Pilgrim the Elephant

I did this layout at the end of last year for my Sketchy Scrappers November challenge and then it sat until recently waiting for me to add the journaling and the stitching to the bunting.

This was the lovely sketch that we had to work with - I can see myself using it again as I am always at a loss how to use one portrait and one landscape photo together on a layout.

And this was my take on the sketch using some photographs from our visit to the Trafford Centre last September to catch the elephant parade on tour.  Pilgrim was one of my favourites, I just love the quaint harbour scene that he was decorated with and he reminds me of my love of the sea.

I used a Sarah's Cards kit - Fancy Pants 'Be You' and the title was cut with a Sizzlet 12" alphabet die - Wingo Zingo.

Good luck in your new home

The challenge this month over at Penny Black Saturday Challenge is New.  Having used new stash for my last entry, I decided on a New Home card for my next couple of cards and had the perfect stamp, this lovely mouse riding a snail.

Papers - magazine freebies
Cardstock - Bazill and SU Whisper White
Stamp - PB Garden Buggy
Sentiment - Personal Impressions
Mats - Spellbinders Nestabilities
Bling - Poundland (clear) and coloured with a Promarker to match

I coloured the image with Promarkers mainly Powder Blue, Arctic Blue, Pastel Blue, Warm Grey 1 & 2, Blush, Pineapple Crush and Sunkissed Pink.  The gems were coloured with Trick or Treat.

Vintage butterfly cards

I am still finding stuff that I made at the end of last year that I haven't shared on the blog yet, including these cards that I made for my last fundraiser.

I love this stamp by Crafty Individuals and it is a good one to make fairly quick cards with.  All the papers are from various Papermania pads and I stamped the butterflies in either Sepia or Black Versafine ink.  All the sentiments are by Personal Impressions and the oval punches are both by Stampin' Up.

 I give the butterflies a light dusting with diamond or crystal Stickles to highlight them.

Champneys 2013

Sue (Miniowner on UKS) is running a sketch challenge on her blog.

This is January's sketch -

And this is my take on the sketch -

The papers used are a mixture of Crate Paper Maggie Holme's Aperture, Simple Stories 'Vintage Bliss' and Dear Lizzy 'Lucky Charm'.  I used Dear Lizzy foam thickers for the title.

Thank you Sue for a lovely sketch x

Week 2 - 52 cards challenge

We had a colour prompt for the second week of the 52 cards challenge

I managed to get all the colours included on this card -

I used the Happy Hexagon die from Papertrey Ink and stamped the hexagons with the co-ordinating stamps and the following Stampin' Up markers - Real Red, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight and Smoky Slate.

I only managed two of the colours on the Christmas card -

Birthdays Rock!!

This month's challenge on the Scrapology blog is B is for Button and as always there is a lovely sketch for the challenge.

 And this is my take on the sketch using Simple Stories 24/7.  I flipped the sketch up to accommodate a portrait photograph and omitted the bunting.

The badge was actually from one of Richard's birthday cards - as soon as it arrived I knew that I would be pinching it for a birthday layout LOL!!  The wooden stars and speech bubbles were all coloured with a red Promarker to stand out on the layout better.

Thank you Scrapology for another great challenge xx

Week 1 - 52 cards - Christmas Cracker

Here is my Christmas card for the first week of the challenge which is to use new stash

I used the same new Sizzix die that I used for my other card for the challenge.

 The stamp is a Penny Black hedgie from a T for transparent set.  The papers are also new and from a Papermania Forever Friends pad. 

The holly was made with a Woodware punch and red pearls from Sarah's Cards.

Week 1 - 52 cards challenge

A new year brings a new start to the 52 cards challenge run by Nat over at Kool Kitty Musings, I'm ready to go again with it and hopefully I will do a better job of keeping up this year.

I have even got my notebook ruled out ready for it.

Challenge one was to use new stash - I had plenty of Christmas pressies to choose from

I opted to use a Sizzix card die which makes a lovely folded card -

The little hedgehog is by Penny Black and from a T for transparent set.

The sentiment is by Hero Arts

The papers used are a magazine freebie and the flowers are punched from Woodware daisy punches and a Martha Stewart foliage punch.

I am also entering this card into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which this month has the theme of new.

50th Cake

Flying in with my entry to the December challenge on My Creative Sketches as it closes tomorrow.

This is the lovely sketch -

And this is my stripped down version of it -

I used Simple Stories 24/7 and kraft and red Bazill cardstock.  The photographs are from Richard's 50th birthday last year - the rainbow cake I made for him and the giant sparkler candle.  The title was cut using Sizzlet Roundabout dies.

One Photo and Twenty Words

The 9th of the month means it is time to join in with Abi's One Photo and Twenty Words

Then we were eight, now we are seven.  Rest in Peace sweet Carolyn, you will be missed by us all xxx

Lovely handcrafted Christmas cards from our friends xxx

We were very blessed to receive some lovely handmade cards from friends - I always give them the best spot to show them off - on the mantelpiece.  I thought I would show off all their lovely craftiness on my blog.

What lucky people we are to receive all these lovely cards -

 

From Christine -

From Diana in Sweden -

 

From Lisa -

From Julieanne (would you believe she has only just started making cards!!) -

From Fiona

From Gemma

Lynn's card -

Marion's card -

From Monkey, Darrell and Nigel over at Mum's Monkey

From Sy who cleverly combined her card with her new house details

From Tara -

From Wendy

From Fine Bear Ted - a very charming card featuring himself xxx

  

And the card that made me laugh the most - this postcard from Lee

 

And the card that made me cry the most - from our lovely Marillion friends Marie and Tony - when we opened it all this confetti from the UK convention went flying everywhere -

And then the card when pressed inside played this -

Such a beautiful song, but it always makes me cry so much