Here kitty, kitty

Couldn't get a decent pic of this card ... I took this earlier on when it was lashing with rain, though it's a beautiful evening just now, here's hoping it lasts!
Another card to use up some 'stash' - I've had this DP and also the pearls for a while, and I also recently rediscovered a tube of silver paint/pearls stuff that I tried to make a few swirls with.  I'm not so sure if I like it or not, maybe because I don't love the DP ... I think I might cut another butterfly out of white cardstock and stick it on top of the other one to see if that will brighten it a bit.
(ETA: I did add a white butterfly on top of the grey one, and it does look much better!)

Kitties from an Artemo stamp set; whimsy butterfly die; Paper Smooches sentiment.

• Layout from sketch at Sketch Inspiration
• Critter challenge #126 - anything goes
• Craft your days away #50 - shades of grey + 1 other 
• Moving along with the times - pink, pearls, pretty, celebration
• Simon Says ... anything goes
• Use it Tuesday #36 - uncut DP

Get Well Girlie

I got this Marianne heart die aaaages ago and think I've maybe used it once.  Bad me.  I'm determined to use more of my stash as I think I have plenty of it!  (I know, you can never have enough though!)

Image coloured with mixture of copics and promarkers, paper pieced butterfly and flower.
Marianne Design heart die.
Whimsy butterfly die - it comes with a fancy tail, but I just cut it off.

• Layout from sketch at Sweet Sunday #164
• The Crafty Pad #181 - things with wings
• Willow Sketchie challenge - anything goes
• Simon Says ... anything goes
• Colour theme from The Play Date Cafe -  Cobalt...Goldenrod...Peony

Summer cycle

Thought I'd get my wee cycling dude out as he hasn't seen ink for quite a while.  I faffed around for aaages trying to give him a Tour de France yellow jumper before I gave up!  I should have tried some Bradley Williams sideburns too!
Coloured with a mixture of copics and promarkers, though I'm not entirely happy with my mud-brown dog!  Lots of glitter added to bike.

• Colour combo of orange and blues and touch of chocolate from Ribbon Carousel RCC63
• Simon Says ... anything goes
• Divas by Design #45 - Happy Birthday
• PaperPlay #30 - sports / olympics
• The Outlawz Copic / Promarker challenge - anything goes
• Crafty Catz #143 - all that glitters
• Layout from CPS #276

Baby Ellie

Yeuch. It's been a perfect day for watching the Olympics on telly and 'spring' cleaning ... the rain is off almost as quick as it starts, and if it's not raining now it soon will be!

This cute baby elephant is from Wild Rose Studio.  Coloured with pencils and some Smooch added to the balloons for a wee bit of glitz.   Sentiment from Paper Smooches.

• Sketchy Colors #124 - sketch from #104 and blue theme from #100
• Stamptacular Sunday - patterns galore
• The Stamp Man - anything goes / celebration
• Simon Says ... anything goes

Cheers Brenda!

Well, did you all watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics?  I thought it was pretty good, and it would have been amazing to actually be there, but unfortunately finances did not permit!  I was down in Belfast yesterday when the Red Arrows flew over, and you could feel the excitement building in anticipation.  Mind you, its a good job I like the Olympics, it's all we've heard about in our media for months!

Its been a showery and blustery day, so between that and watching the Games on the telly, there was only time for a couple of CAS cards.  I spotted this cute wee lion stamp on Brenda's blog (aka Benzi) a while back, and of course he accidentally fell into my shopping basket when I went to investigate the Stamps by Judith website.  Isn't he hilarious, and soooo not scary!

Pink Card - challenges:

• Card Crafter's Circle #33 Clean and Simple
• Willow Sketchie challenge - anything goes
• Charisma Cardz #29 - monochrome
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
• Layout inspired by Makeover Monday challenge on Papercrafters Library

Blue Card:

• Colour combo from CAS-ual Fridays CFC63 - lime, aqua, navy
• Divas by Design #45 - Happy Birthday
• Sketch from Splitcoaststampers SC395

High Hopes - ribbon challenge

Our next challenge over at High Hopes is to use your

Ribbon or Lace

Now I know you might think 'easy peasy' ... well not if you're ribbon challenged like me!  I'll not confess how long I faffed around with my Bow Easy before I gave up and went down the CAS route with just a strip of ribbon and then a wee tab stapled on.
Pop over to High Hopes challenge blog for more inspiration and deets on the challenge.

My card uses Stretch and Jungle Leaf Corner - coloured with promarkers and central panel popped up on dimensionals.  No idea where the DP is from, it's been in my stash for yonks!


Other challenges:

• I flipped the layout from Sketch'n Stash #92
• Tammy's Scrapin Corner #20 - bingo - I used ribbon / free / flowers
• Totally Gorjuss #141 - leaf it in

Kitty hugs

Heee, this poor kitty looks like he doesn't really want to be in that hug!  Reminds me of our wee doggy ... all the kids in the street love her, and come racing towards her when we're out for a dander.  Of course they're always screaming her name at a thousand decibels.  Ruby? ... she'll do a complete U-turn and head in the opposite direction!

I was lucky enough to win Stamp and Create's monthly challenge recently, so blew some of my winnings on this pretty Whimsy butterfly die and some new charms (I'll know for next time to tie my twine a bit tighter so it doesn't sag so much!)

Old image from Meljen's; sentiment from High Hopes

• Layout from Sketch Saturday #217 (though I ran out of room for the sentiment so had to move it)
• Papertake Weekly - all things girlie
• My Mum's Craft Shop #66 - cats and dogs
• Fab'n Funky #130 - make your own flowers
• Divas by Design #44 - anything goes

Summer Fun

Time for a new challenge over at High Hopes, and this week it's ...

Summer Fun

(anything summery - fishing, camping, BBQ, sunflowers, sunny weather, water fun etc.)
You've a week to play along and don't forget you need to use High Hopes stamps - check the blog for stockists.

My card uses Diver Dan and Sea Floor Background.  Coloured with a mixture of pencils and copics and some glitter added to the underwater plants.  

Other challenges I'd like to enter this in to:

• Use it Tuesday #35 - emboss it - I dusted off my old Ellison circles embossing folder for the red panel
• My Time to Craft #183 - Make it Wet
• The Corrosive Challenge #153 - sentimentally yours

Sugary Birthday

We've had a lovely summer-ish day today, only one downpour! In fact, its been quite a nice couple of days - we get an extra extra long weekend with the Bank Holiday on 12&13 July, so that's always a nice wee bonus.  But unfortunately I didn't win the Lottery again, so it's back to the grindstone tomorrow. Boo.

I haven't played in the Sugar Bowl challenge for a while, so out came my wee Gorgeous Girl: A little birdie told me
Coloured with mixture of copics and promarkers, and had a go at my distressing (though I kinda always wish I'd left it alone when I use distressing, must be the CAS side of me!)

• Sketch from the Sugar Bowl #88 (though I've just realised I should have tilted my main image Doh)
• Colour combo from the Play Date Cafe
• Try it on Tuesday - bingo + a butterfly - I chose die cuts, 2 DPs, 3 bling
• Oldie but a goodie - flower power

Sick Donkey

I thought I'd have a go at the stippling technique, but I think I need more practice.  My wee donkey looks like he needs a swift visit to the vet!

Donkey from High Hopes: Brayden
Coloured with copics.
Martha Stewart grass punch.  Flower and brad from stash.

• MarkerPOP #01 - colour fur or hair
• Totally Papercrafts #125 - lots of layers
• Crafty Creations #178 - free for all
• The Stamp Man - summer colours
• Tammy's Scrapin Corner #18 - anything goes

Suzanne's off to Canada

This card is for a friend who's taking a year out to go to Canada, possibly longer if she gets her visa sorted.  It's a bit weird making a card for someone who may or may not come back!  I wasn't sure what sentiment to use, so I just did 'here I come' on the outside and 'ready or not' on the inside.  Couldn't think of what else to use!  

Image from Kraftin Kimmie: 'Melanie' - coloured with promarkers.  I've never coloured 'dirty fair' hair before and had no idea what markers to use, so this is a mixture of about 6 different markers!  Added glossy accents to her bag, shoes and maple leaf, and a big silver S to the baker's twine (thanks Mags!)  Scalloped edge and notebook edge dies from Die-namics 

• Sketch from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club MFTWSC80
• Paper and Such - red, white and blue
• Lexi's Creations #69 - for a friend
• The Corrosive Challenge #153 - sentimentally yours
• Creatalicious Challenges #35 - anything goes
• The Ribbon Girl - girlie card

Yippee!

Many, many moons ago when I was just starting out stamping I discovered this card by Crissy Armstrong on the Splitcoaststampers site, and instantly began a love affair with High Hopes stamps.  (I think that bumblebee on Crissy's card may have been my first HH purchase too!)  So to say I'm thrilled to be joining the High Hopes DT is an understatement! I've always admired the team's fabulous creations and never ever imagined that I would be one of the Divas myself!! Soooooo exciting!

Anyway, I hope you'll come and play in our challenge this week ... my favourite, a sketch.
You've a week to play along and you need to use a High Hopes stamp to join in the fun and have the chance to win some new rubbah.
If you don't have any HH stamps (gasp, how could you not?!) pop over to the High Hopes blog to find your nearest stockist.

(I've used Silly Goose on my card, coloured with copics)

Other challenges I'd like to enter this card into:

• Tuesday Throwdown #106 - hot colours
• Party Time Tuesday #76 - let's get punchy (I used a flower punch and corner punch)
• Tammy's Scrapin Corner #18 - anything goes any artist
• Stampalot July challenge - what's your passion ... mine's High Hopes stamps, copic markers, bakers twine and pretty DP's!

Wish I was there ...!

Ohhh I wish I was where she was!  Though if she was dressed like that on a beach in Northern Ireland this evening she'd catch her death!  She'd really need a cosy jumper and coat on!

All my stamps on this wee card are from High Hopes .. isn't wee Patti such a cutie!  Coloured with a mixture of pencils, copics and promarkers. Patti, the clam, the sandcastle and the clouds are all popped up on dimensionals.  Added loads of glossy accents (if it's red, it's now shiny!)

• House of Gilli #36 - vacation
• The Crafty Pad #178 - at the seaside
• Pile it On #28 - it's a shore thing
• Totally Papercrafts #124 - here comes summer
• Card Crafters Circle #30 summer holiday
• CRAFT #162 - splashy / water theme
• Divas by Design #42 - red, white, blue
• Papertake weekly - anything goes plus added option of highlighting using gloss

Puppy & Kitten

Does anyone else run out of post titles when you've used a stamp quite often?  I'd love to be able to think of something sweet or witty, but my brain has gone to sleep!
Anyhoo, Happy 4th to all my USA bloggy buddies, hope you're having a fun day!

This card looks 'busier' than it actually is, think its all that jazzy DP!  The scallops at the bottom of the sentiment panel were part of the fancy DP, so I just cut round them.
Image from Lili of the Valley - coloured with copics
Paper Smooches sentiment

• Totally Gorjuss #138 - sweet and simple
• Sweet Stampin - scallops
• My Time to Craft #183 - raining cats and dogs
• The Cuttlebug Spot - lace
• Tuesday Alchemy #21 - anything goes
• Colour combo from My Mums Craft Shop #64
• Copic marker Europe - black hair - I used C5,C7,100

ETA: I got top 3 at My Mum's Craft Shop!

Xmas Card #09

Didn't get much crafting done this weekend, though the weather is still quite pants ... apparently we've had the wettest (or second wettest, can't remember) since records began.  Now there's a surprise!

I thought I'd have a go at one of these white based cards, wow they're difficult!  I added texture with my embossing folders and popped my wee girl and Christmas tree up on dimensionals.  Glittered up the tree, her pompoms and the wee stars, so its nice and sparkly but doesn't really show up in pic. Coloured my gems and snowflake to match her nightie.

• The Squirrel and the Fox #21 - Christmas in July
• sketch from Sweet Sunday #162 
• Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #192 - Christmas
• Winter Wonderland - monochrome
• Charisma Cardz #25 - anything goes
• Fab'n Funky #127 - cute and girly
• Party Time Tuesday #74 - anything goes