House of Cards November Challenge - Stamped and Cut Window Technique

The House of Cards team have done themselves proud this month!

It's technique time for the November Challenge and the girls have created a beautiful selection of cards using the stamped and cut window technique.

To be honest I wasn't at all sure what this technique entailed but after watching the video featured on today's post and made by our leader, Mynn-the-Marvel, I felt filled with confidence to try this for myself.

I stamped in Versamark and then heat embossed as I wanted to give this technique a CAS twist. I then used the finished panel as a background for SOG Mae and her mistletoe.

There's plenty of gorgeous inspiration for you over at House of Cards. I think this is a lovely technique and one that really lends itself to Christmas/Holiday cards. Why not head-over, take a peek at what the HOC DT have created this month and join us for our November Challenge.

September Card Chain Challenge Reveal

It's time for another Card Chain Challenge reveal over at Deborah's: my goodness, doesn't time fly!

Here's the card I sent to my recipient and, yes, you guessed it, it's another SOG image.

Isn't Wavy Mae adorable? Perfect with that large sentiment stamp and such fun to colour. 

I promise to stop colouring SOG images... Eventually!

I was lucky enough to receive a super spooky card from the lovely Arlene, which you can see here along with all the other September creations.

If you'd like to join the October Chain there are still a few days before the link-up closes.

Naughty or Nice Challenge #20 - Feeling Witchy!

Something Witchy comes this way! 

Yes, we're celebrating all things Halloweeny, Spooky and Witch-related this month over at Naughty or Nice Challenges. Unbelievably this is our 20th challenge ( I know!) and once again Danielle has created a fun graphic that you are welcome to include with your entry.

Here in the UK when we're not obsessed with the fake tans and sequins of Strictly Come Dancing we're indulging our love of cakes, loaves and all things baked with the Great British Bake-Off.          With this in mind I couldn't resist a little punning to go with this sweet Some Odd Girl witch and the contents of her cauldron.

I really enjoyed colouring this digi and am quite pleased with both the look of the cauldron and the reflected glow of the potion on her face.

I enjoyed this challenge so much that I made a second card which you can see over at the Naughty or Nice blog. Once again, my fellow Troublemakers had a blast with this fun challenge and I know you'll love their fabulous witchy creations. And just to spice things up a little the lovely and very talented Danielle has created some gorgeous flair buttons as prizes for our winners.

So break out those witch stamps and/or witch-y sayings and come join us!

Mom's birthday card...

Shhhh, don't tell my Mom but I'm sharing her card ahead of her birthday on Monday!

I've got so much to do during the week plus my regular DT posts will be up in the next few days, that I thought I'd share this card today.

I can't stop colouring Some Odd Girl images at the moment. They are so cute and quirky and beautifully drawn and I love 'em! I was delighted to discover this little card appearing on the September Spotlight post over at the SOG blog... What a great way to start the weekend!

The MFT Cityscape was a gift from a Card Chain Challenge friend. I was delighted to receive this die-cut but wasn't sure how to use it. Then I remembered a card I'd seen over at Donna's blog and knew I'd be 'borrowing' her colouring technique for my card.

The sentiment was generated on my PC and the banner was cut using a combination of rectangular and square dies to achieve the pennant shape. The card base looked too plain when I began to assemble the card so I randomly stamped with the beautiful Hero Arts Winter Tree Pattern and embossed with WOW embossing powder to achieve some texture and interest. I have to say this gives a brilliant look to the card and I know I'll be using this technique again to give some added 'ooomph' to future cards.

This week the toppings at Seize the Birthday are Border Punches or Die-cuts so I'll do a little happy dance and link-up up with their current challenge!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Heartsy Mae/Heartsy Julie.

Its my sister-in-law's birthday next month... So of course I've made her a card! 

I'm really enjoying working with Some Odd Girl stamps at the moment and have spent a few pounds/dollars picking up one or two of the newer digital images over the last few weeks.

One of the things I enjoy most about making cards is that you can personalise them. I often try to make the image look a little bit like the person I'm sending it to and when I saw Heartsy Mae I knew she would make a great Julie!

Here she is with my beautiful niece enjoying some summer sunshine.  What a likeness! LOL. I wonder if Julie will realise I've included her trademark pink lipstick?

The pretty papers are from Echo Park's 6x6 paper pad Head Over Heels; which seems appropriate seeing as I've just realised the paper on the lower portion of the card is upside down! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. 

I'm linking-up with the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge crew as they have an Anything Goes week showcasing Hero Arts products. The 'happy birthday' sentiment is from Hero Arts so this seemed like too good an opportunity to miss.

Happy crafting everyone!

That's what friends are for...

We've got a super fun new challenge over at Naughty Or Nice as we celebrate friends! I had such a fun time with this theme and couldn't resist creating not one but two cards.

For card #1 I wanted to make a little scene with two friends leaning towards each-other. I used two TGF cuties and a whole heap of masking to achieve it. Unfortunately, my camera has washed-out the colours on this card which is actually bright and cheery IRL.

My second card is a little bit of sweet but snarky fun. This is one for a friend who may share your slightly crazy sense of humour... Luckily I'm blessed with a few of these! Actually, this card makes me think of two Year 6 girls who are regulars in the school library where I work. They totally adore each other and are everything besties should be but come the zombie apocalypse...

The patterned papers for both cards are from Echo Park's beautiful Here & Now collection. No prizes for recognising that the sweet friends on card #2 come from Some Odd Girl. I love how their happy smiles play-off against the wording and to accentuate this I added some white Wink of Stella to their teeth. I'd forgotten how much I love TGF and Some Odd Girl and really enjoyed colouring all of these adorable images. Mmmmm, note to self: shop your stash more often!!!

I'm also linking with the lovely ladies of the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge which, this week, is a Blogland favourite: Anything Goes.

So please pop over to the Naughty Or Nice blog to see what my less than angelic teamies have cooked-up for their fabulous DT cards.  If you do drop by you'll also find exciting information about how you can join us as a guest designer on our blog next month!

The same, but different!

Isn't it funny how you can make a card and be quite pleased with it, but before you send it you decide it needs a little 'tweak'?
That's what happened with this card:

I liked it, but the black sentiment looked too heavy... so I changed things to this:
and I think it looks much better for that subtle mini-makeover!

I hope this card has reached it's Blogland recipient by now and she's as happy to receive it as sweet 'Love Letter Kaylee'.

Challenges:
Tip Top Tuesday - Make your own backgrounds
The Pink Elephant TPE123 - Distressing

TTFN, happy crafting everyone.

Christmas joy!

It's a beautifully bright and sunny day today, but it is a little chilly!
Well, I've finally made a start on my Christmas cards - wooohoooo.
A big thank you to the girl's over at The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge for giving me a kick up the backside with the theme 'Wrap up Warm'. I knew that I had the perfect little festive digital stamp in Mistletoe Kaylee to join in the fun. I'd forgotten how much I love Some Odd Girl images, isn't she sweet?
I flipped Kaylee horizontally so that she fitted a design that I came up with for another card (I'll share later) and then went with a cozy colour combo.
I wanted a nice bright background, so stamped some snowflakes onto Stampin' Up card thus making this card eligible for One Stop Craft Challenge #154 'No Patterned paper'.
I'm going to make a whole bunch of cards in this design as they are sweet and simple to create.
Well, it must be cold outside as my man of the great outdoors (aka Hubby) has just come in from the garden! I better go and offer hot drinks and snacks asap.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Doing a quick 'happy dance'!

Morning crafters!

It's a Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK and I'm delighted to say that I have the WHOLE WEEKEND OFF!!!! And cue a quick happy dance.......
Before I share my card details can I just ask has anyone else lost all their Followers? The VIP lounge has vanished and I'm feeling sooooooooo lonely without all your lovely faces to keep me company! Is this Mr Blogger acting up again, or is this because I've disabled Cookies????

I'm not totally happy with this card as something is missing, but I'm sharing because I just love little Dancing Mae from Some Odd Girl. I've noticed that she is one of the images that have made it into cling and I really hope that someone in the UK starts selling these cuties asap!
The flower background on the yellow is stamped with a gorgeous Hero Arts cling stamp in Scattered Straw Distress ink. I was pleased how well the paper took the ink. The pretty papers are from the 6x6 pad Springtime by Echo Park: yummy!
I'm hoping to get some crafting time in this weekend, and I'm also looking forward to some cuddles from my little gorgeous niece.

Hope your weekend is crafty and full of fun!!!

Mae... in February!

It's grey and drizzly here today so what better time to share a little reminder of Summer in the shape of this sweet digi!

Digital Mae, and her flowery friends, called 'buy me now' when I spotted her over at the Someoddgirl shop. I've been having a few problems with my printer so had to ask my Dad if I could use his computer to print her (plus a few other digi friends). Thanks Dad!

I couldn't resist colouring those cute flowers as sun flowers... and I just had to add some little black pupils to the eyes. The paper is from Basic Grey and that super sunshine cardstock is from Stampin' Up!

I printed the sentiment on my PC, added some ribbons and plenty of bling and then did a silly little happy dance at the result. I wanted bright and cheery and bright and cheery was what I got!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Papertake weekly Challenge - Putting on the Glitz

Creative Card Crew - Friendship

Digital Tuesday Challenge - Use a Die Cut

Cute Card Thursday - Shiny Happy Cards

Stamp Something - Something Funky

Allsorts - Inspired by Nature

Crazy 4 Challenges - Using Die Cuts

Hope you all have a great weekend!

My oldest friend!

Actually the post title really should read: 'the friend that I have known the longest' as my friend Sue has just turned 45, not 145!

When I made this card I was feeling in a clean and simple mood, and also wanted to use some spring colours.

This gorgeous digital image was a freebie over at the fabulous Some Odd Girl. She's called Mae and if you pop on over to Some Odd Girl you will find that there are lots more Mae's following Kristy's April new releases day last week.

I love Mae's slightly odd proportions and gorgeous eyes...

Anyhoo, back to my 'oldest friend'...

This is Sue and her gorgeous daughter, Katie. I first met Sue on the climbing frame at playgroup, which was a very long time ago. We haven't managed to meet up for ages but always keep in touch with cards and letters, and recently by email.I made the card featuring Mae for Sue's birthday and am delighted to discover that it perfectly fits the current challenge over at One Odd Girl which is no patterned paper!

Finally, please don't forget to drop by tomorrow as I will be celebrating one year of blogging here at Dotty Pudding's Place, with a little candy giveaway!

Happy crafting everyone!