Pink Elephant Day...

Yeah it's Pink Elephant day and this week we are cooking with a recipe from Ella's kitchen using these ingredients...

two squares
one ribbon (mine is very subtle and has a heart shaped button stitched on to it)
and something sparkly (the star on teddy's T-shirt is a sparkly gemstone).

Fantastic set of ingredients - can't wait to see what the rest of the team have come up with!

To create my card I used the brill sketch at Papertake Weekly, which proved just perfect for combining with the Pink Elephant's ingredients. The image is one from a collection of number digis by Pollycraft. There is a set suitable for girls and one for boys - both really useful. Love them.

As my card is for a friend's little boy's first birthday it also fits the challenge at Stampin' for the Weekend where the challenge is baby themed including baby's first birthday.

Thanks for looking and don't forget to check out the Pink Elephant to see what my teamies have come up with. Hope you'll have chance to play along too.

Pink Elephant Day...

It's time for a sketch challenge at the Pink Elephant - my favourite as Robin's sketches are just wonderful to follow. Our sponsor this week is The Little Paper Shop and the DT were lucky to be given a couple of digi stamps to play with. I chose Katie on a swing and Little Friends - so cute. If you haven't visited The Little Paper Shop you should they have some really cool stamps and digi images.

I'm disappointed with my girl on the swing birthday card as silly me printed the image smaller than I intended. Don't you just love the way you can print digi images in any size you want? My original plan was to adorn the swing ropes with paper flowers and put one in her hair, but alas the image was too small. Ah well not to worry this version has diamonds and the flowers can make an appearance another day.

My other card is an engagement one - I was thinking along the lines of 'kissing frogs to find a prince'. Maybe I was going too far outside the box I'm not sure. Anyway the computer generated sentiment says 'So glad you found your Prince' and inside the card I've put 'And your Prince found you. Congratulations on your engagement'.

I do hope you'll be able to join us at The Pink Elephant this week. We really have seen an abundance of fantastic talent recently - I know I've gained so much be visiting other peoples blogs and I'm sure the rest of the DT feel the same way. It really is wonderful to have so many people joining us.

Christmas in August again...

Well here comes my favourite rabbit! Messy is just so adorable and I think this particular stamp has to be my all time favourite.

This card was just so eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeasy as I used a backing paper from one of the new paper pads produced by Joanna Sheen. This pad is number 5 in the series and is called White Christmas. Every page in the pad is just so useful - not just for using with Messy Rabbit, but for other characters too. Must try it with Tilda!

I was playing around yesterday with various bits of card stock and decided to try out some card I have called Iced Gold. It's white card, but has a coating on that gives it a sort of gold lustre - very nice and wonderful to use with Promarkers. You can't really tell in the photo, but Messy has a wonderful sheen to him that makes him a bit more Christmassy.

Feeling quite guilty after using the backing paper and having such an easy job I decoupaged Messy to both give dimension and a bit more oomph to the card. I also added a touch of glitter to make the scene frosty.

My card is for the following challenges...

Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge - this one's not from a kit, but I think it still counts and Fab wants to see as many cards as possible.

Simon says - Christmas in August

Papertake Weekly - are celebrating 100 challenges - wow! They are asking members to choose a challenge from last year - I chose 'Let it snow, Let it Snow, Let is Snow'. I'm sure I joined in that one last year but I can't find my entry! Maybe it was a 'gonna do it but didn't one'!

Have a fantastic weekened everyone and see you on Monday for the latest Pink Elephant challenge.

Favourite Flowers...

At last Joanna Sheen's new stamp range called 'Favourite Flowers' is available on her website. I made this card using the primula stamp from the Wild Flowers collection. It is one of a set of six cards I made as samples for her and I will be showing the other cards after the live show on Create and Craft on Sunday.

The stamps are just beautiful to work with and were inspired by the beautiful work in The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. On this card I used a sketch that I particularly like that originally came from The Next Level challenge blog (oh I so miss that blog). I used Promarkers to colour the primulas and dragonfly with a touch of Sakura Stardust on the dragonfly's wings.

Of course the cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and my favourite DCWV papers had to get in on the act too alongside nesties, peel offs and organza ribbon. I know other people have said this on their blogs, but seriously how did we make cards before cuttlebug folders and nesties?!

As I love to enter challenges I'm adding my card to these challenges:

Creative Inspirations - Tags

Pollycraft - Favourite Things (mine has got to be DCWV papers and the Swiss Dots folder)

Tanda Stamps - Tag it!

No time to Stamp - Birthdays

Allsorts - English Country Garden (Primula's are a favourite cottage garden plant)

Oh and before I forget if you loved the images in the book The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady dash over to Joanna Sheen's website and check out her latest CD. Just gorgeous - can't wait to see the show on Sunday to see the cards made using it and the images on the CD. It looks as if it's going to be absolutely wonderful.

Holly Birthday Card...

Gosh my second post today!

I had to post this one - have you seen the amazing competion at Charmed Cards and Crafts? Oh wow, how much would I love to win that prize? Quite a lot actually! Okay, one heck of a lot!!

Well as they say in the lotto ad 'You have to be in it to win it' so here is my card. I've used one of Charmed Cards fantastic downloads. These Holly and Madison images are so cute and what I really like about them is that you get one set ready coloured for when you're feeling lazy and one set like as a digi stamp that you can colour yourself. Just great. This time I coloured the Holly image with Promarkers to match my spotty paper, which is from a DCWV stack.

Cross your fingers for me and why not enter yourselves (but don't win - lol) - you have until the 4th August.

Floral Frenzy...

The challenge this week over at My Time to Craft is themed 'Floral Frenzy' so it seemed a good opportunity to show this card I made for a forum friend.

Yes, it's that enormous flower from Elusive Images that I used on the ATCs I showed yesterday. This time I stamped the flower twice and decoupaged it to give depth. The leaf is a stamp from the same set.

It doesn't show very much in the photo but the background is actually a swirly leaf design on tinted acetate. It's really unusual and lush to use. I believe it's by Kanban, but I got it at my favourite market stall.

Thanks for looking and also for leaving such fantastic comments. I really appreciate them. Have a great weekend everyone and see you Monday for the new Pink Elephant challenge.

Summer Flowers...

These are two ATCs I made recently for a forum swap I was involved in on the theme of Summer Flowers.

I had a fabulous time both stamping and colouring them. The quote was stamped in the centre of the ATC and then by masking sections off I stamped the huge (Elusive Images) flower around the quote.

I used many 'sunshine' shades of Promarkers to colour the images - one ATC was completely coloured and on the second on I attached a small tinted piece of acetate over the quote.

Charmed Cards and Crafts have a brilliant competion running at the moment so I have entered my ATCs into the 'Anything Goes' section - amazing prizes so fingers crossed! If you haven't entered this yet time is running out so do pop over and have a look - please don't win though!!

Pink Elephant Day...

This week we have another amazing sketch by the incredibly talented Robin. Her sketches amaze me, not only by being brilliant, but also by being extra easy to do.

It's also a really exciting week at the Pink Elephant because we are being sponsored by ....

Take a look at my cards...

Can you guess?

Yes it's Joanna Sheen!!!

Each of the DT were given stamps to play with - wowee - it was just like Christmas! I received Doctor Lofty - how cute is he? Check out his prescription and the 'Get Well Soon' tablet too - just so cute and all included in the Lofty and co rubber stamp set. I don't think I've ever seen such a fun 'Get Well' set ever - hate to say this, but I can't wait for someone to be poorly so that I can send a card. No, no I don't really mean that!

I also had Messy Rabbit Party Girl to play with - isn't she gorgeous. Couldn't resist adding gems to her flowers - well she is a party girl.


As you can see there are a couple of flowers included in this set too and a 'party' sentiment so it really is a great buy. However, if you are like me and suffering from a lack of funds pop over to the Pink Elephant - take a look at the sketch and have a play. You never know you may be lucky enough to win some Joanna Sheen goodies. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Blingtastic...

Well my daughter thinks it is and that's good enough for me! Laura bought me this gorgeous mermaid stamp from the recent Clarity stamps sale, because she loved it - must make mental note to show her more stamps!

It wasn't on the (long) list of stamps I was about to order really, but wow I'm so glad I got it, because it is just so lovely to use. The card is for Laura to give her friend who is 21 quite soon so of course it had to be really glitzy.

I coloured the mermaid with Promarkers and then added gemstones to some of the bubbles and ultra fine glitter to the hair. Gemstone brads fasten the image and it's mirri card matt to matching glitter card.

The ribbon trim over the embossed Cuttlebug bubbles was coloured using an aqua Promarker to match the colouring on the image. I realised when colouring this that it makes sense to colour ribbon on a plastic surface and not scrap paper. Scrap paper is likely to soak up the ink as you colour and be very wasteful. I don't want any of my Promarkers to run out of ink, before I've even completed the set!

My card is for the challenge at Three Clovers where this week the theme is BLING.

Christmas in July - Part 2...

Another of my sample cards for Joanna Sheen. I think the way Linda Hill, the Messy Rabbit artist, has managed to capture the way one of the rabbits is looking out for his mum or posing for a photo is so cute.

This a a large 8 x 8 card with a scene of the shepherds looking up to the sky as a focal point. The background was created using blotchy blue and white card (it sort of resembles a cloudy sky) and two shades of sandy coloured paper.

I planned the layout on scrap paper first sketching the landscape behind the shepherds. Then using my sketch as a guide I was able to cut the sandy coloured paper in the right shapes to represent sand dunes in the distance. The star and Bethlehem were stamped seperately and attached to the scenery.

As the card is perfect for the Cupcake Craft Challenge which is to create a Christmas Card I am also entering my card for that.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my blog and for the lovely comments I receive. I do appreciate them all.

Pink Elephant Day...

Hmmmmmmmmm, my elephant isn't pink, but check out those toenails! This week at TPE we are being sponsored by Dustin Pike and as he does the most amazing digi images of all kinds of animals we decided that our theme should be just that.

ANIMALS - so get out your stamps, stickers etc or better still pop over to Dustin's Digi store and treat yourself to some of his work. He really has the most fabulous designs and some great collections on special offer. For inspiration and to see Dustin's digis in action check out his blog - HERE.

My image was coloured with Promarkers and then I added touches of glitter to the hat and cake. I also used a Promarker to colour the ribbon to match the image - first time I've done that and it really is super easy and super effective. The borders were made using a Cuttlebug border die and then I added gems for that extra birthday sparkle.

I seem to be getting a bit carried away with the amount of gems I'm using lately - I need to find a cheap supplier or win the lottery. Preferably the latter!

yeah I'm back and...

it's Pink Elephant day!!!

I so missed blogging and looking at the amazing creations that we have entered at the Pink Elephant while I was away last week. I was in York and had a lovely stay, but it was really tough leaving all that fabulous new birthday craft stuff behind.

This week, at TPE, is our colour themed challenge. I always find this one a toughie, but I'm sure everyone will come up with some amazing creations. The colours this time are mid blue, dark blue and red - so we're going bold, bright and beautiful - well hopefully we are.

I used one of my favourite layouts and one that I have used with this set of MFT stamps before. I really wanted to see how the design worked in a different colour combination.

My original pink and brown version is here - I'm not sure which I like best, but I do like the Promarker colouring on the latest one. I can't seem to stop using those pens now I've finally got the hang of them.

My Favourite Things stamps are just wonderful - I love their images and really must treat myself to another set sometime soon. The sentiments that come with each set are just amazing. On this card I've used 'Rain or shine' stamped on the front and inside I've stamped 'I'll be your umbrella'. How cool is that? The umbrella is part of the set too.

So get out your red and blue papers everyone and join in the fun at the Pink Elephant - we would love to see your designs in this colour scheme.

Double trouble...

Had to do this card really quickly last night - after my birthday celebrations so please excuse any wobbly bits!

One of the girls at my Slimming World class had asked me for a card for twins and due to other commitments I hadn't had chance to get round to doing it. However, all was not lost as out came one of my favourite Penny Black stamps (thanks for reminding me about this Irene) and a bit of Cricut labelling and of course my favourite Cuttlebug border die.

She was really pleased with the card - she should have been - have you noticed how many diamonds I stuck on? Sheesh it must have been birthday fever or the heat getting to me!

Talking of birthdays thank you for all the lovely messages - I really do have some great internet buddies.

The summer blog candy draw winners will be announced later this evening - good luck to all of you.

You hoo!!!...

I have always loved Craft Stamper magazine, but since the revamp it has got better and better. This month's magazine is superb - crammed full of things I want to try and the best thing of all a free covermount stamp. How cool is this owl? I just love it!

My card is for the challenges at...

• Passion for Promarkers - this week's colours are pumpkin and cinnamon
• One Stop Craft Challenge - Embossing

Materials used:

• Owl covermount stamp from Craft Stamper Magazine
• Hero Arts sentiment stamp
• Tag cut using Cricut
• Promarkers - pumpkin -cinnamon and cocoa for shading
• DCWV - paper from 'Pocket full of posies' paper stack
• Core'rdinations cardstock
• Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder
• ribbon and brads from stash

Pink, brown and white at the Pink Elephant...

This week at The Pink Elephant we have a colour challenge and our colours are PINK - BROWN AND WHITE! A great combination.

We are being sponsored by The Greeting Farm who produce the most amazing rubber stamp designs (have you seen the oh so cute Miss Anya range?) and cool digi downloads too.

There are digi downloads on a Graduation theme for the winner of our challenge so if you haven't joined in before or haven't had time to enter for a while this would be a great week to play along with us.

Materials used:

• The Greeting Farm - Grad Anya - digital stamp
• Cardstock by Making Memories
• Cuttlebug Swiss dots folder and border bar
• Circle Nestabilities
• CD
• Sentiment and star peel offs

With love...

This is one of my favourite Pollycraft stamps (although I actually love all their designs) mainly because the little sign is blank and you get three different messages in the set to use - 'with love', 'for you' and 'thank you'. All really useful and the girl is so cute too.

Hopefully my card fits quite a few challenges as my main challenge this week has been to try and transform my jungle back into a garden! Why do shrubs take absolutely no notice of their own labels? You know the ones attached to the pots that say things like 'minature plant' '2ft x 3ft' and then a couple of years later you wonder who planted that 7 foot monstrousity in the border.

Anyway on to the challenges...

• Cute Card Thursday - Nip and punch - my hearts are punched.
• Passion for Promarkers - use apple green and pastel pink
• Cupcake Craft Challenge - fairies

Materials used:

• Promarkers
• Cuttlebug border die
• Pollycraft stamp set
• small heart punch
• green and pink card and gems from stash
  

A very simple notebook...

A little while ago I bought some tiny note books with the most awful cheap looking pictures on the covers. I thought they would be just great for altering. This is the first one I've got round to doing. Not much space to be creative on such a tiny cover, but I managed to fit one of the beautiful images from the Whiff of Joy spring stamp set, a ribbon and a couple of tiny gems in each corner.

My notebook is for the challenge at Stamp with Fun where the theme is 'anything but a card' this week.

Have a perfect day...

It's Monday and that means it Pink Elephant Day again - oh my it doesn't seem two minutes since we were all so excited to start the new Challenge Blog and now we're on week 17!! I really can't believe it.

This week we have a Recipe Challenge and the recipe is...

3 buttons

2 papers

and 1 sentiment!!!

I've used Royal Blue and Orange for my two papers, tiny orange buttons (2 round + 1 heart shaped button = 3) and one 'Have a purrfect day' sentiment.

A cute image of a cat with the fish bowl sneaked in on the act too - I'm hoping that's okay with the bosses! The cat is one of two cat images, accessories and sentiments from a clear set by Woodware.

Pop over to the Pink Elephant to see what the rest of the DT have come up with and I hope everyone will have time to play along with us this week.

Purple Flowers...

A card I made using one of the fantastic sketches from the Stampin Out Alzheirmer's event. There is still time to donate to this worthy cause and take part in the events over there.

Jen Tapler, the creator of Paper Craft Planet, organised the event and had a goal of raising $5,000 - that figure has been smashed and the total is now way over $6,000. It would be great to reach $10,000 by Sunday night when the event closes.

It really is great fun with a purpose - so pop over there and donate $5 (£3.23 using Paypal for us Brits). There are loads of sponsors who have been so generous donating loads of things to both pick up for free and also prizes to win. I just love the cupcake template freebie - I really must give that go this weekend.

Anyway sorry for rambling back to my card which is also for the challenges at:

• ABC Challenge - the letter P for pearls (used on the Martha Stewart punched border, on the flower centres and top left of image)
• Creative Inspirations - favourite stamped image (now this was a tough one to decide, but I do love this Magenta stamp and it is one that you can do so much with so I think it will be one of my favourites for years to come.)
• Cute Card Thursday - Bit o' Bling (pearls again although I tend to think of bling as being more sparkly than pearls so if I get time I will do a sparkly one too. Cute Card Thursday is one of my favourite challenges.)

Materials used:

• Magenta stamp
• Promarkers
• Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder
• Martha Stewart border punch
• Purple papers and pearls from stash

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend everyone.

Tilda is back...

Seems like ages since I used this Magnolia image and it's one of my favourites. I don't really know who the card is for, but I seem to have made loads recently with the 'Happy Everything' sentiment by Making Memories. It's just right for 'anytime' cards and I'm sure one of my friends will like it.


Challenges:

• Papertake Weekly - 'Use your scraps' - I hadn't actually intended to use scraps when I started this card, but I pulled out a Making Memories paper pad to use and found lots of bits in from the last card I made. The Swiss Dots border was already embossed and had obviously been cut off a larger piece and the plain lilac background actually has two holes in it underneath all that matting and layering.
• Sunday Cutie Sunday - provided the fabulous sketch.

Materials used:

• Making Memories - Emma card pack
• Magnolia Tilda stamp
• Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder
• Cricut flowers (Schoolbook Cartridge)
• Woodware leaf punch
• gem brads and white card from stash