Where does the day go

I've just realised the time and can't figure out where the hours between 8am and now have gone.  Guess I should have turned the TV off sooner than I did.  At least I've managed to get a card done now, first one of the year.

I made the card to enter into a couple of challenges which I have listed below.  The monster is a digi stamp from PollyCraft which I coloured with Pro Markers, I made a small pocket behind where I have a birthday message hidden.

The challenges are :

ABC Challenge Blog, this weeks challengeis to add a pocket onto your card.
ChallCraft Ann's enge Blog, there current challenge is to add a hidden message on your card.

I thought both challenges interlinked with each other perfectly.  Now I'm going back to make another card before the hubby gets home.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

Long Day....!!!

I made it through the day at work even though I felt awful, hopefully an early night will help me feel more human tomorrow. I haven't managed any cards tonight but I do have one that I finished last night to show you.



















I am entering the card into 2 challenges which are below. I used a stamp from C.C Designs which I coloured with Pro Markers. The border running horizontally is from a K & Company Adhesive border pack but I turned it around to it was white and added lilac blink in the middle of the X's. I thought this gave better contrast as most of the card is in the same color, the border running vertically is 4 strands of wool with a K & Company layers accents flower in the center.

Challenge 1

Stamp Something - Something Sweet

Challenge 2

Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge - Challenge 32 A Sketch


Now I am off to have a rest and spend some time with the hubby.

Happy crafting


Michelle

Before I Head Out

I'm just about to head into town and do some shopping but thought before I go I would share a challenge card that I made this morning. The challenge is Sketch Saturdays sketch challenge.




















I used a digi stamp by Tiddley Inks called 'Going Swimming' which I coloured with Pro Markers. The border to the right is from a K&Company adhesive border pack.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

Under The Weather...

I've been feeling under the weather since Friday and it's meant I haven't done as much crafting as I would have liked, I spent most of Saturday sleeping which is probably why I am still awake now. I did manage 1 card tonight which I get to enter into 2 challenges so the night hasn't been a total waste.



















I used a digi stamp in my collection (not entirely sure where it came from) which I coloured with pro markers, the background paper is from 'My Mind's Eye - Bloom & Grow' collection. To fit in with the challenges I found a lovely butterfly quote for the ABC Challenge Blogs 'Q is for Quote' challenge and added some gems for the One Stop Craft Challenge Blogs 'Diamonds are a girls best friend' challenge.

After posting this I'm going to settle down for the night, I was hoping to go out tomorrow and treat myself to some nice crafting goodies.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

First Challenge Of The Year

I said I would have a card to post and I do, after this it's straight off to bed as I have work tomorrow. The car in being entered into the 'Birthday Creations With Lots Of Peals' challenge over at Bunny Zoe's Crafts blog.

I chose a Miss Anya image from 'The Greetings Farm' which I coloured with Pro Markers, as the challenge called for pearls I used to flat backed pearls around the scallops of the main image and also in the corners. For the first time ever I used roses on my card and I'm really liking the look, that normally means you will be seeing a lot more flowers.

Overall I'm pleased with my first creation of the year and am looking forward to making more.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

Just In Time

It's been 10 days since I posted last and I've been extremely busy, I have 5 more Christmas cards too make to hit my total and would love to get them done before I go to bed tonight. I was just taking some time out and catching up on some blogs when I realized that I hadn't submitted my entry for the Cute Card Thursday blog challenge. I've had the card made since Saturday and thought I would get it in before the challenge closes.


















The card was made using the sketch on the blog and I chose an image from Pollycraft which I colored with Pro Markers. I also used stickles on the wings and white glitter on the hat and snowballs to give added sparkle.

I have 1 more post to go and then I'd better get back to it.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

Next Challenge

Here is my second card that I am entering into the below challenges,

All Sorts Challenge Blog - Week 78 - A Sketch 4U
The ABC Challenge - H is for Holidays



















The image is from Pollycraft, I colored the image with Pro Markers and added white glitter to the hat trim and the bobble. This post is going to be short and sweet as I have housework to do before I can get back to making more cards.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

It's Challenge Time

I've spent the weekend working on Christmas cards again!!! I have managed to find 5 challenges to enter though which is well worth it.




















The image for my first card is from Pollycraft they have some gorgeous digi stamps and last week I just had to treat myself to some, I coloured this cute bear in using Pro Markers and as I didn't have card stock or paper in just the right shade of green to match the Pro Marker color I used the pro marker on some scrap card and also around my scalloped circle. The challenges I am entering this card into are below,

Sketch Saturday - Week #129 - Sketch
Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 138 - Anything Goes!
Stamp Something - DIGI DAY

Now it's onto my next post.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

The wrong type of card

Just a quick post before I run out the door to go to work, I brought some lovely Christmas digi stamps from a site called Pollycraft on Sunday and I was having a play with them last night. I managed to color two of them images in (pictured below) but I noticed the pro marker in spread a bit, it's not that noticeable until you look really closely. I've never had that happen to me before and the only thing I can think is that I'm using a different card stock.

Unfortunately there are 4 shops in town that I have brought card from in the past, 1 of them I can rule out as it's what I used last night. Today I have the mission to go and buy card from each shop and then test them all tonight. Even with the slight spreading of the colours I do like how they turned out.
















Happy Crafting

Michelle

Back To Work

It's Sunday evening and I'm back to work tomorrow, it doesn't seem 5 minutes ago since I started my 2 week holiday. I'm trying not to think about the fact that I have no holiday left now until next year as it makes me feel really sad.

I've been so busy in the last 2 weeks, firstly with sorting the house and doing some redecorating with the hubby and secondly trying desperately to make cards for the fair. I still have tons to do and am going to have to fit it in after work and the weekends. I know in my last post I said I was going to hopefully enter a challenge, well that never happened.

I do however have a picture of a card I made tonight for my brother in laws son, Ben who is 13 next week. I'm not that great with boys/mens cards but I found a cute stamp set at my local craft shop yesterday with a football theme and knew that it would be perfect. The set was made by Stamp-IT and has 3 images and 2 sentiments on the sheet. The backing paper I used was from a Forever Friends paper pad and I used red card for the layering as Ben is a Liverpool FC supporter. I used Pro Markers to color the image in and a glitter gel pen for the stars.

















So now I have my post done I'm heading to bed, I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day, especially since I'm working right through until 6pm.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

New Christmas Cards

I thought I would grab 5 minutes quickly to post as it's been a week since I last did. I've only left my craft room to sleep in the last 7 days and I still have so much to do in the next 8 or so weeks before the fair. I made a set of lovely Christmas cards yesterday which I'm really happy with, the picture below doesn't do them justice.

















Each card measures around 9cm square and has a different Christmas image which has been hand coloured by me using Pro Markers and decoupaged into 3 layers. I put a lot of work into them and now have to repeat it as I would like a few sets to sell.

As it's Thursday in the morning I think I'm going to take some time out and try and enter at least 1 challenge, right now I'm off to bed.

Happy crafting

Michelle

Colours of Autumn

The first challenge card I have made tonight is for the Colors Of Autumn challenge over at Allsorts Challenge Blog. I took my inspiration from my back garden which is looking rather bare at the moment, although I still have leaves on the tree's which are green it won't be long now before I have a carpet of brown and red on the ground.

















I used a stamp from C.C. Designs, it hasn't got a lot to do with autumn I know but I started coloring the image in weeks ago but only got as far as her hair. I was going through a faze of using burnt orange and coral colours which I thought was perfect. The flower is a Spellbinders die which pieces together, before I took the pieces out I inked it in brown.

Onto my second post.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

The Sniffles

I knew I had a cold coming on Thursday and sitting in the office on Friday was horrid as my throat and chest hurt so much, now that's gone and my cold has gone up to my head and sinuses. I've spent most of today nursing a headache and blowing my nose every 5 seconds.

I did have a few periods today where I wasn't feeling so bad and I went into my craft room, unfortunately these didn't last long but I did put together a front cover to a cook book that I am making for the fair.




















Everything on the front is covered in a coat of Mod Podge as I think the texture helps to age it, I used a stamped image of Tanya Baking by Belles 'n Whistles coloured in Pro Markers. The main green backing paper was from K & Company's 'Roam' paper pad.

I'm hoping to go and get started on the back cover now, hopefully it won't take so long.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

Sketch Saturday Challenge

As promised I'm back with a card to post, I made this a little earlier but have been asleep for the last couple of hours. Now I'm awake (barely) and thought I would post the card.

The card is being entered into the Sketch Saturday challenge, this week they have a really good sketch which really made me think about layout.


















The card colours are all based around the image which was actually part of a prize from a Sketch Saturday challenge that I won back in July. The image is by Melissa Jenkins and is available through Whimsy Designs. I coloured the image in Pro Markers keeping the colours simple and then mirrored these colours in the papers. I also used the rose design in the center of the teacup and decoupaged it a few times to make the cute rose embellishments.

I wish I could say I'm off to make more cards, but I think I'm going to get another 40 winks.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

Patterns

My second post of the day and my second challenge card, I have to be quick as the hubby is getting ready for work and I want to walk to town with him. I am entering my card into the One Stop Craft Challenge Blog, the challenge this week is patterns.

















I went with a simple design using a striped backing paper from a Forever Friends - Just For Him' paper pack. The stamps came from the Papermania - Doodles set. I coloured the larger image with Pro Markers and then punched 8 small circles using my wizard. into each circle I stamped a smaller flower and placed these around the main image rather like a clock face.

He's almost done so I better run.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

Hot And Spicy

I've finally got the chance to post today, had to wait for the hubby to wake up (As he's currently on night shift) and also had to have a card to post about. I only managed 2 cards today but the way I see it that's 2 more than yesterday. The first card I am posting about is being entered into 4 challenges which are listed below.

Sketch Saturday - Week 114 Sketch
Charisma Cardz - Challenge 30 Something with a tail
Colour Create - Challenge 50 Hot pink, Warm Orange and Saffron
C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Hot and spicey colours

















The card fits all 4 challenges, as I already had the layout sorted all I had to do was make sure all the colours fitted and choose an image with a tail. I chose a cute dog stamp that I received free with a copy of 'Craft Stamper' magazine. I love this magazine as it's packed full of inspiration and you always get a free stamp to add to your collection. I coloured the image with Pro Markers and then went through my stash to find papers in hot and spicy colours.

Onward to my second post of the day

Happy Crafting

Michelle

The Sweet Stop Challenge

I have just finished my first card of the day, it's a challenge card for The Sweet Stop sketch blog challenge. I used a stamp from 'Belles 'n Whistles' called Tanya Baking which I love and coloured it with Pro Markers.




















I still aren't sure if I am 100% happy with the card but I can't put my finger on whats wrong with it. The papers and ribbon are from my stash and I can't remember what makes they are.

Happy Crafting

2 Challenges in 1 card

It took a while to get some inspiration going today and I have only managed 1 card, I am however entering it into 2 different challenges.

1, Sketch Saturday
2, Alphabet Challenge

Both challenges gave me the final inspiration, Sketch Saturday as the name suggests gave me the layout (A Sketch) for the card and the Alphabet Challenge blog gave me the theme (M is for Men).

















For the card I used a stamp from Stamp-IT, a company I haven't seen much of until I happened upon this cool looking scooter at my local craft shop and decided to add it to my collection. I coloured it with Pro Markers and found some scraps of paper with a brown and blue color. I used part of a circle nestability die to cut a circle into the bottom left of the main background, this kind of reminds of the shape of a wheel trim.

Have to go as hubby has dinner waiting.

Happy Crafting

Michelle

Just For Fun

My last post of the evening and my last 2 cards of the day are below. I didn't make them for a challenge but just for fun. I'll keep the post short as it is the 3rd one today plus I have a couple of things to do before I head for bed.

The first card is my favourite, I kept the colours really simple mainly using pink. The paper is by K & Co and is from there Hopscotch Girl collection. The stamp is from Hero Arts - Happy Birthday Cupcakes set. I coloured the image with Pro Markers and cut it into a circle using my wizard. I then stitched a border around the circle with some thread, it's the first time I've ever used real stitching on my cards and I do like the added detail.

















My second card is a little more manly in it's colours, it took me a while to find paper that I was happy with and searched through all of my paper stacks, strangely enough the paper I found came from a Die Cuts With A View - Travel Stack which has nothing to do with the image I used but overall the colours worked. The stamp used was from DoCrafts - Daisy and Dandelion, I coloured the image with pro markers and also used 4 buttons in the shape of bones in each corner of the card to add another element of detail.

















So that's it for tonight, i may have more tomorrow if I have any energy after work.

Happy crafting

Michelle

Sketch Saturday Challenge Card

I've been really busy today in my craft room and have managed 4 new cards, I know it doesn't sound a lot but I like to take my time and make sure I am completely happy before I commit to using glue. My first post is for the Sketch Saturday blog, I really enjoyed making this as it has lots of layers.























I used a stamp from 'The Greetings Farm, Miss Anya - Dressy' and coloured with Pro Markers. The paper is from my stash but I couldn't locate a makers name, I am also getting to grips with my Wizard and used my new circle dies to cut out a couple of the flowers from the paper and used gems in the center to add a little bling.

My only concern is that I used the same paper for all 3 layers and all of the other cards I have seen for this challenge have 3 different styles/colours of paper, I'm not confident enough with combining lots of different colours but I did emphasize the layers by inking the edges of each piece.

Hope everyone likes it, better get on with my next post.

Happy Crafting

Michelle