Fave Quote Courtesy of Dyan Reavley Art from the Heart

Don't wait for the light at the end of the tunnel........ Stride on down and light the bloomin thing yourself!!

Friday 16 December 2011

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Christmas Hues of Blues Challenge #73 and I love Promarkers Blue and White challenge

I chose the Christmas Hottie image from  Kenny K for this weeks challenge. As I was short on time (mrs unorganised AGAIN) I used my Serif Craft Artist software to create the background. I really love using this but need to spend more time experimenting to use all the different effects and things! As the challenge suggested I used loads of different blues to mat and layer the background and added snowflakes and the sentiment on the tag, changing the font colour to match the rest of the card. I printed the image out seperately and coloured it with promarkers before adding highlights with foiling. I used foam pads to attach the image to create more depth and finished by adding gems and stickles glitter glue to the snowflakes.
A closeup of the finished snowflake ! Love the effects you can create with this method !!

Wednesday 7 December 2011

Trying out My New Kanban Stamps

I ordered these stamps from Kanban and couldn't wait to try them out! Like most of us I often find it more difficult to make men's cards. I decided to make this card as part of my entry for the simply cards and papercraft magazine's cardmaker of the year competition.
I started off with the mannikin which I coloured with promarkers and cut out, finishing it off with gold foiling. This was layered onto a label-shaped piece of card that was embossed using a Tim Holtz embossing folder. I highlighted the embossing with copper versamark ink.
I stamped the clock, ticket and the cogs and cut them out , layering them onto the 'label'. The label was finished by setting a large eyelet at the top and tying a piece of garden twine through it. The card blank was created using an A4 piece of acetate, folded in half. I cut a piece of harlequin paper 7.5cm wide and stamped it with script. I cut it into 2 and rounded the corners. 6 eyelets were set into it and after adhering it across the card I laced it with twine. The Happy birthday tag was created using antique gold metal magic fromhttp://www.debbimoore.co.uk/. It's fab stuff and lets you make your own embellishments that really look like metal!
The finishing touches were added with some larger cogs which I stamped, cut out and arranged in the top right hand corner to balance out the design. Finally I adhered some paper from papermania to the inside of the card so it could be seen through the front of the card. Pleased with the results and won't be so 'shy' of making male's cards in the future. Really enjoyed playing with my new stamps!!!

St Lukes Let it snow challenge and Teddy Bo White Christmas Challenge

I made this card for the two challenges above this week. The St Lukes challenge could be anything snowy and the Teddy Bo challenge had to use mostly white in the design.
I made a 'box' card and cut an aperture in the front panel. On the back panel I adhered a snowy image which I'd enhanced with stickles glitter glue. The gorgeous bears on the sledge are Teddy Bo and Teddy Bea fromhttp://teddybo.com/. Aren't they just adorable??? I can safely say I'm becoming quite addicted to them!! I coloured the Teddys with promarkers then used irridescent H2O's for their clothes which produced a lovely pastel look which went well with the white scheme of white christmas. The side 'tabs' were decorated with diecuts using sizzix shapeabillities lace doily accents.
 I used my crop-a-dile to add snowflake eyelets to the side tabs and the front of the card. Atriple bow was fixed on using abutton and the whole thing was finished off with lots and lots of gorgeous white stickles!

Sunday 4 December 2011

I Love Promarkers Challenge # 94

Hi wanted to get cracking on some of the Fab challenges for this week.http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/ challenge this week is 'snowmen and snowflakes'.
I used a digistamp from http://www.sassycherylsdigis.com and coloured it with my promarkers. Love this design.... just a bit different from the usual snowmen stamps!. I added some lovely crystal glitter(don't know the make) but it doesn't show up well on the pic.
I added some eyelets to the corners after matting the design onto glitter card as double sided tape doesn't stick so well on glitter card ! Some lovely silver ric rack was threaded through the eyelets to add a bit of texture. As a background I used some really nice 'patchwork' paper from nit wits.
 As the challenge said Snowmen AND Snowflakes I decided to make some 'snowflakes' like we all used to make in nursery school! Using small cicles of silver holographic paper I folded it and snipped bits out then backed the snowflakes with double sided tape, attached them to the front of the card and filled in the spaces of the flakes with white glitter....... just a bit different..... unless ur 4 lol !!

Monday 28 November 2011

Kenny K's Challenge #71

Haven't had chance to enter KKKG challenge for a few weeks so thought I'd make an early start this week lol.The challenge was stitching, faux or real so I went for both!!
The background was created using the serif craft artist software. It has loads of embroidery brushes and I wanted to use them all! Maybe I went a bit ott but never mind. The colour scheme is one I haven't used much before but I really like it. I used Kittykatastrophe digistamp from KennyK and coloured her in with promarkers.
I added loads of bling using stickles and foils on her jewels but the pic doesn't do them justice!The sentiment was computer generated.
A wide ricrac was coloured with promarkers to match the colourscheme and I hand stitched it to the left hand side of the card using a herringbone stitch in silky machine embroidery thread. This stitch is ideal for stitching ricrac n gives a pretty finish.
I finished off with a huge bow recycled from a posh box of choccies and a vintage button off my mam which I attached using the machine embroidery thread to match the border.
Pleased with the overall look .... fits in with the girly 'best friend birthday' sentiment.

Saturday 19 November 2011

WOW!!!!! Craft Barn Blog Candy to be won

Wow!! Take a look at the FAB Blog candy up for grabs at http://thecraftbarnblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/look-look-look-blog-candy.html? You've got until the 25th November to be in with a chance of winning over £200 of crafting goodies to celebrate them reaching over 600 followers. Congrats Craft Barn. Good luck with the blog candy prize xx

Sunday 13 November 2011

i'm a teddybo-aholic !!! LOL

I made this card for a competition in papercraft essentials mag. You had to create a birthday card using some type of digital elements.
The focus of the card was a digistamp from http://teddybo.com/. which I coloured using promarkers in a pastel pink and lilac to give it a really 'girly' feel.
The ruffly part of her tutu was finished in lilac glitter which looks soooo pretty but you can't see it properly on this  photo.To add a bit of extra texture I used a quickie glue penon the pompom on her hat and once it had gone clear I pressed some cottonwool onto it, giving it a woolly fluffy look. Isn't she just adorable? I'm quickly becoming addicted to these gorgeous teddy images !
The background of the card was created using the serif craft artist digital software. I'm not an expert but am getting more comfortable with it and it's so easy to create dimensional embelishments like this metallic look swirl which I highlighted with a jewelled brad to create more dimention. Fingers crossed for the comp :)

Saturday 12 November 2011

Lest We Forget

I came across this  poem on Dyan Reavley's blog and it really touched me so I wanted to share it with you. Hope Dyan doesn't mind!

Good night God bless

The soldier stood and faced God,

Which must always come to pass
.
He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass.


"Step forward now, you soldier,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To my Church have you been true?
"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,

"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.

Because those of us who carry guns,

Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,

And at times my talk was tough
.
And sometimes I've been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,

That wasn't mine to keep..
.
Though I worked a lot of overtime,

When the bills just got too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help
,
Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God, forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.


I know I don't deserve a place,

Among the people here.

They never wanted me around
,
Except to calm their fears.


If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or had too much,

But if you don't, I'll understand."


There was a silence all around the throne,

Where the saints had often trod.

As the soldier waited quietly,

For the judgement of his God.


"Step forward now, you soldier,

You've borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell."


Author Unknown

RIP all those who have lost their lives and are still losing their lives in conflict. our thoughts are with you and your families.

Thursday 10 November 2011

Teddy Bo Challenge #21 and the ST. Lukes November Challenge

Hi came across this fabby blog recently and absolutely LOVE the digi images of TeddyBo (boy) and TeddyBea (girl). This weeks challenge was to make any card using pastel colours. I decided to make a start on my family christmas cards and kill 2 birds with 1 stone. lol.

The theme for St. Lukes Challenge for November is Christmas so I'm entering this card in that challenge as well.
I've used a TeddyBo digiimage and coloured him with promarkers. For the background I decided to use my Serif Craft Artist and some elements from digikits from Daisytrail to build up the look I wanted. Pleased with the way it's worked out and especially like the dimension on the snowflakes. I finished the card off by adding a matching ribbon, a sentiment from Hot off the press, a few jewells on the snowflakes and LOTS of glitter!!!
A closer look at TeddyBo. How cute is he???

Saturday 29 October 2011

KKCG challenge #66 Get Dotty

This weeks challenge was to make a dotty card so I went for a christmas card using BLUES instead of the usual reds and greens! I used Kenny K digistamp Christmas hottie who certainly lives up to her name lol!
The 'sentiment' was from a collage download from Dyan Reavely at ARt from the Heart.... Love them they're fab.. so funny!
Haven't done much crafting this week as I had a shoulder op on Monday n it was a bit too sore but I managed to complete the kkkg challenge - only just though - 10 minutes left till close when I added my link! PHEW!!!!

Friday 21 October 2011

Kenny K's Challenge #65

This weeks challenge at http://kennykkraftygirlzchallenges.blogspot.com/ is Autumn. Any card could be created as long as you used the beautiful colours of Autumn and a KennyK digistamp!

I chose to use 'Eva Pearl' this week, one of the newer steampunk burlesque digistamps and used a mixture of promarkers, metallic felt tips and foiling to colour her in. I cut the feathers off her hat and added real feathers instead to add a bit extra texture. I used the Tim Holtz wooden embossing folder and various papers to build up the background. I made a gathered flower from organza ribbon and secured it with a large copper brad  just to finish it off.


Up close and personal to the lovely Eva Pearl lol xx      ;)

Let's hear it for the Boys

This card was created for the St Lukes monthly challenge. The theme was mens cards- lets hear it for the boys! so I made a 'congratulations on passing your driving test' card. I used a kenny K digistamp, Racey Roxy and coloured it in with pro markers, made an L sign and ripped it in half and used embossing folders to create the 2 flags and her seat.The backing paper was from papermania I think - all my papers aren't very tidy and I tend to mix them up n never know what makes what ! lol Pleased with how it turned out..... a bit different to the usual male themed cards I hope  xx   :)

Friday 14 October 2011

'Winged Things'

I've made this little plaque for the Crafty Individuals challenge. I used one of their springtime background papers as a base and built up layers using distress inks and a lovely music stamp that I've had ages! All the other stamps are from Crafty individuals..... especially LOVE the little singing birdies on the branch..... gorgeous! The text was stamped used a mixed letter set from hero arts which I've also had for ages but use all the time .... they're so versatile.
......And here's a close up of those cute little birdies!

.........And lastly...... a close up of the little bird n birdhouse that's hanging from the bottom of the main heart.

I really enjoyed doing this project and had a real good play. Love collage work where anything goes.......... just getting messy n going for it lol xxx

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Kenny K's Challenge #64

This weeks challenge was you had to make any shaped card featuring one of their fabby digistamps..... The hardest part is always trying to decide which image to use!!!  I finally settled on Devilish Donna and went for a 'spooky' theme to fit in with halloween. I coloured her with promarkers and  the BOO! was printed out using wordart and stuck onto acatate to really make it 'pop'. Pleased with the colour scheme which was originally intended to fit in with another challenge as well but I left it too late!! 

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Anouther 'GLAM' peek!!

Here's another of my samples from the glam collection! This time.... decoupage......
You can't really see from the pic but the frame's on the front and the middle cut away then the fabby image is on the inside of the card (which is why it looks a bit wonky.... the cards open at an angle lol)
Love the images - they really 'pop' out. Hope you like them as much as me xx

A touch of GLAMOUR

Been busy making some samples for Debbi Moore designs using her new FASHION Stacker  card making paper pack and layering templates.Theres nothing better to brighten your day than a bit of Glamour and I had such fun having a 'play'. I didn't need to add much to the designs but you could go right over the top if you were that way inclined, adding oodles of glitter and gems,etc
 I love the classic colour scheme of black and white- it always looks so elegant. The layering templates really came in handy on this design to make the 'frames' - all even and perfectly sized..... I could have never managed this 'free hand' lol. I cut the shaped card using a home made plastic template which has worked really well. The closer pic shows the touches of glitter to the jewellery on the glamourous ladies. I kept  the glitter to a minimum as the frames were glittery and I didn't want to overpower the fab images!!!

Thursday 6 October 2011

This weeks Kennyk Challenge #63

This weeks challenge had to feature more than 1 of Kenny's images and some die cuts. I coloured the images with promarkers and used some backing papers from my stash. Instead of a sentiment I used text from Dyans downloads at http://shop.afth.co.uk. LOVE her quirky sayings and they go perfectly with Kenny's sassy girlz!!

Wednesday 5 October 2011

A tweak here and there!!!

My Aunt is 80 years young this week and I wanted to make her a card a bit out of the ordinary. Whilst watching a crafters companion dvd I came across a lovely design by Sara Davies. I had some A4 card which went well with the candles I'd purchased to go in the card and got started......      only to find I needed 12x12! I didn't have any in the colour I wanted so used my A4 and tweaked it a bit!
It was a bit smaller than Sara's card but I was still able to fit 4 tealights in it. The image was from the summer breeze cd from http://www.debbimoore.co.uk/. I was a bit unsure whether the box would stay closed properly so I put some wide double sided tape on the back of a piece of the backing paper and cut out some matching seals using a circle punch...
  Pleased with the finnished card and can't wait to make some more............. with a bit more tweaking of course.... you never know how it's gonna end up lol     xx    :)                                                                                                                                               

Monday 3 October 2011

A Blogging Newbie!!

Hi there . Well.... here goes.... I've been meaning to start a blog for ages but with one thing and another have never got around to it! What finally gave me the push is the fact that while looking through other blogs I stumbled upon the world of blog challenges. I really wanted to give it a go and entered 1 last week via email but thought I could enter loads more if I had a blog of my own so here we are!!

This was what started it all off- the entry to last weeks (challenge #61 )http://kennykkraftygirlzchallenges.blogspot.com/
I used one of Kraftyk's digistamps and coloured it with promarkers. The sentiment was a download from Dyan Reavley from http://shop.afth.co.uk/. I was really pleased with the result as it was a project of firsts....the 1st time I'd used digistamps, the1st time I'd used promarkers on a project and the 1st challenge I'd entered!