Mabel Giraffe...

Good afternoon, lovely Bloggers and what another beautiful Spring day we're having!  I can't quite believe we are already on the last day of March (that's a quarter of the year gone!), but I'm loving the fact that the days are longer and that hopefully the weather will continue to improve - though I'm making the most of it whilst it's here!  (I'm on my 5th load of washing today!)
We've been away this weekend in Yorkshire, as it was a friend's wedding who I've not seen in a couple of years!  It was so nice to see her and of course there were a few tears shed, but we had a wonderful time and hope to go and visit again in the future.  It has also meant that my crafty time has been limited and any time I have found has been spent sample making for my next disc, plus I had to coddle together a wedding card and an acceptance for an upcoming wedding in June!  I did, however, manage to make a card using another unused digi that I found in my images folder (naughty, I know!)...

This card came in the Top 3 at Crafting from the Heart

...This is an image that I chose after winning over at Crafts4Eternity...an eternity ago!  It's called Mabel, although I decided to keep the colours quite neautral so that it could be used for a baby boy or girl!  The paper with the giraffes on is First Editions Animal Antics and the polka dot is one from my next disc.  I decided not to mat my layers, so that the eye is drawn to the cute little image...

I coloured Mabel with my Pro/Flexmarkers, using the following colours :

Main body - Linen, Vanilla, Mustard

Muzzle - Light Fawn, Satin

Patches - Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa

Tail & feet - Caramel, Cocoa, Walnut, Umber

Grass - Meadow, Leaf, Bright Green

...I embellished with some grosgrain ribbon, punched flowers, Memory Box Precious Hearts and a die cut number 1, then finished with a sentiment which reads 'Happy Birthday' in Welsh.  I haven't decorated the inside or added an insert yet, but of course, it will be finished with one or the other!

Hope you like my little creation and don't forget, if you're quick, you have just under 24 hours to enter into this week's Embossing challenge over at Passion for Promarkers!

Thanks for dropping by to see me today and I hope that the sun is shining wherever you are!

Crafty hugs,

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :

Crafting When We Can

For a Child (until 12th)

Creative Moments

Anything Goes (until 7th)

Crafting from the Heart

Anything Goes/Cute and Cuddly (until 6th)

Papercrafting Journey

Anything Goes (until 8th)

Sister Act

Anything Goes (until 3rd)

I Love Promarkers

Anything Goes (until tomorrow)

Passion for Promarkers - Embossing...

Good morning, lovely Bloggers!  It's Tuesday again, which means the start of a new challenge over at Passion for Promarkers!  This week it's the lovely Julie playing hostess and she would like to see embossing (dry or heat).  We're sponsored by the fabulous Polkadoodles this week...

Don't forget to be eligible to win the prize, you MUST use your Letraset products (i.e. promarkers, flex markers, aqua markers, tria markers, metallic markers or neon markers) and of course follow the theme.

...So for my card, I have made another Christmas card (and it's not even the end of March!?!)...

...I went back to one of my all time favourite sketches from Mojo Monday, number 257 and used different embossing folders instead of patterned papers...

...The sweet image is one I chose from my win over at Fab n Funky and it's called Frosty Friends.  I coloured with Pro/Flexmarkers and used the following colour list :

Hat - Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa, Walnut, Meadow, Leaf, Bright Green

Heart - Tea Rose, Watermelon, Antique Pink

Scarf - Royal, Egyptian, Indigo Blue, Blender, Glacier, Cloud Blue

Carrot nose - Honeycomb, Pumpkin, Mandarin

Snowflake hat - Ruby, Crimson, Burgundy

...I finished the inside with a printed insert and highlighted the image with Crystal glitter, fabric snowflake and a couple of diamantes....
So, that's it for today, I hope you can find the time to join in with our challenge this week and look forward to seeing your wonderful creations!  Hop on over to the Passion for Promarkers blog to see what fabulous inspiration my amazing teamies have come up with and I'll see you soon!
Take care,

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :

Crafting from the Heart

Anything Goes/Spots or Stripes (until 30th)

(I've used a spotty embossing folder and polka dot ribbon and my snowman has a stripey scarf!)

Crafts4Eternity

Anything Goes (until 27th)

Sister Act Challenge

Anything Goes (until 27th)

Crafty Ribbons

Anything Goes with Ribbon (closes today)

Fab n Funky Guest Designer...

At the end of February, I was lucky enough to win over at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges and the lovely Judith asked if I would like to be Guest Designer for a challenge...and naturally, I said yes!  So I'm here today to share some inspiration for the start of this week's challenge which is 'One for the Boys'...

As part of my prize, I was able to choose 5 digi's from Kathryne's StampArt range at Whimsy Stamps and so I chose this one to go with today's theme...

...This is Charlie Fishing on a Rock and I've paired him with Prima's Bohemian Bamboo papers and once again, one of Jen's brilliant sketches - this one is #115...

...I coloured Charlie with my Letraset family and here's the colour list I used

Skin - Blush, Dusky, Sunkissed Pink, Coral

Hair - Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa, Walnut

Hat - Pastel Beige, Soft Khaki, Khaki, Red, Crimson, Burgundy

Waistcoat - Pear, Moss, Olive

T Shirt - Soft Aqua, Duck Egg, Surf Blue, Red, Crimson, Burgundy

Trousers - Cloud, Denim, Cadet Blue

Frog - Meadow, Leaf, Bright Green

Fishing Rod - Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa

Rocks - Cool Grey 1, 3 & 4

Grass -Lime Zest, Pear, Moss Olive

Water - Sea Mist, Dolphin Blue, Blue Grey 1

...I kept the embellishments quite minimal and just used some different width grosgrain in charcoal grey and navy and threaded the thinner ribbon through an eyelet.  Of course, a polka dot button managed to find it's way on there too! ;-)  I went without a sentiment on the front of this one and just printed one on the insert inside.
I hope you can find the time to join in with the brilliant 'One for the Boys' challenge at Fab n Funky this week and thanks for dropping by to see me! A huge thank you to Judith for asking me to be Guest Designer this week and to all the DT for their fabulous inspiration each and every week!
Crafty hugs,

Sunflowers...

Good morning, dear Bloggers!  The sun is shining beautifully again today here in Wales and it's amazing how a little sunshine can affect your crafting!  I have noticed a lot brighter colours being used, more floral images and an overall cheerier feel to people's creations...including my own!
I have seen a few of the new Spellbinders create-a-flower dies around in Blogland and although I'm not one for big flowers on cards, I do like the look of them for altered projects and home decor.  I noticed that the sunflower die made a very similar shape to a large Woodware daisy punch that I have and so, it was time to experiment!  I raided my punch box for all the daisy dies I have (4 different sizes in total) and punched out a load of layers in different shades of yellow.  I inked the edges with Rusty Hinge and Walnut Stain DI and pinched the petals to give them a bit more dimension...

...I layered up 2 of the largest flowers, then cut the petals from a third so that I could attach them closer together to create a slightly smaller flower.  I used my Marianne Button Flower and SB circle dies for the centre and the leaves from my Button flower die which I pinched for more shape.  I then went on and made a smaller version...

...Not bad, eh?!  So, now what to do with them?  I decided to alter a plain old plastic fruit tray that came with pre prepared melon, etc in...

...I made a lid and added a panel on the underside that fitted into the recess of the tray...

...I decorated the lid with a Prima Life Time Collection paper then made a band to slide around the tray, which I could decorate...

...I added an embossed panel, yellow organza ribbon, the sunflowers and a MS clay frame...

...I stamped on a piece of cream card for behind the frame using individual alphabet stamps and stuck in a couple of pretty hat pins to finish...

...And there we have it, a pretty unique gift box ready to be filled with goodies!  Not sure yet what I'm going to fill it with, but I'm sure most people would say that chocolate wouldn't go far wrong?!  Hope you like my sunny creation and that you take inspiration to convert even the most unlikely of objects!  Only problem now is that I am saving every container that comes into the house!  Have a great Wednesday and don't forget about Eileen's fabulous challenge this week at Passion for Promarkers - scroll down a post to see my contribution and hop over to the PfP blog to see some more wonderful inspiration made by my amazing teamies!
Thanks for taking the time to come and see me today, take care and see you soon!
Hugs,

I'd like to enter my altered box into the following challenges :

Natalie and Amy

Flowers (closes 29th)

That Craft Place

Anything Goes (closes 15th)

Crafting from the Heart

Anything Goes/Favourite colours (closes 16th)

Crafty Ribbons

Anything Goes with Ribbon (closes today)

Passion for Promarkers - Butterfly Kisses...

Good morning, dear Blogger friends! It's Tuesday again, so today sees the start of another fab challenge over at Passion for Promarkers and this week it's the lovely Eileen in the chair and she has chosen the theme 'Butterfly Kisses' - so you just need to make sure there is a butterfly on your project...simple!  This week we have 2 fabulous sponsors - firstly, Letraset are offering one lucky winner a set of Flexmarkers (yes please!) and secondly Crafty Sentiments are giving away 3 digi images to another lucky winner!

Don't forget to be eligible to win the prize, you MUST use your Letraset products (i.e. promarkers, flex markers, aqua markers, tria markers, metallic markers or neon markers) and of course follow the theme.

 We were lucky enought to be able to chose a digi image from Crafty Sentiments for use with this challenge and when I saw this image, I felt that she looked windswept and knew I wanted to use little butterflies to look like leaves swirling around her!...

...I decided to make a box frame (you can find the tutorial and template at the top of my blog) and decorated it with Prima Fairy Rhymes, Anna Marie and Divine Collection papers...

...The image is called Mia and I did a touch of paper piecing to give her a bit more dimension...

...I coloured her up with my Letraset family and here's the colour list I used :

Skin - Blush, Dusky, Sunkissed Pink, Coral

Hair - Cappuccino, Caramel, Cocoa, Henna

Jacket - Coral, Dusky Pink, Satin

Cuffs and toggles - Butercup, Canary, Sunflower

Tights - Honeydew, Pastel, Soft Green, Dove Grey

Boots - Red, Crimson, Burgundy

...I punched lots of little butterflies using an XCut punch in 2 different papers and attached them around Mia's feet to look like swirling leaves.  I just glued their bodies so that the wings are dimensional and added some glitter to them...

...I decorated with some WOC flowers, a Martha Stewart Monarch Butterfly, some spray crystals and one of the delicious pins I got from the lovely Mandy at A Sprinkling of Glitter.  I finished with some pieces of diamante swirls, pearl trim, Stardust Stickles and MS clay corners...et voila!
I hope you can find the time to join in with our challenge this week and don't forget to hop on over to the Passion for Promarkers blog to see what my wonderful teamies have been up to!  Thanks for dropping by!
Crafty hugs,

I'd like to enter my frame into the following challeges :

I Love Promarkers

One for the Girls (closes today)

CRAFT Challenge

Mother's Day / Female (closes tomorrow)

The Paper Shelter

Anything Goes (closes today)

Rosie with Balloons...

Good morning and I hope you're having a wonderful weekend! How about this then?!  4 cards in one week!!  Today, my card is made using one of Digistamp Boutique's Rosie Collection, but with a difference...

...In this image, Rosie is normally holding a flower in her hand, but I decided to use her a bit differently and fussy cut her out so that I could have her holding some balloons instead!  The papers I used are from Prima's Anna Marie & Sunny Days, and First Edition's Boho Chic paper pads...

...I coloured Rosie with my Pro/Flexmarkers and decided to go for a bold, red dress this time.  Here's the colours I used :

Skin - (can you guess?!) Blush, Dusky, Sunkissed Pink, Coral

Hair - Champagne, Sandstone, Sunflower, Caramel

Hairband - Cerise, Shocking Pink, Vermillion

Dress - Red, Berry, Crimson, Burgundy

Shoes - Soft Peach, Rose Peach, Honeycomb, Spice

...I created the balloons using my Spellbinders circle dies and added an oval sentiment which is Welsh for 'Happy Birthday'.  I finished with a few pearls, some red glitter along the edge of her dress and some gold thread for the balloon strings.
Hope you like my red and pink creation and that you get inspiration to have a go at altering your images to give them more scope!  Thanks for dropping by today and I'll be back on Tuesday with some inspiration for a new challenge over at Passion for Promarkers - don't forget there's still time to enter into this week's 'Flower' challenge with Team 2 and the girls have some wonderful inspiration on the PfP blog, so why not hop on over and have a look?!
See you soon!  Hugs,

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :

Craft your Passion

Birthday Bonanza! (until 9th)

Crafting from the Heart

Anything Goes / Use dies or punches (until 9th)

I Love Promarkers (I still do!)

One for the Girls (until 11th)

That Craft Place

Anything Goes (until 15th)

Alannah & Snowball...

Good morning, dear Blogger friends, I hope you're all having a terrific Thursday!  Amazingly, I have another crafty creation to share with you all today...I know, I know, I'm doing quite well this week! Despite the lovely Spring weather we've been having here in Wales this week, my make is on a Wintry theme with my first Christmas card of 2014!!

...This is Alannah & Snowball, another sweet digi that I chose from Kathryne's StampArt range at Whimsy Stamps, after my recent challenge win - isn't she a sweetie?!  I decide to re-use the fab sketch that I had used for my Love Owls card, but just turned it upside down!  The only patterned paper I used is from First Edition Dreamcatcher and I thought looked a bit like snowflakes.  The back panel is embossed with Cuttlebug's Snowflakes embossing folder...

...I coloured Alannah & Snowball with my Pro/Flexmarkers and here's the list of colours I used :

Skin - Blush, Dusky, Sunkissed Pink, Coral (my usual combo - if it ain't broke, don't fix it!)

Hair - Light Fawn, Champagne, Sandstone, Caramel

Jacket - Lavender, Orchid, Amethyst, Purple

Trousers - Muted Pink Tea Rose, Watermelon

Hat - Glacier, Cloud, Cadet Blue

Boots - Pastel Beige, Soft Khaki, Khaki

Snowball's scarf - Soft Aqua, Duck Egg, Surf Blue, Sea Mist

Snowball's Hat - Light Fawn, Pastel Beige, Soft Khaki, Khaki, Red, Crimson, Burgundy, Linen, Vanilla

Carrot nose - Pumpkin, Mandarin

...I added lots of glitter to the image and used my Marianne Snowflake die set to replace the circle on the sketch.  I created a sentiment in PS which is Welsh for 'Season's Greetings' and added a printed insert inside.  Of course, my little polka dot buttons made an appearance again and I also added a couple of extra fishtail flags with pearls and glitter edging.
I hope that we don't see any snow for a while (other than on cards, of course!) and that Spring is definitely here to stay!  Thanks for taking the time to come and see me today and I love to read any comments you'd like to leave me!  I'll be back soon with some more craftiness...enjoy the rest of the week!
Crafty Hugs,

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :

One Stitch at a Time

Anythign Goes (until 8th)

The ABC Challenge

G is for Girly (until 13th)

Just Inspirational Monthly Challenge

Anything Goes