First Card of 2010 and some News

Good evening everyone.  Has life settled back down again after all the festivities?  We took our deccys down today, it feels like we have loads more room now LOL!  Have been busy on this little blog today and made several changes.  However my blog lists playing up so will have to look at that!   Still working on the loan laptop and am REALLY missing my own machine!  Hopefully it will be returned all fixed later next week - fingers crossed.  As some of you know, I went through FOUR laptops last year.  This loan laptop has kept crashing on me since yesterday so who knows - I might be on the start of breaking last years record!!!!  I just look at them and they break LOL!

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I had a wonderful e-mail last night inviting me onto the DT over at The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge.  Of course I snapped their hand off, but I did wonder if they'd gotten mixed up with someone else LOL!  I am sooo excited to be working with such a talented bunch of ladies - my first DT call - SCARY!!!!

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I made my first card of 2010, sat crafting with Emily as she made not only her first cards of the year, but also her first entry into a challenge!!  Quality time!!!

My card will be entered into the following six challenges:

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenge - Thankyou

Totally Gorjuss - Thankyou

Crazy 4 Challenges - Polka Dots

Sketchy Colours - Yellow, Pink and Bronze

Stamp Something Challenge - "New Somethings"

I used on of my favourite but recently neglected stamps for this.  The large flower is new as is the ribbon bow flower in the centre.  Coloured with chalks, copics and my new set of watercolour pencils - yes, I'm an old fashioned gal at heart!  The sentiment is also new.

RECIPE

Papers - Basic Grey and My Mind's Eye

Stamped Image - Sarah Kay

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Paper Flowers - Prima

Ribbon Flower - local haberdashery

Bronzy Metal Corners - stash

Card Candy

I hope you like what you see.  Thankyou for stopping by my little bit of peace and quiet here in cyberspace!  Take care

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

Dottie's World "Hmm - Feathers?"

Evening everyone! Gosh three posts in one day, I have been a busy bunny! LOL! This challenge was set by June and here's what she had to say.....

"Hiya ladies, well if you didn't know it I love feathers!! This week I would love to see a feather or feathers incorporated into your card. Of course use a charmed digital download, and enjoy yourself hugs June xxx".

What a fab challenge eh? So, after some consideration, I came up with this design! I didn't want to do the usual girly marabou feathers so, after harassing the local wildlife, sorry only joking, after raiding my stash I found this feather! I had been storing it for an idea for a Red Indian card!! I think it does the job perfectly on here, secured with funky fibre and an eyelet!! I've used Chick Dottie from the Dress up Dottie download collection and for extra fun, done as I'm told and enjoyed myself by including words from a well known song via my now trusty lappy!

RECIPE

Dottie Download - Charmed Cards & Crafts

Paper - My Mind's Eye

Feather - stash

Orange cardstock - stash

Colouring Mediums - Copics and watercolour pencils

Punch - Martha Stewart

Song from The Blues Brothers

Thankyou for stopping by. Please feel free to leave a comment - I do appreciate it and love reading them. Enjoy the rest of your evening, whatever you doing. If you're at any fireworks displays this Bonfire Night - keep safe, I'm staying in due to my sore back so have a fab time for me too!! LOL

Happy crafting everyone!

Mel X