Quixotic Candy!

Hello everyone,
Just picked up this info from Ali at Crafty Dragons and have been to have a look see.  Quixotic are offereing a mystery prize worth around £40 - yes you read it right £40.

Now all you have to do is a post about this prize and also choose your favourite card of 2009.
The card I have chosen resulted in me being offered a Guest Designer spot at Softpencil for the month of December.  I love Elizabeth's images and when I saw this one, I knew I had to use it.

The challenge was to use no colour other than on the image and I was sooo happy with the result.  If you want more details about how I made this card then you can see them here.
So off you go to Quixotic Paperie Challenge blog and be in with a chance to win this fantastic prize.

As I never got round to a Christmas Message - I would like to wish everyone, especially my followers ('cos I appreciate every single one of you) a very Happy New Year and may it bring you everything you wish for.  Have a safe and happy night.

The Stampman Blog Hop and Fave Project Awards

Hi all,
I know I am a little late with this and that most of you will have already done the hop - but if you haven't then you really should, there are some fab prizes up for grabs and some awesome inspiration from the DT too.
Anyway, Jill has offered everyone the chance to pick up an award for choosing their favourite project of the year.

So, I have only been doing this blogging for six months so had fewer to choose from than most of you, but it was still quite difficult.  I finally decided on my first attempt at a door hanger.  I probably wouldn't have attempted one of these except that I received one in a RAK so thought I'd give it a go.  I was quite pleased with the result and that's why I decided to choose this as my favourite project of 2009.

If you want to see how I made it please click here.  Thanks Jill for this idea, it is lovely.

Sneaky peeks Day 3!

Hello again bloggers of the world!
Here is my 3rd day of my sneaky peeks of Wendy's Clear Dollar Stamps by Louby Loo.  This set is called Billy Blasts Off and I made a card suitable for a little boy. 

I used 2 different backing papers, one from the Occasions double CD from Crafter's Companion which had rockets on it and the other from a Hot off the Press paper pad called Sapphire.  Again I coloured him in with my watercolour pencils and Promarkers.  I added a little red stickles glitter glue down the rocket to give it a bit of a "boost".  I used the star face and planet face to stamp all over the backing papers
Again, this set comprises several stamps - 18 to be precise!  So again, superb value for money!

Hit the Clear Dollar Stamps link tomorrow and whizz on over to the store to purchase your very own set of Billy Blasts Off clear stamps and you too can be creating your very own little boys birthday cards.

Look out for tomorrow's post giving you the details of all three sets available at Clear Dollar Stamps

Sneaky Peeks Day 2!!

Hello my friends,
Well here is day 2 of my sneaky peeks for Wendy's Stamps at Clear Dollar Stamps.  This set is called Pet Angels, and if I am honest, I have to say this is secretly my favourite set of the three.  Here is the card I made for this release!

Again, Wendy gives us superb value for money in that there are 22 stamps in this set. 

I always think, as an animal lover and owner myself, it would be nice to send a card to a friend who has lost a beloved pet but there is never anything suitable - until now that is.  You would have to agree my friends, that Wendy has thought of everything in this set. Again I coloured my image with watercolour pencils and layered it onto peach coloured card with peach coloured DP from a papermania set called Exquisite which I purchased at Hobbycraft.  I have used my favourite chalks to colour the white card to match the DP. 

Again this set will be available at Clear Dollar Stamps on 1st January 2010.
I hope you like it friends.  Please leave me your comments, they are soooo appreciated.

I'm So Sad!!

But only because it is my last GDT post for Softpencil this week.  I have so enjoyed being a Guest Designer for Elizabeth - she is a joy to work with and Kerry - thanks for all your help.
This week we had a beautiful image to work with called "We made a Snowman" and Kerry asked us to use: Something Glitter, Liquid Applique, Flock and Sparkles.  Well I have used all of those except the liquid applique because quite simply, I didn't have any.  So without further ado here is the card I made for this challenge:

I used the sketch over at Fab n Funky Challenges which I have shown below:

I started off with a brown/bronze piece of shiny card for the backing and added six brads as indicated by the sketch.  I backed the image onto a piece of "flocked" paper from a Laura Ashley collection and cut two contrasting pieces of "flocked" paper (also Laura Ashley) to place in the opposite corners.  I coloured the image using pencils.  I used liquid pearls (my substitute for liquid applique) for the snowman's hat and stickles for the snowflakes.  

I used white glitter for the snowman and some white shiny thread - Papermania Sparkling Trims - for the snow at the bottom.

I added gold stickles to the petals on three white flowers.....

.........and added a sentiment at the left of the image.  I would never normally have used these colours on BP/DP and only used them because of the "flock" aspect of the challenge - I'm glad I did though - I quite like them!  Hope you do to.

Sneaky Peeks Day 1!

Hello my friends.
I am here to tell you about the new releases at Clear Dollar Stamps of three of Wendy's Clear Stamps by Louby Loo.  They will all be released on January 1st and there are three sets for you to choose from.
The first set is called Luvin Ridley and Rosie!  And - as the names suggests it is all about lurve!!  This is a gorgeous set and there are 14 stamps in all on the set - so fantastic value too!

So here is my sneaky peek!

Now I layered the image onto pink cardstock and used some pink paper from a Papermania set called Exquisite and the background is a self adhesive pink glittery heavyweight paper.  I coloured him in with my watercolour pencils and Promarkers and Art Kure ink pens.  I added a pink heart gem just for good measure along with a beautiful ribbon down the side.  I hope you like him.

So hurry on over to Clear Dollar Stamps on 1st January and put your order in!!  You won't be disappointed.

Let's Party!

Hi everyone
A very happy Monday to you all.
I saw this freebie image over at Karen's Doodles which she gave out for reaching 100 followers - and couldn't resist him.  His name is Bigsby and Karen has quite a few images featuring Bigsby - so why not hop on over and take a look.
Anyhow, here is the card I made using Bigsby:

I followed the sketch at Friday Sketchers and I used an embossed card for the backing and cut a semi circle from pink DP from a Hot Off the Press pad called Garnet.  I stamped the word celebrate in purple onto the pink DP.  I coloured him in using my watercolour pencils, promarkers and sakura gelly glaze pens.  I added some peel off's to indicate the year (and an exclamation mark).  I made the confetti sparkly by adding two different coloured glitters, and added a border of balloons using my ordinary word package and then mounted the image on to the same purple card I used for the backing.  I added starry peel offs around the edge and finished it all off with a handpunched flower from three different papers to compliment the image colours.  Here is a close up so that you can see the glitter.

Simon Says   -  Party!
Charisma Cardz Challenges - Anything but Christmas
Craftycardmakers - Use your favourite product of 2009 (Before I started blogging earlier this year I had never used digital images - so that would have to be my favourite new product of 2009)
Cupcake Challenges - Time for Celebration.
Cute Card Thursday - Happy New Year!
Lots to do  - Free theme
Paperplay challenges - New Beginnings (I went for the New Year)
Stamp Something - Holiday somethings (New Year holiday)

Thank you Friends!

This is just a quick post to say a very special thank you - four times over!
It is always nice to receive cards from friends - but it is extra specially nice when those cards are hand made!  The first card I would like to show you is from my very best friend Ali aka Dragonlady!  If you haven't visited her blog over at Crafty Dragons yet, you really should - apart from the fun you will have looking around - because that's what Ali's blog says to me - what fun she is having! - she also has some fab candy on offer at the moment and it is open until 21st January which just happens to be her birthday.  Here is the card Ali sent me:

Don't you just love those fabulous snowmen - I can almost hear them singing!!  Thanks Ali.
Next is the card that came with my Secret Santa - I think I'm right in saying that was ClarkyJ - is this elegant or what?  Now I can't give you a link to her blog because (a) I'm guessing that she was my secret santa and (b) if I'm not sure then I would hate to send you to the wrong place (even though I'm sure you'd have fun wherever you ended up).  So if I'm right and you're reading this then please leave the link to your blog in a comment - that way people will know where to go and have a look at the rest of your stuff.

Then came a card from a friend I am so glad I have made and that is Crafty Clare in Scotland.  Again, if you haven't visited Clare's blog - then shame on you!  Clare I think your cards are fabulous and I am so glad we are friends.  Thanks hun.

Then came my biggest surprise!  A card from Lyn aka Blackdragon!  Wow what an amazing card this is - thank you so much Lyn.  I love the way Lyn has matched the DP on the circle with the DP on the main card - love it.  Now Lyn's style is - well - it's different! I don't think she would mind me describing it as that - would you Lyn?  These cards are stunningly different and I love them.  You really should have a look at Lyn's blog - you will be amazed.

So, to all my friends thank you for remembering me at Christmas, and to the four special ladies I have featured here - a very special thank you and big {{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}} from me!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!

Free Basic Grey at Get Sketchy!

Yes my friends you read it right.  Get Sketchy are giving away loads of Basic Grey goodies.  Now obviously there are a few rules - well you'd expect a FEW rules now wouldn't you?

Here is what they want you to do:

There's only one catch...

I want us to break 700 followers by New Years.

(if we get to 1,000, ill add BASIC GREY SUGAR RUSH to the prize)

I know we can do it.

Here's how....

Become a follower = you are entered 1 x

(if you are already a follower, don't worry you're already entered)

Post the FREE BASIC GREY Blinkie with the link back here = 1x

(post a comment here with the link to your blog)

Dedicate a blog post to this contest = 1x

(post a comment here with the link to your blog)

Tell your friend about us = 1x

(they will have to leave a comment here saying who sent them)

Twitter about this contest = 1x

(send us a tweet about it to GETSKETCHY or leave a comment here telling me you did)

Participate in the TRASH TO TREASURE challenge =5x

(Our next challenge coming out Christmas Day,

sorry Dora for letting the cat out of the bag...lol)

Thats 10 chances to win.

So there you have it - I wish you all the very best of luck but obviously would wish me good luck too as I so want to win this lot - well then I'll be able to enter the Basic Grey Challenges too!!!
Now if you visit the Get Sketchy blog after reading this, please let them know I sent you ('cos I get an extra entry and I need all the help I can get - I'd do the same for you!!)

ABC Christmas Challenge

Now you remember I told you that the ABC challenge site has a sister site called the ABC Christmas Challenge site - well today is their bloghop.

The aim is to run fortnightly to alternate with the ABC challenges so that everyone is in with a chance of getting ahead of the game for next Christmas!

Click here to go to the start of the hop and have fun everyone!

Cards for Special Little Ladies!

Hi all,
Now these are the very last two Christmas Cards I will be making this year (I think!).  These are for two special little ladies (and I know they are because their mummy is!) and I do hope they reach them before Christmas although I know I am cutting it fine.

Now you will notice that they are the same but different - and that's because the two ladies in question are sisters and I don't want them to fight over the cards (gosh doesn't that sound big headed - you know what I mean!!) 
I based the cards on the sketch over at Tuesday Morning sketches, not one I have done before, but I liked the layout of this one although I rotated it slightly.
Then I coloured the two images in similar colours (shades of purple) backed it onto card, backed that onto base card and added ribbons and snowflakes.
Here are the two images close up - see if you can spot the difference:


                          Recipe: 

Ink - Stazon

Image - Whiff of Joy

Backing card - craft stash

Backing paper - Hot off the Press Amethyst

Colouring medium - watercolour pencils, blending pencils, cosmic shimmers

Ribbons - Hobbycraft and Crafty Ribbons

Snowflakes - handpunched with snowflake stamp from Hobbycraft

The Crafty Dragons' Birthday Candy

Hello all,
Just a quick post to let you know that my very good friend Ali over at Crafty Dragons has candy up for grabs.  Now Ali has only been blogging for about 6 months (and she also got me into it too!! - thanks hun!), and I know she has had a ball.  She has had over 10000 hits and has nearly 100 followers and this candy is to celebrate both of those and the fact that it is her birthday on 21st January.  So here's a piccy of one of the candy's:

Now there is more to this than meets the eye - but hey, I'm not going to tell all - you'll just have to pop on over to Crafty Dragons and see for yourself.  This candy will remain open until 21st January, Ali's birthday and she will announce the winner on 30th January.

 

Baby's 1st Christmas - a commission.

Happy Sunday afternoon everyone.
Well, I don't know about you but I've been freezing all weekend.  I have seen some fab piccys of snow in other parts of the country - but we've only got ice and cold. Brrrrrrrrr!
Anyway, just thought I would show you this card I was asked to make for a friend at work.  This will be the first Christmas for her grand-daughter and she asked me to make her a card.  I hope she likes it.
Firstly I chose an image from Cuddly Buddly where alot of the digital designs are free - if you haven't been - you really should pay a visit, there are some gorgeous images. 

I chose the Winter Bear and I coloured him in using watercolour pencils, the frame is coloured using one of my Sakura Gelly Glaze pens and then the frame is chalked with pink and purple chalk to match the colours of his outfit.

I printed out a sheet of toppers from the Crafter's Companion Occasions Double CD and then printed "Baby's 1st Christmas" so that it fitted into one of the boxes on the topper sheets, then cut it out and stuck it on.  The Backing Paper is one of several sheets I received in a RAK parcel from my friend Clare - thanks Clare!  I made a ribbon bow in purple to match the rest of the card and I placed a Christmas Greeting down the side of the inside back of the card (which I'm not sure you can quite see on these photo's - sorry)

So the challenges I shall be entering this card for are:
Artful Inkables - Think Ink Tuesday - Make a CAS card (Clean and Simple) - well I think it fits!
C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Free for all
Dare U 2 digi stamp - Last minute christmas cards
Magical Crafts fortnightly challenge - Special Birthday or Christmas card
My Time to Craft - Yuletide wishes
One stop craft challenge - Christmas love
Simon Says - Merry Christmas
Sophisticat Challenge - xmas theme anything goes
The Pink Elephant - Winter and/or Christmas

Christmas assistance for 2010!

Hi there blogging buddies.
Not sure whether you will have seen this post or not but if not I thought I would pass it on.  The ABC challenge blog is branching out.  They are going to have an ABC Christmas challenge blog which will alternate with the ABC challenge blog - to give you some help with next year's - yes you heard me right - next year's Christmas cards.  The same design team will be there to give you some inspiration and they will still have challenges all through the year, but from what I understand their challenges will be Christmas based.  So if you, like me, need all the help you can get with your Christmas preparations, then hop on over to the ABC Christmas Challenge blog and see what all the fuss is about.

I will be joining them on a regular basis - 'cos I reckon - Every Little Helps!!! as Tesco would say!!! LOL

It's Freebie Friday time!!

Good morning blogland.  Well this is the last Friday before Christmas and it's the last Freebie Friday of 2009.  I would just like to say on behalf of all of us happy crafters a very special thank you to Wendy (and all the other talented artists out there) for providing us with these little freebies.  Thank you for sharing your talents and giving us the opportunity to work with your images!!  Happy Christmas to you all!

Now on to this week's Freebie Friday.  Wendy has given us an image called Peekin Elf Tag this week, very handy when you've run out of tags for all those presents under the tree.

And here is what I made using this image:

Now you should know the drill by now - either go straight to the group page at PCP or SNR and pick him up from there or click on the link in this post and go to Digital Delights and click on the Freebie Friday tab at the top of the page.  This will give you the link to PCP/SNR and away you go.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM US ALL AT DIGITAL DELIGHTS!

PS.  DON'T FORGET WENDY'S CHRISTMAS SALE WHICH IS ON UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT 23RD DECEMBER - A MASSIVE 50% OFF ALL IMAGES (CLICK ON THE LINK IN MY SIDEBAR - AND REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR PURSE!!)