Rustic Flowers

 Good morning, it's the end of the week and almost the end of the month- time just flies by! I don't like to wish time away as it goes too fast already but I really won't be sorry to see some warmer weather arrive- I'm fed up with the cold and damp- I want spring!!!

I cheered myself  up by colouring this lovely image, Rustic Flowers, from Jan's Digi Stamps- Jan is kindly sponsoring our challenge at Crafty Catz this week. It's Christine's turn to host and she has chosen the optional twist of  'Three favourite colours'.  I love blue. purple and green together-so fresh and pretty, makes me think of spring. With hindsight I wish I'd used a different embossing folder- this one looks wobbly in the photo and makes my eyes go funny!

There's plenty of lovely inspiration from my fabulous teamies over at Crafty Catz, so why not hop over now to check them out? We'd love to see what you are creating too- with/or without the twist- it's your choice!

Thanks for visiting,

Have a lovely weekend

Chris

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Challenge entries:

colormyheart #532

creativefingers #247

kraftychicks #648

jansdigistamps # Jan. 2023

New Beginnings at Fab'n' Funky

 Good morning, I hope your week is going well- it's been good here! We just booked a holiday to Italy, our first time overseas for 11 years so very exciting! Usually we stay in the UK so that we don't have to leave the dog behind- but sorry Marvin- this one's for us! He'll be well looked after, a friend of ours is going to stay here with him, she's one of his favourite people and dog-crazy so he'll be thoroughly spoiled!  We'll book another holiday later in the year so he won't miss out on his favourite beach walks.

My card today is my DT card for our new challenge at Fab'n' Funky, the theme is 'New Beginnings' chosen by our lovely N-Eva who is hosting this fortnight. As you can see, it's for a new baby, my friend's tiny new granddaughter who was born last week. I used a very old wood backed stamp from Whipper Snapper Stamps, so cute! I think this one is actually the 'boy' version but I gave a pink vest and a bow in it's 'hair' so no one will ever know! The letters are hand drawn and fussy cut, papers are old ones from LOTV and the border is punched using a Martha Stewart punch (at least 10 years old) so it's a real mix of old and new here!

There's lots of inspiration from the Fab'n' Funky girls over on the challenge blog, so do hop over for a visit, we'd love to see your takes on the theme too, can never have too much inspiration!

Thanks for visiting 

Chris

x

Challenge entries

unicorn #83

getcreative #117

inkspirational #281

creationsinpink #54

Time to relax

 Good morning,  I'm a little bit too relaxed today- nearly forgot it's Friday and I haven't posted my DT make for this week's challenge at Crafty Catz! It's my turn to host this week too so a good thing I already scheduled the Challenge post, I think I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on! 

Anyway, it's a just for fun challenge this week-with an OPTIONAL twist of 'add a diecut' - no sponsor, which means we get to use our own stamps/digis- my favourite in a lot of ways but the downside is I have to make up my mind what to use. As it happens I received this Patreon image from Krista Smith so got to work with my Copics. The added die cuts are the frame and the bow on the curtain ( I love that bow die!).

As always, my lovely teamies have been busy creating some fabulous cards to inspire your creative juices, so do hop over for a visit. 

Thanks for visiting and enjoy the weekend.

Chris

x

Challenge entries

cutitup #269

aperfecttimetocraft #1

Leannes World 101#58

pearlysparkles #80

digichoosday #2

I have a bone to pick...

 Good morning, I hope no one is superstitious as it's Friday 13th today! If you are just stay in bed until tomorrow- it should be safe to get up then!

There's a new challenge starting at Crafty Catz today- sponsored by the fabulous

  Dr Digi.

Prize 2 images from the shop

Billie is our host this week and her optional theme is 'add an animal'. 

The team were given some fun images to play with- I  chose to use A bone to pick, couldn't resist this greedy little dog! My Marvin would LOVE a bone as big as this- he's a greedy little guy too! I used my copics to colour him up to look like Marvin- note those gleaming white teeth- Marvin's actually do look like that - so shiny, white and sharp! I think it's all the bones, dental sticks and chew toys he has because he won't let me get near them with a toothbrush! (well, that's not true- I can get near then he snatches the brush and chomps it up which I don't think is the way you're meant to do it!) I truly admire anyone who manages to clean their dog's teeth with a brush and doggy toothpaste! 

I fussy cut the image and popped it up on foam for a little dimension, and added it my layered panels of DP , a stamped image and some stamped and fussy- cut  bones to finish.

You'll find plenty of inspiration from my lovely teamies over at Crafty Catz- as always the theme is optional so I hope you can find the time to join in this week.

Thanks for stopping by-

have a lovely weekend

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

digichoosday #1

polkadoodle #1

craftinghappiness #138

creativefingers #246

Critter Crazy #70

craftyanimals. #68

daisychain #70

No squares or rectangles at Fab'n' Funky Challenges

 Good morning, Fab'n' Funky challenges are back after the Christmas break, I'm hosting this fortnight, I've chosen the theme of 'shaped cards' anything but a rectangle or square. I made a circular card using some stamps from Lavinia and Darkroom Door, the background created with Distress Oxide Inks and a Lavinia Stencil, some clear drops added to finish. 

My lovely team have come back refreshed after their break, creating some fabulous cards to inspire you, please hop over and take a look, our challenges are open for two weeks if you wish to play along- and I hope you do!

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

aplacetostart Jan Challenge

getcreative #117 (new stencil and ink colours))

mmmchallenge #191 (new stencil and ink colours)

craftrocket #99

kraftychicks #645

thesisterhoodofcrafters Something New- Stencil, ink colours.

Crazy is our fame - Jan. Challenge

mirtillamente #16 (music)

Crafty Calendar January Challenge

 I'm back again with my second DT card for today.

 This time it's for our January Challenge at 

Crafty Calendar, 

sponsored by Sheepski Designs.

 The theme for this month is Add a Sentiment.

The image I have use is Hot Chocolate, coloured, as usual, with Copic Markers. The background is embossed with an embossing folder that was a magazine freebie some years ago.- it makes me think of a warm woollen jumper- nice and cosy! 

Pop over to the challenge blog to see what the rest of the Crafty Girls have been up to this month, then why not play along? It's a nice easy theme and we'd love to have you join us- the more, the merrier!

Thanks for visiting today- enjoy the rest of the weekend

Chris

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Challenge entries:

MAWTT #150

craftygalscorner #238

aperfecttimetocraft #1

sheepski #70 (winter)

thefourseasons January Challenge

In with the new at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

Good morning, I've two cards to share today, the first is for this fortnight's challenge at

  Sweet Stampin',

the theme, appropriately for this time of year is 

NEW!

I was asked by one of my best friends to make a new baby card for her daughter, who is expecting a little girl later this month, she asked for 'very pink and girly' as this eagerly awaited little princess already has 3 big brothers - and her daughter, who loves pink and pretty, is over the moon to be having a little girl! 

I used a LOTV rubber stamp that was one of the first I bought when I started card-making, such a cutie, she remains a firm favourite for baby girl cards. Coloured with Copics and placed in a little die cut frame. The little tag behind the frame pulls out for a message or name (baby's name is a closely guarded secret, even my friend doesn't know- she's convinced it's because her daughter knows she won't like it!}

I decorated the inside too, leaving plenty of space for the Grandparents to write their own message.

And even made a box to match.

There's loads to see over at over at Sweet Stampin' where my lovely teamies have come up with some brilliant ideas using this theme. We hope that you will be inspired to play along- please just remember to include some stamping (digital stamps are fine too!}

I'll be back later today with a second DT make

Chris

x

 

Challenge entries

MTTCCB #498

CRAFT #663

lilredwagon new beginnings

unicorn #83

passion for markers #671

craftyfriends #163

creationsinpink. #53

allsorts #710

Crafty Catz are back- go bananas!

 Good morning- Crafty Catz are back with our first challenge for 2023. Hosted this week by our very talented Bridget who has picked the theme of Hobbies or Pastimes, which is of course optional. 

Our sponsor this time is 

ALL DRESSED UP

PRIZE 2 IMAGES OF WINNERS CHOICE

https://www.etsy.com/shop/alldressedupstamps

I used the cute Cheeky Monkey image- this little show off is indulging in two of his hobbies at the same time- skateboarding and juggling- hope he doesn't come a cropper! 

Image coloured with Copic markers, papers from Doodlebug. The bananas are stamped, fussy cut and popped up on foam, stamped sentiments and 3 little monkey embellishments punched from the DP and covered with glossy accents.

Do hop over and take a look at the challenge blog- you'll find some great inspiration from the rest of the DT- hopefully you won't be able to resist joining in this week- remember the theme is optional- anything goes at Crafty Catz.

Thanks for visiting

Chris

x

Challenge Entries:

MAWTT #150

Critter Crazy #70

alldressedup #135

craftyanimals #68

daisychain#70

worldwideopen #12

Happy New Year

Hello and Happy New Year. It seems ages since I last posted a card here- a busy week or so has just flown by- Christmas came and went in a flash as it always does! 2023 has arrived and I, for one, am hoping it's a better year than 2022.

I found a box of previously coloured images that I'd forgotten about- some of them coloured up years ago- as this one was! I added a little more depth to the colouring and made it into a card, using various scraps of DP- the orange-y dotted paper looked a lot pinker in the light I have in my craftroom than it does here! The papers are matted onto dark blue card- looks black in  the photo! 

I used this sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday, (flipped)

the image is from Krista Smith aka Saturated Canary, coloured with Copic markers. The die cut skates are, I think, Studio Light. I added a stamped sentiment - I think the card could be used for Christmas or a winter birthday.

Thanks for taking the time to visit

Chris

x

Challenge entries:

SSW2- December 22 Challenge

avenue613 #202301

cardz4galz fave Challenge of '22 - #175 Die Cuts

Passion for markers #670

classicdesign #1

crafterscafe #292