Here comes Eli...

Well I couldn't last any longer without a piccie of my little hero could I?  Using the sketch from Sketchy Thursdays as a starting point I created my page in Serif Craft Artist (yes that programme again!).  I've actually missed loads of parts of the sketch out as I wanted to keep the page really simple, but the basics are there.

The papers, materials, frame and embellishments were all created by my friend Ann Whitfield at Crafty Ann's Digi Shop - isn't she brilliant?  I love the ready trimmed frame - so cute!  The kit is a new one to the shop and has loads of stuff in it.  A really good buy methinks.

It worked perfectly in Craft Artist.  It's the first time I've used other digi kits rather than the ones by Daisytrail and I don't think there will be any stopping me now.  So easy to take the images into Craft Artist and use them in just the same way as Daisytrail ones.

Challenges...

• Crafty Ann's - Hot Stuff (Eli and the red vibrant paper)
• Anything Goes Challenge - anything goes
• Bearly Mine - Anything goes
• Ladybug Crafts Ink - New Stash (new digi kit)

Love and smiles

Ann xxx

Summertime...

Another beach scene card this time made for a forum Round Robin that I'm involved in.  The card has been received so I can safely put a photo on here.

It is actually a scene that would have worked great with the acetate style of card in my post below, but this time I decided to do a flat version.  The background was created using Crafty Ann's beach scene digi.  I must admit I did remove Ann's chairs from the scene to make way for my stamped ones.  Ann was fine about me doing this as she loves to see her digis used in different ways.

I think the two ladies are by Pink Cat Studios, but the stamp has been in my collection for so long I'm really not sure.  Great stamp though and it seems to make an appearance each summer alongside the lovely smaller shell stamps that were also in the set.

The scene was built up in stages - printed on blue card first of all and then white so that the palm tree could be coloured using Promarkers and finally sandpaper cut out to create the beach.  Time consuming, but great fun.

My card is for the challenges at...

• Sir Stampalot - Lazy Hazy Days of Summer
• Practical Scrappers - Stash older than one year (my stamp is way older than that)

Off for some retail therapy now.  Have an amazing weekend everyone.

Ann xxx

Sir Cliff Richard...

We're all going on a summer holiday.
No more working for a week or two.
Fun and laughter on a summer holiday.
No more worries for me and you.
For a week or two.

We're going where the sun shines brightly.
We're going where the sea is blue.
We've seen it in the movies.
Now let's see if it's true.

Everybody has a summer holiday
Doing things they always wanted to.
So we're going on a summer holiday
To make our dreams come true
For me and you.

We're going where the sun shines brightly.
We're going where the sea is blue.
We've seen it in the movies.
Now let's see if it's true.

Everybody has a summer holiday
Doing things they always wanted to.
So we're going on a summer holiday
To make our dreams come true
For me and you.
Hmmmmmm, hmmmmmmm...
Hmmmmmm, hmmmmmmm...
Hmmmmmm, hmmmmmmm... 

Yes, that song has been going through my head for the last few days as I created my guest design team card for my good friend Ann's challenge over at Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog.  The fun challenge chosen for this fortnight was to use a Sir Cliff Richard song title as a starting point.  How fun is that? 

For my card I used Crafty Ann's Tropical Beach digi stamp and I must admit that I really spent some time creating this card as rather than colouring the whole thing (coward that I am) I printed the scene on sky blue card and then built up the layers colouring some layers with Promarkers and finally using real sandpaper for the beach.  I'm pleased with the result, but must admit it wasn't a card to be made in a hurry!  Great fun to make though.

My Cuddly Buddly character in bikini was stamped onto card, coloured with Promarkers and then cut out and attached to the acetate front of the card.

 

This photo taken sideways on shows the acetate front and the layers at the back of the card.  It's the same style of card as a Christmas card I did a few weeks ago which can be seen here.  I love how these turn out and will be doing some more soon.  They are easy, but I know Max and a few other people said they would like a tutorial so I will (time allowing) do one quite soon.

 

The sentiment is computer generated and after printing it out I remembered buying some sunshine charms quite a while ago and of course just had to dig them out.   Three hours later and craftroom looking like a bombsite I found them and attached one to the sentiment with some gold thread.  Gold links would have looked good, but I thought I'd done enough searching for one day - LOL!  You will be pleased to know that I have bought a storage container today so that I can sort out all the wonderful embellishments that came to light during the mad scramble.

My card is also for the following challenges...

• Craftalicious - Birthdays
• Stamp Something - Go Digital
• Daring Cardmakers - 'I want you to think of a beautiful summer day looking over the bright blue sea glistening in the sunshine. What do you see?'
• Cupcake Craft challenge - Acetate 
• Cutie Sunday - Sun, Beach and Ocean
• Sentimental Sunday - I can see clearly now - sentiment and acetate
• Crafty Calender Challenges - Summer

Have a fantastic weekend everyone.  

Ann xxx

Tilda Baking Easel Card...

I meant to add this card to my blog yesterday but spent so long at my mum's that there just wasn't time.  A few weeks ago I was really excited to be asked to be Guest Designer for the month of July at my friend Ann's challenge blog, Crafty Ann's.

The theme for this fortnight's challenge is to make a shaped easel card and I was going to use one of Ann's Freebie Easel Card Templates (yes these are gorgeous and completely free), but at the last minute decided to use my Magnolia Tilda baking stamp and a digi aga cooker image.  The aga is one of Crafty Ann's digi images that I just couldn't resist buying as it works so well with the cutie stamps.  Ann also has a fab easy chair for cuties to sit on too - also a gem.

All the colouring was done with Promarkers.  I added some cute stamped cupcakes  and a computer generated message to the base with an organza bow to finish it off.  The top of the card has a rub on 'Happy Birthday' sentiment by Letraset.  Their rubons are really reliable and brilliant.  Wish I could find a good supply of them.

My card is also for the challenges at...

• Pollycraft - Pinkalicious
• Creative Card Crew - An Easel Card
• Crafty Creations - Ice-cream (neopolitan ice-cream colours) and cakes (Tilda baking)
• Crafts and Me - Birthdays
• Totally Papercrafts - one for the girlies

Exciting News...

I found out yesterday that I have been chosen to be Guest Designer for 3 months at the Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog.  I'm really excited about this as the DT over there is sooooooooooo very talented and I just love Popcorn the Bear stamps.  Now I've got an excuse to buy a couple of new ones.  Not that I need excuses really - LOL!

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?