Cardmadfairy News

I've got some really great news - Jenni over at Cardmadfairy Digi Days Challenge has asked me to be part of the DT over there.  As soon as I found this blog I just totally fell in love with Jenni's digis and especially the "Imogen" digis - one of which I've used on today's card, called Imogen trimming the Tree.  You can find the digi images HERE.

The challenge for the next fortnight is: Too Early for Christmas.  If you are anything like me, January isn't too early for Christmas because I still never seem to get all of my cards made by December.

The winner of the challenge will receive the set of 7 new digi releases from Cardmadfairy including the image that I have used on my card.  

So here's what I've used:

Imogen Trimming the Tree digi from Cardmadfairy - coloured with pro markers and a touch of Stickles glitter and a dab of distress inks to edge it
Paper - from last year's Forever Friends Christmas pad
Ticket - Tim Holtz
Flourish - Sizzlits die
Crochet flower - made by me with Anchor thread
Other bits 'n' bobs  from my stash

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

Papercrafting journey - die cuts or punches
Digi stamps 4 joy - Anything goes
Penny's paper crafty - anything goes
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - anything goes

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Ruby's Rainbow Challenge #13

Last fortnight at Ruby's Rainbow we asked you to make something girly - pop over to the challenge blog to see who the spotlight winner is.  So, for the next 2 weeks we are thinking of the men folk in our lives and we want you to make:

One for the Boys 

I must admit, I ususally dread making men cards, but I really enjoyed making this one - it may be the fab image that I used!  This cute guy is Maurice - Christmas Socks from Pollycraft and I've coloured him with pro markers. 

Here's what else I've used:

Papers by Dovecraft

Sizzix holly die and Spellbinders dies

Circle digi freebie from Sentiments for You 

Card candy and bling from my stash 



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

Anything goes challenge - anything goes

Bearly Mine - use 3 design papers

Make it Monday - anything goes

Simon says Stamp and Show - Man card

The Sweet Stop - I used their sketch

One stitch at a Time - use your favourites (pro markers and nestabilities)

And, don't forget to join us over at Ruby's Rainbow challenge blog!

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda

100 years old birthday card

Here's the second 100th birthday card that I was asked to make.  I did mean to upload it earlier but its been a busy week.  My youngest son is going to high school next year and so we are having to go to the school open evenings to pick which schools we want to apply to - another 2 or 3 to visit next week and I'm exhausted already!

I don't know about you, but I always dread being asked to make 2 cards for the same occasion because I don't want them to look alike.  I hope I did a good enough job with this one.  I used one of my favourite stamps which I've inked up with Memento in London Fog as it wasa more delicate colour than black.  A little hint of colour has been added with pro markers and the ribbon roses are from Papermania - as are the papers.  I've added a bit of delicate sparkle with Sakura crystal gel pen, which you can only just pick out in the below picture.

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

I love pro markers - include a number
Crafty Sentiments - Happy birthday
Kaboodle Doodles - lots of layers

Thanks for looking today,

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away DT card - pink, blue and brown

We have a great colour challenge for you over at Craft Your Days Away challenge blog.  DT member Angel has set the challenge for the next fortnight and she has chosen:

PINK, BLUE and BROWN

So, lets see what you can come up with for this challenge!

Simon Says Stamp are sponsoring this challenge and are offering one lucky winner a $10 voucher to spend in their store.

Here's what I've used on my card - my favourite Tilda stamp (bridesmaid Tilda) coloured with pro markers, some freebie papers that came with a magazine ages ago, Spellbinders oval and scallop oval dies, Sizzlits flourish die and flowers, pearls and ribbon from my stash.  I've just added a bit of faux stitching and a touch of pink stickles glitter too.

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

Di's digi designs - Anything goes
Ellephantastic - Here come the girls

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

100 years old - wow!

Just a quick post today.  I was recently asked to make 2 birthday cards for a lady who will be celebrating her 100th birthday - how amazing!  A 100 birthday card was definitely a 1st for me and I guess not many of you out there have had the chance to make one either. 

I decided to keep this one in a classic design - using a Spellbinders label die to make the main shape on my easel card.  The chipboard numbers originally started off as glittered silver.  I scraped the glitter off and coloured them in with a gold Sakura marker pen, adding some gold glitter glue once the pen was dry.  The paper is from Kay and Co and the butterfly is cut from a Tonic punch.  I have used another Spellbinders die to frame the sentiment - which, I think, is a HOTP stamp.

I kept the embellishments fairly simple with a few flowers from my stash, some pearl stamens and a cream marabou feather.

I'll be back soon with the second 100th birthday card once I have photographed it.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Colour create - pink, brown, cream and white + photo inspiration
Crafting for all seasons - birthday card
Flutterby Wednesdays - anything goes

Thanks for visiting!

Amanda

Ruby's Rainbow #12

Ruby's Rainbow challenge blog has a great new challenge for the next fortnight.  It is a nice and easy one and definitely one of my favourites.  We want to see your crafty makes "FOR THE GIRLS".    No excuses for you not joining in with our challenge - come and share your Girly creations with us.

I have used the adorable digi called Grace which is available HERE from Funky Kits - isn't she jus so  sweet?  I have coloured her with pro markers and have used just one sheet of design paper from Kay & Co.  The border punch is from Martha Stewart and the few bits and pieces are from my stash.  The sentiment stamp is by Hot Off the Press.

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

Crafty Boots - Anything goes

Make it Monday - Anything goes

Fab 'n' Funky - Bingo - I chose digi, flowers and embellishment (bow)

My mum's craft shop - Happy Birthday

Papercraft Star - Anything goes

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Fizzy Moon Christmas

I love Fizzy Moon stamps and this was another one that I just had to have when I found a little craft shop whilst walking around the shopping area in Worcester last week.  Isn't he a little cutie?  I think I may feel another collection coming on!!!

I've used some Papermania Christmas papers from a pad I had a couple of years ago, added a bow (which was originally white and coloured with pro markers) and added some Stickles glitter to his hat.  Amazingly, I've almost managed to capture a bit of a sparkle this time - I always find photographing glitter so hard.  Almost forgot, the image has been coloured with pro markers too.

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

Crafty Ribbons - Festive Cheer in September

Scrapbook Sisters - Card, Ho ho ho!

Creative Card Crew - Anything goes

Stamp n doodle - Anything goes

Phindy's Place - Stripes somewhere

Stamp Something - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda

A bit of Make do and Mend

Here's a picture of my little bit of "make do and mend" that I am sharing with What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?  This is the "after" and below you will find the "before".  So on my workdesk you can see my old sewing machine which will be 29 years old this Christmas - but its still going strong!  There's also my make-do-and-mend project which is now being used as my knitting bag.  I have made it from last year's broken beach bag.

My grandmother, who passed away just over 20 years ago, looked after me during the school holidays when my mother was at work.  She was the one who instilled a "make do and mend" attitude in me; living through WW2 this came as second nature to her.  She was the one who taught me to sew at a very early age - we made little handkerchiefs from old sheets with little hand stitched scalloped hems and a little embroidered initial in the corner.  Birthday and Christmas cards were always cut up and used as tags or we made little booklets from them by sewing some recycled paper inside.  Materialistically she had very little, although she gave me so much in so many other ways as it is her I have to thank for my love of sewing and crafting. 

Okay, so here's the "before" picture.  One of the rope handles had broke and the eyelet had fallen out causing the fabric to fray.

I chopped of the top of the bag, re-hemmed it and made the cut-off pieces into 2 new handles.  I then cut a denim heart shape (from a pair of my son's outgrown jeans) and added a bit of trim that I bought from a show at the NEC.  I decided not to use the sequins afer I took the photo.  The button was from my nan's "Button Box" - years of salvaged buttons from old clothing "just in case".  I was given the button box when my nan passed away - it was worth nothing to anyone else but bring back lots of memories when I search through it.

So, now I'm feeling good that I've done my little bit for the environment by re-using and re-cycling with my make-do-and-mend.  Also saved a few pounds in the process too - can't be bad!

Thanks for letting me share with WOYWW!

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away #28 MYO Flowers

Cathy has set the challenge for the next two weeks at Craft Your Days Away and she has chosen a great one ....

Make Your Own Flowers

I chose to make a crochet flower for mine - but you can choose whatever craft you like to make your own flowers for the challenge.

Our very own DT member Shelley is sponsoring this challenge and you could win a £10 voucher to spend at her shop One Stop Card Crafts.  She has some lovely items in her shop.

Why not pop over to the challenge blog for some more inspiration from the DT?

I have used one of the cute s.w.a.l.k. stamps from Crafter's Companion and have coloured it with pro markers.  The paper is from the Tea House range from Dovecraft and I've added a bit of baker's twine and a bit of bling.  I made the flower from white crochet thread which makes a nice fine detailed flower and I've added a little brad as the centre of the flower.

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

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - I used their sketch
Charizma Cards - Anything goes
Moving along with the times - Handmade flowers
Paper play - Make your own flowers
Digi stamps 4 joy - Spring and Handmade flowers
I love pro markers - Anything goes
My Mum's Craft Shop - 1,2,3, (1 flower, 2 papers, 3 jewels)
Truly Scrumptious - Mostly pink

Thanks for visiting today!

Amanda