DCM – Bejewelled Bliss

You know, I can’t believe that yet another week has slipped by and it dare time again but it is, so I guess I’d better show you the card I’ve made for the Daring Cardmakers challenge.

It’s Lythan testing our creative skills this week with

Bejewelled Bliss
In honour of my addiction to the Bejewelled Blitz gameI would like to see cards with lots of bling and sparkle!

I thought it was about time I was brave and had a go at using the 6 x 6 basic Grey Marrakech pad that I brought a while back. Don’t get me wrong, I love the patterns but it’s the colours that scare the hell out of me……..bright to say the least.

Anyway, I braved it out and came up with this little gem…..scuse the pun!

My 'sparkle' is in the way of tiny gems and twinkling H2o's

A6 Card Blank – Craft Creations (Embossed Hammer)
Patterned & Plain Papers – Basic Grey (Marrakech)
Inks –Ranger Distress Ink (Worn Lipstick) Color Box Fluid Chalk (Blue Lagoon)
Embossing Powder – Stamp ‘n’ Stuff (Clear)
Paints – Twinkling H2o’s (Moss Green)
Paper Punches – Fiskars (Sunburst Border Punch)
Embossing Folder – Cuttlebug (Textile Texture)
Dies – Spellbinder Miniabilities (Flower Bouquet)
Rubber Stamp – Imagine That (All Occasions- Just For You) Freebie from Craft Stamper
Gems – Anita’s Tiny Gems
Glitter Glue – Stickles (Xmas Red)

Other BitsRibbon

Thanks for looking and for all the lovely comments you leave from time to time.

DCM – On the Edge

The Daring Cardmakers are living life right ‘On The Edge’ this week.

We'd love to see you making use of all sorts of border treatments;
scallops, trims, pleats, or anything else which makes the edges of your

papers and cards look special.
You could use Border Punches, Die Cutters, Lace,

Fancy Trims and that's just for starters.
Let your imagination live right on the edge this week –

Or maybe even go right over the edge!

Border Punches do seem to be the ‘tool of the moment’ for us crafters, me included and I’m gathering a nice little collection together without even realizing it……..how does that happen!

Anyway I’ve gone with my favourite punch at the moment and that’s my new Martha Stewart ‘Doily Lace Punch.

Here’s my effort:-


A6 Card Blank – Craft Creations (Embossed Hammer)
Patterned Papers – My Minds Eye (Wild Asparagus)
Plain Card – DCWV (Pastels Stack)
Die Cuts - My Minds Eye (Wild Asparagus)
Inks –Ranger Distress Ink (Worn Lipstick)
Paper Punches – Mather Stewart (Doily Lace Border Punch)

Other Bits
Twill Ribbon
Button
Embroidery Thread
Gold Gel Pen
Happy Birthday Rub-On

Sketch This – #88

I had another birthday card order to sort out this afternoon so I decided to have fun with it and give myself a personal challenge.

I’ve made my very first Pop-Out card!

As it happens, it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it was going to be, which was a pleasant surprise so just to make things a bit more interesting I decided to do the front of the card following the latest sketch from Sketch This.

And here it is in all its glory!

Not only is this a Pop-Out image, I've also decoupaged part of it.


A5 Card Blank – Craft Creations (Creative Hemp Embossed)
Patterned/Plain Papers – Basic Grey (Granola)
Inks – Ranger Distress Ink (Faded Jeans) Tsukineko StazOn (Ultramarine)
Images – Jolly Nation
Dies – Sizzlets (Happy Birthday) Spellbinder Nestabilities (Peony & Labels Two)
Embossing Folders – Cuttlebug (Dots and Stops & Traffic Jam)
Pen – Staedtler Triplus Fineliner (Blue)

Other BitsAlphabet Stamps (Unknown)
Ribbon
Star Clip

2 Sketches 4 You Sketch #31 plus Bonus Sketch

I’ve been busily making cards today but there’s only two that I can show you at the moment.

One is a Birthday and the other an Anniversary card, both made using sketches from 2 Sketches 4 You.

I enjoyed working with this weeks sketch

but I’ve made mine into a panel and mounted it onto an A5 tent fold card.


A5 Card Blank – Craft Creations (Creative Hemp Embossed)
Patterned Papers – K&Co (No idea what collection they were from because they are old)
Ink –Ranger Distress Ink (Peeled Paint)
Paper Punch – EK Success Whale of a Punch (Tag)
Chip Board Shape – Maya Road Vineyard (Heart)
Embossing Powder – Heat It Up! (Enchanted Gold)

Other BitsRibbon

My second card is using the bonus sketch, also from 2S4Y.


This time I had fun with my Basic Grey ‘Boxer’ papers and Rub-On’s and also had a play with one of my new Shapabilities.

A6 Card Blank – QVC Card Kit
Patterned Papers –Basic Grey (Boxer)
Plain Card – Bazzill
Dies – Spellbinder Nestabilities (Small Scalloped Square & Small Classic Circle) Shapeabilities (Ribbon tag)
Rub-On’s – Basic Grey Boxer (Flower)
Embossing Folder – Cuttlebug (Tiny Bubbles)
Ink –Ranger Distress Ink (Worn Lipstick)
Rubber Stamp – Penny Black Critter Party (Happy Birthday)
Large Decorated Brad – Basic Grey Boxer
Pen – Staedtler Fineliner (for faux Grey stitching)

Other Bits
Ribbon
Small brads

Sketch Saturday #60......and my prize

You may remember a couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to have my name picked out randomly for the prize over at Sketch Saturday for that week.
I won a voucher from Simon Says Stamp for $25 and I decided to put the rest to it and have a couple of sets of Shapeabilities that I’ve had my eye on for a while.

I’ve not used them yet but will be doing very soon, so watch this space!
Thanks again to everyone involved in organizing the challenges and of course to the guys at Simon Says for the fabby prize.

OK then, on with the day and there’s yet another fab and versatile sketch from Sketch Saturday this week.
I made my card using lots of bits from the Basic Grey ‘Wisteria’ range, including the lovely Butterfly Rub-On that I’ve mounted onto Acetate.

The Penny Black image was stamped with Black StazOn and then coloured with a selection of chalks and gel pens.
Card – Craft Creations (Embossed Linen)
Patterned Papers –Basic Grey (Wisteria)
Embossing Folders – Cuttlebug (Bloom Dots)
Rubber Stamps – Penny Black (Flying Stars) Imagine That (All Occasions, Happy Birthday)
Run-Ons – Basic Grey (Wisteria)
Inks –Versa Color (Boysenberry) Tsukineko StazOn (Jet Black)
Glitter Glue – Stickles (Lavender) Craft Planet (Iridescent Sparkle)
Gel Pens – Sakura Soufflé)
Chalks – Readicut Decorating Chalks
Half Pearls – Basic Grey (Opaline)
Paper Punches – Woodware Corner Rounder


Other Stuff
Ribbon
Acetate
Brads

And the Winner is....................

It's been a joy over the last couple of weeks reading about all the things you’ve done from my list of 99 things, so thanks to everyone who joined in the fun and helped me to celebrate my Blogerversary.
I hope you felt it was worth the effort to be in with a chance of winning my blog candy.

Well, the suspense is over now and we have a winner.

I couldn’t suss out how to use the random picker things so I fell back on the good old manual way of doing things. I printed out all the lovely comments I had on my Blog Candy post, cut and folded them and then asked my friend next door to pick a name out of the hat……ok it was a box but it still did the same job.

So without further ado…………

The winner is………..

Janice who is known in the blog world as Serial Crafter

Congratulations Janice.

Email me with your details and I’ll get the goodies in the post to you as soon as I can.

Blogerversary & DCM – Away with the Fairies

It’s my Blogerversary today….yah!!!!!
I’ve been blogging for two years and this is your last chance to be in with a chance of winning my blog candy, which will be picked at 2pm today.

If you haven’t done it already, hop over Here while you still have time.


Right then,


as you know, the design team over at the Daring Cardmakers blog take it in turns each week to set the new dare.
This week it should have been Tanya challenging our crafting skills but unfortunately she's been ill for the last few weeks (hope you’re feeling better soon hun) and wasn’t able to set one this time round, so our lovely guest designer Gail has stepped into the breach and come up with a fab dare for us.

Having said that…….. I hope she wasn’t insinuating that the design team are ‘Away with the Fairies’ when she came up with this one Lol!

Anyway, here’s my card……….


I thought I would use Kathy’s latest Sketch, seeing as I’ve not done one for a while, although mine is done with circles rather than rectangles.
I’m sure she’ll let me get away with that one…….well; at least I hope she will.


My Fairy is Cross Stitched onto 14 count Aida and cut from the fabric using my Peony Nestabilities to give it a fancy edge.

To add a little more interest I’ve inked the edges with Distress Ink and stitched on some tiny seed beads.

There’s lots of ‘Sparkle’ on here too in the way of Silver and Iridescent Sparkle glitter glue, tiny crystal gems, Silver embossing and I’ve even used Metallic threads when I was stitching the Fairy.

Card Blank – Craft Creations (Embossed Hammer)
Patterned Papers – Basic Grey (Lime Rickey)
Rubber Stamp – Basic Grey (Two Scoops/Swirlie)
Inks –Ranger Distress Ink (Broken China) VersaMark (Clear)
Embossing Powder – Stamp ‘n’ Stuff (Detail Silver)
Paper Punches – Fiskars – (Sunburst Border)
Dies – Spellbinder Nestabilities (Peony & Large Classic Circles)
Pen – Krylon Silver Marker
Gems – Anita’s Tiny Gems
Glitter Glue – Stickles (Silver) Craft Planet (Iridescent Sparkle)
Threads – Anchor Standard Threads (Various Colours) Madeira Glissen Gloss (Various Colours)

Fabric - Sew & So (14 count Aida)

Other BitsRibbon
Seed Beads
Computer Generated Greeting

Papertake - Favourite Things

I’m very late with this one but the theme on Papertake for the 7th July was ‘Favourite Things’ and seeing as there’s not a new challenge up there yet I thought I would add the card I made this morning.


It’s a Ruby Wedding card using my most favourite stamps of all…..…….Tapestry Stamps!

Hope you like it!






Card Blank– Craft Creations (Hammer Embossed)
Patterned Papers – Basic Grey (Dasher)
Plain Card – Craft Creations (Hammer Embossed)
Rubber Stamps – Rubber Stamp Tapestry (Butterfly Blooms & Nature Plate 4)
Ink – VersaColor (Burgundy, Cardinal & Sand Beige) VersaMagic (Spanish Olive, Niagara Mist & Perfect Plumeria)
Dies – Spellbinder Nestabilities (Labels 1)
Gems – Anita’s Tiny Gems
Glitter Glue – Craft Planet (Iridescent Sparkle)

Other Bits
Computer Generated Greetings
Eye Shadows for chalking
Off to get ready now as I’m going to my friend Susan’s this afternoon. I’m staying the night and then we’re going to see the new Harry Potter film tomorrow and have a spot of lunch out.

See you all on Thursday!!

Don't forget ....I still have blog candy up for grabs.
It's being picked this Friday (17th) so if you've not done it already, pop Over Here and join in.

DCM's - Russian

When Rein revealed to us what the theme for her Daring Cardmakers challenge was going to be this week I have to admit I panicked slightly……….actually that’s an understatement, I freaked big time.

Apart from the little stacking dolls and caviar, I’m ashamed to say I know next to nothing about Russia or its culture so where on earth was I supposed to start to come up with an idea for a card.

Once the panic had subsided and I thought about it for a while and recalled how as a child (and like most little girls) I was fascinated by ballet and wanted to become a dancer. I think I must have read all the books our local library had on the subject three times over!!
Anyway, this got me to thinking about the Russian Imperial Ballet and their Prima Ballerina, Anna Pavlova, a perfect theme for my card!

I headed straight for GOOGLE and found a fantastic image to print off and I added some chalks to her dress to pick out the Blue in the paper I ended up using.

My thought was to make the card as opulent as possible, trying to replicate the richness of the theatre’s she danced in but my idea was floored before I even got started because in amongst my enormous collection of papers would you believe there was not one sheet of deep, rich Red, which was to be the basis of my card……..typical!
I ended up using a sheet of very deep Pink and edged it with lots of Gold Krylon pen which was the best I could do.

Still with the theatre in mind, I’ve added three layers of scallops which are intended to represent to curtains on the stage.

I also decided to have a play with my TENsecond Studio prize that I won a little while back and embossed her name onto a panel of Silver metal which I then covered with Alcohol Inks. Once this was dry I lightly sanded across the top to reveal the Silver on the raised areas.
I finished the panel off by highlighting the dotty border and the edges with a Gold Krylon marker.

Card Blank – Craft Creations (Embossed Hammer)
Patterned Papers – Memory Stor – (Costco Kit)
Inks –Ranger Distress Ink (Broken China)
Alcohol Inks – Ranger (Red Pepper & Wild Plum)
Paper Punches – Martha Stewart (Doily Lace Border Punch & Cosmos Flower)) Fiskars (Threading Water Border Punch)
Pen – Krylon Gold Marker
Foil Sheet – TENsecond Studio
Chalks – All Night Media Blending Chalks (Blue)

Other BitsImage – Google (Anna Pavlova)
Ribbon
Brads

Before I leave you this morning, just a little reminder for you to go and join in with my Blogerversary Candy Draw.
It’s being picked on the 17th July so you still have time to get your name down.

Remember
You Have To Be In It To Win It!

99 Things......................and some Blog Candy!

Can you believe that I’ll have been blogging for 2 years on the 17th July?
No?....Nor can I but it’s true!

So to celebrate my blogaversary I’ve put some Candy together.


I must admit that when I started putting this little lot together I came very close to keeping it for myself but I have to be strong, so here goes………….

My collection consists of:-

Papermania Touch of Teal, a kit that contains ……
12 sheets 12 x 12 patterned papers
12 sheets 12 x 12 double sided patterned papers
2 sheets of alphabet stickers
2 sheets handmade toppers
1 sheet cardstock stickers
1 sheet 3D stickers

Not bad on it’s own err?

But I’ve also brought a few other items that I thought would go with it, so whoever wins the random draw will also get….

A set of MME, Wild Asparagus 20 Clear stamps
3 VersaColor Ink Cubes in Green, Turquoise and Black
4 tubes of A La Mode Glitter Glue
1 pack Peacock feathers
1 pack Express Yourself Finishing Touches
1 pack KARS Sticky Backed Gems
1 Anita’s Gemstone Wheel
4 mts Ribbons
1 pack Birthday Rub-Ons
1 pack Craft Dots


Right then, to be in the random draw which will take place on the 17th July you will need to leave me a comment on this post but it’s not quite that straight forward.

You’re going to have to do a bit of work to join in with this.

You’ll have noticed that my Blog Title is '99 Things'



What follows is a list of 99 things that you may or may not have done and I thought it would be fun to see what you've all done.

So here’s the list. My ‘Haves’ are in Blue


1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world/Disneyland Paris (All three on more than one occasion)

8. Climbed a mountain (well, walked up the top part of Mt. Vesuvius. Went the rest of the way by coach)

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo (School production of The Mikado many years ago!)

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (Did visit it and would have gone up but it was closed due to 9-11)

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Made a Snow Angle

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Stood in the rim of the Grand Canyon

32. Been on a cruise (A mini cruse to Denmark)

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an erupting volcano in person. (I have photos of Mt St Helen taken from the plain as we returned from our holiday)
36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted (drawn in pencils, does that count?)

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theatre

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Cookies for charity

62. Gone whale watching

63. Been given flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favourite childhood toy

70. Visited Buckinham Palace

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt or blanket (Crocheted a blanket of lace flowers that needed to be pieced together)

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Been to the top of the Empier State Building

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper (When I was in the schoold production of The Mikado)

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox (Three times no less!)

89. Saved someone’s life (Possably by giving blood)

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous (The Queen and The Govenor of the Bank Of England)

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee
58 out of 99
Now lets see what you've done!
List your answers on your blog and then leave me a comment so I can come over and see.

CPS #123

Well its a few weeks since I’ve joined in with the CPS challenge so I thought it was about time I got my finger out and made an effort.

I always find the templates inspiring, especially when I have no idea what I’m going to make when I set out.



Just to ring the changes I’ve made my card a gate fold, which worked fine until I came to take a photo of it so I hope you can see the template in there!

The papers and 3D element are all from my ne MME ‘Wild Asparagus’ Card Stock pack and Decoupage Pad and I’ve used the fabby free stamp from this months issue of Craft Stamper.

I've given the dragonfly a quick ‘swoosh’ with some Pearl Pigments but it doesn't really show up that well on the photo.

Card Blank – Craft Creation (Creative Hammer, Cream)
Patterned Papers – My Mind’s Eye (Wild Asparagus)
Plain Paper – Hot Off The Press (Burgundy Glimmer Paper)
Die Cuts - My Mind’s Eye Decoupage Pad (Wild Asparagus)
Inks – Ranger- Distress Ink (Dusty Concord) & Nick Bantock Dye Ink (Damson Plum)
Tsukineko – VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Rubber Stamps – Free Stamps from Craft Stamper (Dragonfly & Swirl) Imagine That (All Occasions, Have a Wonderful Day) Whisper Words (Happy Birthday)
Pigments – Blonde Moments Sugar Dumpling Pearl (Sugar Cool Lustre)
Glitter Glue – Stickles (Starry Night)

Other Bits
Ribbon

Wooo Hoooooo …….I’m a Winner!

Yep, I’ve just found out that I was the lucky winner for Sketch #37 on Sketch Saturday ............. Yah!!!

I had no idea because due to one thing and another I’ve not taken part for the last couple of weeks. In fact I’ve not taken part in any challenges over the last couple of weeks, so you can guess how supprised I was when I was checking out my comments this morning and had one from Jo asking if I’d visited the blog recently.

I’ve won a $25 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp! but I’ve decided not to order stamps with it. Instead I’ve asked for some Nestabilities that I’ve had my eye on for a while.

Thanks girls, for making my day!

Thanks for your support Sew and So!

Well, my Kid’s Company update today has to begin with an enormous Thank You.

When I was placing an order recently with Sew and So, the on line needle craft store where I obtain most of my needlework materials, I cheekily dropped them an email asking if they might have any off cuts of fabric that they would consider donating to our project.

A reply came back from Dan Hall the Managing Director saying that he loved what we were doing and would be only too happy to sort out some fabric and threads for us, which was great.


So I eagerly awaited the parcel arriving on Monday.

Now bearing in mind that I had asked for off cuts, you can imagine my surprise when a Parcel Force lorry turned up with this enormous box.



Even the delivery guy was laughing as we both struggled to get it through my front door in into my narrow hallway.

On opening the box my eyes were greeted to the sight on more than 28 meters of various fabrics, some of them un-opened bales and in the region of 200 mixed skeins of DCM threads.
And then, as if that wasn’t enough Dan had also put in two amazing trolley bags which I’ve seen on a web site selling for more than £40 each, because he thought they would be useful to Nicki and I for moving are stuff around.
How how generous is that!
Needless to say I got straight on the phone and thanked his personally.

The support from Dan and his team has been unbelievable and I know that the children will greatly benefit from their kind generosity.

ENOURMOUS THANKS DAN
Can I also just say that if you’re into needlecraft in any way, shape or form please give Sew and So a visit.
They offer a wide range of stock with super fast delivery and a customer service that’s second to none!


Now on to my latest efforts, made to look beautiful by the fabulous Nicki and some more lovely feed back which is always nice to receive.

Dear Nicki,
I write this to you with my eyes full of tears of joy.

I soooooooooo LOVED your cushions, Nicki, they are just amazing. I could feel your deep care and love in every stitch.
I don't know how I will be able to give it to them without breaking down in tears....
and-as if your generosity wasn't enough- the little lavander pouch for me is just so sweet!!!!

I thank my life to have attracted people like you. My words cannot translate my feelings, so I leave it to you to imagine it, maybe in silent appreciation of your lovely, special Self.

Please send my heartfelt THANKS to Sue in Essex.

I will keep you in the loop with feedback on how we will give the cushions to the children and anything related to the wonder-full gifts...

With deep gratitude

More Cushions:-

DCM - Blue & Green.............

$£*&?@*!!

My flaming internet has been down nearly all day and it’s not until it’s not there that you realise how much you rely it…………………….However did we manage before it was invented!

Oh well, it’s back now so I can blog my card for the Daring Cardmakers challenge.

But before I do, can I just say a quick thank you to everyone who joined in with my dare last week by making and sending cards to the kiddies mentioned on the Post Pals. site. My hope is that the dare will have encouraged some of you to send cards on a regular basis, as I do because when you read some of the kiddie’s stories and the feedback from their parents, the cards make a real difference to them.

Right then, on to this week dare.

We all know the saying that Blue and Green should never been seen, unless there’s something in between but Vanessa really wants us to put the two colours together on our cards this week.

The design team came up with some fab cards again, which you should go check out I you haven’t seen them already but I wasn’t feeling quite as brave as some of the others and went for pastel colours.

One thing I did try out though was something I’ve seen loads of people doing but never given a go. That was to cut a card blank using my Nestabilities. I was concerned that the cards would be small for to work with, especially when you consider that most of the cards I make are A5 and I even manage to struggle with A6 at times. Still, I gave it a go and as it happens was really surprised and quite pleased with the way it turned out.

Card Blank – Papermania (which I re-shaped)
Paper – Staples
Rubber Stamp – Rubber Stamp Tapestry (Happy Birthday)
Inks –Ranger Distress Ink (Peeled Paint) Tsukineko StazOn (Ultramarine)
Dies – Spellbinder Nestabilities (Labels One)
Paper Punches – Martha Stewart – (Hydrangea - Hydrangea Trio - Fond)
Embossing Folders – Cuttlebug (Textile Texture)
Gems – Anita’s Tiny Gems

Other BitsRibbon