One for Father's Day...

...well I'm back peeps,

I have set myself a goal : to blog at least one post per week.

Somehow though life just takes over.

The card I have made for my Dad this year

 is a little different to the ones he usually gets.

I felt like a change from the typical gushy hearts and bears theme.

SOoooooo 

I found this fabulous image by Kenny Kiernan,

I'm sure my Dad will love her too.

She's called 'Carmen Electra'.

I used a set of coordinating papers byDovecraft, 

the designer is Sandra Ranarison and the papers are called 'charcoal prints'.

The card stock used is by Papermania, capsule collection 'sizzling red hot'

 I love the quality and texture of their card.

I had so much fun colouring her in.

 Of course using my beloved promarkers,

 (burgundy, crimson, poppy, salmon pink, walnut, caramel, cool grey and black)

 but I have advanced into attempting to use prismacolour pencils.

I'm sure he'll appreciate the underlying joke...

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Simply Create Too challenge 15  fathers day (or for a male)

Card Makin Mamas challenge 47  - fathers day

 Crafting for All Seasons challenge  - for men

 One Stop Craft Challenge 186  - fathers day

Cards for Men challenge 12  - fathers day

The Pink Elephant challenge   - masculine

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft xx

Happy Anniversary...

...to the LOVE of my life.

Well I am finally back to some kind of normality...

...'at last'.

I have returned to work after some considerable time due to an injury,

and boy has it been tough going.

I was so loving being a lady of leisure and 'full-time crafter'.

Although this is my first blog in what seems an age, 

I have managed to find time to make a few cards.

The card I would like to share with you today is an anniversary card.

I have been married to my soulmate for 7 years now. 

The papers I have used are by We R Memory Keepers 

designer scrapbook pad, '72 &sunny'.

The lime green cardstock used is by papermania capsule range.

The olive green cardstock is bazill bling,

 I just love the shimmery effect of this card.

All of the buttons are from the 'value crafts' range from hobbyhouse.

They have a great variety of textures and sizes in these bumper assorted packs of buttons.

The gold peel offs and gems are from my stash.

This cute little image is 'murtle and shelly turtle' by digistamp boutique.

I used my beloved promarkers to colour them in.

The card that this image was printed onto was a stark white

 so I used a little distress ink in 'peeled paint' to blend the background.

To finish the shells of these adorable little turtles 

I applied some 3D clear gloss by Anita's,

 it gives a lovely shiny and tactile finish.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Creations Challenge 173  - weddings/anniversaries

Crafting for all seasons challenge 28  - many layers

Paper Pretties Challenge  - favourite colour combo

The Pink elephant Challenge  - vibrant colours

Papertake Weekly Challenge  - anything goes

The Paper Shelter Challenge 67  -going dottie

Anything goes challenge 68 - anniversaries

Thanx for popping by...

...Keep Calm and Craft xx

Bon Voyage...

...well I'm racing around trying to catch up on last minute things

 before I jet off to a sunnier destination.

So this will be my last post for a couple of weeks.

 

The card I am sharing with you today

 is one I made for my sister and her husband.

 They have moved from North to South London.

 

This card was inspired by a demo I watched at my local craft store.

Her name is Lindsay Mason, and wow she is one talented lady.

 

For the background colour I used 

a combination of Tim Holtz distress inks,

scattered straw, peeled paint and worn lipstick.

I built up the colours on a piece of ivory pearlised paper from my stash.

The grass effect was also achieved using the distress inks,

 I used a paint brush to create long strokes.

 To accurately match the colour scheme

 I used a promarker to colour the edges of the mounting card.

The castle is a stamp designed by Lindsay Mason

for Personal Impressions called 'I Dreamed of Castles'.

The background scene is from another stamp set 

designed by Lindsay called 'Hoist the Flags'.

I coloured these stamps with my promarkers,

I used 'lime green' and 'copper' stickles to highlight.

The stamp comes with all the individual parts needed to create this fabulous 3D effect,

all I needed to do was add the sticky foam pads.

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Pre - Birthday wishes...

... well its been a while and I have no excuses,

I've just been out enjoying the glorious sunshine

that we've been blessed with.

The card I am sharing with you today 

is shown in advance of my mums' birthday, 

we shall be away on her birthday, for a couple of weeks,

 basking in more glorious sunshine I hope!

 

 I love the sunny feel of the colour scheme, 

with its mix of peaches and creams, orange and gold.

The design paper used for this card 

is one by Andrea Jayne Evans called 'pampered pets'.

The original colour of the design paper was pale pink.

I thought I'd experiment with it, 

so I scanned it into my computer and played with the colours a little

using microsoft digital imaging suite.

And 'VOILA' turned it peachy.

I chose a gorgeous lili of the valley image for this card

'rosie with presents'.

 Out came the beloved promarkers,

I used coral, peach and soft peach.

The gems and pearls are from my stash.

 

The cardstock used here is by bazill bling in two complimentary shades.

The flourish is by cheery lynn 'tropical flourish'.

 These tickets were cut using the whimsy 'ticket' die.

I used a pearlised cardstock in cream and peel offs from my stash.

 

I got these delightful orangey coloured flowers from my local craft shop,

I used stickles 'crystal' to make them sparkle.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM xx

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Stampin for the Weekend challenge 6  - anything goes

 Cute Card Thursday challenge 209  -  anything goes

 

Creative Inspirations challenge 155  - anything goes

Scrapbook Sisters challenge 76   - anything goes

 

Daring Cardmakers challenge   - a box of tricks

Crafty Catz challenge 125  - spring is in the air

 

Hanna and Friends challenge 137  -  flowers

Simply Create too challenge 9  - its spring

Paperplay challenge 12  - spring colours

 

Allsorts challenge 146  - 3 in a row

Frosted Designs challenge  - grids

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft xx

For you Mum...

...well what can I say you only get ONE!

I am fortunate enough that I still have mine.

This time of year can be pretty tough for all those who have lost their mums.

But still, take a moment to remember your precious memories 

for those cannot be taken from you.

To all mums everywhere xxx

My mum just adores purple,

 so for her card there was no other colour choice.

The design paper is a First Edition from the 'dreamcatcher' range.

The cardstock is as per usual by Papermania.

The pearls are from my stash.

This divine little stamp is 'dress up maggie' by Sugar Nellie.

I'm sure we can all remember dressing up 

in mums clothes and shoes when we were small.

Although I still find myself borrowing her clothes and shoes now...

Out came the beloved promarkers to colour her in.

I used stickles 'dark blue' for her necklace,

and 'pearly stuff'' in gold by Woodware 

for the centre of the flower on her hat.

I cut out this buckle on my cricut using the 'fabulous finds' cartridge.

I used this patterned holographic gold cardstock from my stash,

I found it added an extra texture to the buckle.

The satin ribbon was one of my Boyes bargain specials.

(Our local store has a bucket full of various ribbons for only 40p)

I think it has become my second home!

This gorgeous flourish is one by Cheery Lynn, 'tropical flourish'.

Once again using a lilac cardstock by Papermania.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Crafty Catz Weekly challenge 124  - mothers day/special lady

One Stop Craft challenge 173   - mothers day with a ribbon

Creative Inspirations challenge 154  - something for mum

My Mums Craft Shop challenge 48  - mums the word

Craft Your Days Away challenge 40  - mothers day

I Love Promarkers challenge 108  - anything goes

Papertake Weekly challenge  -for the girls/mum

Crafts for Eternity challenge 62  - special mum

Sugar Nellie on Facebook - anything goes

Dream Valley challenge 27  - mothers day

 Top Tip Tuesday challenge  - mothers day

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Pretty as a Princess...

...todays post is for a card I made for my friend,

It is her daughters birthday and she asked me to make the card for her,

NO pressure then...

I think I pulled it out the bag,

a beautiful card for a beautiful girl.

My colour inspiration is the classic presumption of

what little girl doesn't love pink.

The design papers for this piece are 'vintage chic' by Craftwork Cards.

The glittery silver cardstock is one by Limetree Crafts.

This gorjuss princess is just what I said ... gorgeous!

She is one of the gorjuss girls range by Sugar Nellies

Once again coloured using my beloved promarkers.

The little ticket shape is a die by Whimsy Stamps,

they also do coordinating rubber stamps to match.

I used stickles 'stardust' for added bling.

For her name I used strips of white cardstock,

 mixed up some red and white acrylic paint with a splash of water

and using a sponge coloured them in.

I then stamped the letters using Dew Drop Brilliance ink in 'platinum planet'.

I used a promarker fine liner to fill in the centres of each letter.

This pretty pink sheer ribbon is one from my stash,

I usually purchase all my ribbons from the local market 

or from Boyes bargain box.

This effect was pretty easy to do

I cut a strip of pale pink papermania cardstock, 

placed double sided tape down the length of the card 

roughly matching the width if the ribbon.

Then I just gathered the ribbon sticking it down as I went along.

I cut out the number 7 free-hand.

I used a wash of the acrylic paint mix to colour some shimmery paper.

I used these beautiful pink self adhesive gems,

 from my stash, for that extra sparkle.

These delicious hearts are a cut and emboss die by Marianne design 

the 'creatables' range.

They look just divine in this silver cardstock.

The flower brad is one I picked up from my local craft store.

The love heart charm is one from my stash.

This exquisite circle flourish is a very intricate die by Memory box.

 It is 'la Rue Flourish'.

The little pink pearl heart in the centre is from Add some sparkle.

All I hope for now is that Maisie loves this card as much as I loved making it.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts challenge107  - my favourite things (pearls and gems)

Sugar Nellies Facebook challenge  - anything goes

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT challenge  - anything goes

I Love Promarkers challenge 108  - anything goes

Paper Sundaes challenge 111  - feminine flair

CES challenge 76  - charmed

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Gorgeous...

...Isn't she just,

she's a Gorjuss girl by Sugar Nellie.

The sketch I followed for this creation is by Sketch Saturday Challenge.

I do love to follow a good sketch for my card inspirations.

The colour scheme was set by Sugar Nellie on Facebook.

Once again out came my promarkers to colour this little sweetie.

A mix of denim and azure,

 just love these colours against the chocolate brown.

The ribbon, flowers and pearls are from my stash,

(they are my favourite embellishments).

The doily shape was cut using a Nellie Snellen multiframe die.

The blue cardstock is by Papermania.

The design paper is by First Edition and it's the 'summer breeze' range.

The sentiment is by Papermania,

it is the Portobello road 'urban postage' stamp collection.

I have stamped it onto the reverse side of the design paper.

This divine design paper is a texture sensation by MIC (Meridian Import Company Ltd),

 their craft papers are just heavenly.

I bought mine from my local craft store MB Crafts

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Divas by Design challenge 25  - favourite things (flowers and pearls)

The Pink Elephant challenge 138  - lets see those layers

Papertake Weekly challenge  - anything goes

The Paper Shelter challenge  - anything goes
 

Sketch Saturday challenge 197  - sketch

Sugar Nellie on Facebook

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Mum's the word...

...with mothers day approaching 

this post is to show a card I have made for my mother-in-law.

 

The border edges on this card is a punch by x-cut.

It is one of my new punches that I couldn't wait to play with.

The pale pink cardstock is by papermania,

the pearlised pink card is one from my stash.

 

This effect was created by using the off-cuts

 from creating the original border edges.

The card candi is by craftworks and it is a mix of

 'passionista' and 'love me do'.

This little cutie is Milly flower power by Lili of the Valley.

I used my beloved promarkers to colour her in.

The border edges are outlined with 'crystal' stickles.

And to add that extra pizazz

 I used a diamond dust on the flower.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Passion for Promarkers challenge 138  - pastel colours

Creative Inspirations challenge 152  - anything goes

 Craft Your Days Away challenge 40  - mothers day

Hanna and Friends challenge 134  - cute stamp

 

Ladybug Crafts Ink Challenge   - pink and girly

Everybody Art Challenge 182  - monochrome

Simon says Stamp challenge   - anything goes

Crafty Catz challenge 122  - punches/dies

The Crazy Challenge 108  - anything goes

Delightful Challenges   - spring colours

Sew Many Challenges 83  - punches

Craft Challenge 144  - mothers Day

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Sweet as...

...chocolate? 

No ice cream/lollies are the theme and colour inspiration for todays card,

set by sugar nellies on facebook.

I followed the sketch set by Maria Theresa from the sugar bowl challenge.

There was also an optional theme of using kraft card.

 I love this image 'butterfly girl' by sugar nellie,

and as always a pleasure to colour with my promarkers.

The design paper is from one of my finds on a visit to the Range in Scunthorpe this week.

It is GCD Studio 'Eye Candy' paper pad, it has some truly lovely double sided papers.

The pearls as always, are from my stash.

  

I cut the main shape using my cricut and the 'accent essentials' cartridge.

The pearlised green card is from my stash

and the yellow and orange card is bazill bling.

I love the shimmer from this cardstock.

I cut the flourish using the cheery lynn 'tropical flourish' die.

It is cut from a lovely self adhesive felt that I got from 

Stephen H. Smith's Garden & Leisure Centre in Scunthorpe.

Its really tactile and adds that extra depth and dimension that I love so much.

The little pink flowers are from meiflower, the picture doesn't really do them justice,

as the colours are so much more vibrant.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

My Mums Craft Shop challenge 46  - throw us some shapes

Moving Along With the Times challenge  - lots of layers

Crafting for All Seasons challenge 21  - shaped cards

Sugar Bowl challenge 78  - Maria Theresa's sketch

Delightful Challenges  - use patterned papers

2 Sisters challenge 80  - anything goes

Allsorts challenge  - its your choice

Sugar Nellies on Facebook

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

Here comes the bride...

...as the wedding season is approaching,

todays post is all about wedded bliss,

 it's my friends turn to tie the knot now, so here is the card I have made...

The colour scheme she has set for her wedding is red and ivory

so I opted to use these colours for her card too.

These shimmery cardstocks are from my stash.

I have been very fortunate to have a little spending spree this week 

so I have had lots of lovely new thing to play and create with.

The heart design is a border punch by x-cut, I have had so much fun using it.

I just adore this cute little bride and groom image by lili of the valley.

I used cool grey 3 and shale promarkers to colour the groom, 

crimson red for the flowers in her hair

 and a small amount of 'crystal' stickles for the brides dress.

I decided to add some extra depth by using these gorgeous little red rose bud blooms for her bouquet.

These ones were sourced from my local craft shop.

The red on the stems is a small piece of felt from my stash,

with a little pearl to finish.

The flourish I have used is one by cheery lynn 'tropical flourish'.

Finished with red gems from my stash.

This flower is one of my new punches by x-cut, 

there is also a smaller version of this made by papermania.

Again I finished this with a pearl from my stash.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Paper Pretties challenge -  use a punch or die cuts

Whimsy Stamps challenge 27 -  monochromatic

Charisma Cardz challenge 7 -  love is in the air

Hanna and Friends challenge 133 -  pearls

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

feeling blue...

...my my how time flies.

Another half-term break over.

My baby will soon be at secondary school!

Doesn't feel like two minutes since I was there...wishing my life away.

For todays post I have followed the sugar bowl sketch.

This gorgeous little image is Pippi longsocks, just love her.

I'm usually not too keen on blue, but I quite like how she's turned out.

The colour scheme was set by facebook sugar nellies.

The cardstock used is from my stash,

strangely the design papers come from a wedding mat stack by DCWV.

The little blue flowers were a bargain at only £1 for 28 of them,

from a local store called tickety boo.

I soooo love my promarkers. They are a dream to colour with.

Could take me some time to collect them all though.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Craft Us Crazy challenge 21  - favourite colour/embellishment

Stamp and Fun = Creativity challenge 87  - favourite stamp

Cute Card Thursday challenge 204  - flower power

Sketchy Colours challenge 105  - blue and grey

The Sugar Bowl challenge 77  - kiki's sketch

Do You Stack Up challenge 59  - layers

Sugar Nellies on Facebook  - blue hues

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x

My Valentine...

...I can finally blog this card now that valentines is over.

It was really nice this year as for the first time EVER

 I made a card for my husband.

It was quite difficult as I didn't fancy doing the usual gush of hearts in red or pink.

 

The design idea was born from Papercraft Inspirations Magazine issue 96.

The colour scheme is of a more manly and sedate taste

and much more appealing to my hubby.

I used my cricut to cut the branches the owls are sat on,

The design is from the 'zooballoo' cartridge.

 

The design papers I used are 'abstract prints' by Dovecraft.

The colours in this pack are beautiful autumnal and tonal shades,

well suited for the making of male orientated cards.

These gorgeous little owls were simple to make and yet sooo effective I think.

The pearlised cardstock used is one from my stash,

I feel it adds that extra dimension and depth to the overall look

The ribbon and  pearls are also from my stash.

 By using these little black pearls for their eyes it really adds life to these little cuties.

 

 

I decided to hand write the sentiment 

feeling that this gave the card a more personal touch.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Truly Scrumptious challenge 74  - all creatures great and small

Crafting for all Seasons challenge 20  - love is in the air

Cards for Men challenge 4   - valentines/love

 Creative Card Crew challenge 4  - masculine
 

Crazy Challenge 106  - valentines day

Creative Craft challenge  - valentines

Thanx for popping by...

Keep Calm and Craft x