Book-Loving Gnomes Of The Air at Faery Ink

Today I am showcasing a cute little bundle of Air Zodiac Tomte Gnomes. All details over on my Faery Ink blog post here.

I am entering my bookmarks into the following challenges:

1. World Wide Open Design Team - #6 ATG
2. The Paper Shelter - #390 Digital Image
3. Classic Design Team - #7 ATG
4. Crafting By Designs - July ATG
5. Crafts Galore Encore - #65 ATG

Black Swan at Ching-Chou Kuik

So already it is the final week of inspiration at the challenge blog and getting to the end of November.  Are you getting up at stupid-o-clock to shop the Black Friday sales tomorrow? 

This week the team were challenged by Vanessa to be 'Inspired by Music'.  I've had the image 'Flame In Black' for a little while but not used it, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity. 

My musical inspiration is 'Swan Lake' as seen in the movie 'Black Swan'.  I'm not really a ballet person, but I love this film.

Products used:

• Card blank
• Recollections designer paper
• Distress Ink - Walnut Stain
• Distress Oxide - Fired Brick
• Spellbinders die - Big Scalloped Oval
• Music notes Happy Birthday die
• Feather dies
• Papermania gems
• ProMarkers - Burnt Sienna, Caramel, Dusky Pink, Satin, Henna, Cocoa, Umber, Cinnamon, Canary, Black, Cool Grey 4 & 5
• Prismacolor pencils

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Passion For ProMarkers - WK471 Use 3 of Something
2. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Nov ATG
3. I ♥ ProMarkers - #372 ATG/3 Layers
4. Crafty Creations - #378 ATG
5. Crafts Galore Encore - #57 Nov ATG

Think Pink at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's the second week of inspiration posts over at Ching-Chou Kuik's challenge blog.  Don't forget it's our 4th anniversary so there will be extra prizes up for grabs.  You can enter the blog challenge here using the theme Halloween.

As October is breast cancer awareness month, the team were challenged to use pink on our inspiration this week.  I have gone monochrome with a tall card using the image 'Bunch of Love'. 

Products used:

• Cardstock
• Papermania 'Red Hot' collection paper
• Recollections stencil
• Little Darlings sentiment stamp
• Distress Ink 'Picked Raspberry'
• Distress Oxide 'Worn Lipstick'
• ProMarkers - Magenta, Carmine, Baby Pink, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Putty, Satin, Hot Pink, Pastel Pink, Meadow Green, Fuchsia, Pink Carnation & Blossom
• Prismacolor pencils
• Silver Sakura Gelly Roll

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Crafty Creations - #376 ATG
2. Creative Craft Cottage - #112 Pretty Pinks or Halloween
3. Morgan's ArtWorld -#10 ATG
4. Power Poppy - You say it's your birthday! (October 21)
5. CCC Digi Creations - #97 Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

Unicorns & Rainbows at Faery Ink

Today I am showcasing one of the images that I coloured during the Unicorn Masquerade party.  You can find all the information and relevant links on my post at the Faery Ink Blog.  

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Crafty Gals Corner - #173 ATG
2. Cute Card Thursday - #456 ATG
3. Let's Craft & Create - #141 ATG
4. If You Give A Crafter A Cookie - #102 ATG
5. Morgan's Artworld - #9 ATG
6. World Wide Open - #8 ATG

Festive Bow

I like to mooch for inspiration on Pinterest and kept seeing these fantastic bow cards, so I had to try one for myself.   I actually made the bow a little while ago, but it got put aside for other things as I didn't really know what I wanted to do with it.
Being a fairly small space on the front, I figured a sprite would be the perfect image to use.  So finally I have finished it using 'Holiday Wreath Sprite' from Aurora Wings.

Products used:

• Recollections cardstock
• DoCrafts glitter card
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Festive Greenery dies
• Spellbinders Big Scalloped Oval die
• Distress Ink - Stormy Sky
• ProMarkers - Warm Grey 1&2, Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Almond, Indigo, True Blue, Cobalt, Arctic Blue, Berry Red, Holly, Lush Green, Pine, Forest, Burgundy, Cardinal, Gold, Canary, Cool Grey 1, 2&4, Moss & Bright Green
• Sakura Gelly Roll - White
• Prismacolor pencils

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Aurora Wings - Anything Goes
2. Get Creative - #71 Shaped Card
3. Simon Says Wednesday - AG
4. Passion For ProMarkers - WK454 Dies/Punches
5. Cut It Up - #153 Christmas In July
6. Crafty Gals Corner - #170 Christmas In July
7. Crafty Creations - #371 AG
8. Card Mania - #106 AG
9. Crafting By Designs - AG
10. C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #477 Christmas

Big Hair, Don't Care!

I love images with big, flowing hair... I just don't love colouring them! I think I just try too hard with hair and then hate it.  

Considering this, I grabbed one of Make It Crafty Zoe's e-books 'Colouring Long Hair in fine detail' as it comes with a gorgeous image 'Zoe' by Krista Smith.

I usually colour all of the hair with my darkest shade first, working down to the lightest.  I often lose any highlight areas this way though, as I'm not really thinking about it.  Zoe's technique is to think about the highlight area first, then start with medium colour and take a section at a time.  

I'm really pleased with how the image came out, so I decided to put her on a card.

Products used:

• Kraft card
• Green card
• Spellbinders dies
• Recollections ribbon
• Heart Tinklings and word chipboard from MIC
• Spectrum Noir Sparkle 'Onyx Black'
• ProMarkers - Cinnamon, Tan, Sunkissed Pink, Putty, Umber, Henna, Cocoa, Caramel, Warm Grey 3, Hot Pink, Lipstick, Olive, Pear, Cardinal, Ruby, Holly, Lush Green, Mint Green, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna & Ginger

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Make It Crafty - Anything Goes
2. Pammies Inky Pinkies - #1828 AG
3. TTCRD - 17-24 July AG
4. Crafty Creations - #370 AG

Cherry Blossom Smile

I always knew spring had arrived back home because there would be cherry blossoms everywhere.  They are one of my favourite flowers, but unfortunately I don't see any here.  
I couldn't resist this gorgeous 'Cherry Blossom' digi from Make It Crafty, which is on sale right now at only $1!!! Plus a massive bonus that Zoe has created a background for it too.  
The image definitely needed to stand out, so I printed the included sentiment with it and made a CAS card with just a bit of ribbon and lace.

Products used:

• Kraft card blank
• Lace & ribbon
• White Sakura Gelly Roll
• ProMarkers - Baby Pink, Dusky Pink, Almond, Primrose, Soft Lime, Walnut, Cocoa, Raw Sienna, Caramel, Sandstone, Olive, Moss, Pear, Fuchsia, Pink Carnation, Blossom, Mulberry, Denim & Blue Pearl

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Make It Crafty - Flora
2. Cute Card Thursday - #350 The Great Outdoors
3. Let's Craft & Create - #137 AG
4. CCC Digi Creations - #92 Flower Power

Pearls & Gems at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's time for a brand new challenge at Ching-Chou Kuik and this month we are asking you to use PEARLS AND/OR GEMS on your projects.  So off you go to make something pretty, then you can enter here.

Well of course pearls and gems are going to make me think Mermaids, so I have used 'Embrace the Ocean' to make a celebration card. 

Products used:

• Kraft card blank
• Recollections designer paper
• Ribbon
• Recollections paper flowers
• Ranger Liquid Pearls in White Opal
• Papermania gems
• Distress Oxide in Worn Lipstick
• Celebrate clear stamp
• Papermania button
• ProMarkers - Umber, Khaki, Pastel Beige, Satin, Hot Pink, Magenta, Carmine, Pastel Pink, Baby Pink, Holly, Marine, Mint, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Amber, Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Putty, Henna, Cinnamon, Tan, Indigo, French Navy & Canary

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Simon Says Monday - Ombré (mermaid hair & background paper)
2. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - May AG
3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #1818 AG
4. CRAFT Challenge - #467 Birthday Blog Hop
5. Colour Crazy - WK18 AG
6. Crafty Creations - #366 AG
7. Crafty Gals Corner - #165 Add A Flower

A Charming Birthday at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's our third and last week of inspiration posts at Ching-Chou Kuik's blog, but don't worry - you still have plenty of time to enter the challenge here. 

This week I challenged the team to use a charm on their projects.  I bought some charms a while ago and hadn't used some yet, so needed an excuse!!
I have used the image 'Happy Birthday' to create an easel card. 

Products used:

• Card blank
• Blue shimmer card
• Recollections patterned paper
• Twine
• Cupcake charm
• Pearls
• Spellbinders nesting die 'Lattice Rectangle'
• Ranger Stickles 'Platinum'
• Ranger Liquid Pearls 'White Opal'
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Celebration Script word dies
• ProMarkers - Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Henna, Cocoa, Caramel, Burnt Sienna, Pastel Pink, Almond, Prussian, Violet, China Blue, Cobalt, Midnight, Burnt Orange, Bright Orange, Holly, Warm Grey 1 & 2, Amber, Soft Lime, Denim & Blue Pearl

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Creative Fingers - #144 Anything Goes
2. Crafting With An Attitude - #38 Anything Goes
3. Crafty Creations - #364 Anything Goes
4. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - April Anything Goes
5. Let's Craft & Create - #136 Anything Goes

Favourite Colour at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's finally starting to look like spring around here, although there has been some little bits of snow again today.  The weather has been so crazy around the world though, so much snow back home in England last month and loads for my American friends too. 

But, back to why we're here - all things crafty right?!

This month at Ching-Chou Kuik's challenge blog we are asking you to use your FAVOURITE COLOUR - click here to join in.  If you don't have a favourite colour, use them all!!

My favourite colour is purple and I fell in love with the Monarch Butterfly image as soon as I saw it, so I had to make something for myself.  I have a gallery wall in my bedroom and decided to make a little banner for that.  

Products used:

• Papermania cardstock
• Nesting stitched banner dies
• Papermania eyelets
• Recollections twine
• Petal Lu flowers
• ProMarkers - Slate, Aubergine, Plum, Purple, Amethyst, Walnut, Cocoa, Raw Sienna, Orchid, Blossom, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Blue Pearl, Powder Blue & Burnt Sienna
• Sakura Gelly Rolls - White & Sky Star

I am entering my banner into the following challenges:

1. Cute Card Thursday - #524 Anything Goes
2. Double D - Twine
3. Card Mania - #103 Spring
4. Classic Design Team Open - #24 Anything Goes
5. Butterfly Challenge - #98 Letter T (Twine, two items identical - eyelets, Triangles - formed at the top between the twine and the banner, Thistle - this colour looks like the Blossom ProMarker I used on the flowers, plus my little paper flower)

Day of the Dead Birthday Twist

Well I actually had this card made for a while, but I was waiting to post it.  I made it for my Mum's birthday - she shares my love of skulls, so Aurora Wings' 'Day of the Dead Sprite' was just perfect.  

If you follow me you will know how much I love twisted easels. There's just something about them - impressive to look at, but so easy to make.  

Products used:

• Card blank
• Cardstock
• Patterned paper
• Recollections gems
• Leather thread
• Skull beads
• Stitched hill dies
• Petal Lu flowers
• ProMarkers - Warm Grey 1-5, Black, Shale, Crimson, Berry, Lipstick, Indigo, French Navy, Aegean, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Sunflower, Canary & Lemon
• Sakura Gelly Rolls - Blue Star, Metallic Silver & White

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Stamps by Aurora Wings - Sprite Delight V 
2. Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes
3. World Wide Open Design Team - #3 Anything Goes
4. A Perfect Time To Craft - #4 Anything Goes
5. Classic Design Team Open - #24 Anything Goes
6. Love To Scrap - #108 April Showers Bring May Flowers
7. Crafts Galore Encore - #50 Anything Goes

Easter or Spring at Ching-Chou Kuik

It's time for a brand new challenge at Ching-Chou Kuik's blog.  This month our theme is EASTER OR SPRING, so let's see some pretty makes. You can enter the challenge here.

I have gone a bit crazy with this one and chosen a fold I've never done before.  It opens out rather large and has lots of little panels to decorate.  I've seen them called Double-Display cards or Double Tri-Shutter cards. 

I have used the image 'Swing In Spring' with some gorgeous pastels in a purple, yellow and blue theme. I love this patterned paper and colour combo, it reminds me of spring floral fabric!

Products used:

• Papermania cardstock
• Recollections designer paper
• Sizzix Butterfly dies
• Flower dies
• Frame & scroll dies
• Ranger Liquid Pearls - Pewter
• ProMarkers - Tan, Sunkissed Pink, Putty, Almond, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Ginger, Sky Blue, Blue Pearl, Cocoa, Pine, Forest, Lush Green, Leaf Green, Gold, Mustard, Buttercup, Antique Pink, Warm Grey 1-3, Purple, Amethyst, Sunflower, Orchid, Cobalt, Arctic Blue & Powder Blue

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Creative Craft Cottage - #105 Make It Feminine
2. The Corrosive Challenge - #3 Anything Goes
3. Simon Says Wednesday - Girl Power
4. Power Poppy - Inspired by Fabric!
5. Let's Craft and Create - #135 Anything Goes
6. I ♥ ProMarkers - #354 For A Girl

Pocket Fairy at Ching-Chou Kuik

We're coming to the end of our ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE challenge at Ching-Chou Kuik's Blog.  There's still time to enter your creations here though.

This week the design team were challenged to Take A Seat.  I have used 'Toadstool Fairy' to create a bookmark card.  I saw these on Pinterest a while ago, so thought it was about time to try one.  I thought a sitting image was perfect to go with a bookmark, as generally you sit while reading.  The sentiment is also great for a bookworm.
The whole card is 2"x6", so you can tell how tiny the image is!!

Products used:

• Brown, yellow & yellow-orange cardstock
• Ribbon
• X-Cut nesting dies - Square Parenthesis
• Recollections clear stamp
• Wow! embossing powder - gold
• Distress Ink - clear embossing
• Ranger Stickles - Platinum
• ProMarkers - Cinnamon, Tan, Dusky Pink, Satin, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Henna, Caramel, Burnt Orange, Pumpkin, Amber, Gold, Sunflower, Cocoa, Olive, Moss, Pear, Pine, Soft Lime, Blue Pearl, Baby Pink, Lavender, True Blue, Sky Blue & Arctic Blue

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Digi Choosday - WK8 Anything Goes
2. Dream Valley - #173 Things With Wings
3. Creative Fingers - #142 Anything Goes
4. A Bit More Time To Craft - #62 Anything Goes
5. The Corrosive Challenge - #2 Anything Goes
6. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #76 Anything Goes

Piglet Twins at Conie Fong

Can you believe there's only one week left of February?  Which means my time as GDT for Conie Fong is almost at an end.
Today I'm sharing the latest new release 'Curly Piglet'. Since I received the image, Conie has added a couple more versions. You can find them all in the shop here.

I wanted to make something I've never made before, and 'Curly Piglet with Ribbon' was just perfect for a TWINS card! 

Products used:

• Kraft card
• Recollections designer paper
• Pink & white card
• Ribbon
• Mini safety pins
• Congratulations word die
• ProMarkers - Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Putty, Warm Grey 1-3, Carmine, Rose & Baby Pink

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #76 Anything Goes
2. Deep Ocean - #175 Cute and Cuddly
3. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - February Anything Goes
4. World Wide Open Design Team - #2 Anything Goes
5. The Corrosive Challenge - #2 Anything Goes

Welcome Little Bunny

It's been a while since I made a baby card, so I thought it was about time.  It gave me an excuse to use this gorgeous 'Sleepy Bunny Elf' from Aurora Wings too! 
I've gone with a very classy and neutral theme of grey, white and yellow and I'm very pleased with how it turned out.  

Products used:

• Cream card blank
• Recollections designer paper
• Papermania buttons
• Brad
• Fancy stitched oval die
• Tag die
• Revel & Co ribbon
• ProMarkers - Tan, Sunkissed Pink, Putty, Warm Grey 1 & 2, Lemon, Soft Lime, Primrose, Cool Grey 1 & 2

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

1. Stamps by Aurora Wings - #64 Bingo (diagonal - ribbons or bow / die cuts / sentiment)
2. Simon Says Wednesday - Add A Die Cut
3. Let's Craft and Create - #134 Anything Goes
4. Passion For ProMarkers - WK431 Add an embellishment
5. Crafty Catz - #404 Anything Goes/Pretty Ribbon
6. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - February Anything Goes