A Purrfect Day

We've excitable weather men on the go again - this time for the Beast from the East!  That just sounds like a scary movie eh?!  A cold snap from Siberia is on it's way which may or may not bring a dump of snow, it's definitely a tad chilly out there tonight. 

I've just a wee quickie card tonight using one of my new dies from MFT.  Well, a quickie once I'd decided what I was making, the original card in my head looked nothing like this LOL.  If I'd made it to this design instead of the old one I would have had my heart a little higher.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #373
• Cute Card Thursday #518 - cute critters
• Addicted to CAS #130 - cat
• Penny Black and More February - love, hearts +/or flowers
• Happy Little Stampers February CAS challenge - hearts

Bye Bye Bunnies

Ooops, I've accidentally been stamp shopping again ;)  I love this range of the Mama Elephant stamps, I nearly bought the snowmen and then the dogs, but settled on the bunnies!
This card is for a friend in work who's leaving us so I've made it in the company colours of purple and green.
For such a simple stamp it takes a surprising amount of time to colour! I kept missing either blush, or noses or ties!
I popped the little flower and carrot (on the brown bunny) up on foam pads.  Couple of gold stars from stash to finish.

• As You Like It - favourite way to add a sentiment - I prefer to stamp mine as it's easier to get it in the right position, and less scary doing it now that I have my TH stamp platform!
• Crafting by Designs - friendship
• Pile it On #139 - 3D embellishments
• Crafty Creations #360 - anything goes

Disqualified from the Olympics

Are you enjoying the Olympics?  I'm loving it, but the time difference is a bit crap and the only bit I get to see is the hourly catch up in the evening.  Reckon if I won the Lottery, I'd be off to one of the bobsleigh runs - I'd need a big hunk or 3 in beside me though, there's NO way I'd be having a go at the skeleton run!

Anyway, while the Olympics were on telly I thought I'd have a go at the MFT Olympics challenges.    But DOH!  The closing date was yesterday evening :(
This one was for the timed challenge - I cut it fine, my time was 19:43! A whole 17 seconds left over.
Lesson learned from this card - don't leave a finished card beside my water pot when I'm colouring another one.  I managed to add some water splatters to this one, so I'll have to have a think how to cover them up.

• Layout inspired by Kim's fab card over at Muse challenge #254
• Creative Knockouts #233 - anything goes

This one was was to be for the MFT Winter challenge.  My lesson learned from this one is that, when I want to colour elements in my image to match my cardstock, to actually pick card that I have the colours of!  It was a right pain in the derriere to mix my colours to make that salmony colour for my fishy cocktail!  

Coloured with watercolour pencils and sparkle added to the fish and the cocktail.

• Layout based on the sketch at Try Stampin on Tuesday #357 - I went for a square shape as my scrap of blue card was too small for the circular die I would have had to have used.
• Simon Says Stamp - add a die cut
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - challenge #320
• Sweet Stampers #17 - things with wings

Birthday Balloon

This bit of DP has been knocking round my table for a few months now, so I figured it was about time I got it stuck down and used up!

I was looking for an image with a balloon for the MFT Birthday Project challenge - up up and away - and this cutie from Tiddly Inks was the first I came across.
Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Clear gloss added to the balloon and glitter to her pompoms.  Little pink stars from stash.

• As You Like It - favourite way to add a sentiment - well I've no printer, my handwriting is awful, and I've only a couple of sentiment dies, so my only other option is to stamp it!  Definitely made much easier too with my TH stamping platform :)
• Craftyhazelnut's Patterned paper challenge - February

Strawberry Daiquiri anyone?

Here's one hot off the press, the glue's not even dry yet!  I'm lovin my new Newton's Nook drinkies set from Simon Says Stamp, I've been after a set like this for ages :)  Only thing about it though ... I'd LOVE a wee lime mojito now!

Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear sparkle added to the drinks, and clear gloss to the fruit.  Gold stars from stash. Also using up some unloved orange card, I embossed it to give it a bit more interest.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club #372
• Word Art Wednesday #322/323 - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - add a die cut
• Less Is More #365 - dry embossing

Naughty or Nice challenge reminder

 Just a wee reminder about the Loved Up challenge over at Naughty or Nice.  You can use either the colour combo, the love theme or both if you like!

My card is Greg's Valentine :)
Sometimes though, crafting is waaaaay more stressful than it needs to be!  The whole point of this card was that I used an image big enough that I could stick one of those wobble thingys on (found in my recent tidy up).
So off I went, colouring, cutting, sticking and sparkling.  And then I went to put my hand on my wobble things and .... gone!  So the next {insert swear word} 45 minutes were spent looking for them.  Nope! Nowhere to be found. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.  Anyway, my bunny's now popped up on foam pads and what Greg doesn't know won't hurt him ;)

• Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday January - love
• That's Crafty - I Heart You
• Layout from Atlantic Hearts #251

Butterfly bear

So it's the last day of the Daily Marker colouring challenge - I think I only missed a couple of days, so I'm well pleased with myself, and my card stash is looking a lot healthier after the Christmas rush!

Tonight's is another wee quickie, all the hard work is done by that gorgeous DP and my dies!  Image is, of course, a Penny Black - coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss / glitter added to the flutterbyes.

• Penny Black Saturday February - use some scraps - I managed to squeeze the small frame and the heart from the scrap of the large frame! 
• CraftyHazelnut's Patterned paper challenge February
• Happy Little Stampers February Anything goes with dies
• Pile it On #139 - 3d embellishments

Get Well Kitty

Just a quickie post ... the fabulous Mary Beard is on the telly talking about Julius Caesar - love her!  She's so enthusiastic, every time I see her I just want to go back to Rome!

I couldn't get a decent pic of this card, it looks so much nicer in real life!  I inked up my BG with blue and green and then splattered some blue all over.  My kitty is coloured with watercolour pencils and popped up on foam pads.  Clear gloss added to his nose and thermometer, glitter to his collar and then I covered his little bandage with my clear sparkle pen and a few white dots.

• Whole card design inspired by Tracey's beautiful card over at Muse challenge #253
• Crafty Creations #359 - anything goes
• Word Art Wednesday #320/321 - anything goes

Daily Marker colouring challenge

Alexandra's 8th Birthday card

We've had a real wintry day today, snow blizzards and inbetween lots of sunshine!  The snow's oul wet stuff and not really lying much so far, hopefully it will be gone by morning!

So this is my niece's birthday card.  She's a great wee footballer and plays for her local team.  I hunted down this LOTV stamp from Ebay as it's no longer in production.  Coloured with watercolour pencils in Alex's team colours and yellow football boots too!
Oh and a little heart added as she's a Valentine's Day baby x
I don't think my sentiment is just as wonky in real life, I'll have to go check.

• CASual Fridays #192 - hearts
• Daisy Chain challenges #16 - add a heart
• Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies
• Crafty Calendar February - 2 or more layers
• Crafty Creations #359 - anything goes

Daily Marker colouring challenge

And here's a wee pic of our daft dog having a great time in the snow.  She wasn't happy till she'd dug a trench through the entire garden with her head.  Daftie.

She wasn't feeling quite so clever at the snowball defrosting session when she deemed to come back in the house! 

Seagulls and a flying kitty

It's been an awful wet, sleety evening, definitely one for cosy PJs and making my craft stash untidy again!

After my tidy up a few weeks ago, this seagull stamp was a bit of a challenge to find!  I've a pack of coloured card that I'm determined to use up, this wishy washy grey-blue sheet was destined never to be used, but I figured I'd give it a go.   My seagulls didn't look right so I stamped them again and popped them up on foam pads.

• Cards 4 Guys #187 - music
• Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes
• Less is More #364 - 7th birthday - music
• Layout inspired by CAS(e) this sketch #258

In this one I made the mistake of sticking my town down first before stamping my kitty, should have done it the other way about! I would really have had him a wee bit more to the left.

House dies from Paper Smooches - I'd a bit of this grey card in my scraps box, coloured a few of the windows in to match the other orangey bits.  Penny Black kitty.  Gold stars from stash.

• Layout inspired by Anita's gorgeous card over at the Muse challenge #252
• Penny Black Saturday February - anything goes, option: use scraps
• As You Like It - favourite way to add stitching - mine's to use a stitched die, I love the added interest (and they're always nice and straight, not like when I cut them myself!!)
• Crafty Calendar February - 2 or more layers

A birthday Valentine

So this one's basically the same as last night but different!  The same workmate who wanted the Valentine's cards for his kids, asked for a silly Valentine/Birthday for his brother!
I've used used the Stampin' Up set again - added clear sparkle to the fish and then I sponged in the background through a stencil.  A few enamel dots and clear gloss to his eyes and hearts, and that was it!

• Seize the Birthday - anything goes
• Creative Knockouts #232 - Birthday Wishes
• Crafting by Designs February anything goes

Daily Marker colouring challenge

Valentine's cards

I've a few special request cards to make - first up is these Valentine's cards for a work mate to give to his 2 girls.  I usually only make one Valentine a year for Greg, so I enjoyed making these :)

I've used a really old Stampin' Up set, I think it was maybe one of the first stamp sets I bought!
For this first one Elen is spelt right! LOL I just had to google my spelling there to check spelt was correct or if it should be spelled ;)

I used a Simon Says Stamp wave die and watercoloured through it by taking the paint off my pencil with a wet brush, didn't quite turn out as I'd hoped but think it looks kinda under-watery!  I went over my fishie with my clear sparkle pen and added some googly eyes. Little pink heart and sequins from stash.

• Happy Little Stampers February CAS challenge - add a heart
• JUGS #426 - love
• Addicted to CAS #129 - teal
• Fab'n Funky #380 - Valentine
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - it must be love

For my second one I added some stamped leaves round the edge, added clear gloss to his beak and gloss/glitter to the hearts.  Oh, and clear sparkle to the pink bit on his chest.  I also had to google what colour a toucan actually was.  What did we do before the internet?!!

• Crafty Animals #11 - anything goes
• Creatalicious #132 - love
• Creative with Stamps #23 - heart
• Love to Scrap #106 - I love you

Daily Marker colouring challenge

Love Birds

Just a wee quickie card tonight featuring these two love birds - a really old stamp from Art Gone Wild.  I've had this one for years and it still gets to see some ink now and then!

I've used my gorgeous new square dies again, I love the added bit of interest with the stitching and pierced dots :)
Image coloured with watercolour pencils, clear gloss added to the bow tie and flower and a little bit of bling to the centre of each too.  Dead easy and quick, and oh so cute!

• Simon Says Stamp Monday - love is in the air
• Crafting by Designs - things with wings
• Penny Black and More February - love hearts and flowers
• AAA Cards #108 - all you need is love

Daily Marker colouring challenge

Sympathy and 2 birthdays

I've a wee bit of everything on my blog tonight :)
Starting with this sympathy card, an old Whipper Snapper image.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and sparkle added to the blooms.

• Layout from Tuesday Morning Sketches #438
• Sweet Stampin - anything but birthday

Daily Marker colouring challenge

This is a special request for a colleague in work.  I've no idea what Malachy likes or hobbies, so I just used a starry theme.

I've lots of wee snips of nice coloured card sititng in my pile, so this was perfect to cut some stars from.  Various dies used - my lovely new square dies from Elizabeth Craft Designs, and then the stars are a mix of MFT and Taylored Expressions.

• Die Cuttin Divas #354 - anything goes
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Pixies Snippets Playground #319
• Word Art Wednesday #320/321 - anything goes

And finally, this one's for my brother and was inspired by Joy's beautiful card here.  

I found these tall skinny purple card bases in my stash, I've no idea where they came from as they're not a shape I normally work with!

Katzelkraft doggy images.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and some googly eyes added for a giggle.

Teal Sympathy flowers

Just a quickie post tonight - it's movie night, I think Suffragette is on the menu! Supposed to get good reviews.

I've been inking up my gorgeous Concorde & 9th flower stamp again for the Daily Marker colouring challenge.  I'd a few snippets of this lovely teal card and coloured my greenery to match.  Very quick to make, all the hard work is done by those fab flowers!  I added a few black enamel dots just for a wee bit of interest.

• Layout inspired by Atlantic Hearts #249
• Craftaholics R Us #5 - scallops
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Creative Knockouts #231 - flower power
• Colour theme from Additcted to CAS #129 - teal - though I'm thinking those flowers are maybe a bit too busy now to be CAS?

That Ole Devil called Love

I'm very pleased with myself for managing to keep up with the Daily Marker colouring challenge - think there's only maybe 1 or 2 days I've missed so far!  My stash is truly thankful - I was down to the dregs ;)

For today's card I've used an oldie from Whipper Snapper - coloured in watercolour pencils and distress inks, and then the pink splattered on the BG.  Little pink stars from stash. I went over the hearts with my clear glitter pen, and added clear gloss to his horns. My sentiment was part of a longer one, but I just masked off all the words I didn't need.

Sometimes the simplest cards are the best!  I love how this little card turned out!

• Happy Little Stampers February watercolour challenge - add a heart
• CASual Friday #192 - hearts, hearts and more hearts
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• CASology #285 - swoon
• Moving along with the times #64 - love

Naughty or Nice - All loved up

We're 'All Loved Up' over at Naughty or Nice this month, and there's this gorgeous colour combo option too!  Hope you'll play along too :)

For my card I've used this oldie, possibly from Whipper Snapper??
I masked him off and then stencilled in my brick background and then over the top again I added some text stamped in pink.  I went over the pink heart with my clear glitter pen, added a few sequins from my stash, and hey presto, finished! Dead easy and super quick!

• Sweet Stampin - Valentine / Love
• Addicted to Stamps #277 - make your mark
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Word Art Wednesday #320/321 - anything goes

So then because I quite liked my card, I thought the same theme would be perfect for Mum's calendar page!
I added a little pink sequin for the 14th.

• Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday January - Love theme

Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge