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

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