Sepia tones

When I got this image called "Billy" from Ppinkydolls, 

I wanted to make it look like an old sepia image...

I played about with my lyra pencils and derwent watercolour pencils 

to create the soft colouring, as the image is drawn so softly. 

The challenge this week at Glitter n Sparkle is 

"Anything goes"

so I could play with the sepia technique. 

I used some strips of beige / brown papers

and embossed and softly chalked the background, to give a little more detail. 

The sentiment is stamped on the card base.. it's from craftwork cards.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

QKR Stampede - add a sentiment - 25 March
Crafting with an attitude - atg - 28 March
Through the craft room door - atg - 23 March
Crafting from the heart - atg - 22 March
Eureaka stamps - atg - 22 March

Use green...

This weeks challenge at Glitter n Sparkle

is ... "use green"

So I coloured this cute image - Cadence - 

from Spellbinding Stamps,

using plenty of green!   

I thought this lovely image was gorgeous to colour. 

I popped her onto an embossed star background, once I had fussy cut around her. 

I embossed using a docrafts folder - my favourite way to emboss,

as its quick. simple and very effective! 

The sentiment is from pink petticoat...which is now, sadly, closed.

It was really hard to photograph, but i have also used my fave diamond

stickles on her wings and near the sentiment. 

I matted the embossed piece and the sentiment onto green card, 

but thought it needed something more,

so added white dots with my white sakura pen.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Crafty friends -  atg - 26 March

Polkadoodles - spring colours - 26 March

QKR Stampede - add some sparkle - 19 March

Simply create too - use green only - 19 March

As you like it - your fave embossing and why - 25 March

Crafting with an attitude - atg - 28 March

Crafty girl creations - atg - 24 March

Hannah and friends - atg - 17 March

Sassy studios - shades of green - 17 March

Mother's Day

I hope you have all remembered that Mother's Day is today!

This is one of the cards I have made ..

At Glitter n Sparkle, the theme this week is "Mother's day"

and I used the image "Cat" from Kenny K.

Sooo cute! 

I coloured him with my promarkers and the sentiment is from 

Pink Petticoat - which has now sadly closed.

The backing paper is from a pack I bought in the works for £1.

I made a little banner and embossed the bottom, to sit the cat and sentiment on. 

To finish, I inked the edges of everything in pink. 

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Crafty calendar - mums day / special female - 28 March
Brown sugar - cute and cuddly - 10 March
Crafty catz - use 3 different papers - 10 March
Cardz for gals - card for woman / women  - 16 March
Little miss muffet - atg - 9 March
ABC - c is for cute - 13 March
Crafty boots - for the lady - 13 March
Dream valley - mothers day - 13 March

Peacock

I got this stunning image this month... "peacock"

for our

USE GREEN monthly challenge

over at Patties Creations. 

I simply coloured this image with my promarkers...

although it did take a good while! (lol)

I used a peacock feather backing paper,

which I bought in a 6 x 6 paper stack in "The Works" a little while back. 

Some punched flowers and leaves

and a little faux stitching around the edge, finished this card.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges...
Crafting with an attitude -atg - 28 March
Crafty girl creations - atg - 9 March
Double d - use green - 14 March
Paper creator - spring colours - 31 March
Melonheadz friends - use an animal - 14 March
Crafty friends - floral - 11 March

A spring birthday

At Glitter n Sparkle this week, the challenge is to 

"use things with wings."

I was thrilled to get "Bunnies bird and flower border"

from Morgans Art Stamp Store.

I loved colouring this image - and I popped a spring sentiment inside.

I thought this could be used for a spring birthday card.

I simply coloured the image with my promarkers

and inked carefully around the edges with yellow, and popped 3d foam

 on the back to make it stand off the page.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Creative fingers - atg - 4 March
Wags n whiskers - furry friends - 4 March
Crafty girls creations - atg - 9 March
Crafty gals corner - atg - 2 March
Mod squad - any animal or bird - 2 March

Paper shelter - animal magic - 2 March
Sisterhood of crafters - think spring - 7 March
Ikes art - going in circles - 29 Feb
Bunny Zoes crafts - things with wings - 13 March
Oh la la creations -  CAS - 27 Feb
Crafty friends - floral - 11 March

Pink 'n' girlie

It's the old favourite challenge this week at Glitter n Sparkle -

Anything goes!

I used the cute image - bunny walk - from Cute as a button.

I often have someone in mind while I'm mking a card...

although this time, I didn't have anyone in mind...yet.

(That's why there's no sentiment ).

I used a mix of HOTP paper and docrafts papers and i fussy cut 

the little bunting from one of the docraft papers.

The image, as ever, I coloured with promarkers and 

added some punched Martha Stewart butterflies.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges...

The paper shelter - make it digital - 23 Feb
Whimsy stamps - atg - 15 March
Through the craft room door - atg - 24 Feb
Pinspirational -  inspiration image (I was inspired by the bunting) -1 March
Bunny zoes crafts - things with wings - 14 March
Crafting from the heart - atg - 21 Feb
Jos scrap shack - atg - 27 Feb
Simply papercraft - atg - 26 Feb

Love

At Glitter n Sparkle this week, 

the challenge fits perfectly with this time of year...

"Love is in the air...."

I got this cute little image called "hooked on love"

 from Robyn's Fetish.

I drew some "scales" on each of the fish, 

coloured them with my promarkers and popped them on 3d foam pads.

I inked the edges of an embossed background, which I think

resembles bubbles of water,

and found some wavy patterned paper.

(again to resemble water - waves)

The sentiment - I handwrote.

A few little golden heart "bubbles" finished off this card.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges...
Pink gems - love is in the air - 20 Feb
Catch the bug - keep it simple - 21 Feb
Crafty calendar - love is in the air  - 28 Feb
The pencil case - more than one of something (2 fish)  - 28 Feb
Kitty bee designs - valentines / love - 28 Feb
Thats crafty - love and romance - 20 Feb
Julia Spiri - atg with a twist /love is in the air  - 18 Feb
Little miss muffet - atg - 24 Feb
Sassy studio - valentines - 20 Feb
Crafty creations - hearts - 18 Feb
Crafty addicts - atg / cute n cuddly - 18 Feb
Whimsy stamps - with love - 17 Feb
Paper creator - must be love - 28 Feb
Cards 4 Guyz (GDT) - valentine / love - 15 Feb
Oh la la creations - love and romance - 14 Feb
CAS on sunday - valentine - 20 Feb
Come and get it - love is in the air - 20 Feb

Sparkle

The challenge over at Glitter n Sparkle this week is...

"fireworks / sparkle"

I used Vivian from Zuri Artsy Crafty.

I coloured her hair and skin with my promarkers.

I "coloured" her dress purely with glamour dust - to create the 

"sparkle" for this weeks challenge. 

The baking vellum has given the "fireworks" feel -

and I glamour dusted a very fine edge to each side of the vellum,

which has just about picked up in the photo. 

The butterflies are punched from glitter card.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges..

Digital delights - atg - 15 Feb

Southern girls challenge - atg - 19 Feb

Crafting with friends - atg - 11 Feb

Creative fingers - atg - 18 Feb

Crafting by designs - atg - 25 Feb

Fresh  brewed designs - atg - 10 Feb

Wordart wednesday - atg - 17 Feb

I love promarkers - atg - 8 Feb

Catch the bug - atg - 14 Feb

Celebrating love.

This month, at Patties Creations, the challenge is ...

"love is in the air" - so show us some love!

Here is my card for the challenge...

I used the image called "wedding glasses"

and have made a card for a wedding, engagement or anniversary.

I coloured the image with my promarkers and decoupaged it. 

The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat

and I used some fancy scissors to give the edge a it of something different,

before I inked the edges slightly. 

A narrow piece of gold organza ribbon 

(with a fiddly little bow, hand-tied in it!) finished off my card.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges...

Polka doodles - love and romance - 12 Feb

I love promarkers - atg - (GDT ) - 10 Feb
Aud sentiments - use a love sentiment - 17 Feb
Julia Spiri - love is in the air - 18 Feb
Crafty gals corner - love is in the air - 10 Feb
Sisters of craft - atg - 28 Feb
Ikes art - love actually - 17 Feb
Fantastic tuessday - atg  with sweethearts - 10 Feb
Crafting from the heart - atg - 8 Feb
Oh la la creations - love and romance - 14 Feb
Creative corner - valentines / love - 12 Feb
Brown sugar - valentines / love - 12 Feb

Embossing

What a lovely challenge this week, over at Glitter n Sparkle...

"Use embossing - dry / heat "

I chose dry embossing - I am totally useless at heat embossing

and never seem to get a good finish that I'm happy with....

The lovely image I have used is:

"Lizabeth wild daisies" from Lacy Sunshine.

I found the paper I wanted for the backing first...

she seemed to be a bit of a hipster girl...

and I really liked the backing paper.

I thought it would also work with one of my fave ebossing folders, 

and then I found some ribbon to match perfectly...

It was JUST long enough to fit! 

The sentiment was a freebie from Desert Divas.

I also embossed a simple line around the backing paper

and the edge of the white card.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges...

Fussy n fancy - monochrome - 12 Feb
QKR Stampede - one for the kids - 5 Feb
Brown sugar - atg - 5 Feb
Creative fingers - atg - 5 Feb
Sassy studios - monochrome - 4 Feb
I love promarkers - atg  (GDT) 10 Feb
Fantastic tuesday - atg with flowers - 2 Feb
Through the craft room door - atg - 2 Feb
Melonheadz friendz - cool colours - 1 Feb
House of cards - embossing - 1 Feb

Inspired by a song...

Over at Glitter n sparkle this week, the theme is 

"inspired by a song"

so we would like you to create a card and let us know 

what song inspired you to make it...

 I was certainly inspired by a song for this card!

I was watching "the sound of music" while picking my image.... lol!

I used the eldeweiss image from the "Switzerland bundle"

over at Ikes Art.

Its a lovely set of images, including this edelweiss,

a swiss cow (wearing a cowbell!), a scene of a swiss

 cottage with mountains and cablecar, a swiss army knife and all its features

and even a swiss stamp!

It's a bumper bundle!

I also wanted to use the cow for a card - i printed him out, coloured him

(which took an age!) 

and then promptly lost him! :(

Oh well.

(UPDATE: 30 / 01/ 16 - 6:45pm...
 I just found the cow I coloured - in between my big shot plates!!! lol! )

I used my docrafts embossing folder, 

printed out the words of the edelweiss song 

and embossed and inked the edges.

Then I coloured the image with my promarkers and poped it some some

 3d foam to stand off the verse.

 Glossy accents finished the petals. 

A couple of die cut butterflies and

a punched butterfly finished this card.

 I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Cards galore encore - atg - 31 Jan
Paper creator - atg - 1 Feb

SLS lines - atg - 11 Feb
Crafty friends - atg - 29 Jan
Creative fingers - atg - 4 Feb
Inspiration destination - atg - 28 Jan
Crafty addicts - atg / elegance - 4 Feb
Passion for promarkers - flower power - 26 Jan
Oh la la creations - in the country - 1 Feb

Monochrome

"Monochrome"

is this weeks challenge at Glitter n Sparkle. 

I thought this image would be perfect - a hot chocolately drink, 

for a January birthday... to keep you warm in this cold weather!

I decided to stick with various browns, when I got this lovely image

called "cinnamon swirl" from Limited Runs.

My friends birthday is coming up, so I decided to make this one for her.

I coloured the image with my promarkers 

and added a sentiment on the PC, from Pink Petticoat - which is now sadly closed.

The backing paper cane from a stack I bought a few years ago, 

in my favourite place: Hobby Lobby , while we were visiting Canada / America. 

The flowers are Dovecraft flowers and i diecut the corner

using a cuttlebug corner die. 

I hand-drew on friends name onto the image.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

QKR Stampede - lots of layers - 22 Jan
Polkadoodles - winter birthday - 29 Jan
Little miss muffet - atg - 27 Jan
Crafting for all seasons - monochrome - 20 Jan
Fresh brewed designs - atg - 21 Jan
Crafting from the heart - atg - 17 Jan
Oooh la la creations - girlie - 17 Jan

Tic-tac-toe board

We have a tic-tac-toe challenge this week over at Glitter n Sparkle...

So, you work in a line of 3 -  horizontally, vertically, or diagonally,

making sure your card / project encompasses all those elements. 

I took a diagonal... No patterned paper, digi image and glitter...

The image is: "50's food set" and is from Digital Delights.

The soda glass, burger, hotdog and popcorn all come as separate images.

They are lovely to colour...

 I used my promarkers alongside my lyra pencils.

I stamped the sentiment and added the glittery stars - for the "glitter" part of the board.

I hand - drew the border...using black and red pens, along a ruler.

I have already decided who this card is going to...

a male member of my family!

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Brown sugar - atg - 13 Jan

Jo's scrap shack - atg - 16 Jan

Crafters cafe - square cards - 14 Jan

The sisters of craft - atg -  1 Feb 

As you like it - atg - 13 Jan

Digi choosday - CAS - 20 Jan
Crazy challenge - celebrations - 17 Jan
Where the heart is - atg - 1 Feb

The male room - atg - 20 Jan
QKR Stampede - cas - 15 Jan
613 Avenue - atg (optional: birthday) - 17 Jan
Quirky crafts - celebration - 30 Jan

Snow

For our January challenge. over at Patties Creations,

we would like you to use an image with SNOW on it...

I chose "Cardinal on branch"

and used glamour dust to show all the snow...and also used

it to create a very thin line around the whole image.

The backing paper came from a dovecraft pack which I got in the sales last year,

and I simply coloured the cardinal with my promarkers.

The sentiment is a freebie I found on the net. 

This is so much nicer in real life, where you can really see

the glamour dust sparkle! 

I would like to enter this into the following challenges...

As you like it - anything goes - 13 Jan
Sisters of craft - anything goes - 1 Feb
Crafty enjoyments - CAS - 26 Jan
Creative cottage - release the glitter - 20 Jan
Whimsy stamps - winter (add snowflakes) -  12 Jan
Through the craft room door - anything goes - 12 Jan
PINspirational - sketch - 18 Jan
Bunny zoes crafts - sparkle - 11 Jan
Crafting from the heart - anything goes - 10 Jan
Craftin desert divas - let it snow - 12 Jan

Aunt's birthday

So, I got a really cute image from a sponsor I haven't used before,

for my second card for the "anything goes " challenge this week

at Glitter n Sparkle...

The image is by Kitty Bee Designs and is called "sewing kit"

How cute!

So this card is for my Hubbys Aunt..
Her birthday is in a couple of days and she loves crafting, sewing, and cats!

I coloured the image with my promarkers and
diecut the buttons from my new docrafts die... I have had it
a while and hadn't got round to using it yet...
I thought they would suit this card brilliantly!
The butterflies are my fave... punched Martha Stewart. (silver mirror card)
I made the handing button using the ribbon part of a precious heart
diecut and snipped off the heart and popped on the button instead.
The Lace border is also a diecut - from memory box.
The backing paper came in a set I bought recently, in "The Works"

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Catch the bug - atg - 8 Jan
Crafty calendar - something new (new buttons die) 28 Jan
Crafty friends - use something new (new buttons die) 15 Jan
Crafters cafe - square cards - 14 Jan
QKR Stampede - feathers and - or fur - 7 Jan
Digitally sweet - colour palette - 1 Feb
Crazy challenge - celebrations - 11 Jan

Anything goes!

Happy new year! 

Well, it's hear already - another year!

And to start us off at Glitter and Sparkle, we have a favourite challenge...

"anything goes!"

I have used "teacher / student / geek" from Polkadoodles...

Working in a school, as a teaching assistant, there are a lot of people

that this card would work well for.

I printed the image with a free sentiment from Desert Divas
and coloured her with promarkers.
I drew a little doodled border and added some bakers twine
with a silver flower paperclip embellishment.
I used 3d foam behind, to raise the whole thing from the base card.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

The sisters of craft - atg - 1 Feb

As you like it - atg - 13 Jan
C.R.A.F.T - atg - 7 Jan
Through the craft room door - atg - 6 Jan
Crazy challenge - celebrations - 11 Jan

Quickie Christmas cards

Thought I would share with you some Christmas cards I made this year...

I loved this clean look...

I used my snowflakes embossing folder and a digi stamp i had.. 

no idea where I got this one from- sorry!

I edged some in gold... using Martha Stewart punched snowflakes and

daubing a bit of gold stickles in the middle....

and I edged some in silver, using (cuttlebug) diecut snowflakes,

with a daub of diamond stickles on them.

I would like to enter these cards into the following challenges...

Crafty calendar - let it snow - 28 Dec

Crafty friends - atg - 1 Jan

Crafty hazelnuts christmas - atg christmas - 2 Jan

Di's digi designs - atg christmas - 1 Jan

Brown sugar - christmas - 1 Jan

QKRStampede - snowmen or snowflakes - 1 Jan

Crafty girl creations - atg - 4 Jan

Creative moments - atg / traditional christmas - 4 Jan

Whimsy stamps - atg winter / snowflakes - 10 Jan

Christmas cards all year round - K.I.S.- 29 Dec

Crafting muskateers - use a sentiment - 5 Jan

Husbands Christmas card

Well, I've finally got round to making my Hubbys Christmas card...

This card is based on one of our cats - Lily. 

Lily is a little monkey when we get the tree up...she's up inside, 

jangling all the baubles as soon as our backs are turned.

She had a bad spell in October and 

we didn't think she would be up to her tricks this year with the tree...she has proved us wrong!

We KNOW she is feeling better for sure, now! 

This card fits right in with our challenge this week at 

Glittter n Sparkle - it's the "glittery, sparkly Christmas" challenge. 

This adorable image is from Sami Stamps

and is called "ornament kitty"

and I coloured her to look like Lily.

I coloured the bauble with my promarkers

and then added some lines of glitter on the red stripe. 

After is was backed onto the backing paper, I added diecut snowflakes

which all have a little glittered heart in the middle, and then I finished off 

with a precious heart diecut, also glittered with glamour dust.

I made the sentiment on the pc and the 

"meowy christmas" came as a freebie from desert divas.

(I also glittered the little hat there, and the little snowballs.)

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Pink gems - anything christmas - Jan 9

Crafty friends - atg - Jan 2

Crafty hazlenuts christmas - atg christmas - Dec 26

Dis digi designs - anything Christnas - Jan 1

Brown sugar - atg - Dec 25

QKR Stampede - christmas -Dec 24

Crafty girl creations - atg - Jan 2

Moving along with the times - to someone special at christmas - 24 Dec

Crafty creations - happy holidays - Dec 22

The male room - seasonal greetings - Dec 31

Cuttlebug mania - christmas animals - 22 Dec

Passion for promarkers - lets celebrate - Jan 5

Card mania - Christmas - Dec  25 

Crafting muskateers - use a sentiment - Dec 29

Natalie and Amy - atg christmas - Dec 28

Sparkles Christmas - diecuts for christmas - Dec 29

Christmas fireplace.

I was lucky enough this week, to get another image 

from Patties Creations to play with

for our Traditional / non traditional colours challenge

over at Glitter n Sparkle this week.

This one is "The night before Christmas"

I coloured it all with promarkers and

decoupaged the stockings and fire. 

Glossy accents picks out the flames - hard to see. 

I used my precious hearts die - just the ribbon part, 

and added a diecut star to the end

as i would love precious stars die, but dont have it.

(thought I would try to make my own! )

The sentiment is a freebie from Desert divas.. a great blog to visit.

I would like to enter the following challenges...
Fussy n fancy - happy holidays - 14 Jan

Jos scrap shack - atg - 19 Dec
Polkadoodles - traditional christmas - 19 Dec
Simply papercrafts - atg - 17 Dec
Cards galore encore - merry christmas atg - 1 Jan
Crafty girl creations - atg - 17 Dec
Crafting from the heart -atg - 13 Dec
Get creative - holidays - 14 Dec
Melonheadz friends - winter holidays - 23 Dec

Another christmas card

Our challenge this week at Glitter n Sparkle is to use 

"Tradional / non traditional Christmas colours"...

This card is one I made for my sister and her family...

I used "Holiday Topiary" from Patties Creations. (twice!)

I printed off one topiary tree and carefully flipped the image

 in publisher, to print off the other one. 

The backing paper is from an old Docrafts set of papers

and it is embossed with the swiss dots folder.

The holly is a small punch I have, with a little red gem. 

I would like to enter this into the following challenges...

Fussy n fancy - happy holidays -  14 Jan

Jo's scrap shack - atg - 19 Dec

Polkadoodles - traditional christmas - 19 Dec

Simply papercrafts - atg - 17 Dec

Cards galore encore - merry christmas atg - 1 Jan

Crafty girl creations - atg - 17 Dec

Crafting from the heart - atg - 13 Dec

Get creative - holidays - 14 Dec

Melonheadz friends - winter holidays - 23 Dec