Can't believe it day...

I clicked on my computer this morning and as the BBC home page came up on the screen I saw the devasting news that Michael Jackson is dead. So sad - such an enormous amount of talent being lost at such a young age.

On a lighter note (must change subject or keyboard will get wet) I can't believe it that instead of having a cup of coffee first thing this morning I jumped (that may be exaggerating slightly) out of bed and made this very quick card for the Penny Black challenge which is embossing this week.

How crazy is that? I do wonder if my two girls are right when they sometimes shake their head and mumble 'You're mad!'

Anyway it was a very quick card to do - Cuttlebug embossing folder, Penny Black stamps, glitter card and gems. No time at all to make which is perhaps as well as I was desperate for coffee!

All the stamps used are from the Penny Black 'T for Transparent' set which you can get for free (oooooooooh one of my favourite words) if you enter and are successful in my Summertime blog candy.

Not many entries yet ...

So it could be you!!!

Click on the link on my side bar to be taken to the posting and please tell your friends. There are so many children at Post Pals who would love a card arriving in the post.

On your Wedding Day...

I love acetate cards, but oh boy are they hard to take pictures of? The image on this card is from the 'Dancing with Shadows' CD by Joanna Sheen and has been printed on acetate and then attached to glitter card using brads.

It doesn't really show up well on a photo, but the effect of glitter card under a silhouette image is almost magical. I love it especially this special haze effect glitter card by Kanban - it gives a sort of sparkly sky background.

My card is for the following challenges:

• A Spoonful of Sugar - 'Weddings'
• Stamp Something - 'Black and White plus one' - black silhouette - white glitter card with blue haze.

Thank you for looking and please do take a look at my blog candy - booo hoo - so far only one entry and three prizes! Oh my goodness!!!

Today well lived...

Another card using the fabulous stamp set given to me by Unity Stamps. I love this patterned square from the 'Folk Inspired' set. I've stamped it using Adirondack cranberry ink and then used the same colour of ink to paint the design. I've added some black pearls for interest.

The quote is a brilliant clear stamp by Clarity Stamps . I am totally obcessed with their designs at the moment and was lucky enough to see Barbara Gray, the creator of these stamps, at the Stamp Magic show in Doncaster last Sunday. She is so talented and I am so broke after visiting her stand!!!

The corner peel offs are some really useful ones I found on the Joanna Sheen website recently at a bargain price of around 50p. I especially like them as they are much smaller than the normal corners you find and just so useful. These were silver to begin with and I coloured them black with a permenant marker and added black pearls for oomp!

Naturally my card is for one or two challenges...

• Paper Blooms - 'something that inspires you'. I always find quotes like the one on this card very uplifting.
• ABC - Two tone (and base colour is allowed) - my colours are black and cranberry
• Stamp Something - black and white + one other colour.

Don't forget my Post Pals blog candy and Simon Says Stamp are also supporting Post Pals this week.

Summertime Blog Candy...

Happy Summertime everyone and in only 7 days time it will be 'Happy Birthday' to me too!


So with that in mind I am celebrating in style by offering 2 (yes two!) Penny Black stamp sets up as blog candy. . .

1. Penny Black 'T for Transparent' set 'Salutations' - a gorgeous birthday and anytime set

2. Penny Black 'T for Transparent' set 'Giving and Receiving' - a really useful Christmas set.



and there will be a third surprise package (which may be something iffy or maybe something nice!!!). Only time will tell cause I'm not!!

So if you would like to be included in the draw here's what I would like you to do. Sorry, but it's not quite as simple as entering a comment and becoming a follower!

My 'Happy Summertime' card is one I have made to send to one of the children on Post Pals. So many little ones and teenagers too that are very ill and need a card or little gift to bring a smile. As crafters and card makers we are the ideal people to do just that.

I would like entrants for this blog candy to make and send a card to one of those children - don't forget to fill in the stats page on the site so that the organisers can see what each child has received. I use this page to help me to decide who to send to - I can't bear the thought of one child not receiving anything.

Please leave a comment here with a link to your card and I'll come and have a look. On the 1st of July 3 winners will be picked and announced on my blog. Feel free to tell your friends - the more that enter this the more smiles there will be.

I will post anywhere and I know there are similar organisation in many other countries so feel free to use those and do let me know in your comment.

Naturally you can combine your card with any of the challenges out there - in fact my card is for these challenges:

• ABC Challenge - Summer
• forum based challenge to use an 'apples' digi download - available at my friend's digi shop Crafty Ann's

Have fun and spread those smiles.

Stop Press News...

I've just discovered that Simon Says Stamp have made Post Pals their challenge this week so if you do make a card don't miss out on the challenge over there too.

Also Daring Cardmakers are doing a challenge entitled 'Make a Child Smile'

More and more support for Post Pals - how wonderful?

Pink Elephant Sketch Week...

This week we have a great sketch by Carol and we are being sponsored by the Unity Stamp Company. If you haven't seen the fabulous stamps sets by Unity do check them out. They have some amazing quote stamps and other really cool designs.

Unity Stamps not only provided a prize for our challenge, but also gave each member of the team a set of stamps to play with. Yeah how kind is that?

I got a really fabulous set called Folk Inspired and I'm sure I will be using it to make lots of cards over the coming weeks. Actually I quite fancy stamping on to material and doing some stitching too. Hmmm maybe something to take on holiday with me methinks.

On today's card I have used the heart scroll and a sentiment stamp from the set. I stamped them on to water colour card and then painted with Adirondack inks. To finish the design I added a couple of pearls and mounted the oval on to two shades of maroon card. The ribbon is dyed with Cranberry ink too (thanks again Ali) to match the image and papers.

If you would like to join in the challenge this week (don't forget we have a great prize up for grabs for some lucky person chosen by random org.) pop over to The Pink Elephant and check out Carol's great sketch for yourself. We would love to see your interpretations of the sketch.