) hence the sister heading. However, when I showed it to my hubby he asked if it was for his sister's birthday later this month !!! How organised am I getting, making a card so many weeks in advance. 

Forever Friends, Stampin Chic & 365 Challenges

The Day 59 over at 365 Cards and the challenge is to make a card with a specific sentiment on it - I Miss You. Well lo and behold, what should happen to pop up in my in box today but an email from Bethany Harty at Elegant Word Art and the freebie she is giving away today is for that exact wording. Serendipity or what ? If you have never visited Bethany's blog, you seriously NEED to !! She is just so blooming clever and produces some fabby word arts. I {heart} Bethany Harty....and she got me wanting to read the Twilight books which I am currently on the second one New Moon.

Anyhoo, the wordart I printed onto white card and used as the main backing of my card. The cardblank is Papermania and really nice quality. I incorporated this week's challenge at Forever Friends which is a sketch and to top it all off I used the colour challenge of Turquoise and Yellow over at Clare Curd's blog Stampin' Chic. I am the queen of combining challenges !!! LOL

The backing papers are from Clare's Papermania pad 'The Big One' and I coloured in the white dots yellow with a Marvy le Plume pen and also used it for topical colouring in the floral paper. Quite pleased with how they turned out, they certainly don't look like I've been colouring in for ages, I was a bit worried they would TBH. I stamped the flowers using the matching doodle stamps from the range and highlighted the centres with assorted gems.

The Forever Friends image is a rubber stamp. I have coloured the bear and the vase with watercolour pencils and the flowers are metallic Sakura pens with a little bit of Glamour Dust in the flower centres. I don't think I am very good at watercolouring, can't seem to do it right like so many talented people do but I am quite pleased with this one. I did some when I went camping at Easter and tried to practice getting the shading right. It's hard as I only have a pack of 10 pencils, I would love to have one of those lovely tins with loads of colours to choose from as I am no good at mixing them. 

Pennies are tight though and that will have to be on my wish list for when I get a job. Having been made redundant twice in the last 6 months the money we had saved up is dwindling. Paul can't get any work in IT and my Blood Pressure is sky high at the moment and the drugs don't seem to be helping to get it down. Crafting is my sanctuary at the moment and my blog is my contact with the outside world (except for hospital visits to Paul's Grandad).

I can't begin to thank you all enough for leaving comments for me and I appreciate each and every one for the validation I receive for my projects.

Happy Birthday Sarn :)

This very special card was made for a very special friend's birthday today.

I spent ages on it doing the beading and made it in the colouring she likes the best, I REALLY hope she likes it.

I have wanted the Cuttlebug butterflies FOREVER and they were on my wish list of items to purchase from the Glitterpot. I am absolutely delighted with them and can see me using them loads. I added a little Papermania bling to finish it off.

The card uses Clare Curd papers from Papermania. I am loving using these papers  especially the black and white ones.

I used the latest sketch from Jen Del Muro over Sketch for You to Try (SFYTT) for the layout. There are so many intricate layers I felt it would showcase the papers well and allow me to use lots of texture.

The challenge at 365 Cards day 48 was to score a grid on a card using a Score It board as they were sponsoring a week of challenges. Inspired by a technique I had seen on Mel Stampz blog I scored a diamond grid and at each intersection I sewed a black bead. It took a while but the results are worth it I think.

The challenge on the Cuttlebug blog was to utilize numbers in your card. I used my numbers embossing folder (for the first time!) on black card and sanded it down to reveal the white core, thus adding more texture and continuing with the the same colourscheme.

The sentiment is from my stash with a little white gel pen added to define the edges.

Happy Birthday Sarn !!!

365 Cards, Stampin Chic & Tamara Challenges

Woohoo, I've finally made a card :) This is the first I have made since the Glitterpot weekend and I've used some of my rubber stamps I bought from there too.

This card was inspired by todays 365 Cards Challenge, Day 39 is to make a card using Purple, Green and Orange. Obviously not a combination one would normally use so I started with a sketch. Sketch 89 from Sketches! By Tamara is a nice simple one.

The card blank is from Let's Make Cards, the papers and sentiment are from Hot off The Press. I added some corner detailing using a pair of Fiskars scissors. The ribbon and the flocked brad are from Papermania.

The flower is made using my new Clare Curd Signature Collection rubber stamps. I stamped the 2 different sizes on the HOTP paper, curled slightly and used a foam paid to raise the layers. I used a Sakura Glitter pen to add a bit of sparkle to the dots. This DIY flower makes it elligible to submit for this weeks challenge at Stampin Chic too.

I received my prize yesterday from Clare for winning a challenge which was a set of Party rubber stamps. There are loads of cute images on there and I am looking forward to playing with those.

Wohoo - I've won another prize

Well thye say things happen in 3's and that is certainly the case for me.

Just as I was logging off my computer on Friday I had an email from Clare Curd to say that I had won a competition on her site Stamping Chic. for a card I submitted in a challenge. To say I was ecstatic is an understatement. I have also had one of my cards featured on her site here

So that is now 3 lovely things I have got to come, one from Di Hickman, a Whiff of Joy stamp and my goodies from Clare. I have no clue what it is but I am so happy to have won I couldn't care less!!

365 Cards day 12 & Stampin Chic Sketch

I am loving black and white at the moment, mainly because of the new papers from Clare Curd at Papermania. There are just so many to choose from in the big pad and there are the positive and negative too.

I have used the sketch # 2 on Clare's challenge site Stampin Chic which I have rotated to suit the word art that I had already printed. The theme is from Day 12 at 365 Cards to make a card for the big move.

The wordart is by Bethany Harty. I think this may have been one that she designed for Scrap Orchard as I can't see it on her blog. It is a fabulous resource and Bethany is always producing great WA to use. She has a great blog and a really chatty style, I subscribe to it and never miss a post. Big up respect Bethany, you are wonderful :) I did a bit of doodling around the edge as it looked a bit stark, do you like my little question marks ?

The 'ribbon' is just a scrap of paper with some penmanship around the edge. The house is a die cut that I drew around on glossy black card. I only wanted a basic outline so this was perfect for me. I added some white gel pen and a heart from my stash, if you cherish your home it should have a heart in it I think. I was in 2 minds about whether I should make this heart red or not, I wasn't sure if it would be too bright. If you leave a comment I would ne grateful to know what you would do, I'm never sure and went for the safe option I think. Maybe the red would have been a bit more daring ?

The cute little key I am most proud of. It is a little printed key with Rangers Glossy Accents on it and a little silver jump ring. I was going to add a tag but I think it would have overpowered it so left it without.

365 Cards Day 15 & Cuttlebug Challenge 22 & Clare Curds Limited Supply Challenge

This card was made using the sketch from Day 15 over at 365 Cards and Challenge 22 at Cuttlebug Challenge to use glitter with a rubber stamp.

The backing paper is another of Clare Curds Signature Range by Papermania. I love the swirly ones in there and there are loads of black & white ones. The swirls are a rubber stamp which was inked with Versamark and ultrafine glitter was poured on. I am absolutely covered with glitter, oh what fun :) I have entered this card into a challenge on the blog to only use 1 sheet of patterned paper. That's 3 challenges in 1 Card, an all time world record for me!

The flowers are from shop bought silk flowers that I have dismantled, sometimes you get absolutely loads and they work out far cheaper than the craft ones. The buttons are from my stash as is the sentiment. The 'ribbon' is a piece of white core black card which has been embossed using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and sanded back to highlight the dots better.

365 Cards Day 16 & ICS Sketch # 7

Had a bit of a nightmare of a day today. 1st my graphics card in my computer packed up so Paul has had to take the one out of his and put in in mine :) Good job he's got his Macbook Pro now.

2nd, got a problem with the brakes on the car, had to book it into the garage tomorrow and they are going to do the service at the same time.

3rd, went to the doctors to get my blood pressure checked, admittedly I haven't had it done for a good while (my fault she adds sheepishly....) It is very, very high and doctor is extremely concerned. I had been put on tablets immediately and got to go back next week to be checked. It's taught me a lesson to put my health first and not to put things off. My ex employers made it extremely difficult to take time off for appointments but being made redundant took that problem away so I need to stop making excuses and get a handle on this now. (Don't worry, I've told myself off big time !)

Anyhoo, I visited 365 Cards this morning and challenge 16 is to incorporate sunshine in your card. The little sunflower image was recycled from an old calendar and is my favourite happy smiley sunflower picture. I posted a card a couple of days ago and said I call them happy flowers, this little image is exactly what I mean by that. I used the  sketch # 7 over at Inspirational Card Sketches. I have missed the deadline because of my computer problem, but I don't stand a cat in hell's chance of winning anything anyway so it doesn't really matter. I'm not the best card maker in the world, but I love what I do. There would be no point otherwise would there?

The card blank and sun die cut are from Let's Make Cards magazine, the patterned paper is from the new Clare Curd signature collection from Papermania. Some of the designs in this pad are just gorgeous ! The glittered chipboard letters, cardstock alpha stickers and brown textured card are all DCWV from the QVC drawer sets. In hindsight I think I should have mounted the image on a contrasting card to make it pop out from the paper a bit but I had already stuck the most sticky of 3d pads on the back and they would not budge so it will have to stay as it is I am afraid.