St Patrick's Day card

Anyone for green clouds? I didn't think white ones would show up well against the Shamrock backing paper!

I am entering this card into the Papertake Weekly challenge - Anything Goes. 

Card Recipe:

White base card from stash

Shamrock backing paper is a download from the Docrafts Creativity Club

Lucky clover and shamrock are Memory Box dies

Picket fence is an MFT die

Clouds and cockerel are Papertrey Ink dies

Cricut Joy

Yay I cut something with my Cricut!  It's nearly a year old and only been used half a dozen times!!  And.....two posts in one day.....my poor, poor blog....so neglected this year.

This is my 2nd Christmas card for 2012 and I am liking this one for using up scraps from the pile on my desk.  The most fiddly bit is threading the ribbon (I chose too thick a ribbon - but it fluffs up lovely behind and between the pennants!).  I might add more words like...Peace, Love & Joy...or Joy to the World when making this card again.  And I will try other colourways when I dig out other Christmas papers.

I am entering this card into these challenges:
Make It Monday - again!
365 Cards - Flagged
The Paper Shelter - Punch It

Card Recipe:

• White card base from stash
• White organza ribbon from Meiflower
• 'JOY' cut from 'Home Decor & More Cricut cartridge
• Banner is punched using a Stampin' Up punch 
• Both designer papers are from the 'Noel' Dovecraft paperpad

 

First Christmas Card for 2012

My apologies for the poor photo - I took the photo on the run - I'm off out for a walk while the sun is shining.  I followed the sketch over at Sassy Cheryl's challenge blog and used a pre-coloured Sassy Cheryl's image on the card. 

To me, the black & white inked sentiment just doesn't look quite right so the next time I make this card I will get out my gold embossing powder....at least it will blend with the overall colour scheme.

I am entering the card into the following challenges:

Sassy Chery's - Sketch

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Card Recipe:

• White card base and gold card from stash
• Both designer papers used are from a tiny Dovecraft paperpad called 'Noel'
• Gold organza ribbon from Meiflower
• Pre-coloured digi-image purchased from Sassy Cheryl's store

 

Ready for a Sentiment

Playing with all new purchases......love it!  You have to treat yourself while on holidays....right???  Well, I did!!  Any holiday we go by car usually means I have planned a craft shop visit...haha...don't tell hubby! 

Hubby and I were on holidays in  Northern Ireland last week for sightseeing and retail therapy of the outlet shopping kind, we had glorious weather, one of the best weeks of the year weather-wise I'd say.  We were so lucky.  So I usually have checked out Google Maps for the route and mentally taking note where I need us to take a detour ('honey, I think we should go this way, it's better' and 'can I just run in here for half an hour please?')....it works for us (me)!

Hello to the ladies in Forget-Me-Not Papercrafts in Belfast City,  I picked up some kraft cards and envelopes and 2 gorgeous DCWV paperstacks 'Mariposa' and 'Linen Closet' I was so lucky they were just being packed and had come in on special offer.  I nabbed some other bargains there too.  I used the kraft cards and 'Mariposa' papers on these cards:

When I came home, I got a phonecall from my local craft shop, Cottage Crafts, Craanford, to say that an order I had placed for Memory Box dies had come in for me and they are beautiful.  I used the 'Tropical Leaf' on both of the cards pictured above.  Then before I officially went back to work I placed an order with The Ribbon Girl for mainly felt, resin flowers (these are gorgeous) and button twine (of which I should have ordered double or triple the amount (it's fab too).  I made the flower buds on the cards with the felt and a Marianne die to make a rolled up flower. 

The rolled up flower looks and feels like velvet - I am so impressed with the felt and it only took a very small square to make it.

I am entering the cards into the following challenges:

Make It Monday: Anything Goes 

Little Red Wagon: Any Animal (I'm interpreting this as 'creature' I have butterflies on my cards)

The Paper Shelter: CAS (My card looks busy but it's only a sheet of DP, 3 flowers, a leaf and twine)

 

For the Hostess

I'm catching up with some girlfriends tonight and I never usually get a chance to make a card for the hostess but I had a chance to make this card - inspired by a few challenges:

The photo looks very fuzzy - my apologies.  I followed the sketch at CPS-Card Sketches sketch no 273 - Part 1 and the 'Let's Get Fruity' theme at House Mouse & Friends.  I am also entering the card into the Make It Monday no 97 challenge and the Papertake Weekly Challenge - 'Strawberries & Cream'.

Card Recipe:

• Pearlescent card from stash
• Striped and strawberry papers are from a DCWV paper pad called Nana's Nursery
• Stamp is a House Mouse stamp called 'Love Bunny' and coloured with copics and promarkers
• The 'thank you' sentiment was stamped with a 'Just Rite' font
• Gems from stash

 

Feel Better Soon

It's been ages since I have entered a Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge and I am loving this week's sketch.  You will find the challenge here WMSC102.

I am in the middle of revamping my crafty space and am working out of two rooms in the process - not recommending this ever!  I can't find anything (not that I am a tidy person to begin with)!!!  But instead of opening storage boxes I am turning to my scraps and dies which is no bad thing for a crafter.

My card is so much cuter in person, soothing.....with a pop of colour. Very quick to assemble and it's a card easy to reproduce for any occasion by just changing the sentiments.

Check out The Paper Shelter challenge blog - they are having an 'Anything Goes' challenge this week - I am entering this card for their challenge too. And Cute Card Thursday's theme is 'Punch Drunk' - hope my PTI dies count!  Not forgetting either - the Moving Along with the Times challenge 'Lets Get Krafty'.  I use my Kraft card very sparingly as it is difficult to get where I live.

Card Recipe:

• Embossed card base from the latest Docrafts 'goody bag'.  I bought mine at my local craft shop, Cottage Crafts, Craanford
• Dotty scalloped shape is from the same 'goody bag' 
• Sentiments are from the 'Frame It' set by Waltzingmouse Stamps
• Two-layer flower and banners were cut using Papertrey Ink dies
• Ribbon & paper rose from stash

 

Exam Good Luck

The Irish state exams begin tomorrow morning for thousands of Irish students.  Good luck in the Junior Cert and Leaving Cert exams guys!  I have had a few orders for cards and here is the 'boy' Good Luck card:

The card is very CAS.  White base, one sheet of patterned paper, uncoloured digi image matted onto kraft cardstock, computer-generated sentiment & name, 3 die-cut stars in silver, gold and navy.  The card is more impressive in person (it didn't photograph toooo badly).

I am entering the card into this week's:
Digital Tuesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Card Recipe:

• White base card from stash
• Patterned paper is from a Docrafts goody bag purchased from Cottage Crafts, Craanford (my local craft shop - check out their online store)
• Digi image can be purchased from Mo's Digital Pencil - (a life-saver for guy images)
• Stars were die-cut from Papertrey Ink Dies

 

With Love

I'm in love with little square cards at the moment - I bought a stash at the weekend in Birmingham - excellent quality too....  I am making up batches of these square cards for a Sunday market this weekend and hopefully they will appeal to the shoppers.

I am entering the card into a challenge over at Eat Sleep Stamp - loving the sketch - thanks Tracy.

Card Recipe:

• Card blank from Anna Marie Designs
• Backing paper is actually wrapping paper from M&S
• Image is by Penny Black
• Ribbon from stash
• Sentiment is computer generated

 

Spring into Summer

Feels like summer is not very far away here in Wexford at the moment.  We have had a fantastic, sunny weekend and more fine weather on the way for the rest of the coming week....really puts you in a good mood!

I am just back from a major shopping trip in Birmingham - mega card-making bargains filled my suitcase (just made it inside the luggage allowance - TG) and spent all day yesterday making cards like this one:

I am entering this card into the Creative Stamp Friends - 'Spring' challenge.

Card Recipe:

• Card blank from Anna Marie Designs
• Bunny is from a sheet of toppers by Lili of the Valley
• Frame was made using a Nestabilities die - the cutaway part
• Backing paper from a 'First Editions' paper pad from Hotshot Craft
• Ribbon from Meiflower
• Paper flower from stash

 

Keeping it Simple

Get on over to Mojo Monday.  Sketch no 226 is a real keeper.  I had my square card made so quickly that I now want to try a round version (or maybe make a round topper to have for another card).

My card doesn't have a sentiment and please believe me that 'in person' it doesn't need one.  It is one for my stash to send a 'thinking of you' message inside.  The brown glitter really sparkles - even thought it looks so dull in the photo.

I have had this little birdie image stamped and glittered for years and sitting in front of me for inspiration with two of his brothers with turquoise and brown dots.  I will have to search for the stamp set again and do a repeat.  I am not usually a 'pastels' fan but I will hold on to this card for as long as possible - yum!

Card Recipe:

• Scalloped card blank from stash
• Designer paper on top is from a Forever Friends Black & Gold stack
• Beige & white swirls paper was purchased at a pick 'n' mix paper stand at a craft fair
• Bird stamp I have since 2008 - picked up in Walmart possibly - not 100 percent on that one
• Ribbon from stash

 

Penny Black Saturday Challenge

Another of my favourite challenges I love to browse for inspiration, and I love Kath Stewart's work especially (her blog is one of the first I discovered on the 'net').  And again, it's another challenge I don't usually enter even with all the PB stamps I now own - shame on me!!!

For challenge no 186 the theme is floral frenzy - how wonderful.  I kept my card fairly simple, a square patch of floral patterned paper and the hedgie is holding a bunch of flowers which I Glossy Accented.  To finish off I cut the edges of the striped card with decorative scissors, added a trim punched with a Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch and the branch was cut with my Cricut (Christmas pressie from hubby)

Check out the other Design Team member's samples - they are simply wonderful.  Ideal to kick-start lazy mojos!!!

Card Recipe:

• Scalloped card blank from stash
• Designer paper & striped paper also from stash
• PB Hedgie is from one of the Transparent sets
• Image coloured with Promarkers

 

It's Pretty Pink

I had the most fun stamping by the fire on Saturday evening.  My go-to challenge after work on Saturday is the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge even though I don't enter it.  I have no excuse because I now have a few of Claire's stamp sets to my name.

I am always so impressed by the DT's samples each week and this week was no different.  I chose to follow in the steps of Kelly Schirmer and create my own designer paper using tiny Waltzingmouse stamps.

 

I just 'went' for it.  I started by distressing the edge of a white square of card with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink.  I was a bit heavy-handed first time around so I flipped the card blank over and this was my 'barely distressed' effort.  Wow Aged Mahogany hardly needs to touch the card to colour it - this was the effect I got around the edge with a very dry sponge!  

I used a tiny 'berry' 'dot' from the WM Festive Foliage set - first time this little 'dot' was inked.  I used a strong pink from a Color Box Chalk ink stack stamped it with the fresh coat of ink and stamped it again before i re-inked it the next time around.   (If I had time I would have loved to have added Glossy Accents to the 'polka dots' not covered by the topper for an extra effect.  Instead I went on to make some more designer sheets in different colourways.)  The next tiny stamp I used was the one you see stamped in black - from the WM You're Lovely set.  And lastly, the tiny trio of stars that I used is from the WM Christmas Cottage set.

To finish off I kinda followed the sketch with a top scalloped border cut with a Martha Stewart Punch,  tied some chiffon ribbon round the top and added a topper stamped from the WM You're Lovely set again.  Sentiment to be added later - this card is for my crafty stash.

Card Recipe:

• Scalloped square card base from stash
• Background card created using Distress Ink and WM stamps
• Ribbon from Meiflower

 

Refreshing Colours ....

....for a Spring-like challenge at There She Goes challenge blog.  They have provided a fab photo as inspiration using 'put you in a good mood colours' in my opinion.  Here is my card:

 
And to give my card more than one outing in a challenge today I am also entering it into 'A Passion for Papertrey'  - inspired by a book challenge - loosely I am basing my card on Cecelia Ahern's 'PS I Love You' book where the main female character gets pieces of mail from her dead husband beginning with a milestone birthday message???!!!!

Card Recipe:

• Main image is one of the Friendship jar fillers (being used without the jar) by Papertrey Ink and coloured using only 4 Promarker shades - Antique Pink, Cocktail Pink, Grass and Pine.
• I also used one of Papertrey's ric-rac border dies to cut a strip of white card stock to go across the card
• The pink background I can't accredit - my apologies, my aunt was having a clear out of crafty stash and she gave me tons of loose 12 x 12 papers.
• The green 'print-effect' background paper is one by Stampin' Up
• Also in the picture is a music-score embossed card - made using a Cuttlebug folder

 

A Digi Snowman

A very quick card to put together - very little colouring involved.  I am going to make a couple more of these.  Tonight I have a marathon card-making session ahead of me, eight cards being collected tomorrow all different! All for the same lady for her family and kids - whew I am yawning and it's only 8pm........!

Digital Tuesday Challenge has a 'Winter Wonderland' theme running for a few weeks so I am entering the card in that challenge.  And Tiddly Inks has a White Christmas theme as their last challenge for the year - go and drool over the DT samples. Over at the ABC challenge blog their theme is 'F' for Frosty - so another place to enter the card.

Card Recipe

• Backing papers are last season's collection by 'Docrafts' I think called Poinsettia???? My apologies for not being exactly clear.
• Digi-stamp is by Tiddly Inks
• Chiffon ribbon was purchased from Meiflower

  

A Busy Elf

That's my excuse!!!  I didn't drop off the face of the earth or anything.  I have been working 'round the clock' making cards and because I have been so busy my craft room is a tip and I hate working in a messy room.  

When the evenings have been cold I crafted by the fire at a fold up table with craft supplies piled up around me.  Hubby cleaned up the kitchen for me this morning while I put my crafty supplies back in 'their room'.  He also left me to finish off these four cards because I was delivering them today! 

I shamelessly 'cased' a card made by Jean Martin here - it's the one on the front left-hand side of the photo.  I had this set of Waltzing Mouse stamps in my stash unopened for many, many months and then I saw Jean's card and 'stole' her Mistletoe element/topper - please forgive me Jean and thank you for a kick up in the Mojo dept.

A Cute Moose Card

First Holiday card for 2011 - I am determined to create a stash of Christmas cards to have ready for sale - no late nights making cards for me if we get a winter like we did last year!

I was too late to enter last week's Colour Create challenge because blogger was too slow to load for me this afternoon but not to worry the card is made and I have a couple of other challenges I can enter it into. Cute Card Thursday's challenge just finishing is 'Animal Crackers' so I am entering 'Moosey' in that challenge.

Card Recipe:

• White base card from stash and the papers are all scraps from my scrap 'boxes'
• The pre-coloured digi-stamp is by Sassy Cheryl
• The sentiment is computer-generated
• The snowflakes were punched using a Tonic punch
• I dotted Diamond 'Stickles' here and there in places on the card - not clearly visible from the photo I'm afraid

Thanks for looking xxx

 

Don't leave it as long as I did!!

Nearly two months without a blog post how very lazy of me.... I don't even have kids as an excuse not to post over the summer (what summer?) months!!! Got out of the habit and found it very difficult to get back into it.  Even my craft room is feeling unloved - it is very, very messy indeed - so messy that I'm turning to the ironing instead of crafting......

Found an 'Anything Goes' challenge to get me back in the mood for card-making and blog-posting this week.  It's over at the Papertake Weekly Challenge blog.  Here is my card:

Card Recipe:

• Backing paper is possibly a freebie, if not, it's from a CD.  The sheet has been hanging around for months waiting to be used on a card - apologies to the Designer for me not being able to credit them!!
• Baby with blanket is a stamp by Lili of the Valley the Hedgie Baby is from a transparent set by Penny Black
• Shapes were cut using 'Nesties' and a Papertrey Ink die (banner)
• Sentiments were computer-generated
• And the craft card I used is by Papertrey Ink

Mojo Monday - Time for another sketch

 

Today I am lucky enough to have a clean house (thanks hubby) so I can spend the day in my card-room.  I was waiting for the Mojo sketch 199 to load up so I could get cracking.

Very easy layout so the question was how to decorate.  At the moment, the collection of paper stacks I own is quite decent so the worst thing is having to choose from so many lovely papers!  I had spent a day last month doing some die-cutting in order to have a stash built up - so handy when time is short.  A very quick card to put together and it looks more elegant in person.  Hope the lady in question likes it!

Card Recipe:

• White card blank from stash
• Both papers I used came from a Prima Marketing paper stack called 'Sweet Fairy'
• Purple ribbon purchased from Meiflower
• Dies by Spellbinders (blossom) and Papertrey Ink (dressform) and Cuttlebug (butterfly)

 

Gone Fishin' - Caught my Mojo

Well I hadn't really lost my mojo I have been just soooo busy making invitations over the last two weeks - my poor, poor neglected blog.  When I haven't been making cards for a while I always check back with the Mojo Monday sketch blog to get me back in the mood and today was no exception!!  Oh yeah..... I also bought a stack of card magazines today {went to buy 1, came back with 4}.

As I was busy making invitations my orders for cards started to build up too so I am playing catch-up yesterday and today.  Here is a birthday card I made for a boy using the Mojo Monday sketch no 198 flipped on it's side:

Card Recipe:

• White base card from stash
• Both backing papers are from the same Prima Marketing paper stack called 'Jack & Jill'
• Fish and duck cut from Spellbinders Shapeabilities dies.  Part of the fish was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder
• Sentiment was computer-generated

 

 

Anything But a Card

This is my last entry as Guest Designer for PaperPlay Challenge blog (sob, sob) but I will be entering the weekly challenges there from now on.  This week's challenge is to make anything but a card - wow - thinking cap time.  Don't forget to check out the other designers' work.

I don't know about you but I am always stuffing things into my diary, bills, receipts, payslips, card orders, etc, etc,  you get the idea???  So, I thought I would add a pocket to the inside of my diary to keep everything organised - why didn't I think of this in January when I started to use my new diary? 

This is not just any old pocket, oh no....  It was engineered using my Hougie Board (scoreboard) and a fab piece of music-themed card.  It came together quite quickly once I had thought it out.  White base, black mat with a part of a circle punched out , music sheet also with a part of a circle punched out of it stuck to front, assembled with double sided tape - if it falls apart it will be my own fault for not using wet glue to stick it!!!

Card (Pocket) Recipe:

• 3 pieces of card from stash
• Scored using a Hougie scoreboard
• Scrap card punched with a 'Stampin Up' sprial punch

 

PaperPlay Challenges - Stars and Stripes

This card is so cute in person and the photo shows the card in a yellowy light (not good).  Love the 'stars & stripes' theme for this week and I can't wait to see what the design team come up with.  Check out the PaperPlay Challenges blog here.

Very quick card to make once I had chosen my papers.  It's without a sentiment for the moment so it's going in my 'all occasions'  box - until I need to use the card.

Card Recipe:

• White scalloped card blank from stash
• My 'stripes' are three pieces of card/paper in red white and blue. The red and blue papers are from a Prima Marketing paper stack called 'Reflections'
• I die cut two white stars using Papertrey Ink dies.  
• The Forever Friends bear is actually a picture cut from a piece of wrapping paper. 

 Thanks for looking  x x x

 

PaperPlay Challenges - At the Beach

(Edited to add: I'm such a fool.....  I had a little bit written about the card last night and scheduled the post for 9am this morning......and forgot to add a picture of the card!!!!!)

It's Beach weather here at the moment - but it's not due to last - boo hoo... 

The card I made this week for PaperPlay Challenges' theme 'At the Beach' is aimed at adults relaxing at the beach in 'grown-up' deck-chairs.  The texture of the glitter on the cards is so 'like' sand that I had to use them to make a CAS card.

I will have this card ready in my 'all occasion' stash and can add a sentiment when I need to use it: Relax, It's your Birthday, or Thinking of You, or a Retirement card - very versatile.

Card Recipe:

• White card blank from stash
• Both papers are from the same paper stack by First Edition Paper called 'Desert Blooms' - aptly named
• Deckchair stamp is by Lockhart Stamp Co

 

PaperPlay Challenges - Fa\ther's Day/Man's Card

First stepper card I've cut using a scoreboard and not one wrong cut or fold.  I have had these digi images for a while now - strong man is by JustInklined and the tool bench is by DigiSparkle.  The card is for this week's PaperPlay challenge, create a card for a man or Father's Day.  Check out the fab DT samples (I'm Guest Designer for June).

Card Recipe:

• White base card from stash, folded to make a side-stepper card
• Backing papers are scraps from stash
• Digi images by JustInklined and DigiSparkle(shop now closed for business)
• Letters cut from a Tim Holtz Sizzix alpha die called 'Vintage Market'

 

Mojo Monday - On Ice

Another fab sketch at Mojo Monday this week - Sketch # 194 and it's also a contest week because it's the first week of the month.  Originally I was going to make a man's card because of the colours I chose but I reached for a Papertrey Ink set called 'On Ice' that had never seen light of day or ink!!!  Very happy with the result.

I am also entering the card into the fortnightly challenge over at 'A Passion for Papertrey' challenge blog.  They have a recipe for 3 colours plus a neutral, a ribbon (I used a strand of wool) and two buttons.

Card Recipe:

• Card blank and scraps from stash
• Main image is a Papertrey Ink die and stamp to match called 'On Ice' - sentiment is from the same set
• Circle cut from a Nestabilities die
• Scallop border is cut using the Tonic punch border system