Celebration card

 

I've finally started to get a little bit more spare time so I've been making a few cards recently - just nice and easy ones to get back into the swing of things!

 

I made this one to celebrate some fantastic exam results for someone - simple, quick and easy.  Actually the orange and black colours are very "now" with Halloween coming soon.

 

 

The Celebrate is a rubber stamped image - I think that its by Hot Off the Press.  I've just added a sweet little felt flower and a few black jewels to finish things off.

 

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Amanda

Remember peel offs?

I had a really good sort out of my craft cupboard yesterday and found about 100 sheets of forgotten peel offs which I don't think I've used for absolutely ages.  They came in just perfect today when I was making this Father's Day card because they just added that little bit more to help "lift" the card.  The black and kraft seemed a bit dull on its own, but the extra bit of gold really helped it to look better.  I always like it when I find use for some of my older crafting stuff - makes me feel better when I actually use the stuff rather than piling it up in a cupboard!

I stamped the sentiment using an alphabet set from Rubber Stampede and used a small circle punch to cut out each letter, rolling the edges in the black ink.  The paper is from Papermania - which came in the recent DoCrafts Goody Bag.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Milk Coffee challenge - Father's Day / Male card

Crafting by designs - Father's Day - anything goes

Digi stamps 4 joy - For the men in our lives

Inky impressions - Father's Day

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda



LOTV Wedding card

We are having some redecorating done at home so things are a bit upside down at the moment and crafting is taking a back seat again.  However, I did manage to fit in this card for someone at work who got married this last weekend.  I've used my favourite wedding stamp by Lili of the Valley. 

I stamped the image with Memento in Rich Cocoa to give it a slightly softer look than harsh black.  I've coloured the image with pro markers and added some sparkle with Stickles glitter.  The shape has been cut with a Spellbingers die and the border has too.  I used the little cut out hearts from the border - glittered them up and added them to the card - waste nothing!!!

The paper is by Do Crafts and the circular sentiment stamp is also by Lili of the Valley and I've just finished it off with a bit of ribbon and some pearl heart shaped ribbon sliders from my stash.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Red Carpet Studio challenge - Wedding or Anniversary card
A Gem of a challenge - add a bow
Crafty Calendar challenge - Love and marriage
Little Claire's - Love and Romance

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda

Anna Griffin anniversary card

Its been ages since I last made a card, and now I've come back with a totally different style to my normal - no colouring, no stamped image and no glitter!

I always adore the Anna Griffin style of papers and bought a lovely card making kit from QVC a few months ago.  Its been collecting dust in the corner of my room for a while - but I've dusted it off when I had to make a last minute wedding anniversary card yesterday.  It was great to make a completed card in less than 10 minutes.  I felt a bit of a cheat when all I had to do was a bit of cutting and sticking but I like the finished effect.

I bought the same kit in the Christmas option a couple of weeks ago so I think it may be quick and easy Anna Griffin for Christmas this year too.  I've added a couple of drops of glossy accents onto the rose for a dew drop effect - think I got carried away though!

I'm entering this card into the following challenge:

Twisted Tuesday - Back to Basics

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Easter vintage boot sale bargain

We went to an Easter Vintage gathering this weekend, where there were lots of vintage cars, bikes and trucks.  There were also traction engines and old fashioned amusements.  I couldn't resist having a little mooch around the stalls to and found a bag of about 200 vintage postcards for a bargain price of £5.  As I could only see a few of them in the bag when I paid for them, it was a bit of a lucky dip when I got home to see what I'd got for my fiver!  However, I wasn't disappointed at all - there are some superb vintage postcards in there, which, one day I will scan and use in my card making (that's the plan anyway).  Some of them, the backs are as decorative as the fronts and will make great scanned backgrounds for my card making.

I've spent hours looking through them and reading the messages and admiring the beautiful handwriting.  The oldest post mark I've found is from 1906 - an amazing 106 years old! 

My favourites are the ones from America from the 1950's but there's a fantastic Victorian birthday postcard which I love too.  As its Easter, I thought this one deserved a special show saying "Loving thoughts and wishes true, On this Easter come to you". 

I think I can see another collection starting!

Happy Easter - I'm in chocolate over load now!

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away - Easter

With all of this lovely weather we've been having, its inspired my to do some fresh, pastel coloured cards.  Unfortnately though today, the rain is here - perfect timing for the weekend but also perfect for staying indoors crafting!

My DT card is for the challenge over at Craft Your Days Away which is Easter and it runs for the next two weeks. 

We are being sponsored by the StampFairy Shop for this challenge, who have a lovely collection of cute digis, and they are offering a $10 voucher to one lucky winner.  I've used their image Easter Bunnies 1:1 and coloured it with pro markers.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Card crafters circle - Easter

Crafty Catz - Use a digi

Simply Create too - Eggs and/or bunnies

4 Crafty chicks - Easter

Charizma cards - Easter

Thanks for stopping by today,

Amanda

Ruby's Rainbow DT Card - Easter

Its almost that time of year again!  Are we ready for all of those chocolate Easter Eggs so soon after Christmas, Valentines Day and Mother's Day?  I don't think my waist line will ever recover!!!

At Ruby's Rainbow our challenge for the next fortnight is Easter.  So its time to dig out all of the lovely spring colours again now that the sun has made a re-appearance.

I'm looking forward to seeing your Easter craft creations.

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away DT card

I'm a bit late posting my DT card for Craft Your Days Away challenge blog - I should have posted it this morning but I spent the day shopping in Worcester.  Better late than never!  Then I switch my computer on and its dowloaded IE9 again which I really dislike so I've had to sort that out again, grrrhh! 

Anyway, our current challenge is: MOTHER'S DAY as we will be celebrating it in the UK in two week's time.

We are sponsored by Meljen Designs for this challenge and they are offering a prize to one lucky winner of 4 digital images from her SHOP.  I always love it when I get a Meljen's digi to play with and I've used a fab bird cage digi from her this time, which I've coloured with pro markers. 

I made a cross over card for this challenge (following a tutorial from Bev Rochester's blog).  I printed out a "Happy Mother's Day" sentiment on the insert.  The paper roses are all from my stash and the peach flower is from Prima.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts - Spread your wings

Sparkles forum - Things with wings

Thanks for looking today and I look forward to seeing your mother's day makes.

Amanda 

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge DT card

I'm back today with my DT card for Cardmadfairy's Digi Days challenge with a beautiful bird digi available in the online shop - love this digi!  The challenge is Mum's The Word - so we are looking for your Mother's Day makes - just remember that you need to include a digi. 

I added a little jewel for the bird's eye and do you like the bow?  I found a great video tutorial HERE on Bev Rochester's blog - such an inspiring place to visit!

The paper is from a stack by DCVW and is called Latte. 

I did print out a Mother's Day sentiment too but cut it out wrong with my grand calibur.  Next time I do some printing, its going to be done again and put in the space in the bottom left-hand corner.  Maybe I could have got away with that but never mind, we all make mistakes!

I'm looking forward to seeing your Mother's Day makes too - join us in the challenge!

Amanda

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days DT card - Hearts

The new challenge over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge for the next two weeks is:

HEARTS

I've used one of Jenni's lovely images called Lovebirds available HERE in her shop.

We are being sponsored by this challenge by Crafty Sentiments Designs who are offering one lucky winner 3 digis from their shop.  Please remember that you must use a digi to enter our challenge - it doesn't have to be a Cardmadfairy image - but we love it when you do!



I've coloured my image with pro markers and the paper is from a Papermania pad called Portobello Road.  I've used a Spellbinders die and cut some flower shapes from an old book which I've scrunched up to make them look a bit less perfect.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Ann's -  Love is in the air

Delicious Doodles - All loved up

Fairy Tale - Love, love, love

Crafty Purple Frog - Valentines Day/Love

Digi Doodles - Love is in the air

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Cardmadfairy DT card - Ribbons and Bows

The new challenge over at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days challenge is RIBBONS AND BOWS.  I've used one of Jenni's gorgeous new digis called Patterned Butterfly which I've paper pieced onto floral paper.  I've kept this card quite clean and simple because the butterfly is pretty enough not to need any extra decoration.  The white card candi was from the lovely candi box which arrived a few days ago - a prize that I was lucky enough to win from the Craftwork Cards blog.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Clearly Inspired - Pastels
Stampin with the Dragon - Anything goes
Charizma cards - Clean and Simple
Flutterby Wednesdays - Open challenge

I look forward to seeing what you make for the challenge.

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away DT card

I'm back this morning with my first DT card for Craft Your Days Away and we have a great new challenge together with a new sponsor for the New Year.  So our challenge for the next fortnight is NEW BEGINNINGS.  So your craft project could be for a new baby, a new job, a new home, or any other new occasion that you can think of.

I've chosen New Baby and have used an image from our new sponsor - The Stamp Fairy.  Their images are just so lovely.   One lucky winner is going to win a $10 voucher to spend in their store!

I've coloured my image with pro markers and the papers are by Kay & Co/Dovecraft.  I have to confess that I coloured one of the ears purple!  A strategically placed bow came to the rescue!  The sentiment stamp is by Lili of the Valley.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz - A New Beginning

Delicious Doodles - All things new

Fairy tale - Something new

Crafty Ribbons - New Beginnings

Digi Doodles - New Beginnings

Dutch Dare - New Beginnings

Crafty Emma's Store - Anything goes

Don't forget to join us at Craft Your Days Away,

Amanda

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days DT Card

Today's card is my DT creation for our new challenge at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge - we have gone with the theme of "Thank You" as I'm sure lots of you will be writing thank you notes after the festive season.  I have used the image "Daisies" available in the Cardmadfairy shop HERE.  I've  coloured the image with pro markers and decoupaged an extra layer for the centre flower, twisting it slightly to make the flower look more full.  Pop on over to the challenge blog to join in - remember though, you must use a digi on your creation.

I've added a "Thanks" sentiment which is a rubber stamp from Hot Off The Press and just a little jewel in the centre of each flower. 

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

 C.R.A.F.T. - Thank you
I break for challenges - Clean and Simple
Passion for Pro Markers - Thank you card

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Forever Friends - for some charity cards

I've been putting together a box of cards to sell at work in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign "Wear it Pink" day on Friday 28th October 2011 as my collection of cards has been growing and this is a charity that I would like to support.  I've sold almost half of the box of cards already in one day  - I was really pleased as I don't sell many of my cards and I was not sure if people woud like my style.  All of the money has gone into the charity box and I'm just happy that I can help this charity, even if only in a relatively small way.  I'm sure I'll be doing it again now.

 I used a freebie Forever Friends decoupage image and kept the remainder of the card plain and simple using just white.  The background is embossed with a Country Companions embossing folder and the sentiment was from the freebie too.

I am going to enter the following challenges with this card:

My time to Craft - Quite White
Crafty Sentiments - No design paper
Karen's Doodles - Emboss it
Simon says stamp and show - one colour, any colour
One stop craft - No designer paper
Crafty Ann's - Clean and simple

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda

Something different from me .......

........ also known as Using up the Old Stash.  I really must use up some of the old stash, if only to make way for more crafting goodies for Christmas.  My OH has bought me a Grand Calibur for Christmas so I need to get a little space ready for that.  I can't wait for Christmas now - but it also means that I need to buy some large dies too for the GC!

I have used an older Forever Friends decoupage sheet for today's card.  The circles were the wrong size for my nesties and I can't cut a perfect circle no matter how hard I try - so I cut the base circle with a smaller nestie and decided it would be a 1 layer image with the rest of the decoupage landing in the bin!  I can't remember the last time I made a card without colouring the main image. 

The paper was part of the FF kit too and the border punch is by Martha Stewart.  I've just added a bow and a few blue pearls to make a quick and simple card for today.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

My time to Craft - Punches and Dies
Forever Friends - Anything goes

That's it for today - off to sort out some more old stash to use up!

Amanda

Craft your Days Away DT card - Halloween Colours

We have a colour challenge for you over at Craft Your Days Away this time.  It is a colour challenge based on Halloween colours - although you don't have to make a Halloween item.  So the colour challenge is:

BLACK - PURPLE - ORANGE - GREEN

We are being sponsored by our regular sponsor, Simon Says Stamp, who are offering the lucky winner a $10 voucher to spend in their store.



For my card I have used a digi called Hazel from Wee Stamps - I am so loving these images at the moment.  I've coloured Hazel with pro markers.  The polka dot paper is from the Back to Basics pad by Dovecraft and I have used a MS border punch.   The Trick or Treat ticket is from Sentiments 4 You and I've just added a little swirl. Papermania flower and a button.  I think I've got a bit of a bow-thing going on at the moment too because I keep adding them to the cards I've made recently!!

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Hanna and friends - Autumn or Halloween
The House that Stamps Built - Halloween or Fall
Paper Pretties - Halloween inspired
Simon Says Stamp - Halloween or Goth

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda

A Stamp fairy Card

I have far too many rubber stamps with teddy bars on, but I still keep buying teddy bear digis too!  I convinced myself that this pair of cuties would be perfect for wedding or anniversary cards and this was the card I made for my aunt and uncle's wedding anniversary.

I bought these lovely glitter and jewel heart brads a while ago and this is the first chance I've had to use them on something.

Here's what I've used:

Image - Lenny and Linda in Love by Stamp Fairy coloured with pro markers
Brad - Martha Stewart
Papers - Back to Basics by Dovecraft
Ribbons and bling - from my stash

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks - monochromatic

Crafty Purple Frog - lots of layers

Simon Says Stamp - Sparkle and bling

Papertake weekly - anything goes

Ribbon Carousel - anything goes + ribbon

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Ruby's Rainbow #11 - A Recipe

We have a great recipe challenge for you for the next 2 weeks at Ruby's Rainbow, its a 3-2-1 challenge.

What we want to see is:

3 design papers

2 buttons or brads

1 flower

So, there's no excuse not to join in with us for a great and easy challenge - I look forward to seeing you there.

I have used a LOTV stamp for my design and have coloured it in with pro markers, the sentiment stamp is also another one from LOTV.  The papers are all from a Kay & Co pad and the buttons and fabric flowers are from my stash.  The baker's twine is one of the newest additions to my stash and I'm using it on everything at the moment!



I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Creative Card Crew - Anything goes

Passion for Pro markers - Anything goes + must use pro markers

Woodware USA - 3 papers, 2 types of embellishments (buttons & Flowers), 1 image
My Mum's Craft Shop - 1,2,3 (1 flower, 2 buttons, 3 papers)

And, don't forget to join in with our 3-2-1 challenge at Ruby's Rainbow!

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda

He Passed!

Just a quick and easy card for my son today.  He passed his driving test, 1st time, earlier this week!  We were all very proud of him.  I found a great digi over at The Clip Art Fairy called Driving Test - you can find it HERE and it was a bargain 25p!  I coloured the image with pro markers - trying to make the car look like my son's little silver Honda car (although I ddin't think he would appreciate any sparkle, hence the grey colour).

I am goingto enter this card into the following challenges:

Paper crafting journey - Anything goes
Cards for Men - Anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today!

Amanda

Thanks

Thank you cards are something that I never have enough of (as well as male birthday cards).  So, it was no surprise that there was nothing in my stock when I looked for one yesterday.  I had to make-do with a blank one and decided that it was time to make a few to keep by me.  "Thank you" is something that we don't say enough of - we are far too quick to point out errors or to criticise, but it can make someone's day just to take a little bit of time to say "Thank You".

I have kept the design fairly cleam and simple, which is something I'm favouring at the moment.  The digi image is from Meljen designs and the paper was from a Forever Friends magazine freebie pad.  I've coloured the image with pro markers and added a little bit of sparkle with a clear Sakura Gelly roll pen.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

I love pro markers - Anything goes (must use pro markers)
Papercraft Star - Anything goes
Anything goes challenge - flowers
Simon say stamp and show - Anything goes
Sketch and Stash - I used their sketch and my new Meljen's Digi

Hope you like my card and a big "Thank You" from me for visiting my blog,

Amanda