Simon Says Lemon and Lavender

Simon Says Stamp Challenge this week is Lemon and Lavender. My card blank is a large square card from Craft UK. The lemon card is from a pack I've had for years and I can't remember where I bought it. All the dies are Spellbinders apart from the small butterflies and they are cut with a Martha Stewart punch. The lavender card is from Papermill. The LOTV image is stamped in Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers. The little pearls on the large butterfly are from WOC.

Papertake Challenge

The Papertake Weekly Challenge this week is to follow the sketch provided. I used a large square card from Craft UK. The three backing papers are from a Desert Blooms pad. The image was a free digi, printed and centred on to a Spellbinder square nestie and coloured with Promarkers. The edges of the square have been distressed with a variety of Distress Inks. Three small wooden embellishments are from Create and Craft and the sentiment is LOTV.

I've had a busy week so far and this card was the first I've made since Sunday! Yikes. This morning I've been ironing, all finished I'm pleased to say, and gardening. I sawed down a branch from our laburnum tree that was beginning to get a bit big for our next door neighbours. I managed it, with Eric's help, but he was shattered and had to come in just as we got it down. I managed to get all the boughs and leaves trimmed and bagged ready to go to the tip. Nothing more today, I'm making cards and playing. Hope you're happy in this lovely weather.

CD Challenge

The CD Sunday Challenge this week is Mixed Bouquet. I've used a freebie CD that I think I got with a Docrafts magazine a few months ago. I've got dozens of CDs but I've never used a freebie CD before so I was a bit dubious about using it. However, when I looked at all the DT cards they had used CDs that I have so I wanted to use something that MAYBE no-one else will use. The CD is called Favourites Edition and I chose one of the Country Companion images. The scalloped card blank is by Craft UK. The backing paper, cut with a Spellbinder nestie, is from my Desert Blooms pad which is getting quite empty now so I'll have to take a shopping trip. I've used it a lot and love it. I've used the corner rounder on my image and then placed some Wild Orchid flowers at the corner. The leaves are cut with my Crealies dies. The ticket is another that my OH made and I distressed it with my Versacolor inkpad.

Another sketch

The Less is More challenge this week is to follow a sketch. I've used a small white card blank by Craft UK. The cream pearlescent paper and the bronze mirror card are by Papermill. The little wooden flowers are from Create and Craft. The sentiment was generated on the computer.

Monochromatic

The Crafty Sentiments Challenge is Monochromatic so I chose shades of turquoise. The card blank is by Craft UK and the backing paper is another one that I've had for years and have no idea where I got it from. The LOTV image is stamped in Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers.. It was cut with a Spellbinders nestie and WOC flowers are set at the top corner with leaves made by a Crealies die. The deep turquoise border is a Parisian Accent by Spellbinders. The LOTV sentiment is backed with another nestie and the ribbon is one that I bought in Australia. Here's to fine weather and a happy Sunday, enjoy.

Challenge 102 Donalda Sketch

The Lili of the Valley Challenge 102 is a sketch by Donalda. I've really enjoyed doing this card and I've chosen colours that I don't usually go for - pale pastel colours. I usually do big and bold! My card blank is a large white square by Craft UK. The pink card is by Papermill and the backing papers I've had for ages, have no idea where I got them. The LOTV image (one of my new ones) is stamped in Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers, cut with a Spellbinders circle nestie and backed with a Spellbinders beaded circle nestie. The flower is from WOC and the leaves are cut with my Crealies die. The organza ribbon is from Joanna Sheen and the sentiment is LOTV, stamped on to a nestie in Versacolor Bubble Gum shade on a nestie label

Jane's Sketch

Simon Says Stamps Challenge has Jane's sketch for us to follow. I've used a large square card blank from Craft UK. All the backing papers are from Costco and the tan card is from Papermill. The House Mouse image was stamped in Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers. I cut it with a Spellbinders circle nestie and distressed the edge with Dried Marigold Distress Ink. The ticket is one that my husband made for me and I distressed that too! The flowers are from WOC and the leaves are cut with Crealies dies. The butterfly was cut with my new Spellbinders die. The bronze mirror card is also from Papermill.

BBQ Time

Papertake Weekly Challenge this week is Here Comes the Sun, well, you can't have sun without a BBQ can you? My card looks very dark but that's because I've used the fireworks backing paper that I won as part of a prize from Stitchybear, along with the digi 4th July image. I coloured the digi with Promarkers and set it on a Spellbinders label nestie. The red and white organza ribbons are from Joanna Sheen. The blue organza ribbon and the stars are from Create and Craft.

If the sun isn't with us by the 4th July then I'm going to be really annoyed.

Sunday again!

So it's the CD Sunday Challenge and this week the theme is 'Tassel Time'. I don't mind using tassels so have no problem with this challenge. My card blank is a large white square card from Craft UK. The pale blue card is Papermill and the green mottled backing paper is by Costco. The image is from Joanna Sheen's Enchanted Dreams. The image is so lovely I thought she deserved a piece of lace AND a tassel. The ticket is one of my husband's designs and I've distressed it with a multitude of inks. The tassel is from Joanna Sheen and the giant brad is from Dovecraft.

Bud

The Ribbon Girl Colour Challenge 9 is Pink and Cream. My card blank is by Craft UK. The backing paper is from a freebie pack Sweet Wishes that was in the Papercraft Essential magazine. The Stamping Bella image 'Bud' is stamped in Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers. The Spellbinders oval nestie has been edged in Versacolor pink and backed with a Papermill pearlescent pink card scalloped nestie. Spellbinders floral swirl dies are cut from Papermill cream pearlescent paper. The ticket was designed by my husband and distressed with Versacolor inks. The pink pearls are from Kanban.

Stitchy bear prize

I won some digi stamps from Stitchy Bear for one of the challenges that I entered and I promised that I would show the cards that I made using the images. I hope you like them, I loved colouring them.

Challenge 3

Crafting for All Seasons challenge 3 has the theme 'Summer'. The card blank is a large square Craft UK card. The backing paper cut with a Spellbinders grand scalloped nestie is from a pack that I've had for years and I have no idea where I got it. The digi image is by Stitchibear and is coloured with Promarkers and the edges are distressed with Distress Ink in peeled paint colour. The bright yellow card is by Papermill and the flowers are from WOC. The leaves are from Marianne and Crealies dies. The Hello ticket was designed by my husband.

Autumn Leaves

The Less is More theme for week 20 is Monograms. Yuk, sorry ladies, but you have surpassed yourselves this week! :(

 I used a Craft UK small square card and printed off the letter A in Pretoria font, dark brown. I cut it with a Spellbinders circle nestie and edged it with Distress Ink, dried marigold, and then stamped Tapestry autumn leaves with various Versacolor stamp pads. The leaves are supposed to be falling in a heap. 

Friday card

Today I've finished off a card that I'll enter in to two challenges: Lili of the Valley - Bring on the Music and Crafty Sentiments - Father's Day card. I think this one fits the bill for both challenges. It's a large square card by Craft UK and the backing paper I've had for ages so have no idea where it came from. I tore the edges and distressed them. The image is LOTV, stamped in Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers. I've used a Spellbinders rectangle nestie for the image and another, a wonky square, for the music which is embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. The music staf was given to me by a friend and the ticket was made for me by my husband. He's made me a whole set, he's an angel, but don't tell him. I've distressed it with Distress Ink. In case you want to know the name of my music - I thought of 'In my Easter bonnet' (OK, I know it's after Easter but it suits this image perfectly!)

Time for Simon Says

This week's Simon Says Stamp challenge is Bingo and I chose the line 'buttons, pearls, shapes'. It's a small Craft Uk card blank with backing paper from a freebie paper pad from Papercraft Essentials magazine. I stamped a Joanna Sheen Maine Coon cat stamp with Memento ink on to a nestie label, edged it with Distress Inks and the image was coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment is from LOTV and the buttons in the top left are from Create and Craft. I used pearls from WOC for the centres of the flowers at the bottom of the backing paper.

Papertake Weekly Challenge

The Papertake Weekly Challenge this week is Dads and Lads. This is my card, a small square blank from Craft UK. The checked distressed backing paper is from a freebie Serif paperstack from a magazine. The LOTV image is stamped on to a Spellbinders label nestie with Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers. The edges of the label were distressed with Distress Ink. The mirror board is from Papermill and one is embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and the red one is embossed using my Martha Stewart Scorepal. The sentiment was generated on my computer and the buttons are from Create and Craft.

CD Sunday challenge

The CD Sunday challenge this week has the theme 'If the shoe fits'. I've used a small square Craft UK card and the image is from My Craft Studio Click,Print and Go CD - In your element. The pink mirror board is from Create and Craft, the pearls are from Kanban and the large brad is from Dovecraft. I generated the sentiment on the computer and inked the dge with a Versacolor ink pad.

LIM Week 19

The Less is More Challenge this week is a one layer card with the theme In the Frame. I've used a small square Craft UK card and embossed a Spellbinders wonky square nestie in the bottom corner. The small stamp is a freebie from Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine. It's stamped in Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers. The Best Wishes stamp is from Create and Craft.

Challenge 100

The Lili of the Valley Challenge 100 is Anything Goes. My large cream card is from QVC and the red mirror board is from Papermill. The backing paper is from Costco and the red organza ribbon is from Joanna Sheen. The flowers are from WOC and the leaves are cut from a Crealies die. The Spellbinders Fleur De Lis motif backs the stamped LOTV image which has been coloured with Promarkers. The LOTV sentiment is bottom right.

I've added a second photo because the first one seemed slightly blurred, sorry. 

Crafty Sentiments

The Crafty Sentiments Challenge is 'Add some sparkle' so I'm entering this card. I've also entered it into the Joanna Sheen Forum Challenge 'Teenage Dreams'. It's a large square cream card from QVC with tan cardstock from Papermill. The tan coloured glitter backing paper is from a Desert Blooms pad - I hope you can see the glitter, it looks lovely IRL. The image is from Joanna Sheen's Enchanted Dreams CD and it's backed on to some of the tan cardstock and raised to give depth. A lilac ribbon is tied across the bottom and WOC flowers and Marianne diecut leaves complete the design.

Simon Says Stamp

The Simon Says Stamp Challenge is Let's Get Fruity. This WAS a challenge as you can tell by my tiny stamp. I looked at all my stamps and could only find a black pineapple and a black strawberry, no chance of colouring, so I had to stick to this bowl of fruit. My small Craft UK card has an embossed panel, done with a Creative Expressions Lattice embossing folder and the blue borders are part of the Spellbinders Parisian Accents pack. I have no idea where the stamp came from, I've had it for ages and never used it until now. It's coloured with Promarkers and cut with another nestie.

Papertake

The Papertake challenge is Anything Goes so here is my card. A large square cream card with backing paper from my Desert Blooms pad and yellow card from Papermill. The House Mouse Design has been stamped in Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers before being cut with a Spellbinders oval nestie and backed with a scalloped nestie. The edge was distressed with Ranger's Distress Ink. The LOTV sentiment was backed with a Fleur De Lis motif. WOC pearls are dotted over the Desert Blooms paper as flower centres. I've added both photos as one is darker than the other but it seems to show the true colours.

Father's Day and CD

Today I'm on a roll and have made two cards, this is my second. It's a large scalloped card from Craft UK. The navy blue card is from Papermill. The backing paper is from Joanna Sheen's House Mouse Inserts CD. The free digi is stamped on to a Spellbinders label die cut and is coloured with Promarkers and is edged with Distress Inks. Three blue buttons are from Create and Craft and the blue and silver cord is from Hobbycraft.

I'm entering it in to two challenges:
Crafting for All Seasons Challenge 2 - Father's Day I think this is a card from a teenager!!
CD Sunday Challenge - a digi with a CD element

Challenge 13

Crafter's Companion Challenge 13 is Here Comes Summer. My card is a large scalloped Craft UK card. The yellow cardstock is by Papermill and the backing paper is from Crafter's Companion Guys and Gals CD. The Sarah Kay image was stamped with Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers and set on a Spellbinders label diecut. The wooden sun and butterfly are from Create and Craft and are coloured with Promarkers. The sentiment is LOTV and is set on a Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Motif. The flowers are from WOC and the leaves are cut with a Crealies die.

A Real Challenge

The Less is More challenge this week is monochrome so I chose my favourite colour - green. It's a small square Craft UK card. I used a freebie stamp that I got with a craft magazine last week and coloured him and his lily pad with Promarkers in Forest Green, Pear Green and Lime Green. The words were stamped in Versacolor Emerald. He was cut with a Spellbinders nestie and backed with a Papermill green card scalloped nestie. I drew three lines with the three Promarker greens and yes, you've guessed it, two of them splodged on the left. I drew them quickly to stop this happening so I'm blaming the pens this time!!

Eric's not feeling too good today - whether it's because of the infusion he had on Wednesday or not we don't know but he's resting downstairs. If I get the chance I might attempt another card but it all depends on how many times I have to trudge up and downstairs.

Second Card Today

Today I've felt more like crafting and this is the second card I've made so things are looking up. It's a large square white card by Craft UK. The backing paper is from my Desert Blooms pad. The card panel is embossed with Creative Expressions' Lattice folder and the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and the seam binding and pearls are from  WOC. The image is LOTV and is stamped with Memento and coloured with Promarkers before being set on my new Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Motifs. The sentiment is also LOTV and is set on another of the motifs with a third in the top left. I'm going to have fun tonight playing with the other dies that I bought today.

This card is being entered in:
The Lili of the Valley Challenge 99 - Punch It up (punches and dies)
Crafty Sentiments - Neutral Colours

Father's Day/For a Male

Simon Says Stamp's challenge is Father's Day or For a Male. I've made a grungy male card for my nephew's birthday so killing two birds with one stone. Thanks for these challenges, I'm well ahead with my birthday cards now. It's a large white square card by Craft UK. The backing paper is from Costco and the Creative Expressions embossed panel is a piece of packing cardboard. It was distressed with three of Rangers' Distress Inks. The lock and Dream panel are from Create and Craft. The tag is from our local Post Office! I distressed that as well - I was in a grungy mood seeing that you mentioned Tim Holtz. I've used a Tim Holtz sentiment tag and one of his ornate book plates.  James can take the card to pieces if he doesn't want to keep it and he can use the book plate and then the tag as a key ring.

Busy Thursday

We've had a busy day today as usual. Thursday is the day we go to visit my sister in her Care Home. After that we usually go for lunch and then come home for an afternoon rest. Today we came home and I decided I would try to cut the grass in the back garden. I thought that because my daughter in law had used the petrol mower a couple of weeks ago it might be easier to start today. Big mistake. I huffed and puffed to get it out of the garage and on to the grass and then couldn't get the handle fastened. Eric struggled to help and managed to get it fastened. There was no way I could pull the cord and so the machine had to be humped back into the garage and the grass still needs to be cut. Since then I've started on one challenge card and got half way through before hitting a brick wall. Nothing I'm doing seems to work out so I've put it to one side and I'm not going to finish a card this evening. I'm going to sit and colour in some stamped images. I hope you're all enjoying this lovely weather. It's been beautiful today and I'm hoping that it will be just as nice for the weekend. Whatever you're doing I hope you have fun.

Jan - if you're reading this - I haven't forgotten about the PC problem I'm still making enquiries.