Allsorts Challenge 7 - Acetate

Jackie has set the challenge to use acetate this week.

So I decided to make a card for my friend's 50th Birthday using the acetate Sheer Delights - Handbag from Craftwork Cards.

I made a little concertina card for the inside and decorated it using the new Lemonade Papers from Basic Grey. I used a variety of flower, border and other punches for the decorative elements.

Stamps used:-

Fabulous Birthday - Hero Arts

Conversation Dots - Hero Arts

Fabulous Friend - Stampin Up

Circle Alphas (50) - Polka Doodles Sugar Birdies CD

Other items used:-

Card Candy - Craftwork Cards

Gems and Ribbon from Stash

Rub-Ons - Papermania

Lynda xxx

Polka Doodles Challenge #6

This is the challenge at Polka Doodles this week:-

My card:-

I've almost kept to the sketch on this one so I hope I will be forgiven for that! The image is "Miss Ellie" from Butterfly Kisses stamped twice, coloured with copics and I've cut out her frilly skirt and bottom and attached with 3d foam. The card is landscape but the fold is on the left - hope this counts lol and I've made the rickrack paper ribbon using my scallop edge border punch. Background paper is the freebie download that Kirsty Wiseman has designed for Crafts Beautiful Magazine. It's only available for a month so if you want it go here. Other items used:- Swiss Dots Embosing Folder, Martha Stewart Cornflower Punch and Small Circle Scallop Punch.

Lynda xxx

Winter Wonderland - Christmas Crackers

As it's the last Sunday of the month the team at Winter Wonderland set a challenge to make something other than a card - so this month they have chosen Christmas Crackers!

I really enjoyed making my Cracker and even made my own template. I made it squared rather than rounded so that it would sit nicely on the table too. I used some black matt cardstock for the base, covered it with Allsorts paper from Craftwork Cards and decorated it with lace, fancy wool fibres and Prima Flowers.

Lynda xxx

Buddy's Challenge

There's a very handsome chap called Buddy who lives with his mum Kath here. Well it's Buddy's birthday tomorrow and he'll be 3 - that's 21 in doggy years - so a very special birthday to celebrate indeed. Buddy being the very clever boy that he is has sneaked onto his mum's computer and set us a challenge to make him a birthday card. Now I had a word with Queen Flossy and Little Lord Oscar and asked them if they cared to make a special card for this special occasion - well, they just rolled their eyes, turned around and showed me they're bottoms!!! It was worth a try I suppose - so I decided to make the card myself. Hope you like it.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY"

Love from Lynda xxx

DCM Challenge - Make A Child Smile

A very special dare has been set by Sue this week as follows:-

I dare you to make a cheery card for a sick child and send it to one of the children featured on Post Pals to brighten their day.

Background Paper and Image are downloads from Kay Miller Designs (Wild About You and Jungle Boogie). The darker blue card is from an old folder that I have passed through a crimper. The turquoise is DCWV textured cardstock and Ive used Stampin Up's Spiral punch on the edge. Other items used:- Card Candy from Craftwork Cards, Circle Alphas from Polkadoodle Sugar Birdies CD topped with diamond glaze and ScrappyChic Letters from Me & My Big Ideas.

Lynda xxx

Just an update - I've decided that my card is going to Reuben D - After reading the profiles of many of the children it said that Reuben liked giraffes and as my card had a giraffe on it, I just had to pick him . He's also such a cutey and apparently the life and soul of the party. I really hope my card puts a huge smile on his beautiful little face.

ICSketches #22

Wow - another great sketch from Dawn and there's some amazing images on offer for this week's winner from Lily-Boo's Boutique.

My card:-

Ive also decorated the inside - something I don't do very often- but I kept the layout here similar to the sketch too.

Papers, image, flowers and Alpha circles are all from the Polka Doodles Sugar Birdies CD

"forever!" is computer generated

Bazzill Bling cardstock

Nestabilities

Glitter

Lynda xxx

Oh Happy Days!

Just a quick post to let you know my Sugar Birdies CD arrived this morning YEAH!!!. I made a card to sum up exactly how I feel - VERY happy. At last I've got my hands on those wonderful circle alphas and flowers that I have been drooling over for the past 4 or 5 weeks. The rest of the CD is pretty amazing too - there's loadsa great papers, embellies, sentiments, flowers, stampies, I could go on and on. If you want to see more pop over here and view what the amazing Polka Doodle DT have created.

Lynda xxx

Cupcake Challenge 45 - A Sketch

Oh! I do love a good sketch and this week's challenge at CCC is exactly that - a good sketch.

My card:-

Stamp from Crowns & Castles 7 - Paper Artsy

Copics

Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities

DCWV "Once Upon a Time" Stack

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adage Ticket

Strip of corrugated card

Gems, Beads, Glitters from stash

Stickles

I stamped the image twice and attached the front 3 towers/turrets with 3d foam. It does looks quite flat on the photograph but it isn't. I really enjoyed glitzing up the old bit of corrugate card too - think it adds to the "fantasy" element of the stamps.

Lynda xxx

Winter Wonderland - A Blue Christmas

We've got to use plenty of blue on our creations this week for the Winter Wonderland Challenge and there's a fabulous giveaway on offer too so why not pop over, have a look and give it a go.

Stamps used for Background:-

Field of Sky - A Stamp in the Hand

Flourish from Season of Joy - Stampin Up

Main Images:-

Snowbunnybella from Stamping Bella

Christmas Tree from Season of Joy - Stampin Up

Copics

Distress Ink Pad - Broken China

Snowflake Punch

Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Rub ons - Melissa Frances

Pearly type gems from stash

Stickles

Lynda xxx

Polka Doodles Challenge #5

This is the sketch this week for the Polka Doodles Challenge:-

You can do what you like with this sketch but you need to use at least 3 flowers (any size), and the sentiment needs to be across the bottom where the text is. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

I couldn't make my mind up whether to do a card or a bag - then I remembered I'd got a brilliant template for a gift bag from Craftwork Cards and it's always nice to have one of these on standby for emergency prezzies! It's a lovely size and it's very easy to assemble.

I used 2 sheets of 12 x 12 Bazzill

Doily Lace Punch - Martha Stewart

Stamp - Q130 Fresh Bloom - Stampendous

Copics

Leaf Punch

Cheeky Shimmer Stickers - Making Memories

Hole Punch

Sheer Ribbon - Smirk by Trimcraft

Stickles

Lynda xxx

Allsorts Challenge 6 - Wings

It's Brenda's turn to set the challenge this week and she has secured the most amazing prize for this week's winner courtesy of Sir Stampalot - A Quickutz Squeeze Tool with the Essential Shapes Collection. How fab is that!! It's also Brenda's birthday this week so "Happy Birthday Brenda - hope you have a good 'un".

This is the challenge:-

I have chosen "WINGS" ........ Butterflies, Dragonflies, Angels, Fairies, Birds, Bugs or even Planes, anything with wings.

and this is my card:-

Background Paper - Spring & Sprout by Paper Artsy

Turret stamp from Crowns & Castles 1 by Paper Artsy

Copics

Distress Inks - Vintage Photo

Stickles

I stamped, coloured and mounted the Turret image. I then simply cut around the birds on the Paper and slotted the image behind them and then adhered the whole thing to the card. I then lifted the birds slightly away from the image and placed silicone glue behind them so that they would sit proud from the Turret. Very simple but very effective I think. These papers are lovely and this particular sheet has really done all the hard work for you.

Lynda xxx

DCM Challenge - Missing You

Lythan has set the challenge this week at DCM as follows:-

Miss you

Make a card that shares your love with someone - it could be missing you, thinking of you, across the miles - just let you imagination take flight, as the wonderful design team have! I look forward to whiling away my lonely hours by visiting your blogs!

I am so into my stamping and distressing at the moment and I have got to say that I have been totally inspired by Kath - her cards are out of this world and she never fails to amaze me at her creativity.

I have had the "Thinking of You" Collage stamp from Hero Arts for ages and have never used it simply because I didn't really know what to do with it. I am one of those people who makes impulse purchases simply because "I like it" and not that I need it - ring any bells with anyone ? lol. Anyway glad I bought it now as it was perfect for the challenge this week.

Stamps - Thinking of You Collage - Hero Arts

Carols Cube - Judikins (Daisy flower)

Background Script - Dimension Fourth

Vine Leaf - Heidi Grace

Tiny Flower from "Season of Joy" set - Stampin Up

Distress Inks - Vintage Photo, Fired Brick and Peeled Paint

Ive used Card Candy for the flower centres and highlighted a few areas with Stickles

I still think I need a little more practice with the distressing inks as it is a little bit "rough" in places but I am enjoying it so that is the main thing.

Lynda xxx

Carol's Sketch Fun #8

Well aren't I a lucky girl - I was picked by Mr RNG as the winner for Sketch #7.

So I'd like to say a big thank you to Carol for the lovely candy.

THANK YOU CAROL!!!

So onto sketch #8

Another great sketch - and here's my card:-

Stamps - Magnolia

Paper - Doodlebug

Bazzill and K & Co Cardstock

Copics and Chalks

Flower Embellishment - K & Co.

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Papermania Self Adhesive Gems

Doily Edge Punch - Martha Stewart

Stickles Glitter Glue

Thanks for looking.

Lynda xxx

ICSketches #21

Another great sketch from Dawn this week at ICS:-

I didn't realise, until after I had made my card, that I had turned the sketch on it's side again this week. I printed out the sketch and left it on the table with the words at the bottom! Which ever way up though this is a fabby sketch.

My card:-

Papers - "The Green Stack" DCWV &

Allsorts - Craftwork Cards

Stamps - "Fabulous" - Heidi Swapp &

Script background - Dimension Fourth

Distress Inks:- Vintage Photo, Pine Needles & Spiced Marmalade

Sizzix Flourish#3 Die

Floral Chipz from Everlasting Keepsakes

Button and String from stash

Thanks for looking.

Lynda xxx

Cupcake Challenge 44 - Father's Day

This week Jeanette has set the challenge at CCC as follows:-

"As it's getting close to Fathers Day I thought a Fathers Day card would be appropriate, but there's a slight twist in that it has to be more than a card. You can interpret that any way you want to. If it's not Fathers Day in your neck of the woods then a card for a Man (any man) will do. Have fun and I can't wait to see your creations."

So Ive made a Gift Case for a CD - all Ive got to do now is create a CD with some favourite songs on it. Might just have to ask for some help on that one lol.

The case does stand on it's own when it rests on the back flap so it can be displayed as a card too!

Cream base card - Craftwork Cards

Papers are from "The Green Stack" from DCWV

Self Adhesive Velcro Fastener

"Dad" cut out on QuicKutz Silhouette

Stamp - "You're the best, Mum" by Inkadinkado (Mum obviously masked out)

I found this tutorial for a CD Case over on Splitcoast Stampers but I didn't want the extra bulk of the card on the outside so I took the basic measurements and my version is made in one piece rather than two.

Lynda xxx

Allsorts Challenge 5 - Triangles

Gro has set the challenge this week and she wants to see

...TRIANGLES...

It can be the folding, the papers, embellishments or anything else.

This is what I came up with:-

I'm really happy with this card it turned out a lot brighter than I thought it would. I used 8 triangles for the background and I thought the zigzag stitching would count as even more!

Papers: - Dovecraft - Kate Knight collection

Bazzill Bling

Pink Cardstock - Craftwork Cards

In Circle Message - Craftwork Cards

Sizzix 12" Flourish Die

Flowers and Brad from stash

Faux and Real Stitching

Lynda xxx

Winter Wonderland - Let it Snow!

I'm really getting into my Christmas cards now since joining in with the challenges at Winter Wonderland. The theme this week is "Let it Snow"

Stamps:-

"Snowman Bearing Gift" - Woodware

"Frosty White Wintertime Snow" - Hero Arts

Background Paper - Basic Grey

Nestabilities - Curved Rectangle

Copics

Distress Inks:- Faded Jeans and Spiced Marmalade

Microbeads

This snowman stamp is one of my all time favourites for Christmas cards and I've used him every year since I bought him so he was worth every penny. I stamped him twice, cut one of the images out with the nestabilities, distressed the background and drew snow and snowflakes with glue and sprinkled on microbeads. I cut the second image out and attached with 3d foam pads. I stamped the sentiment, cut out each word and mounted onto a distressed background and attached to card with 3d foam pads.

Lynda xxx

Two Top 5's in one week!

Hi just a quick post to say how thrilled I am to have been picked in the Top 5 in Two challenges this week.

Allsorts Challenge - Pink and White

and

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Colour challenge

Thank you so much everyone!

Lynda xxx

Daring Cardmakers - Sizzling Hot!

Keryn has set the challenge this week:-

"Here in New Zealand we're in the middle of winter. Not snow like some of you get but we think it's cold all the same. I want to see card creations using only sizzling hot yellow based colours like red, orange and yellow to send some heat out to us through the web."

I used Stampin Up stamps to create all the images on this card and they were from the following sets:-

Polka Dot (background)

Petal Pizzazz (background and cut out flowers)

Summer by the Sea (main image)

Best Yet - sentiment

Distress Inks used:-

Vintage Photo, Fired Brick and Spiced Marmalade

Ive glittered the flower centres, used a Sakura Clear Gelly Roll glitter pen to outline the main image and added faux stitching.

It's a good job the distress inks wash off the hands well as I would look like someone who has a 60 ciggy a day habit if not! Prefer my addiction any time lol.

Lynda xxx

Polka Doodles Challenge #4

This is the sketch that we have to follow this week on Polka doodles challenge.....

....but there is a twist as we have explicit instructions to follow too:-

You MUST use a stamped (or digi stamp) image and you MUST use the freebie that has kindly been provided by them (thanks for the freebie - they are always gratefully received)!!!

This is my card (it just had to be a birdhouse!!):-

The backing paper is of course the freebie!

Owl Stamp is another freebie from Craft Stamper Magazine

Branch Stamp is from Craftwork Cards' Clear Stamps - Japanese Doll - Akina

Images coloured with Copics

DCWV Textured Cardstock

K&Co Recycled Cardstock

Flowers (large ones coloured with Copics to match image) and Brads from stash

Other items used:-

Circle Nestabilities

QuicKutz Flower Nesting Die

Martha Stewart Scallop Punch

Stickles and Diamond Glaze

The DT (and the rest of us) are loving the Circle Alphas and we are being tormented 'cos we can't get our sticky, inky little hands on them just yet. Sooooo I decided to have a go at making something similar - not half as good but they will do for now! So that was the sentiment sorted.

Another enjoyable challenge!

Lynda xxx

ICSketches #20

Another great sketch from Dawn over at ICSketches this week.

I decided to turn the sketch anti-clockwise by 90 degrees and I actually used a C6 card for a change. I don't usually go for this size but I didn't want to lose the image in acres of paper! I tried the distressing again but I'm not that happy with it today - I need more practice (any excuse lol).

My card:-

Stamp - Laura Ashley mounted onto scrap cardboard

Distress Ink Pads - Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo and Spiced Marmalade

Papers - K & Co

Rub On - Melissa Frances

Tim Holtz Distress Stickles

Faux stitching

Other items used:- Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Swiss Dots)

and Martha Stewart Doily Lace Border Punch

Thanks for looking.

Lynda xxx

Cupcake Craft Challenge 43 - Colour Challenge

Ida has set the challenge this week over at Cupcake Craft Challenge Blog - It is a colour challenge and we have to make a card for a kid and it has to incorporate Turquoise, Yellow and Bright Pink.

So I reached for my Patti Picklicious CD and printed out papers that were perfect for this challenge. I punched out several circles and adhered them to the card in a patchwork style and then matted and stitched a square of the yellow dotty paper over them. Stamped image and sentiment is from Lily at the Beach set by Pink Cat Studio, coloured with Copics and matted and layered onto Turquoise Bazzill Bling and card that has been embossed with Swiss Dots Embossing Folder. The letters for "Have a great day" are rub-ons by Doodlebug Design "all mixed up." I layered a few circles and crinkled the edges for the flower type embellishment in the top corner.

Lynda xxx

Winter Wonderland - A Christmas Carol

This week the challenge at Winter Wonderland is to make something with a Christmas Carol theme. So I picked "Away in a Manger" as I have the cutest Penny Black Stamp that just fitted the bill. I absolutely love the vintage look but haven't been too successful in achieving it before so I have been having a good old play with my Distress Ink Pads and I think I have finally cracked it. I am so pleased with myself as I have created something that I thought was completely out of my comfort zone. I will be doing more cards like this and I think a few more shades of Distress Ink will be needed now.

Stamps Used:-

Penny Black - "All Creatures"

Dimension Fourth - Old Fashioned Script

Magnolia - Swirl

Hobby Art - Pine Branch

Stampin Up - Poinsettia from "Season of Joy" set

Impression Obsession - Holly from "Holly Cube"

Ive used Copics to add a bit of shading to the main image and Card Candy for the flower centres.

Lynda xxx

Allsorts Challenge 4 ~ Pink & White

A lovely challenge this week at Allsorts Challenge Blog - Pink and White is the theme and as I had a Christening Card to make I thought it would be just perfect for the challenge.

Here's my card:-

Church Stamp - Magnolia

Angel Stamp - Judikins "Angel Praying"

Silver Embossing Powder

Sentiment Stamp - Woodware

BoBunny Papers

Other Items used:- Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder,

Flowers from Stash, Gems, and Card Candy

Lynda xxx

Polka Doodles Challenge No. 3

For the challenge this week we have to follow the sketch and we must use 3 different papers and at least 1 flower.

This is the sketch:-

And this is my card:-

All the elements on this card except the flowers and brad are from the new "Sorbet Souffle Collection - Richie - I want it all Goody Bag" from Craftwork Cards. Ive used a 3d sticky pad on one half of the In Circle message so that the diagonal slides just under the other half to keep the card closed. The 3 papers are the blue ice swirly on the inside, the caramel dots on the outside and the blue ice dots scallop circle on the flower embellishment.

This is what the inside looks like (the stamped sentiment is by Hero Arts):-

Lynda xxx

DCM Challenge - Whether the weather be fine....

Jo has set this week's challenge over on Daring Cardmakers as follows:-

A meteorological themed dare - we have had some fantastic sunshine this week so I thought that it would be fun to have a weather filled dare. Of course it doesn't have to be a sunny card, it just needs to have a type of weather featured somewhere on the card. Rain, hail, clouds and (dare I even say it) snow would all be a brilliant starting point for a card.

I thought about doing yet another Christmas Card and incorporating some Snow but soon changed my mind when I remembered I had some cute little stamps I haven't had a play with. The stamps in question are from the "Lily at the Beach" collection from Pink Cat Studio and I don't need any excuse to get the sea shells, flower soft and micro dots out to finish off a beach scene. I coloured the flower soft and a few of the shells with Alcohol Inks and it works a treat. Papers are off cuts I found in my scrap box. Other items used:- DCWV Textured Cardstock, Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots" Embossing Folder, Copics and Diamond Glaze.

Lynda xxx

Carol's Sketch Fun #7

Another new challenge blog here called Carol's Sketch Fun hosted by Carol of Carol's Paperplayce. The sketch Carol has created for the very first challenge is absolutely amazing I took one look at it and knew exactly what I was going to do and it took me about 20 minutes - a first for me! - I usually ponder for ages looking at papers, stamps, in this box and that box and so on and so on lol. Carol had made a Christmas Card and as I am now on a mission to get cracking with mine too, I have done the same.

This is the wonderful sketch:-

and this is my card:-

Stamp - "Silent Night" by Stampin Up (Ive also used the sentiment stamp in this collection for the insert)

Daisy Bucket Papers "Mistletoe Kisses" and Bazzill Cardstock

Card Candy from Craftwork Cards

Ive used Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder and Oval and Scallop Oval Nestabilities

Sentiment - Melissa Frances

Finished off with Stickles

I really enjoyed making this card, thanks Carol for your inspiration.

Lynda xxx

ICSketches #19

This week there's a fabby sketch at ICS and it was just perfect for a wedding card that a friend asked me to make for her.

This is the sketch:-

and this is my card:-

Papers are Basic Grey (Porcelain) and Doodlebug (Bubblegum Filagree)

Cuttlebug Folders - Swiss Dots, Divine Swirls and Wedding Set

Sentiment - Melissa Frances Stamp

Ribbon, Flowers, Button and Gem from stash

Other items used are a Fern Punch, Stickles and Krylon Silver Leafing Pen

Lynda xxx

Cupcake Challenge #42 - Fairies

This week's challenge has been set by Evelina and the theme is "fairies". All we have to do is have one (or a few) fairies on our card or project.

This was quite a simple card but I love it all the same.

Fairy - Lili of the Valley

Cuttlebug Folders - Swiss Dots and Flower Border

Krylon Silver Leafing Pen

Copics

Gems

Stickles

Lace Ribbon from Dunelm Mill

I used a scrap of green patterned paper and just snipped the edges to make the grass border.

Thanks for looking.

Lynda xxx

Winter Wonderland - Oh Christmas Tree!

There's another new challenge blog called Winter Wonderland that's well worth a visit. Their first challenge is the theme of "Oh Christmas Tree" so whilst I was hiding from the strong rays of Mr Sunshine this morning I came up with this card:-

Background paper is from one of the Christmas Collections by Basic Grey (possibly Fruitcake but I'm not sure) mounted onto Brown Bazzill. Trees are cut from Daisy Bucket's "Mistletoe Kisses" paper and mounted onto some Red Bazzill. I cut some thin strips of brown card and criss crossed them over the card and then used micro beads, flower soft and stickles to create a snowy element. Sentiment created using my Dymo LetraTag and the stars from my sewing stash. Before I mounted the main image onto the card I used the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Border Folder on each side as I thought it needed something just to "lift" the card.

A lovely way to prepare for Christmas!!

Lynda xxx