Mo's Digital Challenge Fantasies & Fairies

Hi everyone,
Today's card is for two challenges:
The first is this week's Digital Pencil challenge. This is another challenge blog that I loved taking part in and have missed, I'm hoping that 2011 will see me managing to enter all my favourites again. This week they are challenging us to use any fairy tale images we have and I've decided to use Mo's 'Charming' image for my card.
The second challenge is Crafty Ann's challenge where 'Anything Goes' this fortnight. I used her wonderful digital papers for my card as the colours were absolutely perfect with my sweet little prince.

Card Details:
* Image - Mo's Digital Pencil Too 'Charming'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Crafty Ann's 'Woodgrain Effect' collection and DCWV 'Old World' mat stack
* Punch - MS 'Zig-Zag' and EK Success 'Photo Corners'
* Everything else from my stash

Once again I must apologise for the awful scanned image. Unfortunately, I can't get my camera to load properly on my new PC and as I seem to have lost the driver disk it looks like it's going to be terrible scans for the foreseeable future (If you screw your eyes up a bit and imagine the colour being a few shades more intense you may get a rough idea of the real cards ha ha!)

Just Magnolia - Mina's Sketch

Hi everyone,
My card today is for this week's Just Magnolia challenge which is a sketch by the fabulous Mina.
I've used the adorable 'Honey Tilda' image and added lots of Glamour Dust, Stickles and Cosmic Twinkles to the card so it's very sparkly.
I'm also entering this for the Passion for Promarkers Mega Christmas Challenge.

Card Details:
* Image - Magnolia 'Honey Tilda'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Laura Ashley 'Contemporary'
* Mats - Nestability 'classic ovals' and Cuttlebug 'Script' embossing folder
* Everything else from my stash

Unfortunately, I had to use the scanner again so the colour is showing as very muted and wishy washy, when irl it's much brighter.
I'm really enjoying getting back to crafting after my long break and I hope you like today's card (despite my scanner!)

Sketch & Stash DT Card Challenge #51 And A Celebration!

Hi everyone, yes I'm back again and I've managed to produce a DT card for Sketch & Stash based on our very first sketch, designed by the lovely Becky. Sorry the photo isn't very good but I had to scan it.
Card Details: 
* Image - Thomas Kincade CD from Joanna Sheen
* Sentiment sticker - Daisy & Dandelion Outline Stickers
* Punch - EK Success 'Retro Flower'
* Glitter - Twinklets 'Diamond Dust'
* Everything else from my stash
 I'm entering this card for this fortnight's Crafty Ann's Challenge 'Anything Goes'

Now I've got some very exciting news to tell you about this fortnight's Sketch & Stash challenge.
We are celebrating Christmas early, and our almost 2 year anninversary ... yes the Sketch and Stash has been going for 2 years at the beginning of January, how amazing is that?  So we are doing something a little special this time for you

Some of our regular sponsors are offering up some fab prizes for you and we also are running a scavenger hunt on some DT members' blogs.

Here are our prizes ...

from our very regular sponsor Simon Says  Stamp we have this fab prize.

Katharina over at Whiff of Joy is offering a stamp of YOUR choice

Elaine from Quixotic Paperie is offering this fab embellishment pack ...

Whimsy Stamps are offering a $15 voucher for their store

Paula from Pollycraft Designs

is offering 2 of her fabulous new rubber stamps ...

As well as offering these fabulous prizes we are also running a scavenger hunt.
Hidden on some of the DT blogs are some mystery  prizes ... if you want to be in with a chance of winning one of these prizes, offered by Meljen Designs and Wags n Whiskers, you need to comment on the DT blogs and enter the challenge  (we will check LOL!!).

OK so to be in with a chance of winning one of these fabulous prizes all you need to do is make a card using one of our last 50 sketches ... yep it is your choice which sketch you use.
To find our sketch catalogue click on the link on the right hand sidebar of the challenge blog ... all of them are there for you to peruse!
Please put a pic of the sketch on your blog so we can see which one you chose (we will check you have used one of our sketches, so no cheating LOL!!).
To join in the scavenger hunt please click on each DT member's link and it will take you to their post.

I look forward to seeing your cards and I hope you have lots of fun with the challenge.

The Ribbon Girl Giveaway

Just look at this news!
Starting in January the Ribbon Girl will be a regular sponsor of the Lili Of The Valley Challenge on the second Thursday of every month and Lili Of The Valley will be a regular sponsor of our Colour Challenge on the third Sunday of every month.
So every month during 2011 you will have double the chance to win both Lili Of The Valley goodies and Ribbon Girl goodies. 

Starting next year's cards!!!

Hi everyone!
Following on from managing to make all my Christmas cards for family and friends last week, I decided to continue with them so that I make a start for next year.
I noticed that there are still some challenges out there requesting christmas style cards, so I've made the above card which fits a few of them (I hope!)
Unfortunately I had to scan this, now my scanner just HATES metallic and sparkle and as my card is mostly metallic and sparkle this is not good! Please trust me when I say that the card is really pretty in real life and the silver foil card and icicle colour glitter (NOT blue!) looks lovely.

Card Details:
* Image - Penny Black 'Birthday Angel'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - K & Co
* Punches - MS 'Valentine Heart' & 'Vintage Lace' PATP
* Die Cuts - Cuttlebug 'Vintage' corners & 'D Vine Swirls'
* Everything else from my stash

I'm entering this card for the following challenges:
Penny Black @ Allsorts - Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder
Crafts and Me Challenges - Moody Blues
Craft Your Days Away - Punch It Out
Simon Says Stamp - Silver, Blue, White
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Christmas Card

I hope you like my card and hopefully I'll be back again on a more regular basis with postings from now on.

By the way, do you like the little self portrait of me hugging my PC 'cos it's where my friends live? Just wanted to do this to say how grateful I am that my friends have kept in touch while I've been away.

SURPRI-I-ISE!!!

Hi everyone, and I'm sure it is a surprise to see me about again!
A recent e-mail from a crafting buddy inspired me to make a Christmas card and of course, once I made that I couldn't stop lol.
I had decided to send bought cards this year (!!!) as I really felt I couldn't be bothered, but I find I've now made enough cards to send out to friends and family. Mainly thanks to the lovely Thomas Kincade CD.
Having said that they are all very plain and simple so haven't taken a lot of  making, but I do feel it's a step in the right direction.


























Most of you know that I'm a bit strange (well more than a bit really, but still!) and just can't work in a mess. In fact lots of you complain about how tidy my work space is when I'm crafting, so I thought I'd quickly snap a couple of piccies to show that since inspiration hit me (a couple of days ago) I haven't had a chance to clear up and am using the 'push back' method of crafting ha ha!

I'm also linking this post to WOYWW as otherwise dear Julia will never believe it!

Huge thanks to all my crafting friends who continue to keep in touch, you've been my lifeline throughout this horrible time.

 

Thank you to all my crafting friends.

Just a quick post to thank all of you who were kind enough to send me cards for my birthday yesterday.
I appreciate this so much, especially as I haven't been about for a while.
Just to bring you up to date, the latest tablets from the doctor seem to be helping and I'm starting to feel brighter, although I have decided to wait until next year before getting back to blogging again in the hope that by then I shall be raring to get back into things.
Once again thank you so much for the beautiful hand made cards I received, it meant more than I can say.

A Card For A Special Person

Hi everyone, it's such a long time since I posted so I thought I'd pop by today with this card.
This is the first card I've made for quite a while and it's for a very special person, my dear aunt. She's had such a rough time lately and it's her birthday in a couple of weeks time, so I hope this cheers her up (she likes the vintage style)
It's a large 8" x 8" card and as you can see I made good use of a few of my Martha Stewart punches. Oh how I love these, sadly I managed to break my 'Doiley Lace' one, so I shall have to get a replacement as it was my very first punch and is one of my favourites.

Card Details:
* Image - Cardmaking Heaven 'Ladies Oval Topper Selection'
* Papers - K & Co
* Punches - MS Large Monarch Butterfly, Trellis and Eyelet Lace
* Nestabilities - Scalloped Ovals and Labels 4
* Sentiment - PC generated
* Everything else from my stash

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be posting again regularly just yet. It seemed a bit silly posting and then disappearing for ages again, so I thought I'd take a complete break for a while and not return until things are really back to normal.
I shall pop in if I manage to make anything so that I can share it with you, but until then take care my dear buddies.

Sketch & Stash DT card Challenge #39

Hi everyone, I'm sorry I'm so late posting this today but it had completely slipped my mind that it was Sketch & Stash day (I know, what am I like?)
I have to admit that I struggled a bit with this week's card. I'm not very good with easel cards and a circular one seemed more challenging than ever, but I did get there in the end although I think I'd probably use Nesties if I had to make something like this again as I think it would make life a bit easier LOL!

I hope you'll rise to the challenge of a circular card this fortnight at Sketch & Stash, don't forget you've got a whole 2 weeks to enter and there's a fabulous prize on offer again this time.

Card Details:
* Image - Digital Pencil Too 'Finna'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Raspberry Road 'My Baby Love - Boy'
* Punch - Martha Stewart 'Monarch Butterfly'
* Everything else from my stash

I used another of Mo Manning's great images for this and finished it off with a gorgeous downloaded 'fairy' sentiment. I have no idea where I got it from, as it's another from before my PC went haywire and I lost my copyright notices.

I haven't been about much recently as I'm still struggling a bit with everyday life at the moment, so I hope you'll bear with me until I can return to normality.
Thank you for continuing to visit and leave comments, they mean a lot to me.

Tag Card

 Hi everyone, I felt like creating something a bit different from my usual cuties and as I have a 'bit of a thing' for tags but hadn't made a tag card for ages I thought the time was right.
Luckily there are a few challenges this will fit so I can enter it for the following:
The Cuttlebug Spot - Embossed Tags
A Spoonfull of Sugar - Good Luck/Best Wishes
City Crafter - Pink, Purple and Pearls
Crafty Ann's - Embossing
Simon Says Challenge - Friends
I distressed my card with Walnut Stain DI and a white Inkessential pen to give it more of a vintage look, cut a CB 'vintage' die in half to make some corners and finished off with some ribbon and pearls just to make it nice and girly.

 Card Details:
* Sentiment Ticket - Crafty Ann's 
* Papers - Laura Ashley 'Contemporary'
* Punch - Martha Stewart 'Eyelet Lace'
* Everything else from my stash

The tablets that my Doctor prescribed aren't working too well at the moment (I've been told to double the dose three times so far!) consequently my Mojo is a bit 'hit and miss' so if you don't see me about as often, you know why! LOL!

Molly's Card

Hi everyone, I warned you I may be back today didn't I? This is a birthday card for a very special little girl, my great-niece Molly (I know! who'd have thought I was that old??!!) she'll be 2 and she's the most adorable poppet.

I thought this card fitted the bill perfectly at Just Magnolia this week plus a few other places (you know I'm having such fun with all these challenges) so the list is:
Just Magnolia 60 - In the Garden
Stamp Something - Summer
Sir Stampalot - Punch It
Crafty Calender - Bugs and Beasties
Sunday Stamptacular - Cute as a Bug
Crafts and Me - Birthdays

I actually made an easel card again, not something I'd do for just anyone, so Molly's definitely someone pretty special!
Card Details:
* Image - Magnolia 'Fairy Tale Tilda'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Papermania 'Blueberry Hill'
* Punches - Martha Stewart 'Monarch Butterfly' and EK Success 'Retro Flower'
* Sentiment - PC generated
* Everything else from my stash

I always worry that people (non-crafters) may not quite know what to do with an easel card, will they work out how to stand it up? Well with this one I've stuck a little label on the back showing exactly what to do and I think I'll do this with any I make from now on, just in case!

I got the idea from a lovely crafting friend and fellow 'Sheenie' Sheila. She doesn't have a blog, but visits mine regularly and never fails to lift my spirits with her lovely comments. She also sent me a gorgeous friendship book filled with wonderful sentiments and goodies (like tassels, charms and punched flowers) to cheer me up and let me know she was thinking of me recently when I was very low. Aren't I lucky to have friends like this? 

Thank you for all your visits and comments crafting buddies and take care

WOYWW 55

Hi everyone, well not only have I made another week of WOYWW...
BUT I took this photo myself!! (which is why it's awful) usually this is DH's job and definitely not mine! I also remembered to take the photo before I cleared up, but as you know I'm a 'neat' crafter and this is about as messy as it gets with me!
Well, what can we see......
Not a lot really due to the c****y photo, but there's a thingy for setting eyelets, lots of adhesives and scissors (don't ask me why, I was only making a little tag card!) a MS border punch (my new eyelet lace ATP Mmmmm!) Distress Ink, pearls and ribbon.
I'm afraid I didn't make it round everyone last week (but then everyone didn't make it to me either!) but I shall try harder this week by visiting a few people each day, it may take me a week but I do love nosing at people's workspaces, it's soooooo addictive!

For those of you who are wondering what is going on in my photo and what WOYWW is, just pop over to our revered leader Julia's blog where all will be revealed.

I shall be back tomorrow with my normal kind of posting i.e. a card albeit a very special one.
Take care chums,

 

Messy does Christmas!

Yay! I did it! I made it for 2 weeks in a row with my Christmas cards! No matter what else falls by the wayside I MUST try to keep up with these so I have a box full by the big day.
I also managed to fit my card into all the Christmas challenges I could find again too (this can't possibly last! LOL!)
My one problem with this card was that there was so little colour on it (other than white) that my scanner would only recognise it as a grey scale image. So, you'll have to trust me when I say that Messy's jumper is really pale blue and the mistletoe leaves are a very pale green, oh, and there's some Stickles on the tree and the snow.
The Xmas challenges this week are:
ABC Xmas - Mistletoe
Bah! Humbug! - A Child's Christmas
Winter Wonderland - Festive Tree
Die Cut Dreams - All White
Fab's Christmas Challenge - Toppers
My Time To Craft - Yuletide in June
Digital Tuesday Challenge - Christmas in June
and I think it also fits with:
Crafty Ann's Challenge - Embossing
Craftalicious - Monotone

I need to explain that my backing paper is Crafty Ann's again (surprise!) but I've popped some white holly vellum over the top, so it's now difficult impossible to see!
Card Details:
* Image - Messy Rabbit stamp from Joanna Sheen, Magnolia Misteltoe stamp and Cuttlebug Tree
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Crafty Ann's Woodgrain 'Earth tones - Stone'
* Everything else from my stash

I'll be back tomorrow with my WOYWW photo and if you don't know what I'm talking about, pop over to Julia's Stamping Ground blog and read all about it.
Thanks for visiting buddies and take care.

Sketch & Stash DT card Challenge #38

 

Hi everyone, today sees my return to the DT at Sketch & Stash and how I've missed it!
This fortnight we're being sponsored by Meljen's Designs and we were given the chance to use some of her wonderful digi images on our cards, so I chose this delightful 'Garden Fence' background and used it with a freebie called 'Diggin' a hole' to create a little scene. Lisa has designed the sketch this time and I absolutely LOVED using it.

Card Details:
* Image - Meljen's digi images 'Garden Fence' and 'Diggin' a hole'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Crafty Ann's digi paper - Abstract 'Stone'
* Sentiment - Joanna Sheen
* Everything else from my stash

I'm trying to join in with some of the fabulous challenges that are out there with each of my cards, so I'm  entering this card for the following:
Cutie Sunday - Summer
Sentimental Sundays - Your favourite sentiment
Magical Crafts - Something for a male
One Stop Craft Challenge - One for the Boys
Fab'n'Funky Challenges - Just for Dad

The Sketch & Stash challenge will be open until July 4th that's 2 whole weeks to come up with something, so I hope you can find time to join in with us again and I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what you've created for the challenge.

Pirate Tilda - such a cute cupcake

Hi everyone, my card today uses one of the Magnolia 'Fairy tale' images, she's called Pirate Tilda (you'd never have guessed would you?) and I think she's adorable, but then I think most of this range are cute as cupcakes!
I used the sketch from this week's Passion for Promarkers challenge and it wasn't until I'd finished the card that I realised there was also a theme involved which was 'a male themed card' so if this doesn't fit the challenge just throw me out.
I think my card also fits some other challenges, so I'm entering it for the following:
Passion for Promarkers #56 - Sketch & Theme
Simon Says Stamp - Pirates!
Crafts & Me - Friends & Family
Bunny Zoe's Challenge #1 - Nice & Girly

The main backing paper is again one of Crafty Ann's (I just love these papers and this colour was perfect for my Pirate theme!) and I managed to use up some cuttlebugged card and paper scraps on this card, which is quite unusual for me, my scrap box is HUGE!
I also got to use my brand new EK Success 'Wave Flourish' punch, I have wanted this for ages and it's now available from Joanna Sheen's store. This has to be one of my favourite places to shop as the customer service is second to none, the delivery is superfast and it's free p&p What more could a girl want?

Card Details:
* Image - Magnolia 'Pirate Tilda'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Crafty Ann's 'Abstract 2 - Dark Grey'
* Sentiment - PC generated
* Punches - EK Success 'Retro Flower' and 'Wave Flourish'
* Everything else from my stash

My apologies for the awful picture, but my scanner didn't want to play today.

Thanks to all you neat and tidy crafters who left comments on my WOYWW post, what a relief to know I'm not alone, in fact I think there may be a lot more of us than anyone guessed. Come on all you tidy girls and boys, confess and join our 'neat freaks' club LOL!

WOYWW 54

Hi everyone, I can't believe I actually managed to join in for a second week, miracles will never cease! LOL!
It took me about 3 days to visit all the WOYWW blogs last week, but I eventually made it and I had such a lovely time being nosy. I wonder how many days it will take me to get around them all this week?
As you can see from my photo I was in a colouring mood and I forced myself NOT to clear up before taking my picture, so I hope all those WOYWWers who complained about my tidy space last week will be happier this time (if you'd like to know more or join in, just visit Julia at Stamping Ground)
I have to confess it......I am a tidy crafter!! Yes I know it seems unlikely, but really I am. I do try to be untidy but I just can't work in a mess, my Mojo goes walkabout and I have to join it, so I think I may find this WOYWW harder than I imagined
It's second nature to me now to clean up when I finish crafting so that my craft room's all nice and tidy for the next day.
If you are the same please leave me a message, otherwise I shall get some sort of complex about being the only neat crafter on the planet!

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #22

Hi everyone, well here I am again and this time it's with a card for the wonderful Bah! Humbug! challenge.
When this challenge first started back in January I had every intention of joining in each week. Not solely so I would have a stock of cards come the dreaded 'festive' season, but also because two out of the three DT members were close crafting buddies. Unfortunately, reality got in the way and this is the first card I've managed since challenge #6.
I couldn't have returned at a better week though, because the theme this week is 'Anything Goes' and trust me, after not making a Christmas card for so long I need all the help I can get LOL!
With that in mind, I entered this card for some other challenges too and they are all as follows:

Bah! Humbug! - Anything Goes
Die Cut Dreams Christmas Club - Sketch
Winter Wonderland - Christmas Flower
ABC Christmas Challenge - Lights
Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge

Card Details:
* Image - Whiff of Joy 'Willow with Lantern'
* Colouring medium - Promarkers
* Papers - Hot Off The Press
* Everything else from my stash

I'm hoping that I'll manage to join in each week from now on, as I desperately want a stock of cards so I don't have that awful last minute rush that I normally experience in December.

Thanks so much to those visitors that leave a comment for me, I really enjoy reading them, take care