Woosh......

In this busy run up to Christmas I had to find time to do this week's Sketch Saturday challenge and I have combined it with the Penny Black Challenge. This card was inspired by some Costco wrapping paper that I bought a year or so ago. The Penny Black challenge this week is a recipe, 3-2-1 and that's three flowers (I have used snowflakes instead) two papers and one ribbon. I know last week I said I wanted to steer clear of Christmas cards but this design came into my head as soon as I saw the sketch and it can be the start of my 2009 Christmas card stash as I have already made and sent this years out.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend.

Gill x

Lady in Red, Sketch Saturday #28

Hi everyone,

What a great sketch from Sketch Saturday this week. It's one that I will use over again. I am trying to steeer away from Christmas at the moment so I have gone for a Birthday card. The stamps used are both unknown, sorry!

Enjoy your weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Gill x

Love is in the air

Cute Card Thursday's challenge this week is 'Hearts' and I had just the stamp that also happens to be cute. I think this makes an ideal anniversary card. It's one of the first stamps I ever purchased and it's by Great Impressions. Cardstock is from Costco, everything else from stash.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Sketch Saturday #27

Just a quick post today for Sketch Saturday. The stamped image is a Forever Friends, papers and cardstock from stash and a rub-on sentiment.

Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for looking.

Gill x

Swell News

A couple of days ago I was asked to make a 'Swell News' card for a couple who have recently found out that they are expecting a baby. I just happened to make it in lilac and teal so I am entering it into the Cute Card Thursday Challenge. The stamp set is by 'My Favourite Things' entitled 'She's having a baby', cardstock and paper from stash.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

It's Snowtime!

I am going to cheat a little today and double up on challenges. Yesterday I started a card for the Friday Sketchers and today I have finished it off with a Penny Black stamp so here is my effort. The Penny Black Challenge calls for 'Funky Christmas', using non-traditional colours, not sure the card is funky but the colours are non-traditional.

Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for looking.

Gill x

Arty Girlz Challenge #61

'Today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope'

Hi there, back for another challenge. I have not done Arty Girlz for a while but when I saw that the challenge was either a quote or verse, I just had to do it. I have many quotation stamps and it was hard to choose but I came up with this one, it's from Clarity Stamps, so too are the leaves. I thought I would get one last Autumn leaves card in before Christmas.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Penny Black - Monochromatic

Hi there.

Great challenge from Penny Black this week, monochromatic and what better colours to use than good old Black and White. It's also given me an opportunity to use my only non-cute Penny Black stamp 'flying stars'.

Ingredients: Stamp: Penny Black (of course) Card stock: Craft Creations Bits and Bobs: Score board, Birthday rub-on, organza ribbon and black stickles.

Happy crafting.

Gill x

Friday Sketchers No. 28

Have not posted this week but I thought I would have a go at the Friday Sketchers which is quite a detailed sketch. I just love the Spiral Whisper stamps and this little 'Funky Snowman' is no exception. Isn't he cute?

Ingredients: Stamp: Spiral Whisper 'Funky Snowman' Papers and card stock: Stampin-up and from stash Snowflakes and Greeting: Craftwork Cards.

Have a great weekend and thanks for looking.

Gill x

Friday Sketchers No. 27

Just a quick post for Friday Sketchers Challenge. A rather rushed card, been busy today running here there and everywhere, and also wanted to get it finished before the sun went down. The stamp is of course wonderful Milly on a Yule log by Spiral Whisper, papers from Stampin-up and stash, cuttlebug snowflake and jewelled brad.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Cute Card Thursday

Here we are again, back for another Cute Card Thursday Challenge. I don't own any angel stamps but I have a couple of fairy stamps so I have chosen the elegant dreaming fairy, available from Stamp Addicts. Wish the sun would shine so that I can get a clearer photo. (my 2nd attempt now on screen)

Ingredients: Stamps: Dreaming Dairy, Judikins and Swirls, Autumn Leaves clear stamps Card stock: Stampin-up and Craft Creations Inks: Distress Ink, Shabby Shutters and Memento, Tuxedo Black Bits and Bobs: Fiskars Punch, Liquid Pearls, Prima Flowers, American Crafts ribbon and Jewels and Pearls from stash.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Kreativ Blogger Award

Hi there, I was absolutely thrilled to bits to received this award from Louise (Crafty Lou) a couple of days ago.

The rules are:
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award
3. Nominate 5 blogs
4. Put links to their blogs
5. Leave a message for your nominees

And in true Strictly style, (drum roll) I can now reveal, in no particular order, the five nominees for this award, and the first blog to be nominated is (long pause) Jackie, the next (you know the ropes), Kim, Kath, Claudia and Jilli.

I get inspiration from many blogs so thank you to everyone out there and a big thank you once again to Louise.

Gill x

Sketch Saturday No. 23

Firstly I would like to say that I am honoured and thrilled to bits to be given a Kreativ Blogger award by Louise (Crafty Lou), check out her blog, it's wonderful. There are some rules involved, one of them being to nominate and pass on the award to 5 other blogs who most inspire me so with that in mind I will be back tomorrow with my choice.

Secondly, here's my entry for the Sketch Saturday No. 23 challenge. It's Coco's first sketch and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed using it, so thank you Coco.

Ingredients: Stamp: Carol's Cube by Judikins available from Stamp Addicts, Card stock: Stampin-up and Bazzill, Bits and Bobs: Ribbon from stash, stylized flowers embossing folder, circle nestabilities, dimensional paint and micro beads.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Cute Card Thursday - Cheers

"Congratulations and jubilations

I want the world to know I'm happy as can be"

Cliff Richard - Congratulations

Another post this week and it's Cute Card Thursday. I love this little bear, in fact I love all the Forever Friends range of stamps, they are so nice to watercolour.

Ingredients: Stamps: Forever Friends and My Favourite Things, Card stock: Craft Creations, Costco and Stampin-up, Odds and ends: Corner punch, hole punch, ribbon and stickles.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Cuttlebug Challenge #5

Just a quick post for the Cuttlebug Challenge which is to use an embossed metallic finish.

Ingredients: Stamps: Sugar and Spice flowers, Happy Birthday (unknown). Card stock: Craft Creations, Odds and ends: Swiss Dots embossing folder, alcohol inks, brads and wire.

Happy Crafting.

Gill x

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Kaboodle Challenge #9

Hi there, check out the Kaboodle challenge this week. Of course it's Halloween but they are giving a free download for the challenge. No card from me this time, instead, I have used the papers to cover a Kit-Kat for a Halloween treat. The measurements are below if anyone is interested. Please note that I have used both imperial and metric as I hate measuring in 8ths and 16ths etc. It's almost a perfect fit and will go snugly around the Kit Kat, all you need to do is stick a strip of double sided tape down the back to secure and even better still, eat it, only 107 calories.

Enjoy.

Gill x

Bump in the Night

"Its close to midnight and something evils lurking in the dark,

Under the moonlight you see a sight that almost stops your heart"

Michael Jackson - Thriller

Penny Black Saturday Challenge time again, don't the weeks fly by! I didn't have a Halloween or Spooky stamp so I have adapted my little fella, Dressed Up, and he certainly is right now. I have drawn a cape, given him fangs and re-designed his tie. Hope that's allowed. Thriller came to mind whilst making this card but under the moonlight, the only sight that will make my heart stop is that he is so darn cute.

Ingredients: Stamps: Penny Black 'Dressed Up' and Printworks Clearly Defined 'Halloween Treats'. Paper and Ribbon: from stash. Bits and Bobs: Liquid Pearls, Dimensional Glaze, Brads.

Fangs for looking and enjoy your weekend.

Gill x

Friday Sketchers No. 25

"And all the leaves on the trees are falling

To the sound of the breezes that blow"

Van Morrison - Moondance

When I saw the Friday Sketchers this week I knew it was the perfect sketch for me to use a cute image I bought at Ally Pally from Dimensions Fourth and once it was made, Moondance came to mind.

Ingredients: Stamps: Dimensions Fourth, Papers: Costco and Stampin-up, Bits and Bobs: Prima Flowers, Papermania Brads, Dimensional Glaze, Faux Stitching.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend.

Gill x

Sketch Saturday #21

Hi there, time for Sketch Saturday again and here's my entry. I thought I would try out another embossing folder before the cobwebs start to appear. I think I'll use this one a lot but won't sand so hard next time. I actually made holes where the snow appears, so I covered them up with some dimensional paint.

Ingredients: Stamp: Lily of the Valley Papers: Core'dinations and Stampin -up

Have a great weekend.

Gill x

Cute Card Thursday (Autumn)

When I saw this challenge I knew I had to do it. I love leaves and Autumn colours and had recently been messing around with these particular stamps on another card.

Ingredients: Stamps: Great Impressions and Clarity Inks: Adirondack 'Cabin Fever' and Distress Ink 'Tea Dye' Cardstock: Stampin-up.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Spiral Whisper challenge

My stamps have finally arrived and now I can do my first Spiral Whisper Challenge. Marvin on a Vine is his name. After I watercoloured him, I had the idea of running a vine through the centre of the card and I got so carried away with it that I forgot there should be a sentiment there too. So my sentiment is at the bottom of my main image, hope thats OK.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Thanks a Bunch!

The weekend's here again and time for the Penny Black challenge with a nice easy theme, Thanks a Bunch. If any of the ladies, and Stan, from Larkswood Art are looking, you may recognise this style of card. Anyway, have a great weekend and thanks for looking.

Gill x

House Mouse Challenge

Just a quickie today. The House Mouse Challenge. Didn't have a Halloween stamp in the range so I improvised with my favourite versatile mouse stamp and some corn candy (I think that's what they are called) rub-ons.

Happy Crafting.

Gill x

Sketch Saturday #19

Back again with another challenge. This time it's for Sketch Saturday and yes, it's another Halloween card. The main image is from Stamps by Judith, available from Stamp Addicts. You may remember I used the legs with a parcel stamp on a card back in August. The good thing is I have at last let my spider web embossing folder see the light of day. I have lots of embossing folders but don't use them as much as I should so I'm looking forward to the new Cuttlebug Challenge blog getting into full swing to give me some more ideas.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gill x

Penny Black Challenge No. 17

The first of, hopefully, two posts today, well it is World Card Making Day today. Firstly a warm welcome to my newest followers and, of course, my oldies but goodies. Secondly, a wonderful sketch from the Penny Black Challenge this week, so here's my card. Isn't this just the cutest image from the 'Christmas Critters' T for Transparent range. Bought those at Ally Pally last week, amongst a thousand and one other things. I'm off now to do another challenge so see ya later.

Enjoy your weekend and World Card Making Day.

Gill x

Kaboodle Challenge #5

Some more wonderful downloadable papers from the Kaboodle Challenge this week and this is what I decided to make with them, which has now given me loads of inspiration for further Christmas cards. Go over to their blog and get inspired.

Have fun!

Gill x

Sketch Saturday # 18

Firstly I would like to say a big Hello and Thank-you to my two followers, didn't know I had them until yesterday. Secondly, here's my entry for Sketch Saturday. I have rotated the sketch to fit my 'portrait' image. Really enjoyed this one, in fact I made three at the same time as I know they will be very popular. I'm not a big footy fan but my husband and son are so here's to West Ham and hope they do well this season. The stamps used are from Stamps Away and The Stamp Man.

Enjoy your weekend, off to Ally Pally tomorrow.

Thanks for looking

Gill x

Friday Sketchers

Hi there,

Just a quick post. Wanted to use my new Spiral Whisper stamps that came yesterday so here is my entry for the Friday Sketchers.

Ingredients: Stamps by Spiral Whisper, Rubbernecker and Stamposaurus. Papers by K & Co. and Stampin-up

Happy Crafting.

Gill x

Saturday Sketch # 17

Not an appropriate card for this lovely weather we are having but I just had to use one of my new stamps and when I saw the Sketch Saturday I knew exactly what I was going to do. I coloured him in with Stardust Pens and applied Dimentional Glaze to the ice, beak and feet but it does not show up too well. The stamp is by Whipper Snapper entitled 'Ice' Day Penguin.

Enjoy your weekend.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #3

Hi there, have not done many challenges this weekend but today I had a chance to do the Kaboodle Doodles Challenge, 'tearing it up'. I have used papers from their wonderful grey paper pack and cheated a little with a die-cut Frankenstein. That's another Halloween card done. I have had quite a busy weekend, my Aunt and Uncle celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary and as per usual I left everything until the last minute and made a card the morning of the party which I was quite pleased with. With minutes to spare I grabbed the invite only to discover that it was not their Golden but their Diamond Anniversary and so I quickly swapped bits of gold for diamantes, altered the sentiment and we were off only to discover that when we got there, my hand made card was still on my desk in my craft room. That'll teach me!

Thanks for looking

Gill x

Cute Card Thursday

I'm back with another post, should really be making cards for the next Stamp Addicts TV show but dogs are so cute, I did have this card layout already done and I just love the downloads up for grabs from Cute Card Thursday. The adorable dog image is from Magnolia. It's the first time I have used him and I can already see he has lots of potential, so watch this space. Sentiment from Stampin-up.

Happy Crafting.

Gill x

Autumn Haze

When I first saw Papertake's Autumn Haze challenge, a card idea came straight to mind, only now have I had a chance to make it. I don't know what it is about Autumn and Halloween but I just love the colour schemes that are used. The leaves are a Judi-kins cube stamp entitled Pressed Leaves, available from Stamp Addicts, and the sentiment is an Inca Stamp.

Hope the weather is fine where you are.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Kaboodle challenge - Feeling Spotty

It's time for Shy Bear to have another airing, this time for the second Kaboodle Challenge, Feeling Spotty. The last time I used him he was holding a flower for a Thank-you card. Today, it's a spider for Trick or Treat. I normally make and send around eight Halloween cards so that's now one down, seven to go.

Shy Bear is by the Artufl Stamper, available from Stamp Addicts and the Trick or Treat stamp was from a bargain bucket, I think it's an old PSX stamp.

Happy Crafting.

Gill x

Sketch Saturday Challenge #15

The buzz is that I just love Sketch Saturday and have I been a busy bee with my nestabilities. Just been waiting for a small ray of sunshine so that I could take my photo. It came, but went behind a cloud very quickly, however, I did manage to snap in between. The stamps are from a set I bought a while back but have never used. They are from Butterfly Kisses, I think they are called 'around-2-it'. You see you get and front and a back view of the bee so that he can swing around in an aperture card. The small bee was designed by Karen from Pulling-on-the-Glitz.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Pretty in Pink

It's Cute Card Thursday time again and although my shoe isn't a cute image, I think it's pretty in pink. This card uses the wonderful designer papers from Stampin-up which are, unfortunately, now on the retired list. It also uses the large Sketch Shoe stamp from Clarity Stamps. Some Glitter and a bow and your stepping out in style.

Happy Crafting.

Gill x

Kaboodle Challenge

Just a quickie today. First saw this new Kaboodle challenge over at Crafty Lou's blog and thought I would have a go. Kaboodle are offering free down-loadable papers to use in your first challenge. I used just the one paper and cut the petals out from that paper.

Thanks for looking.

Gill x

Ratted

I wouldn't normally do this but I am killing two birds with one stone today by combining two of my favourite challenges, Penny Black Saturday Challenge and Sketch Saturday. I was looking through my Penny Black stamps to see what I could use with the 'stars and stripes' theme and came across this little fella, bought him at the Stevenage show. Although he is entitled 'dressed up', he looks a bit rat-a***d to me, I just love his expression, so this is his debut.

Just to let you know, I have just received another assignment from Stamp Addicts for yet another TV show, scheduled for October so I've got the month of September to get my artwork done. Their latest TV show, The Spirit of Christmas, will be on air 6th September, so make a date with Create and Craft.

Congratulations to all the new Sketch Saturday Design Team.

Happy Crafting.

Gill x