LOTV Easter Card

I don't normally send Easter cards, but I adore this Lili of the Valley image that Clare gave me, so it had to be coloured in - I used Ice Grey 1, Baby Pink, Orchid, Denim Blue and Tea Green Promarkers and Stardust stickles.

The Spring coloured papers were from Mel ages ago and I love them! I've also used some Papermania card, embossed with Swiss Dots folder. The flower is cut from another of Mel's papers, folded for 3D effect and stickles in the centre.

I can enter the following 11 challenges (are you ready?!):
Papertake Weekly - the lovely sketch I followed
Passion for Promarkers - Springtime and it MUST include an animal
Creative Cottage - Sparkle
PaperPlay Challenges - Easter
CRAFT - Easter
Cute Card Thursday - Dimensions
Totally Papercrafts - Pink and Green
Fussy & Fancy - Easter
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - pink, green & flowers
The Pink Elephant - Pastels
Crafty Angels - Easter

Sugar Bowl Challenge 32

This one is for the Sugar Bowl challenge and I have chosen the sketch for challenge 20. I'm pretty sure I used Daisy for the original challenge, but I had my gorgeous Peek-a-Bunny part coloured and HAD to use her (even although I have 4 male cards to make for other folk!). She's been coloured with Tan, Almond, Baby Pink and Ice Grey 1 Promarkers and some Whispers markers.

I had a wee sort through my stash too, and challenged myself to use up the few bits of Basic Grey Sugared pad that I have left. The band across the centre was made ages ago using scrap strips stuck to a strip of card. Sizzix Vine and Retro flower punches to finish.

Off to Grandad's birthday surprise today, so hopefully I've scheduled this correctly!!

70th Birthday Card

It's Scott's dad's 70th birthday on Tuesday so this was my first project when we got back from holidays. Had loads of notes written down for ideas, but found putting them in to practice almost impossible, but thankfully I managed to make it on Sunday while Euan was sleeping and Lou was with Uncle Clark & Co!

I used my bargain Basic Grey Cupcake papers and stickers, together with the Daisy & Dandelion Birthday set characters (that I won in a MAWTT challenge). And, of course, I had to make it into my new favourite technique of an easel card!

I also used the brilliant Truly Scrumptious sketch for the top part of the card and I think you'll probably be seeing me use the sketch again in the future!

Spring Skies Flower

I don't know where this week's gone to! I'm glad to say, though that Euan is finally showing signs of getting better! He's breathing more easily and coughing less so he's sleeping better. Just the eating, sniffles and tantrums to get better...

And finally, I've had time to make a card. I've really had withdrawal symptoms! This is only my 2nd card this week and I've normally made loads more!!

The flower was made ages ago using scraps stuck to card and then cut with Sizzix Wedding Flower die.

Background paper is from the FF Pink Parfait pack and the Daisy paper is from the original Daisy & Dandelion pack. The combination reminds me of the beautiful Spring skies we've had until today!

The nesties scalloped circle was given to me by Clare and I've embossed it with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.

I can enter the following challenges:
Lots to Do - Springtime
Charisma Cardz - Spring has Sprung
Frosted Designs - Think Spring

Girly Spring Card

Well, what a week it's been! We had a fantastic time at Center Parcs - Louise tried tree-trekking and rollerblading, we did the zip wire, saw a show, walked and swam loads and Lou enjoyed riding her bike lots too. It was fabulous and exactly what was needed. The weather was even beautifully sunny AND we managed to meet up with Clare and Andrew a couple of times!

But on our very last night, with no warning, Euan woke up coughing and with breathing difficulties. Scott had to take him to Penrith Hospital and was then transferred, by ambulance, to Cumberland hospital in Carlisle. He was diagnosed with croup and given steroids to open his airways. We were eventually allowed to leave with another dose of steroids for him at 3pm that day and we were really glad to get home!

Saturday was really good - he was much better and had a bit of fun playing outside and stuff, but we had to take him to hospital again this morning. We're now home again and Euan has an inhaler to help keep the airways open (although he really doesn't like it, so it's been done while he's been sleeping), so hopefully that's all the hospital visits out of the way!!

But now onto the card...! I made this before holidays and didn't have time to post it, but I'm really glad as there are loads of challenges to enter it in:

Creative Card Crew - Going Dotty
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Easter (the colours are spring/Easter like)
Charisma Cardz - Something for the Kiddies
Crafty Catz - Spring
Secret Crafter - Spring has Sprung
Allsorts - Spring is in the Air
Crazy for Challenges C4C29 - Spring
Creative Inspirations - White, Yellow and Green
Magical Crafts - Spring / Easter

Hope everyone has a lovely week!

Monochromatic Edward

After seeing the Secret Crafter challenge of Shades of Grey, I decided to ink up Edward and use him for this card. And I rather like the monochromatic scheme, especially for a male card!

Edward has been coloured with Almond, Ice Grey 1, Cool Grey 4 and Tan promarkers and I've used some PM Christmas papers. The ribbon has been recycled from the hanging loops of the new dress/top hubby bought me at the weekend and I've added a couple of shimmer dots to show off the ribbon better.

I'm going to enter it in the following challenges:

Secret Crafter - Shades of Grey
Cute Card Thursday - Celebrations
Allsorts - Just for Men
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Recycle
Stampin' for the weekend - Monochromatic

Spring Miss Anya

I love this image. She's not actually mine, though - Clare gave me a few images last time I saw her and this was among them, but I think I might "need" to get this set at some point...

Anya has been coloured with Tea Green, Almond, Tan, Baby Pink and Orchid promarkers. The beautiful paper was also from Clare, but unfortunately I don't know what it's called.

I used the gorgeous sketch at Sketch and Stash and will also enter it in Crafty Cardmakers - Feminine Celebration and Creative Cottage - New (everything is new to me!).

(Only 2 sleeps until holidays - hurray!!)

First Easel Card

I can't believe that these are so easy to make! What has taken me so long to try them? No, I don't know either, but I've already made 3 so I think that qualifies as a new addiction!

I am entering the Penny Black Saturday Challenge for the first time - make an easel card - and I used my neglected hedgie stamp too, coloured with Blush, Ice Grey 1 and Orchid promarkers.

I used the beautiful sketch over at Sketch Saturday - loved the corner detail and gems around the circle. The circle is a Nellie die, and I love it!

The photo of the cherry blossom tree over at The Craft Garden inspired the colour choice - papers from Pink Parfait pack.

It is, as you can see, a Mother's Day card with flowers, so can be entered in Simon Says Challenge - Mothers Day/Girly, Totally Papercrafts - Mothers Day/Special Lady, CRAFT Challenge - Mothers Day/Flowers and the Crafty Calendar Challenge - Flower Power.

Mam's Mother's Day Card

After making a few other Mother's Day card, I thought I'd better actually make one for my own mum! Her favourite colour is turquoise, so I've used DCWV Blossoms & Butterflies, Basic Grey Cupcake and DCWV Jewel coloured papers.

The image is Belles & Whistles Hearty Thanksgiving and reminds me of my little boy, Euan and his big sis, Louise, hence the choice for my mum. It's been coloured with Almond, Tan, Tea Green, Ice Grey 1, Cool Grey 4 and Denim Blue promarkers and a few Whispers markers (as I don't yet have Promarkers in pumpkin, flower or foliage colours!).

The image has been cut using my Nellies circle die and some punched flowers, Sizzix vines and buttons to complete.

I'm entering the following challenges:

Totally Gorjuss - the beautiful sketch I followed (very similar to what I tend to revert to when I need a quick card so I LOVED it!)
Stamp Something - Something Girly
Passion for Promarkers - Back to Nature (first time I've entered this one - think the stamp and embellies fit the bill)
Crazy for Challenges - C4C27 - Paper Piercing (believe it or not, this is the first time I've done this as I thought it'd take ages, but it doesn't so I'll be doing it again!)
One Stop Craft Challenge - Sew Simple (faux sewing around paper & letters, real sewing of buttons)

Have a lovely weekend, peeps!

Playtime Bears for a Mum

Ok, as I'm posting this, I'm realising that it's pretty much the same layout as the last FF card. Mmmmmm, methinks I need to use a different layout for my next card! And how come I didn't notice til now?

Anyway, I've used my new FF Playtime Bears stamp (only £2.49 from Craft Superstore!), coloured with Almond Promarker.
I don't know what the papers are called as my lovely friend, Clare gave them to me (thank you muchly x) - they're beautiful, though, aren't they?
My Hobbycraft Rafia Lace is getting another outing - it's been a wee while!
Sizzix Blossom flower, layered up and buttons sewn onto them.
Pearl pin and pearls to complete.

I'm entering it in the following challenges:

Crafty Angels - the beautiful photo that inspired the colour choices
PaperPlay Challenges - Just Because (ok, technically I intended this to be a Mothers Day card, but the sentiment could also be for a just because card....!)
Creative Inspirations - Use Lace, Pins and Pearls (yep)
Papertake Weekly - Buttons (yep), Bows, Brads and Bling (yep)
The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Stitching (on both buttons)
My Time to Craft Challenge - Just for Mum
Creative Card Crew - Celebrations (celebrating a lovely Mum!)
Phew!!

Playtime Bears

Good morning, folks. Got a bit of a busy day today: Euan starts minigyms this morning, then Susan and Lily are coming over, then collect Lou from school before Taekwondo - phew! Just hope I can get this card added before the madness begins...

I decided to have a go at the Just Cute Bears challenge this week, after seeing Jenny's beautiful DT card for it. The colour combo is "Mint & Brown" and I think I'll be using it again!

The image is FF Playtime, coloured with Blush and Pastel Pink Promarkers. The papers are Papermania (brown) card, Daisy & Dandelion (daisy) paper and the leafy one is from the Pink Parfait pack. Sizzix Vines, Retro punched flowers and Anita's spotty ribbon have also been added. After seeing one of the edges of the strips of paper I used was torn, I decided to tear and ink some other edges and I think I quite like it. I also used my new distressing tool but think I need some more practice with it, cos at the moment I still prefer my old nailfile!

I'm also going to enter this card in The Pink Elephant Challenge of "Add Green".

Lily's 2nd birthday card

I know it's not her birthday until the 10th, and that Susan will probably see before then, but I thought the image was perfect for Lily and the sketch for MAWTT looked good to try. So:

The background is Papermania card, embossed with Sizzix Tween Dots
Dotty paper from Daisy & Dandelion original paper pack
Lili of the Valley image (kinda apt, huh!), coloured with Ice Grey 1, Cool Grey 4, Pastel Pink, Tea Green and Orchid Promarkers and some gloss for the icing and balloon (Suitable too for the Charisma Cardz challenge to make a birthday card that has a candle on it)
Flowers from Papermania and a kit my daughter had (What? They're shiny and pretty and we SHARE!!!)
Anitas ribbon to finish

Hope she likes it.....