A wee drinkie anyone?

Friday already, so what's everyone's plans for the weekend? Nothing? Nope me neither!
No cocktails for me this evening, but I was inspired to crack the gin open so I've a nice big glass here with lots of ice sitting looking at me and I might push the boat out and have a bag of crisps too ;)

This is one of those nice-and-easy-and-faff-about-for ages type cards! I've used the drinks from MFT and added lots of sparkle to the drink and a bit of glitter to the fruit.  I think the sentiment die might be MFT as well.

• Layout from Inspired by - night night
• Sieze the Birthday #189 - food or drink
• Your Next Stamp #138 - lots of layers

Sparkly birthday cake

Happy Easter folks!  A different one than usual, but sure aren't we blessed to be fit and healthy, a roof over our heads and food in the cupboard.  We've had a lovely bright and sunny weekend - it was t-shirt weather out in the garden yesterday but we were back to our cosy coats for our walk this evening and I was wishing I had put on my hat and gloves!

This evening I have this cutie from Stamping Bella, she's a pleasure to colour but I always kinda struggle with her curly hair.
I also struggle with adding bling!  I reckon there must be a trick somewhere on how to do it, it always takes me aaaages to decide on where mine is going!

• Sweet Stampin - the great crafty bake off
  
• Word Art Wednesday #434-435 - anything goes
• Fab'n Funky #476 - birthday
• Moving along with the times #117 - diamante embellishments

Alexandra's birthday card and some Drinkies

Well it's definitely a weekend for battening down the hatches!  We've Storm Ciara visiting and it's a bit wild outside, but a good evening for getting the heat on and your pencils out!

I was very lucky recently to win one of the challenges over at Simon Says Stamp and I got this little cutie (from Purple Onion Designs) with some of my $$$.  It's for my niece who turns 10 soon, she's not a girly-girl (more into her football!) so that's why there's no pink!
Coloured with polychromos and I added lots of sparkle to the dandelion (?) centre and to her dress ribbon and socks.  I added the sparkly heart as she's a Valentine's Day baby.

• Daisy Chain Challenge #38 - for the girls
• Stamping Sensations February - feminine
• Allsorts #558 - add a heart

For this one I've used an older MFT set - all coloured with polychromos and sparkle added to the drinks.  Gloss/glitter added to the edge of the fruit and the strawberry leaf.

I double mounted the sentiment, not something I do very often but it definitely made it pop a bit more.

• Layout inspired by Tuesday Morning Sketches #540
• Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned paper challenge #Feb 2020

Floral Double

I finally made it to my craft shop today and managed to get some white cardstock, hurrah.  But I was gutted to learn that they're closing soon, gone the way of the usual high street shops.  It's such a shame, they've been in Belfast for over 30 years!

I coloured up a couple of these MFT flowers the other night while there was rubbish on the TV ... namely Dr Who!  That would have been an hour lost from my life, so I was glad I actually had something to show for my time ;)

I've gone back to my beloved polychromos for these - I think of the pair I prefer the pink one

Pink card:

• Layout from Stick it Down January
• Penny Black and More #January - make it feminine
• Simply Create Too #156 - monochrome

Yellow card:

• Layout from Atlantic Hearts #350
• Word Art Wednesday #420/421 - anything goes

Floral birthday

I'm hoping my local craft shop has finally got their white cardstock in, I'm so not loving kraft card as my base!
This floral image was one of my recent purchases from Clearly Besotted.  I might get my watercolours out for the next attempt, I think they would work well with this one.   I might go over my leaves again, they're a wee bit pale looking here - though the days are so dark and my photos are rubbish so it's hard to tell really!

• Penny Black and More December - flowers
• Make My Monday #112 - female birthday
• As You Like It - favourite die - mine's definitely this set of square dies from Elizabeth Craft Designs  - I like how alternate sizes have a different edging

And a final outing for my favourite snowman - apologies I've probably overused him on my blog this season!  I've my Mum's calendar pages all made in advance this year, so thought I might make some for my own desk in work.  I'd a couple of wee snippets of white sparkly card that were just too small to go back into my stash and were destined for the bin, so used them up here for snowflakes.  I also added in some clear gloss dots + glitter for sparkly falling snow and I've inked in some snowdrifts but they're not really showing up in my pic.  Bye bye snowdude! 

• Pixie's Snippets Challenge #368  (Di has some AMAZING giveaways going if you join in with this callenge!)
• Crative Inspirations #December - festive fun
• Sparkles Forum Challenge #123 - glitter and sparkle

Mum's birthday card

 Well the 25th is approaching at double quick time ... I still haven't finished my Christmas cards, Greg's always ends up being the last one I make.  Hopefully I'll get to it tomorrow and then I only have a wee Christmas pressie to finish making and I'm done!   I escaped work on Friday and that's us till the 2nd, so it will be a nice long break that I'm more than ready for!

I bought this beautiful fuschia stamp from Clearly Besotted to use on Mum's birthday card as she has a few different fuschias growing in her garden in the summer and they are so pretty.  I LOVE how this turned out!

Coloured with polychromos with sparkle added to the purple petals and some clear, pink and purple bling to finish.

• The flower Challenge #39 - use a die
• Penny Black and More #December - flowers
• CASology #358 - branch
• Allsorts #551/2 - anything goes

Snowdude in red, and purple roses for Sandra and Priscilla

Hmmm I think I either need to clean my camera lens or clean my glasses, one of the two or possibly both!!  I don't think these pics are as clear as they should be.  Though my specs permanently need cleaned so there's no change there then ;)

It's been a brrr chilly weekend, perfect weather for cracking on with my Christmas cards :)  Though for a change I have a stash already made, usually I'm verging on the panic mode by now!

You'll all be tired of looking at this season's favourite snowman soon - from Purple Onion Designs.  coloured with polychromos, gloss/glitter added to his nose, and sparkle to his scarf and pocket.  Sentiment cut from glitter card.

• Layout from CAS(e) This Sketch #348
• As You Like It - cute or traditional Christmas - well 99% of my cards are 'cute' so it's almost a given that my Christmas cards will be too! 
• Time Out #148 - I was inspired by the pic to use the red gingham and a hint of green
• Christmas Crafts all Year Round November - winter clothing
• Christmas Kickstart #23 - snow

This one I'm just adding for my records but not entering into any challenges as it's 100% inspired by Milla's beautiful card over at The Flower Challenge

I liked it so much that I made one for my friend and then duplicated another for my Aunt!

I've used these roses from Clearly Besotted - coloured with polychromos and popped up on foam pads.  My dotty die is an oldie but I'm not sure who from, possibly Taylored Expressions.


#thedailymarker30day

Some personalised cards - Betty, Derek, etc

I've been busy this weekend with a load of personalised card requests, so apologies for the long post tonight!

This first one is for my  Sister in Law - I usually make her something floral so thought I'd make something daft for a change!
Kitty from Penny Black - coloured with polychromos and clear gloss added to their beaks and his nose + tongue.  Snazzy rainbow DP is some super-old stuff I had in my love-don't-want-to-use pile!

• Less is More #406 - rainbow challenge
• CASology #353 - feather
• 
  

This one was a request from a work colleague for her friend.  This one's an oldie from Lili of the Valley - I added some sparkle to the blooms and to the '80'

• As You Like It - fave stitching style - mine's most definitely these stitched dies, I love how it frames your image with zero hassle! 
• The Flower challenge #37 - CAS

This one's another work request, this time for one of our client's, hope she likes her big sparkly age! 

Again another oldie Penny Black - I added some shimmer to the kitty's apron and hat and lots of glitter to the icing.  The card candy in the left corner are the wee snips from the numbers.

• Addicted to Stamps #362 - make your mark
• Daisy Chain Challenge #35 - I chose the Pink option
• Penny Black and More October - pretty in pink
• Layout from Stick it Down October

And this one's the card I sent to my Uncle - not entering it into any challenges as I 100% copied it from the Stampendous blog, but just wanted to post it to have a record of what I sent him!

Card for Deirdre and some Birthday flowers

Oooh we've a hint of summer about the place, yesterday was a gorgeous sunny day and there's rumours of a heatwave heading our way for the end of the week.  We'll see!  Hopefully the weather smartens up a bit for The Open when it hits Portrush next month or the whole world will think it does nothing but rain here haha ;)

This card is for a friend in work, she's a great baker so I had to make one with the biggest cake I could find.
Coloured with polychromos; gloss and glitter added to her crown, shoes and the jam in the cake.  The heart and banner is cut from the silliest little bit of sparkly card, you'd laugh at some of the tiny snips I put back in my pile!

• My colour theme was inspired by the lovely pic over at Inspired By
• Layout from CAS(e) This Sketch #327
•  Pixies Crafty Workshop #355

This one uses an oldie stamp from Concorde & 9th.  Coloured with polychromos.  The central flower is popped up on foam pads but doesn't show up well on this pic.  I couldn't get a good photo of this card at all in fact - my flower is definitely pinker than you see here and my leaves are greener!

• Penny Black and More June - blooms, butterflies +/or bugs
• Cupcake Inspirations #472 - pop up
• Crafty Creations #392 - anything goes

Happy New Year

Well that's us nearly at the end of 2018.  It's been a funny old year, some highs, some lows and some very sad moments - I was at 8 funerals this year, definitely don't want to repeat that next year!  Anyway, if you're partying tomorrow night, have a great time.  I'll be in my PJs with some Baileys and some munchies ;)

My craft light blew a bulb so my pictures are a bit rubbish until the replacement arrives.  This one is an oldie from LOTV, my colouring looks much darker in real life.  I've used my lovely stripy DP from MFT, and added in some sparkly elements.  Gummapian butterfly die;  red heart sequin from stash.  Clear gloss added to the critters' noses and to her hair baubles.

• My layout is based on the sketch at CAS(e) This Sketch #302 (but I've probably added too many elements for it to be CAS now!)
• CASual Fridays #215 - dry embossing
• Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday - try something new - my new polychromo pencils
• MFT Birthday Project - Time to shine

This card is for my brother-in-law's birthday.  The inside reads 'You're not quite over the hill yet, but you have a great view' 

I've used this giraffe from Whipper Snapper, stuck on some googly eyes and added in some foliage.  Background embossed with a leafy pattern.  Not sure if I should have added a sparkly flower on a man's card though ;)

• The Library Challenge #23 is to pick a previous book from the challenges so I've chosen the Jungle Book.  Though actually now I think of it, do you get giraffes in the jungle??? Maybe he's on his holidays.  Ha.
• Time Out #125 - Celebrate, friends, family, life
• Pinspiration #231 - anything goes

Card for Sandra and new goodies

This card is for my buddy in work, she loves a night out, so I reckoned this set from Newton's Nook would be perfect!  Coloured with watercolour pencils, sparkle added to the drink and then clear gloss and glitter to some of the frippery on the glasses.  Her favourite colour is purple so I had to get some of that on the card!

• Layout from CASual Fridays #212
• Sweet Stampin - sparkle and glitz
• Crafty Creations #378 - anything goes

And this one uses some new stamps I won from the lovely girls over at The Flower Challenge :)

The critters are Hunkydory stamps, and then the little Santa one from a Clearly Besotted set.  

My Christmas sentiment is a new die I bought to replace the one that's hiding in my craft stash, doubtless it will turn up about Easter time.

• General layout / reindeer theme based on the inspiration pic over at Pinspirational challenge #229
• Hazel's Christmas challenge #412 - anything goes
• Crafty Cardmakers #222 - lots of layers
• That's Crafty - Winter Wonderland

Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge

Another one for Aunt Cilla

I was very lucky to win last month's challenge at Penny Black Saturday and with my voucher from 1-2-3 Stitch I chose this fab Whipper Snapper image, a Penny Black pot of flowers and some lovely stripey DP.  So I've used them all this evening!

This one is from me to my Aunt in Canada, reckon it will give her a giggle.  I've coloured my image with watercolour pencils, added clear gloss to his nose and added some gold stars.  I die cut my 80 from the tiniest snippet of gold sparkly card - Greg laughs at some of the little snippets I save but I get very precious and mean with stuff that I love!

• Layout based on the sketch over at CAS Colours & Sketches #298 - I ran out of room for a scalloped edge so used this curved stitched edge instead.
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - all that glitters is gold
• Cute Card Thursday #556 - stars
• Crafty Calendar November - paper piecing

So because I liked that sketch, I thought I'd just use a version of it again!

I coloured my Penny Black flowers loosely with watercolours - I've used mauve and rose here, but they're both a bit samey looking in this pic.

• Penny Black Saturday November - anything goes
• As You like it - monochrome or rainbow - it kind of depends on the occasion as to how colourful my card is going to be ... I reckon a plainer colour theme is better for cards like sympathy ones
• Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes
• Colour Crazy Craft Challenge #46 - anything goes colouring challenge

Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge

Bunnies and flowers

Just a quickie visit to blogland tonight .. David Attenborough is on the telly and I just love his wildlife programmes!

This first card uses an LOTV bunny - coloured with watercolour pencils.  I used my new metallic ink for my background and also on the balloon - I hope it shows up in the pic!  (don't look too hard at my awful manicure, that's on my list to sort out next!)
MFT stencil.  Hand doodled border.

• Less is More #384 - metallics
• Seize the Birthday #154 - CAS
• Balloon theme / general layout inspired by Anita's beautiful card over at Muse Challenge #290

And this one is inspired by this weeks featured stamper over at Splitcoast - here's nicole's original.
Does anyone else use Splitcoaststampers?  For some reason when I look at a gallery on my Tablet, it won't let me go further than the first page of results and I have to power up the old laptop.  Drives me crazy!
I've used one of my oldest stamps - I've just noticed that I coloured one of the petals blue when it should have been pink!

Card for Aunt Cilla

It's been a yeuchy old day today - the traffic to work was awful with lashing rain and much the same on the way home, and I was well and truly soaked both directions!  That's my excuse for being in my PJs before 6 o'clock anyway ;)

I've a few personalised cards to make, so had to get a move on.  I'd made one like this recently and liked it, so being mojo-less this evening I figured I'd remake it for my Aunt.  I added some sparkle to the icing and have since added clear gloss and glitter to the little stars.  Magnolia hearts die; cake from Gummiapan.

• Simon Says Stamp Monday - make your own background.
• Cute Card Thursday #554 - anything goes
• Dream Valley #190 - dies/punches (I'm hoping its 'and/or' and not both!) Oops not eligible, sorry DV!

Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge

Playing with new goodies

I had a wee shopping spree recently at Swedish House Crafts who had a fab sale on, so I've been busting to have a play with my new goodies :)  I've a stinker of a cold, but I'll be back tomorrow too with a special Guest Designer post.

So this heart die was one of my purchases, isn't it so pretty.  I've used a couple of the cut outs as extra embellishments, along with a few pink stars and sequins.  Layering dies like this isn't my usual style but I do like how it turned out!

• General card layout based on Rebecca's gorgeous card at Less is More #381
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes
• PINspiration #225 - try something new

I've used an oldie Lili of the Valley stamp for this one, along with my new hanging hearts die.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss to highlight a few elements.

• JUGS #460 - stripes
• Dream Valley #187 - pearls or gems
• Through the Craft Room door - anything goes

Birthday critters

LOL I seem to be stuck in a pink mode this past while!  So here's 2 more ;)

My birdie card uses 2 of my favourite techniques ... fussy cutting and a bit of splattering !  I've used my new Jane's doodles stamps, coloured with watercolour pencils; sparkle added to her jumper and clear gloss/glitter to the collar.  Pink heart sequins from stash.  Bird and frame both popped up on foam pads.

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - pop it up
• Addicted to CAS #145 - tweet
• CASual Fridays #208 - use those sequins
• Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday Aug/Sept - fave stamping technique

This doggy is another one that I'd coloured back in the summer.  Those long hot days of sunshine already seem like such a long time ago!

Image coloured with watercolour pencils; sparkle added to the ribbon and clear gloss to his nose.   MFT stitched frame die; Paper Smooches heart die popped up on foam pads.

• Die Cuttin Divas #386 - any animal
• Pixies Snippets Playground #335
• Seize the Birthday - dies or punches

More new goodies

Ooops I've been shopping again, my excuse was that these were in Jane's Doodles sale!

My stamps came wrapped and sealed with this little crochet heart so I thought it was a shame not to use it. I keep meaning to buy a bookmark die, but for the time being I just use a tag die and partially cut it and then shimmy it down and cut again.  (Don't know if that makes any sense or not!)
Coloured with watercolour pencils.  I added sparkle to the bird's wings on the card, but didn't add any to the bookmark in case it would come off on a book's pages.

• Layout from Your Next Stamp #97
• Addicted to Stamps #307 - make your mark
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
• As You Like It - favourite non card project - I like to make bookmarks as extra wee gifties to put in with the card

I'd some pink watercolour left on a bit of acetate, so I added some water and squished my card base into it to make my background.  A few extra pink and blue splatters to finish.

My little girl and dog are popped up on foam pads.

Gummiapan flower die; Lawn Fawn clouds and can't remember fence maker.

• My layout was based on the sketch at Freshly Made #353, but I've maybe got a bit carried away and lost it! 
• Tuesday Throwdown #407 - splatter it
• Die Cuttin Divas #384 - what  makes you happy? .... why, new stamps of course!!
• Word Art Wednesday #350/351 - anything goes

Bunny love

It's been a yeucky damp old day today, definitely not a going out type of day!  I spent the morning clearing out cupboards (one of my favourite jobs, I love a good clear out!) and had a bit of crafty time this afternoon.
This one is inspired by Mandy's card, this week's featured stamper over at Splitcoaststampers.

I kept her bunny theme and added some pale pink sponging round the outside of my image but it doesn't really show up very well.
Image is an oldie from High Hopes, coloured with watercolour pencils, sparkle added to the bow, and gloss/glitter added to the flower and bitty hearts.

• Word Art Wednesday #348/349 - anything goes
• Sweet Stampin - birthday
• Seize the Birthday - any birthday
• Cute Card Thursday #544 - just for girls