Celebrate Today

It's nearly American Independence Day and although I'm in England and won't be celebrating, our theme at The Crafter's Café Challenge Blog this week is Red, White & Blue which is perfect for this occasion. 

Our sponsor this week is:

I have chosen the image 'Twinkles Boo' as the stars and stripes on her onesie fit the theme perfectly.  I've gone with really bold and bright colours for the background paper, and added just a bit more colour with yellow stars.

I've used the following materials to create this card:

• Card and button from my stash
• Dovecraft twine
• 'Perfectly Penned' sentiment from Stampin' Up! 
• Big Bloomer and patterned papers from the Papermania Spots & Stripes Brights collections
• ProMarkers - Oatmeal, Soft Peach, Tulip Yellow, Mustard, Sandstone, Caramel, Burnt Sienna, Berry Red, True Blue, Arctic Blue

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

1. 613 Avenue Create - #78 Anything Goes

2. Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes

3. Crafting From The Heart - #25 Anything Goes

4. Crafts Galore - Use a Stamp/Digistamp

5. Crafty Catz - #237 Anything Goes

6. Crafty Girls - #21 Anything Goes

7. Cute Card Thursday - #327 Circles

8. I love Promarkers - #226 Anything Goes

9. Lacy Sunshine - #36 Anything Goes

10. Paper Creator's Crafts - #26 Anything Goes

11. Papertake - Anything Goes

12. Sister Act - #63 Anything Goes

13. Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - #35 Anything Goes

Distressed Building Block Card

As you know I like to try different card folds, so for this week's 'Distress It' challenge over at The Crafter's Café Challenge Blog I have made a building block card. These are so simple to make, yet look amazing once decorated. 
Our sponsor this week is:

I have chosen digi16220 'Bouquet', which can also be bought as a rubber stamp.

If you would like to try the building block card for yourself, you can find the tutorial over at Split Coast Stampers.

I have used the following materials to create this card:

• Cream card from my stash
• Tim Holtz Core'dinations Kraft-Kore card
• X-Cut Dimensions Butterfly punch
• ProMarkers - Cool Aqua, Duck Egg, Turquoise, Peach, Mango, Bright Orange, Purple, Plum, Aubergine, Tea Green, Mint Green & Pine

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

1. 613 Avenue Create - #76 Anything Goes

2. Clear It Out - Anything Goes

3. Crafting From The Heart - #23 Anything Goes

4. Craftitude - #67 Flowers/Lace

5. Crafty Girls - #20 Anything Goes

6. Fab n Funky - #221 Shaped Cards

7. Incy Wincy Designs - Bright Funky Colours

8. Love To Create - #120 Anything Goes

9. QKR Stampede - #92 Anything Goes

10. Rhedd & Rosie's - #35 Anything Goes

11. Sister Act - #91 Anything Goes

12. Through The Purple Haze - #46 Anything Goes

The Golden Years

Hello there! It's time for some more DT inspiration for The Crafter's Café Challenge Blog. Our theme this week is 'Masculine' and our sponsor is: 

I have chosen the image 'Gus Birthday - Golden Years' as I wanted a bit of comedy for my Dad's birthday card. 

I have used the following materials to create this card:

• Papermania card and patterned paper
• Buttons from my stash
• ProMarkers - Satin, Dusky Pink, Caramel, Buttercup, Tulip Yellow, Mustard, Lemon, Canary, Mango, Arctic Blue, Sky Blue, Cyan, Mint Green, Pine, Ruby, Crimson, Cardinal, True Blue, Cocoa, Henna, Lime Green, Bright Green, Cool Grey 3 & Cool Grey 4

 

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

1. Allsorts - #261 For The Guys

2. Brown Sugar - #96 Birthday

3. Challenges 4 Everybody - #42 Anything Goes

4. Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes

5. Crafting From The Heart - #21 Anything Goes

6. Crafts Galore - Use A Stamp/Digistamp

7. Crafty Catz - #233 Anything Goes

8. Crafty Girls - #19 Anything Goes

9. Delightful Challenges - It's A Guy Thing

10. Fab 'n' Funky - Father's Day/For the Men
11. I Love Promarkers - #222 Digi Does It
12. Incy Wincy Designs - Something For The Men
13. Love To Create - #118 Birthday
14. Paper Makeup Stamps - #143 Anything Goes
15. Papertake - Anything Goes
16. Pile It On - #22 Humour
17. Sister Act - #59 Anything Goes
18. Tok Bobok - #13 Birthday Cake

Wardrobe Stepper Card

I've been wanting to make this card for a while since seeing a version of it on a magazine website, but I hadn't got around to it. This week's challenge at The Crafter's Café Challenge Blog has given me the perfect opportunity to try it out. 

Our theme this week is 'Girly' and our sponsors are:

I have chosen the 'Playing Dress Up' image from Guylou's Inimitability because it fits the theme and my card style perfectly.

Guylou has to say about this image: "Playing Dress-up was inspired by my childhood when I used to go into my mom's closet and put on some of her clothes. I think all little girls have the desire to be like their mom. I surely did! My mom is a wonderful woman and a great role model. Walking in her shoes is a big challenge, but something I aspire to do every day." 

It took a bit of fiddling making the coat hangers from paperclips, but I think they came out quite well. 

I have used the following materials to create this card:

• Papermania card and brads
• Clothing images from Google
• Glitter glue and paperclips from my stash
• Indigo Blu stamps
• Whispers Dye Ink
• ProMarkers - Oatmeal, Soft Peach, Sandstone, Caramel, Burnt Sienna, Buttercup, Tulip Yellow, Mustard, Raw Sienna, Berry Red, Cobalt Blue, Bright Orange, Mango, Blossom, Pink Carnation, Fuschia, Tea Green, Mint Green and Pine

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. 613 Avenue Create - #72 Anything Goes

2. Challenges 4 Everybody - #41 Anything Goes

3. Crafting From The Heart - #19 Anything Goes

4. Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

5. Crafty Girls - #18 Anything Goes

6. Cute Card Thursday - #321 Handmade Embellishments

7. Divas By Design - Anything Goes

8. I love ProMarkers - #220 Anything Goes

9. Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes

10. Love to Scrap - #30 Anything Goes

11. Sister Act - #57 Anything Goes

12. ABC Challenges - L is for Lots of Layers

Special Mommy

I'm back again with some more DT inspiration for The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog. This week our theme is 'Mom or Special Lady' and our sponsors are:

I have chosen 'My Sweet Mommy' from The Paper Shelter as feel this fits perfectly with the theme. 
The designer had this to say about the image - "My husband Pedro make the drawings on  paper and I do all the rest. The inking and coloring with digital tools. It’s just a cute mother’s day image. Nothing else to say about it"

I have used the following materials to create this card:

• Blank card from HunkyDory
• Patterned paper from Craftseller magazine
• Ribbon, 3D foam pads & gel pen from my stash
• ProMarkers - Primrose, Lemon, Canary, Tulip, Mustard, Mango, Bright Orange, Sandstone, Caramel, Burnt Sienna, Lime Green, Bright Green, Blossom, Pink Carnation, Fuchsia Pink, Cobalt Blue, True Blue, Lipstick Red, Berry Red & Crimson

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

1. 613 Avenue Create - #70 Anything Goes

2. Brown Sugar - #92 Patterned Paper

3. Challenges 4 Everybody - #41 Anything Goes

4. Crafts Galore - Anything Goes

5. Crafty Girls - #17 Anything Goes

6. Creative Knockouts - #35 Flowers Galore

7. Delightful Challenges - Add dimension

8. Just Be Creative Crazy - Anything Goes

9. Papertake - Anything Goes

10. Sister Act - #55 Anything Goes

11. That Craft Place - Anything Goes

12. Allsorts - #257 Butterflies

13. Crafty Catz - #229 Anything but Square

14. Hiding in my Craft Room - Use a Critter

15. Love to Create - #114 Say it with Flowers

16. Paper Makeup Stamps - #139 Anything Goes

17. Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge - #27 Anything Goes

18. The Crafting Cafe - Creatures

19. Totally Gorjuss - #234 Things with Wings

Steampunk Flying Easel

I'm muscling in on Team B's challenge this week as I love Steampunk! It's been very popular in recent times, but for those of you who don't know about it, the definition is:

"A genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology."

Our sponsors this week are:

I have chosen 'Kidz Hot Air Balloon' from Bugaboo Stamps as these are seen a lot in Steampunk art. 

Jodie, the designer of Bugaboo Stamps has this to say about the image: "I drew this image after my little girl who loves balloons and daydreaming =)

she has cerebral palsy and her walking isnt so great so in this image she can go anywhere she dreams of =)"

This is my first flying easel card, which I wanted to try after seeing many on Pinterest. I'd never thought about only die-cutting half a shape before, but it's not too bad once you get everything lined up properly. 

I've used the following materials:

• Papermania Kraft card blank, patterned paper, postcard and brads
• Acetate butterflies from Inkylicious
• Ribbon and glitter glue from my stash
• Metal cogs from MDF Man
• ProMarkers - Cool Grey 2, 3 & 4, Tea Green, Mint Green, Pine, Burnt Sienna, Cocoa, Caramel, Sandstone, Raw Sienna, Mustard, Tulip Yellow, Buttercup, Satin, Dusky Pink & Rose Pink

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

1. 613 Avenue Create - #69 Anything Goes

2. Brown Sugar Challenge - #91 Anything Goes

3. Challenges 4 Everybody - #40 Anything Goes

4. Craftitude - #63 Anything Goes

5. Crafty Catz - #228 Anything Goes

6. Crafty Girls - #16 Anything Goes

7. Crafty Hands - #13 Travel

8. Creative Knockouts - #34 Anything Goes

9. Glitter n Sparkle - #82 Add some ribbon

10. I Love ProMarkers - Not Quite Straight

11. Scrapping 4 Fun - #15 Use a Stamp/Digistamp

12. Simply Steampunk Challenges - Anything Goes

13. Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

14. That Craft Place - Anything Goes

Gothic Shadow Box

Hello and welcome to some more DT inspiration.  This week at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog our theme is 'Add Glitter' and our wonderful sponsor is

I have chosen the image 'Skull With Roses' as I really love this type of art and wanted to use something different. 

Rick has to say about this image: "It's an image that I have done in various ways many times-life and death or new life and death I think are common themes in western art.For some reason skulls and roses seem to be linked often - maybe it's the influence of the Dia de Muerte designs from Mexico?

I think this design also has it's beginnings in Tattoo art."

It is such a striking image, I wanted to make more than just a card.  I've never made a shadow box before, so my husband giving me some chocolates gave me the perfect excuse to try one!

I've used the following materials:

• Chocolate box
• Black tissue paper, white card, ribbon and glitter glue from my stash
• Core'dinations Glitter Silk card
• Pearls from Crafty Devils
• X-Cut Scalloped Circle die and circle die
• Sizzix Dies Love Set #3
• ProMarkers - Satin, Pastel Beige, Sandstone, Caramel, Burnt Sienna, Cocoa, Lipstick Red, Berry Red, Crimson, Tea Green, Mint Green & Pine

I would like to enter this shadow box into the following challenges:

1. ABC Challenge - Just As You Like

2. Card Makin Mamas - CMM85 Earth Friendly

3. Challenges 4 Everybody - #40 Anything Goes

4. Crafty Catz - #227 B is for... box, bling, brown

5. Crafty Girls - #16 Anything Goes

6. Crafty Hands - #12 Anything Goes

7. Hiding In My Craft Room - #146 Flowers

8. Just B Creative Crazy - April Just Because (anything goes)

9. Pile It On - #16 No Designer Paper

10. Scrapping 4 Fun - #15 Use a Stamp/Digistamp

11. Totally Gorjuss - #232 Die Cuts/Punches

Sweet Springtime

It's already April and our theme over at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog this week is 'Spring'.
Our sponsors are:

I have chosen 'Sun Shade' from Dr.Digis, as it looks like an umbrella and we have had some April showers here at the moment!

I've used the following materials :

• Anita's card blank
• Dovecraft twine
• Papercrafter patterned paper, embellishments and sentiment

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

1. 613 Avenue Create - #66 Anything Goes/Spring

2. Artistic Inspirations - #86 Easter Animal/Anything Goes

3. Crafty Catz - #225 Springtime

4. Creative Card Crew - #59 Spring

5. Papertake Challenge - Spring has Sprung

6. Sister Act - #51 Anything Goes

Just To Say

Another week, another challenge! Please join us over at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog for some card-making fun. 
This week's theme is Add Doodling and our sponsors are:

I have chosen the image 'Just to Say' by Scrapper's Delights.

This was an interesting challenge for me as I don't normally doodle on cards! I decided to do a few different bits of doodling - using white pen on the dress, black pen on the banners and watercolour pencil for a background pattern. 

I have used the following materials to create this card:

• Papermania card, ribbon and white pen
• Sizzix embossing folder
• Dovecraft twine
• Black gel pen
• Purple watercolour pencil
• Whispers dye ink
• ProMarkers: Primrose, Lemon, Canary, Oatmeal, Soft Peach, Sunkissed Pink, Peach, Mango, Bright Green, Lilac, Amethyst and Purple

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

1. Craftitude - #61 Anything Goes

2. Cards Galore - Stamp/Digistamp

3. The Crafting Cafe - CAS

4. Brown Sugar Challenge - #86 Anything Goes

5. Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - #170 Use Favorite Colour Combo (Purples)

6. Pile It On - #12 Pretty Hair 

7. The ABC Challenge - H is for Hair 

8. Crafty Girls Challenges - #14 Anything Goes 

9. Sister Act Card Challenge - #49 Anything Goes

Hello Lovely

This week over at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog our theme is Flowers and our sponsors are:

I have chosen Cup of Sunshine from MelJen's Designs as this is such a fun and fresh image.  

Melissa Jenkins, the designer, says of this image "I love drawing teacups and cupcakes, and I also love drawing things that uplift and make someone smile. So I thought that having a cup full of flowers would be neat... but why not make it like a foamy cup of something yummy with flowers on top? Maybe the 'foam' could look like my cupcake frosting! So I did that. I remember that I couldn't come up with a name for it and so I shared it on my Facebook page and a lot of people shared their lovely ideas. I finally decided on Cup of Sunshine. :-)"

I have used the following materials to create this card:

• Card blank from Hobbycraft
• Lemon card and gems from my stash
• Black gel pen
• Promarkers
• Twine from Dovecraft
• Patterned papers and embellishments from Basic Grey's 'Mint Julep' collection

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

1. Challenges 4 Everybody - #39 Anything Goes

2. Cards Galore - Use a stamp or digistamp

3. Cute Card Thursday - #311 What a Gem

4. Fan-Tastic Tuesday - #26 Anything Goes

5. Love to Create - #106 Anything Goes

6. That Craft Place - Anything Goes

7. TokBobok - #10 Spring Flowers

Wedding Cake

This is my first post as DT for The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog. I am very excited to be a new member of the team. 

This weeks' challenge is Pink, Red & White and our sponsors are:

I chose the Wedding Cake image from Guylou's Inimitability as I thought it was perfect for the theme. 
Guylou says about this image - "The inspiration for that image came when I needed a wedding image for some friends' wedding card.  I had a look at wedding magazine and saw what was in fashion at that time and came up with  my own version of what I would like if it was my wedding cake. "

I have used the following materials to create my card:

• Card and ribbon from my stash
• Core'dinations Glitter Silk card
• Papermania - pearls and glitter
• Whispers ink pads and Strokes pens
• Sizzix dies - Love Set #3
• Patterned papers from Making Cards magazine
• Watercolour pencils
• Little Claire Designs outline stickers

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

1. Catch The Bug - February Colour Challenge

2. Craftitude - #59 Anything Goes

3. Cards Galore - #2 Gems, Glitter, Candy

4. Crafty Creations - #257 Keep It Simple

5. Delightful Challenges - Add A Flourish

6. Fan-Tastic Tuesday - #24 Anything Goes

7. Love To Create - #104 Anything Goes

8. Make It Monday - MIM #180