Eline's Baby meets a few challenges

I lost Eline's babies when I moved, the papers, and stamps of Eline's were all in one box - could I find it - NO!!!  I decided to sort out my large Christmas box and there they were, so I couldn't wait to use one.

Fortunately two challenges this week had 'Baby' as their theme - Simon Says and Stamp with Fun,  Cute card Thursday  have 'Bloomin Gorgeous' as their theme (I could probably enter this one with every card I make this week, rarely a card slips by without flowers on it somewhere) and finally A Spoonful of Sugar who have a Freestyle week.

I scored a grid on the pink cs using the Scorpal and the pink patterned paper is from Eline's cellection. This delightful image is coloured in Copics, and cut with a Nellie Snelen frame. The flowers are from my stash and the leaves cut with the Sizzix leaf and branch die. I had intended to put the ribbon to one side with a sentiment but the 'pesky' cat put an end to that when he walked across my ink pallette and on to the card leaving a partial cat pawprint at the bottom of the page. Had it been on the image he might just well be a fur stole now. Fortunately by moving the bow and the cute little bootee charm  hid the damage beautifully.

Well I had two cars being picked up today and it has done nothing but snow for the last two days so I've spent half the day sweeping snow off cars - no sooner done than it needed doing again so that's my exercise for the week taken care of.

Colour Create DT

The lovely Jo's choice at Colour Create this week and what a fab choice it is - Pink, Blue and White/Silver.

I used Mo's image Siku and Shiya (isn't it just so adorable, I can't leave it alone, I can see myself doing this one in the middle of summer lol). The image is coloured in Copics and I tried something different for the fur. I've previously used Fun flock and Flower soft, but wasn't entirely happy with either result. This time I tried mixing the flocking and the flower soft in equal portions and bingo - love the result.

The papers are by Papermania - can't tell you which at the moment, I'm at work - but I will look it up and add it later. Edited - thanks Tracy the papers are Blueberry Hill.The flower is from Quixotic Paperie, the leaves cut with Woodware and Carla Craft punches, the borders with an EK Success, the sentiment computer generated and cut with Spellbinder fancy tags and the ribbon is from stash.

Well it's much warmer here today - the downside being we now have heavy snow. I think I prefer the cold. It's a different type of cold than I'm used to in the UK, it's a dry cold and doesn't get into your bones. Wrap up well and you're fine, mittens, not gloves so the fingers can keep each other warm. The only part that suffers is my ears, shall have to get a hat of some sort. I did tell my SIL I could do with some ear muffs, she bought me two pairs, one fluorescent green, the other fluorescent yellow - haha !!! I don't think I'll ever be so cold as to actually wear them.

Double Dutch

Double Dutch's current challenge is 'Baby it's Cold Outside' and oh boy are they right there!!  It was -18 at 7o'clock this morning according to my outside thermometer, it is a little warmer now just -5.

I used Magnolia's Snowy Circle and Frosty with snowflake, coloured them with Copics and glittered here and there although it doesn't show. I've been playing with my pendants again, this time cutting them to create a circle. They are so adaptable and at the risk of boring you all I'm sure I can find many more things to do with them. The blue snowflake paper is some I pinched off my son (shhh - don't tell, he'll never know - he's in Mauritius, lucky so and so). The sentiment is by Stamps Away, the beautiful gem snowflake the fabulous Sandie sent me and the lace ribbon is from stash.

No card - An Award instead

Well first day at work today

Cars sold - NONE

Commenting done - quite a few but not as many as I'd hoped due to German computer talking German to me. Understood some, but not all so closed my eyes - hit a button and hoped for the best. The German keyboard did slow me down but not too much, probably wrote quite a bit of gobledegook - but what the hell!!

Self discipline - pretty good, only went wandering off on one link, mind you it did cost me $20.

Just hope it's not so cold tomorrow - so draughty  with temperature at -8.

 On to my Award

Thank you to both my Swedish blogging friend  Hanna  and

Christine for this fabulous award.  I appreciated this from two extremely talented crafters. Check out their blogs, or if you have the Magnolia Ink magazine you will find Hanna's cards featured as she is one of their DT's and at 14 years old!!!!!
   

As with all awards this it has conditions which are, I have to tell

you 10 (only 10????) things that give me pleasure  and then pass it on to 10 others

1 My life, which basically says it all, but I suppose I will have to give you at least another nine.

2 My family

3 My friends
4 Making cards

5 Colouring images, could spend all day everyday doing this, particularly love using Copics and distress inks

6 The host of really amazing friends I have made in blogland and the love and caring they show

7 Gardening (although I haven't got one here in Germany but my balcony will be full of  plants before the summer is over.

8 Holidaying in HOT countries where I can explore, get to know the people and the culture.

9 Cooking (especially foreign dishes) which is fortunate as I love eating!!

10 Reading and listening to music

11 Chester my moggy (when he's not sat in front of the TV or computer screen).

And now for my 10 chosen ones !! (in no specific order)

Sandie

Wilma

Rosey

June

Sandra

Moni

Chris

Anneke

Anesha

Jackie

Just Magnolia

A lovely sketch by Jay Jay this week at Just Magnolia

I used the 'Wrapped Tilda' image and coloured her with distress inks, inked the edges and stamped them with the Magnolia New Year flourish. The papers are a dowload from Designs by Krista, as is the butterfly, which I faded a little, cut out, sprayed with Shimmerz (Baby's breath), added  pearls to the body and glittered the veins with Star Dust stickles. The leaves are cut off my bargain poinsettias, the pearl stems and flowers are from stash, the flowes are also sprayed with Shimmerz, but I decided not the glitter, thought that might be going a bit overboard, but looking at it now I might just add some. Yet another 'ooops' - I've left Tilda sat on thin air again, she really is becoming brilliant at levitation (lol). The border is cut with the Carla Craft Macaron punch and ribbon is from stash.

A close up of the butterly

I'm working the next couple of weeks, my son is on holiday and I'm left running the office and would you believe selling cars - HAH!! - that's a laugh I couldn't sell water to a man dying of thirst in the middle of the Sahara!! He doesn't expect it to be busy so hopefully I should be able to catch up on some commenting whilst I'm there. I have decided I'm useless at commenting - I write too much (I really need to be more concise) and spot a link - go rushing off on it and forget to come back. I spent almost 2 hours commenting last night and probably managed to ge through about 8 - how pathetic is that? Sorry folks I will get round to you all eventually.

Basic Grey DT

Another fortnight has flown by and it is time for another challenge at Basic Grey and this week we're asking you to use Animals as your inspiration.

I can't seem to leave Mo's images alone this week, love this one called Coexist, but it took some colouring, mainly because I wanted that big hairy mutt at the bottom of the pile to look like a typical 'shaggy' dog. Colouring and blending him was easy but trying to make him look slightly scruffy took for ages. I used the usual Copics and papers from the Granola range, I also added some Granola element stickers and finished it with a Tim Holtz Adage ticket.

Check out the other DT's fabulous creations and I do hope you'll come along and join us, if you need further persuasion just look at this gorgeous prize sponsored by the fabulous Heidi at Simon Says Stamp

OMG Sunglasses at the ready

This is my card for Copic Creations who's challenge  this week is coloured skin.

I chose another of Mo's images (who else's) - isn't this little chap delightful, but wrong image for a first attempt at coloured skin me thinks as it is rather detailed. This is the third attempt, two in the bin. I'm not sure his skin is dark enough but he's probably faded from spending too much time in the UK, where we don't have summer sun. I find the downside to Copics is I never have enough colours, same with pastels etc., whereas with distress inks you have every colour imaginable, you just mix whatever you require. Once I'd finished the colouring the next problem was finding papers and this Basic Grey Lemonade was the best match, but how bright are they? The problem after this was embellishments, I had nothing suitable so resorted to using three strips of ribbon and making a 'lollipop' flower and cut the corners with an EK Success punch.

Right that's it, end of post - have to go - my eyes are hurting (lol).

Simon Says and CCC

 Simon Says and Creative Card Crew both have punching as their theme this week.Great minds think alike girls - I love punching. I used 'Unwrapped Tilda' and coloured her with distress inks, cut her out and mounted her on series of frames cut with a Nellie Snellon set. I'm going to have to stop playing with these frames and pendants before I bore you all rigid with them. The pale turquoise/blue card is hammered cs and the deeper blue is from DCWV Old World Stack. The borders are cut with the MS punch, the leaves with the Leone Em and the flowers with the Woodware Cherry Blossoms punches, which I tinted with distress inks and glittered. The butterfly is by Rayher and about all I can by round here that I really love.

I kept the inside fairly simple, due primarily to the fact I'd run out of these particular papes, I will probably stamp a greeting in the center of the frames.
Now I'm going to tidy up my craftroom, I can't see my work table (heaven only knows it's big enough), I can't see my computer desk and worst of all there's a large portion of the floor that is no longer visible, so enough is enough it's time to 'CLEAR'.

Who is this Tilda??

I've had quite a few enquiries, both in comments and by Email as to the name of this Tilda and where to get her. I've spent most of the morning searching  - the Magnolia web shop (obviously my first choice), Simon Says Stamp, Sir Stampalot, Magnolialicious - she is not to be found anywhere. I went on to visit countless blogs and did discover she is probably part of a soon to be released Wedding collection - but please don't quote me on that.

Where did I get her - eeek!!!  It can only be at the Magnolia stall at the NEC.  I bought quite a few and this must have been one of them. As I was flying backwards and forwards to Germany and moving house around that time my brain was too cluttered to remember much (lol).

So it's watch out for the new releases - sorry I can't be of further help.

Truly Scrumptious DT

We have a fabulous sketch by the lovely Nicole over at Truly Scrumptious this week and the optional extra this week is stitching, real or faux. Cheick out the other DT's creations - there are some real beauties.

I normally get my sewing machine out when stitching is required, however I found this, as yet unused, whatsit thingummy gadget I bought at the NEC. It's by EK Success and it punches little dots (not quite holes) as you run it along a scorboard, so I decided to give it it's first outing.

I used the fabulous image, Video Boy, from Mo's Digital Pencil and coloured him in Copics, the Papers are MME but I'm not sure which as I have them all mixed up. I decided to keep the image fresh and light so it would stand out from the papers which are so strong and powerful.  I couldn't find anything the right colours  in my stash to  use in place of the flowers so I tried for a masculine look using the EK Success punch, a Woodware stamen punch (I've used this as parts of a snowflake too) and put star brads in the center.

I used a ticket from the Adage collection by Tim Holtz, a border punch by EK Success and a sentiment from Papermania.

Magnolia Down Under

Magnolia Down Under have Valentines Day as their theme this week.

The inside

The gorgeous DP is from SEI and worked perfectly for this challenge. Tilda is coloured in Copics, I masked her and sat her on a heart border by Prima Marketing from the 'Build a Frame' set. I cut the hearts with the Spellbinders heart nesties from a downloaded paper from Designs by Krista called appropriately Adore.  The leaves are from a huge poinsettia I pick up in the local supermarket, they were in the sale and I thought how pretty they were, bought a couple and chopped the leaves up to use individually. The tiny heart is cut with a Spellbinders shapeability die, embossed and glimmer misted. I add tiny pearls to the edge (this took me longer than it did to make the rest of the card) and added some pearls threaded on wire to either side.

The sentiment is computer generated and the lace from Quixotic Paperie. 

House Mouse DT

It's Pat's choice at House Mouse this week and what a fabulous choice it is - the Faux grid technique. I really had fun doing this. You can find a tutorial Here and some great samples Here at SCS.

I thought the grid looked a little like bathroom tiles so I chose the fabulous image which is called 'Tubby Bears' - isn't it just adorable?  I stamped the image first then drew the grid in pencil, avoiding the image. I did intend to ink the grid but as I used pastel colours I decided to leave it in pencil so it wouldn't be too dark. The image and the gird are coloured in Copics, matted and layered on three colour co-ordinated cards and the sentiment (computer generated) is cut with Spellbinders Fancy tags and fastened with brads.  A very simple card but it took as much time are a more complicated one believe it or not.

Would you believe - no snow today so far - a first for a long time - I don't think it can get through the thick fog (you can only see about 50yds) and the temperature has hit +3 so perhaps a thaw it on it's way. 

My mojo returns and the plot goes missing

My Mojo seems to have returned but I've totally lost the plot this week. I entered a card on the wrong Mr. Linky, I made challenge cards for two challenges linked my post to the challenges then forgot to enter them and finally today I made this card and couldn't remember which challenge it was for and had to search to find it. It was for this fabulous sketch by Fiona over a Stampin' for the Weekend.

EDITED: I knew there was something else - I really have lost the plot - (cold weather - brain's gone into hibernation) - I found a piece of paper I'd written the challenges on, I also intended to enter this into the OCC challenge which is to use the colours blue and green.

I used the Sugar Nellie image Reflective from Funky Kits. One thing about moving - everything gets packed away and you find things you'd forgotten you had on unpacking and re-organizing, and I just love this image, one of my all time favourites. I coloured her with Copics and cut her out using the Spellbinders labels 4. The papers are MME but I'm not sure which as I got them all mixed up. The borders are cut with the MS punch, the leaves with the Leone Em  and the base flowers with a Woodware cherry blossom punch. I received a fabulous little goody bag from my friends Sharon's new internet shop - Truly Scrumptious Crafts (take a look at the picture below, or better still have a look at the site, Sharon's picture are much better than mine - taken in the dark yet again) I couldn't wait to use the ribbon and the gorgeous heart charm. - I also used some of the ribbon to make two small ribbon roses for the center of the flowers to which I added seed pearls.

Quixotic and Just Magnolia

One for Just Magnolia, a Thank You card and Quixotic Challenges, a fabulous sketch by Judy.

I made this card in about a hour, (very unusual for me) that is until I hit a snag (very usual for me) - I have several reels of twine but could only find the white one. I searched the three boxes still unpacked (trashing the place in the process) to no avail.

One thing left to do - die the white brown - then I had to wait for it to dry, I waited and waited and waited - I did consider putting it in the oven, but would probably have burnt it so I resorted to the hairdryer - dry at last!! Trouble is it's now dark, my daylight bulbs have both gone and I can't find anymore here so I've ended up with a lousy photograph where the colours are all wrong.

I decided to do a 'boy' card, not good at these so my stock is sorely depleted. Edwin (doesn't he look thoughtful and wistful - even a little sad) is coloured with distress inks. The papers are from my bit box and I used the EK Success Scalloped scallop punch to cut the borders, the swirls are Quickutz and the sentiment (computer generated) is cut with Spellbinders Fancy tags. The rest from stash.

Well it's still snowing here, I think we've had one day free from snow since the 2nd week in December. I can't use my car at the moment, he's not good in this weather - he's too small - that means walking, my poor little legs are aching trudging through the snow - I'll end up with muscly footballers legs if this lot doesn't stop soon.

Colour Create DT

We have a fabulous colour choice from the lovely Chris

at Colour Create this week - Kraft, blue and white with the option of texture.

The prize this week is $20 Canadien and is from The Rubber Room.

Check out my teamies creations there are some real beauties.

I've been playing with my Shapeability pendants again as you can see. I used this small Tilda I picked up at the NEC, coloured her with distress inks and used Star dust stickles on her headband and underskirt. The cardstock is Kraft and papers are all from my 'bit box' -  all dowloads but from whom ??? The corners are cut with the Cuttlebug vintage corners, the leaves with Carlacraft punch, the ribbon I bought locally (if you call 2hrs drive away local) and the rest is from stash.

Simon Says, Whiff of Joy and that damned cat

I've doubled Simon Says 'Shabby Chic' with the sketch over at Whiff of Joy.

The sketch actually had something added whereas I've taken it away, I do hope that's OK.

I've used Willow with Christmas Candle and coloured her with distress inks, inked the edge of the circle and stamped it with a Basic Grey flourish stamp. I love this image and have tried to use her for something other than Christmas by adding flowers to her hair and the bells at the bottom of her 'belt'. The papers are from Costco (had them for ages) and distressed using Basic Grey's distressing kit. I've added lace underneath the torn strips, a sentiment by Lily of the Valley, a pearl swirl from Prima marketing, crumpled up leaves cut with a Woodware punch and a flower from Papirloftet. This is my interpretation of Shabby Chic - just hope it's correct, although I thoroughly enjoyed making it.

My cat is driving me to distraction at the moment - when I watch TV, which isn't very often he sits in front of the screen.  Here I decided to watch the Incredible Journey - in German.  Being a children's film  I thought it would be good to watch to improve my German - Yes, well, let's say no more about that. Everytime I talk to someone in German - they reply in English - that speaks volumes doesn't it? but at least they understand what I'm saying.

And here is his next trick - that's right when I spend time trying to do some commenting - he sits in front of the screen on my keyboard. So any lack of commenting - blame the cat.566666666666666666666666666666666666666tAA\Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa98i8888888888888888887

I've left the last gobbledook in so you can see what happens - he's just done it again, then he sits there looking at me as thought to say what you shouting at me for!!!

 

I post this now before he manages to delete it Lol.

Hot Chocolate for Four

I've managed four challenges with this card,  Quixotic Challenges  haveHot Chocolate as their theme, Simon Says is also Hot Chocolate, Crafty Calendar is keeping warm - what better than a mug of hot chocolate? and I followed the sketch at Create4Fun
and I'll just about scrape in in time for Simon Says and Quixotic Challenges.

I used the Hug in a Mug image from Funky Kits (love this one) and coloured her with distress inks. The papers are some my S-I-L gave me yonks ago and are of unknown origin. The base flowers are cut with Woodware Cherry Blossom punches and stamped with Basic Grey's flourish set, the leaves with Sizzix leaf and branch die and the flower centers are from stash. Ooh - nearly forgot - the borders of the strip are cut with the EK Success punch Parisian I think it's called.

Just Magnolia

This is the first time I've managed Just Magnolia since before Christmas and boy have I missed it, actually I've missed doing challenges altogether.

This week we had to follow Mina's tutorial on paper pleating. I have done paper pleating before (and ribbon pleating also), but thought I'd have a change this time and tried it with vellum, NOT a success, possibly because the vellum was embossed and wouldn't fold very well - another one for the bin. I reverted to paper and although patterned I thought it looked a little flat so I distressed the edges and curled them slightly for a little relief and edged it with lace. I love this Tilda (coloured with distress inks) but can't see me using it very often as she has to be hanging from something. The heart and the paper is also Magnolia (don't ask which - I've managed to cut the name off again). Lace, flowers, leaves, pearls, ribbon and pearl string are all from stash. I decided to do my first Valentine card of the season but couldn't for the life in me decide what sentiment or where to put it. Suggestions will be gratefully received.

Basic Grey DT

We have a fabulous photograph as inspiration for you this week at Basic Grey.
Just look at those beautiful colours. The prize this week is from the gorgeous Nook and Pantry range.

My card turned out nothing like I'd intended - yet again,  I'm really struggling to get into any sort of routine and crafting mood. I intended to keep this card very clean and simple - failed!!

I stamped a background to match the wallpaper on the photograph using stamps from the Basic Grey Boxer set, then I proceeded to cover the larger part of it up with a multitude for details which I intended NOT to. The papers are from Basic Grey's Lime Rickey and Offbeat pads. the frame cut with curved rectanges and the WOJ image coloured with Copics and anchored with the Shapeabilities fancy tags. I cut the corners with the EK Success corner punch, the leaves with the Sizzix leaf and branch die, the border with the MS punch and finished it with flowers, brads and pearls from stash.

MDU and Double Dutch

Whoohoo - my Mojo's returning slowly and I managed two challenges with one card - not a record but pretty good for me at the moment. Magnolia Down Under ask that we find an alternative use for a stamp. I use Christmas Eve (or is it Christmas morning - I can never remember which is which) as an open card. I hardly ever do red and green Christmas cards, now I've used a Christmas Tilda and red and green BG papers, which are Figgy Pudding, Dasher and Fruitcake.  I used the fabulous sketch from the Double Dutch challenge, coloured Tilda with distress inks, and cut her out using the oval nesties (should have been round, but Tilda was too big).

Being indecisive I couldn't make my my up whether to stamp or use distress inks around the image so I didn't do either I pierced and threaded some small rose around the edge. Can't make my mind up whether I like it or not!! I used the MS punch for the two strips - top right and added some pearl thread. The sentiment is Lily of the Valley and cut out with the heart nesties.

Hope you're all keeping warm and dry, the weather here has got a little warmer, but appently we're going to have snow this weekend - well surprise, surprise - we've had snow every day since two weeks before Christmas. I have to admit though  it's not like English snow, it's dry and powdery and doesn't feel anywhere near as cold even though the temperatures are lower. I'm off to the local craft shop (25k away if  that's local) before it snows, to see if I can pick up any goodies, though I don't hold out much hope. Might even get to build a snowman this weekend.

Truly Scrumptious DT

We have another of Mina's fabulous sketches to follow this week at Truly Scumptious with the optional extra of using pink, green and black.

Our sponsor for this challenge is the lovely Sandra Dry who has designed her own range of digi stamps. Sandra is very kindly offering our winner the choice of six individual images from her online store.

This card is being very silly - I've uploaded it to the challenge site three times now but it keeps disappearing - where to - who knows, fingers crossed  it's third time lucky.  I've visions of people coming on to my blog to comment on a card that has disappeared and  'run off'  yet again.

I've used one of the Manga girls from Funky Kits as my image and coloured her with Copics. I stamped around the edgle of the image with my tapesty peg stamps. I really should do some experimenting and use these more often, they are such fun. I followed the fab sketch by Mina to the letter using Basic Grey's Porcelain papers. The leaves are cut from the Leone Em Ash branch punch and flowers from stash, which sadly have not photographed well as I decided to have them as my black element.

House Mouse DT - On the Beach

Firstly I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas and I'd like to wish you all the Happiest of New Years - may it be filled with plenty of love, joy and laughter.

Last year, for me was extremely difficult but now 'the party's over' all visiting done, all visitors gone, the major work on my apartment done and I really hope to settle into a peaceful, tranquil time with lots of crafting and blogging. Apart from two boxes all my crafting stuff is now sorted and I'm really looking forward to entering lot's of challenges - something I've not been able to do since the beginning of December. I've spent today washing, ironing, cleaning, re-organising and making a snagging list of jobs still to be done - (all minor and hopefully tackling steadily one by one) now the rest of the week should be clear - whoohoo!!

My first DT card of the year is for House Mouse (oh how I love my mousies) and a theme that was chosen my the lovely Mary who also sent me the image. Although it is a beach scene, it still doesn't look like a hot summer's day - a result of being born and brought up in Britain I think - we are not familiar with hot steamy summer days on the beach (lol).

I just love this image and colouring it (in Copics) was an absolute joy. The backing paper is from my 'bit box' - label cut off as usual (doh!!) and I used the MS punch at both top and bottom and the white is embossed with the divine swirls folder, the corners are cut with the EK Success corner punch and the ribbon  and star pearls are from stash. That middle pearl would not do as it was supposed to and as you can see kept sliding off center, due I think to the fact I had it sat on an uneven embossed bit  - it is now firmly attached in the right position.  This is such a lousy photograph - apologies - the charm, partially hidden by the bow is a gorgeous little umbrella and beach chair.

It still snowing here - although not today - too cold (apparently the temperature is going to drop to minus 14 again for most of this week - eeek!!!) so I'm now going to have a hot bath, get into my snugglies and curl up and watch a little TV. German TV - I have a box and a dish and can get Russia, Kurdistan, Poland, Tunisia, Spain, Denmark to name but a few - practically every country in the world actually except - yes you've got it British - still my German is improving quicker than it would have done.