"*@!*"............

Yep, we all have days when this......."*@!*"...... runs through our mind, maybe more than once, and sometimes I even vocalize it! You know the times when you're chasing your tail, so to speak, or feel as though you're fighting a losing battle. Well, I must have been having one of those days when I came up with this card, cause some days, I can whole heartedly relate to this little kitty.............

I think I'll use this as a 'Cheer Up' type of card for one of my fellow 'exasp'ees (think I created another new word!).

The image is the 'Lollipop cat' from the latest release of digis from 'By Lori Designs'. That would officially make this card one of my DT creations (lol- still not quite used to saying that!). All of the puddy cats are coloured with my Prisma pencils, then trimmed and popped from the card. The lovely Halloween papers are from My Minds Eye, and I printed the sentiments from Word. Almost forgot to mention that the layout is based upon a sketch by Jo over at the Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog, so of course this will be joining their little soiree, as well as these other challenges:

The Ribbon Girl - Use the colours Black, Orange and White
Incy Wincy Designs - #61 Anything Goes
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges - #18 Critter Mad
A Spoonful Of Sugar - Challenge 123 Spots and Stripes
Fab n Funky Challenges - #42 Use Black and White plus one other colour

So that's it for now..........hope you have a "*@!*" free week!

OSAAT Challenge.

So, yesterday was 'sneak peak' challenge day over at the OSAAT challenge blog, and this was the sneaky little snippet I left you with...........

Well, like I said, I really didn't think anyone would guess from my image alone, as the challenge for this week is......(drum roll!)........."Anything Goes"! Yep, they definitely put the 'sneak' in the 'peak' this week. So here's the rest of my card........ Something a little different for me because guess what? No Prisma pencils! (gasp!) Nope, this cute little furry friend, from Beary Dust Stamps (which you can find at Stitchy Bear Stamps), was coloured strictly with Copic's. I have to say, I think I'm a little out of my comfort zone there now, as I seem to have settled in with the pencils. I paper pieced the umbrella, covered a heart shaped piece of chipboard with embossed card stock, added ribbon and a charm to a homemade tag and printed the sentiment from Word. I also added epoxy heart stickers and doodled the raindrop patterns.

The sponsor for this weeks challenge is 'Crop Stop' and they are offering a $15 gift voucher. You can check them out here.....

If you'd like to join in with the challenge this week, for your chance of winning......remember....'Anything Goes', which covers pretty much.......'anything', then hop on over to the OSAAT blog and check out the other inspiring offerings from the rest of the DT. Remember to share some love, or should I say "shower' some love!

This cutie qualifies for quite a number of challenges this week, so here's the list he'll puddle jump into:

Pollycraft Monday Challenge - #62 Cute and Cuddly

Tuesday Taggers - It Takes All Sorts

Papertake Weekly - Animal Magic

A Spoon Full Of Sugar - #122 Anything Goes

Cooking It Up With Katie - Recipe.....use some ribbon, add a little metal, make it something sweet

Charisma Cards - #38 Anything Goes

Stampin' For The Weekend - #47 Tag it

Bee Crafty - #39 Furry/Fluffy friends

Elephantastic Cards & Crafts - #13 So Charming

Stamp It Crazy - #7 Free for all

Pheeeeew, time for coffee now! Catch ya later.

Sneak Peak challenge at OSAAT........

So, today is 'Sneak Peak' day over at the OSAAT challenge blog, which means you have to try and guess the theme of this weeks Sunday challenge, by taking a look at my little snippet right here..............

What da ya think? Tricky huh! As usual, there are goodies up for grabs for the person who guesses correctly. I'll give you a clue.......I'm pretty certain you will not get it right from looking at my snippet alone, so hop on over to the OSAAT blog and take a look at the other 'sneaks'. Leave a comment with your answer, and don't forget to check back on Sunday, to find out this weeks theme, and see if you're a winner.

Till then.........

New release of Halloween digi's.....

Just a quick post to let you know of the latest release of Halloween digital images from Stitchy Bear Stamps and I Did It Creations Crafting Boutique. You can check them out here.....

.....you won't be disappointed. Also, don't forget to join in the sneak peak challenge on Saturday, over at OSAAT, which I'll be taking part in, as well as the regular Sunday challenge.

See you Saturday.

You are fabulous, darling!

Oh, do I love today's card? I'm not sure why exactly. Maybe it's because I've been itching to ink up the new stamp I bought with my winnings, from Stamping Bella. Or, that I've been waiting for an image to shout 'aqua' so that I can sharpen those two shades of said colour, that have been sitting, ignored, for weeks! I think the main reason is that I am just pleased as punch with how it turned out. Here she is, from the collection of Lulu stamps.......Ida......

Now, you can't really tell from the photo, but this fine lady has just the right amount of glitter to make her sparkle. Here's a closer look........

Don't you just love those glasses......Dame Edna Everidge.....remember her/him (whatever!)? Anyhow, I thought I'd hunt down a sketch challenge, so the layout for this card is based on a sketch by Ger over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp, for challenge #37. She will of course, also be making an appearance on Bellarific Friday for this weeks 'stitching' challenge (faux or the real thing!). I'll let you into a little secret.....I had every intention of doing my bestest, proper sewing on this card, but got so carried away with the excitement of creating.......I stuck it all together and forgot! It wasn't until I was uploading the photo to my PC, that I realised what the challenge actually was. Hence.......out came my fine line brown marker and ruler......'faux' stitching it is!

Ida was coloured with the usual Prisma pencils and Copics for skin. I did colour over her hair with a black marker, to ensure it was evenly inked. I also glittered parts of her parasol, dress and flowers with superfine glitter.

She will also be sashaying her way, cause I can't imagine her doing anything else, into the following challenges:

The Pink Elephant - challenge #84 the colour aqua, DP and embellishments of your choice

Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog - #44 Stitching

The Crafty Calendar Challenge - #12 Blue and flowers

Little Red Wagon - #47 Glitter

Creative Inspirations - challenge #79 Use 2 or more stamped images

Thanks for stopping by.

One Stitch At A Time Challenge.

So it's Sunday and that means it's time for another challenge over at the OSAAT challenge blog. The theme this week is 'Happy Birthday' and to bring awareness to Operation Write Home, a worthy cause to support troops deployed overseas. So here's my DT offering........a Happy Birthday card/bookmark............

Now, this card does not actually fulfill the requirements needed by OWH due to the size and glitter etc - you can check out what's required here, but I'd already sent a couple of cards their way, and just wanted to show here, an idea of a card and gift in one (with relatively low postage!).

The image I've used is 'Funky Fairy' designed by Eiglas, which you can find at the Stitchy Bear Stamps shop. She struck me as being a little 'Goth' so I dug into my purples and black Prisma's and even used Halloween DP's from Basic Grey's 'eerie' line. There is a lot of glitter on here, and I mean a lot........my dining table is still recovering! I printed the sentiment banner separately and glittered and popped from the card. There's glitter on the tutu and wings too. I also enlarged slightly, then printed the image again, obviously, to use part of it for the cameo on the bookmark. I've never actually made a bookmark card before, but with a little help from a perforating blade, I'm quite happy with the results.

The prize this week at the OSAAT blog is a gift voucher from Joanna Sheen, and don't forget there is still blog candy up for grabs, which will increase if enough images from the store are used. So, don't let me keep you......hop on over and take a look at what the rest of the DT have come up with.

This 'funky fairy' will also be fluttering her way into the following challenges:

Totally Stampalicious - Books

For Fun Challenges - Glitter

Oh Alice - Chapter 31 Use Crowns and/or Mythical Creatures

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - #101 Anything Goes

Have fun!

Au naturale?

OK, I know my French is despicable, so I apologize for the title........no idea if it's spelt remotely as it should be! So why attempt it, I hear you ask.........well, there is a reason as to why this phrase was running through my muddled brain, whilst I was creating this card. I'm hoping all will become clear when you see............miss Ivy Ketto! Here she is..........

It's Bellarific Friday today over at Bloggabella, which means I finally got to ink up one of my new stamps I won recently, from Stamping Bella. The challenge this week was a sketch by the lovely Lindabella (great!), and I knew that once I'd stamped this little lady, I wanted her and the card to be very......organic. So, out came the browns, greens, yellows.....Prisma's of course, and you know the drill - a touch of Copics for skin. The DP's are from Basic Grey's Origins line (perfect!), together with some Kraft paper. I also used some flowers I've had forevah, which have, I think a rafia type of stuff on there, and a wooden beaded flower I stuck on top of an inked die cut. I used natural hemp instead of ribbon and the sentiment came as a 'no brainer' so this turned into a 'Congrat's' type of card.

I was also inspired by another perfect little challenge over at The Shabby Tea Room - challenge #27 calls for Fresh Living and has a photo of 'greenery' for inspiration.

Ivy will also be entered into the following:

Lexi's Creations - #22 Flower Power
Totally Gorjuss - #47 Flowers

Don't forget tomorrow is 'Sneak Peak' day over at OSAAT challenge blog so drop in for your chance to win some goodies.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

Are you smarter than a 2nd Grader?...........

............hmmmmm..............good question, well if we're talking about my dd, and I'm having a bad day..........possibly 'No'! (heehee) But I can make cards better than a......a.......oh I don't know, but I can make cards OK! So here's today's offering............



Isn't she a sweetie? There are at least two reasons for making this card, maybe more if I can get my act together and hunt down some challenges to enter this into. The first goes like this.........remember the Good Luck card I made the other day to mark the occasion of my youngest starting Kindergarten? Well, I showed it to my eldest and was rewarded with the phrase we all love to hear......."Where's my card.....I want one!" So the (one sided)(on my part) conversation went something like this.........

"But you don't need a card, you're a big girl"......."It's not your very first day of school"........"You don't need any Good Luck to find your way around"........"You're in 2nd Grade"..........................."OK, I'll make you a card!"..........Get the picture?


So here's the deets. I used the 'schoolgirl' digi image from The Lollipop Shop, created by of course, Ms Lori Boyd, and I'll be getting into that more in a moment. I paper pieced her dress, sweater and hair bow, and I coloured with the usual, Prisma's and a touch of Copics. I finally used the 'numeric' tape I've been holding onto for so long I can't remember who makes it (Making Memories I think) and my new Fiskars punch.......now I know it's not quite straight......don't be 'hatin'.....it was after midnight when I created this! DP's are from Queen Martha and I do like the DIY chalkboard I threw together, after I decided I really needed one on there. Did I mention it was after midnight when this decision was made! Not a good idea, but after hunting down a chipboard frame, a scrap of black cardstock, a white pen and another scrap of woodgrain effect DP.......hey presto.......a chalkboard!


So, onto my second reason for making this card. Today marks the official launch of the brand new By Lori Designs 'Lollipop Shop', where you can now get a hold of all your super sweet digi images, created by Lori Boyd. "Oh Happy Day!" As I have been fortunate enough recently, to be included in the company of her sparkling, new, talented Design Team, we're all going to celebrate the occasion by having a little fun. It's time to get hopping for your chance to win a nice little fix of sweet treats! If you hop on over to The Lollipop Shop you'll find the full instructions, but basically, you need to start at the store, then visit each of the DT's blogs (in no particular order) and leave a comment in order to qualify. You have until midnight on Saturday and the winner of the sweet stash of digi's will be announced around 10am on Sunday.


Just in case you've arrived here....... mid hop.......so to speak, thanks for visiting and don't forget to leave a comment. Here's a list of the other gals you need to visit:


Lori B
Andrea G
Arielle G
Hannah B
Jane B
Linda L
Sheri G
Sherryann
Tanja H
Vera R

So........what ya waitin for?

Enjoy!


PS. I may be back later after I've scouted for challenges.

--------------------------------------------------
OK, time has passed, I've scoured 'blogland' and this little baby will be entered into the following challenges:
Die Cut Dreams Challenge Blog - #65 Digital - Sweet Little Girl

Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges - #17 Keep It Simple - 1 digi image plus 1 embellishment

Critter Sketch Challenge Blog - #31 School

Karber Weekly Challenge - Challenge 5 - Card for a Girl


Fingers crossed!

More exciting news........

...........no more surely? Yep.......did ya see my new awesomely cute badge over there on the right? Ta daaaaa! I'm going to be keeping some very cool, very talented company from now on, with the other ladies of the brand spanking new 'by Lori designs' DT, headed up of course by the super talented Lori Boyd, creator of the Lollipops, Sugar Sticks and Puddle Jumpers.

Now I had a pretty busy weekend, so I don't have anything to show you right now, but make sure you stop by 'The Lollipop Shop' tomorrow, for a cool little blog hop to celebrate the launch of the 'by Lori designs' digi shop and DT, and who knows, there may be some seriously cool goodies up for grabs!

Til then.........

My 'girl' lollipop........

........'you make my heart go giddy up'..........anyone singing along yet?

Well, my DD, my youngest, my 'baby' is starting Kindergarten (sniff!), so things are going to be a little different in our house. Oh, what shall I do with this extra time? My hubby is probably hoping I will clean (LOL), but let's not be too drastic here! I read a quote once, which I have kind of adopted as my own, "Housework is not harmful to your health...........but why take the risk?" Personally, aside from the emotional tug of missing my little shadow, I am secretly looking forward to.........oh, I don't know...........using the bathroom without an audience whilst having to uphold my end of the conversation!

Anyhow, shall I get to the point here......please do! I made a card, of course, to wish her a very happy, mega exciting first day. Here she is..........Ella Lollipop...........

Gotta love da Lollipop's, created of course by the talented Lori Boyd (I may have mentioned that before!). You can find a fair few of the Lollipop's in rubbah over at Stamping Bella, which leads me nicely into my next topic...........challenges.

For Bellarific Friday this week over at Bloggabella, the theme is 'back to school'..........worked out nicely! I'll also be entering this into the following:

Creative Card Crew - Back to school

The Pink Elephant - #83 Back to school

Meljens Designs - #24 Back 2 school

Do ya see a trend here?

Now for the 'deets'. I coloured with my Prisma's and Gamsol, DP's are from Martha Stewart, the notepaper, which I attacked with an EK Success punch, is from Jenni Bowlin and the school bus is a We R Memory Keepers stamp (from their awesome 'Show and Tell' line). The chipboard letters, which I covered with DP, are from my stash and I hand drew the smoke shaped sentiment.

I think we've covered everything..........except, I forgot to mention the other day, the blog candy that is up for grabs until 4th October, over on the OSAAT challenge blog. If you click on the sweet, chocolaty link in my sidebar at the right, you'll find all the details.

Big hugs, and plenty of Kleenex go out to all the Mommies (and Daddies), waving off their kidlets this week.!

Another Birthday in da house..........

Well, I'm a little slack blogging today, but I thought I'd better post while it is still officially 7th September (here in Canada at least!). That means that a few thousand miles across the pond, my nephew celebrated his 5th Birthday today..............Happy 'B' Day! This is the card, I hope, is making it's way across that pond to find him. Meet 'Megabot'............

So, I obviously didn't have to worry too much about picking my DP's first, in order to match up to my colouring...........shades of grey sort of works with anything! Funny enough though, as soon as I chose this image, I knew which papers I wanted to use. I believe they are October Afternoon's Nightlight collection. I've used them a few times now for various projects and still have a few scraps left over. Nothing like getting your monies worth!

Now, there isn't too much excitement in the range of colours needed to produce a robot......as mentioned previously, grey pretty much does it.........so I decided to layer him up a little, to create some interest. Here's a closer look..........

I coloured with all the grey shades of Copic's and Prisma's I could find, along with my Gamsol of course. I also added a little Glossy Accents to the monitor on his chest. All in all, I think he's pretty cute! You can find the image, and a few versions on a theme, which are drawn by the talented Christy Croll, over at Tiddly Inks.

Last but not least, of course, there are challenges involved, so here's what this baby will be heading into:

Meljens Designs challenge #23 - Stripes..........to use them somewhere on your card.

Incy Winsy Designs challenge #58 - Celebrate............anything you feel the need to!

Crafty Cardmakers challenge #29 - Clean and Simple...........no flowers, frills and general 'frou frou' (not sure if that's a word.......think I made it up!).

That's all for now.

OSAAT Challenge Blog..............

...........so it's Sunday, and that means a new challenge over at the One Stitch At A Time challenge blog. The awesome sponsor this week is.......wait for it........

.........Sew Many Cards, who create some very cute digi's.......my kids love em! This challenge also means my first card creation in my role as a DT member. The theme is the '3 B's'.........Blooms, Butterflies and Bling, and as we have such a great sponsor this week, I used one of their images. Here is Oliver...........

I coloured solely with Prisma's and Gamsol, and the script DP is from Jillibean Soup, with a small glimpse of Bo Bunny's Double Dot card stock. I used a handmade paper behind, to create that soft, fuzzy look, and the butterflies are stamped then cut out, and have a little touch of Stickles on there.

If you'd like to check out the other DT creations, or join in the challenge.....there are goodies up for grabs....... then hop on over and take a look.

Have a great weekend.

Bewitched...........

Well, I made a Halloween card.....which will probably sit in my closet forevah!!!!! I don't think I have ever, and probably will never, send a card to someone for Halloween. Maybe it's just the 'Brit' in me? So why did I make it........for a challenge of course......and an excuse to colour Mo Mannings Bella and Bronte in 'Trick or Treat'. Here they are........

I love Bronte's costume.....ingenious!

So originally, I made this for the 'Halloween Hoots' challenge over at the Digital Pencil Too challenge blog. That was until I got home from work last night, checked the post and realised Mr Linky had already retired for the evening! Oh dear....most unlike me to be late for something!!

Oh well, never fear, there are a few other challenges this will be heading into........

Crazy 4 Challenges #52 - Use lattice in some form.....I used star shaped brads and black embroidery floss to create mine.

Crafty Cardmakers - Glitter and Sparkle..........I used black glitter on Bella's cloak (which I am not really happy with, but.....you live and learn!), and also white around the moon.

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Let's get Digital......obviously!

So, I coloured with Prisma's and Gamsol, DP's are from Basic Grey's Eerie line and that's about it.

Just a quick reminder, as I don't think it was mentioned on the OSAAT challenge blog last week...........as well as the usual Sunday challenge, there is a Saturday 'sneak peak' contest starting this week, with goodies up for grabs.

Enjoy.

The cat's out of the bag..........

.........literally! I've been a little busy the last couple of days, working on a card for my new DT duties, so I can't show you that yet.....you'll have to wait til Sunday for the new challenge at OSAAT. However, I did manage to get a little something finished in plenty of time for Bellarific Friday, over at Stamping Bella. The theme this week was to include any of our 4 legged (or otherwise!) friends. Hence the title of this post........here is one uncooperative cat.......

I dug into my craft paper and did a little paper piecing on the paper bag, therefore I'll also be entering this into the challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp challenge blog, which is of course.......paper piecing.

The last challenge this will be heading into is #127 over at Cute Card Thursday - Dieing for a punch! No dies, punches, die cutting/embossing machines allowed, which means........NO NESTIES!! Aaaaaargh! My card was feeling a little naked I have to say, but, I guess it's good to 'detox' occasionally! Oh, before anyone asks.....no I did not use a corner rounding punch.......just good old fashioned scissors...... (or scrapbooking 90's style, if you prefer!).

I coloured what little there was with Prisma's and Gamsol and DP's are from Basic Grey Max and Whiskers line......what else?