Just had to spread the word......

That Ladybug and Friends are giving away some gorgeous candy.
To be in with a chance of winning these wonderful stamps and brush markers, just pop over and check out what you have to do.

Sketch & Stash Challenge # 18

I really don't know how Becky manages to do it but every fortnight she seems to come up with an even better sketch! This one was no exception and I thoroughly enjoyed using it for challenge 18 at Sketch & Stash.
I used the sketch for one of this month's dreaded men's cards, and I can honestly say it inspired me, as prior to this I hadn't a clue what I was going to make for our friend's birthday card. We originally met this couple in 2001 on a cruise and we've been friends ever since (in fact his wife is my BF!) He loves the sea, so I know the nautical theme will go down well with him.

Card Details:
* Images - Hot off the Press
* Papers - K & Co
* Sentiment - PC generated
* Everything else from my stash

I do hope that you may find time to join in the fun with us for this challenge, but even if you can't manage that, please try to check out the cards that the other girls have made as they are fabulous!

I'm just popping a link here to 'spread the word' about Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential, a brand new challenge blog that will be starting in October. At the moment Viki is looking for some DT members, so if you'd like to know more about it take a look here

The Sugar Bowl - Challenge 18

Well I did warn you I may be back before Monday LOL!
I just loved Kathy's sketch at the Sugar Bowl this week, so had to give it a go. I've just noticed that I haven't used any buttons on this, so it may mean I'm not eligible for the challenge, but I thoroughly enjoyed using the sketch anyway.

Card Details:
* Image - Sugar Nellie's Gorjuss 'Flower Girl'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - K & Co and Capricious Scraps
* Everything else from my stash

I'll be back tomorrow with the latest DT card for Sketch & Stash, so see you then!

The Pink Elephant and Whiff of Joy

Well, now I think I'm getting a bit too big for my boots!! I've only gone and made a card that fits with TWO challenges (can't even remember the last time that I managed to do that LOL!)

I've used the fabulous sketch from this week's challenge at The Pink Elephant. I really liked this, it was a lovely 'clean' sketch, and as I seem to be going through a bit of a 'less is more' phase at the moment, it exactly suited my needs.

The card also fits the challenge at Whiff of Joy where the theme this week is to use 'bling' on your cards. I've covered this by adding some very sparkly glitter card to the sketch, attaching my sparkly flower with a diamante brad and there are even little diamonds on the sentiment, enough bling even for my tastes LOL!

Card Details:
* Image - Whiff of Joy 'Willow sitting with Floral Wreath'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - DCWV 'Old World' mat stack
* Punch - Martha Stewart 'Embossed Zig Zag'
* Everything else from my stash

I don't know whether I'll manage to be back again before my DT card for Sketch & Stash on Monday, but the way things are going at the moment I wouldn't be at all surprised!

One Stop Craft - challenge 43

Hi everyone, well I'm here again and with another challenge! Don't know how long this can last for, but I'm making the most of the inspiration at the moment lol!
This card was for One Stop Craft's theme of 'I Believe in Angels/Fairies'.
I've had these sweet Fairy Poppet sheets for ages and always forget to use them, so thought this challenge would be a good excuse. I decided to use a little boy fairy for a change, hope you like it.

Card Details:
* Image - Fairy Poppet decoupage sheets
* Backing papers - same kit (from Ideal World ages ago)
* Border strips - Vanessa Arbuthnot for English Paper Company
* Sentiment - part of an old kit from QVC
* Everything else from my stash

My scanner decided not to play again, so I had to take a photo, my apologies as it's awful! (now you know why I ususally ask DH to take the photos lol!) The colours are mostly a lovely sage green and not the sludgy grey that it looks like in the photo.

Cute Card Thursday #74

I can't remember the last time I managed to enter a card in Cute Card Thursday's challenge as it's so long ago, but I had just made this card and I thought it fitted the bill for their theme of Lazy Dayz, where they want to see your summer inspired cards or projects.

Card Details:
* Image - Sugar Nellie 'Country Garden'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Backing papers - Laura Ashley (glittered with stickles)
* Ribbon - a gift from a dear friend
* Punch - Martha Stewart 'Doily Lace'
* Sentiment - computer generated
* Everything else from my stash

I really like tags and I hadn't added any to my cards for ages, so I decided to pop this sweet girl on a plain tag, mount it onto another one made from gorgeous Laura Ashley paper and use my favourite punch to decorate the bottom.
Due to the ribbon on the top of the tag I couldn't get a decent scan, so my lovely hubby photographed it for me (I'm useless with cameras!!) It's come out looking a lot darker than it does irl, but hopefully you get the idea!

I actually made the card to enter Arline's candy challenge, which was to make her a birthday card. She said she likes cute, pink or girly and as this is all three I'm hoping she will like it.

Friday Sketchers #66

Hi all!
Well, what do you know? I've actually managed to join in with a card challenge, the first in absolutely ages woohoo!!

I needed to make a couple of men's cards for September birthdays and I'd been putting it off for ages, as I find making cards for men a real struggle, so I thought I'd try to fit them to a couple of sketches to see if that made life easier and it did!
I don't know that I've ever actually joined in with the Friday Sketchers challenge before, but I loved the look of this week's sketch which has been set by Carole and so thought I'd go for it.
It worked out perfectly for my BIL's card, he likes a drink and he loves playing cards so voila!

Card Details:
* Image & sentiment - Cuddly Buddly 'Local Lads' kit
* Backing papers - K & Co
* Mat - Nestabilities 'scalloped circles'
* Epoxy alphabet letters - K & Co

I can't show you the other man's card yet as I decided to make it my next DT card for Sketch & Stash, so you'll just have to be patient and wait until then.

Sketch and Stash Challenge 17 - DT card

Hi everyone!
I know I've been very naughty again and not posted for nearly two weeks, I'm so sorry and I have no one to blame but myself.
I don't know if it's the weather or just me being very lazy, but I honestly don't seem to have the energy or inspiration to do any card making at the moment, despite having lots of birthday cards to make as well as card requests from a friend, who puts some of my cards in her shop.
I promise it's not playing my PC game that's stopping me either, as I can't even be bothered with that at the moment. I do hope that my missing Mojo returns soon, I'm starting to think it may have emigrated as it's been soooo long now since I had any enthusiasm for cardmaking and that's just not like me!
I must have changed my mind at least a dozen times over what to do with Becky's wonderful sketch for the latest Sketch & Stash challenge, but I eventually made my decision and I hope you like it.
The other girls have created such gorgeous DT cards, I do hope you'll pop over and take a look (and maybe join in yourselves?) it really was a fabulous sketch again, I don't know how Becky manages to keep coming up with them.
My new stash was the lovely backing paper, a (freebie!) digital download from Raspberry Road, part of the 'Rose Manor' kit, whilst the girls' themselves were an image, but are available from Charmed Cards and Crafts .

Card Details:
* Backing paper - Raspberry Road 'Rose Manor' free digital download
* Designer papers - K & Co
* Image - Charmed Cards & Crafts 'Girls about Town'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Punches - EK Success 'Retro' flowers
* Everything else from stash

I'm hoping that it won't be another 2 weeks until I'm posting again ... but I'm so lethargic at the moment that I wouldn't swear to it!
I'd like to thank those of you who haven't given up on me yet and still continue to visit and leave me such encouraging comments, I'm so grateful and I enjoy reading each and every one.

A family birthday card

It was my dear sister-in-law's birthday at the end of July, so this is the card I made for her. I didn't dare post it before as she has a link to my blog, so I was scared she'd see it before the day.
She's quite fond of 'cute' and I hadn't had a chance to use this sweet little soul before, so this seemed like a good opportunity.
He's actually decoupaged onto a digital scalloped oval, but the scan makes it look like he's been set into an aperture card, how sweet!
I did try to find a challenge that this card would fit, but as usual, I failed miserably.
I'm just editing this to say 'thank you' to Wendy who let me know that as this had previously been 'neglected' stash it fitted the My Time to Craft challenge this week

Card Details:
* Backing papers - K & Co
* Image - Charmed Cards & Crafts 'Fairy Doodles'
* Scalloped mats - Daisie Company download 'Meadow Kit'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* 'Sister' sticker - K & Co
* Everything else from my stash

I made sure that I used plenty of Stickles, both on the backing paper and the image and I finished off the flowers with a diamante brad. Well, a girl can just never have too much sparkle!

Sketch and Stash Challenge 16 - DT card

I can't believe it's been a whole 2 weeks since I last updated my blog!
I'm afraid all the blame must be laid at the feet of those pesky 'Sims'. Each time I start to play the dratted game I promise that I'll pace myself and take days off to do other things, but then the addiction kicks in again and before I know it a week (or two!) has gone by.

Anyway, I digress so here is my DT card for Becky's latest sketch at the Sketch and Stash Challenge blog, I do hope you can join in the fun with us again.
Now I REALLY loved the simplicity of this sketch, it was such a nice change, so I decided to try to follow through and make a 'less is more' card. I hope I succeeded, I certainly liked the 'clean' look of this.
For some real inspiration just take a look at what the other DT members have done.

Card Details:
* Backing paper - K & Co
* Image - from a swap, so haven't got a clue I'm afraid!
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Sentiment - K & Co rub-on
* Everything else from my stash

I used a K & Co card that was part of a kit I bought years ago from QVC, so this and the rub-on is definitely my neglected stash and my new must be this lovely simple image. I keep forgetting I've got these rub-on sentiments, I don't know why as they're gorgeous, I really must use them more often.