MORE JOURNALING - OH CRIPES NOW I'M HOOKED !!

I got a flash of inspiration today after seeing a digi image FREE from A DAY FOR DAISIES and I just had to make something with her for their latest Challenge.

Out came the watercolour paper and pearl sprays and inks and paints and you name its.... and here it is.

It's such a pity that the pearl paint and glitter on her dress don't come out well in photographs - this is sooo pretty in front of your face :-D

Items used:
Excerpt from  THE  CLOUD by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Image - Angelic Angel .. A Day for Daisies Freebie
Perfect Pearls Mists - Turquoise, Perfect Pearl, Forever Green
Stickles - Crystal Ice
Watercolours various
Spectrum Noir Pens - BGR1,BGR3, BT1, BT8, IB3, TB1, TB2

Challenges I am entering:

A Day For Daisies Challenge #116 - Art Journal-y
Sweet Stamps Challenge Blog Challenge #210 - Anything But A Card
TTCRD Challenge Feb 24 - Mar 2 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #233 - Anything Goes

PAW-TRAITS AND BAD LUCK !!

Another late piece !!!!

I was busy colouring this up recently and when I had finally finished, I found that I was too late for the Challenge - so with a couple of additions, I am entering it in this week's instead !!! Hahahaha LoL 

Click on Pic for bigger view..

The image is called "COOL CAT TRIO" from SLS LINES. with a red velvet backdrop and a digital picture frame.
It was originally meant for their last Challenge - Portraits.... or in this case 'PAW -traits'  hee hee



Challenges I am entering:

SLS Lines Challenge #6 - Anything Goes
Open Minded Crafting Challenges #31 - Luck.... well mine was bad last week cos I missed the Portraits Challenge LoL

JIGSAW SWAP

Hello Peeps,
Well - I am here with something that should have been done AGES ago... but to tell the truth, I tucked away my jigsaw pieces and then couldn't find them in the bombsite that I call my craft room !!!!  I'll take a slapped wrist now :-)

Anyways - I found them this morning and decorated them up. The idea was that several people were sent different pieces of the same jigsaw, then we decorate them however we like and send them back. I asked for 2 pieces and I got ones that actually fit together, so I went with the same theme over both.

I thought to myself how I enjoy getting mail from my crafting friends all around the world, so that's what I illustrated.
I used some bits of map (it's of Greece and it shows my island in the red circle, an air mail sticker, a little Dove with a tiny envelope (cut on my CraftRobo) and some text done to look like those lettering machine thingies that says "It's such fun to get mail from around the World".

KRISTY will probably kill me for being so late, but at least I finished. The idea was played by 12 people on her FaceBook Page HERE, and we all took 2 pieces each. I reckon it will look wonderful when she gets them all back and puts it together :-D 

Thanks for popping in :-D xx

MY ATC SWAPS

WoW - here I am again... these are my ATCs that I made for the January (Something I Got for Christmas) and February  (Texture) Swaps over at MY CRAFTS FORUM.
This is a great place for Swaps and all sorts of great goings on. The organiser of the ATC Swaps is in the UK, so it's a bit easier for me to take part, but I still made 6 months worth in advance hahahaha.
That's why I forgot to post about these - but here they are now :-)

And here's a couple of cards I made for a friend's Rellies in January that I forgot were on the camera :-D LoL

There's lots of layers and sparkle and a fabbo little snowman I bought in a winter kit from a friend selling off her stash !!! Awesome :-)

Her sister is a mountain climber and hiker, so we always have to put something relevant on there for her and I like to put silly sheep and mountain goats too :-D

Well - That's about me done for now then.

Thank you very much for dropping by xxxxxxxxxxxxx

A LITTLE BIT OF VINTAGE

Me again with a vintage creation. I got a panic 'phone call from a friend yesterday afternoon for a card for his Mum. She lives in Brighton, UK, so I always like to put something about that on it.

Inside

I used my Marianne Creatables Die set LR0281 which are filigree corners, but I used it in a slightly different way and  made the corner pop out separately. The background and inside is some left-over paper snippets from an old scrapbook kit I had.

Inspiration for the card design shape was taken from the Marianne Creatables shop site. The picture of Brighton is an old public image print and the Lady is one of half a dozen a friend sent me over a year ago now :-).

It's funny - sometimes when you have a rush job, things seem to go just right and other times you just sit panicking. I was pleased with how this turned out.

Challenges I am entering:

Creative Knockouts Challenge #78 - Lots of layers

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #362 - Fancy Corners

The Crafters Cafe Challenge #105 - Lots of Layers

Crafting For All Seasons Challenge #96 - Dies or Punches

WATCH OUT - SHE BITES !!

Happy Friday Peeps,
I am in the mood for a bit of a creative weekend and it all starts now !! LoL
Here is a piece I just whipped up for a Challenge I spied this morning.....Look away now if you don't like spiders !!! :-D

The background is made using my Textured Impressions "Spider Web" from Stampin' Up. I inked the embossing folder first and then put it through the machine. This was mounted onto plain red card and a ribbon and stick pin added.

The main image is one of my designs called 'BLACK WIDOW' and she is available exclusive at Smeared Ink - as a single or part of my 'MOVIE MADNESS' collection.

The Poem is by Mary Howitt (1799 - 1888) and I have used the first verse only. Font is Spider Shank.

Thank you for dropping in. I will be back later with a bit of Vintage :-D

Challenges I am entering:

Left of Centre Challenge #67 - Spiders

Case this Sketch #112       -  I flipped it upside down :-)                             

Inspiration Destination Challenge #22 - Anything Goes

SOMETHING NEW & SLIGHTLY SCARY - FOR ME THAT IS !!!

Well hello Peeps,
Today I have started on a new - and slightly scary - project for me..... JOURNALING. !!
I got this amazing notebook from SMEARED INK ages ago as part of a prize, and I just sit looking at it sometimes and generally coveting it and not wanting to blemish the pristine, virgin pages inside in any way !!

Having had recent discussions with an awesome artist friend of mine.. I was being heavily persuaded to give journaling a go but I still remained hesitant - until yesterday when I found this amazing FREEBIE quote from GINGER's HOUSE. :-D So I have used it as my first page along with my Scaredy Cat and I made the opposite page with some Dictionary definitions of the word Journal.

Having actually stuck something in it, I thought I may as well take a further plunge and do another couple of pages. I sat thinking about what to do and then I thought - well do something you know or like,.... Right ? - so here is my next one which goes over the two pages.

I LUV cats, so that is what it's all about. 

I got some old dictionary pages with the definition of CAT on them and slapped them in first. Recently I also got this purr-fect little kitty from A DAY FOR DAISIES . He is called 'Fairy Kitty' and is the Freebie with the current Challenge. I shaded the top image with a very pale grey Promarker, but it doesn't show too well on the pic. I printed him twice and used some nail varnish on his wings and then cut out his body again to mount on foamies for a bit of pop. The nail varnish had bits of glitter and flowers in it and looks very pretty close up. It's called "Richmond Gardens" by Nails Inc. but it's an absolute sod to try and get off your nails - even with a ton of varnish remover - so I am going to just use it for crafting. !! :-)

I printed several bits on there with various cat stamps and then I found a fabulous poem by ELEANOR FARJEON, called 'Cats Sleep', so I wrote it out in the shape of a cat's butt and tail on the other page.

Well - I guess that's just about it, but I now have another idea brewing which was inspired by another poem by Eleanor, so that's coming up another day :-D

Thanks for stopping by.  xxx

Challenges I am entering:

A Day For Daisies Challenge #115 - Add Some Glitter

Creative Moments Challenge #62 - Anything Goes with optional twist

Double Click Challenge - Use an Animal

I Love Promarkers Challenge #258 - Animals

Inspiration Destination Challenge #22 - Anything Goes

WINNER OF THE NEW 'BRIDES' SET

Hi there Peeps,
I have popped in to announce the Winner of my new 'BRIDES' set I published about last week.

From the kind people who left a comment on the Blog Post and Facebook Fan Club, I entered you all into the box .....

The box was offered up to the LUCKY PIKKIN' PUPPY OF FATE....

He takes his time choosing.....(sorry about the lens cap swinging into view there !!!)

After much deliberation - finally he makes his choice........ Ta Dah !!! :-D

And the Winner is...BrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrPish.......

CONGRATS Susan - please contact me for your Prize Digi Set. :-D xxxxxxxxxx

IKEsWORLD CHALLENGES #32 - PAPER PIECING

Hello Peeps and here I am with the details of our latest Challenge over at IKEsWORLD CHALLENGES..... #32 - PAPER PIECING.

The Winner and TOP 3 details are up for Challenge #31, and there is also a new FREEBIE for you to snag so that you can play along this fortnight.

You don't have to use an IKEsART image to enter, but if you do, then you get entered twice in the winner's draw. :-D

I haven't actually made anything myself yet this week, but maybe I will have something done for Week 2 LoL

So, I hope you will come over and play along with us - the Challenge runs until 9th March 2015.

Byeee xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A BIT OF RED & PONDERING

Good morning Peeps,
I was dingling about here yesterday trying to find some inspiration to start a Journal and going through all my digis and stamps and stuff, when I came across this guy. I wondered what was going through his mind, and then browsed the internet for the word 'Pondering', because I thought that was what he was doing.
Anyhoo - I found this really cool poem called "Tense Minutes" by someone called PENCIL SLAYER and I thought it just fit perfectly with the skelly man.

I printed him out and cut round and placed him onto a brick wall stamped background with foamies. The corner is cut with a Marriane Creatable Die.

I guess we all get 'pondering' days in our crafting worlds - and I never did start that Journal LoL :-D

Thanks for dropping in.

Challenges I am entering:

De Stempelwinkel Challenge #4 - Red

Cutting & Stamping Challenge #8 - Anything Goes

Inspiration Destination Challenge #21 - Anything Goes

Dazzling Diva Challenge #63 - Mood Board - I went with the red

HAVING A PLAY DAY

Hello Peeps,
well - it's a bit wet and windy today so I am staying indoors and having a play day in my studio :-D
Here's a little St Patrick's card I made using a Freebie I got from DEARIE DOLLS.... St Patty's Day Doggie. I coloured him with Spectrum Noir pens to look a bit like my little houndoe (who happens to be asleep in his basket beside me). After colouring I cut him out and raised him on foamies.
The background paper is from Doodle Pantry - St Paddy Digi Papers and the cut outs/swirls are ones I bought this morning from SILHOUETTE.
The lace is scraps from my stash.
I stamped Lucky on the little shamrock banner with my baby letter stamps (from China).

Thank you for stopping by :-) xx

Challenges I am entering:

613 Avenue Crafts #111 - Anything Goes optional Birthday

Quirky Crafts Challenge #4 - Our Best Friend

Come & Get It Challenges - Layer it On

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #4 - Anything Goes

Crafting From The Heart #68 - Anything Goes

OSAAT DT PIECE CHALLENGE #231 - BIRTHDAYS

Hello Sunday Peeps,

Just flying in quick to show you my piece for OSAAT CHALLENGE #231 - BIRTHDAYS.
The image I got was 'BIRTHDAY SURPRISE' stacked papers by PANDA BEAR DESIGNS.

I made a mini scrap book out of 5 x 5 envelopes and used all the papers in the set :-) and I added some little extra plain tags for journal entries.

Thank you for dropping by and we hope to see you over at OSAAT #231, so you can see what my Angel Teamies have made for you to see too.  xxxxxxxxxxxx

Challenges I am entering:

S'AGAPO PANTA

Hi Peeps and happy Saturday to you All,

I decided to have a challenge entering day today and here is my first piece.
It's a bit of a play on words as the Greek for "I Love You Always" is....... ............Σ 'αγαπώ πάντα... which is pronounced sag a po  panda - which just meant I simply HAD to use the FREEBIE papers and bits that I got this very morning from MEINLILAPARK...... Pandas  :-D  LoL

I got the backing paper and border from Sandra at Meinlilapark and then she kindly gives a link to 16 other Freebie PANDA goodies, where I found the big image and the finger puppet panda kit :-D 

I used some die cuts and copied the Layout from the Chocolate, Coffee & Cards challenge blog.

Thank you for dropping in :-D

Challenges I am entering:

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #85 - Layout

A Creative Need February Challenge - Love & Desire

Cut It Up Challenge #65 - Exotic Animals + a die cut

Left Of Centre Challenge #66 - Use Your Dies

QKR Stampede Challenge #127 - Critters

Simply Create Too Challenge #79 - Anything Goes

The Stamping Boutique Challenge - Hearts

Sister Act Card Challenge #94 - Anything Goes

Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge - Die cuts or punches

QUOTH THE RAVEN CHALLENGE #41 - WEEK 3

Good morning Peeps,
Here I am with my creation for WEEK 3 OF our latest Challenge over at QUOTH THE RAVEN - #41 FOR THE LOVE OF POE.

Since it was the month of the dreaded Valentine's Day , this Challenge is all about Love. Love for POE, or one of his love poems, or one of the ladies he wrote love stories about... you get the idea. :-D

I have made for you a Tag....

The background card is brown and I inked the edges. Then I stuck on some kitchen paper and spritzed it with Perfect Pearl mists in various colours. It looks great in my hand but not so much in the photos :-(

I then used the remainder from a die cut  - it looked a bit like a Gothic cross and I like to use up my snippets :-D

I used another of the left-overs to stencil through onto white card for the small panel and used my new SARNTANGLES rubber stamps on graduated colour card to hold my raven and POE portrait. I used the love stamp repeatedly across the card until the ink ran out :-)

So, I hope you will come over to QUOTH THE RAVEN and play along with us this month. We have a great Prize for the Winner and you can snag yourself a coooool Winner or TOP 3 Badge :-D

Thanks for stopping by.

SARNTANGLE SUNDAY :-D

Today I have been playing  again with my set of LIMITED EDITION - "SARNTANGLES".... created by Sarn over at STAMPING FOR PLEASURE.
These were drawn by Sarn and then turned into a fabulous rubber stamp set and I couldn't wait to get mine.
If you want your own set of these, then pop over HERE for the instructions on how to get them :-D

This first one was was printed onto card with black ink and then coloured with Spectrum Noir pens - CT1, CT3, CT4, GB6, OR2, BG2.

I then mounted it onto a pale yellow die cut doily. The sentiment comes with the Set and was printed onto a thin strip of paper and rolled at the ends.

This 2nd one is an ATC and  was done with ultra fine glitter - a technique I haven't done for yeeeeeeeeeaaars. I used to do a lot of this with Mandalas. Anyhoo - the image was stamped with embossing ink and sprinkled with Black embossing powder and heated. I then used a micro nozzle glue pot to flood the petals with glue and then sprinkled the ultra fine glitter in. 

Colours used, Pink Alpha, Neat Blue, Strato Blue - from  Patsymay, and Blue Sky from Powderz.   When it was dry I cut it out with a die and mounted it onto butterfly blue shiny card.

This one I fancied doing pink - which is an unusual colour for me, but I have a friend who adores pink, so this may well get to be her birthday card :-)

I used 2 different Sarntangles for this one and the middle one was stamped separately onto card, then coloured and mounted with foamies for extra pop.

These are coloured with Spectrum Noir pencils from the 'Primaries' tin.

Sarn makes some absolutely fabulous cards, and she has some gorgeous examples made with her own new stamps. I think I am going to have to copy some of her card designs as I can never get her wonderful effects on my own LoL !! :-D

Thank you for dropping in and I hope you will pop over to see SARN  in all her creative glory :-)

Challenges I am entering:

Alphabet  Challenge - Z is for Zentangle

SCOTTIE BIRTHDAY

Hello Peeps and Happy Sunday,
I am here with a card for a Scottish friend on mine and I always try to find something appropriate to him. This time, I used some information about his name as my background and I found a fabulous little Scottie Dog cutting file - 
SCOTTIE GIFT BAG by MEGAN HARDY available at the Silhouette Store.

I only used one part of the collection - the Dog bit -  and made him a bit bigger, then cut him with my Craft Robo.
I cut one in black and one in white and stuck them on top of each other but slightly off-set. Don't ask me why... I just did !!! 
I made his little coat with some clan tartan, which I hope is the right one for my friend !!
I finished with a sprinkling of hearts which were left over from a previous cutting session :-)

Thanks for stopping by..... I'm off to play with some stamping now :-)

Challenges I am entering:

Crafty Calendar February Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge #43 - Two's  (2 dogs)

WOO HOO !.....SARNTANGLES

YaY !!! Today I got my set of LIMITED EDITION - "SARNTANGLES".... created by Sarn over at STAMPING FOR PLEASURE.
These were drawn by Sarn and then turned into a fabulous rubber stamp set and I couldn't wait to get mine.
If you want your own set of these, then pop over HERE for the instructions on how to get them :-D

Here is my first creation...........................

I printed this one onto some brown card with black StazOn and then used a tiny brush with some bleach to colour parts of it. I was quite happy with how it went. I also wiped bleach all around the outer edge of the card.

Then it was mounted onto some colour fade card, then brown, orange and the final cream backing with an added slice of ribbon.

The "Imagine" word art comes with the set too along with a couple of others - if you look at the pikkie up above, you can see the whole set.

Sarn makes some absolutely fabulous cards, and she has some gorgeous examples made with her own new stamps. I think I am going to have to copy some of her card designs as I can never get her wonderful effects on my own LoL !! :-D

Thank you for dropping in and I hope you will pop over to see SARN  in all her creative glory :-)

Challenges I am entering:

Alphabet  Challenge - Z is for Zentangle
Frosted Designs Friday Challenge - Get Messy x 2 (well I did - I forgot how long StazOn takes to dry so I smudged it but managed to rescue the card with some rubber stamp cleaner, and I got white spots on my fingers from the bleach hahaha LoL)
Simply Create Too #79 - Anything Goes
Stempelsonne Challenge #134 - Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations February Challenge - Anything Goes
That Craft Place - Anything Goes

NEW IMAGES AT IKEsART

Hi Peeps,
I have been drawing and thought I might make some pretties instead of grousomes :-D
I give you ..... BRIDES...........

These beauties could be 'altered' to be Brides of Frankenstein too maybe... yes ???!!! LoL

They will be in the SHOP later this evening, but how's about we play a little game......... anyone who leaves a comment down below can win THE WHOLE SET !!! :-D 

This chance will run until next Friday, so why not go for a chance ?

Who said Friday 13th wasn't lucky ???  Well it might be for just you xxxxxxxxxx

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Hello Peeps,

I have popped in to show you a set of ATCs that I made for a Swap in January over at YOUR PAPER PANTRY.
There was a cool video that Stephanie did showing us how to make the Northern Lights background with inks and daubers and then stamping trees on there. I had a go........ I didn't have the sorts of inks and stuff she had and only had 1 tree stamp, but I managed to prepare my backgrounds and then feed them into the printer to put some trees on there. These are silhouette digis from BECCY's PLACE.

I didn't then have any daubers either so smurged mine with fingers and make-up sponges.  The hills were masked off before the sky was done and the stars are done with a white nail art pen :-D
Had to wait until now cuz I lost the photos that I took and had to ask Steph to do it :-D

The top centre one I tried on photographic paper but it didn't work out so good - but when I rubbed it I got that coooooool turquoise bit where the ink started to come off !!! :-D

I really enjoyed trying a new technique and can't wait to get my Swaps back from the other Girls. I've seen a couple and they look awesome !! :-D

Thanks for dropping by xxxxxxxxxxxx