Ted's Head

No new cards for today I'm afraid, but I have got a sneaky preview of my latest teddy bear.  I spent last night finishing off his head and stitching his nose.  He is from an Emily Farmer kit and is going to be a little clown bear when he's finished.  I always make the head first because it helps me to see the teddy's character - I know that other bear makers leave the head until the end (save the best 'til last).

He is so tiny and very fiddly to sew - probably the smallest bear I've made so far.  I think he will be between 5-6cm tall when finished.

Pop back later for a look at the finished bear - but he may take me a few days to complete!  

Thanks for looking!

Another teddy bear card

Here's today's offering for you - using my favourite subject (teddy bears) and my current favourite stamps (Popcorn the bear).  Yes, I know that I've already got a few Popcorn cards on my blog but I still love him.

I am going to enter this card into two challenges that I've found whilst blog hopping.

Just Cute Bears Challenge blog - Challenge #1 One for the Girls - a great new challenge blog where you must include a teddy on your creation

Die Cut Dreams Challenge Blog - Challenge #32 Bears - that one speaks for itself.

TOP TIP! ....I tried to match the die cut flower with the design, so to add shading to the edges I dabbed round it with a pale pink ink pad (which I also used on the main design) and to add texture to the centre I used a large dollop of Hi Tack PVA and gently sprinkled it with Flower Soft.  I then sprinkled that with an ultra fine lilac glitter which sticks in the little spaces that the flower soft doesn't.

Here's what I've used for my card:
Image - Popcorn Bear by Crafters Companion - coloured with pro markers
Card and papers - DCWV
Jewels and flower soft - from stash

Thanks for looking!

Summery sunflowers

Summer will soon be here before we realise, or that's what I keep telling myself anyway.  I just hope that we've seen the last of the snow for this year.  So, to try and warm myself up a little on these dark and damp winter days, I have made this bright and cheerful sunflower card to make me think of warm sunny days sitting in the garden or walking around the lovely countryside. 

Here's what I've used:

Image - Pollycraft digi stamp, coloured with pro markers

Card and paper - all by DCWV

The flower is a die cut and the leaves/stem were cut by hand.

I was trying to make a card without my usual touch of sparkle and no matter how hard I tried, I had to succumb to a little touch of glitter and a small jewel in the flower centre.  I think that I may have experienced glitter withdrawal symptoms had I not added that little bit of bling!!!

Orange Anya

Here's a card that I made this week using one of my Miss Anya rubber stamps. 

I've coloured it with my pro markers.  I fixed the flowers on with a large eyelet - I found my cropodile when I was having a sort out, I had forgotten how useful they are.

The paisley paper and orange glitter card is from DCWV.

Just a quick post tonight - I want to get a couple of cards finished this evening.  I'll put them on the blog soon so remember to pop back soon.  Thanks for looking!

Valentine Card

Here's my card for today - it is a Valentine card that I'm entering into the Pollycraft Challenge #32.  The challenge is Fire & Ice (using a red and white colour scheme) which fitted perfectly into the Valentine theme.

Here's what I used:

Image - Pollycraft digital stamp, coloured with Promarkers

Polka dot paper - DCWV Christmas Glitter stack

White glitter card and Sentiment - DCWV

Ribbon, Clip heart punch and jewel from my stash

I had to decorate inside the card to continue the colour theme - sorry that it is not a very good photo - I'll try to do better next time!

The heart is a Sizzix die cut and the mini flower punch is a Papermania one.

Black and white

Here's a card that I made with my newest rubber stamp.  I've been looking for it for a while - couldn't find it locally and didn't want to pay silly P&P costs from ebay just for one stamp.  Anyway, I was pleased to find it on Saturday as I rummaged in the box of discounted stamps at The Range, just 99p - what a bargain!  It was the only decent stamp in the bargain bucket so my rummaging paid off!

I think that this image looks good in just plain black and white and doesn't need any colour added.  I've teamed it with some DCWV glittered paper and added a couple of flowers from Papermanina and a jewel brad which, I felt, just finished it off nicely.

And after my last post, an update on the weather .... snow has all gone and the snow which was promised for today hasn't arrived so I'm a happy crafter!!! 

Little bear's finished

I managed to finish this little bear last night - he stands about 3" tall and I think he's a little cutie.  He will definitely be staying in my collection.

TOP TIP! ....I've used my Letraset Promarkers to shade around his nose and around the pads on his feet .  The pens are great for gentle shading - I bought them for my card making but I think they will be just as useful in my teddy making kit.  Looks like I'll be buying more promarkers in teddy colours now!

And, here's a picture of him without my hand being in the way:

I hate snow (oh, and a card)!

I have had enough of snow now - we've had snow on the ground here since the week before Christmas and I am so fed up of it.  I'm longing to see abit a green grass and a hint of sunlight.  I'm fed up of being cold, wet and not being able to use my car as much as I normally do.

Still, it is a good excuse to stay in and get some crafting done.  I'm teaching myself to crochet at the moment and have mastered the basics, trying a few patterns now.  Photos may appear at a later date!

Above is a card that I made with one of my Anya rubber stamps.  I had the picture stamped and coloured already with my pro-markers and, as usual, I remembered at last minute that I hadn't made the card.  So, its not bad for a 10 minute effort.  I've used DCWV paper and card with some jewels and organza ribbon.  Must try to be more organised!

Here's a photo of my youngest son, kneeling down by his very own handiwork.  We had to raid my sewing box for some button eyes and pinched the bunny's carrot for the nose.  At least somebody is enjoying this weather.

When big brother came home he said the snowman was way too small, so here is version 2 that was made last night.  Woke up this morning and his nose had fallen off so I think he may be withering away slowly, hooray - the snow may be melting!

January Birthday

Inspired by the snow, which does not seem to want to leave us, I have made this card for a January birthday.  I've used a snowflake together with some torn hammered card to create my snow, covered with plenty of iridescent glitter.  My New Year's resolution was to use the craft stuff that I have and not to keep buying more, so I had a rummage through my old stacks of paper and found some pastel lilac spotty card, which makes a good snowy sky - so New Year's resolution not broken yet (well, only a tiny bit - I had to buy the digital image from Pollycraft because I couldn't resist it!).

Here's what I've used:

Image - by Pollycraft and coloured with Promarkers

Paper, jewels, glitter glue, snow writer - Papermania

Card - Papermill Shop

Glitter card - DCWV

Snowflake - sizzlits die

I am going to enter this card into the Pollycraft challenge no. 31 Winter birthdays. 

A sneaky peek!

I just wanted to share with you a sneaky peek at my current project - I couldn't resist taking a picture even though he isn't finished yet.  I think that I am going to like this little bear - I don't always like what I make but this one is so small and sweet that I think he may become one of my favourites. 

I have still got to sew his arms and legs, stuff them and then string-joint them onto his body.  I always make the head first because as soon as you add the features I feel the bear starts to show his character and it always makes me want to finish the project.  I've shaded around his eyes with a Derwent Inktense colouring pencil but I may add some more shading with my Promarkers.

So, pop back soon to see the finished creation and if you've any ideas on a name for him, please let me know!

Pollycraft Challenge

Here's my first card of the new year.  I've made it for the Pollycraft Challenge no. 30 - it is the first time that I have submitted a card to a challenge.  I hope that it's good enough and that I'll have more time this year to be able to enter more challenges. 

I loved the layout of the design and I know I haven't used a Pollycraft image this time, but the card is for someone's birthday tomorrow and I wanted to use this image for them.  Hope you like it and I'll make sure I use one of my Pollycraft images next time!