Pink Piggy Blog Candy

Dawny is giving away a very cute Butterfly Kisses angel stamp set to celebrate 3000-4000 hits on her blog. Click Here to see for yourself and don't forget to check out her wonderful array of cards.

Christmas Angels

I haven't had much time for challenges lately but really wanted to join in with Rainbow Lady's Christmas Angel challenge and have just about made it! My card was made with the help of Adobe Photoshop and My Craft Studio, using free angel clipart I found online and Artylicious Damask Delights backing paper. I can't believe how long it took tinkering around with the graphics before I actually printed it, adjusting sizes, colours opacity etc!

LILY DECOUPAGE

I am more than happy with Rob Addams' new Flowers CD rom...the images are stunning and print out beautifully. I hate making sympathy cards but it seemed a bit easier using this lovely lily picture from the CD (plus Keepsake embossing board and Anna Griffin stamp).

Vacation ATC - Cute Card Thursday Challenge 10

Here is my ATC for the latest Cute Card Thursday Challenge (vacation theme). I really love this new stamp from Cuddly Buddly and thought it would be just right for this challenge. I have coloured Beachbabe Charley with Lyra crayons and the daisies with white Sakura pen. The backing paper is from the DCWV glitter mat stack and the little starfish and seahorse are from a pack of embellishments I have had for a while.

Dark Hair!

I recently bought this lovely unmounted stamp and thought it would be ideal for the My Time To Craft challenge which had a theme of 'Dark Hair.' I used Versafine black to stamp the lady and the tiny paisley stamps (Clearly Wordsworth) onto my ATC size card. I added a rhinestone stick on border strip over the paisleys and a couple of green Prima flowers, plus a touch of Sakura green glaze on her collar and cuffs and Sakura black stardust in her hair.

TRAVEL - INDIA/TAJ MAHAL

Today I made a card for the latest Arty Girlz challenge entitled 'Travel'Places' I knew the image I wanted to use....a lovely colourful water scene with the majestic Taj Mahal in the background, so I designed the rest of the card round the colours in the picture. The cardstock is stamped with Versamark using a paisley stamp and heat embossed with Sparkle N Sprinkle raspberry powder. The picture is framed with blue mirricard embossed with the Cuttlebug paisley folder. The other papers were created using some Indian themed freebies from Dover (I changed the colours to blue and cerise using a graphics programme). I used various fibres from Texere as embellishments, together with an assortment of gems and a metal dragonfly.

Luscious Lime & Lilac!

As I love green and purple together I really enjoyed making this card for Papertake's latest challenge (Luscious Lime & Lilac).

The image is stamped with purple Versafine with a new Third Coast stamp called Zoe from Sassy Crafts. She is coloured with Whispers markers and Sakura stardust. I doodled a dashed line border and wrote the sentiment with a Sakura Moonlight pen.

The fibres were a mixture of yarns from Texere Yarns and the lime sequin ribbon was bought from an unknown exhibitor at the last Stitch & Creative Craft show. The flower is a mixture of Flora Doodles from Joanna Sheen and a green Prima flower from Cuddly Buddly. The lovely lime cardstock is from Stampin Up and the purple was from The Works.

Rainbow Lady's Challenge # 12 Birds

Tonight I made an ATC for Rainbow Lady's latest challenge. The bird image is a stamp by Crafty Individuals and the paisleys are by Clearly Wordsworth. The cardstock is coloured with blue and pink chalks though it is hard to spot the blue in this photo. I than added pink Sakura Stardust and some tiny pink and blue gems.

Tanda Teaser Challenge Card - On The Case

I decided to join in with the latest Tanda Teaser challenge today as it sounded like fun. The challenge was to 'case' or replicate a card from Sheila's blog. I spent ages looking through all Sheila's wonderful creations and finally decided on this red and white love themed card, thinking it would be fairly simple to recreate....after all I was bound to have some red and white polka dot paper somewhere and a heart punch....errr...well as it turned out...NO!!!!!! All I had was a similar stamp from stamping up (the word love).

I was disappointed but determined to join in so I improvised by punching out lots of white paper dots and glueing them onto the red paper (something I don't ever want to do again in a hurry!!!). I found a single red foam heart and made 2 paper ones to go with it using one of the Glitter Girls' boards. The white lines and dots on the hearts are drawn with a white Sakura pen. I just added stems taken from some paper flowers I was tired with to the hearts, a white organza bow and some tiny teardrop shaped red gems.

Tilda & Friends - Bugs ATC

Today I made an ATC (something I tend to avoid)....it's for Tilda & Friends latest ATC Challenge 'Bugs.' I enjoyed the challenge of trying to fit things into such a small space and it was a treat to use 2 of my new Tilda Shabby Chic stamps, coloured with Lyra crayons & Sakura pens. The bugs were just doodled, coloured and stuck onto the finished ATC.

The Card Grotto Blog Candy

Just been looking at the wonderful creations on Michelles Card Grotto blog. She is giving away some very nice goodies to celebrate reaching 40,000 hits on her blog (quite an achievement)! Check it out!

Yeee Haa! Tanda Teaser Card

Tonight I made this card for Wendy's Yeee Haa! challenge over at Tanda Teaser. Unfortunately I don't have any suitably themed rubber stamps so I created a digital stamp of Chief Sitting Bull in Adobe Photoshop and added some grass, leaves and text. He is mounted onto a corrugated paper frame which is secured to the card base with string through eyelets. The backing papers are by Dovecraft.

EYE EYE IT'S A NATURAL FEELING

Here is my latest card....for Tilda & Co's latest challenge (to use eyelets and something natural). The natural element to this card is the pinky red bow inside the heart which is actually a dried pasta bow (farfalle) dyed with Glimmer Mist spray. The eyelets all came with my Crop A Dile setter. I cannot remember the make of the black gingham vellum round the side and top of the card or where the black heart cutout shape was from but I know it has been in my bit box forever!!!! The birthday greeting was embossed on silver mirri using the Cuttlebug. The flower button top right is by Cuddly Buddly. Tilda has been coloured with Lyra crayons, brush markers and Sakura pens.

Monotone Rainbow Challenge - Elephant Walk

I finally made a card after a long gap.....it is for Rainbow Lady's Challenge No. 10 Monotone Rainbow Colours and I chose blue. The image is Cuddly Buddly's Elephant Walk coloured with Lyra watercolour crayons, Whispers brush markers and a blue Sakura Stardust pen, then highlighted with Ranger Glossy Accents. The ribbon is Maya Road.

It's A Man's World

Here is my card for Cute Card Thursday's challenge No. 6 - It's a man's world. The graphics are from Sharon Duncan's Oriental Style CD Rom and I added a little Sharpei dog by using Adobe Photoshop, used Rangers Glossy Accents to add highlights, then mounted onto black hologrpahic card and added some red stars as a border.

Flight of Fancy

Tonight I made this card for Caardvark's Flight of Fancy challenge, using My Craft Studio. The bird, flourish, background and tag are all graphics from P C Crafter. I added a feather and flower button from Cuddly Buddly, plus some highlights with Sakura clear glaze and stardust pens.

Fashion Boutique

Today I made a card for a fashion conscious friend. I knew I was going to use Joanna Sheen's wonderful Fashion Boutique CD rom but as there is so much on this set I spent ages trying to decide which image/colour to go for. Eventually I chose the following which is certainly very colourful!

Papertake Making Waves Card

I made this card for Papertake's Making Waves challenge (to use zigzags and/or scallops). I used by Cuttlebug to cut the brown plain and scallop circles from foam with Nestablilities dies. I used a Sizzix die for the birds. The pink circle paper was a gift so I don't know the make. The flowers are a mix of Flora Doodles from Joanna Sheen and Prima from Cuddly Buddly. The pink bows are also from Cuddly Buddly. The white button brads are HOTP and I use used my Carl squiggle blade to cut the paper zigzags.

Tanda Teaser Word Play Challenge

I made this card earlier for the latest Tanda Teaser Word Play Challenge. The blue card is stamped with just about visible Elusive Images Damask stamp in Versamark to create a watermark effect. I created the rest of the card in My Craft Studio and although I do like the image, the caption is still making me cringe!!!!

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!

Tilda &Co Challenge - Wishing You Well

Any excuse to make a Tilda card!!! Here is my attempt at the latest Tilda & Co Challenge to make a card to cheer up a sick friend:

(http://magnoliachallengeblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/challenge-8-wishing-you-well.html

I coloured my Tilda with pearly paints and Sakura pens. The lovely papers were a gift from a friend. The mini flower is Prima. The letters were free on a craft mag last year. I finished off my card by threading bright pink yarn through eyelets down the left hand side and added some strips of sticky ribbon in pink and green.

Theme Thursday 'Warm Colours'

Yet another challenge card!!!! This is for Theme Thursday's 'Warm Colours' challenge. (http://themethursday.wordpress.com/)

I have used a Stampingbella stamp coloured with brush marker pens matted and layered onto Artylicious damask paper, red mirri card, pink and orange cardstock. I then wrote on the sentiment and fixed the topper to my card (embossed with Cuttlebug's birds & swirls) with pink and orange eyelets. I finished it all off with pink and organge bows.

Tanda Teaser - Toy Box Treasures

I am trying to take part in more challenges and here is my card for the latest Tanda Teaser Challenge entitled Toy Box Treasures (http://tandastamps.blogspot.com/) The stamp I have used is Joanna Sheen Past Times stamped in Versafine sepia onto linen card. I then did some punching and added a bow and 2 little teddies plus a birthday greeting.

Acetate Card Challenge

Tonight I have made a card for Rainbow Lady's first challenge which was to use acetate somewhere in your creation. I actually started off by stamping a piece of acetate with Versamark using a stamp from Elusive Images Damask Squares set and heat embossing it in purple. The lady with a fan stamp (Artkure) is embossed in gold and watercoloured.

The main card is purple mirror card embossed with the Cuttlebug. Finally I stuck the embossed acetate onto a piece of green mirror card, mounted it along the bottom of the card with foam tape and threaded the pearl rope through the corner of my card punched out with a rose corner punch.

Spring in your step

I'm not convinced spring is around the corner as it's so cold but it's nice to think spring at least! Tonight I made a card for the Papertake Weekly Challenge which was to make a spring themed card and here it is. The frame is by Cuddly Buddly and the hippo is Henrietta by Pink Petticoat coloured with pearly paints. The blue backing paper behind the frame is by Basic Grey. I made the blue flower with sentiment myself and it reads 'spring is nature's way of saying let's party!' which is a quote by the actor Robin Williams.

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/