A4 MINI BOOK

I recently took part in a swap where we had to make a mini book from one sheet of A4 paper and this is what I came up with.  I absolutely love this idea.  There are only a couple of pages but they're a perfect size to decorate or put a photo on and they're brilliant for scrapbooking when you need a multi photo layout without cluttering up your page.  All of it was stamped...not a digi image or Promarker in sight, lol.  Any detail painting was done using distress ink.

I don't often give a supply list but I'm going to this time as it's quite extensive for a small project.
I used a double sided paper but actually forgot to write down what it was, lol.  It's plain on one side and striped on the other in shades of brown and cream which is visible inside the pocket and the back.
Other stuff:
Distress Ink Pads 'Brushed Corduroy and Black Soot'
Ranger Archival ink 'Jet Black'
Americana Antique White acrylic paint
Decoart one step crackle.
Tim Holtz...Ideology Chitchat
..................Adage Stickers
..................Salvage Stickers 'Lost and Found'
..................Paper String
..................Custom Fasteners
..................Masks 'Compass and Timeworks'
Crafty Individuals image
Stamps:
River City Rubberworks ~ Zettiology ~ Studio 490 ~ Stampers Anonymous (Tim Holtz collection) ~ Dylusions ~ Kanban ~ 7 Gypsies ~ Indigo Blu  and Andy Skinner.

After I'd cut and folded the book, I inked every page with the brushed corduroy as the paper was far too pale for what I wanted.  The little crackles on the background are done with an Andy Skinner background stamp, just bending it in my fingers and stamping randomly. The two cogs were painted and crackled and then I basically just got to stamping and sticking.

Entering into:
SO ARTFUL CHALLENGES (March) ~ Shades of brown.
MEMA'S CRAFTS (March) - Anything goes with a pocket twist.
ONE CRAZY STAMPER (March) - Anything goes.
HOTSHOT CRAFT #15 - Anything but a card.
INSPIRE ME FRIDAY # 98 ~ Anything goes.

PRESSIE TIME!

It's week #157 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS and this week's theme is Lace and Pearls.  We have two sponsors this week too, MARIANNE DESIGN and STITCHY BEAR STAMPS, so there'll be two lucky winners next week.
The Stitchy image I chose to use is called, would you believe...FLUFF, lol.  Sorry, it just makes me chuckle.    It makes me think of my late Dad, he called everybody's girlfriends or whatever 'bits of fluff'.  Bless him.  Talking about my dad, he's been gone 13 years and not a day passes that I don't think of him and miss him.  He would have been 90 today so a drop of whisky is called for in his memory methinks.

My dotty background was done using a 6" Embossalicious folder. I used 2 Marianne dies to cut the black frame and a Marianne clock die.  The black lace and pearls are from my stash and I did a computer generated sentiment. The pearls on her bodice are done with White Opal liquid pearls.

Entering into:
DIVA'S BY DESIGN - Anything goes.
ANYTHING GOES CHALLENGE #87 - Make it manly.
BEARLY MINE #75 - Anything goes.
CRAFT ROOM CHALLENGE - Something for a man.
CREATIVE CARD CREW #30 - Birthday.
OSAAT #152 - Use a digi. WINNER
DIGITAL TUESDAY #199 - Birthdays.
PARTY TIME TUESDAYS #109 - Anything goes.
TTCRD Feb 26 - Mar 4 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #129 - Anything goes.
MY GRAFICO #146 - Anything goes.
PINK ELEPHANT #188 - Anything goes.
613 AVENUE CREATE #8 - Anything goes

UNDER THE WEATHER.

Whether it's weather or feeling poorly, either way I feel sorry for you.  I'm blurdy freezing.   Anyway, time for another card over at

 I ♥ PROMARKERS (#156) and this week the theme is Four Legged Friends.  Ok, I admit, mice aren't everybody's friends, lol but I think they're quite cute.  The ones I see are frozen though 'cause my Royal Python LUVS them, ha, ha.  Our sponsor this week is  J & C CREATIONS with a £10 online spend up for grabs for our winner.

I don't think I've made a get well soon type of card before, but I just adore this Paper Shelter image.  This is  my second attempt at a card with it mind, my first was a bit too 'in your face' for my liking.  And, I think my lighting was wrong 'cause the shadow on the foam mounted mouse look a bit strong.  My papers are from a Teresa Collins pad called Sweet Afternoon .  I have used Cheery Lynn, Nellie Snellen and Lea'Bilities dies and an EK Success border punch (although most of the border's hidden).  All I used then was one brad and a computer generated sentiment.

Entering into:
CRAFTING FOR ALL SEASONS #46 - Dies and Punches.

LADY ANNE'S (3rd Apr) - Anything goes.
CRAFTING BY DESIGN - Anything goes.
PENNY'S PAPER CRAFTY #115 - Anything goes.
TTCRD #2013-8 - Anything goes.
HOUSE OF GILLI #50 - Anything goes + pastels.
DIGI MAKEOVER #76 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY # 128 - Anything goes.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS!

Another week, another I ♥ PROMARKERS card.  This week, #155 is all about the girls.  We want to see all your lovely, frilly girly cards.  Our fabulous sponsor is SATURATED CANARY.  Who doesn't just adore Krista's images eh?   For my card, I used the image 'Honey'.

My papers are from Kaisercraft and are left over pieces from a scrapbook layout I've just done.  Honey was cut out and mounted on a 'nestie' circle.  The corner die is my favourite Memory Box and the lacy oval and leaves are Cheery Lynn.  Lace  and blossoms from my stash.  Anyway, not much else to tell you so that'll be that, lol.

Entering into:

CHARISMA CARDZ - Anything goes.

CRAFT US CRAZY #37 - Show us your favourites.

DELIGHTFUL CHALLENGES - Frilly. WINNER

LADY ANNE (20th Feb) - Anything goes.

WHIMSICAL DESIGNS - 3, 2, 1. TOP 3

DEEP OCEAN #45 - Letter B (bunny and blossoms), although I may be stretching the theme a tad, lol.

PARTY TIME TUESDAYS #107 - 3 & 3 VIP TOP 3

SHOPPING OUR STASH #89 - Birthday.

TUESDAY THROWDOWN #134 - Anything goes.

TIM HOLTZ TAGS - FEBRUARY 2013

My take on Tim's February Tag.   Not much else to say really, lol.  You'll have to go to T.H's blog  to see what techniques were used for this month.  Oh yeah, I used the first of my 'old' stamps from my box (previous post).

I wasn't too sure about this one, but I actually love the vibrancy of the red distress stain.

Entering into:
Tim Holtz tags of 2013 - February.

IN WITH THE OLD!!

I'm always grateful for new followers, but sometimes, more than others.  Today, I'd like to thank Calamity for becoming my new follower as I then found her fabulous blog in return.  She does some stunning work.  Today she used a gorgeous corset stamp but couldn't remember who made it.  I knew I had it, so I went rooting through my box of old wood mounted stamps to find it.   Not only did I find the corset, but also shed loads of other gorgeous stamps that I used to love and completely forgot I had.

I have three drawers full of unmounted rubber and clear stamps and tend to use these, but having re-found this little treasure trove, I shall be going through them and using them again.  With about 800 stamps in total, I suppose it's hard to remember all the ones you have and even harder to actually use them, but I'm going to set myself a goal to use at least half of these old ones in the next couple of months.

My fave style is vintage/shabby/distress but being on the ILPM design team, I use a lot of digi images and 'cute' stuff.   I wonder how many of these stamps are suitable for colouring with Promarkers and how many I can actually use for my DT cards???  I think I might start though with my T.H. tag for February.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY..

I really don't know where time goes.  It's our I ♥ PROMARKERS challenge blog's 3rd birthday.  I joined the team at week 8 and I remember making the most appalling card and being highly embarrassed.  Hopefully, I've improved somewhat since then, lol. It's pretty obvious then that our theme this week (#154) is Happy Birthday and our sponsor is LETRASET with a pack of Promarkers up for grabs.

I used one of my favourite Tilda stamps and made the raindrops with liquid pearls. My background was Robo cut and mounted over a sheet of red paper.  I used a Spellbinders die cut to mount my Tilda on and a Cheery Lynn die as a bit of a border behind it then I finished off with a strip of white mesh and ribbon from my stash. The sentiment was from Sentiments 4 You.

Entering into:
LADY ANNE'S (20th Feb) - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #126 - Anything goes.
BEARLY MINE #72 - Anything goes.
CLEAR IT OUT - Red/White/Anything goes.
CRAFTY SENTIMENTS - Anything goes.
LEJ DESIGNS #39 - Anything goes.
TTCRD (11th Feb) - Anything goes.

LOVE IS ALL AROUND.

Well, I suppose it was inevitable that I'd have to make a lovey dovey card at some stage.  Almost as bad as Christmas cards I think, pmsl.  Anyway, the theme at I ♥ PROMARKERS this week (#153) is love and our fabulous sponsor is MARIANNE DESIGN.  I was going to use Mo's freebie (the love thief) but as I figured there'd be shed loads of them floating around, I went for something completely different.  This is very CAS for me, but I actually quite like it.

I cut the Marianne die twice, one black one white and layered them atop a black mat, border cut with a Martha Stewart punch.  It's all mounted onto a white card base. The stamp is an old wood mounted one I've had for years.  I cut each letter square out and mounted them with 3D sticky dots.  There's a minimal amount of Promarker colouring on this and I applied diamond glaze to the letters and that, as they say, is that!

Entering into:

GINGERLOFT #56 - Love is in the air.

ABC #14 -  Valentine's day.

ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS #26 - Love/Anything goes.

CRAZY AMIGO - Red, black and white.

DIE CUTTING DIVA'S #100 - Anything goes (must use a die cut).

SHOPPING OUR STASH #87 - Love, Red.....etc.

TUESDAY ALCHEMY #49 - Anything goes.

CREATIVE CREATIONS #2 - Keep it simple.

MAKE IT MONDAY #125 - Anything goes.

CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS PAINT - Anything goes.

JUST CHILLIN'

Ooooh, I'm a bit late with my I ♥ PROMARKERS card this week.  I've been busy scrapbooking and looking after my mum.  It's challenge #152 and it's an Anything Goes week.  We have a new sponsor too, and that's J & C CREATIONS with a £10 spend for our winner.

I used 2 digi images from the fabulous Make it Crafty.  Whimsical log and Sitting Jane.  Jane is added with 3D foam pads.  Papers are Basic Grey Kioshi.

Entering into:
MAKE IT MONDAY #124 - Anything goes.
SIMPLY CREATE TOO #29 - Anything goes.
STAMPIN' FOR THE WEEKEND - Something Girly.
HAPPY CAMPERS #9 - Flowers and something digital.
PAPER CRAFTING JOURNEY - For a girl.

LAYER IT UP

Well, another week gone by already.  Time really is zipping past.  My gorgeous Grandson was 3 yesterday and it still seems like yesterday that he was a babe in arms.

This week's I ♥ PROMARKERS challenge #151, is to use lots of layers on your projects.  Shouldn't be too difficult, as most of us do anyway, lol.  Our sponsor is DI'S DIGI'S with a $10 spend for our winner.

For my card I used a brand new LaBlanche stamp. I stamped twice and cut out some bits to layer up.  I've had a couple of these stamps for absolutely ages but never used them, so this is a first outing for this one.  I have one with a horse on that's still in its wrapper too.  I really must stop buying stamps just to put in the drawer, lol.  The papers are from the gorgeous Glitz 'Vintage Blue' pad,  a M.S. deep edge punch, my own sentiment and lace and pearls from my stash finished it off. I used a limited number of Promarkers on this, but they match the papers perfectly.

Entering into:
DIVA'S BY DESIGN - Make it girly.
MAKE IT MONDAY #123 - Always anything goes.
CRAFTING FOR ALL SEASONS #43 - Something new.
CRAFTS AND  ME #116 - Something new.
FRESH BREWED - Anything goes.
FRILLY AND FUNKY - Follow your muse.
ONE CRAZY STAMPER - Anything goes.
TANDO CREATIVE - Feeling blue.
CRAFTERS CAFE #12 - Anything goes.

TWEET TWEET!

My crafting buddy Lynda, sent me this adorable little bird house as part of my secret santa.....

 .....so, using a combination of Marianne & Cheery Lynn dies, Americana paints, crackle mediums and distress inks, Promarkers and Marvy's..this is my altered version.

The house was painted with Americana Milk Chocolate acrylic paint.  When dry, a coat of Americana Weathered Wood Crackle medium was applied.  When that was dry, a coat of Buttermilk was applied and when that was also dry, I inked it gently with Walnut Stain distress ink.

The bird on branch is a Marianne die.  I cut them on Grungepaper and then inked the bird with Fired Brick distress ink.  The branch was coloured with a brown Marvy pen and the leaves with a Forest Green Promarker.  The fence and flower are Cheery Lynn dies.  The bird at the front has been doubled up, cut off the branch and then attached with a double height foam square so he's 3D'd.

To do the roof, I painted it with a couple of coats of  Deep Burgundy.

  When the 2nd coat of paint went on, I used my heat gun to help dry it and blister the paint in places.  

When dry, I applied a small amount of Ranger Picket Fence crackle paint and finally swiped with Walnut Stain ink when it was all dry.

I really enjoyed doing this.  It's not often that I actually use my crackle mediums but I might use them more often now.  I really like it.  Hope you like my little house.

Entering into:

613 AVENUE CREATE #2 - Anything goes.

ANYTHING BUT A CARD #10 - Things with Wings.

CHALLENGES 4 EVERYBODY #11 - Anything goes.

DREAM VALLEY CHALLENGES #48 - Anything goes.

THE SQUIRREL & THE FOX #35 - Anything goes.

ALLSORTS #189 - Dies and punches.

INSPIRE ME FRIDAYS #91 - Anything goes.

DIVA'S BY DESIGN - Anything goes.

CRAFT MY LIFE #3 - Anything but a card/LO.

TIM HOLTZ TAGS - JANUARY 2013

I've been meaning to join in this for the last couple of years but this year I'm determined, so I sat down this afternoon and did this one for JANUARY.  You've gotta love T.H. and you can see his tag HERE.  Most of the stuff I've used is Tim Holtz, but my sentiment  is Zettiology and the hand is Indigo Blue.  The distress ink pads I used were Faded Jeans and Crushed Olive.

NEW YEAR FROM HELL!!!

Happy New Year to all my blogging buddies out there.  I really hope you had a better start to the year than I did, lol.  Today is the first chance I've had to catch up with a bit of blogging or anything else really.  My 2 year old grandson came down with the Noro Virus.  My mother swiftly followed and then me the day after.  The noro knocked mother for six and I had 3 ambulance visits and they finally took her into hospital for a night on the third visit.  She's diabetic and hadn't eaten as the virus had weakened her so much so she had 2 hypoglycaemic attacks too.   Anyway, had to get the doctor out to her again yesterday as she's so weak and she's now in bed with a hight temp and a chest infection.  As for me, I'm finally feeling OK, ha ha.  God help me if that little lot's an omen for the whole of 2013!!!!

Anyway, on to the matter in hand.  A secret santa and the ILPM challenge.  A couple of pics of a cantilever box that I made for my crafting buddy Tina as her secret santa.  I filled it with all sorts of goodies too...from socks  to sewing thread to die cuts and ribbons.

 This weeks challenge #150 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS is all about tags.  Either a standalone tag or a tag on a card.  I pretty much threw this one together on Monday afternoon, just to get one done.  We have a new sponsor this week and that's POLKA DOODLES.  The prize is an amazing CD with shed loads of stuff on it.  Take a look HERE to see the details.

ENTERING INTO:
DIVA'S BY DESIGN - Anything goes.
MIDWEEK MAGNOLIAS #43 - Tilda on a Tag.
PENNY'S PAPER CRAFTY #109 - Anything goes.
THROUGH THE CRAFTROOM DOOR #52 - Anything goes.
CRAFT YOUR PASSION #144 - Vintage/Shabby Chic
CREATED WITH LOVE #23 - Anything but a card.
CREATIVE CREATIONS #1 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #122 - Anything goes.

ANYTHING BUT SQUARE

It's challenge #148 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS this week and the theme is 'Anything but Square'.  The challenge will run for two weeks this time and we'll be back on 2nd January.  Our fabulous sponsor is MARIANNE DESIGN and there's two gorgeous swirly leaf dies on offer for our winner.

I really mulled over what shape card to do for this, but I'd seen this template floating around the internet a lot and really liked it, so I thought I'd have a go.  Thanks to Marianne at Stamp ARTic for her great instructions.  My papers are Basic Grey 'Plumeria' and my image is from an art deco stamp set I bought a couple of years ago from Lilac Lemon Designs.  It's ages since I've used them, but after rooting through a couple of hundred stamps for an idea (didn't want to use a digi) I thought this would be perfect.

The Promarkers (mustard, purple and shades) are a perfect match for the tones in the papers, so it all went together really well.  A Martha Stewart punch did my edges, inked with distress ink and a nestie cut the internal greeting oval.  As we're sponsored by Marianne Design, we used her product too.  My fern at top right, the flower and the leafy swirl inside are all Marianne D's.  Some mesh, lace and pearls from my stash finished it off.

So that's it.  All that's left is to wish all my blogging buddies, friends and even folk I don't know in any way at all, a very Happy Christmas and New Year.  I hope you all have a wonderful time.

Entering into:
FABNFUNKY #152 - Ribbon/lace
DIVA'S BY DESIGN #66 - Anything goes.
STAMP N DOODLE - Anything goes.
LADYBUG CRAFTS - Anything goes.
ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS #20 - Anything goes.
CRAFTY BLOGGERS #6 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #120 - Anything goes.
CHALLENGES FOR EVERYBODY #9 - Anything goes.
GREAT IMPRESSIONS - Anything goes.

ONE FOR THE BOYS..

Well, just one boy in my case but the I ♥ PROMARKERS challenge #147 this week is One for the Boys....surely you must all be fed up of Christmas cards by now eh?  Please say you are!!! lol. The sponsor is again the super JOANNA SHEEN with a £10 spend for the winner.

It's not Aidan's birthday until the middle of January, but I thought I may as well get my card done now.

My papers are from a pad I've had for eons and never used, K & Co 'Itsy Bitsy Baby Boy'.  I don't even know why I bought it really as I don't do baby cards.  I suppose I could use it in some scrapbook layouts if I ever do some more tiny baby pages.  I have used Memory Box (corner), Cheery Lynn (fence) and Spellbinders (greeting mat) dies and a Martha Stewart Punch. The totally adorable image is from Teddy Bo and it was coloured, of course, with my Promarkers.  I made the number plate in Photoshop by taking a selection of the bumper from the main image, and typed using an outline font.  Then I distorted the text and outline slightly to make it all fit. It's stuck on the bumper with foam pads.

Entering into:
BEARLY MINE #65 - Anything goes.
LEJ DESIGNS #33 - Sentiment-al
TUESDAY ALCHEMY #44 - Anything goes.
TTCRD #48 - Anything goes.
ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS #19 - Anything goes.
HOUSE OF GILLI #47 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #114 - Anything goes.
MY GRAFICO #142 - Anything goes.

TIME FOR TEA.

Brrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!  it's blurdy freezing.  Time for challenge #146 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS and this week is an 'Anything Goes' week again.  Our sponsor is LILI OF THE VALLEY, so of course, the DT all used a LOTV image.

I cut my card on my Robo and the black panel and image mat are a Spellbinders die. I haven't used any papers this time, which is very rare for me and I can't remember the last time I actually stamped a sentiment rather than do one on my computer.  I bought a stamp set called 'Afternoon Tea Sentiments' from Waltzing Mouse a  long time ago and hadn't even opened them but they were perfect for this.  I think I'll be using them more often now, they're really lovely. Ribbon and mesh were rooted out of my stash.

Entering into:

LADY ANNE - Must use a stamp.

CRAFTS AND ME #113 - Anything goes.

PENNY'S PAPER-CRAFTY #105 - Anything goes.

STAMPAVIE & MORE #182 - Anything but square.

JACKSONS DIGITAL IMPRESSIONS #34 - Inks and such.

LOVES RUBBER STAMPS #29 - Anything goes.

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - Anything goes.

ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS #18 - Anything goes.

CRAFTY BOOTS - Anything goes.

HOUSE OF GILLI #47 - Anything goes.

MAKE IT MONDAY #118 - Anything goes.

SOON BE CHRISTMAS..

Creeps up on you doesn't it.  I keep thinking there's plenty of time, but then suddenly - there isn't, lol.  Luckily, for once, I've got most of my pressie buying finished, only a couple more to get.  I daren't get any Christmas food yet though, ha ha.  I'm trying to lose weight and have so far lost 1st 4lb but 'special' food is just too much of a temptation, so I'm hanging back on that.

Anyway, it's time for challenge #145 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS and this week our theme is 'Anything Goes'.  We're sponsored by DR. DIGI and there's a couple of digi images for our winner.  The image I used is one of Dr. Digi's, called Dishcloth Dave...I think the poor old sod is so cute!!! pmsl.

My papers are from MME 'Fine and Dandy - Boy' and I made my own sentiment.  I used 2 Martha Stewart punches and a Cheery Lynn corner die.

Entering into:
CHEERY LYNN #56 - Non traditional colours.
CRIMBO CRACKERS #29 - Anything festive goes.
CREATIVE CARD CREW #24 - Anything goes.
KARENS DOODLES #143 - Non traditional colours.
PARTY TIME TUESDAYS #96 - Anything goes.
TUESDAY ALCHEMY #42 - Anything goes.
TUESDAY THROWDOWN #125 - Lots of layers.
ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS #17 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #117 - Anything goes.

LET'S DANCE

Time for challenge #144 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS and this week the theme is Singing and/or Dancing.  A lovely theme I think.  The sponsor is LETRASET and there's a pack of PM's on offer to the winner.

My image is one of the fabulous Mo Manning's, perfect for this challenge I thought.  The die cut is a Joy Crafts die with a Spellbinders scalloped nestie in the middle. The flowers, lace and pearls are from my stash and the papers are from Glitz 'Pretty in Pink' pad.

You know, I'm sitting here racking my brains for something else to say, but I've got absolutely nothing!!!  I really must get a life, lol.  Oh well, never mind...maybe next time (don't hold your breath though, ha ha).

Entering into:
DIVA'S BY DESIGN #62 - 2 or more patterned papers.
OSAAT #140 - Use a digi.
CHALLENGES4EVERYBODY #7 - Anything goes.
THE SQUIRREL & THE FOX #31 - Anything goes.
CRAFTROOM CHALLENGE - Punches and Die Cuts.
FLOURISHES #196 - Something that makes you happy.
THROUGH THE CRAFTROOM DOOR #45 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #116 - Anything goes
ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS#16 - Anything goes.
CRAFTY CARDMAKERS #79 - More than one punch/die cut.
INCY WINCY - Square card.
HOUSE OF GILLI #46 - Die cuts.
OLDIE BUT A GOODY - Anything but Christmas (lace, pearls and flowers over 6 months old).

THE SHRINE

A quickie post from me today..got loads to do.  I want to show you my latest clay and plaster thing.

I have to say, I'm quite pleased with this piece.

Also, it's challenge #143 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS and the theme is Christmas Trees.  Sponsored by NITWIT COLLECTIONS, the team all used their digi papers.  I used 'Great White North'.  My lovely Rudolph is an image by Elizabeth Dulemba.

PRETTY IN PINK!

It's time for challenge #142 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS and this week's theme is Pretty in Pink.  Our sponsor is the lovely JOANNA SHEEN with a £10 spend for the winner.

I made my card a couple of weeks ago in readiness and since then, I've read some rather unpleasant news that the images from Papelitos (where I got this) aren't her own.  I don't know how to do a reverse google search nor do I know who the original artist of this image may be, but if anybody does, please tell me. As for the skull paper, I made that myself in Photoshop.  The pink paper is from Docrafts 'Born to Shop' pad and the b/w circle paper is from a pad by Anna Stemplewska.  The cat is a Photoshop shape, printed and cut out and the sentiment is also one of my own.The pink scallop border was done with a Martha Stewart punch.

Entering into:
CARDSUNDMORE #68 - Fall/Halloween
ANYTHING GOES #79 - Anything goes.
BEARLY MINE #60 - Anything goes.
LEJ DESIGNS #28 - Die cuts or punches.
PAPERTAKE WEEKLY - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #114 - Anything goes.

IT'S COMING...

Yep, Christmas is definitely coming.  There's no denying it, no matter how hard some of us try.  I've already done quite a bit of Christmas pressie shopping, which is a miracle for me as I'm usually last minute.  Still, I had to get some stuff over to Cyprus this time, so thought it best to get it done.

This week's challenge #140 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS is Christmas is coming, so a no brainer on what kind of cards or projects we want this week.  Our fabulous NEW sponsor is MARIANNE DESIGNS and there's a terrific prize on offer for our winner.

For my card this week I used an image by the wonderful Kenny K and of course, it's old Scrooge himself.  The lantern and sentiment frame are Marianne dies, computer generated sentiment and my papers are from the Fancy Pants 'Country Boutique' pad.  I will say that in real life the panels and background paper seem to blend better than they look in the photo.  I love these papers though, it's a lovely pad and there are some great male suitable papers in there too.

Entering into:
OOH LA LA #116 - Christmas Sentiment.  TOP 3
ONE STITCH AT A TIME #136 - Use a digi.
FASHIONISTA #8 (wk. 2) - Anything goes.
THROUGH THE CRAFT ROOM DOOR #41 - Anything goes.
FUSSY AND FANCY #74 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #112 - Anything goes.

PAPER AND CLAY.

I've had a bit of an eclectic crafting weekend.  Scrapbooking and playing with my clay and plaster too.   A week or so ago, I mixed too much plaster for a project and half of it went hard in the plastic cup.  It came out lovely and smooth and I didn't want to waste it, so I kept it until some sort of inspiration hit me.  This weekend, it did.  I'd cast the embellies too so just got to painting and sticking.  It's a paperweight now, although it's standing with some of my altered art work and won't get used, lol.

This layout is of my Granddaughter Mia and myself. I went to Cyprus earlier in the year and we spent a couple of days at the beach.  I looked just awful in my swimming costume so wouldn't wear it, lol.  Suffice to say, Mia had great fun soaking me and my clothes.  Some journalling on a hidden tag tells about the day.  My papers are Echo Park 'Paradise Beach' and I made the 'wet' letters from chipboard, distress ink, a white pen and diamond glaze.

Entering into:
CRAFT MY LIFE #2 - No cards or layouts.(clay)
CHALLENGES 4 EVERYBODY #5 - Anything goes. (both)
MAKE IT MONDAY #112 - Anything goes. (layout).
CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS PAINT - Anything goes. (clay)
ONE STOP CRAFT #201 - Anything goes. (both)
INSPIRE ME FRIDAY'S #81 - Anything goes. (both)
ANYTHING BUT A CARD #4 GD - No cards. (both)
CRAFTY BLOGGERS #4 - Anything goes. (both)

HAVE A BURGER!

Soon be Christmas eh?  Jeez, it's come round too fast again, but I have done most of my present shopping at least.  I think it's the earliest I've ever done it, but then again, some of it has to be posted to Cyprus.
So, what's the challenge over at I ♥ PROMARKERS this week?  Well, it's everybody's fave, 'Anything Goes'.  Our sponsor is LETRASET and a pack of Promarkers is on offer to the winner.

For my card, I'd like to introduce you to Frank. Isn't he just the best looking dude you've ever seen? pmsl. He's one of the fabulous images from Papelitos. My papers are from a really old HOTP pad that I've had for years but I thought were just what I wanted for this.  The red mat is made with a Martha Stewart punch and the sentiment is one of my own.

Entering into:
LOLLIPOP CRAFTS #92 - Happy Birthday.
CARD MANIA #5 - Happy Birthday.
WHOOPSIE DAISY - Birthday Cards.
MAKE IT MONDAY #111 - Anything goes.
BEARLY MINE #57 - Anything goes.
DEEP OCEAN #36 - Anything goes.
THROUGH THE CRAFTROOM DOOR #40 - Anything goes.
LADY ANNE - (Monday challenge)  Anything goes.
CREATIVE STAMP FRIENDS #62 - Cards for men.
FASHIONISTA #8 - Anything goes.
HOUSE OF GILLI - Anything goes.
CHALLENGES4EVERYBODY #5 Anything goes.

COME VISIT!

Well, how unusual is this? Another post from me! There's a new challenge blog out there from the fabulous RICK ST DENNIS and I just had to make a card to enter the first challenge. The challenge blog is called 'Sparkle and Glitter' and those of you that know me, know that I HATE sparkle and glitter, lol but, well, needs must so I've used a bit around the greeting and on her hat, bag and jewels.

This is one of Rick's images and she's called 'Bella'. I don't know why, but she reminds me of Mae West, ha ha. Did you know that that is actually a misquote? What she really says is "Come up sometime and see me".
My papers are MME Tangerine and the die is Cheery Lynn.

Entering into:
SPARKLE AND GLITTER WITH RICK #1 - Anything goes/Sparkle.
ATC'S WITH ATTITUDE #24 - Red, Yellow & Orange.
CRAFTY MESS #19 - Anything goes.
CRAFTS AND ME #105 - Anything goes.
DIVA'S BY DESIGN #56 - Anything goes.
BEARLY MINE #56 - Pearls and Swirls.

YOU PUT A SPELL ON ME!

Time for challenge #138 over at I ♥ PROMARKERS and this weeks theme is Halloween. I'm' such a misery that I find Halloween a close run second to Christmas in the card stakes, and I just don't 'do' them, lol. I only make them when I have to, ha ha. How bad is that eh? This week we are sponsored by THE STAMP FAIRY who are offering $10 to spend in store to our winner.
My image is from The Stamp Fairy and my papers are digital this time. I found them on my PC but I've had them so long, I'm afraid I can't remember where I got them from. The tree is a Marianne die and the sentiment is my own. The ribbon is Doodlebug, something else that's been sitting in my stash for years waiting for a use, lol.

Entering into:
OLDIE BUT A GOODIE - Inspired by a song (You put a spell on me).
CAN YOU DIGI IT #20 - Creepy and Kooky.
CLEAR IT OUT - Anything goes with colour rules.
ART WITH NO BOUNDARIES - Halloween.
HOOKED ON CRAFT #25 - Halloween.
PAPER PLAYTIME #85 - Trick or treat with die cut.

TALK TO 'THE HAND'

My latest creation with my clay and plaster. Not a lot more to say about it really, lol but yet again, I'm loving this Andy Skinner workshop. Now, I've had a few peeps tell me that they find these hands spooky or freaky!!! pmsl. They've never had that effect on me but what about you? Do you think this could be a Halloween type thing?

Entering into:
CRAFT MY LIFE #2 - Not a card/anything goes. FEATURED
HECK OF A CHALLENGE - Spooktakular.
ART WITH NO BOUNDARIES - Halloween.
CRAFTY BLOGGERS #4 - Anything goes.
INCY WINCY - Anything goes.
CHALLENGES4EVERYBODY #4 Anything goes.
CRAFTY MESS #19 - Anything goes.

THE JUNKYARD.

Hi peeps! Hmmmmm, I've been a naughty blogger again, have been awol but my excuse is that I've started another amazing ANDY SKINNER workshop called 'Outcasts' so I've been busy playing with my clay and plaster. This is my first piece which I've called The Junkyard. We make the mould and cast ourselves and then it's painted with acrylic paint. Hopefully, this one has an iron/metal effect to it.

Also, I'm a little late with my I ♥ PROMARKERS DT card. This weeks theme is Autumn colours. I'm not too chuffed with this one, but didn't find the time to make another. My image is from Mayzart. Our sponsor this week is JOANNA SHEEN.

Entering into:
THROUGH THE CRAFTROOM DOOR #38 - Anything goes.
MAKE IT MONDAY #109 - Anything goes.
CRAFT MY LIFE #2 - Anything goes.
CARD CRAFTERS CIRCLE #43 - Autumn colours.
CARD MAKING MAMAS - Fall.
FOREVER NIGHT #48 - Anything but a card. WINNER
INSPIRE ME FRIDAYS #79 - Anything goes.
POLKA DOODLES #40 - Things with wings.
QUOTH THE RAVEN - Anything goes.
CRAFT US CRAZY #27 - Anything goes. TOP 3