Make you Own

Well we have a fab challenge over on Simon Says Stamps Challenge to make your own embellishments. I couldn't wait for another chance to use the fab Hero Arts spotty flowers I got from Simon Says Stamps.

Also Simon Says Stamps are selling Belles and Whistles stamps including this little darling I used today. The papers are Prima the 6inch Sweet Fairy pack. I also used the Martha Stewart lace doiliy punch but I may have to another spend at Simon and replace it cos it wasn't very happy with me or maybe I just stick to deep edge doiliy punch.

Maybe my flowers are a bit of large size and should have used just used the little flower but I do love those flower stamps.

Do pop over  to the challenge blog and see the fabulous creations the DT have done and don't forget if you join us you have a chance to win this.

Well DS came home to us last night and is hobbling around. He's main problem he was straving.

EAC Recipe

We've a recipe over on Everybody Art Challenge today, 3 papers and and 3 flowers. While hunting for a particular stamp I found this cute Greeting Farm one unopened so I thought I would use her, never did find the stamp I wanted though.
The papers are Deja Views and I used two papers to mat and the flowers are punched out with another.
Then I realised she has flowers in her hair but we going to have to pretend they are not there!
I do hope you can join us at Everbody Art Challenge and pop over and check out the DT for inspiration.
DS is having keyhole surgery on his knee this afternoon so not sure if I will be able to settle to craft while worrying about him.

Just a Magnolia Sketch

I do like it when a card turns out better than you thought and thats whats happened with this one. I used the sketch on Just Magnolia and one of last years Easter Tilda.
The papers are Fine and Dandy from My Minds Eye, I've used the Deep edge Martha Stewart doily punch for round my oval and Ek Success flower punches.
To finish a piece of lace and of course not forgetting a bit ribbon.
I had quite a sucessful day yesterday at Scrapbuddies crop, just need to finish one layout I started, put the finishing touches on a double layout and one completely finished.
But its back to cardmaking today.

BG meets LOTV

Several of my favourite challenges have sketches so I had a pretty hard job working out which one to do. Finally I decided on Dawny sketch on LOTV challenge. The papers are Basic Grey Hopscotch  which are very busy so I had to keep the embellishments fairly plain.
The image is obviously LOTV but aren't they cute.
So hopefully Mr Blogger will behaving and post this for me. I'm off to Scrapbuddies Crop this morning but I have to be dropped off early so my Sis can take cos the boys are working. Fingers crossed some more pages for my Vegas Scrapbook will get done.

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink is the challenge this week on Penny Black Saturday and I decided on this little darling called Reach for the Stars 4078K since I've had her for a while.
The papers are Pebbles I think and I spy that Magnolia swirl again. Not sure on flowers now, they looked fine when I made the card but now the two at bottom look like something is missing possible I need a bit of the swirl bit too late now.
I've use a glitter pen over the stars and the ballerina tutu of course the camera hasn't picked that up.
Do go and check out the fabulous cards the team have made this week and hope you can join us and be in for a chance of a prize.

Add a heart

Having seeing some of the new Sarah Kays reminded me of the beautiful old ones I already had and I got some out to colour. I've also got Kaiser English Rose paper pad which I'm finding really difficult to cut into and some pages I won't be able to cover.
I had to add the roses simply cos the paper cried out for them and if I Add a Heart this works for Papertake Weekly and Oldie but a Goodie.
Now because of my photographic skills the pearls strip looks crooked, I can assure you its straight as is the card.

Little Sprout

This was a quick card, well for me it was. I used the sketch from this week Sketch Saturday using Imaginesce papers and because the paper is very busy just used the punched flowers and ribbon for embellishments. The I used Mo's Little Sprout that I brought with the package to Help for Katie. I haven't put on a sentiment since I reckon she could be used for quite a few occasions so will wait for right one.

Now I had only a few pieces left of the paper so decided to make another quick card. Gosh it was quick, the bit that took the longest was the border.

 

WOYWW and a New Toy

 The trouble with Wednesday and WOYWW I have to hide what I've been making cos its usually something for DT and today is no exception.

 One place you don't look at is the floor but Hubby's been home today, he had a wisdom tooth pulled out yesterday and he's started to go stir crazy today and got the vaccum cleaner out. (Not allow to say Hoover cos BIL who is in the cleaning business is quick to say that is a manufacture not vaccum) Anyway back to the floor is now nice and clean.

Here's my new tool, I've been drooling, really I have over the stampin up ribbon slot punch that you see on Bev's blog but its not in the catty anymore or if it is I can't find it, then I would have to find someone in the US to get it for me.
So I popped ribbon slot punch in google hoping it would come up with someone on e-bay instead it came up with Making Memories ribbon slot punch. Which with the interchangable handle you have different sizes plus an half moon one too.
I already have the hammer and the mat from eyelet setter. Initial play its looking good just need and challenge or sketch which it will work with.

Anything but a card

Its Anything but a Card on Simon Says Stamps Challenge this week and the DT are showcasing Tim Holtz products and Debby went into meltdown. I didn't want to make another box, I wanted something that would be useful to me.
It was a lightbulb moment I wanted a calendar that I could write down my DT challenges and birthdays so I would stop getting confused.  While I was moving one lot of stash to get to something underneath in my hand was Clipboard.
First I needed calendar, so do you think I could find links to what I want, of course not so I had to make my own but at least they only need the number moved for next year.
Then I needed a man because I wanted two holes drilled into the clipboard before anything else. This was for the scrapbook screws so I could add the calendar.
Then using Oliver Basic Grey  currently available at Simon Says Stamps covered and decorated the clipboard using Tim Holtz dies Tattered Leaves and Flouishes and trying to make roses and failing miserably.
I then used I think Stormy distress ink pad, well a blue one to blend some colour round my calendar pages and using my favourite Inkadinkadoo dot swirls to stop the pages look boring.
Now its no way stunning like the amazing DT projects including our new DT member Kathy  from the Daily Marker so go and check them out you won't be disappointed.
A huge thank you from all the DT for the amazing amout of entries over 600 and you made our Head DT leader a happy bunny.
So we would love to see you join us this week with Simon Says Stamps amazing prize of.

Love is in the Air

Its challenge week on High Hopes Challenge blog and its for Valentines or Love cards.  I'm using one of Laurie Furnell mice stamps, aren't they a cute couple.
The papers are Cosmo Cricket, Girl Friday I did warn you that I found loads of this paper and I plan to use it all up. The Cherish around the page punches had an outing, along with the Heart punch which I layered. There had to be flowers and punched ones are great for using up scraps. In this case its my small retro flower from EK Success.
Do pop over and check the fabulous DT we have three new Guest Divas, Anne Wright, Alie de Vrij Venema
and Cathy.
And we're adding to our list of Divas by keeping Kristine, Andrea and Tanya.

A lot of White

I love all the white cards lately but I could quite manage it for my Everybody Art Challenge, just felt it needed a touch of pink. Especially as our challenge this week is Valentines.
I used the swiss dots embossing, then a Martha Stewart around the page punches for the frame. Then a mat with hearts embossed then the scallop mat using my nestabilities.
The flowers are Woodware daisy punches, along with 1/2 and 1/4 circle punches from Stampin up. The swirly leaf is from Marianne Designs and all that is left is my Penny Black image.
I've left out the sentiment, since I don't do many Valentines but this could work for Wedding Anniversary etc.
Do pop over to EAC to check out the fabulous creations by the DT and we would love for you to join us.

Purple Monday

The Just Magnolia Challenge is for Anything Goes with the option of Ribbon, since I nearly use a piece of ribbon on all my cards this wasn't going to be difficult at all.
Once I had decided which Tilda and papers to use the rest just fell into place. I know my birdie looks a bit odd but it was a case of Birdie paper must use punch.
The papers are Little Girl from Echo Park and my border round the over is the deep edge daisy punch from Martha Stewart cut in half long ways and snipping it so it will go round.
Today I must print some photos to put on my layouts I made Saturday but the photos were too small so I need to sort that out so I can say I made 4 layouts even though they were 6 by 12 inches.

Together Forever

Bit late this morning but shattered from cropping at Mj yesterday and today I plan to take it easy with no crafting. Well I shall colour some images while watching telly, DD and I have American Idol and Glee to watch.
So its lucky I have a card for today and another for tomorrow. Today is for LOTV challenge for Romance and I've used this cute pair, I didn't cut the sentiment out of the rubber stamp but I may do at some later stage.
The papers are Bo Bunny and the sketch is from Creative Inspiration Challenge. I've used the deep edge daisy punch cut in half to go round the circle and lots of brought flowers out my stash.
Well thats it for now, see you tomorrow.

Looking for A Gem of Challenge Blog Hop check HERE. Whoops I see I forgot to put who was next  to blog hop too but I've sorted it out now. Sorry to confuse you all.

Love Is

We have a great challenge on Penny Black Saturday Challenge instead of you usual Valentines challenge this one has a bit of twist.
We want a Love Is card, now dozy drawers here as photographed the inside but after I cropped it,some idiot didn't save it but was going to do it again later and now I've forgotten, now its dark and I won't have time tomorrow. So you will just have to believe me that inside my card it says Letting Him go Fishing, not that my hubby fishes.
I've used Little Boy from Echo Park  and once again its for a chap so hardly any embellies and I cut the Magnolia swirl so it would spread out further. The letter were stamped then I used a tiny square punch but the next size up was too big so I just cut them using my trimmer.
Now because I'm scheduling the post I'm not sure on the prize although I believe Ribbon Girl sponsors us this week but don't hold me to it.
But I do know that we have a Guest Designer for this month and its the lovely Helen and you must check out her fabulous blog.

A Gem of a Blog Hop

To celebrate A Gem Of A Challenge's First Birthday we are running a Birthday Blog Hop along side this fortnights challenge. You can enter the challenge, the blog hop or both! To enter our challenge follow the fab sketch by Mandy below......and simply link up your creation as normal on the challenge blog.

 If you are up for some fun and the chance to win lots of prizes, we would love you to join in with our blog hop. The winner of the Blog Hop will get these fabulous Aquamarker pens from Letraset who have very kindly sponsored us.... 

 and in addition, there are 2 fabulous Pink Gem Designs Digi stamps OR 1 set of Digi papers of your choice up for grabs on each of the DT blogs. 


You will need to start at the challenge blog, and visit each DT blog in turn to collect a 'hidded gem' from each. After collecting your answers from each DT blog, simply return to the challenge blog and leave your answers in the comments section. Please be aware there will be duplicate 'GEMS' so make sure that you have 10 when you reach the end.... Comment moderation will be on so there will be no cheating!

If you are here for the hop, you should have arrived from Christine aka Nanaseaside blog , and will now need to hop over to Jackie blog to collect your next gem. Or go over to the challenge blog to start the hop from the beginning. 

Simply leave me a  your name with Mr Linky below to enter my draw to win 2 PGD digi stamps OR 1 set of PGD Digi Papers. My winner will be drawn at random on 19th Feb.All winners will also be announced on the Challenge blog on the 20th Feb

Good luck and have fun!

So now to my card using the gorgeous new stamp Moon Baby isn't she sweet but he be could sweet too if he had a blue dummy or blue babygrow.
I use a sakura clear glitter pen to make the stars look OPAL but sparkly. 
The moon is covered in glamour dust which are an OPAL colour inside the bottle but take on the yellow moon when used. (Have I given enough clues to the Gem yet).
The papers are some scraps left, so not sure what they are but there's none left, so feeling good for using them all up.
The punched circle is using a strange looking punch that has a magnet to hold the punching device on the paper and as you can tell I've no idea whats it called.
Now don't forget to join in the blog hop and how about joining in with the challenge too.

HERE'S MR LINKY

Simply the Best

Another one of Di Digi images, I saw this bear and I had to have it and there's even a mouse too.
The papers are a download which I can't find on my PC now but I'm pretty certain they're from Sweet Shoppe Designs but not sure who is the designer.
I've used the new sketch on Truly Scrumptious but then gave myself a headache by choosing the image which is obviously for a mans card. So flowers were out but I used on of Tim Holtz alterations cog die for the sentiment so it would sort of copy the pattern on the paper and the sentiment if from a sentiment pack from Simon Says Stamps.
Since the image is a cheeky fun image do you reckon it would work for the Cute Card Thursday too.

Three Little Maids

Love the new papers from Echo Park Little Girl, every girlie colour is there. I've had the three little girls from Penny Black for ages and finally coloured them in, now I know why I left it so long. To 3d them like I normally do took some working out.
The sketch from Sketch Saturday this week, worked a treat with this size image. Since I'm struggling a bit this week, I'm quite please how my three little maids card turned out.

WOYWW

Nothing unusual going on my WOYWW desk this week just the usual clutter after making a card. Mmmm spy on my swirl stamps need to put them back in my scrapbook bag so I don't forget them on Saturday.
I forgot to mention that the lovely Jeanette has done two fabulous videos on copic colouring over on High Hopes Challenge blog.
Also don't forget the glitter challenge goes on for another week.

Thank you Linda for the fabulous award too.

Valentine's Dragon

Wednesday already and time for a new challenge on Simon Says Stamps Challenge, now we are in February its a perfect time for a Valentines card. To be honest after a couple of Valentines card I really don't need any more but this WOJ dragon I reckon could work for other cards.

Simon says Stamps has all the Valentine Collection from WOJ and the round sentiment that the dragon is a sitting in, is a Hero Arts clings, you can find it here. You can still get the heart border from Martha Stewart, well you can at Simon plus loads of new ones too.

Don't forget the fabulous prize you could win if you join at  Simon Says Stamps Challenge and pop over to the blog to see the gorgeous creations by the DT.

Anyone else finding Mr Blogger misbehaving, know doubt he will sort himself out.

Cat in Teacup

Bags and Boxes are the challenge this week on Everybody Art Challenge. I used Beate's tutorial on Splitcoaststampers here. I have altered the size because I had already coloured the image and in doing so it made the lid smaller. This wasn't going to be a problem since I was going to stick the image mat on it.
The papers are Deja Views and in hindsight which is a wonderful thing, I wouldn't have used the stripey papers with flowers on cos now they've upside down!
I used a Basic Grey magnet to close and its hidden under the sentiment and flower.  The cute little puddy cat image is from Just Some Lines who are sponsoring us this week.

Here you can see what I mean about upside down flowers.
Do hope you can join us at Everybody Art Challenge and do a much better job than me.
Today is a very special day its my DD Birthday. So

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREA