Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  It's goodbye to 2012, and hello to 2013!

What a year 2012 has been for us in the UK!  The Queen's Golden Jubilee, the Olympics and Paralympics have brought us fun and celebration, but there have also been many sad events throughout the year which will have touched people around the world in different ways.  No matter where you live, and what 2012 was like for you, I wish you, your family and friends a very happy 2013!

Mandy x 

I am adding this card to the following:
Polkadoodles - Week 51 Happy New Year 2013
Little Claire Monthly Challenge - #28 Happy New Year
Make It Monday - Linky Party #121

Materials Used:
Heather Valentin/Lacy Sunshine - Eleanor and Pickles 2013 Celebration
Copics - 0, C0, C1, C3, C4, B00, B12, BV000, BV00, BV02, BV04, R81, R85, E000, E00, E02, E31, E33, YG00, YG03, YG06, black multi-liner 0.5mm
Brittania - Clock die
Spellbinders - Classic Circles
Wild Rose Studio - Bella paper pack
Craftwork Cards - white square card blank

Flat Friends Challenge #3 - WOW with a splash of colour

Here is a card I made for this months Flat Friends Challenge - Its White on White with a splash of colour.  So a perfect chance to get some embossing folders out, layer them up and make something pretty!  I used the "Paige Wedding Day" digi, but decided not to put a sentiment on the card just yet as I thought it could be a wedding card or a prom card.

The Flat Friends challenge blog is still pretty new, so if you haven't come across it yet, pop on over here and take a look.  And if you want to purchase any of Emma's lovely digi images go to the Polkadoodles website and you'll find them there - a whole yummy collection!

I am adding this card to the following:
Flat Friends Challenge - #3 WOW with a splash of colour 
Cute Card Thursday - #249 Anything Goes
Card Crafters Circle - #55 Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz - #51 Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Linky Party #120
Through The Craftroom Door - #50 Anything Goes

Materials Used:
Polkadoodles/Emma Canning - Paige Wedding Day digi image
Copics - C2, E000, E00. E02, B02, E93, E31, E33, E35, Spica #14 Blossom
Spellbinders - Dies: Floral Ovals, Fleur de lis Motifs; Embossabilities: Garden Lattice, Dainty Dots
White organza ribbon from stash

It's Christmas!!!

Happy Christmas!

 

I'd like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas, and hope that you are all keeping safe and warm, and enjoying a wonderful day with family and friends!

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Mandy x

I am adding this card to the following:
Card Crafters Circle - #55 Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Linky Party #120
That Craft Place - Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - #104 Anything Goes for Christmas
Stamping With The Dragon - Waiting For Christmas
ABC Christmas Challenge - Y is for your favourite punch/die (a Yummy Cornflower die - it may be new, but I see it fast becoming a favourite!)
The Squirrel and The Fox - #33 Christmas

Materials Used:
Kanban - Deck the Halls paper pad, Christmas Verses papercraft toppers
Tonic Studios - Cornflower Die
Green ribbon and gold mirri card from stash

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa.... I have been very good... please bring me lots of crafty goodies for Christmas :-)  I hope that you have all been good, and that Santa visits tonight bringing you all you have wished for!

I am adding this card to
Make It Monday - Linky Party #120
The Pink Elephant - #180 Anything Goes

Materials Used:
Cameo Silhouette - Dear Santa die cuts
Core'Dinations - red and green card
Craftwork Cards - A6 white cards

Merry Christmas from Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge

Its Christmas over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog for the last blog challenge of the year!  So, here is an opportunity to share some of those last minute Christmas cards you've made.  I had this fun image from Bugaboo to use, quite a lot of colouring as I printed it out quite large (its an A5 card), but I really enjoyed using the image to make this card.

This week there are 2 prizes up for grabs, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in:

Bugaboo Stamps - 7 digis

Doodle Dragon Studios - $10 gift certificate

 

I am adding this card to the following:

Make It Monday - Linky Party #120

Through The Craftroom Door - #49 Anything Goes
The Squirrel and The Fox - #33 Christmas
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - #103 Christmas Birthday or Anything Goes At Christmas
Card Crafter's Circle - #53 Red, White and Green
Card Makin Mama's - Happy Holidays

Eureka Stamps - #19 Christmas Spirit

Materials Used:
Bugaboo Stamps - Ava and Deacon Merry Christmas Sign
Pebbles Inc - Christmas Stripes paper
Copics - R14, R27, RV42, YG06, YG09, C1, C2, C4, C5, E21, E33, E35, E51
Letraset - black fine line drawing pen
Memory Box Die - Corner Bow
Core'Dinations - green card
Craftwork Cards - A5 white card blank
Kanban - red gem
Hunkydory - glitter

Blue Mini

Happy Friday!  Today I need to buy wrapping paper so that I can get those Christmas presents wrapped and under the tree - a good excuse for a Christmas movie and a glass of wine :-)

But before I get to that I thought I'd share another card I made using the Kraftyhands new Motor Mania goodies.  You can probably tell that I rather like this chequered flag backing paper as this is the second card you'll have seen me use it on - there are more to come :-) and I've also used the Happy Birthday Brittania dies by Robert Addams which I have started to make good use of.  If you have some waxed paper to hand the words come out of the dies like a dream - to be honest I haven't tried using them without it, but I am sure they will work just as well on their own.

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - Motor Mania CD set, Motor Mania topper set
Brittania Dies - Happy Birthday die set
Spellbinders - Classic Circles
Craftwork Cards - white card blank
Joanna Sheen - gunmetal mirri card

Campervan Birthday

Today I'd thought I'd share another card I made for the Kraftyhands Create and Craft TV show yesterday.  This time I used the Campervan topper and teamed it up with a backing paper from the Motor Mania CD set and plenty of mirri card!

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - Motor Mania CD set, Motor Mania topper set
Craftwork Cards - white card blank
Grey and orange mirri card from stash

Motor Mania

Happy 12/12/12!  Did you know that there will not be another repetitive date like this for 88 years!  It'll be 01/01/01 in 2101!

Meanwhile, back to today in 2012...  Mike and Ian from Kraftyhands were back on Create and Craft TV with the launch of their Motor Mania double CD set and toppers.  I've recorded the show as I was at work, so I'm looking forward to watching that to see how they did and all the samples the Design Team put together.

Here is one of my cards for the show, using elements from one of the topper sheets and a backing paper from the CD.

I am adding this card to:
Make It Monday - Linky Party #119
Through The Craftroom Door - Anything Goes #48

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - Motor Mania CD set, Motor Mania topper set
Joanna Sheen - black glossy card
Hole punch
Craftwork Cards - white card blank

Something New at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge

Wednesday again - can you believe its almost Christmas and almost 2013!!!  But before then there are a couple of challenges left for 2012 over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog and this week the theme is "Something New". I chose this cute Mum and baby dragon digi to make a new baby girl card - and as you can see I really went for it with the pink!
 
This week there are 3 prizes up for grabs, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in:

Stamping Dragon Designs - 5 digi images

Dudetime Doodles - 3 digi images

Crafty Sentiments - 3 digi images

I am adding this card to

Make It Monday - Linky Party #119

Through The Craftroom Door - Anything Goes #48

Materials Used:
Stamping Dragon Designs - Rock A Bye Jiggy digi stamp
Lili Of The Valley - sentiment stamp
Copics - RV21, RV23, BG000, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-7
Waco - Pearl maker pen in crystal
Spellbinders - Classic Circles, Lacy Circles
Craftwork Cards - white card blank

Jolly Holly Elves

I decided to have a play with some digi stamps today, and I've used this fab image from Heather Valentin to make a Christmas card (yes I know I said you wouldn't see any more, but I couldn't resist!) Heather has two blogs where you can see her work The Enchanting Art of Heather Valentin and Lacy Sunshine.

I am adding this card to the following challenges:
Stamping With The Dragon - Anything Goes
Card Crafters Circle - #52 December Celebrations
One Stop Craft Challenge - #208 Christmas Friends
Charisma Cardz - #48 Christmas
In The Pink - # 9 Gonna Be A Pink Christmas

Materials Used:
Heather Valentin/Lacy Sunshine - Eleanor & Pickles Jolly Holly Elves digi image
Lili Of The Valley - sentiment stamp
Copics - TG06, YG09, C-0, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-7, RV04, RV014, E21, E33, E35, E51, BG000
Letraset - black fine line drawing pen
Spellbinders - Classic Circles, Scalloped Circles
Kate Knight - Christmas Collection Paper Stack
Hole punch
Core'Dinations - green card
Craftwork Cards - white card blank

Thank You

Hi everyone, my its cold out there today - no snow where I live, but its cold and very windy!  So I am happy to be back from work and indoors in the warm!

I think I am pretty much done with my Christmas cards, so some of you might be pleased to know that you won't see any on here for a few months - though I have just got some fab new Christmassy digi stamps so maybe there will be a couple more this side of Christmas... :-)

Anyway, onto the card here. Something simple, and pretty quick too!  I've used the Spellbinders hexagon die to cut three shapes out of a really pretty backing paper from the Kraftyhands Vintage Chic Boutique CD, stuck them down and put some faux stitching around the edge, and stamped a sentiment in the corner. 

I am adding this card to the following challenge as I think it definitely fits the bill!
Moving Along With The Times - Clean and Simple
Make It Monday - Linky Party #118

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - Vintage Chic Boutique CD set
Spellbinders - Hexagon
Letraset - black fine line drawing pen
Rubber stamp sentiment - unknown

Anything Goes at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge

The 5th December - can you believe that 3 weeks today it will be Boxing Day here in the UK, so The Big Day will be all over!  I just don't know where the time is going at the moment!

Anyway, as its Wednesday, its time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog and this week the theme is "Anything Goes".  I used a cute little girl digi stamp from Digi My World and teamed her up with a background from a Polkadoodles CD, making it look like she is watering flowers in a big magical garden.
 
This week there are 4 prizes up for grabs, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in:

Di's Digi Downloads - $10 voucher

Digital Delights - $5 voucher

Digi My World - $10 voucher

Sassy Studio Designs - 4 digis

I am adding this card to the Make It Monday - Linky Party #118

Materials Used:
Digi My World - Garden Girl Cindy digi stamp
Polkadoodles - Sugar Plum Daisy CD (background)
Copics - YG17, YG67, BG000, RV02, RV21, RV23, BV00, BV000, BV02, E02, E21, E33, E35, E40, E51, C-2, C-3, C-7
Core'Dinations - green card
Creaftwork Cards - whit card, sentiment oval
Silver mirri card from stash

Sugar Buttons Fairy Birthday Wishes

Here is my first card using the beautiful new Sugar Buttons from Kanban.  The kit is full of sparkly pastel yumminess and will make lots of pretty cards and projects for all those birthday fairies and princesses!

I am adding this card to the following:
Make It Monday - Linky Party #118
Through The Craftroom Door - Anything Goes #47

Materials Used:
Kanban - Sugar Buttons Fairy Dust toppers, Bubblegum Candy Stripe background card, Pretty Paper Pad, pastel gems
Silhouette Cameo - to cut the flourishes
Craftwork Cards - White A5 card blank

Kraftyhands DT Call

Kraftyhands are having a DT Call - they are looking for 2 people to join the team to help make samples for new products and the challenge blog.

If you're interested take a look on the Kraftyhands Challenge Blog for all the details and where to send your entries to.

Here is a card I made recently for the Kraftyhands debut on Create and Craft TV when they showcased their lovely Vintage Chic Boutique double CD set.

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - Vintage Chic Boutique CD set (toppers and backing papers)
Spellbinders - Scalloped Circles, Classic Circles
Craftwork Cards - white card

Leo the Lion For Kraftyhands December Challenge - Child's Play

The 1st of December!  Can you believe it!!!  Well as its the start of a new month, its time for a new challenge over at Kraftyhands.

This month the theme is CHILDS PLAY - so any card suitable for a child. I used the Happiscopes CD for the main image and background papers, got out some Spellbinders to make the topper and zig zag border and my Letraset drawing pen for the black faux stitching.

So come and join in over at http://kraftyhandschallenge.blogspot.co.uk. Anyone can enter the monthly challenges, the only criteria is that you must be a follower of the challenge blog. You can use any products you like, but to be the monthly winner of the £20 Kraftyhands voucher, you must use at least one Kraftyhands or Crafter's Companion product in the creation of your challenge project.

Each month there will be 3 winners, the No1 winner will receive a £20 voucher to spend on the Kraftyhands webshop and the No1 winner's "blinkie", the other two winners will get a winner's "blinkie" for their blogs! So pop on over and join in the fun!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Make It Monday - Linky Party #117
Fun With Shapes and More - Anything But Christmas

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - Happiscopes CD
Spellbinders - Lacy Squares, Classic Ric Rac borders
Letraset - black fine line drawing pen
Whiff Of Joy - orange gems
Craftwork Cards - white card

Flat Friends Challenge Blog #2 - Dots n Stripes

I made this card for the 2nd challenge on the Flat Friends Blog using the lovely Taylor Bell digi image by Emma Canning.   I decided to have a go at the dotty background around the image using markers that I keep seeing around - not sure if I got it quite right here, I think maybe the shape should be different? But I still quite like the effect :-)

I am entering this card into the following:
Flat Friends - Challenge #2 Dots and Stripes
Make It Monday - Linky Party #117
Polkadoodles - Any Die Will Do

Materials Used:
Emma Canning/Polkadoodles - Taylor Bell digi image
Polkadoodles - Pen & Paper Circle 4 CD (papers)
Copics - E21, E33, E35, YG17
Flexmarkers/Promarkers - Lipstick Red, Pale Pink, Linen, Antique White, Light Fawn
Letraset - Black fine line drawing pen
Spellbinders - Reverse Wonky Rectangles
Kanban - gems
Craftwork Cards - white card blank

More Than 1 Fold at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge

Its almost the end of November and its Wednesday! So its time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog and this week the theme is "More Than 1 Fold".  I've managed to add another Christmas card to my collection and use this cute penguin digi image from Crafty Sentiment Designs.  Do you think I got carried away with the gem stones... But if you can't have some sparkle at Christmas, when can you :-)

This week there are 3 prizes up for grabs, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in:

Crafty Sentiments - 3 digi images

Milk Coffee - 3 digi images

Scrappers Delight - 3 digi images

I am adding this card to:

Make It Monday - Linky Party #117

Through The Craftroom Door - Anything Goes #46

Materials Used:

Crafty Sentiment Designs - Christmas Penguin
Copics - RV14, RV04, BG000, BG15, BG23,BG72, YR04, YR07, C-3, C-7
Letraset - black fine line drawing pen
Kate Knight - Christmas Collection paper pack
Hunkydory - Glitter Glaze card (for the trees)
Hero Arts - Christmas Tree dies (from Reindeer stamp and die set)
Spellbinder - Labels 4
Kanban - irridescent gems
Craftwork cards - sentiment oval and 12 x 12 card (to make the card base)

Steampunk Pink

Happy Tuesday Everyone!  Here is another card I made using the Kraftyhands Steampunk Emporium CD which you can now buy here and while you are there take a look at the project gallery where you will find inspiration from other Design Team members.

This time I decided to leave the inks and grungy things in the box and went "pink and pretty" - although I did use some Core-Dinations Whitewash card which I sanded a little bit :-)

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Make it Monday - Linky Party #117
Through The Craftroom Door - Anything Goes #46

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - Steampunk Emporium CD
Core'Dinations - pink whitewash card, Sand It Gadget
Sizzix/Tim Holtz - Steampunk and Gadget Gears dies
Craftwork Cards - white card blank

Friends

Hi Everyone! I hope you've all had a lovely weekend - I just wish they didn't go quite so quickly!

I made this card using one of the sweet iamges on the new SWALK digital stamps CD available from Crafters Companion - so exciting to get these images in digi format as you can have them any size you want.   I chose pink, white and black for this card as its one of my favourite colour combinations for cards - with black including shades of grey.  I even made the wine pink - and as I do enjoy a glass of rose it seemed quite fitting!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Crafters Companion - Favourite Colour
Joanna Sheen - Anything Goes Excluding Christmas
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes #45

Materials Used:
Crafters Companion - SWALK Digital Stamp Collection CD, SWALK 2 CD (backing paper), Die'Sire Lace Border 4
Copics - 0, B000, E21, E33, E35, E37
Promarkers - Ice Grey 1, 3, 5, Rose Pink
Flexmarkers - Pale Pink, Linen, Light Fawn, Antique White
Spellbinders - Classic Ovals, Scalloped Ovals
Kaisercraft - pink gems
Craftwork Cards - white A5 card blank, black card, sentiment oval

So Thankful at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog

Wow! Its Wednesday again already! So its time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog and this week the theme is "So Thankful".  I made a card using a really sweet bear digi image from Dustin Pike/Doodle Dragon Studios.

There are 3 prizes up for grabs this week, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in:

Stitchy bear Digital Stamps - $10 voucher

Doodle Dragon Studios - $10 gift certificate

http://digidarladesigns.com - TBC

I am adding this card to the Make it Monday - Linky Party #116

Materials Used:
Dustin Pike/Doodle Dragon Designs - Fairie Bear with Birdhouse digi stamp
Copics - B32, C-1, YR00, YR20, E15, E21, E33, RV10, V01, Y00, YG06, YG09
Wink of Stella - Clear pen
Spellbinders - Classic Circles, Lacy Circles,
Crafters Companion - Picket Fence die, Morehead CD (backing paper)
Craftwork Cards - white card blank
Core'Dinations - purple card
Kanban - irridescent gems
Unknown - Thank You stamp

Purple Rein...deer

Here is a Christmas card for my collection using my favourite character from the Cringle and Company CD set from Kraftyhands - Rodney the Reindeer!  I still have a few Christmas cards to make, but I guess its getting to be time to get the list out to start writing them.  I always have it in mind to send any that need to be posted on the 1st December so that I know its done, it just doesn't always work out that way...

If, like me, you are in Christmas card making mode there is still time to make some more and to enter this months Kraftyhands CHRISTMAS challenge, so come and join in over at http://kraftyhandschallenge.blogspot.co.uk and while you are there take a look at the inspiration from the rest of the Design Team. 

For each monthly challenge there will be 3 winners, the No1 winner will receive a £20 voucher to spend on the Kraftyhands webshop and the No1 winner's "blinkie", the other two winners will get a winner's "blinkie" for their blogs!  Anyone can enter the monthly challenges - you must be a follower of the challenge blog, and you can use any products you like, but to be the monthly winner of the £20 Kraftyhands voucher, you must use at least one Kraftyhands or Crafter's Companion product in the creation of your project.  So, pop on over and share your Christmas crafty projects!

I am adding this card to the Make It Monday - Linky Party #115

Materials Used:

Kraftyhands - Cringle and Company CD set
Joanna Sheen - gentle photo gloss paper

Craftwork Cards - white square card blank and card

Gold mirri card and gems from stash

Its Anything Goes at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog

Its Wednesday which means its time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog and this week its "Anything Goes" so craft your heart out and show us all your crafty makes!

This week there are 3 prizes, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in:

My Heart Pieces - 3 digis of the winners choice

The Paper Shelter - $20 gift certificate

Make It Crafty - $15 gift certificate

Materials Used:
My Heart Pieces - Mr Claus is Coming digi stamp
Ranger - Black Soot Distress Ink
Tombow - Red marker
Spellbinder - Holiday Tags
Kanban - red satin ribbon
Craftwork Cards - white card, sentiment

Guest Designer at Eureka Stamps

I was delighted when I was asked to be the Guest Designer for this weeks Eureka Stamps Blog Challenge - Scripture or Inspirational Saying.  The only problem I had was choosing which digi image to use from the large collection they have in their online shop!  Eventually I picked 35402 Season of Change, and came up with this simple autumnal card using just that image and some Spellbinder dies - the sentiment is so beautiful I felt it really didn't need too much else!

I am adding this card to the Make It Monday - Linky Party #115

Materials Used:
Eureka Stamps - 35402 Season of Change digi stamp
Spellbinder - Floral Ovals, Basic Lattice, Orchard Harvest Tags and Accents
Core'Dinations - card from the Elements pad
Craftwork Cards - white card
Serif Craft Artist Professional - to print the sentiment in brown

We Will Remember Them

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

I wanted to make a card for Remembrance Sunday, something clean and simple, so I used a beautiful set of stamps from IndigoBlu to make this poppy card.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
That Craft Place - Red for Remembrance
Card Crafters Circle - Challenge #48 We Remember
Delicious Doodles - Challenge #10 Remembering
Sweet Stampin - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Linky Party #115

Materials Used:
IndigoBlu - Poppy Meadow stamp set, Perfect Stamping card
Copics - R14, R27, R29, YG03, YG17, C-7
Red and black card from stash

Keep Calm and Tumble!

My OH's youngest son is taking part in a gymnastic competition today, and he asked me to make a good luck card for him.  I have a few lovely girly gymnast rubber stamps, but I obviously couldn't use those!  Well, you've no idea how hard it is to find digi images or cutting machine images of male gymmasts!!! Perhaps with the success of our fabulous Team GB Olympic gymnasts this summer we may see more! And if I could draw I would design my own, but I can't which is why I love rubber stamps :-) The few that I did find really weren't suitable, then it came to me - being a bit of a "fontaholic" I thought about looking for a sporty image font that might give me something to work with - I found tons, but I chose one called "Sport 4 Ever", and used Craft Artist Professional to create the blue backgound and add "Keep Calm" text and the gymnast image.

Good Luck in the competition today Jack!

Materials Used:
Serif - Craft Artist Professional to create the image
Fonts - Sport 4 Ever, Keep Calm
Joanna Sheen - Gentle gloss photo paper
Craftwork Cards - white A6 card blank

Time Flies

Here is the last of my Steampunk style cards for now - and it turned out very differently to what I had in my mind when I started!  For this one I embossed a mask, sanded the image and then cut out the inner "blank" pieces to form the main image.  The background was printed from the Steampunk Emporium CD and stamped with a chicken wire image (a new purchase which I can see coming in very handy). The face image was printed and cut out with a Spellbinder circle die (as I hate trying to cut circles...), I also printed some text onto one of the backing papers on the CD.  Everything was inked and or distressed, layered up and this is the result!

I am entering this card in Through The Craftroom Door - Challenge #43 Anything Goes

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend - I am off to cook dinner and watch Strictly Come Dancing :-)

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - Steampunk Emporium CD
Sizzix/Tim Holtz - Weathered Clock die
Spellbinder - Classic Circles
Creative Expressions - Chicken wire rubber stamp
Ranger - Black Soot Distress Ink
That Special Touch - Winged Dress Form mask
Core'Dinations - black card, Sand It Gadget
Serif Craft Artist Professional - to print the text (LD Punch Out)