my challenge card - 4 challenges

I have certainly been inspired to mix it up this week and have put together one card for FOUR challenges. I didn't set out to do it this way, it just happened.

Layout came from Stamp_Something, using the one colour came from Cute_Daisy_May, main theme is from Just_Magnolia, and the finishing touches of pearls are from ABC

Image stamped on white bazzil and coloured in with watercolour pencils, highlighted with chalks & kindyglitz & pearls. Stamped image was layered on SU Brocade Blue??, sentiment tag highlighted with pearls and rub-on sentiment, image & tag were attached using mounting dots. Butterfly rub-on was placed on white cardstock, cut out and attached using mounting tape and highlighted with kindy glitz. Blue ribbon attached with white brads, placed across middle, silver stickers placed in each corner and highlighted with a pearl.

I enjoyed putting this one together - as I said above, I did not start out to combine challenges.

I did start with the Magnolia challenge of animal & insects (butterfly), I coloured in the Magnolia image and decided to stick with blues, and realised it would fit the Daisy May challenge. I decided to use the layout from Stamp Something, then I was on a roll! The idea of using pearls instead of my usual bling to highlight came as I was putting the finishing touches on the card, thus fitting the ABC challenge.

It almost became a challenge to see how many challenges I could submit this card to LOL

anyone know of any more it would fit? LOL

Cuttlebug Spot Challenge 32

I so look forward to the cuttlebug challenges each week - this week is no exception.

Over on CuttlebugSpot we have a colour challenge this week - Brown & Blue OR Brown & Orange.

I have some lovely patterned paper with brown & blue in my stash - so here is my card.

SU Bordering Blue cardstock was layered with patterend paper, metallic brown cardstock run through cuttlebug using swiss dots, Brown ribbon with blue dots was placed across middle, image stamped 3 times using SU Choc Chip and layered on Bordering Blue - all cut with spellbinder dies in the cuttlebug - mounted on card with mounting dots.

no bling for this card - I like the simplicity of this one!

Shout Out to SheetLoad

It's time for the monthly "Shout Out" Challenge.

The May_Issue of SheetLoad is now available. This is a monthly e-zine that has loads of ideas and is very infomative. Pop on over and check it out. I am working on my May cards and am hoping to post them very soon.

I was recently picked as the April Fan and won some spellbinder dies. I was actually looking at purchasing these dies, so it couldn't have been a more perfect prize and they were sent so quickly as well! ;-)

Here is a card I made using one of the dies.

SU Delight in Life flower was stamped four times - 3 coloured in pinks/purples, 1 coloured in green and highlighted with chalks and kindy glitz. White background was embossed with cuttlebug, spellbinders tag embellished with rub-on sentiment, highlighted with bling and threaded on ribbon. Background was layered on Bravo Burgandy (I think??)

Cuttlebug Be Inspired 32 - ABC Challenge

Over on CBI_32 the current challenge is to make a card using the cuttlebug with butterflies & hearts.

Unfortunately, I don't have the hearts & butterflies combo that they mention, but as soon as I saw this challenge, I just knew what I was going to do!

the layout of this card was influenced the the current challenge over on ABC_Challenge - orderly.

SU Flutterbys two step stamps were used. Base butterfly was stamped on white cardstock with so saffron, then second step stamped with always artichoke, then heat embossed with clear powder. This strip was hand torn, then layered on always artichoke card which was cut with long rectangles spellbinders in the cuttelbug, then trimmed to suit card, tags were cut using spellbinders smallest rectangle and rub-on sentiments were added. So Saffron card was embossed on front with hearts folder using cuttlebug, then strip of butterflies mounted with mounting dots. Final Jolees hearts were used to add some bling!

New Challenge Blog and Candy!

Thanks to Merry I have come across a new challenge blog TheNextLevel and it looks very interesting.

The Next Level is the exciting new concept of Dawn (All Pink Girl) and Ann (Madgesty - Love to Create) probably better known as blog name Madge. Our aim in designing this new informative style of blog is not only to produce really creative Weekly Challenges that are not tied to any specific brand, but also to explore new avenues, ideas and techniques with a completely fresh approach.The Next Level will not only be a fun and informative place to hang out for card crafters and scrapbookers of all levels, but it is hoped that it will also become a valuable source of information, hints and tips, tutorials, downloads and much more. We want to cover the craft of traditional card making but also add in a touch of digital, not too much to scare anyone away, but enough to explore the magical world out there at your fingertips for anyone wanting to venture.

Pop on over and check it out - there is candy!

Stamp Something - CAS Thank You

over on Stamp_Something the current challenge is to keep it clean and simple.

This week they want want to see Clean and Simple Thank You Somethings! They suggest to browse Lauren's work and find a card to CASE or create your own card inspired by one of Lauren's creations. Please remember to keep it clean and simple though as this week is all about Lauren's style! Lauren has donated the fabulous blog candy for the challenge this week. One lucky participant will win this Stampin' Up! stamp set and an Accents and Elements embellishment kit also from Stampin' Up!

I used my latest Stampin' Up set - Little bit of happiness, stamped with Always Artichoke.

Always Artichoke cardstock used as card base, white cardstock ran through Cuttlebug using Swiss Dots folder, then stamped image was layered on top.

Centre 'thank you' was stamped again, and layered over top with mounting dots, then highlighted with kindy glitz.

I like the way this card has turned out - definitely clean and simple.

Magnolia Down Under Challenge 12

MDU12 - this week's theme is 'flutter by butterfly'.

I thought I would try a different colour scheme this week and went for blues/greens.

background paper was highlighted with flowers, bling and a butterfly.

Image was coloured in with watercolours and highlighted with kindy glitz.

I think I have gone a bit overboard with the bling ;-)

I only have one more image in my stash to play with - it is time for me to get some of my own stamps. ;-)

Two Blog Awards

I have received Two Blog Awards - what an absolutely wonderful feeling!

My awards were passed on by Merry - I would like to send them right back to her, but I know it doesn't work like that. So Merry, back at ya! I thank you for your thank you and Gift of Love ;-).

The first award was orignated by Kellie Winnell Kellie started this award to thank all of the people that follow and comment on your blog. What a wonderful idea. This should be passed on to 5 people. The second award is The Gift of Love Award. There are no specifics for this award you just need to give it to 5 people.

It was a very difficult task to pick only 5 ......... So here are my five people I would like to pass the award on to.... just to say thanks for visiting so often and thank you for your support and encouragement during the early days of my blog - I really have a new love of my cardmaking thanks to you all.

1. Linda
2. DonnaMundinger
3. CarmenO
4. Scrapperjulia
5. MrsJ

Just Magnolia Challenge 5

the Just_Magnolia challenge this week is in the form of a sketch. You can rotate the sketch and resize the elements, as long as you follow the original sketch so your entry qualifies for the prize draw. The winner will be chosen by Random Generator next week so to be in the running all you need to do is ensure you have at least one Magnolia image on your card and link your card (not your blog) in Mr Linky and have your card posted by 10 pm UK time on the 21st May. I have been having so much fun colouring in my magnolia images and I thought the sketch looked great, so I just had to participate.

A square white card was used as the base card. Bazzil Dotted Swiss used as the background, patterned paper was layered on Bazzil (Forget Me Not). patterned paper squares & Bazzil were cut using spellbinders through the Cuttlebug. Magnolia Tilda image was coloured in using watercolour pencils & highlighted with chalks & kindy glitz, then layered on Bazzil Forget Me Not. All elements were attached with mouting dots. Corner embellishment was made by layering paper, organza & paper flowers attached with green brad. Corners were highlighted with Green Brads and final touch of rub-on sentiment added on the side.

I was determined to follow the sketch as faithfully as I could. The only alteration I made was to use one big flower embellishment on the top corner, rather than 3 - I thought it looked a bit crowded with the three flowers there.

I am very pleased with the way this card came together - I will most probably use this layout again.

Supplies used: Background is Bazzil Dotted Swiss, Grape Jelly??, Bazzil Forget Me Not??, Patterned paper, square white card. All of the cardstock & patterned papers (including square white card) were from Blue_Edge_Crafts

Flourishes May Challenge His and Hers

over on flourishes the may challenge is to make a card using the same layout, but one for him and one for her. This idea appealed to me, so I thought I would give it a go.

I only have one flourishes stamp, so the prospect of winning some more is very appealing ;-)

I stamped the reverse damask stamp using choc chip on some cardstock and layered on brown card, placed a strip of metallic brown across middle, highlighted with a ribbon. Thank You stamped with choc chip on centre panel, and dusted edges with choc chip. Placed pearls & ribbon as final touches.

I didn't think this looked very 'male' but posted the photo anyway. I did, however, have a brainwave when packing up the mess I had made while making these cards and rumaged through my embellishments - I knew I had something 'male' somewhere ;-) I think this version is a better 'his' card ;-)

The female version of the card used the same layout, only using red as the base colour and embellished with flowers and a bit of bling.

My first male card was definitely not very male ;=( more unisex maybe ???

I have so much of a hard time with male cards - the desire for bling just gets in the way LOL

CraftMad May Card Sketch Challenge

Over on CraftMad May sketch challenge, we are required to make a card following the sketch supplied using circles. There is a prize this month, so go on over and check it out!

so here is my card for this challenge - the colour combinations I have chosen were influenced by ColourCreate challenge of blue & green. I would never have thought about using this colour combination, but I was cleaning out 'my stash' and they just fell out of the pile! It was then I remembered seeing the challenge on ColourCreate - so two birds with one stone!

coloured background paper was layered on white cardstock. Green circles were cut out and layered on background using mounting tape. Silver organza ribbon placed across middle and rub-on sentiment placed on top of ribbon. Blue pearls added. Blue padded butterflies added to side circles.

Stamp Something Pink

I am so enjoying my discoveries in 'blog land'. I have come across another blog Stamp_Something .

I think I will be visiting this blog a lot!

So here is the card I am submitting for this challenge.

House Mouse image watercoloured using three different pinks and highlighted with kindy glitz. Image layered on bright pink card and highlighted with corner stickers. Rub-on birthday sentiment added. I am just getting the hang of this watercolouring - I think I got this one a bit too wet, as the card buckled a bit. ;-(

I love the way the kindy glitz takes on the colour of the area it is placed on.

Magnolia Down Under Challenge 11

Over on MDU the challenge is to make a 'thinking of you' card using a Magnolia image.

I have recently received some new new magnolia images in a swap with Merry and I have been looking forward to the opportunity to colour them in.

the background paper came from my 'stash' - which is slowly getting smaller, especially now that I have sorted it into different colours and put them in stacking baskets. It makes the creative process a little bit easier now ;-)

Image was coloured in using watercolour pencils and highlighted with chalks. It has not turned out the colour I was imagining when I started, but I think I am happy with it. Image was then layered on marone leathergrain card and mounted onto background with mounting dots.

Background paper was layered on marone leathergrain card. Thinking of You rub-ons were placed on tag, edges highlighted with chalk and threaded on ribbon from 'stash'.

I am thinking it needs a fine border around the oval - I am hesitant to add anything more, but it feels 'incomplete' to me. What do you think?

EDITED: I am so pleased - my card made the Top 3

Cuttlebug Be Inspired # 30 - wedding

the current challenge over on CBI30 is for weddings.

white cuttlebug embossed background cardstock was layered on black leathergrain card. Silver organza ribbon placed across middle, wedding couple stamped with black STAZON ink & highlighted with kindy glitz. Stamped image embossed & cut using spellbinder oval dies. Oval panel embellished with Silver stickers and flowers. A bit of bling has been added as a final touch.

Stampin' Up Playdate

I had a lovely 'playdate' with a friend today.

My friend Linda came over and we had a fun afternoon cardmaking using some new Stampin' Up products.

here is my 'make & take' - I so love this stamp and the glitter is so fine and beautiful!

We used the Upsy Daisy stamp and Real Red ink, layered on red card and highlighted with red ribbon. The sentiment comes from same set. A very simple and elegant card, so easy to make!

Here is our second card - Forever Flowers wheel was used to roll down the side, then chalks were used use to softly colour in the flowers & leaves. The chalks are heavenly to use and come in such a wide range of colours.

The flower from the Together Forever set was stamped, then punched out. I chalked the flowers and outside edge to give a bit of definition, then mounted with mounting tape. Here is a close up of the punched out shape.

I had so much fun this afternoon - I can't wait till our next playdate!

Cuttlebug Be Inspired #29 & Cuttlebug #29

Wouldn't you know it - both of my Cuttlebug Challenge sites are having challenges for Mother's day and they both have the same number! I really got myself a bit confused there for a while - so here is what I made with both challenges in mind.

Check out these blogs - CBeInspired#29 and CB#29 they are both great blogs and a constant source of inspiration for me!

Since both my husband's and my mothers are no longer with us, I decided to make a card for a friend - actually, a friend of my sister. Her mother has just passed away this last week and I think this upcoming Mother's Day will be very difficult for her. I just wanted to let her know that we were thinking of her.

White cardstock was embossed using Cuttlebug & Swiss Dots folder. This swiss dots folder has to be the most versatile of all my folders. I then used my spellbinder die in the cuttlebug to cut & emboss an oval. The embossing was not very obvious, so I highlighted the edge with a fine gold sticker. Hero Arts Garden Roses stamp (which I won recently from Hero Arts) was heat embossed with fine gold and then watercoloured. Soft chalk highlights were added. Gold organza ribbon was placed across middle of background and stamped image attached using sticky dots. Corners were highlighted with 'left over' bits from a sticker sheet. Whole thing was layered on pink cardstock - no kindy glitz for this one. ;-)

here is the matching envelope - it is not heat embossed, as the heat from the embossing gun does terrible things to the pre-glued envelopes

I really hope my sister's friend likes my card and that I am not intruding on her grief.