Seasons Greetings

Okay, so I think I've figured out a way to get more crafty time in... do it first thing in the morning, before I'm too tired to even think about it... (I mean, I don't really need to *think* while doing housework anyway, right ;)) - I figure I can get away with it a few times a week maybe, as long as I don't over do it.

I used Kaiser Craft Papers and a gorgeous digi from Delicious Doodles, coloured with promarkers - warm grey 1, warm grey 2, cool grey 3, cool grey 4, burgundy, crimson, almond, vanilla, sandstone, pear green and marsh green. Stamped the greeting in black ink and added gems and a snowflake embellishment to finish.

I'm submitting this for:
A Gem of A Challenge #101 - 3, 2, 1 (3 Designer papers 2 types of Embellishments 1 image)
The Sweet Stop #232 - Sketch
Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge #146 - Make it Square
Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas Goes

New Baby

Wow it has been forever! The last few months have been a series of one health problem after another and a lot of doctors and tests that have resulted in a lot of treating the symptoms with no idea what the underlying cause is. I have full appreciation for the NHS and for everything the doctors have been trying, but oh how I wish they'd just figure out whats causing it all, so I can go back to whatever passes for normal for me.

One of the big problems is that I'm so constantly exhausted, some days I barely have the energy to do the stuff I *have* to do, never mind the stuff I want to do, which means crafting has been pretty much none existent and I haven't been looking at the challenges at all... but do I miss crafting, so I decided to have a gander at some of the challenges this week and this is what I came up with...

I used jillibean soup papers - homemade 6 bean soup - the giraffe stamp is from Flonzcraft and the sentiment stamp was a freebie from a magazine. Layered them all up on red card and mounted on a white card base.

I used the sketch from CAS Colours and Sketches and the animals theme from Charisma Cardz this week, as my inspriration.

Even though this is a very simple card, after so long not making anything it was a lot of fun to get something done again, now I just have to find time - or say screw it to the housework and make time, lol - where I'm not so exhausted, to make more than one card every 3 months!

Congratulations

A quick CAS card today. I cut a teal card base and layered it with white. Used a strip of grey pattered paper from Authentique.

The peacock is stamped in teal ink from papermania and the sentiment in dark grey from me-to-you. I punched a butterfly from the grey patterned paper and added a few gems to finish it off.

I used the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch! and the colours from Dynamic Duos, Basic Grey + Your Choice.

I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool

Inspired by one of my favourite country songs (I love country music *g*) 'I Was Country when Country Wasn't Cool' - I used Sydney from Pollycraft coloured with promarkers: marine, sandstone, caramel, cinnamon, burnt orange, blush, pale pink, warm grey 2, canary, honeycomb, spice, terracotta, lipstick red, poppy, ruby and berry red.

The papers and embellishments are from Hot of the Press, the 'Home Grown' Paperset and the sentiment is stamped from stampendous, in bravo burgundy ink.

I'm submitting this for:
- Pollycraft Challenge #1 - Anything Goes
- Sketch Saturday #264 - (Past Sketches - #217)
- Passion for ProMarkers #204 - Name that Tune
- Party Time Tuesdays #126 - Anything Goes
- Little Miss Muffet #64 - Seeing Stars

"True Love Stories Never End"

It's been a few weeks since I've been on and real life has been hectic - my Mum had surgery on a brain aneurysm, amongst more general madness. She's going pretty well now, so I had a bit of time to dedicate to some crafting and made this card.

I used teresa collins fabrications papers layered on brown card. The image is from Spesch Stamps, coloured with promarkers: sandstone, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, blush, soft peach, dusky rose, pastle pink, pear green, marsh green, olive green, sky blue, shale, cool grey 4, slate, honeycomb, spice, terracotta, lilac, lavender and amethyst.

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favourite fairytales (and disney movies, lol!)

I used lace, a button, flower and pearls to embellish, as well as a cute little key/heart charm.

I think this will end up being an anniversary card for two friends who's anniversary is in September. She loves Disney and will appreciate it for that alone and luckily, the husband isn't the sort to take offence at being cast as 'the beast' *g*

I'm submitting this for:
- I Love ProMarkers #173 - Anything Goes
- Stamp with Fun #216 - Sketch
- Crafty Creations Challenges #227 - Your Favourite Fairytake
- Anything Goes Challenge Blog #95 - Buttons, Pearl and Lace

Happy (70th) Birthday Dad

I made this card for a friend, whose Dad is turning 70 in a few months (what, I'm prepared, so sue me, lol!)

He likes boats and I found this gorgeous harbour image Cornish Heritage Stamps and coloured it partially with promarkers: sandstone, caramel, cinnamon, spice, honeycomb, cool grey 3, warm grey 2, warm grey 1, pear green, marsh green, olive green, pastel blue, cyan and berry red.

The papers are from Authentique's Fresh paper pack, layered on navy blue card from papermill direct. The sentiment is computer generated. And I used bakers twine, charms and pearls to embellish.

I'm submitting this for:
- Digi Darla's Challenge #65 - Make it Masculine
- Try it on Tuesday - One for the men
- Clear it Out Challenge - Theme: Male cards / Stash: Use metal
- Sketch Saturday #261 - Sketch

Lie About Your Age

A quick CAS card this morning, I used an image from Kenny K, coloured with Promarkers: vanilla, blush, pale pink, caramel, cinnamon, spice, lipstick red, berry red, tea green, pear green, cornflower and china blue. The base card is cut with card from papermill direct, the sentiment is computer generated and I finished it off with a few gems and the lace edged punch from x-cut.

I'm submitting this for:
- CAS - Colours and Sketches Blog #26 - Sketch
- CAS-ual Fridays #102 - Red, White and Blue
- Less Is More #131 - Recipe: Humour