Ali's ATC Swap Stop!

Cutting it a bit fine I know, but I've finally gotten around to making my ATCs for the swap! I wanted to make something Harvesty (...is that even a real word?!) and here they are.

The cute scarecrows are from a collection called Autumn Wishes from Scrappin' Doodles. They are double layered and mounted on coffee stirrer sticks! I added a few tiny gems to the sticks and the top left corners too.  I've embossed some brown and gold mirri-card, and layered them up with yellow. Some funky fibres in autumnal colours, a flower and card candy. And then, because I was determined to use my fab scarecrow felt alphabet clipart purchased from Crafty Stash, I added a fold-out panel to the back....

If you fancy joining in the ATC swap next month at Ali's ATC Swap Stop, just click the link, email me for details....everyone is welcome :)

Smiles from Ali x

DINO-tastic!

My card today is another one for my nephew's birthday, this time from my littlies for their cousin.

I have used a collection called FBQ Fabusaurus Collection by Nitwits Collections. I made a 5x5 card, with a circular aperture covered with acetate.

I added the sentiment/name using a font called FLAME, and and decoupaged the image of the green dinosaur on the inside. 

The picture brads on the front are raised on foam pads, and the layers/mats have been inked around the edges.

I do love the Nitwits graphics, and if you pop over, you're bound to find something to suit any occasion, including lots of fantastic Christmas stuff.

I would like to enter this card into the Cards 4 Men challenge #22 Anything Goes (as long as its male!)

Big Smiles from Ali x

Halloween ATCs

Oh how I've missed blogging!!! Yes, I know its only been a few days, and I've had a lovely time away with my family, but I really HAVE missed being able to post on here, (and sleeping in my own bed!!)

Anyway, whilst I was away, I couldn't go completely cold-turkey, so I did take some bits n pieces along with me so I could make my ATCs for the swap over at the Cardmaking & Papercraft forum, hosted by Lyn (Spyder.) The theme was Halloween, and here's what I made.....

They are all digi stamps, coloured with my trusty Promarkers. Top left: Bugaboo, top centre: Pollycraft, top right: Bugaboo, bottom left: Bugaboo, bottom right: ? (a recent freebie, but I can't remember where from!)

The DP is  Doodlebug 'funky halloween stripes' and I've added some card candy too.

Smiles from Ali x

Look! It's a Petal Pixie!!!

I have another card to share with you today.....it's for a 70th birthday, but no lavender or lace in sight (no offence to anyone who is partial to a bit of lavender or lace intended!) My mum's best friend is young at heart, and so I have used this fun image on her card.

Made using a Helen Plant download from Cardmaking Downloads, you can buy it here. I adapted it to create this easel card.....(included in the download you basically get what you see in the picture below: the main square shape topper and decoupage elements.)

The sentiment was created on the computer, the additional papers used were from Pink Petticoat. The cute little petal pixie is decoupaged with several layers......

....not a great photo but it gives you an idea. I added a piece of pink ric rac and lime green organza ribbon, and a few gems/pearls from my stash and she's complete!

I now need to make a co-ordinating envie, which means my first chance to try out my Crafter's Companion Enveloper!

Thanks for looking, please leave a comment if you've time, just to let me know you visited!

Big Smiles from Ali x

Cardmaking Downloads 'Spooky' Competition

If I am totally honest with you, I can be found most days (OK, no secrets.....EVERY day!) over on the Cardmaking Downloads forum, chatting to the BEST bunch of cyber pals you could ever get to meet! OK, so we've not technically 'met' but I feel as if I know these friends as well as, if not better than the friends I see frequently in my daily life. And of course it beats doing the housework ANY day of the week!!!! Samantha Murphy, owner of the site, runs a monthly competition, and today I wanted to share my entry with you.

The theme is 'Spooky!' and you must use items purchased from the site to enter. My card is made using 2 sets by Martha Casadiego, one of the designers who contributes to the site. They are called 'Doodle Cute Halloween Collection' and 'Halloween Papers Collection.' I made a pop out stepper card for my nephew whose birthday also happens to be on Halloween!

 

I decoupaged/layered the images to add depth, and matted the main panel onto black card for definition.

Other than that, I simply added a ribbon, a die-cut BOO! his name and a couple of gems to complete.

All I have to do now is add an insert and it'll be good to go!

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:
 Crafts & Me challenge #15 ~ Halloween.
Creative Inspirations Challenge #83 ~ Spooky.
Stamp Something challenge ~ 'Halloween Somethings.'
The Creative Cottage ~ challenge #25 'Halloween.'
Charisma Cards Challenge week #41 ~ 'more than 1 fold.'

Thanks for popping by, hope you like it!

Smiles from Ali x

POLLYCRAFT SECRET STAMPS CANDY

Do you love Paula from Pollycraft's designs? Want to be in with a chance of winning some AmAzInG Candy? OF COURSE YOU DO!.........so you'll not want to miss this fab opportunity to add your name to her SECRET STAMPS blog-candy list then!

Here's what to do: simply visit the blog and collect the blinkie shown above. Post it on YOUR blog sidebar and wait to hear who the lucky winner is on November 21st. There will be several winners, and the prizes include some never before seen products, which aren't even available in her shop as yet! So go on, you've got to be in it to win it!!! (Did I REALLY just say that?!?!?) ROF!

................Hidden Treasures!

Over at Addicted To ATCs the theme for this month's swap is 'Hidden Treaures.' At first, the obvious ideas sprang to mind.....pirates, treasure maps, pearls inside oysters, etc but I wanted something with a bit more of a twist on the theme. Soooooo, this is what I came up with!......................

To me, an unborn baby, especially to a first-time mum, is indeed a 'hidden treasure', waiting to be discovered! I just hope people get my take on the theme!!!! I have decoupaged the main images, added a few co-ordinating gems to each one, and added the title to the front of each one. The backing papers are also digis that I've had ages, all freebies from one place or another.

What do you think.....have I completely lost my marbles....?!! Hope you like them!

Big Smiles from Ali x

A Magical Blog award!

A HUGE Thank You to Dawn from over at Dawn's Crafting for this fantastic blog award! There are no conditions attached, just display the award with pride on your blog, which is exactly what I'm doing now! Thanks again Dawn...........if you've never visited Dawn's blog you get on over there for a look around!

Big Smiles, from Ali x

A Caron Vinson Card

Good Morning! Today's card features a Caron Vinson fairy image.....I LOVE Caron's fairy images!

I'm not 100% sure about it if I'm honest......feel its missing 'something' just not sure what! in hindsight, Maybe I should have used a BP with a bolder print....? Anyway, I did use some embossed gold mirri-board and funky fibres, a fabric flower secured with a brad, and some green flower gems. The sentiment is computer generated, the font is called 'countryhouse.'

The main image has been decoupaged, and I used my Pinflair, which I'm still getting used to....but I really need more practise!!!

Wish I had some of the 'label' nesties, as I feel its a bit too straight/angular, and I'd've liked it to have a bit more of a softer, curvier feel.....maybe I'll have to ask dear Santa for some!!!! ;)

I am entering this into the ABC Challenge this week, where the theme is 'F' for Flowers.

See you soon......Big Smiles, Ali x

Birthday Celebration!

Today's card is for a friend who celebrates her birthday in a few days time. I have adapted a download which is actually for a wedding/anniversary card. It's an easel card in pink and black, and can be purchased from here.

The main section is decoupaged and I added an extra layer (the oval label on the champagne bottle) then used glitterations peel-offs to put my friend's name on the bottle!

The bottom section has a 'stopper' raised using foam pads, and I coloured a silver peel off using a black sakura glaze pen, and added it to the label on the stopper.

I added a panel to the back to write my message. I am still not sure whether to add a few small gems, or leave it as it is.......?

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
 Charisma Cardz Challenge week#41 ~ 'More than 1 fold.'
 Pocket Full of Posies challenge #9 ~ 'Champagne & Roses/Celebration.'
Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles from Ali x

Today I have a side-stacker card to share with you. It's the 2nd card for hubby, requested via text from work, but at least I had a little more notice to make this one!!!

I used a 5x7 card blank, matted with gold mirri-board and navy mulberry paper (which has fine gold strands running through it.) I then layered the main image onto embossed & inked blue card, and embossed gold mirri boards.

The sentiment and a couple of gems complete this simple card. If you like the image, you can buy the download from here.

Smiles from Ali x

ATCs.....CMD Forum Swaps

Hi! Today it's time to share everyones ATCs for this month's Cardmaking Downloads forum swap. The theme (as I mentioned in my last post) is 'RECYCLED' and it's truely amazing to see what people come up with, and how different they are! If you'd rather the postie bring a surprise, then please look away NOW!

KRIS

 

MARIAN

DEBBIE

JEAN

DAWN

DENISE 

ALI (me!)

Brilliant aren't they! And as my thank you for taking part, I have made everyone a personalised RAK......this time with an Autumn/Harvest theme.

RAKs

A scarecrow image coloured with Promarkers, an oak leaf backing paper, names made using scarecrow alphabet purchased from Crafty Stash, mounted onto Bazzill card, inked edges and a few gems to complete.

Big Smiles from Ali x

ATCs..........'Recycled!'

So, I set the theme, 'Recycled' for the Cardmaking Downloads forum swap this month, and everybody taking part has got theirs to me, so all that's left now, is to swap them and get them posted, yes? NO! After setting the theme I have had TOTAL crafter's block and have started and abandoned several ATCs over the last few weeks, becoming more and more frustrated with myself! Sooooo, I've sort of......cheated a bit! About 18 months ago, I made a set of ATCs using my littlies Easter Egg packaging.....100% recycled (except for 2 little gems on 1 of them!)

I Was really pleased with them, and decided to keep them rather than swap them. However...........the time has now come to part with them, so they will be my humble offering for the swap on the CMD forum. They were only sat in a folder anyway, and I can always make some more next year!

I'll be back soon with photos of EVERYONE'S ATCs for this swap, but in the meantime, have a very Happy Friday Everyone.

Big Smiles from Ali x

.............BOO!

Did I scare you.........? Probably not, but I have had such fun this morning creating a set of 4 ATCs for the ATC Swappers October swap, 'You've Been Boo'ed!' so I just had to see if it worked!!

The digi I have used is last week's freebie from Paula at Pollycraft, she's called Luna Bitterfrost, and has been coloured using Promarkers. The papers are from my stash, and have been inked, then layered up onto co-ordinating Bazzill card. I finished by adding the 'Boo!' sentiment using a fab font called Halloween Spiders and added some Card Candy and a small bat laser-sticker to complete.

I would like to enter my set of ATCs into the following challenges:

Everybody Art Challenge #112 ~ Halloween

Crafts and Me Challenges #15 ~ Halloween

Aly's Sunday Challenge ~ Halloween

Creative Cottage Challenge #25 ~ Halloween

Stampin' for the weekend challenge #48 ~ Autumn Inspiration (use Autumnal colours)

ATC Swaps......my 'Returns'

Good Morning! As promised, I'm back to share with you some fab ATCs which I received back from 2 of the swaps I took part in last month. The first are from Addicted to ATCs where the theme was 'School Days.'

Thanks to: Jane, Helene & Ali (left to right.)

And the 2nd set are from ATC Swappers where the theme was 'Tea/Coffee Break.'

Thanks to: Paul, Helene, Sue & Catherine (top left clockwise.)

Aren't they ALL BRILLIANT!

If you click on the links you can visit their sites and see what the theme is for this month.....and you could always join in too!

Have a Happy Thursday everyone......

Smiles from Ali x