Clean and Simple over at Sweet Stampin

Regular visitors to my blog will know that I am not a clean and simple kind of gal although I am a huge admirer of those who can pull this off so stylishly!!  However, I had to make a card for my nephew's 16th so thought I would give it a go, especially as this is the theme over at Sweet Stamping where my best buddy, Lesley, has just landed a DT spot - yaaayyyhhh!!!
I simply stamped this Paper Artsy image and layered it up onto black and grey card.  The sentiment came with the stamp set and seems rather apt for a 16 year old.  Hope it's clean and simple enough!!

Passion For Promarkers - Favourite Things

Where has the last week gone!!!  Come to think of it where has the last 6 months gone!  The longest day of the year yesterday and I feel as though I'm still getting ready for the year!!   Won't be long till Christmas - haha!!  Speaking of which (just bear with me), our challenge for this week at Passion for Promarkers is Your Favourite Things, chosen by Debs, and if you take a look at her card, she has chosen Christmas as her favourite thing!  Don't forget to check out Deb's stunning tutorial this week on the PFP Weekend Workshop site - leave a  comment and you could win something from  Sketching Stamper Digi-Stamps  - where Deb's image comes from. 

For me, my first thought was ooohh chocolate, but I had someone in mind for my card, and I did her a chocolate themed card last year!!  So, I decided upon shoes which I adore and judging by this Whiff of Joy City girl image, she does too!! Can't you just see her saying ooohhh, new shoes!!
Well either she loves them, or they're hurting so much that she cannot wait to slip them off - another of my favourite things - kicking off my shoes when I get in from work!!  My papers are from Stampin Up and the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

For this week's card challenge at PFP we are being sponsored by The Secret Crafter and one lucky person could win six Promarkers of their choice!!


Looking forward to seeing what your favourite things are and don't forget to check out the other stunning cards from the PFP DT!! 

Christine Dark Beauty!

Evening everyone!  Hubby is watching the footie and all my lovelies are out - eek, we're Darby and Joan!!  Anyway,  I disappeared to make a card and this is the result.
Debs, my teamie over on PFP, has use one of Christine's gorgeous digi images for her weekend workshop tutorial here and it is stunning so go and take a peek.  It reminded me of these fab digis that I bought from Christine at The Sketching Stamper a fair while ago so thought I'd dig them out and isn't she a little beauty (and amazing value)!  I met Chris a couple of months ago at a Craft Barn demo where she was showing her amazing colouring skills with Distress Inks, and she was so lovely as well as so talented!!! 

I got these fabulous papers - Utopia by Kaiser Krafts and so have left the card fairly uncluttered (for me!!) as I didn't want to hide them! The flowers are also a new purchase from Wild Orchid Crafts!!  (Think the zip on my purse is broken now, I've opened it so much!! )   For the vertical background strip I used a deep edge MS punch but punched each side to get the flower effect.  I used the sketch over on Cute Card Thursday for my layout so am entering it into that challenge.  I'm also entering it in the current Dare U 2 Digi Stamp challenge whose theme is Blooms and Butterflies.

Well, DD3 has just got home as I was writing this, so off to have a chat with her.  Catch up with you later!

Colour Create - First DT card!!! Challenge 47

I am absolutely over the moon to picked to be on the Colour Create DT- fabulous team of peeps, a number of whom I've known and admired in blogland for a while, and the rest - well I can't believe I didn't know them and their amazing work!!!  Thanks so much for the spot on the team, ladies, hope I don't let you down!! 

Anyhoo - onto my first card and wow what a picture we had to work with!!  This was chosen by Karen, isn't it fab!! The brief for this challenge is to use white card with two colours picked from the photo and you have the optional extras of using an element from the picture such as satin, flowers, charms, pins etc.

I knew almost immediately that I was going to use this one and only Stampothique girl that I have had in my stash an age!!  I adore these images but think I'll have to be quite selective who I send this too!!  I've gone for the rather obvious colour combo of the burnt orange and green and have kept to her grungy theme by dirtying the edges of the mat with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink and I've also roughed up the edges.  I also like that my bow mirrors the style of the Hatter's hair - lucky that!!!  The little sweetie sentiment is from a Crafty Individual set and love how it contrasts with the image - still, we shouldn't judge a book by its cover - I just know she is a real sweetie!!!

The Colour Create team, old and new, have come up with the most amazing and actually, quite varied creations!!  We've all seen different colours in the sketch - and if you look, there are alot there!  Do hop on over to the Colour Create challenge blog - you're in for a real treat!  We are also being sponsored  this week by Wink Wink Inc so get your colouring tools out!!

Basic Grey - fab colour scheme!!/WOYWW

When I saw the colour scheme over on Basic Grey - turquoise, brown and cream - this week, set by Heather, I knew I had to have a go!!  I always think of this combo as Heather's signature colours too and I'm not surprised- it is just so nice! 

I bought this super cute image by Stamping Bella, Issie with a Brellie, at the Craft Barn- I was given a voucher to spend there for my birthday - I was in clover!!  I've coloured her with my promarkers and then used Basic Grey papers from the new Cappella pad and another (but can't remember which one!).  The flower is a K&Co I've had in my stash and the sentiment is Whiff of Joy.  Oh and the flourish edge punch is one that my bestest friend, Lesley bought me for my birthday (amongst lots of other lovely goodies).

Also just a quick piccie of my desk as it's WOYWW - I've left a trail of destruction behind after making this card.  Will try and get round a few desks as I do love a nose, but it's such a global phenomenon now that I do struggle - Soz!! 

PFP Challenge - Sketch and male card

Hiya bloggers!!  Back with my second DT card for Passion for Promarkers and this week we have a sketch for you by Debbi with the added theme of male cards - just in time for Fathers Day here in the UK.

I used this brill digi image of Charlie Chaplin from Mo's digital for my card and used all the cool and ice grey shades, with a touch of red for his cravat!  To carry on the movie theme, I've adapted and interpreted the square background, and used a film strip stamp, coloured with PMs and also this great film strip acetate ribbon from Tim Holtz which I've secured with eyelets.  The card is for my nephew's birthday - he studied film and media at college and is hoping to make a career in this field, so hope he likes it!

Don't forget to pop over to Passion for Promarkers to check out all the fab work from the rest of the design team - stunning creations from all the lovely ladies there!!  We are also being sponsored by Whiff of Joy this week, so get making those male cards to be in it to win it!!! 

Thanks for looking, I shall look forward to visiting to see what you come up with!!

These are soooo cute!

I so love this new release from LOTV which arrived earlier this week and I've used this little lovely to enter the challenge on the LOTV blog this week.  I've used their sketch and they also have the optional extra of flowers - don't need to be asked twice!!

Papers are My Mind's Eye Penny Lane and I've coloured with my trusty PMs, flowers are from Wild Orchid crafts (who are also sponsoring the challenge) and there's a bit of punching and glittering.  I've also used Viva pearl paint to make her pearls 3 D.

Talking of Viva, I went to the Craft Barn demo day yesterday ( and it was on today) and there were so many fab people demoing with all the new range from Viva which includes paints, and shimmer buff type paints and the most amazing value stamps sets (£3.55 for a large set of stamps) - I bought  four sets!!  Flourishes and frames and a heraldry set also.  So enjoyed  it and saw some fab demos from some amazing people and companies!  Spent a few pennies too- ssshhhh!!!

I'm a little dotty tonight!!

Just fancied making a cleaner card for me, and wanted to use this cute little Ketto stamp from Stampin Bella which I've not used before!  ( Note to self:  I must not buy anymore stamps until I've inked up some of my existing ones!!) Used Basic Grey papers, including some from the new Basic White pad.  The little wooden polka dot flower is from John Lewis and you get a little bag full of the cutest little flowers, birds and butterflies - they be luverly!  I'm entering this into the following couple of challenges:

Pink Elephant  - Red, scallops and  a bow
Create 4 Fun - Black, white and one other colour

PFP Pretty in Pink

Hello and here I am with my second DT card for Passion for Promarkers - and this week the challenge has been set by the gorgeous and talented Anja, one of my fellow new teamies at PFP.  She's done a fab job so don't forget to check out the PFP challenge blog to see hers and all the other DT members gorgeously pink creations!! 

Our sponsor this week is Joanna Sheen and one lucky person will win a £10 voucher to spend in her on-line store!!

For my card, I've used this wonderfully sulky Jill image from Mo Manning - mine's digital but I think she's also available now in rubber!!  I just adore her cross patch face and felt the how old sentiment was perfect for her!! Having just celebrated my ** birthday, I know just how she feels!!    I followed the sketch over on Friday Sketchers so I'm going to join in with their challenge this week.  The main DT paper is My Mind's Eye Penny Lane and there's also a bit of Basic Grey in there!  A bit of embossing, punching and stickling and voila!!  Hope you like!  

Just a quickie!

 Had a fabby day yesterday with my girlies - thanks for all your good wishes for my friend's son, much appreciated!  Was also my niece's 21st celebration with the family last night - what a gorgeous, balmy evening, we sat outside till gone 10pm.  Back to work tomorrow, and had to make this card for an order from work for a male 80th. 

Kept it fairly simple using Basic Grey and Chatterbox papers, with the little drummer boy image stamped with Vintage Photo distress ink. I hope it will be what's wanted!

NEED to catch up on a few blogs now, so have a great week even if you are at work :(

Card for friend's son

You may recall my post a few weeks ago about my friend's son who was badly injured in a most horrific hit and run car accident!!  Well, the good news is that he is now home and recovering well, although he will have lots of probs with his leg for a while to come!  He's missed his AS level exams, I believe, but at least he's home!!  It's been so difficult to know what to do to help so I've bought him an HMV voucher so he can buy a film/game/music to help pass the time while he recuperates.

 Thought the above digi image from Charmed Cards and Crafts was ideal for this gift - coloured it with all the grey toned PMs and layered up very simply on co-ordinating papers.  I'm also going to enter this into the Simon Says challenge which is Male Cards this week.

I'm seeing my friends today for a lovely girlie lunch and a gossip, so will give the above to his mum then (along with a therapy/massage voucher for her as she's been through so much over recent weeks).

Going to be another fab day - here in London anyway - so have a good one!! 

Bit of fabbie news for me!!

I've just made it onto the Colour Create DT - so thrilled to be in a team with these gorgeous and talented ladies!!  I do love my colour so this just couldn't be better!!  Thanks so much - looking forward to playing along with you all!!!

WOYWW - Happy Birthday!!!!

Didn't want to  miss the celebrations for WOYWW today as it's such a special Wednesday!  Started by the fab Julia Dunnit over on The Stamping Ground basically just to satisfy hers ( and ours, now) curiosity about the status and goodies that other crafters have on their workspaces - and I don't just mean desks!!  Hop on over to Julia's  as this has now got a life of it's own, gone global and is a total bloggie phenomenon!!!  You also get a d******d good read over at Julia's, she tickles me Pink!! 

Didn't have time to make a project to celebrate but hope you like my contribution anyway - Haha!!

 Just making dinner and then hope to gradually visit all the other participants over the next few days!! 

Colour Create number 45/Simon Says challenges

Wow three posts in one day!  That's cos I've got some time for crafting!!   This is my card for both the Colour Create Challenge and the Simon Says Challenge. 
Colour Create's colours are Soft Green and Cool Aqua with the option of butterflies, while Simon Says are Pink or Blue with Green and Brown.  So, I've coloured with my Promarkers and edged the stamp with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink (just about my fave from the recent release of colours).    Papers are DCWV Garden Party papers and this gorgeous little image is a Pure Innocence Digi. To ensure I got the brown in for Simon Says, I coloured and embossed the MS punched butterfly to tie in with the butterfly on the DP.

Thanks for all your great comments today - I know it can be time-consuming, so truly appreciate you lingering a bit longer!!

PFP - Books!!

This is my second post for today, so please scroll down to join in the Quixotic Paperie Anniversary Blog Hop.

Passion For Promarkers


Week number two for me at Passion For Promarkers and Wow, what a week!!  Didn't you all just love the free rein that the Anything Goes theme gave you - guess that prize list had something to do with it too! Can't wait to see who wins! 

Anyway onto this week's challenge which has been set by my fabbie new teamie, Andie with the theme of books.

I've used this gorgeous Lili of the Valley image which I've had an age but have only just coloured!!  Oops!!  Of course it was just calling to me for this theme!!  The sentiments are K&Co as are the flower embellies!  The old fashioned library card is a stamp that again has been in my stash for ages and had to be used (OH is a librarian but doesn't read books!)!!  I've also used 7 Gypsies and Die Crafts With a View Once Upon a Time  script papers.  Finally the leaves were made with a Sizzix die - I rather think the girlies are reading Jack and the Beanstalk judging by the size of these leaves, LOL!  Lots of distressing with Tim Holtz Crackle Paints and Distress Inks - just to add to the old fashioned feel! 

This week we're being sponsored by Stampeezee with a £10 voucher to spend at their on-line store!  Don't forget to visit all the other new (and old) PFP ladies - and I shall look forward to visiting you to see your takes on the theme!!

Quixotic Paperie Anniversary Hop!!

It's the first anniversary of one of my most favourite on-line stores today, Quixotic Paperie, so you can imagine how thrilled I was when Elaine asked me to join in the celebrations as a friend of Quixotic!!  Yep, we're having a blog-hop - yaaayyhhhh!!

If you're already following the hop, you should have hopped over here from  Kim's Blog.  If not, then hop back to the beginning at the Quixotic Paperie Store Blog. You won't want to miss a stop, as in addition to lots of fantastic inspiration, there are some prizes on offer (full details on the Quixotic Paperie Blog).


Quixotic Paperie was started on June 1st 2009 by Elaine Hughes. Having been an avid crafter (and craft shopper!) for a number of years, Elaine wanted to share her passion and see where it might take her - so, Quixotic Paperie was born! Since then, the store has grown, and now stocks a fabulous range of rubber stamps from around the world: The Greeting Farm, Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, SCACD Stamps, Paper Makeup Stamps, Belles 'n Whistles, the Mo Manning for Stamping Bella range, Stempelglede and more! In addition, the store carries a large range of charms and embellishments, and a host of gorgeous papers for all your crafty projects! If Elaine loves it, you will probably find it at Quixotic Paperie!

In November 2009 the Quixotic Challenges blog was started, where you can find weekly inspiration from the wonderful Quixotic Paperie Design Team, and join in for the chance to win a monthly prize.

It has been a fabulous and wonderfully crafty year and here's to another one and hopefully many more to follow!  Now here's my card to wish Elaine a very Happy Birthday/Anniversary and you'll see what a big fan I am when you look at the list of all the elements I used that you can get at QP!!

The Moonlight Whisper girls from Kraftin Kimmie are amongst my all time fave images and of course these are available at Quixotic.  Elaine also stocks Basic Grey papers - I've used papers from the Lemonade pack here.  The gorgeous little half-pearls are also from Elaine - as it was a special occasion I persuaded myself to go to town with them and I always know where I can get more from!!  Elaine also has a great selection of pins, one of which is the heart shaped pin which I've used here.  You can also see the raffia ribbon accross the centre which was from QP and just one of a range of colours.  What you can't see as it's hidden by the ribbon bow, is the metal flower centre - you, guessed it, another Paperie purchase!!  And finally onto that bow - I made this 3-looped bow with the fabby Bow-Easy which Elaine stocks and is a must have in your crafty tool box!!  A bit of a haul eh!!!

There will be THREE prizes awarded to celebrate the anniversary. To be in with a good chance of winning, people should comment at every stop, as the winners will be drawn randomly from all the comments. Full details of the prizes can be found at the start of the hop on the Quixotic Paperie Store Blog. The draw will take place on Sunday 6th June.


Thank you for joining us on the hop! Your next stop is at Kathy's blog - I'm sure she'll have something totally inspiring to show you, along with the rest of the fantastic line up of bloggers on the hop!  Enjoy!!