Just to Say Hi

This was a great sketch to follow, fairly simple but very effective. I have started to keep sketches in a notebook to refer to when I need inspiration. I know I could print them off but I figure I am using less ink and paper this way and I got to buy a lovely notebook from Paperchase. So it is really a win, win! What does everyone else do?

Anyhow, this is for Friday Sketchers. I have used a Frillie Millie image from Pink Petticoat and coloured her with Copics. The paper is Bo-Bunny's Back to Basics and I have finished her off (oh dear, that doesn't sound right) with zoomz.

Some Exciting News.....

I am now proud to be the October guest designer for the amazing challenge blog Creative Inspirations..........and.........I won the Sunday Sketch and Stamp challenge, some fabby downloads from Pink Petticoat.

I am definitely going to buy an extra lottery ticket this week!

Buzz Off!

Long weekend over and back to work today. I got a few cards made over the weekend and here is the first one. It fits two challenges -

Cute Card Thursday.....Buzz Off! Use black and yellow.

Secret Crafter.....Animal Antics.....the stranger and funnier things they get up to the better.

So, a cat dressed up as a bee.........need I say more?

It is, of course, a Penny Black stamp and I have coloured with water colour pencils.

Getting Sporty

Over on Charisma Cardz challenge this week it's time to 'Get Sporty'. Don't you think little Alfie is looking very sporty in his cricket gear?

The papers are by Basic Grey with the brads to match and I have used two of my CB embossing folders. Alfie is from the DigiStamp Boutique and I have coloured him with Copics.

Snowflakes in September

Another challenge that will help me get ready for the not so far away festivities. This time I have used one of my favourite festive stamps, Snowy, by Penny Black. I have quite a few images all water coloured and good to go, so you can look forward to seeing Snowy on lots of cards over the next couple of months!

I am trying my luck in the Allsorts challenge where the theme is 'Snowflakes in September'. The paper is 'Santa's on his way....' by Forever Friends. I used a snowflake punch and a CB die for the snowflakes and finished them off with buttons.

It is a Holiday Monday weekend here so I have an extra day off work. I plan to clear out the garage so that I can get the car in over the winter months but if you come here and see more cards then you know the car will be out in the cold this winter!

Happy Days

Sunday, Monday, Happy days. But no........it's not the Fonz. It's Winnie!

The challenge over on Secret Crafter this week is 'One for the Girls' so a perfect opportunity to use this fab new download from the Digi Stamp Boutique. Don't you think it's great for a teenager and very contemporary.

The papers are Basic grey 'Cupcake' and I have used the matching brads. Oh, and the image was coloured with Copics.

Uplifting Occasion!

No matter how often I use this stamp it always makes me smile!

I have given the Copics a well deserved rest and used my water colour pencils to colour this Penny Black stamp ' Uplifting Occasion'. The papers are from the Cosmopolitan Collection by MakingMemories.

It fits two challenges.....

Penny Black Saturday - Lace and Pearls.

Friday Sketchers - well, it seems these days I always need a sketch to follow and this one was just the job. I turned the sketch on its side to fit the shape of the image.

What did the bra say to the hat?

You go on ahead!

Autumn Blessings

This is the second of my Sunday morning cards and it fits three challenges -

Copic Colour Challenge - Orange, Greyish Olive and Honey. I don't have those colours so I have used the closest ones I've got, but that's OK they let you!

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Fall into Autumn. I think this season has arrived, which isn't my favourite, wind and rain all day, every day!

Creative Inspirations - Animals. I hope two little bluebirds count!

The image is from Angels Landing and I have coloured with Copics. The paper is Dill Blossom by SEI.

Let it Snow

Another one done for Christmas. This follows the sketch over on Sunday Sketch and Stamp. I have used Milly from the DigiStamp Boutique. Isn't she cute, and great to colour. The papers are from the X-mas Collection by Kars and I have coloured with Copics. I have also used a glitter pen to add some twinkles but, as usual, this does not show up on the photograph.

Guess What?

And they say lightning never strikes twice but here I am a design team member for the fabby new Crafty Calendar Challenge. See, look over there, I have the banner to prove it! Doesn't it look swell beside my other new banner?

The launch is on Friday 2nd October when the first challenge will be set. Thereafter the challenges will be set on the first Friday of every month.

I have been a hop round the rest of the teams amazing blogs and they are all filled with beautiful creations, you should go see for yourselves.

See you here on the 2nd October!

Winter Wishes

Christmas has arrived in the buttonsforbrains household! Well, in so much as the box with my Christmas stash has been hauled out from the back of the cupboard.

So what brought on this sudden flurry (see what I did there) of activity? The answer - this latest cool (see what I did there, again) set of images by Sally-Ann over at the DigiStamp Boutique. Her name is Milly and she is one of three new images for Christmas. I have one of the other Millys ready but I'm saving that one for tomorrows post.

So this fits two challenges -

Sketch and Stash - a fab sketch. My new item is, of course, my Milly image from the DigiStamp Boutique.

One Stop Craft challenge - Let it Snow. This is very snowy but I don't think the camera has picked up all the twinkles.

Milly was coloured with Copics and I have used white flower soft on her hat. The sentiment is a Sizzix die cut.

Gingham ribbon is a bit of a thing with me just now, not too sure if it suits Christmas, but it's on now and it's stayin'!

I have been chosen..........

......to be a guest designer for the simply fabulous Digi Stamp Boutique. Look out for more on this exciting news soon!

Simple Pleasures

These MME papers are my favourite at the moment (and, as usual I wish I had bought 2 packs). I have put them to good use making this card which is for two challenges.......

Dare U2 Digi Stamp has a great sketch to follow and

Stamp Somethings is use your favourite embellishment (mmm, let me think about that for a minute, oh that's right buttons!).

The image is from Pink Petticoat and I have couloured with Copics.

Frillie Millie

This little cutie is for the Papertake challenge where there is a great sketch to follow. The image is a Frillie Millie from Pink Petticoat. I have coloured with Copics and the paper is by Doodlebug.

I am off now to galavant about with my Mum and enjoy what might be the last of this years sunshine!

Ooh La La!

Bonjour, mon amis!

And that's really about all I can remember of my school french. Anyway this card is for the great sketch over on Sketch and Stash. I have used my new Penny Black stamp 'Ooh La La!' that I bought in Blade Rubber whilst we were on holiday in London.

I used water colour pencils to colour him, really quick and easy. The papers are from my scrap box. I've had them for yonks and don't have the foggiest idea from where they came. I have embellished with brads and buttons and resisted the temptation to use gingham ribbon.

Au revoir!

Bloomin' Marvellous

I just looked up the dictionary to check my spelling of marvellous 'cos I couldn't decide between one L or two. Guess what it says? Marvellous - very good, extremely pleasing, astonishing, almost or altogether beyond belief. Well, if that's what the dictionary says then then I'm happy with that!

To make my marvellous card I used a Pink Petticoat image coloured with Copics. The papers are by My Minds Eye. I finished off with gingham ribbon, which I'm loving at the moment and a couple of cute buttons.

This fits two challenges -

My Time To Craft which is 'Polka Dot Party'

Friday Sketchers just under the wire, hope I've made it on time.

Holiday Snaps London

So here are the promised holiday snaps I will try not to bore you too much and just show some highlights. I am not in the slightest photogenic and run a mile when a camera is pointed at me but I promise that I was in fact there!

We stayed at the Lord Milner in Belgravia. I can highly recommend this little hotel, our room was lovely and it is in a great location.

A ten minute stroll to Buckingham Palace and in the other direction about 30 minutes to Big Ben and Parliament.

The yummiest and most not to be missed afternoon tea is to be had at the Haymarket Hotel. Give yourself plenty of time as this cake stand is just for starters, they are more than happy to replenish anything you want. I highly recommend an elasticated waistband!

The British Museum is fab (and look out for Blade Rubber stamps just across the road). Didn't nearly have enough time so just picked out the Egyption section to have a wander round.

And look, who'da thunk it me and DH in a former life!

We saw two shows. Avenue Q and Wicked. Both were excellent but I think Avenue Q won it for me.

Sugar Sugar

The challenge on this weeks Sugar Bowl is a lovely sketch to follow with the added extra of 'buttons' well, need I say more, I was in!

I watercoloured the stamped Sugar Nellie image with water colour pencils. I used a cuttlebug embossing folder to emboss the piece of card and I'm afraid I don't know where the paper came from as it was a scrap from my box (only about half a million odd pieces to use up now).

Say it with Flowers

Sunday Sketch and Stamp has a great sketch to follow, I don't know how I would manage without all these sketches 'cos sometimes my mind just goes blank (although DH would say my mind is permanently blank).

Anyhoo, I stamped and watercoloured this cute Penny Black mouse whilst on holiday so that made this card fairly quick. I also stamped the daisy bit of the image a second time, coloured it and then cut it out. I think it was worth the effort and makes the daisy stand out.

The papers are 'sparkly sweet' by K&Co.

Back with a Sundae on Monday

It's Monday. So that means tomorrow is Tuesday. And that means it's back to work for me, ah well, I s'pose all good things must come to an end! We had a fantastic break and I might post some pictures later.

On my last day off I have had a bit of crafty time so here is my card for the fab sketch on Truly Scrumptious with a theme of 'Indian Summer'.

The sundae is a digi image from Pink Petticoat coloured with Copics. The sweet papers are by DCWV.