Snowflake Fairy

Well the plan was to post on Sunday and make it an all time record of three in a row but I failed. I nearly managed it but time beat me and I didn't have the opportunity to do so again until last night; hence this mornings post, I don't start work today until later. I'm now fully into my Christmas card making and thinking about my next one, although I do need to start to plan my sisters birthday card which is at the end of August which I have decided I will make (no pressure... eek) as yet I have no idea about what I'm going to do, but I'm sure it will come to me as I get inspired by the wealth of stunning card makers and designs out there in 'blog land'.

I couldn't resist using the wee stamp again sorry; I just love her and need to get some more. Her facial expression is so lively... To me she looks a bit naughty but cute at the same time and is either up to mischief or planning to be. Her hair is amazing and a joy to colour, itis great for practising my shading. My favourite colour blue was used again with promarkers (of course) adding a hint of pinks and purples to her wings and lots of glitter to make her sparkle. I stamped  the background of fairy with a small snowflake stamp to break up the white; it is very subtle and not sure if the photos pick it up very well but I'm happy with how it turned out.

I used the following to make my card:-

• Wee Stamps from Whimsy Stamps  coloured with promarkers and added blue and iridescent glitter
• snowflake stamp
• white scalloped base card
• blue textured card for layering
• blue snowflake paper - Magazine freebie
• blue spot paper- Me to You -Especially for You paper pack
• white felt snowflake-Papermania-Docrafts-from local craft store
• blue glitter gel pen -faux stitching and highlights to dress -WHSmith
• die cut sentiment -'let it snow'-(inside card)- magazine freebie

From stash:-

• blue satin and organza ribbon
• vellum,silver holographic die cut snowflakes
• pearl bead snowflake- from last years  Christmas cracker recycled!
• small and large blue gems 

'Snowflake Fairy'

Close up 

I love the felt snowflake

Inside of card

I would like to take part in following challenges this week-

Challenge #181 Things with wings-The crafty Pad  

Challenge#94-Anything Goes-Craft And Me challenges  

Challenge 142-pearls -Totally Gorjuss 

Challenge #102-Christmas in July- 2 Sisters Challenge Blog

Challenge #100-Always Anything goes- Make it Monday 

Challenge#48 -Anything goes with a girly twist- CMC Copic challenge(or other alcohol markers)

HIMCR challenge #56-Christmas in July 

Christmas in July -Sweet Stampin challenge blog

Challenge #35-Christmas again- DRS Designs Rubber stamps 

Challenge#21 Anything goes- Tammy scrappin corner- 
Challenge #23-Christmas in July- The Cutie Pie Challenge 

Frosty Fairy

As promised Christmas card number 3 and my second post today, I'm still planning to make it three cards/posts in total... which will be a record for me. This time I've went for a bright pink/silver girly design again using the Kate knight free papers but this time the pink snowflakes, the pretty striped paper is from Wild Rose Studio and was also a magazine freebie which I think works well together even though it's a summer paper.

The wee fairy stamp was a mag freebie which is from part of a set from Wee Stamps from Whimsy Stamps  the other fairy in the set is just as adorable with a bunch of flowers. The Whimsy Stamps website is ace... I love it, the range they have is amazing, I could easily have one of everything. She is so cute and was a dream to colour, I was determined to use her on a Christmas card as soon as I saw her even though she was part of a summer set. I've also coloured another one in blue which is the card that I'm still working on.Her hair is absolutely wonderful and I'm sure with practice I will get better at colouring it, but it was still a joy to do and I did really enjoy it, I added lots of glitter to her wings, the flowers in her dress and hair, I even glittered her shoes (excessive I know but it is for Christmas!) 

It was also the first time I used peel off's and probably the last... they are so fiddly and difficult, I ruined loads and couldn't put them on straight, the border is no where near perfect so I covered the messy corners (not mitred... I didn't even dare to try) with little snowflakes to disguise the disaster underneath! As for the greeting.... Arghhh, I couldn't get it straight, I was losing the will to live and running out of peel off's despite starting off with a full sheet of greetings... Peel off's are not on my wish list, ready made Christmas sentiments or stamps are! I reckon anyone who enjoys using them must have the patience of a saint and the steady hand of a brain surgeon... Neither of which I possess! 

This is also the first easel card I have made that hasn't fallen over, so either I'm getting better or it was a happy accident... Although its also the smallest card I've made, maybe I need to keep them small... Hmm we shall see next time I make one. Well it is now time that I stopped having fun and rambling on and get on with the chores for today, I'm off to do the usual... Housework, ironing and  then the food shopping, although if all goes well I will be back later this evening with my third Christmas card of the day...enjoy the last of your weekend and see you soon. X

I used the following to make my card:-

• die cut satin card rectangle
• cream textured card stock for layering 
• wee stamp- coloured with promarkers with pink and iridescent glitter added

From stash:-

• pink and cream mulberry roses-glittered 
• pearls and pearl ribbon buckle 
• vellum,silver card and holographic punched snowflakes
• lace and  pink satin ribbon
• silver peel off borders,snowflakes and sentiment

Frosty Fairy

Close Up of Glitter 

Challenges I would like to enter this week are as follows 

Crafty Anns Challenge Blog - Challenge 70 (easel card)

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - Challenge 143: All That Glitters
Shellys Images Blog - Terrifically Thrilling Thursday Show us
ABC Christmas Challenge - O is for open it up (decorate inside)
Crafts and Me Challenges - Challenge 94: Anything Goes
I Love Promarlers - Challenge 127: Gold, Silver or Bronze (Second Entry)
Pink by Designs Stamps - Merry Christmas in July: Ink it Pink
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Diamonds, Pearls and Lace
Ladybugs Crafts Ink Challenge Blog
Party Time Tuesdays - Christmas in July

A Jolly Snowman

another week over and a new one just about to start,work is still very busy and stressful and my card making is my escape,which works a treat at helping me to 'switch off'... this week I've continued with my Christmas card making(despite the lovely weather...not that I'm complaining )has continued this week and is going strong.As is the 'Christmas in July' challenges and I've seen so many wonderful cards whilst blog hopping to inspire me once more this week.

I got the colouring and planned the layouts on Friday as I needed to take the day off work.I was busy in the morning and my daughter and I did some crafting in the afternoon, she made some pretty tags for her boyfriends forthcoming birthday and I coloured several Christmas stamps, it's the first time we have spent together 'doing something' since she got back form Uni... I really enjoyed it and hope we get to do something again soon. 

I've completely finished two cards this weekend and on to my third which hopefully I will put together later today.The jolly snowman is the first...isn't he a happy chappy.I haven't used any traditional colours for them and I am quite happy with the results,at this rate I will have more than enough by December...that's the plan anyway.This week I bought some pretty snowflake charms from my local bead shop and and a few other bits and bobs as my Christmas stash consisted of various snowflakes,some magazine freebies and not much else other than my imagination,which is limited...to say the least! This card was the quickest to do as it also didn't take a lot of colouring ..snowman don't I noticed... he has been well glittered though to make him shine!

I used the following to make my card

• snowflake paper - Kate knight paper pack (magazine freebie)
• red/multi spot paper-( magazine freebie)
• red textured card for layering
• blue glittered pearlised paper- (for layering snowman stamp)
• snowman stamp -coloured with promarkers and glittered (sorry dont know where from as was given it)
• blue organza ribbon /blue metallic cord
• pearl  and white candi's
• vellum,silver card and holographic punched snowflakes - made into embellishments
• tiny red brads- (centre of snowflake-WHSmith)
• snowflake charm- local shop

Jolly snowman Christmas card number 2 

glittered snowman

 My snowflake embellishment 

Challenges I would like to take part in this week are-

http://www.lisasomerville.com/2012/07/christmas-in-july-bloggers-challenge.html

http://pixieduststudiopixiechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/pixie-does-some-christmas-shopping.html

http://scrapbookstampsocietychallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/winter-wonderland-blog-challenge.html 

http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/challenge-127-gold-silver-or-bronze.html                     

http://thepapershelter.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/challenge-no-74-metal-embellishment.html  

http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/ptt78-christmas-in-july.html

http://lexiscreations.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/challenge-70-and-winners-of-69.html

-monthly challenge

http://ccmonthlychallenge.blogspot.com.es/2012/07/challenge-26ho-ho-ho-christmas.html-monthly challenge 

Christmas in July

What an absolutely beautiful sunny weekend we have had..summer has finally arrived, even if its only a few days.The garden is looking lovely with all the rain we have had so  we made the most of it at the weekend. 

I started and finished my first Christmas card as promised,with so many bloggers that I follow making Christmas cards...there has been a ton of inspiration to put me in a festive mood, I have saw some truly amazing cards over the last few days.  

It was close though as the weather is so nice that I didn't want to spend it being indoors, I got some time last night as I finished work earlier than usual and completed it writing my post this morning as as it was too late and I  dont start work till 1pm.I did not have much time last week for any card making other than to colour some festive stamps and a couple not so 'christmassy'ones  but I plan to try and make them festive as I like the stamps so much and pleased with the colouring ...so it will be Christmas in July and probably August to for me! I've done quite a mix of styles from traditional to modern which hopefully will be here to see over the next few weeks.

I have used Tilda for my first one as she looked so cute in her little hat and scarf. I did think I would struggle to make any as my Christmas stash is very limited, mainly magazine freebies from the past year that had been left unused and bits and bobs that I have saved from chistmas crackers and cards etc (its amazing what can be recycled). I have a little box of bits from the past couple of years that I thought would 'come in handy some time'...well sometime has arrived!,I have some lovely bead snowflakes that where on our crackers last year which will be perfect as an embellishment on a card. I think I will manage with what I have, although I'm already adding 'Christmas essentials' to my ever growing wish list.

I did have a bit of a disaster when glittering Tilda's hat, there was wet glue on backing card that I  didn't notice when I used it, it stuck everywhere!!! I managed to get most of it off with a wet wipe, although this slightly damaged the card hence the blue satin bow to disguise it, she was too pretty not to use and I didn't have time to start again, so a strategically placed bow saved the day.sorry the photos are a bit dark I struggled as  my hand and the camera were reflecting in the mirri card,so had to angle the card away from the light source...it doesn't quite work though!

My daughter has taught me again how to post pictures and badges etc... but will I remember...time will tell(I did take notes this time!).See side panel for a super duper candy from one of my favourite bloggers that I follow...it looks wonderful,click on picture to take you to link to check it out. I'm waffling on now so time to post this and enjoy the rest of the morning sunshine before I go to work X.

I have used the following to make my card

• Tilda 'on a present' - coloured with promarkers and glittered 
• White square card 6"x6"
• Dark blue textured card -layering
• Snowflake backing paper - magazine freebie
• Blue patterned  paper- free digi download possibly Bearly-Mine but not sure...sorry
• Silver mirri card and mesh
• Grossgrain ribbon,organza ribbon,satin bow.
• Holographic,vellum and silver card punched snowflakes 
• Blue pearl

Challenges I  would like to take part in this week are-

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/make-it-monday-99-with-digi-my-world.html-

Anything goes

http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/126-sparkle.html -Sparkle

http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/paper-pretties-wednesday-challenge_18.html-Bling it on

http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/delightfuls-christmas-in-july.html-Christmas in July

http://digidoodleshopsbest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/challenge-117-anything-goes.html-Anything goes

http://addicted-to-stamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/challenge-35.html -Christmas in July

http://magnoliastamplovers.blogspot.co.uk/ -‘sugar’ and spice and all things nice

http://quirkycrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/challenge-15-christmas-in-july.html-Christmas in July

http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/christmas-in-july.html-Christmas in July

http://tildastown.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/challenge-10-anything-goes/-Anything goes

http://shellysimagesblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/terrifically-thrilling-thursday-show-us.html-Christmas - Anything goes

Summer Holiday

I haven't posted anything for a fortnight as I've been away on Holiday in Cornwall for a week and we got back on Friday evening. Me and hubby had a great time and I even got sunburn when the rest of the UK was having floods! We were very lucky with the weather with dry sunny spells for parts of every day, apart from one (when we went to the Eden project). We got to sit on the beach almost every day... It was bliss. Sadly back to work tomorrow, but I did manage to finish a card today that I started before I went away. It's another easel card as I'm still working on ensuring they don't topple over, so far it hasn't so maybe at last I've cracked it... Third time lucky as they say! I used a Sarah Kay stamp - 'Isabelle with puppy Coco' and I've chosen a bright summer colour scheme with lots of florals and butterflies. I love the stamp and can imagine sitting in a meadow on a hot sunny day making daisy chains with not a care in the world.... wishful thinking!

I used the following to make my card -

• White scalloped base card
• Coral pink textured card stock for layering 
• Sarah Kay stamp- coloured with Promarkers (highlights to hat with white gel pen)
• Papers:-
• Fancy Pants designs-Beach babe
• Me to you- Especially for you
• Raspberry Road luxury paper pack - all papers were magazine freebies
• Cream lace 
• Pink ribbon, pink wool (also used to make wool bow)
• Tonic butterflies punched from various papers used and decorated using gems, pearls and glitter.
• White punched  Martha Stewart 'Monarch' butterflies 
• Various sizes and shades of pink pearls and gems
• Felt flowers (which I added buttons to)
• Floral washi tape
• Small flower brad (on wool bow)
• White die cut scroll
• With love sentiment-magazine freebie

Again this week I've taken quite a few photos, it looks quite red in the photo's but it is actually pink  in 'real' life. I'm quite pleased with the result although my daughter thinks it's a bit OTT and is not her favourite style of card, she also thinks Sarah Kay is 'old fashioned', she was part of my childhood, so I love her, reminds me of when I was little and I'm not that old! Well that all for this week and I'm hoping to start on some Christmas cards next week or that is the plan although that was also the plan two week ago so we will see! Take care  X

 'summer days' 

Challenges I would like to take part in this week are as follows

Cardmakinmamas - Challenge #49 Rubber

Stamping with dragon - Ribbons and bows

Daring card makers - Lace and pearls

Art impressions stamps -  #challenge 71 easel card or more than one fold 

Dutch dare card challenges - I used bright colours,pearls and buttons... although I used all but Distressing, I could have gone for a full house almost!

Digi doodle stamps best - Challenge #116 Summertime 

Paper crafting journey - Fortnightly challenge - summer

Willow sketchie challenge - Sketch and/or summer holidays 

Bearly mine challenges - Challenge #43 Pearls and lace

My time to craft challenge - #183 It's raining cats & dogs

Everybody art challenge - #201 Summer

Butterflies,bows and bling

Well its been another really busy week at work and im making the most of my weekend, I have managed to finish this card last night and I'm working on another. My daughter is off to the lake district on holiday for a week... I hope it doesn't rain to much, although im sure they will have a great time whatever... it's her first holiday with her boyfriend and without parents, they arranged all of it themselves ,she was really excited, I'm sure they will be fine and have a lovely time. As it was wet yesterday I got to spend some time card making... what else could I possibly do? Housework? Ironing?Hmm... not high on the priority list!

This is my second easel card, I still haven't got the fold quite right and initially it kept toppling over, but it seems to have sorted its self out, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong... but practice makes perfect so my next one is going to be an an easel card too. I had planned to start some Christmas cards as the other half reckons that I could make this years... I'm not so confident though. There are a few stamps that I really want to colour and use first so maybe in a couple of weeks I will start.

I wanted a soft and summery look and tried to colour Tilda very lightly (with promarkers of course) but I couldn't get the effect I wanted, although I am happy with how she turned out. I also did clouds in the background but the camera hasn't picked them up very well. I watched some tutorials on blogs and YouTube and decided to use chalks, I made some stencils for the clouds themselves. I think I need to do it a little heavier next time or use darker shades. I have added lots of bling with gems, glitter and pearls, it may be a little OTT for some but I love it, although I am running out of gems so may need to use less in future until I can go shopping... how am I going to cope?!

Sorry there are more photos than usual... I couldn't decide which ones worked best or had the best angles so I kept them all! Blue is definitely becoming ahead of all other colours in my card collection, it is one of my favourites, although I hadn't realised until I was looking at my cards yesterday how many are blue, that explains why I have so few blue papers to choose from and need to go on a little shopping spree to stock up on supplies. I still have quite a stash and a lots of freebies that I've collected from magazines, but now that I'm making cards on a regular basis a little shopping trip is required.

I used the following materials:-

• Scalloped white base card,blue textured card for layering.
• Papers-blue and yellow floral and butterflies-magazine freebie
• Paper-blue white spot(small)-Dovecraft basic
• Paper-blue white spot(large)-Cool Britannia paperpack- magazine freebie
• Paper-Pale blue with blue spot(on base)- magazine freebie
• Tilda- coloured with promarkers,glitter and white gel pen highlights
• Die cut butterflies and border
• Blue satin ribbon and double bow(two shades of blue used) 
• White satin flowers,grey mulberry flower
• Blue pearls, clear gems and glitter(on butterflies and to decorate 
• Butterfly charm

I would like to enter the following challenges -

Fairy tale challenge #44-pastel /soft colour tones 

Make it Monday challenge#95- anything goes 

Inspire Me Friday challenge #65-anything goes

The poodle parlour- cute and or cuddly

Chocolate,Coffee Cards-challenge~16-anything goes 

Hiding in My Craft Room- challenge#52- freestyle- anything goes 

Speedy and Friends - challenge114- use metal

365 Cards- day120-Sparkle and Shine - use 2 techniques/items 

Little Miss Muffett-challenge#38-Sparkle

willow sketchy challenge-theme-Sparkle and shine 

Fab'n'funky-challenge#127-cute and girly

I Love Promarkers -challenge#123-anything goes