I thought I'd be a good girl and use up the scrap DP from my last card .... as opposed to sticking it back in the pack and then picking it up off the floor every time it slides out!  (I must get a better DP storage system LOL) I coloured my kitty and puppy to match my DP, blogland has no restrictions on the actual colour of animals! Puppy and sentiment both popped up on dimensionals.  Clear gloss added to the dogs eyes and the cat's nose. Layout from Freshly Made Sketches #150 Crafty Girls #25 - anything goes Seize the Birthday - anything goes birthday Addicted to CAS #45 - geometric Allsorts #273 - warm sunshiny colours Crazy 4 Challenges #250 - animals, not bears or rabbits

Uggh it's been a horrible mizzly day today, I don't think I've been across the door!  Poor wee Ruby has been sitting gazing out at the rain all day, she's dying to get out for a bark at the back gate ;) So today's make is a Christmas card, using an olide Penny Black stamp.  I've coloured him with watercolour pencils and added clear gloss / glitter to his hat, and Spectrum Noir sparkle to his carol sheet and the snowflakes.  Clear gloss also added to his beak and feet. I couldn't get a decent pic of my cards today, must be the low cloud! Layout from As You See It #137 Addicted to Stamps #198 - holiday CRAFT #368 - Christmas Moving along with the times #22 - music Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - June My second card today was sent to my good bloggy buddy, Jo (from Just a Dotty Pudding)   Sorry Jo, I got my colouring wrong on my kitty ... I forgot that Custard is black AND white.  Doh! Layout from Sugar Pea Designs Mix it Up #02 Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - animal magic Cats Only #7 - furry-thing goes As You Like It - favourite die - I love this Dienamics wonky stitched circle die set, it just makes a circle so much more interesting :) And I got a chance too to fix up my teacher's card from yesterday and put the right name on it!  Do you think I got away with it??

Ohhh we've had the most beautiful dry and sunny weather here this past week or so, and still due for more next week!  In celebration I reckon my mojo has cleared off on his holidays ... isn't it funny how it's Mr Mojo causing the trouble and not Mrs Mojo! ;) Anyway, this little girl was coloured in the garden, not too often I would be doing that!  Usually I need to do weeding or whatever, but for a change it was all done and tidied! I popped her up on foam dots and added clear gloss to the telephone and her eyes and lips. Layout from CAS(E) This Sketch #273 Colour theme from Your Next Stamp #90 - my base card wasn't an exact match but it's more peachy than the pinky shade it looks here. Simon Says - inspired by a song - 'Hanging on the Telephone' by Blondie And here's another CAS card, using my Tim Holtz doggy and MFT heart die.  I embossed a couple of lines to keep with the them of the sketch challenge and then added a few wee butterflies cut from the leftovers. Dog popped up on foam pads and sparkle added to the butterflies. Layout from Stick it Down May AAA Cards #116 - 4th Birthday Bash Pixie's Snippets Playground #327 As You Like It - Flora or Fauna - well my favourite animal has to be my puppy Ruby!

It was a bit of an icky day today, so no gardening for me, my housework was all done, so I treated myself to a load of crafting!  These are all from my haul from Bunny Zoe's Crafts sale, I know it looks like I had a massive spending spree but I think it all came to about £25!  Though I also had a bit of a spree at the new Range shop that's just opened and added to my stash of papers!  Oops ;) This one uses this sweet image from Marianne Designs.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and popped up on dimensionals.  Spellbinders sentiment frame and some blue enamel dots. Layout based on the sketch over at Pals Paper Arts #322 Creatalicious #101 - anything goes Crafty Hazelnut's patterned paper challenge - October Card 2 uses this new doggy stamp from Wags and Whiskers .... as if I didn't have enough doggy stamps already LOL! I've based it on this week's featured stamper challenge at Splitcoast - here's Jaydee's fab original. Coloured with watercolour pencils.  Balloon covered with my clear sparkle pen and then clear gloss.  Red enamel dots add to his hat.  Nice and simple! Dream Valley #142 - one for the boys Seize the Birthday anything goes And finally, this one uses my new stamp from Nellie Snellen.  I paper pieced her cactus and flower, and added sparkle and clear gloss to her feathers.  I kinda wish I'd stamped her a bit lower down, she looks a bit floaty! Fancy frame for my sentiment is an oldie die from Dienamics. Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch Club #301 Sweet Stampin - spots and or stripes CASual Friday #158 - 8 of something (my bling) Simon Says Stamp Monday - explore the world - I'm off to America!  613 Avenue Create #190 - green and gold Right, that's me.  I'll be oogling the gorgeous Mr Poldark for the next hour in case you're looking for me ;)  And if you don't watch it, here's what you're missing!

It was a bit of a draughty showery old day today - definitely not one for a nice hair do and even more so when it's in dire need of a cut!  It definitely doesn't look as good as my Tiddly Inks girl ;) Coloured with watercolour pencils - her dress does match my pink backing in real life but it seems to be another colour my camera won't do!   Sparkle added to her bows and balloons with my clear glitter pen - what did I do before I had one of these? I seem to use it on almost every card! Couple of snippets of colourful DP from my stash - you'd laugh at the little tiddly bit I have left but don't want to chuck! Layout from Tiddly Inks #190 Pixies Snippets Playground #246 The Card Concept #57 - the rainbow connection Crafty Cardmakers #172 - layer it up I still haven't got round to tidying my desk so these Avery Elle stamps are still knocking around and when I saw this beauiful goldfish card in Tracey's gallery - this week's Featured Stamper over at Splitcoast - I thought they'd be perfect for my nephew's birthday card! Coloured with watercolour pencils, lots of sparkle added with my clear glitter pen and then clear gloss added to their eyes and teeth.  Birthday die from Simon Says Stamp.  Coloured enamel accents and a doodled border to finish. I know there's a lot of 'girlie' sparkle on it, but I'm hoping the expression on their faces cancels that out! Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Stampember Stamp It Share Joy #52 - clean and simple Penny Black and More September - add a sentiment Penny's challenge #294 - anything goes Stamping Sensations September - one for the boys

Woops, I forgot to upload my card yesterday for the Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge, so here it is ... I've used a sentiment from Paper Smooches and the images are from Eat Cake Graphics: Bunch of Grass Kitty Sebastian has very long whiskers I tried a new technique for me here - I watercoloured my image and then highlighted areas with my ordinary pencils.  I'll be trying this again as I like how it added a bit of detail to my kitty. General card design based on Jenni's fab card over at the Muse Challenge #193 (see right) Simon Says Stamp Monday - triotastic (three stars) Inspiration Destination #113 - anything goes Day 26 of the Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge

And finally for this evening... !! This card was inspired by the photo inspiration over at the TAWS Be Inspired challenge.  I had a wee scrap of this dotty green DP left, I knew I was keeping it for a reason!  I actually managed to use some much unloved tape on this card, though I'm still not convinced ;) Be Inspired #54 Divas by Design - things with wings Fab n' Funky #223 - feels like summer Crafty Girls #22 - anything goes Totally Gorjuss #244 - tag it My Time to Craft #253 - paper piecing

I remember when I first started cardmaking many moons ago, I struggled for such a long time to find my 'style'.   I only wish I'd known before I spent a small fortune on crafty stuff that it was mostly Clean+Simple! I still find very 'simple' CAS cards like this one difficult - I've the urge to add some doodled borders or some ink splatters ;) These cute little owls are from Catsonappletrees - I added some clear gloss to their eyes and then some googly eyes to the bigger one.  I also added some clear gloss to the kite, after covering it with my clear sparkle pen.  Bling from Taylored Expressions. Sentiment from Eat Cake Graphics: 8151-D Happy Birthday (fun text) General layout based on Jenni's beautiful card over at Muse challenge #179 Crafting When We Can #125 - things with wings Creatalicious #97 - black + white + 1 (pink) Now, this little kitty card just makes me happy :)  Isn't it great when a card turns out like you imagined it - doesn't happen to me very often! My kitten, mouse and dream bubble are from MFT - coloured with watercolour pencils.  I covered the 'dream' with several layers of my clear sparkle pen, so it's lovely and glittery.  Background splattered with pink and grey, and then a few sequins/stars.  Doodled border. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - make for the border Pile it on #114 - make your own background Cats only #9 - furrything goes CASology #211  - dream And finally .... a special request 18th card.  I need to get me some more grown up teen type stamps - any I had in my stash involved birthday cakes or drink, and on this occasion they just weren't suitable. Anyway, I've ended up using this girl from Saturated Canary - coloured with watercolour pencils and a few highlights in glitter added.  She kinda looked like she was floating on a magic carpet, so I grounded her a bit, but it still doesn't look right.  Ah well, it will have to do.    Silver peel off letters from stash. Layout from Sketch Saturday #425 Addicted to Stamps and More #207 - make your mark Sparkles challenge #83 - lots of layers That's me done for the night!  I've a busy day or two planned for the rest of my week off, and then some nice shopping for my holidays (as opposed to boring old food shopping!) - so you might get some peace and quiet from me ;)

Here's another one of my gazillion doggy stamps, this one's from Eat Cake Graphics: Webster's tilting his head. The sentiment is an oldie from (I think) Penny Black. Coloured with a mix of watercolour pencils and ordinary pencils.  Sentiment popped up on dimensionals. Seize the Birthday - presents or anything Birthday Pile it on #122 - two patterns Penny's challenge #305 - anything goes Polkadoodles #47 - anything goes Day 28 of the Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge

So it's the last day of the Daily Marker colouring challenge - I think I only missed a couple of days, so I'm well pleased with myself, and my card stash is looking a lot healthier after the Christmas rush! Tonight's is another wee quickie, all the hard work is done by that gorgeous DP and my dies!  Image is, of course, a Penny Black - coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss / glitter added to the flutterbyes. Penny Black Saturday February - use some scraps - I managed to squeeze the small frame and the heart from the scrap of the large frame!  CraftyHazelnut's Patterned paper challenge February Happy Little Stampers February Anything goes with dies Pile it On #139 - 3d embellishments

It's been a bit of a yeuchy damp day today, my planned gardening/weed assault didn't happen, so I stayed in, cleaned my house, had a guilt-free play with my stash and then watched Northern Ireland beat Ukraine an amazing 2-0 in the Euros ... there'll be a few hangovers in the morning for sure! ;) This one uses this cuuuuute bunny set from MFT.  I always think it's so sad when you see an abandoned unloved bear, especially the ones tied to the front of lorries!!  They should be done for bear cruelty ;) I'd followed today's MFT Camp Create challenge which was partial die-cutting.  I don't have any stamp/die collections, so just used my stitched circles dies instead.  Images coloured with watercolour pencils and popped up on dimensionals.  Spectrum Noir clear sparkle added to the bear and to the bunny's jumper, and lots of glitter to bunny's tail.  Martha Stewart grass punch.  Paper Smooches heart die. Camp Create - delightful die cutting As You Like It - favourite die - mine's this one from MFT, I love how the stitching makes a simple shape so much more interesting Cute Card Thursday #430 - little bugs or butterflies Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - animal magic My Time to Craft #322 - teddy bear's picnic My second card uses a couple of Eat Cake Graphic stamps: 3002-F Rowley smells something 8147-D Happy Birthday Block (text) Doggy coloured with watercolour pencils.  I'm almost at the last of my fab DP from Taylored Expressions, I'm determined to finish it before it disappears into my paper bag ;) Layout based on Sketch Saturday #416 - I went to the bother of cutting out some fab rolling hills to fit the sketch and then cut it too short so that my fence covered them all up.  Doh! Stamp Ink Paper #52 - card makers choice .... favourite stamp maker (Eat Cake Graphics) and favourite DP (Taylored Expressions) Seize the Birthday - anything birthday Penny's Challenge #282 - anything goes

We've had a bit of a heatwave this past week and high humidity too ... and neither my office (no air conditioning and not a touch of a breeze) and my hair (fuzz ball) could cope!  So I was glad to see the temperature drop this weekend and a wee drop of rain for the garden too - Hurray for not having to get the watering can out :)  Think my mojo was off to cooler climes all week, so it was good to have him back too! This card was based on the photo inspiration over at Be Inspired.  I coloured my birdie and sentiment panel with copics (which ran out before I had properly finished grrr) - clear gloss added to the beak and the little heart. Be Inspired #55 Inky Chicks #34 - Happy Birthday Party Time Tuesdays PTT182 - anything goes Cute Card Thursday #331 - for the birds Layout from Deconstructed Sketch #161

Our new challenge at High Hopes is For a Girl Play along with your High Hopes stamps for the chance to win a new one of your choice :) My little hedgie is from High Hopes new release ... My Best Friend.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and the pot paper pieced.  Clear gloss and glitter added to the bee's wings.

Oh BrrrrBrrrrBrrrr that has been one cold week! We managed to miss most of the snow, even compared to Belfast 20 miles away where it was a winter wonderland!  The wee bit of snow we did have was quite dry, wispy, drifty stuff, and it's mostly melted today - Ruby will be devastated next time she puts her nose outside not to have any snow to stick her head in ;) I think the cold weather has frozen my mojo, it took me ages to make this simple wee card!  Not helped by me sticking the front panel down wonky first time and then having to peel if off without totally destroying it. Anyway, my stamp is an oldie from Whipper Snapper.  MFT stitched dies.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and clear gloss added to the balloons and glitter to the 'Pop'. Layout from MFT Wednesday Sketch challenge #374 MFT Birthday Project - up up and away Simon Says Stamp Wednesday- anything goes Just Us Girls #430 - balloons And then I made this one from the leftover scraps!  Stamps from Paper Smooches - coloured with watercolour pencils.  I also stamped some little paw prints over the BG but they don't really show up in my pic. Layout from Paper Smooches March sketch Craftaholics R Us #9 - sequins That's Crafty - I heart you

So this is the last of my special requests for a baby boy card. I'll have to get a daintier alpa set sometime, this one's a bit 'in your face', and my only other set is a Paper Smooches one but it wouldn't be one of my favourites. My little bear is an old Elzybell's stamp - coloured with watercolour pencils and popped up on dimensionals.  I added some white bling to the centre of my blue sequins for some extra sparkle. Crafty Calendar - anything goes Penny Black and More Sept - anything goes Papertake Weekly - animal magic Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - die crazy As you like it - favourite die - this cloud die is my other favourite die, I love the shape and the stitching is just so pretty Crafty Catz #293 - special occasion Allsorts #329 - sparkle

I've a wee bit of everything on my blog tonight :) Starting with this sympathy card, an old Whipper Snapper image.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and sparkle added to the blooms. Layout from Tuesday Morning Sketches #438 Sweet Stampin - anything but birthday Daily Marker colouring challenge This is a special request for a colleague in work.  I've no idea what Malachy likes or hobbies, so I just used a starry theme. I've lots of wee snips of nice coloured card sititng in my pile, so this was perfect to cut some stars from.  Various dies used - my lovely new square dies from Elizabeth Craft Designs, and then the stars are a mix of MFT and Taylored Expressions. Die Cuttin Divas #354 - anything goes Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - anything goes Pixies Snippets Playground #319 Word Art Wednesday #320/321 - anything goes And finally, this one's for my brother and was inspired by Joy's beautiful card here.   I found these tall skinny purple card bases in my stash, I've no idea where they came from as they're not a shape I normally work with! Katzelkraft doggy images.  Coloured with watercolour pencils and some googly eyes added for a giggle.

It's been a while since I turned my fingers blue, so I thought I'd get my stencils and chalks out for a change ;) My first card uses this 'cute' snail (if there is such a thing, yeuch, the real ones give me the heebe jeebies) from Eat Cake Graphics ... 5002-D Speedy snail delivers the mail Coloured with watercolour pencils, clear gloss added to his snail, Spectrum Noir sparkle to the envelope, and then some googly eyes for good measure.  Stencil from Creative Expressions. Layout from CAS colours and sketches #166 Red/blue and stripey lines theme inspired by the inspiration pic at The Challenge #66 - I think this would pass as a masculine card? Moving along with the times #16 - in the garden AAA Cards #61 - stencilling CAS on Sunday #79 - stencil it ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ My second card uses a Simon Says stencil and an older High Hopes pelican stamp.  Coloured with watercolour pencils, clear gloss added to his eyes and the rope.  I was too lazy to get up and get my copic markers, and tried to do the dotty effect round my image with my watercolours but it didn't quite work out, wish I'd left it well alone. Washi tape along the bottom and Lawn Fawn cloud die to the top. General card inspired by the photo at Just Us Girls #336 Seize the Birthday - water Allsorts #356 - wings CASology #191 - washi tape

It finally stopped raining this afternoon, hurrah!  Last week's forecast was mild and damp, and the coming week is cooler with showers ;)  I can't wait for a dry spell to get out to the garden and tackle the weeds - the lawn is sodden, wee Ruby is the only one who enjoys tearing round it at the minute! This card is based on this week's featured stamper challenge over at Splitcoast - here's DJ's original.  I enjoyed making this card, DJ has a fab gallery and she makes layering look so effortless. I've used this oldie Whipper Snapper stamp - coloured with watercolour pencils and the flowers fussy cut and popped up on dimensionals. Creative Knockouts #185 - border time CASual Fridays #169 - off the edge Crafting when we can #140 - add circles Inky Chicks #80 - flowers Penny Black and More March - anything goes Daily Marker 30 day colouring challenge

I really need to tidy up and get my Tim Holtz and Avery Elle stamps off my desk, otherwise they just keep getting used ;)  No chance of a tidy up today, I've been out waging war on the weeds (they're winning!) and have a dirty big burst blister to show for my efforts.  So it's a couple of CAS cards from me tonight! My fishies are coloured with my watercolour pencils and then covered with my clear glitter pen.  Clear gloss added to their eyes, teeth and some of the fins.  I hadn't intended to use my blue liquid pearls but had a smudge that needed covering (and my normal butterly trick wouldn't work on this card haha) Blue strip of washi tape from stash. The Craft Barn - blue AAA Cards #71 - blending CASual Fridays #154 - favourite colour medium - mine's watercolour pencils Layout from CAS(e) this Sketch #185 Creatalicious #96 - sea I'm thinking the sentiment from my fish card would work just as well on this one!  I'm not entirely sure how such a grumpy, fierce looking dog can be almost cute at the same time!   This dude is coloured with watercolour pencils and then mounted on dimensional squares.  I'd a couple of scraps of this DP left, so that decided my colour theme for me.  I added lots of bling and clear gloss to his collar and then some Ranger liquid pearls ... I'm lovin this stuff, I can see an addiction looming! Layout from CAS on Sunday #89 Penny's Challenge #290 - anything goes Seize the Birthday - anything goes Pixie's Snippets Playground #242