Cards of Joy

It's been a long time

2011-10-08T13:35:00.000-07:00

How long? Absolutely ages!! Haven't made any cards for a while but I am missing it and plan to pick up my papercraft goodies very soon, it's my nieces 16th birthday on Halloween so plan to make her something instead of buying.

Thought I would share a cake with you I made today....a giant donut!! Love these, made this funky blue. Mum said she wouldn't eat any because the icing was blue, I had to tell her it tasted totally normal lol.

Hope you like it and I hope to be back soon with some new card creations.

Joy xx

Lilli of the Valley and Cupcakes

2011-04-30T15:31:00.001-07:00

I'm back!!! A new card to show you, made with one of my new Lilli of the Valley stamps which I bought at the Alexandra Palace Craft Show. I had such a wonderful day there with my friend Lisa who is new to crafting and already spending a fortune on stash lol. The image is coloured with my trusty Promarkers, accents of stickles here and there. The papers are by Craftwork Cards as well as the card blank and sentiment. The beautiful flowers are of course from Wild Orchid Crafts, I am well and truly smitten with these now, no holding back from now on lol.

I've also been dabbling with cupcake baking recently, can't seem to stop myself, I've baked vanilla, chocolate, apple crumble, caramel cupcakes to name but a few. I will attach a couple of photos below which aren't great but at least give you a glimpse of what I have been doing. I'm new to baking so I hope to improve.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

What a lovely day

2011-04-29T06:16:00.000-07:00

What a day, the showers stayed away, a wonderful day for a wedding. What a lovely couple William and Catherine make. Don't know about you but Kate's dress was simply stunning, the lace sleeves divine. Diana would be very proud of her first born.

Congratulations William and Catherine!

Candy

2011-02-28T11:05:00.000-08:00

Tab at Tabby Craft Designs has some wonderful blog candy up for grabs. Please visit her blog to have a gander, it's gorgeous and so so kind of her.

Good luck everyone.

Joy xx

Quickie baby girl card

2011-02-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

This is a quick simple baby girl card I have made for my box which I wil be taking to work, trying to get my stock up lol. The image is from the Digi Stamp Boutique, white linen card from The Papermill. Image has been paper pieced as well as the baby socks, the bunny toy has been coloured with Promarkers. I then put the top piece of card through my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots folder and then used my brand new Martha Stewart butterfly punch :)

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Teddy Bo

2011-02-05T15:14:00.000-08:00

How lovely is this bear? Absolutely gorgeous I think. I made this card using all Kay & Co card from a recycled card pad I bought absolutely ages ago, all shades of brown. I think it suits the card perfectly. I coloured the image with my Promarkers, used a little pink glitter and liquid pearls. I again used my Nestabilities to cut the circle etc. Ah I nearly forgot, I also used my new distressing tool from Tim Holtz, I think it is great and gives such a great effect. The sentiment stamp is from a free stamp pack I got from the front of a craft magazine and the stamps are by Papermania, again I have had these ages and never used them.

I really like this card, I hope you do.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Cupcake Birthday

2011-01-31T15:07:00.000-08:00

A very quick post to show you a card I made for a workfriend whose birthday it was today.

Images by Kanban, coloured with Promarkers, with glitter and liquid pearls added. Bazzil card and brown spotted paper by Papermania "The Big One". Sentiment by Craftwork Cards.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

A couple of cards to show y'all!

2011-01-26T10:59:00.000-08:00

I've found a bit of time the last few days to craft, which makes a nice change, I think i'm getting the crafting bug again hooray!! Just a quick post and will come back later and post the recipes for these cards, but for now, here they are, hope you like.

Joy xx

Sketch Saturday - Week #139

2011-01-22T15:10:00.000-08:00

As I said in my last post, I was meeting my friend today who sadly lost her mother on Thursday. She's doing very well, much more upbeat than I anticipated and she appreciated the card that I made for her. I think she's going to be ok, it was a difficult relationship and there are a few things to iron out but I think she will come out of it ok.

Anyway, it's that time again, time for the Sketch Saturday Challenge. I love this challenge so much because I am always having difficulty in deciding how to lay out my cards so this challenge makes it easy work. I had a great time making this card with a new LOTV stamp that I recently purchased, isn't she an adorable little girl.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Image - LOTV "Little Ballerina"
Image coloured with Promarkers and Copics
Papers - Cosmo Cricket
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards
Nesties
Martha Stewart Heart Punch
Punched flowers
Liquid Pearls

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Sincere Condolences

2011-01-21T15:01:00.000-08:00

A very quick post tonight just to post a sympathy card that I have had to make, my first one. My best friend from schooldays had some sad news just a few weeks ago, her mother had cancer. Just a week ago she was told it had spread and that it was terminal. She passed away yesterday :( They weren't very very close but you only get one mum don't you so it is still a very sad occasion.

I got this wonderful image from Pink Petticoat which fit the bill perfectly. I just made a very simple card in black and white and used my Cuttlebug and the Swiss Dots folder. I found a lovely sympathy verse online, there are some lovely verses, I was in tears more than once just reading them.

I am off to meet my friend for coffee in the morning and a natter so am off to bed now.

Thanks for reading and looking.

Joy xx

Sketch Saturday - Week #138

2011-01-15T13:29:00.000-08:00

A quick post this evening to add the card that I have just made for Sketch Saturday's challenge this week. The sketch is great so I just had to give it a go and of course had to use one of my new LOTV stamps, isn't this little bunny gorgeous, I love him.

The recipe for my card is:-

Papers: Dream Street Papers - Nancy - The Loft and Gracie - Bubble Gum
Image - Lili of the Valley - Umbrella Bunny
Image coloured with Promarkers
Flowers punched.
Papermania Brad and pink half pearls added
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards
Nesties

Thanks for looking. Please leave a comment.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations Challenge 94 - Photo Inspiration

2011-01-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

Managed another card, I am such a slow crafter, I can work a little at a time on a card and take 2 or 3 days lol, I won't win any medals for being speedy lol.

Anyway onto the card. I decided to enter another challenge, this time the Creative Inspirations challenge for which I used to be on the design team. The challenge was to use the colours blue, white and brown which I think I have managed to do thankfully lol.

The image I used is a freebie from Meljen Designs called "Sweet Little Donkey", isn't he adorable? I again used my Promarkers to colour the image and used a few accents of Sakura which do not show on the photo.

The paper I have used is called brown and blue dots and I think (I could be wrong) it is by Hot off the Press but don't quote me on that lol. The blue card that I have used is Bazzill Bling in a light blue.

I cut the flower using my lovely flower nesties and added a blue half pearl in the centre.

I also added some brown tulle which I had in my craft drawer and added a little charm to the centre. I then tied some string onto a button and added to the corner of the card.

Sentiment by Craftwork Cards.

And there it is, I hope you like it.

Hopefully get some more crafting done this weekend.

Joy xx

Two cards to show today

2011-01-04T15:10:00.000-08:00

Hello, I hope you are all getting back into the swing of things again now that Christmas and New Year is out of the way, doesn't it seem dull around now with the decorations and christmas trees gone. My first day back at work today, went very fast which is always good but got a feeling it is going to get busy.

It's my 40th birthday on Friday (7 Jan) and I am excited and a little sad at the same time, where have all the years gone? They went so fast, oh to be 18 again :)

Anyway over the course of the weekend I found a little time to make a couple of cards. I have used digi stamps for both, so convenient and no having to wait for them to be delivered.

The first is a baby boy card. The stamp is from Digi Stamp Boutique, isn't it lovely. I coloured the image with my trusty Promarkers and decoupaged the image also but you can't see from the photo. I also used one of my lovely Martha Stewart punches to add the heart detail at the bottom. I used some page yellow Bazzil card and some white corrugated card also and not forgetting nestabilities. Sentiment computer generated.

My second card is a birthday card. The image for this card is from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, again coloured with Promarkers. I used some blue Bazzill and brown corrugated card and added some blue half pearls. The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards.

I hope you enjoy the cards, thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T15:22:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to pop on and wish you all a very Happy New Year, let's hope 2011 realises our dreams and is good to every single one of us.

Joy xx

Anyone for a cupcake?

2010-12-30T12:35:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I've had time to have a little play and made this cake themed card....mmmmm looks delicious, I could eat one of those now....as if I haven't eaten enough this Christmas.....Weightwatchers is looming lol.

Anyhow, that's it for now, off now to watch some TV before bed but hope to get some more crafting time before going back to work next week. Hope you are all having a lovely day.

The recipe for this card is:-

Images - Kanban
Images coloured with Promarkers with Sakura accents
White Hammered Card - The Papermill
Doodlebug Paper - Cherry Chocolate Dot
The green and pink card I have used is all by Bazzill
Sentiment - dreamed up by me lol
Pink Liquid Pearls
Green Opaline Half Pearls
Spellbinders Nestabilities

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Challenge: I ♥ ProMarkers Challenge Blog

I'm back

2010-12-29T11:45:00.000-08:00

Hi, Long time no see. Well I really am getting the urge to start crafting again after nearly a year break. I have made a couple of things, this was the latest project I made a few weeks ago...a sock monkey. I didn't realise how easy they were to make so decided to make one for my niece Georgia as she asked me so nicely lol. Here it is. Now onto some cards...watch this space. x

Joy xx

I'm still here

2010-06-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hi, I just wanted to pop on, it has been ages, my little puppy takes up so much of my time. I haven't really done any crafting since I got Bailey at the end of December. I did manage to make my friend a new baby card and something else which I have never attempted before but I was determined to make her something nice. It's my first attempt so not 100% but I was pleased with it and my friend absolutely loved it. I hope you like it too. :)

Here's a quick piccie of Bailey too, my little chi pup:

Joy xx

The new addition to our household

2010-01-04T06:02:00.000-08:00

Meet Bailey my new Chihuahua puppy who I got last week and who is keeping me so so busy it is unbelievable. I never ever realised a puppy would be such hard work, you can't keep your eyes off him for longer than a second but he brings so much happiness, he is such fun to be with. I am off to the vets with him this afternoon to get him all checked over. He won't be having his jabs for a few more weeks yet because he is so small. However it is so freezing cold at the moment I don't think he would want to go out....can't blame him really.

Speak soon.

Joy xx

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

2009-12-22T07:13:00.000-08:00

I'm back!! Recovered from my op, all went well although my consultant has said it was a very difficult operation and I lost a bit of blood. When I came round after the op I had so many tubes coming out of me it was unbelievable. Anyhow I haven't managed to do any crafting whatsoever since my op but shall ease myself back in very soon. I have managed to get my christmas shopping done though but really must start wrapping it all up...only 3 days left..arrrghhh!!

We have had tons of snow around here the past few days, it is so pretty but I really don't like driving in snow so my dad has been driving me back and forth to my hospital appointments. I took the picture above on Friday last week, it was taken just near to our house and is so pretty, the sun was just begining to shine through the trees.

I shall be blog hopping through your blogs to see what I have been missing, I am sure there are lots of lovely christmas cards to hop through.

Take care and have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.

Regards

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 36 - Sparkle

2009-11-18T11:00:00.000-08:00

Ok so I have scheduled this post because I will be in hospital on Wednesday recovering from an op so fingers crossed this post does actually go live. This will be my last card for a few weeks, as soon as I am up on my feet and comfortably sitting I will get some cards made to pass the time.

This week's challenge over at Creative Inspirations is Sparkle. We want to see glitter galore on your cards so let loose and release the glitter lol, this could get messy!! I absolutely love glitter and especially at Christmas, all my cards are glittered to within an inch of their lives lol.

Our sponsor this week is Mo's Digital Pencil Too and she has sent us this wonderful digi image to use. Since receiving this image I have downloaded a few more because they are such great quality and are lovely to colour.

Hop on over to Creative Inspirations to see what the wonderful prize will be this week and please please please check out the DT members blogs to see their cards for this week's challenge.

The elements I have used for my card are:-

Image - "Skating" by Mo's Digital Pencil Too
Image coloured with Promarkers, Sakura Pens and Glitter
Papers - Papermania "Deck the Halls"
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards
Nesties "Labels One"
Scalloped Cardstock from Craftwork Cards
Snowflakes cut using a Cuttlebug Snowflake Die

Thanks for looking and I hope to see you all shortly when I am back on my feet.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 35 - New or Neglected

2009-11-15T02:42:00.000-08:00

Hi, Sorry for the delay in posting this week's challenge, I have been very busy preparing for a craft fair which I decided to attend yesterday. I wish I hadn't bothered, the weather was terrible, it was pouring with rain and the wind was horrendous. A few people did venture out but not many. I sold 5 cards in all, 3 to my brother and 2 to an old school friend. However after speaking to other people there they also didn't sell much at all so I take heart from that that my cards are not complete crap lol.

Anyhow onto this week's challenge over at Creative Inspirations which is to use something new or neglected on your card. I chose to use one of my new Sugar Nellie stamps which I have had for a little while but have not used before. So you could choose something that lies in the bottom of your craft drawer that has been neglected as of late....go on, give it an airing and get it out and bring it back to life.

The prize this week is a $10 gift certificate from Digital Delights...wow, I want that!!

Please also don't forget to take a look at the other DT members blogs to see their wonderful cards for this week's challenge, you will not be disappointed.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Image - Sugar Nellie
Image coloured with Promarkers and glitter
Papers - Papermania "Rose Tinted Christmas"
Sentiment - Craftwork Cards
Pink Bazzill Bling Card edged with my Martha Stewart Lace Doily Punch
Oval Nesties

A lovely simple card I think you will agree and my brother actually bought this off me at the craft fair so someone is in for a treat!

Thanks for looking, cya next week.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 34 - Red & Black

2009-11-08T15:34:00.000-08:00

Another great challenge over at Creative Inspirations this week. The theme we have this week is Red & Black. I couldn't decide what papers to use so eventually decided on using the spotted paper from Clare Curd's "The Big One" by Papermania, I love spotted paper. I had also just bought a few more new stamps including this one, isn't that little mouse so cute....I wonder what he has done eh? The stamp is called "Max Letter" by Stampendous. I coloured the image using my trusty Promarkers. The christmas trees are peel offs that I stuck onto dotted paper and then cut out. I love these peel offs as they are very sparkly and I love anything that sparkles.

Please have a go at this challenge and don't forget to check out the other DT members cards and blogs, they are so inspirational.

Well only another week before I go into hospital...yikes! I have my pre-op appointment tomorrow but luckily I have this week off as holiday and then I shall be off until after I have recovered from my op which will probably be in the New Year.

One good thing about being off is I have made about 5 christmas cards in the last two days, that is a lot for me, I can only usually manage one a day....I am such a slow coach. I am seriously considering having a table at a little Christmas craft fair that is taking place in Baldock next weekend. I always wonder if my cards are good enough that anyone would want to buy. I think I will see how much it costs and if it isn't too expensive I will give it a go and count my losses if I don't sell anything.

That's all from me for now, I will be on again before I go into hospital.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T04:24:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say Happy Halloween to you all. I hope you all have a spooky day. It's my niece Shannon's birthday today and she will be 14 so Happy Birthday Shannon.

Hope we get lots of trick or treaters tonight....can't wait.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 33 - Decorate a paper bag

2009-10-31T04:15:00.000-07:00

The fabulous challenge over at Creative Inspirations this week is to decorate a paper bag. Now if you are anything like me, I have never done it before and I am sure there are loads of you out there who haven't either. So come on gals, gather your bags and crafting tools and get started, you might even make something to put some christmas presents in this year instead of wrapping them, wouldn't that be great.

The prize this week is some gorgeous ribbons from our sponsor Crafty Ribbons. I totally love ribbons and I have used some on my bag this week.

Don't forget to check out what the the other DT members have come up with, all totally gorgeous this week I must say.

The elements I used to decorate my bag are:-

I got my bag from a sandwich shop lol.....there you go, didn't really cost me anything lol
Image - Digi Image from Mo's Digital Pencils
Image coloured with Promarkers and I have also added some glitter too.
Ribbon from stash I also used one of my Martha Stewart punches
Paper - Penny Black "Snowflakes"
I also used some off white Bazzil Bling

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 32 - Halloween

2009-10-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, another fabby challenge over at Creative Inspirations this week for you. Halloween is the name of the game...we want to see your lovely Halloween cards. Isn't Halloween getting really popular now, I love it, I love to see everyone dressed up in their spooky outfits, we always buy lots of goodies for the trick and treaters...can't wait.

There are two prizes for this week's challenge so hot foot it over to the Creative Inspirations Challenge blog and check them out.....click here to be taken to the blog.

For my card I made my first ever penny slider card...yay, I think it's fab, the little skull spins and slides from side to side.

Anyhow, the elements I used for my card are:

The penny slider card kit I bought from Create & Craft.
Image - Sugar Nellie - "Little Witch"
Image coloured with Prismacolor Pencils
Papers: Bo Bunny "Boo Crew Strip" and "Boo Crew Dot" both double sided
Skull and spider embellishments from My Minds Eye Sheet of elements

Hope you like the card.

for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 31 - Family

2009-10-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

Hi and thanks to everyone who joined our challenge last week, all the entries were wonderful.

This week's theme over at Creative Inspirations is Family! Another easy challenge, Christmas is fast approaching so I am sure you are all getting busy making your family and friends Christmas cards, I know I am lol.

The DT cards this week are totally amazing so please go and check them out to get some inspiration for your entry this week.

The fabulous prize this week has been donated by Wags n Whiskers so make sure you check our what's on offer over at the Creative Inspirations Blog.

The elements I used for my card are:-

The stamp was purchased from from Craft Addicts. I have mislaid this at the moment so cannot give the name of it but will update as soon as I find it.

I coloured the stamp using Promarkers and I used glitter for his beard and the trimmings on his hat.

I used black card which I put through the Cuttlebug using the snowflake embossing folder. I also used red glitter board which I then used my Martha Stewart punch to make the zig zag effect. I then highlighted some of the snowflakes on the black card using a Sakura clear glitter pen.

"With love at Christmas" sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

Thanks for looking.

Joy x

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 30 - Sketch

2009-10-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, I hope you are all having a great week. It's time for another challenge at Creative Inspirations today. We have a lovely sketch for you all to follow this week and what a great sketch it is. I personally love sketches because I am always trying to think of new layouts but usually end up with an old one that everyone has seen before. Now Christmas is fast approaching so I decided to make my card on a christmas theme as I have many to make especially as I am going to be out of action for a few weeks before Christmas.

Please pop on over to the blog and see what wonderful prize we are giving away this week to one lucky winner and don't forget to check out the DT cards for inspiration.

Anyhow here are the elements I used in my card:-

Image - House Mouse "Stocking full of love"
Coloured with Promarkers
Papers - DCWV "Rose Tinted Christmas"
Flowers purchased at Ally Pally Craft Show
Sentiment and Card Blank - Craftwork Cards
Papers matted onto pink Bazzil Bling Card
Glitter

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspiration - Challenge 29 - Letters/Numbers

2009-09-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

Well are you ready for another challenge, we have a great challenge for you over at Creative Inspirations this week. We would like to see letters or numbers on your card. When I made my card I felt a bit of a fraud but "Boo" is letters right lol! Anyhow, I made my card using a fab die cut sheet by My Minds Eye....it had all the elements on it which I popped right out and put on my card. The backing paper is also by My Minds Eye although sadly I forget the name. I also managed to use my fab new Martha Stewart punch which I bought at the Ally Pally Craft Show on Saturday. I went along with my lovely niece Georgia and we had great fun, it was Georgia's first time in London and she loved the train journey there.

Oh I nearly forgot, this week's prize is by Paper Angels and they have given us some lovely animal templates....come on, you have just got to enter to win these beauties.

You might remember in my last post I said I was having some health issues and had a hospital appointment. Well I went for my appointment on Monday and sadly I need to go into hospital for an operation on November 16. I am going to be in hospital for 3 days and then off work for possibly 6-8 weeks. My consultant gave me a scan and it has been discovered that I have cysts on both ovaries, possibly two on one of them as well as some endometriosis. That would explain the excruciating pain I have been in at times. I did have a similar operation 8 years ago and never thought I would have to go through it again but I suppose you can never be too sure. I'll probably be laid out flat for a fair while because they cannot do it by keyhole surgery so I don't know how I am going to manage without being able to make cards. I am hoping I recover enough to sit so I can try and do a little card making otherwise I will be bored out of my mind.

Anyhow that's my news for now. I look forward to seeing your creations this week and shall be blog hopping to have a good nose around.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 28 - Autumn/Fall

2009-09-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

Firstly an apology, I have been a very bad blogger recently, time seems to run away from me, I only seem to have time to craft at weekends recently and then I just feel so tired. I am also suffering with excruciating stomach pains on and off. I am off to see a consultant at my local private hospital on Monday(thank god for private health insurance through work). I had a large cyst removed 8 years ago from my ovary and the gyne said I had a bit of endemetriosis so I think the pain is caused by this getting worse over the years. I am hoping he can help me get rid of the pain that I am experiencing preferably without an op but we will have to see. I will update my blog when I have some news so please bear with me if I am not on here as often as I would like.

Well it's the Alexandra Palace Craft Show this weekend and I cannot decide whether to go or not. I enjoyed it when I went earlier in the year but I am so undecisive. Hmmm what to do!

For this week's Creative Inspirations challenge we have another easy challenge for you, Summer is nearly all but gone so we would like to see what you can make with the theme of Autumn/Fall. I've never made a card with this theme before but I have had my papers for this card for well over a year lol so I finally got to use them yay!

Anyhoo the elements I used for my card are:-

Card Blank - Craftwork Cards
Papers - Karen Foster Design "Autumn Leaves" and "Autumn Collage"
Image - Magnolia (sorry not sure of the name as someone kindly sent it to me)
Image coloured with Promarkers
Ribbon from stash

The image was matted and layered onto Bazill Bling and Bazill Basics card

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 26 - Sketch with brads and/or eyelets

2009-09-12T13:15:00.000-07:00

It's time for another challenge over at the lovely Creative Inspirations and this week we have a lovely sketch for you all to follow with the added task of adding brads and/or eyelets. That's easy peasy, we all love brads don't we, some of us love eyelets. I must admit I very rarely buy eyelets, I don't know why but I am always buying brads in all different colours.

Please hop on over to the blog and see all the lovely DT creations to give you some inspiration this week, they are all totally fab.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Papers - All by Paper Adventures "Green Stripe", "Green Butterflies" and "Natural Dots"
Image - Coffee Kiki La Rue (Digi Image from All That Scraps)
All matted and layered onto pink Bazzil Bling card.
Image coloured with Promarkers and Stardust Sakura Pens
Papermania Brads
Scalloped card blank and Sentiment from Craftwork Cards
Green Organza Ribbon from stash

Hope you like the card and thanks for looking.

Enjoy what's left of your weekend.

Joy xx

PCP September Challenge - Christmas

2009-09-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

Well, this is Creative Inspirations second challenge over on Papercraft Planet and it looks like it might be our last due to there not being enough entries to keep it going. Oh well, we gave it a shot, it would have been nice to have a second challenge running on a monthly basis but it is not to be.

Now everyone loves Christmas, well most people, there are a few bah humbugs out there but I am sure they are far outnumbered lol. Us card makers love a bit of glitter and snow don't we!! I certainly love Christmas so hope you like my card. It's time we all started on our xmas cards so why not have a go at this challenge at the same time, come on, what ya got to lose eh?

The elements I used for my card are:-

Stamp - Penny Black "Majestic"
Papers - Craft Creations "Christmas Scrolls Blue/Grey" and "Crystal Snow" by Heidi Grace Designs which is manufactured by Fiskars

I layered the papers onto Bazzil Bling card in a colour called "Blind Date"

Sentiment by Craftwork Cards

I stamped the image using Stazon and then covered with black sparkly embossing powder and then heat embossed the image, it doesn't show on the picture but the tree is sparkly.

Thanks for looking and I hope to see you over at Papercraft Planet.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 25 - Blue & Brown

2009-09-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

This week over at Creative Inspirations we have a colour scheme for you - blue and brown. I really like this theme as it also works really well for Christmas Cards as well as also making your cards look classy.

The prize we have for you is a selection of sheen ribbons from our lovely sponsor Crafty Ribbons. Why not pop on over to the Creative Inspirations Blog and see a picture of the ribbons up for grabs.

The items I used for my card are:-

Digi Image from The Greetings Farm called "Pretty Head Lily".
Image coloured with Promarkers.
Papers by Dream Street Papers LLC.
Liquid Pearls.
Sentiment and Card Blank by Craftwork Cards.

I look forward to seeing all the entries this week.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 24 - Friendship Cards

2009-08-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

The challenge over at Creative Inspirations is to make a friendship card. I love making friendship cards so this was always going to be easy. The prize this week is a one month guest designer spot at Creative Inspirations, how exciting is that!!

For my card the image is a download called KIKI La Rue from All That Scraps, isn't she great, you can also buy these images as rubber stamps but I wanted to get my hands on this image quickly so decided on the digi download. I coloured Kiki with my trusty Promarkers The paper I used is by Making Memories and is called "Ella Die Cut Flowers". I also used some blue and peach coloured Bazill Bling, the flowers are by Prima and the brads are by Papermania.

Please come and join in the challenge this week, I shall be blog hopping to see what you all come up with.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

DT Card for Creative Inspirations - Challenge 23 - Spots, Dots & Circles

2009-08-18T12:59:00.001-07:00

This weeks theme is Spots, dots and circles. For this Challenge we are being sponsored by Penny from Creations by Penny! If you havent already checked out her images you should do!! So we are offering one lucky winner 4 digital images from creations by penny of their choice!!!

For my card I have used the Manga Girl stamp by Sugar Nellie. I coloured my image with Promarkers. The spotty paper I have used is from "The Big One" stack by Clare Curd. I also used my fabulous new heart border punch by Martha Stewart. My scalloped card is from Craftwork Cards and the coloured card is by Papermania. The sentiment is also from Craftwork Cards.

I look forward to seeing your creations this week, don't forget to pop on over to the Creative Inspirations Blog to see the other design team inspiration.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

I Love Promarkers - Challenge 2 - Sketch

2009-08-16T08:57:00.000-07:00

I love this challenge, in fact I was a finalist in the first challenge but sadly didn't win but that's ok, taking part is such fun, I love the wonderful sketches.

This week I decided to use one of Willow Design's digi downloads...isn't it fab, my first christmas card for 2009! The download is called "All I want for Christmas is.......". I have coloured the image with my trusty Promarkers. I used some green Bazzil Basics for half of the card and the christmas tree paper is called "Festive" and it is by KI Memories. I punched the flowers out of green and red Bazzil Basics and added Making Memories brads and a spacer from my stash. I then added some red liquid pearls to the corners of my card to look like red brads. The scalloped card blank I have used is by Craftwork Cards and I bought these last week at the Stamperama Craft Show in Stevenage...I love craft shows, can't wait for Ally Pally next month! The sentiment is also from Craftwork Cards, you can never have enough sentiments on standby. I usually create my own on my laptop but I decided to invest in some for a change.

Anyway, I hope you like the card, thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 22 - Gift (Bag, Box etc)

2009-08-16T08:40:00.000-07:00

This week we would like to see you create something that can be used as a Gift for someone. There are lots of different things you could come up with for this theme so I can't wait to see what you all make!

The prize is a collection of Maya Road Fresh Chipboard - Royalty Crowns. Pop on over to the blog to see a picture of the prize, it looks great. Don't forget to have a look at what the other design team members have come up with, they're all fab.

I decided to make a little gift box. The instructions for this box I found on the Splitcoast Stampers website here, why not take a look for yourself and have a go. I have never made a box before and I was chuffed with how easy it was and how it turned out. In fact my mum used it as a gift box the very same week.

I used white hammered card from The Papermill for my box. The papers I used for covering my box are by Dream Street Papers LLC. I then used my circle and circle scalloped nesties to make the topper and added a sentiment circle....ta da....easy peasy!

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 20 - Doodling

2009-08-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

For this weeks challenge, we would like to see some Doodling somewhere on your card.

The prize this week has been donated by Louise over at Paper Angels. Here is a bit about paper angels;

Here at Paper Angels, we want you to not only have fun browsing our large range of craft supplies but also gain inspiration from our project gallery and make new crafty friends in our forum.

Whether your heart lies with scrapbooks, card making, rubber stamping, mini books or decoupage, you’ll find a wide selection of products at Paper Angels.

Paper Angels has donated an Animal Antics template, it includes 6 animals. Worth £14!!

Don't forget to check out all of the other design team cards for inspiration, they are all totally fab (although I am biased lol).

The elements I used for my card are:-

Image - Whiff of Joy
Image coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Dream Street Papers LLC
Flowers cut out with my nesties
Pearl Adhesive Stones

Please join us this week, it is a fab challenge, I know I never doodle on cards but I think I will from now on, it adds something a bit different, you can do whatever you like. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations Monthly Challenge at PCP

2009-08-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I would just like to tell you that we have started our own group over at :-

PAPER CRAFT PLANET.

There we will be able to discuss each weeks challenges with you and offer any help or advice that you need!

Anybody who is member over there is able to join, and if your not a member then there's nothing stopping you now! lol

Also to make this group extra special we will hold a monthly Challenge for our blog exculsively on Paper Craft Planet for all those lovely people who join!

So what you waiting for?!
Click HERE to be taken there right away and join us! This months challenge is to make : An Everyday Card & Tag Set. A nice and easy challenge for us to start with! The prize this month is a mix of stamped Images & Various Embellishments!

My card and tag for this challenge were made using the boy Manga stamp from Sugar Nellie, isn't he fab, he makes a great boy's card and tag.

The elements I used are:-
Stamp - Manga - Sugar Nellie
Image coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Papermania Clare Curd "The Big One"
I also used blue Bazzil Bling and Brown Pearlescent card
Sentiment generated on my laptop
I also used my Martha Stewart zig zag punch
I used my nesties to make the tag and used the same papers and stamp too. I then added a piece of brown ribbon to the top and punched through it and added an eyelet to finish it off.

Thanks for looking and I hope you like the card. Please join us and have a go at this, I never usually make tags but they are a great idea.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 19 - Kickstand Card

2009-08-01T04:17:00.000-07:00

It's that time again, challenge time. This week our challenge is for you to make a Kickstand Card.I love these cards as they look so different and really do make the image on your card get all the attention. Looking forward to seeing what you all produce!

The prize this week is one download of ANY choice from:-

For my card this week I have used:-

Image: Popcorn Bear by Crafters Companion coloured with Promarkers.
Papers - Papermania "The Big One" by Clare Curd.
Sentiment also by Crafters Companion.

Thanks for looking and I hope to see your entry for this challenge very soon.

Joy xx

I love Promarkers Challenge 1

2009-07-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

This is a brand new challenge which I first saw on Facebook. There is a wonderful sketch to follow which is totally fab so I just had to have a go and to top it off there is a wonderful prize so you would be silly not to enter really eh!!

Here is my card and I had to use one of my brand new Sugar Nellie stamps, I can't wait for more of these, I have two so far and can't wait to get my hands on the others lol, I really need to stop spending money.

The elements I used for my card are:-

White hammered card from The Papermill
Blue Bazzil Bling Card
Image - Sugar Nellie
Image coloured with Promarkers
Paper - Cherry Arte "Tropics - Flower Power"
Sentiment - Crafters Companion

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 18 - Distressing

2009-07-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

This week's challenge over at Creative Inspirations is "Distressing". Remember, it doesn't have to be a card, it can be anything you like.

Now distressing is something I have never done before, never even attempted it. I made this card in a bit of a rush, I was late home from work due to problems on the tube so that made me miss my train :o( However I am quite pleased with how it turned out. If you've never tried this before please have a go, it isn't as difficult as you might think.

Please hop on over to the Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog to have a look at this week's prize, I am sure you won't be disappointed and make sure you check out the other design team members cards this week, plenty of inspiration for you there.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Image - The Greetings Farm
Image coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Paper Pizazz "Blue/Brown Dots"
Buttons from stash

I inked the edges of the white base card with Tim Holtz Tea Dye distress inks and I inked the brown card with the Tim Holtz Walnut Stain distress inks. I also used the Tea Dye distress inks to ink all around the image and even over the top of the image a little to make the colouring look a bit older if you know what I mean.....Promarkers are so vibrant they needed to be toned down a little. I used a make up sponge which I wiped across the ink pad to achieve this effect.

I ripped the Paper Pizazz paper to rough it up a little rather than giving a straight edge to it, I think that gives a good effect.

Hope you like the card. I look forward to seeing all the entries this week, give it a go even if it is a first for you.

Take care.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations Challenge 17 - Stitching Real or Faux

2009-07-19T04:46:00.001-07:00

This weeks challenge is another easy one, this week we would like to see you include stitching on your creations. Now this can be done by either machine or if you fancy cheating ... by hand..like I have lol, I cannot use a sewing machine (I did try) to save my life.

The prize we have for you is a lovely selection of Sparkle Ribbons from our sponsor

CRAFTY RIBBONS.

Aren't they just gorgeous?!

The elements I used for my card are :-

White Hammered Card - The Papermill
Image - The Greetings Farm
Image coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Tinkering Ink
Flowers - punched
Heart Adhesive Pearls

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Rockstar!!

2009-07-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hi again, just popped on to show you another card I have made. I ordered some more Greetings Farm stamps yesterday and they arrived this morning yay so had to have a play straight away. I am loving this stamp, what a rockstar she is!! I literally just used Papermania light blue and red card and the dark blue card is something I bought from Hobbycraft. The star gems I have had a while and they are also from Hobbycraft. I got good use out of my nesties for this card and the image I coloured with Promarkers but made her glasses sparkly by using Sakura Stardust pens.

Thanks for looking, hope you like the card.

Joy xx

Cards made by my nieces with some help

2009-07-09T04:45:00.000-07:00

Hi, I just wanted to show you a couple of cards made by my gorgeous nieces Shannon and Georgia. Shannon is 13 and Georgia is 10. I stamped the images out and they coloured them in themselves using my precious Promarkers. I also helped them out with the sticking etc but I think their colouring is excellent...don't you, especially as it is their first time. They are coming to stay with me again on Friday night and they have asked to make another card so I am going to let them do it all themselves with as little help as possible and I will show you the results.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Truly Scrumptious Challenge 11 - Black, White & one other colour

2009-07-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

Yay I have time to enter another challenge and this is a challenge I have never entered before. The brief this week is to use black, white and one other colour and I decided to use this scrummy green. There is also a sketch to follow which is great. Black and white looks great with anything doesn't it so this is a great challenge. You also get to use colours for the skin and hair...that doesn't count. Here is my card and I hope you like it.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Image - The Greetings Farm "Dahlia"
Image coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Papermania - Clare Curd Signature Range "The Big One"
Green card is also Papermania
Prima Flower with Making Memories Crystal Brad
Leaves are punched out of Papermania green card

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations Challenge 16 - Gems & Pearls

2009-07-08T05:14:00.000-07:00

Hello again, it's time for the Creative Inspirations Challenge and this week's them is Gems and Pearls, now we all like a bit of bling don't we, I know I do.

This week Wendy from Louby Loo has kindly donated a $10 gift voucher to spend!!! here's a short paragraph Wendy sent us about Louby Loo:

"Digital Delights is a magical place filled with little digi creations from all walks of life. Check back often to see what is in the works!! I hope you have fun using my images. New Images are being added all the time!! My Design Team & I look forward to visiting with you!!"

Go and have a look at the Design Team cards to give you some inspiration, they are great.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Image - Miss Anya
Image coloured with Promarkers
Hammered white card from The Papermill which I layered onto some purple pearlescent card. I also used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.

I added some Prima flowers with Papermania pearl brads. I also added some gems for the buttons on Miss Anya's jacket and then a couple of pearl adhesive hearts to the top of the card.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 67 - Stitch in Time

2009-07-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I had time to enter a challenge but as I am off work this week...yay...I decided to have a go at the Cute Card Thursday Challenge. This week they want to see some kind of stitching on your card whether it be real or faux. I haven't mastered my sewing machine yet so I stuck to the faux stitching option which I am also bad at lol.

Anyhow here is my card, hope you like it.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Image - The Greetings Farm "Annika"
Image coloured with Promarkers.
Papers - Papermania - Clare Curd Signature Range "The Big One".
Papermania Brads.
Flowers were cut out from the Papermania papers as above.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations Challenge 15 - Masking

2009-06-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

Well this is a first for me, never tried masking before in my life so if I can do it, you can do it too!! It did however take me about 4 attempts to get the stamps all lined up and make it look like Tilda is actually sitting on the bench rather than hovering above it lol. If you're not sure how to do this technique, Natalie has a step by step tutorial on her blog which you can find here.

The prize this week is:-

The prize we have for you this week is a gorgeous collection of Embellishments donated by our sponsor Create & Celebrate! You can see a little piccie of these on the Creative Inspirations blog, so hop on over there and feast your eyes lol.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Images - Valentine Tilda and Bench
Images coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Dream Street Papers LLC "Cafe Chic - Lounge" and "Cafe Chic - Lotsa Java"
Flowers - Punched
Adhesive Pearls

The white card is hammered card from The Papermill and the aqua card I have used to matt and layer is by Papermania and is from the Textured Coloured Card pack.

Thanks for looking and I can't wait to see what you all come up with.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations Challenge 14 - Anything but a card

2009-06-29T14:51:00.000-07:00

This week we would like to see you make anything BUT a card! This means you could create a bookmark / Hangar, Decorate a box or stationary, Customize a Candle ... Anything you would like!

The prize we have for you this week is to be :-

Guest DT Member for the month of July!

I would like to welcome Aunty Sue to the Design Team but as you know Kellie has had to withdraw from the team so I would like to wave a fond farewell to Kellie. You never know we might see her back someday. I can't wait to see Sue's wonderful creations. Now I struggled with this challenge because I have only ever made cards before, I have never attempted anything else really so I decided to take the easy option and I made a bookmark. For this bookmark I used the Smirk Naughty and Nice products. One side of my bookmark is naughty and the other side is nice. Simple eh!! It comes in so handy because I never have a bookmark and now I do....I just need to find a good book now so I can use it lol. Anyway I cannot wait to see what you all come up with, I look forward to seeing your creations.

Ta ta for now...cya soon.

Joy xx

PS. I have a week off next week so hopefully should get lots of crafting done for a change...I can't wait.

Creative Inspirations Challenge 13 - Paper Piecing

2009-06-21T04:25:00.001-07:00

Hello you lovely crafters, just popping on to tell you about this week's challenge over at Creative Inspirations. This week the theme is "Paper Piecing".

This is where you include patterned paper in your stamped image. For example if you stamped Tilda on plain cardstock you would then stamp her again on a piece of patterned paper, cut out a part (e.g. dress) and then stick her dress to the plain stamped image of her.

This week we have a great prize generously donated by Dotty About Crafts!!

Dotty about crafts is a family run internet business located in Norfolk, England. They stock a great variety of crafting products that will satisfy any beginner or skilled crafter.

So up for grabs is a clear stamp 'together', Three bugs in a rug rub-ons 'Family and Doodlebug designs chipboard butterfly.

Visit the Creative Inspirations Challenge blog for a piccy of the lovely prize on offer this week.

Please also take a look at all the Design Team Members blogs to see their wonderful cards this week to hopefully give you some inspiration for the challenge.

As usual we will be blog hopping around your lovely blogs and leaving little comments. I can't wait to see what you all come up with this week.

For this challenge I used one of my lovely new Miss Anya stamps, she was so lovely to colour. I coloured her using my Promarkers, I love using them, they give such a great finish.

I cannot for the life of me find out what paper I used for the background and Miss Anya's socks, clothes and headband, I always keep the bit with the name on but have mislaid it so if I find it I will update this post some other time. I also used some gold pearlescent card to matt and layer onto for this card.

The flower and the leaves are just punched out. The brad is by Papermania. The ribbon is something that was tied around a craft order that I received in the post, I didn't want to throw something so precious away and the colour fit this card perfectly.

Anyway, I am hopping off again now, I hope you like the card. Get crafting you lot, I want to see your wonderful creations.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 12 - Four different papers on your card

2009-06-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hello y'all, sorry I haven't been around much, I don't know where my time goes, I have had a few orders to make but I don't seem to get a lot of time to craft at the moment, mainly weekends and that is it. However, all of that will change in 3 weeks time when I get a week off work and the house all to myself. My nieces Shannon and Georgia are coming to stay with me for the weekend and Shannon has said she would like to try crafting and so I plan a day of card making for us all, I can't wait, I will have to show you what they make.

And now onto the Creative Inspirations Challenge for this week. The theme this week is:-

4 DIFFERENT PAPERS ON YOUR CARD!

Now it doesn't matter whether the papers are patterned, embossed or if you do like I did and have 2 of them in the form of paper flowers! As long as we can clearly see that there are 4 different types it is acceptable! :)

The prize this week is a gorgeous selection of ribbons from our sponsor CRAFTY RIBBONS.

I recommend you check out their site as their ribbons truly are gorgeous!

I can't wait to see what you all come up with this week, I shall be hopping around your blogs and leaving little messages. Good luck to you all.

For my card I used one of my new Anya stamp from The Greetings Farm. It is called "Dahlia", isn't she delightful? I coloured her with Promarkers and used some glossy accents on the flower in her hair. I also used some Sakura Stardust pens to highlight certain parts of her clothes but it doesn't show in the picture. I mounted the picture onto some shapes cut out with my lovely nestabilities, I don't know what I would do without these, they are such a must have. The flowers I punched out and the brads are by Making Memories. The papers I used are all by Cherry Arte. I used both sides of the paper called "Princess Heather", another is called "Princess Corinne" and the last is called "Princess Sheri".

So that's it from me this evening, I hope to have more to show you very soon.

Hope you like the card and good luck to you if you join in with the challenge this week.

Joy xx

Baby Card/Creative Inspirations Challenge 10 - Cards for Males

2009-05-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

I so love making baby cards. A young lady I work with asked me to make this card for her. Her sister is due to have a baby boy early next week...what an exciting time. She stipulated what she wanted it to say on the front and said I could do what I wanted. I just had to use this lovely Penny Black stamp "Baby Hammock", it is so darn cute. I coloured the image with my trusty Promarkers.

The papers are downloads from Pink Petticoat. I find these spot papers very universal, I have been playing around with these papers a lot recently, so many colours to choose from too.

Overall it is a very simple card but very effective I think, I know I love it.

This card also doubles as my DT card for the Creative Inspirations Challenge this week. We would like you to make a card for a male be it your grandad, your boyfriend or a baby boy, the choice is yours.

This week's prize is a $20 Voucher for 'Simon Says Stamp' and they have said they will also cover the P+P Charges, a great prize! Woohoo, come on guys get crafting and let's see what you all come up with.

I hope you like the card. Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 9 - Sketch

2009-05-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

Wow...how fast are the weeks flying by, I cannot believe we are nearly in June. I seem to be so busy at the moment, life seems to be hectic, I barely have time to craft during the week however I have had a few orders recently and I am just getting to the end of them now thankfully, I might actually get to enter a few challenges, I miss that so much. So anyhow, I have a couple of cards to show you, one being my card for this week's Creative Inspirations challenge. There is a lovely sketch to follow this week. My mojo seems to have escaped me at the moment cos I made this card but wasn't happy with it really but I don't think I could have done any better this week...I don't know where my mojo's gone..do you? Hopefully it has just gone on a short vacation and will be back very soon lol...fingers crossed.

This week we have a prize with a difference:-

GUEST DT MEMBER FOR JUNE!!

Oh how exciting, I can't wait to see who wins, who will be joining us for June.

Ok, well here's my card, the elements I used are:-

Image - Gorjuss Girl
Image coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Cherry Arte
Flower - Prima and also one punched flower
Brad - Papermania
Pearl Hearts from Hobbycraft

Hope you like the card, thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 8 - Embossing

2009-05-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

Hello all, another week has flown by, where is the time going? I am looking forward to a week off at the start of July, a fun week of crafting all by myself so the countdown has begun...how sad am I, there's weeks to go yet lol.

Anyhow, onto the challenge. This week the brief is Embossing. As you can see from my card I used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder to cover the embossing part of my card. I have used my new Magnolia pony stamp which I absolutely love, I have seen so many fabulous cards made with this stamp. To colour the image I have used my Prismacolour pencils which I still need to practice with but it's coming along ok I think. The flowers I bought at the Alexandra Palace craft show but I cannot for the life of me remember the stall they were from. I also punched a couple of flowers and added Papermania brads to the centres. The backing paper is a download from Pink Petticoat and isn't it sweet, I really love the colour too.

The prize this week is donated by our very own Kellie. She is Stampin' Up Demonstrator so is donating us a Stampin' Up Stamp Set from the Aussie Sale-A-Bration ! Please hop on over to the Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog to see a piccy of the prize, it is so fab and I want to win it lol...but I can't.

That's it for tonight. I hope you like the card and I look forward to seeing your wonderful creations.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Commissioned Card - 70th Birthday

2009-05-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

Just another quick post to show you this card I made for a friend of a lady I work with. She requested I make a card for her nan who was going to be 70. She wanted a card with flowers on but didn't want it to be old fashioned. I found this lovely digi image over at Sketching Stamper and thought it would be perfect for the job. I coloured the image using Prismacolor Pencils and added some Glossy Accents to the vase and flowers. I used my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder on the white card and the pink card is Swiss Dots Bazzil card which I bought when I went to the Alexandra Palace craft show recently. I made the tag myself and tied it to the card using the pink ribbon from my stash. I then just added a few adhesive pearls to finish the card off. I hope you like it.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 7 - Colour Combo - Red, Blue & Green

2009-05-08T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, I hope you have all had a fabby week and yes it is that time again...the weekend my favourite time, hopefully I get to have a couple of lie ins to recharge my batteries ready for another busy week. It's also time for the Creative Inspirations challenge. This week we have a colour combo challenge of red, blue and green. Aaarrghh...I searched high and low for suitable papers and couldn't see how these colours would go together. In the end I found these papers which were blue and green with white dots and I coloured the white dots red with my Promarkers so that the paper fit...he he how crafty and clever eh.

For this weeks prize Rach and Nat have decided to stamp up some of their images to send to one lucky winner. How great is that, I am sure you will get a lovely selection of images.

The elements I used for my card are:

Image - Magnolia "Butterfly Girl"
Image coloured with Prismacolour Pencils
Papers - Cherry Arte "Basic Blue - Basic Dots"
Green Bazzil Bling Card
Flower - Prima
Sentiment computer generated

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Baby Boy

2009-05-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday to you all...what a glorious day it is out there, come on the Summer, that's what I say.

Well I was woken up this morning to the sound of the doorbell and guess who it was....the postmasn with my Prismacolour Pencils.....yay! I didn't think they would arrive until next week so I get to have a play over the long weekend. In fact, I did have a little play today and decided to colour this Penny Black image that I had stamped already. I've gotta say, I am loving these pencils, I love the effect.

The card I have made is a different style than usual. I saw this on a website and decided to have a go at making it and I love it. It's not perfect but for my first go it's ok and I do like it. What do you think, do you like it? I do actually have a baby boy card to make for an order but this is a little small but I just love making baby cards, they're so enjoyable to make aren't they.

Anyhow, onto the elements I used to make this card:

Image - Penny Black "Baby Hammock"
Image coloured with Prismacolour Pencils (my first attempt at this)
Punched flower
Pearl Adhesive Stone
The papers are printed from Pink Petticoat
I cut the heart using my nestabilities

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 6 - Sketch

2009-05-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hello, just a quick post tonight or should I say this morning lol, it's time for my bed but just had to post my card for this week's challenge over at Creative Inspirations. This week Natalie has produced a lovely sketch for us all to follow, I just love sketches don't you?

This week's prize is a collection of 'Spring Time' Ribbons kindly donated by our sponsor Crafty Ribbons.

I love ribbons, we all love ribbons don't we. Please come and join in the challenge this week, there's a good chance you'll win the lovely ribbons on offer. I can't wait to see how you all interpret the sketch.

The elements I used for my card are:

Image - Sugar Nellie "A Gift for You"
Image coloured with Promarkers
Papers - BasicGrey "Bittersweet"
Flowers - Prima
Brads - Papermania
Sentiment computer generated

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

A Wedding

2009-04-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

That's why I have been so busy this week, I had an important card to make. My friend Maria got married yesterday on a gloriously sunny day which had been threatened by rain. It was a lovely day apart from a brisk breeze that nearly froze everyone whilst we were waiting for the photos to be taken but all in all it was a fabulous day and I hope Maria and Steve will be very happy. They are off on honeymoon on Monday but Steve will not tell anyone where he is taking her...my bet is it will be somewhere very hot and exotic. She's promised to text me when she knows...how exciting.

Here's the happy couple

Here is the card I made for Maria and Steve. I hope you like it.

White Hammered card from The Papermill
Pink Bazzill Bling Card
Image - F-M93 "Wedding Cake" by Funstamps
Image coloured with Sakura Stardust and Glaze Pens and then Glossy Accents added
Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots" Folder
Nesties - Classic Scalloped Heart and Scalloped Rectangle
Flowers - Punched
Brads - Papermania
Adhesive Pearls

Thanks for looking

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 5 - Recipe

2009-04-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

Well late again, naughty me. This week has been soooo hectic it is unbelievable. I will post about that in the next post.

This week's challenge over at Creative Inspirations is a recipe of 4 flowers, 3 papers and 2 buttons. I have never done a recipe card before so was looking forward to this challenge. Luckily as I had just been to the Alexandra Palace Craft Show on Sunday I had some lovely new papers from Bo Bunny that I decided to use and it gave my card a green theme.

The prize this week is sponsered by the Hobby House and its a fab prize!

BoBunny 12" and 6" Ruler pack
BoBunny Pencil 4 pack
BoBunny 18 flowers in magnetic container
BoBunny 100 Brads in magnetic container
BoBunny 50 Buttons in magnetic container

Here are the elements I used for my card:-

Image - Sugar Nellie "Daisy & Dolly"
Image coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Bo Bunny
Green Swiss Dots Bazill Card
Flowers - All Prima
Brads - Papermania
Buttons from stash

I also used my new oval nesties that I bought at Alexandra Palace Craft Show - just one of my lovely crafty buys lol.

Hope you like the card and I can't wait to see what you all come up with, I shall be paying a visit to your blogs to take a sneeky peek and leaving you a comment.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 4 - Seeing Double

2009-04-16T04:48:00.000-07:00

Hello all on this rainy Thursday!! Yesterday was so nice and today rain, rain and more rain....how dull. Anyhow I am bringing you a card to hopefully brighten your day a little.

For this week's challenge we would like to see two stamped images on your creation whether it be by masking technique or two separate stamped images which is what I have done with my card. We will also be looking for two DT members this week so please state when adding your card whether you are or are not interested in becoming a DT member.

The elements I used for my card are:-
Images - Sugar Nellie "Daisy with Pram" and Whiff of Joy "Cat with Bow"
Image coloured with Promarkers and Copics
Papers - Dream Street Papers LLC
Flowers punched
Brads - Papermania
Sentiment computer generated

I also used my lovely Martha Stewart Doily Lace Punch.

Thanks for looking and I hope to see your entries for the challenge, I can't wait to see what you all come up with.

Take care.

Joy xx

BasicGrey Challenge 30 - Chocolate Soft Centres

2009-04-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

Oh I am so excited, a new challenge for me is the BasicGrey Challenge. Now it's not that I didn't know about it but there are so many challenges out there I just haven't the time to try them all. However when I saw what the brief was this week, how could I resist. Can you tell from my card what my favourite chocolate is? Yes, you are right, mint chocolate, I absolutely adore mint chocolate and these colours are so so scrummy aren't they, so scrummy in fact I might even eat the card if I get a mint choc craving lol.

Anyhow, here is what I used to make my card:-

Papers - BasicGrey "Bittersweet" and "Wisteria"
Image - Whiff of Joy "Henry Celebrating Mouse"
coloured with Promarkers and Copics
Punched Flowers
Brads - Papermania and Making Memories

I also used my lovely Martha Stewart Lace Doily Punch and my new Dahlia nestabilities, aren't they lovely.

Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you like this card.

Take care all.

Joy xx

Colour Create - Week 11 - Chocolate, Coffee & Cream

2009-04-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

I'm in the mood for crafting...she sings. At last, my cold is abating so I am feeling human again. When I saw the Colour Create challenge this week I just had to have a go, who can resist the colours of chocolate, coffee and cream. Now that I have finished my card I love those colours even more, they look fab together. I have had a nosey at all the other entries and I love them all, so much inspiration to be gained from looking all the entries, you can never get enough inspiration can you. Well, it was Tab's turn this week to set the challenge and I must say "Thank You Tab" because I really love the card I have made today thanks to her colour choice.

The elements I have used for my card are:-

Image - Sugar Nellie "Make a Wish"
Image coloured with Promarkers and Copics
Dotted Paper - Dream Street Papers LLC "Nancy - The Loft"
Other printed papers from Pink Petticoat
Flowers punched
Brads - Papermania

Hope you like my card also and thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Hope the Easter Bunny has been

2009-04-11T16:39:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to hop on and wish you all a very Happy Easter...I am now hopping off to my bed as I have a cold at the moment that I am desperate to shake off....not been in the crafting mood at all. Hope you all have a wonderful Easter.

Joy xx

My GD card for Charisma Cardz Challenge - Challenge 14 - Colour Combo - Purple & Green

2009-04-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

Hello again, it's time for my last week as a guest designer with Charisma Cardz. I had a wonderful few weeks, all the girls are utterly fabulous who create beautiful cards. I set the challenge this week and it was a colour combo challenge to create a purple and green card, ATC or whatever else you fancy making.

This week we are proud to be sponsored by:

Craft-ED is a leading provider of educational craft products and paper craft learning programmes, directly linked to curriculum frameworks. The company develops fun and creative tools to improve the lives of children and parents worldwide by bringing enjoyment into the learning process. Craft-ED has very kindly donated:

Why not give it a go, hop on over to the blog and have a look at the wonderful design team creations.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Papers - Basicgrey "Lilykate".

Image - Sugar Nellie "Fingers Crossed".

Lilac pearlescent card.

Image coloured with Promarkers and Copics.

Prima Flowers.

Brads - unknown.

Liquid Pearls.

Coloured stick on gems.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 3 - Scallops

2009-04-08T12:39:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys, how are you all this week? Isn't it great, only four days work this week and then a lovely long weekend and guess what, I also have the whole of next week off work so I hope to get lots of lovely crafting done so hopefully I will have more creations than usual to show you next week.

Anyhow it is time for another challenge at Creative Inspirations. This week we would like to see scallops on your card, time for you to get your nesties out or your Martha Stewart punches, I've used both on my card.

This week Ali from crafty ribbons has kindly given us a selection of rainbow ribbons (there will be a photo shortly).

To be in with a chance of winning the ribbon all you have to do is create a card (or any other creative item atc's etc) with scalloped edges somewhere on it!

Please hop on over to the blog and have a look at the lovely design team creations. I can't wait to see what you are all going to make this week, I shall be visiting your blogs to leave you a little comment.

The elements I have used for my card are:-

Image - Sugar Nellie - Basket of Happiness
Image coloured with Promarkers and Copics
Papers - Cosmo Cricket
Red Bazzill Bling card
Flowers - Prima and punched
Brads - Papermania

Hope you like the card. Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Creative Inspiration - Challenge 2 - Yellow, Orange & Green

2009-04-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

Another late posting and this time it is the Creative Inspirations challenge and the brief is......yellow, orange and green. Hmmm, I am not sure of these colours, totally out of my comfort zone but anyway I did finally manage a card and here it is.

Anyhow the prize for last week's challenge was two design team spots and they have gone to Caroline and Tara who I am very pleased to be working alongside, it will be a great experience.

Now onto this week's prize. We again have 2 prizes up for grabs! Each winner will receive a voucher entitling them to 10% off an order at the Handy Hippo!!

Wow, any excuse to buy more craft stash lol, you wouldn't need to tell me twice, I would be over there like a shot.

I look forward to seeing all of the entries this week, to see how you have all done with this colour combination. I will be visiting your blogs and leaving a comment.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Papers - Me and my big ideas
Yellow and orange Bazzil Bling
Image - Whiff of Joy
Image coloured with Promarkers and Copics
Punched flowers

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

My GD card for Charisma Cardz Challenge - Challenge 13 - Sketch

2009-04-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, a very quick post tonight as it is late and I need my bed badly. What a day it has been today, I work in Moorgate and the protesters were out in force today. It all took place a couple of minutes walk from my office so we were couped up in the office most of the day, did venture out at lunchtime but nothing must was happening outside my office apart from a few reporters and news crews. Anyhoo I got home in one piece, that's the main thing. The challenge this week has been set by my fellow guest designer Lyndsey who has come up with this great sketch to follow, isn't it fab.

This Week at Charisma we have 2 prizes to choose from for one lucky winner!

1st Prize for the UK only! is: a 10% discount voucher for Handyhippo.co.uk

2nd Prize for uk and worldwide is: a special little suprise packet from Create n Celebrate!

So guys, get crafting there's a couple of fabby prizes here for the taking. All the details are on the Charisma Cardz challenge blog so why don't you hop on over and take a look.

Hope you like my card, the elements I used are:-

Image - Whiff of Joy "Melinda Blowing Kisses"

Image coloured with Promarkers

Papers - Basic Grey - Bittersweet

Flowers - Prima

Brads - Dovecraft and Papermania

Red gems from stash

Sentiment and two corners are also from the Basic Grey "Bittersweet" pack

Remember, I shall be visiting your blogs if you enter this challenge and will leave you a little message.

I am looking forward to seeing your entries.

Joy xx

Creative Inspiration - Challenge 1 - Sketch

2009-03-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

What a naughty person I am, slap my hands lol. The new Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog launched on Wednesday, of which I am on the design team, and I have only just had time to put my card on here. I don't know where the time is going recently. Anyhoo Nat has set a sketch this week which is really fabulous, please hop on over and join in if you have time. This week there are two, yes two design team spots up for grabs so come on girls get going, there's only three of us at the moment and we are in need of support.

The elements I have used for my card are:-

White hammered card
Blue and Purple Bazzil Bling card
Lilac pearlescent card
Image - Hanglar Stanglar
Image coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Three Bugs in a Rug "Rhapsody-Stripe" and "Rhapsody-Rapture"
Flowers Prima and punched
Papermania Brads

Why not visit Creative Inspirations and have a look at the other design team members blogs. The challenge is a Wednesday challenge so you still have a few days left and I will be visiting everyone's blog who enters to leave a little comment. Hope to see your entry soon.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

My GD card for Charisma Cardz Challenge - Challenge 12 - My Favourite Things

2009-03-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hello all, time for another challenge over at the wonderful Charisma Cardz Challenge Blog. This week the challenge has been set by Sharon and it is called "My Favourite Things". So, we want to see your favourite things on your card or whatever else you wish to make, remember it doesn't have to be a card. I thought this challenge was rather easy cos I love flowers, beautiful papers and anything blingy...so I included all three on my card.

This week the challenge is sponsored by :-

Sally-Ann from Grab-a-doodle-do has very kindly donated the Libby downloads! Grab-a-doodle-do offers Trendy doodles/digital downloads for you to print, colour and create all your lovely crafty things! Prices start from only £1.99!

AND! The winner of this week's challenge will also join us for a two week Guest DT slot!

What a great prize, you'd be mad not to want to get your hands on this lol. Come on, I want to see your lovely creations and can't wait to get blog hopping over to your blog to have a nosey and leave a comment.

As I said my card includes my favourite things which are :-

Image - Sugar Nellie
Image coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Fancy Pants Designs - double sided "True Blue"
Prima Flowers
Making Memories Brads
Ribbon from stash

The little gold faux brads in the corners of the card are just little stick on dots which came free with a magazine a long time ago so sorry I have no idea who they are by.

Hope you like my card and thanks very much for looking. Hope to see your creations very soon.

Joy xx

Magnolia vs Stampavie Challenge - Week 19 - Get in shape

2009-03-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Hello all, how you doing this week? I've not been too bad, had a bit of a tummy bug but I think that is gradually going now thankfully.

Anyhow I decided to enter a new challenge for me this week, I have never entered this challenge before but fancied a change from the norm. The brief over at Magnolia vs Stampavie was to create a card which wasn't square or rectangular. Hmmm...after a bit of thought and playing around I came up with this card. I am actually quite pleased with it and might have to play around with the shape more often.

The elements I used for my card are:-

White hammered card
Image - Magnolia
Image coloured with Promarkers
Papers - Three Bugs in a Rug
Prima Flowers
Papermania Brads
Sentiment computer generated

Hope you like the card and thanks for looking.

Joy xx

My GD card for Charisma Cardz Challenge - Challenge 11 Sketch

2009-03-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

Hello peeps, it's nearly the weekend again...yay...crafting time at last, that seems to be the only time I get recently to make a couple of cards. Roll on July when I have a week off....crafting heaven lol.

I am here to show you my card for this week's challenge over at Charisma Cardz. This week Joanne came up with a lovely sketch for us all to follow.

You can twist it, flip it, add to it, but please make sure we can still see that you have used the sketch. You don't have to use an image where it says image you can use a topper/decoupage/photo anything you like, the sketch is perfect for a scrapbook page!!! You can see the guidelines on the Charisma Cardz sidebar. Don't forget you can make anything!!

This week the challenge is sponsored by:-

Jessica Lynn Original Is a company run by Jessica herself! providing original hand drawn stamps! at very low low prices! She has very kindly donated a $30 Gift certificate to this weeks winner!

So come on you lovely crafters, rush on over to Charisma Cardz and enter the challenge, I can't wait to see how you all interpret the sketch. Remember i'll be checking out all of your blogs and leaving you a lovely comment as will the other design team members.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Papers: Basic Grey "Bittersweet"
Image - Gorjuss Girl
Image coloured with Copics and Promarkers
Flowers are punched out of Basic Grey"Bittersweet" papers
Brads - Papermania
Sentiment computer generated

Hope you like the card.

Happy crafting.

Joy xx

40th Birthday - Commissioned Card

2009-03-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

Hello all, I hope you are having a lovely lazy Sunday. Just one card made today and that has been commissioned by a lady I work with for her friend's 40th birthday. She specified a cutesy card so this stamp had to have an outing, I absolutely love this stamp, so girly. The papers were calling out to be used, I love the lilac, blue and brown together, such lovely colours.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Papers - Three Bugs in a Rug "Rhapsody - Jubilation"
Lilac pearlescent card
Image - Penny Black "Uplifting Occasion"
Image coloured with Copics and Promarkers
Flowers - Punched and cut from patterned paper
Brads - Making Memories
Sentiment computer generated
Glossy Accents and Sakura Stardust accents added

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Week 40

2009-03-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

Two posts in one day...wow, must be a first for me lol.

I popped on over to the Penny Black Saturday Challenge Blog today and saw there was a wonderful sketch to follow this week and I absolutely love sketches so I just had to make a card. I haven't had the time to enter many challenges recently and I have missed that so I must make more of an effort to find time to craft. I also had the opportunity to use one of my new Penny Black stamps which I bought a few weeks back at the Stamperama Craft Fair in Stevenage. I have been looking at getting this stamp for ages because it is so cute.

Thanks for looking and I hope you like the card.

The elements I have used are:-

Image - Penny Black "Baby Hammock"
Image coloured with Copics and Promarkers with accents of Sakura stardust pen and Glossy Accents
Brown Bazzil Bling Card
Papers - Three Bugs in a Rug "Spring Stripes" and "Spring Dots"
Prima Flowers
Papermania Brads
KARS Pearl Adhesive Stones

Joy xx

My GD card for Charisma Cardz Challenge - Challenge 10 - Something for the Guys

2009-03-14T06:47:00.000-07:00

How late am I in posting my card this week!! OMW where is the time going, I don't seem to have time to do much at all recently....this must change, I have crafting to do lol.

Anyways here is my card for this weeks Charisma Cardz challenge. This week you are challenged to make a card for a guy. Don't all scream at once please! I know if you are anything like me you really dislike making boy cards...why is that? It's because we can't use flowers isn't it, it just doesnt' seem right to put flowers on a boy's card. The good thing about this challenge is you could make a baby boy card and we all like making baby cards right? So there's your get out clause, make a baby boy card.

This week the challenge is sponsored by

Our sponsor this week is Blossom Tree supply Cardmaking & Scrapbooking Items including Papers, Albums, Kits & Exclusive Special Offer Bundles, Ribbons, Brads, Decoupage, Stamps, Toppers & other Embellishments. Brands include Dovecraft, DCWV, Laura Ashley, Hampton Arts and Smirk. BlossomTree has two online stores which continue to rapidly expand and aims to fast deliver high quality products with an excellent customer service. Find BlossomTree's Cornershop at www.BlossomTree.co.uk or Megastore at www.eBid.net [search username BlossomTree]

Here is what you can win this week

So come on you lot, get your crafting gear on and get crafting, I can't wait to see what you all come up with, I will be visiting all of your blogs to leave a comment for you.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Image - Whiff of Joy
Image coloured using Copics and Promarkers
Papers - All my Dream Street Papers LLC "Daydreamer-Musings, "Daydreamer-Fantasies" and "Daydreamer-Reveries"
Buttons from Stash
Sentiment generated on my laptop

Thanks for looking and I hope you like my card.

Joy xx

Just Because

2009-03-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

No challenge card today from me but I decided to make a card just because I wanted to. It is another one of my Gorjuss stamps, only the second one I have used so far so there should be a few more in the pipeline very soon lol.

Not feeling 100% today, my glands under my chin are up and feel sore, my throat feels a little sore but nothing too bad, my back is aching...I feel like Dot Cotton at the moment I can tell you, I think they should just put me down. Anyhoo, I hope you like the card, I really enjoyed making it.

The elements I used for my card are:-

Image - Gorjuss Girls
Image coloured with Copics and Promarkers
Papers - Three Bugs in a Rug "Coco - Wireblooms" and "Coco - Mini-stripes"
Flowers - Prima and punched
Brads - Dovecraft and Papermania
KARS Pearl Adhesive Stones

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

My GD card for Charisma Cardz Challenge - Challenge 9 - Pretty cards/Pretty cards for mum

2009-03-03T12:36:00.000-08:00

Hello again, it's that time again, it's challenge time at Charisma Cardz...yay!!

This week the brief is to make a pretty card/pretty card for mum whether it be for Mother's Day, Birthday or for no reason at all lol. Come on girls, get yourselves over to Charisma Cardz and enter a card for your chance to win something fabulous.

This week Charisma Cardz is sponsored by:-

This weeks lucky winner will have the chance to pick ANY download from the shop they like!

The recipe for my card is:-

Papers - Dream Street Papers LLC - "Forget me not - Swiss Dot" and "Forget me not - Paisley Petals"
Brown Bazzil card
Image - Whiff of Joy
Image coloured with Copics and Promarkers
Flowers - Prima and punched flowers layered on top of one another
Brads - Papermania and Making Memories
KARS Pearl Adhesive Stones

I look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what wonderful creations you all come up with.

Take care.

Joy xx

Colour Create Week 5 Challenge Card

2009-03-01T11:27:00.000-08:00

Woohoo I got a card made lol. I cannot believe I have only managed one card this weekend. I had intended on getting some serious crafting done yesterday evening but I felt really ill, I think I was just tired but convinced myself I was getting a sore throat etc etc. Anyhow I had a lovely lie in this morning followed by a lovely roast chicken meal for dinner and now here I am.

This card is for the brilliant Colour Create Challenge which this week is to use a colour combination of brown and blue. I really like these colours, I think they go so well together so this wasn't going to be hard at all. It also gave me the ideal opportunity to use one of my new Gorjuss stamps and aren't they just that....totally gorgeous. Just need to ink up the rest of them now and get started on some serious Gorjuss crafting. At the rate I am going I should have used them all by the end of the year lol.

Anyway here are the elements I used on my card:-

Papers - Both by Dream Street Papers LLC - "Near & Dear - Andrea" and "Near and Dear - Ericka"

Brown Bazill Bling Card Image - Gorjuss
Image coloured with Copics
Flowers - Prima and Maya Road
Brads - Dovecraft and Papermania
KARS Pearl Adhesive Stones
Liquid Pearls
Glossy Accents

I hope you like the card, all comments are very welcome.

Joy xx

My GD card for Charisma Cardz Challenge - Week 8 - Animals

2009-02-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hello, I have been a bad blogger this week. That's down to two things, firstly my little guinea pig Buttercup (picture on the side bar) has been ill and suffering with an ear infection. We have had numerous trips to the vets for anti inflammatory injections and antibiotics and I really did think that we were going to lose her but thankfully she has made a recovery so I am busy feeding her up at the moment. Secondly I suffered a panic attack on the train home on Monday, have only had one before when I was on holiday and really didn't think I would have another but I did so I haven't really felt up to crafting this week but have been feeling a bit down. I did however manage to get this card done for Charisma Cardz.

The brief this week is "Animals".....one of my favourite things, I am a huge animal lover.

The sponsor this week is:

Fingertip Crafts is a lovely store both online and in real life! They're currently offering FREE p&p

on all orders over £10! so hop on over there! They've very kindly donated a special stamp which the collection is ONLY avalible at Fingertips! Diminty Mouse 'Celebrations' RRP: £5.99

Wow..what a wonderful stamp, come on guys, get crafting and hop on over to Charisma Cardz and enter this great challenge.

The elements I used for my card are:

Image - Messy Rabbits
Image coloured with Copics
Papers - Dream Street Papers LLC
Flowers - Prima
Brads - Making Memories and Papermania
Butterfly - Sorry have no idea, these were a gift and I have lost the packaging

Oh some fabulous news, my Gorjuss stamps have arrived and I can't wait to have a play, hopefully I can get some crafting done this weekend, I also have my new Whiff of Joy Spring Stamps that have arrived and haven't played with yet....oh how exciting, I can't wait to get started now. I think I feel a pretty paper spending spree coming on this weekend to compliment my lovely new stamps.

I hope you are all having a good week.

Joy xx

My GD card for Charisma Cardz Challenge - Week 7

2009-02-19T02:57:00.000-08:00

Hello all, well here it is, my first card for my guest design slot at Charisma Cardz. This week the theme is "Hugs & Cuddles". What a great brief. As soon as I heard this I browsed a few online stores to find the perfect stamp (well two actually including the sentiment stamp) and aren't they great, that sentiment is sooo sweet!

There is a fantasic prize to win this week if you enter Charisma Cardz wonderful challenge. It is worth over £80..wow. Paper Angels has kindly supplied this lovely prize. The prize consists of Cosmic Shimmers - 2 sets of shimmering iridescent watercolour paints, 1 shimmer spray and pigment set, 2 irridescent sparkle pigment sets and 1 set of cosmic shimmer ultra thick embossing powders! Imagine having all of those to play with....heaven.

Ok, the elements I used for my card are:-

Image and Sentiment stamp - Elzybells Art Stamps
Image coloured with Copics
All papers by Dream Street Papers LLC - "Near and Dear - Corey", "Near and Dear - Ericka" and "Near and Dear - Cameron"
Flowers - Prima
Brad - Papermania

I also used some blue Bazzill Bling card.

To cut the heart I used my Sizzix Bigz Die -Frame, Lac Heart.

Thanks for looking and I look forward to seeing all of your wonderful creations, I shall be visiting all your blogs and leaving a comment for you.

Joy xx

The Sugar Bowl Challenge Card - #4

2009-02-15T10:10:00.000-08:00

Another day, another challenge beckons and today it is The Sugar Bowl challenge. I have only entered this once before but the brief this week was to use just one patterned paper, not something I often do, I often use two or three but I fancied a change. It was also a great opportunity to get my "Daisy" stamp out, I have only used it on one other card so I think it was time for another outing...don't you? This week you can win four sets of wonderful sentiment stamps so get yourself on over there and have a go at this challenge.

The elements I have used for this card are:-
Image - Sugar Nellie - "Daisy"
Image coloured with Copics and Promarkers
Paper - Dream Street Papers LLC "Carma - Chamomile"
Bazzil Card
Flowers - Prima
Jewel Brads - Making Memories
KARS Pearl Adhesive Stones

I also used my nesties and my Martha Stewart Lace Doily Punch

Hope you like the card - thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Card for Jade/Penny Black Challenge - Week 36

2009-02-14T16:13:00.000-08:00

What terrible news I awoke to this morning, the news that Jade possibly only has months to live. It saddens me to think what this young lady/mother is going through at the moment, no one should have to go through this but to think of someone so young succumbing to this terrible disease is heartbreaking. A very kind lady on the Docrafts forum has kindly offered to deliver any cards that fellow crafters wish to make for Jade to her ex partner Jeff Brazier who will in turn deliver them to Jade. She has already delivered approximately 50 cards to Jeff and will deliver any further cards that people wish to send. I was so glad to hear this as I had indeed been thinking of making a card for Jade and sending it to her agent with the hope that it would be passed on. I made the card as bright and cheerful as possible hoping that it will indeed brighten her day. I am sure she will be overwhelmed with the amount of cards being sent.

This card also doubles as my entry for the Penny Black challenge this week. This week there is the chance of winning a lovely stamp called "Wooly Dames" which is absolutely gorgeous.

The elements I have used for this card are:-

Image - Penny Black - "Crossing Bridges"
Image coloured with Promarkers and Copics
Hints of sakura "Clear Star" to add sparkle
Glossy Accents also used on flowers
Papers - "Me and my big ideas"
Bazzil Bling Card
KARS Pearl Adhesive Stones
Brads "Making Memories"
Flowers and buttons from stash
Ribbon - Doodlebug Boutique Trims - Limeade Assortment

I hope you like the card. Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

I won blog candy!!

2009-02-09T11:23:00.000-08:00

I am so excited, Sarah a.k.a. Sparklecards has been offering some totally yummy blog candy and I have just found out I won!! I cannot tell you how ecstatic I am. This is the first ever blog candy I have won. If you have never visited Sarah's blog before, please do because her cards are all so beautiful and inspiring. Click here and you will be whisked away to Sarah's wonderful blog.

Thank you Sarah.

Joy xx

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Week 35

2009-02-07T16:49:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post tonight as it is late and I need to be out early in the morning. Firstly can I say thanks to everyone who has left a comment after my recent good news, I really am very excited about being a guest design team member for Charisma Cardz and your comments are really appreciated.

This is a card I made this evening for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge. The brief is "Romance" so quite an easy topic but for some reason I am not too keen on this card. The wording is a Penny Black stamp as well as the litte hedgehog. I don't usually go for wordy stamps but this really caught my eye so had to have it lol.

The elements I have used are:-

Images - Penny Black "I asked for a flower" and "Heart alloever"

Image coloured with Promarkers

Papers - Basic Grey "Perhaps" and Dream Street Papers "Gracie-Bubble Gum"

Bazill Bling Card

Prima Flowers

Dovecraft and Papermania Brads

KARS Pearl Adhesive Stones

Nesties - Labels Two

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Good News

2009-02-05T15:43:00.000-08:00

I have been keeping this under wraps for a week or so but I am sure I can tell you now that the lovely Carly of Charisma Cardz has asked me to be a Guest Designer on the Charisma Cardz Blog Challenge for 7 weeks beginning 12 February. Wow...I am so excited because becoming part of a design team or a guest designer is something I have wanted for a long time but I have never had the confidence to go for it. I am so eager that I have already done my card for my first week lol. It is a wonderful challenge so please, if you haven't already had a go please do, it is really fun and there are always goodies to win.

Joy xx

Whiff of Joy Challenge #17

2009-02-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

Brrrrrr.....it's another one of those days. Another day when I couldn't go into work. I again woke to masses of snow this morning on top of what we already had from Monday which hadn't melted. On top of that the trains into London are up the spout again. I struggled home last night on a packed train hours late so when I heard the problems were ongoing this morning I phoned work and took a day holiday. The bad news is that we are expecting more snow overnight tonight!! At least the train problems are sorted now though.

So having been at home all day I decided to take the opportunity to get my craft stash out and make another challenge card and this time I decided to enter the Whiff of Joy challenge. This is my first time entering this challenge. There is a sketch to follow this week which is really lovely so I didn't hesitate in getting started.

The elements I used for this card are:-

Image - Whiff of Joy "Willow with cookies"
Image coloured with Promarkers and Copics
Papers - Cosmo Cricket "Dutch Girl Klara" and "Dutch Girl Anna"
Red Bazzil Bling Card
Prima Flowers
Papermania Brads
Sentiment generated on my laptop

I also used my Martha Stewart Doily Punch.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Colour Create Challenge Card - Week 1

2009-02-03T07:43:00.000-08:00

Phew...how cold is it out there? The snow is now melting thankfully although I do love snow but it is so inconvenient. Luckily I had Monday booked off as holiday from work and I couldn't go in today either....the road outside is like a skating rink and the trains are barely running anyway. We had ten hours of snow on Monday, doesn't it make everything look so pretty, I took a few pictures and may be able to use them on cards come Christmas.

What was exciting this weekend is the start of the new challenge blog that Tara has started called Colour Create. I am loving challenges at the moment so the more the merrier. I had a couple of other cards I needed to make this weekend which I cannot post just yet but will in time. As I am at home today it gave me time to make my entry for this challenge. The brief for this challenge was to make a card only using green, pink and brown. You can also use white or cream for your card stock and flesh colours for skin. These colours are so gorgeous together it wasn't hard to come up with something.

The elements I used for this card are:-

Papers - Dream Street Papers - "Her own wings - Faith" and "Her own wings - Courage"

Pink Bazzil Bling

Image - Whiff of Joy

Image coloured with Promarkers and Copics

Nestabilities - Label Two

Glossy Accents used on the party hat

Flowers - Prima

Brads - Papermania

Button from stash

Sentiment generated on my laptop

Why don't you hop on over to Colour Create and have a go at this challenge. I forget to mention that there is some lovely blog candy on offer if you enter....always a bonus and an extra incentive to join in.

Joy xx

Penny Black Challenge - Week #34

2009-02-01T10:56:00.000-08:00

Hello all from a very cold, windy and a little bit white Baldock. What a day!! I started off by going to the Stamperama Craft Fair at The Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage where I spent more money than I care to remember lol. I bought loads of Penny Black stamps, three of which were in the bargain bucket....don't cha just love bargains. Driving home it started to snow, most of the day it has been trying on and off and then we had a bit of a blizzard and now it has stopped again. I love snow, I wish it would make up its mind. I'm only saying this cos I don't have work tomorrow so no struggling to the train station in the snow.

Anyhoo I have made a card using one of my new bargain PB stamps...I paid £2.50 for this stamp saving £4...I am so pleased with it, I always miss bargains usually.

The brief this week is very exciting, it is to make a round card. Simple you might say but this is the first time I have made one but I think I have done ok.

The elements I used for this card are:-

Penny Black Stamp called "Crush"

Image coloured with Promarkers

Papermania scrumptious papers

Petal Pink and White Opal Liquid Pearls

Prima flower which I have added some sparkle to with a Sakura Stardust pen

Papermania Brad

Ribbon from stash

The heart shape is cut using my new Classic Scalloped Heart Nestabilities

I hope you like the card, please feel free to leave a comment.

Joy xx

I've been tagged

2009-01-27T14:13:00.001-08:00

I've seen this tag a few times and now two people have tagged me. Clarky J and Becky Lee thank you so much.

The idea is to go to the 6th album and 6th picture on your computer and explain, so I have done that and this is the picture. Look at this handsome fella, isn't he lovely. This photo was taken two years ago when I took my two nieces Shannon and Georgia to Standalone Farm, took lots of pictures and this fella was gorgeous and sooo huge it was unbelievable. I totally love animals so I am worse that my nieces, we just had to feed the chickens too lol. We had a great day but I do remember it was freezing cold. In fact when I got home that day I started to shiver and took to my bed. I was then ill for a month, signed off work with such a terribly sore throat/cough and I subsequently ended up on antibiotics, I can't remember ever feeling so ill.

So now I have to tag 5 people. I will come back to this, must have a scout around to see who hasn't had this one yet.

Joy xx

Sketch Saturday Challenge Card - #35

2009-01-24T14:23:00.000-08:00

OMG it has been over a week since I last made a card. Do you know, I have felt really guilty all week lazing around after work instead of card making lol. I did attempt to make a card during the week but my mojo had gone walkabout and I couldn't find it. However as I got paid yesterday I went craft shopping today to all my favourite crafts shops, spent a small fortune. I also had a delivery from The Glitter Pot today with some more stamps and papers lol...aren't I naughty. There's a local craft show/stamp show on next week at The Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage which I shall also be attending...I can't wait for that and to top it all off I am anxiously awaiting the release of the Gorjuss stamps.....I wish they would hurry and release them.

Anyhow here is the card I made this evening for the Sketch Saturday Challenge this week using one of my new Magnolia stamps that I received from the Glitter Pot today.

This is also my first attempt at colouring with distress inks...how did I do?

The elements I used are:-

Stamp - Magnolia

Image coloured using Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Papers - Cosmo Cricket "Jitterbug - Lil Suzie"

Flowers cut using Woodware flower punch

Brads - Dovecraft and Papermania

Sentiment generated on my laptop

Thanks for looking and I hope you like the card.

Joy xx

A card for a friend/Cute Card Thursday Challenge 43

2009-01-15T13:40:00.000-08:00

Well I finally managed a card this week, wow. Have been feeling really tired this week so haven't felt like doing much at all after work but tonight I needed to make a card for a fellow Docraft friend. I received this image from another friend of mine a while back and had it all coloured in and ready to use. I have seen so many wonderful cards made with this stamp I decided to use it tonight. I only have one of these images so I think I am going to have to buy it for myself now, there's an excuse to spend more money lol.

This card also doubles as my entry for the Cute Card Thursday challenge this week which is called "Have a giggle". Well I think a cat in a bra is worth giggling at don't you so I hope this card meets the criteria.

The elements I used for this card are:-

Image - Penny Black "Uplifting Occasion"

Image coloured with Promarkers

Papers - Papermania "Scrumptious" and All My Memories

Prima Flowers

Papermania Brads

Hope you like the card. Smile, it's nearly the weekend...yay!

Joy xx

Penny Black Challenge - Week 31

2009-01-11T09:28:00.000-08:00

Hello again from a windy Baldock, hasn't the weather changed, yesterday it was trying to snow and now it is windy and it looks like rain. Not sure what I prefer, ice cold or rain. Anyhow, I have managed a card today for the Penny Black Challenge but I am not too sure about the image, the colouring hasn't really turned out quite how I wanted. The brief was to use the colours pink and brown, totally scrummy colours that go so well together. Luckily I have stocked up on some papers last week and these seemed to match the brief perfectly.

The elements I used for this card are:

Image - Penny Black - "Cheesecake Wish"

Image coloured with Promarkers.

Brown Bazzill Bling.

Pink Bazzill Bling.

Papers - Swing n Pink Polka - Waves by Retro Rhythms.

Prima Flowers.

Basic Grey Brads.

Sentiment computer generated.

I hope you like the card. All comments very welcome.

Joy xx

Sketch Saturday Challenge Card - #33

2009-01-10T16:24:00.000-08:00

Hello, I hope you are all having a great weekend. I had a nice lazy morning and then went down to my local craft shop and spent an amount of money that I should not have spent lol. I bought some Tim Holtz distress inks and a Basic Grey paper pad "Eva" and the brads to match and I also bought some more Prima flowers, you can never have enough so I am told.

This card is for the Sketch Saturday challenge which is being sponsored by Pink Gem Designs this week and you can win one of Janet's fabulous stamps, they are really gorgeous.

The elements I used for this card are:-

Papers - Basic Grey "Eva"

Brad - Basic Grey

Image - WOJ "Melinda Blowing Kisses" - Received from a lovely fellow Docrafter - Gina

Image coloured with Promarkers with accents of "Clear Star" Sakura Stardust Pen

Prima Flower

Sentiment Computer Generated

Hope you like the card. All comments very welcome.

Joy xx

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge #33

2009-01-07T14:50:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, I hope you are all having a good week. I have decided to enter another challenge but this is one I have not entered before, it is the challenge over at A Spoon Full of Sugar. Something I want to do this year is enter more challenges, I am finding them so much fun. If you enter this challenge there is a chance of winning two fabulous stamps from Alota Rubber Stamps, they are gorgeous. So come on guys why not enter and give yourself the chance to win some gorgeous stamps.

The elements I have used for this card are:-

Lilykate Basicgrey paper matted onto Papermill white hammered card.

All Aflutter Doodlebug Design Inc. paper.

Image is a digital download from The Greetings Farm.

Image coloured with Promarkers.

Prima Flowers.

Brads by Dovecraft and Papermania.

Ribbon by Doodlebug Design Inc.

Sentiment generated on my laptop.

Thanks for looking.

Joy xx

Penny Black Challenge - Week 30

2009-01-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

Time for another challenge card and this time it is one of my favourites, the Penny Black Saturday Challenge. I am fast building up a collection of these stamps and this is my latest Penny Black purchase called "Crossing Bridges". I coloured the image using my trusty Promarkers.

For this card I used the new Papermania papers called "Scrumptious" which are absolutely lovely, and pink my favourite colour. I added some glossy accents to the flowers on the image. The flowers are Prima with a Dovecraft jewel brad in the centre. The pearl adhesive stones are by Kars. I also added some Liquid Pearls to the corner of the stamped image to look like brads. The papers are matted onto Bazzill Bling. The sentiment is just computer generated on my laptop.

The brief for the card this week is embossing and so I have added a strip of embossed Bazzill Bling which I nearly forgot about so this was added when I had practically all but finished the card. For this I used the Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls folder.

Hope you like the card. Happy Crafting everyone.

Joy xx

The Sugar Bowl Challenge Card - #1

2009-01-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

Well I have had a lovely relaxing day today, I have been lazing around and late this afternoon decided to make a card for this new challenge blog called The Sugar Bowl. There is a sketch to follow which is always good. The Sugar Bowl is dedicated to Sugar Nellie stamps so luckily I have some of these and was eager to enter using one of my Sugar Nellie stamps that I have never used before. I nearly forgot to mention that the winner of this challenge wins three packets, yes three packets of Promarkers, my favourites, how exciting.

The papers I used for this card are Basic Grey - Mellow.

The image is by Leanne Ellis Designs and is called "Choose".

Image coloured with Promarkers.

I have added Glossy Accents to the hearts and flowers.

Prima Flowers with a Papermania brad in the centre.

Buttons from stash.

Sentiment computer generated.

The papers are quite bold I think, not what I would normally choose, I tend to go for pastels and especially anything pink so this is a step away from my comfort zone.

Anyway I am off to my bed now, I want to go shopping at a local craft shop tomorrow morning called Scrap Revolution. Can you believe that it is in the town where I live but I didn't know anything about it. It is fairly well hidden but I only found out about it after chancing upon the website and then realising it is about 5/10 minutes from where I live. It's my birthday on Wednesday so maybe I will treat myself to something nice.

I hope you like the card. All comments are very welcome.

Joy xx

A non-Christmas card at last

2008-12-30T14:56:00.000-08:00

Hello all, I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and received lots of lovely pressies. I got some new craft stash i.e. rectangle nesties, a couple of Penny Black stamps and some more Promarkers, think I just about have the whole set of those now. I just haven't had the time over Christmas to get any crafting done but tonight I managed a card. I have been back to work this week and have to go in tomorrow also which is a pain, I would much rather be at home crafting than in the office. I'm not very keen on New Year so I shall be seeing the New Year in at home tomorrow night with my family. I then go back to work on Monday but at least I have a long weekend.

Anyway, better be off to bed soon, early alarm in the morning. Hope you like the card I have made. The elements are:

Hanglar Stanglar image coloured with Promarkers.

Papers by Fresh Print and K&Company

Flowers - Prima

Charm - Creative Charms

Sentiment - Funkyfairys

Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Scalloped circle nestie to mount the sentiment onto

All comments very welcome.

Joy xx

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

2008-12-24T06:32:00.000-08:00

Well I just wanted to pop on to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I still have to make my mum and dad's card today and a couple of money wallets for the kids and wrap presents, I am going to be very busy as I suspect everyone else is too.

My first year of crafting is coming to an end and I think I have come a long way in that time. However I hope to improve over the course of the next year. My dream would be to become a DT member so fingers crossed if someone thinks my crafting is good enough I may get there one day.

I hope you all have a wonderful time and I hope you all receive everything you have wished for.

Joy xx

Sketch Saturday Challenge Card - #30

2008-12-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

I have finally got around to make a card that is not Christmas related...didn't think I would manage it, thought I would get withdrawal symptoms from all things glittery lol. Still have added a little bling though.

I waited ages for this stamp to come back into stock at Funky Kits and finally got my hands on one, I have seen so many beautiful cards made with this stamp I just hope I have done it justice.

Papers - Dream Street Papers

Image - Daisy

Image coloured with Promarkers

Flowers - Prima and Felt flower from stash

Buttons from stash

Liquid Pearls

I have also used Glossy Accents to parts of the stamped image

Brad by Stemma

Sentiment - computer generated

Hope you like the card. All comments very much appreciated.

Thanks for looking.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Joy xx

Pink Gem Designs DT Call

2008-12-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when I found out that Pink Gem Designs were holding a DT Call. I absolutely love Janet's stamps, they are so fab so I have hurriedly put in my application. Hop on over to Pink Gem Designs and check it out for yourself.

Joy xx