Tuesday 29 March 2011

The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

There's a new challenge over at Scrap Creations today - and it's 'Fairytales'. It's sponsored by Pink Cat Studio, so we were lucky enough to work with some of their gorgeous images! Here's my card:

Yep, it's a twisted easel!! I've had the 'blank' made up ready to use for ages, but I was waiting for the right card IYKWIM!?!? I've coloured the image with promarkers and all the papers are from Cosmo Cricket Delovely, as well as some purple card from Bazzill Basics. The flowers are a mix of Woodware, Wild Rose Studio and Papermania. The glitter foam swirl is from QVC and sentiment is Craftwork cards. Oh, and I've used my MS grass and butterfly punches. I must admit to having taken some inspiration from a card in Quick Cards magazine.
Now if you're a bit puzzled about whether the Sugar Plum Fairy is a fairy tale, I must admit - we all knew the theme when we picked our images and then as we were all uploading our cards, we started realising that they weren't actually fairytales, but hey, close enough!!?? LOL!
I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:
And that's about it. And that's about it from me for Scrap Creations, as this is my last post as a DT member, there's a new team starting on the 1st April. I wanted to step down and dedicate more time to my other DTs, so it's all good.
I'm not having a very good day today - my dog, Tippy was ill on Saturday (dodgy stomach!) and so I went through the usual procedure, starving him for 24 hours then introducing plain food and he's been OK for a couple of days. Well, last night all I can say is, we had a rather explosive episode!! I won't go into anymore detail than that but you get the picture! Anyway, it continued through the night, so I've had hardly any sleep. Fingers crossed he gets over it this time cos he's got a really sensitive stomach and he's had this quite a few times but a couple of times, I've ended up having to take him to the vet for some injections and it's not a pleasant experience for either of us!! Anyway, enough rambling!! I hope you're day's better than mine. Bye for now........

Monday 28 March 2011

A Colour Challenge

It's Monday and with the start of a new week brings a new challenge over at Paper Cupcakes and this time around, Gloria set us a colour challenge - she wants us to use Pink, Green and Yellow. Here's my card:
I've used prismacolour pencils and sansodor on the Paper Cupcakes image and blended the background with chalks - I really like using chalk lately, I think it's under rated!! All of the papers are from Wild Rose Studio - it was lucky really, when I knew the colour scheme I looked through my papers and the Butterfly Garden ones from WRS were all yellow, pink and green!
I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:
Oh, and you'll never guess what - I won over at Crafty Ho's last week!! Found out last night and wanted to shout from the roof tops being as I never win anything but cos I'd already posted 3 times yesterday, I thought I'd better not bore you again!!! So - I'm Crafty Ho (now normally, I wouldn't be too impressed if someone called me a Ho but on this occasion, I'll let it pass LOL!!) Have a great week everyone and don't forget to join in with our challenge!

Sunday 27 March 2011

Doggy Beer

Blimey, sorry - me again!! Just a quick one cos I've made something for the Cards for Men sketch challenge and I've just realised that the deadline is in a couple of hours......so, here's my card:
I'm a recent convert to Digistamp Boutique having seen their images used around blog land, I've finally succumbed, so this image is one of theirs - coloured with promarkers, with a bit of glossy accents on the beer glass. The papers are Wild Rose Studio, the sentiment stamp is Papermania and I've added a bit of card candy.
And that's it - I promise to leave you in peace now to enjoy the rest of your evening - and the end of the Dancing on Ice final!! I won't be back again....well, not til the morning at any rate (mwah, ha, ha....!)

Oh, to be a teenager again....

Yep, back again! I was very honoured to be asked to be Guest Designer over at PaperWorks Co. Blog this week, which every Sunday is a sketch challenge. Here's my card:
I'd been asked by a family member to make a card for her Grand daughter, so thought I'd 'kill two birds with one stone', so to speak! All the papers are Basic Grey Hopscotch and I've used a stamp from The Greeting Farm, one of the new Creepin' Crew ones, which I think are perfect for teens! I used nesties and my cuttlebug for the oval mat in the middle and then cut the number out with my Slice. The sentiment is from a Kanban kit that I nicked!! Ohh, just realised how that sounded - I meant I nicked the sentiment out of the kit that I had, not that I nicked the whole kit, am not a tea leaf - hee, hee!!!!!
I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:
Right, I think that's about it! Pop over and check out the PWCO blog - they have some good sketches. Hope you've had a good weekend. Mwah!

Sweet.....

Hope you're all enjoying your weekends. It's my weekend 'off' - Sam's at his Nan and Grandad's, so I always have lots of fun on these weekends (aka get lots of crafting done LOL)!! Today there's a new challenge over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp and this week, it was Mira's turn to design the sketch that we had to work with. When I first saw it, I was a bit stumped but to be honest, I'm really pleased with how it turned out - and it was much easier than I thought it was gonna be! Here's my card:
I've coloured a CC Designs image with promarkers and rested it on top of a word cut with my slice. All the papers are from Crate Paper 'Katlin' (had them for absolutely ages and it's the first time I've used them - sooooo naughty!!) All the flowers and leaves were cut with a Magnolia Doohickey and I've used my Martha Stewart butterfly punch. And that's it - Simples!!
So, what d'you think? Hope you like it and I hope you'll join in again. Feel free to leave me a comment, I really do appreciate it, ya know! Enjoy the rest of your weekend - oh, and don't forget the clocks have gone forward in the UK. I'll be back later..........

Thursday 24 March 2011

Spotlight on Me!!! (LOL!)

Today I was very honoured to have been spotlighted as the 'Featured DT Member' in The Stamping Boutique Journal. If you've never read it, it's definitely worth subscribing to - even if for nothing else, you get a free image with every issue (this week's is the one that I've used on my card). You can get the newsletter sent to your email address by going here and filling in your name and email addy in on the right hand side. Here's the card that I made for the feature:
 And here's my interview (I won't be offended if you can't be bothered to read it all LOL!)

SENIOR DT MARIE

1. Tell me about yourself.
I'm Marie and I'm a single mum to one amazing son, Sam who's 10. We live in London in the UK with our dog, Tippy who's a chorkie (a cross between a chihuahua and a yorkshire terrier). For many years I worked at an advertising agency in central London and I was far too busy working and socialising to have any kind of hobby. But then in 2006, all that changed - I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer and after having a major operation and radiotherapy, I found myself on the road to recovery but being unable to work, with a lot of time on my hands!! I don't know what drew me to card making but I thought I'd try it and I haven't looked back!!! My house has now been taken over by stash and my clothes obsession has been replaced by a paper and stamp obsession LOL!!!! I started blogging at the beginning of last year and it's opened up a whole new world to me - I love visiting other people's blogs and taking part in challenges. There's so much talent and inspiration out there!! In a lot of ways, card making has saved me - at what could have been a very dark time in my life, I've found something that I'm passionate about and that I find very relaxing. Not only that, the friends that I've made are fantastic. I can't imagine my life now without cards and blogging!!!

2. How long have you been with The Stamping Boutique?
I got the email inviting me to join the team at the end of August last year and haven't looked back!! Tracey is amazing for bringing out new (and gorgeous!!) images all the time, I don't know how she does it!!

3. What is your favorite TSB image or line and why?
Oh, that's a hard one!! I love Fairy Cynthia and Princess Jennifer Latte - both so much fun. But then I've seen so many beautiful cards made using the enchantment line.

4. What is your favorite coloring medium?
I love the effects of prisma colour pencils blended with sansodor like on the card I've made here and I love watercolouring with distress inks but I must be honest, 9 times out of 10, I turn to my promarkers for quickness!

5. When you are not crafting what do you like to do?
I'm a big TV fan! I love American shows. I enjoy walking around the heath where we live with our dog but most of all, I like spending time with my son - one of our favourite things to do is to go to the cinema.

6. If you could do or be anything...what what you do or be and why?
My absolute dream would be to open up a little craft shop - I'd love to be able to sell things that I'm passionate about and pass on my love of papercrafting to other people. And to be able to sit in a little corner and make cards during the quiet times would be my idea of heaven!!

7. What are your favorites? papers, colors, embellishments, tools.
Well, TSB images, of course! LOL!! I love MME, Basic Grey and October Afternoon papers. The flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts are TDF. My fave colour is purple. And at the moment, my favourite thing is my Slice machine!! I got the new Elite version and it's fab!!!

If you did manage to make it this far, I hope you found it interesting - or that you're at least still awake, hee, hee.

I'm going to enter my card into the Fussy and Fancy Friday sketch challenge, Flutterby Wednesday's open challenge #147 and Crafts and Me challenge #27 Anything Goes.

OK - that's about it from me for tonight, I'm off to watch a bit of telly and do some crafting! Bye for now.......

Quack, quack...........

There's a new challenge starting today over at Delightful Challenges and this week we want to see Pastels and Ribbon. Here's my attempt:
How cute is Dilly the Duck??? I've coloured him with promarkers and used my nesties and cuttlebug to cut it out. The papers are from Prima and I've used a Martha Stewart corner punch. The ribbons are from Really Reasonable Ribbon, who are sponsoring the challenge this week - there's a $10 certificate up for grabs for this week's winner.
I'm also entering my card into The Crafty Ho's sketch challenge, The Crafty Pad's challenge #113 Use a Digi,  Make it Mondays Anything Goes and Colour Create's challenge #67 Pastels.
You know it's funny cos as the week goes on, there are lots of challenges that I see - mainly sketches - that I think are fab and want to take part in and time seems to fly by and I end up missing half of them!! Anyway, I hope you're still enjoying the spring weather in your part of the world and I hope to see your pastel and ribbon creations.

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Have a blooming wonderful day!!

The challenge this week over at Scrap Creations is 'Spring has Sprung'. The challenge actually started yesterday but my card hadn't been included so I didn't publish it on my blog but today it's appeared over there, so ta-daaaa, here it is.....
I've used a gorgeous image  from The Stamping Boutique which I've coloured with promarkers. The scalloped card blank and sentiment are from Craftwork Cards. All of the papers, ribbon, bow, flowers and buttons are from Papermania. I don't use yellow very often but the whole 'sunshine' set was in one of the Papermania goody bags, and I actually quite like it - it's quite 'fresh' and makes me feel kinda spring and summery - which is appropriate given the beautiful weather we've had in London these past couple of days. I hope I'm not speaking too soon but it's so nice that the warmer weather has finally arrived and it was a relief to be able to go out without wearing my ugg boots for a change!!! I like wearing pumps cos they show off my tattoo LOL!!!!
I'm going to enter it into the following challenges:
I think that's about it!! Hope you all 'have a blooming wonderful day' LOL!!! Let me know what you think of my lemony card! Til next time... hugs x

Saturday 19 March 2011

Chocolate helps with the back pain....LOL!!

Sorry I didn't make it back onto here last night. After I'd been to the baby shower and then gone to pick Sam up from my mum and dad's - cos he wanted to go round there rather than coming with me - it was 11pm and we watched a bit of telly while he had his supper and after I put him to bed, I came down and started having a bit of a mooch around blog land and I fell asleep!!
Anyway, here's the card that I made for my friend that I wanted to share with you:
I've used a Bugaboo image and sentiment coloured with promarkers. The papers are from Dovecraft and the lilac card is Bazzill Basics and I've added some Craftwork Cards card candy. Now the chocolate bars - aren't they fun!! I can't take credit for the idea, I saw them on a card made by Clare Curd in the Docrafts magazine but I made them by colouring 4 square gems for each choccy bar using a dark brown promarker, I then stuck them to a small rectangular piece of card and then covered each piece first with some foil and then with some DP. So - what do you think??
I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:
Right, I think that's about it!! Here's another few cards that I made while I had my Elzybell's stamps out, man do I miss this store!!!!!!!


They should come in handy cos I always need men's cards too!! I think that's just about enough from me - hope you're still with me and that you'll be kind enough to leave me a comment. I'm off to do some watercolouring with DI's. Have a fabby weekend (what's left of it anyway!) xx

Friday 18 March 2011

One Layer Off the Page Card

Hey everyone. Sorry about my short but sweet entry yesterday, I had to leave for the hospital. It was just a follow up appointment in the ENT clinic where I have to go every six months because for those of you that don't know, I had major surgery in 2006 as I had thyroid cancer and had to have my thyroid and lots of lymph nodes removed from my neck and I also ended up having an emergency tracheotomy. My regular surgeon was off on hols yesterday but the doctor I saw was OK, although I would've liked him more if he'd used the numbing spray before he put the camera up my nose and down the back of my throat LOL!! Anyway, it was all good.
The card I was to share with you today is for the 'Less is More' challenge blog. This challenge seems to have taken the card making world by storm and nearly every blog I visit is entering, so I thought I'd better get in on the act!! My card is for Week 6's challenge, which is to make a one layer card with the theme 'off the edge' and here's my card:
I've used Elzybell's stamps coloured with promarkers. It's funny, as I was making this card, I kept wanting to add something to it, but from what I've read, everyone feels the same way, their first time LOL! Now I've been looking at it for a while, I kinda like it. What d'you think?
Right, I'm off to make a lime and white chocolate torte for my friend's baby shower tonight. I should be back later cos while I had my Elzybell's stamps out for this card, I started stampin' up a storm! And I've got my baby shower card to share with you too - and maybe some pics to make your mouth water!! Laters!!! xx

Thursday 17 March 2011

It's a Hip Hop Turtle!!!

Today there's a new challenge over at Delightful Challenges and this week we wanna see some green!! Here's my card using 'Myrtle the Hip Hop Turtle' - don'tcha just love 'im LOL!!??
I've coloured the image with promarkers and all the papers are MME. I've also added a Craftwork Cards sentiment and some nailheads from my stash.
Hope you like it!! Apologies for the short post, I'm off to the hospital for an appointment. Bye for now......

Monday 14 March 2011

It's all about Boysenberry!!!!

It's Monday and so there's a new challenge over at Paper Cupcakes. This week, it was Katrina's turn to set us to task and she wanted us to make a monochromatic card (which is different tones of the same colour for those of you who get confused with monotone (like me!) LOL!!). I decided to go 'back to my roots' and use one of the first images that I ever used when I joined the DT at Paper Cupcakes, and here it is:
Ingredients: Image coloured with promarkers, die cut with nesties/cuttlebug, Paper, Ribbon, Bow, Flowers and Buttons - all Papermania Boysenberry, Sentiment - Craftwork Cards, Pins - Wild Orchid Crafts coloured with promarkers.
I'm also entering my card into the following challenges: Paperworks.co Sunday Sketch # 73, Creative Cowgirls Challenge # 9 Monochromatic and Simply Create # 39 Just a little monochromatic.
Please take the time and hop over to the Paper Cupcakes blog to check out the other DT cards, we've had lots of new people joining the team this week, so there's plenty to see (and a fab freebie!!) Hope you liked my card, leave me some love.......please!!?? Have a great week, everyone. Bye for now.................x

Sunday 13 March 2011

You are my nightlight...........

What is going on with blogger today? This morning, I finished off my Sunday Sketch and Stamp post and although I'd clearly asked for it to publish at 10.00am, it was posted straight away - at about 8.30am, even though it said 'posted at 10am' at the bottom!!?? Whereas this post, which I'd also scheduled, I've just had a look at and it's not been posted at all!?!? Is anyone else having any problems? Anyway, enough moaning, let's get on with it!!
Today there's a new challenge over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp and I'm very excited cos it's my sketch this week!! I love seeing how people interpret a sketch that I've come up with. Here's my version:
I've used (another!) one of those fabulous Simply Sassy girls (sorry, I know you're probably gonna start getting sick of them, I just love them so!!!!!), which I've watercoloured with distress inks. I've also used an inkadinkado sentiment stamp, which when I saw, thought would be perfect with this image. I've stamped all round the edges with a Tim Holtz stamp and then distressed all the edges with vintage photo distress ink. The papers are Basic Grey Capella. I've made the brown flowers using cream prima e-line flowers, which I coloured with VP DI and then put together using this youtube video, the cream ones are from Wild Orchid Crafts (Asters), I then sprayed them all with Ranger Perfect Pearl Mist. And I've added pearls from my stash.
I'm also entering this card into the Simon Says Stamp 'Anything Goes' challenge and Little Miss Muffet's challenge #4, which is to use Designer Papers.
I really hope you like my card, please do leave me a comment and let me know what you think, I appreciate each and every one!! And do hop over and check out what the rest of the talented DT girlies have done with my sketch. Most importantly, please join in with the challenge yourselves, so that I can see what you do with it!! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, I'm off to take the dog for a walk across the heath! TTFN lovelies......x

Friday 11 March 2011

Tracy's Birthday Blog Hop!!!!!!!

Today I'm taking part in a special blog hop in aid of a very special person's birthday - Tracy Jackson. For those of you that don't know Tracy, she was one of the founders of the Southern Girls Challenge which I'm on the DT for (amongst other things - there are people from 3 different design teams taking part in this hop!!) Behind the scenes at SGC, everyone on the DT is part of a wonderful, fun, supportive team and I'm hugely thankful to Tracy (and Lou, hun - not forgetting you!! And of course, the rest of my DT girlies!!)
You should've arrived here from Paula-Kay - http://digidesignsbypk.blogspot.com, if you didn't please go back and start at the beginning, which is Michelle's blog – http://wannastamp.blogspot.com Make sure you visit everyone taking part in the hop cos some of them are offering candy!!!!!!!
Now, the most important part of this hop is that you pop over to Tracy's blog http://www.stampingseasons.blogspot.com and leave her some birthday wishes and tell her that Marie sent you, so that she knows that this hop is going on in her honour and who's taking part. 
Here's my card:
I've used a gorgeous LOTV image, watercoloured with distress inks. All the papers are from October Afternoon. What d'you think? Don't forget to say 'Happy Birthday' to Tracy. The next stop on the hop is Dee - http://deesdesigns.wordpress.com/ 
I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Thanks for popping by.....xxxxx

Thursday 10 March 2011

Another Simply Sassy

Here's my third and last post for today! I won't chat long because it's for Friday Sketchers and the deadline's in about 2 minutes!! Nothing like cutting it fine, eh!?! Here it is:



I've used a Simply Sassy watercoloured with distress inks and some freebie papers from a magazine. I hope you like it. I think it's my fave of the Simply Sassy girl's that I've done so far - what d'you think? Hope you've had a wonderful day? I'm off to link this card and then finish watching the rest of American Idol! See you tomorrow for something fun!!

Beauty and Brains

Afternoon and it's my second post of the day!! Today, The Stamping Boutique is sponsoring Charisma Cardz who's challenge this week is 'Easel cards' and here's mine:



I've used Princess Jennifer Latte Vanity, which I've coloured with prisma colour pencils blended with sansodor - I do love the effect that this gives, it's worth taking the extra time sometimes. I've used a Craftwork Cards scalloped card as a base and the papers and stickers/chipboard embellie are all from DCWV. I've finally got around to using my classic frame nestie and the ribbon is from my stash. I think that's about it (let me know if I've missed anything!)
Hope you like this one too! I'm off to watch Coach Trip - it's been really kicking off on there the last couple of days - I love it, hee, hee!!!!!

Butterfly, butterfly, fly away.........

Hello there everyone! Just a quick post from me this morning......There's a new challenge starting today at Delightful Challenges and this week we wanna see some butterflies on your project. Now being as butterflies are my absolute favourite thing in the world, I was lovin' this challenge!! Here's my card:


I've used 'Briley' on my card, such an adorable image - perfect for little girl's cards and can be coloured in, in so many different ways. All of the papers are by Whiff of Joy, which I ordered from Crafty Emma's Store and I have to give credit where credit's due, I had fab service from Emma and the great thing about this store is the 'coming soon' section where you can pre-order things before they're released, which is wonderful for someone like me who has no patience LOL!!!! Back to my card - I've added a butterfly border cut with my EK Success punch and then used the 'waste bits' which are actually cute butterfly shapes and stuck them around my card. Hope you like it! Have a fabby Thursday - it's almost the weekend. I'll be back soon with another card.

Wednesday 9 March 2011

Happy Hump Day!!

I've heard other people say that and it always makes me laugh! Here's another card using another one of the wonderful Simply Sassy girls and it's one of the newer ones this time:





I've watercoloured her with distress inks and then cut her out. I saw the shape of this card and followed the directions for it on someone else's blog and I'm so very sorry but I've lost the link so I can't give them credit but if anyone knows who it is, please let me know and I'll add it in. The pink stripy paper is from Magnolia and the glittery brads that I've used as drawer knobs are from Papermania. When I initially made this card, it was meant to look as if she was sitting at her dresser but when it was finished and I saw how big the drawers look compared to her, I think it's got more of an 'Alice in Wonderland' feel to it now - what d'you think?
I didn't actually make it for any challenges but I've had a look around on Feline Playful and it fits into the following:
I'd really love it if you'd leave me a comment, I've not had many on my last couple of cards (but I hugely appreciate those ones that I have got!) and I'm feeling a bit unloved. Anyways, I'll be back again tomorrow.

Tuesday 8 March 2011

Are you feeling hoppy?

It's a lovely Spring day here in London - cold - but I don't mind that so much when it's all bright and sunshiney!! There's a new challenge today over at Scrap Creations and this week, instead of Going Grey, we're Going Green!!! I've got a real thing at the moment about making fun, children's cards and here's mine:


I've used the adorable 'Elvin the Toad' from Digital Delights who's our sponsor this week and I've coloured him with promarkers. The papers are freebies from a magazine this week but they're from Craftwork Cards. I've basically stuck a square of stripey paper onto the back of the spotty paper and then cut into it. I coloured the base card with a promarker and then mounted the papers onto the card. Then I made some paper springs and attached them to the back of a cut out Elvin, used foam pads to hold the triangles opened up and then stuck 'boingy' Elvin in the middle!! I also used a computer generated sentiment.
There's a surprising amount of 'Green' challenges going on this week, so I'm also entering my card into the following: The Corrosive Challenge Blog - challenge #106, Creative Inspirations Paint, Easy Craft Projects - challenge #33 and Card Makin' Mamas - challenge #16.
Hope you like my card - or it at least raises a smile! I hope you'll join in and I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment. Bye for now.......x

Monday 7 March 2011

Glitter overload!!!

Hey there. It's the start of a new week and with it brings a new challenge over at Paper Cupcakes. This week, Patti P has whipped us a fabby sketch to work with and you know that's my favourite kinda challenge!! Here's my card:

I covered my card with Bazzill Basics grey coloured card and then used some new Prima papers. I've used the Paper Cupcakes image 'Cupcake under glass' coloured with promarkers with glossy accents on the dome. Then I added a Craftwork cards sentiment and then.............I went a bit kerazy with the Viva Decor Glitter pen!!! LOL!! It's looks nice and sparkly in real life!
I'm also going to enter my card into Aly's Sunday Challenge, which is 'Anything Goes', Card Cupids 'Anything Goes' challenge and Card Creations challenge # 4 'Anything that sparkles'. Hmmmm, d'you think it fits!?!
Right, I'd better go, I've got to go up to the hospital this afternoon and before that, I've got to go round to my mum and dad's to have a shower!! Last night, I went to give Sam a shower and I was turning the tap this way and that trying to get the right temp and although I was barely turning it, it was either burning hot or freezing, so in the end I said, 'just get out and I'll run you a bath'. Well, when I turned the taps on, it was literally a dribble. The taps have been playing up for a while - they only turn so far and then lock (any plumbers out there with advice!?!) I had to stand with two jugs and fill the bath from the sink which took an absolute age - not that it was a very deep bath!! So this morning, it's my turn and being I've got v long hair, I need the shower, so off to ma and pa's I go, shower gel in hand!!
Anyways, don't forget to check out the other girl's creations over at Paper Cupcakes, they've really outdone themselves this week - and if you want to take part, there's a gorgeous freebie to be had!!! (although you don't have to use a PC image to take part but we love to see how you use them!!) Bye for now..........xx
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