Heloise Garden Gal

The inspiration for this layout came from the sketch over at I{Heart}2 Stamp along with the colours from In Style Stamps.

The image I've used is from the Robyn's Fetish and is called Heloise the Garden Gal and has been coloured using Promarkers.  I thought this image was quite apt for this time of year when we are all out in the garden planting our bedding plants and enjoying outside life.  The only problem with the good weather is that it takes me away from my card making - if only we could move our craft rooms outside eh?

The papers used on this card were out of my scrap box so unfortunately I dont know where they came from.  They have all been edged with Tim Holtz distress inks - peeled paint - and faux stitching added using a Marvy le Plume brown pen.

The buttons are from the Papermania capsule collection mini buttons - sunshine.

This card has been entered into the following challenges:

I{heart}2stamp - sketch
In Style Stamps - colour palette
Bling It On - use a digi
By The Cute & Girly - cute and girly
Creative Inspirations - use a digi
Craft Your Passion - show us your layers
Crazy Challenge - 3 different papers
Get Hippity with Ippity - spring/summer
House of Gilli - layers and stitching
Ambers Crafts - use a digi

I'm so excited - breaking news!!!!

At last I can say something, I've had to keep this quiet for the last couple of weeks and it has been soooooooo difficult as all I've wanted to do is shout it from the roof tops.  I've been asked to be on the Design Team for The Hotspot Challenge :-)   

The Hotspot Challenge sets monthly challenges around what’s “hot”, trendy, popular or in style at the moment or sometimes they’ll go retro and visit trends from the past and challenge you to use that as inspiration!  For us crafters this shouldn't be too difficult as we are always using our creativeness to design our cards, so why not have a go - I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

April's challenge is to create something from your trash (rubbish), recycle something that you would normally throw away.  I've chosen to recycle an empty tissue box and have used the card to cut out lily pads to go along with my image - Vertie's Bath.  You've still got until 30th April to enter so hopefully see you over at the Hotspot Challenge.

As well as being a monthly challenge blog they also have an online store (which is where my image came from for this card) so why not go along and have a look although I can't accept any blame if you're tempted to buy :-)

I've entered this card into the following challenges:

2 Sisters - bingo (die cut, glitter & flowers)

Etsy Inspired - creating is fun - WINNER
Little Claire's - animals
Card Makin' Mamas - spring colours
Digi's With Attitude! - spring has sprung
Frosted Desgins - handmade embellishement
AiFactory - party animal
Rainbow Lady's - springtime
Crafty Creations - paper piecing
Creative Card Crew - spring
A Spoonfull of Sugar - all creatures great and small
Passion for Promarkers - make your own embellishments - TOP 5 PASSIONISTA
Top Tip Tuesday - spring has sprung
My Partner in Crafting Crime - layer it up

Heidi

I've based this card around the sketch from Totally Papercrafts, it's a different one for me but I think I like it!

The image is from Victoria Case Art Designs and she's called Heidi.  She's been coloured with Promarkers, matte and layered onto scalloped, oval die cuts with a bit of faux stitching around the edge.

The sentiment has been hand written onto a die cut scalloped oval and finished off with the same faux stitching as the image.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the lace, pearls and backing paper are all from my stash.

This card has been entered into the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - sketch
Crafty Ann's - raise a smile
Tellens Place - sparkle and lace
Catch The Bug - 4 or more layers
I Did It Creations - sing a song
Crafty Creations - paper piecing
Fab 'n' funky - spotty and dotty

Dreaming of You

The inspiration for this card came from the sketch at The Sweet Stop - why not pop over and have a go yourself?

This image is called Daisy and she's from Elisabeth Bell Designs and has been lovingly coloured with my Promarkers.  The centre of the flowers in her hair have been finished with Liquid Pearls - lemon yellow - and then matted onto a doily which has been edged with Tim Holtz Distress Inks - shabby shutters.

The backing papers are from the Papermania "Honey 'n' Hugs" collection which came free with my Papercraft Essentials magazine this month.  They have all been edged with Tim Holtz distress ink - weathered wood - and had faux stitching added.

The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the sentiment is from the Lily of the Valley "Dreamy Days" set.

This card has been entered into the following challenges:

The Sweet Stop - sketch
Ladybug Crafts - celebration
Papertake - dimensional
Top Tip Tuesday - spring has sprung
Digi Design House - stitches
Incy Wincy Designs - flower frenzy
The Shabby Tea Room - Doilies and Lace
The Crafty Pad - spring is in the air
2 Sisters - spring
Catch the Bug - four or more layers
Little Claire's - spring celebration
If The Shoe Fits - spring is in the air

Sailing Boat

This card has been made with inspiration from the sketch at "moving along with the times" challenge blog.

The image used is Sailing Boat from Lily of the Valley and has been coloured with Promarkers before matting and layering onto the navy backing paper.  The background effect on the image has been created using Tim Holtz distress ink - tumbled glass, and then adding faux stitching with a Marvy Le Plume pen.

The backing papers are from a scrapbook set that I won in the raffle at a craft retreat I went to in February and this is the first time I have used them.  The ribbon, buttons and embroidery thread are all from my stash.

I have entered this card into the following challenges:

Moving Along With The Times - sketch
I Love Promarkers - sketch
My Partner in Crafting Crime - layer it up
Paper Sundaes - childhood memories
Card Ideas - kidding around
Little Claires - spring colours
Fussy and Fancy - card for a child
Delightful Challenges - sun, sea and sand

Divas by Design - DT Call & Blog Candy - updated 15th April

Update: Unfortunately I didn't get a place on their design team :-( but I still get to enter their challenges :-)

http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/04/follower-candy-and-dt-call.html

Divas by Design is a new challenge blog who will be opening their "online" doors with a bi-weekly challenge blog on Wednesday 4th May at 09.00 GMT.  I'm sure you will want to join in the fun so why not pop along to their website (see above) and take part. We all want freedom in our creations so this challenge blog is ideal as they don't mind if you use digi stamps, rubber stamps or no stamps at all as long as you follow their theme and of course have fun at the same time - simples!

Divas by Design also have some blog candy on offer so there's another reason to pop along to their challenge blog straight away for a chance of winning all of these lovely craft bits and bobs.

 
Thats not all folks! They are also looking for 5 new DT members so I've decided to apply and see if I'm one of the lucky ones :-)  Here are my 3 favourite cards to highlight to them what I'm capable of and also show different techniques.  Oh well here goes, fingers crossed, wish me luck and as the saying goes "break a leg"....

The first card I've chosen is my heart shaped easel card

It was my first card to win a challenge and I was so proud :-)

The second card I've chosen is my daisy box card

I'd learnt this new technique at a craft retreat and this was my first attempt at making one - I don't think I did too badly, did I?

My third and final card is my yacht twisted easel card.

Male cards are the hardest thing that I have to make and I was pleased to get the inspiration for this one.  

It may look simple but the sails are handmade and were very fiddly.

I hope you think that this selection is worthy of one of the DT slots, but if not would welcome any feedback that you can give.

Sunshine & Smiles

This card has been made for the Bearly Mine challenge who have a sketch to follow - I hope you like my interpretation of it!

The green backing paper is from the Nancy Watt collection and came free with a Making Cards magazine last year sometime and has been edged with Tim Holt distress ink - worn lipstick.  The flowered paper was also a free paper from a craft magazine, but not sure which one has been layered onto white card.

The image has been coloured with promarkers and finished off with a gem in the centre of the bow.  The edge of the image has been finished off with Tim Holtz distress ink - shabby shutters - and faux stitching with a gem swirl to complete.

I've used a Martha Stewart punch and an eyelet punch to make the border, coloured a piece of white ribbon with a promarker, threaded it through and finished off with a double bow.  The edges have been finished with Tim Holtz distress ink - worn lipstick.

The sentiment is from the Lily of the Valley "dreamy days" set, the flowers have been coloured using promarkers and Tim Holtz distress ink - shabby shutters - has been used around the outside.

This card has been entered into the following challenges:

Bearly Mine - sketch
Amber's Crafts - try a new technique
Freshly Brewed - flowers
The Pixie Cottage - paper piecing - WINNER
Simon Says Stamp - spring colours
Craft Us Crazy - spring
Dutch Dare Cards - spring has sprung
Little Miss Muffet - stitching
Pixie Dust Studio - lace it up
Just Add Ink - inspiration challenge

Get Well Soon

This card has been made for a friend of mine who lives in Toronto and is recovering from a heart attack which happened last week.  Needless to say I was shocked when I heard the news as she is only a few years older than me!  You just never know when/if something like this is going to happen do you?  I hope this card will cheer her up though :-)

The image used on this card is from the Aspects of Design #57 stamp sheet and has been coloured with Promarkers.  I've also used liquid pearls on the tiny dots underneath the leaves just to highlight them.

The backing papers came with one of my craft magazines and have been finished off with faux stitching around the outside.  The ric rac, ribbon, buttons and pearls were from my stash.

This card has been entered into the following challenges:

Throwback Thursday - sketch
Desert Island Crafts - recipe
Wags 'n' Whiskers - ribbons and pearls
4 Crafty Chicks - recipe - WINNER
Crafty Purple Frog - anything but square
Delightful Challenges - flowers
Amber's Crafts - flowers
Tuesday Throwdown - flowers
My Partner in Crafting Crime - 3 or more buttons