Paper Crafting Journey Challenge #9 - Bling!!!

Yep, it's Thursday which means the new PCJ  fortnightly challenge is on!! Which means I can finally show you my very first DT card that I made on the weekend!! I'm so super excited to be a part of this team!
So the theme this challenge is BLING - my favourite thing to add to a card!! I didn't think I'd get a card made in time for this challenge with all the Easter celebrations happening but I  got an idea into my head Saturday night and went with it!! And I just loved how it turned out!!. I wanted to add Easter Eggs to it so added them on the inside a couple of days  later!!!

This challenge is being sponsored by Limited Runs  so I have used a couple of their digi stamps "Bunny in a Hole" and "Dragonfly  which I picked up as Freebies awhile ago!!

Front of card - papers are DCWV (I think), ribbons, flowers and twine are from a prize I won from Amy Young and the rhinestones are from Kaszazz. I coloured the images in with my Tria markers ( CG08, M727, O277, O758, G278). I I did the clouds with a white chalk ink. And of course the BLING but this picture doesn't really show it !! There is kindyglitz on the wings of the dragonfly, the green paper behind the bunny is bling plus the rhinestones.

All the eggs are from Shelly's Images and are coloured in with Tria's ( G278, C646, O758, O277) and all of them have been covered with clear atyou spica pen for the BLING factor!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

* Incy Wincy Designs - Buttons and Bows

* Craft your Passion - Show us your layers

* Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

* Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Flowers

* Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog - Digi Day

* Moving along with the Times - Anything Goes

So now that you've seen my card... head on over the the PCJ blog and have a look at all the other DT creations for some inspiration and join in the BLING challenge!! I look forward to seeing what you all create!!

Until Next Time... Enjoy!! xx

Exciting News...

I don't have any cards to share with you today as I am down at my mum's for Easter but I wanted to share some exciting news with you. I have been chosen to be a DT member over at Paper Crafting Journey.

 I was so excited when Lisa emailed me to tell me the exciting news and of course I accepted the position!!! So come and join us on alternate Thursdays to join in on the challenges. There will be loads of inspiration to be seen by the new design team members. Go and checkout their blogs :

Hilde

Jacki

Laura

Wendy

Zahreen

If you would like to join in the current challenge #8 - Use a Freebie click here.   You have until Wednesday 27th April 2011 at 17:00 BST to link up your projects.
 I'm going to get creating tonight with Sam which I am looking forward too!!
     Well I hope you all have a wonderful Easter spent with your loved one's. Don't eat too many easter Eggs!! :)

Happy Easter!!

Until Next Time...Enjoy!! xx

Surfs Up!!

Wow, it seems like forever since I posted a card!!! Is everyone ready for Easter? I have been away for a few days so haven't really thought about it!! I'm heading down to my mum's for Easter so dont really have to worry about it much anyway!!

 This card has nothing to do with Easter but it does give you an idea of where I was for the weekend!!! Yep, that's right, I was down at the beach... Anglesea in fact!! A lovely weekend away with some wonderful friends!!!

I won this stamp from  Tickled Pink Stamps last month and I just love it!! I kept this card pretty simple, used some new papers I picked up at Big W last week (loved all the bright  and sparkling colours), chalked some white clouds onto the blue CS (look closely and you can see them) and added real shells to the "sand". I coloured the image in with Tria markers (O277, R555,B546,CG08, O758, O729) and copic markers ( E31 and R20). And to finish the card off I added the Kaszazz sentiment and the button.

I have entered this card into the following challenges:

* Bunny Zoe's Crafts - One for the Boys

* Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenges - Cards for Teenage Boys

* Incy Wincy Designs - Bright and Bold

* Card Ideas _ Let's Hear it for the Guys

* Totally Gorjuss -  No Patterned Paper

Until Next Time... Enjoy!! xx

Claire over at Crafty C's has Blog Candy!!

Check it out here.. lots of goodies I'm sure you'd love to win!! While you are there be sure to check out all her amazing creations!!



You have until the 6th of May to enter!! Goodluck!

Until Next Time... Enjoy!! xx

I'm a Guest DT..

over at Quirky Crafts this fortnight for Challenge 8 - Sparkly, Punch Easter and/or spring (

An Easter or Spring creation which must include something sparkly (gems, glitter etc) and use at least one punch.)!!

 They are being sponsored by Digital Delights this week and we were lucky enough to be given a few easter digi images to play with!!   All the images we were given are so cute but I'm not one to get right into easter as far as  making cards go so I found this a bit of a challenge!! I originally had the images as  a large size and went and bought some easter egg paper but when I sat down to make the card it just wasn't coming together!!! So I ditched the easter egg paper altogether, went to the feline playful website and looked for a sketch that I could use!!! Anyway, after chopping and changing a number of times I ended up ditching the sketch idea and came up with my own design!!!!!

So I coloured most of the image in with Tria Markers (B546, 0277, O729) and I coloured the eggs in with clear atyou spica pen to give it sparkle (not that it really shows up in the photo). I've also put Crystal effects on the ribbon on the egg and kindyglitz on the dots on the bottom half of the egg shell!! I also coloured the Easter sentiment in with Tria B546. I used a Tim Holtz embossing folder for the background, added some ribbon across the top, coloured the bigger white flowers in with Tria marker B546 and the smaller flowers in with the Clear spica pen!! The little flower on the sentiment is coloured with tria O277 and I added rhinestones to all the flowers!! I put the card all together then realized I was supposed to use a punch (oops) so all I did was move the bottom flowers, used the Stampin' Up eyelet border punch on both the base card and orange cs, then added the white card stock at the bottom and replaced the flowers!!! So I guess I better show you the card now!! :)

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

* Digital Tuesday Challenge - Easter

* Creative Inspirations Challenge - Easter

* Bee Crafty - Easter

* Cardmadfairy's Digi days Challenge - Easter

* Delicious Doodles - Use ribbon for Easter

* Digi's with Attitude - Easter

* Fairy Knoll - Eggs or Oval

* Paper Cutz Challenge - Image of Bunny, Lamb, Chick or Easter Egg

Before I go, I just wanted to say thanks again to the Quirky Crafts team for having me as a Guest DT this fortnight. I really enjoyed it and hope that I get the opportunity again as I love your challenges!! Thank you also to Digital Delights for the easter images!!!

Until Next Time... Enjoy!! xx

winner

Please see below post for the TARTAN DAY BLOG HOP!! I'm currently trying to get something to work on my computer.. Thanks!!

A Twisted Tartan Blog Hop

Hi and welcome to the Tartan Day Blog Hop!!

If you are here just visiting then hello and thanks, but if you'd like to join the HOP then start here at Gill's Blog, you don't want to miss any of the fabulous tartan creations!! However if you have arrived here from the talented  Lisa P's  Blog then you are on the right track! Be sure to read right to the end.. you don't want to miss a thing!!

This is a hop with a difference not just because it's all about tartan but  because along the way there  are  letters to find in the postings! Not all blogs have the letters but once you have got them all you will need  to unscramble them to create a scottish themed word. Once you have  worked out what the word is  then return to Gill's blog  and enter the Mr Linky at the bottom of her post ( but DO NOT reveal the secret word yet). After the hop Gill will contact someone at random and ask them to email her with the word - if correct they win some lovely candy!

So now for the reason why you are here... To see my Tartan creation!! I have had an idea in my head for a couple of weeks now after some help from my wonderful friend Sam and I wasn't sure how it would look finished but boy did I surpass my expectations!! When I was asked to do this hop I thought of tartan papers and started searching for tartan papers to print. I even came across a site where you could create your own tartan. I even looked for highland cow images (cos they are my favourite thing from Scotland) But I ditched that idea and this is what I came up with...

Front view

Open View

I thought this stamp was perfect for this hop and I knew I wanted to paper piece her dress.. well in this case I used some tartan ribbon. So Sam let me borrow Tilda (thanks Sam) and I coloured her up with Tria markers, Copics and H20's and cut her dress out and stuck it on. I then found a sketch (from Sketch saturday) to work with to use for the front of my easel card!! I embossed the white CS and I've used two different tartan ribbons behind tilda and asyou can see (hopefully) I cut the ribbon then pinned it back together again. I did the same for the inside of the card!! I added the flowers and added a few hearts just to finish off the card!!

I also made this corner bookmark (my 5th one in about two weeks) to match the card!!! I used all the same supplies as the card!

 Just in case you get lost along the way here is the hop line up .

  
1.  Gill  http://creationsbygillm.blogspot.com/    
2.  Linda   http://www.thefruitofmyhands.blogspot.com/
3.  Lisa G  http://lisagarrow.blogspot.com/
4.  Martha  http://pattisscrapingtime.blogspot.com/
5.  Vicky  http://the-artful-codger.blogspot.com/    
6.  Anita  http://www.anitaandbugs.blogspot.com/
7.  Ann  http://ann-icklehaggiscraftspot.blogspot.com/
8. Amanda   www.scrapanddash.com   
9.  Debbie  http://debbiescrafttime.blogspot.com/   
10.  Haidee   http://created2bunique.blogspot.com/  
11.  Valerie  http://canonburycreations.blogspot.com/
12.  Margaret http://diamondgirlcards.blogspot.com/ 
 13.  Becky  http://beckscricards.blogspot.com/  
14. Laura  www.makinprettythings.com
15.  Jenn   http://www.memorieswithjen.blogspot.com/
16. Sharon http://craftyscot.blogspot.com/   
17.  Beckie  http://beckiedreyer.blogspot.com/  
18.  Faith  http://faithfulecreations.wordpress.com/  
19.  Jill  http://thescrapoholic.blogspot.com/
20. Lisa P  http://handmadewithlove-lisa.blogspot.com/
21.  Alethea  http://lilodesigns.blogspot.com/  - (that is ME)
22. Nancy http://blog.fancywithnancy.com/
23.  Gill  http://creationsbygillm.blogspot.com/  
   
Now back to the hop - I can  now reveal my hidden blog hop letter is ( I ). Remember to collect all the letters from the hop and unscramble them to form a scottish word. There is a prize to be won :) Would love it if you left a comment too...

I'm sure you have seen  many wonderful tartan creations but you still have one more stop to make.. so head on over to nancy's blog and don't forget to go back to Gill's blog and enter your name in the inlinkz.

I am entering my card into a couple of challenges:
* Sketch Saturday - Sketch
* Craft your passion Challenges - Anything Goes
* Magnolia Stanp Lovers - Ribbon
* Magnolia Down Under Challenges - Heavy Metal (safety pins)
* Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Recipe Challenge
* Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Until Next Time...Enjoy!! xx

I am so proud of this card!!!

My boys are outside screaming their lungs out, so I thought I'd let them stay out there and I would make a start on this post !! LOL!  I only have one card to show ( you'll have to wait to see that till the end) but I have lots of news to share!!!
So let's begin!!!
Firstly a reminder that The Tartan Blog Hop starts on Wednesday (9.30am UK time) HERE at Gill's Blog!! There may be prizes along the way so join in the fun!!!
Also I am excited to tell you that I won first prize over at Polka Doodles Challenge Blog and won Public Vote at Quirky Crafts! I also got top three at Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings!! This was all for my first ever corner bookmark which you can see a couple of posts below!! 
As a result of winning public vote at Quirky crafts, I have been invited to be a Guest designer for their next challenge so I am super excited about that!! I only hope that I can make a card worthy of the position!! I'm sure that I can though especially after making this card:

This would have to be one of my favourite cards so far!! I feel like I have stepped it up to another level with my creativity!! After seeing my friend Sam's card where she used her chalks to create a sky on one of her recent cards, I decided to have a go at creating a sky using a punched out scallop circle and my chalks!! I also used chalk to create some grass but you can't see it behind the picket fence!! When I originally put this card together I didn't have the houses behind the fence but I felt the card was missing something so I coloured them up and added them and pop! they just made the card!! I then stuck Tilda on and added the flowers! That is where I left it but the next morning when I looked at it I felt it needed something to fill the gap between the houses and Tilda so I added the butterflies!! I coloured Tilda and the houses in with my Tria Markers, copics and H20's. (if you would like to know what colours I used please feel free to contact me!!) I've added kindyglitz to the flower tilda is holding and on the butterflies!!.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

* Just Magnolia - Anything goes (with option of buttons)

* Polka Doodles - No printed backing papers

* Tip Top Tuesday - Nature Inspired

* My partner in Crafting Crime - Layer it Up

* The Corrosive Challenge Blog - Pastel Colours

* Tuesday Throwdown - Florals

* Allsorts - Blooming Blossoms

* Secret Crafter Saturday Challenges - Butterflies

* CCEE Stampers - Buttons, Buckles, Bows, Brads...NOT!!

* Craft your Passion challenges - Anything Goes

OOHH, I almost forgot.. I was given another award last week from Trina over at Trina Makes Stuff. Thanks Trina!!! 

This award was created for bloggers who have fewer than 300 followers, but put a lot of love and heart into their work. It's a great way to share blogs that might not otherwise be seen or ones you want to share with others.

As a recipient of this award I must share the love and pay it forward by:

1-Creating a post where you blog about the Liebster award & and reveal your 3-5 blog picks
2-Let them know you chose them
3-Copy & paste the blog award on your blog
4-Have faith that your followers will rally & show their crafty love back out to those you awarded
5-Have fun!

So who will I pass this award onto you ask?

Well of course first  is my wonderful friend Sam over at Sew Many Crafts So Little Time. She makes the most gorgeous cards and her colouring is so amazing but not many people get to see her fabulous talent!!! The second person I give this award to is Angela over at It's all about me! and a little about them.... Angela does so many gorgeous cards and scrapbooking layouts, you'll get plenty of inspiraton there!!

And the third person I give this award to is Fiona over at Creative Kaszazz Butterfly!! Fiona makes some amazing cards and off the page projects!!

I know I have given these three talented ladies an award before but I believe they deserve to be awarded again and you will see why when you visit their blogs. So please head on over and show Sam. Angela and Fiona your appreciation by leaving them a comment and becoming a follower!!

One more thing before I go!! I just won some more blog candy!! Yippee for me!! I just won this gorgeous prize from Amy over at A Thousand Sheets of Paper: Thank you Amy!!

How cute is this little guy?? He's part of the new Sweet November stamps that have been released today at All that Scraps  so if you'd like to get your hands on him or any of the other fabulous stamps they stock then head over there now!!

Well I really need to start on my card for the Tartan Blog Hop so that is all from me!!

Until Next Time... Enjoy!! xx