One for the girls and especially for our mothers!

I am soooooo enjoying an opportunity to colour up Mo Manning's fabulous images for Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge where this month's optional theme is to make "One for the Girls".   This is  something I made for my Mother.  The little wooden tag which reads "birth" could be flipped over out of sight and the "Happy Day" sentiment worked a long time after her birthday celebrations had finished.   
Sadly, my lovely Mum is no longer with us but she is always in my thoughts and as I never published this when I made it, I thought I would post it here now in time for Mother's Day in the USA.
I used Amanita, coloured with Copics, on an MDF Stand up Fence by Anna Marie Designs which I crackle glazed and embellished with lots of lovely garden-themed goodies from my stash.   
It's been a long time since I entered any challenges but I looked up some of my old favourites and I'm going to enter at Stamping Sensations where the theme is "In an English Country Garden" and Simon Says Stamp where the theme is "For a Special Lady".

"One For the Girls" with Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge

It is my second month as a Guest Designer for Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge and I am SOOOOO enjoying playing along with the uber talented design team.  We have a new challenge starting today and you can play along too.   This month's optional theme is to make something "For the Girls" but it's always also "Anything Goes" at Mo's as long as you use one of Mo Manning's fabulous images.  You can find her digital images in the store here or you can use one of her many rubber stamps.
I opted for less-is-more styling on my card today, using Tillie, coloured with Copics.  This cutie comes full length but I only used her top half in the hope of showcasing her beautiful curly hair! 

I used Spellbinder's Borderabilities Curved Dies S5-180 A2 to cut the My Mind's Eye "The Sweetest Thing - Tangerine" design paper.
Have a great week and May the 4th be with you.

Mo Manning is into Spring and Anything Goes

You still have until 1 May to enter the April Challenge at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge where the theme is "Spring" or Anything Goes.  Don't forget to use a Mo Manning image.  I used "Sheep" - one of Mo's older images and one that is perfect for Spring.  I've seen a number of fields of sheep this past week including baby lambs.

I coloured my image with Copics having first printed it onto one of my own photographs of the sky.  I am forever taking photos of skies!
The leaves are cut using a Tim Holtz leaf die.
Also on my card are a Magnolia stone wall and a Sizzix Hero Arts (657782) bicycle stamp and die combo.  The sentiments are by Stamposaurus I think and cut using a tiny Stampin' Up punch.

It's Spring - time for a little nest building!

The weather here in the South of England is fabulous!  Such a rare treat for Easter.   Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge is still up and running with the optional theme of "Spring" or you can make anything you like as long as you use a Mo Manning image.   Spring is definitely in the air and the birdies in my garden are busily nest building giving me a perfect opportunity to showcase this card using Basic Grey Papers and Mo's lovely image called "New Nest" which comes with two new home sentiments!    I coloured my image with Copics and used Spellbinder's Borderabilities Curved Dies S5-180 A2 to cut the design paper.

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge is Back with a Spring theme

I am absolutely determined to do more card making and what better reason could there be than joining in with Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge where it's always "Anything Goes" with the option this month of "Spring".

I used Mo's super fun "Feed the Soul" image, coloured in Copics and layered up with some coordinating  design papers.  What could be more Spring like than a bouquet of tulips!  We would love for you to play along with this month's challenge.

Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge is back with "Spring"

I could not be more excited!
Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge is back and I was asked if I would like a temporary guest appearance on their design team.   I did not need to be asked twice!   I LOVE Mo Manning's wonderful images and this coveted opportunity was just the kick start I needed to start blogging again after a two year break. 
So here is the card I made using Flower Jar from Mo's Digital Pencil which I have coloured with Copics.

I used some pretty "Stationery Noted" Teresa Collins papers together with a "Wonky Stitched Squares" die by My Favorite Things, "Prim Poppy" die by Memory Box, and Joy!crafts daisy "60030030" die.

I would so love it if you would leave me a comment here and then play along with the Challenge this month which is anything goes with the option of "SPRING"!  

Happy Centennial Birthday Commission

A friend asked me to make a 100th Birthday card for a gentleman who is very well respected in our local community and whereas I don't generally do commissions - I thought that Mo Manning's "He's Still Got It", which you can find here, would be the perfect choice.

My image is coloured with Copics. Design papers (including his waistcoat) are 7 Gypsies and My dies are by Papertrey Ink, Spellbinders and Memory Box (I think).  I was delighted with how this card turned out and it's relatively CAS for me too!

I am entering my card into the following challenges...
Simon Says Stamp - Birthday;
The Ribbon Girl - Anything Goes as long as it's a Card;
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes;
Aud Sentiments - 7th Birthday Party (Happy Birthday to you too!); and of course
Mo's Digital Pencil DP2 Challenge - Anything Goes with a Mo Manning image.

Mother's Day

Yesterday was Mother's Day here in my part of the world and my poor Mum has had a rough time these last 2 years.  She had been with us for the best part of the last 2 weeks but spent yesterday with my brother and lovely SIL.   Here is my card for Mum using Mo's absolutely adorable image called "Love You to Bits" which you can find here.

I coloured my image with Copics. I'm pretty sure the papers are Basic Grey and Prima,  the leaves are from two Stampin Up dies (thanks Nikki) and flowers are a selection from Michaels and Hobbycraft.   My lettering is from a Memory Box die.
Hope all celebrating Mums had a lovely time yesterday!
I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Anything Goes at Creative Inspirations and Mo's DP2; Any Image at The Ribbon Girl; Flowers Everywhere at Deep Ocean; and More than one die or punch at Simon Says Stamp.

Happy Valentine's Day

OMG! It has been such a long time since I blogged anything I have actually forgotten what to do so I'll keep this short whilst I try to remember.
Here is a Valentine's greeting I made for The Hubster using Mo Manning's wonderful Dwarf 2 from Mo's Digital Pencil which you can find here.  I have been wanting to use this particular Dwarf (there are of course 7 of them to choose from) with this sentiment for a Valentine's Day card ever since I first saw him.

I coloured him with Copics, Used Memory Box dies for the lettering, an arrow die and this perfect Glitz design paper.    I even managed to find a little lantern in my Spare Parts stash for staging.

I am really hoping to get back into the swing of card making and blogging and I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Mo's DP2 Challenge where it's always "anything goes, with a Mo Manning image";
Sweet Stampin' - "Masculine";
Aud Sentiments - "Love or Valentine"; and
Deep Ocean - "hearts";

Simon Says use Creative Inspiration for a Fussy and Fancy Stamping Sensation with Mo's Digital Pencil for Hanna and Friends

I CANNOT believe it has been so long since I posted a card AGAIN.  So to make up for it, I'm entering this one into six challenges.  

I used DCWV papers from the Citrus Collection and Sweater Weather and teamed them with this gorgeous new image from Mo's Digital Pencil called Lois in the Leaves which you can find here. There is an adorable boy version of this image too if you prefer.   My sentiment is by PTI, the straw broom LR0433 is by Marianne Design Creatables and the extra leaves are cut from a variety of punches.  My image is coloured in Copics.
Thank you to the following challenges for inspiring me to be creative today:
Stamping Sensations - Autumn
Creative Inspirations - Halloween/Fall
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy - Autumn/Fall
Hanna and Friends- Halloween/Autumn; and
Mo's DP2 - Anything Goes.  
Happy Crafting Everyone!

Feel Better Soon

T'hubster's eldest daughter fell off a ladder, cut her head open requiring 6 stitches and broke BOTH of her wrists.  Mo's Digital Pencil "Coffee" image and the sentiment from "Sick" seemed the perfect combination to send Emma our get well wishes especially seeing as the accident happened just before her birthday and we were unable to be with her to celebrate or to look after her.

I used Liquid Applique for the plaster casts and also for the bandage over the eye.  I added a little lint to the bandage to make it even more realistic.   My "stitches" are hand tied thread with Glitz Unchartered Waters paper beneath the stitching between the Spellbinders curved borders which you can buy here.

And here is the poorly bunny in person valiantly attempting to hold a glass of wine on her birthday.  Her doctor's stitches were much neater than mine and thankfully had been removed by the time of Em's birthday.
I am entering my card into the challenges at The Ribbon Girl for "Any Image" and Less is More for "thread", together with "Anything Goes" at Deep Ocean and Simon Says Stamp.

"I heart you"

I needed a card for a baby girl and I opted again to use one of Mo Manning's gorgeous images.  I used "I heart you" which is available as a digi stamp from Mo's store here and also in rubber by Stamping Bella.  I asked Mo if she minded if I replaced her lovely heart-shaped drawn balloon with a paper one and she said it was okay.

I cut the balloon on my Cricut, used Presscut dies for the "it's a girl" and Memory Box dies for the bow, string and "blessed".   I hadn't thought of using blessed when I made last week's "it's a boy" card (see full post below).   I like how these different elephants look as a pair and they would be great to merge for boy and girl twins.

I am entering my card in the anything goes with a Mo's image challenge at Mo's Digital Pencil.

Simon Says want to see stamping and Sweet Stampin' want something cute and cuddly.  I realise elephants aren't the most obvious choice for the Sweet Stampin challenge but this one is a baby elephant and there is no denying how cute she is!

It's been ages...

Goodness me, now that I'm not on the Sketch Saturday design team any more, I keep forgetting to post anything on my blog.  I am, however, being quite creative.  The lovely Mo Manning of Mo's Digital Pencil has been drawing the most fabulous new images virtually on a daily basis and seeing (and buying) them every day has given my personal "Mo"-Jo a real boost.   I've even done some (not much - but some) essential tidying in my Craft Croft in between making cards.  Now I just have to get active with Facebook and Blogging.
For my card today I used Mo's adorable "I forgot" which you can buy here.  A dear friend has taken a shine to elephants as a theme for her new baby and this gave me an idea for a baby card.   In the original image, the elephant is holding a flower but I asked Mo if she minded if I swapped the flower for an over-sized paper balloon and she very kindly agreed.

I cut the balloon with my Cricut and the balloon string is a Memory Box die.  The elephant is coloured with Copics.
I am entering my card into the Anything Goes challenges at
Aud Sentiments, Ribbon Girl & ABC (where O is for Open) and also Cute Card Thursday who want to see animals and Stamping Sensations who have asked for One for the Boys.

And now for something completely different...

Some lovely friends have become engaged.   They happen to be very fond of daisies and I made them a card using this Papertrey Ink One Liners die as a sentiment on which to ground (and dangle) my minimalist design elements.

I used an oversized embossing folder for the polkadots and I cut the daisies with a variety of punches and topped them with Craftworks Candy and little pearls. The tiny tag punch from Stampin Up is one of my faves!  I am entering my card into the challenges at Papertrey Ink Make it Monday who are showcasing stamped grounded sentiments, Simon Says - Fabulous Florals and Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Summer Florals.

I wish my photograph was better quality!

Simon Says Make My Monday with Aud Sentiments, Hanna and Friends

I must say I am enjoying the opportunity to scout around for challenges to inspire me.  Today I am playing along with:

Simon Says - Things with Wings

Make My Monday - Sentimental

Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes (with a sentiment and a DT call); and 

Hanna and Friends - Animals (which hopefully includes birds)

I decided to try out a slightly different style (for me) with this card.   When I saw this Poppy Stamps Jumbled Alpha die (which you can buy here at Dies to Die for), my eyes saw A B C D E F G H I, but my brain really only saw the last two letters.   Then I bought a cute Stamping Bella stamp called Sweaty Chicks and masking off the other two chicks, I used only this little guy with a Word  Processed sentiment.  I cut the white letters out using the die and then popped them back in.  The orange ones are stuck on top but next time I shall insert them for a flat finish.  It's unlike me to make a card with so much white space but I rather like it.