Lacy Sunshine #34 - Dies and/or Punches

Its time for a new challenge over at Lacy Sunshine, and for this challenge the theme is Dies and/or Punches, 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 super cute Challenge Digi for you - Myrtle Diamond in the Rough 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:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - May Link Up
Just B Creative Crazy - May Linky Party

Materials Used:
Lacu Sunshine - Rory Time to Colour digi
Copics - E000, E00, E01, E02, E40, E42, E44, E47, V12, V15, V17, C3, C5, R27, R81, R83, R85, Y35, YR68, BG000, BG01, BG02, BG05, BG07, B91, B93, B95, B97
La La Land - banner die
Memory Box - Hello die
Hunkydory - 7" x 5" white card blank

1 Month No Craft Spend Challenge - Day 6

So here we are on day 6... How is is going I hear you ask - well, I have to say surprisingly ok!  There have definitely been a few crafty goodies that I have seen / thought about that I would have normally purchased - and also some that I could have bought on impulse, with an "I must have that" or and !I need that" in my head.

There are a couple of things that I feel slightly pained about not buying:
- The Scottish stamp set by Visible Image available exclusively from The Paperterie.  I had meant to buy this a week or so ago, but you can't order online and have to phone, which I kept forgetting to do!  So this purchase needs to wait until after the 17th June, so I hope they will have some left!
- The Party Divas CD set by Debbi Moore, available on offer on Create & Craft - am sure by the time the 18th June comes it will be back to full price :-(

Then I know that Crafters Companion are launching their new Halcyon Days range on Create & Craft tomorrow, and from the sneeky peeks I have seen so far on Facebook I will definitely want that CD!  Ah well, all good things come to those who wait...

The rest, I am quite pleased about not getting, as I would probably have received it, put it with the rest of my stash and not have time to use it for a while!  I'm keeping a list of all the things I could have / might have bought - not sure I am brave enough to share that with you yet! LOL!

There there is the list of things I do want to buy next pay day.  So far that is the Scottish stamp set and the Halcyon Days CD - not too bad... :-)

Mandy x

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #178 - Spots and/or Stripes

It's time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - and the theme this week is Spots and/or Stripes! 

There are two prizes up for grabs this week, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in: 
StampArt Design - 5 digi images
Dee Dee's Digis - 3 digi images

I am adding this to the following: 
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - May Link Up 
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes 
Just B Creative Crazy - May Linky Party
 

Materials Used:

Dee Dee's Digis - Congratulations Graduate digi set
Copics - C3, C5, C7, C9, YR21, YR23, YR24

Kraftyhands - Miranda & Mo CD (patterned papers)

Spellbinder - classic circles

Crafters Companion - black card

Hunkydory - A6 white card blank

Scruffy Little Cat - Chanel

Well thank goodness the gorgeous Scruffy Little Cat craft range came out before I started my "1 Month No Craft Spend Challenge! LOL! (Day 2, and all is well so far, though I could have easily bought a few bits n bobs... but more of that in a couple of days!)  Meanwhile I had a bit of time yesterday to craft, and decided to use one of my new stamp sets.  Its been a while since I did any "real" stamping as I tend to use digi stamps these days, but out came my black Momento ink pad and stamp blocks, teamed up with my Copics and here is the result!

Looking at the eyelashes in the close up photo I think maybe I should have added some black to them, or perhaps a bit of glitter?  Yes, I think glitter for the next - and I may even bling this one up later!

I am adding this card to the following:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - May Link Up
Just B Creative Crazy - May Linky Party
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Sir Stampalot Challenge - May - Anything Goes 

Materials Used:
Crafters Companion - Scruffy Little Cat Chanel rubber stamp set
Copics - E000, E00, E01, E02, E40, E42, E44, E47, B93, B95, B97, R81, R83, R85
Hunkydory - Eastern Promise paper pad, white card blank
Spellbinder - Asian accents
Core'Dinations - pink card

1 Month No Craft Spend Challenge - Day 1!

Hi Folks!  I thought I would share with you a new challenge I set myself today - a month with out spending any money on craft stuff!  If you are like me, then you "need" all the latest stuff, but already have a huge stash at home, don't have the time to use it all and have little or no room left for more!  So, seeing yet another parcel arrive last week, my other half challenged me to go 2 weeks without buying any craft stuff - now I am not one to make these things easy, so I've decided to set myself the challenge for a month - from pay day to pay day!  So today is Day 1!

What will be my reward I hear you say!  A huge crafty spend up? LOL!  No, that is not my intention!  My reward will be the satisfaction of getting creative with more of the goodies that I already have (and in some cases probably forgotten about!) and some money in the bank at the end of the month!

I'm going to make a list of all the things I would have been tempted to buy during the month to see what I might have spent - now that could be quite scary!  But I'm hoping it will show how much I buy on impulse, and how much that I don't really need it all!

So wish me luck!  I'll be reporting back on how I am getting on every few days - and lets  hope there is nothing mega exciting that is new between now and the 17th June!

Mandy x

Oranges & Lemons....

...say the Bells of St Clement's. There is an interesting story behind this old rhyme, but I'm happy to say that this post features a card with a much happier view of life!  Now I have to admit that oranges and yellows are not colours I would automatically go to when I am choosing colours for cards, but I decided I would try something a bit different and join in the Graph'It Oranges & Lemons Colouring Challenge and ended up being very happy with the result!

I am adding this to the following:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - May Link Up
Just B Creative Crazy - May Linky Party
Graph'It Markers Colour Challenge - Wk 20 Oranges & Lemons
Polkdaoodles - Wk 20 Things With Wings 

Materials Used:
Polkadoodles - Dolly Daydream Goes East CD (butterfly and sentiment)
Graph'It - 1140, 1150, 1180, 2110, 2150, 2180
Anna Griffin - orange patterned card
Crafters Companion - black card
Hunkydory - 7" x 7" white card blank
Hole punch, embossing tool and mat - to make the "dotz"

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #177 - Anything Goes

It's time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - and the theme this week is one of our favourites - anything goes!
 
There is one prize up for grabs this week from the fabulous Heather Valentin at Lacy Sunshine, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in: 
Lacy Sunshine - 3 digi images

I am adding this to the following:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - May Link Up
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Just B Creative Crazy - May Linky Party

 

Materials Used:

Lacy Sunshine - Emily's Kimono

Copics - E000, E00, E01, E02, E40, E42, E44, E47, R32, R35, B91, B93, B95, B97, B99

Hunkydory - Eastern Promise paper pad, white 8" x 8" card blank

Bazzil - blue, beige and brown bling cardstock

Beer Monster

Hi!  Today I thought I would share a card I made at the weekend using this fun Beer Monster digi from Pollycraft.  I was having a bit of a play and practice with my Graph'Its, and I'm quite liking the greens at the moment - I've had some good results with the lovely reds, so will have to practice more with other colours!

I am adding this to the following:  
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - May Link Up  
Just B Creative Crazy - May Linky Party

Materials Used:
Pollycraft - Beer Monster digi
Graph'Its - 4115, 1250, 2015, 8110, 8220, 8250, white Shake'It pen
Copics - B000 to outline the image
Hunkdory - Boys 'n' Men paper pad, white square card blank
My Craft Studio - crystal glitter
Core'Dinations - green card
Hole punch, embossing tool and mat - to make the "dotz"

Lacy Sunshine #33 - Anything Goes

Its time for a new challenge over at Lacy Sunshine, and for this challenge the theme is Anything Goes! 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 - Olivia's Secret WIndow 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: 
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - May Link Up 
Just B Creative Crazy - May Linky Party

Materials Used:
Lacy Sunshine - Eleanor Lady Liberty and Pickles Flying Ace
Copics - E000, E00, E01, E02, E40, E42, E44, E47, C1, C3, BG70, BG72, BG75, BG78
Serif Craft Artist Professional to make the background

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #176 - 2 or More Patterned Papers

It's time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - and the theme this week is to use 2 or more patterned papers, so get that paper stash out and have some fun!

There are two prizes up for grabs this week, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in: 
Bugaboo Stamps - 7 digi images
QKR Stampede - 5 digi images

I am adding this to the following:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - May Link Up
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Just B Creative Crazy - May Linky Party

Materials Used:

Bugaboo Stamps - Ruby Calendar months, May

Copics - B00, R83, R85, YG13, YR20, YR21, YR23, YR24, V05, V06, V09, E000, E00, E01, E02, E40, E42, E44, E47

Hunkydory - Floral Fantasia paper pad, 5" x 7" white card blank
Hole punch, embossing tool and mat - to make the "dotz"

Kraftyhands May Challenge - Anything Goes

Morning!  Today's card uses elements from the super cute What A Hoot CD from Kraftyhands, for the new challenge which launches today over at the Kraftyhands Challenge Blog! This month its anything goes - so pop on over to join us in the fun for the challenge and share your projects with us!

I am adding this to the following:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - May Link Up
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - What A Hoot CD
Brother Scan N Cut - to cut out all elements
Hunkydory - white square card blank 

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #175 - Pastel Colours

It's time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - and the theme this week is Pastel Colours, so of course I had to have some pink in my card!

There are two prizes up for grabs this week, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in: 
StampArt Design - 5 digi images
Sassy Studio Designs - 4 digi images

I am adding this to the following:
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart - #16 Anything Goes
My Craft Creations - Anything Goes 
The Pink Elephant - #248 Favorite Pastel Colour Combo (mine is anything with pink!) 

Materials Used:
StampArt Design - Marie digi stamp that you can get here
Copics - B00, YR20, YR23, YR27, BG72, BG75, R81, R83, R85
GraphIt Markers - 4115, 4120, 4125, 4155, 3210, 3255, 8250, 9101, 9102, 9103
Martha Stewart - border punch
Core'Dinations - pink card
Hunkydory - Floral Fantasia paper pad, 5" X 7" white card blank

Lacy Sunshine #32 - Favourite Colour Combination

Its time for a new challenge over at Lacy Sunshine, and for this challenge the theme is Your Favourite Colour Combination - so mine had to be... pink! 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 really cute Challenge Digi for you - Emmilou Boo's Inchworm 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:

Just B Creative Crazy - April Linky Party

Materials Used:
Lacy Sunshine - Angel Boo digi image
Copics - E000, E00, E01, E02, E40, E41, E42, E43, E44, E47, E50, E51, E53, B00, B01, B02, R81, R83, R85
GraphIt Markers - white ShakeIt pen
Me To You - With Love Paper pad
Spellbinder - Labels 18
Martha Stewart - border punch
Kanban - pearls 

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #174 - One For The Boys

It's time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - and the theme this week is One For The Boys!

There are three prizes up for grabs this week, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in: 
Dr Digi's House of Stamps - 2 digi images
Crafty Sentiments - 3 digi images
Di's Digi Downloads - $12 gift certificate 

I am adding this to the following:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - April Link Up
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Just B Creative Crazy - April Linky Party
GraphIt Markers Colour Challenge - Use Greys (I have used Graph'It Cool Greys and Copic Cool Greys)

Materials Used:
Crafty Sentiments - Why Not 3 ins digi
GraphIt Markers - 4115, 4120, 5220, 5240, 8110, 8240, 8250, 9101, 9102, 9103, 9104, white ShakeIt pen
Copics - C00, C01, C03, C05, C07, YR20, YR23, YR27, E01, E02
Polkadoodles - bicycle image from Not For Girls Definitely For Men CD
Serif - brick wall digi
Core'Dinations - blue card
Hunkydory - white square card blank

Have A Hoot Christmas!

I just had to share another card from the new Have A Hoot CD that Kraftyhands will be launching on the 5th May (you can pre-order here to make sure you get yours!)  And look - there is even a Christmas owl which I thought was fun!

I am adding these cards to the following:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - April Link Up 
Just B Creative Crazy - April Linky Party
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas - Use A Hat
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - April 

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - What A Hoot CD
Brother Scan N Cut - to cut out all elements
Kaban - green gem
Hunkydory - white square card blank

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!  Hope the weather is better for you than it is here - grey and miserable and its been raining most of the day, which is a shame after the last few days which have been lovely!  But a good excuse to stay indoors and have some more fun with the Kraftyhands What A Hoot CD - I added some bunting to this shaped card to make it into a quick Easter card.


I am adding this card to the following:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - April Link Up
Just B Creative Crazy - April Linky Party
Papertake Weekly - Happy Easter 
Alphabet Challenge - E for Easter 
Craftitude - Anything Goes or Spring/Easter 

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - What A Hoot CD
Brother Scan N Cut - to cut out all elements (except the bunting)
Tattered Lace - Alphabet Bunting die set
Creative Expressions - yellow and white twine

What A Hoot Shaped Cards

How lucky am I! I've been able to have a play with the fab new CD that Kraftyhands will be launching on the 5th May - though you can pre-order it here to make sure you get yours! And believe me, you will not want to miss this one!  If you would like to see more of the CD have a look at the Kraftyhands YouTube video walk through.

Now I normally shy away from shaped cards as sometimes my cutting skills leave a lot to be desired when it comes to making sure that you can cut things out symetrically!  But using my Brother Scan N Cut made making these cards a dream!  I didn't time it, but if I include printing out, cutting, and putting together I probably had one card done in about 15 minutes if that! 

I am adding these cards to the following:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - April Link Up 
Just B Creative Crazy - April Linky Party

Materials Used:
Kraftyhands - What A Hoot CD
Brother Scan N Cut - to cut out all elements

 

Twilight Queen

Hope you are all enjoying Good Friday - how lovely is it to have 4 days off!  Hope the weather is being kind to you, wherever you are!

The card I want to share with you today was made using elements from the Twilight Queen Realms of Darkness CD by Debbi Moore.  I used gentle gloss photo paper and cut the raised elements using the Scan N Cut, and added an insert again printed from the CD, so a very simple card, but I quite like it!

I am adding this card to the following: 
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - April Link Up 
Just B Creative Crazy - April Linky Party
 
Materials Used:
Debbi Moore - Twilight Queen Realms of Darkness CD
Brother Scan N Cut -to cut the layered elements
Joanna Sheen - gentle gloss photo paper
Hunkdory - A5 white card blank

Poinsettia Sprite

I had a bit of play with my GraphIt Markers on this lovely Aurora Wings digi image.  I have to say that I love the red GraphIts - I first tried those colours on some poppies as I couldn't get sastifactory colours and blends with other red markers, but I do like these - and they like a teeny bit of grey for depth and shadow too!

I'm definitely still learning with these pens, and see myself using the GraphIts and Copics either together or by choice for favourite colours - and as I always tell myself its all about practice!  When I look back at the cards I made using alcohol markers when I first started this blog I like to think I have improved a lot! :-)

I am adding this card to the following:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - April Link Up Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes Just B Creative Crazy - April Linky Party
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas - Make It Square
GraphIt Markers - Shadow Effects (hoping that my shadows between the red and green leaves count - poinsettias are all leaves not flowers)!  I may need a bit more practice!
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - April


Materials Used:
Aurora Wings - Poinsettia Sprite digi
GraphIt Markers - 4115, 4135, 4155, 4170, 5215, 5220, 5245, 8110, 8120, 8160, 9502, 9504, white shake pens
Kanban - Deck The Halls paper pad
Hunkydory - 7" X 7" white card blank, gold mirri card
Hole punch, embossing tool and mat - to make the "dotz"

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #173 - Ice Cream Colours

It's time for a new challenge over at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - and the theme this week is Ice Cream Colours! So... decisions, decisions... I first thought neopolitan ice cream - brown and cream for the owl, then pink for the grad cap and gown...  Now, I don't know about you, but I always look for the background paper and card first to make sure that the colours I use on the images match, so while I was looking for a suitable background paper (convinced that I have a piece of wide striped neopolitan coloured paper somewhere - and probably still do!) I came across this fun green circle paper and decided that mint choc chip would be my colour scheme!

There is a fab prize up for grabs this week, so pop on over to http://pennyschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ and join in: 
Robyn's Fetish - 3 digi images
Stitchy Bears - $10 gift certificate 

I am adding this to the following:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes - April Link Up
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Just B Creative Crazy - April Linky Party

Materials Used:
Robyn's Fetish - Smart Owl digi image
GraphIt Markers - 1230, 3210, 3250, 3255, 4110, 8110, 8220, 8250, 9203, 0000 (to create a bit of texture on the owl's tummy)
Hunkydory - Boys 'n' Men paper pad, white square card blank
Brother Scan N Cut - to cut the owl image
Core'Dinations - brown and green card

Hole punch, embossing tool and mat - to make the "dotz"