Valentines

Hey anybody out there! Lol. Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I last blogged! I've completely forgot how it all works, especially as I'm now attempting to post from a phone instead of a PC. Oh, how things have changed!
So this is a quick one, as this is my 1st entry back into the land of cards and blogs, and the challenge I made my card for is about to close shortly! Lol

So tomorrow is Valentine's Day. This is my card I've just finished making for my better half.

It's using tonic dies:-
Pinhole square die,
Heart vines base affections die,
Someone special affections insert die.

I'm hopefully entering it into tonics win and tonic challenge.
I'm entering with all topics covered.
Colour - open. I'm going with black and red.
Technique - layering. I have lots of layers 
Product – any Tonic Studios strip or border die or punch - I class the pinhole square die as a border. 
Theme – love and marriage. - Love 

This is my 1st go at a shaker card.

That's all from me for now. 
Crafty hugs xox 

Happy New Year & winter challenge

So let me begin by wishing you all a 

'Very Happy New Year'

I hope it brings you all lots of love, laughter, good health & bounds of creativity.

I've been a bit quiet in blog land. Life in the real world has been quite hectic with the house renovations & Christmas. I only had Christmas day off work too, so it's been pretty much non stop. Now, we're trying to bat around all the sales to pick things up for the house. We have pretty much everything to renovate & everything to buy, but sadly not the budget to cover it all. Just need a win on the lotto, 13 has been my lucky number, so I'm hoping 2013 will be a lucky year. Fingers crossed!

So onto my blog challenge with Aud sentiments. This is one that saddens me. Aud sentiments are in DT change over time & I've sadly made the decision to step down. It was a hard decision to make as I've really enjoyed my time as a DT member, but with the house renovations I really don't have the spare time to dedicate to it, and all my lovely craft stuff & my pc are in a different location to our house/building site too. When the house is sorted, I shall have my own craft room (I sooooo can't wait!) and as Arnie says 'I'll be back'

For this challenge we are so excited to have Bugaboo as our sponsor. Thanks so much!

Here is a little bit about them...

I have been designing graphics for 9 years, mostly for those who digitize,
and now venturing into this new idea of digi stamps.
I love to draw and love to see were my designs go and how they are used.
I find making people smile with my graphics very rewarding!

For many many years I drew mostly cutesy kids graphics, alot of which you’ll find here.
But my latest passion is my cranky old boots....
Stella ,Gus, Margaret and the Gals who came after them.
I just LOVE to create them and they seem to be a favorite!

What else can I say?
The name Bugaboo Stamps...how did I come up with it?
Well...... Bugaboo as that is a nickname i have for my kids sometimes.

 

OK, now onto the challenge itself. We want to see you use any sentiment as long as it is about winter - so you could pick "Thanks snow much" or "Have a n-ice day" or some other creative wonder!  Just don't forget an applicable sentiment!

For my card I've gone with the sentiment 'Love you snow much' and used Bugaboo's snowman star digi stamp. 
I've coloured him with my ProMarkers, decopaged him to add a bit of dimension, and added snowflakes, glitter, gems and pearls for that all important zing of bling.

Get yourselves over to Bugaboo, they have lots of lovely designs, and get yourselves over to Aud sentiments to join in the fun. You can always be ultra organised and get started on your 2013 Christmas cards!

I would like to enter the following challenges

Catch the bug blog - Last theme challenge for 2012
Inky Impressions Challenge - 91 - Anything Goes
Pile it on challenge - Embellishments
Make it Monday - Link Party 
I love ProMarkers Challenge - 149 - Monochrome - Blues with a bit of skin tone colour equivalent!
The Paper Shelter Challenge - 93 - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge - Bling 
Divas by Design Challenge - 66 - Anything Goes 
Simon says Stamps Challenge - New Something New stamp, new heart gem

Love, hugs and best wishes to you all, TC xox

 

Rudolph and friends

That's it, we've hit December and now seem to be on fast approach to Christmas. I'm far from Christmas ready! The re-wiring of our house, and damp proofing completely trashed the whole house. There's holes & dust everywhere! I guess if I got several tonnes of tinsel, I could go around the house stuffing it in all the holes in an attempt to make it more presentable and Christmassy!


Well it's challenge time at Aud Sentiments again, and we have another Christmas challenge for you. So at least I have another Christmas card made, I think that takes me up to 3 now! With everything else that is going on, I think I may have to visit a card shop this year!

OK, for the challenge, we want to see any creation as long as it includes a sentiment relevant to the holidays - so that could be Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza etc.

For this challenge we are so excited to have Birdie Brown as our sponsor. They are giving the winner their choice of 3 images. Thanks so much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a little bit about them... 

Hello everyone! I'm Torico, the owner of Birdie Brown. I’m a mom to two kids who live in Japan.

I've loved doodling since I was a child, and have a passion for cardmaking now! At my Etsy shop, Birdie Brown, I'm offering whimsical and cute (Japanese "kawaii") digital stamps created from my original illustrations. I love "simple & cute" designs. So, most of my digital stamps are designed to match such a style. If you also like "simple & cute" style, you'll find something you have been wanting on Birdie Brown!!

 

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My card is for our neighbour, I loved the little reindeer (from Birdie Browns Happy Santa set) and naturally thought Rudolph, but then I thought if I colour up several more with brown noses I'll have all of his friends too. I knew a couple of their names, but I have to confess I had to look up the others.

My sentiment on the inside is 'from all of us'.


I hope you'll join in with our Christmas challenge. I look forward to having a look at your wonderful creations, and don't forget Aud sentiments are also having a DT call. A great opportunity to have some fun, and work alongside some wonderful ladies.

I'm entering the following challenges

I love ProMarkers - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge - Christmas inspired
Allsorts Challenge - 183 - Advent
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Christmas cards
Make it Monday - Create, share and inspire
Tammy Scrapin Corner - Anything Christmas
Critter Challenge -144 - Christmas - Anything Goes
Digital Tuesday Challenge 189 - Non Traditional Christmas
Dream Valley Challenge - 46 - Non Traditional Christmas

Hugs TC xox

Precious one

When I saw Blanche over at Saturated Canary I knew I had to have her. This wasn't just down to the per usual gorgeousness of Krista's designs, that goes without saying, but I had to have Blanche because she reminded me of my sister. I knew I had to have her for my sister's birthday card.

My sister loves girly things and things that twinkle, she's like a magpie. The dress that my sister was wearing in the photo was purple, so out came my purple ProMarker box and Blanche (or my precious one, as I like to call my sister) came to life.

My precious one

 

Saturated Canary's current blog challenge is a sketch challenge. I love sketches, they help you to make speedier cards, give you inspiration, and are a good starting point for making a card.

I based my card on the current sketch but I did get a bit carried away with elements. I had so many pretty things that I had been collecting for my sisters card that I couldn't decide what to use, so they all sort of got used! lol.  

Lots of shiny things and lots of girlyness to tie in with the challenge over at Inky Impressions, Cute card Thursday blog challenge & Digital Tuesday challenge blog




I decorated an envelope to co-ordinate with the card too.

I love the finished result, it's one of my favourite cards I've made this year.

I'm entering the following challenges

Saturated Canary Challeng - 31 - Sketch
Inky Iimpressions Challenge - 86 - Make it girly
Cute card Thursday challenge - 244 - girls only
Allsorts Challenge - 182 - Bring on Bling
Digital Tuesday challenge - 188 - Girly
Tuesday Throwdown - 125 - Lots of layers
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge- Anything Goes
Pile it on Challenge -48 - Anything but Christmas
Whoopsi Daisy Chllenge - Use a Digi
Sweet Stampin Challenge - flowers
The Squirrel and the fox Challenge -31 - Anything Goes 
Make it Monday - Link Party 

Christmas Bingo Challenge

It's challenge time again over at Aud Sentiments. This time we have a game of BINGO for you!
OK you need to pick a line (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) and make sure that your project contains all three things on that line.  BUT, if you use the diagonal that starts with SNOW, please don't forget to include a sentiment as there is no word required for this row!

For this challenge we are so excited to have The Paper Shelter as our sponsor. They are giving the winner a $20 gift voucher. Thanks so much!

Here is a little bit about them...

If you are looking for fun, cute and lovely digi stamps for your paper-crafting or web design projects, The Paper Shelter is your one-stop boutique! This growing catalogue of high-quality digi stamps with many different kind of options offers a multitude of themes such as everyday items, holidays, special occasions, children, adorable characters and creatures. Stamps are available in standard black and white line art, as well as in pre-colored format. Images are wonderful for colouring and make perfect additions to greeting cards and scrapbook albums.

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For my card I chose the 1st line down on the bingo board. 

'Merry'- In my verse & on my ribbon

'3D item'- Die cut poinsettia & decoupaged the stamped image

'Ribbon'. - down the centre of the book.

I've used 'The paper shelter's Christmas Carols' digi image and coloured it with my Pro markers.

I thought the carol singers would look nice on their own song book, so I borrowed my mums book of tricks embossing board from the glitter girls.

I printed a verse onto some nice backing paper and then cut it out to form the pages on the book.

I decoupaged the carol singers to make them pop a little bit more.

The lamp post from Marianne Designs just calls out for Christmas singers in front of it.

Then finished off with my quickutz poinsettia die cut in luscious red velvet, with a bit of added bling from a gem stone, and some scrolls from my Joy crafts floral flourishes die.

I would like to enter the following challenges

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - 190 - Recipe - Ribbon, Gem, Dies

Make it Monday - Link Party

I love Pro Markers challenge - 144-singing and/or dancing 

Dream Valley Challenge - 45 - Anything Goes

That Craft Place - Red for remembrance

My Grafico Crafts - Get ready to be inspired challenge

Lets create challenge 58 - Getting ready for Christmas - 1 card closer! ;) 

The Squirrel and the Fox challenge - 31 - Anything Goes
Crafty card makers challenge - 79 - More than one punch and/or die

Happy Thanks Giving to those celebrating it.

Hugs & Blessings

TC xox

Steaming in with some birthday wishes

I'm so busy with trying to renovate our house at the moment. This does mean sadly that crafting is on the back burner. Birthday's though still happen, & I find myself desperately putting together last minute cards.
I find sketches really help speed up this process, as your design is already there. One of my favourite sites for sketches is Sketch n Stash and this challenge is their 100th one, to celebrate their 100th challenge you can choose any sketch from their catalogue to use.

I needed to knock up a card for our cousin who's celebrating his 40th birthday. He's a fan of trains & to celebrate his special birthday we're having a meal on a steam train. I knew amongst my really, really old stash of decoupage I had an image of a steam train that I thought would be perfect.
Decoupage tracked down, I had a peruse through the sketches. I decided to use sketch 85

I would like to enter the following challenges with this card

Sketch and stash challenge 100 - Choose a sketch
Paper crafting journey - Anything Goes
Divas by Design Challenge 61- Anything Goes
Pennys Challenge - 102 - Anything Goes
Cards for men Challenge - 23 - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenge 45 - Anything Goes
Oldie but a goodie Challenge - Anything but Christmas - Oldie Decoupage

Love & hugs TC xox

Thanks

This fortnights challenge over at Aud Sentiments is to say THANKS. Your cards need to include the word Thank, Thank you, or even Thanks Giving, just don't forget the word. And a beautiful word it is, it doesn't take much, but means so much.
So having said that I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to my lovely follower's, the participants in our challenges and for your lovely comments.

For this challenge we are so excited to have Di's Digi Designs as our sponsor. They are giving the winner a $10 gift voucher for the store. Thanks so much!

Here is a little bit about them...Di's Digi Designs do a great range of cute images - for boys, girls, you name it!  They also have a range of backgrounds for you to use...AND, if your colouring is not fabulous...you can buy a pre-coloured image instead!

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Critter sketch challenge blog have a challenge this week to honour our Veterans.  This coming Sunday it is Veteran's Day (U.S.A)/Remembrance Day (Canada & UK).  Their challenge is to create something that shows your support for those who keep us safe and free. So I thought a thank you card would be perfect, a thank you to all those past & present.

 

I've dug out an old favourite for this challenge, I think this Penny Black image is so cute. It goes so well with the sentiment 'thanks for your support' too (a bra being a wonderful thing that supports lots of ladies).
I've had a retro session on this one, and used lots of old craft supplies. Pro Markers, Glitter Girls embossing board, peel off butterfly and boarder stickers, stickles and Marianne Designs dies.

I would like to enter the following challenges;

Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog - All that glitters
Catch the bug blog - November - Anything Goes 
Pile it on challenge - 45 - Make it sparkle
Incy Wincy Designs - Giving Thanks
Critter Challenge blog Challenge - 140 - Honour our veterans 
Paper Pretties blog Monday Challenge - Use 2 or more circles
Party Time Tuesdays - Thank you
Passion for Promarkers Challenge - 174 Theme, in the garden - Washing Line
I love Pro Markers Challenge - 142 - Pretty in pink
Divas by Design Challenge - 60 - lets get cute
Paper Pretties blog Wednesday Challenge - Thank you
Pennys Challenge 101 - Lots of Layers 
Marianne Design Divas - Shaped cards 
Make it Monday - Link Party

Hugs TC xox

Cupcake cutie

Oh wow thrilled to be chosen as a cupcake cutie this week for the pumpkins

My blog shall wear its new badge with pride. I guess I'll have to share it though, seeing as one of the pumpkins was my partners, I'm sure he'll claim it's his Pumpkin that won it! lol :0)

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

I like Halloween, I'm a bit too old for Trick or Treat, but not too old to have some fun pumpkin carving.
We had our 1st go at it last Halloween and were quite impressed with the results, so it's now become our new tradition.

This time I decided to do the Angry birds character

and my partner did Sonic the hedgehog.

It's also the time of year we get to craft together, even though there is quite a bit of competition! lol
 

Halloween and pumpkins also mean its time for pumpkin soup. Mmmmm. My favourite.


I'd like to enter the following Challenges

Tammy Scrapin Corner Challenge-34 - Anything goes
Cupcake Craft Challenges - 216 - Witches and pumpkins
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Make it Monday - Link party
The paper shelter - 88 - Anything Goes
Crafty Mess Challenge - Halloween
Fashionista Challenge - Anything Goes
Anything Goes Challenge - 79- Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge- 88 - Halloween
Milk Coffee Challenge - Halloween

Have fun, Hugs TC xox

Arrrrrrr

Arrrrrr on 2 counts. Arrrrr in pirate tone for our challenge this fortnight, and Arrrr in a slightly different pitch because I'm in a bit of pain this week.

Firstly our challenge over at Aud Sentiments

we are so excited to have Sassy Studio Designs as our sponsor. 

Here is a little bit about them...  

Sassy and Sexy!  Those two words really sum up the wonderful images that are to be found here.  SSD produce a great range of images and are always on trend and current.  I just love their storybook characters and they have some wonderful Sassy Halloween images.  All the images come in JPG, but, if you email them, they are happy to send you other formats too!  Hows that for service? 

OK, now onto the challenge. We want to see your projects or cards with a storybook theme.  So your sentiment (which you must include!) will be either from a story or something a storybook character might say!  

For this project I used Sassy studio designs 'Pirate Penny'. I think she's lovely.

So I got thinking and talking in Pirate mode, as our challenge is to use a sentiment from your Character. 

Arrrrr, I thought

These are my ideas I came up with for this project, feel free to use them in your projects:-

Arrrr, Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Matey

Shiver me timbers, You're how old?

Yo, ho, ho & a bottle of rum.

Bottle of rum I thought! Perfect birthday gift, and opportunity to make a quirky drinks tag.

(I have a small confession, this isn't the actual bottle of rum, I'm yet to go out and purchase that one, this one is for illustration purposes only.....and sampling! lol ;)

My 2nd Arrrrr is due to me being in a little pain this week. I'm currently doing up my new home, but this week I've done something to my neck/shoulder whilst stripping the ceiling. I'm currently drugged up on paracetamols and smelling beautifully of deep heat, renovations are on hold on my part as I'm struggling to move my arm :( I'm hoping its going to heal quick. The quicker I finish my home, the quicker I can get back to crafting and blogland properly! 

I'd like to enter the following challenges

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - No rules 

Make it Monday - Link Party

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge - Masculine (it's for a Male friend)
Ladybugs Crafts Challenge - I need a P - Pirate

Trick or Treat

This fortnights challenge over at Aud Sentiments is Halloween.

This fortnight we're sponsored by Stamp Fairy who are offering a wonderful $10 Gift Certificate to Stamp Fairy Store. 

Here is a little bit about them...

"If you are searching for cute, whimsy digistamps - you have come to the right place! Everything you can find on this site has been hand - and mousemade with love and lots of creativity."  

You must take a look, there's lots of gorgeous digi stamps, and some cute freebies so you can try before you buy.

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This is a quick post from me as I have just purchased a new home, that requires a lot of love and attention, but this challenge is ideal as it won't be long before the trick or treater's will be knocking on our door!

So I've taken this opportunity to make some treat bags up ready. I've used Stamp Fairy's Barry, isn't he gorgeous?, coloured with my promarkers and his hat duplicated a couple of time for some growing pumpkins. 

I love pumpkin, it make lovely warming soup ;)

So come and join in our challenge, just don't forget to add your sentiment to your Halloween project!

I would like to enter the following challenges

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Anything Goes
Cupcake Craft Challenge - Autumn - Winter
I Love Promarkers Challenge - 138 - Halloween
Anything Goes Challenge - 77 - Animals
Divas by Design Challenge - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge_10 - Halloween
Unique Crafters Challenge - October Challenge - Halloween
Hooked on Craft Challenge -25 Halloween
Deep Ocean Challenge -36 - Anything Goes

Hugs TC xox

New Home :)

This is the reason for me being a little quiet on Blog Land. My new home, and a new major project.

Happy Anniversary

Okay so I sort of fell a little bit for Gus & Stella, and so for the 2nd week running they're making another appearance. They do have new outfits though, and Stella is sporting a new hair colour, but she's still looking through those rose tinted glasses! Lol.

So the new challenge over at Aud Sentiments is 'Fall'. What's my card got to do with 'fall' I hear you say? Well we want to see the word Fall in your sentiment, so either you can opt for an autumn 'Fall' card or you can play on the word fall....

I've chosen the following sentiment for my Anniversary card

'The smile on your face lets me know that you need me,
there's a truth in your heart that says you'll never leave me,
and the touch of your hand says you'll catch me whenever I fall'

Awww, you may recognise a bit of Ronan Keating, I could quite happily fall for him! lol ;)

So my card has been inspired by the quirky Gus and Stella, Ronan to fit in with the song inspiration challenge over at Allsorts, & I've used the sketch from Sketch and Stash.

Hopefully I've inspired you to join in with our challenge over at Aud sentiments. 

This fortnight we are being sponsored by Digital Delights and they're offering our winner a $5 gift Certificate to their store.

Here is a little bit about them...

We are a one stop shop for all your digital stamps, paper piecing and digital products which are instantly downloadable. We also have a wide range of digital papers and cut files for all your crafting projects. Our low prices reflect our belief that crafting should not only be fun but affordable too!!

Other services include custom blog design and custom watermarks. Why wait for snail mail? Start creating with our instant downloads today.

Just don't forget your Sentiment

 

I'm entering the following fab Challenges

Allsorts Challenge - 173 - inspired by a song - When You Say Nothing At All

Dream Valley Challenge - 41- Celebrations - Happy Anniversary

The Crazy challenge - 129 - Spots or Stripes

Make it Monday - Link Party
The Squirrel and the fox Challenge - 27 - Celebrate Occasion
My Grafico Crafts Challenge - Fall into fall
Sketch and Stash Challenge 97 - Sketch
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge 26 - Fall
The Paper Shelter Challenge - 83 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafting hugs to u all ;) TC xox