Oopsie...I'm a little late...

I made this card for the Humour Me Wednesday

 post at Catch the Bug and have just realised I forgot to post it on my blog! Doh!! Must have been celebrating Wine Day (25 May) and Chardonnay Day (26 May) a bit too hard- 2 days in a row is a bit much when you get to my age!

The featured image is 

Friends don't let friends wine alone

 - these girls know how to enjoy themselves :)) - and that's a great size for a bottle of wine!!

Challenge entries:
inkspirational #214
southerngirls 28 May Challenge
craftygalscorner #207
intaas. #84

Smiles

Good morning, I'm joining in with Team Wends for this week's challenge at Sweet Stampin', the theme this week is 'Cute' and  think this fits the bill! The baby fairy is a Mo Manning image, one of the first digis I bought, 9 years ago,  because it looks exactly  like my granddaughter Ruby did at the time (minus pointed ears and wings!)- she probably would have been eating the flower though! Just look at the chubby legs (yum!)-  now she is 10 and  has great long skinny legs and isn't a lot shorter than me! She's still cute though! 

I coloured the little fairy with copics  and the background with distress inks.  I used the sketch for this month's challenge at Mo's Digital Pencil. 

Do hop over and take a look at the Sweet Stampin' Challenge blog- there's loads of lovely creations to be enjoyed and I hope you'll be inspired to play along this week.

Thanks for stopping by, stay safe and have a great week.

Chris

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Challenge entries:
mosdigitalchallenge #291
alphabetchallenge dry embossing
thefairyandtheunicorn May Challenge
thepapershelter #429
dreamvalley #226 (sparkle on wings and bees)

in my favourites

Good morning, here we are again, another week has just flown past and it's time for a new challenge at Crafty Catz. This week it's our lovely Billie's turn to host and she would like to see at least 2 layers for those who like to follow a theme, which is, as always, optional. 

Our sponsor this week is The Paper Shelter

and we were given this sweet image to play with.

I immediately thought of my lovely eldest granddaughter, who has coped so well with the lockdown and all the restrictions it's placed on her young life.  Every school day morning she's up and dressed at 8pm , logging on and continuing with her lessons. She never complains and never has to be told...she just gets on with it. I'm so proud of her! Of course, like everyone else, she's missing her friends  and chats to them on her phone and ipad- so this card is for my sweet Livvy! 

As usual I've used Copics to colour, I've given her a couple of cushions to sit on,  added a little stencilling, a few buttons and die cuts.

There's loads more to see over at Crafty Catz- so please do take the time to hop over and see what my lovely teamies have created this week, remember our theme is optional so there's no excuse not to play along!

Have a lovely day and thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries
Polkadoodle #22
craftysentiments (26/5)
lemonshortbread #120

A winter scene...

Good morning, it's the last Wednesday of the month so we have a Christmas theme at Fab'n'Funky this week- anything goes as long as it's Christmas related. I made a bridge card and coloured up and fussy cut a sweet Mo Manning image- one of my all time faves! The background papers are from a magazine, I thought they went perfectly with this image and it was so quick just to cut them down to fit! The snowy foreground is made by swooping distress ink over a damp piece of card, letting it dry and adding a touch of glitter. I added a die cut lamp post a couple of tiny die cut birds coloured to look like robins and a die cut sentiment.  A card for my Christmas stash which I hoped would be a bit bigger by now...

There's more to see over at Fab'n' Funky where, as always my team have been busy creating some beautiful cards, it would be great to have you play along this week!

Thanks for visiting, have a lovely day

Chris

xx

Challenge entries:
hollyandivy #72
TIOT Cut it Up
unicorn #54
colourcrazy #20
CRAFT #556
Rudolph Day

Classy Bird

Hello and happy Saturday!

This week's challenge at Sweet Stampin' is up and running, the theme this week is 'anything but a square' so I made a centre step card, haven't made one of these for a while.

The stamps are from Pink Ink, and quite large! I coloured them with copics in shades to match the dp, browns, dark orange and aqua, glitter added as the friend I made it for loves a bit of bling-and yes- she is a real classy bird who loves shoes, bags and shopping! 

Do hop over and see what the rest of the Sweeties have created this week- some fabulous inspiration there!  I hope you choose to play along this week- just remember to follow the theme and stamp something to be eligible for a top place! 

Thanks for visiting

Keep safe and healthy!

Chris

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Challenge entries
colourcrazy #20
craftrocket #70
LTCCB #46
sweetstampers #44
craftygalscorner #207
sisterhoodofcrafters May 13 Challenge
getcreative #91

Wonderful Day

Good morning, once again the week has flown past bringing us to Friday again and a new challenge at Crafty Catz. This week it's my turn to host, which means I get to choose the optional twist...I chose 'spots and/or stripes'. We have a fabulous sponsor for this challenge

JMC Designs

and the team were given some of wonderful quirky images to play with. 

I used Chai Lodge to make my card.

Image is coloured with copics, a stencilled cloudy sky background  and I layered it onto spotted and striped dp matted onto blue cardstock. The sentiment is a stamp.

Thanks for stopping by, please do take the time to hop over to Crafty Catz to see what the team have been up to this week.

It would be great to have you join in too!

Chris

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Challenge entries
audsentiments #251
craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper -May Challenge
creativecrafters #28
worldwideopendesignteam #5
artydivas #22
craftinghappiness #49

Doris

Good morning- something a little bit different from me today

- meet Doris the donkey.

This week's challenge theme  at Fab'n' Funky is 'Anything but a Card'  so I thought I'd share some photos of a little woollen donkey I knitted for a donkey-loving friend who's birthday was at the beginning of the lockdown.  She's 8 inches tall (Doris not my friend) and made from left over scraps of wool. - and like all of my knitted toys she's slightly wonky! She's wearing a dress and frilly knickers (love the frilly knickers!) and carrying a co-ordinating shoulder bag...my friend loves bags too! 

a glimpse of the frilly knickers!

She almost didn't make it to my friend's house as one of granddaughters fell in love with her and wailed 'Nanny I NEED a donkey in my life'

but I was tough and firm (for once)

I will make her one though...it will go with the rabbit and mouse that she NEEDED before!

Hop on over to Fab'n' Funky and see what the team have made this time, then why not join in and show us your non-card makes? I'm really looking forward to seeing what  you create for this challenge.

Have a good day and thanks for stopping by.

Chris

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Bingo Challenge at Catch the Bug

This week we have a bingo challenge for you at Catch the Bug.

Here's my take on it, using the centre row across , I made this card featuring the cute

 Garden Cat Plant Pot 

for my 6 year old granddaughter.

 I do. Miss her. 

I miss all four of them!. 

They are all safe, well and happy so I'm not complaining.

It looks as if we're in for a spell of lovely warm weather -so something to smile about.

Have a good week.

Chris

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Challenge entries

asyoulikeitchallenge -

( green, it's such a beautiful contrast-  think  flowers and leaves!)

thehousethatstampsbuilt 

(die cuts, embossed sentiment, ribbon)

craftyanimals #38

Life in the fast lane!

Good morning, hope you've all had a good week and are staying safe and well. It seems such a long time that we've been restricted to our homes, far longer than 7 weeks but at last there are signs of being able to do a little more as long as we remain careful!

 Yesterday I walked past our local garden centre which is now open again...the queue didn't look too bad, much better than I thought it would be so might venture out for some plants later...it will seem like a real adventure. One thing I did notice...which is NOT good was the amount of litter on the grass verges now that the fast food takeaway has reopened! It really makes me angry that people think it's okay just to drop their litter instead of disposing of it properly, why do they want to look at a mess? I don't!! Rant over!

Today's card is my DT make for this week's challenge at Crafty Catz, it's Aunty Sue's turn to host this week and she's picked a great theme for the DT to follow...'Outdoors'. Our fabulous sponsor is 

Doctor Digi

These images are such fun and great to colour!

I chose to use Beryl the Biker, isn't she fantastic? Out ion the open road, enjoying the speed and the wind in her hair! She's coloured with copics, fussy cut and adhered to the background, created with a sunbeam stencil and various die cuts.

The team have pulled out all the stops this week and created some really stunning cards so do hop over and take a look. 

As always our theme is optional so there's no excuse for not playing along!

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries:
audsentiments #251
craftycreations  #409
lilredwagon #549
shoppingourstash #420
unicorn #54
aplacetostart May Challenge

Happy thoughts...

Good morning, there's a new challenge starting today over at Fab'n' Funky, the theme, chosen by our lovely N-Eva is 'a hand coloured image'- so an easy peasy one this time especially if you love to colour!

I recently came across a new (to me!) artist, Jenoviya  this image is one of the pages from her Cutie Dolls colouring book. I've used Copics to colour and sponged the 'sky' with Distress Oxide ink. The papers are from a magazine, a few flowers,die cut swirls and a punched border. The sentiment is a LOTV stamp. 

There's plenty more to see over at Fab'n' Funky, my teamies have as always produced some beautiful cards for you to enjoy, we hope you'll be inspired to join us this time.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your day.

Chris

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Challenge entries:
digichoosday. #19
craftinghappiness #48
allfunchallenges #8
lilpatchofcraftyfriends/ #131
sheepski #38
classicdesign May Challenge
colourcrazy #18

Inspired by...

Good afternoon, well what a change in the weather! Even this morning it was pleasantly warm and sunny if a little breezy in the garden...now it's not! Pleasantly warm or sunny that is! So I'm indoors, and not really wanting to settle to anything. I've done a little colouring and am thinking about continuing with the rag doll I started to make yesterday...well I cut out the pattern but that's as far as I've got, too lazy to iron the calico or get the sewing machine out. ... 

Anyway,  I thought I'd share this journal page with you, inspired by the Library Challenge and 'The Girl on the Train' book cover.  I used various stamps, really love the Inkylicious face stamp, it always stamps so beautifully! I did a bit of doodling, sloshed on black paint used some stencils and texture paste...  intended to heat emboss the white sentiment stamp but had a bit of a disaster with the EP sticking where I didn't want it, so brushed it all off and drew over the versamarked text with a white pencil- not a complete success but it's ok, it's my journal and I can do what I like!! I finished by flicking some white gesso over the black area using a fan brush (fun!)

I think I might finish reading my book now- trying to ration myself a bit as I'm down to my last library book and goodness knows when they will reopen! Fortunately I still have a pile of  hoarded paperbacks so they'll last for a while.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenge entries
The Library Challenge  #58
theartisticstamper May Challenge
Try it on Tuesday Black /White +1
welove2create #5

I'm not saying that you're old...

Good morning, at least we're enjoying some beautiful weather for this Bank Holiday weekend- even if the furthest we can go is in the garden! Another upside is  we won't be getting stuck in any traffic jams either :))

Our challenge at Sweet Stampin' this week has the theme of 'humour' so I took the opportunity to crack open my brand new set of Snarky Cats stamps (Tim Holtz). These stamps and sentiments really appeal to my (not very nice!) sense of humour  :D 

I had some previously made coloured backgrounds from a session playing with Distress Oxides and Brushos, so I fished them out and chose this yellow/orange one, added some stamping and stencilling and distressed the edges. The cat is coloured with copics and fussy cut, the sentiment stamped directly onto the background. I added faux stitching around the edges, twine and an ancient brad. This is for my brother, he's actually younger than me but who cares( his SOH is definitely more not- nice than mine!!!) 

We'd love to see your funny stuff this week, so please do hop over to Sweet Stampin', there's some great inspiration from my teamies and we could all do with something to make us laugh just now.

Thanks for visiting

Have a good day

xx

Challenge entries
creativefingers #185
audsentiments #250
kraftychicks #506
artydivas #21
showusyourpussycats #54
NBUS #14 The stamps

A pocket tag for baby

Good morning, happy Bank Holiday Weekendfor those of you in the UK- not that I think we'll really notice this one!

This week at Crafty Catz it's Zoras turn to host and choose the optional theme...our sponsor is

 All Dressed Up

- and the theme is 'Baby'.

I chose to make a tag ...I never have enough tags for gifts and often end up just die cutting a tag shape, but as one of my oldest and dearest friends is expecting the arrival of her first granddaughter very soon I thought I'd make a bit more effort! I made a pocket tag with a kraft heart shaped tag for my message inserted into the pocket. The sweet little bear is a sponsor image, A Star is Born. I  coloured with Copics and fussy cut just the bear, adding a tiny bow to the image. 

I had a lovely lazy day yesterday, enjoying the sunshine in the garden-

planning to finish that book today!

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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Challenges entered:
alldressedup #104
pearlysparkles #51

Sit back , relax and enjoy!

Oldie But A  Goodie 

at

Catch the Bug

 Hi, this is a scheduled post as I have every intention of following the title- we've been forecast warm sunshine for today and I'm going to enjoy it by relaxing the in the garden with my book! It's been too cold here to sit outside recently so I'm really looking forward to it! 

Thursdays at Catch the Bug are dedicated to showcasing some of the older images so I made a card featuring the cute Penny Doll Relaxing. she's got the right idea! We should all be making the most of this time and enjoying the break from routine,  probably when  everything gets 'back to normal' we'll all be complaining that we don't have enough time for ourselves! 

Thanks for visiting, hope you have a good day however you spend it.

Chris

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Challenge entries:
cardz4galz #121
CRAFT #555
thepapershelter #426
mmmchallenge #121

A thank you card

Good morning, hope your week is going well.

There is a new challenge starting today over at Fab'n' Funky, the theme this week is 'cute critters' so I thought I'd share this card (one I made MUCH earlier...). The image is from QKR -couldn't find it in the store. I love his expression -he looks really embarrassed!  Coloured with Copics,  stamped sentiment is LOTV.

Thanks for visiting today

Chris

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Challenge entries
dreamvalley #224
challengeupyourlife #123
2craftycrittercrazies #38
qkrstampede. #396

Black and White at Crafty Calendar

Good morning, it's time for our May Challenge at Crafty Calendar, the theme this month is 'Black and White' and our lovely sponsor this month is

 OddballArtCo

I chose an image I already owned and hadn't had the chance to use before, and coloured with Copic Markers in shades of grey (not 50 though!)

Papers from stash, no idea of brand, added a few die die cuts and a sentiment.

As always, my team mates have created some fabulous cards, do hop over to Crafty Calendar  and take a look, we'd love to see what you create following this theme so please join in if you have the time.

Thanks for visiting today

Have a good week.

Chris

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Friends Forever

Hi, just popping back with a reminder that it's

 FREEBIE FRIDAY at Catch the Bug! 

This week's freebie is this delightful image of two girls, perfect for sister or friendship cards. 

Don't forget to grab yours! 

Thanks for stopping by

Chris

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Challenge entries
thepapershelter #425
craftysentiments for a girl
paperminutes. #638
aperfecttimetocraft. #5
creationsinpink #21
aplacetostart ribbon or bow

Sending hugs

 Good morning, another week of Lockdown is behind us, May has arrived  and the world outside my door is is looking beautiful, this week's rain on top of the preceding weeks' warm and sunny weather has made everything so lush and green- the gardens and woodlands nearby are bursting with blooms and blossom, the trees are that beautiful, fresh new- leaf green, it is a wonderful time of year here in the UK.

Today at Crafty Catz we have a real treat for you, not one but two fabulous sponsors both offering lovely digi stamps as prizes, so double the chance of winning! Nick is hosting this week and she's picked the theme of 'sending hugs' -I think we all could do with some of those just now!

   The sponsors are-

StarJamLines

and 

Little Blue Button

Here are the cards I made using images from both of the sponsors.

The first one is using Mother and Baby Bear from StarJamLines.

The second one using Forever Friends from Little Blue Button's Freebie Page. 

As you can see I've used exactly the same layout on both designs, just changing the colours, papers and sentiment stamps.

We hope you choose to play along with us at Crafty Catz this week, remember we are an  'Anything Goes Challenge', the theme is entirely optional.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

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