Mum's Retirement Card

My Mum retires this week after 30-odd years working for the same firm ... not too many people can claim that!  So this wee card's for her.

I paper pieced my flags and glossed up her watering can and trowel and added some sparkle to the dots on her dress.  I also got out my much neglected Memory Box die that I bought back at the start of the year and have used maybe twice. Bad me.
Sentiment from Lili of the Valley.  Whimsy butterfly die.

• Sketch from Sweet Sunday #166
• Pile it On #35 - I spy something beginning with P (postmark)
• Totally Papercrafts #131 - zesty summer colours
• Annabelle Stamps ac084 - spots and dots 
• Kaboodle Doodles #134 - special tribute to someone older than me
• Oldie but a Goodie - paper piecing
• Party Time Tuesdays #83 - anything goes
• Paper and Such - wings and things

Blue Lolly Dude

I haven't had any mojo for aaaages so thought I'd have a go at some of the tips from Papercrafts Connection ... I'd love to get a copy of their Card Design Handbook, but it costs $14.99 and postage is $17.99!!! No way Jose!  I think I'll just make do with the tips on their blog for free!

Anyhoo, this card was an attempt at the rule of 3 ... split your colour into thirds, but I think mine would have worked better if I'd used another blue instead of white for the top panel.  Ah well, I'll know better for next time.

I've had this lollypop ribbon in my stash for ages, and thought it would be perfect for this wee dude from CC Designs.  I glittered up the swirl in the lolly and then covered the lot in clear gloss.  Paper Smooches sentiment.

• The Squirrel and the Fox #25 - one for the men
• Sweet Stampin - out of the frame
• Penny's Paper Crafty challenge #90 - masculine
• Divas by Design #49 - anything goes

The Craft Barn candy

Just a wee heads up that there's some FAB candy on offer over at the Craft Barn.
(open to all countries and closes 9 Sept)

Do Aliens read books?

This week's challenge at High Hopes is to make a

Bookmark or Nametag

A nice easy challenge after last week's black & white toughie, so get your High Hopes stamps out and play along for the chance to win a new stamp of your choice.

I've used this cute wee alien from the Alien Special Set - wonder how long it will take Curiosity to spot one of these on Mars? :)

Coloured my alien with copics and added clear gloss to his eyes, and then coloured my die cut stars to match.

Other challenges:

• The Crafty Pad #184 - to die for
• Tammy's Scrapin Corner #24 - anything goes
• Totally Gorjuss #145 - strings the thing
• Craft Your Days away #52 - Farewell anything goes challenge

Golden Wedding Anniversary

This is a Golden Wedding Anniversary card for my Aunt and Uncle.  Didn't turn out quite as I expected - I like it though I'm not sure if its a bit too 'girlie'!  I always find it tough to make 'weddingy' type cards, and this took aaaaaages to make!

Whimsey die cut butterfly and gold peel off sentiment, numbers and borders from stash.

• Sketch from Sketch Saturday #221
• Totally Gorjuss #145 - string's the thing
• Craft Your Days Away #52 - Farewell Anything Goes
• Party Time Tuesday PTT#81 - garden delights
• The Crafty Pad #184 - to Die for 
• Stampalot August Challenge - take flight

Aunty Minnie's Birthday card

It's a beautiful sunny day {gasp!} and time's a wastin, so this is just a quickie!

I won these lovely happy stamps a while back from There She Goes ... coloured with promarkers and clear gloss/glitter added to the bees wings.

• Sketch from Mojo Monday #254
• Totally Gorjuss #145 - string's the thing
• Party Time Tuesdays PTT#81 - garden delights
• Tammy's Scrapin Corner #23 - add some flowers
• House of Gilli #39 - add a sentiment
• The Corrosive Challenge #155 - Birthday

Little donkey

This week's challenge at High Hopes is to make a

Black + White card

(Greyscale or sepia colored image or Black + White card with colored image)
Don't forget you need to use a High Hopes stamp to play along - join in and you could win some new rubbah!

HIGH HOPES is on FACEBOOK!!!

We would love to see what you create with our High Hopes stamps!
Come and join us here.

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Check out what the Divas have been up to and all the High Hopes news, too!!

I've never tried a black and white card before, so this was a new challenge for me!  I coloured Brayden with a black pencil and gave him some nice shiny hooves.  Silver peel off sentiment.

Other challenges:

• Sketch from Penny's Paper Crafting Challenge #88
• Stampin for the Weekend #15 - monochrome
• Charisma Cardz #31 - flowers and fauna
• Do You Stack Up #84 - four legged friends
• Simon Says Stamp - bingo - I chose ribbon/gems/punches
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes

Pastel butterflies

Hi folks!  Sorry I've been MIA again, think I left my mojo behind in sunny Donegal and she's forgotten to come home!  So I've spent the week watching the fab Olympics instead!

I had a look on SCS for some inspiration and decided to CASE this card by Jean aka Naturecoastcrafter, this week's featured stamper.
I used this pretty butterfly from Stamps by Judith, coloured with pencils and some sparkly bling added, and a Paper Smooches sentiment.

Oh, and a wee update on Ruby - she's hurt the ligament in her back leg and limps quite badly when she's been lying sleeping or if she jumps down from something.  Vet thinks she's improving ... I can't see it myself, but we'll give her another week and see how she does.

• Splitcoaststampers featured stamper challenge
• Fab'n funky #133 - pearls or rhinestones
• Divas by Design #47 - for a female
• Papertake Weekly - anything goes
• Sweet Stampin - things with wings
• Catered Crop - white pages recipe swap

Pretty flutterbies

How's this for a super quick card ... maybe 5/10 minutes tops.  Just some pretty die cut butterflies (Whimsy), a wee bit of embossing, some bling and Bob's your Uncle!

• Really Reasonable Ribbon #53 - bling and ribbon
• The Outlawz sketch challenge  sc081112
• Penny's Paper-Crafty challenge #87 - butterflires and / or bows
• My Mum's Craft Shop #68 - ice cream flavour .... mmmm raspberry ripple for me please!
• Party Time Tuesday #79 - anything goes
• Die Cuttin Divas #76 - anything goes