Southern Girls Challenge 41 - Whatcha talkin' 'bout?

Hello!

How's you week going?  Mine is manic, and the internet situation is not helping me keep calm!  After so long waiting for the PC to get fixed not being able to log on is driving me nuts!  Honestly, what did we do when we only had dial up and it didn't work, crashed out, took ages... or even what did we do before the internet... not that long ago really!

Anyway, enough moaning, and onto today's card which is for this fortnights Southern Girls Challenge which is You Got Something You Wanna Say?

Todays card is a return to bright and bold for me as I've used some papers by one of this fortnights sponsors Eiglassing.  Now this may surprise you that I have NEVER used digi papers before, but these bright greens appealed to me :-D

Bugaboo are also one of the sponsors this fortnight and I just love this image - JJ Pregnancy Grow People - the both the image and the sentiment just makes me smile!

Gotta love the fact that she is in heels not the soppy flats everyone tells you that you should wear when you're pregnant!

I kept the design simple after trying out a few ideas... maybe it's the bright papers, or OMG maybe I'm heading towards a less is more stage again!!  Mind you if I am it'll save me a fortune on postage :-D

Please may I also enter these challenges

Wags and Whiskers - Luck of the Irish (use Green)
Cardmadfairy's Challenge - Use a Sentiment
Color Me Creative Challenge - Anything Goes
Partytime Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Make My Monday - New Life/Beginnings

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge - Easter

Hello

This weeks Scapbook Sisters Challenge is

Easter

Hmmm... now I intend to make a few of these to send out, so I wanted to keep it simple (seriously life is so mega busy at the moment I can't cope with anything stressful, and it is not being helped with sporadic internet connection, and now blogger playing silly games with me!!

Anyway, I ramble - here's my card

I stamped my favourite Penny Black Sheep onto Neenah c/s, coloured his cheeks and ears and then added fluffy stuff to his body, before tying some Bo Bunny Ribbon and stamping a sentiment on the opposite corner.

 I really like using stamps on a twist (I mean an intentional twist here, not the kind where I've gone wonky!!)  it lends a whole different perspecitve, and is something I need to do more of!  Having said that, now I look at it, does it look like he's fallen over? :-D

Anyway, hope you like him!!

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

P.S.  Please may I enter these challenges

Crafty Boots - Easter

My Grafico - Easter and Spring

Totally Stampalicious - Critters

2 Sisters - Spring Is In The Air

My Sheri Crafts - Easter

One Stop Craft - Clean and Simple

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Easter

Fashionable Stamping - Spring is in the Air

Opus Gluei - Animals

Sentimental Sundays - Easter/Spring
Top Tip Tuesday - Easter and/or Animals (my Tip - don't stamp straight!)

Ladybug Crafts Ink goes Dotty (and Stripey!!)

Hello!!

It's time for another challenge at Ladybugs Crafts Ink this week, but before I get onto that, WOW!  What a load of fabulous entries we had to the last challenge.  It seemed like you loved the new images and well done to all the winners!

Right onto today's card!  It's Diane's turn to set the challenge this time, and she would like to see your Spots and Stripes

I decided not to go for my usual bright colours and went all pastel!  And I decided to sew my card together as I haven't done that in ages!  

I used the Clear Vase of Delight from the Floral Delight digi stamp range, and added glossy accents to the bowl for a bit of sheen, and a dot or two of stickles on the flowers for a bit of sparkle

I used some MME papers and couldn't resist a big old bow over some scrummy lace!

Please may I enter my card into these challenges

Craft Your Passion - Monochromatic
Stampin for the Weekend - Anything Goes
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Mojo Monday - Sketch
One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx
 

Ladybug Crafts Ink - New Digi Release and it's time for me to reveal my cards!

Hello!!

It's my turn over at LCI to reveal my cards for the new teenager release

I've been itching to share these with you, and finally my day is here :-D

First up, I used Mobile Phone Josh

I made this for James' birthday card, and even though he was just turning 10 he LOVED it, and thought it was really cool - high praise indeed!!Mind you he is now nagging me to get him his own phone - every cloud and all that :-D

I coloured the image with my copics, picking up the colours from the MME papers, which I also used to decorate the inside...

Along with an LCI sentiment

I really like how this card turned out, I love how the papers and the image work together so well :-D

For my second card I used Hair Straigheners Jess

This card is a bit more fussy, as it's for my friends daughter, but isn't girly girly.  In fact I used another MME pad and more of the denim effect papers that I used on the Josh card above, but no pink in sight as I chose to use orange as my main accent colour (unusual for me!!), just love how she coloured up.  Like Josh, there is just enough detail to help you figure out light and shade without it being overbearing (does that make sense?  It does to me!!)

This card has a hidden sentiment

 

The sentiments on the tag are from the LCI Phoebe stamp set

Hope you like both of my cards

Please may I enter these challenges

Josh
Annabelle Stamps Challenge - Twine
Create Me Pink - Tearing or Distressing
My Mum's Craft Shop - Digi's
Diva's by Design - Distressing
Pollycraft - Check it Out


Jess

Card Making Mamas - Buttons

Ribbon Carousel - Twine 

Sisterhood of Crafters - Birthdays

If you leave a comment on the challenge blog today you can win one of these two images - and if you leave a comment each of the reveal posts you can win a £15 to spend at LCI, plus all the usual goodies for entering the main challenge!  Phew that is a lot of prizes!!

Many thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge - Anything Goes

Hello

Quick post from me as I am having to log on through a dongle thingy (smirk. I know I'm far too old, but the word dongle makes me chortle like a 12 year old hearing a rud-ish word!!  seriousely, I SOOO need to get out more!!)  

Long and short of it is that our internet is down, and only limited connectivity through the dongle/mobile phone... ah the beauty of living in the middle of no-where.  I'm assured that all will be fixed tomorrow, but I heard that Friday, Monday and Tuesday as well, so I'm NOT holding my breath!!

Anyway, this weeks Scrapbook Sisters challenge is a nice easy one - as it's Anything Goes... now normally I make girly cards, full of fuss and bling and details, but I have a run of male birthdays at the moment, so that's what I'm sharing today - hope you don't mind :-D

As my BIL is responsible for getting HB back into the Mini thing (he got a classic mini, then needled HB until he wanted one... the rest is history, although history is evolving!! ) Anyway, it seemed appropriate to use one of Gayle's fabby car images which you can find here.  BIL's Mini is in Tahiti Blue, which kinda set the tone for the card

I used some MME papers from the On The Bright Side 6x6 pad, a Bazzill button, twine, and a LCI sentiment carefully stamped onto two die cut labels.  I unned and ahhed over adding a bit more detail, but id I'm honest time was against me and nothing I hovered over the design looked right against this busy paper, but I liked the combo of the funky zig-zag pattern and the peeling paint (actually quite apt as peeling paint is the bane of a classic car enthusiast...), so left it simple, was that a cop out?  Maybe, but I like it as it is (I KNOW!!! me gettting all restrained and not adding the kitchen sink to a card... what ever next!!)

I'm not totally convinced I should have done the number plate yellow - correct for his car, but maybe a black plate would have looked better?  Then again it adds an extra pop of colour, so I'm torn!!

Amazingly I have quite a few cards to share over the coming few days, internet permitting, why is March such a busy time for birthdays!!

Hope you are all well

Sue xx

P.S.  Please may I enter these challenges

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Crafting When We Can - One for the Boys

Paperplaytime - For the Guys with a Sentiment

Card Cupids - Birthday Cards for Boys

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge - Sympathy

Hello!

This week's Scrapbook Sisters card challenge is one card that I think none of us like to do, but sadly have to sometimes, as we are challenging you to make a sympathy card.

Hmm, not one of my favourite types to make, but I think that at sad times a card that you have taken the time to make is very much appriciated.

Sadly, a friends father has passed away last week, so I had them very much in mind after procrasinating hugely I like how this one has turned out.

Anyway, without further ado, here's my card

I used some Timeless Bo Bunny papers, and some gorgeous ribbon by PTI, and the stamp is a Studio G one (I think!!)

Hope you like it, please may I enter these challenges
Gingersnap Creations - Border Punches
The House That Stamps Built - Sympathy
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Sue xx

New release at Ladybug Crafts Ink!

Hello!!

Finally I can share some of what is going on at LCI... honestly it's been such a strain!!

OK, first up, there's a new release, but we are doing it differently this time and are showing you one of the DT's two cards at a time, and there is a daily prize of one of the two images, plus a grand prize at the end of the fortnight of a whopping £15 voucher to spend at LCI, on top of the £10 prize that is up for grabs if you enter this weeks challenge... phew,  I could explain all the rules, but I have seriously confused myself, so it's probably best if I don't even attempt to explain any further as it is all on the challenge blog, explained nice and clearly!!

I have been told I can post a sneek peek of my card though!

All of the new images are suitable for teenagers (although to be honest I used my image for my son's 10th birthday card last week, and he LOVED it, as it made him feel all grown up :-D

Hope you like them as they are revealed... I'm quite excited as I've only seen the two I have made cards with, and can't wait to see the rest :-D

That's it from me today, hope you are all OK

Sue xx

Edit - so sorry this post was supposed to go live at 9am... duh... it's March, not April... sorry!!

Scrapbook Sisters Challenge - Mothers Day

Hello!

As it's nearly Mothers Day here in the UK, this week's challenge at Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge is Mothers Day!  Congratulations to the winners from last weeks Spring Flowers challenge - so sorry I didn't get round to visit many people last week, the good news is that the PC is back, but I am waiting on HB to get it all set up - until then it's just sitting there looking pretty :-D

Anyway, onto my card today I have been admiring the inchie cards that I have seen in a few magazines recently, and then there have been the lovely creations made in a recent Tim Holtz class - I SOOO need to do one of these classes!

Anyway, enough of my chit chat, onto my card

In fairness I think that I spaced out the squares a but too much, but what an excellent way to use up all the bits and bobs of MME papers and lace that I just couldn't throw away as they were a bit too big for the bin, but a bit too small to make a card with!!

I stamped this Crafty Individals stamp onto some Bo Bunny Double Dot with Timber Brown Stazon and then coloured it up with some Victorian Velvet Distress Ink, which has also been used to ink the edges of the squares.  The lovely ruffled organza is from LCI, and the sentiment is a Paula Pascaul set.

And have you seen the 1000 followers giveaway on the main blog, and there is a new giveaway too - much generosity at the moment!!  Oooh, and there are some brand new buttons for the challenge too - if you are a previous challenge winner feel free to grab one and display it on your blog with pride!!

Please may I enter these challenges

Dream Valley Challenges - Mother's Day/Feminine
Craft Your Day's Away- Mothers Day
Lexi's Creations - Mothers Day
Oldie But A Goodie Challenge - Mum's the Word (my Oldie is all the paper bits, the ribbon and the lace)
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

That's it from me today, thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Oooh, just when I was in a slump, something nice happens

Hello

So glad it's Friday!!  It's been another torrid week at work... I seem to remember days in the dim and increasingly distant past when work was a pleasure, but all so stressful now there are so few of us left to do more and more.  I know things will get better eventually (like, I might win the lottery!!) but right now it's horrid!!

Never mind, I've got the weekend to look forward to - tomorrow we are going out to with the kids as it's James' 10th birthday in the week... I know, how is it possible that I am the mother of a 10 year, old I hear you ask!!  When I'm not even 25 :-D  Yeah, right, I wish!!!  Following that logic, I got married when I was 10... hmmm not going to wash anymore is it, LOL!

Ah well, despite a huge bag of mixed emotions at my baby getting into double-digits, I'm looking forward to having a good weekend with him.  Tomorrow we are going out to get his pressie - he wants more Skylanders and Lego.  I am considering encouraging him in the direction of a craft shop to ease my pain at being dragged around Toys R Us, while trying to persuade the small one that it's not his birthday, and therefore he can't have anything (can you see an epic fail in the making here???).  Other than that his plans are to go somewhere for lunch (I have vetoed KFC and Maccie D's).  No party this year, my nerves can't cope with a horde of 9 and 10 year olds in my house, and my wallet can't cope with taking same number to the cinema, especially as you look like a right tight moo when you don't let them get drinks and sweets from the concessions and smuggle in store bought stuff in your biggest possible handbag... and guaranteed a lid has come loose on one of the drinks and you have to act all nonchalant walking past the ticket person while knowing that your handbag is dripping and your phone now needs putting in a dehumidifier :-D.  Not that anything like that has ever happened to me... oh no :-D

We've settled on him having people over in the Easter holidays for sleepovers (one at a time mind!) instead!!

Anyway, that's my weekend, somewhere in there I've got to make him a card, without him seeing it, probably easier said than done

I said in my title that there was something nice that happened this week, actually there's two nice things

Firstly, two of my cards appeared in The Complete Guide to Digital Crafting, which is a Bookazine published by Practical Publishing, but seems to be out of stock on their website at the moment but apparently is available in WH Smith, and some bigger supermarkets etc.  Strange, after 17 years of being out of the whole journalism thing, my name should end up in print!!  A massive thanks to Kerry for being bribable enough to let me send her some cards to appear :-D  Be sure to check out all the Ladybug Crafts Ink cards that are in the issue (and the digi's that you get on the CD) as they are great fun!  If you can't get the magazine then all the images are available in te digi section of the shop, and there is massive amounts of inspiration on the Challenge blog too!

All I can say is wow, the pictures look amazing - much better than mine (thankfully!!) if you want to check out my original posts you can read them here and here, HB hasn't said a lot, but I think he was quite proud of me (bet it doesn't stop him moaning about my crafty habit though!!)

Then, I was picked at My Mums Craft Shop 

as a top three for this card

I really appreciate getting picked for top spots, much cause for the happy dance... I know, that's not an image you needed, but I do!!

Right, that's it from me for today, have a great weekend, thanks for stopping by

Sue xx

Southern Girls Challenge - Show Me a Secret

Hello!!

This weeks Southern Girls Challenge is Show Me A Secret and we are sponsored this fortnight by Delicious Doodles and The Paper Shelter, now the challenge is live, but the girls have a few issues with posting the challenge at the moment due to internet connection issues in NZ, but they thought to announce the challenge while they are trying to get on line to do the challenge post proper so you can get cracking with making your cards...

Onto my card... Hmmm, from first impressions the secret is pretty well hidden!! Keep reading and all will be revealed!!

I used Steampunk Fairy from Delicious Doodles, I wanted to colour her simply, but wanted to distress the the card using a variety of techniques.  The cog flourish in the corners was a complete nightmare as I had the bright idea (at the time!) to stamp the image then to carry it over onto the central panel.  It seemed like a good idea to emboss it with bronze embossing powder too - I like the effect but it was also quite stressful getting there!!  I then got busy with my collection of distress inks, blending and spritzing until I was happy and then over stamped with a variety of stamps.

 I wanted to give her wings the look as if they were once all sparkly, but that some of the sparkle has worn off over time.  I did this randomly streaking a glue pen over the wings, shaking over some Hunkydory bronze glitter, shaking off the excess then buffing off anything loose with a cloth.  I've never tried this before but I really like the effect!

 

As always, I coloured my image with Copics, then added gold pen to the wings, her earrings, and the armlet.  I squirted some gold stickles onto a scrap of paper, then painted it onto the gold parts so it catches the light, but isn't too obviously blingy.  I don't think I've explained that well, so hope it makes sense!

OK, so the secret is a panel behind the main image,  I printed this off on the computer then cut it out with a nestie, distressed it and the panel  - by this time my fingers resembled those of either a career criminal or someone with a 100-a-day habit! - and stamped all over with another stamp from my collection, twisting and turning to give a bit of depth.

I decorated the inside in a similar way, but added butterflies which I gilded with gilding flakes, each time I do a distressed card I think they get better, and I can certainly see how it can become addictive!!

  Supplies: Main Image - Steampunk Fairy- Delicious Doodles

Supplimentary stamps - Inkadinkadoo, Stampendous, Indigo Blue, Crafty Individuals, PTI
Mediums: Copics, Distress Inks, Gilding Flakes, Kanban
Other - Glitter, Embossing Powder, Stickles, Ribbon, Flitter Glu, Versamark

Oh, and cos it's me and I like ribbon, the hidden panel is tied up with a big bronze bow!!

That's it from me today, hope you like my cad!

Before I go, please may I enter these challenges
Flutterby Wednesdays - Open Challenge
Everybody Art Challenge - Monochrome
Ribbon Carousel Challenge - Anything Goes
Creative Mondays - Anything Goes
Truly Madly Crafty Challenge - Ribbon and Bling
2 Sisters - Anything Goes
Do You Stack Up - Things with Wings

Thanks for stopping by

Sue xx