End of year Card Challenges...

Some more glitter. I have made this Birthday card today using one of the Lili of the Valley toppers, they have changed their format to their toppers all being one size and I must admit that I liked the previous format of an A4 sheet with the lovely pictures in various sizes, I felt there was more opportunities to use the toppers, i.e. for the outside of the card and perhaps a smaller one for the inside or the reverse. I am however glad that I had picked up a about 10 of the sheets on March at the SECC Craft Fair, so will make good use of them I promise!

This card has been made using some pp from my craft box, paper flowers from my stash and a Birthday tag from the wonderful Craftwork Cards. I was fortunate enough to have gone on their blog at the beginning of December and taken advantage of a special offfer of their project bags at half price, down to £5! I purchased three of these, various colours and designs, and the pack included card and envelopes, tags, ribbons, card candy, templates etc. These are a fabulous buy even at the full cost of £10. I have also used Stickles around the outer edges of the papers, this doesn't show up som well on the photograph though. I have used Sakura glitter pen on the angel's wings to add some more sparkle! A few embellishments added to the corners with glossy accents, I must admit I like using this as a "glue" for those wee fiddly bits. A new, and very welcome addition to my stash, is a paire of tweezers, wow, these make picking up the gems so much easier, wish I had known about that before!

I have entered this card in a few challenges, noted here, here goes...

Allsorts - Free and Easy - Anything Goes

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/

Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes Birthday Card

http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/

Moving along with the times - Anything Goes (No Christmas cards allowed!)

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2010/12/merry-christmas-anything-goes-week.html

My time to craft challenge - brand spanking new

http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/12/challenge-121-brand-spanking-new.html

CES Challenges - Anything Goes

http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/

I did it creations challenge blog - something new on your card

http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/challenge-35-out-with-oldin-with-new.html

Totally Gorjuss Challenge - For someone special

http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/2010/12/challenge-61-for-someone-special.html

Browsing Time...

Well, Christmas is over for another year, I so much enjoyed making the christmas cards with glitter etc, although have promised to be more organised for next year! Also thoroughly enjoying having a break from the usual routines, and finding time to browse fellow blogs, my, there are so many talented crafters out there, wow! I have also found a few crafters who have offered blog candy and will hopefully add their details to my sidebar - always nice to add other followers to our sites. Stamping with Denise http://denisesstampingpage.blogspot.com/2010/12/thank-you-candy.html Stampin Mindy - http://stampinmindy.blogspot.com/2010/12/holiday-blog-candy.html I hope everyone is well enjoying the "tropical" temperatures, LOL.

Christmas Church...

Well, another few weeks have flown by, the days have certainly been longer as the snow has made me decide to leave the car at home, but hey, a trek and two buses to get to work is mighty sore on my time, body(!) and the purse, hope the snow gives us a break over the Christmas hols.

I have, however, managed to get a few cards done over the last week or so, a nice "batch" card for Christmas with a few tweaks here and there certainly saved me a lot ot"thinking time".

I have made this card, which I absolutely love. It was just so therapeutic to make, and who is not happy with lots of glitter. This was a stamp which I purchased in digital format from Imag-e-nation.com (http://www.imag-e-nation.com/categories/Digital-Stamp-Downloads/Just-Inklined-Digital-Stamps/Christmas/?sort=featured&page=2), so easy to re-size etc. I coloured with copics and added lots of my favourite Glamour Dust. The papers were from a Forever Friends pad and I just added some pretty ribbon and a few wee stones to set it off.

I have entered this card in the following challenges, wo here goes...

Anything Goes - http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/

Anything Goes - http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/

Winter - http://www.pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Anything Goes - http://stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/

Sparkle & Shine- http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.com/

Winter Wonderland - http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/?zx=f3c403824520947e

Maybe find some precious time over the Christmas break for some more crafting, sounds good!

This week's Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge....and others too!

Well, if nothing else, I must be the "winner" of the latest entry each week of the Ladybug Crafts Ink weekly challenge blog (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/?zx=f3c403824520947e). Unfortunately, Sunday is my craft day and it just whizzes by, even though the snow (lovely as it is from the window) has kept be at home today.

I did however manage to make this Christmas card, I hope the Craftwork card paper I have used for the MS Punch snowflakes shows it pearlescent shade, nice for Christmas cards. I have also used one of my nestabilities and after cutting with the die, I have traced around the die with a pencil and then cut this away to give an outer edge for my stamped Nikki image. The cutting will take a bit of mastering, but I'll stick with it as I like the idea of doubling up my number of nesties! I have used glossy accents on the baubles and a bit of glitter on the star on top of the tree. Now time for bed....

P.S. Also entered this card for the following challenges...

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long..(http://christmasstampin.blogspot.com/)

A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge - anything goes theme..(http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/11/challenge-131-anything-goes.html)

Creative Inspirations Challenge - red, green, gold

http://cinspirations.blogspot.com/

Another Challenge...

Hi there, I am entering this lovely card into the (http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/) - asking for glitter and texture, so here goes...

Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge...

Another Challenge over at Ladybugcraftsink (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/?zx=f3c403824520947e) and usual I am trying to enter before the closing time, which by the way is at 9 a.m. this morning, hope my glitter-ing shows up. I have used one of my favourite of Kerry's images of Nikki doing the "snow angel", we all know how fun that is, and going by this week's forecast we may be doing so again! I have used my Martha Stewart punch for the snowflakes and decorated with my favourite glamour dust glitter (thanks Kerry for that valuable top tip). Fingers crossed....

Challenge - Ladybug Crafts Ink...

Sorry about the poor picture quality, I really must ask Santa for a new camera, this one has done it's five years+ service I think! I have made this card to be entered into the Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge, the very first challenge, (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/?zx=f3c403824520947eI) have just made it by the skin of my teeth timewise! The challenge was for a card as per the suggested sketch with the option of adding decoration to the inside of the card, this is absolutely new to me so I hope the small addition to the inside is well received.

Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge & Blog Hop...

One of my favourite blogs, Ladbugscrafts Ink (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/?zx=f54e3e51f99b09f8) have a joint challenge blog and blog hop this week, take the opportunity to enter the current challenge, entries by Monday 8th November and take part in the blog hop, this gives you a link to each of the excellent design team blogs and their creations using Kerry from Ladybug Crafts Ink new stamp range, I just adore Kerry's stamps and the quality really is excellent. Her stamps can be obtained from her website, and she is also offering a 15% discount code at checkout, so an ideal time to snap up a bargain. Her stamps were recently part of Debbi Moore's show on Create and Craft! (http://www.ladybugcraftsink.com/stamps-9-c.asp).

SECC Craft Show Fix...

Headed along to the SECC Hobbycrafts Show at the weekend (Fri, Sat and Sunday) - my poor feet! My friend and her daughter, who have never been to the show before, accompanied myself and my "adopted" 11 year old, Bethany. Bethany and I are old hands, attending the past couple of shows so we kinda knew what we were looking for, however, 9 year old Olivia, I think was overwhelmed by all the goodies available. The two girls purchased stamps, double sided tape and bags of glitter, some fun is definitely ahead. Craftwork Cards had a christmas kit incorporating their first class cardstock, envelopes, toppers, papers, candy and ribbons all in a pvc holder for £10 - a great purchase for the girls. I thoroughly enjoyed the demos, chuffed to bits to see Sheena Douglass and also Barbara Gray (though it took some patience to get to see them both as they were so popular). I would also like to thank Stephanie Weightman who took time from her busy schedule on Thursday to hold a workshop on Thursday night for my local cardmaking class, she was in fine form, guiding all of us on our project and making a lovely evening for us, poor Stephanie had had no time to eat as she had come straight from Thursday's opening day at the SECC, we provided sandwiches etc for the group. Many thanks to Stephanie. Pencilled in dates for March to head along again, but in the meantime, so looking forward to making lovely glittery Christmas cards - so many ideas!!

Sarah Kaye stamp with cat..

Being a cat lover I just had to have this Sarah Kaye stamp with the wee girl holding her cat. I have coloured with Promarkers and used the Craftwork cards sentiment as a flower at the side of the card. I have also entered this into Sarah Hurely challenge blog (http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/2010/10/challenge-13-colouring-sponsored-by.html ). I keep promising myself that I will get more crafting time and take part in the many challenge blogs that are out there, maybe one day....

New Challenge Blog - worth a look...

I am delighted to say that one of my favourite stamp designers, Kerry from Ladybug Crafts Ink, has created a new challenge blog (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/). To start things off, Kerry has offered the lovely Magnum stamp and goodies as shown on the sidebar. Pop along to her challenge blog for a chance to win. Her stamps were shown earlier this week on Create and Craft, well done Kerry, so give yourself a chance to win one of these stamps and see just how lovely they are to work with. I have posted a few of my creations below using the Nikki stamp and hopefully a few more will follow with my Create and Craft purchases!

Bright and cheery....

Nikki from Ladybug Crafts Ink... I have been trying to upload my pics, and whilst going through my photos I came across the above Nikki stamp from Ladybug Crafts Ink. This can be used for so many occasions. I actually made this card at a cardmaking class and have adopted the style for many other creations as it is so easy to make but very effective. Hope you like it...

Ladybug Crafts Ink Blog Hop....

This card has been made using one of my favourite stamps which is available from Ladybug Crafts Ink. I visited my local Craft shop, Craftworld in Glasgow, (http://www.craftologyonline.co.uk/ ) and seen the cutest cat stamp of a cat in a cat flap, I actually laughed in the shop. A few days later they held a demo day and a very friendly lady, Kerry, was taking part and showing her selection of stamps, and there, was Magnum the cat stamp. I gushed how lovely her stamps were and promptly purchased a few, Robyn in the puddle being one of them (Kerry thankfully suggested the glamour dust glitter and I am now using this on all my christmas cards!). Kerry's stamps cover so many occasions and stamp beautifully. At the moment there is a blog hop starting from her home page blog (http://ladybugcraftsink.blogspot.com/) which offers an opportunity of winning some of her latest stamps, please look and take part, there is always a chance of being a winner.... (p.s. this ends on Sunday 17th October but look out for the next hop!)

Always late...

Phew, time goes by so fast, I have made a few cards recently, but not as many as I would like, I seem to wait until the last minute, make and give away! I really must take time to take a photograph and add to the blog, or the options are, make them in plenty of time (!), make two and keep one (!!) or just photograph it! Any suggestions? I have added this card as this was made for a friend who had an operation and I wanted something with nice calming colours for her. I stamped the image on glossy card and then heat embossed, it looked really shiny, hoping that if she was a bit groggy the sentiment would shine at her LOL. I have also entered this into an open topic challenge this week over at Stamp, Stamp and Doodle Staurday blogspot - http://ssdschallenge.blogspot.com/. I will try to keep that promise of uploading, honest.

Wish me luck...

Finally got round to promising I will keep my blog up to date...fingers crossed. I have made some cards which I will find some time to transfer from their home on my camera card and move to the blog, hopefully quite soon. I have entered this card for the TotallyPaper Crafts challenge this week (http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/)and hopefully I will find the time to enter some of the other challenges soon. Hppy crafting and thanks for reading...

My Goodness...

Hi there, you know, I am absolutely new to this "bug" that I have caught, diagnosed as "card making". I have recently made up this blog and through looking at other blogs and then looking at other blogs(!), I am amazed at how many talented people there are out there! I have (until now) been purchasing the card making magazines for info and ideas, but visiting other blogs seems much more personal - seems I have got it wrong though, I am spending too much time noseying and not enough time crafting, so better get to it...

Lili of the Valley card..

Whilst at the SECC in March at Hobbycrafts I fell in love with the Lili of the Valley toppers, absolutely gorgeous. Have a look at their site, sooo much to choose from. I really enjoyed making this card for my friend as the colours were so cheerful and as she is a horsey person - she really liked it - everyone was happy!

My first ever blog challenge at Ali Crafts with Sarah Kay Stamp...

Enjoying my new blog knowledge. I have today "followed" Ali-crafts blog (http://ali-craft.blogspot.com/) and hopefully entered a Sarah Kay card (fingers crossed this is uploaded etc - as I said, I am new to this!). I attended Hobbycrafts at the SECC in Glasgow at beginning of March and enjoyed learning new techniques from "Mr and Mrs" who had the Ali-Craft stand, lovely friendly couple. They suggested I look at their daughter's blog and who and behold she has a challenge on making a card using Sarah Kay stamps - one of my favourite stamps has been used here. So, her goes, my very first challenge - wish me luck...
I hope this card is lucky for me, I have also entered this is the following blog challenge(s)...
http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/
http://ali-craft.blogspot.com/

Started a blog today...!

Hi there, and thank you for taking time to look at my blog, I am absolutely new to this and will try to best to make it interesting! I have yet to work out how to change the background layout to look more attractive, so any hints or tips on how to achieve that would be greatly welcomed. I intend to upload a few of my card creations over the next few days and as you will see from my title "A New Crafter" that says it all! I am new to crafting and absolutely love seeing the beautiful creations that fellow crafters have achieved, blogs are a great way of not only seeing what has been created but also learning about the individuals who have taken their time and skill to make some beautiful cards.