Gothic Arches - Queen

It has been far toooooo long since I joined in with Nancy's fabby challenge at Gothic Arches. This time the theme is "Queen".

I went for this playing card Queen from Google Images as she reminds me of Queen Elizabeth I in her coronation portrait - now that to me was a QUEEN!!

Over on the UK Stampers Forum we had a bit of a thread going about altering papers so I attacked this cheap Papermania one with some gesso, sandpaper and Distress Inks and over-stamped it a bit. I am very pleased with it. We've now got an "old paper" swap going on over on the forum so that should be really interesting!!

The sentiment was printed onto the computer and inked with Distress Inks again. I made the little embellishment out of air drying clay and an Art Mould, again coloured with Distress Inks and a little Adirondack Dabber.

This turned into a wall hanging so I am going to put her in my craft room :-)

CCT#149 - My Sketch

This week on Cute Card Thursday we want to see your wonderful creations based on my sketch.

I have used V&A Inspired "Hanoverian" papers and SU card. The Magnolia Stamp has been coloured with Polychromos pencils (just felt like it!!). Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and pearls are from Joanna Sheen. A Cuddly Buddly sentiment, Martha Stewart punch and Nellie's swirl die finish it off.



This week we are sponsored by our regular sponsor Kraftin Kimmie Stamps so make sure you visit the CCT blog for full details!!

Piling it well on!!!

I have made this card for a total of SEVEN challenges!! Gosh!!

Mr Penny Black Hedgehog has been coloured with Promarkers and I've used gold Stickles and Glamour Dust just about everywhere!! Papers are MME "Bloom & Grow" with matching Bazzill card. Punches are Martha Stewart and EK Success. Sentiment is from a Cuddly Buddly set. The little leaves are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I think this is the first time I have ever been happy with the way I have coloured one of these little hedgies with Promarkers. I usually always reach for the Polychromos pencils for them but he turned out okay. It's also getting harder just using the Promarkers when a few "fill-in" Copic colours have crept into my pots. Tee hee!!

Right I am entering this card for

UK Stampers Sketch No 3

Daring Cardmakers - "It's All About Me" - as Bloom & Grow are my favourite papers EVER. There I said it out loud!!

Passion for Promarkers - "Let It Shine" (glitter etc.)

Penny Black Saturday - "January Sales" - I got the set Mr Hedgehog came from in the Funky Kits sale

Stamp Something - "Cute"

Spoon Full of Sugar - "Valentine"

Pile It On - "Love is in the Air"

Think that's it anyway!! PHEW!! Was great to get those papers out and have a "stroke". I don't use them very often for fear of using them up!!

CCT#148 - Recipe 1, 2, 3 ......

This week on Cute Card Thurdsay we have a recipe for you to follow. We want to see your cards that feature a recipe of 1,2,3...any combo it can be 1 paper, 2 ribbons, 3 buttons or 1 image, 2 flowers and 3 papers....the combo is entirely up to you.

I have used 1 paper, 2 gems and 3 flowers.

I have coloured this CC Designs cutie with Promarkers and Copics and finished off the flowers with some Glossy Accents. Paper is from Basic Grey Hopscotch pad and card is SU. I have stamped a Magnolia Stamps swirl onto the background card using Versamagic Chalk ink. Prima flowers, EK Success punched swirls and a sentiment from Cuddly Buddly finish it off.

We are sponsored this week by Simply Betty Stamps so pop on over to the CCT blog for full details and to check out the Design Team's beauties!!

CCT#147 - Monotone but not Monotonous!!

Great theme this week on Cute Card Thursday - monotone. I have chosen browns as this really is my favourite colour (DS calls our house "the brown house lol!!)

We are sponsored this week by our fabby regular monthly sponsor

I have coloured this Sugar Nellie digi image with Promarkers and used Basic Grey papers and SU card and ribbon. The flower is home made and I've used EK Success punches. The sentiment is from Innovative Stamp Creations "Friendship" set. Some Swarovski crystals and Prima pearls finish it off.

Passion for Promarkers #82 - New Baby

There's something not right with Blogger tonight - my header has gone and I cannot see any of my photos. I hope it comes back and this works okay!!

Fabulously good timing this week on the Passion for Promarkers blog as I had a card to make for a little boy born to friends on Hogmanay.

I have coloured this Magnolia stamped image with Promarkers and used Glamour Dust on his wings before putting him onto my hand-cut cloud. The paper is K&Co and card is SU. I've used a Martha Stewart punch on the border and glued some of the little punched-out stars for the cloud. Ribbon is from Fantastic Ribbons, pearl from Bunny Zoe's Crafts and little pearls are made with the Pearl Maker Pen from Cuddly Buddly. The sentiment is Paper Makeup, heat embossed in white and cut out using a Nestabilitity.

Well - I don't know if I am talking to myself or not tonight - depends on whether Blogger decides to play!!

Inchie Swap #1

Over on the UK Stampers Forum (link in sidebar), Sid is organising an Inchie swap based on the Continents. We are to do nine Inchies (same or different) and will get nine different ones back. At the end we will use our 54 different Inchies to make something. This is the first one - "Africa".

I went with the fertility angle and the theory that all life began in this Continent. It wasn't easy to fit all this onto something one inch square but I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out.

The background was created with Adirondack Dabbers in Sunset Orange and Red Pepper then over "splooshed" with gold. I inked up part of a huge round native-style stamp I have had forever-and-a-day (code for I can't remember who made it) with black Ranger Archival. A Swarovski gem, computer-printed sentiment (font size 4!!) and about 10 coats of Modge Podge glossy finish it off.

I am really excited about this swap and cannot wait to receive all those little pieces of creativity over the next few months!!

CCT#146 - Out with the Old!!

Phew - back to normal now after all the madness, although I have to say DS going back to school on the same day as DH went back to work yesterday was a bit harsh!!

This week on Cute Card Thursday we want to see your old stash - and if, like me, you have resolved to use some of it a bit more then this is the challenge for you!!

I have used a piece of my precious Japanese Washi papers to make this oriental style card. I have had these papers now for nearly four years and I can only bring myself to cut into about one a year they are so gorgeous!! Asian Tilda has been coloured with Promarkers, Copics, Polychromos Pencils and Sakura Souffle pens (I don't make it easy for myself eh??!!) I used an SU punch to make the flowers and made the centres with these gorgeous fabric brads I've had for ages that came from Poppicrafts (gosh I miss that shop!!). An old tassle from Joanna Sheen, a sentiment from Craftwork Cards and a little charm finish it off.

We've got another great prize from our regular sponsor The Stamp Shoppe up for grabs for one lucky participant and as always the DT have come up with some crackers so why not dig out your old stash and join in??!!

CCT#145 - Thank You

Hope you had a lovely Christmas holiday - whatever you did and whoever you did it with!! We had a lovely couple of days at home and with family. I am in Manchester now so this is a scheduled post - I still don't trust 'em!!

This week's theme from Cute Card Thursday is "Thank You" and I'm sure we've all got at least one of these to send so this should give you a head start.

I've used Basic Grey papers and SU cardstock and coloured this Magnolia Stamp with a mix of Promarkers and Copics with Glossy Accents and a Distress Ink background. I've used a mix of flowers and leaves from Prima and Wild Orchid and some Swarovski gems for that big of bling. A hanging charm finishes it off.

Wishing all my lovely blogging friends a very happy New Year when it comes and see you next year!!

CCT#144 - Sketch

Ooops - I did a card last week and forgot to blog it. Big DOH!!

No more Christmas cards - yippeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! School's just out here so we are hunkered down for a few relaxing days.

Great sketch this week on Cute Card Thursday and as DH's niece is due her first baby on Christmas Day I am trying to be organised and get the card done in advance, seeing as how we already know it's a wee boy!!

I've used this beautiful sentiment from Elzybells (which always brings a tear to my eye) and gorgeous Sugar Nellie sleeping baby image, coloured with Promarkers, silver Sakura gel pen and Glamour Dust. Card is all coloured and stamped with Distress Inks and a flourish from Crafty Individuals. Some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts and punched swirls finish it off.

CCT#142 - Floral Frenzy

Happy Thursday!!

A nice easy theme this week from Cute Card Thursday. Flowers. See - said it was easy!!

This is a veeeeery old "Paper Nation" stamp and as I had a birthday card to make for a special girl who is four today I dusted her off and coloured her with Promarkers with a sprinkling of Glamour Dust. I have used sealed glitter card in pink and purple with EK Success and Dovecraft punches. Some Prima flowers with Stickles and a Cuddly Buddly sentiment finish her off.

We have a great prize this week from our regular sponsor Simon Says Stamp plus the DT have come up with some beauties as always so pop on over and take a peek!!

Mad times ahead .........

I'm taking a couple of weeks off to do all the things ... well you have to do at this time of year!!

CCT#139 - Sketch by Susan

We've got a great sketch by our lovely DT member Susan this week on Cute Card Thursday.

I've used Basic Grey Jovial paper for this and card from PDA Card and Craft. The image was a magazine freebie and has been coloured with Promarkers and finished with Glamour Dust. Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and sentiment is from a Stampin Up set.

We've got a great prize from Kraftin Kimmie Stamps to give away this week so pop on over and check out the blog and the Design Team's lovely creations.

Santa Beary

Oh I love this cute little Lily of the Valley bear from last Christmas. He's definitely a favourite. I've coloured him with Promarkers, Sakura pens and Glamour Dust with some Distress Ink around the torn edges. The papers are Basic Grey Jovial and I've attacked them with the distressing tool, sand paper and Distress Inks before sewing around the edges. Sentiment is Cats Life Press and I made the flower using EK Success punches and water.

I am entering this card into 3 challenges

Passion for Promarkers - Stitching and Distressing
A Spoonfull of Sugar - Distressing
Oldie But a Goodie - Glitter.

Sugar Bowl #47

The really great sketch for the challenge from The Sugar Bowl has been created by Maria Therese and there's an extra of "Ribbons and Bows".

I've coloured this cute Sugar Nellie Snowman (oldie but goodie IMO) with Promarkers and Sakura pens. I then masked him off and the background was created with Promarkers and the new spray tool from Stampin Up - it works really well and I was very pleased with the result. The foliage behind is a Penny Black stamp and I've used Ranger ink. The papers are from MME and Basic Grey. I used ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons over the Martha Stewart punched border. I cut the snowflake and sentiment with my Slice and a large Dovecraft brad finishes off the snowflake.

Thanks for looking.