My wee pal Bethany...

Unfortuantely I haven't been crafting too much recently, with one thing and another, although always find time to have a quick look at my favourite blogs. Kerry's Ladybug Crafts Ink is one of my favourites, and I had my friend's 11 year old daughter (I borrow her as much as I can...) on Wednesday for a "crafting night". I had offered her a choice from my stamp box and she promptly chose Ladybug Crafts Ink Ruby Fairy, which I might add I had only purchased the week before and never got round to using, so Bethany, who just loved the image, chose Ruby. (for sale from (http://ladybugcraftsink.com/daydreaming-ruby-133-p.asp) We sat together, chatted, ate choccies (not too many) and crafted. Here is her creation and, thanks Kerry's guidance, her introduction to Glamour Dust. (Kerry told me about this at a demo day and I promptly purchased and use it loads!). Bethany loved it too.

I had a wee box of the alphabets, only 99p and a great buy, and I broke off the individual letters and we spelt out "Happy Birthday" she patiently stamped and stuck them on (pure admiration for her patience)., and lo and behold her lovely card. I suggested taking a pic and as the current challenge was "a card for a child..." this fit the bill perfectly. I emailed her card and (thank you Kerry and your Design Team) Bethany's card was posted on blog with lovely comments. Let me just say, Bethany is thrilled and I actually think we are more chuffed to have this recognition that the challenge win gift! So, thanks Bethany for being a great crafting buddy, and to Ladybug Crafts Ink team for making a wee girl's day, much appreciated. (p.s. Bethany and I are going to the SECC in four weeks, our girls' day out and can't wait...).

Baby Boy Card for Challenges...

Hi there

I have made this Baby Boy card primarily for the Ladybug Crafts Ink challenge which ends on Monday 17th January 2011 at 9 a.m. (kinda close with the time thingy!). I really do need a new camera, as try as I do, the picture never does the card justice. I have added glossy accents to the bubbles, and added pale blue gems to the swirls on the card. I have also added blue chalk around the image and the sentiment, which I have written with Sakura Stardust blue pen, all of which don't show in the picture, boo hoo! The image has been downloaded from , Mo's Digital Pencil, (http://digitalpenciltoo.com/index.php/Babies.html) titled "Kai in a tub", the selection of images are outstanding and reasonably priced. I have only tried the digital thing a few times, unsure whether it is for me, I really do enjoy the inky stampy thingy!

I have entered this project in the following challenges...

Ladybug Crafts Ink (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/challenge-10-baby-plus-new-release-blog.html) - baby

The Crafty Pad Stamp Designs - (http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/2011/01/challenge-104-dt-call-reminder.html) - Something New (new baby)

Thanks for looking...

Go on, hop over to Ladybug Crafts Ink Bloghop...

My new year resolution of keeping the blog up-to-date will never happen, so I suppose I have to accept it as it is! Until Monday at 9 a.m., my favourite blog over at Ladybug Crafts Ink is running their weekly challenge as well as a bloghop too! (http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/challenge-10-baby-plus-new-release-blog.html). Give yourself a treat, take some time for yourself, and go over the bloghop, the design team are are so talented, and you can chill out and maybe catch some new ideas from their blogs. The current challenge is based on "baby", in line with the release of Kerry's new baby stamps, you can see them here, as well as Kerry's other stamps which you can purchase, http://www.ladybugcraftsink.com/baby-baby-245-p.asp, they are lovely. Her stamps cover so many topics and the quality is first class, love them! I have a few cards to share, hopefully get round to that soon, now I am heading to the bloghop whilst listening to my favourite dance tunes! Here goes...

Happy New Year and New Challenges...

Happy New Year to Everyone,

Well that's it over for another year, where did the time go to. I hope everyone had a lovely time and managed to find time to rest, and of course craft!

I have made this card, with which I have tried a few new things. I have used, for the first time, watercolour card from Crafters Companion, it is really thick, but did the job. I stamped using Black Soot Distress Ink and tried to draw out the ink with a damp paintbrush, probably needs a bit more practice but looks okay! I used some Sakura glue pen on the umbrella and sprinkled with glitter. The glossy accents on the puddle and raindrops doesn't quite show so well in the photo (sadly Santa did not bring a new camera, boo hoo). I have gone around the image with grey chalks to give a slight frame. The white card blank is Craftwork Cards and I have to say, they are such stunning quality. I wouldn't consider using any other card blanks, and anyway, at the rate I make my cards, the two packets I have will last me a few years!

I have taken the opportunity to enter this card into the following challenges:-

Ladybug Crafts Ink - Song Title (Raindrops keep falling on my head)

http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/?zx=f3c403824520947e

Crafty Cat Weekly Challenge - chose a previous challenge topic (Challenge 57 - Spots & Stripes) - http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/

City Crafter Challenge - Stamp it Out

http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/

Stamp Something - Glitter

http://stampchallenges.blogspot.com/

Paper Sundaes - Something New

http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes

http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Oh, while I was browsing other blogs, I came across this one, Reasonable Ribbon blogspot, http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com/ maybe worth a look as they are also offering some lovely candy...

Happy crafting...

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!