Lovely pair !!

I am getting ahead of myself with this card - It's for my hubby, for our anniversary which isn't until July !
This is very unusual for me I usually scrap about the night before I need a card - esp if it's for a boy - I hate making cards for the opposite sex !!

Having said that I really enjoyed making this card which is largely down to the fab sketch over at card patterns this week. This one is def going into my craft cupboard to be used again - I LOVE IT.

The card blank is made from bazzill basics card and all the other papers are from Cosmo cricket - early bird - one of my favorite paper packs at the moment - who am I kidding I have so many favorites !
The digi stamp is from Pink petticoat and I coloured it with my Sakura glaze pens.

The wooden heart buttons are from stash - I diecut the number 10 with my bigshot as it will be our 10th anniversary this year (wow that 10 years has flown by).
I used my computer to generate a sentiment in a co-ordinating colour.

And that lovely hand stitched swirl was made super easy by using my bazzill stitch template.

I have to say that I am very happy with the result. I hope you like it too x

As well as the card patterns sketch challenge I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Shabby Tea Room - Dear to my heart
Diecut Dreams - Use numbers
Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - One for the boys
Cowgirls Sunday Challenge - 1 digi image, 2 patterned papers, 3 embellishments (2 buttons and 1 gem)

Hope you all enjoyed your bank holiday weekend and at least we have a shorter week until the next weekend rolls round !

((hugs)) Suzie xx

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - 21 Inside out.

Here is my entry into this weeks crafty cardmakers challenge 21 - inside out.
I am really cutting it fine with about 4 minutes 'til the deadline !

I also used the gorgeous sketch over at Taylored expressions - although I did use a bit of artistic license with it.

Couldn't resist these gorg papers from Nitwit collections aren't they gorg and the stamp is an old fav by rubber stampede coloured with pencils. The ribbon is from american crafts and the beautiful quilled flowers and butterfly, bottom middle (although I would love to say I made them - I would be lying !) came from a blog candy I won over at the lovely Teri's craft spot

The bunting inside is from a digi set called janes bakery available here I have used some dmc thread and paper peiced the actual bunting - I love the whimsy look it creates.
The swirly stamp is from papermania - I use this one alot inside my cards as it looks great in the bottom corner.

I also added some more DP from nitwits and used the computer to add the greeting - just a simple sentiment as the rest of the card is so busy !

As well as the afore mentioned blogs I would also like to enter this into the following challenges

Cooking It Up With Katie #18 - Use wings, petals and pink.
Flutter By Wednesday #111 - Anything goes !
One Stitch At A Time #15 - Use something new (papers, flowers and butterfly)


Hope you like it x

((hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage blog candy

WOWSER folks take a look at what the very generous Tracy over at Creative cottage has put together as blog candy for you all.

Not one or two kits but three - yes three.

To have a look just click the photo which will take you straight to the blog.

((hugs)) Suzie xx

My 1st Mo's digi stamp !

So I have been admiring these images for ages but was a little scared to take the plunge - as I haven't mastered my copics quite yet but, after reading this super tutorial, I decided to bite the bullet and give it a go.

I am so glad I did - I feel quite proud ! Of course there is always room for improvement but I think this is an admiral 1st try.

I struggled with the background paper as I didn't want anything to detract from my main image. So eventually I settled on this gorg paper I've had in my stash for years with blue sky and clouds. I think it is from a DCWV kit but I'm not so sure. I used the same paper to cover inside too and stamped "Have fun" inside - I thought this would be perfect for my friends son who will be 1 in June.
I added some ribbon and a bow and made a coordinating little ribbon tag which is stuck down under the insert - I do like these little tags and often use up my ends of ribbon putting them on cards.
The image is diecut with my nesties and inked while the die was still in place and the sentiment I stamped twice once with blue ink then over in black to give an almost shadow effect.

I am entering this into the following challenges :

Mo's Digital Challenge - Celebrate babies
Crafty Pad - Over the edge challenge
Digital Tuesday Challenge - Cute People
Crafty Creations Challenges - Want us to use our favourite stamp
Paperplay Challenges - Up in the air
A Spoon Full Of Sugar - Celebrations

I would like to say a special thank-you to Carolyn for the fab tutorial it was so clear and simple to follow and without it my copic markers would still be sitting in my bulging craft cupboard x

I do hope you like it as much as I do, thanks for looking x
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Summery card to match the weather !

Hello hope you have all been enjoying the weather - although it does seem to be about to slide the slippery slope that leads to a cold/wet bank holiday - oh well if it rains it means more time to craft !

I found that the gorgeous weather made me get out this stamp I've had a couple of weeks but not had a chance to use - def a summer image and perfect for my friends little girl who is 5 in June.

I stamped the image with black stazon and coloured it using my Lyra aquacolors.

I have never seen a set like this before with a stamp and paper all together but it is great and fantastic value at about £6. The stamp is an Ollyfant cool kids clear stamp and it came with 24 sheets of 6 x 6" co-ordinating papers.

Inside I have used a little verse that I found on a great site called The cardmakers little helper they have loads of verses and quotes for every occasion and they can really make a card special.

I am entering this into the following challenges
C.R.A.F.T Challenge this week who want to see a Celebration/birthday creation. They also have a fab blog hop with a great prize this week.
Oh la la challenge blog who this week want to see bright and cheerful creations
stamp something challenge blog who want us to use 2 of something - I have used 2 sentiments and stamped them both with 2 inks (first pink and then blue).
Creative creations challenge want a card for a child
The shabby tea room has a great inspiration picture with pink polka dots, just like my ribbon.

Thanks for having a look I hope you like it x

((Hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage challenge # 12 - Blooming charming !

Here is my DT card for this weeks creative cottage challenge which this week is titled "Blooming charming".

I have used one of Tracy's new kits which are launched today and are all gorgeous so pop over to the blog and have a look at the samples the DT have made for you.

I also used my new Tim holtz alterations die (brackets) which I love - once you start playing with these you find so many ways to use them - they're fab.
The blooms on my card are prima. I'm not too sure where the charm came from it's been in my stash for a while now.

Why not join us on the challenge blog and have a go, you could even win !

Hope you like this weeks creation, thanks for looking and commenting, I love to hear your thoughts and I love to pop over and visit you and check out your crafting adventures too.

Hope you all have a great week
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage challenge # 11 "One for the boys"

Here is my DT card for this weeks challenge over at the creative cottage challenge blog.
This week we want to see you create something for the boys.
Check out the other fab DT cards for some more inspiration - the girls have, as always, made some gorgeous cards.

I have used the super cute "little monkeys pirate adventure" kit and believe me you will be seeing more cards made with this kit - I can't keep my hands off it and there is so much to play with.

The only other things that I added was stickles and a sentiment that I made using microsoft works.

Hope you like it x
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Need a reason to smile ?

Good morning all.
No card this morning - maybe later - but I had to post this link here.
If you are having one of those weeks, like me, and need a reason to smile just click and watch the video's.
I bet you can't help but smile or laugh out loud yourself - and remember a smile is contagious so smile at someone today and you'll be making your whole world happier !

Have a good day x
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage challenge # 10 DT Card

Hello. Sorry I'm a little late posting my card today - but I took advantage of the fact that Issac went to nursery this morning and went craft shopping with my mum !
I know I really should have been doing the ironing but I figured that it would still be there waiting when I got home and guess what - it is !

So this week at the creative cottage challenge blog the challenge is to use "fancy folds".
When I saw this I did panic ever so slightly - I don't really do unusual folds but I really enjoyed making this spring card - just shows that sometimes you should step out of that cosy comfort zone and try something new - you will surprise yourself.

I have used this months creative cottage freebie set - yes it's free - Tracy has been very generous to you this month. The kit includes 6 papers, flowers, alphabets, hearts and the image of the very cute George. It is only free for this month so head on over and get it while you can.

There is a great tutorial here at splitcoast stampers if you need help with a spring card.

All I added was some ribbon, a button, a swirl stamp (Anna griffin - thanks mum x) and some stickles to accent here and there and voila done job !

Hope you like it - I'm off to play with my craft goodies - the ironing can wait another day !
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Sketch Saturday challenge wk # 102

Here is my entry into this weeks sketch challenge over at Sketch Saturday.

I really enjoyed using this fab sketch and I'm really pleased with the result.

My card came together very quickly with the minimum of fuss (quite unusual for me - I usually take ages picking out my papers and embellishments) This is largely down to the fantastic kit I used.
The kit is "Cheeky little monkeys pirate adventure" from the super talented Tracy at The creative cottage. If you haven't seen her kits and paper packs you should def take a look. They are fantastic value and just soo cute.

So all I needed to add was some textured blue bazzill card for a contrasting layer and a couple of "just the edge" card strips also from bazzill.
The greeting inside the star was made using paint and this prob took longer than the rest of the card as it's the 1st time I've used paint !!

Have you noticed my slideshow at the top of my blog ?
I'd like to say thanks to Lindsay over at My Grafico for her help finding the instructions for the slideshow. Thanks Lindsay x - check out her blog she has some great digi stamps x

Hope you like it
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Good morning to you all, I hope you are all keeping warm. It has turned back into winter here and the heating is back on !
So I've been staying home with my craft goodies and keeping myself amused !

Todays post is my DT card for The creative cottage challenge blog.
This week we want to see some food/drink on your creation. Head on over to the blog here and check out the other DT cards, they're fab, I consider myself V lucky to be on the team alongside some ultra talented girlies - ((hugs)) to ya girls x
Ok so this week One lucky winner , chosen at random, will win the "something sweet" kit. If you have been here before you will realise that this is one of my fav's and I have used it again this week to made a quick mini card.

I used my new Fiskars paper crimper to add a bit more texture to my mini card. I gave my background paper a vertical ridged effect and my pink middle band a diagonal ridged effect - it sort of reminded me of the icecream cornet !
The fab sentiment/image is a freebie from Raindrop Echo Designs - thanks Ann - pop over to her blog for a look. She has some fab cards and tutorials on her blog as well as some great freebies.
All I had to do was some quick colouring with my pencils and add some stickles then popped it onto a circle die cut with my nestabillities and my bigshot.
I added a little ribbon and a flower with a button just to finish it off.

A really quick card but I hope you like it x
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Blog candy Alert !!!

Hey fellow crafters blog candy ahoy !
Just look at the stash that Sarah over at Stressed Stamper is offering.
For a chance to win just get over to her blog and become a follower.
DON'T FORGET YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT !!!!
Good luck to y'all
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Poppy power !

Since the weather was showery and blowing a gale today - typical bank holiday then - we ended up staying at home. Kev and Issac played on the wii for most of the day and Aidan emptied the toy box at least twice - I'm sure I'll be finding toys everywhere for the rest of the week !
But it was soooo worth it just to have a day sorting through some of my craft bits and pieces and finding homes for my new stash (on Saturday I recieved both my Cupcake craft challenge winnings from Simon says stamp and my blog candy from the lovely Teri).
I also got a chance to play with my new stamp from Inkadinkadoo.
I made the card base using DCWV textured card and the red card is from a paper pack I've had ages called "Possibilities" from Colorbok. I distressed both by using a nail file - works just as well as those sanding blocks and at a fraction of the cost !
Then I embossed the red piece with a cuttlebug embossing folder and my bigshot.
The image is coloured using my Aquarell watercolour crayons which I just think are the bee knees so easy to use - although this was an extremely easy stamp to colour anyway as it already has the definition.
A red chiffon ribbon and a thinking of you stamp (hot off the press) completed the front and I just layered some of the same red card inside.

I thought I'd add this to a challenge blog I came across called Crafty cardmakers - nice to see another UK challenge blog - go and check them out if you haven't been before. The DT have made some beautiful samples they are obviouslly a very talented bunch.
I would also like to enter this into the My time to craft challenge (another UK challenge blog - def seeing more of these around) who this week want to see red on your cards.

Hope you like it

((Hugs)) Suzie xx