Girl Talk

Another Sunday, another challenge over at One Stitch at a Time this week we would like you to use '3 Embellishments' on your project. For my card I used 'Hot Chocolate' by Beary Dust you can find this delightful digi image over at Stitchy Bear digital Stamps. The 3 embellishments I chose are a piece of  ribbon, a button and a flower. The sentiment on the mug which doesn't show up too well on this photo is 'Girl Talk' I thought the digi image was great for a wee card to invite my girlfriends to meet up for a nice yummy skinny latte.

Crimson Cloud

The lucky winner will receive three sets of their choice of die cuts.

Carol Ann xx

My Favourite Five Cards of 2011

Debby over at A Scrapjourney is asking for you to pick your top five cards of 2011 a great idea and a chance to have a look and see what exactly you got up to on the crafting front this year. So here are my five cards.

This card was for my nephew I was delighted when the idea actually worked!

This year was a special year in that I had the task of making my niece Emma's wedding stationery everything inspired by her wedding shoes which were gorgeous! This was the wedding card the theme for the wedding was navy, pearls and gems.

Another birthday card, I decided to try using water colour paints I was surprised how vibrant the colour of the flower turned out I definitely will try water colours again in 2012.

I tried to blend colours using Promarkers to lift the leaves a bit which for me worked. I am always surprised when experiments work however if I'm honest far more don't work :)

I liked the idea of this card the grunginess of the inked backing paper and the rather large robin and the little flower in his beak I thought it could be for Christmas or even valentine's day I'm sure the robin is still around in February :)

Well that is my five favourites, Debby I think this was a great idea and I will definitely be doing this all again next year!

A Scrapjourney - My five favourite cards


Carol Ann xx

Little Nut Tree

This week over at ONE STITCH AT A TIME the new challenge is 'Anything Goes' I was lucky enough to have a gorgeous digital image from Teri at Delicious Doodles from STITCHY BEAR DIGITAL STAMPS I loved this digi image the leaves have so much movement I enjoyed colouring this image with my promarkers I found it very relaxing after a very busy week. I made a card 'Just for You' unfortunately the gold letters don't show up so well in the photo. There are some lovely projects this week giving you lots of inspiration.

Carol Ann xx
I am entering my card to the following challenges:
Fabulous Friday - Ribbon
Hotshot Craft - Promarkers
Sarah Hurley - Colouring
Sparkles - Anything but a Christmas Card

BE SQUARE!

It's that time again at One Stitch At A Time another Sunday which means another challenge to take part in. This week the theme is 'Be Square' Personally square cards are my favourite shape of card so I was delighted when I read what the challenge was for this week I also had a fabulous digital image to work with by Tami of Gingerloft her digi images are availble to buy at Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps along with lots of other fabulous designs. The digi I used is called 'Swing on a Star' it was quite nice doing something a bit different this week instead of all the Christmas cards of  late. The sentiment which comes with the digi image 'Would you like to swing on a star' reminds me of a song my Dad used to sing when I was a little girl so it brought back some happy memories while I worked on the card.

Thanks for visiting my wee blog I am always delighted if you have the time to leave a comment ...  good or bad!

Carol Ann xx

I'm entering my card to the following challenges:
Frosted Designs (Fabulous Friday) - Music
Fairy Fun Fridays - Beat the the winter blues
Mami Doodles - Make it Shine (Glitter)
Digi Doodle Shop - Lots of Sparkle
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Fab 'n' Funky - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty - Tie One On

Lots of Layers

This weeks challenge over at Carmadfairy's Digi Days is Lots of Layers. I chose to layer up ribbon. The image is one of Jenni's new Imogen Digi Images. I have kept it all fairly simple to let the lovely Tim Holtz paper be seen and Imogen take centre stage I printed Imogen out on to water colour paper and used water colours to paint her gives a different effect to my usual Promarkers.

Carol Ann xx

I'm entereing my card into the following challenge:
Totally Paperscrafts - Clean & Simples!
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

OFF CUT, BUTTONS AND A BOW

Thought I would have a bit of a play today with a piece of off cut material. The material has flowers and fairies but I'm not really a fairy kinda girl so I cut out a patch with just flowers distressed the edge by pulling the threads I used the same material for the ruffle. I'm not so sure it works but it was fun trying which is I guess what crafting is all about. I also tried my hand at a home made flower with the same material but it was a bit much so didn't use it in the end.

CAROL ANN XX

CARDMADFAIRY'S DIGI DAYS #6 - RECIPE

The new Challenge over at CARDMADFAIRY'S DIGI DAYS  this fortnight is a RECIPE.  We would like to see the following on your creation:

1 IMAGE

2 PAPERS

3 EMBELLISHMENTS

So nothing complicated but good fun to try.  This challenge we are sponsored by WAXFRUIT.

My image is one of JENNI'S called 'Butterfly Fairy' papers are Dovecraft 'Tea House' and my three embellishments are a flower coloured to match papers and two butterflies punch from one of the two papers.

CAROL ANN XX

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days #5 - Easter

Challenge #5 over at CARDMADFAIRY'S DIGI DAYS is Easter. For me Easter is when lovely Daffodils and Tulips and other spring flowers are beginning to bring the garden to life and of course spending Easter with family can only be a 'Perfect Day'. I have used Jenni's Flowers 2 digi image and paper from Dovecrafts Sugar & Spice pack.
Our sponsor this time is Chi Chi Memories unfortunately I don't have a link but will update this post when one is available.
As usual the DT have come up with some fab inspiration so make sure you pop over and have a look.

Thanks for taking the time to visit.

Carol Ann xx

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days #4 - Back to Nature

The latest challenge over at CARDMADFAIRY'S DIGI DAYS starts today the theme is 'Back to Nature' With spring just around the corner I'm enjoying getting my floral papers out and putting the odd flower in places where you might not expect them to be! Butterflies and trees with hearts, flowers and even cupcakes in amongst the branches seem to be in vogue at the moment so this is my take on it. The papers I used are by Dovecraft from the Sugar & Spice paper pack. The digi image is one of Jenni's this one is called 'Spring Tree' very pretty on its own or dressed up. To colour the image I used AquaMarkers they give a more watercolour effect rather than the ProMarkers which are a bit more solid in colour. It is the first time I have used them I do like the way they blend. If I remember correctly the stamp I used for the sentiment was a freebie from a craft magazine. There is a little bit of recycling too, the raffia came from the packaging of a candle.

Our sponsor for this challenge is the fabulous Bugaboo Stamps There are loads of fun digi images in store personally one of my favourites is JJ I have used her to great effect in the past and have my eye on a couple of other digi images.  Anyway the winner of challenge #3 will win 7 digis from Bugaboo Stamps thats a new image for every day of the week!

Thanks for visiting my wee blog I hope you will pop over to Cardmadfairy's Digi Days and have a look at what the rest of the DT came up with, hopefully you will feel inspired and join in with our 'Back to Nature' challenge.

Carol Ann xx
I am entering my card to the following challenges:
Alphabet - T for Trees
digi Doodle - Anything Goes
Southern Girls - Use Flowers
The Creative Cottage - Spring has Sprung
Scrapbook Sisters - Spring Flowers
Karens Doodles - Spring

Cardmadfairy's Digi Days #3 - Glitz and Glamour

This weeks challenge over at CARDMADFAIRY'S DIGI DAYS is 'GLITZ AND GLAMOUR' for my card I have glitzed up Jenni's 'Mug' digi image with some sparkly pink and clear flowers and little seed pearls. I have coloured the mug using promarkers and to add a bit of dimension I printed the mug image twice cut out the heart, coloured and added on top of the heart image on the mug.

There are some fab digi images over at Cardmadfairy's digital stamps however you don't have to use one to enter the challenge but if you do your project will be entered twice into the draw.

There are some great projects by the DT to give you inspiration so if your mojo has up and left have a look they might just give you an idea to get you into the crafting groove ;)

Carol Ann xx
I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Crafty Sentiments - Birthdays
Doodle Pantry - Sparkle and Bling
Bearly Mine - Birthday Card
Digital Tuesday - Celebrations
Passion for Promarkers - Sugar Rush
Bunny Zoe's - Spring ... Flowers Everywhere !!!
Lexi's Creations - Flowers
Ooh La La Creations - Pink, Pink and more Pink
Paper Playtime - digi Monday's anything goes

OSAAT #50 DT - ANYTHING BUT SQUARE!

This weeks challenge over at ONE STITCH AT A TIME is 'ANYTHING BUT SQUARE' the image for my card this week is by April at REECE'S SCRAP PIECES you can purchase any of April's Digi's and many more besides over at STITCHY BEAR DIGITAL STAMPS
The image I used is called 'A Frozen Meal' the image should have snow on the tree branches and on top of the bird box but I was in a spring mood this week so decided to change it and used grey/green to look like lichen a moss you will see growing on trees. Unfortunately the weather has been horrible here all week and by the time I got home from work in the evening it has been no good for taking a photo the colours are much prettier in real life I will be glad when the weather is much better and taking photos will not be a problem!

The sponsor this week is Joanna Sheen you could win £10 Voucher to spend in store.

There are some stunning pieces for you to take inspiration from over on the OSAAT blog well worth a visit!

Thank you for visiting my wee blog.

HUGS CAROL ANN XX

I am entering my card for the following challenges:
Allsorts - Inspired by Nature
Little Claire's - Anything Goes
Guylou's Inimitability - Anything goes
Mami Doodles - Flower Card
Totally Papercrafts - Do It with Digi's
Charisma Cardz - Spring Has Sprung
Delightful Challenges - Animals
Digi Doodle - Anything Goes

TIME TO CELEBRATE

A very happy New Year I hope you enjoyed all the festivities and are ready to get cracking with some crafty projects. The first challenge of 2011 over at CRAFT YOUR DAYS AWAY is a great one to ease you back in to crafting, the theme is  'ANYTHING GOES' set by my fab teamie Liz so if you have' Thank You' cards still to write or Birthday's coming up or indeed if you have a Calendar Page needed to hang in your craft space then enter them into the challenge in fact anything crafty even new knitted hat/gloves/scarf for all the snow which has returned! I could do with one of those fab hats so many people are wearing which cover your ears and keep you warm and cosy although I'm not sure about the pigtails!

My mojo has been sadly lacking over the festive period just didn't know what I was going to do. I bought 'Scrapbook Magazine' last Monday and with the magazine was a 'nitwit collection' the papers inspired me to make my card. No idea where the design came from just went with it. The 'Time to Celebrate' stamp was a free stamp from 'Craft Stamper Magazine'

Simon Says Stamp is our sponsor for this challange you could win $10 voucher code to spend in store so why not have a go. There is lots of inspiration from the DT and a fabulous project by or GDT Pami make sure you visit Pami's blog there is some great craft projects. Don't forget to add GDT to your name if you want to be considered for GDT spot for challenge #13.

Thanks for visiting.

HUGS CAROL ANN XX

I'm entering my card for the following challenge:
Sentimental Sundays - Anything with wings!
Charisma Cardz - Birthdays & Celebrations
Gingerloft - Celebrations
Phindy's Friday Challenge - Distressing

AUTUMN DOODLES

Challenge #4 at CRAFT YOUR DAYS AWAY was set by ...  ME!  Yip it is my turn to set the challenge which this time is AUTUMN DOODLES Summer has gone (although I'm still hoping for an Indian summer!) Autumn has arrived the leaves are changing with gorgeous colours definitely my favourite time of the year. There is the addition of doodles this can be handwriting, faux stitching or if your brave enough try your hand at doodled images, the main thing is that you have fun creating your project.

The sponsor for Challenge 4 is WHIMSY STAMPS  the winner will receive 5 digital images of their choice and believe me there is some fantastic images to choose from.

The Whimsy Stamp I chose to use is 'Doggie Says Ruff' by Katie's Digital Kritters. He is not the most handsome dog in the world but I love him!  I used some Paper Adventure paper I thought the large spots echoed the shades of Autumn there is gold lace, green, yellow and orange ribbon. The main flower was three large Prima flowers with their petals trimmed I have used Promarkers to add Autumn tones. The little sun flowers were left as they were but the gold leaves were coloured also with Promarkers to try and give them the change of Summer to Autumn feel.

If you would like your project to be considered for the GDT spot for challenge #6 please remember to type GD next to your name when you enter challenge #4 and I will come and have a look at your entry before picking the winner! And don't forget I will also be looking for my top three.

There is lots more inspiration from the DT on the CYDA blog so pop over and have a look.

Lastly the lovely Emma has had to stand down from the DT to concentrate on her new online business crafty emma's store Emma sorry to see you go, it has been great working with you, wishing you continued success with you business venture.

CAROL ANN XX

I am entering my card for the following challenges :
GINGER LOFT - Anything Goes
A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR - Fall into Autumn
INCY WINCY - Autumn Colours
SECRET CRAFTER - Anything goes
STAMP SOMETHING - Use A Digi
CREATIVE CARD CREW - Autumn or Fall

GDT Cupcake Inspirations

Wow how lucky am I a GDT spot with Cupcake Inspirations using absolutely fantastic digi papers by Toucan Scraps at Stitchy Bear Stamps called Birthday Pink. They are gorgeous pink papers I have used only three from the collection but they are all fantastic.

This is the inspiration for this weeks challenge at Cupcake Inspirations isn't it just fantastic these cupcakes are just too gorgeous to eat!

This is my interpretation I managed to get a couple of ribbons on there an absolute favourite of mine and I just love this Earth Fairy image from Pollycraft she is sooo cute. I sent this card off to someone very special in my life I hope she likes it.

CAROL ANN XX

I'm entering my card for the following challenge:
Flutterby Wednesdays - Open Challange
Anything Goes - Punches

MAGICAL CRAFTS CHALLENGE # 17

Good morning I hope the weather is good with you, at the moment it is quite cold and raining in Edinburgh typical Sunday weather!

Challenge #17 over at Magical Crafts is SOMETHING FOR A MALE/FATHER'S DAY.
With father's day fast approaching (UK) on the 20th June this is the perfect opportunity to do something with Dad in mind. However, it doesn't have to be for Father's Day it can be a male card in general.
Our sponsor for this challenge is the wonderful  STITCHY BEAR STAMPS it's a great wee shop with very talented artists on board. We are featuring two artists this time CRAFTY CHAOS DESIGNS has designed the digital papers and STITCHY STAMPS has designed the digital images, they work well together or used on their own.

I enjoyed this project it is simple in design but I think is works. I hope you will pop over to Magical Crafts and have a go and if you are looking for more inspiration why not visit One Stitch at a Time Stitchy's blog or her Stitchy Bear Stamp shop.
Looking forward to seeing all your fabulous creations for challenge # 17.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my wee blog.

CAROL ANN XX

A fab Mo Manning Digi Stamp!

This card is winging it's way to a friend the digi image is by the fabulous Mo Manning at Digital Pencil Too you can also join Mo on Facebook. The image was a freebie called "checking" it is no longer available as a freebie but is a fab image for blogging buddies.

I'm entering this card for the TOTALLY PAPERSCRAFTS CHALLENGE # 15 the theme is Stitching.

CAROL ANN XX

CUPCAKE INSPIRATON CHALLENGE # 41

I have been following the Hope Stamps Eternal blog for a wee while now they have a challenge called Cupcake Inspiration Challenge  this is my first entry for this challenge. I have not quite worked out how you put a picture of the cupcakes for the challenge on to my blog but if you use the link and pop over all will become clear!

Stamp: Poise by Leanne Ellis @ Sugar Nellie
Pens by Promarker
Embossing Folders by Provocraft for Cuttlebug
Assorted flowers and ribon from my craft stash.

CAROL ANN XX

MAGICAL CRAFTS CHALLENGE # 6

This week we are being sponsored by the lovely DEZINA WORLD pop over and take a look what is on offer, the images are amazing, you will be spoilt for choice.  We have 2 images being donated by Dezina World, which have also been used by the fabbie DT Team, up for prizes.
To enter this weeks challenge, all we ask is for your entry to be of a VINTAGE STYLE, this can be any medium, papercraft, whatever you choose as long as it is vintage. There is a link on my sidebar.
Most of all have fun.

This is the first time I have tried to do vintage I think it has worked.  I printed the image from Dezina World then put a layer of Glossy Accents over the top, backed the image on to card using sticky fixers. I then added the lace by tucking the edge between the card and image. The image is edged with pearlised  beads with a pearl heart at the bottom along with a pink and cream paper rose. I put some purple card through a Cuttlebug folder then rubbed brown ink over the embossed area before swiping around the edge of the card. I then glued it on to some green Basic Grey paper adding ribbon from my stash three more pearl heart beads and added the sentiment.

CAROL ANN XX

A PERFECT DAY

I had "A Perfect Day" playing in my craft room. I stamped some images from Elusive Images, unfortunately I can't remember what the set is called. The sentiment stamp was free with a craft magazine. The script is similar  to the stamped images which is why I chose to use that one rather than the usual happy birthday sentiment. I used promarkers to colour the flower images, used some ink on a baby wipe to colour the background and then used the same ink pad to ink around the edges. The paper flowers, brads and ribbon are from my craft stash. My card will not be to everyone's taste but I like to try something different when I have the time to play.

CAROL ANN XX

 

DECEMBER BIRTHDAY

I had a Birthday card to make for a friend it made a refreshing change from making Christmas cards. I decided to make a card which fitted into the Penny Black Saturday Challenge which is RED & GOLD. I have a few Penny Black stamps but have never entered the challenge before. The papers are Memorybox Spiceberry collection. The Penny Black stamp is "love bush" I have edged the matt and layered white card and paper with gold ink then finished with gold ribbon and buttons and then drew gold lines around the white edge of the card.

CAROL ANN XX