An old pot of tulips

My tulips aren't quite out yet, so I thought I'd go for the stamped version instead ;)  I bought this Penny Black stamp second-hand many moons ago and it still gets an inking - I reckon it says a lot for the quality of Penny Black stamps that one from 1999 still stamps perfectly!!

Coloured with polychromo pencils and clear gloss added to the blooms.

• Penny Black Saturday March - clean and simple
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

For this one, I smooched my background with watercolours and then added a wee heart die.  My little girl is popped up on foam pads, and then I doodled in her 'bounce''.  Nice and easy and I love how it turned out!

• CASology #333 - bounce
• My time to craft #391 - pink and girly
• AAA Cards #135 - 1+3 - die cuts, colouring pencils, stamped image

A card that didn't want to be made and Feb Calendar page

I'm starting to love my new polychromo pencils but they take an age to colour something, it's a good job that's my favourite part of card making!  I normally stamp my image using my stamp positioner, colour it in and then stamp it again so that my lines are nice and crisp.

This little dragon didn't want to play ball though, and when I was going for that final stamp it fell off a millisecond before it should have and wrecked a couple of hours of colouring.  GRRRR!
So I started again but I managed to add some dirty marks and had to add those un-planned green stars.
My image is an oldie from High Hopes, not sure of the make of sentiment, MFT stripy DP.  Sparkle added to the flame and clear gloss to the icing on the cake and the dragon's nails. (This is going to be my brothers birthday card)

• Dragon theme from the Library Challenge #25 - The Girls with the Dragon Tattoo
• Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes
• Fab'n'Funky #425 - fantasy figures
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

And here's Mum's calendar page for February.  Only 2 days late this time so I'm improving my score this year hahaha.

I've used an old TiddlyInks image and I'm not sure of the make of my stencil.

I added a little heart sequin to Valentine's Day.

• Inspired by - Kissing Booth - I went for the hearts and red colours
• Creatalicous #156 - anything goes, option hearts

Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge

A Hoppy Day

Well our heatwave is official now, and we've a hosepipe ban for the first time in 23 years!  Rubydoo got a short back and sides yesterday, so she's a happier girl now without her fur coat on!

This little girl on her pogo stick is an oldie from Tiddly Inks - coloured with watercolour pencils and popped up on foam pads.
My sky was inspired by the CAS on Friday challenge - I puddled some pale blue watercolour onto some acetate and then pressed the card into it.  I love the effect and reckon I'll be using this again!

• CAS on Friday #136 - splash watercolour
• Addicted to CAS #139 - girl power
• That's Crafty - a Summer Day
• Layout from My Time To Craft #374
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes

Daily Marker 30 Day Colouring Challenge

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

Got the blues

Hi strangers!  I've just noticed I haven't posted anything for a whole week.  I need to get myself sorted!  No excuses, just busy in work and then can't be bothered when I get home.  Thankfully we've managed to miss the flu (so far!) which is going round like wildfire along with a nasty stomach bug too

Anyway, just a couple of quickie cards this evening. I've been using some oldie stamps again ... I've a voucher from Christmas burning a hole in my pocket that needs spending on some new crafty goodies but I can't decide what's top of my list ;)

My sympathy card is coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss added to the little pink flowers.  I also chalked up the BG with my chickenwire stencil in pale pink and blue but it doesn't show up on my photo.

• Simon Says Stamp Monday - Winter blues
• Word Art Wednesday #317 - anything goes
• Allsorts #450 - no patterned papers

Looking at how this card photographed, I've decided that my immediate crafty goal is to study how to colour faces with my watercolour pencils.  Mine always end up either a bit pale and pasty or a sludgy brown!

Clear gloss and glitter added to the balloon and to the cat hat's nose.

I saw someone outlining their card recently like this, so thanks if it was you!

• Tiddly Inks #209 - anything goes
• Addicted to Stamps #274 - clean and simple
• CASual Fridays #190 - all that glitters
• Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Thanks SCS!

So this is this week's sketch from Splitcoaststampers - if you'd like to play along please link your card here.
This is my last week for playing along as a Guest Designer with the SCS team - I don't know how they keep up with not only making cards every week, but also coming up with sketches!

Here's my effort for this week's challenge.  I noted my central panel down wrong when I was scribbling out the sketch, so mine's centred instead of off to the right.

I came across this lovely DP in my stash so that dictated my colour theme.
I've used this cutie from Tiddly Inks - coloured with watercolour pencils and sparkle added to all the blue bits.

My Tim Holtz stamp positioner finally arrived, and I couldn't have stamped this sentiment without it, took a couple of goes with that 'h' and even then, I still had to touch it up with a marker.
Old Martha Stewart punched butterflies aren't even covering an ink splodge, there for decoration only ;)

Alexandra's birthday card

Ooops there's that brick stencil again ... I need to get this off my desk for a week or two ;)
This is hot off the press for my niece, I can't believe she's 7 already!  She's a Valentine's Day baby, so I usually try to include a little heart somewhere too :)

I don't think I've ever seen a pogo stick in real life, it must never have been a 'craze' over here!  Reckon Health & Safety would have a hard hat and elbow and knee pads on her now ;)

Tiddly Inks stamp - coloured with watercolour pencils, sparkle added to her dress and clear gloss to her pogo stick.  My '7' is cut from silver mirror card.

• Tiddly Inks #198 - love
• Tuesday Throwdown #329 - heart string
• Pile it on #126 - hearts on fire
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - young at heart
• Word Art Wednesday #268/269 - anything goes

A summer lolly and some bouncing

Well our weathermen were proved to be over-excitable as usual, the 'snow storm' turned out to be about an inch that's been since washed away by the rain ;)  Rubydoo LOVES the snow and had a great time sticking her head in it and having a good roll, but I can't say it's that much fun trying to get the snow dried off her - it sticks to her wee short legs like solid clumps of cotton wool!

So for a taste of summer, I've used this cute set from MFT.  I popped my little penguin up on dimensionals and added some sparkle to his shorts and to his lollypop.  I also decoupaged the leaves.  Gold peel off line and some matching gold sequins to finish.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club #315
• Inspiration Destination #119 - anything goes
• Allsorts #398 - wings on things (though now I think of it, do penguins have 'wings'? Maybe they're flippers?) 
• CASual Fridays #165 - everything turns to gold

I always love to colour these Tiddly Inks stamps, they have the most fabulous hairdo's!  I've always fancied having long hair, but I've always been a shortie and even when I try to grow it, it's no length before I get it whacked off again!

Coloured with watercolour pencils and I added in more highlights to her hair with ordinary pencils.  Clear gloss added to the pogo stick.

• Layout from Freshly Made Sketches #270
• As you like it - favourite hair colour - brown is my 'go to' colour and this one's quite like mine, so I'd say this is 'Dark Natural Blonde' ... or at least that's what it says on the bottle anyway hahahaha
• Sugar Pea Designs #27 - anything goes
• Get creative #54 - anything goes

Phoebe's birthday card

Whoops I was in a rush to take this pic and must have had my wonky eyes in at the time ;)
It's not quite finished, but I didn't want to miss the last day of the 30 day colouring challenge after I managed to keep up the rest of the month.
I reckon I'll probably add some flowers or butterflies and a bit of sparkle - if I remember I'll add the finished version.
Tiddly Inks image - coloured with watercolour pencils and highlights added to her hair with ordinary pencils.

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Get Creative #53 - Birthday
• Addicted to Stamps #222 - make your mark
• Word Art Wednesday #258 - anything goes
• Layout from Sugar Pea Designs Mix it Up challenge #25

Day 30 of the Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge

Two Hoppers

Just a quickie visit to blogland tonight - Poldark's on the telly and last week's was a {{shocker}}!  Can't wait to see what happens tonight :)

Anyway, I've a bit of a hoppy theme with these cards.  The first uses my new Tiddly Inks stamp - coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss added to her pogo stick.
Oh, and whoever has hidden my flower dies would you please return them.  I spent about half an hour searching for them earlier and they're still not to be found.

• Layout from Sketch Saturday #436 - I chose sketch #225
• Purple and green colour theme from Cupcake Inspirations #382
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Dream Valley #143 - one for the girls

Here's a quickie get well card - I've seen a few images recently with minimal colouring, so thought I'd have a go.  My little bunny is an oldie from Lili of the Valley - coloured with watercolour pencils; sparkle added to the medicine and grapes; clear gloss added to the spoon and grapes.  Dotty orange washi tape.

• CASology #221 - Cure
• Retro Rubber challenge #50 - fall colours
• Creative Knockouts #165 - something to say
• Crafty Creations #327 - watercolour
• Penny's paper crafty challenge #301 - anything goes

Rainbows and Goldfishies

It was a bit of a draughty showery old day today - definitely not one for a nice hair do and even more so when it's in dire need of a cut!  It definitely doesn't look as good as my Tiddly Inks girl ;)
Coloured with watercolour pencils - her dress does match my pink backing in real life but it seems to be another colour my camera won't do!   Sparkle added to her bows and balloons with my clear glitter pen - what did I do before I had one of these? I seem to use it on almost every card!
Couple of snippets of colourful DP from my stash - you'd laugh at the little tiddly bit I have left but don't want to chuck!

• Layout from Tiddly Inks #190
• Pixies Snippets Playground #246
• The Card Concept #57 - the rainbow connection
• Crafty Cardmakers #172 - layer it up

I still haven't got round to tidying my desk so these Avery Elle stamps are still knocking around and when I saw this beauiful goldfish card in Tracey's gallery - this week's Featured Stamper over at Splitcoast - I thought they'd be perfect for my nephew's birthday card!

Coloured with watercolour pencils, lots of sparkle added with my clear glitter pen and then clear gloss added to their eyes and teeth.  Birthday die from Simon Says Stamp.  Coloured enamel accents and a doodled border to finish.

I know there's a lot of 'girlie' sparkle on it, but I'm hoping the expression on their faces cancels that out!

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Stampember Stamp It
• Share Joy #52 - clean and simple
• Penny Black and More September - add a sentiment
• Penny's challenge #294 - anything goes
• Stamping Sensations September - one for the boys

Practising my colouring

Awk I can't believe it's Saturday already :(  I've had a fab busy week off work .... my garden is ready for inspection, not a weed in sight (for a change!), some housework done and a bit of decorating too.  I'm hoping to tackle the ironing mountain tomorrow, but we'll see how that goes, no promises.  I'll be ready for a rest when I go back to work on Monday LOL

Kerri had a great tutorial over on the Stamping Bella blog on how to colour skin tones with Derwent Inktense pencils.  I've never been overly happy with my skin colouring so it was great to have a go.  The trick is to give your paper time to dry between layering colours (which I didn't do - so there's a dark brown line to the left of her face!).
This one uses an old Tiddly Inks image - I covered the balloon with my clear glitter pen and added some googly eyes.  For her hat, I added some dark glitter to the nose and baubles.  Clear gloss to her shoes.

• Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club #294 
• Cats Only challenge #9 - furrything goes
• Tuesday Throwdown #307 - anything goes
• Crafty Catz #334 - birthdays

So this is effort #2 at the colouring tutorial.  This time I misjudged my blusher and she's got a bit of a pink eye ;)

Image from Whiff of Joy - I covered her dress, hairband and letters with my clear glitter pen (what did I do before I got one of these?!!), clear gloss to her shoes, and clear gloss + glitter to her flower.

My text stamp is an oldie from Clear Stamps - I stamped it off on scrap paper first to take most of the ink off.  I wish I'd done that too with the sentiment, it's a bit in your face.

I also embossed the tag at the top for a bit of extra interest.

• General card theme based on amymay998's card - last week's featured stamper at Splitcoast
• Crafty Creations #322 - words on the background
• Colour theme from CAS Colours and Sketches #187
• My time to Craft #327 - embossing

And finally, I've no sympathy cards in my stash, so I might make a few more of these.  They're always a lot easier to make when you don't know who they're for.

I love this stamp from LOTV, it's very easy to colour too - just a dot of colour in the centre of each flower, blend it out and then add some darker highlights.  Easy peasy.  Flowers also covered with my clear glitter pen, and a few clear sequins from Taylored Expressions to finish.

• Layout from Share Joy #49
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - make for the border
• As you like it - favourite flower - I love hydrangeas, I've a beautiful one in my garden but for some reason it only produced one lonely bloom this year.  I think maybe I pruned it too late in spring?
• CASual Fridays #154 - time to colour
• Allsorts #377 - fabulous florals

Christmas Elf and a Floral Birthday

We've had the most glorious sunny week, it's been torture looking out the windows in work to see beautiful blue skies with not a cloud in sight.  And Saturday, yip, overcast and clammy!  Typical eh!

Anyway, I've been meaning for ages to get a move on with my Christmas cards.  This one uses this happy chap from Eat Cake Graphics stamp:
1202-J Christmas is coming (elf with newspaper)
Coloured with watercolour pencils and popped up on dimensionals.  Clear gloss and glitter added to the snowflakes and to his hat.  Paper Smooches snowflakes dies. Silver peel off sentiment from stash.

• Layout based on Kimberly's beautiful card over at Muse Christmas Visions #47
• Simon Says Stamp Monday - monochrome
• CASology #200 - CAS
• Classic Design Team Open June - anything goes
• Sparkles Christmas Challenge #65 - use 2 dies
• CraftyHazelnut's Christmas extra - June

My second card uses an old Tiddly Inks stamp - coloured with watercolour pencils and popped up on dimensionals.  I added some Spectrum Noir clear sparkle to her dress and shoes, and clear gloss to the balloons.  

• My general layout was inspired by Leigh's card over at the Muse Challenge #168 - I don't think I've ever framed an image like this before, but love how it turned out
• Tiddly Inks #183 - Happy Birthday
• Bunny Zoe's challenge May - lots of layers
• CASual Fridays #149 - florals
• Crafty Catz #327 - add a butterfly
• Simply Create Too #110 - red, white and blue

A Tiddly Inks cutie

LOL it's only day 2 of Kathy's colouring challenge at The Daily Marker and I almost didn't make it already ;)  I know that it doesn't necessarily have to be a finished card for her challenge, but I'd rather make them up as I colour them.  I've a feeling there's going to be quite a few CAS cards this month!

This card uses an older image from Tiddly Inks - I wasn't overly happy with my colouring job on her hair or skin, but hey ho, it will do!  Coloured with watercolour pencils; clear gloss added to the balloons; wink of stella added to her bows and dress.  Background stamped with a little heart from The Alley Way Stamps.

• Card layout based on Shona's card over at the Happy Little Stampers CASE the designer challenge February
• Tiddly Inks #175 - love
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• Addicted to CAS #80 - red
• Pile it on #100 - black and white and pop of colour
• Whimsy Stamps Inspirations #90 - with love
• Bunny Zoe's crafts January challenge - hearts

Card for Pheobe

Whoops, just noticed that I forgot to add in Pheobe's age to her card ... I think a nice sparkly number sticker would fit nicely in the middle of that sun :)

I bought my first coloured inkpad a while back, but have been a bit scared of it and think this may be the first time I've used it!

Image from Tiddly Inks - coloured with watercolour pencils.  Clear gloss added to the balloon, and glitter to the pompoms on her hat.
Lawn Fawn cloud and sun dies.  Pink and silver sequins from Simon Says.

• Simon Says Stamp Monday - just a pinch
• 2 Creative Chicks December - anything goes
• Penny's Challenge #257 - anything goes
• Crafty Catz #305 - sparkle and shine
• Just Us Girls #323 - sequins

CAS Birthday girl

Busy day today ... got my (much needed) haircut this morning, visited some family, and then off to the Garden Show Ireland for a sunny afternoon with Mum.  So not much time left for card making, and I've hardly anything left in my stash!

This little girl is from Tiddly Inks, and she's a pleasure to colour ... I think half the fun of card making is the colouring in!

Cas-ual Friday #139 - orange, turquoise, black and white birthday
Crafty Catz #278 - CAS
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - let's get sentimental
Clear it Out - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Purrrfect Birthday

Well Spring isn't quite here yet ... after our lovely weekend last week, our weather didn't know if it was coming or going today between sleet and sunshine!  My snowdrops are out though, and it'll not be long before the daffodils are out too :)

I know it's not so long since I used this image ... I need to tidy up my table, she's just too handy to lift!
Coloured with watercolour pencils, clear gloss added to the cats' noses and then glitter added to the pompoms of her hat.

• Layout from Tiddly Inks #151
• Seize the Birthday - hearts +/or arrows
• Cute Card Thursday #361 - floral delight
• Top Tip Tuesday - rubber stamps only
• Creative Card Crew #81 - birthday with a sentiment
• Bunny Zoe's Crafts February - for the girls
• Dream Valley #100 - fave colour combo (pink and blue)

Alexandra's Birthday card

It's been a funny old day today ... lots of fog and a little bit of sunshine.  But it definitely feels like Spring will soon be on its way ... the daffodils have their heads up out of the ground and the birds this evening were in full song at sunset.  (our snow is long gone thank goodness!)

This card is for my niece ... I can hardly believe she's gonna be 5 already!
I've used my new stamp from Tiddly Inks - coloured with watercolours and clear gloss added to the kitty balloon.  Black sparkly peeloffs from stash.

• Layout from Splitcoaststampers SC526 
• Less is More - pink and grey
• Penny Black and More February - anything goes
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Dotty Friend

This is just a wee quick CAS card for a friend of my Mum.
Image from Tiddly Inks - coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss added to the balloons.

• Colour theme from Love to Create #150 
• Layout flipped from The Challenge #23
• Simply Create Too #77 - for a female
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge - January

Birthday card for Sandra

Yet another personalised card, this time it's actually one for me for my friend!  A nice change to make a wee simple birthday card instead of the Christmas card factory production line!

My image is from Tiddly Inks - coloured with watercolour pencils.

• Layout from Sugar Pea Designs #15
• Fab'n Funky - Happy Birthday
• Sister Act #83 - anything goes
• Dream Valley #95 - anything goes
• Party Time Tuesday #190 - anything goes
• Papertake Weekly - soooo girlie
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge - November