Kids Christmas

The challenge at Christmas Cards All Year can be found here:
http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/august-challenge-kids-christmas.html

This challenge was surprisingly difficult but I have completed a card:

I tend to do more CAS style cards but this one is possibly more CAS than usual!  I have used a bold background paper from my stash and this image comes from Cre8tive Hands and is called winter.  I have coloured the image mainly using bold coloured copics with B000 for the sky.  I tried adding some embellishments but it tended to look more adult like when I did so I have left them off.  I have used a bright red cardstock for the matting to help pop the image more.

Balloon Bear Card

I love this balloon bear that came as a freebie with the second challenge at Avadares:
http://avadareschallengeblog.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-2-anything-for-august.html

This is my card using this balloon bear:

I have used a background paper and matting cardstock from DCWV.  The image as I said is called Balloon Bear and is an Avadares image.  I have coloured the balloon bear using a Violet copic marker.  The corners of the diecut have been embellished using some little gold beads.

I have kept the colour scheme fairly straight forward so that the card has more impact. 

Fish in the Sea

This is the second card for this challenge.  This one has been made using the image from the second week:

The challenge for this card can be found here:

http://www.papercraftplanet.com/group/sassystudiodesigns/forum/topics/fabulous-freebie-friday-8-17-12-and-challenge

The image is called Mermaid Mandy.  The fishy background paper is from TLC Creations. The matt is a glitter cardstock to give a bit of shimmer and sparkle.  I felt this sentiment from Crafty Cat goes perfectly with this card - the fish on the background paper and the spread of her arms saying "this much".

Are you feeling blue?

This is the sentiment I came across that was perfect for this card:

The card is for the Sassy Studio - FFF challenge which can be found here:
http://www.papercraftplanet.com/group/sassystudiodesigns/forum/topics/fabulous-freebie-friday-8-17-12-and-challenge

The image is from Sassy Studio Designs and is called Towel Tammy.  The sentiment comes from Crafting Vicky and can be found here:
http://crafting-vicky.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/tuesday-throwdown-challenge-113.html?showComment=1346372316103

The paper that I have used comes from TLC Creations. I have also added some blue rhinestones to represent bubbles.  Other than that I have kept the card CAS this week.

Stripes

Be Inspired 9 at The Alley Way Stamps can be found here:
http://www.thealleywaystamps.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/be-inspired-challenge-9-and-new-set.html

My inspiration came from all the stripes:

I have used a stripey paper from my stash and added some more stripes using some ribbon from American Crafts.  The image and sentiment are both from The Alley Way Stamps.  The comb also has a striped look to it.  I have die-cut the image using a Spellbinders Labels die and the sentiment using a Spellbinders rectangle die.

Thank You for a Teacher

Brown Sugar Challenge can be found here:
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-5-occupations.html

So I thought I'd work on my Thank you cards for my childrens' teachers:

The image that I have used comes from Sassy Studio Designs and is called Mrs Sassy.  I have used a grey black background paper from my stash.  I have kept fairly much to an orange and black colour scheme with a green apple for the teacher!  The black and white lace is some I found in a shop a week ago and just had to have! The flower I bought today but it was pink so had to colour it orange with my copics.  I have added three diamond shaped rhinestones to complete the card.

Meljens Designs

This is where you find the latest Meljens Designs Challenge:
http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-124-sketch-challenge.html#comment-form

And what a great challenge it is too.  A sketch to have a play with.  This is my take on the sketch:

 I have used three different papers from Bearly Mine Designs.  Two of the pieces were offcuts from a previous card and were almost the right size for this sketch.  The image is Penguins Cocoa from Meljens Designs.  I have also added some red grosgrain ribbon and a sentiment using an acrylic stamp from my stash.

Victorian Beauty

The challenge at Sassy Studio Designs - Dare to be Sassy Thursday can be found here:
http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/dare-to-be-sassy-thursday-139.html

I have made an elegant card this week as I felt it fitted the image:

The image is one from Sassy Studio Designs called Victorian Beauty.  I have used two papers from DCWV Mariposa Matstack and one from DCWV The Performance Cardstock Matstack (matt).  I have coloured the image using copic markers and added a pearl to her dress.  I have also added three pearls to the lower left of the card. The butterfly has been cut from pearlised cardstock using a die set (body and wings are separate) from Memory Box.

The inner of the card uses some more from the Mariposa Matstack together with a sentiment from Desert Diva which has been die-cut using a Spellbinders Label Die and a bit of colour added with copic marker R02.

Fairy Card

The challenge at CRAFT Challenge this week is all about fairies:
http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/craft-challenge-169-fairies.html

And this is my card:

I used a lovely paper from Trimgym.  It comes from a set called A Scottish Loch and this particular paper is called Spirelli.  I love how it looks like fairy wings.  The image I used is called Wine Fairy and comes from Broken Box Stock.  I coloured her with my copics and then die-cut using a Spellbinders Oval Die.  I edged the die with Crystallina Kindy Glitz.

I've left quite a bit of "white" space in the background as I wanted the paper to feature and not be overcrowded.

Christmas Pudding

I really love this image as the Christmas pudding is more suitable for our weather at Christmas.  Although, this image actually comes from a designer based in Netherlands I think.

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
Crimbo Crackers - Christmas Puddings
http://crimbo-crackers.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-22.html

The image is from Sliekje Digital Stamps.  The background paper is from my stash. I have added some red grosgrain ribbon to the left hand side and then overlaid it with some red and white lace.  The sentiment is an acrylic stamp from my stash.  The image and sentiment have been die-cut using Spellbinders dies.  The image is coloured in copic markers.  I used R000 on the pudding to give it a translucent strawberry look.  We have strawberries in season at Christmas so a nice light strawberry pudding is just the thing!

Use some Pearls

Using pearls on the creation is the theme at Digi Doodles:
http://digidoodleshopsbest.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/challenge-122-use-pearls.html

This is my first entry into a challenge at Digi Doodles:

I have used an image from Digi Doodles called Corrugated Ribbon Tree.  I have coloured this with my copic markers and then added some pearls as baubles.  The background paper is from Trimgym.  It comes from a set called Christmas 2011 Papers.  I have added a red grosgrain ribbon to co-ordinate with the green corrugated ribbon tree.  I have then tied a bow from organza ribbon and added some kindy glitz alongside the ribbon.  To finish, I've added a few more pearls to the top right hand corner.

I have also entered this card into the following challenge:
Winter Wonderland - Red & Green
 http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/red-and-green-should-be-seen-at-winter.html

Gems & Twine & Sans Design

The current challenge at Crafty Creations can be found here:
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-184-gems-and-twine.html

I found a lovely image from Sans Design to work with:

The paper is some from my stash.  I have trimmed the image using my trimmer and then corner punched.  I have threaded the twine through the punched corners and around the image to provide a frame for the image.  The gems are clear ones - although they look greyish in this photo.  The image has been coloured with copic markers to co-ordinate with the paper.

Sweet Little Tweet

I am just loving these sketches at Sweet Sketch Wednesday:
http://sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/happy-sweet-sketch-wednesday-168-121.html

Here is the current one:

From this sketch, I have created this card:

I have used an image from Market Street Stamps called Funky Chicken.  I have coloured Funky Chicken with my copics and die-cut with a scallop square die from Nellies Multi Frames.

The background paper is from Kate Knight Spring Fling.  The other two papers on top are from my stash.  That is a stripey paper and not ribbon - bit hard to tell from the photograph. For embellishments, I have used a ribbon flower that I coloured with my copics (R59 and Y08) and some red crystals.  

Butterfly Card

I have made this butterfly themed card:

for the following challenges:

Ruby's Rainbow - Butterflies
http://rubysrainbow.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/rubys-rainbow-ch-35.html
Bearly Mine Designs - Anything Goes
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/49-anything-goes.html
Generally, I don't like Anything Goes challenges - they give me too many options!  But this was a chance to build up my Thank You cards ready for the end of the school year.  By combining it with another challenge, it enabled me to focus better!

I have used a paper from Bearly Mine Designs.  I bought this butterfly die-cut (Memory Box) at a papercraft expo and hadn't created anything with it.  While it is quite fiddly getting the bits out of the wings, it was definitely worth it.  I have cut the three butterflies from gold coloured pearlised cardstock.

The sentiment is from Pollycraft and I die-cut this with my Spellbinders circle die and added some clear rhinestones.  I usually colour the clear ones with my copics but resisted the temptation this time.

Black, white and a splash of lime

Black, white and a splash of lime is the colour palette at The Play Date Cafe:
http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/make-splash-at-play-date-cafe-pdcc146.html

but it also sorted my colour block for the challenge at De Creatieve Zebra:
http://decreatievezebra.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-25-sketch.html


This is the first time I have done the challenge at De Creatieve Zebra.  I liked the look of the sketch so thought I would give it a go.  Here is my card:

I have started with a white square card blank.  The black squares are die-cut with a Spellbinders scallop square die.  The sentiment is one from Nettys Cards which I have die-cut with a Spellbinders circle die and matted onto lime green glitter cardstock (for my splash of lime).  I then added some white mosaic tiles to the scallop squares.

Include a Sentiment

The challenge at Whoopsi Daisy is to include a sentiment:
http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/include-sentiment.html

However, I couldn't decide how much of a focal point that I wanted that sentiment to be!

A colour challenge this time at Love to Create:
http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-29-color-throw-down.html

Yellow is one of my two favourite colours although I don't tend to craft with it much. However, when I do I enjoy the end result. The challenge in this one was combining it with kraft. Here is the end result of my efforts:

The colours I've used are Kraft, Yellow and Orange.  I decided on the orange after finding this gorgeous ribbon that was yellow and orange.  They are my two favourite colours anyway!!

The image is one from Whoopsi Daisy called Linnie.  I have coloured her with copics and then die-cut her with a circle die and scallop circle die.  The sentiment is from Desert Diva.  I also added some ribbon roses coloured yellow with copics.

Woops - if you came here from The Play Date Cafe - I linked up the wrong post.  Have a look at this one:
http://craftysuze.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/black-white-and-splash-of-lime.html
Lesson - don't drink wine while you are linking up posts!

Bear Minimum

A keep it simple challenge at Pikes Playground:
http://dustinpike.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/bear-minimum-keep-it-simple-challenge.html

This one should have been easy for me as it is my preferred style of card.  However, for some reason I just couldn't get started with this one.  Then I saw a post on Dustin's website regarding Kards for Kenton:
http://dustinpike.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/kards-for-kenton.html
That was the inspiration for this card:

While the design is relatively simple the paper has a lot of detail on it.  They are paper scraps from a collage pack that I've had for quite a while.  I particularly like the lion for courage as Kenton is showing lots of that.

The design in based on a sketch from Kenny K Krafty Krew.
http://kennykskraftykrew.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/challenge-107-get-sketchy.html
which I felt was perfect for this card.

The image is from Doodle Dragon Studios.  I would have liked to have used the lion image that I had for this but the challenge included a bear so Kenton has a bear with an ice-cream.  The black rhinestones are some diamond shaped ones I found recently.  I have added a bit of glossy accents to the bear's nose and the ice-cream to give a bit of shine.

I uploaded this post before I went to work in case I wasn't home in time to meet the deadline.  Since I have been home, I have decorated the inside of the card so thought I'd add a photo of that:

I probably still need to work on improving the inners of my cards as this is my best effort to date.  I usually just put a folded inner inside the card with a stamped greeting.  Does anyone have any tips or links to tutorials that I can learn from?

BINGO at Catch the Bug

The Catch the Bug challenge blog has a bingo card as part of a challenge:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/give-me-b-i-n-g-o-at-catch-bug.html

I chose to work with:

Something beginning with E - elephant
Ribbon - grey grosgrain ribbon
Die-cut - A square die-cut from Nellies Multi Frames.

I used some paper from my stash and toned down some of the brown by adding some grey grosgrain ribbon across some of the brown stripes.  The image is a freebie from Bugaboo which I coloured using copic markers C5 and C3.  The sentiment is an acrylic stamp which I have die-cut using a Spellbinders oval die.  The image has been die-cut with a Nellie's Multi Frame Die.  I haven't used this particular one for a while but it has such a lovely edging to it.

I have kept the card fairly clean and simple so that it can be used as a masculine card.  I tend to put lace, flowers, etc all over my cards so I'm pleased that this one has retained a masculine feel.

A snaky card

Kenny K Krafty Krew have a sketch to work with this week.  Details of the challenge and sketch can be found here:
http://kennykskraftykrew.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/challenge-107-get-sketchy.html

The thing I found hardest about this challenge was the colour scheme.  I just couldn't get inspiration with the colours.  I finally settled on this:

which I have to say I'm extremely pleased with.  The shades of green all work well together with the splash of black.

I have used papers from my stash which have been pieced onto black cardstock.  I also used black cardstock for matting the image and sentiment.  The image is a past freebie from Kenny K and is entitled Snakey F.  The sentiment is an acrylic stamp from my stash.

I have added some diamond shaped black rhinestones that I found in a shop recently.  They are just that bit different from the round ones.

I always have difficulty with masculine cards but feel that this one will work for a male - particularly as I kept the lace, etc off the card!!! 

This was such a beautiful sketch to work with and I was able to create a card with a masculine feel to it so I'm really happy.

A Sweet Card

The Sweet Stop is a new challenge that I am trying this month:
http://sweetstopsketches.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/sss172-sketch-with-spin-and-prize.html

The sketch had a spin to it but that was easy as I love using die-cuts and punches!

My camera seems to be in the mood for taking less than clear photos today.  I need to get this uploaded before I go out and may not be back before the challenge closes so for now this photo will have to do.  I will try and get a better photo when I return home! 

I'm home earlier than expected and have re-photographed the card:

This photograph is much better!

The card uses some papers from my stash - one of which has been punched with a Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace Border punch.  The lace over the top has been sprayed with Perfect Pearl Mist.  The sentiment is an acrylic stamp I have had for a while.  The image is one from Scrap Happy Paper Crafter.  The image has been die-cut with a Spellbinders circle die.  I then die-cut a smaller circle from a post it note and masked the image.  I then inked the remaining outer circle with Distress Ink - Worn Lipstick.  The image has been coloured with copics.  The flower is a die-cut from Marianne Craftables which is then cut and assembled into a flower following the tutorial on her site.

I have also linked this card up to the following challenge:
http://www.scraphappypapercrafter.com/2012/08/august-scraphappy-paper-crafter.html

I realised that I had used a Scrap Happy Paper Craft image and pink paper which were the two requirements for this challenge. 

I'm so Happy

The sentiment on this card says I'm so Happy - and I am so happy that I finished this card in time!

The card is being entered into the Doodle Pantry Challenge:
http://doodlepantryblog.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/doodle-pantry-digital-challenge-26.html

This challenge was split into two parts - one using an image supplied by Doodle Pantry and the other using another Doodle Pantry image.  I have already entered the supplied image challenge but was struggling a bit with this one.  In the end, I am pleased with my card.

I have used background paper from a pack by Crafty Bitz.  The matting of both the image and sentiment is cream cardstock with Kindy Glitz added around the edge.  Both the sentiment and image come from Doodle Pantry.  The image has been coloured with three different shades of Yellow Copic markers. 

The base of the card is white cardstock.  I have overlapped the join between the cardstock and background paper with some pretty yellow Trendy Tape.  The flower and rhinestones are from my stash.

Tie a Ribbon

A challenge that has a theme of tie a ribbon such as the one at Meljens Design Studio:
http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-123-tie-ribbon.html
should be really easy to get in on time.  But such is life at the moment, that it is only just going to make it!

I really love the challenges at Meljens Designs but missed the deadline on the last one.  I was determined that it wasn't going to happen this time, but it was close!

The card has been made using an image that I won from Meljens Designs called Turtles Little Star.  I think this is such a cute image.  The sentiment is an acrylic stamp that I've had for a while and seem to use quite a bit.

I coloured the image using my copics and then die cut the image and matt using Spellbinders Label Dies.  I then added some Crystallina Kindy Glitz around the outer edge of the matt to give it a bit of a lift.

The ribbon is some organza ribbon I found in a shop recently.  I loved the vibrant colour so just had to have it!  I tied the ribbon using my bow maker.

Blue Blue Winter Sports

I have combined two challenges for this card:
Winter Wonderland - Winter Sports
http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/its-winter-sports-with-winter.html
Christmas Challenges {with sketches} - sketch and twist
http://christmaschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-38-with-twist-sponsored-by.html


The twist for this challenge was to use blue, white and snowflakes.  The sketch and the colour scheme gave me the inspiration to complete my Winter Wonderland card as I had only got as far as selecting an image and then had creative block!

I have used co-ordinating blue papers from Trimgym.  These worked really well together and were in the blue and white colour scheme.  The image is from Eiglassing and is called Winter Twins.  I kept the colour scheme almost completely blue for the image as well - even to the blue lips!  I resisted putting a blue tinge to their skin though!!

The blue ribbon is overlaid over the lace - these are two separate pieces.  The sentiment has been stamped using Distress Ink - tumbled glass.

I have punched some snowflakes from various scrap pack pieces and glittered them up with some Crystallina Kindy Glitz.  To finish the card, I have added some little pearls.

A Golden Thank You Card

Pop it Up is the theme of the challenge at Sassy Studio Designs:
http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/dare-to-be-sassy-thursday-138.html
and Kaboodle Doodles has a Thank You card theme:
http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-133-thank-you-projects.html

I have made a very golden Thank You card, using Elizabeth Laura Bennett from Sassy Studio Designs.

I have used a background paper from DCWV - The Mariposa Matstack.  I just love these papers with glitter and butterflies.  I have punched a border using Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace Border Punch and pearlised cardstock and adhered this to the bottom of the card.

The glitter cardstock that I used for matting the image is also from DCWV - The Performance Cardstock Matstack.  The image has been coloured using copics and die-cut with my Spellbinders Oval dies.  The matted image has been popped up using Dimensional Tape.

The white ribbon roses have been coloured using the same two copics that were used on Elizabeth's dress.  I have then dotted some pearls around these.  The Thank You sentiment is an acrylic stamp I have had for a while.

A Christmas Box

The latest challenge at CRAFT Challenge is Box:
http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/craft-challenge-168-box.html

I had made a box in a class but couldn't find where I'd put the template for it.  So not to be beaten, I googled box templates on the internet and found this one:
http://dreamlandmagic.soniacjensen.com/christmas/christmas_gift_box_craft.html

Sonia had made hers from recycled Christmas Cards but I have printed the template onto red cardstock and then covered it with paper from Trimgym.  The image is Santa - also from Trimgym - which I have coloured with my copic markers to co-ordinate with the paper.  I have also added some red and white lace.

This box is like an over-sized matchbox.  At this stage, my plan is for it to sit amongst the tree branches on the Christmas tree.  However, I did have a thought of making some more and using it as an advent calendar.   Only time will tell whether that gets any further than a thought!!!  It is big enough to hold something inside without it feeling like a daunting task to fill it.

Greetings from New Zealand

For some reason, I felt like creating a New Zealand themed card this week. 

The card has been based on the sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday:
http://sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/digi-stamp-boutique-sketch-167.html

And this is the sketch:

For this card, I have used paper from Rosies Studio.  The image comes from Anji's Antics and was inspired by a photo I took at the Canterbury Museum.  Anji was stuck for inspiration and requested blog visitors to send her some photos.  I posted a number on my blog for her and at the last minute decided to add the kiwi photo.  I'm glad now that I did as this is the one that inspired her.

Back to the card.... I have used black cardstock for matting throughout the card.  I have added some lace, a flower and some red crystal stickers.  I had these lovely diamond shaped black rhinestones that I was originally going to use but they just got lost on the paper that I had chosen. 

Lemonade Card

I have made a card with a Lemonade theme to it:

This card is going to be entered into the following challenges:
A Day for Daisies - Yellow and polka dots
http://www.adayfordaisies.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/new-release-081712-lemons-for-sale.html
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Spots and stripes
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/spots-n-stripes.html

I'm hoping I'm not too late for the Papertake Weekly Challenge - I usually submit my card on a Monday (our time) as the closing time is unclear.  However, I'm a bit behind this week and I'm only uploading it now (halfway through Tuesday).    I'll have to see if my number is included in the draw and try to figure out closing time from that.

A Day for Daisies has that it has to include fabric or fibres in the conditions (which was the challenge for last week).  I'm hoping that this isn't the case for this week as well or if it is that my lace counts!

Okay, on to what I have used:

I have used some polka dot paper and stripey paper from my stash.  I have used a Spellbinders label die to cut the matt and image.  The image is a freebie from A Day for Daisies and came with this challenge.  I have coloured the image using three copics - Y08, Y00 and YG03.

The rhinestones and lace are recent purchases but the wooden button is from my stash.

Fly, Fly Away

I have ended up creating two cards for the Bearly Mine Designs challenge:
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/challenge-no-48-fly-fly-away.html

I couldn't decide which image or paper to work with so created with both:

This card has a slightly different feel to it.  I have used a more patterned paper from Bearly Mine Designs for this card.  The image is one from TLC Creations called Vintage Birds Feathers.  I have lightly coloured this image using two copic markers from the BV range.  The image has been matted on to some lilac cardstock which has been corner punched.  I threaded some fibres around the corner punch to create a frame for the image.  I have added a glittery foam butterfly as an accent to the card.

Flying with Wings

The challenge at Bearly Mine Designs is things with wings:
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/challenge-no-48-fly-fly-away.html

This is a card I made from an image that I won recently:

Not the best of photos sorry - still can't find my battery charger to charge the battery on my good camera!

The owl image is from A Creative Need.  The background paper is from a Halloween set of Bearly Mine Designs papers.  With the addition of some pretty yellow lace, some flowers and some rhinestones, it doesn't really look that much like a halloween paper.

Sparkle

I found another challenge that I hadn't entered before thanks to Sassy Studio Designs sponsoring the challenge:
http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-28-sparkle.html

I have used a Sassy Studio Designs image for my card:

I apologise for the poor quality photograph.  I have lost my battery charger for my good camera and have had to use another camera.

The image is called Bubble Bath.  I have coloured the image using my copics and added some kindy glitz for sparkle.  I die cut the image with my Spellbinders Oval Die.  The matt is from card and die-cut using a Spellbinders Scallop Oval Die. 

The background paper is one from my stash that I have had for a long time.  I have added some strips of glitter cardstock from DCWV.  The ribbon flowers have been sprayed with Perfect Pearl Mists - Pink Gumball.  I have added some rhinestones around the flowers for some more sparkle.

Friends

The challenge at Whoops Daisy is an anything goes:
http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/anything-goes.html

which means theres stacks of entries this week!  I decided to use a friends image and sentiment for my card:

I apologise for the poor quality photo.  I can't find my battery charger for my good camera.  This camera doesn't take anywhere near as good photos.  Let's hope I can find it soon.

The image comes from Whoopsi Daisy and is called Friends.  The sentiment comes from TLC Creations.  I have used some paper from my stash together with some from Crafty Bitz.  I have added some ribbon across the Crafty Bitz paper and also tied a bow with the same organza ribbon.

Sun, Sea and Sand

Kenny K Krafty Krew have a theme of sun, sea and sand:
http://kennykskraftykrew.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/challenge-106-sun-sea-sand.html

And this is my card:

I apologise for the quality of the photo.  My camera battery died and I can't find the charger.  It is getting late at night and the challenge closes at 7am our time so... I hauled out the video camera and took a photo on that.  This is the best quality that it can manage!

The card uses some paper from my stash - the spotty one and the green one across the card.  The green one is actually a stripey one but I covered the narrow blue stripe with a strip of blue grosgrain ribbon to give it more depth. 

The image is from Kenny K and is called Inner Tube Girl.  I have coloured the image with my copics and die-cut it using Spellbinders oval dies.  The matt is from a glitter cardstock pack from DCWV.  I have added some blue rhinestones to echo the water and bubbles on the card.  I have also added some Glossy Accents to the water in the image.

I will add a better photo if I can find the battery charger and get the camera charged up tomorrow.

Carnation Fairy

The challenge at Beccy's Place is anything goes:
http://beccysplace.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/august-challenge.html
I felt like creating a card with Carnation Fairy:

For this card I used:

Beccy's Place - Carnation Fairy
Paper is from a matstack
Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles Die
Grosgrain ribbon
Flowers from Glam Creations
Copic Markers
Blue rhinestone

This was my original idea for this challenge and then I got a bit side-tracked by a freebie "Just a Note" from Beccy.  I decided that as the challenge was not limited to a single entry, I would enter both.  I love this image - probably because my favourite flower is a carnation.  I've also used my favourite colour for the carnation. 

Theodore

When I saw this sketch at Catch the Bug - Stella Says Sketch:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/stella-says-sketch-challenge-117.html

I was more inspired than usual and got started straight away.  It had been on the blog for a couple of days before I noticed it though!  Anyways, here is my take on this sketch:

The image that I have chosen is one from Bugaboo called Theodore.  I have coloured Theodore using my copics and then die-cut the image with my Spellbinders rectangle dies.  The matt is black cardstock.

I have used a paper from DCWV - The Stardust Matstack.  I'm not sure if it will show clearly in the photograph but the stars on this paper are raised and glittery.

I added a button from the ones that my Mum gave me recently.  She had them in a box for years and never used them so said I could take what I wanted!  The ribbon attached to the button is from American Crafts.

I have stamped a Thank You sentiment using an acrylic stamp (brand unknown).

You are berry sweet

Tiddly Inks challenge is to make a card with a favourite image:
http://tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/challenge-92-use-your-favorite-image.html

That is easier said than done but I finally decided on this combination:

The images used are Shayne's Frame and Berry sentiment from Tiddly Inks.  I have coloured both the frame and the berry using copic markers.  I have used three papers from Raspberry Road Designs Summer Goodness Paper Pack.  These papers worked really well together with the image.  I added some peelcraft strips along the gingham look paper.

I have just been and visited the challenge to see if there were any more entries as it still had more than a day to run when I linked mine up.  The winners of the challenge have already been announced so I'm hoping that this one was in with a chance (it is still saying 21 hours to go).  Obviously, some problem with the linky thingy but disappointing if my card didn't even get considered.   Maybe I had better try and get the next one completed with a bit more time to spare!!

Following on from the comment below, this card has now been entered into the "Summer Challenge". 

Another birthday Card

The current challenge over at Sassy Studio Designs is a birthday theme:
http://www.papercraftplanet.com/group/sassystudiodesigns/forum/topics/fabulous-freebie-friday-8-3-12-and-challenge


We all need birthday cards, so this was a great one to do.  Here is my card using the second freebie image from Sassy Studio Designs - The Cowardly Lion Honey.

This is a current image from the shop so I consider myself lucky to have received this one. 

This is another card that I made back to front!  Usually I put the papers together and then work the image from this.  However, I was sitting waiting for my son with image and copics but no paper so decided I would colour the image and hope I could find some papers to work with it!!

I found a paper amongst my stash that was orange based to go with her lovely orange outfit.  I added some trendy tape to the background paper.  I had never used this before but saw some at the craft expo that I attended in July so bought some.  I like the transperancy of it so you may see it back out again! 

The sentiment is from Desert Diva.  I have die-cut it with my Spellbinders circle die and then inked around the edges with Distress Ink - Spiced Marmalade.  I have also used the same Distress Ink on the Spellbinders Oval around the image.

To embellish the card, I have added three copic coloured ribbon roses,  three large rhinestones and three small rhinestones.  Just in case you think I can't count - the third small rhinestone is on the ribbon in her hair!

Circus Party

The freebie image from The Alley Way Stamps for August is a perfect fit with the image for the challenge found here:
http://www.thealleywaystamps.blogspot.co.nz/search/label/BE%20inspired%20Challenge

I really liked the colours in this Be Inspired challenge but was immediately attracted to the fairground carnival image.  I have chosen to work with the circus tent and use those pretty colours with the image:

The background paper was just right for this card - it is one from my stash.  I have die-cut the image using Spellbinders Lattice Rectangle die.  This is one I purchased recently and seemed to have used alot already.  This is the largest one in the set which is a perfect fit for an A6 card - just fits in at the sides!

I used the sentiment inside the flag on the top of the circus tent.  Thought it looked just right there!  The colours are inspired by the image but also by the background paper.

I have also added some pearls to the banner on the tent and also some rhinestones to the die-cut to give the card a bit of bling.

Add a charm to a fashionable lady

The current challenge at CRAFT Challenge is to add a charm:
http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/craft-challenge-167-add-charm.html

Jo offered this image as a freebie on her blog - Trimgym stamps. 

I printed her out as I had an idea that I might like to use her for a card.  Then I spilt some gold beads all over my work area.  I decided to add some glue to the bodice and put them there rather than try and pick them all up - the container was too full anyway!

Once I started working in gold, I kept the colour scheme going and then discovered it fit perfectly with the charm.

The ribbon across the top is a satin ribbon that I purchased recently.  I made a gold flower from some gold scraps that came in a paper scraps pack.  This is the third flower that I have made and I seem to be getting better at them now.

The remainder of the colouring on the fashionable lady's dress has been done with Kindy Glitz - Crystallina and Gold mixed.  The skin and hair have been coloured with copics.

The finishing touch is some Peelcraft strips across the bottom of the card.

Tic Tac Toe

Milk Coffee has a tic-tac-toe challenge this week:
http://milkcoffeechallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/tic-tac-toe-3-in-row-challenge.html
I chose to work with:
2 designer papers
Digi
Bling

The two designer papers are from The Mariposa Matstack by DCWV.  The image is from Milk Coffee and has been coloured using copic markers then die-cut with a Spellbinders Label Die.  I added some bling over the join between the two papers and then stamped a sentiment using an acrylic stamp (brand unknown)














The designer papers are from
The image is from Milk Coffee and is called
The bling is rhinestones

I hae also used a Spellbinders labels die and an acrylic Thank You stamp.

A summery card

The challenge at Peppercus this month was a theme of Summer:
http://peppercus-design.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/challenge-8-bis-14082012.html
This is the card that I have created for that challenge:

For this card, I have used:

Backing papers from Peppercus Designs
Image from Peppercus Designs
Spellbinders Labels Dies
Green glitter cardstock from DCWV
Three clear rhinestones coloured with copic marker
Purple organza ribbon
White ribbon roses sprayed with Perfect Pearls Mists - Grape Fizz
Kindy Glitz - crystallina (in centre of flowers on backing paper)

It is a little bit hard to pick up the kindy glitz in this photo but it does give the backing paper a bit of sparkle.

Over the Moon

Challenge 26 at Doodle Pantry has an image supplied for the challenge:
http://doodlepantryblog.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/doodle-pantry-digital-challenge-26.html

I haven't done this one before but came across this one thanks to Free Digital Stamps.  I decided that I would have a go!

I have created a CAS card - it seems to be my style although I am attempting to broaden the styles of cards that I create.

For this one, I have used the paper and sentiment supplied with the image.  There were a number of sentiments included but this was the one I liked best for this card.  The image, paper and sentiment were all courtesy of Doodle Pantry.

I have used a labels die to cut the image and its matt.  The matt from some glitter cardstock from a Christmas pack (doesn't mean you have to use it for Christmas cards does it!) The sentiment and its matt have been cut with the trimmer and then mounted over some American Crafts ribbon.

I added some glossy accents to the stars to highlight them.

Fabric and Fibres

The challenge at A Day for Daisies is all about fabric or fibres:
http://www.adayfordaisies.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/new-release-080312-together-challenge.html

This is the second A Day for Daisies challenge that I have managed to complete but the first one that I have used the image supplied for the challenge.

I started off just using fabric on the card.  This is an offcut from a shirt that I made for my daughter when she was much younger.  She is Daddy's little princess - actually not that little any more - so the image and the fabric worked well together.

As I started putting the card together I found some fibre that worked really well with the colour scheme and die-cut that I had already chosen.  I decided to wrap that around the die-cut to frame the image. 

I made a flower using a Mariannes Creatables Die.  This is only the second one I have made but I'm getting better at them.  The tutorial that she has on her site is so helpful for these.

Sketch Card

This sketch at Christmas Challenges {with sketches}:
http://christmaschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-36-sponsored-by-robyns-fetish.html
has a lot of layers in it.
Hopefully, I didn't miss any of them:

The papers that I have used for this card all come from Bearly Mine Designs.  A couple of the papers are not Christmas specific but colourwise worked really well with the others.

The image and sentiment that I have used are from Bugaboo - SCM December.  They come as a set.

I have punched one of the layers of backing paper with a Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace Border Punch and added two handmade buttons.  The buttons have been created from a patterned paper using a Nellie's Multi Frame die.

Olympic Colours

With challenges co-inciding with the Olympics there were sure to be challenges with Olympic themes.  This is the one that I completed:
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-182-olympic-colors.html


I chose an image from A Day for Daisies called Cow Dress.  I had trouble figuring out how to colour the cow black but keep the facial details.  My daughter did a neat inversion trick on her laptop for me and solved my problem!  I printed the cow image in white also and coloured with copic markers and paper pieced the dress, socks and ribbons.  A bit fiddly but it worked.

I mounted the paper pieced image on to a circle of green.  The card blank is black with a red polka dot paper mounted on to it.  Both papers are from Raspberry Designs Summer Goodness Paper Pack.  I finished off the card by adding some yellow grosgrain ribbon, a yellow wooden button and three green rhinestones.

Just a Note

I usually can't think what to create for a Not a Card type challenge:
http://rubysrainbow.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/rubys-rainbow-ch-34.html
which is why this is pretty much last minute!
When I saw this image from Beccy's Place I just knew what I could create:

I have also entered this in her challenge:
http://beccysplace.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/august-challenge.html

I am including another couple of photos so that you can see this creation a little bit better.  The first is showing the note pad tied up.

And the other photo showing the post-it note pad inside.

The paper that I have used for this post-it note pad is some from my stash.  The pearls on the front have been coloured using copics to co-ordinate a little better.  The stretchy cord that has been used to close the note pad is some from my stash as is the heart shaped eyelet.