Have been awarded an award...

Hehe! Thank you, Kath, my crafting heroine!

This will be going into my Trophy cabinet forthwith, but in the meantime, I have to choose 7 other worthy recipients, as follows:

• Ruth (Tip Top)
• Allison
• Jozza
• Debbie
• Jules
• Gina
• Olga

Here followeth the rules for this award:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated.
6. Wear a posh frock if you like, lots of bling and make a speech, but - sorry - no red carpet

So... I would like to thank my mum, my daughter, my art teacher, my fellow Funky Hand DT-mates for endlessly inspiring me to do better and reach higher... and God, of course, for creating me in the first place, and for gifting me with such great talent at sticking stuff together... THANK YOU!

Penny Black Challenge #3

This card is also 'one I made earlier' for a friend who had just found a nest of baby hedgelings in her garden. (Was made for Carol, Funky Hand design team mate. See her blog for pics of the hoglets, and some awesome cards, to boot!)

The only hedgie stamp I had was this Penny Black 'Xmas Kiss'. Hedgie is holding some holly on the stamp, so had to conceal that somehow! By co-incidence, it matches the colours required for this week's challenge on the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog... pink, brown and green! hehe :o)

Papers: From the Shabby Saturday download, available on the Funky Hand web-site, HERE.
Stamp: 'Xmas Kiss' from Penny Black; 'Elegant Flourishes' from Rhonna Farrer. Coloured using Prismacolor pencils, with Zest-It blending solution and stumps.
Scalloped mount created using Fiskars scalloped-edge scissors
Ribbon and brads from stash

First Penny Black Stamp..

Have dug through all my stamps to segregate the Penny Blacks, and - shockingly - there are very few of them, considering how much I love the Penny Blacks! And I can't recall for the life of me which one came first, so I am going to cheat. Yes.. again!! And once again, as this is catch up time, I don't feel too guilty about it.

So.. with apologies to those who've already seen this.. this is my submission for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge #1.

Papers: The papers and letters are all from the V. Funky CD from Funky Hand.
Stamp: 'Baby Kitty' from Penny Black.
Glitter glue, Glossy Accents, stars, brads, ribbon and fibres from stash.

The Fragrance of Roses..

This card is a couple of months old now, but that's OK, as I am submitting it late anyway for last week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge! lol ;o)

Woman of Spirit, believe...

This card was based on Kazan's beautiful sketch #3 on the 2sketches4you challenge blog. I really enjoyed making this one! It's soooo flamboyant and girlie, but also has in mind the number of women I have come across lately with tragic stories to tell, but stories usually of great courage, and it is my message to all of them.. that my thoughts are with you, Woman of Spirit.. Believe.

Papers: Laura Ashley from the Traditional 6" x 6" Designer paper Pack, and another beautiful rose print paper that I've had for a while and is unlabelled
Stamps: Stampabailities 'Thoughts Are With You' CR1072; Hero Arts 'Spirit Heart' E3391; 'Elegant Flourishes' by Rhonna Farrer
Metal embellishments: Making Memories 'Believe' charm; Corner scroll from stash
Glossy Accents used on Heart stamp, which is layered up
Flowers, pearl spray, brad and ric-rac from stash

Alternate Silver Wedding..

This could have been an alternative for my sister's recent silver wedding anniversary, but would have been too small. (This is on a 12 x 12 cm card blank.) She deserves something a little more special!

Anyway, this is submitted for Laura's sketch #2 in the weekly 2sketches4you challenge. Only one more to go today, and I'm caught up! :o)

Stamp: 'Elegant Flourishes' by Rhonna Farrer

Sentiment: Computer-generated in the Kunstler Script font

Everything else from stash

Green Hope..

My latest catch-up attempt.. This is based on Kazan's sketch #2 at 2sketches4you. The broderie anglaise was chalked to give it an aged appearance, as were the edges of the background paper, and I used blended Prismacolor on the sentiment to achieve a similar effect, and added a smidge of clear Sakura Stardust to add some glitter to the twirly bits.

Papers: All from the khaki collection on the 'It's Funky Too' CD-Rom by Funky Hand

Flowers: Also from 'It's Funky Too'!!

Embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder

Chalks: Pebbles I'Kandee

Ribbon, broderie anglaise, inks and gems from stash

Three Birds with Half A Stone...

Bit of a family joke.. My mother's maiden name was Stone... which makes me - yep - half a stone!! lol ;o) I know.. I can hear you groaning from here!! My clever sister came out with one heaps better than that once, but.... y'had to be there, really... ;o)

Anyway, to the crafty business in hand... Two cards today, for the 2 Sketches For You blog, but going back in time as I have some catching up to do! These were for Kazan and Laura's first sketch challenge on their blog. I have another two to catch up with!! But - rather sneakily - one of them is a Christmas theme, which fits in nicely with this week's Daring cardmakers Challenge, AND both cards use Funky Hand papers, thus fulfilling my duties as a Funky Hand DT member!! Well, don't know about you, but I'm impressed!! Didn't I do well??? lol ;o)

Card No.1 is using Kazan's Sketch #1

Papers: From the 'Yule Be Funky' CD-rom by Funky Hand
Snowflakes: Kaleidopunch and another small one from stash
Sentiment: Computer-generated in Cezanne font
Gems, charm and vellum from stash
Card No. 2 is using Laura's Sketch #1

Am regretting the handwritten 'birthday' on here, but the rest works alright, I think.


Papers: From the 'It's Funky Too' CD-Rom from Funky Hand
Boat is an original drawing by me
'BUOY' lettering is from a Cuttlekids Alphabet
Brads from stash

Card for Sister..

This is a thank you card for my sister who has been brilliant support during the past couple of months, ferrying me to and from the hospital, and helping me to leaflet the area when Tigger was lost by the people who were looking after him for me while I was away for two weeks having my op. She is a star, and I couldn't have managed without her.

I'm not entirely happy with the composition. The oval should have been positioned just a little higher up the card. Also, my white pens didn't cope very well with polka-dotting the mulberry flower, so I tried oil paint, and it didn't work too well!! Never mind.. you learn by trying, right?!

Made to a layout design on the Trimcraft sketch challenge #5, HERE.

Card blank: Lovely, silky smooth, high-white card from www.madaboutcards.com, folded into an A5 card

Ribbon: Making Memories

Photo of Tigger, printed in greyscale.

Flower and gem from stash.

Scalloped mat created using Fiskars fancy-edged scissors, and dotted with white Sakura Soufflé pen.

England Blings...

This ATC was made for another Trimcraft challenge!! Use gems, mirri card, gems... bling it up! This is based on an idea that was buzzing around in my head anyway.. England Swings (as in the song lyrics "England swings like a pendulum do".. Remember that one, old friends??? lol ) The idea has become 'England Blings'! hehe

Not sure I like the result, as it's not my sort of thing, but... for the sake of art...


Union Jack image: Printed on the draft setting for a faded look. Rest is self-explanatory.

Old bird...

This card was made for yet another Trimcraft challenge, to make something to mark a milestone birthday, and since I am the only person I know who has one coming up (next week), I made this card for MEEEEEE!!! lol ;o)


Number templates: Produced using Wordart

Papers: 'The Funky One' CD-rom from Funky Hand

Butterfly: Made from stamping two butterflies onto acetate with black Stazon, and colouring with Sakura Stardust pens and pink glitter, then layered ontop of each other, with some bend in the wings.
Antennae are silver wire and beads.

Pin: Glass-headed dressmaker's pin with two Swarovski crystal beads glued on to cover the sharp end

Blossoms, brads and ric-rac from stash

Attack of the Blues...

The first card is for my aunt's birthday. Guess what? She has a gorgeous Westie, called Gemma.


Stamp: 'Bonnie Westies' from Little Claire. (Have only used four of the squares.)
Colouring medium: Prismacolor pencils + Zest-It blending solution + blending stumps
Sentiment: Computer-generated, glazed with Glossy Accents and raised on foam pads.
Ric-rac, spiral clip & mini brads from stash.
....................................................................................

SAFE HARBOUR
This next card serves two purposes... I bumped into an old friend of mine on Saturday, a lady pastor who leads a small Christian fellowship near Ramsey in Cambridgeshire. She told me she will be having a stall for an eight week period in Ramsey's Summer Fair, and asked me to make some Christian-themed cards with scripture to sell on the stall. We agreed what prices she'd like to sell for, and this is the first... Made to a Trimcraft Sketch Challenge layout.

On the inside of the boat panel, I have used the following scripture from Psalm 18:2:

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. "
Stamps: The yacht is an old PSX stamp, and the swirls are from the 'Elegant Flourishes' set by Rhonna Farrer. (Yacht image coloured with watercolour pencils, and decorated with silver glitter glue for the bow wave, and Glossy Accents to highlight the boat.)
Paper: Basic Grey Blitzen Collection, BLI-348 Polar Blue (but heavily sponged with shades of ink from a Kaleidocolor pad, Blue Breeze, which is also used for the flourish on the inside of the card)
Rub-ons: Making memories 'Heidi' alphabet

Gems, navy & embossed silver cardstock and brads from stash

Lilac ATC

Made for another Trimcraft challenge to produce an ATC either with shrink plastic, OR faux stitching. Well, you can see my choice! :o)

Everything is from stash. The lilac blossom is K & Co., highlighted with Sakura Stardust pen, and the 'lilac' is my hand-writing.

RAF Officer...

This is a 6 x 6" scrapbook layout for another Trimcraft sketch challenge. The photo is my dad (before he was promoted to Group Captain and got 'scrambled egg' on the peak of his hat). It was taken at Buckingham Palace, after the investiture where the Queen awarded his OBE.

Not sure he would have approved of this layout and using uniform buttons, but he's not around any more to argue with me! ;o) RIP, dad.


Paper: Computer-generated using a shape in Word and the formatting menu to fill it in.
Cardstock: Leaf-embossed gold card
Rub-ons: Making Memories 'Heidi' alphabet
Buttons: Old RAF uniform brass buttons
Other: Gold peel-off lines

Today's creation...

This card is made almost entirely from the Trimcraft prize stash I received yesterday. (Scroll down a post for a pic of the prize.) Isn't it pretty? The agonies I had to go through before cutting that stunning embossed and glittered butterfly mat down, honestly!! I think it is so beautiful, it stands on its own without the need for further embellishment.

I distressed and inked the edges of the lower panel. It was far tooooo 'clean' for me! lol ;o)

The layout is based on the sketch from the Trimcraft sketch challenge No. 2, and will be my birthday card for my lovely Auntie Pauline. Well, either mine or my mum's! She commissioned me to make a card, so I will make another and let mum choose her favourite.

Card blank: Cut down from A4 silky smooth white card from http://www.madaboutcards.com/
Sentiment: Handstamped using Versacolour inkpads
Everything else: DCWV Blossoms & Butterflies Mat stack & stickers + Dovecraft ribbon

Trimcraft Challenge Prize

My goodies arrived today from Trimcraft for winning their Summer Florals challenge! A very pretty collection of DCWV Butterflies & Blossoms bits and pieces, and a paper piercer.

Thank you, Trimcraft! And thanks again, Trimcraft members, for voting for my project.

Here is a pic of my prize...

Ooh-La-La's Ribbon Challenge

This is my entry for the Ribbon Blog Candy challenge on the new Ooh-La-La-Creations Challenge blog. (This challenge expires at the end of this week, but there will be more!)

The challenge was - you guessed it! - to use some ribbon in your project!


Papers: Beautiful free papers from an old Simply Cards & Papercraft issue, yonks ago!
Stamps: Fontwerks (stamped in clear ink and chalked to co-ordinate with paper)
Eyelets: Making Memories
Keys & Chalks: From stash
Sentiment: Computer-generated

I won! I won!! I won!!!

Firstly, need to mention that I have been working on two new cards which I can't post yet! Watch this space.

Secondly... Yayyy.. I won the vote on the Trimcraft Summer Florals Challenge! No idea what the prize is, but I'm sure it will be lovely!

Want to thank everyone who voted for my tag book. How humble it makes you feel to be counted equal to some really lovely creations in the final five. It's done my ego no end of good!! lol

I am finding that I love doing challenges and competitions, as they really force you to try and think outside the box and stretch your usual boundaries, so it's really good for developing your skills. It really isn't all about winning prizes (although, I have to admit, that's very nice, too!! ;o)

Here, again, is the winning tag book...

Karma Chameleon..

Red, gold and green.... for the Trimcraft forum's Tuesday Challenge #4. The challenge was to produce something in red, gold and green, but NOT Christmas-themed! :o)

Embellishments: From stash

Peel-off greeting: Anita's

Embossing: Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder

Siren

This was made for the second official Trimcraft challenge... stamping. It uses four different stamps, plus resist technique, triple-embossing, watercolouring, doodling, glittering, thread-wrapping, acetate, you name it! Oh, and the white flourish at the bottom was hand-drawn & cut.

Funky Hand CDs

Just had to share this with you.. When I joined the Funky hand design team, Anice sent me the three current CDs, but - having seen how great they were - I also wanted the three earlier CDs that Funky Hand had produced, and they arrived today.. have just finished checking them out. Well.. all I can say is "WOW!!!" there are some seriously, gob-smackingly breath-taking papers on those CDs!! I feel my mojo stirring right now! lol

You would be doing yourselves a huge favour by checking them out, but the pictures on the web-site do NOT do them justice, believe me!

Would I lie to you? ;o)

Simply Cards & Papercraft #46 ~ Free Papers

Was challenged by Jules* to create something using the free papers from SC&P #46, and here it is. These papers were printed on the diagonal, but I wanted them straight. I have also used a Cuttlebug 'Happy Birthday' embossing folder and a Penny Black stamped image from an old forum swap. It had 'Sweet Slumber' written on the back.

* Check out Jules' blog.. She is another of my crafting heroines! Truly inspirational!

Can't believe it!!

Votes on my Trimcraft project are running at 32% at the moment! Woohoo! One of the other projects that I love is coming up fast on the rails, though!! The race is on! (I think she should win, though.. her project is lovely!!)

To check out the five finalists, go HERE.

And to have your vote, register on the Trimcraft site by clicking on the banner. (Highly recommended.. it's a very active, fast-growing yet still warm and chilled out forum. Err.. warm AND chilled out? Now, that's quite an achievement! lol) ;o)

Hedgehog Mama...

This card was made for Carol, Funky Hand design team mate, who discovered a nest of baby hedgehogs in the tortoise house in her garden a few days ago. (See her blog for pics of the hoglets, and some awesome cards, to boot!)

The card uses papers from the Shabby Saturday download, available on the Funky Hand web-site, HERE.

Heartfelt Blessings...

Two firsts in this one for me. It was made for another Trimcraft challenge... gatefold, which is not a shape I have ever made before. I stick to single fold portrait cards. Square cards are adventurous for me!! lol, so this was a stretch.

It is also my first card with my one and only Tilda stamp! Somewhat customised with some doodling.

Please note that the red heart on the right IS made of felt!! ;o)

Mr & Mrs Hiss...

This simple card was made for my Funky Hand design team-mate, Enfys (you should check out her blog.. she's sooooo talented!!). She lives in Florida, and was recently plagued with a family of black racer snakes (non-venomous, but nerve-wracking all the same, if you feel about snakes the way I do about spiders!! Yuck!). She managed to get rid of them by using a product available in them there parts called 'Snake Away'. The unfolding story on her blog was hilarious, so thought the departure of the snakes warranted a card.. which she has now received, so I am safe to post the pic!! :o)

I used a flamingo stamp to create the background, a Cuttlekids snake double die-cut and the 'Miss You' sentiment is from the 'Now That's Funky' CD from - you guessed it! - Funky Hand. And, of course, the ever-present doodling and inked edges! If my new flourish stamps had arrived on time, it probably would have had some of them, too!! Everything else is getting the flourish treatment! lol ;o)

Omigosh, don't think my heart can take it!

Hello, bloggy-pals! :o)

Forgive my crowing, but I'm excited! I have been selected as a finalist in the Trimcraft 'Summer Florals' Challenge, and the members of the forum are voting on the five shortlisted entries. As I write, mine has 26% of the vote.. the biggest share!!! The winner will be announced on Monday, and get some stash for their efforts. Not sure how MUCH stash, but it's all good, right? :o) Not sure I'll be able to contain my excitement!

Of course, the status quo could change, and to be honest, I think it should, as there are some much better entries than mine.

Anyway, check out the entries HERE.

Mermaid ATC

For another challenge on the Trimcraft site calling for ATCs using eyelets.


The stamped image used in the background is a cropped section from one of my favourites, but I rarely get to use it... It's from Stampland Chicago. Anyone into stamping would do well to invest some time in browsing their catalogue of amazing stamps! Follow the link HERE.

The stamp is called 'Swept Away' 4142-39 and can currently be found on P.41 of their catalogue, HERE.

BLOG CANDY WINNER!!

Thank you to all those who entered the draw for my blog candy, and especially to those who linked to me from their blogs, even when not asked to. Bless you!

Thank you also for the giggle! Some hilarious comments... You know who you are!! lol ;o)

Right.. OK.. I suppose you'd like to know who's won then? hehe

Well, I decided to use the Random Generator website to produce a random sequence from the number of entries, having first given a numerical label to everyone who entered (stripping out duplicated messages, and my responses to some of them).

The Random Generator came up with the following number at the top: 11

And the numerical label that corresponds with No. 11 is ............. (drumroll please) ..........

Cazzy!

Congratulations! I'll leave a message on your blog.

Trimcraft 'Summer Blooms' Challenge Entry ~ Scrap Layout

Hey, Karen!! You're famous, honey!! Well... OK... even MORE famous... as opposed to infamous! lol ;o)

This scrap page was a last minute attempt to produce something else for the Trimcraft Summer Florals Challenge, but I'm not very pleased with it. Fortunately, the paper carries it, I think, but the turquoise ribbon was a mistake. Still, not bad for saying I was in a hurry, I s'pose.

The photo is of my beatiful daughter, Karen (if you hadn't gathered! lol ;o), taken at Ascot in the summer of 2004.



The page uses Dovecraft paper (for the brownie points!! lol ;o), but I couldn't tell you which pack (because I'm too gosh-darned lazy to go downstairs and look. Ask me if you would like to know and I will move my derrière to go and find out). The flourishes are Rhonna Farrer's 'Elegant Flourish' stamps. The page title is computer-generated, and the flowers were découpaged using blossoms from another page of the same paper.

If I'd had more time, I would have finished it off with some lovely buttery yellow gold accent beads in the flower centres, some buttons or brads, possibly some doodling... maybe some faux stitches, but then, you can fuss with things too much and push it too far the other way.