Begorrah, bejaysus ....

.... and beshamrocks - it's Thursday again and another week of PaperPlay - our challenge this week is a very Irish one - Shades of Green - the challenge is to make a St. Patrick's Day card, a good luck card, or simply use shades of green.

I'm not a big fan of St. Patrick's Day, the only good thing about it is that it's a day off!!!  I have too many  memories of having to attend parades in the freezing rain and the howling wind as a child.  My own two poor deprived offspring have never been to a Paddy's Day parade, they'll have to wait 'till they're old enough to go by themselves!!!

So, I didn't make a St. Patrick's Day card - I made a good luck one - here it is:

I've used the sketch from Totally Gorjuss, and I'm also entering this into The Shabby Tea Room ("Luck of the Irish"), A Spoon Full of Sugar (vintage/shabby), Little Red Wagon ("St. Paddy's Day Green"), Simon Says Stamp (anything goes) and Colour Create (green/brown/cream/black).

The colour scheme is not one I'd normally use, but I really like the combination - especially with the added touches of gold on the ribbon and the gold stickled hearts - very leprechauny!  I've used one of my Sugar Nellies that I haven't inked up for a while - love these Leanne Ellis images - here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Origins"

Stamp: "Choose" by Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Gold stickles, ribbon from stash, needle + thread

If you were wondering where I got the title for this post, I've added a link below.  If you've got 4 minutes to spare, have a listen.  It's an Irish comedian called Mario Rosenstock doing his version of Michael Flatley on a spoof radio interview - I've listened to it over and over and it makes me cry with laughter every time.  Enjoy!!

And thanks for looking (and listening!!).

My first challenge ....

.... for Creative Card Crew!!   This week, the theme is "cute and girlie" and we're sponsored by the wonderful MelJen's Designs - I think everyone in blogland must now be aware of her lovely digi stamps, with their distinctive swirls.  Check out what the other CCC girls have made - all gorgeous stuff!

I have tried and tried to use digis, but no matter what I do, my printer is not complying and when I try to colour, I am not happy with the results no matter what medium I use.  I found a site last night that recommends washing the printed image under the tap to remove some of the excess ink, has anyone tried that?  I'd love to know if it is worth a shot.

Anyway, moan over, back to my card:

I've also entered this in this week's Sugar Bowl (DIY - participants can use whatever past sketch they wish - I've gone for No. 30), Daring Cardmakers (It's a Girl Thing), Paper Sundaes (stitching) and Basic Grey Challenges (stitching).

I used this beautiful Sugar Nellie girl by Leanne Ellis and coloured with distress inks - love the soft pinks and greeny/blues of the BG Olivia papers, my favourites at the moment, I think.  I stickled bits of the image and used glossy accents on the leaves, particularly on the ones I cut out, to strengthen them.  Here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Stamp: Leanne Ellis "Belle Flower" for Sugar Nellie

Papers: Basic Grey "Olivia"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Doily and ribbon from stash, stickles, glossy accents, needle + thread

Thanks for looking - and don't forget to enter my blog candy (click here) - only 6 days left!!!

Taking the lazy ....

.... way out!!  It was my turn to set the challenge this week on PaperPlay,  I cheekily decided to take the easy peasy option, so the theme is "Anything Goes"!!!  We are sponsored this week by Waltzing Mouse Stamps - I hadn't come across their stamps, but have a look - they are gorgeous - more to add to the wish list, I particularly like the vintage labels.

Here's my card (pic taken at 7am this overcast morning, so it's a bit dark!):

I used this week's sketch on Sketch Saturday (I rotated it).  I'm also entering this card on Simon Says Stamp (dotty - you have to look closely, the dotty bit is the scalloped bit the image is mounted on), Fussy & Fancy Friday (stitches, scallops, sparkle), The Shabby Tea Room (1 ribbon, 2 buttons, 3 punches or dies),  Crafty Creations (summer) and Bunny Zoes Crafts (summer).

I dug into my stash and used some very old Crate Paper papers for this card, and went crazy with stickles.  Here's a close-up of the sweet image:

Recipe:

Papers: Crate Paper "Blue Hill"

Stamp: Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie "Bluebell"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Ribbon from stash, "Blue Hill" chipboard buttons, sentiment stamp from stash, diamond stickles, needle + thread

I'm off now to contemplate on my first card for Creative Card Crew (eeek - the pressure!).  Don't forget to enter my blog candy - post at top of blog.

Oh my, all my friends ....

.... are turning 50, and policemen are definitely looking younger - does this mean I'm getting old?!!!

I had another 50th birthday card to do this week, and have used it for my PaperPlay DT entry, which this week is to "use a stamp and some bling".  We are sponsored this week by Stitchy Bear Stamps, the prize being 4 of their digital images.  Right, on to business, here's my card:

Excuse slightly blurry image, I took the pictures in a wild hurry before leaving for school, and had to hand the card over there so couldn't re-take.  I've used the sketch from Sketch Saturday (lovely to work with it was too!), and I'm also entering this on Crafty Angels (1 ribbon, 2 papers, 3 flowers - my papers have at least three flowers!), Simon Says Stamps (Birthdays/Celebrations) and Bunny Zoes Crafts (3 flowers, 2 papers, 1 ribbon or lace).

The lady who is getting this card, although she's Irish, lives in Finland, so I went with a slightly Scandi vibe with the colours on this card.  I did try to put three actual flowers on it, but the papers are so very busy, they were practically invisible, so I didn't use them, and decided that there are enough flowers on the papers to fulfill any flowery requirement!!!  The tag has Happy 50th Birthday on one side, and "Marion" on the other with some blingy bling.  I've also blinged the image, put stickles on her collar and gems on the little sticky-out bits of her dress - here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Stamp: "Poinsettia Girl" by Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Early Bird"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Ribbon, Stardust Stickles, Hero Arts Gems, Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, needle & thread

Thanks for looking!

Shiny Happy People ....

.... is the name of my challenge on PaperPlay Challenges this week, - use a "person" stamp/image, but it must have gloss, shimmer or sparkle on it. We're very excited to have Simon Says Stamp on board as a sponsor for this week's challenge (and the second Thursday of every month), they're offering a gift voucher as this week's prize, great news!

Here's my DT entry:

Recipe:

Stamp: "Blossom" by Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Early Bird"

Colouring Medium: Pro-markers

Other: Ribbon, Glossy Accents, Antique Linen Distress Inks, Nestabilities, needle & thread.

I've used the sketch from this week's Friday Sketchers, and this week's Stampin for the Weekend challenge is called "Ribbons and Bows".  Simon Says Stamp are looking for a card for a child, and Quixotic Challenges is "The Joys of Spring". Check!

I think I'm starting to get the hang of the pro-markers, although I still haven't bought the good non-bleed Letraset paper - all in good time!!  I tried to challenge myself not to distress the edges, in the end I had to use distress ink - can't bear white edges!!!

Thanks for looking!

Deadlines are ....

.... sometimes a good thing!!  My step-mother asked me to make a card for her friend's birthday, and since it's at the end of this week, I had to put down the paintbrush and get crafting.  Yayyyy!!

I've used this week's challenge on The Sugar Bowl, which is called "Sketch by You", participants get to choose whichever sketch they wish from the Sugar Bowl archives.  I've chosen Sketch No. 21, I've used it before and it's a lovely sketch.  I'm also slipping it in at the tail end of Quixotic Challenges - "Case It".  I love Rowena's work, and I guess I'm influenced by her in the way I'm using more and more stitching on my cards, although she uses a machine and I hand-stitch (and they're consequently taking longer and longer to do!!!).

Here's my card:

I've used new Basic Grey Kioshi papers - I like these particular ones, but some of the papers in the set are ..... hmmm ..... not really to my liking!!

Off for lunch with my friend now, then when I come home I have to do my DT entry for next week's PaperPlay - more deadlines!!!

Thanks for looking.

Yahoo, a commission ...

.... from school, for a teacher who recently got engaged (I've never made an engagement card before).

I've also made it for this week's challenge on The Sugar Bowl, which is this interesting sketch:
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I've flipped it 90 degrees and done a DL card (very out of my comfort zone - but there needs to be plenty of space for all the staff to sign it!!!). I used my Leanne Ellis "True Love" stamp, and decided to use more masculine colours - after all, the card is for a bloke as well as a girl!!!
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I agonised for ages over whether or not to cut the image into 4 pieces to replicate the "window" in the sketch. In the end, I did it and I think it makes it a much more interesting card. I also glossy accented the flower and leaves.

Recipe:
Papers: MME 29th Street Market
Stamp: "True Love" Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Vintage Photo and Antique Linen
Colouring Medium: Pro-markers
Other: Ribbon and brads from Stash, Fiskars border punch, needle and thread

ETA: Took the pics again in daylight today - it was a grey day so they're only a bit better, but the colours are at least truer!!
Thanks for looking.

P.S. Update on the baby's name from a few posts back, they called her Cara (so glad I put repositional adhesive on the nameplate!):o).

Tag It ....

.... that's the title of this week's challenge on PaperPlay Challenges, set by Jackie:

I would like you to use a tag or multiple tags on your creation .. any size .. any shape!!

Here's my DT entry:

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I used one of my favourite BG paper lines, Skate Shoppe - an old 'un but a good 'un!! The image is my Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie cutie - you can't see in the photo but I've highlighted the flowers and leaves with glossy accents.

Thanks for looking. Next week it's my turn to set the challenge - eeek!!

Strawberries dipped in ....

.... chocolate. I'm very very partial to strawberries, can do without the chocolate!!! But the colours red and brown look soooo good together, so that's this week's challenge on SFTW.

This is the first time I've entered this challenge, and I like the way my card turned out. Decided after the last near-disaster with the sewing machine that I'd stick to hand-stitching the border, and it came out nicely, even though I finished at 1am last night!!!


Gosh, 3 cards in just over 3 days - there's nothing like summer holidays to kickstart the old mojo!!!

Thanks for looking!

A Stitch ....

.... in Time.

That's the title of this week's challenge on PaperPlay Challenges, set by Kate:

"Basically use stitching on your project, it can be real, drawn on or stamped, up to you!"
I have used hand-stitching on cards before, sewing on buttons, etc., and I've drawn faux stitching, but I decided to be adventurous and get the sewing machine out for my DT entry.
It was TERRIFYING!!!
I was afraid I would break the needle, tear the paper, wreck the machine or a combination thereof!! Well, apart from being a bit wobbly, nothing disastrous happened, but it's just as well this isn't a Home Economics school project, 'cos if they looked at the back of the stitching, they would fail me!!! The tension was not good at all when using paper! I had to quickly stick DS tape on the back before it began unravelling.
Anyway, asides from all the panic, the image is one of my new Leanne Ellis for Sugar Nellie stamps and I love it!