In the bag

This weeks themed challenge on CMLI is 'In the Bag'. I struggled with this but came up with a bag shaped card (the card base is one I have had for years and not used, embossed by hand using a stencil and a light box). I have used the Pollycraft freebie image 'Earth Fairy'.I will enter this card into this weeks Pollycraft challenge (add a little nature- the flower and 'earth fairy'), I love Promarkers challenge (charmed) and CES challenge (anything goes).

Stars

This weeks sketch for the CMLI group was set by Lauren and the theme was stars. This is alot easier than last weeks 'white on white' and so it was a relief to not have to tax the brain cells too much this week! I have made this card, another Christmas one to add to the pile (30ish at the moment)

R is for Rudolph

This weeks ABC Christmas challenge is 'R is for Rudolph' with an optional extra of brads. I have used a cut reindeer image given to me in the half-way there blog candy, along with some papers adn brads from my stash.I will also enter this card into the first ever CES challenge, which is 'anything goes'.

Autumn Charm

I made this card today (when I should have been packing my stuff for moving house tomorrow- oops!). I have followed the sketch from this weeks Passion for Promarkers challenge and also used autumn colours. Seems like we have had autumn early this year- I'm hoping for an Indian summer, but the weather people say it isn't going to happen this year. I have followed the recipe from this weeks Pollycraft Monday challenge (3 papers, 2 buttons and 1 charm) and have used a Pollycraft freebie image. (I did use this image on spring cards, but she looks much better on autumn cards since mushrooms are only around in the autumn normally.)

I will also enter the card into this weeks I love Promarkers challenge which is to use a charm.

(The image is coloured with Promarkers.)

Tilda in lemon

This weeks DCD challenge is 'Tilda in lemon'. I have made this tent card. I am quite pleased with the result. Since it has a window in it, I will also post it in this weeks CMLI themed challenge which is 'It's clear to see'.

Blog award(s)!!!!!

Wow, I have never had a blog award before and then I get 2 in a day!!!!The conditions of the award are to:

1) Say thankyou

2) Post it on your blog

3) Say three things you like about yourself

4) Post a picture you love

5) Tag 5 other people for the award

So, here goes...

1) Thankyou so much to Lauren and Clare for nominating me.

2) Done this!

3) Ummmm... difficult one this. I think it will have to be sense of humour, determination and kindness.

4) I took this picture of Mum and Dad last week and I think it is a good one. (Taken by the river in Tournus, France)

5) Choosing my 5 people is a bit tricky since I think all of the people I would normally nominate have already recieved it or are the ones who sent it to me!
Hence, my 5 are:
Emma
Katie
Sharon
Georgie
Wynneth
(I hope I have done the right thing trying to spread round the blog-happiness)

White on white #2

I wanted to experiment with making a non-Christmas card with the theme of 'white on white', for this weeks CMLI challenge and so have made this wedding card. (White is a good colour for weddings, isn't it?) It follows the sketch set by Karen. I have not added any additional embellishments appart from the heart (my first thoughts were to make white flowers to put on the card) since I think that the simplicity of the white would look a bit OTT with anything else added. I will enter this into the August Digistamp Boutique competition, since the image is one from DSB- isn't it cute?, and into this weeks Pear Tree Designs challenge (weddings- yippeee, I won last week!!!).

White on White

Karen has been super mean this week when setting the sketchie challenge on CMLI (CB) and has set as sketch with the twist that you are only allowed to use colour on the image. I managed to come up with this after several failed attempts. Not so easy when you don't have an embossing machine or any fancy punches. However I am glad of the challenge to get my brain thinking, since now I have a few other ideas which I want to try out. It is good to be shoved out of your comfort zone once in a while!

Tag

Yipeeee! I won last weeks DCD challenge!

This weeks challenge is to include a tag and to use no stamping. I have made this tag for a birthday present for Mum's friend who is 60 at the beginning of September. It is quite simple, but I made the flower using spare wrapping paper so that it co-ordinates.

Chickens

These are photos of some of Mum's chicken collection in France:

Two Christmas cards

This weeks challenge on ABC Christmas is 'Q for quick and easy'. There is a simple sketch to follow and the optional extra is to make more than one card. I have made these two using papers and images from the half-way there blog candy I won (I still adore the papers and cute images!).I will also enter these cards into this weeks Pollycraft Monday challenge (in stitches- I have used faux stitching round the papers) and Passion for Promarkers (winter blues- the images are coloured with PMs).

CES

Crafty Emma's Store Challenges go live next Saturday (28th), but they have some FAB candy up for grabs this week!

Bubbly easel

This weeks challenge on CMLI was to follow the sketch set by Rosie and make an easel card with the theme of bubbles. I very almost ran out of time since I only got back from holiday on Wednesday night and have got to start packing my flat for moving, so have got loads to do.I will also enter the card into this weeks Pear Tree Designs challenge which is 'Best Wishes'.

Some holiday snaps

Some of the farm animals round Mum and Dad's house:



The house:

The Saone:

I'm off...

... on holiday and so won't be entering any challenges in the next week or so.

Jim

This weeks Pear Tree Designs challenge is to create a male themed project and the challenge on DCD is to make a project with fabric. I have made this card using the BBQ Jim image from Digistamp Boutique. The check blue if a swatch of fabric (in case you can't tell from the photo), The stitches are 3D paint, and I have added more fabric in the way of ribbons for embellishments.

I will also enter this card into the August Digistamp Boutique competition.

Cogs and Critters

This weeks Pollycraft Monday challenge is to be inspired by the photo they have at the top of the challenge post. I saw all the circles, bright colours and stars and wanted to use my new cogs and critters image (spring) which I recieved in part 2 of 'Flash your Freebies' a few weeks ago.I enjoyed this weeks challenge, but probably won't be able to join in next week :( since I am going on holiday tomorrow :).

Make your own backgrounds

This weeks sketchie on CMLI (CB) was set by GDT Cherry with the twist to make your own background. I have made two cards where I have stamped my backing paper and used masking for the first time.

Hoots!

This weeks challenge on I love Promarkers is a sketch set by Wynneth with the twist to use no more than 3 colours. I have finally made a card using my Hoot the Owl stamp which I bought ages ago and haven't used before.

Passion for Promarkers #63

This weeks Passion for Promarkers challenge is a sketch. I have made this card with Party Lofty using the sketch. It is for my neighbour who is moving to Devon at the end of the month. He is very excited about it and so I thought that Party Lofty was apt.
(The image is coloured with PMs, as usual.)

Bloom where you're planted

This weeks sketchie challenge on Craft Mad and Loving It (set by Lauren) had the twist of 'bloom where you're planted'. The sketch was unusual in that it didn't suggest where to put the flowers, or if in fact you had to use any flowers. I used a Pollycraft Freebie image from a few weeks ago (Flo)- isn't she cute? (one of my favourites)The pink flowers are diecut chipboard which I bought, covered in white paint, then bright pink Decopatch paper and finally angel gold cosmic shimmer paint.

Arty fun

This weeks themed challenge on Craft Mad and Loving It (CB) was 'Arty Farty'. I have taken my French Lofty stamp and only printed some of it, so that I could draw in a palette by hand. The easel is one I drew myself and for the background I have cut up lots of different brightly coloured paper and arranged them as paint splashes. The inspiration was abstract Modern Art (the type where you get a blob of one colour in the middle of the page), which I quite like since you can interpret it as you like.

Princess Tilda

I made this card today using a really really cute Tilda image I got from Cherry for my birthday (thankyou so much- I know now why you bought the stamp to make cards for your daughter with). The backing papers are free downloads and I think they work well. The flowers I mave made using the paper and acetate flower technique posted by Clare on the Craft Mad and Loving It blog. To decorate the acetate, I have randomly applied white chalk ink and then added sparkly embossing powder, before heat embossing (which also makes the petals curl up).I will enter the card into this weeks DCD challenge (gingham), Pollycraft Monday challenge (Fit for a Princess) and Pear Tree Designs challenge (sketch).

More Christmas cards!

I have made another Christmas card today for the LGS sketchie challenge (CB). The challenge was to follow the sketch set by Sharon and to use the recipe something festive, something gold and some checks. The image I have used is by Willow Designs and I have coloured it with PMs as usual.I will also enter this card into this weeks I love Promarkers challenge (Christmas in July) and ABC Christmas challenge (P is for presents- Walter the owl is standing next to lots of presents in the image).