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

Cardmadfairy Digi Days Challenge DT card

I just love the cuteness of this fab owl digi which is why I chose to use it for the new challenge over at Cardmadfairy Digi Days Challenge blog.   You can buy Jenni's fabulous Xmas Owl digi here.  The challenge for the next 2 weeks is:

SPOTS and STRIPES

You don't have to use a Cardmadfairy digi to enter the challenge but we'd love it if you did.

Whimsy Stamps are sponsoring this challenge and are offering one lucky winner 5 digi images from their shop.  Pop over to our challenge blog for more details.

Here's what I've used:

Image - Xmas Owl, coloured with Pro Markers, by Cardmadfairy

Papers - Wild Orchid (magazine freebie pad)
MS deep edge punch
Sentiment digi - Sentiments for You
Spellbinders dies
White ribbon - colour matched with pro markers
Stickles glitter and a bit of pink bling from my stash



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

Charizma Cards - In stitches

Cute Card Thursday - Tree-mendous

Meljen Designs - Use a ribbon

Stampin' B's - use a bird

Passion for pro markers - Christmas Critters

Ribbon Carousel - ribbon + sparkle/bling

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

Ruby's Rainbow DT card from Wee Stamps

We've got a lovely challenge this fortnight for you over at Ruby's Rainbow challenges - I'm sure it will be a very popular one.  DT member Tracey has chosen the challenge:

C UTE AND CUDDLY

Straight away I knew that I just had to use one of Sylvia Zet's images from the Wee Stamps store and I chose Sweet Blossom as the digi for this card.  

Here's what else I've used today:

Image - Sweet Blossom coloured with Pro Markers

Papers - My Mind's Eye

Sentiment stamp - HOTP

Butterfly punch - Tonic

Card cards, pearls and button from stash together with organza ribbon coloured to match with pro markers

So, don't forget that you've got 2 weeks to join us in this challenge!

I must apologise that the photo is a bit on the dark side - that's Autumn for you!  It was dark when I tried to take a picture before I went to work and it was dark when I came home too.  I must try to make my cards earlier so I can chose a nice bright day to take my photos!

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

Crafty Cardmakers - Anything goes

Creative Stamp Friends - Autumn colours

Birthday Sundaes - Fall colours birthday card

One Stop Craft - Anything goes

Robyn's Fetish - Anything goes

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

Craft Your Days Away - Tag it!

I can't believe how many Christmas cards I've been making lately - very unlike me!  This one is my DT card for the new Craft Your Days Away challenge.  The challenge has been set by DT member Sarah and she has chosen:

TAG IT

So we want to see your tags or a project with a tag on it for this challenge.

We are being sponsored for this challenge by the lovely Meljen's Designs - so that means some fantastic digis up for grabs for the lucky winner of this challenge.

I have used another image from Cardmadfairy called Imogen in the Wings.  This image was just crying out to be glittered up and blinged!  I've coloured Imogen with pro markets and added some Stickles glitter.  The paper is from a new My Mind's Eye pad that I had free with a magazine.  I've used some Sizzlits dies to cut out the glitter card (from DCWV) and added some flower accents from a £ shop and some ivy leaves from my stash, all of which I've added extra Stickles to.

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

Crafty Catz - Things with wings
Fun with shapes and more - Shabby/Vintage
4 crafty chicks - Anything goes
Colour create - lime, aqua and white

Thanks for looking today!

Amanda

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