Squiggle Stamps April Prize Challenge

Just a quick little reminder....today is your last chance to take part in Aprils challenge over on the Squiggle Stamps Blog....and this is what you could win...

And here is the sketch that you need to follow...

You can find all the details of how to enter HERE.

SJ's Little Musings Friday Freebie...

Well it's that time of week again...time for a Friday Freebie over on SJ's Little Musings. And this week is the turn of "Eleanor". If you pop over to SJ's Little Musings you will find out all about Eleanor. I have coloured her with Copics using the following colours...

Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20

Hair - E50/E51/E53

Clothing - R20

Bed - R21/G12/E55/E57

Bear - R46/E30/E31

The papers are all Basic Grey "Porcelain", I used the more plain pieces in the range to matt and layer the patterned papers. I have embellished with some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, a couple of Heidi Grace decorative pins, a ticket sentiment that I made on the PC, and some pearl bling from my stash.

I have coloured Eleanor to look just like my daughter Georgia, the bear even looks like her beloved (and now a little mangy) Newton's Law Bear.

I have also used the sketch over on Sketch Saturday, this is the second time I have used it this week, but I made the card for someone who ordered a 16th boy card....and forgot to take a photo...LOL

Be sure to pop back tomorrow, as I have an announcement...

Cute Card Thursday - Make Your Own!

This week over on the Cute Card Thursday challenge blog our theme is "Make Your Own". We want to see you make your own papers, or embellishments, sentiments....whatever you like.

For my card I have used one of the new Spring 2010 Club Kit Tilda's and she has been coloured with Copics (available HERE from Tracy @ Dies to Die For) using the following colours...

Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20

Hair - E13/E15/E18

Clothing - R00/R01/C00/C01/C02

Flower - YG11/E51/E53

The papers are a mixture of Doodlebug and Craftwork Cards. The element on my card that I made myself was the mulberry paper flower, which I have then spritzed with some Glimmer Mist in pearl. I also created the bling swirl myself using some bling from my stash and the Bazzill bling templates. I have finished off with some black dotted ribbon and a butterfly sentiment by Craftwork Cards, and I have added some Heidi Grace decorative pins as the antennae.

Be sure to pop on over to the Cute Card Thursday blog and join in with our challenge. I am also entering this card into the challenge on Just Magnolia, which is "Anything Goes!"

Lili of the Valley - Here Comes Summer!

This week over on the Lili of the Valley Challenge Blog our theme is "Here comes Summer!". For my card I have used one of the new stamps released last week called "Top Chef". He has been coloured with Copics (available HERE from Tracy @ Dies to Die For) using the following colours...

Chef - W0/W1/W2/R20/R46

BBQ - C5/C7/C9/E25/E27

Puppy - E30/E31/E33

The papers are all Cosmo Cricket "Garden Variety" and they have been layered with some Bazzill cardstock. I have kept the embellishments very simple, just adding a ticket sentiment that I made on the PC and printed onto Kraft cardstock, some string from Ikea attached with staples, and some bling from my stash.

Be sure to check out the rest of the DT's cards...there is pretty much a card for every occasion between us. I am also entering this into the challenge on Crafty Angels "Summer" challenge.

Friday Sketchers #99

Here is a card I made using this weeks sketch over on Friday Sketchers. The main image is from the Mikey collection over on Charmed Cards & Crafts. I have coloured him with Copics (available HERE from Tracy @ Dies to Die For) using the following colours...

Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20

Hair - E44/E47/E49

Shades - C3/C5/C7

Clothing - R46/R59/B93/B95/B97

Soccer Ball - C9

The papers are all Prima Marketing {You}th collection. I have used my star shaped Nestabilities and a Stampin' Up star punch to create the stars, and the sentiment was made by me on the PC.

Be sure to pop on over to the Friday Sketchers blog to see what the DT have offered us as inspiration...totally fab!

Well, I have been off work a couple of days with a stinky head cold...I have no voice, a super sore/swollen throat and am having trouble with breathing. As I am breathing through my mouth....I cannot talk and breathe and breathing also makes my throat hurt....what a sorry excuse for a human being I am....LOL (I would if I could)....at least I can still sit in my craft room, and watch re-runs of The Gilmore Girls and Ugly Betty.

It's Squiggle Time....again!

With so many fab projects in the last couple of weeks over on the Squiggle Stamps blog, I had to wrack my brains to think of something different to show everyone. As Georgia's birthday is coming up in three weeks I wanted to make an invite for her friend to come over for a PJ Party. Her friend isn't allowed to sleepover....a long story... so I thought a pretend sleepover where she can come round and party in her PJ's....and then just before bed, I will drop her home to sleep.

So....I made a PJ Party invite. I have used one of the digi images, she is called Daisy Sitting Pretty, and you can buy here HERE...a steal at just £1.99, and then you can print her whatever size you like. I though she looked like she was sitting in her PJ's and bed socks....

I have coloured her with my Copics using the following colours...

Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20

Hair - E13/E15

Clothing - E71/RV10/RV13

The papers are from Craftwork Cards, the alpha stickers are Making Memories mini alpha's and I added a feather....as in a feather pillow. The pillow shape was cut from a template I made of an image I found online.

As you can see inside...

The invite part was found on the net, and I have just printed it to fit my invite and cut it out. I attached a little piece of scrap Bazzill tulle I found on my desk leftover from another project. To fasten I have used a Basic Grey magnet.

I hope you like it, be sure to keep your eyes on the Squiggle Stamps blog, as another DT member will be along later in the week to show you what they have been up to.

Club Anya & Friends - Monday Mania...

Today over on the Club Anya & Friends blog it's Monday Mania, and this weeks challenge has been set by Michey. Michey wants to see us use the colour combination of Kraft, Sand, Khaki & Olive. For my card I have used Oliver from the Oliver & Amelia "Buddies" set. The image has been coloured with Copics using the following colours...

Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20

Hair - E50/E51/E53

Clothing - YG63/YG67/YG91/YG95

Puppy - E50/E51/E53/G99

The papers are all Basic Grey, a mixture of "Granola" & "Archaic", and I have also used some Bazzill kraft cardstock. I have embellished using a Jenni Bowlin "Bingo Card", a bone paperclip, some screw head brads, and a ticket sentiment that I created using word and printed onto kraft cardstock.

Along with the challenge on Club Anya & Friends, I have also used the sketch over on Friday Sketchers.

Anyone for Anya? - Sketch #9

This week over on the Anyone for Anya? challenge blog we have a wonderful sketch provided by the Sketch Guru...DawnyP.

For my card I have used a digi by The Greeting Farm (she was a prize and not for sale yet), I have coloured her with Copics (available HERE from Tracy @ Dies to Die For) using the following colours...

Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20

Hair - E50/E51/E53

Clothing - YG00/YG01/YG03/W0/W1/W2/W3/W5/W7/R35/R37

The papers are all Pink Paislee "Bayberry Cottage" and I have added just a few embellishments, a couple of pearl head pins, a Fancy Pants heart pin, some black dotted organza, a black dotted bow, some pearl bling and a sentiment by Craftwork Cards (available HERE from Creative Treasures).

Be sure to pop on over to the Anyone for Anya? blog to see the rest of the DT creations....Yvonne has also donated this weeks prize.....2 Magnolia's, a Basic Grey 6x6 pad, and some matching embellies...

Club Anya & Friends Sketchy Saturday...

It's Sketchy Saturday time over on the Club Anya & Friends blog, another stunner by Pam. For my card I have used Amelia from the Oliver & Amelia Buddies set. I have coloured her with Copics using the following colours...

Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20

Hair - E50/E51/E53

Clothing - R01/R02/R05/R20/R21/R22

Kitty - E11/E13

The papers are all October Afternoon "Daydreams" and I have layered them with some pink Bazzill cardstock. I have embellished very simply by just adding some flowers cut from the paper and raised on 3D foam, some Craftwork Cards butterfly sentiments and also some pearl pins and pearl bling.

Be sure to come over and take a look at what the Club Anya & Friends DT came up with...

SJ's Little Musings Friday Freebie...

It's that time of the week again...time for another of SJ's Little Musings Friday Freebie, and this week is the turn of Alfonzo. 

For my card I have coloured Alfonzo with Copics (Get yours from Dies to Die For...HERE) using the following colours...

Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20

Hair - E25/E27

Clothing - BG18/BG72/Y38/BG10/BG11/BG13

The papers are all Sassafras Lass "Amplify" and I have layered them with some Bazzill kraft cardstock, and Coredinations cardstock. I have also used some of the Sassafras Lass matching cardstock stickers, my Stampin' Up star punch and I created the sentiment on the PC and then printed onto the same kraft cardstock.

I have also reused Andrea's sketch from this weeks Cute Card Thursday, and he also follows the theme on A Spoon Full of Sugar "Happy Birthday". If you love Alfonzo be sure to hop on over to SJ's Little Musings blog to download him.

Lili of the Valley Release Day!!

The cute new Busy Bears and Fritz & Fifi stamps are now available to buy online from Lili of the Valley. These stamps are super cute, fab to stamp and colour....and a complete bargain at just £3.75 each, Laila & Lisa have even put the Fritz & Fifi stamps into a kit...at the fantastic price of just £14.99 for 4 images and 8 sentiments....go on treat yourself. You can find them all HERE....

When I was at Ally Pally the other week, I gave this card, plus a few others, to Laila and Lisa as they loved it....and will now display it when they go out to shows....so look out for it on their stand at the next exhibition they attend.

Cute Card Thursday - A Sketch by Andrea

This week over on the Cute Card Thursday blog, I have introduced something new...we are going to have a regular monthly sketch provided by a member of the DT. This month is the turn of Andrea, and what a fab sketch it is. We are also sponsored this week by Helene @ Alota Rubber Stamps, who has provided us with four lovely stamps for one lucky winner.

For my card I have used a cute image by Pixie Dust Studios, she is called "Snow White". I have coloured her with Copics (available HERE from Tracy @ Dies to Die For) using the following colours...

Skin - E00/E000/E11/R20

Hair - C3/C5/C7

Dress - Y00/Y02/Y08/Y38/B21/B24/B29/R29/R32/R35

The papers are all Pink Paislee "365 Degrees" and I have layered them with some Bazzill cardstock. I have embellished with a couple of flowers sent to me by Tracy @ Creative Treasures, a bling swirl that I created with the Bazzill template and also a sentiment by Inkadinkado.

Be sure to check out the Cute Card Thursday blog, and join in...you never know...you might be the lucky winner of all that rubber...

Oh god help me...I've gone over to the darkside!!!

After so many people asking me if I was on Facebook...and when I said "No"...I was asked Why Not!....I have finally succumbed and joined. So if you are on Facebook, feel free to add me to your friends....or not. My name is Caroline Sears.

I think I need a crash course...LOL

Wild Card Wednesday - Fresh & Fruity...

Today on the Club Anya & Friends blog it is Wild Card Wednesday, and our theme is Fresh & Fruity. We want to see you use fruit or vegetables as inspiration for your card.

Both Kim & Traci have used the HG Classy Digi image to make their cards, but I went with using Stamping Anya, and then using fruity paper, charm and a fruity senitment. I have coloured Anya with Copics using the following colours...
Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20
Hair - E44/E47/E49
Clothing - B93/B95/B97/E50/E51/E53/R46
The papers are all Cosmo Cricket "Garden Variety" and I have layered them with some Bazzill cardstock. I have embellished with som raffia, a couple of heart pins, some pearl bling, a cherry charm and a sentiment I made myself on my PC and then printed out. I love the colours I used on this card...and with the kraft coloured card and those muted colours and the inking it almost feels very 50's to me.

This card has also used the sketch found over on Papertake Weekly this week, and also the theme on A Spoon Full of Sugar.

Be sure to hop on over to the Club Anya & Friends blog and join in with the challenge.

Friday Sketchers #98

Here is a card I made using this weeks sketch over on Friday Sketchers. I have used one of the Lilliput range from Squiggle Stamps, this one is called Gifts Galore and is available in Rubber & Digi formats. I have coloured the image with Copics (available HERE from Tracy @ Dies to Die For) using the following colours...
Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20
Hair - E50/E51/E53
Eyes - B32
The Rest - YG00/YG01/W0/W1/W2/W3/W5/W7
The papers are all Pink Paislee "Queen Bee" and I have layered with some Bazzill cardstock. I have embellished with some Bazzill tulle, a couple of Fancy Pants pins, some pearl bling and a sentiment by Craftwork Cards.

Be sure to pop over to both the Squiggle Stamps blog to check out their monthly challenge....you have just over a week left, and also to the Friday Sketchers blog.

Karen's Doodles A Stamp for Daan

You might have seena plea a few weeks ago from my Anyone for Anya? DT teamie requesting a card for a young boy [Daan] in Holland who got a brain tumor and my friend Renata thought it was a lovely idea to cheer him up some by asking cards to be send to him..

She then had the brilliant idea to raise some money for a charity..

This is what Renata wrote on her blog:

I asked Karen from Karen’s Doodles to make a stamp for me which I could use to make Daan another card (you can read his story here). I wanted a boy who made a karate kick so I could use the sentiment “You are so strong!”.
Karen didn’t design one but two images and suggested a fundraiser. I talked about this with Daan’s mum but she wasn’t comfortable taking money, which I understand so I decided to donate the full amount of this stamp to the KiKa Foundation (Children Cancer Free)!
So you will have a fantastic stamp and you donate a fantastic good charity at once! DON’T HESITATE!!

The stamp is very reasonably priced and a pleasure to colour...Make sure you hop on over to Renata's blog and email her for all the details....HERE is a link to her blog.

Monday Mania - Matching Card & Gift

Over on the Club Anya & Friends blog it's Monday Mania, and this week the theme has been chosen by our guest 1LUVNMAMA, and she wanted us to make a matching card & gift.

I decided to make a set of coasters using the Creepy Cakes digi images, and a matching box. The box is made with Doodlebug Velvet & Chenille cardstock. I have tied the box with some organze ribbon from Hobbycraft. I pushed a couple of heart pins into the knot and added a tag with one of the Creepy Cakes on.
Inside I wrapped the coasters with red tissue paper and tied with more of the organza.
Here are pictures of the actual coasters...
Be sure to pop over to the Club Anya & Friends blog to see what the rest of the Design Team made.

Ingredients
Papers & Cardstock - Craftwork Card "Glitz & Glamour", Bazzill Bling, Doodlebug Sugar Coated
Images - The Greeting Farm "Creepy Cakes" coloured with Copics
Copic Colours - E000/E00/E11/R20/R27/R29/W0/W1/W2/W3/W5/W7/W9/E50/E51/E53
Embellishments - Craftwork Cards "Glamour & Glitz" die-cuts, heart pins, red spotted ribbon, Craftwork Cards Sentiment.

hAnglar & stAnglar News!

Those of you who missed out on the hAnglar & stAnglar set a couple of weeks ago will be pleased to hear they have more of Kit 2 available (the one with the sitting girl)...available HERE...only 8 sets left as I post this.


**ETA - It's 16:45 and they are now all sold out**

My Donna Downey Inspired Toolbelt...

Seeing that Donna Downey got stranded in Dusseldorf...and I was in the mood to play....I played. I found a video of a live webcast that Donna did for Prima showing her decorating one of her aprons. Well...I didn't have an apron, or most of the products she used....so I improvised, and this is what I made....I decorated an old toolbelt that I bought to use when I was a classroom assistant at Bonanza back in 2006.

The toolbelt was a plain canvas one, and I used Jo Sonja acrylic paint in turquoise and lime to paint it....I watered it down and applied it with a mini mister. I then left it to dry for a while. I have added two Prima bling swirls to the corner and an assortment of flowers...some by Prima and some from Wild Orchid Crafts here in the UK. I had one of Donna's fabric words and used the same verse she did on her apron, which was done on the computer, printed onto white cardstock and then I inked it with a couple of Versamagic chalk pads. I also added a ribbon trim to the top...it wasn't long enough that is why I added the flower in the opposite corner....I also think it balances it...better than putting it on the same side as the other larger flower.

I am pleased with how it turned out, and I did ask my other half to take a pic of me wearing it....but everyone he took I had my eyes shut...it is very sunny out in the garden...so I will try again later.

Anyone for Anya? - Sweet as Sugar

This week over on the Anyone for Anya? challenge blog our theme is "Sweet as Sugar", we want to see your girly cards. We are sponsored again by the lovely Tracy @ Dies to Die For and have a couple of Guest DT, Marion & Deb.

For my card I have used Flutter Anya by The Greeting Farm, and she has been coloured with Copics (both available from Dies to Die For) using the following colours...
Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20
Hair - R81/R83/R85
Clothing - BG10/BG11/BG13/R81/R83/R85
The papers are a mixture of Wild Rose Studio (pink dotted) and Doodlebug (turquoise dotted). The cardstock is Doodlebug Velvet Flocked in Bubblegum, and Sugar Coated in Swimming Pool. I have kept the embellishments pretty simple by just adding a button, some bling and a couple of butterfly sentiments by Craftwork Cards.

I have also used the sketch over on A Spoon Full of Sugar (again...as I loved it). Be sure to check out the inspiration on both blogs.

To get over this disappointment of my cancelled Donna Downey class (waves to Donna stuck in Dusseldorf and wishing she was stuck in the UK), I decided to watch one of her Prima "Live" Videos (well it was live, I watch the recorded version). I watched the Apron one, and also the mini camera bag one...I didn't have either product but I did have a plain canvas toolbelt that I bought years ago to use when I was a classroom assistant at Bonanza....so it must have been approx 2006...so keep an eye out later today to see a pic of the finished item....

Club Anya & Friends - Sketchy Saturday

Over on the Club Anya & Friends blog it's Sketchy Saturday, and again Pam has provided a gorgeous sketch. For my card I have use the Anya in the new "Spotlight" kit. I have coloured her with Copics using the following colours...
Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20
Hair - C5/C7/C9
Clothing - BG05/BG07/R27/R29
The papers and card are all Doodlebug that I got at Ally Pally last weekend. I have embellished with some ribbon from HobbyCraft, a heart pin, a red dotted ribbon bow from Craft Fairy, some pearl bling from my stash. I have finished off with a sentiment by Craftwork Cards and some butterflies made with my Martha Stewart butterfly punch.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Club Anya & Friends DT cards, as always they are stunning.

So Gutted!!!

I may have mentioned that I was off for the weekend to Suffolk to a retreat with classes from Donna Downey....well I just had a call, and they have had to cancel. Donna is stuck in Germany, with no flights into the UK, and the airspace in Germany could possibly be closed at any time. Apparently there is not a single car available to hire, and so Amanda @ Your Touch of Craft had to take the difficult decision and cancel the whole weekend. They are hoping to reschedule and do it in October....let's hope I can still go. I have unfortunately lost out on the cost of my hotel room for tonight as it was a flat rate, no refund room....so I am out £21....C'est la vie.

Now what will I do this weekend...all my DT commitments are covered....so now I can do whatever I want....or maybe I should just get ahead of myself....decisions decisions!!!

SJ's Little Musings Friday Freebie...

It's Friday again and time for another of SJ's Little Musings...and today is the turn of Merris, the funky Gran. I have coloured Merris with Copics (available HERE from Tracy @ Dies to Die For) using the following colours...
Skin - E000/E00/E11/R20
Hair - RV000/RV02
Clothing - C0/C1/C2/C3/C5/C7/C9/RV02/RV04/RV06
The papers are all DCWV "Rockstar" and I have layered them with some black Bazzill and black Doodlebug Sugar Coated cardstock. I have embellished with some black Bazzill Tulle which I have made holes in to resemble laddered tights. I also added some pearl bling from my stash and added a sentiment that I created myself.

Make sure you hop on over to SJ's Little Musing blog and download this fab freebie. This musing reminds me of a well known crafter (not that she is anywhere near the age mentioned on my card...or even looks like this), who is a Grandma, but who is also fab, talented, trendy and truly young at heart.....I am not going to mention any names, and you probably will never guess or even agree with me.

Cute Card Thursday - Touchy Feely!

This week over on the Cute Card Thursday our theme is Touchy Feely, we want to see your creations with texture, whether that has been achieve with embossing, ribbons, fabric, flowers, flocked papers...we want to wish we could touch it! We are sponsored by Toucan Scraps and are joined by our April Guest DT...Barbara.

For my card I have used one of the new Wild Rose Studios stamps called "Milton with Teddy", you can get them from Dies to Die For....although I think he is out of stock at the moment...on backorder. I have coloured him with Copics (available from Tracy @ Dies to Die For) using the following colours...
Bear - E30/E31/E33/R20/E51
Teddy - V91/V95
The papers are by Toucan Scraps from the "Weathered" digi paper kit and I have layered them some Bazzill cardstock. I have embellished with some gorgeous lace and a flower from Wild Orchid Crafts, some heart pins from Creative Treasures, and some raffia and pearl bling from my stash. Again I have created this sentiment using word....I am looooovving these tickets....

Be sure to check out the rest of the Cute Card Thursday DT's creations.

Today I am busy getting my weekend DT commitments completed as I am off on a weekend retreat. A Touch of Craft in Bury St Edmunds doing three Donna Downey classes...including the Fabric Scrapbooking class on the Saturday...all day....cannot wait. So I will be busy printing pics, packing my tool kit, and getting my weekend cards all ready....no rest for the wicked.