Ahoy Matey (and a Proud Mum Moment!)

Evening! It's time for my second GDT post for Paper Cupcakes and this week, there's a fab freebie image to work with (it's only free til Wednesday though, so make sure you hop over and grab it quick!) and it's a recipe challenge - 1 embossing folder or dry embossing of some sort, 1 or more die or punch, 1 ribbon, twine, string or something of the like, 1 or more buttons and use glitter or some sort of sparkle. Here's my card:

Ingredients:

Image - 'Ahoy Mate' by Paper Cupcakes coloured with Spectrum Noirs.

Papers - Rusty Pickle.

Dies - Tim Holtz 'Weathered Clock' die and MFT die-namics 'Mini Flag' dies.

Other - Docrafts embossing folder, Vintage Photo distress ink, Eyelets, Crop-a-dile and Twine, Black card and Pirate coin buttons - all from stash. For the glitter part of the recipe, I also used my sakura stardust pen to highlight the writing on the flags but I don't think you can see it very well in the pic!?!

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

• The Crafty Pad - Challenge 188 Autumn Colours.
• Crazy 4 Challenges - C4C154 Anything Goes with an Autumn twist.
• Digi Design Challenges - Use more than 1 Die Cut or Punch.
• Crafty Ann's Challenge - Autumnal Colour Scheme.
• Fun with Shapes and More - Challenge 117 Cards with an Animal.
• Raise the Bar - Challenge 111 'I believe I can fly' Anything with Wings.
• Our Craft Lounge - Challenge 134 Use Twine.
• Digi Haven - Fins or Feathers Free digi challenge.

Phew! I think that's it. Don't forget to hop over to 'There's Magic in the Air' with Paper Cupcakes and join in!!
Before I go, I just wanted to share my 'proud Mum moment' with you - my son, Sam started secondary school today and of course, I couldn't let him leave this morning without the obligatory photo shoot! Here's my handsome boy in his new uniform:

(Sorry, I can't get it to appear the right way up - if anyone can tell me how, I'd love to know!) Just turn your head sideways for now ;-)
Hope you like my card and piccie. Thanks for visiting..............xxx

One of the Pips

Evening! I've not posted for a few days - I've been busy doing all sorts of things. Firstly, thanks if you crossed your fingers for my little Ka - it passed it's MOT!!! I've been to the opticians for an eye test and am waiting to pick up my new specs, can't wait! My little fur baby has finally had a fur cut and looks like a little baldie (no offence baby xx) And last but not least, I was busy packing for my son, Sam over the weekend (and attending meetings) cos he went away on an outward bound trip to treejumpers in Kent on Tuesday with his new school. He's back tomorrow, so I can't wait to hear what he's been up to and if he's made some new friends. Phew! I think that's just about covered it! What have you all been up to? I'll be round to visit you all to find out in a bit. Here's the card I wanted to share with you:

Ingredients:

Image - Sugar Nellie (it's one of the 'Pips' but I can't remember which one - hence the post title!) coloured with Spectrum Noirs.

Papers and Buttons - Papermania Capsule Collection.

Flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts.

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards.

Raffia Ribbon - Bunny Zoe's.

Flourish - Marianne Designs die.

Such a cute image - they're nice and big too - I've had her for a while but only just got round to using her (like so many of my stamps, slapped wrists all round!!). I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

• City Crafter Challenge - Week 126 Polka Dot Palooza.
• Shopping Our Stash - Challenge 68 3, 2, 1 (3 buttons, 2 DPs, 1 image).
• Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes.
• The Crafty Bloggers Network - Challenge #3 Purple.
• Make It Monday - Anything Goes.
• My Mum's Craft Shop Challenges - Challenge #74 Buttons.

Right, I think that's it for now! Thanks for visiting me and any comments you might leave. Bye for now............xx
 

Life Doesn't Have to be Perfect....

How is everybody this evening? Thank you so much to all of you who have left such lovely comments about my last few cards, I've been round visiting blogland for the last few hours, so hopefully you'll have a comment back from me.
I'm so happy to be posting this card tonight - for those of you who have been following me for a while, you might remember that I used to be on the Paper Cupcakes DT. The lady who designs all the images, the lovely Nina, was the first person to give me a chance on a DT when I first started blogging and I noticed a couple of weeks ago that she was looking for a GDT for September, well, a couple of e-mails later and here I am!! This week's challenge over at 'There's Magic in the Air' is Things with Wings. Here's my card:

Ingredients:

Image - Paper Cupcakes coloured with Spectrum Noirs.

Papers - Glitz Design 'Cashmere Dame'.

Punch - MS Butterfly punch.

Other - Ribbon and Gems from stash.

A little bit different for me? I usually shy away from black and white papers but fell in love with this paper pad and because the image had quite bold black lines, I thought they might work!?
I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

• My Time Made Easy - Pretty Patterns Sketch #70.
• Crafty Catz - Challenge #148 3-2-1. 3 embellishments (Ribbon, Gems, Punched Butterflies), 2 DPs, 1 image.
• Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge 74 Winged Things.
• Make it Monday - Anything Goes.
• Tammy's Scrapin' Corner - Challenge 26 Anything with Wings.
• The Cutie Pie Challenge - Challenge #26 No Flowers.
• Lia Stampz - Challenge #24 3 R's Red, Ribbon and Rhinestones.
• Natalie and Amy's Challenge - Challenge #1 Anything Goes.
• One Stitch at a Time - Challenge 129 Use a Digi.

Right, I think that'll do! Don't forget to join in with the challenge - I'm sure you can whip a wing on there somewhere ;-) Before I go, I just wanna ask you to please think of my poor little ka tomorrow, going through it's MOT, pppppppppllllllleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaassssseeeeee let it pass cos I don't know what I'd do without it!! TTFN...................xxx

Peeking through the fence

Evening/Morning?!? I'm either posting very late or extremely early depending on which way you look at it but I wanted to get this card in before the deadline and so I thought I'd burn the midnight oil and get it done. My mojo has definitely returned and I'm enjoying being back in blogland more than you will ever know! Anyway, here's my card:

Ingredients:

Image - I think it's Elisabeth Bell, I bought it off ebay, watercoloured with DIs and DI markers.

Papers - Prima 'Tea Thyme'.

Flower - Prima.

Lace, Seam Binding and Butterfly - All Wild Orchid Crafts.

Other - Bazzill Basics Kraft card, Pearls from stash and Memory Box 'Honeysuckle Vine' die.

I've been praticing loads watercolouring with Distress Inks and new DI markers - I've finally found the right paper and got some decent brushes - I definitely find it much better not using a waterbrush. It's easier to control how much colour you're laying down. So - what d'you think of all my practice? Has it paid off at all? And how yummy are these new Prima papers!!??
I'm entering my card into the Seems A Little Sketchy sketch #20 - I always like their sketches, so didn't want to miss this one. And I think that's about it - better be off to link it up or it'll defeat the object if I miss the deadline!! I'll be back tomorrow/later with another card............xx

Slam Dunk

It's the 1st of September and I'm excited to say that I'm now a member of a brand new challenge blog! Tabitha's Designs Challenge blog launches today with it's new design team and they're a lovely bunch of ladies! Today's challenge is 'Men's Sports' and our sponsor is Dude Time Doodles. Here's my card:

Ingredients:

Image - 'BBall Barry' from Dude Time Doodles coloured with Spectrum Noirs.

Papers and Elements - 'All Star Mini Theme' digital collection by Echo Park from Jessica Sprague.

I'm also entering the following challenges:

• A Gem of A Challenge - Challenge 54 'A Boy Thing'.
• Karber Challenge - Challenge 54 'Hobbies and Leisure Activities'.
• Card Crafter's Circles - Challenge 38 'For the Fellas'.

And I think that's about it for now. I'm going to try and visit some of you but my internet's playing up tonight, so if I don't manage that, I'll watch a film or something and get crafty. I had some goodies arrive in the post this morning from Bunny Zoe's, so I've got some new Prima papers and Whimsy stamps to play with!!!
I hope you like my card, please join in with the challenge - it'd be great to make it a success!! Bye for now lovelies........xx