Just Magnolia Challenge - Hearts and Flowers

Well its been a very busy week for me, and I just hope it never happens again, I felt a bit like a conveyor belt, but never mind I suppose I ought to be happy that is now over and I can take a bit of a rest. Monday is Challenge three for Cards for Men so I do hope that you will all take part in this and of course visit my DT team members to see their work on Monday morning, my card will also be posted then as well.

This weeks Just Magnolia Challenge is "Hearts and Flowers, and Ive used two of last years Love stamps, I stamped the Tilda image onto white card then masked her before stamping the heart, I notice I didnt quite get it straight hope you wont mind to much about that. Anyway Ive coloured my image with my copic pens then punched it out with my Label Nestabilitie die, I then drew around the die to create the mount for it, the sentiment is one of Hobby Arts and Ive done exactly the same with this as I did with the image.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, onto which I have layered up one of 5 designs from the new Butterfly Kisses Collection from Nitwit Downloads, the first one is a lovely all over patchwork design mounted on pink pearlescent card. The second and third layers are similar designs of hearts and dots, one in green and the other pink, these were punched along the edge with my new looped heart punch from Martha Stewart, and then stuck beneath the fourth mount, this one is a green one with hearts all over this one was mounted onto green card, and the fifth mount is dark pink card with an opposite colour design to the green one but in pink, around the middle I have stuck a pink ribbon with the word Love on it, this was then stuck across the card.

Ive then mounted my image in the centre with the sentiment at the bottom to the right hand side, I punched out two hearts from pearlescent card in two shades of pink and stuck them at the top on the right. The last thing is the flower arrangement thats been made from three roses and four cherry blossoms, wired together, after which Ive sprayed it with some silver glitter from Crafters Companion, and attached it to the top on the left hand side. 

One Card for Two Challenges

Todays card has been created for two Challenges, Mo's "All Grey" and Cute Card Thursday Challenge "Flowers" and felt using this image from Mo was easy to cover the all grey challenge, as most nuns are dressed in one colour, and I should know having spent many years as a young girl attending an all girls Convent School in Lewisham in the 50's. And yes the nuns could be like this and fun as well, they werent serious all the time.

Ive printed this image onto white card and then coloured it with my copic pens, after which I used one of my Nestabilitie label dies to cut it out then I drew around the edge of the largest one onto grey card to create a mount for it. The sentiment is one of Hampton Art stamps and felt it was appropriate for this image, Ive done exactly the same with this as I did with the image.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card with a first layer of grey card, and one of four papers from my Nitwit downloads, this first paper is an all over grey design, and for the second, third and fourth layers are all different check designs with one of my deep edged flower border punches from Martha Stewart. These were then stuck down the card with a piece of lace stuck to the centre of this.

I then positioned my image in the centre and my sentiment to the bottom right hand side. To finish of Ive created two flowers from some of the left over paper, with a grey brad and flower spacer through the centres they were then stuck to the card either side of my image with some silicone glue and some punched out grey leaves positioned underneath them.

"A Dogs Life" - Sarahs second CD

Im so glad that many of you liked the card from Sarahs new CD yesterday "Cats Whiskers", that I thought you might like to see one from the companion CD "A Dogs Life". I have chosen a boxer looking very worrying at his master knowing that hes going away and wondering if hes going to, my eldest daughter had a couple of boxers and they do have such lovely characters and Sarah has caught the expression of this dog perfectly. On this CD there are Yorkies, Pugs, Jack Russell, Dalmation, Labrador/Setter, Bassett Hound, Shitz zu and of course this appealing Boxer.

I have printed the main topper on some photo paper cut it out and mounted it onto gold and green mirri board picking the colours up in the backing papers. I then printed a backing paper onto acetate and card to create the main card, I also created a insert in My Craft Studio and fixed them altogether with some green satin ribbon that I have threaded through all pieces together.

I also printed one of the ribbon strips and stuck it to the card under the acetate on the opening edge, and stuck the topper on top of the acetate wrapper and popped a peeling underneath.

I will print more of the samples nearer the time to Sarahs preview program which is due to go to air on the 14th February on Create and Craft, she has another program on there this Sunday, once again selling her new "Yesteryears Floral Vase Edition" at 11am, if you missed her preview program two weeks ago you will be able to catch up with her this coming Sunday.

Sarah's new Cd "Cats Whiskers"

Good Morning ladies, sorry Ive not been around for a few days but Im really busy at the moment creating cards for my friend Sarahs brand new double cd pack Cats Whiskers and A Dogs Life, and thought you might like to see my first cat card, as I worried you might consider that Im not to well, but Im ok though a bit stressed at trying to get so many samples done, altogether is about 12 cards, and so far this is my number 7 though one of the dog cards didnt quite turn out as well as I had hoped so its possible I might have to remake that one.

Anyway these new cds are gorgeous, Sarah has created some beautiful images all her own work, she really is a very talented lady, this one is a gorgeous long haired white kitten with markings on its face. Ive printed one of the backing papers that goes with this design onto pearlescent card, then created with a tutorial a tri fold shutter card, then printed a verse onto a piece of pale blue pearlescent paper for the inside leaf, and also printed two of the toppers for the two outside leaves, these were mounted onto silver mirri board and then a piece of the same blue pearlescent paper before being stuck to them.

The two outside edges have been edged with two of the ribbon strips from the tags and ribbon designs, and my sentiment was printed from one I created on my computer, then also mounted up in the same way as the mounts.

I will post some more of the designs as I go along, the new cds will be previewed on the 14th February on Create and Craft, I havent got a time yet as these cds are still very new.

"Love You" Card

Todays card has beeen created for this weeks Just Magnolia challenge, which is a sketch, and Ive called it the "Love You" card for a reason, in our family whenever we say goodbye to any of the family, we always say "love you" and the other will repeat it back to you, its such a lovely way of letting each other know that we love them and I felt it was appropriate for this card, as Tilda has a basket of hearts in her hand, its from the new Hanging from the Ceiling stamp set, I had it in my Club stamp kit. Ive coloured her with my copic pens then cut her out with my rotatrim and mounted her onto a piece of blue card.

My base card is a 7"x 7" white card, with a first layer of dark blue card, and onto this I have layered up one of three papers that I printed from the new Toadally Yours Collection from Nitwit Downloads, its all pretty papers with hearts and leaves on, this first one has a mixture of pink, blue, green and yellow hearts on, the second layer is a blue paper with the same colours on but this time in a leaf spray pattern and Ive cut it in a strip and used my new doily Valentine hearts border punch on the two edges, Ive done the same with the third layer, this one is a patchwork pattern of the papers from this collection. Over these I have stuck a pink heart ribbon across the centre.

Ive then positioned my mounted image to the left hand side in the centre and my stamped sentiment to the bottom on the right. I then created five daisy flowers with my daisy punch from Martha Stewart and stuck some yellow centres in them after which I popped some yellow stickles in the middle, before sticking them to my card down the side of the mounted image Ive arranged some punched out fern leaves and popped the flowers on top.

The last thing Ive done is punched out a couple of the large hearts and then stuck a heart gem in the centre of them.

Fairy Wishes

Good morning girls, todays card has been created for two challenges, firstly Mo's, and this has to been a combination of four colours bashful blue, white, amethyst and eggplant, and Cute Card Thursday, this one is for everything Fairy. Ive used this beautiful fairy by Mo, shes such a pretty little thing and Ive coloured her with my copic pens, and then used my Sakura glitter pen on the wings, stars and bubbles. After I punched her out with my Nestabilitie die and used it again on some lavender coloured pearlescent card and turned it around to mount them together. The sentiment is one that I had in my digi stash, and was printed out onto some white card and mounted onto the same coloured card.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, and onto this I have used a piece of the blue card, and one of five designs that I have printed from my Nitwit downloads, the first paper is a blue and white flower design and for the second mount on the same blue card another white and blue leaf design. For the third mount Ive punched out a circle from a eggplant coloured card, and mounted a similar colour paper with a small star pattern onto it. And the two strips of punched paper are in eggplant and amethyst and Ive used my new looped hearts border punch by Martha Stewart, then laid a piece of pale blue ribbon across the top this has little dark blue stars on it.

I then positioned my mounted image in the centre and my sentiment at the bottom on the right, after which I have created two flowers from some of my left over paper and mounted them onto some punched out leaves, I also hung a fairy charm from the bottom one. To finish of I have stuck some little amethyst starts on the circle mount.

I received a lovely Award from Gisela

I received this lovely award from Gisela yesterday, and as its a new one to me Im really delighted to receive it, as most of these come with conditions this one does also. I have to give you 10 things that give me pleasure and pass it on to 10 of my Sweet Friends, and thats the most difficult thing to do as I have so many lovely followers that I would like to pass it onto so forgive me if I leave your name out.

My Ten Loves that give me pleasure are - My Darling Husband

All My beautiful Daughters

My Gorgeous Grandchildren

My Dear Friends - and Followers

Blog Hopping and seeing your creations

My Crafting

Going Craft Shopping

My Garden

My Home

                                                             The Area where I Live

Here is the list of people I would like to pass the award onto, with my love

Lorraine -  http://coldwaters2.blogspot.com/

Avril - http://avrilannwatson46.blogspot.com/

Mandy - http://craftyfoxcards.blogspot.com/

Mandy - http://asprinklingofglitter.blogspot.com/

Kim - http://kimpiggott.blogspot.com/

Elma - http://elborgi.blogspot.com/

Christine - http://nanaseaside.blogspot.com/

Lyn - http://spyder-spyderscorner.blogspot.com/

Denise - http://stampingvacation.blogspot.com/

Melodie - http://melodies-kreativeck.blogspot.com/

  Thank you girls for all your loyal following and I hope that you will accept this award and pass it onto a further ten sweet people. With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxxxxxxxx

Another Card for Two Challenges

Hi everyone, well its a lovely day so far, it looks as though most of the icy patches have melted and we might decide to go for a walk this afternoon as it seems a shame to waste it.

Todays card has been created again for two challenges, the Just Magnolia Thank You Card, and the Stampin for the Weekend Sketch Challenge. Ive used this new stamp from my club stamp set, and after stamping her onto white card Ive coloured her with my copic pens, then I punched her out with my circle Nestabilitie, and I then did a scalloped one from green pearlescent card for the mount, and before sticking them together I have used a pale green inkpad and distressed the edge. The sentiment is one of my crafty stash ones and this was done in the same way as the stamped image.

For my base card Ive used a 7.25"x 7.25" white card, and for my first layer Ive used a yellow card with one of three papers that Ive used from my Nitwit Downloads, this one is a pretty daisy flower one, and for my second layer Ive used a green paper with spots on a piece of green card, then for the third layer Ive used a yellow check on a piece of yellow card. All these had their corners punched of to just give them a different look.

The mounted stamped image was then stuck to the right hand side, with the sentiment positioned in the middle under it. To finish of I have used a rose and two open flowers for a spray, and before stick them to my card, Ive sprayed it with a silver sparkle spray from Crafters Companion, and some green stickels on the stamens of the open flowers, and the last thing was the three pearls that I positioned down the yellow strip, amd a couple of punched out flourishes at the top.

A Card for Two Challenges - Mo's and Cute Card Thursday

Good Morning Ladies, well the snow has almost gone and its raining so hopefully by the end of the weekend it will have all dissappeared, keep your fingers crossed as I suspect most of you like me are really fed up with it.
Todays card has been created for two challenges, Mo's Sketch and Cute Card Thursday they want Pink and Grey, so I think that this card will cover both of them. Ive used this lovely teenager from Mo for my card and Im actually making it for my eldest granddaughter, she will be 15 this year, and like most teenagers she looks amazing like the image so I felt it was exactly what I needed to create this card. Ive printed her out onto a piece of white card and coloured her with my copic pens, after which I used my oval Nestabilitie die to cut her out, now you might be asking how did I get her right leg to hang over the edge, I cut this out first then popped my die under the cut out bit and then ran it through my cuttlebug. The scalloped oval as also punched out and I mounted them to together with some foam tape. The sentiment is also done in the same way.
My base card is a 8"x 8" white card with a first layer of grey card, with one of four designs I picked from one of the Nitwit Downloads I have, sorry I carnt remember which one Ive used for this card, anyway the first layer is a pink, green, grey and white strip one, which I have stuck to the grey card. The second and third layers have been cut in strips and with my daisy border punch Ive used down both sides theyve been stuck down the left hand side, over this I have stuck my last mount a pink strip with another pretty pink patterned paper stuck on across the bottom, but I did put a pink ribbon across this as well.
After I did this I positioned my mounted image to the right handside and my sentiment to the bottom left, then punched out some flourishes and stuck the to the top on the left with some pink pearls scattered amoung the swirls. To finish of Ive created two flowers from some of the left over paper and popped pink pearl brads through the centres with some silver flower spacers, from the bottom one Ive hung a heart charm. Before fixing them to my card I punched out some leaves and arranged them in a circle the positioned my flowers on top.

Sample No.6 for Sarah

Well good news first today, I received my parcel yesterday at long last, and guess what the snow is begining to thaw, thank God, Im so fed up with it, it will be nice to be able to see the ground again, Im sure the birds also will be glad to get to the grass as well.

Well todays card is the final sample that I will showing you of Sarah Samples from her new Cd Yesteryears Floral Vase Edition, this one is the forget-me-not design, and Ive created a folded back front, and to do this required me to print both sides of the A4 Icepearl pearlescent card with one of the backing paper designs, I also used another piece to create the front page but this time I cut it half and stuck it behind the folded back front. I did stick the two folded back pieces down so they didnt pop up when I stuck the beautiful topper over the fold.

The topper is printed out onto a piece semi gloss photo paper after that I cut it out and mounted it onto a piece of blue pearlescent card. The sentiment is one I created on my computer and this was also mounted on a piece of blue card and stuck to the bottom on the right hand side of the front. To finish of Ive punched out some flourishes from some of the left over blue card and stuck them at the top on the right side. I also printed a insert for the insde of the card from the same design set.

I sincerely hope you will be watching Sarah on Sunday at 12noon on Create and Craft, Im sure you will be thrilled at seeing what else is on the Cd.

Sample No.5 for Sarah - Daisies

Thank you so much for all the lovely comments that youve been leaving me for the Samples Ive been making for Sarah, the toppers really are lovely and stand out really well, this one especially. As I said they are all based around beautiful vases and this one is no exception, Ive used a blue daisy flower for this one. I printed the topper out onto semi gloss photo paper then cut it out around the scalloped edge, after which I mounted it onto a piece of gold mirri board and punched the corners to help it blend in with the topper. The sentiment tag is a piece of white card on which I have stamped a greeting and then punched it out with my oval nestabilitie die, and mounted it up onto scalloped die cut punched from some more of the gold mirri board, I then just run my gold pen around the edge of the oval to finish it of.

For the base card again I used the icepearl pearlescent card and printed one of the background designs on to it, folded it into a A5 size and with some gold mirri paper I punched out a lace edge with one of the new deep edged Martha Stewart border punches and attached it to the opening edge. To hid the edge Ive used one of the ribbon strip designs from Sarahs Cd and positioned it over the two edges, I also printed that on the same icepearl card. I should say that I also printed an insert from the same cd and popped that inside, all her design sets have backing papers, inserts, toppers, and she has lots of alternatives as well, like twisted pyramarge, and that sort of thing, its a really comprehesive Cd with lots of beautiful designs on, Ive only used a fraction of them, but Im know you would be delighted with it, if you decide to buy it yourself. Sarah has her own website http://www.spanglefish.com/peerlessdesigns/ were you can buy her beautiful cds, and guess what she doesnt charge postage and packing.

Another quick thing my parcel still hasnt turned up, luckily its not craft goodies, its Microsoft Word program that Im waiting for, I carnt validate the download we installed until it arrives, and god knows when thats going to be, as its foggy outside today and still thick snow.

Sample No.4 for Sarah

As I promised last week here is the one of the last three samples that I have created with Sarah Hallams new Cd Yesteryears Floral Vase Edition from http://www.spanglefish.com/peerlessdesigns/ . Sarah will be previewing this new Cd on Sunday at 12noon on Create and Craft.

I created today card with the beautiful Rose design, the topper was a heart shape so I cut it out completely and mounted it onto a piece of dark pink pearlescent card and cut around it freehand and used a piece of foam tape them stick together. The tag was also printed from the embellishment sheet and I then used a stamp to put the sentiment on it, I cut this out and mounted this also onto another piece of the same pink card, punched a hole through and threaded a piece of pink ribbon through it.

The main card is another piece of Icepearl card, which I have put through my printer and printed both side with a gorgeous backing paper design of Sarahs, and then created a stubby diamond card by using the measurements I found in one of my magazines.

I then stuck my mounted heart topper on the diamond shape at the top, and the sentiment tag at the bottom. To finish of Ive popped a large pink bow above the topper at the top.

We are back to being snowed in again, it came down quite thickly last night, and its getting to be a real pain, as Ive been waiting for a parcel to be delivered by UPS since last Wednesday and they keep putting on their van to be delivered and not quite reaching us, its quite funny as the post is getting through but obviously they carnt.

Mo Mannings Challenge - "Birthday"

Todays card has been created for this weeks Mo's Challenge "Birthday", Ive made this card for one of our granddaughters as she is one in April I thought that this image was right for her. Ive printed this digi image onto white card and coloured her with my copic pens, I then cut it out with one of the Nestabilitie label dies, I also used the same die on some pink pearlescent card for the mount, before sticking them together at an angle Ive used a pink inkpad around the edges of the main image. The sentiment is one I created and printed from my computer and this was also mounted in the same way as the main image.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card with a first layer of pink pearlescent card with one of four papers Ive printed from the Nitwit Downloads this one is called Cherry Blossoms, and the first paper is one of a pretty design with pink and white flowers with green background. the second layer is a pink and white check, and Ive used a Pansy Martha Stewart border punch, this is a new one and is so pretty, Ive also used the same punch on the third and forth layers, these were stuck down the centre of my base layer, over the top Ive stuck a lace strip and stuck it to the back of the first layer.

The mounted image was then stuck to the centre of this and my sentiment strip was positioned at the bottom on the right hand side. To finish of Ive created a flower with some of the left over paper then Ive put a pink pearl brad through the centre of a silver mount and then hung a princess charm from the back, I then stuck my flower onto the card at the top on the left by firstly using some punched out leaves which have been arranged in a circle and then my flower was put on top of this.

One Card for Two Challenges - Just Magnolia and Cute Card Thursday

Todays card has been created for two Challenges, Just Magnolia, "Pleating" and Cute Card Thursday, "New"  now Ive taken a bit of a liberty with this one but I think its still ok, as its a new stamp from the Magnolia Stamp Club, and a new method for me anyway, paper Pleating, mind you Im not sure whether its easier with paper than with material as I got in a right old state, but I hope you like the end result.

The main image is Tilda sitting and guess what she has high heels on, like many of you Im not sure Im really in favour of our Tilda growing up quite so fast, anyway Ive masked her and sat her on the stool with the piano behind her, then popped the candlestick on the lid. I then coloured her with my copic pens after which Ive used a pink inkpad to distress the edges and mounted her onto a piece of beige pearlescent card. The sentiment is one that I have in my stash and this was finished in the same way as my stamped image.

My base card is a 8"x 8" white card with a first layer of beige pearlescent card, and one of four papers that Ive used from the "Just a Note" nitwit downloads, this one has a load of notes and musical things over it,  for my second layer Ive used a check patterned paper and with one of my Martha Stewart border punched down both edges and stuck this on top of my base layer. The third layer is a piece of pink pearlescent card with the third of my papers a sentiment one this time, after which Ive used my sewing machine on it.

The fourth paper was scored and folded into pleats then I cut it into strips and stuck them onto a piece of double sided tape to keep them together while I trimmed up the bottom and stitched a line on my sewing machine to keep them in place. I then stuck this to the underneath of the third layer, over which Ive stuck a piece of check ribbon.

Ive then positioned my stamped mounted image in the centre with the sentiment across the bottom. To finish of Ive made up a bower of roses and babies breathe and stuck them to the left handside top corner.

A Third Sample for Sarah

Good morning everyone, thank you so much for the lovely comments youve been making about Sarahs designs, they are so lovely and so easy to use, this is the last sample for now and I will post the last three towards the end of next week, as her preview show is on Sunday week, the 17th January at 12 noon.

Todays card has been created from the Daisy design, most of the main designs are created around beautiful vases, and for this card Ive actually used one of them, I printed the main topper onto semi-gloss photo paper then I cut it out by hand after which I mounted it onto a piece of gold mirri card that I had punched out with my scalloped Nestabilitie oval die. The sentiment was one I created on my computer then printed it out and mounted it in the same way as the main topper.

The card itself is another A4 piece of white ice pearl pearlesecent card that I put through my computer on which I printed a gorgeous backing paper design, I then also printed the same design onto a piece of vellum, then attached them together with some yellow organza ribbon by punching two holes along the fold line.

I then used one of the deep border punches, the lace strip on a piece of gold vellum which I then stuck to the main card under the vellum down the front  in the centre.

To finish of I have stuck my mounted image onto the front of the vellum with the sentiment underneath it in the centre. With some left over paper I also created a daisy flower and with some punched out leaves it was stuck to the top of the card on the left.

A second sample for Sarah

Hi everyone, hope the weather isnt as cold with you as it was with us last night, and I gather from my hubby its just as bad this morning, hes just been and posted a parcel for me and  he said that the cold stung his face, Im not looking forward to my trip out later, it does seem strange as the sun is out, but obviously not doing much to warm things up.

My second sample for Sarah today is another of the designs from her new cd Yesteryears Floral Vase Edition, this one is Lillies, Ive printed the sheet of toppers and cut out two small ones and one large one, and mounted them onto gold mirri board, Ive also printed a greeting from my computer and mounted this also onto a piece of gold mirri board.

My base card is a piece of A4 ice-pearl pearlescent card, and Ive printed the beautiful background design straight onto the card, then folded it half into a A5 size card, then across the middle Ive put a piece of pearlescent vellum and used my Martha Stewart border punch along both the edges to create a strip which has been stuck across the middle with a wide organza ribbon bound along the centre. And my three mounted pictures have been positioned across the middle on top of it. The greeting was then positioned at the bottom on the right handside.

Sarahs New CD and 1st Sample

As I promised yesterday Ive posted my first sample for my dear friend Sarah Hallam of http://www.spanglefish.com/peerlessdesigns/ from her brand new Cd, as you can see its  called Yesteryears Floral Vase Edition, it has some really beautiful designs which incorporate, toppers, decoupage, backing papers, embellishments, scrapbook pages etc, they will give such pleasure to use. Sarah is previewing this Cd on Sunday 17th January at 12 noon on Create and Craft, I sincerely hope that you will be supporting her on that day.

For my first sample I used a pansy design, I printed the main topper onto a piece of semi-gloss photo paper and mounted it onto a piece of mauve pearlescent card. I also printed one of the sentiments from the cd and cut it out and mounted this onto a piece of the same mauve card.

The base card is a 8"x 8" card white card, and for the first layer Ive used the same mauve pearlescent card, and on top of this I have layered up one of the beautiful backing papers that come with the pansy design, but Ive printed it onto a piece of icepearl pearlescent card, and Im really pleased with the result. The band across the centre was a piece of the same mauve card but Ive cut both edges with one of the new deep edged Martha Stewart Border punches, and before sticking it to my card Ive wrapped a piece of mauve ribbon around it and stuck it to the back, and then positioned it in the centre of my base card.

Ive then stuck my main image in the centre and the greeting was stuck to the bottom on the right hand side, and to finish of Ive greated a flower from some of the left over paper and popped a pearl brad and spacer through the centre, and before sticking it to my card, Ive punched out some leaves and stuck them in a circle on top of which I have put my flower.

Oh No More Snow

Morning Everyone, I some how think that many of you are experiencing the same weather that I am, SNOW, Im so glad that we went and did our big shop yesterday in Cardiff, which is about 45 miles away. Now you might be asking why go so far, well I live in a small town in the middle of the Forest of Dean and to get a good selection you have to travel quite away to find a decent supermarket, so we go once a month and do a big shop. So you can image Im so relieved we did ours yesterday.

Ive got a couple of pieces of brilliant news for you, the first one is Ive been invited to be a Guest Designer for "Stampin for the Weekend" Challenge Site, for the month of February, and I was so thrilled at being asked by such talented ladies to join their team that I said yes, thank you so much girls I hope that I will do you proud. And the second piece of news is that in the next few days I will be posting my samples for my dear friend Sarah Hallam of Peerless Designs, for her brand new Cd which will be previewed on Create and Craft on Sunday the 17th January at 12noon, so I sincerely hope that you will enjoy looking at them.

And the last thing is Im so glad that I bought a smile to many faces over my last posted card, its not often that I make cards like that, and some of you seem a bit nervous in making them, I should say that I also take care that when I do send them out that the person receiving it wont be upset at getting them.

Take care all of you, try not to go out with love and huge hugs Shirleyxxxxxxx

A Birthday Card for a Man

Good Morning everyone, I sincerely hope that you arnt suffering to much from the cold weather, at the moment we seem to be escaping the snow but we've had a few very hard frosts in the morning and thats certainly made if cold outside.

I thought for a change from a stamped image I would create a card for a friend whos birthday is next month, something a little cheeky. And this one is created from one of Joanna Sheens Cds, this image is from Animal Antics, and Ive used this Gorilla as my main topper, Ive printed him out onto a piece of semi-gloss photo paper then cut him out and mounted him onto a piece of brown pearlescent card then a piece of gold. The greeting was one I created on my computer and printed it out and mounted it in the same way as my image.

For my base card Ive used an 8"x 8" white card, with my first layer being a piece of gold mirri card, and on top of this I have used a further piece of the same brown pearlescent card but I had to cut it half to put through my cuttlebug with an embossing folder, then Ive stuck them together with a piece of check ribbon across the join, on top of the gold mirri card.

Ive then stuck my photo image in the centre and my greeting to the right hand side at the bottom, to finish of Ive printed a speech bubble with a cheeky saying in it, hopefully to give it a bit of a lift, I just hope the person receiving it will enjoy it.

Winner of Donna's Blogcandy

And the winner by Random Org, is the Number 9 and that means that Julyeb of  http://julyebs.blogspot.com/ is the winner of this blogcandy, and if you would like to contact Donna by email to blogcandy@donnasden.co.uk with your address she will pop the stickers into the post for you. Congratulations on your win.
Dont forget to keep visiting http://donnasdenofcrafts.blogspot.com/ daily for a chance to win one of her fabulous daily blogcandy.
With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxxxxxxxx

One Card for Two Challenges - Mo's and Cute Card Thursday Challenge

This card is to cover two Challenges the first one is Mo's Challenge, "New Beginnings" and the other is the Cute Card Thursday Challenge, "Sketchtastic". Ive used one of Mo's freebie images for this one, as it clearly shows Bella and Bronte enjoying the New Year, and the card was made up using the sketch from the Cute Card Thursday Challenge. Ive printed the image out onto white card and coloured it with my copic pens, after which I have cut it out with my rotatrim and used a pink inkpad to distress the edges, and then mounted it onto a piece of pink pearlescent card. The sentiment is one of Dovecraft ones and this was stamped also onto white card and then cut out and distressed again around the edge with the same pink inkpad and then mounted onto another piece of pink card.

The base card is a 8"x 8" white card, with a first layer of blue card, and one of three papers Ive used from the Bearly Mine Extreme Designs Cd, the first paper is a blue one with stars and explosions on which was stuck on a piece of blue card, and for the second mount Ive used a piece of pink card and a pink tartan patterned paper, this was positioned down the middle of the first layer, and for the third mount Ive used my last patterned paper a blue tartan design on another piece of blue card and this was stuck across the base layers towards the bottom.

Ive then stuck a lace strip around the card from top to bottom over the middle of the pink layer, this was attached at the back of the first layer, which was then stuck to my base card. Ive then positioned my mounted image onto my card towards the middle and my greeting was stuck to the right hand side at the bottom.

To finish of Ive created a flower from some of my left over paper, these were punched out with my punches, moulded with my ball tool and through the centre I have put a gem brad and a spacer, from this I have hung a teddy bear charm. Then Ive positioned a ring of different fern leaves before sticking my flower on top.

Cards For Men - Challenge Two - "New"

Happy New Year to you all, I hope youve had a Wonderful Christmas, mine was really lovely, I spent the day with my daughter and her four children, and its was really lovely and she cooked a really splendid meal.

Now for our Second Challenge here at Cards for Men, this one has to include anything to do with "New", new baby, new job, new beginings, new house, new car, anything you can possibly think of, but it must be for a man or a boy, anything masculine in fact.

My Design Team card is for New Year, and I was so lucky with my papers they were in the Creative Cardmaker magazine, and so Ive used two of the designs for this card, the stamped image is one of the Whiff of Joy stamps, this is Charlie and Ive stamped him onto white card and coloured him with my copic pens, after which I have cut him out with my large circle Nestabilitie die, and used the large Inverted Scalloped die for the mount. The sentiment was one of my stash stamps but this also has been mounted onto a piece of blue pearlescent card that Ive used all through making this card.

The base card is a 6"x 6" white card, and for my first layer Ive used a piece of blue pearlescent card, and the first of my papers, this has a firework pattern on, and then on top of this I have used a second pattern, this has the Auld Lang Syne song on, this I have also layered up onto a piece of the same blue card, and positioned it at a angle, and then on top Ive stuck my stamped mounted image.

To finish of Ive popped my sentiment at the bottom on the right, and stamped a small cheers stamped image at the top also mounted on a piece of scrap blue card. The last thing Ive done is used my gloss accents on the bubbles and the drink just to give it more glitz.

I sincerely hope that you will take part again in this second Challenge as I really enjoyed visiting all your wonderful creations, if you click on the link http://cardsformen.blogspot.com/ it will give you all the details and conditions of taking part.

Donna has also said that as she has had over 2000 hits on her Shop Blog http://donnasdenofcrafts.blogspot.com/ she will be giving away some daily blogcandy, its worth a visit to see what she has on offer for you.

Im also going to enter this card for the Stampin for the Weekend Challenge which is also running the theme "New".