building up the xmas cards . .

. . seeing as it's the 1st of Sep tomorrow thought I should try and increase the christmas card quota before it's too late. Bit of a late post today as found out last minute I was needed at the shop tonight so have only just got back and finished it. Originally did this using the PTW sketch but as it's a bit late for that challenge I've just tweaked it to my own layout and made a very simple card using another 1 of the gorgeous bear essentials stamp sets which I know Bryony now has up in her store here. (Just noticed some of the new craft UK stamps, especially the santa and penguin one - it's so cute!)

Stamps: ' Bear Essentials 438' from Silly Monkey Crafts includes the fab circular sentiment (fits a 2" punch)

Colouring: Copics and bit of glaze pens over the ribbons

Paper: Cosmo Cricket 'Jolly by Golly'

Tools: circle punches, snowflake punches, MS border punch

Others: woodware white fluffy stuff for the snow and hat trim with added glamour dust overit, diamond glaze over the glass bit in the door.

That's all for now. Hope you had a good bank hol weekend even if the weather's been absolutely pants (well it has been up here, don't think it's stopped raining all evening). Be back tomorrow with my WoJ project of the month, so be sure to come back then (even managed to impress myself LOL)

Just Magnolia SWF: 'togetherness'

Today's card started off as last week's Just Magnolia challenge (the fab sketch by Rach) but too late for that one, so it's now this week's (ribbon& bows) :) and also theme over on SWF is 'at the sea'. No embellies apart from the ribbon as I thought there was enough going on with the layout/papers and the whole little scene itself.

Stash:

Stamps: all Magnolia stamps summer collection '09 apart from the sentiments - circle one is a little studio g 99p clear set (love this one, wished they did more in this style) and the other is a making memories magnetic set

Colouring: stamped with Memento ink and coloured with Copics Tilda & Edwin are raised on foam pads but doesn't come across in photo

Paper: K& co 'Urban Rhapsody'

Tools:EK border punch, circle punch, Fiskars circle cutter for the back round pieces

Others: ribbon & stickles for bit of sparkle

CCT- new beginnings: 'sweet one'

CCT theme this week is 'new beginnings' . As I ran out of time (as per norm!) I had to make a quick card so pulled out this cute bunny stamp that is quick to colour in and I've not used for a long time. Teamed it with the scraps from my last card still on my desk . . the butterflies were cut from the patterned paper too. Went for a quilted/scrap look so added lots of doodled stitches . . . job done! Not my best but think it's o.k considering it is now 2am LOL so will be scheduling this for 7am in the morning when I'm still in the land of nod :)

Thanks for all the comments and sorry I've not been over yet this week! will make that my first thing to do with my morning cuppa!

Stash:

Stamps: Little cotton rabbit stamp by Sugar Nellie. circular sentiment from SU set

Colouring: Copics

Paper: same as the card below

Tools: EK border punch, circle punches

Others: gel pen for all the doodling, gliter added to the cut out butterflies

The Sugar Bowl #17: 'celebrate'

Hello again! I know it's my second post today but it's the last day of the sugar bowl challenge and I want to get my card in on time for a change (you'd think 2 wks would be plenty time wouldn't you?!).

So in anticipation of my niece's GCSE results tomorrow I have made her this card using the sketch and the optional extra of making your own flowers.

I've decoupaged this cute Diane Duda image to give the card more dimension (her body and head have been stamped out few times, cut and added with Silicone glue which as usual I got everywhere so had to hide bit of it with the butterfly :/). Here's a side view to try and show the dimension of it more.
Stash:

Stamps: 'Upside down' by Diane Duda for Sugar Nellie. The !! marks, 'celebrate' and congrats circle in 1 of the flowers are from a studio g 99p set

Colouring: Copics and my usual sponged distress inks for around edges and background, also around flowers and papers for more defination

Paper: Making Memories 'flower patch'

Tools: EK retro flower punches for the flowers and spiral punch for the ripped notebook page effect on the sentiment. Petite Oval nesties, Swirl punch, butterfly punch and mini circle punch

Others: gem brads and stickles


O.K, that's all for today, thanks for dropping by - again! Working tonight but will try and do a little blog hop later tonight (once I get my CCT card done for tomorrow!) Have a lovely day.

ATC~ teen terror: twilight!

O.K, it's Wednesday so time for bit of fun with an ATC. It's a shame we can't get more people to join in as I love making them . . just great fun to just let your imagination run riot for half an hour or so (only small, so don't take long) and be creative without having to worry how it will look or end up. Sometimes I may use them as card toppers but most of the time they are just for fun and serve no purpose what so ever! . Like this weeks :D

The theme is 'teen terror' so anything teenage related. Well that instantly made me think of this stamp from Greeting Farm. He's called Edward and looked tooooo much like THE Edward from Twilight so that just started me off on the whole 'Twilight' theme and you can't get more teenagey angst than that, now can you?! So I found him a Bella (another greeting farm stamp) but then couldn't fit them all onto 1 ATC so played around and ended up with 2 ATCs which I have put side by side to make a fold out/pop up style double ATC. Found some stamps for the background scene and away I went!

Here it is tied up closed, to resemble the book and then what it looks like opened up flat . .

and here it is again flipped open and standing up. . .
My particular favourite bit (and hubby's) is the truck I found for the background . . doesn't it look like the one in the movie, heehee?! although hubby said it wasn't battered/faded enough *rolls eyes* (it's from a SU set).

Here's another shot of it from a different angle, looks like he's crept up behind her LOL . .

Oh, I'm assuming you all know what I'm talking about but for those not bitten (sorry for the pun!) by the whole Twilight thing, it's a teenage vampire romance novel turned movie series.

Really hope you'll hop on over to the ATC blog to see the other ATCs made by the rest of the DT and maybe spend 30mins and join in with us - as long as you're base card/ATC is 3.5x2.5 it's up to you how you decorate it . . go on, raid your scrap pile and have a play!

Stash:

Stamps: Main characters are 'Annika' & 'Edward' from the Wild sprouts range by Greeting Farm. Apple on the front (like the cover of the novel!) and the tree/moon are CC designs stamps. The truck and pine trees are from an SU set. The text is from fab little alphabet clear sets, 99p! love the grungy one on the front even though you can't really tell it says twilight!

Colouring: all Copics apart from the sky which was 'weathered wood' distress ink sponged for that grey/moody look of their hometown, Forks

Paper: just scraps of grey and red from my scrap pile

Tools: scallop & circle punch for the front apple bit, MS fench punch. oh and my trusty lil pair of fiskars scissors for cutting out the images

Others: bit of ribbon to tie shut as it's a bit thick when closed!

Sorry for the long post but I had such fun making it I wanted to share it with you . . hope it put a smile on your face too :D and thanks for stopping by.

Simon says Fri Sketcher with Silly Monkey

It's been a while since I've posted anything for Silly Monkey but that's because Bryony has been busy clearing out sale stock over the last few months to make room for lots of new goodies. Good news is, the end is now in sight and for those of you who love your Promarkers she has all the new release colours up for pre-order now and I know there will be lots of yummy new stamps soon, including these cute 'Bear Essentials' christmas clear stamp sets.

I got some of them in my DT package over the weekend and just had to ink this one up and thought the Fri sketchers layout was perfect for it. Oh, it also fit's in with this week's Simon says challenge, 'christmas in Aug' :)

I just love this teddy & snowman but all the sets are just so adorable. As the image was so quick to colour in I decided to stamp it out couple of times and decoupaged it. The stamp sets also comes with lots of matching sentiments and borders and I've used some on the inside;

Some of the other sets have circular greetings in them which I love and can see being used lots with other images too :)

Stash:

Stamps: all images and sentiments from 'Bear Essentials 435' clear stamp set available soon from Silly Monkeys

Colouring: Copics

Paper: Cosmo Cricket 'Jolly by Golly'

Tools:circle nesties, EK border punch, various snowflake punches and a sizzix 'sparkle 2' die

Others: Decoart snow writer, stickles

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Off to watch a bit of QVC craft day . . nothing tempting so far (have been good and just ordered the Cosmo cricket set as a xmas pressie . . well unless I love it too much when it gets here LOL) but waiting for Prima hour and K & Co later.

& another WoJ!

Here's another Willow from the WoJ fall collection which have been released for individual sale today so if you were waiting you best hop over here now.

Have used Rach's fab lil sketch over on WoJ Challenge (flipped upside down) and this cute Willow . . finally a reason for me to use 1 of my metal grape charms I have been hoarding for ever! I'm so used to colouring in my images with black hair that I forget how different it looks when I make them blonde (just thought it suited the papers more)!

Stash:

Stamps: all WoJ stamps (the grape flourish is part of the corner flourish I've used on my previous cards I just cut the section that I wanted out.

Colouring: Copics for Willow, distress inks for background

Paper: odd sheet from stash I found, think it's Prima

Tools: Labels nesties, MS doily border punch, EK flourish punch

Others: Ribbon, metal charm, pink zoomz

Have a good Monday.

Another WoJ Autumn peek : 'grateful'

Here's another stamp from the WoJ Autumn kit. This time Willow is all 'country wife' mode with her tea towel and baked bread LOL so I sat her on a wooden chair (Magnolia stamp) and tried to give the card a rustic feel. By fluke main colours are aqua, brown (try to ignore the green haha) so think it qualifies for the Secret Crafter challenge out today and I've got 2 buttons on there so that's ABC's challenge covered :). Sorry about the dodgy photo . . colours are too bright, should be more muted . . just can't take photos in the day - I need my daylight bulb at night!

Was really tempted to put some corny message on it like 'I loaf you' or some other bread related pun but will save that for next time :D

Stash:

Stamps: sitting willow, corner flourish/harvest and sentiment all WoJ. the chair is an old Magnolia stamp

Colouring: Copics. bit of distress inks sponged around edges and leafy bits stamped . . again . . sorry! can't seem to stop doing that lately

Paper: MME Wild Asparagus (tried to make her tea towel match :D)

Tools: MS flourish edge punch and Woodware corner rounder punch - has fancy edge to it not sure what proper name is as I've had it a while

Others: buttons, rafia ribbon and brown fineliner pen for faux stitching

Have a lovely Weekend.

SWF: 'Cherish' Oakley

Back again! I've used the sketch over on SWF with some more stamps from the WoJ Autumn kit. This started out as my CCT card (post below this) as I thought I could make him look more summery but in the end I didn't fight it and just went with the autumn theme, which actually fits the current weather better!

Went a bit mad with the old distress inks . . was supposed to just lightly sponge around the edges but then got carried away and ended up covering all the white background, luckily it matches the dp and I think gives it a more autumnal feel.

Here's a closer shot of cute farmer Oakley sitting on the mushroom. Don't forget, individual stamps from the kit will be released next Mon 24th, along with a few other new ones.

Stash:

• Stamps: 'Oakley', the toadstool he's sitting on and the word 'cherish all WoJ stamps. leaves around him are a 99p studio g stamp and the circle sentiment gift off Kathy (but it's Cats Life press stamp if you want to source it yourself)
• Colouring: Copics on image, sponged distress inks for background
• Paper: Prima I think
• Tools: MS fench punch
• Others: metal charms, pearl gems and green garden twine

That's all for today. Thanks for dropping by.

CCT & Sketch Sat: 'lazy dayz'

CCT theme this week is 'Lazy dayz' so summer themed stamps or colours. Tried to make 1 of my new WOJ autumn kit into a summer themed card but it still looked autumnal so had to have a quick rethink and came up with this; Cutie is 'Sing' from Greeting Farm as are the papers which were scraps sitting on my desk. Sentiment is from Magnolia and image coloured in with Copics (what else!). Other usual suspects used include prima flowers, zoomz & various punches. Used the layout on this week's Sketch Sat (although I moved the placement of some of the flowers).

Hope she's made you feel summery. I'll be back later with a WoJ card. Before I go, I want to thank Hannah & Beth, who both gave me this lovely award. I would like to pass this on to all my readers who keep coming back time and again and leave me such lovely comments even when I'm really bad and don't visit back that often!

ATC: 'cheers'

Wednesday again, which means time for another ATC. This week's theme is 'cheers', so anything drinks/cocktail related.


I could have used a number of character stamps who have a drink in their hand but the first thing I thought of was this clear stamp set (a Francoise Reed woodware set) I've had for donkeys. All the words and images are from the set, just stamped in various coloured inks and then quick colouring with copics. Stamped the bottle & 1 of the glasses twice which have been cut out and raised on foam pads then have given them glassy look by covering with glossy accents and touch of glamour dust and stardust pen to finish. Nice and quick but I liked the collagey look to it all.

Have a good day and those of you in the south enjoy your sunshine, think all we're getting here in the north west is overcast mugginess :( - here's hoping the forecast is wrong!

Will be back tomorrow with my CCT and possibly another WoJ sneek peek.

Sketch& Stash: WoJ Fall Kit, peek no.1 ~ 'Thankful'

fancy frame around photo is from xtina's

Whoohoo! Here it is, my first sneek peek at the new WoJ Autumn kit. All kits have been sent now, so if you ordered you should have these beauties soon. If you didn't but like what you see, the individual stamps will be on sale here, from next Mon, 24th Aug.

As usual, I couldn't decide which angle/shot was better, so you get both (all photos can be clicked on for closer view)!

I used the sketch over on 'Sketch & Stash' (it is there honest, buried under the rather large central image but I may have rotated it and used a bit of artistic licence but it was my starting point!) Wasn't sure where I was going with this one at first but after picking the papers & colouring her in, knew I wanted a really femine/autumnal feel to it which wasn't happening at first but after lots of fiddling am really pleased how it turned out in the end!

Lots of distressing and crumpling went on, plus spritzed lots of glimmer mist over it so it's super shimmery IRL, not sure if you can see that.

Shall leave you with a closer shot of the 3 images I used from the kit; Willow, the sentiment and the fab corner stamp, great autumn feel to it . . can see that being used lots!
Don't forget you can always check the WoJ gallery for work from all the WoJ DTs or you can check out all our blogs (links in sidebar) for more sneek peeks, all through this week.


Stash:

• Images:Willow, sentiment and corner harvest flourish (not sure of their proper names yet!) WoJ Fall stamps, to be released 24th Aug if you haven't already ordered it in it's kit form
• Colouring: Copics for images & distress inks for background and for distressing all the paper edges. Glimmer mist in 'creme de cocoa' over flowers and around image.
• Paper: MME 'wild asparagus'
• Tools: mainly just my scissors and Heidi swapp distresser tool. MS butterly & twig punch
• Others: prima flowers & paper roses, button, paper string, rafia ribbon, flat backed pearls in 'coffee'

last minute Spoonful: 'smile'

Here's my last minute entry into this week's spoonful. Would have been earlier but camera playing up and only just managed to load photo on!

Stash:

• Images: Miss Anya & 'smile sentiment are Greeting Farm stamps
• Colouring: Copics
• Paper: Making Memories 'noteworthy'
• Tools: EK border punch, circle 1.5" punch & 2" scallop punch
• Others: PM adhesive shimmer dots

Loved the sketch, just rotated mine to fit this girly Miss Anya & still got the decoupage bug (plus she's easier to do!) so have cut out her frilly skirt, legs and hat and stuck on with 3d foam (if I try to use silicone in small areas I just end up with trails of it everywhere!). Probably look more dimensional close up (click on photo). The folded back corners are a la Debby after seeing her fab take on the sketch last week!

Do you like my blingy photo props?! Saw them in my local 'Home bargain' shop and had to get some (£1.30ish I think) as I thought they'd catch the light and be nice to try and 'dress up' my photos every now and again . . aren't they fab?! quite a few carats worth there . hmm if only they were real :D

Right off to finish my WoJ card, so come back tomorrow if you fancy sneek peek of what's in the Autumn kit. Thanks for dropping by and also big hello to some of my more recent readers/followers . . always lovely to have your company!

Stampavie & PTW: 'bloom'

I used the layout over on PTW for this card as I wanted something fairly simple so that the focus remained on the decoupaged image. Also, the Stampavie challenge is for summer which is what I thought this image would convey but now that it's done, it kinda looks more Autumn but we'll call it late summer shall we?!

Here's a side view to try and show you how 3D it is! I had great fun adding lots of stickles to the sunflower and it's super sparkly IRL (I adore these new images from the Tina Wenke range)

Stash:

• Image: 'mouse & rabbit with sunflower' Tina Wenke range from Stampavie stamped out 3 times and cut out various bits to make the layers for the decoupage
• Colouring: Copics. lots of stickles on flower and butterfly and glossy accent over the watering can and spade
• Papers: Andrea Victoria digital papers from Designer Digitals site
• Tools: 'labels 3' nesties, EK border punch, MS fence border punch, mini flower punch
• Others: sticky pearl gems in pewter from Kaiser - love this range & colour, must get more when stash diet over!

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Got some wonderful post yesterday, my WoJ DT goodies. So, if you ordered the WoJ fall kit you should start to stalk you postie next week!! Ooo you're gonna love it. If you didn't then come back Tues for some sneek peeks. Individual stamps will go on sale 24th Aug . Along with the fall kit stamps there will be 4 other new stamps, 1 of which will be this beauty by Alison Acton

ooo isn't she fab?! Can't wait to see what the others are.

Off to contemplate which of my fall kit to use first, oh it's a tough life! Have a lovely evening.