Happiest of Birthdays...

Hi guys, I don't know about you but I often feel the need to go and hide away from the World in my craft room. Today was one of those days. Anyhoo, here's what happened while I was in retreat. 

It's my friend's birthday next week, so I made a kitty card to help her celebrate. I used this cutie from a Globeland set and a sentiment from Sunshine and Bee Designs. I can't provide links to either of these as one doesn't seem quite legit and the other has vanished. The background is one of my gel press prints. 

I'm linking my card to the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More where the gang are playing Birthdays for Challenge #508.

The cat stamps are new goodies, so Darnell's place and NBUS Challenge #82 is the place to play! 

And last, but certainly by now means least, Fiki's fabulous Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge. 

With so many shops and challenges closed or closing I was delighted to be able to play at the above. Thanks so much to the blog owners and their DTs for keeping going. It's not easy right now. 

LOTV Loveliness

 Hi guys, it's so hot here in the UK that I decided to hide indoors and spend the day in my craft room. I've had quite a few commissions to work on recently, and forgot to take pictures of most of them! However, here's one I made earlier, and remembered to photograph.

My friend's friend is now a Great Grandma, and so she asked me to make her a card.

I haven't inked-up this cute LOTV image in years, and I really enjoyed using this sweet stamp once again. You can still purchase LOTV stamps and images here. 

It's Make Your Mark time over at Addicted To Stamps and More, so I thought I'd play along!

Happy crafting, guys. 

Jingle Belles: Bling on the Holidays

 

It's currently all about the BLING over at Jingle Belles!

I started off with a piece of green cardstock, and got busy with a stencil, Versamark and gorgeous Wow Glitter embossing powder. However, the green just looked too flat. I rummaged in my stash and found this gorgeous inky, red watercoloured card and repeated the process. The glitter on this card is a thing of beauty. I die cut a Reverse Confetti Peace die, mounted the panel on some leftover card and thus my festival of sparkle was complete.

I'm also linking this card over at Addicted to Stamps and More where they are playing:

 

I was thrilled to find I was their Top Addict for Challenge #462 with this little mouse card.

Thanks so much, guys. 

Here's one last look at my card for today...

It's so difficult to photograph anything sparkly, isn't it. You'll just have to believe me that this is totally blingtastic... as are my face, hands, hair and navy blue hoodie!

Happy crafting, everyone!

I Saw a Mouse...

 Hey, just look at me posting for the second day in a row! I'm really enjoying my crafting at the moment and seem to be unusually productive. Long may it continue!

A while back I bagged this little Stampin' Up! mouse, and his equally cute buddies, from a Facebook sale site. Isn't he adorable? 

He was great fun to colour, although I didn't mean to stamp him in brown ink. I decided to stick with the brown and I have to say that I think it works with the kraft background. 

I stenciled with white Distress Ink through a TH/Stampers Anonymous Merry Christmas Layering Stencil and then added a sentiment from another bargain buy, which I think is from Hero Arts. 

I'm delighted to linking-up at a few challenges, having created my card using inspiration from:

Steph and Lauren are Getting TEXT-y With It for their current challenge.

The lovely crew at Christmas Craft Creations are looking for Stencils and Embossing Folders.

Edited to Add:

Thanks so much!

It's all about Christmas at Addicted to Stamps and More.

Just Us Girls are having an Anything Goes Stencil Week.

And finally, I'm tickled pink to see that the lovely Helen from Made by Helen has reopened The Rudolph Days Challenge! Congratulations, Helen, I hope this goes well for you. It's great to have a later in the month challenge with which to play along.

Time for a cuppa now. I hope you're all having a happy day and possibly even managing to squeeeeeeze in some crafty fun!

It's Cake O'Clock!

Congratulations to the gang over at Time Out Challenges where they are celebrating 10 fabulous years of creativity and inspiration! 

Their challenge for the next two weeks is Birthdays! Happy birthday to all at Time Out - what an achievement!

My card features one of my gel prints and a favourite cake image and sentiment from Jane's Doodles set It's Cake O'Clock. 

I'm also playing along with

The Daring Cardmakers - Let's Have Cake

and

Challenge #461 - Make Your Mark

However you spend your day, I hope it involves crafting and cake!

Optional Wings

Shhhhh, don't tell my hubby about this card...

 

I was struggling BIG TIME with a romantic card for the hubster. I knew I was going with a traditional colour combo and a big heart, but just couldn't decide where I was headed after that. Then I discovered Penny Black Saturday Challenge was offering Optional WINGS. I had a light bulb moment and went in search of ducks...

This adorable stamp (Penny Black Slapstick - Loving and Hugging) is such an oldie that I can't find a link to one on sale anywhere. Such a shame as it's so much fun.

Thanks also to the following Challenges for pointing me towards the other elements of this card.

Addicted to CAS Challenge #251 - Heart

Addicted to Stamps and More - #460 Die Cuts and Stencils

Color Hues  #80 - Pink and Red

Just Us Girls #712 - Color Week

After all that, I just hope he likes it!