Live, Laugh, Love......CREATE!

So I find myself really drawn to the images created my Michelle Perkett, and have been looking forward to joining in with the challenge over at her blog since Tuesday, but had to wait for my DH to bring me some stash today so I could get started!

The theme is to use turquoise and brown, and that's one of my all-time fave colour combos, so I emailed him some images to print and bring with him, and almost as soon as he arrived I got cracking!!!

I already knew what I wanted to do, although for what seemed like an easy card, it took a lot longer and was a lot more fiddly than I had imagined it would be to make!

I used a freebie of called Butterfly Create and printed it 4 times. The original has the word 'create' but I changed it on 3 of them to the words 'live,' 'love,' and 'laugh.' I coloured them Promarkers (Caramel, Cinnamon & Duck Egg.)

My papers are Pink Petticoat Little Swirls which are matted and layered, I added a few card candy dots to complete.

So, I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

• Michelle Perkett Studios - Turquoise & Brown.
• The Stamping Boutique #5 - Winged Things.
• Craft Your Passion #55 - Show Us Your Layers.

Thanks for popping by!

Dream Big!

Hi there! I have been looking through the few bits and pieces I have here with me at my caravan and wondering what I could put together to make a card! I've used most of what I had, but found some DPs I got free with a magazine, a leftover digi from a project I made last week and a few embellies that fitted the colour scheme of the papers, and set to work!

For a change, I made a 5x7 card (I have been making mostly 6" square cards of late.) Here's what I came up with:

The image is from Pink Cat Studio, (which I won in a challenge,) and has been coloured with Promarkers to match the DPs which are called The Never Not Collection by Nitwits, and were free in Simply Cards & Papercraft mag a few months back.

I layered onto a co-ordinating paper, and picked the fun polka dotted paper as the main focus. The digi ticket is from The Crafty Pad Designs. I added some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, and layered up a matching flower image which came with the papers using foam pads. I also added a ribbon and 3 tiny heart pearls to complete.

Here are some challenges I'd like to enter:

• My Mum's Craft Shop #3 - Flowers.
• The Paper Variety - Polka Dots.
• Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Flowers.
• Party Time Tuesday #13 - Anything Goes.
• The Stamping Boutique #5 - Winged Things.
• Stamping Scrapping Central - Anything Goes.
• Cardmadfairy's Digi Days Challenge - 1 digi, 2 patterned papers 3 embellishments (flowers, ribbon & pearls.)
• My Grafico - Anything Goes.

Thanks for popping by!

Going GREEN at FOR FUN!

So, this week at FOR FUN CHALLENGES we have a great theme for you....we want you to

GO GREEN!

Now that's NOT to use the colour green (although you are very welcome to do so!) but for YOU to go green and use something RECYCLED on your card.....help to look after our planet! Great theme huh!?

Our sponsor this week is Phindy's Place

She has some great images in her store and a fab challenge blog too.

I don't have a card to share (its the B team's week this time out and I'm on the A Team.....'da, da da dah, da da dah'....Yes, I watched that fab show way back when......) but if you pop over to the FOR FUN challenge blog you can see what the DT came up with. We really hope to see you there!

Thanks for popping by!

Happy Easter Sunday

Good Morning, and a very Happy Easter Sunday to you all! Well, we have definately been spoilt with the weather here, its been a balmy 25 degrees! Crazy warm weather for April, not that I'm complaining of course! It has been great for the school holidays and its so great to see the littlies with some colour in their cheeks from playing outside.....I just love to watch thier little noses break out in a smattering of cute freckles! (or fairy kisses as I call them!)

This week at THE CRAFTY PAD we have a new challenge for you.....we want to see CIRCLES on your projects.

Now, as it's Easter, the DT have all used one of the Easter Bunny images, which you can buy from the SHOP.

And this week, we have not one, but TWO sponsors.....

LETRASET

with a prize of a 5pack grey Promarkers,

 CRAFTY PAD DESIGNS

with a prize of 3 digis of choice from TCPD shop.

My card for the challenge is a SHADOW BOX CARD.

I have used the following circles:

• DP has circles
• Aperture is a circle
• Lacey circle nestie around the aperture
• Gems for decoration are all circles
• My Easter Bunnies all have circles on their cute bow-ties!

A Bird's Eye view

My bunnies and sentiment are both available from the CPD SHOP.

I coloured them with Promarkers and attached them inside the shadow box using foam pads for a more 3D effect.

There is a fabulous array of samples from the DT to get your creative juices flowing over at the challenge blog, so please take a moment to visit and leave a comment.....we do love to hear what you think.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

• CYDA #18 - Easter.
• Crazy 4 Challenges #84 - Easter.
• ECP #36 - Easter.
• Sugar Creek Hollow - Circles.
• Creative Belli #115 - Eggs or Bunnies.
• Penny's Paper Crafty #51 - Easter.
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Easter.

Thanks for popping by!

'Inspired by Nature' for TPS challenge

Hi, I'm back again! Today is my Dearly Beloved hubby's birthday, 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUN!' and we are (hopefully) out for the day with the littlies celebrating. That means this is a scheduled post, so I sure hope it has worked!

As soon as I saw the latest challenge (#10) at The Paper Shelter I KNEW exactly what I was going to make! The fab image I chose fits perfectly with the 'inspired by nature' theme this week, and I also knew I was going to make a DL card, something I've not done for AGES, but the image was screaming to be used DL!

I am really pleased with it! Here's what I used:

I used 2 gingham papers, 1 red & 1 black, red and black cardstock, Promarkers, a Fiskars border punch, some Dovecraft spotty brads, 2 ticket sentiments from THE CRAFTY PAD DESIGNS, and a little wooden ladybird. The additional sentiments are computer generated.

I decorated inside the card too.....

Whilst we've been here at our caravan, the weather has been glorious, and my daughter Zoe has had a wonderful time collecting ladybirds, of which there have been LOADS! I knew I wanted to make a card using this ladybird image, and it seemed the perfect opportunity.

Don't you just LOVE this little wooden ladybird!

• As well as The Paper Shelter challenge, I am going to enter my card into the following challenges:
• DYSU - Easter Blog Hop.
• Bearly Mine #8 - Inside Out.
• Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT #24 - Anything Goes.
• Stamping Vacation - Masculine with a lawn/garden theme.
• Top Tip #30 - Anything Goes.
• Bunny Zoe's Crafts #11 - One for the Boys!
• Incy Wincy Designs #90 - Bold & Bright.
• My Grafico - Anything Goes.
• Card Ideas - Let's Hear it for the Guys!
• Little Claires #5 - Animals.

Thanks for popping by!

Cutie Patootie!

I just couldn't resist joining the new challenge over at Michelle Perkett Studio Designs this week as it is an 'Anything Goes' challenge, and I have a few of her wonderful images that I've been dying to use for ages! The one I have used today is called Cutie Patootie and you can find it and lots of other amazing images in Michelle's Etsy store.

Isn't she wonderful?! My DPs are from The Paper Shelter, and are called Shopping Girl. I coloured the image with Promarkers, cut it out with a nestie and inked the background and edges.

I added some delicious guipure lace and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, and decoupaged some extra flowers from the DP and added them using two layers of foam pads to give extra depth.

I then added some flat-backed pearls, card candy and gems to finish. I also decorated the inside to match...

I am pleased with the finished card, I love the image and the DPs and think it all came together really well.

As well as the Michelle Perkett Studio Design challenge I would also like to enter my card into the following challenges:

• I Love Promarkers #62 - Anything Goes.
• Top Tip #30 - Open Theme.
• KB Cute Monday #10 - Birthdays.
• By The Cute & Girly - APRIL: Cute & Girly.
• My Grafico - Anything Goes.
• Tiffany Doodles - Turquoise colour-theme.

Thanks for popping by!

Easter at FOR FUN Challenges

Good Morning! Today sees the start of a brand new challenge over at FOR FUN and what else would we choose this week other than

EASTER

Our sponsor this week is the wonderful Di's Digi Downloads and the DT were given some gorgeous images to work with, you simply HAVE to go to the challenge blog and check out their cards!

The lucky winner of this week's challenge will win 5 digis of their choice from Di....now that's worth entering for, right?!

Here's what I did with mine:

I followed sketch #32 from over at Crafty Emma's and used My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary Summer Papers, matted and layered with various card from my stash. The image is called Easter Trike Ride, (and you can find it if you scroll down here) and is coloured with Promarkers then cut with a nestie. The 'Easter Blessings' sentiment is a freebie from Sentiments 4 You. I added ric-rac, some gems, flower brads and some organza ribbon threaded on a decorative pearl-headed pin to finish.

As well as the Crafty Emma's challenge I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

•  Die Cut Dreams #87 - Easter.
• Creative Inspirations #57- Easter.
• IDIC #51 - Happy Easter.
• Scrappy Frogs - Hoppy Easter.
• Bee Crafty #49 - Easter.
• CYDA #18 - Easter.
• ECP #36 - Easter.
• Kaboodle Doodles #63 - Spring/Easter.
• Top Tip #30 - Open Challenge.

Thanks for popping by!

Daddy....You're VINTAGE!!

Today I have followed the sketch and Vintage theme for the current Pollycraft challenge to make my hubby's birthday card from our littlies.



(Pollycraft Sketch)



 I chose the oh-so-cute Cuthbert Car image from Pollycraft as he has a convertible, and coloured it up to match his, in silver! I added the 'personalised number plate' too!  I coloured the image with Promarkers and cut it out with a nestie.

 My papers are Papermania Colossal Paper Pack 'For Him' (which I have had for EVER!) I did some tearing and used  lots of ink to distress with, and some garden twine and vintage buttons (I became a little addicted to buying vintage buttons from Ebay a while back and have quite a healthy stash of them!!) The sentiment was created on the computer.

I almost forgot to add a picture of the inside, which I also decorated to match.

As well as the Pollycraft Challenge, I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

• Bunny Zoe's Crafts #11 - One for the Boys.
• KB Cute Monday #10 - Birthday.
• Stamp With Fun #107 - Birthdays.
• Card Ideas - Let's Hear it for the Guys!
• Little Claires #5 - Animals.
• Crafty Catz #78 - Furry Friends.
• Aud Sentiments #26 - Anything Goes.
• My Grafico - Anything Goes.

Thanks for popping by!

I Love Promarkers Sketch Challenge

Hi! We are still at home even though we had planned to go back to our caravan, but my DH has been throwing up alll day, so plans have had to be postponed.

The GOOD news is that I have spent the time very wisely.......yes folks, I've been gettin' crafty!!!

I followed this week's I Love Promarkers sketch (#61) to make this 18th birthday card for my nephew....

here's the sketch:

The fab digi is called Mexico Phil, and was a freebie from Just InkLined; (They currently have another Mexico Phil freebie on offer, called Mexico Phil & Horhay!) He has been coloured with Promarkers and mounted on foam pads. I created the border from freebie clipart, including the cactus. The tickets are also from my stash, (I added my nephew's name to one,) along with the papers and the card used for matting & layering. A computer generated '18' and some card-candy to finish.

I am rather pleased with this card, and as well as the I Love Promarkers sketch challenge, I would like to enter it into the following challenges:

• Bunny Zoe's Crafts #11 - One for the Boys.
• Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenge - Card for a Teenage Boy.
• Cupcake Craft #138 - Lots of Layers.
• Incy Wincy Designs #90 - Bright & Bold.
• Magic in the Air - Colour Challenge (Green, Yellow & Orange.)
• Aud Sentiments #26 - Anything Goes.
• My Grafico - Anything Goes.

Thanks for Popping by!

Getting Ready for Easter at THE CRAFTY PAD

Happy Sunday everyone!

I do hope you are all enjoying some sunshine this fine morning.....I certainly am!

We have a new challenge for you over at THE CRAFTY PAD this week, and it's all about

EASTER

Yes folks, it couldn't be easier! And on top of that we've got the wonderful JOANNA SHEEN as our sponsor this week, with a £10 gift voucher to spend in her shop!

Now over at THE CRAFTY PAD DESIGNS our fab boss Debbie has created some wonderful images which we had a chance to play with, including EASTER BUNNY 1 which I have used. It is not a requirement that you use a Crafty Pad image, but of course we are always thrilled if you do.....we LOVE to see what you come up with, and there are LOADS of wonderful images for you to choose from in the shop.

I have created an Easter basket. It is made from one sheet of 12"x12" card and it really was so simple to make! I coloured my Bunny with Promarkers, cut him out and mounted him onto a circle of matching DP and matted him onto a scalloped nestie.

I punched some little flowers with my woodware punches and added flat-backed pearls to their centres.

An organza ribbon tied around the handle, some pink tissue paper and of course a foil-wrapped chocolate egg to finish.

We would love for you to join our EASTER CHALLENGE at The Crafty Pad this week, and look forward to visiting your blogs during the week.

My easter basket will enter the following challenges:

• Catch the Bug - Easter.
• CYDA #18 - Easter.
• ECP #36 - Easter.
• Little Claires #5 - Animals.
• Our Creative Corner - A 3D Easter project.
• DWA! #22 - Spring Has Sprung!
• Simply Create #41 - All About Eggs!
• Stampin' for the Weekend #7 - Easter.
• Tellen's Place - Easter.
• Aud Sentiments #26 - Anything Goes.
• C.R.A.F.T. #98 - Easter.
• Delightful Challenges - Easter.
• Digi Doodle Shop's Best #54 - Stripes (my DP/Card is stripy.)
• Creative Belli #115 - Bunnies/Eggs.
• Penny's Paper-Crafty #51 - Easter.
• Sisterhood of Crafters - Easter.
• Crazy Challenge #62 - Easter.
• Die Cut Dreams #87 - Easter.
• Ooh La La Creations #77 - Easter.
• The Pink Elephant #97 - Easter.
• Pollycraft #88 - Easter.
• Stamps R Us - Easter.

Thanks for popping by!

Easter Bunny Hop at Michelle Perkett Studios

Good Morning lovely peeps!

It's time for a treat, and I want to tell you all about a super-dooper blog-hop at MICHELLE PERKETT STUDIOS. 
You should have arrived here from SHELLEY'S blog (if not, click the link and visit her!)
There are lots of wonderful blogs for you to visit, and Michelle has created 4 cute and fun Easter digital stamps for you to win and some fun Easter Trivia! Details on how to play and win will be given at the start of our Blog Hop, and to get you started, you need to visit

 Michelle's personal blog. 

From there you will be taken on a magical tour of and see some wonderful creations along the way.

Now, as you will probably have noticed, I do not have a card up in this post....that's because I am away from home with no access to a printer so although I really wanted to join in, I wasn't able to this time :( But I still wanted to make sure that you visited all the other fab blogs to see their creations and joined in the fun!

Just in case you get lost along the way, here’s the blog hop order:

Michelle

Karen

Michelle

Abby

Rhonda

Brenda

Shelley

Ali - that's me! YOU ARE HERE!

Andrea

Amber

Sharon
Irene
Jenn

Wendy

Lydia
Mari

Theresa

Claire

Mootseeka

Pauline

Skye

Marion
Elenor
Michelle Perkett Studio

Your next stop is ANDREA'S blog.....don't forget to leave a comment so I know who has popped by, and of course....Have fun!

Feel-Good Friday

Well, it seems as if this week has been a good one for me and my cards! I was thrilled to discover that one of my cards had been selected to be a POLLYCRAFT FAVOURITE in their FRIENDS challenge.....you can see which one by clicking on the link HERE. This very same card was also a winner at PAPER PLAYTIME in their digi Monday Anything Goes challenge; I was lucky enough to win 5 digis of my choice from the very wonderful PINK CAT STUDIOS. They have such gorgeous stamps, my problem wasn't finding 5 I liked, it was choosing ONLY 5!!!!!

AND that's not all......................................................

..............another of my cards has been added to the latest feature at THE PAPER SHELTER.....they have opened a GALLERY/HALL OF FAME and I am lucky enough to be one of their first Featured Artists with the card you can view HERE. I won 2 digis of my choice from their digi store.........another one you simply MUST go and visit....amazing work!

So, I am feeling quite pleased with myself this Friday afternoon. and wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Hugs, Ali x

A Colour Challenge at FOR FUN this week

Good Morning all,

today sees us halfway through the week and hopefully ready for a crafty challenge to keep us all going until the weekend! I am at my caravan for a holiday with my beloved family, so let's hope everyone is enjoying the school Easter holiday in some glorious sunshine!

This week at FOR FUN we are offering you a COLOUR CHALLENGE.....we want to see AT LEAST 3 of the following colours on your creation:

PINK, PURPLE, GREEN, YELLOW, BLUE

We have a wonderful sponsor again this week. it's MELJEN'S DESIGNS, who are giving the winner 4 of their FAB images!

The full range of fab digi stamps are available to buy exclusively from Whimsy Stamps.

And so, onto my card....I have used one of the wonderful MelJen images, trio of cupcakes (which is available as a freebie) and the colours I chose are blue/purple, pink and green.

The BPs are all from a digi set called I Love Cupcakes from SCRAPBOOKINGMAD. They are matted and layered onto each other in different colour combos. I then did some faux stitching using my paper-piercing tool and a white gel marker pen around each panel. The image is coloured with Promarkers and cut with a nestie and I also inked the edges.

To complete I added a white grosgrain ribbon and threaded it through a freebie senti. I added some liquid pearls and stickles to highlight.

I am really disappointed with these photos, but try as I did, I wasn't able to get a true colour match, despite taking pics outside in good daylight, but I hope you get some idea of the fun, bright colours from these.

We would love to see you pop in over at the challenge blog to join us, and also to leave a comment for the DT who always work so hard on their wonderful creations......we all love to know what you think!

I would love to enter my card into the following challenges:

• My Grafico - Anything Goes.
• Digi Design House - Stitches
• Card Ideas - Card for a young child.
• Catch the Bug - 4 or more Layers.
• Fussy & Fancy - For a Child.

Thanks for looking!