Basic Grey - Challenge 17 - 1st sketch of 2009

For the first challenge of 2009 on the BasicGrey Challenge Blog, we thought we would start with a sketch. Martine has drawn this fantastic sketch for us to play with. Feel free to resize or flip the sketch, just as long as the original sketch can be seen in your creation you are

good to go, and of course not forgetting to use at least one item from BasicGrey
somewhere in your creation.


I've been wanting to do a little sketchbook for my German grandaughter for some time and thought this is the perfect opportunity. Hannah loves drawing Manga figures and I did actually draw a Manga figure for the front but it turned out too big. (I'm not good at drawing in miniature). I used the Sugared papers, and Coloured Lizzy with pastels I cut the flowers with the EK success Retro punch and the Leaves with the Leone Em ash branch punch. ribbon and brads from stash.

NOW - this is where the fun began - I assembled the front and back pages and when I came to insert them into the Bind-It-All - they wouldn't fit - too thick. WHY - they were the original ones I bought with the machine? I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or scream. I thought I was going to have to start over but the answer came with my Cropodile. I painstakingly measured and cut each hole on the back, then the front and finally the inner pages. The wires slipped through and closed fairly easily PHEW - done!!!

Tag You're It - week 39

This week's challenge at TYI is to use new stash, either a Christmas present or something you've recently bought. I got no crafting goodies for Christmas - 'my lot' said I had that much I didn't need any more - how LITTLE they know!! I haven't received my parcel from my son in Germany yet (heaven only knows where that has got to) but there will be crafting goodies in that for sure. So - I have used my two new EK success punches - I've had the larger one for some time and recently decided to get the two smaller ones as well. So there we have it a plethora of blooms - can you tell I'm looking forward to Spring? I used HOTP papers and the Leone Em leaf punch. I actually stamped the sentiment on the tag but didn't like it and so added it onto a piece of card. I used a peel off as I thought it would tie-in with the silver brads in the center of the flowers.

A Wonderful Award from Gisela (Mueppi)

I am so thrilled with this award from Gisela my German bloggy friend. Check out her blog - she creates the most adorable cards.

Here are the rules: --
Publish the Award on your blog
Link the person from whom you have received the Award -
Pass it on to as many as you like -
Link these people on your blog
Leave a message on the blogs that you have nominated
This is the bit I hate - I want to give it to everybody - hopefully these nominess will pass it on to others I would like to have it.
My nominees are
Eileen (aka Ikki)
Tara
Jo
Chris
TaraG
Teresa
Maria
Gina
Ann

Katharina's Fancy a Challenge - Sketch 39

Another card that didn't photograph well - I'm getting really good at these !!!
A great sketch by Katharina to work with. I wanted to create a card with a 'vintage' feel to it and chose BP that my S-i-l gave me ages ago so haven't a clue who they are by. I coloured Willow and chair with pastels and highlighted the wood on the chair with gold H2O's. I've done this before and didn't like the results but it picked up the goldy bronze in the edging paper and looked right this time. I bought the paper I've used for the edging in Germany, not something I would normally go for - but now am glad I did. The flowers are cut with the EK success retro flower punches and the leaves with the Leone Em punch, brads, spacers and lace from stash.

Birth Congratulations

Sarah, one of my clients at the salon, is expecting a baby boy in a few weeks time so I thought I would get ahead and be prepared (New Year's resolution - how long will it last??) I think this HM image is so cute - I coloured it with watercolours, used the Nestability square die, the Bosscut corner scroll and tucked a Leone Em ash leaf under the ribbon. The paper is a download and I finished it with ribbon and dewdrops from stash.