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'Memba when I talked about the Scraplift challenges on the Paper Passion Forum, HERE?

I totally forgot to share the layout I created for the August Lift, which incidentally made use of the Quirky Lite Kit I have been talking about HERE.

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** Papers: Pebbles Inc, American Crafts ** Stencils: Crafters Workshop, Punchinella ** Mists: Cosmic Shimmer ** Stickers: American Crafts Thickers ** Chipboard cloud: Love Elsie for KI Memories ** Other: Alpha beads, Circle punch, Pearls **

I never used to like Pebbles Inc papers but since they teamed up with American Crafts I think they have come up with fab designs.

Now, I can wait for my next Quirky Kit which is packed with Studio Calico papers - my new fave!

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Big News...

..well not for me - but for my colleague Ann - who celebrates her *****tieth birthday at the end of the month. She really likes colourful cards, so I figured this lil' monkey would be right up her ally.

**click on any of the images to enlarge the view **

I paper pieced the hat and jacket and adhered it to this wicked image from DUSTIN PIKE with some adhesive foam dots. Totally dig how this one turned out, so I am entering it into the current DP CHALLENGE

Cardstock: Stampin' Up ** Papers: Crate, My Minds Eye, Lily Bee Designs** Stamps: Flying Monkey by Dustin Pike, Flourish by Hero Arts ** Pens:  ProMarkers, Uniball Signo in white

Home and Away.....

...that is the title of Mr P's and my daily soap. I have been an addict follower of HOME + AWAY since I moved to the UK (waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when...). Mr P has been an addict even longer than that and when he was in Oz back in 1996, he simply had to have is picture taken overlooking "Summer Bay", the fictional seaside town of the soap.

I found that the background cardstock I created HERE was prefect for the picture and to top it all off, it also works for the second challenge over at KASSETTENKINDER, where the requirements ask for the use of the colours blue, green and yellow.

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Cardstock - Poundshop ** Papers, Stickers - American Crafts ** Mist - Cosmic Shimmer ** Chalk Ink - Clearsnap Inc ** Deco Tape - Pink Paislee ** Brad - Upsy Daisy Designs ** Tools - Bubble Wrap, Sequin Waste ** Other - Embroidery Floss, Pearls, Rhinestones, Australian Postage Stamp, Flowers

See the flower at the top left corner? I misted the blossom layers with different colours of Cosmic Shimmer, so that they would fit in, neat hu? I know that this is old news but I never did it before....I am SO behind the times. But as of now, only white flowers and trims will make it into my stash so I can dye them with mists and inks to suit my needs.

Lately I have been extremely blessed to have had oodles of my work been picked up for publication - amazing, really that right now almost everything I submit gets picked.
Recently I have had a gift container published in Ready, Set, Create - a layout in Scrapstreet and my most treasured - a double pager in Cards! Just look at how wonderful the card was displayed by the mag

And right now, I have another card and project in he pipeline for Ready, Set, Create and a layout to appear in Scrapbook News & Reviews this weekend.
 I am so thankful and feel very blessed indeed.

Cards galore...

...man, I can't believe that all of a sudden I am making cards again. 

Somehow I totally lost the ability to produce anything that I was remotely happy with - we even B.O.U.G.H.T. (as in went to the shop and paid for it) cards when we needed some. I know - shocking, right?

I pretty much resigned to the fact that my days as a cardmaker were over but then I looked at my gazillions of ProMarkers yesterday. There was no way I could give up after having spent a small fortune on those dang pens, so I started to print out some digi images from KENNY K and DUSTIN PIKE

It would be great if I could say that as soon as I had the pens in my hands it all came back to me....but it wasn't so. My first attempts at colouring looked worse than what a two year old could do. I was getting even more annoyed now and contemplated just putting all the markers up for sale.

Something made me pick up the pens again and continue to work with the images and all of a sudden it was back - card making mojo woke up and saw me creating up a storm of six cards within the matter of a few hours.

I got so excited that I quickly checked all the card making blogs again to see if there would be any challenges which I could enter...and thankfully there were a few. 

So let's link those cards up...Are you ready?

** click on any of the images to enlarge their view **

Charisma Challenge #28

- It's In The Stars -

Digital Stamp: Some Odd Girl ** Pens: ProMarkers, Uniball Signo, Zig Millenium ** Mists: Cosmic Shimmer ** Alcohol Inks: Ranger ** Chipboard: Rusty Pickle

Fun Tip: I created the background by placing various chipboard stars randomly onto card stock and sprayed over it with Cosmic Shimmer. Additionally I dropped some Alcohol Inks here and there. Splashes and start were outline with a black pen to make them stand out more.

Papertake Weekly Challenge

- Hot! Hot! Hot! -

Digital Stamp: KennyK Downloads ** Sentiment Stamp: Stampin' Up ** Papers: American Crafts ** Pens: ProMarkers, Uniball Signo, Zig Millenium ** Ink: Chalk Ink by Clearsnap Inc ** Cardstock: Bazzill

Fun Tip: The background on the cardstock was created by dabbing a chalk ink pad over some punchinella

Passion For ProMarkers #108

- Gingham -

Digital Stamp: Dustin Pike ** Sentiment Stamp: Stampin' Up ** Papers: American Crafts ** Pens: ProMarkers, Uniball Signo, Zig Millenium ** Ink: Chalk Ink by Clearsnap Inc

Fun Tip: The background on the cardstock was created by dabbing a chalk ink pad over some punchinella

Stamp With Fun #119

- Get Well Soon-

Digital Stamp: Dustin Pike ** Papers: American Crafts ** Cardstock: Poundshop ** Pens: ProMarkers ** Mists: Cosmic Shimmer

There were two more cards I created but they are for a DT assignment for October, so I cannot share yet (even though I am BURSTING, because I thought that those two were my best cards out of this lot)

Thanks for looking and thanks to Card-Mojo for coming to back to me!

Makes Me Happy....

...this gorgeous little tea pot.

I have pretty much gone off coffee the last couple of months and enjoy nothing more but a nice cuppa or two, poured out of this sweet pot.

Also, it makes me happy that I finished a layout for this fun challenge site.  Granted, if you are not German it won't be fun for you to participate. The idea is to be inspired by some really famous German Children/Teenager Audio tapes. I used to love those when I was younger and this site brings back memories.

For challenge #1 we were asked to be inspired by the title of one of the many audio plays and I chose
Benjamin Bluemchen Folge 5 - Auf Hoher See
(Benjamin Flower - Issue 5 - On the High Seas)

How better fitting than to scrap a picture of me enjoying the life on board Queen Mary 2.

Both the memories of my childhood and of my holiday, make me happy.

What makes you happy?

WIP - Sunday

Another busy week for me and my hook - I just love that you get almost instant gratification when crocheting.

As for this weekends' work in progress let me show you a peek of my almost finished pillow case. I haven't made up my mind yet if they will a present or if we keep them for the bedroom. Right now, they make me happy whenever I look at them :)))

I actually finished a wrap-around-case for my hooks and wee scissors, but I messed that one up completely when I started sewing it together...so I have to have another bash next weekend.

Again, I have not neglected my obsession with paper and glue and been busy getting some of my DT assignments done through to April (yay me) and did a few cards and tags along the way too.

The first one is a tag I created with some left-over papers from my GCD Studios stash - after my unsuccessful attempt in 2009 I tried out for their DT again, but didn't get picked. No big deal, I just carry on regardless.

This tag was also created for the wonderful BUTTERFLY BLOG LINK PARTY, which one of my online buddies {{Eva}} is holding. Click on her name to get taken to the post where you can link your own creation using a butterfly  

Actually I am quite surprised at myself: I got knocked back from Sassafras Lass, GCD Studios AND I totally blew my interview for a new position within our company, but I am still in a good mood and worry more about my next crochet project rather than being upset. 

And here is a card I created for the current challenge over at {{Kenny's Krafty Girlz}} where the theme calls for ribbons, lace and bows.

I am so in love with this month's Freebie...another thing that makes me happy just looking at it :)

And clever me, I made use of my {{March Kit}} for the card, which means I now have my total goal for the cards achieved for this month. Now to focus on the remaining three layouts :)))

Luv Ya

Can you feel the love already this month? I sure can and with all the fun challenges everywhere based on the theme of Valentine's day you cannot help feeling happy and giddy :)

So, I got stuck in straight away and created a wee tag, which will adorn a little gift for Mr P (he doesn't read my blog so I am safe to show you...).

I made use of the FREEbie for February from {{KennyK}} and enter the tag in the recent {{Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge #31}}

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Tag: unknown ** Papers: October Afternoon ** Journaling Tag: Cosmo Cricket ** Digi Stamp: Kenny K ** Stickers: Jenni Bowlin ** Pens: ProMarkers ** Other: Twine, Chipboard Heart, Flowers, Bling

And then there is the Valentine's Crop over at my favourite forum of them all {{Noel Mignon}}. There are daily challenges and fun games - and of course prizes galore!

This set of Love Hearts was created last night (and when I say night I mean NIGHT) following the fantastic tutorial from {{Diana}}

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Papers, Brad: Upsy Daisy Designs

Tell me, are you feeling the love???

Style Challenge #10 - Bling it up

How fitting is this weeks challenge over at the {{Some Odd Girl blog}}? We are asking you to bling it up - how very Christmassy, right?

Check out the deeds on the blog and see what the other Designers created for this challenge. I had to go with a tag still, as the cards are just not coming (and as a side-note: I officially suck at knitting now too...over the last two months I knitted one long jumper and one cardigan and both looked totally crap. Maybe I should just stick to layouts these days)

I made use of the {{Penguin Friends}}, some glitter glue, cosmic shimmer and rhinestones to bling up my tag.

** click on image to enlarge **

Don't forget there is also the {{Tiny Contest}} running at Some Odd Girl, as well as their recent {{DT Call}}. My term comes to an end and I would love to see many familiar faces going for this gig (it is so much fun!!!). Get you submissions in and if you want to show Kristy what you can do with her images but don't have one at hand - you can download the uber-cute December Freebie {{here}}

Have a Cool Yule

I "borrowed" the idea for the title for my tag (in combination with the image) from crazeeeee SOG DT Coordinator {{Leah}}. I *wubs* her because she is as mad as they come - in a good way...and she makes up words as she goes along, like "frackin'" or "lulz". How can you not feel connected to a girl like that, hu?

Anyhoo - I took {{Penguin Love}} and created this fun tag for the recent {{Allsorts Challenge #82}}. As you can see the card-mojo is still away on vacation somewhere else but the tags and layouts are at least still happening.
** click on image to enlarge **

Have a fabulous week ahead everyone

Deer To Me

If you haven't been over and downloaded Decembers {{FREEbie}} from {{Some Odd Girl}}, then you should  go over there right now....Deery is sooooooooooo cute - she may become one of my fave downloads ever!

** click on image to enlarge **

Ingredients:

Cardstock: Staples ** Paper: Rusty Pickle ** Stickers - Making Memories ** Twine:  Supply Owl ** Pens:  ProMarker, Zig Millenium ** Other: Cosmic Shimmer, Walnut Spray, Pearls, Bling ** Digital Stamp: Some Odd Girl

I am entering this tag into the recent {{One Stop Craft Challenge}}, where the theme is Coffee or Tea. My colour scheme for the image and the tag is brown - just as I like my coffee and tea. Well, I  know I have been taken artistic licence but isn't that what our craft is all about? 

Have great week ahead!

Thank you very much...

You must have been living on Mars if you don't know by now that I have lost my ability to create cards. This total blackout even stretched as far as not being able to colour images anymore...

I know - shocking!

I am still not back into the swing of things but have found that if I do tags, my creativity seems to show her face for a short while. At least it was enough today to create this tag for the recent {{Allsorts Challenge #80}} - Monochromatics.

Excuse the colours in the photo - even thought they don't look it, I can guarantee you that ALL of them (bar the white cardstock to host the sentiment) are in fact some form of lilac/purple.

I made use of the current {{FREEBIE}} at {{Some Odd Girl}} - if you wanna grab yourself a piece of turkey, you better be quick as this one will only be available for one more day!

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Hmpfh

< whine-mode-on >

Well, the card-mojo still has not returned - yes, I did create the below card but I am still not happy. Not happy at all. It took me two days to get this far but in the process two other attempts again were ripped up and thrown in the bin. 

That is not good news.

I tried everything - knitting, eating, sleeping, reading but to no avail - I crank out layouts and minibooks like it's going out of style tomorrow but cards? They hate me right now *sigh*

< whine-mode-off >

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Ingredients:

Cardstock: Papermill ** Papers: Imaginisce ** Digital Image and Sentiment: Some Odd Girl ** Brads: Imaginisce ** Pens: ProMarkers ** Tools: Making Memories Edge Distresser; Martha Stewart Border Punch ** Other: Embroidery Floss; Pearls; Bling; Distress Ink

By the way: {{Snow Kitty}} is available in the 99c sale right now :))

Challenges entered:

CPS Sketches #194

Crazy 4 Challenges #64

Before I forget - Have you heard about the {{Some Odd Girl}} Hol-ODD-day blog hop?

Click on the image at the top right hand side of my blog sidebar to get the deets. You can be part of it and have ODDles of fun with us :))

SOG - Style Challenge #9 - Windows

I am so glad I created my card for the recent {{Some Odd Girl}} challenge before my mojo-slump, because I actually think this is one of my better ones. I made use of the super cute {{Snowman}} image - I *heart* him

This week we are challenging you to create a window card - get all the deeds {{here}}. You don't have to take the theme literally like me and create a "proper" window complete with curtains....as long as we can see the inside of your card through an opening, it will count.

Oh and yesterday I had some exciting news {{here}} - I was blown away that the layouts I showed you {{here}} were considered good enough to make it to the final audition list. I mean, did you SEE all the names on there? It oozes lushness and I am already incredibly happy to have come that far. If my name is not on the list of the chosen team tomorrow, I am not going to be sad or upset but remain grateful that the judges liked my work enough to put my name forward.

I totally suck....

...at making cards these days.

Honestly, this is not a post to generate comments to pick me back up - neither is this meant as a pity party. I just have to face up to the fact that my cards are anything but great lately. I am truly "carded" out.

Why? I have no idea as I enjoy making cards but recently I started to dread them - it takes me on average THREE full days to make one card. I used to be able to create them in three hours for crying out loud and now the first two attempts generally end up in the bin.

The mean thing is that I really WANT to create cards, especially when I see gorgeousness like {{this}} or {{this}} - how can you not want to do something similar? But then I just sit their surrounded by my stash and end up looking at it in contempt.

Look, look - this is the only thing I could come up with for an over 70 year old dude for his birthday....that is not even cool for a 7 year old...

Cardstock: Bazzill ** Papers: Imaginisce ** Stickers: October Afternoon ** Punch: Fiskars ** Bling: Kaisercraft

And the next one just feels like there is something missing - this is my third attempt at a holiday card and I am still not happy. Maybe I just have the November blues...hmmm

Cardstock: Papermill ** Papers: Imaginisce ** Sticker: Cosmo Cricket ** Digital Stamp: Some Odd Girl ** Pens: ProMarker

Regardless, the holiday card will be entered into the following two challenges:

Get Sketchy #64 - Sketch

Creative Inspirations #47 - Anything Christmas/Winter

Tell me, what do you guys do when you are unhappy with about every single card yo create? I really appreciate any suggestions you may have for me.

Stash Challenge #9 - Backgrounds

Today is challenge day over at the {{ Some Odd Girl Challenge Blog }} again - AND if that wasn't excitement enough, it is yours truly who posed this weeks theme (yay, me).

Hop over to the blog and play along with us - to the theme of backgrounds. You know that the winner receives a FREE image of their choice from the shop and the top two favourite cards win loyalty points (which in return can be exchanged for FREE images, if enough points are collected).

I chose {{ Chilly Penguin }} from the upcoming winter release to create this chilly card :)

Oh and just to whet your appetite - THIS is the new release...I truly love all the images and have been shopping like mad already. I know it's mean to rub your noses in it, but only five more sleeps and you can own these beauties too

Happy Halloween

Halloween [older spelling: Hallowe'en]:

Shortened from All-hallow-even, as it is the evening before “All Hallows’ Day” (also known as “All Saints’ Day”)

******************************************

Aren't you glad you asked?

Now that we got all the boo-ya stuff out of the way, let's carry on with some craftyness:))

Last week I managed to complete two more layouts with my {{October Kit}}, which brings my total to six layouts. I struggled a little with this Kit as orange is not really my favoured colour when it comes to crafting - so I was glad that one of the Prima papers had a pink pattern on the back *phew*.

**click on any of the images to enlarge the view**

Ingredients:

Papers: Prima Marketing ** Stickers: Making Memories, Jenni Bowlin ** Tag: Rusty Pickle ** Button: My Little Bit Of Whimsey ** Other: Embroidery Floss; Flatbacked Pearls; Vintage Bookpage

Ingredients:

Papers: Sassafras Lass; Rose Mokka; Graphic 45 ** Stickers: Making Memories, Sassafras Lass ** Button: Cosmo Cricket ** Rub Ons: Kaisercraft ** Other: Masking Tape; Flatbacked Pearls; Alpha Beads; Punchinella: Uniball Signo Pens

So - that is my October Kit done with and I am already excited to get cracking on my November Kit...blue hues that suit me much more than orange.

Before I go, I have also created a card for the recent {{Card Patterns}} sketch - using an image from the upcoming November release of {{Some Odd Girl}}. 

I  love the Elf...she has some sort of a Bavarian feel about her, no?

Ingredients:

Cardstock: Papermill ** Papers: Upsy Daisy Designs ** Digital Stamp: Some Odd Girl ** Rubber Stamp: Stampin' Up ** Pens: ProMarkers; Uniball Signo; Asda Glitter Pens ** Other: Cosmic Shimmer; Embroidery Floss; Masking Tape; Flatbacked Pearls.

I was really glad that I still had my glitter gel pens from Asda, as they enabled me to just trace the outlines of parts of the image, which I wanted to highlight.

Not too bad, hu? I can see a few more glitterfied cards coming on soon :)

Have a spooctacular day

Boo to you

I had quite a creative weekend (despite a migraine tentatively knocking, but I killed her off with some monster pain killers) - got all my UDD DT assignments for November AND December done and the jumper for Mr P is as good as finished.

But that wasn't all - I even managed to get some more cards done, just for fun. Of course at this time of year there will still be the odd Halloween card showing up. Considering that we don't celebrate it, I am amazed at myself that I continue to do some more cards :).

Making use of {{ Bat Toby }} of the latest {{ Some Odd Girl }} image release and some paper scraps from {{ Upsy Daisy Designs }}, I am pretty pleased how this card turned out (even though I am not all too keen on how I coloured the hair)

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Ingredients:

Cardstock: Papermill ** Papers: Upsy Daisy Designs - #AVA012. Extreme, #ND015. Inspire, #ND011. Believe ** Stamp: my StampBOX ** Digi Stamp: Some Odd Girl ** Tools: ProMarkers, Uniball Signo Pens

Challenges entered:

Allsorts #75 - Stripes and Dots

C4C #60 - Halloween

Totally Paper Crafts #39 - Include a number

Yum....

...yum indeed - the weather today so far has been amazing. Thankfully I had a day off work and we just went a for walk about an hour ago and it was BOILING out there. Most peeps were running around in skimpy T-shirts and shorts - weirdness, but still yummy.

AND after ten years of living on the Isle of Wight, which is home to the {{ Red Squirrel }}, I actually saw my first one (yup, as in the first one in ten friggin' years) today. 

This, by the way, is the my signature stance when I am walking in the woods - look up into the trees to hope to see one of those ginger critters

** click on any of the pictures if you want to view them enlarged **

It seemed as per usual, that I would be unlucky - if Mr P goes out walking, he a squirrels following him by the truckload. I go out and they hide...furry buggers. All of a sudden, there was movement in the trees and one of the lil blighters showed itself to me.

Whaddaya mean, you can't see it...it's there >>>> on the right hand side of the tree trunk:

I thought it was so funny that the squirrel kept looking at us - it kept hiding behind the trunk, but sticking its head around once in a while to check if we were still there. Naturally I had to celebrate my first Reddie in a very adult fashion,but swinging off a tree...surely everyone does that, no?

Okay, maybe it is just me who does that then...oh well - not the first time I made myself look totally stupid. I bet that gave the squirrels a right old belly laugh and next time they are gonna take pictures of me :))

But I digress, actually I wanted to show some layouts I already created with {{ my October Kit }}. Who would have thought that I embrace the colour orange so much? Not everyone knows but orange is the one colour that has me running scared when I have to use it...not that you could tell here.

Last but by no means least, here is a very differently shaped card. I printed the enlarged image of  {{ Cold Kaylee }} onto plain white card stock, folded it over and cut along her outlines. This card is a whooping 8" tall and was quite a challenge to colour. I have to admit that I am not too happy with the colouring of the eyes - somehow I messed that one up, but the rest - I really like!

Entered into the following challenges:
Allsorts #73 - Take inspiration from a song - "Baby It's Cold Outside"
Crazy 4 Challenges #58 - Birthday
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #71 - Shaped card
Fab'n'Funky #43 - Digi Image
Penny's Paper Crafty #39 - Circles - well, the bling and buttons on her coat are deffo circles :)