Leslie's Blog Candy

My SBS "Sister" Leslie has some awesome blog candy to give away for her 42nd birthday. Check out Leslie's blog and her guidelines, the more entries there are, the more blog candy is up for grabs.

In the post from my SBS Sistahs

Yesterday I got a couple of great pieces of mail from my "Sisters" Janet in Canada and Vanja in Serbia.

Janet sent my a lovely ATC, soft greens and browns, with a cute leaf charm, and quite out of her usual rock chick style :). It's so pretty Janet, thank you!

Vanja sent me some fab stamped images, including some from the Whiff of Joy Summer collection and this beautiful, elegant card in my favourite Autumnal colours.

Thank you so much both of you!

Whiff of Joy Challenge 31

This week's Whiff of Joy challenge is a pretty sketch from Heather. I've used it with an image sent to me by my blogging "Sistah" Leslie. Thanks Leslie (waving!), I know you have a lot going on just now, hope you're enjoying the holiday weekend :).

I've coloured with my new Koh-i-Noor pencils, I'm quite pleased with the effect I'm getting using them on clothes, the background needs some practice though...

I've used Stickles on her wings, belt buckle and jewellery with Glossy Accents on the hearts. The sentiment is from a Hero Arts cupcake set of clear stamps. Papers are from the Stamp Attic, aqua and chocolate are one of my favourite combinations. The embellishments came from Hobbycraft's sale.

Thank you Leslie

I'd like to say a big THANK YOU! to Leslie, my SBS "sister" for sending me this very luscious card - just look at the decorative buttons, aren't they great! What a lovely surprise, thanks Leslie.

Happy Easter!

I got a lovely Easter card in the post from my SBS "sister" Vanja yesterday, a beautifully coloured Sarah Kay image. Isn't she just the prettiest Easter image ever? Thank you so much Vanja

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.

Sketch and Stash Challenge 3 and SBS25 Challenge

Sketch and Stash is on it's third challenge already! As Janet from the SBS "sisterhood" also challenged us to use ovals and a ribbon, which fit the sketch well, I have combined the two. I used my lovely new Elusive Images knickerbocker glory stamp (from the same plate as the champagne bottle), embossed it and painted it with H20s and other watercolours.

I mounted it on a piece of chocolate coloured paper that I've had in my stash for ever and a day, with an oval cut into it.

The background paper is Basic Grey, from Stamp Addict's sale and the ribbon came from our holiday in the US last year (ah, the joys of $2 to £1).

The sentiment at the bottom comes from the Elusive Images design plate again and I added Yum from my Hero Arts cupcakes set. There's a gem on the Yum, I saw a tiny mark on it - after I'd matted it and stuck it down! So I added another one on top of the dessert...

I had a lot of fun making this. Yes, it's still snowing out there and yes, I'm still holed up in the craft room :)

IsMaki Challenge 09/03 & SBS25 Challenge

I found a gorgeous card by Mumur using a sketch from a new-to-me blog, http://ismaki.wordpress.com/and had to make a card using it. Mine is not in the same league and also, I have missed the deadline for the Challenge! However, I made it using EIGHT embellishments (Janet challenged us to use seven!) and I have at least made the deadline for this.

The image is stamped using an image from an Inkadinakao set that Marion brought home from the US for me, using Sepia ink and watercolored. The gold embossed sentiment is from Elusive Images (who are having a BRILLIANT sale at present, take a look at the Graphicus site http://www.graphicus.co.uk/brokerage.asp?SubCatID=103 ). The gorgeous papers are from Stamp Attic, as are the flowers. The gems from Auscraft make up the rest of the embellishments.

Birthday Cards & ATCs

I had some gorgeous handmade cards for my birthday: Tilda is from Emily at UKATC group and Especially For You is from Sara L, another UKATCer. The Martini Bella is from my stamping "sister" Janet.

I also got a bunch of ATCs from the UKATC group: thank you Chris L, Helen, Sandra, Roz, Gerry, Hope and Sara J.

Still haven't got over this chest infection, the cards were a lovely lift, thanks everyone :)

Whiff of Joy Challenge 14 - Green & Purple

This week's Whiff of Joy Challenge is to use green and purple. I was lucky enough to be sent some WoJ images by my blogging "sister" Vanja, which included Melinda blowing kisses. I painted her with watercolours and added a sentiment by Elusive Images. It's not easy to read in the photo, it says "Joy is not in things, it is in us". Papers are from the Stamp Attic and the base card is a deep purple colour. This wouldn't be my choice of colours but it's worked surprisingly well, I think.

Deby - CASE 3

Continuing with the SBS25 sister's challenge, last night I CASED a card from Deby's Blog - The Sofalady. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYaaXpkAUxVvg4amhTMJCbJXd85DpocJHSyHjd3D_NLDAeu7DyBgO2fW93yAtncai-o6iopHdwfkq7bM65CcfieYCpUGINrbD2t38s2ASjgpCYed1KAE3vE0AW76xoHLlZhQZjvLjnTVG/s200/Birthday+Card+for+Maureen.jpg This was a difficult choice, the more I looked the more great card layouts I found...

I stuck with approximately Deby's colours, though I didn't have any of the soft yellow she used. I wasn't happy with the way the sentiment at bottom right stamped, so I covered it with the contrast panel and put a bird above it on silicone glue.

Didn't have enough room for the pretty flowers Deby used so I put adhesive gemstones on instead. All the stamps are Elusive Images, the background swirl is from their Graphicus Guild stamp. The sentiment is from the WIGL textplate and the bird from the Dawn Chorus set.

CASEing Janet

This is only my second CASE, but I hope to CASE a few more sisters now I've a few days off :).

This is Janet's card https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDx0B5Fqr1MhITHS_YjzRumWRqK6elM2hwZC1iAm6d2ZTqs3D2uz3m1tohB9kitmx3o7O5WOGPjt2vv4xKx1mlJKZkuW0jwgcAtsy0mlGX6cOUDLee_Y_J0KyCgjq0BFlExDa2tRJ0WCP/s1600-h/bcc57bsc58.JPG which I really like. I've kept the layout, changed the colours and not used the embossing folders. The Stampinbella has also morphed into a Tilda that I bought in the Stamp Attic sale :).

I made the card for my Mum, in warm yellowy colours that she likes, as she asked for notelets and thank you cards for Christmas this year. Most of the cards were bought but I got the chance to make two and put them in the box with the other cards. She didn't notice them when she unwrapped it until I asked her to look again :(.

Post Bonanza!

Look what was waiting when I came home from work today!

I was lucky enough to win Vanja's Blog Candy. My "sister" from Serbia sent me some lovely ribbons, some glitter glue, a clear Father Christmas stamp (doesn't show up well in the photo) and some gorgeous images including Whiff of Joy - wow! There was also a cute card in the package - thanks Vanja :).

I got a lovely card from Sharon in Australia, another of my "sisters" - great card, thank you.

And finally I got swap ATCs back from UKATC, themes are snow and snowmen and copper/bronze.

I have a few days off now and look forward to some crafting.

CASEing Judy

Janet has challenged the SBS25 group to CASE each other's work for our challenge over the Christmas holiday. I've begun with Judy p://passion4cards.blogspot.com/2008/10/cardmaking-and-chemo.html . I know Judy was due to have chemo today, Boxing Day, hope it goes well for you Judy :). My card uses some new Hero Arts stamps that I got for Christmas and the sentiment is from Elusive Images.

SBS25 Challenge 9 - Scraps - Part2

Here's another couple of quick cards using the imaginationcrafts circle stamp again. Both are using up paper scraps so fit Janet's challenge.

One is stamped with blue Stazon, watercolored and put over scraps of Papermania papers, the other is silver tinsel embossed and watercolored. I've cut away 1" of the card front and glued a scrap strip of Artylicious paper to the inside. The front has a co-ordinating square of paper, with the circle mounted on pads. The paper wasn't a brilliant fit for the front, but so I didn't need to cut paper instead of using up the scrap, I used a silver pen along the (brown) edge of the card :)

Sukkersott Sketch 5 & SBS25 Challenge 9 - scraps

Hanne produced a very pretty sketch at Sukkersott this week. I decided it was ideal for Janet's SBS challenge this week, which is to use scraps up.

The scraps are from a Papermania 6x6" pad I bought for this year's cards, which has a collection of bits and pieces of offcuts insde the packaging. The circular stamp that is the focus is from http://imaginationcrafts.co.uk/ . I bought it at Ally Pally and realised that I've not yet put it into use. It's stamped in blue Stazon and watercoloured, I'm pleased with the way it looks. I've watercoloured a few more circles, just need to get them onto cards now :)

SBS25 Challenge #8 - animals

Last week I went shopping at The Stamp Attic, having finished my month of not buying stamps. The Tilda stamps were 30% off, Wendy is no longer going to stock them. I also got one of the long Hero Arts sets. This ws an expensive purchase as I also needed the long, long, clear block to mount the branch on, but at least I have it for all the other fun sets they've brought out in this series :).

I've made a folded card with the new set, with bluebirds and birdhouses. I'm hoping Janet will accept birds for the SBS25 challenge to include an animal on a card...

I used Marvy le Plume pens and chalk inks, had a bit a trouble using my pens on the new stamps. I think they need to be worn in a bit to "take up" the ink better. The Tildas are waiting to be put to work...

SBS Challenge 6 - BLING!

OK it's not very Bling - but I tried! :)

Snowflakes embossed with bright white, pearls added to centres, blue Stickles blinging up the points, would have showed better on a higher contrast background...

The felt snowflake embellishments from The Stamp Attic aren't Bling but they're there because I like them

Thank you Janet!

This lovely card came in the post yesterday, from Janet in Canada, another of my lovely blogging "sisters". Thanks Janet :)

I've won an award! Thanks Vanja

Vanja, http://justheather-valems.blogspot.com/ one of my stamping "sisters" has nominated me for an award! Now I know lots of people have blogs covered in many awards, but this is my first, so I'm very excited about it :). Thanks Vanja! Have a look at Vanja's blog, she does lovely work.

The rules are:1. The winner may put the logo on their blog

.2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.

3. Nominate 5 blogs

.4. Put links to their blogs

.5. Leave a message for your nominees.

I'm nominating: Mumur http://leblogdescrapmumur.blogspot.com

Phree http://inkstainsurvivor.blogspot.com/

Viv http://vivsvisuals.blogspot.com/

Stepher http://stippleshapes.blogspot.com/ and

Cheri http://cheribella.wordpress.com/

They all have blogs with inspirational work on that I love to read. Thanks! Now I just have to find out how to put my award up :)