Hi folks! Recently I have wondered to myself why I don't seem to make as many cards as I used to - now I seem to only make one card a day when I craft, if I am lucky as sometimes it is only part of a card! For a while I couldn't figure out why, then realised that a) my crafting style has changed over the last few years and b) I do a lot more colouring of images than I used to do which I guess takes a lot longer than taking a printed / foiled kit and putting cards together. I still buy some of those kits now and again, but they don't seem to get to the top of my "to craft" list that often anymore - I guess that is because I enjoy the colouring more, oh and using my die cutting machines (manual and electronic) and CDs!
Now sometimes we don't have the time or crafty mojo to spend time colouring an image for a card, so today I thought I would share a card that I made using pre-coloured elements from a fab Polkadoodles CD - its from the first Work and Play Collection which is a really fun set of images and papers (and more) to craft with! I am adding this card to: Crafting At The Weekend - #3 Anything Goes Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes Materials Used: Polkadoodles - Work and Play Collection 1 CD Core'Dinations - brown card Brother Scan N Cut - to cut the image out Craftwork Cards - white square card blank
It's
time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge, and
this week its Embossing - heat or dry embossing, whichever is your favourite, you could even use both!
Materials Used: StampArt Design by Kathryne - Mermaid Pearl that you can buy here Copics - E000, E00, E01, E02, E31, E35, E50, E51, E53, BG70, BG72, BG75 Spellbinder - nautical frame and accents set Brittania Dies - large and medium multiflower rose dies Core'Dinations - blue card The Hobby House - sea charm pearls My Craft Studio - crystal glitter Creative Expressions - Sue Wilson Art Deco Fanfare A4 embossing folder Craftwork Cards - white square card blank, white card
Its time
for a new challenge over at Lacy Sunshine, and for this challenge the
theme is Anything Goes, and we are celebrating Eleanor and Pickles 2nd birthday! So please pop on
over to Lacy Sunshine and join in the fun for the random draw - there will be 2 winners: 1st prize - 5
digi images, 2nd prize - 3 digi images of choice from the Lacy Sunshine Crafters Candy Shoppe.
We have a gorgeous Challenge Digi for you - Eleanor and Pickles Birdie Fun which you can get for a
special discounted price of $2.00 for the duration of the challenge from
the Lacy Sunshine Crafters Candy Shoppe. Read all about our loyalty program on the challenge blog, as you could receive a free image every new challenge! I am adding this to the following: Copic Spain - June Tags Really Reasonable Ribbon - #97 Anything But a Card The Paper Shelter - #163 Anything But a Card Crafting At The Weekend - #2 Anything Goes Materials Used: Lacy Sunshine - Eleanor Skateboarding Copics - E000, E00, E01. E02, R81, R83, R85, B91, B93, B95, B97, B99, YG61, YG63, YG67, C1, C3, C5 Ranger - Stormy Sky Distress ink Die-namics - Wonky scallop border die Crafters Companion - Scruffy Little Cat paper pad DoCrafts / XCut - Speech bubbles die set Blue ribbon from stash Hole punch
Now, I don't know about you, but I have a huge selection of rubber / clear stamps which I have been collecting over the last ten years or so. Recently I have found myself using digi stamps more and more, and that my physical stamps haven't had much attention. So, I decided to find myself a blog challenge to enter and pick some suitable stamps. I love Clarity Stamps, so the June challenge (masculine) seemed a perfect opportunity to get stamping! I've kept this card very simple as I didn't think it needed much adding to it. I've used an espresso ink, though I know the photos make it look black - but it is brown I promise! I am adding this card to the following: Clarity Stamp - June # 16 Masculine Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes Aud Sentiments - Two Word Sentiment Try It On Tuesday - One For The Boys Mema's Crafts - June - Only Men Allowed Materials Used: Clarity Stamps - Word Chain set 2 and 3, Jazz Man, Journalling set Adirondak espresso ink Die-Namics - Fishtail flag stax Core'Dinations - brown card Craftwork Cards - white A5 card blank
It's time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge, and this week its Use Your Favourite Embellishment - so I had to use my "dotz" and my new favourite flowers using the Britannia rose dies!
Materials Used: Bugaboo Stamps - Pig Vacation digi GraphIts - 1110, 1150, 7220, 7240, 9502, 4115, 4120, 5110, 5115 Copics - B000 Fancy Pants Designs - Beach Babe paper pad Spellbinders - classic circles Die-Namics - leaf filled flourish Britannia Dies - large and medium multiflower rose dies Hole punch, embossing tool and mat - to make the "dotz" Craftwork Cards - white square card blank
Well here I am at the end of my challenge. So how did I do? Well.... I did make some purchases, but nowhere near as much as I would have normally, and it has definitely made me think about what I am buying and using more - I have even been challenging myself to get stuff out that I have had for a while and not used - and have been having fun using it all!
So, what did I buy... Britannia Rose dies Crafters Companion Halcyon Days CD and an exclusive card kit Tatty Twinkles CD Pets in a Mess CD Polkadoodles Rose Budd CD
Now, although I had intended not to buy anything for the month, I guess I would have to admit that I was probably setting myself way too hard a challenge... But all in all I am pretty pleased! :-) Happy crafting!Mandy x
Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there! My Dad is no longer with us, but always thought about - so Happy Father's Day Dad! I needed to make a cad for my OH to send to his Dad so thought I'd try this project in the Cricut Explore Design Space. I have to admit its a very quick and easy card to make, but quite effective don't you think?
Hello my lovely crafty friends! Well I have to admit that I have not checked in on this challenge over the last week and a half - oops sorry! And I also have to admit that some purchases have been made... Tatty Twinkles CD - sorry - I just had to get this! Pets in a Mess CD - again I had to have it! Polkadoodles - Rose Budd CD - irresistable! Sorry!
So, I guess I have not done so well in the last week and a half - though I have definitely thought about any purchase more! So surely that is a good thing?! I have a few days left of the challenge, but right now I can say although I have ordered some craft goodies, it has definitely made me think about it a lot more! Hope you all have a good weekend, and I will be posting my final "1 month no craft spend challenge" results in a few days time! Happy crafting! Mandy x
I am adding this card to the following: Polkadoodles - Men on our minds That Craft Place - Men Digi Tuesday - All about the men Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes Materials Used: Pink Gem Designs - Spiderman Andy GraphIt - 5215, 5220, 7125, 7130, 4115, 4155, 3120, 4120 Core'Dinations - blue card Hunkydory - white square card blank
I just love the Polkadoodles Work and Play CDs, and have all 4 that have been released so far! :-) Am hoping there will be more too! I wanted to make something suitable to enter a couple of challenges with a "for men" type theme, so chose this cute Handyman Dave digi stamp from collection 1. I also used one of the backing papers and a sentiment from the CD, and added some DIY tool die cuts. I am adding this card to the following: Polkadoodles - Men on our minds That Craft Place - Men Digi Tuesday - All about the men Materials Used: Polkadoodles - Work and Play CD 1 GraphIts - 5215, 5220, 4115, 4125, 4155, 9101, 9102, 9103, 9401, 9403, 9502, 9504, 9505, 3110, 3125 Memory Box Dies - handy man tools, crafts man tools Core'Dinations - blue card Craftwork Cards -circle cut easel card Cricut Explore - to cut the background card and paper for the easel Brother Scan N Cut - to cut out the digi stamp Hole punch, embossing tool and mat - to make the "dotz"
Its time
for a new challenge over at Lacy Sunshine, and for this challenge the
theme is Goth and / or non traditional hair colours, so please pop on
over to Lacy Sunshine and join in the fun for the random draw - there will be 2 winners: 1st prize - 5
digi images, 2nd prize - 3 digi images of choice from the Lacy Sunshine Crafters Candy Shoppe.
We have a gorgeous Challenge Digi for you - Maddie and Clover which you can get for a
special discounted price of $2.00 for the duration of the challenge from
the Lacy Sunshine Crafters Candy Shoppe. Read all about our loyalty program on the challenge blog, as you could receive a free image every new challenge!
You will see that I HAD to use my new favourite embellies - these lovely little flowers made using the Brittania multiflower rose dies!
I am adding this card to the following: Little Miss Muffet Challenge - #87 Funky Hair Materials Used: Lacy Sunshine - Pearl Sunkissed Mermaid Graph'Its - 4115, 4155. 8110, 8240, 8110, 8240, 8220, 8250, MixIt Fluid Copics - BG000 Hunkydory - Boys 'n' Men paper pad, 5" x 7" white card blank Core'Dinations - gree card Die-namics - leaf filled flourish Brittania Dies - large and medium multiflower rose dies
So here we are, the 7th June! So time for a new Kraftyhands Challenge! This month its Floral Fancy, and I decided to use the gorgeous new Retro Roses papers as I just love them, and this idea seemed a perfect time to share them with you!
I took a piece of card and drew a curve shape to make the grand piano design (ok so it took a few goes to get the shape I liked), and I now have that as a template to draw round to make a card. I also scanned the shape on my Brother SnC and reduced the size to give me the patterned paper layer which I inked around. I also inked around the flowers, sentiment and keys.
I am adding this card to the following: Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Materials Used: Kraftyhands - Retro Roses 12" x 12" papers, Kew Floral CD (sentiment) Copics - G94, G99 (to colour the calyx on the roses) Die-namics - leaf filled flourish Brittania Dies - large and medium multiflower rose dies Ranger - brushed corduroy distress Ink Brother Scan N Cut - to cut out the backing paper and the piano keys Core'Dinations - pink card Craftwork Cards - 8" x 8" white card blank, white card Waco - cream pearl maker pen
I am adding this to the following: Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Materials Used: Meljen Designs - Camera Mouse digi Copics - C1, C2, C4, C6, R81, R83, V09, V15, V17, YR61 Hunkydory - All Occasions paper pad Sizzix - Tim Holtz filmstrip frames Spellbinder - classic circles, snapshot Cricut Explore - to cut the background card and paper for the easel Core'Dinations - purple card Craftwork Cards - circle cut easel card Hole punch, embossing tool and mat - to make the "dotz"
Day 16 in the 1 month no craft spend challenge - and a challenge it is proving to be! I just HAD to order a couple of dies yesterday... I have become a bit hooked on making these pretty little roses lately, and one card that I made I could have definitely done with some bigger flowers (you will see that one on the blog at the weekend as its a DT challenge card). Now while I was looking for a video tutorial on how to make the roses, I also discovered that there are a couple of larger dies with just a single flower and single calyx on (rather than 4 and 2) - so I'm afraid that was that!
Now of course I could have waited for them... sigh... I would still say I am doing pretty well as that is my second purchase in two weeks (oh and another £16).
Meanwhile I have resisted buying any of the new Crafters Companion vintage range embossing folders, and a few other bits from Create from Craft, so lets see what the next two weeks brings!
Happy Sunday! Today I'd like to share a card I made using a really sweet Sugar Nellie digi image, and of course she had to be pink!
I've been having fun making these gorgeous little roses for my cards recently. The Brittania flower dies have been in my collection for a while, but I hadn't really used them properly until now. So I watched a video on making flowers using these dies on the Joanna Sheen website, armed myself with some round nose pliers and some glue, and voila! Here you have some pretty flowers that you can make is any colour you like!
I am adding this card to the following: Party Time Tuesdays - #174 Anything Goes The Squirrel and The Fox - #70 Lets Hear It For The Girls The Pink Elephant - #252 Anything Goes MarkerPOP Blog - #44 Pinks Materials Used: Sugar Nellie - Return to Fairy Glen A Little Bit of Gossip digi Copics - E000, E00, E01, E02, E11, E15, E18, B000, C0, C2, C3, YG61, YG63, YG67, R81, R83, R85, R89 Quitckutz - photo corners die Spellbinder - classic circless Die-namics - leaf filled flourish Brittania Dies - large and medium multiflower rose dies Hunkydory - Fairy Sweethearts paper pad Craftywork Cards - white scallop edge card blank
