If card-making was my job ....

.... I'd be living in a cardboard box by the side of the road by now!!  Honestly, I'm such a slug - I really need to crank up a gear or two or several and make more things!

But the reason I'm here is I did make something!!!  Another baby girl card, and I only realised after I'd made it that I made a card for a girl called Olivia using Basic Grey "Olivia" papers.  Serendipity!!  Here's my card:

I've used the sketch from this week's Sketch Saturday and I'm also entering it into the following challenges: Mo's Digital Challenge ("Oh Baby"), Wild Orchid Challenges ("Anything Goes"), A Spoon Full of Sugar ("Shabby/Vintage") and Stamp Something (Digi week).

I used another cute image from Mo Manning, it's part of a set called "Diaper Crew".  Here's a close-up:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Olivia"

Image: "Diaper Days" by Mo Manning

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Wild Orchid flowers, nestabilities, ribbon and doily from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!  I'll hopefully have another card to share before the weekend (but don't hold your breath!)

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!!!

Your Number's ....

.... Up!!  My turn to set the challenge this week on PaperPlay - I'm asking entrants to feature a number prominently on their work.  We are sponsored this week by Simon Says Stamp, who are offering at $15 voucher for this week's winner.

I used this week's sketch on Totally Gorjuss (rotated a bit!), and the photo inspiration on this fortnight's Basic Grey Challenges - an icy fruity dessert picture that immediately brought to mind the lovely new BG Olivia papers, which have my favourite dusky pink and green colours.  I can't believe my friend's daughter, Ava, is nearly one already - it seems no time at all since I was making a card to welcome her arrival.  Here's the birthday card:

I'm also entering this into Bunny Zoe Crafts (nice and girly), Creative Card Crew (die-cuts), and Totally PaperCrafts (one for the girlies),

I coloured my Tilda with Distress Inks - I love this little one - she's called "Summer Time Tilda with Bow", only I cut the wings off her, didn't like them, and the funny lumpy bits under her skirt, I think they were the bottoms of the wings, didn't like them either!!!  I glossy accented the bottoms of her shoes and the dots on her bow and stickled the smock bit of her top.

I made the big Number 1 out of cardstock, then painted with cream acrylic paint, slathered in stickles and then when it was dry I slathered it again with Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint.  I think they reacted a bit badly to each other, 'cos when the crackle paint dried it was trying to peel away from the stickles, but I shoved it back with my fingertips and it seems to have stabilised!  Here's a close-up of the image and number:

Recipe:

Papers: Basic Grey "Olivia" and "Perhaps"

Stamp: Magnolia "Summer Time Tilda with Bow"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Diamond Stickles, Glossy Accents, Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint, Needle + Thread

Thanks for looking!