On the Beach

This week's CD Sunday Challenge is On The Beach.  There are some gorgeous beach scenes in the Joanna Sheen Tom Mielko CD book and this is one of them.  The decoupage is matted onto a frame with a Bubble border punched out and has My Minds Eye DP behind it.  The sentiment is Hero Arts, stamped in sepia.  I'm also entering my card for the Daring Cardmaker's Challenge, Life's a Beach.

Owl always love yo-ou...

I recently treated myself to the offer on a Pollyanna Pickering DVD from a well-known shopping channel ;).  The artwork is absolutely stunning and I love the backing papers they added, stripes are always a favourite of mine and they have them in combis to match each image.  This simple card uses two of the backing papers with lots of silver mirri card added.  The sentiment tops two layered Memory Box die-cuts, I used a Martha Stewart punch border beneath the grosgrain ribbon.  I'm hoping that more of Pollyanna's work will be made available to craft with.
My card is entered for the following challenges:
Delicious Doodles - birds of a feather
Jellypark Friends - things that fly
Alphabet - N for newest (DVD in this case)
Crafty Ribbon - anything goes with ribbon
House that Stamps Built - things with wings
Penny's Papercrafty - dies and/or punches

Ooh La La Challenge - Inspired by a song

This week's Ooh La La Challenge is Inspired by a Song which immediately made me think of the gorgeous CD of designs called All Dressed Up.  I never have enough masculine cards so I made this monochrome card with the image Henri from the CD, inspired by Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top.  The check paper also comes from the CD, I added a few more frames to my image in Word before printing it out.  The matting and layering is offset and I've added some embossed card, ribbon and a sentiment from Acid Drops and Whatnots.

My card is also entered for:

Simon Says - monochromatic

The Cupboard Trilogy - monochrome

Creatalicious - for the boys

Less is More Equals Numbers

This week's Less is More Challenge is to use numbers on a one-layer card.  This is the perfect opportunity for me to use a set that I bought from CAS-ual Fridays some time back - the WTF set.  I think it is really funny, but I think you do have to think carefully who you send this one to :).  I've used linen texture cardstock and Versafine ink, using the colours of Aldershot Football Club to suit the recipient.  Where I had repeated the long, thin borders there was a bit of a shadow on the 50, so I added some card candy on top of it to hide the error.  I made the artistic decision to add some card candy to the "50" border for interest - lol the first answer is the true one!

Fiddlesticks

Regular readers of my blog will know that I have a real weak spot for tree stamps and in fact own a small forest of them.  So you might think it a bit perverse of me to go with the colour stripes and not the trees for this week's Less is More Challenge.  The colours reminded me of a My Minds Eye 6x6 pad that I own called Fiddlesticks.  I also have rather a lot of 6x6 pads! 

I really must get some hexagon dies, I wanted to use a lot of small scraps of the papers.  Instead I turned to my trusty bow die-cut and added a Waltzing Mouse sentiment stamped in London Fog grey. The card is a 5x7 tentfold.  I may still make a tree card, watch this space...  :)
My card is also entered for
Simon Says - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Eureka Stamps - clean and simple

Step Back in Time

I'm very proud to have been asked to join the Ooh La La Creations Design Team and here is my card for their new challenge, which is A Step Back in Time.  I have used a lovely old fashioned image from a CD called Watercolour Memories.  It isn't listed on the website, but there are just a few copies left.  Stocks are very limited and it is soon to be discontinued.  It has some gorgeous artwork on, mostly UK scenes but a few abroad too.

My card has a bit of an autumn feel to it, I've embossed the background with a basketweave pattern, matted and layered with burgundy card and diecut some Memory Box trees from the same card.  Some brown mesh ribbon and a few buttons threaded with raffia finish the card off.

I'm really looking forward to working with the Ooh La La CDs, expect to see a lot more of their artwork coming up on here soon :)

Garden Pleasures

I love the sound of this week's CD Sunday Challenge:  Garden Pleasures.  Now I didn't make my card on Sunday because I was planting up some pots and tubs with flowers, thinking over what CD to choose...

 In the end I went with two.  The first uses a stunning wisteria topper from the Joanna Sheen Tom Mielko CD Workbook.  I've made an easel card using my Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles dies to frame the image.  I embossed an oval from the set onto the base card, masked it off and then used tapestry stamps to add more wisteria round the edge.  The sentiment (Stampin Up) looked a bit bare when I took the mask off so I added a few extra tendrils.  After all, wisteria never stays where it is supposed to! 

Second card is a soft and pretty image from Jane Shasky's Heart of the Garden CD, very simple with a toning DP (Memory Box I think) and some twine added.

I'm also entering my cards for:
Crazy Challenge - summertime
Creative Stamp Friends - summer
City Crafter - summertime

Goody two shoes

Here's my card for this week's Less is More Challenge which has a photo of some amazing shoes for inspiration.  I used a Katy Sue Fabulous Shoes stamp that I bought at the NEC last year and hadn't yet inked up.  It's coloured with Copics and lots of Glossy accents.  The sentiment is Hero Arts and I stamped a long JOFY netting type stamp using Shabby Shutters Distress ink on the card background.  In real life it echoes the green colour on the image.
I'm also entering:
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge - clean and simple
That Craft Place - it's a girl thing

Cats and Dogs

 I've a couple of cards to show you today, having been a bit off form this week with a bad back.  First up is an extremely simple card made by request for a Diamond Wedding Anniversary.  60 years is a real achievement isn't it.  Image is clip art with computer generated script.

The second card is an Ivory Cats by Joanna Sheen decoupage, with twine and a Hero Arts sentiment added.

I'm entering my cards for:
Totally Gorjuss - furtastic
Ruby's Rainbow - layer it up (the cat card)
Can You Digi It - loving our pets
Little Blue Button - twine or rope (cat card)
Crafty Boots - animals
Created with Love - all about dogs

Unicorns

This week's CD Sunday Challenge is Dreams and Dragons.  This is an image from the Shirley Barber CD Workbook by Joanna Sheen and I think it looks really dreamy, with unicorns trotting on water, with fairies watching from the sides.  I was lucky enough to be given the Workbook by a very kind lady who sent for it and decided it wasn't to her taste.  She knows who she is - THANK YOU!

I've added Artylicious printable paper, some tulle with roses on and used my favourite EK Success punch.  My card is also for:
Baffies Kreativladen - water
One Stitch at a Time - use your favourite (I used my punch)
Time 4 Scrap - wire the water

Less is More Meets 10 Minute Card Dash

 

Today the Limette Ladies are asking us to make hand-made flowers.  I'm not sure whether die-cut really counts, but I've been thinking over this card, using vellum for a jar, for a while and hope that it is ok.  I opted to use the colours from Paulina's 10 Minute Card Dash and thought that with die-cutting and only a sentiment to stamp this would be a really quick card.  The glueing took the time and I scraped in at 09.15.6!   Both dies are Memory Box, Penny Black sentiment is stamped in Pear Pizazz and I've used scraps of Bazzill Bling card for my blooms.

This card is for Less is More - handmade flowers and 10 Minute Card Dash - coral, French navy and pear.  Off out for a meal with a friend, will get some commenting done tomorrow!

Thanks a Bunch

 Today I set to and made a card I've been thinking over for the last few days.  It follows the layout at Sketch Saturday and I've made it in pearlised card.  The chicken wire is made with a Cheery Lynn die which I saw at Portsmouth in a card sample, though the stand hadn't brought any with them!  The Waltzing Mouse sentiment and Sue Wilson co-ordinating stamp are both inked with Memento Sahara Sand and cut with Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles.  I've had the dies and stamp since the NEC in March and this is the first time I've used them together!
I'm also entering my card for:
Addicted to Stamps - CAS
Crafty Creations - time to sparkle
Our Daily Bread - white/ivory plus your choice of other colour

I also finished up a card with an image that was printed out from the Joanna Sheen Jane Shasky CD-Rom that has been sitting on my desk for weeks and weeks!  Nothing to get too excited about but at least it's finished...

Time for a G&T

Today's card is another with a fab sentiment, this time it is decoupage from the Joanna Sheen House Mouse CD Workbook.  Confession time:  I started this card for the HM & Friends Challenge with a food theme, but didn't get it finished in time.  Their current challenge is to add some sparkle - so that is what I did!  There are citrus green gems on the sentiment and on the card.  The lacy ribbon is from Stamp Attic, DP is a very old K&K one.  I used a Martha Stewart punch on the easel section and a Spellbinders die to highlight the sentiment.

Hope you like my card, I'm off the booze just now but I am raising a long, cool, metaphorical G&T to you :).

This card is for the following challenges:
House Mouse & Friends - add some sparkle
Joanna Sheen - citrus colours
House that Stamps Built - humour me
Make my Monday - non-inked stamp or new sheet of decoupage
Tok Bobok - animal friends
Crazy Challenge - without stamps

Christmas in July

There seem to be masses of Christmas in July Challenges around at present, including at CD Sunday where I always try to play along.  I was lucky enough to have some Joanna Sheen vouchers and treated myself to the new Victorian Christmas DVD, which arrived on Saturday.  Here is my first card from it, I do love the sentiment! The gatefold card has some decoupage on it, including an extra blue tit cut from the gift tag provided as part of the design and I've added silver card matting and silver ribbon.

I'm a bit hot and bothered today in this lovely summer sunshine, so I'm hoping this chilly scene will cool me down :).

I'm also entering my card for:
Catch the Bug - Christmas in July
Simply Create Too - Christmas in July
Totally Papercrafts - all of a flutter
Sassy Studio - Christmas in July
Shelley's Images - Christmas in July
Fab 'n' Funky - Christmas in July
Inky Impressions - Christmas in July
Crafty Sentiments - Christmas in July
Partytime Tuesdays - wing it

Summer Fun

It's another beautiful hot summers day here, so today I have a summer card to show you, with those House Meeces getting a soaking from the hosepipe.  I added some Stickles for drops of water on top of the decoupage, DP is Artylicious printed out and there are some Dew Drops attached to it.  Hope you're all enjoying the weekend.
My card is for the following challenges:
Crafting Cafe - summer's here
Emergency Crafters - summer
Creatalicious - all about summer
There She Goes - animals
Crazy Challenge - no stamps
Melonheadz - emboss it
Get Inky - summer sun fun
Digi Sketch - in the summer time
Shopping Our Stash - summer theme
Oldie but Goodie - in the garden (the dew dops and the DP have been maturing in my stash for years!)
Creative Card Crew - great outdoors
Rhedd and Rosie - here comes summer

Home is Where the Heart Is

I'm bright and early for this week's Less is More Challenge, with a shaped, one-layer card made with a Nestability die and a Little Claire stamp which is one of my favourites.  In fact this is so much a favourite that I own it twice lol!  I lost the first stamp and hunted for it for weeks until I gave in and bought another.  Some months later the original turned up...
I'm also entering my card for:
Addicted to Stamps - pink, brown, green
Stampin' for the Weekend - pink and green

Hats Off for CD Sunday Challenge

I'm playing catch-up with my favourite challenges and here is my card for this week's CD Sunday Challenge, which has hats as its theme.  I recently added to my Joanna Sheen CD Project Books and wanted to use one of them, so today's card is a House Mouse one.  The little chap trying on the bobble hat is very cute and I had a fab time making the embellishments, though I'm not too sure the pins would go through the post very well, I think this had better be handed to a friend instead!  Sentiment is Hero Arts and the shape its on comes from Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles.
Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine, have a good weekend.
My card is also for:
Art Impressions - twine time
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon
Crafts & Me - anything goes
Simon Says - pin it
Loves Rubber Stamps - use a hoarded item (been "saving" the pins for years!)
Tammy's Scrappin Corner - animals
2 Creative Chicks - 3D

Shades of Grey

I think Shades of Grey is a great theme for Less is More this week.  So I don't understand why I've had so many attempts and false starts at my card for this week.  This morning I printed off a sheet of Pink Petticoat paper in Pure Silver with the intention of paper piecing with it.  Changed my mind, stamped on it with an Indygo Blu stamp and a Hobby Art sentiment, added some grey bakers twine and the card was finished in 5 mins flat.  I just hope there is enough white space!
 
This was yesterday at Aberystwyth, so proud of my son.

Red, white and blue

Yet again it's been a really busy week and I've spent little (well no) time in the craftroom lately.  Made a quick card by request today, using a Kraftyhands CD image.  I think it will be really useful as there are plenty of people in Lambourn who will appreciate horsey cards!  Bow cut from MME paper with a Die-namics die.

I'm entering my card for a few patriotic challenges:
Simon Says - patriotic
QKR Stampede - rock the red, white & blue
Milk, Coffee, Stamp - country flag challenge
Sassy Studios - red, white & blue
Crafting by Designs - show us your colours
Inky Impressions - red, white & blue
Paper Pretties - red, white & blue
Crafty Sentiments - red, white & blue
Shopping Our Stash - red, white & blue
Craft Your Passion - red, white & blue

 

One of the things that has kept me busy was an only chick:  we suffered a long power cut last Weds and this little fellow was the only survivor from an incubator of eggs.  Luckily I was able to obtain a few other chicks to keep it company:)

Sunshine and Sand

For once I have got my challenge card for Less is More done without leaving it to the last minute!  This week's challenge is Sand and I've reached for a much-loved retired Stampin' Up set for the image and the sentiment.  It's a lovely summer day today and I think this image fits just fine.  Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine :)
My card is also for:
Simon Says - anything goes
Jellypark - celebrate summer

Happy Birthday Jen

 
I'm entering this week's Less is More Challenge just in time.  Having spent days thinking about Jen's cardmaking style, little blue butterflies and other assorted ideas I have used Pan Pastels and JOFY stamps, which are exquisite.  Can you see the flower names added to the smaller flower?  Lots of matting and layering finishes off the card.
I'm also entering my card for:
Simon Says - anything goes
Pan Pastels - lots of layers

A Berry Fruity Card

Today's card comes from the Joanna Sheen Hollypond Hill CD, love the way the background paper has the butterflies on it that match the image, as well as all those delicious blackberries.  I've added a layer of decoupage to the image as well as a punched border and some ribbon.
I'm entering my card for:
Simon Says - Summer fruits
Craft your passion - in the garden
Lady Anne's - the great outdoors
Make my Monday - summer scenes
Melonheadz Friends - summer
Catered Crop - diecuts or punches

S is for...

Last week I was very sorry not to be able to join the CD Sunday Challenge.  I found that I was completely kimono-less in both CDs and general stash.  Nothing daunted, I bid for and bought a Joanna Sheen Eastern Treasures CD online for a good price.  It arrived really quickly, which was brilliant, but the package contained a Wild West CD not an Eastern one - not so brilliant!  Having sorted it with the seller, the CD arrived today - it's lovely and it does have kimonos on.  Oh well, another time...

So, on with this week's challenge:  Something beginning with S.  I have made a Summery, Striped, Side-Step card with Stickles on it, from the Jayne Netley Mayhew Pt 2 CD.  Lots of cutting out in front of the telly, lots of assembling.  Hope you like it :).
I'm also entering my card for:
Craft Your Passion - in the garden
Crafty Boots - anything but square
Creative Creations - shaped cards
Tammy's Scrapping Corner - step card
One Stitch at a Time - not square
That Craft Place - flowers
Corrosive Challenge - summertime
ABC - pretty in pink

Bee-lated Wishes

Here's my card for this week's Less is More Challenge - Hexagons.  To my annoyance my Nesties are octagons, not hexagons, so I used a border for the Silhouette and added a few of the "waste" hexagons at the bottom.  Sentiment and bees are Elzybells stamps.
I'm also entering my card for:
Penny Black & More - clean and simple
Bunny Zoe - wings
My Craft Spot - cute as a bug
Tammy's Scrapin Corner - anything with wings

Time for Tea

Here's a card that's a bit of a reaction to all those masculine challenges around at present :).  The shaped and decoupaged card is from the Elizabeth Bell Simpler Times CD.  I've added Glossy Accents to the flower in her hair and to the teacup and saucer.  Not my usual type of thing, but enjoyed making it up.
I'm entering my card for:
Allsorts - time for tea
Creative Corner - girly girl

A Hurricane - I hope

A friend asked me to make a birthday card with a plane on for a friend who has restored a WW2 Hurricane.  I found this image on a Joanna Sheen Nostalgia CD Rom and having Googled Hurricanes I reckon this is one.  Hope so!  Very C&S card with some scored paper behind the image which was cut out with a Nestie.  Some twine and a sentiment finish it off.
I'm entering my card for:
Simon Says - transport
Joanna Sheen - Father's Day/Male
Crafty Calendar - things with wings
Gem of a Challenge - Father's Day/Male
Jellypark Friends - masculine
Simply Create Too - Father's Day/Male
Milk/Coffee - Father's Day/Male
Crafting by Design - male
Crafting for all Seasons - one for the boys

Need for Speed

Better late than never, here is my one layer card for this week's Less is More Challenge.  The bicycle and sentiment are both from Little Claire, I've added colour with Inktense pencils, it's been a while since I've used them!
My card is also for:
Simon Says - Transport
Addicted to Stamps and More - CAS

Fine Plumage

Here's my card for this week's CD Sunday Challenge where the theme is Fine Plumage.  I used the Josephine Wall CD and book, but made my own variation of the card.  I LOVE this concept of the book with all its inspiration, perfect to spark off ideas when the mojo is missing :).  Do please click and enlarge the photo to see all the amazing detail in the image, which is decoupaged.  Background paper is also from the CD and I've added Memory Box diecut keys and poppies as well as some orange ribbon.
I'm also entering my card for:
Charisma Cardz - tons of layers
Deep Ocean - for a girl
Scrap it Girl - die cuts

Forever in blue jeans

It has been a more than usually hectic few weeks and I had planned to catch up on my crafting at the weekend.  However I ended up doing very little other than the usual taxi-ing around of offspring, dog walking, grass cutting, chicken cleaning out etc. etc.  I'm now enjoying catching up on some crafting and on some of my favourite challenges. 
Today's card is a masculine card that would be suitable for Father's Day, that uses the new House Mouse CD from Joanna Sheen.  The image is decoupaged and I've added extra clothes pegs across the card.  In real life, the ribbon is a perfect match for the orange card that I've used to mat and layer.  Matted onto orange and kraft. Some stitching and a scattering of stars finishes off the card.
I'm entering my card for:
Simon Says - masculine/Father's Day
House Mouse & Friends - Father's Day/ male
Charisma Cardz - tons of layers
Papertake Weekly - hello boys
Really Reasonable Ribbon - masculine with ribbon
Crafters Cafe - Fathers or for a male
Crafty Cardmakers - Father's Day
Creative Creations - for you Dad/masculine

Less is More and Housework

Nearly a week since I have blogged or made a card, things have been so busy here.  Here is an entry for Less is More Challenge has had the shocking effect of forcing me to do some housework.  This week the colour challenge is to take the colour(s) of your front door and asks for a photo of it.  My door is white with a black frame, but when I went to take the photo I was embarrassed by all the dust on it!  In my defence, we rarely use the front door and it opens almost straight onto a rural street...  Photo after a wash and brush up :)

Less is More.  This week's

I've used a fab Acid Drops and What-Nots stamp and frame and added a touch of purple to his waistcoat and handkerchief, to pick out the Clematis beside the door.  One layer, coloured with Copics.
My card is also for:
Crafty Sentiments - black, white and one other
Simon Says - masculine/Father's Day
Cards for Men - Dad
Try it on Tuesday - one for the men

Decoupage can be c&s too!

Today's card is a Joanna Sheen decoupage, with lots of lovely layers.  I've kept the card very simple - too simple?  Not sure, what do you think?
I'm entering my card for:
Simon Says - anything goes
Creative Moments - lots of layers
Stamp 'n' Doodle - so many layers

Aged to Perfection

This week's CD Sunday Challenge is Aged to Perfection.  I've made a fairly c&s card for Father's Day or a Dad's birthday.  The image comes from Joanna Sheen's Nostalgia CD, quite an aged CD but a very good one!  The sentiment is a House Mouse stamp and the "Dad" stamp[ is part of a large Woodware stamp that I've cut out, overlapped and popped up with Pinflair. Some matting and layering and twine finish off the card. Sorry about the flash reflection on the Dad word, it is so dingy here today that I couldn't take a photo without flash...

I'm also entering my card for the following challenges:
Cards for Men - Dad
Digi Darla's - Father's Day
Melonheadz Friends - Father's Day
My Sheri Crafts - Father's Day
Hiding in my Craftroom - Father's Day
Creative Craft Challenges - for the fellas

Body of a twenty five old

This week's challenge at Less is More is Humour, which is the perfect excuse to use my Acid Drops and What-Nots stamps, which happen to be their sponsors for this month.  I'm a bit out of practice at colouring with my Copics but luckily the stamps look fine with very simple colouring!

It's a hard life...

Here's a bit of wishful thinking for the Bank Holiday weekend, a Gruffy Bear decoupage card with warm sunny colours.  The decoupage is pretty complex so I've kept the card very simple, with some K&Co paper and giant ric-rac that I bought in a shop in Hay-on-Wye some years back.
I'm entering my card for:
Charisma Cardz - here comes summer
House Mouse & Friends - flower power

Less is More meets Sketch Saturday

I'm so glad to be able to enter my favourite challenges now I'm back online.  This very c&s birthday card is for Less is More's cats and/or dogs challenge and uses the layout for Sketch Saturday, though as you can see my sentiment doesn't quite follow their sketch!  The stamp is by Katy Sue Designs, fell for it at the NEC but shamefully this is the first time it's seen ink...
I'm also entering my card for Craft Your Passion where the challenge is Party Animals.  Looking forward to catching up with a few blogs today, bye for now.

Poppies for Mum

Mum loves poppies, so this Joanna Sheen decoupage made a perfect "just because" card that I sent to her last week.  I've added some buttons and some dotty Papermania DP, happy to report that she loved it.
I'm entering my card for the following challenges:
Simon Says - flower power
My Sheri Crafts - flower power
Three Scrappy Gals - who's your mama?
Mema's Crafts - optional Mother's Day, flowers
Songbird Challenges - bloom and grow
Paper Playtime - buttons or brads

Go Green

 
At last I'm back online and today, after 3 weeks, I seem to have my phone number back at last, hoorah!  Who would think that BT could make such a mess of a simple change of initial...

Now that I can upload to my blog it is time to catch up with some of my favourite challenges and here is my entry for this week's CD Sunday Challenge, Going Green.  The image (printed twice and decoupaged) and backing paper are from the gorgeous new Joanna Sheen House Mouse CD.  The sentiments are from House Mouse unmounted rubber stamps and I recycled the buttons from White Stuff clothes labels.  I've been collecting the labels to use and there is no truth in the rumour that I shop there just because they provide crafting stash with each purchase lol!
I'm also entering the following challenges:
Dream Valley - animals
Corrosive Challenge - sentiment on the front
Stampin' for the Weekend - button it up

Less is More

I have had a deeply frustrating week without broadband and without "my" phone number.  I have wasted many hours on the phone to BT and had many promises broken.  I am now told this will not change until after the weekend.
I have borrowed the work computer to enter the Less is More Challenge as this is one of the two that I don't like to miss entering.  I used my fabulous Acid Drops and What-Nots stamps (they are this week's sponsors) and my opposite colours are yellow and violet.  Apologies for the poor photo, I have no photo editing available to crop or tinker about with it.

Teen Dude

Today's card continues with my mission to use up some of my 6x6 pads, I've used Basic Grey Marjolaine and paper pieced a Dylusions stamp.  The sentiment is Hero Arts and I've based the layout on this week's Sketch Saturday Challenge.
I'm entering this card for:
Sketch Saturday - sketch
Basic Grey - masculine
Crafters Companion - masculine
Moving Along with the Times - one for the boys

Purple Paradise Shoes

Here's my card for this week's CD Sunday Challenge, I've got my card in a bit more promptly this week!  It's made using the Katy Sue Fabulous Shoes CD.  I'm really enjoying making up the decoupage on this one.  The background paper is also printed from the CD, it has a lovely faux embossed look to it.  I have added some gems and lots of Glossy Accents, the sentiment is Hero Arts.
I'm entering my card for:
CD Sunday Challenge - purple paradise
Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - sketch free for all, sketch 54
Party time Tuesday - anything goes