Sweet as Sugar Cherub

This very cute Leanne Ellis Cherub image is one of three stamps that Sugar Nellie is selling to raise money for "It's a Girl Thing" breast cancer fundraiser. The stamps are lovely and you'll be donating to a good cause if you buy them. If you can't, don't forget you can win them as blog candy to celebrate my blogaversary this month! No, I didn't use the candy stamps to make this card, I bought my own stamps too :)

I've used Marlene's pretty sketch to enter this week's Sugar Bowl Challenge, the challenge is to use the sketch and make the card pink and brown. Cherub was coloured with Copics, and with lots of blingy pink Stickles on her wings and the hearts. I added somehighlights with a white pen. The papers are Basic Grey Porcelain except the bright pink scalloped circle. Ribbon is from my stash, flowers are Prima and there is card "candy" from Craftworks Cards (also with added Stickles).

Happy Purplicious Birthday Morag

This rather OTT card is for my friend Morag, who loves anything as long as it's purple :). I've taken inspiration from several challenges:

• My starting point was Charisma Cardz's Patchwork Challenge; I've been wanting to use the patchwork shaped chipboard for ages
• The purple colour scheme uses Dutch Dares' photo inspiration challenge again - love this photo
• I got really carried away with Stamp Something's use your favourite embellishments challenge! Too many embellies! LOL
• The sketch that I put it all together with is from Corrosive Challenges

The image is one of my favourite Leanne Ellis stamps from Sugar Nellie, Stitch. She's coloured with Copics and the background watercoloured from Dusty Concord Distress Ink. The main background paper was Glimmer Misted, then silver embossed with two different Elusive Images scrolly corners, aren't they beautiful. The silver embossed sentiment is also from Elusive Images. Now the embellishments: the patchwork pieces are covered in Artylicious paper and edged with the Distress Ink, there are two ribbons, one cream that was coloured with copic and one mauve, my favourite Prima flowers and a delicious little sewing machine charm from Quixotic Paperie.

Maybe there are rather too many embellishments, what do you think? I reckon it's purple enough, at least :). Oh, don't forget to enter my blog candy, will you?

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine...

This week's challenge at the Sugar Bowl is to follow a nice, usable sketch by Gayle, adding ribbons and bows. Ribbons and bows sounded like a good excuse to use Stitch, my gorgeous Leanne Ellis stamp. And just look at the paper I found at Stamp Attic last week - just had to bring it home to meet Stitch :).

I kept the card fairly simple, the image and the DP are both quite busy. Stitch is coloured with Promarkers and Copics, and a little yellow Stickles on her buttons and the knitting needles. The sentiments is Elusive Images, mounted onto Bazzill card and the ribbons are from stash.

Three Challenges - One Birthday Card

This week I have the exact match for one of the colours for Copic Colour Challenge this week and two others that are close - hooray! I have Pea Green and I used R32 Peach and YR02 Light Orange with the green.

I followed a very nice Sketch from this week's Simon Says Challenge, first time I've entered this one, though I've seen Dawny P's sketches all over blogdom, they're always good ones to work with. I'm also entering the card for Papertake Weekly's Challenge, which is a take your pick colour combi from any or all of: pink, black, white, yellow, green, grey and lilac, plus any other colours. I've used pink and green from the list.

On to the card: I chose to use one of my favourite Leanne Ellis images from Sugar Nellie - she's called Poise. As you know, I've coloured her with Copics. Other colours I've used are skin white, chamois and pale blue. When I'd coloured her, I didn't like the plain background so I coloured it blue. I was worried it looked uneven and went over it with the blender pen. It's still uneven but now it's in a nice mottled way, not a nursery-school colouring book way. At least I hope so :). I think I need to learn more about the blender pen, it doesn't work the way I think...

The sentiment is from Dimension Fourth and I've used pearl gems on the flowers and beside the entiment. The papers are lovely double sided papers by Crate Paper, from Stamp Attic, all edged with Distress Ink, and I've added some blue grosgrain ribbon.

Sugar Bowl Challenge #14

This week's Sugar Bowl Challenge is to use Judy's fun sketch and to include sparkle. I've delayed making this a bit as I've been playing with my new Mary Hall images that I didn't want to "bling up" :). So I went back to my trusty Leanne Ellis Annie with birdhouse image (can't see it on Funky Kits at present, I'm sure it'll be back on there soon).

She's stamped with cocoa brown Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers and Copics. The edging is done with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink. Papers are mostly K&K, apart from the green nearly vertical one behind Annie, which is from Basic Grey's Porcelain papers and worked well with the others. The flower is Prima. I've added the sparkle in green gems that are on the papers and the sentiment, Stickles on Annie's dress and the flower centres and Stickles on the brad in the flower.

The Sugar Bowl Challenge #13

This week's Sugar Bowl Challenge has a very useable sketch from

Lilian, which must include some Kraft paper/beige colours. I've some Kraft paper that I bought from Stamp Attic a few weeks back with patterns on it, the wrong side is ideal for a background.

I've used one of my gorgeous Leanne Ellis designs, A Little Hug, I've stamped her onto the WS of the kraft paper and coloured her with Inktense watercolour pencils. The sentiment is from Elusive Images. The papers are Dovecraft papers that I've had in my stash for ages, since I first began cardmaking, their soft colour fits the image well I think. The Kraft paper is used right side out for the backgroud to the card, with a Prima flower on it and I've used some ribbon that has a vivid pattern on its right side, reversed so it works with the colourscheme.

Sugar Bowl Challenge 12 - Lia's Sketch

This has been a busy week, however today I'm settling down to craft and catch up on some of the serenity of cutting up paper and stamping...

I used Lia's very pretty sketch from the Sugar Bowl's Challenge and coloured my Leanne Ellis image to match the gorgeous new Basic Grey papers that I got from the Stamp Attic a while back.

The colours are soft peaches, green and yellows, I got my Copics out (must persevere with them) and coloured Annie accordingly, adding some Distress Ink round the stark white edges. A flower punched from the papers and some peach lace from my sewing stash finished it off nicely - till I read the Sugar Bowl Challenge again and saw that I should have included green and blue! Ack! Luckily I found some pale blue ric-rac that I've attached on top of the lace that doesn't upset the colour scheme too much. Note to self: RTFI. Read the flippin' instructions :)

Corrosive Challenges #13 - black, red and Kraft

It's Sunday and time for another Corrosive Challenge - this week Janet has picked her favourite colour combination: black, red and Kraft. I wasn't too sure what colour Kraft was, but when Janet enlightened me I had to buy a couple of sheets of Kraft paper from the Stamp Attic - what a hardship ;).

I used Stitch from my new Leanne Ellis stamps, isn't she great? As a lapsed quilter I have plenty of friends who will be getting Stitch on their cards for a while to come... The paper piecing on her coat, the cotton reels and the wool use a Basic Grey red which is also the background for the card. I've pierced her coat at the hem and the neckline, it adds more texture to the image. She's coloured with Inktense pencils, the flourish at top right of the card is by Elusive Images.

The flower is cut from Kraft paper, the button is from my stash and the ribbon is also from the Stamp Attic. I look forward to seeing everyone's Corrosive Challenge in my bloghopping this week :)

Poise - Dutch Dare Challenge #49 & Stamp Something, Emily's sketch

Here's another of my GORGEOUS Leanne Ellis new images, this one is called Poise and I think she's one of the best of the set ... but I keep saying that each time I ink one up :).

I've used Emily's sketch from Stamp Something's Challenge, which is an ideal shape to use with these stamps, and very usable for lots of ideas. I decided to use some black, white and silver papers that I bought from Craftwork Cards at Ally Pally and haven't really put to use yet. These look quite blingy, so I'm also including Dutch Dare's challenge of Bling-bling/Glitter as I think Poise is a blingy sort of gal.

She's stamped onto a white and silver background, a black/silver swirl and also onto plain cardstock for her face and sleeves. Skin and hair are coloured with watercolour pencils, the bright sleeves and flowers are permant markers, I hoped they would colour over the metallic spots ok. Hmm... they don't. The Art Nouveau style frame and the sentiment are from Elusive Images and are white embossed onto black cardstock. The other DP is from the same Craftwork Cards set, the faux brads also come from them. One last touch of glitter, Poise has a gemstone necklace.

I'm trying to be disciplined and work my way through all the images, but I can see Poise being inked up again - and again :)

Imagine - The Sugar Bowl Challenge 11

The Challenge this week at the Sugar Bowl is to use Kathy's sketch and to add pearls to it. I was glad to see that the sketch is ideal for using with my new Leanne Ellis stamps, and just right for adding pearl buttons to Dreamer's coat.

I used a Basic Grey paper pack called Cupcake and paper pieced quite a few of the elements in the image. The Imagine stamp is part of an Elusive Images stamp that says "Imagine the possibilities". The flowers are from the Stamp Attic and the ribbon was bought when we were on holiday in Florida last year. I like the sentiment, I'm sending it to a Post Pal and I thought it was just right for this.

Detail of coat

Be Happy - Inspirational Card Sketches #17

I fell for the new Leanne Ellis stamps from Sugar Nellie in a big way when I got my first set. At the weekend Sugar Nellie released the third set and I succumbed all over again :). I ordered them on Saturday and they arrived with me yesterday (Tuesday). That's amazingly quick from Sugar Nellie and from the postman - thank you!



When I saw Dawn's sketch for Inspirational Card Sketches this week I thought it was the perfect sketch to use for one of the stamps, my only dilemma was which to pick first! The image is called Patience. I teamed her with some yummy new paper that I got at the Stamp Attic on Monday called On A Whimsy, by Fancy Pants.



Patience's coat and skirt are paper pieced, as is her body on the stripy background, which has torn edges. The colouring is done with watercolour pencils and the apple and flowers are highlighted with Glossy Accents.

I've used a mini alphabet that I was given as a freebie at the Stamp Attic on the jewellery labels at the base of the image and some ribbon I've had in my stash for ages.

I can't wait to play with the rest of the stamps but for now I have to go to work...

Mojo Moday Week 84 & My Time to Craft #59 - Black & White +1

I bought this lovely, large-scale black, white and red paper from Stamp Attic ages ago and have never found the right project to use it - until now! I decided to use it with this week's Mojo Monday challenge sketch.


I coloured my Leanne Ellis Sugar Nellie stamp very simply, with black, red and some Glossy Accents on the flowers and the bubbles. It's mounted onto red Bazzil paper with black brads beside it. The DP is used behine the image in a border and as a centre to the circle. The other DP is also from Stamp Attic, as is the ribbon.

When I'd finished it I realised that it fits in with My Time To Craft's challenge for this week: Black and white +1.

Twisted Thursday #6

This week's challenge at Twisted Thursday uses a sketch, with the added twist that the challenge must use purple, lime/olive and rose/pink for the colourscheme. This fits really well with some more of the magazine papers I have, this set comes from
Simply Cards & Papercraft, apart from the purple which is Glimmer
Misted paper with clingfilm scrunched across it while it was still wet.

The scroll and the corners were part of the paper pack, the faux brads are from Craftwork Cards.

The image is a Leanne Ellis stamp from Sugar Nellie, coloured with watercolour pencils. I love the colours, what a great twist :).

Cupcakes Crafts Challenge #33

Cupcake Craft Challenges has a nice sketch to work with this week. Here's my take on it. I've used a Leanne Ellis image from Sugar Nellie and covered it with thick embossing powder multiple times to give it a glaze. I put it in the freezer and cracked the glaze when it was rigid. I'm pleased with the crackle effect but a little disappointed in the embossing ink I used. I was sold it to do this technique with, as being cheaper than Versamark and more sticky. It has a slight tint to it though, which I thought would disappear when it was heated. As you can see it's still there though luckily it tones with the card.


Circle is cut from paper that was glimmer misted, dry embossed and then inked. The background paper is from Graphicus Guild's paper pack. The ribbons are from a pack in the bargain box at the Stamp Attic; they inspired the colourscheme.

Sugar Bowl Challenge #7 & Secret Crafter Challenge #24

Secret Crafter's Saturday Challenge this week is to base a card on your favourite colour scheme. I love yellow and made a Spring card. Of course I realised it needed other colours to work and I added in a spring-like yellow-green and some orange.

Spring/Easter is also the latest Challenge at the Sugar Bowl, I've used a Leanne Ellis stamp and am entering it for this challenge too.

I've stamped Annie Talking to the Birds several times and paper pieced her onto a yellow background. Her skirt uses the same print that's in the background, the dots on it and the flowers are coloured with Sakura 3D glaze pens, Annie is coloured with watercolour pencils and the birdhouse is paper pieced and mounted on a foam pad. The papers I've used are various free ones that came with magazines, the yellow flower was a magazine freebie and the orange centre is a white flower coloured with a Copic pen - brilliant tip for any shade of flower you need! Spring is in the Air is a clear stamp from Dovecraft and the button next to it was bought at a craft show over a year ago...

Corrosive Challenges #2

It's time for the second challenge at the Corrosive Challenges Blog . This week Janet's inspriation is a pair of stripy pyjamas!

I went with the stripe them and chose some Crate Paper from the Stamp Attic that has some gorgeous co-ordinating papers. I watercolored a Leanne Ellis stamp from Sugar Nellie and planned to frame her in a mustard from the papers. But when I saw how well the branches on the reverse worked with the branch on the stamp I had to use it the other way round!

What's The Word Bird is from an Inkadinkado set and the little yellow flower buttons came from the Make-It ~show at Fanrborough last year, no idea which stand I bought them at.

Don't forget to join in at the Corrosive Challenges Blog this week, there is a great prize to win again, including a Stampinbella stamp among the pile of goodies. See you there!

The Sugar Bowl Challenge 5 - Christmas

This month's challenge at the Sugar Bowl is to make something for Christmas. I've bought some lovely grungey Basic Grey papers from Stamp Attic with the intention of using them with a Gorjuss Girl this afternoon, as I'm waiting in for the Aga man.

No Girls in the post, no Aga man yet, so I've used Wish by Leanne Ellis as an angel. She's coloured with watercolour pencils with a tree stamped behind her, with an embossing pen used to add gold detail. There's some more embossing on the paper, of a Paper Artsy swirl, not too visible. The greeting is from Elusive Images. The flowers are from Stamp Attic again. All the shapes are cut with Nestabilites.

I've seen some beautiful artwork inside cards, where I usually have spent all my inspiration on the outside and just stamp a cursory greeting :). So I've made an attempt to decorate the inside, with the greeting framed with some of the paper. I want room to be able to write inside the card, any ideas what else I could add in the way of decoration?

Mojo Monday #76

Mojo Monday has a fun sketch with a big bow on it this week, I knew just what I wanted to use and this card went together really quickly :).

I used my Leanne Ellis stamp, Wish, from Sugar Nellie, colouring it with a mixture of pencils and watercolour pencils that I've "liberated" from my sons. The teal, green and brown papers are all from the Stamp Attic, the range is called Black Market Paper Society.

Best Wishes is an Elusive Images stamp and the ribbon is the last of the ribbon from Christmas chocolates.

Wishing Gatefold - SBS Challenge

Janet, from my SBS "sisters" has challenged us all to make a gatefold card this week. I've used my Leanne Ellis Wish image again, stamped onto glossy paper and coloured with a mixture of Copics and Marvy le Plume pens. I've cut round her and put her onto a Glimmer Misted background.

There is some silvery prisma glitter (Hero Arts) on her wings. The wings nearly went horribly wrong. I decided I wanted gold shaded wings and coloured them with a yellow Copic pen, using the mauve of her skirt for the splotches. Oh no! Instant leopard-skin Chav wings! Disaster! I rescued them by colouring over them with a blue Copic, making them a grey-green and covering up with the prisma glitter. This was a close escapre, I'd hate to be responsible for the first Chav Sugar Nellie card :0)

The main background paper is from the Graphicus Guild paper packs and the darker purple is from the Stamp Attic. I've embossed a sentiment from Elusive Images and swirls from my Paper Artsy "free" set, using silver tinsel powder.

Friday Sketchers Challenge #9

This week Heidi from Norway has made a very pretty sketch. As she says, this is ideal weather to be indoors crafting. I imagine Heidi has much more snow than we do, at long last I can see grass, the snow is only a couple of inches thick now!

I've used lots of different stamps on this card. I've started off with a Sugar Nellie stamp, Talking to the Birds, watercoloured, in the oval. "It's Your Birthday" is a Hero Arts clear stamp. The two birds above the oval are by Inkadinkado and the final flourishes are copper embossed, using stamps from Elusivve Image's Ruby Tuesday and Diamante Delights sets.

The papers come from the Stamp Attic, the mauve is the reverse of the pretty flower paper.