Di Hickman Sketch Challenge.

I have exceeded myself this week and managed a card for the Di Hickman sketch. I decided on a masculine card and have used a piece of encaustic work for added effect.

House Mouse & Friends Challenge "paper piercing"

I have again kept this one fairly simple using patterned paper backing and a cute stamp.

Tanda Teaser "Hand Bags at Dawn"

I have used no stamping in this challenge instead I have used 3 peel off handbags which I have placed onto coloured card and cute out minus the handles, I then added decorative colour and made handles, two are seed beads on wire and the third is a crocheted ribbon.

My Time To Craft Challenge "A little bit of sunshine"

Well the end result was not what I had in mind but I changed direction half way through and I am quite pleased that I did as I really like the end result.

Rainbow Lady Challenge "Windws"

I cheated a little with this one and used a computer image , I used an embossing folder on brown card to try to give the impression of bricks.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge "Valentines"

Again straight forward stamping of image, coloured with sakura glaze pens and mounted before placing onto the prepared card blank and adding a couple of silver plastic hearts which I coloured using permanent markers.

Dutchdare Challenge "Thank You Card"

Kept this one fairy simple. I embossed the card blank and added ribbon where the embossing folder would not reach. I then stamped, punched out and coloured my whiff of joy image and placed with foam pads. Finally adding an embossed tag with message.

Cuttlebug Challenge "Distress it"

I thoroughly enjoyed making this card, and was very pleased with the end result!

I have used punched flowers and leaves along with my sizzix parchment die, I have then embossed the elements using various embossing folders and sanded the backing parchment shape to distress it.

Arty Girlz Challenge "Make an ATC"

This is the second ATC I have made in recent weeks and I think I am now getting the idea of them, (still not sure about them though) . I was pleased to see the dt example featured an encaustic piece and decided I would do likewise, but using it as a backing paper and making the main feature the fish. I think I will probably end up using this as a topper for a mans card !

Daring Cardmakers Challenge "Give it some Heart"

Yet another valentines card but this time using a good old favourite bear stamp.

Papertake Weekly Challenge "Dawnys Sketch 7"

As you all know by now I simply love sketch challenges and this one was no exception, yet another new Whiff of Joy stamp ( I bought this stamp with my uncle in mind)( he is mad about goats )).

Magnolia vs Stampavie Challenge "Double Trouble"

Given the name of this challenge it just had to be a card for twins!

High Hopes Challenge "use hearts"

Again I have used one of my new Whiff of Joy stamps, this time combining it with embossed card, patterned paper and a lovely piece of ribbon I came across and couldn't resist buying.

ISMAKI Sketch Challenge

As always a fantastic sketch to get my teeth into, I have opted for a valentines card as I have a few to make, and have used one of my new Whiff of Joy stamps, along with patterned papers and a heart embossing folder.

Arty Girlz Challenge "Transparent"

For this card I rubber stamped onto acetate using black stazon, coloured with permanent pens and glitter and then placed into a sizzix cutout. I then attached the whole thing to a card blank including some butterfly punch outs to form a shaker card.

Ismaki Sketch Challenge

Gone for another masculine card for this sketch.

My Time To Craft Challenge "Having A Laugh"

Decided on a kids card for this one !

Tanda Teaser " Rainy Days"

This one speaks for itself, the backing card is encaustic, the picture backing sponged with adirondak inks & the image colouring is done with sakura pens.

Magnolia Challenge "Plenty of Bows"

The idea seemed a good one, not too sure about the result!

Cuttle bug Challenge "Becky's Sketch"

For this card I went on a fishing theme and used one of my Tanda stamps along with embossed circles.

Not A Good Crafting Day!

Well here we are again with this weeks challenges, I have had a go at most of them.

I seem to have been unable to get my act together today and am not very happy with what I have created so I have given up!

Maybe tomorrow I will find the Midas touch!

Meanwhile here are todays offerings,

(only fair to share good and bad)

House Mouse & Friends Colour Challenge.

This weeks challenge was to follow a colour combination (coral. rich olive & navy).

I have coloured the backing card using adirondak inks, the blue just swept across directly from the pad and the green sponged on. I then rubber stamped my image and coloured in using copic markers.

High Hopes Challenge "Card for a Dude"

I decided that my little fellow was probably better minus his wings, Simply done with a textured backing card and then contrasting papers cut into shapes with my sizzix and embossed. The finishing touches a peel off greeting coloured with permanent pens and some scraps from peel offs again coloured.

Pollycraft Challenge "Flowers & Ribbons"

I decided to do something a lit bit different today and rather than using a backing paper I have used very large fabric flowers along with loops of ribbon directly onto a card blank. I then used my little elf girl cut out and mounted as the centre of the flower!

Just to Share!

Yesterday I received a parcel from Tanda Stamps and couldn't wait to play with what I had bought......This dragon image was just screaming at me to be used.

I stamped him using black stazon onto silver mirror card and then coloured him in with sakura glaze pens, after several hours the ink still had not dried so I sprinkled with embossing powder and heat set. I am really delighted with the end result, it was difficult to scan as its one of those cards that need to be moved to appreciate, but I think you can get the general idea!

Rainbow Lady Challenge "FASHION"

I got these stamps out to do a card for a friends 60th birthday, which I featured earlier in the week, for that card I cut the clothes away from their border so for this challenge I have used them in their entirety.

Dutch Dare Challenge "Blue, Brown & Green"

I have made yet another needed Birthday card for this challenge and used one of the new stamps I won on the Tanda Stamps Forum.

Ismaki Challenge Sketch

For my final card today I have taken up the sketch challenge from the ismaki site and combined it with a Birthday card I needed for a friend. I am really pleased with the end result although I must admit to spending about 3 hours in making it!

Cute Card Thursday Challenge "Have A Giggle"

I do not have any real comedy stamps and so I got help from my computer to make this card!

The cow is 3D although this does not show well on the scan.

Daring Cardmakers Challenge "Recycle"

Another great challenge giving me the opportunity to use an item from my scrap box.....The butterfly is one I made years ago and the little dandelion tiles was on a card I received last year and couldn't bring myself to chuck out.

Arty Girlz Challenge " Button It"

I was wondering what to do with these little flower buttons, so this challenge gave me the opportunity to use them.

Cuttlebug Challenge "Favourite Folder"

This was a hard one, all the cuttlebug embossing folders are great, but I suppose if I had to choose a favourite it would be the paisley. I have completed this card with one of my new stamps and a large paisley chipboard shape.

Papertake Weekly "Dawny's Sketch"

I decided that this sketch lent itself more to a masculine card, I have just won the fishing set on the Tanda Forum Monthly Card challenge, so have taken this opportunity to use one of the images.

Tanda Teaser "wake up and smell the coffee"

For this challenge I decided to use coffee colours and of course a little mouse in a mug!

Rainbow Lady Challenge "Green and Black"

This card ( I think ) is simply fantastic, sadly because of the bow it has not scanned brilliantly, but I think you get the general gist!

Cute Card Thursday Challenge "Something New" Plus C.P.S. Sketch

This card kills two birds so to speak, my new rubber stamps arrived from pollycraft at midday so I have used one of them to fit the cute card Thursday challenge and I have followed the sketch from the C.P.S. challenge.

House Mouse & Friends Challenge "An ATC"

This is another 1st for me as I have never made an ATC before, not sure that I am impressed with it but as always the good and bad go hand in hand!

High Hopes Challenge "Dry Embossing"

I have used a new rubber stamp for this challenge which I stamped using stazon directly onto a hand coloured backing paper. I then used plain contrasting coloured papers which I embossed with my swirls folder and completed it all with a little lilac bow.

Polly Craft Monday Challenge "DOODLE"

I have just found this challenge site and decided to have a go, for this card I have used a download from their web site and added some doodles, I have ordered some of their stamps but they have not arrived yet!

Arty Girlz Challenge "Anything but a Card"

Finally for today I have again used my new die and stamped and cut out a teddy puzzle, I then made a box for it so it will make a nice little gift for someone special.

My Time To Craft Challenge "Glorious Food"

I enjoyed this challenge very much, I combined an old favourite stamp with a new die cutter and was quite pleased with the effect.

Tanda Teaser Challenge "Quick Cards in a Quartet"

Well I was really impressed with Wendy's card for this challenge so decided to try it out for myself.

Dutch Dare Challenge 30 "At least 3 Triangles"

Again I have used a new rubber stamp, this time combining it with 3 embossed triangles and an encaustic background. I love it!

High Hopes Challenge "Torn Paper"

Today has been all about getting challenges completed at the same time as trying out new bits and pieces. This card features one of my new rubber stamps and I think the torn effect suits him quite well.

Cuttlebug Challenge 13 "Simple White Card"

Wow what a fantastic challenge this was, I was so impressed with the dt cards I really had to try it for myself, now I know what a fantastic effect it can have using plain paper & embossing folders I am sure I will be using it a lot in the future!

Rainbow Lady Challenge "New Stamps/New Ideas"

I have been busy today trying to get the house ship shape, you know what its like with men under your feet, any way I had to make a card for a very special occasion and I also managed to have a play with a few of the new stamps I have bought since Christmas. My first posting is a commissioned card for a lady whose friend is about to receive an M.B.E. and the 2nd is a new stamp of a mermaid . Both fit into this challenge criteria so take your pick.!

With any luck now the house work is up too scratch I will have more time tomorrow for the rest of the challenges awaiting!

Cuttlebug Challenge 12 "sand the emboss"

I needed to make a birthday card for my son who is fast approaching his 30th, I found this dufex decoupage sheet which was ideal as he is a carpenter, I also found so,e metal numbers, the trouble was it just didn't seem to marry together, then I saw this challenge and decided that a bit of sanded embossed card was just right for the finished result, so here it is!