FOOTBALL & RUGBY CARDS

My latest cards are the type I don't like (sports related male cards).......I must be a rare breed as I cannot think of one sport that interests me these days ....whether it be spectating or participating! I made these at OH's request. Unbelievably, I did actually go to football matches in my teens when I supported Bolton Wanderers (featured on the bottom card).....seems like another lifetime. It was so long ago that's quite an apt comment!!!!!!

ARTE Y PICO AWARD

Thanks so much to Cynthia (Rainbow Lady) for chosing me as one of 5 recipients of this award. I feel a cheat really because my blog posts are usually very brief. I started my blog when I first decided to try out some of the great cardmaking/artwork challenges so I could link to my attempts. Prior to that I was just a blog visitor who enjoyed seeing Cynthia's wonderful work (and other bloggers now listed on my blog). It is going to be difficult to chose 5 people to pass this award onto as all the blogs I visit are very inspirational. Whilst I have a think, here are the Arte Y Pico award rules:

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.

4. The Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte Y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. To show these rules.

I have decided to make the award to the following 5 bloggers, what a tough choice!!!!!!

Ann (Spirit of Creativity) for an inspirational blog which is enjoyable to read and every post contains a photo of amazing artwork and ideas.

Dawn (All Pink Girl) I love her style with cute stamps

Sandy (Stempelchaotin) Always lots of varied and amazing artwork to wonder at on Sandy's blog.

Deby (Just Add Love) Deby has pictures of some amazing papers she has created, well worth a look.

Andrea (Andrea's World) There's just so much to see on Adrea's blog and it's all fabulous!

Sassy Tilda

Just made this Tilda card for Sassy Crafts prize draw to win Basic Grey Archaic goodies. I have stamped her onto white, pink and HOTP patterned paper which I have pieced. The frame is made with the same HOTP paper as Tilda's jacket, torn and folded back to make a frame. The pink jewel brad on her belt and the black one in the flower centre (2 Pimas fastened together coloured with pink and black pens) are by Dovecraft, as are the pink eyelets on the corners. The pink bow is from Cuddly Buddly. Tilda's wings are coloured with Sakura Stardust clear and her hair with the Stardust bronze pen.

Cute Garden Critters

I decided to have a change from stamping and make some quick cards using images from P C Crafter's lovely cute garden critters collection and here they are.......I didn't manage to make less mess though even without ink and embossing powder!

Sugar Nellies

Here are some cards I have just made using the same Sugar Nellie stamp. I normally stamp onto white paper but wanted to see if it was possible to stamp directly onto different coloured card and then colour in the images with Lyra watercolour crayons and I was surprised at the depth of colour which can be achieved with these crayons, it is possible to get good coverage. I hate stamping directly onto a card blank but have to say it IS easier with Rockablocks instead of my usual acrylic blocks, though I am not sure if it is entirely down to the product or the fact I was less nervous!!!

TILDA & CO TEMPLATE CHALLENGE

I love Tilda but wasn't sure about taking up this template challenge by Tilda & Co as I have never followed a template before but I eventually came up with this card. The white square card has been stamped with Versamark flowers and coloured with pink and green shimmer chalks. Tilda has been coloured with Lyra crayons and mounted onto Cuttlebug circles. The pink & green ribon attached to the acrylic sentiment is Maya Road. Some of the embellishments were a magazine freebie.

ARTY GIRLZ DOODLING CHALLENGE CARD

Today I had time to make two challenge cards. The first is for Arty Girlz Doodling challenge. The bear stamp is Anita's and the sentiment by Stampin Up. I doodled the stitch and hearts border and the dots on the teddy.

Competition Cards

I haven't been in a very creative or cardmaking mood lately and have only made a couple of cards, one of which was for Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique competition which I can't post but I found a folder containing photos of cards I made for Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine's Cardmaker of the Year competition. I entered cards into the Cuttlebug, Dovecraft, Joanna Sheen, Paper Cellar and Paper Mania sections (didn't win any prizes) but here are the cards:

WISH UPON A STAR

I have just made this card for the latest Arty Girlz Star Challenge

The stamps are from one of Jayne Nestorenko's beautiful Cute Companions sets (Poppet the mouse, star and wish upon a star sentiment).

Poppet was coloured with Lyra watercolour crayons which I bought from Joanna Sheen along with the pearls on her dress and the pink Sparkle n Sprinkle glitter I used on the star (also the Crafty Secrets paper behind the apertures!).

The little hat is a Syntego embellishment. I finished the card off with some tiny pastel coloured eyelets and an organza bow plus pink pearl flower.

Rainbow Lady's Two Feathers Challenge

I enjoyed making this card for Rainbow Lady's second challenge (http://rainbowladyschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/challenge-two-feathers.html) ...to make a card etc. using one or more feathers. I used a new bird stamp, watercoloured it with Supapoint pens and then hunted round for co-ordinating card, paper, feather and ribbon, luckily (having far too much craft stash) I managed to find some and here is the result:

I am Woman

I got one of my favourite stamps out for this week's Daring Cardmakers Challenge (http://www.daringcardmakers.blogspot.com/) with the theme 'I am Woman' I don't know what make the glittery antique looking card is as it was a gift from a friend, but the paper inside which is also showing on the right hand side is Artylicious.

I stamped my lady with sepia Versafine onto glossy cardstock brayered with various cats eye chalk inkpads. She is mounted onto gunmetal mirri card and attached to a piece of gold/green paper courtesy of a Corner Adorner punch.

I then tied a bow around made from green silky fibre. I chose the sentiment for no better reason than the colours match the rest of the card, plus I had forgotten all about the Heartwarming Vintage Renaissance booklet it came from....only found it whilst searching for something else! It did make a change from Tilda, Bella & co!