March calendar page

Whoohoo!  It's day 29 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge and I can't believe I managed to keep up for the whole month!

So here's my March calendar page for my Mum.  And what's going on here? .... well I reckon there's a dance-off competition going on in the woods and the prize is a great big Easter egg ;)  Though if I had an egg that size I'd be legging it to the far side of the trees while the other 2 are distracted with their footwork! LOL
Coloured with watercolours / pencils and clear gloss added to the egg and to the crow's beak and legs.

Stamps used from Eat Cake Graphics:
5050-F Flopsy bunny's got an egg
5062-I Brewster bunny (foot up)
5073-E Crow flapping wings
7078-I Row of pine trees

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Creative Knockouts #130 - go green
• 613 Avenue Create #165 - anything goes
• Pile it on #102 - paint

Hey Chick

We had another beautiful bright sunny day again today, it definitely makes you want to get up and get busy!  Ah well, looks like normal service is resumed tomorrow and umbrellas at the ready!

My cute chicks are from My Favourite Things - coloured with watercolours and the little chick popped up on dimensionals.  I'll have to go out and check how my sentiment looks in real life as it looks wonky here!  There's a 'hey chick' sentiment that comes with the set that I meant to stamp on the chick panel and forgot, so I'll need to do that too!

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #269
• Inspiration Destination #74 - anything goes
• Seize the Birthday - anything goes
• Polkadoodles #8 - tic tac toe - I chose wings / nature / sentiment

Day 28 of the Daily Marker Colouring challenge.

New Home

We had the most beautiful spring day today ... bit nippy but lovely and fresh and bright.  I was full of the joys, and got some of the garden sorted and the car washed ... we've had such a wet winter and it's been aaages since I washed the car, there was actually algae starting to grow on it!  Disgraceful!  ;)  I'm knackered now and my muscles are starting to object a bit, though if I can keep my peepers open, I'll be glued to the Carl Frampton boxing match later.

This stamp set is one of the reasons why I rarely get rid of any of my stamps!  I don't think I've ever used this row of houses before but I love it!  .... its from a kit from Unity (I think) that I won quite a few years ago.  Coloured with watercolour pencils, and watercolour inks for BG.  I wish I'd coloured my sky out more to the edges, but the cloud die was an afterthought and I'm not convinced it wouldn't have been better without it!  Clear gloss added to the windows and some bling to finish.

• Addicted to CAS #82 - Home
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Tuesday Throwdown TT282 - create your own background
• Whimsy Stamps #91 - anything goes

Day 27 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge

Hellooooo Doggy!

LOL I'm not entirely sure what colour my big doggy is ... I didn't like the first shade of brown, and ended up adding about 4 other layers.  When he started turning the colour of mud I reckoned it was time to stop ;)  You'd think I would have started again, but I'd already done my sky and didn't want to waste it!

Dogs stamp from Eat Cake Graphics ...
3046-K Optimism (MMM -dogs)
I love the tiny dog, if you look carefully she's wearing a little jumper, a wee bow in her hair and a rather surprised, if not worried expression!

I used watercolour paints for my background and also spritzed on some glimmer mist.  Clear gloss and glitter added to the dog collars / tags.  Not sure about my sentiment - I think it's a Penny Black.

• Pile it On #102 - paint
• Tuesday Throwdown TT282 - create your own background
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• As you like it - favourite occasion - mine's birthday for sure .. I think maybe 80% of the cards I make are for Birthdays.  Always a great celebration and even better when there's cake involved! 
• Seize the Birthday - anything goes

Day 26 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge

Sympathy flowers

I think these are lavender flowers, but I don't think I've ever seen any quite as large as these, so maybe they aren't?
I did manage to stamp it slightly wonky, but think I got away with it by grounding the image.
Coloured with watercolour pencils. I cut a frame out of my purple card, and then doodled a white border round the edge.

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Share Joy #24 - clean and simple
• Penny's Challenge #266 - anything goes
• Penny Black and More Feb - stamp and a die

Day 25 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge







We had a great night at the Wets concert last night!  Fab seats, great company, a good boogie and a singalong, and wee Marty was in fine voice too! Think it was the best Wet Wet Wet concert I've been to :)
(crappy photo, my phone doesn't do darkness!)

Bunny in a box

I'm out yahooing it up at the Wet Wet Wet concert in Belfast tonight with my sis, so there'll be no more card making today!

This one uses one of the cuties from Stamping Bella's latest release, but ohhhh, I'm absolutely in love with the brand new release!
Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Stickles added to the dots on the box for a bit of sparkle.  Lawn Fawn sun die; dienamics embroidered frame die.  Lili of the Valley DPs (...again!)

• Layout from Stamping Bella Mojobella sketch #5
• Allsorts #351 - birthday wishes
• Addicted to Stamps #182 - make your mark
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

Day 24 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge

Try Stampin - or not - on Tuesday ..... Handbags and Gladrags!

I've delighted to say that I've joined the Try Stampin on Tuesday Design Team for the next few months :)  So if you enjoy a sketch challenge as much as I do, I'd recommend you pop over!

Here's the sketch we're working with this week, and there's also an optional theme "Dreaming of Spring"

For my card I used a few stamps from Eat Cake Graphics:
1167-H Eloise (with her handbag)
8166-E In her handbag
I reckon Eloise is dreaming of getting home to get the kettle on for a cuppa with that secret bar of chocolate! ;)
Image coloured with watercolour pencils.  Lovely DPs from Lili of the Valley

• Crafty Creations #309 - something to eat or drink
• My Time to Craft #315 - check it out
• Simon Says Stamp - inspired by a song .... Rod Stewart's Handbags and Gladrags
• Stamp Ink Paper #36 - favourite stamps, inks and DPs
• Crafty Hazelnut's patterned paper challenge - February
• Stamping Sensations February - anything goes

Day 23 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge

Fairy nice

So, what's better than one sweet fairy?  Yip, a whole page of them ;)

This little cutie is from Eat Cake Graphics:
1091-D Little Sylvie (a wee one)
8151-D Happy Birthday (fun text)

This card is for a friend in work. I've coloured her with watercolour pencils and then added Wink of Stella and some clear gloss to her wings.  I then dotted my copic markers round the fairies to colour the background a bit.  Pink and silver sequins from my stash.

This card is also posted over at A Sprinkling of Samples and Techniques blog, where you'll find lots more loveliness from Eat Cake Graphics

• Seize the Birthday - any birthday 
• Share Joy #23 - for the Tic-tac-toe I used no DP - colouring - twine
• Sweet Stampin - glitter and sparkle
• Pixie's Snippets Playground #217
• Crafty Cardmaker #156 - for a special woman
• ABC Challenge - B is for .... Birthday
• Whimsy Stamps #91 - anything goes

Day 22 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge.

Sympathy flowers

I nearly didn't share this card as I'm so not loving it!  I think the problem began when I decided to use up this DP that's been knocking round my stash for years, and then they didn't get any better LOL

Image from Papermania Botanicals.
Coloured with watercolour pencils.
Dienamics wonky stitched circle die.

• Layout from Share Joy #23
• Tuesday Throwdown #281 - layer it up
• Inspiration Destination #73 - anything goes
• My Time to Craft #315 - check it out

Day 21 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge

First Christmas card!

I'd been full of good intentions to make a Christmas card every week, but it kinda didn't happen ;)  I think every year I promise that there's going to be no mad rush again this year!
I was very lucky to win this lovely stamp from Di over at Pixie's Crafty workshop (she has some fab prizes for her challenges every week!)
My BG is embossed with an old Cuttlebug snowflake folder.  Image coloured with watercolour pencils and then loads of gloss and glitter added for lots of sparkle.

• Merry Monday #192 - berries
• ABC Christmas - D for Don't overdo it
• CRAFT #351 - Christmas
• Less is More #264 - add texture

Day 20 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge - I can't quite believe I've managed to keep up so far!

Lighthouse Birthday

Here's another outing for my lighthouse stamp from Eat Cake Graphics:
6025-O Light house
I think it makes a pretty good masculine card!
Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Simon Says sentiment die.  Gold peel off stickers from stash.

This card is also posted over at A Sprinkling of Samples and Techniques blog, where you'll find lots more loveliness from Eat Cake Graphics

• Addicted to Stamps #181 - anything goes
• Fab'n Funky #292 - male birthday
• Creative Inspirations #345 - anything goes
• Creative Knockouts #129 - in stitches
• Penny Black and More February - stamp and a die

Day 19 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge

My first shaker card!

I've fancied making a shaker card for ages, and I came across some acetate when I tidied my stash a few weeks ago so thought I'd have a go.  Of course it took another half hour to find the flippin acetate again from the I'll know where I put that now spot LOL

So for day 18 of the Daily Marker colouring challeng, I have a cute little bunny from Eat Cake Graphics:
50505-F Flopsy bunny's got an egg

Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss added to the egg.  Little carrots in the background from Paper Smooches; sentiment is from an old Stampin Up set.
I think I should have used thicker dimensionals to pop the top layer up - I only used 1mm and the sequins kinda get stuck a bit in it.  Ah well, I'll know better for next time!

• AAA Cards #58 - sequins
• Sweet Stampin - CAS
• Simon Says Stamp blog Work it Wednesday January - use something new (my bunny stamp)
• 613 Avenue Create #163 - anything goes, option shaker card
• CASology #185 - egg
• Crafty Creations #309 - something to eat or drink
• Creative Inspirations #345 - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - shake it up

Light house sympathy card

I've no sympathy cards in my stash, and thought this image from Eat Cake Graphics would make a nice one.

I've used 6025-O Light house and coloured it with my watercolour pencils. I chalked my sky and waves in the background. Then I added clear gloss to the windows and some Wink of Stella to the little flag and to the waves round the rocks. Dienamics embroidered frame die.

This card is also posted over at A Sprinkling of Samples and Techniques blog, where you'll find lots more loveliness from Eat Cake Graphics

• Sweet Stampin - CAS
• Penny Black and More February - anything goes with a stamp and a die
• Penny's Challenge #265 - anything goes
• Addicted to Stamps #181 - anything goes

Day 17 for the Daily Marker colouring challenge

A Rubydoo birthday

Heee, this kinda does look like our wee Ruby ... she's in dire need of a bath so she's just about this colour too!  But she's off to the groomers in a day or two and it's nice to get a brand new clean dog in return ;)

For day 16 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge I've used this really old stamp from my stash, I think it's from Little Claire.  Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Bling added to Ruby's crown and clear gloss to the icing on the cake.  DP is more oldie unloved stuff from my stash.  Woodware flower punch.

• Layout from Retro Sketches #202
• CRAFT #350 - make your own embellishment
• Creative Knockouts #128 - furry friends
• Seize the birthday - cupcakes and candy option

Chicken-licken

I remembered this chicken's name from a story from my childhood but had forgotten the traumatic ending .... The Story of Chicken Licken  Oh dear!!

Anyway, my card for day 15 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge uses a couple of older High Hopes stamps -
Henrietta and Chicken wire background.  My chicken is coloured with watercolour pencils.  For the background I watercoloured the sky and grass and then masked off my chicken and stamped the chicken wire.  Easy peasy, and looks like there was a lot more effort put into this than there actually was!

By the way, if you'd like to win some High Hopes stamps, just pop over to their blog and leave a comment ... http://highhopesstamps.blogspot.ca/

• My general card theme is based on the sketch at CAS(e) this sketch #159 - the criss crosses made me instantly think of chicken wire! 
• Moving Along with the times #13 - things with wings
• Stamping Sensations February - anything goes
• Bunny Zoe's Crafts February - things with wings

Cheers me deers

We had the most beautiful bright sunny day today, I'd thought I could maybe have got out to the garden but from the other side of the window it was BRRRRRR!  So I stayed in and got crafty instead ;)

This card uses some super old DP ... I had been looking for a sheet with little ice creams but of course it was nowhere to be found, so I ended up using this instead.  Penguin from MFT - Penguins in Paradise.  Coloured with watercolour pencils, clear gloss added to the glass and then glitter to the drink.  Couple of silver sequins to finish.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club #267
• Clear it Out - twine
• Moving Along with the Times #13 - things with wings
• AAA Cards #58 - sequins

Day 14 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge

Baby Girl bear

A wee boy card last night, so a wee girl card tonight for Day 13 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge!  I had this 'baby' sentiment in my stash for years and I've only just started using it, not sure why it was unloved for so long!

This is an older Penny Black stamp, coloured with watercolour pencils and some Wink of Stella added to her blanket.  DP from Lili of the Valley.  Dienamics wonky stitched circle.  Paper Smooches heart die.

• My Time to Craft #315 - check it out
• Penny Black Saturday February - hearts or red
• Layout from the Sketchy Challenge #94
• Sweet Stampin - CAS
• Stamping Sensations Feburary - anything goes

Baby Boy Bear

So for Day 12 of the Daily Marker challenge, I've made this cute baby card.  It was inspired by Nina-Marie's beautiful card and tutorial over at Simon Says Stamp - I'd had a go at making these watercoloured backgrounds before, but I'm not sure why I'd used a small paintbrush instead of a decent sized one.  Duh.

My little bear is an oldie from Elzybells - coloured with watercolour pencils and popped up on dimensionals.  Lawn Fawn cloud dies.  Couple of staples to finish.  I love how this card turned out :)

• Inspiration Destination #72 - anything goes
• Crafty Creations #308 - hearts
• Crafting When we Can #112 - add hearts

Kitty Hugs

Awww I love this little girl hugging her kitten :)
Of course it's an Eat Cake Graphics stamp ...
1013-G Gwen and her kitties

Coloured with watercolour pencils to match my snazzy DP and then popped up on dimensionals. Coloured sequins and clear gems from stash.  Clearly besotted sentiment.
The row of Xs at the bottom are a little die from Paper Smooches - they didn't cut through the double layer of DP, but I like how it turned out :)

• Clear it out - twine
• Cuttlebug mania - kids
• Creative Inspirations #344 - hugs and kisses
• Creative Knockouts #128 - furry friends
• ABC Challenge - A for Animals
• Layout from Splitcoaststampers SC579

Day 11 of the Daily Marker colouring challenge

Cupcakes and Plonk

Day 10 of the colouring challenge over at the Daily Marker ... can't believe I've managed to keep up so far!

This card uses an older Uptown Girls stamp from Stamping Bella - coloured with watercolour pencils.  Clear gloss added to the wine bottle and glasses; clear stickles added to the dress hems and the cupcake frosting.  DP is unloved stuff from stash.

• Layout from Bellarific Friday #58
• Crafty Hazelnut's patterned paper challenge - February
• Time Out challenge #49 - I used the 'flower' part of the phrase
• Clear it Out - twine
• Pile it on #101 - homemade embellishment (my twine bow)

A Valentine Hug

Day 9 of the Daily Marker challenge, and today I have this year's card for Greg.  This is such a fab image for a Valentine ... I love that real happy hug, though I'm thinking if that's me I need to lose a pound or two ;)

Image used from Eat Cake Graphics:
1016-J Main Squeeze

I've coloured it with watercolour pencils and then popped up on dimensionals.  I had a little scrap of matching DP left so I paper pieced her dress.  Clear gloss added to his glasses and their shoes.  Simon Says Stamp heart border die and sentiment die.  A wee tip I learned from Debby4000 ... use funky foam to make your die cut sentiment pop more!

This card is also posted over at A Sprinkling of Samples and Techniques blog, where you'll find lots more loveliness from Eat Cake Graphics

I've just realised I've used loads of the 'rule of 3' on this card ... 3 touches of green, die and image both sit on the 1/3 lines, and I've 3 places I've used my clear gems. Oh and the image/hearts/sentiment sit in a visual triangle too!  Must have subconsciously absorbed all those tutorials ;)

• Creative Inspirations #344 - hugs and kisses
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - have a heart
• Time Out challenge #49 - I used the 'love' from the phrase
• Get Creative #32 - hearts
• Just Us Girls #329 - Valentine
• Sweet Stampin - all you need is love
• Pixie's Snippets #215 - use a snippet
• Crafty Cardmakers #157 - love love love

Flutterby Butterfly

Ack I'm pooped tonight, a looooong day at work!  So it's a wee CAS card from me tonight.  I used this oldie butterfly stamp from Stamps by Judith - got them all coloured in with my watercolour pencils and then managed to stamp my sentiment wonky.  Grrr.

• Addicted to stamps #179 - CAS
• Colour theme from CAS Colours and Sketches #159
• Moving along with the times #13 - things with wings
• Layout from The Challenge #59

Day 8 of the colouring challenge at the Daily Marker

Alexandra's Birthday card

I struggled with this card for aaaages today.  I still think it needs 'something' .... any ideas welcome!

This is for my wee niece who's already turning 6! Shocking how fast she's growing!  I've used this stamp from Eat Cake Graphics ... it kinda looks like her and their labrador pup (who's also growing at a terrible rate of knots!!)
1137-M Unselfishness (MMM-ice cream)
Coloured with watercolour pencils.
I also added a heart border as she's a wee Valentine's Day baby.
Sparkly silver 6 and little butterfly peel offs from stash.  Dienamics embroidered frame and wonky stitched circle dies.  Taylored Expressions heart border die.

• Layout from Mojo Monday #433
• Cuttlebug Mania - kids
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - have a heart
• Cute Card Thursday #411 - in the pink
• The Card Concept #48 - sweet hearts

Day 7 of the Daily Marker colouring month.

Hearts and flowers

I missed uploading my card for the Daily Marker challenge yesterday, so I've a two-fer you this evening.  Need to get a move on though, it's movie night here and I'm getting that 'hurry up' look!

Card 1
My first card uses my new stamps from Power Poppy and the lovely sentiment from Clearly Besotted too.  I've coloured them with watercolour pencils and added a bit of bling for some sparkle.

• Simon Says Work it Wednesday - something new (my stamps)
• 2 creative chicks January - anything goes
• Penny's challenge #263 - anything goes

Card 2

This card is inspired by Laura's tutorial over at Simon Says Stamp blog.  I got my one-and-only coloured ink pad out for some blending on the base and also used it to colour the pink hearts, a new first for me!.  If I had more ink pads I reckon this might be my colouring method of choice!  Oh for a bigger crafty budget ;)

My hearts are cut from funky foam and then I added some glossy accents and lots of glitter.  I also used some of the cut out hearts as little accents.

Whipper Snapper image - body coloured with watercolour pencils.  Clear gloss added to his hearts.  

• Inky Chicks #62 - love +/ hearts
• Whimsy Inspires #90 - with love
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - have a heart
• Cute Card Thursday #411 - in the pink
• AAA Cards #57 - love me like you do

My stamp record

No card from me tonight, but for Day 4 of the Daily Marker challenge  I thought I'd share my stamp record that I've been colouring.  I'm on the Eat Cake Graphics design team, so I keep a wee book and stamp all my images in it.  Best idea I ever had ... it just makes it so easy to have a quick scan to see which stamp I fancy using! I normally write down the name of the stamp, but haven't quite got round to it on these pages.  These are all coloured just with ordinary pencils.  (looks brighter in real life but I was too lazy to get out my daylight lamp and take a proper pic!)