A Day for Daisies Giraffe take #2

I couldn't resist using this sweet A Day for Daisies image to make my mom's Mother's Day card.

One of the great things about digital images is that you can flip them and reduce or increase their size! I did both for this simple card and am quite pleased with the result... I just hope my mom likes it too!

If I wasn't on the DT,  I'd definitely be linking this card to this challenge! I might not be able to join this challenge but you can as there are still six days left until it closes on Saturday 25th March!

However, I'm delighted to say that I CAN link to Kathy's 30 Day Colouring Challenge... So I will!

Happy crafting, everyone!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #80 - Q is for Queen

Yes, the sisterhood are 'By Royal Appointment' this month with Edna looking at her queenly best!

For Challenge #80 our theme is Q is for Queen. This is a great theme for late March, which sees Mothering Sunday celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent across most of Europe.

Having said all that, my card is a birthday card for a very dear friend. Here's my lovely buddy, Dawn, making some new friends about two years ago. Dawn is a great animal lover, but her favourite without doubt is the giraffe. I thought this cutie from A Day for Daisies would be perfect for her birthday card.

Come see what the Sistahs have created; they certainly are a fabulously witty and snarky crew, and you'll love their inspiration cards for this most regal of challenges!

Naughty or Nice Challenge #37 - Reminder

I'm in denial about the fact that we are half-way through March! Seriously, how did that happen??! Well, at least it does mean that we get to see yet more inspiration from the Troublemakers for the March challenge: 'Feature a Creature', so it's not all bad!

I love, love, love this crazy bunny from Bugaboo! Just look at that fabulously-goofy expression.

I knew that I wanted to use just a portion of the bunny's face for my card. I was delighted to find that the Bugaboo images shrink and grow without any loss of shape or clarity, and can also be cropped easily. I also knew I wanted bright and cheery colours as this card is heading to my sweet little niece, along with some chocolate eggs!

This month at Naughty or Nice, Bugaboo are acting as our sponsors and there are prize vouchers for our winners.

I also created this card for my cousin, using a fun set from Lawn Fawn. Who doesn't love Nessie!

I hope you can join us for this challenge.

Creative with Stamps Challenge #12 Mid- month Inspiration

Hi everyone, it's mid-month reminder time again over at Creative with Stamps!

We're loving your Easter creations and would love to see more of your gorgeous work in our linky gallery before the challenge ends!

I'm sorry about the quality of these photographs. The light levels aren't great right now.

This Stampin' Up! bunny is a real cutie but a little on the small size to use as a single image. I decided to do some random stamping in blue Versafine on a Distress Ink background to make best use of him. The sentiment is a digital one I've had for ages but can't recall where it's from. I added twine, did some layering in blue and called it finished!

Sadly, this is my last outing with Monika, Lillian and the lovely CWS crew as I am finding my DT commitments a bit of a struggle now due to changes in my job. Creative with Stamps has been going for a year now and it's been a real joy to be part of the journey. I wish these lovely ladies all the best for the future and look forward to dropping by to join the challenges as often as I can manage.

In the meantime, why don't you drop by and join the fun over at Creative with Stamps Easter challenge... 

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes!

I got up early, cleaned my house from top-to-bottom, did all the laundry and then discovered I had time for a little crafting!
🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 RESULT!

I always enjoy playing along with the girls at Seize the Birthday, so I wandered over to see if there were any 'toppings' on the challenge for this week. It's an 'Anything Goes' week with the lovely Anita as a surprise party guest: nice!

Here's my card, featuring my stamp of the moment from Create a Smile.

Three different Distress Inks, white embossing powder, three sequins and that's pretty much it! So simple and yet quite effective.

Now, I'm off to take a look at the Seize the Birthday gallery as there are always some gorgeous cards on offer over there!

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #79 - G is for Green with Envy

Our beloved Edna is looking a little green around the gills this week. However, she's not poorly but simply consumed with pure, green envy... or celebrating St Patrick's day, depending how you roll!

For Challenge #79 The Sisterhood are looking for cards which feature the colour green.

My offering for this challenge is rather on the snarky side!

My sassy gal is from Art Impressions, the lime segment stamp is from Concord & 9th and the 'sentiment' was added on my PC. The Sisterhood had way to much fun with this challenge and we'd love you to join in too!

Card Chain Challenge Reveal - February 2017

Happy Card Chain Challenge Reveal Day, everyone!

My love for this stamp from Create a Smile continues to grow and grow! This is the second time this gorgeous mandala has appeared on my blog and I have to say that I can't wait to use it again and again. I used watercolour card then stamped in Versamark and heat embossed the design with white embossing powder from  Hero Arts. I smooshed Distress ink on a stamping block and then 'blotted' the card onto the block. I really like the end result, which reminds me a little of Sari fabric.

I came pretty close with the colours this month...

And (if you screw your eyes up, tip your head to one side and take a very, very long walk backwards) you'll be able to clearly see that I also used the sketch! LOL!

I sent my card to Carol in Scotland and received this gorgeous creation from the lovely Jutta, who lives a little further away in Canada!

The gallery is looking fabulous this month, so please drop in and join us at CCC for a quick, creative trip around the globe.

If you'd like to be a link in the March Chain, please click here and join the current sign-up.

Naughty or Nice Challenge #37 - Mad as a March Hare... Feature a Creature!

We've reached the dizzying heights of Challenge #37 over at Naughty or Nice!

This month we're challenging you to 'Feature a Creature' on your card. Unsurprisingly, I've decided to feature a cat! I'm also featuring a creature of the human variety: namely the adorable, and ever so grouchy, Stella from Bugaboo.

We're delighted to be sponsored by Jodie at Bugaboo Stamps stamps this month at Naughty or Nice.

There's a $12.00 voucher waiting for the best Naughty Winner and the best Nice Winner for March!

Jodie very generously gave The Troublemakers some gorgeous Bugaboo images to work with and we all had loads of fun, as you'll see when you head over to NoN central. I knew I wanted to use Bugaboo's Stella for my card, however I usually struggle with digital images as the ink 'bleeds' into the lighter Promarker colours. I've now discovered Neenah Smooth White Paper from Simon Says Stamp and this 80lb card seems to 'hold' the ink sufficiently well for me to colour with very few problems. This discovery can only mean one thing: lots of crafting with digital images!!!

I guess this card is a hybrid as it features a digi (Stella) and some stamping as the pretty flowers around the edge of the card are from the gorgeous Concord and 9th set Happy Day Stamp Set. The sentiment was printed on my PC.

Please come and join us at Naughty or Nice Challenges as we feature some creatures!

Creative with Stamps Challenge #12 - Easter

It's hard to believe that we've reached Challenge #12 over at Creative with Stamps!

And Challenge #12 is a real goody: Easter!

Here's my offering for the challenge. Isn't this bunny from Art Impressions simply adorable? I can't remember where I bought him but I just couldn't resist the look of happiness on his face and, with very little encouragement, he hopped into my basket and came to live in my craft room!

I was going to add a sentiment to this card but once I'd built the scene I decided to leave it without one. The bunting stamp is by Marianne Designs and took lots of fussy cutting and piecing-together before I was happy with the finished look.

The CWS DT girl's have created some beautiful and inspirational cards, so please take a look and join in the fun!