What's he into ....

.... this year?  It was my son's birthday recently, and those of you long-term readers may remember that he's one of those "collecting" type of boys!!!  Here's last year's birthday post, detailing last year's obsession!! 

This time around, although he still loves Lego, the big passion is for Beastquest books - excellent - I'm all for a collection that involves reading!!

So when it came to making his card, I knew what I had to do and, killing two birds with one stone, it's also my DT entry for this week's PaperPlay, which is to use a Sentiment.  My contribution is pretty practical, no wise words or soppy stuff, just the pertinent information!  Here's what I made:

I printed and cut out the letters by hand, and scanned the character onto card and then cut him out.  The Cosmo Cricket "Mr. Campy" wood print paper was perfect for this card - I was going for an overall sort of medieval look, and the paper was a huge help!

I'm very pleased with the faux metal shield - I made the frame from chipboard and did several layers of silver e.p., then sprinkled a little bit of Tim Holtz distress e.p. in places on the last layer to make corroded, battered looking bits, bent and shaped it as I was going along to make it more realistic and finally poked dents around the edges while it was still hot.  I stuck matching paper to the back for the wooden part.  Here's a closer look.

Thanks for looking!

Eek, I'm getting a bit ....

.... maybe nearly almost quite old/middle agedish!!  I've been invited to a past colleague's birthday party, I was a bit taken aback to realise she will be 40 - I thought she was a lot younger than that!  What next, am I going to start thinking that policemen all look like teenagers!!! 

Here's what I made for her (very dark and yucky photo - will try to retake before I hand it over):

I used the sketch from this week's Lili of the Valley Thursday Challenge. I'm also using this fortnight's Colour Create Challenge colour scheme of Chocolate, Strawberry and Cream and entering this into The Shabby Tea Room ("Keeping Warm").  I started this card at a crop on Saturday and I left all the papers I intended to use at home.  My kind friend, Jackie, let me "borrow" some of hers - thanks, Jackie!!

I love the image on this card, another Lili of the Valley that I bought in a set and this is the first time I've inked this one up.  Here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Papers: BG Bittersweet (brown), the red ones I don't know

Image: Lili of the Valley "Rosie Posy"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: ribbon from stash, Perfect Pearls, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

Ok - where exactly ....

.... did January go?  I can't believe it's been almost a month since I blogged (and the same amount of time since I made anything - oh dear!).  Can't even think what I've been doing, the weeks have all blended into one.  Read a good few books, watched an inordinate amount of crap telly, and for the last week I've had a steeeeenkingly bad cold.  My card from my last post was a winner on Basic Grey Challenges, but I haven't even spent the voucher I won yet!!! 

But, since it was my DT team's week on PaperPlay, that was the kick-start I needed to make a card.  It's for my friend's daughter.  Our theme this week is "Hearts and Flowers .... but not Valentine", and here's what I made:

I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Basic Grey Challenges ("All Heart"), Just Magnolia (Anything Goes + ribbon), Crafty Cardmakers (Hearts), The Shabby Tea Room ("Hearts") and Cute Card Thursday ("Hearts + Flowers").

I used a cute hAnglar + stAnglar girl that someone stamped for me at a crop last year, can't remember who, but if you're reading this and it was you, thank you!  I coloured her with distress inks, highlighted the hearts with silver Stickles, and cut her out leaving a teeny white border.  Here's a close-up, bit dark but you get the idea:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Marjolaine"

Image: hAnglar + stAnglar - don't know the name

Colouring Medium: Distress inks

Other: ribbon from stash, Hero Arts smooth gemstones, needle + thread

I've been given an award by both Deirdre and Sandie.  Thank you girls, hugs to you both:

"The idea behind this award is to give it to people whose talent you admire but feel they do not get the recognition which they deserve, so please do not award this to anyone with say 1,000 followers.

If you have been TAGGED and would like to take part, all you have to do is post the blog award above on your blog and link the person who gave you the award (also let them know you are accepting the award by posting on their blog ).

Then you can choose 3-5 people who you think deserve the award and post their name and blog links on your blog."

Some blogging pals who are all great girls, whose work I love and who I think deserve to be shared with the world are... 

June

Lily

Liz

Anne

There are so many others I could add, but some are too popular to qualify - celebrities really, hee hee!!!

Thanks for looking at my work today - hope it won't be so long 'till next time.