Pollycraft Double up challenge

Yes, I know that I'm either 2 months late or 10 months early for Christmas cards, but when Pollycraft announced that their latest challenge was "Double Up" I thought that these 2 designs went together perfectly.

I have used the Cherry Kisses snowball image together with a lovely Bronson bear.  I had to reduce the size of Bronson quite a bit to make it look as though he's looking at Cherry. 

Would anyone like to hazard a guess as to what Bronson is thinking as he looks up to Cherry.  I think that his thoughts are "She's gonna get a really cold bottom if she sits on that snowball much longer!".

I've decorated the inside to match the outside of the card.

The main paper is from DCWV and I've used a sizzix die for the snowflakes and a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the strip of snowflakes, under the ribbon.

Thanks for looking!

My first blog award

This week I have received my very first blog challenge award and I felt so happy that I've just got to tell the world about it!  It is for the posting showing below - the lilac card made for the Die Cut Dreams challenge blog.  I was voted as one of the top three favourite cards - it really made my day.

I've been a bit off-colour the last few days with a cold/flu virus so I haven't been in Blogland.  I'm feeling a bit better today and so the pens and glitter are poised and ready for action once again.  I have been looking through the challenges I like to take part in and I've just looked on the Just Cute Bears challenge blog (see side bar) and their challenge this week is "Lilac".  I think I've got a bit of a thing going on lately with lilac cards - but I haven't got an excuse, I just have to do one more lilac card for the JCB challenge!

Pop back soon for an update on my new challenge cards that I'm going to make!

Die cuts dreams challenge recipe

I've have made this latest card with the Die Cuts Dreams challenge in mind.  The challenge is to use the recipe:

• 3 different patterned papers
• 2 different ribbons
• 2 flowers

I bought the purple ribbons and buttons and the paper flowers on my crafty shopping trip yesterday so I just had to make another purple card - I think I'm going through a purple phase at the moment.

The paper is by Papermania and the image is from Pollycraft.

Sorry that the picture is a bit dark, the light is not too good here this morning - we have snow again.  I am sick of snow and I've just checked the forecast .... more heavy snow forecast for the next 2 days.  Not good!

Birthday boy card

Just thought that I'd share this boy card with you - I was asked to make a 1st birthday card for a "proper little boy - nothing cute and babyish".  So I thought that this Pollycraft image that I had would fit the bill perfectly.  The sentiment is also by Pollycraft and the paper is by DCWV.

As I was sorting through my photos on the PC I found this one that I thought I'd share with you.  Seeing as I've been to the dentist this morning for a check up (my teeth didn't hurt until he started prodding and poking at them and they have ached ever since!) I thought this photo was rather apt.  This is Monty my cat - who looks like he could do with a good toothbrush.  He is lying in his favourite place, in his bed, under the radiator.  I don't know why he's yawning so widely - he does nothing all day except lie down and snooze!

Did a bit of craft shopping this afternoon and so I have some new bits and bobs to play with.  Also bought a glass cutting mat - I'm not convinced yet.  Has anyone else got one, any handy hints - my paper keeps sliding while I'm cutting? 

Will put some more cards on tomorrow - its too dark now to take a decent picture.

3-2-1 Challenge

I have made this lilac card for the Allsorts challenge.  This week the challenge is to use the recipe 3-2-1 when making the card.  I found this more difficult than I first thought because of being restricted as to what I could put on the card.

This is what I've used for the challenge:

• 3 - patterned papers
• 2 - brads
• 1 - image

The image is from Pollycraft - coloured with pro markers.  The brads are from Dovecraft and the paper is from Papermania.

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon!

Didn't he do well?

 

Sorry it has been a few days since my last post - too many inconveniences getting in the way of blog posting - mainly work, but that's a necessity in order to be able to buy my crafty stash! 

I just wanted to share with you a picture of my son's Valentine's cards (with a piccy of him too).  They were all from girlies in his class and he was very proud when he was opening them on Sunday morning.

His teenage brother only received one from me (well, someone has got to love him!) but he reckons that all of his cards must have been lost in the post.  Our post man does seem to post by "pot luck" rather than making sure the number on the envelope corresponds to the house number, so maybe that's true!!!

Also, I went to visit my Nan last night on her 86th birthday (got it wrong in my previous post - said 85).  She loved the card that I made for her and when I got to her house, she already had the cards on display that I had made for her previous 2 birthdays.  So lovely when people appreciate handmade cards and the time and love that has gone in to making each one.  I need to start thinking of a card for my grandad now, who will be 88 in a fortnight.

So, no work now until next week.  Lots of card making challenges that I want to enter so lots of crafting to get done over the next few days.  Pop back soon to see some of my new creations and thanks for looking!

Four more fund raising cards

I've been busy making cards again today for the Cancer Research charity - I'm up to about 20 now, still a long way to go to get to the 100 that I said I'd donate.  I'm sticking to quick and easy otherwise I would be here making cards until eternity.  Its a great way to use up all of those little bits and pieces that I've been keeping "just in case".  The paper used above is by DCWV and the image is Pollycraft.

Another quick and easy card using Papermania paper and rubber stamped cat image by Lili of the Valley.

This one is my favourite of the four for today.  It is a get well card - umbrella image is again by Pollycraft and I've added the wording "Feeling under the weather?" - which I thought fitted in with the picture quite well.  I have printed all of the sentiments out from my computer.

This one is based on the same theme as the cat card.  I've used an image by Pollycraft again and coloured the flowers to match the backing paper.

If you want to join in with this campaign, please click on the Cancer Research button on the sidebar.  This will take you to the Docrafts page telling you how you can join in.

Thanks for looking and pop back soon!

Vintage style card

This card that I made today is for my Nan, who will be 85 next week.  I know that she likes this traditional / vintage style, which is why it is a bit different from my usual style.  I am entering it into the Sketch and Stash challenge #28 (which is to use their suggested layout to make any card). 

For the challenge the newest part of my stash is the lace and pearls.  The lace was a bit of an impulse buy last week, I didn't have any plans for it - I just liked it, so I bought a few metres.  Fortunately it came in perfect for this card.  The pearls were from my local craft shop.  The neglected part of my stash is the papers (from a Kay & Co 8x8 pad) and the rubber stamp.  I've had this stamp about 10 years but haven't used it for a long, long time.  It is by Inkadinkado. 

I used nestabilities to cut the circles and a bronze ink pad to stamp the image and added a bronze border around the inner circle.  I coloured the ladies face with craft chalks to add a soft hint of colour and punched some tiny flowers out of the scrap paper to add to the hat.

Finally, to finish off I have added some matching paper to the inside and a simple matted square to write on to. 

Thanks for looking!

My newest creation - Lily with heart pendant

Here's a picture of the latest crafty creation that I have made,finished just last night.  I have named her Lily.

Lily is made from gold and cream mohair and she stands just 6" tall.  She's quite shy and bashful (which is why her ears are turned down). Lily is proudly wearing her pink heart pendant necklace which I  have made from shrink plastic.  I cut a large heart from pink shrink plastic and rubber stamped it with the teddy image and the "I love you" sentiment.  I then drew a scallop border and punched the hole for the hanging thread.

 

I heated the shrink plastic with my heat gun - although I prefer to bake and shrink it in the oven.  However, I think this may just be because I panic when shrinking it with the heart gun and the plastic starts contorting and twisting into all manner of shapes.  "Just Keep Going 'til its Flat" I keep repeating over and over in my head but I always feel like shouting "AAARRRGGGHH".  You see, if I bake it in the oven for a minute or so, I can't see the impossible shapes it twists into before settling and I don't start to panic.  Fortunately Lily's little heart shrunk perfectly and she is proudly wearing it now.

This picture is just to show off Lily's little head band made with tiny beads - she's a real girly girl!

I'm going to enter Lily into 2 challenges this week:

Die cut dreams - Have a heart

Just Cute bears - Hearts

Thanks for looking and I'll be back with some more cards for the remainder of the week - can't make a bear every day, they take too long!

Please Join in - Do Crafts and Cancer Research card appeal

I spent quite a bit of yesterday making cards for this year's Do Crafts Craft for Life campaign.  You need to make A6 cards and pop them in the special bags (available from Cancer Research shops or your Do Crafts stockists), then either sell the cards for £1 each and donate the money (details on the cello bag) or donate your cards to your local shop for them to sell.

Click the Cancer Research button on my sidebar to take you to the Do Crafts website page, which will tell you all you need to know.

Can I please urge you generous crafters to take part and to spread the word; I am sure that there is not a single one of us who has not been affected by this dreadful disease, in one way or another and we all buy far too much stuff than what we could ever need.

Here's the first 6 cards that I made.  This year I have made an undertaking to myself (and now to all of you bloggers) that I will make and donate 100 cards (minimum) which is double the amount I made for last year's campaign.  On my cards I have been using Anya stamps, Lili of the Valley stamps and Pollycraft greetings.  Still lots more to make, lots of ideas and lots and lots of surplus stash that I can put to good use.

Please join in, spread the word and thanks for taking the time to read my post.

With Love bookmark card

I have made this card for the Die Cut Dreams Challenge #33.  The challenge, this week, was to produce at craft project under the theme "Red and Black With Love", so this is my interpretation of the title.

I made a little pocket on the front of the card and the main image has been made into a bookmark, so that it will still be useful even after Valentine's day.

I've never thought to make a bookmark with a card before but the size of this Pollycraft image lends itself perfectly to the job.

Here's what I've used:

• Image - Pollycraft digital stamp
• Coloured with Pro Markers
• Polka dot paper - DCWV Christmas glitter stack
• Eyelet - done with cropodile
• Other bits and bobsd from stash

Thanks for looking!

Tipsy Ted

Now, this card is a complete change to my usual style,which is: Clean lines, bright colours and lots of glitter.  I've tried to go for an aged, slightly distressed look this time.  The paper is torn and edged with a bronze ink pad.

I am entering this card into the Just Cute Bears weekly challenge #2 - Congratulations.  (I don't know what my Ted's been celebrating but he's certainly having agood time with his bubbly!).

Here's what I've used:

Blue polka dot paper - My Mind's Eye

Lined Vellum - Pukka pad

Teddy, Oval, Champagne and glass - die cut with my Big Shot

Bronze ink and brads - from stash

Thanks for looking and pop back soon for another visit!

Miniature Clown Bear

Well, my mini clown bear is finally finished.  I've been making him on and off for the last three weeks - he has probably taken me about 12 hours to make.  Smaller bears do not mean less time to make than larger bears.  They can be so fiddly that often they taken longer to make than big bears.

He is about  5.25cm tall and in case you don't believe me, here's a piccy of him sitting next to my thimble!

He is made from an Emily Farmer kit but the little heart buttons are an extra that I've added.  He is supposed to be wearing a pointy clown hat.  I did make it but think I prefer him without the hat.  Leave me a comment and let me know - hat or no hat?

TOP TIP! ....I'd just like to share with you on of my top tips if you are making miniature bears.  Bear makers use lots of implements for stuffing their bears but many of the "bought" ones are too large for mini bears.  People use knitting needles, kebab skewers and loads of different things to help push the stuffing into toes and hands.  My preferred tool is a spare Nintendo DS stylus - they can be picked up really cheaply in packs or 3 or 4.

They are the perfect size to fit into the palm of your hand to help push the stuffing down the limbs and have a rounded end which helps to avoid the terrible fate of pushing the stick right through the toe fabric (yes, I have been there!).

My other top tip is - make sure you buy your own stylus.  Don't pinch the one out of Other Half's DS or the kids DS - otherwise you won't be a very popular crafter!!!

Thanks for looking and I love to hear your comments!

A Rogues' Gallery of Teddy Bears

Well, my tiny clown bear is now finished and is sitting in the middle of the picture, wearing purple and red.  I will post some more close up pictures of him soon, when I get some decent shots (photography is not one of my best subjects, I'm afraid!).

Anyway, I wanted to share with you some of my other bears that I have made over the last 18 months or so, before I started my blog - 2 or three have been made recently and are on the blog but the others aren't.

From L-R we have Mushy Pea, Annabella, Lil' Ted, Clown, Loose Legs, unnamed, and finally Ping and Pong my little panda bear couple!  I think this picture is good to show the scale at which the clown is compared to the other bears.  From the top of his head to his toes is 5 1/4 cm - that's about 2 inches in "old money".

Thanks for looking and pop back soon for some more Clown Bear pictures.

Sharing Sherbert

Here's a card that I have made for a friend's birthday this week - using a Pollycraft rubber stamped image.  I'm going to enter it into the Pollycraft challenge for this week #33 Things with Wings.  Sherbert's wings are

very small, but she definitely has some!

I decided to add a border to frame the image after I had taken my first photo - so this is what the piccy looks like now:

This is what I've used for the card:

Image - Sharing sherbert rubber stamp, Pollycraft, coloured with pro markers

Paper, card and ribbon - DCWV

Black adhesive glitter paper - this is fantastic and so sparkly, from my local craft shop (MSA Crafts), sorry don't know who it is by as it is sold as loose sheets