It's all rosy !

This week it is time for a brand spanking new challenge over at papercrafting journey.

For this challenge we want to see cards and projects for the ladies in your lives - perfect for mothers day !

We have another fabulous sponsor this week with Stitchy bear stamps who were kind enough to let the DT play with some of their stamps - don't forget to check out what my DT buddies have made here - you will not be disapointed.

I paper peiced the watering can and then coloured the flowers and leaves with promarkers. I burnished the flowers and leaves from the back of the image so they are raised in areas - looks very effective in "real life !" - makes you want to run your finger over it !
I then flooded the background with glossy accents and sprinkled over some diamond sparkles - it is super blingy !!

I would like to add my card to the following challenges;

My Time To Craft Challenge - Mum's the word
Jac-Inks Papercraft Challenges - Colour Challenge
The crafty Pad - Mothers day
Easy Craft projects Challenge - For mum
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays - Inspiration photo
Sketchy Colors - Pink/orange/white
Tuesday Throwdown - Florals
The ABC Challenge - R is for roses
I {heart} Promarkers - Emboss it

I hope you will join us for our challenge this fortnight at papercrafting journey and share your cards for the ladies in your lives x

((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Sparkle and shine with my fav' colours x

Good morning hope you are all well x

Today is of course time for another yummy recipe with coooking it up with Katie.

Here is the ingredients that you'll have to include to play along this week

Sparkle
Shimmer
and Shine

Our sponsor this week is pizzazz aplenty who is very kindly giving the winner a $10 prize pack crammed with goodies !
So jump on over to Cooking it up with Katie and play along with us for your chance to win x

For my card this week I used a Teddy Bo image - I have just been longing to use another of these little cuties ever since they sponsored our challenge a few weeks ago and this image seemed perfect for my mum and dads anniverssary card - that was all the excuse I needed !

I have coloured the image with promarkers and added some stickles for some sparkle and shine.

All the papers came free with this months Simply cards and papercraft magazine - I am lovin' the fresh spring colours and print.

I would also like to add this card to the following challenges;

Paper Cutz Challenge - 3 patterned papers
Claudia & Company - Colour challenge (I've used them all !)
Craft Your Passion - Grin and bear it
Incy Wincy Designs - Sparkle and shine
The Shabby Tea Room - Inspiration photo
Totally Papercrafts - Cute and cuddly
Fairy Tale Challenge Blog - Green and pink (my fav colour combo xx)
Creatalicious Challenges - Two tone card

Thanks for taking a look at my card today - I do hope you will join in with us this week at cooking it up with Katie
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Caps off to the creative cottage challenge x

Good morning all I come armed with good and sad news this morning.
The good news is that it is time for a new challenge over at the creative cottage challenge blog but the sad news is that this will be our last challenge.

But not to worry as we will be having a monthly challenge over at the creative cottage blog (you can find it here) where you can still enter to win creative cottage goodies using creative cottage products (including Tracy's fab freebies).

So back to our last {sniff} challenge and this week Mandi has set the theme. She wants to see your cards with lots of white/blank space.
I love this look it's so clean and fresh and really makes the image and sentiment the star.

For my card I have used this months freebie papers - this is where digi papers come into their own as you can resize not only the papers but also the print making them perfect for any project.
I love gingham and these papers are especially fresh for spring.


The super cute (and very small !) bikini's were cut using my new sizzix die and I adore the way they look with the gingham.
I made the sentiment using microsoft word and printing it straight onto my card and added some yellow sparkly bling as my final flourish !

I would like to add this card to the following challenges;

CES Challenges - Die cut crazy
Paper Playtime - Anything goes
Woodware USA - Clean and simple
Gingerloft Challenges - Die cuts/punches
Fun With Shapes And More - No designer paper
Clean And Simple - Sketch

Thanks for visiting me today I do hope you will all join us for our last challege at the creative cottage challenge blog x
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Hip hippo hooray !

Good morning to you I hope you are well this fine wednesday - actually it IS fine here - I even went out without a jacket on yesterday !!!!!!

This week at cooking it up with katie we are super pleased to be sponsored by meljen designs - even more so when we all got to play with more of Melissa's adoreable digi's. Don't forget to check out what the rest of the DT created here at the cooking it up with Katie blog.

Our recipe for you this week is

Include an animal
add a button or two
make it colourful

I have used some of my fav colours at the moment using orange with blue and these are some of my fav papers too - you know the ones I like to look at and find difficult to cut into !
They are from the little yellow bicycle's baby safari paper pad.

I used the masking technique on the backing DP to make more clouds and highlighted them with my white gel pen - which I also used to make my hippo more spotty !
I love the way the orange paper really makes that little birdie "pop".

I would like to add this card to the following challenges;

The Color Throwdown - Colour combo (orange/blue/green)
The Crafty Pad - Use a digi
One Stitch At A Time - For the boys
Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog - Fab sketch - thanks x
Totally Gorjuss - Button it
Wee Memories - Cute & Cuddly (I went for cute not sure how cuddly he'd be !)
Card Making Mama's - Animals
My Partner In Crafting Crime - 3 or more buttons

Thanks for looking I do hope you will join in with us this week, at cooking it up with Katie, to be in with a chance to win another fantastic prize x

((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Hooray for blue skies and sunshine !!!!!!

Well although the kids woke me up super early this morning it wasn't quite as difficult to get up as usual as the sun was streaming in my bedroom window.
Oh what a difference it makes ! It should be clear and sunny all day so we're off out into the garden to make the most of it today as I'm pretty sure that it'll be grey again tomorrow !

With the sun streaming through patio doors I couldn't resist photographing this card in full glow so sorry about the shadows and the glare but I am celebrating the sunshine no matter what.

I made this card last night for my lovely Mum (who will be banned from my blog until after mothers day now !) I found this and another stamp from Hels Cuppleditch and stampavie still in the packaging - I got them in a sale last year and totally forgot about them - how bad is that ?!
This made me realise that I really need to spring clean my craft stash. Not having a craft room means that I have bits and peices stored all over the house and it's hard to keep on top of all that stash with it spread around !
I hate getting rid of stuff because you can guarentee that the weekend after I give it away I'll find the perfect use for it !

Anyway back to my card I used a lovely sketch from fuzzy wuzzy challenges who also require your project to feature and animal - I'm guessing my bear counts ?!

Isn't it a lovely sketch ?

I coloured my stamped image using Aidan's crayola pens and my water brush ! I haven't used this technique of "water colouring" for ages and I'd forgotten how much I enjoy it. There is something about it that is so therapeutic for me - it was one of my first loves in crafting and stamping so it was nice to rediscover it.

My Dp's are from the basic grey sugar rush paper pad. I stamped the vertical panel with a little crafters companion clear stamp (xoxo) with a really light orange ink then went over one of the xoxo's with a darker orange to make it "pop".
For the next layer up I embossed a peice of velum with swiss dots and lightly inked it for a barely there look.
The pink layer is embossed with a sizzix folder and inked up with the same orange ink pads and wrapped around with a piece of velvet scalloped ribbon.

I loved making this card it's got all my fav things - embossing, glitter, ribbon, butterflies, flowers and even a cute little tag.

I hope you like it too x

I would like to add this card to the following challenges;

The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges - Sketch - great sketch girls x
Annabelle Stamps Blog - Say it with a tag
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge - Mothers Day
Raise The Bar - Photo inspiration (the colours and flowers inspired my creation)
Stampin' For The Weekend - For Mum/Mothers day

Thanks for popping in today, I hope it's sunny wherever you are and that you enjoy your weekend whatever you're doing x
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Up, up and away !

Good morning to you - thanks for popping in x

Well today is time for a new challenge over at papercrafting journey and this week the challenge theme is "Up in the air".

We are lucky enough to have another fantastic sponsor this week and that is MyGrafico.

The DT were treated to a fabulous set of images from Sanqunetti designs called up and away - perfect for our challenge !

When I think of hot air balloons I think of those aged prints that you see on the walls of pubs and hotels and wanted to recreate that with my card.

I paper peiced the actual balloon with a freebie digi paper (from canon I think) and coloured the basket with promarkers.

My background paper is from pink petticoat and I "aged it" by distressing with ink. The sentiment, also in the up & away kit, was printed and diecut with my nesties and I created the soft cloud effect by cutting a piece of scrap card into a rough cloud shape and using it as a mask. And added the little birds with a biro !
I also aged the fabric button and added a crystal brad to the ribbon criss cross.

I would like to add this card to the following challenges;

Mojo Monday - Another fabulous sketch
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Up in the air
Jac-Inks Papercraft Challenges - Masking
Crafty Cardmakers - Fabric
I Did It Creations Challenge - Masking technique
C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Paper piecing
Stamping Vacation - Nestabillities


Thanks for looking - I hope you will join in with us at papercrafting journey - don't forget you've got 2 weeks to get a project completed x

((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

super clean and simple !

I had a bit of time this afternoon and used it wisely - no I did not do the ironing - I made a card for the res-q challenge who this week want to see our cards with just a touch of pink.

This is super clean and simple but I love the result.

I paper pieced the stamp with a scrap of one of my fav' creative cottage papers from the poppy delight paper pack - you can check it out here.
Then just added a little pink button threaded and tied with some embroidery floss.

The simple sentiment was made on my computer in microsoft word - see simple !!

I am sorry for the terrible photo it is very dull here today, if it's brighter tomorrow I'll retake the photo and update it.

I would also like to add this card to the following challenges;

Paper Sundaes Challenge - Keep it simple
Clear It Out Challenge - Buttons
Freshly Brewed Blog - Pink and paper peicing
One Stop Craft Challenge - Clean and simple

Thanks for taking a little look x
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Spring or sprung ?!

Good morning to you I hope you are well.
I am finally beginning to believe that spring is def' springing ! I have miniature tulips and daf's opening in the garden and the nights are beginning to pull out a little - AND we have actually seen some blue skies and even sunshine !!

So rather suitably our lovely Donna has chosen "spring has sprung" as our challenge theme this week over at the creative cottage challenge blog. As always you have 2 weeks to complete your spring project and post it on the blog to win some gorgeous goodies AND you can enter more than once - so what are you waiting for ?!

For my card I have used papers from the Easter joy paper pack available here in the store and a lovely digi stamp, coloured with promarkers, from Zlatoena designs you can find her etsy shop here.
I also used the lovely sketch over at get sketchy - simple but loads of scope and I'm hoping to get to use it again before the deadline closes x

I would also like to add my card to the following challenges;

Get Sketchy - Fab sketch - thanks girls x
Karens Doodles Challenge Blog - Spring
Lexi's Creations - Easter
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday - Spring has sprung
Sweet Stamps Blog - Think spring

Thanks for stopping in today, I hope you enjoy the rest of your day x
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Hip, hop, hooray !

Hello again I'm back with my second post today - you know by now that Wednesday's are busy around here !
If you are visiting for the first time - welcome x !

Today at cooking it up with Katie it's time for another recipe challenge and here is the ingredients you'll need this week

Start with an Easter theme
Add a little Green
Make sure it is Cute!

This week we are joined by yet another fabulous sponsor - Digital Delights who treated the DT to a fab image each - aren't we lucky girls !

How could I resist this little cutie ? She was a delight to colour too.

Why not check out the other great DT samples here on the blog where you can also see who won last week's challenge and get more info for this week.

I would like to add this card to the following challenges;

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Use 3 of something (3 lengths of embroidery floss)
Lexi Creations - Easter
The ABC Challenge - Q is for quote (use a quote or sentiment)

Thanks for popping in today - hope you enjoy the rest of your day x
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Yay my first guest design position !

Before I start I must apologise that this post is about 24 hours late !
This is my first card as a guest designer and I got so excited about it I actually forgot to post it !

So as I said this is my first guest designer position and I am very pleased that it is with quirky crafts challenges - thanks so much for having me girls x
Who this week have a fabulous sketch here it isI was treated to this gorgeous tulip digi stamp from stitchy bear digital stamps which I coloured using a new (to me) technique.
I coloured the images with pencils and then blended with baby oil then highlighted with glitter.

My papers are from basic grey and I used one of my embossing folders and my bigshot to emboss the panel.
I love this sketch it's so very versatile and it's def' one I'll use again - why don't you pop over to quirky crafts and join in with us this week ?

I would also like to add this card to the following challenges;

Pals Paper Arts - Easter/spring
Karens Doodles Challenge Blog - Spring
Paper Playtime - Use pink and glitter (challenge choice #2)
Woodware USA - Spring is coming
One Stitch At A Time - Glitter and gems
Totally Gorjuss - Pearls and lace

Thanks for stopping by to see my card if you are new here I do hope you will come again and if you've been before thanks for popping back again x
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

PS before I go I would like to send my sincere thoughts out to anyone who has been touched by the tsunami in Japan.

Punch it out !

Well wednesday of course means another recipe challenge at cooking it up with Katie and another fabulous sponsor.
This week that fabulous sponsor is

who provided the images that the design team used on our cards - thanks ! x

Ok so I had better tell you what the recipe is so you can get on with it ! This week Katie wants you to

Show us some Sweet
Add a little Sassy
Finish with a Punch!

Doesn't it sound like a fun one - I hope you'll join us x

Sorry for the super short post - I am having an absolute nightmare of a week and I just want to switch off and chill with hubby tonight. I hope you understand x

I would love to enter this card into the following challenges;

The Crazy Challenge - Lovely ladies
KB Cute Monday - Use pink
Paper Playtime - Digi mondays anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Happy birthday
Fab N Funky Challenges - Make it girly

Thanks for popping in today - I hope you'll come back soon x
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Christmas impressions !

It dawned on me yesterday that I had vowed to make at least a couple of Christmas cards every month so that I don't have to madly throw them together in early December like I normally do !

Now it is March and I have made a total of ZERO Christmas cards ! So I thought that I'd make a start and try to catch up !
I have to say that I enjoyed making it but it felt a bit strange in March, although it is def' cold enough to feel like Christmas -it's freezing today and I'm tucked up inside with the heating on !

I used some embossed bazzil card for my card base and then made the ink embossed panel with my spellbinders impressabilities with the snowflakes. I used a pearlescent card and also a brilliance ink pad and it looks great - I'm really pleased with it !

The image is another Kanban clear stamp which I have coloured with a mixture of copics, promarkers and pencils. I also added some glitter for a little twinkle !
The merry Christmas banner is a clear stamp from a HOTP kit and I blinged that up too !

Then I just added 3 pink dew drops to balance it up a bit.

I would like to add this card to the following challenges;

Winter wonderland Challenge - Animals
Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge - Embossing or paper peicing
Creative Belli Blog - Animals

Thanks for taking a look x
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Wing it to our journey x

Hello again I am back to tell you about the new challenge over at paper crafting journey which this week is "things with wings".

Our sponsor this week is Limited runs stamps who is offering the winner three stamps, which they can choose themselves.
You have two weeks to create a masterpeice and post it to the paper crafting journey blog so there is absolutely no excuse for not joining in !

For my card I have used some lovely spring colours - I'm hoping it will kick spring into action but nothing has happened yet !
My DP's are from K & Co (I think - don't quote me !) and the base card is bazzil card. That beautiful sentiment is from raindrop echo - isn't it lovely.

The butterfly is from a local floristry trade store - I just added some gems x

I did use another sketch - I love how so many cards are made using the same "map" but all end up in totally different places !
This time the fantastic sketch is from Mojo Monday.

I would like to add my card to the following challenges;

Mojo Monday - Fantastic sketch - thanks girls x
Cupcake inspirations - Photo inspiration (the spring colours inspired me)
Critter Sketch Challenge Blog - Sentiment
Craft Your Passion Challenges - Girly girl
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything goes with optional something old (I havn't used my embossing pen for at least a year and was super surprised that it hadn't dried up !
Fab N Funky Challenges - Spring into action
Top Tip Tuesday - Favorite embellishment/technique (my current fav are these lovely metal butterflies - aren't they sweet ?!)

I do hope you like my card and that you will come along and join in with our fun challenge - don't forget you have 2 weeks to play with your craft stash and create your project x

((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

How egg-citing !

This week at cooking it up with Katie we are super pleased to be sponsored by the fabulous Teddy bo & co who is very kindly giving the winner 5 - YES 5 - teddy bo digi stamps.
If you haven't seen these digi stamps before, pop over for a look, I promise you will not be disapointed they are the cutest characters.

So Katie has, of course, given us another yummy recipe which you are free to interpret in your own unique way (that is just what we love about Katies recipes) just as long as you include all the ingredients. This week they are;

Spring
Yellow
and flowers
(told you it was yummy !)

For my card I have used the "bunny bo Bea" stamp for my card available here isn't she the cutest ?
I have used a mixture of promarkers, copics and pencils to colour her in and used to lots of glitter to highlight her.

My papers are years old and if I remember correctly they are from a DCWV stack (not too sure about this !) and the lovely lemon colour card, which I have used to mat and also for my punched scallop border (MS), is from American Crafts.

I made the bow with a really light pink organza ribbon and the flowers are, of course, Prima which I have inked up with a yellow brilliance ink and highlighted with glitter - I love a bit of twinkle !

I have used the the super sketch over at the sweet stop and also like to add my card to the following challenges;

Samuel Taylors Crafts - Copic chic or promarker gal (I've used both)
Stampin B's Design Team - Use a flower
2 Sisters Challenge Blog - A teddy bears picnic !
Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog - Oh so girly
Paper Cutz Challenge - Spring
Crazy 4 Challenges - Flowers
One Stop Craft Challenges - Spring flowers
Incy Wincy Designs - Spring is in the air

Thanks to all of you for stopping by. I hope you'll join us this week at cooking it up with Katie for your chance to win that fab prize (5 teddy bo digi's) from our yummy new sponsor x
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Love birds

Hello I'm so pleased you popped by today x

Well as it's Wednesday it's time to get creative with us at the creative cottage.

This week it is the lovely Rebekah's turn to choose our challenge and she chose "tag - you're it !".
So we want to see tags on your projects this week or maybe you could make a set of tags or a tag book ?!

Since I have had printer problems I haven't been able to print out any papers or digi's but just yesterday I got my printer sorted (don't ask me how - I still don't know what I done ! - but it worked !!) and I am hoping to have a week filled with digi papers and stamps to make up for there absence !

This gorgeous digi image and paper is from the "Tweet valentine" kit which I just adore. I wanted to show you that it can be used for so much more than just valentines cards/projects and it is an absolute bargain at just £2.99 for the full kit - if you want to take a look you can check it out here.

I started with another sketch, this time from a new blog I found - our craft lounge such a lovely blog and I love the sketch this week x

I have used bazzil bling as my card base (and for those swirls) and added another little tag, for good measure, from an old K & Co kit.

I would like to add this card to the following challenges;

Our Craft Lounge - Fab sketch - thanks x
KB Cute Monday - Anything goes with a digi
Paper Playtime - Anything goes with a digi
Stamping Vacation - Sentiment inspiration
The Stamp Man Challenge Blog - Swirls and curls
Do You Stack Up - Anything goes
A Spoon Full Of Sugar - Create or use a tag
Tuesday Throwdown - Tag you're it

I hope you liked it and that you'll join in with our challenge this time - you've got a fortnight to get a project done so there is really no excuse !

((hugs)) Suzie xoxo

Oooooooo a freebie !

Hello friends x

Just thought I'd write a quick post to tell you all about the brand spanking new freebie of the month at the creative cottage.

Isn't is a beauty - these sheets are great for quick cards and print out beautifully as do all the creative cottage products.

It's a great way to try a new brand without the cost - believe me you will not be disapointed.

You can get yours here - and hey why don't you use it to make a card for our new challenge which will be announced tomorrow here x

Enjoy x
((hugs)) Suzie xoxo