Nativity Card

I originally wanted to use this image for the previous challenge at Shelly's Images but somehow it never got off the ground!

The background papers are all from Bearly Mine Designs, including the border strip which has been edged with a Nellies die.

The image is Nativity from Shelly's Images which I have coloured using my copic markers.  The sheep has kindy glitz then a layer of Christmas sparkle.  The sentiment is an acrylic stamp.

I have followed the sketch on Shelly's Images:
http://shellysimagesblog.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/lets-get-sketchy-for-terrifically.html
and also entered into Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/anything-goes.html

Sparkly and Shiny

The challenge at Bearly Mine Designs was sparkly and shiny:

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/its-all-sparkle-shine-this-week.html

When I saw this challenge, I immediately thought of this sentiment from TLC Creations and the card evolved from there:

I have used a Bearly Mine Designs paper that was a spotty one.  I covered each of the spots with a matching rhinestone to make the paper really sparkly!  The ribbon is some from American Crafts.  I have die-cut the sentiment and matt (from glitter cardstock) using Spellbinders Labels 4 dies. 

The flower has been cut using a Marianne's Creatables set.  I followed a tutorial on her site and made the flower - it is the first one that I have made following the tutorial and turned out much better than my own attempts.  She has three other ones with tutorials so I'm thinking of saving and investing in another one.  Each set comes with a frame - this one came with an oval one.  I actually bought the set for the oval frame but now I'm glad that I found the tutorial for the flower.  Anyway...back to the flower - once I constructed the flower I gave it a bit of sparkle with some Crystallina Kindy Glitz.

While you are at my blog - check out another card also made with Bearly Mine Designs papers.
http://craftysuze.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/nativity-card.html
This one isn't a sparkly one but have a look anyway!

Combined Card

I was working on a card for the following challenge:

and lacking inspiration until I saw this one:
http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/dare-to-be-sassy-thursday-137.html

So as a result, I have created a card that combines both challenges:

I have used some background paper from my stash.  The pink is cardstock from DCWV.  The image is Birthday Surprise from Sassy Studio Designs.  I have added some gold peelcraft strips and also some rhinestones that I coloured to match her top.  The sentiment is an acrylic stamp.

Sweet Floral Sketch

When I saw this sketch

from Sweet Sketch Wednesday:
http://sweetsketchwednesday.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/sweet-sketch-wednesday-166-and.html

I knew I had to use this image for it:

The image that I have chosen to use is from Sureya on Deviant Art.  I just love this image.  The floral background papers are from Kate Knight - Spring Fling Designer Paper Stack.  The stripey background paper is from my stash.  After completing this card, I realised that when rotating the sketch I had forgotten to also rotate the red grosgrain ribbon.  I didn't want to pull the card apart so hope you'll forgive me on that one!

The image has been coloured with copics to co-ordinate with the background papers and the ribbon roses that I added.

Summery Christmas Card

This is my latest Christmas Card:

I am entering this card in two challenges:

Catch the Bug - Stella Says Sketch
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/stella-says-sketch-challenge-116.html
ABC Christmas Challenges - Paper Piecing
http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/p-for-paper-piecing.html

I am not a huge fan of paper piecing - much too fiddly for me.  But, a challenge isn't a challenge if it doesn't push you out of your comfort zone is it!  So, not to be daunted I accepted the challenge.  In the end, I'm quite pleased with how it turned out although I might not be rushing to do any more paper piecing!

I used an image from Bugaboo called Santa Cane Stocking.  I coloured the skin using copic E000, the beard and hat trim with Kindy Glitz (crystallina), the belt and boots using copic 100 and the remainder is paper pieced using the three background papers.

The background papers come from Raspberry Road Designs - Summer Goodness. You may wonder at the choice of papers but here in New Zealand, Christmas is in summertime and I felt like making a card to reflect that.

The edging on the background pieces has been created using Eyelet Lace Border Punch by Martha Stewart and the ribbon is one from a set of Christmas ribbons I purchased for last Christmas (and never got around to using!!).   The buttons are more from the ones that my Mum gave me in April when my son and I went to visit for the holidays.

Punches, Dies, buttons and bows

I found two challenges this week that worked really well together.

The first is Whoopsi Daisy - punches and dies:
http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/die-cuts-andor-punches.html
And the other is Brown Sugar Challenge - buttons and bows:
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/challenge-4-buttons-bows.html

I have kept to a fairly minimal colour scheme with this card so that the detail doesn't get lost:

The image that I chose to use is the latest freebie from Whoopsi Daisy which worked perfectly with the theme of dies and punches.  I have coloured her with my copics.

The dies that I have used are an oval from Marianne's Design (Creatables 1204) and a doily die from Cherry Lynn.

The punch has been used on the edge of the cream pearlised card and is a Eyelet Lace Border Punch from Martha Stewart.

I have added three gold bows and two buttons.   The buttons are some that my Mum gave me that she had had in a box for many years and not used.  I liked the pretty gold strips on them.

Studious Boy Card

The theme at Kenny K Krafty Krew challenge is to use ice-cream colours:

http://kennykskraftykrew.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/challenge-105-ice-cream-colours.html

I can never pick a favourite so often opt for the double scoop and usually change flavours every time I get an ice-cream - they are all yummy!  For this card, I have chosen mint chocolate chip and bubblegum ice-cream flavours - one scoop of each!

The inspiration for this card comes from my son who is studying for mid-year exams (although the boy in this image looks much younger than my 14 year old!

The image that I have chosen for this card is Map Kid.  I have coloured him using copic markers.  I coloured his trousers in E47 and E43 and then went over them in 0 to give them more of a worn look.  The hair is also in E47 and E43 - without the 0!  The other colours that I have used are E000 (shirt and land), B02 (shirt and sea), B000 (page) E02 (boxes on pages). 

The card is created from a blue card blank. The background papers are some that I have had in my stash for quite some time.  I used Spellbinders Labels die to cut out the image and matt.  The Well Done is an acrylic stamp that came with a card making magazine.