Sending Stefan Hogs and Kisses

G'day.  Just thought I'd show you the card I made for my darling Hubby for Valentine's Day.

I've used one of the cute new Animal Crackers digis by CC Designs.... this one is "Cupig", love it!  My husband loves pigs, so as soon as Christine penned this one I knew I had to get it. so I did, from here.  Moving Along With The Times has Cute Critters as their challenge theme, so I'm entering there.

I've used the yummy sketch from Sunday Sketch and Stamp this time around; it's a goodie :-)  I've reversed it... but that's allowed, so I'm entering there.

I used Prismacolor pencils to colour the image, I do like the soft finish you can get with them - and I'm still on my mission to perfect the technique :-)
The sentiment is part of the digi... though it wasn't in this position on the stamp so I cropped it off a copy, and pasted it where I wanted it - yet another reason to love yer digis!!
I printed the papers - with my new printer, my old one died at the most critical of moments, typical!  I had just bought a bulk load of ink cartridges too, so I had to scour computer stores until I found the same model - or at least one that took the same cartridges... easier said than done I might say! but my hubby to the rescue; he found one, went and picked it up and paid $39 for it... that's less than the replacement ink, lol.  
I digress.... Back to the papers, they're from Nitwits, the Puppy Love Too collection and I love them.  Digital Tuesday want us to use Pink or red, so I'll be entering there, and Pollycraft Reds, Pinks and Creams, so in there too.
I cut the mats from more of the lovely textured cardstock I'm building a range of in my stash, and popped all the layers up on foam dots, per usual :-) Crafty Emma's Challenge is Lots of Layers (at least three)... I'm in!  The image panel and mat is cut with Nestabilities Labels Nine, the edges of all the panels have been softened with a bit of beige ink.

I finished the card off with a couple of buttons from my stash, with bakers twine bows; Cupcake Craft Challenges has "Entwined" (use some twine), so I'm entering there too.
There are a lot of Love/Valentines theme challenges that I'm entering, Deep Ocean Challenge has Love You, The Paper Shelter has Be My Valentine, Simon Says Challenge and By the Cute and Girly both have Love is in the Air, Divas by Design  and Addicted to Stamps both have simply "Love", while Totally Gorjuss has "Lurve" baby ;-) Cards for Men has Valentines Day/Love, even though this card's got a lot of pink on it I think the burgundy matting has offset it enough to make it "safe" to give to my man! Fairy Fun Fridays has Let Me Call You Sweetheart, which is coincidentally one of the songs my hubby hums (used to be in a TV series we liked years ago) The Allsorts Challenges is a Free and Easy one... every week this month, easy peasy :-)

As per usual I finished the inside of the card off with papers and elements from the front: some more of the Nitwits paper and an offcut of DCWV Mariposa for the jotting panel.  Please note that I managed to straighten the panel on the left before giving it to my husband :-)  isn't it funny, it didn't even look crooked until I saw the photo.... does that ever happen to you?

Well that's it for my Valentines Day card... well my husband's Valentines Day card, we'll share :-)  So I'll send you some "hogs" and see you soon, until then have a lovely Valentines Day and Happy Crafting, Donna xx

Box for Bugs....?

I have something a little bit different today;  I have used an empty chocolate box for my Cuttlebug plates and dies since I got my 'bug.  Recently I decided to make it a bit more attractive (even though it lives in a cupboard!) Coincidentally we're showcasing projects "other than cards" over at the All That Scaps Blog 
***Warning: There's a lot of photos in this post.. even for me :-) 

I decided to give my CC Designs Sweetheart Birgitta image (available here) an outing... being a digi meant it was easy to scale her up a bit to suit the size of the box.  

Birgitta is coloured with Copics and I'm really happy with how her dress came out, I added Stickles to her wings then cut her out and added her to a couple of Fleur De Lis Nesties die cuts - one black and one from a piece of DCWV Mariposa paper.  I wrote the label on a Standard Circle Nestie, backed up with a Scalloped Circle Nestie (I would have much preferred to print my label, but my printer died, aaahhhh!!!)  The little butterflies are from a Martha Stewart punch.  My Time to Craft has A for Adorable as its theme this time, Birgitta's pretty adorable, I'm in!
I started with a choccie box similar to but not this one (this one's left over from Christmas, and no I didn't eat them all; they went into hampers (well MOST of them went into hampers, lol) 
I covered the outside of the lid with paper from DCWV Mariposa collection, all the lovely butterflies were glittered up already...bonus!  
As the paper is quite heavy I just stuck it straight on to the box (I have made one before with lightweight paper and it's a good idea to "line" the top first so that the box colours and embossing don't show through)  
I added a strip to one side - the 12" paper covered the rest in one go.  I then decided to give my new MFT Zig Zag die a run around the side of the lid, it wasn't "enough" on its own so I added a strip of plain black at the bottom and covered the join with some gold braid I've had since my egg decorating days. I used the same paper to cover the outside of the box.

The inside of the box and lid are covered with Grace Tyler paper. See, the plates and shims fit perfectly!
Cutie Pie Challenge has Anything But a Card as their theme, so I'm entering there. Charisma Cardz has "Thing With Wings" as does Crafty Emma's Store, so I'm in there too, and Paper Crafting Journey and the Gem of a Challenge both have Fairies; technically Birgitta is a Swiss Pixie, but I'm sure she qualifies :-) Allsorts Challenges Free and Easy theme is a nice easy one!
Do pop over to the All That Scraps Blog and check out the "other than cards" projects my teamies have come up with to inspire you.  I'll be back very soon with the card I've been threatening to post all week! Until then Happy Crafting, Donna

Smile for the Camera!

Today's card shows off CC Designs sweet little Swiss Pixie Camera Birgitta. ain't she cute?!!

  
I've used a digistamp, but they are available as rubber too, for those that prefer.  Fab'nFunky challenges have "Use a Digi" for their challenge this time... I'm in, easy for me I LOVE digis!  Lisa has a little challenge running encouraging us to use our uninked or unused digis, so I'm entering (finally, Lisa!) over at Waste Not Wednesdays
Sketch 'n' Stash have a Free Choice Sketch challenge running at the moment, where you can choose any sketch from their catalogue... I chose this one: 
Sugar Creek Hollow has "Vacation at the Beach" as its challenge this week, I hope my card is shabby-chic/primitive enough to qualify, as it was when I saw their theme I remembered having this image :-)  
I've used my Copics for the skin and Prismacolor pencils to colour the rest of the image, actually I coloured it months ago when I was away on holiday, and just got around to using it.  I added gloss to the sunglasses and the camera lens.
The papers are from Basic Grey's Lauderdale pad, The Crafty Pad wants us to use Fresh Spring Colours, this sure qualifies, so I'm entering there.  The textured cardstock is from DCWV.... I think.  I punched the horizontal strip with an EK Success Slimline Daisy Scallop punch.  The image panel is cut with a Classic Oval Nestabilities die, the mat is cut with a Scalloped Oval Nestie.
I finished the card off with some little butterfly brads that I recoloured with Copics then added some glitter to, some Card Candi and a little gel "Smile" sticker tag that I've had for YEARS!
The inside of the card uses elements from the front... don't they always, lol.
Divas By Design have Anything Goes, as does Allsorts Challenges and Papertake Weekly, so I'm entering those challenges.
That's it for today's card, you can always see loads of inspiration at the All That Scraps Blog, I'll be back in a day or so (aiming for tomorrow, but you know how it goes!) with the card I made for our friend Dave's birthday last Friday - it's cute too, but in a completely different way than young Birgitta here, lol.  Hope you drop by to check it out, until then, Happy Crafting, Donna

Here Come The Boys Chasing Pirates

This post, for Here Come The Boys, is my second for today, you can see my first post (for Bizzy Becs) here or by scrolling down.  The challenge starting over at Here Come The Boys is "Favourite Song".  I was hard pressed to choose a favourite, so I picked ONE of my faves, "Chasing Pirates" by Norah Jones.  I love this song, and can relate to the "I'm so tired, from chasing pirates".... I seem to be tired from chasing my tail!

This gorgeous little pirate/chaser is "Captain Hugh" a digi by Mo Manning, their challenge this week is Anything Goes With A Mo Image, I'm in!  I've coloured with Prismacolor pencils, with a little bit of gloss on the telescope lens.  I'm really happy with my colouring on this, improving with my pencils is my mission!
I've used this great sketch from Divas by Design. but missed the deadline, still a great sketch deserves recognition.... and as the Divas have an Anything Goes theme I'll be entering their challenge anyway, lol.  Allsorts Challenges  theme is Free and Easy too, so I'm in there as well.

The papers I've used are from Kaisercrafts Up Up and Away pad, mounted on chocolate card from American Crafts.  The triangles on the corner are actually from an envelope I salvaged from somewhere, embossed with Cuttlebugs Tiny Bubbles folder.  The "Ahoy" is made up of letter stickers that I've had hanging around for ages.  The Pebbles on the corner of the image panel are from the Golden Flowers collection (from Scrappers Must Haves), the twine is from my stash and the great charm is a gift from my blog friend and fellow HCTB DT member Woo.  I think my card has a  "vintage" feel, so I'm entering Charisma Cardz  challenge.  It's definitely One For The Boys, so I'm entering the Digi Stamps 4 Joy challenge too.

The inside of the card is finished in my usual fashion, with papers and elements from the front, loosly following the sketch.  In addition I have used the Treasure Chest digi from Make It Crafty, coloured with Prismacolor pencils with some added sparkle and pearls.
Pollycraft has Favourite Things as its challenge theme.... not only is the jewellery pretty high on the fave list, I've used a cute digi, nice papers and some simple embellies, all favourite ingredients for me.

Prize for HCTB Favourite Song Challenge

Well that's it from me today, don't forget to check out the rest of my teamies great creations, why not have a go at the challenge this fortnight... I bet you've got a zillion ideas using your favourite songs... and there's a great prize.
I'll be back in a few days with the card I made for our friend's birthday, which I have ready to post when there's a bit of a lull on my blog, lol (actually I had it ready to go up on Friday and forgot to schedule it, duh!) 
Until next time, Happy Crafting, Donna

It'll be "All White" on the night

White on White is the theme over at Bizzy Becs Challenge this month, I'm honoured to be Guest Designer for February and this is the first of my "inspiration" cards.

You know how much I love my designer paper, so you can imagine what a challenge White on White was for me!  Actually the theme is "White on White (but you can use colour on the image) and at least one heart visible", and in the end it wasn't that hard! Moving Along With The Times has Have a heart (at least one visible heart) as its theme this time, so I'm entering there.
I've coloured the image, which is the gorgeous Silver Fairy from Wee Stamps (mine's a digi but it's available in rubber at Bizzy Becs Store) with Copics, using mainly R20's. The Make It Colourful challenge is to Shade with Reds, so I'm entering there. I heat embossed some areas of the wings with iridescent sparkle Embossing Powder.  Fab'n'funky Challenges has "Use a digi", easy peasy, Paper Crafting Journey has Fairies or Angels, Gem of a Challenge has Fairies and Crafty Emma's Store has Wings, so I'm entering those challenges too.
The white paper I used for the mat behind the image is sparkly too - very hard to capture in a photo though.  The background paper is flocked, it really is lovely in real life and came via my son Chris from Starfish Lane.
I used white flowers and pearls from my stash, Stamptacular Sunday Challenge has Diamonds or Pearls as their challenge; in real life I prefer diamonds, but they're so hard to photograph that I prefer to use pearls on my cards!!  Great way of adding a touch of colour too, though not in this case..."white on white", lol.

I punched the edge of the card with my Martha Stewart Heart edge punch, a bit of trial and error involved but once I got the measuring idea down, it wasn't difficult to get it (reasonably) even... I must say that punch around the page punches are easier, lol.  I punched the back flap of the card too, as you can see in the picture of  the inside.  I did it this way (making a sort of mini card inside) so that the punched hearts lined up when the card is shut.  To be honest I'd probably been just as well to have the back flap NOT punched as once it's open and standing you can't even tell that they do line up!  I used a white flower and pink pearl heart to finish the inside off - as well as the usual papers from the front :-)
Pollycraft has a Favourite Things challenge running, I've used a lot of favourite things on this card; I love digital stamps, especially beautiful ones like this! I love colouring with Copics, I love textured paper, punches, pearls and a simple layout.  Flutterby Wednesday has an Open challenge, as long as you use a butterfly, angel or fairy (tick) and Allsorts Challenges has Free and Easy, so I'm entering there.
Well, that's it for my Wee fairy on my White on White card.  I'll be back later in the month with another card for my GDT spot, why don't you give the challenge a go, I promise it wasn't difficult :-)
In the meantime, I'll be back later today with another post for my Here Come The Boys DT spot, hope to see you then, Happy Crafting, Donna

Chocolate.... Not JUST for Breakfast!

I've been working away on a few cards for upcoming DT projects, so I'm not able to show them yet.  I thought I'd pop this card from my sister's birthday in December on my blog, it's not a great card (I made it on about a minutes notice for my mum to give her!) but I thought I'd share anyway, lol.  Loving chocolate is a trait I share with my sister, so I know she knows  what I meant with the sentiment ;-)

The image is from Digistamp Boutique, (so I'll be entering their challenge) this is Zoe Loves Chocolate (did I mention that Zoe's not the only one, lol)  I coloured her with Prismacolor pencils, and I can see that I have improved since I coloured her!  I added silver Stickles to her chocolate wrapper and red Stickles to her bow, "fussy cut" her and popped her up on foam dots.  The Pollycraft Challenge this time is "Favourite Things", chocolate is definitely one of mine, so I'm entering there. The Fab'n'funky Challenge this time is to use a digi image... not a problem, love my digis, I'm in!
The paper is from Kaisercraft's Lilac Avenue collection, the mat behind Zoe has silk threads through it, it's really quite lovely.  The purple card for matting is from Die Cuts With a View, the top border is punched with a Martha Stewart edge punch (doily Lace, I think) and the sentiment is computer generated.  Crafts 4 Eternity has a Clean and Simple challenge running, as does Totally Gorjuss, you don't get much more CAS than this, so I'm in.
That's it for my embarrassingly-simple card, I'll be back tomorrow with a birthday card I finished today but didn't get to photograph, and two posts for seperate challenges on Sunday, hope you'll pop back then.  Until then, Happy Crafting, Donna