Cooking it up with Katie challenge # 20

Well thought I'd have some craft therapy today to cheer me up after Englands Dire performance yesterday.
So I cracked on with the cooking it up with Katie challenge - although I am a little late this week x
This week Katie has asked us to use the following ingredients

Make or Alter an embellishment (hand cut a flower, airbrush a pearl to make it another color, anything like that) Add some Sparkle
Use a Die Cut

So I altered my flowers with my H2O's, which haven't seen the light of day for about a year - forgot how much I like the sheen they give. I also added some of my new diamond sparkles glitter - most of my downstairs and outside also got a good covering - oh and me and the kids of course !
So the diamond sparkles and, I think, the H2O's count as the "sparkle".
I added the glitter to the edges of my middle panel too and also highlighted my image with it.
For the diecut I used my nesties to cut the image panel and chalked it up while the die was still in place which enhances the embossing.

As well as Katies challenge I also used the sketch at Sketch Saturday for inspiration
Here it is

As you can see I flipped the sketch to suit me.

The lace and the sparkly gems are from my craft stash and the green ribbon is from an old shirt !
And the image is a digi freebie - not sure where from - if you know leave me a comment and I'll give credit x

As well as the challenges mentioned above I would like to enter my card into the following:

Crafty Creations - Shine (Glitter/H2O's/gems)
Crafty Pad - Embossing (middle panel embossed with cuttlebug swiss dots folder and my bigshot)
The ABC Challenge - Xtra dimension (image raised with pinflair glue gel and flowers curled)
Cute Card Thursday - Reuse/recycle (green ribbon reused from old clothing)
I Love Digi - Emboss it (middle panel embossed)
Crafty Catz - Go Digital (Digi image)

I hope you like it - thanks for popping by x
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage challenege # 17 - Teri's pick

Good morning to you all - I hope the weather is good where you are x
As it's Wednesday it's time for another Creative cottage challenge card and this week it is the lovely Teri's turn to pick what the challenege should be.
She wants you to create a "summer surprise" so come on lets see your summery creations.
This week I have used the "home sweet home" kit available here. Aren't the colours soo yummy - I imediately thought of ice cream - mmmmmmmmmmm strawberry and vanilla.

My image is from Creations by Penny and I coloured it with my watercolour pencils - I like the textured look they give - think it makes it look less flat (do you know what I mean ?)
My Pearls were once again coloured with my copics to make them match perfectly - the 2 small pearls on the sentiment strap were coloured with my copic spica (glitter ones !)

My sentiment is from my Kelly Panacci birthday set and the chipboard quote is from an old set - think it was K & Co, the ribbon is from a reel of Anita's everyday ribbon x

I hope you like my card and that you will pop over and check out the other DT creations - you will not be disapointed.
I hope to be popping over to your blogs to see what you've created too x

I have also entered this card into the following challeneges :

Creative Card Crew - Want an easel card.
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage challenge # 16 - Pearls and swirls

Hello to the sunshine - it's about time ! and hello to you, thanks for dropping in x
This week over at the Creative cottage challenge blog it's my turn to set the challenge and since we've all been making fathers day cards I thought I'd opt for something pretty and girly.
So this week we want to see your cards with "pearls and swirls".

For my card I have used the Birthday wishes kit available here.
I printed the papers onto pearlescent paper which gives a beautiful effect which you can't really see in the picture.

I've used another pink cat studio digi stamp - there are so many beautiful stamps to chose from over there.
I've printed it then used the beyond the border technique over at Stamp TV to die cut it - click on the link to have a look it's fab.
I have used watercolour pencils to colour my image and liquid pearls to accent then added it to another larger diecut (nestabilities). The swirls are sizzix and that cute little butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch which I added some stickles to.
The flower is from my trusty craft cupboard.

I hope you like it - please come and play along at the creative cottage challenge blog - I love to see all your creations.

((hugs)) Suzie xx

Cooking it up with Katie challenge # 19

Well I have managed to get a bit if crafting done - while the children were in bed and hubby was reclining on the sofa comfortably with the aid of a load of pain killers ! (he had an op this week).

So here it is - I LOVE this stamp. My sister bought it for me years ago for christmas and it is still one of my fav's.
For this easel card I have stamped the image with versamark and then coloured with chalk which I think gives a really romantic feel - I wish I could take better photos - some things just get lost in translation.

The flourish stamp is one from a HOTP kit and the sentiment stamp is a Kelly Panacci. I stamped the flourish with a 3 colour brilliance inkpad then added some embossing with my embossing pen and some sparkle gold emb' powder - this is again lost in the photo but looks fab.
I have the lovely Katie over at Cooking it up with Katie to thank for the embossing - I rarely get out my embossing powders and heat gun but for this weeks challenge she has asked us to include the colour green, embossing and ribbon - so thanks Katie for making me dust of some old stash x

The pearls, from stash, were the wrong colour so I used my copics to match them up - simples !

As well as the challenge over at cooking it up with Katie I would like to add this card to the following challenges:
Crafty Creations - Stitching - added by hand - don't have a fancy machine :-(
For Fun Challenges - Chalk popping
Stamp Something - Something summer (summer colours and summer flowers)
Paper Play Challenges - Something old (stamp and embossing stuff !)

Thanks for looking - I hope you like it - it was a joy to make x
((hugs)) Suzie xx

A little cheat - but couldn't stay away !

Hello to you and thanks for dropping by.
I am cheating a little as I am posting an old card today - one I made a while ago and never blogged !
We can all blame my hubby for this as he had an operation this week so I am playing nurse rather than playing with my crafting goodies ! But hopefully he'll be on the mend soon so I can get back to playing !

This simple card uses one of my fav stamps - who doesn't love butterflies ? I've had it ages think it was one of my 1st purchases, but I've no idea who the manufacturer is - sorry !
The paper is from the K & Co paper pad Berry sweet - love the bright and zingy colours in this and that lovely sentiment - another of my fav's is a do crafts wood mounted stamp.

Hope you like it and can forgive my cheating !

((hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage challenge card - It takes 2

Good morning to you - can you believe that it is Wednesday again already ?
Of course wednesday means that it's time for a new challenge at the creative cottage challenge blog.

This week was shelly's pick "It takes Two" - yes she has set us the task of making a card and something to match.

I have made another fathers day card with the "little monkey pirate adventure" kit and I was so pushed for time that I just decorated a bar of choccy to match - sorry it is a bit of a cop-out but at least it shows that you can make a quick gift more personal.

I love this kit - that monkey is sooooo cute. If you want to see this or any of the Creative cottage kits go to the pollycraft store and have a look or you can go the the blog and check out some DT cards for some inspiration and, of course, we would love it if you joined us this week at the challenge blog - hope to see you there xx

((hugs)) Suzie xx

Mojo Monday Sketch # 142

Hello hope you are all well - I hear that the weather is going to brighten over the weekend - thank goodness !
Even my 4 Yr old son asked asked me "mummy where has summer gone ?" and he is most insulted that I have put the paddling pool back into the shed !!

The world cup is upon us and as we speak the footie is on. Not that I mind I actually enjoy the football and while hubby is watching I can play in peace with my craft stash !

Anywho on to my card ! I made it to the fabtastic sketch over at mojo monday - it's a beaut this week ckeck it out here.

Funnily enough I chose my image second (usually the thing I choose 1st) but I purchased this gorgeous martha stewart border punch and desperately wanted to use it and the owl seemed like the perfect match !
I have had this image months and I can't remember where it came from (sorry - if anyone knows please leave a comment and I'll add a link and credit) I'm pretty sure it was a freebie too - it's cute isn't it ?
I coloured it with pencils and used chalk to smudge across the sentiment branch. I also distressed the edges of the image (and the card base) with brown ink and a sponge as I thought the white was too stark against the papers.

The papers are all HOTP not sure which set - my HOTP pads are well used and I've lost the front cover ! I used a new sizzix die and my bigshot to cut the swirls which I attached behind a paper flower - I only attached the end behind the flower to give a bit of dimension and movement.

The gorgeous diecut heart was a freebie sent with an order from Dies To Die For - Fantastic service I ordered at 2pm and my order was delivered the NEXT day !!!

For the ribbon loops I used some scraps from stash - see it is worth keeping them !

I've made this card for my hubby's birthday which isn't until September so I am well ahead of myself - I'll prob lose it by then - lol.

As well as the mojo monday sketch challenge I am also entering this card into the following challenges :

One Stitch At A Time - Boys 2 men
The Shabby Tea Room - Fathers day or masculine card
C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Mens cards

Thanks for looking - leave a comment so I can come and visit you too x
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage challenge # 13 "Going Pink"

Good morning to you all hope you're all well.

Well it's Wednesday which means that it's time for another challenge over at the Creative cottage challenge blog.

This week's challenge has been set by the talented Rebekah who has chosen "going pink" due to the fact that she is running the race for life this coming Sunday - good luck Rebekah you'll do great. Pop over to Rebekah's blog and leave her some love by clicking here.

Ok so onto my DT card and this week I returned to one of my old favorite kits yes it's the "something sweet" kit - available here.
I also used the fab sketch over at Taylored expressions and the super sweet image and sentiment is from the pink petticoat.
I glittered my punched frame (martha Stewart) with my stickles and threaded my buttons (stash) with green raffia then mounted them on Dahlia diecuts (nestabillites) cut on my bigshot.

V quick post this morning got a list of jobs a mile long to get on with ! x

Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

((hugs)) Suzie xx

Ladybird acrobatics !

Hello to you all - I hope you had a great weekend in the sunshine.
Are you all ready for the world cup ? We're excited about it here - I'm pretty sure we've already spent a small fortune on panini football stickers and we have amassed a very large pile of swapsies !
My hubby and Issac sit for ages pouring over this book and I am certain that hubby is enjoying it every bit as much as Issac - if not more !

Well with the boys occupied with the footie book and the other little hooligan asleep I had some time to put together a card.

How cute is this digi stamp ? I love it. I got it from Pink Cat Studio - they have loads of fab digi stamps.
I've coloured the image with my copic markers and and added some glossy accents to the ladybird spots and eyes.
My PP is called ebony and alabaster - the way you look tonight - by Black market paper society.

I have also used my red copic to add a border to the patterned paper - I tried matting it but it looked too harsh - this way the pattern still comes through - I like this effect and will def use again.

The swirl was cut using a sizzix die and my bigshot then punched the circles for my sentiment and the insides of my flowers.

The sentiment is a clear stamp from a kelly panacci birthday set.

For the inside I used my computer to type a verse from a poem I found on the internet (changed slighty) author unknown. And added a couple of ladybirds from my lovely mums See-D's cute as a bug set (thanks mum x) and mounted inside on more of the patterned paper.

Think that's about it !

I am adding this card to the following challenges:

Crafty Calender - bugs & beasties
Craftalicious Challenges - (1st challenge)- New (digi stamp & PP)
Sir Stampalot Challenge - Punch it (circles)
Scrap Whispers - Fly away
Sentmental Sundays - New or neglected stash (new paper and digi stamp and neglected punches)
Crafty Creations challenges - Black, white and a splash of red

Thanks for looking x
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Summer glitz

Good morning to y'all hope you are enjoying the summer weather where you are - it is glorious here.

All this sunshine has inspired me to create another summery card (a girly card with glitter and everything !)

So for this card I have used the sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You this week is Laura's sketch and the DT have made some gorgeous samples so pop over and have a look for some fab inspiration.

I decided on a slim wide card so that my images won't look cluttered and give the card an open feel and because I didn't want to clutter my card it all came together very quickly.

The papers are from a HOTP paper pad called kids thats been festering at the back of my craft cupboard - when I flicked through this paper jumped out - just perfect for what I wanted.

The image is my new digi from Birds cards - check this blog out there is loads of free stamps, frames and sentiments and some great inspiration on how to use them.
I coloured the images with chalk and sprinkled with my doodlebug sugar coating glitter unfortunately this doesn't show too well on the picture but they are very twinkly (you'll have to take my word for it !)
I also made my flowers stand out by embossing the middle from the back to give a curved effect (there must be a technical term for this technique not sure what it is - anyone know ?)
I attatched them to my card with my pinflair glue gel which gave more dimension.

Next I tied the ribbon and attatched one of my new buttons with DMC thread.

It still needed something along the bottom to balance my card so I chalked one of my doodlebug paper frills (I always buy these in white so I can colour them to match any card/layout).

Voila - job done !
I hope you like it - thanks for stopping by and having a look x

As well as the 2 Sketches 4 You sketch challenge I would also like to enter this card into the following challenges :

Paperplay challenges - Flowers and sparkle
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Summer delights
Charisma Cardz Challenges - Flowers
Scrap Whispers - Something new (New digi and new button)

Have a great weekend x
((hugs)) Suzie xx

Creative cottage # 13 - Linda's pick

Good morning girls hope you are all well. The weather here has been vile but it's meant to be warming up today and as I type the fog is clearing and the sun is coming out - hoorah !!!!

Well as it's wednesday here is my DT card for this weeks creative cottage challenge blog. The challenge picked by the lovely and very talented Linda is Fathers day.
I would like to thank Linda sincerely, who has saved me from my usual fate of running around the day before fathers day to scrabble a card together - this year it is done !

I would also like to thank tracy for the fantastic sentiments which are this months Creative cottage freebie so pop over and check them out.

My card this week was made using papers from the new summer mornings kit and also the something sweet kit and a digi from the Doodle palace. I coloured these cute bears in with my aquacolors using a swirling motion to try and give them a little texture, although I do have to be careful otherwise my printer ink runs.

The swirl is one of my newest buys - a sizzix die, cut using my bigshot. And my button is from stash.

The sentiment was resized, this is the beauty of digi's, and left plain - but you see the medal ? That is also a central design from one of the other digi's, enlarged and cut out with plenty of glossy accents added to the medal - I thougght afterwards how cute it would have been to glaze the whole thing and make it into a badge for daddy top wear but it was too late - maybe next year !!

I do hope you like it and join in with us at the creative cottage challenge blog this week x

I would also like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Crafty pad - who want a card for any male.

((Hugs)) Suzie xx