Kisses For My Sweet

Just a quick post before bed beckons!  I thought I might be too late with this card but, thankfully, I have another 17 hours to submit it for the current Copic Creations challenge, which is 'Shading your paper-pieced pieces'.  As many of you will know, I love paper piecing and I nearly always try to add more depth by shading, either with Copics or with my Prismas. See what you think to this one (with apologies for the bad photography, again!):

Image: Mo's Digital Pencil, 'Kisses For My Sweet' (comes with 4 small 'accessory' images!)

Papers: Graphic 45, 'Christmas Past' collection

Isn't this an adorable image?  I loved it the moment I saw it but haven't been able to find the time to colour it until now.  As the image comes with the small 'accessory' images too (heart, mistletoe, bells and butterflies) it is easy to make this for any romantic occasion.  But, as you can see, I chose Christmas this time.

I paper-pieced all the clothes in this image, with the exception of the ruffles at the neck and the chap's shirt.  Everything else is paper-pieced and then shaded with Copics and highlighted with white. 

I'm really pleased with the background, actually - I had almost forgotten how to cut 'out of the box' so it was a bit of a risk but it paid off.  I chose four co-ordinating papers - I wanted to give the impression that they were standing on a carpet in front of a wall and I think it's worked.  The scallops are just because I went a bit mad with my punches! 

All in all, I'm pretty pleased with this one, although next time I will pay more attention to my light source as my shadows are all over the place! Still, it was late and it's never a good time to craft when your eyes are almost closed!

The house sorting is in full flow - Daughter and I really got to grips with her room and the study this weekend - and, actually, it was good to have a clear out.  In fact, watch out over the next few days - the result of my stash sorting might interest you.

Off to bed now - two duvets on as it's reaaaallllllllllllllyyyyyyyyy cold tonight! And they're predicting more snow overnight too.  OMG!  It'll be up to my knees! (Not really, a bit dramatic that, but it is deep!)

Happy crafting.
xx

Hopping Around at Karen's Doodles!

Happy Monday morning Crafty Bloglanders.  Hope all is well, wherever you are.  I'm posting for Karen's Doodles today as well as Thursday because the DT is hosting a blog hop today along with the weekly challenge. How exciting!

AND, just to make this hop pop, we've an additional twist.  Each team member will be 'displaying' a letter - visit each team member's blog and collect the letters. Once you have them all, unscramble them to reveal the 2 word phrase then return to the Challenge blog and leave a comment with the answer. A grand prize winner of a $20 gift certificate will be chosen from all the correct answers, in addition to our 3 weekly challenge winners. We will also be awarding random prizes of digi images chosen from the people who comment on each member's blog.

Right, so on with the hop.  If you arrived here from Lori's blog you are on the right track. If not, start at the Challenge blog for a list of the DT members in hop order.

This week's challenge is a sketch:

Great layout, eh?  Here's what I did with it:

Image: Karen's Doodles, 'Herbert Christmas'

Papers: October Afternoon, 'Very Merry' collection

Isn't this a super image?  I love Herbert and I like the idea of him walking down the street delivering parcels! This wonderful paper from October Afternoon is perfect for the job! 

I coloured Herbert with my Copics, adding a little shading with my Prismas.  I hate colouring with red (an occupational hazard at this time of year, though) - it's so unforgiving!  Still, not too many boo-boos on this one.  I love Herberts shiny red boots.

SO, it's time for you to continue hOpping and next is Tanja, who I'm certain will have something wOnderful for you. (Did you find the letter yet?)

Happy crafting.

xx

What a Lovely Pair!

Ah! that got your attention, didn't it, you naughty Bloglanders!  Today's post is just a quickie, as we're in the middle of the big clear up, in readiness for the house being treated for woodworm!  Arrrggghh!

I love it when a single project can fit so many challenges and today I've hit a minor jackpot! This is my entry for the following challenges:

Papertake Challenge: 'Punches and Nesties'
Creative Cottage: 'Untraditional Christmas'
Simon Says Challenge: 'Let It Snow'
Totally Papercrafts: 'Untraditional Christmas'
Scrapbook Sisters Challenge: 'Let It Snow'

Here it is, my lovely pair:

Images: Just Inklined, 'A Letter to Santa, Boy'; 'A Letter to Santa, Girl'

Papers: October Afternoon, 'Very Merry' collection

Dies: Marianne Creatables

I love this matching pair of images - what a great idea.  As you can see, each was coloured to co-ordinate with the paper, and, traditionally, blue for a boy, pink for a girl (how non-PC of me!).  The inspiration actually came from the papers - so similar and perfect for a pair.

As I have three sets of the Marianne Creatables snowflake dies, I tried to match up the die-cut snowflakes with the style of snowflake on each paper.

Each image was coloured with Copics and shaded with Prismas.  I liked the idea of them both having a green hat and gloves, though - again, to pull the pair together.  Then I added blue and pink glitter and Stickles as appropriate, to give a little snowy sparkle.  The snowflakes were all decorated with 'white' 3D glitter glue.

And just to finish - here's a close up of a couple of the snowflakes - aren't these dies fantastic.  So detailed - although I have to say that they are a little fussy when removing them from the die!

 

Gorgeous!  I love them - and so many different ways to put them together!

So, off to link up and then back to sort, reorganising and packing away - oh what fun!

Happy crafting.
xx

Oldies But Goodies at Karen's Doodles

Oooh, is it Thursday already?  That means another day closer to the weekend and another Oldies But Goodies showcase on the Karen's Doodles Challenge Blog. Why not hop over there and see what my OBG teamies have created - there's sure to be some wonderful inspiration - and you can take a look at our latest challenge, which is 'Use more than one Karen's Doodles image'. 

My OBG today is a simple masculine card (I hope!):

Image: Karen's Doodles, 'Bigsby The King'

Paper: Graphic 45, 'Halloween in Wonderland' collection

I love colouring Herbert but was a bit daunted by Bigsby and all his fur.  Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained and I'm pretty pleased with how this turned out.  I coloured Bigsby and Herbert with my Copics, using my Prismas to add a little shading detail and, of course, the 'glow' in the background.

I've kept the papers and embellishments to a minimum, although I couldn't resist those big orange buttons - they go so well with this paper! 

So, another day at work then Daughter arrives on Friday for the weekend, to help me sort out and pack away some of the house.  We've got woodworm in the kitchen floor, which is now happily collapsing beneath us, and the specialists are coming next week to treat the whole house!  This means that all the books, CDs, DVDs, etc., and my precious crafting stash, that are stored on and in various bookshelves and units have to be packed away so that all the furniture can be moved.  OMG! What a task.  Thank goodness for Darling Daughter (note the Darling has crept in!) as I couldn't manage this on my own.  It'll be a great opportunity to get rid of some stuff, though (so that I can make room for more stash, of course).

Happy crafting
xx

A Little 'Elf' Indulgence

Yup, I know, terrible pun but you'll see why. 

First, though, a little up-date.  My mother-in-law seems to be gaining strength today and I'm pleased to report that she  is definitely making progress.  There's a way to go yet but it's good news, that's for sure.  Thank you again to all of you who have contacted me with your kind wishes - they are much appreciated by us all.

So, on to tonight's project, which is for the following challenges:

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - 'A Time for Giving' (no cards allowed!)
Our Creative Corner - 'Holiday 3D project'
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - 'Handmade Christmas Gift'

Image: Mo's Digital Pencil, 'North Pole Employees #3355 and #5533' (set of two stamps - one used)

Papers: October Afternoon 'Very Merry' collection

This was a box left over from one of last year's Christmas presents (never throw a good box away!).  It held sloe gin truffles and this year it will hold home-made peppermint creams but I haven't made them yet as it is too early (and I'll eat them!).  I covered the box in co-ordinating papers from the 'Very Merry' collection and covered the bottom with a piece of plain white card, just to finish it off neatly. 

I coloured the image with Copics (of course) then cut it out with a thin white border. 

I used one of the 'Very Merry' die cut tags for the 'sentiment' - I originally hand-wrote the message but it looked awful so I typed up a replacement and stuck it over the top - much better! 

After layering all this on top of the box, I attached a die-cut snowflake and mini candy stick for an extra bit of Christmas love - and it was finished.  (Note: I ate three mini candy sticks whilst making this box - now you see why I haven't made the peppermint creams yet!) 

I'll line the box with tissue and nestle the peppermint creams inside - I'll colour them pink, pale green and white so they'll look really pretty in their little box.  Another stocking filler finished!  Only about 15 more to do!

Off to link up then bed as I need to be well rested for the morning, when my boss returns from his holiday!

Happy crafting.

xx

Mo's Dream Team Project of the Month Blog Hop

Yaaaaay! It's time for another Mo's Dream Team blog hop and this month we've all got a little distressed about things!  Yup, that's right, our theme is 'distressing', with inks, scissors, sandpaper - you name it, we've used it!  If you've arrived here from the super-talented Jak's blog then you're on the right track.  If not, then hop back over there to start from the beginning. 

When it came to choosing my image this month, I couldn't think of anyone more distressed than this little one:

Image: Mo's Digital Pencil, 'Broked'

Papers: Graphic 45, 'Halloween in Wonderland' and 'Christmas Past' collections

Oh the poor dear - isn't she the cutest little poppet though?  She seemed the perfect choice for this month's 'challenge'.  I don't do distressing very often so I was a bit nervous about this one.  I chose the muted/vintage papers because they seemed more appropriate to the theme and I had inks to match! The brown mat was edge-punched with Martha Stewarts Scallops and Dots punch before being generally mistreated with my scissor blades and curled and torn until I was happy.  Mind you, looks like poor Teddy is much more distrssed than my card!

I coloured the image with Copics and shaded with Prismacolors (as usual), keeping the pallet light so as not to clash too much with the papers I'd chosen.  I can't wait to have a go with the other images in this series too - they're all equally cute and forlorn-looking!

Right, it's time for you to hop over to the amazing Debbie's blog, where I know she'll have something fabulous waiting for you.

Enjoy the Hop and happy crafting.
xx

Oldies But Goodies at Karen's Doodles

Well, it's Thursday already, which means it's time for another Oldies But Goodies showcase over at the Karen's Doodles Challenge Blog.  And without further ado, here's what I have for you today:

Image: Karen's Doodles, 'Little Helping Hands'

Papers: October Afternoon, Seaside collection

This has to be one of my favourite Karen's Doodles images - it is soooo cute.  Unfortunately, I've been experiencing some difficulty with my Copics and paper combo so the skin tones on this one are a little off.  Hopefully my new paper (Neenah Super Smooth) should help elimnate the streaking and, of course, filling my pens some would help!! 

It's somehow apt that I should have chosen this image this week - and can I just say a big 'thank you' to all of you who have left comments and sent e-mails wishing my MIL well - you are so kind and your support is very much appreciated.

Back to the card - I coloured the image with my Copics and applied a little Prismacolor to the background.  I've only recently received this October Afternoon paper collection but it's had plenty of use because I love the colour combos and patterns.  This combo is fresh and bright - just right for a little 'get well' cheer.

Now don't forget to check out the Challenge blog to see what my other OBG teamies have been up to.  Of course, you can also check out this week's challenge, which is all about gift boxes - rather a good idea at this time of year!  Why not join us in the fun and show us your favourite box - just remember to use a Karen's Doodles image on your project too.

Happy crafting.
xx

Back Soon!

Sorry for my absence, dear Crafty Bloglanders.  Not only have I had some health issues but we've been dealing with the awful news that my darling mother-in-law in Perth, Australia, is critically ill.  My OH has flown out to be with her and I've stayed here in the UK but the current situation isn't really good for my mojo, as you might imagine.

I shall be back tomorrow with my OBG for Karen's Doodles and a brilliant Mo's Dream Team blog hop, so please pop back to see me.  Meantime, I'll try to get back into the groove and hope to be back to blogging more regularly very soon.

Happy crafting.
xx

Just Tagging Along

A quick post tonight, my crafty friends, as I have a hot date with a good book!  As I said in my last post, it's great to be focusing on Christmas now and that means presents, of course.  And presents need tags so tonight's post is for this week's Totally Papercrafts Challenge, which is 'tags'.

Papers: October Afternoon, 'Good Cheer' collection; Cosmo Cricket 'Mitten Weather' collection

Unusually for me, this project required no colouring - just a bit of assembly, really.  I took some white luggage label tags and folded each almost in half.  I covered the inside back and the outside flap in co-ordinating papers, added a large punched snowflake, a felt heart, some buttons a little sentiment (produced on the PC), some ribbon and, of course, a sprinkle of snowy glitter for good measure. 

I cut a little half circle tab in the 'back' so that the front could sit under it to keep it closed.  Inside the tag is some white space for writing your message:

  

 A really simple little project - one of those you can do while watching TV too!  Guess what colour our Christmas is going to be this year!!!

So, off to link up and off to meet my Kindle - aaaaah, the joys of reading.

Happy crafting.

xx

Getting Ready for Christmas

I quite like this time of year, when there are lots of Christmas-related challenges around - they focus the mind and have the added advantage of helping me get ready for our own Christmas!  And there's no better way than making little Christmas cards to send or sell.  And I have to say a big 'Thank You' to Laurie Schmidlin of 'Just Give Me Stamps' for her inspiration. Please check out her blog - she's amazingly talented.

So, tonight's project is one that I've put together as a quick and simple gift/project and it's also my entry for this week's Little Red Wagon challenge, which is 'use red' (how easy is that one!?).

I wanted to produce some very simple cards, easy to make in quantity yet stylish.  I saw Laurie's post a few months ago and it stayed with me because I loved it so much, so I decided to use it as the basis for this project.  As you can see, there's plenty of Christmassy red here, although not everything is red, I have to say - take a look:

Images:  Pink Petticoat, 'Tiny Christmas Treasures' collection - these are just six of the 24 cute little motifs.

Papers: Pink Petticoat digital papers, 'Snowflakes' colour collection and 'Gingham Colour Collection'

I just love these little digis - they are supercute, easy to colour, stylish and modern - what more could I want for some superquick makes?  I've teamed each with a colour, used snowflakes and gingham and quickly coloured the digi with my Copics - no fancy stuff, plain and simple this time.  Each is mounted on kraft card (which I love for Christmas stuff) and I found some cute little golden envelopes to go with them. 

Right, I'm off to bed.  Just six hours to go before I start it all again! Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrghhhhhhhhh! Time is flying by.

Happy crafting.
xx

Jumping for Joy at Karen's Doodles

Happy Monday morning all!  Just for a change, I decided that I'd like to join in with the main Karen's Doodles DT this morning and celebrate 'A Black and White Christmas' with them.  So my Karen's Doodles post will be today, this week.

Our challenge to you this week is to create a Christmas project in black and white - although, just to make it a little easier, you can use some colour on your image (but not anywhere else!).  I've had a sneaky peek at my Teamies' projects and you won't be disappointed, believe me - there are some stunners!

Here's my contribution:

Image: Karen's Doodles 'Joy'

Papers: Pink Petticoat digital papers, 'Snowflakes' collection (contains papers in all sorts of beautiful colours!)

Whilst on a bit of a pre-Christmas foraging spree the other day, I came across some wonderful little nets of chocolate snowballs at Thorntons.  So I bought loads as I had in mind plenty of little projects to make for stocking fillers.  Then I saw this wonderful image by Karen's Doodles and thought it would make a brilliant accompaniment to a box of snowballs. 

I made an ordinary tall box, then cut out a panel out of one side and backed it with a piece of thin acetate, to create a window.  Originally, I had intended to make a lid for the box but decided simply to squeeze it together at the top to close it (I stapled it, actually).

Sylvester, the happy snowman in this digistamp, is much larger than this - he has a bouncing bottom and everything - but I just wanted to keep the focus on the 'Joy' part.  I didn't want to colour too heavily either, so kept the colours simple, colouring 'Joy' red for punch. And, of course, a little glitter always helps!

This is destined for some little person's stocking at Christmas, for sure.

So, why not join us in the Karen's Doodles Challenge this week?  Use a Karen's Doodles image and show us your black and white Christmas creations. There will be three winners, as usual:

* 1st place winner of 3 digi stamps of your choice from Karen's Doodles will be awarded by merit. The Design Team members will vote for their favorite entry and the winner will also get a Card of the Week blinkie to display on their blog.

Both 2nd and 3rd place winners will be chosen by Random.org and the prizes will be:

* 2nd place winner - 2 Digi stamps of your choice from Karen's Doodles.
* 3rd place winner - 1 Digi stamp of your choice from Karen's Doodles.

As always, I shall look forward to seeing what you come up with!  And don't forget to check out my Teamies' blogs and leave them some love!

Happy crafting.
xx

Oldies But Goodies at Karen's Doodles

Morning All. It's Thursday (again) and that means another Oldies But Goodies moment over at the Karen's Doodles Challenge Blog. Take a look - you're bound to find some inspiration! And while you're there, why not check out this week's challenge, which is 'Give Thanks'. We want to see your 'Thank You' projects - you have until Sunday evening to get them to us - using your favourite Karen's Doodles images.

So on to today's card:

Image: Karen's Doodles, 'Princess Kitty'

Papers: October Afternoon and SEI (I think!)

Embellishments: Bits and bobs from my recent (well, last month at least) win over at Sketchy Colors

Isn't this an adorable (and so true) image?  She is definitely the cat that got the cream!  I coloured her up with my Copics and then went back in with my Prismas to add a little shading and some 'fur'.  She's certainly a very regal cat.

Now, I have to say that although I love these embellishments, they are not really working on this card.  In fact, this is the second time I've made this card and, to be honest, I really should have changed my mind before I started it again!  (If you remember, the first one met with disaster when a cup of tea decided to spill all over it! - not my fault, of course!)  But, I faithfully reproduced what I'd made before and, well, look, it's not my best card design, okay?!  However, you can't deny that the image is gorgeous and I'm actually very pleased with my colouring.  Maybe I need to reuse this image in a different way - look out for version two!

So, another day at work but one less to go until the weekend.  I get a crafting day on Saturday as my OH is going fishing all day and I have new stash arriving tomorrow, ready for my Christmas cards. Yaaaaay!

Happy crafting
xx

Just Inklined to Blog Hop!

Happy Monday everyone and welcome to this month's Just Inklined DT Blog Hop.  This month, our Blog Hop theme is 'Punches - at least two of them!' and I know that my Teamies will have some wonderful projects to show you.

If you've arrived here from the super-talented Jak's blog then you're on the right track.  If not, why not hop back to Lydia's and start from the beginning, so you won't miss any of the wonderfulness along the way.

So, without further ado, here's my card (with advance apologies for the photography - these dark nights are playing havoc with the lighting!):

Image: Just Inklined, 'Holly, Ivy and Rosehips'

Papers: Graphic 45

Punches: Martha Stewart, Punch Around The Page, 'Double Loops'; Fiskars - no name, but I call it 'Victorian Scallop'!

This is a first for me - a step card - and I worked out the template all on my own (feeling very proud of myself!).  I didn't want the middle section to be at the back of the steps, I wanted it to be the main part of the card so it took a little working out.  But now I have the hang of it, I shall be making more!

Until I started colouring this delightful image, it didn't occur to me that I'd need to be canny with my choice of greens!  So I ended up laying down a base of Copics and then recolouring the leaves almost completely by using my Prismas on top.  It has worked (kinda) but I shall know better next time! 

I love these traditional Christmas papers from Graphic 45 - you can't beat a bit of traditional red and green for a Christmas card, can you, really? 

A nice big red bow, a few gems and it was ready to go.  I'm really disappointed that we couldn't get better photographs (mind you, you should have seen the ones I took! These are by my OH and at least you can see the colours properly!) - I'll have to look at getting a better lighting setup now that Autum days are here and I'm likely to be photographing in the dark.  Mmmm, maybe now is the time to really brush up on those photography skills too?!

Anyway, that's my post for today.  Next you'll want to hop over to the very talented Cathy, 'cos I'm sure she'll have something wonderful for you.

Happy Hopping!
xx