hello

This week the challenge over at Cupcake Craft Challenges is 'Best of British Photo Inspiration'. A great opportunity to use another of my Penny Black stamps from the London Collection. This little hedgie is called 'london calling' - I wonder who he is calling?

I coloured with watercolour pencils and the papers are 'bookprint' by Papermania. A couple of diecuts and a Hero Arts sentiment - job done!

 
 

I love London

Although I am a good bit (a very, very good bit!) north of London I am starting to get quite excited by this years Olympics and Jubilee. Plus there's that extra bank holiday to look forward to!

I have used Penny Black stamps 'on guard' and two from the transparent set 'love london' - the critters with the bunting and the sentiment. I used my watercolour pencils to colour. I am entering this weeks Less is More challenge which is a sketch.

hello friend

Good morning Penny Black fans. 

I hope you are in the mood for another cool challenge! But first I want to say a big thank you for all the gorgeous entries last week - hop over to The Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog - the lucky winner has been announced.

OK then, onto this week's challenge....

May Day (spring theme)

I have used the first crafty gift my hubby bought me (many moons ago now). He thought it was amusing that a cat would dress up as a bee, and I s'pose it is! The papers are 'hello summer' by Echo Park - my number one paper choice at the mo'. 

We have a super prize this week from our regular sponsor 

Fantastic Ribbons. 

Pop over to their online store where you will not only find gorgeous ribbons but an Aladdin's cave of crafty goodies!

4 rolls of crystallised lace in fabby summer colours -

hot pink, light pink, lime and opalised white.

So, you know the drill, for all the details of how to enter and for some brilliant inspiration from my teamies visit

The Penny Black Saturday Challenge.

See you there!

have fun

Well, after yesterdays 'back to November type of weather' it is a glorious blue sky day today, still really quite chilly though. Hope it gets a bit warmer soon.

Today I have used one of the new boy images from the TeddyBo Store. I coloured with Prisma Pencils and the papers are 'snips and snails' by Doodlebug.

If the weather holds up we might take the hound to the beach this afternoon - seaweed must smell fab to a dog, he loves it!
 

you've moved!

A while back we decided to spruce our place up a bit. The sofas were looking a bit tired and the 'temporary' Ikea furniture had had it's day! The new corner unit sofa, dining table and TV unit arrived yesterday and look fantastic. Next step painting everywhere (some would say I should have done that first but I can't be creating fabby cards and painting at the same time!)

Today I have used another cute image and sentiment from The DigiStamp Boutique. I coloured with copics and the papers are 'hello summer' by Echo Park. 

I am entering three challenges....

Cute Card Thusday...animal magic
Creative Inspirations...anything goes
Simon Says Stamp...anything goes

It's Tuesday....

 ....and that means there's normally new bears on the loose! But not this week. Nope. This week Gayle, the talented artist behind TeddyBo, decided to add some images to the FairyD Store. Four mischievous little boys and a fun cat. So worry no more about those difficult boys cards!

Oh, and remember the TeddyBo pink and brown challenge is still on until Sunday and all the info' about that can be found here.

Wake Your Dreams

Something a little bit different today. A cheap frame from that well known Swedish shop made into a collage wall hanging. Now I am quite lazy forgetful sometimes and don't list the products or names of stamps. But on this occasion I want to list them all - 'cos there were soooo many!! So here goes -

Stamps
Hero Arts - watch gears and butterflies
Andy Skinner - word up
KaiserCraft - script, tictoc, bubble wrap & keys
Marion Emberson - flowerhead
Masks
Tim Holtz - compass & florets
Dies
Tim Holtz - tattered flowers
Distress Inks - vintage photo, walnut stain & faded jeans
Sea Spray acrylic paint, key charms, seam binding, TH tickets and pearls. 

Whew!

 

just for you

Good morning Penny Black fans.
Wow, you sure do love your spots and stripes. Loads of entries for last weeks challenge and all gorgeous. Check out the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog - you might be our lucky winner!

So, onto this weeks challenge....

No Patterned Papers

We have another cool prize from our friends over at
Craftwork Cards

Sweet Pea Collection - Peas in a Pod Pad
24 papers, 2 sheets die cut flowers, 2 sheets nesting sentiments and 4 sheets of embossed squares.

For all the info' on how to enter and for inspiration from my teamies visit
The Penny Black Saturday Challenge.
See you there!

...a little birdie told me...

Do you ever take a notion to start a job and then wish you hadn't? Well, yesterday I decided to clear out the garage. Now I knew there was a lot of stuff but why do we keep boxes for things that we don't even have any more? Anyway three trips to the dump and at least now I can see the back wall!!

So today I'm having a lazy/crafty day as a reward. And here is my first little creation. I have used one of this months special offers from the DigiStamp Boutique which you can find here and coloured with copics. The papers are 'hello summer' by Echo Park. The gorgeous little charm is from a selection that are just new in the TeddyBo Store.

I am entering the challege over at Cute Card Thursday - Metallica.

See you bright and early tomorrow for Penny Black Saturday.

Teddy Bo Tuesday

It's Tuesday and that means there are new bears on the loose!
And a new TB challenge -

Pink and Brown

I have chosen to use the super cute Bea on a swing for my card but for the challenge you can use any of the TeddyBo or Bea images. Did you enter this past two weeks? Well, the lucky winner has been announced here. And there's also some gorgeous inspiration from my teamies.

Cute, huh!

happy day

It's Penny Black Saturday already! Gorgeous entries for last weeks case-it challenge. Check out the PBSC blog - you might be our lucky winner. So this week we have one of my favourites -

Spots and Stripes

For all the info' on how to enter, details of this weeks prize and for some fabby inspiration visit the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog, see you there!

I am entering my card into this weeks Allsorts Challenge - buttons & threads.

We're off out tonight, a sixtieth birthday party. It just seems like yesterday when it was twentyfirsts!! And tomorrow the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to see Gilbert O'Sullivan, ah, the seventies! I'm way behind with my blog visits and commenting but hangover permitting I will be round for a nosey in the morning.

Happy Anniversary

It's my friends wedding anniversary early next week and I have made the happy couple this card. I have used one of my favourite layouts - quick and easy! The image is from The TeddyBo Store and I have coloured with Prisma pencils. The papers are all by Echo Park.

Remember you have until Sunday night to enter the current TeddyBo Challenge - spring has sprung. See you bright and early tomorrow for Penny Black Saturday.

Especially for you

Did you think I had got lost? Well, I have been busy beavering away in the background working on an exciting commission for a new magazine. But I'm here now and I have a card to share. I treated myself to some of the Sweet Pea collection from Craftwork Cards - love these colours.

And for a little change I made an easel card. To be honest I'm not too sure about it - I keep looking at it and feel that something more should be added to the green bit or the grey bit. But I'm just gonna leave well alone and start work on tomorrow's TeddyBo card and Saturday's Penny Black card.

I am entering this card into the challenge at Stampalot - Happy Birthday.

DigiStamp Boutique - new for April

We had a little family get together on Saturday night and my sis-in-law brought an Easter hamper filled with totally yummy stuff. All our favourites - choccie seashells, maltesers, mini eggs and so on. Bring on the elasticated waist band!

Anyways, Sally-Ann has done it again, irresistible new images. Check them all out here. There's 'Funtime Rosie', 'It's Twins', 'Little Birdies' and the two I have used here 'In The Garden - veggies and flowers'.

And have you been over for a nosey at the DSB blog? There's loads more inspiration and a fabby competition to enter - a chance to win some freebies!

I coloured my cards with copics and the papers are 'Springtime' by Echo Park. I am entering the challenge over on Cupcake - spring is in the air.

And - I'm sooo chuffed - one of my Penny Black cards got a special mention on the Penny Black blog here. Go me!!

FAB friend

Good morning Penny Black fans!
Saturday has come around really fast and it's time for another fabby challenge. This week, as it's the first Saturday of the month, we have our regular....

Case-It Challenge

And here is my teamie Helen's card for you to 'case'.

You could take inspiration from the colours, the layout, the embossing. As long as you have fun with it.
We have two cool prizes this week for one lucky winner. A handy sentiment stamp from Penny Black Inc and a gorgeous yellow mini ribbon bundle from The Ribbon Girl. For more info' on the challenge, for inspiration from my teamies and to find out who is joining us as a guest designer visit the
Penny Black Saturday Challenge.
See you there!

TeddyBea meets Bambi

I can't watch Bambi - far too sad. Anyway, here is today's card. I have coloured TeddyBea 199 with Prisma pencils and the papers are Alla-Prima.

I am entering the challenge over on Simon Says...favourite tool. I have used my Bigshot to diecut my rosettes. I would not be able to survive in a crafty world with that bad boy!

OK then, see you tomorrow for Penny Black Saturday.

Second video in the bag!

This time a quick little tutorial on watercolour pencils.
You will find it here.
I have changed the camera angle following feedback I received on my first video (and added a little background music).
Once again I would love to know what you think of it.

Here is the finished card from the video.
The image is Penny Black 'team effort' and the papers are 'yours truly' by Echo Park.

Spring is here!

Well, certainly not yesterday it wasn't. It was winter is back! But making this card has brightened my day. I used a new leafy die I treated myself to - so many new ones coming out just now - have you seen the gorgeous ones in the TeddyBo store? The stamp is 'loving and hugging' by Penny Black and I coloured with watercolour pencils. I have plans to do my second video tutorial on watercolour pencils so fingers crossed that will be ready to share soon.

I am entering four challenges...

Delightful..Easter (I hope a spring card counts)

Cute Card Thursday..Happy Easter

Creative Inspirations...Easter

Papertake...Anything Goes

Simply Cards and Papercraft article

For this month's Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine I was asked to join in the Design Team Challenge. We were asked to take inspiration from our favourite children's book. I chose Harry Potter and used TeddyBo and TeddyBea wizard images as the main focus of my cards. All the info' on what you need and how to make the cards is in the magazine, on the shelves now!

And while we are on the subject of Teddies, as it's Tuesday, there are some new bears available. And, woohoo, Memory Box dies are now in stock!

chirp, chirp...

Meet Chirp from the DigiStamp Boutique. Isn't he adorable? And makes a perfect new home card. I coloured the image with copics and promarkers. The papers are 'beach babe' from FancyPants Designs.

I am entering two challenges...

Simon Says Stamp...anything goes

Cupcake Craft...sewing box (I have sewn around the edges)

Snow is forecast for tomorrow so I'm off now to crank the heating up and batten down the hatches!