Summer Fun

This weeks Pollycraft challenge is 'fun in the sun' so I got out this super Chester image:

Hi

This cute panda image was last months DigiStamp Boutique freebie.  It was great to use- just a little shading and way you go!  I have again challenged myself to 'step' out of my comfort zone a little and try the Retro challenge for the week.

Bubbles of Friendship

Sad news on Friday- the Craftbubble forum will be shutting down as of the 23rd August.  For the August CMLI challenge Lauren therefore changed the theme to be 'bubbles' in memory of the friendships we have all made over the last few years.  CMLI will hopefully continue as a mixture of the Purple Clubhouse blog and a new CMLI forum on CBII.
This is my card for Lauren's challenge:

Four Christmas cards in a day!

OK, I might have overdone it a little, but I decided that I had better make a start on my Christmas cards.  This is the simplest card of the day, but I quite like it all the same.
I will enter this into this weeks Cute Card Thursday (anything goes) and Digi Sketch (anything goes) challenges.

Holly Rudolf Challenge

This months CMLI Rudolf challenge was set by Lillian and the theme was holly.  I used my new Memory Box holly die to cut out loads of little holly leaves and berries to stick round my circle and make a frame.
I will enter the card into this months Ready Teddy Go challenge (diecut or punch).

O Christmas Tree

This weeks ABC Christmas challenge is 'O' Christmas Tree.  I have used another of the Christmas Bobbi images on this card along with my new snowflake die and new polka dots embossing folder (love it!).
I will enter the card into this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge and this months Ready Teddy Go challenge.

Bear-y Snow-y

I just love the 'Bobbi' character at the moment from DigiStamp Boutique and bought the very newly released Christmas set of images.  I used my new Memory Box snowflake die on this card for the first time too.
I will enter this card into this weeks Sketchy, Di's Digi (stitching), Cute Card Thursday (anything goes) and Digi Sketch (anything goes) challenges and this months Ready Teddy Go (dies of punches) challenge.

Robot Birthday

I bought some of the new Pollycraft images the other day and this is the first time I have had to use them.  I also broke open one of my new paper packs on this card.
I will enter the card into this weeks I Love Promarkers (mechanical), Sketchy (sketch), Cute Card Thursday (anything goes) and Digi Sketch (anything goes) challenges.

Little Things Week 3

It's week three of the 'little things' summer swap challenge and Clare made a video this week on making a mini easel card to put inside our little boxes.  One of the little mirrors which came in the kit was used on the card.  As normal I have 'modified' the procedure to fit the stash that I have.  Notably, I don't have any stencils and so 'made' one from acetate and my die cutter.  Sponged through distress ink in pink and then stamped in black with one or two of the number stamps that I acquired yesterday.  On top of that, the stamping in silver and blue, was done with slightly older stamps (OK who am I kidding- the banner/pendant stamp I got last week).  The silver strip is an old hair band that I cut up and used the flowers off years ago and the sequin ribbon I have had lying around for *years*.

Thanks Clare for such an inspirational project.

Is it Christmas today??

It feels like Christmas today at any rate!  I went shopping in the Kaisercraft outlet store in Geelong before I left Australia and sent a few things home my sea mail (not just craft things- I couldn't justify the expense just for craft!).  It arrived today!!  The box was really battered up.  I wish I had taken a photo now. Never mind. I was too excited to rip it open and be reunited with my belongings.
These are my Aussie buys:

Normally being a frugal person, I think I have enough stamps and brads there to last me the next 10 years!

These things came on top of a bit of retail therapy that I did yesterday (and spent more than I would normally do) at the Glitterpot:

How was that for service too- next day delivery!  (Had to wait 3 months for the stuff from Geelong- Ying and Yang in terms of delivery speed I guess ;-).)
Anyway, this little lot will keep me happy and busy for a while.  Anyone want to come 'play' this weekend?

A little journalling

Clare has been doing a series of online tutorial videos since the new year, introducing those of us who normally just make cards into the realm of art journalling.  I did the first and then missed a fair number when I was in Australia.  This is my take on lesson five:

I did things a little backward in terms of the method since I don't have all the materials.  Specifically I don't have any acrylics and so made the background using water colours on water coloured paper.  Then I put a layer of gesso on top.  This was followed by some stamping with Martha Stewart Stamps (last year's birthday present to me from Clare- thanks) in Stazon black ink and a new ink pad I brought the other day- a pearly blue one which I like :-).
A bit of relief from a glossy grey paste stuff that I had in my stash and never really used.  Printed off a photo I took at the butterfly museum in Stratford the other day (my friend's hen do) in greyscale, stuck it down and added some sketching.  The quote was one I found online and printed off.  The final touch was a spray of silver glitter varnish, that again I have on the shelf and hardly use.
What do you think?
Clare's video is here.

Tortoise blues

I went to town on this card a bit with the embellies- all hand made mind and so they didn't cost (apart from the dies, papers, ....  who am I kidding when I say it didn't cost??). I will enter the card into this weeks Sketchy (sketch) and Passion for Promarkers (blue plus one other colour- pink).

Monster Birthday

Needing to distract myself today and so have done a bit of crafting.  I also wanted to cheer myself up and so made this card with lots of bright colours- just what you need when it is raining all day and a bit dark out.  We do need the rain though, so I'm not moaning about it.
I will enter the card into this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday (sketch) and Passion for Promarkers (blue plus green) challenge.

Simple baby girl

I thought I would have another go at the Retro Sketch for this week.  This time I have made a baby girl card with a DigiStamp Boutique image- 'bathtime bobbi'.

Third time lucky

This is the third time that I have tried to enter the 'Retro Sketches' blog challenge- the first time that I have done so before the closing date!
I'm enjoying challenging myself to make a card out of my normal comfort zone.  This time I have used a Pollycraft image.

What's green a spotty?

Birthday Bobbi, or at least on this card he is!  I have fallen in love with the DigiStamp Boutique character 'Bobbi'.  He is a cutie isn't he?
Having a chill out this afternoon I went to town a bit on this card- distressing the papers and making an easel card for a change.  I will enter the card into this weeks Passion for Promarkers (easel card) and Sweet Sketch Wednesday (sketch) challenges.

Little Bobin

Week two of the little things quest on CMLI and it is the only crafting I have managed to do this weekend :-(.  Perhaps tomorrow I will get an hour or so...
This week we had to decorate the largest of the cotton reels Clare sent us.  I hadn't yet added my quote to the paper strip when I took the photo, but I have done so now. Not having all the paints, inks and stamps of the more seasoned members of the group I have 'made do'.  Not entirely happy with the result, but I am still learning with these things.  It was my first expedition into the realm of gesso- I gesso-ed the paper strip after splattering with water colours and I gesso-ed the cotton reel.  The flowers were die-cut from fabric, gesso-ed and then stitched together.  I added a few 'leaves' of friendly plastic which I have had for *years*.  Also decided to use an umbrella charm I had rather than the heart one in the pack.  It looks a bit odd in the photo, but I like it.

Red Christmas

Again this is a card I started making ages ago, originally for another challenge, and missed the deadline.  Been a bit under the weather in more ways than one recently and so only now posting it.  I will enter the card into this weeks Pollycraft (red) and I love Promarkers (Christmas in July) challenges.

Little Things...

Clare has started a summer project which a number of us on CMLI are joining in with.  We each have a pack of goodies and are going to make something every week to put in a little box and exchange with a partner at the end of the summer holidays (I think).  The first project Clare came up with was a mini book made with two Tim Holtz Alpha cards.  This was WAY out of what I normally do, but was up for the challenge and REALLY enjoyed it.
I didn't have any alcohol inks and so used PMs to to the first stage of the background.  Went with a slightly different colour scheme to Clare and embossed in silver not white.

Star Thankyou

Thought I'd best start adding to my 'thankyou card' stock pile after it was diminished the other day.  Used a Pollycraft image that I brought a while ago on this card.  Can't remember if I have used it before or not- no time like the present anyway.
I will enter this into this weeks I love Promarkers (anything goes) and Digi Sketch (sketch) challenges).

Snow in this heat?

Yes it is quite a challenge to make a snowy Christmas card in this heat, but then again it is refreshing to think of the snow when it has been so hot.  The last two days in Birmingham have been a LOT cooler though.  I wonder what this week will bring....  I'm not sure that the weather forecasters know yet- they keep changing their minds, don't they?
Anyway, I made this card today with the following challenges in mind- Ready Teddy Go (photo inspiration), Sweet Sketch Wednesday (sketch), I love Promarkers (anything goes), Passion for Promarkers (make a scene round the image) and Digi Sketch Challenge (theme- layers).

Wedding Anniversary

Mum and Dad are going to an anniversary party when they get back from France in August and I thought I would make them a card to take.  Not sure that this one will necessarily be appropriate ;-) but I enjoyed making it.
I will enter this in to this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge.

A second wedding card

It's always the same.  When I make a wedding card, I end up making two.  Some how I get in the 'zone' and end up with two cards.  This time I had some left over flowers (but then I had to make more for there to be enough for the second card).  Strangely I have not gone for white on white, which is my wedding 'norm'.  Which card do you prefer?  This one or the first?  I might send this to Beth too- via Mum and Dad (they are also going to the wedding)- or it might go to a family friend who is getting married in November...
I will also enter this card into this weeks I love Promarkers (sketch) challenge.

A special wedding

One of my friends gets married in a few weeks time (it is her hen party next Saturday) and so I really had to knuckle down this weekend and make her a wedding card- funny isn't it?  When you have an important card like that, you always end up putting it off (or at least I do).  Thanks so much Lauren for sending me the image to use.
I don't know for sure (and haven't seen it) but have heard 'green' mentioned a lot in the wedding prep. and so that is why the card has a white on white with green feel to it.  The flowers took me hours to make, but I hope they were worth it??
I will enter this card into this weeks I love Promarkers (sketch) challenge.

A bit late- ooppps

I was looking round last week for some new challenges to try and found this interesting Sketch challenge.  It's not my normal type of thing but I thought I would push myself out of my comfort zone a little.  Anyway, I made the card for last week's challenge and then didn't post it- I thought it was a biweekly challenge and that I had plenty of time.... this was until Saturday morning when I saw that a new challenge had been set- ooops.  I doubt I will get time to enter this week, but I intend to try again in the future.  I liked using the sketch- made me think a little differently about how to tackle the card.

Baby

My friend is pregnant and due in August.  I was looking through my card stash and I have a few baby boy cards already made but no baby girl ones.  I think this card ended up being more neutral than girly, what do you think?
I used one of the new Bobbi images from DigiStamp Boutique.  I will enter the Sketchy challenges blog for the first time.  I think that I have included everything on the sketch in some way- maybe not exactly as it was laid out though.  If this is not appropriate, then please let me know.  I would like to take part in future weeks too.

Anniversary

Ok.  I am still playing catch up- who am I kidding??  It's Mum and Dad's anniversary in a few weeks and so I needed to make a card (it needs to be sent to France). Another DigiStamp Boutique image.  I will enter this into this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge.

Book worm

My Mum is certainly a book worm when she isn't busy with other stuff- in the last few months I think she has been doing too much DIY and gardening etc (I think both my parents need to give it a rest for a while, but then they don't listen to me as much as I don't listen to them- lol!).  Anyway, it is Mum's birthday soon and so I thought I would give her an Amazon voucher to buy books for her Kindle.  This image I got from DigiStamp Boutique a while ago (first time I have used it) seems very apt.
I will enter this card into this weeks Sweet Sketch Wednesday (sketch) challenge.

Birthdays...

seem to be coming thick and fast.  I made this little card for one of the people I worked with in Australia.  I will send a batch of cards over to them next weekend for all the birthdays in August (4).  I was planning on making 4 new cards but ran out of time and so will raid my card stash for the other three.
I will enter this into this weeks Pollycraft and Cute Card Thursday (stars and stripes) challenges.

A batch in 'black'??

I am trying to get back in the 'fold' with my crafting and enter the challenges on my favourite forum- CMLI.  This year they have been having Rudolf Day challenges set on the 25th of each month.  This is the first month that I have had the chance to enter.  The challenge set by Clare was a batch of black.  It did start off that way, but somewhere along the line a few other colours popped in (only on the image though). It is a 'batch' though...
I will enter these into this weeks ABC Christmas (mice/men- I will have to catch up with letters A-L!), Pollycraft (stars and stripes), Cute Card Thursday (stars and stripes) and Digi Sketch challenge (sketch).

Sunshine

I'm very much hoping that the sunny weekend which is forecast materialises...  I know it was warm most places last Sunday but for some reason it didn't really reach Birmingham.  There was a distinct chill in the breeze.  Not too bad though, all things considered.  Still, I'm hoping to be able to sit outside and take in the days this Sunday :-)
I started to make this card on Sunday, in lieu of the sun.  I will enter it into this weeks I love Promarkers (photo- lots of yellow taken from the photo), Digi Sketch (theme- summer) and Di's digi (summer) challenges. The image is another DigiStamp Boutique one :-)

Well Done

Just when I thought I had a very long list of cards to make already, another occasion comes along which requires a card.  I don't mind this one though as it is for a cousin who has just graduated with a 2.1 from Sheffield in Leeds.  She hasn't had the best of times but has done so well.  I wish her every success in the future too.

I will enter this card into this weeks Cute Card Thursday (fly like a bird), Passion for Promarkers (song- 'Congratulations', by Cliff Richard) and Sweet Sketch Wednesday (sketch) challenges.  Again I am addicted to DigiStamp Boutique...!

Party, party!

My friend Beth gets married in a few weeks time and I was asked by the chief bridesmaid if I would make some invites for the hen party.  Unfortunately, I haven't had a lot of time lately and so we agreed that I would just make an invite for Beth.  This is the card that I made this weekend....

I will enter it into this weeks Pollycraft challenge (anything goes- an old Pollycraft image that I have never used before- shame on me).

The owl and the pussy cat

Or maybe not....  but it is a birdie out of the window at least!  I fell in love with this DigiStamp Boutique image when I was in Australia and couldn't wait to get home to use it.  This is my second card.  I like the way you can make it your own.  In this case I have combined it with another set- `little birdie told me'- released last year.
I will enter this card into this weeks Cute Card Thursday challenge (fly like a bird).

Many Thanks

I made thankyou cards in bulk... not that it saved me any time (why can't I stick to a simple design??).  I like this stamp though- another recent purchase.
I will enter these into this weeks I love Promarkers challenge.