Cute as a button

Hello everyone, long time no blog!

I worked all of last week and had to spend Sunday catching up on housework, so just couldn't fit any card making time into a packed schedule.

Today is different: the sky is blue, the sun is shining and I am having a day off.

No major housework, just a day of cardmaking and relaxing... heavenly!

I'm having a bit of a Gorjuss girl fad right now (oh, you'd guessed!). I want to practice my colouring techniques and find that Suzanne W's wonderful little girls virtually colour themselves.I picked a warm blue and red colour combo for Goth Girl , mainly because I wanted to use Cosmo Crickets lovely Material Girl papers. This is such a fabulous pad of retro papers and I love the vintage look of the colours and patterns. This is only the second easel card that I've made and I've got to admit that I struggled to remember how one went together until I re-found these great instructions.

It's easel card time over at the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, and also at the ABC Challenge (E is for Easel), so thanks for the inspiration girls!

I'm now off to make cards while the sun shines... happy crafting everyone!

September Card Chain Challenge

Hi everyone, I'm just squeeeeeeeeeezing in before the end of the month with my September CCC post.

As you all know I love Deborah's Card Chain Challenge! Nothing compares with the thrill of receiving a beautiful card and of making new virtual friends along the way. This month Deborah is celebrating one whole year of challenges so big congrats and very many thanks to her for organising all the fun!

I sent this card to the lovely and oh, so talented Pia.

I did a little altering to this sweet Diane Duda/Sugar Nellie stamp to add the leaves!

...and just look at what I received from sweet Rikke in Demark!

The papers and colours are just gorgeous and I love that flower.

The little bird detail on the notecard is so sweet.

Thank you Rikke!

It's sign up time again over at Deborah's blog so why not join in the fun for October!

My Gorjuss sister-in-law!

It's my sister-in-law's birthday tomorrow... shhhhh, don't tell anyone but it's the big 40!

I decided to make another Gorjuss girl card and got heavy with the Distress inks to create the layered background. Lot's of lovely Hero Arts stamps and a sentiment stamp by Crescendoh too. I had so much fun with this one!

Here's my SIL with my sweet niece earlier this year. Don't you think that Gorjuss girl image is just perfect for her?

Happy crafting everyone!

Well, anything goes!

It was launch day over at SCSC yesterday as Wendy and the DT girls showcased her newly released collection of manga inspired stamps. As I live close enough to Wendy's shop to be able to visit I have actually seen some of these gorgeous designs in real life... and I've also bagged myself a cute Italian Girl stamp!

SCSC Challenge #101 is 'Anything goes' so I thought I'd enter this little anniversary card that I've made for my sister-in-law and her hubby. They are celebrating 10 years of marriage this week. I cannot believe that their lovely wedding day was soooooooooo long ago!

The cute ducks are a Penny Black Slapstick stamp. I've not used one before and have to say that I am very impressed. The stamp gave a really good, crisp image and stuck perfectly to the perspex block. I coloured with Promarkers and Versacolour ink.

Challenge #130 at Cute Card Thursday is Flutter and Tweet. These guys might flap and quack but they are still birds so can waddle over and join in the fun!

Finally I have just one thing to say: OK, so who stole the weekend?????

Oh well, at least I did alot of housework and made two cards.

Happy crafting everyone!

Gorjuss giveaway result!

Hi everyone, just dropping by to announce that comment no. 6 is the winner of my giveaway... and that would be Lynne from NI!
Congratulations Lynne, that cute little mirror will be in the post asap!!!!

Also here's quick heads up for some mystery Torendi Candy currently on offer over at my good friend Beth's blog IFR. I can't believe that Beth's inky fingers have been working their magic as part of the Torendi DT for a whole year now. Beth will be stepping down from the team and this blog candy is by way of a fond farewell. Drop by at this post for a fabulous retrospective of Beth's year as a Torendi girl and all the details of how to sign up for her candy draw.

I baked apple and cinnamon muffins yesterday with the first crop of apples from our tree - yummy! And we have an amazing number of pears ripening too, so I am on the look out for a few pear recipes and would welcome some suggestions.

Have a happy Sunday!

With a little help from my friends...

Since starting my new job I don't get as much time for crafting as before... so it was a real pleasure to sit down last weekend and make my card for the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge. However, I didn't get the opportunity to photograph it until about five minutes ago!

This week the lovely Helen provided this perfect little sketch for Challenge #100.I wanted to use some of the papers from a K & Company Designer pack that I bought some time ago. The pack is called 'Sparkly Sweet' and has some really pretty patterns. I thought that a nice girly Anya would be perfect to match with the soft, muted colours of the papers.

Anya comes courtesy of my sweet friend Vicky and the gorgeous laser cut paper is from the adorable Virginia... it's always good to get a little help from my friends!

While I'm on the subject of the Secret Crafter don't forget to drop by tomorrow as Wendy and the DT girls will be launching the latest selection of gorgeous manga style stamps. I've seen a few sneak peaks and have to say that they are all brilliant!

Happy crafting everyone!