Hidden Message

This weeks challenge on Pollycraft is to make a card with a hidden message. The DT cards are fab and have given me many different ideas on how to put a hidden message in a card. I made this card using the frog Paula drew for Lisa's RAK event. (I sent a different card last week to Jayme, but I like this image.) I have stamped in a background using some Papermania stamps I bought today in a sale. I'm not that practiced at stamping backgrounds and so it doesn't look as I wanted it too. The message ended up being upside down when you pull it out too- not my best card, but I haven't made one with a hidden message for a while and my paper engineering brain was obviously not working today. I hope you like the bright colours and wobby eyes I have added to the frog though- at least it is fun!

LGS 29th May

This weeks challenge on lgs is to follow the sketch set by Karen and only use two colours. I have made two cards today using CC design images sent to me from Clare. (Thankyou again Clare x.) The first uses the colours green and pink. I tried out Karen's Flowers from her second tutorial. (I filled the centres with glitter glue to make them a little different.)On the second card I have gone for the colours green and purple and have made spiral quilled flowers using a tutorial I saw on Passion for Promarkers.
For both cards I have coloured peel off with Promarkers to change their colour.

'All the Best'

I have used the sketch from this weeks I love Promarkers challenge to make an easel card with a lovely image from Cherry in one of the image swaps on CB a while ago. It might not be that seasonal though- better for autumn maybe- but I enjoyed using the image as it is a little different to what I normal go for. I made the flowers out of natural raffia and brads, and have platted the raffia to make a border across the base. The image is coloured with Promarkers (Ivory, Blush, Satin, Tan, Mustard, Raw Sienna, Burnt Orange, Bright Orange, Gold, Ruby, Cinammon, Cocoa, Pine, Pastel Yellow) and so I wil also enter it into this weeks Passion for Promarkers challenge, which is 'anything goes'.

Promarkers

I made this card for this weeks I love Promarkers challenge, which is a sketch. I have used a cute CC design given to me by Clare and coloured with Promarkers. The backign paper is Doodlebug and the fabric flowers were an assortment I had, which I cut down a bit to layer up.I will also enter this card into this weeks Passion for Promarkers anniversary challenge, which is 'anything goes'. They have great prizes this week and you can enter as many times as you like! Thankyou so much for the chance.

Buttons and Butterflies

I made this card for this weeks Pollycraft Challenge, which is 'buttons and butterflies'. I was amazed that I got chosen as a Pollycraft Favourite last week with my Cuthbert holding flowers card. I hope you like this one as well. This week I have used Earth Fairy. I made a background for her by printing 'I love you this much' lots of times, colouring with Promarkers (Pink Carnation, edged in Rose Pink) (chisel tip) and adding flower-like details with the blender Promarker. (I have got into experimenting with the blender pen now and like the different effects you can do with it.)I will also enter this into this weeks Passion for Promarkers challenge, which is 'anything goes'. I have used my PMs to colour the image (Amethyst, Orchid, Rose Pink, Pastel Blue, Raw Sienna, Cocoa, Ivory, Blush, Dusky Pink).

Froggy!

I have made this frog card for an excellent cause which I saw on Tales of Pollycraft. One of the DT (Lisa) has a sister who is dying of lung cancer and they would like fellow crafters to make her a card and send it to her. Jayme (Lisa's sister) really likes frogs and so frog cards are most appreciated!I have used a Pinkpetticoat frog image and some freebie download frames for the image. It follows the sketch from this weeks Pear Tree Designs challenge.

I have coloured the image with Promarkers (Lime green, Leaf Green, Forest Green, Pine, Pastel Blue, Canary, Rose Pink, Amethyst, Gold, Ruby, Tan and Satin) and so will enter it into this weeks Passion for Promarkers Challenge, which is anything goes.

K is for Kisses

This weeks challenge for ABC Christmas is 'K is for kisses' with the optional extra of a shaped card. I have made this card using the sketch from this weeks lgs (CB) challenge. It is an easel card, with a cute Christmas mouse hugging a bauble. I hope it displays enough Christmas love and implied kisses, as well as kisses in the sentiment.

Things from the bottom of the craft stash!

This weeks challenge on LGS (CB) was a sketchie set by GDT Kathy and the twist to use things or techniques which you haven't used before or haven't used for a long time- a perfect opportunity to use the things which I have had at the bottom of the pile for ages. So in this card I have used some shrink plastic for a mini Messy Rabbit embellishment, Friendly Plastic to make a flower (had that for over 15 years and so it didn't work that well since it was brittle when I cut it), jigsaw photo frame (had them for 5 years) and Fiskars Shape Boss to add the stars to the frame (had that for a year or so and almost never use it- got it in a charity shop for a bargin!).I wasn't planning on making another entry for this weeks I love Promarkers, but since I have made my own flower (or more of a squiggle) I will enter this as well!

Birthday cards from LGS group

These are the beautiful birthday cards I opened today from other crafters in the lgs birthday card swop...

Fairy Tale

I made this card for this weeks I love Promarkers challange, which is to make your own flowers. I have used my tried and trusted version of handmade roses. This time I have made them with Mullberry paper for the first time, for a more delicate look. I have distressed them with gold ink too.The image is a beauty sent to me by Clare. I think she may have used masking to get the effect of Tilda looking out of the window, but I can't take credit for that- only the colouring!

My 100th blog post!

This is my 100th blog post and it seems apt that I use it to display a card for the I love Promarkers Challenge this week (the same challenge I entered on my first post!). This weeks challenge is make your own flowers and I have made this rosette-type flower using a technique I saw Cherry had used a while ago. Watch this space for more homemade flowers!I will also enter the card for this weeks Passion for Promarkers challenge, which is the theme 'fantasy'. I know it is more of a cute card than fantasy, but it does have an image of a dragon, and they were on the list! I'm not such a fan of the mystical fantasy/fairie images and designs (a bit spooky I think), so this is as close to fantasy as I get really.

Last nights work!

I made this card yesterday after Lauren (CB) sent me this beautiful LOTV image- thankyou so much. It is perfect fro this weeks theme on LGS (CB) and so I have used Rosie's sketch (again!).

I have added two lace bows as embellishments and so will enter the card into this weeks DCD (challenge is lace). Thanks for the inspiration on DCD, since lace is not something I normally think of using, but I love the DT cards and so am thinking of investing in some larger pieces of lace. Sorry my lace on this card is a bit merge, but it is all I have. I hope the lacey style border and flower paper also count towards the lace theme.

I will also enter the card into this weeks Pollycraft challenge of summer blooms since I have added two flowers!

Summer Blooms

This weeks Pollycraft challenge is 'summer blooms'. I have made this card with one of the new Cuthbert Pollycraft digis (it was the Friday freebie the week before last- thankyou!).

Passion for Promarkers

This is my first challenge with Passion for Promarkers. I made the card for this weeks LGS (Craftbubble) challenge (a sketch set by Rosie and the theme of food), but since it contains strawberries I will enter it into this weeks PFP challenge too (the image is coloured by PMs of course). It was Clare and Lisa on LGS making strawberry themed cards that inspired me to make this.

LGS 15th May

This weeks LGS (Craftbubble) challenge was a sketch set by Rosie and the theme of food. I have used my French Lofty (holding bread, garlic and crossiant).

WSC 13th May

This weeks WSC was a sketch set by Rosie and the recipe 1) some embossing, 2) some holes and 3) some leaves. I have used one of the Winnie images off my new Willow Designs CD along with two of the Winnie papers and another from an Alfie file. The embossing is on the strip across the bottom, which I cut up an embossed card blank for. The holes are on this strip too, since I used my border punch on it. The leaves are attached to the flowers- where else would they be?

Bentley Bear Trio

For this weeks I love Promarkers Challenge, I have used the sketch to create a trio of Bentley Bear cards using the free stamps from the latest issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft. The papers are also freebies from another magazine last summer.

I have experimented with using my Promarkers directly on the stamps for the background of the birthday card, where I used the small cupcake and Promarkers buttercup and pink carnation to create a background. Not sure if I like it or not, but worth a go. The ink doesn't come off the stamp though and so probably best that I sacrificed a freebie first!

I will also enter these cards into the ECP challenge (spring) since they use spring papers and colours.

J is for Jingle Bells

The challenge this time on ABC Christmas is to make a project with the theme 'J is for Jingle Bells' with an optional extra of a punched shape. I wasn't going to enter since I don't have any relavent imaages, but then I decided today to have ago at designing my own Iris folding. I used a stencil for the bell shape and then adapted it to fit the other two bells behind. The folded paper is from a Christmas ATC pack which I never use. I didn't quite think about it at the start and so the gaps between the bells are too small to do patterns with the folding without the papers from the bells overlapping each other. I haven't managed to include the punched item, but since it is optional, I hope this is Ok.

Pollycraft Monday 43

This weeks Pollycraft challenge is to follow the sketch. I have made this card using the Pollycraft image 'Dudley and a balloon'. It has been printed on photo paper and coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment is also from Pollycraft.

The DT cards are out this world this week on Pollycraft. I don't know how people come up with such fantastic creations. Mine looks very plain in comparison.

Shabby Chic?

This weeks DCD challenge is to make a project with the theme 'shabby chic'. I am not really sure what this means, but the DT cards had lots of creams, pinks and blues (pale) with a bit of a distressed look. Hence I made this card with a huge amount of distressing (for me at least). The image is one I recieved in a image swap on CB and the ink ran a bit so I had to be careful with the colouring.Shabby chic is something which Mum always uses to describe her house, before saying that it is more shabby than chic. That is why I get a bit confused as to what 'shabby chic' actually is!

Glamour

This weeks lgs challenge (CB) was to follow the sketch set by Lauren and to add a touch of glamour. I have made a wedding card using an image Clare kindly sent me yesterday.

WSC 6th May

This weeks WSC is a sketch with the recipe of 1) something pleated, 2) something floral and 3) some pink. Whilst waiting for my Willow Designs CD (it's on its way now!!!!!), I got the latest copy of Cardmaking and Papercraft from my subscription this morning and there are a new lot of fab Bentley the Bear Stamps attached. They are so cute that I had to give them a go! The papers came free with C & P last year some time and I hadn't used them yet.The pleated strip across the bottom was inspired by Sharon's DT card- great idea! It also has flowers on it (if you were wondering where the flowers were!). I think the pink is obvious.

Something Special

I made this card for the daughter of Mum's cousin, who's 21st birthday party my parents are going to in a few weeks time. I've never meet Lauren, but Mum and Dad have met her once before a few years ago. She has very severe Down's Symdrome. I wanted to make a special card with texture (hence the feathers) and sparkle (lots of bling and glitter), that she might be able to enjoy. Her father said one of the only things she is interested in is 'fashion'. Mum and I weren't quite sure what this meant, but I hope the sweet Tilda image, floral papers and ribbon fit the bill.

I will enter the card into this weeks DCD challenge (Tilda in Pink) and I love Promarkers Challenge (wings- Tilda has wings in this image). The flowers are made using the instructions from last weeks tutorial on DCD by Karen and they have been distressed with silver ink (which came off on my fingers when I was curling them!). The papers are new ones I got on Sunday, from the Papermania Capsule Collection and I have added glitter to them for added detail.

PS I was really pleased to come in the top 4 last week on DCD!!!!!!

Here comes the sun!

This weeks Pollycraft challenge is 'here comes the sun!', although I think the sun has gone its holidays from here anyway. Not much sun in the last few days at all :(

Mum wanted me to decorate these flipflop boxes she got from Hobbycraft so she can put earrings in them and give them to her friend as a birthday present. I thought these symbolise sunshine completely, and I have also used bright sunny colours on them- pink and yellow. Inspired by the tutorial on Tales or Pollycraft for printing out digi images on different papers, I printed the 'make a wish' sentiment and 'duck with cake' image onto coloured paper, added colour with Promarkers, glitter and paper piecing (for the cake case). On the pink flipflop I added glossy accents to the top in the shape of a foot print to add some texture. The flower on the pink flipflop is handmade, using the DCD tutorial from last week.

Make your own flowers #3

This is my third card this week for the challenge 'make your own flowers', but there are three challenges doing it, (lgs (craftbubble), DCD and Pollycraft) and so three cards seems the right number!

I know this is a bit of a joke interpretation, but I had the idea and wanted to do it. What do you make real flowers from? seeds, of course. Hence on this card I have made some flowers out of sunflower seeds! (My favourite flower along with daffs in spring.) There are also two small punched flowers. the sketch is from this weeks lgs challenge, set by Karen, and the image is one from Pollycraft.

Make your own flowers # 2

This weeks challenge on lgs (Craftbubble) was a sketch set by Karen and the twist was 'make your own flowers'. I made this card and since the challenges on DCD and Pollycraft are also 'make your own flowers' this week, I will enter this card there as well.The flowers are my first attempt at the ones which Karen gave a tutorial on DCD on how to make this week. I am really pleased with the outcome- especially as I didn't have the Sizzix die nor proper distressing inks and cut and dry foam (I made templates of the petals for myself and used an old ink pad for the distressing). It did take me over 3 hours to make the card though, so I think I will only be making those flowers for special occasions!

WSC 29th April

Yippee! I was so pleased to win last weeks WSC prize and can't wait to recieve the CD to make lots of Willow Design projects! In the meantime, this weeks WSC was a sketch with the recipe of 1) something green, 2) a scarp of fabric and 3) some checks. I have used some WD papers (from the keep-fit Alfie) and a digi stamp from Pollycraft which is being sold in aid of YAA (Yorkshire Air Ambulance) (more information here).I think all 3 aspects of the recipe are covered by the green gingham ribbon across the bottom of the card, but I have used green papers for matting too (and coloured in Ronnie's jumper green).