Wednesday, July 6, 2011

ABC Challenge Birthday Hop + DT Call


Hi all :-) I was thrilled when Vicky asked me to be a Guest Designer for the ABC Challenge’s Birthday Hop :-) THANKS HUN !! :-)

They are currently looking for a couple of designers to join the team so if you are interested then please see the challenge blog for details :-)

If you arrived here from the lovely and super talented Suzanne's blog then you are going the right way ,, if not you may with to start at the ABC Challenge blog

For this hop the theme is Yesterday ,, the challenge is to make a card with a theme of yesterday, so you can have a vintage theme or use a stamp that is not the latest stamp on the block but one of those real old favourites. You could choose a past ABC Challenge theme just let us know which challenge and the date it went live. !!

I chose U for UNUSUAL FOLD

from 18th May 2011

The DT all have a sponsored candy on their blogs, so lots of prizes along the way :-) My candy is sponsored by the lovely Heidi at Simon Says Stamp !!





I have been meaning to have a go at a Diamond Fold card for ages so now was the chance to have a play :-) It’s not perfect though and ,, shhh ,,, I need to add something at the front to stop it falling over !!! ,,, like a brick or something ,,,Open-mouthed smile





This card is quite small ,, only 4x4 inches so I had to choose a smallish image ,,,, House Mouse Confetti Rain ,,,, perfect fit !!! I haven’t inked this one is ages so it was about time :-) I coloured the image with Copics and inked the edges with Wild Honey Distress Ink. The papers are Graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime and I sewed all the edges on my machine. I stamped a Penny Black mouse footsteps along one side and used a gorgeous Prima Pearl Swirl and Calcutta flower on the other.

Now this is where I went horribly wrong ,,, I thought it looked a bit plain and as I am a GD I wanted to make a good impression (lol ) so I added a Martha Stewart PATP border, and cut out a frame for the image using a Spellbinders Die.



Oohh that was better ,,, I thought ,,, until I tried to stand it up !! hmmm ,, I have to make a little stand at the front to prop it up. Now I could have kept that snippet of info to myself ,,, but ,,, we all learn by our mistakes so I am sharing mine with you Smile

If you would like a chance to win a fab Hero Art set from Simon Says Stamp then please leave me a comment and a link to your blog with Mr Linky :-)





I hope you enjoy the hop ,, from here you need to hop on over to the super talented ALI'S BLOG and see her gorgeous creation :-)


Simon Says ,,,,,,, A Stitch in Time ,,,


Thank's to all of you who entered our Lavender and Lace Challenge last week, it was an unusual colour combo but so effective ,, all of your entries were fantastic !!

This week our challenge is "A Stitch in Time" so we would love to see stitching on your projects this week, real or faux !

As always, you can win this fabulous $50 voucher from the lovely Heidi at Simon Says Stamp !!



This week we are joined by our Special Guest in the Spotlight NADINE !

If you haven't visited Nadine's blog you are in for a treat !! Gorgeous creations !! :-)





For my card I used my new Tim Holtz ( TH) Haberdashery set,,, LOVE IT !! I started with a base kraft card and used red card for layering. The paper is from a TH Vintage Shabby paper pack, I inked all the edges with Vintage photo and tea Dye inks. I used a EK Success Binding Edge border punch then distressed using a Paper Distresser and sewed around the edges on my machine. I used various stamps from the set, the mannequin, needle book ( which I actually made into a needle book, and a spool, all these were coloured with distress ink. The flower is made using a TH Tattered Florals die, grungepaper and coloured with Barn Door ink, I stuck a few pins in the top of that but they’re not very visible ! I also used a piece of TH Ruler Ribbon and a few Vintage buttons to finish.

Inside the needle book :-)

Thanks for looking :-) Nadine and the DT have made some fabulous creations for your inspiration so hop on over to the Simon Says Stamp Challenge to see them Smile

Challenges :

A Spoonful of Sugar ,,,,, Sewing

Anything Goes ,,,, the letter ‘D’ ,, (Distressing)

Craft Your Days Away,,,, Vintage

Sweet Stampin’ Use something not usually used on cards ,, sewing needles.



ABC Christmas Challenge N for ,, No Nonsense


Hi all :-) It’s hard to think about Christmas when we are sweltering in the heat but by the time Santa comes I will have a lovely box full of cards ready !! No Last minute rush for me !! So why don’t you get started if you haven’t already and join us in the ABC Christmas challenge, and the other fab Christmas themed challenges too :-)

the theme for the next fortnight is ,,,

N for No Nonsense,,, simple design and NO designer papers !!

We are sponsored by the lovely Heidi at Simon Says Stamp so a fab $15 spree for one lucky entrant

AND the fabuulous Karen from Karen’s Doodles will be giving a choice of 3 digi images !! :-)





For my card I used my fab Hero Arts Down the Chimney stamp. I coloured it with Copic s and glittered the edges with Star Dust Stickles, I also added Polar White Flower Soft to the chimney and his boot trims. I used some red SU card and a piece of plain white card which I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder, added a little ribbon and a Hero Arts sentiment and job done ,,, This is THE quickest card I think I ever made and plan on making several more like it before the guy in the red suit comes !! :-)

Thanks for looking, Nancy, a Karen’s Doodles designer and the DT have made some fabulous cards for your inspiration so hop on over to the challenge blog to see them Smile


Challenges :

Tuesday Throwdown ,,, Christmas in July

Christmas Card Challenges ,,, T'was the Night before Christmas

Christmas Inspiration,,,,, Tones of One Colour

Corrosive ..... Red/White

Our Creative Corner ,,,, 4th July or Christmas in July

Crafty Sentiments ,,,,, Christmas