Pollycraft mermaid

Finally I have managed to make a card this week.  The school summer holidays are playing havoc with my crafting mojo.  Every time I think I can sneak a few quiet minutes its ...  "Mom?   Mom?  MOM?" 

I wanted to try something a bit different - I've never made a card with a mermaid on before and it is another good excuse to be able to use my beloved glitter.  All mermaids must glimmer and shine beautifully!  I chose the papers from DCWV because the wavy one reminded me of the sea and the spotty one was the bubbles.  The die cut flowers were from the DCWV kit too, as was the starfish brad.  With a bit of artistic licence the flower could also be the sun!  I've had the little shell beads for ages, I think they came from a £ shop.

 

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Charizma Cards - something with a tail

Totally Papercrafts - Going to the Movies (remember the film "Splash"?)

The Secret Crafter - Fairy tales

By the Cute and Girly - Warm summer days

Thanks for looking - pop back soon!

Amanda

Card from freebies

We all enjoy getting a little something for nothing and some of the very talented bloggers out there are so generous with the freebie images that they offer.  I have found a couple of gems that I've used to make this card.

The black square card is smaller than I normally make at 5"x5" but I fancied a change and liked the colour.   I rounded the corners as I have rediscovered my corner chomper recently.  The beautiful image was a freebie from the very inspirational Ann Bodil's blog and can be found here.  I also love the ticket sentiment but unfortunately I can't remember where this one was from (sorry!). 

I love the little girl image and have coloured it with pro markers.  I wanted to keep this card fairly clean and simple so I added a white Nellie Snellen frame and a strip of Papermania paper with faux stitching, a little flower and a few buttons.

I am entering it into the following challenges:

I love pro markers - buttons

Craftalicious - birthdays

Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturday - use a digi

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Posh diamante pins added to my blog candy

I haven't made any cards today - I've been playing with these lovely diamante topped pins that I bought the other day.  I couldn't get the focus right on my camera, they do look lovely in real life.  I had them from a floristry supplier - they are supposed to be used for wedding button holes.

So I found out my box of beads.  It is always my intention to have a go at jewellery making, but never seem to get round to it.  I'll have a nice collection when I retire in twenty-odd years time!  Maybe I'll have enough spare time then......

I threaded some beads and spacers onto the posh pins and secured the bottom bead with a drop of super glue .....

(Out of focus again - sorry!)

And here's my finished examples that I've had a play with ...

So, you can't have my mine - I'm sure you'd do a much better job yourself anyway.  I'm going to add 10 plain diamante pins to my followers blog candy for you to have a play.

Don't forget to enter my blog candy - just one week left!

Amanda

Pink and Girly Tilda

Over at Die Cut Dreams challenge blog they are having a DT call.  The ladies over there on the DT all produce such amazing cards and I enjoy playing along with their challenges.  For the DT call, the challenge is Pink and Girly and, as that is one of my favourite card making themes, I just had to join in!

To me, girly is flowers, sparkle and bling, all of which I've included on my card.  Plus, you can't get more girly that the sweet Tilda!

I've coloured Tilda with pro markers and added lots of Cosmic Shimmer Aqua Twinkles, added a little sprig of paper roses and a couple of diamate topped "posh pins".  The roses paper is Henbury Lane  by Papermania and the other 2 papers are from my Mind's Eye.

If you want to join in with the fun at Die Cut Dreams you'll need to be quick as it closes at 12 noon this Sunday UK time.

Thanks for looking

Amanda

Come and Craft Your Days Away at our new challenge blog

Today is a really great day for me because I am part of the DT for a brand new challenge blog - Craft Your Days Away and I really do want you all to come and join in with our challenges.  Many of you know that I was part of the Magical Crafts DT but, sadly, the present challenge will be the last.  So, Joanne and the rest of the DT girls have all got together to set up a brand new fortnightly challenge blog and we will be launching with our first challenge on...


Saturday 7th August

We are still going to be a multi-crafts challenge blog, it'll be much the same as before just a brand new name and home and a few little exciting extra's, but you'll have to wait for our first challenge to see what they will be.

There is going to be some scrummy candy up for grabs for 3 lucky winners who help us to spread the word about our new challenge.  You'll need to pop over to the blog Craft Your Days Away to see how you could win one of the great candy prizes. 

We have some amazing challenges lined up for you and some fantastic sponsors.  Please help us to spread the word and be a part of the fun so that you too can Craft Your Days Away!!!

Amanda

One Stitch at a Time Challenge - DT card

Hi Everyone, today sees the start of another brilliant challenge over at the One Stitch at a Time Challenge blog. The challenge for this weeks is:

DIGI MADNESS

So you can create whatever you like, so long as there's a digi on it somewhere.  A nice easy one this week for you!

On my card I have used the sweet image "A little birdie told me" from Robyn's Fetish available here at the Stitchy Bear Stamps Shop.  There's a massive selection of super digi images and papers available at their shop.  Don't forget, Stitchy Bear Stamps have a massive 30% off sale during the whole of July - time to pay a visit over there!!!

For this challenge we are being sponsored by Craftbrulee. Why not pop over to their shop and have a browse through their fantastic selection of embellishments?  One lucky winner from this challenge will win a $10 voucher to spend in their shop.  

Here's what I've used:

Image - A little birdie told me, coloured with pro markers
Papers - from My Mind's Eye
Nestabilities and an X cut scallop punch
Cosmic shimmer glitter on sentiment (printed from my PC)
Flowers, button and ribbon from my stash

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Papertake weekly - In the Garden
For Fun Challenge - Favourite colouring medium (pro markers, of course!)
Passion for Pro Markers - Animals
Cutie Stampers - Summer

So, I can't wait to see what you make for our challenge and don't forget to have a look at the other DT blogs - they've come up with some great ideas for this challenge!


Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Pink Gem blog candy

Pink Gem have the sweetest stamps and digis - I've been looking around their blogs and online shop today.  They also have the most amazing blog candy for one lucky winner.  Why don't you pop over to the Pink Gem blog or to their challenge blog - I bet it won't be long before you're visiting the Pink Gem on line shop too!

The candy closes on 30th July 2010 so there's still time to enter.

I'll be back tomorrow with my OSAAT card for tomorrow's challenge!

Amanda

Little Claire Sweet Fairy

I have recently discovered Little Claire rubber stamps - they are so sweet.  I fell in love with their pretty fairy stamps and I received this one as part of my first order with them.  It was part of a mini set with the fairy, a toadstool, heart, sentiment and some swirls.  It just had to be a girly card that I made with this sweet little fairy - lots of pink and lots of glitter!

The polka dot paper is a from a freebie My Mind's Eye pad - from Card making anf Papercrafts magazine.  I re-stamped the image onto the polka dot paper and paper pieced the fairy's dress to match the central border. 

The rest of the image was coloured with pro markers and lots of cosmic shimmer glitter.  The corner swirls are a Sizzlits die with a few punched flowers added.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Craftalicious - Birthday
Charizma Cardz - Pink

Now, I really must drag myself away from the laptop - get the cleaning done, cat to the vet's and then a bit of crafting me-time before picking the little one up from school.

Thanks for looking!

Amanda

Forever Friends for Christmas

Here's one quick card made this morning - just dropped the little one off at school and got straight down to the crafting!  The Forever Friends stamped image was a free magazine cover gift last winter.  I've coloured it with pro markers and added a bit of glitter to the party hat.  I used my nestabilities to cut the aperture and placed the image on the inside of the card.  The scallop frame was again made with the nestabilities.

I have used a Sizzlits die "Sparkle" for the snowflake because it matched in with some of the snowflakes on the papers.  Both of the design papers are by DCWV.

This picture does help to show the inside of the card and the smaller snowflake paper that I've used.  Sorry its not a brilliant picture!

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

Passion for Pro Markers - Animals (I hope bears and robins are okay!)

Secret Crafter - Include an aperture

Die Cut Dreams Christmas Club - A very Beary Christmas 

Just Cute Bears - I used their sketch

Before I go, the observant ones amongst you may have noticed that my photo has changed - YES! It is still me!  The old pic was about 3 years old so it was time for an image re-vamp.  The new pic was taken last month - without the specs and with  straight hair.

Right, I really must go now, lots of house work to do and plenty of crafty clutter to try and sort though (yet again)!  I'm sure I could win the prize "The World's Messiest Crafter".

Pop back soon!

Amanda

Kookie Panda

Just a quick post tonight - lots to do still.  I finished making this bear yesterday.  He should be a panda - that's what it said on the pattern!  However, I have had my first try at making a nose with Fimo and, yes, I know it is a little on the large side ..... it was my first attempt!  Anyway, I think the large nose makes him look more like a koala bear, so he's been named Kookie Koala (in a panda disguise).  The pattern was supposed to have a leather nose but that looked way too much effect, hence the Fimo one.

Here's Kookie trying to go incognito with some of the other bears I've made.  At seven inches tall, he's finding it hard to blend into the background though!!!

Don't forget to enter my thank you blog candy here.  You just need to leave your comments with Mr Linky.

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Magical Crafts Challenge #19

Good Morning Everyone, Sunday morning and time for another brilliant new challenge over at Magical Crafts Challenge blog. The challenge for the next two weeks is:


Christmas in July 

So, let's get started early and don't leave all of the Christmas crafting until last minute, like I normally do.  I'm usually still making cards on Christmas Eve, that's really bad and I know it!  I'm sure that I'm not alone though.

Remember, Magical Crafts is a multi craft blog so it does not necessarily have to be a card. It could be a scrapbook page, a gift or anything else, as long as you've crafted it. I decided to make a door hanger with this super cute image Penny with Presents by Stampin' Dragon from Stitchy Bear Stamps (who incidentally have a July sale on right now!)

For this challenge we are being sponsored by the lovely Stitchy Bear Stamps and the Magical Crafts design team were lucky enough to have a few of their Christmas images to play with.  Why not pop over to their shop and have a browse through their brilliant digi images?

I made a blank door hanger by taking a rectangle of strong card and rounding the corners with a punch.  I then covered with the design paper and made a hole with a circular spellbinders die.  I used a scallop circle die with a plain circle die to make the border for the handle hole. 

Here's what I've used:

Image - Penny with Presents by Stampin'Dragon, Stitchy Bear Stamps, coloured with Pro Markers

Paper and card - all from Die Cuts with a View

Lots of cosmic shimmer glue

Leaf punches - Woodware

Flowers from Stash and card candy dots

I am going to enter this into the following challenges:

Craftalicious - Cute
The Creative Cottage - No cards allowed
Corrosive Challenge blog - Christmas

So, I can't wait to see what you make for our challenge and don't forget to have a look at the other DT blogs - they've come up with some great ideas for this challenge!

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

My Totally Tilda Challenge card

At last, I have finally made my card for the new Totally Tilda challenge blog.  I was going to make it sooner but I have had a really good excuse .... I found out the other day that a nearby craft shop has their sale on and was selling Tilda stamps 3 for the price of 2.  I just had to oblige them and go and buy some!!!

So, here's one of the 3 pretty Tilda stamps that I bought on Wednesday; I think they're all so adorable.

I coloured Tilda with my pro markers and used a bit of Cosmic Shimmer Glitter around her dress.  The paper is from Kay and Co, which I have had for absolutely ages.  I used the design of the diamond background paper as the basis to my layout.

The corner swirl is a Sizzlits die and the punched butterfly is by Martha Stewart.  The roses were from a local pound shop and the pearls are from my stash.

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

Totally Tilda - Chocolate
Totally Paper Crafts - Pearls and Swirls

Oh, I almost forgot, I won a great Christmas snowman rubber stamp today in last week's Freebie Friday over at The Secret Crafter.  They have a beautiful Basic Grey paper pad up for grabs this week for one lucky follower!

Thanks for looking and don't forget to enter my blog candy - see the picture on my sidebar.

Amanda 

Fifty + followers blog candy and the Secret Crafter

Wow!  Thank you to all of my lovely followers, I truly appreciate you taking the time to stop by and pay me a visit.  I always decided that if I ever reached the dizzy heights of 50 followers then it would be time for some more blog candy to celebrate.

So, I've got a sheet of A5 unmounted rubber stamps up for grabs by one of my followers.  It is from Creative Expressions and there's lots of birthday type stamps ready for you to play with.

This little bit of fun is only for my followers so I don't need you to post it anywhere on your own blogs unless you want to.  It's just a little thank you from me to one of you.

Here's the rules -

1. You must be a follower of my blog.  (If you are not already a follower, but would like to become on, click the "Follow" button on my sidebar.)

2. You must leave your name and blog address with Mr Linky so I can pay you a visit

3. One entry per person - play fair!

4. The candy closes at 9.00pm UK time on 31st July 2010 and I will announce the winner as soon as I can after that.

And if you fancy another little bit of fun there is a great Freebie Friday up for grabs at The Secret Crafter.  I have followed their challenge blog for a while since discovering their bricks and mortar shop only about 5 minutes drive from my house but there is a Secret Crafter blog too.  You'll need to be quick on this one though - it ends soon!

 

Thanks for stopping by

Amanda

Update - and I've just added these 10 diamante head pins for you to "posh up".

OSAAT Challenge #20 Lace, Ribbons and Bows plus Stitchy Sale

Hi Everyone, today sees the start of another brilliant challenge over at the One Stitch at a Time Challenge blog. The challenge for this weeks is:

Bows, Ribbons and/or lace

Just make sure that you have included a bow or some ribbon or lace or both on your project in order to play along in the challenge.

On my card I have used a super cute image Baby on the Moon from Sewn Together available here.  There's a huge selection of super cute images available at their shop.

For this challenge we are being sponsored by the lovely Sewn Together from Sew Many Cards. Why not pop over to their shop and have a browse through their brilliant digi images. One lucky winner from this challenge will win 5 digis from the shop of their choice.   Also, there's a second fab prize of some really unusual die cuts shapes from HobbyHabit Online Shop.  They are really lovely and unusual.  Check the prize out on the OSAAT challenge blog!

Here's what I've used:
Image - Baby on the Moon, coloured with pro markers
Papers - from Nana's Nursery Stack DCWV
Nestabilities and Martha Stewart border punch
Cosmic shimmer glitter on cloud
Clippit heart punch and pearls

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - In stitches
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Nice and Girly
Shelly's Images - Anything goes with a Celebration
I love pro markers - Stripes
Craftalicious - Cute


Finally, there's a great sale over at the One Stitch at a Time shop with a whopping 30% off ALL digis!!!  Why not have a look here.

So, I can't wait to see what you make for our challenge and don't forget to have a look at the other DT blogs - they've come up with some great ideas for this challenge!


Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Summertime fun with Strawberry Shortcake

What says British summertime any more than strawberry picking?  I used to love going strawberry picking as a child and would end up eating more than I took home.  With Wimbledon this weekend, the strawberry sales must be in overdrive!  I'm not really keen on the tennis .... I'll just stick with the strawberries and champagne thank you.

The image I have used is a Strawberry Shortcake colouring page found in the internet (just type free colouring page into your search bar).  She is so sweet.  I have used a metal heart brad with part of a green punched daisy to look like a strawberry.  I've also used the white daisy punch to make some strawberry blossom flowers.

The image has been coloured with pro markers and I've used Cosmic Shimmer glitter to add some sparkle.

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

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Strawberries and Cream

Pollycraft - Pinkalicious

I love pro markers - Stripes

Creative Cottage - Summer Surprise

Charizma - metal mickey (metal brad)

By the Cute and Girly - Warm summer days

Cutie Stampers - Fruit

The Pixie Cottage - I used their sketch below

Thanks for looking,

Amanda