Spoil yourself...

This card is for the new Penny Black challenge at http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ which is embossing. As you can see in the photo out came my trusty Swiss Dots cuttlebug folder for the embossing part of the card - I don't know how I made cards at all before these folders were invented.

I also used a fabulous sketch by Katharina at http://katharina1704.blogspot.com/. This week Katharina has challenged crafters to use this sketch and has very kindly offered a prize. It's a great sketch and one that I will certainly use again.

The cat in the bath image is one from a clear set of Penny Black stamps that my daughter bought me for Christmas. I've coloured the image using Derwent Inktense Pencils. I love this cat - there is a cute sentiment to go with it too - ' It's your day... Spoil yourself silly'. I've stamped this on the inside of the card and I might add a sachet of some bubble bath when I send the card depending on who I send the card to.

Just playing...

with my new Promarkers. I love the smooth colour you can achieve with them, but sometimes they seem to make the stamped ink bleed a little. I will have to practice more I think.

This card is for the challenge at http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/ where they have an 'open' theme until the 8th January.

Materials used:

• Cuddly Buddly rubber stamp
• Promarkers, Sakura stardust pens and water colour crayons
• Lilac papers by Papermania
• lilac plain card, jewels, button and organza ribbon from stash
  
  

Easy elegance...

Well 'easy elegance' is supposed to be the theme of this card done for the challenge at http://www.mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/, but to be truthful to me it's a 'could do better' card!!

If I were to start again there are quite a few things I would do differently, but not to worry - it's one of my New Year Resolutions to worry less!!!

I used one of my brilliant paper pricking corner stencils, that my good friend Irene bought me as part of my Christmas present, to create a square frame for the central stamped image. The stamped 'Thank you' is an image from a collection of clear stamps by K&Company. I used pearls from my stash to accentuate it. The patterned backing paper is by Papermania and was another Christmas gift - I must have been good last year as I got loads of stuff!!!