About Me

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My name's Alison but for reasons too long to go into I'm known as Cockney Blonde or CB for short. I've been rubber stamping for several years but now spend most of my time either knitting or crocheting. However, with the advent of a New Year I have bitten the bullet and am tackling my usually hated pastime of sewing. I've even bought 'Sewing for Dummies' to guide me on my way. I've been with my hubby Dave for 24 years and between us we have 4 kids and 5 grandkids. We also have 2 cats and a dog, the latter features as my 'photo' image. I used to be able to blog daily but these days I struggle to blog weekly. Hopefully now we are settled into our new home in the country, I can get back to a daily (well almost) update from the room I now have to share with hubby. No more personal crafting space for me!!! Thanks to all the blogs and sites I follow for all your brilliant inspiration, and thank you to everyone who finds the time to comment on my blog.

Wednesday 31 March 2010

Just Magnolia #4 and Totally Papercrafts #9

As you can see I've been busy this evening and have created another card for another couple of challenges.

This one is for a friend's birthday but I'm also entering it in the current Just Magnolia sketch challenge and the Totally Papercrafts Challenge #9 which is pink and green.

I've coloured Tilda with my copics:-
skin - E00, E02, E21
hair - E31, E33, E35
dress - G000, G00, G02
petticoat - RV02, RV04, RV06

The DP is K & Co from my stash.

I've used a pink gelly roll to edge some of the flowers, and have used my new McGill punch for the leaves.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/2010/03/week-48-sketch-by-jane.html

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-9-pink-and-green_26.html

Friday Sketchers and ABC Challenge R is for Red

Ooer! Don't know what's happened with my photo but the base card is actually white not blue!!!



Anyway, I've made this card for a friend of mine who has broken her arm. I shouldn't laugh but it was in quite hilarious circumstances. Imagine a funeral hearst, coffin, and an ambulance.......



I digress...



I'm also entering this into the current Friday Sketchers challenge and the ABC R is for Red challenge.



The poppy has been coloured with my twinkling H2Os. I've used one of my new nesties to create the scalloped matt layer. Apologies for the peel offs but I was in a rush, lol



Anyway, I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-95-sponsored-by-sweet-n-sassy.html

http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/r-is-for.html

Monday 29 March 2010

Our Creative Corner OCCSC8; Colour Create #41; and The Pixie Cottage

Good evening everyone, and have you all had the horrible weather
today. It just hasn't stopped raining since I got up this
morning. Anyway, a good excuse to make another card, lol.

This time I am entering the sketch challenge over on the Our Creative Corner site; the Colour Create #41 challenge, which was to use our choice of pastels +/- something for Easter or Spring, and finally The Pixie Cottage were asking us to feature circles.

I love this daffodil stamp by Funstamps, and it was so easy to colour with my copics. I used Y02, Y06 and Y08 for the flower, and YG00, YG03 and YG06 for the leaves. It also makes a lovely Easter or Spring card.

The 'circle' DP paper is from my new 'NEC' purchase by My Minds Eye (wild asparagus).

Oops! Before I forget I used one of my new nesties with my new Big Shot to stamp the daffodil on. More NEC purchases, lol.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://ourcreativecornerweeklysketch.blogspot.com/2010/03/occ-sketch-challenge-occsc8.html

http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-41-your-choice-of-pastels.html

http://thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/2010/03/pixie-cottage-challenge-12-circles.html

Papertake #37; RosesOnPaper - Punches; ColourQ #25; SimonSays - SpringwithGlimmer; CreativeCottage #3; PileItOn #12

Good Morning everyone. As if losing an hours sleep over the weekend thanks to BST wasn't enough, I also went to the NEC. Me thinks I need to plan a bit better in future as I'm still cream crackered and although I made this card yesterday I've only just got round to uploading it. Anyway its a mega challenge upload this time and although its in colours I wouldn't usually combine I actually quite like it. So here goes with the challenge details.


Firstly I've used the current Papertake #37 sketch challenge as my baseline.


Roses on Paper asked us to use punches so what better excuse to try out my new McGill leaf punch bought at the NEC from the Hobby House stand.


Colour Q #25 was the inspiration behind the colours of pale green, pale yellow, turquoise, chocolate and white. I coloured Tilda with my copics and I've listed the numbers below.

The Simon Says Challenge challenged us to use a Easter/Spring theme with some glimmer. I used Rubber Stampede's Crystallina glitter sparkles to the flower and leaf tips which also fits in with the current Creative Cottage #3 challenge to use sparkle.

Finally, Pile It On #12 challenge was to use animals and as Tilda is cuddling her little lamb this was just perfect.

It hope you like it. The list of copics used and the challenge links are below. Thanks for looking, x


Skin - E00, E02, E21
Hair - E31, E33, E35
Clothes - YG00, YG02
Socks and Ribbons - G000, G00, G02

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2010/03/sketch-37.html

http://ropchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-34punch-it.html

http://colourq.blogspot.com/2010/03/colourq-challenge-25.html

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/simon-says-easter-or-spring-and-some.html


http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/creative-cottage-challenge-3-sparkle.html

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-12-animal-riffic.html

Saturday 27 March 2010

NEC Stash

Couldn't resist uploading my stash from today's trip to the NEC. Spent far too much money although I did stay within budget, just!!!

Popped over to the Hobby House stand and said hello to the lovely Bev Rochester. Saw other people I know, like Leandra, but like Bev they were all busy demoing so it was difficult to say hello and that was if you could get near their stands.

Pleased with my bargains but too tired to play now so that will be on hold until tomorrow.

Unsurprisingly, no cards made today, x

Thursday 25 March 2010

Sketch Saturday #95; Stampavie #20; Wednesday Stamper - Spring

Hi Everyone. What a rotten evening, and after such a lovely day too. I'm glad I got out and did a little gardening before the heavens opened and also had a nice walk in the park with the dogs.

My delivery of Sarah Kay stamps arrived today from The Quixotic Paperie and I was itching to get them inky. I started off with this little one 'How sweet you are'.

I've used the current Sketch Saturday challenge as my baseline inspiration and wanted to use this stamp with the cute little chick to enter the current Stampavie Challenge which is Easter. I'm also entering it for the current Wednesday Stamper Challenge which is Spring. I've coloured Sarah Kay with my Copics as follows:-
Skin - E00, E02, E21
Chick - Y02, Y06, E35
Hat - YR02, YR04
Scarf and Jumper - YG00, YG03, YG06
Dungarees - BG01, BG05

The papers are from MyMindsEye Spring collection and I've added some white pearlised gems to bling it up a bit.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x
http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/2010/03/week-95-20th-march-sponsored-by-nikki.html

http://www.stampavie.com/dt/2010/03/22/sav-challenge-20-easter

http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/spring/

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Something Completely Different

Over on the Something Completely Different blog they run a different theme each month and then a different sub-theme each week within that month.

This month the theme has been thrinchies or 3" x 3" square pieces of artwork. Each week I've intended to join in with the challenges and each week I've failed, lol. However I really like music themes so this week I have managed it.

The background is a 'music block' stamp by Stampendous. I've layered a cut out of an UM violin and finished off with 3 matching brads.

I quite like doing black/white work with just a touch of another colour.

I hope you like it and the challenge link is below, x

http://adifferentchallengeaweek.blogspot.com/2010/03/trinchies-continued.html

Friday Sketchers #94 and Cute Card Thursday #104

Good evening fellow bloggers. I've very quickly rustled up this card for my big bruv's birthday next week. I've just downloaded this image from Mo's digital pencil site and was itching to get it onto a card.

I've used the current Friday Sketchers sketch challenge as my baseline inspiration. As usual I'm too late for the Theme Thursday masculine challenge but I am entering it into the Cute Card Thursday Challenge who are asking for an Anniversary/Birthday/Regular occasion card.

The papers are from Paper Pizazz birthday pad and I've coloured the image with watercolours.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x
http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/friday-sketchers-94-sponsored-by-plum.html

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-104-happy-anniversary.html

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Totally Papercrafts; Just Magnolia #47; Our Creative Corner; Lots To Do #11; Allsorts #44

Hi everyone, I've been busy again. This time creating a springtime card which I shall probably send as an Easter card.

I've followed the current Totally Papercrafts sketch challenge and incorporated the Just Magnolia Challenge to create an Easel Card. I really like making these cards, so effective. I have to admit I'm not sure about the bow amongst the 'fallen leaves' but it was part of the sketch challenge. I may remove it later. I made the leaves from cutting petals from prima flowers.

Tilda and the Tree have both been coloured with Copics and the DP is from a freebie Spring Paper Pack by 'mymindseye'.

The 3 white flowers with pearls are from WildOrchid Crafts.

I am also entering this in the Our Creative Corner which has a Spring/Easter theme; Lots To Do which has a Springtime Challenge; and Allsorts which challenges us to 'Spring is in the air'.

I hope you like and the challenge links are below, x

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-8-sketch.html

http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/2010/03/week-47-easel-cards.html

http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-creative-corner-think-easter.html

http://lotstodocallenges.blogspot.com/2010/03/week-11-springtime.html

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/week-44-spring-is-in-air.html

Monday 22 March 2010

OCCSC7; Creative Card Crew #46; ABC Q Challenge; Playdate Cafe #21

Good Evening bloggers, a mixed weather day today.


Eventually got around to some crafting this evening and made this little creation for several challenges using the Our Creative Corner current sketch as my baseline, although I did swap over the brad flower bellies as I crop-o-diled them the wrong way round, lol.


After finding the DP in amongst my stash I remembered that the Creative Card Crew had a 'dotty' challenge going on.


The ABC Challenge was 'Q' for 'quotation'. My good friend Diane http://inkymeanderings.blogspot.com/ gave me this U/M quotation by Hans Christian Anderson last week so I tried it out here. It reads "Just living is not enough said the butterfly. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower". I stamped it onto the reverse of a small doilie and edged it with Copics.


The butterfly and the flower were stamped onto Bazzill chips that had been coloured with Adirondack Lemonade dabber, and then edged with faux stitching.


The colours used were to fit in with the Playdate Cafe Challenge #21 to use pale pink, medium pink and pale yellow.

Anyway, I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://ourcreativecornerweeklysketch.blogspot.com/2010/03/occ-sketch-challenge-occsc7.html

http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-46-going-dotty.html

http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/q-is-for.html

http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/2010/03/play-date-cafe-challenge-pdcc21.html

Sunday 21 March 2010

LOTV #49; Colour Create #40 and Creative Cottage #2

Good Evening everyone and I hope you've all had a lovely day of sunshine too. Must admit wasn't happy with yesterday's weather but the odd rainy day I can cope with.

I started making this card this afternoon for my Step-Daughter's birthday which is coming up at the end of the week. Then I had to break off to trundle into Leeds to watch the Solid Silver 60s show. Brill!

Onto the card. I followed the sketch set by the current Lili Of The Valley Challenge, using the colours on the current Colour Create Challenge which were Mint, Chocolate and White. You want to hop over to their blog to drool over their photographic inspiration, although diet warning.....just looking will make you gain 7lbs, lol. Finally, the Creative Cottage were asking for us to incorporate flowers. So as well as the prima flowers I mounted my Lisa's Altered Art piccie onto a chipboard tulip shape. Good or what eh??? BTW, the little girl has 'Queen' on her hat.

I created the mint colour for the tulip shape by mixing Claudine Helmuth paints in Sky Blue and Yellow Pastel. I also coloured 2 small chipboard circles with the same colour. I then punched holes in these and fastened to the card with brads. It just gives a peek of the colour below the brads. I edged the tulip shape with Adirondack dabbers in Hazelnut and Espresso.

Colour Create also gave an optional extra challenge of using texture. The left-hand border is bazill card which has a texture to it and the prima flowers are embossed. The little pearls extending from the flowers are white but I tinted them with Copic Ciao Light Orange (YR02).

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-49.html

http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-40-mint-chocolate-and-cream.html

http://creativecottagechallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/creative-cottage-challenge-2-flowers.html

Saturday 20 March 2010

Truly Scrumptious #28; Pile It On #10; A SpoonFull of Sugar #95; The Treehouse THT041

OK, this is better. After I posted the last blog message I noticed that my editing had obliterated part of the card. My excuse is that I've had a c--- week, lol.

So, I've made this card for the very kind vet who looked after our bunny even going beyond the call of duty and nursing him at home. I've used the sketch from the current Truly Scrumptious Challenge as my baseline inspiration. The Treehouse Thursday Challenge was to use a Thank You theme and with it being a little bunny I thought it was also appropriate to enter it into the current Spoon Full of Sugar Easter Challenge. Finally Pile It On are challenging us to use pastels.

I've coloured the little girl with my.....wait for it......Copics. Not sure who makes this cute stamp as I acquired it but it stamps a really crisp image and is brill for colouring.

Hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://trulyscrumptiouschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-28.html

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-10-pastel-colors.html

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-95-easter.html

http://treehousestamps.blogspot.com/2010/03/treehouse-thursday-challenge-041-thank.html

Sketch and Stash Challenge #31


Not one of my better creations but I was doing it at one o'clock this morning after driving a 130 mile round trip to be part of a surprise birthday party, lol.
Anyway I digress.....
It was very much a quickie for a neighbour's birthday I had forgotten and I decided to use the Sketch and Stash #31 sketch challenge as my inspiration. The Stash part of the challenge is to use something new from your stash. For this card it is the red holographic backing card which I got from KanBan. Also the red ribbon is new off a roll I bought at the Doncaster Show last year. Sorry can't remember the company's name.
The image is a poppy stamp embossed in black onto black card and then coloured with Twinkling H2Os. I love the effect this gives.
Hope you like it and the link for the challenge is below, x
PS As my school reports often said.....'should try harder'

Thursday 18 March 2010

Our Little Bunny Rabbit


Just wanted to share this last photo we have of our bunny 'Velvet'. Unfortunately we had to have the poor little mite put to sleep today as he was in kidney failure. It would appear that his kidneys were already in trouble prior to his accident, although he hadn't been displaying any symptoms. The anaesthetic and subsequent medication just became too much for him. The vet even looked after him at her home last night as she felt he was too stressed at their hospital. I was able to cuddle him as he went on his way to the great rabbit hutch in the sky. God Bless, x

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Deco Pages from Vixykins

These stunning pieces of artwork arrived today from the wonderfully talented Vix at http://vixykins.blogspot.com
The pages are for my deco book on our Yahoo Group (KCUK) and my theme is 'Me and My Imaginary Friend'. I have left this open to interpretations really and Vix has used her first page to depict her youth whilst the second page is looking more at what she feels she has become. (I think I've got that right Vix!!!).
Anyway, I hope you'll agree that her artwork is stunning as always and her colouring is excellent.
She is such a gem that she sent me a card with instructions on her colouring technique to help me with my learning curve in Copics and Promarkers.
If you've not seen her work before, hop on over to her blog and take a peek.
Off to bed now so nighty night everyone, x











Poor bunny and not much creating today...

This is one of the ATCs I made last night for a swap that's running on our Yahoo Group this month entitled 'Grunge'.
I firstly coloured the card with distress inks tattered rose and corduroy and then overstamped the collage image with stazon. 2 of the buttons are cut from grunge board and coloured with distress mahogany and then holes punched.

As for bunny...his improvement yesterday was shortlived and he is remaining poorly and on a drip. Although little monkey chewed it off at one point this morning, lol, that's my boy.
Apparently his kidneys are failing which could have been present, albeit silently, before his recent injury. Its possible the medications have aggravated the problem. So another night at the vets tonight and I'll phone again in the morning.

Tuesday 16 March 2010

The Sugar Bowl #31 and bunny update

OK, firstly a bunny update. The vets had a consultation about the little bun this morning and have decided to continue with their treatment as he was rallying. They have been 'spoiling' him (their words) with fresh produce and special bunny herbs and grass and he has been eating small amounts. They've temporarily removed his plaster and splint in case this was upsetting him although this will be reapplied before he comes home. There could be many reasons why he had become poorly: stress, pain, reaction to the medication, or generally feeling p----- off!!!

So another night of observation and TLC at the vets and hopefully home tomorrow.


Right, now onto the challenge card which I have made for the Sugar Bowl #31 Sketch Challenge with Stars. What a brilliant excuse to give little Hamish in his kilt an airing. I've coloured him with the Copics and matted him onto some rather appropriate 'tartan' card.


Hope you like it and the link is below, x
http://sugarbowlblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-31-judys-sketch.html

Monday 15 March 2010

Friday Sketcher #93; Pixie Cottage; Gingersnap Creations GC46

Good evening everyone. Before I tell you about this little card let me update you on the bunny.

Well, poor little thing hadn't eaten or drunk anything all weekend, subsequently we had a clean hutch...so I took him back to the vets this pm and they are keeping him for a couple of days. He's quite poorly, probably the stress of his injury. I kept thinking over the weekend that I would just find him!!!! Anyway, hopefully he will pull round but I'll know more in the morning.

Now on a more cheerful note I created this card with the current Pixie Cottage theme in mind which was 'Green'. Bet you didn't work that one out, lol. I used Friday Sketchers #93 sketch as my starting point and have been able to include it in the current Gingersnap Challenge which is frosting (gold ep on the background).


I created the 2 background strips by creating a serendipity type effect and then embossing in gold some of the background images from a clear Stamptivity set.


The little boy (he's even got green wings) is one of Lisa's Altered Art images and he is layered onto a chipboard piece which I have coloured with Adirondack dabbers in Sandal, Willow and Gold.



I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x
http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/friday-sketchers-93-sponsored-by-la-la.html

http://thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/2010/03/pixie-cottage-challenge-11-color-green.html


http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/03/gc46-spicy-supply-challenge-frosting.html

Sunday 14 March 2010

Just Magnolia #46; Roses On Paper #33; ABC - P is for Paper Piecing; Totally Papercrafts #7

Happy Mothers' Day to everyone who celebrates it. I had a lovely day with my 2 Sons and one of my little Grand-daughters'.

I've made this card for 4 challenges today firstly using the current Just Magnolia #46 sketch challenge.

I've combined this with the current Roses On Paper Challenge #33 which is Easter. I love this little Tilda image, she looks like she is announcing something.

The ABC Challenge is P for paper piecing and I have done this with Tilda's wings. Not the easiest to cut out and then matt but I'm pleased with the result.

Finally, Totally Papercrafts #7 has a challenge for 'things with wings', hopefully Tilda is included in this, lol.

I've coloured Tilda with my copics and also the little piece of chipboard with the text. The papers are from a freebie pad with a recent craft magazine and the eggs are from my stash.

I hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x
http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/2010/03/week-46-bev-sketch.html
http://ropchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-33-hippity-hoppity-easters-on.html
http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/p-is-for.html
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2010/01/challenge-7-things-with-wings-challenge.html

Saturday 13 March 2010

Simon Says Sketch Challenge

I'm entering this card in the current Simon Says Sketch Challenge but its also for a very special lady who is 50 next week. She has been battling extensive cancer for over a year now and has outlived her 'D' Day by about 10 months now. She is a total inspiration for positive thinking.

I've coloured Tilda with Copics, hopefully the practice is beginning to pay off, and sat her on a ribbon.

The white flower and beads are from WildOrchid Crafts. The little purple flowers are acrylic, can't remember where or when I got them, but I've attached them to the card with pearl tipped brads.


Hope you like and the challenge link is below, x

Papertake #36 Sketch Challenge and The Treehouse CAS Challenge

Good evening everyone. A quick note to update you on bunny before I launch into my challenge card. He is coping really well with his full leg of plaster, lol. Apart from some medicine which goes into his water container he also has to have 2 different ones by syringe. One he just loves, must be sweet, but the other he hates so unfortunately he has to be hauled out of his hutch for forceful administration!!! The only problem at the moment seems to be that he's off his food but hopefully that's just temporary, and to be honest I think I'd be off my food if I'd gone through his trauma.

Onto my challenge card, perhaps this should have been a bunny.... Anyway I've used the sketch from the latest Papertake Challenge and over at The Treehouse they wanted something Clean and Simple (CAS) and I thought this fitted the bill especially as the papers and the ribbon were from the 'scraps' box. The little dog was the freebie stamp with this month's Craft Stamper which I've coloured with Copics.

Hope you like and the challenge links are below, x

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2010/03/sketch-36.html
http://treehousestamps.blogspot.com/2010/03/treehouse-thursday-challenge-040-cas.html

Friday 12 March 2010

MoJo Monday 29



Hope you like my creation for the current MoJo Monday sketch challenge.

I rotated the sketch to get a different perspective.

Tilda has been coloured with copics.


Thanks for looking and the link is below, x
http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2010/03/mojo-monday-129.html

Poor Little Bunny Rabbit


This is our poor little bunny, Velvet.
I posted the other evening that he'd had a wee accident as we were getting him out of his hutch, something we've done hundreds of times. Anyway, this time he decided to stick a leg out and broke his toe.
The vet thought she may have to amputate his toe but as he is tolerating a splint and plaster they are hoping that it may heal.
Can't believe that he has a dressing the full length of his leg just for a broken toe.
I'll keep you up to date with developments, x

Wednesday 10 March 2010

Theme Thursday (oops! too late) and One Stop #70 Challenges

Oh Well! I've got a good excuse for being too late for the Theme Thursday Challenge as in the middle of my creation DH and I had to attend to our bunny. Poor thing has a sore unmentionable part!!! Anyway in the process of trying to get him out of his hutch the silly thing struggled and got one of his back legs caught in the bars and has broken a toe. Not just the nail either, its really slack for about an inch. I've spoken to the vet who says it can wait until morning and bunny seems a bit brighter now as he is munching. Needless to say I didn't apply ointment to the said sore part although he quite happily took his medicine for me. I'll update you all tomorrow. Yet another calamity for today, lol.



Anyway, I'm on time to enter this in the One Stop Challenge #70 which is 'Sew Simple'. Hopefully you can see the stitching to the top of the stamped image around the swirls. BTW the image is one of the Butterfly Kisses range which was kindly lent to me by my friend Mo. The background is one from my stash which was done using Brilliance inks.



Hope you like and the link is below, x
http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-70-sew-simple.html

Fun and Nonsense and Whoops A Daisy

OK, I expect you're all wondering what on earth I'm waffling on about. Well....the Fun and Nonsense is the title for the deco being created by the lovely Angie W on our Yahoo Group.

These are my 2 pages. The left hand one started off as being slightly more serious but then I thought the lady's demeanour fitted in with the Romeo and Juliet scenario, lol.

The right hand page was actually my first idea. Using torn pages from Pam Ayres poetry book I have depicted the well known 'I wish I'd looked after me teeth'. I gessoed over all the text although more deeply in the middle. Then I've overstamped with the main image and added the denture elements from that image at random places. Outlining in black pen I've highlighted, using glossy accents, the words 'teeth' and 'Mother's false teeth'. The colour shading is provided by distress inks in antique linen and mahogany.

Now for the Whoops A Daisy...... Before I started any of these pages I thought I'd set to and start decorating what was the original Craft Zone, now to become the spare bedroom. Being the impatient so and so I am I couldn't be bothered emptying the room so balancing on desks, cupboards, chairs etc I painted the ceiling. Except just before I finished, one of the cupboards toppled over with me going sprawling along with the chair, craft junk waiting for the day it becomes altered, and of course the paint!!!!! Miraculously the paint landed upright....how did that happen???? At least its better than my last painting accident when one of my then 6 month old kittens was in the line of fire......

Anyway I'm off to soak in a hot bath soon as I'm feeling very sore and got various shades of blue, purple and lilac materialising over my body, x

Treehouse Thursday Challenge #039

Hi everyone, this is my first creation for the Treehouse Blog Challenges.



I've rotated the sketch as I wanted to create a portrait card.



Hope you like it and here is the link :


http://treehousestamps.blogspot.com/2010/03/treehouse-thursday-challenge-039-sketch.html

Tuesday 9 March 2010

Shades of Blue and Our Creative Corner Sketch Challenge

Hope you've all had a nice day enjoying some much needed sunshine.

I've made this card for a 'Shades of Blue' challenge on the Katys Corner Yahoo Group but I'm also going to enter it in the current Our Creative Corner Sketch Challenge.

The background was created by swiping Adirondack dabbers in Cloudy Blue and Sailboat Blue. I then edged it with the Denim dabber.
The stamp is by Stampers Anonymous and the additional butterfly wing is a grunge board shape. I coloured this with the Cloudy Blue dabber, dried it, and then lightly sanded over it to expose the embossed pattern. I then swiped Broken China distress ink over finally wiping off the excess with a baby wipe. This technique allows the distress ink to 'grip' the embossing while the dabber background resists the ink.

This was then matted onto the polka dot paper by Paper Pizazz, Vintage collection. The horizontal strip is from a Laura Ashley collection.

The sentiment reads 'Precious Angel'.

Hope you like it and the OCC link is below, x
http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-creative-corner-sketch-challenge.html

Monday 8 March 2010

Truly Scrumptious; Gingersnap GC45; Wednesday Stampers; and Pile It On #9

I've made this card for a friend's birthday but I'm also submitting it to the Truly Scrumptious current sketch challenge with the optional extra of 'good enough to eat'; Gingersnap creations chestnut theme 'celebrate' challenge; Wednesday Stampers 'fantasy creatures' challenge; and Pile It On #9 challenge which asks for 1 colour (gold) plus neutrals (black and cream).

I'm sorry but I can't remember where the image is from but I've stamped her in black stazon onto some pretty glitter speckled card.



The birthday cake (good enough to eat) is an Anna Griffin brass embellishment.


The grunge frame has been coloured with Adirondack dabber in Gold. I then dried it thoroughly and sanded it to expose the emboss swirls. I then swooshed Distress Ink in Walnut Stain over the top, removing the excess with a baby wipe, thus giving a distressed look. I secured this with 2 gold brads.

I hope you like my creation and the challenge links are below, x

http://trulyscrumptiouschallenges.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-27-good-enough-to-eat.html


http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/03/gc45-chestnut-theme-challenge-celebrate.html

http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com/2010/03/03/fantasy-creatures/

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-9-one-you-must-one-color.html

Thursday 4 March 2010

Sketch Saturday #92; Allsorts #41; One Stop #69; SpoonFull Of Sugar #93; Papertake - all the Bs; Simon Says - Mother's Day

Ooo, another busy evening in my new improved Craft Zone.

Thought I'd best get Mum's Mother's Day card made so have combined it with several challenges.

Firstly I've used the sketch from Sketch Saturday #92 and then used the Mother's Day themes from Allsorts #41 and Simon Says.


One Stop Challenge asked us to be optimistically pink and SpoonFull of Sugar wanted beads.

Finally Papertake asked for buttons (top corner of sentiment), bows, brads (flower centre) and bling (the beads are sparkly and the matt behind the sentiment is cerise mirri card.


Hope you like it and the links are below, x
http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.com/2010/02/week-92-27th-february-sponsored-by.html

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/week-41-at-allsorts.html

http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/02/challenge-69-optimistically-pink.html

http://aspoonfullofsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/challenge-93-beads.html

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2010/03/buttons-bows-brads-bling.html

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/03/simon-says-mothers-day-girly.html









Totally Papercrafts Sketch Challenge, Saturday Spotlight - Clean and Simple, Playdate Cafe #19, and Quixotic - Leaves Challenge

I am entering this card in the Totally Papercrafts # 5 Sketch Challenge; Saturday Spotlight, clean and simple Challenge; PlayDate Cafe #19 Colour Challenge; and Quixotic #16 Leave It Out Challenge.


The tree stamp is from a clear Kanban Set which I have embossed in White EP.

The flowers are from WildOrchid Crafts.


Hope you like it and he challenge links are below, x


http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2010/02/totally-papercrafts-challenge-sues.html

http://saturdayspotlight.blogspot.com/2010/02/sshp20-clean-it-up-challenge.html

http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/2010/03/play-date-cafe-challenge-pdcc19.html

http://quixoticpaperie.blogspot.com/2010/03/quixotic-challenge-16-leave-it-out.html








Friday Sketchers #91 and Just Magnolia Birthdays

Okey dokey I'm back in challenge mode which is a good job as my MoJo doesn't co-operate now unless I'm following a challenge, lol


This cute little Just Magnolia image of Edwin on a Pencil was just the right thing to send to a little boy I know who has a birthday this weekend. Fortunately, Just Magnolia's current theme is Birthdays.


I've used Friday Sketchers for the design inspiration, and coloured Edwin using my Copics.



Hope you like it and the challenge links are below, x

http://fridaysketchersblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/friday-sketchers-91-sponsored-by-simon.html

http://justmagnolia.blogspot.com/2010/02/week-48-birthdays.html

Wednesday 3 March 2010

Back from Paris and the Fruit Family

Sorry I've not blogged but been catching up on 'life' since we got back from Paris on Monday.
What a fabulous weekend we had with DH's relies and the weather was warm and sunny.
We were made to feel so welcome at DH's cousin's home and his 100 year old Auntie is amazing.

Anyway, on our last evening we got a little bit silly, nothing to do with the wine, of course. Julie, daughter in law to be, was showing us some napkin folding which results in a lily flower type effect. The finished article would look lovely with a bread roll in the centre, but not having one available we improvised with an apple!!!
Anyway, I thought I could improve on that so I stood a wine glass on the 'lily' napkin and after placing the apple on the top of the glass proceeded to dress it in 2 further napkins to make a little 'person'.....ok! Not to be outdone, Julie then got a lemon and made a face, albeit a rather sad one, and sat it in another glass. So now we had Mr Lemon and Mrs Apple. Perhaps he was sad at his lack of height, lol.
















Having taken the necessary 'wedding' photo, we decided it was time for a baby apple or lemon so a banana posing as a stork flew overhead to deliver the news.....As you can see the banana, sorry stork, need some assistance.





As you can imagine there was much giggling going on. Not sure I should be let out really.....