December 2008 Planner/Calendar

As I work for myself, from home, some days there is more crafting going on that actual work!! so I have decided to start a little project where each month I will make a planner/calendar for the following month that I can write notes on and use as a little prompt!!! The WOJ Challenge 10 is to make anything but a card, Cute Card Thursday Challenge 38 is to use the colour lilac and finally I have based the planner on Dawny's Sketch 3 on Papertake Weekly Challenge. I have used purple and lilac card, silver mirrored card, the paper is from the dovecraft amethyst range, the WOJ image is coloured with water colour pencils, the two small purple squares and the lilac divider have been embossed using a cuttlebug (not sure which folders as they belong to my BFs Mum), the month label was done on my computer using the font tampus sans itc and I finished off with three jewel hearts and some die cut flowers. I did the planner section on excel - it has a bit of a strange layout, but it was the only way I could get it all to fit on an A4 sheet of card!!

Cupcake Challenge 15

Challenge 15 over on the Cupcake challenge blog was sweets and treats. All you had to do was incorporate sweets somewhere on your creation. We are going back to England this year for Christmas, but I want to put our tree up over here so its going up next week to make it worth while - a bit early for me, I usually don't get around to putting it up until the week before Christmas!! Anyway, what is a tree without some form of chocolate decorating it, so having found some chocolate euros (coins and notes!!!) in the supermarket, I decide to make a simple little bag to hang on the tree. I found a tutorial here for a double pocket bag that is really easy to make. I didn't use a 12 x 12 piece of paper as per the tutorial, I used an 8 x 8 piece and just adjusted the measurements accordingly. I used paper that was a free download from printable heaven, gold christmas ribbon, red and cream card and the sentiment was done on my computer using the font segoe script. I inked the sentiment with some gold ink to give it a more vintage feel and decorated the edge with some gold stickles.

Kaboodle Ch 13 & Sketch Saturday Ch 26

Nope not another tag!! The challenge this week on Kaboodle was not to use square or rectangular shaped cards so I've made a tri fold tag shaped one instead. I've been wanting to try one of these for a while and this was the perfect opportunity. I've also used the sketch from Sketch Saturday for the front section of the card.

I have used cream, red and green card, papers from the dovecraft contemporary christmas range, the snowflakes are punched from red, green and gold mirrored card and I used a small red jewel in the centre of the middle panel.

The penny black image is coloued with whispers, the sentiment on the front panel was done on my computer using the font segoe script, the tassels are held on by a black brad and I have put a gold one on either side to decorate. The centre panel has been edged and sponged with gold ink but it has been left black so i can write on it!

To finish the whole thing off I made a simple, matching envelope for it. x

Proximity Award

Evening ladies. I have received this award from the lovely Natalie, thanks chick...this is my very first one!

This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY- nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement . Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to 8 bloggers who may then pass it on. I'm going to pass it to the very talented:
Chris (Sketching Stamper)
Dawn (Crafty ramblings)
Sally (Crafty Sally)
Sue (Susie Sunshine)
Lauren (Lauren's Cards etc)
Becky (Becky's Happy Crafting Place)
Links to all their blogs are in the side bar on the right. x

Penny Black Ch 24 & Tag You're It Wk 34

I'm catching up with my Christmas tag making....bet you wouldn't have guessed!!! Tag You're It Week 34 has a superb sketch that I have followed and Penny Black Challenge 24 is "Funky Christmas" so this tag fits the bill for both. I have used black and hot pink card, the paper is a free download, the penny black image is coloured with whispers pens, the sentiment was done on my computer using the font segoe script and it is attached to the tag with two black brads. Two of the punched snowflakes are decorated with silver stickles and the other is punched from mirrored card, I have added three small jewels and I have attached the tassels with a matt silver brad.

Let it Snow.....

Snow is the theme this week for both the Papertake weekly challenge and Cute Card Thursday Challenge 37 and I based this card on Laura's Sketch 13 from 2 Sketches 4 You. I used white, blue and dark blue metallic card (I thought I had finished this lovely card but I found another sheet Yipee!), paper from the dovecraft winter wonderland range, the penny black image is coloured with whispers pens and I have finished off with three small jewels and three punched snowflakes.
For the Tag I inked the edges with my silver ink pad, the sentiment and snowflake are silver peel offs and I have attached the tassels with a silver brad.

Friday Sketcher Challenge 28

Mumur has done a fabulous sketch for challenge 28 on Friday Sketchers and it really got me thinking. I have used white, navy and pearly blue card, papers from the dovecraft winter wonderland range, the stamp was from some blog candy winnings so I'm not sure where it is from and the sentiment was done on my computer using the font tempus sans itc. The punched snowflakes are decorated with silver stickles and to complete I added three small jewels. The only buttons I have are brown and I racked my brains for something to substitue them with then I thought I'd try colouring them with a silver pen - they turned out really well!
To complete the card I decorated the inside, with leftovers from doing the front....getting quite into doing this now and I think it adds a nice final touch!!

What's Black and White and......

Hi girls! I have managed to get in a little crafting this afternoon and I have made a tag that covers three challenges. Penny Black Week 23 and Kaboodle Challenge 12 have the theme monochromatic and I have used sketch 25 from Sketch Saturday. Sorry for using the same stamped image - I have just realise it is the same one as my last post, but I don't have many images that are small enough to fit on a tag and that can be made "Christmasy", and I've still got loads to do and not enough time!!! But I bet we can all say that!!! Anyway..... I have used black and white card, the black and white papers are from my stash, the penny black image is coloured with my whispers pens, the sentiment was done on my computer using the font tempus sans itc, the snowflake is punched from silver mirrored card and I have used a silver brad to secure the bits on the top (not sure what to call them!!!). Now I am no longer afraid of my ink pads I have edged and sponged the edges of each element so that it didn't look drab and I have added a little silver stickles to the present.

Tag You're It Wk 33 & Cupcake Ch 14

The theme for Tag you're it week 33 is to use red and green and Cupcake Challenge 14 is to follow a sketch, use the colour brown and have at least one scalloped edge. I used red and green card, gold mirrored card, the paper is a free download from do crafts, I watercoloured the penny black image with my whispers pens, the sentiment was done on my computer using the font Tempus Sans ITC, and I finished off with three small jewels and a gold brad. I edged the red and green base card with a gold ink pad and used a sponge to add some extra gold ink to the red card, although this doesn't show up too well in the picture it looks fairly good in real life!!

Dutch Dare Challenge 23

Morning Ladies! Dutch Dare Challenge 23 was to use no image stamps......a good excuse to do a nice simple card don't ya think??!!! I used blue, navy and white card, paper from the dovecraft winter wonderland range, the sentiment was done on my computer using the font vivaldi and I finished off each corner with four small jewels.
Becasue the card was so simple I decide to decorate the inside too......also very simply!!!!

Papertake Dawny's Sketch 2 & CCT Ch 36

Another last minute one!! Dawny has done another fabulous sketch for the Papertake weekly challenge that I have followed and I have also used the colours red and green to fit Cute Card Thursday Challenge 36. I have used red and green card, the paper is from the dovecraft contemporary christmas range, the penny black image is coloured with whispers pens, the sentiment was done on my computer using the font segoe script and I finished off with some icicle stickles on the snow.

Sketch Saturday Ch 24 & Kaboodle Ch 11

Phew! I don't know where this week has gone! I haven't had anytime to craft since last Saturday and I have just managed to squeeze one card in this afternoon! This one is for Sketch Saturday Challenge 24 and Kaboodle Challenge 11 which is buttons and bling. I have used navy and hot pink card, the paper is a free download from do crafts, the stamp is penny black ice & snow and I have water coloured it. For my "bling" element I have used a silver ink pad on the panel of pink card on the right, a metal snowflake embellishment, icicle stickles on the ice she is skating on and three small jewels.

Kaboodle Ch 10 & Secret Crafter Ch 6

Just a quick one today for Kaboodle Challenge 10 and Secret Crafter Challenge 6. There is another fab sketch on Secret Crafter and the Kaboodle challenge was Christmas Brights. I have used red and white card, the papers are from the kaboodle all star range, the penny black image was water coloured using my whispers pens and the sentiment was done on my computer using the font segoe script.

Whiff of Joy Challenge 7

I recently received my blog candy winnings from Natalie and in my package were some WOJ stamped images...... OMG they are so pretty! So as I have these I can now enter the WOJ challenge for the first time....Yippeeeee! Challenge 7 is to follow a fabulous sketch and I have used cream and red card, gold mirrored card, dovecraft papers, the music paper is a free download from printable heaven, I have coloured the WOJ image with watercolour pencils, the sentiment was done on my computer using the font segoe script and I have finished off with three flat backed pearls....Mmmm I think some WOJ stamps are going to have to go on my ever increasing wish list! x

Spoon Full of Sugar Ch 24 & Dutch Dare Ch 22

I haven't made that many christmas tags so I followed the sketch for Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge 24 and my tag also fits the bill for Dutch Dare Challenge 22 which is anything but a card. I used white, pink, hot pink and silver mirrored card, the paper is a download, the penny black image is colored with whispers pens and I finished off with three little jewels. Instead of colouring the image directly with my pens, I scribbled onto a tile and used them as water colours....but OMG I can't colour mice!!!! I still need loads of practice with my colouring, but hopefully I'll get there in the end!!! I didn't add a sentiment as it would have been a bit too much to squash on, I hope this is ok!

Penny Black 21 & Papertake Simply Sparkling

Hello girls! After a bit of panicing, my new Penny Black stamp arrived in the post. I struggle to get craft things over here in Spain so I end up having to get everything posted over. My Mum posted my new stamp to me via air mail and it took almost two weeks to get here.... I was beginning to think it had been lost but think it has been via the moon and back! Anyway, I made a card last night for Penny Black Challenge 21 and this week's Papertake Challenge as they both had a sparkle theme. The above picture shows the card when it is closed and below shows the inside - neither of which look very sparkly, but I promise they do!!
I have used red and black card, paper from the dovecraft contemporary christmas range, the penny black stamp is called favourite time and it is coloured with whispers pens, and the sentiment was done on my computer using the font Tempus Sans ITC. I used two silver brads on the sentiment and raised it up on dimension pads and a small piece of red ribbon to tie the card closed. Now for the sparkle.... I have used holly green stickles on the christmas trees on the front of the card and on the holly leaves and christmas tree on the inside of the card, christmas red stickles on the holly berries, the band in her hair, and the ribbon on the present and finally silver stickles on the ground...... I can't believe they don't show!!!

Cupcake Challenge 12

Cupcake Challenge 12 was to use a picture for inspiration. I used the hot pink colour from the picture and the pink stalky flowers to inspire my card. I decided to do something different as I feel a bit stuck in a rut at the moment so I found a tutorial for a spinner card on inspirational tips, techniques and tutorials, and I adapted it a little as I do not have anything to cut circles. As you can see above, one side shows the image and on the other is an embossed panel, as below.
For the card I used black and hot pink card, papers from the dovecraft hint of pink range, the penny black image is coloured with whispers pens and the embossing was done using the cuttlebug folder with birds and leaves on (I'm not sure what it is called as it belongs to my BF's Mum). I didn't add a sentiment as I didn't want to clutter the card, I'm going to use it as a thank you card, but it could be used for other occasions. I hope you like. x

Friday Sketchers Sketch 26

Friday Sketchers Sketch 26 was another fabulous one. I have used blue and white card, the papers are free downloads (sorry! I can't remember where from), I have coloured the penny black image with whispers pens, the sentiment was done on my computer using the font Tempus Sans ITC and I finished off with three jewels and a little stickles.

Cupcake Challenge 11

I have just managed to do this in time..... but as they say..... better late than never!!! Cupcake Challenge 11 is "a hole in the card" and I thought this was a great theme as it got me thinking a little.... I seem to have lost it a bit lately and all my cards are beginning to look the same!!!! I used white and navy card, paper from the dovecraft winter wonderland range, the penny black stamp is called ice & snow and it is coloured with whispers pens, and to finish off I added a little stickles to the ice she is skating on.