Christmas in July

Our new challenge at High Hopes is
Christmas in July
Play along with your High Hopes stamps for the chance to win a new one of your choice :)

I remember when I first started making cards, I couldn't figure out why the craft shops didn't seem to have any Christmassy stuff at the start of December!  Stop laughing!  Little did I know then that all the crafters started in the summer when the sun was at its hottest ;)

This card uses my favourite happy snowman ... Snowy Portrait - coloured with pencils and orange glitter added to his nose.  I only wanted a fine border round my layers, so just touched it along my ink pad.

Other Challenges:
Lexis Creations #121 -Christmas in July
The Squirrel and the Fox #75 - inspired by a movie or song ... The Snowman
613 Avenue Create #82 - anything goes/optional sentiment
Layout from Crazy for CAS #49
CraftyHazelnut's Christmas challenge #187 - cute
Sparkles Challenge #58 - Christmas in July
CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra July - anything goes
Simon Says Monday challenge - J is for ... Jolly and Jewels
Crafty Creations #268 - just for fun, cards that make you smile

Happy Bird Day

We've had a bit of a heatwave this past week and high humidity too ... and neither my office (no air conditioning and not a touch of a breeze) and my hair (fuzz ball) could cope!  So I was glad to see the temperature drop this weekend and a wee drop of rain for the garden too - Hurray for not having to get the watering can out :)  Think my mojo was off to cooler climes all week, so it was good to have him back too!

This card was based on the photo inspiration over at Be Inspired.  I coloured my birdie and sentiment panel with copics (which ran out before I had properly finished grrr) - clear gloss added to the beak and the little heart.

Be Inspired #55
Inky Chicks #34 - Happy Birthday
Party Time Tuesdays PTT182 - anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #331 - for the birds
Layout from Deconstructed Sketch #161

Havin' a Ball Snowman

This week's challenge at High Hopes is ..
Blue and Green and White or Cream
Play along with your High Hopes stamps to win a new one of your choice :)

While I was making this card I was half watching our Rory win the Golf Open :) so I must confess I wasn't entirely paying attention to what I was doing!

First off, I forgot the challenge colour theme and chose some DP with red in it.
Then when I went to die cut my notebook edge on the image panel I managed to cut it upside down.
That's OK, I thought, it kinda looks like wee snowballs, I'll use my snowball effect ribbon.  Did I use it? Nope! By the time I got to my ribbon box I'd forgotten my plan and used some of this hairy stuff instead!  Doh!

My image is Havin' a Ball Snowman - coloured with pencils and some diamond stickles added for a bit of sparkle; also some black stickles on his nose.

Butterfly Sympathy

This wee card looks so much better in real life, but I couldn't get it to photograph nicely.
I've splattered the BG with some light purple watercolour paint and also added some of this very pale lilac liquid pearl stuff that I haven't used in aaaages.
My inspiration for this card was from this week's featured stamper at Splitcoast ... HERE is karrenj's original.
Whimsy butterfly die and lilac bling from stash.

CAS on Sunday #38 - sympathy
Totally Gorjuss #245 - butterflies
Clear it Out - keep it simple silly
Papertake Weekly - buttons, bows and/or bling

sMOOches

Just a wee quickie post this evening ... The Mill is on telly shortly and last series was quite good Sunday evening viewing.  So I've 5 minutes to get this posted and get the kettle on!

Image from Penny Black - coloured with watercolours.  Paper Smooches sentiment and heart die.  Memory Box branch die. Woodware Flower punch.

Layout from Deconstructed Sketch DS160
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - July
Stamping Sensations July - summer blooms
Sister Act #66 - anything goes
Penny's Paper Crafty challenge #186 - anything goes

Project Life Xmas 2013

Yes, I know it's July and here I am getting caught up with Christmas 2013!

I have been so uninspired by my Project Life book to date, I found it impossible to know where to start and that big blank page was daunting.

And then this morning I came across Citrus Twist Kits and it was like a light bulb came on!  I realised that in my card making I love to follow a sketch, and that's what I was finding so frustrating about PL, and this website has loads!  :)  Just what I needed to kick start my PL mojo!

(if anyone knows of other pocket scrapbooking sites that have sketches I'd love the links please!)

I used up some of my silver peel off letters on this page.  Other snowflake and arrow die cuts from Paper Smooches.  The little Santa dude is from High Hopes - Small Stackable Santa - coloured with promarkers and sparkle added to his fur.

Sparkles Forum Challenge #58 - Christmas in July
Divas by Design - Christmas in July

Girlie Pink

Hurrah, nearly Friday already!  I hate having days off work at the start of the week ... the working week seems to be just as long and yet at the same time I've no idea what day it actually is! ;)

I missed the good light when I was taking this pic and couldn't be bothered getting out my lamp - her dress is pinker than it shows here.  I found some of this dark grey/silver paper when I was having my craft clearout ... who knew I actually had this?  Def don't remember buying it!

Image from Tiddly Inks - coloured with pencils and clear gloss added to the balloons in her hand.
Die-namics peek-a-boo dots die; CC Designs fence die; Woodware flower punch; Paper Smooches heart die.

Crafting when we can #73 - friendship
Tiddly Inks challenge #136 - BFF
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - spots and dots
As You Like It - favourite sentiment .. mine's this happy birthday one from Paper Smooches - I like the fun font and it's a great size too :)
Penny Black and More July challenge - dies and punches

Froggy Posey

It's St Swithin's Day today and we had a fabulous warm and dry day ... great news as according to aold folklore if it rains on St Swithin's Day it'll rain for the next 40 days!  (Apparently there's actually a bit of truth in it, something to do with the gulf stream)

Anyway, our new challenge at High Hopes is
Outdoor Fun
Play along with your High Hopes stamps and you could win a new one of your choice :)

I didn't add a sentiment yet as I haven't quite decided which one to use, though I might just leave it without one.  My image is Froggy Posey - coloured with pencils.  I paper pieced froggy's flower and then added clear gloss and gems to the flower centres.


Other Challenges
Layout from Sketch Saturday #318
My Time to Craft #253 - paper piecing
Crafty Catz #239 - flowers
Charisma Cardz #15 - anything goes
Stamping Sensations July challenge - summer blooms

Double Doggies

This card was inspired by the photo inspiration over at the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge.
I watercoloured some stripes (didn't realise they were so wonky until I took the picture LOL) and then had some arty fun with the background ... I splattered some paint, added some paw prints and dots and some enamel paint.  I also managed to use up some old stash and added a doggy charm and an eyelet.
I love how it turned out!

Paper Smooches Sparks photo inspiration
Pile it On #28 - monochrome
As You Like It - animals or people? - I prefer to colour animals as I can never get the skin on my people to look right!
Creative Inspirations #273 - favourite occasion - mine's
birthday
Clear it Out - Keep it simple

Native sisters

This card is for my sister's birthday.  It took aaages of faffing about, I'd bits on and off again and just couldn't decide what I was doing.  The top left corner had me stumped for ages as it looked a bit bare, and then I remembered about this arrow die from a Paper Smooches set.

My image is Native Sisters from High Hopes and Sisters and Friends sentiment.
Coloured with pencils and clear bling added to the flower centres.

Layout and colour combo (green, blue, black) from Tuesday Morning sketches #257
Creative Inspirations #273 - your favourite occasion (mine's birthdays)
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge - July
Sister Act #65 - anything goes
Crafting When We Can #73 - friendship

Get Well Kitty

I've been trying to convince myself that I don't really 'need' any new goodies and have been revisiting some of my oldies ... it's been aaaaages since this cutie last saw ink!

My image is Cat-ching some Rays from High Hopes - coloured with pencils and clear gloss added to their noses.  Some card candy coloured to match the fishie.  And I actually managed to use a button! Gasp!

Layout inspired by Freshly Made Sketches #144
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #185 - anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - July
Charisma Cardz #15 - anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #329 - pretty papers

Sparkly Flutterby

And finally for this evening... !!
This card was inspired by the photo inspiration over at the TAWS Be Inspired challenge.  I had a wee scrap of this dotty green DP left, I knew I was keeping it for a reason!  I actually managed to use some much unloved tape on this card, though I'm still not convinced ;)

Be Inspired #54
Divas by Design - things with wings
Fab n' Funky #223 - feels like summer
Crafty Girls #22 - anything goes
Totally Gorjuss #244 - tag it
My Time to Craft #253 - paper piecing

Purrfect Kitty

I found a couple of sheets of this DP during my recent clear out ... I've absolutely no recollection of ever buying it!
I've used it with my Paper Smooches kitty and sentiment and also managed to use the paw print punch I had to have yet hardly ever use.  Bad me.

Paper Smooches SPARKS - anything goes
Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch MFTWSC184
Cute Card Thursday ##329 - pretty papers
A Gem of a Challenge #123 - animals
Charisma Cardz #15 - anything goes

Wine or Cake .... or both?

It's been a wet dark old day today, not much to do but get on with my card stash ... so apologies in advance for blogger overload this evening!

Simon Says challenge this week is to use something clear, so I dug out my can't-use-that-I've-hardly-any-left vellum and used it with my Uptown Girls stamp.  Coloured with pencils, glitter added to the cupcakes, and clear gloss to the wine and bottle.  Also some blue stickles added to the butterflies and to the spotty dress.

Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Let's Be Clear
Crafting when we can #73 - friendship
Divas by Design - things with wings
Moving along with the times - girls just wanna have fun
Colour theme from Pals Paper Arts PPA211

Get Well Flowers

Yippee, I've another few days off - Our work closes for a couple of days over the Twelfth so I treated myself to an extra couple of days, and that's me until next Wednesday :)  My card stash is pretty low at the minute, so I'm hoping to get a few made while I'm off.

When I was having my craft cupboard clear out, I came across a few scraps of this yellow DP set and it was just too pretty to chuck out.
I've used my favourite bunch of flowers from Whipper Snapper - coloured with pencils and a few white enamel dots added.  Woodware flower punch; dienamics mini tabs die.

Layout from Sweet Sunday #226
Pile it On #27 - add some flowers
Love to Create #123 - clean and layered
Cute Card Thursday #329 - pretty papers
Stamping Sensations July - summer blooms
Penny Black and More July - dies and punches

Anyone for lemonade?

Mmmm doesn't this look good .... I'm not sure if the little ant at the bottom is groaning under the weight of the other one, or if he's annoyed it's not his turn yet for a swig? haha

Anyway, it's the easiest challenge of all this week at High Hopes ...
Anything Goes
Play along with your High Hopes stamps for the chance to win a new one of your choice :)

My image is Drink Lemonade  ... though I'm going for more of a look of limeade - coloured with pencils; clear gloss added to the ice cubes and sparkle to the bubbles, straw and the inside of the lime.

Other Challenges
Layout inspired by Crafts 4 Eternity R#183
Dream Valley #85 - inspired by a movie ... "Antz"
Totally Gorjuss #243 - bling
Crafty Little Fairies - summer fun
My Mum's craft shop #19 - summer / bright colours

Joy to the World

Busy day today ... I got stuck in to my crafty cupboards and had a good clear out.  I found some fabby stuff I'd forgotten about and plenty of 'why did I buy that' stuff too!!

I did get a wee bit of time for a sit down and managed to double my Christmas card stash ... I now have TWO!  Ha.

My stamps are from High Hopes ... His Love for Ewe and Joy to the World sentiment.  Coloured with pencils and some glitter added to the coloured parts of his headdress.

Layout inspired by NancyT - this week's Featured Stamper at Splitcoast.  Here's Nancy's original.

Papertake Weekly - anything goes - option Xmas
My Time to Craft #252 - Christmas in June
The Sketchy Challenge #76 - make a Christmas card
A Gem of a Challenge #123 - animals
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - July

Ruby-doo had a busy day too ... it's a dog's life ;)

Beep beep

Movie night here .... we've Anchorman 2 on the telly.  The first one was soooo silly, and I'm sure this one will be too :)

This card was inspired by the pic over at the Cutting Edge challenge.  I watercoloured my paper and then splattered it with black paint when dry, cut it using my PS city die and stamped a few stars.  Nice and easy, just what my mojo needed ... he seems to have been on holiday for aaages :(
The wee car is super-old, I think it may have been one of the first embellishments I ever bought!  Yeyyy, go me for using up stash!

The Cutting Edge #2 - inspiration card
Paper Smooches SPARKS - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday - W for White
Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Out of this World

Our new challenge at High Hopes is to make a card for a
baby or young child.
Play along with your High Hopes stamps to win a new one of your choice :)

My card uses stamps from the Alien Special Set - I'd bought this DP ages ago simply because it would match my wee aliens and don't think I've used it before now.  Bad Me.
Image coloured with pencils.  Clear gloss added to red accents on spacecraft and then some glitter to the orange zig-zag and the smoke in the flames.

Other Challenges:
Crafty Creations #266 - things with wings
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
Crafty Girls #21 - anything goes
A Gem of a Challenge #122 - for a child
Love to Create #122 - 3 or more DPs
Creative Card Crew #65 - masculine