Top 3 at Little Claire's!!!!

What a surprise to see I have got a top 3 for my elephant card at Little Claire's Challenge. It is always so encouraging. Thank you everyone!!!! I won't start my acceptance speech yet as I know you are busy people..ha ha.

Classic in white...

and I love it. This card looks really simple to make but it actually took 2 days to get it just right. I couldn't believe white card came in so many shades and I ended up having to do all the die-cutting just for this card and was unable to use any items I had previously cut....but I am really happy with the end result. On Becca's blog Amazing Paper Grace she talks about having cards 'to go' that you can do quickly and adapt for the occasion...and I think this is one I will make again...and again.

I think it will suit Birthdays, Thank yous, Weddings and even Sympathy cards with a few small adjustments.

Card Supplies:

Various Cuttlebug Embossing Folders and my Big Shot.
Ribbon 'borrowed' from my Mum's stash.
Butterflies die cut using Marianne Creatables.
Anita's Foiled Sentiment.
White Opal Liquid Pearl.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Our Daily Bread Challenge- Thank you.
Polka Doodles Wk 24- All of a Flutter.

Busy week

but most enjoyable, despite the high temperatures...it was 36 degrees in the shade last Saturday at 8pm. However I am gradually going into Spanish summer mode....housework (sorry for swearing!!!) done as soon as I get up or not at all and then everything else is done at half-speed...or not at all. It takes some getting used to but I try hard !!!

This week I was really intrigued by the I love ProMarkers challenge....Black, white and one other colour.
This is my attempt...and I have to say I am really pleased with it..even the dog was coloured using Blush and Dusky Pink!!

Card Supplies:
Image from my friend Jo coloured with ProMarkers.
Fiskers Border Punch.
Flowers made with Big Shot and Marianne Creatables.
Paper and card from Stash.
White pearl circles and little flowers from Papercellar.
Pink Happy Birthday paper from Craft Creations..purchased ages ago when I first started making cards.
Ribbon from Ollie Doodles, Costa Blanca craft shop.

I would like to enter this card in the following Challenges:

I love ProMarkers #70 - Black, White + 1 other colour.
House of Gilli #10 -Ribbons and Bows.
Crafts 4 Eternity # 24- Embellishment beginning with R- Ribbon.
Ribbon Carousel - Ribbon and Colouring.

Cameras and me

don't seem to get on very well. I am using Naomi's older version and it seems to eat up batteries. I know we have a lead for it somewhere but I have looked and looked.
I would love some comments on how you prefer taking your pictures of cards. I have tried from above, at an angle and face on but I am still not happy with my images. Any tips would be much appreciated!!

There still seem to be lots of challenges for Fathers Day cards or cards for men. I found this particularly poignant as my dear Dad passed away 18 months ago and Father's Day is not an easy day. I know many of you are going through similar times so I send blessings to you all.

I am still experimenting with my wonderful ProMarkers and I think I am improving...what do you think.

I used an older Little Claire stamp coloured with ProMarkers.
The thread is from Artwrap and the button brads are from Bazzill.
I bought the papers during a visit to Canada in 2007 and the card and elephants are from my stash.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:
Cupcake Craft Challenge- Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy.
Little Claire's Challenge- Cards for Men. #9.
Cooking it up with Katie #66- Make Dad a funny button.
Dream Valley Challenge 9- Father's Day /Man's card.
Polka Doodle Challenge Wk 23- Something for Dad.
House of Gilli Challenge-Buttons.
Stamping Boutique Challenge- Men Only.
Catch the Bug- It's a Man's World.

Summer's arrived

and it's getting hot.
I have stocked up on reading material...the bottom of Terry's wardrobe is now full of bags of books.
It can actually get too hot to craft as you end up sticking to all the paper etc. When this happens I usually end up reading for most of the day...and taking long siestas!!
However I persevered today and this little red number is what I came up with.

Card Details:
Sugar Nellies image coloured with my ProMarkers.
Red and white card embossed using Big Shot and Cuttlebug Folder.
The Middle was cut with Nesties and a Marianne Creatable.
The ribbon, lace, butterfly, pearls and flowers are from my stash.

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges:
Catch the Bug- Pearls and Lace.
Crafts 4 Eternity- Colour Recipe..Red, White and Green.
Digi Doodle Shop's Best- No Backing paper.
Woodware USA Clear Stamps- Happy Birthday.

I'm on a roll...

really enjoying my crafting at the moment.
Spent a perfect day yesterday with Terry and friends, sitting on their boat in Torrevieja Marina. Sadly we couldn't go out as they were waiting for a spare belt for the engine...that is where my technical expertise stops! We had a super lunch, took Chloe, our loco Spanish rescue dog, for a long walk and talked to Naomi on the phone.
Had great fun making this Man's/ Boy's card. This is the first image I have used from a bundle of images my dear friend has recently sent me.....Jo, you're a star and a special friend.

Card details:
Greeting-Design Objectives.
Image-from a lovely selection sent to me by my lovely friend Jo.
Paper-6x6 Paper Cellar- Celebrations.
Stars, Brad and Card from my stash.

I would like to enter this card in the following Challenges:

Cupcake Craft Challenge- Things with Tails....KITE!

Fab 'n' Funky -#76 Magnificent Men.

Paperplay Challenge #23 Father's Day/ Men's card.

Wags 'n' Whiskers Challenge 56 - One for the Boys.

Stampin' Sisters in Christ-#92- Use something new (Image)

Woodware USA- #30 Masculine Card.

Pretty in Purple.

My craft cupboard is now sorted and it has been great fun finding lots of assorted material that I had completely forgotten about. Hence my cards at the moment are made mostly from stash!!

The border is an MS punch-Scroll Lace.
The Magnolia stamp was coloured with ProMarkers.
The flowers are from The Range.
The lace is from a huge bundle I have 'borrowed' from my Mum's hoard. She is not making cards at the moment but hopefully will feel well enough to start again soon.

I would like to add this card to the following Challenges:

Catch the Bug: Anything Goes.

I Love ProMarkers:#69 Follow that Sketch.

Just Magnolia and hanglar : Anything Goes.

Following a Sketch....

for the first time with this card.
I quite enjoyed the process although I wish I had used some DP on the card as well.

I am using up lots of my stash at the moment as I organize my craft cupboard. I used the EK Success punch Arch Scallop and the cupcake Embossing folder from Victoria & Albert Museum.
I would like to enter this card for the Crafts for Eternity Challenge R #22.

I'm back....home...

and the weather has been a little changeable but lovely and warm.
It was wonderful being with Naomi and Grant helping prepare and then being with them for the opening of Elegance Salon in Torquay.

As you can imagine there was very little time for any card making. It has taken a few days to get back into the crafty swing so I decided to recycle some old cards for sale for a drop in centre I am helping with. Hopefully the profits can help fund this very necessary project. Spain has a huge unemployment problem at the moment and many families are really suffering.

I would like to add the above card to the following challenges:
Cupcake Craft Challenge #144.
PaperPlay Challenges #22.
Fab'n'Funky Challenge 'What'eva'.

The card class I run has now taken a break for the summer so I am going to enjoy experimenting and playing. I will post some more photos soon. xxxx