Blogger threw a Hissy Fit

Looks like all the scheduled activity on my blog this weekend was all too much to cope with for Mr Blogger and he threw a real hissy fit. My first scheduled post for Stampaot popped up OK Saturday, but the other three were going nowhere it seems and I only just realised, so for speed I have combined them all into this one post, which cover this weeks Allsorts challenge, the new May challenge at By the Cute and Girly and this fornights one from Rosie D's. I also reckon two (above and bottom of post) fit this weeks Penny Black challenge Lets Get Punchy so here goes with that as well.

You might remember that I told you last week I had got my projects a bit muddled for Allsorts, but now I can share the one I had prepared which I said would fit Kirsten Animal theme just perfectly. The clock is a kit from Kaiser Craft courtesy of Sir Stampalot and includes the template and clock workings so you end up with a project that actually works......how cool is that.

The wooden clock template has two pre cut apertures, in one I put a picture and the other Penny Black 2685J Dance onto a piece of textured cardstock to go into the other. I used Kasier DP to cover the clock, drawing my colour choice from the photograph of Anysia taking part in Strictly Come Showjumping last December. I was actually so pleased when I saw the picture she had chosen because whilst I would normally have used one with a horse, I thought in view of her accident I would let her select a picture and half expected a holiday one, but no horses are still first priority with her. The stamping is from Magenta CS-043 and Roman numerals cut with a Sizzix die with pearls for the other hours.

Next the May challenge at By the Cute and Girly and this month Jenny has chosen the theme Celebrations, lots of scope there for whatever might be going on in your cardmaking calendar. As I have a list of Wedding card orders and not forgetting those I will be needing for the wedding of one of our sons at the end of this month, that's the celebration I am going with.

My first card (at the top of this post) follows the colours scheme for our sons wedding of white and burgundy. I punched the leading edge of the card with Martha Stewart eyelet lace, distressed with Tim Holtz fired brick then stamped with Hobby Art GR1341F Shakespeare Sonnet using the same TH ink. The main image is Penny Black 4035K letters and Flowers stamped with black versafine and embossed with detail clear over a background if the same TH ink and spritzed with Glimmer Mist iridescent gold. The swirl is JudiKins 3347F and the sentiment which I think is lovely for a romantic card is Penny Black 4070F Dreams. Roses made from paper, pearl stamens and more pearls and cord tied around the card.

My second card is more traditional, roses again embossed round the edges with detail gold embossing powder and borders and corner punched with Martha Stewart embossed heart. The sentiment is Art Impression J3398 stamped with versamark and embossed with detail gold and cut with Nesties through the Big Shot. Some ribbon across the card and a pin with a pearl added. Oh yes and the DP is Magnolia.

And finally but by no means last, at Rosie D's Saskia is hosting the challenges this month and has come up with the theme So Yummy - cupcakes, chocolates etc. I've had this stamp since it came out as a cling back in January so thought it was time to give it it's first inking up. It is Penny Black 30-016 Hedgehogs Birthday which I stamped with versafine back and embossed with detail clear and coloured with Copics giving the cake a liberal coating of glitter.

The DP is Magnolia, the punch Martha Stewart doily lace and the sentiment is Penny Black 4070F Dream which I thought was perfect to go with Hedgie blowing out his candles. I bought the ribbon with the row of cupcake ages ago and knew the occasion would eventually come when I found a use for it, so thanks Saskia.

Red and White for St George

Update: I always said Hero Arts should make the codes bigger on their stamps as I have probs reading them........somebody has very kindly pointed out to me that I got it a bit wrong for the above stamp, so I have amended it below and it is K5353.

There's a new challenge at Rosie D's which our teamie Lyn is hosting and has given us the theme of England/St George or just Red and White.

This card is also my entry for this weeks Cupcake challenge which has the theme Red and White.

I confess that the patriotic side of it stumped me a bit and I have gone down the easy route of red and white. I had a new Hero stamp yet to be inked up and as it is a nice shadow stamp thought it would work well with red and some bleaching.

The stamp is Hero Arts K5345 In the Garden which I stamped with versamark and embossed with detail clear onto some red matt cardstock. It's always difficult to be sure how well bleach will take and on this occasion I ended up with a brownish colour, so when it was dry and coloured the beached areas with a white Prismacolor pencil which lightened it enough for what I wanted.

I mounted the piece onto white cardstock and embossed a piece of red Bazzil using the script Cuttlebug folder. The wavy edges is EK Success Dotted Wave punch and some ribbon and pearls added to embellish. A fairly quick and easy card.

Spring Daffodils

Good afternoon everyone, I do hope you are having a good weekend. As some of you know I did a demo day at Sir Stampalot yesterday and apart from having a great day I had such a wonderful surprise...........Clare- Littlebear Crafts travelled all the way from Rugby to visit us. I had no idea she was coming and was utterly lost for words at first......then it sunk in and I could not have been more surprised.

Unfortunately when you are deep in demo mode with an audience waiting to see what you do next, it's not easy to chat too much........probably just as well as we would could have talked for England, but it really was fantastic to see you Clare. Thank you so much for coming and to your lovely husband for driving you and dear little son who was an angel.

On to this weeks new challenge at Rosie D's where I am continuing with my Think Spring theme and this time I would like to see projects with the colour combo:

Green, Yellow and White

I would love to see more of your interpretations of this lovely time of year and as always your project can be anything crafty so long as you have made it yourself. And one lucky winner will receive a MFT stamp set from this months sponsor Sir Stampalot.

You might remember that a few weeks ago I told you I made something with daffodils using the images provided by Digital Ink who were the sponsors for that challenge, only to remember that the theme was Just for Men. So this week I have the opportunity to share with you what I made with those images.

I printed the daffodil image out several times so that I could decoupage them after colouring with Copics. The box was cut from Cricut Wild Card and the papers used on the box and easel card is from Polkadoodles Back to Nature CD and I added acetate to the window of the box. The border is Martha Steward embossed butterflies and the corners Sizzix dies run through the Big Shot.

Field of spring flowers

Good afternoon peeps, hope everyone is having a good weekend. For the month of March I am hosting the challenges at Rosie D's and it probably won't surprise too many of those who know me that I have come up with the theme:

Think Spring

Spring is probably my favourite time of year.........I know I have told you all this before, but it really is with all the wonderful colours of fresh growth and blossoms and nature replenishing itself as if by magic. You can interpret the theme any way you wish, whatever this beautiful time of year means to you.

This month we have a new sponsor - Sir Stampalot who are offering one lucky winner two Stampendous stamps, ideal for all your Spring and Summer crafting.

Another box with an easel card on top, I'm on a bit of a roll with these at the moment and I like the idea of the card being an integral part. I created the box with a little opening drawer by folding and scoring - I find this the simplest way to make a box as you can adjust the size to suit whatever you want to do with it. I covered it with one of the new Cosmo Cricket DP's which is double sided so ideal for this purpose to get the colour contrasts.

The topper is my version of a fallow field full of spring flowers very like the one adjacent to our house with the obligatory fairies in attendance and the original rickety fence........no, my shrink plastic did not break, I did it intentionally when it was still hot. I started with a piece of watercolour card and created a hazy sun with chalk inks (tutorial here) then gently shaded the edges with Tim Holtz mustard seed. I have used a whole collection of stamps and inks so won't bore you with the list.

The fence and toadstools are made from stamping cream shrink plastic, the bunny border is Martha Stewart, the branches across the top a Sizzix die run through the Big Shot and flowers made with punches.

Rosie D's challenge

Sunday evening means a new challenge at Rosie D's and the theme this week is "Friendship". The DT were given images to use on their projects from this weeks sponsor Stretch and Bubbles.

I opted for these cute little owls, which I printed out several times so I could decoupage them after colouring with Copics. I created a background by brayering Big and Juice Waterfall onto a piece of gloss cardstock, first masking it to create a moon.......every owls needs a moon and creating some hills using ripped paper (tutorial here). I stamped grass across the tops of te hills to add a bit of definition.

I stamped a branch for the owls to sit on with Hero Arts H4946 long branch. The little flowers across the bottom are Magnolia Tilda range stamped onto cream shrink plastic and coloured with brilliance inks. The fence is a Martha Stewart punch and the leaves a Sizzix die run through the Big Shot. The sentiment is an unmounted Hero set.......only last year but afraid I have lost to code. To finish I added a few flowers and gems.

Rosie D's challenge 63

A really quick post peeps, afraid I nearly forgot this one for Rosie D's new challenge. So many goings on with the Stampalot blog hop and challenge and everyone hoping to get their hands on the Big Shot prize, that my week has sort of drifted by.

Plus I really messed up with my Rosie D's DT card as well, we were given a selection of images from this weeks sponsors Digital Ink for the theme "Just for Men. What did I choose - daffodils, which might have been fine if I had been making perhaps a box to hold bulbs to give to a man, but I had this easel card and matching gift box firmly in my mind, all very feminine. So back to the drawing board and a car theme instead.......I will share the daffodils with you during the week just to prove how versatile the images are.

I coloured the image with Copics, adding diamond glaze for the windows and silver marker pen for the headlights and spokes. The DP and oil can are from Polkadoodles Definitely Not for Women CD and the border punched with Martha Stewart checkerboard.

Rosie D's challenge 63

Over at Rosie D's challenge we have a new challenge for you and a great sketch from our very own Rosie.........really enjoyed working with this one Rosie. The DT were also treated to images from this weeks sponsor Teri at Delicious Doodles and this weeks winner will be getting some images of their own to play with.

I printed the heat and ribbon image three times onto DP from the new Polkadoodle Love Marriage and more CD, but them out and gently shaped them to give a cushion effect before building up with silicone. I added a rose made from the same DP to the centre, liberally glittering both the image and rose.

The ovals were cut with Nesties through the Big Shot and placed inside the double aperture which I cut on Cricut Storybook. The simple 'I love you' greeting is Penny Black 3322D stamped onto a ribbon slide created with a Nestie and threaded with organza ribbon.

Rosie D's challenge 62

We have a new challenge and a new sponsor at Rosie D's this time round and we have a great sketch for you to follow drawn by our own Rosie. But before I launch into more blurb.........you all know I could talk for England, I would like to say a huge welcome to our five new teamies, Mervi, Tracy, Madge and the return of Jackie and Lynne who were with us last year. Quite a formidable team so lots of inspiration coming your way.

Our sponsor In Style Stamps gave the DT this gorgeous birdhouse and funky birds to create our samples. I started with a piece of DP from Polkadoodles new Love Marriage and More CD, resized the pair of birdies and repeated them several times to create a border which I laid over another strip punched with Martha Stewart embossed scallop. I decoupaged the roof of the birdhouse and stamped two birds using Art Impression A2413 and B2414. The circles are cut with Nesties through the Big Shot Express and the images all coloured in with Copics. Punched flowers, a journaling tag and some liquid pearls added to finish.

Rosie D's challenge 61

I do hope everyone has had a magical Christmas and is enjoying the holiday period. At Rosie D's we decided that some of you might be longing for the opportunity to try out the new goodies Father Christmas delivered, so rather than delay a new challenge until the New Year, we have a new one for you today. As usual it will run for two weeks.

And we have a fabulous sponsor - Digi Sparkle. The DT have been given Digi Sparkle images to create their DT project and Heather who owns the company is very generously offering the winner "Free access to their shop for a month" - Wow! What a prize!

As you can see, I have made an easel card using this great punk image and have coloured him with Copics and mouted him onto mats cut with Nesties through the Bug. I resized the guitar, copied it several times and created a border band. The DP is My Minds Eye and the letters cut on Cricut Jasmine. Note the nose ring which took longer to fix than the whole card ! Not my normal style of card, but really enjoyed this one.

Rosie D's challenge 60

This one is just for all of you who still have those last minute Christmas cards to make........that probably means all of us if I am anything to go by. It's Rosie D's new challenge with the theme "Rudolph has a bright new bell" - interpret it as you will, I can see some great fun projects coming our way.

I have made a card using a real old favourite from Stampedous 4611 - Rudolph which really is simplicity itself to make up a quick card. Stamped with versafine black, embossed with detail clear, oodles of glamour dust and stickles for his bells and nose. Some ribbon down the side and a 'bright new bell' dangling from it. The sentiment is Art Impression H2775

Rosie D's challenge 59

It's time for another challenge at Rosie D's and we have a super prize on offer of a mystery bag of craft goodies for one lucky winner. There is a lovely traditional feel to this challenge - Red, Green and a bit of bling, now how simple is that and the perfect chance to make that extra Christmas card you forgot you needed. I am also entering this card for this weeks Cupcake challenge who have the theme of Red and Green.

I have used one of my favourite images this Christmas from Sarah Kay, stamped and embossed with versafine black and clear embossing powder and coloured with Copics. The DP is from Magnolia Tilda range.......I absolutely adore these DP's, they have a wonderful texture and the colours and designs across the whole range are super........I know I don't do Tilda, but one has to make an exception here.

The little girls coat has been liberally glittered and JudiKins snow glitter added for the ground. The oval is cut with Nesties through the Bug as have the leaves and flowers using Sizzzix dies. I added tiny gold gems to the centre of the flowers, some ribbon and a sentiment from Creative Expression Victorian Christmas sheet.

And just a little taster of the Big Demo Day Saturday at Sir Stampalot......more to come tomorrow.

Rosie D's challenge

I 'think' our Internet issues are resolved and normality has returned to my world. I cannot believe just how much of a nightmare it has been and it's only when you don't have the Internet that you full appreciate and realise just how reliant we have become on it.

Tomorrow there will be a brand new challenge at Rosie D's. Our sponsor is Fresh Brewed Designs who have very kindly provided the DT with images to work with and of course they will be providing dowloads for one lucky winner.

There might be just the slightest clue in the name as to what the DT have come up with, but as usual there is a twist ! Here is a little peek at my DT card, but you can see the whole project over on the challenge blog tomorrow along with full details of the challenge.

Rosie D's challenge 57

Hello all and time for the reveal of my card for the current Rosie D's Challenge which has the theme of Pink, White and a Wafer plus a sketch for you to follow designed by our very own Rosie. As we are now a fortnightly challenge there is still another week for you to enter so what are you waiting for ?

Now before I tell you about my card, a confession and you will realise what a lovely gang we have here at Rosie D's. A couple of weeks back when I did my card for this challenge I posted a very cute blue Christmas card following Rosie's sketch. It suddenly dawned on me just before our DT work was posted to the challenge blog what there was actually a colour theme and it most certainly was not blue.......panic set in and I quickly prepared another one following the right colourways......but my teamies are so polite that nobody had said a work to me other than to compliment me on the blue card. You can imagine what a dozy mare I felt !!

So my card, main image is Penny Black 3996K stamped with Brilliance Orchid and shaded round the edge with Hero Shadow Blossom and the edge of the card distressed with Tim Holtz Antique Linen. DP is from stash and the border punched with Fiskars Threading Water and some lace. I made the flowers from the same DP, embossing the edges with iridescent powder and the leaves are my 'wafer' punched from corrugated card coloured with the same orchid ink and embossing powder.

Rosie D's challenge

Sunday afternoon and and a brand new challenge over at Rosie D's.

Our wonderful sponsors this week are PPD - Photo Paper Direct. As well as providing a prize for the winner of this challenge they also provided the DT with some of their card to create our samples and wow is it fantastic card to work with and a fabulous weight.

The full reveal of my project can be seen over at the challenge blog. I do hope you will pop along and join in with this fab challenge and look forwarding to coming to visit you all.

Rosie D's challenge

Just a quick reminder that there is still another week to pop over to Rosie D's challenge blog and enter the current challenge which is a colour theme of 'Carrot Cougette and a Flower' and a prize for the winner selected at random from our sponsorts Digital Ink Co who provided the DT with a pumpkin image to use on our projects.

As most of you know, I don't profess to be a scrapbooker and this is a feeble attempt compared with some of the great layouts I have seen on some blogs, but we had such gorgeous pompkins in the garden this year that I felt they deserved a scrapbook page. So here it is. The various words and accents were all cut on the cricut.

Rosie D's challenge

Sunday and a new challenge at Rosie D's.

We were thrilled to see so many of you join in and the lucky winner will be revealed later today and will receive a $10 voucher from our sponsors Digital Delights.

And the sponsor of our next challenge is The Digital Ink Company who kindly gave all the DT the image we have used on our projects this week.

Here are a couple of sneak peeks at my project, but all of the DT work can be seen on the challenge blog.