INTAAS - GRADUATION

The challenge theme at International Art and Soul was set by DT member Debbie and is 'Graduation'.

I used a small 6x6 Crafts UK card blank. The base mat was bottle green card from W H Smith and on top of that I added a small sheet of Simply Cards & Papercraft checked paper. Before fixing the base mat to the actual card blank I added a strip of dark green satin ribbon across the bottom section of the mat. I've had the ribbon so long I'm not sure where I bought this one. The graduation stamp is from a sheet of Clear on Clear (?) stamps by Dimension Crafts which I've had since I first started card making maybe 25 years ago, After stamping and cutting with a small Spellbinders scalloped circle I added gold glitter, from Create and Craft, to the edge of the sentiment plaque. Have you noticed that I'm using my ribbons and glitter now? I've not used them for quite a while but I'm finding items I'd forgotten about until I reorganised my craft room - although I have to say  I hadn't forgotten my ribbons. I've got so many rolls of ribbon I could never forget them or misplace them. lol That's job done, quite a simple card.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Creative Craft Cottage - Use Ribbon and/or bow

Daisy Chain - Add Ribbon

DL. Art Thankful Thursday - Graduation

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams - Add Some Sparkle

INTAAS - Your take on a Nursery Rhyme

I set the theme for this challenge over at International Art and Soul and I chose 'Your take on a Nursery Rhyme'. 

It seemed a good idea when I chose this theme at the beginning of the year but when it came to making it well, that was a whole different story. I had so many rhymes going through my head I couldn't decide. One that was eventually forefront was Monday's Child which was a favourite one for my mother to recite. My late husband and I were both born on a Thursday so it had to be that - and then I discovered that one of my DsiL was also born on a Thursday so her card is ready for her birthday later this month. Here is the inside in case you don't know this rhyme. 

My card blank s a 7x7 by Crafts UK. A sheet of postage stamp images from various countries was fixed on top of a sheet of red card from Papermill - I have no idea where I got the postage stamp paper from and if anyone knows please tell me. That was the base mat taken care of before I started colouring the little hobo. This is an image I won from Lacy Sunshine a few years ago and I love it. After colouring with my Promarkers I cut the image out with my Spellbinders circle die and set it against a Spellbinders scalloped die cut in bright orange card, again from Papermill. It was centred on the base mat and then a small sentiment stamp - which I think may have been on a freebie stamp sheet from a magazine - was stamped, coloured, cut with a small circle die and set on a turquoise scalloped circle. I love how this turned out, by using all the colours in the image on the backing card it makes it very colourful. To top it off I added some glitter to the centre of the flower in her hat and on the sentiment. I bought the glitter MANY years ago from Create and Craft.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Anything Goes with a critter

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything Goes must include animal

CCC Digi Creations - Must include sparkle/shine

Digi Doodle Studios - Bring on the glitz/must use glitter and hand coloured image

Colour Crazy Craft - Anything Goes with hand coloured image

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes with the option of a girly card

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams- Add some sparkle

INTAAS - Tiny Things

Our challenge theme is 'Tiny Things' which could be fun, I thought, so come over and join us at International Art and Soul.

Oh my goodness, I think I'm getting too old to get my brain in gear with these challenges. I did think this would be fun but then couldn't think of anything tiny. lol I asked my son and daughter in law and they suggested an Alice in Wonderland design, which I had thought about and then discarded. I was making some Christmas cards last week, sitting in my craft room and after seeing the challenge theme under my nose I started to sing 'Twenty tiny fingers, twenty tiny toes' and that was IT. 

My 7x7 scalloped card blank is by Craft UK, surprise, surprise. The pale blue paper and the pale pink paper are from a pack that I've literally had for about fifteen years. I have no idea where I got it and who even designed/made it. I used Spellbinder dies to cut the blue scalloped square and pink oval. The 'Congratulations' is again from the same paper pack and was alongside lots of other sentiments on one sheet. I had thought of generating the word Twins on the computer and then thought people would know it was for twins so congratulations would work just as well. The tiny fingers and tiny toes are stickers that I bought from Create and Craft a loooong time ago.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Shopping our Stash - You're so Sweet

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Dream Valley Challenges - All Occasions

Thank you all for visiting - please call again soon. 

IAAS Ecology, Environment, Conservation

This theme was set by Sall 'Ecology, Environment, Conservation' . Please come along and join us at International Art and Soul.

My card blank is 7x7 by Craft UK. The backing paper is by PaperArtsy and I matted it on to Papermill's dark brown card as the base mat. I stamped the image in Memento Ink in cocoa but I have no idea who made the stamp. I bought it at Ally Pally a few years ago. I chose not to colour the image  and after cutting it into a rectangle I used Distress Ink on the edges. Then it was set to the right of the base mat leaving some of the beautiful leaves on show. I added three wooden flowers, from Create and Craft many years ago, to the panel of leaves. 

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Classic DT - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes

IAAS Interactive

This theme 'Interactive' was set by CraftyGirl over at International Art and Soul. Come over and join us and show us what you can do. 

I'm not keen on any fancy shapes or interactive cards but felt I had to try this challenge. My base card is an 8x8 card by Craft UK. I used a sheet of oriental paper that I've had for years. I bought it from Create and Craft TV about ten years ago - at least. I made another smaller card to go centrally on the front of the card blank but then wanted to capture the beautiful flower so it's to the right of the centre. I used another sheet of the same oriental paper to cover this 'door' and added a green tassel, from Joanna Sheen, as the opener. The green jewelled ribbon is one that I bought in America a few years ago. My daughters in law couldn't believe how many rolls of ribbon I bought when we were on holiday. lol I set it across the hinged top and the bottom of the door and then cut a length down the middle to go down each side of the door. The hidden message is an oriental saying from a book of oriental sayings and quotes. It was generated on the computer and printed in pink on pink paper in Shanghai font. The card opens as normal and has a pink insert printed in pink saying 'With love and best wishes' again in the Shanghai font. I'm not sure that I would ever send this to any of my friends because it's just not my style but I did have fun making it.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

A Bit More Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Creative Craft Cottage - Anything Goes

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Crafty Friends - Flowers

Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes

Craft Rocket Challenges - Flowers

Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Thank you all for visiting and thank you for any comments. 

International Art and Soul - Boxes and Bags

'Boxes and Bags' is the theme at International Art and Soul so come along and show us what you can do.

I've added another altered box I made for my friend. You might remember that I made another one earlier, on my blog, for her husband. That was a great success hence making this one for Anne. She loved it.

The empty box is a very sturdy one with magnetic fastener from Craft Box. This is a craft company based in the UK who supply these boxes filled with crafty embellishments. They're always beautifully packed and presented and once the craft items are stored in their usual spot you have a box ready for altering as a gift box.

I used  a sheet of Craft Box paper as the background, tearing the edge and using Distress Ink on the torn edges. A small Craft Box doily was placed at the top left behind the paper and one of the Snip Art circles was added to the same corner. I used Hobbycraft wooden letters for the name and painted them with Rowney's acrylic paint. A small wooden frame to the left had a mirror charm in the centre (Anne likes pretty things and make up). A beautiful Craft Box lace embellishment was set to the right and topped with a cameo charm. Some wooden flowers from Create and Craft were dotted around along with some pretty gems. A large 'diamond' butterfly was added to the top right. I really enjoyed making this box and I'm in the process of making another.

I'm not able to enter any challenges with my altered box as I have no internet until 16 August. This is a scheduled post but I hope you'll still leave me some comments to cheer me up when I get back online. I'm moving home so will be back shortly and hopefully my new craft room will be big enough. I have a large room at the minute and my new one will be much smaller. My sons said that they will make it work for me - I hope they're right. lol

International Art and Soul - For Men

This challenge is all about the men so join us at International Art and Soul and show us what you can come up with for our theme of 'For Men'.

I'm showing an altered Craftbox that I receive full of craft items on a regular basis. I emptied the craft items into my usual storage spots and started on decorating the box for my friend who lives a couple of doors away.

The box is really sturdy and has a magnetic fastener so I thought, when he emptied it of his birthday goodies, he could use it for bits and pieces of his hobbies. I used Craftbox papers as the base. They are of old seed packets and I tore the edges and then used Distress Inks on them. I then started to add items that I knew would have some meaning to him - the little Snipart garden gate and watering can, the wooden flowers, bird and sun from Create and Craft - he's a very keen gardener. I added a little Hobbycraft wooden frame and then centred in it a little guitar charm. He's also a keen guitarist. Cogs made me think of cars - not sure whether they are relevant to cars - but he likes driving so I reckoned they would tie in. A gnarled branch from Craftbox was placed almost mid centre and then I added Hobbycraft wooden letters making up his name. I'd used bronze acrylic paint on the letters and then added a little arrow pointing to the name. Final additions were a brown gem and brown checked button, both from Mei Flower. He now has the box which had inside a half bottle of whisky, snazzy jar of chutney, sweets, etc. and he loved it.

I'm entering my box into the following challenges:
A Inky Mess - Anything Goes Mixed Media
Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes Mixed Media
Connie Can Crop - It's a Guy Thing
Cards Galore Encore - Anything Goes
Craft Rocket - For the Men/Boys
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Shopping our Stash - Dude
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

International Art and Soul - Hot Colours

The new theme over at International Art and Soul is 'Hot Colours' so please come along and join us.

My card blank is by Craft UK and is 7x7 - my new favourite size.  I used my new Ally Pally buys to make this card. The first were the background stamps which are by IndigoBlue and I used my Distress Inks in hot colours to stamp before adding a strip of bright red ribbon - donated by my DIL, Wendy. The next was the word stamp by Visible Image which I stamped in Barn Door Distress Ink. After stamping the base sheet I mounted it on peach coloured card by Papermill. I then added the ribbon before mounting it on pads for depth. The word stamp was mounted on bright orange card, again by Papermill, and then added to the top of the design. I used a very old Create and Craft punch to punch out some bright yellow suns that I set on the ribbon. Red gems by Mei Flower were then added randomly to the design.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Colour Crazy Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes
Card Mania - Life is Colourful
Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Thank you all for visiting, please call again soon.

MAWTT Let's Get Reading

This week Hazel (Didos) chose the theme of Let's Get Reading for the challenge over at Moving Along with the Times. and I chose The Oxford Book of Children's Verse. I can hear my two sons sighing now. lol I love poetry and when they went to bed I usually ended up their story time with a poem - I've even been known to tape myself saying my favourite poems!! Bigger Lol. I think it put my sons off poetry for life, they just don't appreciate beautiful words.

Anyway back to my card. The card blank is by Joanna Sheen and the dark blue card is by Papermill. The pale blue backing paper is from Docraft's Papermania Capsule Collection. I chose three poems that will all be well known to children and printed the first few words out on the computer. I then added a relevant embellishment for each poem. The large corner is cut with a Memory Box die. The fairies I've had for donkeys years and were bought from Create and Craft although I've forgotten by now who made the sheets.

Unfortunately I'm unable to link to any challenges as my eyes are still not good and I cannot stay on the computer long enough. Hopefully, if the treatment is EVER forthcoming I'll be able to join in fully before too long.

Thank you all for visiting and bearing with me - although I have lost some followers in the past few weeks so some have got fed up with my sporadic posts, sorry.

MAWTT Inspired by your favourite TV programme

Come and join us at Moving Along with the Times with Hazel's theme of 'Inspired by your favourite TV programme'.  My programme was 'The Voice' which isn't my favourite programme but is pretty close. I couldn't think of what to do for 'Death in Paradise' - lol.

My large card blank is by Joanna Sheen. The image is Chanteuse Jazz Baby by Rick St Dennis and I've coloured her with my Promarkers. I cut her with a Spellbinders grand oval nestie and then matted it on to a yellow scalloped nestie. The yellow card and the burgundy card is from Papermill, the pink glitter card is by Create and Craft from years ago. I bought the Sue Wilson bow dies in September and this is the first time I've used one of them. The rose in the centre of the bow is by Wild Orchid Crafts. The sentiment is one I got free last week in a craft magazine. The whole sheet of stamps, by Clearly Besotted, has flowers, butterflies, a jar, a sweet and three sentiments. I only bought the magazine because of the stamps! The sentiment was coloured with my burgundy Promarker and then matted on to another Spellbinders oval die cut in burgundy.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Craft your Passion - Anything Goes
Get Creative Challenge - Red, white and Pink
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Red and Pink
The Purple Haze Challenge - Use some flowers
Catch the Bug Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for popping by, it's always good to see you and I love reading your comments.

Moving Along with the Times Sketch

Here is Claire's sketch that we would like you to follow in this week's challenge at Moving Along with the Times. 

She has a prize of a large X cut die of a Birdcage so come and join us please. 

Here is my card:

I've used a large card blank by Joanna Sheen. This is the first time for months I've made a card and decided not to add any backing papers. I usually mat and layer like crazy. lol The red card is from Papermill and the die is a Spellbinders. Three red heart gems from Create and Craft in the top corner and the sentiment was generated on the computer. I've used some of my new ribbon that I bought at Jo-Ann's when I was in Florida at Christmas. I think it was 49 rolls of ribbon that I bought. My brain must have been telling me that I didn't have any in my craft room. Bigger LOL if you believe that!

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Pile it On Challenge - Hearts and/or Flowers

That Craft Place Challenge - Love/Valentine

Artbymiran Challenge - Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Wags'n'Whiskers Challenge - Hearts

Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Love/Valentine's Day

Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge - Anything Goes with a twist of One Layer

Inky Chicks Challenge - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Sweet 7 Designs Challenge - Anything Goes with NEW - I used my new ribbon

I have no idea what has happened here - this huge gap arrived today and I can't delete it!

Inspiration Destination 11

Once again we have two sponsors My Whimsical Little World and Crafty Sentiments over at Inspiration Destination for our challenge number 11.

My first card is showing the cat image by MWLW.

I coloured the image with my Promarkers and after cutting with a Spellbinders wonky square die I edged it with Distress Ink in Barn Door. The card blank is a small square by Craft UK and I made the background by stamping a Sarah Beise cat stamp in black Memento ink. I coloured the collars on all the cats but only coloured in two of them fully. The cat image was raised on foam pads and the only embellishment was s small Meow button that I bought from Create and Craft. A very simple card but quite cute.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Animal Friends Challenge - Must have an animal
Cards Galore Encore Challenge - Anything Goes
The Sisters of Craft December Challenge - Anything Goes
The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - Anything Goes


This is my card using the image Hootie, Rain, Rain Go Away by Crafty Sentiments.

I coloured the image with my Promarkers and used Inkssentials Glossy Accents on the raindrops. The pink card is from Papermill and the card blank is by Craft UK. I cut the image into a rectangle and used Distress Ink Stormy Sky on the edges. I set the image to the left. A Memory Box Bella Bouquet die was used to cut the flowers in white and then I coloured them with Promarkers too. The plantpot die was a prize I won a few weeks ago and I'm sorry but I have forgotten completely the name of the company, my apologies,  The little wooden snail I bought from Create and Craft and the sentiment was generated on the computer. After it was all finished I used Crafter's Companion Iridescent Spray and Sparkle on it but, unfortunately, it has shown up glue marks where the flower diecut  was stuck. It's not so noticeable on the card itself. Bother.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Craft Creations Challenge - Anything Goes
Not Just Cards Challenge - Anything Goes
Squigglefly Challenge - Emboss or Die Cut
Through the Purple Haze - Use a Sentiment

Inspiration Challenge 10

Here are my cards for the challenge number 10 at Inspiration Destination. The theme is Anything Goes and our sponsors this week are Dr Digi and Bugaboo.

My first card shows Metal Mick by Dr Digi.

I used a large square card blank by Joanna Sheen. The red card is by Papermill and has a Payperbox music patterned paper matted on to it as the background to Metal Mick. He was coloured with my Promarkers and had some Stickles added to his red guitar. A Memory Box treble clef die is used top right. I used a Joanna Sheen Signature die bunting in the top left. However, I didn't leave it as bunting I cut four small rectangles in Papermill red card and then added the letters of the recipient's name in gold brads - I bought these from Create and Craft at least ten years ago!

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
A Creative Romance Challenge - Something Old
Artbymiran Challenge - Anything Goes
Brown Sugar Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz Challenge - Anything Goes
Delicious Doodles Challenge - Let's Face the Music
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

My second card shows Stella Fitness Level from Bugaboo.

I coloured the image with my Promarkers and then after cutting it into a rectangle I matted it on to lime green and dark green card to match her sweat suit. lol I used the Couture Creations embossing folder called 'Tied Together' to emboss a sheet of white paper which I then matted on to the green card as before. The large card blank is by Joanna Sheen. I raised the matted image on foam pads and then added Mei Flower pearls to the background. The sentiment is by Inkadinkado and I heat embossed it before adding to the top right. Mei Flower gems were then added to the top left of the image and one was added to the sentiment. 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Digitally Sweet Challenge - Anything Goes

The Stamping Boutique Challenge - Sparkle

TIME OUT Challenge - Embossing with optional twist of sparkle

Inspiration Destination Challenge 9

This week we have the sponsor, Sweet 7, for our challenge over at Inspiration Destination. Come and join us, remember we are always Anything Goes with a digital element.

My image is Sunflowers in Vase and can be bought here:       http://sweet7digitals.bigcartel.com/product/sunflowers-in-vase

I decided to make a DL card to follow the elongated shape of the vase and it turned out to be a very simple card. This is one of those cards when I'm thinking maybe I should have done something else with it, it's not one of my favourites.

I coloured the image with my Promarkers and then cut it with a Spellbinders label die before adding some Creative Expressions Cosmic Shimmer dots to the corners - in bronze. The sheet of pale yellow Papermill card was embossed as the background. A narrow bronze organza ribbon from Create and Craft was wrapped around the bottom. The image was raised on foam dots near the top and then an Inkadinkado sentiment was stamped in brown Memento ink and cut with a Sue Wilson resplendent rectangle die. This was fixed between the image and the ribbon and had a wooden flower added as the finishing touch. Hmm.............................

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge - No Design Papers Allowed
Cards Galore Challenge - Anything Goes
The Sisters of Craft Challenge - Anything Goes
A Crafty Mess Challenge 1 - Anything Goes
Artbymiran Challenge - Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
TIME OUT Challenge - Embossing
Dragonfly Dreams Challenge - Let's be girly and use a die cut or punch
Card Mania Challenge - Use a Digi
Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

Fitztown - Pink and Silver Christmas

This is my card for the Pink and Silver Christmas challenge over at the Fitztown Challenge Blog. Each challenge runs for two weeks and I'm here to encourage you to come along and join us - come on, you know you want to make yet another Christmas card! lol

My card blank is a large 8x8 square by Joanna Sheen. The pink card is from Papermill and the silver paper is from a Papermania pad - I have glitter everywhere. The image is called Winter 2 and you can buy it here at the Fitztown Store. I coloured it with my Promarkers but the candle I coloured with a silver Sakura pen. I added some pink glitter to the baubles but I don't think I made a very good job of that. I matted the image on to more pink card and then raised it on foam pads to stand proud of the backing mat. I used my Spellbinders dies to cut the sentiment base and the ornate pieces to the left. My Create and Craft 'dazzlers' came out for only the second time and I added three to the top left of the image. It's definitely pink and silver. lol

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Bearly Mine Challenge - Christmas cards
Card and Scrap Challenge - Christmas card
Christmas Cards All Year Round - No patterned Paper
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge - Make it Sparkle
Crafty Calendar Challenge - It's All About Christmas
Inkspirational Challenge - Christmas
We Do Doobadoo Challenge - Christmas

Inspiration Destination Challenge 5 - Deborah, Hat Lady

Come and join us at Inspiration Destination and have some fun with Anything Goes. This week our sponsor is Rick St Dennis and I chose the image 'Deborah, Hat Lady'.

My large card blank is by Joanna Sheen. I used my new Sue Wilson die 'Bevelled Glass Striplet' and cut three in black card from Papermill. I have had the sparkly paper for ever! I bought it from Create and Craft when they first started and have used very little of it. I stuck the the three black striplets on separate colours and then matted them on to a creamy gold pearlescent card before matting that on to emerald pearlescent card from Hobbycraft.I coloured the image with my Promarkers and then cut with a Spellbinders grand nestie classic oval which I then mounted on to foam squares to let her stand proud. The only embellishments were the gems added to the bottom of the card in all three colours, red, green and silver.

I love this image and (dare I say this myself?) I love this card.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
As You Like It Challenge - Cute or Elegant and why - I'm not keen on making cute so stick to elegant images whenever I can.
Delightful Challenges - Three's not a crowd -  3 black striplets and three of each type of gem/pearl
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Dies and/or punches
The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers - Add some Sparkle
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Inspiration Destination Challenge 4

This is challenge 4 at Inspiration Destination so come along and join in the fun. This week I have two cards to show you. We are being sponsored by Sweet 7 and Crafty Sentiments and I have a card showing an image from each sponsor.

My first card is using the image of a sweet little ghost and the sentiment 'Boo to You', both by Sweet 7.

My card blank is a large square by Joanna Sheen. The leather look card is by Papermill and I thought it perfect for the background to this cute little ghost. The only time I needed my Promarkers was to colour the bow and, of course, it had to be red.I cut out the sentiment and matted it on to bright red card, again by Papermill. The only embellishment was a red square button, tied with black silk, both from my stash.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Pumpkin Spice Saturday Challenge - Harvest or Halloween

Crafty Catz Challenge - Black with one other colour

Fairy Tale Challenge - Happy Halloween

Simply Create Too - Halloween or Lots of Orange

Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - Halloween

That's Crafty Challenge - Spooky

The Stamping Boutique - Trick or Treat

Sentimental Sundays Challenge - Too cute to spook

The Corrosive Challenge - Halloween

This image is Lola by Crafty Sentiments.

I coloured her with Promarkers. The pink paper is by Papermill and I embossed it with my new embossing folder 'Rows of Bows' by Creative Expressions (I think!). I matted the embossed sheet on to pink card, also by Papermill. The pearls are from Meiflower and the pink metal charm is from Create and Craft. The sentiment is one from a sheet of sentiment by PaperArtsy. I matted it on to pink card and then added that to one of Sue Wilson's bow dies just to give a little extra to the shape.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - Embossing
Crafting at the Weekend - Anything Goes 3rd Entry
Hiding in my Craft Room - Embossing
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Dragonfly Dreams Challenge - Mainly Pink
Crafty Sentiments Designs - Use a sentiment
Die Cuttin Divas - Think Pink
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

MAWTT - Doggone it (or any animal)

Susan's turn to choose the theme for this week's card at Moving Along with the Times and she chose 'Doggone it' or any animal so that was OK. I tend to make quite a few cards with dogs on as one of my sons breeds dogs, so I thought I'd pick this tree frog image. The image is by Fitztown and is available at their Etsy store.

When Eric and I went to stay with his relatives in Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia, in 2010, we were amazed to see a frog, exactly like this one, peering from under a plant pot on their veranda - and it's five or six storeys up!! They think it had been brought from their previous garden by the removal men without realising. It joined us on the veranda every evening, coming out to sit on the arm of a garden chair. I called him Mr Frog, he was so cute. Happy memories.

Back to my card........... it's a Joanna Sheen large square and the navy card is from Papermill. I raised the navy card on foam pads after wrapping a piece of Hobbycraft raffia round the left side. I got round to using my Barbara Gray stencil which I bought at Ally Pally. I used two shades of green Distress Ink on the reeds and yellow for the moon and after tearing the image out I edged it with Stormy Sky Distress Ink. The image was coloured with my Promarkers and cut with a Spellbinders label die. A small wooden frog from Create and Craft was added as an embellishment.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create Challenge - Anything Goes
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge - Animals
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Paper Makeup Stamps - Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
The Sisters of Craft - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting. x

MAWTT - Add Texture

It's Tammy's turn to host the challenge this week over at Moving Along with the Times and she chose the theme of 'Add Texture'. Here's my card -

It's a 6x6 card blank by Craft UK. The dark brown pearlescent card is by Papermill and the fluffy animal print felt is by Hobbycraft.

This stamp is by Clarity and I bought it because it reminds me of Maisie, our Maine Coon cat, when she was a baby. She was a BIG cat but she thought she was a BIG CAT and acted accordingly, hence the felt! lol I coloured the image with my Promarkers before cutting with a Spellbinders die. I used another fancy Spellbinders die for the shape in the bottom corner and I attached a Crafty Bitz charm of two cats to it. The only other embellishment is a Meow paw print button from Create and Craft.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Crafting from the Heart Challenge - Anything Goes
The Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything Goes
Melonheadz Friends Challenge - 2 or more Dies
My Craft Creations - Anything Goes
Craft Room Challenge - Something old, (stamp, felt and meow) something new (charm)
Passion for Promarkers - Four legged Friends
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Fitztown - Altered Item

I did have fun with this one! This is the challenge this week at Fitztown Challenge Blog - an altered item. I was assigned the image Cameo 18, available here, and decided to alter a box, yes, I know it's a bag but here's what happened........................

I'd almost finished colouring the image and it was looking good. I'd done the skin and hair and the next day decided to give her antique pink lips, picked up my Promarker and the ink gushed out. It's the first time this has happened and she had very smudged lipstick. I touched a rose and she ended up with a pink neck too. It went in the bin. I coloured another and didn't use antique pink! I was going to use a box that used to hold fabric flowers and I covered the base beautifully in a lovely mottled pink paper. I made a start on the lid and made a right hash of it so that was binned too. I went for the easier option this time and used a simple paper bag.

My image was coloured with Promarkers and then I cut and embellished with one of my new Spellbinders Curved Borders Two at the top and bottom of the image. I then matted it on to pink pearlescent card. This was matted on to another Spellbinders diecut in bright pink card from Papermill. I also added the same shape to the other side of the bag to strengthen it. A Spellbinders Parisian border was added to the top of the turnover on the bag to give it a neat finish. I closed the bag with a pink star brad, from Create and Craft, and then all I had to do was add the pink paper roses which are from Wild Orchid Crafts. The green leaves are cut with Crealies dies. This will be used to hold a scarf for someone's birthday. A friend saw this just after it was finished and she nearly grabbed it for herself so I think it was a hit!

Check out the challenge blog for details of prizes.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:
Crafting rom the Heart - Anything Goes
Digi Makeover Challenge - Girly Girl
My Craft Spot Monday Challenge - Anything but a Card
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge - Anything Goes
The Sailing Pineapple Challenge - Anything BUT a card
A Girl Who Crafts Challenge - Anything Goes
Altered Eclectics Challenge - Anything Goes
Ladybug Crafts Challenge - Summer Flowers
Rhedd's Creative Spirit Challenge - Altered Art only

Thank you all for visiting and thank you for the lovely comments.