High Hopes challenge #203

Time for a new challenge at High Hopes and this week its...
Stripes
Play along with your High Hopes stamps to win a new one of your choice.

For my card I've used Fishing Friends ... coloured with pencils.
Look at that cute pooch!  There's no way Ruby would get in to a boat, waaay to close to water for her liking.  Now, if it was a muddy field ....!!!!  ;)


Other challenges I'd like to enter this card in to ....

Layout from Sweet Sunday #204
Totally Gorjuss #220 - furtastic
Cutie Pie challenge #61 - January blues
Pile it On #4 - Animals
Daring Cardmakers - earning your stripes
Totally Papercrafts #203 - one for the boys

Get Well birdie

These dirty marks on my camera lens are really bugging me, they show up so clearly on a card like this :(

This layout was inspired by one on Retro Sketches a week or two ago, and the scored lines inpsired by their designer Laurie's card.

I had intended my panels to be the other way round, but stuck my dimensionals to the wrong side of the smaller white panel and had to do a bit of fixing!
Paper pieced my birdie, and added clear gloss to his beak and hair ??? (... no idea what the little heart thing on his head is called LOL)

Pale blue/white colour theme and stripes inspired by the picture at the Be Inspired Challenge #46
Daring Cardmakers - earn your stripes
Sister Act Card Challenge #41 - anything goes
Crafty Girls #10 - anything goes
Fab 'n' Funky #200 - all about the words

Buzzzzy Birthday

I haven't played in the Featured Stamper challenge for ages, but Doni's gallery was so inspirational I could have CASEd her cards till the cows come home ... or should that be bees ;)

Here's Doni's original card ... I used a different bee image, a stamp instead of paper under the bee, added some pearls and flipped her layout.  The watercolour swishes in the BG is a new technique for me, but they're not quite as nice as Doni's!  Clear gloss and glitter added to the bee's wings.

Sister Act Card Challenge #41 - anything goes
Crafts 4 Eternity r160 - Tic Tac Toe - I used stamping / glitter / white
Crafty Catz #215 - monochrome
Simon Says Stamp Monday - A is for ... arrows
Divas by Design - anything goes
Dream Valley Challenges # 74 - no designer paper

Golden Wedding Anniversary

It's been a bit of a changeable day today ... if it wasn't raining it would be 5 minutes later!  We managed a dander round the park at double quick time with Ruby this morning and only just made it back in time before the heavens opened.  It's supposed to be a wild day tomorrow, so it may be a wee crafty day.  I think I could manage to ignore the ironing mountain for another while Heee :)

I don't know what I'm going to do when I run out of this orangey DP from Me and My Big Ideas.  It's not a colour I would ever have used before, but I'm loving it!

Stamp from Whipper Snapper - I paper pieced the left vase with a wee scrap and added some gold peel off accents and sentiment.  The '50' is a sparkly peel off, but the sparkle doesn't really show up in my pic.  I used my Cuttlebug to die cut my semicircles.

Layout from Sketch Saturday #294
Simon Says Stamp Monday - A is for ... Anniversary
Party Time Tuesdays #PTT156 - ribbon
Papertake Weekly - Bow Dies
Divas by Design - anything goes
A little bit crafty January - Celebrate
Penny Black and More January - Love is in the air

High Hopes challenge #202

Time for a new challenge at High Hopes, and this week it's to
Add something green
So you could colour green or just use green card stock, just whatever suits.  Play along with your High Hopes stamps to win a new one of your choice.

Hope you've enjoyed all the peeks of the new release at High Hopes.  This is another newbie ... Sitting Shelby and Turtally Awesome sentiment.  Coloured with Promarkers.  Ribbon to side of image attached with staples.

Other challenges I'd like to enter this card into:
Sieze the Birthday - who likes to colour?
Passion for promarkers #231 - ribbon, lace or twine

Happy Anniversary card for Claire and Colin

Just a quickie post from me tonight ... there's actually a good night on the telly for a change!

I hate making lovey-dovey cards, but this was a special request by a friend in work.  Image from Lili of the Valley - I wrote their names on the book, and coloured the image with pencils.

Layout inspired by Sketchy Colors #194
Lili of the Valley January challenge - anything goes
My Mum's Craft Shop January challenge - Love
Penny Black and More January challenge - Love is in the air
Curtain Call - Love Letter

Simple Sympathy

Sorry for the pants photo, it's just too dark here today!

I wanted to keep my colours reasonably simple and couldn't decide on a DP, so in the end I watercoloured my image and then splattered the strip in the BG.
Clear gloss added to the jam jar and then some little diamond bling to finish

Layout from CAS(e) This Sketch #60
Simon Says Stamp Monday - anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Clean and Simple
Crafty Girls #9 - anything goes

Birthday Birdies

Yeuch, it's been a really dark, drizzly wet oul' day today ... definitely an afternoon for putting the heat on, a wee movie on the telly, and forty winks ;)
Poor wee Ruby hardly put her nose out the door all day, not that I'm complaining - she was at the groomers yesterday, so at least it's another day where she's still white!!

My image is one of the new Whipper Snapper stamps I got before Christmas ... just needed a quick colour with copics and a touch of gloss to their beaks.  The large solid star and marker at the top are dies from my new stash of dies from Paper Smooches - 'cardbooking dies' which I'm loving :)

Layout from Sketch Saturday #293
Sweet Stampin' - your favourite style ... mine's a reasonable simple layout and a cute image
A gem of a challenge #111 - for the boys
Totally Gorjuss #219 - lace and/or pearls
Stampin for the Weekend - Happy Birthday
Simon Says Stamp Monday - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - New Year New Stash

High Hopes Sneak Peek Day 3

Day 3 of High Hopes sneak peeks and it's release day too!  To see the full selection of new images, pop over to the High Hopes blog!

Be sure to leave a comment on the High Hopes blog as a winner will be chosen for a prize package of some of the new designs from one of the comments over the 3 Sneak Peek posts.

My stamp today is "Herbie's Heifers" and I loved using it so much that I made 2 cards!

The first card is coloured using pencils and I've added clear gloss to the cow's hooves and horns and to Herbie's shoes.  I've also used some of my new Paper Smooches dies .. the quotation marks and hash tag - and added clear gloss and glitter to them too.  What's Moo sentiment also from High Hopes.

My second card uses Herd Birthday sentiment from High Hopes.  Coloured with copics

I'd like to enter these cards into the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - New Year New Stash (my stamps)
Let's Craft and Create #86 - masculine
Inky Chicks #20 - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - anything goes
Sketch on first card from Sweet Sunday #202

High Hopes Sneak Peek Day 2 and new challenge

Day 2 of the sneak peeks from High Hopes - this is "Herbie" (available to purchase from tomorrow)

Enjoying the sneak peeks?  Be sure to leave a comment on the High Hopes blog as a winner will be chosen for a prize package of some of the new designs from one of the comments over the 3 Sneak Peek posts.

I've coloured him (though Greg thought it was a 'her'!) with pencils, and added clear gloss to the chickens beaks and feet, and also to the centre of the rosette.
I chalked some clouds in to resemble a sunny day and there's also a touch of brown at the bottom, but my camera didn't really pick these up.  I've also used some of my new red enamel bling (which I'm lovin!).

Our challenge at High Hopes this week is 'On a Sunny Day' - play along with your High Hopes stamps and you could win a new one of your own ... maybe you'll choose one of these new release stamps!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown #178 - stripes
Papertake Weekly - Yew Year, New Stash
Die Cuttin Divas #148 - out with the old (my Die-namics fence die) and in with the new (my stamp)
Simon Says Stamp Monday - anything goes
Dream Valley #73 - boys/men
CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge - January

High Hopes Sneak Peek Day 1

High Hopes have a new release on Wednesday, so over the next few days the team are giving you some sneak peeks.  High Hopes have a new artist ... Annie Lang and you're gonna LOVE her images, I know I do!!

My card uses one of the new images ... "Lucy's Lambs" (available to purchase from Wednesday) and an older sentiment Thank Ewe.  Aren't those little sheepies adorable!

Pop over to the High Hopes blog for more cuties, and I'll have another one here tomorrow for you too :)

Be sure to leave a comment on the High Hopes blog as a winner will be chosen for a prize package of some of the new designs from one of the comments over the 3 Sneak Peek posts.


I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges...
Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge: Anything goes
The Squirrel and the Fox #61 - show off your new stuff (my stamp)
Sweet Stampin' - girly but no pink
Sarah Hurley 365 - Thank You
Penny's Paper Crafty challenge #159 - anything goes

Pretty in pink :)

Heee my mojo was in full swing today and I just LOVE how this card turned out! :)

The little bear is an older stamp (I think) from Penny Black, but was one of my January sale bargains.  I got
my watercolour pencils out for the first time in aaaages, I'd forgotten how much I love them!  I used several of the pink pencils to make splatters on my card, and some diamond bling to finish.

Is it just me has problems with 'random'?  I faffed about with these diamonds for a long time before I finally stuck them down.  I think I have a touch of OCD where my cards are concerned (unfortunately this doesn't extend to housework or ironing Hahaha)

Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Crafty Cardmakers #107 - Bear with me
Penny Black Saturday - January - 'new' (my new stamp)
Natalie and Amy's challenge #16 - one for the girlies
The Squirrel and the Fox #61 - show off your new stuff
Layout from Crafts 4 Eternity R#158
Crafty Catz #213 - pretty in pink

Sympathy Card

It's been a horrible drizzly dark day today ... we've had the light's on since lunch time.  Not to worry, I've hardly any cards in my stash, plus High Hopes have a new release on Wednesday and sneak peeks start tomorrow ... so I've had a lovely crafty day!

I've used this orangey theme before on a sympathy card, but quite like it.  I've used one of my new January sale stamps - from Whipper Snapper - coloured with pencils.  The little heart is one of my new Paper Smooches accent dies.

• Layout from Sketch Saturday #292 
• CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge - January
• Sister Act card challenge #39
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Hopping with High Hopes

Today is the 200th Challenge for High Hopes Rubber Stamps. For over 7 years the team has been creating some amazing samples using High Hopes stamps. It has been a wonderful journey. Therefore, we are celebrating with a Blog Hop. There will 3 prizes provided by our Sponsors (Stamp and Create, Bunny Zoe's Crafts, and One Crazy Stamper) along with High Hopes Rubber Stamps. 

You should start at the top of the Blog Hop at the High Hopes Blog. If you did not begin at the top, we suggest you back now so that you do not miss a stop.
As you hop along each stop, you will find a clue at each stop. Collect each clue to create a phrase. When you are done with the hop, leave a comment including the finished phrase to be entered into the drawing for one of the prizes. 

In addition, there is another chance to win 1 Free High Hopes Stamp by entering the challenge. Create a card or project using the challenge theme and link your project to the link on the challenge blog. 
You can participate in the challenge without doing the blog hop (which will enter into the drawing for 1 Free High Hopes stamp). You can also participate in the Blog Hop without entering the challenge (which will enter you in the drawing for the chance at one of the 3 sponsor's prizes). 
The challenge theme is: Use your favourite High Hopes stamp(You MUST use a High Hopes stamp to enter the challenge)

My card uses one of my favourite stamps ...  Cheeky Sean - don't you just love that grin!  Sorry for the pants photo, for some reason my camera can't cope with a green background!

You should have arrived here via Alie (if not, start at the beginning at High Hopes Challenge blog)
Your next stop is Alex and your clue from my blog is...
"Stamps"

Have fun!

Old Friends

An 'old' friend gave me this sentiment stamp as part of my Christmas present ... didn't she do well!  We've been friends for over 25 years (where does the time go?!) and I must confess to have had a tear in my eye when I saw this.  Soppy old sod!

When I saw Laurie's beautiful card over at the Muse challenge, I thought I'd have a go, though my card seems to be more of a CASE than inspiration! ;)
I masked off my sentiment so I could stamp it in two portions.  I don't have a sunburst die, so made my own by cutting a large scalloped circle and then snipping bits out of it. I also managed to use some washi tape from my stash {gasp} and my new red enamel bling which I'm loving :)

There isn't a smudge in the middle of 'friends' on my card ... I've a dirty mark on the inside of my camera lens. Grrr.

PS Don't forget about the High Hopes hop tomorrow ... there's 3 lots of candy to be won!


Muse Challenge #49 - Laurie's card (right)
Pile it On #1 - just because
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - something new (my new stash)
CRAFT challenge #240 - anything goes
Polkadoodles #1 - anything goes

Birthday Fishes

Just a quickie post this evening, Sherlock is on telly and I love it!

My card uses some lovely images from High Hopes ... Horatio Sea Horse, Gilbert and Puff Fishy.  All coloured with pencils and some diamond bling added.  Circles embossing folder is an oldie from Sizzix I think.

I hope you'll pop back on Tuesday for High Hopes blog hop for our 200th challenge ... we have some candy to share!

• Challenges 4 Everybody #37 - anything goes
• Charisma Cardz #1 - birthday
• Cute Card Thursday #302 - banish the blues
• Layout from Clean and Simple Stamping #274
• Less is More #153 - colour challenge - shades of blue

Mousey Thanks

This wee stamp was another of my bargains.  I love Whipper Snapper stamps, but don't treat myself very often, so when I saw it was reduced, in to my basket it went!

Coloured with pencils and clear gloss added to the flower centres and mouse's nose.  Die-namics Peek-a-Boo dots die.  Paper Smooches sentiment.

• My Favourite Things Colour Palette  #1 - pink, black and white
• Layout from Deconstructed Sketch #132
• A Gem of A Challenge #110 - something new (my new stamp)
• Crafty Catz #212 - thank you
• Craftyhands #5 - anything goes
• Moving along with the times - thank you
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - something new (my new stamp)

Shopping for Hedgehogs!

Santa was kind enough to me a few pennies so I've had a fun time shopping online and a huge parcel of goodies arrived from Sir Stampalot this morning ... over £84 of stash for only £22 .... bargain!!  I've also ordered up a Project Life album, I'm looking forward to having a go at this as I always love to see any Project Life pages :)

This was one of my new cuties which I know is quite an old Penny Black stamp, but I've always liked it.  Coloured with pencils and watercoloured BG.  My DP is yet again from the Me and My Big Ideas pad from my Secret Santa in work ... the aqua is lovely and shiny but doesn't really show up in pic.  Ribbon from my stash which matches the DP perfectly.  Die-namics Instaframe die.
Sorry for the pants dark photo ... its been a bit of a drizzly dark day.

Layout based on sketch 79 for Papertake Weekly's pick of the year challenge
Charisma Cardz #1/2014 - Birthday
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - something new (my new stash)
Simply Create Too #42 - anything goes
Totally Gorjuss #217 - ribbon
Penny Black Saturday January - 'new' (new stash)
Addicted to CAS #29 - die cuts