Sugar Nellie Autumn

The Sugar Bowl challenge for this week is a sketch with the theme of Autumn, so I made this 'Thank You' card using one of the first Sugar Nellie stamps I ever bought - I think she's called Maggie.  I used Promarkers to colour and the Autumn coloured papers are from a set from SU called 'Sweet Pea' - there are some lovely papers in this stack - as its a retired one, you don't like to use them all up! - although there are 48 double sided 12 x 12 pages, so I shouldn't run out of it too quickly!  The 'Thank You' is also from SU, cut out with a Nestabilities die.  The flowers and leaves were punched from the DP.

Anniversary card

The PFP challenge this week was a sketch, so I have used it to make this anniversary card.  The stamp used is a Sarah Kay one from Stampavie and as the theme for their challenge this week is 'love', then I can enter it there as well.  The papers used are from the First Edition pad 'Love Letters' - I see First Edition have some new Christmas papers out, so they will be on my list for the NEC (if I can manage to wait that long!!)  I just love all their paper.  I used maroon, antique pink, dusky pink, sunkissed pink, cornflower, blue pearl, denim blue, blush, vanilla, ivory, chestnut, tan, caramel, cocoa and sandstone promarkers.  The label stamp and punch are from SU, the decorative corner is a die (Marianne, I think), the lace border punch used is a MS one and the 'Happy Anniversary' stamps are from two different clear sets - can't remember who made them - they should put their names on the little plastic cover - I normally throw out the rest of the packaging!

Get well card

Here is another card I made using the sketch catalogue on Sketch and Stash.  I have used a new stamp from Stampavie.  The DP (First Edition, 'Desert Blooms') is one of my most recent craft purchases also, although I have used it on a few cards already - the colours are different from my usual greens and blues, and very appropriate for this time of year.  The sketch is number 18 and I'm really finding these sketches very useful.  I coloured the image with Promarkers and the little label for the sentiment was punched using SU punches.

Our little cat is making good progress - limping around now looking for lots of attention.  It's just going to be difficult  to keep her from jumping for the next few weeks.

Beary special

This card is my entry for this weeks promarker challenge - the theme this week was 'beary special.'  The image was one of the free pack from LOTV - they are really lovely, I'm getting great use out of them.  It was coloured using gold, tulip yellow, mustard, vanilla, umber, caramel, marsh green, lime zest, blush and pearl blue promarkers , together with the blender pen.  I rotated the sketch from sweetstop sketches so I can enter it in their challenge as well and the CCT one as it is 'anything goes' this week.  The DP is a retired set from SU - you know the feeling when you can't get anymore of it and you really don't want to use the last bit of it all up!! There are other sheets in the pack with pink and green colours and I've hardly used any of them at all.  The flowers are made with a 'sun' punch and the leaves are die cut.  The brown centres are card candy and the sentiment is from SU, punched with a 1 inch scalloped circle punch.
Pussy cat continues to make progress - she can now walk to the fridge and miaow for ham, instead of eating her own food from the bowl - yes, she's definitely starting to improve!

Whiskers update

Poor wee Whiskers is home now and eating a little bit better - but she is not very happy at being shut up in a 'cage' at night.  She is not allowed to jump or climb so we have to lift her up and down off the chair but at least she can hop around a little bit when she's on the floor.  We have to try to stop her from jumping for about 4 weeks - so its going to be quite a trial - hopefully she'll get used to it soon.  She seems to be fairly comfortable when she's lying down, so at least thats something.

My wee needlework class starts up again next week - so here is one of the little reminders I sent out to those who normally come.  The little owl and background paper are my first digital download purchase!

Sketch Saturday

Just a quick post to make sure I get this card up in time for this weeks Sketch Saturday challenge.  I really like the sketch challenges as I like to have new ideas for putting my cards together and tend to get a bit stuck in a rut at times.  This one uses some of the paper from First Edition 'Love Letters' pad and the image is one of the free ones from LOTV that came with a magazine earlier this year (can't remember which one).  The ribbon and ink are from SU (rich razzleberry colour), as is the congratulations stamp.

Have to go now and collect the cat from the vets.  We're hoping she'll heal up OK without the operation, so she's coming home now to see how she gets on.  We are going to have to get some kind of large cage so that she will not try to climb for a few weeks, to give it a chance to heal.

Sketch n stash

Just a wee birthday card I made using the following sketch from Sketch n stash - you can choose whichever sketch you want from their list for this challenge - it's really good for getting new ideas.  I used some long neglected paper flowers and leaves - the leaves have sat on my desk for about 4 years - one of those things I like so much that I'm afraid of using them up!!  The DP on the other hand is one of my most recent purchases and the Autumny colours are perfect for this time of year - just can't believe how quickly it has started to feel like Autumn!

Got my new SU catalogue today - the new 'in colours' are really lovely this time - I particularly like the island indigo and pool party shades - just as well my friend is having a workshop soon, so I'll have an excuse to order a few things! (by the way E - you didn't tell me that you'd bought so much they have now named a stamp set after you!!- see page 57!)

Our poor wee cat has spent the day (and tonight) at the vets.  We found her lying in the garage last night unable to walk and it turns out she has broken the head of her femur.  She has a habit of running up and down the roof in the evening trying to catch the bats that fly around and she must have fallen off.  Looks like she's going to have to be closed in a small area where she can't climb or do herself more damage, for at least four weeks.  There was also a suggestion that they could remove the head of the bone altogether, but I think that sounds a bit drastic.  Hopefully she'll be able to come home tomorrow.

Back at last

At last I have resurfaced from under a mountain of schoolwork - why are the exam boards constantly changing things - it makes an awful lot of work!!  Anyhow, I just managed to get this card finished in time for the Whiff of Joy challenge which was 'pink and pearls.'  I used a sketch from Pink Ink Sketch challenges but had a bit of trouble in putting it all together - I'm still not very happy with the green card, but with the very busy background it had to be plain and neither pink nor cream looked right - anyway, it will have to do now as its all stuck down!  The DP is from Imaginisce - from a range called 'Fairest of them all' - it's doublesided and one side of each sheet is glittered - I've had it for a few years now and there are just a few scaps left.  I coloured with Promarkers and her dress is paper pieced.  I used nesties for the oval mats and unearthed my long neglected scalloped scissors for the edging - as my MS punch wouldn't go through the pink card.  The flowers and green fronds are punches I bought at one of the shows.  Hopefully I will be back with a few more cards soon - when I get my last couple of schemes of work for the year all finished!