Anything BUT a Card

At Cardz 4 Guyz during the next week our challenge is   Challenge # 29 - Anything BUT a Card, this could be a Tag, a Fat Page, a Gift Card, the choice is yours, the list can be stretched as far as your imagination and creation will take you. My second passion to card making is scrapbook pages and small memory books. The above are a double LO (Lay Out) I recently finished. All the elements are made with papers, stamps, alphabet stickers and of courese the most important photographs of two of my grandsons. The printed journalling tells the story of the pages, click to enlarge to read of our little adventure.
I am entering the first LO to Lasting Memories Challenge - Anything Goes

Food, Glorious Food

For the next two weeks our challenge at CD Sunday Challenges will be  Food, Glorious Food, chosen by Wynn. I apologise for bringing to the gallery a Christmas card, I know it's only July, and a hot one too, but we have to get started sometime with our cards. You will no doubt spot, I have been making the C cards for a few weeks now, sshh! don't tell anyone but this will be my 42nd prepared card. Still have many more to make for my charity box, family and friends. It is amazing how many cards can be made from  one CD - ' The Best of La Pache 2012' - including my DT card above. The background paper is from a Papermania Christmas pack, red ribbon added, the card then decoupaged. I added Glossy Accents to the holly, jam, garland and of course the Christmas pudding. I look forward  to visiting your blog to admire your Food, Glorious Food.   Have fun and happy crafting.
Also entering into Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Extra Challenges -  Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnu'ts Christmas Challenge # 187 - Cute

Use Kraft at MTTC

I know the years seem to go faster as you get older but hey, this is supersonic fast. The weeks are bcoming a blurred memory, time is passing so quickly. Here we are, so soon, ready with another challenge at
My Time To Craft,  we want you to 'Use Kraft'.  Don't think you have to have the real thing , Kraft card, any form of packaging will do, just check it out, if it's clean it's ready to go. Pop over to the main blog to see the amazing inspiration from the Design Team, it may just be the kick start you need.  For my card, I did use a purchased scalloped edge card,  the stamp - Woodware - Grasses,  was stamped with Versamark, heat embossed with Stampendous Detail White E.P.  The greeting is from Hobby Art, the multi coloured organza was from a bargain bin, costing me only £1 for a full roll. I'm looking forward to popping around to see your Kraft projects, have fun and happy crafting.

At The Beach - Challenge #84

Hi, well it certainly is the weather to be At The Beach, which is the #84 challenge at Ruby's Rainbow. Please pop over to the blog to check out the rules, (so few) and to see the amazing inspirational creations from the wonderful Design Team.  My background papers are print outs from CD's, also the bunting which is from the Halcyon Days CD. The main image cut with a Spellbinder die, is from Joanna Sheen, by Faye Whittaker - All Our Yesterday series, Bucket and Spade FW 912. I coloured this with Promarkers,  the blue sky/sea background being Faded Jeans Distress Ink, added with an old fat make up brush. I look forward to visiting you all At The Beach, have fun and happy crafting.

I am also entering this card into the challenge Sea/Beach at Creative Card Crew

#28 Challenge A Sketch

Julie's Sketch # 1 

For the first time at Cardz 4 Guyz we have A Sketch for our challenge. It being Julie's turn she presented us with a sketch, thanks Julie for giving us an easy one for our first attempt. I like sketches, they help me to get out of my comfort zone by making me look at designs differently, I do hope you are inspired. If you pop over to the blog I am sure you will find lots of wonderful inspiration from the amazing Design Team. 

Products I used. 

Plain white card. Darker papers from LOTV Father Knows Best paper Pad.

Lighter papers from LOTV Nitwits - Petal Fresh.

Stamp from Crafter's Companions - coloured with Promarkers. Cool stamp from stash. Card candi in top
corner.
Entered into challenges:-
Fan-Tastic Tuesday - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Scribble and Scrap Challenges # 23 Anything Goes

Animal Magic

Today at Fantasy Stampers our challenge, which lasts for two weeks, is Animal Magic. In my push to progress with my Christmas Cards, I decided to use a favourite stamp of mine, which is form Stamps Away - Pilkington's Winter Wonderland, there are 3 stamps in the set, all wonderful winter scenes. I used watercolour paper for this particular card, using a mixture of several of the blue shades of Distress Inks as watercolours. Please pop over to the main blog to check out the amazing inspiration from the Design Team, have fun in cdreating your Animal Magic. I look forward to visiting you over the next few weeks.

L is for Lace

For the letter L at Alphabet Challenges we are asking you to provide us with Lace, in any way you choose. We all have a little lace lying around somewhere, or a Lace stamp, or butterfly. this week both teams A and B are joining forces, so there are twice as many wonderful inspirational projects for you to view, so please do pop over to the blog to check them out.  I used a shaped card. Matted and layered card which I coloured with various Distress Inks. The stamps used are from Crafty Individuals - CI 328 and Creative Expressions - Antique Dressforms. A few pearls for embellishment. Have fun with your lace, I look forwardt to visiting you over the next two weeks.  

Butterfly - Spots and Stripes

A recently discovered new challenge for me is Butterfly Spot Challenge, what a simply brilliant idea for anyone who loves butterflies and let's be honest, butterflies must be about the most frequent embellishment we see on our cards. I know I find them useful to cover an uwanted spot of ink etc.  For this card each butterfly is placed for design not as cover ups. LOL The challenge is Spots and Stripes along with your butterfly, The background papers are from one of my paper pads in my stash, I also stamped the butterflies onto paper from the same paper pad. The top butterfly is from Sheena Douglas, the middle one was free with Craft Stamper magazine and the bottom one is from Elusive Images.  The greeting is from Hobby Art. Thanks for this challenge, I'm sure I'll be popping back for more challenges, just love my butterflies. 

I am also entering this card into the Get Well challenge at In The Pink

Christmas In July

Hello again, my second posting today. This will be my 40th Christmas card ready for this year. For the next month we at Sparkles Monthly would like to see you create 'Christmas in July'.  For my card, I decided on a  Clean and Simple style. Main body of card, is a bought scalloped card.  First layer is mirri silver card.
Second layer is a sheet from a Papaermania pack of Chritmas papers. Third layer white card - Decorated - Inigigo Blu stamp - Frosted Baubles and Paperartsy greeting stamp from Egg and Nog #3 set - both stamped with Versamark, embossed with Silver Bells Wow Powder. A light dusting of Festive Berries DI from TH. Sakura Glaze pens to colour the baubles, leaves and berries. I am looking forward to visiting you during the 'Christmas in July' during the next month. We are again delighted to be sponsored  by Marianne Designs.

Prize to be either 2 Dies or 1 Die and 1 stamp.

Good Luck. 

On The Beach

Hi everyone, this week at Cardz 4 Guyz we would like to see a project 'On The Beach'. Anything at all related to the beach. Please do pop over to the blog, to continue as a challenge blog we do need entrants. The Design Team have again made some wonderful inspiring cards for you. For my card, I have used stamps from a Hobby Art set - Coastal Wildlife. I lightly dusted with Broken China DI from T.H. The darker paper for the background and matting looks black it is actually a dark blue.  Thanks for visiting, have fun and happy crafting.
I am also entering this card into the following challenges:-
Creative Card Crew - Sea/Beach
Addicted to CAS - Sky
Dream Valley Challenges - Summer

Kind and Caring Thoughts

Hello again, for the next two weeks at CD Sunday Challenges we would like to see your projects reflecting on Kind and Caring Thoughts. There are sadly, those times in our lives when Kind and Caring Thoughts can help someone along through a difficult time, sometimes a small card bearing a simple message can make one really big difference. Bearing this in mind for my project, I decided to make a set of cards which I can put into a box to give as a gift of Thinking of You cards.  I made all of the above printing 2 sheets of toppers and one sheet of backing paper from the CD Flowers In Bloom 2 by Card Creations Plus. The six small cards are part a pack of cards and matching envelopes I purchased for £1 at a recent event. The D.L card I will hold onto. The small greeting stamp is an old relic in my stash but a well loved relic, source unknown.  I hope you enjoy this challenge, I look forward to visiting you to view your projects. Have fun and happy crafting. 

Paper Piecing

Hi again, for the next two weeks at My Time To Craft (MTTC)  our challenge is to include Paper Piecing in your project. Please do pop over to the main blog to check out the wonderful inspiration from the Design Team. As long as the image you use has some definite lines, you can do paper piecing,  it is a wonderful way of using up all those little scraps we tend to keep. For my project, the owls and branch came from Paperartsy Flora and Fauna 3 stamp set, the sentiment is from Kaisercraft Life Sentiments, the leafy branch punch via a Martha Stewart punch.  All added to Kraft card. The background paper is from LOTV.  Card  Candi from Craftworks. Hope you like my whimsical card, I look forward to popping around to see your entries. Have fun and happy crafting. 

Summer Edible Treats

For the next two weeks we at Ruby's Rainbow Challenges would like to see you playing with our new theme which is Summer Edible Treats,  the Design Team have colleted an array of some amazing Summer treats for you to check out. If nothing takes your edible fancy then we will be thrilled to see your Edible Treats. 

How about a BBQ, as long as the evenings are light, warm and dry, what could be nicer than the sound of sizzling sausages on the BBQ?  I created this card from print outs from a La Pashe best of 2012 CD, I added the pennants which are from Halycion Days CD. So looking forward to visiting to see your treats.

DIY at Cardz 4 Guyz

Hi everyone, I'm hoping for another nice warm day, with less rain.  This week at Cardz 4 Guyz,  Jan has chosen for us DIY - Do It Yourself. I am so lucky because my husband has always been wonderful with DIY projects, yes, sometimes, I have needed to be a firm project manager but he gets the work done. For my card, I found a super image, again, on the CD from La Pashe 'The Best of 2012', it really is an amazing CD. I made a stepper card and used a sheet of blue paper from  a LOTV  'Father Knows Best' paper pad for the background. I enjoyed cutting and placing the decoupage pieces of plumbing. The 'To My Hushand '
stamps are from 'The Glitter Girl's Macho set of stamps.

CAS at Fantasty Stampers

During the next two weks at Fantasy Stampers we are looking forward to seeing your CAS projects. For those not sure about CAS it is Clean and Simple. No additional adornments, leave as much of the base colour card as clear as possible, no layers, no levels. Be sure to pop over to see the wonderful creations from the Design Team. For my CAS card, I decided to concentrate on the edge of the card for the design, an area not always being the focal point on a card. I stamped the Little Clair border stamp of flowers directly onto the card. Then some fussy cutting was required. I coloured the flowers and leaves with Promarkers.  Added the sentiment stamp, by Kaisercraft,  purchased at a recent craft show. I cut a piece of Kraft card and secured to the back of the front sheet of the card. I will add an insert, with the stamp on both the left and right side, along with a printed verse. Hope to see you at Fantasy Stampers entries. Thanks for popping in to visit me.

K is for Kites

Hi everyone, it was my turn to choose the topic at Alphabet Challenges, for the letter K - I love Kites, they can be a lot of fun, fascinating to watch and equally as troublesome, as experienced in my card. I think this one has landed in the trees. I used a plain piece of brown crd for the background, kite patterned papers from my stash. The 'scrabble' like tiles I've had for ever, with the odd letters left over, most of the vowels have long gone. The kite I made with a few pieces of cocktail sticks, a piece of card, then patterned papers to cover. A closer look to follow, spot the trailing tail with the ribbons tied. The main image is from LOTV - Tree House which I coloured with Promarkers. Please do pop over to the blog to see the wonderful  Design Team projects with Kites. Have fun in creating and crafting, hope to see your entry into the challenge. 

A Winter Scene

Hello everyone, this is my first month as a member of the Design Team at  Sparkles Christmas Challenges monthly challenges, I am thrilled to be here. I totally love Christmas, it has always been a very special time of the year for me. It all happens far too quickly, but it is so nice to be able to enjoy the slow exciting build up throughout the year, with the Sparkle Christmas challenges. I am so much looking forward to lots of happy , thrilling months ahead.  This months challenge is A Winter's Scene, I have used a digi image from 'The Best of Just Inklined 2012' CD  from La Pashe. I die cut the image with a Go Kreate die to form the frame. Coloured with Promarkers and a little watercolouring here and there. Glamour Dust glitter was sprinkled over all of the snow areas.  Background papers and sentiment tags are from LOTV, the rose and holly leaves are from old stash. I will enjoy visiting your entries over the next month, have fun everyone, just think you will have one more card marked off your Christmas list,  after this challenge. You may also be the lucky one to win the prize offered by our sponsor for the winning entry. Thanks go to

Prize on offer from our sponsor is

2 dies or 1 die and 1 stamp.

Entered into Crazy Hazelnut's Christmas Monthly Extra - Anything Goes

The Squirrel and the Fox - Christmas in July

Welcome Baby Boy

At Cardz 4 Guyz this week we would like to see you Welcome Baby Boy with a project, it can be a card or any other item which says Welcome to the new baby.  This style of card , a pop up box card have been hugely popular this summer, they are so easy to make, once you have the template. I found mine on You Tube here.  For the flowers and embellishments I used plain blue cardstock and the last of the patterned papers from a favourite set I purchased a while ago, it's sad when it comes to an end. How sad am I? He he. I used a stamp and die from Go-Kreate for the Baby Boy. The hearts and Baby are from the Woodware envelope samp set.  I made an envelope from scrapbook paper using my  WRMK /Stampin Up Envelope Maker. Please do pop over to the blog to see the wonderful inspirational samples from the DT.
I am also entering this project into
Oldie but a Goodie for their challenge  - Baby
The Pink Elephant Challenge - Anything Goes
Pink Gem Challenge Blog For a Child or a Baby
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes