You're Pretty Grate

I'm a real sucker for Power Poppy images, so when Marcella released a set of 6 Valentine's images for a bargain price I had to grab them! You can get your own Va-Va-Valentines set here.
One of the images sprang out at me and I had a genius idea for how to use it.  Of course I had to squeeze in one more card before the challenge ended, so I've used another template from Page Maps.

Products used:

• Cardstock
• Designer paper
• Cuttlebug acetate
• Elizabeth Designs banner dies
• Twine
• Anita's outline stickers
• Fiskars Shape Cutter and Circles template
• X-Cut nesting circle dies
• Mini Heart confetti (from Mini Wish on Etsy)
• ProMarkers - Gold, Sunflower, Mustard, Cool Grey 1 & 2, Mulberry, Blue Pearl & Powder Blue

When I saw this image I knew it had to be a shaker. I coloured the hearts to match the confetti and think it works perfectly

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Power Poppy - Grab A Map
2. Double D - Kitchen is the Heart of the Home
3. Love to Scrap - #105 Anything Goes
4. Digi Choosday - WK5 Anything Goes
5. Simon Says Wednesday - Layer It Up

Something Old, Something New

But it's not a wedding card! 

I'm trying to challenge myself this year - to use different digistamp artists, stash I haven't used for a while, always use new stash and make projects with no digistamp. 

The 'Something Old' on this card is the papers and ephemera, which I've had forever but not used for a while and the 'Something New' is new flowers and new dies. 
Products used:

• Papermania cardstock
• Melissa Frances 'Classic Elegance' designer paper, ephemera & pearls
• Sizzix 'Regal' nesting dies
• Butterfly border die
• Distressed corner die
• Cuttlebug 'Textile' embossing folder
• Tonic Tim Holtz paper distresser
• Distress Oxide 'Worn Lipstick'
• Petal Lu flowers

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Simon Says Wednesday - Layer It Up
2. Butterfly Challenge - #93 X is for Xtra Fold and/or the colour Peacock Blue/Green
3. CRAFT Challenge - #452 Distress Your Project / Vintage
4. Allsorts - WK452 Old Favourites (favourite card fold, favourite tools)

Lanterns and Dragons

I'm trying to use some stash that hasn't seen daylight for a while. I'd already printed and coloured the gorgeous 'Chinese Lanterns' from Power Poppy when I thought about the Chinese-themed papers and embellishments I had stashed away (In my defence, my supplies are mostly in two big boxes in the tiny cupboard under the stairs... it pretty much kills me getting to anything in the box at the back!).
I followed another Page Map for the challenge. I don't usually use templates, but it's been great for some layout inspiration. 

Product list:

• Cardstock
• Anita's outline stickers
• Twine
• Mind Wave seals (I bought these while on honeymoon in Malaysia)
• Papermania Oriental Treasure vellum prints
• Papermania Oriental Spice Colossal Border paper
• ProMarkers - Pine, Forest, Moss, Pear, Lime, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Amber, Spice, Ginger & Apricot
• Glitter & Metallic gel pens

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Power Poppy - Grab A Map!
2. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - January Anything Goes
3. Simon Says Wednesday - Layer It Up
4. Colour Crazy - WK4 Anything Goes
5. Creative Fingers - #142 Anything Goes

Pink Birthday Love

While trying to keep up with #thedailymarker30day challenge, I've been printing off some images that I haven't coloured before.  For this card I have used 'Hand Heart' from Sweet Escape Digis.  I have used a template from Page Maps to create a simple square card. 

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• Distress Oxide - Worn Lipstick
• Papermania Red Hot Capsule Collection DP
• Pearls
• Small Hearts embossing folder
• Fine Black Sharpie
• Stitched tag die
• Twine
• Glitter gel pens
• Little Claire Designs outline stickers
• ProMarkers - Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Blush, Satin, Black, Cool Grey 4 & 5, China Blue, Cobalt, Antique Pink, Pastel Pink, Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Sandstone, Hot Pink & Carmine

I decided to make the heart sparkly

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Sweet Escape (FB Group) - January Challenge
2. Power Poppy - Grab A Map!
3. Card Mania - #100 Monochromatic
4. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - January Anything Goes
5. Colour Crazy Craft Challenge - WK3 Anything Goes

Will You Be My Penguin? at Conie Fong

Valentine's is on the way and Conie Fong is taking advantage of this with two new love-themed penguins.
'Penguin Bundle of Love' and 'Penguin Heartstrings' can both be found in the store at a reduced price for a limited time. 

For my GDT inspiration I have used Penguin Heartstrings for a CAS card, focusing on the image and adding a cute sentiment. 

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• Recollections designer paper - Mini Hearts
• Black cardstock
• Ranger Liquid Pearls - White Opal
• ProMarkers - Black, Cool Grey 4 & 5, Warm Grey 1-3, Baby Pink, Gold, Mustard, Buttercup, Burgundy, Cardinal, Ruby, Marine, Turquoise & Duck Egg
• Sakura Gelly Roll - White

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Passion For ProMarkers - WK427 Something New (new DP, new image, new liquid pearls)
2. Crafty Creations - #358 Anything Goes
3. Classic Design Team Open - #21 Anything Goes
4. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - January Anything Goes
5. Simon Says Wednesday - Add A Sentiment
6. Colour Crazy - WK3 Anything Goes

Sexy Grey Tie

Lately I have been practising my skin colouring.  When I started I was only using three colours for skin, as my ProMarker collection was limited.  Since taking some classes at Kit & Clowder and getting a lot more ProMarkers, I now use 4 or five colours for skin and different blends for some diversity.  

With Valentine's coming up I wanted to colour up something sexy, so bought 'Anastasia's Grey Tie' from Make It Crafty.  There's a nice bit of skin on show with this image! 

I've gone very clean and simple with my card... the image and sentiment say it all.

Products used:

• Cardstock
• ProMarkers - 
• Skin - Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Putty & Almond
• Hair - Burnt Sienna & Caramel
• Outfit/Shoes/Accessories - Indigo, Prussian, Violet, Aubergine, Plum, Mulberry, Magenta, Black, Cool Grey 4 & 5
• Background - Warm Grey 1-5
• Wink of Stella - Clear

A bit of sparkle on the mask & feathers

And to show my previous skin colouring... this was coloured June 2016.  No depth or shading at all, lol

Using Dusky Pink, Soft Peach & Oatmeal 

(Image 'Bathing Beauty' by KennyK Stamps)

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Make It Crafty - Skin
2. TTCRD - WK 16th Jan Anything Goes
3. Passion for ProMarkers - WK427 Something New (new image)
4. Simon Says Wednesday - Add A Sentiment
5. CASology - WK238 Glimmer

Spring Brights at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's the last week of our DT inspiration over on the blog, but you still have plenty of time to enter your creations into the challenge.  The theme is New Beginnings and you can enter here. 

We're doing things a little differently with our inspiration this year, so each team member gets to choose a theme for week 3.  This week is Lozzy's turn and she chose Bright Colours.  I have used 'Spring Luna' as I thought this theme really suited her. 

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• Recollections designer paper
• Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide - Worn Lipstick
• Crafter's Companion Die'sire Edge'able - Floral Dance
• Echo Park enamel dots
• Ranger Stickles - Blue
• Sakura Gelly Roll - Blue Star, Sky Star, Metallic Silver
• ProMarkers - Tan, Sunkissed Pink, Putty, Satin, Mulberry, Violet, Hot Pink, Black, Slate, Baby Pink, China Blue, Powder Blue, Burnt Orange, Bright Orange, Mango, Gold, Sunflower, Canary, Marine, Turquoise, Mint Green, Tea Green, Magenta, Carmine, Cerise, Sky Blue, Arctic Blue, Lemon, Soft Lime & Primrose

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Classic Design Team Open - #21 Anything Goes
2. Colour Crazy - WK2 Anything Goes
3. Crafty Creations - #358 Anything Goes
4. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - January Anything Goes
5. Passion For ProMarkers - WK427 Something New (image, patterned paper, Gelly Rolls)
6. Simon Says Wednesday - Add A Sentiment

Mmm... Donuts!

Did you see the sweet new release over at Tiddly Inks? I saw DT Co-Ordinator Lou's gorgeous card using 'Molly's Donut' and had to have her.  Who doesn't love donuts right?! I've got a few birthdays coming up, so I definitely had an excuse to make a sweet card. Now there's just the difficult decision of who I'm going to send it to. 
For my design I have used a template from Page Maps, who I found via the current Power Poppy challenge. 

Products used:

• Kraft card blank
• Stitched oval die
• Papermania 'Scrumptious' designer papers
• Ribbon
• Anita's 3D Gloss
• 3D foam pads
• ProMarkers - Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Putty, Almond, Burnt Sienna, Ginger, Saffron, Carmine, Pastel Pink, Baby Pink, Henna, Cocoa, Forest, Apple, Tea Green & Warm Grey 1

of course I had to glaze my donut!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Tiddly Inks Challenges - #209 Anything Tiddly Goes
2. Power Poppy - Grab a Map!
3. Simons Says Wednesday - Use Patterned Paper
4. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - January Anything Goes
5. Crafting With An Attitude - #35 Anything Goes

Ladybug Love at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's another week of inspiration over at Ching-Chou Kuik's Blog.  Don't forget the challenge theme this month is New Beginnings and and you can enter your creations here.

The DT theme this week is Spots & Stripes, so I have used the Ladybug image from the set 'Dragonflies, Seahorse, Ladybug'.

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• White card
• Papermania Spots & Stripes Brights Collection - designer paper & ribbon
• Echo Park enamel dots
• Little Claire outline stickers
• ProMarkers - Burgundy, Cardinal, Ruby, Black, Cool Grey 5, Olive, Moss, Pear, Meadow Green, Prussian, Violet, China Blue, Indigo & Warm Grey 1-3

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - January Anything Goes
2. Crafty Awesomeness - January Anything Goes
3. Simon Says Wednesday - Use Patterned Paper
4. World Wide Open Design Team - #29 Anything Goes
5. Double D - Birthday/Anniversary

Guest Designing at Conie Fong

They've been changing things up a bit over at the Conie Fong Art & Design Facebook Group, so entrants to the monthly challenges can now also win a GDT spot. How exciting is that?! I was one of the first to be chosen, so I'm sharing my very first creation today. 

The challenges are always Anything Goes with an option. This month the option is Something New.  

I have used 'Winter Wendy' to make a z-fold card, but changed her up and used spring colours. My 'Something New' is - new colour combo (I don't recall ever pairing green and purple!), new dies and of course new image. 

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• Green & Purple cardstock
• Fancy frame and flower dies
• Flower centre
• K&Co vellum sentiment sticker
• Ribbon
• Recollections designer paper
• Stampendous Fran~táge - Aged Ivory
• ProMarkers - Burnt Sienna, Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Coral, Caramel, Black, Warm Grey 4&5, Holly, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Apple, Meadow Green & Lavender

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Crafty Awesomeness - January Anything Goes
2. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - January Anything Goes
3. Your Scrapbook Place - January Anything Goes
4. Simon Says Monday - Something New
5. Simon Says Wednesday - Something New
6. A Perfect Time To Craft - #1 Anything Goes

New Beginnings at Ching-Chou Kuik

Well it's a brand new year and there have been some changes over at Ching-Chou Kuik's Blog. We sadly said goodbye to Gloria, but we welcome Bonnie.

This month our theme is New Beginnings. This could be new baby, new home, new stash, new image - anything goes as long as your creation features something new. 

My creation celebrates the New Year plus it is a new image to me and I have used new dies. It's been a while since I made a bottle tag bWeut it was such a perfect fit for the image 'New Year Celebration'. 

Product list:

• Coloured cardstock
• Hill dies
• X-Cut nesting dies - circle & scalloped circle
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Celebration Script word dies
• Sakura Gelly Roll - White
• Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens - Spun Gold & Sterling Silver
• Wink of Stella - Clear
• Ranger Stickles - Platinum
• ProMarkers - Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Dusky Pink, Satin, Amethyst, Lilac, Lavender, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Lime Green, Aubergine, Purple, Orchid, Amber, Sunflower, Tulip, Meadow Green, Turquoise, Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Aegean, Sky Blue, Arctic Blue, French Navy, Cobalt, Powder Blue, Soft Lime, Blue Pearl, Baby Pink, Violet & Midnight Blue

I am entering my tag into the following challenges:

1. Cute Card Thursday - #511 Anything Goes
2. Work It Wednesday - December (new image, new dies, new year)
3. Passion for ProMarkers - WK425 Make It Digital
4. Crafting With An Attitude - #35 Anything Goes
5. Simon Says Wednesday - Something New (new image, new dies, new year)
6. Simon Says Monday - Something New (new image, new dies, new year)

It's a Very Special Birthday with Ching-Chou Kuik!

The Blog and Facebook teams have been very sneaky today and set up a birthday hop for Ching-Chou to wish her well on her special day. 

It is similar to a blog hop, but over on Facebook. Click here to join in and make sure to read the rules before you enter.

I made a mermaid card using 'It's My Birthday' in bright pink and marine colours.

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• Recollections designer paper
• Recollections gem swirls
• Echo Park enamel dots
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Celebration Script Words dies
• ProMarkers - Raw Sienna, Ginger, Saffron, Oatmeal, Soft Lime, Burnt Sienna, Cocoa, Caramel, Sandstone, Amber, Sunflower, Magenta, Hot Pink, Carmine, Pastel Pink, Black, Cool Grey 4 & 5, Sunkissed Pink, Powder Blue, Warm Grey 1, Pumpkin, Apricot, Canary, Cerise, Marine, Turquoise, Duck Egg, Cool Aqua & Tea Green
• Sakura Gelly Roll - White 
• Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens - Sterling Silver & Onyx Black
• Wink of Stella - Clear

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Classic Design Team Open - #21 Anything Goes
2. Crafty Awesomeness - January Anything Goes
3. Double D - Birthday/Anniversary
4. Simon Says Monday - Something New (new image, new gems)
5. Love To Scrap - #105 Anything Goes
6. Simon Says Wednesday - Something New (new image, new gems)
7. Passion For ProMarkers - WK425 Make It Digital

Anything Goes at Ching-Chou Kuik

This month I am joining in with the Facebook team's challenge at Ching-Chou Kuik's group. The theme is Anything Goes and you can add your creations to the album in the group here. 

If you wish to enter the Blog challenge New Beginnings, click here.

I have created a beautiful monochrome card using one of the new greyscale images 'Seahorse Illusion'.  These are so cool to use as you can colour as much or as little as you like to create different effects. 

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• Recollections laser cut card, 'Boho' collection
• Recollections paper flowers, 'Boho' collection
• Ribbon
• Brads
• Sakura Gelly Roll - White
• ProMarkers - Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Aegean, China Blue, Marine, Turquoise, Mint Green, Tea Green & Midnight Blue

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. World Wide Open Design Team - #29 Anything Goes
2. Simon Says Monday - Something New (new image, new ribbon)
3. Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes
4. Love To Scrap - #105 Anything Goes
5. Your Scrapbook Place - January Anything Goes
6. A Perfect Time To Craft - #1 Anything Goes
7. Card Mania - #100 Monochromatic