Whiff of Joy Guest Design Team

Well 'Tis the season for Design Team Calls! So, thought why not have a wee go at the Whiff of Joy DT call! I just love their stamps and such beautiful images and a joy to colour. I would be so honoured to get a chance to make cards for their DT. The post is for 2 monthst and if you would like to enter please click here to find out all the information.

I made this card with 'Teenage Lizzie' and have coloured her with prismacolour pencils and blended with mineral spirits. The highlights have been added with a white ink pen. The sentiment is also from Whiff of Joy.

The DP is from MME. The paper is from the Christmas collection, but I used paper that did not just limit it to a Christmas card. I thought Lizzie would make a great teenage girls Birthday card.
The cardstock is from American Crafts. The brads are sparkly ones from my stash and the flowers are from my big box!!

Hope you are all looking forward to the weekend and enjoy the sunshine if you have it today!
Thanks for looking,

Basic Grey DT Entry

Wow! Have things been busy round our place or what??? We've had family staying and sick kiddies. Glad to say the kiddies are on the mend and sadly Granny went home today. She is one hot ironer (is that a word?). Get it??
So, onto the card! I decided to make a card for the Basic Grey DT call. This is attempt No.2. No.1 is in the bin..no mojo last night.Today, it felt like it was flowing a bit better!
I have stamped Tilda with the fancy coat (can't spell its name...declaralia??) and then masked her to stamp the winter fence. She is coloured with distress inks and some stickles for the snow and her wings. The ticket sentiment is stamped onto Kraft cardstock in brown ink and then the edges were distressed.
The papers are BG 'Wassail' and I have inked and distressed the edges. I have embossed a piece of coredinations cardstock and then sanded it to highlight the flourishes. The ribbon is from my Rasperry Ribbon kit and the brads are from my stash.

Hope you are all well and thanks for looking!

Awards

I would just like to thank ever so much Gill, Tara and Debbie for this wonderful award! It means a lot to me that you would think of passing it on to me.

The award has a lovely sentiment behind it, which is:

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 eight blogger’s who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award. The eight bloggers I'm passing this award on to are:

I know many of you have already received this award and those who I would have chosen have already received it or passed it on to me. So, I am going to cop out of this one and thank each and every one of you who visits me and leaves kind comments. If you have not received this award yet, please feel free to take it for your own blog!

Finally, thank you Anki for this heartwarming award! Truly an honour to be considered your friend! Now for the rules:

Pick 5 bloggers that you consider as your best blogging buddies and deserves this award for their contribution towards the blogging community, no matter what language.State the name of the author of each blog as well as a link to each one’s blogs.Each blogger (upon acceptance) of this award should do a post and show the award on their blog and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award.Link to DOING LIFE’s blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.Show these rules.

Thisis a hard one to pick and I wish I could pick more than 5! So I have tried to limit it to just 5!
For this award I pick :

Gill, Chris, Gayle, Murmur, Tara G

Thank you ladies for visiting so often and your lovely comments and making me feel I now have friends in so many parts if this country and abroad!

A Spoon Full of A Sugar and Basic Grey!

A good morning to you all!
Hope you all had a fine weekend! Mine has been very snowy and fun but also hectic as my youngest son has been in and out the A & E with croup! We are used to it by now. He gets it every winter without fail and we know the drill of what to do. Nevertheless it has been a weekend of interrupted sleep!

Well, if I am quick I can enter this card into 2 challenges, A Spoon Full of Sugar and Basic Grey. The Challenge on A Spoon Full of Sugar was to create a card with blossoms! So, I've used some flowery paper and a flower in the image and some blossoms as embellishments!

For Basic Grey the challenge was to use embossing. I decided to use my swiss dots embossing folder on coredinations paper and sanded it down so the dots really stand out!

The image is from Sugar Nellie and was kindly sent to me by Gayle on an image swap! Check her blog out..so much fun and great cards too! I've coloured her with prismacolour pencils and highlighted with a white ink pen. I'm really enjoying this way of colouring at the moment.
The Dp i have used is from basic Grey and is the 'Blush' collection. The sentiment stamp is from hero arts and the dew drops are from Stamping Bella!

This is a birthday card for one of my friends. Is anyone else like me and has loads and loads of birthdays in November??? And I really need to be getting on with Christmas cards!! Arghhhhhhh!

I have received some lovely awards from some very dear and generous friends. I will be back later to put them up.

Joy and Love from Whiff of Joy

I so look forward to Wednesdays when I can see what WOJ have in store for the week ahead. This time was another great sketch by Heather. As my new Herb stamp had arrived I couldn't wait to ink him up and colour him in.

He has been coloured with prismacolor pencils and highlighted with a white ink pen. some stickles have been added to the ground.

The DP is from from 'Ladybug and Friends' and is from the 'Wonderland' collection. The dark brown card is from Coredinations and has been embossed and then sanded down to show the 'core' colour. Such a great effect! The felt snowflakes are from Hero Arts and I have added a button to the centre along with some linen thread from SU. I've shown you this close up so you can see that I've added lots of sparkle to the snowflakes!

Thank you for looking and hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I might even get the chance to show you a piccie of a real snowman...we have half of one built in our garden. Then it go too dark and cold to finish. Maybe more snow tomorrow!

Magnolia v's Stampavie

Well, this weeks sketch was a challenge..what a struggle I had not to revert back to my familiar square shape. In the end I got there!
So, as you might have guessed this card is for the Magnolia vs Stampavie challenge. Poor Edwin had been sitting in my box uninked and I thought 'poor boy', always left to last! So, to cheer him up I inked him up in a dapper shade of purple!

Edwin has been coloured with distress inks and has been chalked around the edges with a dark blue and some yellow. The sentiment is from Woodware and the swirl is from an October Afternoon collection.The card stock is all from Sarah's Cards and is American Crafts.

The tag is from 7 gypsies. The ribbon, gems and buttons are from my stash!

Thank you for looking and have a great evening,

Happy Birthday Sis!

Todays card is for the Ismaki challenge sketch. It is my sister's 21st in a few days so wanted to make a card for her. I'm not sure about the silver 21 on the card. I might remove it and do something else later. Mmmmmmm...

The image is one sent to me by Kim through a PIF. So thank you Kim! I love it. She is from the Sugar Nellie range, can't remember exactly what she is called. I have coloured her with prismacolour pencils and highlighted with white ink pen.. I have chalked the edges and the sky.

The DP is from SU and the half pearls are from Hero Arts.

Hope you all have a great day.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Cute as a button

Todays card is card for a friend's Mum who needed a baby girl card. So I decided to use the sketch over on Sketch Saturday and I also have used the challenge over on Secret Crafter to use a cute image and buttons!

I have tried a technique on this card I have never used before..paper piercing! I like the effect. easy peasy too. I always thought it was quite complicated!
I stamped the Forever Friends image and coloured with promarkers and then paper pireced the blanket he is being carried in to match the DP on the card. The DP is from the Spring matt stack from DCWV. The ribbon is from Rasperry Ribbons and the sentiment is from SU. the buttons and dew drops are from my stash. The charm is from Ebay.

I hope my friend's Mum likes the card! Off to hand deliver it today. Does anyone else have trouble when they ask how much do I owe you? I really have no idea what to charge for a card! Any suggestions most welcome!

Have a great day,

with love...

Hope you are all having the same beautiful day we are wherever you are! The sun is shining and it is crisp and cold. Once this is posted we are off to catch the fresh air before the sun sets!

Today my card is for the Friday Sketchers challenge. Murmur created a fabulous sketch and it was to fun to play with paper arrangements. Go check out the DT examples!

I chose to colour Tilda with distress inks and she is highlighted with a white ink pen.

The papers are a mixture. The red is wrong side of Wassail papers, i.e. the non patterened side and the purple has been in my stash for ages. I think it is Doodlebug. The brown grosgrain ribbon is from SU. The tab punch is also from SU and the sentiment is Doddlebug rub ons (a pressie from my sis!).

Thanks Murmur, for the inspiration!

Have a restful weekend,

Whiff of Joy..A Boys Christmas Card

First of all....a HUGE thank you to Donna who has transformed by blog. Thank you , thank you thank you!

My card today is for the Whiff of Joy Challenge which was to make a Christmas card for a boy but with no blue. I chose 'Charlie and his Snowman' and coloured him with prismacolour pencils and a touch of sansador to blend. I have used stickles for his hat and the ice around the snowman. The snowflakes are stamped with white ink and then covered with stickles.

The papers are all Basic Grey 'Wassail'. The edges have been inked and distressed.

The sentiment stamp is from Magnolia. The brads and buttons are from my stash.

I realised as I was edging Charlie in BLUE that I was not allowed to use blue! Oooopppps! I'm sure this minor mistake will be forgiven.

Thank you for all your kind Birthday wishes. I am still going to be eating cake today and for many days after, so please pop round for a cuppa and help me out!

A Spoon Full of Sugar...for a child

This was so fun to make..such a change from all the christmas cards. The challenge this week on A Spoon Full of Sugar was to make a card for a child. I chose to make a birthday card for a girl ( always handy to have in stock!). And this week on Arty Girlz challenge was to take inspiration from someone else's blog. So I was wowed by a card on Camilla's blog. I took inspiration from the pastel shades and from the hanglar image she had used. So, with these things in mind I tried to create the 'feel' of her card. Camilla's work is so amazing. If you have not checked her blog out already you should do so!

So I used a hAnglar and stAnglar stamp and coloured her with distress inks. The DP is from Crate (not sure which range) which is so soft and feminine. The sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts. The ribbon, flowers and dewdrops are all from my stash.

Today is my birthday and I am having a fun day having coffee and cake with friends...I now have 3 cakes to eat! Each has brought a cake with them. You'll have to roll me out the door soon! So, no cooking tonight, just a yummy take-away. That for me is the biggest treat of all.

My Dad sent me an e-card with the proverb saying that wisdom comes to the aged! Cheeky, but you do hope and pray that as you get older you do become that little bit wiser!

Judy x

Sketch Saturday-Christmas tree home!

Today's card is for Sketch Saturday. This week it is a sketch challenge and I have turned the sketch on it side.
The stamp is from SU! and it is coloured with distess inks (broken china, frayed burlap, peeled paint). there are some silver highlights but the camera hasn't really picked them up. The DP is from MME. I stuck the sentiments in the side of the image like a wee pocket. The sentiments are die cuts from the MME paper collection. The pom pom ribbon is fom Rasperry Ribbons and the dew drops and brads are from my stash.

Lots to go and do today...much, much housework!
Thanks for taking the time to look and any comments are welcome,
Judy x

Whiff of Joy Challenge 7 - in the Rain

Whiff of Joy week 7 is a sketch challenge by Heather. It is a great sketch.

This weekend I am going out to dinner with 2 of my girlfriends. We all have birthdays in November so are celebrating by leaving the Dads in charge!

This card is for one of the girls...haven't decided which one yet! they don't read my blog so I am safe enough to show it. I love the sentiment that goes with this image and she is so great to colour.

I have coloured her with prismacolour pencils and blended with Sansador. The rain is liquid pearls. The papers are 'Sonoma' from Scenic Route. The Kraft paper is embossed with flourishes. I've added brads to match and a little flower to decorate.

I've found a great way to take pictures in these dark nights. This is taken in the kitchen under the strip light under the wall units. It gives enough light so Idon't have to use my flash. But please excuse a glimpse of my kitchen tiles...need to get some of those lovely grunge edge effects I have seen on other peeoples blogs.

Thanks for taking the time to look,

Judy x

My First Award and a PIF

Just want to say a great big huge thank you to Debbie who has very kindly nominated me for this award. I was very chuffed to receive it! I am thoroughly enjoying my blogging and receiving such encouraging feedback and meeting such generous and kind people.

Here are the rules:

1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.

2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.

3. Nominate 5 blogs.

4. Put links to their blogs.

5. Leave a message for your nominees

I am going to pass the award to:

1. Dawn

2.Gayle

3.Crissy

4.Anki

5.Carole

Thank you Debbie once again!

A PIF

Well, I have been PIF-ed by Kim. For those of you who have not heard of a PIF, it stands for Pass it Forward. So, the idea is that the first 3 people to comment on this post will receive some stamped images from me. Then they have to do the same on their blog. Easy! So, if you woulld like to play you can leave me a comment on this post and state if their are any images that you would prefer. If not I will just send you a random selection.

Thank you

Judy x

Magnolia v's Stampavie...keep it simple!

The Challenge this week in Magnolia versus Stampavie is to create something simple..clean lines and with just 3 colours.

So, I've stamped a new Tilda from 2008 collection and coloured her with distress inks (broken china, worn lipstick, walnut stain, frayed burlap, tattered rose) and of course a little stickles on her wings!

It is quite difficult to stick to just 3 colours...mine are pink, blue and brown.

The papers are from My Minds Eye ( which I just think are my favourite ever!) and are edged with brown ink. The sentiment is from SU 'Circle of Friendship' which is such a useful set of setiment stamps. Buttons, flowers, pearls and lace are from my collection.

So, hope you are having a great weekend. After church this morning we are just having a quiet family afternoon....playing games, reading stories as it is really cold outside and it is getting dark very early these days.

Judy x

Sparkly Snowflakes

Not everyone at Christmas loves 'cute' as one man at my craft fair told me. He said my cards were all too girly! Anyway for all those on my Christmas card list that don't do 'girly' I made these cards last night!

I was browsing through the Hero Arts blog the other day and was inspired to dig out my heat gun, after I brushed off the dust, I had a lot of fun heat embossing the snowflakes in white. I am going to enter this card into the Papertake Weekly Challenge as their theme this week was sparkle and bling. I'ved added a sparkly gem to each snowflake and lots of diamond stickles to the tree.

So, I even managed to pump out 3 of these cards in a couple of hours as they were so simple to make.

Materials:

Stamp: Hero Arts Snowflake Design Block, SU Christmas Tree

Card: Hero Arts Notecards

Embellishments: gems and ribbon from stash

Tools: Heat Gun

Thanks for looking,

Judy x

A Spoon Full of Sugar

Hiya all! For todays card I have followed the sketch at A Spoon Full of Sugar. I have had this gorgeous reindeer stamped and coloured for ages, just waiting to be placed on a card! I really enjoyed using this sketch.

This is a Unity Co stamp which I have coloured with distress inks (tea dye, red mahogany and walnut stain) and highlighted with white ink. I have cut him out and pop dotted him onto embossed white card. My red and brown cardstock is all from American Crafts. The sentiment is from SU.

The buttons, ribbons and pearls are all from my collection. oh and if you look closely you will see I've added a little bell charm to his antlers so he jingles as he moves!

Think I will make some more of these as it was such fun to do!

Enjoy your day! I'm being Nurse Mummy today..I have them all at home with sore throats and fevers! Poor things! So, a stay at home day today :(

Judy x

Friday Sketchers Challenge and Basic Grey

Good morning!

This is my card for this weeks Friday Sketchers and Basic Grey Challenge. I wasn't sure about the big triangle at first but it has grown on me! And, Basic Grey has a nice easy one this week. Their theme is just Christmas,so this card fits in quite nicely. So, here is my effort.

I have coloured Tilda with distress inks (aged mahogany, peeled paint, walnut stain and tattered rose with a wash of tea dye for the background). if you look closely you will see I've added pearl buttons to her coat!

The papers are Basic Grey Wassail collection which has such beautiful rich colours. The holly stickers also come from that collection.

I have stamped the flourishes around Tilda with Basic Grey stamps. I don't know the name of it!

The brads, ribbon,and pearls and letter stickers all come from my stash.

Well, thank you for looking.

Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Judy x

Just a card!

Hi! Hope you all a lovely weekend. I've been very busy selling at a craft fair over Fridayand Saturday. Great fun! Didn't sell masses of cards...but lots of people came and browsed my cards and said they are lovely, then they don't buy and then they tell you they are a card maker too and ask you how you did this , that and the other! However the little gift boxes did sell. They were very popular.

Anyway, so today is just a card..no sketches, no challenges..just one I put together. This new Tilda is from the Christmas 2008 collection. I coloured her with Coloursoft pencils and blended with Sansador. The papers are from MME. The flowers are punched with my retro flower punches and the centre is a silver rose bead. The sentiment is from Woodware.

Hope you all have a lovely Monday!

Judy x