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