Crafty Cardmakers Challenge # 26

Over at Crafty Cardmakers the challenge this week is a recipe.

We are to use colours orange or yellow, punches and an animal.

For my card I have used various papers in yellows and oranges (my Happy Colours)

Fiskars punch for the edge of the card and an EK Success punch for the corners.

The Butterflies (I know not STRICTLY an animal) are a Martha Stewart punch and a Papermania white felt one coloured with a yellow Promarker. I little bit of twinkle courtesy of gems and Stickles glitter glue and a lovely summery card is born :)

I am suffering from sever lack of mojo at the moment and on the advice of the lovely Vix I am going to have a sort out of my papers and craft room to see if that will coax it back. At least having had a tidy up I can now see my desk so that is a good start.

I hope we will see you joining in our challenge and I look forward to visiting your blogs.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge # 25

It's challenge #25 over at Crafty Cardmakers and the DT have been provided with a photo as inspiration.

The first thing I saw when I looked at the photo as Love Hearts sweeties which I absolutely ADORE. I really, REALLY wanted to buy a couple of packets to do the posh 'stage the photo' thing but would have eaten them and as I am trying to lose the pounds I put on whilst on the cruise (and then carry back on losing again, I've got a goal you know!!) I thought it might be a good idea to give them a miss. When I was a kid I used to open up the whole packet and read the messages. I'd eat the rubbish ones 1st and the save the best ones till last like 'I love you' and 'Be Mine'. Of course nowadays they have messages like 'Text Me' & 'Email Me' so it's nice to see they have kept up with the times.

Anyhoo, I digress...... I immediately knew I wanted to use some mega cute Quickutz dies I have had for a VERY long time. You know, you just HAD to have them and then I am ashamed to admit I have until now NEVER USED THEM!!!! I am trying so hard not to do that anymore and actually use my stash.

I made an easel cards as the overall design as I do like how they make a card look more special. I used the new Papermania Summer Blooms paper to cover the front and the inside of the card. I used my ever faithful Martha Stewart Doily punch to cut the 'ribbon' and used a small magenta ink pad to distress the edges of all the papers and elements.

The Forever Friends bear is a clear sticker. I love that image and my friend Sarn had given me some stamped images which I have used many times so I think I need to invest in the stamp, it is the perfect image for many cards.

The love hearts were cut from different shades of card and layered with 3d foam. The original die is a heart shape so I cut small circles and layered the heart messages over the top to make them look more like the sweeties. I added another heart inside to provide the stand for the easel. Last but not least I added some FF message stickers from Papermania which I coloured with a pink Promarker to the inside of the card.

This is the prefect card to give to my hubby later this month as we celebrate 22 years of love and happiness. We've been married 9 years in September but you can't forget to celebrate the fact we have been going out with one another for so many years longer.

I would love to see you join in our challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and look forward to popping by your blogs.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges :-

• Creative Craft Challenges - Summer Lovin (colourful flowers and butterflies)
• Fresh Brewed Challenge 10 - Summertime
• Cute Card Thursday 120 - Summer theme
• Allsorts Challenge #60 - July Love
• Flutterby Wednesday #112 - Open theme