Three Cards

Morning everyone.  The weathers a bit grey and dreary looking this morning, hope it brightens up later!  I have been neglecting the various challenges out there at the moment since returning to work and taking on various DT's so I have changed that by making FIVE purely for the fun of doing challenges Whoo Hooo!!!

I have three to show you here and I'm rather pleased with how they turned out!  I had just bought my Big Shot before making the first card and BOY did I have fun playing with my diecuts and combining my new nestie with new Nellie frame and rather neglected Charmed image. How did I manage without a BS lol?   Only thing is my wish list is now MASSIVE as I love virtually every die cut and embossing folder I see rofl.  This card will be entered into the following challenges:

Dotties World - 2 x 3D Butterflies

Sketch and Stash - Sketch

Cupcake Crafts - Make Your Own Flowers

ABC Challenge - Red

Stampin for the Weekend - Ribbons and Bows

Stamptacular Sunday - Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Daring Cardmakers - Diamonds (on the butterflies)

I've used a Charmed Download here, I certainly think she adds the spice part to the SS challenge and with flowers, butterflies, bows and a bit of bling - what more could a gal want hahahaa!

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My second card is for

Pollycraft - Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz - Animal Magic

I love this image and he was just crying out for a bit of layering.

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My final card is for

Just Cute Bears - Yellow and Green

Everybody Art Challenge - Sketch

Isn't he adorable, I bought him at the recent fair in Harrogate - can't believe its taken me a couple a weeks to getting round to using him lol!  I think he'll be a regular though!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day whatever you're up to.  Happy crafting.

Mel X

Three Cards and Four Challenges

Hi everyone.  OMG, can't believe its been almost a week since my last post!  Been quite busy this week yet don't seem to have accomplished much lol!  Today I've kicked back and made some cards to brighten the day.  We've had rain, icy sleet and snow today - it's blummin freezing!!  Like everyone else I know, I can't wait for spring to arrive!  It was also nice to get in some practice with my new copics and promarkers - I'd love to know your thoughts cos I think my shadings terrible - not keen on the monster itself, think I need to buy more copics to get closer colour matches (but not til Harrogate show lol!!)

  This first card is for Ethan's friend who will be seven next week and its for

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Friends

The Pink Elephant Challenge - Sketch

 RECIPE

Stamp - Victoria Case

Papers - Basic Grey (marrakech) from Secret Crafter

Cardstock - Stash

Charm - Hobbyhouse

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Brad - stash

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 This next card is for my mum's best friend and is based soley on the Daring Cardmakers Challenge.  Their challenge this week is "Here Comes the Sun" and so want to see lots of red, orange or yellow OR lots of circles or rays - anything really that says sunshine to you!!  Well I think I got a bit carried away in my eagerness to see some sun - the only thing missing is the rays!!

 As I was reading their blog today I could hear the song "Mr Tambourine Man" on the radio, this just reminds me of long summer days and picnics for some reason!  With that in mind, I just HAD to make this little number - then had to reach for me shades LOL!  I can't find the pad for this one now, I think its another one from Basic Grey.

RECIPE

Image - Charmed Download

Flowers - Prima

Ribbon - Stash

Brads - Stash (I think papermania)

Butterfly - Papermania

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My last card today is for the lovely ladies at Totally Papercrafts who have a sketch for us this week.  I have added a charm on a chain  and I LOVE it!!  Which is probably a good job cos I bought a fair few a couple of weeks ago and have spent some evenings this week putting  them together lol!  I haven't put the top flowers in exactly the same place as I didn't want anything to get in the way of the chain so I hope thats ok!  Oh, and I had a bit of a lapse with the trimmer and cut the panels a bit too short - hence I ended up staggering them to avoid losing them behind the image duh!!   This card is for my favourite aunt and uncle "The Chris's" who celebrate their wedding anniversary next week.

I'm fairly pleased with my shading here but, as they say, practice makes perfect!

RECIPE

Image - Lily of the Valley

Papers - Basic Grey (Bittersweet)

Cardstock

Stash

Charm - Hobbyhouse

Flowers - Prima and Hobbyhouse

I've some more cards to post tomorrow including a nice bright card for Mr Chris' birthday!!

Thanks for stopping by my crazy little haven here in cyberspace.  I hope you like what you see.  Take care and happy crafting.

Mel X

Something Special - A Retirement Card

Evening everybody, are you all ready for Christmas?  I've still got a bit of shopping to do, trying to crack on with the wrapping for now!!  I've a few more cards I want to make before Christmas.  Once they're done I intend to pack away most of my craft stuff to the loft outta the way til after all the festivities.  I don't have my own craft room so this plan should hopefully ensure the dining room remains tidy!

This card I have done for my mum's best friend who turns 60 at the end of December and retires on the 4th January.   I am entering it into the following challenges;

Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenge - Special

Allsorts Challenge - Pearls and Swirls

Stampin' for the Weekend - Blue and Brown

Daring Cardmakers - Going Dotty

Totally Gorjuss - Free and Easy

Quixotic Challenge - Lace

The layout design is my own.  I decided against any sentiment on the front as I think that may detract from all the elements - I think my craft stuff  kinda exploded on it a bit LOL!  The insert inside reads

"Congratulations on your Retirement,

time now to spread your wings and let the fairy

within you fly"

The flourish is gorgeous but quite big and I cut it to use in the two area here.  The flourish was also quite expensive but I LOVE the effect so think am gonna get creative with a pencil and create my own in the New Year.

I have also gone round the edges of the cardstock and papers with my uni silver paint pen to give a slightly gilted look to the edges.

RECIPE

Image - Mo's Digital Pencil

Colouring Medium - copics, water colour pencils

Blue Cardstock - Stash

Papers - My Minds Eye and HOTP

Border Punch - Martha Stewart

Leaf Punch - Leone Em

Flowers - Prima

Pearly Flourish - Prima

Lace - local haberdashery

Card Candy

Glamour Dust

My mum's friend has been ill lately so I hope this cheers her up and that she can soon wave goodbye to the pressures of work, really enjoy her retirement and let her hair down.

Thankyou for stopping by my little haven in cyber space.  I hope you like what you see!  Take care and happy crafting. 

Mel X

Thankyou to Sue

Afternoon everyone.  Wanted to show you this quick card for my friend Sue who is always very supportive and like a rock to me at times, helping out with the kids if I'm stuck and Pete's away and listening to my groans at times to.  Inside I've attaced a little pocket and inserted two co-ordinating bookmarks.  She love a good read and anything handcrafted.  The card will be entered to the following challenge, I'm getting in by the skin of my teeth on this one LOL!

Daring Cardmakers - Say it in Sepia

She loves vintage looking cards and has admired this stamp for ages - just never had the chance to play with it herself yet, though I think this will re-wet her appetite! The corner embellies and label are all old stickers from my stash that I've had ages.

Thanks for stopping by.  Take care

Mel X