Special Notice - Card Competition

Good morning everyone!  Did you know about the special card competition underway on Jak Heath's blog?  You'll find some wonderful prizes, and its all for the purpose of Thanking You for your support in the Help For Katie Benefit.  This competition goes until February 20th, so you have lots of time to enter, and the stamps are still available here for the Help For Katie Fundraiser.

This is my card, which is different but similar to one I posted a couple of weeks ago.  I actually coloured up two of these images at the same time, as I knew I would be using it again....it is so versatile.   This time I've used the 'out of the box technique' using a Nestie die.

Hopefully soon, I'll have some cards made up with the other stamps too!  I've  coloured a few, but they're still waiting for some design inspiration.  Perhaps I'll find some in the card entries...maybe yours! 

Until next time.....have a wonderful day!

An Encouragement Card

This year is off to a bit of a bumpy start, soooo a few encouragement cards might be needed.....and that's my inspiration for this card.

 

Here is another of those wonderful images from Just Inklined, and you can find it here.  Sometimes a bit of humour is just what the doctor ordered, so have a look, I'm sure you'll find something that tickles your funny bone!

Here is the message on the inside.  A little bit of encouragement....which I printed on the computer.

I've coloured with Prismas again, cutting out with my Nestie, and adding some DI for the background.


I've gone with an extra fold this time around, following the sketch at Inspirational Card Sketches for the layout.

The DP is from pinkpaislee and their Queen Bee line, so it all matches perfectly, and I've added I've added a little extra stamping to the inside to finish it all off.

I hope you enjoyed your visit, and can take away a couple of ideas.  Have a wonderful day!

A couple more challenges:

One Stop Craft Challenge - #115 More than One Fold

The Crazy Challenge - #51 Dots and Stripes

Stamps R Us Challenges - #13 Animals

Clean and Simple with only One Layer

Are you looking for something quick and easy to do, but with a bit of technique to try?  All you need for this one are a couple of stamps, some distress inks, some glimmer mist and perhaps a couple of rub-ons.  When finished, it will easily go in the post, and can be used for many occasions.

First of all I prepared the background, sponging and stamping with various shades of  distress inks.  Then I spritzed with glimmer mist, letting the colours run together.  Finally, I stamped the flower and stem, older stamps from Fancy Pants that I haven't used in a while, adding a couple of rub-ons for the butterfly and the word beautiful.

A couple of challenges:

Little Red Wagon - #64 One Layer Wonder

Challenge up Your Life - #35 Clean and simple

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - #66 A Forgotten Stamp

Let's Pretend It's Spring!

Let's play pretend....the grass is green, the trees are in leaf, the temperature is nice and warm....now, wasn't that nice?  I need to keep this card in view at all times, just to remind me of better days ahead when the snow is gone!  We are getting more of the fluffy stuff today, and my hubby is definitely going to need to use the snowblower tomorrow.

My card today uses another beautiful scenic image from Just Inklined....this time it is Bramble Lane, and you can find it here.  I've used my Tombow markers this time around, blending with my water brush for a nice soft effect.  In addition, I've sponged some DI along the bottom edge for a slight vintage look.  Now, I just need to book a holiday, and go find this place....!!!

Other Supplies:
Tools:  Nestibilities Labels 5, Martha Stewart punch, Fiskars corner punch
Other:  all papers and embelllishments are from my stash, gold embossing powder for the sentiment

So, thanks once again for visiting, and have yourself a wonderful weekend!

A couple of challenges:

Paper Sundaes - Favourite challenge - #14 No People

Pear Tree Designs - #32 Free for All (anything)

Cute Card Thursday - #148 Recipe (1 image, 2 punches, 3 papers)

Let It Snow....again...yeh right!

As soon as I've done this post, I'm off to bed.  I've been out today, visiting with my parents which involves a lengthy drive..... and that bright snow just kills my eyes.  I prefer the snow that can be found here on this card!  I've worked with a few challenges, some of which use a winter theme or winter colours.

After colouring the image, I've used liberal amounts of glamour dust on both the bear and the snow.  Additional glitter is added with a border of stickles.  The finished card makes me smile, as I know if I were to put on skates, this would not be how I would land!  Let's just say...it wouldn't be a pretty picture!

Supplies used:
Image:  Falling in Love by D2D
Medium:  Prisma pencils
Tools:  Nestibilities Labels die, MS snowflake and greenery punches, embossing folder
Other: stickles, glamour dust; flower, gems and DP from my stash

Some challenges:

Card-ideas - Christmas Wintry Color Combo

Scrap-Creations - Winter blast

Sassy Studio Designs - #56 Cool frosty winter colors

Fab & Funky Challenges - #56 Animal Magic

Stamp Something - Cute Somethings

Teddy-Stampers - #28 Anything Goes

Critter Sketch Challenge - #48 Colour and Embellishment Challenge

What's the Buzz.....it's a Blog Hop!

Good morning everyone, things are really buzzing today!  Some new releases, a fun game with prizes, and a Blog Hop at DZ Doodles!  Here's a sneak peek at what you will find as you buzz along.

Now, if you've arrived here from JuelMarie's blog, you're on the right path.....otherwise, you should start here at the beginning.  At each stop there's a letter.  Collect them all for your chance to win 3 Bee images of your choice!!!   Did you find mine?

Supplies used:
Image:  Love Bug 2 from DZ Doodles
Papers:  cardstock
Tools:  Nestibilities Labels Die
Medium:  Prismacolor pencils, gold metallic pen for doodling
Other:  buttons covered with rub-on flowers, gems

Next on the hop is Jen and then you are nearly finished.  Be sure to leave your comments along the way, as we love to hear from you!

I've included the blog list below, so hop along and collect your letters for the SECRET message!  You will leave your answer in the comments section on the DZ Doodles site.

DZ Doodles

Valerie

Rosalien

Pascale

JuelMarie 

Joyce  (You are here)

Jen

DZ Doodles

  
Challenges I've entered:

The Pixie Cottage - #53 Sketch and/or Who Do You Love
Stampin' Royalty - #55 Anything with Wings
Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenge - Spotlight on Pencils
The Crazy Challenge - #50 Buttons
PaperPlay Challenges - #3 Back to Black

A Quick and Easy Card

Sometimes it's okay to make a card in a quick and easy fashion.....I just have to keep telling myself that!  Usually I find I spend far too much time on the design, trying to add something different each time.

This card was a quick one though, I wanted to enter it into this week's progressive challenge at Designed2Delight.  If you notice, I'm right down to the wire, it is due today.  I've used last week's freebie image, which could be used for Valentine's Day or any number of other occasions.

Supplies used:
Image:  Love Ya Cupcake by D2D
Tools:  Nestibility Scalloped Circle Die, MS punch
Medium:  Prismas
Other:  Stickles and liquid applique for the icing, DP and embellishments all from my stash

Other Challenges:

Creatalicious Challenges - #18 Love theme with ribbon

The Secret Crafter - #117 With Love

Craft Your Days Away #11 Anything Goes

By the Cute and Girly - Bling It On!

One of my winnings!

Well now, today should prove interesting.....we woke up today with no water!  Just one of the many things that can and will go wrong when you live in the country.  Now we need to find a plumber to see what is wrong with the well....wish us luck!

So now to my card.  This is the new Lil Valentine Lilith image that I won last week from Tickled Pink Stamps.  Isn't she sweet....love those tights and long thin legs!  So of course I'm entering in their challenge this week for I {Heart} You.  I've coloured with Prismas again, and all materials came from my stash.

I've used my Nellie Die, to both cut out the image and create the framework behind.  You will note that the shoes stand outside the die cut.  This was the first time I tried this with this particular die, and it was a little more challenging.

Some more challenges for additional inspiration:
Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Bingo (Die cuts, Flowers, Gems)
Raise the Bar Challenge - #49 Oh, To Be A Kid Again
Pear Tree Designs - #32 Free for All
Papercraft Star - #29 Recipe Challenge
Southern Girls Challenge - Totally Loved Up

For that Someone Special

Good morning, and thank you for stopping by!   There's a new challenge underway today, over at DZ Doodles, and can you guess the theme?  Valentine's Day is only a few short weeks away, soooo let's make something for that someone special!  You have until February 2nd to submit your entry, and the winner will be announced February 3rd.  We hope you can join in this week, as we would love to stop by your blogs and see your creations.

My card is using the image Thank You Beary Much, which will be available as a freebie for a limited time.  Isn't he a sweetie...could be used for so many occasions! 

Other Supplies:

Paper - Basic Grey, cardstock

Tools - Nestibilities-Labels 16 die, MS punches

Mediums - Prismacolor pencils, distress inks

Other - Starform heart stickers, flowers

For more inspiration, be sure to check out the lovely creations made by the rest of the design team here at DZ Doodles.

And of course, some more challenges: 

Wags 'n Whiskers Rubber Stamps - #44 With Love

Stamp Something - Anything Goes

Phindy's Place - #38 Valentines or for loved one

Stamp Scrap and Doodle - Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time - #45 Anything New (new Nestibilities die)

Incy Wincy Designs - #77 Bears, Bears, Bears

Tuesday Throwdown - #31 Valentine

Something a little different...

Well, the weekend is over and today I really should do some work, soooooo here's a little card I've been saving.  No digi image on this one....instead there's a decoupage flower with 3D layers.  These flowers were already coloured and just had to be punched out and popped up with tiny foam tabs.  All my papers are card stock, no fancy DP, and I've added some doodling to the edges.  The something different, is the embossed cut work.  I've used an embossing die in my Big Shot, and then cut out part of the design with my exacto knife.  I quite like the effect, and should remember to do this more often.

 Well I do have to run, can't be crafting and having fun all of the time.  Enjoy your day!

Challenges to enter:

3D Cards Challenge - #16 Anything Goes

Totally Papercrafts - #49 Happy Birthday

CES Challenges - #19 No Design Papers

Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog - #51 Celebrate

Uncle Rob's Birthday Card

Well, you are in for a treat today!  One of my little treasures is visiting this weekend, and I do try to keep her busy....this is a card she has made for her uncle.  This is a very quick post, as we rush out the door for a birthday supper.  This little treasure is 8 years old and a going concern, who likes playing with Grandma's craft stuff....if there's nothing more exciting to do, and it does give Grandpa a much needed break!  This is a Stamp Fairy freebie image and she's entering their challenge this week Layers and Buttons.

What a Cutie

Happy Friday everyone!  The sun is shining, it has stopped snowing and I can spend some time crafting.  Everything else is on hold, because today we're getting a new range hood installed in the kitchen.  One of my husband's hobbies is gourmet cooking....which is absolutely wonderful....but we definitely need a better exhaust fan that vents to the outside.  This is no minor project, as our brick walls are two layers thick, and the installation requires a ladder as it's not at ground level.

So....here's my card using something New.  This is the Josie in a Hat image, from the Stamping Bazaar, which I won in their challenge over Christmas.  It was a delight to colour, and could be used for so many occasions.

Other supplies used:
Tools:  Nestibilities - Beaded Circle Die, Martha Stewart -  border punch
Medium:  Prismacolor Pencils
Other:  Distress Inks, Liquid Pearls

I do hope that you too can find some time for crafting today  Check out the challenges below for some inspiration, and thanks for visiting and leaving me your lovely comments.  Have a great weekend!

Challenges that I am entering:

The Stamping Bazaar - #11 Use Punches

Winter Wonderland - Paws for Thought

Paper Sundaes - #51 Circles

Cupcake Craft Challenges - #124 Something New

Pear Tree Designs - #31 Circles

The Crazy Challenge - #49 Animals

Kaboodle Doodles - #49 Do It With Digis

PaperPlay Challenges - #2 Cutie Patootie

Stampin for the Weekend - #54 New and Blue

It's Magic.....of course

Sometimes we need a little magic in our lives, and it can often be viewed through the eyes of our little ones.  My grandaughter was telling me of someone she knew, at whose house Santa forgot his gloves one year.  Asked if her friend still had them......."no, her dog chewed them up"!   Sooooo precious!

My card today uses another adorable image from Just Inklined, titled Wizz Doodles, and it's sure to capture the attention of any Harry Potter fan.  The image has been coloured using Tombow markers, then I've gone over the gown again with my water brush to produce a mottled effect.  The background has been sponged with distress inks, while stickles and glitter pen have been added for the magical stars and glow.  I've hand written the working, adding stickles to the capital letters....this doesn't show to well in the photo.

For some additional inspiration, be sure to check out these challenges that I will be entering.

Make It Colourful - #1 Warm or Cool Colours

Stamp Something - January Digi Day

Raise the Bar Challenge - #48 Photo Inspiration

One Stop Craft Challenge - #113 A Card for a Child

Ewe are the one..

Here we go, with a card using Something Old and Something New......both of which are stamps.  The new digi image is this month's freebie from Designed2Delight for their progressive challenge, while the hearts at the bottom are a rubber stamp from Inkadinkado, one of the very first stamps that I purchased.

Supplies used:
Paper:  DP from My Mind's eye, cardstock
Medium:  Tombow markers and water pen
Tools:  Nestie die and MS punch

Thanks for visiting!  Have a great day.....stay warm and cozy.

Challenges for this card:

Designed2Delight - January Stamp of the Month

Card-ideas - Something Old; Something New

Wags 'n Whiskers Rubber Stamps - #43 Valentines

Scrap-Creations - Love is in the Air

Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog - #50 To use Something New

Lexi's Creations - #31 Say It With Love

The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges - Anything Goes

A Bouquet of Flowers

Welcome everyone!  Here is a card just for fun!  I tend to colour up my images and then work up a card at a later date...hmmm...sound familiar?  I really enjoy the colouring but sometimes I have difficulty deciding on the card design.

Today for my layout, I've used Lena's sketch for challenge #79 at LOTV, along with one of their images Teddy with Bouquet.  I've coloured with both water colours and Prisma's, adding glitter pen, stickles and glossy accents to the flowers. 

I took some ideas from a couple of other challenges, too...as I was having a bit of trouble deciding on my DP.  The Tuesday Throwdown challenge is background stamping....so I stamped the dots on yellow card stock with different colours of DI.  This also works for the Go Dotty theme challenges at Winter Wonderland  and Incy Wincy Designs.

Some other supplies used:
Papers: Prima (Fairy Flora pack), yellow and burgundy cardstock
Tools:  Nestie die, MS punches,
Other elements:  from my stash

A few other challenges that I'm entering which may give you some more inspiration:

CES Challenges - #18 All Creatures Great and Small The Crazy Challenge - #49 Animals Teddy-Stampers - #27 Celebrations One Stitch at a Time - #44 Love and Valentine Bunny Zoes Crafts - #8 Love is in the Air Craft Your Days Away - #11 Anything Goes

Special Post - HELP FOR KATIE

Hi everyone, thanks for stopping by!  Today I would like to share with you, a special message.  As one of the DT for Just Inklined, I am helping to support Jak's fundraiser event for her friend Katie Renz.  Katie is a fellow crafter, a loving wife and mother to 3 young boys, who now faces a major life challenge...stage 4 stomach cancer.  Katie tells her story on her own blog, here.  Be sure to drop by and leave her some love and encouragement.

A number of  talented artists and crafter friends have put together an awesome collection of prizes and digi stamps for this fundraiser event, in order to raise money for Katie and her family.  These are a couple of cards that I have made using two of these images.

using the Magnolia image from Just Inklined

using the Nurse Daisy image from Just Inklined

Additional card samples can also be found at my team members' sites, as they make their posts during the day.

Mina, Debbie, Cathy, Jeni, Lydia, Peri, Karen, Toni

Below is the list of stamps that you will receive, for a donation of just £15. All Donations can be made over at Jak's web site.

There are also some prizes

firstly Letraset have donated a full set of 148 markers over £200 in value.

Paper Temptress has donated

5 Silver Lustre Packages and 1 $25 Gift Voucher

Every time a donation is made you will be entered into a draw for the prizes.   If you donate twice you will get 2 chances to win one of the prizes.

The draw for the prizes will be made on February the 10th

Have yourself a great day...your support is much appreciated!

Old Guys Rule...

 

Well now, I suppose everything is back to normal after the Christmas break.  We actually have a bit of snow, with some flurries for the rest of this week.  Hopefully it doesn't amount to much, as I am not a big fan of the white stuff!  I'll try my best to just stay inside where it is warm.

This card uses another of those wonderful character images from Just Inklined, and you can find him here.  Aubery Bumblethorpe is his name....and Mr. Fix It is his game!   The perfect card for a certain person who used to be a Fix It guy!

I've used the colours green and orange, and  some DP I purchased in a large pack from Costco a while back. The sentiment is computer generated, and hopefully the recipient still has a sense of humour.....  I'll have to be sure to include some treats to sweeten him up!

Some challenges that I will enter with this card:

Fab & Funky Challenges - #54 Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Creative Craft World - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz - #1 Happy Birthday + Blog Hop

An Altered Notebook ...A New Challenge

The saying goes, there is a first time for everything, and this was definitely a first for me!  Today is the start of a new challenge at DZ Doodles, and this time we were to create something for our desk.....well, you haven't seen my desk!

I've chosen to alter a rather large hardcover notebook, something that I can't lose in the clutter, but which may help me to be better organized.  I will begin by stamping and recording all of those stamps that are hidden away in drawers!  Later I will add some examples of my punches and die cuts.   There are so many tools and stamps that never see the light of day.....because I forget all about them!  Does this sound familiar? LOL.

The image I've chosen is Chloe, a definite favourite of mine which brings back memories of sweet little girls and dress up time....   This time, while copics have been used for the skin tones, I've coloured with Tombow markers and my water brush, adding a bit of shading with Prismas.  The papers once again are all from my stash...

Other Supplies Used: 
Tools - MS punch, Nestie Die, embossing folder (dots)
Other - book purchased from Staples, Fred She Said flowers, gems, ribbon, feather,

Be sure to check out the challenge this week, and all the amazing creations from the rest of the design team.....and there may be a freebie for you too!  So, why not give it a try....we would love to see what you can do too!
 Some challenges that I can enter with this project:
Digi Doodle Shop - #39 Anything Goes
Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
Whoopsie Daisy - Free and Easy
Kaboodle Doodles - #48 Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - #39 Anything Goes
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge - #99 Flowers
Tuesday Throwdown - #30 Add Embossing

First Card and Latest Card

Good morning everyone!  I don't know where the time goes, but can you believe it.....it's already the second of January!  Spring is coming.....though I really can't complain, yesterday we had rain and a high of 9 degrees C, or 48 degrees F.  It seems that everyone else is getting our snow again this year, and that suits me just fine!

Here you see my latest card, which worked up quite quickly and is perfect for a young girl's birthday.  I've coloured the image with a number of different mediums....Copics for the skin, Prismas for the hair and Tombow markers and glitter pen for the flowers.

And here you see my very first card, which I made for my husband a couple of years ago.  These two cards are submissions for the latest challenge at Crafty Cardmakers, definitely something a little different!  Be sure to check it out.

Supplies used on latest card:
Stamps - Flower Child from Digi Stamps for Joy
Paper - Basic Grey (Eskimo Kisses line), cardstock
Tools - MS punches, Nestibilities die
Other - Flowers from Fred She Said, gems

Other challenges that I've entered:
Digi Stamp 4 Joy - #9 Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge - #47 Punch It
Digital Tuesday Challenge - #91 Anything Goes
Fab & Funky Challenges - #53 Quick and Easy Does It
Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Time to Party/Celebrate
Moving Along with the Times - #79 Birthday and Circles
Totally Papercrafts - #47 - Time to Party