Goooaaalllll!!!!!

Hi everyone,
Why is it that everyone struggles to make cards for boys??  Is it because they are soooo difficult to please or is it just that we don't understand them??  After all they are from Mars aren't they? LOL.
Anyway, the challenge over at Cute Card Thursday is to make a card for a younger boy.  I went with a football theme, don't know many boys that don't like football do you?  The image I have used is called Nathan and is from Instyle Stamps.

I decided on an easel card because this way I could hide a Gift Wallet which was the challenge at Cupcake Craft Challenge. 

I used a football button as the stopper to make the easel card as this fitted with the rest of the card - so this fits the challenge at Allsorts which is to use buttons.  (I know it is only one but it is an integral part of the card).  The paper I used on the bottom is a piece of football wrapping paper which I pinched from my daughter's bedroom!! Sorry daughter!

I used blue for the card and blue metallic pencil for his shirt (and yellow blending pencils for his shorts) so I will also put this in for the challenge at ABC which is I for Indigo (blue).
Please let me know what you think guys, comments are always gratefully accepted.  Thanks.

Red and Green at Tellen's Place!

Hi folks,
This card is for the challenge over at Tellen's place.  A new blog on the block with some fabulous digi's on offer.  Terri gave us another freebie to use this time and also added the extra challenge of using Red and Green - well it is nearly Christmas!
So here is the card I made using the freebie Santa's helper image:

I have coloured her in using my green colour sketch brush from Art Kure, watercolour pencils and the red Sakura Gelly Glaze pen, and then chalked around the edge of the image with red chalk.

The backing papers are from my stash.  I cut out an oval using the Fiskars shape cutter and cut it in half to place half at the top and the other half at the bottom of the image.  I used a corner punch to punch all four corners and have layered the image on green mirri card. 

I used some holographic stickers and stuck them onto acetate  before cutting them out.  I stuck three of them together using a brad and then adhered them with silicone glue to raise them up a little.  Then I used three hand punched snowflakes in red holographic card and stuck those at the bottom.

I hope you like the card I have made for this challenge, I enjoyed making it.  As the challenge at Crafty Cardmakers is Clear as Day I shall enter this there too.
Incidentally I missed the first challenge but I had the card all ready and made - I just forgot to post it in time to enter the challenge. 
Can't wait for challenge 3 Terri - bring it on!!

Lilac Christmas!

Last one for today.
This is a card primarily for Challenge number 8 over at Softpencil on Paper Craft Planet which was to use a Christmas theme and her freebie image.  A darling little image of Michu and her Christmas Tree.

This card will also fit the November challenge at Lily-Boo Too Challenge which is purple.  I will also put it into the challange at Stampin for the Weekend where their theme is Lilac Purple and Silver.  The large tag has a silver and white sentiment on it which came from a multipack which is available at Hobbycraft.

I have hidden a little pocket behind the large tag which contains four little tags that spell out NOEL in silver ink so this will fit the Creative Inspirations Challenge which is to include a pocket. 

Again I will put it in for the challenge at One Stop Craft which is snowflakes.

White Christmas!

Hello again,
Third post for today and this one was a bit of a challenge or challenges!!  I spotted a challenge over at Allsorts who wanted a project based on a Christmas Carol or Christmas Song - so I chose White Christmas.
The card I made has no backing papers on it at all and so will fit in with the challenge at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge. Also the challenge at the Corrosive Challenge Blog was "Let's Go To The Movies".  Now White Christmas has got to be one of THE most famous movies ever so I think this will fit in with that challenge.

I stamped a Christmas Tree image (from Barbara at Clarity Stamp) in white ink onto a Green card.  I drew little lines all over the tree with my quickie glue pen and added glitter to the tree.  Using a glue pen at the bottom I randomly drew lines under the tree and covered these with glitter (wanted it to look like snow glistening).  I stamped a sentiment (another stamp from Clarity Stamp) in white ink at the bottom and used a snowflake corner stamp (yes, Clarity Stamp again!) in each of the top corners.  Then I punched out some white snowflakes, small and large and stuck them randomly over the green card.  As the challenge at One Stop Craft Challenge is snowflakes it will fit this too!

Pixie Dust and others!

Second post for today folks.  You never know there may even be a third yet!!  I'm on a roll here.
Anyway, over at Pixie Dust Studio's new challenge blog site they have their first challenge.  You have to use their freebie image of santa and his sack to make your creation.  Here is what I made with it.

I used the sketch over at Sketch and Stash - DID I TELL YOU I'M THEIR GUEST DESIGNER FOR THE NEXT TWO SKETCHES??!!   WOOOHOOOO!! Thanks for choosing me Lisa :)

The backing paper is from a free download called Winter Wonderland from the Craft Table and if you don't already have it you should really pop on over and grab it 'cos it's gorgeous! (AND Martine also has blog candy on offer too)  The image is obviously the freebie from Pixie Dust Studios which is coloured in with my Art Kure Water Paintbrush and metallic pencils.  I have used white glitter for his hat and coat trim and I also used liquid pearls for his moustache and beard to give some texture which was the extra challenge at Pixie Dust. The liquid pearls are from my neglected stash and the image and fibres are my newest purchase.

The snowflakes are made using my latest punch purchase from Hobbycraft and the ribbon is from a Papermania collection of Sparkling Trims also purchased at Hobbycraft.  The sentiment across the bottom was from Cardcraft Plus and is self adhesive.
So the challenges:
Charisma Cardz Challenge - Anything Christmas
Sketch and Stash  -  Sketch challenge (neglected stash liquid pearls and newest stash Papermania fibres)
Creative Card Crew - Favourite things (glitter)
Dare U 2 Digi Stamp  -  Glitter
Lots to do  -  Free theme
One Stop Craft Challenge  -  Snowflakes
Papertake weekly  -  Christmas Crackers
Pixie Dust Studio Challenge - Use the santa image and add some texture
Pollycraft Monday  -  Christmas Theme

Freebie Friday!

Hello everyone.
I can't believe we are nearly at the end of November!!  Where has the year gone?
The weeks seem to rush by so quickly these days I guess I must be getting old(er)! LOL
Before I go any further I must mention that Wendy is having a huge 30% off sale over at Digital Delights.  Just click on the link in my sidebar to take you there - well worth a visit.
Anyway, it's Friday again and you know that means a Freebie over at Digital Delights.  This week Wendy has given us this delightful Peekin Elf - ain't he cute?

Well, I just couldn't resist making a card with him now could I?  So here it is:

I have used a red glittery swirl paper at the back and a green/red candy stripe paper at the foreground both of which are from Digiscraps 3.  I coloured in the image using my Sakura Gelly Glaze pens, Art Kure water paintbrush, metallic pencils and promarkers.  I used some green stickles glitter glue for the bobble on his hat.  I chalked around the outside to soften the edges and also around the candle flame (although I'm not sure you can quite see this in the piccy).
Now you know me - can't make a card without putting it in for some challenges so these are the ones I have chosen for this image:
Charisma Cardz Challenge     -     Anything Christmas
Colour Create Challenge        -     Red Green and White
Crazy 4 Challenges                -     I used their latest sketch number 12
Creative Card Crew              -     Favourite things (my Digital Delights images and my chalks)
Dare U 2 Digi Stamp             -     Use Glitter
Lots to do                             -     Free theme
Papertake Weekly                -     Christmas Crackers
Pollycraft Monday                -     Christmas theme
So that's eight challenges for this card.
So pop on over to Digital Delights, click on the Freebie Friday tab at the top of the page and this will give you instructions on how to obtain your freebie image.  Join up and follow Wendy's Digital Delights group at PCP or SNR Universe and he's yours for the taking.  Enjoy!

Stamp Man Candy Giveaways

Just a quick post to let you all know about the fabulous Candy being given away at the Stamp Man.  There will be three winners picked on 15th December and those three winners will be able to pick one of the following three sets of stamps as featured on the Stamp Man's shows at Create and Craft.

All you have to do is become a follower - if you're not already, and post about the candy on your blog - Simples!  Good luck.

Ooh la la a Fairy on a Tuesday morning sketch!

Mooching around blogland this morning and came across the sketch at Tuesday Morning sketches - fab sketch and just had to give it a go.  Here is the sketch:

I also wanted to enter the DT call at Ooh La La which is for a Guest Designer spot in January and February of next year.  I had downloaded a couple of their freebies some time ago but not got around to using them yet so here was my perfect opportunity!  So, here is the card I made for it:

The image is called Pixie and is a decoupage image which I layered onto lime green cardstock to pick out the green in the image. 

I chose a Laura Ashley backing paper for the base of the card and I decided to use a fibre for cross overs. These fibres are from Dovecraft and are a set called Earth Tones - these were a candy win from Ellephantastic some time ago - thanks Helen!

I decided to go for a complete contrast with the flowers and chose some orange roses from my craft stash.  All in all I am really pleased with this.  It is so nice that people give us these freebies from their stocks - not only does it help to spread the word about their crafting goodies but it gives people the chance to try things before they splash their hard earned cash around.  So a huge big thank you to everyone who gives away freebies on their site!

The Rusty Pickle - New Release Sneak Peaks and Great Prizes!

Hello everyone,
Just a heads up to say that if you haven't already visited you should hop on over to the Rusty Pickle Digital Delights store and see what they have on offer.  They are about to celebrate their first New Release and are having three days of sneak peaks. 

Head on over to the Rusty Pickle Digital Delights site for all the details and make sure you visit all the DT blogs to be in with a chance of winning some fab prizes.
Here are the DT members with links to their blogs - please visit them all - you never know you might just win some fab digi images!

DT Leader Heather's Heavinly Stampations

Just Coffee Please... & stamps & Ribbons & Paper

Primitive Paper

My Cardstock Creations

Billies Scrappetique

Kims Whole New World

Crafty Dragons

Southern Yankee Crafter

Java Blue Stamper

 

Under My Umbrella

This is my second post for tonight and it is based on the sketch over at Friday Sketchers - sketch #7 shown below:

This is the card I decided to make following this sketch:

I used a Pollycraft image from the Cherry Kisses Frames range and this one is called Rainy Days.  I have coloured her in using metallic pencils and I also added a border of little umbrellas from my wordprocessing software.  I have also chalked the background so that the white didn't shout out at me.  The paper is from a company called Digiscraps 3 and is called butterfly kisses. 

The fibre across the middle is from a candy I won some time back and the flower is made up of a bought flower from Eminesence and some punched flowers I made myself and secured with a pink brad.

So the challenges I am entering this for are:

Cupcake Craft Challenges     -     Digital Images

Creative Card Crew              -     Strings attached

Friday sketchers                    -     Sketch #7

My time to Craft                    -     Under my umbrella

Hope you like it!

My Mantel "Piece"

First of just two posts tonight - was meant to be three but I completely messed up the third card - still have managed to save the image so will try again tomorrow.
So this card is primarily for the challenge over at Inktegrity - Joni gave us a freebie Mantel to work with and this is my submission:

I used some backing paper from a Christmas pad that I've had in my stash for ages - the cover is long gone so I can't remember whose make it is - sorry.  The sentiment is one of a batch I bought a while ago from Readicut through their online store.  The bough is made using my Rubber Tapestry Stamps and is from a set called Holly Border.  I have coloured the image using promarkers and chalks - I have used glitter glue on the door along with some peel off stars and the roof of the little building is white FlowerSoft mixed with some glitter.

The other challenges I will enter this card for are:

Cupcake Craft Challege - Digital Images

Delightful Sketches     -     Sketch number 11

Bee Crafty                 -     Add some sparkle

Please let me know what you think guys!

A child is born!!

Hello all,
Boy do these Fridays come round quick or what??  But oh I'm soooo glad they do because it means it's Freebie day at Digital Delights.  Hop on over to Digital Delights and click on the link for either SNR or Paper Craft Plant to pick up your Freebie Friday image.  This week Wendy has continued on the Christmas theme - and come up with this adorable image:

I just love this image, so beautiful!  Now I felt a bit bad about not having time to create a card with last week's freebie so I am more organised this week and here is the card I have come up with:

 

The backing papers are from a Christmas stack I bought several years ago and which had fallen to the bottom of my craft stash (shame on me!) the ribbon down the middle I think I recycled from a gift box a couple of years ago.  The sentiment is from a Readicut multipack and the gold bow is from my stash.  I have coloured the image using Distress Inks and watercolour pencils (although this time I used the paintbrush method rather than pencil to paper) and then chalked the background.  The star is glittered onto glue and the "rays" are gold stickles glue.  Here is a close up of the image for you:

 

I have used the sketch over at Delightful Sketches and will enter this card for their sketch challenge.

So hop on over to Digital Delights and pick up your "A Child is Born" freebie today!  

A Bird in the Hand

Good evening all,
I had a birthday card to make for a very good friend of mine who hasn't had the best of times over the last 12 months so I wanted it to be a bit special. 
I knew exactly which image I wanted to use and that was a Peacock that I was lucky enough to win from the fab new blog over at the Rusty Pickle - thanks Michelle!  I decided I wanted it to be primarily blue in colour so picked all my papers/gems and ink colours with that in mind.
So here is the card I made:

 I based my card on the sketch over at CraftyCatz and turned it round slightly.  I used my Lighthouse & More Shape Cutter to cut out the image and coloured it in using watercolour pencils, sakura gelly glaze pens, distress inks and a watercolour brush and promarkers.  I chalked the background with blue chalk and sprayed it all with a bit of hairspray to "seal" the chalk.  The papers are all from the same Hot off the Press paper stack called Sapphire.  The gems are from my stash and the sentiment is from a set I bought from Readicut.  The three flowers I bought from Hobbycraft yonks ago and I love them because they have pearls in them.   Here are a couple of closes ups of the image and the flowers.

This card will fit in with four challenges:

CraftyCatz    -   Sketch

Cupcake Craft Challenge   -   Digital Images

Ooh la la Challenge    -   Monochrome

Pile it On     -      3 flowers and 5 pearls (at least!!!)

Please leave me your comments - I love to read them all!

Dragonlady's candy over at Crafty Dragons!

Hello blogging buddies.
Just had to do a little post about this fabulous candy on offer over at Crafty Dragons.  My bestest crafting buddy Ali has just got her first DT post over at the Rusty Pickles Digital Delights and I am chuffed to a million pieces for her - Go Girl!!  If you haven't visited Ali's blog yet - you really should, there is some fabulous inspiration on there.  Now this is the picture that Ali has put up for now to give everyone plenty of time to join in the fun.

Now Ali will be adding to this candy and I have no doubt that there will be more piccys at a later date when she has sorted everything out.  There are a couple of rules to follow (but they are really easy) and Ali will draw this candy on 1st December (all being well) so good luck to everyone.

Candy on offer at Stampin for Sanity

Hello all,
Just a quick post this morning to let you all know that Lisa Foster has some lovely candy on offer over at Stampin for Sanity.  Now Lisa had some fab news from Paper Craft Planet telling her that she was the featured blogger of the month - how exciting is that - and much deserved I must say!!  Well done Lisa!
So here are some little pics of what she has on offer:

Lisa has also added some other stuff - so this is a lovely lot of candy to win.

Hop on over to Lisa's blog and Link with Mr Linky and become a follower if you're not already!

Good Luck!