Christmas card

I was asked to make a couple of personalised Christmas cards recently and for this one I used the layout from this weeks Sketch and Stash challenge.  The image is from LOTV and the card is 'Not Quite Navy' from SU.  The buttons were in my stash but the image is from a new 'Art pad' I bought at the craft show at the NEC in Birmingham a couple of weeks ago. I also bought the 'knitted' embossing folder there.  The snowflake die was a free gift with a recent magazine.
As the Simon Say challenge this week is 'Anything Goes' I will enter it there as well.

Wedding card

I made a few wedding and engagement cards recently and as the Allsorts challenge this week is for 'embossing' I thought I would enter this one there.  The image is from LOTV and the oval punches are by Stampin Up.  The sentiment was computer generated as I cannot find a small engagement stamp apart from a clear sentiment stamp by LOTV which has now disintegrated!

WOYWW 268

This week I thought a tidy up of my desk drawer was needed so I made a start but was called away to attend to something else.  When I got back I found that Whiskers had tried to help but found that it was just too exhausting!! I finished off the drawer but now the rest of the desk is in such a mess I can't do any crafting until I get it sorted.  It's maybe just as well I can't get distracted by crafting at the moment as I need to finish wallpapering the hall first.

To visit all the other workdesks (hopefully tidy), click HERE.

40th Birthday

I was recently asked to make a 40th birthday card for someone who likes cats so I unearthed this Stampavie Sarah Kay stamp and coloured her using Promarkers and some of my new Blendabilities pens - the Cherry Cobbler reds and skintones.  I am really pleased with the reds as I could never get the combination quite right with my Promarkers and to have the set of 3 just makes it so much easier.  I cut into this Tereasa Collins paper (Spring Fling) that I've been hoarding up for ages and so I think I can enter this weeks CCT challenge - 'Pretty papers.' For the layout I used last weeks 'Try Stampin' on Tuesday' sketch.  The red car strip was embossed using a SU embossing folder (now retired) and the soft green lace has been in my stash for ages.  The flower punch and border punch are both from SU as is the antique style brad.

WOYWW 266

I haven't joined in with WOYWW for ages now - I have been working on some wedding stationery that I couldn't show, but I now have it all finished off and boxed up so my desk is now safe to show again.  I have been trying out some of the new SU blendabilities pens - similar to Promarkers but they come in sets of three - a light, medium and dark of the particular colour, which makes it easy to shade.  Just six colours are available at the moment, but there will be another six next month.   I think I'll make these poppies into little notelets or something. I bought the Gorjuss girl stamp online and it turned out to be much bigger than I thought.  I like the Cherry Cobbler red for her dress - I find it difficult to shade with red Promarkers, but these three are very effective together.
*Edited to add - A few people have been asking about the 'Blendabilities' pens - yes they are a set of three different tones for shading in one colour - they come in these sets so take the headache out of deciding which tones to use together and then there is also a 'colour lifter' for highlighting the palest areas - very professional results - you can find out more HERE.

Final graduation (I think!!)

I think this is my final graduation card - most graduations would probably be held this week or next week, so unless I have a request, I have finished with graduation cards this year! I love these stamps from Whiff of Joy as you can colour them to suit the actual gown and hood of the recipient - my favourite colour is the gown I got to wear for my MA with the OU - its my favourite teal blue colour! (- I think I did this course just to get to wear that colour of gown!) This card was made using the Sketch and Stash sketch for this fortnight - all the stamps used are new stash and the mortar board and certificate are punched out of a piece of background card that I've had for ages.  The image was coloured with Promarkers and the coloured card is from SU - rich razzleberry and smokey slate - much the same colours as my old school uniform!  As well as the Sketch and Stash challenge, I will be able to enter the I Love Promarkers, Paper Creator and Papertake Weekly challenges as they are all 'Anything Goes' this week.

Exam congrats

A quick exam congratulations card today, made using James the bear from one of the LOTV art pads - so handy for quick cards.  The papers are all from a retired SU 6 x 6 pad - it was one of the hostess items a few years ago in a colour long retired called Peach Parfait I think.  For the layout I used this weeks Mojo Monday sketch but on a square 6" x 6" card instead of the tall and skinny one on the challenge. I can also enter the CCT challenge of 'Circles', the LOTV one of 'Spots and Stripes,' and the Paper Creator and Papertake Weekly ones - both 'Anything Goes.'

Papertake Weekly Sketch

A quick post to get my entry in to the Papertake Weekly challenge in time! - I'm still on the theme of graduation. Coloured with Promarkers.

And yet another graduation!

This time I have used this weeks Sketch Saturday design for the layout.  Again the Whiff of Joy image was coloured using Promarkers and I have that graduation paper for so long the shop where I originally bought it has been closed down for about two years!! The conGRADulations sentiment is a stamp from a set by Paper Smooches.  The big grey shadowy area in the top left is where I was standing in front of the Velux window in my craft room!  I will also enter this week's Simon Says challenge as its 'Anything Goes.'

Another graduation card

This is another card made using the Whiff of Joy stamp, this time in a blue and yellow colour scheme - this weeks challenge for Passion for Promarkers. Obviously it was coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers and the design follows the Sketch and Stash layout for this week.  The mortar board and diploma die cuts were made using a really old Sizzix die.

Edited to say I've just found out this card was chosen as one of the top five in the Passion for Promarkers challenge! :o)

Perfectly Pink

I actually remembered to take photos of some of the cards I made recently, although some of them were already packaged, so didn't photograph all the well. This was a wedding card made using a topper (its been in my stash so long I don't remember where it came from).  The card, ribbon and paper are all from SU - blushing bride and naturals white.  The dies and punches are all from SU as well and the sentiment stamp is from LOTV.

This weeks CCT challenge is Perfectly Pink - so I think this suits the bill!

When I went to link up to the CCT site I discovered that it was last weeks challenge that was Perfectly Pink - this weeks is actually So Macho - so I don't think I can enter it after all!!!

Graduates

  

I have made some graduation cards recently and this one was made using a Whiff of Joy stamp, coloured with Promarkers and Flexmarkers.  I have almost left it too late to enter this weeks Passion for Promarkers challenge (One for the boys), but will try to get it linked up in time!  I have used this weeks Try Stampin on Tuesday sketch, so will link it in there as well.

I also made a female version -

WOYWW 252

I just realised that this weeks WOYWW is already up - so I thought I would quickly join in with a photo of my desk taken a few days ago.  It was very messy then and is probably worse now as I'm trying to make about ten things all at once! At least Whiskers doesn't seem to mind the mess as she climbs over it all to get a better view of the 'News'!

Mother's Day

A quick Mother's Day card, made with one of the LOTV images from the Cute Cottage Garden Art Pad (Set 19).  The brown card is Early Espresso from SU as is the sentiment stamp and the spotty ribbon.  The patterned paper is from a Carta Bella pad called Giddy Up. I will enter it into the Papertake Weekly challenge.

WOYWW 246

As I couldn't get to sleep tonight, I thought I may as well just get up and join in this week's WOYWW! My desk is reasonably tidy except for the large pile of bits of paper and card I am trying to use up.  The cream card in the centre is what's left after I had to chop off the 'flap' part when I stuck the designer paper on upside down - so I will need to rethink that plan!! The paper bows on the right hand side were made on my new envelope punch board and that black thing under the desk is for putting my feet on as my legs are very short! (I think it's really for typists, but I find it useful too). I have been tidying up my craft room this week (not that you could tell from this photo) but now there is a lot of stuff accumulating on the top of the desk, so maybe by the time I get it all sorted I will feel sleepy enough to go back to bed!  I must go now and see if Julia has the linky thing up yet or I may just have to wait until the morning.

Walk the Plank

I've been trying to use up lots of wee bits and pieces recently and this decoupage sticker was the last one on a sheet that's been on my desk for ages, so I decided to make a birthday card with it.  The card was some left over pieces of kraft card and the paper came from  a Nitwits pad from LOTV.  The label shape was made using  a new punch from SU and the bottom corners rounded.  The oval mount is also a punch from SU.  The Simon Says challenge for this week is 'Let's have a laugh,' so I think I could enter it there.

Birthday cat

I used this Whiff of Joy stamp to make some calendar cards for my craft class ladies, but forgot to take a photo before I posted them all!  So when it was still sitting on my desk, I decided to make a birthday card with it, following the Sketch and Stash challenge for this week. 
The stamp is fairly new as is the Baked Brown sugar card from SU, but the paper is fairly old stash - again from SU, but now long retired.  The sentiment stamp and buttons are also from SU.  The 'knitting' was made using a die, but I'm not sure which company it's from. The image was coloured with Promarkers.
 I can enter this weeks Whiff of Joy challenge as it's Pink, brown and cream and also the Allsorts challenge 'Vintage.'

Get Well Soon

This card was made using a LOTV image, coloured with Promarkers and SU card, paper, ribbon (real red, pool party and crumb cake) and punches.  The layout follows this weeks sketch on the Sketch Saturday challenge.  As the PFP challenge this week is to use ribbon, lace or twine, I will enter it there as well.

WOYWW 242

After seeing Princess Judy's lovely tidy desk (twin version to mine) these last couple of weeks  I was shamed into tidying mine up a bit! I really needed to clear another one of the wee sections in the middle to allow extra space for my ever expanding collection of SU punches that I NEED to have close to hand.  So this is the tidy version this week, just a few wee stamped images and the necessary tools and equipment.  Notice you are unable to see what is sitting on the top of the desk ..... or on the table to the right ..... or on the floor ..... or even on the chair.....!! Just as well I now have a photo to look back at, as I have a feeling it won't stay like this for very long!
To visit all the other more exciting work desks, where there is some real crafting going on, visit Julia HERE.

Birthday mannequin

I made this card following the layout on the Sketch and Stash challenge.  All of the products used (dies, card, paper, stamps, punches and ribbons)are from SU, using crumb cake, whisper white and pool party colour schemes. 

Birthday poppies

I made this card at the end of last week using the Mojo Monday sketch, but left it too late now to link it up! All the products used are from (SU Midnight Muse, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla card). The image was stamped and then coloured using the water brush and Gumball Green and Midnight Muse markers.

I have just recently signed up as a Stampin' Up Demonstrator and so I have a set up a new blog dedicated to SU cards here http://stampinatthepaddocks.blogspot.co.uk/

Wedding Bells

This weeks Papertake Weekly challenge is to use some of your new stash, or something you haven't used before.  I've had a pack of these wee self adhesive wedding bells on my desk for so long that I can't remember where they came from, so I thought I would use one on a card! The paper, card, sentiment stamp and punches used for the sentiment are all from SU. The heart was die cut using a Nestabilities die.

Fishing Bear

Another card using a decoupaged 'Wellington Bear.' The card and paper are SU 'baked brown sugar' and the sentiment is also from SU.  The wee hook was die cut from silver mirri card and then I attached a piece of a red feather.  The fish shaped paperclip was from a desk set that was reduced in the Lakeland sale!The Papertake Weekly challenge is 'Anything Goes' this week, so I'll enter it there.

Football bear

Another card I made recently using die cut decoupage sheets.   This layout is this weeks Mojo Monday challenge.  The football and boots were made using sizzlets dies and the background card is from SU (crumb cake).  The paper is from a free pack - I think it was actually a Christmas pack, but it matched the colours of the bear's scarf! The label was made using a stamp and punch from SU.  The blue card has been in my stash for ages - it probably came from the Papermill shop that used to be in 'Junction One.'

Wedding Card

A card I made recently using the Sketch and Stash layout.  The image is a die cut square from LOTV.  The paper is also from an LOTV Nit Wit pad.  The ribbon is from SU and the flower was made using punches. You can't tell from the photo, but I used a clear 'Wink of Stella' brush pen to add a glittery effect to parts of the image - these pens are part of my recent purchases, and I am getting a lot of use out of them!

WOYWW 240

I'm running a bit late this week, as its now Wednesday evening, but when I came up to my craft room I was greeted by Whiskers - she was much too comfortable to move, so I don't think there will be any crafting done this evening - she could at least have tidied up my desk a bit! It is covered with all the stuff I was using last night and one card that still needs an insert before it can go on the stand for sale in school. 
Call in with Julia HERE to see what everyone else has been making this week.

New Baby

This is one of the cards I made over the holidays.  The image is from one of the LOTV art pads and the paper is from a free pack that came with a magazine ages ago.  The sentiment is also from LOTV and the accessories were made using Quickutz dies.  I will enter it into this weeks Simon Says challenge - 'Something New' and also the Stampavie challenge - 'Blue and White.'

Retirement bear

I recently bought some die cut decoupage designs from the Glitterpot sale and have made a number of cards using these cute bears.  I am entering the Papertake Weekly challenge as it is to choose any of their challenges from last year so I'm choosing one from the second week in May - Anything Goes with an animal theme!
The card, paper, ribbon and sentiment stamp are all from SU.  The wee tools are diecuts - a set I bought at the last craft fair in the NEC.  The label die is a really old Sizzix one.